The Theatre, Spring Street, Chipping Norton

Formerly - Salvation Army Barracks

See also in this area - Oxford Theatres

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing Spring Street and the Theatre, Chipping Norton in March 2023 - Click to Interact.

The Chipping Norton Theatre is situated on Spring Street and was first opened on Friday the 29th of August 1975 with the actors Tom Baker, John Alderton and Alethea Charlton cutting the ribbon for its opening. The Theatre was the realisation of a dream for the RSC Actors John and Tamara Malcolm who had bought the former Salvation Army Building in 1968 with a view to opening it as an Arts Centre for the Town, housing Music, Films and Live Theatre.

The Theatre's opening week saw the Film 'The Towering Inferno' being screened for seven days from the 30th of August 1975 and this was followed by Lindsay Anderson's 'O'Lucky Man' the following week, along with live Jazz concerts at Lunchtime each day. The Theatre was soon well established for showing Films, screening 'The Boyfriend', 'Gold', 'The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean', 'Travels with my Aunt', 'Oliver' and then 'Tom Thumb' with Russ Tamblyn for its first Christmas Film.

The Theatre's Auditorium is a small but intimate space with seating for 217 on two levels, Stalls and one Surrounding Balcony. The Theatre has a Bar for Patrons, which was a reconstruction of an adjoining cottage, and a Gallery with a function room above called The Space. It also has a large Rehearsal Room.

The building itself was originally constructed as a Barracks for the Salvation Army who had previously been holding their meetings in the nearby Fox Hotel. Construction was carried out by Alderton and Wheeler of Cambridge to the designs of the Architects Bremner and Wallis who were members of the Salvation Army. The Site of the building on Spring Street had previously been occupied by four cottages owned by the local Councillor Mr. Webb, and the building also used part of the Garden of a House belonging to a Mr. Matthews.

The Barracks was opened by Eva Booth, the daughter of General Booth, and was originally capable of seating 500 people in its main Hall which was 64 feet long by 28 feet wide, with a gallery supported on iron columns surrounding it, and a soldier's gallery for 60 at the east end. The rear of the building housed officer's rooms, a junior soldier's room, other offices and a boiler room. The Hall was lined with stained and varnished match-boarding, and its roof and gallery fronts were decorated in vermillion and shades of blue. Natural lighting was provided by a large roof lantern spanning the length of the Hall which also provided ventilation, and at night the Hall was illuminated by three Clapton Gasoliers.

Having been a Salvation Army Barracks for many years it was eventually put to use as a Furniture Warehouse before being bought by John and Tamara Malcolm for its reconstruction into a Theatre. The Theatre would eventually begin showing Arthouse, Independent and Foreign Language Films as well as Live Theatre Productions which all continues today.

In 1990 a building in Goddards Lane at the side of the Theatre was purchased for use as a Green Room, Dressing Rooms, Offices and a Rehearsal Room, and in 1996 a major refurbishment of the building, funded by the Arts Council, was carried out which enhanced the Theatre's Stage and Wing Spaces.

Today the Theatre is home to Live Shows, Film, Comedy, Music and Theatre Workshops, and produces several of its own productions each year, touring some of them around the Uk as well. The Theatre is also well known for its annual family pantomimes. The current Artistic Director of the Theatre is John Terry who has overseen The Theatre's rebirth as a producing house.

You may like to visit the Theatre's Own Website here.

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