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Day: 8 November 2012

Preview and Interview: American Idiot

Written by Josephine Lane on . Posted in Theatre.

The Green Day musical American Idiot comes to Manchester this week as part of its UK wide tour. The show brings to life the story narrated in Green Day’s 2004 album of the same name. It tells the tale of Johnny and his two best friends, Will and Tunny as they yearn to leave the boredom of suburbia for the bright lights of the city. Whilst Tunny and Will take different paths,  Johnny is sucked in by the wonders the big city. He falls in love with wild rock-chick Whatsername and develops n fearless alter-ego, St Jimmy, who forces Johnny into taking heroin, leading to the downfall of his and Whatsername’s relationship. Now alone, Johnny comes to his senses and returns home, learning to accept who he really is and the importance of his roots, family and friendships.

The creation of American Idiot: The Musical was a collaborative process between musical theatre director Michael Mayer and Green Day front-man Billie Joe Armstrong, who claims the band had the idea of a musical in their heads whilst writing the album.  When working on the book for the musical, Mayer added little dialogue to the show as he felt the lyrics were expressive enough on its own. The show ran for two months in Berkeley in 2009, before being moved to Broadway for a year-long run. After winning numerous awards, including two Tonys and a Grammy for ‘Best Musical Album’, the show assembled a brand new cast for this three month UK tour before returning to America.

To learn more about the show from the inside, I caught up with it’s stars Trent Saunders and Alyssa de Palma, who play St. Jimmy and Whatsername respectively. The actors start by telling me how they landed the roles.  Trent tells me he was at university studying musical theatre when the casting director came in auditioned them in class! He tells me fellow cast-member, Jenna Rubaii was also cast from the same class. Alyssa’s story of how she got her part was certainly an inspiring one. She tells me,

‘I saw the show on Broadway two years ago  and saw Rebecca Naomi Jones perform ‘Letterbomb’, Whatsername’s big song. Afterwards I just looked at my friend and just said ‘I have to play that role’. After I finished art college I went live in New York and was working in a restaurant. I heard about the opening role and knew it was meant to be. I just had to go for it’.

They both go on to tell me how they far they needed to push themselves in the roles. For Alyssa, she says it was about letting her naturally shy side go to become a powerful, sexy and fierce woman who was described to her as ‘the mother of the revolution.’ For Trent, who is in contrast very confident, he was more concerned with filling the shoes of those who had played St. Jimmy before him. He tells me,

‘Both Billie Joe Armstrong and Tony Vincent are from rock star backgrounds whereas mine was musical theatre. I really had to find my inner rock star which was scary but also a lot of fun. I couldn’t have done it without the creative team either, who turned my curly afro brown hair into a blonde straightened Mohawk!’

They both agree that they felt at ease in pushing themselves because of the trust and support that they felt throughout the cast. Alyssa says,

‘I fell in love with each and every cast member as soon I met them’.  Trent then tells me of his admiration for the cast’s passion: ‘I guess it’s because we are all so young, so we can really relate to the themes in the play.’

Alyssa then tells me about the respect she holds for the shows director, Michael Mayer, who she says is a really hands-on director. She tells me: ‘It was a big deal working with Michael as he literally directed all the shows that made me want to do this for a living, but despite all that he wasn’t threatening at all, and really takes pride in having fun as he works with a cast’.

According to them both, audiences have been going crazy for ‘American Idiot’ and the show has received countless standing ovations. Trent said he spoke to one group who had come all the way from Germany just to see the show. He added that audiences have been a real mix of hardcore Green Day fans and just regular theatre-goers.  I ask why Manchester should come and see American Idiot. Alyssa quickly replies.

“There are loads of reasons, but the best one is: you are guaranteed to have your face rocked off, and if that’s what you’re looking for then that is what you are gonna get.’

American Idiot’ runs at the Palace Theatre from the 12th November to the 24th November

Retro Corner: Metroid Fusion

Written by Alasdair Preston on . Posted in Games.

Nothing drained my Game Boy’s batteries quite like Metroid Fusion. It closely followed the formula of the SNES classic Super Metroid, the action-adventure platform shooter of choice for many gamers. The series famously revolves around exploration, fighting and solving puzzles to earn upgrades, then backtracking to do it all again.

Fusion involved roaming around various sectors of a space colony, trying to stop a powerful, hostile parasite from escaping and infecting the galaxy. All the while, you had to evade a parasitic clone of Samus leading to some of the most intense gaming moments of my young life trying to stay hidden when the SA-X stomped into the room, the only other option being a futile attempt to run or fight. Also, just for good measure, there was a Metroid boss and a countdown to beat at the end.

Bold, colourful, and easy to control, Fusion was one of the first games that made me want to replay it over and over. With a hundred power-ups to find, most of which weren’t exactly right under your nose, scoring 100% was a benchmark that I have still yet to achieve. I could cave and use an online guide, but young me didn’t have that option and would probably judge me if I did use it.

Unusually for a Metroid game, the story actually came mostly from Samus herself via some journal entries and inner monologue during Fusion (also known as Metroid 4). The plot even had twists, with a few handfuls of intrigue and betrayal. As the latest Metroid title chronologically, a follow-up would go down well. However, despite rumours of a sequel in the works we’ve yet to see any actual evidence of the so-called “Metroid Dread”. Nintendo inadvertently added fire to these stories by giving Fusion to the early adopters of the 3DS as a downloadable title.

THQ to delay releases after profits fall

Written by Jack Crutcher on . Posted in Games.

This week games developer THQ was forced to announce the delay of three of its most anticipated titles due for release next year. Company of Heroes 2 and Metro: Last Light are now both expected for release in summer 2013 rather than early spring whilst South Park: The Stick of Truth is likely to be held back until early 2014.

