A SEASON of celebration is planned for the Pegasus Theatre - just before the building undergoes a £6.3m revamp.

The Magdalen Road theatre, which is closed for Christmas, will reopen on January 19 with a reunion for past and present members of Oxford Youth Theatre.

The massive revamp is planned for April.

But beforehand, the venue will host the second Dancin' Oxford Festival, the finale of Out of Africa - which commemorates the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade - and a special gala event featuring performers and companies from the Pegasus' past.

Theatre spokesman Gill Jaggers said: "It's almost coincidental but there is a whole load of celebrations going on in the spring.

"There is a party for Oxford Youth Theatre which is going to be the first time we have had anything like this event taking place, bringing members together just to pass on all their memories.

"We also have Dancin' Oxford which will be the second year, following a pretty impressive first year so there is lots to look forward to.

"All the Dancin' Oxford events at Pegasus are also part of the Out of Africa season celebrating the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade which has been celebrated over the last year."

The culmination of the season will be a major project, Journeys to Freedom, featuring about 120 young people and artists.

Ms Jaggers said: "It is a huge project for us and involves 23 artists, musicians and danc- ers."

She added: "It is hugely exciting but a lot of hard work - all those young people have been working every week since September and will keep going until March.

"It is really full-on and it is going to be quite amazing by the time they get to the end of this."

Dancin' Oxford will be going on for a month across the city and will include performances by Oxford Youth Dance at Pegasus from Wednesday, February 20, to Saturday, February 23.

There will also be a danceathon on March 1 and 2, featuring African dance, ballroom, ballet and hip-hop. Film and video screenings from the OFVM centre for film and digital media air in January, with February seeing a show from a Norwegian theatre group and the start of the dance festival.

Call the box office on 01865 722851.