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Year: 2016

Live: Honeyblood

2nd December at Deaf Institute

7.5/10

Honeyblood’s sold out show was the penultimate of a tour showcasing new album Babes Never Die, first album to feature drummer Cat Murphy. For those not knowing what to expect, the Scottish duo threw them straight into the deep end with the fast paced and feisty, ‘Ready for the Magic’, the first single off the new album. From here, the foundations for a lively and exciting show had been laid.

The intimate venue was perfectly matched to their modest set and emphasised how refreshingly simple the duo’s arrangement is — a guitar and drum kit is all this band needs.  Whist the pair have gained a following over the last few years, they are still far from established which laces their performance with a sense of gratitude. In every song, you could see how thankful they were that the audience had taken time to come and see them. This was especially clear when singer Stina Tweeddale stopped during the chorus of ‘Cruel’, joking afterwards that the songs were so new “it’s nice when you remind us”.

The room filled with the familiar ‘girl power’ attitude heard throughout the albums. It was hard to resist the empowering chorus of ‘Super Rat’ as the crowd found themselves shouting along “I will hate you forever.” Title track ‘Babes Never Die’ gained the biggest welcome and even prompted a mosh pit in the small crowd. If the speedy guitar riffs and heavy drum beats had not already got people moving, these songs definitely did the trick.

Ending the show on energetic ‘Killer Bangs’, Honeyblood left no doubt that they are ones to watch in indie rock. From planned tracks to a spontaneous song about merch girl Hazel, the talent of the band shone through with a charisma you know will lead them to success. It felt special to see Honeyblood in this small venue as it won’t be long before they are onto bigger and better things.

Last Tango in Paris abuse allegations resurfaced

This week information about the abuse suffered by Maria Schneider during the filming of Last Tango In Paris has reemerged.

In a 2013 interview, director Bernardo Bertolucci discussed conspiring with Marlon Brando to not inform the then 19 year old Schneider that Brando was going to smear her with a stick of butter, which, in the film, would function as a makeshift sexual lubricant. Some of the more recently published articles have been written with the suggestion that Brando went on to have penetrative sex with Schneider, which is not the case, and is likely to do with the long-standing rumour that the sex in the film was not simulated.

Regardless, Brando and Bertolucci’s behaviour is a clear example of the way men in powerful positions abuse women in vulnerable ones. Similarly to the controversy surrounding Nate Parker this year, the renewed response to this information highlights exactly how much the conversation around sexuality and consent has moved forwards. Whereas once upon a time, Bertolucci might have been able to pass off the incident as a controversial, but bold, artistic choice, we now see it for what it is: two men, who were aged 48 and 36 at the time, violating and demeaning a teenager.

Like the woman who accused Parker of rape (who has not been named), Schneider’s life was marred with difficulties. Parker’s accuser took her own life in 2012 and Schneider fell into drug addiction and attempted suicide before dying from cancer at age 58 in 2011. Though whether or not there is a direct correlation these women’s abuse and their struggles later in life is open to interpretation, their tragic lives contrast massively with Brando and Bertolucci’s who have never really having had to atone for their actions.

Brando died in 2004 and is remembered as a legend who transformed cinema, his behaviour during Last Tango is barely a footnote in a long, storied career. Bertolucci might have a difficult couple of weeks trying to explain himself to the press, but eventually the uproar will die down and his life will return to normal, his legacy having already been secured by his impressive body of work and the critical acclaim that has accompanied it.

Though Parker’s case is complicated by issues surrounding his race, campus rape-culture and the fact that his career is now most likely over, the Last Tango controversy is part of a wearying history of men in privileged positions abusing the power they have over women, and getting away with it.

Live: VANT

1st December at Academy 1

8/10

London’s VANT don’t even have an album out yet, but they’ve gained a mass of fans and support slots with some of the best live acts around — Biffy Clyro, Catfish and the Bottlemen and You Me at Six, to name but a few. Tonight, the band are supporting Essex rockers Nothing But Thieves on a three-date sold-out mini-tour after just completing a triumphant headline tour of their own. The band are in good spirits, storming onto the stage with ‘The Answer’ followed by ‘Welcome to the Wonderful World of Berners Lee’ — their presence is so loud, its hard not to be captivated.

Introducing themselves with the line “hi, we’re VANT and we’re from Planet Earth”, they play recent single and fan favourite ‘Peace & Love’, Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record in the World’. This receives a joyous reaction: the crowd roars, throwing their hands in the air. ‘Birth Certificate’ sees lead singer Mattie Vant look like every inch of the frontman, throwing himself around the stage. “It’s an absolute pleasure to be back in Manchester” he chimes. After thanking Nothing But Thieves for bringing them on tour, the band launch into ‘Karma Seeker’ — one of their most popular songs to date, sounding like it was made for a Bond film, it’s unsurprising that a sea of camera phones appear with people screaming the lyrics aloud.

Mattie takes a moment to address the crowd about the recent sexual harassment of girls at gigs — “this song is about understanding other people’s boundaries…fucking respect each other and don’t be a fucking dickhead”. Gaining enormous cheers, this message really shines through when they play ‘Parking Lot’ with such lyrics including “just admire her” — after all, going to a gig should be a stress-free environment where people can let their hair down without fear of harassment. It’s refreshing to see bands like VANT address this, which has most recently been bought to light by the internet campaign ‘Girls Against’.

Before finishing their short 30-minute set, Mattie thanks the crowd and concludes “peace and love, and have a wonderful night”. The band proceed to play ‘Fly-By Alien’ and finish on ‘Do You Know Me’ — the crowd are off, the centre of the crowd is going wild, and bodies are being thrown from pillar to post with hands flying everywhere. VANT will be playing at Gorilla in March for their Dumb Blood album tour which may seem like a long wait for fans, but after tonight’s performance it will be worth the wait.

Interview: VANT

My interview with VANT takes place before their main support slot with Southend’s Nothing But Thieves. I am a little earlier than anticipated, the band have just finished their pre-sound check jog. Still in high spirits, singer Mattie Vant and guitarist Henry Eastham are excited for tonight’s show after a “wild” set in Birmingham the night before, “we broke them down” Mattie recalls and “converted a few” in the process. That’s the joy of a support slot — you have to work hard to get the crowd onside, gaining new fans along the way. Reflecting on previous gigs with You Me at Six and their own headline tour, “it’s been a very busy couple of months…It’ great, we love it” says Henry.  “That’s exactly what you want as a band, playing to new people, new faces and in new places…it’s been wicked” chimes Mattie.

Reminiscing about their headline tour and their biggest headline show at London’s Scala, it is clear the band are still on a high from Tuesday night, “I really, really enjoyed the show… its seems so surreal” Henry recalls, “It was great!”.

