Arts – Page 6 of 8 – The Orbital

Drama Society presents ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’

28Oct

By Rosalie FallaNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Drama Society presents ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’

Rosalie Falla reviews the first night of Drama Society's Week 5 Show. No Sex Please, We’re British by Anthony Marriot and Alistair Foot is a simply hilarious concept: when a newly-wed couple, Peter and Frances, receive a box of Scandinavian pornography in lieu of glassware, comedy ensues. Uninvited houseguests, a police investigation, a lost cheque, boxes and boxes of risqué material and many a mix-up make this a show worth seeing. Katie Dale’s and Niamh Dunne's directorial efforts succeed in bringing the British farce to the Jane Holloway stage in only five weeks, no mean feat considering the cast and crew balance intense rehearsals with their degrees- perfectly timed comedy is not an easy skill to master and yet Dale and Dunne's cast had the audience in fits. Speaking of the cast, ...

28Oct

By Olivia AtkinsonNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Suffragette: the fear of change

Family movie night premiered Sarah Gavron’s latest film, "Suffragette"; a raw, eye opening success that has introduced significant thought and discussion both within the public eye and my own living room. Not a single word was spoken as my family and I were fixated on the motion picture. In my awestruck eyes, this interpretation of the development of our democratic history perfectly encapsulates the lengths it took for the women of the past 100 years to get to 1 vote for the women of today. The film highlights the immense effort, thought and planning that went into protests, both passive and violent. Beatings carried out in the streets and the death of world-renowned martyr, Emily Wilding-Davison, were incredibly intense moments and were, at times, rather grotesque and shocking, yet w...

Royal Holloway dazzles with ‘A Night at the Theatre’!

23Oct

By Georgia BeithNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Royal Holloway dazzles with ‘A Night at the Theatre’!

Orbital's Georgia Beith reviews the first showing of 'A Night at the Theatre'. A tremendous night of music, dancing and above all fun, ‘A Night at the Theatre’ showcases the very best of what Royal Holloway’s creative arts societies have to offer. In the two part variety extravaganza there is quite literally something for everyone. From burlesque to Shakespeare, horror films to gospel and Tamil, the huge array of talent on display makes it a little hard to believe that most acts were put together in a matter of weeks. Highlights include the uproariously funny ten-minute piece by the Holloway Players which is entirely improvised, the Ballroom and Latin Dancesport’s tribute to the King of Pop himself; Michael Jackson, and the absolutely stunning performances by the three soloists throu...

25Jul

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

New Blood: A new concept for BBC One?

I was introduced to New Blood by the Metro, promising a fantastic foray from Anthony Horowitz into the gritty side of London's policing and fraud investigation. Once a friend from the capital mentioned the show and its greatness, I knew I had to 'tune in' and find out for myself. I use 'tune in' in the figurative sense because the first I heard of the show was as a box set on BBC iPlayer, not realising it had a prime time slot on BBC One. The way this works is that the series is made up of three cases, each consisting of two episodes (except the first which has three instalments), and released on a case by case basis. The episodes are also aired weekly over seven weeks on BBC One on Thursday evenings. A strange idea, some might think, considering that the episodes are already available ...

#KeepTheSecrets: Harry Potter Play Reviewed

7Jul

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

#KeepTheSecrets: Harry Potter Play Reviewed

Beth Carr reviews the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ahead of its official opening in late July Walking up to the Palace Theatre, it is clear that this is the only place in the West End to host Harry Potter's eighth story. Visually spectacular, the Victorian red brick frontage is reminiscent of Hogwarts and the interior is equally magical, benefiting from a refurbishment especially for J. K. Rowling's newest creation. The theatre was surrounded by eager fans and as doors opened the queue was already winding around the entire building. A warm welcome awaits spectators from security and staff, and after parting ways with an unfortunate packet of BBQ Beef Hula Hoops (no food is allowed into the theatre but you can take in water bottles) we were soon seated, ready to enj...

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

24Jun

By Joanne ArcherNo Comments

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...

17Jun

By Nebiu SamuelNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Krept and Konan, A Night to Remember

Krept and Konan are one of the biggest names in rap at the moment since the success of their mixtape 'Young Kingz' in 2013. They have worked tirelessly, producing hit songs known across the country. On April 1st, the pair promised a night to remember with the first performance of their spring tour at the O2 Academy Brixton and they certainly delivered. After Ty Dollar Sign had warmed up the crowd, the lights went out, phones were out with Snapchat and Instagram ready, the anticipation of the Duo’s grand entrance grew among the crowd. The screen covering the stage fell to reveal a London underground tube carriage across the stage, followed by the sound of the very familiar underground voice-over which was used throughout the show to introduce special guests. Then the vocals from Konan’s tra...

13Jun

By Joanne ArcherNo Comments

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...

Kygo triumphs with debut album Cloud Nine

7Jun

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Kygo triumphs with debut album Cloud Nine

There hasn't been an album in recent years that has surprised me as much as Cloud Nine, the debut album of Norwegian DJ and songwriter Kygo. Having risen to prominence with his single Firestone in late 2014, it is hard to believe that this is only his first album but it is well worth the wait. It captivates from the very beginning with a minimalist track Intro, full of building emotion and repetitive themes that leave you longing for more. More is exactly what the album brings, showcasing his production talent with 14 collaborations with artists including Tom Odell, Kodaline and Labrinth. The quality persists throughout the whole album with each track bringing a different vibe but reflecting the consistency of Kygo's technically complex but audibly pleasing style. A surprise highlight w...

Review: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

26Jan

By Louise JonesNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Review: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

Matthew Bourne (or so I should say), Sir Matthew Bourne (New Year’s Knighthood and the likes), famed for his successful take on two of the great Tchaikovsky ballets, reinventing a dark, Dickensian Nutcracker and a wild Swan Lake, has taken to the stage to complete the Tchaikovsky trilogy with Sleeping Beauty. Yet, in tackling Sleeping Beauty, one would consider it to be a much harder challenge. A simple story with much loved, well-known characters, and the Disney retelling cemented in the public consciousness, in theory and on paper, Sleeping Beauty seemed a much harder ballet to reinvent. But Bourne delivers with style and excellence. (more…)