Clare Coleman is now an actress at Shakespeare's Birthplace.
Derby has broadened my horizons and helped me to develop valuable skills for life
”Clare Coleman, English and Theatre graduate now an actress.
Clare Coleman studied Joint Honours Theatre Studies and English and she graduated back in 2004. Since her graduation Clare has had several successes with her career and she now works as an actress in Stratford for The Shakespeare's Birthplace Centre.
We asked Clare some questions:
After graduation what did you go on to do?
I pursued a career in acting. My first job involved doing a theatre tour in Birmingham. This was exciting and a good experience.
"Being an actress is all I ever wanted to be and I thoroughly enjoy it. I just love entertaining people."
What, in particular, would you like to highlight as successes or achievements?
I have managed to gain my Equity card and I have worked on TV, theatre, Film and in presenting. My biggest highlights so far would include working on Legal TV on Sky Television. And I have done a short horror film which was written by a local writer Paul Krane, called The Opportunity. We filmed it in Matlock Bath and it went to the Cannes Film Festival.
How has your degree helped with your career?
I am very glad I did a Joint Honours as the two courses complimented each other and it has given me a deeper knowledge of classic and modern writing. I think it has helped me with regards to my job on Legal TV, as a lot of research and script writing was involved.
Interestinglly, I did my dissertation on Roy Williams the playwright and funnily enough I was working at Birmingham and one of his plays was on and I got to meet him and speak to him after the show!
My degree has given me the skills and discipline to work hard and to commit to projects. Having studied English I have gone on to work at Shakespeare's Birthplace and have confidence with his language. I always loved reading, but at University I got to read texts that have been valuable and important to know as an actress.
How did you find the lecturers supported you?
I found the staff to be very helpful and supportive. If you have a dream, you should go for it. It will be hard work but it will be worth it at the end. You need to read lots, especially books you wouldn't normally consider. I have English lecturer, Sam Kasule, to thank for that.
What would you say to someone thinking of coming to study here at Derby?
Go for it! I found Derby to be really friendly and easy-going. It is set in a beautiful area and it is in a central location. Derby has broadened my horizons and helped me to develop valuable skills for life and enabled me to meet one of my best friends!
