The Oxford Playhouse is notoriously the most difficult of venues in Oxford to secure for student shows. The criteria are rigorous, and for a reason – there’s much more at stake and much more room for things to go wrong, especially given the scale and cost of such a production.
Last week in Cherwell we discussed the current plethora of Pinter within Oxford, and given that he seems to be undergoing a small scale revival (at least among these dreaming spires) it is perhaps apt that the first student show at the Playhouse this Hilary will be The Hothouse, one of Pinter’s most accomplished (if lesser known) plays.
Ziad Samaha, who will be playing the ruthless Gibbs, is confident that the quality of the show will be above par.
When asked how it compares to his previous credits he is keen to point out that ‘we’ve both been in shows where it’s been more about fun, more about your own recognition.’ Ruby Thomas, playing seductress Miss Cutts, adds that the rehearsal process indeed ‘feels more professional, but no less enjoyable for that.’
This professionalism appears to be echoed within the cast and rehearsal process itself. Ruby adds that she was pleasantly surprised by how ‘well behaved’ the boys have been, with a distinct lack of ‘banter’, given the amount of testosterone that must be flying around. Throughout the interview, both are eager to point out that rehearsals under Jamie Macdonagh, the director, are dissimilar to that of the average student play; both stress his interest in the details, the little things.
It is perhaps surprising then, that if Illyria Productions wished to create a play that is atypical of a student show, they opted for Pinter, given his immense popularity in Oxford at the moment. Pinter is the master, but surely one can have too much of a good thing? Ziad disagrees in this instance, pointing out that though Pinter is indeed popular student fodder, The Hothouse is not performed often, and as Ruby states; ‘there hasn’t been one at the Playhouse for a while, and with a larger team and more time and money’, it won’t occupy the territory of what Ziad describes as ‘the usual humdrum.’
When asked whether the themes of the play – totalitarianism, malign bureaucracy and subtly sinister institutionalism – though no doubt completely brilliant when they were first conceived, have perhaps become rather too well worn, almost to the point of cliché, Ruby directs my attention once again to the rehearsal process. She states that ‘one of the worst things you find in student productions of Pinter is watching people on stage who simply do not know what they are talking about. I mean, no-one does really, but the background work we’ve done ensures that there will be a real certainty coming from us, however uncertain the play remains’; this, she believes, will contribute heavily to keeping the play fresh.
When the two are asked if they plan on continuing acting after Oxford, both reply in the affirmative, with Ruby stating ‘Most of the cast do.’ When pressed for advice for budding student dramatists, Ziad gives a simple and pragmatic reply: ‘Get in to student drama. Don’t get into student drama politics.’ Ruby agrees, adding, ‘You don’t have to be a thesp to enjoy drama; it’s all a big lie! If you like drama go and do a play, you’ll have a lovely time.’ Readers, take heed.
‘The Hothouse’ by Harold Pinter is showing at the Playhouse on the 1st – 4th February
The Oxford Playhouse is notoriously the most difficult of venues in Oxford to secure for student shows. The criteria are rigorous, and for a reason – there’s much more at stake and much more room for things to go wrong, especially given the scale and cost of such a production. Last week in Cherwell we discussed the current plethora of Pinter within Oxford, and given that he seems to be undergoing a small scale revival (at least among these dreaming spires) it is perhaps apt that the first student show at the Playhouse this Hilary will be The Hothouse, one of Pinter’s most accomplished (if lesser known) plays.
Ziad Samaha, who will be playing the ruthless Gibbs, is confident that the quality of the show will be above par. When asked how it compares to his previous credits he is keen to point out that ‘we’ve both been in shows where it’s been more about fun, more about your own recognition.’ Ruby Thomas, playing seductress Miss Cutts, adds that the rehearsal process indeed ‘feels more professional, but no less enjoyable for that.’ This professionalism appears to be echoed within the cast and rehearsal process itself. Ruby adds that she was pleasantly surprised by how ‘well behaved’ the boys have been, with a distinct lack of ‘banter’, given the amount of testosterone that must be flying around. Throughout the interview, both are eager to point out that rehearsals under Jamie Macdonagh, the director, are dissimilar to that of the average student play; both stress his interest in the details, the little things.It is perhaps surprising then, that if Illyria Productions wished to create a play that is atypical of a student show, they opted for Pinter, given his immense popularity in Oxford at the moment. Pinter is the master, but surely one can have too much of a good thing? Ziad disagrees in this instance, pointing out that though Pinter is indeed popular student fodder, The Hothouse is not performed often, and as Ruby states; ‘there hasn’t been one at the Playhouse for a while, and with a larger team and more time and money’, it won’t occupy the territory of what Ziad describes as ‘the usual humdrum.’
When asked whether the themes of the play – totalitarianism, malign bureaucracy and subtly sinister institutionalism – though no doubt completely brilliant when they were first conceived, have perhaps become rather too well worn, almost to the point of cliché, Ruby directs my attention once again to the rehearsal process. She states that ‘one of the worst things you find in student productions of Pinter is watching people on stage who simply do not know what they are talking about. I mean, no-one does really, but the background work we’ve done ensures that there will be a real certainty coming from us, however uncertain the play remains’; this, she believes, will contribute heavily to keeping the play fresh.When the two are asked if they plan on continuing acting after Oxford, both reply in the affirmative, with Ruby stating ‘Most of the cast do.’ When pressed for advice for budding student dramatists, Ziad gives a simple and pragmatic reply: ‘Get in to student drama. Don’t get into student drama politics.’ Ruby agrees, adding, ‘You don’t have to be a thesp to enjoy drama; it’s all a big lie! If you like drama go and do a play, you’ll have a lovely time.’ Readers, take heed.
‘The Hothouse’ by Harold Pinter is showing at the Playhouse on the 1st – 4th February
