Street Cred Magazine - February 2022

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022 - Page 17

MUSIC FASHION FILM GADGETS HOLIDAY EDUCATION HEALTH AND FITNESS

FEBRUARY 2022

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ANTHONY JOSHUA

SPEAKS TO HIS FANS AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Page 18 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

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TRESTLE THEATRE FOUNDER BACK ON STAGE FOR UK TOUR

W

o r c e s t e r based Vamos Theatre have announced the cast for its upcoming UK tour of Dead Good, which includes Alan Riley, one of the founders of iconic full mask theatre company, Trestle Theatre.

He will be joined by Radhika Aggarwal, James Greaves, and Bidi Iredale for the full mask theatre show, which opens at The Swan, Worcester (February 3) and includes dates at Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham and Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton.

For many physical theatre audiences and performers, Trestle was one of the most influential UK theatre

companies of the 1980s and 90s, pioneering its particular style of wordless, full mask theatre.

As one of the co-founders, Alan was an intrinsic part of the company over two decades, and his influence has been felt world-wide. He last performed on tour in 2010, and Vamos Theatre is delighted to have tempted him back onto the stage.

Most excitingly for full mask theatre fans, Alan will be joined in the show by James Greaves.

James was a mainstay actor with Trestle Theatre during their most influential years, performing in many shows across the world, including Top Storey, Hanging Around, Blood and Roses, Bitter Fruit and Adventures Of The Stoneheads,

amongst others. Despite James and Alan being long-standing actors with Trestle (and friends), they had little opportunity during their Trestle years to work on stage together - Dead Good brings them the chance to do just that.

Director of Dead Good, and Artistic Director of Vamos Theatre, Rachael Savage, commented: “I wrote Dead Good especially for Alan and James and now finally after 33 years we have the opportunity to see the two finest full mask actors in the UK perform together. This is literally my dream job.

“Nearly every school in the country has a Trestle mask set stored away in a cupboard in the Drama Department, their magic

still intact; but do young people and their teachers appreciate the start of mask theatre in the UK and its history?

Bring your students, children, grandchildren to see Dead Good and watch first-hand this once in a lifetime opportunity to see the masters at work.”

Also in the Dead Good cast is Bidi Iredale, an experienced mask actor who has played the role of Joy in Vamos Theatre’s award-winning production, Finding Joy. Her theatre work includes performances for NTC Touring Theatre, Northern Stage, CTC, The National Trust Theatre, The Customs House and Pentabus.

Dead Good tours the UK in February and March 2022.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022 - Page 19

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THE Sisters of Reggae ARE bursting to spread the love

Kawala Kick Off 2022 With New Single ‘Jesse C’mon’ KAWALA ARE back and starting out 2022 with their exuberant new single ‘Jesse C’mon’, out now on EMI records.

A slice of vibrant, danceable pop, ‘Jesse C’mon’ sees the band layering their trademark harmonies and chiming guitars to create a sophisticated, yet instantly accessible song dealing with those people in the world who have a little issue with the truth: “Jesse is a character we made up who represents and embodies all the people in the world who intentionally lie all the time” the band explains. “Everybody knows a Jesse.”

On their forthcoming album, "Better With You" (out 4th March) tracks like previous single ‘Searching’ and the (cheekily named, non-cover) ‘Ticket To Ride’, along with new

tracks ‘Marathon’ and ‘Echoes’ are filled with an intoxicating hopefulness that unfurls into bright, pop moments, sure to stir minds and bodies.

While On the flip side of the coin, songs like ‘Hypnotized’, ‘Jesse C’Mon’ and ‘Good Like This’ provide a more immersive musical landscape that offers a contemplative, personal vibe.

Ultimately, anyone who hears ‘Better with You' will be immediately aware of the bigger spirit that drives everything this band does.

Kawala’s debut is an album that offers a strong, vivid connection as its irresistible rhythms ripple around a yearning, emotional core. This might be a record about life’s journeys, but it is also one full of songs that will illuminate the road ahead.

The album marks the culmination of years of work

which has seen the band grow from humble beginnings to the world class act they are today.

Along the way they have done everything from play socially distanced shows in UK parks (after the first easing of restrictions in 2020), appear on FIFA 2021, write and perform in their own YouTube sitcom (the mad-cap Paradise Heights), become ambassadors for the Music Venue Trust and perform an emotional sold-out show at the O2 Kentish Town Forum, the venue at the heart of the London community where the band spent their formative years.

To celebrate the album's release, the band have announced a series of instore shows at record stores around the country, before heading out on their headline tour in April.

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A

ll-female Reggae DJ collective, selectors Lucky Cat Zoë, Debbie Golt,Miss Feelgood, Naoko The Rock and Sweetie are DJs that make the Sisters of Reggae who play their own eclectic sounds of vintage Roots, Rocksteady, Revival, Rockers and Ska music from London to Jamaica, Ibiza to India, Japan, Berlin and further afield.

Lucky brought together the elite DJing team of female reggae collectors in 2016 to bring good Reggae vibes to all. And, as such, their shows are always roadblock, as they continue to provide 100% vinyl and 100% niceness – guaranteed.

Having put on their first club night in Peckham, in South London, they then branched out into Brixton before rocking the Roots Reggae stage at Bestival.

Since then, their reputation has grown so great and so rapidly that they were invited to play at festivals such as; The London International Ska Festival, Reggae Geel and Rotomotom Sunplash.

The London-based collectors even appeared in a documentary celebrating the anniversary of the world famous Trojan Records.

Furthermore, between them they have supported the likes of legends of Reggae, including; David Rodigan, Channel One, Aba Shanti I, Max Romeo, Dubkasm and Axis Sound System.

“I love it when I’m playing”, Zoë says “and I look up from the decks and see girls right there at the front giving me a thumbs up – I hope I encourage others to give it a try if they are passionate about the music.”

For all the Sisters’, Reggae has always been a part of life. And, because of that, once the pandemic is over more people will be hearing more of these Sisters of Reggae.

Page 20 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

Beau Diako Shares The New Single ‘Nylon’

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Orchestra Baobab are back

W

est Africa's most iconic dance-band, Orchestra Baobab, returns to the UK for a string of shows in 2022 after recently celebrating their 50th anniversary.

The group’s epic story began in the heart of Dakar’s Medina in the 1960s, where they formed a multi-ethnic club collective, which adapted Cuban music into West African Wolof Griot Culture and the Mandinga musical traditions of the Casamance.

