Nishna Mehta studied MA Theatre for Young Audiences, and graduated in 2020. We caught up with Nishna and asked her to share her experiences of studying at Rose Bruford College and how her education has helped her to succeed in the industry.

 

What did you like most about studying at Rose Bruford College?

The faculty were second to none. I could see passion in each of them. They all wanted to pass on their practice and keep the practice alive.

How has your course helped you to get to where you are today?

Before joining the course, I already had 8 years of field experience working in theatre for young audiences with Gillo Repertory Theatre.
I looked at the course as a networking opportunity and it certainly worked for me in this way as it opened so many doors including Erasmus funding that helped to push me forward by doing an internship with the Comedia Theater in Germany. I worked on quite a few festivals in Germany and went on to do research in theatre for young audiences festival landscape, focusing on how to make venues inclusive and green.

As part of the course, we volunteered with the International Inclusive Arts Network (IIAN). It was a fantastic opportunity that Jeremy provided and the start of my inclusive theatre career. A practice I’ve since brought back to India.

There’s a music school in India who recently reached out wanting someone to help train students in theatre the school. There were so many parallels between what they were looking for with what I did at college. It took me right back to working with Jeremy and discovering actor musicianship and musicality.

One of my goals is to start my own company and adopt the practices I learnt abroad, to my context. At the moment I am functioning as a freelancer.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Before I joined Rose Bruford College, I was a performer and technician. I hadn’t explored the artist educator element. I have since started working with a special school called The Gateway School of Mumbai as their Creative Consultant. Making theatre with the kids. This has been a significant turning point in my career after leaving college.

How have you stayed connected to Rose Bruford College since graduation?

I’ve mostly kept in contact with Jeremy and Caleb Lee, a research associate who introduced me to Jeremy. I’ve done quite a few projects for Caleb in the last few years with IIAN and ASSITEJ, so the connections I made at college continue to be as important today as they were then.

What would you say to a student who is thinking of applying for your course today?

I’d say be open to all kinds of training and input that comes your way. Think about the fact you are a performer for young audiences and don’t label yourself solely as an actor or a musician. Any and every part of the performance and performance making training will come in handy when you step into the real world.

Pick three words to describe Rose Bruford College

Safe-space, opportunity, experimental

Find out more about Nishna

@nishnamehta

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