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Theatre review: Detention at Nottingham Playhouse

The final instalment in Gary Clarke’s masterpiece trilogy of dance theatre, Detention takes us through the shameful history of Section 28, reliving how life was like for the queer community. Capturing their fear, determination and drive that led to breakthroughs in LGBTQ+ rights as we know them today - and a sobering reminder of how far we still have to go.

Art exhibitions, community events and legendary gigs: here's what's on events this week in Nottingham 12 - 19 May 2025

This week in Notts, explore our material world, take One Step At A Time for community, or listen to some big tunes shaking the Arena... 

Exhibition Review: Human Life in Motion at Primary Gallery

With reflections on travel, migration, identity, and what it means to be left behind, artist Maia Ruth Lee’s current exhibition at Primary brings sculptures and banners that are grounded in meaning and memory, whilst also being weightless and liberated.

We review Kinoteka, the Polish Film Festival

Join us for a deep dive into two of the films at this year's Kinoteka Film Festival...

Film Review: The Accountant

Join us as we review the Accountant 2. It's got action, twists and turns, and comedy - did it pack in just a little too much? 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #10: Comedian Matt Forde on His Early Life In Notts, Kier Starmer, Spitting Image, Forest, Cancer and The End of An Era Tour

Originally from Lenton, Matt Forde is a comedian, TV and radio presenter, writer, impressionist and quite a lot more. He’s perhaps best known for his podcast The Political Party, but he's also a regular face on TV and currently on his End of An Era Tour...

Did LeftLion save the Sheriff in Escapologic’s Robin Of Lockskey escape room?

Last week as Escapologic celebrated their 10th birthday, the LeftLion team were invited down to try out another of their fantastic escape rooms, Robin Of Lockskey. But did we manage to save the Sheriff and escape? Read on to find out…

Theatre review: War Horse at the Royal Concert Hall

The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse, directed by Tom Morris with revival director Katy Henry, opened in Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall this week, bringing to life the classic story by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford, with unique artistry and dynamism.

Locating Lawrence: May 1925

Lawrence is living the good life on the farm with a cow, chickens and hummingbirds for company...

War Horse: an interview with actor Damian Lynch

Damian Lynch is a British actor and voiceover artist, currently starring in War Horse at the Royal Concert Hall. Emma Hornsby spoke to Damian to get a glimpse behind the scenes of this momentous and memorable theatre production.

Gig review: Richard Dawson at Metronome

For a man with a bizarre and enigmatic back catalogue, Newcastle’s folk troubadour Richard Dawson possesses a rare gift: to create songs that revel in the mundane while also providing an elemental musical base that allows his tales to flourish. At Nottingham's Metronome, Dawson, with his leg encased in a surgical boot, was able to put on a show packed with a gamut of emotions; a night of opinion polls, cheese pasties, ghost stories and a ruptured Achilles tendon made for an evening which will go down as one of the most bizarre in a long time...

Gig review: Kid Spirit at Mist Rolling Inn

Alt-rock four-piece KID SPIRIT are carving their own path in Nottingham, and Mist Rolling Inn provided the perfect venue to showcase their talents...

Gig review: Soda Blonde at The Bodega

A Projectionist in Notts: The Savoy Cinema's Dave Cox recounts his career in pre-digital cinema

Since 2006, local Dave Cox has worked as the assistant manager of Lenton’s beloved local cinema The Savoy, but he also has decades of experience in the art of film projection, having started as a projectionist long before cinemas went digital. Delightfully, since the start of 2025, Dave’s used that skillset to facilitate The Savoy’s 35mm Films on Film showings. On learning this we were set-a-wondering: what was it like to work as a projectionist over decades, and how was it to return to that field after so many years? Dave was all too happy to tell us...

A 'Touch' of Frost - we speak to jungle legend Jumpin Jack Frost about his collaborations with Nottingham musicians and promoters

Widely known as the Godfather of jungle and drum n bass, Jumpin Jack Frost talks to us about his upcoming collaboration with a dynamic collective of Nottingham musicians and promoters.

Gig review: Personal Trainer at Rescue Rooms

Dutch indie rock band Personal Trainer swung by Rescue Rooms on their UK tour of their 2024 release Still Waiting, much to the excitement of LeftLion. We headed down for a Thursday night boogie…

Connecting the Dots: Celebrating 20 years of Dot2Dot Festival

From intimate beginnings to sprawling across iconic venues in Nottingham and Bristol, Dot to Dot has become a cornerstone of the UK’s festival calendar. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, the festival has been championing emerging artists since the mid-00s indie boom, many of which have risen to international acclaim. 

With this in mind, we decided to take a look back at the festival’s history, speaking to the team behind the UK’s best metropolitan festival and explore the global superstars that have emerged from Dot To Dot over the last two decades…

Concert review: The Hallé at Royal Concert Hall

A programme of works from and inspired by America saw The Hallé, under dynamic Polish conductor Marta Gardolińska, on peak form at the Royal Concert Hall...

Comedy review: Disabled Cants at The Vat & Fiddle

Searing political rants, baited breath and a spit full of laughs was the best way for Bea Udeh to celebrate a Monday night of out-out comedy in Nottingham's South-side with Disabled Cants at The Vat & Fiddle...

On the Road again: The story behind Igloo Hybrid, Nottingham's sole hostel accomodation

Tucked away in a quaint courtyard just off Wheeler Gate, Igloo Hybrid is Nottingham’s only hostel accommodation for visitors to the city. After thirty years of welcoming guests from around the world, owner B Kristiansen is getting ready to sell up and return to her native Denmark, but not before finding a buyer that will keep the heart of Igloo beating. We spoke to B to find out what kept her in Nottingham for so long and what goes into running this local establishment.

In photos: Panic Shack at The Bodega, with The Pill

Indie trio The Amazons talk Rock City, The Chameleon and their love of Nottingham ahead of their Rough Trade gig

While they may proudly herald from Reading, rock trio The Amazons’ thriving career has long been intertwined with our city too. From cutting their teeth in The Chameleon to sold out shows at Rock City, to even playing Motorpoint Arena with Royal Blood, they have spent the last decade making memories and building a strong fanbase right here in NG1. Now with shows at Rough Trade and Rock City coming up in the next six months, we decided to catch up with frontman Matt Thomson to discuss their longstanding romance with Nottingham…

Gig review: Greentea Peng at Rock City

Self-described psychedelic RnB singer-songwriter Greentea Peng returned to Rock City with intention, clarity and energy to burn...

Experience different cultures, historical theatre, and homegrown Notts music: here's what's on this week 5 - 11 May 2025

This week in Notts, learn the Afro Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, experience Greek culture, check out some historical theatre or enjoy some lovely homegrown talent from local musicians...

Gig review: Anastacia at the Royal Concert Hall

Emerging in the early 2000s, Chicago pop-rock legend Anastacia is still going strong 25 years later. Overcoming numerous health battles and winning a GQ Humanitarian award for Breast Cancer awareness in the process, Anastacia delivered her eighth studio album titled Our Songs in late 2023. With the beloved singer bringing that latest album and a quarter century of chart hits to Nottingham for the Not That Kind tour, we knew we had to go along and experience that iconic voice in person…