Daily Info's recommended events for the week ahead, Thursday 19th March - Wednesday 25th March
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Small businesses, solo shows and saving a very special cinema, all in this week's EP...
From shops to community groups to creatives, this week’s crop of festivals and fairs are all about the indies. Independent Oxford kicks us off with their first ever Indie Oxford Day, as local eateries, boutiques and more offer promotions and events across the city to encourage residents to support small businesses on their doorstep. You can find out more of what’s in store this weekend, and learn about Independent Oxford’s wider project, in our latest blog post .
One such event is at the Old Fire Station, which trades in its classic red for a different shade as it hosts Green Day! No, not the band, but rather an afternoon of stalls and activities highlighting the work done by Oxford groups to protect the environment and encourage more sustainable living. Expect a seed swap, thrift stalls, repair cafés and plenty of chances to chat about how you can care for the climate.
On Sunday, pick up a piece that really makes an impression at The Nest, where Oxford creatives will be gathering for the Common Print Making Fair. 28 artists and collectives will be showcasing their compositions, with coffee, sweets and DJ sets to groove to throughout. Whether you’re eyeing an investment piece from an up and coming Ruskin wunderkind or looking to pick up a brand new zine, you can find something to treasure here - or make your own, at one of the day’s creative workshops.
After dark, Tap Social takes you into its Midnight Market , where you can pair your craft beer with some local crafts to take home. Peruse stalls from local sellers offering one-of-a kind pieces from fashion and jewellery to artwork, all with a cold pint and perhaps a slice of their in-house pizza in hand. True to its name, the event runs until midnight with a lineup of DJs keeping the energy going, so why not turn your shopping spree into a full night out?
Indie Oxford Day: multiple venues across Oxford, Sat 21st Mar, all day. Prices vary depending on events.
Green Day (Not The Band): Old Fire Station, Sat 21st Mar, 10:30am - 1pm. Free.
Common Print Making Fair: The Nest, Sunday 22nd Mar, 2 - 7pm. Free entry.
Midnight Market: Tap Social Movement, Fri 27th Mar, 7pm - midnight. Free.
We’ve quite the selection of grown up theatre, and by grown up we don’t necessarily mean mature, just not suitable for children. From comedy to tragedy, via the tongue in cheek and the faded grandeur, it’s all here.
Launching into next week first: and putting the arch back into anarchy it’s a tutu-ed Puck in a surprisingly chilling world, brought to life by Shakespeare’s Globe and Headlong. When the fairies start fighting, anything might happen, and A Midsummer Night's Dream) could become a nightmare...
Head to the Cornerstone to Meet Fred. He’s a two-foot tall puppet who’s just trying to get a job, find love, and fit in. But with his Puppetry Living Allowance under threat, it’s all going wrong. Not one for small children as it contains strong language, puppet nudity, and political themes. Inclusive theatre company Hijinx feature a stellar cast of performers with and without learning disabilities and/or autism, and this show is on its 10th anniversary tour.
American Theatre loves a faded hotel, and the Hot L Baltimore is home to some forgotten dreamers. The Oxford School of Drama (which has some very well-known alumni) stages Lanford Wilson’s powerful, poignant, and darkly funny portrait of life on the margins, in the North Wall next week.
… which is also hosting A Grain of Sand, this week. This one-woman show blends Palestinian folklore with verbatim testimonies of contemporary Gazan children. Renad, a young Gazan every-girl, embarks on a dangerous journey, part real-life quest, part imaginary myth-hunt.
Last but not least, head to Flo Park Community Centre this Saturday for homegrown black comedy, The Passing of Mr Green. As Sally’s home fills with paramedics, police and undertakers after her Dad’s passing, the family secrets come to light. The playwright is local artist Tim Wait and for one day only you can explore the complexities of love and loss with Sally. Profits go to The British Heart Foundation.
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Oxford Playhouse, Tue 24th - Sat 28th March, 7.30pm, plus Thu and Sat matinee 2.30pm. Tickets from £15 (£2.75 fee may apply).
Meet Fred: Cornerstone Arts Centre, Tue 24th March, 7.30pm. Tickets: £18 (£16.20).
The Hot L Baltimore: North Wall Arts Centre, Wed 25th - Sat 28th March, 7.30pm, plus Sat matinee 2pm. Tickets: £12-20. Age 14+.
