http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/ The Oxford Times /leisure/arts/ en-gb Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:17:39 +0000 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:17:39 +0000 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/rssterms/ M6 nvincent@newsquest.co.uk webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/resources/images/727338/?type=rsslogo http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/ http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/4027922.Manon__English_National_Ballet__London_Coliseum/ Sir Kenneth MacMillan, who died in 1992, was undoubtedly one of the great choreographers of the last century. His particular forte was expressing extreme emotions – love, lust, hate, jealousy, misery – in highly imaginative duets and trios, requiring virtuoso dancers who could also act. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:01:06 +0000 4b483bd20e84eabaff87f61a7179c8f5 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/4027744.Darwin__200th_anniversary_exhibition_at_the_Natural_History_Museum__London/ February 12 is the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of a man who changed our understanding of the world and our place within it. A sculpture of Charles Darwin as an old man looks benignly down at visitors and the skeleton of the diplodocus in the Central Hall of The Natural History Museum in South Kensington. Until April 19, you can learn more about him as an energetic young man and the 20-year birth pangs of his On the Origin of Species by visiting their Darwin exhibition. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:57:30 +0000 6f723fa5b330e5eaf3158ba24f43f490 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/4019904.Avenue_Q__No__l_Coward_Theatre__London/ Warning: Avenue Q is not – repeat not – Sesame Street. At the very nearest (I’m guessing here) it is what might happen to Sesame Street if the producers of Jerry Springer: the Opera got wired one night and said: “Have you ever thought about Bert and Ernie naked?” Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:56:13 +0000 7525f106f93fd1a2039b293f8c37d430 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3998292.Sunset_Boulevard__Comedy_Theatre__London/ ‘In a just world,” I wrote when this production opened at the Newbury Watermill, “this intimate version of Sunset Boulevard should surely transfer to a suitable West End theatre.” Now it has, which should please many people locally who couldn’t get tickets to the sell-out Watermill run. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:55:47 +0000 700f2808f5a73322bd6340fabe931e35 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3998307.Hark_the_Herald_Angels_Sing__Christ_Church_Gallery/ You can “celebrate the spirit of the Christmas season” at the Christ Church Picture Gallery until February 22 with a selection of Old Master drawings from the 16th and 17th centuries. When I went along early in November, it was too early for festive thoughts but, as usual, the sheer quality of the drawings the gallery shows, all from Christ Church’s fabulous collection, soon took over. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:57:47 +0000 0c569340e1b22868538cfba95036b941 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3998202.Aladdin__Corn_Exchange__Newbury/ From the start the audience are a full part of this excellent and engaging production. The auditorium is festooned with Widow Twankey’s washing, and early on in the show she decides the audience needs washing too, promptly acting on that decision! Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:35:00 +0000 a06b2b6122e40012c1217a578f2e1227 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3998018.Aladdin__Wyvern_Theatre__Swindon/ If you fancy a night out this Christmas during which rocks fly past your head and creatures appear before your eyes, then head for Swindon. These are just some of the high-tech highlights of this years pantomime at the Wyvern Theatre which literally has to be seen to be believed. Before entering Old Peking everyone is given a pair of 3D spectacles which you are asked to wear whenever Aladdin’s friend Ali Genie makes an appearance. Ali is a genie with a hilarious personality who leads you into scary caves and take you on a roller-coaster magic carpet ride! Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:02:02 +0000 bbbead523f78dbaef8a508b95716bd8c http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3998025.Dick_Whittington__Hexagon__Reading/ Dick Whittington certainly feels like the right pantomime for this year. The message – that even the lowliest country boy can find fame and fortune – speaks to the same vainly optimistic streak as reality television; and the collapse of Alderman Fitzwarren's business, following a rash investment and an unexpected shipwreck, suddenly seems uncannily reminiscent of a certain international economic crisis. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:03:20 +0000 899cd2d8689019b28064e27adb95d6b0 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3998188.Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs__Wycombe_Swan__High_Wycombe/ This colourful, tune-packed Snow White is true family entertainment in two senses of the words. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:33:33 +0000 1a150b72cf0d8f78c310fbe28d6b892a http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/arts/3997984.Sleeping_Beauty__Oxford_Playhouse/ Christmas suddenly ‘happened’ for me during Sunday evening’s performance of the Oxford Playhouse’s delightful production of Sleeping Beauty. As the fearless Prince Raphael (Joseph Attenborough) approached the slumbering form of Princess Beauty (Lois Unwin), the excited youngsters surrounding me in the stalls were in no doubt at all about what he was required to do. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:55:27 +0000 dfe63ae1a0566cb30a63c4917a65712a