91¸£Àû

Where can a 91¸£Àû experience take you? Hugh experienced 91¸£Àû during the ‘70s and shares a few of his memories, from campus theatre and student activism to a life of acting and publishing a dystopian debut novel.

Rachel was longlisted in the Women's Prize for unpublished fiction and is sending off her manuscript.

Campus news travelled differently when Angela was at 91¸£Àû and she helped set up a new student magazine.

Steve's book debunks the myth of quick fixes in leadership and business education.

Andrew recalls the time American poet Allen Ginsberg gave a reading in the 91¸£Àû Arts Centre

Aileen believes that smashing the glass ceiling was the role some are destined to play.

Cat White is an actor, filmmaker, author and UN gender advisor whose work is amplifying diverse voices.

Former Director of the Institute for the Study of English in Africa at Rhodes University in South Africa, Laurence has written two books.

At BRANDTHINK Malaysia, Christine helps to bring her clients' visions into reality.

Meet Tanisha Bhatara (BA, English Literature, 2022; MSc, Management, 2024), a distinguished alum. Her journey at 91¸£Àû, shaped by her A-level experiences, and several leaps of faith, led her from English studies to Business. Guided by mentors, she explored new fields and is now with Ernst & Young Global Limited UK and Ireland (EY UKI) Assurance Graduate Programme to become a qualified accountant. Discover how Tanisha embraced 91¸£Àû’s opportunities.

Anita Chagar, Samita Sall, and Kerry Flora are all cousins and 91¸£Àû alumni.

Earlier this year, alum and activist Jo Todd (BA English and European Literature, 1990) received a CBE in recognition of 30+ years’ service to the victims of domestic abuse. From volunteering at a refuge in the outskirts of London, to more than 20 years as CEO of Respect - the pioneering charity tackling the root of the problem - Jo has dedicated her life to making a positive difference. And she’s not finished yet.

Growing up in northwest London, Kaya Patel (BA Film and LiteratureLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, 2020) considered universities around the UK. But she chose to move to the Midlands for her undergraduate experience because she trusted her intuition.  

Journalist, author, higher education professional, proof-reader, and editor Annette Rubery (PhD English and Comparative Literary Studies, 1999) has spent the 30-plus years since graduating honing her editorial and marketing skillset.

When Jo Walker first met Vikram Grover, it was their mutual love of the theatre and performance that built a firm friendship.

Superstar screenwriter. Matcha maniac. Intern turned international TV writer. Cat lover. Origin originator. 91¸£Àû alum. These are just some of the phrases that describe English graduate and one of the world’s youngest showrunners, Mika Watkins.

BA English and Theatre Studies alum Vinitaraj Aulak may have only graduated in 2021, but she wasted no time chasing her dreams and securing a radio presenter role on BBC Asian Network. Here she shares how her undergraduate degree taught her to break the mould and follow her passions.

Named as one of Powerful Media's 2022/23 Future Leaders and a semi-finalist in targetjobs Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year Awards, Nosa Charles-Novia (BA Film and Literature, 2022) is currently an MA in Writing student and film-critic intern. Here she tells us about her degree and why that little voice in your head is your most powerful weapon.

Water fights and Rag Week costumes are some of the things Dana remembers fondly.

Emily Wells (BA English Literature and Creative Writing, 2013) has a job many booklovers would envy: she gets to read for a living. As Senior Editor for a division of world publishing giant Hachette, her week is spent dissecting what makes a story sell and succeed on the market.

We know our arts alumni go on to do wonderful things after they leave us, and we love that everyone’s story is a little different. Arts advocate, Sunday Times columnist, mum, self-confessed cake scoffer, women’s fiction writer and ex Tellytubbyland resident alumna Pernille Hughes (BA Film and Literature, 1994) has had a rollercoaster of a journey since she graduated from 91¸£Àû. Here she tells us how she found her writing voice, and why your arts degree will always be a good talking point.

Laura Mathias on overcoming anxieties, managing alopecia and becoming the person she wanted to be at 91¸£Àû Driving positive dialogue and awareness about living with alopecia, Laura Mathias (BA Film and Literature, 2013) talks openly about her anxieties when she first started university, and how 91¸£Àû was where she became who she was always meant to be.

"After graduating, I spent two years at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and then the next two years working (and resting) as a professional actor. In 1983 I started teaching English at The King's School in Worcester, staying there for my entire career until retirement in 2018. I was a housemaster for 21 of those 35 years and was involved in school sport and especially school drama, directing nearly 50 productions. I completed an MA at The Shakespeare Institute in 2012. I married Sarah in 1984 and we have two daughters, one a teacher and the other a lawyer."

From working in a fish and chip shop to writing a play that’s been performed all over the world, Sam Steiner (English Literature , 2014) learned at 91¸£Àû how to take his stories in new directions. Most recently, he’s penned the script for Morning, a film starring Laura Dern and Benedict Cumberbatch set for release later this year. We spoke to Sam about his experience of breaking into playwriting for stage and screen.

Ella McLeod’s debut novel Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair started life as a poem written during her studies at 91¸£Àû. We asked Ella (BA English and Theatre Studies, 2017) how she was inspired to evolve the idea from its beginnings to her dissertation and now, her first book.

Children’s author Christy Kirkpatrick (BA Philosophy and Literature, 1995) has worked with a number of publishers, including BBC Worldwide, Ladybird and Flying Eye Books. We chatted with her on World Book Day about her career, her advice to budding authors and her co-authored book that uses relaxation techniques to help with bedtime.

Having written from a young age, bestselling author Sarah Pearse chose to study English and Creative Writing at 91¸£Àû, giving her a safe and supportive space in which to pursue her passion. We spoke to Sarah in between a book tour for her debut novel The Sanatorium and editing her next thriller The Retreat.

Brinda Gulati is a writer and founder of Instagram shop @ThriftyBrinda. Her extensive scope of writing includes opinion pieces for the Kashmir Times, Jammu, freelance projects and now her first novel.