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Month: April 2016

Review: The Witches

Written by Kate Harvey on . Posted in Theatre.

Although I may have been one of the oldest audience members present, I couldn’t help but get a bit antsy before the theatre performance of one of my most nightmarish childhood reads, The Witches on stage at The Lowry. Dahl’s harrowing descriptions of numerous hysterical hags never quite escaped me to this day, especially coupled with Quentin Blake’s etched illustrations of their bald heads and square feet. I was eager to see what director Nikolai Foster would deliver with what seemed to me endless possibilities of reworking the children’s classic.

The Witches, as with most of Roald Dahl’s works, is a moralistic tale with copious doses of child cruelty, a wild mixture of animals and children and an infamously abominable villain. The Grand High Witch was performed superbly by Sarah Ingram, teamed with a highly expressive variety of grimaces and her ‘rrreally vunderful’ Germanic accent. Flanked by her cronies played by Sioned Saunders and Elexi Walker, the traditional witches’ metamorphosis into bald monsters was turned on its head as they were adorned with colourful wigs and costumes designed by Isla Shaw – an flamboyant twist on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, except this time pouring over a cauldron of ‘Formula 86 delay action mouse maker’. Despite meeting his unfortunate fate being turned into a mouse, Fox Jackson-Keen gave a happy-go-lucky portrayal of ‘Boy’, whose athletic ability kept the story moving.

The seven-total-cast were tremendous in their pan-musical ability to hop between instruments that were incorporated into an inventive set that was set in a dilapidated seaside town hotel, hosting the annual witches’ meeting. The stage nodded subtly to elements of other Dahl classics with oversized props and pyrotechnics, and although not as musically orientated as perhaps Tim Minchin’s musical score for the West End adaptation of Matilda, it struck the balance well impressing the audience with authentic sound effects, the odd musical chorus and optical illusions.

Despite only lasting one hour and fifteen minutes in total (a sensible decision made to pacify the younger members of the audience), it became clear that it was by no means a performance intended for this age bracket alone. Foster clearly understood the potential of Dahl’s far-reaching tales, moulding it for the purpose of her own exuberant interpretation but never losing sight of his imaginative capabilities to bring out the inner child in everybody watching. At times I found myself laughing out loud at its sheer outlandishness; however it was one that cleverly darted between the gruesome, touching, and the downright silly.

Unfortunately the chance to see The Witches for their Manchester dates has now been and gone, but the Leicester Curve/Rose Theatre Kingston companies are currently in the thick of a hectic UK tour, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re on the lookout for ideas for something that all of the family can enjoy.

Review: Riverdance 21

Written by Olivia Gaskill on . Posted in Theatre.

I sat down in the O2 Apollo with high expectations of Riverdance, and I can say I was certainly not disappointed. Now in its 21st year of production, Riverdance is touring around the UK at 13 different venues from March to May 2016, before moving on to Canada.

As the lights in the theatre dim, Bill Whelan’s ‘Reel Around the Sun’ takes us on the start of our journey through the history and struggles of Ireland. In front of me I can see a fellow audience member moving his hands to the beat, and as the ensemble of dancers file on stage, I can feel my feet tapping along too. Although, I was disappointed by the lack of crowd response when the lead male dancer, Callum Spencer, made his début mid-dance, as I thought his entrance and remarkable footwork deserved at least a few cheers.

The lead female dancer, Ciara Sexton, captivated my attention, and it seemed everyone else’s too, as she appeared on stage during ‘The Countess Cathleen/Women of the Sidhe’. Elegance and grace are the words that come to mind when watching her dance and you can see why she was cast as the lead female.

Although an Irish show, Riverdance is not limited by just one style of dance, featuring performances from those such as flamenco dancer, Rocio Montoya, and a Russian ensemble who show off their talents through their brilliant leaps and pirouettes. My personal favourite and a definite crowd pleaser was ‘Trading Taps’, which took us to New York in a comical rivalry between Irish and Tap dancers. The two lead tappers were immensely talented and, not surprisingly, received the loudest cheer during the finale encore. Neither missed a beat and they seemed to take full advantage of there being a section with no music, which left the audience wanting more.

Drawing on its first performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, the finale was also a crowd favourite. Opening with a duet between the leads and ending in the iconic line of dancers, this routine brought goosebumps to my arms and made me want to watch it all again from the beginning.

Riverdance will be performing in the UK until the 15th of May, so if you get the chance to see it and are debating whether to buy a ticket, I recommend this: Act fast, you certainly won’t regret it.

Fashion face off: Denim vs Leather

Written by Kathryn Murray on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

There are two types of people in the world: those who wear denim jackets and those who wear leather jackets. What about those people who have both jackets I hear you ask? Well, those people are kidding themselves.  Harsh, I know, but true. If you are one of these deluded people, then you should take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate your fashion choices.

Yes, you may own both a leather jacket and a denim jacket. But let’s be realistic here, we both know you wear one of those 80% of the time and the other one is saved for those days where you can’t find your first choice or you spilt last night’s kebab down its front so have had to resort to your second option. (Note: a denim shirt is not the same as a denim jacket and is more comparable to a checked shirt which is another way to divide the fashion masses.)

So which category do you fall under? Are you a fan of a reliable, punk style leather jacket? Or perhaps you prefer a sturdy yet classic denim jacket? Either way you can congratulate yourself for making such a momentous decision in your life, even if it was a subconscious one.

It is a common misconception that denim jackets are more spring/summer and leather jackets are more autumn/ spring. But times have changed. Leather jackets aren’t always black, denim jackets aren’t always blue, and season trends aren’t determined by dark colours and light colours. Both materials are of the same weight, they can be cool and light. Both can be smart, or casual. Both have the same amount of water resistance, because let’s be honest, a leather jacket still doesn’t have a hood so its waxy coating is redundant. Both jackets are perfect for a winter to spring transition. But which do you prefer?

Denim

Denim jackets have been making a comeback for a few years now. Once a taboo in the world of fashion, double denim is now accepted and even embraced by the trendy crowd which is working in the denim jackets favour. Perhaps people are running with the vintage look or perhaps we have just discovered how amazing it is to have an easily washable jacket, but either way; denim is back and in a big way. Oversized and preferably Levi, denim jackets can be seen everywhere. Flung over a cute floral summer dress, or paired with some strategically ripped shorts, the denim jacket can help to provide warmth and style on a spring day.

Photo: Asos
Jack Wills Jacket £69.50

Leather

I am a hard core member of the leather jacket tribe. I bought my first one at 13 and have never looked back. I must admit that I haven’t ventured from the black biker jacket, apart from a mild flirtation with a cream leather jacket which now sits sadly unworn in my wardrobe, price tag on and all.  To me, a leather jacket is always a safe option. It is smart, but cool, gives an edge to every outfit, and goes with everything. I wish I was adventurous enough to go for a nice teal or hot pink leather look, but alas, I can’t pluck up the courage. The rock-chick foundation has carried as the jacket has matured. Over a dress on a night out, paired with a fine knit jumper on a spring day, or even over your pj’s on a supermarket run; a leather jacket is the missing piece to any fashion puzzle.

