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Film Review: Companion

A Barbie girl, living in a non-Barbie world...

An open conversation: journalist Gary Younge tells us about a public assembly on issues facing minority communities coming up in Nottingham

Well known for his twenty years at The Guardian and a current position as Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester, journalist, author and broadcaster Gary Younge has led conversations on minority experiences and systematic racism for decades. Those conversations have become all-the-more pertinent since 2020, so Mr Younge is planning new measures to address the issues facing minority communities. 

This will take the form of public assemblies in four cities, one of which will be Nottingham. In January, Mr Younge arrived here to meet the local community who inform the substance of that assembly. Here he presents an open letter, explaining what people can expect from the meeting.

LeftLion Issue #180 February 2025

This month featuring Gary Younge, Aisling Loftus, Revinyl Sessions, Tom Dale and Barret Hodgson on Light Night, Sobar, Nottingham Cinema Round Table, Notts County photographer John Anderson, Sarah Bard, Bellydancer Marija Zinkevica, Girl Scout, House of Pain Wrestling, Linden Archives and lots more...

LeftLion Issue #179 January 2025

In this month's magazine we speak to Marcellus Baz, Nottingham Gig Buddies, sculptor Rachel Carter, ALT BLK ERA, Evil Scarecrow, Pretty Polly Tights, and author and human rights lawyer Christian Weaver. We also look at the history of The Garage club, Union Road, and hear about growing up as a trans man in Nottingham. Plus lots more!

LeftLion Issue #178 December 2024

This month's issue of LeftLion features George the Gorilla, The Conscious Closet, The Woolly Tellers, Framework Fashion, Salt Box's Sam Heaton, a Magician in Notts, Apple Day at St Ann's Allotments, our annual culture review and lots more.

Live poetry review: Power Cut by Poets off the Endz at Fishergate Point

Sunday evening at Fishergate Point was buzzing with anticipation for the latest performance by creative collective Poets Off The Endz, who kicked off the first night of their new project with Chapter 1: Power Cut. The concept: a power cut. The question: what comes to light when the power goes out?

Friends, football, and poetry

With male loneliness widespread in our modern age, award-winning poet Lewis Buxton comes to Nottingham to share his very personal struggles and how he found a way forward... 

Write black to the beginning: Panya Banjoko on the 15 year anniversary of Nottingham Black Archive

This year Nottingham writer and archivist Panya Banjoko celebrated fifteen years as head of the Nottingham Black Archive: a community project that enlivens black cultural history in Notts. We caught up with Panya to talk about her residency this summer at the New Art Exchange and her long career as one of Nottingham’s foremost creative individuals.

LeftLion Issue #177 November 2024

This month's LeftLion features Smokescreen Soundsystem, an interview with TV and film director Shane Meadows, Trekking Exploration, 25 Years of the Bodega, Author Simon Smalley, Panya Banjoko, Nottingham Forest Women's Team, Grayson Perry, Friends of Wollaton Park, Actor-turned-author Richard Armitage, Divorce, Kino Kilo Notts, Lisa Loves Style and more.

Writing while Muslim: writer and activist A.M. Dassu on her upcoming panel

Award-winning Midlands writer and activist A.M. Dassu is heading to Nottingham to present her panel, Writing while Muslim, at Nottingham Central Library. We got the scoop behind her inspiring journey…

Pick Six: Actor, writer and comedian Colin Hoult

This month’s Pick Six is chosen by Nottingham-born actor, writer and comedian Colin Hoult

LeftLion Issue #176 October 2024

This month's LeftLion features an obituary to the iconic Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, which turned off its cooling towers at the end of September. We also speak to Peter Hook, Wunderhorse, Megan Crook Textiles, and Crazy Little Sing Called Pub, share memories of 15 years of JT Soar and give you a preview of what's to come at this year's Hockley Hustle.

From migrant poetry to psychey deepsea disco: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 30 September - 6 October, Pick of Week

Whether you're a poetry fan, a Kate Bush aficionado, a sucker for local alt-folk, or just a pirate at heart, there's plenty to keep you busy this week in Nottingham. 

Actor and Comedian Colin Hoult on ADHD, Mapperley Hospital and Being a Vampire

He's worked with vampires, ghosts and Ricky Gervais. Now Colin Hoult is bringing his new comedy show to Nottingham and reveals to us how it all began, as a child, in the shadows of Mapperley...

LeftLion Issue #175 September 2024

LeftLion Issue #175 features... The Circus of Life Surrealist exhibition, The Angel Microbrewery, Raymond's, Phlexx Records and coffee, the Nottingham War Rooms, The Savoy Cinema, Poetraits and lots more.

We chat to writer LS Evans about his new novel Pleasantly Disturbed

Notts writer L. S. Evans was the late great Sean Lock’s staff writer for fifteen years, racking up credits on shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and gaining acclaim from names like Harry Hill. Now he’s back with a comic coming-of-age story…

LeftLion Issue #174 August 2024

The August issue of LeftLion features Herbie Hare, The Dungeon Club, The Bath Inn, geocaching, Notts queer history, Beans on Toast and lots more...

Pick Six: writer, podcaster and resident drag artist at Gladrags, Nana Arthole

For this month’s Pick Six, we turned to writer, entertainer, and all round creative type, the fabulous Nana Arthole.

LeftLion Issue #173 July 2024

Featuring Charity Shop Sue, Cheap Dirty Horse, The Pastel Project, Graeme Park, Nottingham Food Tours, Notts LGBTQ+ music to check out and lots more

The Thompsons on poetry, craft beer and the Euros

Nottingham's most opinionated greengrocers on poetry, craft beer and the Euros

A Mini-Tour of The Nottingham Poetry Festival

Every summer a wave of dreamy-eyed people bearing notepads descends upon the city...

Now, although only in its seventh edition, the Nottingham Poetry Festival is already one of our most treasured parts of our cultural calendar. This year LeftLion sampled just a small slice of what was on offer...

Bestselling author Constanza Casati tells us about lions, dust and PTSD

The twenty-nine year old author's mythological retelling 'Clytemnestra' was a Saturday Times bestseller - now she's back with the heroic follow-up, 'Babylonia'...

We caught up with her at Nottingham Waterstones ahead of her epic book tour earlier in the summer.

Our June cover artist Zarina Teli talks about her work and inspirations

Our June cover artist Zarina Teli talks about her work and inspirations

We speak to poet Luke Wright before his appearance at Nottingham Poetry Festival

You’re invited to Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee! He’s throwing the ballad bunting up and stacking the plates full of poems for a visit to Nottingham Poetry Festival tomorrow, commencing his five date UK tour celebrating his 25 year long career.

We speak to Benjamin Wigley, director of Paa Joe & the Lion ahead of Nottingham Poetry Festival

Next year, Nottingham Poetry Festival will be celebrating its tenth anniversary. The longevity and success of the festival, which began as a project by Confetti and is now its own company, is an ode to Nottingham’s burgeoning poetry scene. This year, part of a jam-packed programme, is a screening of three films featuring poetry by the late, great, Benjamin Zephaniah. We spoke to the film's director and friend of Zephaniah, Benjamin Wigley, along with the festival’s creative director, Alma Solarte-Tobón.