OSO Arts Centre
The OSO Arts Centre is a fringe theatre, cafe, and community arts venue at 49 Station Road, overlooking Barnes Green. Its name derives from the building’s former life as the local postal sorting office – OSO stands for Old Sorting Office. Since opening in 2002, the venue has become one of the cultural anchors of the village, presenting a weekly programme of new theatre, comedy, music, and spoken word alongside a popular youth theatre and a cafe-bar open to the public.
History
The Sorting Office (pre-1999)
The building at 49 Station Road served for many years as Barnes’ Royal Mail sorting office, handling post for the SW13 district. When the sorting office relocated, the site was acquired for redevelopment by Leander Estates in partnership with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Opening and Early Years (2002–2012)
The redevelopment created a mixture of residential and commercial units, which included the provision of a 320-square-metre community building on the ground floor. The first residents arrived in 1999 and the arts centre opened in 2002 as a community space and performance venue. In its early years the centre operated under various management arrangements, establishing itself as a neighbourhood arts hub while searching for a sustainable model.
New Direction (2012–present)
In 2012 the OSO Arts Centre came under the direction of a new board of trustees, who professionalised the programming and repositioned the venue as a recognised fringe theatre on London’s Off West End circuit. The centre is a registered charity (no. 1150658) operating under the formal title “Barnes Community Arts Centre,” funded entirely by ticket sales, cafe and bar income, and donations.
The Venue
The flexible auditorium seats up to 130 and hosts a different production almost every week – typically a mix of new writing, revivals, comedy, live music, and spoken-word events. The intimate scale makes it attractive to emerging companies and performers, while the Barnes location draws audiences from across south-west London.
The ground-floor cafe serves home-made food during the day, and the bar opens on performance evenings. Together they provide a social space that extends the centre’s role well beyond show nights.
Youth Theatre
The OSO Youth Theatre programme offers weekly sessions for children aged six to eleven, running on Mondays during term time. Over a nine-week programme, students explore drama through theatre games, voice and movement work, storytelling, ensemble exercises, and devising. The sessions focus on confidence building, listening, teamwork, and self-expression, and lead to an annual summer performance with informal demonstrations of work throughout the year.
Community Role
The OSO is embedded in Barnes life in ways that go beyond its stage programme. It is one of the regular venues for the Barnes Community Players, the local amateur dramatics society founded in 1989, and regularly hosts events connected to the Barnes Music Festival and the Barnes Literature Festival. The space can also be hired for private events, meetings, and workshops.
COVID-19 Response
During the pandemic in 2020, the theatre space was temporarily converted into a Crisis Kitchen. Staff and volunteers prepared and distributed over 10,000 free meals for elderly and vulnerable residents, NHS workers, and those facing economic hardship. The initiative was recognised nationally: the chair of trustees was appointed MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to the community during the pandemic.
Reopening
The refurbished theatre was officially reopened by singer, actor, and presenter Michael Ball – himself a local resident – in October 2020, marking the start of a new chapter for the venue with an upgraded auditorium and renewed energy.
Comparison with Other Venues
Barnes is unusual among London neighbourhoods in having two independent performance venues within walking distance. While Olympic Studios on Church Road operates as a boutique cinema and members’ club, the OSO fills a complementary role as a live theatre and community arts space. Between them, the two venues give Barnes a cultural life that many larger districts would envy.
Practical Information
- Address: 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF
- Website: www.osoarts.org.uk
- Email: info@osoarts.org.uk
- Getting there: twenty-minute direct train from London Waterloo to Barnes station; the venue overlooks Barnes Green
Sources
- OSO Arts Centre – Wikipedia
- OSO Arts Centre – official website
- History of the OSO – official website
- OSO Community Arts Centre – VisitRichmond
- Barnes Community Players – official website