Theatre

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

New Theatre, Oxford

August 27-31

Box office: 0844 871 3020 atgtickets.com/oxford

Let’s do the Time Warp again. Get ready for a night of fun, frolics and frivolity in this new 40th anniversary production of Richard O’Brien’s classic original. Ready to thrill you with its frothy fun and naughty moments, this is the boldest bash of them all, so sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life. Directed by Christopher Luscombe (who will also be playing The Narrator), and starring Oliver Thornton as Frank N. Furter and Ben Forster as Brad Majors. Be warned, this show has rude parts.

Dance

STRICTLY OXFORD

New Theatre, Oxford

Sunday, July 21 at 6.30pm

Box office: 0844 871 3020 or atgtickets.com/oxford

Following last year’s sell-out show, Strictly Oxford is back, bigger and better than before. Another batch of brave local celebrities and dignitaries will be donning their dancing shoes in aid of Vale House, a local care home for Alzheimer and dementia sufferers, in what promises to be a fabulous and entertaining evening of dancing. Lined up for the event are Oxford heart surgeon Prof Stephen Westaby (pictured with dancer Jane Homes), Shamus Donald, regional managing director of Newsquest; Karl Leitelmayer, senior director at Lloyds TSB; George Anderson, personal trainer; Brigadier Ian Inshaw, former High Sheriff of Oxfordshire; Millius Palayiwa, director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation; Jackie Kola, chef at Vale House; Kat Orman, BBC Radio Oxford presenter; Nikki Loy, singer; Placi O’Niell-Espejo, director of Bicester Vision; Lindsay Sandison, director of Oxford City Orchestra; Victoria Condratova, director of Adbell International; Nina Brown, yoga teacher; Tina Tao, from Unipart; author William Horwood and Dr Nick Brown, principal of Linacre College. Each celebrity is given six weeks’ tuition leading up to the show and all will be partnered by a talented dancer from the Step by Step Dance School. On the night, they will each perform a Latin and a Ballroom dance, followed by a unique and exciting show dance.

Theatre

THE ODD COUPLE: BANBURY CROSS PLAYERS

The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury

July 17-20 at 7.45pm

Box office: 01295 279002 themillartscentre.co.uk

Neil Simon’s celebrated comedy is being delivered here in a different way, with its leading characters involved in a gender swap. Six sassy American ladies meet once a week at Olive’s home to eat, drink and play Trivial Pursuit. Olive, against the advice of friends, takes pity on Florence when she is abandoned by her husband and invites her to stay. Olive, a self-confessed slob, soon discovers that Florence, a stickler for detail, has habits that would try the patience of a saint! Two attractive, fun-loving Spanish men who live upstairs add further complications.