Art JANE STROTHER O3 Gallery, Oxford Castle, Oxford, OX1 1AY October 13-November 11 Tues-Fri 12-5pm, Sat and Sun 11am-4pm 01865 246131 Jane Strother brings landscapes to the fore in paintings of attentively observed orchids, cowslips and other natural wonders. The exhibition challenges viewers’ sense of what constitutes an ‘ordinary’ landscape. She uses it as a way of demanding that habitats which are slipping into obscurity should be abundant and commonplace. Strother’s detailed draftsmanship registers a desire to accurately preserve, with the carefully inscribed text recalling the collector or explorer’s notebook. This almost academic quality is reinforced by the tissue of quotations running through her paintings. By contrast, her abstract strokes capture the grander, less tangible emotions she experiences when observing flora in their natural habitats. Theatre THE HANDYMAN Oxford Playhouse October 29-November 3, 7.30pm (8pm Friday) and 2.30pm (Thurs and Sat) Box Office: 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com Starring one of the UK’s favourite stage and TV actors, Timothy West, and written by Academy Award-winner Ronald Harwood, The Handyman looks at justice and revenge in a story that intrigues from start to finish. Cressida and Julian Field live comfortably in the Sussex countryside with their elderly Ukrainian odd-job man Romka. He cooks, mends fences, trims hedges, grows veg. Cressida calls him her ‘life-saver’. Then suddenly the police arrive. What has Romka done? Is he guilty? And is there a time limit of punishment?

Music THE SENSATIONAL SIXTIES EXPERIENCE New Theatre, Oxford October 16, 7.30pm Box office: 0844 871 3020 www.atgtickets.com/oxford Turn back the clock to arguably the greatest decade in the history of rock music. More than 25 originals will be performed by four big-name bands of the period: The Tremeloes, Herman’s Hermits, The Union Gap UK and The Ivy League. The show is hosted by Jon Brennan from The Ivy League who invites audiences to step back in time and relive their past or, for younger audience members, enjoy great music of the period for the first time.

Music ANIMAL ANTICS Oxford Town Hall October 21, 3pm Box office: 01865 980980 Join presenter Alasdair Malloy for another of Oxford Philomusica’s popular FUNomusica family concerts, this time celebrating the animal kingdom big and small. Hear tuneful tigers, melodic mice and harmonious hamsters as the orchestra explores the world’s wonderful creatures in musical style. Members of the audience are invited to come dressed as their favourite animals. Pre-concert craft activities from 2pm. Ideal for children aged four to ten.

Theatre POCKET HENRY V The Theatre, Chipping Norton October 16, 1.30pm and 7pm Box office: 01608 642350 Designed as an inspiring introduction to Shakespeare for young audiences, Pocket Henry V tells the heroic tale of England’s greatest warrior. Watch the king prepare to lead England into battle against a mighty French opponent with his band of brave, loyal brothers. Sharp English weapons combine with Shakespeare’s noble words to bring history alive. After an enticing hour, young audiences are invited into the space with the actors to express their response as freely as possible.