Orchestra Baobab disbanded in the 1980s and reformed due to popular demand in 2001 with major interest from Europe. The collective features a brilliant ensemble of diverse musical personalities, encompassing a unique blend of Afro-Latin styles, international pop, West African Griot Music, and an after-dark club ambience of lilting & mellifluous rhythms.

Promoters AGMP are thrilled to announce Orchestra Baobab 2022 tour which launches in Edinburgh on 2nd March, calling at Liverpool on 3rd, Glasgow on the 4th, stopping in London for double shows at the Union Chapel on 7th - 8th, then onto Coventry on the 10th, Bexhill on 11th, Manchester on the 12th and finishing up in Bristol on 13th March.

AFTER JOINING forces with major talents Bas and Etta Bond on his latest track ‘Fretless’, Beau Diako gets 2022 off to bang as he shares his brand new single ‘Nylon’, which features Tobi Tunis.

The single is the title track from his eagerly anticipated debut album, also titled ‘Nylon’ that will follow on April 1st.

The ‘Nylon’ single finds Beau Diako employing some esoteric sonic touches to give the track’s core R&B sound an off-kilter edge. With understated island beats and a Latin-tinged edge courtesy of his airy, nylon guitars, the song feels both summery and moodily introspective.

Tobi Tunis provides the magic bonus ingredient as his dreamy, hypnotic topline gives the song the atmosphere of an escape from the January gloom.

China Changes Ending Of Fight Club So That The Authorities Win THE ENDING TO cult 1999 US film Fight Club has been removed for viewers in China, and replaced by a screen with a message saying the authorities won.

The original ending saw Edward Norton's narrator killing his imaginary alterego Tyler Durden, played

by Brad Pitt, before bombs destroyed buildings in the climax to a subversive plot to reorder society, dubbed Project Mayhem. In China, before the explosions, a message now says the police foiled the plot, arrested the criminals and sent Durden to a lunatic asylum.

The new finale tells viewers: "Through the clue provided by Tyler, the police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested

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all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding.

"After the trial, Tyler was sent to lunatic asylum receiving psychological treatment.

He was discharged from the hospital in 2012."

Director David Fincher's film has recently been added to streaming platform Tencent Video, and Human Rights Watch described the changes as dystopian.

Chuck Palahniuk, who wrote the 1996 novel that Fight Club was adapted from, wrote sarcastically on Twitter: "This is SUPER wonderful! Everyone gets a happy ending in China!"

The author added on Substack: "How amazing.

I'd no idea! Justice always wins.

Nothing ever

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exploded. Fini." Artist Ai Weiwei also posted a link to a story about the changes, with the question: "What Would Tyler Durden Say?" US Republican senator representing Texas, Ted Cruz, wrote: "The second rule of Fight Club is 'we will do and say whatever the Chinese communist censors tell us to do and say.'" The changes were flagged up on social media by outraged viewers who had previously seen pirated copies of the original.

It's not uncommon for Chinese censor to make cuts to Western films, but it's more rare for them to change an ending. Some social media users made light of the new Fight Club ending.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022 - Page 21

HANGING OUT WITH HIGGINS

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MONTHLY COLUMN

S. FLORIDA T RECOGNIZES JAMAICANS!

l Steve Higgins and Carson ‘Eddy’ Edwards

steve@stevehigginsproductions.com www.stevehigginsproductions.com

wo Jamaicans residing in South Florida have received Congressional recognition on Martin Luther King Day, January 17, 2022.

Steve Higgins and Carson ‘Eddy’ Edwards both accepted the special Congressional awards ‘in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community’ at the inaugural “Rise with Perspective -Living in Gratitude Today” Symposium held in Davie, Florida.

The Symposium, brainchild of Nouchelle Hastings, has its mission, “to show how Living in Gratitude Today can improve your mental health and self-esteem, so that you can create a life you love”. “MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities”, says Hastings, “so we selected this commemorative moment to recognize the dedication and commitment of persons whose lives are the epitome of Living in Gratitude Today! Their selfless acts of kindness are gratifying in so many ways”, she said.

The award was given under the auspices of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and was presented by the Mayor of Davie, Judy Paul, who thanked Higgins for “bringing service to the elderly, the sick and especially

THE SPIRIT OF HOPE T here is an established Jamaican principle- a saying of self-evident truism- “What is ‘fi yuh’ can’t be un-fi yuh!”. In English that would perhaps mean “What’s meant to be yours (for you) cannot be taken from you!”

Hope Wade always believed in herself and her artistic abilities, and despite hurdles, always had faith in God that her big opportunity would come!

She was fired from a job she loved and one in which she excelled, even while being groomed for a big promotion.

She was a Graphic designer for a Mirror and Glass company in Brooklyn, and her talents were recognized by even the president of that company.

Although disappointed, her indomitable spirit then led her to dig deep and do freelance

graphic designs.

Months later, that New Year’s Eve night, Hope’s church, ‘The Redeeming Love Christian Center’ was having a momentous event, with a special guest artiste coming in. This was an event not to be missed, and Hope was not about to miss it! Of course, she needed a dress worthy of the event, but her rent was overdue, and she could not use her only $400 check for a dress. She could not leave the house, or she would have been seen by the landlord who was on a stakeout.

What did she do? Hope made a dress herself! That Spirit again!

She had no mannequin, just enough material, and a stunning sense of style, passion for her craft and that enthusiastic determination to make it to the soiree.

She worked on the dress, had a friend act as her mannequin,

(getting stuck too), and made her masterpiece.

When Hope Wade made her grand entry into the Ball, heads turned, hearts melted, and eyes opened up in full acknowledgement that she was now the Belle of the Ball. The dress was Fabulous!!

Friends could not believe that she made the dress, but soon enough, began ordering on the spot!

Thereafter, Wade started her company, did in-home fashion shows for friends, engaged models and started to receive orders. One such inhome fashion show yielded a whopping order, and instead of 2 weeks to produce each, she had to make them ALL within 2 weeks. Hope worked 18-hour days, endured fatigue, but one thing was sure- she was going to try to deliver!

l Hope Wade

our children in need and for sharing your golden voice”.

This signature event was put on by an entire team of Gratitude Champions and was hosted by the capable Davie Chamber Executive Director, Raphael Walters.

Fifteen residents of Broward County were honored at this inspiring and highoctane event which saw motivational presentations from featured speakers,

who all told their stories.

