Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated 30 years as a co-presenter and the resident word expert on C4’s Countdown, and also appears on the show’s comedy sister 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown. Susie comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news, and answers notes and queries about words and phrases in various weekly columns. She has written for several news publications, and is the author of multiple books, including her latest, An Emotional Dictionary: Real Words for How You Feel, from Angst to Zwodder, published in 2022. Susie lives in Oxford where she has developed a passion for cycling – Lycra or no, she is never without her little black book for jotting down any new words picked up in the wild. Guilty by Definition is her first novel.

An anonymous letter arrives at the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary containing a challenge for the team of lexicographers working there. It’s clear that’s it’s not the usual run-of-the-mill, eccentric enquiry. The letter hints at secrets, lies and a year. 2010. For Martha Thornhill, the new senior editor, that year can mean only one thing: the summer her brilliant, beautiful older sister Charlie went missing.

After a decade living abroad, Martha has returned to her father, her family home and the city whose institutions have defined her family, but the ghosts she thought at rest were only waiting for her to return.

More letters arrive, pointing towards a secret in the heart of the dictionary itself. As Martha and her colleagues start pulling apart the clues, the questions become more insistent and troubling. Charlie’s disappearance is one of a series of secret absences going back centuries, and someone wants to keep those secrets buried.

It’s Figaro’s wedding, and you’re invited to join the Almaviva household for an uproarious day of revelation and scandal.

Mozart’s comic opera is packed with plot twists, forbidden desires and unforgettable melodies, combining laugh-out-loud comedy with moments of breathtaking beauty.

Jodie Comer’s (Killing Eve) Olivier and Tony Award-winning performance in Suzie Miller’s gripping one-woman play returns to cinemas.

Tessa is a young, brilliant barrister. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; defending; cross examining and winning. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.

Prima Facie takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game.

Justin Martin directs this solo tour de force, captured live in 2022 during a sold out run at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End.

Please note: This performance includes sensitive subject matter including reference to sex, violence and rape. The advised age rating for this production is ‘15’.

We are delighted to welcome Tom Green and his septet for an evening of Jazz.

The Septet was formed in November 2012, bringing together seven in-demand young musicians who are all prize-winning bandleaders, composers and performers in their own right. Together they create a warm and distinct sound world, using the unique range of textures available in the seven-piece ensemble.

Described by the Guardian as “A band with big sound, and big prospects”, this is an evening not to be missed!

Tumble down the rabbit hole in this ballet adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous family story.

Journey through Wonderland with Alice and encounter a host of curious characters in Christopher Wheeldon’s unique theatrical interpretation.

This Christmas, be transported into an ethereal world where a sprinkling of fairy dust makes dreams come true.

This enchanting ballet by The Royal Ballet’s Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton is a theatrical experience for all the family.

Discover the enchantment of ballet with this sparkling festive treat for the whole family.

Julia Trevelyan Oman’s period designs bring festive charm to Peter Wright’s beloved Royal Ballet production, as fairytale magic comes together with spectacular dancing in this unforgettable classic ballet.

Four women: four curious love stories.

Juan Diego Flórez leads a fantastic cast in Offenbach’s dream like opera.

Classical ballet’s most powerful tale of love, treachery and forgiveness.

Bringing together Tchaikovsky’s sensational score with the incredible imagination of choreographer Liam Scarlett and designer John Macfarlane, Swan Lake on the big screen will be an exceptional way to experience this ultimate ballet classic.

The greatest love story ever told – through ballet. An ancient family feud casts a long shadow over the town of Verona.

In this hothouse of tension, brawls are quick to break out and both sides get caught in the crossfire.

Puccini’s captivating opera of a cold-hearted princess and her mysterious suitor. Featuring the ever-popular ‘Nessun dorma’, this opera of love and revenge is brought to life in a dazzling production.

Sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre in four distinctive short works.

Fool’s Paradise, The Two of Us, Us, An American in Paris: four works showing the remarkable choreographic range of The Royal Ballet’s Artistic Associate, Christopher Wheeldon.