Theatre in Oxford(shire)

Oxford has a incredibly active and varied theatre community beyond the University. Do reach out beyond the University walls and connect your creative work with local professional and amateur theatre. It is useful to be aware of the wider creative life of Oxford from a marketing point of view, but also for your own creative interest and development. Many theatres offer discounted tickets to students or organise their own events and workshops. You can also get involved in local amateur theatre or connect with several writing and playmaking groups.

Theatre in Oxford

The Oxford Playhouse

Oxford Playhouse receives professional and highly acclaimed touring plays, musicals and comedy, as well as producing its own work. From restaged classics, to the work of Frantic Assembly and Complicite, there is a varied programme of nationally touring work.

The Oxford Playhouse have discounted student tickets for the majority of their productions. Alongside these standard rates, they have a 14-25 ticket scheme that gives you access to £5 tickets for selected productions. Sign up here: www.oxfordplayhouse.com/support-us/membership/14-to-25s

Website: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

The North Wall

The North Wall are a theatre and art gallery in North Oxford. Since opening in 2007, they have developed a national reputation for developing acclaimed plays from early career theatre makers. They also receive touring productions with a wide range of genres.

Check out their participation work and ArtsLab, their programme for early career creatives.

Website: www.thenorthwall.com

The Old Fire Station

In central Oxford, The Old Fire Station has a very varied programme of performance, visual art, classes and more. Their selection of events (evening classes, theatre clubs etc.) change regularly - they have in the past run a playwrighting group with Mike Bartlett! Website: www.oldfirestation.org.uk

The New Theatre

Part of the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), this is Oxford’s largest theatre (with a 1,700 capacity). As an ATG theatre they don’t run the same range of workshops or student opportunities as the above, but do host large touring productions.

Website: www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/

Pegasus

Based in East Oxford, Pegasus are a theatre specialised in work for children and young people. They run a variety of school based classes, alongside a Young Company for those

aged 16-25. Do check out their community programme.

Website: pegasustheatre.org.uk

Offbeat Oxford

A yearly festival of new work, Offbeat is a partnership between three Oxford theatres — the Old Fire Station, Oxford Playhouse, and New Theatre Oxford. It supports emerging talent, encourages local artists, provides a platform for new voices, and gives the public a chance to see bold new performances that take risks and push boundaries. Website: www.offbeatoxford.co.uk

Creation Theatre

Oxford based Creation Theatre make site responsive adaptions of classic stories. From 1984 in Westgate Shopping Centre to Swallows and Amazons in University Parks. They produce a Christmas show most years with The North Wall.

Headlong

Founded in 1974, Headlong are a critically acclaimed theatre company. After being founded in Oxfordshire and becoming on the most successful companies of contemporary theatre, Headlong have since 2024 returned to Oxford.

Website: www.headlong.co.uk

Oxford People’s Theatre

Oxford People’s Theatre are an intergenerational company for anyone aged 11+ with a passion for making theatre alongside professional artists. To quote themselves: ‘We harness the transformative power of theatre to create community. Our all-inclusive, intergenerational workshops, socials & productions allow meaningful connections to flourish, between actors, creatives, and audiences, and across different communities, and age groups.’ Website: www.oxfordpeoplestheatre.com

Local Amateur Theatre

Oxfordshire has an active and varied amateur theatre scene. The Oxford Theatre Guild produce four shows, at The Oxford Playhouse, Old Fire Station and beyond. In wider Oxfordshire, you’ll find musical theatres groups Banbury Operatic Society, Odyssey Theatrical Productions, Abingdon Operatic Society and Bicester Choral and Operatic Society. And Youth Theatre groups such as The People’s Theatre Collective and Advocate Theatre Company. Those are only a small example of many – remember that amateur theatre in Oxford does not just begin and end with students!