OSD Graduates Shine at Brits Off Broadway 2026
We’re thrilled to see OSD graduates heading to New York as part of the Brits Off Broadway 2026 season at 59E59 Theaters. The recently announced season brings eight UK productions to one of New York’s leading off-Broadway venues, and it’s especially exciting to see so many OSD alumni represented among the artists making the work.
Across three very different productions, our graduates are demonstrating the values at the heart of OSD training: collaboration, creativity, and craft. Whether through solo storytelling, ensemble performance, or ambitious adaptation, each show reflects a deep commitment to making bold, thoughtful theatre – together.
Youth In Flames
Written and performed by Mimi Martin, directed by Jessica Whiley
Mimi and Jessica both graduated from the Three Year Course in 2023.
Youth In Flames is a powerful example of collaboration at its most personal. Written and performed by Mimi Martin and directed by Jessica Whiley, the piece is built on a close creative partnership, with trust and shared artistic vision at its core.
The production was supported by OSD’s New Initiatives Fund in 2025, which exists to help graduates develop new work and take creative risks. Seeing Youth In Flames travel to New York is a reminder of how vital that early support can be — and how OSD graduates continue to champion one another long after training ends.
You can read more about the 2025 New Initiatives Fund recipients here.
At its heart, Youth In Flames is a celebration of craft: careful writing, precise performance, and sensitive direction coming together to tell a story that feels both intimate and urgent.
David Copperfield
Luke Barton
Luke graduated from the One Year Course in 2013
In Guildford Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of David Copperfield, Luke Barton showcases the skill, versatility, and ensemble awareness that are central to OSD’s approach to actor training.
Luke takes on an extraordinary range of roles — Peggotty, Ham, Mr Creakle, Mr Murdstone, Mr Dick, Mr Micawber, Mr Spenlow, Mr Wickfield, and Mrs Steerforth — requiring rapid transformation, vocal and physical precision, and a deep understanding of storytelling through performance.
This production is a masterclass in theatrical craft, but it’s also rooted in collaboration: a company working together to reimagine a classic text for contemporary audiences. Luke’s work in the show highlights how strong technical foundations allow actors to thrive in demanding, inventive ensemble environments.
Catch of the Day
Callum McGuire, Jonty Weston, and Ben Simon
Callum, Jonty and Ben all graduated from the Three Year Course in 2017
Written and performed by Callum McGuire, Jonty Weston, and Ben Simon, Catch of the Day brings three OSD graduates to New York as part of Red Fox Theatre. The piece is the result of long-term collaboration, shared authorship, and a collective commitment to telling stories that matter.
OSD supported the early development of Catch of the Day through the New Initiatives Fund in 2019, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the work continue to grow and reach international audiences. The production embodies creativity in action, graduates making their own opportunities, building companies, and trusting in ensemble-led storytelling.
Collaboration, Creativity, Craft on a Global Stage
Brits Off Broadway continues to be an important platform for UK theatre makers to share their work internationally. For OSD, this season feels like a celebration not just of individual achievements, but of a community.
These three productions show what’s possible when artists collaborate generously, create boldly, and commit fully to their craft. Values that sit at the heart of OSD training and continue to shape our graduates’ careers.
We’re incredibly proud of everyone involved and can’t wait to see OSD graduates lighting up the stages of 59E59. We’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.