by Carolyn Thomas. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookshop and get yourself a copy of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s just won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for fiction – and other literary awards surely won’t be far behind as the novel has already become a best-seller on...
Review: Message in a Bottle, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 11th May 2023
Words and photos by: Peter Nicholson. Not a word was spoken, but so much was said. This show is simply spectacular. Based on the title, and knowing the show was performed to the music of Sting and The Police, I had been expecting a rather cliched effort to make...
Review: Joe Bonamassa, Bournemouth International Centre, 9th May 2023
words and pictures by Peter Nicholson. Having had a privileged preview of Joe Bonamassa’s live video of his concert in Red Rocks, Colorado, I was eager to see (and photograph) the man in action at the Bournemouth International Centre. This iconic blues guitarist has been on the music scene...
Jess Gillam, Mica Millar and Joe Stilgoe among Turner Sims Summer Nights headliners
Turner Sims Southampton presents its third year of Summer Nights, featuring a range of events from 7 to 20 July. Expect incredible artists and awe-inspiring live music, a festival vibe without a tent or a welly boot in sight. Younger audiences can also look forward to the return of...
Review: Around the World in 80 Days, Theatre Royal Winchester
by Charlotte Ndupuechi. Around The World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, adapted and directed by Juliet Forster, is at Theatre Royal Winchester this week, but as you have never seen it before. My two children saw the poster and insisted we saw the show. The idea of fun...
Southampton listings 9 – 15 May
There’s a huge variety of things to choose from in and around Southampton this week. On the 13th Pride and Honour Wrestling, which aims to be a family-friendly event, comes to the City’s Empire Hall. The evening is a fundraising event for People’s Pride Southampton, who hold events in...
Celebrating Sholing Valleys Spring Fayre – and all spring fayers/fetes/fairs
by Katie Isham. It’s that time of year again. As spring blossoms, posters start appearing on lampposts, school gates and parish noticeboards across the land. All advertising the greatest events in the calendar: the spring fair! (Merging into its summer relation.) Now, I’m not entirely sure what the difference...
Alabama 3 come to Southampton’s The 1865 this November
South London roots-futurists Alabama 3 have announced a show in Southampton this autumn, and are heading to The 1865 on 30 November in support of their upcoming release ‘Cold War Classics Vol.2’. Born at an all-night squat party during the ‘90s, the group formed when charismatic frontman and co-founder...
When Rivers Meet come to Southampton’s The 1865 this month
Award-winning blues rock duo When Rivers Meet have recently released “Perfect Stranger” the second single taken from their forthcoming highly anticipated third album “Aces Are High” released later this summer. The new single coincides with their “Breaker of Chains” UK headline tour which kicked off on 28 April with...
Hampshire theatre company Blue Apple’s Frankenstein production screened to thousands in China
Last month, Beijing cultural centre Body On and On screened a film recording of Blue Apple’s Frankenstein to over 2,000 people in China as part of the UK Disability Arts Spring Screening Season, a cultural event arising from a British Council initiative. Frankenstein was originally staged at Theatre Royal Winchester and livestreamed in...