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The Phoenix Newspaper - November 2018 - Page 17
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NOVEMBER 2018
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THE
DREAM TEAM Ministers Look To Bright Future For The Caribbean
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Editors note
n this Black History Month, I have to show respect to my Mother and Grandparents who came over here from Jamaica, grew me up, taught me morals and survival. When i think of what Caribbeans have achieved over the 70 years we have been in this country and more its absolutely amazing. This year is the 70th Anniversary of WINDRUSH and we celebrate our past to now in Britain. I am a child of a strong Jamaican
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family that has also contributed to the young with my business ventures and many of us have made an impact in our communities making England a place to live. There have been hardships and finding our place in society but we have achieved...things are better, we have a say how we shape the future of all youth. I dedicate this status to all Caribbean people who have influenced people in many ways positively, and here is to the next generation.
Icons that made us believe:
Lenny Henry Frank Bruno Ian Wright Jamelia Beverley Knight Cyrille Regis
Steel Pulse Pato Banton Chris Eubank Linford Christie John Barnes Daley Thompson
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NEXT GEN AWARD
Good Luck To all Those Shortlisted! /MarkDwayneMedia /MarkDwayneMedia
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The Phoenix Newspaper - November 2018 - Page 19
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Motown: The Musical
M
otown: The Musical tells the true story of Motown founder Berry Gordy and his journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and so many more. Discover the history behind the hits as the whole Motown family fight against racism, radio stations and rival companies to create the soundtrack that changed America. From the streets of Detroit to the cobbles of London and the sun-scorched beaches of the Bahamas, Motown the Musical is a globetrotting love-letter to Motown and all of the artists and behind-thescenes personnel who made it all possible. The cast are all wonderful, delivering knockout performances as some of the most iconic American music stars of all time. The musical performances, in which the cast steamroll their way through over 50 iconic Motown hits, are fantastic and the cast belt them out with a furious passion and sense of fun. It is impressive that they didn’t attempt to go for carbon-copy sound-alikes, instead allowing the cast the freedom to take these hits and honour the originals while also making them they’re own. They could have quite easily played the original tracks and simply had the cast mime along to them in an attempt to ground the musical i n
the reality of Motown, but where’s the fun in that? This is a musical after all and that’s exactly what audiences pay for. So, hearing some of your favourite classics with a brand new, rough-around-the-edges spin is a lot of fun and serves to add an aura of authenticity to the proceedings. Having said that, some of the more distinctive voices amongst
the Motown family, such as Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, require something a little different and the producers behind this musical know that, so they have cast two individuals who have the ability to do a damn-near spot on imitation of them. Smokey Robinson is played by Nathan Lewis, who some of you will recognise from X-Factor boyband, 5 After Midnight. He nails the role of Smokey and manages to hit all of the right notes, matching Smokey’s trademark highpitched delivery and sounding great while doing it a n d Daniel Haswell mimics Stevie Wo n d e r
SPECIAL THANKS
BY MARK DWAYNE TO The PHOENIX NEWSPAPER The Phoenix Newspaper has taken me on a journey that I never could have imagined. Being a part of this amazing organisation has given me hope and taught me to believe that anything is possible. All dreams can be achieved if you believe. The Phoenix was built to change society and show the positive and that it sure has. I am able to fly with my ideas and have full support and backing from the team and not just me. We all are able to express our
god given talents. I want to thank the Phoenix Newspaper on its 8th Anniversary - what a change
brilliantly, from his sound to the way he moves. Edward Baruwa holds together the entire production as the man who started it all, Berry Gordy, in a confident performance that culminates in a striking solo towards the end of the show that stunned the audience into a still silence – until they erupted into applause. Karis Anderson, former member of British girl group Stooshe, also stars as Diana Ross and delivers a knockout performance. She’s enchantingly beautiful and oozes charisma, resulting in a powerful and commanding stage presence that would make Diana Ross herself proud. Another standout performance comes from Shak-Gabbidon Williams as Marvin Gaye, who absolutely shines in an emotional solo performance after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Motown the Musical is very much about the music. This isn’t a show with enormous, intricately crafted sets but a musical that relies almost entirely on performance and it feels very old-school in that sense. Luckily, the performances on display are phenomenal and carry the entire production from beginning to end with a comfortable, unwavering ease. However, everything between the music, apart from a few key scenes, lacks weight and impact, reducing some important moments to melodramatic cheesiness in a hurry to get to the next big musical number. This is no fault of the performers
– they’re great – but simply a case of having far too much history to cram into a two-anda-half hour show, resulting in some diluted emotions. Motown: The Musical is a flawed but deliriously fun journey through time to a historic moment in not only music history, but in black history. Unfortunately, the musical never truly capitalises on what could have been a powerful, emotional and poignant story about an oppressed race rising up to take the world by storm – instead choosing to be an allguns-blazing thrill ride. So, while it doesn’t really succeed in packing an emotional punch, it is wildly successful in delivering a wonderfully entertaining few hours at the theatre. If you’re a fan of the Motown-era of music, this is an absolute must-see.
it has made for so many lives. The most important thing it has done as a media is bring all communities together celebrating the positives rather than separation and just showing the negative. The Phoenix Newspaper is more than just a publication, The Phoenix is a way of life.
ENTERTAINMENT
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Songbird Sade is Back! R
l Sade Live: Thilo Parg / Wikimedia Commons License: CC BY-SA 3.0
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&B star Sade is working on new, original music for a first album since the beginning of the decade, with the British/Nigerian musician saying that her label, Epic, understands her commitment to artistry, and they are not pressuring her to release the album anytime soon. The singer, songwriter, and actress , born in Ibadan, Nigeria, gaining notoriety as a performer with Epic Records in 1983 and released the album ‘Diamond Life’ a year later, which became one of the best selling albums of the era, and the best-selling debut ever by a British female vocalist. It also gained widespread critical acclaim, and is largely considered one of the best albums of all-time. The track ‘Smooth Operator’ became her first Top Ten hit in the US, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in May 1985. The song spent 13 weeks in the Top 40, and also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks. Although ‘Your Love Is King’ remains Sade's biggest hit in the
UK to date, ‘Smooth Operator’ remains the band's breakthrough hit on the US charts, and their most successful single internationally. The release of the following; ‘Promise,’ in 1985,was also a resounding critical and commercial success, becoming her and her band's first album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200, which later earned quadruple platinum certification in the U.S., and reached platinum across Europe. It also earned the group the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1986. Their following two releases, 1988's ‘Stronger Than Pride’ and 1992's ‘Love Deluxe,’ were also critically and commercially successful; however, the band would go on hiatus after the birth of Sade's daughter, and the singer would experience widespread media coverage during the period for mental health and addiction issues. ‘Flower of the Universe’ was her first new song for seven years, which is recorded for the soundtrack of the muchanticipated Disney movie ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’
Strictly Live Tour Judges announced! There’s FAB-U-LOUS news for Strictly fans across the country as it’s announced that all four TV Judges will join the 2019 Strictly Come Dancing UK Arena Tour. Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli will star alongside Head TV Judge Shirley Ballas – who makes her debut on the live extravaganza – for 29 supersized sparkle-filled shows fox-trotting around the country in January and February next year. Tickets are on sale now! The awesome foursome will join tour host and 2016 Strictly winner Ore Oduba, at some of the biggest entertainment venues across the UK, opening at Arena Birmingham on 18 January. The live show will also be directed by Craig Revel Horwood and feature many of the celebrities and professional dancers from the current series of the awardwinning BBC One show. Further casting announcements will be made over the coming weeks. Shirley Ballas said: “I’m really looking forward to joining Darcey, Bruno and Craig on the Strictly live tour judging panel. I’ve heard so much about the amazing audiences at the arena shows and can’t wait to get the show on the road in January!”
