This weekend
FRI 26 - SUN 28 JAN 2018
Women Football Beginner’s Festival, Oxford, Sun 28 Jan
Phil Neville, watch how many women can step away from the kitchen sink to kick a football down a pitch! This festival is designed to encourage those who haven’t played before, or those who currently just have a kickabout, on the new 3G pitch at the Oxford Academy School. No pressure to be brilliant and you can come as a team or on your own. GOAAAAAL!
2.30 – 4.30pm. G Pitch, The Oxford Academy School, Sandy Lane West, Oxford, OX4 6JZ. £3 per player.
Mindful Triathlon, The Swan at Streatley, Sun 28 Jan
Triathlons are not my bag – all that running, cycling and swimming, I’m out of breath just thinking about it. But a Mindful Triathlon is something I can get on board with – a 5km walk, followed by yoga and meditation in the beautiful riverside setting of the Swan at Streatley. Treat yourself to mind, body and soul workout. Almost better than 14 hours sleep… zzzzzz.
Penguin, North Wall Theatre, Oxford Sat 27 Jan
This book from Polly Dunbar was one of my favourites to read my kids – clever, sweet and a bit subversive (firing penguins into outer space in a fit of pique is perhaps not cool), it’s an ideal story to recreate for the stage. Songs by Tom Gray of Gomez, and puppetry from Long Nose Puppets, who previously charmed at North Wall with Arthur’s Dream Boat and Flyaway Katie. For ages 2-8.
Book tickets 11am & 2pm. £8, concessions £6.
Meet The Expert, Windsor Castle, Sat 27 Jan
Between now until May, it’ll be wall to wall coverage of Harry and Meghan’s Windsor Castle shindig. So don’t miss this chance to have a nose around the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel and meet to the conservationists who have been applying gold leaf and restoring paintings. royalcollection.org.uk
The Play That Goes Wrong, Oxford Playhouse, Mon 22 – Sat 27 Jan
An anecdote to the January blues? A spoof of ‘Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s’ disaster-prone attempts to put on a 1920s murder mystery. And, you guessed it, everything that can go wrong, does go wrong.
Oxford Playhouse, 11-12 Beaumont St, Oxford, oxfordplayhouse.com
We Love 80s, Clayton’s, Marlow, Sat 27 Jan
Grab your shoulderpads, swipe that blusher across your temples and hit the dance floor at former Muddy Award winner Clayton’s Marlow. Free before 10, or £5 from then on. 9pm-2am.
Clayton’s, Oxford Rd, Marlow, claytonsmarlow.com
Speakers, by Nicolas Party, Modern Art Oxford, until 18 Feb 2018
This exhibition at Modern Art Oxford has been running since late November but if you’re yet to catch it now’s your chance. The Swiss artist Nicolas Party (formerly a graffiti specialist) has produced Speakers, a theatrical selection of five five foot female heads, complete with two hour looped soundscape that seems to speak to you as you brush past. The work is a response to the masculine architecture and institutions of Oxford, particularly the Emperors’ Heads outside the Sheldonian Theatre. Weird, and kind of wonderful.
The Thing That Came From Over There, Pegasus Oxford, Fri 26 – Sat 27 Jan
Three actors, 15 roles, murder, suspense and no doubt a few laughs. The Gonzo Moose gang have put together this fast-paced show inspired by the Scott and Amundsen race across Antartica.
Pegasus, Magdalen Rd, Oxford, pegasustheatre.org.uk
Daughters, Wives and Sisters, Museum of Natural History, from 8 Jan – 5 March 2018
Inspire your daughters and teach your sons a thing or two! Info on this exhibition is a bit sketchy but I’m liking the principle. This exhibition at Oxford’s Museum of Natural History is all about celebrating the scientific achievements of women in early natural history. Free to enter, and if all the #thisgirlcan feminism gets too much for you, you can go and stare at the dinosaurs for a while. ox.ac.uk
Comedy at the Kenton, Kenton Theatre, Henley, Sat 26 Jan
In the mood to be amused? An eclectic mix of comedians grace the Kenton stage for its first comedy night of the year. Featuring Virgin Radio DJ and former Xtra Factor host Matt Richardson, Edinburgh Fringe star Tania Edwards and BBC3 regular Kieran Boyd – it’s bound to be a corker. kentontheatre.co.uk
Star Light, Star Bright, 7 locations around Oxford, from Mon 22 Jan to Wed 28 Feb
A lovely idea this. Part of a series of Playable Cities all over the world, where various artistic projects help you see your city differently. The Star Light, Star Bright installation is a set of seven step-activated lights representing different constellations, including Cassiopeia and Orion – constellations that are normally visible in the winter skies above Oxford. You can get each constellation to light up, but you need to work as a group to press the buttons that light up the constellation – so it’s a way to meet new people, have fun with mates, or just bounce around for a bit playing with lights!
Early Years Workshops, Modern Art Oxford, 11 Jan – 8 Feb
A second outing in the Muddy Guide this week for the brilliant Modern Art Oxford is running Make Play sessions, creating a sensory space for little ones (6 months – 5 yrs) to explore with their parent/carer to explore. To tie in with Hannah Ryggen’s tapestry expo, there’ll be wool, line, colour and more. Sessions run from 11am-12pm. modernartoxford.org.uk
