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Month: February 2013

Food for Dydd Dewi Sant

Written by Emily Clark on . Posted in Food & Drink.

The glorious land of Wales: where we have branded leek and lamb, cockles and cawl, rarebit and bara brith the gems of our nation and our gift to the world. A land of baked cheese, creamy leeks and lamb stew is one that I am proud to call home. Here are a few of my favourite Welsh recipes: bara brith, lamb cawl, welsh cakes and rarebit. Tidy.

Bara brith by Mary Hamilton from The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best

Ingredients

450g/1lb dried mixed fruit

250g/9oz brown sugar

300ml/½ pint warm black tea

2 tsp mixed spice

450g/1lb self-raising flour

1 free-range egg, beaten

Method

In a large bowl soak the fruit and sugar in strained tea and leave overnight. Next day preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3. Line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment. Mix the remaining ingredients into the fruit mixture and beat well. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake the oven and bake for 1½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

 

Lamb cawl adapted from cookie2112 on BBC Good Food

Serves 6

Ingredients

900g lamb meat

3-4 chopped carrots

2 sliced onions

1 peeled and chopped swede

3 leeks chopped into chunks (keeping the greener end as this adds colour and flavour)

Small bundle of thyme

1 bay leaf

900g potatoes cut into big chunks

1 tbsp chopped parsley

10 black peppercorns

You can also use any fresh root vegetables that are in season.

Method

Trim the meat of fat, cut into big chunks put in a deep pan with plenty of water, bring to the boil slowly and skim (throughout the cooking process you need to ensure there is enough liquid to cover the ingredients). Add the carrot, onions and swede. Bring back to the boil, add half tsp salt and the peppercorns, then the thyme and bay leaf bundled with string, and simmer gently for 2 hours. Add the potatoes and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Add the leeks and simmer for a further 5-10 minutes. Serve with garnish of parsley, warm, crusty, wholesome bread and Caerphilly cheese. The cawl will be fine to eat for 24hrs but is best eaten within 18hrs. If eating the next day you might need to add some water with lamb stock added to thin.

 

Welsh cakes from Delia Online

Ingredients

8oz/225g self-raising flour

4oz/110g butter or margarine

3oz/75g mixed fruit or sultanas

3oz/75g caster sugar

1 small egg

1/2 tsp mixed spice

Method

To cook these you really need the traditional heavy, flat, iron pan (sometimes called a griddle or girdle). However, a good solid heavy frying pan, with a flat base, will do.

First, sift the dry ingredients together, then rub in the butter or margarine as you would if you were making pastry. Then, when the mixture becomes crumbly, add the fruit and mix it in thoroughly. Then beat the egg lightly and add it to the mixture. Mix to a dough and, if the mixture seems a little too dry, add just a spot of milk. Now transfer the dough on to a lightly floured working surface and roll it out to about ¼ inch (5 mm) thick.

Then, using a 2½-inch (6.5 cm) plain cutter, cut the dough into rounds, re-rolling the trimmings until all the dough is used. Next, lightly grease the thick heavy pan, using a piece of kitchen paper smeared with lard. Now heat the pan over a medium heat and cook the Welsh cakes for about 3 minutes each side. If they look as if they’re browning too quickly, turn the heat down a bit because it’s important to cook them through – but they should be fairly brown and crisp on the outside. Serve them warm, with lots of butter and home-made jam or perhaps some Welsh honey.

 

Rarebit recipe by The Cheese Society on BBC Good Food 

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

125ml milk

1 tbsp flour

400g grated farmhouse cheddar , or 2 x 200g quantities of cheddar and parmesan

175g fresh white breadcrumbs

1 heaped tsp English mustard powder

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (go for Lea & Perrin’s)

120ml ale, cider or Guinness (the last will give a stronger flavour)

1 egg, plus 1 yolk

6-8 slices, toasted crusty bread

Method

Heat the milk in a pan, whisk in the flour and bring to the boil. Allow to bubble until slightly thickened. Reduce the heat to low and add the grated cheese. Stir briefly until melted, then add the breadcrumbs, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce and your choice of alcohol. Cook, stirring, until the mixture starts to leave the side of the saucepan. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly

Put the mixture in a food processor and, with the motor running, add the eggs. Keep it running for about a minute, then season with ground black pepper. Spread onto the toast and grill until browned and golden.

Top tips: the Northern Quarter

Written by Ben Walker on . Posted in Food & Drink, Freshers' Guide.

It seems that every other week some place new opens in the Northern Quarter, not just ensuring this inner city Manchester district continues to keep ahead of its Northern counterparts, but also creeping towards parity with some of the hip areas of London.

First up, stimulate the senses at North Tea Power with the finest coffee in Manchester – though saying that, it’s the finest coffee I’ve ever had. Their espresso fulfils all the criteria for near perfect coffee: body, aroma and flavour. The delicate crema, sharp acidy of high-altitude Arabica beans, a full, almost syrupy body and heady fine and fruity aroma combine to make this the ideal place to start this tour.

Perked up, head down Tib Street to the stylishly vintage Sugar Junction. Here, you will be nearly overwhelmed by the doily decoration and tables resplendent with beautiful china tea sets. This is the place for elevenses. A pot of tea and a slice of cake is just simple, traditional and absolutely spot on. Having taken the title off Teacup as the central Manchester’s premier tea and cake joint, Sugar Junction is a must-visit venue.

The morning by now will be old and the sun is nearly past the yard arm. We shall have a nose in the newest addition to the NQ, Beermoth, an outlet of the most exclusive and different beer. What is most impressive is that the collection here is completely different to those of Carringtons or Microbar and thus is a great addition to the Manchester area.

Port Street Beer House dominates the beer scene of the North of England. I know Leeds fans will champion North Bar, but I feel PSBH shades it. A lot of bars in Manchester have a bottle selection out of this world, but it is the on-tap beer here that is truly outstanding. It is kept beautifully and is simply delicious. Of the dozen-plus taps there have been in recent months such choices as Seville orange beer, an Odell and Thornbridge collaboration, chocolate milk stouts, Magic Rock – basically something from here, there and everywhere. I cannot praise this place enough.

Having built up a sufficiently ravenous appetite, head to Soup Kitchen. This is inexpensive, wholesomely satisfying food. I always opt for that most classic of combinations, soup and sandwich; last time I had cheddar, onion and ale soup with a cheese and chutney sandwich. A splendid lunch to sate one’s hunger but the homemade pies and traybakes are worth a try too.

By now, fed and watered, maybe just a half of bitter or a comforting latte? The serene atmosphere of 57 Thomas Street should do the trick here. This is a beer house for the Manchester Marble Brewery, offering cask and bottle versions of their tipples (their storage makes the same beer differ tremendously). They also have a superb pub snack system, where you choose a selection of charcuterie and cheese to nibble at instead of the old dry roast. You can lounge over a beer and a game of chess or dominos to wile away the late afternoon, which is simply lovely.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of places to go in the NQ, but I have endeavoured to assemble an itinerary that will allow you to sample the best in sweet and savoury food, tea, coffee and beer – all of which can be done without breaking the bank.  Take the jump from Fallowfield and the university and reach out and embrace the NQ. You will be repaid with delectable rewards.

Top 5: Drag in Film

Written by Susie Coen on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 1975
Nobody does cross-dressing like Tim Curry as Frank N Furter, the ‘sweet transvestite from transsexual, Transylvania’. He brings us the most egotistical, narcissistic drag queen and seduces not only Brad and Janet, but also the audience.

listal.com

2. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, 1994.
Bringing some colour to the desert, these drag queens (and a transsexual woman) combine feathers, sequins and boas along with platforms, fluorescent bellbottoms and wigs that resemble Marge Simpson’s hair to create some of the most fabulously tacky costumes.

Wikimedia Commons

3. Some Like it Hot, 1959.
Cross-dressing for a slightly different purpose, Toni Curtis and Jack Lemmon give us the effortlessly frumpy Josephine and Daphne. With their matching cloche hats, strings of pearls and high neck pastel dresses, this comedy duo gave birth to cross-dressing in film.

ifc.com

4. Kinky Boots, 2005.
The gorgeous Chiwetel Ejiofor becomes the impeccably dressed Lola: with sleek dark hair by day and platinum blonde hair by night. Humorous and oozing sexiness, Lola shows us how to be seductive by transforming the old-fashioned shoe factory into a producer of knee-high red PVC boots for transvestites.

tumblr.com

5. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, 1995.
Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze in drag, and they’re hot! With white feather hats and crisp dresses for Swayze compared to more a vibrant and street style of dresses with matching snap-backs for Snipes, these two create a variety pack of drag that undeniably delivers.

The Albert Square Chop House

Written by Jessica Hardiman on . Posted in Food & Drink.

The Albert Square Chop House is the newest addition to the Victorian Chop House Company, which already boasts two restaurants in Manchester and another in Leeds. From word of mouth, it is clear to see that the existing Sam’s Chop Houses and Tom’s Chop House are fairly well-received amongst those in the know.

Needless to say, I was very excited to be visiting the youngest member of the family. It claims to provide ‘classic British cooking with a modern twist’ – as a bit of a non-term, I was eager to explore and perhaps challenge this idea. Surely the nature of a chop house builds its own concept?

It is housed in the Memorial Hall, a beautiful Victorian building that exudes regal splendour before you’ve even entered the establishment. Its interior then hugs you with dark wood, which not only bolsters the aura of tradition and hearty Victorian-era fare, but it is also somehow in no way oppressive or smothering.

Sitting in the booths of the restaurant, you can see up to the bar above. Its upstairs floor doesn’t quite reach the large windows of the building’s fascia and thus creates some sort of semi-mezzanine to the restaurant. This, I loved, as you could hear the comforting, distant hum of conversation upstairs. However, some of the music drifting down from the bar left a bit to be desired, alternating bizarrely between the likes of Stevie Wonder, The Script and Rihanna.

For starters, we ordered the scallops with pork belly and watercress purée, and the steak tartare. The scallops were perfectly cooked, their softness dutifully allowing my knife to slide through them effortlessly. The pork belly sat alongside in neat little cubes, the crackling of which was crisp but thin so that it could be eaten without jarring your teeth together, but had enough delicate crunch to satisfy. The steak tartare also sung such succulence, with a beautiful pickled tang flecked throughout and a generous portion size. My fellow diner had never eaten raw steak before, and I felt happy that this was her first experience.

Our mains were the lemon sole with orange and chicory salad and the roast loin of venison. The lemon sole was delicious, and the simplicity of the dish let the flavour of the fish speak for itself. The salad that came alongside the lemon sole did not overpower, instead adding a delicious citrus layer and a pleasant crunch. The loin of venison was served with a humble mound of mashed potato, spiced red cabbage and a venison faggot. Once again, the meat’s flavours were central to the dish, and the life that had been taken for the purpose of our bellies was to some degree honoured.

This is perhaps the charm of places like this: allowing the tastes of the meat or fish to shine through, without trying to mask them with trivial and elaborate accompaniments. We live in quite a carb-centric country – it may not reach the levels of Italy, but there is still some sort of odd fixation that isn’t always necessary. That said, vegetarian dishes also don’t appear to be a mere afterthought; the Homity pie sat high amongst my potential choices, as did the curd and beetroot salad starter.

The raspberry soufflé for dessert did not disappoint, rounding the meal off deliciously. We also ordered the whimsically named ‘chocolate soup’, due in part to our cynicism for it. Oddly enough, the supposed ‘soup’ had been baked, so that the consistency was not fluid like one would presume, but had the very slightest wobble to resemble more of a mousse. It came with rubbles of golden honeycomb and a scoop of milk sorbet. As to be expected, it was on the whole quite tasty, but it was by no means imaginative. It was nothing like the theatrical image we had been thinking of, with a lack of Wonka-styled novelty that might warrant its presence on the menu. Perhaps opt for the more traditional desserts that are on offer, with a buttermilk posset and ginger parkin just a sample of what I expect to bear more substance.

Overall, I really enjoyed the food, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. Having napkins snapped for you feels a bit unnecessary in such a place – as though some of the wrong elements of fine dining have been embraced – but generally, service was excellent.

However, the one thing that struck me most was just how quiet the establishment was. The bar upstairs was fairly busy when we first arrived, but after ascending from the restaurant below with a satisfied post-dinner plumpness, we were met with an eerie silence. The buzz of its older brothers, Sam and Tom, doesn’t appear to have spread to the baby of the bunch.

