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Local HistoryYou are in: Oxford > History > Local History > Looking back on 70 Years of the Oxford Playhouse  Looking back on 70 Years of the Oxford PlayhouseFeatures and interviews looking back at the history of one of our beloved theatre venues. In October 2008, Oxford Playhouse celebrates 70 years in Beaumont Street. Did You Know?Flora Robson spoke her first words as an actress at Oxford Playhouse Maggie Smith made her first public appearance Ken Tynan made his acting debut Susan Hampshire painted the ladies’ loos in 1956 John Gielgud directed Peggy Ashcroft in Romeo and Juliet Ned Sherrin was a fairy, Nigel Lawson a chorus boy Other famous OUDS students who chose not to make a career out of acting: Edward Heath, Joanna Trollope, Shirley Williams Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor appeared in a famous OUDS production of Dr Faustus First successful Chekhov play performed in England Prince Edward was an assistant technical manager on the opening night of the revamped Playhouse in 1991 The theatre has a major place at the heart of British theatre history. Over the past seven decades the Playhouse has seen a galaxy of distinguished actors grace its stage including John Gielgud, Ian McKellen, Dirk Bogarde, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Prunella Scales and Timothy (and Sam) West, Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack. Other leading players have made their mark, one way or another, at the theatre: Susan Hampshire and Alan Ayckbourn were assistant stage managers and Tony Hancock was a pantomime dame. Other real-life dames, including Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Sybil Thorndike, have given some electrifying performances.  The Playhouse. Photo by Lindsay Viner. The theatre has also been a hotbed of university talent, launching the careers of Tyrone Guthrie, Peter Brook, Kenneth Tynan, Dudley Moore, Mel Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Maria Aitken and others – not to mention Edward Heath, Joanna Trollope and Shirley Williams who also trod the boards as students. Memorable plays, world premieres, award-winning productions, ground breaking work – this year, Oxford Playhouse celebrates 70 golden years, together with some of the actors, directors, producers, musicians and other artists who have brought them to life. One man has made it his job to make the theatre itself the star of the show this year. Former Oxford Mail theatre critic Don Chapman has published 'Oxford Playhouse - High and Low Drama in a University City'. He joined us to provide a whistle stop tour, explaining that the acting group at the Playhouse can trace its origins far further back than 1938...  "The Tribulations of Chaperonage" "Playhouse-goers during J. B. Fagan’s regime ranged from rich students like the Earl of Longford, future director of the Gate Theatre, Dublin, to impoverished ones like Emlyn Williams; from ex-actress Lillah McCarthy to Prof. Murray; from future historians A.L. Rowse and A.J.P. Taylor to future authors Evelyn Waugh and Peter Quennell; from future theatre practitioners like Norman Marshall to future critics like Harold Hobson. The most flamboyant undergraduate personality of the 1920s, Harold Acton, who recited poems through a megaphone, soon became Cherwell’s critic Megalophonides. Like the others, he came alone or with male friends. A student who took a girl to the Playhouse had to buy a seat for her minder. Chaperonage was as much part of Oxford life in the 1920s as in the days of Charley’s Aunt. An Isis cartoon showed a couple sandwiching a frump. The lady was Monna Vanna, the chaperon The Green Goddess, the man The Bad Man." Help playing audio/video Help playing audio/video  Getting ready for the panto Sheila Robbins from Hinksey Hilltop shared some of her memories as former wardrobe mistress for the theatre. Help playing audio/video To find out about the magical formula that brings Pantomime to life, we spoke to Paul Knight, musical director of the first Playhouse Panto Cinderella, back in 1993. Help playing audio/video 84 year old Jean Kilby from Wantage spoke to us about her first trip to the theatre. We were also joined Jess Hadley, an Oxford Brookes drama student and graduate of the Youth Theatre at the Playhouse. Help playing audio/video After 18 years as director of the theatre, Tish Francis is stepping down and Michelle Dickson is taking over. They both spoke to us about the Playhouse past, present and future.  Richard Wilson appears in a special show Richard Wilson will head the Playhouse anniversary celebrations. See below for some special events to mark 70 years. Many Happy Returners25 Oct 2008 Seventy! Not OutA Gala Evening hosted by Gyles Brandreth last updated: 10/10/2008 at 16:36 Have Your Say
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