Oxford School of Drama student selected for UK Drama School Residency with the Emma Rice Company!
We’re delighted to share some fantastic news from our second year: Raj Jhaar has been selected for the Emma Rice Company Drama School Residency 2026.
This highly sought-after opportunity brings together a small group of second-year students from across the UK drama school sector, all chosen through a competitive audition process. Raj’s selection is a real testament to the creativity, versatility and collaborative spirit he brings to his work – qualities we see every day in the rehearsal room.
The week-long residency will take place at the company’s creative home in Frome, The Lucky Chance – a vibrant, purpose-built space where artists come together to make, experiment and collaborate. During the residency, Raj will work as part of a small ensemble, gaining first-hand experience of professional theatre-making while engaging with the bold, imaginative style that defines Emma Rice’s work.
Speaking about the opportunity, Raj said:
“I’m really excited to have been selected for the residency with the Emma Rice Company. It’s a great opportunity to spend time working closely with a company whose approach to theatre I find really inspiring. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the process, collaborating with other artists, and pushing my work in new directions. It feels like a chance to properly challenge myself and develop both creatively and professionally. I’m excited to see where the week leads.”
Opportunities like this are a key part of what makes training at a UK drama school such as the Oxford School of Drama distinctive. Our focus is not only on rigorous, practical training, but also on building strong industry connections and creating real pathways into the profession. Through close relationships with companies, casting directors and working artists, our students are regularly placed in rooms where their work can be seen, challenged and celebrated beyond the school environment.
That’s not to say there’s only one route into acting – but for those seeking an intensive, industry-facing experience, a UK drama school offers something uniquely direct. Moments like this, where a student steps straight from training into a professional creative context, are exactly what that difference looks like in practice.
We’re incredibly proud to see Raj representing the school in this way, and we can’t wait to hear all about the experience when he returns.
Huge congratulations, Raj!
If you’re thinking about training as an actor and want to be part of a UK drama school that prioritises professional connections, hands-on experience and individual creative development, applications to the Oxford School of Drama are still open!