'Young
Media Art'
May 24 - June 22
Banbury Museum
 |
| Andrew
Wakeley's Alienc on display at the Banbury Museum. |
Banbury's
own dream factory is showing off its wares at Banbury Museum.
The
Animation Station, a centre for young people learning multimedia
skills, is presenting an exhibition of static images and film
from May 24 to June 22.
Read
a review of the exhibition
here.
Mary
queen of scots got her head chopped off & All my sons
June 3 - 14
Pegasus Theatre
The
Oxford School of Drama returns to Pegasus with a fortnight of
classic drama. Past productions have received ecstatic reviews
so don't miss your chance to see the stars of tomorrow in their
first ever public performances. .
Time:
20:00
Tickets: £5.50, £3.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under
18's £2.50
Saturday Night Fever
June 9 - 21
The Oxford Apollo
 |
| Side-splitting
dance moves will keep you entertained during Saturday Night
Fever. |
It's
a disco inferno at The Oxford Apollo when the Saturday Night Fever
bursts onto the stage.
Saturday
Night Fever is the classic story of hope over tragedy with the
electric combination of music and dance fusing into a blistering
soundtrack.
Disco
classics include Stayin' Alive, Night Fever and How Deep is Your
Love.
The performance brings the mean streets of New York to life in
its explosion of hot-stepping, glitter ball spinning action.
Time:
19:30
Venue: Oxford Apollo
A
Midsummer Night's Dream
June
10 - 14
The Oxford Playhouse
Following
a sell-out run at The Watermill, Newbury, Edward Hall’s latest
production for his all-male company Propeller tours to The Playhouse.
 |
| Puck
in a Midsummer Night's Dream. |
This
bright new production of Shakespeare’s best-loved play follows
the Barclays TMA award-winning production of Rose RAge, which
came to The Playhouse last summer.
Edward Hall has established himself as one of the finest directors
of Shakespeare in the country.
He
prides himself on making the text so accessible to modern and
young audiences that they are sometimes deceived into believing
that the language has been brought up to date.
Jongleurs
on the Road
June 12
Chipping Norton Theatre
Jongleurs
is hitting the road as part of its 20th anniversary with its famous
comedy sketches that made it the biggest and brightest comedy
circuit (apparently) in the world.
This
is your chance to see the stars of tomorrow, today. The line-up
includes Sean Meo + support.
Time:
20:00
Danceabout
June 13 - 14
The Mill, Banbury
The district's annual youth dance jamboree, with the latest work
from various groups.
Time: 19:30
Tickets: £6 (concs £3)
The
Big Adventure
June 13
Chipping Norton Theatre
Actors
from NCH Penshurst and Chipping Norton School perform a play by
award-winning playwright Louise Page.
It
tells the tale of a king who embarks on a spellbinding adventure
in search of his sense of humour, sense of rhythm and sense of
direction.
Time:
13:30
Price: Free
Jacques
and His Master
June 10 - June 14
Old Fire Station Theatre
This
is a mesmerising comedy of errors and existence in the tradition
of Boccaccio, Rabeais, Cervantes and Laurence Sterne.
It's
warm, witty, wise and naughty all rolled into one.
Time:
19:30, 14:30
18th
Century Concert Orchestra
June
14
Chipping Norton Theatre
12
professional musicians from some of the country's leading international
chamber orchestras unite for an evening of music from the Baroque
period.
It's
presented in 18th century costume by candlelight and on 'original
instruments'.
Time:
20:00
Price: £10, concession £8
Pre-Edinburgh
Stand-up, Warm-up Comedy Season
June 16-19
The Old Fire Station
The
Old Fire Station claim they have the perfect tonic for modern
living - the first pre-Edinburgh Stand-UP, Warm-up Comedy Season.
The
season kicks off with Jason Wood, a vocal dynamo who is meant
to be 'one of the best singing impersonators in the world'.
June 16 at 19:45.
Then
there's Daniel Kitson, who was the Perrier Award Winner in 2002.
Daniel is 'one of the greatest comedians the country has to offer'
(Metro).
