The Queen's College Record 2023

Old Members’ Activities
depending on choreography is sexually aggressive towards the boss’s wife Elmire
which finally leads to his undoing. Sian and Flora’s version blended nods to Molière’s
original, the Bible became De Beauvoir’s The Second Sex referred to as ‘the Bible
of Feminism’, with snippets of real-life conversations and experiences.
Performing in Edinburgh was very different to our previous Oxford run, with no
chance to rehearse in the venue before the first night and only five minutes before
every run to set up the stage and props. In addition to the speedy get ins, the
difference between a nine-night run and the normal Oxford five-night one was
significant and required a new level of stamina. Yet these challenges allowed the
play to develop in response to time constraints, which lead to significant script cuts
or alterations as well as a last-minute cast change halfway through the run. This
meant that much of the days were spent reblocking scenes or learning new or altered
lines which, although stressful, felt much more like the day-to-day of a professional
actor. I played the part of Dorine, who in the original is the scheming maid, but in this
version is the intern who sees it all and attempts to orchestrate Tartuffe’s downfall.
I felt that the longer run allowed me to develop my character more fully and find new
ways of saying lines and practicing movement: I feel I particularly improved on the
scene I spent snooping from behind a potted plant.
This year’s Edinburgh Fringe has been much publicised for its increasingly prohibitive
costs. The money from the 650 th Anniversary Fund allowed me to travel and stay in
Edinburgh as well as helping with production costs and allowing me to watch other
shows. I was especially impressed by the quality of many of the solo performances,
which blurred the genres of cabaret and theatre and left me feeling inspired and
excited to start my Acting MA in October at East 15.
80 The Queen’s College | College Record 2023