Super September! What’s on in Bucks & Oxon this month

THEATRE

After a quiet August, the theatres are roaring back to life in time for the new season. Musical fans will be glad to hear that Dreamgirls is back at The New Theatre Oxford from 27 Sept to 1 Oct (find out more about why we love the show here), and you can catch Blood Brothers, running until 3 Sept, at Milton Keynes Theatre. Also at Milton Keynes: Saturday Night Fever (7-10 Sept), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (above – starring Alexandra Burke as The Narrator, no less – 12-24 Sept) and An Inspector Calls (27 Sept-1 Oct).

Back in Oxford, head to Oxford Playhouse for Fringe First Award winner Happy Meal (above, 13-17 Sept), a lavish production of Bugsy Malone (20-24 Sept) and Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s Spike (27 Sept-1 Oct). You can also find another Fringe First Award winner in the form of Brown Boys Swim over at The North Wall (22-24 Sept), and – for something completely different – Creation Theatre’s performance of an 1800s farce, Animal Magnetism, staged at St Hugh’s College on 8 Sept.

COMEDY

Get ready to hold those sides – there’s a whole barrel of laughs headed our way this month, kicking off with Jenny Eclair’s new show, Sixty! (FFS!), taking place at The Stables in Milton Keynes on 15 Sept. Sticking to the funny woman theme: the inimitable Dawn French is touring with her show, Dawn French is a Huge Twat, which you can catch at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 29 Sept (her Oxford show is already sold out – too slow!), while Suzi Ruffel, who you’ll recognise from Live At The Apollo, performs her latest show Snappy at Chipping Norton Theatre, also on 29 Sept.

Prefer your comedy in variety format? Try Jericho Comedy Live on for size, on at The North Wall on 16 Sept, or, if you can’t make that, The Kenton Theatre in Henley is hosting comedians Seann Walsh, Amy Matthews and Jake Lambert on 22 Sept. Finally, the fabled comedy nights at The Potter’s Arms in Amersham are back – check out the first of the season on 29 Sept.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Muddy’s pick of the fairs this month is Henley Decor Fair in Greenlands Park, Henley running from 22-25 Sept. The perfect event for treasure hunters, antiques lovers and interiors fans, the fair is packed with over 150 stalls all brimming with gems. There’s also live music, evening entertainment and plenty of food and drink. If you’re quick, you could win fair tickets for two, as well as a VIP tasting menu and overnight stay at Crockers, if you enter our fabulous Reader Treat before 11 Sept.

Want to test your tongue (minds out of the gutter, please)? Spice fans should hit up Chilli Fest at Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury from 2-4 Sept. You’ll be able to sample the wares of over 70 stallholders (not all of them are chillis, FYI), as well as enjoying live music, face painting, salsa dancing and loads more. Other foodie fun this month includes The Big Beer & Music Bash at High Wycombe Cricket Club on 10 Sept and Thame Food Festival 2022 at Thame Show Ground on 24-25 Sept.

Special mention goes to Daylesford’s Harvest Festival, a hop over the border in Kingham, Glos – it’s worth the trip for a supper club hosted by celeb chef Clodagh McKenna, live cooking demos, hot air balloon rides, live music, and a dog show judged by Richard E Grant and Christopher Biggins?! Book your tickets for 17-18 Sept.

Film fans should head to Braziers Park in Wallingford for their fix, as their Braziers International Film Festival is being held from 2-4 Sept. Screenings take place in the Gothic Manor House, in custom-built outside structures and in the historic 17th-century barn, and there are talks and Q&A afterwards. Your local Odeon, this ain’t.

What is it about artisan craft fairs that feels so fitting to autumn? Stock up on your chutneys, candles and more at Millet’s Farm in Abingdon at their Autumn Artisan Craft Fair on 10-11 Sept – don’t forget to check out the Dahlia Beach PYO Flower Farm while you’re there too, as it’s running from now until 30 Oct.

Head for the water on 24 Sept for the Dragon Boat Festival at Willen Lake. Up to 48 teams will compete on the day, and there’s just as much fun to be had on dry land too, with entertainment, live music and food.

FAMILY

Shooting to the top of our must-do list this month is the famous Medieval Jousting at Stonor Park, Henley, taking place on 17 and 18 Sept. Gawp at the colourful Knights of Royal England recreating medieval jousting (with better health and safety, obv) and watch weapon displays, archery and axe throwing – as well as scoffing medieval food and drink, naturally. A great way to get the kids into history for the new term.

There’s plenty of family theatre to book in this month, including The Zoo That Comes to You at Norman Bragg Studio in Aylesbury on 3 Sept, a seriously adorable puppet show that teaches children all about various animals (don’t panic, there’s no real fur or feathers here). There’s also The Rascally Diner, hosted by The North Wall at Cuttleslowe Park in Oxford on 10 Sept, a bonkers cooking demo where the chef may or may not have to fight off an evil cake… Speaking of cake, baking is also the basis of whimsical puppet show Hulla Balloony Moon Time at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot on 18 Sept. Take your 2 to 7-year-olds and get ready for flour to fly.

You still have time to catch the hidden hedgehogs at Batsford Arboretum! Up until 4 Sept, you can pay an extra £2.50 per child and then go hunting the colourful critters and marking the locations on a map to win a prize.

Last call! Catch Thomas the Tank Engine at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Aylesbury on 3 and 4 Sept – it’s your last chance until the end of October to take a ride on everyone’s favourite steam train.

OUTDOORS

Stretch your legs and raise money for a good cause with Breast Walk Ever, kicking off in Wallingford on 4 Sept. Choose one of three walks alongside the River Thames – a 10k, half marathon or marathon – and help raise vital funds for breast cancer research. The dog can even come too! Too hardcore for you? Try the Panto Fun Run to raise money for Chipping Norton Theatre on 25 Sept. Grab your best panto-ready costume and get walking, running or rolling the 5k course.

Make the most of the remaining summer warmth (*sob*) with a spot of open air cinema at Waddesdon Manor. From 8-11 Sept, The Luna Cinema will be taking up residence at the Manor, with under-the-stars showings of Moulin Rouge!, No Time to Die, West Side Story and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Popcorn at the ready.

Horse lovers will want to point their blinkers in the direction of Blenheim Palace this month, as their world class International Horse Trials descend on the grounds on 15-18 Sept. As well as the events and various demonstrations and displays, there’s also shopping, food and drink and plenty of entertainment to keep the kids happy. Sounds like great day out to us!

If you’re interested in foraging but haven’t a clue where to start, book in for a two-hour Ranger-Led Walk around the grounds of Hughenden Manor, Bucks on 26 Sept. The experts will point out all the edibles grounding in the Manor’s parkland and grounds, and you’ll get to indulge in all that lovely autumn colour.

FOOD & DRINK

Want to know more about what’s on your plate? Peterley Manor Farm in Great Missenden is running a 4-week series with award-winning nutritionist Lucy Williams this month. Each evening will involve food and drinks (all seasonal and gut-friendly, of course), and you’ll learn about everything from how to heal your gut microbiome with plants to how to ferment vegetables to reduce food waste. Events take place every Thursday this month, and sessions cost £40 each or £120 if you book all four!

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