artsUCL Season at the Bloomsbury Theatre has officially come to a close, wrapping up a series of unforgettable shows. We're taking a moment to celebrate the productions, artists, performers, stage crew, and team behind it all.
This season bought a fresh and diverse range of student-led productions, featuring bold reinterpretations of Medea and Hedda Gabler, the iconic Chappell Roan’s Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess, and the glorious Sister Act, and more.
Season Highlights
Medea
UCL Drama Society’s production of Medea reimaged Euripides’ classic tragedy, setting the story in colonial India to explore themes of power, identity, and marginalisation through a culturally rich lens. They blended traditional Indian dance, music, and costumes with the story’s timeless narrative of betrayal and revenge, bringing a new level of depth to Medea’s struggle, highlighting both personal and systemic injustices. The production was praised for its inclusive casting, thoughtful cultural consultation, demonstrating how ancient drama can be reinterpreted to resonate powerfully with modern audiences today.
Hedda Gabler
UCL students brought Hedda Gabler to life with a bold, contemporary take on Ibsen’s classic. The production showcased the incredible talent of UCL’s Drama Society, with a cast and crew who transformed the Bloomsbury Theatre stage. The psychological play dives into themes of ambition, power, and the struggle for freedom, following Hedda as she navigates boredom, desire, and societal expectations. Directed by Charis Cheung and produced by Roshni Ray, the play encapsulated Hong Kong in the 1990's, months away from it's handover to the Republic of China, ending 156 years of colonialism.
‘This season we've seen an incredible range of styles and shows, set all over the world - what an exciting roster! A particular highlight has been seeing the great volume of collaborations between societies.'
Ben Francis, Arts Officer
Chappel Roan's Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess
UCL Live Music Society and UCL Stage Crew transformed the Bloomsbury Studio into a Pink Pony Club, bringing Chappel Roan fans together for three nights of music that had everyone singing and dancing along to their favourites. The crew’s creative set design and lighting made the show completely immersive, while behind-the-scenes glimpses on social media gave a taste of the energy, hard work, and dedication that went into bringing the production to life.
Jazz took us to the movies
Jazz Society’s big Bands, small Bands, and choir completely owned the stage with a cinematic concert celebrating movie soundtracks we all know and love. This season, we saw incredible solos and ensembles which brought the intensity of Whiplash and the suave cool of James Bond to life in Jazz Goes to the Movies.
This season was a reminder of why the Boomsbury Theatre is unlike anywhere else; the only student-led theatre in the country, where students are shaping the entire story with fresh new shows and crowd favourites.
Ana Boikova, Activities & Enagement Officer
Closing with Sister Act
Sister Act had it all. Show-stopping songs, hilarious moments, and choreography that had us standing and dancing in the stalls. Watching the cast transform into a powerhouse choir of nuns, belting out iconic hits and giving heartfelt performances, reminded everyone why student theatre at Bloomsbury is so special.
And it wasn’t just on stage... many unforgettable moments were shared on Instagram too, giving us a peek behind the curtain ahead of the show.
What's next?
- Explore what's happening next term and what you can look forward to, including another season of artsUCL shows