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Month: November 2017

Sterling saves City

In-form English winger Raheem Sterling was the hero as he scored the winner with practically the last kick against Southampton. City had taken the lead through a Kevin De Bruyne free kick before being pegged back by an equaliser from Oriol Romeu. With time rapidly expiring, Sterling curled an effort in at the far post to give City all three points.

With the games coming thick and fast now, Pep Guardiola rotated his squad for this match having played away at Huddersfield on Sunday. Gabriel Jesus and İlkay Gündoğan came in while Leroy Sané and David Silva dropped out.

City maintained their usual 4-3-3 formation as Jesus and Sergio Agüero rotated their positions. This meant the two South Americans were in close proximity to each other a lot and subsequently the majority of City’s play went down the left flank. This however isolated Raheem Sterling on the other wing who did not get a look in for a significant portion of the game.

The game started at a slow pace as the home side saw plenty of the ball but lacked any of the energy needed to break down Southampton’s five-man defence. Playing in Silva’s usual role, Gündoğan was involved frequently but lacked their creative flair to do anything with the ball.

At the other end, Vincent Kompany was looking incredibly rusty. Within the first ten minutes he had needlessly gifted away possession with poor passes and when his their misplaced pass came a little later, he was forced to give away a free kick to stop the Saints attack. The combination of another missed pass and the sacrifice of a dangerous set piece to a tall Southampton side was enough to make Guardiola a seething man on the touchline.

Southampton’s physical superiority was looking to be their only route to goal and a corner to the away side resulted in a header colliding off the bar. However, with the first two Southampton corners of the game, City broke quickly and had chances through Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne requiring Fraser Forster to make a quick-fire double save.

With City struggling to get the ball towards Agüero, Fernandinho was taking it forward and firing shots away from deep. His effort was palmed for a corner and Nicolás Otamendi could only head his effort over from a short distance.

Southampton’s third corner of the game arrived and they had learnt from their mistakes of the previous two. This time, they only left the tall players in the box and had plenty of quick runners back ready to snuff out a City counter.

The first half came to a close with the score level at 0-0 and it was a poor performance from City.

The home side came out for the second half with a clearer sense of urgency and it was just two minutes after the restart that they got their opening goal. A De Bruyne free kick from the left flank hit Virgil van Dijk on its way into the net. The low, driven shot was initially credited to Otamendi and then amended to a van Dijk own goal before finally settling on a De Bruyne goal having been on target before van Dijk touched it.

City had got their opener but even then there was a lack of pace and movement. Everything seemed slower than we are used to seeing and this may be due to the lack of Sané and Silva but something just wasn’t ticking.

Jesus and De Bruyne both had chances shortly after the goal. In a rare moment of link-up play between the two strikers, Agüero played in Jesus who should have put his effort past the keeper. Forster made a good save and then blocked the following De Bruyne effort.

The away side were threatening on set pieces and van Dijk was looking to make amends for the first goal. A corner found the head of the 6ft 4 Dutch defender but he could only fire it over.

Minutes later though and Southampton did get their goal. A quick throw-in gave Mario Lemina a lot of work to do but he managed to squeeze the ball past Gündoğan and towards the far post. Fabian Delph seemed to lose track of it and stuck out a desperate foot but he made no contact as it fell to substitute Sofiane Boufal. The Moroccan squared the ball into the path of Oriol Romeu who side-footed it into the net.

It was level with 15 minutes left to play and City again struggled to create chances. David Silva was introduced for Jesus, who had a poor game, and City swapped to a four-man midfield with Sterling coming to the left and De Bruyne playing wide right. It was an odd tactical switch from Guardiola to put De Bruyne out wide conserving Southampton’s aerial superiority.

Many of City’s chances were coming from whipped balls into the boxes but the away side’s defence was happily dealing with them. With 85 minutes on the clock, plenty of City fans began to make their way for the exit. The ones that stayed were overjoyed to see the fourth official signal that there were to be five additional minutes.

City pushed for the winner, to the point where they were at risk to a Saints counter but the away side were happy with the point and looked for the corners. In the 93rd minute, Sterling did put the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out by referee Paul Tierney for an alleged foul.

This would prove to be a piece of foreshadowing though as just three minutes later, Sterling did get the winner. Cutting in from the left flank, Sterling played a quick one-two with De Bruyne before curling a shot into the far corner. The precision of the strike left Forster with no chance and the stadium erupted with noise. The fans celebrated as if the title had been won there and then such is the euphoria that comes with last-minute winners.

The coaching staff had barely left the pitch after their celebrations as the referee blew for full time. Once again, the stadium erupted with noise as City extended their winning run in the league to 12. It was by no means a good performance but when you have a team full of individual superstars, one of them is bound to save you.

Men’s fashion beyond the ‘classics’

Men’s fashion is defined by “classics”. Every man must own them; they signal his effortless style. However, as a guide to dressing, “classic” is useless. As a result, men search for it in their collars, cuffs and lapels. It is not whether the clothes are formal or informal: a t-shirt and jeans can be “classic” (provided they are expensive enough). I am talking about men’s attitude to dress.

Tom Ford, for example, seems to respect the “classics”. He runs what amounts to a lifestyle brand, selling glasses, fragrances, pocket squares, and his film, ‘A Single Man’, which starred Colin Firth. The film portrays what was considered the “classic” style in America in the early sixties.

Yet the clothes are smothered in a Tom Ford gloss, far removed from how people actually dressed, at the time, before or since. In one scene, Firth calls an immaculate greaser “better than James Dean” — “better”, in the way a hot water bottle is “better” than a boyfriend.

Look to the Duke of Windsor for inspiration, formerly Edward VIII until he abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. Simpson is more obviously fashionable and was often dressed in Schiaparelli, Givenchy, and Paco Rabanne. The Duke of Windsor, on the other hand, wore “classic” materials like Scottish Tweed, or “classic” tailoring from Scholte of Savile Row.

Yet he treats the “classics” in the liberated manner of one who has failed to live up to them. Abdication gave him a life of photo spreads for Time and Vogue. It put a permanent grin on a face that would otherwise have been froggy and impotent. So, in his expensive clothes, he could afford (he said) to “dress soft”. This meant turned up trousers and two-button suits. It meant forays into patterns, materials and cuts too idle to be “classic”, yet deliberately fashionable.

A photograph from 1964 shows him on his garden terrace at Bois de Boulogne. His outfit lives in its details. The boxy, high-waist jacket is tilted against a plinth, the turn-ups slipped behind tassel loafers. The palette is a silver shirt and tie, a green plaid suit, and black patent shoes. Though they speak its language, none of these details defers to “classic” style. They are decisions about shape and colour that come from treating clothes as clothes. He is perfectly at home with his pugs sniffing around him.

