Midsummer in Oxford

Explore Programme

Opened in 1984, Midsummer in Oxford (MIO) is BADA’s four-week summer conservatory acting programme for actors over the age of 18.

Midsummer in Oxford is one of the world’s best-known intensive, international acting programmes, with close historical connections with the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, the Juilliard School and NYU’s Graduate Acting Program.

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Programme Overview

The programme, based since 2012 in the historic Magdalen College at the University of Oxford, is designed for committed actors over the age of eighteen and focuses on classical theatre craft with an emphasis on Shakespeare. Participants work and live in Oxford alongside the BADA Faculty, made up of leading international theatre practitioners and teaching artists.

We welcome applicants at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as working actors who are not enrolled in educational programmes. Actors aged 18 must have completed one year of college or have graduated high school a year prior to the start of the programme to be eligible to apply for the coming summer. Actors aged 18 who are currently in high school are encouraged to apply for our Midsummer Conservatory Programme.

Magdalen College is situated amid 100 acres of woodland, riverside walks, gardens and the tranquil Deer Park. Magdalen’s theatrical alumni include Oscar Wilde, Peter Brook, Katie Mitchell and Andrew Lloyd-Webber; CS Lewis and Seamus Heaney both taught at the college.

Midsummer in Oxford is delivered in association with the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, and has enjoyed close historical connection with the Juilliard School, NYU’s Grad Acting Program, UCLA, Howard University and other prestigious US schools, as well as with the Moscow Art Theatre School and many European conservatoires.

BADA does not provide college credit for this programme, nor are transcripts available.

Magdalen College, Oxford

Magdalen College was founded in 1458 and is one of the most beautiful and famous colleges of Oxford University. The college’s buildings date from the 15th century to the present day, and are set among 100 acres of grounds and meadows by the River Cherwell, including a deer park.

Magdalen College, Oxford OX1 4AU, United Kingdom

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Curriculum Details

During the first fortnight of the programme, classes are held every weekday from 9:00am through 6:00pm: Voice and Movement each morning and Acting, Shakespeare and Clown in the afternoons. In the final fortnight the work shifts into rehearsal for sharing of Shakespeare scenes for Open Day, with ongoing Voice, Movement and Clown sessions in support of rehearsals.

Classes

Acting (memorisation required): Acting classes and tutorials use both classical and modern texts to examine the fundamental principles of a contemporary post-Stanislavskyan acting methodology.
Shakespeare (memorisation required): a contemporary and progressive approach to acting Shakespearean text, focusing on clarity, psychology and performance conditions, and responding to discourses around identity and ownership.
Voice (memorisation required): classes in the fundamentals of voice, focusing on breath, body, articulation and the connection of voice & text.
Movement: classes training the actor’s body for performance, drawing on a variety of contemporary movement methodologies.
Clown: classes in the Lecoq/Gaulier physical theatre tradition, focusing on improvisation, physical presence and ensemble performance.

It is expected that participants work daily outside of class time to prepare and memorise material for class.

Masterclasses

Masterclasses or Q&As are held each week with leading actors and theatre practitioners. Recent masterclasses include Adjoa Andoh, Anne Bogart, Simon Callow, Brian Cox, Julian Glover, Henry Goodman, Sideeq Heard, John Heffernan, Adam Kantor, Anton Lesser, Miriam Margolyes, Lucian Msamati, Joseph Mydell, Pippa Nixon, Fiona Shaw, Sir Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Zoë Wanamaker, Deborah Warner.

For information about applying or any questions regarding the Midsummer in Oxford Program, please contact:

Jennifer Rockwood
jrockwood@www.bada.org.uk
T: 212 203 6956

Weekends

An orientation game for all participants takes place on the afternoon of the first Saturday of the programme (arrivals day). On Sunday there are mandatory Boundaries & Consent and Ensemble workshops for all participants.

On Saturday of the middle weekend of the programme, the cohort will take a trip to a production either in London (Shakespeare’s Globe or National Theatre) or at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon (the choice will be made dependent on repertory).

