Here are some of the ways that our Trusts and Foundations much appreciated support is currently making a difference to our work.

Supporting Literacy in Oxfordshire’s schools

Oxford Playhouse's flagship programme for schools, Primary Playmaker, is all about supporting literacy and creative writing for young people in our communities.

Around 10 schools take part each year, with 350+ schoolchildren developing their storytelling skills, conceiving, and writing their own play. The children also learn about the development process that leads to a professional production. A selection of plays are performed by a professional cast at the annual Primary Playmaker Showcase on the mainstage at Oxford Playhouse, with all participating pupils and their teachers invited along to watch!

We are grateful for the generous support from The Bouttell Bequest, Doris Field Charitable Trust, The Pye Charitable Trust, The Hugh Fraser Foundation, Emmanuel Kaye Foundation, The MacFarlane Family Foundation, Mactaggart Third Fund which allows us to deliver this transformative project.

Taking work out into our communities

In the summer months the Playhouse Plays Out project takes a piece of accessible, children’s theatre into communities and schools to entertain and educate. On average 3,500 young people and their families and teachers come to see the show over several weeks in a variety of settings. We prioritise taking Plays Out to areas of low cultural engagement or to schools and schoolchildren that need greater support, and the scheme is offered free of charge to all community schools. The work on stage is also accompanied by a full education resource pack for teachers and creative opportunities and events for families to take part in.

We are immensely grateful to The Lucy Group for their long-standing support for this project.

Tackling social isolation through storytelling

Tea Talks, in association with Age UK, is an innovative programme which combines creative storytelling with befriending, to reduce social isolation amongst older people. Befriending calls take place over a number of weeks, with participants then collectively working on a creative project, bringing together stories, poems and creative ideas.