The Oxford Playhouse celebrated its 70th birthday with a weekend of special gala performances.

Since opening in 1938 the theatre in Beaumont Street has hosted some of the world's greatest acting talents, including Sir Ian McKellen, Dirk Bogarde, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Prunella Scales and Jeremy Irons. To mark the occasion, the Playhouse invited back favourites Richard Wilson, best known for his role as grumpy neighbour Victor Meldrew in the BBC comedy series One Foot in the Grave, EastEnders star Louise Jameson, Philip Pullman, Philip Voss and William Russell.

On Saturday, Mr Wilson performed in Many Happy Returners, as author and former BBC Radio Oxford presenter Libby Purves, who appeared at the theatre as a student actor, guided the audience through some of the most memorable moments of the past 70 years.

Mr Wilson, who first appeared at the theatre in 1974, and rented a flat in the city for four years, said it was a pleasure to be back in Oxford.

He added: "It's so long since I was last here that I forgot how short the walk from the train station was and ordered a taxi.

"But it's lovely to be here again, I had some really happy times in Oxford."

Ms Purves also remembered her time treading the boards at the Playhouse.

She said: "Mine were slightly less successful I'm afraid.

"It was here at the Playhouse, when I was on stage as a student actor, that I realised I probably didn't have a talent for acting.

"I would do these wonderfully over the top auditions for the lead role and end up with some minor part. "

On Sunday, Gyles Brandreth, author, ex-politician, and Countdown regular, hosted gala evening Seventy! Not Out.

Another guest of honour was 92-year-old Michael Richey, who worked in the studio of renowned artist Eric Gill and in 1938 crafted and fixed the original lettering to the building's front.

The birthday celebrations also signalled the launch of fundraising for the theatre, which hopes to make £1m during the next year.

Cath Nightingale, a spokesman for the theatre, said: "We aim to raise the money for a whole host of new projects and initiatives, and also to boost the number of regular gifts that we receive which will provide vital ongoing support for our work."