This weekend
FRI 5 - SUN 7 JAN 2018
Craftivism, Modern Art Oxford, Sat 6 Jan
Another corker of an expo from Modern Art, Oxford. Hannah Ryggen was one of Scandinavia’s most outstanding artistic figures of the 20th century, an impassioned artist responding to the socio-political events of her time, from the the rise of fascism and the Nazi occupation of Norway, to nuclear power and media coverage of the Vietnam War. This is the first major presentation of the artist’s work in the UK and surveys her career from early portraiture through to the intricate tapestries that characterised her career from the 1920s onward. Don’t forget that Modern Art Oxford is free entry, and there’s a brill café on site too. modernartoxford.org.uk
A Christmas Carol, North Wall Theatre, Oxford, until Sat 6 Jan
The ever-excellent Creation Theatre group promise a totally different take on Dickens, with their reboot of A Christmas Carol. Only a total Scrooge wouldn’t warm to this one, I reckon. This year they’re offering cabaret seating, so you sit round a circular table as a group.
The North Wall Arts Centre, South Parade, Summertown, Oxford , thenorthwall.com
Gourmet Picture Company, Bisham Abbey Berkshire, until Fri 5 Jan
Following the sell out screenings at Cliveden House this Summer, Tom Kerridge is back with his pimped up daddy of pop-up cinemas. The stunning Tudor grandness of Bisham Abbey is the setting with only two nights of Rick Stein cooking left, on the 3 and 4 Jan while you settle in for classics Withnail and I and Spinal Tap. gourmetpicturecompany.co.uk
War Horse, New Theatre Oxford, until Sat 6 Jan 2018
The last few days to see this outstanding National Theatre production of War Horse is at Oxford New Theatre. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and featuring those incredible, life-size puppets of the horses, it’s nearly sold sell-out and for good reason!
New Theatre, George Street, Oxford, atgtickets.com
Neill Cameron’s Comics Club, Story Museum, Oxford, Sat 6 Jan
A workshop for 8 to 12 year olds – drop ’em off and hit the Westgate for an hour – led by cartoonist/writer Neill Cameron who’ll help your comic-loving kids develop some skills with a lot of fun thrown in. storymuseum.org
The BFG in Pictures, River and Rowing Museum, Henley, now to 21 Jan 2018
Last few weeks to catch this exhibition, curated by Quentin Blake himself, of everyone’s favourite giant. It includes unpublished illustrations that have never been exhibited in public before. The exhibition includes Blake’s first designs that weren’t included in the book, and provide a glimpse of a BFG that might have been in 40 original artworks. Don’t forget there’s the permanent John Piper exhibition at the museum too – that’s well worth seeing in its own right. rrm.co.uk
Imagining the Divine – Art and the Rise of World Religions, Ashmolean, Oxford, now to 18 Feb 2018
This major exhibition is the first to look at the art of the five world religions as they spread across continents in the first millennium AD. Brand new research from a major project between The Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and Oxford Uni, with amazing objects created when the iconography of each of the major religions was still being developed… ashmolean.org
Hogwarts in the Snow, Harry Potter Studios, now until 4 Feb
You’ll have decent elbow room to see Hogwarts in the Snow post-Christmas if you’re still in the mood to indulge your children (er, NO). Christmas trees line the Great Hall, the Gryffindor common room is dressed for the season and a blanket of filmmaking snow covering the majestic Hogwarts castle model. Visitors can touch samples of the different types of ‘snow’ used during production, each selected for its ability to float like falling snow, crunch under foot or glisten in the light like ice.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, wbstudiotour.co.uk
Twelfth Night, RST, Stratford, until Feb 24
Dinita Gohil as Viola. Pic credit: Manuel Harlan (c) RSC
The RSC’s winter production Twelfth Night is set in Victorian Britain and sees Ade Edmondson, of The Young Ones and Bottom fame, as Olivia. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, also stars Dinita Gohil as Viola and Michael Cochrane as Sir Andrew. rsc.org.uk
FURTHER AFIELD…
Dick Whittington, London Palladium, until Fri 12 Jan
Filed under ‘go big or go home’, we have London Palladium’s offering, starring Julian Clary and Elaine Paige. Oh yeah! And you thought Su Pollard was camp. Fans of ’80s cheesiness will be thrilled to hear that Gary Wilmot co-stars alongside Nigel ‘The Charmer’ Havers.
London Palladium, Argyll St, London, dickwhittingtonpalladium.com
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, Sadler’s Wells, London, now until Sat 27 Jan
Matthew Bourne’s productions are always stunning and this is no exception. He transposes the story of Cinderella to London during the Blitz, rebooting it as a wartime romance between our heroine and an RAF pilot. The reviews have been of the rave variety, with Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous costumes and sets winning Olivier Award.
Sadlers Wells, Rosebery Av, London EC1, sadlerswells.com