Gig Listings BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY
November 02 Fat Freddy’s Drop 03 Slawomir 04 Tide Lines 05 Shinedown 07 First Aid Kit 09 Within Temptation 10 Blackberry Smoke 11 Less Than Jake | Reel Big Fish 12 Tom Misch 14 Greta Van Fleet 15 Kojey Radical 15 Lil Pump 16 Courteeners 16 Pearl Jam UK 18 Road Trip 18 Samantha Harvey 19 Courtney Barnett 20 Jessie J 21 Cavetown 22 You Me At Six 23 Slaves 24 Eyes Of The Raven 24 Nothing But Thieves 26 Christine and the Queens 27 Dapz On The Map 28 Anne-Marie 29 KING 810 29 Anne-Marie
O2 INSTITUTE
November 02 Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert 02 Ivory Wave 03 Lewis Capaldi 06 Michael Schenker Fest 07 Four of Diamonds 07 MiC LOWRY 08 Old Dominion 09 Killing Joke 10 Giant & The Georges 11 Teenage Fanclub 11 Leon Bridges 12 Alex Clare - Acoustic Tour 14 Yxng Bane 15 Mattiel 17 Noah Kahan 17 Metric 20 Basement 22 Jaykae 23 Morgan James - From White to Blue Tour 24 Peace 26 Raleigh Ritchie 27 Hudson Taylor 27 Miles Kane 28 Kioko 28 Shame 29 As It Is 30 TesseracT
GENTING ARENA
November 03 Lest We Forget 15 Rick Astley 16 Florence + The Machine 18 Jess Glynne 23 Mumford & Sons 24 Free Radio Hits Live 2018
ARENA BIRMINGHAM
November 04 Taekwondo British Championships 05 WWE Live 07 Slayer 10 The Prodigy 15 The Australian Pink Floyd 16 Culture Club 20 Nitro Circus 22 The Four Tops & The Temptations 23 Bring Me The Horizon 24-25 The 2018 Birmingham International Tattoo 27 Ms. Lauryn Hill 28 Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra perform Ibiza Classics 30 Years & Years
l Joe Lycett comes to the Symphony Hall
NEC
November 02-04 Cake International 02-03 GRADJOBS LIVE! 02-04 Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Festival 03-04 The National Pet Show 09-11 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show 09-11 The Classic Motorbike Show 15-18 Art & Antiques for Everyone 15-18 Festive Gift Fair 15-17 WorldSkills UK LIVE 17-25 Motorcycle Live 2018 24-25 Baby to Toddler 24-25 MCM Comic Con Birmingham 24-25 Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 29-02 BBC Good Food Show Winter
TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL
November 02 Karine Polwart 02 Vienna Tonkünstler – Beethoven’s Fifth 03 Guess How Much I Love You 04 The Birmingham Canoldir Male Choir 04 CBSO Youth Orchestra: Leningrad Symphony 05 Gospel Goes Charity 2018 06 An Evening with King Crimson 06 Sons Of Pitches 07 Dr. Jordan Peterson 08 An Evening With Nigella Lawson 09 Star Wars and Beyond: A SciFi Spectacular 09 Arrested Development 10 Spectacular Classics 10 The High Kings 11 The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain 12 Joe Lycett 13 Gary Numan 16 Dr John Cooper Clarke – Luckiest Man Alive Tour 17 Billy Ocean 19 Roger Taylor’s Queen Extravaganza UK Tour 2018 22-23 Dave Gorman 23 Ralph McTell 27 Buchbinder Plays Brahms 27 Joe Lycett 28 Sara Pascoe 29 Red Hot Chilli Pipers 30 Katie Melua
SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON
November 02 Toyah 09 Simon Evans 10 Kirvana & Pearl Scam 15 Seth Lakeman 16 Adam Rowe 17 Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club 17 VIP Record Fair 20 Larry Dean’s Bampot 23 Paul Foot 24 The Quireboys 25 The Indians Are Coming
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ENTERTAINMENT
Tuckers Groundbreaking stand up tour!
A
fter an epic and storied 45 year career that launched an era of rock n roll legends, KISS announced that they will launch their final tour ever in 2019, appropriately named END OF THE ROAD. The initial announcement was made a month ago on NBC’s America’s Got Talent which sent the internet into overdrive with fans hoping their city would get one final KISS show. The band announced the first set of dates and cities
in North America, as well as international markets being announced simultaneously. KISS Meet & Greet Experiences will also be available. Known for their trademark larger-than-life blistering performances, KISS has proven for decades why they are hands down the most iconic live show in rock n roll. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide have said this tour is devoted to the millions of KISS Army fans.
"All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who've filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years. “This will be the ultimate celebration for those who've seen us and a last chance for those who haven't. “KISS Army, we're saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we'll go out the same way we came in... Unapologetic and Unstoppable," said KISS.
He is a unique guy and the man that plays role in some of the baddest films such as Friday and Rush Hour. Both movies are in demand to come back and be apart of our lives once again. There is no denying the presence of this movie star, its almost surreal being able to watch such a massive entertainer live on stage we took the risk of sitting at the front of a packed arena but luckily he didn’t have anything embarrassing to say about us. Yes Chris is sharp charismatic and makes an effort with attire, just his squeaky voice alone would have you laughing more than the jokes he told, so whats his content like? Its pretty much t h e
lifestyle of Chris Tucker which is quite funny, naturally he talks about his movie experience with Jackie Chan and Michael Jackson. Not many comedians can say they have these experiences so the content is quite original and fresh to hear. The great thing is he doesn’t fake stories his lifestlyle and what he has been through is genuinely funny. Like your Richard Pryors and Eddie Murphys Chris doesn’t swear at all in his sketches and is clean but still raw. The whole experience with Chris tucker feels exclusive and he is definatley in a league of his own. We wont give away too much but its so hilarious his sketch about his experience with Michael Jackson in Neverland you actually feel like you was there with him. Chris Tucker for sure is ground breaking stand up and worth the cash, he keeps you glued and laughing from start to finish. A night out I would enjoy to actually see him perform the exact same way again.
