Oxford Playhouse What's On Guide - Autumn 2022

Oxford Playhouse

WHAT’S ON GUIDE AUTUMN 2022

September 2022 to January 2023

#SmileWithOP

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Welcome Welcome to a scintillating season of drama, dance, music and family entertainment – where there really is something for everyone…

You are warmly invited to a rocking royal party, as our feisty heroine Cinderella outwits her awful sisters with the help of a mysterious shape-shifting fairy and a mouse called Buttons. But who will ultimately catch the attention of Prince Charming, in the Kingdom of Ox’s most loved Panto?

Join Bugsy Malone and his shifty gangster crew in Fat Sam’s roarin’ 20’s Speakeasy, as this ★★★★★ blockbuster of a modern musical hits our stage in September. Step aboard RUSH: A Joyous Jamaican Journey, charting the Windrush generation’s influence on global music, unpacking soulful beats of roots, ska, reggae, faithfully revived on stage by the JA Reggae Band. The music vibes continue as jazz returns to OP with a funky and stylish line up which includes the legendary James Taylor Quartet, multi-award-winning Jacqui Dankworth and National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO).

Bring out your inner sleuth to resolve Agatha Christie’s murder mystery The Mirror Crack’d or discover how a one-time bouncer and football fanatic became the head of the catholic church in The Two Popes. If it’s laughs you’re after look no further than SPIKE – an absurdly funny play that delves into the inner workings of comedic icon Spike Milligan or brave the front row for Harry Hill, Ed Gamble or Henning Wehn, amidst a cracking line up of quirky comedians.

These productions have been created here in the county, either by Oxford Playhouse or by local artists, amateur and professional.

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Rebellion, resistance and revenge wrestle it out in Frantic Assembly’s electrifying adaptation of Othello and choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh’s Clorinda Agonistes, based on the proud and fiery female Muslim warrior.

Both productions injecting classic tales with contemporary relevance and poignancy.

We are thrilled to showcase the most exciting international dance talent on our stage, from award-winning dance choreographer Hofesh Shechter to fore fronting Hip Hop dance company Just Us Dance Theatre.

We dare our young audiences (and their brave adult companions) to enter a world of Dragons & Mythical Beasts, soar high on the wings of Zog and the Flying Doctors or join Michael Morpurgo’s most daring piglet on Mudpuddle Farm!

There is much more on offer in our Burton Taylor Studio and on our Digital Stage – including a virtual reality double bill brought to us from Donmar Warehouse. For those of you who’d rather be on the stage than in a seat – check out our range of Take Part activities for drama and writing enthusiasts of all ages, or join our team of volunteers, young ambassadors or associate artists...

A warm welcome awaits you here, so what are you waiting for?

See you soon,

Vanessa Lefrançois Director / CEO

Theatre and events especially for families.

Come and play in the foyer area before and after the show.

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Zog and the Flying Doctors. © 2016 Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Published by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic Children’s Books.

Fri 19 to Sun 21 Aug Fri 4.30pm Sat & Sun 11am, 2pm & 4.30pm Tickets £17.50 Age guideline 3+ but all ages welcome

OP Picnic Bags are available to pre-order OPinion "Everyone's favourite dragon returns for another adventure full of song and dance complete with comedy villain - what's not to like? I loved it!"

Craig Russell Sales & Marketing Officer

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Freckle Productions in association with Rose Theatre present

ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS Based on the book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Zog, super keen student turned air-ambulance, still lands with a crash-bang-thump. Together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress!

With a bit of help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl make her uncle better and prove princesses can be doctors too?

Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling sequel, Freckle Productions (Zog, Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales, Tabby McTat) bring the creative team behind Zog, Emma Kilbey and Joe Stilgoe, back together for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale.

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RUSH: A JOYOUS JAMAICAN JOURNEY Join us as we tell the story of Reggae music and the Windrush Generation and hear how this music took the world by storm.

Narrated by comedian John Simmit and featuring ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and Reggae played live by the JA Reggae Band.

Get ready to enjoy the music of Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Millie Small and many more.

“This is a fantastic show, informative, hugely entertaining & the music – WOW!!!... the two vocalists were outstanding & gave me chills with their amazing voices.”

Thu 25 Aug 7.30pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available

Age guideline 11+ FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

Audience member

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Fri 26 to Sun 28 Aug Fri 2pm Sat & Sun 11am & 2pm Tickets £15.50 Age guideline 3+ but all ages welcome

OP Picnic Bags are available to pre-order

From the creators of DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE

DRAGONS & MYTHICAL BEASTS Calling all brave heroes! Enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical new interactive show for all the family.

Unveil a myriad of dark secrets with this Olivier Awardnominated production and come face-to-face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you'd think), an adorable Unicorn and a majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes; just don't wake the Dragon...

★★★★ “Mind-blowing puppet monsters!”

Time Out

★★★★ “Comical, spellbinding show!”

The Guardian

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Photo credit: Tom Visser

Hofesh Shechter Company presents

CONTEMPORARY DANCE 2.0 Choreography & Music by Hofesh Shechter Performed by Shechter II A rhythmic, fiercely energetic and exhilarating performance from celebrated choreographer Hofesh Shechter and his award-winning company Shechter II. Contemporary Dance 2.0 unleashes the intensity of Shechter’s signature ensemble work combined with an eclectic sound-score with euphoric feel and throbbing beats.

In a work that is dipped in ironic references to pop culture and making a playful take on Shechter’s own art form, in Contemporary Dance 2.0 only one thing is certain, the dancers do it their way.

Inspired by the original production created for GöteborgsOperans Danskompani in 2019, Contemporary Dance 2.0 is re-imagined by Shechter II, the very best of the next generation of world-class performers aged 18-25.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Wed 7 Sep 7.30pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

Age guideline 13+

Produced by Hofesh Shechter Company and co-commissioned by Düsseldorf Festival!, Espace 1789 Saint-Ouen, with production support from Théâtre de la Ville Paris, Teatro Comunale Città di Vicenza, and a production residency at Arts Depot, London. Hofesh Shechter Company gratefully receives support towards the delivery of Shechter II 2022, which includes Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and core funding from John Ellerman Foundation. Hofesh Shechter Company is supported using public funding through Arts Council England and benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects.

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Mon 12 Sep

National Youth Jazz Orchestra

7.30pm Tickets £22.50

NYJO: BASIE & BEYOND

Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

In Basie & Beyond, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra explores the impact on popular music made by Count Basie & twentieth-century Black American artists that followed: Frank Foster, Dizzy Gillespie, Tadd Dameron, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, Thad Jones.

To their lives and struggle we owe an unpayable debt.

We invite you to join us in celebrating their monumental contribution to the music we love.

Join Artistic Director, Mark Armstrong, as he leads this 19-strong NYJO through bespoke arrangements of classic American Songbook melodies.

OPinion “It’s fantastic to welcome back NYJO to The Playhouse stage. A celebration of jazz big-band sound, showcasing incredible young talent and the jazz stars of the future.”

Ashley Bale Technical Director

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OXJAMS Oxford Jazz Masters Series (OxJaMS), returns to celebrate over 20 years of scorching contemporary and improvised jazz.

Regulars at the Burton Taylor Studio, the core trio of George Haslam (reeds), Leigh Harris (piano), and Steve Kershaw (double bass) bring the best of national and international talent in concerts featuring guest artists from the UK, Argentina, Cuba, Italy and beyond.

Tue 13 Sep 7.30pm Tickets £20 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF

Expect stunning musicianship and thrilling improvisation in this evening of the best of contemporary jazz. With special guests to be announced.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Thu 15 Sep 7.30pm Tickets From £10 Access discounts only

JTQ: THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET Lead by Hammond organ-guru, James Taylor, JTQ stands with one foot planted in 2022, and other, just as firmly, somewhere south of the 1970s.

For more than 25 years, The James Taylor Quartet has set the standard for the coolest sounds in funky acid jazz.

On dozens of critically acclaimed albums and at their legendary live shows, both at home and around the world, they’ve quietly become a byword for distinguished British creativity.

In addition to his work with JTQ, James has collaborated with the likes of U2, The Wonderstuff, Manic Street Preachers, The Pogues and Tom Jones.

“An instrumental tour de force.”

The Times

“The band's impressive live reputation holds fast - like the Hammond organ, it takes jazz and funk and gives it a righteous, spinning roar.”

The Guardian

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JACQUI DANKWORTH & CHARLIE WOOD Just You, Just Me: A Concert of Duets, Celebrating a Century of Song Multi award-winning vocalist, Jacqui Dankworth, is joined by acclaimed American pianist-vocalist, Charlie Wood for a unique concert of duets celebrating a century of song.

Sat 17 Sep 7.30pm Tickets £27.50 Discounts available

Inspired by some of the great musical partnerships, such as Ray Charles and Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, George and Ira Gershwin and Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway - the concert will feature numbers including: Alone Together, Autumn In New York, It Don't Mean a Thing, A Foggy Day, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and You've Got a Friend.

“Jacqui Dankworth, one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing.”

The Guardian

“Remember the first time you heard Dylan, or Springsteen. or Costello, or Waits?

Charlie Wood delivers that same jolt.”

The Jazz Times

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Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Birmingham Rep Theatre and Kenny Wax present The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre production Alan Parker’s

BUGSY MALONE A modern musical classic

Play by Alan Parker, Words and Music by Paul Williams Prohibition era, New York. A city full of mobsters, showgirls and dreamers. Rival gangster bosses Fat Sam and Dandy Dan are at loggerheads. The custard pies are flying and Dandy Dan’s gang has gotten the upper hand since obtaining the new-fangled ‘splurge’ gun. Now, Fat Sam and his bumbling buffoons are in real trouble!

