Theatre

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ in review

The Harris Manchester Players immersed Oxford’s inhabitants in the delightful world of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest this May.

Culture Elizabeth Bourn -

Blood will have blood: Cross Keys Productions’ ‘Macbeth’

Shakespeare revivals must tread a fine line: too often they turn into one-actor vehicles or experiments, or shipwreck upon the squall of their adaptation.

Culture Arun Lewis -

Twisted but funny: ‘The Birthday Party’ in review

CW: Rape What’s stuffier than a perfume shop and more packed than a Lego Store...

Culture Ben Woodward -

‘The Two Noble Kinsmen’ reviewed

One of the finest traditions of Oxford drama is the summer garden play. Freeing...

Culture Arun Lewis -

Latest

Every Brilliant Thing – ‘strikes a staggering balance between serious and joyful’

For a play about suicide, Every Brilliant Thing is an unexpectedly life-affirming and hilarious production

Q&A – a play that ‘takes a turn into the chaotic and absurd’

Witty, absurd, and ultimately hilarious, Q&A is an entertaining one-act play, even if at times the dialogue lacks spontaneity

Electrolyte – an energetic fusion of electronica and spoken word

A dizzying exploration of mental health at The North Wall holds promise, but is undermined by its simplistic ending.

Love/Sick: An anthology of romantic adrenaline and hysteria

A production that tackles what is the most enigmatic of all human experiences: love.

What does it take to be an actor?

Want to be a fantastic actor? All it takes is method acting, audience empathy and a pursuit of the fantasy world.

Is sadness ‘all Greek’ to you? – Greek tragedy in the modern day

Can Greek tragedies be staged for a modern audience?

Review: Heart of Darkness at York Theatre Royal

Can we retell Conrad’s disturbing critique of exploitation in colonial times without falling prey to racism which even the author couldn’t avoid?

Review: Good Dog – ‘reflects an experience that many can relate to’

Arinzé Kene’s Good Dog portrays the harsh reality of growing up in inner-city London as a young black man

Review: Edward II – ‘fantastic at handling themes of homosexuality and power’

The tender exploration of sexuality in Bagnall's production makes Marlowe's sixteenth century play still relevant for a modern audience

Review: Betrayal – ‘all the poise, restraint and subtlety that Pinter’s masterpiece requires’

Ingenious set design, the actors’ spectacular chemistry, and director Lloyd’s brilliant attention to detail make Betrayal a triumphant culmination of the ‘Pinter at the Pinter’ venture

Review: The Duchess of Malfi – a brave and ambitious move

York Settlement Community Players present an ambitious take on the Webster classic

The Dark Review – ‘calls our attention to the othering of refugees’

Taiwo Oyebola finds that poet Nick Makoha's new play uncovers the stark realities of a refugee's journey.

Surviving the Drama Scene

Do Oxford's student theatre productions have the longevity of professional shows?

Fade to Black – a history of the theatrical blackout

The convention which now seems part-and-parcel of theatre wasn’t always there – indoor venues and developments in lighting provided new staging opportunities. But what is the theatrical blackout for?