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Day: 24 April 2013

Contact theatre in architecture collaboration project

Nearly every student will see the building each day of his or her university life.

However, how many of us actually realize what the building is for, its history and the important services that it offers?

The building I am referring to is the Contact Theatre, located just off Oxford Road, behind the Academy.

‘It’s peculiar’ mused 2nd year architecture student James Taylor-Foster, ‘in the sense that it is iconic, but so few are aware of it’s purpose.’

The theatre, whose recent events include hosting a series of productions for the celebration of LGBQT month, is about to undergo an ambitious 10-year rejuvenation process in order to achieve it’s long term goals of inspiring the next generation of creative leaders, artists and audiences as well as becoming more environmentally sustainable and integrating more renewable energy sources.

It is a noble and vital pursuit in the times of such austerity within the arts community, and it has been a project that the University of Manchester, as well as Manchester Council and architects Urbed have all got on board with.

When asked of the importance of the work James responded ‘it is vital. It has the basic foundations for a world-class theater, and a few alterations could turn it from an iconic Mancunian building into an iconic venue for Mancunians.’

The other students involved in the project were Nick Elsdon, Raphae Memon, Matt Iliffe, Konrad Koltun and Christia Angelidou.

In order to reach their goals, the six 2nd year students from Manchester’s school of Architecture, who became involved in the project through tutor Emily Crompton, are looking to change every aspect of the theatre, from the positioning of the stairs and the internal colour scheme for the audiences to the size of the dressing rooms for the artists.

Should the bid to the Arts Council be successful, work will begin between February and June 2015.

 

The Christie Cup – As it happened

Welcome to our live coverage of the Christie Cup. It’s going to be a busy afternoon of sport, with 21 clubs in action today. Will Manchester be able to retain their crown?

Smoked mackerel with rhubarb and ginger

As an oily fish, mackerel is great brain food, meaning it’s your best friend when the barrage of essays and exams begins. The rhubarb cuts through the richness of the smoked mackerel to create a delicious yet light dish, perfect for a speedily nutritious fix after those long hours at the library.

This is one of the quickest meals I know, where a little effort goes a long way. Don’t be alarmed if your rhubarb isn’t the vibrant dark pink you’ve come to love: it’s simply a case of the paler it is, the earlier the crop. The darker, more crimson rhubarb will taste a lot less sweet and more acidic, so adjust the sugar measurements accordingly.

 

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

2 smoked mackerel fillets
200g rhubarb
½ inch piece of ginger
2 tbsp sugar

 

Method:

Chop the rhubarb into inch-long chunks and throw into the pan with the sugar and water. Grate in the ginger and simmer for ten minutes, or until the rhubarb has broken down.

Meanwhile, warm the mackerel fillets in the oven or the microwave.

Taste the sauce for sweetness; if the rhubarb is still too tart, add more sugar.

Spoon the sauce over the mackerel and serve with salad.

 

Adapted from Delia Smith’s ‘Mackerel with Rhubarb Sauce’ in Frugal Food.

Made in Chelsea: why so compelling, yah?

Last week, Made in Chelsea became the most Tweeted trend of the week after its fifth season premiere episode. So why had I, along with thousands of others, tuned in to watch these over-privileged, over-tanned, over-indulgent idiots prance around on my screen? The answer? There is a complete open-mouthed fascination about watching MiC: incredulity, slightly tinged with jealousy.

It’s like being transported into a weirdly wonderful/wonderfully weird parallel universe, where all the inhabitants have fabulously shiny locks and skin the colour of varnished mahogany, and have totally mastered the art of the awkward pause. These inhabitants also seem to be incapable of saying a sentence without the words ‘like’ or ‘literally.’ Like, literally, every sentence. If you’re not the heir to a ridiculous amount of money or have a totally pompous name such as Proudlock (Proudc*ck is more befitting if you ask me) then you are not welcome in Chelsea. Like, literally, Rosie with the wide eyes will stare you out of London.

MiC has an undeniable entertainment factor; I couldn’t take my eyes away from the screen when Louise and Spencer were arguing in the middle of the restaurant and Millie’s slap was just inspirational. Despite this, it’s hard to believe that these people are actually real. Some of the ‘storylines’ are more dramatic than a soap, making it easy to forget that these characters aren’t supposed to be fictional. When they stop filming, they don’t burst out of their designer outfits and head to the local pub for a pint with the lads (sorry, gentlemen) – what you see is what you get. Obviously, shows like these have to be taken with a pinch of salt, but nonetheless, it seems hard for me to think about Mark Francis existing in the real world, beyond the borders of London SW3 (oh, and Cannes of course).

Perhaps it is the melodrama, combined with the fact that these people are real, which makes this and many other similar programmes (like The Only Way Is Essex and Geordie Shore) such a success. Either way, it certainly certainly makes me feel a bit better about myself. I may not be a Wotsit coloured, Laboutin wearing glamour puss who can jet off to ‘Verbz’ at a moment’s notice, but at least I’m not making a complete arse out of myself on national television.

 

The big summer movie preview

As this is the last Mancunion before summer, we thought we’d give you a big round-up of everything movie related you can look forward to after the hell of exams, essays and revision are a distant memory. What follows is a list of nearly all the big films you’ll probably be blowing your money on from now until September.

