The director and co-founder of Chipping Norton Theatre is to retire.

Tamara Malcolm will leave in May -- 27 years after the theatre first opened its doors.

Mrs Malcolm, an actress for 17 years and a former student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, has been involved in stage productions in Chipping Norton since 1973 when she and her husband John began the two-year task of converting a Salvation Army Citadel, in Spring Street, into a theatre.

The couple produced Chipping Norton's first pantomime in 1973 from the town hall. Beauty and the Beast ran for four performances and started the town's great panto tradition.

In June 2000, Mrs Malcolm received the MBE for services to theatre.

She said: "We need younger audiences and for that we need younger thoughts."