What's in the Cinema this Week? (June 29-July 05)

Opening in Oxford this week is the Bollywood film Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, and Lara Dutta. Abhishek Bachchan stars in an entertaining rom-com about two young couples in London who experience the magic of falling in love but just don't seem to know what to do about it. This film contains moderate sex references. (12A)

Running this week at the Vue Cinema is Hostel Part II starring Lauren German, Roger Bart, Heather Matarazzo, and Bijou Phillips. Three female college students take a detour from their partying, enticed by a beautiful European woman who promises seclusion, safety and maybe even romance. What they get is a living hell where they are sold to the highest bidder who's fondest wish is to kill them slowly. Hostel 2 also follows 2 American men who, on the flip side of the coin, are willing to pay to join an exclusive club where a life will end at their hands...any way they like. This film contains very strong bloody violence and horror. (18)

Opening in Oxford on Wednesday the 4th of July is Die Hard 4.0. Bruce Willis returns as John McClane for the fourth Die Hard movie. This time he tackles internet terrorists threatening to take down the entire American computer and technological structure. (U)

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

What's in the Theatre this week? (June 29-July 05)

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:
Four Baboons Adoring The Sun - Four Baboons Adoring the Sun (written by John Guare) takes place in Sicily, where two American archaeologists, recently married, are set to enjoy a working holiday with the children from their previous marriages. They want to spend their time teaching their kids about the mysteries and splendors of ancient civilizations and mythology, and to unite their kids into one happy family. It is performed by the Actors Company.

Russell Howard - Russell's infectious, charming and critically acclaimed style of stand-up feels like a chat around a campfire, but don't bring kindling and don't bring petrol.

American Dreams - Can one man fulfil all women's desires? Come and find out through the music of Gershwin, Porter, Ellington and Barab. Oxford singers Women of Note perform songs from the golden age of American swing. Followed by Seymour Barab's short jazz opera Game of Chance, a tale of three women's wishes and the strange twists that Fate delivers.

Burton Taylor Theatre:
Jumble It Up: First Dates - Second of the two nights of experimental theatre and performance. First Dates brings you five bitesize new pieces, often on their first outing in front of an audience.

Tiddalick - Presented by Tam Tam Theatre

When Tiddalick is grumpy he drinks all the rivers and seas. When there's no water left the animals and plants suffer, but they all stick together to save their land and themselves. Introduce your children to the magical world of Tiddalick and aboriginal culture through a fascinating combination of puppetry, music and traditional story telling.

New Theatre:
Ricky Gervais - A darkly brilliant comedian: someone who has made a career out of saying the most embarrassing and cringeworthy thing in the vain attempt to impress. As writer and star of BBC2's outstanding fake docu-soap 'The Office', Ricky - and his character David Brent - have achieved worldwide acclaim resulting in the winning of two Golden Globe Awards in 2004.

Elvis - The Legend Continues

Pegasus Theatre:
Cause to Dance - We all aspire to be creative in many different ways. This show is a combination of song, dance, and comedy, created by local community dance companies The Scallyjacs, Cuttin' Crew, The Oxford Breakers and more special guests! Our youngest performer is only 5 and the oldest...!?! You will see that no matter what age or ability, with the right encouragement and support we can achieve anything. Come and be inspired, you won't be disappointed!

As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandela - Mark has been on a journey of discovery in the company of arms dealers, torture victims, ex-SAS officers, spooks and geeks. This show is the deeply funny, deeply disturbing journey of his rampage through the arms trade. Under a fairly flimsy disguise and with the use of some worryingly poor accents, Mark managed to set himself up as an arms dealer, a PR adviser on the most sensitive of human rights issues and generally did what he does best, which is to annoy the right people. As he works out deals, brokers torture equipment, and advises armies, he discovers just how easy it is to avoid the law. Hard hitting, laugh out loud funny and shockingly entertaining, Mark Thomas is never anything less than compulsive.

Theatre at Headington:
I Could Always Find Tears - The lower school's annual end-of-year production is based on the true stories of the young women who spent their teenage years 'in service' below stairs. Working in great country houses during the interwar years, their experiences of growing into adulthood are related in a piece that is both touching and far-reaching in its scope. I Could Always Find Tears sets the girls' personal concerns, hardships and joys against a backdrop of international upheaval and change during the 1920s and 1930s.

Oxford Shakespeare Company Productions:
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Wadham College
The Oxford Shakespeare Company have earned a dedicated following for their intimate, accessible but brilliantly imaginative shows in some of Oxford and London's most prestigious venues. A Midsummer Night's Dream should prove no exception and an excellent ensemble will be energized by the unique physical skills of professional circus performers and an enchanting choral and instrumental score.

Miscellaneous Theatre:
The Comedy of Errors - Waterperry Gardens
"Oddsocks Productions" unique wagon-stage will transform into the distant, mystical city of Ephesus, from where Shakespeare's most farcical story will unfold.

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Music Highlights (June 29-July 05)

Friday:

• London Handel Players with Emma Kirkby, Soprano - Sheldonian Theatre


• Elizabeth Cooney (Violin) and Matthew Schellhorn (Piano) - Jacqueline du Pre Music Bldg


• Friday Frigate with Foxes! + Tristan & The Troubadours + Baby Gravy - Salter's Steamers

Saturday:

• Oxford Spezzati: Bach - St Matthew Passion - University Church of St Mary


• Oxford Symphony Orchestra: Bliss, Strauss, Dvorak - Sheldonian Theatre


• Swisstival all day music - Port Mahon


• Very Be Careful - Exeter Hall

Sunday:

• Coffee Concert with Mia Cooper (violin), Viv Mclean (piano), Beth Davies (viola), Ben Rogerson (cello) - Holywell Music Room


• Sunday Music at Blenheim Palace - Blenheim Palace


• Daniel Propper Piano Recital - Holywell Music Room


• Jazz Concert: Big Band Vocal Classics starring Anton Browne - Gee's

Monday:

• Gala Performance: Apollo e Dafne - North Wall Arts Centre


• Famous Monday Night Blues with Larry Miller (UK)- Backroom at the Bully

Tuesday:

• The Oxford Jazz Club with Paddy Milner - Backroom at the Bully


• Alvin Roy Trio - The Big Bang


• O Duo lunchtime performance - North Wall Arts Centre


• Brodsky Quartet - North Wall Arts Centre

Wednesday:

• National Youth Jazz Orchestra - North Wall Arts Centre


• Jazz at the X Presents London Saxophonist Simon Allen with the Paul Jefferies Trio - Exeter Hall


• Stekpanna - North Wall Arts Centre

Thursday:

• Steve Waterman: Trumpet- The Spin at the Wheatsheaf


• London Baroque - North Wall Arts Centre


• Apollo e Dafne - North Wall Arts Centre


• Fiorini - North Wall Arts Centre

Get information for Music Events in Oxford: Classical, Gig Guide, Folk, Jazz