The North Wall Arts Centre (often just referred to as the North Wall) is the newest award-winning Performing arts centre in Oxford, owned by St Edward's School and shared with the city. It houses a 200-seat theatre, plus a rehearsal space, dance studio and a visual art gallery. Lucy Maycock has been the Artistic Director of the North Wall since September 2010. Prior to this, it was run by Nick Quartley. The arts centre hosts touring theatre companies, musicians and other public events, as well as events by the school, with the aim to provide high quality facilities and arts events both for St Edward's students and for the public at large.
The North Wall Arts Centre was built on the site of a Victorian swimming pool, which was the oldest swimming pool in the country, situated on the grounds of St Edward’s School. The name derives from an ancient stone boundary wall that runs the entire length of the public street elevation. Designed by Haworth Tompkins architects, the project cost more than £3.5 million and won several major architectural awards, including a RIBA in 2008. It also received a Certificate from the Oxford Preservation Trust in recognition of its "significant contribution to the conservation and improvement of Oxford’s built environment." Completed in 2006, The North Wall was officially opened to the public in 2007 with a three-week arts festival.
In addition to hosting School events, The North Wall Arts Centre runs a regular programme of public arts events, as well as a Summer Festival in July and a residential drama school in August. It attracted various theatre companies including Birmingham Repertory Theatre, ATC Theatre, Out of Joint, Bush Theatre and Theatre Alibi. It has welcomed some musical acts, as French-Irish chanteuse Camille O'Sullivan, John Tavener, The Unthanks and Spiers and Boden. Comedians who have appeared at The North Wall include Eddie Izzard, Sarah Millican, John Bishop, and Rhod Gilbert. The theatre also hosts jazz evenings, ballets, children’s shows, contemporary and classical concerts, cabaret, opera, and new exhibitions in the modern gallery every three weeks.
2012
The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol, Oxford Theatre GuildYellow Moon by David Greig, Citizens TheatreThe Odyssey, The Paper CinemaRapunzel, Theatre of WiddershinsThe Barber of Seville, Opera Up CloseDead On Her Feet by Ron Hutchinson, director Barry KyleMad About the Boy, Iron Shoes CompanySo Comedy Night, with Tom RosenthalMinsk 2011: A Reply to Kathy Acker, Belarus Free TheatreMayday Mayday by director Katy Carmichael, Theatre DamfinoTranslunar Paradise by W. B. Yeats, Theatre Ad InfinitumCrave by Sarah Kane, Acting Touring CompanyDNA by Dennis Kelly, Hull TruckSnookered by Ishy Din Tamasha, Oldham and Bush Theatre2011
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Creation Theatre CompanyStalag Happy by Edward Elks and Dan Frost, Third Man ProductionsI, Malvolio by Tim CrouchA Delicate Balance by Edward Albee, Oxford Theatre GuildThe Golden Dragon by Roland Schimmelpfennig, Drum Theatre PlymouthBang Bang Bang by Stella Feehily, Octagon Theatre BoltonBunny by Jack Thorne, NabokovEpic by David Luff, Foster and DecheryThe Big Smoke, Theatre Ad InfinitumKeepers directed by Simon Day, The Plasticine Men DirectorAfter the Accident by Julian Armistead, REM ProjectsGoucher's War by Nikki Sved, Theatre Alibi2010
Sweeney Todd: His Life, Times and Execution, directed by Alexander Parsonage, Finger in the PieA View From the Bridge by Arthur Miller, Oxford Theatre GuildIvan and the Dogs by Hattie Naylor, Soho TheatreJohn Moran and Saori (in Thailand) by John Moran, Saori TsukadaThe Author by Tim Crouch, News from NowhereTiny Volcanoes by Laurence Wilson, Paines PloughMy Name is Sue by Dafydd James, NotebookThe Great British Country Fete by Russell Kane, Bush TheatreDavid Copperfield, Bristol Old Vic Theatre SchoolCertain Dark Things, direct Emily Watson Howes, You need meEurydice by Sarah Ruhl, Acting Touring CompanyCrush by Paul Charlton, Tristan Bates TheatreCling To Me Like Ivy by Samantha Ellis, Birmingham Repertory TheatreThe Colour of Nonsense directed by Andy Hay, Forkbeard Fantasy2009
Henry V by Shakespeare, St Edward's School, OxfordDreams of Violence by Stella Feehily, Out of Joint, Soho TheatreJohn Moran...and his neighbour, Saori by John Moran, Saori TsukadaThe American Pilot by David Greig, Oxford Theatre GuildAnima, North Wall Arts CentreTraces, The National Youth Theatre, Paines PloughTess of the D'Urbervilles, adapted by Michael Fry, Bristol Old Vic Theatre SchoolGaslight by Patrick Hamilton, Tomahawk Theatre CompanyPaperweight, directed by Jamie Wood, Top of the WorldLost in the Wind, Lost SpectaclesBeef by John Godber, Hull TruckRiver's up by Alex Jones, Oxfordshire Touring TheatreWhiter Than Snow by Mike Kenny, Graeae Theatre CompanyAmadeus by Peter Shaffer, Oxford UniversityPandora 88, directed by Andrew Dawson, Fabrik CompanyThe Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Tomahawk Theatre Company2008
The Tempest by Shakespeare, Tomahawk Theatre CompanyGood by Cecil Philip Taylor, St Edward's School, OxfordHysteria, Inspector Sands, Stamping Ground TheatreWit by Margaret Edson, Oxford Theatre GuildZero by Chris O'Connell, Theatre AbsoluteMile End by Dan Rebellato, AnalogueAnother Kind of Silence by Liz Rothschild, Full Circle ProductionsThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Joel Horwood, West Yorkshire PlayhouseShoot/Get Treasure/Repeat by Mark Ravenhill, Royal Court Theatre, Out of Joint, Paines PloughInfinite Lives by Chris Goode, The North Wall Arts CentreCider With Rosie by Laurie Lee and Nick Darke, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Bush TheatreHedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Tomahawk Theatre CompanyOur Country's Good directed by Lucy Maycock, Ralph Clark TheatreThe Hothouse, directed by Simon Roche, Lush TheatreTwo by Jim Cartwright, Hull TruckMeasure for Measure by Shakespeare, Creation Theatre Company2007
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, St Edward's School, OxfordSir Henry Higgins by Lucy MaycockNoises Off by Michael FraynMr. Vertigo by Edward KempThe Birthday Party by Harold PinterA Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, St Edward's School, Oxford