A Siberian chill has gripped the nation. Its chill and dread fingers have held us in a vice as tight as any revolutionary fever gripped St Petersburg. I have channelled my inner Yuri Zhivago. Sadly, I do not have an ice bound dacha in which to delight, instead in West London my stomach has roved … Continued
‘And the captain said to the mate, “Dan, tell us a story!” And the story went as follows…’ Following the last instalment, we’re sticking with the mundane (this time, in its earth-to-earth, dustiest sense). Here’s my first experience of being a pallbearer. My Grandad was one of those eternally old men, grey and grizzly with … Continued
Not too long ago, a much-talked-about interview with Louis Tomlinson was published by the Guardian, in which the former 1D member showed an unusually high level of humility and self-awareness, in popstar terms. Speaking about his former bandmates, Tomlinson acknowledged that Harry’s the “cool one”, Zayn’s got the “fantastic voice”, while Liam could always “get the crowd going.” Then, he said, “there’s … Continued
Wasn’t it terribly fashionable once to be mad about ‘bone broth’? Why consommé, my preferred term for it, needed dressing down in such brutal terms escapes my wildest wit. I suppose it seemed outmoded and perhaps a little snooty. Yet a light and flavourful bowl of enriched stock is a recipe which every cook should be able … Continued
With the Tories snuggling up to the DUP, we’re facing some serious potential lows for equality. Luckily, we’ve got an exciting, strong, progressive opposition. While it might not look like it from the government May is cobbling together, I believe equality is going to storm straight to the front of the national agenda. The campaign … Continued
Lucy Whitehouse’s My First Time series begins firmly at the bottom. If you’re going to write a gratuitously self-indulgent lifestyle blog, probably better start at the bottom and work your way up. Earn a bit of cachet, build up a devoted following, gain a few hysterical fans (dreaming big here) before you even think about … Continued
The National’s creative Peter Pan is a masterpiece in joy, but skips over the deep sense of loss found in Barrie’s classic tale. Following a triumphant run at the Bristol Old Vic, director Sally Cookson brought her production of Peter Pan to the Olivier, building on the success of her acclaimed adaptation of Jane … Continued
Kirwan’s first full length, professionally produced play is an entertaining romp through the rave-centred underbelly of Dublin. A couple solidarity microphones, a bare set, a cast of two. From the moment the lights went up and Kirwan and Lloyd Anderson began a lyrically explosive rap battle, it was clear that Dublin Oldschool had its roots … Continued
Bond and Batman are two franchises with the same male power fantasy at their core: that one man (the surrogate for the viewer) can overcome villainy through a display of raw masculinity. It’s a potent premise that is certainly not unique to these franchises, but it’s hard not to admit these two in particuar have each … Continued