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Theatre Review: Papillons at Lakeside Arts

Papillons: A beautiful invitation, fully realised...

Theatre review: Take Flight at Lakeside Arts is an aerial treat for parents and babies

Following a mother and baby bird through the early stages of parenthood, Take Flight by local theatre company Rebel Sparks came to Lakeside Arts this weekend, uplifting early years theatre to new heights. Izzy and Bobby Bradley went down to check it out...

Buy: Three Left Lions 2026 World Cup T-shirt

Rep Nottingham while you watch the World Cup 2026! Our iconic three left lion’s t-shirts are back this summer, with a new range of colours and sizes...

Art works: PRF by Iulia Matei

For this month’s artworks, illustrator and regular LeftLion contributor Iulia Matei shares the concept behind her new graphic novel PRF (Punk Rock Fairies) and why we need independent art now more than ever.

Thought-provoking theatre, alternative rock music and local art: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 11 - 17 May

This week in Notts! Enjoy original theatre and gritty alternative rock, or head south of river and meet Ladybay's artists in their studios. Here's our top picks...

Take Flight: Ria Ashcroft tells us about her circus theatre show for 0-2 year olds which comes to Lakeside Arts this weekend...

Blending theatre and aerial silks, Take Flight is a multi-sensory, interactive show from local theatre company Rebel Sparks. Coming to Lakeside Arts this weekend, we sat down for a chat with co-artistic director Ria Ashcroft from Circus Hub to hear more about this unique form of children's entertainment...

Processing the past: illustrator Amy Bunting on her children's book about dementia

A recent exhibition at Hucknall Library showcased the nine year artistic process behind My Granny Is Changing – a children’s picture book dealing with dementia, created by artist and graphic designer Amy Bunting. Based on Amy’s own experience of navigating her gran Olive’s dementia, we talk to Amy about her creative process and how her story could help families talk more openly about dementia with young children.

Preview: Inside Papillons' Radical Approach to Openness at Lakeside Arts

Papillons, coming soon to Lakeside Arts, is a collaboration between music makers Manchester Collective and the dance-theatre company Thick & Tight. Leftlion interviews the artists for an insight into what is billed as 'a performance like no other'...

Art works: tarot creator Kerry Ward

For this month’s Art Works, tarot creator Kerry Ward shares her Light in the Dark tarot deck, which was inspired by her family’s mining history.

Theatre Review: Cinderella Ice Cream Seller at Lakeside Arts

Lakeside Arts offers a retelling of a fairy tale classic with a blend of storytelling, live music, and theatrical magic. Cinderella's is now an ice cream factory, and therein lies the tale...

The Letters Page: The Art of Letters and the Intimate Stories of Identity and Connection Found Within Them

It’s no secret that letter writing has now become a thing of the past, long since replaced by our ability to instantly communicate with each other via text message or phone call. But there is still a certain charm to letter writing, that literary lovers amongst us will never quite get past, and for good reason. Grace Sanders sat down with Zoe, Soha, Arwyn and Elodie, interns working at The Letters Page, to find out more about the latest issue, the work they do and how the purpose of letter writing has evolved from an essential form of communication to an intimate art form.

In conversation with Bob Mould about Sugar, politics and the power of finding your voice

Thirty years on from their untimely split, American indie punk pioneers Sugar reunite to play an extensive UK tour with a date at Rock City on 31st May. 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the power punk trio with the super deluxe reissue of their 1992 debut album Copper Blue and the release of two new songs: House of Dead Memories and Long Live Love. We chatted with Iconic frontman Bob Mould about all things Sugar, Hüsker Dü, and the current state of political affairs in the US...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #43: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Book of Churches, Dusty 4 Track, Firmament and JJ Lovegrove...

Local artist Laura Dickinson talks her forthcoming debut album as Lace Thief

Laura Dickinson's Lace Thief project epitomises the creative spirit of Nottingham: unafraid of challenge, independent, and deeply committed to her art. In advance of her debut record’s release, Laura talks to us about family, curiosity, and the city that has helped her express herself. 

