Oxford Shakespeare Jubilee 2016

Events.

The Oxford Shakespeare Jubilee 2016 is proud to announce that as part of the Jubilee The Hiphop Shakespeare company will be performing their high octane version of Richard ii at Oxfords 02 Academy, April 29th 2016 Founded in 2009 by MOBO award-winning hip hop artist Akala, The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company (THSC) is a music theatre production company aimed at exploring the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and that of modern day rappers. Launched with the support of British actor Sir Ian McKellen, THSC delivers bespoke education programmes offering young people a different view of the arts and ultimately, themselves. THSC also produce interactive live music events/theatre productions showcasing the work of up and coming young talent who share the stage with established artists, poets and actors. In 2009, THSC received a London 2012 Olympic Inspire Mark, which coincided with the first ever Hip Hop Shakespeare Live show in the Cultural Olympiad’s Open Weekend, attracting crowds of several hundred people spanning all ages and cultural background.

Due to popular demand, The Hiphop Shakespeare Company has since established an Artist Associate and Peer Leader programme to enhance its legacy of work with incredibly talented youth coming through THSC’s Peer Leader programme who train to become part of THSC’s growing collective of artistic talent. Artist Associates are a collective of highly talented professional artists who mentor and perform alongside Peer Leaders at THSC productions around the globe – previous collaborators include: Ed Sheeran, Ashley Bashy Thomas, Ms. Dynamite, TY, Josh Osho, Zena Edwards, Kate Tempest, Polar Bear, George The Poet, and Lady Leshurr. Peer Leaders include young artists (rappers/singers/poets) and creatives (producers/production crew/designers) from across the UK. To date THSC’s work has consistently proved popular with audiences of all ages around the world, having toured the UK, Europe as well as parts of South East Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India.
For more information check out: The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company.

The Hip Hop Shakespeare company presents Richard II The Hip Hop Shakespeare company is a musical production company founded by MOBO award winning Hip Hop artist Akala. They Bring their high octane production of Richard II to Oxford’s O2 Academy as part of The Oxford Shakespeare Jubilee 2016. The company perform a medley of songs adapted from scenes and themes of William Shakespeare’s Richard II.

Get tickets for this event at WeGotTickets or buy at Truck Store.

One of the Proud sponsors of the Oxford Shakespeare Jubilee,the famous Kings Arms public house, will host a series of exciting talks in the lovely Wadham room of the pub.

April 19th 3.30pm

Nobles, Playwrights and Arcadia: The World of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, Shakespeare’s patron William Herbert, whose splendid bronze statue stands in the Old Schools Quad in the Bodleian Library, is seen by many commentators as the mysterious 'Mr WH' to whom William Shakespeare dedicated his Sonnets, and thus the 'Fair Youth' to whom the first 126 are addressed. . But who was William Herbert? A man Clarendon would later describe as 'being the most universally loved and esteemed of any man of that age.' And why might he have been the object of Shakespeare's infatuation and artistic genius? And why is he, his family and their estate at Wilton Hall, so central to our understanding of the changing and contested world of Jacobean England? This introductory talk, interspersed with readings from the Sonnets and Herbert’s own works will attempt to illuminate some of these questions.

£7 entry tickets available from www.wegottickets.com

Sweete Wittie soules book talk and art exhibition at 4pm on Thursday April 21st. Author and Oxford Shakespeare jubilee director, Tom McDonnell will give a talk on his book which investigates Shakesperian connections to Oxford, the town, gown and shire. The Kings Arms will also host an exhibition of artwork from the book.

Analyse Thou - A comedy from Ruff Trade.

Saturday April 23rd and Sunday April 24th - 8:00pm The Cellar In the unique setting of the Cellar, South east theatre company, Ruff Trade present Analyse Thou. Delve into the minds of the Bards finest characters in a hilarious series of revealing counselling sessions, a perfect way to celebrate the Bards birthday (and Death day).

Tickets £10, available from www.wegottickets.com

Ticket holders for this event can get a cheaper drink at The Crown Inn, Shake Beer Shin Dig on production of their ticket.

April 28th 4pm Supernatural vengeance in Hamlet and Macbeth Local historian and freelance lecturer Simon Image M.A will give a fascinating talk on Supernatural vengeance in Hamlet and Macbeth, in the famous Oxford pub, The Kings Arms which apparently hosted the debut performance of Hamlet outside of London.

£6 entry- tickets from www.wegottickets.com

Tom McDonnell, author of Sweete wittie souls, Shakespeare’s connections to Oxford, town, gown and shire, will host a walking tour around Oxford, bringing to life Shakespeare’s visits, influences and affairs in the city of dreaming spires.
The tour starts at Carfax Tower and will be 1 hour 15 minutes.

Shakespeare and Oxford walking tour
Wednesday 20th April 12.30pm
Tickets are £10 from www.wegottickets.com

Tuesday 27th April 12.30pm
Tickets are £10 from www.wegottickets.com

Tuesday 3rd May 12.30pm
Tickets are £10 from www.wegottickets.com

The Food of Love project, SJE Arts, April 22nd

The food of love project brings together a great variety of musicians who will perform music mentioned or performed in Shakespeare’s plays composed during or before the Bards lifetime.
To celebrate the April release of The food of love project album {Autolycus records} many of the bands who have recorded tracks will perform at SJE Arts as part of a nationwide tour.

Artists who will play SJE Arts include Brickwork Lizards, Flights of Helios, James Bell and Kirsty Law with many more exciting acts to be announced soon.

Tickets: Adv £14 adults £12 concessions from www.wegottickets.com.
Door £17 adults £15 concessions.

Alva present an Evening of Shakespearian Broadside ballads,including King Lear and Titus Andronicus

Broadside ballad specialists Alva will perform Shakespearian songs and ballads from the 17th century, including King Lear and Titus Andronicus,
Performances will take place in the Castle courtyard and in the Crypt.
Drinks will be available and spaces are limited so early booking is advised for what will be a very atmospheric musical interperatation of two of the Bards darkest tales.
Each show will last approximately 1 hours 15 mins.

Tickets on sale at The Oxford Castle for £10 each.

The Mystery of the sonnets April 30th
Oxford Shakespeare Jubilee director will give an introductory small talk on the mysterious nature of the sonnets before the performance.

The Kings Arms players will perform select Sonnets to a soundtrack of Shakespearian music performed by the atmospheric ensemble The Children of the midnight chimes {imagine John Dowland remixed by Portishead}, a backdrop will be provided via projections of faces connected with the mysterious Sonnets by artist Jane D Haigh This will be truly original and unmissable event.

£10, 8pm, Fusion Arts – East Oxford Community Centre Princes Street Oxford OX4 1DD.
Tickets from www.wegottickets.com or on the door.

Sat April 30th 12pm and 2pm Manga Shakespeare workshops Work with professional Manga artist Sonia Leong as she shows you how to draw different characters and plan comic pages in this attractive and dynamic style of artwork.

Sonia's first graphic novel was Manga Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet ( Selfmadehero) and her awards include Young library services association "2008 quick picks for reluctant young adult readers“ and ”Best books for young adults 2008" for Romeo and Juliet.