Image: Joseph Taylor by Kyle Baines Northern Ballet will bring their award-winning Romeo & Juliet to Mayflower Theatre from Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 October 2024, inviting audiences to rediscover the iconic love story like it’s the very first time. We caught up with Northern Ballet Premier Dancer Joseph Taylor,...
Features
Interview: The team behind Southampton’s Abyssal Festival chat about its origins and where it’s going
All images by Becca Cairns Photography. The latest Abyssal Festival took place in Southampton at the weekend. Organisers David Burke, along with Harley Edwards and Chris Gilgan, chatted to Spring Wise about the event. “Small metal festivals have run in Southampton for years, on and off. When Harley...
Experience: How roller derby changed my life
By Laura McCarthy. Like many people, I found coping with the stresses of the COVID-19 epidemic led me to pick up a new hobby. I was part-way through my teacher training when lockdown started and, later, when the summer arrived, I was faced with endless empty weeks. No chance...
Experience: black velvet dress at the school disco
By Spring Wise. When I was ten, there was a school disco. My auntie took me shopping and bought me the most beautiful dress I could imagine. It was black velvet and made me feel like an Old Hollywood movie star. I chose it, no one chose it for...
Interview: Gavin Adams on his upcoming role as Aladdin at Mayflower Theatre
Disney’s hit Broadway and West End musical, Aladdin, lands in Southampton as part of its first ever UK and Ireland tour from Thursday 5 to Sunday 29 September 2024. Adapted from Disney’s 1992 animated film and centuries-old folktales, including One Thousand and One Nights, this smash-hit musical is brought...
Opinion: writing a new chapter of hope
By Manthan Pathak. First came the trauma. Then the fight. Now the hope. It’s been an emotional couple of weeks. I’ve watched in horror as extreme violence by the far right, targeted at immigrants and all people of colour, has disfigured our country. Perhaps it’s useful here to offer...
Southampton’s anti-fascist counter demonstration – last night we took our country back
By Sam Wise. Last night, Southampton made me proud. I’m sure everyone was aware of the brief spate of far-right violence that had happened in the last week or two, using the excuse of the tragic stabbings in Southport to justify “peaceful protests” which devolved into fighting with the...
Interview: Desmonda Cathabel on her role as Jasmine in Aladdin
Disney’s hit Broadway and West End musical, Aladdin, lands in Southampton as part of its first ever UK and Ireland tour from Thursday 5 to Sunday 29 September 2024. Adapted from Disney’s 1992 animated film and centuries-old folktales, including One Thousand and One Nights, this smash-hit musical is brought...
Anti-racist meeting held ahead of demonstration in city centre
By Sally Churchward. “I am a migrant who has lived here for 20 years. I haven’t been able to leave my house or let my children out since this started and it’s making me a nervous wreck.” “I support older people and now they’re talking about racism – I’m...
Review: Southampton Ghost Tour
By Vicky Greer. We’re greeted in St Michael’s Square with the sight of seagulls fighting over discarded chicken. It’s not part of the Southampton Ghost Tour, but it feels like an omen for the grisly stories to come tonight. Our haunted walk around Old Town is presented by Supernatural...