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Year: 2018

Photo: Ella Milburn

Why was there no official LGBT+ bloc at Reclaim The Night?

Written by Anon on . Posted in Opinion.

It was my third ‘Reclaim the Night.’ It was supposed to be the crowning jewel in my university life, so that when I graduated in about six months, I jumped into the world of work happily knowing that I had spent three cold Thursday evenings yelling about street harassment and sexual assault, whilst smiling very widely (with all teeth!) at men on the Curry Mile who stared as we marched.

I jest — it was not the ‘crowning jewel’ in my university life, but it was definitely one of the highlights and it would be my last one at the University of Manchester. I came expecting to join the LGBTQ+ bloc… and there was nothing. No banner, no designated area for us to stand.

Now, I know this may sound entitled, but that was how it had always gone in previous years. People were corralled toward their designated areas and your banner was there waiting for you and for (un)lucky minions to hold up as you marched.

But this year, it felt more of a mess, and there were fewer people too. Everyone milled about aimlessly, and there seemed to be fewer stewards and fewer people too. There were only three bloc, a confused steward told us, Women’s, Family, and Mixed.

There was no bloc for us, even though the leaflet produced by the Student’s Union for LGBTQ+ History Month told us otherwise. And Reclaim the Night is a Students’ Union event — the right hand does not know was the left hand is doing, clearly.

In 2017, there was a designated bloc for Women, Family and Youths, LGBTQ+, Muslim, and Mixed groups. There is most definitely the demand for it, and if advertised correctly, it could really have increased this year’s meagre turn-out.

But in the end, there was no bloc for us. The stewards were confused, and suggested we march at the back of the Mixed bloc, that is, at the back of the parade. Some of us did end up marching towards the back whilst others of us tried to form our own ‘bloc’ in-between the Family bloc (what happened to the ‘and Youth’ bit?) and the Mixed bloc.

It did not work out well: with no wide banners and little organisation or strictness from the stewards, the Mixed bloc overtook the renegade LGBTQ+ bloc (all seven people or so) and by the end of the march, they, and the tiny Family bloc, were subsumed into the Mixed bloc.

Where were our Reclaim the Night banners? If they were lost, could not more be made? They were sturdy things, reused each year. If we — members of the LGBTQ+ bloc — had known that were to be none, we could have used the LGBTQ+ Society’s personal hand-painted banner, but due to miscommunication, that banner ended up towards the back of the mixed group.

So what’s going on? Disorganisation and lack of care, at a guess. Attendance at Reclaim the Night has fallen year on year, despite the Students’ Union trying to argue otherwise. ‘Alternative facts,’ anyone?

Anecdotally, I can say that I only knew about Reclaim the Night because of two things: a) I know it happens at the end of February and b) the Students’ Union’s charming pamphlet about LGBTQ+ History Month told me when it was happening (a truth) and that there would be an LGBTQ+ bloc (a lie). There seemed to be a lack of a Facebook campaign, and the advertising inside the physical Students’ Union seems to be focused on selling T-shirts.

So who do I, an anonymous angry columnist, blame? Why, the people I elected of course. The Executive Committee of the Students’ Union and the part-time LGBQ and Trans Officers… I shall be thinking very carefully about how I vote this election season.

One of the reasons we elect those people is to represent our interests. One of my sole interests is to not be forgotten about, to be represented.

I could imagine the part-time Trans Officers quite easily advocating for having a Trans bloc, or the part-time BME Officers advocating for a BME bloc. If in 2017, there was a Family and Youth Bloc, a Muslim Bloc, and an LGBTQ+ bloc, surely there would be the need?

I imagine all one has to do is ask, after all, there is a clear precedent. And all one needs is a banner, a megaphone, and a place to stand in the parade. They could then advertise this to the groups they represent, bring more people onboard with the aims and the community that surround Reclaim the Night!

What is Reclaim the Night about if not to bring more people into the discussion around sexual harassment and assault, to make one feel not alone, and to encourage a further dialogue? And especially with already marginalised groups (LGBQ, Trans, BME), does this discussion not become even more important, that community oh so valuable?

So why forget about us?

Photo: Naparazzi @ Flickr

Return of Stokes

Written by Arthur Salisbury on . Posted in Sport.

Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder suspended from the Ashes for decking some bloke outside a club in Bristol, has returned to cricket this week in the one-day series against New Zealand. While I welcome this — heck, he shouldn’t have even been suspended in the first place — I am uneasy about the hype that surrounds him. While I can’t deny he’s a wonderful and watchable cricketer, the unconditional enthusiasm for the man is a symptom of a sport in crisis.

Cricket in 2018 does not mean as much as it meant at the turn of the millennium. The last team that mattered was Strauss’s Ashes winners in 2010/11, but the last team that really mattered was Vaughan’s in 2005. The reasons for this erosion of importance include (but are not limited to) the decline of the West Indies, the bastardisation of the game in the form of Twenty20, two-match Test series with no narrative, the devaluing of all but four Test-playing nations, and a steep decline in youth participation only partly offset by immigration from South Asia.

White working-class involvement in cricket is at crisis point. Between 1938 and 2006, Test cricket was the preserve of either the BBC or Channel 4. Since then, Sky Sports — and more recently BT Sport — have kept the game behind a paywall, preventing people from falling in love. In 2014, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s own research showed that, among 7-15-year-olds, only 2 per cent ranked cricket as their favourite sport.

None of the England side in 2018 has ever played Test cricket on free-to-view television. It is in this context that Ben Stokes must be understood.

Ben Stokes has defied the odds to get where he is, but it will be even harder for working-class kids growing up now to make something for themselves from cricket. The only reliable route nowadays is a private scholarship, but this is hardly an efficient system — and what of the friends the recipient leaves behind? Councils and schools have been under a lot of budgetary pressure, and it is easier to cut cricket than it is to cut football.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out what the effect of this is. From 1960 to 1990, at least 60 per cent of the England team had been educated at a state school. In 2013, this figure had dropped to a third. Cricket is being turned into an aristocratic sport; probably, that’s what they want.