After dinner, I decided to trawl the depths of the internet to suss out The Albert Square Chop House’s online presence. I found a neglected Facebook page and limited material on the internet. The company website for the Chop Houses also appeared to be guilty of favouritism amongst its offspring, proudly displaying Sam’s Chop House – both its Manchester and Leeds locations – and Tom’s Chop House, but failing to remind us that there was another.

The Albert Square Chop House deserves a lot more by means of advertisement, as both building and food proved to be pretty much what I’d want from a restaurant. It has the finesse of more refined dining, but the approachability and comfort of somewhere much more relaxed. Portions are generous but not oversized, instead relying on the rich flavours of hearty meat and vegetables. For me, this is a great combination, and I just hope that others choose to seek it out for themselves – because it doesn’t appear to be enjoying much self-promotion.

Big Name On Campus: Nick Pringle, Gen Sec

Written by Oliver Taylor on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Tell us a bit about yourself? I’m the Gen Sec of the students union. This time last year I ran a high profile election campaign which is probably where my BNOC status come s from.

Do you think being Gen Sec makes you a BNOC? I don’t think being Gen Sec makes you a BNOC in itself.

Do you get recognised? I certainly get recognised when I say my name. Recently I went on a tour of the Stopford building where I was taken to a biology class. I went up to this table of students and I was like”oh hi, sorry to bother you”. This girl turned round and went “oh my god, oh my god, oh my god your Nick Pringle, oh my god I voted for you, oh my god my housemate fancies you so much, oh my god” and I was like “well this is a bit weird”.

Is your name useful when getting your name out during elections? I think so. Being able to have a pun associated with my name is really helpful.

Have you ever had any bad nicknames? I’ve had names like ‘cheese and chive’ and’ salt and vinegar’, but at university I’ve used my name to my advantage.

Have you ever been recognised on a night out? I don’t really remember many of my nights out! I know I’ve had people flirt with me on nights out.

Based on being General Secretary? Definitely, I’ve had “ooooohhh Mr Secretary” which is just the opposite of what would ever endear me to somebody.

Has anyone ever bought you a drink because of that? No I don’t think so. But if anyone is reading this and wants to buy me a drink that would be fine! It’s a gin and tonic.

Have you had mixed responses to your lecture shout-out? I quite enjoy giving lecture shout outs, but people do get sick of them.

Any bad moments when giving a lecture shout-out? I did a lecture shout out in my main opponent’s lecture without realising. About 30 seconds in someone started booing and people started chanting his name. I thought “oh my god this is a disaster.”

I’ve been told by many that you’re regarded as the ‘hunky one’ in the exec team. How would you respond to this? People asked during my election campaign if I was the well dressed one. So I guess if you want to remember me as the well dressed one from the election campaign, that’s fine.

Not the hunky one? If I had time to go to the gym…. I’ve never been described as hunky before.

Would you say that anyone was more of a BNOC than you? Probably, I know a lot about SU stuff so I know our women’s officer is quite a BNITSU [Big Name in the Students Union].

Would you say a big name in liberation? Tabz is absolutely a BNIL.

Would you say that Paz from kebab king is more or less of a BNOC than you? I don’t know who Paz from kebab king is, so therefore he’s not a bigger BNOC than me.

Would you say magic bus lady is a BNOC? She’s certainly well known.

Mancunion BNOC rating: 7/10 (Although this was much discussed in The Mancunion office with suggested ratings ranging from 4/10 to 10/10!) Many thanks to Nick Pringle and The Manchester Students’ Union.

Lights on or off?

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Body confidence has become an ever-increasing issue for both women and men when it comes to sex. An astounding number of us are apparently too self-conscious to let even a partner see us naked. Should a desire to keep the lights off during sex be seen as a display of body confidence issues? Beth and Lauren share their views.

I choose lights on, says Beth Currall:

We live in a society where the airbrushed curves of Kim Kardashian and the spray-on abs of Zac Efron are seen as normal, attainable physiques. It is no wonder why so many people have serious confidence issues when it comes to their own bodies. However, if we cannot allow a partner to love our bodies and boost our egos, who else can?

I don’t have a perfect body: every day, I look in the mirror and see something that I would love to change. However, I also see things that I like about my body. Too many people envisage their sexual partners as some sort of body detective, scrutinising every bump and imperfection with disappointed eyes. Just take a second to think of the last time you really noticed a problem with a partner’s body – was it so unattractive that you couldn’t bear to continue touching them? The answer, I’m pretty sure, is no.

The sexiest asset anyone can have is confidence. If you are constantly worrying about whether your thighs look big or your stomach is sticking out, you’re not concentrating on the desires of yourself or your partner. I’m sure, if you let them actually see your body, your partner will find so many assets to compliment. We’re only this young once and in a few decades, our worries about having a thigh-gap or a V-line will have given way to desperate attempts to conceal wrinkles and greying hair. Flaunt this youthfulness while you can, and remember this: if you’re naked and smiling, your partner usually considers themselves as pretty lucky anyway.

I choose lights off, says Lauren Arthur:

The thought of someone else noticing, or worse, thinking critically, of the imperfections that I am fully aware of, petrifies me. Very rarely does anyone see me without make-up on and it is even rarer to see me without clothes. Anyone unfortunate enough to fall into the latter group will do so in the dark.

Unfortunately, unlike my face, I can’t cover up my body so skilfully. I cling onto the winter months, during which I can be wrapped in layers of oversized men’s knitwear: cosy, content and cleverly covering up any signs of my female figure. The dark is therefore my forgiving best friend when it comes to certain situations. The male species aren’t (that) stupid; it’s not physically possible to pretend that you have Rosie H-W’s figure when you’re on top of someone. However, lack of light gives me peace of mind, and with that comes confidence.

I suppose it comes down to the fact that many young people just do not feel completely comfortable in their own skins. A certain extent of maturity and independence is thrust upon you as soon as the key to your delightfully decorated breezeblock box room is handed over, yet reaching a comfortable confidence in yourself and your appearance may take longer.  For me, it has done, and for the time being, I will still be reaching for the switch.

Tenth cup dream is still alive for Madrid

Written by Alex Underwood on . Posted in Sport.

As the bitter final throes of winter give way to spring sunshine in Madrid, most “madrileños” (residents of Madrid) begin to dream of “La Decima” – “the Tenth”. It is a mystical, unfulfilled ache that consumes a city and its football club; it is the pursuit of a tenth European Cup trophy.

