From Easter trails to thrilling trailers, we've got plenty of eggs in our basket for this week's EP...

We're Going On An Egg Hunt

Easter weekend is on the horizon and with that brings egg-straordinary trails to take part in, come rain or shine. Over at High Lodge Farm they’ve an Easter Adventure Trail, with a woodland trail, garden games and a giant sandpit, meaning oodles of fun for the children.

Alternatively, there’s the Great Covered Market Easter Egg Hunt , where participants fan out across the Covered Market, finding letters in different participating shops, while collecting a little chocolate egg at each stop. It’s also an amazing way to get to know an egg-citing venue in the heart of Oxford.

And finally, you can take the Bunny Hop bus around Oxford. The bus takes you round the city sights and you can look out for six elusive bunnies hidden across Oxford. You can also get a 10% discount at the Story Museum with the trail’s card.

Easter Adventure Trail: High Lodge Farm (Abingdon), until Mon 21st Apr, from 10am, £6.50-8

The Great Covered Market Easter Egg Hunt : The Covered Market, until Sat 19th Apr, 9am to 6.30pm, £2

Bunny Hop: around Oxford, until Mon 21st Apr, 9.30am to 5pm, from £12.50

Stage Right

Upcoming shows that caught our eye this week include the ever-dazzling Rocky Horror Show, a multifaceted new tribute to writer George Eliot, and a biographical drama about family, race, and identity from poet and performer Reece Williams.

We will indeed be doing the Time Warp again, as a new world tour of The Rocky Horror Show lands at the New Theatre from Monday. This time, actor and musician Jason Donovon will be stepping into the iconic Frank-N-Furter’s platform heels, in a production that promises to capture the irresistibly catchy chaos that has made the musical such an enduring hit.

A very different sort of icon can be found in author Mary Ann Evans, best known by her pen name George Eliot. The Middlemarch author’s life and work are celebrated on Tuesday in George Eliot in Words and Music at the Oxford Playhouse, read by Hermione Norris*. This unique show blends theatre and song, weaving together Eliot's own words - from novels, poetry and letters - with modern music from Kate Bush, Florence + the Machine and others. This looks like an unforgettable treat for bookworms.

Finally, head to Burton Taylor Studio next Thursday for This Kind of Black , a powerful new solo show from Reece Williams. Growing up Black in 1990s Moss Side, Manchester (referred to as ‘Gunchester’ by certain media outlets), Williams unpacks the strength, humour, conflict, and pain in his community, while exploring the complexity of father-son bonds, and the effects of trauma on young Black men and boys.

The Rocky Horror Show: The New Theatre, Mon 21st - Sun 26th Apr, 8pm Mon - Thu, 5.30pm, 8.30pm Sat - Sun. Tickets from £22.

George Eliot in Words and Music: The Oxford Playhouse, Tue 22nd Apr, 7.30pm. Tickets £30/standard, £15/student, £14/disabled/carer.

This Kind of Black: Burton Taylor Studio, Thu 24th - Sat 26th Apr, 7.30pm each evening, with a post-show talk on Fri. Tickets £14/£12.

Amp It Up

Looking to feel the beat over the bank holiday weekend? There’s gigs aplenty up and down the city for your listening pleasure, starting with Marisa and the Moths at the Bullingdon. Combining hard-hitting personal lyricism with powerful alt-rock vocals, this one’s for those who like their tunes on the grungey side.

Friday night will also see the usual packed room at Cowley Workers Social Club for this month’s Bossaphonik, featuring headliners TC and The Groove Family. Hailing originally from Leeds, the 10-piece jazz collective is all about fusing classic grooves with modern influences found across their community, drawing from electronica, grime and breakbeat to name a few. Bring your friends and prepare for the room to warm up quick.

At the Tap Social, you can look forward to an all-dayer of decks put together by resident DJ Count Skylarkin for Reggae Redemption. From old-school reggae performed live by all-star band Ranglin’, to late-night mixes drawing from ska, dancehall, D&B and more, head down Botley way for 8 hours of sweet island sound.

And looking ahead to Wednesday, punk-rock duo Gans bring their Something Else tour to the Jericho Tavern. Supported by synthy new-wave jams from fellow Brummie Brian Lightning, the pair’s propulsive, confrontational repertoire is hard-edged, but with a current of vulnerability underneath.

Marisa and the Moths: The Bullingdon, Fri 18th Apr, 7pm. Tickets £16.50 (exc. booking fee).

Bossaphonik - TC and The Groove Family: Cowley Worker’s Social Club, Fri 18th Apri, 8pm. Tickets £14 adv. £19 otd.

Count Skylarkin’s Reggae Redemption Easter Sunday All Dayer: Tap Social Movement, Sun 20th Apr, 2pm - 10pm. Tickets £8-10.

Gans, Brian Lightning: The Jericho Tavern, Wed 23rd Apr, 7pm. Tickets £7.

The Reel Deal

This week’s big release marks the return of Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) to the big screen. Sinners follows not one but two Michael B. Jordans as they take on a supernatural evil. The film looks visually stunning, and the cast also includes the likes of Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell and Delroy Lindo.

Another all-star cast can be found in The End, playing at the Ultimate Picture Palace, an end-of-the-world musical that features Tilda Swinton, George MacKay and Michael Shannon.

Also at the UPP is Rave on For the Avon, a documentary that follows wild swimmers as they grapple with the impact of pollution in the River Avon. This screening will include a panel discussion with director Charlotte Sawyer and ‘Big Oil’ whistleblower Caroline Dennett.

Finally, the sublime Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit is back in cinemas to mark its 20^th Anniversary. The iconic stop-motion duo's battle of the bunnies makes for perfect Easter weekend viewing.

Sinners: Vue

The End: Ultimate Picture Palace

Rave on For the Avon: Ultimate Picture Palace, Thu 24^th Apr, 6.15pm.

Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit : Phoenix Picturehouse, Vue

And Finally

Community nonprofit Oxford Mutual Aid delivers regular support to over 1000 people in 400 households across Oxford, in the form of nutritious food parcels, baby supplies and other essentials. Since first forming in 2020 in response to the pandemic, the group has delivered over 30,000 meals free of charge. The service OMA provides is vital, and right now, they're receiving more requests for their parcels than ever before. Donate to their latest crowdfunder to help OMA in their fight for food justice, and find out more about their services on their website.

Image credits: Oxford Covered Market, The New Theatre, Marisa and the Moths, Oxford Mutual Aid

*Editor's note: previous listings for this event advertised Adjoa Andoh, who due to unforeseen circumstances is unable to perform.