• Tickets: Book one ticket per household.
  • Company: The Bare Project
  • Ages: 14+
  • Extras: For individuals or groups.
  • Details
  • Parking & Access

Details

The experience starts on 19 May and will run for roughly five weeks – the deadline to sign up is 14 May. You must live in the UK to take part.

You are invited to join The People’s Palace of Possibility as a Palace Citizen, to take part in an act of collective imagining and fight against the belief that change is impossible. The People’s Palace of Possibility is an immersive arts project, and its story is told through the post, and through digital and/or telephone interaction. 

A consensus has spread across the world that we have reached the glorious end of history. There is no room for improvement and any attempt to discuss or build any kind of alternative is stupid, and probably dangerous. However, the secretive imagineers known as ‘The Network of Palace Citizens’ have discovered that this consensus is blindly leading us to disaster. They know that change is needed, but what that change might look like is not always easy to see… 

As a Palace Citizen you will be part of a vital resistance movement, designed to take down ‘The Consensus’ and their tyrannical regime of enforced happiness and unquestioning conformity. Over the course of a month you will receive a series of letters and packages, which will unfurl the mysteries of The People’s Palace of Possibility and invite you to share visions for the future and commit tiny acts of resistance. Be vigilant, some of your messages will be coded and hidden, to avoid the ever-watchful eyes of The Consensus. 

“It felt magical and human. I enjoyed being taken out of the day to day and being encouraged to think about the bigger picture – something increasingly difficult in these times!”
A Palace Citizen, Summer 2020 

This project is created by The Bare Project in collaboration with the Old Fire Station, with support from Arts Council England, The Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity and Keele University. With special thanks to the Albany, James Blakey, The Guild of Saint George, Reuben Johnson and Invisible Flock.

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.