Venue information

In the heart of the Cotswolds, at the junction point of three counties and four regions, The Theatre Chipping Norton is a theatre, an arthouse cinema, a gallery and a concert hall.

It is is a mixed arts venue, hosting, co-producing and supporting some of the most exciting, accessible and entertaining arts in the region. It is a resource for the community, but it is also a professional venue, welcoming over 55,000 customer visits every year.

It is something unique, but it is also different things to different people. It is the cause and subject of many arguments and debates, and a fair amount of acclaim and affection.

This fabulous building began life as a Salvation Army Citadel, with the first stones, now visible in the auditorium, being laid in 1888. It continued for some years as a furniture warehouse, before being discovered by two Royal Shakespeare Company actors, Tamara and John Malcolm in 1968.

Fundraising for the new theatre began in earnest in 1973, and the theatre was opened in 1975. In 1996 a major refurbishment was carried out, funded in part by the Arts Council.

Venue hire

The event rooms at The Theatre provide an unusual and atmospheric venue for your event. You can hire individual rooms for meetings, small parties or a combination of event rooms to fit your needs. Professional staff are included in your hire to ensure your event runs smoothly.

The Auditorium
(Dimensions: 10.33m x 7.58m with Balcony)
Ideal for performances, film screenings, lectures, conferences and presentations, the Auditorium can seat up to 214 persons, but it also works well with smaller numbers. Alternatively, it can seat around 100 persons in cabaret style, and most of the stall seats can be removed for dancing or flat-floor activities.

The Gallery
(Dimensions: 7.47m x 7.88m)
This room has laminate flooring and excellent natural light and is reached by stairs leading from the Bar (or directly from the Balcony). It provides a tranquil backdrop for regularly changing exhibitions of paintings and photography.

The Space
(Dimensions: 8.01m x 4.83m, max width approx 6.11m)
This ‘room in the sky’ with carpeted flooring is situated on the floor above the Gallery and reached by stairs from the Bar and Balcony. It is great for stimulating creative thought and ideal for group work, meetings, interviews or brainstorming sessions.

The Bar
(Dimensions: 8.14m x 6.24m)
Perfect for refreshment breaks and small meetings and as a break-out space, the Bar adjoins the Auditorium and overlooks Spring Street. A particular feature of the Bar is its stunning murals, painted by Graham Rust, one of Europe’s finest muralists.

Getting there

By car
The address for the theatre is: The Theatre, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton, OX7 5NL. What Three Words: impressed.united.began

Parking
The address is The Theatre, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton, OX7 5NL. Chipping Norton has several free long stay car parks, which are just a short walk away from The Theatre.
– New Street Car Park (OX7 5NF) – Large long-stay car park with plenty of spaces.
– Albion Street Car Park (OX7 5BJ) – Smaller car park located behind the high street.

There are also free car parking spaces in the main town square (OX7 5NQ), which have time restrictions throughout the day until 6.00pm. Please try and avoid parking on Spring Street itself where possible, as this is a small residential street.

Public transport
The nearest train stations are Kingham (5 miles away) and Charlbury (6 miles away.) Buses that run through Chipping Norton are the S3 from Oxford; the 488 from Banbury; and the X9 from Witney and Charlbury.

Accessibility information

Wheelchair Access
Wheelchair users can access The Theatre through the Bar next to Front of House. Only the stalls have flat floor access – balcony seating can only be accessed via a staircase. There are four designated wheelchair spaces in the auditorium, each with a neighbouring pair of companion seats.

The wheelchair space does not contain a seat, so anyone booking a wheelchair space will not be provided with a seat. The companion seats will be sold to the general public should the event be selling out. These currently must be booked via the Box Office on 01608 642350.

Limited Mobility
Audience members with limited mobility should mention this to the Box Office at the time of booking so we can help to find you the most accessible seats avaliable. Please note however, that due to limited space any walkers, or other means of assistance (excluding sticks) must be stored in the Bar area.

Blue Badge Parking
The Theatre is situated on Spring Street, a narrow residential road. Unfortunately, due to this there is very limited parking directly outside the building. There are disabled parking bays in the town centre car park, Albion Street car park and New Street car park, all of which are only a short distance away.

Hearing
The Theatre has a magnetic induction loop that connects to any microphones or speakers for the hard of hearing. There are occasional BSL signed performances of live shows. There are also occasional captioned performances of live shows. Assistance dogs are welcome at The Theatre and can be taken into the auditorium during the performance or looked after by a member of staff.

Audio-Described Performances
The Theatre offers occasional audio-described live performances. These performances use a live narrator to describe the action on stage, as well as describing costumes, set and any visual effects.

Relaxed Events
We offer a range of performances and screenings that are designed for audience members who might find a standard theatre environment stressful or problematic. This might include those living with dementia or autism. For these events the auditorium lights are kept on throughout the performance, the doors remain open, and audience members can feel free to come in and out as they please.

If you have any concerns or particular access issues regarding your visit that you’d like to discuss, please contact The Theatre. Alternatively call the Box Office team on 01608 642350.