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Play Review: Television Workshop's I Had A Wheelbarrow at The Nest

The Nottingham Television Workshop, famed for nurturing many local actors, is launching a play about Notts County FC and fans. You can't get more local than that... 

John Blanche 1948-2026

It is with sadness that we report the passing of legendary illustrator and Games Workshop Art Director John Blanche, who died on Monday 1 June at the age of 77...

Director Alison Rashley talks us through Television Workshop's best known actors

Workshop Director Alison Rashley talks through some of the Television Workshop’s best known actors and gives the lowdown on what they were like to teach…

The working class RADA: how Alison Rashley became director of the Television Workshop

Nottingham’s Television Workshop is one the most magical things about Nottingham. Their students live and work near us all, yet barely a week goes by when one of them isn’t seen on national TV or in cinemas. The last decade has seen Workshoppers appear in Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, several Marvel and Star Wars franchises and soon the new HBO Harry Potter series. We spoke to Director Alison Rashley about the Workshop, some of the challenges they face and about their new Notts County-themed play…

Interview: Aisling Loftus, Nick Preston and Oliver Huntingdon on Television Workshop's new play ' I Had A Wheelbarrow'

Nottingham’s Television Workshop and acclaimed director Shane Meadows are collaborating on I Had a Wheelbarrow, a play about football. Leftlion were invited along to the County Stadium for the filming and met with a hat-trick of Workshop alumni. Aisling Loftus (Sherwood), Nick Preston (Ladhood) and Oliver Huntingdon (Grantchester) kindly tackled the questions…

Musicals, indie markets, creative workshops and animated musical legends... Here's what's on in Nottingham this week 23 - 29 March

Creativity abounds this week in Nottingham! Check out classic West End musicals, mix with other creative folks, check out the handcrafted wares of local artists, or see animated musical legends Gorillaz live. Here's our top picks...

Sai Masud on facilitating Tenx9: a storytelling event at Broadway Cinema

Branching off from a unique event in Belfast, Tenx9 Nottingham sees nine local people tell ten minute stories about their lives in the atmospheric surrounds of Broadway Cinema. The next instalment of the event is in January, so we heard more about it from facilitator Sai Masud.

Workshops, jazz, exhibitions and indie: here's what's o n in Notts this week 5 - 11 January 2026

Get creative, explore ancient history, eat Korean or groove to 2000s indie classics this week in Notts...

Derek Jacobi, dark storytelling, beautiful photography, music, theatre and more: Here's what's on this week: 29 September - 5 October

The nights are rolling in, so time to book in some cosy evenings of storytelling or indulge in some beautiful photography. Here's what's on in Notts this week...

Behind the curtain of Niche Artefact: the Notts collective combining cabaret, art, and storytelling

Studio 54, surrealism, mythology, erotica, the Golden Age of Hollywood… These are just a few of the intriguing themes of Niche Artefact, an artist showcase combining drag, cabaret, circus, art, and storytelling. Ahead of their two-year anniversary showcase next month, we spoke to founder Robin Da Silva to find out how they are bringing flamboyance, inclusivity, and creativity to the city’s creative LGBTQI+ scene…

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #11 LaQuarn Lewis on BBC mini series What It Feels Like For A Girl, Television Workshop, and LGBTQ+ Notts

Notts born actor LaQuarn Lewis is one of the stars of a new BBC mini-series, What It Feels Like For A Girl, which tells the story of Byron, a Queer teen who is desperate to escape the confines of Hucknall. We caught up with LaQuarn on the podcast to chat about the show, his time at Television Workshop and growing up Queer in Notts...

Spinning Yarns: The Woolly Tellers talk storytelling in Nottingham

For fifteen years, storytellers Mick Whysall and Dave Brookes have brought history to life. As The Woolly Tellers, their atmospheric performances whip up scenes of misty cobbled streets, mysterious highwaymen, fen giants and deals with the devil. We met them for a chat prior to their event Dark Tales for Dark Nights at the Fox and Grapes, and heard all about the tricks of their trade...

Director's Seat: Shane Meadows on his gratitude for the Nottingham Television Workshop

Shane Meadows is a legend of British film and television. In the mid-90s he was making lots of short films around Nottingham before releasing his debut feature TwentyFourSeven in 1997. Since then he’s gone on to create masterpieces like A Room For Romeo Brass, Dead Man’s Shoes, This Is England, Gallows Pole, The Stone Roses: Made of Stone and more.

