The Manor at National Theatre: A conga line of middle class back-slapping November 26, 2021 Every couple of years the National Theatre – an institution I love in my bones – has a crack at a farcical satire of modern Britain, and every time it makes a total bollocks of it. There was 2017’s deplorable Saint George and the Dragon, an allegory so blunt it would have struggled to pierce [...]
Brit Awards drops gender-specific categories to address non-binary exclusion November 23, 2021 The Brit Awards has confirmed today that it will get rid of gender-specific categories in its annual celebration.
Every man wants an Everyman: group forecasts booming profits November 22, 2021 The owner of Everyman cinemas has forecasted higher profits, thanks to a good “appetite” for high-end cinemas.
60 Seconds With: Samantha Williams on the intersect of art and culture November 22, 2021 In this series of interviews I’ve been chatting with people who work at the intersect of culture and commerce in the City of London. Today I’m with Samantha Williams, who I met at the launch of PLAY project, a collaboration between the Guildhall Students, Culture Mile and Brookfield Properties. Williams, UK marketing manager for Brookfield [...]
Anything for Adele: Spotify removes shuffle button from albums November 21, 2021 Adele has convinced Spotify to remove the shuffle button from album pages, saying that "art tells a story and our stories should be listened to as we intended"
King Richard review: Will Smith swings for an Oscar in Williams sisters biopic November 19, 2021 Will Smith dominated the 90s box office, creating a public persona that still commands the loyalty of millions. Bad Boys For Life was the last pre-pandemic smash hit, coming 17 years after the last instalment. One thing he hasn’t been able to manifest, however, is an Oscar. Every few years, the one time nominee releases [...]
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a hit of nostalgia with a modern twist November 19, 2021 Like so many things in 2016, Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters drew people into unedifying online wars. The all-female reboot was far from spectacular, but neither was it the childhood-ruining disaster others claimed. The debate became toxic, the film tanked, but that didn’t stop a franchise-hungry studio from forging ahead. This week sees the release of Ghostbusters: [...]
Spotify takes synchronised lyrics feature global and reveals merchandise data November 19, 2021 Spotify has taken its synchronised lyrics feature global, having launched it in 26 countries last year.
Royal Court’s Rare Earth Mettle tarnished by antisemitism controversy November 19, 2021 There may be no such thing as bad publicity, but casually offending the Jewish community in a play that counts cultural sensitivity among its themes must come pretty close. Ambitious satire Rare Earth Mettle centres on the megalomaniac billionaire previously known as Hershel Fink, a man with no apparent ties to the Jewish community apart [...]
The Great British Buzz: 157 per cent surge in baking businesses following hit show November 18, 2021 Ahead of The Great British Bake Off final next week, business insurer Simply Business has revealed there was a 157 per cent increase in home baking businesses across the UK between 2019 and 2020.