What's in the Theatre this week? (April4-10)

Oxford Playhouse:

Molora - Exploring South Africa's experience of apartheid and its legacy through reworking the Greek classic of the Oresteia.

Thoroughly Modern Millie
- Musical Youth Company of Oxford pull out all the stops to present this 20th anniversary production of this multi award-winning show.

Old Fire Station:

Honk! - George Stiles and Antony Drew's heart warming story flaps its way into Oxford this spring. Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale 'The Ugly Duckling' this Olivier award winning musical for all ages is one not to be missed!

Blood Brothers - Willy Russell's original 'Blood Brothers' tells the tale of twin brothers who are born into a large working class family and what happens to them when their mother decides to have one of them adopted. 'Blood Brothers' looks at the differences and conflicts in their upbringing, their relationships with each other and with their real and adopted mothers. Please note this is the play and not the musical.

Burton Taylor Studio:

I Wish I Had A Sylvia Plath - Following a Fringe First Award and a sweep of praise at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, Edward Anthony's moving and darkly funny new play uses the last ten seconds in the life of a suicidal housewife to lay open the heart and soul of one of the most elusive and unsettling American icons of the 20th century, Sylvia Plath. Elisabeth Gray's award-winning live performance cleverly combines with exquisitely funny film in this highly
original piece of theatre.

The ImProfessors - Oxford Impro invite you to a series of 'lectures' from some rather unusual experts! With improvised sketches based on audience suggestions, come and find out what the ImProfessors make of the world!

Flyaway Katie - Following the success of Shoe Baby, Long Nose Puppets present: Flyaway Katie – an inspiring flight of fancy about the power of imagination based on the popular children's book by Polly Dunbar, with music by Tom Gray of Gomez. Katie is all alone and feeling grey. The birds in the picture on her wall look so colourful – if only Katie could be as bright as them, who knows what might happen? The show is bursting with colour, movement and surprises! Ages 2-6

Irene/Late At Night
Irene by Gwillim Scourfield. Presented by S-Zone Productions.
Irene, a feisy young woman of 95 is forced to accept care in a nursing home. Reminiscing over her years as a Shakespearian actor, she puts her finger on what makes life 'significant'. This play is a hilarious hymn of praise to live theatre.
Late At Night by Lekha Morrison & Doc Anderson-Bloomfield. Presented by KL Production Company. Marja and Vanya have made their home in Oxford but the old country and their arrival into England as children still haunt them. It was hellish, but somehow they survived. What secret binds them together and why is Vanya so afraid? Late at Night is a play about friendship, but mostly… survival.

Sweet 'N' Low - Aspiring actresses Mimi and Jane share a flat in London whilst dreaming of the big time. Mimi's tactless nature and jealous streak are a constant until she seeks to destroy her friend. A tongue-in-cheek comedy with laughs aplenty.

Stan Laurel: Please Stand Up! - Stan Laurel, comedy genius, recluse, mystery and possibly the greatest comedian who ever lived. This funny and touching new play offers the opportunity to discover how, and why, Stan Jefferson became Stan Laurel – comedy genius. With extensive research and assistance from Stan Laurel's daughter, Lois Laurel-Hawes, the play will get closer than ever before to discovering the real man who made the world laugh and his relationship with it when the cameras stopped turning.

New Theatre:

Sinatra - Legendary performer Frank Sinatra's latest, greatest and most ambitious comeback, captured at the peak of his career, singing his greatest hit songs direct to the audience in ultra-rare and some never-before seen footage. Ground-breaking creative use of cutting-edge technology puts him centre stage, larger than life on multiple moving screens, and lets him perform with a brilliant company of dancers and singers, supported by a live orchestra - together performing some of the greatest music ever recorded.

Jethro Tull - Legendary classic rock band consistently producing top quality albums and live performances, and still led by Ian Anderson who has single-handedly defined the progressive folk rock genre.

That'll Be The Day - Prepare to party as the legendary That'll Be The Day, the Number One Award winning entertainment show, returns this Summer with a brand new production. This new show includes a new unique mixture of 50's, 60's & 70's rock 'n' roll hits mixed with great comedy that never fails to surprise and entertain audiences around the country again and again. This non-stop entertainment is widely recognised as a great party time night out not to be missed.

Headington Theatre:

The Fortune Players in association with the Student Union present The Wiz - Oxford Brookes University's award-winning musical performance company presents this funky Motown take on the musical classic, The Wizard of Oz. Featuring a cast of well-loved characters including Dorothy, Toto, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and a full quota of witches, this promises to be a fun-packed evening of music and song. A must for musical fans of all ages!

Miscellaneous Theatre:

Measure for Measure - A black comedy in which nothing, and no one, is as it seems. In Vienna, morality is a matter of life or death. In the supposed absence of the liberal Duke, strict sexual laws are resurrected by his deputy Angelo, resulting in a death sentence for Claudio after his girlfriend becomes pregnant. His sister Isabella, desperate to save Claudio's life, has a choice - watch him die, or accept an indecent proposal from Angelo… The North Wall Arts Centre

The Mary Rose: a boat of ill repute - Moser Theatre. Sex in the (post war) suburbs! A boat, a brothel and a long forgotten law. It all adds up to some pretty racy goings on in Wolvercote... Wolvercote? Yes, Wolvercote! Kate Saffin's one woman shows have brought tears and laugher to audiences from Oxford to Edinburgh - and waterways between.

The Case - Moser Theatre. "I can see he's trouble, from the moment he gets on the train..." From an encounter with a headcase to a murder case at the Old Bailey. A nightmare journey through the legal process from the viewpoint of an innocent eye-witness. A play which explores the "fear of getting involved" from the pen of a Fringe First winner. "Fast-moving, tautly structured, polished writing ... hits the target." - Scotsman

Do Something, Martin! - In 2005, Martin White exchanged a lucrative City career for the life of an impoverished comedian. This is the story of how that came to happen, a story of doomed office romance, accordion music and Cornish pasties, told through stand-up, storytelling and songs. "Littered with bright and funny moments." - Metro

Write a Play in a Day (show) - Earlier in the day a group of dramatists were challenged to group-produce, in six hours from scratch, a short play. Come and see the results for free at Borders!

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here