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Author Rosie Wilby on Queer the Shelves, Her New Book and Being Known as The Queen of Breakups

Last month saw Queer the Shelves, a two-day celebration of LGBTQ+ books and writers, take place at Waterstones in the city centre. Organised by local editing and publishing company, Global Wordsmiths, and funded by Arts Council England, the event saw over twenty international LGBTQ+ writers taking part in Q&A panels, readings and mingling with readers at an after party held at Nottingham’s oldest – and only – LGBTQ+ pub, the New Foresters. Some writers were well known, others on their first published work, with every genre covered. The keynote speaker was comedian and author Rosie Wilby, known for her stand up, podcast, and now two books on the theme of relationships. We caught up with her just as the busy weekend drew to a close...

Nottingham Artist Victoria Hayward Discusses Pysanky, the Traditional Egg-Decorating Technique She's Using to Raise Money for Ukraine

Victoria Hayward explains how she is using her artist residency at City Arts to decorate 100 eggs using a traditional Ukrainian batik dye technique, raising money for the Ukraine DEC appeal in the process

Nottingham Wrestler Joseph Conners Chats WWE, House of Pain Wrestling Academy, and Crafting a Career in Sport

Having come up through the House of Pain Wrestling Academy, Nottingham lad Joseph Conners has achieved what very few in the world of wrestling have. From performing for audiences around the world, wrestling for Next Generation Wrestling and, most impressively, WWE at their 2017 and 2018 UK Championship Tournaments, he’s come a long way since first stepping into the ring. We caught up with the wrestling legend to find out what’s next…

What Is the Uncanny Valley? We Talk to an Expert to Find Out About This Weird Sensation

Scared of clowns? China dolls send shivers down your spine? You might be experiencing the uncanny valley - that eerie feeling that comes from seeing not-quite-human figures. Confounding researchers, no one quite knows why the phenomenon exists, but Nottingham Trent University professor Andrew Dunn thinks it might be something to do with our categorical operating system. If you fancy knowing what exactly that means, then keep on reading as we dive into the uncanny, the pleasure in being unsettled, and the oddness of The Polar Express…

A Rich History in Danger: Photographer Nathan Langman Muses on the Iconic Victoria Centre Market.

For the last few months, Notts photographer Nathan Langman has been taking pictures at Victoria Centre’s iconic market - capturing the nostalgic simplicity of a long-running collective tradition. But faced with soaring rent and utility bills, many of these pillars of the community are at risk of collapse, and there is now a fear that this cherished city spot could be lost to history…

Victoria Centre Appoints Charity Shop Sue as Special Retail Adviser

Charity Shop Sue has been announced as Victoria Centre's new temporary ‘special retail adviser’, to mark the centre’s 50^th birthday celebrations.

Out of Time: Exploring the History of the Victorian Freak Show With Author Dr John Jacob Woolf

How is it that, in the space of less than a century, society’s attitudes towards people born with disabilities changed from them being exploited as the most popular form of entertainment in Victorian society to being seen with sympathy, dignity and respect? Partly based on our intrinsic fear and fascination with ‘the other’, and partly down to a myriad of other reasons - including the intervention of Queen Victoria herself - the freak show played an enormous role in shaping modern attitudes, and remains one of the most macabre, unusual and complex periods of British cultural history. Ahead of his talk at Nottingham Theatre Royal this month, Dr John Jacob Woolf, historian, author and expert on the Victorian freak show, explains more…

We Chat to 400 Rabbits Manager Julien Latil About the Venue’s History, Kiefer Sutherland, and the Social Media Story That Went Viral

400 Rabbits - the bar where Aztec mythology, tequila and mezcal come together to provide a unique experience for visitors. We chat to general manager Julien Latil to find out more about the history of this iconic venue, the team’s lengthy campaign to offer Kiefer Sutherland a drink, and the social media story that won over people from around the world…

60 Years Later: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The film that united silver screen legends John Ford and James Stewart remains a classic of the Western genre…

Film Review: Miracle Valley & The Room Double Bill

Oh hi, Mark – Miriam Blakemore-Hoy reviews Broadway’s Greg Sestero double bill, featuring a live Q and A with the actor himself…

Notts CrossFit Athlete and Coach Lucy Campbell Discusses Women in Strength Training and Putting Two Fingers Up to Stereotypes

Combining strength training, gymnastics and high intensity workouts, Nottingham’s CrossFit box has attracted quite a cult following. We caught up with CrossFit athlete and coach Lucy Campbell to talk about women in strength training, the camaraderie of group workouts and letting go of weight-loss goals…

Film Review: The Velvet Queen

In search of the elusive snow leopard, writer Sylvain Tesson and wildlife photographer Vincent Munier traverse the Tibetan Highlands in this quietly captivating documentary...

