Kilsby Theatre Boat Project

The Kilsby Theatre Boat Project will restore and repurpose a dilapidated 108-year-old former Fellows, Morton and Clayton narrowboat, turning her into a unique and inspirational community theatre space. Volunteers will be involved in every stage of the project, assisting with practical work and learning about life and livelihoods on the Oxford Canal and the history of our waterways in general.

We hope this adventure will enrich and enthral the local community, by including artists, musicians, school children and the general public. The process will be as significant as the finished boat, uniting the water and land communities and giving people an opportunity to combine creatively. It will forge respect and friendships, educate people about local history and, we hope, bring the community closer together.

It is expected that when complete, Kilsby will take pride of place in the Jericho area of the Oxford Canal. She will be a beautifully preserved icon of the past, rebuilt by the community around her, with future-proof design choices to be cared for and enjoyed by generations of Kilsby fans to come.

The restored and reimagined Kilsby, a floating stage on the Oxford waterways, will leave a year-round legacy of The Oxford Canal Festival - a biennial celebration of all things Oxford Canal, that entertains, educates and inspires the community to enjoy their local waterways . In 2018 the festival raised £5000 towards the project, enough to kick-start the journey and let the Kilsby dream set sail!