The Sheffield University Theatre Company (SUTCo), Sheffield University Performing Arts Society (SUPAS) and University of Sheffield Light Entertainment Society (USLES) will merge into one unified society for the 2025/26 academic year.
Following a constitutional amendment passed by all three groups at their respective AGMs, concluded during SUPAS’ meeting yesterday evening, the triumvirate will cease to exist as independent groups, and will combine over the summer period.
Expected to be fully merged by the beginning of the 2025/26 academic year, the group will be reorganised and begin operating under the new ‘Performing Arts & Theatre Collective of The University of Sheffield’ (PATCoUS) brand, a combination of the three existing groups’ names.
In a shocking announcement following the final AGM, the newly-elected Presidents and Chair shared a statement regarding the groups’ futures on their websites, stating that the “current political, economic and cultural climate has necessitated [them] taking drastic action”.
“For years, our groups have flourished yet continue to divide our members’ creativity between multiple societies and projects. No longer”.
The statement concluded promising a “smooth and easy transition”, with additional details sparse.
Amaara Qureshi, Chair-Elect of SUTCo, told Forge Press about her anticipation of the merger, a “long overdue” move, which she has welcomed: “After losing the Sheffield Uni Theatre degree, the uni has been in urgent need to a group of hundreds of hyper-fixated theatre kids all in the same place […] Sheffield is sure to stand out as THE number one place for students to enlist in theatre”
Similarly, Will Thortersen, Welfare & Inclusions Officer and President-Elect of USLES, has told us that they are “really happy to see the theatre community coming together”.
“It’s nice to be appreciated and taken seriously with everyone else”.
SUPAS’ outgoing President Eve Catanach has said “SUPAS cannot wait for this new venture, despite the backlash from almost all our members, we feel this is a great move”.
It is currently unclear who brought forward the proposal to each of the theatre groups, with no one yet claiming responsibility for the measure.
However, sources close to the groups have suggested multiple possible suspects, including SUTCo’s It Came From the Ice Production Manager Phil Saxby, and Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night Production Manager Adam Rajczakowski, both with extensive experience across all three groups.
There have also been reports that USLES’ outgoing President Barbara McLaughlin, who also sits as Performance Societies’ Liaison on the Societies’ Committee (SocComm) at the Students’ Union, may also be behind the unexpected move.
The new leaders of the three groups, whilst having not shared many details, have announced that the PATCoUS group will be governed by a Tri-Presidential system, allowing all three newly elected leaders to retain their roles.
However, the move has concerned newly-elected committee members about the security of their roles, with reports that SUTCo’s Secretary-Elect Grace Lowe, Treasurer-Elect Eden Houlberg and USLES’ Publicity Officer Aarushi Dumir have already resigned over the planned merge, with more resignations expected to follow.
Other members have been more combative, with both SUTCo’s Technical Manager Autumn Ten Dam and USLES’ Secretary Mason Lugh vowing to run against any challenger from the other groups, determined to retain their roles when PATCoUS forms.
A newly-elected member of SUPAS’ committee, who did not wish to be named, has called the proposal “b****cks”: “We’re separate for a reason! We do different things! Whoever’s brought this forward has just destroyed so much of what we’ve been working for”.
The announcement has also shocked society members across the groups, with many sharing their dismay that this proposal was debated without them being made aware of it, and leaving existing projects questioning what the changes will mean for them.
Whilst SUTCo and USLES have already submitted the required documentation to the Students’ Union, SUPAS have not yet done so, reviving hopes that the merger may be blocked.
A collective of newly-elected committee members, outgoing committee members, and society members current and former have begun to gather, submitting their protests to the relevant committees, led by Matthew Heppell, one of SUTCo’s Technical Officers.
The group, which has not yet formally identified itself, is rumoured to contain high-ranking figures from across the groups, including the entirety of SUTCo’s new and former welfare team, half of the outgoing USLES committee, and at least two core committee members from SUPAS.
Leadership challenges and Votes of No Confidence (VONCs) are also expected of all three groups’ leaders, with outgoing SUTCo Secretary Phoebe Cookson confirming that Qureshi will face such a vote later this week, which she is expected to win.
Whilst the proposals have not been fully published, the groups’ intentions to merge into one unified theatrical society have caused waves among the community, with many shocked and saddened by the new direction the groups are taking.
Whilst protest and division remains, it appears unlikely that the Tri-Presidents will back down, with the merger all but confirmed.
Forge Press would like to wish all of our readers a very happy April Fool’s Day