But you don’t need me to tell you this because you know it. Ben Stokes is the flickering embers of the post-war social-democratic dream, of social mobility and class pride. And while we should, of course, celebrate him, we should not let him distract us from the crisis that makes cricketers like him few and scattered. The most recent Ashes series was a chilling vision of our future — posh, boring, inept.

To the sober student

Written by Aneesa Piracha on . Posted in Lifestyle.

On moving to Manchester, it became clear very quickly that drinking was at the core of student life, as it is in many other places. Most socials and university events, during freshers week and beyond, are centred around the pub. From bar crawls to nights out, drinking has become a cornerstone of university culture.

I came to university never having had a drink, unlike the majority of British teenagers, and had no intention of changing that. Coming from a religious background, drinking wasn’t the norm in my house, although it was, of course, perfectly normal for everyone else.

The amount of alcohol consumption at university reaches an entirely different level. The freedoms and lack of restrictions at university mean students are free to drink and go out with no boundaries, so it is entirely natural for that to be exactly what everyone does.

For those who don’t drink, this can lead to experiencing a sort of reverse culture shock. Somehow the culture you have grown up in feels alien and you are seemingly caught between two norms. Although it is perfectly possible to go out and join a pub crawl without drinking, it makes it a whole lot easier if you do. Don’t get me wrong, going out is fun, and it is easy for some to have fun without drinking.

However, for those who simply do not want to go to a club, a pub, or meet for drinks, or don’t find it fun at all, there is surprisingly little scope to socialise. There are of course cafes, restaurants, cinemas, and other opportunities for entertainment, but drinking is by far the most done thing.

When being sober puts a strain on your social life, a pressure to drink can build, and force students to conform to the general lifestyle of those around them. You can find yourself straddling between two sets of ideals and cultures, which are both inherently your own, but apparent antitheses of each other.

When struggling to navigate a sober social life, remember that there are many other students dealing with the same pressures and struggles. It is perfectly possible to enjoy yourself without alcohol and to find others who share similar interests. Although it can be difficult to embark on a night out without the added pressure to drink, finding a good network of supportive and outgoing friends can make the process a whole lot easier.

There is a huge range of clubs and societies whose primary interest is not drinking, and surrounding yourself with like-minded people, who may also like a night out, is your first step to creating your own social university life.

Review: Stroppy

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Theatre.

Stroppy is a new play written and directed by Chloe Weare, described by her as “an anthem for the girls who think they might be angry but aren’t completely sure”. It absolutely lives up to this and goes beyond.

Stroppy is organised creative chaos, following the musings of four 16-year-old friends going through their lives in the 1970s, and the inner monologue of a 16-year-old in 2002.

This ensemble of five actresses portray each distinct character and each lovable flaw. Mary, played by Orla Quilligan, thinks her name is improved by changing the spelling to ‘Mari’ and is planning a singing career, oblivious to her lack of singing ability. T, played by Kate Gabriel, was hilarious and unabashed as she garbled her monologues through strawberries dripping in cream that flicked in all directions.

Ellie Klouda played Lisa, most focused on the next snack and admitting that she protects herself by overeating. Marlene, played by Izzy Lewis, is the experienced one of the group, qualified because she’s had sex and given a blowjob in a car park.

These girls talk about everything from the struggles of shaving pubic hair, to working out the ins and outs of tampon use, to trifle.

Over the course of the play, their secrets are revealed. That the sex you’re having isn’t as great as you say, that you didn’t start your period until you were 15,  that your teacher sexually assaulted you. Why do we keep things from people that we supposedly share everything with?

I was dubious about the single ‘2002 character’ Red (Sophie Murray) but there was no disconnect. The character added another dimension and demonstrated the real truth that the isolation of young women may be in a different form but it has persisted over the years nevertheless.

Aside from the 70s clothing and well-placed references like the Jackie magazine, the entire performance demonstrated that we are stuck in a vicious circle of silences, when in fact we share similar struggles.

Stroppy was a whirlwind of truths, some funny, and some uncomfortable, one moment the audience was laughing, and the next silenced by a moment of pain — everyday pain that people dismiss. The individual monologues worked well interspersed with the interactions of the friends. I appreciated the reality that so much said among friends gets lost in translation.

The script flowed naturally, with the characters referencing and returning to each other’s stories as you would in normal conversation. A very genuine and enjoyable piece of writing, performed by an incredibly talented female cast.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Shifting sands: the future of EU-Africa relations

Written by Francesca McClimont on . Posted in Opinion.

The European Affairs society hosted a fascinating talk on Wednesday the 21st of February about the future of EU-African relations.

With the advent of Brexit in the coming years, informing ourselves on the future of Europe’s trade agreements with the rest of the world becomes increasingly important.  Young people engaging with this is especially vital as we are the next generation to control how Brexit forges its path in the fields of domestic and international relations.

The first half of the talk was held by Dr Sophia Price, head of Politics and International Relations at Leeds Beckett University.  She gave the audience a brief history of the EU’s relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries over the course of the twentieth century up until the present day.

As Dr Price detailed a century’s worth of EU-ACP relations it became clear that aid provision to poorer countries has come hand in hand with new conventions that have been signed in order to open up the world market to developing countries.  How trade liberalisation by EU-ACP trade partnerships bolstered many of these countries’ economies was also addressed.

Aid also played a key role in this development: with every revision of the Lomé Convention came an increase in aid to ACP countries from the equivalent of three billion Euros in 1975 to 8.5 billion in 1986.

What would be the impact on aid provision with Brexit, she asked?  Britain has always been at the forefront of aid legislation and is the third largest contributor to the EU-ACP aid, she concluded her part of the talk with a worry for developing countries: that many doubt that this gap in aid provision created by Brexit will be filled by remaining EU states.

This speculation to me seems to be particularly accurate, considering that many of these EU nations such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece are still in financial crisis. Unless the UK decides to contribute to aid independently, which I somehow doubt.  It’s also worth considering that the question of aid is very fragile in a post-colonial era — particularly if the UK is standing alone after Brexit.

Its actions may be more closely scrutinised internationally, especially since many still feel resentment towards former colonial powers, such as the British Empire. International confidence in aid has also been shaken in the light of recent scandals, such as the recent revelation that aid workers paid prostitutes in Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake.

