The Effect

06/02/2015

"For me, the stand out performance was that of Callum Lynch, playing Tristan - for sheer believability, and a wonderful brogue!"

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/reviews/feature/9872/The_Effect

The Effect: 1 review. The Effect was written by Lucy Prebble in response to the tragic events in a North...

05/02/2015

"The fiery chemistry forged between Connie (Ellie Lowenthal) and Tristan (Calam Lynch) fizzed and bubbled onstage, the intense throes of love feeling every inch as genuine as the flirtatious banter preceding it."

"We feel the same overwhelming rush of dopamine as the lovers before us as a result of the two actors’ effortlessly natural movements and physical presence, especially during the poignant s*xual scenes."

https://theinvisiblecritic.wordpress.com/2015/02/05/review-the-effect-keble-oreilly-730pm-3rd-week-ht15/

We must begin with a sizeable disclaimer: I have loved Lucy Prebble's play The Effect since it opened at the National Theatre in 2012. While it was certainly the darling of the middle class intelle...

04/02/2015

Check out the photos from our dress rehearsal.

Tonight's show is going to be AMAZING - get your tickets here: https://ophir-productions.tixato.com/buy/the-effect--2

Credit to Oliver Robinson Photography

02/02/2015

Tom Stoppard's new play is currently running at the National Theatre. But Paul Taylor doesn't think that 'The Hard Problem' is quite as good as our play...

'As always with Stoppard, there is much to ponder but, apart from Hilary all the very well-acted characters feel two-dimensional, and the play hasn't transmuted its research into an emotionally satisfying whole – as Lucy Prebble did with The Effect, her play about brain chemistry, love and depression in this same theatre.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-hard-problem-theatre-review-nicholas-hytners-final-production-for-the-national-is-a-disappointment-10008956.html

Tom Stoppard's first new stage play in 9 years; Nicholas Hytner's last production as a great artistic director of the National Theatre. I wish I could say that The Hard Problem rises triumphantly to this hotly anticipated occasion. In truth, though, it's a bit of a disappointment.

01/02/2015

I said 'full cast photo', Calam heard 'nike promotional shoot'

31/01/2015

Photo Credit: Tinite Photography

And finally, Ellie Lowenthal, who plays Connie, describes her experience in The Effect:

1. Give a short description of your character - what aspects of their personality attract you/repel you?

Connie is the only girl on the trial. She’s a psychology student, and one of the few people doing the trial out of genuine interest rather than just wanting the money. She’s quite prim and put together, but can be brilliantly sarcastic at times, which I really like about her. She likes to be in control but the drug affects her quite a bit more than she realises, and I like the way she slowly loses control without realising.

2. What do you think is the most significant aspect of the play?

I think the bluntness with which it deals with the issue of mental health is what makes it great. It presents the two opinions without trying to manipulate the audience too much and I really like that. The clinical nature of the play means it can talk about the issues with no stigma or taboo, which I think is massively important. It’s been really great watching the scenes between Dr James and Toby: Lucy Prebble brilliantly captures the opposing thoughts on the subject and Sarah and Will’s portrayal of the characters are so watchable that you get really drawn into the argument. I hope people leave talking about the issues or go and look more up about mental health and, quite frankly, I think it would be difficult not to.

3. What is your previous acting/directing experience at Oxford?

The highlight of my previous acting experience at Oxford to this has got to be playing ‘Citizen 2’ in the Panto last year. When I was offered the part it was called ‘one the people who come into the Sultana's palace in a weird costume’ but I managed to work my charm to get a more C.V. worthy name. I’ve since been involved in Semi-Monde at the Playhouse, Pterodactyls at the BT, and Frankenstein, Jerusalem, and Assassins at the O’Reilly, there’s just something about plays with one word titles, I can’t help but want to be involved. I’ve had to take it one step at a time, but getting over the ‘The’ in ‘The Effect’ has taken a lot for me.

