Wednesday 10th June 2026

Culture

Is the dancefloor really dead?

Tongue-in-cheek as it may be, Charli xcx’s ‘Rock Music’ speaks to the structural issues actively decimating nightlife across the world, issues she addresses candidly on its follow-up, ‘SS26’, even if her motivations may be more aesthetic than political.

Testing my patients: ‘The Effect’ at the BT Studio reviewed

Necessarily navigating the difference between ‘side effects’ and reality, the play strikes a fine balance between what one thinks and what one feels.

‘The Harrowing of Hell.26’ reviewed

Fundamentally, The Harrowing of Hell.26 is a finely acted, well-produced play which was enjoyable enough to watch, but its conclusion is unsatisfying.

Circadian Renaissance

Clara Leonard Davies writes about the beauty of summer light and the memories that we associate it with.

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.

First Night Review : Kafka’s Dick

Kafka’s Dick is a delightfully surreal dive into the life of the eponymous author.

First Night Review : Broken Stars

Julian Bubb-Humfryies sees 'a competant and thoughtful production' at the Wadham Moser Theatre.

Oxford Book Club

Michelle Cancellier on her recent visit to the Oxford Book Club

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