From pop-up restaurants, operas, films, dramas and comedy shows - there's always something great going on in Oxfordshire
What’s On and coming up in the Oxfordshire performing arts scene?
Spring Update
Here in Oxfordshire, we are very lucky to have an excellent array of events, celebrations, and festivals to attend throughout the year, with this spring in particular set to be an exciting time for locals and visitors alike, find out What’s On in Oxfordshire.
Whether you are planning a trip to Oxfordshire over the next few months or searching for some great local days out for your diary, in our latest guide we take a closer look at some of the areas most anticipated events, from food festivals and art exhibitions through to comedy nights and family events.
You may already be familiar with the two main theatres, The Oxford Playhouse and The New Theatre, however there are many smaller venues which offer jampacked programmes, including The Old Fire Station, the Creation Theatre and The North Wall Arts Centre. As you can imagine, the performance calendar is full of events which showcase the culture and creativity of the county.
Sarah Millican - Bobby Dazzler
Wed 6th July 2022
Greatest Hits of Motown
Sunday 17th April 2022
Festivals & Exhibitions
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Oxford Literary Festival
This Spring the 25th Oxford Literary Festival will take place between March 25th and April 3rd, and with an international programme of culture and literature planned, this is an event which should not be missed. The exciting festival will host events in some of the most historical buildings within Oxford, with interesting literary lunches, dinners, tours and talks from authors around the world.
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Human-Machine Collaboration Conference
On 5th April the University of Oxford is showcasing its latest research in AI, machine learning and robotics, with advances that are likely to become a key part of our everyday lives. This is your chance to be the first to learn about the ground-breaking research, with interesting presentations from key academics, industrial and government speakers and poster displays from this year’s graduates.
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In Praise of Hands
An Ashmolean ExhibitionArtist Naoko Matsubara has spent decades creating woodcuts which explore the unique intricacies of human hands, with interesting pieces that depict hands engaged in music, prayer, sport, dance, and other creative acts. This exhibition is a stunning collaboration between Naoko and the well-known poet Penny Boxall, who has created a series of short poems which bring Naoko’s artwork to life. This exhibition is free to view and is set to run until May 2nd.
Food & Drink
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Blenheim Palace Food Festival
2nd June until Sunday 5th JuneCelebrate the Jubilee weekend in style with a trip to the Blenheim Palace Food Festival, which takes place this year from Thursday 2nd June until Sunday 5th June. This gastronomic weekend is held within the beautiful palace grounds with a fantastic range of stall holders, and masterclasses from brilliant chefs including Gennaro Contaldo, Andy Clark and Bake Off star Karen Wright.
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Pop-Up Restaurant in Farringdon
18th JuneQuality British Cuisine are excited to invite you to our next Faringdon pop-up restaurant!
Bring your own drinks!
For just £38 per person you will enjoy a 6 course menu (plus tea/coffee and truffles): **Welcome drink** **Canapes** ** Smoked salmon, prawn & asparagus terrine, pickled cucumber salsa verdi and soda bread croutes.** **Margarita Granitas** **Slow cooked featherblade steaks with hints of chocolate and rosemary, pancetta wrapped green beans, Lyonnaise potatoes, vine tomatoes and sauce.** **Lemon and passionfruit tart with Chantilly cream and gingersnap** **Chef's cheeseboard** **Tea/Coffee & chocolates** -
International Women’s Day with Veuve Clicquot Winewmaker at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
Famous chef Raymond Blanc opened this hotel in 1984, with guests over the years enjoying amazing food, service, and luxurious stays. The hotel is known for its brilliant events and on Tuesday 8th March it will host an International Women’s Day event with Gaelle Goossens, the renowned Veuve Clicquot winemaker. Learn about his amazing career, the wine industry, and enjoy a four-course spring lunch designed to pair with the Veuve Clicquot Champagne.
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Once in Oxford
This magical dining experience organised by the Oxford Thai Society sees the historic Balliol College open its doors to Thai guests from across the UK. The grand event in this magical hall is a chance to experience beautiful food in an amazing city, and it is sure to be a night which you will never forget.
