Skills developed in the theatre & arts will last a lifetime – they can help to build your confidence, socialise, build teamwork and collaboration skills, help creative thinking, problem solving skills and so much more. Cambridge is alight with arts, culture, and theatre groups to be involved with and even if you just want to take part recreationally, you are likely to benefit from some skills development. Activities in these areas often include meeting and organising people, projects and normally with last minute changes to the plan, helping you to be agile in your thinking and adaptable. Perhaps you enjoy reading and editing other people’s work, or writing your own pieces as a chance to expand your writing and evaluation skills outside of your study? A chance to write for a blog or student newspaper or manage a student journal will help. Read on to find out the range of skill development available in this area.
If you are interested in learning more about your current skills, you can evaluate your skills using the ‘Skills Discovery’ tool, accessible via your CRSID.
Society & committee activities to support progress
- Blog writing
- Student publication - editing
- Student publication - writing
- Theatre & Arts - acting
- Theatre & Arts - creative role (costume, set design & construction)
- Theatre & Arts - leadership role (directing, producing)
- Theatre & Arts - lighting & sound
- Theatre & Arts - organisation role (marketing, publicity)
- Theatre & Arts - stage management
- Theatre & Arts - technical direction
Core skill areas developed in theatre & arts activities
Leadership and management skills
Presentation, negotiation and influencing skills
Writing, analytical and reporting skills
Specific skills that can be developed in these core areas
- Active Listening
- Asking the right questions
- Communication
- Complex problem solving
- Courage and risk taking
- Crafting an inspiring vision
- Creativity and imagination
- Decisiveness
- Editorial
- Goal monitoring, adjusting, and evaluating
- Grit and persistence
- Interpretation
- Judgement and decision making
- Originality
- Project management
- Reasoning, problem solving and ideation
- Strategic planning
- Teamwork
- Time management and prioritization
- Transferring knowledge to different contexts
- Understanding biases
- Working with accuracy
- Work-plan development
How to find opportunities in Cambridge
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Learn more about the opportunities to be involved with all aspects for theatre with the ADC Theatre (entirely run by students)
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Ask what arts events are happening within your, or other, colleges – for example Christ College’s Life Drawing classes (open to all)
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Student newspaper: editors and writers: Varsity (News, Science, Theatre, Culture, etc.), The Cambridge Student, and The Tab.
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Zines & publications organised under the CUSU
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Journals: editor (editorial: review, copyedit, and coordinate with authors), usually for postgraduate students, contributors (writing skills, editorial, accuracy and time management - deadlines)
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Examples:
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Central and Eastern European Affairs Review (publishes short essays on history, politics, economics, culture, etc)
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Archaeological Review from Cambridge The Archaeological Review from Cambridge is a bi-annual non-profit journal managed and published on a voluntary basis by researchers at the University of Cambridge
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Scroope, the annual architecture journal – managed and edited by PhD students
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Radio and TV: CU-TV and the University’s radio station, Cam FM (presented by university members and offering training in many aspects of radio).
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Visit the Centre for Music Performance, which is at the heart of all music activities in Cambridge. Their pages give you access to opportunities for beginner, advanced and intermediate levels of skill
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Create or join an established blog as a writer, contributor, or editor
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Join one of the many creative/media/performance related societies at Cambridge, search via the CUSU
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Take part in Cambtweet (UG students from all degrees regularly tweeting on their day-to-day activities and answering questions of prospective students)
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Research performing arts, theatre and drama groups in your college (usually on the Student Life pages)
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Use CamDram to find adverts for actors’ auditions and other roles on upcoming shows. It lists past shows and also has valuable tips on getting involved and put on shows.
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ADC Theatre ‘Get involved in Acting’
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Explore the traineeship, volunteering and other opportunities with University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden
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Join the team at the Watersprite Film Festival as a volunteer or as art of the organisation team to gain skills in the creative industries that translate across