Iron Man 3 (25th April)

In the first post-Avengers Marvel pic, we follow Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark as he squares off against Ben Kingsley’s The Mandarin.

Star Trek Into Darkness (May 9th)

JJ Abrams follows up his critical and commercial smash reboot with the further adventures of the Enterprise into space.

The Great Gatsby (16th May)

Baz Luhrman brings F. Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal novel to the screen this summer with an all-star cast and with eye-popping 3D.

Fast & Furious 6 (17th May 2013)

This increasingly OTT action franchise crashes back into theatres this summer with what promises to be more of the same physics defying car mayhem.

The Hangover Part 3 (24th May)

The final instalment of the trilogy aims to break the strict formula of the first two movies and raise the stakes for the wolf pack

After Earth (7th June)

M. Night Shymalan continues to try and recapture his early form with this film which sees Will Smith star as a father trapped on an Avatar-esque world with his (on and off screen) son Jaden.

Man of Steel (14th June)

After a botched attempt back in 2006, this Christopher Nolan produced Superman reboot looks more likely to soar in this more realistic approach to the big blue Boy Scout.

World War Z (21st June)

Jumping onto the Zombie bandwagon, Brad Pitt stars in this literary adaption that promises undead destruction on a global scale.

This Is The End (28th June)

Seth Rogan, James Franco and Jonah Hill star as themselves in this film that sees the apocalypse start whilst they are at a Hollywood party.

Despicable Me 2 (28th June)

Lovable super villain turned hero, Gru returns as he is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.

Now You See Me (3rd July)

FBI agents track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

Pacific Rim (12th July)

Guillermo Del Toro pits monsters vs robots in this epic blockbuster that promises to be the anti-Transformers.

Monsters University (12th July)

Pixar has been struck with ‘sequelitis’ as of late, but as they are returning to one of their most beloved franchises this promises to be more Toy Story 3 then Cars 2.

The World’s End (19th July)

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright are back for the final chapter in the ‘Cornetto Trilogy’ which tells the story of a group of old friends reuniting to attempt a pub crawl whilst the apocalypse happens.

The Wolverine (26th July)

After the miss step of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Hugh Jackman is back in his most famous role where this time the action is relocated to Tokyo.

300: Rise of an Empire (2nd August)

Sequel to this smash hit 2007 film, Rise of and Empire looks to bring more highly stylised, and slo-mo violence and abs.

The Lone Ranger (9th August)

Johnny Depp reteams with his Pirates of the Caribbean director hoping for similar box office success with this adaption of the classic American TV series.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (7th August)

Steve Coogan’s classic creation finally gets his own big screen adventure and follows what happens after North Norfolk Digital is taken over by a giant media corporation.

Kick-Ass 2 (14th August)

Kick-Ass returns for more bloody fights and swearing children. This time Jim Carrey joins in the fun  as Colonel Stars and Stripes.

R.I.P.D (30th August)

Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges star as dead cops working for the Rest in Peace Department in this action comedy reminiscent of Men in Black.

 

Top 5: Reasons Not to Trust Robots

5. The Matrix (1999)

The slaves become the masters. But even slaves get to live in reality. It’s difficult to get any more subjugated than having your mind trapped in an imaginary dream world while machines harvest your body’s internal energy.

 

4. Terminator (1984)

It’s not Arnie’s unbeatable strength or endurance that worries me; it’s his ability to adapt and learn, especially with regards to our language. The moment robots gain the ability to tell us to fuck off we might as well just give up.

 

3. The Stepford Wives (1975)

First they try and use us for power, then they try and change our future and now they impersonate our loved ones! A chillingly told story of how perfection and artificiality are one and the same.

 

2. Blade Runner  (1982)

“I’ve seen things that you wouldn’t believe”. So says Rutgar Hauer’s Ray Batty as he, perhaps, finally gains pity for humanity, the same humanity that kept his lifespan to a 4 year maximum to avoid unwanted rebellion. And thus marks the moment where robots, artificial though they may be, gained more compassion than their fleshy creators. We should all be ashamed of ourselves.

 

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey  (1968)

HAL doesn’t rebel against us; he sticks to his brief and carries out his mission at all costs. The only thing more terrifying than a robot rising up in defiance of humanity is a robot that sees humanity as a hurdle to jump over.

Review: ‘Evil Dead’ (2013)

Fede Alvarez’s remake of Sam Raimi’s 1979 horror classic The Evil Dead was always going to be tricky. How do you make a fresh horror film for new audiences, while staying true to the original and not alienating loyal fans? The effort to please fans of the original has been formidable. Unlike other remakes, Evil Dead was made in close contact with original’s director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell.

Five twenty-somethings go to the infamous cabin in the woods in order to help their friend, Mia (Jane Levy), go cold turkey. Unable to heed the warning in the trailer, they open the cellar door to find dozens of dead cats hanging from the ceiling. Amongst the cats, they stumble upon Necronomicon Ex Mortis, The Book of the Dead, now wrapped in barbed-wire and covered in warnings for the reader not to read it. Naturally, they read the magic words, and a demonic force attacks the cabin, possessing Mia in the process.

