Shakespeare Company: Welfare Officer

Hello!! I’m Leah, and I’m a second year BA History of Art student. I’ve been a member of Shakespeare society since I joined the uni, and would love to be able to help it progress and thrive next academic year.

I had interacted with Shakespeare very little before I came to UCL, but through the society I was granted so many opportunities, and have met so many lovely people I have through doing shows, attending workshops etc., and I would aim to encourage others to ‘step out their comfort zones,’ and to ensure Shakespeare society is an open, comfortable space in which people are able to do so.

As welfare officer, my primary aim would be to ensure the society is a consistently inclusive, welcoming space. Shakespeare can (understandably) be a pretty daunting thing to approach, and I would plan to work on increasing active membership with the society through ensuring everyone (whether they’re existing or new members) feels welcomed, wanted and valued within the society.

Thanks for reading my spiel, I hope it was convincing! And please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions (or if you want to know about the 12th century wall I'm posing with in my photo)

Leah :)

Hi! I'm Aruanna, a first-year BA Creative Arts & Humanities student, and I have greatly enjoyed being a part of the Shakespeare Society. I have worked on the 2024 Shakespeare Festival and currently working on 'A Yorkshire Tragedy', as well as being a part of the Drama Society's small show 'The Philanthropist' and the upcoming New Writing Festival, and I hope to continue my work on future UCL productions. Having done theatre professionally before as a stage manager, co-director, and performer, I understand how physically and emotionally demanding the production process can be, and the importance of having support.

As your Welfare Officer, I am committed to fostering an environment of compassion, support, and opportunity for all individuals. I aim to ensure that the society is easily accessible and welcoming to new members. I hope to engage with the community and ensure their mental and physical safety both during the productions and outside. Make sure that each production offers opportunities for people of all backgrounds and, especially, for people of colour. My priority is to maintain the values of the society and to keep a safe environment for people to reach out if they need help or are dealing with any welfare-related issues, no matter the size. 

I am dedicated to serving with integrity, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to the well-being of our community. I wish for all of us to have fun and enjoy the process of making Shakespeare come alive on stage!