PhD candidate Ben Walters has recently hosted an event called Dr. Duckie at Royal Vauxhall Tavern to explain his work around the legendary performance company and his theory around the power of queer fun.
In addition to Ben’s research project we are excited to see the following students performing at the night…
Hay Festival our very own Jerry Brotton will be in conversation with Germaine Greer on 27 May. If you’re getting inspired by the festival why not extend your knowledge in literature and culture with our MA in English Literature.
We celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of the incomparable Renaissance man – artist, scientist, inventor and lover. Brotton and Fletcher are Renaissance historians, Critchlow is a neuroscientist and Greer is a scholar and art historian. Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most inspiring figures of European history.
Join us for a FREE Noughts & Crosses (Malorie Blackman) panel event that asks questions like: ‘What wider questions does this production raise about drama and power? How is drama power for you?’. Join Esther Richardson (Director of Noughts & Crosses) and cast members, Drama academics and students from Queen Mary University of London to discuss and explore the powers of Drama. Book here
The panel includes: Heather Agyepong (Sephie, Noughts and Crosses), Esther Richardson (director, Noughts and Crosses), Gail Babb (QMUL and Goldsmiths lecturer and theatre producer, Talawa), Avaes Mohammed (poet, playwright, performer), Dee Ndlovu (QMUL Drama student and theatre maker).
Join us for inspiring mini talks in the park at this free festival which has top street food, stalls and free activities.
Our line up talking about studying and working in the creative industries includes comedian Ahir Shah (BBC3, Live at the Apollo), writer Ayisha Malik, Masterchef winner Natalie Coleman and more pictured above. RSVP here
Never been to our campus? Get a feel for the place and get tours and more information from our support departments. Book here
Is your English teacher always telling you to refer to literary and historical context but you’re unsure what this looks like in practice? Have you heard that there are theoretical and philosophical approaches to texts but aren’t confident using them yourself? Do you wish you knew more about the Gothic genre and how this could link to more contemporary genres, such as Science Fiction?
Three outstanding academics, from Queen Mary’s School of English and Drama, are here to help.
An expert in the body and technology in contemporary culture, Zara Dinnen, a specialist in the Gothic across the nineteenth century, Sam Halliday, and an expert in Romanticism with interests in theory and philosophy, Shahidha Bari, will be unpicking issues around context, theory, genre and ‘Frankenstein’. They will share their expertise on context, theory and genre, to unpack how the text could have been received then and how readers receive it now. They will discuss different frameworks that can be used to interpret this seminal text, and demonstrate to you what it looks like to apply those frameworks in practice.
You will leave this event with a better sense of how to use literary and historical context to develop your analysis of this text; and you will leave knowing what it would be like to study English at Queen Mary, where diversity of ideas is at the heart of what we do.
It promises to be the type of lively and engaging discussion our School of English and Drama is known for!
Show and Tell at All Points East: In the Neighbourhood in Victoria Park
Tuesday 28 May 2019, 2.15-3.30pm
North Stage, All Points East, Victoria Park
Free and open to all
RSVP on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290092538606956/
See more about the event here: https://www.allpointseastfestival.com/info/nbhd/show-and-tell/
Queen Mary University of London presents Show and Tell, a podcast recording of over 10 inspiring mini talks from current students and special guests on studying and working in the creative industries.
Discover the insider secrets to working in the arts, humanities and social sciences and hear young people with something to say from one of London’s most inclusive universities.
Show and Tell has been running for 2 years at Queen Mary with over 35 speakers from TV producers, award-winning writers, researchers and journalists inspiring over 300 people to enter these industries.
LINE UP
Plus: Five current students will give their creative manifestos for the future: Blanka Plocha, Aamir Ayyub, Simone Hazanavicius-Lovisone, David Mitchell and Saramarie Harvey.
Four days of FREE entry and a host of FREE activities across BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY and HALF TERM WEEK: Outdoor Cinema, Live Music, Creative Workshops, Street Food, Pop Up Bars, Panels & Talks, Sports & Wellbeing, Family Activities AND LOADS MORE FOR ALL THE FAMILY.
