Blog from QMUL's School of English and Drama (SED)
Author: All Things SED Editor
I am the Web and Marketing Administrator in the School of English and Drama. Amongst my various roles, I run the School's website (www.sed.qmul.ac.uk) and its Twitter feed (@QMULsed). I also manage the running of the School's Open Days and draft promotional materials.
That person who wears obnoxiously bright coloured clothing in the winter time
Tell us about your time at QMUL. What have been your highlights?
The biggest highlight of my time at QMUL (so far) is between meeting two of my closest friends randomly in the library one day in first year and bonding over Disney music or the time after the Black Girl Book Club anthology launch where my friends and I stayed behind after everyone had left just belting Beyonce songs.
How has your course at Queen Mary helped you to progress into the world outside? What’s next?
One thing about my course which has helped me progress into the outside world is how proactive the staff are in helping you find experience and opportunities to take part in during our free time and breaks from uni.
Aside from course content what have been your favourite elements of the experience of studying here as a whole?
Easily friends.
Tell us about your life outside Queen Mary including any projects, ambitions or jobs you’ve had.
Outside Queen Mary, I am an archery instructor at children’s summer camps and spend a lot of time teaching myself how to code.
What could be improved to enhance future students’ experience at Queen Mary?
Solely course related but exploring literature through other media e.g. film, theatre, audio etc
On Thursday 15 August 2019 A-level students will receive their grades and this will trigger the next steps to starting with us. If you already have your grades and haven’t heard anything or have any questions please contact us.
What’s your status?
Unconditional or met your Conditional Offer? If you have an offer with us and you are unconditional or you have met your predicted grades that your offer was made on you will automatically be confirmed and you should receive an email and your UCAS track update should say you are placed.
Not met your predicted grades? We will assess your offer and in some cases honour it despite your grades as we see potential in you or we may ask for extra information or reject your offer. If you have any doubts or would like to talk to us about your place please call: 0800 376 1800 (UK) or +44 (0) 203 053 0793 (overseas).
Confirmation: We are excited to results day on Thursday 15 August to welcome our incoming students ahead of welcome week starting on 16 September.
Clearing: We are likely to have a limited number of places on our English and Drama programmes and would love to hear from you when you have your results. Use the button below to find out more and register your details.
Students, alumni and staff will be heading up to Edinburgh to showcase their performance work. Check out our blog post for details of shows we’ve heard about.
News
Update from Morag Shiach
Morag gave the keynote lecture at the Modernism in the Home conference at the University of Birmingham 1-2 July. Charlie Pullen, Harriet Baker, and Jade French also presented papers at the conference. My lecture is on Youtube, and the title is Modernism, Melancholia, History and Home. Watch here
She has also written the Afterword to a great collection of essays published this week on Modernist Work.
Network helped to run a workshop on digital platforms for Craft (UK/China) at Cockpit Arts on 27 June, as part of an AHRC-funded research project led by Dr Nick Bryan-Kinns (EECS) on which we are a partner. More information here
On the verge of a natural disaster, a prison guard is called into work and discovers a newcomer to the team – an Artificial Intelligence named Sally. When the city is evacuated, what happens to the prisoners?
The final 24 candidates for The Mars Mission Programme have been observed for a month by the public in a reality TV show designed to choose the final four. The public have voted and the candidates are about to be sent off to Mars with no hope of return… as soon as the final confirmation is granted.
Have you ever loved a show so much that you wished you could kidnap all the actors, keep them in your basement and get them to perform it again for you? No? Just Rupert?
Lola, Eleanor Rigby, Brown Sugar, Roxanne, and Monica – you may know their names, you may even remember singing them in the shower or at a party. What you probably don’t know is their stories. Neither do they, but they’re trying to figure it out.
