Drama:

There’s no getting away from the fact that trying to condense a term of Cambridge theatre into a couple of paragraphs is like hosting a (very thesp-y) house party in a closet. But here is an attempt: sex tourism and feminism are among the themes of the Carribean set drama, trade (27th-31st Jan, Corpus). Equally heavy themes and perhaps more nudity are to be found that week in Equus (27th-31st Jan, ADC). If you haven’t seen any Shakespeare since school, the stellar cast and high production values of Henry V (4th-7th Feb, Cambridge Arts Theatre) promise to make it worth your time (and your £12.50 ticket). The following week, swap Shakespeare for student writing with Sam Grabiner’s Amygdala Wonderland (10th-14th Feb, Larkum Studio, ADC). This one-man show tells the story of its protagonist, Strange, which will probably be a reasonable description of the experience (along with masterful, of course). February wraps up with two more cerebral dramas, Attempts on Her Life and Dreaming With Dalí (both 24th-28th Feb, Corpus), which promise both head-scratching and a rewarding night out. March is the month to be thrilled – We’ll Meet Again (3rd-7th March, Corpus), will draw us into the exhilarating chase for war-time spy Cara Satin. Finally, CUADC is staging Rent. Apparently Rent is about "falling in love, finding your voice and living for today", and if that doesn’t make for some rousing songs I don’t know what will.

Comedy:

The ADC and Corpus Playroom will play host to an unusually high number of comedy shows this term, although many with shorter runs – so pay attention to avoid missing out. Alongside the usual set of smokers, January is going to be host to plenty of one-off stand-ups from Footlights regulars, with highlights including Who am I? by Battlesmash alum Orlando Gibbs (19th Jan, Corpus) and the less existential but enticingly-titled Sunset Eternal (27th Jan, ADC). Comedic play Picasso Stole the Mona Lisa (20th-24th Jan, Corpus) is also worth a look. February’s big-ticket will be S.C.O.F.F.!: The Comeback Tour (4th-7th Feb, ADC). This Footlights-backed show is one for those who like their sketches with a bit of meta-narrative thrown in as it tells the story of a re-formed popular sketch group. Towards the end of term Cirque De L’Extraordinaire (4th-7th March, ADC) is sure to amaze and astound you by blending feats of comedic mastery with slightly less successful circus performance.

This is also a big term for professional comedians in Cambridge as Sara Pascoe, Mark Watson, Dylan Moran, Josie Long, Simon Amstell and many more will be rocking up to the Junction and Corn Exchange. On 12th and 13th February Dylan Moran will surely sell out (in a good way) as he uses the Junction for a warm up to his 2015 tour Off the Hook.

Art and Exhibitions:

The term kicks off with student-curated Scandal: Representations of the Nude Body, an exhibition about freeing yourself from inhibitions. Sponsored by Cambridge University African Caribbean Society, Scandal focuses on differing cultural perceptions of the nude body, exposing the limits of a western mindset which views nudity as taboo. To have your eyes opened, head to Changing Spaces’ pop-up gallery, 9 Norfolk Street – but be quick it closes on the 18th of January.

Assuming you haven’t had enough of looking at bodies, there’s a last chance to catch the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Silent Partners (until 25th January), which takes an unusual look at the often neglected importance of the artists’ mannequin through some beautiful – and often creepy – paintings, sketches, photographs, videos and dolls.

Another multi-form exhibition is Beauty and Revolution: The Poetry and Art of Ian Hamilton Finlay. On at Kettle’s Yard until 1st March, it displays the colourful prints and whimsical writings of "The most original Scottish artist of the second half of the 20th century", all for the price of admission (which is nothing).

For those with an irrational hatred of visual art, the UL is accommodating your bizarre needs until 11th April with Private lives of print: The use and abuse of books 1450-1550. A fascinating look at the early use of the printing press and a chance to see some really old doodles in really old margins.

Film:

Step off the windblown January streets and into the dark but cosy confines of the cinema with some of the greatly awaited films of the year. See Steve Carrel swap comedy for creepiness in Foxcatcher, Michael Keaton’s washed-up superhero star in Birdman, Bradley Cooper as the SEAL with the deadly aim in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper and cinema royalty Meryl Streep sing for her supper in Disney’s Into the Woods.

Remember to watch out for Matthew Vaughn’s spy-comedy Kingsman, released January 29th and Inherent Vice, Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s detective novel of the same name on the 30th. If for some miraculous reason you are not behind on your dissertation deadline ensuring you’ve seen all these ahead of the Oscars, then squeeze into your best latex and leather and head over to see Fifty Shades of Grey which will be seducing the silver screen on 13th February.

Music:

The Cambridge Junction is the venue to go to this term for your routine fill of live indie music.

In February The Staves (17th) will be performing ahead of the release of their hotly anticipated second album expected later this year. Whilst in March highlight performances come from the likes of Glass Animals (2nd), Lucy Rose (23rd) and the Jesus College-founded electronic group, Clean Bandit (8th) at the Corn Exchange.

If thinking about gigs and performance is getting your creative juices flowing, think about submitting to the 2015 Cambridge Band Competition.

Entry is now open for your chance to win musical development prizes and a cash reward of £300. The question isn’t why should you; the question is why shouldn’t you?