It was a theme that motivated the Spanish press before Manchester United came to town; Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas both mentioned it in interviews and Cristiano Ronaldo took pains to reference it in the British press too. But after Wednesday night the consensus was that Real had blown “La Decima”, that the dream was over.

They were unable to overcome a fearless Manchester United performance, epitomised by the English youngsters Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones, who both sparkled at the Santiago Bernabeu. Welbeck was rewarded with the opening goal while Jones was lauded for limiting the considerable powers of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 1-1 draw leaves Real with a difficult task at Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, it would be imprudent to call time on “La Decima” just yet. Real Madrid still have a few things to count on when they arrive in Manchester on March 5th.

Firstly, their recent record at Old Trafford is impressive. In 2000, inspired by Fernando Redondo and Raul, who scored twice, they turned United over 3-2 in Manchester before winning the trophy against Valencia. In 2003 Brazilian legend Ronaldo spearheaded a remarkable attacking display with a breath-taking hat-trick (for which he was given a standing ovation by the United faithful); although Real went on to lose 4-3 on the night, they comfortably won the tie. In both instances Real played the second leg away from home and on both occasions they produced outstanding performances.

Secondly, in Jose Mourinho they have a manager who knows how to win the Champions League and how to win at Old Trafford. Reports of fall-outs between Mourinho and his players and of unrest in the Real Madrid camp have all but destroyed Madrid’s season but if any manager can overcome these difficulties it is Jose Mourinho.

His record at Old Trafford is reasonable; 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. He famously took Porto to Champions League glory after Costinha’s late equalizer in 2004. He guided Chelsea to two wins in one season at Old Trafford, an achievement for any team, and has the better of Sir Alex Ferguson when factoring in all their results against each other.

Finally, they have Cristiano Ronaldo, who returns to Old Trafford for the first time. It would be typical of Ronaldo to rise to the occasion and win the tie for Real.

The Champions League, as much as anything, seems to be about momentum against adversity. Chelsea demonstrated this last year; they seemed to be dead and buried so often that by the time they reached the final they knew it was there for the taking. Winning against the odds makes a Champions League winner.

In the same way, if Real Madrid can get a result at Old Trafford, it could kick-start their season. Just like Chelsea before, they are struggling for form in the league, they are underachieving and their ultimate goal is to win the Champions League. It is therefore too early to rule out “La Decima” being the eventual result at Wembley in May.

Manchester student Alexander J. Allison talks about his first novel

Written by Phoebe Chambre on . Posted in Books.

Like you and I, Alex is a student. Except unlike me (and I’m guessing unlike you) he’s just published his first book. Alex wrote The Prodigal whilst doing his undergraduate degree, and published it with small pioneering American press, Civil Coping Mechanisms. He’s now doing an MA in Creative Writing here in Manchester. The Prodigal is a novel about, or at least set around, poker – its protagonist, Martin, ‘claims’ to be a professional poker player. Except no one (least of all Martin) is gambling anything real – the story is punctuated by Martin’s small gains and petty losses, and here, in the online poker room, is where the only real action takes place. The characters are too insulated by their own privilege and self-hatred to even spend time together, or time apart from their computer. And we’re left wondering whether anything will ever really happen.

I talked to Alex about Peep Show, saturation of technology, and the genius of Adam Levin.

First I want to say that it’s hugely impressive that you’ve already written a book. How old are you if you don’t mind my asking?
I’m 21. I wrote the book when I was 19.

Why did you write it?
I just had the time to, and I thought it was a story that was worth telling.

Is it an experience that is close to you? Was it just a story that just came to you?
Well, I’m a professional poker player. I’ve been making a living from doing that for about 2 and ½ years now. And I’d been writing poetry since the age of 17, with semi-success. Published in a couple of journals, a couple of literary magazines. I was one of those precocious kids who thought they were good enough to actually send stuff out. I definitely wouldn’t have sent this off if I’d had the self-doubt that I do have now. This was my first attempt at long-form fiction.

You’re a professional poker player? How many hours a day do you spend playing?
It depends. I play tournaments. So if you’re still in a tournament after 8 hours that’s a pretty good sign, you’re going to make some money. But if you bust out all of your tournaments in the first 45 minutes, then you give up for the day.

This is a stupid question but do you lose money if you lose?
Yes. But I don’t really think of it as gambling. You put in enough volume and things balance themselves out. You play like 6 at a time. It wouldn’t make any sense to play one 100$ tournament a day. You play ten $11 tournaments a day.

If you and your protagonist both poker characters, do you share any other traits?
This is a question I get asked a lot – ‘Is Martin you?’ I modeled him on my physical build. He probably looks like me, but he’s not who I am. Martin’s a completely horrible person.

I’m not rich at all. Martin has all of the luxuries that I’ve never had. My girlfriend says that I’ve got have big problems with people with privilege. And that is manifest in the book that I wrote – which kind of chastises this terrible person for living the life that I couldn’t.

That’s an interesting reading.
Well, I think a lot of people are very eager to read it as autobiographical. They want that element to be there but it’s not really. It’s usually a case of unimaginative people, unable to see the difference between an artist and that work. That sounds so pretentious.

So how do you feel about the book now that it’s come out?
I think it’s a good book. I’m pleased with it. I spent a year and a half editing the thing to try and make it into the book I wanted it to be. But I’m very wary of this branding process now, where I have to put myself out there and stick my face in people’s lives and say buy my fucking book. It’s not really an enjoyable process. But you bring any product to market you’ve got to stand behind it.

My issue now is whether the Americans will find it funny. Because I’m thinking of this as a comedy, and my litmus test for each line was can I hear this coming out of either Mark or Jez’s [from Peep Show] mouth?

That’s very British humour. Incredibly deadpan.
Well, it’s an American publisher. So he must have got it to some extent.

I wanted going to ask you about all the typographical stuff in the book. [The book contains a lot of typographical design] Did you ever read any Adam Levin – The Instructions?
I’ve read everything by Adam Levin. Hot Pink and The Instructions all of his short stories in McSweeney’s. He’s just a mind above the world.

All the typographical stuff in The Instructions is so intricate, you’re so drawn into it. Was Levin an influence on the typographical design in your work?
Well The Instructions came out after I wrote The Prodigal. So no. But definitely lots of us who are working in the same ways, and thinking about the same things, are trying things out with that. I think it’s something that I’m probably unlikely to return to. I’ve probably exhausted the potential that it can afford me. I’m glad you liked it.

The chapters where there’s most of it in is in parts where the character is experiencing the most emotional trauma. Martin’s first breakdown when he moves house and he’s all thrown up and in a horrible mindset. Or the next one where he’s quitting smoking. I think the typographical stuff is really mirroring the internal state of the character.

I felt that the structure did that as well. The rhythm of the book is somewhat unsettled.
No, I think of the structure more like a comedy sketch show. You’ve got the main plot and you might be flicking away from it – like a flashback. ‘Lost’ is really the inspiration for that structure. I think television shows have influenced this book more than other books have.

That’s interesting because technology is the lurking presence in the book – not even lurking actually, it’s the elephant in the room.
It is the book really. That’s how it should be. I find it infuriating that so much of what is written now is written outside of the internet – without reference to it. I think that’s improving. People are very afraid now to read anything that’s written now, that’s a period piece. Like where Martin’s iTunes crashes and the room goes silent, he becomes aware of the silence and it feels like a threat. I mean, that’s how we interact with technology.

That’s very true. I always listen to music when I’m on my laptop, and I sometimes feel like I create this weird bubble for myself that I don’t actually want to get out of. There’s just this feedback loop going on between technology and yourself. But there’s something ambivalent about the character’s relationship with technology in your book.
Are you referring to the ending?

Well, yes, because that’s the big climax – the real event in the story, and it takes place only within that feedback loop between the character and his online persona.
I’m not trying to make any kind of point, I’m not saying technology is good or bad. I’m saying this is part of our lives. Not just reflect that, but maybe provoke it, poke it in its ribs and make it stand up and fight for its place in our lives.
I love technology.

But it’s interesting because when Martin’s playing poker with real people it doesn’t do it for him anymore. His online experiences have changed his experiences in the real world.
That’s a good way to put it, let’s go with that.

The current publishing climate isn’t favourable to first time writers. Do you think it’s harder to publish a book so young?
It’s just infuriating, how closed off fiction publishing is for anybody who’s not writing anything marketable. This is not a marketable book. And people want to make money from what they do. And everyone’s doing these shitty dead-end jobs.

But there are plenty of great authors who’ve written books at 19 and brought them out. Bret [Easton Ellis] wrote Less than Zero at 19 and that was pretty fucking successful, and I think that’s a pretty good book. But he’s not writing fiction anymore so whatever.

He’s writing tweets.
Yeah, he’s a great tweeter. He’s very controversial.

What are you reading now?
For the course I’m reading The Master [by Colm Toibín], The Ask by Sam Lipsyte.
And I’ve got CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders open on my table.

When you’re writing, well, I feel like I always need all my sources in front of me. It’s like writing an essay. I use different things to get in the right emotional place.

So do you think that you really learn how to write a good book once you’ve published?
I feel that you probably learn what sells and what doesn’t sell. I’m a big believer in thinking than an author is only ever remembered by their best book. So it doesn’t really matter what you ever put out up until that point.

The Prodigal might be remembered as the best book that I ever put out, but I’d probably be surprised. I know it won’t be the only one.

The Prodigal (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2013)

Great British Brekkie for Winston’s Wish

Written by Emily Clark on . Posted in News.

A charity event, Great British Brekkie, is being held all around the UK this week, 18th-24th February, by anyone who wants to raise a bit of money by hosting a lovely breakfast for some friends. Winston’s Wish is a charity that supports bereaved children, and taking part in this event by hosting a breakfast is an easy way to help to raise much needed money.

Breakfasts can be anything you want – a full English, American pancakes with syrup and bacon, croissants, even just a nice bit of tea and toast! Fellow gobblers can donate online or by text message: visit www.winstonswish.org.uk/donatetoday or just text the word ‘BREK13’ followed by an amount (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 & £10) to 70070.

Get in touch with Winston’s Wish and let them know what you are planning! Find them on Facebook by searching Winston’s Wish Great British Brekkie, on Twitter with the name @winstonswish using #GreatBritishBrekkie or by emailing [email protected].

Follow this web link for more event info.

The Facebook PDA

Written by Molly Allen on . Posted in Lifestyle.

In 2013 we can communicate with each other through the Internet without really having to get out of bed. However, the problem with Facebook is that nothing seems to really be private. Potential employers can see our drunken photos from Bop, we know far too much about people we barely even know and various ‘hip’ family members know all about our current relationship statuses.

With the relationship statuses come the cyber-monsters who plaster their happiness all over our news feeds. We see their unnecessary statuses detailing what a wonderful day they had together. There are usually multiple nauseating photos of said couple kissing and doing ‘couply things.’ Now, I have no problem with people being in relationships. I want them to be happy, but I don’t want it shoved in my face via the Internet. It’s the sort of thing I would expect to see on (cast your minds back) Bebo.

This unnecessary form of online PDA suggests to me that the golden age of true romance is over. Would Romeo be writing “spending the night with my beautiful girl Juliet Capulet, not supposed to but #YOLO?” Would our grandparents behave in such a way? The idea of my grandmother writing such soppy platitudes is laughable.

So, to those of you who successfully maintain a relationship with minimal Facebook posts, I salute you. You are clearly not 13 at heart. To those who feel it necessary to display to the world a photo of you with your tongue down your significant other’s throat, I hope this article is enough to make you think twice next time.

Style Profile: A$AP Rocky

Written by Lauren Arthur on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Having blasted his way into the music limelight, hip-hop rapper A$AP Rocky is also causing quite a stir in the fashion world. The Harlem born MC appeared on the music video show 106 & Park in what appeared to be a long black and white dress. As always, the internet was almost instantly abuzz with reactions; some questioned Rocky’s sexuality whilst others praised his original outfit choice. The rapper has since stated that the garment wasn’t a dress and was in fact an ‘oversized shirt’. Regardless, it appears the hip-hop artist is not alone: Kanye West performed at the Hurricane Sandy relief concert wearing a Givenchy leather skirt and meggings. Speaking to MTV and to his fans, Rocky stated: ‘If fashion is your life and that’s what you like and that’s what you’re about, express yourself, wear what you want and nothing matters, nobody else opinions matter, be the person that starts the trend.’

Spotted in the front row of New York fashion week, featured in i-D magazine’s ‘Alphabetical’ issue and having collaborated with Alexander Wang, this twenty-four year old knows his high fashion. His refreshing attitude that combines the two industries of music and fashion has earned him a lot of respect as he pushes the boundaries of one of music’s most hyper-masculine genres. Whether this hint of androgyny was a one-off ensemble or the beginning of a revolutionary hip-hop movement, Rocky, with his gold teeth and plaited braids, is certainly making a name for himself.

Transgender models

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

Turning the pages of this month’s Vogue, one shoot in particular stood out. Staring at me from the Giorgio Armani ad was a broad shouldered, chisel-jawed and dark-haired model. I am not (unfortunately) talking about David Beckham in his underwear, but you wouldn’t be wrong in making the assumption I was talking about a male. However, the model in question was female. When compared to the picture on the opposite page, which features the same model looking ultra feminine in a blue satin dress, it becomes increasingly obvious that this Armani ad reflects a widely emerging trend in the fashion world; androgyny.

Yet the issue of androgyny within fashion is taken to a whole new level when considering the rise of the transgender model. The most prominent transgender figure in fashion circles is Lea T. Lea was born in 1981 as Leandro Cerezo in Brazil. After being discovered by Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci, she has since graced the covers of Vogue, Elle and Cover magazine, and even posed with Kate Moss for the cover of Love magazine. Lea stormed the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week this year, opening and closing the Philipp Plein show. After undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2011, she even modelled bikinis for swimsuit brand Blue Man at Brazil Fashion Week.

ibtimes.com

Lea is not the only model in the industry whose success and popularity is aided by her status as transgender. Take, for example, Andrej Pejic, he has walked the catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier as a bride.

Regardless of whether transgender models are considered suitably contemporary, or just simply controversial, there is no doubt that the fashion world is again testifying to its status as an art form by challenging the status quo of gender expectations.

How to: ’60s Eyes

Written by Halee Wells on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Step 1: Add a pale coloured base to your eyes, this can be anything from white, pale blue, pale pink or any pastel colours. Blend with your finger or a brush, pushing it up to the brow bone, in the inner corner of the eye and under the lower lash line.

 

picture: Halee Wells

 

Step 2: Draw a line in a rainbow shape into the crease of your eye using a black kohl eyeliner. Then blend using an eye shadow brush. This may look a bit silly at this point but sit tight, you’ll soon be giving Twiggy a run for her money.

 

picture: Halee Wells

Step 3: Go over the lash line with a black liquid liner, starting from the inner corner to the outer corner. Try not to take your flick too high as this is more of a rounded eye look than a feline shape. A great liquid liner to use for this is Maybelline Master Precise liquid eyeliner, which is great if you haven’t got the steadiest of hands.

 

picture: Halee Wells

Step 4: This is the crucial part for that ’60s look. Firstly, draw along the lower lash line with a white or pale kohl pencil. I use Benefit Eye Bright pencil, which is perfect for this look. Next, using the tip of your mascara wand, coat your bottom lashes. Make sure you are dragging the lashes downwards, making them as long as you can. Give them two or three coats so they really stand out.

 

Picture: Halee Wells

Step 5: Coat the top lashes in mascara, again dragging them upwards and not to the side. You won’t need too much though, as the focus is really on the bottom lashes here.

 

And that is it, you’re on trend ’60s eye for Spring 2013. Twiggy who?

Blind Date: Sam and Lisa

Written by Oliver Taylor on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Sam

How did your date go? It went pretty well. It wasn’t necessarily a blind date.

Why was that? She didn’t have a guide dog; she wasn’t using a special stick. Plus I knew her.

Did you see her in a new light when you met her in a dating context? You see the whole week we’d actually been talking about her as we thought she was one of these ‘Social Junkies’ but it turns out she’s just a regular old bar maiden.

But were your impressions of her changed in a dating context? The way I see things is I remembered her more than she remembered me.

What did she order? She had a feta-cheese salad.

What do you think her feta-cheese salad says about her personality? Well, you know, maybe she was afraid to look like a pig by getting a big steak.

Would you have looked twice at her on a night out? I’d know her so I’d be like, hi!

No awkward moments? No, the conversation flew along pretty fast.

Did you learn anything interesting on your date? We just really spoke about the front page of The Mancunion.

What was her best feature?

Err, this is a question! She was pretty nice, the conversation had no awkward silences and I think that takes a talent. She was a really good conversationalist.

If your date was a country, what country would she be?

This is a tough one, and there are a lot of countries in the world and I wouldn’t want to offend any of them (joking). (After a long pause) I just don’t know what to think.

Why do you think she was single I don’t know, maybe like her namesake in the film ‘The Room’ she just wants to live, live, live!

Snog, marry, avoid? Avoid seems a bit harsh. If you marry someone wouldn’t you have to go the whole way anyway?

Was this better or worst than your first blind date (Sam did blind date last year as well)? It was better in every single way. Firstly, the last one was a bit suspect because she would send texts asking me to give her a high score, then bam; she hits me with the 5. Lisa was more trustworthy and definitely a better experience overall.

Finally would you go on another blind date? I’d say the food is wonderful and I’d like to give a special shout-out to the guy behind the bar who served us drinks.

Lisa

So how did your date go? Yeah it was good, it turns out we already knew each other a bit so we had a lot to talk about.

But you didn’t know each other very well? We knew mutual friends.

What did he order? He had a steak sandwich?

What do you think a stake sandwich says about her personality? Um, errrr. He likes steak? That’s not really a personality trait. Yeah, it can be part of your personality whether you like steak or not. Some people choose to not like steak!

It could be that he’s macho? I just think he likes steak, stop asking me that.

Do you think your goats-cheese salad says anything about your personality? That I like goat’s cheese…

Any awkward moments? No there weren’t, none at all.

What did you talk about? We talked about debating and night club promoting.

Was there anything particularly interesting that he told you? That his dad’s Romanian, at least I think his dad’s Romanian…

Snog, marry avoid? Please don’t ask me this question? (After some probing) Marry?

If he was a country what would he be? I guess he would be most like Jamaica as he was laid back.

Would it be easy for him to find a date if he wanted one? Yeah I think it would be easy as he’s a nice guy.

What do you think about the way he dressed? He looked smart. He was dressed well. I wouldn’t have changed anything about his outfit.

Would he have looked better with a beard? Probably.

Would he make an attractive older man? Yeah he would, I can see him as a silver fox when he’s older.

How did you say goodbye? We had a very nice hug. He was a really good hugger.

The changing image of sexy

Written by Damilola Ade-Odiachi on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Through time our perceptions of sexy and sexiness have hinged almost completely on our perceptions of beauty. This is hardly surprising as we human beings are many things but we are hardly sapio-sexual. You often don’t find yourself in bed with the hot mama you met in 5th ave because of the strength of her conversation and if in fact you do it will be because she has fulfilled some physical requirement or the other.

I’ll begin with the Renaissance woman. She had ample bossoms and sizeable birthing hips. The term voluptuous is often used when describing the sirens of the era. However today the majority of them would be considered overweight, fat and generally unappealing.

The next great trend came with the Victorians. They loved their women to be the pinnacles of moral uprightness. It is rumoured that table legs were covered to dissuade improper thoughts. Copious amounts of make up were a thing reserved for the fallen and great emphasis was placed on the size of the waist. Waists had to be as small as humanly possible. In some cases ribs were broken to reduce a 16 inch waist to a 10 inch waist. This was done to enhance the appearance of an hour glass figure.

picture: Wikipedia

By the 1920s things had changed considerably. Paul Poiret and Coco Chanel are credited with freeing women from the corset. During this period hemlines and sleeves were shortened considerably and women had to take care of bits that had not been on display previously. During the roaring twenties, women went to great heights to conceal their breasts by taping them up and some even wore girdles to give the appearance of a more boyish figure. The trend here was not to be slim it was to be more boyish to give suggestion of gender equality.

picture: Wikimedia Commons

The 1940s and 1950s saw the return of the hourglass figure. However this time it was natural. Marilyn Monroe was the siren of this age. Her measurements according to her dressmaker were 35-22-35. Women never left their houses looking anything but their best because their primary goal was to snag a man and start a family.

picture: Bert Stern

 

The 1960s saw the introduction of the super-thin look. No age before it had demanded that women look so boyish and skinny. The star of the time was Twiggy. Her measurements were 31-23-32 and she had what was considered a “stream lined androgynous sex appeal”. Things more or less continued in the same vein through the 1970s but women opted for longer wilder hair and tanning caught on.

 

picture: Ronald Traeger

In the 1980s the pressure on women to look slim and toned but not muscular increased. It was the age of aerobics, leg warmers, shoulder pads and colour. Madonna has been described as the face of the decade. A good illustration of sexy in the 1980s is the ‘Call On Me’ video by Eric Prydz…

Things changed a little in the 90s in that, while the emphasis on skinny grew, there was also a case for being more curvy. Models like Kate Moss popularized a look known as “heroin chic” and grunge was all the rage. The look of general unkemptness was advertised by bands like Nirvana. However, it would be impossible to talk about sexy in the nineties without talking about TV super-series Friends, in which the ‘Rachel’ haircut steered women away from the big hair seen in the 70s and 80s.

The noughties have been characterized by freedom of choice and expression. Of course, the seemingly impossible combination of both curvy and thin is still in, but there are signs that we might be moving back to the curvy end of the spectrum. Beyoncé, a woman renowned for her booty, was voted GQ’s sexiest woman of the millennium and Kate Upton, who is no size zero, is taking the  fashion world by storm.

picture: Terry Richardson

Our impressions of sexiness have changed dramatically through time, thereby influencing our ideals of beauty immeasurably. The question is, what will the next era-defining image of sex appeal be?

Should Manchester create alcohol free halls?

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Opinion.

For: William Chambers

If being a massive Uni Lad (or Lass) is your top priority when it comes to choosing first year accommodation, perhaps halls that intentionally place less emphasis on alcohol wouldn’t be for you. However, if you’re like me and you’re a boring sod upon whom middle age has dawned prematurely, you’d rather be smashing the first year of their degree than anything else.

Exactly what a reduced focus on alcohol entails is hard to decipher. If by this they mean banning alcohol from halls, we all know how prohibition went down, yet for many of us averse to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption, avoiding the almost inescapable freshers culture of getting as pissed as possible may have been an inviting opportunity. So if it’s merely the option of an alternative welcome week that doesn’t involve spending every night inebriated in some dingy club busting outrageous dance moves accompanied by slurred shouting and saliva swapping with people you’ve just met, I’m all for it.

The opposition to the notion of setting up designated low alcohol halls is clear. How would it work? Will these new halls get any demand? Why not just choose appropriate accommodation from those currently available? All of which are valid concerns, highlighting that this initiative could be better channeled into offering realistic information to students about what the different residences are really like, along with expanding current provision.

Hence this proposal still draws attention to an important issue: the need for halls to cater for a variety of social interests. Rather than lazily allowing the first week’s events to be almost exclusively set up by self interested club promoters, perhaps the onus is on accommodation to take responsibility for putting on a variety of their own activities, as is done at many other universities. Further, the £40 per student which goes towards the residences association fund could easily be put into weekly social events if such groups were organised effectively by staff. Examples of such things already exist, although sporadic the free comedy nights on Campus are a resounding success and more should be done to build these events.

So, I say why stop with this focus on halls? Contrary to the hairy chested stereotype, I can see a strong desire for sports and other society socials that don’t place excessive focus on drinking. Although many of us may prefer not to leave uni with three years under a loosened belt that provides more chance of securing liver disease than job opportunities, a profound cultural shift away from binging may be a bit optimistic. But I think that ‘low alcohol’ events in halls may be one step in the right direction.

Against: Ella Speakman

Having given up alcohol for several stints over my university life, I am readily willing to admit that the thought of facing the bitter cold to catch the 143, queuing for a blocked toilet and escorting your drunk friend home as she throws up into a plastic bag does lose some of its appeal without the protection of half a bottle of basics vodka. However, creating purposely alcohol free halls is not the answer to the negatives of the university drinking culture.

The best part of my halls experience was being thrown together with 7 people from different backgrounds with different values and opinions who became some of my best friends. This kind of diversity is what makes UoM a great place to spend your academic years. Mixing drinkers with non-drinkers is just another part of this experience. Segregating people never provides an effective solution to social differences and instead only conforms to an ‘either-or’ mentality.

