Oxfordshire has plenty to enjoy this September 2026, with a packed line-up of theatre, live music, comedy and nostalgic nights out across the county. From Ruby Wax sharing stories from a career spent interviewing the famous, to classic rock, swing, Shakespeare, stand-up and stylish musical theatre, there is something for every taste as the autumn season begins.
Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous
Thursday 03 September 2026
Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford
Ruby Wax brings her unmistakable wit and candour to Oxford Playhouse on Thursday 3 September 2026 with Absolutely Famous, an evening of interviews, memories and outrageous stories from a remarkable career in television. Best known for her bold and often unpredictable encounters in shows such as Ruby Wax Meets and Full Wax, Ruby interviewed an extraordinary roll call of public figures and celebrities, including Donald Trump, OJ Simpson, Pamela Anderson and Madonna.
Joined on stage by her long-time friend and producer Clive Tulloh, Ruby revisits clips from those unforgettable programmes and shares behind-the-scenes stories that have never been heard before. Expect a fascinating, funny and occasionally scandalous look back at fame, celebrity and the art of getting people to reveal far more than they intended.
A Band Called Malice
Thursday 03 September 2026
The Mill Arts Centre Spiceball Park Road, Banbury , OX16 5QE
Fans of The Jam can relive the full story of one of Britain’s most iconic bands when A Band Called Malice come to The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, on Thursday 3 September 2026. This acclaimed tribute act takes audiences from the early days through to the final farewell, recreating the sound, fire and attitude of the mod revival and punk-pop era with impressive attention to detail.
Expect a set packed with classics including A Town Called Malice, Going Underground, The Eton Rifles, That’s Entertainment, Start, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, David Watts, The Modern World and English Rose. With replica Rickenbacker guitars, authentic stage styling and a sound that captures the energy of the original band, A Band Called Malice offer a thrilling night for Jam fans old and new.
The History of Rock
Friday 04 September 2026
The Kenton Theatre, 19 New Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2BS
The Kenton Theatre turns up the volume on Friday 4 September 2026 as The History of Rock returns with a powerful celebration of the genre’s greatest years. This live concert experience takes audiences on a year-by-year journey through the defining moments of rock, from legendary albums and iconic festivals to the anthems that filled stadiums and shaped generations.
Performed by a band of world-class musicians, the show features a hand-picked setlist inspired by giants of the 70s and 80s, including Queen, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Metallica, Black Sabbath and many more. With big riffs, powerhouse vocals and plenty of nostalgia, The History of Rock is a high-energy tribute to the music that changed the world.
Macbeth
Wednesday 09 September 2026
The Mill Arts Centre Spiceball Park Road, Banbury, OX16 5QE
Shakespeare gets a comic, high-speed makeover when The HandleBards bring Macbeth to The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, on Wednesday 9 September 2026. This is not a gloomy, doom-laden take on the Scottish play, but a lively, mischievous and thoroughly entertaining version packed with mishaps, mayhem and plenty of laughs.
The familiar story is all there: three witches, a tempting prophecy, a murderous plot and a crown that proves rather more trouble than it is worth. Touring by electric van, The HandleBards are known for their environmentally sustainable approach to Shakespeare and their energetic, accessible performances. Suitable for all ages and apparitions, this promises to be Macbeth as you have never seen it before.
Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode
Friday 11 September 2026
Fat Lil’s, 64 Corn Street, Witney, OX28 6BS
Depeche Mode fans can look forward to a night of dark synth-pop classics when Enjoy the Silence UK return to Fat Lil’s in Witney on Friday 11 September 2026. Formed by members of leading tribute acts including Speak & Spell, Love Distraction and Retro Electro, the band are dedicated to recreating the sound and atmosphere of Depeche Mode’s classic 80s and 90s live shows.
Using authentic sounds and a hit-filled setlist, Enjoy the Silence UK bring to life favourites such as Just Can’t Get Enough, Personal Jesus, Behind the Wheel, People Are People and, of course, Enjoy the Silence. Expect a nostalgic, atmospheric and energetic night for anyone who loves one of electronic music’s most influential bands.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Saturday 12 September 2026
Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford
Step back into the golden age of swing when The Glenn Miller Orchestra comes to Oxford Playhouse on Saturday 12 September 2026. Under the direction of legendary band leader Ray McVay, the official UK tour celebrates the timeless sound of Glenn Miller with a concert full of elegance, rhythm and 1940s charm.
Audiences can expect classics such as Moonlight Serenade, American Patrol, Tuxedo Junction, Pennsylvania 6-5000 and In the Mood, performed with the authentic orchestral line-up originally devised by Miller himself. With vocal harmonies from the Moonlight Serenaders, featured singers and the orchestra’s own swinging jazz band, The Uptown Hall Gang, this is a wonderfully polished celebration of one of the most distinctive sounds in popular music.
5 Mistakes That Changed History
Wednesday 16 September 2026
The Theatre Chipping Norton, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5NL
History and comedy collide at The Theatre Chipping Norton on Wednesday 16 September 2026 with 5 Mistakes That Changed History. Performed by historian and comedian Paul Coulter, this hugely entertaining storytelling show explores five people whose errors, misjudgements and blunders ended up changing the course of the world.
A sell-out success at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Adelaide Fringe Festival for three years running, the show blends sharp humour with fascinating historical insight. Paul is also the author of the bestselling book 10 Mistakes That Changed History and has appeared on BBC World News, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5, BBC Radio London and Times Radio discussing history’s greatest mishaps. If you enjoy learning while laughing, this is one not to miss.
Rhys James: Chop Logic
Thursday 17 September 2026
The Kenton Theatre, 19 New Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2BS
Rhys James brings his new show Chop Logic to The Kenton Theatre on Thursday 17 September 2026, promising a fast, clever and tightly packed hour of stand-up. Known for his forensic writing, sharp turns of phrase and relentless overthinking, Rhys has apparently discovered something that could solve everything – assuming he can ignore his own problems long enough to deal with everyone else’s.
A familiar face from Mock the Week, QI and Live at the Apollo, and the voice behind BBC Radio 4’s Rhysearch, Rhys has built a reputation as one of the country’s smartest stand-ups. Expect big ideas, dense gags and a brilliantly precise comic mind working at full speed.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Tuesday 29 and 30 Wednesday September 2026
The Theatre Chipping Norton, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5NL
Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy gets a stylish 1920s reinvention when The Importance of Being Earnest comes to The Theatre Chipping Norton on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September 2026. Adapted and directed by Adam Nichols for OVO, this fresh version adds art-deco design, fizzing physical comedy and a live jazz soundtrack to Wilde’s sparkling tale of mistaken identity, romance and social absurdity.
Jack, Algy, Gwendolen and Cecily are all present, alongside multiplying engagements, suspicious handbags and the ever-important question of who is really called Ernest. This musical adaptation threads reworked contemporary hits from artists including Lizzo, Eminem, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lionel Richie and Queen through Wilde’s famous dialogue, creating a playful, witty and gloriously theatrical take on a much-loved comedy.
With so much happening throughout September, it is a great time to turn your visit into a short break in Oxfordshire. Stay in Oxford for easy access to theatres, museums, shops and restaurants, or explore the surrounding towns and villages with a night in a hotel, guest house, bed and breakfast or self-catering cottage. Whether you are heading to a show in Oxford, Banbury, Henley-on-Thames, Witney or Chipping Norton, you will find plenty of welcoming places to stay, along with excellent pubs, cafés and restaurants to enjoy before or after the event.
