WOAPA is an award-winning Children’s Theatre School based in Witney for ages 4–16 years.
We are open at weekends during the standard academic term (Friday evenings and Saturdays).
At WOAPA, we take pride in going that extra mile for our students. We have arranged, and assisted our students to appear in local productions, professional stage shows (locally and on tour) and on television programmes and commercials. We regularly invite top industry professionals to our school, to provide master-class sessions.
We also offer opportunities to qualify for 'Arts Awards' in-house - assisted and moderated by our award-winning mentor.
We are also a registered LAMDA exam centre.
Providing quality tuition in the three disciplines of Singing, Dance and Drama, our classes ensure that each child receives the individual attention they deserve.
Our classes are led by experienced and enthusiastic tutors whose skills in working with young people enable our students to develop at their own pace, and encourage them to reach their true potential.
With no entry auditions or previous experience required, whether your child dreams of a career in performing arts or simply wants to make new friends, WOAPA will boost your child’s confidence … and they’ll have loads of fun!
Each week, students attend three, 1hour sessions of drama, singing and dance.
We promote a positive environment - where students have fun as they celebrate their individuality and achievements.
Working as part of a team, students are encouraged to be creative and value the experience of working closely with others towards a common goal.
Skills are developed and refined, enabling students to become multi-disciplined, all-round performers.
For our young performers (aged 4-6) all three elements of singing, dance and drama are combined in a weekly, 1-hour, fun-packed session. We offer the opportunity for kids to stretch their imagination and nurture their social skills including communication and concentration.
Watch as your child develops…
• Increased confidence
• Growing self-esteem
• An expanding imagination
• Creativity
• Co-ordination
AND a whole new set of friends!

In order to share our students’ progress we arrange informal performances for families.
WOAPA provides its own internal awards for achievement in class. For those students wishing to undertake more formal assessments, exams are arranged for both LAMDA and Arts Awards.

If you’re looking for drama activities and youth theatre activities for kids in the Witney area, WOAPA – West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts is for you!
We also run adult singing groups in Witney (choir) with a contemporary repertoire (think 'Glee'!). No auditions or requirement to read music, emphasis is on having fun whilst singing with like-minded people. The groups currently have a total of over 130 members and meet on Wednesday and Thursday evenings

Also - Witney Youth Choir - an, all-singing all-dancing showchoir for ages 7-18. Saturdays 1.10-1.50pm

Take a look at our website – www.woapa.co.uk for more info

West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts covers many areas such as Alvescot, Ascott under wychwood, Asthal and Aston Cote. Also Shifford and Chimney, Bampton, Black Bourton, Bladon and Blenheim with Brize Norton, Broadwell, Bruern, Burford and Carterton.
We also offer drama sessions for kids from Cassington, Chadlington, Charlbury with Chastleton, Chilson, interact through drama sessions as well as Chipping Norton and also Churchill. Also, singing sessions for kids from Clanfield, Combe, Cornbury and Wychwood, Cornwell with Crawley, Curbridge and Ducklington.
We also offer dance sessions for kids from Enstone, Eynsham, Faringdon, Fawler and Fifield as well as areas such as Filkins and Broughton Poggs, Finstock, Freeland and Fulbrook. WOAPA students may also come from Glympton, Grafton and Radcot, Great Tew, Hailey and Hanborough, as well as Hardwick with Yelford, Heythrop and Holwell, with Idbury, Kelmscott, Kencot, Kiddington with Asterleigh.
Our youth Theatre School covers the area including Kingham, Langford, Leafield, Lew, Little Faringdon and Little Tew, alongside lyneham, Milton Under Wychwood, Minster Lovell, North Leigh and Northmoor.
WOAPA provide Dance classes and perform for children from Oxford, Over Norton, Ramsden, Rollright and Rousham. Singing Classes for children from Salford, Sandford St Martin, Sarsden and Shilton, as well as Shipton Under Wychwood, South Leigh and Spelsbury.
Drama classes for children from Standlake, Stanton Harcourt and Steeple Barton, as well as Stonesfield, Swerford, Swinbrook and Widford. WOAPA area also includes Tackley, Taynton, Wescot Barton, as well as Westwell, Witney, Woodstock, Wootton and Worton,

SUPERNORMAL is a surprising new addition to the summer calendar, a spontaneous and experimental artist-led event perfectly located in the magical looking-glass world that is Braziers Park in Oxfordhire. Explore a spectacle of cult live music, performance, discussion and cutting edge contemporary art in the sprawling ramshackle grounds. No ordinary festival, Supernormal returns to the fundamental spirit of utopianism, imagination and adventure that is all too often lost in the financially-driven, artistically nondescript realm of the twenty-first century festival circuit.

_SUPERNORMAL_ is an intimate event for an exclusive audience of five hundred, allowing the exploration of the seventeenth century site of Braziers Park, with its' Strawberry Hill Gothic manor house and Grade II listed wooden barn and out-buildings where a variety of events will take place. Braziers Park also celebrates its' sixty first anniversary in 2011 as a School of Integrative Social Research, a community driven by new ideas of collective action, a unique attempt at social co-existence that points toward a future built upon mutual respect.

