This is a great alternative venue for up and coming performers, and some well established ones. It’s not got the grandeur and the history of the New Theatre or the proximity to the train station of everything on George Street, but it’s great for residents of North Oxford and it’s easy enough to get to for visitors.

The North Wall Summer Festival every July has new music, drama, comedy and other performances, and in fact the best thing about this centre is the variety in its shows. You’re unlikely to find an old favourite here, but it’s great for checking out contemporary performances at reasonable prices. I’m looking forward to seeing Precarious Dance Theatre here in September.

The theatre is cosy and the stage fairly small. It’s hard to avoid kicking the seat in front or being kicked, unless you get one of the seats round the edge. There is a very limited bar before some performances (water, J2O or beer), but the front of house staff are very friendly and it’s interesting wandering around the gallery beforehand. The toilets let the place down - the women’s at least are painted in a dubious gold colour.

This is a new arts centre built in St Edward's school's old swimming pool complex - or so I've been told. It is a small but interesting venue (and doesn't really look much like an old swimming pool though trying to work out what it used to look like does give you something to do while waiting for your play/concert).

There is a gallery in the foyer which is used for exhibitions and these change fairly regularly so it is worth looking in to see what is on.

The theatre hosts a variety of musicians and theatre companies. You'll need to check their website to see what is on. They have got the Creation Theatre doing Measure for Measure in March 2008 which will make a change for the company - fancy actually preforming in a purpose built theatre instead of at a car factory, in the open or in a tent.

If you do go then remember that South Parade is a one way street. If you are driving you get into it from the Banbury Road. There is parking available on the nearby streets in the evening but during the day you'll probably have to go to the Ferry Pool carpark or the one behind the Coop and walk. Plenty of buses go up the Banbury and Woodstock roads.