The Celebration Station is an interactive performance artwork created to collect and celebrate the stories of people travelling in and out of Oxford Road Station.
Using a playful combination of theatrical storytelling, craft, improvised singing and audience participation, members of the public were invited to choose their own celebration style and become part of an improvised celebration — whether they were heading somewhere exciting, returning from somewhere meaningful, or simply celebrating where they were in that moment.
The celebrations could take many unexpected forms, including bubbles, wedding car cans, music, theatrical moments, random dance breaks and even transforming into a butterfly. Each interaction was shaped around the individual, creating spontaneous moments of joy, silliness and connection within the everyday environment of the station.
The work transformed the everyday experience of travelling through the station into an opportunity for connection, storytelling and joy. By inviting audiences to actively participate, the performance explored how public spaces can become places for sharing personal stories, celebrating journeys and creating unexpected moments of magic.
The Celebration Station was a collaborative performance artwork created with Joshua Val Martin and commissioned by HOME MCR and Network Rail as part of their wider The City and Beyond project.