I write this with the sun shining, daffs out in the garden and a spring in my step. And look – loads of cool stuff to do this week too. Blimey, can life get any better?!
Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures, Oxford Playhouse, Mon 6 – Weds 8 March
So excited to see this – from Monday to Weds, it’s Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures 2 at Oxford Playhouse celebrating 30 years of his company. I’m a massive fan of Matthew Bourne, and so is the arts world – he’s won 5 Olivier and Tony awards to date. Will be totally amazing.
oxfordplayhouse.com
Hazel O’Connor, Kenton Theatre, Henley, Fri 3 March
The first video I ever watched was Breaking Glass – way back when video recorders were the size of suitcases. Eighties songstress Hazel O’Connor who starred in the film is back tra-la-laing with Clare Hirst (Bellestars, Communards, David Bowie) on sax and Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards at the Kenton Theatre, promising all the classics, plus a meet and greet after the show.
kentontheatre.co.uk
Coffee Concert, Holywell Music Rooms, Sun 5 March
Virtuoso viola player Timothy Ridout may look about 12 (he’s actually 22!) but there’s no doubting his credentials as one of the UK’s rising classical stars – he graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2016 with the Queen’s Award for Excellence. He plays at the Holywell music rooms on Sunday in the weekly Oxford Coffee Concerts with international pianist Anthony Hewitt on piano. Included in your ticket price is a complimentary cuppa at the King’s Arms pub or the Vaults & Garden Café in the High Street. The programme includes Brahms, MacRae and York Bowen.
Holywell Music Rooms, Holywell St, Oxford, coffeeconcerts.com
Comedy Club for Kids, Chippy Theatre, Sat 4 March
If having children around your ankles all day is no laughing matter, boot them out to this Comedy Club for Kids 6+ at Chippy Theatre this Saturday. Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children and their families without the rude bits. I dare say the heckling from the children is worse than in an adult venue but, hey, that’s the comedians’ problem!
The Theatre, 2 Spring St, Chipping Norton, chippingnortontheatre.co.uk
Native Feasts: Michelin pop up in Bourne End, all through March
The first weekend for the new residency of pop up dining club Native Feasts run by Michelin chef Chris Godfrey, who was the chef at the Sir Charles Napier near Chinnor. To remind you – on the Fri & Sat of each weekend in March, at the Cooper & Co restaurant on Bourne End marina, Chris gets behind the gas decks and spins out 4 courses of banging culinary classics. The first weekend starts on 3/4 March so this is your final warning!
Native Feasts, Coopers & Co, Wharf Lane, Bourne End Marina, Bucks
FUNomusica Family Concert, Oxford Town Hall, Sun 5 March
The lovely Funomusica family concert returns this Sunday afternoon at the Oxford Town Hall, with Alasdair Molloy and the Oxford Philharmonic introducin 4-8 year olds to classical music. This year’s theme is dance, and promises music from ballroom to barndance, salsa to samba, including Mozart’s Macarena (surely worth the entry fee along). There are pre-concert craft activities at 2pm and the concert finishes by 4pm.
oxfordphil.com
Mr Bloom’s Nursery – Live! Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Sat 4 March
CBeebies’ Mr Bloom and the Veggies embark on their first ever live tour, with Mr Bloom joined by his gardening friends Margaret, Joan, Colin, Raymond and Sebastian, the lovable Wee MacGregors, and Mr Bloom’s trusty machine ‘The Compostarium’. Yes, you’ll be reaching for your whisky hipflask by half-time but your tiddlers will absolutely love it.
atgtickets.com
Valery Gergiev, The Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, Mon 6 March
A rare chance to see the brilliant Valery Gergiev in Oxford. The Russian conductor leads The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra playing a crowdpleaser programme of Rossini’s Overture to William Tell, Stravinksy’s Violin Concerto in D Major and Mendelssohn’s ‘Italian’ Symphony.oxfordphil.comEvita, Oxford New Theatre, Tues 7 – Sat 11 March
Don’t Cry for me Argentiiiiiina! Si, claro, Evita comes to the New Theatre from next Tues, starring Emma Hatton, fresh from the West End production of Wicked. More than 20 major awards to its credit, the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice has as five day run – I’m going to the press night early next week so will let you know my verdict asap.
atgtickets.com
David Hockney Exhibition PLUS Festival No. 6, Tate Britain, London
Book in, people, book in! This exhibition gathers together an extensive selection of David Hockney’s most famous works celebrating his achievements in painting, drawing, print, photography and video across 6 decades. From his portraits and images of Los Angeles swimming pools, through to his drawings and photography, Yorkshire landscapes and most recent paintings – some of which have never been seen before in public. Plus on Fri 3 March, there’s Festival No. 6, a massive party to coincide with the exhibition atTate Britain for one night only, featuring music from Blossoms, Charlotte Church, comedy from Sara Pascoe, poetry from Dr John Cooper Clarke and a closing set from DJ Greg Wilson, plus after-hours access to Paul Nash and the Hockney exhibition.
tate.org.uk