We Chat to David Gill, One of the Last Remaining Blacksmiths in Nottinghamshire

From forging the hammer of Thor, the Norse god of thunder himself, to creating the ploughs that drove the British Agricultural Revolution, blacksmiths have played a crucial role in human history for millenia. Yet now there are only around 600 left in the entirety of the UK. We chat to David Gill, one of the last remaining blacksmiths in Notts, about the importance of the practice, what drew him to his line of work, and why interest in the craft is on the rise…

Poet Joelle Taylor Talks Poetry and Punk, Being a Voice for the LGBT Community and the Nottingham Poetry Festival

Truth in the written word is an important aspect of our democratic lives, and it can be a powerful tool when writing creatively. And, with its ability to entertain, engage, enrage and speak truth to power, poetry is certainly no exception. So, with Nottingham Poetry Festival just around the corner, we caught up with award-winning poet and author Joelle Taylor to talk about her recent collections, what to expect from her performance at the festival and how she’s representing LGBT communities, women and the spoken scene…

Nottingham Biographer Miranda Seymour on the Incredible Life of Jean Rhys

Born on the Caribbean Island of Dominica, Jean Rhys is most well known for her seminal novel Wide Sargasso Sea, the postcolonial feminist prequel to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. 

A misunderstood and enigmatic woman, Rhys caught to attention of biographer Miranda Seymour who travelled to Dominica to learn more about her life. We catch up with Seymour in anticipation of her new book I Used To Live Here Once, The Haunted Life of Jean Rhys...

Notts Wellness Coach Victoria Louise Explains How She Uses the Moon for Yoga and Mindfulness

For as long as humans have stared at the sky, they’ve been fascinated by the moon. Mystified by its beauty, and curious about its unknowability, the satellite has inspired art, technology, and even language, with the word ‘lunatic’ stemming from the Roman Goddess of the moon - Luna. Yet, today we have surprisingly little connection with the moon, despite its importance. In light of this, we catch up with yoga teacher and wellness coach Victoria Louise, learning more about our connection with the moon, its feminine energy, and her Under The Moon rituals…

Going Places: Sustrans’ Clare Maltby on Walking and Cycling-Friendly Cities

Since the pandemic hit, getting around on our own steam - whether that be through walking, cycling, scooting, or skating - has seen something of a renaissance. This goes hand-in-hand with an increased awareness of our human need for access to green space and the ongoing climate crisis. With infrastructure popping up to support this trend, and various schemes hoping to help communities get on their bikes, our Environment Editor Adam Pickering had a chat with Clare Maltby - the Nottingham-based Director for the Midlands and East region at leading active travel charity Sustrans - about the work the charity’s doing to make it easier for people to get around in environmentally friendly ways, creating healthier communities, and breaking the car habit.

Nottingham’s Anjli Mohindra Talks Vigil, the Television Workshop and What’s Next for Her Career

Fresh from starring in Vigil, one of the BBC’s most popular series ever, and Munich: The Edge of War, one of Netflix’s most popular films of the last year, West Bridgford’s Anjli Mohindra chats to us about her love for Notts, her time at the Television Workshop and what’s next for her career…

The Novice Director Lauren Hadaway Chats Sports Dramas, Surrealism and Diversity in Cinema

Up-and-comer Lauren Hadaway’s directorial debut The Novice is making huge waves in the industry and it’s easy to see why. We catch up with Lauren to discuss the film, its inspirations, and the state of the wider cinema scene...

Meet West Bridgford’s ALT BLK ERA, the Sisters Delivering Powerful Messages Through Their Music

We hear from Nyrobi Beckett-Messam, one half of the Notts duo "defying traditional expectations for young black artists"...

DiY Collective Veteran Harry Harrison Discusses His New Book, Dreaming in Yellow, and the Importance of Rave Culture

We chat to Harry Harrison, founding member of DiY Collective and author of new book Dreaming in Yellow: The Story Of The DiY Soundsystem, which takes a look back at rave culture... 

Nottingham Fashion Designer Rebekah Peters Lifts the Lid on Her Iconic Clothing Made From Preloved Bedsheets and Curtains

Notts' own Rebekah Peters is helping to lead the way in the preloved fashion game. We catch up with her to find out more…

Nottingham-Born Influencer Lauren Black Lifts the Lid on Social Media’s Impact on Body Image and Mental Health

We chat to Lauren Black, an influencer from Nottingham with over 120,000 followers on Instagram, about the potential mental health challenges for models online, how she’s using her own platform for good, and her work on BBC documentary The Instagram Effect, which explores the darker side of an ever-expanding digital world…

We Hear All About Confetti X, the Groundbreaking £5 Million Esports Venue Coming to Nottingham

We catch up with Richard Barber and Gin Rai of Confetti to find out more about the world of esports, their new £5 million venue, Confetti X, and how you can get involved…

Omid Djalili Discusses Comedic Inspirations, Finding His Voice and Performing All Over the World

He’s performed stand-up comedy all over the globe, starred in hit West End shows and has a filmography that includes The Mummy, Spy Game and being one of the last people to act with Oliver Reed in Gladiator. But as he enters his 26th year as a comedian, Omid Djalili has emerged from the pandemic as a changed man. We caught up with the award-winning stand-up ahead of his appearance at the Nottingham Playhouse to find out more…