Monday 1st December 2025

Culture

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 version of the classic text, impressive in its ability to make the differences between characters...

‘Lux’ by Rosalía review: A breath of fresh air

'The Latin title ‘Lux’ perfectly embodies the concept and overall aesthetic of divine femininity, as well as the multilingual aspects that run throughout the work. With complex and meaningful lyrics written in 13 languages, and split into four movements, the record is a breath of fresh air for the pop scene'.

Illuminating American conservatism: William F Buckley’s biography, reviewed

The ornate, Latinate vocabulary. The debates peppered with witticisms. The patrician air, the untraceable...

The Magdalene Songs: Giving a singing voice to victims

★★★★★ Trigger warning: abuse Modern slavery, abuse, and human rights violations are not something you would...

A farewell to Lucian Freud

Cherwell looks back on the life and art of Lucian Freud, one of the greatest portrait painters of our time

The best band you’ve never heard of

Steffan Blayney explores the odd delights of The Odolites, 25 years on

Shorted circuits

With the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Huw Fullerton muses on how the franchise lost its way

Sexual stuff and nonsense

Matthew Isard finds himself disappointed by Kaboom, Gregg Araki's story of sexual awakening with a sci-fi twist

What’s it like to be a bee?

Brian Earp takes a look at our moral obligations towards insects in the light of new research which concludes honey bees feel emotion

Banter and Posthumousness

Cherwell asks Lars Iyer some questions about his debut novel, Spurious, and the relationship between fiction and philosophy

Review: Within and Without

Cherwell finds moments of assertion on Ernest Greene's debut album

Review: The Tree of Life

Not exactly a review: Jacob Williamson struggles to come to grips with The Tree of Life

Teacher of Dance

Cherwell is illuminated by Haegue Yang's first major UK show at Modern Art Oxford, and its exploration of ideas through light, shape, and movement

Summer in Berlin

Two decades after the collapse of the wall dividing east from west, and Berlin has started to shape a new identity for itself. Amongst the stark remnants of a tumultuous and violent past, humanity flourishes and old wounds begin to heal. Becky Nye travels to Berlin to capture a sense of this rejuvenated city

Enduring Improv

Eloise Stevens discovers choro, the popular improvised music of Brazil, and looks at its place within the jazz movement.

Everything and Nothing

Cherwell reviews A Book for All and None, the literary debut from Clare Morgan, course director of the Oxford MSt in Creative Writing

Review: Hop Farm Festival (Saturday)

Francesca Wade heads down to Kent to witness Morrissey and Lou Reed inject this newish festival with some old style

Review: Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

Cherwell explores the experimental leanings taken by Shabazz Palaces in this debut release

Review: Avril Lavigne – Smile

The Canadian singer fails to entertain Cherwell with this second single from her latest studio album

4th of July 2011 in Washington DC

Lauri Saksa spends the day among the Americans on their biggest party of the year...

Interview: Conor O’Brien

Cherwell chats with the front man of Villagers about his debut album, touring with Elbow, and new material in the works.

When Orient meets Occident

Kikuei Ikeda of the Tokyo String Quartet talks to Cherwell before the quartet's Japan Benefit Concert in Oxford

Review: Chad Valley – Equatorial Ultravox

Cherwell finds moments of vocal brilliance on the Oxford based musician's sophomore EP, despite somewhat bland production values

Review: The Failed Anthology

This anthology by the Failed Novelists' Society is a pleasant surprise for Huw Fullerton

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