Street Cred Magazine - August 2020

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AUGUST 2020

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Katy Perry WANTS YOU ALL TO

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T ‘Light It In Red’

he Birmingham Repertory Theatre was transformed into a bright beacon of red light as part of the national Light It In Red initiative.

The REP’s lighting technicians joined other workers, freelancers and specialists from across the country to transform the venue in support of ‘Light It In Red’ which aims to shed a light on freelancers, suppliers and those who work in the theatre and events industry in a time of uncertainty as a result of the Coronavirus epidemic.

Artistic Director, Sean Foley and Executive Director, Rachel Thomas said; "Tonight, we join a multitude of venues across the country who are lighting their buildings red in support of freelancers, suppliers, and those in the theatrical and events industry on whom our entire theatre ecology relies.

“We hope that funds in the Government’s new cultural support package will be distributed in a representative and inclusive way that recognises the vital role played by these individuals and companies in sustaining the theatrical landscape.”

But, at the same time it was announced that up to 47 jobs could go,

with the venue warning its survival was at risk. The jobs, at one of the country's foremost producing theatres represent about 40% of its workforce.

Foley welcomed a £1.5bn emergency package from the government for the arts sector. However, the theatre said it had lost 80% of its income, a position it described as "unsustainable".

It said it was looking at a range of cost-saving measures and "with great sadness" would be consulting with staff about redundancies.

The theatre, based in Centenary Square, celebrated its own centenary in 2013 and its stage has featured the likes of Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, Michael Gambon and Derek Jacobi, among others.

A joint statement from Thomas and Foley, said: "Our role as custodians of this much-loved theatre, with its historic legacy, is to ensure that it survives the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Even after the new measures are taken into account, we believe that survival is threatened if we do not act now. We could still be facing many months of being unable to trade and must therefore take action to mitigate the loss of income by reducing our costs."

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MOBO Award winning DJ Steve Sutherland dead

Notting Hill Carnival to go ahead‌ online

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otting Hill Carnival will be held online this year after its street party was cancelled due to the pandemic.

About one million revellers usually attend the event in west London, which has been held since 1966. But this year the carnival festivities will be streamed over four channels online, from 29 to 31 August.

Executive director Matthew Phillip said the event had a

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A "responsibility to protect the black community".

He added: "Carnival is such an important part of people's lives and key celebration of the multiculturalism of the UK. "We have a responsibility to our community and pioneers to honour that."

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the event that is usually held in Westbourne Park in Notting Hill and parts of Kensington became the latest in a string of

summer calendar events to have been postponed, including the Glastonbury Festival and the Tokyo Olympics.

It meant that this year's music and performances had to be filmed so the event could be held virtually.

Spotify will dedicate a microsite highlighting the importance of carnival culture in the UK later in August, organisers said.

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ward-winning DJ Steve Sutherland has died, according to the organisers of the MOBO

Awards.

The MOBO Awards paid tribute to his contribution to the Black British music scene and tweeted to say they were "deeply saddened". It is not yet known how he died.

Sutherland, who has been widely praised for his contribution to the UK Black music scene, won several MOBO Awards for Best Club DJ and had his own radio shows on Choice and Galaxy FM. He was well known on the club circuit in Ibiza, London and beyond, with his brand Twice As Nice.

Fellow DJ Trevor Nelson and singer Beverley Knight were among those to pay tribute to him on social media.

Nelson tweeted: "Just heard the sad news of another great loss to British Black music.

"Condolences to the family of Steve Sutherland who I first met and worked with at the Kensington roof gardens 30 years ago. @TwiceasNiceUK r.i.p."

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Cineworld reopens with the latest and classic films

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n line with recent changes to upcoming film release dates, Cineworld is planning to re-open on 31

July.

Hopefully, all Cineworld cinemas across the UK and Ireland will be able to re-open their doors at that time, however upcoming re-openings remain subject to final clarifications and confirmation in relation to various government COVID-19 restrictions. The recent localised lockdown in Leicester may have to be repeated elsewhere, and this could necessitate a phased reopening.

Cineworld will make an announcement on social media once tickets go on sale (and by email to its members who have opted-in to marketing communications), which will be close to the re-opening date.

In light of ongoing restrictions, Cineworld is putting a number of safety measures in place which will allow it to provide a safe environment for both employees and guests. This includes implementing measures such as social distancing, staggered film start and end times, hand sanitising stations, providing

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staff with Covid-19 specific training and more.