A Grain of Sand: North Wall Arts Centre, Fri 20th & Sat 21st March, 8pm. Tickets: £12-20. Age 14+.
The Passing of Mr Green : Florence Park Community Centre, Sat 21st March, 4.30pm & 7.30pm. Tickets: £7. Age 15+.
Our concert picks have some strings attached, quite literally. The Orchestra of St Johns presents international soloist and Oxford University director of performance Rosalind Ventris , with a repertoire covering Walton’s Viola Concerto and a selection of pieces by Rachmaninoff. Taking place in Dorchester Abbey, Ventris’ virtuosic playing paired with the Abbey’s legendary acoustics will make for some gorgeous listening.
The Kleio Quartet will also be rosining their bows for their performance at Iffley Church Hall, offering a carefully curated programme ranging from the Baroque power of Bach to the contemporary introspection of Kaija Saariaho. Bringing pieces across three centuries into conversation with one another, the Quartet chart the evolution of string practice.
vOx also have Bach on the brain, dedicating a full concert to the composer’s influence on the Baroque period. With a performance of Jesu, meine Freude alongside compositions from Domenico Scarlatti and Antonio Lotti, Bach and The Glories of the Baroque captures the emotionality and unrestrained creativity which typified the era.
And last but not least, you may be sacrificing something for Lent but music is one thing you can always treat yourself to. The closing performance of Queen’s College’s Lent Concert series takes place next Tuesday, featuring choral and instrumental pieces from Ravel, Victoria, Josquin, Matteis, Ramsey and Weelkes. You can’t get much better than a full choir and top notch musicians for absolutely free, but there will also be a retiring collection for Helen and Douglas House and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Rosalind Ventris Performs Walton’s Viola Concerto: Dorchester Abbey, Sat 21st Mar, 7pm. Tickets from £15.
Kleio Quartet: Iffley Church Hall, Sun 22nd Mar, 3pm. Tickets £20 (£10 child/student)
Bach and the Glories of the Baroque : Pusey House, Sun 22nd Mar, 5pm. Tickets £16 (free for under 18s).
Queen’s College Lent Concert: Queen’s College Chapel, Tues 24th Mar, 6pm. Free, booking required.
There’s some big comedy sharks about this week, and some cuddlier shows too. In the New Theatre, you can catch Aisling Bea (if you’re quick! There are fewer than 10 tickets left) on her Older Than Jesus tour. She might answer your big life questions. And the night before, act as Sue Perkin’s confessor as she shares her Eternal Shame. For a show about stigma and humiliation it still promises a lot of laughs.
Blending the serious and the hilarious is also the province of That’s Not My Name , mixing stand-up, spoken word and schizophasia into 75 minutes of well-baked carnage, to call out the insanity of psychiatry and the Personality Disorder diagnosis. Contains genuine instability and Waitrose bags. And stay after the show for discussion of mental health patient experiences.
For something a bit fluffier, Pegasus Theatre hosts Alex Prescot with Cosy , a debut comedy hour from the “comedy equivalent of sunshine”. There’ll be music and improv, and each show is tailor-made for its audience.
Aisling Bea: Older Than Jesus : New Theatre, Thu 26th March, 8pm. Tickets: £29.92 - £72.57. Strictly 16+.
The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins: New Theatre, Wed 25th March, 7.30pm. Tickets: £34.35 - £73.13. Age 16+.
That’s Not My Name: The Old Fire Station, Thu 26th March , 7.30pm. Tickets: £10-£20.
Alex Prescot - Cosy: Pegasus Theatre, Sat 21st March, 7.30pm. Tickets: £10 / £8.
Save the Ultimate Picture Palace! Oxford’s oldest cinema has launched a petition to secure its future against landlords’ plans to develop the site into student accommodation. In an EP celebrating independent spirit, it seems only right to put a spotlight on this campaign. The UPP is one of East Oxford’s hidden treasures, and particularly close to Daily Info’s hearts, having been the site of our 60th birthday celebrations in 2024 and regular generous hosts of the Keepin’ It Reel film quiz with some of our DI alums. It has been community-owned since 2022, and now it needs that community more than ever.
To show your support, sign and share the petition, donate to the campaign fund, and get yourself a campaign poster to proudly display in your window. With your support, the UPP can continue bringing quality cinema to Oxford residents for decades to come.
Image credits: Independent Oxford, Headlong Theatre, Stefan Zeitz, Matt Stronge, Ultimate Picture Palace