Higgins, a resident of Davie, also received a proclamation from the Davie Jazz Society for his contribution to that organization. He is a singer (Tenor), (Jamaican) cultural ambassador and musician, who throughout the pandemic, brought joy to many, through his music at numerous events.

His community involvement - from medical front-line staff at hospitals to kids at children’s homes, from civic functions to the broader South Florida community. He is the founding Director of the South Florida Caribbean Chorale and Chairman for Partners For Youth Foundation (501c3), and volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem for the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County.

Eddy Edwards is a marketing executive at Riddims Marketing, a radio personality, vice-chair for Partners For Youth Foundation, and CEO of the Jamaican Jerk Festival USA, which hosts the largest Food Festival annually in South Florida.

For more information on “Living in Gratitude Today”, visit https:// livingingratitudetoday.com/ For information on Riddims Marketing, log onto http:// riddimsmarketing.com.

And don’t forget to visit https://www. stevehigginsproductions.com.

l Steve receiving his award under the auspices of Congresswoman

Debbie Wasserman Schultz and presented by the Mayor of Davie, Judy Paul

One influential person, upset that hers would not be done on time, threatened Hope with bad press. This traumatized her and she stopped designing for a year! Eventually, she designed a Bride’s dress, and that got her back to the business.

Hope appeared at the ‘Gospel Music in the Park’ in 2009, where Producer Rashawn London saw her work and her spirit–and invited her to do an American Cancer Society Fashion event. This was her big break! Orders and recognition

started flowing in!

She has done countless TV Interviews, fashion shows and magazine mention such as her work appearing in Vogue, Caribbean Fashion Week, Brooklyn Fashion week and Hudson Valley Magazine to name a few. In Jamaica, she met Kingsley Cooper, and made the front cover of the ‘Flair’ magazine. She has done the Rockland Fashion Week and The London Fashion Week. Singer Darlene Love performed (20 feet from Stardom) at the Obama’s White House wearing Hope’s design. She saw one of Hope’s pieces and wanted to wear it on the David Letterman show. That piece is now in a museum. Miss Jamaica World (2018) also wore her designs.

Hope was awarded the Women of Excellence Award (Alpha Academy), Women of Distinction Award (State Assembly of NY). She is president of JAMCARRockland – (Jamaica Civic & Cultural Assn of Rockland)

She is a member of the Tri State chapter of Alpha Association and an Ordained evangelist.

Today she designs for an impressive cadre of gentry, who just love her work…and her spirit!

“When you wear Hope Wade Designs, You will be seen!”

Don't forget to visit Hopewadedesigns.com.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

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Food & Fine Dining KFC COULD A FACE CHINESE BOYCOTT OVER TOY PROMOTION

top Chinese consumer group has called for a boycott of a KFC meal promotion, saying it encourages food waste.

The China Consumers Association (CCA) says the promotion sent some customers into a buying frenzy.

KFC recently launched the promotion with Pop Mart, a Chinese toy maker known for its mystery boxes. Customers are able to collect limited edition versions of large-eyed and round-faced Dimoo dolls when buying certain KFC set meals.

KFC "used limited-edition blind box sales to induce and condone consumers' irrational and excessive purchase of meal sets, which goes against public order, good customs and the spirit of the law", the state-affiliated CCA said in a statement. That led one customer to spend 10,494 yuan (£1,202; $1,649) on more than 100 of the meals in one go to collect the toys, while people also paid others to purchase meals for them, or just threw them away, the statement added.

KFC recently launched the hugely popular promotion to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the opening of its first outlet in mainland China. In 2020, the Chinese government launched a major campaign against food waste, which was spearheaded by President Xi Jinping. President Xi called the amount of food wasted as "shocking and distressing".

The ‘Clean Plate Campaign’ came against the backdrop of growing concerns about food security during the pandemic. The campaign saw online influencers being banned from binge eating on social media platforms, while restaurant-goers were urged to not order more than they could eat.

Greenest Drinking Cities In The UK Revealed In Survey WITH GROWING calls to go greener due to the current climate crisis, Brits are being encouraged to make their lifestyle as green as possible where they can.

With nearly nine in ten Brits (88%) saying they are environmentally conscious, this call to action is simple to act upon, even when dining out this holiday season.

Most of us (81%) consider the environmental impact when we make purchases and lifestyle choices - including the selection of our favourite tipple. Even though a high percentage of the public say they are environmentally conscious, a new survey commissioned by wine preservation experts Bermar, found that only 37% of the nation are conscious of making sustainable drink choices.

However, some cities and regions are well ahead of the UK average, with Birmingham, being home to the tenth most ecoconscious drinkers in the UK, where 44% of those surveyed said they select beverages they believe are better for the environment.

This is also great news for venues as the survey demonstrates Brits also prefer to spend in venues that are conscious of their carbon footprint.

The top ten most eco-conscious drinking cities are: 1. Walsall 78% 2.

Leicester 50% and York 50% 3. Newcastle 48% 4. Coventry 47% 5. London 47% 6. Wrexham 46% 7. Cambridge 46% 8. Blackpool 45% 9. Northampton 45% 10. Birmingham 44%

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Anthony Joshua Makes A Special Appearance At Expo 2020 Dubai

By Delroy Constantine-Simms and Kwame Makure

T

he superstar, British born Nigerian athlete – who won gold at the 2012 Olympics in London as an amateur, before going on to become one of the world’s most successful and recognizable professional boxers spoke to crowds during a public Q&A session held at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza.

Two-time World Champion heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, 32 said he would love to take part in a boxing match in Dubai and set up a training camp in the city.

Joshua’s appearance comes at the start of a pivotal year, in which he is expected to vie to become a three-time World Champion in a rematch against Ukrainian fighter Oleksandr Usyk Joshua, one of the world’s most eminent professional boxers, speaks about getting it right in 2022, putting mental health first, the importance of going to bed before midnight, and why men and women should be treated equally in this ‘blood sport.’

Can you tell us what you’ve seen so far at Expo 2020 Dubai?

“I've seen the future plans of what's going to happen in three months’ time when Expo 2020 is over, so I’ve had a glimpse into the forever building, forever continuing [the] future of Dubai.

And it’s phenomenal.”

Health and wellness is one of Expo’s Themed Weeks later this month. How do you manage your own body, both physically, mentally, to get to the top of your profession?

“I think mental comes before physical.

You make that commitment to yourself when you're going to make a change for the better, whether it's physical, or a mental approach to your health and your diet.