The “classics” tower over men’s wardrobes, seemingly unattainable and leaving them wanting. We are failed inheritors to menswear as the Duke of Windsor was to the throne. Luckily, in our failure, we are able to enjoy the clothes for themselves, stripped of their “classic” pretensions. Only then can they become the stuff of fashion. Men: Wear your clothes like an abdicated king.

Live: And So I Watch You From Afar

Friday 24th November, 2017 – Academy 2

In support of their latest album, The Endless Shimmering, Belfast-based post-instrumental-math-rock And So I Watch You From Afar are bringing their trademark blend of math rock melodies and post-rock rhythms to life on their latest tour. Having listened to the aforementioned album, I went into the gig with high expectations.

Bucking the usual trend and starting their set slightly early, we were greeted with a brooding, moody intro, flowing into their first piece, the dizzying and erratic ‘Search:Party:Animal’. The band were unconcerned with, and wasted little time on stage talk, with only the occasional “thank you” and a shout-out to the support band, Gallops. This is not a criticism — the audience were here to listen to the band, and that’s what they got — playing an impressive 15 or so pieces from their whole discography.

It was all too easy to get carried away in the music, I often found myself surprised when the piece ended, because I’d been so fully immersed in the music that I lost track of the time. The 90 minutes that the band spent performing where such a whirlwind of mesmerising beats I was honestly surprised to check my watch at the end to see how much time had passed!

The audience was very typically post-rock — many people content to stand and enjoy the music as quite the solo experience — and a small group of pit warriors. The pits were fun and friendly, so there’s nothing to fault there.

I will say that while the set list flowed very well, it did not have the changes in energy that really make an excellent post-rock show. The long, tense build-ups to their more upbeat, energetic pieces, and climactic apexes. A very fun show overall, just perhaps lacking the punch I was looking for from such an accomplished and talented band.

7/10

Review: Where Dreams Come True

Manchester Musical Revue, (MMR) is a brand-new venture by the University of Manchester Musical Theatre Society. MMR made its debut in Where Dreams Come True.  This delightfully hilarious show (directed by Chris Pope) is about wannabe actors who are performing at “Café Mickey”, awaiting their bring break.

The actors are constantly reminded to bring smiles and joy to others through Disney — whilst they individually suffer — by their flamboyant manager played by Ed Roberts. The show brought much joy and hilarity to its audience! In the perfect venue of the Anchor Café, transformed with some minimal lighting and drowned with innumerable Disney toys, the perfect low budget Disneyland was born.

The cast, musicians and creatives managed to create a wonderful atmosphere of comedy and the enjoyment of a concert and almost a soap opera as we experience the struggles of unrequited love and actor rivalry. The cast all kept their names but took on different characters.

These ranged from the comedy of George Haviland who never quite got to sing a whole solo, to the great rivalry between Helena Stanway and Jess Adams’ characters – culminating in a unique Part of Your World with great harmonies — musical direction by Bonnie Schwarz.

This cast, accompanied by an impressive live band, were immensely ambitious in their selection of some of the most well-known Disney songs, picking from the likes of ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Tangled.’ A highlight group number was the rendition of ‘Make a Man Out of You’ (Mulan), led by Dom McGann. Arguably one of the most iconic Disney numbers, it was well performed with apt choreography by Lucy Scott.

Just when you were sure you knew what was going on in this fast-moving show, you’re hit waves of unexpected genius.  A favourite of mine was ‘Colours of the Wind’ (Pocahontas) sung by Kate Gabriel, furiously trying to save the planet one song at a time, throwing leaves and Disney toys at the audience — yet still managing to sing at the same time.

And of course, no one expected the twist of Ed Roberts singing ‘Let it Go’ (Frozen) in Spanish with Carol-Ann McConnellogue, a wonderful surprise that made a predictable song so much more. Daisy Shuttleworth’s rendition of ‘Almost There’ (Princess and the Frog) was a vocal standout, along with Jess Adams as a chillingly good Mother Gothel singing Mother Knows Best (Tangled).

I look forward to much more from MMR – this show was feel good and whimsical, created in such a short time and a great success!

Review: Solita Christmas burger

Solita is an American/Mancunian grill-style restaurant, has four unique branches spread around in Manchester from Northern Quarter, Didsbury, Prestwich and even Preston. Each Venue bringing their own unique twist and style. They have a love all things Manc.

Solitas now have a special place in my heart — and in my stomach. After months of following their hilarious twitter account, where they have competitions to send in a photo of the ‘worst piece of clothing they own’ and the ‘worst fridge’. Solitas have developed the perfect northern sarcastic but cool personality. Their food is nothing short of amazing too with steaks that would blow your mind, and burgers like the ‘Big Manc’ (seriously that’s what it’s called) that are stacked so high that even Scooby-Doo would be proud of.

Their Christmas burger has just been announced, and my god does it sound amazing. The burger which is on a sweet brioche bun consists of 3 types of meat, Roast Gammon, house smoked turkey, and also a beef patty as well. All of this wouldn’t be complete without some deep fried Brussel sprouts and gooey melted cheese.

And even more, than this, it’s held together with a sticky sweet cranberry sauce as well as a subtle turkey gravy. In this case, the cherry on top comes in the form of a candied pig in blanket. However, I have saved the best until last, the gem and the heart of this burger,  in that within this concoction of Christmassy greasy goodness, lies within a homemade festive bake.

If you can forget about how many calories that might exist within such a monstrosity then the burger also comes with a side of chips if you can stomach that as well.

But for all you veggies out there, you need not fret. There is an equally just as dirty burger for you. A chestnut and bean burger patty, fried halloumi, a deep fried stuffing patty, cranberry and port sauce, deep fried sprouts, and cheddar cheese on a brioche bun. Which I honestly think sounds just as good.

Now, another exciting thing they are bringing out for this special time of year is their Christmas drinks menu. I went for their ‘Winter Spice’ cocktail to wash down the beast of a Christmas burger. A simple twist on a fresh-faced classic, an Aperol Spritz combined with a dash of cinnamon.

Whilst you could taste the difference and it was clever from taking the classic summer drink into the next season, however, felt slightly unimaginative with its presentation. But still tasted great so I cannot really complain about it.

All in all, Solitas have really outdone themselves this year. Their Crimbo Burger, Veggie or otherwise have incorporated all the best things about Christmas Dinner and rolled it into one.