Reflecting on Mattie’s stage dive, he said “I did a crowd walk…they did catch me” thank goodness. The band seem excited to play Manchester, the last time they came to visit was as part of October’s Neighbourhood Festival at Sound Control. “There was so much energy” chimes Henry. Before then, they played Deaf Institute in April: “That was incredible…one of the best shows we’ve ever done!” cites Mattie. It seems that Manchester has always been good to the band, reflecting on a support slot at the legendary Ritz with FIDLAR last year the band told me “it was crazy”. It’s clear that a Manchester crowd never lets the band down.

Mattie describes their band’s sound as “sagacious, esoteric punk rock,” and when speaking about their most recent single PEACE & LOVE, written after the Paris attacks in November, he told me “it’s the most ballady song we’ve had so far…. It gives us a different dynamic in the set”. Although a sad song, its meaning remains stronger than ever; “it’s nice to play a song that people know the words to.” Following on from this, we speak about  ‘Freedom of Movement’ a phrase that is written all over VANT’s speakers  during their live performances. Mattie explains that it’s a protest to Theresa May’s stance on immigration, “it’s a direct opposition to Theresa May saying if you are a citizen of the world you are a citizen of nowhere” everything that VANT stand against, it’s clear that politics has a huge influence on their sound and demeanour as a band.

The band are all based in London and met at a death metal club night in Putney. Mattie hails from Sunderland, Henry from Blackpool, drummer David ‘Greenie’ Green is from Gateshead and bassist Billie Morris is from Swansea, they all developed the desire to move to the big city and escape their hometowns after travelling to major cities to watch live gigs.  Moving to London “gives you the best possible chance to pursue music and succeed” chimes Mattie. Henry echoes this, “the opportunities are so much greater…there’s so many shows… so much going on… there’s so many bands it’s a great scene.”

After touring with Nothing but Thieves, the band have a hectic schedule, including travelling across Europe before they take some time off for Christmas. In the new year, the band will release their debut album DUMB BLOOD on the 17th of February . The title “is inspired by the comment of a silent generation and the potential that this generation has to change the world, we want to wake people up and that’s the point of the record” and is done and ready to go. I’m told the album will contain a mix of old and new material and Mattie confirms that “all the singles will be on there.” Result.  The band have recently released new tour dates for February and March next year: “We’ve been building up to this” says Mattie “every time we announce a tour its bigger venues.” With plans to travel to the USA in the new year, it’s going to be an exciting and busy year for VANT. One thing is for sure, there are great things to come for VANT watch this space.

Review: Bleed For This

Bleed for This is the kind of film every actor ends up doing, requiring months of physical training and working on an accent, in this case that of the archetypal Italian-American. Here is the first indication that Scorsese has something to do with the movie, set in Providence, Rhode Island. Director Ben Younger constructs a superb juxtaposition of sound and visuals that flawlessly bring this boxing legend to life.

Immediately thrown into one of the many heated moments during Vinnie Pazienza’s career, as the close-up camera shots evoke the intended effects, the audience is already rooting for the “Pazmanian Devil”. Half an hour into the film Pazienza is already in a situation which would usually be the main plot line of the customary apparition of hurdles, the confrontation of them and finally the overcoming of them. The choice of Teller to portray Pazienza is an interesting one, having experienced a car crash himself. Not unlike prior films such as The Spectacular Now and Whiplash, the role of Vinnie requires him to re-live an all too familiar brutal situation. The effects of the car crash are critical, doctors conclude that the road to recovery is going to be along and gruelling one. Lying still and patched up in a hospital bed, Pazienza asks “When will I be able to fight again?”, only to be met with the pitifully toned doctor’s diagnosis that he “can’t say for sure that you’ll be able to walk again”. The medieval contraption he is presented with is somewhat ironically called a “halo”, consisting of a circular piece of metal and no less than four metal bolts screwed into his skull.

Even if the ending is predictable, what keeps the audience hooked is the simple fact that this is a true story. Teller’s performance is demonstrative of his capacity to evolve and flourish as an empowering male lead. Matched to this level of talent is the surprisingly well-cast role of Aaron Eckhart as Pazienza’s trainer Kevin, a role which showcases Eckhart’s versatility as an actor. The relationship between Vinnie and Kevin finds its balance in the mutual understanding that the only worthwhile outcome of this ordeal is to accept that quitting boxing is no life for Vinnie. Carefully starting up training again surreptitiously in the household’s basement under the nose of his father played by the gifted Ciaran Hinds (starred as Julius Caesar in the Rome BBC miniseries), he eventually discovers their covert actions, and is initially deeply hurt, that his “Champ” is now forced to lie and risk everything for the one and only way he knows how to live — to be a boxer. Pazienza’s Father brings the true essence of the Scorsese elements to the film, alongside the overtly religious Italian-American housewife.

It is almost as frustrating for the viewer as it is for Pazienza to have gone through the pain and effort to get to his healed physical status and, of course, finding that no one is willing to risk being the person “who put Vinnie Paz back in hospital”. Younger portrays Vinnie’s comeback to perfection, making an ending that is already known into a euphoric triumph that rightly situates Bleed for This amongst other great boxing movies, maybe not as an equal, but a definite addition to the amalgam.

Where there are subtle flaws in the lack of depth to the script, this biopic is not about a complicated situation, in the sense that our main protagonist is faced with circumstances in which he must give or lose everything — as Pazienza puts it, “it’s that simple”.

Inter-Faith event at Manchester Students’ Union

 

The University of Manchester Students’ Union held an inter-faith event at the Students’ Union on Wednesday 7th of December, bringing together people of all faiths for an evening of discussions to celebrate diversity across Manchester.

Representatives from the Students’ Union as well as inter-faith advocates from across Greater Manchester, including those from Faith Network 4 Manchester (FN4M), came together and discussed integration and harmony between different faith communities.

“The event is part of community week here at the University” said Saffa Mir, the Students’ Union Community Officer and organiser of the event: “It’s in collaboration with the Faith Network 4 Manchester and aims to celebrate the diversity of Manchester.”

Saffa later delivered a speech to guests, which encompassed representatives and students from the seven different religious societies at the University of Manchester Students’ Union.

“We want to really link up with the students. We are living through very very difficult times – there’s a lot of hatred.”

“One of the biggest things on my agenda upon being elected Students’ Union Community Officer was to set up an inter-faith committee — we need that representation.”

Guests listened respectfully as different representatives approached the stage to speak about their involvement with the inter-faith initiative.

“Religious intolerance is a growing problem in the world” said Carl Thomas, Christian and student at the University of Manchester. “I think it’s a great privilege that we can all meet. I found some statistics that 322 Christians are beaten and killed a month globally — just for their beliefs. 214 properties destroyed and 772 accounts of rape, beating and forced marriage.”

