Culture & Literature – Page 14 of 37

Full Disclosure: The Addams Family Musical

18Nov

By Emma HalahanNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Full Disclosure: The Addams Family Musical

After wowing us with campus hit Love Island: The Musical, Director Harriet Williams, Musical Director Daniel Looseley and Choreographer Bryony O’Hare take on the musical adaption of cult film and TV series, The Addams Family. With a puff of dry ice and a scarily sombre prologue, the SU main hall ‘moves towards the darkness’ into the disastrous Addams Family mansion – and full disclosure, you are greeted immediately by some stand out performances. Newcomer Emily Quillin makes a delightfully macabre Morticia Addams with both a stellar acting and singing performance that draws every laugh, gasp and blush. From motherly mentor to seductress señorita, Quillin carries that signature Morticia mannerism with her throughout the show, providing an energy unmatched – a testament to Harriet William...

BBC Music Introducing Live: Making it in Today’s Industry

7Nov

By Maria GreenNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

BBC Music Introducing Live: Making it in Today’s Industry

BBC Music Introducing Live invites aspiring artists, producers and music managers to their three-day event where attendees will learn everything about how to get into the ever-changing music industry. Held at London’s Tobacco Dock on 8-10 November 2018, BBC Music Introducing Live features talks, panels, performances, masterclasses and more, to inspire 15,000 future music industry leaders. BBC Introducing are giving young creatives the opportunity to meet the biggest names in the industry, including brands, record labels, streaming services, artists, BBC DJs and producers. As well as live performances with Ben Howard, Deadmau5, Duke Dumont, Tom Grennan and more, the event includes a UK music careers fair, bars, markets, and surprise performances. BBC Music Introducing Live is th...

We Are BME: A Thank You to Renee Landell

2Nov

By Amaan RamzanNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

We Are BME: A Thank You to Renee Landell

Important issues require special attention. The continuing struggle that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals undergo in society and the workplace is staggering. Our government is finally starting to realise that this is a severe problem, with a report on gov.uk stating that "people from BME backgrounds are less likely to progress in the workplace than white counterparts". However, efforts have been made to improve opportunities for individuals from black or minority backgrounds in society and the workplace. At a university level, students, staff and governors must take more responsibility for inspiring change in teaching and learning to support the advancement of coloured students. Thankfully, one postgraduate student is making an intensive effort to bring this current issue to li...

27Oct

By Ian HayesNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Reality TV: A 21st Century Freak-Show

Writing this, I am sat in a dimly lit, overpriced coffee shop in the middle of nowhere. It is the morning after the seminal event of our times, the cultural zenith for all those who dare to be ‘edgy’, ‘hip’ and part of the ‘in’ crowd. This is of course the day after the Love Island final. Love Island is the most recent evolution of reality TV, in which first came Big Brother, some strange show in which an ever dwindling group of people (contestants are ‘evicted’ by the public each week) are forced to live with each other for the length of the series until there was 1 winner left standing. Big Brother takes its name from George Orwell’s 1984, in which ‘Big Brother’ is always watching. One of the issues I have with the name in particular is that it implies that we’re always watching, which ...

25Oct

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Crazy Rich Representation

Asian representation on both the small and big screen is reaching a peak at the moment. We’ve got Crazy Rich Asians, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and even veteran show Fresh Off The Boat all trying to represent Asians in pop culture and give us all someone to look at that is reminiscent of the face in the mirror. Fresh Off The Boat, Crazy Rich Asians and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before are vastly different stories. And yet, having Asian characters at the forefront of any story is so powerful that my Twitter feed is exploding with praise and love for what they represent: a milestone through which culturally, we are accepting that Asian characters are what acceptable and will be popular, especially as it seeks to give a voice to those that didn’t have one before. Crazy Rich Asians i...

25Oct

By Maria GreenNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Introducing: Lesedi

So perhaps we can start with you guys introducing yourselves. Who are you, what do you play and what do you study? E: I'm Eve! I play sax, flute, and sing, and I study music along with Dan and Tom. D: I’m Dan, I’m going into my second year studying music and I play keys for the band. T: I'm Tom, I'm also going into second year and I'm the drummer! Awesome! Did you all meet on the music course at Royal Holloway? D: Yes we did! It didn’t take us long to realise we were all interested in similar things, and Eve approached Tom and I and asked us to start a band with her! T: We mainly play funk music, which ranges from covers to originals but we also cover rock, pop and plenty of genres in-between. An interesting mix then! Who are your greatest influence...

21Oct

By Lina PlamenovaNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

A Truly Amazing Night At The Theatre

Ever imagined, even in your wildest dreams, seeing Morticia Addams, Dorian Gray, and Romeo and Juliet all in the same place, at the same time? No? What if they were accompanied by wild dancing performances, amazing musical numbers and sketches that make you laugh so much that your stomach hurts? Then apparently, you have never been to A Night at the Theatre (ANATT). If you have never even heard of ANATT (where have you been all this time?!), it is an event that features performances by more or less all the creative societies at Royal Holloway, varying from dance, drama, musical theatre, fashion, pole dancing and the works of some independent artists. It is an excellent way to spend an evening, leaving all your worries behind, while watching your fellow students express their creativity...

20Oct

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Student Productions: One to Watch

I’ve said it before and I will say it again: theatre is a gift. The dedication and hard work that goes into producing a high-quality show for the audience to enjoy is unparalleled and should be appreciated - even at the student level. University students juggle degrees, part-time jobs and socialising with hours and hours of rehearsals almost every night so that, in just a couple of months, they can stand in the Student’s Union or Jane Holloway Hall performing their hearts out for the students who attend. However, while these shows do attract quite a lot of people, there are scores of RHUL students who will graduate without ever seeing a student production. My only question is why? Student productions are an opportunity to watch a high-quality show for a relatively low cost. Most show...

2Aug

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Visual Arts

Hope to Nope?

The Design Museum is situated on Kensington High Street, a beautiful building with fascinating exhibits inside. One recent exhibit looked at the graphic design aspects of political activism. Entitled ‘Hope to Nope: Graphics and Politics 2008 - 2018’, it sought to explore the evolving nature of design, particularly within the changing landscape of politics in the last decade. The exhibit showcased many beautiful designs, all likely familiar to those who have not only engaged in politics but simply logged onto Facebook in recent years. As soon as you walk in to the ‘Hope to Nope’ exhibit, after an odd descent down a steep staircase, you are greeted by a bright yellow wall, with an explanation for the exhibits existence. The explanation describes the “turbulent decade” we have experienced and...

13Jun

By Emma HalahanNo Comments

Culture & Literature

Street Art

Getting that perfect gram isn’t easy – but a beautiful and edgy background always helps. Just a stone throw (and fourty minute train ride) from London, we walk you through the best spots to get your Insta fix. East London , without a doubt, is the home and lifeblood of traditional London street art. We recommend heading to Shoreditch to find some of the most well loved London street art. Get down to Rivington Street to even catch one of the famous Banksy’s in real life. South London has its fair share of street art with Brixton and for those more graffiti inclined the Southbank at its disposal. Brixton has a wealth of art cropping up daily but we still love the David Bowie tribute directly opposite Brixton Station. The Southbank’s skate park is a great place for the edgier of you all t...