oxford playhouse season brochure march to august 2016

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WHAT’S ON GUIDESUMMER 2016

Cover Photo

Carol Richards Usher for Oxford Playhouse since 2007

Caitlin Carrick-Varty Member of the 17 | 25 Young Company

Photography: Geraint Lewis

The time has come! The final phase of our 3-year refurbishment plan will be completed this Summer, injecting fresh life into our beautiful but rather tired auditorium, twenty years after the last refurbishment. The most comfortable seats in the known world are being replaced by the SAME seats, beautifully restored (we know a good thing when we see it!); and a new colour scheme will add some sparkle off-stage to enhance the magic and wonders we see on stage.

Like anything worth doing, the refurbishment was an ambitious project to take on in addition to everything we do, year in year out. It also doubled our fundraising target for this year! I’m pleased to say we are nearly there, and now need to raise the last £100k of a £750k budget. You already support the theatre by buying tickets, programmes and ice cream, but we’d love to sell you a seat in the new auditorium if you have a spare £500. Your generosity will be recognised on a plaque on the seat, to be seen by generations of theatre-goers to come.

We think a ‘new’ theatre deserves a big, bold, exciting world premiere of a show, which is why we are producing the first stage adaptation of THE official sequel to Peter Pan. Peter Pan in Scarlet is the worldwide best-selling novel by award-winning local writer Geraldine McCaughrean, commissioned by

Great Ormond Street Hospital (who own the rights to everything ‘Pan’). It’s a thrill to be working with the wonderful team at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent on what I hope is the first of many ‘Summer Family Shows’ for Oxford.

In fact I met writer and director Theresa Heskins here in Oxford over 20 years ago, and know that her inventive, warm and fast-paced adaptations of big books are second to none. Theresa was my first choice to adapt this magical, spirited novel – watch out for flying pirates, pesky fairies and a travelling circus.

Peter Pan in Scarlet is just one of the home-grown productions we present alongside our world class touring programme. Along with our participation programme and events such as Young Players, our week-long celebration of work for and by young people, it’s what makes OP more than just a building. We are a production company, education resource, tourist attraction and pretty decent bar too!

Louise ChantalChief Executive

Welcome to Oxford PlayhouseMarch to August 2016

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Show times Mon to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £15 to £31 | No discounts Fri & Sat evesEnjoy! members 25% off Mon & Sat matPost show talk WedAge guideline 14+

By Alan BennettDirected by Rachel Kavanaugh

A dazzling double bill – witty, stylish, acute and humane – Bennett confirms his status as our finest contemporary playwright.Independent

Alan Bennett’s award-winning comedy explores our fascination with Russian spies and royalty.

Chronicling the lives of Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, two members of the notorious 1950s ‘Cambridge Five’ spy ring, these amusing and compelling plays span the globe from Moscow to London. Single Spies gives us a glimpse into a life full of espionage, secret identities and even an interrogation by the Queen.

Olivier nominated Rachel Kavanaugh directs a star cast including Nicholas Farrell (The Iron Lady, Legend), Belinda Lang (2point4 Children, Inspector Alleyn Mysteries) and David Robb (Downton Abbey, Wolf Hall).

SINGLE SPIESMonday 21 to Saturday 26 March

Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre present

Don’t forget...

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Tickets £8.50 | Children £6.50 Age guideline 2 to 6Bed Time will be accompanied by Bed Time Tales, an evening event of storytelling for grownups. See page 48.

Don’t forget...

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OXFORD PLAYHOUSE AT THE BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO

It’s bed time, but it’s not quite time to go to sleep… Celebrating the routines and loving nonsense of this very special time of day, Oxford Playhouse presents Bed Time – a new show for children aged two to six. With songs, stories, lots of silliness and maybe even a pillow fight, put your PJs on and come join us just before it’s time to switch off the light and say goodnight. Bed Time is the third of this fantastic series by award-winning Toby Hulse, and follows the success of Bath Time and Tea Time. This trilogy of shows especially created for very young audiences reflects and celebrates the daily routines that bind us together.

Come along in your pyjamas for even more fun!

Fantastic. My 4 year old liked ‘all the bits’, fun, friendly, accessible, loving, kind.I wanted to say thank you for a great first family trip to the theatre.Audience feedback on Bath Time

Wednesday 23 March to Sunday 3 April

BED TIME Created and directed by Toby Hulse An Oxford Playhouse Production

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Don’t forget...JOAN Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 March

42ND STREETWednesday 30 March to Saturday 2 April

RUBY WAX Frazzled! A guide to mindfulnessMonday 4 April

KATE RUSBYWednesday 6 April

SNOW WHITEFriday 8 and Saturday 9 April

Show time 7.30pm Location Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton Street, Jericho, Oxford, OX2 6AETicket price £12 | Discounts available

Show times Wed to Sat eves: 7.30pm | Sat mat: 2.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £21| Discounts available An amateur performance by arrangement with MusicScope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York.

Show time 7.30pmTicket price £17 | Discounts available

Show time 7.30pm Ticket price £22 | Discounts available

Show times 7pm | Sat mat: 2pmTicket prices £11 to £19 | Discounts available Family ticket £60 (4 tickets, inc. up to 2 adults) Age guideline 7+

Packed with guts, heart and sparkling mustaches, JOAN fuses lyrical new writing with drag king cabaret in this fearless new show.

Musical Youth Company of Oxford brings this classic musical tale of a small town girl heading to the bright lights of Broadway swinging to the stage.

Much-loved comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax presents a special talk which helps us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking.

One of the shining stars of folk music, Kate Rusby performs classics from her back catalogue alongside a selection of fresh new songs from her latest album, Ghost.

From the team behind the award-winning Rapunzel, BalletLORENT’s Snow White will make the family wonder and lose themselves in a fairytale world of dance.

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Show time 7.30pmTicket price £15 | Discounts available Age guideline 14+

An hour of laughter… everybody will leave satisfied.HHHHH British Theatre Guide

Henry ‘My Dear Old Thing’ Blofeld is one of Britain’s most loved and recognisable broadcasters, while legendary producer Peter Baxter has been corralling lost passports, misplaced visas and errant broadcasters for over 34 years.

Bastions of the beloved Test Match Special, with over 80 years in the commentary box and touring the globe between them, Henry Blofeld and Peter Baxter are back on the road with wonderful (and occasionally outrageous) anecdotes from two extensive careers.

BLOFELD AND BAXTER

Wednesday 13 April

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Directed by Dermot Keaney

Highly recommend Marcus Du Sautoy and Victoria Gould in X&Y Simon McBurney

Show time 7.30pmTicket price £13 | Discounts AvailableEnjoy! members 25% off

It’s not often you see an eminent professor reduced to zero on stage and then stuffed into a bag. But this is exactly what happens to Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and a Professor of Mathematics at Oxford, in his role as X in X&Y.

X&Y is a story of contrasting world views. X lives life through mathematics, lonely but happily confined to a cube he never leaves. Y, Victoria Gould, has spent her life exploring the universe, hoping that she’ll finally find an answer to the universal question: “Is there more than this?”

When they meet they begin to argue about the shape of the world they live in, and from here the plot unfolds into a story of mathematics, theatre and friendship.

X&Y

Thursday 14 April

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Hilarious, detailed, gently self-depreciating act from a stand-up comic in complete control.Independent

Jeremy Hardy begins his 4th decade as a stand-up this year. That’s a more dramatic way of saying he started 32 years ago and, without a lottery win, probably has at least another 32 years to go.

Last year, the tenth series of Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation was broadcast on Radio 4. He is also well known for his appearances on The News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. He is on the road all year round and has been doing live shows since 1984. Join us for a night of guaranteed laughter.

Show time 8pmTicket price £15 | Discounts availableAge guideline 16+

JEREMY HARDYFriday 15 April

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Fishamble: The New Play Company presents

Show time 7.30pmTicket prices £13Enjoy! members 25% off Age guideline 12+

Presented by house Directed by Peter Daly HHHHH New York Times HHHHH Scotsman HHHH Guardian HHHH Sunday Times

An international hit, fresh from New York, Paris, Edinburgh and New Zealand.

Swing is a comedy about dancing. And music and love and feeling like an eejit and being brave and having doubts and trying your best and trying new things and thinking outside the box and seeing things clearly and living as well as you can and giving it a lash. With rock ‘n’roll music.

This hugely heart-warming tale from Fishamble, Ireland’s premiere new writing company, is sure to make you want to put on your dancing shoes.

SWINGSaturday 16 April

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Show times Tue to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £27 | Discounts availableEnjoy! members 50% off Tue & Sat mat Multibuy 15% offCaptioned performance WedAudio described performance Sat: 2.30pm | Touch Tour: 1pm Post show talk WedAge guideline 14+

By Peter Whelan Directed by James Dacre

Thoughtful, tender and luminous drama. HHHH Times

Gripping drama. HHHH Independent

Based upon real events from Stratford-upon-Avon in the summer of 1613, The Herbal Bed is a powerful thriller about human desire. Susanna Hall, talented apothecary and Shakespeare’s daughter, is publicly accused of having an affair with her neighbour. Her puritanical husband stands by her, but pride, revenge and small town gossip raise the stakes. Culminating in a dramatic trial at Worcester Cathedral, the scandal threatens to destroy her family’s reputation within their tight-knit community.

Originally produced to great acclaim by the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Herbal Bed was a huge hit in the West End and on Broadway, with an Olivier Award nomination and writer Peter Whelan winning Playwright of the Year. Moving and funny, this play provides a beautiful evocation of life in Shakespearian England.

A beautiful revival of a wise and witty play. HHHH Telegraph

An English Touring Theatre, Royal & Derngate and Rose Kingston co-production

THE HERBAL BEDThe Secret Life of Shakespeare’s Daughter

Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 April

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Show times Mon to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £15 to £31 | No discounts Fri & Sat evesEnjoy! members 25% off Mon & Sat matPost show talk Wed Age guideline 14+

It will come: humanity must prey on itself, like monsters of the deep.

