Oxford Playhouse What's On Guide Spring 2019

Oxford Playhouse

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Welcome to Oxford Playhouse...

Big birthdays loom large on the horizon, and can cast a shadow over everyday life. I am delighted to say that here at the Playhouse we have managed to balance the plans and projects around our 80th Anniversary with our continuing aspiration to present great shows and engage with audiences of every kind, week in, week out. Our recent glitzy 80th anniversary gala was a night to remember - but so is every child’s first visit to a show, every family’s pantomime outing, every show an emerging theatre maker creates and performs for the first time. OP is for life and not just for birthdays and Christmas (although you’re very welcome to see Dick Whittington even if you haven’t set foot in the theatre since last Christmas when we grew a beanstalk!).

There may be a lot of uncertainty ahead in 2019, but we have some old favourites to light the way. The Showstoppers and Mischief Theatre can both be relied upon to vanquish the January blues; international theatrical phenomenon Art will make you laugh as well as examine your own values and relationships; and Frantic Assembly (last here with Things I Know to be True) will illuminate the stage once more with visceral and timeless stories of war and homecoming. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap broke all box office records last time it came to OP in 2015, while returning family favourites include The Cat in the Hat and Metta Theatre with their spectacular In the Willows.

And there are plenty of new beacons to guide our way too. Princess & The Hustler, presented by Eclipse Theatre who are dedicated to staging new Black British stories, promises to be all the things we want from a night at the theatre - funny, moving, poetic and brave. The Remains of the Day, our own co-production of the current Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s most devastating novel, has been adapted for the stage by OP Associate Artist and Sunday Times bestselling novelist Barney Norris. It’s a beautiful piece of theatre.

Another feature of every Spring season is the range of brilliant amateur companies we host each year. Oxford Operatic Society and Oxford Theatre Guild both share a long and close relationship with OP, and we welcome their take on Sister Act and Chariots of Fire, alongside our two Hilary Term productions by University of Oxford students Enron and Made in Dagenham (both impressively quick off the mark after West End runs). These companies belong to the Playhouse stage as much as any Olivier or BAFTA-winners, and we celebrate their contribution to the cultural life of Oxford during our Big Birthday too.

It may be cold outside, but it’s warm, welcoming and often wondrous here at the Playhouse.

Do come in!

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 Ticket 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 feedback@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/privacy-policy/ for full information.

Look out for our next season...

APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2019 On sale MARCH 2019

Oxford Playhouse Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of its core funders:

Louise Chantal Director/CEO www.oxfordplayhouse.com Registered Company No. 2397373 • Registered Charity No. 900039 • VAT No. 537166534

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

Theatre and events especially for families. Come and play in the foyer area before and after the show.

Printed Oct 2018. All details correct at time of printing. Design: www.dnal.co.uk

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Oxford Playhouse presents The Old Vic and Wise Children production.

Co-produced by Oxford Playhouse with Belgrade Theatre Coventry and York Theatre Royal

WISE CHILDREN

By Angela Carter Adapted and directed by Emma Rice It’s 23 April, Shakespeare’s birthday.

In Brixton, Nora and Dora Chance - twin chorus girls born and bred south of the river - are celebrating their 70th birthday. Over the river in Chelsea, their father and greatest actor of his generation Melchior Hazard turns 100 on the same day. As does his twin brother Peregrine. If he’s still alive. And, if Melchior is their real father after all...

A big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and pain, Wise Children is a celebration of show business, family and forgiveness.

Expect show girls and Shakespeare, sex and scandal, mischief and mistaken identity - and butterflies by the thousand.

In a co-production with Oxford Playhouse, Emma Rice (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Rebecca and Brief Encounter) brings her uniquely musical and exuberantly impish vision to Angela Carter’s great last novel, Wise Children.

Tue 13 to Sat 17 Nov Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £30 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF TUE & SAT MAT

Age guideline 12+ Post show talk Wed Free Pre show talk

With Emma Rice Fri (book in advance)

Access performances

What a joy it is to dance and sing!

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© Illustration: www.korkypaul.com

AN OXFORD PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION Fri 23 Nov 2018 to Sun 6 Jan 2019

Written and directed by Steve Marmion

Join us for a pirate, pussycat and rat-packed panto party!

Dick Whittington’s heading to town to seek his fortune - he’s heard the streets are paved with gold. But when he gets there, it’s hard to see the gold beneath the grime. And King Rat is out to get him!

With a trusty cat in tow and pirate ships on the horizon, Dick’s going to need a little help from you if he’s going to win the day.

Book now for this fabulous festive treat - it’ll be a Whitting-tonne of fun!

★★★★★

★★★★

“Sensational.”

“Brilliantly engaging.”

Oxford Times on Jack and the Beanstalk 2017

Stage on Jack and the Beanstalk 2017

“A ‘triumph-est’ knickerbocker glory of laughter, joy and wonder. Please can I go again?”

OX Magazine on Stage on Jack and the Beanstalk 2017

For everyone aged 5 to 105!

Tickets £10 to £32 Discounts available

For a full performance schedule, including Access and Relaxed Performances, please call the Ticket Office or visit www.oxfordplayhouse.com.

An Oxford Playhouse and Reading Rep production, in association with Reading Libraries

ALBY THE PENGUIN SAVES CHRISTMAS Thu 6 Dec 2018 to Sat 5 Jan 2019 Written and directed by Helen Eastman from an original idea by Hannah Groombridge.

Alby isn’t just any penguin.

Alby is a very special penguin.

Tickets £9 to £11

When he finds Father Christmas’s present list lost in the snow, Alby realises that Christmas isn’t going to happen unless the list is returned.

But it’s going to take a brave little penguin to save the day...

Times vary, please see online

Alby the Penguin Saves Christmas is an enchanting story full of music, puppetry and one very special penguin. The perfect festive treat for children aged 3 to 6 and their families.

© Illustration: Caroline Siew Cheng Teng

R

All dates/times are relaxed performances

The Showstoppers present

James Seabright presents

SHOWSTOPPER! The Improvised Musical

ADAM KAY - THIS IS GOING TO HURT: SECRET DIARIES OF A JUNIOR DOCTOR

Wed 9 Jan The 2016 Olivier Award-winners for Best Entertainment and Family Show return to Oxford Playhouse. A brand new musical comedy is created from scratch at each performance as audience suggestions are transformed on the spot into an all-singing, all-dancing production with hilarious results.

So whether you fancy some Rodgers and Hammerstein set on a Ferris wheel or a little Sondheim on Mount Everest – you suggest it and The Showstoppers will sing it!

★★★★★ “Achingly funny... ” Time Out Critics' Choice

★★★★★ “Had me weeping with laughter... you absolutely have to go.”

Thu 10 Jan Award-winning comedian Adam Kay shares entries from his diaries as a junior doctor in this ‘electrifying’ (Guardian) evening of stand-up and music.

This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor is a Sunday Times bestselling book, and is being turned into a major BBC series.

★★★★ “Viscerally raw and passionately delivered” Chortle OPINION “A razor-sharp comedy for anyone who is ever a bit poorly.”

Louise Chantal Director/CEO

Mail on Sunday Wed 7.30pm

Thu 7.30pm

Tickets £10 to £22

Tickets £20

Discounts available

Discounts available

Age guideline 14+

Age guideline 14+

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THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY Ocean’s Eleven meets the Marx Brothers in this dynamite new comedy direct from the West End! A priceless diamond has been entrusted to the city bank, an institution so corrupt that even the security guards are on the take. Can it be safely stored or will it all go horribly wrong?