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Gin & Rum Festival
Swindon Steam Museum 9th AprilIf you’re thirsty for knowledge or just want to party the night away, the Gin & Rum Festival is for you! Discover new favourites with samples from our hand-picked guest distillers, treat yourself at our themed Gin and Rum bars and let your hair down with friends whilst enjoying music from our award-winning DJ and live entertainment. New for 2022 is our themed Tequila bar! With a variety of up to 20 authentic Tequilas on offer, the Gin & Rum Festival can’t wait to bring a taste of Mexico to a city near you.
Theatre and Concerts
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Craig Revel Horwood – All Balls and Glitter Tour
Join Craig Revel Horwood for one night only on the 27th March, as he brings his trademark wit and candour to The Playhouse in Oxford. During the show Craig will take guests on a journey of his life from Australia and the West End to finding fame with Strictly Come Dancing, as he shares plenty of backstage gossip, funny stories and special performances inspired by the music which has shaped his career.
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Hangman at the OFS Studio
Previously the Old Fire Station Theatre. Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen first premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2015, and the award-winning play is always a firm favourite here in Oxfordshire. The story follows the life of local celebrity Harry, pub owner and second-best hangman in England. With hanging abolished, locals are wondering what Harry will do, especially as a peculiar stranger pays the pub a visit. The play will be available to watch for two nights on 26th and 27th March.
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Swiftogeddon: The Taylor Swift Club Night
A night dedicated to worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift: non-stop Swifty all night: deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits. Do you have a Blank Space in your diary? Then this night is Taylor-made for you! Join fellow fans in a celebration of the genius of the Swift - because she'll never go out of Style. This is an 18+ event.
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Waitress – at the New Theatre, Oxford
Treat yourself to a slice of this five-star musical, which will be available to watch at the New Theatre in Oxford from 25th April until 30th April. The story follows Jenna, a waitress and brilliant pie-maker who overcomes challenges with a warm, witty, and hilarious approach to life. The female-led creative team includes Grammy award-winning Sara Bareilles, acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson, and direction by award-winning Diane Paulus, so this is certainly a musical not to be missed this spring.
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Jericho Comedy
With Saturday evening dates from February through to March at Oxfords number one underground comedy club, the award-winning Jericho Comedy nights will be a great evening’s entertainment. The nights are held at various venues including Northwall Theatre, Common Ground, and the Jam Factory, with a variety of brilliant stand-up comedians included in the line ups. With recommendations from the Times, the iPaper, the Telegraph and The Sunday Times, these comedy nights are the best in the Oxfordshire area.
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Bobby Mair: Cockroach at The Glee Oxford
Described as an hour of dark, gut-wrenching comedy, this night with comedian Bobby Mair is set to be a popular comedy event this spring. Bobby is the host of ITV2’s Killer Camp, and he is also regularly seen on TV favourites including Stand Up Sketch Show, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Roast Battle, where his quick wit and brilliant stand-up skills always entertain. Bobby will be visiting this renowned comedy club for one night only on Wednesday 20th April.
Festivals
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The Folk Weekend
The Folk Weekend is one of the county’s best music weekends, and this year it will be held on Friday 22nd April until Sunday April 24th at various venues throughout Oxford. The exciting weekend includes a variety of folk music concerts, folklore dancing parades, and workshops led by local bands, as they celebrate folk culture with events designed for the whole family.
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Thame Country Fair
Thame Country Fair will move back to Easter Sunday and Monday for 2022. In the main show arena there will be all of your favourite displays from falconry, gundogs, horse boarding and scurry driving. As well as arena displays there are a number of demonstrations and have a go events around the show including fishing, falconry, airguns and archery to name a few. The Thame Country Fair will incorporate its own food festival with a variety of street foods and drink vendors, chef demonstrations and back ground music for you to enjoy and relax too.
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Wood Festival – Braziers Park, Wallingford
This award-wining music and nature festival will take place from May 20th until May 23rd at Braziers Park, which lies in the beautiful Chiltern Hills. Alongside the excellent folk and indie music line up there are free workshops, kids’ activities, locally sourced food stands and family-friendly camping. This is a truly beautiful festival which runs on 100% renewable energy, and with its packed programme it will be fun for everyone.
