National Student Drama Festival finalist
National Student Drama Festival finalist
Buckinghamshire New University Performing Arts graduate Stevie Thomas’ piece 1001010 has been selected for the prestigious National Student Drama Festival, with The Times and The Sunday Times.
Stevie, 21, who graduated in 2017, says 1001010, binary code for the letter I, explores ideas of non-binary genders, which are gender identities not exclusively masculine or feminine.
The performance was written as part of Stevie’s dissertation for his BA (Hons) Performing Arts (Film, TV, and Stage) degree at Bucks New University, and he has since updated and reworked it.
The National Student Drama Festival takes place at De Montfort University in Leicester from 24-30 March.
He said: “I feel incredibly honoured to have been selected for the Festival. It's given me a real surge of confidence and feels like a new chapter of my life and career as a performer and creator.
“To think of where I was when I began at Bucks New University and to now be performing on this platform is incredibly humbling and I owe so much thanks to the team at Bucks New University and to the selectors at NSDF for believing in the work I've created.”
Speaking about 1001010, he said: “It couples verbatim text with elements of physical theatre in exploring non-binary and fluid approaches to gender, seeing the queer performer question their own identity through the expression of others.
“The play was written in response to a lack of non-binary representation in mainstream performance and is also an autobiographical piece that uses the interviews of other non-binary and non-conforming persons to represent the journey of someone exploring their own expression and identity.”
Tickets and information about the National Student Drama Festival are at . The week attracts hundreds of students and graduates interested in the performing arts, and comprises performances and workshops.