Unexpected Items - Hannah Margerison
Today we are speaking with Hannah Margerison, a current student on the Contemporary Performance Practices, Drama, Applied Theatre and Education (DATE) course about her Student Led Project.
Tell us a bit about what you are working on
I’ve been developing a digital project called UNEXPECTED ITEMS as my Student Led Project, which is the penultimate unit of my degree. My work will be included in BUFFERING 2021, which includes two nights of digital sharing and showcasing of our final projects after three years at Central.
What have you been getting up to?
Alongside my dissertation research in audience co-presence and co-spatiality in distanced digital performance, I wanted to create a piece of work that really interrogated space and place in this new, socially distanced world we find ourselves in. I found myself particularly drawn to the supermarket as an interesting place to investigate, as I felt that they’d been key players throughout the pandemic, whilst also often framed as sites of transience and mundanity.
The project I’ve developed is a virtual digital supermarket space which uses audio and visual fragments to reflect on the last 12 months, and the phenomenon of the supermarket more widely.
How has this programme related to your coursework?
This unit, the Student Led Project, traditionally sees us working in small groups to create a 20-minute piece of theatre. We were given the option this year to work both digitally and solo if we wanted, and I elected to do so. Working solo on such a big project at the end of my degree has been incredible, as I’m very aware of the importance of being able to make solo work as an artist, and it’s really given me the creative freedom I hadn’t felt on previous units.
I’ve also found it’s allowed me to think in new and exciting ways about how audiences experience digital work, and the lessons I’ve learnt I’ll definitely be carrying into my future practice, such as accessibility and ethics around site-specific work.
What has surprised you most about your experience?
Whilst I’ve enjoyed working solo, I’ve been surprised at how often I’ve wanted a peer to bounce ideas off or needed a fresh perspective. Working solo is amazing in a lot of ways but I have missed the ‘melting pot’ of ideas that comes with group work, and it’s slightly daunting knowing that the existence of a project lies entirely on your shoulders! But that’s a great learning curve to face at the end of my degree.
How did you find out about Central and decide to study with us?
I had always known about Central from their reputation as a leading drama school. During a workshop at the National Theatre Studio in 2014, there were 3 Drama, Applied Theatre and Education (DATE) students participating and I got chatting to them about the course, so it was always on my radar. After a few years auditioning for acting courses at drama school, I knew my passion lay much more in theatre and education, particularly childrens theatre, so I applied in 2018 and got in!
What are you planning to do after graduation?
I have been lucky enough to secure a job in theatre PR already, so I’ll be joining the wonderful Kate Morley PR as a Press Admin Assistant from 2 June. I am very excited to get started on a new chapter!
If you want to keep up with Hannah, you can follow her on Instagram, @hannahmargee and Twitter, @hjmarge.