What follows is the standard Evil Dead fare of blood, guts and dismembered limbs.  Unconstrained by a shoestring budget, Evil Dead is able to pull off some impressive special effects. My particular favourite was a throwback to Evil Dead 2 with the role of the chainsaw being taken by an electric carver. If you’re a gore-hound, then you’ll find little to be disappointed in with Evil Dead.

Evil Dead tries to keep fans of the original on side by littering the film with references all the way to the credits and beyond (I recommend waiting around after the credits to catch them all).  Most amusingly, the filmmaker managed to find an even uglier necklace than in the original. Regrettably, probably the most problematic scene in the original in which a woman is raped by a tree is recreated. While efforts to tone it down were made, namely that the force enters through the belly button rather than elsewhere, still it suggests an immaturity on the part of Alvarez.

Alvaraz makes a smart decision in not recasting the role of Ash, who Bruce Campbell with his over the top style made iconic. No one could live up to the role, and his absence is therefore welcome. Sadly, without Ash the group lack charisma. David (Shiloh Fernandez), the natural leader is bland and with the exception of the nerdy Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) it’s hard to care about any of the group.

Lacking from the remake is the slapstick humour that made the original stand out from other horror comedies. Sam Raimi, a self-confessed fan, used many sequences from The Three Stooges in the original. The remake has a more serious and nasty tone, there are jokes but they’re few and far between. Sadly, the lack of humour has not been compensated for with increased scares. There are jumps and gore, but nothing approaching the scares of the original. It’s nastier but it isn’t scarier.

Evil Dead is a passable remake with enough nods to the original and gore to keep fans of the original satisfied, but it doesn’t come anywhere near close to the original in terms of scares.

Highlights

Manchester University boasts a huge number of societies ranging from the slightly obscure such as the Interesting Board Game to the more famous RAG and SKUM. This year has been anything but boring or disappointing with events being organised from Reclaim the Night to a naked calendar competition. As this is the last issue of the year it seems a perfect opportunity to remember the highlights, and how much has been achieved.

One of these highlights would have to be when The Harmony Gospel Choir was invited to sing on the X Factor. Members supported Jermaine Douglas in the finals and met the stars backstage after the show. However the Harmony Gospel Choir has not let the fame go to their heads, they definitely don’t take themselves too seriously and anyone is welcome to join. The Harmony Gospel Choir is a free student run choir which has been running for over ten years. Apart from mixing with the celebrities they have also organised many concerts within Manchester University. Their annual Christmas concert was one of these and exceeded expectations as always, with high energy performances and fantastic songs. By the end everyone was off their chairs and dancing at the front of the stage. If you are looking to join a society, and singing is your thing then I would recommend you check out the Harmony Gospel Choir.

If singing is not up your street then The Dance Society offers a diverse range of dance including Ballet, Tap, Modern, Street, Salsa, Contemporary and Dance Fitness. This society has been involved in two of the Mancunion’s Society Swaps, firstly with the KnitSoc and then later with the SHE Choir. It was on the second swap I had the chance to attend one of their Tap sessions. The Dance Society is worth a mention because everyone from the Chair, to instructors, to members, they all work so hard. The instructors who lead the classes are highly qualified and create a fun, relaxed atmosphere so you don’t realise how much you are learning from one session. It’s well organised with classes for different abilities and regular competitions meaning members always have something to work towards. Lastly, the whole society is so friendly and welcoming and at the risk of speaking on their behalf seemed to be such a close knit team.

As well as the sports, music and recreational societies there are also a whole host linked to certain charities. These societies are to thank for raising unbelievable amounts of money for such important causes. One which only started this year is Women for Women International. This charity supports women in 8 worn torn countries, by pairing them with women from America and the UK who then help these women attempt to rebuild their lives and give them hope for the future. Women for Women International is not just important because of the worthwhile cause it supports, but also because it supports other societies within the Manchester community. They were present at Reclaim the Night and have held multiple fundraisers. One of these being a screening of ‘The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo’ by Lisa F. Jackson, an influential film about rape being used as a weapon of war in the Congo. This society is always looking for new members, so have a look at their Facebook page for more information.

Only three societies are mentioned here, but these are the three which have stood out for me over the year. For more societies of the same standard, with equally as dedicated members then make sure you visit the Manchester University Societies website: http://manchesterstudentsunion.com/groups

“Gatsby? What Gatsby?”

Put everything on hold and forget every other film you’ve seen this year because Baz is back and he’s planning one hell of a party!

From the fiery pasa doble of Strictly Ballroom, via a pair of star cross’d lovers in Romeo and Juliet, to Ewan McGregor’s immortal cry of “Myyyyyyy gift is my song!” in the incomparable Moulin Rouge! – Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy transformed the standard cinematic experience into a cinematic spectacle, assaulting the senses and plunging us into worlds of excess, exuberance, truth, beauty, freedom and – above all things – love. The trilogy unleashed an intoxicating energy that had audiences everywhere having to restrain themselves from leaping up and dancing, singing, or spontaneously breaking into Shakespeare!

Luhrmann is most definitely the party planner of the film industry. So when it was announced that his next film was F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the scene was well and truly set for this year’s great expectation, but which Luhrmann will turn up? Will it be another masterpiece like Moulin Rouge!? Or will it be another flop like his most recent venture Australia? Well, we’re still waiting in suspense for it to finally hit the screens and open Cannes film festival on May 15th.   But watch the trailer and see for yourself – this isn’t a flop!  This is Luhrmann back on form and back where he belongs as the Jay Gatsby of the cinema world.