This epic new production features a distinguished cast led by Michael Pennington. A master of his art who has been nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award three times, this is the first chance for UK audiences to see Pennington’s celebrated Lear.

An ageing tyrant’s misguided decision to divide his kingdom tears his family apart, sparks catastrophic civil war and destroys all he holds dear. Driven from his home, Lear endures storms and heartbreak that bring him to the edge of madness. Yet from insanity he finds reason, and after betrayal he discovers loyalty.

Max Webster’s deeply moving interpretation of one of theatre’s greatest tragedies is a poignant way to commemorate the 400th year of Shakespeare’s death.

Royal & Derngate: Winners of UK Theatre Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre 2015.

Ambassador Theatre Group present a Royal & Derngate, Northampton production

KING LEARMonday 25 to Saturday 30 April

By William ShakespeareDirected by Max Webster

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Theatron Novum utterly captivate their audience.Oxford Student on The Prophetess

Show times Wed, Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £18 | Discounts availableEnjoy! members 50% off Wed & Sat matStudent tickets £11.50 | Available in advanceAge guideline 12+

Magical mischief, sublime music and midsummer madness collide in Henry Purcell ’s playful reworking of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

When forbidden lovers Hermia and Lysander elope to the woods, they stumble into a world of warring fairies and raging passions. The fairy queen Titania has deserted her jealous husband Oberon, and chaos ensues as he seeks revenge.

With bumbling Bottom and impish Puck, The Fairy Queen interweaves Shakespeare’s original play with Purcell ’s breathtaking score. The result is an enchanting opera that soars from comic duet to heart-rending lament.

With an all-singing, all-dancing cast of students from the University of Oxford, this is Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy as you’ve never seen or heard it before.

University of Oxford Student Company: Theatron Novum presents

By Henry Purcell based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream

THE FAIRY QUEENWednesday 4 to Saturday 7 May

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Not to be missed. HHHHH WhatsOnStage

The Touring Consortium Theatre Company presents a co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre

OF MICE AND MENTuesday 10 to Saturday 14 May

Show times Tue to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £27 | Discounts availableEnjoy! members 50% off Tue & Sat matMultibuy 15% offCaptioned performance WedAudio described performance Sat: 2.30pm | Touch Tour: 1pmPost show talk WedAge guideline 12+

By John SteinbeckDirected by Roxana Silbert

Set in America during the Great Depression, John Steinbeck ’s modern classic tells the story of George and Lennie, two migrant farm workers who go in search of their shared dream: putting together enough money to buy a small piece of land and build a home.

After a long and exhausting journey, the pair arrive in California where they seek work. But they are no strangers to trouble and soon find themselves reeling from the fall out of an innocent misunderstanding which spirals out of control.

Director Roxana Silbert (The King’s Speech) brings to life this powerful tale of two men bound by friendship as they face an earth-shattering decision.

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Show times Tue to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £27 | Discounts availableEnjoy! members 50% off Tue & Sat matMultibuy 15% offPost show talk Wed Age guideline 16+Don’t miss the staged reading of A Raisin In The Sun on Fri 13 May. See page 32 for details.

Winner of a host of playwriting prizes, Clybourne Park is a hugely funny and insightful show. Inspired by Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin in the Sun, it offers a remarkable glimpse into the changing face of race and family across half a century.

With the swinging sixties just around the corner, the Younger family are hoping their move to Clybourne Park is a sign of better things to come. But as a black family moving into white suburban Chicago, mutterings from the neighbours are all too predictable. Fifty years on, in 2009, we return to the same house as gentrification sets in and the roles are reversed.

Hailed as “genius” (The Times), Clybourne Park has taken the West End by storm, sold out at the Royal Court and delighted audiences in New York. Don’t miss this shocking sensation as it comes to Oxford.

Outrageously funny and provocative. A firecracker of a play. HHHHH Daily Telegraph

Mercury Theatre Colchester presents

By Bruce Norris Directed by Daniel Buckroyd Designed by Jonathan Fensom Norris’s play nails the thorny subject of race relations with bilious zest that takes one’s breath away. Guardian Winner of Best Play: Tony Awards, Olivier Awards, South Bank Sky Arts Theatre Awards, Evening Standard Theatre Awards and Critics Circle Theatre Awards. Winner of Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

CLYBOURNE PARKTuesday 17 to Saturday 21 May

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Show times Wed, Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Sat mat: 2.30pmTicket prices £15 to £31 No discounts Fri & Sat evesEnjoy! members 25% off Wed & Sat matCaptioned performance Sat mat Post show talk Thu with Simon McBurney and Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor University of OxfordAge guideline 12+

This is masterful storytelling from a man and a company who are incapable of remaining within known theatrical boundaries.

A must-see – or perhaps I should say, a must-hear.HHHHH Independent

A Complicite co-production with Edinburgh International Festival, the Barbican, London, Onassis Cultural Centre – Athens, Schaubühne

Berlin, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne and Warwick Arts Centre

In 1969, Loren McIntyre, a National Geographic photographer, found himself lost among the people of the remote Javari Valley, Brazil. It was an encounter that was to change his life.

In this “spellbinding” (HHHHH Daily Telegraph) solo performance Simon McBurney traces McIntyre’s journey into the depths of the Amazon rainforest. Using binaural technology, this innovative show will immerse you in an intimate and shifting world of sound.

Complicite was founded in 1983 and since then has toured all over the world, winning over 50 major theatre awards. Recent work includes Lionboy, The Master and Margarita, Shun-kin and A Disappearing Number.

Directed and performed by Simon McBurney

An aural and visual delight. HHHHH Financial Times Utterly transportative. HHHHH Time Out

THE ENCOUNTERWednesday 25 to Saturday 28 May

OPINION Undoubtedly and deservedly one of the must-see shows of 2015, The Encounter is an experience like no other: mesmerising, multi-layered and magnificent. Make sure you join us.

Katy SnellingProgramme Manager


Show times Mon: 2.30pm | Tue: 11am & 2.30pm | Wed: 11am Ticket price £13 | Children £11 Age guideline 4+

Directed by Peta Maurice

The Gruffalo is a modern classic.Observer

Seeing author Julia Donaldson on stage was a special experience for children... Stage

Following the sell-out success at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, best-selling British author Julia Donaldson brings this enchanting show to Oxford. See her stories and songs acted out with oodles of charm by a cast of five, including guitar-playing husband Malcolm.

Join us for Jack and the Flumflum Tree, What the Ladybird Heard, A Squash and a Squeeze, Zog and of course, The Gruffalo. Made all the more magical by a set that transforms from library to ship,tropical island to deep dark wood, this is a very special experience that families won’t want to miss!

Julia will be signing books after the show.

GRUFFALOS, LADYBIRDS AND OTHER BEASTS

Monday 30 May to Wednesday 1 June

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TRANSFORMING OXFORD PLAYHOUSEThis summer sees the final stage of the refurbishment of Oxford Playhouse, with work on the theatre rounding off a transforming three-year programme. This phase will see new seating and a complete facelift of the auditorium.

Arts Council England have already contributed over half of the overall budget, but we still need to raise the vital last part to finish the job.

Gifts of any size are greatly appreciated and will make a real difference.

£75 buys a square metre of carpet

£15 buys a tin of paint

£25 buys an aisle light

£500 names a seat for five years

£250 buys an environmentally friendly LED stage light

Name A SeatAs a unique gift for theatre lovers, to mark a special memory or simply to treat yourself, naming a seat is a great way to show support. A plaque will be placed on a seat of your choice and you can choose your own wording (up to 50 characters). If you would like to reserve a seat or request a gift form, please contact Jess Dixon on 01865 305315 or email [email protected]

To make a gift online, please visit www.oxfordplayhouse.com/supportus

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Show time 7.30pmTicket price £18 | Discounts available Age guideline 14+

The utterly hilarious, “terrifyingly funny” (Times) and multi-award-winning Mark Watson returns to Oxford with his new show I’m Not Here. A seemingly minor incident at an airport is the starting point for this examination of modern identity in the digital age and the search for meaning in our lives. Jam-packed with jokes, this is an evening of guaranteed uproarious fun.

Mark Watson regularly appears in numerous TV shows including Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, and stars in his own Radio 4 series Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better and Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life.

Mark Watson is a Prodigy.Guardian Belly laugh brilliant... the audience was weeping with laughter.Time Out

MARK WATSONI’m Not Here

Wednesday 1 June

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Show times 7pm | Sat mat: 2pmTicket prices £11 to £19 |Discounts availableMultibuy 15% off Age guideline 8+

Adapted and directed by Poppy Burton-Morgan Choreographed by Kendra J Horsburgh This is a company to watch. Spectator

Kipling’s classic tale comes crashing into the 21st century, with Metta Theatre’s spectacular new production, featuring breathtaking street dance and circus.

Mowgli is finding her way in the urban jungle. With a beat-boxing bin man Baloo, graffiti artist Bagheera and a skateboarding wolf crew, this heart-warming coming of age story will astonish and amaze.

Choreographed by Kendra J Horsburgh and featuring jaw-dropping tricks, this is a show for everyone from 8 to 108.

Metta Theatre presents

JUNGLE BOOKFriday 3 and Saturday 4 June


Show time 7.30pmTicket price £17 | Discounts available Enjoy! members 25% off Mon Age guideline 14+

Adapted and directed by Tim Crouch Quite rare, quite wonderful, not to be missed. Libby Purves, theatreCat on Spymonkey

Joyously inventive. Evening Standard on Spymonkey

There are 75 onstage deaths in the works of William Shakespeare: from the Roman suicides in Julius Caesar to the death fall of Prince Arthur in King John; from the carnage at the end of Hamlet to snakes in a basket in Antony & Cleopatra. And then there’s the pie in Titus Andronicus.

