Thursday 28th May 2026

Culture

Oxford on-screen: Historical atmosphere and fantasy worlds

Ideally, we should strike a balance; an awareness of the reality of life at Oxford can co-exist with an appreciation of its grand architecture and historical atmosphere.

The rise of Stats.fm: Music as a signal of identity

It is far harder to maintain a separation between your taste, your identity, and how you are thought of by others.  

‘Would you mind if I asked you a troubling question?’:  ‘Ulster American’ in review

Arun Lewis reviews Grá Productions' staging of David Ireland's 'Ulster American', and finds fault in an otherwise fascinating performance.

Subs, dubs, and AI flubs: Lost in film translation

How hard could it be to watch an entire film in German when I could not even introduce myself in the language? Quite hard, it turns out.

Blood Brothers Review – ‘truly exceptional theatre’

Katie Sayer is wowed by the quality of a touring production of the 1983 musical.

When and why did Netflix movies get so good?

Prestige talent is coming to Netflix in moves that may revolutionise cinema as we know it

An Unexpected Visitor Review – ‘performed in a unique space but falls short’

The setting of Mercury Theatre Productions' newly written play is impressive but the writing requires reworking.

Dare to be different, or the Devil we know?

Everyone should be watching Daredevil

Brink Review – ‘brilliant from start to finish’

Nitrous Cow Productions' new play has a high standard of acting and great technical sophistication

Little Eyolf review – modern and experimental but lacking depth

An experimental and bold play held back by limited character development

Fantastic Bore And Where To Fail Your Fans

The latest 'Fantastic Beasts' will leave you disappointed

Review: Sweetener by Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande finds produces some intermittent bangers while caught in the changing tides of contemporary pop

Table Manners Review – ‘subtly and successfully updated’

Flared Productions' new take on Alan Ayckbourn's 1973 play is highly enjoyable

An Unexpected Visitor preview – immersive ingenuity

Lawrence Li is won over by the unconventional staging and comedy of this production

‘Brink’ Preview – ‘an exploration into public vs. private spaces’

Alastair Curtis' new play explores how individuals forge connections with others in our modern, digitalised world

‘Riverdale’, get off your hype horse

Jennifer Donnellan roots out the many flaws of the comic turned teen drama

Autumn by Ali Smith: a seasonal portrait of post-Brexit Britain

The first book in Smith's ongoing quartet reminds us that sympathy is possible in our polarised times

‘Widows’ is a celebration of female grit and resolve

Viola Davis leads a group of kick-ass women in a heist film with a lot on its mind

Salome Review – ‘struggles to take audience into another world’

Tea Party Productions' 'Salome' shows the play's continuing power to unsettle

How Charlie Chaplin lost his voice

The rise and fall of the filmmaker and his silent medium

Table Manners Preview – ‘reworked in a highly engaging manner’

Alex Rugman previews Flared Productions' reworking of Alan Ayckbourn's play.

The Spotify syndicate

We should be wary of Spotify's control over the music we listen to

Strange creatures: monstrosity in Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’

The world of literature is abundant with monsters: physical monsters, psychological monsters, benevolent monsters, evil monsters. However, there is hardly a monster as puzzling...

The appeal of method acting

Many actors go to great lengths in pursuit of an authentic performance

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