Katherine MacAlister chooses her pick of the packed programme for Oxford Fringe 2015

Comedy

* Abi Roberts: Downtown Abi
Go downtown with Abi and her Labrador Al Qaeda. Join her in tales of Welsh debauchery, the perils of singing karaoke in Moscow and an unfortunate incident with Jeremy Clarkson in Harrods. Find out what happens when your parents want you to be an opera singer and you end up tap-dancing in a pig costume, promoting a butchers.

Saturday 9pm, Old Fire Station. 01865 305305

* Amadeus Martin: God Created Brixton
Award-winning comedian Amadeus Martin takes you on a journey through Brixton urban legends, anecdotes and observations, from the failed Viking Invasion of 885AD, the Victorian Era of 1885, and his God-fearing mother’s villainy in the 1985 riots.

Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, 9pm-10pm, Turl Street Kitchen/ Oxford Hub. 01865 26417

* Gary Delaney: Work In Progress
Regular Mock the Week panellist, Gary’s first tour ran for two years and has just finished. So he needs to write a new one. It begins here, with piles of cue cards and naïve optimism.

Wednesday, June 3, 8.45pm, OFS. 01865 305305

Theatre 

* Mark Grist & MC Mixy: Dead Poets’ Death Match
Fancy seeing Sylvia Plath take on Ted Hughes? How about Rabbie Burns up against Byron? In the Dead Poets Death Match you’ll choose the competitors and you’ll be the ones who’ll crown the winner. Let the wordy bloodbath begin!

Saturday, May 30, 8pm. Cornerstone, Didcot. 01235 515144

* Soweto Spiritual Singers
As seen in the 2010 World Cup Opening Ceremony, Soweto Spiritual Singer’s come to Oxford with their inspirational mix of fabulous dance, earthy rhythms and rich harmonies. Based on Zulu songs, following the South African a capella gospel tradition, this show never fails to leave audiences breathless and deeply moved.

Saturday and Sunday 2-3pm, OFS. 01865 305305

* Pond Wife
It’s 1997, the Spice Girls are at the top of the charts and one 15-year-old mermaid is about to discover music for the very first time. Pond Wife is a radical reimagining of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic fairytale The Little Mermaid, told through the medium of 90s pop. With storytelling, a bath tub and cheesy pop, performance collaborative Holly & Ted reinvent a story that is funny, scientific and magical.

Tomorrow 7pm & Saturday 4.30pm, OFS. 01865 305305

* Blood
A 21st century urban love story – this modern day Romeo and Juliet is set among a Midlands Pakistani community, in a sparky, funny and heart-wrenchingly honest performance. Caneze meets Sully in the college canteen.

The heat rises over triple chilli sauce in Nando’s. She makes her move in the sweet smoke of a shisha bar. A touchpaper is lit… but neither of them bargained on the lengths to which her brother would go to keep them apart.

Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, 7.30pm, Pegasus Theatre. 01865 812150

* Lee Raven Boy Thief
Lee Raven has accidentally stolen a treasure. This accident might cost his life because what he has is so precious, some would kill for it. Escaping to murky and unexpected parts of London, Lee creates his very own legend but can he escape the most dangerous ending of all?

Adapted from the book written by popular children’s author Zizou Corder (‘Lionboy’ Trilogy), and directed by Angharad Arnott Phillips.

Tomorrow 7.30pm; Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Pegasus Theatre. 01865 812150

Dance

* Flamenco Express
A showcase of uninhibited flamenco, the fiercest form of human expression yet devised from La Joaquina and Chris Clavo. Plus special guests Adrián Brenes – one of the most dynamic dancers to hit Madrid this decade, and singer Javier Macías, a master of flamenco lyricism in constant international demand.

Saturday, 7pm, OFS. 01865 305305

Prices vary, and tickets can be obtained from ticketsoxford.com or 01865 305305. Find the full programme at oxfordfringe.org