The roots of Ovalhouse can be traced back to the 1930s and its foundations, as Christ Church Clubs, by the graduates of Christ Church, Oxford. Young people from disadvantaged areas in South London were able to access sports activities, skills training and supervised leisure activities through membership of the club. Ovalhouse's reputation as one of the most important centres for pioneer fringe theatre groups dates from the 1960s, when the club underwent a radical change in the policy of the club with the arrival of newly appointed warden, Peter Oliver. Oliver refocused the club's activities from sport to drama and became the artistic founder of Oval House Theatre. Oliver staged the first theatrical production at the site; A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney. Oval House Theatre played a key part in supporting the experimental theatre companies of the '60s and '70s, the emergence of gay, lesbian and women's theatre in the 1970s and 80's and the development of new Black and Asian writing in the '90s and into the next millennium. Following a rebrand in 2011, the theatre relaunched itself as Ovalhouse, and continues to programme innovative, cutting edge theatre. Notable artists who began their careers at Ovalhouse include Steven Berkoff, Howard Brenton, Pierce Brosnan, Stella Duffy, Tamsin Greig, Jim Sweeney, David Hare, Tim Roth, Andrew Bridgmont and Salman Rushdie.
Programmes
Ovalhouse had two theatre spaces, the Theatre Downstairs and the Theatre Upstairs ; there was also a cafe-bar, gallery space and rehearsal rooms available for public hire. After 2011, the cafe-bar was also used as a venue for live-music and spoken word events. In addition to the professional theatre programme, Ovalhouse has a Participation and Youth Arts department working with young people and vulnerable adults. Its 33% London programme offers an alternative route into professional theatre for aspiring artists aged 18–25.
Ovalhouse in Brixton
In 2020 Ovalhouse closed, in anticipation of its move to purpose-built premises in Brixton. This is due to open in 2021. Ovalhouse will then be renamed Brixton House. As a result of the move to Brixton, the existing premises were sold, along with the adjacent Grade II listedWhite House, which had been used for arts administration. The White House is the former vicarage for St Mark's Church, Kennington; there is a blue plaque commemorating the birth of Field Marshal Montgomery, who was born there. The two buildings have been bought by Surrey County Cricket Club, for conversion into hotel accommodation for cricket players at The Oval. The Ovalhouse building will be demolished, while the White House will be refurbished.