All employee and customer areas will be arranged and managed so as to promote and maintain social distancing within the cinemas. Additionally, seating maps have been updated to ensure social distancing is maintained while still allowing

families and friends to sit together. This will vary on the capacity and layout of the screen.

A selection of cinema snacks will be available to purchase, although some areas may temporarily have a limited menu.

As usual, customers are also welcome to bring their own cold food and non-alcoholic drinks

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with them.

As well as the latest films, Cineworld will be showing some of 2020’s most successful movies that film fans may have missed during the lockdown. Full details will be on the company’s website.

A rare version of the classic 1985 Super Mario Bros has sold at auction for $114,000 (£90,000), the most ever paid for a video game.

The cartridge, still in its original packaging, sold to an anonymous bidder. And the US auctioneer said demand "was extremely high", partly because this particular packaging had been used for a short while only.

The previous record for an auctioned game was $100,000 - for a different copy of Super Mario.

Heritage Auctions video games director Valarie McLeckie said: "If any lot in the sale could hit a number like that, it was going to be that one.

"We knew this would be a strong live session. But I don't think anybody could have anticipated how much bidding there was on

Heritage Live and the phones."

Super Mario follows the adventures of the eponymous plumber hero, often joined by his brother, Luigi.

Appetite for the game has never waned. And it is often cited as the most successful video games franchise so far.

Piers Harding-Rolls, a gaming expert at research company Amper Analysis, said: "Brand new 'old stock' packaged games connected to much loved gaming brands and companies, especially if they are rare versions, have risen hugely in value over the last 20 years.

"This is because these items are now firmly entrenched in the nostalgia of childhood gaming for many collectors in their 30s and 40s. As prices have risen, so more collectors have come into the market.”

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ENTERTAINMENT Alt-Rockers Bull Sign Deal With EMI Records

Up-and-coming York band, Bull have announced their signing to EMI Records.

The band and EMI are working alongside Young Thugs, a York based record label that releases, records and promotes music from the North of the UK. To celebrate the band have released new single ‘Green’, a blissful slice of jangle-pop with hints of psychedelia and some scuzzy lead guitar.

Depending on which member of the band you ask, the song is either a melancholy rumination on decisions made and the grass always being greener, or it’s about “ripping bongs down at the basketball court when you really should be writing the next great American novel.” Make of that what you will…

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tory Of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is now available globally on Steam for Windows PC. This marks the first time that a Story Of Seasons game, known in Japan as Bokujou Monogatari, has been released onto the platform.

The expanded remake of the beloved 2003 Game Boy Advance farming/life simulation title is available digitally on Windows PC via Steam, with five adorable Animal Costume DLC items are also available for purchase separately.

To commemorate the launch, Director Hikaru Nakano sent a message through his Mineral Town Influencer and fan fav, Hanako: “I’m delighted to welcome western Story of Seasons fans to Mineral Town today,” said Hikaru Nakano, Story of Seasons Director at Marvelous.

“It’s been a long wait and we’re so happy to finally share this very special instalment of the Bokujo series with both PC and Nintendo Switch players.

“We dedicated a lot of energy towards including updates and additions that fans, new, or returning will enjoy and hope they’ll be living their best farm life soon!”

Story Of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is also available for the Nintendo Switch physically from selected retailers, and digitally from Nintendo eShop, within Europe and Australia.

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Jada tells Will Of 'Entanglement'

Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed on her chat show in a heart-toheart with husband Will Smith that she did have a relationship with singer August Alsina.

Speaking to Smith on her Facebook show Red Table Talk, the actress said that the relationship happened while the pair were separated.

"We were over," she says. "From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August."

Mr Smith then presses her, saying "an entanglement? A relationship. I was in a lot of pain and I was very broken," she countered.

The pair have been married since 1997, have two children together, and said they are currently back together after a split. The couple said they wanted to do the show to clear up speculation circulating in the media over an interview August Alsina recently gave to a radio morning show, The Breakfast Club.

The rapper said he had been in a

relationship with Pinkett Smith and that Smith had given the affair his "blessing", leading to speculation that the Hollywood power couple were in an open marriage.

"The only person that can give permission in that particular circumstance is myself," Pinkett

Smith said. "I could actually see how he would perceive it as permission because we were separated amicably and I think he also wanted to make it clear that he's also not a home-wrecker.

Which he's not."

WLV Grand Pantomime Postponed

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olverhampton G r a n d T h e a t r e has today announced that regrettably, and with great sadness, their 2020 pantomime Cinderella, has been postponed until December 2021.

