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Tess
04 March 2025 to 06 March 2025
About Tess
Following the hugely successful sold-out tour in 2024, Ockham’s Razor, return to Oxford with Tess, a groundbreaking, circus adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
An ensemble of performers weave together Hardy’s words and the extreme physicality of circus to tell this tale of power, loss and endurance.
Against a backdrop of projections, the cast wield wooden planks, climb shifting walls and move through ropes and swathes of linen to evoke the vast landscapes and interior worlds of Hardy’s Wessex.
It is a story which still has extraordinary relevance for our times in its incredibly nuanced evocation of female relationships, sexual desire, consent, privilege and poverty.
This retelling captures the beauty, heartbreak and yearning of the novel and draws upon the incredible strength of the circus body to create a Tess as heroic as Hardy intended.
Ockham’s Razor produced by Turtle Key Arts.
Trailer
Reviews
★★★★ “Full of joy, wonder and delight.”
The Guardian
★★★★ “Captivating and exhilarating, this production is hypnotic and teeming with physical creativity. Unmissable.”
Everything Theatre
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Age guidance:
12+
Dates & times:
Tuesday 04 March at 7.30pm
Wednesday 05 March at 7.30pm
Thursday 06 March at 1.30pm
Warning:
This production includes adult themes and scenes of a violent and sexual nature.
Duration:
140 minutes, including an interval.
About Oxford Playhouse
Oxford Playhouse and its Burton Taylor Studio present and produce several live performances and feature a rich array of British and international dramas, family entertainment, contemporary dance and music, student and amateur shows, comedy, lectures and poetry.
The Playhouse not only produces and tours its own theatrical productions, but it also fosters creativity through its Artists in Residence program and the Playhouse Plays Out series, which brings unique events to various locations across the county.
The theatre’s Participation Team engages over 15,000 individuals annually, offering an extensive range of activities, including post-show discussions, workshops, work experience opportunities, holiday programs, a youth theatre, and a company for young performers.
Oxford Playhouse stands dedicated to its mission of being a Playhouse for all, striving to ignite inspiration and bring about transformative experiences through its commitment to creativity on its stages, within its community and online.
Discover more about Oxford Playhouse, including travel, access and venue information.
