Chipping Norton is a market community as well as civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England, about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Banbury and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 6,337. The town has its own theatre. The building started life as a Salvation Army Citadel, with the initial stones, currently noticeable in the auditorium, being laid in 1888. It proceeded for some years as a furniture storage facility, prior to being found by 2 Royal Shakespeare Company stars, Tamara and also John Malcolm in 1968. In 1973, fundraising for the new theatre started in earnest, and also a pantomime, Beauty and the Beast was presented in the town hall. The Theatre was opened in 1975 by Tom Baker, the Doctor Who of the moment, starting with a light programme including films and also lunchtime jazz shows. The adjacent cottage was purchased and also transformed to become the bar and gallery. In 1990 a building in Goddards Lane was acquired as well as this currently acts as green room, workplaces and also rehearsal room. The town additionally is a retail and also leisure centre for its area, with three supermarkets and also various stores consisting of branches of nationwide chain stores. It has four pubs and 2 resorts with public bars. The town has three schools. Divine Trinity Roman Catholic College as well as St Mary's Church of England School are primary schools. Chipping Norton School is the town's secondary school and also has a 6th form.