Cinderella is the first pantomime to be produced by the theatre in over three decades and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the creative teams have been unable to collaborate together to deliver the first-class pantomime audiences have come to expect.

The safety and welfare of the audience, artists and employees was also a key factor in the decision to postpone.

Over 60,000 people attend The Grand’s annual pantomime, with a large proportion of those tickets purchased by schools and families, including young children.

Adrian Jackson, CEO and Artistic Director said: “It has been an enormously difficult decision to postpone this year’s pantomime which, during the lifetime of the Grand Theatre, has become a tradition loved by many generations of families.

“We will continue to work hard during the next eighteen months, and we will present our spectacular pantomime during the festive season next year.

“Cinderella is one of the most magical pantomimes and we will create something very special for Grand Theatre audiences.

“It will be very sad not to be welcoming our loyal patrons to panto this Christmas; however I encourage audiences to please stay with us for 2021, which I know will be a fantastic year.”

Ticket holders have been automatically transferred to the equivalent performance with the same seats next year. The theatre will send individual correspondence to everyone affected outlining the options available.

Pantomime sponsor Dudley Zoo and Castle has also pledged its support by transferring their sponsorship to next year.

All remaining productions for 2020 have either been transferred to new dates or have been cancelled. West End hits Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and 9 To 5 will be amongst the first shows to open at the Grand in the New Year.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Collaborative Midsummer Festival reaches thousands

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housands of arts and culture lovers tuned in online to enjoy the Midsummer Festival, a free one-day festival celebrating arts and culture in the West Midlands. It featured over 12 hours of performances from 33 companies around the region, including 13 never-before-seen works.

Inspired by annual Midsummer celebrations across the world, the festival was the first collaboration of its kind for the region, with participating organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Royal Ballet, IKON Gallery, Ex Cathedra, Birmingham Opera Company and Keneish Dance, as well as many more theatre, dance, music, artists and venues from across the West Midlands.

Organised by the West Midlands Culture Response Unit (WMCRU), Midsummer Festival drew audiences from across the globe, with people viewing from over 50 countries, including the USA, Brazil, Australia and Barbados.

Erica Love, director of Culture Central, which leads the WMCRU, said: “We’re

thrilled with the success of Midsummer Festival. To have so many West Midlands arts organisations come together, at what is such a devastating time for the sector, is really uplifting.

“We wanted this event to be a collaboration and that’s exactly what it was, we had large and small organisations, rural and urban, covering a wide range of artistic genres, really showcasing what this region has to offer.

“The feedback we’ve received from audience members has been fantastic and just reiterates how much people miss the arts during this time.”

As a predominantly online festival, Midsummer drew over 12,000 pageviews with an average viewing time of 21 minutes. The festival also made national and international news, with total coverage reaching four million people.

Although a free event, audience members were asked to donate to the Freedom Fund for Black Artists in the West Midlands, with over £650 raised on the day.

Photo Credit: Pentabus

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THE BOYS CAPTURES SEASON THREE RENEWAL

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mazon Studios announced it has officially ordered a third season of its hit series The Boys, co-produced with Sony Pictures Television, ahead of its highly anticipated second season launching on 4th September.

The announcement was made during The Boys Comic-Con@ Home Panel. Additionally, it was revealed that Emmy Awardwinning host Aisha Tyler will serve as host and executive producer of the official The Boys aftershow Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys.

In each episode of Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys, members of the cast, creative team and other special guests will join Tyler as they dissect the events that unfold in each episode.

“Amazon, in a bold and historic push to expand their ‘weirdo’ demographic, has greenlit Season

3 of The Boys! The writers and I are hard at work in the (virtual) writer’s room and we’re sad to say, the world has given us way too much material.

We hope to be shooting in early 2021, but that’s up to a microscopic virus,” said showrunner and executive producer Eric Kripke.

“As if that wasn’t enough, we’re bringing you a Season 2 after show, Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys.

Double entendre intended.

“Hosted by the incomparable Aisha Tyler and guest starring the cast and crew, it’s a deep dive into how we make this

insane thing.

“Seriously, thanks to Sony, Amazon and the fans. We love making this show so much, and we’re thrilled we get to make more.”

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K

aty Perry has unveiled “Smile,” the title track of her new album, which will be released on August 14.

The infectious, life-affirming new single is brimming with gratitude and suggests that setbacks often turn out to be blessings in disguise.

“I wrote this song when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life,” says Katy.

“When I listen to it now, it’s a great reminder that I made it through. It’s three minutes of energizing hopefulness.”

