Newman Drama students perform in Poland

Two drama students from Newman University, Birmingham recently took part in an event at the House of Literature in Lodz, Poland.

The event was held on 11th January and was organised by the University of Lodz, to mark the launch of the 7th Issue of Text Matters: A Journal of Literature, Theory and Culture.

The event began with a panel discussion featuring several leading scholars from the Polish university, including Dorota Filipczak, Andrzej Wicher, Malgorzata Budzowska,  Magdalena Cieslak, and Agata Handley.

The panel discussion was followed by a rehearsed reading of excerpts from modern British translations and versions of Greek drama, including ‘Greek’ by Steven Berkoff; The Restless House by Zinnie Harris; and ‘The Oresteia’ by Aeschylus – version by Tony Harrison.

The extracts were performed by Claire Best and Wesley Rolston who are currently studying Drama at Newman University, together with Bruce Coates, Senior Lecturer at Newman.

The extracts were directed by Dr David Allen from Midland Actors Theatre, who also works at Newman University as a Visiting Lecturer.

The event was a great opportunity for the students at Newman and was also featured on Polish TV news. It was organised by Dr Agata Handley, Managing Editor of Text Matters and currently Visiting Scholar at Newman. The latest issue of the journal includes articles by Dr Handley, David Allen, and Dr Persephone Sextou, Reader in Drama at Newman.

Students studying Drama at Newman University have numerous opportunities such as this throughout their studies. They have the chance to be involved with Newman’s Community and Applied Drama Lab (CADLab) as well as placement opportunities at the Birmingham Rep, Birmingham Hippodrome and the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Photos taken by Marta Lacka.