CURTAINS UP

Autumn nights are made for drama – and the theatres of Bucks & Oxon are serving it by the bucketload. First up, This Is Your Tribute (Chipping Norton Theatre, 20 Sept) is wigs, warbling and wild fun – a cabaret-style send-up belting out everything from I Will Survive to Let It Go, with post-show karaoke for the brave. One night only, and at £19.50 a ticket it’s cheaper than a round of cocktails.

Over in Oxford, Detention (Oxford Playhouse, 26–27 Sept) is raw, urgent and unforgettable. A cast of just five dancers take on the legacy of Section 28 – the 1980s law that banned the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools – with fierce choreography and pounding soundscapes. Two nights only, and tickets start from £14 – don’t miss it.

If you prefer your thrills on the spectacular side, Cirque Éloize: iDRELOADED (Wycombe Swan, 26–27 Sept) is part hip-hop, part circus, and all high voltage. Think BMX tricks, aerial acrobatics and jaw-dropping stunts set to urban beats. 75 minutes of pure adrenaline, from £15.

Scandal and society politics more your thing? Then The Party Girls (Oxford Playhouse, 30 Sept – 4 Oct) brings the notorious Mitford sisters to life – all glitz, gossip and dangerous liaisons, with rebel Jessica breaking away from the pack. Stylish, sharp and utterly irresistible.

For musical magic, Kerry Ellis: Queen of the West End (The Stables, Milton Keynes, 4 Oct) shows us why she’s musical theatre royalty – powerhouse vocals, spine-tingling showtunes, and even a Queen anthem or two from the Wicked and We Will Rock You star.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe live on stage

And just days later The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Aylesbury Waterside, 7–11 Oct) whisks us back through the wardrobe with ingenious puppetry, live music and frosty stagecraft, it’s a dazzling family adventure from £15.

Blast off with Tim Peake at the Wycombe Swan on Tue 7 Oct 2025, as Britain’s best-loved astronaut brings Astronauts: The Quest to Explore Space to the stage. With jaw-dropping stories, behind-the-scenes clips and a crash course in space history, it’s an out-of-this-world evening for budding stargazers and grown-ups alike.

For glitter and sass, Queenz: Drag Me to the Disco! (Wycombe Swan, 13 Oct) is the ultimate feel-good drag party. Sequins, disco classics and five fabulous divas delivering vocals so good you’ll forget it’s a Monday night.

Comedy fans, sharpen your quills – Austentatious (New Theatre Oxford, 25 Oct) lets a Regency-clad improv troupe conjure a brand-new Jane Austen novel from your suggestions. Expect silliness, swoons and social scandal, all in one night.

Feeling brave? Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright (New Theatre Oxford, 4–8 Nov) brings Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s cult BBC series to the stage, blending horror, hilarity and plenty of twisted surprises. Not for the faint-hearted.

And finally – yes, it’s been around forever, but who can resist? Mamma Mia! (New Theatre Oxford, 25 Nov–6 Dec) brings ABBA’s greatest hits to the stage in a sun-soaked romp of love, laughter and chaos. Tickets from £20 – book now before they gone faster than the last slice of baclava.

LITERARY FESTS

Calling all bookworms (and wannabe authors) – festival season is here! Henley Literary Festival (3–12 Oct) is back with another glittering line-up of more than 120 events across town. Expect national treasures Joanna Lumley and Michael Palin, a comedy curveball from John Cleese, Graham Norton dishing the dirt with his trademark mischief, plus poetry from Simon Armitage and razor-sharp insights from author and podcaster Elizabeth Day. Nab those tickets early – these will sell out faster than you can say “front row.”

For a more decadent setting, Cliveden Literary Festival (11–12 Oct) promises country-house glamour and heavyweight debate. This year’s guests include Salman Rushdie, Ian Rankin, Elif Shafak, Alain de Botton and Richard E. Grant. Expect politics, culture, Hollywood gossip and big ideas served with a glass of fizz in one of the grandest settings around.

Little readers are in for a treat at the Aylesbury Children’s Book Festival, which runs all year but welcomes superstar author Harriet Muncaster to Discover Bucks Museum on 8 Nov. Creator of the much-loved Isadora Moon and Mirabelle series, she’ll be bringing stories, draw-along fun and a first peek at her brand-new series The Diary of Wiska Wildflower. A must for bookworms aged 5–11 (and grown-ups who love a signed copy).

Wantage Literary Festival (25 Oct – 6 Nov) keeps things intimate but punchy with over 40 events across town. Highlights this year include acclaimed historian Sir Max Hastings and bestselling author Harry Sidebottom, alongside a lively mix of novelists, poets and family storytelling sessions. Big ideas, small venues — and plenty of chances to bump into your favourite author over a flat white.

ART & CULTURE

Photograph by Julian Broad, courtesy of TIN MAN ART

Culture vultures, rejoice – the galleries are brimming this autumn. Modern Art Oxford hosts the Photo Oxford Open Call Winners’ Exhibition (5 Sept–5 Oct), where this year’s theme is truth. Expect powerful photography, including Alena Grom’s moving Stolen Spring series shot amid the war in Ukraine, alongside nine other striking finalists. Free entry, big impact.

Over at the Ashmolean Museum, This is What You Get: Stanley Donwood & Thom Yorke (until 5 Jan) brings together Radiohead’s visual mastermind and its frontman for a moody, mind-bending exploration of sound and vision.

For a trip to the stars, head to Bucks County Museum, Aylesbury where Beyond the Stars: A Propmaker’s Guide to the Galaxy (until 5 Oct) lifts the curtain on the magic behind sci-fi props and movie worlds. Expect behind-the-scenes secrets from cult favourites like Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – a must for aspiring set designers and curious kids alike.