June 18 at 19:15
Finally,
there's Jimmy Carr, the Perrier Award Nominee on 2002 and hosts
his own show, 'A star in the making'.
June 19 at 19:45
Price:
£8 for Jason Wood and Jimmy Carr and £9 for Daniel
Kitson. Generous concessions available for three gigs.
Old
World
June
16 - 21
The Oxford Playhouse
Starring
Angela Thorne and ony Britton, Old World is a heart-warming and
touching love story.
Lidya,
a former circus performer, is confined to a sanatorium. But she
is clearly no ordinary patient. She recites poetry in the middle
of the night. She dances in the moonlight. She sings at dawn.
 |
| Angela
Thorne stars in Old World. |
Whilst
her idiosyncratic ways infuriate the other patients, they intrigue,
confuse and beguile Dr Rodion, the head of the clinic.
Their
developing relationship, which grows from mutual interest and
liking to lasting affection, unfolds with warmth and gentle humour.
An
electric bouquet
June 19 - 20
Pegasus Theatre
Be
transported to a world of living lanterns, horizontal circus,
mind-reading and magic without tricks, in the captivating new
show by High Spin.
An
Electric Bouquet has been made by an outstanding team including
Theatre Director Rose English, Composer Luke Stoneham and Lighting
Designer Chahine Yavroyan. High Spin is a company of dancers with
and without learning disabilities.
Time:
19th - 20:00, 20th - 13:30
Tickets: £7, £4.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under 18's
£2.50
Snap
Shot
June 20
Pegasus Theatre
This
"Inclusion Inspires" performance presents a snapshot of dance
meets Street, meets Eastenders. Pull up a p(h)ew for this moving
dance explosion, directed by Jacqui Malone and Julie Thompson.
Time:
20:00
Tickets: £5.50, £3.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under
18's £2.50
Albert
Nobbs
Friday
June 20
Chipping Norton Theatre
Gordon
Steel, whose brand name is Albert Nobbs, tells the bitter sweet
tale of love, loneliness, hope and despair as recently retired
Albert struggles to come to terms with the loss of his beloved
wife and a possible new romance.
Time:
20:00
Price: £10, concession £8
The
Railway Children
June 21
The Mill, Banbury
Phoenix Productions presents this adaptation of the famous children's
story. It's suitable for children aged 4 and over, and last
75 minutes, with an interval.
Time:
14:00
Tickets: £3.75
Youth
dance platform
June 21
Pegasus Theatre
A
celebration of dance and creativity by Tac-au-Tac's young dancers
from Free Spirits, Hick-Ups, Frisbees and Momentum dance groups
with guest appearances from Oxford Youth Dance Company and the
Ws.
Time:
19:30
Tickets: £5.50, £3.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under
18's £2.50
Alonso
Mendoza
June 21
Chipping Norton Theatre
Maracas,
marimba, congas, a drum kit - this is a rich universe of percussion
on offer by Alonso Mendoza.
Displaying
classical expertise in a contemporary settingm, Alonso wil use
his unique performance style to take his audience on a contemporary
journey into world percussion.
Time:
20:00
Price: £10, concession £8
Vinicius
Cantuaria
June 21
St. Barnabas Church
Vinicinius'
song Lua E Estrella was the first song by a Brazilian superstar
to sell more than one million copies. As his manager explained:
"I've heard people in Brazil busking, singing that song.
It's the Brazilian equivalent of having worked with Dylan or John
Lennon".
Vinvinius
has co-written songs with Angelique Kidjo, two of which are on
her most recent CD, Ivory Soul and he will touring in europe with
Bill Frisell and the Internationals in July.
So,
expect a different but interesting performance.
Noddy
and the Magical Day
June 22
Oxford Apollo
Noddy
and his friends appear in a brand new show, ideally suited to
2-6-year-olds and all the family.
 |
| Noddy
and his magical car. |
It
is Tessie Bear's birthday and Noddie has a gift for her. He has
made up a song for her, but he wonders if it is enough of a gift.