 

http://www.solita.co.uk

Interview: Tom Hingley

Much loved songwriter, former Inspiral Carpets icon and one-of-a-kind eccentric: Tom Hingley is back with an exclusive new live album and DVD of performances with his outstanding current outfit, The Kar-Pets. The Kar-Pets are a tribute band, paying homage to the organ-crazed pop smashes of Inspiral Carpets.

Fronted by the former voice and creative force of the Inspiral Carpets himself, Tom Hingley, ‘May Contain Nuts’ is a live multimedia DVD/CD filmed live at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge in April of last year. Tom Hingley was the lead singer for the most commercially successful period of Manchester trailblazers Inspiral Carpets’ career, and we were lucky enough to chat to him about why it’s so important to keep the music alive.

So, not the most conventional tribute band…what made you want to front a group covering your own songs?

It’s an opportunity to play those songs. There’s no-one else who can sing those songs the way I did, so there was a gap in the market for us to keep the music of Inspiral Carpets going.

What prompted you to release a live version of the album of the tracks?

Well, it was for two reasons really. It was filmed in April of last year at a gig at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester, and the band at that point had only been together for about two months, so it was early on and we didn’t know if anything would come of it. It’s taken until now to get it released. Firstly it was an opportunity to make ourselves better musically, to work harder and play better, but also it was a chance to create a historical artefact or record of the tunes.

Have you got an expectation of how it will be received?

Well, there’s only 1000 copies of the CD and DVD digipack, and we’ve got to sell 800 just to break even. So it’s a labour of love. My daughter Sarah has been studying illustration at Kingston Uni and she’s done the artwork for it, so that’s special. Yeah, it’s not something that needs to make a big impact, it’s more of a collector’s item, just a limited edition thing for the fans.

Do you stay quite true to that synthy Carpets sound, or mix it up for a contemporary audience?

No, we stay very true to the Inspiral Carpets sound, because it’s about recreating that music and keeping the songs alive. It’s probably a bit rough around the edges on the live album – like I said we’d only been together for about two months when we did the recording. If anything our sound is a bit punkier than original Carpets stuff, but we try to keep it the same.

Was it important to make the recording a Manchester gig?

We thought it would be a busier concert and a better atmosphere to record in Manchester. Ruby Lounge is a great venue and it was full, and we’ve got another show on Thursday at Night and Day in Manchester, so you should come down to that if you get chance. I’m playing with my band, the Tom Hingley Band at 8 pm, and the Kar-pets will be on later.

What are you listening to at the moment?

To be honest I don’t listen to much contemporary music. My niece is in a band at the moment — False Advertising — and they’re doing quite well, been played on the radio, supported Everything Everything and stuff. But in terms of what I listen to, at the moment, I tend to be into older funk musicians or old country stuff. I recently lost a lot of weight so I would listen to music in the gym, but yeah, not really into many new rock bands.

Noel Gallagher was a roadie back in the day for you…have you given his new album a listen?

You know I haven’t listened to any of it. I’ve heard one single I think, ‘Holy Mountain’, and the video seems to pay homage to ‘Saturn 5’ by Inspiral Carpets. If you’ve seen it you can spot the similarities. But loads of music samples older stuff — when you’re a singer you can really hear it. What’s Noel’s album like then?

Let’s just say it’s very experimental for Noel…

Oh, in what way?

Just quite synthy and old school, very instrumental…

Yeah, he’s probably taken samples and inspiration from older stuff. Like I said I don’t listen to much new stuff, but I’ll have to check it out.

What’s next for you and the Kar-pets?

Well, there will be more gigs next year. We’ve made quite a name for ourselves on the live circuit, played a few festivals and headline shows. So yeah, more gigging for Kar-pets. There’s also my three-piece band, and we’ve got a new release called ‘I Love My Job’, which is quite punky and coming soon. I don’t think I’ll be doing any more recording next year though. I’m also working on a book, but I can’t tell you what that’s about just yet…

Well, we look forward to it Tom, and thanks for giving up your time today. 

Thanks for chatting to me!

You can catch the Tom Hingley Band and Tom Hingley and the Kar-pets at Night and Day on Thursday 30th November.

Review: Grinch £8.95 lunch

Lunchtime deals can frequently be pretty disappointing. The price and the promise of a free drink lure you in however the food tends to be meagre/lacking substance. Not to mention the tiny ounce of ‘free wine’ that adds to the overall disappointment making you wonder why you didn’t just get a subway. I am happy to say Grinch is an exception and is extremely good value for money.

Originally located on Chapel Walks Manchester at the forefront of Café Culture in the 90’s, Grinch has now grown up and found its new home in Didsbury village. Arriving on a Friday late afternoon I was immediately charmed by an easily recognisable Spotify 60s playlist and a delightful rustic interior. The only downside was the restaurant was fairly empty, well we were one of two couples. Also, the service really did take its time. However I will blame all this on its fairly new opening, I guess it’s just finding its feet.

The lunch menu has been put together featuring its biggest sellers over the years. Personally, I would say the choice is excellent. Each dish includes a coffee, glass of wine or beer/soda

  1. Special Fried Chicken with fries and House BBQ Sauce
  2. Chilli and Chips with cheese, sour cream, red onion
  3. Pollo Rosso Pizza – hummus, chicken, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and sweet chilli sauce
  4. Cheese Burger with onions, pickles and chips
  5. Goats Cheese Pizza – roasted red peppers, parmesan and mozzarella

Everything sounded too good despite the limited choice, I ended up opting for the special fried chicken and my dining partner chose the Pollo Rosso Pizza. It can be argued that you can’t go wrong with fried chicken, however, I would say you definitely can. This fried chicken was beautifully served, flavoured and cooked to perfection.

Not at all greasy and served with the most delightful BBQ sauce which complimented the chicken brilliantly. Overall I was elated with my choice…. until I took a bite of the pizza and in all honesty, my eyes turned green with envy. The flavour combination on top of the freshly stone baked base was a dream. The sweet chilli and peppers cut through the creaminess of the hummus and mozzarella quite frankly leaving a taste sensation. My glass of wine was pretty small but I’ll let it go as the food was so scrummy.

Photo: Anokhi Shah

Grinch is ideal if you want to venture a little bit out of the Fallowfield/Withington bubble in search of a treat. I promise Grinch will leave both your bellies and wallet feeling satisfied.

Next time I definitely want to try the Chilli and Chips – yes I will be back!

Review: Avenue Q

Avenue Q, renowned as one of the funniest musicals ever, and winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical delivered humour, realism, and playful fun to brighten my week.

