Theartre buffs had the chance to discover the history and hidden backstage areas of an Oxford theatre.

Simon Venn with Michelle Lovett

The Oxford Apollo offered tours to the public in order to raise money for the NSPCC on May 10.

Among those who took the chance to look round was Simon Venn, 14, pictured trying on Joseph's dreamcoat in the stars' dressing room, with the help of Michelle Lovett.

Those who made a £2 donation to the NSPCC heard that a theatre has stood on the George Street site since 1836.

They found out about the theatre's early years known as The New Theatre, how it was devastated by fire in 1892, rebuilt and given its distinctive art-deco interior in 1933.

Throughout this year, the theatre has been refurbished to mark 70 years of the present building.

Clear Channel Entertainment, which owns the theatre, has adopted the NSPCC as its charity of choice for all fundraising.