Theatre

EQUUS Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon March 6-9 at 7.30pm Tickets £8 (concessions £7) from The Bookstore, Abingdon Precinct or online at abingdon-drama- club.com Alan Strang, a seemingly normal 17-year-old boy is referred for psychiatric treatment for blinding four horses with a hoof pick at the stables where he works. Throughout Alan’s treatment his psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, begins to question the true worth of his profession. Is he bringing children back from madness or killing their passions by turning them into ”normal” people? Peter Schaffer’s compelling 1973 play, which was given a high-profile West End revival with Daniel Radcliffe six years ago, is being presented in the round by Abingdon Drama Club. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a modern masterpiece.

 

Music

NICOLA BENEDETTI AND OXFORD PHILOMUSICA Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Saturday, May 25, at 8pm Box office: 01865 980980 oxfordphil.com Following her spellbinding performance at the Last Night of the 2012 BBC Proms, violinist Nicola Benedetti scarcely needs introduction to anyone who appreciates the best in classical music. Oxford University’s orchestra in residence is delighted to be welcoming her as star soloist in a major spring concert. She will take the platform for Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor. The orchestra will also showcase symphonic suites by two other great Russian composers, Prokofiev and Stravinksy.

Theatre

THE FIREWORK-MAKER’S DAUGHTER Oxford Playhouse May 28 and 29 at 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee Wed) 01865 305305 oxfordplayhouse.com Lila desperately wants to be a firework-maker like her father, but when he refuses to teach her, Lila runs away from home to discover the three gifts of firework-making for herself. With the help of her friends she faces pirates, tigers and the terrifying Fire-Fiend on her perilous quest to discover what the three gifts really mean. A vivid re-telling of the award-winning children’s book by Oxford-based writer Philip Pullman, this new family opera is brought to life by magical puppetry and music by David Bruce that sparkles with humour and musical fireworks!

Martial arts

SHAOLIN WARRIORS: RETURN OF THE MASTER New Theatre, Oxford Thursday, May 7, at 7.30pm Box office: 0844 871 3020 atgtickets.com/oxford The internationally acclaimed Shaolin Warriors return to the UK with a new show before embarking on a world tour. This is a fully choreographed spectacular that features 22 professional kung fu masters. There will be thrills aplenty as they attempt death-defying kung ku disciplines such as qigong, animal imitation boxing, drunken boxing, and fighting with over 20 kinds of dangerous traditional weapons. Not to be missed.