“Watch closely, laugh freely, and understand who’s being celebrated; and at what cost.”
Posh is a satirical play written by British playwright Laura Wade in 2010. It centres on the Riot Club, an elite Oxford University dining society loosely inspired by the real-life Bullingdon Club. The play follows a group of privileged young men who gather for a dinner that quickly spirals into chaos, exposing the dangerous intersection of wealth, power, and entitlement.
This March, the university’s DTP students will present Posh as their third-year production.
Two members of the cast, as well as heads of PR and marketing, Sanni and Angelica were dive deeper into the show and the production process.
Privilege and power on stage
Both performers describe Posh as an exploration of privilege, power, and consequence. The play critiques the British elite and the dynamics of upper-class society, pushing the limits of what members of the Riot Club believe they can get away with.
Jeremy and Guy are brought to life by these actors; characters who exist firmly within this elite fictional world.
“For me, it’s completely different from who I am. It’s not the type of role I’d usually play, so that made it both challenging and really fun,” Angelica said about stepping into the character.
Despite the intensity of the themes, the experience within the cast has been largely positive.
“It’s definitely been a fun experience among the cast because we all get along so well. There are a lot of power dynamics we had to explore, and because we’re friends it was sometimes hard to put ourselves in those situations,” she said.
Even the characters themselves present interesting contrasts.
“Jeremy’s a strong advocate for the British government and he’s keen on preserving the heritage he has. Acting as a mentor and guiding someone older than me was a fun experience,” she added.
Angelica and Sanni rehearsing as their characters Jeremy and Guy
Learning the world of the elite
Although the play is set in England, the production features an international cast; something that required extra work to understand the social context of the story.
“I think as international students it was hard for us to navigate the jokes and anecdotes in the play because we’re not exactly exposed to that life. We had to research and study the social context; what these characters are doing and why, so we could understand their intentions and actions,” Angelica said.
Sanni echoed this sentiment.
“I’m an international student as well, and ‘posh’ isn’t something we would generally know,” she said. “But I think everybody has those ‘posh’ people in their societies; at least in the countries we’re from, like Finland, Italy or Lithuania.”
Research became a key part of developing their performances.
“There were moments where I thought, ‘I have no idea what this means. Then I realised it wasn’t just me; this is a very different world,” Sanni said.
The cast had to immerse themselves in a privileged environment that felt unfamiliar to them.
With a 14-person cast where everyone is both acting and taking on a production role, the process has also offered a realistic glimpse into the realities of theatre-making.
“We have long days with rehearsals and then all the marketing work. We try to focus as much as we can on the production, but people also have part-time jobs and responsibilities. That’s what our degree is about; exploring all the different roles within theatre,” Sanni said.
The cast of Posh during rehearsals
Legacy, brotherhood and destruction
Rehearsals have also been an opportunity for the cast to experiment and connect.
“We got to explore our characters freely, exaggerate their movements, say our lines as dramatically as possible and really feel the connections between them. We’ve spent a lot of time together in the same room. It might create tension sometimes, but there’s definitely been more laughter,” Angelica said.
Both Sanni and Angelica hope the play leaves audiences reflecting on its themes.
“I hope people question their own morals; that’s the magic of theatre: it provokes thought,” Sanni said.
Angelica emphasised the play’s broader message.
“It’s a critique of British hierarchy, so maybe audiences will come away with a better understanding of how that world works, because we don’t usually get that insight.”
For the cast, three words ultimately capture the spirit of the show: legacy, brotherhood, and destruction.
Posh will be performed at the O’Donoghue Centre from 10–12 March, 2026.
Tickets are free, but booking is essential:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/posh-by-laura-wade-tickets-1983155577718?aff=oddtdtcreator
