ACTING students from Stratford College are living their dream – treading the boards in the RSC’s current production of Henry V.
Beth Oliver-Hall, Oscar Woodings, and Thea Jones got the 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 said: “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.
“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.”
Paul Ainsworth, young theatre makers developer at the RSC, added: “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.”
