PhD Theatre Studies student Noah is driven by a love of theatre and using art as a vehicle to address societal issues. His theatre company strives to create and deliver impactful work that can evoke discussion, challenge preconceptions, and bring about positive change.
How it started...
I have always loved theatre and writing my own plays, but my parents were keen that I gained a solid academic grounding at university. I headed to Ithaca College in New York for an undergraduate degree in Communications Management and Design, with a minor in Theatre and Business Administration. Upon completion I knew I wanted to progress to postgraduate study, but this time focusing on my passion.
I initially came to Essex from my home in Jacksonville, Florida to study for a Masters in Script Writing. After researching a wide range of options for study in the UK, Essex appeared to offer everything I wanted – and it didn’t disappoint. The expert teaching and encouragement I received throughout my Masters spurred me on to progress to a PhD in Theatre Studies, with a concentration on Playwriting.
Despite holding a full-time study visa, which limits me to working 20 hours-a-week, I have taken every opportunity to immerse myself in university life at Essex. Alongside my studies, I work on-campus as a Student Ambassador, Lakeside Theatre’s Duty Manager, and Outreach Ambassador. I also volunteer for the Students’ Union as LGBTQ+ Community Officer.
Business development
Pants Off is an LGBTQ+ Theatre Production company. My mission is to produce radically new and experimental LGBTQ+ theatre which affirms our identity, fights homophobia, and envisions a queer utopia.
I view theatre as a means to educate and challenge preconceptions. I am driven to create work that is immersive, honest, makes people think and question themselves. The works needs to be brave, bold, and authentic. I want to make noise, make a statement, and if that makes some people feel uncomfortable then I have done my job.
Theatre is a business. If you don’t sell tickets, you won’t be making the art you want to make. You can’t simply be creative, you must be a jack-of-all-trades – actor, writer, director, producer, teacher, technician, promotor, administrator. While I didn’t enjoy the business administration element of my undergraduate degree, I’m now able to reflect and appreciate the foundation it awarded me to manage projects and pitch my business within multidisciplinary settings.
Working with Essex Startups
It was one of my academic supervisors that made me aware of the Essex Startups team. I signed up to participate in a Dragon’s Den event, where I pitched my business idea and was awarded my first investment. I then began receiving regular mentoring from the team and in May this year I was presented with The Mastermind award at their Student Showcase, providing me with my second business investment.
The team has instilled in me the importance of offering a multifaceted service. I have been able to consider enhancing my approach to reach wider audiences and revenue streams, such as discounted group bookings, corporate training, theatrical masterclasses, and scriptwriting workshops. As a creative it’s easy to become consumed by the art and the message you’re trying to convey with it, but if this is your sole focus and it doesn’t land with the audience then you’re in trouble. It’s vital you have backup from other dimensions of your business to ensure sustainability.
In June, I participated in the Summer Bootcamp and then spent the summer months working to build my business plan, submitting each section for feedback from the team. It was a demanding but rewarding process, equipping me with the knowledge and confidence to seek investment to fund future productions. The ongoing support from Essex Startups has helped me to refine my theoretical business knowledge and apply it to the real-world challenges I face as a founder.
How it’s going…
My focus over the past few months was preparing for Colchester Fringe Festival. I was involved in three of the performances in this year’s programme, including a brand-new piece written and performed by me called Pup Play: A Queer Pseudo-Lecture (of sorts). This in-your-face piece, exploring queer empathy through audience engagement, has been a labour of love. I initially encountered resistance when submitting the show for inclusion in Colchester Fringe, as it was felt that the content could be too challenging for local audiences. However, I confronted the issue and was successfully added to the bill, as it is my fundamental belief that activism and education through art should be encouraged as it has a positive impact on communities. Pup Play has since been booked for other art festivals, so I’m excited for people to see it.
I never say no, it’s my biggest struggle. I hate feeling as though I’m wasting time, so tend to cram every waking moment with activity. I get bored easily and find that I’m more efficient when I have lots of different things to focus on, which I realise borders on contradictory! Having been past the brink of burnout previously, I started this year determined to set myself some ground rules to avoid overwhelm. I decided I would focus my time on five areas – creating theatre (but one play at a time!), my PhD, family, LGBTQ+ officer duties, and my jobs.
What’s next…
I’m focusing on the now. I never seem to stop, but I see it as making the most of my educational experience and a privilege to have the freedom to dedicate time to creative and community endeavours. I have two new plays in the works and Pup Play is touring around the UK. Up next, Glasgow International Comedy Festival in March 2025!
I am due to complete my PhD studies next year, at which point there will be decisions for moving forward. I would love to stay in the UK, so will be exploring the best graduate visa option to register my business as a Community Interest Company. Once I have my PhD, I could also teach, but I’m keen to remain open to all possibilities and decide what is right for me in the moment.
Words of wisdom…
Nobody is going to do it for you, you need to be motivated to put the work in yourself. Essex Startups will support you to solidify your idea and find solutions to problems that arise, but you need to dedicate the time and effort to bring it all to life.
Always get a contract.
We say in theatre, it’s not if something goes wrong, it’s when something goes wrong. Things will always go awry, regardless of the preparation, it’s important to accept it as part of the process. It is the beauty of live theatre. By working through the problems that arise you’ll be able to appreciate the things that go well and take pride in your achievements.
Don’t take no for an answer. There will always be people who don’t believe in your business and don’t understand what you’re trying to achieve, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. You just need that one chance, one opportunity, one person who completely gets it. So many people said no to my current work, Pup Play, but so much good is now coming from the faith and trust shown by that first endorsement it makes me more determined to ensure it’s a success. We’ve raised over half a grand for charity thus far and have impacted many people. If anything, those nay-sayers are now coming to me telling me how surprised they were it was good. Backhanded, sure, but it’s nice to prove them wrong. If you believe in your work, someone somewhere will too.
Don’t stop for anything.
Find out more
If you have a potential business idea, or are interested in developing your business skills, find out more about the training, events and support Essex Startups offers to current students and recent graduates.
