Classic hit ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ is an instantly recognisable pop/synth track transporting all back to the 80s, an energetic, iconic number that instantly gets you moving from The Communards, spent weeks at the no. 1 spot on the UK charts – a testament to the song’s popularity which is still enjoyed to this day. With co-vocals by soul/jazz vocalist Sarah Jane Morris, the band’s unique sound would go on to define the pop sound of the day. Renowned for her tenor/baritone range, Sarah Jane has paved a varied path throughout her career since, fronting bands The Republic and The Happy End and passing on her musical knowledge to future generations. Her latest project The Sisterhood a live choral performance narrating the lives of 10 iconic females musician including Nina Simone and Kate Bush. Set to play at Cadogan Hall on 6th October, Sarah Jane tells us more about her inspirations for creating the show, working with renowned guitarist Tony Remy to produce the show and how her extensive career has shaped her as an artist.
In total, comedy trio Foil, Hog and Arms have accumulated over 1 billion views online, an achievement within our digital age to be celebrated. Their sharp, viral comedic sketches attracting vast audiences in over 150 countries from the UK to the Middle East for over a decade now – the trio referred to as The Three Brothers in China. Admired by celebrities alike, including US comedy duo Key and Peele and renowned actress Emma Thompson, their popularity is clear to see – they all able to foster a sense of relatability that inevitably forges connection. An Edinburgh Festival favourite having sold over 26,000 tickets last year, they’ve enjoyed sold out runs at the New York Town Hall and Hammersmith Apollo. Ready to embark on a UK tour, starting off at the Theatre Royal Brighton on the 28th September and concluding at The Lowry Theatre on the 29th October – Foil, Hog and Arms present their latest live work, Hogwash– a fast paced mix of sketches, improvisation, audience participation and talking suitcases! Ahead of the tour, the trio tell us more about creating work for both live and online spaces and what to expect.
Currently seen on the BBC’s DNA Family Secrets, Professor Turi King has played a significant role in the fields of forensics, history, genealogy and archaeology – her contribution to the identification of King Richard III a vital finding that has gone onto showcase the power of forensics, tying us ever closer to our personal lineages. Set to tour the UK with her latest live show Family History with DNA Detective Professor Turi King, Turi looks to delve deeper into her impressive decades long career, imparting the knowledge she’s gathered amongst the years. Ahead of the tour, which starts on 23rd September at the 1532 Performing Arts Centre – Turi tells us more about what to expect.
Hi Turi, your event Family History with DNA Detective Professor Turi King will tour the UK this September and October. How are you feeling ahead of the tour?
Very excited. I’ve been working in this area for over 20 years, I get to work on some really cool things. I’ve worked on the Richard III Project and early stuff around using DNA fingerprinting to look at people with the same surname, and whether they all related to one another through to doing DNA Family Secrets. I’ve worked on loads of really interesting projects, and it’s an area I’m quite passionate about, and I’m hoping that people will be able to learn tips and tricks as well as how they can use DNA when they’re doing their own family history.
Five seasons down, and the BBC’s hit reality make up show Glow Up: Britain’s Next Top Make Up Artist makes the transition from our screens to the stage – head judges Val Garland – a renowned make up artist celebrating 30 years of working on various fashion campaigns including Alexander McQueen and Dominic Skinner – Mac Cosmetics’ current Global Senior Artist fronting Glow Up Live, to take over the London Palladium on the 15th and 16th October. Ahead of the live event, which will see eight contestants from the show’s previous seasons return to battle it out to be crowned winner live on stage, Val and Dominic tell us more about why it’s important to have a show such as this promoting the off stage skill of make up artistry!
In our technological age, web 1, 2 and 3 (metaverses) dominate, our lives now lived online in parallel to our material realities. Making its debut in the UK, after a sold out run out in San Francisco, Fray – is a tale of two brothers, Tulio and Ziya as they navigate competing passions of Hip Hop dancing and for the shared world of adventure they discover inside of video games. Their bond frays over time and the older brother is lured away by dark forces. Set to take Wilton’s Town Hall by storm for 3 nights only, Candybomber Productions fuse dance, music, and digital visuals to engage us with this story. Choreographed by Sisco Martinez, who notably rose to prominence dancing for the likes of Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Paula Abdul and Kylie Minogue amongst others, we learn more about his vision for the show and what we can expect!