Photo: Asos
Goldie Jacket £65

So there we have it, our two contenders in the spring jacket final.

Who wins? You decide.

TV Binge: My Jihad

Written by Imran Bukhari on . Posted in Film.

The word Jihad has infamously become associated with acts of terrorism and hatred, but for the majority of Muslims, it refers to the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin. Available on BBC iPlayer, My Jihad centres onto two Muslim protagonists,  struggling to find an acceptable partner in a halal (non-sinful) manner. The first member of the potential couple we are introduced to is Fahmida, a pragmatic single mother, who carries a hard and prickly exterior. Fahmida uses her intellect to mask her vulnerability and fears; having suffered a troublesome past when it comes to relationships. Her prospective suitor comes in the form of Nazir, a hopeless romantic with a deep admiration for Michael Jackson. Nazir is unemployed and lacking in the financial department, but he has his heart set on finding a pious and devoted wife. The pair butt heads at first and both must inevitably shake off their preconceived notions of the other. The show asks the same of its audience, asking viewers to reconsider their misconceptions regarding Islam.

The world explored by My Jihad will be an eye-opener for many, and all too familiar for others—as the task of searching for a soulmate through Islamic means is a daunting one. The odd bar encounter or flirtation on a first date are completely replaced by organised speed dating events, chaperoned excursions, and dreaded family introductions. But religion isn’t the only factor involved in deciding the fate of our protagonists, as in life there are always other hurdles, making the relationship that much more relatable. Despite being centred on Muslims and shining a light on modern Islamic customs, My Jihad is a romantic comedy in the purest sense. The show highlights the universal themes of love and the honest human connections found between two people. Nothing cataclysmic occurs in the four episodes. The writing is equally in parts, poignant and humorous—that through dialogue exchanges alone, each character is fully developed. The short format also lends itself well, as My Jihad never overstays its welcome. The audience is left longing for more, grateful to have been privy to the briefest moments in the lives of these characters.

There is no question that the representation of Islam and Muslims in general through film and TV is not only sparse, but also significantly one-note. Tired clichés of terrorists and extremism dominate the small and large screens. Four Lions was idiosyncratic in its subversive take on the subject—and seven years after its release of the film, there has been very little progress since. The recent BBC drama Murdered by My Father further highlighted a prehistoric minority of Muslims who engage in honour killings. When the majority of Muslims are peaceful and well-integrated members of their community, it is deeply frustrating to see such acts of evil steal the headlines. Having more TV shows like My Jihad is not only important, but vital to painting a much more authentic and positive picture of everyday Muslims.

HOME Pick of the Week: Dheepan

Written by Nadia Cheung on . Posted in Film.

If you know anything about the Sri Lankan Civil War, you probably might feel that it was a war, derived from a conflict between the Singhalese and Tamil people of Sri Lanka, that was not reported on as much as it could or should have been. Described as a “war without witnesses”, a lot protests happened over the years, but many probably didn’t know why or what they were about other than that “it’s probably something to do about Sri Lanka and politics, maybe.”

Dheepan is a drama following a family of strangers headed by a former Tamil Tiger militant taking on the identity and passport of a dead man named Dheepan (FYI: the Tamil Tigers were a guerrilla organisation who wanted to gain Eelam as an independent Tamil state, and employed militant tactics to do so, but lost to the government). They leave behind a post-war Sri Lanka to settle down and seek refuge in a housing project somewhere in France with undesirable residents, where violence and crime is just as apparent and is just as much of an everyday occurrence.

Dheepan takes on a job as as housekeeper of the building, sorting out the cleaning, mail and maintenance—all the while manoeuvring around French self-made criminals and gangsters hoisting guns and swaggering around the residence ready to point, shoot and kill at any given moment. Yalini (Kalieaswari Srinivasan), Dheepan’s faux wife takes on the simple task of cooking and cleaning for a nearby resident, all the while resenting that she is France and not in the England where she could have been with her cousins and familiars. She gets caught between trying to make peace.  She lacks any maternal instincts and has a tumultuous relationship with 9-year-old Illayaal (Claudine Vinasithamby) who equally has just as much as a hard time connecting with two random grown-ups who pose as her parents, as well as a new school, and learning French.

The ending was pretty disappointing to say the least, but that’s because I’m not a fan of predictable romance. And the romance was predictable. But it’s okay, because the whole story overshadows that and you won’t have to think about the shabby ending montage anyway. The acting performances in this film were pretty great, and this was probably the most gripping part of what made the film so intense and dramatic for a crime drama film. The cinematography was probably best of all, with a fitting soundtrack that didn’t overcompensate and abuse the subject matter to near-exploitation.

Overall, writer-director Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone, A Prophet) brings us into another drama about love, family and humanity. The script is great and the dialogue wasn’t too shabby for a French film that was mostly in Tamil. Dheepan won the Palme D’Or at Cannes Film Festival 2015, and brought widespread attention to the Sri Lankan Civil War. Though still today, there still isn’t the media attention that there could be, and that makes me really question about where popular media stands about these kind of things, but I guess that sadly not many people think it’s worth knowing about.

4/5

HOME Pick of the Week: Victoria

Written by James Moules on . Posted in Film.

Anyone aware Sebastian Schipper’s Victoria probably knows that the entire two-hour and twenty-minute movie was shot in a single, unbroken take. No digital editing tricks were involved (à la Birdman), just one long shot following our characters around Berlin in the early hours of the morning. As a technical achievement, Victoria is undeniably impressive. But while it generally succeeds as a narrative, there are times at which it tests the audience’s suspension of disbelief a little too much.

The plot of Victoria sees the titular character (Laia Costa)—a young Spanish woman who does not speak German—setting home from a night out in Berlin. But when she meets a group of young men who persuade her to join them, she finds her night dragging out in unexpected ways that will eventually lead her into deep trouble, as encounters with gangsters, robbery and the police prevent her from getting home.

The film’s single take stunt works remarkably well for the narrative of the film, making us feel Victoria’s night being wearily prolonged as we spend every single moment of real time in her presence. What could easily have been a simple attention-grabbing gimmick serves as a fantastic means of connecting the audience with the protagonist. Praise must be given to all of the cast and crew of Victoria for delivering on such a daring and (likely) exhausting shoot.

But despite the technical achievement of the film, it is hard to overlook some glaring flaws in the narrative. Victoria does, at times, test our sympathy with the titular character. Her lack of knowledge of German does give us cause to empathise with her plight as she is driven further into the murky crime in which her new found friends are involved. But as she continues to accompany them even after she can see that she is in danger for apparently no more reason than advancing the film’s plot, it becomes increasingly difficult to root for her. Great drama can be established by sympathetic characters making poor decisions, but Victoria’s motivations are often too unclear.

That being said, Victoria still remains a perfectly solid drama that will keep audiences and cinephiles engaged with its technical prowess and intriguing premise. The biggest crime it commits is the poorly considered juxtaposition of the realistic element of the single take against the (at times) downright absurd plot. But as an unconventional piece of entertainment—and a remarkable work of cinematography and film craft—Victoria achieves what it sets out to do.

