Culture

‘Songs, skits, and a third thing beginning with S’: Jack McMinn in conversation

If there’s one thing I believe Oxford’s theatre scene is missing, it’s a button-down-shirt-wearing ex-zoology student with a penchant for writing songs about Pret A Manger.

Culture Rebecca Harper -

The Oxford art calendar: Hilary 2026

Oxford’s frosty Hilary term is best spent looking at new exhibitions. This art calendar will guide you through some of the upcoming highlights.

Art Maxim Vorobev -

‘Beautifully we may rot’: ‘Madame La Mort’ in review

In a small, black-painted room on the top floor of a pub in Islington, known as The Hope Theatre, Madame La Mort was staged for the public for the first time.

Culture Beatrix Arnold -

Damaging detachment: Reflections on the Booker Prize

This Christmas vac, I made up my mind to get out of my reading slump using the Booker Prize shortlist, revealing toxic masculinity as a key theme.

Books Charlie Bailey -

Latest

“One of the greatest war movies ever made”

Matthew Vautrey is entranced by Christopher Nolan's visual spectacle for the summer

“An ethereal but disillusioned fairytale grounded in historical reality”

Katie Sayer highly recommends 'Yank!', a new musical about gay subculture in the US military during WW2

Despicable Me 3 and Cars 3: this summer’s prime animated franchises

Jonnie Barrow reviews the newest instalments of two popular animated trilogies

Adaptating our perception of film adaptations

Jack Allsopp questions whether film adaptations can ever match or even supersede their literary predecessor

“Don’t paint me like one of your French Girls, I’ll damn well paint myself”

Priya Khaira-Hanks is blown away by pretty pornography at Dreamers Awake, and explains how naked women can still be powerful

“Refreshing, original and honest – a genuine delight to watch”

Katie Sayer gives five stars to 'Touch', a brand new sexual comedy from the makers of 'Fleabag', at the Soho Theatre

At the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

Altair Brandon-Salmon ponders the significance of the Royal Academy's annual Summer Exhibition

My Cousin Rachel: a disturbing world of unanswered questions

Becky Cook is unsettled and intrigued by the latest film adaptation of Daphne du Maurier

“U2 still deserves a place at the forefront of modern rock”

For Calum Bradshaw , U2 can still deliver a world class performance

“Charlie Fink is a genius, and ‘Cover My Tracks’ a triumph”

Katie Sayer is enraptured by Charlie Fink's modest yet outstanding new play 'Cover My Tracks'

Gangster rap with glimmers of uniqueness

Big Fish Theory is a refreshing spin on modern rap music that shows there is plenty of talent and potential within Vince Staples

Awkward singing and timely rain from Radiohead in Manchester

Thomas Athey finds last minute venue changes are easily overcome by Radiohead

‘Baby Driver’ dazzles and thrills

Daniel Kodsi reviews 'Baby Driver', an action story that packs a musical punch, with a love story at its heart

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ defies expectations as a surprising pleasure

Jonnie Barrow finds the new Marvell instalment provides a fresh take on the stale Spider-Man character

A flawed man with a revolutionary aim

Ethan Croft explores Philippe Girard's admirable Toussaint Louverture: a revolutionary life

Hokusai: Beyond The Great Wave – a man possessed by the Japanese landscape

Becky Cook is awestruck by Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave’ but says the artist fails to discover anything beyond the masterpiece at the British Museum’s current exhibition