This was a professional production through and through, and shown in the heart of our university, the Students’ Union. The characters, set design, and staging were all outstanding and every aspect of the musical production felt well thought-through.

The opening featured minimalistic staging and colour coding. As part of this, colourful doors represented moods and characters, with characters’ tops matching the doors of their homes.

The soundtrack was cheerful from the offset, mimicking the likes of uplifting ‘If You Were Gay’ and ‘Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist.’ These songs take serious and current issues, satirise them, and turn them into humour — a technique also seen in musicals like The Book of Mormon.

The use of screens acted as a form of detachment to distract you from the show and break the fourth wall.  The line between audience and show was also broken during vibrant monologues and the musical number ‘Purpose’, in which the audience are asked for money and their views on homelessness. This technique made the audience somewhat uncomfortable and unsettled, but was good in bring light to the issue. The undercutting of the whole play when the main protagonist shouts that he will make a play out of his experiences, acts as comic relief and appeals to the audience.

The main idea behind Avenue Q is that, through the medium of singing, dancing, and puppeteering, we as the audience are offered the chance to laugh at the real problems we all face by watching characters form relationships, fulfil their dreams, and learn about life’s hardships.

The musical is able to expand beyond its form, offering togetherness as we personally identify with the characters, who are both realistic and likeable. It leaves the audience feeling fulfilled and happier then when we entered the theatre.

The professionalism of all of the characters and the director was mind blowing for a student production. This show felt as if it was ready for Broadway and could become its own touring performance. In particular, Anuli Changa, as child star Gary Coleman, commanded the stage with her presence.

Overall, an fantastic, enjoyable and immersive performance of a much-loved musical that I was glad to be introduced to.

Recipe: steak sandwich with burnt onion ketchup

Steak Sandwich with Burnt Onion Ketchup

·         3tbsp vegetable oil

·         3 onions, peeled and roughly chopped

·         2 fresh bay leaves

·         150ml white wine vinegar

·         1 tbsp Worcester sauce

·         3 garlic cloves crushed or finely chopped

·         50g dark muscovado sugar

·         1tsp paprika and oregano

·         Salt and pepper

·         1 steak, best quality your budget will allow

·         1 crusty baguette

·         Salad

Method

1.       Begin by making the burnt onion ketchup. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add about a third of the onions and fry over a high heat until they are beginning to char. Remove from the heat and repeat the process in batches until all the onions are cooked.

2.       Add all the onions back into the pan along with the bay leaves, vinegar, garlic, Worcester sauce, and sugar. Bring this to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer this for approximately 20 minutes or until the onions have begun softening and the consistency has reduced to something like a normal ketchup.

3.       Remove this from the heat and add the paprika, oregano, and the seasoning to taste.

4.       To cook your steak, make sure you have removed it from a fridge and allowed it to come up to room temperature. Heat more vegetable oil and a knob of butter in a pan until foaming. Season both sides of your steak and add this to the pan. Cook on each side for approximately 4 minutes per side for medium-rare, basting with the juices constantly. Remove the steak from the pan and make sure it is allowed to rest for at least 10 minutes.

5.       To serve slice the steak into strips and add to a baguette with a healthy portion of the ketchup. Serve with a salad or chips.

Ashes Preview

A cold, hard, look at the god damn facts. In seven series — that’s just as many as The Game of Thrones and six more than Bellamy’s People — England have won just once in Australia. Back then, the England side had flaws, but they were of a more personal nature.

Strauss was a Tory, Trott a neurotic, Kevin Pietersen. But each was, at one or more points in their career, the greatest living Englishman. Or more accurately, the greatest living South African.

Cricket’s strength is in its particularity. The home advantage in football has been declining since the Second World War, but in Test cricket the reverse is true. Prior to 2002, 117 Ashes Tests were won by the home team, and 98 by visitors. Since then, the respective figures are 25 and 7. Some might construe this as a problem, but for me, this is a much of the beauty of the game.

An example: Moeen Ali had to sit out the warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI at Perth. This is significant only because Perth is where the third Test will take place, and Moeen missed the chance to harness the Fremantle Doctor, the afternoon breeze that blows from the Swan River and allows the offspinner to drift the ball away from the right-handed batsman. Isn’t it eloquent?

Not always. Particularity does not mean that everywhere is particularly eloquent. The Gabba in Brisbane, where the first Test takes place – the Gabbatoir – is a case in point’. It’s quick, it’s nasty, it’s where strong men throw it at your face then spit on the ground. It’s not the subtle movement and quiet applause that suit Anderson and Broad. It is wired into Australian cricket.

In England, we use a Duke’s cricket ball, which is far more susceptible to swing than the Australian Kookaburra. To take wickets with a Kookaburra ball in an Australian climate you need pace and bounce, and an essential anti-intellectualism – qualities the home side have in abundance.

As I write, we are an hour from play in the first Test. An hour until Joe Root leads a Stokes-less side out in front of 40,000 angry convicts’ grandsons, and an hour until I settle down to attempting to sync up BT Sport with Test Match Special. I fear it will be a struggle for both of us. For England to retain the Ashes, we must take a leaf out of Jarvis Cocker’s book and use the one thing we’ve got more of. And that’s our minds.

5 DIY Christmas decorations for your student home

For all those Christmas lovers out there, the excitement doesn’t end with last week’s article on advent calendars! The merriment continues and will build and build as Christmas fast approaches. What better way to liven up this dull and horribly wet weather by physically surrounding yourself with Christmas decorations? It seems only reasonable that this holiday of cheer comes at possibly the most depressing time of year, so I say take advantage of this holiday as much as we can.

Creating your own decorations is a super fun and easy way to get your mind off work and break up the tireless flow of studying. Additionally, focusing on something other than readings or essays will allow your mind to be taken somewhere else and relax. Small additions to your student home can really go a long way and here are some of easiest decorations to make:

Tinsel, tinsel, tinsel! Nothing can brighten up a room more than some sparkle and glitter. These can be found almost anywhere —Tesco, Sainsbury’s, you name it — and are cheap. Grab a few in red, silver, gold and put them around the house; wrap them around your stairs, hang them along the doorframe or even hang them all across your wall — with any fairy lights you have.

DIY snowflakes. Although I am no artist myself, these are incredibly easy to do. Take any scrap paper and fold the A4 piece into four so it makes four squares. Cut these squares apart and then fold each square in half diagonally twice and then into a third and then into another third.

Once all this folding is done, cut the top off at an angle and then shape your snowflake by cutting in shapes into the sides! Once done, stick them all over the place like kitchen cupboards etc.

Better instructions can be found here: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-6-Pointed-Paper-Snowflakes/.