‘Celebrating their final year as Europeans, island monkeys Becca and Louise got invited to the 2018 European Capital of Culture in Malta. Lads on tour…Sh!t Theatre went to drink rum with Brits abroad but found mystery and murder in the fight to be European. Here it is, another excuse for the multi award-winning Sh!t Theatre to get drunk on stage. ‘
‘From an Essex-based, sad, weird kid to a less sad, trans, lesbian loudmouth. She’s grown up, gotten hurt and she’s still here and ready to share in her debut hour. Winner of the Best Comedy Show Award at the Brewery Fringe Festival.’
Criticism and Insight
Bechdel Theatre: BT talk gender and representation on stage and list shows that pass the Bechdel Test.
Tell us about your time at QMUL. What have been your highlights?
There has been so many highlights since I joined QMUL. Its been engaging socially with meeting new people from different backgrounds to me – learning about all the array of cultures has really opened my mind up. Joining the Women’s Wellbeing society was fun. I met some lovely girls and we were able to openly have conversations about issues women deal with universally. I really enjoyed the calligraphy session held during World Mental Health week – I learnt something new and it was very therapeutic and much needed. Academically, I especially enjoyed writing my own poetry in my creative writing course.
How has your course at Queen Mary helped you to progress into the world outside? What’s next?
My creative writing course has been so helpful for me in terms of writing advice given by my seminar leader, such as how to pursue a career in this field and developing a writing portfolio. I feel with the numerous personal works we have handed in and the advice from my peers, I am ready to start publishing my work, whether that is a article for a platform like Buzzfeed or poetry for the QMUL newsletter.
Aside from course content what have been your favourite elements of the experience of studying here as a whole? (societies/friends/community/values)
Meeting so many unique, diverse individuals from all over the world. Making life-long memories with new friends in the heart of London. Meeting those certain people who I know I will be life-long friends with. The importance of friendship, respect and community engrained as the core values of QMUL is inspiring and encouraging for all students’ growth.
Tell us about your life outside Queen Mary including any projects, ambitions or jobs you’ve had.
My main ambition is to publish a poetry book in the near future. I have a lifestyle blog that encourages people to be mindful through holistic self-care advice. I want to continue developing my blog and share my personal work and thoughts of things I am a passionate advocate of and I feel the world needs to hear of like veganism and spirituality.
What could be improved to enhance future students’ experience at Queen Mary?
I believe eco-friendly initiatives such as growing more plants/trees around the campus will benefit the QMUL students as it cleans the air, lowers pollutant levels and provides a pleasant aesthetic. A student-led interactive QMUL garden growing organic fresh produce like herbs cultivates the health benefits of organic farming for QMUL students.
Early career researchers seeking support for their
application to the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme are invited
to get in contact with us as soon as possible
Deadline for applications: midday on Wednesday 11
September 2019
The School of English and Drama invites early career
researchers seeking support for their application to the British Academy
Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme to get in touch by submitting:
(1) an explanation of the reason(s) for your choice of Queen
Mary as the host institution (150 words maximum)
(2) an outline of your proposed programme of research (1,500
words maximum)
(3) details of your planned research outputs, e.g. monograph,
journal article(s), book chapter(s), digital resources, other (please specify)
(300 words maximum)
(4) a list of existing publications (1 page maximum)
(5) a CV (2 pages maximum)
Please submit the above documents to Dr Huw Marsh, Research
Manager, sed-research@qmul.ac.uk,
by no later than midday on Wednesday 11 September 2019. Please state
‘British Academy PDRF’ in the subject line.
the publishable research you propose, how you will structure, pursue, and complete it in the time frame, and its importance;
the relevance of QMUL SED to your research and vice versa;
who you would like as a mentor and why.
You are strongly encouraged, before submitting your
application and time permitting, to find a mentor, provisionally agree their support,
and get some feedback from them on a draft application.
All outline proposals will be considered by our Directors of
Research and those that we give institutional support to will have
approximately one month to finalise their online application, due on 16 October
2019
This month we meet English student Louise Fligman. Here’s her story…
‘I’m a total bookworm who’s friendly, organised, and loves compelling TV shows ‘
Tell us about your time at QMUL. What have been your highlights?