The gaming giant’s fiscal problems had become increasingly apparent in recent months after the sales figures for recent titles failed to live up to the company’s expectations. Whilst the Saints Row Franchise provided some respite THQ now believes they are unable to produce games of sufficient quality within the time frame they initially set for the three titles.

THQ’s second quarter $21 million loss primarily comes as a result of the developer’s slow reaction to the shift of power in the gaming industry from consoles to mobile devices. The profits made by other developers have been largely missed out on by THQ after their exploration of the Tablet market with the development of uDraw failed to take-off and delivered a $100 million loss. A long run of less than convincing profit margins has also played its part with titles such as Darksiders 2 failing to make the grade in an inflated RPG market.

THQ bosses will be hoping for a much-needed payday following the release of WWE 13 on November the 2nd. The game has a loyal annual following much like Fifa and other similar titles and will be expected to help deliver the money THQ badly needs if their dreams of a South Park title and a Company of Heroes sequel are to become reality any time soon.

Debate: should the Students’ Union remain affiliated with NUS?

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Opinion.

YES:

Being the largest higher-education Student Union in the country, voting to disassociate ourselves from the NUS would be a considerable setback for the aims, such as improving access to higher education, improving conditions for disabled people, combating homophobia and racism, that the NUS is fighting for. Consider the following reasons why we should not let this happen.
The membership saves the union a considerable amount of money, allowing more to be spent on worthwhile projects such as Pangaea or Nightline.
The student union currently pays £52,000 to NUS for affiliation. While this may seem like a large amount, the union currently estimates the savings it makes from membership to be £120,000, approximately the size of the student activities budget. These savings come as a result of the NUS’ ability to negotiate discounts for its members on the items we students regularly buy, such as alcohol in the union bar. Without membership with the NUS we will be left attempting to negotiate representing a consumer base of less than 40,000 students, small in comparison to the 7 million students the NUS represents.

Durham University’s Students Union recently published an impartial cost/benefit analysis of its affiliation to NUS, which highlighted the financial difficulties that would arise as a result of disaffiliation, including loss of bar sales’ margins, increases in staff hours, and loss of discounts from NUS suppliers for bar and shop equipment. It is clear that, if we disassociate, our negotiating ability will be significantly weakened, resulting in both less money for the Student Union budget and higher prices for the student.

Having membership with the NUS gives the university a voice at national level to influence the issues that students really care about.

I do not believe the NUS is perfect, not do I reject the notion that improvements could be made. It is quite clear however that choosing to disassociate from the NUS over these relatively minor issues will render the university completely unable to negotiate savings for the SU, without a voice at national level and therefore unable to influence the issues which matter to students. In this age of increased tuition fees and abolished EMA, now is the time to remain united with the vast majority of students across the country and work together through the NUS towards the improvement of conditions for both the current and next generation of students.

 

NO:

We should end our association with the NUS

Undemocratic, unrepresentative, and a waste of money; the opinion of many students on the very body that is meant to speak for us on a national level, the NUS. Sadly, these criticisms are not unfounded. The organisation is not acting in the best interest of students; and it’s time we did something about it.

The NUS in its current form isn’t representing students. Currently delegates are elected from each university to attend NUS conference, where policy decisions are made for the next year. Members of SUs can vote for these delegates, and in theory they represent us to the NUS as a whole. The problem is, do you actually have any idea who your NUS delegates are or what they stand for? Do you remember voting for them even? Their barely mandated officers push policies like their “no platform for fascists” on universities. This leads to backlashes such as that seen recently from Leeds Student newspaper, showing that these policies are clearly unpopular with students.

If we left the NUS, our own Sabbatical Officers, who we elect directly, could become our voice on a national scale. Paul Beaumont, the president of Imperial College SU, (who’ve been disaffiliated since 2008) thinks this is a much more powerful way for students to get their voices heard “We feel that, rather than being a ‘one line mention’ in an NUS response, a whole response dedicated to the views of just our students allows us to represent them much more effectively and ‘loudly’.”

Paul says it is fully possible for the union to survive without the funding and subsidies. He stated “the most recent Aldwych conference [a meeting between student union members of Russell Group Universities] was held at Imperial and your Education Officer, Luke noted that our bar prices are the same as yours – even outside of the NUS bulk buying scheme!”. So, Imperial’s drink prices are just as low as ours, without the NUSSL. Imperial has just 13,000 students, Manchester University has almost 40,000. That’s much more buying power. So if Imperial can do it, why can’t we? We could even team up with other disaffiliated Students’ Unions such as Imperial and start our own bulk buying scheme.

Look beyond the 10% Topshop discount; the NUS is unrepresentative, and many of its so called benefits could easily be achieved without it. NUS membership cost our union £52,848.70 this academic year, but it simply isn’t worth the price tag. The decision is simple: we should disaffiliate from the NUS.

News in brief – 12th November

Written by Ellen Conlon on . Posted in News.

John Rylands library wins top tourism award

John Rylands library in Deansgate has been named Manchester’s ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ at the city’s annual tourism awards.

The building, which was reopened in 2007 after a £17m transformation, was described by judges as progressive and exciting.

It was originally built in the 1890s by Mrs Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John, Manchester’s most successful cotton tycoon.

 

Manchester Fire Brigade deals with over 500 calls on Bonfire Night

Greater Manchester Fire and Recue Service received around 500 incident calls in just 4 four and a half hours last Monday night.

At least nine people were seriously hurt.

One of these was a teenager who was left with a badly burned face after playing with an aerosol around a lit wheelie bin with five of his friends when it exploded.

