The Oxford School of Drama

The recruitment of the second Principal of The Oxford School of Drama has begun

george peck

The Oxford School of Drama has announced that George Peck, the founder of the School, will retire as Principal in 2019. For details about the role of Principal and how to apply go to:
http://aeminternational.co.uk/principal-oxford-school-of-drama/

George Peck founded The Oxford School of Drama 32 years ago. Kate Ashcroft, Executive Director from 1997 – 2017 and now Head of Marketing and Development, will leave at the same time.

George Peck said “In 1986 I wanted to build a school which offered a contemporary and creative approach to actor training. Looking back it is astonishing to realise how much has been achieved in so short a time. It’s been a huge privilege to work alongside so many talented tutors and students and we are all immensely proud of the work the graduates are doing in the industry. It is, and will I am certain continue to be, a truly inspirational and vocational school.”

Peter Wilson Smith, Chair of The Oxford School of Drama board said today, “George has created a remarkable drama school with a unique character and a reputation for nurturing exceptional talent. The many Oxford School of Drama alumni now enjoying success in the profession is testimony to the quality of the organisation that he and Kate Ashcroft have guided and developed over more than two decades. It is a challenge replacing an inspirational founder but we have an outstanding team of tutors and staff in place who will continue the OSD tradition as we embark on the search for a successor.”

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Seamus Allen

Seamus trained in his hometown, Dublin at the Conservatory of Music and Drama. After graduating he toured nationally with some of Ireland’s premier children’s theatre companies, as well as developing and performing clown performances for Barrabbas, and magic shows for Cahoots N.I. 

Since moving to the UK Seamus has appeared in The Tempest, As You Like It, Comedy of Errors, Macbeth and Robin Hood (Creation Theatre Company), Quest (Folklore Presents) The Disappearance (The Sticking Place),and Where’s My Desi Soulmate? (Rifco Arts). Tv work includes Bear Behaving Badly (Thames Valley).  Seamus is also a skilled improviser, training with Ken Campbell’s School of Night and core cast in the annual London 50 hour Improvathons and performs with “Austentatious, The improvised Jane Austen Novel”.  

Seamus was the director of the Young Company at the Watermill theatre in Newbury. He established Readings only Improvisation comedy club, “What’s the Game?! Improv”, hosting shows as well as coaching professional performers.  Seamus was Head of acting at Read college, a course which he wrote and which became one of the most successful Foundation courses for getting students into the top acting degree programmes in the UK.  Most recently he has been Head of Year at Drama Studio London and gained an MSc in Performance Psychology focusing on excellence in actor training.

Seamus is Head of Foundation and teaches on the Foundation Courses