The variety of modules on offer on my course is fantastic. If Shakespeare is your passion, you can study it. If you love medieval texts (like I do), you can study them. Or, if you prefer more contemporary novels, you can study them. There is something at Queen Mary for everyone. I have loved being able to get involved in the student media outlets, CUB Magazine and The Print. Not only have these allowed me to develop transferable skills for my time after uni, but they have put me in touch with some wonderful people. There is such a friendly and communal feel amongst the team members of both publications, and I will really miss being a part of these teams. Another highlight at QM for me was the social badminton sessions I attended in my second and third years. They were brilliant because I was able to pursue a sport I loved, have some great matches, and meet some lovely people who I hope to stay in contact with beyond my time at QM.
How has your course at Queen Mary helped you to progress into the world outside? What’s next?
I have studied a variety of literature, which has broadened my reading tastes and that leaves the field very open in terms of publishing jobs that I can (and would like to) apply for. Some publishing jobs are for specific genres of novels, and I feel that I am in a good position to apply for them because of my course. My course has improved my confidence in suggesting ideas in seminars, which were “safe spaces” in which no idea or perspective was wrong, and no question was irrelevant or deemed stupid. In addition, my course has enhanced my public speaking skills as I had to articulate my thoughts in a clear manner, and some assignments were presentations or leading seminars.
Aside from course content what have been your favourite elements of the experience of studying here as a whole?
Getting involved with the student media outlets CUB Magazine and The Print have been thoroughly enjoyable. They were run by some fantastic editors who were very friendly, and were always open to suggestions and new ideas for articles. There was a lovely communal feel amongst the team members of these publications, and I really felt like I was part of a little family. The social sessions of badminton were such fun! I had some really competitive matches with some great people who I hope to stay in contact with beyond my time at QM.
Tell us about your life outside Queen Mary including any projects you work on, ambitions you have or jobs.
In the summer between my second and third years, I obtained a publishing internship, which has equipped me with invaluable experience with which to apply for publishing jobs. I was given good grounding in the end-to-end publishing process and some office admin experience, which is always useful to put on your CV.
What could be improved to enhance future students’ experience at Queen Mary?
Changing the timetable in such a way that would make 1 day per week available for people to pursue other interests, such as sports and society activities. Some of these events took place when students had classes, meaning they could not take part in a sports club or society activity.
Are you a committed, motivated and talented young person 18+?
Pitch is proud to be partnering with Sky Marketing Group on an exciting project offering opportunities to talented young people looking to take their first steps into the creative industry.
Pitch are looking for a diverse mix of original creative ideas people, confident organised people, lovers of technology people, to apply for live vacancies, internship placements or apprenticeship schemes in Sky Marketing and Sky Creative Agency. No qualifications needed, training will be given and all opportunities are paid.
The application process is super simple: all you need to do to apply is to share your story (life journey so far) as either a written 250-word biography, a 5-minute mobile-phone filmed piece or a 5-minute interview Podcast interview. Please also include your longer-term aspirations and career goals.
Successful talent will be invited to the Pitch Our Stories Open Day on July 4th 2019 at Sky HQ in Osterley, where you will learn more about Sky Marketing and Sky Creative Agency and get the chance to apply for a variety of roles at our open day.
Please submit your story at the link below by Monday 24th of June 2019
Hate speaking in public? Build your confidence with this interactive workshop aiming to enhance your communication competence with Andrea Cox from Careers team.
The most boring subjects
imaginable live and in 3D. But seriously, tax can be complicated so come
and get this guide for beginners to the world of work.
A beatbox workshop for young people with Conrad Murray (Artistic Director of BAC Beatbox Academy) using Frankenstein as a stimulus.
Opportunities
Take
part in a large-scale outdoor show on Roman Road!
