j j

WinterLight

j

Seasonal Events: Events: Christmas Christmas 200 20088 Seasonal

1st December

2nd December

3rd December

4th December

6th December

7th December

8th December

9th December

j

11th December

12th December

13th December

14th December

15th December

16th December

17th December

18th December

19th December

20th December

21st December

22nd December

23rd December

24th December

25th December

j

5th December

10th December

Oxford, 25/11 - 17/1, p.4

Kidlington, 2/12, p.6

Enysham, 3/12, p.6

Chipping Norton, 4/12, p.4

Thame, 5/12, p.6

Rose Hill, Oxford 6/12, p.6

Witney, 6/12 - 7/12, p.6

Faringdon, 8/12, p.6

Oxford, 9/12, p.6

Witney, 10/12, p.6

Oxford, 11/12, p.7

Oxford, 5/12 - 17/1, p.6

Woodstock, 13/12 - 14/12, p.7

Banbury, 14/12, p.7

Deddington, 15/12, p.7

Wallingford, 16/12, p.7

Countywide, 17/12, p.7

Oxford, to January, p.4

Countywide, 13/11 - 14/2, p.4

Oxford, 17/12 & 20/12, p.7

Bampton, 21/12, p.7

Oxford, 21/12 - 22/12, p.7

Botley, 4/12 - 23/12, p.6

Chipping Norton, 18/11 - 10/1, p.4

Christmas Day

WinterLight Welcome to WinterLight! A sparkling selection of

celebrations and special events to light up darkest midwinter across Oxfordshire. Look out for fire jugglers and fairground rides, Christmas markets and magical lantern processions as Christmas lights are switched on across the county. Take in a traditional pantomime, a concert by candlelight, or drop into Oxford’s WinterLight event on 28th November when the city’s museums, galleries, theatres and open spaces offer after-dark experiences from stargazing at the Museum of the History of Science to fire sculpture and festive fanfares in Bonn Square… This is the second WinterLight festival across Oxfordshire—created through partnerships between town and parish councils, Oxford City Council, community groups, local businesses, artists and cultural organisations and coordinated by Oxford Inspires.

Thank You—WinterLight would not be possible without the support of public and private funding. We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England, Awards for All, Berman Guedes Stretton, The Big Bang, Cherwell District Council, First Great Western, Oxford City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, the West End Partnership and to Oxford Inspires’ stakeholders: Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, The University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University and Arts Council England for their support. Top: The Wrong Size Left: Cogges Manor Farm Museum

Above: Les Grooms

HANSEL & GRETEL 13 November to 14 February Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company and Pegasus Theatre present Mike Kenny’s sparkling retelling of this familiar tale of breadcrumbs, candy canes and witches. A family show 6+. Touring throughout Oxfordshire. Venue details and info: www.ottc.org.uk. Tel: 01865 249444

Right: Didcot Carousel

EARTH FROM THE AIR AT OXFORD CASTLE Until early January A last chance to see these stunning aerial images, floodlit each evening, by world renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Venue: Oxford Castle courtyards. Info: www. oxfordcastle.com/events SLEEPING BEAUTY 18 November to 10 January A fun-filled, sweetie-throwing fairy tale adventure. Visit on 4 December for the town’s Christmas Lights switch-on. Venue: The Theatre, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton. Tickets: 01608 642350 Info: www.chippingnortontheatre.com BICESTER BIG CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON 20 November at 7pm. Info: www.bicestervision.co.uk HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN’S MAGICAL TALES 25 November to 17 January A magical adventure set amidst the antique spiegeltent’s velvet canopies, mirrored pillars and ornate booths. All your favourite fairy tales, from The Little Match Girl to the Princess and the Pea, presented by Creation Theatre Company. Venue: The Mirror Tent at BMW Group Plant Oxford, off Ring Road, Oxford. Tickets: 01865 766266. Info: www.creationtheatre.co.uk VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA 25 November from 6.45pm A Victorian evening of Punch & Judy, fireworks, a fair organ and Victorian bicycles. Competitions for best-dressed shop window and best-dressed individual or group. Venue: Abingdon Town Centre. Info: www.otcn.co.uk/xmas_lights.htm

Above: Chipping Norton Theatre

CHRISTMAS SWITCH ON EVENTS Family fun and seasonal celebrations in towns across the county. Info: www.otcn.co.uk/xmas_ lights.htm DIDCOT CHRISTMAS STREET FAIR 27 November 4–9pm HEADINGTON CHRISTMAS EVENTS 27–29 November HENLEY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 28 November WITNEY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 28 November from 5pm. FESTIVE FARINGDON 29 November from 2 to 5pm BANBURY LIGHTS UP 30 November Left: Witney Reindeer

WINTERLIGHT WINDOWS Special installations created by artists, community groups and schools will appear in Botley, Deddington, Eynsham, Faringdon and Wallingford. For a full list visit www. oxfordinspires.org. Tel: 01865 815525 CHRISTMAS CRAFT EXHIBITION 22 November to 4 January Beautiful gifts and crafts from Oxfordshire Craft Guild. Venue: The Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock. Tel. 01993 814103. 4 Right: Oxford

WinterLight Oxford Friday 28 November 2008. Venues open until 10.30pm. Events in Bonn Square from 5.00pm and in Broad Street from 7pm.

