Class of 2016
BA Acting & Theatre
Job:
Lecturer in Arts with Community – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
Yes, at York St John University.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
This is an image of me playing ‘Forest Football’ with my students, other artists and members of the public – including the Commissioner for Fair Access refereeing our game. I love this picture because it shows everything I love about my career: I get to play and have fun, spend time with amazing artists, learn with students, and make changes within our society through the arts.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I faced challenges in education – both academically and socially. What made the greatest difference in my development, first as a student and later as an artist, was being part of a university and department where staff genuinely understood and cared for me. I have wonderful memories of their kindness and guidance, and without their support and encouragement, I might never have discovered the opportunities that awaited me beyond graduation.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I lost all confidence during the UCAS application process and came very close to deciding that university wasn’t for me. After receiving results good enough for higher education, I applied to any university I could through clearing – and was accepted by YSJ. Two days later, I decided to visit. The moment I walked into the studio, I was greeted by two members of staff, and I immediately knew this was the right place for me. They welcomed me warmly, made me feel at home, and truly listened. What struck me most was their genuine passion for their work – it was infectious, and it completely reignited my excitement about studying. I moved into student accommodation 2 days later, and ended up staying nearly a decade completing a BA, MA & PhD.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
I continued my studies at York St John, completing both my MA and PhD. During this time, I founded my own company creating educational resources about consent, for which I was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2018). I have also worked with several theatre companies as a facilitator and dramaturg, developing scripts and performances such as Photograph 51 – a play exploring feminism and the stolen image of Rosalind Franklin.
My research expanded into Arts and Health, focusing on death and grief within hospital contexts, working closely with patients and families. This led to opportunities to teach on Nursing degrees and to secure funding for an immersive VR game that helps young people build emotional literacy around grief. I have also written and published on social justice and innovative art practices, including co-authoring work with my PhD supervisor, Professor Matthew Reason. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of presenting my research internationally. York St John ignited my passion for social justice and showed me how the arts, through play, creativity, and critical engagement, can be powerful tools for tackling inequality.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
Acting and Theatre was the perfect choice for me because I knew I didn’t want traditional drama school training, nor did I aspire to become an actor within mainstream performance. I was drawn instead to experimental theatre and to exploring social justice and politics through performance. The course allowed me to develop my performance skills while also learning to engage more critically with the world around me.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
The course offered a diverse range of staff specialities, the freedom to explore ideas through independent projects, and the opportunity to take part in inspiring collaborations such as the Prison Project, Dancing with Dementia, and Converge.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
YSJ helped me discover who I was, and who I continue to become. It sparked a passion for understanding the world and my place within it. The care, compassion, and belief I experienced from staff are qualities I now strive to bring into my own role as a lecturer. I often say that the fact YSJ picked up the phone that day during clearing and offered me a place was meant to be – but I truly don’t believe I would have graduated anywhere else, let alone gone on to complete my MA and PhD. I still pinch myself every day when I think about how fortunate I am to have a career that I love and that began right there.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Don’t panic in your final year. Don’t rush into a role you’re not ready for, and never feel like you don’t belong. I was lost before university, and I was lost after graduation – constantly thinking I was falling behind. But with every opportunity came another, and with every project I learned something new. My career now is built on exactly that: playing, learning, thinking, creating, reflecting, and then starting again.