The Odyssey: It’s a Really Really Really Long Journey review – Behold, Telemachus the mummy’s boy!
Unicorn theatre, LondonEven a cyclops can get lonely, even a parent can make a mistake … this electric rendering of the classic is for all the family as Odysseus’s son takes centre stage‘Wallet, phone, keys, sword,” Telemachus recites to himself as he checks his pockets. Backpack on, teddy tucked in and he’s ready to go, setting off on a grand quest to find his dad. What he doesn’t reckon on is finding himself along the way.At its highest points – of which there are many – Nina Segal’s new production of The Odyssey is electric. Made for families, Jennifer Tang’s direction delights in Naomi Hammerton’s fast-paced songs, whirling dances and moments of highly absurd dramatic images. It’s when the music slows and the pace falters that the tension drops away. But this cast approach everything with full hearts and bright smiles, so that every lag is soon followed by a new burst of energy and adventure. Continue reading...
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Carmen review – stripped-back ballet focuses on the femicide
Sadler’s Wells, LondonGiven its UK premiere by English National Ballet, Johan Inger’s new version of the Bizet story cuts out cliche and embraces the bleakness – albeit at the expense of some passionWho is Carmen? A free-spirited lover, a woman bent on destruction, or a pragmatist using the only currency she has to get what she wants? In Johan Inger’s ballet, given its UK premiere by English National Ballet, it’s hard to say. She flirts (and more) with every man she passes, but merely for sport it seems. And it turns out this is not really Carmen’s ballet – she doesn’t even get a solo – and the story belongs to Don José (Rentaro Nakaaki), a man so tortured by the fantasy of a woman who will never love him that it leads him to murder her.The bleakness only comes later though. It all starts out much warmer, with Bizet’s perky overture and the lively impulse and attack of the choreography. You feel a rush of energy as the women arrive, storming the stage with ruffled dresses and self-possession. Swedish choreographer Inger gives us limbs angled like arrows; deep, squat plies in second position followed by bodies zipped up on the vertical. There’s levity too and lots of floorwork, all handled easily by ENB’s agile dancers – not en pointe, but on point.Inger likes a choreographic device, whether that’s the chorus-like figure of Francesca Velicu who stands outside the action, reflecting its hope and woe, or the ominous gang of black-clad and masked figures who sometimes manipulate the players. Among the various lovers Carmen (Minju Kang) takes, Erik Woolhouse’s Torero, soloing in front of a bank of mirrors in a sequinned bolero, might be her true match in the narcissist stakes. Woolhouse is good, hamming it up and throwing his body into the deep curves of the choreography.The piece uses Rodion Shchedrin’s 1960s reboot of the Bizet score, with moody additions by Spanish composer Marc Alvarez. The stripped-back designs shift into darkness in tandem with the story, the Spanish cliches are cut out, and so is the passion. Inger’s is an interesting if emotionally hollow interpretation, focusing on Don José’s obsession and ruin. Inger’s intention was to explore violence against women, specifically men who kill their ex-partners, and there’s something in that. But perhaps we owe it to the woman in question to make her a three-dimensional character.• At Sadler’s Wells, London, until 6 April Continue reading...
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Sellafield nuclear waste dump to be prosecuted for alleged IT security offences
Charges relate to four-year period between 2019 and early 2023, and follows Guardian investigationThe Sellafield nuclear waste dump is to be prosecuted for alleged information technology security offences, the industry watchdog has said.The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said on Thursday that it had notified the state-owned Cumbrian nuclear company that it would be prosecuted under industry security regulations. Continue reading...
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Liu Cixin: ‘I’m often asked – there’s science fiction in China?’
Author of sci-fi epic The Three-Body Problem – newly serialised by Netflix – on ‘the greatest uncertainty facing humanity’ and how finding a secret copy of a Jules Verne novel inspired his careerChinese author Liu Cixin’s science-fiction novels have sold millions of copies all over the world, and have won him numerous awards, including the global Hugo award for science fiction in 2015. Now, the English translation of the first book in Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, The Three-Body Problem, is back in the Amazon bestsellers charts, after the release of a TV adaptation by the creators of Game of Thrones.But a decade ago, few in the UK had heard of Liu and The Three-Body Problem, which begins as a contemporary murder mystery and gradually builds into a story of alien contact. When it was first published here, Nic Cheetham, managing director of Liu’s UK publisher Head of Zeus, remembers being unsure if anyone would turn up for a book signing with the author in a London bookshop. Continue reading...