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Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - November 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
Slanguages Exhibition Launches in Birmingham This month a major project exploring languages from the globe launches at Birmingham city University. Slanguages explores the creative way artists take inspiration from and use different languages This UK wide project is wideranging and includes exhibitions, performances, and collaborations with artists, creative professionals and partners Including Punch Records, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Sputnik Theatre Company and many more. The launch of the second Slanguages touring exhibition will take place on Thursday 8 November, 5pm at the Parkside Gallery, Birmingham City University, in the ground floor atrium of the Parkside Building. The exhibition is co-curated by Professor Rajinder Dudrah from
Birmingham City University who is leading research on Languages in the Creative Economy Strand in collaboration with Punch Records. It features the work, archives and ephemera from four Birminghambased artists who use different languages in their work: RTKAL, Lekan Babalola, Tanny Tizzle and Rinkoo Barpaga. The exhibition ranges across the genres of rap, grime and spoken word, West African jazz and funk, visual arts, and urban sign languages. The launch of this exciting exhibition is open to all, showcasing rich talent from the region’s diverse creative industries.
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Gina Now a ‘BAFTA’ Star M
arked by as one of Britain’s great stand-up comediennes on the circuit, Gina Yashere has been taking the world by storm since her live debut 1994. Hailing from London, via Nigeria parents, her energetic, ‘in your face’ style of delivery, and Anglo-Nigerian based none-evading humour has seen perform in packed sell-out theatres, constantly, with her dynamic and energetic persona the perfect ‘vessel’ which stores her endless delivery of ‘belly-
aching’ observational one-liners, constantly pouring out from her raiser-like tongue and even sharper catalogue of wit. Whether it be racial or sexual discrimination – as she herself has experienced in the entertainment industry the lack of opportunities open to her in the UK, has seen her plow pastures new – and broad in the USA. The Londoner is now the ‘darling’ of the highly-profitable US comedy circuit, despite her elevated position on the UK stand-up scene. Across the ‘pond,’ her fast, ever-growing status is reaching its peak. With her new show ‘Funkindemup’ finding her on her usually sharp form – as she prowled the stage, alpha female, effortlessly in charge, at last enjoying the professional status she always felt she had earned as she covers every angle from rap music to racism, to the marriage of Harry Windsor and Meghan Markle, Brexit, slavery, the
Windrush Generation and her parents – Yahere, as usual, had the audience in the palm of her hand – as they in return had her in the bosom of their hearts. But, after 20 years here, Yashere is now a ‘big fish’ in the States, Asia and further afield. She condemned the British television industry’s apparent preference for “non-threatening” Black acts – once saying that the ‘BAFTA’ was an acronym for; ‘Black Actors F…… …..f To America.’ “Coming up the ranks on the comedy circuit in Britain,” she recalled, “was very difficult for more than one Black comedian to get a TV show at the same time. In fact, I still don’t think there is more than one Black comic getting a show at the same time now.” Now settled in the US, she became the only Brit ever to feature on ‘Def Jam,’ with a calendar fast filling to the brim. As is the case for so many British artists, doing a ‘BAFTA’ seems to have do the world of good for her.
Westlife Announce Third Arena Birmingham date The UK’s top selling album group of the 21st century, Westlife, have announced that they will be touring the UK and Ireland for the first time in seven years next May, June and July. They will be performing at Arena Birmingham on Friday
21st, 22nd and now 23rd June 2019. The shows will see the global pop kings perform brand new songs, alongside their greatest hits and all 14 of their UK No.1 hits including as ‘Swear It Again’, ‘Flying Without
Wings’, ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Unbreakable’. Shane, Nicky, Mark and Kian announced their return to music two weeks ago to a frenzy of media coverage and social media activity.
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- SOTIC 2018 -
State of the Tourism Industry Conference 2018
BAHAMAS
Step into
Paradise
T
he Bahamas is an oasis stretching over 100,000 square miles of ocean, and at it’s closest point, only 50 miles off the coast of Florida. 700 Islands, each with their own personality, heritage and colourful history, as well as attractions for a variety of holiday styles. The Bahamas boasts some of the best fishing, sailing, scuba
diving, boating and snorkelling in the world, in its waters which themselves are the clearest on the planet with a visibility of over 200ft, alongside award winning food from the likes of the first Five-Star restaurant in the Caribbean, the AAA 4-diamond Graycliff.
Atlantis, Paradise Island
More than $800 million was spent to bring to life the myth and
legend of the lost city of Atlantis. As it stands now, it is the worlds largest open-air marine environment of 11 million gallons which over 200 species of sea creatures some 50,000 in number call home. The 1,200 room Royal Towers stand towering over the resort with its arches, domes and spires. The largest casino in the Caribbean also called Atlantis its
on Paradise Island
home, and there is a wide variety of styles budgets and location to suit every traveller. It really is a breathtaking sight to behold the scope of Atlantis, and it is was the perfect setting for this years State of the Industry Conference.
SOTIC 2018
Themed Rejuvenate, Recreate, Reconnect – New Directions for Caribbean Tourism, this years
conference brought together the brightest and the best from across a plethora of industries to ensure no one would attend the conference without finding a session that spoke to them directly. “Globally, the tourism industry is constantly evolving. At the Caribbean Tourism Organization, we must be in the forefront of anticipating and managing the changes that affect our region
– extreme climate phenomena, political and economic realities at home and abroad, and the rapid rise in technological developments,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general and CEO of CTO. This tied in perfectly with the CTO’s CTO’s declaration that 2018 would be the “Caribbean Year of Rejuvenation and Wellness”.
l The Phoenix Team with Secretary General of the CTO, Hugh Riley
Page 24 - The Phoenix Newspaper - November 2018
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- SOTIC 2018 -
Stuart Cove’s Dive l Dealon Renard, Leshon Bastian and Captain Wendell McKenzie Day 2 saw The Phoenix Team and Jay Palmer of Winged Whale Media head down to Stuart Cove’s for a snorkelling expedition of a lifetime. Swimming near the wreck from Jaws, surrounded by a variety of beautiful tropical fish, and some impressive leaps off the top of the boat, the day was rounded off by snorkelling with SHARKS! About 25-30 Caribbean Tiger Reef Sharks swam less than 20ft below as our fearless guides got up close and personal with them. Massive shout out to our captain, Wendell McKenzie, Leshon Bastian and Dealon Renard for the tour, and keeping us all in one piece!