Following their sell-out hits The Play That Goes Wrong and Mischief Movie Night, Mischief Theatre returns with this smash-and-grab hit comedy, guaranteed to deliver swag loads of laughter!

Tue 15 to Sat 19 Jan Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £37.50 No discounts Fri & Sat eves FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF TUE & SAT MAT

Age guideline 12+ Post show talk Wed

★★★★★ “The funniest show in the West End.” Daily Telegraph

★★★★★ “A fast and fabulous comedy caper.”

Times

★★★★★ “A night of spectacular madness.”

Whatsonstage.com

★★★★★ “You can't help but laugh like a drain.”

Radio Times Access performances

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OXOPS (Oxford Operatic Society) presents

SISTER ACT – THE MUSICAL When nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder by her boyfriend, she is taken into a Witness Protection Programme and hidden in the least-likely place she'd ever be found – a convent! Whilst there, Deloris breathes new life into the nuns' choir, turning them into gospel superstars, and learns there's more to life than fame and fortune.

Based on the 1992 megahit film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act – The Musical has a powerful gospel and disco-inspired score by eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken.

Oxford’s award-winning operatic society, OXOPS, returns to Oxford Playhouse with this moving and feel-good musical after its four-star production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2018.

★★★★ “Terrific with some magnificent performances.”

Oxford Times on Fiddler on the Roof 2018.

Mon 21 to Sat 26 Jan Evenings Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat 7.30pm Matinee Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £24 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50%OFF MON & SAT MAT

Age guideline 6+

Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Glenn Slater Book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture ‘Sister Act’ written by Joseph Howard.

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe). All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe.

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University of Oxford Student Company: TheatreGoose presents

ENRON ‘I'm not a bad man. I'm not an unusual man.

I just wanted to change the world.’

Lucy Prebble’s Enron tells the gripping story of the people behind the 21st century’s greatest financial scandal.

Taking us within the inner workings of the Texan energy giant, Enron reveals the tragic danger of imperfect humans corrupted by overwhelming ambition and fuelled by a desire to make a mark on history. As one man rises to unimaginable heights, the company he built up collapses beneath his feet.

Performed by University of Oxford students, this fastpaced, hilarious spectacle of a play takes us within the systems that dictate how the world works... but never takes itself too seriously. With velociraptors, frenzied traders and an appearance from Arnold Schwarzenegger, this show has it all.

Wed 30 Jan to Sat 2 Feb Evenings Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £20 Discounts available Student and under 18 tickets £11.50 until Sun before the show FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF WED & SAT MAT

Age guideline 14+

This amateur production is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.

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David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers present the Old Vic Production of

ART

Mon 4 to Sat 9 Feb Evenings Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm

ART is a phenomenon and one of the most successful plays ever. Having opened in 1996, it took both the West End and Broadway by storm, won Olivier, Tony, Moliere and every other major theatre award, and has been packing in audiences worldwide for more than twenty years.

Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm

When Serge spends an extortionate amount of money on an all white modernist painting, his close friends Marc and Yvan are baffled. But does their violent reactions to this provocative canvas mirror more dangerous antagonisms towards each other? Yasmina Reza’s dazzling study of friendship, prejudice and tolerance is a masterpiece.

No discounts Fri & Sat eves

The all-star cast features Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson.

Age guideline 14+

“You'll roar with laughter.”

New York Post

“A stroke of genius.”

Metro

“Works like a charm.”

Tickets £10 to £42.50 FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF MON & SAT MAT

Post show talk Wed Spotlight Thu More info on page 60

Written by Yasmina Reza Translated by Christopher Hampton

Daily Telegraph

“Very funny and exquisitely calibrated.”

Independent

OPINION “What a treat!

Three of our finest actors in a beguiling play which, like all art, is deeper than it might first appear.”

Louise Chantal Director/CEO Access performances

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University of Oxford Student Company: FourSevenTwo Productions presents

MADE IN DAGENHAM ‘Nothing changes if it isn’t challenged.’

How much injustice can women endure before they rebel?

Rita O’Grady is overworked and underpaid - she has finally had enough. It is 1968 and along with her female colleagues at Ford Dagenham, the mother-of-two begins a local battle for equal pay that unexpectedly garners national attention.

This prescient tale attests to the continuing struggle for equal rights that wages on today.

University of Oxford students present this uplifting musical.

Full of energy, grit and passion, Made in Dagenham brings recognition to everyday women standing up for their rights.

Join FourSevenTwo Productions on Friday 15 February at 6.30pm for a free pre-show talk in the Top Room focusing on the gender pay gap. Tickets are free to ticketholders for Made in Dagenham but please book in advance. Please note, the Top Room is not wheelchair accessible.

Wed 13 to Sat 16 Feb Evenings Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £20 Discounts available Student and under 18 tickets £11.50 until Sun before the show FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF WED & SAT MAT

Age guideline 12+

Book by Richard Bean Music by David Arnold Lyrics by Richard Thomas Based on the Woolley/Karlsen/ Number 9 Motion Picture

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe). All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe.

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Dr. Seuss Properties TM & © 2018 Dr. Seuss Enterprises. L.P. All Rights Reserved.

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A Curve and Rose Theatre Kingston co-production in association with the National Centre for Circus Arts

THE CAT IN THE HAT Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It’s fun to have fun but you have to know how!

When the Cat in the Hat steps onto the mat, Sally and her brother are in for a rollercoaster ride of havoc and mayhem! The Cat can rescue them from a dull rainy day, but what mischief do they get up to along the way?

Based on the much-loved book by Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat features feline frivolity aplenty, with his acrobatic accomplices Thing 1 and Thing 2. With riotous rhymes which have delighted children for over fifty years, infectious humour and spectacular circus for the grown-ups, this wonderfully anarchic show is the purrfect treat for all the family.

★★★★ “Loads of fun.”

Times on George's Marvellous Medicine

★★★★★ “An outstanding adaptation.”

Stage on George's Marvellous Medicine

Tue 19 to Sat 23 Feb Times Tue 6.30pm Wed, Thu & Fri 11am & 2.30pm Sat 11am, 2.30pm & 5.30pm Tickets £10 to £22 Discounts available

Family tickets £70 Four best available seats (max 2 adults)

Age guideline 4+

Directed by Suba Das Designed by Isla Shaw Based on the book by Dr. Seuss Play originally produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain Adapted and originally directed by Katie Mitchell

Access performances

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A Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth Production

THE UNRETURNING I want to return to my home.

A British Northern coastal town. Three young men are coming home from war. Their stories, set at different times over the last 100 years, are beautifully interwoven in this compelling new play by Anna Jordan (Yen - Royal Court Theatre, Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2013).

Directed by Neil Bettles (Associate Director of Frantic Assembly) and featuring Frantic’s celebrated physicality, The Unreturning explores the profound effect that war has on young lives, and asks what coming home really means.

What is home? And when experience has shattered you into a million pieces, will home help to put you together again, or treat you as an ugly truth it does not want to confront?

Oxford Playhouse favourites Frantic Assembly make a welcome return to the OP stage following their phenomenal 2016 show Things I Know To Be True and truly gripping Othello (2014).

“A thing of beauty. Exquisitely observed.

An absolute gem.”

Daily Telegraph on Things I Know To Be True

“The vibrant and visceral Frantic Assembly.”

