Friday 29th 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.

Review: Regina Spektor – What We Saw From the Cheap Seats

Marc Pacitti enjoys an album that embraces the mainstream and is all the better for it

Preview: Love’s Labour’s Lost, Christ Church Cathedral

Barbara Speed urges you to watch this lighthearted and energetic production of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, in an idyllic Oxford setting

When is a book a book?

Review of Terry Eagleton’s latest book of literary criticism

Captivating Calligraphy

Review of the Ashmolean’s exhibition of Qur’anic art

Oxford Oddities #4 – Hertford

Exploring the history of our colleges to discover eccentric artistic personalities.This week: Hertford’s Evelyn Waugh

Women Playwrights

Maria Fox addresses the dearth of women writing for the stage

The Bluffers’ Guide to: Women on Stage

Our weekly guide talks you through all the classic roles available to female actors

The Bard in Drag

Angus Hawkins muses on cross-casting in Shakespeare

Cannes you feel the love tonight?

Nick Hilton examines the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and whether it's just a Hollywood jamboree

Review: The Dictator

Georgina Pollard is pleasantly surprised by the latest film from the creator of Borat

TV Flop of the Week: Made in Chelsea

Carmella Crinnion is sick of everything about Made in Chelsea

Here’s to you, Ms Robinson

Christy Edwall listens to the Pulitzer-prize winning novelist and essayist speak

Review: Bug

Will Tummon is held emotionally captive by this raw, heartfelt and unmissable production

Review: Proof

Jonathan Chapman is not disappointed by this emotional play

Review: Dark Shadows

Georgina Pollard is left somewhat cold by Tim Burton's latest film

Review: Donkeys’ Years

In one of the last bastions of all-male academia, Jonathan Chapman takes in a delightful garden production

Suicide on the rail tracks

Thoughts from inside a train. When somebody took their own life under the wheels of an earlier train, things started to look a bit different.

Preview: The Deep Blue Sea

Timothy Bano previews what looks to be an excellent production of a play full of emotional understatement

Preview: Proof

Angus Hawkins recommends this stunningly good production

Angels and Consolations

Katy Wright provides a glimpse into what it is like to stage an opera

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