Tuesday 17th February 2026

Culture

‘I don’t like the idea of hope’: An interview with Iya Kiva 

Iya Kiva is an award-winning Ukrainian poet, originally from Donetsk. Since 2014, when war first came to her region, she has lived in displacement.

A bold choice for limited space: ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’

This ambitious take on a classic struggled in the space constraints of the Michael Pilch studio.

‘Fresh energy’: Corpus Christi’s Owlets on their revival

Abigail Lakeland interviewed Clara Woodhouse, Owlets President, to discuss its resurgence, and what audiences can expect.

From topping charts to ‘The Traitors’: An ode to Cat Burns

The chaotic new season of 'The Traitors' made me reflect on the celebrity version, and my personal favourite contestant, Cat Burns.

Review: Bad Neighbours

Seth Rogan's latest attempt at comedy is caught between being unfunny and unwatchable

Preview: She Stoops To Conquer

Naomi Polonsky looks forward to this traditional garden show

Preview: Timon of Athens

Nadia Bovy looks ahead to this immersive production at Magdalen

Review: Collaborators

Fergus Morgan is impressed by this production about the politics of terror

Review: Frank

Michael Fassbender's masterful performance ultimately saves this self-indulgent and incoherent movie

The Magnificence of Miyazaki

Ollie Johnson praises the genius of the master of Japanese animation

Top 3… Theories of the Soul

Luke Barratt outlines three intriguing historical perspectives

Milestones: Deals with the Devil

Luke Barratt explores the cultural motif of selling one's soul - don't try this at home!

Identity: A question of mind, body or soul?

Emma Simpson considers what our obsession with the physical has to do with our inner lives

Preview: Surprise

Naomi Polonsky is completely absorbed by this new piece of writing

Review: Matisse the Cut-Outs

Enyuan Khong takes a tour of the Tate Modern’s new exhibition of the modernist master’s cut-outs

Beauty is truth, truth beauty

Luke Barratt considers the overwhelmingly visual nature of our cultural consumption

Top 3… Visuals

Emma Simpson examines three unusual visual perspectives

Milestones: Bill Viola

Naomi Polonsky considers the influence of visual artist Bill Viola

Where are they now: The Cheeky Girls

They’re the 00s favourite Romanian red-heads that left Louis Walsh speechless.

Review: Dolly Parton – Blue Smoke

It's the 42nd release by the country icon, but Dolly has failed to deliver.

Review: Kishi Bashi – Lighght

Adam Piascik reviews the celestial new album by violinist Kishi Bashi

Review: Amen Dunes – Love

The fourth offering from this Philadelphia based musician is reviewed by Kevin Harris

Live Review: Gang of One

Claire Poynton-Smith checked out one-man-band Gang of One at the Cape of Good Hope

Review: Pompeii

Fergus Morgan finds this 'historical' disaster epic to be shallow, undeveloped and just plain boring

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