Local Delights Within 24 hours of being in the Bahamas, we were treated to some of the local delicacies and Bahamian staples, including freshly caught Grouper, and Conch! The latter, we had a number of times during our stay, the most delicious being in a wrap with spiced rice and salad!
T
he Islands of the Bahamas were the host for this years Caribbean Tourism Organisation State of the Tourism Industry Conference 2018 on the theme: Rejuvenate, Recreate, Reconnect. The evidently proud Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Hubert A Minnis, was the keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony that proved to be one to remember. How right he was to be proud, as the team,led by Joy Jibrilu,
his Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, produced a first class event. From the cultural performances of the Rhythm and Youth Band, Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, and Eva Hilton Primary School Choir, to the grand finale of the Colours Junkanoo Group, youth, and Bahamian music and dance was at the forefront of the night. A bright, energetic and most importantly fun night concluded with
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All Good Things...
... must come to an end. They don’t say that #itsbetterinthebahamas for no reason, and one of those reasons is that they really know how to show people a good time! The final night at the conference saw local mouthwatering dishes including lobster, salmon, and huge roast joints of beef, alongside the most exquisite desserts, drinks and other delicacies to tantalise the tastebuds. Of course no party is good
a wide variety of Bahamian food and drink on offer for delegates to sample ahead of the 3 days of intense panels, speeches and meetings to coe. Of particular note must be Mr John Darville, who brought the house down at the very beginning by singing the Bahamas National Anthem with such skill, power and pride that it brought many to their feet. It would prove to be just a taster of what was to come over the following days of the conference, with the
without a great soundtrack to the evening, and the band that so admirably performed on the first evening, albeit much more reservedly, really let their hair down. Performing hit after hit, but all in their own inimitable style, they soon had the dancefloor filled and it didn’t empty until everyone was kicked out at the end of the night! This truly was a fitting end to what had been a wonderful
SOTIC 2018. We had been treated to the culture, the music, the food, the history and the warmth of the locals from the moment we stepped off the plane onto the island. Our only point of sadness was that we didn’t have enough time to fully explore Atlantis, let alone the rest of Nassau or any of the other islands that make up the Bahamas! Oh well, just means that we will have to come back very soon to explore more!
constant at all times being the biggest selling point of the Bahamas, besides the sun, sea and sand; the people. From a friendly good morning from any member of staff at Atlantis, to the knowledgable and helpful people at any of the number of excursions that were put on, and of course the brilliant members of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism who looked after us every step of the way.
Blue Lagoon Island
One of the best beaches in the Bahamas can be found at Blue Lagoon Island, also known by its official name Salt Cay. Frequently called the “real” Bahamas, Blue Lagoon has been an interesting part of The Bahamas’ history and is one of the most well known of Nassau’s natural attractions and tours. Located just three miles from Nassau, it is now the home of the dolphins and sea lions of Dolphin Encounters and is owned by a local family. Mark Dwayne was so inspired by the Bahamas that the video for his new single Wild Out and Mellow was shot on Paradise Island and also on Blue Lagoon Island. The Dolphin Experience is an amazing and intense encounter found right on the Island.
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ENTERTAINMENT
- SOTIC 2018 -
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Youth Congress 2018 E very year without fail at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference, the highlight of the programme is always the Youth Congress, and this year was no exception. Presenting to a packed out room of their peers as well as leading industry figures, the Junior Ministers of Tourism from across
the Caribbean gave it their all. With some very interesting use case ideas for the introduction of new technologies such as Virtual Reality as put forward by Ed Limon of Winged Whale Media who was on a panel the previous day, the brainwaves that these students showed were phenomenal. The question is always asked,
“what is the future of tourism in the Caribbean” and a lot of answers are usually thrown around, ranging from voluntourism and adventure tourism to culinary tourism. But the truest and most obvious answer to that question has to be the youth of the Caribbean. The skills and abilities showcased at the Youth Congress this year were far and above the
best in recent memory, which bodes well for the ‘future of the Caribbean’. There can only be one overall winner though, and that spot was taken by the Junior Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, Bryanna Hylton. We look forward to seeing the work that she will produce during her reigning year.
The Conference The Panels over the course of the conference held something for everyone attending SOTIC2018. From getting ‘back to nature’ to the future of tourism technology including VR there were knowledgable hosts and some very interesting questions asked of the panel members. Ably hosted by Santana Rodriguez, the topic for this years conference: Rejuvenate. Recreate. Reconnect. New Directions for Caribbean Tourism showed from the ground up (literally in the case of Building Better) the way that Tourism in the Caribbean will be
going. Keynote speaker Steve McGillivray, Chief Marketing Officer of the Travel Leaders Group spoke of his businesses backing the One Caribbean effort to help direct people back to the Caribbean in the wake of the hurricanes in 2017. There was a lot talked about at the conference again this year, and only time will tell if the conference is a talking shop or if real and true changes in the landscape will come from the sessions held at Atlantis.
Graycliff: Top Class Dining Graycliff, the first Five-Star restaurant in the Caribbean, and also AAA 4-diamond rated, was our host one evening. We were treated to the finest in gourmet dining, mixing Bahamian specialties with European cuisine. With a choice between Fillet Steak and Lobster, it was a tough decision, but the Lobster won out, and a delicious descision it was. Graycliff is also a 20 room/ suite Hotel in a historic mansion dating back to the 18th century, and a landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
And Finally...
