Shows

The Moon and Darker Tales

SHOWS

A bright light has appeared. The people have been woken up and some are pretty grumpy about it. What are they going to do now? Will they ever get back to sleep? And what’s that wolf doing there too?

“Just the beauty of the whole thing - the people, the talent, the patience, the creativity, the kindness, the connection…. Working together to create something amazing.”

- Participant

“Whilst every element of this production was perfect it was the sense of love and joy in the room that really elevated into something almost spiritual and definitely about community.”

- Audience member

An original production by Oxford People's Theatre, inspired by Grimm's Fairytales

Written by Emma Webb and devised by the company

With original music by Guy Hughes

Directed by Emma Webb and Lizzy McBain

50 performers aged 9 to 90

Performed at Pegasus Theatre, February 2024

Supported by Arts Council England, Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council

1920s Cabaret

Pegasus Theatre, March 2025

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Photos by Simon Vail

30 performers, 16 acts, who dazzled, entertained, and transported the audience to the glamour and decadence of the Jazz Age.

From the Bauhaus bonkers Hot Crumpets band, to flammable flappers, Oxford Lindy Hoppers, clowns and standup we were treated to a range of acts and thrills drawn from across the OxfordPeople’s Theatre community, including those who'd never performed on a professional stage together. All funds raised will go towards co-creating the next OPT production in 2025/26.

Supported by Oxfordshire Community Foundation and Pegasus Theatre

Covered Market 250th Anniversary

September 2024

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Photos by Ed Nix and Lizzy McBain

Commissioned by Oxford City Council to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the opening of Oxford's Covered Market.

A promenade performance devised and written by members of the Oxford People's Theatre community.

Drawing on historical tales of butchers with a ghost of Billy the Butcher's Boy, public wife sellings, young women locked in by accident overnight, and the historical Beadle who rang the bell at the beginning and end of the market to mark the opening & closing of trading.

With thanks to all the traders and shop keepers who aided with historical and anecdotal research.

Shaping Destiny

Site specific promenade performance in the grounds of the Old Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

June 2023

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Photos by David Jeffrey and Dan Paton

An Oxford People's Theatre performance as part of a Public Engagement Collaboration

from DPAG (The Dept of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics)

and TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities)

at the University of Oxford

Written by Emma Webb and devised by the company

Directed by Emma Webb and Lizzy McBain

In one day 26 performers aged between 17 and 89 performed three sold out shows exploring, medicine and the history of the building. It was a time leaping extravaganza filled with Saints, sheet folding, quacks, Obstetric flying squads, resurrections and one very strict Matron. Developed over two days of devising, the cast then had 4 rehearsals to get to grips with their roles before playing to over 200 members of the public

Funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine.

The People's Pantomime

January 2023

An original production by Oxford People's Theatre

Text by Limelight Scripts and adapted by Emma Webb and Mark Ralph Bowman

Directed by Lizzy McBain and Emma Webb

40 performers aged 8 - 89 years of age

Performed at the Old Fire Station, January 2023

Supported by Oxford City Council and Offbeat Festival

"A Fantastic show. Really good fun. I have never participated so much with a show, the warmth and talent of the actors drew in the audience. Wonderful music and clever lyrics."

"A wonderful celebration of community theatre at its best. Excellent script, directing, movement, acting, music and audience involvement."

-Audience feedback