Katherine MacAlister reports on a triumphant return for usher

The last time Samantha Pearl appeared at the Oxford Playhouse was as an usher selling sweets at the front of the auditorium.

This time around, the 30-year-old actress has returned in the much acclaimed production of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World Receiving rave reviews wherever it goes, Samantha is delighted to be in such an exciting and controversial production, the traditionally male role, being played by Sophie Ward.

“It is much more fitting to swap the sexes around now, and works really well.

“When the book was written in the 1930s, it was more of a patriarchal society.

“So I am working with a really great cast, in a really interesting adaption. Sophie has so much poise and authority in her part as Margaret Mond that you don’t notice that the regional world controller was originally meant to be a man, so I take my hat off to the casting directors,” Samantha says.

Samantha is another notch on the belt of The Oxford School of Drama.

Spotted at a drama workshop, the Abingdon resident was auditioned and given one of its haloed places.

She had an agent before she left and was obviously marked for stardom, despite acting being a ferociously competitive game.

“There are no guarantees when you leave but at OSD your talent is valued and nurtured. It was idyllic really, and meant I could live at home and then concentrate really hard on my acting.

Not that the ODS graduate had any trouble, working at The National, Soho, Tricycle and Gate theatres, as well as presenting on the Disney channel for two years, and landing a part in current film Legend, the Kray twins saga with Tom Hardy, in which she plays Shirley Bassey.

“I’ve been very lucky,” Samantha accedes. “It’s a hard, difficult industry to get into, so you have to be very strong and instead of listening to what you don’t have, remember what you can bring to the table and hold onto that.

“But then OSD teaches you how to go out there and sell yourself, as well as how to act, and give you the best box of tools for the outside world,” she says.

Playing myriad characters in Brave New World, Samantha says her main challenge is changing into her costumes in time, but is looking forward to returning to her old stomping ground.

“I’m more nervous about coming to Oxford than I was the press night because all my family and friends are coming.”

A big night then? “I shouldn’t worry because it’s such an immersive production – and the acting, design, and video footage keeps the audiences really enthralled.

“But more than that, Brave New World is more relevant now than it was when Aldous Huxley wrote it, and his predictions for the future are uncannily accurate, so it’s very exciting to be part of a production like this and the adrenaline alone keeps you going.

“I never thought I’d be back here six years later though and finally up on stage.

“One thing is for sure though – I’ll be winking at the ice cream sellers.”

Where and when
Brave New World
Oxford Playhouse
Tues 6 to Sat 10 October
01865 305305 oxfordplayhouse.com