What a treat 2024 has in store for you with a smorgasbord of entertaining morsels to enjoy. Here is our bumper guide to what’s on in Oxfordshire! And don’t miss our 2024 COMEDY GUIDE CHECK IT OUT HERE
Camille O Sullivan: Dreaming, North Wall, Feb 9-10. The ‘Queen of the Fringe’ premieres her new show, a rare intimate evening of dark and light songs, including Bowie, Cohen, Pulp, Radiohead and Rufus Wainwright. BOOK HERE
The Circle, Tue 6 – Sat 10 Feb, Oxford Playhouse, starring Jane Asher, Clive Francis and Nicholas Le Prevost. Somerset Maugham’s society tale featuring Lady Kitty, who notoriously abandoned her stuffy husband Clive and eloped with the handsome Lord Porteous. But 30 years later it’s a very different story! https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-circle
Carmina Burana, July 13, Oxford Town Hall – a celebration of youth, music and friendship, as gifted musicians aged 12 -23, from Oxford and from Oxford’s twin cities past and present, come together for a week of music making. Led by OSJ founder John Lubbock, it culminates in a performance of Carmina Burana with the OSJ Voices. BOOK HERE
Creation Theatre presents the world premiere of Glyn Maxwell’s Boatman Town in Oxfordshire’s pubs from February 21 – March 10. A very modern, drunken, tragicomic take on the great medieval morality play Everyman. Set in an English pub, pick from a variety of different locations, times and venues, and enjoy a unique hour of theatre. Sign up here to be the first in line for tickets HERE
Paul Foot’s ‘Dissolve’, OFS, May 9. Life is a stress: full of rushed breakfasts, angry people, internal conflict, and Jacob Rees-Mogg. But what happens when everything you thought was important – your problems, grievances against others, your very identity – simply disappears? (DON’T MISS OUR 2024 COMEDY GUIDE HERE) The trail-blazing comedian’s most personal show to date https://oldfirestation.org.uk/whats-on/paul-foot-dissolve/
BRUEGEL TO RUBENS: GREAT FLEMISH DRAWINGS. March 23 – Jun 23, Ashmolean. Showcasing over 100 16th and 17th century Flemish drawings, from Pieter Bruegel’s remarkable print designs and landscapes to Rubens’ first sketches, this major exhibition is brought together for the first time. Accompanied by paintings, prints and other objects they inspired, expect some of the most exquisite drawings by the Flemish masters including Pieter Bruegel, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacques Jordaens. BOOK HERE
Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, Tue 23 – Sat 27 April, Oxford Playhouse. Fresh from sell out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, this critically acclaimed parody musical stars Shawna Hamic as ‘Ursula’ and River Medway as ‘Ariel’, Join everyone’s favourite Disney Diva, Ursula, as she gives her take on what really happened all those years ago under the sea. With an original hot pop soundtrack and trademark filthy humour, it’s time to take the plunge and dive into this year’s hottest night out. BOOK HERE
The World According To Kaleb Cooper, The Theatre Chipping Norton, March 11. Chipping Norton’s finest celebrity farmer and bestselling author, who shot to fame starring in Clarkson’s Farm, has decided to conquer his fear of the unknown and embark on his first ever theatre tour and air his strong views on everything from Clarkson to Londoners, sheep to farming, whilst highlighting the challenges facing British farmers today. https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/events/the-world-according-to-kaleb-cooper#
Noises Off, Tue 20 – Sat 24 Feb, Oxford Playhouse. One of the greatest British comedies ever written, Michael Frayn’s celebrated play serves up a play within a play, hurtling along at breakneck speed, on and offstage, as a touring theatre company stumbles its way through its own fictional farce. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/noises-off
Six The Musical: June 25 – 29, New Theatre Oxford. Tells the history of Henry VIII’s wives from a new perspective. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. BOOK HERE
St Matthew Passion in March 30, Dorchester Abbey. A highlight of the musical year, celebrate Easter in style with OSJ’s annual performances of JS Bach’s sacred oratorio. Featuring some of Bach’s most delicate chorales and rousing choruses. BOOK HERE
