Equipment and Props Hires
OUTTS has a selection of equipment available for low cost hire to student shows or events in Oxford. This should always be your first port of call when hiring equipment for student shows. We have recently made some exciting new acquisitions, including 8 new moving lights, 8 LED Parcans, and 12 channels of radio mics.
We also maintain a large stock of props, ranging from small items like crockery to substantial furniture pieces.
How to Hire from us
The hires store is based in the Old Observatory in the Science Park off Parks Road. The entrance is up a ramp at the back of the building.
The store is open in weeks 2-8 of term at the following times:
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Sunday 2pm - 3pm
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Monday 11:00am - 12:00am
If alterations to these times are necessary, they will be posted on the OUTTS (TAFF) mailing list.
In some exceptional circumstances, the store can be opened outside of this hours, at the discretion of the hires managers. Out of hours call outs must be arranged with at least 48 hours notice, and there will be a £15 charge for an out of hours opening. Details of the out of hours policy can be found in the terms of hire.
To enquire about pricing and availability or book equipment, check our hires portal. We are always interested in expanding our stock, so if you have any suggestions for equipment we should have, or would like advice on hiring equipment that we do not own, such as staging or larger PA systems, feel free to get in touch.
Our items are normally hired for a week at a time, but can be hired per day if needed for filming or purposes other than shows. Discounts are also available for multi-week hires. Please enquire for more details.
Anyone hiring from OUTTS must read our terms of hire, which detail our policy regarding hire fees, deposits and returns. All payments are taken up-front by card, while deposits are preferentially taken as a cheque.
The hires store is run by members of the committee - they may be contacted at hires[at]outts.org and are happy to provide advice on our equipment, as well as refer to other hires companies where appropriate. The hires team are volunteers, so please be patient with them. Harassment or misconduct towards the Hires Store and Reps is taken particularly seriously.
Consumables and Gels
OUTTS stocks a gel collection that is freely available for use on shows, on the understanding that any unused gel is returned to the collection. We stock LX tape (single and double-width) and other useful items for purchase, again at cheaper-than-market rates.
Safety Equipment
Working in the theatre can be dangerous and it is important to take appropriate safety precautions. For that reason OUTTS has some safety items available to hire free of charge, though a deposit will be required. These may be reserved via the online store.
Stage weights
Can be used to secure lighting booms or set pieces. Free to hire but require a deposit of £5 each.
Steel-capped safety boots
Available in sizes 4-12. Free to hire but require a deposit of £10 a pair. A company may book the entire set (16 pairs) for a reduced deposit of £120.
Such boots are required to be worn by students at any get in or get out at the Oxford Playhouse, and are encouraged in all student venues.
Hard Hats
Available in various funky colours! These must be worn by students at any get in or get out at the Oxford Playhouse, and are encouraged whenever working at height.
Gloves
Primarily intended for preventing friction and heat burns when rigging lighting fixtures, we encourge all lighting designers use a pair of these for get-ins.
External Hires
Sometimes, OUTTS and the venues may not have all the equipment you need. Many local hires companies work closely with students - here are some (non-exhaustive) options. These do not constitute endorsements - it is always your responsibility to ensure equipment you hire from external companies is fit for purpose, and will work safely and correctly in the venue you are performing in, and covered by insurance where applicable.
FishLasers stocks specialised, high-quality sound equipment. This includes high-quality wired microphones (e.g. for orchestras), DI Boxes, field recording equipment, a 32-channel Yamaha Digital Mixer and MIDI Controllers. FishLasers is based locally, in Jericho OX2, and offers student pricing.
THAT Event Company supply Sennheiser radio mic systems with headsets, audio systems from d&b audiotechnik, battery LED lighting units and standard theatrical luminaires. They are based in North Weston, Oxford and regularly offer good rates to student shows.
Based out of Henley, HTS are the biggest supplier of theatrical kit (sound or otherwise) in the area and offer a comprehensive service. Being further away, delivery costs can be higher but they are a great option for larger scale shows, and routinely supply equipment to Oxford Playhouse shows.
JS Stage have routinely supplied equipment to shows such as the medic pantomime, Tingewick. Based in Wantage, they are reasonable for delivery and offer discounts to OUTTS members.