Mr
Wobbly Man suggests a cake and Martha Monkey suggests some flowers.
But, those naughty goblins Sly and Gobbo suggest jewellery, but
watch out, they're planning a trick!
Time:
13:30, 16:30
Prices: £10
Venue: The Oxford Apollo
African
Dance Workshops
June 23-24
Pegasus Theatre
There
is lots of fun to be had at this Oxford Africa Week workshop.
Expect to learn movement to music and rhythm.
Different
workshops have been devised for each age range from child to adult.
Monday
June 23: 16:0017:00 for 6-12 years.
Tuesday June 24: 16:30 - 18:30 18 years and over
Copacabana
June 23-28
The Oxford Apollo
Barry
Manilow's Grammy award-winning song Copacabana is the inspiration
for this exciting and passionate musical.
It
is the captivating tale of love and romance set in the swinging
nightclub scene of the 1940's.
Lola
Lamar, a hopeful showgirl, is launched onto the path to stardom
with the help of Tony Starr, a bartender with dreams of his own.
But, the villainous Rico whisks Lola off to the Tropicana nightclub
in Havana where love, jealousy and murder entangle their lives.
Antonio
Venturio Tales from a 13th Century Jester
June 24
Chipping Norton Theatre
This
is Sicilian actor, Antonio Venturino's return to The Theatre following
the success of Mistero Buffo last year to perform 'Giullerate'
by Nobel prize winning Dario Fo.
It's
a re-telling of a traditional mystery story combined with more
modern sketches. It is performed is a mixture of English, Italian,
Sicilian dialect and gobbledegook with introductions to each piece
in English.
Venturino
represents a huge array of bizarre characters that communicate
with the audience over the barriers of language using his huge
and briliant repertoire of facial expressions and noises that
range from a buzzing fly to a two stroke engine and a Papal procession!
Time:
20:00
Price: £10, concession £8
Kabudu
June 24
Pegasus Theatre
The
celebration of African culture is now a well-established annual
event in Oxford. Performances, exhibitions, talks and workshops
take place all over the city. Pegasus Theatre is one of a number
of venues where these are taking place.
Kabudu
is a dynamic group of performers who celebrfate the diverse traditional
and contemporary culture of West Africa through music, dance and
theatre.
The
members of Kabudu come from many different ethnic backgrounds
including South and West Africa, the UK and Jamaica.
African
dance workshops
For six to 12-year-olds - Monday June 23 16:00 - 17:00
For 13 to 17-year-olds - Monday June 23 20:00
For 18 year-olds - Tuesday June 24 16:30 - 18:30
Price: £2.50
African
diaspora
June 25
Pegasus Theatre
 |
| African
Diaspora in action. |
In
a programme that shows the diversity and roots of the African
culture around the world, is an evening of capoeira dance, birembau
and conga music from Brazil, salsa music and dance from Cuba,
steel drum playing and calypso music from the Caribbean and percussion
instruments with call and response chanting from Africa.
Time:
20:00
Tickets: £7, £4.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under 18's
£2.50
Fast
Forward Figaro
June 25
Chipping Norton Theatre
Opera
singer Janis Kelly and Linda Kitchen join forces with well known
operatic conductor and cabaret entertainer Wyn Davies to produce
a 50 minute version of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro.
Watch
as the ladies make the most of the roles with the occasional interference
from Mr Davies at the piano.
Time:
20:00
Price: £12.50, concession £11.50
Mental
Performed by Peepolykus
June 26
The Mill, Banbury
In
his native Spain, Prince Salgini has become something of a psychic
phenomenon. His controversial television show, Mental, divided
the country and often resulted in tears and fighting.
In
his forthcoming and exclusive live shows he returns to his roots
as a stage performer to unleash his biggest challenge - his own
future.
Time:
19:45
Tickets: £8.00/£6.50
One
Minute
June 27
Chipping Norton Theatre
This
play centres around five characters. Through
dialogue and monologue, they reveal how they make sense of the
tragedy of a missing child.