OXOPS Presents Oliver! New Theatre Oxford, Jan 30 – Feb 3. Follow Oliver’s journey through Victorian England as he tries to find a place to call home, meeting a variety of characters along the way, from the morbid Sowerberrys to the vibrant, Nancy. Featuring much loved songs such as, “Consider Yourself”, “Food, Glorious Food” and many more. BOOK HERE
Oxfordshire Artweeks, May 4-27. With 400 venues and 1000 artists across the county, from rural open studios and village trails to world-class venues including Oxford University Colleges, the Bodleian Library and Modern Art Oxford, celebrate the local landscape in ceramics, silver and wood, canvas and textiles – alongside globally inspired art, from Madagascar to Svalbard. https://www.artweeks.org
15 YEARS OF THE INBETWEENERS: IN CONVERSATION WITH JOE THOMAS, January 18, The Mill, Banbury. Joe Thomas and university writing partner Simon Bird were spotted back in 2007 performing their two-man show The Meeting, by TV producers developing the as-then untitled E4 sitcom about four hapless sixth-formers, chronicling their various misadventures. The rest is history. BOOK HERE
Concert of classical and jazz music by autistic performers, Jan 20, 6pm at Dorchester Abbey. Following its success last year, OSJ Music for Autism presents another inclusive concert, featuring two amazing pianists Derek Paravicini, Ashleigh Turley and other young musicians across the spectrum of neurodiversity. An inclusive evening of inspirational music-making. BOOK HERE
Truck Festival. July 26-28, Steventon, Oxfordshire – Largely sold out before even announcing its headliners, Truckers go back time and time again thanks to its excellent vibe, indie idyll and stellar line-up. The best place to see the bands of the future. Book while you still can. https://truckfestival.com
MORGAN & WEST’S MASSIVE MAGIC SHOW FOR KIDS, The Mill, Banbury. Fri January 26. Expect gawps, gasps, and guffaws in this relentlessly funny and fantastical magic filled extravaganza, guaranteed to delight those aged 5-105! Full of their trademark wit, whimsy, and wall-to-wall silliness, conjuring capers, mysterious magic tricks, larger than life laughs and fantastic facial furniture, for all the family. BOOK HERE
FAIRWATER? The Inequality Below the Surface , Museum of Natural History, until September 2024. Travel from water source to mouth to learn about the water inequality that lies below the surface. With striking photography from Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh, the exhibition reveals the global barriers to water equality, how life without clean water has an especially great impact on women’s lives and futures, and what we are doing globally to to shape a fair water future. https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/fair-water
Luna Loves Library Day – The Musical, The Story Museum, Feb 3 – 4 Join Luna and her Dad for an adventure in the library in this exciting family-friendly musical about dinosaurs, mummies, unexplained mysteries, monsters and magic. Based on the critically acclaimed book by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, illustrator Fiona Lumbers, with music and lyrics by David Gibb. 5+ Relaxed performance: Sunday 4 Feb. BOOK HERE
Hundred Watt Club: Burlesque Valentine’s Special, Feb 15, The Mill, Banbury. Gorgeously ravishing, deliciously risque and just a little bit ridiculous, this travelling vaudeville show brings a glittering, sizzling line-up of burlesque showgirls, comedy, circus and cabaret acts for a bawdy night of very grown up entertainment! BOOK HERE
As SHE Likes It, Cornerstone Arts Centre, Wednesday 6 March. This show explores Hollywood’s dark past through Patricia Douglas’ story. A multimedia play exposing sexism, which questions the industry’s evolution since Old Hollywood, this shocking and brilliant show is part of Women’s Week. BOOK HERE
Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, Modern Art Oxford, March 16 – May 26. Using recurring imagery of queer love making, lush tropical greenery and brightly coloured flora, intermixed with symbols of corporate power – the car, the engine, and the spacecraft – the artist invites us to think critically about the potential for an alternative future beyond colonialism and hyper capitalism by the Mexico City-based artist. FIND OUT MORE HERE