Spymonkey will perform them all, sometimes messily, sometimes movingly, sometimes musically, always hysterically. These four “seriously, outrageously, cleverly funny clowns” (Time Magazine) will scale the peaks of sublime poetry, and plumb the depths of darkest depravity. It may even be the death of them.

A Spymonkey co-production with Brighton Festival and Royal & Derngate Northampton

THE COMPLETE DEATHSMonday 6 to Wednesday 8 June

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BALLET BLACKTriple bill

Friday 10 June

Ballet Black is phenomenal.Independent on Sunday

Ballet Black has collaborated with three bold and inventive choreographers to present an irresistible trilogy of dance.

Christopher Hampson’s Storyville is the bittersweet fable of Nola, a farm girl who falls prey to unscrupulous characters and worldly desires in 1920s New Orleans. The programme also includes two new pieces by Christopher Marney and Arthur Pita.

Now celebrating their 15th year, Ballet Black is a company for international dancers of black and Asian descent, presenting work full of beauty and innovation.

Show time 8pmTicket prices £ 11.50 to £22 | Discounts availableEnjoy! members 25% offAge guideline 7+

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In a word, brilliant.HHHH The Cherwell on The Oxford Revue and Friends 2015

Join The Oxford Revue as they unite with The Cambridge Footlights and The Durham Revue for an evening of side-splitting sketch comedy.

For one night only, the country’s funniest student comedians will come together on the Playhouse stage. Compèred by a special guest host, The Oxford Revue and Friends will be a chance to see the comedy superstars of tomorrow presenting their best material from throughout the year.

Past members of the three troupes include Al Murray, Stewart Lee, Olivia Colman, Armando Iannucci, David Mitchell, and the cast of Monty Python, to name but a few.

Show time 7.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £18 | Discounts available Student tickets £11.50 | Available in advance Enjoy! members 50% offAge guideline 16+

THE OXFORD REVUEand Friends

Saturday 11 June

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE CAFÉ BAR

Open from 10am Monday to Saturday

Changing weekly, our delicious light dishes and made to order sandwiches make the Playhouse a great lunchtime location.

Our range of cakes, bakes, cookies and pastries can also be enjoyed with locally blended teas and espresso coffees throughout the day.

With free Wi-Fi, children’s toys and comfy seating in our Circle Bar, we look forward to welcoming you all day.

SPECIAL OFFER! CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA AND A TEACAKE

FOR ONLY £2.50. Valid until 31 May 2016.

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English Touring Theatre and York Theatre Royal present

BRIDESHEAD REVISITEDTuesday 14 to Saturday 18 June

English Touring Theatre and York Theatre Royal present the first large-scale stage adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel in a sparklingly new adaptation by Tony Award nominee Bryony Lavery.

It’s 1943. Finding himself in familiar territory within the English countryside, Charles Ryder confronts memories of his first youthful encounter with Brideshead Castle and its assortment of eccentric inhabitants.

In this elegant, evocative and vivid reimagining of the much-loved story, past and present blur as Charles recalls those heady days with Lord and Lady Marchmain along with their offspring: Julia, Cordelia and Sebastian Flyte.

By Evelyn WaughAdapted by Bryony Lavery

Show times Tue to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £15 to £31 | No discounts Fri & Sat eves Enjoy! members 25% off Tue & Sat matCaptioned performance WedAudio described performance Sat: 2.30pm | Touch Tour: 1pmPost show talk WedAge guideline 14+

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Show times Fri & Sat eves: 7pm | Sat mat: 2pmTicket price £18 | Discounts availableFamily ticket £55 (4 tickets, inc. up to 2 adults)Age guideline 6+

Stunning...You can’t help but think you may be watching a few future theatre stars in this brilliant adaptation.

Reviews Hub on Alice in Wonderland 2015

Magdalen College School Theatre Academy

There is nothing – absolute nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

Spring is in the air and Mole, fed up with cleaning, emerges from his hole to discover the magical world of the river. Alongside his new friends Ratty, Badger and Toad, he embarks on marvellous adventures. From life on the open road to the final Great Battle of Toad Hall, this is a time that Mole will never forget.

Magdalen College School Theatre Academy returns following recent productions of The Aeneid, Lord of the Flies, Idylls of the King and Alice in Wonderland. Pupils from the Academy will bring Kenneth Grahame’s classic to life with help from a professional creative team, including director Joanne Pearce (Royal Shakespeare Company Associate Artist) and designer Gabriella Slade (Alice in Wonderland).

By Kenneth GrahameAdapted and directed by Joanne Pearce

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June


Show time 5pmTicket price Free, but must be booked at the Ticket OfficeLocation Top RoomAge guideline 14+ Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.

Show time 5pmTicket price £8 | Discounts availableAge guideline 12+

What is our place in the Universe? Did it really spring into existence in the most violent explosion? Will it end in a seething ball of energy? What is life, are we alone in the Universe?

These are questions that continue to perplex even the greatest minds.

In this fascinating journey of discovery around our Universe, TV astronomer and author Mark Thompson tackles all the hard stuff and turns it into easily digestible chunks with the help of some amazing and fun explosive demonstrations.

Ruskin Theatre Platforms presents a staged reading of the play behind Clybourne Park.

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is a modern classic that tells the story of a black family’s experiences moving into a largely white Chicago neighbourhood in the 1950s.

A hit when it was first produced in 1959, Hansberry’s story has been adapted by successive generations of storytellers, with stage revivals, musical adaptions and versions created for film and television. It also inspired Bruce Norris’s 2010 play Clybourne Park, on at Oxford Playhouse from 17 to 21 May (see page 17).

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Friday 13 May

MARK THOMPSONThe Show at the End of the Universe

Friday 6 May

GET YOUR WEEKEND OFF TO A FLYING START... Friday at 5pm

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In association with Oxford Playhouse

RUSKIN THEATRE PLATFORMS

Wednesday 4 May to Wednesday 15 June

Everyone is welcome at the FREE series of staged reading of five modern and classic plays. Ruskin Theatre Platforms take place at Ruskin College, Dunstan Road, except for A Raisin in the Sun. Directed by John Retallack, they are curated as part of the Writing for Performance course.

All readings at Ruskin College must be booked via [email protected]. Ruskin College, Dunstan Road, Old Headington, OX3 9BZ. The college is a short bus or cycle ride away from Oxford City Centre. A chaired discussion follows each play-reading.

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Wed 4 May, 6.30pm ABIGAIL’S PARTY by Mike Leigh

Wed 11 May, 6.30pm & Fri 13 May, 5pm* A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry *The reading on 13 May must be booked via the Oxford Playhouse Ticket Office. See page 32 for full information.

Wed 18 May, 6.30pm THE PRICE by Arthur Miller

Wed 8 June, 6.30pm CLOUD 9 by Caryl Churchill

Wed 15 June, 6.30pm YELLOW MOON by David Greig

TWO DAYS OF FREE OUTDOOR DANCE

Sunday 10 and Saturday 16 July

Join Oxford Playhouse and Dancin’ Oxford as we present two great days of free outdoor dance shows, perfect for the whole family.

We’ll be on Cowley Road on Sunday 10 July as part of carnival day, and then just around the corner from Beaumont Street in Gloucester Green on Saturday 16 July for a day celebrating dance in the city centre.

All events will be free and there’s no need to book. Check oxfordplayhouse.com for the final performance schedule.

– P L AY H O U S E P L AY S O U T –

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FULL CIRCLE MEMBERSHIPTHE W LUCY MEMBERS’ ROOM

YOUR SANCTUARY IN THE CITY

JOIN NOWSimply call the Ticket Office on 01865 305305or join online at oxfordplayhouse.com

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eraint Lewis

ESCAPE THE CROWDS FOR YOUR PRE-SHOW AND INTERVAL DRINKS IN OUR EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS-ONLY HIDEAWAY IN THE HEART OF OXFORD.

FULL CIRCLEJoin Full Circle for just £100 a year, and you and up to three guests can relax in the Oxford Playhouse W Lucy Members’ Room, a beautiful newly refurbished space open from 6pm to 11pm and matinee afternoons, serving drinks and a tempting bar menu.

Combine with an Enjoy! membership for even more benefits. £130 per year (Enjoy! alone is £50).

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

• Guaranteed early mailing of Oxford Playhouse brochure and priority booking

• Three free programmes per year• Special offers and invitations from

local arts and cultural organisations and local businesses

Current Enjoy! Members Upgrade

Upgrade to a combined membership for only an additional £50, valid for one year from date of upgrade.

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While the thunder of the batteries rumbled in the distance… we searched for an elementary art that would, we thought,

save mankind from the furious folly of these times. Hans Arp, founder of the Dadaist movement

Art, war and insanity on a grand scale.

Furious Folly takes place as night falls, in a no-man’s land on the battle front between two lines.

Taking place in the centenary year of the battle of the Somme, Furious Folly creates an evocative, disorientating war-torn landscape from sound, light and pyrotechnics.

Drawing on the anti-war spirit of the Dadaist artists of the time, this powerful and poignant open-air performance has been created by Mark Anderson, the artist behind the internationally renowned Power Plant. Anderson and his team have made a unique show that rails against the futility and madness of the Great War, and challenges the inhumanity and senselessness of conflicts past and present.

An unmissable experience, this remarkable and moving free event forms part of 14-18 NOW, the UK-wide arts programme to mark the First World War centenary.

Show time 10pm (grounds open at 9.30pm, show lasts approx. 40min) Ticket price Free, but must be booked at the Ticket OfficeLocation School Field, Magdalen College School, Central Oxford, OX4 1DZ Age guideline 12+This is an outdoor promenade performance. Please come prepared for all weather conditions.

Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and Stadt Poperinge Created at 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space

Anderson has spent his professional career creating audio visual alchemy that uses light, heat, vibrations, electricity, oscillating chemicals and paraphernalia to dazzle our eyes and startle our imaginations. Richard Wilson

FURIOUS FOLLYFriday 17 and Saturday 18 June

– P L AY H O U S E P L AY S O U T – Produced by Corn Exchange Newbury and Oxford Contemporary Music in association with Oxford Playhouse, Birmingham Hippodrome, Oxford

Festival of the Arts and Stockton International Riverside Festival.

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Show times Tue to Sun: 7.45pm | Sun mats: 2.30pm (no show Mon 25 July)Ticket prices £22 and £24 | Discounts availableEnjoy! members and groups of 10+ 20% off Location Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle, Catte Street, OX1 3BGAge guideline 8+This is an outdoor performance. Please come prepared for all weather conditions.

One of Oxford’s most spectacular summer highlights, Oxford Playhouse and the Bodleian Library are delighted to welcome back Globe Theatre On Tour. Get your summer soaring by seeing one of Shakespeare’s most charming comedies in the unique outdoor setting of the Old Schools Quadrangle.

Valentine loves Silvia and Proteus loves Julia – but Proteus is fickle, and falls for Silvia too. Join a joyful ensemble of players as they bounce between elopements, betrayals and forest-dwelling outlaws - plus a bit with a dog. Along the way, they play out Shakespeare’s immortal themes of deceit, love and friendship.

This riotous new production will delight with songs, romance and chaos, hurling Shakespeare’s anarchic comedy into the 21st century. The perfect play for summer!

In the hands of this talented troupe, it’s a damn good tale, tremendously entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Oxford Mail on Much Ado About Nothing 2015

Shakespeare’s Globe and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse present

By William ShakespeareDirected by Nick Bagnall Designed by Katie Sykes Composed by James Fortune

Why not book a tour?Guided tours of the Bodleian Library are available daily. For more information or to book, visit bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whats-on/visit.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONATuesday 19 to Sunday 31 July

– P L AY H O U S E P L AY S O U T –

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Oxford Playhouse and the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme present

a World Premiere production

PETER PAN IN SCARLETFriday 12 August to Sunday 4 September

Show times Various - see pages 70 & 71 for detailsTicket prices £11.50 to £24 | Discounts available Family Ticket Weekdays £65, Weekends £75 (4 tickets, inc. up to 2 adults) Preview tickets Fri 12, Sat 13 & Tue 16: £15Enjoy! members 50% off Fri 12 & Sat 13 AugRelaxed performance Thu 25 Aug: 2pmAudio described performance Sun 28 Aug: 1pm Age guideline 8+The official sequel to J M Barrie’s Peter Pan commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital International Promotions Ltd and published by Oxford University Press. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity registered charity no. 1160024

Neverland needs you, and treasure awaits! This world premiere stage adaptation of the official sequel to J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan is the perfect adventure for the whole family.

It’s 1929, and Wendy and the Lost Boys have all grown up when strange dreams begin to seep out of Neverland. Pirates and mermaids, war paint and crocodiles – the dreams tell them that something must be wrong, and their friend Peter Pan needs their help. So Wendy and the Lost Boys put on their children’s clothes and, armed only with fairy dust, fly back to Neverland for one last adventure. Fly through a world of circus and fire, shipwrecks and battles, brought thrillingly to life by director and adapter Theresa Heskins.

Based on the best-selling novel by three-times Whitbread Children’s Book Award winner and local writer, Geraldine McCaughrean, this is a show that will fill the golden days of summer with action and delight.

Based on an original novel by Geraldine McCaughreanAdapted and directed by Theresa Heskins

The Observer’s Top Ten Shows of 2015 in the UK (Theresa Heskins’ Dracula).

OPINION I wanted this world-premiere production to be the opening event for our new auditorium since my first day here. It’s a privilege to work with such a wonderful team and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity on this special show. Remember – you have to believe in fairies!

Louise ChantalChief Executive


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Show times Mon to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu and Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £15 to £31 | No discounts Fri and Sat evesEnjoy! Members 25% off Mon and Sat mat Post show talk WedAge guideline 12+

By Alan Ayckbourn Directed by Robin Herford Designed by Peter McKintosh

As funny as anything Ayckbourn has ever written. The Times

Greg only met Ginny a month ago but has already made up his mind that she’s the girl for him. On discovering her parents’ address, he decides to go to Buckinghamshire to ask her father for his daughter’s hand. There he finds Philip and Sheila enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning in the garden, but the only thing is...they’re not Ginny’s parents!

Relatively Speaking features a talented cast, including multi-award-winning Robert Powell (Single Spies, King Charles III) and much-loved Liza Goddard (Doctor Who, Bergerac). Beautifully crafted, wonderfully funny and charmingly English, Relatively Speaking was Alan Ayckbourn’s first great West End success and set him on course to become a household name.

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Kenny Wax present

RELATIVELY SPEAKINGMonday 12 to Saturday 17 September

Coming Soon...

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Show times Tue to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu & Sat mats: 2.30pmTicket prices £11.50 to £27 | Discounts available Enjoy! Members 50% off Tue and Sat mat Captioned performance WedAudio described performance Sat: 2.30 | Touch tour: 1pmAge guideline 12+

In an age when governments across the world face increasing unrest, Dickens’ classic tale seems more relevant than ever.

With a bold new dramatic adaptation by Mike Poulton (Wolf Hall, RSC) and rousing music by Oscar-winning Rachel Portman, this production is alive with passion and rebellion.

Considered by Dickens to be “the best story I have ever written”, this tale weaves an intense family drama with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution. An epic story of love, sacrifice and redemption amidst an ever-changing world.

By Charles Dickens Adapted by Mike Poulton Directed by James Dacre

The best and worst of times – are keenly reflected in this splendid production, directed by James Dacre.HHHH Observer

Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Royal & Derngate Northampton co-production

A TALE OF TWO CITIESTuesday 20 to Saturday 24 September

Coming Soon...

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Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company of South Australia present

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Show times Tue to Thu & Sat eves: 7.30pm | Fri: 8pm | Thu and Sat mats: 2.30pm Ticket prices £11.50 to £27 | Discounts available Enjoy! Members 50% off Tue and Sat mat Post show talk WedAge guideline 14+

By Andrew Bovell

Piercingly beautiful. Arts Hub Australia on Andrew Bovell

As beautifully touching as it is funny and bold, Things I Know To Be True tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings, struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.

Bob and Fran have worked their fingers to the bone, and with their four children grown and ready to fly the nest, it might be time to relax and enjoy the roses. But the changing seasons bring home some shattering truths.

Featuring Frantic Assembly’s celebrated physicality, Things I Know To Be True is funny, poetic and brutally frank.

THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUETuesday 4 to Saturday 8 October

Coming Soon...

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An Oxford Playhouse Production

Show times Various - see the website or call the ticket office for detailsTicket prices £15 to £27 | Great rates for schools from £11.50 | Discounts available | Groups get up to 20% off tickets to medium and high shows Age guideline 5+ (brave children under 5 are welcome, but some may find it a bit loud or scary)

Written and directed by Steve Marmion

Thousands will be having a merrier Christmas thanks to this excellent show, a colourful and musical delight.HHHHH Oxford Times on Aladdin 2015

Love a bit of pantomime? Then with a sprinkle of Playhouse magic you shall go to the ball! Following hot on the heels of our 5-star Aladdin, book now for the great big theatrical party that is Cinderella.

Set your chores aside and meet Cinders. She may be set to sweep and clean by her ugly sisters and evil step-mum, but she knows she’s destined for much bigger things. And, hey, turns out the palace is having a very fancy party…Will she meet her prince? Will her fairy godmother save the day? Will she make it out with her very shiny shoes intact? One thing’s for sure, while it’s the prince who’s throwing the party, Cinders is charming enough for two.

So if you like all-singing, all-dancing, laugh-out-loud silliness, then Cinderella at Oxford Playhouse is the perfect fit.

CINDERELLAFriday 25 November 2016 to Sunday 8 January 2017

Coming Soon...©

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Monday 20 to Sunday 26 June

Put the dates in your diary now for Oxford’s brand new festival of theatre, dance, comedy, music and spoken word.

With 50 shows in 7 days, Offbeat is a collaboration between Oxford Playhouse and Arts at the Old Fire Station, featuring upcoming and established artists from across the country presenting the best new work in contemporary performing arts.

With performances hosted at the Old Fire Station and the Burton Taylor Studio, this collaboration between neighbouring theatres is a very exciting opportunity to see work performed in Oxford for the first time.

For further information on the festival visit www.offbeatoxford.co.uk.

MAKES-YOU-THINK, IN-YOUR-FACE,

NEVER-THOUGHT-OF- IT-LIKE-THAT-BEFORE, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD,

WHO’D-‘VE-THOUGHT, LIFE-ENHANCING ART.

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Show time 7.30pm Tickets £10 Discounts £8 Age guideline 16+

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Show times 11am and 2pm Tickets £8 Children £6 Age guideline 3+

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MONTH TO MONTH

COMEDYDRAMA MUSICPOETRYFAMILY

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

BURTON TAYLOR STUDIO

OP’s Burton Taylor Studio programme is sponsored by HMG LAW

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


BIG SHOWS, SMALL SPACE...

Show times 7.30pm | Sat mat: 2.30pm Tickets £7 Discounts £5 Age guideline 12+


Let’s be happy for ever and ever. It is 1919 and change is in the air as the Conway family are gathered for Kay‘s 21st birthday party. The evening’s celebrations are interrupted by Kay’s prescient vision which casts a shadow over the family’s future hopes and dreams. Priestley’s famed haunting power captures the defining spirit of post-war Britain through the experiences of a single family. A talented cast from Magdalen College School’s sixth form present this poignant, layered drama.