This
is a blurring lyrical play about loss and devotion and ultimately
becomes an uplifting piece as each character finds their own way
of coming to terms with the situation.
Time:
20:00
Price: £10, concession £8
Why
The Whales Came
June
26 - 28
The Oxford Playhouse
Based
on the book by best-selling author Michael Morpugo, Why the Wales
Came tells the story of two young friends, Gracie and Daniel,
who unravel the mystery of a haunted island.
Action-packed
with exciting visuals and live music, it’s a gripping adventure
story for 8 – 13 year olds and their families.
Why
the Wales Came is presented by Theatre Alibi whose work for family
audiences is widely talked about as some of the best available
in the country. This production was originally commissioned by
Sainsbury’s Checkout Theatre, a Sainsbury initiative to encourage
high quality new theatre for young people.
Minijam
June 26 - 27
Oxford youth theatre and guests
Pegasus
based groups, including Oxford Youth Theatre, Saturday Drama Club,
Libra and Catalyst with invited guests come together to perform
a series of short pieces of dance and drama they have been creating
this year.
Time:
19:30 Thur and Fri, 13:30 Sat
Venue: Pegasus Theatre
Face
To Face Summer Show
June 27
The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury
A
carnival and summer party feel to performances from the Face to
Face Groups. Face to Face groups for people with learning disabilities
are on Wednesday and Friday mornings at The Mill.
Time:
11:00
Tickets: Free
Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star
June 28
The Mill, Banbury
Punchinellos's Puppets presents an out-of-this-world musical adventure
for children aged under six, with the aid of African and Caribbean
percussion and audience participation. Duration 50 minutes, suitable
for children under six.
Time:
14:00
Tickets: £3.75
Buster
Keaton - The General with Pianist Peter Pontzen
June 28
Chipping Norton Theatre
Buster
Keaton was the greatest of the silent comedians.
This
performance is loosely based on a true incident during the American
Civil War when a group of Union soldiers hijacked a railway engine
from behind the Southern lines.
In
Keaton's version, he is the train's engineer and becomes dismayed
at the theft of the train because his fiancee
is aboard. Heroically, he commandeers another engine to pursue
the hijackers and rescue his dearly beloved.
It's
wild-hearted, high-paced comedy from the master of gags.
Time: £4.50
Price: £3
The
Cherry Orchard
July
1 - 5
The Oxford Playhouse
Written
in 1904, Chekhov's last great comedy of life has come to be regarded
as a masterpiece. This new adaptation by Samuel Adamson for Oxford
Stage Company breathes fresh life into his poignant and passionate
tale of loss and hope in pre-revolutionary Russia.
Masters
of the Dance
July 3
The Mill, Banbury
Indigo Dance presents another in its series of dance platforms,
this time featuring choreographers from the renowned Laban Centre.
Cutting edge stuff - and there are workshops too. Profits
to charity.
Time: 19:30
Tickets: £6 (concs £4)
Gwyneth and The Green Knight
July 10
The Oxford Playhouse
Gywneth
wants to be a knight in the famous round table, but she's a peasant
girl.
Disguising
herself as a boy, she leaves home and becomes squire to the newest
knight on the block – Gawain, who rapidly finds himself in a beheading
competition with the awesome Green Knight.
Their
journey through darkest forests, scary encounters, mystical creatures
and beguiling temptations eventually leads back to the Green Knight
– with his head back on! As Gawain falters, can Gwyneth help him
and see her own dreams fulfilled?
Time:
19:00
Price: £13
Children
of lir
July 8 - 11
Pegasus Theatre
When
the Queen becomes jealous of her stepchildren, she resorts to
dark magic secretly transforming them to swans. Hearing their
beautiful voices one day, the King's heart is captured and he
devotes his life to their care. Platypus Theatre, Pegasus Theatre's
adult drama group, has been working with leading international
artists: Marionettist Stephen Mottram; Composer Brian Boothby;
Directors Euton Daley and Catherine Church of Platform 4 on this
new adaptation by Anthea Dobry of a traditional Irish folk tale.
Magic and myth combine in a spectacularly visual show for the
whole family.
