Student theatre takes centre stage at the Lakeside Theatre

This spring the Lakeside Theatre sees University of Essex students and alumni take centre stage with four brand new shows!

The spring Homegrown season kicks off with Deanna Strasse's BOO!, and Nora J Williams brings A Two Woman Hamlet to our studio theatre too.

The Theatre Arts Society present their spring show, Romeo and Jules: A Rock Opera, and Re-Write 2024 winner, Zarbopulon 5 returns to the Lakeside with a full production.

The Lakeside Theatre is our Colchester Campus performing arts theatre which runs both a public and student arts programme, as well as supporting the development of any Essex student or alumni in their dream to become a performing arts professional.

BOO!

Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 February, 7pm

Paranormal investigations have long been considered pseudoscience at best and outright hoaxes at worst. The Boolievers are attempting to change all that. The team behind this (marginally successful) internet ghost hunting show will use any means necessary to get the evidence and prove once and for all that we are not alone.

Part of our Homegrown season, this performance of BOO! is a staged reading by MA Scriptwriting student, Deanna Strasse.

Find out more about BOO!

A Two Woman Hamlet

Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 March, 7pm

A Two Woman Hamlet takes Shakespeare’s well-known tragedy and asks: what happens if you try to do this with a cast of two in just 60 minutes? This is an unpretentious adaptation, with joys in it for those familiar with Hamlet and those new to the story.

Part of our Homegrown season, this show is produced by Nora Williams and directed by PhD Theatre Studies student, Noah Alfred Pantano.

Find out more about A Two Woman Hamlet.

Romeo and Jules: A Rock Opera

Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March, 7pm

An update on Shakespeare's tragedy with a rocking twist by the Theatre Arts Society.

Set in the long-gone days of 2005, the University of Verona is host to the fierce rivalry between the Montague fraternity, a group of snobbish nerds whose noses are far too deep in their comic books, and the Capulet fraternity, the lunkhead jocks who don’t know the difference between Oedipus and Oreos. Only one thing links them all: Rock music. Get your air guitar ready… it’ll be a night to remember…

Find out more about Romeo and Jules: A Rock Opera.

Zarbopulon 5

Thursday 20 March, 7pm

A new play by University of Essex alumni and Theatre Arts Society Re-Write 2024 competition winner, Peter Vetere!

If you’ve ever been involved in amateur theatre you’ll understand the pain of tech going wrong, actors almost knowing their lines and scripts not being as good as they were pitched. The horror stories of working in the creative industry are the foundations of Zarbopulon 5 and are put front and centre in this comical farce through the genre of sci-fi.

Find out more about Zarbopulon 5.

Homegrown

Homegrown is the Lakeside Theatre’s talent development programme for budding theatre makers at the University of Essex. Students, researchers, staff and alumni can start their Homegrown journey at any stage during their time at Essex. You do not need to be studying drama to star on our stages!

Apply to Homegrown and you can put on your show at the Lakeside Theatre. We will support your show with a small budget and help you with creative, technical and production advice as required.

Find out more about Homegrown.