Culture

Will 2026 finally kill the clean girl?

The clean girl has become ubiquitous throughout celebrity culture, magazines, and social media in recent years. Her brand prescribes a lifestyle, a kind of idealised minimalism.

Culture Beatrix Arnold -

Nostalgic and sincere: ‘The Glass Menagerie’ in review

Crazy Child Productions staged a genuine and thoughtful adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ classic.

Culture Jessica Phillips -

Irreverent, laugh-out-loud funny: ‘My Dead Mum’s AI Boyfriend’

Aled is a chatbot, but also, more concerningly, Carrie’s mum’s AI boyfriend.

Culture Abigail Lakeland -

A twisted tour-de-force: ‘Bugonia’ in review

Bugonia is a triumph for director Yorgos Lanthimos and his collaborators. He has produced a cynical but rewarding reflection on the human condition.

Culture Toby Bowes Lyon -

Latest

A Bluffers’ Guide To: Shoegaze

Natasha Frost introduces the scene that celebrates itself

Review: Ital – Hive Mind

Adam Piascik ain't too keen on Ital's debut album on Planet Mu

Review: The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know

Simon Torracinta digs his teeth into The Twilight Sad's third album

Manfred Eicher: Sound, silence and the importance of clarity

In a rare interview, Manfred Eicher, founder of the influential ECM label, talks tradition and production values with En Liang Khong

Milja, Movies and Mephisto

Daniel Frampton interviews Milja Fenger, director of Mephisto showing at the Oxford Playhouse during 6th week

Preview: Chekhov’s Shorts

Barbara Speed is given a tantalising taste of an intriguing production of Chekhov Shorts

The elephant in the room

Viccy Ibbett takes a tour of Indian treasures at the Ashmolean

And the Oscar goes to…?

Georgina Pollard looks forward to the glitter and glamour of the 84th Academy Awards

Decades in Film: the 60s

Emelen Leonard delves into 60s youth culture with a close look at The Graduate.

Review: Phantasm, Magdalen College Chapel

Sam Parsons finds Phantasm's brand of English consort music an absolute pleasure, from beginning to end

One to Watch: Big Hat

The vast majority of ex-sixth form bands are usually very bad. Big Hat, says Natasha Frost, are quite the reverse

Press Preview: The Blind Spot

Alex Sheppard is entertained by this piece of new writing, though it's no royal flush.

Review: Cabaret

There are two ways to a reviewer’s heart: a brilliant production, and free wine. Unfortunately, Joshua Phillips received neither.

Review: Vagina Monologues

Claire Harrill feels that, whilst there are many well observed moments, this production of the Vagina Monologues could have benefitted well from a little more rehearsal