By Graham Hiley. The Mountaintop scaled new heights at MAST Mayflower Studios. Katori Hall’s re-imagining of Dr Martin Luther King’s final night on earth is utterly captivating and deeply thought-provoking – and superbly performed by two actors at the peak of their powers. Ray Strasser-King is completely convincing as...
Review – The Pirates of Penzance, Theatre Royal Winchester
By Charlotte Ndupuechi Sasha Regan’s all-male cast of The Pirates of Penzance returned to Theatre Royal Winchester, with a modern and playful twist on Gilbert and Sullivan’s timeless operetta (8/10/2024). The Pirates of Penzance is about a young man Frederic (Cameron McAllister) who is mistakenly apprenticed to a band of...
Review – War Horse, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
By Graham Hiley. I had always resisted every entreaty to go and see War Horse. I didn’t think it was my sort of thing. After being persuaded to see it at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre, I can honestly say it is everybody’s sort of thing – or at least it...
Miles Kane comes to Southampton’s Papillon this winter
Miles Kane has announced a fresh run of UK headline dates in November & December 2024, bringing him to Southampton on December 4th. The tour comes off the back of his celebrated solo 2024 One Man Band run across Europe and a string of UK summer festival performances. “I had...
Calling all history buffs! Author Alice Hunt book talk and signing this week
On Friday 11th November at 6.30pm, October Books will be hosting a talk with renowned historian Alice Hunt. Hunt will be discussing her new book Republic: Britain’s Revolutionary Decade 1649-1660 with Professor Mark Stoyle of the University of Southampton. Despite spanning only ten years, the 1650s was an incredibly...
Comedian Larry Dean brings show Dodger to Berry Theatre in the new year
Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Larry Dean is set to embark on a national tour this autumn with his brand-new stand up show Dodger, bringing him to Southampton’s Berry Theatre on February 25th. Dodger sees Larry contemplate his heroes and his identity. His hero was Elvis, but this year his thoughts have...
Beans on Toast comes to Southampton’s Joiners next year
Since 2005, Beans on Toast has written simple songs about complicated subjects. Tackling the big issues of the day but doing so with his feet firmly on the ground, he’s become a people’s champ of the modern folk scene and amassed a huge back catalogue of songs in the...
Vampires, demons, and ghosts with the most: reading for October
By Laura McCarthy. In October, we revel in the joys of pumpkin carving; autumnal walks on bright, crisp mornings; and, of course, in consuming our favourite Halloween themed media. When it comes to reading, I have some suggestions which I have listed here, organised by “creature” this time around....
What’s happening in Southampton for Black History Month South
October is Black History Month. Next year is the 20th anniversary of Southampton celebrating Black History Month. Since it began to be marked, its impact and influence has increased across the community with local schools, universities and colleges playing a significant role. Black History Month South is a Community...
Review and photos: So Much Music in the City
By Nick Mabey. Main image by Laura McCarthy. Numbers only tell part of the story. In the end 1703 artists gave 318 performances in 58 venues, supported by more than 100 volunteers. I was lucky enough to be one of the volunteers and happy to play a very...