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Bon journal: writer Andrew Tucker Leavis on launching the New Nottingham Journal

All that Nottingham’s literary scene was missing, said poet Rory Waterman, was a “name-brand literary journal”. Grace Sanders speaks to Andrew Tucker Leavis, Editor-in-Chief of the New Nottingham Journal, about how he decided to rectify that issue, with LeftLion’s help…

LeftLion Issue #190 December 2025

Run raves, poetry celebrations, the return of some loved Notts musicians and a soulful Sunday: Here's what's on in Notts this week 17 - 23 November 2025

This week, kill two birds with one stone and rave whilst you run, head to the return of Notts bands Unknown Era and Captain Dangerous, delve into some poetry, or enjoy a soulful Sunday. Here's our top picks...

Theatre review: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Nottingham's Theatre Royal

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe came to Nottingham's Theatre Royal this week, bringing dazzling theatrics, humour and heart...

LeftLion Issue #189 November 2025

Featuring Hart of the Wood film installations at Newstead Abbey, JayaHadADream, the Nottingham Panthers, Heather Agyepong, 35 years of Lee & Fletcher coffee, Hurtsfall, and lots more... 

Explore luminariums, poetry, biodiversity and boardgames: Here's what's on this week 20 - 26 October 2025

The days are getting darker, but here in Notts things continue to be bright, colourful and energetic. Whether you've got a penchant for art installations, cultural festivals, board games, or live poetry, there's bound to be something that you'll enjoy doing this week.  

LeftLion Issue #188 October 2025

Featuring Wolf Wytch Apothecary, ghost stories from the National Justice Museum, Hockley Hustle 2025, Sisterhood Photography Collective, Trancesexuals club night, Nottingham Comedy Festival, Nottingham's new nature poet laureate, Primary, the Nottingham Women's Centre, George Gadd, Adam Curtis, and loads more...

Theatre, gigs, poetry and art: here's what's on this week 22 - 28 September 2025

Whether you fancy indulging in some playful art, enjoying some excellent theatre, checking out some chap hop or getting inspired by poetry, there's plenty on in Notts this week...

Actor, Writer and Director Ryan Symons on The Void: Thunder Road’s chilling new sci-fi horror

We caught up with writer, director and actor, Ryan Simons, about Thunder Road’s chilling new sci-fi horror, The Void. Catch it at Mansfield Palace Theatre on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 September...

LeftLion Issue #187 September 2025

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #12: Writer James Graham on Dear England, Sherwood, Broadway, London theatre and writing for stage and screen

Our latest episode is a conversation with the Notts-born Showrunner of BBC TV's Sherwood, who is taking Notts to New York stages and returning home to celebrate the 160th Birthday of Nottingham's Theatre Royal...

LeftLion Issue #186 August 2025

Featuring... LGBTQI+ cabaret collective Niche Artefact, photographer Charlie Valentine, Palestine Solidary Nottingham, football commentator Colin Fray, football season previews, author Danny Scott, Wild.NG, supper club The Underground Table, Inspire Urself carnival troupe, Sonic Boom Festival and more...

We Review Nottingham Poetry Festival 2025

Callum Minford reflects on this year's Nottingham Poetry Festival and what it reveals to us about Nottingham's writing scene. 

LeftLion Issue #185 July 2025

The July edition of LeftLion features the rebirth of Whycliffe, the Pride Shop, Torvill and Dean, I'm Not From London and the Waterfront Festival, The Grove, a new exhibition about trees at Nottingham Castle and lots more...

Poetry Festival, indie music and Shakespeare: Here's whats on in Nottingham 9 - 15 June 2025

There's loads of events happening this week in Notts. We have the start of the Poetry festival, a re-invention of Hamlet, a indie music market and a live podcast event from Scummy Mummies...

Words to live by: marking one decade of the Nottingham Poetry Festival with poet Ben Macpherson

This month marks the tenth anniversary of Nottingham Poetry Festival - a kaleidoscopic set of events that sees poetry collide with activities like musical open mics, meditation and arts and crafts, all the while celebrating the art form, and its age-old centrality to the city of Nottingham. To mark the occasion, festival producer and local poet Ben Macpherson told us about the festival’s importance to Nottingham, and what people can expect from this year. 

LeftLion Issue #184 June 2025

This month featuring our guide to local summer music festivals, Nottingham Poetry Festival, actor LaQuarn Lewis on BBC's What It Feels Like For A Girl, the Nottingham Attacks Two Years On, Nottingham Playhouse's Adam Penford, Nottingham Craft Beer Festival, the Lenton Centre, Future Makers and more...

LeftLion Issue #183 May 2025

Featuring 20 Years of Dot To Dot, comedian Matt Forde, boxer Leigh Wood, Igloo Hostel, Nottingham Restaurant Week, NottAlone, Dom Gourlay, the 1525 Collective, The Amazons, A Projectionist in Notts and more...

Theatre Review: Murder She Didn't Write

A hilarious evening of improvised murder mystery mayhem

We head to 'The Writers' Conference 2025'

We head out on a day-trip to attend Writing East Midlands' yearly jamboree.

Revisiting the legend of the Lord of Milan with author Robert Nieri

Back in 2016 Author Robert Nieri released a book The Lord of Milan about Herbert Kilpin, the 19th century Notts-born butchers son who emigrated to Italy and went on to found AC Milan football club. A crew from LeftLion joined him out there for its release and ended up making an award-winning film too. Here he updates us on what’s happened since, including a reburial for Herbert and another influx of Italian visitors to Nottingham…

LeftLion Issue #182 April 2025

Notts writer Hongwei Bao on the poetics of queer and diasporic experiences

Raised in Inner Mongolia, Dr. Hongwei Bao is now a Director of Research at the University of Nottingham and the industrious community organiser of events like the Queer Chinese Arts Festival, Poetics of Migration, Ode to Notts, plus many more. He’s also one of our most exciting creative writers, so we decided to invite him for a coffee…

LeftLion Issue #181 March 2025

This month's edition of LeftLion features Fisher Gate Point, Marcus Garvey Centre, Doves, playwright Jane Upton, A Foster Carer in Notts, wild swimming at Colwick Park, Ay-Up Market, The Lace Market Theatre, Bulwell Forest Garden, Sister Midnight and much more...

We hear from GOBs Poetry Collective on their fifth anniversary

One of Nottingham’s leading poetry groups, GOBS Collective, turns five this year. With an impressive list of publications, events and live showcases under their belts, our Literature Editor Andrew Tucker talks about the need for such creative communities that help people find their poetic voice.