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Sites of resistance: threatened African burial grounds around the world
Too often cemeteries for enslaved people have been all but erased from history but how we remember mattersBuried: remembering the transatlantic slave tradeFor archeologists, what defines people as human is how we bury our dead. Imagine, then, a society that relegates a whole community as legally inhuman, enslaved with no rights. In spite of slavery, African burial grounds are tangible reminders of the enslaved and free – defying oppressive circumstances by reclaiming people’s humanity through acts of remembrance.When I first visited the British overseas territory of St Helena in 2018 and saw the burial ground in Rupert’s Valley, I was astounded by its size and significance. It unambiguously placed the island at the centre of the Middle Passage – tying the British empire to the institution of slavery in the US, the Caribbean, and globally. Continue reading...
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Mary Poppins review – Disney’s entertainment sugar rush possesses thermonuclear brilliance
Manic, magic, madcap … Julie Andrews is superb in the role of the flying nanny, in a film filled with amazing songsBrilliant, entrancing, exhausting, and with thermonuclear showtunes from Richard and Robert Sherman, Disney’s hybrid live-action/animation classic from 1964 is now rereleased on home entertainment platforms for its 60th anniversary. And it has a brand-new certificate from the BBFC: upgraded from a U to a PG on account of “discriminatory language” from the eccentric seadog character Admiral Boom, who fires a cannon from his roof shouting “Fight the Hottentots!” (an obsolete term for South Africa’s indigenous Khoekhoe people). However the BBFC is evidently not bothered by the foxhunting scene in which the fox has a cod Irish accent (perhaps because chimney sweep Bert, played by Dick Van Dyke, saves the fox), nor by the cheerful suicide reference made by one of the servants: “Nice spot there by Southwark Bridge, very popular with jumpers!”In an upmarket part of Edwardian London created on almost dreamlike artificial sets in California, the prosperous upper-middle-class Banks family are having problems controlling their high-spirited children, Michael (Matthew Garber) and Jane (Karen Dotrice); this is grumpy banker George Banks (David Tomlinson) and his suffragette wife Winifred (Glynis Johns), who is always whirling around going to votes-for-women marches. Pompous Mr Banks saunters into the action with complacent song The Life I Lead (which melodically owes a tiny bit to With a Little Bit of Luck from the stage show My Fair Lady). Continue reading...
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I didn’t learn to drive until I was 30 – here’s why | Coco Khan
Young people of driving age are being criticised by the rightwing press for ‘refusing’ to drive. I say: leave those kids alone!Being young has always been hard. Sure, it has its perks – more energy, first loves, first everythings – but I feel for the under-25s with still so many life hurdles left to clear. With the list of current social ills ranging from the housing crisis to social isolation and the any-day-now background note of environmental doom, I think it’s fair to say it’s not easy for young people today.So when research last week from MoneySuperMarket found that driving age under-25s were costing their parents £1,300 a year in additional fuel from being ferried around – sparking unpleasant commentary about feckless young people “refusing” to drive – I found myself thinking: “Leave the kids alone, they’re doing their best!” Continue reading...
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Bleary-eyed Billie Piper forgets her trousers as she leads Scoop stars at premiere after party
Netflix Scoop actress Billie Piper opted for a very leggy display for the premiere and after party celebrating the Prince Andrew interview drama
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Gogglebox stars share devastation over George Gilbey's sudden death as pal 'spoke to him last week'
News of George Gilbey's death has left TV fans in tatters and tributes have flooded social media. Meanwhile, Gogglebox fans have waved goodbye to another cast member.
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EastEnders legend’s return ‘confirmed’ as fans spot sneaky clues
It's long overdue!
