I stumbled into student theatre somewhat by chance. I had every intention of pursuing it when I arrived in Cambridge, of course, but little idea about how to actually get involved. It might easily have slipped onto a list of things to think about later in the year, when I was more settled. As it was, I went to the ADC on a tour with a friend, and someone asked me if I wanted a drop-in slot to audition for a freshers play. I had in no way at all prepared – but I said yes.

I was lucky that this opportunity presented itself to me before I knew anything about the theatre scene or its internal workings. I knew it was a stab in the dark, but I hadn’t been infected with the idea that holds so many back – that I wasn’t the right kind of person, or didn’t know the right kind of people, that I wasn’t part of the ‘in crowd’. It was a freshers play after all, specifically designed to help integrate beginners into this world. I wish we could all go back to that state of innocence, and channel the same blind confidence.

“I wonder sometimes how much talent we must be sleeping on”

I wonder sometimes how much talent we must be sleeping on. I have friends who love theatre, who are talented and enthusiastic, who would bring so much to production and get so much out of it, who are yet to make any foray into this world. When it’s so complex and overwhelming, and so easy to miss when openings are offered, I think it’s imperative that we make newcomers feel welcome in this wonderful community. I can easily imagine how it might have gone: if I hadn’t had that chance so early on, more and more time would have passed, and I would’ve felt increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of taking the first plunge. Being a newbie feels less and less cute the longer you leave it. Freshers plays do stretch their definition of ‘freshers’ to include all newcomers to Cambridge theatre, but I’m not sure that’s well-publicised or normalised enough to make a real impact. Wouldn’t it be great if we treated every play like a freshers play, and actively invited first-timers (beyond maybe a quick note on an audition pack)?

I remember someone explaining to me what Camdram even was for the first time (in the middle of the run of that first show). How is anyone expected to become a part of things if no one gives you crucial information like that? I felt like I was behind already. Where are the induction events where someone explains to you that casting calls and information about every show in Cambridge are stored on one database, or that there are two main venues that show two shows nearly every night each week, or even what the word ‘prod’ means? If you don’t know any of that, no wonder you might feel disconnected and intimidated.

“We need to break out of that comfortable and dangerous rhythm, and fresh meat is the only way”

And of course, the same names come up again and again, in show after show. Community is a beautiful thing, but it does become slightly ridiculous (if inevitable) when basically everyone knows everyone, and people come to just work with their friends (or at the least acquaintances). It’s just easier, isn’t it, when you already know someone’s good and reliable and is on hand to step up and fill a role. But we need to break out of that comfortable and dangerous rhythm, and fresh meat is the only way – or else things will stay insular and exclusive, and we still won’t make the most of the talent on our doorsteps to build the richest scene we can. But if you don’t like how insular this world is, yet haven’t really tried to break in, then it’s also down to you to make change happen. You should be that different name on the cast list that no-one’s seen before.

So I’m here to tell you to go to that audition. It doesn’t matter if you’ve already been here for years, or you know nothing about Camdram, or no one you’ve ever heard of has anything to do with the production – talent deserves to be recognised, and there’s a good chance it will be. It’s a cliché, but the worst that can happen really is a ‘no’, which can be a serious blow, but I promise that every audition experience is valuable (a mantra I’ve had to call on my fair share of times). All that’s needed is a chink in the wall to help you break in – as it turns out, the directors of my first freshers play cast me in another show this term. Until we can really overhaul the nepotism problem, you might as well find a way to play the system.