Xiaohongshu
This year, UCL turned 200. Two centuries ago, we became the first university to admit students regardless of religion or social background, and the first to welcome women into higher education alongside men.
So how do you tell a story 200 years in the making? With a musical, of course.
UCL! The Musical: Two hundred years of history. One catastrophic mistake. Twenty-four hours to save UCL.
Created entirely by UCL students and recent alumni, many of whom found their love of theatre, writing and performance right here on campus.
So how did they approach it? We spoke to lyricist and composer Eve Edwards and writer Sophie Eaton about their creative journeys, what drew them to the project, and why bringing UCL's history to life on stage was simply too good an opportunity to turn down.
For both Eve and Sophie, UCL has been more than just a place to study. It's where they found creative communities, developed their craft, and, in Sophie's words, "found their feet". Eve, who graduated this summer in Spanish and Latin American Studies, spent her time at UCL immersed in the arts scene, from live jazz performances to taking her first steps in writing musicals. Sophie arrived in London with dreams of performing, but it was during her time at UCL that she caught what she describes as "the writing bug", alongside acting and directing in student productions.
That shared experience made joining UCL! The Musical an easy yes. For Eve, the project was a chance to celebrate the incredible stories that have emerged from UCL over the last two centuries, while Sophie saw it as an opportunity to give something back to a university that helped shape both her confidence and her career.
"Student-led societies give you the chance to learn so much," Sophie explains. "After such a wonderful experience at UCL, creating something that celebrates the place I am so thankful for felt like the perfect project."
Student-led societies give you the chance to learn so much
When it came to inspiration, the pair drew from some unexpected places. Eve cites Fun Home as a touchstone, particularly for its humour and student-life themes. Sophie, meanwhile, keeps coming back to Paddington.
"It sounds silly," she laughs, "but it's all about finding community and finding your place in London. That felt surprisingly similar to the UCL experience."
Ask them about their favourite part of the process, however, and neither mentions opening night, rehearsals or writing songs. Instead, they both fondly remember the very beginning, when ideas were flying around the room faster than anyone could write them down.
"There were lots of long lunches and conversations about people and stories," says Eve. "Everything was on the table creatively."
"There was a lot of pizza," Sophie adds. "Sometimes we'd spend ten or eleven hours in a room arguing over ideas, but that's honestly one of the most fun parts."
Despite taking very different routes into the arts world, they share similar advice for students looking to get involved during their time at UCL. For Eve, it's about applying for opportunities even when you don't feel quite qualified. For Sophie, it's simpler still:
Be brave. Take the jump.
As for clues about the show itself? The writers remained tight-lipped. However, they did reveal that audiences should keep an eye out for some famous Slade dropouts, and a certain signature drink that may be making appearances in Students' Union cafés this November.
UCL! The Musical comes to Bloomsbury Theatre from 24-28 November. Tickets are on sale now with concession prices for UCL Students and Alumni.