PRODUCER: Alejandra Albuerne (Spanish; DPhil in Engineering and Archaeology at New College)

Alejandra is in the final year of her DPhil in Engineering and Archaeology at New College. She combines the study of ancient building structures with her passion -theatre- and her job -she is Welfare Officer at Oriel College-. Alejandra set up Oxford Spanish Play in collaboration with Alfie Enoch (Harry Potter cinema saga) in 2011. They co-directed the first Spanish play, La dama boba (Lope de Vega) and directed the second play, Un marido de ida y vuelta (Enrique Jardiel Poncela), in which she had a major role in producing the show. The Oxford Spanish Play is the biggest extra-curricular project she has embarked on in her time in Oxford. What she likes best about it is bringing together people from all academic and geographic backgrounds to share the joy of performing Hispanic theatre in the UK.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Ellen Gould (British;  BA Spanish at Magdalen College)

Ellen is a second year undergraduate reading Spanish at Magdalen. She performed in and translated last year’s production of Un Marido de Ida y Vuelta, and other productions at Oxford include God (MT11), Orphans (MT12), The Freedom of the City (MT12) and Arcadia (TT13). Ellen is a member of the National Youth Theatre and The Questors Theatre, and has performed at the World Youth Theatre Festival in Vienna. She co-founded the Orange Chair Theatre Company, directing and co-producing their first production, is an RSC Student Ambassador and was a Young Juror at the BFI London Film Festival 2012. She is the Assistant Director and has loved working on such an exciting production and having the opportunity to practise her Spanglish.

ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Sara Garcia Ratés (Spanish;  Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Pharmacology & Wolfson College)

Sara is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Deparment of Pharmacology.  She combines the research on Novel toxic molecules involved in Alzheimer’s Disease with her passion for performing arts. During her school days Sara performed in some plays and it was then when her passion for being a theatre actress flourished. Although, finally, she decided to become a scientist, she joined The Oxford Spanish Play in 2012, helping as a costume designer and stage manager of  “Un marido de ida y vuelta", which gave her the opportunity to reencounter her deep passion. This year, Sara has re-joined the company as the Assistant Producer for “La vida es sueño".

SET DESIGNER: Rachel Beaconsfield-Press (British; BA French and Spanish at St. Peter's College)

Rachel is a fourth year Modern Linguist reading French and Spanish at St Peter’s College. She has been involved in over 20 productions in Oxford. She has also taken two shows to the South Africa Fringe Festival 2009, has worked for the Royal Opera House’s Scenic Design team (Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, a new production by David McVicar), has designed the make-up for a production of The Emperor of Atlantis (The Cello Factory, London), and has recently completed a three month work placement at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

LIGHTING DESIGNER: Sean Tomas Ford (British; BA PPE at Keble College)

Sean is a first year undergraduate studying PPE at Keble College. Sean plays College Football and writes for the Cherwell. Sean was the technical designer for the award winning Coalition during Cuppers 2012. He has been Assistant Lighting Designer for Hansel and Gretel (Sheldonian MT 12) and Another Country (playhouse HT 13). Sean has also worked as a technician and 'lampy' for the Pleasance Theatre Company for the past two years.

COSTUMES DESIGNER & CREATOR: Rosie Talbot (British & Canadian; MA History of Art at Haris Manchester College)

Rosie is a recent graduate of Oxford History of Art Department and is currently working as the collection intern at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire. Costume interpretation is a passion and she has worked on numerous sixteenth century gowns, but this is her first foray into theatre for a number of years as well as her first contribution to the Oxford theatre scene.

COSTUMES - GRAPHIC SUPPORT: Sylvia Hong (French; BA Philosophy and French at St Hilda's College)

Sylvia is a first year undergraduate studying Philosophy and French at St Hilda's College. She is involved in several committees. She is part of the general committee of the Business Guild Society, currently the Head of Design and Co-President of AdSoc Agency, secretary of the French Society and Lifestyle Producer of the Preview Show. She is also involved in the Creative Team of her college Ball committee, helping to decorate, design and entertain. In high school she was often on stage as an actress but she also produced her own interpretation of Apollinaire's play "Les mamelles de Tirésias", she then studied, in Paris, intensive literature with drama option after graduation to study directing and staging. It is the first time that she has taken on the role of Costume Designer and is excited for the outcome, especially when it is her first experience on the Oxford theatre scene.

