Oxford Playhouse is delighted to announce that we have retained our funding as a National Portfolio Organisation from Arts Council England for the next 3 years, to cover the period April 2023 – March 2026. The theatre will be awarded £386,456 annually, to contribute to the delivery of Arts Council England’s Let’s Create strategy.

This continued funding is a vote of confidence in Oxford Playhouse and its ability to play a vital role in the Arts Council’s Let’s Create strategy, aimed at providing high quality culture for all and nurturing creativity within our communities. Oxford Playhouse continues with its mission to be a Playhouse for Everyone, focussed on delivering the highest quality, inclusive programming as well as delivering transformational creative projects work to benefit communities and children and young people in our city and region.

Lucy Marcus, Chair of the Oxford Playhouse board of trustees commented: “We are so delighted and grateful to have received this funding. It is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the entire Oxford Playhouse team: staff, volunteers, and partners. We look forward to continuing our work as a creative hub in Oxford: a convening place for important conversations, a nurturing home for ground-breaking and thought-provoking work, and a place to celebrate important moments in the lives of the people in our community. This funding will ensure that work continues to be impactful.”

The Playhouse has an exciting couple of months ahead of it, with a wide range of productions, from internationally renowned dance company Shobana Jeyasingh’s Clorinda Agonistes; to the thrilling production of Othello from Frantic Assembly, which will see more than 3,000 school children visit the theatre. We look forward to ending the year with our award-winning pantomime, Cinderella, produced in-house and set to entertain over 30,000 audience members from the city and region over the festive period.

About Oxford Playhouse

Oxford Playhouse is one of the country’s leading regional theatres. The only not-for-profit mid-scale venue in Oxfordshire, the Playhouse showcases international, national, regional, amateur and student companies, with 850+ events per year on its main stage, studio theatre, offsite and online. It also produces small and mid-scale productions, created from its mission to bring inspirational performance to Oxfordshire and beyond. Just as vital as the work on stage, is its exciting and diverse programme of creative learning for all and community work for all ages and abilities. Designed to inspire, connect, and support, Oxford Playhouse places particular focus on children and young people, developing artists and those adversely affected by social inequality in the city and region.

Recent co-productions and regional tours include The Remains of the Day, Richard III,Blue/Orange, Persuasion,The Dance of Death and Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), which transferred to West End and won 2022 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.

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Oxford Playhouse is a registered charity no: 900039