Over 65 Flamenco dancers bring the beautiful costumes and driving hot rhythms to life At the Cornerstone Arts Centre.

OWEN O’NEILL, comedian, actor, playwright, poet, star of hit Edinburgh Fringe productions ‘Twelve Angry Men’, ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’, and ‘The Odd Couple’ is, as far as we know, the only comedian alive to have been struck by lightning.

Whilst robbing the Nun’s orchard, Owen’s school uniform was burned to shreds and the apples down his Wellingtons were stewed. He glowed in the dark for two weeks, developed a stammer and a firm belief that he was indestructible.

Roll up roll up for this cabaret-style celebration of Charles Dickens in the 200th year since his birth. Fresh from sell out performances at the Brigton Fringe Festival and du Maurier Literary Festival, this is an informed and affectionate tribute to Boz. Expect not only readings from some of his greatest pieces but also songs and banter.

Saturday 17 November 8pm

£12, £10 (concs), £9 (members)

A fabulous programme of swing music spanning over fifty years and featuring the hit music of Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin,  Nat King Cole, Louis Prima and more. 9 musicians and band leader make for a big season opener at Cornerston. The orchestra has been performing since 1985 as far afield as Shanghai and Hong Kong, and has appeared on stage with names such as Annie Lennox, Gloria Gaynor, Roger Waters and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly… I don’t know why she swallowed a fly...but The People’s Theatre Company do! Presented by the team behind How The Koala Learnt To Hug, this magical new show has been written especially for parents to enjoy with their children. So come and relive the delights of this most charming of tales, with a feast of first-class games, colourful animal characters and heart warming family fun.

Come and experience the sound of the 1940s – Glenn Miller, Vera Lynn and many more. This feel-good show continues in our series of afternoon matinees for all to enjoy, including those who would rather come to us in the daytime. Famous war-time tunes and sing-along songs burst into life with the singers and multi-instrumentalists of the Five Star Swing band. Featuring Simone from the latter days of the Ivy Benson Orchestra, and Chris Smith composer and arranger for Glenn Miller's brother, Herb and the BBC Radio Big Band. Great fun!

Over 100 of Dance Connections’ most talented children lead you on a wacky and wonderful journey down their avenue of dance. Along their winding alley, you will enter an emporium of delights, with each doorway leading you to yet another feast of music and dance!

Friday 13 July 7.30pm
Saturday 14 July 2.30pm and 7.30pm
£13.50 £11.50 (under 16s)

The Tiffin concert returns with Sulki Yu, laureate of the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin competition 2007, who has appeared as soloist with orchestras across Europe. Lada Valešová is winner of the Alexander Wise Memorial Prize for the best performance of romantic music, and her recent debut CD of Czech piano music has won universal critical acclaim. Between them these rising stars present Schubert's Rondo Brilliante in B minor D895, Ysaye's Solo Sonata and Prokfiev's Violin Sonata No. 2 Op. 94, for an afternoon of spine-tingling romance.

Just as the Olympic Torch comes to Oxfordshire, so this hilarious and energetic tale set at the Ancient Olympics comes to Cornerstone.  Our three unwitting heroes are caught up in a celestial bet between the gods. They travel to compete in the Ancient Olympics and take on the heroes of the sporting world, with epic results for mankind. The Games is part of the London Olympics ‘inspire’ programme and will be publicised as part of the Cultural Olympiad events.

‘Definitely Triple Gold’ – The Stage

From previous solo careers in the world of opera, theatre and recording, this fabulous trio  - "Tenors with Attitude' - The Stage" bring their own blend of wit, charm and vocal arrangements to the classical crossover genre. The guys have performed with Sting, Hayley Westenra, Simply Red and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Nessun Dorma, O Sole Mio, the Pearl Fisher's Duet, You Raise Me Up and original compositions will ensure this is a truly memorable night.

Come and enjoy an evening of creative work from these talented students. A variety of art work from painting, photography, sculpture and video/new media will be showcased in our rooms, alongside dance and music performed by the students on the main stage.

Wednesday 4 July 7.30pm
£7, £4 (concs)

Back for a fourth year at Cornerstone – but bigger and better!  These shows bring the colour, energy and driving rhythms of Flamenco vividly to life and feature Camino del Flamenco students from all classes in Oxfordshire plus a cast of professional Spanish Flamenco artistes.

Saturday 30 June 7pm
Sunday 1 July 4pm
£13.50, £11 (concs)

Following on from his sell-out national tour Uncaged Monkeys with Professor Brian Cox, and the associated BBC Radio 4 Sony Gold Award winning show, Robin continues his exploration of the human condition. Robin asks: Can you be happy and rational at the same time? To find out, join him in a world of Schrödinger cats, multiverses and evolutionary conundrums, all told with his inimitable stand up prowess. You will laugh, you will question the world, then you will laugh again!