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Bedbugs increase by 278% amid fears of Easter holidays being ruined by pests
Brits have been put off going away and staying in hotels on Easter breaks due to rising cases of bed bugs that have increased by 278% in the past two years, according to new research
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JD Sports warns of tough economic climate, but sees brighter days ahead
The sportswear retailer said that it expects profits to be in line with its previous guidance of between £915million and £935million
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Stockton armed police LIVE: Primary school in 'full lockdown' as officers descend
An estate has been swarmed by raid vans and armed officers with the primary school issuing a statement to parents.
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Kylian Mbappe's full name leaves football fans stunned as old FIFA card goes viral
Kylian Mbappe has become a global icon but when he broke onto the scene with Monaco as a teenager, he was known by a different name which he has since dropped
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England and Scotland fans warned German beer is stronger ahead of Euro 2024
Supporters have been warned they face being barred from stadiums if they are too drunk.
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Sellafield to be prosecuted over alleged IT security offences
The charges relate to alleged information technology security offences during a four-year period between 2019 and early 2023.
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AO cheers ‘clear progress’ as electronics retailer improves profit guidance
Shares in the London-listed company rose by more than a tenth in early trading on Thursday as a result.
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I'm a beauty expert and pitted the new Big Lip PillowTalk Plumpgasm- it's 'ultra glossy' and the plump is incredible
The latest innovative lip product addition to Charlotte Tilbury's collection is one we have high hopes for - with the promise of '93% plumper lips instantly'. Let's see if it's worth the huge industry fuss...
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People warned the end of the BBC is ‘on its way’
'Is Doctor Who going to die then?'
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Why do people eat fish on Good Friday?
It's a traditional meal over Easter weekend.
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Gogglebox star George Gilbey’s heartbroken family break silence after his shock death aged 40
Gogglebox star George Gilbey died on Wednesday at the age of 40 after a reported tragic workplace accident in Shoebury, near Southend-on-Sea
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Shocking moment robot arm crushes worker to death in Thailand factory
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A manager at the Vandapac factory in Chonburi province of Thailand reportedly told local media "employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen"
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High fuel margins ‘concerning’, competition watchdog finds
Retailers’ fuel margins – the difference between what they pay for their fuel and the price they sell it at – remain at high levels, the CMA said.
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Tory MP’s trans row retweet no longer logged as a ‘hate incident’
West Mercia Police said the retweet by Rachel Maclean did not meet the definition of an ‘incident’.
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Too ill for school? Expert advice to help you recognise when your child can attend
There is informative NHS guidance to help parents find out when children should and shouldn't be kept off school
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Catford police stand-off finally ends after 55 hours as man injured by dog during arrest
Man suffered injury to his foot from police dog when Met police officers detained him at 2am on Thursday
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People's Postcode Lottery winners across Greater Manchester this week
Some Greater Manchester postcodes have snagged some winning prize money this week
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Vladimir Putin breaks silence over fears Russia could launch huge attack on Europe
Vladimir Putin and his close Russian allies have made several threats against NATO over recent months, heightening fears of a much bigger war.
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Jet2 blasted for caving to animal rights 'extremists' PETA's plot to ruin Easter holidays
Concerns have been raised that alleged threats by an extremist animal rights group have led to a holiday company stopping selling tickets to marine parks.
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Inside Helen Flanagan’s relationships and devastating split from Scott Sinclair
The actress regularly shares life updates online.
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King's ex-butler lifts lid on Charles' 'frustration' over 'face of monarchy'
It is an unprecedented time for the Royal Family following cancer announcements from both King Charles and Princess Kate. Now an insider has revealed how the monarch will be coping - and his frustrations
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Coronation Street fans confused by detail in exit as Summer Spellman leaves cobbles
The teen, played by Harriet Bibby, said her emotional goodbyes
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Full list of major motorways closed this weekend as 14 million drivers face 'carmaggedon'
Around 2.3 million getaways are planned for Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, with two million set to take place on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
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Anton Ferdinand aims bizarre dig at Bukayo Saka after making Kobbie Mainoo comparison
'What was Saka doing when he was 18?'
