It's the end of the second week of rehearsals for the Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? company. Now settled in London, it's the first full week that the cast and creatives have had in the rehearsal room - a chance to fully immerse themselves in Albee's epic script and begin the detailed work of bringing its three acts to life.

With the text read in its entirety, scenes pieced together, and the early stages of blocking underway, it has been a busy and exploratory week for the production's cast: Katy Stephens, Matthew Pidgeon, Leah Haile and Ben Hall. The scale of Albee's writing has been immediately apparent.

"There is a huge amount of text to learn. So we're spending a lot of time doing little line runs and things like that," said Katy, catching up with her in the rehearsal room. "This play is out of this world - we all feel very honoured and lucky to be doing it."

"It's a gift," adds Matthew, "we've just dived straight in!"

The pair take on the fierce roles of Martha and George, playing opposite one another at the centre of this bruising, brilliant drama. "They're both really quick witted". Katy notes, describing the intellectual sparring that defines the couple's relationship.

And Matthew has begun to uncover more of the character's complex dynamic. "They build this rhythm and it can get dark, and it can get vicious, but it is so funny." It's undoubtedly a sparky relationship that these two intellectually impressive people have - one that swings between cruelty and comedy at lightning fast speed.

Meanwhile, the physical world of the play has begun to take shape in the rehearsal room. Martha and George's living room - the sole setting of the play - is slowly assembling as furniture arrives piece by piece.

"We have their sofa, record player, and most importantly, their bar, so we're finding our way around our own little house," said Katy.

"They drink a lot in this play!" Adds Matthew.

It's in this single space that the drama unfolds, with the audience invited in to the couple's home as a kind of fly on the wall. When the play premiered in 1962, such intimate, unfiltered access to a marraige in crisis was perhaps starling. Today, Katy feels its something that will feel instantly familiar.

"With things like The Real Housewives, we're very used to watching other people argue, fight, or have fun!"

Matthew agrees, "It feels very current, it does not feel like a historical piece at all.

Alongside fellow cast members Leah and Ben, the two actors have been working closely with their director Mike Tweddle and associate director Jessica Mensah. As the play begins to come to life in the room, Mike reflects on how its setting and themes will resonate with Oxford audiences.

"Our production of this play is special because it's a story set in an academic town where the dynamics and hierarchies of academia are at play. And so it will be resonant. But it's also set at a time in history, which, right now, feels more pertinent and relevant than ever," he explains.

"It's rare that the rights are offered to theatres, and it's one of the richest and most well crafted pieces that I've ever read," he adds.

This production has been created specifically for Oxford Playhouse and it's audiences.

"It's a unique opportunity to create a something that feels truly site specific, which immerses the whole audience in its atmospheres and its emotions.

With less than two weeks to go until Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? arrives on the Oxford Playhouse stage, Katy leaves us with one final thought:

"Audiences will be very lucky to see this play; you don't get to see it very often. If you have the opportunity to see it... see it!