Carl also added to his address “I hope that this is a thought-provoking evening where we can all learn something from each other”. Carl commented on the event “it’s a really nice atmosphere and everyone’s really friendly”.

Patrick Johnson, Head of Diversity for Greater Manchester, said: “It’s a real privilege for us at the University of Manchester to have such a wonderful secular institution. I think an event like this is really important.”

Sima, a Muslim and student at the University of Manchester said: “We’re all humans. One species. Things that make us different is our variations, the way we look. When I first came to university, people asked me ‘are you enjoying uni?’ and I told them I loved the diversity”.

Representatives from the Sikh Society, Simerdeep and Chandini, also delivered a speech: “Students come to Manchester, leaving their families behind and they rely on us. Students approach me and it’s really important that we take them seriously.” They embraced the inter-faith community and mentioned their involvement with the Hindu society “[Hindu Society]… came to our event and in turn we went to theirs”.

Asha Buch, Co-chair of FN4M, was next to deliver an address to attendees at the event, beginning with a witty reference to the University’s involvement with the inter-faith community within Manchester: “I’m a student of life-long learning. I can’t stop learning”.

“I visited Bosnia in January on the 21st anniversary of the genocide. 45 percent of inter-faith marriages are between Muslims and Christians and yet the genocide happened. What’s happening?” Asha paused, creating a dramatic effect. “We need to reach out. I believe in this intergration. I believe in this harmony.”

Jonny Wineberg, Co-chair of We Stand Together, addressed Greater Manchester Police’s initiative to encourage inter-faith integration in Manchester and discussed the ABCDE headings which summarise the initiative.

“A for advocacy — Advocating what you believe in but also for those people who can’t. B for Building bridges. C for Challenge — when you see people being inappropriate, speak out. D for Doing — getting people together. What can YOU do to make things better? And E for Education — Educating others but also educating ourselves”

For more information and to get involved, visit FN4M’s website and it is promised that there will be more inter-faith events organised by the University of Manchester Students’ Union in the future.

Give Life Live Life this Christmas

This year the national organ donation charity Live Life Give Life are supporting the NHS Blood and Transplant’s campaign —”What are you waiting for” — in the hope that it will encourage and inspire people in England and Northern Ireland who have not joined the NHS Organ Donor Register because, as their research revealed, they simply “haven’t got round to it”.

The campaigners are aiming to encourage more young people to donate blood and join the organ donors list. Research has shown that only 35 per cent of people willing to donate are actually registered to give blood, hence the campaign’s urgency in recruiting new donors.

The charity is specifically urging people to join the Donor Register this Christmas, arguing that “Christmas gifts do not come any better than the Gift of Life”.

Eilis Hall, a post grad student at the University of Manchester, became a national advocate of the campaign after she lost her cousin in 2012 to pulmonary hypertension. Eilis stated that her cousin, Geraldine, “survived on medication for nine years, waiting in vain for the lifesaving gift of a new heart and set of lungs”. Geraldine passed away aged just 19.

According to the charity, every day across the UK, around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there are not enough organ donors. There are currently around 6,500 people on the transplant waiting list.

Sarah Jones, a Trustee of Give Life Live Life said: “Almost all of us would take an organ if we needed one, however less than one-third of us have actually signed the organ donor register. By taking just a few minutes to sign up, you could save up to nine lives after you’ve gone. Organ donation could affect anyone; it’s vital that people take the time to think about it and talk to their families about their wishes. That will save them a lot of angst at an already difficult time.”

If you are interested in becoming involved you can sign the organ donor register online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk or  contact their phone line on 0300 123 23 23.
For further information visit www.livelifegivelife.org.uk.

When pop art met fashion

The Whitworth Art Gallery is currently exhibiting ‘Artist Rooms: Andy Warhol’, displaying some of the pop artist’s life works. Whilst the exhibition showcases his signature print style, the Whitworth also closely examines the recurring theme of mortality in his work. Warhol came to be fascinated by life and death after he was pronounced dead (albeit momentarily) when the Feminist writer Valeria Solanas shot him in the stomach for losing her manuscript in 1968.

Alongside the Campbell’s Soup cans that brought the artist fame, another Warhol classic, immediately recognisable as the artist’s, is the print based on the publicity photograph of Marilyn Monroe. This image is continuously recreated and splashed across t-shirts, as you will find should you ever visit Camden Market in London: the home of tacky t-shirts. Having died in 1962, Monroe demonstrates a further inherent theme of Warhol’s work in addition to that of mortality: celebrity culture.

Photo: oddsock @Flickr

Warhol started his art career as an illustrator for fashion magazines, working for the likes of Harper’s Bazaar, and soon became integrated within the fashion circles and celebrity culture. However it was not until after his Campbell’s Soup can prints took off in the late 1960s that Warhol’s work really established his perception of pop art, which began the previous decade. He fast became immensely popular within celebrity culture and it was not long until he became its reigning monarch. His followers and friends would frequent his New York studio ‘The Factory’, which showcased experimental art, film and music, such as live shows by the Velvet Underground.

In the 1970s, celebrity life revolved around Warhol and his studio, but they also leant their time to the infamous waterhole that was Studio 54. Warhol and his celebrity posse breezed past the crowds queuing for a taste of the limelight. As if entrance to the world’s most elite club did not already confirm Warhol’s celebrity status, he also founded Interview magazine: a publication still in print today. Regularly featuring the works of fashion greats, from Karl Lagerfeld to Yves Saint Laurent, the magazine firmly established his status and significance.

Whilst he fast became a revered artist, Warhol frequently circulated in and amongst the big names in fashion, such as his close friendship with Diane Von Furstenberg. He established a strong look and brand name for himself, with the iconic mop of white blonde hair and rimmed glasses. However he also provided the ultimate fashionable accessory; a staple of celebrity status in the sixties and seventies was to own your portrait painted by Warhol.

Photo: wallyg @Flickr

During the sixties and seventies, he was the life and soul of the artist, fashion and celebrity scene. Warhol continuously inspired fashion during his lifetime, even from the most unexpected sources; Campbell’s Soup adopted Warhol’s print to create a dress sold by the food company.

Since Warhol’s (second) death in 1987, he has by no means diminished in status or significance upon the art and fashion world. To name a few examples: Versace for Spring/Summer 1991 show dressed Linda Evangelista in a jewel-encrusted dress brandishing the Monroe print; Prada in their Spring/Summer 2013 used Warhol’s poppy flower print; Raf Simons for Dior Autumn/Winter 2013 featured some of Warhol’s earliest sketches from the fifties.

Jeremy Scott perhaps uses Warhol’s work in closest reference, basing every one of his collections on consumerist culture and advertising campaigns. Hungertv.com label him ‘the modern day Andy Warhol’.

