Theatre news from around Oxfordshire

  • Pride and Prejudice, Oxford Trinity College Gardens, until July 20 ticketsoxford.com, 01865 305305 Fall in love with Jane Austen’s vibrant characters, acerbic wit and sparkling dialogue when Trinity Gardens goes Regency for Oxford Theatre Guild’s performance of Britain’s favourite novel, Pride and Prejudice, in celebration of 200 years in publication.

Adapted for the stage by Peter Kenvyn Jones, the tale will remind Austen fans why they fell in love with the book and provide joyous evening entertainment for those who aren’t fans yet.

  • Twelfth Night/Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles, Mapledurham House, South Oxfordshire, July 17/18 chapterhouse.org, 01522 569 777 Visit Mapledurham House this month to see Shakespeare’s famous comedy Twelfth Night, a tale of cross-dressing, shipwrecks and love triangles, on July 17. Also being performed on July 18 is the stage adaptation of Arthur Conan-Doyle’s classic detective thriller, pitting Sherlock Holmes against a seemingly-supernatural foe. Chapterhouse Theatre Company is famous for bringing to life some of literature’s best-loved classics and for its magical outdoor performances that are great fun for all the family.

 

  • Romeo and Juliet, Cogges Manor Farm, Witney. tomorrow, 7pm. cogges.org.uk This great story of young love and family feuds set in the colourful world of renaissance Italy will be performed on the manor house lawn.  The Festival Players present Shakespeare's classic tale with an excitement, energy, and passion for this fast-moving play which balances tragedy with comedy and romance.

 

  • Actor, author, comedian, world traveller and national treasure Michael Palin will be speaking at a special literary lunch to celebrate the publication of his latest novel The Truth. A limited number of tickets are available for next Tuesday at £35 per person, which includes a two-course lunch with wine at the Randolph Hotel, and a copy of The Truth that Michael will sign for you. Further details: 07912 696658.

 

  • The Story Museum’s newest patron, Kevin Crossley-Holland, will be hosting a public event at the museum’s home in Pembroke Street this week. The author, whose trilogy The Seeing Stone (a retelling of the Arthur story) has won numerous awards and worldwide critical acclaim, will be sharing his passion for myths and legends at an event tomorrow, programmed to complement The Bodleian Library’s Magical Books exhibition.

The Spellbound session will be an hour of storytelling, readings and musings to discover how myths, legends and folktales still capture our heads and hearts. For tickets and more information, go to The Story Museum’s events page at storymuseum.org.uk