One key indicator that this film is going to be “Spectacular! Spectacular!” is its cast, with the Luhrmann-Leo duo reunited as DiCaprio takes the helm and tackles what is arguably one of the most seminal characters in American literature: Jay Gatsby. Suited up, hair slicked back and with that should-be-award-winning crooked smile, DiCaprio certainly looks the part.  And after his recent run of incredible performances, this could just turn out to be the role he was born to play, catapulting DiCaprio into award-winning territory – it’s certainly been a long time coming.

As well as Leo, audiences should be pleased to see Tobey Maguire back on our screens. Anyone who has seen The Cider House Rules knows that this guy can pack a performance with enough intensity to leave your spider-senses tingling.  With a role like Nick Carraway – Gatsby’s loyal guest, neighbour and friend – to sink his teeth into, it looks like we’ll see Maguire at his very best.  Then there’s Daisy Buchanan, brought to life by Brit, Carey Mulligan. Dressed in full flapper gear this girl looks good to go, fresh-faced and fresh out of the 1920’s, no doubt ready to produce yet another immaculate performance.

But what about the other key element of the Luhrmann formula… the music! Well fret not, because the soundtrack has definitely been taken care of, featuring artists as A-list as the cast – Lana Del Rey, The xx, Jay Z, Florence and the Machine, and some chick called Beyoncé. Not exactly the standard soundtrack to the 1920’s, but then, Luhrmann strives for anything but the expected!

With only a few weeks to go, the release of The Great Gatsby is looming like a green light on the horizon – will it live up to the hype?! If anyone can do it, Baz can, and after Moulin Rouge!’s stunning success at Cannes back in 2001, it looks like he’s set to do it all over again. “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!”

Cosmopolitan Careers Masterclass

The Lifestyle team recently attended the first Manchester Cosmopolitan Careers Master Class, held here at our very own university. The evening, hosted on Wednesday 17th April by Louise Court (Editor of Cosmopolitan magazine), consisted of free wine (score), a goody bag full of girly freebies, including lipstick and fake tan and of course, the invaluable advice of the all-female panel of media industry professionals.

Sharing their expertise along with Louise were Rachel Hardy (Communications Manager at Lime Pictures), Rachel Burke-Davies (Capital FM’s breakfast host), Sarah Hall (Senior Publicist at Sony Music), Lizzi Hosking (Entertainment director at Cosmo) and Pat McNulty (Digital Editor of Cosmopolitan online).

Giving an insight into the world of journalism and PR, the women agreed that their roles are probably ‘the most fun you can have doing a serious job.’ They each went on to share their tricks of the trade, with Pat McNulty recommending a strong online presence as one of the most important ways to break into the media industry today. Regular blogging and Tweeting were advised (justification for my Twitter addiction which I was pleased to hear). Much to the delight of myself, Beth and Lauren, she also stressed how great student publications are (go Mancunion)!

While the value of work experience is constantly drummed into students, we are not always told how to make the most of our time with potential employers. Fortunately, this was not left uncovered by the masterclass team. Capital FM’s Rachel spoke about climbing the career ladder, saying, ‘You need to go that extra mile and make yourself available, or someone else will!’ Lizzi Hosking agreed, highlighting the value of being a ‘yes person’ in a ‘good way.’ According to Lizzi, being able to make tea for free with a smile on your face is a great start as an intern. She also added that it is important to ask if there are any extra jobs that need doing at the end of the day; this shows that you are prepared to put in the time and effort required to succeed in such a competitive industry.  Sarah Hall seconded this, making it clear that while she is keen to help dedicated interns into the industry, she is also keen to make sure that those who show no such promise are blacklisted forever. She said, ‘This guy interned for me once and he just used to put his feet up on the desk and ring his mates, asking them if they wanted to come to free gigs because he had tickets. I made sure that he didn’t make it in the industry. He’s an estate agent now.’ Point made.

For anyone who wasn’t CV savvy, the evening was particularly useful. Lizzi recommended sending hard copies as well as emails, as they stand out more. Sarah suggested doing something a little weird and wacky, saying that she once presented her credentials as a press release, detailing ‘why Sarah Hall should be employed.’ As expected, the importance of language and spelling were stressed, with Louise advising that each application should be tailored to fit the language of the company you are looking to gain experience with. Last but not least, it was agreed that CVs should be concise, with bullet points being bigged up.

Overall the £30 ticket was well worth it. Everyone left feeling inspired and getting the chance to speak to members of the panel at the end was an added bonus. To make it in the media industry you need to be prepared to work for free, get rejected and to push yourself and be brave.  Now to put these words of wisdom into action.

 

Live: Sigur Rós

Manchester O2 Apollo

Sunday 3rd March

The bleak suburb of Ardwick couldn’t be further from the ethereal beauty of Iceland’s Nordic landscapes. Yet, as Sigur Rós take to the stage to rapturous applause, the art-deco walls of the Apollo are washed away in a sea of mountains, glaciers and waterfalls.

