Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  is currently showing at Oxford Playhouse, and as it’s a musical I was keen to go and see it. A Musical Youth Company of Oxford production, this was timed perfectly for the start of the Easter holiday, and the opening night looked as if it was sold out.   I’m sure I must have watched the film this musical was based on in the past, but the story all felt quite vague in my memory, apart from the fact there was a pretty special car in it.  Indeed there wa

Motherhood  is a Stories That Hit Home Theatre production, written and performed by Clare Nelson, directed by Emma Webb, and I went to see it at the Burton Taylor Studio in Oxford. This was a completely sold out performance.   From a mother - Lisa’s - perspective, this show insightfully details the ever-present worry you have when parenting teenagers, but specifically focuses on how knife crime can impact on a family. The detail in the writing was exquisite, giving valuable i

When I first became aware of Covered In Jam and Asylum Art’s production That’s Not My Name  on Instagram it appealed to me firstly because of the subject matter but also because of inclusion of a 2 star quote among several higher ratings on their posters, instantly giving the sense that this was going to be a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.   Written by Sammy Trotman, who started writing after being sectioned, there are a lot of content warnings for this producti

10 First Dates  is a Gooper Dust production, currently making its debut at Etcetera Theatre as part of Women Writers Festival.   Playwright Christine Rose was inspired to write this piece after trading horror stories about dating with her best friend. That was enough information to make me want to see this show, which was being presented as a “polished work in progress”.   Maggie appeared on stage first, preparing to go on a date whilst speaking aloud both to her reflection i