This Week's Classical Music (Dec 8-14)

This week's Coffee Concert at the Holywell Music Room features Gemma Rosefield & Morgan Szymanski. The Holywell Music Room is also hosting Oxford Folk Festival's Sid Kipper.

The Sheldonian Theatre is hosting the City of Oxford Orchestra's Carol Concert.

St. Aldate's Church is hosting Music at Oxford's London Winds.

Exeter College Chapel will host the Cherwell Singers' performance of O Magnum Mysterium, as well as Charivari Agreadble's Christmas by Candlelight - the Three Countertenors.

The University Church of St Mary's is hosting The Madrigirls - Variety of sacred and secular accapella madrigals and songs from Britain, Italy and France.

And lastly, Merton College is hosting Jubilate - Ave Maris Stella.

Get information for all classical music events in Oxford

This Week's Jazz and Blues (Dec 8-14)

At Freud this week, you can catch The Karl Demata Blues Duo and Bob Cockburn on guitar; Backroom at the Bullingdon Arms features Giles Hedley & The Aviators (pictured) on their famous Monday Blues night, as well as the Tom Grey Quintet on their Oxford Jazz Club Tuesdays; The Spin Jazz Club at the Wheatsheaf has Alex Garnett - Saxes + The Spin Trio; The Old Parsonage has the Tim Lapthorn Trio; Gee's has the Bridgett Beraha Trio; The Big Bang Restaurant has the Andrea Mann Christmas special with Dave Priseman (horns); and lastly, Bar Milano has Delicious Music Jazz Night with Latin guitar duo Los Hombres.

Get information for all jazz and blues music events in Oxford

For music other than classical, jazz, and blues, check out our extensive gig guide

What's in the Theatres this Week? (Dec 8-14)

The Oxford Playhouse:

Dick Whittington - The Panto!

A capital pantomime for young and old, with rats, a cat and streets of gold! Christmas just isn't Christmas without an Oxford Playhouse pantomime, the purrfect treat this festive season with magic, sparkle and fun for all the family.

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Creation Theatre Company:

Arabian Nights - Celebrate the festive season with us as we whisk you away on a magic carpet ride to an unforgettable world of colourful characters, fantastical creatures and devious villains.

Suitable for children 5+

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Old Fire Station:

What the Butler Saw - Two psychiatrists (one excessively libidinous, the other certifiably insane); one recently ravaged nymphomaniac; one cross-dressing policeman; one well-hung pageboy; one innocent secretary. Four doors; half a dozen bottles of scotch; a consulting-room couch that’s big enough for two. One of the greatest farces of the twentieth century. May not be suitable for under 14s.

Winters Tale - Tomahawk returns with a story of love, jealousy and reconciliation. An action packed 2 hours with music, dance and song.

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Burton Taylor Theatre:

ConneXtion - A collaboration between flamenco dancer Amarita Vargas and kathak dancer Anurekha Ghosh. It is well known that gypsies emigrated to the West from Rajasthan from the 12th century onwards. This evening explores the ancient and deep Indian roots of Flamenco, especially its links with North Indian Kathak dance, born in the mythic Raja's and Nawabs' India. Only 6 seats available to the Public!

Muttnik - Muttnik is a stray. She lives on the streets of Moscow, cold and hungry, until one day she is captured. To her surprise, she finds herself in a shiny new home with food, water and adventures better than dreams. She is living at the Russian Space Centre and has been selected to be the first dog in space! She learns to fly a rocket, to parachute-jump, to dance in zero gravity and .....
"..... To Boldly Go Where No Dog Has Gone Before!"

Egg and Spoon - This highly interactive show for the youngest members of your family is back by popular demand! Relax on comfy cushions as Percy and April guide you through the four seasons. Make friends while you play peekaboo in the puddles and dance at the butterfly party. 6 months - 3 years (running time: 30 mins)

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New Theatre:

Madama Butterfly - One of the worlds most popular operas, telling the heart breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American Naval lieutenant - with dramatic results.

Cats - See the world's best loved musical and the memory will live forever. Enter the magical, musical world of Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber's record breaking adaptation of T S Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. With an amazing musical score, spectacular set design, stunning costumes and breath taking choreography, Cats really is a uniquely magical musical.

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Abingdon Touring Theatre:
Aesop's Fables
Their third tour is a specially commissioned adaptation of Aesop's Fables. This tour has been written to be suitable for the entire family and will combine Aesop's stories with tales from his own life.

Showing this week at - Woodcote Village Hall, Kennington Village Hall, and the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon

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For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

What's in the Cinema this Week? (Dec 8-14)

Opening in Oxford this week is The Holiday. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star (along with Jack Black and Jude Law) as two women troubled with guy problems. After swapping homes in each other's countries, they each meet a local guy and fall in love. The film contains strong language and moderate sex references. (12A)

Also opening this weekend (at the Vue Cinema only) is The Covenant, starring Steven Strait, Sebastian Stan, and Laura Ramsey. Four popular school kids inherit a legacy of magical powers from their old New England families. Caleb, Reid, Tyler and Pogue, approaching their 18th birthdays, are preparing to ascend to a greater level of supernatural powers which brings with it the unfortunate side-effect of premature aging. The ringleader of the group, Caleb, warns the others against reckless use of their powers and begins to fall for the transfer student Sarah. But when Caleb senses that a new and malevolent power is at work he has to fight to save his family and friends. The film contains moderate horror and violence. (12A)

Another Vue Cinema - only opening this week is The Nativity Story, starring Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider). 'The Nativity Story' traces the journey of the young Mary and Joseph as they travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem, Joseph's ancestral home, to register for a census ordered by King Herod. It is a journey of over 100 miles, through treacherous terrain, made much more difficult by the fact that Mary is nine months pregnant. A series of flashbacks recount Mary's arranged marriage with Joseph and her visitation by the archangel Gabriel. In Persia meanwhile, the three Magi have been studying the ancient texts and believe that a celestial event is about to occur. The film contains mild images of violence.(PG)

At the Phoenix this week is The U.S. vs. John Lennon - a documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist. (15)

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

Art Auction

This saturday, the 9th of December, Aarght! is presenting its third affordable art auction at The Jam Factory, 27 Park End Street. I previewed the art myself and was impressed by the quality and array of works up for auction. It's a terrific chance to buy art from local artists - many who are already established - at great prices. The guest auctioneer will be Sean Shannon - "Officially the fastest talker in the world" says the Guiness Book of Records. The auction begins at 7pm, and there is no entrance fee. See you there!

Image: Lewis Saunders' Lacking Emotion