UWTSD BA Applied Drama programme inspired graduate to use her skills to teach the next generation
26.01.2022
A BA Applied Drama graduate from The University of Wales Trinity Saint David says the course inspired her to use her skills and expertise to teach the next generation.
Lauren Reilly said she decided to study at UWTSD as the University offered a wide range of unique performing arts courses that caught her eye. She decided to concentrate on the Applied Drama side of the course, as she felt it was a better fit for her career progression as she always wanted to be a teacher.
Lauren said: “The course is incredible, we embarked on numerous explorations, from drama and theatre in education to drama therapy to prison theatre. It was inspiring to study avenues of drama that would have never crossed my mind. It opened my eyes to the world of opportunities other than being on the stage or television.”
Lauren fell in love with theatre and drama in education and being able to teach through the use of drama became a huge passion of hers.
She added: “The course provided us with multiple opportunities to put theory into practice. Not only did we study new and exciting ideas, but we also went into schools and out into the community to bring our work to life.”
For Lauren’s dissertation, she worked with another student from her course where they devised two performance workshops for different environments. Lauren’s workshop was created for a pupil referral unit, focusing on negative behaviours, influences and the consequences.
“The idea was for the students to identify the negativity and make the relevant changes for the characters, the hope was that this piece would inspire them to make those required changes for themselves,” she said.
“It had a considerable impact; some students even recognised their own behaviours in the characters in front of them and openly expressed how they wanted to change. The piece was so powerful, it inspired me to continue my own studies and continue exploring how I could make these impacts as a teacher.”
Lauren is currently studying for her PGCE. Last year, she had the chance to work with lecturer Ali Franks on her teaching placement at UWTSD with first year students on their introduction to the Applied Drama module. During this module, lockdown meant they had to continue learning online which meant that the forum theatre performance the students had been working on face to face was now required to be converted to an online forum theatre performance instead.
This experience according to Lauren, “was incredibly challenging, as it wasn’t something that had really been done before. “The students were fantastic, they worked with Ali and me to ensure this performance could have the same impact online as it would have in person. It went so well, once again, I felt inspired by a new possibility within applied drama,” she said.
Jonathan Pugh, Programme Manager for the BA Applied Drama: Education, Wellbeing Community course said: “Being able to accept graduates back into our teaching rooms to inspire the next generation of practitioners is a great source of pride to the programme team. Lauren brings fresh innovation to her work with the students, whilst grounding her practice in the same modules that they are now studying.
“Collaboration, inspiration, education – it’s everything that BA Applied Drama is about.”
For Lauren, the course has, and is still having a huge impact on her life.
She said: “I was a very different person when I embarked on my university journey, however, I came out the other side enlightened, inspired and open minded. I have achieved so much after my studies, and I am continuing to achieve all thanks to the course.”
Next summer, Lauren will be a qualified lecturer, and says this wouldn’t have been possible to achieve if she hadn’t studied Applied Drama at UWTSD. Lauren is now hoping to continue her learning journey by studying for a PhD.
Further Information
Lowri Thomas, Principal Communications and PR Officer
07449 998476
