St Peter’s student directs Oxford Playhouse production in Trinity term
St Peter’s student Madi Bouchta (English, 2024) is director of a St Peter’s student-filled production of Our House, the Madness musical.
Once a term, the Oxford Playhouse awards the director’s chair to a single talented (and fortunate) Oxford student. With 39 colleges and hundreds of students engaged in Oxford’s active student theatrical scene, this is a competitive and highly coveted opportunity, but one that St Peter’s College student director Madi Bouchta (English, 2024) has turned into an inclusive opportunity for Oxford students, including many St Peter’s first years.
Madi, along with student theatre company Cross Keys Productions, will present a production of Our House, the Madness musical, showing Wednesday 20 to Saturday 23 May. The production features several St Peter’s students, such as co-producer Aaron Butters (English and German, 2025), actor and musician Maisie Saunders (Physics, 2023), assistant musical director Alhasan Ahmed (Medicine, 2025), ensemble member Cathrin Edwards (Music, 2025), welfare officer Tilly Brown (Philosophy and Theology, 2025), set assistant Loris Avery (English, 2025) and lighting assistant Angus Lusty (Biochemistry, 2025).
When applying to direct the student production at the Oxford Playhouse, Madi hoped that Our House, a large and ambitious production, would make Oxford’s student theatre scene feel more open, offering a wide range of roles and involvement opportunities for Oxford students, including first years and theatrical newcomers.
Madi has developed a keen awareness of the value of inclusivity in the theatrical world through creative opportunities she has enjoyed at St Peter’s and alongside other St Peter’s students. A decisive experience for her creative development was an alumni-supported student writers’ retreat with multi award-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (English, 1986) and the Master, Prof Judith Buchanan (pictured here). Madi is a founding member of the St Peter’s student-led Cross Keys Productions group, participated in the St Peter’s College team in Oxford University Drama Society cuppers, and has co-written the 2025 Garden Play and the 2025 St Peter’s Pantomime, and co-produced the 2026 Garden Play.
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Why I give to St Peter's College
Actor Richard Heffer (English, 1965) shares why he plans to leave a legacy to St Peter's College.
'I have made provision in my will for St Peter's as it formed the source of my career as a professional actor. I was fortunate to be an undergraduate when Neville Coghill produced 'Dr Faustus' (with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor) and I played Burton's student, and was the first person to see Taylor on a stage (as a silent Helen of Troy!). I later played Hamlet for OUDS and did a Royal Command performance for Grace Kelly in Monaco. Thereafter began my professional career. I thus owe my whole life's work to these early rôles.'