Enter Bugsy Malone, a penniless one-time boxer and allround nice guy. All Bugsy really wants to do is spend time with his new love, Blousey, but will he be able to resist seductive songstress Tallulah and stay out of trouble long enough to help Fat Sam to defend his business..?

Alan Parker’s world-famous movie which launched the careers of Jodie Foster and Scott Baio, becomes a spectacular theatrical experience for the very first time on tour in this revival of the universally acclaimed Lyric Hammersmith Theatre production. Packed with instantly recognisable songs from Oscar-winner Paul Williams including My Name is Tallulah, You Give a Little Love and Fat Sam’s Grand Slam, Bugsy Malone is a joyously uplifting masterclass of musical comedy!

Tue 20 to Sat 24 Sep Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7pm Fri 8pm Matinees Wed & Sat 2pm Fri 4pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF TUE OR SAT MAT

Age guideline 6+

OPinion “An all-singing, all-dancing, electrifying, laugh-out-loud, toe-tapping spectacle for the whole family! Nights out at the theatre don’t get much bigger or brighter than this.”

Dan Gilbert Programming Co-ordinator

★★★★★ “A blast... Triumphant razzmatazz perfection.”

Daily Telegraph

★★★★ “A whomping big crowd-pleasing hit.”

The Times

“The audience went wild with delight.”

Access performances

See pages 56-57

The Guardian www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Karl Sydow, Trademark Films and Anthology Theatre present the Watermill Theatre production

SPIKE

A new comedy by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman “I’m not acting crazy. I’m the genuine article.”

It’s 1950s austerity Britain, and out of the gloom comes Goon mania as men, women and children across the country scramble to get their ear to a wireless for another instalment of The Goon Show. While Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers get down to the serious business of becoming overnight celebrities, fellow Goon and chief writer Spike Milligan finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC. Flanked by his fellow Goons and bolstered by the efforts of irrepressible sound assistant Janet, Spike takes a flourishing nosedive off the cliffs of respectability, and mashes up his haunted past to create the comedy of the future. His war with Hitler may be over, but his war with Auntie Beeb - and ultimately himself - has just begun.

Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler?

SPIKE is an absurdly funny new play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman (The Wipers Times, Trial By Laughter, A Bunch of Amateurs) that delves into the inner workings of one of our most unique and brilliantly irreverent comedy mind

★★★★ “A fast-paced, capering production.”

The Guardian

“If you liked the Goons you will love it.”

Sunday Times

★★★★ “Very silly indeed.”

Tue 27 Sep to Sat 1 Oct Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF TUE OR SAT MAT

A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

Age guideline 10+ Spotlight Thu Mat

OPinion “A fast-paced new comedy from Ian Hislop and Nick Newman paying tribute to the comic genius of Spike Milligan and the spirit of the Goons. What a treat!”

Kate Peden Development Director

The Financial Times

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Tue 4 Oct

Just Us Dance Theatre

7.30pm Tickets from £10

BORN TO EXIST

Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

OPinion “At the cutting edge of UK Hip Hop, Joseph Toonga uses his distinctive choreography to tell bold stories and illuminate experiences.”

A new Hip Hop dance work by Joseph Toonga Commissioned by The Place and Dance East In Born to Exist, Joseph Toonga, a choreographer at the forefront of Hip Hop in the UK and internationally and Emerging Choreographer with The Royal Ballet, analyses representations of women of colour through the individual stories of immigrants to the UK. He draws on the collected lived experiences of the fivestrong female cast and his own memories of coming to the UK and growing up with resilient, independent-minded female relations to construct and reflect portraits of Black, Asian and ethnic minority women.

“Toonga’s choreography sits neatly alongside the cultural signifiers of black culture.”

Lorna Irvine, fjord review

Vanessa Lefrançois Director/CEO

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IT’S YOUR PLAYHOUSE BECOME A MEMBER With generous ticket discounts, priority booking and exclusive access to our beautiful Members' Room, membership allows you to enjoy more of the theatre you love, for less.

TH EF LY

Membership starts from £50 a year Find out more at www.oxfordplayhouse.com/membership

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EBSK F VIT

BE OUR FRIEND Oxford Playhouse is for everyone. By becoming a Friend, you can help us show worldclass theatre, keep tickets affordable, nurture the next generation of theatre-makers and provide arts activities for thousands of children across Oxfordshire.

Friendship donations start from £500 a year Find out more at www.oxfordplayhouse.com/support-us For further information, please contact the OP Membership team on 01865 305315 or email membership@oxfordplayhouse.com

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Original Theatre presents

THE MIRROR CRACK'D Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff Directed by Philip Franks

1960s England and a wind of change is blowing through the land.

It has even reached the sleepy village of St. Mary Mead.

There’s a new housing estate to make the villagers curious and fearful. And even stranger, a rich American film star has bought the Manor House.

Jane Marple, confined to a chair after an accident, is wondering if life has passed her by. Then there is a vicious murder, and Miss Marple must unravel a web of lies, tragedy and danger.

This adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous novel brings real emotional depth and psychological insight to a thrilling story of revenge and the dark secrets that we all hide.

Mon 10 to Sat 15 Oct Evenings Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF MON OR SAT MAT

A limited number of £5 tickets are available for OPTin! members

Age guideline 10+

Starring Susie Blake as Miss Marple (Victoria Wood's As Seen on TV, Coronation Street, Mrs Brown's Boys), Sophie Ward (A Very British Scandal, Holby City, Land Girls) and Joe McFadden (Holby City, Heartbeat and Strictly Come Dancing 2017 winner).

“Wagstaff finds new depths in Marple.”

The Times

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Rose Theatre in association with Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham and Oxford Playhouse present a Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Anthology Theatre co-production in association with Tara Finney Productions Anton Lesser and Nicholas Woodeson star in

THE TWO POPES

By Anthony McCarten Directed by James Dacre

Tue 18 to Sat 22 Oct Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available

From the writer of the Academy Award-winning Bohemian Rhapsody, Darkest Hour, and The Theory of Everything, comes the play that sparked a major motion picture.

Nine years ago, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by resigning, the first Pope in 700 years to do so. What drove this archconservative to break with sacred tradition and make way for a one-time tango club bouncer, footballloving reformer with the common touch to become Pope Francis, one of the most powerful men on earth?

Starring Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, The Crown, Endeavour) and Nicholas Woodeson (Baptiste, The Death of Stalin, The Danish Girl) this gripping and entertaining new play from Anthony McCarten premiered at Royal & Derngate, Northampton in 2019 and was adapted into the multi-award-winning film for which McCarten was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Awards.

Directed by James Dacre (2020 Olivier Award nominated Our Lady of Kibeho) with original music by Grammy and BRIT Award-winning composer Anne Dudley.

The Two Popes is a fascinating and humorous story that shines a light into one of the world’s most secretive institutions. At its heart lies a timeless question: in moments of crisis, should we follow the rules or our conscience?

★★★★ “Rhapsodically intense.”

★★★★ “Compassionate and intelligent.”

Daily Telegraph

The Mail on Sunday

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF TUE OR SAT MAT

A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

Age guideline 10 + Spotlight Thu Mat Post show talk Wed

OPinion “Anton Lesser and Nicholas Woodeson give stand out performances in this stirring play about rivalry, shared guilt and papal powerplay, brilliantly directed by James Dacre.”

Marianne Jacques Marketing Director

Access performances

See pages 56-57

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Sun 23 Oct

Oxford Opera Company presents

3pm & 7pm Tickets £40, £29, £19

CELEBRATE OPERA!

Discounts available

Age guideline 8+

A Joyful Journey Through The World’s Greatest Music The award-winning Oxford Opera Company is back at the Playhouse celebrating the wonderful world of Opera.

A fabulous line-up of some of the UK’s brightest and best soloists will take you on a wonderful whistle-stop journey through the history of Opera. Featuring your favourite music from universally adored composers including Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, Mozart and more!

Joined on stage by members of the Oxford Opera Orchestra and the Oxford Opera Youth Chorus it promises to be a joyful celebration of all things Opera as Oxford Opera raises funds and support for its forthcoming production of Puccini’s Tosca at Oxford Playhouse in March/April 2023.

“Playhouse delights in Oxford Opera’s pitchperfect production of Puccini’s La Bohème.”

Oxford Mail Supported by Oxford City Council

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“You excel at what you do and we are very lucky to have you!”

Layla Moran MP

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Golden Toad Theatre presents Michael Morpurgo's

PIGS MIGHT FLY Based on Michael Morpurgo's Mudpuddle Farm A new farmyard musical about the joy of unlikely friendships.

This bold and energetic new musical follows the air-raising adventures of Pintsize, the youngest and most daring piglet on Mudpuddle Farm.

Pintsize loves nothing more than playing with his nextfarm-neighbour and best friend Diana the sheep. But one day he wakes up to discover a tall fence built between their two farms. Devastated by the loss of playtime with his best pal and the fact that pigs can't jump over fences, Pintsize resolves that he will figure out how to fly over it instead.

Can his determination and ingenuity defy the laws of physics? Will crotchety Farmer Rafferty finally make peace with his neighbour, Farmer Brightwell? Can Albertine the clever goose keep Pintsize from hurting himself as he tries to fly?

Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo, Pigs Might Fly features catchy songs, puppetry and slapstick humour to bring the farmyard to life.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Mon 24 to Sat 29 Oct Mon 4pm Tue to Sat 11am & 2pm Tickets £14.50 Group discounts available

Age guideline 3+

Musical adaptation by Caroline Wigmore & Jen Green Directed by Kate Golledge

OP Picnic Bags are available to pre-order

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b*spoke theatre company presents

DINNER WITH GROUCHO

By Frank McGuinness Directed by Loveday Ingram

Two men, together, on the edge of heaven.

In a strange restaurant two American giants who revere each other, Groucho Marx and TS Eliot, meet for an imaginary dinner, both in their own ways great defiant spirits, creating magic and anarchy, revealing secrets and sorrows, the evening presided over by a Proprietor, who seems to control the workings of the universe. Or does she?