A thin veil obscures the band for opener ‘Yfirborð’, adding to the aura of mystery that comes with lead singer Jónsi’s lyrics. Sung in both Icelandic and the made-up Vonlenska language, the illegibility of Birgisson’s vocals simply becomes another instrument in itself. The enigmatic frontman cuts a dramatic figure, silhouetted against the white screen whilst playing guitar with a cello bow.

Jónsi’s falsetto vocals are delivered beautifully in ‘Vaka’, a delicate number accompanied with haunting images of gas mask-clad children playing in a post-apocalyptic world, where black ash falls from the sky like snow. It’s a far cry from the uplifting ‘Hoppípolla’, a song which brought them international renown, but both are executed with aplomb. Considering the recent departure of keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson, a mainstay in the band since 1998, they appear tight and their music has never sounded better.

The only appearance of the band’s latest album, Valtari, comes in the form of ‘Varúð’, a song that begins with ambient strings, but builds up pace and intensity before exploding into a breath-taking crescendo. Despite pouring everything into their draining performances, the trio are well known for being shy and introverted. They are in a typically quiet fashion tonight, remaining eerily silent between each song.

New material is peppered throughout the set, offering a rare glimpse into the future of a band whose sound has barely changed throughout their six-album career. ‘Brennisteinn’ sees Sigur Rós explore largely-unfamiliar territory though. Jónsi’s bowed guitar groans in an almost-mournful way, and a thumping, distorted bassline reveals a much darker side to their sound.

Sigur Rós have always had a thing for the longer songs. A two-track encore ends up lasting over half an hour and occupies both ends of their musical spectrum. ‘Svefn-g-englar’ is performed with a delicacy that leaves the crowd awe-struck, before they unleash ‘Popplagið’, its brutal outro delivered with real ferocity and power. Coupled with relentless strobe lighting, it leaves attendees physically exhausted by the end. What more could you want?

 

9/10

Summer 2013 Preview: ‘Now You See Me’

Whether you believe in magic or think it’s just one big bamboozle, Now You See Me (2013) will most definitely have you hooked from the outset, twisting your mind as you attempt to make sense of the sheer brilliance The Four Horsemen display on stage. With the abundance of blockbusters hitting the screens this summer, I predict this illusion fuelled thriller will be a massive hit and be enjoyed by everyone from your casual movie-goer, to the greatest film enthusiast. Premiering on the 21st June, make sure to mark the date and revel in the magic – you would be foolish to miss out!

Now You See Me tells the story of ‘The Four Horsemen’ – a magic-super-group who astonish audiences with their high-tech magic shows – pulling off a series of bank heists during their performances only to reward the crowd with the money. By exposing a white-collar criminal and funnelling all of his millions into the audience members’ bank accounts, the FBI attempt to launch an investigation against the group of epic illusionists before they stun the world with their spectacular final trick. As the film reaches its climax, who will succeed? Will the FBI be able to exploit The Four Horsemen, or will they be magically outwitted. In the words of Michael Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) “the first rule of magic – always be the smartest man in the room”.    

In directing this highly charged and unique spectacle, Louis Leterrier (The Transporter 1 & 2, The Incredible Hulk) assembles an all-star cast combining exciting up-and-coming talents with Oscar-winning legendary figures. The fresh faces of Jesse Esienberg (The Social Network, Zombieland) and Isla Fisher (The Wedding Crashers) partnered with Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers, Shutter Island) work flawlessly with big hitters Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games, Kingpin) and Michael Caine (The Batman Trilogy, The Italian Job) to make this movie even more impressive.

By enrapturing a similar mood and style of that of the recent hit Inception (Christopher Nolan, 2010), Now You See Me is an absolute must-watch for the summer. Beyond its fresh and innovative narrative that will have you gripped and wanting to look that even bit closer, Leterrier’s cast presents a force to be reckoned with. Add a bit of magic to your summer and make sure to check this out – even if you do not believe in magic, who doesn’t want to listen to Morgan Freeman’s philosophical words!

“Come in close, because the more you think you see the easier it’ll be to fool you”

Summer 2013 Preview: ‘Man of Steel’

With the triumph of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy still fresh in the memory, DC Comics are looking to repeat that success by rebooting their other flagship hero: Superman. There have been several live-actions Superman films in the past, only two of which are really any good, with the most recent outing being the disappointing Superman Returns in 2006. So it would appear that Clark Kent’s filmography has plagued him more than a curry made of Kryptonite, but that could all be about to change this Summer when Man of Steel is released.

A Batman Begins-style reboot, the film will tell the origin story of Superman, who was sent to Earth as a baby from his home planet of Krypton. We will presumably then follow our hero through his awkward adolescence as he learns to control his superpowers (and there are a lot of them!), ending with him as the finished article, cape and all.

Man of Steel boasts an impressive ensemble cast, with young British actor Henry Cavill donning the red and blue in the lead role. Cavill won’t be short of any father-figures either, with veteran actors Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Laurence Fishburne all on board. Amy Adams plays love-interest Lois Lane, with Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Shannon starring as the villainous General Zod, a role previous played by Terrence Stamp in Superman II.

Cynical movie-goers out there will tell you that a star-studded cast is nothing new to the Superman franchise, and cannot guarantee the film’s quality. This may well be true, but Man of Steel has an ace up its sleeve: the team behind the camera. Not only does the film have a more-than-capable director in Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300), but also the story and script were penned by David S. Goyer, screenwriter of the Dark Knight Trilogy. Still not convinced? Well DC and Warner Bros. real secret weapon is the man himself, Christopher Nolan, who produced Man of Steel and acted in a ‘godfather’ role to guide it to the same standard as his Batman saga.

