Arts
The Wright stuff
Roger Wright’s precipitate departure from both Radio Three and the Proms came as a surprise. At first the news was…
The Wright stuff
Roger Wright’s precipitate departure from both Radio Three and the Proms came as a surprise. At first the news was…
Glorious Glastonbury
‘Charlie. E. Powder,’ said the friendly, helpful man working his way through the crowd during the mindblowing Friday-night headline set…
Glorious Glastonbury
‘Charlie. E. Powder,’ said the friendly, helpful man working his way through the crowd during the mindblowing Friday-night headline set…
Tears of a clown
Stand-up comedian John Bishop tells Matthew Stadlen about the depression that triggered his career
Talking shop
Nice one, Roy. Across the West End secret toasts are being drunk to the England supremo for his exquisitely crafted…
Super nature
For decades I’ve been aware of the work of Keith Grant (born 1930), but it is only in recent years…
Black comedy
Fwoooosh! That, were someone to write a strip about it, would be the sound of a thousand comic books going…
No laughing matter
Swans, swans, more swans. If the lifespan of a dance critic were calculated by the number of performances of Swan…
Sleazy does it
This season has already seen Manon Lescaut appear in several different operatic guises across the UK, but it was Covent…
Hit and miss
As far as ‘jukebox films’ go, Mamma Mia! was a riot, Sunshine on Leith was tolerable, just about, while Walking…
Serpents’ tale
Did you know that the 8th-century Kingdom of Northumbria was the epicentre of an international exotic reptile trade? I only…
Out of this world
First, a confession. Even an ardent radio addict can enjoy a fortnight away from the airwaves, disconnected, switched off, unlistening.…
Modern manners
Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress has been a rich resource for artists. Film-makers recognise his modern moral subjects as an ancestor…
Modern manners
Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress has been a rich resource for artists. Film-makers recognise his modern moral subjects as an ancestor…
Modern manners
Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress has been a rich resource for artists. Film-makers recognise his modern moral subjects as an ancestor…
No laughing matter
Swans, swans, more swans. If the lifespan of a dance critic were calculated by the number of performances of Swan…
His dark materials
Alex Jennings, the new Willy Wonka, tells Lloyd Evans why Dahl’s ‘misanthropic world’ is fascinating to inhabit
Lacking the light touch
To suggest that the ageing Jules Massenet identified himself with the title character of his Don Quichotte is nothing new…
Teen spirit
The Fault in Our Stars, which is based on the bestselling young-adult novel by John Green, is about two teenagers…
Dolphin watch
BBC4’s The Girl Who Talked to Dolphins (Tuesday) began with the overstated-sounding claim that it would be tackling ‘perhaps the…
Inspired messiness
Can you tell how intelligent a musician is by listening to him play? Last year I discovered a recording of…
Humour, horror, beauty
Fans of Chekhov have to endure both feast and famine. Feast because his works are revived everywhere. Famine because he…
The optimism of light
Tragically, Ian Welsh (1944–2014) did not live to see this exhibition of his latest work. Diagnosed with terminal cancer on…
Anthem of hope
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Mannenberg, the seminal album by the Cape Townian jazz pianist…
