Rockets and Blue Lights at National Theatre review September 3, 2021 First performed in March 2020 at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, Rockets and Blue Lights ran for just three weeks before the pandemic yanked down the curtain. Now this strange, urgent, flawed, exasperating and occasionally brilliant play finally opens in London on the National Theatre’s Dorfman stage. Winsome Pinnock’s play focuses on the legacy of [...]
Cinderella review – Amazon’s enthusiastic but forgettable fairytale September 3, 2021 An unspoken rule of Hollywood is that a new version of Cinderella has to be attempted at least once a decade. Brandy (97’s Cinderella) and Drew Barrymore (Ever After) gave it a go in the 90s; while Anne Hathaway (Ella Enchanted) and Hilary Duff (A Cinderella Story) gave the tale a modern spin in the [...]
Wildfire film review – an understated family affair September 3, 2021 Generating some buzz through last year’s festival circuit, Wildfire comes to cinemas followed by sadness both on and off screen. Just as the sisters in the story live with loss in their lives, a dedication at the end alludes to the passing of star Danika McGuigan shortly after the film’s completion, aged just 33. There’s [...]
Women’s Super League 2021-22: Why you should believe the hype about the biggest and best season yet of women’s football September 3, 2021 The most eagerly anticipated and loudly trumpeted Women’s Super League (WSL) season kicks off this evening when Manchester United host Reading. Ten years on from the first WSL campaign, the expectation is that this season will be the most-watched and potentially the most compelling yet. That is thanks in large part to a landmark TV [...]
Look at me now: ABBA to perform with digital avatars in London live shows September 3, 2021 ABBA are releasing their first new album for almost 40 years and will perform at London live shows with digital versions of themselves. Band members Björn Ulvaeus, 76, and Benny Andersson, 74, announced the release of a ten song album called Voyage during a press conference yesterday. It will be the first new album the [...]
Oarsome: Emma Wiggs paddles to canoe glory as Britain grabs three more gold medals at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics September 3, 2021 Canoeist Emma Wiggs won the first gold of a potential Tokyo 2020 double as Britain passed 100 medals on day 10 of the Paralympics. Wiggs, who won the KL2 kayak event at Rio 2016, landed gold in the first ever women’s VL2 competition at the Paralympics. The 41-year-old, who has nerve damage in her legs, [...]
Gentlemen do wear plaid: How to sport the tartan September 2, 2021 I spent the bank holiday weekend in Glasgow. I hadn’t visited the former second city of the Empire for a couple of years, but from its suburbs spring my roots and I always feel a degree of comfort—admixed with wonder and bewilderment, it is true—when I step into the throngs on Buchanan Street or Argyle [...]
Misha and The Wolves review: A stunning mystery documentary September 2, 2021 Winning fans at Sundance this year was Misha and The Wolves, a documentary that covers a story that gained a lot of press coverage, but may be new to a number of viewers. It’s the 90’s, and an American publisher Jane Daniel believes she struck gold when she comes across the story of Misha Defonseca, [...]
The winner takes it all: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time top scorer September 2, 2021 Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football when he headed two last-gasp goals to give Portugal a 2-1 comeback victory over Ireland in Group A of World Cup Qualifying last night. Watch the full report.
What If…? episode 4 catch-up – grief takes a Strange turn September 2, 2021 We’re approaching the halfway point of What If…?, and so far the glimpses of an alternative Marvel Cinematic Universe have been positive. Peggy Carter heroically took up the mantle meant for Steve Rogers, T’Challa proved he would be a hero whatever galaxy he is in, and even if the original Avengers were wiped out, Nick [...]