"Once you have that mental charge, everything falls into place.

Mental health is a difficult one, but it’s important. I have mental challenges which affect how I can perform in the gym. I can't always be the strongest and the fastest, but if you keep your mental health intact, everything else follows.”

How do you deal with the adulation, and the spectre of people wanting a piece of you?

“You have to kind of look at your energy. It’s like a phone which is constantly buzzing: you have to know when to turn it off and plug it into charge.

"A lot of people deserve my

energy; I don't take my position for granted. It's a blessing and they support me. they love me and they connect with me. But when I’m in my room I recharge.

"Then, as soon as I leave, I'm ready to give 100 percent to the world. It’s a duty. I signed up for it. I can't have it any other way, so I have to embrace it.”

‘Connecting minds, creating the future’ is the motto at Expo 2020 Dubai. What does the future look like for you?

“New environments and new challenges. We had a little crisis in 2021 and we have to get it right in 2022. Rebuilding, living in adversity and finding joy in it, because that's where greatness is found.

"In my career, when there are hiccups, there are problems that need solutions. If we can focus on solutions we can have success.”

I went to the boxing gym and I remember throwing up – it felt like all of the kebabs, cigarettes and drinks were exiting my body.

It was a purification of my body and soul.

"So, I started changing a lot of things that I was doing, and that was a defining moment; there comes a day in your life that you can commit to positive change.

"I'm done with sleeping in late and with going to bed after 1200.

That's how you get your job, and that's how you end up helping your mom or helping your dad.

“When I made the commitment to be healthy, I was able to compete at a higher level because I became fitter, stronger and smarter. That's how I elevated free boxing quickly.”

How can you and male role models in the sport help your

female equivalents to get equality in the sport?

“Let's give credit to female boxers Ramla Ali, Katie Taylor, Tessa Jones… so many good female fighters. Then you've got like the likes of myself, Fury, Wilder and Dillon… all big assets.

So, it doesn't matter if they’re female or male. We want to see females do well in the sport. It's a blood sport; it’s not the norm to see females doing it, but if they want to progress in the sport, I'm open to supporting anyone that wants to do well in boxing.”

As the question-and-answer session came to a conclusion, Joshua asked the fans, “Where are we going tonight? Inaudible responses could be heard, but he mischievously said, “the gym!", to which the crowd responded with giggles and laughter.

Are you leaving no stone unturned in your quest to get back to the top?

“Yes, you have to. I've also learnt quality over quantity; I'm not going to spread myself thin. Let's focus on what's needed, which has to come from the top down. I'm the last piece of the puzzle.

“I’ve got great people around me, so I can't take all the credit, but, from all these voices, you also have to pull in and sieve out what's good, and what's not. I save what I need. And the only time I'll figure out if it works or not is when the final bell is run.”

How do you assess the heavyweight division as we stand today?

“I am the heavyweight division.

I'm a serious fighter and I fight everyone, anyone. We take care of people's teams, we put them in great positions. Come fight me.

"You'll see what I'm about and what my team is about. We help people earn a lot of money. We help economies, we grow people's profiles, and we punch each other's heads in in the process. I love it. I live for this stuff.”

Tyson Fury deserves a lot of credit for what he's done to Deontay Wilder. Is he part of your future?

“Tyson Fury, Wilder… all of them are a part of my legacy.”

Your story is an incredible one. When you look back, what is the one moment that you continue to come back to see?

“When I started out, I was a young kid leaving school. I was into football, smoking, going out, using a fake ID to get into clubs, which was normal in my environment.

"But there came a time when

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The Fee Celebrating a Month of Love at Shangri-La

T

his February, Shangri-La The Shard is conjuring up new and unforgettable ways to show appreciation to all the loves in your life, whether it's a partner, parent or friend, in one of London's most iconic settings.

Ensuring no one is missed by Cupid's arrow this year, ShangriLa The Shard has created an array of special experiences, with heart, to mark the month of love.

Pulling out all the stops for a luxurious getaway in the clouds, rooms and suites can be transformed with heart-

shaped balloons, bouquets of flowers, hand-made chocolates, caviar and rosé champagne to sip against the backdrop of the capital's skyline – from sweeping daytime views to romantic sunsets and twinkling evening lights of the city below.

During the month of love, spend quality relaxation time at Western Europe's highest Sky Pool, gym and sauna, with unique views over landmarks like St. Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament, topped off with a blissful Neal's Yard Remedies Valentine's couples' aromatherapy massage

performed either in one of the hotel's serene treatment rooms, or in the comfort of your own room.

The Love is in the Air package includes: • A one-night stay in a luxurious room or suite, with breakfast for two at TĪNG • A bottle of chilled rosé champagne in your room • A bouquet of flowers and hand-made chocolates • Use of the Sky Gym, infinity Sky Pool and sauna Customise your stay with heartshaped balloons and couples' massages by selecting from our

Valentine's experience menu when booking.

Throughout February, foodies will also find special loveinspired culinary creations at Shangri-La The Shard's spectacular restaurants and bars: An iconic flagship brand of the Shangri-La Group, it puts heartfelt service at the core of its distinctive Asian hospitality experience. Through imaginative and nature-inspired design, delightful culinary and cultural experiences, and its authentic and thoughtful service, the brand enables guests to realise their own moments of Shangri-La.

Take Time This VALENTINE’S DAY AT STEAKHOUSE BAR + BLOCK

W

ine and dine your loved one this Valentine’s Day at Bar + Block Leamington Spa as the steakhouse turns up the heat with its special threecourse V-Day menu for just £30pp including a special signature cocktail.

Running from Friday 11th - Monday 14th February, expect a flame-grilled feast that’s not for the fainthearted!

Arrive to a charming pink welcome Love Potion cocktail – a mix of vodka, schnapps and fresh strawberries, topped with candy floss, followed by a choice of starters including the aptly named Smoked Salmon, Prawn and Avo-cuddle cocktail

with prawns, avocado and lashings of Marie Rose sauce.

For the main event, tuck into the Melt My Heart steak – a choice of a prime cut of 8oz/12oz sirloin, ribeye, rump or fillet sourced from British and Irish Angus breeds renowned for their taste and tenderness – and topped with garlic butter and a choice of sides. End things on a sweet note with some spooning - decadent desserts almost too good to share including a Melting Chocolate dome or the tempting Strawberry & Chocolate Fondue.

Book your spot now and treat someone special to a cut above the rest this Valentine’s Day.

One for

F

ounded in 1837 by Richard Bullard, Bullards has won numerous awards including World’s Best London Dry Gin and Distillery Of The Year in 2017 as well as six Global Gin Guide Awards.

Spanning six generations, the brand went through a redesign in 2018. With immense pride and respect for its heritage, Bullards Spirits launch its beautiful packaging and modern branding with the ‘Tipsy Anchor’ taking centre stage.

The unique bottle shape is a nod to the iconic landmark chimney that stood proud over Norwich for over 100 years.

Now Bullards are making a big commitment towards sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, Bullards are leading the way with

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ENTERTAINMENT

eling Of

r the gin lovers its environmentally friendly offering thanks to the introduction of EcoRefill Pouches.

The pouches use less energy to produce, transport and deliver, and allow drinkers to top up their original Bullards bottle in support of minimising waste and environmental impact.

The pouches can be returned to the distillery (no envelope or stamp required), recycled via TerracycleTM Zero Waste Box solutions, turned into plastic granules and transformed into new products.

You can check out their full range of Gins including their London Dry, Coastal, Strawberry & Black Pepper and Old Tom Gins at their website https://bullardsspirits.co.uk/.

Bullards Valentine’s Cocktail

Pomegranate & Basil Spritzer

Ingredients

• 25ml Bullards London Dry Gin • Double Dutch Pomegranate & Basil Mixer • 50ml apple juice • 1 tbsp of pomegranate syrup • Pomegranate seeds and basil to garnish

Method

1. In an ice-filled glass, add the gin, apple juice and pomegranate syrup.

2. Top with Double Dutch Pomegranate & Basil Mixer and stir to combine.

3. Garnish with a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds and a pinch of fresh basil.

4. Enjoy!

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Valentines special on offer at The Belfry

T

reat a loved one this Valentine’s Day to a gourmet dining experience, a relaxing spa treatment or a luxurious overnight stay with The Belfry Hotel & Resort in Royal Sutton Coldfield, North Warwickshire.

Enjoy a romantic evening with a candlelit seven-course dinner and live music in The Belfry’s Ryder Grill, offering dishes created from only the highest quality ingredients, available on Monday 14th February.

Priced from £79 per couple, the gourmet seven-course tasting menu includes dishes such as herb Crusted North Sea Halibut; noisette of English lamb, shoulder bolognaise, spinach puree and salsify; Jerusalem artichoke and spinach flan; and roast cauliflower steak served with pickled shallots

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and golden raisins and onion bhaji.

Guests can also indulge in Coeur de Neufchâtel, rhubarb jam, cheddar and pistachio biscuit for the cheese course and salted caramel and passion fruit delice with freeze dried strawberries and pink Champagne sorbet for dessert, followed by tea, coffee and sweet treats.

All served with an impressive selection of fine wines, Champagne and cocktails for guests to choose from.

For those who would like to extend their visit, they can follow dinner with a stay in one of The Belfry’s luxurious spacious bedrooms or suites featuring cosy duvets, crisp bed linen, sumptuous pillows, and fluffy towels, priced from £99.

Page 26 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

W

hen the notification came through that a version of George Orwell's famous satirical fable, Animal Farm, was coming to the Birmingham REP, honestly I was sceptical.

After seeing the production shots, I was intrigued, and after seeing the show itself, I was sold.

For those who don't know, Animal Farm is the story of an animal revolution against their farmer and its aftermath.

The animals drive out the farmer, with the ideal that every animal will be free and equal, but it soon becomes clear that some animals are 'more equal than others'.

A production between The Children’s Theatre Partnership and Birmingham Rep, it is directed by Robert Icke, with puppetry by Toby Olié, and designed by four-time Olivier award-winner Bunny Christie, the production is slick, the puppetry is masterful, and the use of sound and light to portray so much is phenomenal.

You might feel that the people on stage with the puppets, darkly dressed as to obscure them as much

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as possible, may ruin the immersion of the piece, but far from it.

I was in awe of the technique and skill on show from these shadowy figures, and the use of the whole stage to move scenes around in 360 degree slow motion fights.

There is a screen above the stage, announcing passages in time, as well as passing of characters due to a number of reasons, some of which are depicted in a very upfront and gory way.

This production is a joy to behold, and considering its themes, I wholeheartedly get behind the recommendation of 11+ audiences.

If you ever read Animal Farm at school, it will all come flooding back to you, and really brings the story to life.

Animal Farm will continue on from the REP onto a national tour.

The REP's redevelopments are well underway, with the shiny new bar open downstairs and the rest on its way.

Animal Farm continues at Birmingham REP until Saturday, February 5, so make sure you see it before it moves on!

ANIMAL FARM

The UK’s Oldest Working Cinema To Reopen in 2022 THE UK’S oldest working cinema is set to reopen under new ownership following its forced closure at the start of the pandemic.

The 112-year-old Electric Cinema in Birmingham will be opening its doors to its two screens once again, after it closed in 2020.

Built in 1897 as a music hall, it became a cinema in late 1909, with an art-deco frontage and two screens which show 35mm films as well as digital, as the pandemic struck, everything at the movie theatre was turned off and the doors closed. Now film fan Kevin Markwick has just taken over the old cinema and he's on a mission to share his love of the silver screen.

"There's nothing like listening to an audience enjoying a film, he says. “There’s nothing like listening to kids giggling uncontrollably at Home Alone, or ET. You can't get that with streaming.

“You just can't." The Electric is thought to be the oldest working cinema in the country.

Growing up working in and now runs The Uckfield Picture House in Sussex, Kevin knew the cinema was loved in the city and decided

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to take it over in a deal that was finalised in November. He was, however, surprised by the reaction he got when he announced the reopening.

"I think if there's anything we need to do it's to promote cinema for younger audiences,” he said “and get them to experience it properly, so they understand what they're missing."

His daughter Katie, who has moved up from Eastbourne to take over the running of the building, is now training new staff, overseeing the cleaning, painting and decorating and ordering in new equipment, including new screens. But she has an eye on what the long-term ambition will be.

She said: "I can see what it can be and I think we can do it. It will be stressful and it will take a couple of years to get settled but I think we can make it something special.

“We love films and the building.

It's been here since 1909 and has seen the entirety of film history.

“That is amazing," she added.

"We just love cinema.”

With a new online ticketing system in operation, the estimated cost of bringing the building back to life is £100,000.

