French Play 2023: Les Mamelles de Tirésias

"After a few meetings where our assembled cast of 11 read through the play, I quickly decided that acting and line-learning in French would be far too much of a challenge and opted for a role behind the scenes. But the more rehearsals progressed, and the more I saw the cast enjoying themselves on stage, I began to wish I had put myself out there. As luck would have it a role became available! Now, as the lead’s aggressive husband Le Mari, I had a role to make my own: two scenes with lines to learn and a stage fight to choreograph. And what a fight scene it was!

Using drama gave me a chance to get involved with the language hands-on, as not only did this mean using French in contexts outside the course, but I could gain confidence in public speaking in my target language.

Thomas Farrar

BA Modern Languages and Cultures

Being in the play was such a great opportunity. There was something for everyone whether that be on stage as an actor or musician to stage manager and lighting. And this meant I really got to know more students from across the department that I may never have met, from 1^st year through to 4^th year. Perhaps more crucially for my degree’s sake, I also feel I really improved my French. Performing to native speakers in rehearsals and getting direct feedback on pronunciation has been invaluable and being introduced to a genuine French text has taught me so much new vocabulary. I almost definitely would never have discovered Apollinaire or Les Mamelles de Tirésias otherwise and honestly, what’s the point in knowing French if you don’t know this absurd production?

Using drama gave me a chance to get involved with the language hands-on, as not only did this mean using French in contexts outside the course, but I could gain confidence in public speaking in my target language.

But the best bit? It was just so much fun to do – for what other reason could I make baby noises with my lecturers on a Wednesday afternoon.