Nicola Lisle talks to producer/actress Olivia Frazer-Smith about Fairy Dust Arts

Oxford-based community theatre group Fairy Dust Arts has a huge project on its hands — a series of three plays about the make-believe world of Oxage, which is embroiled in a civil war as its people try to overthrow a Dystopian dictatorship.

The second in the trilogy opens on Saturday, and it’s largely down to a successful appeal in The Oxford Times earlier this year for crowdfunding.

“We managed to reach our target of £500, which was fantastic,” says Olivia Frazer-Smith, who is producing the show and also stars as Princess Hope. “It means that we can look at the costumes and the set and really make them stand out.”

So what is Oxage: Phoenix of Hope all about? “It’s about a quest to find a better world, a safer world,”

Olivia explains.

“There’s a greedy king who wants to bring everything that we’ve had in our world, such as technology and money, into Oxage. As Princess Hope, it’s my duty to try and keep everything in order, but of course I fall in love and various things happen.

“Also, I lost the throne before this play happened and lost control, and my father took over, and now he’s got these evil people manipulating everyone. They’re in charge and have mind control, so it’s really hard to beat them!

“So we’re trying to find a better place, Oxage, to restore everything that we used to do, which is the message behind it all — we share everything in a workers’ community.”

That community spirit is, in fact, very much what Fairy Dust Arts is all about. Founded in 2011 by University graduate Laura Boone, the group encourages participation from anyone, regardless of age or experience, and even has a work placement programme, funded by Oxford Brookes University, to help youngsters get a foothold in their chosen careers.

“It’s opportunities for all — that’s our motto,” says Olivia. “So it doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you’ve got a disability. We encourage people to come and see us because we want to help with their confidence.

“Acting is one of those things that a lot of people are passionate about, and you don’t just have to act — you can produce, write and direct.

“We do have a high standard of people coming to work for us, but if you haven’t done acting before that’s not a barrier. We don’t put barriers up. All ages can get involved, and we like working with a big group of people.”

Olivia herself has never had any doubts about her own career path. The 19-year-old has been acting from a very young age, and has just finished a Performing Arts Extended Diploma at Oxford Cherwell Valley College. She now hopes to study acting at Northampton University.

Meanwhile, she remains passionately involved in Fairy Dust Arts, and hopes audiences will flock to see the new play.

“If you haven’t seen the first one it doesn’t matter, because it’s self explanatory,” she says. “There’s a lot that’s relevant to today’s world, and also because this one’s set in a church there’s biblical references thrown in as well.

“So it has an underlying message, but children can come and watch it and see it as a love story, like Cinderella. So it is something anyone can enjoy.”

Oxage: Phoenix of Hope
St Columba’s Church, Alfred Street, Oxford
August 16 & 23, 4pm & 7pm
Tickets: Visit fairydustarts.co.uk or www.wegottickets.com. Tickets also for sale on the door