By Joy McKay. The opera La Traviata was composed by Giuseppe Verdi with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and is based on the novel Camille by Alexandre Dumas. It is the most commonly performed, and therefore considered the most popular, opera in the world. The story is set in...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: WNO – Aniadamar, the Fountain of Tears, Mayflower, Southampton
By Martin Brisland. It is refreshing to see the Welsh National Opera (WNO) try new or less often performed material. Last year they had a hit with Janacek’s The Makropulos Affair from the 1920s. This season they chose the unique Ainadamar which was only written in 2003 and it...
Photos: Beverley Knight at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Photos by Kate Hunter. Photographer Kate Hunter captured striking photos of singer Beverley Knight at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (November 11). The British artist, whose career spans almost three decades, was celebrating turning 50 in style, with a roof-raising concert, performing a selection of her hits alongside new material. Visit...
Review: The Mary Wallopers at Southampton’s Engine Rooms
Words and photos by Isabella Briscoe. Fresh off the plane from their huge North American tour, The Mary Wallopers kicked off their biggest ever UK tour in Southampton. Celebrating their second album Irish Rock N Roll, the band took to the stage at the Engine Rooms on the 8th...
Review – Skindred, The Smile Tour, O2 Guildhall Southampton
By Lewis Maclean. Southampton Guildhall felt very much in high spirits when I walked in (November 11). Skindred are no strangers to the venue, having played here several times before. I noticed it filled up quickly early on. An extra bit special tonight too, because it was sold out....
Review: The Full Monty, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 7 November 2023
By Catherine Collins I’m not sure how it has been 25 years since smash hit film, The Full Monty, first aired in the UK, but it has. As the stage show opened at Mayflower Theatre last night, we probably should have expected things to have moved on it that...
Review: Board in the City – Come for the games, stay for lunch!
By Charlotte Ndupuechi. As the winter sets in you may be on the lookout for a cozy venue to while away the hours. Board in the City is a great concept. A table-top gaming cafe offering a welcoming environment for all. It has a huge selection of board games,...
Review: Embrace, The Engine Rooms, Southampton, November 3
By Sian Bryant. Photos: Sarah Groszewski. I reconnected with my 20 year old self this weekend, with a can of lager in my hand jumping up and down to an album I hadn’t listened to from start to finish in many a year. Embrace kicked off their The Good...
Review: Antisemitism: a (((musical))), God’s House Tower, Southampton, November 1
By Lewis MacLean. A show about antisemitism is always going to be important. The thought of trekking across Southampton in a storm did not seem appealing but the timing, with global events, seemed to add some weight to the event too. Although this evening’s performance was more about society...
Review – Punk Rock Factory, The 1865, Wednesday 1st November 2023
By Nick Mabey. A second Celtic storm hit Southampton last night, swirling round The 1865. While Ciaran blew outside, inside the venue South-Wales thrashers Punk Rock Factory ripped it up in front of a sell-out crowd. When I interviewed lead singer Peej a couple of weeks ago, he gave...