Fairs & Markets
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Oxfordshire Artweeks:
Artists’ open studios and pop-up exhibitionsThis event will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this spring, making it the UK’s oldest event of its kind. This is your chance to browse and purchase stunning works of art from paintings and textiles through to woodworking, ceramics, and jewellery in some of the most historic buildings across Oxfordshire. Across three weeks from 7th May venues such as pop-up galleries, studios, stunning gardens, churches, and historic barns will be opening their doors to the public with exhibitions that are completely free of charge
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Henley Décor Fair
This year’s Henley Décor Fair will take place from May 26th until the 29th at the stunning riverside location of the Royal Regatta Course. The event is known internationally for its array of interior stalls, and this year there will be more than 150 antique traders, art stands, architectural salvage stalls, and of course the popular live music, bars, and gastro food tents.
Family Fun
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The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Guests of every age will be enchanted by this interactive display of The Wind in the Willows, a classic story exhibition which is available to browse at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames until May 8th. The display includes Mr Toad’s caravan alongside other vibrant 3D models, music, and theatrical lighting, with audio headsets available to narrate the story as guests browse the museum.
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Super Science Saturday: Fantastic Minibeasts
Children of all ages will have a great day at this family science fair which is due to be held at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on 12th March. This is a great chance to meet the museum experts and learn more about minibeasts such as spiders, insects and more, with fun games and interactive activities.
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Mamma Mia!
ABBA Outdoor Cinema Experience in SwindonThis summer we celebrate 50 years of ABBA with a special outdoor cinema screening of Mamma Mia! at Swindon Cricket Club.
The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs from everyone's favourite Swedish pop group, ABBA!
Gates open 8.30pm, film starts shortly after sunset. Bring a blanket or camping chair and watch Mamma Mia on a giant cinema screen under the stars!
The Theatre Chipping Norton
This theatre, arthouse cinema, concert hall and gallery aims to bring a unique array of events to the Chipping Norton community, and for a little theatre it is certainly very popular.
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Duran Duran Experience
4th MarchThe Duran Duran Experience have been established as the premier Duran Duran tribute band in the UK since 2012 and have performed at a number of pro venues across the country
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The Rod Stewart Songbook
27 May 2022Pete McCall performs The Rod Stewart Songbook along with his own live band. Pete’s voice is without doubt the closest to the great man’s that there is.
Oxford Playhouse
Known as the theatre for everyone, with live performances, dance, comedy and drama, the Oxford Playhouse is championing creativity from the heart of oxford.
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Reginald D Hunter
18th MarchReginald D Hunter is back with a brand-new show, and there’s no time for niceties. Unafraid to tackle head on the subjects the rest of us skirt around, Reginald is the voice of his generation – searingly honest, brutally funny and uniquely placed to commentate on the unfolding meltdown of life as we know it. More than 20 years since moving to the UK from the US, three-time Perrier Award nominated Reginald has forged a reputation for delivering unadulterated comedy of the highest order.
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Paul Merton's Impro Chums
1st MayPaul Merton, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike McShane and accompanist Kirsty Newton are back on the road in 2019 to visit some of their favourite parts of the UK with another evening of mind-blowing improvisation.
For more than 185 years there has been a theatre on George Street, and the New Theatre with its decadent art-deco interior has proved to be popular since it opened in 1934.
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The Bootleg Beatles
26th MarchThe world’s Premier Beatles band continues to draw critical acclaim with their flawless recreation of the greatest songbook in history. Tracing the Fab Four’s journey through the swinging 60s, every tiny detail is forensically observed from their authentic stage wear and instruments to their witty Beatle-banter, mind bogglingly accurate vocal impersonation and uncanny look-a-like.
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Nina Conti - The Dating Show
9th AprilBritish Comedy Award winner Nina Conti is back on tour! The quick-thinking queen of ventriloquism brings you her pioneering new dating show. She’ll be like Cilla Black with masks. Derailed. Not so much a Blind Date as a re-voiced one. There’s no promise that true love will be found, but a firm guarantee that big laughs will be had in the reign of this "voice-throwing queen" (London Evening Standard).
Whether you live in Oxfordshire or are planning a staycation to the county, we hope this list has provided some great event ideas. As a hub of history and culture, the theatres and venues throughout Oxfordshire are sure to offer something for everyone. To find out more about events in Oxfordshire, please contact our local team.
