by Nathan Goldsmith. Forgive me, walkers, for this piece will only take you on a walk as far as your nearest Voi e- scooter dock. The rest of your day is going to be spent on two wheels at a leisurely pace of 12.5kmph. If the last two words...
Reader’s letter: please respond to the Southampton City Vision consultation
I am writing to urge all Southampton residents to respond to the Southampton City Vision consultation by 3rd January! It’s your chance to say how you would like to future proof the City. At Transition Southampton we’ve put together a handy guide: Southampton Local Plan Consultation (transitionsouthampton.org) – just...
Review: Alice, a Musical Adventure in Wonderland, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton, December 2022
by Neil Glasspool. Alice, a Musical Adventure in Wonderland is a youth production packed with sing-along hits, big dance routines and plenty of feelgood factor, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of all is the size of the cast. Featuring an ensemble cast of more than 50, largely made...
Southampton event listings: 20 December – 1 January
Not wishing to freak out anyone who hasn’t finished (or started) their preparations but Christmas is this week – Sunday in fact. So obviously we’re in full Christmas swing. This week’s listings, courtesy of our friends at Shop Local Southampton, carry us all the way into the New Year,...
Heritage: remembering when Christmas REALLY was cancelled
by Martin Brisland. Did you know that Christmas was cancelled in the mid 1600s? Oliver Cromwell, a statesman and general responsible for leading the parliamentary army against the Royalist forces during the English Civil War, took over England in 1645. He believed it was his mission to cleanse the...
Applause! In Common launches new section to celebrate amateur dramatics and more
by Martin Brisland, amateur dramatics editor. In Common has been featuring professional theatre previews and reviews for some years now. As a community based online publication, we are expanding to working with local amateur companies in 2023 for a new Applause! section. This region has an excellent reputation for...
Short story: RED
by Alex Thurley-Ratcliff. The fairyland of movies is sterile…. but completely safe, sweet, pretty and non-threatening. It is therefore highly appealing for those who fear reality… The real world is not safe, not predictable. But it is infinitely more rewarding, satisfying and thrilling. It is authentic and scary and...
Suburban Safari: Out of the darkness…
by Katie Isham. Here we are in the darkest months of the year, and this year, for one reason or another, feels particularly dark. So, it might be the perfect time to take a wander through the light. Beyond the Romsey borders, is an enclave of botanical beauty: Sir...
View from the Kingsland: being on the pitch not in the stands
by Nick Mabey. Almost exactly 12 hours after England’s sad exit from the World Cup I found myself inside St. Mary’s stadium with 800 other hardy (or is that foolhardy?) souls. We were lined up for the start of the inaugural Southampton FC 10k race, an event that started...
Southampton Tenants Union aims to tackle bad maintenance and black mould
The newly-formed Southampton Tenants Union is holding a meeting tomorrow evening (December 15) at October Books 189, Portswood Road. The group has decided to take action on the issue of bad maintenance leading to mould and the consequential physical and mental health issues. Campaigning ideas are all welcome. “We...