What do our AACT students get up to?
Our BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre (AACT) course is designed to train theatre makers of the future, who aspire to use theatre to build communities and influence social change. Applied theatre utilises drama to discover, learn and share the issues and themes that concern communities and spotlight social inequalities.
Over the three-year degree, our students lead theatre-based projects in the community, devise politically inspired performances and hone their performance skills in music, singing, movement, theatre practice and voice. This course engages with contemporary politics and asks how we can make theatre, why we make it, and what we want to say through performance.
In the spring term, our students have been working with leading theatre director Aaliyah McKay (pictured). Aaliyah, who brings a wealth of creative experience and knowledge has previously directed/assistant directed shows at the National Theatre, Young Vic, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Chichester Festival Theatre and Clean Break. Together, Aaliyah and our students explored, rehearsed and performed Love and Information by Caryl Churchill.
This bold and innovative play offers a kaleidoscope of human experiences, exploring how we seek, process, and share both knowledge and emotion in an ever-changing world. Churchill’s masterful writing presents a series of fragmented yet deeply connected moments, reflecting the complexity of modern life. Through these glimpses into love, memory, and discovery, we are invited to consider how we navigate relationships and meaning in an age saturated with information.
This exciting project provides students with the opportunity to experience what it is like to work with a professional director, immerse themselves in the rehearsal room, and explore what it takes to breathe life into a character and take it from the page to the stage. Director Aaliyah McKay reflected:
"Directing Love and Information with the ACT students has been an incredible experience. The piece itself is a direct exploration of human connection, memory, and technology. Their commitment to storytelling and their ability to find nuance in every moment has made this process truly special. The work they’ve done speaks to the power of theatre as a space for reflection, conversation, and social engagement."
Due to the episodic nature of Love and Information, we all played multiple characters. It pushed me to find deeper nuances and detail within each character, so that they were distinct and memorable for the short time they were on stage. This was a challenge, but I learnt a lot through it.
Amy English, BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre studentStudents relished the opportunity to enhance their performance skills, and the script provided a rich opportunity to explore various characters and performance styles. Theodora Li, one of our third-year BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre students, said:
"I have enjoyed the creative process of our final-year performance, Love and Information. Our interpretation of the play encapsulates Caryl Churchill's contemporary comment with the cohort's unique perspectives of what the world entails. As emerging artists passionate about creating social change, this module provided a forum to discuss issues important to us."
BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre Programme Leader Dr Georgia Bowers was thrilled with what students produced and reflected:
"Our talented students and creative team have embraced the challenge of bringing this dynamic piece to life, crafting a production that is as thought-provoking as it is engaging. We are all extremely proud of our student's hard work and dedication and they are wonderful ambassadors for the course and GSA."
This production also benefited from the collaboration of students from the BA (Hons)Theatre Production and MA Stage and Production Management who offered technical support, such as sound, lighting design and stage management. Third year BA (Hons) Theatre Production student Ben Lucas reflected:
"Working on Love and Information was an absolutely joyous project to finish off my studies at GSA. In my capacity as Lighting Designer for this unique piece, I was responsible for lighting over 50 scenes, challenged by them all needing to be completely unique. This allowed me to really diversify my creative visions as an aspiring designer, branching naturalist settings to surreal gaming dimensions. I am also grateful, as a fortunate member of the SLX Lighting Programme, to have received a complimentary equipment hire to further enhance this production. Having over 20 additional intelligent lighting fixtures to incorporate into the Rex Doyle Studio Theatre, provided me with the versatility to successfully achieve the final result."
Head of Technical Theatre Arts, Jo Franklin, congratulated Guildford School of Acting's (GSA) technical students and commended them for how they navigated multi-skilled roles:
"Love and Information was a fantastic collaborative project for students on the BA Theatre Production and MA Stage and Production Management programmes. As part of their practical modules, they took on roles in stage management, lighting and sound, holistically facilitating the world of the play as the performers developed it through the rehearsal process. This piece, which is so open to creative interpretation, is perfectly suited to the reflective learning process which is central to all GSA public productions."
Love and Information provided students with the opportunity to engage with a thought provoking and, fast-paced play that has equipped students to become versatile performers, making the production a challenging and enriching educational experience.
Learn more about the programmes we offer at GSA.
