• Duration: 2hrs plus interval
  • Tickets: Standard £15 | Pay more £20 | Pay less £10
  • Details
  • Parking & Access

Details

At 26, Triona Adams traded a glittering career as a London theatrical agent for life in an enclosed Benedictine convent. She stayed for a year. Nun The Wiser is her bittersweet and comic account of what happens when a modern, independent woman tries to become a nun and discovers she’s not exactly a natural. 

Living with 13 strong-minded women aged between 54 and 100, Triona entered a centuries-old way of life and discovered, sometimes painfully, how modern values, intellect, and spirituality clash with ancient traditions. Amid the silence and discipline, she found moments of tenderness, fleeting laughter, and unexpected friendship. 

On a diet of Spam fritters and Dad’s Army, cut off from the world beyond the convent walls, Triona’s story is as funny as it is moving — a unique glimpse into faith, community, and the search for purpose in unlikely places. 

Triona’s remarkable story caught the attention of BBC Radio 4, which commissioned The Lemon Squeezer, a play based on her experiences in the convent. It was broadcast in 2009, as The Afternoon Play. She went on to adapt her story for the stage, premiering her acclaimed one-woman show at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival before embarking on a successful tour across the UK. 

Why See This Show? Nun The Wiser offers a unique glimpse behind one of society’s last closed doors. What does it take to swap the high-stakes, glamorous life of a London theatrical agent for the profound stillness of a closed, rural religious community? Few people have ever made a transition this dramatic. Triona’s incredible journey is brought to life in an evening filled with unflinching honesty, warm humour, and heartfelt reflection. It’s a captivating and essential exploration of identity, faith, and the surprising places we search for meaning. 

What the Critics Say 

“Nun the Wiser makes for a fine hour’s entertainment, with a few pithy and pertinent points to make about the life of a postulant (trainee nun) along the way. Adams’ character sketches are effective and convincing, from Mother Abbess, who sounds as if she ought to have directed operations at Dunkirk or some other great military disaster, to the tiny ancient with her matching size zimmer frame, the unsound in mind or body whose world Adams once inhabited, come vividly to life.” 

* * * * EdinburghGuide.com 

“Adams delivers this well-written, carefully judged monologue with considerable poise. Her depiction of convent life is well observed and often funny, its community of elderly eccentrics is fondly brought to life in her descriptions. Nun the Wiser, as the punning title suggests, could so easily descend into parody, making fun of these odd women and their outmoded way of life, but what Adams does is much more interesting, touching gently on some complex ideas and emotions. Though she gradually came to realise that priory life wasn’t for her, she speaks of it with fondness and a hint of regret.” 

* * * * The Scotsman 

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 Oxford

Access

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.