Katy revealed the album cover along with exclusive Smilethemed merchandise bundles, and fans who pre-order the album will instantly receive “Smile” plus “Daisies,” the Gold-certified “Never Really Over” and “Harleys In Hawaii.”

Since its release in May, “Daisies” has amassed more than 125 million combined global streams.

Katy has shared an acoustic version of the song, and while in quarantine, she’s won acclaim for the wide variety of performances she has given of “Daisies” – including the “American Idol” season finale, the launch of the 2020 “Good Morning America” Concert Series and the “Can’t Cancel Pride: Helping LGBTQ+ People in Need” livestream.

Katy also co-headlined the recent Democracy Summer 2020 livestream. The event kicked off a campaign to register 200,000 new voters this summer, led by a coalition that includes Rock the Vote, Voto Latino Foundation, When We All Vote, March For Our Livesand others.

Katy was also the first female artist to have four videos surpass a billion views each. Her videos for “Firework” and “Last Friday Night” have over one billion views, while “Dark Horse”

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has surpassed the 2.7 billion mark.

Aside from being one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, Katy is an active advocate of many philanthropic causes.

In 2013, Katy was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador as a result of her commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide.

From traveling to Vietnam and Madagascar to highlight the needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable children, to empowering girls and supporting adolescents living with HIV/AIDS, as well as raising awareness for UNICEF’s emergency relief efforts, Katy has used her powerful voice to advocate for children and support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child’s right to health, education, equality, and protection.

She was awarded with the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award in 2016.

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Birmingham Opera Company announce new Music Director

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irmingham Opera Company has announced that conductor Alpesh Chauhan will join the organisation as Music Director who starts alongside Artistic Director Graham Vick leading the company on its mission to make great opera for everybody.

The Birmingham-born was Principal Cello with the CBSO Youth Orchestra. He entered the Royal Northern College of Music in 2008 to study the cello before pursuing the prestigious Master’s Conducting Course with highlights of his career including a subscription concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre and his BBC Proms debut with the BBC Philharmonic, a production of Turandot in Valencia at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía as well as regular appearances with the City of Birmingham Symphony

Orchestra where until 2016 he was Assistant Conductor.

For the past five years he has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini in Parma, who awarded him the

title of Principal Conductor and with whom he has performed and recorded staples of the great symphonic repertoire, including a complete cycle of Brahms’ symphonies.

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Theatre to drop use of BAME T heatre officials will stop using the term BAME (Black, Asian and Multy Ethnic), saying it is outdated.

Coventry's Belgrade Theatre said it made the decision after listening to local Black artists who want to see the term eradicated across the industry.

Echoing the reasons set out

by Black Creative Network, the

theatre said its use "reinforces the assumption of white British as the 'norm' or default". The move was "only the first step on a long journey", it added.

Recently, UK students and artists explained why they felt the term - which originated in the '60s and '70s - was no longer relevant to them.

Corey Campbell, co-artistic director at the theatre, said the

decision had already attracted criticism but he stood by it.

Setting out its "statement of intent", the theatre said the group of West Midlands-based artists identified several problems with the term and similar acronyms.

It said: "Although originally intended to refer to groups of people as a means of measuring diversity across organisations... it stripped away people's individual

identities and encourages us to see those who are not white British as a single, homogeneous group."

To assign a "single, collective identity to the vast range of racial, cultural and ethnic groups currently living in the UK, it assumed that all of these groups share broadly similar experiences as well as reinforcing the assumption of white British as the "norm" or default".

The term also "conflated physical characteristics with geographic identity... Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic are not equivalent terms".

The theatre added: "It has always been important to us to provide a space where all of the people who make up our city feel

seen and supported, and now more than ever, we want to listen to and act upon the requests of those who currently do not,".

BAME will no longer be used in its public and internal

communications, but theatre officials said they accepted the acronym may still appear in some official documents they would be required to use.

John Travolta’s wife, the actress Kelly Preston, dies

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ctress Kelly Preston, the wife of John Travolta, has died. Travolta posted on Instagram: "My beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many."

The couple had been married for nearly 29 years. Preston's career included roles in Twins, From Dusk Till Dawn, Jerry Maguire and The Cat in the Hat. She also collaborated with her husband on Battlefield Earth and Old Dogs.

In his post, Travolta thanked the health workers who had looked after his wife "as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side".

"I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don't hear from us for a while.

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But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal. All my love, JT".

The couple's son Jett Travolta died at the age of 16 in January 2009 from a seizure during a family holiday in the Bahamas.

They have two other children, Ella Bleu and Benjamin.

