In February 1966, screen idols Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor agreed to appear in Dr Faustus alongside Oxford University students.

Now, 42 years on, members of the cast are reuniting to discuss their memories of that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Worcester College graduate David Wood, now a theatre director, is one of the cast members who will be taking part in the reunion at the Oxford Playhouse on Saturday.

The 64-year-old father-of-two said: "I played Burton's servant Wagner and at the time I was going out with Sheila Dawson, who was Elizabeth Taylor's understudy.

"We got to spend quite a lot of time with them, and they invited the two of us for dinner one night at The Bear Hotel in Woodstock.

"Burton and Taylor were big stars at the time, so it was quite extraordinary to be given the chance to act alongside them — it was a bit surreal.

"They were very generous with their time and took a suite at the Randolph and at The Bear and invited students back for parties.

"Burton even gave me a couple of sweaters because my student jumpers were going through at the elbows."

The reunion at 4pm is expected to include Maria Aitken, Sir Bob Scott, Richard Durden, Richard Heffer and Mr Wood.

Andreas Teuber, the student who won favourable reviews as Mephistopheles, is flying in from the United States and Jackie Keirs, the student who choreographed the show, still lives in Oxford and will also be attending.

When Richard Burton appeared in a university production of Measure for Measure in 1944, he promised that one day he would return to Oxford and act again for director and English tutor Nevill Coghill.

True to his word, back he came as a Hollywood film star more than 20 years later to help raise funds for the Playhouse.

The play — and a subsequent film — failed to make enough profit to pay for a new building.

But the Burtons later agreed to contribute personally to the project.

Oxford Playhouse is celebrating its 70th anniversary in its Beaumont Street home this year.

The reunion event is staged in partnership with the University of Oxford Alumni Weekend.

Tickets cost £7 from 01865 305305 or at oxfordplayhouse.com