White/silver spray paint! There are so many things you could do with this but to follow on from the snowflakes you just made, you could save a few to use as templates. You can use the snowflake template to spray the white/silver on to the surface and create more snowflakes on your windows. It seems a bit over the top but it takes a whole five minutes and looks amazing!

Reindeer doormat. So, you might be thinking, this sounds a bit weird — but trust me, it’s cute. If you can be bothered to make reindeer templates, go ahead, but I’d opt for something a lot easier. Buy some reindeer cookie cutters — any Christmas themed ones, in fact — and use whatever spray paint you have left to spray the shapes onto your bare doormats! It really adds character and doesn’t require much effort, so by the end of the year when you have a black doormat, it won’t hurt that much.

Mini Christmas tree. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a DIY decoration, it’s a simple way of adding that Christmas spirit to your house. Mini decorated table-top Christmas trees can be found at any Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s.

Craig Green X Moncler

This season, French-Italian brand Moncler adds another force to its growing list of cutting-edge collaborations. British Menswear designer of the year, Craig Green, joins Moncler to create a capsule collection incorporating both his own avant-garde explorations of masculine silhouette, with the skiwear giant’s classic models of luxury outerwear.

Moncler have previously collaborated with brands such as Off-White and Visim to create Moncler ‘O’ and ‘V’. Furthermore, Moncler ventures onto the runway each season with its exclusive line, Gamme Bleu, curated by esteemed menswear designer Thom Browne. Although it may first appear an unusual pairing, Moncler and Green’s alliance makes perfect sense. Both brands consistently explore the role of the modern man and the role of functionality within their product, as boasted by Green’s repeated incorporation of the utilitarian worker jacket. Yet Green’s unorthodox, daring aesthetic may at first seem worlds apart from the affluent ski brand that is favoured by footballers and grime MCs alike.

Craig Green’s label shot to fame with his first showcase as part of MAN, the Fashion East/Topman collective, which established him as a designer who could command widespread conversation. Green sent models down the runway wearing headpieces constructed from planks of wood. This went viral and soon the jokes began, even Jonathan Ross had something to say on its absurdity. Although Green’s success has thrived upon the basis of his daring avant-garde style, his pieces still are fundamentally routed within wearable modes, as recognised by Dylan Jones, editor in chief of GQ who praises ‘You can look at his clothes and think, yes, they’re cutting edge, but also yes, I could wear that.’ Workwear remains consistently at the centre of Green’s collections, offering an abstract, deeply emotive narrative about masculinity, where season upon season Green continues to develop his distinctive techniques such as wooden constructs and rope, that underpin the brand’s darker aesthetic. His collection with Moncler is no different: the overblown classic outwear pieces incorporate consistent elements of his namesake label such as the as macro-tag bands and raw rope which can be used to tighten and shape the silhouette of certain pieces, to bring a twist to seemingly pragmatic outerwear.

Becoming central to worldwide discussion, both in streetwear and catwalk outlets after being worn by Skepta, the collection has been highly regarded by critics. The discussion around the billion-dollar brand’s collaboration with Craig Green has help Moncler jump 11 places in the Business of Fashion Lyst Index of the world’s hottest luxury brands along side the likes of Balenciaga and Gucci. The commercial and critical approval of this collaboration can be seen to show how Craig Green configures with popular trends whilst he simultaneously works to transcend the boundaries of contemporary menswear. Despite asserting his brand as a central and highly popular force within the British fashion landscape, he never ceases to maintain his ever-elusive edge.

Live Review: BICEP at WHP

The 28th of November

Last Saturday Warehouse Project hosted probably one of the most iconic House duos of the decade. Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar, more commonly known as Bicep, after a long wait finally performed their debut album in Manchester, surrounded by an eager crowd.

A great plus to the show was the venue. Quaint and grungy but very cool, the Warehouse Project installations under Manchester Piccadilly Station were probably the perfect location for this event. However, the main stage soon became massively overcrowded, making it nearly impossible to even move your hands.

Despite this, the audience still managed to sway and follow the beat. Incredibly surprising was the lack of females in the audience. With approximately a 70:30 male-female ratio, the presence of more woman was missed.

Not only did Bicep indulge us with their debut album, but they also revitalized several genres of classics of electronic music such as Detroit’s techno or Chicago’s House. Playing records such as ‘Daliah’ and ‘Just’ the audience saw itself trapped in the hypnotic rhythmic progression of this Belfast duo.

It was probably the variety of their music that engaged the crowd so much. In addition to the great act of Bicep, the acoustics at WHP were good and the beat was accompanied by flashing lights and incredible special effects that would make even the soberest person trip.

Although counting with Bicep as the main act, WHP presented an amazing lineup amongst which were artists like Carl Craig & Moody Mann, Hammer, and Kink. A range of artists was distributed across the venue allowing several of them to play simultaneously, making sure that no one was bored and a variety of music was played throughout the night. This also helped escape the claustrophobic main stage at times, were the drunk audience acted a little bit too drunk.

Overall, a great night, with great artists, long lines, and ice pops for when it got too hot. Despite it being packed, the venue was easy to move around and Bicep stood out by far to the expectations. Perhaps the night was a little bit overpriced, paying 40 quid entrance and overpriced drinks, but WHP is totally worth going to at least once in your life.

7/10

University of Manchester wins environment award

The Environmental Association for Universities attributed the Green Gown Award to the University of Manchester this year.

On the 15th of November the university received the award for ‘10,000 Actions’ and the ‘Sustainability Challenge’; two initiatives that are specific to the university.

The Head of Environmental Sustainability at the University of Manchester, Emma Gardener, declared that “10,000 Actions took our staff engagement on sustainability from around 3% to more than 40% over the course of the campaign. It’s great to see our impact recognised at a national level through this award.”

Following this, Professor James Thompson, the Vice-President for Social Responsibility, stated: “Three years ago we developed new social responsibility signature programmes with the ambition of reaching all students and all staff.

“It is therefore particularly pleasing to see both the Ethical Grand Challenges programme and 10,000 Actions recognised by experts outside the University as leading the way in the UK.”

During the ceremony, the University of Manchester Chancellor, Lemn Sissay, spoke: “The leadership and innovation that we have seen tonight is truly awe inspiring. If all education institutions created individuals and initiatives like these, we would have a much brighter future full of leading lights.”

This award comes after a long list of awards that the University of Manchester received for its leadership in matters of teaching and pedagogy.

Co-written by Pierre-Leo Rouat and Youssef Bouri

Protect your home from burglary over Christmas

During the Christmas holidays, when many students return to their family homes, term-time accommodation is left vacant and therefore susceptible to break-ins and theft.

