Flower power: 2021 RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show at the Saatchi Gallery September 18, 2021 Botanical illustrations have a somewhat unfair association with geriatric pastimes and biology textbooks. In a new exhibition at Chelsea’s Saatchi Gallery, the Royal Horticultural Society brings a fresh spin on the form by grouping a 200-strong selection of paintings, drawings, and photographs that showcase the diversity of flora. The product of an open call, works [...]
Exclusive: How Premiership champions Harlequins are looking to build on their success with new head coach Tabai Matson September 18, 2021 Tabai Matson has picked a job few would relish: taking over a Harlequins team flying high and with last season’s Premiership trophy in the cabinet. The Fiji-born former All Black is the new head coach at the London club, who begin their defence against Newcastle Falcons on Sunday, and has the unenviable task of following [...]
Is God Is at The Royal Court: A fireball of rage and guilt September 17, 2021 A fireball of rage and guilt, Aleshea Harris’ Is God Is is a modern-day biblical epic on a small scale. It’s a play that actively shirks categorisation, inviting comparisons to both the Old Testament and the trappings of Jacobean drama, but also to Spaghetti Westerns, Afropunk, and hip-hop. The play begins with fire, both literally, [...]
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021 is the best in years September 17, 2021 British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, coordinator of the 253rd Royal Academy Summer Exhibition has managed something extraordinary: he’s created a show that actually makes sense. Where the Summer Exhibition – once again shunted to the autumn thanks to Covid – is usually a maddening, overwhelming jumble of artworks, this year there’s a thread of urgency and [...]
Back in black: Saracens ready to resume fight for Premiership supremacy September 17, 2021 Little more than a year ago Saracens left the Premiership with their tails between their legs, effectively kicked out for breaching salary cap rules. Since then they have undertaken a partial rebuild based on strength in depth, shrewd recruitment and a need to prove the doubters wrong. Now Saracens are back in the big time [...]
Ollie Phillips’ Premiership season preview: Harlequins vulnerable, Saracens favourites, and Leicester and Sale to join Exeter in play-offs September 17, 2021 The new Premiership Rugby season has a lot to live up to after the fireworks of the last campaign but I think there’s reason to believe it will match or even better it. Removing relegation last term allowed every team to play without fear and the result was enterprising, adventurous rugby and perhaps the most [...]
Survey shows that most football fans want World Cup every two years, says Fifa September 16, 2021 Fifa has stepped up its push for biennial World Cups by reporting that most football fans support the controversial proposals. The world governing body cited a survey of 23,000 people in 23 countries undertaken in July as part of a wider feasibility study. Fifa did not reveal any further figures but said it had drawn [...]
Try fine German wine at fabulous Somerset House September 16, 2021 Eva Fricke’s wines are much sought-after, often going for as much as £3,000 per half-bottle at auction. Her Lorcher Krone Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2019 is the first wine to score 100 points from the respected American publication The Wine Advocate. Only eighteen bottles are in existence. Now you can sample some of her wares alongside those [...]
Going grey gracefully: How to make silver hair work for you September 16, 2021 Last week, I wrote about the trauma I endure when going to the hairdresser. However, there was an upside. As the barber’s scissors danced around my head, he remarked that I had thick hair. I agreed, without wanting to seem boastful of something utterly outwith my control. But I ventured the opinion that, while I [...]
Brooks Koepka should drop out of Ryder Cup if he doesn’t like it, says former US captain Paul Azinger September 16, 2021 Former US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has urged Brooks Koepka to consider dropping out of next week’s contest with Europe. Koepka, who is recuperating from a wrist injury, admitted this week that he found being part of a team event “more demanding” than regular tournaments. “Not everyone embraces it. I know players who felt [...]