InterAct, a performance showcase presented by final year acting students, is now in its third year. The festival began in lockdown as a way to get students to develop work and with support from our partners Arc, Stockton Arts Centre, students were able to have their pieces live-streamed and  from there it has grown in to a yearly opportunity for our students.

Senior Lecturer Jonny Bussell said, “This year students have a diverse body of work and have had total creative autonomy with dramaturgical support from academic staff and also director and theatre maker Maria Crocker who is a friend of the course.”

Read on for more detail about the performances and the creatives behind them!

Tuesday 21^st March

Echo

A devised physical theatre piece developed by Anna-Rose Kaye, Teddy Alexandra, Sarah Webber, Jess Jervis-May and Phoebe Hunter.

Synopsis:

What makes Echo different is that it is a collaborative piece built through the means of devising. The five of us mould together creatively to make theatre which is accessible for many different audiences. The main statement around our piece is “growing is learning to stand alone.”

How are rehearsals going?

Rehearsals are underway and moving swiftly.  With five separate voices, we have struggled to implement and find the best collaborative route to follow, especially as it is also devised.  Working together is enjoyable and full of laughter whilst simultaneously having a respectable working relationship being able to devise sound work.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, the 5 of us are very interested in pursuing Echo further and creating our own theatre company, to potentially tour the piece around the UK!

Mondegreen by Tom Maddocks

Synopsis:

Mondegreen is a piece about a young music artist that struggles with OCD. The piece focuses on sound, music, and spoken word, and explores the barriers faced when trying to balance mental health with personal ambitions and relationships.

How are rehearsals going?

Rehearsals have been running smoothly, and we always bring a high level of energy by warming up with a Freddie Mercury-esque call and return. Mondegreen will be a fun, emotional, and relatable piece for all to enjoy.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I aspire to continue to write and direct, but my main goal is to pursue teaching. I love being able to share my knowledge and I look to inspire and educate the future generation!

Thursday 23^rd March

Switched by Jess Jervis-May Directed by Phoebe Hunter

Synopsis:

‘Switched’ is a play that’s set in an office block. It follows three females getting their workspace disrupted by the entrance of a male. The world is dystopian and plays with the subject of the patriarchy. Rehearsals have been very productive spending the first few weeks blocking and setting each scene, then fine tuning, cleaning, and tightening each scene and rehearsing with the built set.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After graduation Jess wants to stay within the industry within acting, even possibly starting her own theatre company. But also continuing writing her scripts and putting them into the world.

Phoebe hopes to continue acting, and audition for local contemporary theatre pieces – she is also keen to start her own theatre company. From this process she has discovered a passion for the directorial role, and is ambitious to continue directing in the future.

The Village by Kaitlyn Maxfield

Synopsis:

The play that I have written is called Welcome to The Village, which is a hilarious comedy that celebrates British village life, with a side of murder and birth. It is a farce that oozes innuendos and phallic vegetables. With its larger than life characters, montage moments and holy water guns, this play will have you in stitches.

How are rehearsals going?

Rehearsals for this play have been hilarious. Working alongside a fantastic cast that aren’t afraid to get stuck in, we have created some really great moments in the show. From the play completely changing direction to its original idea, the actors have adapted really well and I am very pleased with how it has developed.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation I am doing a MA in Directing at The Northern School Of Art, as well as working with Arc on developing my own piece which is currently being written and awaiting arts council funding. I hope to tour this play once its developed.

InterAct can be viewed in person or online on Tuesday 21st March & Thursday 23rd March 2023- you can stream them from the comfort of your home! Don’t miss out – book tickets here!

This show is Pay What You Decide and post show there is an opportunity to give feedback on the pieces which will be really helpful for the students’ progress and development.

These pieces highlight the creative ethos we foster at The Northern School of Art where collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Find out more about our BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen course here.