Independent

Tue 26 Feb to Fri 1 Mar Evenings Tue, Wed & Thu 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Wed & Thu 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £30 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF TUE

Age guideline 16+ Post show talk Wed Spotlight Thu More info on page 60

By Anna Jordan Directed by Neil Bettles OPINION “Frantic Assembly return with their award-winning combination of stunning writing, inventive stage design, and much celebrated physicality.”

Laura Elliot Programme Director Access performances

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MILES JUPP IN THE LIFE I LEAD The Life I Lead sees Miles Jupp, one of Britain’s leading stand-up comedians and revered actors (Mock the Week, The News Quiz, Rev, The Durrells), bring David Tomlinson’s remarkable story to life.

Best remembered for playing Mr Banks in Disney's classic film Mary Poppins, David Tomlinson was renowned for playing the classic English gent: forthright, proper, and a loveable fool. His meeting with Walt Disney came to encapsulate his incredible life full of adventure and heartbreak.

The man who portrayed one of cinema’s most famous patriarchs was defined by his relationship with his own father - a remote eccentric, who was hiding an extraordinary tragicomic secret.

A richly comic and moving tale of fathers and sons across the generations, The Life I Lead fills in the blanks behind a very well-known face.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Tue 5 & Wed 6 Mar Evenings Tue & Wed 7.30pm Matinee Wed 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £28 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF TUE

Starring Miles Jupp A new comedy by James Kettle Directed by Selina Cadell

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Photo: Nicholas Guttridge and Benoit Swan Pouffer

Rambert presents

RAMBERT2 Rambert2 is a new group of the world’s best young dancers, coming together to showcase the most exhilarating and fierce choreography around today.

This new ensemble will be performing a pair of works that launched the international careers of their choreographers: E2 7SD by Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director, and former Rambert dancer, Rafael Bonachela and Killer Pig by Israeli dance superstar Sharon Eyal. They will also perform a new creation by Benoit Swan Pouffer, Rambert’s Guest Artistic Director.

Rambert is world famous as Britain’s original contemporary dance company. Rambert2 takes the company’s reputation for bold moves with technical virtuosity, and introduces a new generation of dancers.

“Eyal’s dances are at once sexy, strange and fragile. They conjure a weird and seductive world.”

Fri 8 & Sat 9 Mar Evenings Fri 8pm Sat 7.30pm Tickets £10 to £25 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF FRI

Age guideline 12+

Choreography by Rafael Bonachela, Sharon Eyal and Benoit Swan Pouffer

New York Times

“One of the hottest names in dance.”

Guardian on Rafael Bonachela

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Mon 18 Feb

Confucius Institute at Oxford Brookes University presents

7pm Tickets ÂŁ10 to ÂŁ20

CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL SHOW

Discounts available

Come and join the celebrations as Chinese New Year returns to Oxford Playhouse with some thrilling new acts.

FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF

Touring across the country to celebrate the biggest festive event on the Chinese calendar, Chinese New Year Festival Show is a festive spectacle showcasing the best of Chinese performing arts.

From the daring stunts of Chinese acrobatics to the magnificent 18-metre long Dragon Dance, and more, this is a colourful party of Chinese cultural tradition.

Not to be missed.

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Oxford Opera Company presents

CARMEN Oxford Opera Company makes its debut at the Playhouse with a performance of Bizet’s classic tale of love, jealousy and revenge.

Following the incredible success of Tosca, the city’s new opera company presents an original production starring Hannah Pedley. This most passionate of operas is directed by Paul Carr, with the Oxford Chamber Orchestra conducted by Neil Farrow.

Sun 10 Mar 6pm Tickets £10 to £35 Discounts available

Age guideline 8+ Sung in French with English surtitles

“Hannah Pedley dominated the stage with her supercool, witty, impudent, ultimately defiant and heroic Carmen.”

Sunday Times on Opera Holland Park production

“Oxford Opera can look forward to an exciting future.”

Harmony Magazine

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Oxford Theatre Guild presents

CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1924. The Paris Olympic Games. A devout Scottish Christian runs for the glory of God. The son of a Jewish immigrant runs to overcome prejudice. Two young track athletes who live for the beautiful purity of running and who prevail in the face of overwhelming odds.

Based on the extraordinary true story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, Chariots of Fire is a timeless tale of hope, honour and belief. Adapted from Colin Welland’s Oscarwinning original screenplay, Mike Bartlett's script brings one of the most thrilling Olympic stories to life with a unique fusion of theatre and live athletics.

Oxford Theatre Guild is transforming the Playhouse auditorium into its very own stadium giving an immersive experience that evokes the 1924 Paris Olympics, complete with the iconic Vangelis score.

The production is dedicated to the memory of another great athlete and Oxford legend - Sir Roger Bannister.

Tue 12 to Sat 16 Mar Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinee Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £22 Discounts available On stage seating £22

Stage adaptation by Mike Bartlett Based on the Enigma Productions Limited motion picture By arrangement with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Allied Stars S.A. Panama Screenplay by Colin Welland

This amateur production of “Chariots of Fire” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.

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Gecko presents

MISSING Internationally renowned Gecko are returning to OP, following last year’s critically-acclaimed hit, The Wedding.

Missing is a deliciously warped journey into the depths of the human psyche. Follow Lily, a woman whose soul appears to be decaying. She is very successful in life and love but something is missing...

Amit Lahav’s production invites the audience to experience a series of extraordinary images, jaw-dropping choreography and a tantalizing multilingual vocal landscape. The shadows of Lily’s past invite her and each audience member to consider how far they have strayed from who they are and where they come from.

Tue 19 & Wed 20 Mar Evenings Tue & Wed 7.30pm Matinee Wed 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £25 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF TUE & WED MAT

Age guideline 12+ Post show talk Tue

★★★★ “A splendid production.”

Daily Telegraph

★★★★ “A passionate journey with a very real poignancy, performed with astonishing human and technical skill.”

Stage

★★★★ “Unarguably intense and definitely brilliant.”

OPINION “Last year we were excited to bring Gecko’s unique blend of choreography and theatre to Oxford for the first time.

This year, we’re delighted to welcome them back with their signature show, Missing.”

Laura Elliot Programme Director

Broadway World

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An Eclipse Theatre Company, Bristol Old Vic and Hull Truck Theatre co-production

PRINCESS & THE HUSTLER “My name is Phyllis Princess James. I will wear this crown every day. I will never take it off even when I am asleep.”

Meet Princess. A cheeky 10-year-old, with a plan to win the Weston-super-Mare Beauty Contest. Trouble is, her mum is busy working several jobs, her brother, a budding photographer, won’t even take her picture and then The Hustler returns.

In 1963 Bristol, as Black British Civil Rights campaigners walk onto the streets, Princess finds out what it really means to be black and beautiful.

Eclipse is spearheading a movement to produce the largest ever series of new Black British Stories, including the critically-acclaimed Black Men Walking.

Fri 22 & Sat 23 Mar Evenings Fri 8pm Sat 7.30pm Matinee Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £22 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF FRI

Age guideline 12+

By Chinonyerem Odimba Directed by Dawn Walton

★★★★★ “Powerful, political, lyrical.”

Stage on Black Men Walking

★★★★ “As poetic as it is potent.”

What's On Stage on Black Men Walking

OPINION “We are thrilled to welcome the critically-acclaimed Eclipse Theatre. With writer-director team Dawn Walton and Chinonyerem Odimba, story-telling does not get much better than this.”

Laura Elliot Programme Director

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AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP Discover why Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has kept people guessing for so long, becoming the longest running show of any kind in the history of theatre.

The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be?

