There are a lot of past-times which are stereotypically associated with students: clubbing, watching daytime TV, napping. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good nap, a TV binge or a dip in the Ocean as much as the next person, but it’s good to get out of the typical student routine and break those stereotypes that the media has of students and that we buy into ourselves too. One way I like to do this is by going to the theatre. Here are 5 reasons why you should become a theatre-going student, or as I like to think of it, a sophisticated procrastinator.
1. Broadening your cultural horizons
University should be about gaining a richer knowledge of the world around us, not just through our studies but through our whole experience. Going to the theatre allows us to engage in culture and question the world around us through thought-provoking plays or dance in our seats to a musical.
2. Escape the university bubble
When you’re a first year, you barely leave campus. When you’re a second or third year you leave campus, but you rarely talk to anyone who isn’t a student. Going to the theatre is a great way to engage with the wider Nottingham community, learning about the local productions and the geography of the city by getting lost between the bus stop and the venue of you that are slightly anti-social, as you can do so without having to talk to anyone.
3. There’s a show pretty much every day of the week
There is basically no excuse not to go to the theatre. Generally, a theatre will show the same play in a week from Tuesday night to Saturday night, with a couple of matinees added in the mix. Whenever you’re free, you can catch a show. My particular favourite are the Thursday matinees, for those times when you’re not feeling lazy enough to have a nap, but you can’t quite hack planning your next assignment.
4. The variety means there is something for you
The theatre is often seen as a pretentious place haunted by drama and literature nuts, but there is something for everyone. Head into the city centre and see a pantomime or a book adaptation at the Theatre Royal, or some comedy or spoken word shows at the Nottingham Playhouse. There are even two venues on campus – the Lakeside Art Centre, which has exhibitions you can have a nosey at before the show, and of course student-run productions at UoN’s Nottingham New Theatre.
5. Student discount
Students often discount the theatre (see what I did there?) as an option because of the price. Actually, prices of tickets for students in Nottingham aren’t West End prices, and you can generally get a ticket for between £10-20 for the city centre theatres and only £5 at the Nottingham New Theatre. For that you’ll receive over 2 hours of hard work from quality actors, directors and stagehands who have created a performance for your entertainment and enrichment.
So next time you’re not sure what to do with yourself on an afternoon or evening, consider going to the theatre. Nottingham is a cultural hub – embrace it. At the very least, your procrastinating will sound a lot more sophisticated.
Edited by Jayde Richards
Sources:
Nottingham Playhouse Picture: http://worldeventyoungartists.com/venue/nottingham-playhouse
Nottingham New Theatre Picture: http://newtheatre.org.uk/about-us/
Theatre Royal Picture: http://www.theatresonline.com/theatres/nottingham-theatres/theatre-royal/