The Oxford Playhouse Trust Ltd, Oxford

The Oxford Playhouse, a notable theatre in Oxford, boasts a rich history and significant architectural design. It was initially established as The Red Barn on Woodstock Road in North Oxford in 1923 by J.B. Fagan. The theatre's early days are chronicled in Norman Marshall's 1947 book "The Other Theatre."

The current theatre building, located on the south side of Beaumont Street and opposite the Ashmolean Museum, was completed in 1938. Its design is a collaborative effort, with the exterior by Sir Edward Maufe and the interior by F.G.M. Chancellor. The structure harmonizes with the early 19th-century Regency buildings on the street, featuring a stone facade.

Oxford Playhouse has hosted a plethora of distinguished actors on its stage, including Rowan Atkinson, Ronnie Barker, Dirk Bogarde, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, Ian McDiarmid, Ian McKellen, Dudley Moore, Bill Hicks, and Maggie Smith. Notably, Susannah York gave her final stage performance at the Playhouse in Ronald Harwood's "Quartet" in August 2010. Christopher Hitchens, a renowned journalist and writer, also worked as a stagehand here during his time as an undergraduate at Balliol College, Oxford.

In 1961, the Oxford Playhouse saw the birth of the Prospect Theatre Company, founded by manager Elizabeth Sweeting and resident stage manager Iain Mackintosh. This company, active from 1963 to 1976, toured 75 productions to 125 theatres across 21 countries.

Another significant contributor to the Playhouse's legacy is the Greek theatre director Minos Volanakis. He is known for directing productions like Jean Genet's "The Maids" (1963–4) and "The Balcony" (1967), as well as Jean Giraudoux's "Madwoman of Chaillot."

The theater underwent a temporary closure due to insufficient funding for several years. However, it has since been revitalized and now boasts a main auditorium with a seating capacity of 663.