The School of Arts' Graduate Theatre Companies (GTC) scheme offers the opportunity to graduating students - undergraduate and postgraduate - to apply to become a graduate theatre company supported and mentored by the Drama department as they establish themselves over a period of 18 months to two years. Their work is regional and has a significant impact working with communities in Kent.
Embracing queer identity through original performance & creating safe spaces for queer communities.
Portrait Theatre make verbatim and documentary theatre, making the unspoken spoken.
Multi-sensory theatre for young people with special educational needs and learning disabilities.
Thought-provoking, playful and eclectic writing, putting womxn at the forefront of our narratives.
UAC creates innovative and experimental theatre that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers.
Discovering our voice as artists was intertwined with our journey of queer self-discovery.
For Bits & Pieces Theatre, studying Drama at Kent and discovering our voice as artists was intertwined with our journey of queer self-discovery. Now, as a Graduate Theatre Company, a key part of our work is to provide workshops and create performance opportunities for local queer artists, allowing us to give back to the community that helped make us into the people we are today.
- Bethany, Brooke and Freddie of Bits & Pieces Theatre
Graduate Theatre Companies work closely with students and staff in Drama and Theatre in the School of Arts. This could include participating in seminars alongside staff and students, or running events to welcome new students.
Each company comprises at least two individuals. They are interviewed and are assessed not just by the School of Arts but colleagues from the Gulbenkian Arts Centre and visiting experts, and are contracted to work alongside staff and students in the School for 18 months.
Academic staff and practitioners in the School help them to develop their work, and many have been successful in securing awards and Arts Council funding.
The School is fortunate to have a large and vibrant alumni community and many of our companies see graduates from previous years partnering with more recent graduates to share their expertise.
