Blenheim Palace to open £1.3m visitor attraction

Blenheim Palace: The Untold Story…

From May 2007 an exciting new visitor attraction opens within the heart of Vanbrugh’s awe-inspiring Palace. Untold stories are brought thrillingly to life by talking portraits, touch screens and innovative film and projection technology…

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What's in the Cinema this Week? (March 9-15)

Opening in Oxford this week is Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Lauren, Marianne Muellerleile, Laura Ortiz, and Thandie Newton. Norbit is a mild-mannered guy who has been bullied, intimidated and laughed at since birth. When Kate, the love of his life, is sent away from their orphanage, he finds himself the object of hefty Raputia's affections. Years later the pair marry, and Norbit is adopted by her extraordinary family, but his love for Kate refuses to die so he plots to win her back and be rid of Rasputia once and for all. The film contains frequent moderate sex references and language.(12A)

Also in Oxford this week is Outlaw, starring Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Lennie James, Rupert Friend, Sean Harris, and Bob Hoskins. This contemporary British thriller revolves around Bryant, a returning soldier shocked at the state of the nation. With drugs, rape and murder ruling the streets, Bryant decides that enough is enough. Gathering together a group of similarly like-minded men, they take the law into their own hands, dishing out violent punishment to the criminals they find. The film contains very strong and racist language. (18)

Also opening this week is Becoming Jane starring Maggie Smith, Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, James Cromwell, and Julie Walters. A tale of love, class and the struggle to defy convention in the name of artistic endeavour, Becoming Jane tells the story of the real-life love affair that inspired the young Jane Austen to become a writer. The film contains mild sex references and scenes of boxing. (PG)

Opening at the Phoenix this week is Orchestra Seats (Fauteuils d'Orchestre) starring Claude Brasseur, Cecile De France, Albert Dupontel, and Valérie Lemercier.
Jessica (De France), new in town, becomes a waitress at the chic Bar des Theatres as three major events are about to occur on the same street: soap-opera star Catherine Versen (Lemercier) will open a Feydeau farce at the theatre next door, celebrated pianist Jean-François Lefort (Dupontel) will perform a Beethoven concert and financier Jacques Grumberg (Brasseur) will auction off his renowned art collection. Jessica floats between three sets of characters, becoming part of everyone's life even as she searches unsuccessfully for somewhere to live. Orchestra Seats possesses wit, wisdom and undeniable charm. (12A)

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

What's in the Theatre this Week? (March 9-15)

The Oxford Playhouse:

Baby Balloon -
A giant balloon starts to glow. Two playful dancers emerge from inside and invite you to explore the colours, music and textures of their airy world. A captivating theatrical experience for children aged 6 months to 2 years and their carers.

Entertaining Mr Sloane - London, the 1960's. The Krays are on top. A young man with freshly dyed hair is looking for lodgings, no questions asked. University of Oxford students present this biting comedy that exposed the hypocrisy of the swinging Sixties.

Oxford Youth Dance – Dragon's Tale - A fast moving dance roller-coaster invoked by the spirit of fairgrounds past and present. Performed by 300 dancers ranging in age from six months to eighty-six years old, this is an adventure that will leave you spinning, rolling and wobbling in the aisles!

Hound of the Baskervilles -
An ancient family curse, a desolate moor, a spectral hound and a deranged killer on the loose. Tremble at the hellish hound, wonder at the twisty plot and be amazed by Holmes' finest powers of deduction in this fast-paced and thrilling production.

Old Fire Station:

Going Postal - Moist Von Lipwig has a choice. Revive the dying Post Office, or die. Not a great choice. Unfortunately, being Postmaster General brings its own problems: twenty years of unsent mail, and an evil communications corporation keen to eliminate competition... Terry Pratchett's Discworld delivers a first-class thriller in this hilarious adaptation.

Oxdox:MK - The world's best documentary films from the largest film festival in the UK - including a simultaneous live screening of 1000 films across the world.. For more information, visit the official website Multiple Screenings this week. Click here for a schedule

Burton Taylor Theatre:

Dr Faustus - by Christopher Marlowe - Schoolboy Faustus finds a naughty magic book. Good school prefect tries to save him, but bully Mephistopheles tempts him and Faustus signs away his soul. He forgets his schoolwork and causes trouble with Mephistopheles. The years pass, schoolboy tricks become adult debauchery until naughty Faustus meets his fate.

And We Drown - T. S. Eliot's poetry is turned inside out as theatre, music and dance combine to capture a bleakly honest portrayal of what it means to experience urban wasteland. University of Oxford students and local school children come together in this OUDS education project.