3/5

Top 5: Nuclear war movies

Written by Dylan Kerlann on . Posted in Film.

5) Threads
This film depicts the long-term after-effects of a nuclear attack in the UK, focusing specifically onto Sheffield city. This is a very good movie showing the unthinkable. Alas it does, in my opinion, suffer from over-dramatisation, which is understandable considering the context of its production and its ulterior motive.

4) When the Wind Blows
The UK strikes back with a treasure of animation, based on Raymond Briggs’ novel of the same name. It depicts an adorable elderly couple, and their suffering due to the nuclear war. Sadness grips you as you watch. Absolutely powerless, this optimistic and naive couple slowly whither from radiation poisoning.

3) O-Bi O-Ba: The End of Civilisation
This Polish sci-fi is one of the best I’ve seen in this genre. It’s about the shielded survivors of the apocalypse, who blindly believe in the lie of aliens coming to save them—a lie made up by the soldiers to save them from the fallout. A treasure of absurdity, this film can also be interpreted as a satire about communism.

2) The Divide
One of the rare movies that have realistically depicted the human dark side, by one of the few French directors who hasn’t yet indulged into the boring State sponsored social dramas, this movie is hard to watch. It’s about stranded survivors descending into madness after the destructing devastation in New York.

1) The Day After
Set in the United States, and quite similar to Threads, this film offers a realistic depiction of the end. With great casting that rendered the event’s drama, the film shows several survivors, representing American society. This movie deserves the top spot of this list, and I hope it will be the gateway to your discovery of  nuclear war in cinema.

TV Binge: The Walking Dead

Written by Barney Weston on . Posted in Film.

The Walking Dead, perhaps more than any other series currently in its sixth season, has truly had its ups and downs. So much so, that one website, theverge.com, reviews each episode according to their likeliness to quit the series. It is fair enough. Audiences who have stuck with the show have had to go through half-seasons of watching characters try to build something, before coming up against a formidable opponent in the season finale, failing, travelling, and then repeating. In recent years, The Walking Dead has struggled in the wake of shows, such as Game of Thrones, which do something that The Walking Dead has only done a few times within its last few seasons. Take risks.

As part of its repetitive format, The Walking Dead is now expected to kill off a major character every season finale. The season six finale does this, but doesn’t show you who, making it seem like the show runners merely couldn’t decide who to kill off thanks to contract disputes. Within the show’s first few seasons, this could have been got away with, but now, six seasons in, even me, someone who has gritted his teeth through each and every one of the show’s 83 episodes, is not happy.

But can you really not expect a tired format from a show that relies on the survival of its main characters? Neither Rick nor Carl Grimes (played respectively by Andrew Lincoln and Chandler Riggs) are ever going to be killed off, and several other characters, for example Michonne (played by Danai Gurira), are being added to that safe list. Something that the show’s competitors, again for example Game of Thrones, thrive off not having.

As well as this, there are moments in the second half of season six of The Walking Dead where we see our main characters living, instead of surviving. We see them having a lie-in or listening to music. Although the show runners have inserted these moments into the season in order to try to trick the audience into thinking that perhaps this is ‘happily ever after’ for our characters, these moments instead reminded me of the tired format that The Walking Dead is suffering from. The inclusion of Negan and his group of Saviors into this, although true to the comic, is testament to such.

So what can save me, and seemingly several other audiences, from giving up on The Walking Dead? What the show really needed in its finale was the grand unveiling of Negan as this truly evil, ominous, yet also hilarious character who was going to brutally kill a main character with Lucille. But instead, what we got was a character with his cards close to his chest, and a mere thud of an unnamed bat with barbed wire coiled around it to end the season.

I don’t know if I’ll be back for season seven, but I’m praying that The Walking Dead’s younger spin-off sibling, Fear The Walking Dead, can quench my thirst for apocalyptic survival in the face of zombies, and other humans.

Positives for England despite World T20 despair

Written by James Haughton on . Posted in Sport.

Even though England were denied the 2016 Men’s World T20 title by an inspired West Indies, their development over the past year is highly encouraging

Six, six, six, six. The West Indies required 19 runs off the final six deliveries of their innings to snatch the Men’s World T20 title from England. Thanks to Carlos Brathwaite’s majestic hitting, however, only four balls of Ben Stokes’s final over were needed. It was an aptly thrilling conclusion to a topsy-turvy final and a pulsating tournament, but that was little comfort to the distraught Stokes and his teammates.

With his first, third and fourth deliveries of the 20th over, Stokes missed the fine margins required of death-bowlers nowadays, turning what he had hoped would be snarling, toe-crushing yorkers into leg-stump half-volleys that, such is the nature of T20, are routinely dispatched for six. Brathwaite’s second six, however, was astonishing: a leading edge that sailed over the off-side boundary for six, a true testament to the power and bat speed that Brathwaite possesses.

England batted first and started poorly. Jason Roy went for a duck, and Alex Hales and the England skipper, Eoin Morgan, went cheaply too, leaving England on 23-3. The England batsmen struggled with the mystery spin, or lack of spin, of Samuel Badree, who bowled from the start and took 2-16 in his four overs.

Then a partnership of 61 between Joe Root and Jos Buttler brought England back into the game; Root and Buttler sensibly built a partnership yet complemented that by scoring heavily off bad balls in order to create momentum and increase the run rate; in particular, Buttler whacked full deliveries from Sulieman Been, the West Indies’ second spinner, for six.

Even with the dismissal of Buttler for a brisk 36 (off 22 balls), England had recovered from their slow start to reach 110-4 midway through the 14th over. Root had, by this time, reached 50 off 33 balls, the joint fastest half-century in a World T20 final, along with Kumar Sangakkara. Then the wickets of Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali fell within three balls, and Root soon followed after an unsuccessful ramp shot meant he was caught at short fine-leg. Good hitting from David Willey, however, ensured England reached 155-9 from their 20 overs. This was a total that, after the game, Morgan felt was up to as much as forty runs below par for the wicket.

The start of the West Indies’ innings could not have possibly gone for better for England. Morgan’s decision to have Root bowl the second over, while the Powerplay’s fielding restrictions applied, proved a master stroke. Root took the wicket of Johnson Charles with his first ball and then, two deliveries after that, that of Chris Gayle, the man who had put England’s bowlers to the sword with a 47-ball hundred in both sides’ first match of the tournament, which the West Indies won. When Willey dismissed Lendl Simmons in the next over, the West Indies were reeling at 11-3.

Marlon Samuels’ superb 85 not out from 66 balls, which saw him named Man of the Match, with some support from Dwayne Bravo (25 from 27 balls), enabled the West Indies to have a chance come the final over, a chance that Brathwaite took with aplomb.

Despite the two defeats to the West Indies in the 2016 World T20, England’s performances in the tournament, and across all formats of the game in the past year, have been invigorating, and imply that success is a matter of when, not if, for this side.