One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until at the last, nerve-shredding moment the identity and the motive are finally revealed.

Experience shuddering suspense and a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner.

Mon 25 to Sat 30 Mar Evenings Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets From £10 No discounts Fri & Sat eves FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF MON & SAT MAT

Age guideline 12+ Spotlight Thu More info on page 60

“The cleverest murder mystery of British Theatre.”

Telegraph

By Agatha Christie

“A truly entertaining classic thriller.”

Sunday Times

“Deservedly a classic among murder thrillers.”

Observer

Access performances

See page 64-65

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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An Oxford Playhouse 17|25 Young Company production

NELL GWYNN London, 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things extravagant and sexy. And in the West End, a young Nell Gwynn is causing a stir amongst the theatregoers...

Following their performances of Jane Eyre and On the March, our 17|25 Young Company present Nell Gwynn - a vibrant ensemble production of Jessica Swale’s Olivier Awardwinning and vivacious celebration of 17th century theatrical life.

This warm-hearted, bawdy comedy charts the rise of an unlikely heroine, from her impoverished roots as an orange seller to her success as Britain's most celebrated actress, winning the adoration of the public and the heart of the King. But at a time when women are second-class citizens, will her charm and spirit be enough to protect her from the dangers of the Court?

★★★★★ “The acting was polished, the set imaginative and the ensemble pieces beautifully choreographed.”

Fri 5 & Sat 6 Apr Evenings Fri 8pm Sat 7.30pm Matinee Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £15 Discounts available A limited number of £5 tickets are available to Opt in! members FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF FRI & SAT MAT

Age guideline 14+ Post show talk Sat mat Written by Jessica Swale Directed by Jo Noble

Oxford Times on Jane Eyre

Part of Young Players Festival See page 61 for more information

OPINION “So looking forward to seeing our brilliant Young Company in this ribald, riotous comedy!

New OP Patron Gugu Mbatha-Raw garnered rave reviews as Nell in the original production at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Bet we can match them!”

Louise Chantal Director/CEO

This amateur production is presented by special arrangement with Nick Hern Books.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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A Metta Theatre production, produced in association with Exeter Northcott Theatre

IN THE WILLOWS The hip-hop musical

With epic show tunes and killer beats, this classic story is brought popping and locking into the twenty-first century in an extraordinary new hip-hop musical.

Featuring fast bikes, fierce moves and fabulous vocals.

Starring the Olivier award-winning Clive Rowe (Guys & Dolls, CBBC’s Tracy Beaker) as Badger.

Mole’s first day in ‘The Willows’. The kids look a bit rough.

Surely Mr Badger will look out for her, while hip-hop cool girl Rattie, rich kid rapper Toad and street-dancing Otter teach her the ways of the Riverbank. But when Toad gets locked up for joyriding, the Weasel Clan break in and squat his pad, the Pool Hall. Now it's only a matter of time before Chief Weasel reveals Mole’s dark secret...

After their smash hit street-dance Jungle Book, the award-winning Metta Theatre bring you a bold new take on this much loved classic.

“impressively acrobatic... startlingly moving.”

Times on Jungle Book

Tue 9 & Wed 10 Apr Times Tue & Wed 2pm & 7pm Tickets £10 to £22 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

25% OFF TUE MAT

Age guideline 6+

Book & Lyrics by Poppy Burton-Morgan Music by Pippa Cleary Music & Lyrics by Kieran Merrick

OPINION “Young and old will marvel at Metta's joyful, fun and fresh take on a great tale.”

Louise Chantal Director/CEO

Access performances

See page 64-65

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE A Dino-Mite Adventure direct from the West End! Back by popular demand for a spectacular Easter Holiday treat, dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family.

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child's favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!

Fri 12 & Sat 13 Apr Times Fri 1pm & 3.30pm Sat 11am & 2pm Tickets £10 to £14 Groups 20% off 10+ tickets No other discounts

Age guideline 3+ Running Time 50 mins + 15 min meet & greet with the Dinosaurs

A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.

Don’t miss this entertaining and mind-expanding jurassic adventure, live on stage.

Book now before tickets become extinct!

★★★★★ “Great fun. Highly recommended for all ages.”

What’s Good To Do

★★★★ “A spectacular interactive show!”

OK! Magazine

★★★★ “The perfect family show. Educational and entertaining.”

Reviews Hub

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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A Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Out of Joint co-production in association with Oxford Playhouse

THE REMAINS OF THE DAY 2017 Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro’s literary masterpiece of undeclared love has enchanted the world as a novel and film winning the Booker prize and 8 Oscar nominations.

A deeply atmospheric drama about time and memory, loneliness and longing, The Remains of the Day depicts the morally-compromised truth behind a world of manicured gardens, formal dinners and grand houses. As the fires rage through England during and after the Second World War, we get an intimate glimpse into one man’s half-lived life, realised too late.

Oxford Playhouse is delighted to be co-producing this World Premiere stage production, adapted by one of Britain’s most exciting young writers and OP Associate Artist Barney Norris.

Tue 16 to Sat 20 Apr Evenings Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £30 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF TUE & SAT MAT

Age guideline 12+ Post show talk Wed Spotlight Thu More info on page 60

Based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro Adapted by Barney Norris Directed by Christopher Haydon

OPINION “An unmissable theatrical and literary treat.”

Louise Chantal Director/CEO

Access performances

See page 64-65

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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An Oxford Playhouse co-production with the egg

MUCKERS Paloma has always mucked about with Pijon. They love it.

They run wild. They dress up. Like tigers, flamenco dancers, queens, kings, rabbits and Lady Gaga. Everything. Life is fun and funny and a little bit loopy.

Until all of a sudden, Paloma comes face to face with a blinding light named Big Luce. Paloma doesn’t understand what she’s done wrong but Big Luce just won’t leave her be.

Paloma and Pijon are catapulted into a strange new world where they begin their surreal adventure, determined to find out what Big Luce is all about.

Created by award-winning theatre maker Caroline Horton and an international ensemble, Muckers is a funny, magical, physical production for ages 5+. Performed in both English and Spanish, with original songs, this mischievous show asks what it takes to stand proud and be true to ourselves, and how we empower the next generation to do the same.

Wed 17 to Sat 20 Apr At the BT Studio Times Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat 11am & 2pm Tickets £9 Discounts £7

Age guideline 5+

Originally commissioned by the egg, Theatre Royal Bath for the Leverhulme Arts Scholarship

“The Burton Taylor Studio has never let me down when it comes to kids' shows.”

Guardian

OPINION “Caroline Horton was one of our first Evolve artists and we are delighted to be co-producing this important new show which will surprise and delight in equal measure.”

Laura Elliot Programme Director

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Photo: Richard Davenport

Tue 7 to Sat 11 May

Headlong, Alexandra Palace and Bristol Old Vic with Royal and Derngate, Northampton and Oxford Playhouse present

Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £30

RICHARD III

Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF TUE & SAT MAT

By William Shakespeare Directed by John Haidar "What do I fear? Myself?"

After decades of civil war, the nation hangs in the balance.

Enter Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to change the course of history.

Richard was not born to be a king, but he’s set his sights on the crown. So begins his campaign of deceit, manipulation and violence – and he’s killing it.

Age guideline 12+

Yet, behind his ambition lies a murderous desire to be loved.

Post show talk Wed

Tom Mothersdale plays Shakespeare’s iconic villain, as Headlong returns to the Playhouse in this latest OP80 co-production, directed by Headlong Associate Artist John Haidar.

