Dr Oliver Double, Reader in Drama and Theatre in the School of Arts, has launched a new podcast in which he interviews Kent Drama graduates about their current careers in the arts, how they got there after they graduated, and how studying Drama at Kent helped to equip them for what they do now.
In the first episode, Olly interviews Drama graduates Kristin Bacheva and Luke Stokes of GOLKK Theatre, one of the School of Arts’ Graduate Theatre Companies. Kristin and Luke explain how they came up with the name GOLKK, before discussing such varied topics as becoming established as a company, their music-driven physical theatre style, getting development money, starting to tour, and Bulgarian folk dancing.
The episode featuring Kristin and Luke from GOLKK is available here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-1-golkktheatre/id1500284764
In the second episode, Olly interviews Faith Austin about her current work as Technical and Production Manager at Half Moon Theatre. Working at this legendary children’s theatre is never dull, as it caters to anyone from babies to teenagers, and Faith talks in detail about just how varied and stimulating her job is. She then explains how she went from graduating in 2013 to being appointed at the Half Moon in 2019, a journey which involved taking up every opportunity to do freelance technical work – which she started even as an undergraduate – working with anybody from comedians like Omid Djalili to the puppets of Little Angel Theatre. She stresses the importance of networking, telling us, ‘I basically just kept putting my name out there.’ Finally, she explains how studying Drama at Kent equipped her with the skills she uses in her job today, and offers some advice for those who want to find work in the creative industries.
The episode featuring Faith is available here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-2-faith-austin/id1500284764
In the third episode, Olly interviews TD.Moyo – Tendai to her friends – about her work as a theatre director and playwright working at such prestigious venues as the Royal Court Theatre, the Barbican and the Almeida Theatre, where she is currently a Resident Director. She talks about the particular challenges facing black students, the importance of networking, and dealing with people saying ‘no’ when you’re trying to establish yourself as an artist. She also comes out with the best one-liners, telling us that, ‘The plan is as an activist is to take over’, declaring, ‘I’m not leaving this space until I am artistic director’, and advising us that, ‘You have to enter the space and just do it.’ Her ambition is, if not to change the world, at least to change South London.
The episode featuring Tendai is available here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-3-tdmoyo/id1500284764