Time:
20:00
Tickets: £5.50, £3.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under
18's £2.50
Fascinating
Aida
The Oxford Playhouse
July 11-12
After
wooing audiences with their blend of sweet melodies and savage
lyrics for more than 20 years, Britain’s raciest, sassiest and
most successful theatre cabaret trio are taking their final curtain.
The
sequins will glitter and the barbed wit will fly for one last
time.
Specialising
in bitter-sweet satire, subjects of their blissfully poignant
songs range from the delights of Little Chef restaurants to 101
useful things you can do with a pair of tights.
For
their farewell tour, Fascinating Aida have gathered the troupes,
The old stalwarts, Adele Anderson, Marilyn Cutts and Dillie Keane,
have reunited for “the single purpose of topping up their pensions”.
Time:
20:00 on July 11 and 19:30 on July 12
International
youth arts festival
July 12 - 20
Pegasus Theatre
In
collaboration with oxford city council twinning office Youth groups
from Oxford, Bonn, Grenoble, Leiden, Perm and Torün come together
to share their culture and history in a series of performances,
workshops and events at community venues around Oxfordshire. Highlights
of the festival include a week of performances at the Oxford Playhouse
from 14th to 18th July, a street theatre parade in Oxford City
on 19th July and culminating in a specially created performance
at the Town Hall the same afternoon. For more details contact
Pegasus Theatre Youth and Education Office on 01865 792209.
The
Wiz (Wizard of Oz)
June 15 - June 26
The Old Fire Station Theatre
Everyone
knows the story of the wonderful Wizard of Oz.
But,
this is a new musical version. It is fanciful, opulent and mysterious.
It's a dream conjured up by a streetwise Dorothy.
Dorothy's
adventures in the land of Ox are set to music in a dazzling, lively
mix of rock, gospel and soul.
Time:
19:30, matinee 14:30
Price: £8.50, £6.50 concession
Emporium
Dance Artists
July 17
The Mill, Banbury
The Mill's resident dance artists perform free in a repeate
of last year's successful charity fund-raiser. Apparently
last year's sold out, but since it's free we don't understand
this. And anyway, it's not free really: there's a lot of
fundraising on the night.
Still, it's likely to be a humdinger of an evening, with Biserk,
Indigo, Kipperfoot, Liquid Dance and the renowned Anjali all doing
their best new stuff.
Time: 20:00
Tickets: free
Stacey
Kent
July 19
The Oxford Playhouse
Acclaimed
as one of the best living interpreters of the Great American Songbook,
the hugely popular Stacey Kent returns to The Oxford Playhouse
with her band of musicians, David Newton (Piano), Colin Oxley
(Guitar), David Chamberlain (Bass) and husband Jim Tomlinson (Saxophone).
With
five best-selling albums to her name, a string of awards, including
the 2002 BBC Jazz Award for ‘Best Vocalist’, an international
fan base, as well as jazz shows on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3, Stacey
Kent has established herself as one of the world’s foremost jazz
singers.
Time:19:30
Price: £12 - £15
Amajuba
The Oxford Playhouse
July 23 - July 26
Acclaimed
director Yael Farber returns to the Oxford Playhouse following
last year’s successful UK tour of Sezar and her Sony Drama Award
winning production of A Woman in Waiting.
Powerful,
truthful, funny and painful, Amajuba is an intimate portrayal
of growing up in South Africa.
Created
from real life experiences of five young South Africans and interwoven
with song, music and prayer, above all the work is a celebration
of the extraordinary ability of the human spirit to rise above
adversity.
Time:
14:30, 21:00
Price: £9 - £22
The
green bird
July 23 - 26
Pegasus Theatre
A
tale with a moral or two, featuring a talking stone head, a giant
snake, singing apples, a live fountain and a very wicked stepmother
who has buried her daughter-in-law, the queen, under the royal
toilets and attempted to have her twin grandchildren killed by
a servant and replaced by puppies. Oxford artist Korky Paul creates
the fantastical setting for the latest summer sell-out by The
Actors Company (The Hobbit, 2002 and A Midsummer Night's Dream,
2001). Suitable for ages seven and over.