The final Saturday of the programme is Open Day, in which performances of scenes from Shakespeare will take place in different locations around Magdalen College.

The other two weekends during the programme are free for participants to travel outside Oxford or to remain at Magdalen as they please. Participants are encouraged to use free time on weekends to learn lines, rehearse together and prepare for the week ahead.

Participants are also encouraged to use free time on weekends to learn lines, rehearse together and prepare for the week ahead.

No meals are provided over the weekend; however Oxford has a huge variety of cafés, restaurants and historic pubs in easy walking distance.

Events & Excursions

The following events and excursions are included in the programme fees:

Orientation Game
A creative, fun and challenging introduction to this beautiful and historic city, to help you find your way around.

Welcome Dinner
A formal welcome dinner is held in Hall on the first Sunday evening of the program.

Trip to London/Stratford
An all-day excursion to either Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, to see a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company; or to London, one of the world’s great theatre cities, to see a performance at the National Theatre.

Film Screenings
Each week, there will be a screening of a Shakespeare film, with introductions and/or Q&As with artists, scholars or producers.

Summer Party
Enjoy a midsummer’s evening with drinks and dinner on the lawn at Magdalen, and a traditional game of croquet.

Midsummer in the Meadow

A celebration of community, place and season, with folk music and dance in Magdalen’s beautiful Bat Willow Meadow.

Grad School Forum
Participants currently enrolled in graduate school will be invited share their experience on a volunteer panel for fellow Midsummer in Oxford participants who are interested in learning about the graduate school experience.

Open Day & Farewell Party
On the final Saturday, each teaching group presents scenes from a Shakespeare play at a variety of locations around the college. Families of participants and other guests are welcome to attend. There will be Farewell Party and Barbecue afterwards for programme participants.

The Midsummer in Oxford Programme is open to applicants at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as working actors who are not enrolled in educational programmes.

We consistently have participants enrolled in the following undergraduate and graduate programmes as well as other institutions:

Guest Artists who have recently joined our Midsummer in Oxford Programme include:

Adjoa Andoh
Anne Bogart
Simon Callow
Brian Cox
Julian Glover
Henry Goodman
Sideeq Heard
Adam Kantor
Anton Lesser
Miriam Margolyes
Lucian Msamati
Joseph Mydell
Pippa Nixon
Fiona Shaw
Sir Patrick Stewart
David Suchet
Zoë Wanamaker
Deborah Warner

Behind the scenes

The Midsummer Oxford Programme Faculty is comprised of distinguished teaching artists from a variety of theatrical backgrounds.

Programme Logistics

The 2026 Midsummer in Oxford Programme will run 11 July – 9 August.

Magdalen College’s housing facilities

Oxford

Students on the Midsummer in Oxford Programme will be accommodated in Magdalen College’s housing facilities, located both inside and outside the college walls. Each student will be allocated their own private bedroom, with shared bathroom and shower facilities. Rooms are located in buildings dating from the 15th – 20th centuries, and may seem rustic compared to modern American college dorms. Due to the historic nature of the buildings in Oxford the rooms will vary in size and style. All rooms are allocated at random by the venue team at Magdalen College. Please note: due to the relatively cool nature of English summers and the age of the buildings, rooms are not climate-controlled.

Virtual Tour

Midsummer in Oxford is based at Oxford University’s beautiful Magdalen College, founded in 1458 and situated in the heart of the ancient city. Located about an hour from London and forty miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford is one of Europe’s great university cities, containing some of England’s most famous historic architecture, beautiful parks and meadows, and hosting some of its finest museums and galleries.

Magdalen College

Oxford

Midsummer in Oxford participants will take classes in several of the historic rooms of Magdalen College, as well as other locations around Oxford including the Sheldonian Theatre, The Oxford Playhouse, St. Columba’s URC, and the Examination Rooms.