Full programme here: https://www.allpointseastfestival.com/info/nbhd/
Please do get in touch with these services if you need support. If you’re confused about which ones why not speak to a Mental Health First Aider.
Advice and Counselling Service
Our advice and counselling service runs 1-2-1 counseling, group sessions, informal drop-in advice, information on other organisations.
Queen Mary has just subscribed to online support service Big White Wall. It’s available for students and staff 24/7 and there are trained professionals on the platform who can help.
Dyslexia and Disability Service
If you have a mental health condition, it is important that you register with a doctor so you can access the necessary support and medicine you may need. In order to ensure that you access all the support you need during your studies, please also make an appointment (preferably before the start of your studies) with the Mental Health Coordinator to discuss what can be put in place for you. Email dds@qmul.ac.uk or call 020 7882 2756.
If you’re in crisis or just need to know where to go next please come and talk to trained Mental Health First Aiders. In the School of English and Drama there are lots of us including Rupert Dannreuther and Suzi Lewis in the School office.
On site we have a medical centre for students if you’re diagnosed with a mental health disorder or think you should be diagnosed.
Need some headspace? Download this map.
East London Mental Health Line
Call 0207 771 5807 for 24 hour mental health support in East London.
Whatever you’re going through, you can call Samaritans any time, from any phone for FREE. Call 116 123
A 24/7 new text service for people in crisis. Text Shout to 85258. If your life is in imminent danger, please call 999.
Date: 1 June 2019, 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
One in five state-educated UK children are exposed to a language other than English at home. This figure rises to 50% of state-educated children in areas such as London or Leicester. And yet there is no space in the National Curriculum for children to explore their multilingualism.
This free workshop, led by Karina Lickorish Quinn and Rahul Bery, will explore ways to bring multilingualism into the secondary MFL and English classroom as a resource that can enrich all students’ interaction with the learning of reading and writing. The session will furnish educators with practical, versatile activities and resources to use to encourage multilingual students to make creative use of their language skills and to get young people thinking about the importance of language.
Karina Lickorish Quinn is
a Peruvian-English writer, an English teacher at Townley Grammar School, and a
Teaching Associate in Creative Writing at Queen Mary University of London. She
was previously a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at the University of
Reading. Her work has been published by The White Review, The Offing, and Asymptote, and she is
currently working on her debut novel, represented by Emma Paterson at Aitken
Alexander. Karina has a particular interest in multilingual literature and in
diversifying the school curriculum, especially in the English
classroom.
Rahul Bery is a translator from Spanish and
Portuguese into English, as well as a qualified secondary teacher with
experience teaching Modern Foreign Languages and English as an Additional
Language in primary and secondary schools in London, Bristol and South Wales,
where he is currently based. His translations of authors such as Álvaro
Enrigue, Guadalupe Nettel and Daniel Galera have appeared in publications
including Granta and The White Review. He is currently the British
Library’s translator in residence.
The Crown Jewels Festival is two days of exciting new performance by final year Drama students at QMUL. Over the last five months, the artists have been leading their own independent and group practice based research projects. Their hard work in the studio has investigated a wide range of topics from explorations of body and identity politics, to pushing the form of durational performance, to using soap in performance and much, much more. Come and join us at Chats Palace on 16th and 17th May to see some new performance!
Follow us on social media! We will release a link to book tickets for the festival soon. Admission is free, but book to reserve a space!
Welcome to the May Newsletter.
May is an exciting month for us including Mad Hearts: The Arts and Mental Health conference and a free outdoor edition of inspiring mini talks series Show and Tell at All Points East: In the Neighbourhood in Victoria Park.
Pictured above: Our MA Live Art cohort and staff took over the Victoria and Albert Museum on for V&A Friday Late on Friday 26 April. Photo credit: Hydar Dewachi.
Throughout May-July 2019
DIY LIFE SKILLS
May-July 2019 | QMUL – Mile End
We’re launching a programme of 10 unmissable workshops to help you develop your skills to work in the creative and cultural industries. The creative skills project formerly known as DIY HIGH SCHOOL is back for 2019 as DIY LIFE SKILLS.
