What's in the Theatres This Week (Fri 05 - Thu 11 Dec)?

Oxford Playhouse:

Sleeping Beauty - An Oxford Playhouse Pantomime - 'Wake up' to the biggest and brightest pantomime you've ever seen, as Oxford Playhouse takes you on a spectacular journey of wonder and excitement this Christmas. Written and directed by Peter Duncan (who wowed audiences with the sensational Dick Whittington and last year's hilarious Aladdin), Sleeping Beauty is packed with all your favourite pantomime characters, gorgeous costumes, hilarious panto fun and more than just a sprinkling of magic! Boo and hiss at the evil fairy Carmella Crabstick whose dastardly curse sends the beautiful Princess to sleep for a hundred years. Cheer at the top of your voice as we help the swashbuckling Prince Raphael of Nadalia on his journey to awaken Sleeping Beauty from her slumber. And laugh out loud at the fabulous and larger than life Aunty Rose... she‘ll have you singing-a-long and dancing in your seats in no time!

Creation Theatre Company:

Hans Christian Andersen's Magical Tales - It wouldn't be Christmas without the spectacular 100 year old Mirror Tent, which Creation is bringing back to BMW Group Plant Oxford for a magical storytelling adventure, featuring all your favourite fairytales including The Little Match Girl, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea and The Little Mermaid. The beautiful antique spiegeltent's velvet canopies, mirrored pillars and ornate booths form the perfect Christmas setting for action packed antics from well loved characters such as The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina and The Snow Queen in this enchanting production for adults and children alike. A Christmas tradition, a trip to this wonderland is the perfect stocking filler.

Old Fire Station:

Playhouse Creatures - Playhouse Creatures is the gripping tale of five female actresses in the opulent but unstable world of the seventeenth century theatre. April de Angelis' piece is both wry and poignant as it chronicles the troubled lives of these strong women. A play for all that looks at a special few.

Burton Taylor Theatre:

The Pillowman - A man is interrogated in a totalitarian state for murders that uncannily resemble those in the children's stories he writes. Hilarious, disturbing, and deeply poignant, the winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Best New Play is one bed-time story that may not help you sleep.

Unexploded Stories - Anjali Dance Company - The UK's leading company of dancers with learning disabilities take to the stage to confound expectations in a night to remember. Intimate dance pieces fused together by passion and purpose, Unexploded Stories is a new work imagined and choreographed by the dancers themselves. Six performers, an extraordinary soundscape and striking costumes all combine in a visually engaging concoction of fantasy and fun.

2012 - In this new work created within the Burton Taylor Studio, performance artist Bill Aitchison sets about revealing ‘truths' concerning the war on terror, dog cloning, Saddam Hussein's novels and the end of the world. Conspiracy theories, propaganda, science, art and politics merge in a fascinating exploration of how we believe and view the world.

New Theatre:

Otello - Welsh National Opera - This tragic work charts the downfall of the noble Moorish General Otello - who loses everything he loves, including his own sanity, through the envy, ambition, duplicity and hatred of his lieutenant Iago. This calculating villain ensnares Otello's wife Desdemona and convinces him of her infidelity - resulting in tragedy. Sung in Italian with English surtitles. Pre-performance talk on Tues 2 Dec at 6.15pm in Wesley Memorial Church.

The Barber of Seville - Welsh National Opera - The Barber of Seville is one of the most popular operas by the prolific Italian composer Rossini. This perfect comic opera is one of WNO's all-time favourites. Mischievous Figaro, town barber and problem solver resolves to help the love-smitten Count win the beautiful Rosina. It takes all their guile to outwit her possessive guardian Doctor Bartolo who has his own sights set on the same prize. With pranks, crazy disguises and a few close shaves - the whole evening sparkles with wit, humour and sheer good fun. Sung in English. Cast includes Colin Lee, Laura Parfitt, John Moore, Eric Roberts, Tim Mirfin and Naomi Harvey

Katherine Jenkins - Katherine, who releases her sixth album, a collection of sacred arias, in November 2008 on UCJ Music said "I am so excited to be going back out on the road with an orchestra and to be premiering some songs from the new album."

In The Mood For Christmas - Take a sleigh ride through Glenn Miller's Winter Wonderland with an evening of big band music! The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Ray McVay will be performing their very special Christmas Show. Start your Christmas off with a trip down memory lane as the Orchestra plays your favourite Christmas songs complimented by your very favourite Miller numbers. With special guests, the legendary drummer Eric Delaney and jazz saxophonist Tommy Whittle Big Band musical director, Ray McVay, leads the official Glenn Miller Orchestra on a spectacular evening, taking you on a trip down Memory Lane!

Paddy McGuinness - The new show will have the "plus you" element. Specially invited guests from your area will be hand picked by Paddy himself to be his new support act. All this plus a winner's cheque for two thousand pounds and a chance to appear in his new live DVD. The competitions will be run on Paddy's web site and in the local press.

Pegasus Theatre:

Hansel And Gretel - Desperate times call for desperate measures! So when food is short and there are mouths to feed something's got to give. But when mum and dad leave the kids in the wood there turns out to be more questions than answers: Will the woodcutter turn out to be man or mouse? Will Hansel and Gretel ever find their way back home? Will the future be free-range or oven-ready? A sparkling re-telling of the familiar tale of breadcrumbs and witches makes a perfect recipe for a great night out.

Theatre at Headington:

A Christmas Evening of Poetry and Song

The North Wall Arts Centre:

The Tempest - The Tempest will explore the themes of love, confinement, mysticism and hierarchy. An excellent cast combined with high quality production and music, dance and song values will create a powerful and magical spectacle. This version will remain faithful to Shakespeare`s original text, with particular attention being paid to clear verse speaking and story telling.

College & Miscellaneous Theatre:

Treasure Island (A Panto) - St Peter's Players present a pantomime production of Treasure Island. Don't miss a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas with pirates and parrots galore! Suitable for all ages and anyone of a nervous disposition! Wolvercote Village Hall

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here