The large student population of Fallowfield is a regular target for crime. Burglars usually steal whatever is easiest to carry. Therefore student essentials such as laptops, mobile phones, and bikes are commonly taken.

Detailed crime statistics for Fallowfield can be found on www.police.uk. The site states that between October 2016 and September 2017 there have been a total of 233 burglaries, 54 cases of bicycle theft, and 61 incidents of personal theft.

The Fallowfield Student Group is an online community where members regularly post warnings and personal experiences. In October, Architecture student Anna Meerson posted about a burglary that took place at her student home.In an interview with The Mancunion she described the events of that evening.

Anna and her housemates were at the pub when their neighbours called to say they had been burgled. Four men in balaclavas had climbed through a window and kicked doors down to take their valuables. Anna said, “laptops, bags, tablets, and a couple of other things were taken.” She continued that “no one was in the house, so we were all safe.”

Neuroscience student Jill Merlini lives with Anna and she added: “Getting home and seeing my whole room trashed, the door ripped off the hinges, and knowing that four strangers had been in there was the worst thing about it.”

For Jill, the loss of material possessions was not as disturbing as the aftermath of such a chaotic home invasion.

Anna, Jill, and their housemates were targeted because burglars saw their house was empty. Over Christmas, there will be many empty homes in Fallowfield. Some estate agents in the area offered their advice and guidance on safety and burglary prevention.

Jupiter Properties Manchester advises that “if anything is broken, students should tell their landlord to fix it before they leave.” They also said, “ don’t be advertising on social media that you will be away from your property. Modern criminals are very crafty.”

When asked if Christmas is a time when tenants are targeted they said: “Around Christmas time there is definitely a pattern where crime does increase. For their own peace of mind, students should make sure that they have their contents insured just in case something does happen in their absence.”

The staff at Jupiter Properties stress the importance of implementing basic safety measures. On www.police.uk it states that “homes with no security measures in place are five times more likely to be burgled than those with simple security measures.”

It may sound obvious but locking windows and back gates can make a big difference. If your property has an alarm system it is important to test it. Burglary victim Anna said, “the alarms didn’t go off because they didn’t work.” Echoing the statement made by Jupiter Properties, if something is broken get your landlord to fix it. It is their obligation.

Anthony Waring, the branch manager of Homes4U, said they hand out letters to their tenants to make them aware of the possible crime that can happen over the holidays.

In an interview with The Mancunion he said, “I think one of the reasons why crime might seem higher in this area is because there is such a high volume of young people. They are not necessarily as thoughtful as older people in terms of leaving doors and windows open.”

He concluded, “we advise students not to leave anything on show and to close their curtains.”

In the run up to christmas Greater Manchester Police have been doing some gift giving. Personal alarms and 24 hour timer sockets have been offered to students on their doorsteps. This is an effort to help with student safety and the prevention of burglaries.

According to Greater Manchester Police, 24 hour segment timers are an essential asset to have when leaving your home vacant. The timers work by intermittently turning lights on and off when it gets dark. They are “well proven, low cost security devices” say Greater Manchester Police.

Making your home look occupied seems to be the best method of warding off potential criminals. The gmp.police.uk website features 60 second security videos that offer more advice and easy to follow steps to keep your home safe.

The Mancunion meets Mark Hill

After stepping into the business at just 15 years old, Mark Hill is now twice-British Hairdresser of the Year and the only UK hairdresser to have ever won International Hairdresser of the Year for two consecutive years.

Despite being one of the biggest names in the industry and hair stylist to the stars, Mark has never been drawn in by the allure of the big smoke, but rather stayed true to his roots and his business is still based in Yorkshire to this day. His story proves that, with dedication and passion, you can achieve your dreams wherever you are.

Using his stellar celebrity stylist reputation as a springboard, Mark went on to create his own line of hair cosmetics, which you have probably seen on the shelves at Boots. His range includes heated Velcro rollers and curling tongs – for which you can purchase a range of different barrels to change up your style – amazing hair treatments and the must-have Wonderball brush.

The brand prides itself on providing every product you need to replicate Mark’s achievable and wearable everyday look, whilst still being sexy and glamorous. Mark believes that all women should be able to create fabulous, full hair, even at home.

Mark talks business and reveals his top tips for maintaining healthy hair and for achieving that salon styled look every day.

Photo: Mark Hill

You’ve been a major figure in the industry for years now, how did you initially get into hairdressing?

I’d never thought about a career in hairdressing but when I was 15 I went out with an older girl who worked in a local salon. They were looking for help on a Saturday so I went in and never looked back!

What inspires you?

So many things! Everything from fashion, celeb culture, art, architecture and nature! Inspiration hits when you least expect it so I always carry around a notebook for sketches or scribbles.  I also take hundreds of photos with my phone so I always have something to look back on.

What are your top hair tips?

Keep your hair in great condition and get a great cut!  If your hair is in bad condition, no matter what you do it will look dry, dull and lifeless. Always condition every time you shampoo and treat your hair to an intensive treatment on a regular basis.

When it comes to cutting, everyone remembers a great style just as much as a bad one. Make sure you take pictures to show your hairdresser and show them what you like and what you don’t like. By talking about how you manage your hair at home, looking at hair texture and thickness, your stylist should advise you on the best style for you. Once you’ve got a great cut, styling is easy!

You have so many amazing products but which are your favourite and why?

There are a couple you’ll always find in my kit bag. The first is Styling Heat Protection Spray. Not only does it protect from heated appliances up to 235°C, it also adds a great hold to make your style last longer. The second is 10-1 Wonderspray – it does so much! Pump action, you can add volume as you blow dry, add texture to shorter hair, over rollers when time is short, use as a spray to finish your style, the possibilities are endless! With just these 2 products, I can do more or less any style on any length of hair.

For the girl in a hurry, what are your quick fix hair tips to take you from drab to fab?

Every girl needs rollers! Heated or Velcro, just pop them into your crown area and spray with 10-1 Wonderspray for instant Va va Voom! Also, why not try flipping your parting from one side to another – just a simple change can dramatically change your style.

Who is your ultimate hair and beauty icon?

I don’t think I could pick just one. I love to see women who aren’t afraid to take a few risks or change their look. I think that every generation has their role models, from Bridget Bardot and Madonna to Katy Perry and Kendall Jenner.

What are your hair essentials?

Because I travel all round the world styling, I have to make sure my kit bag everything I could ever possibly need! If I had to cut this down to pure essentials, then it would be comb and scissors, a couple of radial brushes, hairdryer, straightener, tong/wand, and a few products.  If I had to tell someone what they should never forget at home I would probably say sectioning clips – if you style using clean neat sections, your style will last much longer.