This threat, in turn, has provided ammunition to factions in the UK government and the tabloid press that have always been opposed to aid. It seems likely that Brexit may not only isolate Britain with regard to European and global trade markets but also its humanitarian influence.

The second speaker of the talk was Dr Peg Murray-Evans, from the University of York, who is currently writing a book about the formation of trade partnerships between the EU and ACP countries and the agency these poorer countries have within these negotiations. Detailing that popular opinion is that Britain will create an almost identical partnership with ACP countries as the EU has now, their access to Britain’s market will, therefore, be very similar.

There will, however, be less flexibility for their exports to access the UK. She also emphasized the importance of the EU not being protectionist, and how crucial it is that the EU and Britain do not become more protectionist as a result of Brexit.  It was hard not to agree with her on this, but isn’t it worth asking ourselves whether Brexit will really open up Britain to the wider world or, as it seems to me, be a protectionist act in itself?

The talk was concluded with a question and answer session where the audience brought up several interesting topics.  One of the most definite answers from the speakers was that prices of ACP imports into the UK would not increase, but many of the other responses came as mere speculations.

In this instance, it was poignant how uncertain the future is as even specialists in their field struggle to answer questions regarding what lies ahead.

Dr Price pointed out that the renegotiation of the Cotonou Agreement in 2020 coincides with Brexit.  This will mean that Europe will have to completely rethink its relationship with Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.  It strikes me that we live in a world where globalisation has led to every continent depending on another.  Future negotiations will determine how these relationships will develop and who will thrive as a result of these connections.

‘Tinder’ for flatmates

Written by Ed Bonsey on . Posted in Lifestyle.

‘Campusboard‘ is a community that allows university students to trade pre-loved items with each other in-person — often saving large amounts on textbooks, and earning cash on unwanted items.

They have recently launched a new feature to help students find flatmates, spare rooms, and accommodation close to university. In order to sign up, you must have a verified university email address — as long as you have one of those, then it’s completely free to use.

So why flat-shares?

“Student rent is growing by as much as 10% year-on-year, and housing shortages are a real worry. One of our goals is to make student housing more accessible by allowing students to make more efficient use of existing housing. But looking for people to share a house with or to fill a spare room can be a daunting task – especially in a new town or at a new university. With our flat-share community we provide a simple way for students to advertise their spare rooms or share ‘room wanted’ profiles in one place” explains Ana Ciobanu, the Head of Business Development for Campusboard.

She adds, “Campusboard’s new flat-share feature also fits perfectly within our existing community; where we help students connect directly with each other in a safe and reliable manner.”

If a student has a spare room available, they can quickly create a listing for free, describing everything their available room has to offer.

If students are looking for a house share, they can quickly create a profile to give prospective flatmates a great idea of who they are — as well as the chance to describe their impressive dish-washing skills! You can see the necessary info about a potential flatmate and then decide who is the best connection for you.

As CEO and founder, Seva Baskin explains, “It cuts out a great deal of hassle, and students can find flatmates and house shares that actually suit them. All of the rooms available on Campusboard are posted by verified university students. So students can be sure they are connecting with real people.”

Who are Campusboard?

Campusboard was initially started at the University of Exeter by a group of friends who grew tired of overpriced textbooks and the lack of an easy way to trade unused items with other students. Since launching they have helped students across the UK trade thousands of items and save over £75k on textbooks alone. They felt it was the perfect time to offer their active community something new.

Campusboard has already received some great feedback on the new flat-share feature. Seva explains, “One student was ecstatic after she managed to find a flatmate in just 25 minutes. It turned out to be a friend who she had no idea was looking for a place. It feels great to receive such positive feedback and we can’t wait for more students to be able to use it.”

Campusboard.co.uk is now ready to fully launch their flat-share community on all UK campuses.

Photo: magicatwork @ Flickr

False intimacy in social media adverts

Written by Aisha Al-Janabi on . Posted in Opinion.

Online lifestyle gurus, or influencers, can reach a large and varied audience instantaneously, which has naturally meant they are approached by brands for advertisements. The adverts or content created is often seen by more people than television adverts or billboards. As a result, perhaps there should be stricter regulations in place.

In this new age of advertisements, the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) have had to create and update advertising laws; influencers now need to be explicit if their content is an ad, but there are some products I feel should not be advertised in this way regardless.

Kim Kardashian West has 108 million Instagram followers, nearly twice the UK population, meaning she possesses a great deal of advertising power and value. At the beginning of this year, Kim recommended using detox teas from the ‘Flat Tummy Tea Company’, a company which Kim says are “all about getting women back on track” after their indulgences during Christmas.

Besides the social issue of suggesting that women specifically should want to lose weight, it is the promotion of a medically harmful product that concerns me. While Kim is daring to bare all in her underwear, she is not bearing the health risks that come with detox teas as explicitly.

It may be 100 per cent natural, but these natural products do have effects on our bodies. This detox tea contains senna, which is made from the leaves and fruit of the senna plant and is used as a laxative to treat constipation – not so glamorous. The long-term use of this can stop bowels from functioning properly; it is risks such as these that are not mentioned in the small print of Instagram posts, and which will have damaging effects.

While Kim can reach the masses, I feel influencers, whose lifestyle and job description is to influence our own, can have a greater impact on what we purchase. A false intimacy is created when we engage with influencers online; we have unparalleled access to their daily routines from running mundane errands to going to bed. Amongst the stream of their daily goings-on are elegant flat-lays of product placements and recommendations, which I admit I have been influenced by.

‘Natural Cycles’ has been cropping up across my various social media accounts. It is an app which can be used as a natural form of contraception — although I am hesitant to call it a contraceptive. Through measuring a woman’s temperature daily, an algorithm is used to calculate fertile and non-fertile days, hence when it is safe to have unprotected sex without risk of pregnancy.

According to the designers, our body temperature increases by around 0.45 ͦC when ovulating, which would create a ‘red day’: a day to use protection. However, a study in 2000 by the National Institute of Environmental Health found that women are always potentially fertile at any point in their menstrual cycle, contradicting the claims the app depends upon.

