ÌÇÐÄTV

Kate Wilson (BA French with Italian, 2002) is not your typical languages alumna. After four years at ÌÇÐÄTV, she launched herself into the world of emergency care and hasn’t looked back. Now, she’s using her powers for good to help with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Farah Williamson (BA French and History, 2006) is currently Director of Gulf & Strategic Partnerships at Plan International Canada, one of the world’s oldest and largest development and humanitarian organisations that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

Dr David Coates has begun a five-year project that extends his research to date on the development of amateur theatre in Britain. The project team, made up of five scholars, will explore the cultural and political contexts that determined citizenship ideas and practices, as well as theatre.

Having just graduated in her MA in the History of Medicine, Kirstie reflects on the course and why she chose ÌÇÐÄTV for postgraduate study.

In his last role as Editor of BBC World Service News, Andrew was responsible for programming on the BBC's most widely listened to radio network.

Laura Mathias on overcoming anxieties, managing alopecia and becoming the person she wanted to be at ÌÇÐÄTV Driving positive dialogue and awareness about living with alopecia, Laura Mathias (BA Film and Literature, 2013) talks openly about her anxieties when she first started university, and how ÌÇÐÄTV was where she became who she was always meant to be.

Have you ever wondered how people in the past dealt with their periods? If Queen Victoria coasted* through her cramps? What if period dramas really were about…periods?

Comedy, cabaret and tap collide in this hilarious one-woman show, teaching the history you never learnt at school. Armed with glitter, blood, some history books and an arsenal of embarrassing stories, History alumna, Heather Milsted is on a mission to push through the menstrual taboo and change the way we think about bleeding.

Audiences are invited to embrace themselves fully, let loose and have a BLOODY good time!

*Obviously she didn't. It was 1837.

Book: & Period Dramas | Pleasance Theatre Trust

Theatre Performance Studies graduate, Dean Murphy discusses his career journey since leaving ÌÇÐÄTV

Through her degree, Rebecca Preedy (BA Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe, (2021), MA Ancient Visual and Material Culture of Rome, present) has been able to combine her interests in ancient history, archaeology and languages. She talks about her ÌÇÐÄTV experience, and the parallels between the ancient and modern worlds.

After a career in journalism where she launched The Sunday Times Short Story Award, Cathy Galvin (MA Writing, 2015) came to ÌÇÐÄTV to explore her interest in short stories and discovered a love of poetry. She now helps other authors through her company, Word Factory.

"I never dreamed, coming from a working class background, and the depths of darkest Coventry, that I’d ever be accepted into university."

A theatre graduate who ended up becoming a chartered accountant with Big Four firm E&Y in London.

"I have not had a career. I’ve simply had a long list of fascinating projects."

At 26, Sharon Plant was the youngest independent gallery owner in the country. She went on to become an art consultant; interviewing prominent creative figures, including Yoko Ono. She helped launch and direct the New Designers exhibition and was Festival Coordinator for the inaugural London Design Festival.

She is a painter, jazz musician and novelist. She looks back at her working life and shows how a career doesn't have to follow a traditional path.

"After graduating, I spent two years at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and then the next two years working (and resting) as a professional actor. In 1983 I started teaching English at The King's School in Worcester, staying there for my entire career until retirement in 2018. I was a housemaster for 21 of those 35 years and was involved in school sport and especially school drama, directing nearly 50 productions. I completed an MA at The Shakespeare Institute in 2012. I married Sarah in 1984 and we have two daughters, one a teacher and the other a lawyer."

"I am now a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong. I recently received my Faculty’s Emergency Remote Teaching Award for my work in 2019-20 - the first time this Award has been given. One thing the Panel though especially worthy of mention was a project I set up in May 2020 called Hear This! A Festival of Radio Drama on Zoom."

"I studied Film and Literature at ÌÇÐÄTV from 2004-2007 and I have to say it truly was one of the best experiences in terms of setting me up for my future career. I lived at Whitefields and was the girl who took photos and videos of every night out or night in and suddenly realised I should do something with all the media and memories I was acquiring. After my very first term, over the Christmas break, I decided to edit together a short movie with all the material I had shot - just for my housemates - and everyone loved it, so I carried on doing it each term."

"My two Masters years at ÌÇÐÄTV passed so quickly, but I have many fond memories from them and I reminisce often of my classmates, the seminars, evening drinks at Fusion, the yummy treats and hot drinks at Curiositea, and the campus in general, where I’d spend many walks around and never get bored."

"Delighted to say I am still in touch with some very valued friends I met during my first few days at ÌÇÐÄTV. I miss Rootes Hall bar most, as that is where I spent a great deal of my time during my first two years there!"

From working in a fish and chip shop to writing a play that’s been performed all over the world, Sam Steiner (English Literature , 2014) learned at ÌÇÐÄTV how to take his stories in new directions. Most recently, he’s penned the script for Morning, a film starring Laura Dern and Benedict Cumberbatch set for release later this year. We spoke to Sam about his experience of breaking into playwriting for stage and screen.

"Every person has to face that moment in life when certain decisions have to be made as they have vast implications. It is in this context that after much deliberation and introspection, I decided to pursue my Masters in Global Media and Communication."