Monday 19th January 2026

Culture

‘Beautifully we may rot’: ‘Madame La Mort’ in review

In a small, black-painted room on the top floor of a pub in Islington, known as The Hope Theatre, Madame La Mort was staged for the public for the first time.

Damaging detachment: Reflections on the Booker Prize 

This Christmas vac, I made up my mind to get out of my reading slump using the Booker Prize shortlist, revealing toxic masculinity as a key theme.

In defence of the theatrical release

If film, like all art, nourishes itself on its own œuvre, I don’t think we can afford to sever the association between the cinema and the film.

Falling out of Louvre

In spite of recent events, the expected heightened security was nowhere evident.

Crave Review – ‘moments of tenderness crushed by memories of trauma’

Sarah Kane's emotive text is embodied with both beauty and horror at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Machinal Review – ‘poignant but not perfect’

A play with an imperfect but impactful vision, inspired by a poignant true story of murder and womanhood

Versailles End-of-Season Review: Intrigue, rebellion, and heartache

The popular BBC drama exited on a high this summer

The Squirrel Plays Review – ‘carried off with subtlety and aplomb’

Tenderness and humour emerge from a play that challenges a sobering subject

Eat Your Heart Out review – ‘A nuanced and authentic exploration of a stigmatised subject matter’

Tightrope Productions' devised piece proves particularly heartfelt at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Outgrowing the teen trope

In film characterisation today, art mimicking reality is not the desired outcome. Instead, art is used as a catalyst for wider representation, to inspire us to reflect on ourselves, to be better.

The Oxford Revue: ‘Wasted’, and ‘Group Work’ Reviews – “More time in the writing room necessary”

The audience is left wanting more from the writing at The Oxford Revue's two Fringe shows.

Flying saucers and the end of the world: Oxford Fringe sci-fi shows question life as we know it

Susannah Goldsbrough reviews two Oxford productions at the Edinburgh Fringe that venture into the world of science fiction: 'Doom's Day' (the OUDS National Tour) and 'Lights Over Tesco Car Park.'

Witch Hunt Review – ‘Dizzily funny writing and disastrous hair’

Horseplay Productions' politically-charged sketch comedy hits comedic targets despite an ambiguous through-line.

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress Review – ‘an unusual choice for the Fringe’

An unusually long play for the Edinburgh Fringe sacrifices some clarity in plot to explore the dynamics between complicated women

Ant-Man and the Wasp review – the best comedies come in the smallest packages

After the cosmic scale of Avengers: Infinity War, Paul Rudd brings Marvel's latest entry back down to size

Review: Hive Mind by The Internet

Hive Mind sees the alternative hip-hop band showcase a solid return their previous form.

The Lieutenant of Inishmore Review – ‘Brooding, self-deluding, and very mad indeed’

Michael Grandage's use of dark humour and relentless gore to explore Ireland's complex history of sectarian conflict.

‘I have only ever tried to show you beauty’: Florence Welch’s ‘Useless Magic’

Kate Haselden considers how the publication of Florence Welch's first book proves her affinity for beauty, and talent as an artist, extends beyond music into poetry

Box sets to watch over the summer

Summer is the perfect chance to watch the box sets that you had to set aside amidst the increasing deadlines and impending sense of...

Review: Voids by Martyn

Deijkers continues his exploration of the dynamic space created by the merging of techno and UK bass

Review: Charly Cox ‘She Must Be Mad’

Charly Cox's poetry confronts the reality of life as a young woman in the age of social media

#Merky: the world of celebrity imprints

Celebrity imprints may allow new artists to be published, but does it also betray our society's dependence upon celebrity clout?

The Booker Prize: a sure-fire selection or a shot in the dark?

Chance, market concerns, and bias make the intrinsic superiority of winners doubtful

‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again’ review

It's a film sure to make piles of "Money, Money, Money" at the box office, but will this sequel have you saying "Thank You For The Music", or reaching to flush it down the "Waterloo"?

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