And speaking of kids (and big kids), the History of Science Museum, Oxford hosts Lyra’s World (until 31 Dec) – an atmospheric dip into Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. Think alethiometers, dæmons and a chance to step inside Oxford’s most fantastical parallel universe – proof that fantasy isn’t just for kids.

COMEDY

Ready for a laugh? We’re getting the A-list comedy treatment this autumn, with everyone from Dara Ó Briain to Jen Brister pitching up on our doorstep.

Kicking things off at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Dara Ó Briain brings his lightning-fast wit in Re:Creation on Thu 11 Sept, followed by the surreal, big-collared antics of Harry Hill on Wed 17 Sept. And don’t miss deadpan king Jack Dee, who rolls in with Small World on Wed 1 Oct.

Chipping Norton Theatre welcomes the brilliantly offbeat Lou Sanders and Friends on Sat 27 Sept, serving up surreal one-liners and cheeky confessions in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Over at Oxford’s Glee Club, the gloriously edgy Desiree Burch takes us on a madcap midlife voyage with The Golden Wrath on Fri 3 Oct – sharp, fearless, and very funny.

New Theatre Oxford gets the long-awaited return of Alan Davies on Thu 30 Oct with Think Ahead, his first new stand-up in a decade, packed with witty riffs on middle age and the small things that drive us all nuts.

And finally, Oxford Playhouse hosts Jen Brister with Reactive on Wed 12 & Thu 13 Nov – razor-sharp takes on parenting, politics and modern life from one of the UK’s most in-demand comics.

MUSIC

Jazz kicks things off as The Emma Rawicz Quartet bring fearless sax and fresh energy to The Spin Jazz Club, Tap Social Botley on Wed 24 Sept. A few nights later, it’s gothic-meets-glam at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre when The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight (Tue 30 Sept) reimagines Zeppelin and Metallica anthems under flickering candlelight.

October belongs to the powerhouses: Ruby Turner raises the roof at The Stables, Milton Keynes on Fri 10 Oct, her soul queen blend of gospel, blues and R&B proving exactly why she’s Jools Holland’s favourite vocalist, while Dublin’s rising stars Somebody’s Child take over the O2 Academy Oxford on Wed 15 Oct with raw, heartfelt indie-rock anthems.

Families get their turn on Sun 9 Nov, when the Oxford Philharmonic bring clocks, crafts and music together at Oxford Town Hall for their FUNomusica Family Concert: It’s About Time. And finally, retro swagger takes centre stage on Mon 10 Nov, as synth-pop legends Heaven 17 roll into the O2 Academy Oxford, belting out the 80s hits you’ll still know by heart.

SCOFF & QUAFF

Raise a glass – The Oxford Wine Festival (26–27 Sept 2025) returns to the University’s grand Examination Halls, where you can swirl, sip and swan about with winemakers and merchants. It’s your chance to “learn” about grape varieties (while getting very happily sloshed), discover new favourites, and finally work out why you like that bottle so much. Spoiler: it’s not just the alcohol content. Glasses at the ready.

And just down the road, Thame Food Festival (27–28 Sept 2025) is dishing up a weekend of flavour, fizz and fun for all ages. Think artisan food and sizzling street eats, live music, kids’ cooking lessons and circus skills, plus the Hawkstone Tasting Studio for beer, cider and wine classes, a pop-up festival bar, and even a fun dog show. Hungry, happy chaos – and the tastiest family day out around.

Get ready for a side of intrigue with your supper – the Murder at the Manor Dining Experience returns to Waddesdon Manor on Sat 25 Oct and Sat 1 Nov 2025. Black-tie glamour meets a four-course meal with wine pairings in the historic wine cellars, as guests are whisked into a 1930s whodunnit. Expect plot twists, secret clues and plenty of red herrings – dinner, but with a deliciously dramatic twist. Where do we sign up?

BIG DAYS OUT

Autumn’s not just for leaves – it gallops in with the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, hosting the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship from Thu 18 – Sun 21 Sept 2025. Set against the stunning estate, this four-day show features dressage, cross-country and showjumping at elite level. But it’s not just for equestrian fans: there’s a mini Land Rover ride-along, a giant observation wheel for palace views, falcon displays, dog agility, the Shetland Pony Grand National, plus over 200 shopping stalls and tasty food outlets (Fortnum & Mason hampers, anyone?). Tickets start from £36, with free entry for under 12s.

FAMILY

September also brings a time for the littlest ones to shine, as The Tiny Ideas Festival rolls into Oxford from 26–29 Sept 2025. Popping up in venues across the city, including The Story Museum, it’s a joyful celebration of 0–7 year-olds and their creativity, with everything from puppet shows to dance and storytelling. And if you can’t get enough, the festival’s Tiny Tales podcast keeps the magic going long after bedtime.

Autumn fun goes full countryside at the Chiltern Open Air Museum’s Harvest Weekend on 27–28 Sept, with sheepdog demos, Morris dancing and heavy horses in action, alongside the blacksmith at his forge and bodgers working in the woods. The chapel will be decked out in its traditional harvest display, and kids can get hands-on with apple pressing. It’s a proper slice of seasonal magic – wellies recommended.

Or take a step back in time at Bletchley Park’s 1940s Weekend on 27–28 Sept, when the code-breaking estate transforms into a wartime playground of swing bands, vintage stalls, food, and living history displays. Perfect for little history buffs – or anyone tempted to don ration-card chic.

And don’t forget the Banbury Canal Festival on 4–5 Oct, when the town centre and waterside burst into life with historic boats, floating markets, live music, food and plenty of kids’ entertainment. A free family day out with a splash of charm – who needs screens when you’ve got all this?

Curtains up! The hottest arts & culture events in Bucks & Oxon this autumn

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