DIY LIFE SKILLS gives our Queen Mary University of London students and our community vital extra practical skills for working in the creative and cultural industries. These include making videos, photography, tax, CVs, public speaking, social media for work and WordPress/blogging. The workshops are free for our students and our local community. See the programme
May Listings
Identify: A research network for neurodivergent students – second meeting
Fri 3 May | Room 2.18, ArtsTwo, QMUL, Mile End
Identify is a postgraduate study group that will meet regularly to build a research cohort within SED. Participants identify as having Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), including dyslexia, dyspraxia and other neurodivergent ways of being that impact our study patterns, academic activities, and research outputs.
Their second meeting will be held on Friday 3rd May from 4-6pm in room 2.18, Arts Two. All are welcome. If anyone requires directions or wants to get in touch for more information, they’re welcome to email John Dunn on j.l.o.dunn@qmul.ac.uk.
Queen Mary Centre for Religion and Literature in English Seminar
Wed 8 May, 1pm | Room 2.17, ArtsTwo, QMUL – Mile End
Mimi Ensley (University of Notre Dame, London Global Gateway)
will speak on ‘Meeting Lydgate’s Ghost’.
Drama Futures
Wed 8 May, 4.30pm | Theatre Peckham
If you are considering studying drama make sure to book a spot on this. Email c.palmer@qmul.ac.uk
Dr Duckie
Sat 11 May, 6.30pm | Royal Vauxhall Tavern
‘Introducing Dr Duckie – aka our very own Ben Walters (Drama department) – in a public explanation ünt examination of his just completed PhD with Queen Mary University of London on Duckie in the Community
It’s about the neo-liberal wobble, the technology of queer fun, and doing family differently.
Aimed at community theatre workers and grass roots performance activists – and random interested punters – it unpacks methods of performance, cabaret and event culture interventions for so-called ‘marginalised’ communities”.
A Nation of Tea Drinkers: British Culture and the Global Tea Trade
Sat 21 May, 5.15pm | Senate House
This free talk will explore the history of tea and the performance of its consumption at the Georgian tea-table. Markman Ellis (English department) will examine tea as a commodity, an event and an idea by looking at poems, essays, satires and paintings from the early 1700s. These highlight the event of tea-drinking, its context in the global trade of the East India Company and its construction among high-status women.
‘Queer Occulture and Feminist Ritual Performance’: Dennis
Denisoff
Thu 23 May, 6pm | ArtsOne Lecture Theatre, QMUL – Mile End
All are welcome to attend this insightful lecture on the connections between
Victorian and Modernist authors and writers and queer/feminist reformulations
of gender.
Show and Tell at All Points East: In the Neighbourhood
Tue 28 May, 2.15pm | Victoria Park, Bow
Queen Mary University of London presents Show and Tell a podcast recording of
10 inspiring mini talks from current students and special guests on studying
and working in the creative industries. Discover the insider secrets to working
in the arts, humanities and social sciences and hear young people with
something to say from one of London’s most inclusive universities.
Show and Tell has been running for 2 years at Queen Mary with over 35 speakers
from TV producers, award-winning writers, researchers and journalists inspiring
over 300 people to enter these industries.
Add to your calendar
S A L O N – LONDON presents PRODUCED BY LOVE: REPRODUCTION IN FEMINIST POETICS, featuring Amy De’Ath and Nisha Ramayya
Fri 31 May | King’s College London
At this event, Amy De’Ath and Nisha Ramayya will discuss their current research, sharing a combination of critical writing and poetry. They will consider the overlaps in their work via the concept of reproduction in feminist poetics. Book tickets
Book Ahead
Live Art Now
1 June | QMUL, Mile End
The Live Art Development Agency and the Drama Department at Queen Mary University of London present a day of discussions around kickstarting and maintaining a Live Art practice and an opportunity to find out more about the exciting new MA Live Art programme.
Photo credit: Molly Horner by Holly Revell
Romanticism at The Royal Institution
Fri 7 June | The Royal Institution, Green Park
In a special addition to its regular programme, the London-Paris Romanticism Seminar has partnered with the Fordham Romanticism Group (New York) and the Royal Institution of Great Britain to hold a half-day symposium on the theme Romanticism at the Royal Institution.
