Wednesday 25th February 2026

Culture

Kooky and self-assured: ‘Brew Hill’ in review

Pecadillo Productions’ latest show is (quite rightly) aiming for Fringe, but this kooky, self-assured tragicomedy has immediate cult classic potential.

Art is an argument, so argue back

Often, how much we like artwork comes down to ‘vibes’, initial gut-reactions we make, and then quickly negate by stating that surely it's all about taste.

Red soles, red flags: Jaden Smith and the celebrity takeover of high fashion

Smith’s appointment has raised some serious questions about the extent to which nepotism and celebrity is superseding artistic talent in the fashion industry at present.

The ‘Silent’ Film

Not speaking does not necessarily mean having nothing to say. As much can be said with an image, movement, or glance as with a word.

Looking back to look forward: The films of 1976

The history of film is a cumulative record of what people have wanted to say, show, and create, not only for a contemporary audience, but for the future.

How a visual impairment changed the way I see art

How do you study art if you can’t see? In 2025, I was faced with this question, not out of curiosity, but because half my vision significantly deteriorated.

2025 releases you may not have seen (but definitely should)

It’s that time of year again: the season in which we are inundated with a never-ending stream of lists ranking 2025’s top releases. Cherwell,...

‘Dark, revealing, gripping’: In conversation with the cast of ‘JACK’

JACK, by Musketeer Productions, reimagines the cult story of the most notorious serial killer in British history. Shining a light particularly on the mistreatment...

‘The political is also political’: Ash Sarkar’s ‘Minority Rule’

Universities have often been seen as bastions of radicalism. Forgetting the fact that higher educational institutions, particularly ancient and elite ones in the Anglophone...

Graceful and self-assured: Circle Mirror Transformation reviewed

Boulevard Productions’ Circle Mirror Transformation is a faithful and competent take on Annie Baker’s 2009 tragicomedy.  The play follows a group of people of different...

‘We’re all mad here’: Alice in Won-DRE-Land at Tingewick 2025

When I wandered into Tingewick Hall on a cold, dark evening in seventh week, I was utterly unprepared for the madness that awaited me...

A comical approach to a classic text: ‘Hedda Gabler’ reviewed

Tiptoe Productions’ Hedda Gabler, co-directed by Ollie Gillam and Gilon Fox, delivered a strong version of the classic text, impressive in its ability to...

‘Lux’ by Rosalía review: A breath of fresh air

'The Latin title ‘Lux’ perfectly embodies the concept and overall aesthetic of divine femininity, as well as the multilingual aspects that run throughout the work. With complex and meaningful lyrics written in 13 languages, and split into four movements, the record is a breath of fresh air for the pop scene'.

Illuminating American conservatism: William F Buckley’s biography, reviewed

The ornate, Latinate vocabulary. The debates peppered with witticisms. The patrician air, the untraceable accent, the playful glint in his eyes.  William F. Buckley was...

The Magdalene Songs: Giving a singing voice to victims

★★★★★ Trigger warning: abuse Modern slavery, abuse, and human rights violations are not something you would usually expect to be tackled in an evening of classical...

‘Everything is constantly emotion’: An interview with the cast and crew of ‘Doctor Faustus’ 

Seabass Theatre has carved out a niche for itself producing original takes on canonical texts, most memorably last year’s plant-inspired Hamlet staged at the...

Between performance and reality: ‘To What End?’ reviewed

To What End is a new meta-theatrical, absurdist play written by Billy Skiggs and Billy Hearld. It begins in what seems to be simplicity:...

Death’s Lament

Please, I have done what you asked.  I burned it all for her. I wrench the parchment from my pocket, fingers shaking, chest convulsing, screams eviscerating my...

And she woke up…

Yesterday I thought I saw you between blinks of an eye: a lecture together and notes left behind for curls and a sharp jawline; the same old eyes...

An affectionate, homely play with hidden ambition: ‘Under Milk Wood’ reviewed

The lights dimmed, a small plaque was illuminating the stage with the red letters, “ON AIR”. I know I am in for a treat:...

Peach Juice and Other Inappropriate Attachments

My hostel sheets smell like regret and Chanel No. 5 sprayed like insecticide. I suspect it was me. The scent now mingles with the...

Can movie violence ever be fun?

“Because it's so much fun, Jan!” This was Quentin Tarantino’s answer when an interviewer asked him to justify on-screen violence. Few would disagree. From...

What I discovered when I started reading French books

My most hated subject at school was French. I mean, I hated every subject – the only thing I remember liking in all my...

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