Oxford Playhouse

Box office

01865 305305
Beaumont Street, Oxford. A map is here. A seating plan is here.

Next

A Doll's House, 6th to 10th May
A version by Frank McGuinness of Henrik Ibsen’s original. Set as a picture of 1950s domestic bliss, overturned family traditions and values come to the fore as one happy family realises life will never be the same again.

Educating Agnes, 14th to 17th May
Sometimes in a dark and daft world where no one can be trusted, a man needs to go to any lengths to control a woman.

London Assurance, 20th to 24th May
By Dion Boucicault. First performed in 1841, this witty and stylish romantic comedy about misunderstandings and mistaken identity inspired the work of Oscar Wilde and a generation of aesthetes. The Watermill's production.

Spring Awakening, 28th to 31st May
Wedekind’s 1891 masterpiece – so controversial that it was performed censored for over 80 years – now brought to life as the author first wrote it.

The English Game, 3rd to 7th June
This dazzling new play explores the modern British psyche through cricket. Amateur team The Nightwatchmen spend the day smoking, drinking tea and discussing love, politics and the correct interpretation of the LBW law.

Danny the Champion of the World, 10th to 14th June
Landowner Mr Hazell wants to evict Danny and his Dad from their caravan. But Danny has a plan - and soon he and his Dad are caught up in a thrilling and remarkable adventure!

Como Agua Para Chocolate, 17th to 18th June
Tita cooks to quench her aching heart. Her food intoxicates all who taste it, transporting them to a captivating world of magical realism.

The 39 Steps, 23rd to 28th June
This blissfully funny show follows the incredible adventures of Richard Hannay as he encounters murders, secret agents, and beautiful women.

And Then There Were None, 30th June to 5th July
Set on a remote island off the coast of Devon, Agatha Christie’s own stage adaptation of this dark and captivating tale will thrill and enthral.

Topless Mum, 15th to 19th July
A topical satire on tabloid journalism - how far can the story be spun to stop the real truth leaking out?

Sleeping Beauty, 5th December to 18th January
Get ahead and get sorted for next year!

Review of Aladdin

30th November 2007 to 13th January 2008.

From the Newbury Weekly News.

A lad in China, oh yes it is Aladdin, at the Oxford Playhouse, until January 13 Peter Duncan has returned to the Oxford Playhouse to direct Aladdin, bringing back the ever-so-naughty Simon Green as the pantomime dame, Widow Twankey, and the charming Charlotte Warren as the hero's object of desire, Princess So-Shi. Anyone who attended last year's Dick Whittington would feel a sense of déjà vu, because even the coup de theatre, the magic carpet ride, echoes the undersea world Dick took. The formula, however, remains a good one, and first-time attenders will never realise the pantomime is so similar. The pace is fast and Fraser Collins as the cheesy disco-clad genie of the lamp with a huge afro repeatedly steals the show. Traditionalists will find their expected Aladdin routines in the show. Comedy cops are flattened in the washing mangle, scary ghouls are frightened off when encountering Widow Twankey, and the damsel in distress is saved by the happy-go-lucky washing boy. The predominantly Chinese setting enables Duncan to introduce a Beijing Olympics scene where the cast dress up in a variety of sports outfits, all because the Emperor (Michael Remick) "has a thing about lycra". The scene concludes when a couple of characters race into the auditorium, firing off giant bubbles from tubular foam guns covering all and sundry (and reviewers) with dollops of fairy liquid. My co-reviewer for Aladdin, Annie, said: "Aladdin has great music and really great stunts. "The costumes were good and colourful. It was very funny and entertaining with good lyrics and the audience reacted to it which made it interesting and fun. "Wishie Washie (Howard Gossington) was my favourite character because he told great jokes all the time and he was the most fun. "The genie was jazzy and I loved the flying carpet. The set was very good and colourful and I really liked the children. The magic tricks with the washing machines and the one when they put the princess in all those different boxes - they were very good. "Lastly, I thought that Abanazar (Miles Western) was really fun because when the others pronounced his name wrong, he would react in such a way to make the audience laugh." BY JON LEWIS AND ANNIE DONALDSON (AGED 12)

There is a review in The Stage ("no experiments or risks taken with the classic format").

Previous productions

Aladdin, 30th November 2007 to 13th January 2008.
Dick Whittington, 1st December 2006 to 14th January 2007. See the review in the Archive.
Cinderella, December 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Guys and Dolls, by Oxford Operatic Society, 21st to 26th November 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Peter Pan, December 2004. See the review in the Archive.

For more details

see the Playhouse's web site at www.oxfordplayhouse.co.uk.