In Dinner With Groucho all is revealed, or nearly so...

Direct from the Dublin Theatre festival and Belfast International Arts Festival, b*spoke theatre company – “The very best talents in contemporary Irish Theatre” (Irish Independent) presents an evening that promises blistering wit, brilliant buffoonery, and reflections on the ephemeral nature of life. With Choreography by David Bolger (CoisCéim) and original score by Conor Linehan, the cast includes Ian Bartholomew and Ingrid Craigie.

“McGuinness is a master craftsman among dramatists.”

Sunday Herald

Tue 1 to Sat 5 Nov Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets From £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF TUE OR SAT MAT

A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

Age guideline 10+

OPinion “Frank McGuinness, channels the quick wit and droll humour of Groucho Marx and the poetic thoughtfulness of TS Eliot, in a fast-paced fictional dinner date like no other.”

Dan Gilbert Programming Co-ordinator

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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A Frantic Assembly Production, co-produced with Curve Shakespeare’s

OTHELLO

Frantic Assembly presents its award-winning, electrifying take on Shakespeare’s tragedy of paranoia, sex and murder.

Othello’s passionate affair with Desdemona becomes the catalyst for jealousy, betrayal, revenge and the darkest intents.

This ground-breaking company takes Shakespeare’s muscular and beautiful text, combines its own bruising physicality, and presents an Othello firmly rooted in a volatile 21st century. This is a world of broken glass and broken promises, of poisonous manipulation and explosive violence.

As relevant today as it ever was, Othello exposes the tension, fear and paranoia buried beneath the veneer of our relationships and how easily that can be maliciously exploited.

“A fierce re-imagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, tense and highly watchable.”

The Times

“A pulsating production that hurls Othello well and truly into our times.”

The Independent Quotes from 2014 production

Tue 8 to Sat 12 Nov Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets from £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF TUE & SAT MAT

A limited number of £5 tickets available for OPTin! members

Post show talk Thu Eve Age guideline 14+

OPinion “For over 25 years Frantic Assembly has excelled at making brave and bold physical theatre. If you have never seen them before, don’t miss Othello.”

Tom Legg Marketing Assistant

Access performances

See pages 56-57

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Image: Chris Nash

Tue 15 & Wed 16 Nov 8pm Tickets From £10 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF TUE

A limited number of £5 tickets are available for OPTin! members

Post show talk Tue Age guideline 12+

Co-produced by Sadler’s Wells.

Supported by the Royal Philharmonic Society with funding from the RPS Drummond Fund.

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Shobana Jeyasingh Company presents

CLORINDA AGONISTES CLORINDA THE WARRIOR

Clorinda Agonistes is a dramatic and powerful work weaving contemporary dance and film with opera, baroque and new music to create a story of resistance, resilience and rebellion across the boundaries of culture and time.

It is inspired by the heroine of Claudio Monteverdi’s celebrated work Il Combattimento, the proud and fiery Muslim warrior Clorinda who refuses to reveal her name.

In Shobana Jeyasingh’s bold, visceral and surprising retelling of Clorinda’s story, the heroine becomes symbolic of women engaged and caught up in the struggles of the Middle East today.

In this bravura act of time travel, the baroque beauty of Monteverdi’s score gives way to music by the celebrated Syrian-American composer Kareem Roustom, whose specially commissioned score is played live uniting one of the country’s most popular tenors, Ed Lyon, with the acclaimed Conductor Robert Hollingworth of I Fagiolini.

“When Shobana Jeyasingh is firing on all cylinders, there is hardly another UK choreographer who can touch her.”

The Times

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The Annual Charles Simonyi Lecture 2022:

SCIENTIFIC MYTHMAKING AND RACE

Wed 16 Nov 5pm Tickets £7.50

Join Marcus du Sautoy and Angela Saini for this year's Charles Simonyi Lecture.

Science promises us verifiable truths about the world.

But what happens when scientists get things wrong?

Race science is one of the clearest examples we have of how politics and prejudice can lead even the most rational, objective people down a path of mythmaking – sometimes for hundreds of years. Racial categories may feel tangible, but we know from history and genetics that they’re no more rooted in biology than class categories are.

Award-winning science journalist Angela Saini explains the story of race science and eugenics, draws on case studies and data to show what race really means, and asks if it’s possible to build a more accurate portrait of human difference.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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An Oxford PlayhouSe Pantomime Fri 25 Nov 2022 to Sun 8 Jan 2023

Directed by Toby Husle Written by Anna Nicholson and Bobby Goulder Dramaturgy by Toby Hulse

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Are you ready for a gigantic sprinkle of Christmassy festive magic?

The handsome but hapless Prince Charming has finally left university and come back home to the Kingdom of Ox. He’s ready to take on the crown and he’s looking for a wife. His ‘loyal’ Deputy is there by his side, but the devilish Dandina has plans of her own. She’s determined to become Queen herself, whatever that may take...

Meanwhile our feisty Cinderella is busy bringing justice and freedom to the people browbeaten by Dandina’s outrageous tax on singing. If only her awful sisters would give her a break from running around after them day and night!

Can the mysterious shape-shifting Fairy make sure that true love wins through and help our heroes to stop Dandina’s wicked plans?

Join Cinderella, and her best friend Buttons the mouse, on a midnight carriage ride like no other to the Palatial Playhouse Panto Party of the year!

“Robin Hood is the ultimate panto… oh yes it is… full of infectious joy and laughter and a must see for all!

“Sweet Pantomime, welcome back!”

What’s Good To Do (on Robin Hood)

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

For everyone aged 5 to 105!

Tickets from £15

© Illustration: www.korkypaul.com

★★★★★

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PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE November Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

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£4 off

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11am

2pm

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Age 18 and under, NHS staff, full time students & those in receipt of Universal Credit.

7pm

Excludes £15 seats ID required

NO PERFORMANCES

January

NO PERFORMANCES

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

10am

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

11am

2pm

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NO PERFORMANCES NO PERFORMANCES

Ticket Prices Seasonal Special NO PERFORMANCES

Term Time

NO PERFORMANCES

Off Peak Peak

All tickets £15 £15 | £18 | £22 £15 | £19 | £23 | £27

£15 | £21 | £26 | £30 | £34

NO PERFORMANCES

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

BOOKING INFORMATION Full Circle & Enjoy members 25% off Sat 3 Dec at 4pm, Fri 16 Dec at 6pm, Tue 3 Jan at 6pm & Sat 7 Jan at 7pm GREAT rates for groups for peak & off peak perfs only Groups 10+ 10% off every ticket Groups 15+ 15% off every ticket Schools tickets £13 plus every 16th ticket FREE Age guideline and baby tickets We recommend 5+ for our pantomimes, brave children under 5 are more than welcome but may find some scenes loud and others scary. Babies under 24 months old must have a free lap ticket which can be booked via the Box Office.

Relaxed performance Sun 4 Dec at 11am Audio described performances Sun 4 Dec at 4pm Sat 7 Jan at 7pm British Sign Language interpreted performance Thu 15 Dec at 6pm Dementia friendly performance Tue 3 Jan at 11am Captioned performance Wed 4 Jan at 6pm See pages 56-57 for more information

Don’t forget Oxford Playhouse is the perfect place to have some festive fun with the whole family. We have...

© Illustration: www.korkypaul.com

★ Picnic bags for children to take into the ★ A limited quantity of Ear Defenders show! Pre-order yours online or via the Box available upon request.

Office for £5 (includes homemade sausage ★ Lots of locally sourced drinks roll - homemade cheese & onion roll (V) and treats for grown-ups including crudité & dip (V & VG) plus a bag of crisps, coffees, teas and Christmas bubbly. confectionary item, and a carton of juice). ★ Programmes available to ★ FREE booster seats for children pre-order at £4.50. so everyone can see the action.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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An Oxford Playhouse Production

Written by Tarek Merchant

Thu 8 Dec to Sat 31 Dec 2022 ©Illustrations by Kati Lacey

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www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Unwrapped, scrumpled and thrown away... Crumples’s Christmas adventure begins! Shaping up into a wrapping paper figure he sets off on a quest to find the forest where he belongs. With your help, he discovers snow and trees, and makes new friends along the way. Changing form and having fun, Crumple becomes a star in his home and the world at large...

Thu 8 Dec

10am

2pm

Fri 9 Dec

10am

2pm

Sat 10 Dec

10am 12pm

Crumple’s Christmas Adventure, with live music is brought to you by Tarek Merchant (Musical Director, 101 Dalmatians, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre; Hex, National Theatre).

Mon 19 Dec

3pm

Sun 11 Dec Mon 12 Dec Tue 13 Dec

10am

2pm

Wed 14 Dec

10am

2pm

Thu 15 Dec

10am

2pm

Fri 16 Dec

10am 12pm 2pm

Sat 17 Dec

10am 12pm

3pm

Sun 18 Dec Tue 20 Dec

10am 12pm

Wed 21 Dec

10am

3pm

Thu 22 Dec

10am 12pm

3pm

Fri 23 Dec

10am 12pm

3pm

Sat 24 Dec

10am

2pm

Sun 25 Dec Mon 26 Dec Tue 27 Dec Wed 28 Dec

12pm

10am

Thu 29 Dec

10am 12pm

Fri 30 Dec

10am

Sat 31 Dec

10am 12pm

3pm

2pm 3pm 2pm 3pm

Tickets OFF PEAK £11.50 Children £9.50 PEAK £13 Children £11 Age guideline 3 to 8

R

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

All dates/times are relaxed performances

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Watch this space...

Room on the Broom © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2001 – Macmillan Children’s Books

On sale soon…

For the best seats at the best prices join as an Oxford Playhouse Member today, and enjoy priority booking along with a range of other benefits.

Visit oxfordplayhouse.com for details.

ROOM ON THE BROOM LIVE ON STAGE IGGETY ZIGGETY ZAGGETY ZOOM! Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The witch and her cat are travelling on their broomstick when they pick up some hitch-hikers – a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird and a frantic frog. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK – it snaps in two... just as the hungry dragon appears!

Will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?

Find out in the magical Olivier Award nominated show for everyone aged 3 and up.

Get a sneak preview at roomonthebroomlive.co.uk

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★★★★★

★★★★

“A truly theatrical feast.”

“Perfect introduction to the theatre.”

The List

Sunday Express

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Watch this space...

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*sort of)

By Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen

★★★★★ THE FIVE STAR COMEDY SENSATION DIRECT FROM THE WEST END A unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story. Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation, where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance.

On sale soon…

For the best seats at the best prices join as an Oxford Playhouse Member today, and enjoy priority booking along with a range of other benefits.

Visit oxfordplayhouse.com for details.

It’s the 1800s.

It’s party time.

Let the ruthless matchmaking begin.

“Deserves the standing ovations it’s getting nightly.”

Domenic Cavendish, The Daily Telegraph

“Hilarity, romance, madness, and utter theatrical joy. The whole house rose to its feet and cheered and cheered.”

Stephen Fry www.oxfordplayhouse.com

01865 305305

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COMEDY & TALKS Fri 16 Sep 7.30pm

LUKE WRIGHT An ALL-NEW show with deliciously funny poems set against a backdrop of pandemic politics, ageing parents, and the poet’s quest for JOY! Luke Wright is adept at taking poetry places it doesn’t normally go. John Cooper Clarke’s regular warm-up guy writes poems that are tender, riotous, caustic and romantic then delivers them with the ferocity and panache of a raconteur at the top of his game.

HARRY HILL: EXPERIMENTS IN ENTERTAINMENT 3 – WORK IN PROGRESS

Tickets £20 Access discount only

Age guideline 14+ “His performances rumble with rage, passion and humour.”

Guardian

Sun 2 Oct 7.30pm Tickets £22.50 Access discount only

Join Harry Hill as he test drives his latest idea of what a joke is.

Age guideline 14+

Laugh with him as he succeeds, distance yourself from him as he fails, track him down in the bar and get a selfie, ask him if he’s bringing TV Burp back, phone your mum and get him to wish her a happy birthday. Let’s Mattress!

FLO & JOAN: SWEET RELEASE Multi-award winning musical comedy duo (and sisters) Flo & Joan are climbing out of their pits, armed with a piano and percussion section to bring you a brilliant show of their critically acclaimed songs and comedy poking around all the classic topics of the day: overthinking, alien lovers and fringes. Their unique, sharp-tongued style has taken them around the world with multiple sell-out tours and appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival Montreal and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

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Sat 8 Oct 7.30pm Tickets £25 Access discount only

Age guideline 14+ “It’s the harmonies of Frankie Valli with the sensibilities of Frankie Boyle.”

Chortle

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

COMEDY & TALKS Tilted presents in association with Somethin’ Else

SOMETHING RHYMES WITH PURPLE ON STAGE Featuring Gyles Brandreth and Susie Dent

Delve into the world of words with Something Rhymes with Purple on Stage based on Gyles Brandreth and Susie Dent’s award-winning podcast. Expect theatrical antics from the show’s affable hosts, with all the trademark repartee and wordplay of the podcast, including Susie’s Trio, Gyles’ poetry, bizarre origins of sayings and a deep dive into our language and expressions.

In association with IF Oxford, The Science and Ideas Festival

WEAPON OF CHOICE: AGATHA CHRISTIE AND POISONS An exploration of the poisons used by the Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie, in her bestselling detective stories. In this talk, chemist-turnedauthor, Kathryn Harkup looks at how the writer used her extensive knowledge of drugs and medicines mixed with real life cases to create her brilliantly plotted crime novels. We will look at howdunnit, but whodunnit is for you to find out.

DAVID O’DOHERTY: WHOA IS ME Here he comes again, trotting onto the stage with all the misplaced confidence of a waiter with no pad. There'll be lots of talking, some apologising and some songs on a glued together plastic keyboard from 1986.

Sun 9 Oct 2.30pm Tickets £29.50 Discounts available

Age guideline 7+

Fri 14 Oct 5pm Tickets £5 Age guideline 12+

Sun 16 Oct 7.30pm Tickets £25.50 Access discount only

Age guideline 14+

As seen on Channel 4's Along for the Ride with David O'Doherty, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and BBC's Live At the Apollo.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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COMEDY & TALKS Fri 21 Oct 5pm

In association with IF Oxford, The Science and Ideas Festival

SELF-DEFENCE FOR TIME TRAVELLERS

Tickets £5

Comedian Mike Capozzola's live, multimedia nerd-comedy show looks at the unexpected consequences of irresponsible time-travel and ways to outsmart historical adversaries like a velociraptor, a Victorian fisticuffs champ, werewolf, centaur and a slippery 1950's American 'Greaser.’

Wed 26 Oct 7pm

In association with IF Oxford, The Science and Ideas Festival

BRAINTASTIC! SCIENCE: MASTERING MEMORY Can you trust your memories? Maybe not.

In this interactive science show, learn how memories stored in the brain can play tricks on you through a series of memory games and quizzes. Discover top memory tips and explore psychology and neuroscience research that can help boost your learning and recall skills. Plus, there is plenty of time to ask expert presenter Alina Ivan any questions you might have about your incredible brain!

ED GAMBLE: ELECTRIC

01865 305305

Tickets £5 Age guideline 12+

Thu 27 Oct 7.30pm

Avalon UK presents

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Age guideline 12+

He’s been on the road since February, played three sold out nights at London’s iconic Hackney Empire and now Ol’ Broken Pancreas is charged up and ready to flick the switch on even more nights of attention seeking.

Tickets £22.50

Co-host of the mega-hit podcast Off Menu, Taskmaster champion, and has his own special Blood Sugar available worldwide on Amazon Prime. Seen and heard on the BBC’s Mock the Week, Live At the Apollo, QI, Would I Lie To You, The Russell Howard Hour and on Radio X.

“An ability to open his mouth and spontaneously say something hysterically funny.”

James Kettle, The Guardian

Access discount only

Age guideline 14+

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

COMEDY & TALKS SIMON EVANS: THE WORK OF THE DEVIL

Fri 28 Oct 8pm

Simon Evans’ (Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, The News Quiz) last show, Genius 2.0 was described by The Scotsman as ‘A Masterclass.’ and provided an hilarious analysis of the departure of any visible sign of intelligence from modern life. But his new show raises the stakes, with his usual excoriating views of a world on fire given a perspective shift from personal revelations that turned his world upside down this year.

AUSTENTATIOUS: THE IMPROVISED JANE AUSTEN NOVEL An improvised comedy play. In each show the cast conjures up a brand new ‘lost’ Jane Austen novel based on nothing more than a title suggested by the audience. No two shows are ever the same, with previous ‘lost’ masterpieces including ‘Crazy Rich Georgians’, ‘Double 0 Darcy’ & ‘Game of Scones’. Performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment, this is a Regency treat guaranteed to delight the whole Ton, Austen novices and die-hard fans alike.

HENNING WEHN: IT’LL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH

Access discount only

Age guideline 14+ ★★★★ “A gripping and, ultimately heartwarming tale... rich with Evans' wit and caustic observation.”

The Scotsman

Sat 29 Oct 8pm Tickets £21 Access discount only

Age guideline 14+ ★★★★★ “Ridiculously silly... wickedly funny.”

The Times

★★★★ “A joy to behold.”

The Guardian

Thu 17 & Fri 18 Nov 7.30pm

Watch German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn give everything a good rinse and witness him wring sense out of the nonsensical. An unbiased look at a certain virus might be inevitable but Henning has no agenda; he just happens to be always spot on. It’s a curse.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Tickets £19.50

Tickets from £24.50 Access discount only

Age guideline 16+ “A master at using his outsider status.

Dazzlingly funny.”

The Times

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COMEDY & TALKS Fri 7 & Sat 8 Oct Fri 7pm Sat 3pm & 7pm Tickets FREE booking essential

Age guideline 8+ Location Top Room Please note the Top Room is only accessible by stairs

In association with IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival

ALICE IN THE UNIVERSE A PLAY IN THE MAKING Alice is 14 and she’s recently moved to Oxford. She misses her old life and decides to run away. On her journey she encounters six female scientists and a five-year-old child who need her help.

Will she stay or go? Join Alice on her time bending adventure.

A great opportunity for young people who like science facts in their fiction to observe a rehearsed play reading and discover how far curiosity will take you.

A draft play by Oxford playwright JC Niala.

Mon 30 Jan to Sat 4 Feb 7.30pm Tickets £27 Age guideline 16+ John Mackay in association with Debi Allen / Curtis Brown presents

“The world’s greatest living stand-up.”

Times ★★★★★ “Lee remains one of the best stand-ups in the country.”

Metro

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STEWART LEE: BASIC LEE After a decade of ground-breaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, Lee enters the post-pandemic era in streamlined solo stand-up mode with his brand new show.

One man, one microphone, and one microphone in the wings in case the one on stage breaks. Pure. Simple. Classic. Basic Lee.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

OP

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Wanna try Something different?

Oxford Playhouse is teaming up with Out of Chaos – in the Autumn, on an exciting Oxford-based interactive theatrical experience...

Oxford: There’s Something Going On Here is a new kind of experience. It doesn’t happen in a theatre. There are no tickets, no seat numbers, no curtain up. It’s a blend of live phone calls, pop-up artworks, publicspace happenings and a finale which brings everyone together.

It begins with a phone call from the Department of Continuity – and a warning.

A portal from the past may have opened in your area. Would you keep an eye open, report any strange occurrences?

In the days that follow come more calls… messages… conversations… connections… between neighbours… between friends… between strangers. A game is afoot.

But who’s in on it?

Oxford: There’s Something Going On Here unfolds in bite-size morsels across two weeks in the Autumn. We’re looking for Individuals or communities to get involved.

If you think your community may want to be part of the game, email happeninghere@oxfordplayhouse.com for further information.

Created by Adam Barnard and Paul O’Mahony.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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DIGITAL STAGE

Liminal Stage Productions

GREY MAN Written by Lulu Raczka Directed by Robyn Winfield-Smith He could see it Grey His breath It had gone grey

Mon 10 Oct to Sat 5 Nov Performance times On demand Tickets Free no booking required

Age guideline 14+

First it’s your breath, then your fingers, your insides.

Then you go into lockdown...

Growing up with her teenage older sister, Maya tries to unravel a web of warped urban horror stories, to find where truth ends and storytelling begins.

In this pioneering digital production, two parallel women choose different paths in response to exactly the same events, highlighting the power of our mental outlook – and the stories we tell ourselves – to totally transform our lives.

★★★★ “Gorgeous, haunting.”

Access performances

The Stage See pages 56-57

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www.oxfordplayhouse.com

BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO

The coolest smallest venue in town to enjoy drama and comedy up close The studio is accessed by two flights of stairs.

We have a stair climber for wheelchair users.

If you would like to use this facility, please book with the Box Office in advance and inform them while booking.

Roots / Theatre Royal Plymouth with ETT and Oxford Playhouse

HAPPY MEAL

by Tabby Lamb (they/she) Directed by Jamie Fletcher (she/her) Starring Sam Crerar (they/he) and Allie Daniel (she/her)

Tue 13 to Sat 17 Sep Tue to Fri 7.30pm Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Gender is life tbh. It's like time too I guess.

It kinda doesn't exist, but our world revolves around the expectations we put on it.

Join us for an online show irl. Travel back to the quaint days of dial up and MSN, where you'll follow two strangers on their journeys to become who they always were. A funny, moving and nostalgic story of transition. From teen to adult, from MySpace to TikTok, from cis to trans.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 12+

01865 305305

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BUZZING

Mon 19 & Tue 20 Sep 7.30pm

Written & performed by Debbie Bird Directed by Mark Farrelly

Julie, 50, is divorced and searching for her sex life. Sharing her experiences with raw humour and engaging honesty she introduces us to the range of characters who help (hinder) her attempted transition into an empowered c21st woman.

Lila Clements

LOOK NO HANDS

LITTLE BOXES

Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 16+

Wed 21 & Thu 22 Sep 7.30pm

Cyclist Vee has woken up in A&E. But what she can’t work out is why something so awful... has made her feel so fantastic! Award-winning uplifting story of hope and survival inspired by real events.

Alphamum Productions

Tickets £12.50

Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 12+

Tue 27 & Wed 28 Sep 7.30pm Laugh and cry with Joann Condon (Little Britain) in her comedic and inspirational one woman-show: The hopes and dreams of a child, the frustrations of an acting career, the tensions of parenthood, the grief in losing loved ones, the fear of being… herself.

Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 14+

“Hilarious, moving, sad and uplifting.”

★★★★★ TheSpyInTheStalls.com

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Adult Children

All Kinds of Limbo (Nubiya Brandon) Photography by Blue Laybourne.

Donmar Warehouse in association with ETT, ScanLAB Projects and Trial & Error Studio & The National Theatre Immersive Storytelling Studio present

ADULT CHILDREN and ALL KINDS OF LIMBO An evocative virtual reality double bill exploring shared histories Adult Children Take a seat within a stunning virtual replica of the Donmar Warehouse theatre in Covent Garden and watch Adult Children - a poignant virtual reality drama about longing to be together in a time of social distance.

All Kinds of Limbo Step into this communal, virtual reality experience with lyricist and vocalist Nubiya Brandon, musician Raffy Bushman and the Nu Shape Orchestra. A musical journey inspired by the influence of Caribbean culture on the UK's music scene, with Nubiya telling her own story of a life in limbo across the genres of reggae, grime, classical and calypso.

Fri 23 to Sun 25 Sep Performance times Fri 6pm, 7pm, 8pm & 9pm Sat & Sun 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 7pm, 8pm & 9pm Tickets £15 Age guideline 13+

Adult Children is co-created by Ella Hickson, Sacha Wares and ScanLAB Projects

★★★★ “A beautiful depiction of community, family and especially isolation.”

The Times (on Adult Children)

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Thu 29 & Fri 30 Sept

Icarus Theatre

THE LESSON

Icarus’ blistering and award-winning production of Eugène Ionesco’s classic dark comedy returns to the stage.

Thu 7.30pm, Fri 2.30pm & 7.30pm,

A comically surreal exposé about power, knowledge and those who hoard both.

Tickets £12.50

All performances are enhanced by a bold projection design that features an exciting new Creative Captioning technology, ensuring that every performance is accessible.

Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 14+

EVENING CONVERSATIONS

Mon 3 Oct 7.30pm

Written & performed by Sudha Bhuchar This warm-hearted monologue is inspired by acclaimed actor and writer, Sudha Bhuchar’s banter with her dualheritage millennial sons who have grown up in leafy Wimbledon while her life has spanned three continents. She invites her boys to ‘crack open a cold one’ and share their views on life.

Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 12+

Will her fiercely British sons see their heritage as a place of strength or an unwelcome inheritance?

Rendez-Vous dance

WHAT SONGS MAY DO

Tue 4 & Wed 5 Oct 7.30pm

Revealed by Nina Simone’s songs, this highly anticipated duet by award-winning choreographer and Rendez-Vous dance artistic director Mathieu Geffré exposes with an unapologetic passion the fractured relationship of a once romantic couple as they delve into their past in an attempt to rebuild their future together.

What Songs May Do… is an inclusive dance piece that celebrates love in all its diversity.

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Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 13+

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Thu 6 to Sat 8 Oct 7.30pm

Imole Theatre Company

OUR WAR

By Andrew Ashaye

Our War tells the compelling story of Ola, Tommy & Christian, as they leave their native land Nigeria to war-torn Britain during World War II. Our War dramatises the bravery of these forgotten heroes, Black African & Caribbean men and women who contributed and made sacrifices for the war effort in Britain.

MarianaMalena Theatre Company

PLAYING LATINX Merging spoken word, poetry, stand-up comedy & music, this one-person show follows the adventures of an actor from South America while he navigates the casting and acting world. As he learns to play the game with increasing success, he starts to question how far he himself is becoming complicit in perpetuating the mythic nature of these stock characters and how much he is losing touch with his own identity.

Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 12+

Thu 13 Oct 7.30pm Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 18+

Fri 14 Oct 7.30pm

MarianaMalena Theatre Company

THE TWO OF US This is a story of two women: Mariana, who is single, career-driven, and lives in London; and Blanca, her grandmother, who has been a wife for 75 year, is a mother of nine and a grandmother of 40, and who has always been home.

Tickets £12.50 Discounts £10.50

Age guideline 18+

Through exhilarating movement, music, and language, The Two of Us creates a landscape of Latin American families and traditions and explores the universal beauty, joy, and pain of women communicating across generations.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

01865 305305

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TAKE PART @ OXFORD PLAYHOUSE YOUNG PEOPLE FAMILIES & HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS ADULTS SCHOOLS To book a place on any workshop, course or young company, call the Box Office 01865 305305.

Oxford Playhouse offers a bursary scheme for anyone who wants to take part but may need help with fees.

To apply, email participation@oxfordplayhouse.com

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01865 305305

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

YOUNG PEOPLE

PLAYHOUSE YOUTH THEATRE

PLAYHOUSE YOUNG COMPANY

Tue 20 Sep to Tue 15 Nov (no session Tue 25 Oct)

Wed 21 Sep to Wed 16 Nov

The Playhouse Youth Theatre is our platform for 12 to 16 year olds to develop their passion for performance, learn brand new skills, and build friendships in a supportive setting.

Open to young people aged 17 to 25 with a commitment and passion for performance, our Playhouse Young Company participants will build skills in voice, movement and expression, preparing for a performance on our main stage in March 2023, as part of our Young Players’ Festival.

(continuing into Spring 2023)

Participants will spend the Autumn Term devising an original performance, using the theme ‘World Re-Imagined’ as a stimulus, and amplifying the voices of younger generations on some of the biggest debates of today, all whilst building skills in voice, movement and expression.

For more information on our Playhouse Youth Theatre Autumn Term sessions, please email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com When you sign up, you will receive a Participant Welcome Pack via email, to be completed and returned ahead of the first session.

At the end of the Autumn Term, participants will be introduced to the script for the Spring Term performance, with an expectation to learn lines across the Christmas break, ready to begin rehearsal in the New Year.

In the Spring Term, rehearsals take place on both Wednesday evenings and Saturday daytimes.

For more information on what the commitment to our Playhouse Young Company requires, please email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com

Time 5pm to 7pm

Time 5pm to 7.30pm

Location Top Room

Location Top Room

Course Fee £50

Course Fee £50

Age 12 to 16

Age 17 to 25 Please note, the Top Room, Circle Bar and BT Studio are only accessible by stairs

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

01865 305305

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YOUNG PEOPLE

YOUNG PLAYMAKER

KEEN DRAMA WORKSHOPS

Thu 22 Sep, 6 & 20 Oct, 3 & 17 Nov, 12 & 26 Jan, 9 & 23 Feb, 9 & 23 Mar

Autumn Term dates to be announced

A series of fortnightly skills-based workshops for young writers aged 15 to 20 years old, Young Playmaker supports participants through the process of conceiving and writing their own short play.

Led by professional playwright Renata Allen, and supported by a team of visiting practitioners and writers, participants will be led through the development of their writing, from its initial idea to its first presentation as a rehearsed reading at our Young Players’ Festival in Spring 2023.

For more information on our Young Playmaker sessions, please email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com When you sign up, you will receive a Participant Welcome Pack via email, to be completed and returned ahead of the first session.

In partnership with KEEN Oxford, our free, inclusive drama workshops return for the Autumn Term at KEEN’s base at St Clement’s Centre, Oxford.

Our weekly drop-in sessions, led by Beth Sedgwick, provide a supportive opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to have fun and be expressive through performance. This term our participants will create new scenes and explore imaginary worlds, in preparation for an exciting performance to friends and family at the end of term. Sessions are accessible to disabled and non-disabled participants to ensure everyone can comfortably get involved.

To register interest or to sign up to these free, inclusive drama workshops, email KEEN Oxford at: keen@keenoxford.org To find out more about KEEN Oxford please visit their website: www.keenoxford.org

Time 5pm to 7pm

Time 6.30pm to 7.15pm

Location Lucy Room

Location KEEN (St Clement’s Centre)

Course Fee £100

Course Fee Free (booking is essential)

Age 15 to 20

Age 11+ Please note, the Top Room, Circle Bar and BT Studio are only accessible by stairs

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www.oxfordplayhouse.com

© Illustration: www.korkypaul.com

FAMILIES AND HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE

FUN PALACE

Mon 19 Sep to Mon 14 Nov (no session Mon 24 Oct)

Sat 1 Oct Sharing skills, meeting new people, creating connections.

Monday morning musical fun!

Our free Hey Diddle Diddle sing-along sessions for toddlers and their adults introduce music, dance and performance skills to early years children, to kickstart their excitement for creativity and imagination. With a new theme each week, you and your child are invited to play, laugh and learn in our fun and friendly sessions, conducted by our own musical maestra, Becki Reed.

Space will be provided in our foyer for buggies and pushchairs, and parents are welcome to stay and play after the session has finished.

Fun Palace believes in the genius in everyone, and that creativity in community can change the world for the better. An annual nationwide weekend of action – activities and workshops in arts, science, craft, tech, digital and sports – OP is delighted to be hosting its ninth Fun Palace, and this year we’re back in the building!

Perfect for families, join us for free arts and science activities across our spaces, with crafts and ideas to take home and share with your wider friends and community.

Additional activities will be available to download and print from our website.

Time 11am to 11.30am

Time 11am to 3pm

Location Top Room

Location BT Studio

Tickets £3 (1 parent + 1 child)

Age 11 and under, children must be accompanied by an adult

Age 5 and under

Tickets Free, just drop in

Please note, the Top Room, Circle Bar and BT Studio are only accessible by stairs

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

01865 305305

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FAMILIES & HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

PLAY IN A WEEK: CINDERELLA

COMEDY & CLOWNING

Mon 8 Aug to Fri 12 Aug

During this fun-filled week, where mistakes are an absolute must, Mark Curtis will be your guide through improvisation, gameplay and slap-stick skills as you discover your silly self.

Mon 15 Aug to Fri 19 Aug

Spend the week with us being creative, playing games and making new friends.

Participants will be exploring the magic tale of Cinderella, breaking down the story and rebuilding it in their own way, ready to present to parents and families in the BT Studio at the end of the week. Sessions will involve working together through exercises and activities, where everyone’s ideas are shared and celebrated.

Be prepared to work hard, play hard and laugh hard, discover new things about yourself and make new friends. There will be an informal sharing at the end of the week for family and friends.

For more information, please email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com

For more information on our Comedy & Clowning workshop week, please email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com

When you sign up, you will receive a Participant Welcome Pack via email, to be completed and returned ahead of the first session.

When you sign up, you will receive a Participant Welcome Pack via email, to be completed and returned ahead of the first session.

Time 10am to 1pm

Time 10am to 3pm

Location BT Studio

Location BT Studio

Tickets £125

Tickets £125

Age 8 to 11

Age 12 to 16 Please note, the Top Room, Circle Bar and BT Studio are only accessible by stairs

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ADULTS

PLAYHOUSE ADULT COMPANY

ADULT SKILLS MASTERCLASSES

Thu 22 Sep to Thu 17 Nov (no session Thu 27 Oct)

Mon 15 Aug to Fri 19 Aug

The Playhouse Adult Company welcomes anyone aged 26 and over with a passion for performance, and an excitement for joining a friendly, multi-generational company.

Exploring an anthology of scripted short plays, the Adult Company will work towards an exciting sharing to family and friends at the end of term, all the while building a foundation of key performance skills in voice, movement and expression.

For more information on our Summer Term sessions, please email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com When you sign up, you will receive a Participant Welcome Pack via email, to be completed and returned ahead of the first session.

Whether you’re keen to develop a life-long passion or spark a new curiosity, our Adult Skills Masterclasses provide an in-depth guide to professional skills used by creatives across the theatre industry. Something to learn for stage performance, in the rehearsal room or in the theatre workshop, each Masterclass is delivered by an exciting practitioner working in the industry today.

Join us for just one or enjoy five across the course of the week.

Puppetry – Mon 15 Aug – Sophie Powell Directing – Tue 16 Aug – Jessica Lazar Theatre Design (Set, Props & Costume) – Wed 17 Aug – Jasmine Swan Movement – Thu 18 Aug – Gavin Maxwell Playwriting – Fri 19 Aug – Clare Bayley

Time 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Time 10am to 4pm

Location Top Room

Location Top Room

Tickets £50

Tickets £25 per workshop (£100 for the week)

Age 26+

Age 18+ Please note, the Top Room, Circle Bar and BT Studio are only accessible by stairs

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ADULTS

SPOTLIGHT Thu 22 Sep, Thu 29 Sep, Thu 20 Oct, Thu 10 Nov Our lunchtime Spotlight sessions are for passionate theatregoers eager to learn more about our main stage productions. Spotlight is a friendly discussion forum for people aged 50 and over, where participants join us to explore relevant themes and topics with special guest speakers, with the additional provision of sandwiches and refreshments.

Our upcoming Spotlight sessions: Thu 29 Sep – SPIKE Thu 20 Oct – Two Popes Thu 10 Nov – Othello To book a place at an upcoming Spotlight session, please call our Box Office on 01865 305305. Please let us know any dietary requirements when you book.

Don’t forget to book your ticket to the matinee or any of the other performances taking place for each Spotlight session.

For more information on our Spotlight sessions, email: participation@oxfordplayhouse.com

Time 12.30pm to 2pm Location Lucy Room Cost £7 (Includes a Sandwich lunch) Age 50 and over Please note, the Top Room, Circle Bar and BT Studio are only accessible by stairs

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SCHOOLS

PRIMARY PLAYMAKER

ASSOCIATE SCHOOLS

Recruiting for September 2022

Memberships begin September 2022

A series of in-school workshops, Primary Playmaker is designed to support literacy learning, develop storytelling skills and fire children’s imaginations. This is an exciting opportunity for pupils to learn how to conceive and write their own short play and understand the development process which leads to a professional production.

Working year-round with your school to collaboratively build an exciting, creative environment for pupils and teachers to thrive, Oxford Playhouse is launching a new membership scheme for Oxfordshire primary schools. This new bespoke one-year membership package includes:

A selection of your pupils’ plays will be performed on the OP stage by professional actors as part of our Young Players’ Festival in April 2023.

If you’re interested in signing up or learning more about our Primary Playmaker scheme, please email: learning@oxfordplayhouse.com using the subject heading ‘Primary Playmaker’.

Location In-school workshops Cost £300 per class Age Year 5 & 6 pupils

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

- Workshops in the classroom and at Oxford Playhouse - Access to professional artists and practitioners - Support with creative resources and curriculum planning - Teacher CPD opportunities - Tickets to select OP performances and tours of the theatre This is a perfect opportunity for primary schools looking to embed creativity more thoroughly across the academic curriculum and within the personal development of pupils and staff.

If you’re interested in signing up or learning more about our Associate Schools membership, please email: learning@oxfordplayhouse.com using the subject heading ‘Associate Schools’.

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ACCESS FACILITIES Oxford Playhouse offers a range of access facilities.

To find out more call the Box Office on 01865 305305 or email access@oxfordplayhouse.com Sennheiser infrared headset system for those who are hard of hearing.

Please ask the Box Office staff at the time of booking to advise you on the best places to sit for using the Sennheiser headsets.

Level access from the street to the auditorium.

Low level counters at the Box Office and Bar. Wheelchair spaces (Stalls end of rows E and L and centre of row T).

Unfortunately the Top Room and Circle Bar cannot be accessed by wheelchair users. The BT Studio is accessed via two flights of stairs.

If you require a stair climber please let the Box Office know at least three days in advance.

Captioned performances for those who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing, or who find it useful to follow the text during a show.

British Sign Language (BSL) signed performances where an interpreter stands at the side of the stage for people who use BSL. Audio described performances where (via headphones) a live narrator describes the action in the pauses between the onstage dialogue for those are blind or partially sighted.

Free touch tours accompany audio described performances and are a chance to explore the set before the show begins.

What's On Guides are available as audio recordings and large-print copies on request. Please email access@oxfordplayhouse.com.

Relaxed performances are aimed at anyone who would benefit from a laid-back environment, including people with Autistic Spectrum condition, a learning disability or young children. The house lights will be partially on, audience members can come and go as they please and make noise if they want to.

Dementia Friendly Performances These performances are carefully tailored for those living with dementia and their friends, family or carers. They’re designed so everyone can enjoy the show in a supportive, comfortable, and relaxed environment. Adaptations include reduced volume of music when dialogue is taking place.

