The Experimental Theatre Club (ETC) is a student dramatic society at University of Oxford, England. It was founded in 1936 by Nevill Coghill as an alternative company to the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS), and produces several productions a year.[1]
Many famous actors and directors have been involved with productions by the club. The club has given the first productions of many new works, perhaps most notably Epitaph for George Dillon, by John Osborne in 1957, directed by Don Taylor.[2]
In particular, the club was an important nursery for the talents of the British New Wave (Kenneth Tynan, Tony Richardson, John Schlesinger, Lindsay Anderson, Ken Loach) in the 1950s, and the Oxford component of Monty Python (Michael Palin, Terry Jones) in the 1960s.
In the 1970s, many figures later significant in film and television were involved, such as Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, who performed some of his early sketches for ETC revues at the Oxford Playhouse and elsewhere. The ETC presented After Eights: The Etceteras Eights Week Revue at the Oxford Playhouse, 25 to 29 May 1976, featuring Rowan Atkinson, with material written by Richard Curtis, Robin Seavill and Iain Moss among others.[3]
The ETC acts as a funding body for experimental student productions in Oxford.[4] The current committee consists of Matt Gavan (President), Joe Murphy (Treasurer), Cassie Barracough, Ollo Clark, and Chloe Orrock.
People who have contributed to ETC productions include:
Visiting directors include Peter Hall[13] and Terry Hands.