Thursday, March 28Royal Holloway's offical student publication, est. 1986

Author: Joanne Archer

Culture Without the Cost
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Culture Without the Cost

  Orbital's Joanne Archer talks you through getting theatre tickets without maxing that overdraft. 1. Download the TodayTix app From this app you can order cheap theatre tickets for the current week, often with promotions offering great value for money. Certain shows also offer a ticket lottery where you can win amazingly discounted seats, often right on the front row. You might never win but it is well worth a try! All you have to do is make an account and choose which shows you want to see. You can enter the lottery each day but be sure to have your alerts switched on! If you do win, the tickets are normally for the same night so you need to be swift in claiming your winnings. TodayTix promises that it “secures the best discounted and full price tickets avail...
MTS Presents ‘Bring It On’: From the Perspective of a Sideline Cheerleader.
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

MTS Presents ‘Bring It On’: From the Perspective of a Sideline Cheerleader.

Orbital's Joanne Archer reviews Musical Theatre Society's performance of Bring It On. Every time I watch MTS perform I laugh, I smile, and deep down I am envious of their superhuman talents. Bring It On was no exception to the rule. Walking through the SU main hall doors, I realised that this show was unconventional, I became aware I was entering from “backstage”; the hall layout having been rotated to allow for a basketball court to be taped down to the SU flooring. With lockers, banners and photo collages, I immediately felt like I was in an American movie. The show itself was certainly not the “glorified High School Musical” that one might have assumed it to be. We follow in the footsteps of Campbell, the relatively down-to-earth and newly elected cheer captain of Truman High Sch...
Interview with Quarterlights
Culture & Literature, Music

Interview with Quarterlights

Orbital’s Joanne Archer caught up with up and coming band, Quarterlights, a group who originated from Royal Holloway. Meeting and interviewing Quarterlights with my Deputy Editor, Beth Carr, has to be one of the highlights of being the Arts Editor for the Orbital thus far- it’s only been a few months but still! Although I was only able to meet three out of four of the group, I could get a real sense of what this band is all about. Quarterlights, made up of three RHUL alumni and one of their friends, got their start playing in the Forester’s Arms. The pub, which is situated in Egham, allowed them to build a small following which later lead to their success playing at Summer Ball in 2015. Originally the band went by the name Cardboard City, a name which they pointed out was also shared wi...
Anti-Halloween Film Picks
Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Anti-Halloween Film Picks

The Orbital's Arts journalists give you their favourite films to watch to combat the spooky season of Halloween and the cold wintry nights to come! Beth Carr - Love Actually You can't not smile while watching a load of people fall in and out of love and connect their lives in unexpected ways. The music is sublime and the storyline is extremely clever, brought to life by a stunning cast of cinematic favourites. Plus, Halloween means it's basically almost Christmas, right? Isabella Mansell - Mamma Mia Who doesn't love an Abba singalong? The feel-good plot of love and comic wit leaves everyone with a smile on their face and a toe-tapping experience! Why not escape the British cold and drizzle through the Grecian Summer and nothing could be further away from the t...
Pack it in… or don’t
Lifestyle

Pack it in… or don’t

A not-so definitive list of University essentials Freshers might just forget and items that should definitely be left at home. The most stressful part of first year, aside from the lab reports and endless essays, is the packing phase. Somehow you must fit all of your worldly belongings into your mum’s Ford Fiesta, packaged in a precarious mix of suitcases, Ikea shopping bags and cardboard boxes. Without going into elaborate details of pots, pans and shampoo, allow us to debunk the myths of what students should and shouldn’t be bringing to halls. 1. Bring a doorstop. You have probably heard this top tip about a billion times in the past few months but it could not be more true. A lot of doors in halls are fire doors and will slam shut unless met with the resistance of a door stop. You...
Orbital Introducing: masses.
Culture & Literature, Music

Orbital Introducing: masses.