The 14 year old was taken to Oldham Royal Hospital.

 

Buses powered by household waste to take to Manchester’s streets

Arriva Bus UK has invested £2m in a fleet of 21 eco-friendly buses.

They are powered by gases produced by landfill sites and will hit the streets of Manchester next year.

Mike Cooper, managing director of Arriva UK Bus, said: “The buses have been specially designed for the British market and, as they run on bio-gas, provide a carbon-neutral solution to the environmental challenges we face as a transport provider in the 21st century.”

‘Orc Assassin’ gets elected to State Senate

Written by Sam Dumitriu on . Posted in Games.

World of Warcraft player Colleen Lachowicz has won her race for State Senate in Maine. In her spare time, Colleen is a level 68 Orc Assassination Rogue on the MMO World of Warcraft and her hobby became a key talking point in her race for State Senate.

State Republicans ran vicious attack ads against her, highlighting her time on the Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.

One postcard sent out to Maine voters said “We need a Senator who lives in our world, not Colleen’s world.”

The attack campaign included a website highlighting posts she had made on WoW forums and taking comments out of context including “I like to stab things” and “I love poisoning and stabbing! It is fun” alongside more political statements like “I may have to go hunt down Grover Norquist and drown him in a bathtub.”

“These are some very bizarre and offensive comments, and they certainly raise questions about Lachowicz’s maturity and her ability to make serious decisions for the people of Senate District 25,” said Maine Republican Party spokesman David Sorensen.

Colleen explained herself in a CNN interview “It’s just a hobby, just like anything else.” She spoke of receiving support from all over the world, including from conservatives who thought the way she was being attacked was wrong. Republican gamer Kara Zielke told the Maine GOP that “We may have different political views but I wont stand by while my fellow Horde are treated this way,”

It appears the Maine GOP’s strategy has backfired, alienating younger voters who identify as gamers and appearing out of touch.

With over 10 million subscribers, Blizzard’s World of Warcraft is one of the world’s most popular games.

Colleen isn’t the only  gaming politician, PM David Cameron claims to have completed Angry Birds and Labour MP Tom Watson has defended gaming in parliament numerous times.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey recently requested gaming systems be installed in his Ministerial office. His request was declined.

Notorious anti-abortion group chanted off campus

Written by Ellen Conlon on . Posted in News.

Pro-life demonstrators on Oxford Road faced a strong counter protest on Wednesday, as they brandished huge graphic images of unborn foetuses.

The notorious demonstrators, Abort67, describe themselves as a “public education project” and believe that “the most effective way to change public policy is to first change public opinion.”

Their method of doing this is to display images of “the reality of abortion.”

Earlier in the day Abort67 tweeted: “In #ManchesterCentral by #mariestopes saving babies from #abortionby #exposing the #truth.”

Catriona Gray, University of Manchester Students’ Union Wellbeing Officer, heard from students that the group were in Manchester and so rallied together a protest group.

“We were aware that Abort67, who are an anti-choice lobbying group were planning to come on campus. The point of them is that they go around different universities trying to intimidate students with really massive graphic images of foetuses,” she said.

“It’s a really hateful ideology to be presenting people with I think.”

Catriona explained how she heard that the group were near the Aquatics Centre on Oxford Road, having previously been in Fallowfield: “We just got as many people together as possible to do a counter protest,” she said. “That involved getting a big feminist banner and trying to block what they were showing: their really graphic images of foetus terminations.”

Both Catriona and Manchester’s Women’s Officer, Tabz O’Brien-Butcher, tried to raise awareness of the group’s presence in Manchester on Facebook, encouraging students to join them in protest: “We need to organise a counter demonstration to let these people know that they cannot come and intimidate women students on our campus! Spread the word!” wrote Tabz.

Catriona told how the group used a banner from the University of Manchester’s women’s rights collective, The Riveters, to cover up the images, emblazoned with the slogan: ‘Yes she can.’

“There were about 15 of us counter protesting against them and at one point we got to about equal numbers when there 10 of them. There were a lot of men as well as a few women,” she added.

As they began to chant, the protestors began to disperse. “My body, my choice,” “Not the church, not the state, women should control their fate” and “Pro-life men have got to go, when you get pregnant let us know!” were among the chants.

“They’re fairly well known for these tactics and for going around and targeting different campuses and students especially. They think that they can influence young people. They just use very intimidating tactics,” said Catriona.

In the past month, Abort67 have visited Nottingham, Sussex, London and Cambridge universities to protest, as part of a ‘November tour.’

They have tweeted their dismay at the counter-protests on these campuses, calling it a “nationwide cover-up project.”

After their demonstration in Nottingham, the women’s society created an online petition to bar Abort67 from staging any future protests on any university campuses. It has only secured 65 of the 6,000 desired signatures.

Nottingham SU strongly spoke out about the protest, saying: “Abort67’s intimidation and graphic propaganda could result in students feeling harassed and victimised.”

Women’s Officer Tabz congratulated everyone who took part in the counter protest on Facebook: “Well done everyone that came to the protest against Abort67! You are all awesome!”

Manchester PhD students make zombie film at CERN

Written by Anthony Organ on . Posted in News.

University of Manchester PhD students working on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have spent two years and £2,000 making a feature-length zombie film based at the facility.

In the film, radiation from the Higgs boson – often termed the “God particle” and thought to have been discovered earlier this year – starts to transform workers trapped in maintenance tunnels and a group of students are forced to fight for their lives as they attempt to escape.

Luke Thompson, currently in the final year of his PhD in Accelerator Physics, wrote and directed the film. He said: “It’s a bit of a gimmick but ideally people will also see that it’s actually an alright film.”