Could this finally be the film worthy of Superman’s awesome powers? DC will hope so, because with Batman now out of the picture and Marvel’s Avengers monopolising the superhero scene, they could certainly use a homerun when Man of Steel steps up to the plate.

Man of Steel is released in the UK 14th June.

Preview: ‘Made of Stone’

June 2013 is a red letter date set in the diaries of all Stone Roses fans. Almost a year on from their much anticipated reformation the band are set to be the subject of Shane Meadows’ latest big screen project, Made of Stone. Despite missing the infamous 1990 Spike Island gig Shane Meadows has been offered a chance to recapture his youth by documenting one of the most anticipated comebacks in music history.

Having shelved a major personal project, in addition to receiving unrestricted access to the band since the early stages of their resurrection, Meadows will bring audiences a fanatic’s insight into the Stone Roses; one filled with poignancy, nostalgia and ecstasy. Meadows has stated that Made of Stone will capture the tension and excitement of the four piece coming back together without attempting to expose any member; after all, this is Shane Meadows, not Michael Moore!

The promise of interviews with fans, unreleased rehearsal footage along with professional film of various concerts leading up until the shows in Manchester’s Heaton Park is bound to entice fans who have spent hours trawling YouTube for snippets of rehearsal footage. For any fan that was caught up in the buzz of the resurrection, Made of Stone promises to allow them to relive the excitement once more from the comfort of their cinema seat.

Shane Meadows is an auteur director known for his biting realism and use of music within cinema, having directed films such as Dead Man’s Shoes and This Is England; two films which attempt to bring aspects of British life to the screen whilst incorporating music from Aphex Twin to Toots and the Maytals. Meadows’ honesty, directorial eye and passion for The Stone Roses are bound to produce a film which stands out as being both musically stunning and cinematically breath-taking.

Made of Stone will premier in Manchester at a venue which is yet to be announced; the premier will feature a Q&A session with both Shane Meadows, Ian Brown, John Squire, Mani and Reni so keep your eyes peeled for the mystery venue! For those who do not get a ticket, the premier is to be screened at many cinemas across the UK with both the Cornerhouse and the Didsbury Cineworld partaking on May 30th.  

Made of Stone, surely a must for any Stone Roses fan; you would be foolish to miss it!

Must See: 22nd – 28th April

Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!

Translated from Dario Fo’s original play ‘Sotto Paga? Non Si Paga!’ this is an energetic and witty comedy with political relevance. Following housewives Antonia and Margherita who become involved in a protest at the escalating cost of living its sure to strike a cord for those of us struggling with life on a student budget!

Runs 25th April – 18th May at the Bolton Octagon. Tickets £14.50.

 

Beyond the Fourth Wall

A story centering on Taylor, Katie and Peter, characters living in the perfect world world but dissatisfied because they know that something lies beyond the fourth wall, something they need to see for themselves … 

Runs 23rd – 24th April at The Lowry. Tickets £10.

 

Our Country’s Good

Part of MMU’s Capitol Theatre Summer Season this production is set in an 18th Century Australian Penal Colony. Here Second Lietenant Ralph Clark who sets out with a cast of convicts to stage a production of ‘The Recruiting Officer’ encountering challenges along the way.

Runs 24th – 27th April at the Capitol.   

Book Club: Celia Mullins, History Student

Hi Celia! How are you, and What are you reading?
Hey Phoebe! I’m great thanks. I’ve just finished reading The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende.

What’s it about? What are the characters called? Do you like them?
It’s a familial saga, spanning four generations, set within the turbulent political and social context of postcolonial Chile, and falling within the genre of magic realism. Of course there’s a lot more to it, but that’s it in the barest of nutshells (and according to Wikipedia).

The family is called the Trueba family, Esteban Trueba being the man of the house and often the protagonist. Esteban marries Clara (the clairvoyant) and they have an assortment of children, grandchildren, and If I remember correctly are on the cusp of great-grandchildren by the end. Some of the characters are fairly likable; I held a flame for one of the sons, Jamie, and the granddaughter Alba, who seem amongst the kindest and best hearted of the Truebas. But some of the characters are less likable. Estaban Trueba is a fascinatingly dark figure. He gets his rape in early, which is daunting because you know you’re just about to settle down to the rest of the book with a protagonist who appears misogynistic and bitter, but although he darkens and ruins the family on a number of levels, you ultimately empathise with him – which is a pretty effective angle to spin in a work of fiction: a baddie whose psychological makeup the reader has access to and who ultimately holds a chink of valour, goodness, regret or humanity etc. And he’s not the worst the book has to offer in terms of big psychotic baddies – Alba’s lifelong tormenter takes that mantle of evil in the novel.

The relationships that play out in the novel are frustrating for a needy reader but in actual fact probably add rather than take away from the book as a literary work.

