Finding his community and a sense of belonging, Jordan Lam tells us about how he couldn't imagine his time at UCL without Musical Theatre Society
Finding my community
I came from from Hong Kong and moved to the UK in 2021.
I would say when I first came here, I was definitely a bit shy. I was in my own world because I'd been in Hong Kong for 17 years so it definitely took me some time to adjust.
Being part of Musical Theatre Society has really helped me come out of my shell, and I have found a common interest with everyone there.
The community is so accepting too, and this has really helped with my mental health. I've built such an incredible support network.
I have such an amazing group of friends that I can rely on outside of Musical Theatre - I definitely think the greatest achievement is the community that we've built in musical Theatre this year.
My biggest highlight
A definite highlight is our range of performances this year.
We staged seven full-scale musical productions (Chess, Lift, The Producers, Carrie, Beauty and the Beast, If/Then, and See it Say it Sorted) and organized five concert-style showcases.
Notably, two productions (Chess and The Producers) were staged at the Bloomsbury Theatre. These events provided 380 performance and production opportunities for our members, and entertained 2,568 audience members!
Lastly, some of the best moments are walking into rehearsals, especially group ones, seeing everyone having fun singing and dancing.
Gaining global perspectives
Throughout my Presidency, I've been able to collaborate with many people and organisations and I realised, through these experiences, that I do a pretty decent job at understanding others’ perspectives!
I have also been able to gain global perspectives on a variety of things, from social issues to international arts. It prompts you to become more open-minded and a globally minded sort of person.
It is easy to build bridges with people, and this opens new doors and ultimately, makes it easier to work with people.
My advice
If you're thinking of joining Musical Theatre Society, my advice would be to DO IT!
People are very nice, so don't be overwhelmed. If you're thinking of joining Musical Theatre Society, come to our socials and see if it's for you.
If you're thinking of joining a society, but you're not quite sure Musical Theatre Society is for you, do not worry, there are so many societies for you to find your place in.