The Cultural Programme season opens with a bang as Ruby Wax brings her one-woman show I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was to Oxford Playhouse on Thursday (October 10), her rawest, darkest, funniest, and most compelling stage show yet. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/ruby-wax-im-not-as-well-as-i-thought-i-was/
Oxford will also host the UK premiere of Evolver – an immersive virtual reality experience which unfolds with narration from Cate Blanchett and music by Jon Hopkins and Oxford’s Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead, from October 25 – November 14 at a pop-up site on Little Clarendon Street. Created by the award-winning Marshmallow Laser Feast, Evolver takes you deep inside the human body pushing the frontiers of film, technology and medical science, following sell-out runs in New York, Sydney and Cannes. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/evolver/
Next up is a 90-minute cinematic presentation of Max Richter’s Sleep at Magdalen College on Saturday 19 October, followed by an exclusive conversation with the famous composer and pianist. Since its release, SLEEP has become a modern musical phenomenon, with over two billion streams. This unique cinema event offers a serene and immersive glimpse into Richter’s work so come as you are —whether in pyjamas or a hoodie — and enjoy a tranquil journey into sound and consciousness, along with exclusive footage of Max and his ensemble performing SLEEP from his studio in rural Oxfordshire. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/90-minutes-of-sleep/
Don’t miss world renowned British photographer Tim Flach presenting the compelling exhibition More Than Human, at The Westgate on November 2-10, featuring a series of striking animal portraits exploring the profound link between animal and human consciousness. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/more-than-human/
To close the season on Friday November 29, one of the nation’s favourite poets, Lemn Sissay OBE, will perform excerpts from his Sunday Times bestselling memoir My Name is Why at the Said Business School, which documents his experiences of growing up in the care system. This moving, frank, and timely performance meditates on a life spent asking questions and the redemptive power of creativity, followed by a post-event in conversation with Lemn. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/my-name-is-why/
Other highlights include:
- A 21st Century Tea Dance at Reuben College on November 15, hosted by the Olivier Award-winning Kit Green, renowned for their work in comedy and theatre, resulting in a delightful blend of elegance and fun, combining tea, cake, dancing and party games to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere and the chance to meet and engage with a diverse mix of people. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/21st-century-tea-dance/
- After six sold-out shows worldwide and numerous festival appearances, the Museum of Consciousness returns to Jacqueline du Pre Music Building on Sunday 10 November where local and international artists and performers will combine to alter states of consciousness through the power of sound alone in five 40-minute sound experiments over five hours. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/the-museum-of-consciousness/
Can you help our gargoyles save the city? Step into an alternative Oxford full of myths and monsters in this immersive adventure for ages 11+ in Fantasy Futures: The Guardians Of Oxford on November 15-16 on George Street. Step inside a customised city centre venue, where you’ll be led through a multi-sensory, gamified environment, guided by real-world helpers and your virtual gargoyle friends featuring the latest motion capture and Extended Reality technologies. https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/fantasy-futures-the-guardians-of-oxford/
From early morning yoga in the Weston Library to talks, music, conversations, workshops and creative activities, these are just a few of the 20+ events running from October to December in The Cultural Programme’s new Adventures in Consciousness programme.
Aimed at exploring consciousness and what it means to be human in terms of Sleep, Perception, Health, Flourishing, and the Planet.
Josie Bamford, of the Cultural Programme, says: “We’re so excited to present the Adventures in Consciousness season – a programme of incredible artists and creatives coming together with world leading thinkers to explore Consciousness through a range of lenses to offer something for everyone. Come and join us.
To find out more about the Adventures in Consciousness season and to purchase tickets for events, please visit: www.oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk