Culture

In conversation with John Kennedy, “one of the most trusted voices in music”

In a media landscape often dominated by gossip, rumours, and sometimes pure hate, it’s undeniably refreshing to listen to John, a man who never lost sight of what really matters.

The legacy of the caricature

That the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the 2026 Academy Awards is going to be a serious tear-jerker was solidified by the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry over two consecutive days.

The problem with Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Nolan had all the tools for greatness. Instead, to my eternal frustration, his 'Odyssey' will always only be just alright.

‘One Night Only’ (2026) and the death of romance

Romance movies are, on the whole, my favourite movie genre. But good romance movies, like good romantic relationships, are hard to find, and easy to mess up.

Review: Sigur Rós – Valtari

Tom Hoskins finds Valtari to continue Sigur Rós' impressive run of music that can only be described as beautiful

Review: Richard Hawley – Standing at the Sky’s Edge

Aaron Payne finds Richard Hawley's new direction holding its own, but only just

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

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