Nothing to do? Bored? Think again because we have picked out tips on what to see, do, watch, enjoy, join and listen to right here in Oxfordshire – starting tonight.
1)Mark Watson, How You Can Almost Win – Live on Zoom tonight (Friday January 5) at 7.30pm via The Theatre Chipping Norton.
Despite the current lockdown, comedian Mark Watson is determined to bring some much-needed laughter your wa, so even though his show can’t take place in Chippy, he’s bringing you his new show to you virtually. Based on his experiences on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls enjoy this is a sort of motivational talk about what it taught him. But with lots of jokes! Tickets £17. https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/whats-on/mark-watson
2) Creation – Grimm Tales for Fragile Times & Broken People, live until February 14 with streamed performances from 24 February – 13 March.
Oxford’s Creation Theatre presents this virtual feast of live storytelling inspired by the fairy tales from Brothers Grimm. READ ABOUT IT HERE: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/the-magical-mystery-tour-creations-grimm-tales-for-fragile-times-and-broken-people-takes-virtual-theatre-to-a-whole-new-level/
Set in a distorted world of hand-crafted toy theatres, reinvented and reinterpreted for the digital stage, this production features a collection of gruesome fairy tales including The Juniper Tree, The Moon, and Godfather Death. Deliciously dark and twisted, hence the 12+ age guideline, watch on Zoom. Booke here: https://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/grimm-tales/
3) Take part in our amazing Valentine’s Competition with Oxford Fine Dining which closes on Sunday February 7. Win a five course meal for two worth £75 a head, with fizz and wine, delivered to your door. Yes really! READ ABOUT IT HERE: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/valentines-competition-win-a-five-course-meal-for-two-by-oxford-fine-dining-plus-wine-fizz-worth-75-per-head-delivered-to-your-door/
Or read our full Valentine’s Day takeaway guide here: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/top-25-valentines-day-takeaways-our-pick-of-oxfordshires-culinary-cupids-coming-to-the-rescue/
4) Take part in #TheExcuseMeProject digital exhibition at The North Wall on Saturday (February 6) from 10am-12pm, when photographer Ian Taylor will be offering 10 minute slots over Zoom to anyone over 18 who would to be featured in his new exhibition. Ian will take your photo and ask your name, what you do and where you live. Your photo will then be added to the project gallery. Please email lairdn@thenorthwall.com to reserve your place.
The exhibition itself runs virtually until February 20 depicting Oxford’s strangers to help us understand our communities ranging from Oxford city centre to rural Oxfordshire. READ ABOUT IT HERE: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/theexcusemeproject-photographing-strangers-demonstrates-oxfordshires-diverse-community-at-north-wall-and-you-can-take-part/
Check out #TheExcuseMeProject at https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/ian-taylor-the-excuse-me-project/
5) Musical urban fairytale SAMMY AND THE BEANSTALK, Oxford Playhouse until Mon 22 Feb for 7+. Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose presents their fun and spooky, contemporary urban fairy tale based on classic winter tales, both cosy and gothic, as well as opera, theatre and film to create a thrilling story-telling experience, in a wonderfully intimate setting which you can livestream.
Eight-year-old Sammy and her dad used to have lots of fun together, making up stories and mixing potions in their kitchen. But something outside is scaring Dad and he doesn’t have the energy to play anymore. As Sammy ticks off the days until her mum gets home, Dad becomes more withdrawn and a mysterious vine starts tapping at their windows. What does it want? And is there anything Sammy can do to help Dad be brave once more? Tickets £5. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/whats-on/all-shows/sammy-and-the-beanstalk/13790
6) Mary Poppins, Cornerstone Dicot, live storytelling every Tuesday and Thursday. Cornerstone Arts Centre is bringing back #CornerstoneStorytime on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm and livestreaming them reading the children’s classic Mary Poppins on their Facebook page. Completely free to watch and very family friendly, this is perfect viewing if anyone’s children need entertaining whilst at home. https://www.cornerstone-arts.org/whats/cornerstonestorytime
6) Ashmolean at Home – Enjoy new home learning activities, listen to a new podcast, enjoy a range of online talks and workshops. Plus, browse the numerous online exhibitions, films, articles and much more.
There is a huge children’s section of drawing, puzzles and online activities to enjoy including their own Animal Crossing game, plus the upcoming ONE WORLD FESTIVAL – Love and New Beginnings next Sunday (Feb 14) on Valentine’s Day. Hear from curators, and enjoy stories, music, and crafts. https://www.ashmolean.org/ashmoleanfromhome
7) AT The Bus has kicks off its new MASKED fundraising exhibition to raise £150,000 for the Oxford based art therapy charity for young people. Local, award-winning photographer Joanna Vestey has tear a series of socially distanced photos of 24 high profile actors, comedians, lawmakers, artists, designers and authors, all in masks, to raise money for charity. Check out this impressive rogues gallery which includes Grayson Perry, Philip Pullman, Dawn French, Juliet Stevenson, Cornelia Parker and Jenny Saville. https://www.atthebus.org.uk
READ ABOUT IT HERE: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/andrew-scott-sir-philip-pullman-dawn-french-and-grayson-perry-join-stars-photographed-for-oxfords-at-the-bus-charity/
8) Sabrina Richmond presents 13 Secrets at OFS on Tuesday 9 & Wednesday 10 February at 8pm. Zoom. Tickets £5.
It’s the night before Namatama’s wedding. Gathered with her mother and aunt, the bride-to be partakes in an age-old ritual: receiving no-holds-barred advice on sexual satisfaction from the women in her family. Songs are sung, wine is drunk and gifts are shared. The women share all sorts of secrets about their sexual experiences. But in a family where two sisters have an unspoken rift, other sorts of stories – each with their own version of events – are bound to tumble out. Join these three women for an evening of song, stories and sex talk. https://oldfirestation.org.uk/whats-on/13-secrets/
9) Michelle Elman online on ‘The Joy of Being Selfish’, in conversation with Grace Latter, via Blackwells. Life coach and influencer @scarrednotscared Michelle Elman is here to show others how to treat you, rid your life of drama and toxic relationships and allow you to love yourself and others. Tickets £5 each, £17 with the book.
And check out Blackwell’s extensive and exciting author line up which includes Novel Voices: Meng Jin and J.A. Mensah on Feb 22 and in March Detransition Baby with Torrey Peters, Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again with Katherine Angel and Acts of Desperation with Megan Nolan. https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/events/
10) The PappyShow Movement Workshop, 15 February, North Wall for ages 12-17 An online YouthLab theatre workshop for anyone up for doing some moving and shaking! It’s quite physical though, so be prepared to sweat, push yourself and have lots of fun. £5 https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/the-pappyshow-movement-workshop/
11) Dantzig Gallery, Woodstock has launched its first lockdown pop up exhibition #WoodstockWindow with Marie Boyle’s still life paintings in February followed in March by David Freud.
Read about it here: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/dantzig-gallery-in-woodstock-rewrites-the-rules-with-marie-boyle-and-david-freuds-new-pop-up-exhibitions/
12) OUR TAKEAWAY GUIDE – And if all that is making you hungry then check out our takeaway guide of 70+ options of the top notch tucker available throughout Oxfordshire in lockdown. http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/top-60-oxfordshires-definitive-2021-takeaway-guide-eat-like-a-god-and-support-your-local-cafes-pubs-and-restaurants/
13) The Yeoman at Home, Freeland, every Friday night in lockdown, is proving hugely innovative by engaging us every Friday night with a food and entertainment menu from quiz’s to wine and beer tasting, bingo to karaoke. Tonight you can enjoy Fish, Fizz & Quiz, while next week it’s movie/date night with accompanying hotdogs, nachos and popcorn takeaway.
14) Small people under the age of five, will enjoy Emma Boor’s Play the World Online every week on Fridays throughout February and March via Pegasus Theatre on Zoom. Join Emma and a host of puppet friends in creative, immersive play exploring a different world each week! There are 16 different themes to experience, from Shoe Farms to Outer Space. Each session is packed with fun and engaging ways for you and your little one to play imaginatively and creatively with simple, everyday objects. https://pegasustheatre.org.uk
15) Mark Thomas – Check Up: Our NHS@70 on Tuesday February 16. North Wall. Mark Thomas’s Lockdown Live series continues with this award winning show live-streamed, in which Mark spent a month shadowing nurses, consultants and staff at the Imperial Group of NHS hospitals. This time Mark is going back to some of those experts to conduct live interviews after the show about the state of our health. How is the NHS doing? Where does it go next? What do we need to do? Featuring a live intro by Mark, a recording of this acclaimed 2018 show, and a live post-show Q&A with NHS professionals. Tickets £5. https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/mark-thomas-check-up/
