Culture

The return of the surreal

Mythical, dreamlike, phantasmagorical, and absurd: Surrealism, which took the art world by storm in the early 20th century, has enjoyed a huge resurgence in the past decade. The original pioneers...

Art Sylvie Quick -

Must theatre be so dire? Thoughts on the “unworthy scaffold”

If 'art est celare artem' (true art is to conceal art), then theatre is pretty poor art. You ain't fooling me into thinking that's a storm.

Culture Saul Grenfell -

Seasonal reads: On childhood hobbies, growing up, and guilt

Reconnecting with reading is something many people tend to do on a summer holiday,...

Books Elizabeth Gammaidoni -

Between beer gardens and picnics: Climate Culture Care at the Ashmolean

When I returned to Oxford this term, just as England teased us with the sixth heat-wave of the year, I found myself at a loose end. With the deadline for two vacation essays still far in the distance, the sun lit up the sign for Soma Surovi Jannat’s Ashmolean Now exhibition, Climate Culture Care.

Art Leo Maudsley-Barton -

Latest

Preview: Blithe Spirit

Emily Troup enjoys Blithe Spirit, albeit with some misgivings

Preview: A Doll’s House

Dull or droll? Marc Pacitti takes an advance look at A Doll's House

Preview: Tamings

Bria Thomas and Ruby Riley talk to the directors and some cast members of 'Tamings', a show on at the Keble O'Reilly in 3rd week.

Review: Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Crown and Treaty

Marc Pacitti finds Sweet Billy Pilgrim caught in the void between critical acclaim and commercial success

Review: Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly – Maps

Susan Yu finds Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly to be playing it safe and failing to add anything new to his sound

Preview: Two Gentlemen of Verona

Pollyanna Marsden looks forward to this fun production, set to play in Christ Church Cathedral gardens this week

Gold-standard Bronzes

Review of the Ashmolean's Olympics inspired exhibition of sculptures

Review: ‘My Dearest Jonah’

Matthew Crow's epistolary second novel proves a thoughtful work with flashes of brilliance.

Oxford Oddities #2 – Wadham

Exploring the history of our colleges to discover eccentric artistic personalities. This week the focus is on Wadham College.

Large-scale opera-tions

Christy Edwall talks to impresario Ellen Kent about Romanians, Verdi, and pheasants

A Bluffers’ Guide to: Arthur Miller

Our weekly guide for the theatrically illiterate talks you through GCSE-syllabus American favourite

What’s On TT12: Waiting In The Wings

Enter Angus Hawkins with his theatrical picks for the term

A Bluffers’ Guide to: Harold Pinter

Our weekly guide for the theatrically illiterate talks you through the master of the pause

Hirst’s Hidden Gems

Viccy Ibbett finds Damien Hirst an unexpected but inconsistent source of great art.

Review: Jack White – Blunderbuss

Review: Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light

Marc Pacitti finds that Spiritualized's new album comes the closest yet to reaching the huge potential many had worried Jason Pierce would never realise