Two performers will turn an empty stage into the scene of an absurdly competitive swimming contest when physical comedy The Crawl comes to Oxford’s Old Fire Station for one night this October.
At a glance
| Show | The Crawl |
| When | Friday 2 October 2026 |
| Time | 7.30pm |
| Where | Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ |
| Running time | Approximately 60 minutes |
| Tickets | Pay less £10, standard £15 or pay more £20 |
| Age guidance | 8+ |
| Content information | Cartoon violence and audience interaction |
| Performers | Ellie Whittaker and Alexander Burnett |
| Booking | Book through the Old Fire Station |
A high-stakes swimming race will take place without a drop of water when The Crawl arrives at the Old Fire Station in Oxford.
The 60-minute physical comedy follows two determined competitors as they prepare for the contest of their lives, with performers Ellie Whittaker and Alexander Burnett using movement, mime, voice and a handful of theatrical conventions to create an entire sporting world.
Along the way, the pair transform into athletes, commentators, coaches, organisers and even a glacier, while members of the audience may find themselves drawn into the action.
The Oxford performance follows appearances in the UK, France and Poland and a well-received run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
What is The Crawl about?
The race brings together two dramatically different swimmers.
Mytha is a decorated athlete from the icy north, trained for competition and entirely focused on victory. Steve is the underdog from the fictional British town of Dead-endton, approaching the event with enthusiasm, nerves and a particularly strong right arm.
There is also French favourite Debussy, who may or may not already be sitting somewhere in the audience.
Rather than constructing a realistic swimming pool on stage, the production asks its two performers to create the location and action physically. Their bodies become the water, sporting equipment, changing environments and the many people involved in staging the race.
The result moves between sporting parody, character comedy and cinematic storytelling, supported by an original musical score.
Audience participation forms part of the performance, with spectators encouraged to cheer on the swimmers and occasionally take on roles within the contest. One unsuspecting audience member may even become Chad the lifeguard.
A story about competition and the pressure to win
Beneath the increasingly chaotic swim meet is a story about ambition, vulnerability and the expectations people place on themselves.
The production explores what happens when being the best becomes more important than enjoying an activity, and whether success always has to involve defeating someone else.
Director Olivia Zerphy said the familiar setting of a swimming race allowed the company to build a fast-moving world of imagination and surprise.
She said: “Beneath the laughter and chaos is a tender story about self-acceptance, the pressure to win, and the quiet triumph of choosing your own way forward.”
The show is intended to work on different levels. Younger audience members can follow the exaggerated characters and visual comedy, while older spectators may recognise the anxiety, competitiveness and fear of failure beneath the sporting spectacle.
Its central message is not that ambition is wrong, but that there can be more than one way to succeed.
Who created The Crawl?
The Crawl was devised by performers Ellie Whittaker and Alexander Burnett during the excitement surrounding the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Both trained in the Lecoq tradition of physical theatre, where movement, gesture and the performer’s body are central to creating characters, locations and stories.
The production is directed by Olivia Zerphy, a co-artistic director of international physical theatre company Voloz Collective.
Cast and creative team
| Performers and co-creators | Ellie Whittaker and Alexander Burnett |
| Director | Olivia Zerphy |
| Composer | Andrés Hernández |
| Lighting designer | Jodie Underwood |
| Social media | @thecrawl.show on Instagram |
Zerphy said the two performers move between their many roles with precision, building what appears to be a large sporting event from an otherwise largely empty stage.
Hernández’s music and sound effects give the imaginary race its scale and momentum, while Jodie Underwood’s lighting design helps move the action between competition, memory and fantasy.
Edinburgh Fringe success
The production attracted strong reviews during its 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe run at Pleasance Dome.
BroadwayWorld described the show as “a masterclass in physical theatre”, while the British Theatre Guide said audiences were “in the presence of masters”.
ThreeWeeks called it “a stroke of genius”, praising the way a bare stage was transformed into an enormous swimming arena through movement and imagination.
The Guardian highlighted the performers’ synchronised physicality and described the audience participation as among the most affably handled at that year’s Fringe.
Reviewers also noted the contrast between its deliberately ridiculous sporting world and a surprisingly warm conclusion about connection, self-acceptance and finding an individual definition of success.
What audiences need to know
The Old Fire Station recommends the show for audiences aged eight and over.
The venue has also published a content notice stating that the performance includes cartoon violence and audience interaction.
Participation is used for comedy and to expand the imagined world of the race. Families or other visitors concerned about being approached directly by a performer can contact the ticket office before booking to discuss the format.
The production information lists a running time of approximately 60 minutes.
Tickets are available through the Old Fire Station’s three-tier pricing system:
| Ticket | Price | How the venue describes it |
|---|---|---|
| Pay less | £10 | For audience members unable to afford the standard price |
| Standard | £15 | The regular ticket price |
| Pay more | £20 | For people able to contribute more and support lower-priced tickets |
The system is based on what each audience member can afford rather than age, education or another traditional concession category.
How to get to the Old Fire Station
| Address | Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ |
| By train | The venue is approximately a 15-minute walk from Oxford railway station. |
| By bus | Most central Oxford bus stops are within a ten-minute walk. Gloucester Green coach station is immediately behind the venue. |
| By car | The closest public car park is Gloucester Green, accessed from Gloucester Street. Public transport or Park & Ride may be easier at busy times. |
| Blue Badge parking | Spaces are available nearby on Beaumont Street, New Inn Hall Street and St Giles. |
| Step-free access | The George Street entrance and route into the main theatre are step-free. |
| Companion tickets | Disabled patrons can book one free companion ticket through the ticket office. |
| Ticket office | 01865 263990 or tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk |
| Tickets | Old Fire Station event page |
The theatre also has an accessible toilet and a hearing-assistance system. Assistance and guide dogs are welcome, although the venue asks visitors to give advance notice where possible.
Wheelchair users attending the seated performance should contact the ticket office so an appropriate space can be reserved.
FAQs
When is The Crawl in Oxford?
The show will be performed at 7.30pm on Friday 2 October 2026.
Where is the performance?
It takes place at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ.
What is The Crawl about?
It follows two rival swimmers taking part in a high-stakes race staged without any water. Two performers use physical storytelling to portray the athletes, commentators, coaches, organisers and other characters.
Who performs in the show?
Ellie Whittaker and Alexander Burnett are the performers and co-creators.
How long is The Crawl?
The production information gives a running time of approximately 60 minutes.
What is the age guidance?
The Old Fire Station recommends the show for audiences aged eight and over.
Does the show include audience participation?
Yes. Audience interaction is part of the comedy, and some spectators may be invited to take on roles within the imaginary swimming contest.
Are there any content warnings?
The venue says the performance contains cartoon violence and audience interaction.
How much are tickets?
Tickets cost £10 at the pay-less rate, £15 at the standard rate or £20 at the pay-more rate.
Is the theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The George Street entrance and main theatre are step-free. Wheelchair users should contact the ticket office so a suitable space can be reserved.
Are free companion tickets available?
Disabled patrons are eligible for one free companion ticket. These can be booked by calling 01865 263990 or emailing tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.
Where can tickets be booked?
Tickets are available through the Old Fire Station website.
