This Week's Classical Music (Jan 12-18)

Oxford is getting back into the music scene slowly after the holidays, starting with a few great shows this week. First up, at the Sheldonian on Saturday is Music at Oxford's Paul Lewis playing the piano. Also on Saturday at the Burton Taylor Studio, are Rafael and Marcus John - flamenco guitar plus latin guitar/r'n'b. The Jacqueline du Pre Music Building has cushion concerts for the youngsters this Sunday featuring the harp. This week's coffee concert will be held at Magdalen College Auditorium and will feature the Angell Piano Trio. Lastly, the Holywell Music Room will host the Atrium String Quartet on Sunday afternoon.

Get information for all classical music events in Oxford

This Week's Jazz and Blues (Jan 12-18)

The Backroom at the Bullingdon Arms is featuring the King B Blues Band from the UK on their famous Monday Blues night, and Tom Grey will play there with his quintet on Tuesday; also on Tuesday are Los Hombres at Bar Milano; Wednesday has Lady Daze (pictured) playing at The Big Bang; and lastly, Thursday has Chantelle Pike at QI.

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? (Jan 12-18)

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. This show closes on Sunday.

Omid Djalili No Agenda -
One of Britain's funniest, freshest and most original stand up comedians, the award-winning British-Iranian Omid Djalili,makes his debut visit to the Playhouse with his show No Agenda.

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+

This show closes on Saturday.

Old Fire Station:

Man in Black - Tribute to Johnny Cash

This musical tribute takes you on a journey from the fifties up to the final recordings of the legendary Cash, bringing to life songs from the hit movie 'Walk the Line'.

Burton Taylor Theatre:

Calling all Artists - Your chance to look behind the scenes at the Burton Taylor Studio, and see how you or your group may be able to present your work at Oxford's most exciting venue. The Burton Taylor Studio is an intimate, adaptable and affordable space, open to local artists from across all performing art forms. Drop in between 5 and 8pm on Friday the 12th. For further information, contact Studio Manager Robert Bristow on 01865 305350.

Rafael and Marcus John - Join Oxford Playhouse favourite, flamenco guitarist Rafael, with special guest Marcus John. Marcus is one of most original new artists to hit the music scene in recent years, blending an RnB style with Latin guitar chords, infectious choruses and original lyrics.

New Theatre:

One Night Of Queen With Gary Mullen - Gary Mullen, the winner of 2000 'Stars In Their Eyes' series, with his tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen, backed by his band The Works. The former computer operator from Stepps, Glasgow is now Freddie full time. One Night of Queen promises to be the ultimate Queen tribute. This time Freddie is not alone and the rest of Queen joins him on stage. The artists who perform as Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor are also superb. Coupled with the stunning lights and the excellent musicianship this is an unbeatable show.

Scrooge The Musical, starring Michael Barrymore, has been cancelled due to the star's illness.

Theatre at Headington:

ODT productions presents The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui - Described by Brecht as 'a parable play, written with the aim of destroying the usual disasterous respect which we feel for mass murderers' Arturo Ui is a savagely witty satire of the rise of Hitler. Written for an American audience just before Brecht's arrival in the USA in 1941, the play casts the fuhrer as a small-time Chicago gangster who, with his cronies, holds the entire vegetable trade to ransom.

This prize-winning translation by Ralph Manheim vividly captures the wide range of paraody and pastiche in the original without reducting the horror of the actual nazi originals.

Oxford Amnesty Lectures 07 - Incarceration and Human Rights - Sheldonian Theatre:
Oxford Amnesty Lectures invites internationally respected figures to debate the future of human rights. Lectures are open to the paying public and texts published as a book. OAL has to date donated over £100,000 to Amnesty International

Speaking this week: 17th Jan - Roger Graef: The Media and Criminal Justice, the Loop of Disinformation; 18th Jan - Lawrence Gostin: New & Old Institutions for the Mentally Ill; Treatment, Punishment or Preventive Confinement

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 - St Francis Primary School, Cowley; Chilton Foliat Village Hall; Longworth Village Hall; Abingdon Museum

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

What's in the Cinema this Week? (Jan 12-18)

Opening in Oxford this week is Smokin' Aces, starring Jeremy Piven, Ben Affleck, and Jason Bateman. Featuring an all-star cast, this dark comedy follows a Las Vegas stand-up comedian who becomes the target of the FBI, the Mob and a motley crew of opportunistic assassins. The film contains strong bloody violence. (18)

Also opening this weekend is The Last King of Scotland starring Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, and Gillian Anderson. A man who is brought back from the brink of death finds he can tell which people are about to die. But when he tries to save them, he discovers there's a price to be paid. The film contains supernatural horror. (15)

Also opening at the cinema this week is The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith stars as a single father who takes on a job with great prospects but no immediate salary. Forced to sleep rough, he and his son stick close together to overcome their obstacles. The film contains two uses of strong language. (12A)

The Pheonix Cinema will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford