Theatre

ROBIN HOOD

Oxford Playhouse

November 29 until January 12 n Box office: 01865 305305 or oxfordplayhouse.com

Robin Hood is riding into Oxford Playhouse for the very first time in this action-packed new panto. Expect non-stop thrills and spills as Robin and his Merry Men battle the evil Sheriff of Nottingham in this classic tale sure to delight all the family. Christmas isn’t the same without a visit to Oxford Playhouse, famous for its traditional pantomimes with high production values. Robin Hood sees the welcome return of Peter Duncan, who wrote and directed last year’s smash hit production of Dick Whittington and many other Playhouse seasonal hits. With a superb cast of your favourite characters, sing-a-long tunes, stunning dancing, slapstick, silliness and lots of chances to join in, it’s going to be the perfect festive entertainment.

Music

KATHRYN TICKELL AND THE SIDE

The North Wall, Oxford

Thursday, November 28 at 8pm

Box office: 01865 319450 or thenorthwall.com

Kathryn Tickell, who has long been known as one of the foremost performers on the Northumbrian Pipes, has become one of the best loved of the UK’s folk artists. Her unsurpassed talent shows itself in all her 14 albums and three BBC Proms performances over her 25-year career. In this new project she teams up with some equally talented and eclectic performers: harpist Ruth Wall has worked across genres, including artists Goldfrapp and Graham Fitkin; accordionist and clog dancer Amy Thatcher has a strong folk pedigree with bands such as The Shee; and Louisa Tuck is principal cellist at Northern Sinfonia (the youngest principal cellist of any UK orchestra). The concert is pres-ented by Oxford Contemporary Music.

Folk music

MOULETTES WITH GUEST SUPPORT LIZ GREEN

The Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury

November 20 at 8pm

Box office: 01863 244246 0000000 or arlingtonarts.co.uk

Moulettes are a Brighton-based folk-rock band who also incorporate prog, pop and classical elements to stunningly original effect. They will be releasing their third album Constellations in the spring. It will feature contributions from The Unthanks, Arthur Brown, legendary sessioneer Herbie Flowers and Blaine Harrison from Mystery Jets among many others. In the meantime they are touring the UK in the autumn and winter of 2013 to say say farewell — or at least ‘au revoir’ — to their previous, acclaimed collection, The Bear's Revenge. They will be accompanied on these gigs by their long-time friend and colleague, Wirral-born, Manchester-ensconced, and universally admired, Liz Green. The Sunday Times has called her “haunting and beautiful”, while Music Weeks said: “Her enchanting mix of muddy blues-tinged folk songs possess a warmth that gets immediately under your skin.”