This week Orbital checked out up-and-coming band ‘masses.’ The 4-piece band, based in Leeds, is made up of guitarists Cain Cookson and Jacob Corr, bass player James Grover and George Van Renselar’s electronics. The band have described themselves as ‘a melodic earful of guitars, synths, samples, and affecting four-part harmonies; lyrical disdain and proper songwriting; masses.’ What makes this band so unique is the fact that all members produce vocals, resonating haunting tones. You may wonder what is so diverse about an all-singing boy band, but this is certainly no One Direction. Each member has experience as a professional music producer and just as much expertise with their instruments. The tracks are produced entirely by the band at Peak Studios. The result is a truly unique sound that...
‘Pokémon Go’ through the eyes of an ignoramus
Science & Technology

‘Pokémon Go’ through the eyes of an ignoramus

Orbital journalist Joanne Archer tries out the Pokémon Go app that has been taking the world by storm. Growing up, I did not want to conform to gender stereotypes. I played with boys and girls toys, had a football kit and wore tutus. Amongst the Beyblades, Bionicles and Action Men, I came into the possession of a deck of Pokémon cards. The game was the latest trade-able trend on the Year 3 playground and particularly sought after by my crush of the moment. Naturally, I had to get in on the action. At the age of eight the only thing I was interested in catching was the school's heart-breaker, not a Jigglypuff. 11 years later and I have a tin of mismatched Pokémon cards, some of which are certainly fakes, and little knowledge of what Pokémon actually is. Sure, I’ve heard the theme tune an...
Chase & Status release their latest track ‘Spoken Word’ ft. George the Poet
Culture & Literature, Music

Chase & Status release their latest track ‘Spoken Word’ ft. George the Poet

The catchy and uplifting sampling of Rozalla’s 1990s song, ‘Everybody’s Free’, demands dance floors to be filled, whilst George the Poet’s words transport ‘Spoken Word’ to its own genre. Rozalla’s rave tune paired with his inspiring, echoed words, can only really be described as a bit chalk and cheese; a combination that will almost definitely peak in the charts regardless. The track, which is third to be previewed from their latest unreleased album, was first aired by Zane Lowe on his Beats 1 show as a ‘World First’ on the 16th of June. It’s clear to see why Zane chose this track, with its modern poetry and old school vibe creating a blend that feels entirely new. Some listeners, however, feel that the song is not all that revolutionary, citing its likeness to Chase & Status’ previ...
MTS showcases talent with Summer Cabaret
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

MTS showcases talent with Summer Cabaret

With its annual show, MTS kicks off the post-exam term of Pimm’s drinking in Founders quad with their ‘Summer Cabaret’. Orbital sends its resident photographer Jessie Beach-Thomas to investigate the action and interviews Violaine Brunelin, a member of the production team. Jessie’s take: ‘Colourful, glittery- everything you would expect from a musical!’ From watching Summer Cabaret, a show directed by Max Harris and presented by both Pippa Gentry and Matthew Siveter, I was very impressed. It is clear to see why so many of MTS’s shows have been sold out throughout the year. MTS take pride in their inclusivity, with both auditioned roles and full cast numbers that do not require any auditioning. If you aren’t into the performing side of things, there is plenty of opportunity for students to...
A sketchy situation
Culture & Literature, Visual Arts

A sketchy situation

Joanne Archer investigates the prohibition of sketching in art galleries. Upon visiting an art gallery or museum, you would not be surprised to come across a ‘no photography’ sign, a widely accepted, but not always followed, symbol of a flashing camera that indicates guests might just be shot at if they dare so much as look in their bags for the snapping creature. A slightly unexpected uprising in the world of the arts however, is the ban on sketching in temporary exhibitions such as the V&A’s ‘Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear’. Most would assume that the reason that galleries ban photography is due to issues with work being reproduced. Sketching is defined as ‘a rough or unfinished drawing or painting, often made to assist in making a more finished picture’. It is virtual...