Launched in 2014, the app is now certified in Europe but is not regulated by the British Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency, a fact not mentioned by sponsored ads. Unlike medical forms of contraception, the app has not had to undergo years of rigorous clinical trials to prove its accuracy and efficacy.

Several social media influencers, especially those advocating ‘healthy lifestyles’, are participating in paid sponsorships with the company, including Carly Rowena and Shona Vertue. While damning their experience of the oral contraceptive pill, which was first produced in 1960 and revolutionised women’s sexual freedom, they emphasise their new found liberation from using this app.

These influencers are not doing follow-up posts, just one-off blog posts holding their new pink thermometer, which raises the question: are they using ‘Natural Cycles’ as a long-term form of contraception, or is it just until they receive their paycheck?

To use this app, you need an incredibly regulated lifestyle. There is an endless list as to what may affect the reliability of the app: hangovers, stress, travelling, and a regular period — something I am not blessed with — for proper use.

Some sources mention that getting a couple of hours more, or less, sleep can cause the app to fail, which is not what I would consider liberating. These ‘terms of use’ are not being emphasised within the adverts created by online influencers.

When promoting Natural Cycles, a discussion is not being had about different contraceptive methods available and the benefits, or problems, they each have that need to be considered when deciding which to use.

Influencers can use their platforms to talk about topics such as sex and contraception, which provide a more comfortable and realistic discussion to the awkward and humorous sex-ed classes that I’m sure we all enjoyed during school.  These should be impartial or at least have the aim to educate, not advertise and profit from, because these could have lasting damning effects.

I will always love the Kardashians and other influencers, but some products and topics should not become adverts.

Photo Credit: www.boohoo.com

Fashion Profile of the Week: The Kamani Family

Written by Ella Searle on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

This week’s fashion profile is based a lot closer to home than the distant catwalks of Paris, Milan, and New York. Rather, thanks to the Kamani family, Manchester has been placed firmly on the map as the home of one of the biggest fast-fashion empires.

Dubbed the ‘Boohoo Billionaires’, the Kamani’s are a self-made success story, going from humble beginnings to owning multi-million-pound fashion brands Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, and Nasty Gal, boasting an estimated £1 billion pound shared fortune.

The Kamani’s fast fashion empire began with father Mahmud Kamani, who began selling handbags on a Manchester market stall, to later move to establish wholesaling giant Pinstripe, where he supplied textiles for the likes of New Look, Primark, and Topshop, and became an expert in his field.

It was at Pinstripe where Kamani met Carol Kane — now Joint Chief Executive of Boohoo — and both recognised the huge potential the internet offered for fashion retailing and e-commerce. It was out of this shared excitement that Boohoo was born.

Their contacts in the local rag trade is what truly benchmarked Boohoo, as they revolutionized the lead time for garments hitting their site, rushing the hottest celebrity trends onto their site within a two-week period to completely re-haul the design process used by traditional high street retailers.

Their business model is evidently succesful, with profits doubling to £31 million on sales that grew by 51 per cent to almost £300 million in 2017, showing how, despite scorn from traditional retailers, the numbers don’t lie. Boohoo is now worth 3 times that of traditional retail giant Debenhams.

Yet, the entrepreneurial spirit of the Kamani’s doesn’t end with their father Mahmud, but rather they have made their fashion empire a family affair. Brothers Umar and Adam founded PrettyLittleThing in 2012, using the same fast fashion model as their father’s label, but aimed at a bolder, more fashion-orientated customer.

Their marketing strategy involving celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Instagram influencers to promote their brand has boosted PrettyLittleThing’s success to be crowned the fastest growing company on the web in 2017. This saw  the company be acquired for a significant £3.3 million deal by Boohoo in 2016.

The fruits of the Kamani’s success is clear, they are able to uniquely relate to their following of young, cash strapped customers keen for a fashion fix and are un-paralleled in the speed in which they offer their trend led product.

Furthermore, their rags to riches story is boosted by their online presence, where the younger brothers flaunt their lavish lifestyle and fashion-forward style on Instagram, creating more allure to their brand as they mix their low-cost items with iconic designer brands.

Looking forward for the family, it seems to hold only more growth, with the recent launch of boohooMAN led by youngest brother Samir and Boohoo’s acquisition of Nastygal, it seems Manchester will remain the Northern powerhouse for fast fashion for many years to come.

Review: A Game of Two Halves

Written by Lily Brittain on . Posted in Theatre.

Joe Large’s A Game of Two Halves was a fantastically written play about the tensions between two couples and the awkward dinner party that ensues when Maddie and Brendan (Becca Hatch and Charlie Diver) invite their old friend Martin (Lucio Gray) and his new girlfriend Bethany (Scarlett Gorman) around for dinner. Large’s dialogue is sparky and well-written and realised beautifully on stage by the talented cast.

Hatch and Diver played a well-worn couple very believably, with some particularly funny moments between the two that highlight this. Conversely, moments of awkwardness and tension, both between Gray and Gorman as a couple and between the two pairs, highlighted for the audience what was going to unfold — a battle of wits and sarcasm that kept us constantly on our toes.

With the intelligent directing of Jack Allwright and the talent of the performers. Perhaps the only thing to pick up on was Bethany’s lack of lines in parts, where particular moments could have done with her having more to say. Despite this, Gorman was still able to capture just how awkward she felt the entire time wonderfully on stage.

The tense second act and an unexpected ending had everyone sat on the edge of their seats, eagerly watching to see what was going to unfold before our eyes. Ultimately the play was able to inspire both humour and terror. A really enjoyable watch.

Review: Yellow Icing

Written by Jessica Wiehler on . Posted in Theatre.

The first show of the Drama Society’s 2018 MIFTA season is unshakably responsible for setting the bar for the following productions. With the shortest rehearsal period and the most equipped venue, Yellow Icing was faced with uncapped potentiality and a short window of opportunity in which to explore it. With a run beginning in the middle of February, I saw the first and final performances.