In this year’s World T20, the game against South Africa, in particular, will live long in the memory. Chasing a score of 229-4, England plundered 89 runs in the first six overs, mainly thanks to Jason Roy’s 43 off 16 balls, and they reached their target with a couple of balls to spare, with Joe Root top-scoring again, with 83 from 48 deliveries.

Even in the match against Afghanistan, where the top order failed to perform—England were 85-7 at one point—Ali and Willey guided England to 142-7; in the past, the side might have collapsed to a score below 100, but this side are a resolute outfit now, and the depth of England’s batting line-up is a particular strength—in the final, Adil Rashid, an all-rounder by trade, came in to bat at 11. England’s bowlers restricted Afghanistan to 127-9 from their 20 overs, thereby preventing an embarrassing defeat that would have severely damaged England’s progress in the tournament, an unfortunate hallmark of England’s previous tournament campaigns.

What made England’s performances in this tournament even more refreshing and exciting was that they were in stark contrast to those of 2015’s Cricket World Cup. In that tournament England were frankly atrocious, and how they played the game was antediluvian compared to that of the likes of New Zealand and Australia. Whereas Brendon McCullum and David Warner, to name just a couple, made the most of the fielding restrictions by attacking the opposition bowlers from the start, England attempted to steadily build an innings and then only accelerate in the final ten overs. It didn’t work: Australia beat England by 111 runs and England were skittled out for 123 by New Zealand.

For England the nadir was still to come, however. A defeat to Bangladesh confirmed England’s exit from the competition at the group stage. Only seven teams were in the group, and the top four qualified for the next stage, but England weren’t one of them. Victories against Scotland and Afghanistan were scant consolation.

The one positive that sprang from England’s miserable campaign was that the nature of the defeats made the selectors and coaching staff realise that England needed a drastic change in philosophy if they were going to challenge for trophies and beat the best in all formats of the game.

That change in philosophy was vindicated by England’s World T20 semi-final defeat of New Zealand, a complete performance with both bat and ball. Stokes and Jordan’s death-bowling stifled the Kiwis. From 89-1 after ten overs, the New Zealand batsmen stumbled to a total of 153-8. In reply, England hammered the New Zealand attack, one that had bowled India out for 79 and restricted Australia to 134-9 earlier in the tournament. Jason Roy was the linchpin; he scored 78 off 44 balls, his barrage of fours and sixes leaving the Kiwi bowlers dumbfounded. From the tenth over, England were in cruise control and they reached their target with 17 balls remaining.

England’s achievements since the spring of 2015 demonstrate the rapid progression from their dismal 50-over World Cup campaign. Jos Buttler has scored 46-ball and 66-ball centuries against Pakistan and New Zealand, respectively, since then. In the past year England have made scores of 399-9, 355-5, 408-9, 350-3 (in 44 overs), 365-9 (46 overs) in One-day Internationals (ODIs). And in test cricket, England secured impressive series victories away to South Africa and at home to Australia.

Therefore, despite the heroics of Brathwaite and the pain of seeing a world title once again slip away from its grasp, English cricket has rarely been in a better position on the international scene. Thanks to a young, fearless, resolute, and most importantly, extremely talented squad of players, that promise has translated into very good results, and international trophies and world-number-one rankings are surely close at hand.

Manchester City Women in Flying Form

Written by Harry Newton on . Posted in Sport.

It was recently announced that away tickets in the Premier League have been capped at £30 for next season, and the whole country rejoiced! Some teams have been known to sell their away tickets for double that—and then some—so this was a fantastic step in the right direction for the men’s game. So, that’s £30 for a football match. Well, then you’ve got to buy the £4 programme, too. Oh, and the £5 chicken and Balti pie. Just don’t get thirsty, you may have to re-mortgage to buy a pint. There’s also currently no cap on home games in the Premier League, so it will depend on if you support Bournemouth or Arsenal as to how much a match would set you back.

But we all love football, so what does it matter eh? It’s an investment into fun! But, what if I told you that a ticket to watch Manchester City Women (MCWFC) against Arsenal Ladies a couple of weeks ago cost £5? They even threw in a free match-day programme and poster too. You can’t buy a Freddo for that much in some places! However, buying a ticket to MCWFC isn’t like buying a DVD from the fella in the pub for a cheaper price – you still get top-notch quality. The pace and strength of any Women’s Super League (WSL) game is just as impressive as any Premier League one, and City have been scoring some exquisite goals this season.

City have been raking in the fans this season, with four-figure attendances regularly being noted, creating a great atmosphere in their brand-spanking-new Academy Stadium just opposite The Etihad Stadium. City are yet to concede a goal in the five games they’ve played this season, and are looking comfortable in front of goal also with five wins on the bounce! All but one game has finished 2-0 so far, with one being a very impressive win over big rivals Arsenal Ladies. The one game that didn’t finish 2-0 was a 1-0 win over Notts County that brought about the most exciting moment of the season so far, as a last minute free-kick from captain Steph Houghton flew into the net! Clean-sheets, and especially digging out 1-0 wins, are exactly what makes a championship-winning side, so City are kicking off this campaign perfectly!

Manager Nick Cushing has assembled a very well-balanced side. Big performances are being pulled-out by players from all positions. Steph Houghton’s goal against Notts County might have been the highlight of the season so far, but her defensive display has been equally as impressive alongside the rest of the back four and goalkeeper Karen Bardsley. Notabley, Demi Stokes has been just as important to City’s attack as their defence, as she bombs on from the left-back position.

Midfielder Jill Scott has also kicked off the season in great form, involved in all the midfield action, giving no opponent a moment’s time on the ball, as she covers so much ground. Rumour has it that Jill Scott could take a corner, head it in, and have the ball back on the centre-circle before a defender has jumped to clear the corner. Even Doctor Who would struggle to find time on the ball with Scott around. (Is it okay I just made that very uncool reference? It’s not okay, I take it back).

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The British trio that are Toni Duggan, Nikkita Parris and Jane Ross are doing their job at the top end of the field also, with all of the attackers amongst the goals already. Fellow attacker and new signing Kosovare Assllani looks like she has lots to bring to the table too this season, giving Nick Cushing a variety of attacking options before him for the season ahead.

BT Sport will be showing games from the (WSL) this season, but don’t let that stop you getting down to watch a game at The Academy Stadium this season! The season runs from March to October, meaning that Premier League fans can fill their summer void by getting down to the Academy Stadium to watch the Women’s Team.

 

Festival Preview: Latitude Festival 2016

Written by Joe Casson on . Posted in Music.

Suffolk, England
14th-17th July

Since 2005, Latitude has built up a reputation as a sort of mini-Glastonbury: a diverse, family-friendly and sustainable celebration of the performing arts. Now, entering its second decade, the festival shows no signs of letting that accolade slip.

The stellar line-up offers something for everyone, and sometimes at the same time: expect headliners New Order to attract edgy students and their parents in equal measures. Returning headliners The National—playing their only UK show of 2016—offer an outlet for every festivalgoer’s middle-aged, middle class malaise.

