Humans of Warwick - Judith Taylor

Judith Taylor

Administrative Assistant, Academic Development Centre

“Being a LARPer allows me to explore things in a safe environment, that I can then bring to the outside world.”

“I know your first question is going to be ‘What’s a LARPer?’ If you don’t know, it stands for Live Action Role Play which I would describe as somewhere between improvised street theatre and reacting to fantasy scenarios.

I first got involved with it through the university LARP society. I love all the different societies that the university has. There’s really something for everyone to join to meet new people with the same interests.

LARPing has grown so much since I started, there are now regular organised fest-LARP events, often with over 5000 people in costume playing their own part in a fantasy world. It probably doesn’t appeal to everyone, for me though, as a neurodiverse person it’s a safe place that allows me to be myself without any judgement. It’s a different way to spend a weekend and it also gets me away from technology and other distractions.

It allows me to be very creative as well, I’m a keen sewist so I make all my own costumes and kit. I started out doing historical re-enactments where you need to be very authentic to the period, but I very much prefer the fantasy world. Your character is unique to you which means I can be as adventurous as I like, with who I choose to be. There’s no getting a costume off the shelf so it’s time to get the sewing machine out and let the imagination flow, my forte being cloaks and gowns. It’s a hobby where you can’t just turn up in your trainers and jeans, unless that’s the scenario you are in!

I moved down to the Midlands, from Lancashire, to be with my partner who was doing his degree here, that was back in 2008. My first encounter with Warwick though was around ten years before, when I came to visit my brother who was doing his Computer Science degree. I always felt that the campus was friendly and lively. It has a good feeling about the place, and it aligns well with everything that I am passionate about. I am a big supporter of education and the power it has to change people lives.

I did try university myself, at a different institution but unfortunately only lasted a week. I now realise that my neurodiversity made it hard for me to handle how unfamiliar and different the situation was, and I just couldn’t cope. I did carry on with further education though, which suited me better as it allowed me to learn but in smaller manageable bits and in a familiar environment.

Warwick has always been special to me. I started out working here through a temporary job with the exams team at the Medical School. I ended up being a bit of an excel spreadsheet whizz which meant I was a handy person to keep around! I’ve moved around a few departments since then, but I’ve now found my home in the Academic Development Centre. Still working on those spreadsheets!”