Natasha graduated in 2015 with a MA in Creative Producing. Since then she has worked at the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill and the Southbank Centre as a Marketing Officer, where her main goal has been to drive new audiences to the arts. Alongside marketing, she works as a freelance producer and theatremaker.
What do you value most about your time doing Drama at Kent?
This is a hard question because I enjoyed doing so many things that it’s hard to pin point the most valuable. I guess that would be my answer… I enjoyed the variety that the degree offered. In any one term you could be learning about Shakespeare, Greek Tragedy, Naturalism or Physical Theatre. There were always really interesting subjects to study and I found that really freeing as I’m someone who likes to have multiple ideas occupying my brain.
What advice would you give to first-year student starting a BA in Drama at Kent?
Get involved in other things! It’s good to get stuck into your degree as soon as you begin your university education, however, your first year is one of the only times to truly explore the university experience before you have to get more focused. I signed up to a bunch of extracurricular activities during my first year as a way to learn more about topics that weren’t related to my degree, such as politics, sport and volunteering.
In terms of the degree, make sure you give yourself enough time to do the work properly. I’ve been guilty of one or two (or three or four!) all-nighters and not only are they unsustainable, but you do yourself an injustice because you could achieve much more with a bit more time.
Why did you choose Kent?
As soon as I arrived on campus, I had a positive vibe about the place. It is so open and green. Canterbury is such a beautiful city that felt safe and not too far away from London which is where I’m from. My course was particularly exciting as I got to go abroad for a year and complete a Masters specialising in Creative Producing – something other universities weren’t offering.
In what ways did your degree prepare you for what you’re doing now?
I’m fortunate in that I got a job in a theatre as soon as I graduated so I was using actual knowledge I gained from my degree straight away, such as knowing about contemporary writers, actors and directors, understanding how a theatre is run and funded, and being aware of what’s involved in staging a show.
There are also some really basic transferable skills that my degree prepared me for such as time management, research, lateral thinking, communication and team work. It cannot be stressed enough how important these skills are in most workplaces! Fortunately, doing a degree in Drama prepares you for so much – it’s no wonder I always bump into Kent graduates in the industry.