At the other end of the spectrum, art-pop darling Grimes will bring her energetic, colourful live show to the Radio 6 Music stage, while fans of witty guitar music will be spoilt for choice with both Father John Misty and Courtney Barnett up against each other on the bill. Those hoping to see acts more representative of the festival’s gentle, pastoral character will also be pleased with Beirut, The Lumineers, and Of Monsters and Men, adding an acoustic edge.

If music isn’t your thing, yet you’ve still coughed up £197 to go to the festival, not to worry (although I do have some questions for you)—Latitude boasts the most extensive comedy line-up in Europe, offering acts ranging from Russell Howard to Reggie Watts. Other art forms are also well represented, with a range of poetry, theatre and cabaret acts to choose from.

Anything else? Well, a few things: a newly-built spa, extensive woodlands, and a lake to swim in with free boat rides. Also, neon sheep.

Conclusion: go to Latitude. Buy the t-shirt. Boast about it in years to come.

Review: Enjoying It: Candy Crush and Capitalism

Written by Jack Blenkinsopp on . Posted in Books.

Enjoying It: Candy Crush and Capitalism is the first full-length book by Alfie Bown, editor of the excellent Everyday Analysis website and its books of compiled articles. It is very typical of the site’s tone, mixing the seemingly trivial with critical theory and evaluating the things that we do without thinking.

The book explores the implications of different types of enjoyment, and argues that no type of enjoyment, however trivial it may seem, is truly mindless. Bown argues that all enjoyment is in some way political, and goes on to look at Game of Thrones, Gangnam Style and Football Manager through this lens of critical theory.

The book gives an interesting insight into the politics of enjoyment, and it is so much a testament to the strength of its arguments that I now have to think about what I mean by ‘enjoy’ before saying that I’ve enjoyed something.

In Enjoying It all enjoyment is meaningful to the enjoyer, even that which seems to be nothing more than a pointless distraction. Applications such as Candy Crush, for example, are enjoyed because they seem so trivial, which then makes the work that we are eschewing, in favour of messing around on our phones, seem worthwhile in comparison. Candy Crush, then, is a way of coping with the lack of fulfilment we receive from our work, but Enjoying It is more than just a finger-wagging criticism of these capitalist tools designed to help us put up with the jobs we dislike.

One of the book’s strengths is that Bown himself seems to be a fan of these less highbrow pursuits he subjects to his analysis. He discusses Football Manager as if he wants to understand the nature of his own obsession, rather than use it to keep the reader on board during his discussions of Freud. For example, one chapter is about the problems with ideas of highbrow and lowbrow enjoyment, and Bown practices what he preaches here by seeming to enjoy both in equal measure.

Enjoying It is an interesting read and it more than matches the depth and quality of analysis on the Everyday Analysis website. I am only slightly troubled by one thing: the book’s structure.

The first chapter features possibly the most in-depth critical theory in the book, which feels like a little too much too soon. The studies of Deleuze and Lyotard would have been better placed if they were incorporated into later chapters, allowing the analysis of Candy Crush and Game of Thrones to gradually reach critical theory rather than working in the other direction.

This is only a small problem, though, as the case studies are almost as entertaining as the rest of the book, which pursues the Everyday Analysis project but adds even more depth to its ideas.

Everyday Analysis focuses on that which we do without thinking, but Enjoying It focuses on that which we intend to do without thinking. It suggests that Candy Crush and Football Manager are not enjoyed quite as mindlessly as we realise, or even as mindlessly as we want to believe.

Check out how it’s become a bit of a YouTube sensation.

Britain under the far-right wave

Written by Jessica Chow-Lau on . Posted in Opinion.

The far-right movement is coming to Britain as it came to mainland Europe and the United States. People are looking for answers amidst economic stagnation, the Euro-crisis, and fear of cultural decline. Since the people in power cannot give reassurances, let alone providing hope, people look to fringe, comparatively extreme parties, which, by now, aren’t on the fringe and don’t seem so extreme.

British people have this pride of political exceptionalism that doesn’t exist with the French and the Germans. The British do not seem to think that the belligerently anti-immigration movement applies to them, or that they will have the sort of tanned-orange nightmare Americans have now. For prevention, I plead the British to recognize that they are not a political anomaly.

The far-right movement emerged in 1989 when the leader of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), Jörg Haider, became governor of Carinthia. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, debates about Islam and integration became more prevalent. As polling results show though, opinions were generally rejected as radical. However in 2011, the euro-crisis gave extremist parties another talking point on their agenda, right next to anti-immigration. Votes for France’s National Front (FN) and the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom began to climb. Even the Germans (whose country was responsible for bail-outs) had Alternative for Deutschland, which wanted to break up the Euro.

Far-right parties adapted the welfare aspirations of the left with their nationalism, recasting themselves as anti-establishment—in a sense, undergoing moderation to fit with EU driven prosperity. Now that the status of the EU is being questioned, confident proclamations of extremist dialogue are being heard once again. There are few European countries where a populist party has no political power. FPÖ came in second after the Social Democrats, their worst results since 1996. Prime Minister Victor Orbán of Hungary is already espousing far right ideas to make up for his own party’s losing popularity. The face of the far-right movement, Marine Le Pen, won more votes than the Republican and Socialist Party late last year, gaining popularity while enjoying her title as an outsider. In the United States, anti-establishment rage has manifested itself in the Black Lives Matter movement, heightening fear among white nationalists of a changing America, who, in turn, feed the fire of a sound bite demagogue.

The mythical Nordic region attempts to hold on to their culture amidst the refugee crisis, meaning that it has become more common for the most tolerant people in the world to despise Islam. It’s no coincidence that Sweden Democrats has won more votes after the country accepted an inundation of refugees. Neither the Moderates nor the Social Democrats were able to gain majority, and the Sweden Democrats became the second-biggest party.

Britain doesn’t need an evangelical base for the far-right wave to come crashing at her shores. The western world has shown that if insecure enough, the university educated will join the working class in support of a far-right party. The subject isn’t touched upon by many pundits, but those that do claim that British politics doesn’t have an outsider candidate like America does. May I remind you that the vulgar monstrosity came out of nowhere; his last interview regarding politics was in the 1990s. All it takes is one charismatic leader that appeals to the anxieties of the people. Criticize the Conservatives for their elitist policies, shame Labour for being terrorist sympathizers; its amazing what carefully timed rhetoric can do.

The only European countries where extreme populism has failed to gain traction are in Spain and the western Balkan states. Their history of nationalist violence would be the perfect place for xenophobia if not for the people remembering that they too were in the refugees’ position of an involuntary vagabond. Spain has seen an inflow of immigrants from 2000 to 2010 but has dodged the bullet because of Spaniards’ fear of returning to any semblance of Francisco Franco’s fascist dictatorship.

As Britain does not share a similar history with Croatia or Spain, it must move to other options. Learning from our European neighbors France and Hungary, the Labour party would be wise to find a leader that doesn’t alienate liberal voters. Keep people from straying to other options by heavily discouraging Labour members from getting too friendly with the BNP or Islamic militant groups. The key is for Conservatives and Labour to strengthen their core demographic and cooperate with each other against a common cause.

