I always wanted to try theatre
This blog is a testament to how aimless scrolling on Instagram *can* be beneficial *sometimes*. At least for me, that proved to be the case as one day I stumbled upon an audition post for a Sherlock Holmes play, set to be organised by the St. John’s theatre group also popularly known as The Bailey Theatre Company.
It turns out I was extra lucky on that day as soon after inquiring whether the auditions were open to other colleges, they decided to open auditions for all. Which included my rookie self who had never been in a play before. However before coming to Durham, I had promised myself to give theatre at least one shot as it had always seemed to be something I thought I would enjoy.
The perfect opportunity
So, when the opportunity presented itself, I took it and auditioned for Madge Larrabee. Surprisingly enough I ended up landing the role and while in the beginning I was worried about being a theatre novice and it impacting my experience. This worry quickly faded as I went to the practice sessions. These sessions spanned over two months, and I must say these were some of the best two months. I got the chance to meet people that were fun, kind and extremely talented. And despite their theatre experience, they created a comfortable space for everyone where we could experiment while having a good time, without the fear of judgement.
Exploring other colleges
This was also the first time I *properly* explored a college other than South and if not for my loyalty towards Oswald, I’d probably say it’s one of the best colleges. But considering my undying loyalty towards Oswald, let’s say St. John’s is quite *decent*. What makes the college decent are the people, who are friendly, welcoming and always ready to have some fun. Moreover, like most Bailey colleges, St. John’s is quite stunning from the inside and their food is nice as well.
Give it a go
Overall, this experience proved to be extremely valuable for me as I come out of it with good memories and a passion for theatre. The rush of excitement I felt on the days of our performance is a feeling I’ll be looking to recreate with more theatre experiences. So, if you too are like me and are prone to feeling too intimidated to try new things, take this blog as a sign and *just do it*. Because at the end of the day you’ll never know what it’s really like unless you give it a try!
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