Nye Russell-Thompson

When did I graduate from the University of Chichester? - 2014.

What course did I do? Performing Arts (Theatre Performance).

What am I doing now?  

I run my own theatre brand StammerMouth, with friend and fellow ex Chi Uni student Roxanne Carney as my producer. I have taken my acclaimed one-man show about stammering 'Just a Few Words' around the country to Marlborough Theatre Brighton, Edinburgh Fringe 2015, Isle of Wight, Belfast, British Stammering Association, Komedia Brighton, and Southbank Centre, London. Check me out at www.stammermouth.co.uk! 

I have also helped create touring children's puppetry shows 'Good Night, Little Bear' and 'The Boy Who Didn't Like Sweets' with Ventnor Exchange, and I work as a theatre technician at Medina Theatre on the Isle of Wight.

What do I love about my job/artistic practice/lifestyle?  

I love that I can tour work that means a lot to me. Having lived with a stammer for most of my life, I feel empowered that I can gather an interested audience to watch my show, and leave understanding more about the speech impediment. I am also developing producing skills with Roxanne, which I can use in future, as I am looking to become a freelance producer on top of my own performance work. All in all I get to see a lot of theatre, meet lots of creative people, and travel all around the country.

How did doing Performing Arts/Theatre at Chichester help me to do what I do now?  

 Chichester blew wide open my whole understanding of theatre -- what it can be, how extreme, how minimal, how incredibly varied and sometimes absolutely terrifying. My experience with the staff, friends I made there, and the academic and performative course content, make up a large amount my artistic practice today.

What was my favourite moment/class/project when at Chi?  

I loved creating a show about good intentions going wrong, starring super heroes, for the Production module at the end of my second year. I constructed a cardboard Iron Man outfit and choreographed a whole dance with my 13 other classmates, including confetti cannons and paint guns. It was such a fun piece, and one of many weird moments...

What do I most miss about Chi?

The staff, the corridor, the facilities, the artistic atmosphere that made creating new work easier, and the academic study. I pop back every now and then!

My advice for anyone starting in the Theatre Department this coming year.... get ready to question everything, to get political, to open your mind to freaky, bizarre ideas - jump in!