People are more concerned about national culture, identity, and quality of life than material goods. With public services under strain, the British becoming increasingly concerned with immigration, and the search for a national identity still unanswered, the vulnerabilities of this country to such transpirations cannot be emphasised enough.

The Panama Papers: no surprises

Written by Tristan Parsons on . Posted in Opinion.

11 million documents recording 40 years of the day-to-day doings of the Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca, have been leaked. They show how the firm has helped the most powerful people on the planet—including 12 current or former heads of state—evade tax, launder money, and dodge financial sanctions.

But this kind of behaviour is inevitable, and perhaps ‘natural’, in our globalised world, right? There is a misguided assumption that tax havens are normal and they can’t be stopped. This could not be further from the truth. A dip into history can help us untangle this issue.

In 1903, the administration of Theodore Roosevelt—with the help of William Cromwell, a well-connected U.S. lawyer, and his connections to J.P. Morgan—tore the province of Panama away from Colombia by encouraging armed rebellion in the region. Following this, the U.S gained permanent rights to the Panama Canal region. The canal project was finished in 1914.

Initially, the state began registering foreign ships to help Standard Oil avoid U.S. tax and regulations. Then, as early as 1927, pressure from Wall Street resulted in relaxed tax laws in Panama. In the early 1970s, the arrangement was formalised to the standard tax haven model based on Swiss-style secretive banks and, and tax-exempt companies.

However, political turmoil had been bubbling away in Panama for years and in 1979, the Canal Zone was abolished, and it was scheduled for the canal to be fully turned over to Panama in 2000, although the U.S. retained the right to use military force to defend the country’s ‘neutrality’ during these years.

Despite this apparent progress, the 1970s saw a surge of banking deposits in the country from almost nothing to US$50bn. This surge involved dictators such as Augusto Pinochet, the American-sponsored dictator of Chile whose military government used torture, murder, and deception to first overthrow the previous socialist government and then impose the neoliberal economic policies of the ‘Chicago Boys’, as led by the Chicago University academic, Milton Freidman.

When Noriega, the commander of Panama’s defense forces, came to power in 1983, he effectively nationalised the money-laundering business and gave control of the country to drug cartels. He supported U.S. foreign policy, and was on the CIA’s payroll until his opposition to the Americans’ efforts to overthrow of Nicuragua’s leftist government. This was a contributing reason for the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989, which helped returned control to the U.S. ahead of the scheduled handover of the Canal Region.

Panama has been built on dirty money and dirty deals. Even the IMF regards it has one of the most at-risk countries for money laundering, as it follows just 1 of its 40 recommendations for combating money laundering and terror financing. This was from a report made in February 2014.

But this is not an organic leak. In September 2015, the New York Times reported that Vladimir Putin’s closest circle had been using the Panama structure. Yes, these papers make confirmation, but it remains that the media and governments have known about this for years.

Despite the BBC’s efforts to focus public attention on the Russian link mentioned above, the Independent reported that half of the 300,000 firms listed as clients to the company were registered in UK-administered tax havens. Nicholas Shaxson describes the City of London as at the heart of a world wide web of tax havens that stretches as far as Hong Kong. It is all linked, he claims. And the City of London, and the UK government that struggles to regulate the historically illusive Square Mile, is at the heart of the global web.

Despite the scale of the extent of US and UK involvement in Panama and tax havens more widely, there appears to be only a handful of western names in the documents (so far). For now, the papers have protected much of the western elite, claims prominent anti-corruption blogger, Craig Murray.

But, crucially, we must realise that this is not merely an investigation into the lives of the rich and famous. In the most moderate of senses, there are serious costs to the taxpayer: estimates of lost revenue vary, but often fall between £25bn to £45bn.

At a grander level, this issue is about the locking up of power within a small economic and political elite. It is widely recognised that, throughout history, this distribution of power is one of the major factors for societies making bad decisions. Put simply, we cannot solve the issues we face today without tackling this double standard of law observed in Panama and other locations across the world.

Tax havens are not natural. They are designed and created by those who are acting on behalf of corporate and criminal interests. They are not a necessary defining feature of our globalised world; they are not a necessary component of a capitalist system.

Majority of students want to scrap UCAS clearing

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

Research conducted by The Student Room has found that 59 per cent of students want university admission process to change and just over half believe that the UCAS clearing system has a ‘bad reputation’.

UCAS market clearing as a way to connect students unhappy with their current choices to universities unable to fill their spaces.

The study was undertaken last month, when The Student Room asked 6,300 of their members for their opinions on the matter.

The website is the largest student community in the world, with over 1.8 million members. It is widely known for its free advice on every aspect of university life—whether it be about applications or health and lifestyle.

The results of the survey proved that students were less than favourable to the clearing system. 48 per cent were uncomfortable to admit to using the system and 20 per cent would judge those who had used it as ‘desperate’.

Hannah Morrish, Education Community Manager at The Student Room has said the reason for this is clear: “Clearing reinforces that despite their best efforts they were not good enough and missed the goal they had been working towards over the last year” and “that can be really disheartening.”

One University of Manchester student disagrees, and is happy with her experience with the clearing system. She said: “I used clearing because I missed a grade and wasn’t happy with the offers I had. My first choice still accepted me but they put me on a different campus (in an entirely different county) and the modules I could do were really limited because of it.”

I had to decide: “Do I stick with the safe option I don’t want, or try and find something better?” Whilst deciding to reject any offers was a tough decision, “especially as I’d been told it was really difficult to get a decent place through clearing, it was a lot easier to use than I thought.”

“It was pretty quick call to an operator to find out if they’d accept you, and then you’d get put through or called back by a tutor to do a quick telephone interview. Even that was pretty painless, they seemed to just want to know you were actually interested in the subject and weren’t just panicking and applying for everything.”

“The tutors seemed happy to have filled the places as well, not like they were judging you for having got in through clearing”.

She also stated that whilst “I wouldn’t say I’m embarrassed to have gone through clearing, it wasn’t the first thing I mentioned when I met people once I got there.”

“I wouldn’t describe anyone as desperate for going through clearing. I don’t think anyone else should be judged for rethinking their options last minute.

“There’s a stigma about clearing that people think you deserve the place less because you didn’t do a formal interview, didn’t work as hard for it, or you only considered the university later. [That is] definitely not the case for everyone.”

UCAS have refused to comment on the original article written by The Huffington Post UK.

TEDx Conference to be Held at the University of Manchester

Written by Alexandra Bickell on . Posted in News.

TEDxUniversityOfManchester will be returning to the University of Manchester campus on Saturday 16th April with a day-long conference titled ‘Infinite Possibilities’. The popular TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) talks operate under the tagline “Ideas Worth Sharing” and their short, snappy yet informative approach has proved to be extremely popular with experts and the general public alike.

This event is intended to create an “immersive and engaging” day for everyone attending and the organisers hope that their guests have the credentials to enable this.