Running at around an hour, Yellow Icing is the first performed work of Rory Calland, a final year student at the University. The play handles themes of grief, decay, and the often-unappreciated difference between giving up and letting go. The ambiguous, disjointed, and explicit language of the play courts these ideas in a way that leaves you with a taste of befuddlement in the possibility of the end of existence.

Director Ollie Norton-Smith’s realisation of the text is as seamless and well-coordinated as the light and sound transitions. With the assistance of Elena Brearley, Norton-Smith handles the play with ease. Transitions between whatever place to whatever time – for which we are eternally in the dark about – are so seamless that the play flows with a professional elegance.

All who saw the show will remember the dinner-table dressing routine, a hauntingly disruptive melodramatic moment completed by an unforgettable bone-crack sound effect. With the support of producer Virginia Saul and puppet designer Cara Looij, the work of the creative team made sure that we were immersed into a thoroughly thought-out style as the John Thaw Studio’s grandiose blackness was fractured by a large, hanging sun and a doll’s house, successfully substituting a house set far off in the distance.

The play deals with characters mentally dismembered by time, each one existing at varying degrees of that process that by the end we see Harper and Captain Robert Falcon Scott come to accept.

Played by Molly Stedman, Harper is an activist for a world that can no longer exist, partnered by Jack Waterman’s Scott, who embodies that sought-for existence.

Stedman and Waterman successfully demonstrate their complicated relationship through the constant push and pull of their need for each other. When one of the two is alone on the stage, the vulnerability of their characters softly diffuses throughout the audience, a fine contrast to their supporting self-assurance when a couple.

Harper’s distant family, with Sam Whitehouse as cousin Lawrence, Georgia Brown as aunt Kathleen, and uncle Ernest played by Joe Large, show us the damaged world surrounding Harper and Scott and strongly depict the former’s broken-down family environment. Each performer demonstrated the characters’ individual experiences of neglect with acute sincerity. Their ensemble was tightly synchronised and especially cohesive in the displacement of Scott’s monologue.

Only when leaving the theatre do you become aware of how much the experience of Yellow Icing has consumed you. This production has set an extremely high standard for professionalism and creativity in this year’s MIFTA season.

Photo: Album Artwork

Record Reappraisal: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Written by Tara Bharadia on . Posted in Music.

20 years ago, the first female to ever top the rap charts, Lauryn Hill, released the ever-strong statement of a generation: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Released in August of 1998, Lauryn Hill’s first and only solo album graced our lives. After making it to number one within the first few days of release, selling almost half a million copies in the first week and breaking the record for sales by a female artist, Hill announced her worldwide tour in 1999. Tickets sold out within hours.

The album won five Grammys in one night, being the first hip-hop record to ever win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and Hill also won the Brit Award for Best International Female Solo Artist. As well as these physical praises, the legacy of the record is one that sparks nostalgia, yet still continues to inspire new generations.

Aside from the many accolades it received after release, the reason this album did so well was that it was recorded with truth. After the dissolution of the Fugees in 1997, Hill began dating Rohan Marley and became pregnant. These two life events, as well as her relationship with religion, provided inspiration for a lot of the material on this album.

However, the album, as a whole, is an ode to inner strength, womankind, and freedom. Hill went from co-writing for Aretha and Houston to writing for herself for her own reasons. The vocals on the album are honest, earthy and mature, like a well-aged cigar. Hill’s narrative throughout the record is a ballsy, yet easy-on-the-ears, newfound independence.

With regards to a track that has stood the test of time, ‘Doo-Wop (That Thing)’ is instantly recognisable, having been popular with advertisements, samples and covers. The track was the first rap song to debut at number one, and its subsequent music video won four MTV VMAs.

The lyrics are fast, careful, and have a lot of weight behind them. They are delivered by Hill in a sporadic way that is still pleasing to the ear, catchy, and full of unrefined emotion. The song calls out a lot of gender inequalities and tries to put them right, putting both men and women in the male-dominated ‘player’ role, only looking for ‘that thing.’

Hill allowed and inspired many more artists of a similar thread to share the limelight, with acts including Outkast, Nicki Minaj, and Nas. The record is one that will continue to influence music and pop culture for a long time and if you haven’t yet, you should definitely give it a listen.

Live Review: The Xcerts

Written by Jack Saddler on . Posted in Music.

Monday the 26th of February, Manchester Deaf Institute

It is hard to believe that the shows on The Xcerts headline tour are their biggest to date. The 300 capacity Deaf Institute may seem a modest size for a band that has been kicking around for a while, but packing out this venue indicates to me that the Scottish trio is finally getting their long deserved dues.

When I saw the band in 2013 as main support to Lower Than Atlantis in London, their raw and energetic performance made me wonder why I hadn’t seen their name around more. Until this year, that has pretty much remained constant, which is a great shame. 2014’s There Is Only You is a criminally overlooked record. A beautiful ode to loss and grief, that manages to remain life-affirming, it was an album that deserved to see the band recognised for the achievement.

Fast forward four years and we have Hold On To Your Heart. A stunning, 80’s infused hit machine, yet equally heartfelt as There Is Only You. Not only have they released this record into what is generally a far better period for rock music than 2014, but it feels like a defining moment in their career. It is their strongest, most experimental, yet rewarding album that they have put their name to and based on this and their live show, they are hitting their deserved upward trajectory.

The Xcerts took the stage in a somewhat sombre manner. Opening with Hold On To Your Heart’s slow first track ‘The Dark’. It seemed a bold move considering how little time has passed since release. This certainly conveyed confidence in their new material. It is a beautiful album opener, but the band seemed a bit off the boil at first, although ‘Daydream’ picked up the pace of the show.

Frontman Murray MacLeod then graphically told the audience how ill he had been and that the gig nearly had to be cancelled. This did show at first, but as it went on Murray became much more comfortable and the songs sounded all the better for it.

If opening with ‘The Dark’ was gutsy, The Xcerts went on to completely one-up themselves by playing every song from the new album. Most bands who are four albums deep into their careers would not dream of this. Especially with it being out for just over a month. But on this showing, it paid off with how exceptional the songs all sounded, and how much the crowd backed the decision.

