Acting students from Stratford-upon-Avon College are living their dream – balancing college life with performing for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) on their current production of Henry V.
Beth Oliver-Hall, 19 from Chipping Camden, Oscar Woodings, 18 from Stratford-upon-Avon, and Thea Jones, 18 from Chipping Norton, got the phenomenal opportunity to be part of the supporting cast as supernumeraries for one of Shakespeare’s most prolific History plays and perform alongside top professionals on one of the most famous stages in the world.
They are also joined by former college Acting students Freddie Gresham and McKenzie Griffin.
The students heard about the opportunity to audition for the production through tutors at the college. After attending a competitive audition at the RSC, the students were selected to be part of one of two ensemble teams, 15 performers in each.
Preparation took the form of a number of rehearsals plus Technical and Dress rehearsals led by a range of practitioners, including the Director of the show and Co-Artistic Director of the RSC Tamara Harvey.
The students are thrilled to be a part of the production and to benefit from the experience. Beth commented: “It’s brilliant! My dream is to work in classical theatre so it’s nice to learn from industry professionals and see what they expect from you.”
She continued: “Working at the RSC, it is a dream! I always thought it was out of reach, but being there, doing it, seeing the backstage, it makes my dream realistic. The company, Directors, Choreographers are so lovely, the workshops were so interesting, and the overall experience has been great. And doing all this alongside college is so motivating, you are starting to live the dream you are studying to achieve.”
Thea added: “I think it is so inspiring; it gives you a whole experience, an idea of the industry and how to perform as an ensemble with in-depth character explorations. It has been so great!”
She detailed why college has prepared them for the experience: “We explore Shakespeare as one of our projects, so I felt a lot more confident going into this. Previously I never liked Shakespeare or really understood it, but now I feel like another door has opened for me!”
Paul Ainsworth, Young Theatre Makers Developer at the RSC, said: “It was delightful to see how confidently these young performers, recruited by our regional partners, embraced the movement style created by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and the production’s broader themes. They approached the work with diligence and dedication, working seamlessly alongside our professional cast as a cohesive, supportive ensemble.
“The RSC has long been committed to nurturing young emerging talent, providing meaningful opportunities while passing on vital skills and knowledge. Through their involvement in a production of this scale, alongside our bespoke skills sessions led by industry experts, these young people gained invaluable experience, developing skills that will support their future careers and personal growth.”
Acting Lecturer, Kerry Downing, is proud of the students’ achievements and how it reflects upon the training they receive at college: “It’s great to see both current and former students from Stratford-upon-Avon College sharing the stage in an RSC production. It speaks to the consistency of the training here – practical, disciplined, and rooted in the realities of the industry. Watching them step into that professional environment and hold their own is exactly what we prepare them for.”