Shane joined us for the fifth instalment of LeftLion Live at the Library, a series of live interviews that we’ve been hosting since July at Nottingham Central Library. In front of a live audience, LeftLion Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson chatted to Shane about his illustrious career, covering everything from the Nottingham Television Workshop to Notts County FC. Here we’ve treated you to a snapshot of the conversation, which is available in full for your auditory pleasure on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. 

From bean to bar: we tried a chocolate making workshop at Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates

Few foods have the emotional pull of chocolate. Just one bite of your favourite bar has the power to transport you back to the care-free days of childhood on a wave of chocolate-fuelled nostalgia. But what are the origins of this beloved sweet treat? Right here in Notts you can learn the story of bean to bar at Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates based in Sneinton Market. Lucy Campion went along to one of their chocolate workshops to discover more.

Festivals of beer and film, theatre and storytelling - Here's what's on this week in Notts 7 - 13 October 2024

Check out a celebration of short films, sample a huge range of beer and cider, enjoy some human stories, or be entertained by a bit of music and theatre this week in Notts.

We catch up with landlord Ben Rose as The Angel Microbrewery opens a new upstairs lounge

There are few publicans as busy as Ben Rose. Having owned the beloved Hockley food and music hotspot The Angel Microbrewery since 2016, he’s continuously evolving the historic pub and its adjoining live music venue The Chapel through new events and an exciting seasonal menu. With the opening of a new, multi-purpose space upstairs called The Chesterfield Lounge, we caught up with Ben on his ethos for running a pub, his plans for The Angel, and the small historical discoveries he continues to make there.

We Found Out About Fast Forward Music, DJ Workshops for Young People From Synthetic Pro Audio

Fast Forward Music, an accredited Alternative Provision by Nottingham City & County Council, is set to revolutionise the educational landscape for key stage three/four youth with a series of innovative music workshops. Focused on music technology and DJ/turntablism, these workshops aim to inspire creativity, skill development, and a genuine passion for the creative music industry...

We Chat With Oli Nicol to Discuss His Invoke Poetry Workshops

Oli Nicol is a prominent member of the Nottingham Literary community: he is the host of Invoke Poetry workshops and is also on the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature Youth Board. We spoke to him about why he started the workshops, which he launched in 2022, his passion for poetry and plans for the future…

We Chat to Talented TV Workshop Graduate Safia Oakley-Green About Her Upcoming Film 'Out of Darkness'

A British Independent Film Award winner. A Screen International Star of Tomorrow. But 22-year-old Safia Oakley-Green is only just getting started. We talk to the talented Television Workshopper about her upcoming film Out of Darkness and dive into the easy topic of what she wants to achieve in her career…

GOBS Launch a Free Programme of Poetry Workshops

Fancy yourself as a poet and want some training up?

Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Live Music, A Beer And Cider Festival, And A Spooky Writing Workshop. Here's What’s On 9 October – 15 October…

Get into the spirit of Halloween early with some spooky writing, enjoy some beer or cider (responsibly) in the name of Notts legend Robin Hood, or go and see a variety of live music...

We Highlight 40 Stars of Television Workshop to Celebrate Its 40th Birthday

In crazy news, Nottingham institution The Television Workshop turned forty this year. A leading light in the screen industry, the award-winning drama group has produced everyone from The Last of Us’ Ellie Williams to Line of Duty’s Kate Fleming over the past four decades. But that’s just scratching the surface. So, to go very on-the-nose, we thought we’d create a handy little sheet of, you guessed it, forty big and small screen releases that have been improved by our very own Workshop talents. Track them down, tick them off, and enjoy them all…

From a Skateboarding Workshop to a Metal Festival, Here’s What’s on in Nottingham This Week 10 July - 16 July

Here's our recommendations of what to see and where to go over the next seven days...

Ideal for Nottingham Trent University Students, WRAP is a Creative Writing Workshop Held at Blend Contemporary

Inspiring students to express themselves through writing, Rebecca Cullen of Nottingham Trent University set up WRAP, shorthand for Writing, Reading and Pleasure. Josephine Ruffles catches up with Rebecca about the group and how writing can improve your wellbeing…

Sap Plants are Now Offering Workshops Across The City

Perfect for both plant experts and those who can’t manage to keep a simple cactus alive, Chan from Sap Plants has started hosting regular terrarium workshops across Nottingham. Crafting a plant landscape enclosed in a glass container, the creative experience is a perfect wellness activity. Ahead of her next workshop, we catch up with Chan to talk about keeping plants alive, wellbeing and what to expect from the classes…