70th Anniversary Campaign
Setting the stage for our future
As a Patron of Oxford Playhouse, I am delighted that this year it will be both celebrating its 70th anniversary in Beaumont Street and embarking on a major fundraising campaign to enable the next exciting stage in its future.
Back in the early '90s, I was involved in helping the newly re-opened Playhouse to raise funds to help it get on its feet. This time the challenge is to ensure that the theatre not only continues to present an entertaining, ambitious, international programme for years to come but also that it has the resources to bring exciting, innovative new shows and creative talent to Oxford, make more of its own productions and reach and inspire as many people as possible through its learning and access work.
So whilst the 70th anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate the theatre's past achievements and the wonderful programme that the Playhouse team have built over recent years, it is also a good point in time to think about the ways in which we can all help to really make a difference in the future.
I have such happy memories of appearing at Oxford Playhouse and I very much hope that you will make a contribution to the 70th Campaign. By supporting organisations such as the Playhouse, we can all play a vital role in protecting and developing our cultural heritage for future generations.
Our ambitions
We want to ensure that Oxford Playhouse plays a central role in both the cultural life of Oxfordshire and in the future success of British theatre. We want to give audiences of all ages an even greater range of memorable experiences and to produce and tour more of our own shows, making Oxford a centre for artistic excellence, exploration and risk-taking.
The Playhouse should be a theatre for everyone and we are determined to make this a reality. We want to make it an intrinsic part of the lives of more people, creating and sustaining a passion for theatre through both an engaging, diverse and relevant programme and our learning and community participation work. We will also provide the best possible facilities for all of our visitors.
The Campaign
We have launched the 70th Anniversary Campaign to secure the future of the Playhouse and we would like to ask for your help. We aim to raise £1 million for a whole host of new projects and initiatives, and also to boost the number of regular gifts that we receive which will provide vital ongoing support for our work.
If you have enjoyed visiting the Playhouse, we hope that you will consider supporting our Campaign. In return for your generosity, we hope that you and many others will enjoy a long and fulfilling relationship with the Playhouse - one of Britain's most exciting and successful theatres.
What your gift will support
A Programme for All
Playhouse productions
Oxford and the Playhouse should be playing a creative role in making theatre. Establishing a Production Fund will enable us to create, commission and tour Oxford Playhouse productions on a regular basis, building the Playhouse's profile and reputation nationally.
"Brilliant, intense theatre... Thank you for such an amazing experience."
Audience member, Molora
Bringing the very best to Oxford
We want to have the resources to bring the very best productions to Oxford. The region's audiences ought to have regular opportunities to see a rich variety of work from Britain and overseas both within and outside the building. Large casts, new plays and international theatre are all expensive and yet provide some of the most memorable experiences.
"Remarkable... Unmissable... Triumphant."
War and Peace, Daily Telegraph
"One of the most memorable productions I have ever seen - magical. Extraordinary."
Audience member, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Theatre for children, young people and families
The Playhouse is committed to developing and supporting family productions with regular performances for children. We want to become a leader in family work which will help to engage young people and inspire in them a love of theatre and the arts.
"The baby loved it and my daughter was most impressed with how welcoming your staff and volunteers were... It was such a happy experience."
Audience member, Baby Balloon
| £50 | hires a costume for a week for a Playhouse production |
| £250 | replaces batteries in a radio microphone |
| £500 | insures a visiting international company |
| £1,500 | creates special effects for the panto |
| £2,000 | funds a production by new writers at the Burton Taylor Studio |
| £5,000 | supports an Artist in Residence to develop new work |
| £10,000 | commissions a community play |
| £15,000 | hires a set for the panto |
Lifelong Learning and Community Participation Programme
More than 15,000 people a year benefit from activities run by our Learning Department which delivers a wide-ranging programme to engage the youngest to the oldest members of the community. These include pre- and post-show discussions, workshops, holiday schemes, work experience sessions, invitation performances and our Youth Theatre. The team also helps to make shows accessible for people with disabilities, organising audio-described, signed and captioned performances, touch tours and discounted tickets. We plan to develop the programme to make learning and access opportunities available for as many people as possible and encourage a deeper and broader engagement with theatre and the arts.
"I did things I never imagined I would be able to do."
"It changed my whole feeling about Drama."
Children's workshop and summer scheme participants.
"My husband who is blind, says the audio description and the touch tour make all the difference."
Audience member.
| £30 | pays for a Teapot Tinies music session for the under 4s |
| £100 | provides props for a Youth Theatre production |
| £150 | sponsors a young person through the Youth Theatre for a year |
| £250 | pays for a drama workshop for twenty children |
| £500 | funds an audio-described performance for the visually impaired |
| £5,000 | funds a free performance for people who wouldn't otherwise be able to visit the theatre |
| £20,000 | employs a community officer to work with Oxfordshire schools for a year |
Ongoing refurbishment of our listed building
With nearly 140,000 tickets sold each year for more than 80 shows, there is inevitable wear and tear on our listed building and facilities. We must be in a position to respond to the needs of our audience, visiting companies, staff and volunteers and ensure that our building is in the best shape to accommodate our increased activity in the future. We want all of our visitors to have a great experience when visiting the Playhouse and that doesn't stop at the stage.
"The welcoming and intimate feel of the Playhouse always makes me feel at home."
Audience member.
| £50 | replaces bulbs in the foyer bar |
| £300 | buys a new table for the circle bar |
| £750 | maintains and repairs the safety curtain |
| £1,500 | replaces a heating pump |
| £6,000 | pays for painting of the auditorium |
| £10,000 | soundproofs the Top Room |
| £30,000 | refurbishes the public toilets |
How you can make a difference
Make a gift to the 70th Anniversary Campaign
To reach our ambitious target of £1 million we need the help of as many of our audience members and friends as possible. Demonstrating the support of those who know and love the theatre also strengthens our hand when we approach trusts, foundations and other potential funders. If you have enjoyed coming to the Playhouse, please consider supporting our future. Gifts of all sizes are greatly appreciated and each and every one really does make a difference.
Set up a regular gift by standing order
Making a monthly, quarterly or annual gift is an extremely valuable way of supporting the Playhouse. We already have around 550 regular donors giving to our Development Fund, which plays an important role in all aspects of the theatre's work and helps enormously when planning for the future.
Remember Oxford Playhouse in your will
A gift in your will can help us to keep the theatre in good shape for generations to come. A legacy information pack containing further details is available from the Development Office. It is very helpful for us to know if you have made us a beneficiary in your will so, if you are happy to tell us, we would be delighted to hear that you will be supporting our future work. If you would like further information on remembering Oxford Playhouse in your will, please contact the Development Office.
Donation Form
Please click here to download a donation form (link to pdf).
Playhouse Supporters
All of our donors are making an invaluable contribution to the work of the theatre. To thank you for your generosity, we are pleased to offer on an annual basis:
 Level OneUp to £99 |
 Level Two£100 + |
 Level Three£500 + |
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| Early mailing of Playhouse season brochures Invitations to the Playhouse Supporters' drinks receptions | As Level One plus...
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As Level Two plus...
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Playhouse Benefactors
Our benefactors play an important role in the future success of the Playhouse and have the opportunity to become more closely involved with its work through the following:
 Silver£1,000 + |
 Gold£2,500 + |
 Platinum£5,000 + |
 The Director'sCircle £10,000 + |
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As Playhouse Supporters plus...
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As Silver plus...
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As Gold plus...
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As Platinum plus...
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Contact Us
If you would like further information about the 70th Anniversary Campaign and how you can help, please contact The Development Office: 01865 305315 or development.office@oxfordplayhouse.com