Fans of ripping yarns and tall tales will love this special series of events that prove you’re never too old for a good bed time story! To accompany our new family show, Bed Time, Oxford Playhouse have assembled some of the finest storytellers and spoken word artists in Oxfordshire for three nights of storytelling for grown-ups. Let us whisk you away to explore strange new words full of fabulously frightening tales, wondrously weird wordplay and moments of sheer gem-like magic. Different every night, join us for one, two or even all three evenings of entertainment.


Sarah is busy dying – counting down her heartbeats and studying maps of places she never intends to go. John is busy living – driven to travel by the need to be someone interesting. Both are looking for a future where they meet each other. With music, string and a bright red anorak, this is a show that asks if we’ll know happiness when we get there. A testament to the power of the imagination...Guaranteed to put a smile on your face. A Younger Theatre

Wed 6 and Thu 7 AprilFlickbook Theatre

CARTOGRAPHY

Thu 31 March to Sat 2 April

BED TIME TALESThu 17 to Sat 19 March Magdalen College School

TIME AND THE CONWAYSBy J.B. Priestly

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MARCH TO APRIL

A favourite at the BT following hit shows Northern Soul and Major Tom, Victoria Melody returns with her new show that looks at the secret roots of human hair. When Victoria competed in beauty pageants for Major Tom, a hairdresser advised she wear hair extensions. Freaked out by wearing a piece of somebody else’s body, she embarked on an extraordinary adventure to find whose hair this was. This hilarious show provides astonishing insights into ethics, diverse cultures and the personal realities of the global economy. One of the most charming independent performance-makers in Britain. HHHH Times

A fairytale favourite spun before your very eyes. Auntie spins as hard as she can to make the wool for the King’s special jumper. But the royals are out of cash, her helper is useless at spinning and the Prince just wants to be a shepherd. Everyone gets their threads in a twist and then Rumpel you- know-who steps in. Who is he, where does he come from and can they guess his real name before he gets them all in a spin? A woolly wonderland of a show brought to life with storytelling, music and puppetry.


This new interactive show is a daring recreation of a sci-fi cinema classic; inspired by Andy’s life-long obsession with the film Terminator 2. He estimates he has watched the film roughly 238 times; spending almost a month of his 28 years sat in front of it. So he knows it fairly well. In many ways, Terminator 2 was his only guide through those troublesome teenage years. Using a blend of stand-up, storytelling and audience participation, Andy transports the audience back to that delicate age when girls were a mystery, make-believe was everything, and the future was yet to be written. An exciting, all-action, night-time performance – go with them if you want to live. HHHH Time Out

Show times 11am & 2pm Tickets £8 Children £6 Age guideline 3 to 8

Show times Mon: 7.30pm | Tue: 6.30pm & 8.30pm Tickets £10 Discounts £8 Age guideline 16+

Mon 11 and Tue 12 AprilBootworks Theatre

NOW LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLYDevised and performed by Andy Roberts & James Baker

Sat 9 AprilRipstop Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre

RUMPELSTILTSKINDirected by Bob Percy and Zannie Fraser

Fri 8 AprilFarnham Maltings

HAIR PEACECreated and performed by Victoria Melody





From what might be a news desk, an office, a bedroom, a bunker under a mountain or a theatre, two people speak up, speak out, blow the whistle and lift the veil on the insidious machine of surveillance. A Machine They’re Secretly Building charts a course from the Top Secret secrets of WWI intelligence (via the moon,1972’s Chess World Championships, a disco in Oklahoma and the cafeteria at CERN) through to 9/11, the erosion of privacy, Edward Snowden and to the terror of a future that might already be upon us.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky is on benefits. He’s also dead and stagnating in a bedsit. Interrupting the great novelist’s 130-year writer’s block is a heartless bureaucrat from the Department of Work and Pensions. In trying to justify his disability claim, Fyodor soon finds himself lost in the turbulent and strange world of The Idiot – his most autobiographical novel. Join Caligula’s Alibi for an irreverent, deconstructed journey through Dostoyevsky’s work in this new play that asks questions about theatre, judgment, bureaucracy and what it means to be a speck of dust on the sleeve of the cosmos.

Show times 11am & 2pm Tickets £8 Children £6 Age guideline 4+

Something fishy’s going on! Fish are starting to disappear from our rivers and seas. Why? And how can one little girl help stop it? Leaper: A Fish Tale follows one fish’s magical quest against the ever-growing natural and man-made monsters in our seas. Using their signature blend of beautiful puppetry and mesmeric music, Evolve Artists in Residence Tucked In explore the colourful and breathtaking world beneath the water’s surface. Following Sam Rose in the Shadows and Tim & Light, this promises to be another wonderful show. Masters of enchanting story-telling. The Skinny

Sat 16 AprilTucked In

LEAPER: A FISH TALE

Fri 15 AprilCaligula’s Alibi

IDIOTS

Wed 13 and Thu 14 AprilProto-type Theater

A MACHINE THEY’RE SECRETLY BUILDING

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APRIL

One of Oxford’s favourite spoken word artists, Tina Sederholm invites you to join her for The Good Delusion: a tragi-comic spoken word show that dives deeply into the paradoxical and complex nature of goodness. Tina has made a religion out of being good. She takes herself to church, tries to become a princess and later an international athlete. She even trains to be the ideal girlfriend. But despite her efforts to be the best at everything, nothing quite goes to plan. Join Tina as she finds out how to survive when being good turns bad. A poet and performer of exceptional prowess. Daily Info All profits from this performance will be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Everyone wants their dad to be a hero. But what happens when your heroes let you down? Cheryl and Tess used to think their socialist dads were like Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Pierce Brosnan, but in the aftermath of New Labour, they’re not so sure... So they got together with their dads and had a proper conversation about the good times and the bad. And they filmed it. Using that footage, they created Tribute Acts - a show that will introduce you to their dads as both the heroes they remember and the men they know now. An honest, heartfelt and hilarious exploration of their father/daughter relationships. Two badass gals boldly using sparkle to ask BIG life questions. BBC Radio 1


The year is 2039 and the eco-system is changing, but not for the better. Two scientists from either side of the Atlantic are thrown into a new kind of war that threatens to engulf the planet and tear their relationship apart. Told using film, theatre and a live video link to Philadelphia, this chilling international production sees science fiction meet eco-activism in a gripping story of love and betrayal. Intelligent, ambitious and accomplished. Guardian In association with South Hill Park, Bracknell. Funded by Arts Council England. Seeded by greenhouse. A Farnham Maltings initiative.Supported by Calyx Films & The Bay Trust, Kent.



Wed 20 and Thu 21 AprilPursued by a Bear Productions & Tiny Dynamite

THE LAMELLAR PROJECTBy Grant Watson

Tue 19 AprilTheatreState

TRIBUTE ACTS

Mon 18 AprilAlmost Random Theatre

THE GOOD DELUSIONWritten and performed by Tina Sederholm



Show time 8pm Tickets £10 Discounts £8


Leap into spring with a happy Hawaiian beach party! Saved from shipwreck on the tropical island of Linga-Longa and now based in Oxford, The Honolulu Cowboys bring you a musical experience of unsurpassed exoticness. With ukuleles , guitars, banjos, saxophones, drums and vocals, The Honolulu Cowboys play traditional Hawaiian favourites mixed with jazz standards, pop hits and country classics. As well as the Cowboys’ superb regular performers, they will be joined by special guest Bonnie Tonya whose beautiful voice will blow you away.

Egg and Spoon is an interactive romp through the seasons where you come in and out of our magic circle and get to open all the gifts of nature. Percy and April get you settled on our comfortable cushions and introduce you to Birdy, still hiding in his glowing egg. We have to wait until spring if we want to see him, so it’s time to begin our hands-on journey through the year. We’ll run through the rain and the falling leaves and sleep under the snow till the sun wakes us up for the butterfly party. The very young won’t sit still to watch a show and we don’t expect them to. Egg and Spoon is a perfect gentle introduction to the magic of theatre.

Fri 22 April

THE HONOLULU COWBOYS

Sat 23 AprilLyngo

EGG AND SPOONBy Marcello Chiarenza Adapted and performed by Patrick Lynch


Gerard Logan (Olivier Award Nominee) returns with his acclaimed performance of Shakespeare’s breath-taking narrative poem. Watch Roman leader Tarquin as he lusts after Lucrece, the beautiful wife of his friend Collatine. Will he risk losing his position and honour by allowing his emotions to take hold and enact his fantasies? Logan won The Stage’s award for Best Solo Performer for The Rape of Lucrece at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe. An astonishing production that acting legend Sir Trevor Nunn called “Sensational!”.

Fri 1 July

THE RAPE OF LUCRECEBy William Shakespeare

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APRIL TO JULY

One day, whilst Girl is playing in her garden, she spots something peculiar over the fence. Climbing up as high as she can to get a better view, she comes face to face with...Giraffe! As their friendship grows, Girl discovers that Giraffe isn’t very well. She tries everything to make him feel better; putting on bandages, making tea, and baking a cake. However Girl soon realises that Giraffe doesn’t need a plaster: sometimes we need a different kind of plaster for the things you can’t always see. Charming puppetry, an enchanting soundscape and beautiful storytelling combine in this sensitive show about love and friendship.


Sat 2 JulyHalf Moon presents a Floods of Ink production

THE GIRL AND THE GIRAFFE

It’s not always easy making friends, especially when you live in a lighthouse surrounded by dangerous rocks, towering waves and troublemaking seagulls. An exciting opportunity for a tea party with a friend arises when the supply boat comes, but the lighthouse keeper’s nervousness turns what could have been a delight into a disaster. Is it just a storm in a teacup? It is only when a storm blows in and real disaster looms that he can find the courage to save the day and rebuild his friendship.