Below: The Wrong Size

Enjoy an evening of spectacle, entertainment and surprises in Oxford’s city centre to kick off the Christmas season in style. Eye-catching street theatre, music and dance celebrate the remarkable transformation of Bonn Square where Les Grooms (The Bellboys), a very unexpected kind of brass band from France, perform a special musical fanfare. At 6.30pm, stilt walkers, The Wrong Size, will lead a procession featuring giant lanterns made by local schoolchildren from the Square and along Queen Street and Cornmarket, illuminated by new Christmas Lights. Arriving in Broad Street at 7pm, the extraordinary outdoor arts company Walk the Plank will raise a giant mobile animated with fire and fireworks heralding the start of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Oxford’s museums galleries, theatres and shops will be open late into the evening offering a heart-warming menu of things to do, to listen to and eat. Special events include artist’s light projections at Oxford Castle, the switch on of the Christmas Lights, live music and a special “WinterLight” cocktail at The Oxford Playhouse and guided exhibition tours and children’s activities at Modern Art Oxford. Or why not explore one of the city’s museums after dark? The University of Oxford museums offer activities inspired by the night sky at the Museum of the History of Science, live music at The Ashmolean, family events at the Natural History Museum plus there are Victorian treats at the Museum of Oxford. Kids Go Free! The Oxford Bus Company is offering free travel after 6pm on 28 November to children aged 5–15 years old, up to 3 children per adult. Children travelling solo pay normal fare. Applies only to local buses and Park & Ride. Thank you to Oxford Bus Company. For a full list of participating venues and events see www. oxfordinspires.org or look out for the WinterLight Oxford leaflet. WinterLight Oxford is produced by Oxford Inspires with Simon Chatterton, Oxford City Council and the West End Partnership. Walk the Plank is co-commissioned with Middlesbrough Borough Council. WinterLight is supported by Arts Council England, Awards for All, Berman Guedes Stretton, The Big Bang and First Great Western. Above left: Les Grooms

5 Above: The University of Oxford Museum of Natural History

Above: Walk the Plank

WINTERLIGHT WINDOW, OXFORD 28 November to 5 December Artist Lois Muddiman at Boswells, Broad Street A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND CANDLES 29 November at 6pm Carols around the Christmas tree, mulled wine, hot soup, late night shopping by candlelight, The Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums and the turn on of the town’s Christmas lights. Venue: Woodstock Town Square. Info: www. wakeuptowoodstock.com BURFORD ADVENT FAIR 30 November from 12 noon Musicians, street entertainers and fire jugglers accompany the Christmas lights switch on at Tolsey Town Hall at 4.30pm. Storytelling, special exhibitions and events in the town’s shops, a ‘Teddy Trail’ children’s competition, Father Christmas and a procession to the Church Green for carols. Venue: Burford. Info: mail@ stonegallery.co.uk KIDLINGTON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2 December CHIPPING NORTON LIGHTS 4 December CHRISTMAS IN CHARLBURY 4 December THAME’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 5 December SLEEPING BEAUTY 5 December to 17 January A family pantomime based on the classic fairy tale. Venue: Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford. Tickets: 01865 305305. Info: www. oxfordplayhouse.com ART IN ROSE HILL 6 December at 5pm A festive lights display with a difference! Join artists Katy Beinart and Jo Huyg for a special walking tour around Rose Hill, Oxford as the Street Lights Project is switched on. Venue: Meet at Rose Hill Community Centre, The Oval, Oxford. Info: www.modernartoxford.org.uk. Tel: 01865 722733

6

HANDEL’S MESSIAH 6 December at 7.30pm Cranford Choral Society sing Handel’s Messiah in the atmospheric surroundings of Dorchester Abbey, accompanied by the St Giles Orchestra from Oxford. Venue: Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester-on-Thames. Tickets: 01865 305305. Info: www.cranfordchoral.org.uk

WINTERLIGHT WINDOW, EYNSHAM From 3 December at 6pm Artist Loredana Faraon at Eynsham Emporium, Mill Street. WINTERLIGHT WINDOW, BOTLEY From 4 December at 6pm Artist Sally Austin at the Westway Shopping Centre, Botley, Oxford ADVENT WEEKEND 6 and 7 December. 11am to 4pm See the Victorian Manor House decorated for Christmas. Carol singing, sugar mouse making, Christmas pudding making, crafts, decorations. Nativity service with animals. Venue: Cogges Manor Farm Museum, Church Lane, Witney. Tel: 01993 772602 Info: www.cogges.org WINTERLIGHT WINDOW, FARINGDON From 8 December at 6pm Artist Wez Jacobs at Faringdon Tourist Information Centre. GREAT BIG CHRISTMAS SING 9 December at 9pm Choirs and music groups from schools across the county perform for Christmas. Venue: Town Hall, St Aldates, Oxford. Info: music.service@ oxfordshire.gov.uk WINTERLIGHT WITNEY 10 December at 6pm WinterLight lantern installation, made by artist Paul Batten with community groups from Madley Park. Venue: the playground, Madley Park, Witney.

Below: Woodstock Bottom: Cogges Manor Farm Museum

THE PENDYFFRYN CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2008 11 December at 7.30pm A magical evening with words and music led by the Choir of New College, Oxford conducted by Edward Higginbottom. Dame Judi Dench OBE (subject to availability) leads a star-studded cast. Venue: The Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford. Tickets: 01865 305305. Info: www. pendyffryn.org FESTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE PALACE 13 and 14 December from 10.30am to 5.30pm Traditional carols and festive music in Britain’s finest palace. School choirs and The Oxford Silver Band perform in the Long Library and The Great Hall. Venue: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock. Tel: 0870 060 2080. Info: www.blenheimpalace. com BANBURY CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS 14 December from 3.30pm A Jacobean Market and Ice Rink in the town centre, carols at the Horsefair Christmas Tree at 3.30pm followed by a Lantern Procession and a concert in Banbury Town Hall at 5.30pm. Info and tickets: Banbury Town Council on 01295 250340 WINTERLIGHT WINDOW, DEDDINGTON From Monday 15 December Artists Pam Foley and Helen White at the Deddington Police House. WINTERLIGHT WINDOW, WALLINGFORD From 16 December at 6pm Wallingford’s Festival of Lanterns & Community Carols. Artist Harriet Rutter at Old Waitrose, St Martins Street.

Below: County Music Service

BBC OXFORD’S BIG CHRISTMAS CAROL! 17 December at 7.30pm Exercise your lungs and be part of Oxfordshire’s biggest-ever Christmas carol service! Join BBC Oxford at venues all around the county or at home. For venues and the order of service: www.bbc.co.uk/oxford CHRISTMAS AT CHRIST CHURCH 17 and 20 December at 8pm Choral gems performed by Christ Church Cathedral Choir. Actors Jean Marsh and Robert Hardy deliver Christmas poetry and prose—and there’s a chance for you to sing too. Venue: Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Tickets: 0870 750 0659. Info: www.musicatoxford.com LORD MAYOR’S CAROL CONCERT 21 December at 2.30pm Annual carol service. Venue: Oxford Town Hall, St Aldates. Tickets available 1 December at Town Hall. Tel: 01865 249811 BACH BY CANDLELIGHT 21 December An intimate candlelit concert with the Bampton Classical Players. Venue: St Mary’s Church, Bampton. Tickets: 020 7222 1173. Info: www. bamptonopera.org ARIAS ON ICE 21 and 22 December at 5.30 and 8.30pm Oxfordshire’s own Opera Anywhere live up to their name with an evening of opera on ice. Choreographed to well-loved opera classics by Mozart, Bizet and Rossini and performed by champion skaters and singers from the company. Venue: Oxford Ice Rink. Tickets: 01865 305305 Info: www.operaanywhere.com

Above: Blenheim Palace

Left: Christ Church

7

WinterLight would not have been possible without the generous financial support of public and private bodies across the county. We are grateful to the following for their support to WinterLight and to Oxford Inspires as its coordinator—and to our partners in town and parish councils, community groups and cultural organisations for taking part in WinterLight this year.

WinterLight Supporters

Oxford Inspires Stakeholders:

Oxford Inspires Major Partners and Media Partners 2008

Oxford Inspires Corporate Members

B4 Magazine, Barceló Oxford Hotel, Berman Guedes Stretton, Bicester Village, B l a k e L a p t h o r n , B l e n h e i m C o l o u r, B M W G r o u p P l a n t O x f o r d , c a r b o n c o l o u r, The Corner Club, CPM, Finders Keepers, First Great Western, Four Pillars Hotels, Hook Norton Brewery, ImageWorks, Infineum, Lucy Properties, Oxford Bus Company, Oxford Castle, Richardsons Chartered Accountants, Torpedo, VSL & Partners.

For latest information go to www.oxfordinspires.org Oxford Inspires, Central Library, Westgate, Oxford OX1 1DJ. Tel 01865 815525. [email protected].