The New College Drama Society (NCDS) is a great place to start if you want to get involved in drama. As well as highlighting workshops and contributing to Bryce’s Coffee House events, NCDS puts on a hilarious Christmas Pantomime in Hall every Michaelmas, written and performed by JCR members. Freshers can also get involved in Drama Cuppers, a drama competition between colleges that takes place in 5th Week of Michaelmas. This is a great chance to get involved in College and University drama, as you will meet like-minded thespians both at New College and from across the University. Teams of up to 8 students can put on any form of show of up to half an hour, with various prizes awarded. To get involved in the pantomime, cuppers, or for general information and advice talk to the MADD Rep.
Plays are regularly put on in our 120-seat, 14th century 'Long Room', with the NCDS helping to fund four different productions over the last year. At Christmas, there is often a pantomime put on in the dining hall, and in the summer, the beautiful college gardens regularly become the stage for society productions, including the annual 'Greek play'.
University-wide Drama
For University-wide drama the Oxford University Drama Society (OUDS) website is a great resource for anyone who wants to act, direct, produce or just generally get involved in plays. You can find information about placing a bid for a production, getting funding, and also more in depth information about Drama Cuppers. OUDS also run a New Writing Festival every year to bring student writing to the stage, with entrance open until the Christmas Vacation, and auditions for actors taking place at the beginning of Hilary. OUDS also send round a weekly newsletter providing information about all the auditions, productions, opportunities in drama across the university that week.
Oxford University Theatre Technicians and Designers (TAFF) are a group for those who want to get involved in the technical side of Theatre and Theatre Design in Oxford, providing support, advice and resources for technicians and designers, as well a mailing list to connect members of differing levels of experience.
Finally the Oxford Revue is a society set up to promote comedy performances at the university as well as producing its own shows throughout the year. They send out emails to a mailing list with events, shows, auditions and general comedy information.