Are you joining us for Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford? Here's all you need to know, in order to make the most of your time!
NOT LONG TO GO!
Prepare For Your Event
If you were lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford, you're probably counting down the hours until the show!
Here's all you need to know ahead of time to prepare for a full day of fun and make the most of the festival.
If you want to remember Phoenix Fest 2024 with a souvenir, why not snap up a limited edition Ember badge or a Phoenix Fest t-shirt! These are on sale exclusively at the Phoenix Shop and only available until 31st July 2024 - don't miss out!
Will I be able to buy merchandise at the New Theatre?
There will be some Phoenix Fest 2024 merchandise sold at the New Theatre on the day, but stock will be limited. Please note we won't stock all the t-shirt colours on the day and some sizes may sell out very quickly.
We recommend that you plan your travel ahead of time, to make sure that you get to the festival in good time. Arriving late may result in missing some or all parts of the show, as you will have to wait for an interval to get seated.
Please review the location details of the venue in advance.
Please note that there is construction work on the street next to the venue, which is blocking the usual entrance. Please don't be concerned, as it will not get in the way of any plans for the festival.
Accommodation If you are planning on staying over, we recommend booking your accommodation ahead of time, as Oxford hotels can get very busy in the summer months.
As the New theatre is located in the city centre, you might want to book your stay somewhere further out and travel by public transport on the day. Bus stops, car parks and the train station are all within walking distance.
To make the most of your festival experience, we recommend you plan some things ahead of time!
Schedule of events Check out the timings of the events, so you know when to expect intervals and different parts of the show. You can view the full Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford schedule here!
Plan your lunch You will have a long interval, which you can use to eat some lunch and meet some of your favourite creators! It is up to you whether you want to bring your own food to eat in your seats or go out somewhere local for lunch. Keep an eye on our Instagram for a some tips on restaurants and cafes in the area.
This will also be the time to visit the Festival Village, where many of our creators will be waiting to meet you. More information will be available in your programme on the day, but you can check out our video to see the walk from the New Theatre to the Festival Village.
Autographs and meeting the makers
Your programme on the day will include all of the information about the artists that will be attending on the day and where you can find them. However, it's important to note that due to high demand and timings, you might not be able to meet every single creator on the day.
We know that missing out on meeting a favourite creator could lead to disappointment. We recommend that you talk to your child ahead of the festival to manage their expectations and decide together which creators you'd like to prioritise meeting on the day. That way, you'll be able to use your programme to figure out which area to head to first!
Join our community and share your excitement on social media!
Tag us in your posts!
We love to see your photos, videos and comments! Show us how you're getting ready, tell us what you're most looking forward to and share your excitement on the way to the festival.
Make sure you tag @phoenixcomicuk and use our official hashtag #PhoenixFest2024
Keep an eye on our posts for extra tips ahead of the festival, fun countdown competitions, backstage sneak peeks and many other surprises throughout the day.
Tell us you're coming! RSVP to our event and join the community, where you can share your thoughts, photos and artwork with other attendees using the discussion board.
What to expect on the day
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of comics on Saturday 20th July! Expect a jam-packed day of fun, laughter and inspiration for the whole family.
We don't want to spoil too much ahead of time, so here's just the key information you need to know.
What time do I need to be there?
Doors to the venue will open from 8:30am and the auditorium will open at 9:15am. Please aim to arrive no later than 9:30am, so that you can get seated in time for the first performance.
What will happen when I arrive?
Once you are inside the venue, you will get to buy drinks or snacks, go to the toilet and check out the merch stand.
When the doors to the auditorium open, it will be the time to find your seats. This is also when you will receive your goody bag, which will contain a full programme of the event and fun activities.
Schedule for the day
The show will start at 10:00 and finish at 16:30, followed by a meet and greet with Jamie Smart.
Will there be intervals during the show? There will be multiple intervals throughout the show, including a longer break for you to get some lunch and meet some of the creators.
You can also check out the full line-up of all the creators who will be performing below..