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SUPERSTAR RIHANNA TO DONATE MILLIONS TO LEADING CHARITIES

M

usic icon Rihanna has announced that she would be donating $15 million to multiple climate justice organisations like the Climate Justice Alliance via her Clara Lionel Foundation.

The grants will go towards 18 non-profits that specifically support women and the LGBTQIA2S+ community stateside and in seven Caribbean nations.

Amongst the other organisations Rihanna's donation is going towards are the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Movement for Black Lives, as the star explained that "climate disasters, which are growing in frequency and intensity, do not impact all communities equally."

"Communities of colour and

island nations are facing the brunt of climate change,” the Barbados native continued in a statement shared with the Associated Press, which she said is a big reason behind her decision. Meanwhile Clara Lionel Foundation executive director Justine Lucas added that funders must build partnerships with grassroots organizations, acknowledging their deep understanding of what

is necessary to achieve climate justice in their own communities.

This $15 million pledge is being made in partnership with Twitter co-founder and fellow billionaire Jack Dorsey's own #StartSmall initiative, which Rihanna's charitable nonprofit has worked with in the past, most notably a grant to aid domestic violence survivors in LA during quarantine.

ENTERTAINMENT

Spotify Shift?

A MUSIC INDUSTRIES expert has commented on the ongoing row between Neil Young and Spotify, suggesting the data and streaming giant’s removal of Young’s music could signal a desire to shift to content creation.

Dr Grimes said, “This is not the first time artists have threatened to or actually removed their music from the streaming giant, Spotify.

“Catalogue artists like Neil Young do generate a significant income stream for Spotify (and themselves) and also have some political and cultural influence.

Weighed up against Joe Rogan’s reported $100m deal with the streaming behemoth though, it’s simply not enough hence Spotify removing Young’s music as a ‘pre-emptive strike’.

“Does this action mean that Spotify supports the sharing of Covid misinformation? No - it means Spotify primarily supports money making.

Travis Scott Fans Petition To Get Him On Coachella Line-Up UP TO 70,000 fans have signed a petition asking Coachella to rebook the rapper for next year's event, saying that the festival unfairly dropped him following the tragic events at his own Astroworld festival, which left 10 people dead and hundreds more injured.

The petition told Coachella that it needed to do the right thing and rebook him immediately," before complaining about the festival's new line-up and alleged that fans are now "demanding refunds and selling their tickets.

"Coachella needs to fix this

asap," it continued, while trying to claim that "the Astroworld tragedy wasn’t Travis fault," despite the rapper facing hundreds of lawsuits and being accused of "shifting blame" by one victim's family.

"Let him get back to performing on the biggest stages," the fans implored. Granted, they said they were also fine with a "guarantee" that new headliner Kanye "Ye" West bring him out as a "guest during his set this year."

Both Rage Against the Machine and Frank Ocean were also supposed to perform the 2020

festival but have since been replaced by Harry Styles and Billie Eilish for this year's event.

Meanwhile, Scott was the only original 2020 headliner slated to keep his spot for the 2022 show following a two-year postponement, but was taken off of multiple other festival lineups after Astroworld. Notably, there was also another petition arguing that Scott should be dropped from Coachella, which racked up over 63,000 signatures.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 28 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

ENTERTAINMENT MOTORS

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BMW Group triumphs at the What Car? Awards 2022 BMW is celebrating a triumphant start to 2022 after winning more awards than any other manufacturer at the 44th annual What Car? Awards, with five coveted category wins across the brand’s model portfolio.

The BMW 3 Series, 4 Series Coupé, 4 Series Convertible, 5 Series and X5 xDrive45e were all recognised as best in their respective class, with BMW also winning a further eight ‘Best Buy’ awards. MINI snapped up the award for ‘Best Small Car Interior’.

BMW 330e and BMW 530e retained their awards from 2021, taking home the highly contested ‘Executive Car of the Year’ and ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ awards respectively.

Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car? commented “The 330e represents the brilliant BMW 3 Series at its very best, because it offers a long enough electric range to cover a typical daily commute, while keeping running costs low for private and company car drivers alike.

It's well thought out inside, too, with an infotainment system that's better than those of rivals, and plenty of space for your family."

The BMW 4 Series Coupé added another award to its collection as it was named ‘Coupé of the Year’, taking its total to nine UK industry awards since it was launched in October 2020. Huntingford praised the model’s silhouette, suspension and driving pleasure, noting “The 4 Series Coupé has the bulletproof underpinnings of the 3 Series, but with a sexier silhouette, a stiffer structure, retuned suspension and a wider rear. In other words, what you lose in practicality, you gain (big time) in aesthetic appeal and driving pleasure. It trounces rivals in bends with the standard suspension, and even more so with the M Sport adaptive setup”.

The BMW X5 xDrive45e impressed the What Car? team with its “remarkable efficiency and long electric range”. It won ‘Luxury SUV of the Year’ with judges adding: “the BMW X5 xDrive45e is hard to beat as an overall package because it's smooth, classy and luxurious.”

The honours continued for BMW, with the brand securing Best Buy wins across an impressive eight categories, including Best Family Car Interior (BMW 1 Series), Best Luxury SUV for Big Families (BMW X7), Best Estate Car to Drive (BMW 3 Series Touring) and Best Estate Car Interior (BMW 5 Series Touring).

l Volunteering for Veterans was set up by Birmingham Museums in 2021 to support former members of the local Armed Forces

MOTORBIKE CONSERVATION GETS VETERANS ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY PEUGEOT 9X8 Hybrid Hypercar: A The ultimate design new health and wellbeing project for ex-servicemen and women at Birmingham Museums has helped four local veterans get back on the road to recovery by conserving vintage motorbikes from the city’s collection.

Volunteering for Veterans was set up

by Birmingham Museums in 2021 to support former members of the local Armed Forces community by providing skills development opportunities alongside social and wellbeing activities. The project was made possible with funding from the Armed Forces Covenant and support from the Royal British Legion and will run throughout 2022 so that more veterans can benefit.

Over the last six months, four local armed forces veterans – David Brooks, Tim Seeley, Wayne Thompson and Steve Lees – have all volunteered one day a week at the city’s Museum Collection Centre conserving, cleaning and researching the motorbike collection. As part of the project, they have also restored one motorbike – a 1914 Cyclone – that has now gone on display at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.

