I went to see Akala speak about two weeks ago, having long admired him from afar. He spoke and answered questions on ‘Is Britain Having an Identity Crisis?’ for two hours with an mind-boggling level of eloquence and thoughtfulness, at the same time as being incredibly relatable and human.
You don’t need to watch all the above, but…
Inspirational AF: 'It's Just a Preference' - Almeida Young Leader Darren Siah explores prejudice in the LGBTQ* community in this inspirational speech. As Pride month ends in the US, and London Pride rolls around this weekend, I thought I'd include this amazing speech by Almeida Young Leader
This tweet (link here) caught my eye this week. I love a plan or a list of some sort, and this seems like a near-perfect way to improve your state-of-mind. I try to create resolutions like these every new year, and, although I definitely do notcomplete them all every time, there’s something nice about having resolutions that make your life or you feel better, rather than being about losing or…
In honour of the Season 10 final four (#TeamAsia), enjoy these five suggestions for the future seasons. Got better ones? Leave a comment below!
1. Murder on the Whore-ient Express
I mean, how has thus not been done already?! Melodramatic, riddled with stereotypes and full of great costume opportunities, Agatha Christie (Hag-atha Christie? Agatha Bitchy?) is easy pickings for RuPaul and his posse.…
https://videopress.com/embed/PXIGK2xL?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0One of the great things about becoming a teacher (apart from the long holidays, 4pm finishes, and hilariously stupid responses from children) is that you start to lose the fear of being bad at something – or at least the fear of starting.
I’ve feel like I naturally stick to the things I know and love. Singing. Theatre. Books.…
This Wednesday enjoy a lovely Twitter thread in which kids re-name normal things to make them seem cool. I’ve included a couple below, and you can find the whole thing here.
And just think – if a crow can be a “halloween eagle”, you can be anything!
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When I was younger, my biggest theatre experience was going to see The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House each Christmas. In attempt to fit in with the soft, crimson velvet, the gold brocade, the shimmering crystallised ballerinas, I would excitedly shimmy into my most special dress. Usually pink or purple, usually sparkly, chosen for maximum twirling potential. As you get older, though,…
I love Pablo Neruda. His language is gorgeous. Having read an amazing, but deeply upsetting book last week, this is what I’d turn to to cheer myself up and remind myself that beauty and love exists in the world too.
I don’t have time enough to celebrate your hair. One by one I should detail your hairs and praise them. Other lovers want to live with particular eyes; I only want to be your stylist.
I…
Monday List: 5 Great Shakespeare Adaptations I tend to think Shakespeare is best live and in a theatre - but with no shortage of screen adaptations, there are plenty of gems in there amidst the dullness of others.
Did you know Nutella was originally developed as part of Italian rationing during WW2? That’s right, while us Brits had powdered banana and potato peel pie, and the Germans were literally eating people in some cases (shudders), the poor Italians were forced to eat Nutella. It’s a tough life for some.
Hazelnutty-chocolatey goodness was initially known to hungry Italians as “Pasta Gianduja”.…
Inspirational AF: Dancing with a Tea Cup How do they do it?! This is taken from DV8's Can We Talk About This?, a physical theatre production looking at freedom of speech, multiculturalism, and Islam, using verbatim interviews and elements of dance and mime.
Quick: Combining recipes, anecdotes, advice and memories, Dolly Alderton’s memoir feels like a sisterhood version of ‘The Bible’ from American Pie – if slightly more mature. It’s the kind of book that speaks so eloquently about friendship, about being in your twenties, about being a woman, that it has to be shared. I have already promised my copy to several close friends.
Although the romcom-y…
Quick: Nope, it’s not about a millennial brunch gone wrong. Elaine Dundy‘s The Dud Avocado, published in 1958, does, however, feature a young girl trying to find herself and her identity. Think Ladybirdvibes, except, unlike Ladybird, Sally Jay Gorce (our heroine) has independence and money to spend. Provided for by her uncle back in America, Sally Jay floats around the Left Bank of Paris with…
An ex-Nazi sympathiser who survived the Titanic, made a film about it, was arrested in Italy as an anti-Fascist agitator, and who was also a pioneering silent movie actress, Dorothy Gibson was the definition of living your best life.
Born today in 1889, in New Jersey, by the age of 20 she began modelling for Harrison Fisher, a famous commercial artist.
Dorothy soon became Fisher’s favourite muse,…
Inspirational AF ft. a dog Perhaps not actual imitable in your day-to-day life but still inspirational. Or at least funny. Hehe. Image from:
Having spent Saturday night in Stockholm, complete with a trip to the (excellent) ABBA Museum, I am convinced that Eurovision embodies everything that Cultured AF represents; talented people mixed with undeniable trashiness. Here are our top five moments.
1. SuRie Gets Kanye West-ed
After Brexit, how to make the UK vaguely more likeable to the Europeans? Interrupt their performance with a protester storming onstage to shout about the “Nazis of the UK media”. Surely sympathy vote secured, right?*
*well, no, we still came third from bottom. But still not last.
2. The Man With The Pipe
This guy has not got enough attention. In a turn reminiscent of the Russian grannies, or the Polish butter churner, Serbia brought on an old man with a Serbian flute to accompany their song ‘Nova Deca’. Looking like the crazy professor from Back to the Future, he piped away with aplomb, adding some much needed interest to an otherwise kinda bland performance. Legend.
3. The Whole of the Czech Performance
Pure 100% Dairy-Lea Babybel Cheese. Czech Olly Murs. Bum-wiggling. The lyrics. All of it was classic Eurovision. Genius.
4. All of the Awkward Points-givers
I both love and hate this part. It takes f**king ages wow, but also seeing loads of awkward, over-dressed people in front of green screens, trying to grab every inch of screen-time given them is monotonously joyous.
There was the random attempt to make a Kanye West joke, the La La Land joke that belongs in 2017, the Swedish guy who started facing the wrong way for unknown reasons, the Norwegian dude in a blue LED mask…
Check out Graham Norton’s comments on this mess here.
5. When Finland’s Singer was flipped upside down.
Because why not? It’s Eurovision! Singing on its own is not enough. SPIN YOURSELF ON A GIANT WHEEL WHILST SINGING. That is the level of commitment required.
P.s. Why is RuPaul not a judge of Eurovision? Or Michelle Visage? Get on it for next year Israel.
Monday List: Top Five Eurovision Moments 2018 Having spent Saturday night in Stockholm, complete with a trip to the (excellent) ABBA Museum, I am convinced that
