Burton Taylor Theatre, Oxford |
Beaumont Street, Oxford
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01865 305305
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Student Play, 13th to 17th May, 7:30
What can a young Classics scholar learn from a homeless friend, a
cynical rent-boy and a naive policeman? New Writing by Caroline
Bird.
The Bald Prima Donna, 13th to 17th May, 9:30
By Eugene Ionesco. A parody of theatre, a tragedy about language or
an exposition of the absurdity of human existence? This new
translation of Ionesco’s best-known play promises to dazzle and
intrigue.
The Lock-In, 20th to 24th May, 7:30
A pub lock-in provides the intense setting for a surreal but
poignant take on the comic absurdity of a post-modern struggle for
identity. New Writing By Ross Cole.
Hippolytus, 20th to 24th May, 9:30
By Euripides. “All the others…they must die too!” The gods control
everything and the mortals struggle to make their curtain call. A
vicious and bloody interpretation of Euripides’ classic play.
The Seduction of Almighty God, 27th to 31st May,
7:30
By Howard Barker. 1539. The Dissolution of the Monasteries has
instigated a widespread loss of faith in God and degeneration into
immorality. As religion is metaphorically and literally torn down, a
devout seventeen-year-old priest finds he has the divine power of
life and death over others, and battles to control it.
An Englishman Abroad, 3rd to 7th June, 7:30
By Alan Bennett. “I have no words – and short of my clothes, no
class. I am ‘The Englishman’.” Can we feel sorry for Guy Burgess - a
displaced, desperately nostalgic spy?
Betrayal, 16th to 18th June, 7:30
By Harold Pinter. Betrayal follows two best
friends, Jerry and Robert, and Robert's wife Emma, with whom Jerry
has a seven-year affair. Witness the gradual breakdown of the
characters and their relationships in this new production presented
by a group of Oxford and Bristol based actors. Pinter at his most
subtle and saddest, but also his most accessible and funny.
Travels with My Virginity, 20th to 21st June
By Guy Dartnell. Travels with my Virginity follows
Guy’s desperate attempts as a nineteen year old student to lose his
virginity by hitch hiking across France, hoping to hook up with an
old girlfriend and see if they might “pick up from where we left
off”. Along the way Guy is picked up by an increasingly strange
series of people, ranging from an incestuous family - the father of
which wants to sleep with Guy - a menacing night club barman who
won’t let him out of his car, to the recent inmate of a sanatorium
who among other things insists on Guy helping him lance his boil.
Travels with my Virginity is a mixture of an
intriguing and bizarre road movie and a rather painful rite of
passage. One thing that is true of it is that nothing ever runs
simply… And the question of course is – does Guy lose his virginity
in the end and if so to who?
Come, Me Pickney!, 25th June, 4:30
Valerie Bloom is an award winning poet and author for children and a
fantastic performer of her work. She will delight you with her
stories and you will find yourself singing along to her poems in
this brand new performance that showcases her writing, set to a
specially commissioned soundscape with theatrical lighting. This is
an uplifting and unique performance from one of the best
contemporary writers for children. Suitable for ages 7-11 years.
Reflections in a Distorting Mirror, 27th June,
6:00
Catherine, heavily pregnant, is desperate to escape into the Big
Wide World but her father, the Commander-in-Chief, won’t give her
the key to the door. To escape, she allies herself with Prince
Baxendale, but they are defeated by a web of conspiracy. A farcical
look at how Family is the model for political conspiracies and
corruption. Written by local author Rio Fanning and performed by
Oxford Actors Network.
Little Hippo and His Magic Pen, 7th July, 11:00
and 2:00
For his birthday Little Hippo received lots of beautiful presents,
his favourite a special red pen from Daddy Hippo. Inside the red pen
are the most beautiful things in the world, but how to get them out?
Based on the story Petit Hippo et son Stylo Magique, by West African
writer Alain Serge Dzotap, Tam Tam Theatre brings you their
interactive version of this enchanting tale where the very young are
invited to make their own use of Little Hippo’s pen. Age 2-5 years.