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ACCESS DIARY Date

Production

Time(s)

Venue

Access

Page

7pm

Main Stage

11

10 to 5 Nov Grey Man

On Demand

Digital Stage

42

19 Wed

The Two Popes

7.30pm

Main Stage

19

22 Sat

The Two Popes

2.30pm

Main Stage

19

September 21 Wed

Bugsy Malone

October

November 9 Wed

Othello

7.30pm

Main Stage

25

12 Sat

Othello

2.30pm

Main Stage

25

December 4 Sun

Cinderella

11am

Main Stage

29

4 Sun

Cinderella

4pm

Main Stage

29

8 to 31 Dec Crumple's Christmas Adventure

All Performances

BT Studio

33

15 Thu

Cinderella

6pm

Main Stage

29

3 Tue

Cinderella

11am

Main Stage

29

4 Wed

Cinderella

6pm

Main Stage

29

7 Sat

Cinderella

7pm

Main Stage

29

January

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS Oxford Playhouse Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of its core funders:

St John’s College Oxford

Trusts and Foundations The Atlas Fund Backstage Trust Doris Field Charitable Trust The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Dr T M N Salvesen's Charitable Trust The Emmanuel Kaye Foundation The Garrick Charitable Trust The Hugh Fraser Foundation The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust Mactaggart Third Fund Mr & Mrs J A Pye's Charitable Settlement The Schuster Charitable Trust Souldern Trust Still Point Fund Theatres Trust The Thompson Family Charitable Trust Anonymous - but appreciated!

Platinum

Gold

OP Business Club members

Building, Equipment and Technical Support

Learning and Productions Support

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THANK YOU By coming to the Playhouse, you help to keep theatre thriving – thank you. As a charity we also rely on the generosity of friends, members and donors to put productions on stage, reach out to the local community and develop local artists. If you can, please consider making a gift so our work can continue to flourish in future. For further information, contact development@oxfordplayhouse.com Friends of Oxford Playhouse Applause Friends Rev Charlotte & William Bannister-Parker David & Marie-Jane Barnett Danby & Sandy Bloch Prof Sir Clive & Lady Margaret Booth John Peter H Bradley Brian Buchan Antony W Budgen Matthew Derbyshire Alex Duncan Marion Frostick Simon & Alison Jeffreys Greg Lovett Keith McCullagh Elizabeth Paris Sue Staunton Timothy & Marion Stevenson Jens Tholstrup Dr Trudy Watt Ovation Friends Prof Sir Richard and Lady Elizabeth Brook Debbie Dance Dr Sos Eltis Richard Gladstone John & Margaret Leighfield Prof Colin & Annette Mayer John Parrott Will Schreiber Anonymous Standing Ovation Edward & Anna Bernard David & Sue Jackson Anonymous

Donors £250+: 00Productions Louise Armstrong Lady Helen Baker Sir Christopher and Lady Wendy Ball Pauline F Beighton Edward & Anna Bernard B J Birch Valerie Boasten John Peter H Bradley Lesley Brown Antony W Budgen Prof John Carey Martin Cattermole Mark Charter Dr Mark Crane Karen David David Dunne Prof Raymond and Sandra Dwek CBE Kathleen Emmens Miss Patricia Freestone Cllr. Dr James Fry Alan Grafen Kevin Green Brian Griffiths Guy Grimsley Dr Sophie Hague James Hammond Nigel Harper Alan Hodgetts Simon Inch Dr Jane Jackson Sarah Jones Sue Ledwith Geoffrey Lescott Kathryn Lewin Peter Mackridge John May

M J Morris Elizabeth Paris Brian W Plater Diana B Renton Steve Rumford Prof John Simons Sue Staunton Michael Tappin Jens Tholstrup Dr Louise Upton J Willis St Aloysius First School

Alison Townsend Alan Trinder Joyce Wales Edward Whinney Dr Trudy Watt Corporate Donations Carter Jonas Designers Guild Lucy Group Nicholsons

Donors £1,000+: Diana Acland Saphié Ashtiany & Prof Paul Davies Rev Charlotte & William Bannister-Parker Prof Sir Clive & Lady Margaret Booth Prof Sir Richard & Lady Elizabeth Brook His Hon John Quentin and Her Hon Ann Campbell Keith Crawford Dr Cecile Deer James Del Favero Richard and Felicity Dick Alex Duncan Liesl Elder Dr Sos Eltis Richard Gladstone David and Sue Jackson Paul James John & Margaret Leighfield Jack Macpherson Greg Lovett John Parrott Dr Michael Peagram Timothy & Marion Stevenson

We are also incredibly grateful to those who prefer to remain anonymous and anyone who has supported us during the past year, but who we are unable to list here. Your help and solidarity has made an enormous difference during these most challenging of times. Thank you.

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TICKETS AND DISCOUNTS All week-long professional company productions have an allocation of £10 tickets to ensure that everyone can experience our programme, but these seats may sell quickly. We always recommend that you book early to secure the best seats. To ensure the best experience for our audiences and performers, some seats are not offered for sale until the rows nearest the stage are full. If you have any specific access requirements please contact our Box Office, who will do their best to ensure you get the seat you require.

To exchange your tickets for another event you must inform the Box Office and the tickets must be returned so that the Box Office have the tickets in hand at least 24 hours (7 days for group bookings) prior to the advertised start time of the event.

Please note, tickets are non-refundable. If an event is sold out we can try to resell any unwanted tickets (on the day of the performance only), but resale is not guaranteed. Please let the Box Office know as soon as possible before the start of the event. We do not run advance waiting lists for sold out shows.

Discount Group

Ticket Price

Conditions

Up to 50% off opening Available on up to two tickets, on either the night or Saturday matinees opening night or the Saturday matinee, for almost for week-long shows. every production, for all Full Circle & Enjoy Bonus discounts of 25% or members. Membership starts from £50 a year.

50% on most shorter runs.

For more information, visit (excludes £10 tickets) www.oxfordplayhouse.com/membership

£5 tickets available in You must be aged 14 to 25 and a member of OPTin! advance for selected Membership costs £5. Join at the Box Office or visit shows, subject to www.oxfordplayhouse.com/membership availability.

In Advance

£4 off each ticket. Available for most shows on full priced tickets of more than £10 for people 18 and under, Full Time University/College Students (must provide ID on collection), those in receipt of Universal Credit, NHS Staff and Equity, BECTU and Stage Directors UK members. No further discounts available. £11.50 tickets for students and under 18s are available for student shows, and must be booked by the Sunday before the show starts.

Access Users

£11.50 or £15 per ticket. Available for most shows for access facility users, wheelchair users and one companion.

Schools & Colleges

£11.50 or £15 per ticket plus one free teacher seat for every 10 seats booked.

An allocation of tickets is available Monday to Thursday for most shows. School tickets for Cinderella are from £13.

Group Rate

10% off for groups of For all groups of 10 or more. Not available online, 10 or more and 20% for email boxoffice@oxfordplayhouse.com for group groups of 40 or more. bookings. Payment must be made as one transaction.

(Available Mon to Thu & Sat Matinee performances only)

Over 60s Matinee £4 off the full price.

Limited number available to anyone over 60 for most

Thursday and Saturday matinee performances.

Must be booked before the week of the show.

Max 4 tickets per booking.

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BOOKING INFORMATION Seating Plan Possible limited view. Please call the Box Office for further information.

These seats can be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Please call the Box Office for further information.

Rows AA to C are sometimes removed for staging and are therefore not always available – please check with the Box Office when booking.

G23 G27

FIRST FLOOR

G5 G1

F27

F1

E27

E1

D27

D1

C27

C1

B27

B1

A27

A1

View from Row A, Circle

W22 W27

U23

U26

GROUND FLOOR

U18

U6 U7

U1

T27

T1

S27

S1

R26

R1

Q27

Q1

P26

P1

N27

N1

M26

M1

L27

L1

K26

K1

J27

J1

H26

View from Row K, Stalls

H1

G26

G2

F25

F3

E25

E4

D24

D5

C23

C6

B22

B7

A21 AA20

A8 AA9

View from Row A, Stalls

Conditions: All discounts are subject to availability and at the discretion of the Duty Box Office Manager and may not be available for all shows. Discounted tickets cannot be booked in conjunction with any other reductions or offers. Proof of status is required. Please note that not all discounts are available with online booking.

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USEFUL INFORMATION Our address Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW Box Office: 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com Opening Hours Monday to Saturday 12noon until the start of the evening performance.

When there is no evening performance we close at 6pm. Sundays and Bank Holidays we are closed unless we have a performance scheduled, in which case we open two hours before the start. We open one hour before the start of morning performances.

Our foyer bar opens an hour before afternoon and evening performances, with the Kiosk and Circle Bar opening 45 minutes before performances.

How to get to us Park and Ride: Using one of Oxford’s five Park and Ride services is probably the easiest way to get around the city. For more information visit www.parkandride.net.

Car Parking: Nearby car parks include Gloucester Green (closest), Worcester Street, Abbey Place, Oxpens and Oxford Rail Station. There are on-street pay-and-display meters on Broad Street, St Giles and in Jericho.

Train: Oxford Rail Station is a 10 minute walk. For Oxford Parkway use the Park and Ride.

Bus and Coach: The main Bus and Coach Station is two minutes’ walk away on Gloucester Green.

Family Friendly Shows and activities designed especially for families, plus: Free booster seats.

Free toys and games in the circle bar.

Baby change on ground floor.

Babies are welcome to family shows for free. To book, please call the Box Office on 01865 305 305 or email boxoffice@oxfordplayhouse.com Lap tickets are available for children age 24 months or under for Mainstage shows and 12 months or under for BT Studio shows.

Picnic bags available for many family shows, so your little ones can enjoy lunch whilst watching the show. Book in advance.

Made in Oxford Shows which have been created here in the county.

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Access Read more about the access facilities available at the Playhouse on page 57.

Age guidelines Age guidelines are listed against as many events as possible. The suggested minimum ages are recommendations only based on potential content and information available at the time of printing. If you are booking tickets for other people you are to take responsibility for whether a show is appropriate for everyone within your party. If you would like any more details about any production, please contact the Box Office.

