Oxford Youth Theatre

The Oxford Youth Theatre (OYT) is based in Oxford, England. It was founded in 1962 and established the Pegasus Theatre in 1975.

1962 - Oxford Youth Theatre (OYT) opened for 14- to 21-year-olds. The group was run by Roy Copeman, an ex-Air Force pilot. From the 1950s, Roy Copeman ran drama groups in East Oxford including the Gladiators, in Marston Road. OYT take up residence in a former schools meals service kitchen in Magdalen Road in East Oxford. Their first production was A Christmas Carol.

1966 - Tiered seating for 80 built by members of OYT during the summer in the temporary buildings that are their home in Magdalen Road. They also create a box office and crawl into the low roof to put in a lighting box.

1969 - A drama festival was held at the youth theatre premises. Up to fifteen shows a year put on.

1970 – Fund-raising appeal launched for new building.

1974 - Final performance in the old theatre: Oh, What a Lovely War!

1975 - Pegasus Theatre opens. Temporary buildings at the rear still used for rehearsals. The first production on the new stage was The Royal Hunt of the Sun. Old working buildings still in use behind the theatre as rehearsal and workshop spaces. Gates erected at the side of the new theatre depicting the initials of Joyce Harris an actress who was voice coach to the youth theatre members.

1978 – Roy Copeman retires. Fred Richings becomes the new head of Pegasus Theatre.

1982 - Ray Harrison Graham, regular actor and director at OYT devises and directs A WAY OF LIFE, the story of a group of young Mods in London's East End. He recruits and trains members of the OYT to perform this piece, which plays to packed houses every night. Fred Ritchings mentors Ray, as well as designing and building the set.

1983 – Tony Davis and Simon Mellor took over as joint heads.

1983 - Ray Harrison Graham returns from Webber Douglas Drama Academy to devise and direct YOP!, a play that tells of disastrous events unfolding on a Youth Opportunities Training scheme in Thatcher's Britain. Packed houses again... Lighting Design - Dave Cosgrave. Set Builder - Barnaby Stone.

1984 - The 1982 Company give the first performance in English of Dario Fo's Mistero Buffo. Company members Annabel Arden (later Complicite), Neil Bartlett and Annie Griffen return to perform and work with OYT at the Pegasus throughout the 1980s.

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