YOU don’t need to rely on television and professional stage shows for entertainment in Oxfordshire.

Over the years, amateur groups have provided plenty of fun, laughter and serious drama, such as the Studio Theatre Club in Picture 1.

Monty Python fans flocked to see an adaptation of the classic Python movie, The Holy Grail, at the Pegasus Theatre in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, in 1988.

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Stephen Briggs, as Tim the Enchanter, centre, is seen on the sharp end of a difficult question posed by Sir Lancelot (Tim Falla, left) and King Arthur (Anthony Hughes).

The King attempted to lead his knights on a quest for the mythical Holy Grail, encountering weird people like Tim the Enchanter and weird creatures like a giant killer rabbit.

The kestrel in Picture 2 added bird of prey power to an outdoor production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by the City of Oxford Theatre Guild.

This is Oxfordshire: Neil Drury is seen keeping a wary eye on his feathered friend during rehearsals for the comedy in 1982. Eleven performances were planned in the Fellows Garden at Merton College.

Thrills and laughs were promised in Witney Dramatic Society’s production of a farce entitled Wife Required.

Ian Day, in Picture 3, clearly didn’t need any more wives – he already had four, left to right, Fiona Law, Liz Burtt, Audrey Gislason and Judi Holloway.

The show, a double bill also featuring Agatha Christie’s thriller, The Patient, and directed by Rowena Martin, took place at the Corn Exchange in Witney over three nights in 1989.

Daniella Freeden and Kathy Dalley, in Picture 4, starred in North Oxford Junior Dramatic Society’s production of Smike, the musical version of Nicholas Nickleby.

Daniella, 14, left, played Tilda and Kathy, 16, took the part of Mrs Squeers.

The show, with a cast of 28, lively songs and dance routines, was performed at Wolvercote village hall in 1987.

There was a feeling of claustrophobia on stage at Charlbury Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of Move Over Mrs Markham.

Most of the action took place in a small flat where all the cast eventually converged.

Pictured at the photocall in 1988 were, back row, left to right, Cliff Gadsby and Dave Court, middle row, Glenna Horne and Pam Bradley, and front, Olive Woods and Paul Curtis.

The show, produced by Mike Summers, took place over three nights at Charlbury Memorial Hall.

Another 1988 production was staged by Oxford Youth Theatre, the cast seen in Picture 6 rehearsing for its performance of The Masque of the Red Death, the macabre Edgar Allan Poe story. It was staged at the Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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