By Laura McCarthy. Sporting the beard of a folk musician rather than the more familiar clean shaven face of butler, as seen in Downton Abbey, Michael Fox sits in a rather extravagant church here in Southampton. He shows me the many pews and stained glass windows. I instantly get...
Features
Anti-racist demonstrators march up Portswood high street in response to anti-asylum seeker protests
Around 100 anti-racism demonstrators marched through Portswood on Friday night (14/11/25) in a show of community unity. The group gathered near Waitrose and marched to Highfield Lane in Portswood, where anti-asylum seeker protesters have been gathering every week for several months to protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers....
A lesson in trans history for Transgender Awareness Week
By Mabel Wellman. From the 13th to the 19th of November Transgender Awareness Week is back for another year. As an out and proud trans woman for all of my adult life, this is a time with many mixed emotions. On the one side, this is a fantastic opportunity...
Be nice to your scare-actors this Halloween
By Laura McCarthy. Twelve years on from my first job as a scare actor, I can still hear the music that played on loop at the attraction. Eight whining notes seared into my brain forever. Aged sixteen, I spent hours every night in a boiler suit that was too...
“We welcome refugees” – on the street with the counter-protesters
Joan* can think of many other things she’d be happy to do with her Friday evening. But tonight, as with most other Fridays since early summer, she’s made the short journey from her home and is standing on a street in Portswood, to show her support for asylum seekers...
Interview: Sir Alexander McCall Smith ahead of upcoming talk at Mayflower Studios
By Laura McCarthy. Renowned author Sir Alexander McCall Smith will be in conversation with University of Southampton’s Professor Carole Burns at Mayflower Studios on October 24th, as a fundraiser for ArtfulScribe. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to ask McCall Smith a few questions of my own....
Interview: Only the Poets chat following their shows at Southampton’s Joiners
By Sally Churchward. Photo: Rhona Murphy. Only The Poets hit the headlines last week, when they announced a gig at Brixton Academy with all tickets just £1, in support of The LIVE Trust. It seems like a bold idea but for them, it’s the next step in their ongoing...
Interview: Rick Witter of Shed Seven on enjoying a second bite of the cherry
By Sally Churchward. Rick Witter bounces into the doorway of his dressing room, his index and middle fingers held up. “Two minutes,” he mouths. As a long term Shed Seven fan, it’s the first time I’ll have had a chance to chat with him in 30-odd years of fandom....
Interview: 28 Years Later Prosthetic Artist, Molly Bowen-Schofield
By Laura McCarthy. Following the release of the zombie flick, 28 Years Later, I spoke with Molly Bowen-Schofield about her work on the film. Molly and I have been friends for years, even working together as zombie actors back in university (see main image – Molly is on the...
Mary Poppins is back! Interview with local cast member Darcy Finden
By Nick Mabey. Cameron Mckintosh’s production of Mary Poppins returns to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre on 27th August for a jam-packed thirty performances in 24 days. For Poppins aficionados (yes I’m a proper fan boy) it’s a chance to relive the timeless magic of the flying governess and for anyone...