Access performances

See page 64-65

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Photo: Steve Tanner

Kneehigh with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse

DEAD DOG IN A SUITCASE (AND OTHER LOVE SONGS) Written by Carl Grose Music by Charles Hazlewood Directed by Mike Shepherd What the HELL is the world coming to? Mayor Goodman has been assassinated. And so has his dog. Contract killer Macheath has just married Pretty Polly Peachum and Mr and Mrs Peachum aren't happy. Not one bit.

Kneehigh are back with their theatrical tour-de-force Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs). Based on John Gay's classic musical satire, Beggar’s Opera, Kneehigh’s extraordinary cast of actor musicians shoot, hoot and shimmy their way through this twisted morality tale for our times.

Tue 14 to Sat 18 May Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm Tickets £10 to £30 Discounts available FULL CIRCLE AND ENJOY

50% OFF TUE & SAT MAT

Age guideline 14+ Post show talk Wed

★★★★★ “Fiendishly clever...”

Stage

Access performances

★★★★★ “An absolute triumph!”

WhatsOnStage

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

See page 64-65

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COMEDY NISH KUMAR & FRIENDS Oxfordshire Mind Comedy Night

Sat 12 Jan 7.30pm

Oxfordshire Mind are taking over Oxford Playhouse for a night of comic brilliance featuring Nish Kumar, Ed Gamble and more. Raising money for the vital support they offer those with mental health problems, don’t miss this hilarious evening of gutwrenchingly brilliant comedy!

Watch out for more line-up to be announced soon.

Tickets £10 to £20 No discounts

Age guideline 14+ “Critically acclaimed comic, internationally famed meme and wonderfully nice gentleman, Nish Kumar is a comedian, and a bloody good one at that.”

Time Out

Sat 2 Mar 7.30pm

Off The Kerb productions presents

RICH HALL’S HOEDOWN

There has never been a better time to be an American comedian in the UK. Rich Hall’s precision dismantling of the tenuous relationship between two countries is as freewheeling and deadly accurate as ever.

Tickets £19 No discounts

Age guideline 16+ “Blissfully funny.”

Guardian

There’s stand-up, improvised ballads, and a hilarious, foot-stomping good time to be had by all. Even if you don’t own a hoe.

HENNING WEHN Get On With It Surely the German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn hasn’t bosched out yet another new show?

And what’s he still doing here anyway?

Well, his lack of transferable skills is what keeps him here and his belief that practise makes perfect is what keeps him going.

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Thu 2 to Sat 4 May 7.30pm Tickets £21.50 Discounts available

Age guideline 16+ “As subtle as Schumacher on Battisto.”

Some bloke on Twitter

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

MUSIC

THE PASADENA ROOF ORCHESTRA

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA

50th Anniversary Tour

Don Pasquale

Mon 1 Apr

Tue 18 Jun

For 50 years The Pasadena Roof Orchestra have been re-creating the sounds of a golden era of music from the 1920s and 1930s to widespread acclaim.

Follow the exploits of Don Pasquale in this riotous new version of Donizetti’s classic comic opera. Set in and around Pasquale’s doner kebab van, it’s the story of an old bachelor’s romantic delusions and the young lovers who outwit him.

Enjoy beautifully arranged songs from Irving Berlin, Ray Noble, Cole Porter and their contemporaries and re-live the electrifying hot jazz from Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. Led by suave singer and band leader Duncan Galloway, experience an evening of superlative live music, with more than a dash of wit and humour.

Welsh National Opera brings Daisy Evans’ brilliant new production to Oxford Playhouse following on from the success of Rhondda Rips It Up!

Mon 7.30pm

Tue 7.30pm

Tickets £10 to £22 Discounts available

Tickets £10 to £30 Discounts available

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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– P L AY H O U S E P L AY S O U T MUSIC –

© Illustration: www.korkypaul.com

THE CURIOUS PARCEL

THE HISTORY OF EVERYTHING

Extraordinary Theatre.

Delivered.

An Oxford Playhouse Production Written by Ben Watson

The Curious Parcel is a new subscription box that brings a little bit of theatre magic to your living room. Each box contains a surprise, mini-DIY experience; created by one of the UK’s best theatre makers and designed to be enjoyed at home.

A new experience is released every two months and only 100 boxes are available to buy each time. Once they’ve sold out that’s it!

So go on, kick back and discover some amazing new artists, indulge your imagination or maybe even gain a new perspective - all without leaving the sofa.

Subscribe: £20 per box if bought individually 6 boxes for £18 each if you subscribe for 1year Age guideline 16+ Boxes will be posted to you at the beginning of each month except Dec which will arrive in time for Xmas: Dec - Brian Lobel Mar - Verity Standen May - Milk Presents

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Jul - Rachel Mars Sep - Seth Kriebel Nov - Victoria Melody

May to Jul The Oxford Playhouse Tent is going on tour again and we’re bringing the whole of history with us!

Everything you ever wanted to know about everything ... ever. Join our two tour guides of time as they go on a silly, surreal and speedy sixty-minute hurtle through history. Packed with facts and fit-to-bursting with fun, this brings history to life with a bubbling mix of storytelling, comedy, music, puppets and more.

Last year, our Tent went all over Oxfordshire, bringing theatre and family fun to over 4,000 people. This year we’re going even bigger!

May to Jul In the Oxford Playhouse Tent Tickets FREE Age guideline 4 to 11 See www.oxfordplayhouse.com for dates and venues.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Coming soon... now on sale

Fri 31 May to Sun 2 Jun Fri 4.30pm Sat 11am, 2pm & 4pm Sun 11am & 2pm Tickets £10 to £14.50 Groups 10+ £12 No other discounts available

Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Directed by Mike Shepherd Music by Johnny Flynn Designed by Katie Sykes Zog © 2010 Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Published by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic Children’s Books

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston present

ZOG Large in size, and keen in nature, Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know. Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three.

Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet – a duel with Gadabout the Great!

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved Zog comes to life in this magical adaptation with a sumptuous folk score featuring live musicians.

From the team behind Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales, Zog promises to be roaring fun for all ages.

★★★★ “A delight from start to finish. A room of children laughing hysterically, all totally mesmerised by the action.”

Time Out on Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales

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IT’S YOUR PLAYHOUSE BECOME A MEMBER

Join us as a member of Oxford Playhouse and enjoy the best of British and international theatre, receive generous discounts on tickets and make the most of our beautiful Members’ Room.

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

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BE OUR FRIEND

Give to the Playhouse and keep it a theatre for everyone.

You will help us present a world-class programme, make and tour theatre to new places across Oxfordshire, and support the cultural education of local young people.

Friendship starts from £500 a year Find out more at www.oxfordplayhouse.com/support-us For more information or to attend a Members’ event, contact Emily Lister, Memberships Relations Coordinator, on 01865 305353 or email emily.lister@oxfordplayhouse.com

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BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO

COMEDY DRAMA POETRY FAMILY

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO Tue 8 & Wed 9 Jan 7.30pm

BUFO BUFO

The Awkward Silence return to their stomping ground to present Bufo Bufo, a hilarious, fast-paced narrative sketch show set in 1927 Chicago. Murder.

Deception. Corruption. It's all in there, as freelance journalist Brad Donovan and his bookish ally Professor Paxton lift the city's floorboards and have a sniff beneath.

HIPPITY HOP

Experience the poetry, puppetry, music and movement of the first ever interactive hip hop show for young children. With graffiti-based designs, hip hop flavoured beats and the twinkling lights of the city, it’s a multi-sensory musical – a hip hopera!