It is clear to see that Warhol’s influence still remains and will do so for the foreseeable future. His work in pop art not only inspired the generation of artists and designers in his time but those that have followed too, hailing him a king worthy of his indisputable status.

‘Artist Rooms: Andy Warhol’ exhibition will be running from 19th November 2016 to 16th April 2017 at The Whitworth Art Gallery. Free Entry.

Manchester City 1–1 Celtic

It looked like it would shape up to be a great game after there were two goals in the first eight minutes. It should have had 23 goals mathematically. Alas, the second half was a little lacklustre. It looked more like the contest expected between two teams who already knew their fate. The game ended 1–1 and Manchester City progressed to the knockout stages.

Roberts’ Goal

December is the month of returns. Usually it’s the shite grey jumper from your auntie Louise, but Patrick Roberts’ return was to The Etihad… with a goal. I say return, he hasn’t actually played here for City yet.

He had a great game, turning Gael Clichy at every opportunity, and he caught Pep Guardiola’s eye. Guardiola says that Roberts’ place will be assessed in the summer when he returns.

If this game was a song… Holding Back The Years

Pablo Zabaleta rolled back the years as he moved from right-back into midfield. He didn’t play as a holding Gareth Barry midfielder though, Zabaleta channelled his inner-Yaya and played as a box-to-box midfielder… and he demanded a birthday cake. Captain Zab showed yet again that you write him off at your peril.

Yes, I’ve been to the year 2000

Phil Foden made the City bench for the first time in this match at the ripe age of 16. The young lad is not one of the regular academy players that often links up with the first team. The likes of Maffeo and Tosin Adarabioyo started the match as fellow usual suspect Angelino made the bench, but this was new territory for Stockport lad Foden. Foden was born in this millennium, so it is almost terrifying that he is playing football in the Champions League (well, he didn’t actually come on).

Phil doesn’t remember dial up internet, thinks Arnold Schwarzenegger is a politician, and has never seen a real-life paper book. Oh, how times have changed! Foden is testament to the great work that City have put into their academy though. For a few years, there has been a distinct lack of players that have made any meaningful step-up to City’s squad, but since a large investment into systems at their academy, many more are joining Kelechi Iheanacho, Aleix Garcia et al in the first team squad.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Man of the Match

Silkay Ilkay gets it again with another great display! The German is really beginning to set into a groove at City now and show why Guardiola paid £15million for Gündoğan in the summer. He started most moves, as he has such a great ability to turn so quickly after receiving the ball. Gündoğan seems to know where he’s going before anybody else on the pitch.
Fans

The Scots came to town to cheer on Celtic and brought a great atmosphere with them! The City fans were happy to see some atmosphere in the often quiet away end and joined in with the Celtic fans. It did all get a little heated in the end though with a few arrests, and one Celtic fan being arrested for throwing a burger at a police horse. The horse is in a stable condition. (Stable? Get it? I’m wasted here.)

Monday night will see the draw for the UEFA Champions League knock-outs, as City could get either Monaco, Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, or Borussia Dortmund.

Black students in NUS walkout over ‘institutional racism’

A group of Black students have withdrawn from one of the most prominent annual NUS events, the NUS National Executive Committee meeting (NUSNEC), over claims they face “insufferable” racism within the organisation.

NUS Black Students’ Officer, Aadam Muuse, who co-ordinated the strike, said: “After almost a century of institutionally racist practices, exclusionary cultures and structural violence we have reached breaking point.

“Despite the incredible work carried out by our members and volunteers to sustain and progress our movement, the violence that we face in our institutions has become insufferable.”

The University of Manchester Students’ Union’s Diversity Officer, Ilyas Nagdee, tweeted from his personal account @Ilyas_Nagdee: “NEC Members of Colour have just withdrawn their labour and walked out from #NUSNEC due to the horrific insitutional racism they are facing”, adding, “we are failed on our campuses, in our institutions and by the National Union of Students #NUSNEC”.

Students who staged the walkout have asked other members of the NUSNEC to remain, so that the meeting can continue to be held.

Muuse said in a statement posted to his Facebook page: “Racism in NUS plays out in a multitude of ways that we hope the Institutional Racism Review will vindicate our stance [sic].”

The statement also highlights Black students’ demands that the Institutionalised Racism Review (IRR) — which was commissioned a year ago, after being demanded by now-President Malia Bouattia — be published, and that its “recommendations… are taken with utmost seriousness, and that Black and racialised staff, students and officers in our movement are afforded the dignity they deserve”.

Twitter user @Get2Noha, involved in the walkout, explains: “Today I and other students of colour withdrew our labour from the #NUSNEC meeting to mark a year since IRR was demanded & nothing’s changed”.

Muuse added: “The NUS has long functioned off of the labour of Black students — yet this has often remained invisible.

“Whether the physical labour of Black students, who have driven key campaigns yet remained undervalued and undermined as volunteers; or their emotional labour, when we’re expected to support and sustain fellow Black students as they get involved and engage with structures that are persistently hostile to them.”

There are claims that some Black students’ mental health has been affected by the racism within the organisation, as Women’s Officer Hareem Ghani, who was one of those who walked out, says: “Particularly women of colour face the brunt of explicit and structural violence that is both racialised and gendered.

“We sacrifice our mental and physical health while our work in the movement continues to be co-opted, ignored or undervalued. We’ve been forced to take action against an organisation that should be our home, but has ended up damaging our lives.”

Following the walkout, Shelly Asquith, NUS Vice President (Welfare), said: “The right to withdraw labour is fundamental and we fully support Black members’ right to do this. NUS is committed to making change for Black students and addressing the serious problems of all forms of racism in the movement, our union and wider society.”

Asquith later tweeted: “The Institutional Racism Review report will be released on Monday. #nusnec”.

The Mancunion has reached out to the University of Manchester Students’ Union for comment.

Pro-life students banned from forming group at Strathclyde University

The University of Strathclyde Students’ Association (USSA) has banned pro-life (anti-abortion) students from creating an official club affiliated with the Union.

This measure prevents students from obtaining university funding to attend anti-abortion conferences or fund any promotional events.

The USSA held a meeting to discuss this choice: “Anti-choice groups actively use intimidation and fear tactics to harass people entering abortion clinics.

“Allowing an anti-choice group to form would be a barrier to freedom, equality and body autonomy for those with uteruses on campus and therefore not only violate existing standing policy, but also act against the interests of a large amount of the student population.”

They added: “The establishment of anti-choice groups would directly contravene equal opportunities policy by giving them a platform to harass students. This in turn violates their safe space.”

However, pro-life Strathclyde students held a protest after being notified they would not be an official club affiliated with the USSA, claiming that their right to free speech has been violated according to the European Convention of Human Rights.

One pro-life student, Jamie McGowan, stated: “It is deplorable that a modern university is incapable of facilitating debate on a societal or medical issue such as abortion. Ironically, they will happily take positions on politics, but refuse to allow political debate and we feel this policy is a violation of freedom of speech.”

Chloe Lindsey, another student at Strathclyde, said: “The suppression of freedom of speech has no place in a university which claims to be liberal and forward-thinking.”

This is not the first instance in which universities have banned or attempted to prevent students or visitors from potentially offending students on campus. Cardiff University attempted to ban a talk by writer and prominent feminist Germaine Greer after her offensive remarks towards transgender women, in which she stated that undergoing sex change surgery “doesn’t make you a ******* woman”. A debate on abortion was cancelled at the University of Oxford when female students complained about the males on the panel.

However, the President of the Union, Raj Jayaraj, maintains that pro-life beliefs contradict USSA policy, and therefore should not be allowed to affiliate. In a statement, he said: “If a society representing the British National Party came on campus then we would not allow them to affiliate.”

Raj also made it clear that the pro-life, anti-abortion students could hold a university referendum to overturn the USSA’s decision.

The Italian referendum: what now?

On the 4th of December, the Italian population was called to vote in a constitutional referendum. The matter at hand was the modification of the structure of the parliamentary system by transforming the Senate, Italy’s upper chamber. This would end the so-called “perfect bicameralism”, where the two houses of parliament (the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies) have equal power and the same legislative functions. Additionally, the reform would have changed the powers of Italy’s regional administrations and further attempted to reduce public expenditure by making the administration more cost-efficient, for instance by eliminating the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL) and cutting the number of MPs.

The final results, however, in which 59 per cent voted for “no” and 41 per cent for “”, indicate that Italians were not convinced by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s initiative. And now Renzi has gone.

The day after the vote, he announced his resignation to the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, taking all responsibility for his side’s debacle. The Prime Minister’s resignation could lead to one of two scenarios. He could agree to call an election, as wished by the opposition, in particular by the Five Star Movement (M5S), which is a growing consensus according to several polls. Or, the option that seems more probable at the moment, is that the President will appoint a technocrat. The Minister for the Economy Carlo Padoan seems possible, or a politician favoured among members of the majority party Partito Democratico (PD) (Dario Franceschini, for example) to lead the legislature until the end of its mandate in 14 months time.

Renzi’s campaign lost, evidently. However, something has been noted: as is often the case in these situations, the vote was largely politicised and the opposition acted as if this vote somewhat represented a vote of confidence for Renzi himself. That is not to say that all those who voted “no” did so only because of their aversion to Renzi, but it would be naive not to accept that it did play an important role. Some would argue that Renzi did win at one thing: even though he may have suffered a defeat, he managed, alone and isolated from all other political parties, even facing contrasts within his own party, to gather more than 40% of the country behind him, making him the only political figure with enough backing to govern on his own. This is arguable, but nonetheless interesting when looking towards the future.

Renzi made mistakes during the campaign: he seemed to underestimate a common fear expressed by several public figures. They feared the possible strengthening of  authoritarianism in Italy due to the combination of the reform, which would have made the lower chamber the more powerful. Coupled with the new electoral system, known as Italicum, this engineers an assured majority to the winning party, even if they do not have a large majority of the votes, giving the leading party vast legislative powers. This resembles the UK’s 2015 General Elections, where the Conservatives won a majority of the seats in the House of Commons with less that forty per cent of the vote.

When asked about this point, for instance in the debate with constitutionalist Gustavo Zagrebelski, Renzi often showed annoyance. He believed the opposition’s worries were exaggerated and insulting to Italy’s democratic traditions. For Renzi, Italy’s main issue, especially in the post-Cold War period, has been the lack of governability: the proportional electoral system and the fragmented political parties have been generating weak coalition governments, which struggle to enact legislation. Hence he has been calling for a drift towards efficiency, but has been receiving a loud “no grazie” from Italians.

Italy will miss Renzi. The now-previous PM had his flaws: his bombastic persona may have helped him gain initial appeal, but, self-admittedly, he was “nasty at times, arrogant and maybe impulsive”. Nevertheless, it has been argued that he was the man Italy needed. His youth and energy have been a blessing for Italy, which stagnating economy is struggling to recover from the Great Recession. The economic reforms he has introduced, though still underperforming, were necessary for the country. He pushed long-overdue legislation regarding Civil Partnership through parliament, which, finally, opened the doors for legal gay marriage. He brought political stability and represented security against eurosceptic parties, such as the Northern League, which have offered a national platform for xenophobia and fear-mongering.

It is now the opposition’s turn to generate proposals as to how to develop Renzi’s failed reform and finally address those issues which are a burden for the Italian state’s governance. As The Economist commented, “adding more layers of bureaucracy to a country which already had provincial and municipal authorities has multiplied the opportunities for patronage and corruption.” The “perfect bicameralism” is far from actually being perfect for Italy, as it often leads to an endless ping-pong between the Houses, with the result of crucial legislation being either delayed or abandoned all together.

One of the areas of reform must be reducing the massive costs of politics and fixing a flawed electoral system, Italicum. The system is a direct derivation of the previous “Porcellum”, so dubbed from the word “porcata” given to it by its own creator, previous Minister Roberto Calderoli, and loosely translatable into: “a load of crap.”

Many “yes” voters are feeling frustration at the moment, as they feel the country simply cannot move forward even when presented with viable alternatives. But “no” voters feel they have protected the constitution, ensuring that the ambitions of one man did not influence their constitutional rights.

Now, it is for the parties to finally put aside the increasing polarisation of the political debate and find common solutions. But, mamma mia, that is going to be hard.

A response to “Everyday Feminism: Take control of yourselves”

In her article “Everyday Feminism: Take control of yourselves” in The Mancunion, Elrica Degirmen argues that some aspects of the feminist movement “make excuses for women.” In her critique, she focuses on the author Jessica Valenti and the website Everyday Feminism. She also touches on the “politics of victimhood”, the “excellent job” the patriarchy has done for allowing today’s women to exercise freedoms, and her relief at Trump’s victory for its prevention of “four more years of feminist propaganda being shoved into our faces”.

I am proud to call myself an intersectional feminist. I support a feminism that is not white or western- centric and acknowledge how different forms of oppression intersect. I am keen to challenge ideas that continue to negatively affect people’s lives. For example, the writer says — in a tone reminiscent of David Cameron telling Angela Eagle to “calm down dear” — that, “life is unfair, honey.” Yes, “honey”, life is unfair. But we can do something to make it less so. Cancer is unfair, but we do not accept it as an unchanging fact of life — we fight it.

I agree that our struggles as individuals are diverse. Wider societal forces undeniably have huge power over our lives: sexism, racism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression continue to shape people’s experiences globally. But these forms of discrimination are not fixed entities. Rather, they can be and have been challenged. To use a few obvious examples: the end of the slave trade, independence for former colonies, and voting rights for women. Would the author have viewed these processes as similarly unchangeable facts of life?

Degirmen is particularly critical of Jessica Valenti, claiming that she published two contradictory articles on catcalling: one critiquing it and another on her feeling unattractive when she is not catcalled. Here lies a central problem in Degirmen’s piece: oversimplification. Valenti in fact raises an important issue. She says that she would never go back to the “hellishness” of her teenage experiences of harassment, but she discusses how “when you’re brought up to feel that the most important thing you can be is attractive to men, the absence of their attention – even negative attention – can feel distressing”. It is very, very hard to unpack and reject patriarchal norms which have been drummed into us from birth. This idea that women should look and act a certain way in order to be attractive to men makes a good example. Valenti calls for a nuanced discussion, something disregarded in the writer’s oversimplification of Valenti’s argument and the debate surrounding this complex issue.

The author’s argument that discussions of sexism are creating a culture of victimhood is at fault, too. Her wish that Jessica Valenti would accept a “personal responsibility” is particularly worrying. Would Degirmen argue that Valenti was responsible for being catcalled, for having somebody masturbate in front of her on a tube when she was in seventh grade? Would she argue that women who are raped do not carry enough personal responsibility? What if they were wearing a short skirt? Valenti’s descriptions of her experiences are not attempts to gain victim status, but rather to discuss complex issues that affect women every day.

Moreover, many women who have been subject to sexual violence actively resist being labelled as ‘victims’. Branding discussions of everyday sexism as the “politics of victimhood” detracts from the real, lived experiences that almost every woman and girl has faced. The Cornell International Survey on Street Harassment Survey found that 90 per cent of British women first experienced street harassment under the age of 17; in fact,  71 per cent were under 15. Such experiences lead to feelings of anger, fear, and depression. The silencing of these experiences makes discussion of societal perceptions of female bodies, especially those bodies of colour, increasingly difficult. The writer’s closing claim that people need to, “take control of themselves and stop blaming everyone else for their own issues” is worryingly reminiscent of victim-blaming.

The writer says that she and others feel alienated from the student body because of the actions of “student social justice warriors”. Yet the site Everyday Feminism, which she singles out in her critique, is much more inclusive than many liberal and white feminist perspectives. Perhaps the writer should read some of the articles and engage with them on a deeper level rather than simply branding the site and its multiple authors as “sexist” and comparing it to “a nagging wife blaming absolutely everything on men”.

Today, despite what the author says about feminists being “upheld as beacon of truth”, many dominant representations of feminism undermine the work of those who challenge the multiple and intersecting oppressions at play in our and other societies. This piece oversimplifies feminism, harassment, and female identity, and attempts to represent a huge body of feminist literature with just two prime examples. These oversimplifications mirror wider societal problems that are hampering real change.

Student running to be NUS delegate pledges to defeat ISIS

Tom Harwood, a second-year politics student at Durham University has made some bizarre pledges in his campaign to be elected as an NUS (National Union of Students) delegate, including defeating ISIS and building a 217ft statue of Malia Bouattia, the President of the NUS.

In Harwood’s campaign video, which at the time of print has over 14,000 views on on Facebook, he pledges that he will “construct a giant statue of NUS President Malia Bouattia, so that students in Durham can see how vitally important the NUS is to us”.

The campaign video also outlines that he plans to “use NUS boycotts to destroy ISIS” and “bring down the government by means of violent revolution”.

Harwood’s campaign Facebook page states that he is “standing to be an NUS delegate because otherwise there won’t be an opposition to its ridiculous ideas” and includes further campaign pledges including a promise that if elected he would ensure “every lecture begins with a glorious pledge of allegiance to our benevolent supreme overlord — the NUS.”

Harwood ran Durham’s NUS disaffiliation campaign ‘A Better Durham’ last year, when 40 per cent of students voted to leave the Union.

Speaking to The Independent, Harwood argued that “as long as we’re in the NUS we need to work to make it ever so slightly less terrible.”

Despite the satirical nature of his campaign he stressed “my candidacy isn’t just about showing that discontent with the way the NUS works is still strong, it’s also about working to make membership slightly more bearable while we remain a member of this ridiculous organisation.”

The campaign aims to stress that the NUS should not assume students’ interests and that it should be up to campaign groups alone to stage boycotts and protests.

Harwood added: “Most students rightly don’t care about NUS elections. They’re usually full of student politicians producing dull and lengthy policy documents.”

“People are rightly way more enthused about a serious message if it’s presented in a fun way.”

Harwood ends the video saying: “If you vote for me I’ll vote against all irrelavent grandstanding, self-aggrandising, self-defeating NUS policies that only serve to discredit students as a whole.”

Voting closes for students at Durham University on 9th of December at 5pm.

Preview: LightUp Fallowfield

LightUp Fallowfield is a protest art installation coming to Fallowfield on Thursday the 8th of December. The event is open to everyone, and involves members of the community coming together in the Ladybarn area of Fallowfield with torches and lights of all kinds to provide solidarity with those who feel afraid to walk home alone in the dark.

The event’s aim is to raise awareness of the fears that students have around their safety when coming home in the dark, especially in the winter months. The event will also be followed by drinks at The Font along with some discussion around the issues raised by the event.

The ‘protest art installation’ will begin at 7pm on the footpath off Ladybarn Lane behind Sainsbury’s, an area which is dimly lit at night, where everyone is encouraged to light up the area by bringing whatever they can — be it fairy lights, torches or just their phones.

Concerns surrounding the safety of students walking in the dark have been raised before, with a string of sex attacks being reported earlier on in the year which left detectives urging women in particular to avoid walking alone at night.

The project is run by Jessica Mallard and Zuzanna Niska, and their event is not only important in bringing attention to the unsafe nature of walking home in the dark, but it is also relevant to the time of year. They have introduced the event by explaining that “while an array of Christmas lights are turned on this winter, we continue to live in the dark reality of not feeling safe to walk alone at night”, and it is therefore a chance to “switch on some lights of our own”.

Jessica and Zuzanna have plans to continue raising awareness with future events, such as “more workshops, exhibitions and collaboration with organisations in the new year”. Jessica then went on to tell me that they plan on “using art to instigate meaningful discourse between the community and those in power”.

The facebook page for the event can be found here, where updates surrounding the event will be posted.

MUFC Player Ratings: Everton vs Manchester United

Manchester United’s poor league form continued when they visited Goodison Park. Having put in a brilliant attacking display in the quarter final of the EFL Cup against West Ham, many United fans felt that the fixture with Everton was a good opportunity to gain some momentum in the Premier League. Unfortunately, like so many times already this season, United failed to capitalise on their positive momentum and dropped two points against an out of form Everton side.

