This week, we chat to John Livesey, the manager of Klaxon Productions.
Could you tell us a bit about how you got involved in Oxford drama?
It can be scary to start โdoing dramaโ at Oxford – it feels like people know each other already, and you are just some strange, quiet fresher. I was really lucky that the first show I got involved in (Edward II) had a very big, very friendly company full of drama stalwarts. It meant I didnโt think twice next time I was going for an audition. This is my first go at directing but I very much hope to do it again, you wonโt get rid of me that easily!
Whatโs your happiest memory of drama at Oxford?
Iโm not even halfway through my degree so I hope there will be a few more moments to choose from if you ask me again in a year! Currently though, some of my happiest memories have been from Random. Itโs such a great team and we have a lot of fun, despite the serious subject matter. Fran and I have a similar sense of humour. The artistic eureka-moments weโve had has made it a very special process.
Have you ever had any complete production nightmares?
Iโve had a few very bad dress-rehearsals. Iโve been in a show that had only rehearsed for a week. The worst was probably a cast-mate missing their cue completely, forcing me to skip 2 or 3 pages: nobody noticed but my heart relocated to Cuba for about 5 minutes.
Whatโs your favourite play?
Superlatives donโt do justice to the diversity of work out there. I can recommend some good ones though – Big & Small by Botho Strauss, Another Country by Julian Mitchell, An Octaroon by Branden Jacob-Jenkins, The Flick by Annie Baker. Oh, and Angels in America (I say this pre-empting the collective eye-roll).
How would you want to stage it if you had to put it on in Oxford?
Some of these might actually find their way to the stage so I donโt want to give any spoilers: thatโs just bad marketing…
Whoโs your inspiration?
Ben Whishaw is a role model for me, although that might just be because I have a crush on him! I try not to miss Robert Ickeโs shows, and Tarell Alvin McCraney too. I also have the utmost respect for the way Rufus Norris is changing the game at the National. I also find my friends inspiring, back home and in Oxford. I think thereโs something rad about understanding that those around you can be just as inspirational as any schmaltzy a-lister.
Do you have any advice for freshers who want to get involved?
Audition. Audition again. Audition again. And if youโre a director? Just risk it: submit the bid and see where the journey takes you. Itโll be horrible, amazing, dreadful and mind-expanding โ the best fun youโll have in this crazy place.
Are you working on any exciting projects at the moment that you can tell us about?
Once weโre done with Random I need a sit down with a hot mug of cocoa. However, KLAXON are also getting started on a bid for Hilary and there are some other things I hope to pursue when I have more time. Going to lectures is another honorable goal, but I donโt want to offer false hope.