Yahoo News Gloucestershire university students get opportunity to see their work on stage
Twelve Creative Writing students from the University of Gloucestershire have been given a unique opportunity to put on their own show at a Cheltenham theatre this week. Taking place at the Everyman Theatre, some of the stories range from a missing dog to a zombie outbreak which will captivate audiences.
The second-year module gives each student the creative freedom to write a 20-minute play that will be brought to life by professional paid actors, who read the script and perform the plays back-to-back. The script-writing workshops have been made even more special with the involvement of the theatre’s Artistic Director, Paul Milton, who will be directing the actors.
When asked what it’s like to work with Mr Milton, Creative Writing student, Thomas Edmonds, 26, said “It’s great working with someone who has a purely theatre mind, because he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It is challenging but also effective.”
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Thomas has written a dystopian play about overpopulation. “It’s about how the government have infiltrated smaller communities to assess their health. If it falls beneath a certain threshold, they are taken away to the nuclear family program, which is where, in a week’s time, a family of four random people will have a nuclear bomb dropped on them, to kill overpopulation.”
Anna Poppy Rand, 20, has written a thought-provoking family drama. Anna said “My story is about a young adult who wants to go to university, but she is a carer for her disabled mum. One of the challenges I’ve faced during the writing process is making sure all my characters have a full personality and serve a purpose with goals of their own, they’re not just there to aid the main character.”
Described as an exciting journey for the students, Academic Course Leader in Creative Writing Senja Andrejevic says this is a great chance to see the students' work come to life. “Honestly, this is the highlight of my year, Senja said. This is one of my favourite modules to teach, it’s amazing to see their work performed and the showcase is such a happy event.”
If you’re interested in attending the showcase this week, tickets can be obtained free of charge by contacting Course Leader, Senja Andrejevic at sandrejevic@glos.ac.uk .