Jose Mourinho switched back to a 4-3-3 formation with Michael Carrick holding down the anchor midfield role while Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera attempted to get up and support United’s attack. Ronald Koeman, however, had other ideas. The Dutchman had clearly instructed Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry to man-mark both Pogba and Herrera respectively. With Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku giving Carrick no time on the ball, the Reds failed to dominate the midfield and looked vulnerable to the Toffee’s counter attacks. Henrik Mkhitaryan, Antony Martial and Zlatan Ibrahimović, as a result of United’s midfield problems, were left very isolated and struggled to link up effectively.

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The first half was a drab contest with very few chances, the better of the slim pickings going to Everton. United struggled to find that killer pass and, despite their superior possession, looked the more likely to concede. However, a long ball from Martial to Ibrahimović saw the Toffee’s goalkeeper, Martin Stekelenburg, make an error of judgement in rushing out to intercept the pass. The Dutchman did not get anywhere near the ball and Zlatan proceeded to chip the ball into the empty net from 25 yards out. Half time came and went and the game opened up at the beginning of the second period, with both teams searching for a much needed goal. Herrera struck the bar in the 59th minute and suddenly United’s heads dropped. Everton proceeded to dominate possession for the final half an hour and David De Gea was called into action an uncomfortable number of times. The Red’s sat back, seemingly content with a one goal advantage and decided to hold out for the win; a massive error of judgement by Mourinho in hindsight. The introduction of Marouane Fellaini led to the Belgian clumsily giving away a penalty in the 86th minute, which Leighton Baines tucked away.

Jose can no longer blame ‘bad luck’ for his team’s inability to close out a game. Maybe the players are more motivated by cup competition? Maybe Jose is not fussed by the League with it looking very unlikely that United will qualify for Champions League football? Whatever the answer, luck can no longer be an excuse. The Reds next task is away to Zorya Luhansk. It is an opportunity for Mourinho to demonstrate his ability to arrest a slump with United having not picked up a single point away from home in the Europa League this season. The unpredictability of Manchester United continues.

 

Player Ratings

GK: David De Gea: 8

It has been a strangely long amount of time since United have relied on De Gea to keep them in a game. His below-par form of recent weeks was turned around at Goodison Park, with United calling on the Spaniard multiple times in the second half to keep them in the game. Made a montage worthy save against Mirallas in the 52nd minute and kept Gueye, Valencia and Baines at bay with decent stops thereafter. Got agonisingly close to Baines’ penalty, but, all in all, won United a point on the balance of play.

RB: Antonio Valencia: 6

A blow par performance from United’s November Player of the Month. Played most of the game in no-mans-land; failing to get up and support Mkhitaryan effectively while being caught out of position a number of times in the first half. Put in a measly two tackles, although one of them was a very important challenge in the box in the 83rd minute.

RCB: Phil Jones: 7

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Another very reliable performance from the man who is stereotypically unreliable. Dealt comfortably with the pace and strength of Lukaku, keeping him quiet from the first minute to the last. Played as the sweeping centre half, dropping deep when Marcos Rojo pushed forward to win headers or interceptions, which came naturally to the Englishman. Won two tackles and four headers, bettered only by Rojo for United. Made a very good tackles on Enner Valencia in the 69th minute.

LCB: Marcos Rojo: 6

A game which characterised Rojo’s United career in 90 minutes. Was imperious in the air winning more headers than anyone else on the pitch (8) but made a few rash decision which could have cost the Reds dearly. The Argentinian’s two-footed tackle in the 16th minute should have seen him sent off. Did not fare as well against Lukaku as Jones, often being outmuscled by the bulky Belgian. With Bailly on his way back from injury it is likely that the Argentinian will not be in the first eleven for much longer.

LB: Matteo Darmian: 6

Struggled with the direct running of Yannick Bolasie in the first half and seemed completely lost when in Everton’s final third, consistently cutting in on his stronger right foot but playing unadventurous or inaccurate passes. Grew into the game more in the second half and commanded his area of the pitch defensively but still lacked the impetus going forward. With Luke Shaw sidelined, Darmian is losing the battle with Daley Blind for the starting left-back role on current performances.

CDM: Michael Carrick: 7

One of United’s better performing players against Everton. Made some important interceptions (3) and clearances (3) to stop the Toffee’s breaking. Was not able to dictate the tempo of the game, like he so often does, because of Everton’s press, but his defensive positioning forced the Blues to attack down the flanks. Won three tackles and had an 87% pass accuracy, bettered only by Jones.

RCM: Ander Herrera: 7

Better from the Spaniard than against West Ham in the EFL Cup as he was played in a more comfortable box-to-box role rather than at the base of midfield. Won more tackles than any other United player (5) but gave a limited performance in an attacking sense, not creating any chances for his teammates. Was unlucky to hit the bar from a volleyed effort in the 59th minute. Lost possession dangerously to Lukaku in final quarter of the match when he was caught faffing about in midfield.

LCM: Paul Pogba: 5

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A very frustrating performance from the £89 million man. Had a very low pass success rate of 73% and the same went for his dribbling (50%) and aerial duels (33%). Looked like he was trying too hard to produce the spectacular when the basics would have sufficed. Idrissa Gueye had the Frenchman in his back pocket for the majority of the match and won Sky Sport’s man of the match for his efforts.

RM: Henrik Mkhitaryan: 6

Despite earning a second start in the Premier League with his performance against West Ham in the EFL Cup, the Armenian struggled to have to same impact. Was isolated and invisible for the majority of the first half but grew into the game after the break and was at the heart of United’s attacking play when they pressed for a second. His Borussia Dortmund-esque pressing from the front gave Baines and Ramiro Funes Mori issues but the Red’s lacking midfield support hindered Mkhitaryan’s creativity.

LM: Antony Martial: 6

After decimating Michail Antonio in midweek, Martial failed to give Seamus Coleman or his replacement, Mason Holgate, any real issues. His shots were either wayward or straight at Stekelenburg. The Frenchman did, however, play a very good lobbed through ball to Ibrahimović for the Swede to open the scoring. Was substituted for Marcus Rashford in the 83rd minute who did not have much better luck at breaking down Everton’s left flank.

ST: Zlatan Ibrahimović: 6

Played some nice incisive passes in the opening stages of the game but dropped too deep at times when United were looking to find a finisher in the box. His free kick in the 28th minute was, quite frankly, awful. Mourinho may need to battle the Swede’s ego when it comes to direct free kicks because they have been wasteful so far this season, especially when there is a surplus of dead ball specialists in United’s squad. His goal, however, was very well executed when under pressure from the onrushing Stekelenburg.

 

Subs

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Marcus Rashford: N/A

Failed to have any better impact than Martial on the left hand side of United’s attacks. Lost possession wastefully in Everton’s final third by trying fancy flicks when a more basic approach may have had a better outcome.

