Events at Summertown Arts
Events at Summertown Arts
May 2026 Events
Ink, Bamboo and Bird - Chinese Brush Painting Workshop
Saturday 16th May 2.00-6.00pm in the Back Room
Ruihan Zhang’s four-hour workshop with a charming summery theme allows you to immerse yourself into this meditative experience. You'll learn the structure of birds and bamboo, and how to paint fluffy feathers and vigorous bamboo stems. All materials are provided. Both new students and returning students are welcome to join.
£40 adults | £35 students
Max 12 participants
If you have any financial hardship, please contact Ruihan for a discount. Sign up by emailing: [email protected]
Prototype - New Plays in Oxford
Monday 18th May 7.30-9.30pm in the Church
The Oxford Experimental Theatre Lab presents the last in this popular series before it takes a summer break. Prototype is a regular evening of new writing in Oxford. Each night features script-in-hand rehearsed readings of new 10-minute plays from some of Oxford's most talented playwrights, and a brand new short play from an established playwright.
This edition showcases work from Patrick Baker, Rhys Lewis Jones, Carolyn Lloyd- Davies, Ellen Robertson, and Al Smith.
Prototype is produced by Mike Bartlett and Alex Coke. It is a not-for-profit event: all ticket proceeds go to the room hire and other finances of the night.
Tickets £5-15 available on the door or from Eventbrite
BOOK HERE
This is a not-for-profit event: all ticket proceeds go to the room hire and other expenses of the night. Summertown Arts is fully accessible.
Summertown Artweeks Art Forum – Materials Matter
Wednesday 20th May 7.00-8.00pm (doors open at 6.30pm) in the Church.
Once again Summertown Arts is proud to host the prestigious annual Summertown Art Forum as part of Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026. This year’s theme is Materials Matter, the dialogue between maker and medium.
Speakers are installation artist Katie Taylor, printmaker Mychael Barratt, XR and Robotics expert Vali Lalioti, and artist Susan Moxley, chaired by Jim White.
Tickets £7.50 on the door or from
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Super Beings Arts presents The Laugh Room Comedy Night
Friday 22nd May - 8.00 - 10.15pm (doors at 7.30pm) in the Church
Super Being Arts's fourth edition of The Laugh Room - their monthly comedy night, is up on Friday 22nd May. The last three have been fully sold out. As usual, Darshan curates a line-up of friends who you will make you laugh.
This month he's got Mark Silcox (a star on Joe Lycett's Channel 4 show and Uncle Shady on Guz Khan's hit BBC sitcom 'Man Like Mobeen', Heidi Regan, and Raj Poojara, plus one more act to be announced.
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Beryl’s Fair Trade Café
Every Saturday from 9th May to September, 10.00-12.00 Garden and Church
Opening up again this month for the summer are the ever popular Saturday morning Coffee Cafés run by the Summertown Wolvercote Wytham Church Partnership. These are now renamed Beryl’s Fair Trade Café in honour of much loved Beryl Knotts, for many years Secretary of Summertown United Reformed Church, leading a team of Church Elders in running it. 40 years ago it was her initiative to organize these regular cafés which provide a friendly community event, support FairTrade and help different charities to raise funds each week. Each year a church committee decides on a local charity to receive the surplus made from refreshments provided by the cafés.
Just turn up, for coffee, cakes and chat in aid of charities! All are welcome…
If you are interested in running a charity stall, or would like to offer help in running the cafes, please email Juliet Field [email protected] (or contact her on 07415 728396) or Mary Horwitz [email protected].
Antonia Bruce ArtWeeks Exhibition - Drawing Dance
Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th May, Thursday 21st to Monday 25th May 11.00am-6.00pm, late opening 8.00pm Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd May.
Drawing Dance at Summertown Arts brings together talented professional dancers with live music from master improviser and composer Malcolm Atkins in intensive sessions curated by Susie Crow and Antonia Bruce, where experienced artists can explore drawing the dance as it moves and evolves. Following a great series of workshops in the Hall in November, January and March, long established Summertown based artist Antonia Bruce will be exhibiting her Drawing Dance works as part of Oxfordshire Art Weeks. A wonderful opportunity to see striking and evocative work emerging from practice at Summertown Arts.
This one is not at Summertown Arts but at 210 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7NH. For more information please contact Antonia: [email protected] or call 07739 513773.
Finally, don't forget Summertown Arts is here for everyone - if you want to use it to rehearse, practice, teach, or perform - you can get in touch at [email protected] to book in a space.
April 2026 Events
Super Beings Arts presents The Laugh Room Comedy Night
Friday 24th April - 8pm in the Church
Super Being Arts is running a live comedy night every last Friday of every month - the next in this exciting new series is on Friday 24th April - at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm). Rosie Holt is headlining, and also on the lineup is: Paul F Taylor, Shalaka Kurup, Preet Singh, and your MC - Darshan Sanghrajka. The last two Laugh Rooms have sold out, and this one will be the same - get involved quickly!
BOOK NOW FOR APRIL
Learn Chinese Brush Painting with Ruihan Zhang
Tuesdays - ongoing - 10am to 12pm in the Meeting Room
Sunday 29th March - Celebrating Spring Flower Workshop - 3.15pm to 6.15pm in the Meeting Room
Come and join the next term of Ruihan's popular Chinese flower painting classes on Tuesday mornings. Each session is a small-group class, maximum capacity is 6. This intimate class size allows for personal attention and a calm, focused atmosphere, which is ideal for exploring the delicate techniques of Chinese painting.
£35 per session. All materials are provided, and both beginners and returning students welcome. Payment upon arrival.
If you are unable to pay the price due to financial hardship, please email Ruihan to enquire about possible discounts.
Ruihan is also offering a special workshop Celebrating Spring Flowers on Sunday 29th March - contact her for more details.
Please reserve your place by sending an email to [email protected]
Her instagram @ruihan_zrhrhr
Prototype - New Plays in Oxford
Monday 20th April 7.30-9.30pm in the Church
Another in this popular series. Prototype is a regular evening of new writing in Oxford. Each night features script-in-hand rehearsed readings of new 10-minute plays from some of Oxford's most talented playwrights, and a brand new short play from an established playwright.
Featuring work from Lucy Brenchley, Abigail Chandler, Emily Cracknell, Thom Munden, Roberta Wilkinson & Matthew Kemp, and Al Smith.
Prototype is produced by Mike Bartlett and Alex Coke. It is a not-for-profit event: all ticket proceeds go to the room hire and and other finances of the night.
Tickets £5-15 available on the door or from Eventbrite
BOOK HERE
This is a not-for-profit event: all ticket proceeds go to the room hire and other expenses of the night. Summertown URC is fully accessible.
The Bard's Birthday Party with Creation Theatre
Thursday 23rd April 7.30pm in the Church
Happy Birthday Will
Shakespeare lovers all over the world celebrate on April 23rd, which is both the day Shakespeare was born and the day he died.
Join Creation for a fundraising performance featuring Shakespeare’s poems and songs, excerpts from his plays, and maybe a few party games fit for the man who invented so many words and phrases in the English language.
There will be fizz and cake (not to mention our Shakespeare themed tombola, and perhaps a spot of sonnet bingo).
There will be a Bard Baking Competition – please make and bring your Shakespeare themed cakes. Bring your cakes between 6 and 6.30pm on the day and we will choose a winner, then cut them up to sell for our fundraiser. Please label your cakes (and note any allergens). We look forward to seeing your creations!
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