Chipping Norton is a market community and also civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England, concerning 12 miles (19 kilometres) southwest of Banbury and also 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 6,337. The town has its very own theatre. The building began life as a Salvation Army Citadel, with the first stones, now noticeable in the amphitheater, being stocked 1888. It proceeded for some years as a furnishings storage facility, before being uncovered by two Royal Shakespeare Company actors, Tamara and John Malcolm in 1968. In 1973, fundraising for the brand-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 time, starting with a light programme consisting of movies and lunchtime jazz shows. The adjacent cottage was purchased and converted to come to be the bar and also gallery. In 1990 a structure in Goddards Lane was acquired and also this currently serves as green room, offices and also rehearsal room. The community additionally is a retail as well as leisure centre for its location, with 3 supermarkets as well as countless stores consisting of branches of nationwide store. It has four pubs as well as two resorts with public bars. The town has three schools. Divine Trinity Roman Catholic College and also St Mary's Church of England School are primary schools. Chipping Norton School is the town's secondary school and has a 6th form.