--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got to university, I would read…" description: "\"When I got to university, I would read plays and go, 'But these are about the past. Where are the plays that I love about now?' I couldn't find them, s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/mike-bartlett-24603_books_when-i-got-to-university-i-would-read-pl_2938088.jpg" --- # When I got to university, I would read plays and go, 'But… ![“When I got to university, I would read plays and go, 'But these are about the past. Where are the plays that I love about now?' I couldn't find them, so I started writing.” quote by Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/mike-bartlett-24603_books_when-i-got-to-university-i-would-read-pl_2938088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/mike-bartlett-24603_books_when-i-got-to-university-i-would-read-pl_2938088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/mike-bartlett-24603_books_when-i-got-to-university-i-would-read-pl_2938088.jpg) > “When I got to university, I would read plays and go, 'But these are about the past. Where are the plays that I love about now?' I couldn't find them, so I started writing.” [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When existing works don’t reflect current experiences, we must create new narratives that speak to our present reality. **In simple terms:** Create new stories that reflect today’s world. Key Takeaway Write what you can’t find. Themes creativity representation modernity Mood creative reflective Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - artistic projects - education - media production - community storytelling Key Concepts theatre writing Questions to Reflect On - What story from today needs to be told? - How can you ensure your work resonates now? A Different Perspective New works may face resistance or lack immediate audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [I love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-plays-4365745/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Read Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-plays-760349/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [University Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-read-980627/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The anti-apartheid prisoners on the island, like so many in every age and nation, found that Shakespeare had a peculiar ability to gentle their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-hannan/the-anti-apartheid-prisoners-on-the-island-like-so-many-in-every-age/) [Daniel Hannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-hannan/) > [Actually, every time I am back in New York, I read for as many plays as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-lowe/actually-every-time-i-am-back-in-new-york-i-read-for-as-many-plays-as/) [Chad Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-lowe/) > [In 1978, when I was 17 and in my first year at university, I read approximately 3,500 pages of Dickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/in-1978-when-i-was-17-and-in-my-first-year-at-university-i-read/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [I think the whole emphasis in England, in universities, on practical criticism (but not that so much as on historical criticism, knowing what period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-think-the-whole-emphasis-in-england-in-universities-on-practical/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I didn't finish university, I barely finished high school. All I know is from the books I've read, and the plays that I've read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-didn-t-finish-university-i-barely-finished-high-school-all-i-know/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [I'm an equal opportunity reader - although I don't much read plays. And since I was raised a Presbyterian, pretty much all pleasures are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-m-an-equal-opportunity-reader-although-i-don-t-much-read-plays-and/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [As a kid, I was a big reader. Books and theater were the way I understood the world, and also the way I organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/as-a-kid-i-was-a-big-reader-books-and-theater-were-the-way-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I grew up watching 'Star Trek.' I love 'Star Trek.' 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And if you ask people why they don't like things, particularly when they get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stew/i-love-finding-out-why-people-don-t-love-things-and-if-you-ask-people/) [Stew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stew/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [Big plays come when they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/big-plays-come-when-they-come/) [Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/) > [I don't mind watching plays once in a while, but as long as I don't have to be in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-mind-watching-plays-once-in-a-while-but-as-long-as-i-don-t/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. 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Television can hop around, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/theatre-tends-to-be-more-metaphorical-and-intense-as-you-re-locked-in/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [In Britain, many people love the royal family, and other people don't - but either way, we own them, and we have an opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/in-britain-many-people-love-the-royal-family-and-other-people-don-t/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [If people are going to spend a night out at the theatre, they don't just want 'good' - we can watch box sets for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/if-people-are-going-to-spend-a-night-out-at-the-theatre-they-don-t/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [I don't think anyone is boring, actually, if you ask the right questions and look at them the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/i-don-t-think-anyone-is-boring-actually-if-you-ask-the-right/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [“Without my voice and spirit I am dust. This is not what I want, but what I must.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/without-my-voice-and-spirit-i-am-dust-this-is-not-what-i-want-but/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [What I've found is if you get the right characters in the right story and put them in the right setting - and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/what-i-ve-found-is-if-you-get-the-right-characters-in-the-right-story/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [“...I am better Thoughtful Prince than King. Potential holds appeal since in its castle walls One is protected from the awful shame Of failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/i-am-better-thoughtful-prince-than-king-potential-holds-appeal-since/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [Where do we invest our trust now? In politicians? Most people would say not. In banks, in religion, in a sense of nationhood? In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/where-do-we-invest-our-trust-now-in-politicians-most-people-would-say/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [When I was nine, I found a copy of 'Doctor Who: the Making of a Television Series' in the school library. It had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/when-i-was-nine-i-found-a-copy-of-doctor-who-the-making-of-a/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [I wrote a very bad play about Prince William when I was 23 in which he went off to the island of Iona to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/i-wrote-a-very-bad-play-about-prince-william-when-i-was-23-in-which/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [I don't care more about '13' because it's in the Olivier than I did about 'Cock' in a 100-seat studio. 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People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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