Arts & Culture
Discover the best news and stories about art, music, theatre, film, entertainment, and cultural events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire.
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Stage Watch: 2:22 A Ghost Story, Beetlejuice, The Lives of Others, War Horse & Waitress
From supernatural thrillers and West End musicals to National Theatre revivals and contemporary drama, here’s a round-up of five standout productions across Oxford, London and the wider region.
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Stage Watch: Somerset House enters the comedy arena with major new festival Laughterama
Somerset House will host a live comedy festival for the first time as Laughterama arrives this summer, bringing seven open-air shows across five days featuring Ross Noble, Sara Pascoe, Josh Widdicombe, Dara Ó Briain, Fern Brady, Nick Mohammed and more.
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Hampton Court Palace Festival prepares to return with star-studded 2026 lineup
Hampton Court Palace Festival will return this June with a major line-up featuring David Gray, OMD, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and more.
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Blenheim Palace to host third annual Sustainable Fashion Show for Sustainable Fashion Week 2026
Cherwell Collective will return to Blenheim Palace this September for the third annual Sustainable Fashion Show, celebrating sustainable fashion, emerging designers and circular creativity.
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Emma Kenny brings ‘Killer Couples’ to New Theatre Oxford’s stage next week
Emma Kenny is bringing her live true crime show Killer Couples to New Theatre Oxford on Saturday, 16 May, exploring the psychology behind criminal partnerships and the dark side of human relationships.
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Reverend & The Makers announce Oxford show on UK tour
Reverend & The Makers will perform at Oxford’s O2 Academy on 21 November as part of a UK tour supporting their new album, with tickets going on sale this April following recent sold-out shows.
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Stage Watch: Psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs premieres on stage
Bringing its unsettling character dynamics and intellectual tension into a live theatrical setting, The Silence of the Lambs will make its stage debut with John Partridge as Hannibal Lecter.
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Bodleian Libraries exhibition explores humanity’s enduring relationship with birds
The Bodleian Libraries’ Wonder of Birds exhibition explores art, science and culture through the lens of avian life. Featuring rare archives, manuscripts and immersive sound, it invites visitors to reflect on both the beauty of birds and their decline.
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Thousands expected for dawn celebrations as May Morning returns to Oxford
Thousands are expected to gather in Oxford on Friday 01 May as May Morning returns, with dawn celebrations on Magdalen Bridge marking the city’s historic 500-year-old spring tradition.
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Review: Midsomer Murders – The Killings at Badger’s Drift at New Theatre Oxford
The stage adaptation of Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift at New Theatre Oxford delivered an affectionate, lightly comic whodunnit, bringing the familiar village intrigue and eccentric characters of the beloved series to life with theatrical flair.
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Stage Watch: I’m Sorry, Prime Minister, Brainiac Live, I’m Every Woman, Legally Blonde & The Rocky Horror Show
From political satire and explosive family science to iconic rock musicals and feel-good West End favourites, this week’s Stage Watch brings together five unmissable shows across London, Oxford and Aylesbury.
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Wilderness 2026 marks 100-day countdown with major programme expansion
Audi Presents Wilderness Festival 2026 marks 100 days to go with 124 new names added across 11 venues. Returning to Cornbury Park, the fifteenth edition features major headliners including Scissor Sisters, Carl Cox, Soulwax, and Groove Armada.
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Two writers with Oxford ties named on 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist
The 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist features debut voices, major authors, and two writers with Oxford connections.
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From three founders to over 300 artists: Henley Arts Trail marks 20th anniversary
Henley Arts Trail marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, expanding to 36 venues. The not-for-profit event connects visitors with artists in their studios while supporting emerging talent through initiatives like the Art Spark competition.
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Stage Watch: Counterpoint of Chaos, Teeth ‘N’ Smiles, Glengarry Glen Ross, Cirque Alice & Midsomer Murders
From algorithm-inspired physical theatre and a rock-driven revival of Teeth ‘N’ Smiles, to an all-female Glengarry Glen Ross, circus spectacle with Cirque Alice, and the stage debut of Midsomer Murders – Stage Watch brings together highlights from London and Oxford theatre.
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Stowe House launches Vanbrugh300 lecture series for 2026
Stowe House will host a 2026 lecture series marking 300 years since Sir John Vanbrugh’s death, with talks, exhibitions and events offering fresh insight into the architect’s legacy as part of the nationwide Vanbrugh300 celebrations.