The Director

People think the theatre community is hard to break into but there are infinite opportunities, for non-actors at least, if you look for them. At Freshers’ Fair, I bagged my first stage-managing experience on a sell-out production of Rent and I’ve barely left the ADC since!

As a director, I have an overview of the organisation but would say my main role is to have the overall vision and see it brought to life. I’ve already been in Cambridge for the last two weeks rehearsing A Picture of Dorian Gray and have lots more projects lined up.

I study Biology – which is rare among the drama crowd – but I find it’s easier to juggle directing responsibilities around set lab hours although, inevitably, something always loses out.

The drama scene does get stressful and it’s not unheard of for the techies to pull 32-hour shifts. But everyone’s here for the atmosphere; because they’re dedicated and because they love it – we’re not paid after all! The incredible theatre network makes Cambridge drama second to none.

Perhaps I’ve missed out on getting involved with other things but I know I’d rather choose something I love and put my all into it. Term time is my chance to dabble in theatre – when I graduate, I want to work in Film or TV and, ideally combine my love of science through creating documentaries and Sci-Fi movies. This industry is about getting your name on the map but I’d rather spend my life doing something I adore than just becoming a researcher or doctor for the money.

If I could be like Steven Moffat, the writer of Doctor Who, that’d be my dream!

The Vice President

As a PPS student, academics were never really going to be the biggest priority. In fact, I had a brilliant DoS who advised me that the busier I was, the better I’d work.

Having put her theory to the test, I’d have to agree.

It wasn’t like I’d intended to get so involved with the Union before I got here but I have held a position here since my second term, managing those commitments around being elected as JCR President of Easter Term the same year.

It’s easy to get sucked in by the opportunities but I’m looking forward to holding a more long-term position as Vice President for a whole year, having mainly had to deal with day-to-day concerns in the past.

My role is to provide continuity amongst the termly elections and reshuffles and oversee the long-standing projects.

I did have to give up four weeks of my summer but I enjoy having multiple things going on. I probably should be concentrating more on my work now that this year actually counts towards my degree but, having said that, I’ll still be holding this position through my finals...

It’s fun being able to attend trustee meetings but the major pro to my role is getting to wine and dine the famous speakers and debaters!

I’ve no idea what I’ll do after university, but I do know that I don’t want to be in the City, become a lawyer, or be sucked into management consultancy.

Having volunteered over the summer, maybe I’ll just spend my whole life doing that – who knows? I guess, with no set career aspirations, I’m the odd one out here – at least stereotypically.

But, right now, I’m just really looking forward to the year ahead.

The Sportsman

We’ve just been on tour in Dublin, where we a played a game, started getting to know each other and preparing for the season.

It’s quite full on this term, we’ve only got ten weeks until Varsity (the huge face-off with Oxford), and we’ve got to come together as a team.

We’ve been here since early September, training twice a day, together as a squad of thirty-five. It may sound a lot, but we’re more of a club than a team.We’re best off the pitch, we’re a really tight knit bunch and still an amateur club so we try to keep that relaxed ethos.

There’s always going to be that element of competition, that fierce rivalry to get in the team and get a Blue. Not only because of the prestige and honour that goes with the Blues, but because you’re doing it all for your mates, for team spirit, and winning.

Varsity is going to be everything, it’s what we’re building up for and what we want so much. This term the only thing I really care about is rugby; it’s my social life.

Not to say that we don’t work; rugby gives you a real sense of discipline and timekeeping. It’s not all hard work though, there are some perks that come with the Blues reputation. We’ve got a really good sponsorship deal with Jack Wills, all our new kit has come from them, we get free entry to Life and Cindies, and girls like Blues which is a big plus for some of the guys. We’ve got these new polo shirts and it’s ridiculous, they love it!

The Chorister

Being a choral scholar meant that I had to come back a week early to sing Evensong with chorister alumni at a St. Catherine’s reunion event. During term, we’ll spend an average ten hours a week in rehearsals plus three services a week but I don’t think it affects my work, it just forces me to get it done more efficiently!

You do have to deal with the negative cliché of being a choir-girl – people assuming you’ll be slightly geeky and just generally a bit too keen – and, I suppose some atheists might find the religious nature of the music problematic.

But there are plenty of perks to the dedication I have to show. The college provides free singing lessons and the opportunity to tour in amazing places: Paris, China, Japan...but my favourite was definitely New York. Even performances closer to home can be rewarding – it was really moving to see the patients in a Cambridgeshire dementia unit respond to our music.

Choir tends to attract interesting and creative people from across all year groups but the main advantage is free food! But the weekly formals are a mere warm-up compared to the free five-course dinners!