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"This is the people against racism’’ - Writer and Musician Jack Benjamin on Nottingham's Black Lives Matter Protest

As hundreds of people gathered on Forest Rec to support the fight against racism, local musician and writer Jack Benjamin shares his thoughts on what the protest means, and how the day's events unfolded...

“All my life I’ve been taught that the police won’t help me” – Artist and activist Kay on George Floyd, police brutality and the ongoing protests in Britain…

For many, the death of George Floyd was quickly contextualised as an American problem. Stories of racial profiling and police brutality have grown to become expected from a country that seems more divided than it has been in a generation, leaving many in Britain feeling disgusted at how things are done on that side of the Atlantic. But, as the events of the last week have shown, the illusion that issues raised from Floyd’s killing are consigned to the US has been roundly smashed, with thousands taking to the streets in eighteen countries around the world (as well as all fifty US States) to support the Black Lives Matter campaign, which is now considered the largest Civil Rights campaign in history. Growing up in the projects of Alameda, California to Eritrea-born parents, artist and activist Kay – who works under the name The Rainbow Prince – has seen the way police brutality and racism takes form on both sides of the pond, having moved to Nottingham six months ago. And as Notts gets ready to play its part in the movement with a protest on Sunday 6 June, we talk to Kay about why activism is important in the UK…

30 Years Later: Pretty Woman

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Katie Green looks back on this romantic classic starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, which shares similarities with George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.

Spoken Word Poet Bridie Squires on Her Upcoming One-Woman Show, Casino Zero

Bridie Squires has certainly been keeping herself busy since stepping down as our Editor last year. Not only was she Nottingham Trent University’s first ever Writer in Residence, but she’s been quietly working away on a one-woman show based on her experiences as a croupier. With a performance scheduled for later this month, she told us what to expect from Casino Zero…

Review: Daliso Chaponda - Blah Blah Blacklist at Nottingham Playhouse

Malawi's Got Talent: Come for the Madonna gag, stay for the awkward questions...

Author Lise Gold on Her New Novel and Living as a LGBT Woman in Britain

When we hear the word innovation, we often think of scientific breakthroughs. But innovation isn’t always technological advancements – it can also be taking creative risks, making new forms of poetry, art or writing. Nottingham has seen an increase in LGBT+ writing and creative events in the past year, so we sat down with lesbian fiction writer Lise Gold to discuss her work...

Norma Gregory on the Hidden History of Black Miners and Her New Exhibiton

Nottingham has plenty of things to be proud of. Our roots being one of them; history is so deeply embedded in many of the things that we all love about this city. But the narrative isn’t fully complete. Historian Norma Gregory has spent the past few years unearthing the untold stories of several black coal miners who lived and worked in the UK. We spoke to her about her new exhibition, Digging Deep: Coal Miners of African Carribean Heritage which features photos, audio recordings and oral histories that have previously been left unheard…

Review: Black Men Walking at Nottingham Playhouse

The Eclipse Theatre Company presents...

Meet Black Friends, Our City's New Creative Platform

A cosy nook at Malt Cross on a wet Friday morning was the perfect setting to catch up with James Denham for insights into his up and coming project, Black Friends...

Film Review: Men in Black International

A Men in Black film without Will Smith? We're not convinced...

Preview: Fade II Black Film and Music Lounge

Photographer Emily Andersen on the Release of Her New Book and Photographing Celebrities

From photographing well-known artists, musicians, writers, directors and actors - including Helen Mirren, Bella Freud and Nico - to exhibiting at some of the world’s most prestigious galleries, Emily Andersen has forged a fascinating photography career. Carefully balancing her craft while lecturing part time at NTU, she has recently published her second book, entitled Portraits: Black & White. We caught up with Emily ahead of her book launch and exhibition at Bonington Gallery later this week…  

Film Review: Black '47

Lance Daly's harrowing story of revenge and survival during the the Great Famine is out now...

Live Review: Black Honey at Rough Trade

To celebrate the release of their eponymous debut album Black Honey are at Rough Trade. What else were we going to be doing on a Thursday night?

Interview: 'Songbird' director Sophie Black

We caught up with Night Owls director Sophie Black to talk about her latest short film, Songbird...

Film Review: BlacKkKlansman

Spike Lee's latest film tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, a black police detective who successfully infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s.  

Live Music Review: Fuzzbox Night at The Angel

Fuzzbox is back at the Angel! Scuzzy rock and micro brewed beers? Count us in

The Woman Behind Notts Tender-Stem Band Flöat

Soul-touching vocals accompanied by incredibly chilled instrumentals, flöat are fresh out of Nottingham and the woman behind the music, Heather Blore, tells us why we should be listening…

Black Writers Network's Ioney Smallhorne Talks New Anthology When We Speak

When We Speak: An Anthology of Black Writing in Nottingham is a new collection showcasing the work of nine poets from the city’s Black Writers Network. The pamphlet, edited by Panya Banjoko and published by New Art Exchange in association with Nottingham Black Archive, “challenges how blackness is seen or is expected to be seen” and aims to raise awareness of the continuing rich literary tradition of the African Caribbean community in Nottingham. We caught up with one of the poets included in the book: writer, filmmaker, and educator Ioney Smallhorne…

Art Review: Black Dolls The Power of Representation at Sudbury Hall

Panya Banjoko explores the powerful exhibition about black dolls and how they have been perceived... 

Fluent Females: Third Annual Women Say Stuff Event at Cafe Sobar

In celebration of International Women's Day, Women Say Stuff brought together women from all backgrounds to share their life experiences. Headliners included Notts wordsmiths Alice Short and Georgina Wilding, alongside a passionate open mic of female poets, musicians and activists. We sent our Natalie Mills down to check out the DIY Poets’ mixed-audience event at Cafe Sobar to hear what women had to say.

Zoo Indigo Are Taking Us To No Woman's Land

Far from the generals and politicians who instigate conflict, the ordinary people who suffer in wars are often forgotten. In their production No Woman’s Land, local theatre duo Zoo Indigo – made up of Rosie Garton and Ildikó Rippel – shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women who struggled under threat of violence and rape to find a safer place for their families after the end of the Second World War. We caught up with Ildiko to find out more...

Film Review: Black Panther

The 93rd Marvel film of 2018 has landed to fairly widespread critical acclaim.  We went to see if Black Panther gets the LeftLion seal of approval...

Theatre Review: Black Beauty

Trot down to Lakeside for some magical storytelling this Christmas

Advertising Sectioned: The Modern Way to Loveliness (Woman’s Magazine, 1948)

The last ever installment of Wayne Burrows' marvelously dry series...