What's in the Cinema this Week? (Feb 23 - March 1)

Opening in Oxford this week is The Good Shepherd, starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, and Alec Baldwin. Matt Damon stars as Edward Wilson, whose values of honour and discretion are tested to the limit when he joins the OSS, a predecessor of the CIA. Robert De Niro directs. The film contains strong language and violence. (15)

Also in Oxford this week is The Number 23, starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen. A man's life is unravelled when he finds an obscure book. Convinced that it's based on his life, his obsession consumes him, as he realises it forecasts far graver consequences than he could have ever imagined. The film contains strong language, bloody violence and suicide references. (15)

Opening at the Phoenix and the Vue this week is Letters from Iwo Jima starring Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryo Kase, and Ken Watanabe. Clint Eastwood's thoughtful companion piece to Flags of our Fathers, which portrayed the American soldiers who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Letters from Iwo Jima is a humanist WWII drama told from the Japanese perspective. For Japan, the battle was the final opportunity to prevent an Allied invasion. Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi devises an unusual strategy of digging tunnels and deep foxholes that would give his troops a tactical advantage over their enemy. As Kuribayashi and his men dig in for a battle which they are uncertain of winning, their story is told through the letters they write home to their loved ones, which in many cases would not be delivered until long after they were dead. The film contains strong violence(15)

Lastly, at the Vue Cinema this weekend is School For Scoundrels, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett and Matt Walsh. Roger is a depressed New York City meter maid who signs up with a top secret confidence building class in the hope that it will improve his luck with the ladies. Taught by the suave Dr P, Roger is soon excelling in class and even summons up the courage to ask out his long-term crush. But his new found confidence stirs up jealousy in Dr P, leading to a battle of wits between the two men. The film contains infrequent strong language and moderate sex references. (12)

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

What's in the Theatre this Week? (Feb 23 - March 1)

The Oxford Playhouse:

Hayfever - Stephanie Beacham and Christopher Timothy star in Sir Peter Hall's critically acclaimed production of this classic English comedy.

My Real War - The true story, never told before, of how a lively and funny young man slowly succumbs to the horrors of the war. The latest in a series of remarkable plays created by Two's Company.

Ultima Vez – Spiegel - Founder of Ultima Vez, Wim Vandekeybus has astounded audiences worldwide for 20 years - pushing dancers beyond their limits in a powerful fusion of live action, film and music that seethes with energy, danger, emotion and sensuality. Spiegel is a journey through the highlights of this work.

Motionhouse – Driven - Motionhouse explodes on stage in a head-on collision with reality. Five performers race in the fast lane, dodging the flying debris, as their lives literally fall apart around them. Driven fuses dance and film, seamlessly integrating highly physical movement, breathtaking flying and striking theatrical imagery.

Old Fire Station:

Hamlet - In the claustrophobic, goldfish-bowl intensity of the OFS, the notion of insanity and mental instability in Hamlet will pervade. A clinical, institutional and stylised atmosphere in an all-white off-perspective box-set creates a space in which the prodigious Hamlet plays out his tragedy, with elaborate spider-web style lattices enveloping the stage. Focussing on Hamlet's youth and vulnerability - and his position as a student - as he faces such deep emotional and philosophical pressure is perfect for a modern and avant- garde student production.

Arsenic And Old Lace - ' . . .insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops.' Two lovable elderly ladies are poisoning their lonely lodgers to save them from life's woes; something their nephew is a little more than shocked to discover. A hilarious black comedy in 1940's Brooklyn with charm, surprise and just a pinch of arsenic.

Burton Taylor Theatre:
Groping for Words - Sue Townsend's scathing comedy on the high levels of illiteracy in a so-called 'developed' country dramatises class conflicts and the importance of equality in education, in her wry style.

Gloss - by Tom Costello. What lies beneath the airbrushed sheen of a weekly Lad's Mag?

The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek - by Naomi Wallace. Two teenagers plan a race across a railroad trestle into the face of an oncoming train. Ignored by their struggling parents, they reach out to each other with disastrous consequences.

A Paper Girl - by Tom Campion. Mark is talking to phantoms and slowly fading away himself. How far do obsessions live on, and what happens to those who get caught in the middle?

New Theatre:
Coppelia

Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading's rich, distinctive voice, and passionate yet tender blend of soul, folk and world music have earned her a place in British music history.

Sweet Soul Music - A celebration of the music of Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, Ben E King and many more.

Defending the Caveman - Mark Little - Comedian actor, musical star, and TV personality. Best known for his role as Joe Mangel in the Australian soap, Neighbours.

Dave Matthews - Singer-songwriter from the infamous Dave Matthews Band. Known for his incredible musicianship, intricate songwriting and soulful voice, Dave Matthews embarks on his first solo European tour, bringing an intimate and personal show to the Uk.

Pegasus Theatre:
Something Wild - Anjali returns to Pegasus with a triple bill that moves from intense and touching beauty to bizarre and infectious humour. Save the Last Dance, Saloon, Butterfly

College Theatre:
Utopia Limited by Gilbert and Sullivan - O'Reilly Theatre, Keble College

A rare performance of Gilbert & Sullivan's superbly orchestrated tropical spectacular. Fully staged with a live orchestra and lavish costumes, here is a chance to see a classic of English musical theatre performed by the vibrant young cast of the Oxford University Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

Kiddy-Fiddler on the Roof - The Moser Theatre at Wadham College
Kiddy Fiddler on the Roof is a musical satire on tabloid hysteria and the media's reaction to the threat of paedophilia. Townsville Comprehensive is an ailing school like any other - until the day school teacher Arnold Finkler is falsely accused by one of his students. Rumour quickly spreads and the town's parents go wild. Encouraged by Jean McDonald, local agony aunt and Townsville's undisputed moral matriarch, the parents rally together, ready to do whatever it takes to clean up the neighbourhood. Spurred on by an inflammatory column in the local newspaper, the parents march on the innocent Arnold...

But will the truth prevail...?

Moral outrage, betrayal, sex and secrets meet love, truth and friendship for the ultimate showdown - all through the medium of song!

The Imposters - Pilch Theatre, Jowett Walk

Watch crazy plots and elaborate characters slowly interweave to form a cohesive hour long play - all of it spun off a smattering of audience suggestion.

All That Jazz - Pembroke College Hall

PCMS Productions presents three elegant evenings of jazz cabaret entertainment from performers across the university. The show will feature jazz numbers from the musical "Chicago" and from jazz vocalists such as Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ray Charles and Nina Simone, accompanied with jazz and tap dancers, and a 10 piece live jazz band. As part of the jazz club atmosphere, our guests will watch the show seated at dimly lit tables where canapes and a complementary glass of wine will be served, all included as part of the ticket price. A wine bar (also stocked with soft drinks) will also be available before the performance and during the interval. Dress code is strictly black tie.

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:

1st March Robert Badinter: Towards the Universal Abolition of the Death Penalty - at the Taylorian on St Giles NOT the Sheldonian this week

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Classical Music (Feb 23 - March 1)

Friday:

• Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society's Utopia Limited - Keble College, O'Reilly Theatre
  
• The Waynflete Clerks (pictured) & The Poinciana Jazz Band - Magdalen Auditorium
  
• Oxford Lieder Song Evening - Maya Kasir - soprano & Sholto Kynoch - piano - Holywell Music Room
  
• OCO Spring Concert - Tchaikovsky, Mozart - Sheldonian Theatre
  
• Christ Church Festival - Cello and Piano Duo Recital - Berenika with Oliver Coates - Christ Church
  

Saturday:

• Eglesfield Music Society's Isoceles recorder trio - Dannie Waddoup, Irene Anderson & Laura Anderson - Queen's College (FREE)
  
• Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society's Utopia Limited - Keble College, O'Reilly Theatre
  
• Oxford Pro Musica Singers - Sacred Choral Music - University Church of St. Mary
  
• City of Oxford Choir - Elgar's Circumstances - Harris Manchester College Chapel
  
• Arcadian Singers of Oxford University - Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina and Monteverdi Madrigals - Merton College Chapel
  
• Oxford Philomusica Concert with the Blackbird Leys Choir - Bernstein West Side Story -Sheldonian Theatre
  
• Faculty of Music - Ensemble ISIS joint concert with Oxford Brookes and the Oxford Improvisers - Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
  
• Christ Church Orchestra and Choir - Festival Closing Concert - Wesley Memorial Church
  
• David and Goliath - New Chamber Opera - New College Ante-Chapel
  

Sunday:

• Coffee Concert with the Emperor String Quartet - Holywell Music Room
  
• Oxford Chamber Music Society - Wihan String Quartet with Martin Kasik (Piano) - Holywell Music Room
  

Monday:

• Christ Church Music Society - Song Recital - Emily Eisen (soprano) with Elizabeth Burgess - Christ Church
  

Tuesday:

• James Kellas Piano Recital - University Church of St Mary the Virgin
  
• Oxford University Music Society - Greg Martin - Holywell Music Room
  

Wednesday:

• Organ Recital with Timothy Byram-Wigfield (St George's Chapel, Windsor) - Queen's College (FREE)
  
• St Hilda's College Music Society Recital Series - Anita Toffs - Piano, Sirio Canos Donay - Double Bass, Jessica Keel - Voice - Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
  
• Oxford University Wind Orchestra with Augustana Wind Band -University Church of St Mary the Virgin
  

Get information for all classical music events in Oxford

This Week's Jazz & Blues (Feb 23 - March 1)

Friday, the Christian Brewer Trio (sax led trio) are performing at The Old Parsonage; Sunday has Polly Gibbons with Tim Dawes (double bass) and Tim Lapthorne (piano) at Gee's; The Backroom at the Bullingdon Arms is featuring Honeyboy Hickling & The DTs (pictured) from the UK on their famous Monday Blues night, and The Numbers Racket on Tuesday; also on Tuesday is Blue Mama at Bar Milano; Wednesday has the Abig Strevens Trio at The Big Bang; and finally, Thursday has Patrick Wood's 'The Works' at the SPIN jazz club at the Wheatsheaf.

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