Christmas may be over but there’s still loads of things to do, see, watch and enjoy over the rest of the festive season. Here’s our guide.
- Creation’s The Tale of Beauty and The Tail of The Beast at The North Wall. Until January 7 2023. read our review here Based on the original 1740 book, and recounted by a chaotic 18th century travelling theatre troupe, this is classic Creation, described as a cross between The Play That Goes Wrong and a magical fairytale. Book at https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/beauty-and-the-beast/
2) Tis the season to be jolly! Join OSJ this December for a special New Year’s Eve Concert at Dorchester Abbey with a selection of joyful overtures and dances. https://www.osj.org.uk/events/
3) Lyra’s World’ at Pitt Rivers Museum, the History of Science Museum and The Story Museum until April 2023 . Props and costumes from the BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials  in the city that inspired the trilogy . read about it here. For more details go to The History of Science Museum www.hsm.ox.ac.uk The Pitt Rivers Museum www.prm.ox.ac.uk or The Story Museum www.storymuseum.org.uk
4) Cinderella, Oxford Playhouse – Until Jan 8 – Join Cinderella, and her best friend Buttons the mouse, on a midnight carriage ride like no other to the Playhouse Panto Party of the year! read our review here The handsome but hapless Prince Charming is looking for a wife. But the devilish Dandina has plans of her own. Can the Fairy make sure that true love wins through and help our heroes to stop Dandina’s wicked plans? https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/cinderella-panto#gallery_361327-4
5) Dick Whittington The Theatre, Chipping Norton, until Jan 15 Join Dick on this globetrotting adventure full of non-stop laughter, fantastic music and sheer silliness. From the chaotic streets of Victorian London to jungle palaces, the world’s worst cook to the first female explorer – and of course not forgetting the sweeties – this show has it all. https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/whats-on/dick-whittington
6) Dia al-Azzawi, Painting Poetry. Ashmolean Museum until June 2023. A new exhibition by the internationally recognised Iraqi painter and sculptor who has been living and working in London since the late 1970s. Best known for monumental and colourful canvasses, his work spans many genres. https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/dia-al-azzawi-painting-poetry
7) The Royal Christmas Pudding, Story Museum, until 1 January – a magical, musical storytelling show for families. Meet brother and sister Ben and Sally, whose Dad was the royal cook. Sally has always dreamt of following in her father’s footsteps but Ben is given the job instead. Using stories, songs and lessons their dad taught them, they realise the only way to make their wishes come true is to pull together. https://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/the-royal-christmas-pudding
8) Who Listens and Learns, Modern Art Oxford until March 5. An exhibition by Korean American writer, artist and musician Johanna Hedva concentrating on artificial intelligence. https://modernartoxford.org.uk/whats-on/johanna-hedva-who-listens-learns
9) Christmas at Blenheim Palace until January 2. The festive extravaganza, features a magical outdoor illuminated light trail. the creative re-telling of the story of The Snow Queen inside the Palace and an artisan Christmas Market. Enjoy over a million lights as seasonal sounds fill the air, glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colour. http://blenheimpalace.com/Christmas
10) These Things Matter: Empire, Exploitation and Everyday-Racism. Blackwell Hall, Weston Library at the Bodleian until February 2023. A startling new exhibition exploring the devastating and long term effects of the British Empire and the Transatlantic Slave Trade interpreted through seven selected artists, partnered with Museum of Colour museumofcolour.org.uk
11) Mamma Mia, New Theatre, until Sat 31 Dec. read our review here We all know the story so join the cast on their Greek island paradise and immerse yourself in this well known musical about love, friendship and identity told through the timeless songs of ABBA, as Sophie’s hunts down the father she’s never known in time for her wedding. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/mamma-mia/new-theatre-oxford/
12) Crumple’s Christmas Adventure, until Sat Dec 31, BT Studio, for those age 3-8. Unwrapped, scrumpled and thrown away Crumple’s Christmas adventure begins read about it here as the wrapping paper figure sets off on a quest to find the forest where he belongs. He discovers snow and trees, lots of fun and music, and makes new friends along the way. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/crumples-christmas-adventure
13) Hunt For The Lost Toys Trail, Oxford until December 31. Join this free, fun, Christmas trail, running until the New Year. All you need is your smart phone to take you around ten Oxford city centre spots searching for the Christmas Imps using QR codes. Starting at Hoyle’s, and finishing at Oxford Castle and Prison, take in Oxford’s stunning landmarks from the Radcliffe Camera to the Covered Market. https://www.oxlightfest.com/hunt-for-the-lost-toys
14) Christmas Laser Maze, Ridgeway Adventures, Didcot until December 31. One of only five such sites in the UK, this laser maze (not to be confused with laser tag) becomes ‘Operation Grinch’, a themed Christmas heist experience, throughout December! Players will have the opportunity to steal presents from underneath a Christmas tree, carefully navigating the lasers to avoid waking the sleeping family you’re stealing from! Book at www.ridgewayadventures.co.uk