W People-To-People The innovative People-ToPeople programme brought the assembled Media to the home of Mr and Mrs Cornell Mortimer. The Mortimers — who have owned a candy shop in Nassau for 30 years produced an immense spread of Bahamian cuisine to delight the tastebuds. The programme matches local hosts in the Bahamas with tourists to get a one to one insight into Bahamian culture and cuisine. Everyone had a wonderful night enjoying the hospitality of our hosts. For anyone looking to visit the Bahamas, get yourself booked in, it’s free!
e at The Phoenix Newspaper would like to thank the CTO and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for inviting us to attend this years SOTIC, and for being such gracious hosts. Everything, from stepping off the plane, seeing Atlantis for the first time, the excursions, dinners and the conference were perfect, and you really sold The Bahamas well. There was so much to do and see at all times, and even then we couldn’t see it all. Thank you to all the Ministers and industry professionals that we met during the conference, your contributions were invaluable and it was great to see many of you again. To Johnson JohnRose and the CTO team, thank you for your continued unrelenting hard work and love. And finally to our readers, if you have been inspired by anything that you have seen in our coverage, do let us know! Maybe you’ll find out that #itsbetterinthebahamas
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BIG SCREEN
BIGScreen EDITORS NOTE
H
ey, film fans! Welcome to the November edition of The Big Screen. John Carpenter has taken over! From re-releases of some of his most iconic films to the brand
new Halloween movie, Carpenter is well and truly back in the spotlight and more relevant and sought after than he’s been since the 1980s. As one of my favourite filmmakers of all time, I cannot tell you how happy it makes
me to see his name up in lights again, hence the high volume of coverage in this month’s edition. I’d apologise for it, but I’m not sorry. Not even a little bit! Inside you will still find reviews of David Gordon Green’s Halloween, the 40th Anniversary of John Carpenter’s Halloween and Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, the painfully romantic
With antony brown BIG SCREEN EDITOR A Star Is Born. You will also find a comprehensive list of everything you can do in and around Birmingham throughout the month of November in our What’s On section, as well as keeping up to date with all of the latest cinema and blu-ray releases, so you can be sure you never miss a film. November is a huge month for
cinema! Not only do we have the arrival of the highly-anticipated sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but we also have Ralph Breaks The Internet, a brand new animated adaptation of the beloved Dr Seuss story The Grinch and the one I’m personally looking forward to the most, Creed II — which finds Rocky Balboa training Adonis
Creed to take on the son of his most dangerous opponent, Ivan Drago. God, I can’t wait to see the training montage! Thank you for reading and, as always, I truly appreciate your continued support. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ bigscreenphoenix.
HALLOWEEN L aurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago. Picking up 40 years after John Carpenter’s original classic, Halloween is a direct sequel that completely ignores every other instalment in the franchise. In this version, Michael Myers was apprehended after being shot by Dr Loomis and has spent the last 40 years in a maximum security facility for the criminally insane. It is an ingenious approach that gives the filmmakers the opportunity to rebuild and reinvent a franchise that had gotten so diluted by its inferior sequels; it had become a mere shadow of its former self. However, with horror currently surging in popularity and riding a monstrous wave of mainstream success, now was the perfect time to resurrect this true icon of horror cinema.
New Blood
David Gordon Green, perhaps best known for his stoner-comedy Pineapple Express, directs from a screenplay co-written by himself, comedian Danny McBride and comedy-writer Jeff Fradley. Now, I know what you’re thinking – why would they hire a trio of people known for their work in comedy to tackle a gruesome horror reboot? Well, comedy and horror have
a lot more in common than you may think, as both rely heavily on set-up, timing and execution, more so than any other genre. A scare only works if the set-up is effective and a punchline only lands if the entire joke works and Green, McBride and Fradley bring their comedic experience and sensibilities with them, delivering a whip-smart, selfaware, brilliantly intense and often funny screenplay that is very much its own beast while also honouring everything that came before it – even all of the retconned sequels.
prepared for Michael Myers that she has completely pushed away everyone who ever loved her. This should have been the focal point of the story and could have been a deep, emotional examination of a woman living with PTSD but, as it stands, we are only given fleeting moments of the turmoil she’s experiencing. Even so, Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a remarkable performance in the very same role that introduced her to the world and kicked off a very long and very successful career.
The Godfather
The Past
Halloween is littered with nods and references to every other movie in the franchise, whether it is a story element, a brief appearance of a minor character, a sly piece of dialogue, a prop or even the framing of a shot, the entire 40-year history of Halloween is right there, hidden beneath the surface. David Gordon Green proves effective at delivering a dark and brooding atmosphere followed by some relentless scenes of brutality and works closely with cinematographer Michael Simmonds to deliver some of the best imagery in the entire franchise. Together, they create their own distinct flair while paying homage to John Carpenter’s work on the original with long, gliding shots following Michael Myers as he
stalks and slashes his way through Haddonfield. Unfortunately, the team behind this reboot aren’t able to fully recapture the style and magic that Carpenter brought, appearing to be in a hurry to get to the action, whereas Carpenter was patient and let the atmosphere fester until it was almost suffocating.
The Shape
In the original, there was an unnerving playfulness to Michael Myers as he seemed to get a kick out of prolonging his process by watching from the shadows – stalking, analysing and taunting – waiting for his moment to strike, whereas his approach is a lot more rapid and haphazard here. He chooses a victim, kills them and moves on, never really giving the audience the time to marinade in the horror. While this could be seen as 40 years of pent up aggression finally being unleashed in a cathartic frenzy, it simply isn’t as effective as seeing Michael slowly and methodically take down his victims. Actor and stuntman James Jude Courtney takes up the mantle
of Michael Myers and he brings a foreboding physical presence that is key to the success of the role and he absolutely nails the sinister, deliberate dawdling that has become synonymous with the character. He is an unstoppable, violent entity that moves with purpose and is completely indiscriminate when it comes to selecting his victims, resulting in what is arguably the most meanspirited and brutal Myers ever put to film, with the exception of Tyler Mane’s portrayal in Rob Zombie’s divisive remake.
Casting
Another nice touch is the inclusion of Nick Castle – the original Michael Myers. He is brought in to don the iconic mask and boiler-suit for one key scene and it really adds to the sense of grandeur in this reboot and while you would never know that it was Nick Castle behind the mask unless somebody told you, his inclusion is just a wonderful sign of respect to those who helped start this franchise. The cast are fantastic and, surprisingly for a slasher movie,
the vast majority of them are very likeable and feel like real people even if many of them lack any real depth and are simply there to contribute to Michael’s kill count. Standouts include Judy Greer and newcomer Andi Matichak as Laurie Strode’s daughter and granddaughter who are constantly at odds with one another due to their differing feelings towards Laurie. Of course, the real star of the show here is Jamie Lee Curtis who returns to the role of Laurie Strode like she never left, only this time, she is not the squealing victim – she is a fierce woman who has spent the last 40 years of her life training and preparing herself; ensuring she’s ready for Michael Myers should he ever escape. There is a commentary on PTSD here that, sadly, isn’t capitalised on as much as it should be. We spend too much time with the new characters when we should be focused on Laurie Strode and the trauma she went through all those years before that has effectively ruined her life. She is a hermit who has become so obsessed with ensuring she is
In a move nobody saw coming, John Carpenter himself also makes his big return to the franchise for the first time since 1981, serving as both Executive Producer and Composer. His iconic theme music stayed with the franchise long after he parted ways with it and is now one of the most instantly recognisable pieces of music ever composed, so bringing him back into the fray to help craft a new Halloween adventure feels monumental. He teams with his son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davis to form a modernised, yet somehow still entirely old-school update of his original music. The classic piano and synthesisers remain intact and are accompanied by some hard-hitting electronic crunches that reverberate into your chest and leave a lasting impact. It is a phenomenal piece of work that is made all the more special because of Carpenter’s involvement.
