August 2008 John Terry takes over as Director of The Theatre.

July 2007 The Space - A new space is created above The Gallery to provide an additional working space for the Youth Theatre, for use by artists in residence and an additional rehearsal space.

March 2006 The Theatre tours its own production of Don Giovanni around local village halls.
June 2005 The Theatre embarks on a two year relationship with Theatre du Preau in France. Two new professional productions were created which toured both here and in France together with a youth exchange in drama and film.

March 2004 The Theatre develops its role as a producing theatre, touring a programme of live and film events to village halls in the neighbouring counties.
Cinema Bambino - films for those under 18 months and their carers and Soundbites, a free lunchtime platform for local talent is set up. Performances in-the-round are initiated which include aerial work in the Theatre's roof.

July 2003 The Theatre stalls seating is replaced, to include 4 designated wheelchair spaces and improve comfort. This reduced The Theatre’s capacity from 232 to 217.–

October 2002 Caroline Sharman is appointed Artistic Director

May 2002 Tamara Malcolm MBE retires from her post as Artistic Director

January 2001 The Theatre celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an exhibition entitled 'The Little Big Time: Silver Jubilee Celebration - The 25 year story of The Theatre.'

June 2000 Tamara Malcolm was awarded an MBE for services to theatre

October 1996 The Theatre reopened after 6 months extensive refurbishments thanks to an investment of over £1,000,000 from both public and private sources, including a grant of £678,520 from the Arts Council of England’s National Lottery funding.  Chipping Norton was one of the first theatres to receive money from this fund and was able to:
•    Rebuild the Spring Street Box Office and improve the foyer space
•    Provide new toilets including facilities for the disabled
•    Increase the bar area
•    Improve the Auditorium including - better access to balcony, side balcony benches were replaced, a new control booth for stage management and film projection was constructed, an induction loop system installed and 3 new rows of seating were added.
•    The roof was raised over the stage area and wings, then squared off to enable the full width of the space to be used.  All these improvements enabled the Theatre to host larger companies, extend runs of shows and present a dance programme.

As part of the Lottery refurbishments, Graham Rust was commissioned to paint murals in the bar area.  Graham Rust is one of Europe’s finest muralists, and this was his first public arts commission in the country.  Some of his other work can be seen in a number of stately homes - Ragley Hall, Warwickshire being the nearest.

2nd April 1993 The Goddard’s Lane extension of The Theatre was completed and officially opened.

October 1990 7 Goddard’s Lane (next door to The Theatre) came on the market and thanks to the help of another major fund raising campaign was purchased. This provided a daytime box office, new dressing rooms, a green room for artists, a large rehearsal room and new administration offices, all linked to Spring Street by a covered walkway to the auditorium and wing off the stage.

1977 John Malcolm resigns

29th August 1975 The Theatre was opened by Tom Baker (then Dr Who).  Initially only showing films and Sunday lunchtime jazz, The Theatre’s programme soon expanded to include professional theatre productions, classical and folk music and Old Time Music Hall.  A highlight of the year was, and still is, The Theatre’s own pantomime.

June 1974 West Oxfordshire District Council granted full planning permission for the conversion of the Citadel into a theatre.  A grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation in the same year enabled The Theatre to purchase the cottage adjoining the Citadel for conversion into a bar and gallery.  With the help of grants from the Arts Council, the BFI and the Pilgrim Trust and many individuals, scores of Chipping Norton volunteers laboured to convert and equip the buildings.

April 1974 A Charitable Company was registered to run The Theatre.

December 1973 The Theatre presented its first professional Christmas show, four performances of Beauty and the Beast at Chipping Norton Town Hall.

September 1973 The Malcolms learnt that the citadel was for sale.  Within two days, they persuaded an anonymous benefactor to loan them the money to buy the building and submitted an application for planning permission to convert it into a theatre.  With financial support from many Trusts, Councils, individuals and fund-raising ventures money began to pour in.

1968 John and Tamara Malcolm, two Royal Shakespeare Company actors, moved to Chipping Norton.  They discovered the now deserted citadel and recognised its potential.  The building was designed and constructed by the engineers who built the Victorian Music Halls and, although small, was perfect in proportion and acoustics.

1962 The Salvation Army left the Citadel and it was used for some years as a furniture warehouse.

The building that now houses the main part of The Theatre dates from 1888, when it was used as a Salvation Army Citadel.

The Salvation Army were far from welcomed in Chipping Norton when they arrived.  'War Cry' reports on 7th April 1888 details of 'organised attacks upon The Salvation Army at Chipping Norton, by a gang of persons known there by the name of the Skeleton Army, who formed processions behind a coffin and attacked the Salvationists on the way to their place of meeting'.  Another report says 'that not only are the male soldiers of the corps kicked and beaten during the whole of the time they are making their way to their barracks, but that the same treatment is extended to the women'.  Despite this violent opposition, the Salvation Army continued their meetings in Chipping Norton and later reported that 'we have opened fire on this town in right good earnest.  The work of God has gone on in a most marvellous manner in spite of every foe'.

3 August 1888 Commander Herbert Booth and Major Oliphant laid the foundation stones for the Citadel, which can still be seen on the front of the building and inside the auditorium:

'These stones were laid by 100 of those who through great persecution boldly and conscientiously served their God.'