Hugh Grant, Rosamund Pike, Felicity Jones, Emilia Fox...Oxford have produced a long-list of famous alumni within the acting world.
The Oxford drama scene is big, with multiple student plays on at different theatres around the city and, each term, a show-stopping production at the Oxford Playhouse.
So how does it all work?
Well it's pretty professional really. Students sign up to be on the Drama Society mailing list. Each week when the newsletter comes out, there will be a host of auditions for each production, specifying exactly what the casting team are looking for.
Students book an audition slot and then turn up to do their piece. This may be a pre-prepared monologue, a script or even just a spontaneous improvisation.
Successful performers may go through several call-backs before finally being offered a part but this ensures the final performance is far from amateur.
Then the real hard work begins; set designers,sound crews, directors, producers and actors all come together for numerous rehearsals to create the final performance.
Next are the dreaded reviews; how many stars will the student newspapers give your production?! Five hopefully! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Top Tips
If you're interested in drama, sign up in Freshers. It's then totally up to you when or whether you decide to audition, so you can plan it around your work-load.
Being part of a production requires a great deal of commitment, so don't take on too much and end up stressing out.
There are so many ways to get involved in the drama scene, as an actor or director or part of the technical and design team.
It's a great way to make friends outside your college!
If drama is your passion, don't think going to Oxford will put an end to that dream, the Drama Society is thriving.