What's in the Cinema this Week? (Feb 2-8)

Opening in Oxford this week is the animated Arthur and the Invisibles, starring the voices of Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow, Robert De Niro, and Madonna. Ten-year-old Arthur, in a bid to save his grandfather's house from being demolished, goes looking for some much-fabled hidden treasure in the land of the Minimoys, a tiny people living in harmony with nature. The film contains very mild fantasy violence. (U)

Also opening this week is Notes on a Scandal starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. When the new art teacher (Blanchett) at the prestigious St. George's School enters into a torrid affair with one of her male students, the aging History teacher (Dench), who senses a kindred spirit in the beautiful younger woman, uses her knowledge of the transgression to wield an obsessive power that soon threatens tragedy for all involved. The film contains strong language and sex references. (15)

Dreamgirls also opens this week, starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Jennifer Hudson. Beyonce stars as one third of a promising 1960s girl band given the chance of backing a headline act. But, as they become famous in their own right, they realise that fame comes at a cost. The film contains one use of strong language and hard drug references. (12A)

Opening this week at the Vue Cinema is Bobby, starring Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Martin Sheen, Elijah Wood, Lindsay Lohan, and Heather Graham. Set in LA's Ambassador Hotel on the June 5, 1968, the night that Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, 'Bobby' revolves around the campaign workers, political supporters and guests who were caught up in the dramatic events of that evening. Dealing with issues of race, class and sexual inequality, the film holds a mirror up to the period and the cultural issues that were dividing and uniting the country at the time. The film contains strong language, drug use and violence(15)

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What's in the Theatre this Week? (Feb 2-8)

The Oxford Playhouse:

Blonde Bombshells of 1943 - The Blonde Bombshells, the most glamorous all-girl swing band in the North, loses members every time it plays a GI camp. With an important BBC job in the offing, they need new members fast! A warm witty musical play filled with live swing band performances.

If I Were You - Alan Ayckbourn's 70th and latest play - Mal and Jill have their share of problems. Secret concerns, which they carefully hide from each other, sometimes to avoid hurt, often to avoid confrontation. Like most of us.

Old Fire Station:

The Hothouse - On Christmas Eve at a government psychiatric hospital, one patient is discovered dead and another has just given birth. Before long, the man in charge starts unravelling, and a conspiring staff leaves unattended the tensions simmering beneath them. Rarely performed, this riotous blend of farce and terror is roundly considered to be Pinter's most comic play.

Company - Musicals of Oxford presents one of Sondheim's most innovative musical comedies, a witty and sophisticated look at relationships through the eyes of Robert and those "good and crazy people" his married friends. Accompanied by a stunning score, this is a vibrant new production of the show that changed the face of musical theatre.

Burton Taylor Theatre:

Baby With the Bathwater - by Christopher Durang - An absurdist, hilarious and familiar look at how hard it is to be a parent and how scary it is to be a child.

We Got Chickens! - Corpus Comedy Collective - Oxford's newest and best sketch comedy team combine the best of their first two shows with some brand new material for an evening of mirth, hilarity and jokes about AIDS.

The Weir - by Connor Mcpherson - Four guys. One girl. One pub. Four supernatural stories.

All in the Timing - by David Ives - A collection of brilliant and bizarre comedies featuring chimpanzees Attempting to write Hamlet, eight variations of Trotsky's death, the triumph of love over absurdity and several barrels of laughs.

New Theatre:

Where you from?: Lenny Henry - Comedian from Dudley who shot to fame when he was just 17, starring in the anarchic 1970s children's TV show 'Tiswas'. He has since become one of Britain's most popular entertainers.

Shame: Russell Brand - Contrary to rumour, Russell Brand is not the son of comedienne Jo Brand but instead is a sort of glam, gothic master of ceremonies in his own right. Presenting Big Brother's Big Mouth has given Russell the ideal arena for showcasing his bombastic, lively, fast-talking comedy as he dashes about the stage like a hurricane. Seeing him do stand up should only prove to be doubly hectic and twice as entertaining!

Derek Acorah - Well-respected Liverpudlian medium, whose regular appearances on UK Living's 'Most Haunted' and James Whale's radio show has gained him a following of staunch believers.

Fame: Ricky Gervais - Hollywood's 'Hottest Brit' and co creator and co writer of the two multi award winning shows The Office and Extras, unveils his third live show - Fame. Despite its glamourous title it is probably the purest stand-up of all three. More anecdotal and autobiographical than before it allows Ricky to meander and deconstruct everyday life. Well, everyday life for someone who is famous in nearly a hundred countries and hangs out with David Bowie and Ben Stiller. SOLD OUT!