Luke Wright, Poet Laureate - With Andrew 'perpetual' Motion's term as Poet Laureate soon drawing to a close, Luke sharpens his quill to make a bid for the literary boardroom and a nice comfy Palace sofa. In between blasting out his trademark satirical verse Luke provides a hilarious lecture on Poets Laureate past and present and lets the audience into his plans to reform the most outdated job in literature.

The Dateless Wonder - Meet Jo Jo - a guest at her friend Jules's wedding. She has turned up without a date, looking rather dishevelled after suffering an unfortunate hair-and-outfit incident faces a day mingling with a whole host of mad relatives. Things can't get any worse, can they? Until Jo Jo bumps into her long-term crush... The Dateless Wonder is a brand new comedy that follows the journey of a young British-Punjabi female, single in a world of couples, togetherness and nightmare off-spring.

New Theatre:

The Solid Silver 60s Show

Buena Vista Social Club - An internationally renowned eighteen piece big band who are the true and original vererans of Cuban music. Led by Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez and Omara Portuondo, the band was rediscovered in 1996 and have gone on to win a Grammy Award in 1997.

Oxford Gang Show 2007

Pegasus Theatre:

Made in Oxford - Leading Oxford based professional dancers and companies, will be presenting a different programme each night. The programme features a specially commissioned dance piece choreographed by Gill Clarke working with Oxford based professional dancers. Contemporary Dance

Theatre at Headington:

The Laramie Project - The Laramie Project tells the true story of a small community struggling to come to grips with the brutal beating and death of a young man named Matthew Shepard. The script is a composite based on interviews with the residents of Laramie, Wyoming. Characters display a broad range of reactions to the killing, addressing issues that are at the heart of the human condition: intolerance and violence; understanding and dignity. This theatrical piece will produce as many questions as it does answers.

Our Rio: A Dance Performance - Created and performed by Headington pupils, Our Rio explores the beauties and horrors of Rio de Janeiro, a fascinating and troubled city. Rock Challenge is one of the world's largest performance-based antisubstance-abuse projects, and with 20,000 school pupils taking part nation-wide, this year's event promises to be the biggest and most spectacular ever. Following this production, Our Rio will travel to the regional Rock Challenge showcase in Southampton.

Upper 4th Choir Concert

College Theatre:

The Awakening - O'Reilly Theatre, Keble College

'The Awakening' caused a furore in America when it was first written; Kate Chopin was condemned as immoral for its message. Nowadays, however, it constitutes a classic tragedy as society threatens the longed-for happy ending.

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Classical Music (March 9-15)

Friday:

• Faculty of Music presents The Philip Bate Concert with Jacob Lindberg, Lute - Holywell Music Room
  
• Magdalen Opera Group - Magdalen Auditorium
  

Saturday:

• Worcester College Mixed Choir - Music by Finzi, Tippett, Parry and Gant Requiem - University Church of St Mary
  
• Oxford Symphony Orchestra performing
  Mahler's Symphony 7 - Oxford Town Hall
  
• Oxford Bach Choir performs Mozart: Solemn Vespers - Sheldonian Theatre
  
• Jakob Lindberg plays John Dowland - Holywell Music Room
  
• Commotio - Exeter College Chapel
  

Sunday:

• Heath String Quartet - Oxford Chamber Music Society - Haydn, Janacek, Beethoven - Holywell Music Room
  

Monday:

• Galini Piano Trio: Andrew Watkinson (violin), Shuna Wilson (cello) and Soula Petridou (piano) perform Beethoven, Rachmaninov, David Matthews, Schubert - Holywell Music Room
  

Wednesday:

• Charivari Agreable perform Abendmusik: A Tercentenary Tribute. Oliver Sändig (baroque violin), Kah-Ming Ng (harpsichord), Susanne Heinrich (viola da gamba)
  - Merton College Chapel
  

Get information for all classical music events in Oxford

This Week's Jazz & Blues (March 9-15)

Friday, the Matt Waites Trio (alto sax) are performing at The Old Parsonage; Sunday has the Bridgette Beracha Trio at Gee's; The Backroom at the Bullingdon Arms is featuring Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes (pictured) on their famous Monday Blues night, and the Tom Grey Quintet on Tuesday; Wednesday has the Martin Pickett Trio (Paul Jefferies – bass, Ben Twyford – drums) at The Big Bang; and finally, Thursday has John Burgess on Sax 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