This week the Oxford University Dramatic Society presents The New Writing Festival. A celebration of all student theatre, it takes over all the student venues until Saturday - the Old Fire Station, the Burton Taylor Theatre and the Moser Theatre, in Wadham College.
Four plays have been selected from across the University by the BBC's Head of New Writing, Jessica Dromgoole, and The Sunday Times theatre critic Robert Hewison.
The winning play, John Bohannon'sThe Myth of Prometheus, is on at the OFS from tonight. It is a modern adaptation of the Greek myth of the same name, investigating torture and the power of man over man.
Runners-up are each allocated a slot in one of the other theatres.
Described by Jessica Dromgoole as revealing "a wealth of great new writing talent", the productions are being judged by RADA, LAMDA and the Central School of Speech and Drama, and promise great things.
Alex Clifton, the president of OUDS, said: "I can only express our pride in being able to offer opportunities for our student members to move their plays off the page to the stage, in collaboration with some of the country's leading professional dramaturges.
"It is a highlight of our year and is thoroughly exciting."
Previous productions have gone on to win prizes for writing and best overall production at The National Student Drama Festival, and one recent winner won The Eugene O'Neill Prize in the USA.
There has already been interest expressed by various writers' agents, and the literary managers of both the National Theatre and the Royal Court will be coming to see the shows and give a talk with the Chair of The Writer's Guild on Saturday afternoon at the Old Fire Station (all audience members will be invited to stay and listen).
There are also talks throughout the week at the Burton Taylor, at 2pm every day, given by professionals involved with new writing. Visit www.ouds.org for more information, or simply drop into the theatre and ask.
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