Friday 2nd January 2026

Culture

‘The political is also political’: Ash Sarkar’s ‘Minority Rule’

Universities have often been seen as bastions of radicalism. Forgetting the fact that higher educational institutions, particularly ancient and elite ones in the Anglophone world, are governed by centuries...

Graceful and self-assured: Circle Mirror Transformation reviewed

Boulevard Productions’ Circle Mirror Transformation is a faithful and competent take on Annie Baker’s...

‘We’re all mad here’: Alice in Won-DRE-Land at Tingewick 2025

When I wandered into Tingewick Hall on a cold, dark evening in seventh week,...

A comical approach to a classic text: ‘Hedda Gabler’ reviewed

Tiptoe Productions’ Hedda Gabler, co-directed by Ollie Gillam and Gilon Fox, delivered a strong...

One to watch: Clean Bandit

Natasha Frost introduces a new classical/hip hop/electronica band

Quality Street?: Michaelmas drama

James Fennemore looks back at the treats offered last term

Political pens

Christy Edwall explores the role of South African Fiction under the Secrecy Bill and post-Apartheid

Vacation in Vienna

Alice Bullough gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people of Austria's capital.

Review: Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Susan Yu finds a mixed bag of new songs and old favourites on the singer's posthumous album

Santa among the Victorians

Jack Powell looks into our literary heritage for the roots of our Christmas traditions

Review: Nuel – Trance Mutation

Harry Scholes enters into a trance with techno stalwart Nuel's hypnotic new album

Review: One Man, Two Guvnors

Daniel Frampton visits the Adelphi Theatre for a welcome change from the Christmas pantomime

Review: The Human Centipede 2

Joseph Newall is under-stimulated by Tom Six's latest helping of 'torture porn'

Short and Sweet

Benjamin McEvoy reviews the short films at the Leeds International Film Festival

Where the Wild Things Are

Patrick Thorpe interviews Wild Beasts singer Hayden Thorpe

Review: Hugo

Jacob Williamson is touched by Martin Scorsese's unexpected offering

Review: Moneyball

Jacob Williamson is impressed by this intelligent sports film

Limp Pens

Christy Edwall considers the quirks of literary anti-prizes in general, and the 2011 Bad Sex in Literature Award in particular.

Review: South Pacific

James Blythe is swept away by this production at Oxford's New Theatre

Review: An Island

En Liang Khong follows Danish band Efterklang's move into cinema

Review: Curling King

Joseph Newall takes a look back at his film of the year, the Norwegian 'Kong Curling'

Review: My Week with Marilyn

Jacob Williamson is charmed by a hazy portrait of the cultural icon

Review: The Vaccines, O2 Academy

Harry Scholes expresses his disappointment at The Vaccines sell-out gig on 29th November

First Night Review : The Browning Version

Finola Austin finds Anna Stelle’s production of The Browning Version by Terence Rattigan to be an enjoyable night out but let down by the details.

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