I seem to spend most of my time out of breath. I rush around a lot – in fact, if you see someone pacing along King’s Parade with a worried expression, a brow of sweat and a rather fetching woollen jumper it’s more often than not likely to be me. In particular, I rush around a lot because of theatre. Even more in particular, I’m currently rushing around a lot because I’m directing next week’s Corpus Playroom mainshow, Copenhagen.

Not to mention the fact that in an unexpected fit of hubris it seems I’ve agreed to something called University Education. And to mention even less the fact that I’m in my final year, and need to start looking for another institution to take care of me once this one turfs me out. And yet I make time for directing. Why, the crowd clamours. 

Well, because it’s so bloody fun. Take Copenhagen, for instance. Ostensibly, it’s a historical account of the early development of atomic weapons. Except that it’s not. It’s set in the afterlife where the protagonists are forced to debate their intentions and actions for eternity. It rapidly turns from a prosaic description of early twentieth century events to a tour of modern philosophy, moving from the bright optimism of 1920s Europe to the unspeakable horrors which were to follow, and which created a grim new reality for us to inhabit. 

I’ll happily admit it’s a cliché to say, but as a director I can create this world. Along with an incredible cast, I can lead an audience away from black-and-white moral judgements, and perhaps even encourage them to question the foundations of their universes. And that means that all the rushing around with worried expressions and fashionable knitwear is worth it. 

Copenhagen runs from 14th-18th October at 7:00pm at the Corpus Playroom