Eighty-five years into promoting student-written theatre, Silver Masque Theatre Company continues to offer a supportive community for wacky theatrical exploration every other Thursday in Ryder Theatre Lab at its notorious 11 p.m. revue, “Fortnight.”

Each showing of “Fortnight” is split into two acts. The first is a free-for-all, consisting of various eclectic segments. The March 19 show included “Weekend Update,” a Chinese lesson, improv, stand-up and a teaser for NU Stage’s production of “Shrek.”

“It’s almost like a talent show that happens every other week. And when I say you can do anything, I pretty much mean that,” said Eve Davidson, a fourth-year theatre and film production major and president of Silver Masque. She once read her middle school text messages aloud; another performer had the “Fortnight” audience pick the law school they were going to. 

The second act is always a 10-minute play written, produced, directed and acted by students. 

Ultimately, the club serves as the intersection of all the theatre spaces on campus. That is to say, “This is a gay, gay club,” said Vice President Naz Ozturk, a fourth-year communication studies and marketing combined major. 

The 10-minute play on March 19 is a prime example. “Let’s Eat,” written by second-year health science major Disha Kumar, followed two lesbians on a date, with one seeking to be cannibalized by the other. Hijinks ensued. (The following 10-minute play on April 2 was based on One Direction fanfiction.)

At the end of the spring semester, Silver Masque produces a lengthier one-act play. This year’s play is “Homewreckers,” written by third-year business administration major Alison King and directed by second-year cell and molecular biology major Jay Cooper. Created by the students for the students, when it comes to creative freedom, Silver Masque has it covered.

“We just want to get student work out there and give people a place to explore weird things,” Davidson said. Leading the oldest club on campus, Davidson constantly endeavors to keep the club true to its student-driven core. 

Moments before the third-to-last “Fortnight” of the semester, performers and producers formed quite the tableau inside the Theatre Lab, hugging and exclaiming amongst themselves. “I have met some of my favorite people at Silver Masque,” Davidson said.

Across the board, Silver Masque members describe the club as low stakes, a key draw for prospective performers. Matt Hecker, third-year business administration and communication studies combined major and regular performer, found his footing in stand-up comedy at the late-night variety show. In a recent “Fortnight,” his set reflected on his fitness journey — but with a twist. 

Hecker downed a spoonful of the spiciest “Hot Ones” sauce before starting, only allowing himself to take a sip of milk when the audience laughed. The effect was scintillating. He calls the space “personal,” giving him the room to grow into other mediums such as playwriting. Silver Masque has since produced two of his plays, “Places!” and “In Another Life.”

Not everyone in line for “Fortnight” has a particular interest in theatre or performance art. Third-year cybersecurity and business administration combined major Vaishnavi Tummala’s friends dragged her along for the first time on March 19, advertising it as a “comedy club.” In fact, many performers plan to go into STEM or business, far from the experimental theater scene at Silver Masque. 

“The arts in general are very important, and because we’re such a STEM-heavy school, I think it’s almost more important to have these clubs,” Davidson said. “As a theatre major, I get to do theatre all the time, but for other majors, this is their space.” 

Week after week, 75 or so participants gather near midnight in Ryder Hall because, as third-year theatre and computer science combined major Jude Riley put it, “It’s just always going to be a fun hour, guaranteed.”

The final “Fortnight” of the semester, “Senior Fortnight,” stars and celebrates graduating club members on Thursday, April 16 at 11 p.m. Silver Masque’s one-act play “Homewreckers” is running April 10 and 11, with both evening and matinee shows.