BADA’s formal welcome dinner and all weekday meals are served in Magdalen’s Hall, built around 1480. Magdalen also has a private deer park and meadow walk (Addison’s Walk), perfect for a morning run or evening stroll. The 15^th-century Chapel is open daily for prayer and quiet contemplation, as well as hosting concerts and recitals.

Virtual Tour

The 2026 Midsummer in Oxford Program fees are $8,600.

Item	Cost
Tuition	$4,825
Accommodation (including a single private room in Magdalen College campus and breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday, in Magdalen College Dining Hall)	$3,775
Total Fees Payable to BADA	$8,600

The above fee does not include the non-refundable Application Fee of $55 which is paid at the time of application.

All fees are payable in US dollars. Please note, in addition to the fees payable to BADA, participants are responsible for their own airfare, ground transportation to and from the airports and spending money while on the program (including the purchase of snacks at weekends).

Financial Assistance

BADA only has a small scholarship fund from which awards will be made to applicants who indicated that they would like to be considered for funding. These awards are based on need and merit. Need is demonstrated by checking the box, asking to be considered. Merit is demonstrated in the audition. Unfortunately, BADA is not in the position to support all accepted applicants who request funding. In addition, most awards are in the range of a few hundred dollars.

Although BADA by no means wants to discourage applicants from applying to the program, we do feel it is important for applicants to understand that most participants will be asked to pay the full fees. Before applying to the program, please note the fees and consider how you will fund the experience should you be accepted.

If you have questions on financial assistance, please contact Jennifer Rockwood prior to submitting an application. Application fees are non-refundable. Jennifer can be reached at jrockwood@www.bada.org.uk.

Fees for BADA’s summer programmes are not eligible for payment under the federal loan system nor do they qualify as higher education expenses under the 529 plan as they are not credit bearing. Unfortunately, BADA is not in a position to assist in the retention of any additional outside grant or loan assistance.

What are the course dates for 2026?

The 2026 Midsummer in Oxford Programme will run 11 July – 9 August.

What are the course fees for 2026?

The 2026 Midsummer in Oxford Program fees are $8,600.

Tuition	$4,825
Accommodation (including a single private room in Magdalen College campus and breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday, in Magdalen College Dining Hall)	$3,775
Total Fees Payable to BADA	$8,600

The above fee does not include the non-refundable Application Fee of $55 which is paid at the time of application.

What’s not included in the course fees?

Please note, in addition to the fees payable to BADA, participants are responsible for:

Round trip Airfare to the UK
Insurance
Weekend Meals
Spending money

Spending habits obviously vary widely between participants, but we recommend a minimum of between £110 and £130 per week spending money. This is to cover personal items; this does not include additional shopping or weekend meals, snacks, coffees, etc.

Do you offer financial assistance? How do I apply for a scholarship?

Although BADA by no means wants to discourage applicants from applying to the program, we do feel it is important for applicants to understand that most participants will be asked to pay the full fees. Before applying to the program, please note the fees and consider how you will fund the experience should you be accepted.

If you have questions on financial assistance, please contact Jennifer Rockwood prior to submitting an application. Jennifer can be reached at jrockwood@www.bada.org.uk.

Can I pay the course fees with federal loans or with a 529 Savings Plan?

Fees for BADA’s summer programmes are not eligible for payment under the federal loan system nor do they qualify as higher education expenses under the 529 plan as they are not credit bearing.

Unfortunately, BADA is not in a position to assist in the retention of any additional outside grant or loan assistance.

What is the refund policy?

Refund Policy

A deposit of $500 is required on acceptance, which is non-refundable. Fees are payable by the due dates as outlined in your acceptance letter. Any fees paid will be forfeited should you withdraw from the programme. Participation in the programme will not be permitted if programme fees have not been paid in full before the start date and any fees paid will be forfeited.

If the programme is canceled by BADA due to circumstances beyond our control, all fees, with the exception of the application fee, will be refunded. BADA accepts no responsibility for personally incurred expenses such as flights or pre-booked ground transportation.

Please note: the $55 application fee is also non-refundable.