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Helen Morris (British; BA Mathematics at St Anne's College)

Helen is a first year undergraduate studying Mathematics at St Anne’s College. Helen was the Technician for the St Anne’s Cuppers entry for 2012, which was nominated for several Cuppers prizes. She has also been Assistant Stage Manager for Hansel and Gretel (Sheldonian MT’12), Co-Stage Manager for Angels in America (Playhouse HT’13), and Production Manager for the Oxford University New Writing Festival (Burton Taylor HT’13). This is her first Production Management role at the Playhouse or in another language!

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Aelwen Wetherby (American;  DPhil History of Science & Medicine at Balliol College)

Having gotten so excited about her involvement in the Oxford Spanish Play last year, Aelwen has eagerly taken on the job of Production Manager alongside Helen Morris, in addition to performing on stage as a lady of the court and soldier. This is her first position in theatrical production, although she has been getting a taste of the challenges and rewards of working behind the scenes in production work on a documentary she filmed over the summer of 2012 in Spain.

DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER: Jonathan Oackman (British; BA English and Languages at Merton College)

Jonathan is a first year undergraduate studying English Literature and Language at Merton College. He attended Scottish Youth Theatre and the Royal Scottish Conservatoire's Youth Group for many years and completed a RADA Young Actors' Shakespeare course. Jonathan has recently been Production Manager for 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (Simpkins Lee, HT'13) and is currently production managing 'Frost/Nison' (Oxford Union, TT'13). He is the Production Manager for 'The Producers' (MT'13) at the Oxford Playhouse and is also producing Macaroon Production's 'Look Back in Anger' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013. At Oxford, Jonathan has also acted in a number of plays such as 'Titus Andronicus' (EFL, MT'12) and 'Private Lives' (BT, Cuppers MT'12), and he recently played Theseus in the Merton College Chapel's sell-out production of 'Phedre' (HT'13).

SOUND OPERATOR: Alison Walsh (British; BA French and Spanish at St. Anne's College)

Now a second year undergraduate, it was the 2012 Oxford Spanish Play (for which she designed and operated lighting and sound) which really launched Alison into the world of theatre in Oxford. A year later, having been involved in several Playhouse shows (including Hothouse, Mephisto, Dangerous Liaisons, A View from the Bridge and A Little Night Music), as well as others in the Burton Taylor Studio, Keble O’Reilly Theatre and Magadalen’s Master’s Gardens, she is delighted to have the opportunity to learn yet more theatre jargon, more Spanish, and maybe even some Spanish theatre jargon!

MARKETING: Rebecca Claire Thomas (British; BA English at Lady Margaret Hall)

Rebecca is a second year English undergraduate at Lady Margaret Hall. Since arriving in Oxford, Rebecca has written, marketed and produced the award winning Cuppers entry Broken Trinity, starred in Jake's Progress (O'Reilly) & The Comedy of Errors (Oxford Castle), directed Titus Andronicus (University Parks), produced Cuppers 2012, produced Isobel (Burton Taylor), marketed Hansel & Gretel: A Fairytale Opera (Sheldonian), assistant stage managed Beats (Simpkins Lee), marketed Another Country (Oxford Playhouse), and is producing The Producers (Oxford Playhouse). Rebecca is a member of the OUDS committee, and is the LMH JCR MAD officer.

MARKETING: Daisy Thomson (British; BA French and Spanish at Exeter College)

Daisy is a first year undergraduate studying French and Spanish at Exeter College, where she is involved in a range of college activities such as charity fundraising and rowing. She directed the prize-winning Exeter College Cuppers entry in MT 2012, and was involved in the Turl Streets Arts Festival, HT 2012. She has written several pieces for the Oxford Theatre Review and enjoys seeing productions at the playhouse, and is very excited that to actually be involved in one for the first time.

MARKETING: Tabitha Price (British; BA French and Spanish at Exeter College)

Tabitha is a first year undergraduate stufying French and Spanish at Exeter College. She helped with the marketing for the Exeter College Cuppers entry for 2012 and was recently involved in the Turl Streets Arts Festival this Hilary Term 2013. She also volunteers with the ExVac and Jacari charities. She loves going to the theatre in her spare time and is excited to be taking part in a playhouse project, especially one in Spanish.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: Francesca Kisiel (British; BA French and Spanish at Merton)

Francesca is a second year undergraduate studying French and Spanish at Merton College. She is studying Calderón as a part of her course this year, and is excited to be involved in encouraging as many people as possible to come and see 'La vida es sueño'.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: William Carter (British; BA Spanish at St. Anne's College)

William is in his first year of a French and Spanish BA at St Anne's college. He is very excited about hsi first foray into theatre and being a part of the Education and Outreach team. He has taken part in several organisation and outreach projects at school, such as Young Enterprise and community service and volunteers teaching English with Jacari here at Oxford.