Culture

The legacy of the caricature

That the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the 2026 Academy Awards is going to be a serious tear-jerker was solidified by the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry over two consecutive days.

Culture Ruya Oral -

The problem with Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Nolan had all the tools for greatness. Instead, to my eternal frustration, his 'Odyssey' will always only be just alright.

Culture Kelly Yu -

‘One Night Only’ (2026) and the death of romance

Romance movies are, on the whole, my favourite movie genre. But good romance movies, like good romantic relationships, are hard to find, and easy to mess up.

Culture Willow Jopp -

Caught between grief and hope: ‘On Some Far Shore’ reviewed

Fresh off the back of 'Our House' and 'Macbeth', Cross Key Productions presents an original three-hander focused on the complexities of grief and young love.

Culture Melissa Eddon -

Latest

Art is an argument, so argue back

Often, how much we like artwork comes down to ‘vibes’, initial gut-reactions we make, and then quickly negate by stating that surely it's all about taste.

Red soles, red flags: Jaden Smith and the celebrity takeover of high fashion

Smith’s appointment has raised some serious questions about the extent to which nepotism and celebrity is superseding artistic talent in the fashion industry at present.

The ‘Silent’ Film

Not speaking does not necessarily mean having nothing to say. As much can be said with an image, movement, or glance as with a word.

For those who like the idea of someone: In conversation with ‘Dreams’

Dreams is a piece of brand-new writing by Peter Hardisty and Charlotte Macari, produced by Crazy Child Productions.

A day in The Sun: ‘Ink’ at St John’s

James Graham’s Ink, directed by Georgina Cooper with the St John’s Drama Society, dramatises Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of The Sun in the 1960s, tracing its astonishing surge to unprecedented popularity.

‘Cathy naur’: Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ in review

Although my Yorkshire identity and love of 19th-century novels make me inclined to defend Emily Brontë with all my might, I really did give this film a chance.

Remembrance, resilience, and reflection: Lubomyr Melnyk, the ‘continuous music’ pioneer

On the 23rd and 24th February, the Ukrainian composer and pianist, Lubomyr Melnyk, returns to Oxford for a performance at New College.

‘Crawling with personality’: ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ in conversation

Last week, I infiltrated a rehearsal for Cross Keys and 2046 Productions’ upcoming Little Shop Of Horrors.

Techno, tragedy, and medieval monologuing: ‘Brew Hill’ in conversation

Pecadillo Productions’ ‘Brew Hill’ watches the deterioration of the romance between Nat (Trixie Smith) and Gordon (Jem Hunter).

‘I don’t like the idea of hope’: An interview with Iya Kiva

Iya Kiva is an award-winning Ukrainian poet, originally from Donetsk. Since 2014, when war first came to her region, she has lived in displacement.

A bold choice for limited space: ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’

This ambitious take on a classic struggled in the space constraints of the Michael Pilch studio.

‘Fresh energy’: Corpus Christi’s Owlets on their revival

Abigail Lakeland interviewed Clara Woodhouse, Owlets President, to discuss its resurgence, and what audiences can expect.

Disturbance on the line: ‘La Voix Humaine’ in review

The Burton Taylor Studio has been transformed into a Tracy Emin mixed-media installation for Jean Cocteau's 'La Voix Humaine'.

From topping charts to ‘The Traitors’: An ode to Cat Burns

The chaotic new season of 'The Traitors' made me reflect on the celebrity version, and my personal favourite contestant, Cat Burns.

Spoonerisms and malapropisms: ‘You Got Me’ in review

Silent Tape Productions' 'You Got Me' is a hard-hitting story about memory, powerlessness, and the cyclical passing of time.

Will 2026 finally kill the clean girl?

The clean girl has become ubiquitous throughout celebrity culture, magazines, and social media in recent years. Her brand prescribes a lifestyle, a kind of idealised minimalism.