You’ve had so much success but what would you say is the proudest moment of your career?

Probably winning the title of British Hairdresser of the Year for the first time. All of my family, friends and colleagues were with me so to share it with them was very special.

Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs? What does it take to become the next Mark Hill?

Believe in what you do and never stop learning and improving. I am still passionate about what I do and I’m never too proud to ask about new techniques. I think if you stop learning you stagnate and the passion disappears.

Finally, what’s next for your brand?

The brand is still growing and I am so proud of everything we have achieved.  We have some very exciting plans for even more growth next year which will involve a lot more travel for me and my team.  We’ve also been talking about some amazing collaborations which I’m really looking forward to.  Watch out on the Mark Hill web site for more info!

Mark Hill products are now available to purchase online at misspap.co.uk and markhill.co.uk. A Mark Hill delivery straight to your door! What more could you want?

If you’re in desperate need of hairspiration, then the team at Mark Hill have got you covered. Head over to the website where you can find hair tutorials to suit all of your hair desires.

Manchester Labour Students take a stand against ‘abusive’ councillor

The University of Manchester’s society Manchester Labour Students (MLS) have cancelled an upcoming event due to the abusive history of a speaker.

Labour Councillor Richard Leese CBE was invited by MLS to discuss his role in the council and the work Labour do in local government.  Councillor Leese has been involved with local government for the Labour party for over 33 years. In 2006 he received a Knighthood for his long-standing work towards the growth and regeneration of the city of Manchester.

Four years later, in April 2010, Leese was detained overnight by Greater Manchester Police. The detention was a result of an incident with Leese’s step-daughter. At the time his step-daughter was 16 years old. She reportedly made a complaint to the police that resulted in the Councillor’s detention.

Greater Manchester Police attended the property and spoke to “a girl who had sustained a minor injury to her ear.”After 17 hours in police custody, Councillor Leese was released after admitting guilt to his crime and receiving a police caution. No further police action was taken.

At the time, Richard Leese was a councillor for the Labour party. In response to the incident, he wrote to the chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein, and asked for a “period of time out of his duties as leader of the council to resolve family issues.”

The council respected this request. The Labour party released a statement saying ‘This is a private matter which the family now consider closed.”

In May of this year, Leese was appointed to the newly created role of Deputy Mayor for Business and Economy by Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham. Mayor Burnham endorsed Councillor Leese and his newly appointed colleague Beverly Hughes, stating, “Sir Richard Leese and Beverley Hughes bring a wealth of experience, expertise and passion to their respective roles. I look forward to working with them to make Greater Manchester the best place to live, work, grow up and get on in life.”

The Labour party as a whole might consider the incident to be firmly in the past, however Manchester Labour Students disagree. When a member of MLS brought the 2010 incident to attention of the society, the committee “unanimously decided … it wouldn’t be appropriate to host a speaker whose actions have been in direct conflict with our party’s values.”

MLS subsequently released a public statement stating: “To platform someone who has previously abused women and children would go against not only our personal moral beliefs but the beliefs of our party as a whole.”

Mayor Burnham and Councillor Leese were both contacted for comment by The Mancunion but did not respond.

‘NUS failed us’ at National Education Demo

The NUS has “failed” students, says the University of Manchester’s Campaigns and Citizenship Officer.

Deej-Malik Johnson, who spoke at the National Education Demo, later told The Mancunion of his disappointment that the NUS did not back the Free Education Demo in London, in which thousands of students took part on the 15th of November.

It is one of the NUS’s key policies to campaign for free education.

Organised by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC), the protest demanded the abolition of fees and the provision of living grants for all.

The NUS National Executive Council (NEC)  Parents and Carers Rep added that “it’s important for people to remember… when it came to fighting for students’ right, who was there and who wasn’t there.”

Shakira Martin, now NUS President and then NUS Vice-President Further Education, spoke at the 2016 National Free Education Demo, which was supported by the NUS.

A motion to support the 2017 demo wasn’t discussed by the NUS at the NUS National Executive Council meeting on the 28th of September 2017.

Deej said that “it’s NUS policy to support the fight for free education, it’s one of our core demands for a free and liberated education” and that supporting the demo “would mean helping to publicise it, it would give a little bit of legitimacy to it.”

Speaking to The Mancunion about why he believed the withdrawal of support was significant, Deej-Malik Johnson said: “Manchester is always going to send a coach down to the National Education Demo because we’re the largest Union in the country, we’ve got the ability to do that. Whilst a lot of other unions who are maybe a little bit smaller or who don’t necessarily have that political culture, they often wait to see what the NUS does.

“The motion went through and I saw that it had been submitted to say that we will support the education demo and honestly I thought that would just be a formality. It would be ‘yes, of course, we would support the education demo because it’s our policy to support free education’.

“The president made it clear that this motion was not to be discussed and basically, that’s all we know.”

“I know the Vice-President of Union development wanted it to go ahead, I know that all the NUS liberation officers wanted it to go ahead — they were they at the march —, I know that the student movement as a whole wanted it to go ahead because we don’t like paying fees.

“For some reason, the leadership of the NUS did not feel the right for free education was important or a priority”, adding that “there are certain people within the NUS who are ideologically opposed to free and liberated education.”

In a blog post explaining the decision, NUS President Shakira Martin said: “I have acted in the way which best represents the will of our National Conference, the students I have met across the country and the majority of our membership.

“At the most recent National Conference, our membership voted not to discuss a motion for a free education demo. Then they voted not to bring this motion to NEC.

“To me this is very clear: after a big national demonstration last year, our membership don’t think another one should be a priority. They don’t want NEC to make that decision either. That is the will of students’ unions which we need to respect.

A 2016 University of Manchester NUS delegate, who wished to remain nameless, defended Shakira Martin and told The Mancunion: “NCAFC have a horrible reputation, they are a bunch of commies and have upset the NUS President personally on multiple occasions.

“And Shakira (the NUS President) is right. It’s been voted against at conference and try to get around the vote is typical of NCAFC.”

Commenting again on the lack of discussion at the NUS NEC meeting, Deej-Malik Johnson suggested that “somebody has made a decision and somebody has had a word with somebody and said that we can’t support this”, adding that he thought it was a “factional decision being made by a certain wing of the student movement which goes against the blatantly declared wishes of students.”