Little Red Hen, 19th July, 11:00 and 2:00
Down on the farm all seems quiet and peaceful, Cow is chewing the
cud, Pig is snoozing in the sun and Rat is munching on a piece of
cheese. The only animal moving in the whole farmyard is Little Red
Hen.She’s just found a grain of wheat and she’s got a plan… Stuff
and Nonsense tell the classic tale of Little Red Hen using beautiful
puppets, story-telling and original music. Meet the cast and puppets
after the show.
Falstaff, 5th to 9th August, 7:30 and 2:30 on
Saturday
This adaptation is a portrait of Shakespeare’s great comic character
exploring the man and the myth. It paints a wonderful historical and
humorous portrait of Great Britain seen through the eyes of the
great man himself holding court one last-time for a bawdy evening at
The Boars Head tavern.
One Small Step, 28th to 30th August
Check your oxygen, adjust your spacesuit and buckle up for the
biggest mission of your life…an action-packed, full-throttled trip
to the moon! Two extraordinary actors bring dozens of characters to
life in a brilliantly inventive exploration of the space race. Fast,
furious and really rather funny; direct from its’ Edinburgh run –
don’t miss it.
Doctor Nose Travels Through Time, 6th September,
11:00 and 2:00
Doctor Nose is from the land of the Big Noses, where he lives in a
tiny house that can travel through time. On his time-traveling
adventures he has visited the Vikings, questioned Queen Victoria and
shaken hands with Shakespeare. Doctor Nose and friend bring these
magical tales to life using a blend of shadow puppetry, gripping
storytelling and live music. Ages 5 - 11.
Fruits of Life, 9th to 12th September, 7:30 and
2:30 on Thursday
By Gianfranco Nicolini. Two young models portrayed by a painter
become true lovers. An unique and captivating method of storytelling
with the interaction of actors, 3D animations, videoclips and live
shots. Moving images of the digital scene are seamlessly woven into
the narrative. In Italian with English surtitles.
Three Billy Goats Gruff and Other Furry Tales,
13th September, 11:00 and 2:00
What really happened between the wolf and those three little pigs?
And what about Goldilocks, why was she walking in those woods? As
for the Three Billy Goats Gruff, how did they really deal with that
troll? All will be revealed with the help of beautiful puppets, fun
and laughter and an exciting soundtrack that you won’t be able to
stop singing. Age 3+.
Tri-umph!, 15th to 18th September, 7:30
The Writers Group at Oxford Playhouse once more bring us the winners
of their annual writing competition. After high demand last year
make sure you book early to see these three new works for theatre by
Oxfordshire based writers.
The Brothers Size, 24th to 27th September, 7:30
and 2:30 on Saturday
There are two brothers Size: Ogun who has worked hard to get his own
auto-repair shop and Oshoosi who always takes the wrong track.
Oshoosi is fresh out of prison with dreams of faraway places. When
his ex cellmate, Elegba offers him the gift of a car, freedom seems
just around the corner… A playful and deeply original drama.
How To Be Well Dressed and Famous, 29th to 30th September, 7:30
Part one: Rock Aint No Riddle. Fact. Delivered by Jennifer E Jordan
Jennifer has a dream that she is a rock star. Armed with her
acoustic guitar, she will endeavour to convince you that she is no
different than the likes of Pete Docherty and Amy Winehouse. Part
two: Dressing the Part Delivered by Ellie Harrison Fuelled by cake
and wine Ellie puts each version of herself through its paces in a
search for the perfect outfit. Drunkenness begins to cloud her
vision and when no clothes will do; how far will she go to please
her audience?
Lenny, 11th October, 11:00 and 2:00
Life’s tough for Lenny. He gets pushed around at school, his mum
chooses his clothes and his older brother overshadows him. He
decides to transform himself by eating iron nails and waiting for
his legs to become wheels… A touching portrayal, shot through with
humour, fantasy and astounding images, of how it feels to be small
in a big world. Age 10+.
Shoe Baby, 16th to 21st December, daytime
Shoe Baby is a magical puppet show, a fantastical
sing-a-long adventure with a baby who takes to the sea, the air, the
zoo - all in a shoe! Shoe Baby is adapted from the
book written by well-known author Joyce Dunbar. Ages 2 - 5yrs.
Running Length: 40 Minutes.
For more details
see the Burton Taylor web site: www.burtontaylor.co.uk.