The film’s name, Decay, refers not only to the living dead, but also to the Higgs boson’s instability, which causes it to decay almost immediately.

Mr. Thompson explained that the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) site at Geneva, where the LHC is situated, is “a huge mishmash of buildings”, with some people “working in porta-cabins” and others in “the smartest offices you’ve ever seen.”

Most buildings are linked at basement level by networks of maintenance tunnels and it was in these that Mr. Thomson found his inspiration with friend Hugo Day, also a Manchester Accelerator Physics PhD student, who co-ordinated the film’s stunts.

Mr. Thompson said: “They’re dark and nasty, there’s dripping water, and we thought ‘this would be pretty cool for a horror movie’. Then six months later we thought ‘let’s actually do it’.”

They started discussing the idea seriously in February 2010 and recruited Clara Nellist, a Manchester PhD student working in Particle Physics, who became the Assistant Director. She is a fan of zombie movies and had independently thought that CERN would make a good setting for one.

Decay had a regular cast and crew of twenty, who had no real previous film experience, and many props were either scavenged or built by the crew.

The film will be available for free online under a Creative Commons Licence towards the end of the month and talks are being held to organise a screening in Manchester. Though they will not make money from the film, Mr. Thompson said the cost was “worth it.”

“It’s a serious chunk of money but the expenditure has been over two years and some is from other people so it’s not like I just have a £2,000 hole in my bank account.”

He stressed that his research had not suffered but said: “Post-production has been pretty hellish, I’ve been stuck in my room for the last 6 months, my social life has kind of disintegrated.”

Mr Thompson has now been left unsure whether to pursue a career in film or Physics, saying: “It would be very difficult for me to give any of these things up. If there are opportunities to make a living in one and to do the other as a hobby then it would be fantastic.”

Asked whether this scenario could happen outside of film he said: “I will say for the record that this will not happen.”

But he admitted: “I cannot say that as a fact, until somebody makes a zombie with the Higgs boson it can’t be proved or disproved.”

Although allowing the film to be released, CERN have in no way endorsed it.

£12.8m University funding boost for cancer research

Written by Anthony Organ on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester has been awarded a £12.8 million government funding boost to help progress cancer research development.

The money will make up part of a £38 million partnership between the University, Cancer Research UK and The Christie hospital to develop the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC).

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “Cancer research is one of our high priorities, so this award is fantastic news for the University and for our partners.”

In 2008, the University was found to have the best cancer research of all UK institutions by the Research Assessment Exercise. It spends £23 million annually on such research.

Manchester is one of fourteen institutions to win funding from the Research Partnership Investment Fund, which is awarding a total of £300 million to successful applicants.

The scheme grants money to universities which are able to attract at least double the amount from businesses, charities or philanthropists, in an effort to “encourage strategic partnerships”.

Professor Nic Jones, MCRC Director and Chief Scientist at Cancer Research UK, said: “The MCRC is a wonderful example of partners working together to combat cancer.

“Cancer Research UK welcomes the news of this award, which will facilitate further progress of the MCRC’s efforts over the coming few years.”

The funds will be used to construct a new University cancer research building on The Christie site in Withington, full of specialist research equipment which will help develop new “personalised” treatments for patients.

Such treatments will be tailored based on the specific characteristics of each tumour to combat them more effectively.

Caroline Shaw, Chief Executive at The Christie, said: “We are extremely grateful for this funding which will help facilitate groundbreaking research right here in Manchester.”

Last week also saw researchers from the University’s Paterson Institute for Cancer Research identify a “molecular flag” which will help doctors predict the effectiveness of treatment on breast cancer patients.

The researchers hope to build on this discovery to develop new strategies to stop the growth of tumours and to overcome their drug resistance.

Orpheus may be descending but Imogen Stubbs is on the rise

Written by Hannah Lawrence on . Posted in Theatre.

Five Stars out of Five Stars

I’m not even quite sure where to begin, to be honest. One thing that I can definitely say is that this was one of the best things I’ve ever seen on stage. This performance of Orpheus Descending directed by Sarah Frankcom and starring Imogen Stubbs brought out the bitterness and passion of Tennesse Williams’ play of repression, alienation and small town snobbery in America’s deep south.

It was, essentially, Imogen Stubbs’ performance which particularly stood out. In fact, I spoke to another audience member afterwards who, in an almost trance-like state, simply said ‘Imogen Stubbs was just absolutely incredible’. Stubbs’ portrayal of ‘Lady Torrance’ – the play’s central female character – perfectly balanced the psychological complexity of the character without loosing audience sympathy for a woman caught in a loveless marriage and isolated within a repressive culture. Her performance kept pace throughout, gradually growing in intensity until the final act in which she gave a powerful performance of Lady Torrance’s demise, exposing all her insecurities following her husband’s revelation.

However Stubbs’ performance didn’t stand alone. Luke Norris, playing the male lead Valentine Xavier, matched Stubbs’ committed portrayal. His depiction of a young passionate wanderer created a perfect balance to Lady Torrance’s initial cold and hardened outlook. However as the play progressed Norris began to reveal the fraught complexity behind Val’s initially mystifying demeanor.

The stage setting was also cleverly executed, the use of a circular stage creating a feeling of inclusion for the audience. In fact, some audience members sitting in the pit were so close to the action that at one point they had to move their legs out of the way as a fiery Stubbs stormed towards a topless Val. Here the stage setting not only established the audience less as viewers and more as participators but it also added to the sense that the characters, within their own lives, were being constantly observed by others in society. Here the staging reinforced the idea of characters being under constant social observation; constantly under judgment against pre-established societal conventions.