Marouane Fellaini: N/A

I cannot give the Belgian a rating as he only played for ten minutes, but if I could, it would be a 2/10. On his 100th appearance for United, the lanky Belgian stumbled into Gueye in the penalty area and handed Everton the opportunity to level the scores from the penalty spot. This action may well be his last for Mourinho with big errors like this normally provoking the ‘exile treatment’ from the Portuguese manager.

Review: Much Ado About Nothing

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) team up with Chichester Festival theatre to put on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. It has all the recipes for success: villains, romance, fake deaths, misunderstandings and much more.

Despite there being two love stories, one couple really steal the limelight. That is of course, Benedict and Beatrice, who are both equally quick witted and far too stubborn to admit their love. This results in a comic plan by the other characters to fool them into thinking the other has declared their love, thus allowing them to declare their love face to face without pride getting in the way.

Edward Bennet as Benedick and Lisa Dillion as Beatrice are sublime in their roles. Their characters have real emotional depth, which has you rooting for their love to work out. Bennet really has a flair for comedy, leaving the audience in fits of laughter, especially when he is hiding (without success) behind the Christmas tree.

The drama revolves around the love between Claudio and Hero. These two are the targets of a villainous plan to prevent their marriage by the treacherous Don John.  This leads to the shaming of Hero, who is an innocent party, yet this is overlooked due to Don John’s claims. This is a particularly poignant scene, as resonates with the unfortunately common notion that female voices are overlooked in favour of males.

The staging really is remarkable, beginning with the magnificent manor house, which resembles Downton Abbey, and effortlessly changes throughout the play. You are taken around the grounds, into the various rooms and even to the local police office. The seamless transitions only added to the exceptionally polished performance.

One of the factors that most caught my attention was the use of music. Nigel Hess composed the music, which aided the audience in being immersed in post-war England. The catchy ditties made you want to dance and sing along, not least as the play ended in a fabulous dance number. It really had me wishing for a Shakespeare musical.

Much Ado About Nothing was a sensation, if only for the fact it leaves the audience in such a merry mood. You did need to concentrate, as with any Shakespeare play, but RSC have done a tremendous job in making Shakespeare more accessible, which I cannot praise highly enough.

Much Ado is not the only play being performed by RSC at the Opera House or on their tour. It is being performed in junction with Love’s Labour’s Lost. The plays can be enjoyed separately or together as share the same cast.  Love’s Labour’s Lost is set pre-war and Much Ado About Nothing or Love’s Labour’s Won follows after, set post-war. Love’s Labour’s Won is a supposed missing sequel that Shakespeare wrote.  The theory is that the title was changed to Much Ado About Nothing, and the soldiers returning home are the same ones who left to fight in Love’s Labour’s Lost.

You can choose whether to enjoy both plays together by watching them on separate nights or not. If you have not watched any Shakespeare you should, and why not begin with one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies. RSC are outstanding once again with this hilarious version of Much Ado About Nothing.

Euro Watch: Primera Liga

Teams to watch: Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto

Players to watch: Sebastian Coates and Bas Dost

Manager to watch: Jorge Jesus

Game of the season so far: Vitoria de Guimaraes 3-3 Sporting Lisbon

The 83rd Primera Liga season sees Benfica in pole position to win a fourth consecutive league crown. This year their only realistic challengers appear to be rapidly improving city rivals Sporting Lisbon, the 14-year hold that the big three have had on the league title appears to be continuing.

The Primera Liga has always been a league with startling disparities between the top three and the rest. This can be seen by just looking at stadium capacities — Benfica’s Stadium of Light holds more than 64,000 people, whereas Tondela and Nacional have stadiums fitting for just 5,000 people.

Managerial changings is also associated with the league. Since May 2016, fourteen out of the sixteen teams have changed manager — it makes the Premier League look like a safe-haven for managers.

In recent times, Sporting Lisbon have been unable to keep up with the big two; their grip was simply too firm for Sporting who were left in the wayside. But times are changing.

It all started it the summer of 2015. In a bitter story that dominated the news in Portugal, they prised away manager Jorge Jesus from arch-city-rivals Benfica. A man who played a big role in the success of Benfica was a big coup for the green team of Lisbon, and they have not looked back since.

After finishing second last season, the momentum has continued and they find themselves once again having a realistic chance of being title contenders again this year.

They have also been very respectable in the Champions League this year. In a group with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, they have put in good performances and will be a challenge for any team in the Europa League come the New Year.

Sporting really excite though when you look through their playing squad. Filled with many recognisable names such as Sebastian Coates, Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz, Bas Dost, and William Carvalho; their squad contains players with a point to prove and they definitely have the quality to succeed at this level.

Coates in particular looks a player reborn. Following an unsuccessful time in England with both Liverpool and Sunderland, his great reading of the game, along with ability to help Sporting build attacks from the back as been integral to the teams’ good form so far this year.

Dutch striker Bas Dost was an incredible coup not just for Sporting, but the Primera Liga as a whole; a man who, when in the right frame of mind, could not stop scoring in both Holland and Germany. If Jorge Jesus finds the right formula for him then he will easily score 20-plus goals this term.

The future is looking very bright for Sporting Lisbon, and with an exciting playing squad to match a talented manager, who knows what success lies ahead for them during the rest of the year?

However, one team where the good times are most certainly a distant memory is FC Porto. A team stuttering on the field and with sanctions from the UEFA Financial Fair Play committee looming, these are the worst times in many years for the north Portuguese club.

Until 2014 Porto were the country’s dominant side. Winning nine league titles in a twelve-year period as well as a Champions League triumph. Their transfer policy was also hugely successful — sign young players on the cheap, then slap a hefty transfer clause on them and sell them for a huge amount of profit. Porto were the club that could do no wrong.

But a return of the good times seems a long way off in the present day. Their league form is stuttering with a winless November and they have only scored one goal in the process. They are a team devoid of ideas and lack a creative touch.

Their form in European competition is not much better. In a seemingly straightforward group with Leicester, Brugge and Copenhagen, they are struggling in qualification, and need to avoid defeat in their final group game to finish in second place.

Off the field the picture is even gloomier for Porto. In October the club announced a record loss of €58.4 million, with over €75 million spent on salaries in 2015/16, a figure that was only €40 million three years ago.

The mismanagement of the club’s finances can be seen no clearer than the signing of Iker Casillas — the highest-paid player in the club’s history and a man who also holds no sell-on value, is a signing that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Look throughout the rest of the squad and the picture is pretty much the same — expensive flops.

The club’s financial plan for the coming year announced that a figure of  €116 million must be generated via player sales in order to prevent UEFA sanctions.

The FC Porto squad that we see today will almost be entirely unrecognisable in twelve months’ time. Times are looking very dark indeed.