If alcohol-free halls are created as a place to avoid the prevalence of binge drinking, surely that suggests that the other alcohol-fuelled halls are being accepted as places where you’re expected to live on a diet of gin? Separating two groups supports the idea that the only two approaches to alcohol are excess or prohibition, when really we ought to promote moderation. The reality is that everyone consumes alcohol in different ways, and a more positive relationship towards booze comes from integrating people with different perspectives. I can accept that for someone who doesn’t drink, the experience of being in halls could be a difficult one. However, creating more alcohol free events provides a way to meet and socialise with people away from drink without creating a divided community.

As a third year student, I’m by no means tee-total, but when I look back now to how much I drank in first year, I’m shocked. However, the excess of halls was all a part of growing up, and it reflects the initial excitement of freedom. (Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents anyone?) Being around people who drank a lot and people who didn’t taught me about my own relationship to alcohol and what I enjoyed. It gave me the confidence to say no to going out and the knowledge that I didn’t need alcohol to have fun. If we want people to have a healthier relationship to alcohol, it’s important to promote balance. Cheers!

I’m sorry but…Skyfall is overrated

Written by Dylan Wiggan on . Posted in Film.

With its BAFTA win the other week, the Skyfall whirlwind seems to have finally died down and talk of the next film has begun with producers courting director Sam Mendes for a return. After a record breaking £100 million at the UK box office and $1 billion worldwide Daniel Craig’s latest 007 outing is by far the most successful. Add to that its nearly universal acclaim from the critics and audiences making this 50th anniversary film a slam dunk.

All of this just makes it harder to say: it isn’t that good. I know I’ll come under more fire than the MI6 agent himself for this but I just wasn’t that impressed. Sure Javier Bardem was great, chewing up the scenery with aplomb, and Judi Dench was her usual reliable self – but something was missing.

I much preferred the gritty hard hitting action of Casino Royale. The Roger Moore-esque moments seemed noticeably from another era and was a cheesy step backwards for the franchise for me. And don’t get me started on that nonsensical ‘Home Alone’ third act.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just more of a Bourne guy.

Live: Jake Bugg

Written by Caitlin Downey on . Posted in Music.

14th February 2013

Academy 1

8/10

From council estate to being announced as headliner at Reading festival, Jake Bugg has taken the industry by storm. Judging by his recent media profile, he’s unfazed by his success, but then he is not your average eighteen year old, with influences including The Beatles, Hendrix and the Gallagher brothers, and the less conventional Donovan, Don Mclean, Robert Johnson and a host of other folk and country artists. He has been complimented as sounding like a young Bob Dylan, and received the seal of approval from Noel Gallagher, who’s already taken him on tour.

Bugg arrived at the Academy as part of a long-since-sold-out tour, with transatlantic support from Dublin’s Hudson Taylor and Tennessee’s Valerie June. Taylor delivered a stunning set packed with ballads and harmonies, followed by June’s charming fusion of blues and roots music. Bugg took the stage to the strains of  Robert Johnson’s ‘Cross Road Blues’, and kicked things off with one of his – as he terms them – ‘finger-pickin’ tracks. ‘Fire’. With only one record under his belt – albeit one that topped the chart-  Bugg needs to flesh out the set somehow, and b-sides ‘Kentucky’ and ‘Love Me the Way You Do’ make the cut here. ‘Kentucky’, as the name suggests, is inspired by American country music, and Bugg has come in for a fair bit  of stick for the pseudo-American accent he adopts when singing. Not that he’s forgotten his roots – his album tells the story of his growing up in Clifton, and the songs ‘Seen It All’ and ‘Slumville Sunrise’ demonstrate this. He saved the real crowd pleasers, ‘Lightning Bolt’ and ‘Two Fingers’, for last.

Bugg turned in an accomplished performance for such a young performer; in a world full of manufactured pop, he’s a real breath of fresh air.

The best/worst thing I’ve ever seen on stage

Written by Rosie Panter on . Posted in Theatre.

The worst thing I have ever seen: Romeo and Juliet with Puppets

Last year I was sent to review an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet at the Contact Theatre which used puppets. Initially I was intrigued, how would these puppets be used and to what effect? Sadly, it soon became apparent that these puppets were merely a gimmick, used to detract attention away from the shortened version – a version which missed out some key moments. What was perhaps the most amusing, however, was the varying size and style of the puppets that were used: from small film character inspired puppets to larger than life more life-like puppets. The role of Juliet’s nanny was memorable largely due to the fact that a flying Star Wars-esque puppet was employed to portray her. The use of the puppetry was merely distracting – I spent a large portion of the performance trying to work out who was who and this wasn’t what I imagine the director wanted to convey.  There were of course funny moments but I couldn’t help thinking that this was unintentional. I was left feeling perplexed.

The best thing I have ever seen: Romeo and Juliet in a Church

Ironically my favourite performance is also an interpretation of Romeo and Juliet: however, this time it was held in the atmospheric grounds of St Pauls Church in Covent Garden, London. What I really enjoyed about this adaptation was how interactive it was; the audience was moved around the grounds of this church to make the most of the scenery. This led to some incredibly poignant moments, in particular the moments in which Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, an act which was held inside the church itself – finally their ‘bodies’ were laid  to rest on the altar.  I am aware that the successful use of these scenes was due to the fact that this particular company has the unique opportunity to perform in such incredible surroundings. However, the play itself was engaging: the portrayal of Juliet highlighted her youth and naivety, something which I felt brought a new slant to this infamous play.

Must See: 25th February – 4th March

Written by Hannah Lawrence on . Posted in Theatre.

The Spiral

An original piece of theatre about the inner city clash of generations as dub poet Leroy ‘Steppin Razor mentors grime artist Glitzy. This is a play that speaks for itself.

Runs 27th-28th February at the Contact. Tickets £5

 

Tull

A drama which follows the story of Walter Tull, a real life First World War hero and the first black player in the First Division of the Football League. Focusing on his relationship with suffragette Annie Williams and the societal problems that they faced Tull is ‘inspirational, dramatic and moving – proving that through perseverance and a sense of community, divisions can be overcome’.

Runs 21st February – 16th March at the Bolton Octagon. Tickets £9.50

  

The Maenad – MIFTAs performance

A piece of new writing by Hugo Timbrell, directed by Hugo Timbrell and Anna Crace

Timbrell’s piece charts the progress of the Maenad, a figure from Greek mythology, as she escapes the world of male cruelty. The piece explores the nature of gender and global suffering.

Runs 28th February – 2nd March, 7pm at the Council Chambers, Students Union. Tickets £5