To an English audience depictions of life in America’s deep-south often contain a certain mysticism. However, the production really brought home the raw side of this American community. The performance dealt with racism in a direct and powerful manner, giving a damning portrayal of the hypocrisy of ‘White America’ and their attitudes towards African-Americans, something embodied in the characters of Dolly and Beulah.

Williams himself described the play as being superficially ‘’the tale of a wild-spirited boy who wanders into a conventional community of the South and creates the commotion of a fox in a chicken coop. But beneath that now familiar surface it is a play about unanswered questions that haunt the hearts of people and the difference between continuing to ask them and the acceptance of prescribed answers that are not answers at all.” Certainly this performance of Williams’ classic brought out the deeper issues which lie beyond the play’s surface.

Orpheus Descending runs until 24th November at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Second-hand Chic

Written by Aimee Grant Cumberbatch on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

In the not so dim and distant past, vintage as a term for clothing just didn’t exist. Clothes with a history or a past were simply known as ‘old’, bringing to mind jumble sales and hand-me-downs. However, these days, vintage isn’t just a description for the clothing, it’s a call to arms for the fashion conscious. Those who in the eternal search for individuality are dissatisfied by the chain clothing stores with which we are all familiar or those disillusioned with how far their budget can stretch on the high street. Vintage clothing offers a myriad of attractions for intrepid fashion followers. The main difference is that, yes, it’s second hand, but don’t let that scare you: buying used clothes is not only environmentally sound, but celebrity endorsed, with the likes of Alexa Chung and Zooey Deschanel religious vintage buyers. But, the most attractive, vital thing that sets vintage apart, is the fact that it’s unique. What lays within the word is the promise that individuality is not only achievable, but affordable. Yes, it might smell like your grandma’s dustiest dresser drawer initially, but after a good wash the only way anyone will know it’s vintage is from your smug response to the chorus of ‘where did you get that?’ Here are my tips for those a bit squeamish about second-hand (it’s not just for indie kids, promise!):

1. Sharpen your elbows, great pieces can attract swarms of voracious hipsters and you’ll need them to fight them off and bag that bargain.

2.Variety is key, mix it up with charity shops, markets and your parents’ wardrobes (yes even your dad’s, which is great for denim/checked shirts and oversized jumpers).

3. Be prepared to rummage, often the best bargains are the fruits of extensive foraging and you may have to sift through some less than desirable clothes to get to the key pieces.

4. Look for quality, one of the main advantages of vintage is its age, which in the clothing world often means better durability than offered by modern vendors due to the cost-cutting of the contemporary clothes market. However, think carefully about buying damaged items; sometimes a piece suits a bit of wear and tear, other times an item might be a fixer-upper but if you like your clothes pristine and ready to wear, those holy jeans aren’t for you!

5. Make investments, go for pieces with style that can transcend the constant flux of trends, these are worth both time and effort and when you find them keep a tight hold.

6. Avoid ‘vintage’ sections at high-street shops as although these can be more accessible you’ll pay a premium for their place in the shop and better bargains are certainly to be had elsewhere.

 

Where to go in Manchester:

You’ll hear many an indie kid raving about the vintage haven that is Oldham street and it lives up to its status in terms of choice and variety but some shops can be a little pricy for my Dickensian pauper budget, happily though the street is home to Vintage Kilo Sales (£15 per kilo of vintage) where piling on the pounds is a good thing! The next will be held at Moho Live on the 3rd of December.

https://www.facebook.com/VintageBuytheKilo

One of the best shops on the street is Ryan Vintage, a veritable vintage treasure trove.

For the even thriftier, beauteous bargains are to be had in the charity shops of Withington, West Didsbury and Chorlton.

Vintage Galore!

Written by Ella Westall on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Shopping for vintage clothing can be a brilliant way to find unique pieces at a lower price, and Britain’s ever-growing passion for vintage, especially with this season’s focus on the heritage trend, has led to a huge growth in the numbers of shops selling vintage clothing. This week we have narrowed down a few of Manchester’s best…
Affleck’s Palace, 52 Church Street. A treasure trove of bargains and one off pieces founded in 1982, with countless small shops selling everything from fancy dress to fur coats: there is almost nothing that you can’t find in here. There are also lots of great ‘vintage inspired’ shops, for those of you who aren’t sure about second-hand! COW, Piccadilly Gardens. This fairly new addition to the scene is vintage shopping on a whole new level, without the dirt, the dark and the rummaging. The masses of clothes are neatly ordered by item, colour and gender, with gorgeous accessories arranged throughout the store. The low prices and friendly staff are also huge bonus.
COW, Piccadilly Gardens. Photo: Ella Westall
Others to check out include Oxfam Originals and Pop Boutique, both found on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter and Mockingbird in Withington.
A little further afield lies Decades in Blackburn, an extraordinary little shop that is an absolute must for any serious vintage fanatic, stocking pieces from every decade since the Victorian era, this is definitely the place to go for vintage occasion wear and rarer pieces. If you don’t feel up to the trek, Decades often visits clothes fairs including Clothes Show Live and Manchester Antique Costume and Textile Fairs.
Me&Yu, Affleck’s Palace. Photo: Ella Westall
And finally, my personal favourites when it comes to vintage shopping are Manchester’s many vintage fairs, where traders come together to bringing their best pieces so that you can spend all day rummaging through rails of beautiful clothes. These happen fairly regularly and are definitely worth keeping an eye out for! Happy shopping…

Haute Cou-dumpster

Written by Natalie Clark on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

When searching tirelessly to discover the next big marketable trend, the fashion world rarely fears to find inspiration in some of the most bizarre of muses. Thus when ‘tramp’ or ‘homeless chic’ was flaunted on the catwalks (notably Galliano and Westwood) opinions seemed to swing in two directions. Some believed that this was an exploitation of the impoverished, a distasteful and crass way of grasping attention. However, many saw it as their latest winter wardrobe, celebrities and fashionistas taking the scruffy look in their stride and creating a style that as each season rolls by, continues to reemerge onto the fashion platform.

