Actor Kevin Spacey was given a standing ovation by an Oxford crowd after his first stage performance since being cleared of sexual assault.

The Hollywood star performed a scene from William Shakespeare’s play Timon of Athens as part of a lecture on 'cancel culture' by anti-'woke' newspaper columnist Douglas Murray at the Sheldonian Theatre on Monday night (October 16).

Mr Spacey, 64, was cleared in July of sexually assaulting four men. One of his accusers claimed to have been assaulted in Oxfordshire, a Southwark jury was told.

He was said to be ‘deeply moved’ to be returning to the UK stage.

Mr Murray, who gave Monday night’s lecture held in memory of conservative philosopher Sir Roger Scruton, told The Times: “It’s about what happens when a society drops a person for no reason.

“It’s something that has been on Kevin’s mind, as it was on Roger Scruton’s mind, so I said I want him to be back on stage in the UK.”

The actor’s appearance in Oxford came days after a cinema in London’s West End binned its offer to host the premiere of new film Control after learning that it starred Mr Spacey.

The British-made movie, by director Gene Fallaize, sees a government minister kidnapped when her self-driving car is hijacked. Mr Spacey voices the crook who has taken over the vehicle.