Jamie Smart, creator of Bunny vs Monkey and Looshkin. Neill Cameron, creator of Mega Robo Bros and Donut Squad. Jess Bradley, creator of Squid Bits and Ravi and Jess. Abby Bulmer, artist on Doggo. Gary Northfield, creator of Lovely Pirates and Julius Zebra. Zak Simmonds-Hurn, artist on Legacy, Know Your Monsters and Dragon Guard. Robert Deas, creator of Fawn and artist on The Valhalla Protocol. Joe List, creator of Doug Slugman. James Turner, creator of Star Cat and Clatters & Bump. James Stayte, creator of Gorebrah and artist on Susie and Brad. Sam Davies, creator of Tooth and Claw Academy.
At the end of the show
The show finishes at 16:30, at which point you will have the chance to stick around for an optional meet and greet with Jamie Smart. As we want to allow everyone the chance to meet Jamie and take a picture with him, please note that there may be a long wait in the queue.
What time will the doors close? The doors will remain open until meet and greet has finished, to ensure everyone will get the chance to say hello to Jamie.
We are aiming to have the meet and greet completed in 90 minutes. Once the doors close, you will be able to take your goody bags home and rest after a full day of fun, laughter and creativity.
Where can I share photos and videos from the event? We'd love to see all of your photos and videos from Phoenix Fest 2024! However, please only post pictures of children on social media if you have the permission of their parent/guardian.
You can tag us in your posts on Instagram or Twitter/X using @phoenixcomicuk and our official hashtag #PhoenixFest2024.
Where can I share feedback from the event? If you have signed up to our newsletter or entered the Phoenix Fest 2024 giveaway in your programme, you will automatically receive an email with a feedback form a few days after the event.
If you haven't signed up to our database, but still want to share your review of the experience, you can email us at [email protected] or tag us on social media.
How can I enter the giveaway? The Phoenix Fest 2024 giveaway is open to all ticket holders. If you attended Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford, you will find the giveaway QR code in your programme. You have until the end of July to enter!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have any questions regarding Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford that aren't covered in the following FAQ section, please email us at [email protected].
FAQ: Generic questions
The first performance will begin at 10am and the last performance will end at roughly 4:30pm. The festival will be longer for those with Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford tickets as doors open at 9:15am and signings may run on after the last performance until around 6/6:30pm.
If you can't wait for Phoenix Fest 2024 and want to start celebrating now, RSVP to our Facebook event and share your excitement on social media. You can tag us in your posts using @phoenixcomicuk and our official hashtag #PhoenixFest2024.
Anyone under 18 years old attending Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford must be accompanied throughout the entire event by a ticket-holding adult. Unaccompanied children will not be admitted.
Everyone attending Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford must have purchased a ticket, and anyone under 18 years old must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. Unaccompanied children will not be admitted.
Tickets for Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford will be sold by the New Theatre, Oxford (via ATG) and they aren't allowed to share any customer details with us as it violates GDPR regulations. Sadly, this means we can't send a recording of the event to Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford ticket holders as we don't have access to the ticket buyers details.
If you would like to rewatch a recording of the event, you can purchase a ticket for Phoenix Fest 2024: Digital. You only need one ticket per device.
Photography, videography and live video streaming will be taking place at Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford. By attending the event in person, you are agreeing to appear on the images and footage shared on our website, third-party channels, and within any marketing campaigns.
Goody bags are included in the ticket price for all Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford ticket holders and will be provided upon entry to the New Theatre. Each goody bag includes a special festival programme and an entry wristband plus a drawing pad and pencil. Goody bags are exclusive to Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford ticket holders only.
Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford is not taking place at the Story Museum. We are holding the festival in a new venue this year! Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford is taking place at the New Theatre Oxford, 24-26 George St, Oxford, OX1 2AG.
Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford will run from 10am to approximately 4:30pm but doors open at 9:15am and you may want to stay for signings until 5:30pm, so it's important you don't get hungry!
There will be a 20-minute toilet and snack break intermission in the morning and we will take a long lunch and signing break in the early afternoon. During lunch you can leave the theatre to purchase food, or you can bring a packed lunch and stay in your seats. The New Theatre is located in the centre of Oxford so there are plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants within a 10-minute walk.