Ella Bleu wrote on Instagram: "I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you."

Born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith in Honolulu, she changed her name to Kelly Preston before securing her first film role in the 1985 romcom Mischief, then appeared in another teen comedy, Secret Admirer. One of her last screen roles came in the 2018 crime biopic Gotti, in which she appeared opposite her husband.

She was 57.

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T

Children In Need To Match Rapper Stormzy's £10M Donation Pledge BBC Children in Need has announced it will be matching Stormzy in pledging £10m to fight racial inequality in the UK. It'll donate the money over 10 years and work with Radio 1Xtra to develop young Black talent in the media.

The rapper says the money will help "in supporting and strengthening the young black community". The donation will also be used to help young business owners and offer skills to help boost employability.

Stormzy made his donation commitment after the death of George Floyd, saying he recognised what he had been able to achieve in his life but wanted more Black people to

have the same opportunities.

In 2018 he committed to paying for two Black students to go to Cambridge University and also has a deal with Penguin to help young Black authors get published in the UK. Children in Need currently funds over 3,000 charities and projects in the UK that help disadvantaged children and young people. It says its donations are used to help young Black people but that the additional funding will go even further to create opportunities.

A panel of "young people and volunteers with direct experience of the Black British experience" will help decide who gets funding from this new scheme.

he government has unveiled a £1.57bn support package to help protect the futures of UK theatres, galleries, museums and other cultural venues.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said new grants and loans aim to preserve "crown jewels" in the UK's art sector as well as local venues.

It follows several weeks of pressure, with industry leaders warning that many venues were on the brink of collapse.

Independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues will also be eligible.

Guidance for a phased return of the performing arts, starting with performances behind closed doors and rehearsals, is expected to be published by the government shortly.

Dowden said the package is all "new money" and has two broad aims - to preserve "crown jewel" venues like the Royal Albert Hall and national galleries, while also helping local institutions across the UK. He said institutions applying for the new grants and loans through industry bodies would have to prove how they contribute to wider economic growth.

A string of theatres have announced plans to make staff redundant in recent weeks, after being closed since the coronavirus pandemic took hold earlier this year.

Adrian Vinken, the chief executive of the Theatre Royal in Plymouth said it was "impossible

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UK Arts venues welcome SUPPORT

to say" if the announcement would be enough to prevent up to 100 job losses there until more detail is released.

The announcement of the new funding comes just two days after theatres across the UK were covered in colourful messages of support.

The rescue package has been warmly welcomed by many arts leaders, some of whom said they

thought it to be at the upper end of what had been hoped for. The Culture Secretary, who has been under pressure from the arts and heritage sector to deliver a meaningful funding solution to a crisis brought about by Covid-19, feels vindicated that his behind-closed-doors approach to negotiations with the Treasury has paid off.

As always, the devil will be in

the detail. The government has not specified how the money will be divided between competing art forms or regions, nor how the application process will work.

There will be winners and losers.

And then there's the elephant in the auditorium: when will the rules around social distancing in performing arts venues be relaxed to allow the show to go on?

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Mazda Returns To Full Production Mazda has decided to return operations to normal or to prepandemic levels starting from August.

At the plants in Japan, Mexico and Thailand, which are producing vehicles for the European market, all adjustments implemented due to the spread of the novel coronavirus will end in July 2020.

In Japan overtime hours and work on holidays will be resumed.

We will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation as well as the trends of automobile demand in each market where our vehicles are shipped.

“The Mazda Motor Corporation would like to express its deepest sympathy and concern for all of those who have been suffering from the novel coronavirus outbreak and extend our condolences to the families it has impacted.”

200TH STORE MILESTONE FOR ELECTRIC CHARGERS

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he UK’s largest free retail charging network for electric vehicles has so far given away enough renewable energy to power the homes of almost 130,000 people.

Volkswagen, Tesco and Pod Point teamed up to provide the largest free retail charging network for electric vehicle (EV) owners across the UK. The groundbreaking partnership has now hit the landmark 200th store after four EV points were installed at the Tesco superstore in Chester.

So far, enough renewable energy has been given away to power the homes in a city the size of Chester for a whole day.

Over the past 18 months, these charging points across the UK have been used 150,000 times

by EV owners of all brands – providing their batteries with a combined 669 megawatts of power.

This is enough to power 1.3

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million homes for one hour, or 55,750 homes for 24 hours – which should cover the electricity needs for residential properties in a town or city with a population of almost 130,000.

