The rise and rise of tennis’ No1 superstar Iga Swiatek April 25, 2022 When your father is an Olympic rower, a future in sport might almost be expected – if not demanded. But even Tomasz Swiatek, a quads rower for Poland at the Seoul 1988 Olympics, couldn’t have expected his daughter, Iga, to be a tennis Grand Slam winner and world No1 before her 21st birthday. Women’s tennis [...]
Scandaltown review: Satire on cancel culture falls flat April 25, 2022 Imagine having three plays opening in London at once. Mike Bartlett, writer of the huge TV hit Doctor Foster, is that guy right now. Cock, starring Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, is on in the West End, and he’s also commanding two of the biggest off-West End theatres with The 47th at the Old Vic and Scandaltown [...]
English football regulator won’t ban owners for geopolitical reasons, says Government April 25, 2022 A new independent regulator for English football will not seek to prevent takeovers or force out owners on the basis of geopolitical issues, the Government has confirmed. The regulator will have power to implement tougher tests on prospective club buyers to “root out unsuitable owners”, the official response to last year’s Fan Led Review of [...]
Dubai’s about arts and culture now, don’t you know? April 25, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Dubai’s new 25hours Hotel One Central is a world away from the synthetic image Dubai struggles with – that of vapid shopping malls and manufactured strips of sand. The city is channelling funds into artistic centres, independent cinemas, galleries and museums and this hotel feels like a part of the nation’s drive for [...]
The Corn is Green review: A twee revival at the National Theatre April 25, 2022 The National Theatre’s revival of Welsh actor and playwright Emlyn Williams’ The Corn is Green – the first major production in London since the mid-80s – is a comforting, middle-brow ITV period drama plopped onto the stage. The beats of this semi-autobiographical tale of an impoverished boy propelled from the pits to the cultural elite [...]
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge review: Night rider April 25, 2022 The Cullinan Black Badge is an edgier kind of Rolls-Royce SUV, with more power and added attitude. Tim Pitt drives it.
The Unbearable Weight of Talent: Nicolas Cage shines as Nicolas Cage April 25, 2022 In recent years, Nicolas Cage has joined that exclusive club of beloved cult stars. Like William Shatner, Christopher Walken, and Jeff Goldblum before him, the actor has a balance of craft and eccentricity that makes him a fascinating pop culture figure. Also like those stars, Cage is embracing his oddball reputation. He turned heads with [...]
Heart and Seoul in South Korea, as the nation reopens for tourism April 25, 2022 The baby octopus floats in its tank, blissfully ignorant, until, all too soon, its time comes. The tiny, wrinkled old woman, who, I later learn, has been manning this particular food stall in Seoul’s colourful, noisy, aromatic Gwangjang market for over thirty-two years, yanks it out unceremoniously and whacks it down onto the steel surface. [...]
Marys Seacole at the Donmar Warehouse review: Dazed and confused April 25, 2022 Mary Seacole, a British-Jamaican nurse who, among other endeavours, cared for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War, has only recently been given the recognition she deserves. With her new play, Sibblies Drury transcends the single history of Mary Seacole, and presents us with a number of Marys, across various time periods and settings. Mary [...]
Chelsea bidders told they must commit to keeping control of club for 10 years April 25, 2022 The three shortlisted bidders in the sale of Chelsea Football Club have been told they must commit to holding a majority stake for at least 10 years, according to reports. The requirement is set to be a legally binding part of any agreement to purchase the Premier League team from sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich, Sky [...]