Theatre Interview: Sam Harry Macgregor actor and writer from Hold The Line at Nottingham Arts Theatre

Hold the Line is a new play coming to the Nottingham Arts Theatre that lifts the lid on life and work at the NHS 111 telephone service. Rising star Sam Harry Macgregor, who wrote and stars in the play, talks to Leftlion about the journey...  

Undercover artist: April Seaworth depicts springtime Notts in motion

The stars align this month, as our regular contributing illustrator April Seaworth presents our April 2026 cover. Below April talks about her work, inspirations, and why we should listen closely to the city and to nature… 

Undercover Artist: Dani Bacon snaps Notts most curious emporium, Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre

We chat to LeftLion Photography Co-editor and this month’s cover artist, Dani Bacon about photography, juggling projects and Bjork...

Art works: Kim Thompson's Broadway Cinema mural

For this month’s Art Works we heard from Nottingham's own, Kim Thompson about her newest and largest-ever mural, featured at Broadway Cinema.

Gig review: Artio at Rough Trade

Hailing from Leeds, with their fiercely unique, self produced, DIY ethos Artio are a band perfectly suited to be playing Rough Trade for the intimate opening show of their tour. Fresh off the back of the release of their new album Soul Rot, an ode to creative burnout, identity, and the emotional toll of simply having to exist, especially to a baying algorithm, the band brought out many a new and dedicated fan alike, setting off the evening with an even more intimate meet and greet before taking to the stage...

An interview with Crystal Mah-Wing about the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature Map

Nottingham was awarded UNESCO status as a City of Literature in December 2015. As part of their celebrations to mark this decade milestone, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, the University of Nottingham and Visit Nottingham worked together on an AHRC funded research bid to bring the map to Nottingham.

As part of the project, Research Affiliate Crystal Mah-Wing was employed to help create a map, showcasing our cities best literary locations, for locals and tourists alike. We spoke to Crystal about the process, the team she worked with and what to expect when it’s out at the end of March…

Shaking the foundations: Nate Coltrane on the next stages of creative project Our Yard

If ‘Our Yard’ is a phrase as of yet unfamiliar to you, it’s definitely worth visiting the New Art Exchange this month. Currently, the Hyson Green-based gallery is hosting Our Yard: Foundations – a multimedia exhibition curated by Notts music promoter and community organiser Nate Coltrane, which bookends years of creative work he’s been doing to highlight immigration’s positive impact on the UK. In advance of the exhibition’s launch, Nate walked us through how Our Yard has evolved since its inception. 

Exploring antiques, art and community treasure trove Hopkinson Vintage

Hidden gem Hopkinson could be described as what happens when a Victorian hardware store has a wildly creative midlife crisis - and we mean that in the best way. Part-shop, part-café bar, part-museum (and occasionally part-maze), this four storey antiques and art centre is packed with independent artists, vintage trinkets, handmade oddities, and curiosities you definitely didn’t plan on buying but absolutely will. Co-owner, Bryony Woodgates, talks about her tenure co-directing the space with Ash Hudson…

Theatre Review : I’m Muslamic, Don’t Panik at the Lakeside Arts Theatre

From Bristol to Tehran and back again, Bobak invites the audience on a journey to accept his own heritage, in the face of a hostile western media...

A new immersive theatre show, The Apple of Discord, comes to The People's Hall Notitngham. We speak to Director Joe Strickland...

Set against the legendary backdrop of the Trojan War, Apple of Discord offers a mythically unique experience through the medium of immersive theatre and takes place in the historic People’s Hall. LeftLion sits down with director Joe Strickland to find out what makes this show worthy of Zeus’ blessing!

Theatre Review: Kiss Me Kate by the West Bridgford Operatic Society at the Squire Performing Arts Centre

The West Bridgford Operatic Society puts on Kiss Me Kate, Cole Porter's famed musical that juggles a play within a play. Ambitious stuff. So how did they do...