Murray expressed his gratitude to the crowd saying he was “glad you’re all digging it” after he told of how they played in front of twelve people at a festival only a year before. He spoke of their goal to pack out the Deaf Institute since they supported The Get Up Kids in the venue and was justifiably chuffed to bits to have done exactly that. For him, it is as much a personal triumph as any having come through such a low period in his life to create this remarkable piece of art.

The dominance of new songs in the set did not take away from their older material. ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘Shaking in the Water’s’ colossal hooks ensured a familiar start to the set before they dived back into ‘First Kiss Feeling’, ‘Crisis in the Slow Lane‘ and ‘Aberdeen 1987’ nodded back The Xcerts’ youth and music that resonates more with teenage angst than the demons Murray had to face later on.

‘Aberdeen 1987’ especially held its own in the set list, and hearing the whole room sing along to its chorus showed that The Xcerts’ core fanbase had stuck by them, along with those they have gained recently. Give them some more time however, and it would not be foolish to suggest that ‘Cry’ will gather a similar unity in their audiences.

Songs like ‘Slackerpop’ show off the band’s stellar back catalogue, but the dominance of the new record in the set list simply shows just how irrefutably brilliant it is. Despite lacking Will Gardener of Black Peaks on saxophone, ‘Drive Me Wild’ sounded stadium-sized in this small venue with its Springsteen-tinged, wondrous nature.

A crowd member shouts, “Murray. You drive ME wild,” during a pause, summing up better than anyone could how I felt by the end of the night. In fairness to him, it was impossible to not be infatuated with his on-stage presence. This tour displays encouraging signs for The Xcerts, and I truly hope they continue to be shown more of this overdue appreciation as more people hear the record. They deserve your love.

8/10

Live Review: SHEAFS

Written by Olivia White on . Posted in Music.

24th February 2018

Night & Day Cafe 

Heavy indie-rock outfit Sheafs took to the stage of Night and Day Café last Saturday with one intention and one intention only. To make you move. This Sheffield-born explosive 5-piece have perfectly executed a short yet certainly eruptive set list comprising of their dynamic, rowdy songs which are intrinsically woven with attitude and confidence.

Frontman Lawrence Feenstra commanded the stage with a strong, captivating swagger embellished by his ability to directly engage with his audience, making a fairly small space feel far larger.

All the while rip-roaring guitarists Chris Goodacre and Charles Mellor combine their artistry to concoct riffs that fully endorse the bold, self-reliant, and relentless lyricism that Lawrence so effortlessly exhibits.

Opening with the potent ‘Mind Pollution’, Sheafs instantly warped the crowd of Night and Day into a frenzied, turbulent atmosphere utterly at the will of Lawrence’s intense, impulsive motions.

However, what was equally impressive was the band’s collective ability to interact seamlessly with each other and the audience throughout the show. Not a single member of this forceful five-piece appeared to be phased by performing, instead, such striking confidence contributed to creating a very entertaining and admirable performance. One that gives every upcoming rock force a run for their money.

Having recently released their new volatile song — and my personal favourite — ‘Shock Machine’, the lads have cemented their image as one of the most exciting and spirited upcoming rock acts of 2018.

But they have also showcased their musical flexibility in their choice to tone it down, almost grounding their rebellious sound. Shock Machine possesses a short period of a seductive guitar and bass riff coupled with a reduced tempo decorated with echoing lyrics of ‘I wanna show you my shock machine, I wanna show you electricity…’ finishing with the bands clear ‘slogan’ of wanting to ‘make you move’.

Such change illustrates the versatility and control the band actually have, even over a sound that delves into the realms of post-punk.

To ensure Sheafs left Night and Day with a lasting impression, Lawrence joined his roaring fans in the pit, gripping at them, provoking a revolution as his 4 musical counterparts began the opening of the bands’ iconic song ‘This Is Not a Protest’. A revolution that fuelled a stronger fire in the bellies of those already moving, enticing those who weren’t already moving to join in, as he crawled on top of his supporters.

Such a bold and compelling performance leads me to believe Sheafs are not going to rest until they are known as a household name, or at least put up a serious fight to get there.

8/10

Recipe: Lamb Methi

Written by Samuel Pigott on . Posted in Food & Drink, Uncategorised.

Lamb Methi

Ingredients

·         1 large onion, sliced

·         1 green chilli finely diced

·         2cm3 piece of fresh ginger finely diced or grated

·         10 tomatoes

·         4 cardamom pods crushed

·         2 cinnamon sticks

·         4 bay leaves

·         2 curry leaves

·         500g cubes of lamb shoulder

·         1 tsp each of chilli powder, garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander and turmeric

·         1 tbsp runny honey

·         2 tsp tomato puree

·         1 whole bag fresh spinach sliced

·         30g butter

·         5 tbsp ground fenugreek

·         Salt and pepper

·         50ml single cream

Method

1.       Begin by preheating an oven to 120C. This might sound low, but the lamb needs to be cooked long and slow to ensure it is soft.

2.       To an ovenproof dish, in which the oil has been preheated over a medium heat on the hob, add the onion, chilli, ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, and the bay and curry leaves. Fry these over a medium heat until the onion begins to turn translucent.

3.       Now add the tomatoes, roughly chopped, and leave to cook for approximately 15 minutes, or until the tomatoes have begun to break down.

4.       Increase the heat to high and add half the butter. Once the butter is foaming add the lamb and seal on all sides. This will take approximately 5 minutes but ensure the temperature is high the entire time.

5.       Once the meat is coloured reduce the heat back down to a medium heat and add the ground spices, honey, tomato puree, and the spinach, and cook for a further 5 minutes.

6.       Add half the ground fenugreek and then add approximately 500ml of water, or enough to cover the meat completely. Cover the pan with a lid, or use foil if this isn’t possible, and increase the heat until the mixture is boiling. Once boiling place the dish in the oven and cook for 3 hours, checking that the mixture does not dry out and adding water should this happen.

7.       After 3 hours the meat should be tender, and the curry is ready to finish off on the hob. Take the pan back out of the oven and place on a medium heat on the hob. Add the remaining fenugreek along with the remaining butter and the cream. Season with salt and pepper and then simply cook the curry until the desired consistency has been reached. It will be very wet when it goes in the oven but simply simmer away on the hob if this is still the case when it comes out.

