Comedy, music and theatre will celebrate women from all walks of life at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot, Oxford Imps, OFS, The Mill in Banbury and Oxford Playhouse, during International Women’s Week from March 3 – 11.
Oxford Playhouse has a really novel show to add into the mix from – 1 – 4 March. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is adapted from the novel by Nobel prize-winning female polish author Olga Tokarczuk. This thought-provoking, wry, and other worldly murder mystery, is also a scathing reproach of toxic masculinity featuring Janina Duszejko – an eccentric 65-year-old local woman, ex-engineer, environmentalist, amateur astronomer, and enthusiastic translator of William Blake. Book here
Another Lover’s Discourse ليه خلّتني Ø£Øبك on Thursday March 2 at OFS, 7.30pm. This is one of Palestine’s most exciting contemporary artists Riham Isaac‘ irreverent look at romancer that will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered: is this it? Mashing up interviews with friends, family and strangers, combining video, music, performance, and original film to explore the complexity of love and relationships, this is Riham’s first solo performance created and performed by her which may make you think differently about love. Book here
Opening the week at Didcot’s Cornerstone will be Shazia Mirza’s show Coconut, March 3 – recently nominated ‘Best Stand-Up Tour Show’ in Channel 4’s National Comedy Awards. Shazia is an equally fearless and hilarious Muslim female stand-up comedian, and her show reflects on her experience of race and identity in Britain with a healthy peppering of winning gags. Book here
It’s all about girl power at The Little Mix Show is on 4 March at 2pm at Cornerstone, guaranteed to get everyone singing along and is suitable for all ages. This show features live vocals and impressive choreography to all the big hits from the award-winning girl band. Book here
Female Founders Fair, The Mill Banbury. 10am – 3pm, Saturday March 4. The fair celebrates female artists, makers and creative business-owners in conjunction with International Women’s Day. The Fair is totally FREE to attend!
How To Be A Writer with Lucy Atkins, March 7, 4-6 pm, The Randolph Hotel,
A nod to the hotel’s own literary past, and a celebration of women in literature. Lucy is a creative writing tutor at Oxford University and will discuss her tenure as an author, her inspirations and processes, as well as her experience as a woman in literature, her Oxford-set bestseller Magpie Lane, and her highly anticipated upcoming novel, Windmill Hill. Book at graduatehotels.com/oxford-uk/events/
Little Women on Wednesday 8 March, Didcot’s Cornerstone on International Women’s Day. Retaining all the charm and spirit of the original classic novel by Louisa May Alcott but with a twist; the four sisters, their family and friends are all played by just one woman. A quintessential women’s coming-of-age story and a brilliant adaptation for Alcott’s biggest fans. Book here
The final instalment of Cornerstone’s Women’s Week continues its focus on women’s stories in Born To Exist: The Woman I Know on 11 March. Joseph Toonga brings three immensely expressive hip hop dancers to the stage to put a spotlight on women unseen using beautiful and hard-hitting choreography. Book here
March 7 – 11, Oxford Playhouse, Noughts & Crosses – Adapted from Malorie Blackman’s famous novel – the lead character Sephy is a young woman battling social injustices and racism. Book here
Eternity 123, Saturday March 11, OFS. The third installment of a feminist dance triptych choreographed and performed by Vangeline this traces the symbolic journey of women’s liberation across time. It also celebrates the impact of women on the art form butoh, exploring the link between women, butoh, and cabaret, by telling their stories and redefining the importance of women’s participation in society. Book here
