Boxford, theatre, comedy, cabaret, and more for Truck

Oxfordshire's fourteenth Truck festival has announced a line-up of late night music, comedy, cabaret, saucy burlesque dancers and theatrical performances as well as more acts for the weekend of Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July at Hill Farm in Steventon.

As organiser Robin Bennett revealed in his interview published yesterday published on eFestivals (here), "We're bringing in Oxford Playhouse to Truck this year. The boss of Oxford Playhouse came to the event last year, and just phones me up and asked if they could come and do something. They're bringing theatre productions, street theatre, and childrens workshops from their educational team".

As part of the company's Plays Out series which brings theatre productions to less formal locations, Oxford Playhouse will be hosting a theatre tent at Truck with a twice daily production of the play 'One Small Step', by David Hastings with festival goers urged to check their oxygen, adjust their spacesuits and buckle up for the biggest mission of their lives.

Roustabout Theatre are also at Truck presenting an adaptation of 'My Secret Garden' created by Toby Hulse and inspired by the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel. Children aged two to five and their adults can enter the secret garden if they find a hidden door. A long abandoned garden awaits them on the other side where everything can be brought back to life through digging deep in the earth and uncovering the treasures that lie buried in the soil.

At their café stall outside the tent, festival goers can mind their manners and participate in a continuous production of 'Etiquette'. A 30-minute theatrical experience just for two, participants will be shown to their seats, given headphones, instructions and props. What unfolds has been described as haunting by the local press in Oxford and will make festival goers jump, think and laugh out loud.

Oxford Playhouse will also be hosting a number of family events, workshops and activities run by their Learning Team throughout the weekend, and the Playhouse's youth theatre team will be roaming the site in all manner of outfits entertaining and surprising passers-by with their surprising, spontaneous and exciting promenade '16|22' production.

Comedy returns to Truck Festival this year through their regular comedy producer Paddy Luscombe. Comedians lined up include Richard Herring, Matt Richardson, Alex Clissold Jones, Angela Barnes, Rachel Parris, Chris Turner, and Rory O'Keefe.

The Long Insiders' Cabaret A-Go-Go will welcome festival goers to a slice of the past, with a night stolen from the first half of the last century with rocking music, burlesque and a retrospective sense of style in Rockabillysville featuring lively acts; The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, The Severed Limb, and One Fathom Down. Plus exotic cabaret acts Miss Amelia, Miss Betsy Rose, and Daisy Deluxe.

At night Oxford's very own Cabaret Clandestino offers a mix of spoken word & humour with a dash of music and improv featuring The Geees, The Oxford Imps, Little Fish, Faceometer, George Chopping, Matt Chanerin, Matt Winkworth, James Bell, Ben Walker, Mark Niel, and Robin Lawley.

The late night electronica hot spot Boxford area returns with a 90-hour music programme over three days including dance music in all its forms – techno, disco, drum & bass, dubstep, dub, reggae, ambient, funk, electro, breakbeat and edits (amongst others) and will feature Kostas Goustas, Jack Richens, Si Roche, Cubiq, Angie Walters, Dub Politics, Charris & B ill, Get Your Geek On, Toby Kidd, Ed Steele, Ben Downing, and Scott Parker. The revamped Boxford area will include a main stage, cocktail lounge (including DJs), café/chill-out tent, skateboard ramps, lighting and visual platforms and a graffiti expo. Skateboarding and graffiti workshops will run throughout the weekend.

Recently added acts to the bill also include Tribes, Dive Dive, The Rock Of Travolta, Deer Park, and Mitchell Museum.

They join a line-up that's topped by Bellowhead and Gruff Rhys as headliners, also confirmed are St Etienne, Johnny Flynn, Graham Coxon, The Go! Team, Philip Selway, Edwyn Collins, John Grant, Tunng, Dean Wareham, Roddy Woomble, Justin Townes Earle, The Duke & The King, Cherry Ghost, Fixers, Trophy Wife, Jonquil, Chad Valley, Caitlin Rose, Marques Toliver, Treefight For Sunlight, Marcus Foster, Jonny, Richmond Fontaine, Dreaming Spires, and more with more acts still to be announced. For the line-up details as available please click here.

Truck Festival is growing this year, becoming a full three day event (Friday to Sunday) and increasing capacity from 5000 to 8000. The site will be expanding too with a whole host of new features including a brand new major stage, label takeovers, improved camping areas, cabaret, comedy, theatre, cinema, a dedicated Family Field, luxury camping options, and the after-dark party spot Boxford.

An adult weekend ticket (including 3 nights camping) is priced at £99, a young person (aged 13-17 years) weekend ticket is priced at £79. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. A minor (aged 0-12) can attend the weekend free if booked in advance. All under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. A car parking ticket is priced at £8 adv / £15 on the day, with a campervan ticket priced at £40. To buy tickets once available, click here.

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