Through our partnerships with a range of artists and organisations, we’re able to help shape an inclusive arts programme for communities across Oxfordshire.
At The Mill Arts Centre, we are passionate about fostering creativity and supporting artists at every stage of their journey. Through our various programs and initiatives, we provide a nurturing environment where artists can thrive, develop their craft, and engage with the community.
We proudly collaborate with a diverse range of Associate Artists, offering them opportunities to grow their work and connect with audiences. Our support extends through initiatives like The Remarkables Dance Company, our resident dance company for over-50s which celebrates the creative potential of older adults, and our Supported Artists Scheme, designed to provide guidance, resources, and space for both emerging and established artists to explore new ideas and take bold steps in their creative practices.
Our Associate Artists
Jane Castree
Jane Castree is a choreographer and community dance artist working with movement to create open and accessible opportunities for performers and community members.
Her community practice is person-centered and encourages people to explore their potential at their own pace and develop their physicality, building self-awareness and confidence by being creative and expressing their imagination.
In 2023, Jane was selected for The Mill’s Supported Artists Scheme, where she developed her practice to create a dance offer for disabled and non-disabled young people. In 2025, she became an Associate Artist and with support from the Well Together Programme, launched Banbury’s first Universal Youth Dance programme. Bringing together disabled and non-disabled young people, the programme offers a space to dance, create, connect, and have fun together.
Caroline Horton
Caroline Horton is a theatre maker, performer and writer whose work has toured nationally and internationally.
She was nominated for a 2013 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre for You’re Not Like The Other Girls Chrissy, which also won The Stage Awards Best Solo Performer in 2010. Mess opened at The Traverse, Edinburgh in 2012, where it won Best Ensemble at The Stage Awards and was nominated for an Offie for Best New Play.
In 2023, Caroline was selected for The Mill’s Supported Artists Scheme to explore the role of movement in her creative practice and to connect with local mothers and baby groups, gathering shared experiences that informed the development of a new performance about motherhood. In 2025, Caroline become an Associate Artist and with support from the Well Together Programme, launched Mama Time – a free creative wellbeing space for mums.
In January 2026, Caorline was award ACE Project Grant to develop the next phase of Mama Time and creation of her new performance with a work-in-progress sharing at The Mill in July 2027.
The Remarkable Dance Company
The Remarkable Dance Company (affectionately known as the Remarkables) are the Mill’s dance company for over-50s drawn from Banbury and surrounding areas.
Formed in 2017 with support from Arts Council England (ACE), we have been able to give the company the unique experience of working with professional choreographers and dance companies including Uchenna Dance, Yorke Dance, Chhaya Collective and 201 Dance Company to develop their practice and create one-off curtain-raiser performances.
In 2023, professional choreographer Luca Braccia joined the company as their Artistic Director – not only to hone their skills, but to work towards the creation of a full-scale dance piece, Let’s Play Forever, which was performed on The Mill Stage in 2023.
Our Supported Artist
Imogen Hunt
Imogen was selected for The Mill’s Supported Artist Scheme in 2024. As an early career artist who is reflecting on and developing her practice, Imogen developed the idea of ‘taking up space’; creating pockets of time for herself where she can create work that is meaningful to her. Through the scheme, Imogen worked with young carers to develop Take Up Space asking participants what ‘taking up space’ means to them through creativity, dance and collaboration.
Partner Companies
Flourish
People’s Theatre Collective
Dancin’ Oxford
Pegasus Theatre
Resident Amateur Company
Banbury Cross Players
Banbury Cross Players (BCP) have been performing a diverse range of plays in the town since April 1945. Typically, we stage four productions a year, ranging from comedy to tragedy, traditional to modern, Panto to Shakespeare.
But acting is not all we do! We do all our own backstage work, from set building to lighting design, make-up to marketing, and more, and are always looking for enthusiastic individuals to join us!
We are a vibrant, welcoming and award-winning drama group, with the huge privilege of operating within the Mill’s 237-seat auditorium.