Ever wondered what it’s like to work with an international street theatre company? Well here’s your chance! To take part you must be available to attend the following: Rehearsal Fri 28 June 6pm-10pm and Show Sat 29 June 7pm (for a 9:30pm start). No previous experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in! Interested? Contact Elizabeth on 07899 893935 / Elizabeth@festival.org to sign up!
Next in our series of meeting our students we meet Ndumiso Peter known as Dee who sums up themselves with this:
Sometimes I write, other times I direct, and most times I am thinking about “who the hell are we?”.
Tell us about your time at QMUL. What have been your highlights?
I have enjoyed my time at QMUL. A few highlights have been learning about the things that would never cross your mind like the poetics of archives, and also, spaces within spaces within gallery spaces.
How has your course at Queen Mary helped you to progress into the world outside? What’s next?
The BA Drama course has equipped me with a great research foundation, and what’s next is an MA in Theatre and Performance because somebody has to think about ‘scratch’.
Aside from course content what have been your favourite elements of the experience of studying here as a whole?
QMTC. Though I never joined, I have enjoyed watching shows come together in incredibly tight circumstances.
Tell us about your life outside Queen Mary including any projects, ambitions or jobs you’ve had.
Outside of QM I have written three plays (SALT, 42 Hollow Knocks, and Communion). I have started a creative writing circle called ‘The Moon and Her Daughters. What else have I done? Oh, I have worked at a cafe the entirety of my degree. How fun! Currently working on staging one of my players at one of London’s many stages.
What could be improved to enhance future students’ experience at Queen Mary?
PhD candidate Ben Walters has recently hosted an event called Dr. Duckie at Royal Vauxhall Tavern to explain his work around the legendary performance company and his theory around the power of queer fun.
Hay Festival our very own Jerry Brotton will be in conversation with Germaine Greer on 27 May. If you’re getting inspired by the festival why not extend your knowledge in literature and culture with our MA in English Literature.
We celebrate the 500th anniversary of
the death of the incomparable Renaissance man – artist, scientist,
inventor and lover. Brotton and Fletcher are Renaissance historians,
Critchlow is a neuroscientist and Greer is a scholar and art historian.
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most inspiring figures of European
history.
Join us for a FREE Noughts & Crosses (Malorie Blackman) panel event that asks questions like: ‘What wider questions does this production raise about drama and power? How is drama power for you?’. Join Esther Richardson (Director of Noughts & Crosses) and cast members, Drama academics and students from Queen Mary University of London to discuss and explore the powers of Drama. Book here
The panel includes: Heather Agyepong (Sephie, Noughts and Crosses), Esther Richardson (director, Noughts and Crosses), Gail Babb (QMUL and Goldsmiths lecturer and theatre producer, Talawa), Avaes Mohammed (poet, playwright, performer), Dee Ndlovu (QMUL Drama student and theatre maker).
Join us for inspiring mini talks in the park at this free festival which has top street food, stalls and free activities.
Our line up talking about studying and working in the creative industries includes comedian Ahir Shah (BBC3, Live at the Apollo), writer Ayisha Malik, Masterchef winner Natalie Coleman and more pictured above. RSVP here
Is your English teacher always telling you to refer to
literary and historical context but you’re unsure what this looks like in
practice? Have you heard that there are theoretical and philosophical
approaches to texts but aren’t confident using them yourself? Do you wish you
knew more about the Gothic genre and how this could link to more contemporary
genres, such as Science Fiction?
Three outstanding academics, from Queen Mary’s School of
English and Drama, are here to help.
An expert in the body and technology in contemporary
culture, Zara Dinnen, a specialist in the Gothic across the nineteenth century,
Sam Halliday, and an expert in Romanticism with interests in theory and
philosophy, Shahidha Bari, will be unpicking issues around context, theory,
genre and ‘Frankenstein’. They will share their expertise on context, theory
and genre, to unpack how the text could have been received then and how readers
receive it now. They will discuss different frameworks that can be used to
interpret this seminal text, and demonstrate to you what it looks like to apply
those frameworks in practice.
