From the Drama Society to becoming the UK’s youngest ever Children’s Laureate, archaeology graduate Joseph Coelho, OBE FRSL found his creative home at UCL.
Arriving at UCL in 1999 to study archaeology, Joseph Coelho found he could combine his lifelong love of the arts with more academic pursuits:
I was drawn to archaeology as it felt very practical, with opportunities to go out and do fieldwork… whilst also being able to study right on the doorstep of the theatres and museums of central London.
A combination of hands-on fieldwork, theatre and a vibrant student community meant Joseph had plenty of opportunities to explore his passions. It was at UCL that he started to imagine the arts as a viable career. As a member of the Students’ Union Drama Society, he began directing at the Garage Studio before stepping up to UCL’s Bloomsbury Theatre. where he directed The Crucible: “No mean feat, but I had a lot of fun and met a lot of wonderful people.”
This production paved the way for his early professional work, securing him a job as an assistant director on a touring production. “Things really snowballed from that point”, he says.
Alongside theatre, Joseph threw himself into student life, becoming President of the Society of Archaeology Students. He had to work while studying to make ends meet and balancing this with rehearsals, leadership, and a dissertation wasn’t always easy. However, supportive staff made a big difference.
I remember apologising to my dissertation tutor for being slightly delayed because I was directing a show. He asked for tickets to come and see it. That meant a lot.
After UCL, he stayed in theatre, working in backstage and on-stage roles, before switching to performing on the London poetry scene. As he performed more poetry, he was offered further opportunities to write and work with schools, setting him on a new career-defining path.
Today, Joseph is one of the UK’s most celebrated children’s writers, the youngest ever Waterstones Children’s Laureate, an award‑winning poet, and author of more than 50 books, including the bestselling Luna Loves series. He is also a leading voice for improving children’s literacy through his Poetry Prompts initiative, presenting on BBC’s Teach and advocating for public libraries, completing a nationwide tour to visit all 217 library authorities to promote access to books and reading.
He hopes future aspiring students inherit the same vibrant arts culture that he did:
I’d love to see a strong drama society preserved… it was a brilliant avenue for me and for my eventual career. It was here that I discovered I could work in the arts.
Joseph continues this legacy, championing the power of creativity and working to make sure that everyone has access to the arts.
