HairsprayPG

Directed by John Waters | USA | 1988 | 1h 32m | Starring Ricki Lake, Sonny Bono, Divine, Debbie Harry, Jerry Stiller

In 1962 Baltimore, teenagers go head-to-head vying for the starring role on a popular dance TV show. Step forward self-proclaimed “pleasantly plump” teenager Tracy who rises to top – making boyfriends and enemies along the way – while pushing for more racial integration on the show. John Waters subversive slice of retro nostalgia dials down his usual grotesquery for this charmingly accessible musical comedy.

Our screening on Friday 22 July will be introduced by comedian Jamie Mykeala as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival.

Classic Season: Oxford Comedy Festival 2022

Reviews

‘It is absurd and jolly, parodying not only the worst conventions of the teen film but also the Sixties social-conscience movie, with an anti-racist sub-plot.’
David Robinson, The Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Hairspray between July 22, 2022 and July 25, 2022.

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What else is on?

Today (Friday 15th May)
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18:00

Colours of Time 15
2h 6m | French w/ English subtitles
When cousins inherit a Normandy house, they uncover a hidden lineage linking them to ancestor Adèle Munier. As they retrace her journey to Paris amid Impressionism’s rise, past and present intertwine, revealing new identities and unexpected connections across generations.

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20:45

Rose of Nevada 15
1h 54m
When a long-lost fishing boat returns to a Cornish village, hope rises for renewal. Nick and newcomer Liam join a voyage, but return transformed and caught in a haunting time loop. Shot on grainy 16mm, Mark Jenkin (Bait) delivers a haunting, mind-bending folktale.

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Tomorrow (Saturday 16th May)
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15:15

Rose of Nevada 15
1h 54m
When a long-lost fishing boat returns to a Cornish village, hope rises for renewal. Nick and newcomer Liam join a voyage, but return transformed and caught in a haunting time loop. Shot on grainy 16mm, Mark Jenkin (Bait) delivers a haunting, mind-bending folktale.

Book here

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18:00

The Duke of Burgundy 18
+ Q&A w/ Peter Strickland
1h 44m
Director's Cuts: Peter Strickland
Lovers Cynthia and Evelyn sustain a ritualised relationship shaped by control and desire. As tensions surface, a hypnotic drama explores shifting power and intimacy through striking visuals and a haunting atmosphere. Plus a post-screening Q&A with director Peter Strickland.

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21:00

Pillion 18
1h 47m
Director's Cuts: Peter Strickland
A quiet traffic warden life radically shifts when a domineering biker draws him into an unexpected BDSM relationship. Harry Lighton’s fearless BAFTA-nominated debut blends comedy, kink, and tenderness, starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård.

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Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!

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