We recommend bringing a water bottle to ensure you don't get thirsty. Some refreshments will also be available to buy at the venue.
Yes. Although the Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford tickets can only be scanned once, we will provide you with a festival wristband upon entry. As long as you are wearing your Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford wristband, then you can exit and enter the New Theatre as you need.
We will provide a drawing pad and a pencil with your goody bag, but we recommend bringing a spare pencil, a sharpener and a rubber too. If you'd like to bring your own drawing pad you can, and of course you don't have to draw along at all if you don't want to!
You can also bring a packed lunch, a drink and any snacks, if you wish. We recommend bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated.
FAQ: Autographs and meeting the creators
Yes, we would love for you to collect autographs from some of your favourite Phoenix creators at Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford! There will be a time in the middle of the day for you to meet and get autographs from different creators and you will receive information on the day about where to find each person. The creators will be spread out across two venues during that time, to allow for additional space. One of these venues will be the New Theatre (where the main stage is located) and the other will be the Festival Village (located 4 minutes away).
However, it's important to note that there may be queues and some artists will only be around for a limited amount of time. Therefore, there is no guarantee that you will get the chance to meet every single creator that attends. We recommend that on the day you should decide which creators you'd like to prioritise meeting, check where they will be located and head over there first.
Jamie Smart will not be signing autographs but will instead be taking part in a meet and greet! Everyone who wants to meet Jamie at Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford can get a chance to say hello and get a photo with him.
Of course! We just ask that you are mindful that lots of people will want to meet the makers, so we ask that everyone is mindful of time and respectful to the wishes of the creators. As with all photos taken on the day, please don’t post any pictures of children on social media without the permission of their parent/guardian.
FAQ: About the Festival Village
The Festival Village is a space for you to meet some of the creators of The Phoenix comic! The majority of Phoenix writers and artists will be sat at tables so you can meet them and ask them your questions. They’ll be happy to sign things for you as well. They are really looking forward to meeting you!
The Festival Village is located in Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, New Inn Hall St., OX1 2DH. It’s a 4 minute walk from the New Theatre and there will be Team Phoenix members en route to help guide you.
You don’t need to book anything else. Entry to the Festival Village is included in your Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford ticket. You will need to be wearing your wristband to gain entry to the Festival Village, so don’t forget to put it on before you leave the New Theatre. There will be a designated time during the festival when you can choose to visit the Festival Village.
Jamie Smart will not be at the Festival Village and he won’t be able to sign anything on the day. (Unfortunately, the demand is likely to be very high, and he needs to save his hands for drawing more excellent Bunny vs Monkey stories!)
But, there will be an opportunity to meet Jamie after his closing show, at his meet and greet. Everyone who wants to meet Jamie at Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford can get a chance to say hello and get a photo with him.
The Festival Village will close at 14:55, as everyone will need to head back to the New Theatre for Jamie Smart’s Critter Chaos Event.
Phoenix Fest 2024: Oxford accessibility questions
There is level access to the Box Office and main foyer on George Street where doors can be operated automatically by a push button. There are four wheelchair positions located at the rear of the stalls, each with enough room for one companion to sit alongside. This area can be accessed by a wheelchair lift. Wheelchairs that are not needed during the show will be stored safely by front of house staff.
Accessible toilets are located in the main foyer and front right-hand stalls at the New Theatre.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the New Theatre. If you wish to bring your assistance dog, please advise the Box Office when booking your tickets so that they can organise a member of staff to take care of your dog.
No, BSL interpretation will only be available to Phoenix Fest 2024: Digital attendees this year. Phoenix Fest 2024: Digital will have two NRCPD-registered British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters providing interpretation throughout the entire day of events. Both interpreters have extensive experience working with children's events, and their interpretations will be visible on-screen for all Phoenix Fest 2024: Digital attendees.
If you have any questions regarding Phoenix Fest 2024 that aren't covered in the above FAQ section, please email us at [email protected]. For all press, media, marketing or collaboration queries, please email us at [email protected].