Homeless chic; fashion inspired by homeless people and the clothes they wear. Think grunge blended with scruff and mess. Think clashes, layers and rips. Rough, edgy and mismatched. The Olsen twins are of course, the poster girls for this look. Sienna Miller, Alexa Chung and the Geldof sisters have also experimented with this new take on chic; ripped jeans, fingerless gloves and ill-fitting sweaters supposedly ‘the height of fashion’.

Photo: Huffington Post

However, could the use of the word ‘homeless’ really be over stepping the line? Scruffy and messy will never go out of style. Visit any university campus and you will see evidential proof of this; if anything, a constant catwalk of the timeless rolled-out-of-bed-into-whatever-was-on-the-floor look. But perhaps the obvious exploitation of those who have very little pushes the boundaries. Even the 2001 film Zoolander pokes fun of the great Galliano, with the infamous ‘Derelicte’ collection. 2008 saw model-turned designer Erin Wasson tell NYLON.tv that her newest range was inspired by the homeless people at Venice Beach, exclaiming “The people with the best style for me are the people that are the poorest.” Sigh. Perhaps the designers of the world should take note that yes, scruffy will always sell, but having a male model wearing couture yet accessorised with a folded mattress or shopping trolley is just, tasteless. I’m talking to you Vivienne.

Nifty-Thrifty Nails

Written by Emma Richards on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Have you ever been flicking through your favourite fashion mag on a quiet afternoon when you spot the most amazing yet clearly impossible nail designs that leave you itching to replicate? However, without a personal A-list manicurist, and let’s face it, the sheer trickiness of that nail brush, the creation of such a masterpiece seems unattainable. Well fear not, for I went on a quest to find the best and easiest nail art trends bang in vogue right now

1. The Newspaper Nail:

Newspaper Nails. Photo: Tumblr

This style is certainly no novice to the world of nail art, however, it’s a simple, rather sophisticated yet edgy look that’s proving extremely popular among A-listers and the general public alike. The best part is, you can create this look effortlessly in a flash. Simply paint a base coat onto your nail (colour is optional), find a section of newspaper you want to transfer onto your nail, dip it in water and wipe away the excess, place it on your nail (once base coat is dry) and press firmly for approximately a minute and a half. Carefully remove the newspaper and voila, there you have it!

What’s more, this look can also be adapted to create versions using magazines or maps – you’ll never get lost on the London Underground again.

2. The Fabric Nail

Photo: ciaté.com

Renowned nail company, Ciaté, have welcomed a new addition to their ever-growing collection of trends with the introduction of the Velvet Manicure. It has already made it big on the catwalk at Monique Lhuillier’s Fall 2012 Runway Show and has been bagged by stars including Rihanna and Blake Lively. And at just £14 for the entire set including a paint pot, one pot of crushed velvet powder (in navy, plum or mink) and a little black brush, it’s not exactly hard to understand why. (A cheaper option could also be in the form of flocking powder, available at any craft store, creating the illusion of a shaggy woolen sweater.) Why not get creative with it as well?

Photo: Google Images

3. ‘Not Everything That Glitters Is Gold’:

Photo: Jenny @eBlogger (beautyRUSHx3)

The Fashion World has gone glitter mad this winter, so it’s no wonder that this made the cut. Firstly, this has got to be one of the easiest nail designs ever, plus, students, free glitter is NEVER going to be too far away if you want to be a little more creative than buying a glitter infused polish. But, quite literally the best thing about this design has got to be in its creation: hours of fun to be had on a Saturday night when it’s just too dreary to leave the house.

4. The Salted Manicure:

Photo: Pinterest

Even though the Caviar manicure gained many avid followers, at the end of the day, it was still overpriced and not as long wearing as you’d expect it to be for such a steep cost. However, a solution has been found…the salted manicure. Simply apply salt to wet nails and allow to dry. The moral is: when you’ve just got no fresh nail art ideas, go to the kitchen cupboard.

5. ‘Embellish Me Bold’:

Photo: Google Images

Got any odd buttons, poppers or crafty materials lying around somewhere under that mound of uni work? Well it’s time to put them to good use (and maybe shift that pile of books?) since 3D nail effects are suddenly becoming the new season must-do. You could use anything from rhinestones to parts of toys, or even punch a hole in your nail to attach chains… We’ll leave this one entirely up to you.

6. Lace Nails:

Photo: Diesel Factory

…Need I say more?

Tramp Iconic

Written by Grainne Morrison on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Attaining showbiz status whilst still in nappies has given Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen the time to perfect their famous looks. Creators of successful fashion lines The Row and Elizabeth & James, these fashion icons have more than earned their style credentials. Although it’s been some time since we’ve been graced with a classic Olsen made-for-DVD film (‘Our Lips Are Sealed’ was definitely my favourite), these twins are still on topic amongst the fashion savvy. The world has watched the petite sisters grow up on screen, whilst off screen we have witnessed the evolution of their signature styles. Long gone are the matching, wholesome premiere outfits of their earlier press appearances. These sisters are now more famed for their unique street style.

