Oxford is famous for drama, with about 30 student productions every
term, at the Burton Taylor Studio, the Old Fire Station Studio, and the
Oxford Playhouse, or in one of the colleges, whose gardens provide
wonderful settings for outdoor shows in the summer term. On stage,
backstage or in the audience, you can take in a great variety of
traditional, contemporary and experimental plays. There are
University-wide bodies – including the Oxford University Dramatic
Society (OUDS), the Experimental Theatre Club (ETC), the Theatre
Technicians’ and Designers’ Society (TAFF), the Oxford Imps, and the
Oxford Revue – and many societies at college level.
Oxford University Dramatic Society
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Every year, OUDS, the central organising drama body
in Oxford, mounts an international tour of a production directed,
performed and produced by students. The tour went to Georgia in 2009
and Japan in 2010. It also hosts a national tour every summer,
culminating in a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
There is
a full-time University Drama Officer who helps students to plan,
programme and publicise their productions. The Officer also organises
workshops and talks, which are free and open to all, and can advise
those planning a career in theatre or film on graduation.
Each
year a major theatrical figure is appointed as Cameron Mackintosh
Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre and gives a series of
lectures and workshops for students. The current Visiting Professor
(2009–10) is Michael Frayn. Past names include Stephen Sondheim, Arthur
Miller and Kevin Spacey.
email: drama.officer@admin.ox.ac.uk
www.ouds.org
www.oxforduniversitydrama.co.uk
| Theatre Technicians' and Designers' Society
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TAFF is the society for those who work on the technical side of theatre
and theatre design, including stage and production management,
lighting, sound, props, and costume and set design. As a society, it
provides support, advice and training for students who are interested
in technical theatre. It also seeks to increase the understanding of
technical theatre in the broader University theatre community.
Throughout the year it runs workshops on a variety of aspects of
technical theatre.
www.tabsareforflying.co.uk
The Oxford Imps form the hub of improvised comedy in Oxford, performing
Whose Line Is It Anyway-style shows every Monday night, and at the
Edinburgh Fringe for a month each summer.
The
Imps are a training, as well as performance company, offering a boot
camp and workshops for a new generation of comedians and actors. Every
year they hold auditions (no experience required!), but also need
technicians, production assistants, improvising keyboard players and a
keen audience to provide suggestions for the show.
The Imps are a
regular fixture at college balls and charity events, and put their
skills to use in a wide variety of other formats, from full-length
improvised musicals and radio plays to short films.
www.oxfordimps.com
