Daily Info's recommended events for the week ahead, Thursday 30th November - Wednesday 6th December
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Fill your social calendar with this week's Editor's Picks - everything from chess to poetry, concerts, improv, and theatre.
Get ready to make a move, as Tap Social Movement and Hoyles team up for Chess and Cheers! Whether you’re a total novice or a budding grand master, grab a pint and set up your pieces for a battle of wits - chess sets courtesy of Market Tap. The night runs on the first Thursday of every month, so bring your (check)mates and head on down!
Or if you’re looking for a different set of moves, Hipshakin’ brings the very best vintage vinyl to the Harcourt Arms for their early Xmas shindig. With resident DJ Johnny Louche on the decks, accompanied by Ken “Destination Anywhere” Brookes and “Doctor” Mark Perryman, it’s a night of rock and soul for young and old.
Finally, things are looking flush over at the Cape of Good Hope’s Poker Night on Monday. Organised by Red Tooth Poker League, it’s a fun, no-risk evening ideal for those curious about the game of poker who don’t want to lose any hard-earned cash. You could be in with a chance of moving to a regional final, with an all-expenses paid Vegas tournament up for grabs; so practice your poker face and above all, play your cards right!
Chess and Cheers!: Market Tap, Thu 7th Dec, 7pm. Tickets £5.
Hipshakin’: The Harcourt Arms, Sat 2nd Dec, 7pm. Free.
Poker Night: Cape of Good Hope, Mon 4th Dec, 7pm. Free.
They say good memories are priceless, so why not gift an experience this year?
If you have a budding writer in the family, the Story Museum’s Story Creators: Poetry and Spoken Word may be the perfect present. A three-week course set to start in mid-January, run by 2021 Julian Lennon Poetry Prize winner Isy Mead, the sessions will help teens find their creative voice and learn some brilliant techniques for working with language creatively. For an equally good introduction (or reintroduction!) aimed at adults, the eight-week Meddling with Poetry course at the Writers Greenhouse begins in February - and they also offer gift vouchers to their other courses.
If your recipient is more inclined to the stage than the page, or simply needs something to revitalise their confidence, the six-week Improv in 6 Acts course from Paul Jackson Associates will deliver. A playful, well-organised course, aimed at adults, run by Paul Z Jackson, the director of popular local improv troupe Awkward Actors.
And finally, if you’re holiday shopping is under control, but you’re looking to have a greener or craftier Christmas, be sure to head to the EOF Hackspace Social on Wednesday. EOF Hackspace is a community-led tools workshop in Oxford, which offers local makers a range of useful machinery, from 3D printing and woodworking to electronics, textiles and more. Their socials are a chance to share your own projects or simply see what the workshop is about, in a friendly, low-pressure way.
Story Creators: Poetry and Spoken Word: The Story Museum. Starting Tue 23rd Jan, 4.30-6pm. Ages 12-16. £30 per participant.
Meddling with Poetry with the Writers Greenhouse: Upper Wolvercote. Starting Wed 7 Feb, 7pm–9:30pm, £295 for 8 week course.
Improv in 6 Acts: Flo's Place in the Park. Starting Mon 15th Jan 7-9.30 pm. £180 standard/£90 student/concession for 6 week course.
EOF Hackspace Social: Makespace Building, Jericho. Wed 6th Dec, 7-9pm. Drop in, free (though donations welcome!).
The New Theatre continues its run of glitzy, crowd-pleasing musicals, with the tour of Pretty Woman: The Musical rolling into town. The musical retells the popular cinematic rom-com, with added songs scored by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. It feels almost guaranteed to dazzle away that December greyness.
Of course, we have reached December (as of tomorrow). This means it’s time for Creation Theatre to unleash its latest North Wall show. And this time it’s a joyful, anarchic take on A Christmas Carol. Or you can head to the Old Fire Station for a tale of female friendship and wild swimming at Christmas, with Alison Spittle’s Glacier.
You can find all the festive theatre treats in our blog covering what to catch this month. Plus there’s still one more Christmas giveaway to take part in, with this week’s giveaway being Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Tue 12th to Sat 30th Dec) at the New Theatre.
And finally, there’s the latest show from Pegasus 16-25 Young Company, a devised piece, Memoria, that covers memory and loss.
Pretty Woman: the Musical: New Theatre, Mon 4th to Sat 9th Dec, 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee on Wed & Sat), £13 to £86.50
A Christmas Carol: North Wall, Sat 2nd Dec 23 to Sat 6th Jan 24, times vary, £10 to £32
Glacier: Old Fire Station, Mon 4th to Sat 23rd Dec, 7.30pm (2.30pm matinees Thu & Sat), £15 to £19
Memoria: Pegasus Theatre, Fri 1st & Sat 2nd Dec, 7.30pm, £8 to £11
If you so desired, dear reader, you could fill the coming weekend entirely with choral music, with a different dazzling concert each evening. What better way to get into the spirit of the season?
First up, the Headington Singers will be putting their well-established skills to good use for a festive Friday night performance. Starry Night: A Christmas Concert features Vaughan Williams' beloved The First Nowell, two ethereal works by contemporary American composer Morten Lauridsen, and three beautiful carols from local talent Sam Pegg.
On Saturday night, The Clerks, the professional singers behind Christ Church Cathedral Choir, will perform Christmas with the Clerks, a vibrant collection of Christmas music, from classic carols to more modern favourites, mash-ups and more.
Finally, on Sunday evening head down to picturesque Dorchester, for A Jazzy Christmas Evening. In a partnership between Bishop Court Farm’s Snug Sessions and Hampstead Jazz Club, acclaimed singer and pianist pair Jo Harrop and Paul Edis will be joined by an eight-piece band for an evening of traditional hymns and beloved carols filtered through a rich and revitalising jazz lens.
Starry Night: A Christmas Concert: All Saints Church. Fri 1st Dec, £7.30pm. Tickets £12.50, £10 conc, children go free.
Christmas with the Clerks: Christ Church Cathedral. Sat 2nd Dec, 8pm. Tickets £15 as standard, with pay more/pay less options of £25 or £5.
A Jazzy Christmas Evening: Dorchester Abbey. Sun 3rd Dec, 7.30pm (doors open at 6.30pm). Tickets from £22.
As we head into December, Waste2Taste are once again putting together festive hampers for local families in need of extra support for the holiday season. But they can’t do it without your help! If you have the means to give a seasonal treat to families in need, the Waste2Taste elves are accepting donations at their café on Craufurd Road until 15th December.
Suggestions for what to donate include boxes of chocolate, board games or pampering sets - for more details be sure to email [email protected] or call Sandra on 07952 498589.
Image credits: Hoyles, EOF Hackspace, The North Wall Arts Centre, David Beale for Unsplash, Waste2Taste