Shark In The Park, Sat Feb 10, The Mill, Banbury. Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope – but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!? From the creative team behind ‘The Hairy Maclary show’ and ‘You Choose’ – see all 3 of Nick Sharratt’s ‘Shark in the Park’ books live on stage! BOOK HERE
Red Sky at Sunrise, Sat 17 Feb, Oxford Playhouse. Sstarring Anton Lesser and Charlie Hamblett, follow Laurie Lee through his much-loved trilogy, Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning and A Moment of War in this gorgeous musical programme that weaves around Lee’s writing. BOOK HERE
Wilderness Festival – August 1-4, Cornbury Park. Been practising your naked cricket? Ready for lake swimming and bacchanalian feasts? The UK’s most bohemian festival gathers momentum every year so get your top hats and tassels ready. https://www.wildernessfestival.com
Chaucer Here and Now, until April 28, ST Lee Gallery, Weston Library. Misogynist. Feminist. Conservative. Radical. Respectful. Irreverent. Monocultural. Multicultural. Imperial. Domestic. English. European. Catholic. Protestant. Geoffrey Chaucer as you haven’t seen him before. Not as the “Father of English Literature”, but a dynamic, global author, reworked and reinterpreted globally and over time, and asks why this medieval author still fascinates so many people today. https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/chaucer/
Rewind from Ephemeral Ensemble, North Wall, April 18-19. This multi-award-winning show is told by an international ensemble, piecing together the life and death of Alicia and a crime secretly buried. Inspired by human rights abuse in Latin America the revelations are relayed through visceral music, energetic movement, puppetry, projection and innovative lighting. 14+ BOOK HERE
Ballet Black: DOUBLE BILL, Fri 12 & Sat 13 April, Oxford Playhouse. HEROES by award-winning choreographer, Mthuthuzeli November contemplates the purpose of life in The Waiting Game, his exciting and energetic work about the meaning of life infused with a dynamic soundtrack featuring the voices of Ballet Black artists. Sophie Laplane, the Franco-British artist and Scottish Ballet choreographer has also created a new piece for the tour. BOOK HERE
The Line, The Grain & Everything In Between, Zelga Miller, Sarah Wiseman Gallery, January 19 – February 17. Oxford based artist Zelga Miller’s work speaks of layers, of peeling back the everyday to contemplate what’s beneath. Her work questions the surface, her scenes serene but disquieting. Each composition is poised; there is a sense of balance and reflection, a moment before or perhaps after an event. The softness of Zelga’s colour palette gives each piece a dreamlike impression, and feels intensely feminine. MORE INFO HERE
Macbeth, Tue 12 to Sat 16 March, Oxford Playhouse. English Touring Theatre takes you on a visceral and contemporary new production that speaks to a world we find ourselves living in now, asking why has Macbeth haunted our fears and nightmares for centuries and what lesson is this cautionary tale still urgently trying to communicate to us? BOOK HERE
Come From Away: Tue 23 Apr – Sat 27 April, New Theatre, Oxford. This new smash hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canadaduring the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts. BOOK HERE
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, Oxford Playhouse, Tue 28 – Thu 30 May. Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Come and delve into a range of books with Charlie Cook, brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs, and perhaps you will be able to help his sister discover the wonderful world inside a book…BOOK HERE
The School for Scandal, Oxford Playhouse, Tue 4 to Sat 8 June. Deliciously naughty and outrageously silly, Sheridan’s timeless comedy is a masterclass in social satire and the art of gossip. Reimagined for the 20th century and featuring an unforgettable cast of larger-than-life characters. BOOK HERE
Nocturne, Blenheim Palace – June 13-16. Sunday night has already sold out and with one night yet to be announced the hype around this eclectic music festival rises. So far Chaka Khan and Sister Sledge, Sugababes and Melanie C and Crowded House and Sheryl Crow have been announced as headliners so watch this space. https://www.nocturnelive.com