Picture: Surrey Institution Ackermann 1808
Tamara Atkin and Jaclyn Rajsic (English department) have edited and published a collection of essays called: Manuscript and Print in Late Medieval and Early Modern Britain: Essays in Honour of Professor Julia Boffey. The people of Twitter showed their love for our very own Professor Julia Boffey here.
Shahidha Bari (English department) hosted the launch of Queen Mary University of London’s Strategy 2030 at Victoria and Albert Museum on 3 May 2019. See the strategy
Jen Harvie (Drama department) appeared on two BBC broadcast discussions at BBC Free Thinking Festival which you can listen to on iPlayer:
Gabriel Krauze (English graduate) has got a book deal with
Fourth Estate for a “breath-taking” debut work of autofiction about London
gang-life. Read more
Gem Stokes (English student) is our very first student of the month.
Read our interview with her here.
My first year at Queen Mary has been a whirlwind. I wish my highlights were something cool like a crazy night out or a hilarious experience, but my fondest memories I’ve made are the times spent drinking tea, deep chats in the middle of the night or nerdy conversations about literature with the friends I’ve made here.
Focusing on the study of English has made me fall back in love with literature and I’ve felt myself progress more into the literary sphere. In the last year I’ve invested more time in my journalism, writing articles (and finally being brave enough to actually share them). This will likely aid me in developing my future, as I aim to become a foreign news correspondent or music journalist.
Coming from a small town to a big city, I’m enjoying the huge LGBTQ+ community here and the inclusive environment that Queen Mary provides.
In London, I work as a nanny and back in Kent, as a customer adviser in the food service industry. Although I do not aspire to continue these positions forever, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. I’ve possessed an interest in journalism for as long as I remember, and currently write monthly articles for a local newsletter, but aspire to progress further in this field and search for new opportunities in this field.
I feel Queen Mary as a university is very active in aiding students’ issues, but I’ve been wanting to campaign about trigger warnings for a while: lectures often bring up triggering/upsetting subject material which I myself am often unprepared for. I wondered if it would be beneficial to other students, as well as myself, to release a general list of common triggers mentioned in each specific lecture to allow students to prepare more adequately whilst dealing with trauma.
You will have access to a 24/7 online community and professional support from trained counsellors. Big White Wall provides a safe space online to get things off your chest, explore your feelings, get creative and learn how to self-manage your mental health and wellbeing.
Big White Wall is totally anonymous, so no one will know you’ve chosen to use it unless you tell them!
93% of members feel better as a result of using the service, and nearly 90% use Big White Wall as an out-of-hours support.
To join Big White Wall, simply go to www.bigwhitewall.com and sign up under Queen Mary University of London with your university e-mail address.
Our MA Live Art student Şenay Camgöz will screen her 6 minute film, ‘Introducing HALA’ at the V&A tomorrow, Thursday 25 April 2019 at 8.30pm following a talk about art school with QMUL’s Dr Dominic Johnson and Dr Martin O’Brien.
The event is free and is part of the museum’s V&A Friday Late series.
The next Victoria and Albert Museum free Friday Late event is around the idea of the art school and raises the question: ‘Do they still have the space to break rules and challenge the status quo? ‘
Our staff will join the Live Art Development Agency to host an event talking about what it is to teach radical art practice.
Taking our MA Live Art Martin O’Brien, Dominic Johnson and guests will discuss the way in which the programme runs and provides an alternative arts education.
Plus our very own Shahidha Bari will be part of a panel discussing decolonising art schools and education led by AZEEMA.
See below for details of the event.
Learning Centre, Seminar Room 5
19.30
In this conversation, Martin O’Brien, Dominic Johnsonand the Live Art Development Agencydiscuss Live Art within academic institutions and what it means to teach a radical arts practice. They focus on the way in which the MA Live Art at Queen Mary UniversityofLondon and the Live Art Development Agencyteach Live Art, opening up wider questions around educationand experimental arts practices.