Time:
19:00 Sat matinee 13:30
Tickets: £5.50, £3.50 concs. schools & youth groups £2.50 under
18's £2.50
Dial
M for Murder
July 23 - 26
The Mill, Banbury
Banbury Cross Players present the famous detective yarn about
a husband who decides to bump off his unfaithful heiress wife...
who ends up facing a death sentence of the legal variety (it's
an old play, okay?) when things don't go as planned.
Time:
19:45
Tickets: £6/£5
Robo-Rat
to the Rescue!
July 31
The Mill, Banbury
Musical adventure from Imagination Productions as two brave
mice, all alone in the world, build a super-charged skating robot.
Can it prevent the villainous vermin called Sewer from turning
them into mouse burgers? Duration 70 minutes, with an interval;
suitable for children aged four and over.
Time:
14:00
Tickets: £4.50
Opera
in a Day - Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell
August 2
Chipping Norton Theatre
Professional
singers and local talent will provide an entertaining evening.
You should be prepared to join in!
This
is one of the nmost beautiful works of Henry Purcell. Dido and
Aeneas tell the tale of the tragic QWueen of Carthage and the
impossible love she has for the Trojan warrior, Aeneas.
The
Enormous Turnip
August 7
The Mill, Banbury
Dynamic New Animation presents a feast of characters from classic
European folk tales, using puppetry, percussion and audience participation.
Duration 50 minutes, suitable for children aged 3 - 7.
Time:
14:00
Tickets: £3.75
Design
for Living
The Oxford Playhouse
August 11 - August 23
"The
actual facts are so simple. I love you. You love me. I love Otto.
Otto loves you. Otto loves me. There now! Start to unravel from
there.”
Noël Coward’s celebrated comedy about sex, love and lust, Design
for Living, takes three free-spirited young artists cavorting
through London, Paris and New York in 1932.
Driven
by sexual tension, Otto the painter, Leo the playwright and Gilda
the interior decorator, can’t live together and can’t live apart.
They
contrive a ‘design for living’, an amicable ménage-à-trois.
Widely
considered to be scandalous, when the play first appeared in 1932
it was promptly banned.
Time:
14:30, 19:30, 20:00
Proice: £15 - £24.50
Betrayal
August 12 - August 23
The Oxford Playhouse
“I’ve
always liked Jerry. To be honest, I’ve always liked him rather
more than I’ve liked you. Maybe I should have had an affair with
him myself.”
Emma
has had a seven-year affair with Jerry, her husband’s best friend
and best man. But it’s over now.
Beginning
at the end of the affair, each scene of Pinter’s compelling masterpiece
moves backwards in time to the fateful moment when the infidelity
begins.
This
story of the ultimate love-triangle is widely considered to be
one of Pinter’s finest works.
Time:
14:30, 19:30
Price: £15 - £22
The
Wizard of Castle Magic
August 14
The Mill, Banbury
The wizard hits hard times and invites the public to look round
his crumbling Castle Magic. But along comes nephew Mickey and
an invisible cat called Catastophe. Will Mickey discover
the secret in the spell chest. Spooky... but funny. Duration 75
minutes, suitable for children aged 5 - 11.
Time:
14:00
Tickets: £4.50
Hobson's
Choice
August 28 - September 6
The Oxford Playhouse
"I’m
a decent minded man.
"I’m
British, middle class and proud of it. I stand for common sense
and sincerity."
Widower
Hari Hobson has a successful Salford business and three daughters.
Durga is the brains behind the operation.
When
Hobson says that she’s too valuable to lose and should give up
all idea of getting married, she takes her fate into her own hands.
‘Can’t we choose husbands for ourselves?’
‘I’ve
been telling you for the last five minutes, you’re not even fit
to choose dresses for yourselves.’
Tanika
Gupta’s has adapted Harold Brighouse’s 1916 classic comedy with
enormous charm and wit.
Time:14:30,
19:30, 20:00
Price: £9 - £22
