What's in the Cinema this Week? (June 15-21)

Opening in Oxford this week is Vacancy, starring Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson. When David and Amy Fox find hidden cameras in their motel room, they realize that they must escape, or become victims of a horrific snuff movie. This film contains sustained terrorisation and strong violence. (15)

Also opening this week is Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Doug Jones, Julian McMahon and Kerry Washington.When the enigmatic, intergalactic herald, 'The Silver Surfer', comes to earth to prepare for its destruction, wreaking chaos wherever he goes, the Fantastic Four must unravel the mystery of the unwelcome stranger. At the same time, '‘Mr Fantastic', 'The Invisible Woman', 'The Human Torch' and 'The Thing' must confront the unexpected return of their mortal enemy, 'Dr Doom'. They must act before all hope is lost, but is the power of four strong enough to save the planet? (PG)

Running this week at the Phoenix is Tell No One (Ne le dis à personne) starring Kristin Thomas, Francois Cluzet and Marie-Josee Croze. Paediatrician Alex Beck (Cluzet), still devastated by the savage murder of his wife Margot (Croze) eight years ago, receives an anonymous email. When he clicks on the link he sees Margot’s face standing in a crowd and being filmed in real time. Is she really still alive? And why does she instruct him to tell no one? At the same time the uncovering of two bodies near the site where Margot was discovered leads to the police reopening the case and this time they are determined that Alex will take the rap for murder. Relentless suspense and a tense, multilayered plot combine to superlative effect in this pulsating French thriller adapted from Harlan Coben’s bestseller of the same name. This film is subtitled. (15)

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

What's in the Theatre this Week? (June 15-21)

The Oxford Playhouse:
molora - Explores the extraordinary events of apartheid in South Africa and its legacy through reworking the Greek classic of the Oresteia.

The Mahabharatha - An exciting new music theatre and dance work of the ancient India epic story, revealing a mythic world of bloody conflict, magic and beauty.

Creation Theatre Company :
Hamlet - Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, finds his world thrown into turmoil by the sudden death of his father and his mothers hasty remarriage to his uncle Claudius. When his fathers ghost appears to tell him of his Claudius treachery, Hamlets hatred for his uncle and obsessive love for his mother sets him on a ruthless quest for retribution. Join Creation Theatre Company for the ultimate tale of obsession, insanity and revenge, as Shakespeare's greatest tragedy is retold in a bold, modern style within the atmospheric walls of Oxford Castle.

Old Fire Station:
The Balcony - Welcome to The Grand Balcony, the most famous bordello in Paris. Madame Irma and her girls are here to provide for you an evening of illusion and enchantment - at a reasonable price. There are corpses in the streets outside and the revolution rages, but inside this house of illusions things can be just as real or false as you desire.

Elgar and Alice - Gerald Harper, familiar from his many film, theatre and television appearances including Hadleigh and Adam Adamant, heads the cast as Sir Edward Elgar in a brand new play marking the 150th Anniversary of the composer’s birth.

Burton Taylor Theatre:
Product - A torrid love affair of terrorism, betrayal and big, big explosions. This is the pitch for James' new film, if he can only persuade actress Amy he's got the perfect PRODUCT.

The Government Inspector - by Nikolai Gogol
Corruption, greed and a classic case of mistaken identity: Gogol's savage political satire follows one town's attempt to outwit a government inspector. A comic masterpiece with lingering political relevance today.

The Importance of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde -
Following its critically acclaimed and sell out productions of Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale and Little Eyolf, Tomahawk Productions returns with an intimate rendition of Wilde’s classic. Join Algy and Jack in the morning room and garden as they lie and deceive with hilarious results!

New Theatre:
Riverdance - Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland in the past decade - in rock, music, theatre and film - nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance which has become a national institution over the years. It all started in Dublin in 1995, remarkably as a brilliantly conceived spin-off from a seven-minute intermission piece in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. It has danced a long way since then, developing into an international phenomenon, with troupes careening and criss-crossing the world.

Damien Rice - After the phenomenal success of his debut album O, Damien Rice has gone on to become one of the world’s most respected songwriters and musicians. His distinctive Irish lilt, unique songwriting skills, and painfully honest lyricism make him a rare act in a world dominated by manufactured pop.

Pegasus Theatre:
Acoustic - Founder of Oxford’s legendary Catweazle Club, Matthew Sage is an inspirational songmaker and performer, whether singing solo, with an acoustic guitar or conducting the full and explosive electric band. For this special acoustic performance Matthew’s band will be showing their musical prowess individually - Barnabus (cello, guitar and voice), Colin Fletcher and Jane Griffiths (violin and guitar), The Kate Garret Band (cello guitar and voice). During the second half the full band play together headed by Matthew himself for a truly sublime evening.

Expresso Bongo - London 1958. Expresso coffee bars where Jay Jackson, a wannabe agent, is looking to sign teenage rock ‘n’ roll acts. He discovers and signs up singer Bongo Herbert. The real dog-eat-dog commercial world takes over, the Americans get interested and Bongo goes global.

College Theatre:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (new adaptation) - Merton Gardens.
Follow Bilbo, Gandalf and his thirteen dwarvern party-crashers on promenade through the beautiful gardens in which Tolkien crafted his tale, as the daring Hobbit encounters collosal giants, goblin hoardes, elvish armies and an all-powerful fire-breathing dragon!

Much Ado About Nothing - St John's College Gardens
Come and enjoy Shakespeare's most sparkling comedy in the beautiful surroundings of St John's college gardens. With a stunning cast and specially composed score, this will be the perfect end to Trinity term!
Seats are going fast, so book your tickets now!!

Aeneid: The Musical - Moser Theatre in Wadham College
One great man… One great journey… and many, many GREAT TUNES. Experience the exciting journey of Rome's founding father in our novel stage production, Aeneid: The Musical! All proceeds go to charity (Cancer Research)

OUDS Shakespeare Festival - OUDS Shakespeare Festival includes extracts from: King Lear, Henry VI, Julius Caesar, Richard III. Christ Church Cathedral Gardens.

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Music Highlights (June 15-21)

Friday:

• Oxford University Sinfonietta - Jacqueline du Pre Music Building


• Oxford Philomusica: Beethoven's Fidelio - Sheldonian Theatre


• Matt Sage and Friends - Pegasus Theatre

Saturday:

• Oxford Harmonic Society: Requiem - Oxford Town Hall, St. Aldates


• Oxford Sinfonia - University Church of St Mary


• A Summer Concert of Music by Sir Edward Elgar - St. Mary Magdalen, Magdalen Street


• Sacred and Profane - Sheldonian Theatre


• Live At The X Presents Sam Kelly Blues Band - Exeter Hall


• The Melting Pot Presents King Furnace + Helium Soul + Tim Matthews + Archive of Everything - Jericho Tavern

Sunday:

• Coffee Concert with Dante String Quartet - Magdalen College Auditorium


• Sunday Steamer with Bethany Weimers + Amberstate - Salter's Steamers

Monday:

• Famous Monday Night Blues with Primo Blues Band (UK) - Backroom at the Bully

Tuesday:

• The Oxford Jazz Club with Howard Peackock - Backroom at the Bully


• Polly Gibbons with Tim Dawes (bass) & Tim Lapthorne (keys) - The Big Bang

Wednesday:

• Barcode -Backroom at the Bully


• Salsa Oxford @ Freud - Freud

Thursday:

• Theo Travis: Saxophone - The Spin at the Wheatsheaf


• Damien Rice - New Theatre

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