From musical fresh from the West End to innovative community drama and student productions, there’s plenty to delight all theatre-goers in Oxford. Jaine Blackman takes a look at some of the highlights to look forward to in the coming months.

New Theatre, George Street, Oxford OX1 2AG
0844 871 3020
www.atgtickets.com/venues/newtheatre-oxford

Highlights include The Producers (June 29 to July 4), The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (July 14 to 18) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (August 4 to 8).

Starring Jason Manford and Ross Noble, The Producers is a hilarious musical that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards. Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits timid accountant Leo Bloom (Manford) to help him pull off Broadway's greatest scam. Together they aim to produce the worst show ever and run away with millions, but soon learn showbusiness can always find a way to kick you in the teeth.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, based on the book by Oxford author Mark Haddon, is a thrilling stage play from the National Theatre. Christopher has an extraordinary brain – exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears’ dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world.

After receiving critical acclaim in the West End, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is now on tour. Starring Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson and Mark Benton, it is based on the classic comedy film starring Sir Michael Caine and Steve Martin. Be transported to the French Riviera as two seasoned swindlers attempt to hoodwink a millionaire heiress.

Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW
01865 305305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Highlights include Peter Pan Goes Wrong (June 22 to 27), Mrs Warren’s Profession (July 14 to 18), Much Ado About Nothing (July 21 to August 2) and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (August 17 to 22).

Following the success of their sellout West End smash hit The Play That Goes Wrong, the award-winning Mischief Theatre Company puts a new spin on Peter Pan. The comedy is said to be terrific fun for everyone, especially adults.

Things take a more serious turn in Mrs Warren’s Profession when Cambridge graduate Vivie Warren is horrified to learn that her education and luxurious lifestyle have been financed by her mother’s career in the world’s oldest profession. Written in 1894, this groundbreaking play by George Bernard Shaw wasn’t allowed a public performance for the next 30 years. In this production, Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses, The Green Green Grass) stars as Mrs Warren alongside Christopher Timothy (All Creatures Great and Small, Doctors, Dial M for Murder).

Much Ado About Nothing will be performed in the outdoor setting of the Old Schools Quadrangle. Firmly established as one of Oxford’s cultural highlights, Oxford Playhouse and the Bodleian Library are welcoming back the Globe Theatre on Tour for Shakespeare’s play of comic and dramatic suspense.

The Mousetrap, famous around the world for being the longest running show in the history of British theatre, is at the Playhouse for one week only. In her own inimitable style, Dame Agatha Christie creates an atmosphere of shuddering suspense and a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner.

The Old Fire Station, 40 George Street Oxford OX1 2AQ
01865 263980
www.oldfirestation.org.uk

On July 16 and 17 the fantastic MadCap Theatre return with fastpaced, fun and understandable Shakespeare for all the family: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Adults can try The Hundred Years’War: three performers, live music and striking imagery combine to create heartwrenching poetic drama Following sell-out Hidden Spire performances in 2012 and 2013, the OFS is working with homeless people from Crisis Skylight Oxford to create a brand new show for 2015: Before The Tempest (September 17-19). A prequel to Shakespeare’s classic tale of love, magic and bad weather, Before The Tempest looks into Miranda and Prospero’s life on the island and discovers their dreams and desires.

The North Wall, South Parade, Oxford OX2 7JN
01865 319450
www.thenorthwall.com

There’s more Shakespeare on offer at The North Wall from June 10 to 13 when Oxford School of Drama will be in residence with a production of the Bard’s great political thriller, Julius Caesar. Directed by Paul Hart, who has previously headed productions for the National Theatre and the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, this event is an opportunity to see emerging talent from one of the UK’s top drama schools. Recent graduates from The Oxford School of Drama have had leading roles in BBC’s Wolf Hall and The Musketeers and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Crucible in the West End.

Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE
01865 812160
www.pegasustheatre.org.uk


Pegasus has a scorching summer of entertainment with something for everyone. Children’s Funday Sunday events for under 5s: Puppets Go Wild, Treetop Restaurant (June 7) and Peanut Butter Pirates (August 2) offer a chance to meet the puppet characters. Comedy Club 4 Kids (May 30) will
see stand-up acts on stage while Fireside Tales with Granddad is a riproaring adventure story with spectacular puppets (June 20).

Plays and spoken word performances include a new production, Blood, a 21st century urban love story (June 5 and 6), and 48 Minutes for Palestine (June 13), a play without words that is part of the Palestine Unlocked festival. Quiet Violence is a comic, anarchic, spoken word piece about a young woman, her mistakes, her relationships and the art of self destruction.

For comedy try Pegasus patron Mark Thomas appearing in a series of shows trying out material for a new show Trespass or Gloriator (June 12), an awe-inspiring production of bravery, honour and cardboard costumes.

Creation Theatre Company
01865 766266
www.creationtheatre.co.uk

Creation will be staging two shows this summer in two different settings.

From July 28 to September 12, the company returns to the beautiful gardens and lawns of Lady Margaret Hall for Shakespeare’s pastoral romantic comedy As You Like It. A wrestling match, love notes on trees and a healthy amount of boys falling in love with girls dressed as boys, this show promises to be as quirky and fun as you’ve come to expect from Creation. As You Like It will be performed in promenade around the college taking in the Fellow’s Garden, the banks of the Cherwell and even the college boathouse. Follow the lovelorn Orlando to his camp in the woods, as he tries to win the heart of the beautiful Rosalind.

Also on the agenda, to mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is Alice, which will be a promenade performance to make the most of its setting in St Hugh’s beautiful grounds (August 18 to 31). It includes plenty of music, puppetry and acrobatics to keep the whole family entertained.

ALSO

There’s more open-air theatre, in the gardens of Wadham College from June 29 to August 15, when The Oxford Shakespeare Company presents Twelfth Night. See www.oxfordshakespearecompany.co.uk for full details.

Or perhaps see if you can spot a star of the future as University of Oxford students perform Shakespeare’s As You Like It in the Christ Church Cathedral Garden from June 3 to 6. Tickets are £7 (£5 concessions). See www.asyoulikeitoxford.wix.com/2015 for details.