by Martin Brisland. 50 years ago as a student in London, I saw the initial production of the Rocky Horror Show at the Royal Court Theatre in London’s Sloane Square. Last night on my own time warp saw this cult classic again at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre. Richard O’Brien’s legendary...
Heritage: remembering Southampton historian Elsie Mary Sandell
by Martin Brisland. All Sotonians with a love of local history should read the excellent books of Elsie Mary Sandell. Elsie’s family lived at 78, The High Street, Southampton where she was born on February 5, 1891. Her family later moved to 63 Portswood Road. She was the daughter...
Review: Beans on Toast at The Loft, Southampton, March 16
by Lewis MacLean. Last night was the first time I got dressed up and went out for Beans On Toast. The LOFT in Bedford Place was already pretty busy by the time support act Jack Francis took his well-earned place on the stage. When Jack started singing I immediately...
Review: Southampton Literature Festival, MAST Mayflower Studios, March 10-12
by Anita Foxall. Southampton has a Literature Festival, and it was brought to the MAST Mayflower Studios by ArtfulScribe, with the support of Arts Council England and University of Southampton. The festival took place between the 10th and the 12th of March and was organised by ArtfulScribe’s poet/producer Antosh...
Climate scientist leading event discussing how to tackle the climate crisis at Southampton event
A community talk in Southampton will give people the chance to express their feelings about the climate and nature emergency and what we can do about it. Bors Hulesch, a climate and social scientist from Eastleigh, will lead the discussion at the Friends Meeting House in Ordnance Road at...
Review: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, March 14
by Tessa Hurst. Whenever Matthew Bourne produces a ballet, you know that you are in for a real treat. It will be a totally new and different interpretation of a classic, a well-known story magically reimagined. Sleeping Beauty is no exception, a gothic love story that encompasses good versus...
Southampton MP Royston Smith among those who voted for controversial Illegal Migration Bill
by Sally Churchward. The Illegal Migration Bill, one of the most controversial pieces of legislation to come before Parliament in recent years, passed its second reading in the Commons last night. The vote was passed by 312 votes to 250. No Conservative MPs voted against it, although 44 abstained....
Book review: Mother Power – A Feminist’s Guide to Motherhood by Poppy O’Neill
by Carolyn Thomas. This empowering read encourages mothers to jettison the guilt and self-sacrifice so often associated with modern parenting and to put their own mental and physical welfare needs front and centre. As author Poppy O’Neill puts it, ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’ – meaning that...
March Under the Covers: Mothers in literature
by Carolyn Thomas. As we celebrate Mother’s Day in the UK this month I started thinking about the vast range of mother characters in literature. From the 19th century’s loving and capable ‘Marmee’ in Little Women, through to the resourceful and resilient 21st century ‘Ma’, held captive with her...
Reader reviews: Mo’s Forte poetry night, March 5
Mo’s Forte is a poetry open mic, with guest act to close, held on the 1st Sunday of each month from 6pm-8pm at the Hatch (Forte Kitchen), in Parchment Street, Winchester. The 5th of March 2023, was the debut night of Mo’s Forte, with Winchester based musician Blind Z...