Mary-Kate and Ashley encompass the lasting success of the tramp-chic trend. Both as a pair and as individuals they emulate the ability to look oh-so expensive in the most bedraggled of fashions. In fact, these days Mary-Kate is better known for her ability to pass as a well-dressed Magic Bus Lady than for her and Ashley’s on-screen achievements. Ashley has a similar style but definitely resembles the more ‘chic’ side of tramp-chic. Together they bring together the best aspects of fashion by showing how dressing down can be so much more effective than constantly glamming it up.

Photo: Art Images (http://www.aolcdn.com/photogalleryassets/stylelist/954823/vogue-cfda-fashion-fund-awards-mary-kate-ashley-olsen-940ls111610.jpg)

Unlike the identical outfits of their younger days, they now dress to complement rather than copy one another. Take, for instance, their ensembles of choice for the 2010 CFDA awards: the hair that is shiny and expensive looking yet still tousled; the fur that shows they have no problem being controversial, and then we turn to the bags. Yes, they are both clutching Hermés Kelly bags, but let’s be honest- we’re only looking at one! Mary-Kate’s distressed, high end accessory shouldn’t work, but it does. Why? Here we have the perfect example of the contradictory nature of the tramp-chic phenomenon. Mary-Kate’s bag is not torn and old looking because she can’t afford a new one- she could buy millions more. No, this fashion mogul has chosen the worn-in look as a statement. Going against the mainstream is always on trend, and thus the Olsens forgo the prim and proper look meaning they stand out amongst the red-carpet masses.

It’s safe to say that with their growing fashion empire, the Olsen twins will continue to influence trends- whether it’s amongst the tramps or the chic.

Manchester RAG does East African Playgrounds

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

Manchester RAG has organised a trip to Uganda for 12 students as part of the East African Playgrounds (EAP) project, which aims to build playgrounds, create communities and give hundreds of children in Uganda somewhere fun, exciting and safe to explore and play. While play is fun, it is also a vital part of child development that is often overlooked.

The East African Playgrounds trip involves a team of Manchester students going out to Uganda for one month to live and work alongside one of their building teams and local communities. They build a brand new playground from start to finish and help to run arts and play sessions with hundreds of children. They even organise weekends away on safari, white water rafting or just chilling on the beaches.

To be a part of this each volunteer has to raise £700, all of which gets spent on the building of the playground. As a charity EAP feels that it is really important to be open with regards to donations. They keep all of their administration costs low and fund the running of the charity through direct donations for that purpose.

There are many ways to raise money and in the past volunteers have raised well over the target. They have used methods such as Just giving, Give as you live, asked friends and family, done three peaks challenges, bake sales, car washing, bucket shakes, auctions, date nights, quiz nights, pie nights, pub crawls amongst other things. Fund raising can be done in many ways and can be loads of fun!

The trip for Manchester students is between 8th June- 7th July. But for those who would like to come but can’t make those dates, EAP have two other dates where they can fit them in with another University group.

The charity and projects are not new to this year, they are however new to Manchester RAG.  They were set up in 2009 by two students at the University of Leeds. Since then they have run four summers of playground-building projects with nine different universities.

To sign up for this fantastic opportunity, email the EAP RAG project leader at [email protected] or contact the charity directly at  [email protected]. Hurry up, there are only twelve places and they fill up fast! You don’t need any previous experience, you will only be gaining some as EAP volunteers are trained up for the projects they work on.

Young Greens

Written by Rachel Heward on . Posted in Societies.

The Young Greens society is part of the youth branch of the Green Party. They discuss what they think the government at all levels should be doing. I spoke to Joel Smith from Young Greens and asked him about their aims, ideas and plans for the society.

How do you go about ‘organising students and young people to fight for a fair economic system, for good and free education and to stop global warming’?

We organise a wide range of events from film screenings to talks and discussions right through to political campaigning for the issues we are passionate about. We believe society can work better and that we can make it better if we work for it.
Our society was formed last year and we had many successes. For the local elections we campaigned for seven students to become Green councillors and came second in three, which was fantastic. We organised the food co-operative collaborating with other societies as well as lobbying the council to provide recycling bins to all homes. We also campaign with local green candidates in elections and believe we can get a seat in Manchester at the next council elections.

Do you have any other plans for the near future?

We are hoping to send people to the Demo2012 march in London along with many other students from Manchester protesting for a better future, so check that out. As a smaller party the Greens listen to the youth wing meaning you can have a real impact on the direction of the party.
 Also on the 6th December we will be hosting a talk and discussion called “Can the Free Market save the planet?” which should be a really interesting evening.

Who are you looking for and how can people get involved?

We want people to check out the Green Party website policy page (tinyurl.com/greenpolicy2012) and if you think that sounds like a better system then come along to some of our events! We promote and organise everything that’s going onto Facebook and Twitter and if you don’t use either of them then drop us an e-mail, we’re looking for energetic people who want to get more engaged with politics and meet some fun people. It’s free to join and you can come as little or as much as you want.
www.facebook.com/youngandgreenmanchester

 

Tramp Chic: Pour Homme

Written by Miles Zilesnick on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Tramp chic is a confusing trend: it presents you as part of a lower level of society, even lower than your current student status. For such a relaxed “I don’t care look” too, it can take an awful lot of effort to achieve it. Think about how some may style their ‘out of bed’ hair look for a good half and hour, so everyone knows they care about not caring.

Photo: Imgur

And for those lads who care about looking like they don’t, here my step by step guide to tramp chic…

Step 1: Before the clothes even come into question you need to think about your overall appearance. This can start by letting your facial hair grow for a bit. Don’t be afraid to trim and keep it a little neat. It’s tramp chic, not just tramp.

Step 2: With facial hair sorted, we turn the attention to the mop on your head. Nothing really to do here except grap a beanie and cover up. This style is all about keeping warm so a hat is perfect in this respect.

