Culture

The rise of the pop girlie: Marketing mediocrity or feminism in action?  

“GIRLS INVENTED PUNK ROCK, NOT ENGLAND”: so reads the iconic green T-shirt of Sonic Youth legend Kim Gordon. The slogan stands in defiance of an unfortunate truth in the music industry: femininity and credibility often exist in contention with one another.
Culture Aoife Williams -

World music after ‘world music’

On the face of it, the term ‘world music’ is perhaps one of the...
Culture Agastya Anand -

NAZA: The most important film of the year

The filmmakers of NAZA clearly know that beyond physical distance, emotional distance is what allows the violence in Gaza to continue, and shows us just how easy it is to ignore what is going on right under our noses.
Culture Willow Jopp -

In conversation with John Kennedy, “one of the most trusted voices in music”

In a media landscape often dominated by gossip, rumours, and sometimes pure hate, it’s undeniably refreshing to listen to John, a man who never lost sight of what really matters.
Culture Emma Heagney -
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Nostalgic and sincere: ‘The Glass Menagerie’ in review

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

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.

An intervention for men’s winter fashion

In winter, comfort tends to take precedent over style. Fashionable tops are sacrificed for warm jumpers, and then engulfed by coats.

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.

‘Heated Rivalry’ vs ‘Stranger Things’: Case studies in creative control 

Stranger Things, like Heated Rivalry, has dominated the cultural zeitgeist at various points across its ten-year airing schedule.

Dropping hints before dropping albums: The art of the tease

Promotion seems to be a part of the performance for many artists, setting the stage for the project they are going to release, and priming their audience.

The mysterious posters in Oxford, and the novel behind them

I had assumed it was just another poster, lost in the usual blur of student plays, society termcards, and talks promising free pizza. But this one was oddly specific.

Musical theatre and classic literature: A marriage of two minds?

Musical theatre owes a great debt to the literature of preceding centuries. Often, all we need is one idea to ignite a spark that leads to something greater.

Rich and generative: In conversation with ‘The Glass Menagerie’

After the success of The Creditors last Michaelmas, the Keble-based Crazy Child Productions is set to bring Williams’ breakout work to the Keble O’Reilly.

How not to decolonise a museum: ‘Suturing Wounds’ at the Pitt Rivers

Emma Heagney reviews Sara Sallam's exhibition at the Pitt Rivers and how the museum interacts with decolonisation.

Rory Stewart’s ‘Middleland: Dispatches from the Borders’ in review

Middleland (2025) is not his masterpiece, but it is as much worth reading as any of his work – erudite, perceptive, and beautifully written.  

A breakdown in technicolour: ‘Company’ in review

With flashing lights and a shower of confetti, Fennec Fox Productions’ Company bursts onto the Playhouse stage to deliver its exuberant portrayal of romantic pessimism, just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

Lost and found: The art of translation

Translation should be more than mechanic substitution. It demands that the translator acts as a conduit, conveying the intricacies of emotion, style, and intention, while negotiating the hurdles of linguistic complexity.

‘An enormous amount of humour’: ‘Lemons’ review

Lighthouse Productions’ debut project delivered a fast paced, hilarious version of Sam Steiner’s script. Even the argumentative scenes prompted laughs.

‘Does your doctor need to care?’: GREYJOY, reviewed

GREYJOY is a stunning example of how intricate and thoughtful student theatre can be.

How does an Oxford student read for fun?

No matter which book is in front of me, I’m almost always reading in twenty-second bursts, and I’m constantly thinking about what else I could be looking at if I only picked up my phone.

‘Funny, sad things’: In conversation with ‘GREYJOY’

The cast and crew of 'Greyjoy' discuss their upcoming production, a show with a sharply comic tone that grapples with weighty themes.

Family resemblance: Oxford’s twin cities

From prestigious university towns to ancient settlements, Oxford is twinned with seven cities around the world, spread across three continents.

A noble mind o’erthrown: ‘Hamlet’ at the National Theatre

This month, Hamlet returns to the stage in a new production soon to be released on National Theatre Live, following its staging last autumn.  

Lighthouse Productions on ‘Lemons’

The team outlined the vision for their debut production: a political, surrealist piece of contemporary theatre.
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