Cuppers, The Results '24

Last week marked the end of Oxford University’s inter-college drama competition “Cuppers”. But with participation numbers declining in recent years, what does it mean to students both past & present?

The 2024 Oxford University Drama Festival ‘Cuppers’, came to an exciting conclusion on Saturday, November 16th. The competition (held annually in the intimate fifty-seater black box theatre, The Burton Taylor Studio), is often many students' first real encounter with the Oxford theatre scene and for some, the first time they tread the boards.

Exclusively open to first-years from across the university’s colleges, teams are formed and in them, create 20-minute productions, either published works or original scripts.

Noah Wild, the current University Drama Officer (and previous Cuppers participant) knows first-hand how important the festival can be in shaping the trajectory of a student’s involvement in the university’s theatre scene.

Noah recalled how the festival helped him discover a love for directing and writing.

Now, just a few months after graduating from Oxford himself, he believes that without the experience of Cuppers, he may never have leapt into the world of professional theatre-making.

"I remember feeling completely out of my depth"

"Cuppers was where I first found the confidence to lead a rehearsal room. It was a real learning curve, figuring out what my style of direction would be and how to work with a team. But it was incredibly rewarding. I learned so much from the process.”

For Noah, Cuppers was more than just an opportunity to perform or direct—it was a chance to experiment, take risks, meet like-minded theatre people and begin to find his voice as a creator.

"It’s a place to experiment and grow," Noah reflected.

Noah has since performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his original production “With All My Fondest Love” inspired by his grandparent’s marriage.

For participants, Cuppers provides an invaluable introduction to the world of student theatre, embracing the quirky traditions of Oxford - from penning a parody retelling of a classic (The Wizard of Ox being a prime example of how to execute the perfect combination of cult film trivia and in-jokes about your college) to spending hours creating unique tickets for your performance (a highlight including several tiny, carefully crafted handmade bags in brightly coloured card, pictured above).

Hannah Eggleton, a professional actor, writer, director and now Creative Writing Master’s student at Oxford’s Keble College, presented Bibidy Bobidy Breakdown (an original piece penned by Eggleton - expertly performed by both herself and a fellow coursemate), explores the journey of an aspiring warlock - Warlock Barnes - striving to pass the entrance exam to a prestigious magical institution.

Along the way, they encounter various magical (and bureaucratic) obstacles that test their resolve.

When asked about her motivations for entering Cuppers, Hannah explained that she wanted to get involved in the university’s theatre scene and meet like-minded individuals, who were passionate about theatre.

"I wanted to meet people and immerse myself in the tradition of freshers' theatre at Oxford," she said, adding that ”Cuppers felt like the best and kindest way to do that.”

For Hannah, Cuppers provided an "exciting forum for creativity," offering students like herself a chance to work together and bring their ideas to life in a professional and supportive environment.

Bibidy Bobidy Breakdown not only captured the imagination of the audiences but also scooped up several awards at the prize-giving ceremony held on Sunday, 17th of November - including Best Grad Show, Best New Writing, and the Spirit of Cuppers Award 2024.

Colleges Oriel, Wadham and Queens were also recalled to perform at the final, dubbed “The Best of Cuppers”, although sadly Queens could not attend due to cast unavailability.

Despite the excitement surrounding this year’s festival, Cuppers has faced challenges. The number of teams participating has declined significantly, with only around ten teams competing each night in recent years, compared to the 30 to 40 teams that once fought in the dramatic over the week.

This drop in engagement is widely attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused widespread disruption to theatre across the globe, including student productions at Oxford.

The Oxford University Drama Society (or OUDS) continues to create daring and innovative productions for both student and public audiences, keeping the theatre scene of Oxford a vibrant, exciting and diverse place.

While Cuppers may not be as large as it once was, its role as an accessible entry point into student theatre remains as important as ever. Despite the challenges that it faces, there is still a great deal of enthusiasm for the festival and what it represents.

Cuppers remains the perfect opportunity to take that first step, emphasising inclusivity and creative freedom, it continues to offer a space for freshers to discover their passion for the stage, meet people and truly throw themselves into life at Oxford.

For those considering participating in future festivals, the message is clear: the experience is what matters most.

“It’s all about the friendships you make, the skills you develop, and the memories you create along the way. Just go for it. You might surprise yourself.” Noah explained.

Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced theatre-maker, there’s always something exciting happening in Oxford’s vibrant theatre scene.

For those who want to stay up to date with all the latest student drama events in Oxford, be sure to check out the upcoming student shows at The Burton Taylor Studio and The Oxford Playhouse main stage, click here.