Much of the theatre work of Rib Davis is oral history-based, and he has edited a number of books of oral history (most recently Woking Living Words). He has also written radio scripts using oral history (Women From The Vale), directed other oral history-based community projects (such as The Fabric of Milton Keynes) and has overseen both oral history websites and exhibitions. At The Lightbox, in Woking, the oral history within the Woking's Story museum was a key element in the gallery and museum winning the Art Fund Prize 2008.

Having been involved in the collection and use of oral history since the late '70s, Rib Davis is now an accredited trainer in oral history on behalf of the British Library and the Oral History Society. He has given training to, amongst others, the Imperial War Museum, the Royal National Theatre, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Britain and Oxford University Press. At the British Library he presents Introduction to Oral History and also his own course Transcript to Script, on developing plays from oral history. He now conducts oral history training all over the UK and abroad.