Theatre at Headington:

Curse of the Werewolf - Buzz Halliburton, an entertainer fallen on hard times, is summoned to Gargoyle House, a spooky castle on a lonely New England island. With him is his partner, Admiral Byrd, a penguin who can tap dance. One grisly murder takes place before Buzz's arrival, but there are more to follow! Because of the family curse, there's a werewolf in the house. But who can it be? The new governess? Sheriff Birdsong? The neighbour with the leaky boat? Olga, the gypsy, who still uses a wagon and horse?

College Theatre:

Muse Monologues - Hertford College's Bop Cellar

Eight lives. Four voices. One city. The Oxford Muse [and the ETC] takes you into the heads of eight people living in Oxford through a series of monologues.

Have you seen where a blind woman finds beauty? Have you met a paranoid schizophrenic with a history of violence? Find out why a sixty year old didn't know who she was or how a suicidal teen is still alive, how a college porter writes his poetry or why a PPEist lives on the streets of Oxford. Muse Monologues takes you to places in Oxford you won't have been, brings you voices you won’t have heard, shows you people you won't have seen.

The Oxford Revue: Cagoule Weather - The Moser Theatre at Wadham College

Do you ever wish you were in a Lunn Poly advert? Do you ever resent the continual low pressure? Is all this doom and gloom really starting to bobble your jumper? After last year's sell out success, the Oxford Revue return to the Moser Theatre with a bout of inclement sketches designed especially for this intemperate weather we're having. So come, wring your socks out, and get comfy.

If Strangers Meet (Twice) - O'Reilly Theatre, Keble College

"Unique, exciting and deeply affecting… if strangers meet (twice) takes performers from the FreeFall Dance Company and the fields of music and theatre to present an evening of exploration into e.e.cummings' poem whilst also considering the very nature of the artistic disciplines involved"

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: 8th Feb Robert Badinter: Towards the Universal Abolition of the Death Penalty

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Classical Music (Feb 2-8)

The Holywell Music Room will host this week's Coffee Concert, featuring the Adderbury Ensemble. Also at the Holywell this week is a free performance by the Faculty of Music performing in the Conway Scholars' Recital featuring the Holywell String Quartet (Kathryn Riley, Gemma Sharples, Amantha Wijesekera, Verity Evanson) and Berenika, piano; Jack Gibbons in Recital; Oxford Jazz Master Series featuring Oxjams - George Haslam, Richard Leigh Harris, and Steve Kershaw with Howard Riley on Piano; Oxford University Music Society performing Zephyrus - 20th Century music for wind quintet; and Faculty of Music presents The Allegri String Quartet performing Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Elgar.

The Jacqueline du Pre Music Building is hosting Sixty Six Music: Rivoli String Quartet + Lind Optical + Stornoway - Epic orchestral pop meets modern classical at this fundraiser for Oxford Children's Hospital; and Cushion Concerts for young children featuring the Violin.

There is a free recital performance at Queen's College, this week - and Organ Recital by George Castle of Trinity College. There is also a free recital at the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building featuring Irene Anderson on Recorder.

Other notable performances coming up this week include the North Cotswold Chamber Choir at Merton College, Music for voice and piano St Margarets Church, and one we're most excited about, the Come and Sing performance at the Sheldonian Theatre, which will raise funds for The Art Room. at

Get information for all classical music events in Oxford

This Week's Jazz & Blues (Feb 2-8)

Tonight, Tim Lapthorne (piano), Tim Dawes (bass), and Simon Lea (drums) are performing at The Old Parsonage; Sunday has the Victoria Newton Trio at Gee's; The Backroom at the Bullingdon Arms is featuring Rob Tognoni from Australia on their famous Monday Blues night, and Katya Gorrie featuring Denny Ilett Jr. will play there on Tuesday; also on Tuesday is Luis D'Agostino at Bar Milano; Wednesday has the Frassani Blues Band (pictured) playing an acoustic performance at The Big Bang; Thursday has Pete Whittaker on the Hammond at the SPIN jazz club at the Wheatsheaf and Louise Setara, a teenage jazz sensation, at the Living Room; and next Friday has Johnny Boston (sax) with Frank Harrison (piano) and Tim Dawes (bass) at The Old Parsonage as well as LeBurn at Merton's Bar.

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