Steve Rawling, the first speaker of the day, has over 25 years of experience in the media industry and is currently a ‘creative leadership programme trainer’ for the BBC. He is known as the “Infinite Storyteller” for his gift of the gab and his role is to train media professionals to develop a similar talent. Steve’s talk will aim to show people “how to be more creative” and to “inspire, motivate and influence” his audience.

Ash Dykes, 25, is a modern-day explorer and experienced motivational speaker and has survived extreme conditions over the course of his travels. From trekking solo across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to more recently travelling through the jungles of Madagascar on foot, he has seen more adventure by age 25 than most people will in a lifetime. His lecture will discuss these daredevil journeys in a session named “Ash Dykes: Against the Odds.”

M J Hyland is a novelist, essayist and current lecturer at the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester. She will also be speaking as a guest, on her experience with the incurable condition multiple sclerosis. After her diagnosis with the disease in 2008, Hyland began to attempt to raise awareness of it through multiple media channels, including radio interviews and magazine articles. She has also published numerous highly successful fiction and non-fiction works on the subject, several of which have been shortlisted for prestigious prizes.

These accredited guests are just three of the speakers that have been announced so far—there are several more to come and extra information will be released over the next week.

Tickets will be released at 12pm on Saturday 9th April and are expected to sell out very quickly—over 4,000 people have registered interest on Facebook alone. The venue has been confirmed as Rise, 235 Deansgate in Manchester and further details of the day will be provided with the tickets.

For more information, search “TEDxUniversityOfManchester – Infinite Possibilities” or to buy tickets visit https://www.ted.com/.

 

Zines & the power of self-publication

Written by Madeleine Jones on . Posted in Music.

“So, er, what’s a zine?” The question I hear from friends when they’re informed that I make zines. They’re right to ask—what is this strange thing that I produce?

To get the tedious basics out of the way, the word ‘zine’ comes from the end of ‘magazine’, hence why it’s pronounced ‘zeen’ (NOT ‘zyne’!). So they are, in effect, mini magazines. Except that they’re not as glossy or ‘professional’ as magazines. They are rough and ready, handmade, do-it-yourself, simple paper zines. They are inherently anti-professional and pro-mistakes; unedited documentations of human experiences and opinions which, in my view, have the purpose of finding like-minded others to share relevant information in various formats.

Though self-published pamphlets can be traced as far back as the 18th century, the tangible concept of a zine didn’t exist until the science fiction cult of the mid-twentieth century. It wasn’t long before the 1970s hit and zines saw an explosion in punk music and culture. Zines of course sat perfectly with punk’s anti-authority, do-it-yourself, take-power-into-your-own-hands ethos, and remain an integral part of punk’s underground to this day, which is what led to my personal discovery of zines.

My first exposure to zines was finding them at Cardiff record shops, particularly the tiny, now-defunct Ghost Town Records. I honestly didn’t really get them at first. I would peer at them next to the counter whilst paying for Black Flag or X-ray Spex records or whatever else and think “what’s the point in them when you can use the internet to read about music?” Though they were cheap, I was normally too confused and somewhat intimidated by them to buy one. But I could tell that they were important.

It wasn’t until my living in Manchester that I understood and appreciated zine culture as a whole. This is partly thanks to the university’s Other Sounds society once providing links to Salford Zine Library (in Nexus Art Café) and Manchester LGBT zine library (next to Sidney Street café) via one of their Facebook events. I checked out these places and experienced the world of zines beyond punk.

There were zines on everything. Anything you can imagine being important to someone, there was a zine on it, from frivolous zines about cats to heavy intellectual zines on globalisation. Flicking through them, they seemed so unabashed, so unedited, so unconventional, so raw. A lot of zines were on topics you could never picture in mainstream and/or conventional media outlets, hence why a lot of them are from ‘marginalised’ voices. There are zine distros, zine fests and other entites involved in this massive hidden culture.

This coincided with a Ghost Town Records employee asking me to contribute to a zine he was making. I quickly wrote one piece but then realised I had enough to say to make a zine of my own. But one problem: I didn’t know how to make one. So we ended up making our zines together, him essentially showing me how to put one together. In reality, you don’t need anyone to show you, there are YouTube videos and blogs aplenty on how to make zines. In the stage of finalising the zines, I became paranoid about people reading my zine, to which he said “remember, it’s not going to be marked”.

This was a telling statement. As university students, we are painfully used to being assessed on most things we put to paper. The education system and academic life wires us to think all of our greatest thoughts and ideas should be marked, graded, and awarded, even on the creative side of things. When actually, you could just shove them in a zine. Why not? Sod establishment standards! The idea of ‘self-publishing’ can be a difficult concept to get your head around – it definitely took me a while. But actually, there’s probably a lot of things you’re already ‘doing yourself’ without realising. I might have learnt this through punk’s DIY ethos, but that ethos exists in most other subcultures, genres, ‘scenes’, and many other non-musical creative and political endeavours. The tools of self-empowerment can be gained in all sorts of places.

Moreover, the total freedom in zine-making is blissful. When writing for conventional and/or mainstream outlets, it can be somewhat irksome to have your writing go through a screening process and edited. Not that editors are inherently bad (probably), they just do their job, which they’re normally great at, and can end up improving parts of one’s writing. But at the same time, one reason zine-making is so cherished and self-empowering is because nothing will be edited by anyone but its creator. Not one sentence, word or syllable. No word limit or anything.

Likewise, once something’s published in a more mainstream outlet, the writer doesn’t have much control over who sees it. Though that’s often the point, wanting to reach as many people as possible. But with zines, it can be more powerful to be selective about who’s looking at what you’ve created. This is why zines tend to have highly personal stories and experiences from their authors. The nature of zine distribution means it allows zinesters to be protective over their zines and more likely to directly reach the intended type of reader.

This isn’t an over-romanticization of zines—like any creative endeavour, it comes with its costs. Spending money on things like marker pens, an extended stapler, a scalpel, a cutting board, too many pritt sticks to count, and of course, printing costs (pro tip: U-Print, the print shop, does 1p printing on Wednesdays) become necessary. But most of these are found in cheap stationary and art shops (again, the ‘quality’ of the zine is irrelevant). Yes, it involves money, but the results are so rewarding. There’s nothing like selling a zine at a local gig, say, and someone reading it whilst standing in front of you, wanting to discuss what you’ve written. Or when someone compliments the layout of an interview you did with a band.

The aim, though perhaps slightly ironic, in writing this feature for a conventional media outlet like The Mancunion is to say: you can take power into your own hands. The self-published printed word is very much alive.

Madeleine’s zine is called Chisel Tip, and you can find more information on it here.

Vamos!

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Like a new book, El Gato Negro, so recently opened, has retained that crisp, fresh smell that wakens your senses with expectation. Nestled amongst the highbrow boutiques of King Street, the restaurant’s three floors exude a come-hither candlelit glow. Passers-by peer in with the curiosity of a cat, enviously pulling their coats tighter in response to the lingering winter chill.

