When Jo Walker (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2020) first met Vikram Grover (BA English and Theatre Studies, 2021) it was their mutual love of the theatre and performance that built a firm friendship. Working to establish BAME Creatives, a society dedicated to diversifying theatre at Warwick, they found themselves falling in love. Four years later they’re still together and working in an industry that came to life through their time at Warwick.

Vikram and I first met at the panel process in June/July 2019. I went to pitch A Chorus Line with Music Theatre Warwick (MTW), as a choreographer. I had been on my year abroad in Australia when the director (an MTW member) reached out for me to join the team. I was pitching the show, and Vikram was on the panel; we had little interaction, but that was our first meeting. In summer 2019, I received a message from Vikram, asking me whether I would like to join the exec committee of a brand-new cultural arts society at Warwick: BAME Creatives. I agreed immediately.

Fast forward to October 2019, the MTW exec committee were having a get-together. I was in Warwick Arts Centre with Vikram’s best friend and exec committee member, Jack, who invited me to this MTW get-together at Vik’s house (which was only supposed to be for the exec committee). My best friend (also an MTW member) and I decided to crash this get-together, and I’m very glad we did, because soon after, Vik and I were inseparable! Bearing in mind, I was the choreographer/producer and Vik was the actor/director, we found ourselves working together on several productions, which not only proved our compatibility but also our friendship. We’re still here today – Vikram is now training to be an actor, and I’m working in TV production and producing theatre. And it all started at Warwick.