Sat 9 JulyHorse + Bamboo Theatre Company

STORM IN A TEACUPBy Alison Duddle and Bob Frith

Worklight Theatre’s multi-award- winning show is a funny, moving and honest story about mixed heritage and immigration. Joe Sellman-Leava explores the shifting political landscape from 90s rural England to the modern refugee crisis using comedy, poetry and storytelling. Using humour and honesty, Labels offers a human story from multicultural Britain. Winner of both the Scotsman Fringe First Award and Holden Street Theatres Edinburgh Award, Labels has previously been shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, and appeared in The Lists Top 20 Edinburgh shows of 2015.

Show time 7.30pm Tickets £10 Discounts £8 Post show talk Thu Age guideline 12+

Thu 7 and Fri 8 JulyWorklight Theatre

LABELSBy Joe Sellman-Leava Directed by Katharina Reinthaller


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JOIN IN AT OP!

YOUNG COMPANIESHOLIDAY WORKSHOPSADULT WORKSHOPSPLAYHOUSE PLAYMAKERSCHOOLS & COLLEGES

Oxford Playhouse offers a bursaries scheme to anyone who wants to take part but may need help with fees. To apply, email [email protected]

LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION

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YOUNG COMPANIES

The 12|16 Young Company is a friendly group of young people with a passion for theatre making and performance. The company usually devise and perform their own shows but this term is a great opportunity for them to perform Every You Every Me by OP Associate Artist Barney Norris. Every You Every Me explores teenagers’ mental health issues. It is a play about rebellion, life choices and opening your A-level results. There will be public performances in the BT Studio on 5 and 6 July. Oxford Playhouse has opened many doors and opportunities for me whilst at the same time improving my acting skills. 12|16 Young Company member

Tue 19 Apr to Tue 5 Jul(no session Tue 31 May)

12|16 YOUNG COMPANY

Joining the 17|25 Young Company provides a good introduction to professional training, particularly gaining skills in working as an ensemble. These intensive but fun sessions are perfect for anyone with a hunger for the stage or for the curious this summer will be a great way to whet your appetite! The 17|25 Young Company will rehearse and perform plays written by our Young Playmakers. There will be a public performance in the BT Studio on 5 and 6 July.

Wed 13 Apr to Wed 6 Jul(no session Wed 1 Jun)

17|25 YOUNG COMPANY

Time 5pm to 7pm Location Top Room Tickets £70 per termAge guideline 17 to 25Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.

Time 5pm to 7pm Location Top RoomTickets £60 per termAge guideline 12 to 16Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.

Time 5pm to 7pmLocation Top Room Age guideline 15 to 20

Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.

A selection of plays written by members of the Young Playmaker group will be performed by the 17|25 Young Company in the BT Studio in July. The young writers will work with directors to understand how their words are realised, and learn the craft of rewriting in response to rehearsals and when and how to ‘stand their ground’! Writers whose scripts aren’t selected will be paired with those whose scripts have been chosen to learn about the rehearsal and adaptation process. To find out more about joining Young Playmaker in September, please contact [email protected]

Apr to Jul(no rehearsals during half term)

YOUNG PLAYMAKER


Time 11am onwards Tickets FREE (book your place in advance) Age guideline 11 to 15


Sun 4 Sep

PANTOMIME YOUNG COMPANY

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My son had an amazing time; I think he grew so much over the run. I loved that they were really involved in the story. He also made some great friends and will be back to audition again this year.Parent of Aladdin Young Company member

Did you know that if you’re aged between 11 and 15 you could be in Cinderella at Christmas?

Every year a group of young people audition to become our Pantomime Young Company, who join our professional cast on stage to bring the magic of pantomime to over 36,000 people.

If you’re passionate about acting, singing and dancing then why not audition? If selected, you need to be available throughout the whole period from Monday 3 October 2016 to Sunday 8 January 2017 for rehearsals and performances.

Book your free audition place through the Ticket Office. Please note, audition places are limited so early booking is recommended. If your first audition is successful you may be asked to a call-back on a date to be confirmed.


Join Peter Pan and friends on an exciting journey into Neverland. What’s happened to Peter, where’s Tinkerbell and why does Neverland look so different? Inspired by the Oxford Playhouse adaptation of Peter Pan in Scarlet, join the Lost Boys and Wendy on a thrilling expedition to meet old friends and new enemies! A great way for your child to learn improvisation, storytelling and drama skills whilst making new friends. The week will culminate with a performance for family and friends. And there’s even more, as participants will be eligible for a special discounted family ticket for Peter Pan in Scarlet. (see page 41)

It’s no joke finding your silly self, and we’re falling over ourselves because Mark Curtis is back to take you through the highs and lows of finding your funny. During this fun-filled week, where mistakes are an absolute must, Mark will guide you through a series of games and exercises exploring improvisation, game play and slapstick skills. Be prepared to work hard, play hard and laugh hard, as you discover new things about yourself and make new friends. There will be an informal sharing of some of the work created by participants at the end of the week for family and friends.

Time 10am to 4pm (drop off from 9am, pick up before 5pm) Location Burton Taylor Studio Tickets £125 Age guideline 8 to 11

Time 10am to 4pm Tickets £150 (The price of this course includes a ticket to watch Peter Pan in Scarlet) Age guideline 12 to 16

Mon 22 to Fri 26 Aug

CLOWNING AROUND

Mon 8 to Fri 12 Aug

PLAY IN A WEEK: ADVENTURES IN NEVERLAND

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

You will become the group of players employed by Hamlet to unsettle his step-father. While rehearsing the play you decide it will be more fun to surprise Hamlet with a play about himself. This workshop is a fun way for children to explore Shakespeare’s language and Hamlet’s dilemma, while creating their own imaginative solution to an age old problem: why do adults have to make everything so complicated!?

Wed 30 Mar

YOUNG HAMLET

Time 10am to 4pm (drop off from 9am, pick up before 5pm)Location Top RoomTickets £25 Age guideline 8 to 11Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.

The BT Studio is accessible by stair lift. Please inform Ticket Office in advance when booking if you will need to use it.


For Drama and Theatre Facilitators, Teachers, Youth Project Leaders and anyone who likes to play. This workshop is an opportunity for you to learn and share games, exercises and techniques and discuss the challenges and joys of planning and delivering workshops. You will take part in games and exercises designed to break down workshop structure, giving you the opportunity to lead, take part and reflect on your own facilitation skills. Participants will be asked to lead on at least one game or exercise, and to give supportive feedback. You will be provided with guidance notes and there will be an opportunity to network at the end of the day.

Fri 3 June

THEATRE GAMES: FACILITATOR GAMES DAY

An honest tale speeds best being plainly told. Join us as we explore the dos and don’ts of staging Shakespeare’s plays. From almost unrecognisable theatrical abstractions to classic interpretations from the BBC and RSC, we’ll look at the challenges and possibilities presented by the bard’s work.

Fri 1 Apr

STAGING SHAKESPEARE

Time 10am to 4pm Location Top Room Tickets £30 Age guideline16+


Time 10am to 4pm Location Top Room Tickets £35 (incl. a ticket to Jungle Book - see page 23) Age guideline16+Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.


Spotlight is for anyone aged 50 or over with an interest in theatre. Each session is a friendly and relaxed lunchtime meet-up to socialise and talk all things dramatic. Spotlight is led by a member of OP staff and special guests, who will talk about their role in the current show, or themes and issues explored in this season’s productions. Enjoy interesting conversation and a light lunch before taking in the matinee performance. New Spotlighters are always welcome, so why not bring a friend? Thu 21 April The Herbal Bed Thu 19 May Clybourne Park Thu 16 June Brideshead Revisited

Thu 21 Apr, Thu 19 May & Thu 16 June

SPOTLIGHT

Time 12pm to 1.30pm Location Top Room Tickets £6 Age guideline50+



ADULT WORKSHOPS

Time 10am to 4pm Location Burton Taylor Studio Tickets One Day £30 | Five Sessions £130 Age guideline 16+The BT Studio is accessible by stair lift. Please inform Ticket Office in advance when booking if you will need to use it.

SKILLS SESSIONS

Whether you’re attending drama school, starting your career, retired and seeking new challenges, or just looking to develop new skills, come along and try a day or spend the week with us.

Stage Combat Mon 15 AugLed by Tom Jordan Learn unarmed combat and weapon skills in this fast-paced workshop.

Directing Tue 16 Aug Develop your rehearsal room technique, critical analysis and how to get the best performance out of others.

Playwriting Wed 17 Aug Led by Barney Norris Discover the craft of writing plays, from getting your ideas on to the page, to character development and plotting.

Singing Thu 18 AugLed by OP Evolve artist Matt Winkworth Sing your heart out as you learn about projection, vocalisation and voice techniques.

Acting Fri 19 AugLed by Anna Tolputt As an experienced actress and director, Anna will work on rhythm, text and physicality to help you create a truthful and engaging character.


2015-16 saw Oxford Playhouse and new company Oxford Playmaker work together for the first time on a unique life-long writers’ development programme - Playhouse Playmaker. Writers from 7 - 70 are included, and we welcome new writers to join the various strands of the programme, more details of which are on page 61.

Primary Playmaker Key Stage 2 Secondary Playmaker Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 Young Playmaker Ages 15 to 20 Playhouse Playmaker Ages 21+

Playhouse Playmaker is our Writers Attachment Programme for new and emerging playwrights led by award-winning writer and director John Retallack. Each year we select up to 8 writers who meet one Saturday a month (10am - 6pm) between October and June, working on writing techniques and individual mentoring and feedback on their scripts. This programme is free but selective. Applications for Playhouse Playmaker 2016-2017 are now open. To apply for a place please send an example of your work, at least a 20 page extract or a full length play, to [email protected]. You do not need to have had your worked staged or published.

Playhouse Playmaker is led by John Retallack and Renata Allen.


Time 2.30pm to 5pm Tickets £5 Location Top Room, Oxford Playhouse Age 21+Unfortunately the Top Room cannot be accessed in a wheelchair.

