Monday 9th March 2026

Culture

How 2025’s biggest films made their mark through music

The recent Oscar nominations have allowed us to reflect on how fundamental musical scores are to film, and the highlights of last year’s film soundtracks.

Translating Oxford into Urdu

It’s a different emotion whenever I read the Urdu language. I’m not a native speaker, nor have I actively pursued learning the language, but as someone who finds solace in reading shayari (Urdu poetry), I wanted to follow it even in Oxford.

Stitching the world together: GFC’s London Fashion Week show

A few weeks ago we, the Cherwell fashion editors, were lucky enough to be extended an invite by the Global Fashion Collective to their London Fashion Week show.

Seeped in nostalgia: ‘Things I Know To Be True’ reviewed

Lighthouse Productions' 'Things I Know to Be True' had high expectations to meet. Put frankly, they nailed it.

Review: DNA

This play about a group of teenagers trying to escape the consequences of their actions is put on as part of Catz Arts Week, 25-28 May

Review: Glengarry Glen Ross

David Mamet's tale of capitalism and its vices is on at Keble O’Reilly, 25-28 May

Review: The Government Inspector

May Anderson is delighted by a farcical piece of outdoor theatre

Derelict in Menfi

Will Granger captures the atmosphere of a derelict Menfi in Sicily

Week In Pictures (3)

Kathleen Bloomfield captures Oxford's beautiful countryside

Review: Mona & Bea

Rosalind Stone applauds the innovation of Tim Keily's new play

First Night Review: Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell

Rosalyn Johnston-Flint finds herself in a late 1980s Soho pub, engulfed by an anti-hero's drunken memories

Review: The Nihilists

Drawn in by a love of Wilde, Fiamma Mazzocchi Alemanni investigates the merits of the playwright's first failure

Review: The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek

May Anderson is provoked and challenged by a brave production of Naomi Wallace's haunting play. At the O'Reilly from Wednesday 3rd week.

Review: Starf**ker Reptilians

Simon Torracinta reviews the third effort from this Portland synthpop quartet and discovers the perfect summer soundtrack

Review: Antlers Burst Apart

Simon Torracinta looks at the wonderful parts of Burst Apart

Review: Pygmalion – The Magdalen Garden Show

Rosalind Stone finds that elaborate characterisation is all the sugar-coating an audience needs

The Edgar Wind Society

Joe Funnell introduces the University's new and blooming Art society

First Night Review: Call of the Wild

The Oxford Playhouse goes to the dogs with this masterful student adaptation of Jack London's famous novel

Damian Lewis: Cherwell salutes you

Francesca Wade speaks to the Band of Brothers star about his acting career, his American personality, and the trials and tribulations of the film industry

Review: The Courting of Claire

A ‘gritty kitchen-sink drama’, a comedy of manners, a rom-com and a horror; The Courting of Claire by student playwright Matt Fuller is on at the Burton Taylor in 3rd week

Review: Arcadia

A challenging drama with a bit of bawdy comedy; Tom Stoppard's masterful work delivers a difficult pleasure

The Play of Colour

May Anderson takes part in an intense rehearsal for She was Yellow, coming to the Burton Taylor in 3rd week, and briefly loses the boundary between reality and fiction

Review: Little White Lies

Guillaume Canet fails to depart from the clichéd with a film in which the characters smoke a lot, swear a lot and break things when they get angry, without getting up to much

Déjà view: Seen it all before?

Antz and A Bug's Life, Deep Impact and Armageddon, Kick-Ass and Hanna: similarities in themes and plot demonstrate Hollywood's inability to go beyond trends

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