Arts & Culture
The most theatrical birthday party of them all! - Oxford Playhouse turns 80!

It’ll be all glitz and glamour for a star-studded birthday bash to celebrate Oxford Playhouse turning 80!

Oxford Playhouse is celebrating 80 years of welcoming audiences to Beaumont Street this autumn. The theatre marks its 80 birthday with a bumper season of shows and events, headlined by four co-productions of major national tours, an all-star Gala performance and free tickets for anyone born in 1938!

Alongside the celebrations the theatre will be working towards sustaining the next 80 years, with a fundraising campaign to extend the Playhouse’s work with local artists and children across the county.

Kicking off the year-long programme of events is an evening of banter from BAFTA Award-winning actorand OP Patron Michael Palinand comedian, actor and campaigner Sally Phillips. Michael and Sally will be discussing their lives, careers and memories of OP on Tuesday July 10 at 7.30pm.

As well as marking the theatre’s vibrant history, the anniversary plans include a renewed commitment to create ground-breaking new theatre, with the Playhouse hoping to commission and co-produce three productions every year.

The eightieth season co-productions are:

  • An exciting new production ofOthello, directed by Richard Twymanin a co-production with English Touring Theatreand Tobacco Factory, Bristol.
  • A World Premiere production of Women in Power,a new musical comedy based in Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen, in a co-production with Nuffield Southampton Theatres.
  • A World Premiere production of Angela Carter’s Wise Children, adapted and directed by Emma Rice, in a co-production with Rice’s new company, Wise Childrenand The Old Vic.
  • A World Premiere stage production of The Remains of the Day,based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s literary masterpiece, in a co-production with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Out of Joint

“We’re aiming for the Playhouse to be at the forefront of producing theatres nationwide. We want to make shows in Oxford to travel the world, whilst continuing to bring the best of world theatre to Oxford”, said Louise Chantal, the current Director of the theatre.

Oxford Playhouse has the bold ambition of raising an additional £120,000 this year too. This money will help sustain the future of the creative industries more widely, supporting emerging artists through our artist development programme Evolve, including an annual Made in Oxford showcase of local talent from 2019. Monies raised will enable the Playhouse’s participation team to increase the number of local young people the theatre works with to 30,000 a year across the whole county

To achieve this target, OP is organising a host of events and activities. Many of the gifted artists who have appeared at the Playhouse over the years will be celebrating the Playhouse’s actual birthday on Sunday October 21 2018 at an 80th Anniversary Gala Performance.

Award-winning Oxford-based film producer  Victor Glynnwill be directing the show, with stars such as Christopher Biggins, Katy Brand, Sinead Cusack,Patricia Hodge, Jeremy Irons, Freddie Jonesand Gugu Mbatha-Raw alreadylining up to appear, and many more to be announced.  This stellar evening is presented in association with the Macdonald Randolph Hotel, who will host a star-studded after-party on the night. The event is also supported by North Oxford BMW and MINI.

OurOxford Playhouse Anniversary Auctionwill be online from 5 October to 26 October, with lots including private tours of secret Oxford, a selection of art and fine-dining experiences, and even the possibility of owning the ‘Donald Trump Giant’ puppet from last year’s panto Jack and the Beanstalk. The auction is kindly supported by Lucy Group Ltd.

Oxford Playhouse is also delighted to announce that Oxford-born Hollywood star Gugu Mbatha-Raw MBE has recently become a Patron of the theatre, joining a list of prestigious names including Dame Judi Dench, Rowan Atkinson, Stewart Lee and Paterson Josephamongst others. Gugustarted her career in the Playhouse pantomime Young Company, and is now joining the A-list of Hollywood stars, having worked with the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith in films such as Belle andDisney’sBeauty and the Beast.

Gugu Mbatha-Rawsaid “I am so honoured to become a Patron of Oxford Playhouse. Having grown up on this stage, I feel a special privilege to know that I am joining such an esteemed group of patrons for Oxford Playhouse.”

And to add to the celebrations even more, the Playhouse will be giving away free tickets to any audience members also turning 80 this year.  The tickets will be valid for Thursday matinees in the autumn 2018 season.  Anyone born in 1938 can call the Ticket Office to find out more.

This Anniversary year sees the theatre collecting memories and anecdotes of OP from the most important people of all, the audience.  Theatre is all about stories, and Oxford Playhouse would like to hear your stories of the last 80 years of theatre in the city.Send your anecdotes or memories of the Playhouse to OP80@oxfordplayhouse.com

While celebrating an illustrious history and preparing for a resilient future,  Oxford Playhouse extends special thanks to St John’s College Oxford, the University of Oxford,

Arts Council England, Oxford City Council andthe people of Oxford for their continued support, which has enabledOP to touch the hearts of so many generations in the city, the county and beyond.