Sammy Trotman bares all in That’s Not My Name, a frank look at labels vs. lived experience in mental health. Content warning: contains discussion of mental health and mental health diagnosis and treatment. That’s Not My Name “75 minutes of ‘complete carnage’ in the form of stand-up, sketch and musical comedy speaking to the insanity […]
A darkly comic monologue, Sarah Richardson’s Sun Bear is a reminder that perspective is everything. One person’s c-word might be someone else’s survivor, supporter or friend. Content warning: contains discussion of abusive relationships. Resources for anyone affected can be found here. Sun Bear A sun bear, so the freesheet tells us, is “a small bear […]
A series of painstakingly constructed sketches reveals much about the nature of the artist in Frank Auerbach. The Charcoal Heads at the Courtauld Gallery. Frank Auerbach. The Charcoal Heads It’s fascinating sometimes how much you can glean from a few simple works. In this case a series of charcoal sketches, completed by Frank Auerbach in […]
The Hayward Gallery’s current exhibition, When Forms Come Alive, is visually impressive. But does it do the artists and artworks a disservice by not going beneath the surface? When Forms Come Alive There is no doubting that this is an aesthetically pleasing exhibition. Instagrammable, even. From the first space you enter, where soft, organic forms […]
An exhibition centred on remarkable drawings, Holbein at the Tudor Court is marred only by having to jostle with fellow visitors to get close to the works. Holbein at the Tudor Court If you call an image to mind when you think of Hans Holbein, it’s likely a member of the Tudor court. Probably someone […]
Interactive, game-style theatrical experience Jury Duty sees participants working together to weigh up evidence and reach a verdict in a complex case. Jury Duty To be honest, and not to comment too much on the current government, it sounds plausible. The Justice Act 2023, designed to reduce a backlog in cases, means citizens can serve […]
A thought-provoking and deeply reflective exhibition, Entangled Pasts, 1768-now looks inwards and outwards to examine the Royal Academy‘s entanglements with British colonial history over the centuries. Entangled Pasts, 1768-now “What does it mean for the Royal Academy to stage an exhibition in 2024 that reflects on its role in helping to establish a canon of […]
Art, history, and women’s stories intersect in Women of the RNLI at the National Maritime Museum, marking the charity’s 200th anniversary. 200 Years of the RNLI This year, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) turns 200. That’s 200 years of saving lives at sea. Think of the changes during that time: from wooden rowboats heading […]
Performance art meets issue-led theatre in High Steaks, as ELOINA empowers herself and her audience by dispelling myth, secrecy and shame and celebrating labia in all their glorious forms. Content warning: we’re going to talk about labia and vulvas a lot, and the show involves nudity and discussion of surgery, labia shaming but also body […]
A new play by Gail Louw, The Girl in the Green Jumper tells the story of Renske Mann’s life with artist Cyril Mann and is paired with an exhibition of his work at Piano Nobile. An Artistic/Theatrical Two-For-One Last night I had a unique experience which brought together the two main threads of the Salterton […]
