Theatre, Oxford

4 more images

We saw the Oxford Playhouse across the street when we visited the Ashmolean Museum, and decided it would be a nice and cultural way to spend one of our evenings in Oxford.

On the Oxford Playhouse webpage we read that a wide range of live performances are presented there, incuding British and international drama, family shows, contemporary dance and music, student and amateur shows, comedy, lectures and poetry.

We watched a play called "Humble Boy" by Charlotte Jones, presented by the Oxford Theatre Guild, an amateur group, but the production seemed very professional.

We also liked the informal atmosphere; there was no dressing code, to our surprise (after all, this is Oxford, UK, not Berkeley, California): Some of the audience were more elegantly dressed, but many were wearing jeans and a polo shirt.

One of the English traditions which seemed funny to me was the ice cream cone selling during the intermission: As the curtain was raised and the lights came on, a man and a woman carrying trays of ice cream cones stood in the corners of the hall at the front; they did not shout to advertise their goods, they just stood still and a perfect line of ice cream lovers formed in front of each of them (see photo). Otherwise, there is a cafe in the foyer.

A sign in the lobby titled "Warning" in big print brought to the attention of delicate, innocent theater goers that the performance contained some strong language. It didn't seem to scare anyone away (see photo).

Another rather bizarre sign tried to raise funds for... new toilets for the theater. You can throw your donation into a fancy toilet in the foyer! (see photo).

Dress Code: Informal (see text).

This quiet, intimate theatre is named after two of the most famous actors to play here - Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor. Burton was an undergrad at Lincoln, and he returned to Oxford with Liz Taylor and gave a free performance at the student theatre.

I've only been here once - to see Copenhagen - and it's the smallest, strangest theatre I've been to. There is no stage as such - instead the audience and actors share a small room with chairs forming an oval shape around the centre where the actors perform, lighting is minimal, special effects are limited, yet when the acting is good, the overall effect is wonderful.

Old Fire Station Theatre, Holdenhurst Road, close to the Landsdowne roundabout and easy walk from the town centre or travel interchange. To get here by road take the A338 (Wessex Way) into Bournemouth, turn left at the first roundabout you come to as you approach the town (adjacent to ASDA), turn right at the next roundabout and The Old Fire Station is on the left around 500m down the road. Access is from the rear of the building.
It is a unique Theatre with a truly eclectic space that hosts a café, club, bar and theatre in one.

Dress Code: Wear whatever you like.

They have a good deal on student standby tickets for 6 pounds.

Dress Code: No required code but most people dress up a little.