Bath University Student Theatre (BUST)

Freshers

Let’s start with a huge congratulations on getting into Bath University, or already being here, we can’t wait to meet you! Here's a guide with all the information you need if you're new to BUST. For the most up-to-date info and to see what we’ve been up to, follow us on our Facebook @BustOnFacebook and Instagram @BustOnInsta.

Don’t worry if you’ve never acted before - we have plenty of members in your position who have since starred in many shows over the years - or if acting is not your thing, there are loads of opportunities to direct and produce shows. Our goal is to welcome everyone with open arms: we have plenty of members who don’t participate in shows but love coming along to our weekly workshops and going to the pub afterward for a good time!

Freshers’ Week Opportunities

We have lots of things planned for Freshers week, and the months that follow it! For a schedule of our activities during Freshers week, check out our Freshers' week page.

Acting Opportunities

Our very first show of the year is reserved only for NEW members to BUST (not only new to the university so you're more than welcome to join if you're in second or third year). This gives everyone a chance to make friends in a relaxed environment! 

For our Freshers show this year we have an amazing farcical comedy: "A Gown for his Mistress" by Georges Feydeau, directed by the wonderful Tami Ferrett and Darcy Winrow. Tami and Darcy can't wait to meet you all and have some very exciting ideas for what's going to be a great freshers show! Auditions will be held a few weeks into term so make sure you get your membership and join our facebook group to hear all the info. 

If you do not get a part, fear not, there are tons of opportunities and good times awaiting you! Our Christmas show, "The Three Musketeers - Le Panteau", is also cast at this time as well as Shakespeare for schools, a small show we perform to Year 4 at a Bristol Primary school. It is cast through one of our workshops, so you won’t have to worry about auditions.

We will also put up many other productions throughout the year. To find out more about these shows and how to get involved, take a look at our ‘Upcoming Productions’ page. 

Auditions and rehearsals

If you're hoping to audition for any of our shows and want to know more about the audition or rehearsal process, check out their respective pages. Auditions for main shows are held at the beginning of each semester for which everyone is welcome, no experience needed! 

Rehearsals will last around 4-6 weeks with 4 or 5 rehearsal sessions per week, each lasting 2-3 hours, but it is unlikely you will be required for every single rehearsal. The final week is show week. Here you will have a dress rehearsal and 2 or 3 performances. Our shows take place in various venues: the 250 seat Alt Theatre and the 100 seat Weston Studio in the Edge on campus as well as the Mission Theatre and Museum of Work in the city center.

Production Team Opportunities

For those of you who haven’t got the acting bug but prefer to build and shape a show from the shadows… there are plenty of chances to get involved. For each show, we have a production team with at least 3 members; a director who has pitched their show at the end of the previous year; a co-director/assistant director and a producer. For larger shows, sometimes artistic director and co-producer roles are needed, depending on the size of the challenge.

Applications for these will open at some time a while before the show. The director will usually ask for an application to include the skills and ideas you will bring on board. We have plenty of first-time directors and producers, so never be afraid to apply due to lack of experience, we all have to start somewhere.

Workshops

If you love theatre but don’t necessarily want to act in any shows, you can just come along to enjoy our weekly workshops. These cover tonnes of aspects, but don’t take things toooo seriously. The workshops take place every Wednesday at 7 pm, lasting about 2 hours, after which we go to the pub for drinks (non-alcoholic alternatives are always available!).

The year will start off with some more fun and relaxed workshops playing theatre games before we get into the really good stuff such as puppeteering and stage combat. Members of our society prepare and run these workshops, so we keep them low-key, not like any boring school lessons. We also have several workshops run by industry professionals each year!

Following workshops every week, we all head to Bath Cider House for drinks where we reserve a seating area. Our goal is to welcome anybody and everybody into the theatre. 

You can find out about some of last year's workshops and this year’s upcoming workshops on the ‘Workshops’ Page. For highlights of our favorite productions over the past few years on these check out our ‘Past Productions’ page!