4. Describe the funniest/most awkward moment in rehearsals so far?

I mean it has to be the s*x scene doesn’t it? Freya’s become very good at watching us kissing and screaming ‘BE MORE PASSIONATE’. Turns out neither Calam or I are particularly good at being s*xy, but under her master hand we’ve managed to look less like two awkward teenagers.

31/01/2015

Check out the 'It Gets Brighter' video, one of the working group initiatives from our partners, the Mind Your Head Campaign. If you do want to contact the Oxford University Counselling Service for any reason, give them a ring on 01865 270300, or send them an email at [email protected]. Alternatively, a member of the Counselling Service will be giving a pre-show talk before the matinee performance of 'The Effect' at 2pm next Saturday.

https://ophir-productions.tixato.com/buy/the-effect--2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okoaXZboZCI&feature=youtu.be

The It Gets Brighter campaign (http://www.itgetsbrighter.org/) invites people from around the world to end the silence about mental illness. By collecting sh...

30/01/2015

CHERWELL SAID: The play indeed comes at a time when, as Judd explains, theatre is becoming more didactic and, at the same time, more sympa­thetic to issues of mental health. This makes staging such a production particularly pertinent, especially in Oxford where 35% of students have had encounters with mental health issues with many rusticating or drop­ping out for related reasons. In the rehearsal room there is an energy and investment that attests to the importance of the issues at stake. As the best theatre does, this production has its sights beyond the stage and into our society. This play promises to shine a light behind the curtain of Oxford’s own theatrical grandeur.

http://www.cherwell.org/…/sta…/2015/01/30/preview-the-effect
https://ophir-productions.tixato.com/buy/the-effect--2

30/01/2015

Photo Credit: Tinite Photography

Interview with Sarah Mathews, who plays Dr James:

1. Give a short description of your character. What aspects of their personality attract you/repel you?

I play Dr Lorna James, who is conducting the trial. She has a history of depression and is constantly trying to reconcile her medical, professional opinions with her lived experiences. Her relationship with Toby again throws up issues regarding the line between professionalism and personal opinion, and draws out her personal insecurities. Dr James is steadfast in her belief that medication can be of no help to those suffering from depression, and that any effect is purely placebo. Her complex struggles impact on her judgement more and more as the play progresses as the professional façade becomes harder for her to maintain. Its been fascinating getting to grips with a character that is constantly repressing one facet of her persona, particularly as the cracks begin to show.

2. What do you think is the most significant aspect of the play?

I think that the play not only brings the discussion of depression and mental health to the fore in a manner that imposes no opinion on the audience, but also humanises the aspects of mental health which can often be perceived as distant or to be feared. I think the complexities of the relationships between the characters underline the complex and unique nature of individual experiences of depression.

3. What is your previous acting/directing experience at Oxford?

I’m in my second year and haven’t got involved in much in Oxford prior to The Effect. I was in Blue Stockings, Hilary of last year and am involved in a couple of other things coming up this year, and hopefully will be doing much more in future.

29/01/2015

OXSTU SAID: 'Judd and her team look to have created a complex, disturbing and riveting piece of drama, and when it comes to starting debates, it looks set to make quite an impact. You might say that it will have a real effect on its audience.'

Find out for yourself next week, and book a ticket.
http://oxfordstudent.com/2015/01/29/preview-the-effect/
https://ophir-productions.tixato.com/buy/the-effect--2

The Effect is intense. The play deals with a number of people involved in a clinical trial of mood-altering drugs. A relationship forms between two of the participants, and events spiral out of control as emotions run high, and it becomes harder and harder for the characters to distinguish between t…

28/01/2015

THE EFFECT

OPENING IN EXACTLY ONE WEEK

7.30, KEBLE O'REILLY THEATRE, £7/£9
https://ophir-productions.tixato.com/buy/the-effect--2

with thanks to LIZZY MANSFIELD, who filmed the trailer

28/01/2015

LOOK OUT for our trailer, which will be being released later today!