Short Fuse: Literature review, Komedia
Komedia’s place as one of Brighton’s most interesting and varied venues is reinforced at the Halloween special of long-running fiction event ‘Short Fuse’. The audience was presented with a variety…
Credit Crunch crisis talks
The faecal matter appears to have hit the ventilation equipment, and governments the world over are falling over themselves in attempts to clear up the mess. The media have been…
Thoughts on the art of dissent
Two weeks ago, ‘Smash EDO’ protesters blocked off Lewes road as they paraded from the Sussex University campus, and attempted to reach the EDO MBM/ITT factory responsible for the manufacture…
Quirky comedy improv gets the nod
Comedy Store Players Corn Exchange, 23/10/08 ‘So, I’m an apprentice to the cake maker who specialises in making lemon drizzle cakes for David Hasselhoff’s oil boy?’ Steve Steen looks incredulously…
Credit crunch hits students
It has toppled Northern Rock, caused chaos on Wall Street, bankrupted Iceland, and may just have dashed McCain’s hopes for winning the White House. Now the international financial crisis is…
Goodbye Mr. Chips?
Roy Walker Corn Exchange, 25/10/08 Tonight sees the return of Roy Walker, the ‘Catchphrase’ presenter turned stand-up comic. The opening soundtrack to ‘Catchphrase’ leaves the audience reeling with reminiscent excitement,…
Sussex rugby 2nd defeated in cup derby
‘We were undone by a decent player this afternoon,’ said 1st team captain and acting coach Pete Holmes in the wake of Wednesday’s 29-10 defeat to Brighton 2nd. For sure,…
Gender is a drag performance
Last week I wrote in these pages that feminism is a relevant and important social movement that offers benefits for everyone. As part of this argument, this week I offer…
Adios Ramos as ‘Arry Comes To Spurs’ Rescue
No more Spurs jokes. Enough. Alright just one. “There have been reports of severe disruption to parts of the London underground due to a points failure in the Tottenham area”.…
An expensive lesson in globalisation
Iceland: Yes, it’s that cold place where Björk’s from – but more recently, the country has become famous for the sudden collapse of its banks and being, as our most…
Cheryl Cole: role model
Successful musician, devoted wife and possibly one of the sweetest no-nonsense people on the telly at the moment, Cheryl Cole has come a long way from past charges of aggravated…
Hear the Lyons roar! (and then laugh)
‘I have a villain’s face’ declares Zoe Lyons, searching for the coffee hidden under the foam of her cappuccino. ‘I know in twenty years from now I’ll make a very…
Stephen grants us a laugh
Stephen Grant Corn Exchange, 25/10/08 Stephen Grant is a man who definitely follows the mantra “first the worst, second the best” – in fact, his Brighton festival show for this…
Embarrassing dad posing as stand-up comedian?
Mark Steel Corn Exchange, 24/10/08 Mark Steel is well-received by a left-leaning and surprisingly diverse audience in terms of age at a reasonably full Corn Exchange. The ‘I first heard…
Funny women?
Funny Women Corn Exchange, 24/10/08The Pavilion Theatre saw the introduction of ‘Funny Women’ to the Brighton Comedy Festival on the 23rd October. A team of three female comedians and a…
Anti-war students accused of stealing army recruits list
Army recruiters on campus were sabotaged when a list of potential recruits’ names was stolen. The recruiters noticed the list had gone missing shortly after anti-war students had been handing…
“Dumbing Down”: higher grades for higher rankings?
In a poll by the Times Higher Education magazine, 77% of 500 academics asked say they feel coerced into giving out higher grades to students in order to improve the…
Education system failing minorities, says new HE Minister
In the week in which Barack Obama may become the first black president of the United States, the new British Higher Education minister has warned that there is still a…
Landlords – fit and proper people?
Landlords may have to be deemed “fit and proper” before being allowed to let properties in the private sector, according to a new government-commissioned report. The report by the Law…