Thursday, February 27, 2025

Culture

Julie review – Free shots, toxic relationships, immersive theatre

My ticket to see Julie resembled an invite to a birthday party, promising a live DJ and that I would be greeted by ‘partygoers’ upon entry to the Pilch....

Who is Oxford’s Coffee Shop Artist? In conversation with Julia Whatley

Julia sees herself as the conduit through which an artistic vision is realised. Where does this vision come from? “Somewhere else.”

The Goat Review: ‘raw, absurdist, and honest’

Clarendon Productions brings The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Edward Albee) to the Michael...

The Busy Body Review: ‘Theatre of the Real’

The Busy Body (1709) is one of the many plays written by Susanna Centlivre....

Have A Hot Girl Hilary!

Deborah Ogunnoiki reviews Oloni's sex guide The Big O on how to have a healthy sex life, just in time for 'Hot Girl Hilary'.

Babel, or the Beauty of Multilingualism

Emerald Ace-Acquah reflects on the complexities of language, colonisation, and power, as explored in R. F. Kuang's new novel.

Glass Onion Review: Those ‘Knives’ Need Sharpening

Beatrice Ricketts considers whether the latest mystery film from Netflix lives up to Agatha Christie's novels.

Vivienne Westwood: Cultural Provocateur and True Original

Iseult de Mallet Burgess looks back on the life and work of the late icon, activist, and trailblazer Dame Vivienne Westwood.

“Who am I, and who do I love?”: Neil Bartlett’s adaption of Orlando

Ursula White reviews Neil Bartlett's adaption of Orlando at the Garrick Theatre starring Emma Corrin as Orlando.

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2023

Maeve Hagerty looks to some of the most anticipated albums of 2023, from artists like Samia to A$AP Rocky.

The joy of Spotify’s Discover Weekly

Thomas Bristow talks through the beauty of Spotify's Discover Weekly interface, and how it has changed his music tastes.

Spare – Is Harry’s book another step in the road to a United Republic?

"It is possible, therefore, to feel intensely sorry for Harry, treated as he has been, without forgiving him for this very public falling out with the nation."

Confessions of a Theatre Kid: Debunking The Myth

"This problematic and relentless framing of the theatre kid as marginalised or an 'underdog'... misses the fact that the arts are propped up by privilege."

Christine McVie: Fleetwood Mac’s rock ‘n’ roll romantic

"Charged with hope and joy, aching with romantic wisdom, [McVie's songs] are the songs of a woman who has lived and loved."

“A thrilling look into disjunctive relationships”: Fêtid Review

"Morgan’s multi-faceted script offers a combination of dark comedy and depth which keeps the audience consistently intrigued."

Surrealist Film Review: Fellini’s 8½

"It is where Fellini blurs the lines between fantasy and reality that he has produced an authentic filter of a man’s consciousness."

“Refreshingly ambiguous” – Review of Wishbone

"Wishbone offers an insightful and tender portrayal of the complicated emotions tied up in a relationship".

‘After Life’: A review

After Life was an understated joy – a brilliant, bittersweet highlight of Week 7.

“In here, it’s just pretending…”: ‘Posh’ and the brilliance of impersonation.

At the end of it all, the audience are left in the wake of their destruction, while tellingly, most of the boys have left the scene, unscathed. 

Films to romanticise Oxford

Films, and art in general, hold a unique ability to capture beauty, allowing us to see the grandest settings or the most every day places with awe and wonder.

A Clockwork Orange: “Kubrick’s masterclass of surrealism, disillusion and delinquency”

A Clockwork Orange remains an absolute classic to this day... It represents the best of Stanley Kubrick’s vision and surrealism, and marks itself as completely unique. These types of movies represented a mental workout for the viewer, a way to leave the cinema bamboozled and desperately craving for a rewatch.

A Night Under the Stars: Reviewing Enclosure

The programme for Mostly Moss Productions' Enclosure reads: “In this time of crisis hold each other closer. In community with each other, and with...

Delightful, witty and well-rendered: ‘Blithe Spirit’ in review

In something of a swan song for Oxford’s A2 Productions, on the 9-12th November, they took to the Keble O’Reilly Theatre for their production of...

“Staying in the trouble” at Oxford

“Staying with the trouble”. This was a quote from feminist geographer and all-round academic queen Donna Haraway (2016), cited in Elwood and Leszczynski’s (2018)...

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