We love the rural home of our Acting School and the freedom it provides students and staff in their daily exploration of the craft of acting, but don’t let our location fool you. We have some fantastic connections to the wider industry, and being outside of London doesn’t mean missing out on opportunities outside of the classroom.
A large part of our offering here at The Oxford School of Drama is the Professional Development sessions available to the One Year course and Third Year graduating students. In these sessions, a series of visiting speakers meet with students to help them better understand the realities of being a professional actor, as well as to develop tools that will help them be proactive creatives who are confident and self-assured in their professionalism.
Join us as we look back and thank some of our visiting speakers.
Babou Ceesay: The Responsibilities of the Actor
Babou Ceesay, a graduate of our Year Course and BAFTA-nominated actor, met with our students to discuss the importance of setting goals and the responsibilities of the actor. Babou has appeared on stage and screen to great acclaim, appearing at theatres such as The Royal Court, The National Theatre, and the RSC. He also received a BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Richard Taylor, the father of Damilola Taylor, in Damilola, Our Loved Boy. Babou spoke engagingly about the realities of the changing industry and how to stay motivated and inspired. Babou is a fantastic ambassador for the type of creative entrepreneurs that OSD training creates.
Babou will appear alongside Sean Bean in a new Tudor drama coming to Disney+; catch the trailer for Shardlake here.
Lizzie Annis: From The Farm to The National
Lizzie Annis, another One-Year grad, visited this year following a hugely exciting couple of years. She was named the Most Promising Newcomer at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards in 2023, following appearances on the West End alongside international star Amy Adams in The Glass Menagerie and at The National Theatre in Rebecca Frecknall’s The House of Bernarda Alba. All the students were very excited to hear from someone who has recently made the transition they’re about to make themselves.
Lizzie recently spoke with The Stage about the importance of raising the voices of disabled creatives; you can read the article here.
Rachel Briscoe: Agents and What They Look For
Rachel Briscoe from leading UK agency The Artists Partnership led an illuminating discussion about the role of the Agent and what they look for when signing new artists. Having connections with some of the UK’s top agencies is one of the main benefits of Drama School training. Students are encouraged to research agencies to understand where they may fit within the industry, and discussions with people like Rachel make preparing for the Showcase a less daunting task. Rachel is also Lizzie’s agent, so she knows exactly the calibre of actors OSD produces!
Jermain Julien: Working with OSD Grads
Accomplished TV Director Jermain Julien discussed the intricacies of working in TV and working with OSD Graduates, giving insight into our reputations in the industry. Jermain has directed long-running shows such as Holby City, Death in Paradise, Grantchester, and Vera. It was during his time on Vera that he cast recent graduate Emily Kathryn in her very first job weeks after graduating!
Drama School Connections
Previous professional development speakers have included Mike Leigh, Jessica Swale, Kathryn Hunter, Rachel Sheridan, Ria Parry, and Hal Chambers, as well as casting directors from the RSC, The National Theatre, and The Globe.
Thanks to everyone who visited us at The Farm this year, whether in person or via Zoom. Your input has been invaluable to our students.
We hope this blog has given you some insight into the benefits of actor training outside of the classroom. Drama school does not simply provide you with a toolkit of skills but also connections, knowledge, and preparation for the realities of the industry.
Remember, it is through collaboration, creativity, and commitment to the craft that the actor truly flourishes.
