Tuesday 16th June 2026

Theatre

Slow down, you crazy child: What Oxford student theatre can learn from garden plays

Student theatre strives to be as professional as possible, but the annual garden play offers something unique: permission to have fun.

‘Our House’ in the middle of Beaumont Street

'Our House' ultimately becomes not just a story about crime or morality, but about the vulnerability of growing up and the frightening uncertainty of trying to decide who you are.

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.

Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? Review – ‘genre-crossing and well-executed’

Katie Knight is impressed by Klaxon Productions' production which incorporates new forms of media.

Top Girls Review – ‘uncomfortably straddles the experimental and the domestic’

"Adam Radford-Diaper’s adaptation is slick and well-acted, often wonderfully absurd and funny, but ultimately leaves me feeling slightly cold."

Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? Preview: ‘The political becomes personal’

Cesca Echlin previews Caryl Churchill's 2006 play, which she finds entices the human out of the political

The Mountaintop Review – ‘explores the man behind the pulpit’

Katori Hall’s depiction of the Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King in his last hours is bewitching.

‘A zero-carbon-footprint production’: an interview

Unusual theatrical spaces and creating environmentally conscious productions

Citizenship Preview – ‘challenges the binary of sexuality’

Mark Ravenhill's exploration of the nature of bisexuality in this coming-of-age drama is continually relevant

Nice Guy Review – ‘hard to believe written by students’

The complexity of Sam Norman and Aaron King’s new musical, which focuses on the inner-workings of an abusive relationship is astounding

Breaking down stigma, challenging genre, and facilitating conversation – the new musical, ‘Nice Guy’

A visit to the Oxfordshire charity 'Clean Slate' with the cast of new musical 'Nice Guy'

Top Girls Preview – ‘a vibrant period piece’

This new production of Caryl Churchill's play may be a portrait of a specific time, but is still intensely relevant.

‘Family Friends’ Review: ‘a definite sparkle’

Katie Knight sees potential in this night of improvised comedy, but is let down by pacing and clunky mistakes

The Threepenny Opera Review – ‘both unsettling and wildly entertaining’

Faye Heron reviews this term's Playhouse show which she finds serves to bring up important social issues whilst simultaneously being vigorously entertaining

The Oxford Revue: Best of the Fringe Review – ‘these are emerging talents’

The Oxford Revue's desires to experiment creates some hilarious moments, but perhaps lacks through-line to bring the show together

The Threepenny Opera Preview – ‘promises to be exhilarating’

This term's Playhouse show paints a heightened portrait of the inner-city's criminal underworld.

Interview: OUDS President Francesca Amewudah-Rivers

Cesca Echlin meets this year's OUDS President to discuss post-Medea hype, the need for increased representation in theatre, and what she wants to change about Oxford student drama.

‘The Fishermen’ Review – a ‘mesmerising’ and ‘almost biblical’ tale

A story of Nigerian brotherhood frames personal and national tragedy

‘The Jungle’ Review — a somber celebration of solidarity, hope and resilience

Leaving the theatre and walking straight into the first grey downpour of rain we had had in months never felt more fitting an atmosphere...

The Edinburgh Fringe experience in 2018 – the ‘magic’ of the Mile

A summary of the 2018 Fringe experience, as we say goodbye to the festival for another year

Crave Review – ‘moments of tenderness crushed by memories of trauma’

Sarah Kane's emotive text is embodied with both beauty and horror at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Machinal Review – ‘poignant but not perfect’

A play with an imperfect but impactful vision, inspired by a poignant true story of murder and womanhood

The Squirrel Plays Review – ‘carried off with subtlety and aplomb’

Tenderness and humour emerge from a play that challenges a sobering subject

Follow us