This event is co-curated by a network of Artists and Musicians. It is a DIY and non-profit making festival. If Any profits are made through ticket sales after all running costs are settled they go towards paying the expenses of the bands and performers.

"The special character of May Music derives from the fact that is it more than just music.” - Oxford Magazine

The Oxford May Music Festival takes place in the historic centre of the city of Oxford. Based in one of the gems of 18th century architecture, the Holywell Music Room, with one of the best acoustics in the world, the festival brings together some of the finest musicians performing in the UK today and many leading lecturers in their fields.

The 2016 Festival, which is the ninth season, takes place from April 27th - May 2nd. The artistic director is Classical-Brit-winning violinist, Jack Liebeck. The programme can be found at hhttp://www.oxfordmaymusic.co.uk/. Highlights of the festival include a lecture by TV and Radio broadcaster Professor Jim Al Khalili on the new science of Quantum Biology, and two themes "Female composers" and "Darkess". The latter is represented by a full day on May 1st culminating in a Jazz concert in total darkness! We end with our traditional blockbuster Finale with harpist Catrin FInch and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet.

I have been making music since my early teen years, and now am in a lucky position where, combined with arts management, I get to do it for a living. I’m the bass player for Punjabi electronica band The Dhol Foundation, second mestre for Reading’s community samba band Beatroots, and play for a range of other bands and artists.
My time is split between working as a freelance music educator, workshop facilitator, and arts project manager based in the south east of England.

I see all the different strands of my work, be it delivering workshops, managing other practitioners, or supporting schools, as strongly connected with a creative education theme. This has emerged and developed over time and is a prime consideration when taking on new work.

I’m very used to working in partnership with many different organisations ranging from local borough councils to small independently run voluntary organisations. I put relationships at the centre of most of the work I do and fell this is key when working in partnership.

Clients & Artists
Some of the organisations I've worked with and performed alongside include:
- Arts Council England
- WOMAD
- BBC
- Readipop
- Creative Partnerships
- UK Centre for Carnival Arts
- The Dhol Foundation
- Beatroots
- Secret Garden Party
- Iver Educational Trust
- Windsor Arts Centre
- The West Wing
- various schools
- Beat Routes
...to name a few.

Education & Qualifications
- BA combined honours, Music with media and popular culture, University College Northampton
- Diploma in Contemporary Music, Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music
- Arts Award Adviser (Bronze & Silver)
- Philosophy for children, level 1

Work Related Learning
- Using Improvisation in your Workshops, Music Leader London
- Experts on the ground (work with young offenders), Thames Valley Partnership
- Foundation in Cuban/Brazilian percussion, One Voice Music
- Working with mixed ability groups, Music Leader London
- Introduction to Indian percussion, Readipop
- Train the Trainer, Arts Council England
- Community Arts Training, Slough Arts Development
- Diversity and Equality, Arts Council England
- Effective Time Management, Activia Ltd.
- First Aid in the Workplace, St. John's Ambulance
- MS Excel Intermediate/Advanced Level, Activia Ltd
- Race Equality Training, Slough Borough Council
- Tax & Self Employment, Music Leader London

Quotes & Testimony
"It’s often a struggle working with a generation of teens that appear to show little emotion or excitement about anything. Rob has been both enthusiastic and encouraging at these times, and our young people voluntarily re-appear every week!"
- Sally Tugwell, Outreach Youth Worker, Iver Educational Trust

"I know the Creative Partnerships team will particularly miss you... You've put a great deal into Creative Partnerships Slough and have made a genuine difference to their work"
- Jane Bryant, former Head of Development, Arts Council England South East

AKEMAN VOICES was formed in 1999 by Musical Director, Martin Quinn. The choir, made up of just 18 accomplished singers from the North Oxfordshire area, performed a mainly classical repertoire.
After 15 years taking the choir near and far, presenting a packed concert schedule, Martin and the choir took some time out at the end of 2013. 2015 will see Akeman back, doing what they do best, bringing you beautiful music that touches your heart.

Welcome to Oxford Castle, Oxford's oldest new quarter! The site was once home to the Norman Oxford Castle, then the infamous Oxford Prison. Parts of these historic buildings remain, and have shaped the development of Oxford Castle as it stands today, including St George’s Tower. The secrets of the site’s history are unlocked in the exciting visitor attraction, Oxford Castle – Unlocked. The rest of the site is now home to an exciting hub of bars and restaurants, including the brasserie at Malmaison, Café 1071, Prezzo, La Tasca, The Real China, Pizza Express, Krispy Kreme, The Swan & Castle, and The Living Room. Oxford Castle also boasts O3 Gallery, with its dynamic programme of exhibitions and events all year round, not forgetting the gorgeous Malmaison Boutique Hotel in the heart of the development.

