Open Events
“…take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable, dare to fail in order to achieve.”
Richard Gadd, OSD Alumni
2024 Emmy acceptance speech for Baby Reindeer – Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Open Events at the School
Our Next Open Event!
We’re excited to announce our next Open Event will be on the 21st November at 1pm.
Booking for the event will open on Friday 10th October, a link will be added below once booking goes live.
Please note: this event will be for prospective Three Year and Foundation Course students only.
In-Person Open Events
The School’s in-person open events give prospective applicants the chance to view some of our classes and speak with current staff and students. The events are half-days, either from 10.15am – 2pm or 1.20pm -5pm.
The events always run alongside a normal school day, therefore places are limited to ensure minimum disruption. Please note that places are reserved for potential students only (one booking per person, no parents/guardians).
If you are unable to attend an open event but you are applying to the School for one of our full time courses, you will still be able to experience the School if you are successful at the First Round audition stage because you will be invited to a First Recall audition at the School. The First Recall audition includes a Workshop alongside your individual audition (speeches) and hopefully, this will give you a picture of day-to-day life at OSD.
We also run a selection of in-person short courses which are held at the School.
Please note we have not yet released the dates of our next Open Events. Keep checking here, or sign up for our newsletter by clicking the link below to be notified of when the next event begins booking.
Information about our in-person Open Events
Getting to the School
As there is no parking available on site, the school will organise a free bus from/to Oxford city centre (the Taylorian Institute bus bay around the side of the Ashmolean) and Oxford Parkway outside the train station station (parking is available at Oxford Parkway). On the booking form you will be asked to select which stop you will be using so we can allocate you a space on the bus.
Under 18-year-olds attending:
If you are under 18, please ask your parents to e-mail the school with their permission for you to attend alone. If you aren’t local, we recommend that your parents wait with you at either the bus stop on St Giles in central Oxford, or at Oxford Parkway Station, so they know that you have got on the bus. They can then spend the morning in Oxford and meet you back off the bus in the afternoon. Alternatively, if they are planning on driving you to the school, they can drop you off before spending the morning in Woodstock, or at Blenheim Palace.
Once you have booked a place:
We will email you to remind you about the Open Morning the week before and we will provide details about the bus pick-up points. Please let us know if you haven’t received anything from us so that we can make sure we have received your booking. We hold a waiting list, so if you are no longer able to attend please let us know as soon as possible by emailing auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk so that your place can be allocated to the next person.
On the Day:
Please bring your refreshments/lunch with you. There is no cafe on site but biscuits and soft drinks will be available in the theatre foyer on arrival. Please be aware that you may be required to remove your shoes before entering some of the classes/studios. The day will finish at 2.00pm and buses will depart shortly after.
Virtual Open Events
The School’s virtual open events are an opportunity to ask questions to some of our staff and students, in a focused and information-packed panel discussion.
We run Virtual Events for each of our courses, and they are entirely free to attend. More information will be added here after our first events are announced.