Kings English students got the opportunity to go on a backstage tour of the New Theatre as part of our cultural activities programme. The special visit offered a glimpse into the hidden world behind one of the city’s most famous entertainment venues.
The New Theatre Oxford, originally opened in 1836, has been a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life for nearly two centuries and it is positioned in the heart of the city. The current building dates back to 1934 and has hosted an incredible range of performances over the years, from West End musicals and international ballets to legendary rock concerts and comedy acts. For many of our students, it was their first time seeing a traditional British theatre up close.
We started the tour by going backstage which led us underground below street level, to reveal an original revolving stage fitted with two trap doors. Whilst it is no longer in use it was still a cool and unusual feature to see on the tour. Our tour guide stated that it is one of the few remaining in the UK outside of London. From here we headed up onto the main stage, the view immediately takes you back, everyone in awe looking out at the thousands of empty seats.
From here we got the opportunity to test the stage lighting to see how different colours, timings, and effects mix to create specific moods. We then went up into the wings where crew work during shows operating pulling systems moving weights to safely remove and add stage sets as well as curtains.
Once we had done this, we then got the chance to explore the many dressing rooms spanning across four different floors. Seeing the rows of mirrors and personal notes gave us a sense of the life behind the glamour of the stage.
One of the highlights of the tour was climbing up to the spotlight booth at the very top of the auditorium. From this vantage point, we saw how the lighting technicians control the atmosphere of the entire show—an impressive and sometimes nerve-wracking job, given the height! Students enjoyed having a go at moving the spotlight and controlling the high-tech industry standard equipment.
The experience offered not just a new appreciation for the theatre, but also a fun, interactive afternoon exploring an iconic part of Oxford. Huge thanks to the team at the New Theatre who organised the tour and gave us such a fun and insightful glimpse into the world of theatre.
