Daily Info's recommended events for the week ahead, Thursday 9th October - Wednesday 15th October
In your inbox every Thursday. Subscribe here.
We've got feasting and singing, running and sea-faring in this week's EP, whether you're in a doublet or drag. Welcome Freshers! Welcome old friends! It's a short EP but nonetheless teeming with things to do.
Delicious by name...
You might notice our picks this week are more potted than usual, and that’s because our comms team will be spending the next few days at the Oxford University Freshers Fair, handing out our snazzy new year planners to incoming students. You can also find planners tucked away in the goody bags at Gloucester Green Freshers Market, along with QR codes to enter our Freshers' Giveaway! If you haven’t entered to win your choice of fab local prizes, you can do so here until the 31st October . And for a full rundown of all that Oxford has to offer its students, have a look through our handy Freshers' guide.
Not to fear, non-students, there’s plenty of fun for all as Oxford’s 10 Day Food and Drink Festival begins this Friday. Broad Street will be packed with artisan food and drink traders as well as live music and street entertainment, whether you’re wanting to shake up your usual lunch break routine or make a full day of sampling the goods.
And Brightwell cum Sotwell Orchard Group brings us a celebration of the humble apple with their Sunday Apple Day ! To work through their incredibly bountiful harvest, the village will be offering apple pressing (bottles at the ready!), tasting sessions with 12 different apple varieties, delicious apple baked goods and a longest peel competition. So get stuck in with aplomb - or should we say, a-pomme?
Oxford 10 Day Food and Drink Festival : Broad Street, Fri 10th - Sun 19th Oct, 10am - 7pm (closes 5pm Sundays). Free entry.
Apple Day : Brightwell cum Sotwell Recreation Ground, Sun 12th Oct, 12pm - 4pm. Free entry.
Andrew Margerison is That Knave, Raleigh
If you’ve had enough of the refined gentility of Jane Austen (who’s currently celebrating the 250th anniversary of her birth) a much nastier classic inveigles its way into the Playhouse next week, in the form of Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller, The Talented Mr Ripley . If you liked Saltburn, you’ll love this, another imposter-tale but in Highsmith’s version you’re rooting for the cuckoo, here played by The Crown’s Ed McVey.
A very different voyage awaits Uday Kumar (UK to his friends) who lives in New Delhi but dreams of visiting his namesake. He thinks Britain is all fish and chips and tea with the Queen. We in this country think we know why people want to come and make a life here. Could it be that both parties have got it wrong? Mohit Mathur’s one man play Dial 1 for UK is hilarious, endearing and poignant.
Beth proudly identifies as a teen lesbian, only to discover boys are also appealing. Hasbian is based on real teenage diaries from the noughties, to show Beth navigating the highs and lows of growing up Queer in Brighton (surely there’s no prejudice in the UK’s Gay Capital?!) under the shadow of Section 28. Featuring an all star cast including Lindsay Lohan and Ashton Kutcher (in paper cut-out form) and a wicked Y2K soundtrack.
If you can’t choose between three shows, one about an imposter, another a voyage across the seas, and the third about romantic entanglements, why not see That Knave, Raleigh , and roll them all into one? You already know he’s an explorer, sailor, dandy, and warrior, but what about his other sides: father, poet, philosopher, soldier, tyrant, traitor, alchemist, visionary, victim, secret romantic… And all in doublet and hose!
The Talented Mr. Ripley : Oxford Playhouse, Mon 13th - Sat 18th Oct 7.30pm (Fri 8pm) + Thu and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.
Dial 1 for UK : Burton Taylor Studio, Fri 10th Oct, 7.30pm. Tickets £14 / £12 concessions.
Hasbian : The Old Fire Station, Fri 10th Oct, 7.30pm. Tickets £1 - £19.
That Knave, Raleigh : Cornerstone Arts Centre (Didcot), Fri 10th Oct, 7.30pm. Tickets: £17.50 / £15.75 concessions.
Oxfordshire Drag Collective present all the Amy Winehouses
Cat-eye flicks and smoky vocals at the ready, for an evening of Amy Winehouse with a Queer twist . Oxfordshire Drag Collective have put together a fierce lineup, and tributes will be paid to the late legend’s iconic voice, bold fashion, and raw honesty. But it won’t be too serious and heartfelt - see the star as you’ve never seen her before, not just back to black but back to the whole rainbow.
So you went to see the Amy Winehouse Drag Cabaret and it made you want to sing? You’re in luck, my little canary! Every Wednesday at Big Society, IRL Events are hoping that karaoke will become Oxford’s newest obsession. Pitch, Please , ladies and gentlefolks, raise your glass, and request your favourites.
By day he’s a lecturer in Medieval literature and old English, so maybe it’s not surprising Mark Atherton’s band plays Medieval folk rock. In this Klub Kakofanney chilled out afternoon gig Atherton (complete with friends and Bazouki) will be supported by The Holy Fools and Matt Sewell.
We’re veering more and more classical in this section, so where could we land up but with the Oxford International Song Festival, a 16 day 80+ concert extravaganza which this year tours the world, through Stories in Song. Catch big names, singing great music, in a whole variety of languages. (We’re excited to see a concert in Catalan.) See the OxfordSong website for full lineup, and rally under the cry of Take us to your Lieder!
The Amy Winehouse Drag Cabaret : The Library Bar, Thu 16th Oct, 7:30pm. Tickets: pay what you can. Age 16+.
Pitch, Please : Big Society, every Wednesday, 8-11pm. Entry: donation / free.
Mark Atherton and Friends + The Holy Fools + Matt Sewell : The Tree Hotel, Iffley, Sun 12th Oct, 4.00-7.00pm. Entry: free.
Oxford International Song Festival : various locations in the city, Fri 10th - Sat 25th Oct. Full festival pass £70. Individual concerts vary but around £10.
Oxford runners, amateur and pro, will be lacing up for the Oxford Half Marathon this Sunday! Participants will be gearing up at the Events Village in University Parks in the early hours of the morning for a 9:30 start to the race. The route takes in some of Oxford’s scenic areas, including Old Marston, the River Cherwell and Lady Margaret Hall. Oxford Half recommends that all runners arrive race ready and according to their allocated start pens.
During the race, road closures will be affecting the city centre, so take note if you’re planning to travel; a full list of road closures and diversions can be found here .
If you’re running or spectating on Sunday, make sure to check the Oxford Half race day guide , including where to find toilets, emergency access and first aid. Good luck and happy running!
Oxford Half Marathon : Mansfield Road, OX1 3SZ, Sun 12th October, 7:30am - 3pm (race starts 9:30am).
Image credits: Brightwell cum Sotwell Apple Day, Cornerstone, Oxfordshire Drag Collective and Oxford Half Marathon
