- Tickets: Standard £18 | Pay more £24 | Pay even more £30 | Pay less £12 Preview £12
- Company: The Old Fire Station
- Extras: post show Q&As after the performances on 12 and 20 December
- Details
- Parking & Access
Details
The Old Fire Station is proud to present: A World Premiere in Oxford this Christmas Before the Millennium By Karim Khan
ملینیم سے پہلے
“A snowwoman from Pakistan – full of songs, hopes, and dreams…”
ایوارڈ یافتہ مقامی ڈرامہ نگار
کریم خان کا ڈرامہ
As the final days of 1999 draw near, Pakistani migrants, Zoya and Iqra, work side by side in Woolworth’s Oxford Cowley branch – anxious and excited for what’s to come in the new millennium. At their Christmas staff party, the pair encounter a mysterious new girl – Faiza – who threatens to alter everything they thought they knew about their friendship and their future.
Magical, tender and quietly radical, Before the Millennium is a lyrical new play from award-winning playwright, Karim Khan – charting the joys of a life-changing friendship, the icy bitterness of homesickness and the sacrifice of migration.
More info
There will be delicious treats from Oxford, Pakistan, and the Middle East, made with love from Damascus Rose Kitchen and the OFS Café. Plus pick’n’mix for the show!
There will be post show Q&As after the performances on 12 and 20 December.
Written by Karim Khan
Karim Khan is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter based in Oxford. His breakout play Brown Boys Swim won both a Fringe First and the Popcorn Award at Edinburgh Fringe 2022, later transferring to Soho Theatre and touring nationally. He’s currently under commission with the Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre and Soho Theatre, and his new play Sweetmeats opens at the Bush Theatre in 2026. For screen, Karim has written for All Creatures Great and Small and is developing original TV and film projects. He is a graduate of the National Film and Television School and alumnus of the Royal Court Writers Group.
Directed by Adam Karim
Adam Karim won the Eastern Eye Best Director Award in 2025 for his JMK Award-winning production of Guards at the Taj (Orange Tree Theatre), also nominated for a Stage Debut Award the same year. He has been Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio and Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse. Directing credits include: Julius Caesar (RADA), Macbeth (LAMDA), Guards at the Taj (Orange Tree Theatre), MANTELPEACE (Young Vic Taking Part), Platform (East15), Pressure Drop (Immediate Theatre / The Yard Theatre / schools tour), and Second Person Narrative (Rose Bruford @ Omnibus Theatre). At the Donmar
Warehouse in 2023 he assisted on Clyde’s, When Winston Went To War With The Wireless and Trouble in Butetown. Other associate/assistant credits include The P Word (Bush Theatre, Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre) and Sorry, You’re Not A Winner (Paines Plough).
Parking & Access
Parking
There are a number of Blue Badge parking spaces nearby on Beaumont Street, and more on New Inn Hall Street and St Giles.
The closest car park is Gloucester Green Car Park, accessed via Gloucester Street.
If you have any questions or concerns, the City Council’s Access Officer can be reached at 01865 249811.
Getting here
We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, but we need your help. Use ecoway, our sustainable travel planner, to see the most eco-friendly options for your journey to Old Fire Station, and plan a bespoke and flexible route. ecoway is easy to use and you’ll be kept up to date with any disruption or changes to your journey plan.
Car parks in Oxford Blue Badge information Public transport in OxfordAccess
Disabled patrons are eligible for one free companion ticket with their booking. To book this, contact the ticket office: tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or 01865 263990.
There are two entrances to the Old Fire Station: 40 George Street via the foyer, and on Gloucester Green via the shop. Both are step-free. If you are coming to a show, we ask that you use the George Street entrance, as the Gloucester Green entrance is not always open.
Events in the Theatre
There is level entry to the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the main Theatre (where most shows take place).
If you are a wheelchair user attending a sit-down show, space will be reserved for you. If you are attending a standing gig, please contact us (call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk) and we will talk with you about your needs.
Events in the Studio
There is level entry into the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the Studio.
Events in the Loft
There are six steps leading up to the Loft space, with no lift. If you would like to discuss this to find out more, please get in touch.
The Gallery
There is step-free access to the Gallery – level entry through the George Street entrance, and via lift from the Gloucester Green entrance.
Facilities
Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor, accessible via platform lift. Other toilets are in the basement (accessible via lift).
Hearing assistance system
The Theatre is equipped with a hearing assistance system. If you have any questions about using it, please e-mail us at tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or phone 01865 263980.
Assistance dogs
All types of assistance and guide dogs are welcome at the Old Fire Station. It would be great if you could let us know in advance if you will be bringing a working dog to any performances – just e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.
Strobe lighting
We will warn visitors on the website and in the foyer of the venue if a performance is going to contain strobe lighting. If lighting affects you, and you have any concerns, please call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.
Chairs in the theatre
Our chairs are a standard dining-chair size, measuring 40cm deep by 37cm wide, with a metal frame. Some have arms, and some do not. They are all joined together at the sides, to form rows. If this is likely to pose a problem for you, please email tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk and we can discuss how to make your visit more comfortable.