You will leave this event with a better sense of how to
use literary and historical context to develop your analysis of this text; and
you will leave knowing what it would be like to study English at Queen Mary,
where diversity of ideas is at the heart of what we do.
It promises to be the type of lively and engaging
discussion our School of English and Drama is known for!
Queen
Mary University of London presents Show
and Tell, a podcast recording of over 10 inspiring mini talks from
current students and special guests on studying and working in the creative
industries.
Discover
the insider secrets to working in the arts, humanities and social sciences and
hear young people with something to say from one of London’s most inclusive
universities.
Show
and Tell has been running for 2 years at Queen Mary with over 35 speakers from
TV producers, award-winning writers, researchers and journalists inspiring over
300 people to enter these industries.
LINE
UP
Alain English: Scottish actor, writer,
autism advocate and performance poet.
Ayisha Malik: Ayisha Malik is author of
this year’s CityReads London book, ‘Sofia
Khan Is Not Obliged’ (often called ‘The Muslim Bridget Jones’), ‘The
Other Half of Happiness’ and upcoming novel, ‘This Green and Pleasant Land’.
She is also the ghost writer for Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya
Hussain’s adult fiction.
Ahir Shah: Ahir Shah (BBC Three, Live at the
Apollo) is a stand-up comedian and writer based in London. He has been twice
nominated for Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, in 2017 and 2018.
Gabriel Krauze: QMUL English
graduate and ‘estate-noir’ author Gabriel Krauze (Vice) has just signed with
publisher 4th Estate publish his first novel ‘Who They Was’. Gabriel
Krauze grew up in London in a Polish family and was drawn to a life of crime
and gangs from an early age. Now in his thirties he has left that world behind
and is recapturing his life through writing.
Mile End Community Project: MCP will
show their Chicken Film, which explores the fried chicken shop phenomenon in
Tower Hamlets and provided insight into what fried Chicken means to different
communities.
Nadia Valman: Dr Nadia Valman is a literary
historian at Queen Mary University of London who has led various public
projects including on the history of Jewish people in the East End, The Royal
London Hospital and Brick Lane.
Natalie Coleman: Natalie
Coleman was winner of MasterChef in 2013. Since winning MasterChef Natalie
Coleman has worked with some of the UK’s best restaurants including Le Gavroche
(Michel Roux Jr) and is currently the head chef at immersive dining concept in
Waterloo, Hello Darling.
Plus: Five current
students will give their creative manifestos for the future: Blanka Plocha,
Aamir Ayyub, Simone Hazanavicius-Lovisone, David Mitchell and Saramarie Harvey.
About
All Points East: In the Neighbourhood
Bank Holiday Monday 27 to Thursday 30 May 2019 | Opening Hours: 10am –
9.30pm daily
Four days of Free Entry and Free Activities in Victoria Park
Four days of FREE entry and a host of FREE
activities across BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY and HALF TERM WEEK: Outdoor Cinema, Live
Music, Creative Workshops, Street Food, Pop Up Bars, Panels & Talks, Sports
& Wellbeing, Family Activities AND LOADS MORE FOR ALL THE FAMILY.
Queen Mary has just subscribed to online support service Big White Wall. It’s available for students and staff 24/7 and there are trained professionals on the platform who can help.
If you have a mental health condition, it is important that you register with a doctor so you can access the necessary support and medicine you may need. In order to ensure that you access all the support you need during your studies, please also make an appointment (preferably before the start of your studies) with the Mental Health Coordinator to discuss what can be put in place for you. Email dds@qmul.ac.uk or call 020 7882 2756.
If you’re in crisis or just need to know where to go next please come and talk to trained Mental Health First Aiders. In the School of English and Drama there are lots of us including Rupert Dannreuther and Suzi Lewis in the School office.