It is also estimated that EV drivers using the charging points have saved 374,391 kg of tailpipe CO2 emissions – the equivalent of more than 1.8 million miles driven by the average new car.

Sarah Cox, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen UK, said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve reached another milestone in our partnership with Tesco and Pod Point.

There are now 200 stores with chargers that drivers of any electric vehicle can use for free.

“As the partnership continues, and more stores roll out new chargers, we are really proud to be breaking down barriers to EV ownership and demonstrating to people that living with an EV is easy.”

Jason Tarry, Tesco CEO UK

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& ROI, said: “We’re now well on our way to achieving our ambition of installing more than 2,400 EV charging bays across 600 Tesco stores.

“The 200th store is a landmark moment as we get back up and running with this programme after the Covid-19 pandemic meant we had to delay our plans.

“Providing customers with charging points offers them a sustainable choice and giving them the opportunity to charge their car for free while they shop is a little help to make this easier.”

Erik Fairbairn, Founder and CEO of Pod Point, said: “Our partnership with Tesco and Volkswagen is making it easier for drivers to go electric and will help speed up the transition to EVs. “Vehicle electrification is one of the most powerful ways to stop travel damaging the earth.”

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MOTORS

ELECTRIFYING FUTURE FOR MASERATI T

he spark of electrification ignites Maserati's future: with the new Ghibli Hybrid, the Trident Brand enters the world of electrification.

The new Ghibli Hybrid represents one of the most ambitious projects for Maserati, which after the announcement of the new engine for the MC20 super sports car now sets the seal on another step forward towards the brand's new Era. The choice to introduce the hybrid technology on the Ghibli saloon is no coincidence: this model, with over 100,000 units produced since its launch in 2013, perfectly embodies the Modena-based manufacturer’s DNA. In fact, the challenge facing Maserati was to enter the world of electrification without altering the brand's core philosophy and values. The result? The creation of the best possible hybrid. What's more, Ghibli Hybrid will retain the unmistakable sound that has always distinguished every Maserati.

The arrival of the new Ghibli Hybrid thus expands the Maserati range, which is now even more competitive and responsive to the demands of the market.

Nissan Hits Half A Million PPE Aprons For Frontline Work Having produced half a million protective aprons for front line health care workers, Nissan Sunderland is handing over the project reins to HMP Northumberland.

A 57-strong team of staff volunteers at the plant have manufactured the aprons in just under three months. They have been supplied to more than 100 health care trusts and care homes across the North East region.

Alan Johnson, Vice President, Manufacturing said: “I’m extremely proud of the way the team at the plant answered the call to produce PPE for our front line workers.

“Producing more than half a million aprons in such a short period of time demonstrates the skill, ingenuity and dedication of our team at the plant.

“As a team we are delighted to hand over the apron manufacture to HMP Northumberland so they can continue the work that’s already been started.”

With both production lines now back up and running at the plant, the team have shared their expertise and donated the equipment to a group of staff and 15 residents at the prison, based in Acklington, Northumberland.

Once up and running the prison team hope to initially produce 40,000 aprons each week.

Electroheads ‘E-Kart’ Race Series Answers Lewis Hamilton’s Call The launch of the Electroheads e-kart race series was delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown, but working closely with local and motorsport authorities, the game-changing karts will take to the track for their first competitive action in an exclusive race meeting.

The Electroheads e-kart race series is the brainchild of former Ferrari and Williams F1 engineer Rob Smedley, co-founder of the Electroheads group – a media and motorsport brand dedicated to the global electric revolution.

Smedley, who heads up Electroheads Motorsport division, explained how the state-of-the-art electric karts will change the way that budding racers take their first step on the racing ladder forever: “Our ambition has always been to make it far easier – and cheaper – for the next generation of racers to experience the awe of motorsport; we want to bring the know-how and skills learned at the very highest level in Formula 1 to the grassroots to make that happen.

“As Lewis Hamilton himself

said recently, racing faces some real challenges. It lacks diversity; it’s too expensive; and for too many children it doesn’t even make it on to their radar as an option.

“That has to change.

ElectroheadsTM is the driving force to inspire, energise and thrill racers as they climb the ladder.

“It is cleaner, cheaper, faster and importantly, fairer. Our aim has to be to find the next crop of Lewis Hamiltons and facilitate a realistic journey all the way to F1.

“It has never been a more relevant time to make the changes that are necessary in the grassroots of our sport” By simplifying and reducing the cost of entry-level racing, Electroheads MotorsportTM will help break down existing barriers to entry thereby making it easier for more new drivers and their families to get involved.

