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Under the limelight: backstage at the volunteer-led Lace Market Theatre

Fri 14 Mar 2025

From a dilapidated 1970s paint store in an old chapel to a cornerstone of Nottingham’s independent theatre community, The Lace Market Theatre (LMT) has been staging shows for almost fifty years. Like many creative communities, the LMT has a constant churn in members and recently made an appeal for support from the local community. We spoke to long time volunteer and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Gareth Morris, on the ebb and flow of a creative community, the challenges a volunteer organisation can face, and what keeps a theatre alive.

Lauren Baker is a Postgraduate Researcher Nottingham Trent University looking at all things 'micromobility' (e-scooters and e-bikes). Here she discusses the impacts, and benefits, they have on the local community and asks for your input to feed into the latest research...

"The power is with the people": standing up to knife violence in Old Market Square

Thu 13 Mar 2025

After three tragic spates of knife violence rocked Nottingham, and were subsequently highly publicised, local campaigners organised a demonstration in Old Market Square to draw attention to the underlying, community problems that cause it. LeftLion went down to report...

We chat to Better Joy about her EP, embracing vulnerability and touring the UK

Thu 13 Mar 2025

With her debut EP heading into blue out soon, Better Joy (Bria Keely) takes listeners on a journey from the deeply personal waiting on time to the intimate reflection of quiet thing, balancing raw emotion with uplifting melodies. Working alongside legendary producer Mike Hedges, she’s crafted a sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly new. As she prepares for her first headline UK tour, including a date at The Bodega in Nottingham, Bria shares insights into her artistic evolution, the magic of live performance, and what’s next on her musical horizon…

Gig review: Doves at Rock City, with White Flowers

Thu 13 Mar 2025

With frontman Jimi Goodwin only at Rock City 'in spirit', Doves fought on to perform a Nottingham show that proved the resilience and quality of their back catalogue...

Theatre Review: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Nottingham Arts Theatre

Thu 13 Mar 2025

The joyful coming-of-age musical struts into Nottingham Arts Theatre with a bright young cast and plenty of sass

Market economy: could stallholder markets revive independent retail in Notts?

Thu 13 Mar 2025

The decline of the high street and independent retail is an issue that weighs heavily on the UK, as grassroots traders often lose money and shut shop just as quickly as they open for business.

However, with recent research, and examples available here in Nottingham, there’s a case to be made for stallholder markets as a saviour of independent businesses, providing that reliable sense of community and authenticity in shopping that so many of us look for today. Assistant Editor Caradoc Gayer takes a look at Nottingham’s history of markets, and how it could serve as an example for today.