Stage Dooring in London
Date
April 14, 2026
There were many reasons why studying abroad in London sounded appealing to me, but the one that reigned supreme was the accessibility to theatre and the arts. I knew my time in London would throw me deeper into the world of theatre than I had been when I arrived. I used to be a very identifiable theatre kid, but over time I had lost touch with my roots. After seeing Wicked at the Apollo Theatre with my fellow Arcadia students during our first week in London, the flame that had left my soul was reignited.
With the exception of Les Mis and Wicked, every show I saw in London was my first time watching that play or musical. One thing I was especially excited about was the chance to “stage door,” or meet actors outside the theatre after a performance. My first attempt at stage dooring in middle school had been a failure, since none of the actors came out after the show. Determined to finally have that experience, I planned to stay after my Theatre class attended The Importance of Being Earnest at the Noël Coward Theatre, hoping to meet Olly Alexander, whose music I love.
After the performance ended, every actor came out except Alexander, and I was far too nervous to approach anyone else. They had all made it to the West End stage, and little old me was standing under my umbrella in the rain while other audience members confidently spoke to the cast. Still, the night was not a failure like my earlier experience. I was one step closer to talking to a West End star, if only I could build up the courage.
I believe everything happens for a reason, because my timidity that night turned out to be a warm up for meeting one of my favorite theatre stars, Eva Noblezada. I have been in awe of her since she starred as Kim in Miss Saigon a decade ago, so when I learned she was performing as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in the West End, I thought the best thing that could happen would be hearing her sing live. While watching her act and sing in real time was life-changing on its own, my life changed even more when I met her outside the theatre’s stage door.
The friend I had seen the show with and I waited by the stage door for a few minutes after the performance ended, already prepared to accept defeat, when Eva walked outside and greeted us with a smile and friendly conversation. I asked her a few questions about her experiences on both the West End and Broadway, and she answered with patience and genuine kindness. She did not owe me or any of her fans anything, yet she took time out of her night, when she was likely exhausted, to chat with us. Take advantage of what theatre fans call stage dooring if you are studying in London. I certainly did.
These pieces were created by student contributors. The views and opinions expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Arcadia Abroad.