Impactful works by Drama students tackling themes of loneliness, knife crime, alopecia, body image, rave culture and much more will be unveiled during their end-of-year show.
Jack Wilkin performing during last year's show
Performed throughout De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s PACE building, Exit Souls is an annual festival celebrating the achievements of students across all three years of the course and the range of practices that they produce.
Taking place on Tuesday 22 May, the show gives students the chance to take centre stage, as well as to work backstage on all technical aspects including stage management, lighting and sound.
Industry professionals, friends, family and local audiences can enjoy an exciting programme of performances, as well as a sit-down show, which will bring together a collection of works such as the staging of play extracts and devised performances.
Final-year student Jack Wilkin is performing a live art piece exploring his camp identity and the life experiences which he believes shaped it.
Bex Woodford getting messy on stage last year
The 21-year-old from Cambridge said: "It's a stand-up comedy piece which looks at what I call the spectrum of campness and where I fit into it.
"I draw on childhood memories like those of me and my mum singing to TV adverts together and I also researched the LGBT community locally and internationally. It's by educating myself that I hope to educate the audience.”
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Exploring a topic close to her heart is second-year student Deborah Alabi, who has adapted Debbie Tucker Green's solo drama Random.
"The play follows an ordinary black family in London and shows how their lives are turned upside down by a random act of violence when the brother becomes the victim of knife crime," said the 20-year old from London.
"It's set in Peckham, which is where I used to live, and my family has also been affected by knife crime. I want the want audience to understand that knife crime is devastating and that we need to appreciate those around us right now as you never know when it could all end.”
Last year, Daniel Sykes challenged gender stereotypes
Fresh from his part in The Crucible at Curve theatre, final-year student Calum Harris' performance art piece with course-mate Sophie Jane explores the human body and the pain it goes through to achieve society’s expectations of beauty.
The 21-year-old from Brighton said: "We're performing in a catwalk style with an Adam and Eve theme.
"Our piece is visually strong with bold lighting and flash photography, and the catwalk itself will become the art as we end up painting it with food and other liquids.”
Dr Kelly Jordan, Senior Lecturer in Drama and the event coordinator, said: “Drama BA (Hons) is committed to encouraging and supporting the next generation of practitioners to creatively engage with the ongoing conversations concerning contemporary politics and culture.
“We are thrilled to see that our diverse community of students are passionate about creating work that makes an impact and we look forward to sharing some of their achievements.”
Tickets for the sit-down showcase are available online for free. All other studio performances are free and places are available on a first-come basis.
Follow DMU Drama Studies on Facebook and use #ExitSouls to join the conversation on Twitter.
Posted on Thursday 17 May 2018