Entertainment – The Orbital

The Man Who Reinvented the Musical: A Note on Stephen Sondheim

5Dec

By Eva Townsend BiltonNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Literature, Theatre & Performance

The Man Who Reinvented the Musical: A Note on Stephen Sondheim

Perhaps the most renowned musical theatre composer and lyricist of the 20th century passed away on the 26th November, aged ninety-one. Stephen Sondheim began his career writing the lyrics to West Side Story (1975) – recently adapted by Spielberg into a dazzling Hollywood movie starring Rachel Zelger and Ansel Elgort – and went on to write the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979) and Into the Woods (1987) as well as Broadway classics such as Company (1970), Follies (1971), and Merrily We Roll Along (1981). The musical theatre mogul received significant acclaim for his work, winning eight Tonys, eight Grammys, an Oscar, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom to name but a few awards. Not one, but two theatres were named after him – one on Broadway, one in ...

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...

28Jan

By Rosie Cranie-HiggsNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

I’m A Celebrity: An Experience Regretted

On the 7th December, a most undesirable event befell me. I had the misfortune of seeing, for the first time, the abomination that is I’m A Celebrity. It so happened to be the final, which, helpfully or unhelpfully, provided a recap of the whole series - meaning I was presented not only with the most recent trials, such as the consumption of unappetising parts of both camel and ostrich, but with a horrific past instance of a contestant drinking deer’s blood. I had heard a great deal about this show prior to seeing it, of course. It is extremely difficult to avoid, what with the painful media focus on bikini bodies and jungle flirtations, and the fact that it seems to dominate headlines throughout the few weeks of its run. What I had not realised, however, was the sheer depravity of it. D...

28Jan

By Harry BrownNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

The Top 5 Greatest and Most Disappointing Films of 2014

The film industry had its fair share of tragedies and scandals in 2014. The losses of talents such as Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Harold Ramis in devastatingly quick succession, while the recent Sony Pictures hacking and the following cancellation of The Interview’s release has set a troubling precedent. On the brighter side though, the sheer number of quality releases was staggering. With that said, my top five films of the year! 5. Locke (Steven Knight) One incredibly hard film to recommend, Locke is simply 85 minutes of Tom Hardy talking to people on his phone in a car. It might sound boring but it quickly becomes clear how engrossing this character’s struggle is, combined with Hardy’s best acting to date. 4. The Raid 2 (Gareth Evans) The most precise and dynamic ...

28Jan

By Emma JefferyNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV, Theatre & Performance

Funny Girls

In recent years there has been a visible surge in the popularity of female comedians, seemingly in correlation with a rise in the awareness of feminism. Their presence on prime-time comedy shows is increasingly noticeable, and rightly so; there is some serious talent which needs to be televised. Dated attitudes such as "she's funny… for a woman" are thankfully fading, as is the distinction between male and female comics. More and more, comedians are appreciated for their wit and creativity, regardless of gender. Despite the excellent progression of women in the comedy business, they are still greatly outnumbered in their field. Upon reflection, I have assembled a list of those who I consider to most greatly embody female success in the industry. So without further ado; here are three of m...

18Aug

By Laura DenhamNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV, Theatre & Performance

Summer Arts in London

These were some of our top tips for things to do and see around London over the summer! Did you attend one of these, or know someone who did? We'd love to hear how they went, so please contribute an article to either Vincent or Lukas, the Arts Editors, and tell us about your experience! We'd love to know if our tip-offs were useful! The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable With award winning production company Punchdrunk, the NT brings you the epitome of immersive theatre experiences. Lose yourself, literally, in four floors of a transformed London postal warehouse in this production that shows you the underside of 1960s Los Angeles. Running until 6th July, this production gives you the complete freedom to explore some of theatres most exciting work. Running until July 6th From £25. Stude...