12+ May include themes of a more adult nature and/or occasional mild swearing.

14+ May include violent scenes, swearing, sexual innuendo and/or partial nudity.

16+ May include graphic scenes of violence, nudity, drugs imagery and/or prolific swearing.

18+ Content will contain scenes which may be disturbing and are unsuitable for children.

Stay in touch Be the first to find out what's happening at the Playhouse.

• Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

• Sign up to our weekly e-newsletter at www.oxfordplayhouse.com • Tell us what you think! We welcome all feedback, it's your theatre.

Email admin@oxfordplayhouse.com Data Protection: Oxford Playhouse is committed to being transparent about the information we hold on our audiences and users and making sure it is safe. Oxford Playhouse Privacy Policy has been written with reference to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law 2016, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation (PECR), 2003.

Please see www.oxfordplayhouse.com/customer-privacy-policy/ for full information.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com Registered Company No. 2397373 • Registered Charity No. 900039 • VAT No. 282538973

Printed June 2022. All details correct at time of printing. Design: www.dnal.co.uk

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ARTIST DEVELOPMENT

Oxford Playhouse is committed to discovering, nurturing and promoting the best emerging talent from Oxfordshire and beyond.

Artists are at heart of everything we do at the Playhouse.

OPEN SESSIONS 1:1 Advice Sessions OP offers 1:1 Advice Sessions tailored to individual needs for Oxfordshire based artists, led by a member of our team.

Skills Sessions Evolve your practice and share learning through OP’s regular skills session for artists.

ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Evolve OP’s annual Evolve Artists in Residence scheme supports three to four emerging/ mid-career artists/companies by providing seed funding for projects, research and development, rehearsal space and mentoring.

Playhouse Playmaker Up to six writers are invited to be a part of OP's annual writers’ attachment programme, led by award-winning playwright, Clare Bayley.

The Plot Hosted by OP, The Plot is a group of later-career playwrights, which has met informally since 2015 to develop its own voices and practice, and to support each other in an exchange of culture and community.

Visit www.oxfordplayhouse.com for further information, to sign up to OP’s regular Artists’ newsletter and to see how you can get involved.

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DIARY Date

Day

Production

Time(s)

Venue

Info

Page

August 19

Fri

Zog and The Flying Doctors

4.30pm

Main Stage

20

Sat

Zog and The Flying Doctors

11am, 2pm & 4.30pm

Main Stage

2

21

Sun

Zog and The Flying Doctors

11am, 2pm & 4.30pm

Main Stage

2

25

Thu

RUSH: A Joyous Jamaican Journey

7.30pm

Main Stage

3

26

Fri

Dragons and Mythical Beasts

2pm

Main Stage

4

27

Sat

Dragons and Mythical Beasts

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

4

28

Sun

Dragons and Mythical Beasts

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

4

2

September 7

Wed

Contemporary Dance 2.0

7.30pm

Main Stage

5

12

Mon

NYJO: Basie & Beyond

7.30pm

Main Stage

6

13

Tue

OXJaMS

7.30pm

Main Stage

7

13

Tue

Happy Meal

7.30pm

BT Studio

43

14

Wed

Happy Meal

7.30pm

BT Studio

43

15

Thu

JTQ: The James Taylor Quartet

7.30pm

Main Stage

8

15

Thu

Happy Meal

7.30pm

BT Studio

43

16

Fri

Luke Wright

7.30pm

Main Stage

36

16

Fri

Happy Meal

7.30pm

BT Studio

43

17

Sat

Jacqui Dankworth & Charlie Wood

7.30pm

Main Stage

9

17

Sat

Happy Meal

2.30pm & 7.30pm

BT Studio

43

19

Mon

Buzzing

7.30pm

BT Studio

44

20

Tue

Bugsy Malone

7pm

Main Stage

11

20

Tue

Buzzing

7.30pm

BT Studio

44

21

Wed

Bugsy Malone

2pm & 7pm

Main Stage

11

7pm

21

Wed

Look No Hands

7.30pm

BT Studio

44

22

Thu

Bugsy Malone

7pm

Main Stage

11

22

Thu

Look No Hands

7.30pm

BT Studio

44

23

Fri

Bugsy Malone

4pm & 8pm

Main Stage

11

Adult Children and All Kinds of Limbo

6pm, 7pm, 8pm & 9pm

BT Studio

45

23 Fri

24

Sat

2pm & 7pm

Main Stage

11

24 Sat Adult Children and

All Kinds of Limbo

Bugsy Malone

11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 7pm, 8pm & 9pm

BT Studio

45

25 Sun Adult Children and

All Kinds of Limbo

11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 7pm, 8pm & 9pm

BT Studio

45

27

Tue

SPIKE

7.30pm

Main Stage

13

27

Tue

Little Boxes

7.30pm

BT Studio

44

28

Wed

SPIKE

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

13

28

Wed

Little Boxes

7.30pm

BT Studio

44

29

Thu

SPIKE

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

13

29

Thu

The Lesson

7.30pm

BT Studio

46

30

Fri

SPIKE

8pm

Main Stage

13

2.30pm & 7.30pm

BT Studio

46

30 Fri The Lesson

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DIARY Date Day

Production

Time(s)

Venue

Info

Page

October 1

Sat

SPIKE

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

13

2 Sun

Harry Hill: Experiments in Entertainment 3 Work in Progress

7.30pm

Main Stage

36

3

Mon

Evening Conversations

7.30pm

BT Studio

46

4

Tue

Born to Exist

7.30pm

Main Stage

14

4

Tue

What Songs May Do

7.30pm

BT Studio

46

5

Wed

What Songs May Do

7.30pm

BT Studio

46

6

Thu

Our War

7.30pm

BT Studio

47

Alice in the Universe A Play in the Making

7pm

Top Room

40

7 Fri

7

Fri

Our War

7.30pm

BT Studio

47

8

Sat

Flo & Joan: Sweet Release

7.30pm

Main Stage

36

Alice in the Universe A Play in the Making

3pm & 7pm

Top Room

40

8 Sat

8

Sat

Our War

7.30pm

BT Studio

47

9

Sun

Something Rhymes with Purple

2.30pm

Main Stage

37

Grey Man

On Demand

Digital Stage

42

10 to 5 Nov 10

Mon

The Mirror Crack'd

7.30pm

Main Stage

17

11

Tue

The Mirror Crack'd

7.30pm

Main Stage

17

12

Wed

The Mirror Crack'd

7.30pm

Main Stage

17

13

Thu

The Mirror Crack'd

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

17

13

Thu

Playing Latinx

7.30pm

BT Studio

47

Weapon of Choice: Agatha Christie and Poisons

5pm

Main Stage

37

14 Fri

14

Fri

The Two of Us

7.30pm

BT Studio

47

14

Fri

The Mirror Crack'd

8pm

Main Stage

17

15

Sat

The Mirror Crack'd

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

17

16

Sun

David O'Doherty: whoa is me

7.30pm

Main Stage

37

18

Tue

The Two Popes

7.30pm

Main Stage

19

19

Wed

The Two Popes

7.30pm

Main Stage

19

20

Thu

The Two Popes

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

19

Self-Defence for Time Travellers

5pm

Main Stage

38

21 Fri

21

Fri

The Two Popes

8pm

Main Stage

22

Sat

The Two Popes

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

2.30pm

1pm touch tour 19

23

Sun

Celebrate Opera!

3pm & 7pm

Main Stage

20

24

Mon

Pigs Might Fly

4pm

Main Stage

21

25

Tue

Pigs Might Fly

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

21

26

Wed

Pigs Might Fly

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

21

Braintastic! Science: Mastering Memory

5pm

Main Stage

38

26 Wed

27

Thu

Pigs Might Fly

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

21

27

Thu

Ed Gamble: Electric

7.30pm

Main Stage

38

28

Fri

Pigs Might Fly

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

21

28

Fri

Simon Evans:

8pm

Main Stage

39

66

19

The Work of the Devil

29

Sat

Pigs Might Fly

11am & 2pm

Main Stage

21

29

Sat

Austentatious

8pm

Main Stage

39

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DIARY Date Day

Production

Time(s)

Venue

Info

Page

November 1

Tue

Dinner with Groucho

7.30pm

Main Stage

23

2

Wed

Dinner with Groucho

7.30pm

Main Stage

23

3

Thu

Dinner with Groucho

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

23

4

Fri

Dinner with Groucho

8pm

Main Stage

23

5

Sat

Dinner with Groucho

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

23

8

Tue

Othello

7.30pm

Main Stage

25

9

Wed

Othello

7.30pm

Main Stage

25

10

Thu

Othello

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

25

11

Fri

Othello

8pm

Main Stage

12

Sat

Othello

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main Stage

15 Tue

Clorinda Agonistes Clorinda the Warrior

8pm

Main Stage

26

16 Wed

The Annual Charles Simonyi 5pm Lecture: Scientific Mythmaking and Race

Main Stage

27

16 Wed

Clorinda Agonistes Clorinda the Warrior

8pm

Main Stage

26

17 Thu

Henning Wehn: It'll All Come Out in The Wash

7.30pm

Main Stage

39

18 Fri

Henning Wehn: It'll All Come Out in The Wash

7.30pm

Main Stage

39

25 Nov to Cinderella 8 Jan 23

Please check website for full schedule

Main Stage

8 to Crumple's Christmas Adventure 31 Dec

Please check website for full schedule

BT Studio

33

7.30pm

Main Stage

40

25 2.30pm

25

Christmas R

29

2023 30 Jan to 4 Feb

Stewart Lee: Basic Lee

R

See pages 56-57

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#SmileWithOP

Oxford Playhouse

WHAT’S ON GUIDE AUTUMN 2022

September 2022 to January 2023

#SmileWithOP

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