Photography by Claudia Hodgkinson
“Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind”
In an intimate theatre in Waterloo, a small team of UAL students created two nights of music and laughter with their charismatic adaptation of the cult classic Footloose. This was their second production as a society, following Legally Blonde last year, and the pre-show chatter of fellow students and proud families held an air of anticipation.
Gender swapped characters and real commitment from every student to their role meant that every character stood out. Cesca Villanueva Goodhind switched seamlessly between different versions of Ariel Moore, Melissa Stewart was outstanding as Rusty, and Emmy Margaret Dobson undoubtedly drew a tear from some audience members with her emotive take on Vi Moore. Gab Rogerson gave Ren McCormack a charming and amusing portrayal, making sure to include the part in Footloose’s stage adaptations where Ren awkwardly glides around the stage in roller-skates.
The entire team have clearly put countless hours after class into this production, and this effort overrides any limitations a uni society budget must have enforced on them.
With costumes being handmade by vice president Roisin as well as some students taking on multiple roles within the production (for example Goodhind – who played the part of musical director as well as main character Ariel), this production is an ode to escaping your comfort zone and having fun with it.
University societies have been a thing for over 200 years, and with recent controversial changes to UAL like the threatened closing of the Darkroom student bar, this is as good a time as any to show everyone the value in student run organisations.
Societies like the drama society are integral parts of student life, not only fostering talent but also nurturing community. In a city as big as London and at a university with multiple campuses this is a way for many young people to find their feet and gain confidence which will last a lifetime.
Confidence was definitely gained throughout the runtime of Footloose (an impressive two hours), with strong vocal performances from the entire cast and seamless set changes courtesy of the stage managers. A highlight was the rendition of Learning to Be Silent by Dobson, Goodhind and Lili Chevin (who played Ethel McCormack), which ended in boisterous applause from the audience.
It would also surely be wrong not to mention Fuad Kamil – whose performance as Reverend Moore was both highly dedicated and incredibly nuanced. Every time ‘Reverend Moore’ stepped on stage it was clear that the story was in good hands. I would not be surprised to see some of the drama society’s members on bigger stages in the future.
Clearly you do not need a big stage to put on a good show though. What many societies show is the art of perseverance and the unparalleled enjoyment that can be drawn from feeling free to express yourself and revel in your interests. This society and others like it will only get better from here, and with continued support for our student union who knows how many more societies UAL will have in a few years. It will certainly be interesting to see which performance the drama society chooses next year; hopefully equipped with even more enthusiastic members.
Whether you’re a theatre kid, a Letterboxd addict or just someone who enjoys the spotlight, the drama society will have you singing, dancing and acting your way into your very own found family trope. The admiration every member held for their peers was painted across their faces during curtain call and speeches, demonstrating a real sense of belonging. If you’re a student looking for a purpose or just some good old-fashioned fun, the drama society could be the place for you!
Leave a Reply