Conclusion
Halloween is a flawed but deeply satisfying reboot that breathes new life in to a long dormant franchise and is one of, if not the best movie to come from the franchise since 1978. It is surreal that in 2018, there’s a new Halloween movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle with heavy involvement from the godfather himself, John Carpenter. This is arguably the biggest thing to happen to horror in years and I’m just grateful that I’m here to witness it, regardless of its flaws.
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F
Carpenter Classics Heading For The Big Screen!
J
ohn Carpenter is the man of the hour! He is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Halloween with special celebratory screenings all over the globe, he was brought on board to produce the brand new sequel as well as providing the score along with his son and godson. But, on top of all of that, four of his most beloved classics are returning to the big screen in the coming weeks in celebration and promotion of Studio Canal’s brand new 4K restorations of the original film prints. Studio Canal have painstakingly upgraded the footage taken from original film prints in order to present the highest quality screenings of these movies that the world has ever has ever seen. They Live, The Fog, Prince of Darkness and Escape From New York are all returning to the big screen, so now is your chance to see these iconic movies on the big screen – perhaps even for the first time. For me, all of these movies were released long before I was born so I never had the opportunity to experience them the way they crave to be experienced – on the biggest screen possible. To find out where your nearest screening will be taking place, head over to: www.johncarpenter4k.co.uk and book your tickets now!
ifteen years after brutally murdering his own sister on Halloween night, Michael Myers escapes from Smith’s Grove Sanatorium and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, hell-bent on finishing what he started all those years before, with an unwitting group of girls who attend the local highschool becoming Michael’s next targets.
Celebrating 40 Years of John Carpenter’s Classic
History
In 1978, John Carpenter made a small, independent horror film for a modest $325,000 that eventually went on to gross $70,000,000 ($270,000,000 when adjusted for inflation) and spawned an entire new sub-genre of horror — the slasher movie. In the decade that followed, countless imitators emerged, utilising Halloween’s style in an attempt to cash-in on the surge in popularity for horror cinema. Some were good, some were bad but they all had one thing in common – they owed their very existence to Halloween. Recently, I was lucky enough to catch a one-night-only screening of John Carpenter’s Halloween in a glorious 4K restoration, in celebration of its 40th Anniversary. The film was preceded by a brief 15-minute documentary on the making of Halloween and the legacy it has left behind, which was a lot of fun. For somebody like me – a lifelong horror fan who has spent most of his life researching the genre – none of this information was new to me, but it was just fun to relive the history of this beloved movie in a packed out screening full of avid fans in Michael Myers t-shirts. When the documentary ended, the audience erupted in applause – I was shocked. You see it in American movies all the time; rowdy audiences who cheer and clap along to the movie – but as a typically reserved Brit who never wants to draw too much attention
to himself, it is not something I have ever really experienced before, save for the odd clap here and there from the extroverts in the audience. I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I’ve heard applause in a cinema and all of them were for big blockbusters – Avengers Assemble and Avengers: Infinity War spring to mind - but a low-budget horror from the 1970’s? That’s how I knew this audience were here for a great night.
cinema releases
A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice in a desperate quest to find a key to a box that holds a priceless gift from her late mother.
Classic
There’s nothing I can say about John Carpenter’s Halloween that hasn’t already been said by people much smarter than me and that speaks volumes of the impact this movie has had over the past 40 years. The opening sequence is as haunting as ever, comprised of a ground-breaking single take from the perspective of a young Michael Myers as he stalks and eventually murders his older sister. The shot was achieved using a brand new piece of equipment that allowed a camera to be strapped to the body of the camera operator via a harness, allowing for long,
NOVEMBER
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (02/11/18)
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Overlord (07/11/18)
American paratroopers trapped behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day find themselves up against violent and horrifying supernatural forces that are part of a horrific Nazi experiment.
sweeping movements never really available before. This piece of equipment has gone on to be a staple of filmmaking; the Steadicam. See; Halloween was already breaking ground in its opening five minutes!
Directing
Halloween is an absolute masterclass in tension, with John Carpenter cranking up the suspense to the point it feels like you’re suffocating, before unleashing Michael Myers on his unwitting victims in a sensory overload that feels a lot more violent than it actually is. Halloween is often remembered as a brutal, ultra-violent and gory movie, but that simply isn’t true. In fact, you barely see a single drop of blood in the entire movie and the fact people remember it so differently is a real testament to John Carpenter’s skill as a director. He gives you just the right amount of information you need and allows your mind to do the rest – and as all great horror directors know, it is often what you don’t see that is a lot more frightening than what you do.
The Girl in the Spider’s Web (09/11/18)
Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials. A sequel/franchise reboot of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
The Grinch (09/11/19)
An animated retelling of Dr Seuss’ beloved holiday classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the spiteful green Who.
Performances
Jamie Lee Curtis is perfectly cast as Laurie Strode and delivers a performance that launched a career that is still going strong today. Her tender performance as the kindhearted teenager still resonates with audiences everywhere and it is no surprise that she has become an icon of cinema. Donal Pleasance is wonderful as Dr Sam Loomis – another character who
Widows (09/11/18)
Four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (16/11/18)
The second instalment of the “Fantastic Beasts” series set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World following the adventures of magizoologist Newt Scamander.
completely took on a life of its own and became an entity unto itself. Loomis has served as Michael’s doctor for 15 years and knows better than anyone just how dangerous Michael is and he manages to strike a perfect balance of frantic, fearful and heroic. Then, of course, there’s Nick Castle as “The Shape” himself, Michael Myers – a character who moves with an otherworldly force and an inhuman drive. Castle was the original and is still the best actor ever to play Myers. However, some of the other performances don’t hold up too well. Nancy Kyes and P.J. Soles performances as Laurie’s friends Annie and Lynda are laced with cheesiness and overacting, but that doesn’t necessarily detract from the story. In a way, it adds a loveable charm to their scenes and enough time has passed that we can look back on their shaky performances with a fondness. Lynda’s constant need to utter the word “totally!” has now become somewhat iconic and the audience were laughing along and shouting out “totally!” in unison. I even saw one fan wearing a t-shirt that had nothing but the word “totally!” on it.