Andrea Bonnell, Senior Engagement Officer at Birmingham Museums, said: “By using real objects from the city’s

collections, the veterans have benefitted from training in conservation, research and creative therapies which have all helped build confidence and motivation.

In turn they have supported Birmingham Museums and the work we do in looking after the city’s collection.”

Ex-serviceman and volunteer, Tim Seeley, said: “If it wasn’t for Birmingham Museums getting their Volunteering for Veterans programme up and running a lot of veterans wouldn’t be able to socialise or get back into some sort of activity and out of a rut. A lot of veterans suffer from PTSD, anxiety and depression so getting them involved in a project like this is just amazing.”

Birmingham Museums has a busy volunteering programme in which around 1000 volunteers give over 26,000 hours of their time each year to support its work in caring for the city’s collections and museum sites. Working with various partners Birmingham Museums also deliver health and wellbeing programmes, enabling access to disadvantaged people or reaching out to new audiences who have not visited any of the city’s nine museums before.

The 1914 Cyclone motorbike is now on display at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum which is open Wednesday – Sunday 10am - 5pm.

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MORE THAN a race car, the PEUGEOT 9X8 is already iconic – a design and technical revolution.

Ahead of its debut on the race track in 2022, PEUGEOT Design Director, Matthias Hossann, has placed the 9X8 in brutalist architecture to showcase its revolutionary design.

This created an opportunity for the fashion and supercar photographer A g n i e s z k a Doroszewicz, to play with the light, patina, and contrasts of the concrete surroundings.

Her photographs are a metaphor for the 24

Hours of Le Mans, the legendary race in which the light changes as the hours go by.

To create the new 9X8 Hybrid Hypercar, the PEUGEOT Design team went all out. They imbued it with all the contemporary aesthetic codes specific to the brand; a feline stance, fluid lines enhanced by sporty cues, sleek and structured flanks and, of course, the characteristic threeclawed luminous signature of the Lion.

Slim and sleek, the PEUGEOT 9X8 incites emotion and embodies speed.

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MOTORS

Bentley Motors secures Top Employer Maserati: Award for eleventh consecutive year Back To Racing

B

entley Motors is today celebrating a milestone achievement, having been recognised for the eleventh consecutive year as a UK Top Employer by the internationally-acclaimed Top Employers Institute.

In another year that has proven challenging for so many organisations, Bentley’s approach to employee wellbeing, values, ethics and integrity was commended by the Institute, alongside Bentley’s focus on sustainability, digitalisation and diversity and inclusion.

The award is based upon a comprehensive review of the business which highlighted Bentley’s innovative and compelling approach to its employees’ own “Extraordinary Journeys”, as well as Bentley’s own progressive strategic ambitions for the future.

Commenting on the achievement, Dr Karen Lange, Member of the Board for Human

MASERATI has announced the first step in its motorsport strategy and will make its debut in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2023.

With motorsport in its genes and rooted in the spirit of pure competition, Maserati is the first Italian brand to compete in Formula E. The return to the track renews the racing spirit in Maserati’s DNA. Maserati’s commitment to electric mobility is powered by a lightning surge of new energy, now accelerating to run at top speed with Folgore, the full electric range. All new Maserati models will also be available in 100% electric solutions including Maserati Grecale, Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio and the Maserati MC20 super sportscar.

Resources, said: “Our people have been at the heart of our business for over 100 years – so we are incredibly proud to once again secure the Top Employer Award. To guide our next one hundred years, we have set out ambitious goals to become the leader in sustainable luxury mobility, so it is essential that we develop, retain and attract the very best talent to help us on this journey.

“For 2022, our focus as we begin to emerge from COVID-19, is on collaboration and developing our extraordinary skills together, to drive change and get the very best out of how we work as a team. Starting the year by being recognised as a Top Employer of choice, shows that we are definitely on the right track.”

The annual international research - undertaken by the Top Employers Institute - recognises leading employers around the world that provide excellent working conditions, make every

effort to continuously enhance recruitment processes and nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the business.

Bentley’s emphasis on becoming an employer of choice forms a key part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy. The aim, to lead sustainable luxury mobility, is underpinned by ambitious targets that include becoming end-to-end carbon neutral and exclusively manufacturing battery electric vehicles by 2030.

To help design and build these Bentleys of the future, the company has stepped up its focus on attracting a wide-range of talent, including as problem solvers, digital innovators and creative thinkers, as well as retraining in specific areas.

Bentley is also focused on attracting candidates from all walks of life and aims to achieve greater diversity in management positions moving forward.

Ducati is back in Central London DUCATI REINFORCES its presence in the UK with the opening of a new store in the heart of London, demonstrating the strategic nature of the market, which has seen a 30% increase in sales over the last year.

The new dealership of the Capital is located in an ideal central position, in the railway arches of Vauxhall.

A significant investment has been made to guarantee Ducati’s essential presence in an important city as London, continuing the process of global expansion of the brand’s sales network that saw globally, 84 new dealerships opening in 2021.

The result is a showroom designed to offer the best Ducati experience in a premium,

yet welcoming environment.

Within the area, motorcycling enthusiasts can find the latest range of Ducati and Ducati Scrambler models, along with associated apparel and accessories on display.

Experienced and highly qualified sales staff are available to welcome all Ducatisti and passionate motorcyclists wishing to explore the Ducati and Ducati

Scrambler bikes.

The sales team will also be on hand to assist customers with Ducati Insurance and finance requirements.

Furthermore, a state-of-theart workshop at the rear of the premises accommodates a team of factory-trained technicians for servicing, repair, and accessorizing.

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Page 30 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

RIP Blackberry: Don’t Bin Your Bricked Phone THE NEWS that the once much-loved Blackberry smartphone is no longer working leaves owners with the question of what to do with their old device. The immediate reaction is to bin it, but a waste and recycling company suggests owners should look for alternatives for their now redundant devices.

UK waste collection company Divert.co.uk says rubbish dumps are already filled with electronic devices which should have gone to recycling - due to their contents. “The Blackberry has served us well,” says Divert.co.uk spokesperson Mark Hall, “and now it’s time for it to ascend to phone Valhalla. Just not via your bin.”

When most of us replace our old mobile phone, it’s often passed to a friend or family member, or sold second hand.

And there are loads of shops and websites which will take your old device for varying amounts of cash.

But for Blackberries and other obsolete devices, that’s not going to be an option. Nobody wants to buy a “bricked” device, so they have zero cash value.

