Xiaohongshu
Join three alumni as they share insights from taking their work to the Edinburgh Fringe. Through an informal talk with Arts Officer Ben Francis, they’ll offer practical tips, lessons learned, and behind-the-scenes advice on navigating one of the world’s largest arts festivals!
You'll be hearing about the experiences of...
Ashley, performer
Ashley is a Singaporean actor and singer. At UCL, she was heavily involved in the arts, performing in over 18 productions across Drama, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Live Music, Salsa and Film and TV Societies, serving as the Performing Arts Representative (2023-24), and the Arts Officer (2024-25). During her term as the Arts Officer, she co-created artsConnect to increase arts accessibility, and was eventually recognised with ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Arts’ at the 2025 Arts Awards. In 2025, she - alongside Lewis and Shria - brought the original musical See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical. to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Bloomsbury Festival in London, performing to sold out audiences. After graduating, she continued pursuing acting and was most recently in the UK premiere of the musical Disenchanted! at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre, which will be transferring to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the entirety of August.
Lewis, performer and director
During Lewis’ time at UCL he was involved in many shows both as an actor and director. He began his journey with artsUCL by acting in A Midsummer Nights Dream, he then directed two term shows for UCL Drama Society - How the Light Gets In (Camden People’s Theatre) and Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Theatro Technis). These both led to him directing A Monster Calls at The Bloomsbury Theatre in his final year. Alongside his directing work, he has contributed to various other areas of creative production. In 2023 he was a Young Producer at the Almeida Theatre and the following year he became Head of Productions for the UCL Drama Society. His experience with the Edinburgh Fringe came when he directed and wrote the book for See it. Say it. Sorted. The Musical. This achieved a sold-out run and subsequently went on to be performed in London for The Bloomsbury Festival. Lewis is now working as a production assistant for VineFX.
Shria, producer
Shria Jindal is a London-based creative producer, and current MA Creative Producing student at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Before Central, she studied Comparative Literature at University College London, where she spent far more time in rehearsal rooms, theatres and production meetings than anywhere else on campus. During her time at UCL, Shria produced over 58 productions across drama, musical theatre and new writing, and founded InterACT Festival, a cross-university performing arts festival. She also produced See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical, which went on to sold-out runs at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Bloomsbury Festival, and is since working across producing, production and festival roles with organisations including Paines Plough, The Yard Theatre and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival.
With questions from...
Ben, performer and director
Ben has been involved in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe three times, and is returning this year as the director of Rattlepole! An Improv Shakespeare Show. Having experienced the festival as both a director and a performer, Ben has gained a range of experience and insights from both capacities. Ben is just finishing up his term as Arts Officer at the Students' Union UCL.