Our Student Society is a wonderful team of GSA students who organise student-led events and activities throughout the year. From events celebrating diversity, individuality and various cultures, to networking events and fun parties, they’re always busy working on enhancing the student experience here at GSA. Here's a look back at some of the events they have organised lately.
Freshers Week
Freshers week takes place the week before teaching starts at GSA and is a chance for new joiners and returners to get to know one another and socialise. Activities in the 2023 fresher’s week included a mixture of daytime and evening events, such as ice skating, open mic night, drag night, and the GSA freshers tradition: GSA Challenge. Fresher’s Week is a fun and supportive way to start the new academic year that all students can get involved with.
Christmas Ball and Annual Christmas Lights Switch-On
Another GSA tradition is the switch on of the Christmas tree lights in the GSA foyer, which also doubles up as the passing over from the previous student society to the next one. The event often includes live music, poetry, and plenty of Christmas Spirit! Our students also raised £117 for Real Change Guildford, a charity that provides support to the homeless or those at risk of homelessness in the local area. Festivities ended with a Christmas ball at the H Bar in Guildford town.
Fundraising
Not only does the Student Society organise social events, but they’ve also fundraised over £100 for Real Change Guildford, and they also supported Movember which saw GSA students raise over £800!
Black History 365, Ceilidh & LGBTQ+ History Month Quiz
GSA Student Society is dedicated to celebrating people’s identities by hosting many events across the year. So far in the 23/24 academic year we’ve had the Black History 365 event which celebrates Black art through an evening of student performances, the recent Ceilidh gathering which celebrates Burns Night through dancing and music, and the wonderful LGBTQ+ History Month Quiz.
Student Projects
As well as being busy with all the Student Society events, the Student Society also helps with other extracurricular activities and events spearheaded by current students. Here are some examples:
GSA Labs
Created by a BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre student, GSA Labs offers a space for students to test out their new work in front of a supportive internal audience. Previous work shown at GSA Labs includes original songs, spoken word pieces, play extracts, and movement pieces. Each performance receives constructive audience feedback at the end of the evening.
Tea
Tea is a play that was written, directed, and produced by students on our BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre course as an extracurricular project. Performed in March of 2023 in the Green Room by our Applied and Contemporary Theatre and Actor-Musician students, Tea allowed students to experience putting on their own work.
On The Fence
On The Fence is a student band formed of BA (Hons) Actor-Musician students. They’ve played at GSA Society events such as open mic night and have played across many venues around Guildford, recently with other GSA students as supporting acts.
There is never a dull moment at GSA! Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the GSA Student Society, there is always something to get involved in!