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Undergraduate Performance students at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ have gained valuable experience of developing and staging theatre in a professional production environment through a seven-month project supported by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Fund.

During the 2025-26 academic year, students developed and presented a full-scale production of Earthquakes in London by acclaimed playwright Mike Bartlett. Staged at Pontio's Studio Theatre on 8 May 2026, the production showcased the cohort's creative, technical and collaborative skills while providing practical experience of contemporary theatre-making.

Led by Senior Lecturer in Performance, Mrs Ffion Haf Evans, the project brought together students, colleagues from the Department of Creative Arts, Pontio's creative and technical teams, theatre practitioner Siwan Llynor, and local theatre company Fran Wen. Through close collaboration with theatre professionals, students gained first-hand experience of working within an industry-standard production process, enhancing both their artistic development and employability skills.

The play follows three sisters navigating complex family relationships while their estranged father, a scientist, predicts environmental catastrophe. Through its exploration of climate anxiety, responsibility and contemporary life, the production challenged students both creatively and intellectually.

Students highlighted the impact of the experience on their development as theatre-makers. One student shared: 

My research into contemporary and post-dramatic theatre influenced the way I approached the fragmented structure, rapid transitions and ensemble movement within the production.

Another commented that the project helped them build confidence in leadership, collaboration, communication and creative decision-making. The cohort will now build on this experience through a visit to Theatr Clwyd's new venue in Mold, where they will engage further with theatre professionals and production processes across North Wales.

This project reflects ¾«¶«´«Ã½'s commitment to transformational education, giving students opportunities to work alongside professional practitioners while developing the artistic, technical and transferable skills that will support their future careers.

Ffion said: 

Thank you to the alumni donors whose support of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Fund made this opportunity possible.