Personally I’m never sure what to think going into results days. I know I’ve a decent track record with them – I’m here, after all! – but as courses get more dense and common, and the knowledge required is substantially deeper, it’s getting harder and harder to know just how well I’ve done.
So rather than fret away the hours approaching the imminent release of scores that, at the end of the day, I have no control over at that stage anyhow, I’ve always tried to keep busy before the day. Previously it’s been holidays or part-time work, but it’s a relatively simple feat to accomplish when you’re at an inspiring place like the University of Southampton and so many opportunities (some might call them “distractions”!) are on offer.
Towards the end of the month I was fortunate enough to go on a trip with the Students’ Union’s Theatre Group to Shakespeare’s Globe, the legendary theatre whose name probably resounds with any literature student. Although it required a fairly early wake-up call (bearing in mind that any time before midday is largely alien to me!) a couple of hot chocolates got my brain in gear. We took a coach to London, with a certain nostalgic aura of a school trip about us – excitement was in the air!
Despite a couple of unfortunate delays, we arrived in time to be greeted by an incredibly enthusiastic and inspiring veteran of the Globe’s stage, Colin Hurley, whose credits include Twelfth Night’s Sir Toby Belch in 2012 and All’s Well That Ends Well’s Lavatch in 2011 amongst many others, as well as numerous appearances on TV and domestic and international tours. Not a bad guide at all!
Colin took us inside the magnificent structure of the Globe, explaining its cultural significance and role in the seventeenth century, before taking us backstage to discuss the procedure and intricacies of costuming and performance preparation. The first-hand details he provided were fascinating, revealing just how much work goes into a successful production. And that was before he invited us to do something we can but dream to replicate one day: emerge from the central doors onto the monumental stage, and actually do some acting and projection work as well! It was unforgettable.
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| Getting on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe was an awesome experience! Photo credit: @SUSUtheatre/@tlsearle |
We also took part in a great workshop on experimenting with these practices and finding meaning in Shakespeare’s words, which even Colin admitted to often being intimidated by, before we finished off the day with a relaxed drink – at The Shakespeare¸ of course! It was a memorable day out and a fantastic distraction from a week which could have otherwise been stressful and full of worry; I’d like to thank Colin, everyone at the Globe and all the Theatre Group organisers for letting me be a part of it.
And, come results day, when I awoke to an email listing my module scores, I had some which surprised me, others which didn’t, but overall a very happy result: a First. Justification if any was needed for a night of celebration to finally close semester one in style, and to look forward to the challenges that semester two should bring.
Because that’s the way with life around here: nothing ever seems to stand still (I’ve never been able to establish any kind of routine!), fresh experiences are constantly on the horizon and there’s always something else around the corner keeping you on the move.
So regardless of what happens, I wish you all the very best for your own results, whether you’ve received them already (hope they what you were looking for!) or are yet to have done so (good luck for when you do!), I think it’s great to remember the future is ours to change.
As Shakespeare himself might say, “All the world’s a stage” – so break a leg, everybody!
Robin
