- Duration: 1h 30mins
- Tickets: FREE
- Company: Think Human, Arts Humanities & Social Sciences OBU
- Details
- Parking & Access
Details
A Think Human Festival Event
In 1845, one of the most remarkable African American figures of the nineteenth century, Harriet Jacobs, arrived in the Oxfordshire village of Steventon. Jacobs had escaped from slavery just a few years earlier and found employment as a nanny to Imogen Willis, whose family was related to the vicar of Steventon. Jacobs went on to write about her experiences in the village in her book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the most significant slave narrative written by a woman and a crucial historical and literary document.
Oxford Brookes Poetry Centre recently began a project called Loopholes and Boxes to commemorate Jacobs’s time in the village. The project, which involves local historians, poets, a surveyor, a sonic artist, a botanist, academics, a visual artist, and members of the Steventon community, explores different ways that we might ‘remember’ Jacobs. It reflects upon how a place can be altered by someone’s presence and how Jacobs herself was changed by her life in Steventon.
In this Think Human Festival event, we’ll hear from Dr Niall Munro and Dr Alys Beverton, who will situate Jacobs amid the literary, social and political upheaval in the decades leading up to the American Civil War – and the publication of Jacobs’s book. We’ll learn more about Jacobs’s life in Steventon and the historical significance of the family with whom she lived from members of the Steventon History Society. And poet Zakia Carpenter-Hall will share her work about Black lives and fugitivity, offering us a different and compelling perspective on Jacobs’s life and identity.
Content warning: This event deals with slavery and its inherent violence and will include mention of sexual violence.
*The photograph above from 1864 shows Harriet Jacobs (marked with an X underneath her image) with students from a school for formerly enslaved people in Alexandria, Virginia. Jacobs and her daughter, Louise Matilda Jacobs, worked with the Society of Friends in New York, a Quaker relief charity, to raise money to open the school. After only three months of its opening there were 225 students.
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.