RADIOHEAD’S Philip Selway, EastEnders actor Scott Maslen and The IT Crowd’s Rachel Bavidge have all signed up for a fundraising event for an Oxford theatre next week.

The Pegasus Playathon, from Friday, October 12, to Sunday, October 14, will celebrate the Pegasus Theatre’s 50th anniversary. Teams will take it in turns to read from a play, poem, musical or operetta and will each sign up for a 50-minute session.

Yasmin Sidhwa, the theatre’s head of creative learning, said: “Literally anyone can take part, as all you have to do is choose your favourite play or act, turn up and read it aloud.”

Mason Thomas-Downes, 13, and other participants are pictured at a rehearsal.

Mr Selway said: “For me this is very much one of those things of getting up and giving it a go. I did a drama degree in Liverpool but haven’t done anything like this since, but I’m looking forward to it. “ Most sessions are free, with teams raising sponsorship to go towards Pegasus's youth projects but people must buy tickets to see Mr Selway, Mr Maslen, Ms Bavidge and Oxford poet Craig Raine perform on Saturday, October 13, priced £12.

For the playathon programme, see pegasustheatre.org.uk