My GASP moments

GASP, the Guild of Actors at SPJIMR, is more than a theatre group to me. It is a space where people from very different backgrounds come together to build a story with patience and intent. Every year, directors, showrunners, writers, actors, and backstage teams commit weeks of effort to a single performance. This year, that effort resulted in Kin & Crown, a political drama set in 19th-century Europe that explored power, succession, and betrayal against the backdrop of industrial growth.

Weeks before the show, the campus had already begun to feel different. Rehearsals at the MLS Auditorium became a constant presence, with actors repeating scenes, writers refining dialogue, and directors adjusting the smallest details until everything felt right. At the same time, the production team worked quietly behind the scenes, while the costumes, lighting, and sound teams planned how the world of the play would look, feel, and move on stage.

I was part of the marketing team, and most of our work was done well before the final day. We wanted to create curiosity rather than noise, so we experimented with ideas that made people stop and look twice. We designed split posters for lift doors that only made sense when the doors closed. We painted bathroom mirrors with chalk paint to build a subtle sense of unease around campus. Cleaning them later was exhausting, but seeing people notice and talk about them made it worth the effort. My personal favourite idea was the custom GASP menu we created for Bistro. The menu offered new, refreshing, and spicy kicks to many of our well-known and loved items. We also gave them names that hinted at elements of the play.

The pre-event came on the day of the performance and felt like the final piece of the puzzle. We focused on giving the audience an experience rather than a queue. We set up games, served popcorn, and gave out small gifts to encourage people to arrive early and stay longer. The energy outside the auditorium slowly built into anticipation, and by the time the doors opened, the audience already felt part of the evening.

Throughout this process, the support from the showrunners and directors was crucial. They encouraged our ideas and trusted us to take creative risks. One of the showrunners worked through a serious injury and still helped in every way she could, which quietly set the tone for the entire team and reminded me what commitment really looks like.

On the final day, when everything came together at once, the effect felt complete. All the planning, rehearsals, experiments, and late evenings finally made sense. Being part of GASP this year reminded me why student theatre works. It asks a lot from you, but it gives back even more.