PLAYMAKER PROGRAMME

Sat 2 Apr or Sat 18 Jun

PLAYHOUSE PLAYMAKER TASTER SESSIONSTo find out more about Playhouse Playmaker join us for a free taster session. Email [email protected] or call the ticket office to book.


PLAYHOUSE PLAYMAKER

Playwriting workshops in school for KS2 pupils to inspire children to write their own short plays. Drama games and improvisations help children create storyboards and lead to fully written plays, ready for performance. Everyone’s plays are shared within school, and some will be selected to be preformed on the Playhouse stage by professional actors as part of the Young Players Festival.

PRIMARY PLAYMAKER

Book a masterclass at your school to explore all aspects of writing a play and bringing original ideas to life. For KS3, 4 and 5, Oxford Playhouse offers both a half day (2.5 hours) and a full day workshop (2 x two hour sessions with a minimum 45min break). These practical sessions are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to develop a first idea into a rehearsal-ready script.

SECONDARY PLAYMAKER

Weekly workshops for young writers keen to write a short play. Sessions begin in September and a selection of the finished plays will be performed by Oxford Playhouse 12|16 and 17|25 Young Companies in June 2017. Young Playmakers will spend two terms working on their ideas, acquiring skills, and writing. Then in the third term they will work with a director to understand the process of bringing their words to life.

YOUNG PLAYMAKER

Half Day: £150 Full Day: £350 (please note that the cost of travel may be added to the fee)

Time 5pm to 7.30pm Location Top Room Tickets £150 (for two terms and includes free tickets to watch at least two plays, plays and dates tbc) Age guideline15 to 20

Please email [email protected] for more information.

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AccessRead more about the Access facilities available at the Playhouse on page 68.

DiscountsTurn to page 67 to make sure you’re getting any discounts we offer.

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

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

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

16+ Content 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.

Family Friendly Wherever you see this symbol, there is a show or activity designed especially for families. There will be free art activities and games in the circle bar before, during and after the show, special facilities including booster seats, toilet steps and seats and a buggy store. There’s a baby change facility on the ground floor and babies in arms are welcome at family shows, but please book a free ticket at the Ticket Office.

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

Tickets OxfordWe sell tickets for many concerts and other events both locally and nationally. This service is available at the Ticket Office, on the phone or online until 4pm on the day of the performance.

Visit www.ticketsoxford.com for further details or follow us on Twitter @TicketsOxford.

Make sure you get the most and the best out of your theatre.Please contact the Ticket Office for further information.

USEFUL INFORMATION

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Our Address:Oxford Playhouse Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW

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

ParkingParking in Oxford can be expensive. It is often cheaper to park on-street. You will find pay-and-display meters on Broad Street, St. Giles and in Jericho.

Car ParksGloucester Green (underground, nearest to the Playhouse), Worcester Street, Abbey Place, Oxpens and Oxford Rail Station.

By Train:Oxford rail station is a 10 minute walk from the Playhouse.

By Bus and Coach:The city’s main bus and coach station is a two minute walk away from the Playhouse situated in Gloucester Green.

The Bodleian Quadrangle

School Field, Magdalen College School

HOW TO GET TO THE PLAYHOUSE


Jericho Tavern

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Data Protection: When processing your booking Ticket Office staff will ask you your name, address and telephone number. This information is required for administration purposes and may be used to keep you informed of forthcoming events. In the case of sales for other venues you may receive information from the event promoter. We may also pass your details to other carefully selected organisations but only if you agree. The Oxford Playhouse Trust Ltd is a registered charity and we occasionally contact our audience as part of our fundraising initiatives. Please let us know if you would like to be kept informed about future events, activities and fundraising.

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 A – C are sometimes removed for staging and are therefore not always available – please check with the Ticket Office when booking.

F27

E27

D27

C27

B27

A27

W27

U26 U1

G1 G27 5G 32G

U6 U23

W22

T16 T11

T26

S27

R26

Q27

P26

N27

M26

L27

K26

J27

H26

G26

F25

E25

D24

C23

B22

A21

F1

E1

D1

C1

B1

A1

T1

S1

R1

Q1

P1

N1

M1

L1

K1

J1

H1

G2

F3

E4

D5

C6

B7

A8

FIRST FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR

In personMonday to Saturday 10am to 6pm or until 30 minutes after the start of the evening performance. Sundays and Bank Holidays two hours before the performances.

Waiting listsWaiting lists on the day are available one hour before the performance starts at the Ticket Office. For full details please call 01865 305305.

Returns and exchanges Oxford Playhouse is able to exchange ticket(s) (to the same value) or resell your tickets if the show has sold out. Oxford Playhouse can only exchange or resell pre-collected ticket(s) that have been returned to the box office, or ticket(s) that are waiting for collection. To exchange your tickets to another event, you must inform us at least 24 hours prior to the advertised start time of the event for which you are unable to use your tickets. If you would like us to try and resell your tickets (non-guaranteed), you must let the Ticket Office know as soon as possible before the advertised start time of the event.

01865 305305www.oxfordplayhouse.comBOOKING INFORMATION

Seating Plan

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Discount Group Ticket Price Conditions

Up to 50% off opening night or Saturday matinées for week-long shows. Bonus Enjoy! discounts of 50% or 25% on most shorter runs Free You must be aged 16 to 25 and a member of OPT in! £5 and £10 Membership costs £1. Join at the Ticket Office or subject to availability visit www.oxfordplayhouse.com/optin!/ for more details. Multibuy 15% off tickets to Buy tickets to 3 or more Multibuy shows in the

selected shows same booking and receive 15% off every ticket over £13. Valid on The Herbal Bed, Of Mice and Men, Jungle Book, Clybourne Park, Peter Pan in Scarlet.

In Advance £2 off each ticket Available for most shows on full priced tickets of £13 or more for under 18s, over 60s, full-time students, JSAs, BECTU and Equity members. Jeremy Hardy: £6 tickets for the unwaged. No further discounts available.

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 An allocation of tickets is available plus one free teacher Monday to Thursday for most shows. seat for every 15 seats School tickets for Cinderella are from £11.50. booked

Group Rate 20% off full priced For all groups of 10 or more. tickets for most Not available online, email rachel.titchener@ performances oxfordplayhouse.com for group bookings. Payment must be made as one transaction. Student Standby £11.50 or £15 per ticket Best available seats on the day of the (full-time) performance. Book in person at the Ticket with valid photo ID Office. Standby rate available in advance for The Fairy Queen and The Oxford Revue.

Over 60s Standby £13 or £15 per ticket Best available seats for all matinee performances bookable during the week of the show. Not available online.

Standby £11.50 or £15 per ticket Best available seats on the day of the performance for under 18s, JSAs, BECTU and Equity members for most shows. Book in person at the Ticket Office.

DISCOUNTS

ENJOY!

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.

Available on up to two tickets, on either the opening night or the Saturday matinee, for almost every production, for all Enjoy! members. Join the Enjoy! scheme via the Ticket Office for an annual fee of £50.



Access FacilitiesOxford Playhouse offers a range of facilities for audience members with access requirements, including level access to the auditorium, low level counters at the Ticket Office and bar, wheelchair spaces (stalls: end of rows E & L and centre of row T), audio described, captioned and signed performances. Look out for these symbols on the show pages of this Guide.

Captioned and signed performances are excellent for people who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing. During a signed performance an interpreter stands at the side of the stage. This is for people who use British Sign Language (BSL).

Captioned performances may also be of interest for those whose first language isn’t English and for anyone who finds it helpful to follow the text during a show.

Audio described performances are designed for blind or partially sighted audience members.

Via headphones, a live narrator describes the action in the pauses between the onstage dialogue. Touch tours accompany audio described performances.

The auditorium has a Sennheiser infrared system for audience members who are hard of hearing. Please ask the Ticket Office at the time of booking to advise you on the best places to sit for using the Sennheiser headsets within the auditorium. Relaxed performances (RP) are aimed at anyone who would benefit from a laid back environment including people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, a learning disability or very young children who might be afraid of the dark. The atmosphere in the auditorium will be relaxed with the house lights partially on. Audience members will be free to come and go as they please throughout the show and make noise if they want to.

Reserve your access tickets by emailing [email protected] or calling the Ticket Office on 01865 305305.

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Access Diary...

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April

20 Wed The Herbal Bed 7.30pm OP 9

23 Sat The Herbal Bed 2.30pm OP 9Touch tour: 1pm

May

11 Wed Of Mice and Men 7.30pm OP 15

14 Sat Of Mice and Men 2.30pm OP 15Touch tour: 1pm

28 Sat The Encounter 2.30pm OP 19

June

15 Wed Brideshead Revisited 7.30pm OP 29

18 Sat Brideshead Revisited 2.30pm OP 29Touch tour: 1pm

August

25 Thu Peter Pan in Scarlet 2pm OP RP 41

28 Sun Peter Pan in Scarlet 1pm OP 41

September

21 Wed A Tale of Two Cities 7.30pm OP 43

24 Sat A Tale of Two Cities 2.30pm OP 43Touch tour: 1pm

Date Day Production Time(s) Venue Access Page


Diary...

