After enjoying the medieval literature paper in my second year, I completed a dissertation this year on the production and preparation of food in Langland’s Piers Plowman and its relationship with 14th Century practices and teachings about the Eucharist. From classes looking at original manuscripts in the Wren Library to taking part in the 24-hour Byrothon reading in the middle of the night, studying at Trinity during the last three years has been a remarkable and unique experience.

Alongside my degree, my time at Trinity has been nourished by rich opportunities. Remembering my own inspiring offer holder day, in my very first term I decided to become a student ambassador supporting and, more recently, leading outreach events. This has included: open days, interview week, school visits, residentials and mentorship schemes. This experience has been greatly rewarding as I have since welcomed current undergraduate students who I encouraged to apply.

I am proud to Captain the College's Women's Netball Team. Photo: Gillman and Soame

I am proud to Captain the College's Women's Netball Team. Photo: Gillman and Soame

One of my favourite times of the week is Saturday morning, when I captain our Women’s Netball Team – a welcome and refreshing break from work. Our team is fuelled by our relentless positivity and laughter, and we have been proud to see back-to-back promotions recently from Division 4 to Division 2. We are also still riding the glory of beating Christ Church Oxford two years in a row on our annual sports day.

Sophier directing the cast of Romeo and Juliet in Trinity College Chapel.

Directing Romeo and Juliet in Trinity College Chapel. Photo: Dik Ng.

My most enjoyable and fulfilling experiences in the last three years have been with the Dryden Society, Trinity’s resident Theatre society. I had the pleasure of reviving the society after COVID-19 and over the last two years, the society has grown from 3 to 95 members.

During my time as President, I led a committee of 12 in organising over 40 events and productions in the arts and theatre sector. My highlights include directing and producing the first Shakespearean play in Trinity Chapel, Romeo and Juliet, which later led the way for a resurgence of chapel productions including the Cambridge American Stage Tour (CAST) preview of Julius Caesar, and most recently, Timon of Athens. As well as organising the Dryden Society’s first Scratch Night, working with writers and our Shaffer playwright-in-residence, Aisling Towl, to showcase new student writing.

We are now proud to regularly fund and produce a couple of productions a term, as well as a range of social and networking events. The support and inspiration from members of College, of note Professor Adrian Poole (both my supervisor and senior treasurer of the society), has been invaluable.

We hope this week is an annual event that is here to stay and grow, attracting more of the wider University community and public, and with more events connecting students to alumni.

Perhaps the event I’m proudest of to date has been establishing and organising the inaugural Arts Week at Trinity in February 2025, which was a busy, exciting and vibrant week celebrating our students and alumni in the arts, including in: theatre, film, music, literature, fine art and photography. We hoped to showcase our range of active college Arts societies and in doing so, show that Trinity is a college where not only STEM, rowing, and rugby thrive. The number of successful alumni in the arts is testament to this, and one of the week’s highlights was the Creative Careers Dinner that welcomed 10 alumni and 40 current students for an evening of conversation, story-sharing, networking and great food! As well as a poetry night with James Harpur (1976), Rebecca Watts (2001), and Trinity Fellow Commoner in the Creative Arts, Mona Arshi
(e2024). We also were honoured to welcome director Rupert Goold CBE (1991), and professional theatre company The Mango Ensemble, respectively.

The week saw the return of our annual LGBTQ+ Arts Night in Trinity Chapel, an evening of poetry, music, monologues and readings in celebration and remembrance of LGBTQ+ artists, which led the way for the first Celebrating Women’s Voices Arts Night, a similar night of celebration for International Women’s History Month.

We hope this week is an annual event that is here to stay and grow, attracting more of the wider University community and public, and with more events connecting students to alumni.

As graduation approaches, I am eager to start working in events and production in theatre and the arts. I have greatly enjoyed the creative and organisational aspect of my extracurricular pursuits at Trinity and thrive when I am busy.

There is no doubt that people are at the centre of the arts. Throughout my three years, I had the privilege of working with so many talented and hardworking individuals, fostering both professional relationships and long-term friendships. Together we have created exciting and prolific work both within and outside of our degrees. In the near future, I look forward to joining a new team of people who are just as passionate and ambitious.

Read Varsity's review of Romeo and Juliet

Follow Trinity Arts Week on Instagram

Follow the Dryden Society on Instagram

The butterﬂy on the poster designed by Owen Wright (2022) is the Karner Blue, identified by Trinity alumnus, writer and amateur naturalist, Vladimir Nabokov (1919).

Inaugural Katherine Parr Award Winner

Congratulations to Sophie, who is the first recipient of the Katherine Parr Award, established through the generosity of an alumnus.

The award is given to a final year undergraduate who has made an outstanding contribution to College life through academic and extra-curricular achievements. Read more.

Katherine Parr by Ulyana Gumeniuk.

This article is included in the latest edition of The Fountain magazine, issue 34 Summer 2025.