8.       Serve with rice.

Interview: Bad Sounds

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

Bad Sounds are an upcoming indie rock group from Bristol, having recently toured supporting RatBoy, I was lucky enough to catch up with the band, and get to know this rising band who are bringing a mishmash of hip-hop, indie, pop, and an almost ska-twinge to modern day music.

Bad Sounds are fronted by brothers Ewan and Callum, who picked up the rest of the band locally as time went on. Callum explains that himself and his brother had previously worked in bands before, and whilst Ewan went to university and studied at Bath Spa University, Callum went down to London to learn how to record in a studio: “I say try to learn because I didn’t”.

Callum went onto explain that, when he ran out of money, he moved back home and the two started comparing music projects that they each had done while apart. They then built the tracks from there.

Just because they’re brothers doesn’t mean it’s always easy, but there are definite positives to the fraternal relationship between the two. “It’s probably easier because we’re best mates, you trust and value their opinions, and the arguments never last too long either.”

Bad Sounds singer Callum reminisced about the music they listened to when he was growing up. Their mum would listen to Lauryn Hill, Dido, and David Grey, whereas their dad would listen to more Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Led Zepplin.

When Callum was younger, he confessed that the only music that he thought worth listening to was that which has a shredding solo in it. He admitted that they’ve since tried to put a solo in their music, but it’s never quite worked: “It’s important to listen to a range of different genres as a musician.”

Callum then begins to talk about how the name ‘Bad Sounds’ was actually the name for one of the brothers earliest demos. They looked at about 15 to 20 other options for the names, but Bad Sounds was the one that really stuck with them.

2018 has a lot in store for Bad Sounds, with lots of festivals coming up in the foreseeable future, and even a potential album release in the next coming months too.

Another ‘unconventional’ gap year

Written by Alex Hope on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Please don’t equate ‘unconventional’ to hipster or eco-justice warrior. Although the latter might apply here…

Years ago, when I had an actual job, I stumbled across a mini-series called ‘Wildlife War Zone,’ courtesy of Al-Jazeera. If you have the time, I thoroughly recommend you look it up — it certainly changed my life, and perhaps you could argue it led me to study here at Manchester.

It follows anti-poaching rangers working for a security company called ‘Pro-track,’ who protect rhinos in South Africa. At the time, I had a very comfortable life in London, but I was getting itchy feet and was looking for a career change.

After watching the series about anti-poaching and rhino protection, a seed was planted in my head that grew from ‘that’s an interesting job’ to ‘alright, let’s start saving money and drafting a resignation letter’ in about twelve months.

I hope that after reading this article, a seed will also have been planted in your head, and will continue to grow into an experience that you will never forget.

You will see more wildlife during your first week of patrolling than you will ever have seen in your life. You will have a deep understanding of the interaction between humans and nature that simply cannot be learnt from going on a safari, let alone from a classroom. Even as a foreigner, you will be a useful part of the team, just like any South African, and not just a bystander.

To describe the experience in a few words it would be: humbling, fascinating, boring and hard. The training is a brief 35 days and is para-military in nature; ‘Pro-track’ is a security company after all. But if you’ve had any military training, beyond the assault course, shooting practice, and drills, the ethos is very different.

Anti-poaching and front-line soldiering have their similarities, but there are many more differences. For a start, tracking takes up 4 hours of most days. You’re expected to identify different types of snares (which blend in very well with the grey bark of the bush) as well as the differences and ages of black or white rhino tracks (spoor).

You’re expected to make your own fire and cook your own meals, and you sleep outside all the time. All this is topped off with a 27 km (17 mile) run with a dummy rifle and webbing. It may seem a little daunting, but if you’re reasonably fit and motivated, you’ll pass.

Because you’re not on a contract, you’ll have the freedom of operating on different game reserves. Day patrol is the most interesting and arduous. Most likely it’s just you (the scout) and a team leader, in a picket in the middle of the bush surrounded by thorns to keep the animals out.

You might see other people during a 23-day patrol or you might not. A typical day starts at 5:30 am when you might have a cold breakfast. Then patrolling for about 8-10 hours in temperatures of up to 50 degrees centigrade, always observing for spoor, elephants (they’re quieter than you think), rhinos and vultures in the sky, indicating a fresh carcass.

In the process, you get eaten by flies and lose a lot of weight. Try not to step on a black mamba that looks really similar to a long stick. You’ll get charged by an elephant at least once, but don’t worry, it happens to most of the rangers — once the sergeants even got charged by a giraffe of all animals.

If you’re really lucky, you’ll arrest some poachers. If you’re unlucky, you’ll have to help out with a necropsy on a 10-day old poached rhino carcass. Most importantly you’ll be doing the exact same job as any other anti-P-poaching ranger — the only differences are that you are not legally allowed to carry a weapon and that you’re not getting paid. And yes, it really is all worth it.

I’m not trying to scare you, but through the training, you will be able to mitigate risks and develop a heightened sense of awareness or ‘bush sense.’ Be aware that ‘Pro-track’ is a for-profit security company and that you will be operating on private game reserves, which in itself is a contentious issue.

You’ll leave South Africa with a complex understanding of why rhinos are so endangered, and you’ll acquire skills that you’ll never forget, ones that will make you stand out to future employers. It’s about as unique an experience as any — a cherished memory that as a part of a team, working with the police, vets and other rangers, you’ll have helped to protect rhinos.

For more information visit: www.protrackapu.co.za

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Review: A Fight at the Opera

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Theatre.

Manchester University Music Society (MUMS) amazed with their evening of opera in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall. The first half of the performance followed themes of war: this included selected scenes from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Britten’s War Requiem, and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.

Alongside this was the new opera, Not On The List, written in 2017 by Manchester University alumnus James Keirle. Not On The List was a beautiful new piece based on true events, capturing the different ways people are trapped in war zones – not only the refugees but the guards themselves, trapped by fences both physical and metaphorical.