March17 Thu Time and The Conways 7.30pm BT 48

18 Fri Time and The Conways 7.30pm BT 48

19 Sat Time and The Conways 2.30pm & 7.30pm BT 48

21 Mon Single Spies 7.30pm OP 1

22 Tue Single Spies 7.30pm OP 1

23 Wed Bed Time 1.30pm BT 2

23 Wed Single Spies 7.30pm OP 1

24 Thu Bed Time 10.30am & 1.30pm BT 2

24 Thu Single Spies 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 1

25 Fri Single Spies 8pm OP 1

26 Sat Bed Time 11am, 2pm & 4pm BT 2

26 Sat Single Spies 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 1

28 Mon JOAN 7.30pm Jericho Tavern 3

29 Tue Bed Time 11am, 2pm & 4pm BT 2

29 Tue JOAN 7.30pm Jericho Tavern 3

30 Wed 42nd Street 7.30pm OP 3

30 Wed Bed Time 11am, 2pm & 4pm BT 2

31 Thu 42nd Street 7.30pm OP 3

31 Thu Bed Time 11am & 2pm BT 2

31 Thu Bed Time Tales 7.30pm BT 48

April1 Fri 42nd Street 7.30pm OP 3

1 Fri Bed Time 11am, 2pm & 4pm BT 2

1 Fri Bed Time Tales 7.30pm BT 48

2 Sat 42nd Street 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 3

2 Sat Bed Time 11am, 2pm & 4pm BT 2

2 Sat Bed Time Tales 7.30pm BT 48

3 Sun Bed Time 11am & 2pm BT 2

4 Mon Ruby Wax 7.30pm OP 3

6 Wed Cartography 7.30pm BT 48

6 Wed Kate Rusby 7.30pm OP 3

7 Thu Cartography 7.30pm BT 48

8 Fri Hair Peace 7.30pm BT 49

8 Fri Snow White 7pm OP 3

9 Sat Rumpelstiltskin 11am & 2pm BT 49

9 Sat Snow White 2pm & 7pm OP 3

11 Mon Now Listen To Me Very Carefully 7.30pm BT 49

12 Tue Now Listen To Me Very Carefully 6.30pm & 8.30pm BT 49

13 Wed A Machine They're Secretly Building 7.30pm BT 50

13 Wed Blofeld and Baxter 7.30pm OP 4

14 Thu A Machine They're Secretly Building 7.30pm BT 50

14 Thu X&Y 7.30pm OP 5

15 Fri Idiots 7.30pm BT 50

15 Fri Jeremy Hardy 8pm OP 6


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Diary...

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April16 Sat Leaper: A Fish Tale 11am & 2pm BT 50

16 Sat Swing 7.30pm OP 7

18 Mon The Good Delusion 7.30pm BT 51

19 Tue The Herbal Bed 7.30pm OP 9

19 Tue Tribute Acts 7.30pm BT 51

20 Wed The Herbal Bed 7.30pm OP 9

20 Wed The Lamellar Project 7.30pm BT 51

21 Thu The Herbal Bed 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 9

21 Thu The Lamellar Project 7.30pm BT 51

22 Fri The Herbal Bed 8pm OP 9

22 Fri The Honolulu Cowboys 8pm BT 52

23 Sat Egg and Spoon 11am & 2pm BT 52

23 Sat The Herbal Bed 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 9

25 Mon King Lear 7.30pm OP 11

26 Tue King Lear 7.30pm OP 11

27 Wed King Lear 7.30pm OP 11

28 Thu King Lear 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 11

29 Fri King Lear 8pm OP 11

30 Sat King Lear 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 11

May4 Wed The Fairy Queen 7.30pm OP 13

5 Thu The Fairy Queen 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 13

6 Fri The Fairy Queen 8pm OP 13

6 Fri Mark Thompson 5pm OP 32

7 Sat The Fairy Queen 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 13

10 Tue Of Mice and Men 7.30pm OP 15

11 Wed Of Mice and Men 7.30pm OP 15

12 Thu Of Mice and Men 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 15

13 Fri Of Mice and Men 8pm OP 15

13 Fri Ruskin Theatre Platforms: A Raisin in the Sun 5pm Top Room, OP 33

14 Sat Of Mice and Men 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 15

17 Tue Clybourne Park 7.30pm OP 17

18 Wed Clybourne Park 7.30pm OP 17

19 Thu Clybourne Park 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 17

20 Fri Clybourne Park 8pm OP 17

21 Sat Clybourne Park 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 17

25 Wed The Encounter 7.30pm OP 19

26 Thu The Encounter 7.30pm OP 19

27 Fri The Encounter 8pm OP 19

28 Sat The Encounter 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 19

30 Mon Gruffalos, Ladybirds and Other Beasts 2.30pm OP 20

31 Tue Gruffalos, Ladybirds and Other Beasts 11am & 2.30pm OP 20


June1 Wed Gruffalos, Ladybirds and Other Beasts 11am OP 20

1 Wed Mark Watson 7.30pm OP 22

3 Fri Jungle Book 7pm OP 23

4 Sat Jungle Book 2pm & 7pm OP 23

6 Mon The Complete Deaths 7.30pm OP 24

7 Tue The Complete Deaths 7.30pm OP 24

8 Wed The Complete Deaths 7.30pm OP 24

10 Fri Ballet Black 8pm OP 25

11 Sat The Oxford Revue 7.30pm OP 26

14 Tue Brideshead Revisited 7.30pm OP 29

15 Wed Brideshead Revisited 7.30pm OP 29

16 Thu Brideshead Revisited 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 29

17 Fri Brideshead Revisited 8pm OP 29

17 Fri Furious Folly 10pm School Field, Magdalen College School 37

18 Sat Brideshead Revisited 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 29

18 Sat Furious Folly 10pm School Field, Magdalen College School 37

24 Fri The Wind in the Willows 7pm OP 31

25 Sat The Wind in the Willows 2pm & 7pm OP 31

July1 Fri The Rape of Lucrece 7.30pm BT 52

2 Sat The Girl and The Giraffe 11am & 2pm BT 53

7 Thu Labels 7.30pm BT 53

8 Fri Labels 7.30pm BT 53

9 Sat Storm in a Tea Cup 11am & 2pm BT 53

19 Tue Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

20 Wed Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

21 Thu Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

22 Fri Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

23 Sat Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

24 Sun Two Gentlemen of Verona 2.30 & 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

26 Tue Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

27 Wed Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

28 Thu Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

29 Fri Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

30 Sat Two Gentlemen of Verona 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

31 Sun Two Gentlemen of Verona 2.30 & 7.45pm Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle 39

August12 Fri Peter Pan in Scarlet 7pm OP 41

13 Sat Peter Pan in Scarlet 7pm OP 41

16 Tue Peter Pan in Scarlet 5.30pm OP 41

17 Wed Peter Pan in Scarlet 7pm OP 41

18 Thu Peter Pan in Scarlet 2pm OP 41

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Diary...



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August19 Fri Peter Pan in Scarlet 7pm OP 41

20 Sat Peter Pan in Scarlet 1pm & 5.30pm OP 41

21 Sun Peter Pan in Scarlet 1pm & 5.30pm OP 41

24 Wed Peter Pan in Scarlet 5.30pm OP 41

25 Thu Peter Pan in Scarlet 2pm OP 41

26 Fri Peter Pan in Scarlet 7pm OP 41

27 Sat Peter Pan in Scarlet 2pm & 7pm OP 41

28 Sun Peter Pan in Scarlet 1pm & 5.30pm OP 41

31 Wed Peter Pan in Scarlet 5.30pm OP 41

September1 Thu Peter Pan in Scarlet 2pm & 7pm OP 41

2 Fri Peter Pan in Scarlet 7pm OP 41

3 Sat Peter Pan in Scarlet 2pm & 7pm OP 41

4 Sun Peter Pan in Scarlet 1pm OP 41

12 Mon Relatively Speaking 7.30pm OP 42

13 Tue Relatively Speaking 7.30pm OP 42

14 Wed Relatively Speaking 7.30pm OP 42

15 Thu Relatively Speaking 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 42

16 Fri Relatively Speaking 8pm OP 42

17 Sat Relatively Speaking 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 42

20 Tue A Tale of Two Cities 7.30pm OP 43

21 Wed A Tale of Two Cities 7.30pm OP 43

22 Thu A Tale of Two Cities 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 43

23 Fri A Tale of Two Cities 8pm OP 43

24 Sat A Tale of Two Cities 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 43

October4 Tue Things I Know To Be True 7.30pm OP 44

5 Wed Things I Know To Be True 7.30pm OP 44

6 Thu Things I Know To Be True 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 44

7 Fri Things I Know To Be True 8pm OP 44

8 Sat Things I Know To Be True 2.30pm & 7.30pm OP 44

November 2016 to January 2017Fri 25 Nov 2016 to Sun 8 Jan 2017

Cinderella Various OP 45

Printed March 2016All information accurate at the time of going to print. Please check with the Ticket Office for full and final details.


Diary...

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RP


OUR CORE FUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS

Oxford Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the support of its core funders:

Trusts:AnonymousDoris Field Charitable TrustThe D’Oyly Carte Charitable TrustThe Foyle Foundation

Hamilton TrustThe Lord Faringdon Charitable TrustMr & Mrs JA Pye’s Charitable SettlementThe Still Point Fund Roundton Trust

A special thank you to all:Patrons, volunteers, trustees and donors

University of Oxford College Members:All Souls CollegeLincoln CollegeThe Queen’s College New College

Platinum: Gold: Silver:

Bronze:

Building Support:Equipment and Technical Support:

OP Business Club:

Burton Taylor Studio Sponsors:

Learning and Productions Support: 17|25 Young Company Sponsors:

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REMEMBER...Book your tickets for Cinderella now!

Photo credit: Geraint Lew

is of R

ochelle Rose, A

laddin 2015/16

Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW Registered Company No. 2397373 Registered Charity No. 900039 VAT No. 537166534

Oxford Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the support of its core funders:

Design: www.uniform.net

Oxford Playhouse can provide this brochure in alternative formats including audio and large print. Please contact Dee Millard on 01865 305301 or at [email protected]

Look out for our next season... August to December

THE GREENEST WAYS TO GET TO USWe’d like to help make your trip to the Playhouse as green as possible. Did you know...

There are over 500 bike racks within 5 minutes walk to the theatre.

There are 5 Park and Ride bus stops close by.

Electric vehicle charging points can be found at the Seacourt, Redbridge, Pear Tree and Thornhill Park and Ride sites; as well as in the nearby Worcester Street car park.

oxford playhouse season brochure march to august 2016

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