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

Opening in Oxford this week is Death at a Funeral, starring Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes and Rupert Graves. As an estranged family comes together for their father's funeral, a cocktail of hallucinogenic drugs, uptight relatives, a flirtatious brother and a dark secret turns a dignified affair into sheer chaos. Matthew Macfadyen stars in this irreverent British comedy from the director of 'Bowfinger' and 'In and Out'. This film containsstrong language and drugs references. (15)

Also out this week is Elizabeth: The Golden Age, starring Samantha Morton, Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen. Reprising their roles in ELIZABETH, Blanchett and Rush return for a captivating historical thriller laced with treachery and romance. Joining them is Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh, the dashing seafarer. Queen Elizabeth I (Blanchett) is facing bloodlust over her throne, familial betrayal and an open challenge from Philip II, King of Spain. As she prepares to go to war, Elizabeth struggles to balance her duties with an unexpected vulnerability in her love for Raleigh. Unable to act on her feelings for him, Elizabeth encourages her favourite lady-in-waiting to befriend Raleigh to keep him near, but this strategy forces her to observe their growing intimacy. THE GOLDEN AGE portrays an icon of English history as she embarks on a bid to crush traitors and enemies, and to control her heart. This film contains moderate violence and occasional gory moments. (12A)

There are advanced screenings of Good Luck Chuck starring Dane Cook, Jessica Alba and Dan Fogler in Oxford this week. It seems every girl Charlie dates immediately finds her Mr Right - making him incredibly popular - but when he meets Cam, the girl of his dreams, he has to find a way to break his 'curse'. This film contains strong sex, sex references, language and drug use.

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

What's in the Theatre this week? (Nov 2-8)

Oxford Playhouse:

Citizenship/Chatroom - Two short, sharp and provocative plays in a double-bill where the drama of teenagers' lives takes centre stage. Direct and honest, they are intensely alive to the possibilities and pressures we face on the verge of adulthood.
Chatroom By Enda Walsh - In cyberspace six 15-year-olds type and chat. A chilling and powerful tale of manipulation and the ultimate act of teenage rebellion.
Citizenship By Mark Ravenhill - A bittersweet comedy about growing up, following a boy's frank and messy search to discover his sexual identity.

Hidden Light - Science and seduction, mathematics and motherhood. Based on the biography, Passionate Minds by David Bodanis, Metta and Open Plan bring the story of one of history's forgotten treasures to life. Once known as Voltaire's mistress - a side-note in history - this new one-woman play presents the real Emilie du Châtelet: lover, sword-fighter, mother and scientist. Recent University of Oxford alumna Poppy Burton-Morgan co-directs with James Bounds and stars in this production designed by Will Reynolds.

Look Back In Anger
- Jimmy Porter is the angry young man with nothing to believe in. Violent and unpredictable, he doesn't know where he is, or where he's going. Derided as 'unspeakably squalid' by some, and praised as 'one of the greatest plays of all time' by others, Look Back in Anger always provokes reaction.University of Oxford student company Windmill Productions is proud to present John Osborne's classic study of love and relationships among a disaffected, directionless youth.

Colin Dexter
- Colin Dexter, author of the hugely popular Inspector Morse novels, has lived in Oxford since 1966. The first novel, Last Bus to Woodstock - published in 1975, was the result of a wet and windy family holiday in North Wales. Colin went on to write a total of thirteen Inspector Morse mysteries, which have been hugely successful both in book form and on the small screen. For this benefit Colin will talk about the challenges of transforming a full-length novel to a 90-minute screen drama.

Old Fire Station:

The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? - It's about relationships, and involves a goat... Edward Albee's latest play is both comic and deeply tragic, exploring the social limitations placed on love and what happens when they are broken. Winner of 2002 Tony Award for Best Play and nominated for Best New Play at the 2005 Olivier awards

Big Breath In - A visually breathtaking piece of physical theatre-spectacle for adults and children alike. A boy loses his balloon but finds a trunk - every object in the trunk propels him to a different place, helping him to rediscover his balloon. Circus, live music, dance, magic and storytelling transport the audience to a primary-coloured collage of mesmerising worlds.

Burton Taylor Theatre:

Living Together - by Alan Ayckbourn. Sex, marriage and family relationships collide in this raucous comedy. One of Ayckbourn's early masterpieces, a weekend getaway turns into an hilarious farce, prompted by the appearance of unexpected guests.

The One That Got Away - Henry has lost his hat. Oh dear. He's none to happy about this. Witness his quest to retrieve said hat, set in the hollowing auspices of his local park. A tragi-comic story of hope, friendship and... hats

Rabbit - It's Bella's 29th birthday. As ex-lovers and friends arrive the battle of the sexes commences and as the bloody marys flow, Bella's conscience comes back to haunt her.

Woyzeck - "He runs through the world like an open razor, you could cut yourself on him." Woyzeck's an ordinary man; poor and oppressed. When he discovers that his wife, the only good thing in his life has been unfaithful, reality seems to slip beneath his feet...

