Entertainment

Venue: Heaven, London 15.2.18 The cavernous, lightless depths of London’s Heaven are more than fitting surroundings for the dual headlining tour of Boris and Amenra, two acts renowned for their sheer sonic intensity. The venue’s vaulted ceilings and towering stage are an apt visualisation of the lofty esteem that they are held in by the extreme music community, and its performances like tonight’s that remind us why their elevation onto such a high pedestal is deserved. Of the two, drone...

Who would play you in a  biopic of your life? Turns out most Brits reckon Tom Hanks, Audrey Hepburn and Sandra Bullock have the acting chops to tackle the starring role. Tom Hanks and Audrey Hepburn have been voted as the stars Brits would love to play them in movies of their lives. Researchers found the seasoned star of Forrest Gump, Big and Saving Private Ryan was the choice the male population would prefer to take on the role. And...

The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and Jurassic Park are among the book-to-movie adaptations Brits prefer in film-form, a study has found. A poll of 2,000 adults found that after reading the book and seeing the story unfold on the big screen, many were won over by the movie version of classic tales. Other stories people preferred to watch rather than read include Jaws and Forrest Gump. The 1971 version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Mary Poppins...

Say what one will about genre fiction, usually expressed with a long-nosed sniff of disdain while ice cubes clink against the side of a swirled glass, yet it remains true that thousands, even tens of thousands of readers will derive much more enjoyment from the latest ‘dead body staining the white wicker in the sun room’ than you will from the latest Man Booker approved bit of indulgence where otherwise silent characters drone on and on in an endless interior...

Southbank Centre’s iconic Brutalist venues, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, will reopen on Monday 9 April 2018, following over two years’ extensive redesign and refurbishment. They open with a programme of events that pays tribute to the historic legacy of the venues, and the many legendary artists who have performed there over the past fifty years. A dynamic blend of contemporary and classical work sees vibrant performances, events, installations and a free programme for all ages across the venues....

Stormzy cleaned up at tonight’s Brit awards, winning best male artist and best album for “Gang Signs & Prayer.” But the biggest talking point of the ITV music awards was this blistering performance of a new song that asked: "Theresa May where's the money for Grenfell, what you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?" Stormzy has used performances before to make sure people do not forget about those that died and were left homeless by the tragic blaze. At his...

A major new production of Strangers on a Train is now running in theatres across the UK, with a week-long stint in Richmond, London this week. The gripping thriller is based on the taught psychological drama by the celebrated writer Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr Ripley), immortalized by Alfred Hitchcock’s Academy Award-winning film. Playing at Richmond Theatre until Saturday 24th February, the show picks up with a fateful encounter between two men in the dining carriage of a train crossing...

Singer-songwriter Hero Fisher is back with the new track 'Lonely'. The British-born, French-raised and London-based artist has collaborated with Alison Mosshart and Boy George in the past, with her 2015 debut album winning her fans in The Horrors and Blur. Fisher’s new song ‘Lonely’ is a masterclass in reinvention. Rich in ambience and with a slow crawling beat, her subtle and tender vocal performance evokes a deep sense of isolation amidst the cluttered mysteries of daily life. Drums, pianos and synths all...

Hammersmith Apollo has seen many great performances in its time, but on Saturday the venue was tinged in sadness as the final ever performance by Wild Beasts took place. The four-piece band from Cumbria announced last September that their decade long adventure was coming to an end. While the reason behind the split was hidden behind a veil of abstract quotes from the band members, it was clear that the shouts from the crowd to ‘stay together’ were falling on...