In addition to permanent attractions Oxford Castle also hosts an array of interesting events throughout the year including annual cultural events such as Oxford Castle Flower & Gardening Festival, Oxford Castle Summer Night Concerts, Oxford Castle Open-air Cinema, Oxford Castle Food & Wine Festival, the Oxford Christmas Market, and even a weekly grocery service Oxford Organic Grocery Collection Scheme in Castle Street Square!

Monkey Music introduces music to very young children in a way they can easily understand and enjoy.
The benefits of music for very young children, particularly when taught within a group, are numerous. Early exposure to singing, listening to and playing music can sharpen up a whole range of educational skills. Language and numerical skills flourish through action songs and rhymes; fine motor skills are refined through playing hand held percussion instruments, while an awareness of space and one another is developed through movement. The children's confidence and self-esteem grows rapidly as their involvement in the group increases.

•At Monkey Music each child is encouraged to reach their full musical potential.
•Parents value the progressive content and quality of our award winning Monkey Music curricula.
•Age specific classes ensure that the children learn and interact with each other effectively.

Classes are held on a weekly basis, managed by teachers who are all trained to deliver the progressive curricula in an engaging and dynamic way.

Body Psychotherapist, Biodynamic Massage Therapist, Embodiment and Sound Workshop Leader
Website: www.annelryan.co.uk

Body psychotherapy works with our physical feelings and emotions and how we experience these within our bodies. By exploring the mind-body relationship and the physical habits and holding patterns that we present, we can gain an understanding of how our own behaviour is contributing to the difficulties that we are facing. It offers a calm, supportive and non-judgemental therapeutic relationship, drawing on body-orientated methods combined with space to talk and reflect.

The intention of Biodynamic Massage is to bring the nervous system into balance between excitement and relaxation, release habitual holding patterns to ease movement, tone and strengthen tissue, restore breathing to become free and spontaneous, make the body a stronger container for emotional and energetic charge.The benefits of biodynamic massage may include deep relaxation, letting go of tension and worry, improved emotional balance to cope with life’s ups and downs, relief from chronic symptoms such as headaches, tension, pain, digestive problems and insomnia, a greater connection with, and trust in, our bodies increased energy and zest for life.

How I work
I have always used the creative arts from music and art, movement, breath and vocal sound, to bring solace and balance to my own sense of well-being. The desire to share and communicate the contentment I feel from this has grown into teaching voice one-to-one and directing community choirs, and was the impetus in my decision to become a body psychotherapist. From this personal space of exploration and change, I aspire in my practice to work with the uniqueness of each client, to support their exploration and personal sense of well-being.

As a body therapist, I offer a private space where I invite clients to engage in a deeper relationship with themselves. We work together in an atmosphere of curiosity, awareness and acceptance seeking a natural movement towards balance and well-being.

Sound and body workshops
I regularly hold workshops that explore how sound resonates in the body. If you would like to be kept informed, you can register your interest by visiting my website www.annelryan.co.uk/workshop. I will let you know when these happen.

Registered Bodies:
Body Psychotherapist (UKCP)
Association of Biodynamic Massage Therapists (ABMT)
Natural Voice Network (NVN)

The ethos of the group, is to encourage community music and learning from each other. If you can play any instrument, even a little, you will be encouraged. This is a purely instrumental group.

Learning by ear or from 'dots'...?
We are going to do both. This means that those who are memory challenged can take away crib sheets; but those who learn by ear, will be able to either take away a live recording of the workshop or meeting. We encourage any type of learning.

Tune Sharing
If you have a favourite tune that you'd like to share with the group, all we ask you to do is to print/photocopy it a dozen times, and bring it along to the group. If you are unable to find the music for it, please dont worry, as there are musicians who can notate the music for you.

Best use of time - 7.00pm until 9pm 
We hope to learn alsorts of tunes from any country, date or style. An interest has been shown in learning Morris tunes, so we hope to invite some Morris Musicians to not only come and teach us the tunes but maybe to invite us along to a Morris practice to show how the dance fits the tune. These sessions are two hours long and we would like to split the time into two. This allows for the first hour to be dedicated to learning Morris tunes for dance; the second allows for the swapping of tunes. If this becomes a popular group, we will look at ways of expanding to twice a month.

Guest fiddlers/not just fiddlers
Many talented people from the area both perform and teach folk music - so we hope to be able to invite them along in the future, to share a tune or two.

Location
Parish Rooms, Church St, Bloxham. (off the A361)

For more details, please visit the website http://www.notjustfiddles.org.uk

eight cuts gallery is an overground face for underground writing. We promote the very best writing we find without regard for genre, format, or medium, and hold three exhibitions per year designed to present literature in new and exciting ways. We also run a not for profit publishing house, promoting 4-6 titles per year.

We hold monthly performance nights at the O3 Gallery on the Oxford Castle complex that showcase amazing writing, film and art, as well as music from our in-house singer/songwriter/poet Christi Warner.