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Ofcom Reveals Hundreds Of Complaints Have Been Made Over This Celebrity Big Brother Moment
CBB housemates Levi Roots, Bradley Riches, David Potts and Colson SmithOfcom has received a wave of complaints over one of the most polarising moments of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.The reboot of CBB came to an end last week, with a live final that saw reality star David Potts being crowned the public’s winner.Before that, though, there was a twist that saw Heartstopper actor Bradley Riches being booted out of the house via the back door after he received the fewest votes to win, with no eviction crowd and no opportunity to say goodbye to the rest of the contestants.Apparently, viewers were so upset with the way things played out for Bradley that they’ve complained to Ofcom.Bradley moments before leaving the CBB house last weekThe Sun reported that the media regulator has received a total of 210 complaints over the way he departed, making CBB the most complained-about show of the week.As is standard Ofcom procedure, these complaints will now be assessed before the TV watchdog decides to launch an investigation.HuffPost UK has contacted ITV for comment.CBB returned to our screens earlier this month after a six-year absence, with the regular Big Brother being rebooted on ITV last year.As well as David, Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin, Coronation Street star Colson Smith, talent show staple Louis Walsh and former This Morning host Fern Britton all made it to the CBB final last week.The series also made headlines thanks to the presence of the show’s first ever celebrity “lodger” in Sharon Osbourne, who stayed as a guest for the first week of the series.Big Brother is expected to return for a regular series on ITV later this year.MORE CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER:Louis Walsh Pulls No Punches As He Lets His Former Celebrity Big Brother Housemates Have ItEkin-Su Breaks Silence On Her Absence From The Celebrity Big Brother Final'I Think She's The C-Word': Sharon Osbourne Holds Nothing Back As She Lays Into 3 Hollywood Stars
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Primary school ‘on lockdown’ after armed police swarm estate
Several police vans, as well as armed officers, are currently in the Stockton estate in the Portrack area and were seen entering a home there.
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Physician associates are ‘not substitutes’ for GPs, NHS says
The British Medical Association has said its members are worried about the role of PAs and argues they should be stopped from diagnosing patients.
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DWP deadline warning for anyone who hasn't received £150 energy help
The Warm Home Discount scheme gives households claiming certain benefits a £150 discount on their electricity bills between October and March each year - this means the deadline to receive the money is in four days time
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Eleven players set to miss Man City vs Arsenal title showdown as Guardiola and Arteta rocked by injury blows
The Premier League title race is building a head of steam as Arsenal leapfrog Liverpool to claim top spot with just ten rounds of matches left to play, but champions Manchester City are just a point behind
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Manchester United face expensive Old Trafford decision with Sir Jim Ratcliffe compromise inevitable
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to deliver a new stadium for Manchester United, potentially redeveloping Old Trafford, but even a temporary move away will hit revenue streams
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Laurence Fox misses out on running for London Mayor after messing up form
The former actor achieved 1.9% of the vote at the previous mayoral election and lost his deposit.
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BBC EastEnders' Shirley Carter's return 'sealed' 15 months after exit as Dean's downfall 'revealed'
EastEnders viewers are convinced they know how and when Shirley Carter will return to the BBC soap after 15 months offscreen, amid Dean Wicks' possible downfall
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Pro-Palestine protesters occupy Government department over ‘arming of Israel’
The protesters staged a distraction before forcing their way past security.
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EastEnders finally airs Ben Mitchell’s exit and the moment has hit our hearts hard
It is time to say an emotional goodbye to Ben.
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Cancellation of book festival ‘really bad news’, says Sturgeon
This year’s Aye Write event in Glasgow will not go ahead due to a lack of funding.
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Declan Rice: Arsenal must beat Man City to shake off tag as Premier League title chokers
The Gunners let an eight-point lead slip last season
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Eerie image of supermassive black hole that looks scarily like Lord of the Rings villain
The black hole, located at the heart of our Milky Way, hints at an exciting and hidden shared feature of the Solar System.
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Kate Garraway admits she can see 'both sides' of assisted dying debate after Derek's struggle
Kate Garraway weighed in on a debate about Scotland potentially becoming the first UK nation to provide terminally-ill people with assistance to end their lives after losing her husband Derek Draper
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