Can I get a waiver for the Application fee?

Yes, the Acceptd platform offers fee waivers to certain applicants who meet their criteria. Visit How can I apply for a fee waiver for my application? for more information.

When are the auditions?

Auditions are held live online throughout the month of February.

What to expect at the audition?

Auditions will take place live online via our application portal. You will be auditioning for a member of the Midsummer in Oxford faculty and will have no more than twelve minutes, which will include two minutes apiece for each of your audition pieces. The remaining time will include a chat and an opportunity for you to ask questions about the programme.

At least one speech should be delivered waist up or full body.

You need to prepare the following pieces for your audition:

A memorized speech from a play by Shakespeare (in verse)
A memorized speech from a modern or contemporary text

When will I hear whether I have been accepted onto the course?

You will receive an admissions decision by early March.

Please be patient; you will absolutely hear from us one way or another. Admissions decisions are distributed via the Acceptd messaging system.

Is transportation included in the fees?

No. Participants are responsible for their own airfare as well as ground transportation to and from the airports.

Do you provide transportation to and from the programme ? Will a coach meet me at the airport and take me to Oxford?

No. Participants are responsible for arranging their own ground transport to/from the airport. Oxford is located approximately 60 miles to the north-west of London.

Although car services are available, we highly recommend the bus service available from the airports as the most efficient and cost-effective method of transport from the airports to Magdalen. Recommended transport options will be sent to all participants with their pre-arrival materials.

Admissions & Applications

We welcome applicants 18+ at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as actors who are not enrolled in educational programmes.

Approximately 90 participants are selected for the Midsummer in Oxford programme each year, a mix of graduate and undergraduate students and working professionals. Students on the programme have varying levels of experience with Shakespeare but share a seriousness of purpose about their craft and artistry. No class comprises more than sixteen students.

Actors aged 18 must have completed one year of college or have graduated high school a year prior to the start of the programme to be eligible to apply for this coming summer. Actors aged 18 who are currently in high school are encouraged to apply for our Midsummer Conservatory Program.

Due to the rigorous nature of the programme and the high bar set each year by participants, the Midsummer in Oxford Programme is not suitable for new actors or those just beginning to focus on their craft. We encourage new practitioners to seek formal theatrical training before applying to the programme.

Applications for the Midsummer in Oxford Programme are closed. Applications for Summer 2026 were due 6 February 2026.

Applications for Summer 2027 will open in Autumn 2026.

About the Audition

Auditions for the 2026 Midsummer in Oxford Program were held throughout the month of February online via live Zoom sessions.

Please prepare the following for your audition:

A memorized speech from a play by Shakespeare or one of his contemporaries, no longer than 2 minutes.
A memorized speech from a modern or contemporary text, no longer than 2 minutes.

At least one speech should be delivered waist up or full body. Each individual meeting will last no more than 12 minutes and will include a chat with a member of the Midsummer in Oxford Faculty.

Spend the whole summer in Europe with BADA by taking one of our early summer programmes followed by Midsummer in Oxford for a discounted rate. Application deadline: Feb. 6.

From late May/early June you could study:

Black British Theatre and Performance, based in London
Greek Theatre, based in London, Delphi, Nafplio, Athens and Oxford
Spanish Theatre, based in London, Seville, Granda and Almagro

followed by the Midsummer in Oxford (now in its 42nd year!) based at Magdalen College, Oxford University from early July to early August.

Participants would receive a 10% discount on fees for both programmes:

Midsummer in Oxford + Black British Theatre and Performance – $14,625 as opposed to $16,250
Midsummer in Oxford + Greek Theatre – $15,795 as opposed to $17,550
Midsummer in Oxford + Spanish Theatre – $15,795 as opposed to $17,550

Apply

Please note: participants are responsible for their own food, accommodation, and transportation between the end of their chosen early summer programme and the start of the Midsummer in Oxford Programme.

Contact Jennifer Rockwood on jrockwood@www.bada.org.uk with questions.