Jude graduated from the One Year acting course in 2010. He has worked extensively in theatre since, most notably in the title role in Michael Boyd’s Tamburlaine at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2018. Television credits include Father Brown and The Hollow Crown.
What made you choose the Oxford School of Drama over other schools?
I chose OSD over other schools because I loved the idea of doing a one year course that was removed from the bubble of London. A place where I felt I could rediscover and redefine my own understanding of myself as an actor.
What do you think makes the training at the Oxford School of Drama so special?
What made the training special for more was a constant feeling of improving. I was doing things that I had never done before, learning techniques, accents and things about the industry that I had never even thought of.
Can you remember a time at the school that was of particular significance for you?
There were many significant moments for me at OSD from breakthroughs in singing a self-song in front of my peers, to animal studies and movement lessons. However, the most significant was when I was selected to go to the RSC for a workshop weekend. The experience of going to the RSC was great but the significant moment was that, as someone who was born outside the UK, growing up in a council estate, never thinking of myself as someone who could do Shakespeare, it gave me an incredible confidence boost. I stopped putting limitations on myself and began to claim my own space. I came back from that experience thinking, yes I can do this. Yes I can see myself in this.
Looking back, what aspects of the training do you particularly value now you are in the profession?
There are so many things with the benefit of hindsight that I wish I had valued a lot more. One of these was the invaluable accent lessons. It’s a great tool to have in this profession and can be expensive and time consuming to find someone who you can work and relate with to get the best out of your accent work.
How did you find the transition from The Oxford School Of Drama into the industry?
The transition from OSD to industry was a shock even though I tried to mentally prepare myself for it in advance. I kept saying, “this is a career not a job” by that I meant, I’m in this for the long haul, so if something doesn’t come straight away I should be patient. But I went over a year without really working in the industry. I wasn’t fully prepared for how long and lonely it can get at times.
Do you have any advice for graduates?
Any advice?? Hmmmm. This is a hard one. Make sure you leave with as few regrets as possible because you won’t get that many opportunities to fail in the industry. Try not be downhearted when other people appear more successful, remain positive and be inspired by others success. If they can do it then so can I. Remember not to be too hard on yourself. As long as you prepare, really prepare then you know you have done all that you can. Finally I would say, don’t think your training stops after drama school, take extra classes in screen, text or whatever you feel you need.