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The REP announces Summer Schools for 7-18 year olds

Save Data On The Go T hese simple tricks will stop eating up your data while you bingewatch your favourite shows on the go With video streaming platforms such as YouTube, Netflix and more recently, Disney+, now the essentials for keeping smartphone users entertained on the go, keeping an eye on your data usage is more important than ever.

Research has found that more than two thirds (68%) of the UK population use their mobile phones to watch video content, but with a typical 5GB data plan only allowing for 6.5 hours of 1080p video streaming, data can quickly trickle away.

To help the nation keep track of how much data is being used with video streaming, online smartphone retailer, e2save, has put together some simple tips for reducing data usage on some of the most popular video apps.

Netflix

With 12.4 million subscribers in the UK, Netflix is one of the leading video streaming services.

Watching TV shows or films in the Netflix app uses around 1GB of data per hour when watching a standard definition stream, or if in HD, around 3GB of data an hour.

One simple trick to reduce data usage with this app is to access Netflix on a web browser first.

Once signed in, go to Account

and select a profile from Profile & Parental Controls. From there, select Change for Playback settings > select the desired data usage settings and save changes.

Any changes made usually take effect in the app within eight hours.

YouTube

There are a number of ways to save on data when streaming videos through YouTube.

The platform allows a user to change the playback quality when streaming videos online, however, some videos can automatically begin to play in a higher quality stream.

The app enables a user to reduce the amount of data used when

streaming videos using mobile data, so it only streams videos in HD when connected to Wi-Fi. To do so, open the YouTube app, go to Options > Settings > General and enable Limit mobile data.

Disney+

Since its UK launch in March this year, Disney+ has been downloaded by users young and old. However, for those who are data conscious, Disney enables users to reduce data usage directly in the app.

To do so, open the Disney+ app, go to Select profile > App settings > Mobile data usage > Data Saver/ Wi-Fi only.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre to host both sociallydistant workshops in the building and digital online sessions Birmingham Repertory Theatre has announced that they will be hosting two Summer Schools this August; Theatre Making (3-7 Aug) for those aged 13-18 and Spy School (10-14 Aug) for ages 7-12.

Both sets of five-day workshops have the option for in-person tuition and interaction in The REP’s rehearsal rooms under COVID-safe conditions or online digital classes.

Both programmes of online classes have also been made available to West Midlands Virtual Schools’ Connect & Create programme featuring specially selected arts and cultural activity for children & young people in care.

A limited number of bursary places for the in-person sessions have been made available to support access for people facing financial barriers for both Theatre Making and

Spy School.

These bursaries have been made possible thanks to generous individual donations to The REP. Each Summer School will have a strictly limited number of participants for the workshops held within The REP’s rehearsal rooms with social distancing observed at all times.

Each participant will be assigned a marked 4m² space, cleaning staff will attend to hotspots like door handles and toilet flushes after every use and First aiders will be equipped with PPE to ensure safe assistance can be provided in the event of any health issues.

The drop off and collection of participants will also be carefully co-ordinated to ensure social distancing is retained from start to finish.

Online sessions will include bespoke pre-recorded versions of physical classes plus links to downloadable documents and files for home use.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - August 2020 - Page 31

BIG DAVE’S SAFE PAGE

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Discover The Power Of The Mind A

ccording to the Myan calendar and legend the end of the world should have happened on Sunday 19th July 2020.

As you can see fortunately for us they got it wrong but did they?

As thinking about it for some of us it must have felt that way, losing lives, losing loved ones, losing businesses, losing jobs, losing money and losing our minds.

To some of us it is like our world is ending and as you can see from today’s date, my God, your God, our faiths has been given more time on this mortal coil.

To change and to adapt to the New World of face masks and all the other do’s and don’ts of Cirus the Virus, we all have to embrace the change.

One thing that this pandemic has taught us is we do not know what is around the corner or still waiting in the wings to test us yet again.

Throughout history our whole existence has been tested time and time again and yet throughout all our trials and tribulations, no matter what the story or subject we are still here to add our chapter to the history books.

The most incredible and wonderful thing though because we have been given this extra time on mother earth, it is a huge blessing to us all and should be a massive wake up call for

everyone on this beautiful real estate the planet we call Earth.

So maybe we have been tested for a reason to see how we can come together and support each other.

As devastating as this pandemic has been, surely we can come together and stop hating each other and do our bit to improve and heal our differences.

As there is not a lot of time as we only get four scores and ten on this earth. So our health and well being is paramount and most importantly our state of mind.

