Dixon and Daughters at National Theatre: A harrowing tale of abuse April 27, 2023 It’s easy to get sniffy about soap operas but there’s an undeniable value to those nightly instalments of drama that shine a powerful light on the minutia of modern life. Dixon and Daughters, a new play by Deborah Bruce, brings to mind the very best of soap opera, from its domestic setting to the complex [...]
Draft rules for UK gambling sector expected to be published today April 27, 2023 The long-awaited gambling white paper setting out government proposals to make regulation of the sector “fit for the digital age” is expected to be published today. Campaigners are hopeful it will include plans for affordability checks and the introduction of a statutory levy on gambling operators to pay for research, education and treatment of problem gambling. Other measures hoped to feature [...]
Isaac Julien show at Tate Britain is like a punch from a velvet glove April 27, 2023 When the Tate Modern’s new wing opened in 2016 it promised to usher in a new era in which performance and video would be given equal billing to paint on canvas. Aside from 2018’s blockbuster Steve McQueen show, this brave new world hasn’t quite materialised, and it seems telling that the biggest, most exciting video [...]
The Mario movie plays it safe, but gives us decent nostalgia – review April 25, 2023 After his one-time rival Sonic became a box office hit, it seemed inevitable that Nintendo mascot Mario would get his own movie. Illumination, the animation studio behind Minions, will be hoping this animated adaptation fares better than the 1993 live action disaster with Bob Hoskins. Taking inspiration from 40 plus years of gaming history, The [...]
Taste the Metaverse: Maison Assouline’s cocktail inspired by the digital world April 25, 2023 Best known as a publisher of opulent coffee table books on topics including culture, art, fashion, luxury goods and travel, Maison Assouline, nestled in the heart of Piccadilly, is a self-proclaimed “bastion of elegance”. Its London flagship is located in a century-old bank building, designed by the Cenotaph architect, Edwin Lutyens. With its high shelves [...]
Animal at Park Theatre review: A smart take on disability, dating and online culture April 25, 2023 Animal opens with the lead character, David, attempting to utilise a masturbation pump. A cerebral palsy sufferer, inserting his penis into the device’s nozzle is just one of the many things he is unable to do. Explaining why he needs to return it to the online sex shop is another. What follows is an examination [...]
Why Turkey’s south western beaches are taking flight this spring April 24, 2023 Ancient sites and untouched beaches: Angelina Villa- Clarke on a fab corner of Turkey’s Turquoise Riviera In the abandoned town of Kayakoy, the streets are dusty and thyme grows tall and wild, scenting the air with a sweet piquancy. Derelict houses have gaping windows; ancient churches are in ruins, their frescoes faded and mosaics crumbling. [...]
Succession’s Brian Cox lands ‘villainous’ role in new James Bond TV series April 24, 2023 Many of us are still reeling over the final series of Succession, but Brian Cox is already looking to the future: he will play a “villainous” character in an upcoming James Bond TV series. Amazon Prime Video has collaborated with EON Productions to launch 007’s Road to a Million, an unscripted series where contestants will [...]
Quiche is no Coronation dish – a corgi could have chosen better April 23, 2023 Oops, I’ve let my imagination gets the better of me. Deep in my subconscious mind, I’m desperately ravaging a Beef Wellington; my ever-sweet tooth eager to tuck into the final course of an imaginary feast and scoff the non-existent Peach Melba that doesn’t await me. Already I’m regretting the invented brunch of omelette Arnold Bennett [...]
Australian entertainer and Dame Edna star Barry Humphries dies at the age of 89 April 22, 2023 Australian entertainer Barry Humphries has died aged 89, a spokesman for the hospital where he was being treated has confirmed.