The National Union of Students’ Executive Council meeting on the 28th of September was the first NEC meeting that Deej had attended and he said that the process “felt massively undemocratic”

Deej said: “we all got elected on a mandate and one of the biggest things that we can go do, the most important thing you do as an elected official is to follow the policy of your organisation and to represent your membership and the NUS failed us that day.”

Students welcome first investigation of staff sexual misconduct at universities

The National Union of Students (NUS) women’s campaign launched the UK’s first ever survey of staff sexual misconduct in higher education.

In partnership with lobby organisation, The 1752 Group, students will be given the chance to express whether they have witnessed, or experienced personally, any form of sexual misconduct from higher education staff. The survey will also aim to gauge a sense of students’ experience of reporting incidents to their higher education institution.

This follows after it was revealed that one third of UK universities did not even have a policy on the conduct of staff-student relationships.

One second year History and Politics student, Samira Issa, welcomed the news, commenting that a lack of policy regarding the issue means that “universities aren’t doing their job to care for students, especially as it will lead to individuals not feeling like they can go to the university in the case that they experienced or witnessed any sexual misconduct.”

Second year Geography student, Ellie Pope, echoed these claims, stating that it was “disappointing” that many universities have not tackled the issue. She added that: “More needs to be done to tackle both the lack of transparency in terms of what is acceptable, and what resources are available to victims. Not being clear on this creates an unacceptable power imbalance, with students at the bottom.”

Another student, who preferred not to be named, said that “more guidance was needed, especially on the conduct of staff on social media dating sites like Grindr. As of present, I feel like it is breaking their ethical code to be interacting with students on it.”

Hareem Ghani, NUS women’s officer, commented on the survey: “As it currently stands, many institutions are ill-equipped to deal with instances of student-staff harassment or indeed, harassment in general.

“A lack of research in the area, combined with a lack of understanding, has meant that many universities do not have basic guidelines on this issue. There is still a long way for us to go but I am proud that the women’s campaign and The 1752 Group are taking a lead on this pertinent issue.

“For too long, these problems have been at best sidelined and at worst silenced by institutions. We need to talk about the open secrets that plague academia, to challenge cultures of entitlement, and stop abuses of power wherever they happen.”

Highlighting that evidence from the US shows that one in six female postgraduate students experience sexual harassment from university staff, co-founder of The 1752 Group, Dr. Anna Bull, said:  “We have worked on numerous cases in institutions across the UK that show students being failed by their institutions when they try to report sexual misconduct.

“Universities do not currently have adequate procedures in place to protect students and deal with perpetrators, and students find themselves powerless to do anything about staff who abuse their position.

“At a time when the world is waking up to the ways in which sexual harassment and abuse are endemic across many institutions, it is time for the higher education sector to take this issue seriously. We hope that this research will lead the way towards these much-needed changes.”

NUS invite all individuals who have experienced cases of staff-sexual harassment, both present and ex-students, to fill out the survey.

Review: Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

Gloria Grahame, star of the screen and icon of 1950s Film noir, is no longer the femme fatale in this endearing love story about her final years and her relationship with a young actor from Liverpool.

Gloria is portrayed by Annette Benning, who shines. The sensual and sensitive actress, who although hasn’t quite stepped away from the dramatic performances of her heyday, shows a delicate and frail side here. Peter Turner, played with a heartfelt subtlety by the lovely Jamie Bell, is the young aspiring actor who falls for Grahame.

Director Paul McGuilian measures a balance between the serious, the comedic, and the emotional, all the while working well from Matt Greenhalgh’s adaptation of Peter Turner’s memoir about Grahame’s final years suffering from breast cancer.

The film opens backstage: the Hollywood icon is getting ready in a dressing room, decorating herself in her Kitsch makeup set, a glossy filter tints our fuzzy vision, as we get glimpses of Benning’s Grahame before she seemingly splutters and collapses on her dressing room floor.

It is the 1970s. Peter is in Liverpool and receives a phone call telling him that a certain Miss Grahame has become very ill. It is clear that these two have a relationship which had become strained at this point, but Gloria’s apparently sudden turn brings them back together as she expresses her wish for Peter and his family to care for her until she is better.

Frequent flashbacks give a picture of the past. Peter and Gloria live and meet in an apartment block, and while Gloria’s invitation to Peter to come to her flat in the middle of day to fix him a drink and dance some disco is clearly an act of seduction, there is a heartfelt innocence to the scene. One cannot help but feel it was a wonderful excuse to let Bell tap into his Billy Elliot as the pair sweat out some funky moves.

For Billy Elliot fans it will be a delight to see Julie Walters and Jamie Bell back on screen together as Mother and Son. Walters and Kenneth Cranham play Peter’s parents, and reliably set up the cosy family household in Liverpool in which Gloria insists on spending her time recovering.

The mundane English household is something of a contrast to the ferocious black and white image of Gloria on the silver screen. But it is as though this Hollywood goddess and force of nature, has penetrated this everyday Liverpudlian lifestyle almost naturally — the star of the screen might seem a million miles away, but the mystery of Graham remains intact even when she is at her frailest in the film.

At times, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool feels like a quiet homage to not only the classic Hollywood era, but some staple popular films since then, such as Spielberg’s Alien, which Gloria and Peter watch with passionate innocence. But the film also recognises the changing nature of the big screen, and the sometimes unstable relationships that exist within Hollywood. It speaks to a love of film and innocence to the dazzle of the screen.

Film Stars Don’t Die has an ambitious structure, ultimately following Gloria and Peter in their current state, and telling the story of their relationship. These different periods of time are alternated throughout the film. The time frames often shift through the use of one fluid camera move without cutting, blurring our sense of time so that each scene this happens it seems continuous.

Rather than muddle our sense of time, this works well to give the film its sense of stage, emotion, and personal narrative. These temporal shifts, given from Peter’s perspective ultimately work well and emphasise his genuine loving feelings for the sassy screen queen — which is at the rather believable heart of the film.

The stubbornness and drama of a leading lady is within Gloria till the end. Her refusal to get treatment, see a doctor, or tell her family, including her son who is about Peter’s age, is met by Peters frustration in having his Hollywood ex-girlfriend to stay at his family home.

But love prevails, and Gloria’s dream to someday play Shakespeare’s Juliet on stage, is granted by Peter. In a sad and sweet scene, he arranges for the pair to read out the play at his local theatre. This is a sweet film and will challenge any assumptions and taboos you may feel about an older woman having a romantic relationship with a younger dashing man.

What could have been a cringe-worthy on screen romance between a young man and a glamorous older women, which may have provoked some rather awkward laughter, is actually a tender love story defying age stigmas and cultural borders. An entertaining retelling, with some shining performances.