Talented OSD Artists at the Heart of New Writing in Oxford
We’re delighted to celebrate the involvement of three OSD artists in this year’s Catalyst Programme, a flagship residency at The North Wall Arts Centre.
Part of the North Wall’s wider ArtsLab initiative, Catalyst sits at the core of its commitment to nurturing bold, original theatre and supporting early-career artists as they develop their voice and practice. The programme brings together six writers and three directors from across the UK, selected through a highly competitive national call-out, and places them in an intensive, collaborative environment alongside professional mentors and a company of actors.
Across two weeks, artists are given the time, space and support to experiment and refine new work. The first week focuses on script development, while the second sees extracts rehearsed with a professional ensemble, culminating in a public sharing of new writing. An exciting opportunity to present works-in-progress to an audience.
As a partner of the Catalyst programme, OSD is proud to support this important initiative and to help create pathways for emerging artists. Through this partnership, our One Year Course students were able to apply for the acting ensemble, and we’re thrilled that two have been selected.
Current One Year Course students Sesughter M. Iorchir and Georgia Koronka joined this year’s company of actors, working closely with writers and directors to bring new plays to life. Over the course of the residency, they collaborated intensively with peers and mentors, contributing to the development of six original scripts.
We are equally proud to celebrate the success of Three Year Course OSD graduate Ruby Crepin-Glyne, who has been selected as one of this year’s writers through the national call-out. As a brilliant emerging writer, we were thrilled to see Ruby selected. Her new piece, Apple Tree, has been developed over the course of the residency, with an extract due to be shared at the final showcase tomorrow (10th April).
Catalyst is widely recognised as a vital stepping stone for emerging theatre-makers, offering not only high-level artistic development, but also the chance to build lasting creative relationships within a national network of peers. To see OSD artists represented across both performance and writing is a powerful testament to the talent, versatility and ambition of our community.
Come and Support Tomorrow’s Showcase
The Catalyst 2026 residency culminates tomorrow at 7pm with a special public sharing at The North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford. The evening will feature extracts from six new plays, written and directed by this year’s cohort and performed by a professional ensemble.
With tickets priced at just £5, it’s an accessible and exciting opportunity to experience brand new writing at an early stage of development.
This is a chance to support emerging artists at a pivotal moment in their careers, and to see OSD artists in action. We warmly encourage our community of friends, family, alumni and supporters to come along, book a ticket, and be part of the audience for this inspiring evening of new theatre.
You can book your tickets here: Book tickets for Catalyst 2026
We hope to see you there!
From Training to Industry: Catalyst and the One Year MA in Acting
Opportunities like the Catalyst Programme are a powerful reflection of what makes OSD’s One Year MA in Acting such a dynamic and industry-connected course.
As a partner of Catalyst, OSD artists have direct access to professional opportunities that extend far beyond the rehearsal room. This connection with The North Wall Arts Centre is just one example of how the course is designed not only to develop craft at a high level, but to actively place students within the wider theatre-making landscape, working alongside emerging writers, directors, mentors and professional actors.
The One Year MA is intentionally intensive and varied. Across a fast-paced year, students build craft in performance while also engaging with new writing, collaboration and industry-facing projects. Programmes like Catalyst allow students to apply their training in real-world contexts, contributing to the development of brand new work and forming creative relationships that often continue well beyond the course.
For many, it’s these connections and experiences that define the year: the chance to be in the room where new work is made, to collaborate with artists at different stages of their careers, and to begin building a professional network from day one.
So, does being involved in Catalyst sound like an exciting prospect to you?
Applications are now open for the One Year MA in Acting at OSD. If you’re looking for a course that is immersive, industry-connected and designed to open doors, now is the time to take the next step.
Apply now and be part of a programme that places you at the centre of new work, new collaborations and the future of theatre.