Heroine Flora Poste seeks to discover her family's roots and consequently finds something nasty in the woodshed, porridge pulsating with latent lust, and an intrigue which will have us laughing and gasping in equal measure.

Thursday 28 June 7.30pm
£14, £12.50 (concs), £11.50 (members)

How delightful to have the harp on the Cornerstone stage – all for you and your little ones to hear. The harp's origins are said perhaps to be in the sound of a plucked hunter's bow-string or the strings of a loom. Come with your children to find out more, play fun musical games, hear what the harp can do and listen to some beautiful music.

Sunday 15 July
11am and 12 noon under 5s
1.30pm 5-8 year olds
£8, £6 (concs)
under 18 months go free

We've got lots of instruments left in the series, and here we introduce the beguiling, clear and penetrating oboe – once described as being like a duck...if the duck were a songbird! Come with your children to play fun musical games, hear what the oboe can do and listen to some beautiful music.

Sunday 24 June
11am and 12 noon under 5
1.30pm 5-8 year olds
£8, £6 (concs)
under 18 months go free

In the parish hall of St Michael’s Under Ware, the Rev Arthur Bender stages a night of the Pirates of Penzance, to raise money for church funds, with a cast of church wardens and audience members. In the first half, we revel in his rehearsals and in the second we watch agog the fruits of his labour. Hilarious, rollicking, with live music and a big set. You must see these Cornerstone favourites on a limited run!

Wednesday 20 June 8pm
£18, £16 (concs), £15 (members)

So popular was our Valentine's stories and supper event that we've designed a new one to celebrate the summer solstice. Sit in comfort in our gallery, while storytellers light the fires of your imagination with an evening of Celtic influenced songs and tales. Famously a time for spirits to roam and witches to meet, for communities to embrace healing and incite revelry, Midsummer reminds us that the seasons and their stories can be imbued with strange powers.

Back by popular demand these professional, friendly storytellers take you on a tour of many of the rooms in Cornerstone. Along the way, the storytellers will prompt you to use your imagination to discover all sorts of interesting tales that Cornerstone holds. The tour lasts one hour.

LIVE STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN
Sunday 17 June 11am and 2pm
£7 for one adult and child.
Extra child £4. Ages 5-11.
Places are limited

Seven Years In The Bathroom is the ultimate stat-based fun-packed thought-provoking experimental-and-sometimes-stupid comedy show, in which Alex aims to re-create your entire life. That’s right, he’ll do everything you’ll ever do, but in one evening. So, in an average lifetime you’ll spend two years shopping, two weeks kissing and 18 months looking for lost things. You’ll also spend quite a while eating, queuing, crying and googling yourself. Alex is going to squeeze all those things into one show. It’ll be tremendous. And very funny.

A stunning mix of New Orleans boogie, blues, barrel-house and gospel. Think Dr John and Tom Waits – a big female voice and a rolling piano lead this superb four-piece. Come and enjoy!

Friday 15 June 8pm
£14, £12.50 (concs), £11.50 (members)

We are delighted to be bringing classical music back to Cornerstone, and what a lovely way to start. These professional, talented musicians are playing a delightful programme. The Berkeley Ensemble return this time with wind instruments, playing Mozart's Clarinet Quintet and Howells' Rhapsodic Quintet. What better way to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon?.

From one extreme to another, this hilarious one-man show is based upon the fictitious 'secret' diaries of William Tallon, 'one time Steward and Page of the Backstairs to HRH Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother'. It's all totally made up, and presented from a view point of reverence, but with a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun. Billy tells us about his 40 years of service during which, with discretion and diplomacy, he tidied up many a royal mishap. He played the Dame in the Christmas Panto, danced with Her Majesty and oversaw the visit from Tony and Cherie.

Come and join this seven-piece big band as they celebrate a 27 year musical journey celebrating the Queen's birth in 1926 (Baby Face, Birth of the Blues), her childhood (Ain't She Sweet?, When You're Smiling), her 1947 wedding (Almost Like Being in Love, Tenderly), to her Coronation in 1953 (From this Moment On) and beyond. Brass, strings, vocals and a real big band sound, with lots more favourites. Come along and celebrate in style.

2011 Fringe First Award winner, Release is a compelling exploration of the lives of three prisoners in their first few months after release, as they attempt to reconnect with the people and remnants of life they left behind. Developed and researched over the course of two years, this artfully choreographed and perfectly executed piece of theatrical storytelling will leave you praying, not just for the characters, but possibly for the whole future of society.
‘A sharp,impeccably performed and blazingly impassioned piece of theatre…simply terrific.’