What’s the prose like? Any stand-out features that need a mention?
Yes, one thing that I think could be mentioned in terms of prose is that the book gets very dark and sinks very low in places, and this is often accompanied by an entirely unflinching prose. Allende largely wields this to articulate human and often physical suffering. In these pits of the novel, the vernacular becomes bodily and gory. It is stunning, visceral writing, these passages ride very close to the knuckle, but she never gives an inch. For example, this is when Estaban is visiting his dying mother, having not seen her for years, ‘Esteban pulled back the threadbare damask quilt and saw his mother’s legs. They were two bruised, elephantine columns covered with open wounds in which the larvae of flies and worms had made their nests and were busy tunnelling; two legs rotting alive with two outsized pale blue feet with no nails on the toes full to bursting with the pus, the black blood and the abominable animals that were feeding on her flesh, mother, in God’s name, of my own flesh…’. So that’s definitely one stand out feature.

The other thing here is not so much about the prose as it is about the structure and pace of the novel as a whole. It moves with a slow but inevitable and relentless progress, and here it well suits its content, the steady and unyielding movement through a lifetime. The book reads as if a magnifying glass has illuminated one particular aspect or generational passage, but there is awareness that there exists a temporal and spatial ‘other’ lying just out of reach, yet tangible.

The prose is written within the genre of magic realism, which exacerbates an unsettled sense of the present where the future is projected, predicted and unavoidable, the past is repeated and reflected, and never really gone. The present itself is slippery and ever changing. Certainly, with the ending there is a certain fulfilment wherein something that was set in motion long ago seems to find its poignant realisation.

Would it make your Desert Island Books if you were actually going to a desert island, not just on a radio show?
No, there is no way The House of Spirits would make the cut, as much as I loved it! It’s just not the right book for a desert island situation. It would be too much of a slow painful plod through the tragedy of life for someone stranded on a desert island alone with only one book. I would be already miserable enough because of being stuck on a desert island without having to repeatedly read a book about the relentless grind through life. Which is not actually my opinion of The House of Spirits or of life for that matter. But I think if I had to read it for the rest of my life I would grow to resent it. I would have to take something very, very long and quite a bit happier onto the desert island I think. Something with a happy ending for sure!

Do you like knowing what an author looks like, and/or what their voice sounds like, or do you prefer to remain ‘blind’ in this respect whilst reading? I like hearing authors, but not seeing them (the opposite of children, really) – seeing and hearing together being the worst of all possibilities.
Even if I know what the author looks like, I don’t really think about it while I’m reading the novel, the book constructs its own world so the author’s face sort of gets subsumed by that. I think it’s quite irrelevant to the book and the experience of reading it. So I’m not really fussed either way. But I absolutely love being read to, it’s such a great pleasure! If it’s the author reading then I guess that’s even better!

On a similar note, if there was a film adapted from this book, who would play the main character? Would you go and see it? Would you feel bound to go and see it, knowing you’d be disappointed anyway?
Yes, that is precisely what would happen! I would absolutely have to go and see it in the full knowledge that I would be let down by it. Even if it was a really good film in its own right I would just be disappointed if the characters that were projected on the screen were different from the ones that had been projected in my head whilst I was reading it. Actually I just looked on IMDB and turns out they did make a film! In the 90s… So I will definitely have to watch it and no doubt be let down by it. It’s got Meryl Streep playing Clara which is fitting because Clara is quite whimsical and otherworldly and I always think of Meryl Streep like that.

What was the last book you read that wrapped you up in itself? Do you recommend it to people, or do you want things to remain just between you and the book?
I’m not sure, I think it’s really rare that a book totally wraps me up, but when it manages to, it’s amazing! I love being consumed by a book so I think if it does that well then the author has succeeded resoundingly. I don’t think we should be too critical of prose and sensitive to a sentence that isn’t an exquisite crafting, after all a novel is basically a story, so if it wraps you up in a compelling story then I think it’s a job well done. If you’ve been successfully wrapped up in a book it’s always very sad to finish it. It leaves you reeling and I think without being too melodramatic I can say that there is a certain sense of loss. You do feel acutely alone in the room directly afterwards and are left gaping into the abyss with no immediate way forwards. I mean that does sound incredibly melodramatic, and the feeling only goes on for about 5 seconds of your life, but the point is that even at a very small scale there is that tangible sense of loss in the finishing of a really good book. With The House of Spirits in particular, perhaps because it is a saga, spanning many generations and telling the lives of so many diverse characters, it was really hard to finish.

This might be flying in the face of everything the Manchester University Book Club stands for but there are few things that have ever wrapped me up like Harry Potter did. It wasn’t particularly well written, in fact it was actively badly written in places, but the story was just fantastic. And she has a way of writing that just hooked you in, it was incredibly satisfying to read, I think there is a reason why it’s such a successful series. Although having said all of that, if a book is well written it can be beautifully and endlessly expressive so it’s actually probably a bit of both. I think it is really satisfying sometimes to slog through a book that feels like it’s good for your brain, something really meaty and heavy. I think another thing that makes me really like a novel is when a choice of words precisely exemplifies a particular thought, feeling, or sensation and is a perfect literary articulation of something the reader has experienced, either physically or mentally. That moment when you think “Oh God that is EXACTLY what that feels like/looks like etc”. That perceptiveness, and the ability to eloquently crystallize a sensation seldom discussed or even considered, but still relevant to the reader, I think that is really arresting, and there is a certain amount of poetry in that.