Step 3: Tops are next. Any plain t-shirt will do, make sure it’s clean though, you don’t need an accompanying smell to go along with the look. Then to go over this a knee length parka will do, especially in Manchester for that Gallagher effect. The fur hood is very much needed too just for the chic effect.

Step 4: Going down now we need to focus on trousers. My recommendation is going to be skin-tight skinnies, with some optional tears in the knees. My choice on colour would be black or grey, but this can be mixed up.

Step 5: Shoes. This one is pretty open, either some military leather boots would work well, or an old beaten up pair of Converse would be appropriate too.

Step 6: The finishing touches can add to it all, so get a pair of fingerless gloves to begin with, a nice watch and a couple of bangles or festival bands for your wrists and you’re set for that Tramp Chic look.

Now, you have the steps for the style go and trawl through Oldham Street for all the cheap vintage stores, and remember Afflecks too. One of my prized jumpers came from there and was a mere £2, in true tramp chic style.

Beauty in the Bigger Sense: Winter Warmers

Written by Jessica Cusack on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Here is a little slice of something good for you, dedicated to making you look and feel better from the inside out, rather than covering up with tricks of the beauty trade. Although those are also very essential right now because the permanent circles under my eyes are just not cool.

It’s November, the temperature is getting lower and the days are getting shorter. It’s deadline time and by now you know the library cleaners better than you know your own housemates. My guess is that we’re not feeling as sparkly as we would want – those winter blues are setting in pretty fast and we need some remedies…

Exercise is essential at any time of the year but in winter especially. You’re pretty much stationary, being stuck inside all day on account of the Arctic weather, and seek comfort in fast, cheap food which is not doing anything for the approaching party season body. Might I recommend heading down to the Manchester Aquatics Centre (or any other exercise establishment, but this one is conveniently located 5 minutes from the library…just sayin’) where you can participate in a wide range of exercise classes, join the gym, or go swimming, all of which will have you feeling fighting fit pronto. Those little things called endorphins (remember them?) make you feel great, giving your mental and physical health a big old boost in this dreary month. Join me and participate in how not to look attractive: getting red, hot, and sweaty.

Food is another issue this time of year, when after a long cold day all you want to do is whack something stodgy and comforting in the microwave and be done with it. Step away from the radiation machine I say! Taking an extra half an hour to make a proper nutritious meal will stand you and your digestive tract in good stead, plus you need all the nutrients available in order to get your immune system through the winter months. The Hemsleyandhemsley.com site has loads of great recipes which make you feel healthier by just looking at them. However, no amount of healthy food and exercise will prevent the inevitable sniffles rippling through the library. If this is you, take tissues and for God’s sake BLOW YOUR NOSE.

Speaking of the library, try to plan ahead and take healthy snacks with you, instead of buying Coca-Cola and chocolate when the afternoon slump begins. Having a latte and a banana, some nuts and raisins, or something filled with protein like bouncefoods.com energy balls, will fill you up and enable you to work more efficiently for longer. And whatever you do, do NOT miss breakfast. It’s a sure-fire way to feeling awful and once again reaching for a sugary substitute. You need to kick start your precious metabolism in the morning, and if you feed it badly, it will work badly, making you more prone to weight-gain and spots. Frightening, I know.

Lecturing over, it’s time to put a little more time and effort into your health this wintertime. So get some rest, wrap up warm, and thank me come the Christmas season and summertime, which does, contrary to current belief, actually exist.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Thrifty: Outfit Recycling

Written by Chloe Letcher on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

I’m sure many people have, at some point, got into the terrible habit of thinking a new outfit is needed for every night out. The extensive social events at university can sometimes result in a looming pressure of what to wear, instead of simply going out and enjoying the night. Let’s face it, how many of us can say we are not guilty of trying to avoid pictures being uploaded that expose us of “Facebook repeating” outfits? However, having to buy multiple new dresses a week is not only unrealistic to bank balances (especially as loans slowly begin to dwindle), but is also unnecessary. Being thrifty by outfit recycling is not something that should be avoided, as even the most stylish of female celebrities do it.

The Duchess of Cambridge (see above) is without a doubt the prime outfit repeater. The responses to her re-wearing items such as this blue jacquard coat dress are mixed. Some praise Kate for her ability to recycle outfits, despite the fact that almost every designer in the world is desperate to dress her. Others have criticised the fact that she has sometimes snubbed wearing a new item, and has instead opted to recycle a piece of her mother’s or sister’s.  However, Kate always has the last laugh; she is the perfect example of how to outfit recycle and she looks great each and every time she does it.

Photo: cocoperez.com

As the Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, it would be hard to believe that Anna Wintour doesn’t have a great selection of high end pieces at her disposable. However, she also rejects the “only-wear-once” rule, as is evident from her recycling this Balenciaga dress. If the Editor-in-Chief can do it…

Photo: blog.fantasyshopper.co.uk

The Made in Chelsea star has been photographed numerous times wearing this gorgeous coral leather jacket by Carven. With an already established collection for high street brand Lipsy, Millie is not only thrifty, but is incredibly fashion savvy, showing how with a few accessory changes or by wearing a different heel, outfit recycling does not have to be repetitive.

As nice as it is to buy a new outfit, wearing a piece you’ve previously worn is not a bad alternative. It’s easy to make a familiar piece look different, either by adding a belt or some dress jewellery, layering the item up with a biker jacket or blazer, or even doing your hair or makeup differently. And when all else fails, recycling the staple, classic LBD is always a guaranteed success and means that you don’t descend even further into the depths of your overdraft.