Oxford will be facing a matter of life and death next month when the taboo subject of death is thrust firmly into the spotlight by the Kicking the Bucket Festival.

The three-week festival (October 22-November 13) takes place in and around Oxford and after kicking off with a joyous jazz event in a graveyard, will encourage people to explore new ideas, share their concerns and get creative.

Morbid? No! Thought provoking? Definitely.

Discussing death with children will be tackled with the international premiere of the puppet show ‘Death in a Nut’.

And a varied programme of public debates will discuss subjects from funeral poverty to body donation and assisted dying.

Plus, there will be a series of dance and poetry workshops exploring end of life wishes for people living with dementia.

A number of overseas contributors will include Stephen Jenkinson, whose documentray Griefwalker shows Stephen in teaching sessions with doctors and nurses, in counselling sessions with families, and in meditative and often frank exchanges with the film’s director – all while paddling a canoe.

See Final Fling’s events section for contact details.