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PEAKY BLINDERS: THE REDEMPTION OF THOMAS SHELBY TO OPEN AT BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

A

first of its kind production, the World Premiere of Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby will open on 27 September 2022 at coproducing partner venue Birmingham Hippodrome running until 2 October, followed by a London premiere at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre before embarking on a UK tour in 2023.

Written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is a dance theatre show directed and choreographed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer. The production will feature the 20 permanent Rambert dance company on

stage, and a live band playing specially commissioned music.

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is Rambert’s first collaboration of this kind and through dance theatre picks up the story of the Peaky Blinders at the end of World War One, following Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess through their passionate love affair. While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang.

Knight said: “Peaky Blinders has always had music and movement at its heart and now the beating heart of the show will be transferred to the stage, an interpretation of Tommy’s story performed by Rambert, one of the leading

dance companies in the world.”

CEO and Executive Producer of Rambert, Helen Shute, added: “Rambert has always been committed to making dance that resonates with audiences across the country and we’re incredibly honoured to be trusted by Steven Knight with his nationally beloved Peaky Blinders. It’s so fitting that we start the journey in Birmingham, where Rambert has been touring to since the 1930s.”

The 2023 UK tour will visit Norwich Theatre Royal, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Hull New Theatre, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, The Lowry, Salford, Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

MOTIONHOUSE BRINGS NEW DANCE-CIRCUS ADVENTURE TO THE HIPPODROME STAGE

BLACK EYED PEAS SET DUBAI'S EXPO’S AL WASL PLAZA ON FIRE WITH ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE

By Delroy Constantine-Simms mega-hits. and Maureen Drackett-Fuller The Los Angeles-formed trio –

G

lobal music superstars Black Eyed Peas rocked Expo 2020 Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza, with a powerful performance that kept the audience on their feet throughout their set-list of

will.i.am, Apl.de.Ap and Taboo – kicked off their dynamic show with Let’s Get It Started, continuing with Black Eyed Peas’ and will.i.am’s catalogue of hits, from Boom Boom Pow, RITMO (Bad Boys For Life), Mamacita and Pump It to Girl Like Me, #thatPOWER,

and Scream & Shout. By their final song, I Gotta Feeling, audience members were belting out the lyrics with unrelenting enthusiasm.

Black Eyed Peas headlined the fourth show in Expo 2020 Dubai’s six-month Infinite Nights series, with each artist playing throughout the Infinite Nights series portraying their

own vision and experience of Expo 2020 following the great success of the Alicia Keys show, which crossed an unprecedented 15 million video views – with the global and regional audience watching the full show online across different platforms.

Infinite Nights will take place throughout Expo 2020 Dubai, which runs until March. The World Expo features more than 190 country pavilions, as well as themed exhibitions, plus 200 dining venues and up to 60 shows a day.

B

irmingham Hippodrome Associates Motionhouse, is to perform its critically acclaimed production of Nobody for two shows only, marking the company’s first performances there since 2018.

Since its world premiere, in London, in September 2021, which saw packed houses, Nobody has delighted audiences and garnering critical acclaim throughout the UK and overseas.

Spectacular, fast-moving and highly physical, it explores the tension between inner lives and how people make sense of the world around them. Its renowned dance-circus style combines with mesmerising choreography to tell this emotional and ultimately uplifting story, full of twists and turns.

Louise Richards, Motionhouse’s Executive Director, said: “We are extremely proud to be an Associate of Birmingham Hippodrome and we very much look forward to performing in the heart of Birmingham. After such a difficult year last year with the pandemic, it’s great to be back on tour

Harry Styles Announces Additional Second Shows For Global 2022 Love On Tour M U LT I - P L AT I N U M RECORDING artist Harry Styles has announced two additional stadium shows in Manchester at Emirates Old Trafford and London’s Wembley Stadium on his global 2022 ‘Love On Tour’.

The colossal 32-city outing now includes a total of five brand new stadium dates in the U.K. in June, and a further four stadiums in Europe. The tour will continue in July with rescheduled arena dates in Europe, as well as a new show at Accor Arena in Paris, before concluding in Latin America later this year. All existing tickets for rescheduled shows will remain valid.

Special guests include Mitski on the UK dates, Arlo Parks in Dublin, Wolf Alice on select European dates and Koffee across all Latin American dates, on a tour that will be following all local and public health guidelines as well as

venue protocols set forth at the time of each show.

Fans are encouraged to visit their local venue’s website ahead of each show for the latest health & safety details and requirements for their date.

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and to be getting such an amazing response to our work.”

Artistic Director of Motionhouse, Kevin Finnan, started exploratory work with the dancers for Nobody in 2019 and was just about to start creating when the pandemic struck.

Creation resumed in January 2021 when the company returned to the studio.

Finnan said: “It was a challenge to make Nobody during the pandemic, but the process was interesting because the pandemic entirely reshaped my original vision for the production.

There is a sense of isolation and being alone and the effects this has had on us all during the pandemic.

“The first act of Nobody is driven by the raw emotion of our experiences during lockdown. In the second act there is a sense of coming together and the strength we all get from that.”

He adds: “We’re very pleased with Nobody and absolutely delighted by the response from our audiences and the critics. It’s quite different from our recent work, and as a company we’re excited to breake new ground."

Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - February 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

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New Information on Second series of Star Trek Picard

P

rime Video revealed the official trailer and key art for season two of its Amazon Original series Star Trek: Picard.

Season two of Star Trek: Picard

will launch exclusively on Prime Video worldwide on Friday 4th March, excluding the United States and Canada. Following the premiere, new episodes of the

10-episode-long second season will drop weekly on Fridays. In addition, the trailer unveils a first look at Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg, reprising her beloved role as Guinan from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Season two of Star Trek: Picard takes the legendary Jean-Luc Picard and his crew on a bold and exciting new journey: into the past.

Picard must enlist friends both old and new to confront the perils of 21st century Earth in a desperate race against time to save the galaxy’s future – and face the ultimate trial from one of his greatest foes.

Star Trek: Picard features Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and follows this iconic character into the next chapter of his life.

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The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. For season two, Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Patrick Stewart, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Doug Aarniokoski and Dylan Massin

serve as executive producers.

Akiva Goldsman and Terry Matalas serve as co-showrunners for season two.

Star Trek: Picard season two cast members include Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Orla Brady, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera and

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Brent Spiner.

This season’s cast also includes Annie Wersching and special guest stars Whoopi Goldberg, and John de Lancie. Star Trek: Picard is currently in production on a third season.