FOLLOWING stints in acting and theatre directing, the city council’s new international officer seems the ideal candidate to put Oxford and its young people centre stage.

Rachel Capell, 39, took up the role of Oxford’s city events and international links officer following May Wylie’s retirement in July.

Mrs Wylie, 66, had been in the position for 18 years.

Ms Capell’s role will see her continuing to grow relationships with Oxford’s many twin cities, while also organising some of its biggest events, such as the Christmas lights switch-on.

And she is relishing the challenge.

She said: “My initial interest in this post was sparked by its focus on providing young people with opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to in terms of cultural exchange.

“I believe intense experiences that broaden young people’s horizons have a big impact on the way they feel about themselves and the way they engage with the world around them.

“I’m also fascinated in the history of our twin towns.”

Ms Capell lives in Didcot and attended Wallingford School as a teenager, before embarking on a varied career that began in theatre.

She said: “My professional journey has been from performing and directing in small scale touring theatre – where we performed in several international theatre festivals in Venezuela, Singapore, Germany and Romania – to working as a lecturer in colleges and universities.

“I then started working in a big regional theatre in their education department and after that was at Pegasus Theatre for five years.

“Most recently I’ve been working in Wiltshire running a county-wide programme developing arts opportunities for young people across all art forms.”

Ms Capell said she is hoping to use her performing arts experience to liven up some of our city centre spaces with more cultural activity.

She added: “Even though many people, organisations and local authorities are struggling financially at the moment, my role will give me the opportunity to recognise the dedicated emerging professional artists and community groups that would certainly value the opportunity to share some of their work in public spaces.”

Asked whether she is nervous about taking on such a demanding role she said: “Of course. May (Wylie) has an astounding reputation and achieved so much in her time. I’m going to do my best to build on her good work.

“I’ve had some lovely messages from counterpart officers of our twins. They’ve been filling me in on plans afoot and ideas for the future.

“This is a unique role in the city and one that I’m looking forward to.”