University of Reading students in the limelight

Friday, 05 March 2010

Dr Teresa Murjas, Lecturer in Theatre from the Department of Film, Theatre and Television, and twelve students recently performed a run of little-known Polish play, Ashanti, in the POSK Theatre, Hammersmith, and then the Bob Kayley Studio Theatre here at the University.

This year Ashanti was the play of choice for ‘The Bulmershe Production' - a yearly ‘research slot' for FTT staff pursuing research by theatre practice.  The success of the productions is entirely due to the participation of student actors and technicians. This year, Teresa worked with nine student actors and three student technicians, from a range of year groups, studying a range of degree combinations. This extra-curricular project has enabled them to participate in original work and make connections with their peers. The opportunity to perform at POSK, which houses a fully-equipped professional theatre space and lies at the centre of the UK British-Polish community, has allowed them to connect with a diverse audience, work in a professional environment and represent the University within a broader social context.

This academic year several articles about Teresa's books and practice as research have appeared in the Polish daily newspaper ‘Dziennik Polski', which has an estimated UK readership of 35,000, indicating the extent to which the work of Reading students is being viewed in a positive light. One reviewer of the performances said: "The productions staged by the University of Reading at POSK Theatre are, at every glance, a feast for the eyes and the spirit. In fact it is difficult to describe fully the effect of watching classics of Polish drama performed with such enormous professionalism by students and invested with a huge amount of dedication and effort."