Minotaur Column: Let’s stop culling our creativity

Milly Rolle discusses why creativity is an essential, not a luxury.


Recently I have been considering what Drama might do for me in the future. In doing so, my thoughts turned to performance and its therapeutic and psychological benefits. Taking part in a course called ‘Creative Expression’ at the beginning of the term reaffirmed, for me, why I am taking this subject through Higher Education and beyond.

The course opened my eyes to the seemingly obvious fact that all human beings are made up of a series of experiences that make them, well, ‘three dimensional’. We were encouraged to explore these thoughts and experiences in a creative context- through movement, writing and artwork. I know that plenty of people would instinctively label this course a pretentious journey of self-indulgence, even some of us students were thinking just that.

We were, however, proven wildly incorrect. I even felt ashamed that we would be so quick to undermine something so life-affirming. The week allowed me to realise how irritated I am by the fact that students are so quickly put into categories, and how early that process begins. Scientific students, for instance, are supposedly in no way creative according to our system of education. Recently I watched a YouTube clip of Sir Ken Robinson discussing how education culls the creativity of children. Well, in many ways, this is true. I wish more people would let themselves ‘be creative’ or open up to the fact that a lot of what we do is creative.

Hearing of recent ideas to cut the Arts from education made me furious that people with power could be so inconceivably narrow-minded. Subjects such as Drama allow us to explore the human body and mind and reflect on political and social psychology; both public and private. I want my future to involve inviting more people who don’t think they are creative charismatic to stop telling themselves what they are not and finding out what they actually have the potential to be. Challenging their opinion of themselves and others and the world within a creative context and being honest about it. Trust me, you should try it, it is really rather liberating.

Follow us on twitter @MinotaurTheatre.

With the thought of trying something new I would like to mention that Minotaur Theatre Company is expanding. In 2014, we are getting off campus and expanding into Norwich- a truly creative city at our fingertips! We are hoping to cater to a larger range of people of different ages and backgrounds, whilst maintaining some of our successful traditions. I encourage students from all departments to come and see just how great Drama and theatre can be. This year sees a range from Tom Stoppard’s Real Inspector Hound, to original student writing Trails and Ingerland and our Cabaret of musical entertainment. Plus, for one night only, the return of our sell out Edinburgh Fringe show The Librarians and much more!
Check the UEA box office site for details of upcoming shows