OUR CARNAL HEARTS

Age guideline 14+ “One of this year's best sketch comedy shows.” ★★★★★ The New Current “The performance is faultless.” ★ ★ ★ ★ Chortle

Tickets £8 Discounts £6

Age guideline 2-5 “Gives the very young a real taste of the wonder of theatre.”

Guardian

Mon 11 & Tue 12 Mar 7.30pm

With a raucous chorus of original music, award-winning theatre maker Rachel Mars and four belting female singers bring you a gleeful, dark show about the hidden workings of envy.

Part symphony, part exorcism, Our Carnal Hearts is a thrilling, murky celebration of desire, competition and all the times we screw each other over.

01865 305305

Discounts £8

Sat 12 & Sun 13 Jan 11am & 2pm

Oily Cart presents

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Tickets £10

Tickets £10 Discounts £8

Age guideline 14+ “Wickedly funny... soothing and sharpedged at the same time.” ★ ★ ★ ★ Stage “Rachel Mars is electrifying.”

Guardian

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO CIRCLES IN THE SAND

Sat 16 Mar 10.30am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm

Join us in a world of buckets, castle building, spinning and tumbling in this delightful show for under 3s which explores sand in new and exciting ways.

Tickets £8 Discounts £6

Age guideline 2-3

With no words, and accompanied by an evocative soundtrack of world music, Circles in the Sand is an intimate, imaginative and captivating show, providing the perfect introduction to theatre for the very young.

Wed 20 Mar 7.30pm

AN INDIAN ABROAD Directed by Eduardo Gama

Stifled by life in middle-class India, Krishnan is desperate to see more of the world. So he takes a year out from his studies to visit the exotic island of Great Britain to find himself.

Tickets £10 Discounts £8

Age guideline 12+

Spinning the concept of white adventurers exploring ‘foreign’ lands on its head, this debut show from influential writer and performer Pariah Khan is witty, clever and refreshing.

China Plate & Staatstheater Mainz present

STATUS

Thu 21 & Fri 22 Mar 7.30pm

Written by Chris Thorpe, developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin

We all have a nationality. Or almost all of us. Status is a show about someone who doesn't want his anymore.

Tickets £10 Discounts £8

Age guideline 14+

A globe-spanning journey of attempted escape, with songs along the way, Status springs from conversations about who we might be, and whether your country needs you more than you might need it.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO Sat 23 Mar 11am & 2pm

THE GOOSE THAT FLEW Goose loves the summer, playing with his family and friends, but soon it is time for him to fly south for the winter. As his journey begins, things are not as they should be.

Tickets £8 Discounts £6

Age guideline 3-7

Using charming storytelling, simple puppetry and an assortment of quirky characters, this is a heartfelt story about the importance of compassion, community and understanding.

Morgan & West present

NON-SÉANCE

Tue 26 & Wed 27 Mar 7.30pm Do you believe in ghosts? Morgan & West don't but why should that stop them? Spectacular spirits, creepy conjuring, and amazing apparitions abound and this pair of prestidigitators conduct their very own Non-Séance.

Morgan & West will prove themselves not only to be the 19th century's greatest magical duo but also distinctly above average mediums.

Tickets £10 Discounts £8

Age guideline 12+ “Brilliantly funny.” ★★★★★ ThreeWeeks “Hugely talented.” ★ ★ ★ ★ Daily Mirror Work in progress

DON'T FORGET

MUCKERS Our Easter holiday treat for everyone 5+ and their families.

See page 43 for more details

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BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO Wed 24 Apr 7.30pm

BRAWN Ryan lives in a world consumed by image and obsession, where selfworth is measured in muscle mass and self-improvement becomes self-destruction.

Tickets £10 Discounts £8

Age guideline 18+

Written and performed by Christopher Wollaton, Brawn is a raw, emotional play exploring a young man’s isolating battle with body image, male identity and the cost of perfection.

SMACK THAT (A CONVERSATION) Rhiannon Faith

Beverly is having a party and you are one of her guests. Each member of this all-female cast fearlessly takes on the persona of Beverly to convey real experiences. The unusual setting creates a safe space for them to reveal the turbulence and challenges they have faced and celebrate their endurance with the audience. Expect games, dancing, humour and a very raw and honest account of domestic abuse.

Kid Carpet and The Noisy Animals present

NOISY HOLIDAY

The Noisy Animals are looking forward to their dream holidays and have some brilliant ideas about where in the world they want to go. Kid Carpet just wants them all to be together, but will he be able to keep everyone happy when he can’t even get them in the car? This is a ridiculously funny show about going on your holidays, with silliness and mischief for the whole family. Expect flying tents, diving bears, massive carrots and Ibiza anthems!

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Thu 25 Apr 7.30pm Tickets £10 Discounts £8

Age guideline 18+ “Bold, inventive and discomfiting, this is a work of urgent importance.” ★★★★ Stage

Sat 27 Apr 11am & 2pm Tickets £8 Discounts £6

Age guideline 3+

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Offbeat 2019 is coming!

Fri 28 Jun to Sat 6 Jul

9 days of the very best of fringe theatre, dance, comedy and family work from across the country, right here on your doorstep.

Watch out for more information coming soon

www.offbeatoxford.co.uk

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JOIN IN AT OP YOUNG COMPANIES WORKSHOPS ADULTS YOUNG PLAYERS FESTIVAL

To book a place on any participatory workshop, course or young company, call the Box Office 01865 305305.

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

To apply, email learning@oxfordplayhouse.com

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Photo: Geraint Lewis

YOUNG COMPANIES

12|16 YOUNG COMPANY

17|25 YOUNG COMPANY

Tue 15 Jan to Tue 2 Apr

Wed 9 Jan to Sat 6 Apr

(no session Tue 19 Feb)

Aged 12 to 16 years with a passion for theatre?

These sessions offer you the opportunity to work on various techniques to improve devising skills, develop your voice and movement vocabulary, explore text and create a character.

This term the 12|16 Young Company will work towards a performance inspired by 'celebration' as part of the Young Players Festival.

YOUNG PLAYMAKER

Oxford Playhouse in partnership with Oxford Playmaker

The 17|25 Young Company perform their flagship annual show on the main stage in April. Find out more and book your tickets to this year’s show, Nell Gwynn on pages 34 and 35.

To find out more information about the 17|25 Young Company or to join the company from April 2019 contact: Jo.Noble@ oxfordplayhouse.com

Thu 10 Jan to Thu 21 Mar (no session Thu 21 Feb)

These workshops are for young writers keen to write a short play, led by professional playwright Renata Allen.

Writers will acquire the skills needed to develop their ideas and write a play.

Completed plays will be staged in the Burton Taylor Studio in July 2019.

“It was a fantastic experience; I learnt a lot, produced something I never thought I would be able to, and had great fun along the way.”

Young Playmaker participant

Time 5 to 7.30pm

Time 5 to 7.30pm

Time 5 to 7.30pm

Location Top Room

Location Top Room

Location Gladstone Room

Tickets £60

Tickets £70

Age 12 to 16

Age 17 to 25

Tickets £75 (Fee includes free ticket to watch at least one show per term) Age 15 to 20

Please note, the Top Room and Burton Taylor Studio are not accessible in a wheelchair.

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© Illustration: www.korkypaul.com

WORKSHOPS

FUN IN A BOX – THE CAT IN THE HAT Family activity sessions

HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE

Wed 20 to Fri 22 Feb

Have you discovered the perfect fun, friendly and musical way to start the week for you and your child? Hey Diddle Diddle is a sing-a-long and play sessions held every Monday for pre-school children and their grown-ups.