New Theatre:

The Snow Queen - English National Ballet - The Snow Queen is a touching, gothic fairytale which will be lavishly retold by English National Ballet's full Company of dancers with live music from the full Orchestra of English National Ballet. English National Ballet is one of the world's great ballet companies. The original 1950s vision for the Company - to take classical ballet of the highest quality to the widest geographical audience, at a price everyone can afford - remains the cornerstone of the Company's philosophy today.

Jools Holland + Lulu -

Jools Holland - Former Squeeze ivory-tickler and presenter of the legendary Later with Jools Holland. Since learning to play fluently at the tender age of eight, Jools has gone on to become one of the UK's most proficient jazz and blues pianists. Having toured extensively with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, his charismatic personality, impeccably good taste and accessible music have made him one of the nations most well-respected, and well-loved, musicians.

Lulu - Pop darling of the 60s - and occasional star of BBC TV's AbFab - Lulu may have changed her image once or twice but can still be guaranteed to put on a great show. She is still the only British female solo artist to appear in the charts for five straight decades - and still be as hip and full of energy today as when she hit the charts as a 15 year-old in 1964!

America 07 - Due phenomenal public demand, one of the legendary bands to emerge from the '70s country-rock scene, America return to the UK this November, following on from their successful Here & Now tour, back in March '07.

College Theatre:

Small Change - O'Reilly Theatre.
Small Change is a poetic evocation of love and loss, the tricks memory plays, and the stories we tell ourselves: the endless repeat of what might have been, and what was. Spanning time and taking it apart, its subject is love: complicated, equivocal, but unwavering and unconditional.

Angels in America - Millennium Approaches - The Oxford Union - Debating Chamber
Prior has aids. Roy has cancer. Joe is Republican. Louis is Jewish. Harper is lost in the Atlantic. Tony Kushner's touching and inspiring 'gay fantasia on national themes' follows an unforgettable ensemble of characters across the changing landscape of 1980s America - presented now in a venue that has hosted speeches from President Ronald Reagan, Senator Robert Kennedy and Malcolm X to name just a few, in a rare public opening of the Debating Chamber.

Pegasus Theatre:

eggbird and other string puppet stories - A Pandora's box of magical surprises with beautiful string puppets, which come to life as soon as they are touched. There is a tender mother bird with her egg, a dancing fly, an eerie circus and a fast moving fairy tale, complete with prince and princess. And you even learn how to make puppets for yourself. This is a delightful hour of drama and fun presented by a master of the art of string puppetry. One hour in length. Suitable for children 4 years and older.

Theatre at Headington:

An Audience with Michael Portillo - The controversial former MP for Kensington and Chelsea will take the stage for what promises to be an unmissable show. Michael Portillo was born and brought up in North London before going to Cambridge to read history. Portillo first took a seat in parliament in 1984. His memorable career in the house took in a leadership contest and a dramatic election defeat at Enfield Southgate in 1997 after holding the seat for 13 years. Michael left the house of Commons in 2005 and is now ready to share his experiences and his many incredible stories with the public.

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Music Highlights (Nov 2-8)

Friday:

• City of Oxford Orchestra: Glorious Faure - Sheldonian Theatre
• Christian Forshaw - University Church of St Mary

Saturday:

• Premiere English Songs 'In Memoriam', Tennyson - Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
• "Schutz and Macmillan" - A concert of 17th and 21st century sacred choral music - Exeter College Chapel
• Dvorak's Mass in D - Wesley Memorial Chapel
• Dizzee Rascal - Carling Academy
• The Melting Pot presents King Furnace, White Sunday, Slashed Seat Affair - Jericho Tavern

Sunday:

• Coffee Concert with the London Handel Players - Holywell Music Room
• Bedouin Soundclash - Carling Academy
• Jessica Goyder - Exeter Hall

Monday:

• Famous Monday Night Blues - featuring Angela Brown & The Mighty 45s (UK/USA) - Backroom at the Bully
• The Allegri String Quartet - Holywell Music Room
• Tom Hammond-Davies, Organ Fireworks - St Michael at the North Gate

Tuesday:

• Abi Strevens Quartet - The Big Bang
• The Oxford Jazz Club featuring The Howard Peacock Quintet - Backroom at the Bully
• The Eastside Rhythm Kings - Gladiator's Hall

Wednesday:

• Violin Recital: Matt Bain - Christ Church Cathedral
• Flapjack - Jazz night at Sugar Brown

Thursday:

• St Hilda's Music Society Recital and Masterclass - Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
• Jutta's Party Band - The Spin at the Wheatsheaf
• Anni Rossi: "Classical kid gone viola pop wonderkind" - Modern Art Oxford
• Amnesty International Fund Raiser with Zoe Bicat / Simon Davies Duo / John Fletcher / Nick Carpenter / Josh Knight / Samantha Twigg Johnson - Exeter Hall

Get a complete list of Music Events in Oxford: Classical, Gig Guide, Folk, Jazz