Legacy
Halloween is one of the most iconic and influential horror movies of all time, with a transcendent quality that still has audiences watching and screaming forty years later. Without Halloween, we wouldn’t have Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street and we wouldn’t have Scream or Child’s Play or the countless other horror movies that owe their very existence to Halloween, John Carpenter and Debra Hill. For many, the endless sequels that followed diluted the original with their varying quality and striking inconsistencies but the fact remains — Halloween is one of the greatest horror movies of all time - period.
Ralph Breaks the Internet (30/11/18)
Six years after the events of “WreckIt Ralph,” Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a Wi-Fi router in their arcade, leading them into a brand-new online adventure.
Creed II (30/11/18)
Under the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, newly crowned light heavyweight champion Adonis Creed faces off against Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago.
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As Old As Show Business Itself: A Star Is Born
S
easoned musician Jackson Maine meets and falls in love with struggling artist Ally a young waitress who has just about given up on her dream to make it as a singer - until Jackson coaxes her into the spotlight and helps to provide her a platform to show the world how talented she is. However, as Ally's career takes off, Jackson’s own career is thrown into turmoil as his ongoing battle with alcoholism and his own internal demons threaten to destroy everything they’ve built. A Star Is Born is quite literally a tale as old as show business itself. The first version of this story was released in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, followed by a remake in 1954 starring Judy Garland and James Mason and another remake in 1976 starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, which was then followed by a Bollywood remake in 2013. The fact there have been so many retellings of the same story could understandably leave some people thinking every ounce of originality has been wrung-dry, but this latest retelling proves there is still a lot of life left in this simple story. Bradley Cooper took on a mammoth task with A Star Is Born, making his directorial debut while simultaneously cowriting the screenplay, starring in one of the lead roles, producing
the movie and learning how to play the guitar so he could actually perform all of Jackson Maine’s songs...which he also co-wrote! It’s plain to see that this was a real passion-project for Cooper and that passion is evident in every single frame of this movie and is dripping in style and confidence. For a directorial debut, it is breathtaking and with just one film, Cooper has immediately cemented himself as one of the most exciting filmmakers out there. Cooper’s directing style is as authentic as it comes and he tackles this operatic story in a very low-key manner — choosing to focus on the intimate relationships between the characters and building around that, as opposed to taking the easy route and anchoring the entire film around the aweinspiring musical performances. This is not a grand, cheery musical with low-stakes and light-hearted characters — this is a hard-hitting, emotionally charged story of love, loss and the cost of fame that is sprinkled with some truly wonderful music. The songs written for A Star Is Born are remarkable and the depth of the lyrics amplifies the impact of the drama surrounding them. The songs are integral in expressing the love Jackson and Ally feel for one another. Music gave them both a fighting
chance. Music brought them together and even when things get bad, the music still remains as a lingering echo of their love. It’s stunning. As with all good stories, the drama only works if you are invested in the characters and feel what they are going through and A Star Is Born succeeds on all fronts. From the moment we meet Jackson Maine, in a live performance at a music festival, we learn everything we need to know about him through his performance. It’s a hard-edged, gritty performance doused in sweat and harsh light — he’s clearly a talented individual, but without even saying anything, it’s also plain to see that he is tormented by internal demons. The intricacies in Cooper’s performance – the movements and his facial expressions – speak volumes of the character, even when the character isn’t saying a thing. You can see the pain in his eyes and his dishevelled, unclean exterior mirrors his internal damage. But all of that that changes when he meets Ally – a phenomenally talented young woman who spends her days waitressing and her nights showcasing her talent at dingy old bars. Immediately, he sees something in her;
something more than anyone has ever seen before and thus triggers an evening of courtship that feels so natural, it’s almost like somebody is following around two people on a real life first date. Right off the bat, their chemistry is scorching hot and the dynamic between these two characters is instantly enjoyable and downright adorable. They bounce off of one another in a way that feels more authentic than any onscreen relationship in recent memory. From there, like all relationships, they have their ups and their downs. Sometimes its wonderful, other times its awful, and you feel every moment with a vivid realness like we have been granted the ultimate access to a real couple’s lives. The way this movie makes you feel is a testament to the screenplay, but also to the actors’ ability to live in the moment and improv on the spot, making the interactions between these characters feel as grounded in reality as humanly possible. Unfortunately, the movie does struggle to maintain the sizzling, quick-fire energy of the opening hour or so, and does lose a little momentum towards the latter half of the film, but the whole thing starts so strong that even the slightest of dips goes almost undetected. The film is never anything close to boring, it just loses a little steam — but one could argue that it was an intentional move intended to reflect the relationship between Ally and Jackson, as her skyrocketing
november
Tag (05/11/18)
For one month every year, five friends hit the ground running in a no-holdsbarred game of tag they’ve been playing since the first grade--risking everything to take each other down.
Adrift (05/11/18)
A true story of survival, as a young couple’s chance encounter leads them to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.
success coupled with his internal issues begin to take their toll on their relationship. Things slowly begin to fizzle away and a conflict emerges that threatens to tear them apart. If you shed all of the Hollywood flair of A Star Is Born and really reduce it to its core elements, it is quite easily one of the most realistic depictions of love ever put to screen. A Star Is Born is a fiercely old-fashioned romance, the likes of which we never really see anymore and while it honours and echoes romantic cinema
of the 1970s, it also stands as a wonderfully contemporary story about the folly of combining love and fame in the digital age. A simple, yet beautiful and powerful story is held together by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, who deliver two of the greatest performances, not just of the year, but of their respective careers and it is their sizzling chemistry that elevates this retelling to a position where it confidently stands head and shoulders above the other versions of this story.
Releases
First Reformed (05/11/18)
A priest of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns and a tormented past.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (05/11/18)
A volcanic eruption threatens the remaining dinosaurs on the island of Isla Nublar. Claire and Owen team up to help prevent this extinction-level event.
Incredibles 2 (12/11/18)
Mr. Incredible is left home with the childrem when Elastigirl becomes the new face of superheroes. As he juggles endless household chores, she gets to work saving the world from a new villain.
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1st - 10th November Orange Polar Bear The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
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WHAT’S ON
as they leap off the page and onto the stage in this magical journey through the seasons.
Co-written by award-winning playwrights Evan Placey and Sun-Duck Ko, this raw, funny and heartrending new play gives voice to a young generation trying to find their place in an overwhelming, fast-changing world.
