By Joy McKay This weekend (26th August) saw the return of the annual Southampton Pride march and festival, the 8th hosted in the city. The theme of the event this year was protest in order to remind people of the grassroots origins of Pride and that whilst rights for...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 17 August 2023
By Catherine Collins Who doesn’t love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? As a child, I read the book by Roald Dahl and watched the film starring Gene Wilder, and as an adult with children of my own the remake with Johnny Depp. So when the opportunity to see the...
Review Round-up: Wickham Festival, 3 – 6 August 2023
Words by Lewis MacLean and photos by Graham Hiley My first time at Wickham was almost overshadowed by the remoteness of the place, which turned out to be a key ingredient in the beauty of the experience. As I arrived at neighbouring Wickham Square, I already felt like I...
Review: Wickham Music Festival, Day 4 – 6 August 2023
Wickham Festival fans were treated to real rock royalty on the final day of a fantastic four-day event. Despite problems with the weather and the mud, the music lifted everyone’s spirits to make it all worthwhile. After three days of great acts, the final day saw the Zombies make...
Review: Wickham Music Festival, Day 3 – 5 August 2023
By Graham Hiley Wickham Festival fans were blown away – but by the music rather than the forecast gales. Winds of 40mph had been predicted along with thunderstorms and torrential rain ,and although there were a few heavy showers, the worst of the storm passed by the picturesque setting....
Review: Wickham Music Festival, Day 2 – Friday 4 August 2023
By Graham Hiley If you thought the Saw Doctors could not get any better than they were at Wickham last year, then think again! Singer Leo Moran told the crowd: “Last year was our first big gig back after six years so we were a bit nervous but we...
Review: Wickham Music Festival, Day 1 – Thursday 3 August 2023
By Graham Hiley Even the rain could not dampen spirits on the opening day of the Wickham Festival. There was a defiant party mood among fans determined to enjoy the music despite the days of heavy rain which left the ground soft and, in places, muddy. And their commitment was...
Review: Storming Bastille – PennFest, Buckinghamshire, Saturday July 22
Image: © GigshotZ – Chris Elliott. Words by Sally Churchward. It could, so easily, have been a wash out. The weather was definitely not on the side of festival-goers on the second day of PennFest in Buckinghamshire. Whilst the weather had been fairly kind to those watching the likes...
Review: The Verdict, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, July 19 2023
by Anita Foxall. The Verdict, Margaret May Hobb’s stage adaption currently at the Mayflower Theatre, takes you to a snowy Boston, where you will experience an intense courtroom drama. This take on Barry Reed’s novel from 1980, which was then adapted to film by David Mamet, starring Paul Newman,...
Review: Bastille – Bad Blood X Tour, Alexandra Palace, July 14, 2023
By Sally Churchward. Main image by Joe Horridge. Joyous Bastille Day celebrations came to London this weekend. Not with La Marseillaise and processions but thousands of people singing ‘eheu oh!’, ‘shut off the lights’ and an ode to Daniel in the Lion’s Den. It was a special occasion for...