Martha Fooks
2016/17[edit]
Martha joined the tech (ninja) team for Mikado 2017, rigging and vainly attempting to operate lights in the dreaded Nuffield, where she fell in love with the society (and the director, Billy Boulton) and went on to emerge from the warm, dark womb of the lighting box to be born again as a chorus member in Half a Sixpence 2017 and Mikado 2017 (Harrogate) that summer.
2017/18[edit]
In her second year, Martha resumed her usual chorus position for Ruddygore 2018 after a painfully nervous audition. Next time, however, she came prepared, and was cast in her first principal role as Lady Jane, the unloved yet effervescent alto, in the society's hipster-inspired production of Patience 2018. It was also in her second year that Martha took the plunge and was voted into LOpSOc's Committee as Secretary.
2018/19[edit]
In her third year, Martha undertook the new task of Directing! Alongside Co-Director Delyth and a wonderful Production Team, Martha made Anglo-Saxons and Vikings of the LOpSOc cast for Princess Ida 2019. Following this, she again became part of the principal cast to portray Eliza in Double Feature 2019 ('Trial by Jury' and 'The Zoo'), heading again to Harrogate for round two shortly after with Double Feature 2019 (Harrogate). Martha also graduated this summer, achieving a 1st class degree in English Literature and leaving university - yes - but apparently not LOpSoc.
2019/20[edit]
Post-graduation, Martha returned in yet another principal role - this one her hardest challenge yet. Cast as Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore 2020, she valiantly (and somewhat successfully) pretended to be a tenor. Next, it was back to the director's chair for the upcoming 'Cinderella' in Summer 2020. That is, until a global pandemic resulted in the show's cancellation. Martha is very grateful to the amazing cast who put so much effort into the first few weeks of rehearsals that 'Cinderella' was sure to be an incredible show, if it had ever been able to happen.
2020/21[edit]
In 2020, during the great empty summer of social distanced isolation, Martha wondered if her time in LOpSoc was truly finished. She had hoped to go out with a bang taking 'HMS Pinafore' up to Harrogate for one final curtain, but with the festival cancelled Martha has been left to fade into obscurity quietly and without fuss, this wiki the only remaining trace of her existence within the exalted halls of LOpSoc.
But, after summer had come and gone, Christmas was cancelled, and a new spring began - the LOpSoc AGM 2021 came around. Nobody ran for Secretary. SUSU had changed the rules to allow alumni members to run for committee positions. Martha's time had come. She'd have to do it remotely for most of the year, but it might work; it just might work. And thus, Martha re-joined the LOpSoc committee as Secretary. Martha also took on the mantle of being one of the society's Welfare Officers during this year, and enjoyed hosting weekly Welfare Drop-Ins for society members.
2021/22[edit]
After another year of service as LOpSoc's Secretary, Martha was about ready to call her time in LOpSoc done. However, nobody ran for Secretary at the 2022 AGM! The choice between escaping to adult life and a constitutional breach was difficult, but Martha bowed before the will of the society once more, and re-ran to become the LOpSoc Secretary for one. more. term.
2022/23[edit]
Martha remained in the role of LOpSoc Secretary until spring 2023, when she at last passed on the torch (huzzah). She has remained since a constant presence on the LOpSoc Discord server, content to haunt the committee channels until someone removes her admin privileges, whispering advice and drawing up art for posters and publicity.
History of Roles[edit]
Tech Roles[edit]
| Performance | Role |
|---|---|
| Mikado 2017 | Lighting Operator |
| Princess Ida 2019 | Lighting Designer |
| Double Feature 2019 | Assistant Lighting Designer |
Cast Roles[edit]
| Performance | Role |
|---|---|
| Half a Sixpence 2017 | Chorus |
| Mikado 2017 (Harrogate) | Chorus |
| Ruddygore 2018 | Chorus |
| Patience 2018 | Lady Jane |
| Patience 2018 (Harrogate) | Lady Jane |
| Double Feature 2019 | Eliza / Chorus |
| Double Feature 2019 (Harrogate) | Eliza / Chorus |
| H.M.S. Pinafore 2020 | Ralph Rackstraw |
| G&S Medley / Orpheus Chorus | Chorus |
| Double Feature 2021 | Cox / Chorus |
Prod Team Roles[edit]
| Performance | Role |
|---|---|
| Princess Ida 2019 | Director |
| Double Feature 2019 (Harrogate) | Director |
| Cinderella 2020 (Cancelled) | Director |
| The Zoo 2023 | Graphics |
| Ruddigore 2024 | Graphics |
| The Augustus (Roman Mikado) 2024 | Graphics |
Committee Positions[edit]
| Position | Term |
|---|---|
| Secretary | 2018-2019 |
| Secretary | 2021-2022 |
| Welfare Officer | 2021-2022 |
| Secretary | 2022-2023 |