Come along and discover more fun things the Cat has stored in the big red box.

Write silly things, solve thingy-me-bobs and create thingy-me-jigs - The Top Room will be full of activities that are easy to do, hard to solve and that you can recreate at home, so you’ll never be bored on a rainy day again.

Make a mess while you discover, explore and create, and mum won’t mind because she doesn’t need to tidy up.

Monday mornings Check www.oxfordplayhouse.com for dates

With free tea and coffee plus a chance to stay and play and meet other parents and grandparents too, Hey Diddle Diddle makes for a greatly enjoyable Monday morning.

Time 12.30 to 2pm and 3.50 to 4.30pm

Time 10.30 to 11.15am

Location Top Room

Location Top Room

Tickets FREE

Tickets £6 (1 adult & 1 pre-school child), £2 additional children. Book online and save £1.

Bring a friend to try first time for FREE.

Age 4+

Age 5 and under Please note, the Top Room and Burton Taylor Studio are not accessible in a wheelchair.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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ADULTS

40+ ACTING COMPANY

SPOTLIGHT

Thursdays 24 & 31 Jan 7, 14 & 28 Feb 7, 14 & 21 Mar

Thu 15 Nov | Wise Children Thu 7 Feb | ART Thu 28 Feb | The Unreturning Thu 28 Mar | The Mousetrap Thu 18 Apr | The Remains of the Day

This is a company for anyone aged 40+ with an enthusiasm to play and explore text on your feet.

During these sessions you will work through technical exercises to develop your performance skills and explore different genres of theatre, looking at play extracts, discussing themes and characters and working through monologues and duologues.

“I thoroughly enjoy these sessions and feel inspired after each one.” Participant

Spotlight is for anyone aged 50 or over with an interest in theatre. It is led by a member of OP staff, joined by a guest to talk more about their role in the current show, or themes and issues explored in this season’s productions.

Each session is a friendly and relaxed lunchtime meet-up to socialise and talk all things theatre.

Enjoy interesting conversation and a sandwich lunch before taking in the matinee performance. New Spotlighters are always welcome, why not bring a friend?

Time 5.30 to 7.30pm

Time 12.30 to 2pm

Location Top Room

Tickets £20 (including refreshments and ticket to the matinee at 2.30pm)

Tickets £10 per session

£7 (Spotlight session only)

Age 40+

Age 50+

Please note, the Top Room and Burton Taylor Studio are not accessible in a wheelchair.

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YOUNG PLAYERS FESTIVAL

YOUNG PLAYERS FESTIVAL 2019 Saturday 30 March to Saturday 6 April

Join us in celebrating the beautiful, poignant and inspiring work made by children and young people from across Oxfordshire. Young Players Festival 2019 includes an exciting programme of performances alongside installations and a digital gallery.

Mixed Bill Sat 30 Mar, Burton Taylor Studio A thrilling mixed bill of performances from: Flintlock Youth Theatre Headington Dance Scholars MCS & OP NT Connections Company

Oxford Playhouse 12|16 Young Company Thomas Page Dances Oxford Playhouse Young Playmakers

Primary Playmaker Showcase Wed 3 Apr, Oxford Playhouse main stage Plays written by local primary school children performed by professional actors.

Visual Arts and Poetry Installation Fri 5 & Sat 6 Apr, Top Room Tickets FREE, no need to book, drop in anytime between 12pm and 5pm.

Nell Gwynn Fri 5 to Sat 6 Apr, Oxford Playhouse main stage Performed by the 17|25 Young Company, read more on pg 35.

A full schedule of performance times and ticket prices will be available from January.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS Trusts Ammco Trust Anonymous The Arts Society Oxford Doris Field Charitable Trust The Ernest Cook Trust The Gannett Foundation The Garrick Charitable Trust Groundwork UK The Late Mrs Margaret Guido’s Charitable Trust The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust The Mactaggart Third Fund Mr & Mrs J A Pye’s Charitable Settlement Roundton Trust The Souldern Trust St Michael's and All Saints Charities University of Oxford College Members All Souls College Campion Hall Lincoln College St Hilda’s College The Queen’s College Pembroke College St Cross College as supported by a private donation

Learning and Productions Support

12|16 Young Company Sponsors

Equipment and Technical Support

Building Support

OP Business Club

Platinum

Gold

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Bronze

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THANK YOU At Oxford Playhouse we are passionate about what we do and hope that you are too. By coming to the Playhouse, you help to keep the theatre thriving. If you can, please consider making a gift to support our future. Gifts of all sizes are greatly appreciated.

Friends of Oxford Playhouse Applause Rev Charlotte & Mr William Bannister-Parker Mr & Mrs David Barnett Prof Sir Clive & Lady Margaret Booth John P H Bradley Prof Sir Richard & Lady Elizabeth Brook Anthony W Budgen Robert Campbell Alex Duncan & Felicity Bryan Liesl Elder David & Julia Harland Simon & Alison Jeffreys Keith McCullagh Elizabeth Paris Sue Staunton Timothy & Marion Stevenson Jens Tholstrup Dr Trudy Watt Frank Webster Ovation Anonymous Debbie Dance Dr Sos Eltis Richard Gladstone John & Margaret Leighfield Prof & Mrs Colin Mayer John Parrott Standing Ovation Anonymous Edward & Anna Bernard Sandy & Danby Bloch Lucy Group Ltd. David & Sue Jackson Donors £100+ Joan Aitken C S & D Alexander Mary E Allen P G Angel Edwin Antill Louise Armstrong B Attley Lady Helen M Baker Andy Beaumont

Jonny M Bell Peter Bennett-Jones Dr B J Birch Prof Jonathan & Mrs Nicola Black John Bleach Valerie Boasten A J & N Boughton Dr Julie Bowdler Prof John & Mrs Gillian Carey Robin Cawthorne Helen M Chinner Richard Clapham Brendan Coffey Elizabeth A Dalziel Beverly Davies Valerie Davies Prof Paul Davies & Ms Saphieh Ashtiany Ron & Bridget Doole Catherine Eddy Mr & Mrs John Edmond Gill Emberson Kathleen Emmens G B Fox Michael Gillibrand Sheila & Peter Glazebrook Prof Richard F Gombrich S M Goodwin Prof Alan Grafen Diana Griffin Alison Gunn & Tony Walton Richard & S Hayes Jeffery Hewitt Neil Hicks Geraldine Hodson Dr Leofranc Holford-Strevens & Dr Bonnie Blackburn Ronald Howes Dr Jane Impey R J Isaac Sarah Jones Anthony M Joyce Dr & Mrs Frank E Kenyon Timothy Kidd Elizabeth M Knowles Susannah M Lankester Geoffrey B Lescott

John F Luke Ann Magnani John C May Julia Miles Dr David W Millard M J Morris Elaine O’Driscoll Sue J O’Hare Mike & Jane O’Regan Richard Osmond Brian W Plater Robert Vernon Porter Yvonne Rainey Mr & Mrs P Rippon David W Rischmiller Dr A G & Mrs S Searle Andrew Silver Joan M Swindells Edward D J Thomas Mark R Tolley Peter Vandermin Margarida Velozo de Melo Bento Dr Catherine Walter George A Webb Colin & Susan Webster P G & P A Wells The Whitchurch and District Theatre Club June R Wright A special thank you to all Patrons Volunteers Trustees Donors Anonymous Donors

We would also like to thank our anonymous supporters, donors who have given less than £100 in the past year, and donors who have supported us in previous years whose names we are unable to list here but whose help makes such a difference at Oxford Playhouse.