With no prior motorsport experience, now celebrated racing driver Jann Mardenborough received a once in a life time opportunity to hone in on his Gran Turismo no-how and gain the skills needed to pursue a successful racing career. Scoring a place on the coveted GT Academy/Nissan PlayStation GT Academy in 2011, and beating 90,000 other entrants to go on to win the competition, the tv show propelled Mardenborough into a fast paced world, resulting in him participating in the Dubai 24 Hour Race courtesy of Nissan. Since then, going from strength to strength having competed in various competitions since 2012 including British GT Championship, Blancpain Endurance Series, Toyota Racing Series, FIA European Formula Three Championship, 2014 GP3 Series, Super Formula Series and Super GT – where he scored a podium position in 2017. Dramatising the racing star’s inspirational story, Sony Pictures present summer blockbuster Gran Turismo this August at participating cinemas. Starring as one of the film’s mechanics, and with a cast including Orlando Bloom, Darren Barnet and David Harbour – ex-Hollyoaks star Richard Cambridge tells us more about his role as Felix, learning the skills needed to play a convincing mechanic and the arts led businesses he co-owns!
Premiering his show last year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, writer and performer Rinkoo Barpaga would go onto receive critical acclaim, Made in I̶n̶d̶i̶a̶ Britain a story inspired by his own intersectional experience of being of South Asian descent, growing up in the UK in the 70s and 80s, and learning to adapt to an external world not really equipped to support his hearing impairment. Currently on tour nationally, the show’s next stops are the Soho Theatre (London) on the 27th to 30th June, Norwich Theatre (Norwich) on 1st October, Brixton House (London) on 4th to 6th October Key Theatre (Peterborough) on 7th October and concludes at the Belgrade Theatre (Coventry) on 9th to 11th October. Ahead of his Soho run, Rinkoo tells us more about what to expect!
A career that began in his younger years, actor/writer/director Harlem born Glynn Turman has enjoyed over six decades within the entertainment industry. Along the way, starring alongside Hollywood greats Sir Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun in 1959, as well as episodes of hit sitcoms Hanging with Mr Cooper and The Wayans Bros, and directed episodes of A Different World. His acting work including hit dramas The Wire, House of Lies and Queen Sugar. Celebrated for his contributions to the the field of entertainment, his work has seen him win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in HBO Drama Series In Treatment, Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Critics Associstion for your role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom as well as three NAACP Awards. Gearing up for his release of his documentary The Legend of Glynn Turman to stream across various platforms from 20th June, Glynn tells us more about what to expect!
The launchpad for some of the UK’s brightest spoken word and poetry talent, the Last Word Festival, hosted by the Roundhouse is currently enjoying a take over of the arts venue. From the 1st to the 18th June, the event marks the return of the coveted Roundhouse Poetry Slam Final, renowned arts organisation – Apples and Snakes’ 40th year celebration, a conversation between award winning poet Sophia Thakur and #Merky Books editor Lemara Lindsay-Prince, a live podcast series by Lyrix Organix featuring Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens amongst many other events. Talking to us about this year’s 10th anniversary, marketing coordinator Petra Harrison tells us more about what it means to be able to host this vital event years on, and what the marketing aspect for an event such as this looks like.
Jillian Mercado – My Eyes Are Up Here
In order to broaden perspective, it’s vital to spotlight stories seldom told to bridge the gaps and foster meaningful connections. Writer Aminder Virdee and Director Nathan Morris both bringing to the fore the story of HER, played by Jillian Mercado, a disabled woman who sets off on a mission to get the morning after pill after a clumsy one night stand in short film my Eyes Are Up Here. Drawing on a day in the life of Aminder, a British South Asian transdisciplinary multi-art form and STEM artist, activist and writer, the short film embodies inclusivity at its very core. Ahead of its screening at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival on the 11th, 14th and 17th June, Aminder and Nathan tell us more about what to expect!