Museum of Oxford launches three plays to celebrate city’s history
In celebration of the 90 year anniversary of some major events in Oxford, the local museum is showing three plays about the incidents
The three plays have been written by local playwright Peter Cann and directed by Tim Eyre, commemorating three events that took place in 1934.
Focused on the plight of the working class, the plays are titled Cutteslowe Walls, Oxford’s Inferno, and Little Edens.
The first of the trilogy, Cutteslowe Walls, was shown on 2nd November and tells the story of some nine foot high walls that were erected in North Oxford to separate the working class community from a nearby private estate. The walls became known as ‘snob walls’ and stood for 25 years in spite of a campaign to remove them. The walls were finally demolished in 1959.
Councillor Mike Rowley, Lord Mayor of Oxford, attended the performance of Cutteslowe Walls, stating “I am honoured to be part of this commemoration. The Cutteslowe Walls symbolised a time of division in our city’s history, but the efforts of campaigners like Abe Lazarus and the Gibbs family remind us of the power of community and perseverance in fighting for fairness. This trilogy of plays allows us to reflect on these important struggles, while celebrating the spirit of unity that ultimately brought the walls down.”
Cann’s second play, Oxford’s Inferno, depicts a strike at the Pressed Steel factory in Cowley. Initially 100 workers went on strike to protest poor pay and working conditions, however this quickly grew to 1,000 strikers. This was also performed on 2nd November.
Finally, returning for a second run following a successful first staging in 2023, Little Edens details the Florence Park Rent Strike in September 1934. This strike saw tenants of the newly built Florence Park withholding rent to protest the poor living conditions they were experiencing. Little Edens will be performed on 7th December at 2:30pm and 5:30pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and an Inclusive Economy, explained the impact of these historical events as “these stories show how working-class communities in Oxford shaped the city’s identity and contributed to wider social change. From fighting unfair working conditions to standing up against poor housing, the events portrayed in these plays demonstrate the resilience and solidarity of Oxford’s people.”