Sabrina Cruickshank

What's it like to study at Northumbria? 

I failed my GCSEs three times. I'm AuDHD and a care leaver. The education system failed me. I was passed from school to school, including a hospital school and a "special" school. I hated it which was a shame because I loved learning. The school system just wasn't built for neurodiverse students. When I finally got to Northumbria University, I finally realised that education was still very much on the cards for me. I went from hating school to loving it. Now I never want to leave. 

What's the best thing about studying Creative and Cultural Industries Management? 

The best thing about the course is the connections I have made along the way. 

What's your favourite thing to do on campus? Do you feel part of a community?

 I love hanging out at the Students' Union and participating in various Be Part of It activities such as going to Alnwick, Riot Boxing, and other fun things. I also have had some amazing opportunities within NSU Drama Society as Secretary, actor, director, playwright and more. 

How does your course link to your career goals and industry?

I took the MA because I was founding my own theatre company and needed to make sure I was doing it right. I love the freedom I have to learn something new on the Friday and apply it to a real life scenario (the company) almost immediately after. I am fortunate that my lecturers are willing to answer any questions I have when I get stuck outside of class. It feels like I have a team rallying behind me. They have actively woven my experience into taught classes by asking me questions that allows me to speak about not only my experience gained on the module, but the company as well, leading to me making more practical connections. 

I was also interviewed by Northumbria University's paper after they saw my company featured in The Chronicle and having been invited to feature on a podcast with Disability Arts Online. The article is due to be released within 4 weeks from 21/05/2026. This will support my growth as a start-up and improve my reach. 

The company in question is "DisOrderly Theatre". We are a neurodiverse led theatre company based in Gateshead, for neurodiverse adults and their carers. We hold weekly sessions and offer free spaces as a non-profit. Our aims are to teach all skills relating to theatre from acting to directing, script writing and stage management and costume/set design and to use those learned skills to create provocative social justice motivated theatre. Every element, designed as I studied at Northumbria University. All with the aid and inspiration of Northumbria University. 

Was there a time you realised you were capable of more?

Being voted as the NSU's 2026/2027 Disabled Students' Representative really made me realise that not only were people agreeing with points I was making regarding the university's accessibility, they believed I was the most qualified to solve those issues which led to me feeling more confident in my abilities and more capable than I first thought although I still experience imposter syndrome with almost everything I do, but I think that's better than being overconfident. 

What support has boosted your confidence and ambition?

I previously studied a BA in Theatre and Performance at Northumbria University and it was vital in my transition into founding my own theatre company. 

Although we were given options to perform prewritten scripts, we were encouraged to produce our own original pieces. This taught me discipline and confidence in my own abilities. I achieved a 1st for my Performance in the City module where I created a contemporary theatre piece about immigration and fast fashion set in a shipping container and another 1st for my Popular Performance module where I created a surrealist drag horror, spoken poetry piece that made me question the boundaries of performance and what counted as theatre. 

We also experienced workshops with The Lawnmowers (I even received the opportunity to volunteer with them on a symposium production), and was taught by a leading researcher in disability and theatre, Dr Matt Hargrave. This helped me find my passion for neurodiverse theatre. 

I started developing scripts for neurodiverse performance. Then I started thinking bigger. 

What advice would you give someone considering Northumbria?

I have a lot of advice to give: 

1. Prioritise building your community and friendship circle in your first year. Yes, grades are important, so don't abandon your work, but having a circle to fall back on during hard moments is one of the best things that many don't consider. 

2. Make memories you'll cherish 30 years from now. 

3. Although it is possible, it is recommended that you don't run on a society committee during your final year, especially if it's a high intensity role such as President or Secretary due to the stress of final year exams and time commitments. 

4. When your dissertation is around the corner, choose to do it on something you are passionate about. It'll make the weight a little easier to carry. 

5. When graduating, try to have a job lined up and make sure to arrange a meetup location for friends, family and classmates for after the ceremony. Graduation can be overwhelming and it's easy to lose each other in the crowds. 

Bonus: Vote in the Students' Union and wider elections (including councils and government elections). You are directly impacted by who gets into power. If you feel there is no one appropriate, not voting, will not change anything. You can "spoil your ballot". This holds more significant weight than abstention. University students are both the most powerful political crowd and also the least likely to vote. We need to change this.