Tish Francis
Doctor of Arts (HonDArt)
Year conferred: 2008
Here in Oxford Tish Francis is most strongly associated with Oxford Playhouse which she left in October 2008 after 19 years as Director. In 1989 she and colleague Hedda Beeby took on the task of re-opening the theatre after its long closure and spearheaded the campaign which raised over £4 million to refit, refurbish and revitalise it. Since then the theatre has gone from strength to strength, engaging more and more with Oxford Brookes as well as long term partner Oxford University. Latterly Tish focussed on building the theatre's educational resource as well as its international and producing reputation.
Tish also produced Oxford's memorable millennium festival OOMF! in July 2000, the catalyst for the development of Oxfordshire festivals, outdoor and cultural initiatives in the years since. Setting up "Produced with OOMF!" she and her company mounted a series of events which featured international artists, local artists and many community participants: a second millennium "fire and water" event, an Oxfordshire water festival "Hydrogen Two Oxygen", Oxford's Jubilee Festival and, in 2005, "The Ice Garden" an installation in the Bodleian quad, mounted with Cape Farewell - pioneers of the cultural response to climate change.
Tish is a Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and recently joined the board of The Rose Theatre, Kingston. She is now pursuing independent projects under the banner of her company TFALtd.