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ACCESS FACILITIES Oxford Playhouse offers a range of access facilities.

To find out more call the Ticket Office on 01865 305305 or email access@oxfordplayhouse.com Sennheiser infrared headset system for those who are hard of hearing. Please ask the Ticket 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 Ticket Office and Bar. Wheelchair spaces (Stalls end of rows E and L and centre of row T).

Unfortunately the Top Room 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 Ticket 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.

Audio recordings of our What’s On Guide are available on request.

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

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.

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ACCESS DIARY...

Date Day

Production

Time(s)

Sun

Dick Whittington and his Cat

29 Sat

Dick Whittington and his Cat

4pm Touch Tour 2.30pm 6pm Touch Tour 4.30pm

Venue

Access

Page

December 9

Alby the Penguin Saves Christmas

OP

3

OP

3

All Performances from 6 Dec to 5 Jan

BT

4

4pm

OP

3

January 2

Wed Dick Whittington and his Cat

3

Thu

Dick Whittington and his Cat

11am

OP

3

5

Sat

Dick Whittington and his Cat

7pm

OP

3

OP

7

The Comedy About a Bank Robbery 2.30pm OP Touch Tour 12.30pm

7

16 Wed The Comedy About a Bank Robbery 7.30pm 19 Sat February 6 20 27 28

Wed Wed Wed Thu

ART The Cat in the Hat The Unreturning The Unreturning

7.30pm 2.30pm 7.30pm 2.30pm Touch Tour 1pm

OP OP OP OP

13 17 19 19

27 Wed The Mousetrap

7.30pm

OP

33

30 Sat

The Mousetrap

2.30pm Touch Tour 1pm

OP

33

In the Willows

2pm & 7pm

OP

37

10 Wed In the Willows

2pm & 7pm

OP

37

17 Wed The Remains of the Day

7.30pm

OP

41

20 Sat

2.30pm Touch Tour 1pm

OP

41

March

April 9

Tue

The Remains of the Day

May 8

Wed Richard III

7.30pm

OP

44

11

Sat

2.30pm Touch Tour 1pm

OP

44

7.30pm

OP

45

Richard III

15 Wed Dead Dog in a Suitcase

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TICKETS AND DISCOUNTS All week-long professional shows have an allocation of £10 tickets to ensure that everyone can experience our productions, but these seats may sell quickly. We always recommend that you book early to secure the best seats at the best price.

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 Ticket Office Staff, who will do their best to ensure you get the seat you want when it is available.

To exchange your tickets for another event you must inform the Ticket Office and the tickets must be returned so that the box office have the tickets in hand at least 24 hours prior to the advertised start time of the event.

If an event is sold out we can try and resell any unwanted tickets but resale is not guaranteed.

You must let the Ticket Office know as soon as possible before the start of the event.

Discount Group

Ticket Price

Conditions

Up to 50% off opening night or Saturday matinees for week-long shows. Bonus discounts of 25% or 50% on most shorter runs.

Available on up to two tickets, on either the opening night or the Saturday matinee, for almost every production, for all Full Circle & Enjoy members. Membership starts from £50 a year.

For more information, visit www.oxfordplayhouse.com/become-a-member

Free, £5 or £10 subject to availability.

You must be aged 14 to 25 and a member of OPT in!

Membership costs £5. Join at the Ticket Office or visit www.oxfordplayhouse.com/opt-in for more details.

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 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 Dick Whittington and his Cat are from £12.50.

Group Rate

20% off full priced tickets for most performances.

For all groups of 10 or more. Not available online, email james.ousley@oxfordplayhouse.com for group bookings. Payment must be made as one transaction.

Over 60s Matinee

£14

Limited number available to anyone over 60 for most Thu & Sat matinee performances. Must be booked before the week of the show. Max 4 tickets per person for The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Art and The Mousetrap.

Conditions: All discounts are subject to availability and at the discretion of the Duty Ticket 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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BOOKING INFORMATION Seating Plan Possible limited view. Please call the Ticket Office for further information.

These seats can be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Please call the Ticket Office for further information.

Rows AA to C are sometimes removed for staging and are therefore not always available – please check with the Ticket 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

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USEFUL INFORMATION Our address Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW Ticket Office: 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com Opening hours Monday to Saturday 10am until the start of the evening show.

Please note where there is no evening show we close at 5pm and on Wednesdays we open at 10.30am for staff training.

Sundays and Bank Holidays we open two hours before the show.

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 metres 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. Please book a free lap ticket at the Ticket Office. 18 months and under for Main Stage shows, 6 months and under for BT 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.

Access Read more about the access facilities available at the Playhouse on page 64.

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Welcome to Oxford Playhouse...

Big birthdays loom large on the horizon, and can cast a shadow over everyday life. I am delighted to say that here at the Playhouse we have managed to balance the plans and projects around our 80th Anniversary with our continuing aspiration to present great shows and engage with audiences of every kind, week in, week out. Our recent glitzy 80th anniversary gala was a night to remember - but so is every child’s first visit to a show, every family’s pantomime outing, every show an emerging theatre maker creates and performs for the first time. OP is for life and not just for birthdays and Christmas (although you’re very welcome to see Dick Whittington even if you haven’t set foot in the theatre since last Christmas when we grew a beanstalk!).

There may be a lot of uncertainty ahead in 2019, but we have some old favourites to light the way. The Showstoppers and Mischief Theatre can both be relied upon to vanquish the January blues; international theatrical phenomenon Art will make you laugh as well as examine your own values and relationships; and Frantic Assembly (last here with Things I Know to be True) will illuminate the stage once more with visceral and timeless stories of war and homecoming. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap broke all box office records last time it came to OP in 2015, while returning family favourites include The Cat in the Hat and Metta Theatre with their spectacular In the Willows.

And there are plenty of new beacons to guide our way too. Princess & The Hustler, presented by Eclipse Theatre who are dedicated to staging new Black British stories, promises to be all the things we want from a night at the theatre - funny, moving, poetic and brave. The Remains of the Day, our own co-production of the current Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s most devastating novel, has been adapted for the stage by OP Associate Artist and Sunday Times bestselling novelist Barney Norris. It’s a beautiful piece of theatre.

Another feature of every Spring season is the range of brilliant amateur companies we host each year. Oxford Operatic Society and Oxford Theatre Guild both share a long and close relationship with OP, and we welcome their take on Sister Act and Chariots of Fire, alongside our two Hilary Term productions by University of Oxford students Enron and Made in Dagenham (both impressively quick off the mark after West End runs). These companies belong to the Playhouse stage as much as any Olivier or BAFTA-winners, and we celebrate their contribution to the cultural life of Oxford during our Big Birthday too.

It may be cold outside, but it’s warm, welcoming and often wondrous here at the Playhouse.

Do come in!

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 Ticket 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 feedback@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/privacy-policy/ for full information.

Look out for our next season...

APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2019 On sale MARCH 2019

Oxford Playhouse Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of its core funders:

Louise Chantal Director/CEO www.oxfordplayhouse.com Registered Company No. 2397373 • Registered Charity No. 900039 • VAT No. 537166534

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

Theatre and events especially for families. Come and play in the foyer area before and after the show.

Printed Oct 2018. All details correct at time of printing. Design: www.dnal.co.uk

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Oxford Playhouse

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