Entertainment

This production directed by Helena Kaut-Howson and translated by Jeremy Brooks and Kitty Hunter-Blair really is in the anguished lows as it opens the Arcola’s commemorative Russian Revolution season. It’s Maxim Gorky’s best known play, heralds the birth of theatrical social realism, made his name in 1902 but was lambasted by the critics then for its rather despairing and unredemptive avant-garde portrait of those who occupy the “lower depths” of society. Akira Kurosawa made a Japanese version of the play...

Overwhelming problems face Tamsin in Katherine Soper’s debut Bruntwood Prize winning 2015 play. Her younger brother Dean has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and cannot leave the house. Even so his benefits are being disputed and are at risk. The only place Tamsin, lacking in qualifications, can find much needed work, is in a post industrial “fulfilment centre” aka a packing warehouse on a zero hours contract. The stresses are many: Tamsin must meet her “targets” in order to be asked back...

Director Phil Wilmott’s Three Sisters in a version by Tracey Letts (August: Osage County) is full of micro aggression. In a small space such as the Union Theatre’s new venue, nothing can be bigged up too much: subsequently this production is full of nuances sometimes so macro you’d miss them if you blinked. For this reason there is a distinct lack of the sense of the epic and more a feel of claustrophobia. It’s as if the three sisters (yearning...

While we're waiting for Allentown's Pissed Jeans to release their disgusting new record Why Love Now (out on the 24th Feb), the band have decided to treat us to a new track. It's crushing, it's scathing, and it's about degradation and wanking. Business as usual, then. Check it out below. ‘Ignorecam’ twists the idea of fetish cam shows—”where the woman just ignores you and watches TV or eats macaroni and cheese or talks on the phone”—into a showcase for Matt...

Bristol’s finest post-punk polemics IDLES will head off on the massive 25 date ‘Brutalism UK Tour’ in March/April 2017 in support of their debut album. Politically charged, refreshingly confrontational and infectiously volatile, IDLES bring the unsettling reality of the world we live in into their frantic assault on the senses. The October release of single “Well Done” has seen the band rise to no.1 on Spotify’s Viral Charts, and paired with intensive radio support from Huw Stephens, Annie Mac, Steve Lamacq and...

Alan Partridge meeting a super-fan has been voted the best ever British comedy scene by over 100 professional comedians and actors including David Baddiel, Jenny Eclair, Reece Shearsmith and Alexei Sayle. In addition to containing the best comedy scene, I’m Alan Partridge was named the second most popular sitcom among comedians - with Blackadder in third, The Office in fourth and Father Ted in fifth. Alan Partridge also overcame competition from Basil Fawlty, David Brent, Del Boy and The Young...

New pictures have been released showing a stunning winter sunrise over the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire. Although recent days have been mild for this time of year, a cold snap is expected to arrive in the next few days painting a crisp winter's morning over the backdrop of the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The highest summit of the hills is renowned for its panoramic views of the Severn valley, taking in the Welsh mountains, parts of thirteen counties,...

Team Rock went into administration on Monday at the cost of 73 jobs across London and Glasgow. Since then, more light has been thrown on the financial difficulties the publisher faced over, at least, the last two years, running at a loss of 4.3M in 2015 and 8.8M in 2016. Pretty substantial stuff, especially considering the handsome roster Team Rock had acquired, including Classic Rock, Prog and Metal Hammer Magazine, all respected titles with an established readership. The first thing to consider of course...

Camden Rocks Festival has announced the first names for the 2017 line-up. Punk legends The Damned, stoner rock giants Orange Goblin, and The Ruts DC are the first to be revealed from the bill. The fest will host over 250 bands and artists across 25 of Camden Town’s revered venues this June 3rd 2017, including legendary Camden venue KOKO.   Ahead of their headline set at the Electric Ballroom, The Damned’s Captain Sensible reveals, “Camden Market is partially responsible for the...