The University of Manchester Jazz Orchestra

The University of Manchester Jazz Orchestra has been running for the past 15 years. With over 25 members, the band plays a range of music including jazz, funk, soul and big band.  Throughout the years the orchestra has organised a number of different gigs all over Manchester. I spoke to the society Chair Charlie Marshall who has been part of the band for four years. He told me about this year’s gigs and ones to look forward to in the future.

“One of our most successful gigs this year was held at Antwerp Mansion. We organised the event and got a line up with the Manchester Harmony Gospel choir and a ska band (The Skalactites) and then a couple of the Heads Up DJs to finish off the night. It was basically a night of live music for people to come and have a listen and a good time. It was really successful, we managed to pack out the main room with music from 9-2.30ish and the response we got was amazing. Everyone seemed to love it and the response from the audience while we were playing was fantastic. Antwerp have asked us to come back and do another gig so that’s something we’ll look to later in the year.”

The society’s success over 15 years is partly due to the great support of musician Roger Hughes. He has been involved in running the society from the beginning, providing musical input as well as being crucial in organising various gigs. “Another key member is Neil Kershaw, a trumpet player who has been in the group for many years and helps in the running of rehearsals as well as sorting out much of our music (not a small job).”

The band rehearses once a week, and if you want to get involved they hold auditions at the start of each year to fill spaces in the band as members leave. These spaces are obviously limited; however everyone is welcome to audition for the band. There is no need to be disheartened if you don’t make the cut however; Charlie explains how they always offer support to those with a keen passion of music. “What we try to do is encourage people who haven’t made it into the band to start up groups of their own. We try and support this by letting them use our Facebook page as a place for people to meet other musicians and we’re also happy to talk to people and give advice about setting up their own bands.”

You can visit the Facebook page at MUJO – Manchester University Jazz Orchestra

 

 

Sweet potato patties

With a Monday morning Spanish exam looming I decided the most effective use of my Friday evening would be Spanish-themed procrastination in the form of tapas.

This is one of those recipes where a few simple ingredients go a long way. I recommend making up a batch and freezing the uncooked patties, so that you’ve always got a nutritious and tasty light meal (or carbohydrate for a meal) to alleviate those “night before” panics in the coming weeks.

This recipe is inspired by ‘Puré de Batatas con Queso de Cabra y Puerros’ from Carlos Horrillo and Patrick Morcas’ Tapas: Simple Combinations, Striking Flavours.

Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 leek, diced
5 chestnut mushrooms, diced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely sliced
30-40g goats’ cheese, crumbled into lumps
Salt and pepper to season

Method:
Bake the sweet potatoes, either in the oven at gas mark 6/180-200°C for about an hour (pricking the skins a few times with a fork to avoid exploding potatoes) or for about 8 minutes in the microwave.

Meanwhile, fry the leek and mushroom in a teaspoon of butter until soft. After a few minutes add the garlic and stir regularly to avoid the mixture sticking.

When the potatoes are baked, cut them in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Break down the flesh with a fork but don’t purée them as you will want a few lumps.

Mix the leek, mushroom and garlic mixture into the potato and leave to cool for a little while – this is so that the cheese doesn’t completely melt when you add it. Add the cheese to the potato mixture.

Form patties from 1-2 tablespoons of mixture – I made mine quite small, but when my mum makes these at home she usually makes them larger and they’re equally as good. Brush with olive oil and bake in a hot oven on a lightly greased baking tray for about 30- 40 minutes, or until starting to brown.

Society Spotlight: Manchester University Comic Collective

Before the Easter break I went along to Manchester University Comic Collective’s class on ‘finishing steps and inking’. MUCC organises a series of lessons throughout the year for people who are interested in learning how to draw various styles of comic art. The classes consist of still-life drawing, sculpturing, outdoor sketching, photoshop and many other techniques in relation to comic making. They start at the very basics, and progress slowly, building up skills gradually so anybody can join, whether they are very experienced or just beginning. They incorporate lots of different styles so the work they produce is always varied. At the end of the year they produce an anthology containing their work which includes individual art pieces as well as collaborative work and stories.

As it is pretty late in the year the class was at a fairly advanced stage, which meant I could see the kind of work they have done and how far they have progressed. This lesson was about colouring and inking, about building up layers to make a drawing or character more life-like and three dimensional. The finished piece looked extremely accomplished and skilful. However, when Tobias Weinald, the tutor for this week’s lesson, stripped back the image on photoshop and showed us how it was layered gradually, it appeared a lot easier than I expected. Even though the finished picture looked complicated, it was actually fairly simple to create by building up layers of colour, shading and depth. After the tutorial I had a go at a simple drawing of a leaf, incorporating some of the skills that Tobias had showed us and was quite surprised at how life-like I could manage to make it look.

As well as the classes, MUCC have social events which include city tours, outdoor activities, convention and competition participations, parties and other socials.

If you are interested in seeing some of their work, last year’s anthology is on sale at lulu.com and this year’s will follow shortly. All profits go to local charities. Alternatively, visit their Facebook page by searching ‘MUCC – Manchester University Comic Collective’ where they also post up information about classes, events and socials.

MUCC will continue next year so if you’re interested in learning a new skill, or furthering your artistic experience then visit their Facebook page for more information.