The Raphael Cartoons
20.15
Discuss decolonising art schools and education in this panel talk led by AZEEMA. Joining them to explore themes of identity, inclusivity and personal experiences are Shahidha Bari, Danah Abdulla, Jannat Hussein and Shades of Noir. @azeemamag azeemamag.com
Learning Centre, Seminar Room 5
From 20.30
Please note, these performances contain nudity and sensitive material
Join the QMUL/LADA MA Live Art students as they perform actions in response to the spaces and collections at the V&A. Experience an exhibition of separate durational performances, sharing a space with one anothe
DIY LIFE SKILLS gives our Queen Mary University of London students and our community vital extra practical skills for working in the creative and cultural industries. These include making videos, photography, tax, CVs, public speaking, social media for work and WordPress/blogging.
DIY LIFE SKILLS is supported by Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen Mary University of London. The workshops are free for our students and our local community.
Monday 20 May 2019
11-3pm – Intermediate
3-6pm – Beginners
Take your poster out of word and create stunning visuals for social media headers and print posters.
Wednesday 22 May 2019
2-5pm: Intermediate DSLR
A picture is said to be worth a 1000 words and this is more true than ever in the age of social media. Join us for an afternoon of photography with DSLR cameras for intermediates. The workshop will include a showcase of Holly Revell’s work and top tips for better performance photography.
POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE – PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS
Work with professional videographers to plan, film and edit a short film in one day with pros from Signature Pictures. The intermediate workshop will look at more advanced editing techniques and film production.
Wednesday 22 May 2019
RR2
9am-2pm
WordPress is a professional platform for creating websites and blogs, forget clunky paid for services like Wix and get familiar with customising your site.
Wednesday 29 May 2019 / 6-8pm
Social media = jobs & opportunities. Ignore it at your cost. This session will cover moving away from using social for well, ‘social’ purposes and look to how these channels can be used to network and make important career connections.
Wednesday 5 June 2019 / 4-6pm
Perfect your key marketing document: work in small groups to improve your CV with the help of Caroline Lisser and her years of challenging students to tailor their CVs for success.
Wednesday 12 June 2019 / 4-6pm
Stand out from the crowd with a video CV or online portfolio.
Wednesday 17 June 2019 / 6-8pm
Hate speaking in public? Build your confidence with this interactive workshop aiming to enhance your communication competence.
Tuesday 25-Wednesday 26 June 2019 / Various appointment times
Book a 1-2-1 appointment to get a bespoke plan for your needs.
Wednesday 3 July 2019 / 4-6pm
The most boring subjects imaginable live and in 3D. But seriously, tax can be complicated so come and get this guide for beginners to the world of work.
Please note bookings are provisional and we will aim to ask you to reconfirm your attendance. Please only book for events you can attend. DIY LIFE SKILLS Events could be subject to change or cancellation.
On Campus Jobs (Retail/Bar etc.) at Queen Mary Student Union – Deadline 17 April 2019
Paid Digital Internship, Royal Television Society – Deadline – 22 April 2019
Residential Residency at Toynbee Hall – Deadline 15 April 2019
Freelance Producer for Woman SRSLY – Deadline 22 April 2019
Intro to Music Journalism at Roundhouse on 15/16 June – No Deadline Closes when full
Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize – Deadline 28 June 2019
The main UCAS deadline has passed but you can still apply to our courses through UCAS.
Once you apply we will look through your application and aim to make an offer within 4 weeks of receiving your application via UCAS.
If you need help or would like an update on your application please email: sed-admissions@qmul.ac.uk
Our undergraduate Outstanding Potential Award scheme is now closed. Congratulations if you were given the Outstanding Potential Award or other offer with us.
Don’t worry if not or you are worried about your grades we would love to hear from you on results day if you have any questions about your offer.
Our Offer holder Days have now all taken place for 2019 entry.
Campus Tours: To get a general tour of the Mile End campus. Book online. Let us know when you’re coming via email: sed-web@qmul.ac.uk and we’ll try to arrange someone from English and Drama to talk to you.
Questions: If you have any questions about your offer or applying please email: sed-admissions@qmul.ac.uk
A-level results day is Thursday 15 August 2019 and this is when the main clearing and confirmation process begins.
We recommend adding it to your calendar if you wish to apply to us through clearing. We are likely to have limited vacancies for some courses.
If you need any advice or would like to talk to us before this date please email: sed-admissions@qmul.ac.uk.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8910
Email: sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