By focusing your mind on the positive will help you feel you are doing your bit for your rent on this planet because we only get a short tenancy from the landlords, whoever or whatever your landlord maybe.

By focusing on the positive this will make you one very powerful individual, positive not negative, Ying and Yang.

By being positive it will draw good energy toward you, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to search out that light.

So late at night if the mind monkeys attack you and you can’t sleep because of your situation, just remember you are one powerful person and draw down the positives and don’t let the mind monkeys swing you from tree to tree and play with your mind.

One tip that was passed onto me was to focus your mind on the most beautiful scene or picture

you have witnessed and keep that picture in your head, it will help you to relax your mind.

This is something I practise if the mind monkeys attack me. I think of this scene of nature that I witnessed for myself and for me personally it

brings me down off the ceiling, just by thinking of this picture over and over in my mind. So what is your positive mind picture?

Think Positive, Act Positive, Be Positive

Soul Butterfly

S

elf love and self care is a practise that we busy humans tend to ignore and believe that we are not deserving or that it is a vain thing to do.

But we are important and mindfulness is a practise that an take just a few minutes a day and make a huge difference in our daily lives. Mindfulness helps us to reduce stress and give us a positive outlook on life.

When we practise mindfulness, we are tuning in to the here and now, the present moment.

It is being aware of our thoughts, surroundings, environment, feelings and accepting it all without judgement.

Breathing is something we do naturally without much thought, so try this simple mindful exercise.

When you are able, take time and just stop.

Take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.

Whilst breathing in, be aware of your breath and just focus on your breath, then breathe out, again focusing on just the out breath.

Relax your shoulders, especially

if they are around your ears (due to stress) If you mind happens to wander, acknowledge that thought and send it on its way.

Again, go back to your breath, breathe in and out for as long as you need.

By doing this simple exercise and focussing on your breath, you should feel a sense of calm envelope you. Whenever you feel a stressful moment, always go back to this simple but extremely effective exercise.

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l Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari Forced To Re-Schedule UK And European Tour Enter Shikari have confirmed that due to uncertainly and ongoing lack of clarity around the return of larger indoor music events, their planned ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’ UK & European Tour for October, November, December 2020 will now be rescheduled for May, June, September 2021.

All tickets previously bought for original dates will of course remain valid for the rescheduled shows (in the case of Rock City, Nottingham where the band are playing two nights tickets for the original first night, 19th Nov 2020, will be valid for the rescheduled first night, 13th May 2021, and 20th Nov 2020 tickets valid for 14th May).

Frontman Rou Reynolds commented: "We're gutted to have to

reschedule all our shows to 2021. This means we won’t be stepping on a stage in 2020 whatsoever. This is agonising – I'm already climbing the walls and we're only half way through!

“I suppose it just means more time to work on these shows and make them extra special for when they finally come along.

“Ally Pally now falling on a Saturday in summer means we'll certainly be looking at ways to make that more of an 'event'.

“Thank you to everyone who's bought a ticket, the response has been amazing even with everything going on, but obviously right now the main priority is everybody's wellbeing.

“Wishing everyone health and happiness.”

Ride An Emotional Rollercoaster

T

l Sea Girls are releasing their debut album this month

he UK’s hottest new band, Sea Girls, have released the stunning animated video for their anthemic fan favourite and new single, ‘All I Want To Hear You Say’, taken from their forthcoming debut album Open Up Your Head - out August 14th on Polydor.

The band also embark on a huge headline tour this November, including sold-out

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dates at Glasgow’s legendary Barrowlands, Manchester Academy and Birmingham’s O2 Institute, as well as the band’s biggest headline line show to date at London’s Brixton Academy.

The animated video, directed by acclaimed Korean-Swedish duo Tjoff Koong Studios (Tezo Kyungdon Lee and Magnus Lenneskog), takes the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster. Lead singer Henry

Camamile perfectly describes the video, "When I wrote this song I was trying to channel some emotional highs and lows of the likes of Kurt Cobain.”

He continues, “Full of visual adrenalin, it builds with rushes of excitement and lack of control.

Someone build a rollercoaster through the city and we'll get on it."

Whether it's being screamed back at them by crowds across the

globe, or the fact it's the band's most streamed track, ‘All I Want To Hear You Say’ is as undeniably catchy as it is frantic.

This sensational new version has been given the all-star treatment by legendary producer Rich Costey (Wombats, Sam Fender, The Killers) and comes as the final instalment of music before the band drop what is to be a defining record for this year's crop of stellar UK guitar talent.

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