A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

In November 2024, I received a modest grant to attend an international conference on applied theatre and education. My passion for applied theatre comes from its ability to foster empathy and social consciousness among students, so being able to attend felt like a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity especially since there are so few events like this in Hong Kong.

The conference was everything I hoped for. I loved the hands‑on workshops and the chance to meet drama practitioners and teachers from all over the world. Their work was incredibly inspiring and strengthened my determination to pursue drama in education. I am still in touch with some of the teachers I met and I’m hoping to visit a school that uses applied drama in its curriculum. I’m so grateful for the support that allowed me to be there.

The experience has also shaped my academic work. For my tripos project, I’m creating a theatre piece about ‘building a future’ for Hong Kong. I’m interviewing Hong Kong students who, like me, have studied in the UK, exploring how we can contribute to Hong Kong or maintain our identity wherever we are in the world.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue this path with a Master’s in Education, Arts and Creativity. Opportunities like this conference have given me the confidence and the inspiration to keep going.

Ariel (2024)