WiFi Wars, March 16, The Theatre Chipping Norton – the live comedy game show where you all play along! Hosted by comedian Steve McNeil (team captain on UK TV’s hit comedy/gaming show Dara O’Briain’s Go 8 Bit) and aided by Guinness World-Record-Breaking tech whizz, the award-winning Rob Sedgebeer! BOOK HERE
Lore by James Wilton Dance. North Wall, March 2. A folklore-inspired journey into a pagan world of gods, demons and humans, all embodied through otherworldly athleticism, our connection to nature, and the energy that flows from the ground, through our bodies and back into the earth. Accompanied by a specially-composed soundtrack by Michal Wojtas, who draws influence from Viking, Celtic and Slavic folk music. https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/lore/
Big Feastival, 23 – 25 August, Kingham. Back on Alex James’ rocking farm in the Cotswolds over the August Bank Holiday. Book now for another epic, family-friendly weekend of Good Music, Good Food and Good Times. https://thebigfeastival.com
Monica Sjöö: The Great Cosmic Mother, MAO, until February 25. This retrospective exhibition charts the life work of the artist, activist, writer and eco-feminist Monica Sjöö (1938-2005) who was unwavering in her advocacy for gender justice, eco-feminism, matriarchy and social equities and considers the relationship between art, spirituality and politics. Children can enjoy the Make Play Winter Sessions running from January 18 – February 22 drawing on materials and themes within this exhibition. MORE INFO HERE
The PHWOAR Next Door’s Anti-Valentines Day Blunder on Friday February 16, Didcot Cornerstone. OxPHWOARd’s The PHWOAR Next Door is a dazzling blend of lip-sync, striptease, and comedy, offering a subversive, queer cabaret experience that challenges norms with humour and glitter. It’s inclusive and electric fun for everyone 18+ BOOK HERE
& Juliet: Mon 2 Sep – Sat 7 September. Oxford New Theatre. The most famous love story of all time. Remixed. What if Juliet’s famous ending was really just her beginning? What if she decided to choose her own fate? Join Juliet on this sensational journey of self-discovery and second chances, told through some of the most glittering pop anthems of the last three decades from legendary songwriter Max Martin. BOOK HERE
Lizzie On The Fence, OFS, January 14 at 6pm. Human Story Theatre presents a staged reading of the new black comedy by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart. Centred around Lizzie and Bill who have been married for 40 years, until he moves in to a care home. This look at locked down love draws on the writer’s own experience and is campaigning for Anne’s Law in Scotland, to give care home residents the right to a named visitor for future pandemics. BOOK HERE
The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, The Theatre Chipping Norton, April 5. Far from being your atypical folk ensemble, this cult-like collective of like-minded knit-wear enthusiasts is determined to follow in their spiritual father’s immortal footsteps and keep his legacy alive. BOOK HERE
The Great Big Dinosaur Show, Didcot Cornerstone, Saturday 3 March. Simon Mole and musician Gecko bring you a family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists (and some you haven’t heard of yet!). Expect some spine-tinglingly funny scares and get your groove on to some Jurassic Classics! BOOK HERE
I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again… Again! The Theatre, Chipping Norton. April 19. After a sell-out UK tour and a 4-part series on BBC Radio 4, enjoy one final tribute show with Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Hannah Boydell, Ben Perkins, David Clarke, and The Farrington Four band, okes, songs, and gibbon stuffing, to celebrate the late cast members Tim Brooke-Taylor and Jo Kendall https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/events/im-sorry-ill-read-that-again-again#
Dear Evan Hansen: Tue 26 Nov – Sat 30 Nov, New Theatre Oxford. Described as ‘the musical of a generation’ Evan is an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/dear-evan-hansen/new-theatre-oxford
WOMEN IN ROCK 2024, March 9, The Mill Banbury – trailblazing their way across the globe, celebrate five decades of the world’s greatest female rock legends from Suzi Quatro, Janis Joplin, Cher, Tina Turner, Pink, Blondie, Heart, Pat Benatar, Belinda Carlisle and Joan Jett, backed by a band of world-class musicians. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/
