Amy Cregor

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I am from North West London, I have been acting and singing from a very young age. I attended a Saturday stage school throughout my entire secondary school career and loved being involved with school productions. I enjoy trips to the theatre, seeing films, travelling the world, and spending time with my family, friends and loved ones.

What made you want to apply to your BA course and to Leeds?

I was really drawn to the course at Leeds because it gave me an opportunity to explore the elements of performance that I really love, for example musical theatre and contemporary acting. It also allowed me to build on my classical repertoire and feel more confident and regain my love for the art of Shakespeare and other classical texts. The course at Leeds has also provided me with other opportunities that I would never have thought of, for example being a creative producer/company manager. This is something I had never considered before, I tried it out in my first year and completely fell in love with it and have continued to thrive at it throughout my university career.

What aspects of your course have you enjoyed the most?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the self-directed practice elements of my course as I adore being given a brief and using the theorem, we’ve been taught in that module to produce a piece of theatre. It truly feels electrifying.

What would you say about the learning facilities in your School and at the University in general?

We have got a great team of lecturers, professors, and technicians behind us – so we are extremely lucky that the facilities at stage@Leeds include a full-scale theatre and a half-sized theatre too, with multiple studio spaces to practice in.

What made you decide to choose a year in industry placement/study abroad year?

I decided to do a year abroad because I have always wanted to travel the world and learn about new cultures. This was the perfect opportunity to thrust myself into a completely new situation, giving me the opportunity to travel, meet new people, make lifelong friends, and learn from professors with differing specialties to those at Leeds.

Where did you do your placement/study abroad and why?

I went on a year abroad to New York and studied at State University of New York: The College at Brockport.

Tell us about your experience during your year in industry/studying abroad

I had the most amazing time on my year abroad. I travelled across multiple states and cities throughout my time there! I was fortunate enough to act in a show and also operate projections for a different show for my university in the US. The study abroad department out there were absolutely fabulous and took us on loads of different trips whilst we were there to immerse us into the culture, such as baseball, basketball, American football and ice hockey games. We got to celebrate thanksgiving whilst we were out there. We were fully able to embrace the American culture whilst also providing each other with the cultures from our own home countries. It was so fabulous.

What did you enjoy the most in your year in industry/studying abroad?

Travelling the States with the friends I made on my year abroad was definitely a highlight for me, as it was such a great way to tie the year together! We travelled together throughout the year, within any break/holiday we got but we had a huge chunk of travelling at the end together and it was just beautiful.

Would you recommend future students to undertake a year in industry placement/studying abroad?

1000000%, it was the best thing I have ever done. I could not recommend it more; I am such an advocate for studying abroad. You won’t regret doing it. 

What other activities are available for students to take part in outside of their studies and which ones have you tried out yourself?

There are wonderful societies affiliated at the University’s union. I mainly am involved with the theatre societies, and I also attend Jewish Society (as that is part of my culture and heritage), but there are multiple societies including sports, writing for the uni newspaper and magazines, charity and dance.

Do you think the skills and knowledge you’ve developed at your placement/studying abroad will help with what you learn at Leeds, and will help your future career once graduating?

For sure. Being able to integrate yourself into a new culture and understand a completely new education system within a week, to ensure you get good grades – whilst also maintaining and managing the social life of an exchange student will for sure help me with the rest of my degree and my future career. My planning, organising and time management skills have improved considerably! It is easy to burn out on a year abroad as you want to get involved with everything and anything, but if you structure your week and plan trips ahead, then you are all set and will enjoy and fulfil the year to the full capacity. I feel as though I can transfer these skills into my final year of my undergraduate and into my future career.