Our waitress was warm and inviting, said warmth rivaling that created by the dim lighting and the murmured ebbs and flow of chatter. Exposed brick and red leather upholstery was reminiscent of those vibrant scenes found in the Catalonia and the Basque country.

Our waitress’s knowledge of dishes and drinks was vast, and as such, her recommendations made for exceptional partnerships between fine wines and (even) finer foods.

Unlike so many restaurants, El Gato Negro does not conceal its chefs behind closed doors but rather gives them their own ‘table’ within the dining area. We were sitting right in the thick of it, facing the very men who were to feed us.

There is no distinguishing between front or back of house staff here, instead they merge into one entity in spectacular fashion. From the moment the finishing touches were applied to each of our plates, they were handed to us, not by our waitress, but the very hands that had so carefully created them.

The contents of these plates, however, is where El Gato Negro really excels. Bursts of flavour, these mini masterpieces are a delight to devour. Whether big or small, each dish is carefully designed so that each element complements one another beautifully. The star of the show is most definitely their squid with black ink rice, lemon and parsley salad.

Never have I ever experienced such an exquisitely holistic sensation from a morsel of food. Chargrilled over smouldering charcoal and presented on a bed of ebony rice, I resented that I had to share. Their Morcilla scotch eggs with mushroom duxelle, apple purée, and aioli are also not to be missed. A constant sell-out, these aren’t your typical Northern snacks but a beautiful marriage between British and Spanish culture. Similar delights of this marriage are strewn throughout the menu.

With such fantastic predecessors, dessert is not to be forgotten. To really sample El Gato Negro’s sweet tooth, their selection of desserts is a must. An ode to Britain, their Poached Yorkshire rhubarb with vanilla cream and crumble topping artfully treads the line between sweet and sour.

What really sets El Gato Negro above the rest, however, is their skilled understanding of colourful, fresh ingredients, which when fused with perfect seasoning, successfully seduce your taste buds into blissful submission. Moreover, credit should be given to the practically seamless service from chefs and waiters alike.

Although prices here might slightly exceed the general student budget, the restaurant is the perfect choice for any special occasion, or simply as an excuse to treat yourself to a release from the monotony of average student dining.

Manchester’s hidden treasures

Written by Perisha Kudhail on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Whether you’re nearing the end of your university journey or the end of your year of being a fresher, there’s no doubt you’ll have gotten to know by now that Manchester is a pretty weird and wonderful place to live. From restaurants to museums, the city caters to all tastes. Off the beaten track of the Northern Quarter’s streets however, Manchester has a treasure trove of hidden gems just crying out to be discovered.

One particularly exquisite gem is the Manchester Jewish Museum (main image). This former Spanish synagogue on Cheetham Hill Road is a unique window into Jewish culture and history. With events running all year round, you can even invest in an annual membership or choose to pay a small fraction of the price with a student discount.

Cost: £

Photo: Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Our next jewel is the Elizabeth Gaskell’s House on Plymouth Grove. For those of you who don’t already know, Gaskell was a Victorian novelist, praised by Dickens himself. A short walk from Oxford Road, there really is no excuse to miss this insight into the life of one of England’s most prized writers. Once you’ve strolled around the house and gardens, there’s a cute little café where you can sip tea and emulate Elizabeth herself.

Cost: £

Photo: ccfca.org.uk

The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and is a great place to check out the latest Eastern artwork. With a lively and innovative programme of exhibitions, this attraction provides a unique insight into this oriental culture. From graffiti to portraits, there is no shortage of diversity, so go and have a gander.

Check out the exhibitions here.

Cost: £

Photo: Gallery of Costume’s website

Although on the surface Fallowfield may seem like a studentville, littered with takeaways and average student bars, it also harbours some culture if you look a little further afield. The Gallery of Costume in Plattfield’s Park hosts centuries of fashion and innovation, all in one place. With free entry, the gallery makes for a great outing when you’re strapped for cash. With pop-up shops and cafés, you might even leave with more than a little inspiration for your next trend of choice.

Cost: £

Serene and peaceful outings aside, Breakout Manchester offers a live escape room experience, where you have minutes to complete challenges in teams. A fab little gem and something a little bit different to do with your mates. Prepare to have your bonds tested in this high pressure but thrilling escapade.

Book your places now!

Cost: £

Photo: Craft and Design Centre’s website

 

To get your creative juices flowing, why not head down to the Northern Quarter’s Manchester’s Craft and Design Centre. As they’re currently celebrating their 30th anniversary, now is the ideal time to visit. Whether you want to acquire a new skill at one of their workshops or simply admire the labours of talented craftsmen, this is a hub for inspiration.

Cost: £ 

Photo: Manchester Astronomical Society’s website

Everybody’s starry-eyed! For a night-time treasure, the university’s Godlee Observatory offers the opportunity to see a completely different aspect of Manchester. Whether you’re after a romantic alternative or simply a chance to see the skies at night, the Observatory is probably the shiniest of these hidden gems. What’s more, it’s absolutely free!

Cost: £

 

Preview: Economics for Everyone Conference 2016

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

The Post Crash Economics Society at the University of Manchester is holding a weekend-long conference entitled ‘Economics for Everyone’ from 16th-17th April at University Place, with some of the world’s leading economists.

The conference is open to the public, students and economists, with a selection of events directed at a range of different levels of economic understanding. The event aims to highlight Ha Joon Chang’s belief that “Economics is too important to be left to the experts”.

On their website the organisers claim: “the conference isn’t a typical conference where you go along to watch some experts speak, ask a question, and go home. We have designed events to be interactive, more like a conversation than a lecture. We want to create a forum which is accessible to everyone, that starts conversations between people who would never normally meet and most importantly which is fun and stimulating.”

They add that they believe all UK citizens  should “have a basic knowledge of economics and the confidence to use it both as a requirement for democracy to function effectively and for our own wellbeing. Understanding a bit about economics and fostering a civil society in which it is vigorously discussed can help us feel more in control of our lives”.

The events will create spaces where attendees will be able to discuss and share experiences of the economy, creating a forum which is accessible to everybody. The aim is to spark conversations between people who would not normally come across each other.

This is the second year of the conference, with last year’s according to organisers being a great success that “helped to educate the public” and they “want to continue with that good work.”

There will be over twenty events over the weekend, organised into six different themes: debt, inequality, the EU, economic history, emerging markets and devolution.

Speakers will include: Steve Keen, Vicky Pryce, Richard Wilkinson, Frances Coppla, Engelbert Stockhammer and Andrew Lilico. These speakers will be involved in a range of lectures, discussions and workshops about the issues they believe matter to you.

The conference also aims to challenge the traditional lecturer/audience divide and the organisers want to focus on audience participation, encouraging them to contribute, challenge and debate the different views presented.

Tickets will be £7/8 for a day ticket and £12/14 for the whole weekend, including lunch. If you are unable to pay for a ticket, the organisers encourage you to get in touch with them via email and social media as they “want this conference to be accessible to everyone”.

For more information visit the conference website: boombustboombust.com 

And for tickets go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/ economics-for-everyone- conference-2016-tickets- 21785878148