It’s a special post this week focusing on the University of Exeter’s rich variety of drama clubs, theatre production companies, and performing arts societies! As you can see, whether it’s writing your own play, developing your production skills, or standing in front of the spotlight, there are all sorts of opportunities to take part in student theatre, on and off campus.
Kicking us off, playwright and performer Emily Reader (BA English), who is in her final year:
During my time at Exeter, I’ve been lucky enough to try my hand at a wide range of theatre societies in multiple capacities. One of the biggest is Footlights, a society specialising in large musical theatre productions. I have so far done two shows with them as a cellist in the band – My Fair Lady and Oklahoma! – with the latter being performed in the Northcott, our local professional theatre. Both shows have been highlights of my university experience. It is immensely rewarding to put on shows of incredibly high standards with talented students who also have their own degrees to do!I was also the cellist for an original musical, Sherwood, based on the story of Robin Hood. This was in partnership with Shotgun, the more niche musical theatre society, and Theatre With Teeth, which specialises in original student theatre. Theatre With Teeth subsequently put on a play I wrote last summer which then toured to a drama festival in Glasgow. All of these societies have gifted me unforgettable experiences that have transformed my time at Exeter. I have become obsessed with theatre and as a consequence have decided to pursue writing professionally and cello in a more amateur capacity in the future.
I’m an American student studying English and Drama, and know how intimidating it can be trying to enter a new theatre community. Within the first few weeks at Exeter, all the societies had their auditions in the same building. The hallway was completely hectic, as students rehearsed monologues to themselves and queued up to show their talents. It was a lot to take in, and I ended up just bouncing from room to room, trying anything and everything, until I had auditioned throughout the entire hallway, and was completely ready to fall into bed. But as I was leaving, I saw a familiar name on a door downstairs, a room separate from all the rest. “Auditions: Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke”. It was the last thing I expected to see at student auditions in England, and even though I was exhausted, I knew I had to give my go at Williams. I never thought my first Southern gothic drama would take place in Exeter, England, alongside a cast of Brits, but I cannot be more thankful for my experience. It’s the only show I got a callback for, and I think it was fate that I stumbled upon Annie Bunce’s little audition room before heading out. Over the next couple months, I would spend my nights rehearsing with a talented bunch of actors, all the while making amazing friends and becoming familiar with British culture. I fell in love with the writing of Tennessee Williams because of Annie, who fell in love with him after seeing a production of Summer and Smoke in London. I was able to make Exeter feel like home by finding my own little theatre community.
