Overview
The Burton-Taylor (BT) studio is a 50 seat venue above the Oxford Playhouse, unlike many of the other small venues in Oxford, there is a full time manager Robert Bristow, this makes this an excellent venue for designers who are getting started.
This venue offers up to 14 slots each term, with early and late slots sharing a rig. This, combined with limited offstage space, and access difficulties lend this venue towards shows with easily movable and storable set pieces. Double slots are also available, which provide greater flexibility, though at a greater price.
Lighting
A fixed grid covers the length and width of the studio allowing scope for designers of any ability to create a high-impact designs in an intimate space. The studio has its own lantern stock which includes profiles, fresnels, and parcans with various beam angles, as well as six LED Parcans, two asymmetric flood lights, and six Par 16 used as house lights. The stock also includes various accessories: barn doors, adaptors, extensions, lighting stands, floor stands, gobos, gel frames, irises, boom arms, and assorted scaff. Control is by an ETC Element desk.
If you have a shared slot you must coordinate your lighting requirements with that show.
Stage
The empty studio measures 8055x9910mm and can be configured to be end on, side-on, in the round, in thrust, or traverse with raked seating. The theatre has brick, black-painted walls and a wooden floor. Six 2.4m tall black masking flats, a choice of black or white cloth backdrops, and black dancefloor are available. Some tables and chairs can be borrowed from the venue.
There are ten 13A power outlets at stage level, plus eight 15A outlets which may be used for practicals (controlled from the lighting board). There is a show relay system, with speaker positions in most areas.
Accessibility
The theatre is located on the second floor, with box office and dressing room on the first floor. Note that this venue is not level accessible.