This whole half was carried by an impressive ensemble and talented solos. Sarah Young was very convincing as ‘The Mother’ searching for her son, who is not on the guard’s list. Dominic Skingle was powerful as ‘The Guard’, managing to capture both the authority of the character and his internal struggle against confinement.

Molly Toolan-Kerr as ‘The Journalist’ added another dimension to the opera, her desperation to depict the ‘real’ refugees alongside the mother’s initial suspicion that the journalist is there to take superficial photos for her own gain.

The wonderful orchestra was led by musical director Hugh Morris. With many gorgeous and musically exposed moments for both the singers and musicians, Not On The List was a delight of talent.

Beautiful and powerful contemporary choreography by director Eleanor Lang complimented Not On The List without detracting from the beauty of the piece. This new piece comes carried a great poignancy at a time of great unrest and multiple refugee crises across the world, Not On The List captured the trauma and injustice beauty impeccably.

The first half of the opera ended with exuberant applause and saw director Eleanor Lang and composer James Keirle joining the cast on stage.

Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas was the second half of the show in its re-imagined form by director/choreographer Madeleine Brooks and musical director Robin Wallington. The mythical queen Dido is now a teenage schoolgirl who falls in love with schoolboy Aeneas.

Zoe Jackson as Dido was the standout performance, playing beautifully opposite Helena Stanway’s angelic Belinda and Hugh Beckwith’s powerful Aeneas. A sailor scene which became a group of drunken schoolboys was a hilarious and much needed comic relief.

Zahid Siddiqui was amusing and haunting as the Head Sorceress to her two ‘mean girls’ witches, Lucy Scott and Christina Bell, who were both captivating with beautiful harmonies. Scheming to break Dido and Aeneas apart, they succeed and Dido kills herself in a heartbreaking scene whilst the entire ensemble watches on.

Another inventive touch by Brooks was to bring in Northern Ballet School dancers and choreograph short interval routines that fit the music beautifully, answering and following each other, making each scene change a spectacle. The strength of the ensemble and its leads together with the choreography made for an outstanding performance.

A Fight at the Opera was a delightful and thought-provoking evening accompanied by an important interval collection for A Drop in the Ocean (Dråpen i Havet) a Norwegian humanitarian non-profit aiding refugees.

Recipe: Lemon, Chilli, and Oregano Prawns

Written by Samuel Pigott on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Ingredients:

  • One pack of shelled, raw king prawns
  • One large lemon
  • One red chilli finely sliced
  • One spring onion finely chopped
  • One tbsp tomato puree
  • One tbsp runny honey
  • Two cloves garlic, finely diced
  • Two tbsp ground oregano
  • One tsp each smoked paprika, thyme and ground cumin
  • 100ml sunflower oil
  • Two slices quality white bread
  • 25g butter
  • One small bunch each of fresh flat leaf parsley and coriander finely sliced

Method:

  1. Begin by marinating the prawns. Add to a bowl the zest of the lemon, the chilli, spring onion, tomato puree, honey, half the fresh herbs, garlic and the dried herbs and spices. Add enough oil to make the mixture into a runny paste and then add the prawns. Ensure the prawns are entirely coated, adding more oil in needed, and then cover and marinate for at least a few hours, ideally overnight.
  2. Preheat a griddle pan to a fairly high heat. Add the prawns, along with the marinade, to the pan. The prawns will take very little time to cook, approximately a minute and a half on each side depending on size, so be careful to not overcook as they will become tough and rubbery. Halfway through cooking squeeze over half the over lemon juice and season one side of the prawns with salt and pepper.
  3. While the prawns are cooking lightly toast the bread. Remove the prawns from the pan and allow to rest for the same time as it took for them to cook. In this time add the butter to the griddle pan and then remove from the heat and allow the butter to melt. Ensure the butter has mixed with the remaining juices in the pan before pouring it over the toasted bread. Season both the cooked prawns and the bread, before topping with the remaining and the remaining half of the lemon juice.
  4. To bulk this dish out simply serve with noodles to which a large amount of the marinade have been added.
Image: David Dixon @ geograph

Thousands sign petition for barriers along Manchester canals

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for safety barriers to be put up alongside canals across Greater Manchester.

A body was discovered in Rochdale Canal by underwater divers on Friday the 2nd of March as police searched for missing University of Manchester student, Charlie Pope.

The 19-year-old went missing on a night out on Thursday the 1st of March and police believe that the body that was discovered is Charlie’s, though a formal identification has yet to take place.

Neal Keeling, Chief Reporter at The Manchester Evening News, was one of the thousands to have signed the petition and wrote on the change.org website: “I have reported too many deaths of young men in the waterways of Greater Manchester and the city centre as reporter at MEN.”

Jodie Whipday, another petition signatory, also wrote on the site: “I live in Manchester and the safety precautions around the canal are none existent. This is happening too often in the city of Manchester.”

By Thursday the 8th of March, the petition titled ‘Put barriers up on the Manchester canals’ had over 30,000 signatories and many have shared their support on social media using the hashtag “#makecharliethelast.”

Charlie People’s father, Nick Pope, has endorsed the online campaign and told BBC Radio Manchester: “We are not going to stop – we don’t want anyone to go through we have been through.”

Police took Nick Pope to the spot where his son’s body had been found and Nick told the BBC: “It was icy and there were no barriers. I was astonished how dangerous it was.”

“I had no idea – people are stumbling out of bars and falling into canals. We could put up barriers in key areas where all the bars are.”

He added: “If this was a company the Health and Safety Executive would have shut it years ago.”

Manchester city councillor Pat Karney told the BBC that the whole canal network could not be fenced off but certain measures could be introduced.

He said: “We have done it at the top of the village area as we had a particular problem and so far it has stopped fatalities up there.

“But I will look at the petition and talk to them and see what measures we can come up with.”

Touching tributes have been paid to the teenager with candles, messages and flowers left alongside the canal.

An open bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale was also left in recognition of the first-year Social Sciences student’s links to the North-East.

Commenting on the discovery of the body believed to be Charlie’s, a spokesperson from the University of Manchester said: “We are all very saddened to hear this tragic news and the university will be providing any support and assistance we can to Charlie’s friends and family.”