One of Oxford’s best-loved youth organisations celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

And to mark the occasion, members of Pegasus Theatre are taking a nostalgic look back at five decades in the heart of the community.

Theatre chief executive and artistic director Euton Daley said: “As one of the very first youth theatres in the country we are very proud to have survived 50 years.

“Delving back into the past is helping us to rediscover some of the amazing things that took place at Pegasus over the last half a century.”

Now one of the country’s longest-running youth theatres, the organisation had a somewhat humble beginning.

Its very first building, “the shed”, was built in the early 1960s as a canteen for SS Mary and John Primary School. It was taken over by the youth service in 1962, which wanted to start a drama group, and puton its first performance – A Christmas Carol – later that year.

Theatre development director Dominique Cadiou said: “We started off as a totally amateur theatre and now we are very professional.

“Practically everyone I talk to in Oxford has had some connection with us.”

From small beginnings, the theatre quickly grew from 40 performers to more than 200. Now more than 1,000 young people take part in more than 50 productions each year.

The organisation moved into its current home in Magdalen Road in 1975 after a six-year fundraising campaign.

Memorable productions from the Oxford Mail’s archive include Cabaret in 1982 and The Tempest in 2001.

The theatre was once again brought up-to-date with a £7.4m revamp, which opened in 2010.

Facilities now include a state-of-the-art dance studio, a large workshop linked directly to the stage, a cafe, new foyer and box office area, and offices above.

It’s a far cry from the facilities offered to children in the 1960s. Ms Cadiou added: “This is about looking into the past to celebrate where we are today. Reaching 50 years gives us the chance to reminisce.”

Theatre patron and Radiohead drummer Philip Selway added: “Whether or not you end up in the arts, the opportunity they give you here goes on to feed into whatever you do in later life.”

Pegasus will exhibit pieces from its history during November.