3rd November Showstopper! The Improvised Musical The Studio, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
A brand-new musical comedy is created from scratch at each performance of this award-winning show as audience suggestions are transformed on the spot into allsinging, all-dancing productions with hilarious results
4th November CageFest: Face/Off and Con Air Double Bill The Mockingbird Cinema
3rd November Guess How Much I Love You Town Hall
Selladoor Family presents Guess How Much I Love You. Join Little & Big Nutbrown Hare, from the bestselling ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ and ‘I Love You All Year Round’ collection,
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You asked, they listened — The Mockingbird Cinema in Digbeth will be hitting attendees with a double dose of Nicolas Cage craziness with back-to-back screenings of two of his most iconic films.
5th November Bridget Jones’ Diary with Live Symphony Orchestra Symphony Hall
Witness Bridget Jones’ Diary like you’ve never seen it before as it tours across the country with a live 60-piece orchestra for the first time ever.
THIS SPOT COULD BE YOURS! Reach a diverse audience worldwide
Based on his smash hit film and adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, this hilarious and heartfelt production has received standing ovations and won the prestigious UK Theatre Award.
6th November Sons of Pitches Plus Special Guests Town Hall
Expect fast-paced medleys and mind-bending mashups as multi-award-winning British vocal group Sons of Pitches attempt to hit their target of 100 legendary tracks in just one evening.
8th November An Evening With Nigella Lawson Symphony Hall
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nigella’s first book, as she talks about her life in food and what she’s cooking right now. Charming, witty and entertaining, Nigella will be interviewed by a range of authors, journalists and foodies during her tour, as we get to the heart of what it means to be an award-winning author and TV personality.
9th November Star Wars and Beyond: A Sci-Fi Spectacular Symphony Hall
A sensational concert celebrating the iconic scores from all your favourite science-fiction films, with stunning lights, dazzling
lasers and indoor fireworks. Includes music from: Star Wars, Alien, Jurassic Park, E.T., Inception and many more!
anthems and much more on her upcoming headline tour.
11th November Homecomings New Street Station
Birmingham Hippodrome commemorates the centenary of the end of the First World War with Homecomings - a free to attend large-scale performance project in New Street Station, featuring stirring theatrical pieces from over 500 pupils from schools in their Hippodrome Education Network.
23rd Nov - 13th December The Nutcracker Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s evergreen production of The Nutcracker has been part of the City’s Christmas tradition for over 27 years and returns to Birmingham Hippodrome this November.
15th Nov - 23rd December Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market Victoria Square
The largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market offers a large range of traditional good and gifts and a selection of tempting food and drink.
27th Nov - 1st December The Mountaintop The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
20th November Jessie J 02 Academy
Six years on from her debut album Who We Are, Jessie J is back and reinvigorated thanks to new album, R.O.S.E. Catch her perform her confessional new
An intimate look into the quieter moment of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s life, The Mountaintop chips away at the myth of the great man to expose his fears about his family, his country and the ever-looming threat of a violent death.
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Postive, Informative and Objective News Inspiring a New Generation Keeping you connected with your community
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5th - 10th November The Full Monty Birmingham Hippodrome
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THE INVITATION Director: Karyn Kusama Release Date: 2015
“While attending a dinner party at his former home, an unstable young man thinks his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister intentions for their guests.” Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation is the definition of a “slow-burn” horror movie. She takes her time in setting up her story and introducing her characters and is in absolutely no rush whatsoever to get to the horror. She is far more interested in building an atmosphere of dread that permeates each and every frame and it’ll leave you writhing in your seat, because you know something bad is going to happen, you just have no idea when, what, how or why it’s going
to happen and this is all held together by some truly breath-taking performances. Kusama leaves you balancing on a knife’s edge throughout, wondering where exactly the story is going to go – it is well established early on that our main character is not of healthy mind, which makes him an unreliable narrator. Can we trust him? Are his accusations just? Or is he the one we need to worry about? These are all questions you’ll be asking yourself throughout this lowbudget, intricately crafted story until suddenly, the screen explodes in a frenzy of horror with a final twentyminutes that are downright insane. The Invitation is one for the books.
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Mo-Mentous Roadside Support For Movember! Wayside inns have been offering shelter and subsistence to travellers for many centuries dating back to bygone eras well before the dawn of motoring. The advent of the car in the late nineteenth century, though, created new opportunities as more and more intrepid motorists took to the roads. Today that century-old picturebook history is bought back to life by the annual Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox when hundreds of primitive cars make their annual pilgrimage from capital to coast passing – and sometime stopping at – numerous roadside hostelries on their merry way to the Sussex shoreline. Joining in the spirit of the world’s longest running automotive celebration, many of these taverns open early and are packed with enthusiastic patrons all eager to contribute to the remarkable event’s unique atmosphere. Never more so than this year when on Sunday 4 November many of these welcome roadhouses along the route will be more actively involved than ever before by additionally supporting the Run’s official charity partner, the Movember Foundation. Pubs will not only be fundraising but also helping to raise awareness for men’s health issues such as the causes of prostate cancer and testicular cancer as well as mental health and suicide prevention. And it is not only local watering holes which are playing an important part in supporting Movember right at the start of the foundation’s main month of campaigning, all those involved in the Run – drivers, passengers, marshals, support crews, followers, visitors, friends and family members – are being encouraged to grow moustaches and join the movement. To help all-comers get involved, an online community of fundraisers has been created where members can post photos and share ideas. All those joining the community are also eligible for prizes and incentives including the once-in-a-lifetime chance to partake in the coveted ‘tearing the flag’ ceremony – an act performed by Movember supporters Damon Hill and Charley Boorman last November. Furthermore, entrants are able to show their support, and simultaneously generate yet more recognition for the cause, via the purchase of an exclusive ‘carstache’ which will be displayed proudly on all participating veteran cars with all funds raised going directly to the charity.
Classic Motors On Show At NEC F
or enthusiasts of classic Porsches, this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, promises to be one of the most exciting yet thanks to the announcement of two special displays featuring 20 stunning restorations never seen before. The first display by Porsche Cars Great Britain, shown at Birmingham’s NEC from 9-11 November, features special edition models that were created to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the legendary German marque. Twenty special edition restorations were commissioned including ten examples of the first
A brand-new, high-tech, highenergy live action stunt show will be debuting at Motorcycle Live 2018. Moto Cirque is the brainchild of pioneering show creators Arena Sports Live and will be the first spectacle of its kind to take place in the UK. The intensely choreographed daily performances will include world-class street bike stunt riding, BMX, freestyle Motocross and moto trials in an intoxicating mix of lights, lasers and theatrical performances. The show will be set within an amphitheater-style layout of ramps, structures and platforms, and surrounded by 2,000 seats for Motorcycle Live visitors to get a birds-eye view of the stunning show.
generation Boxster model, along with air-cooled, water-cooled, and transaxle cars. The restorations were undertaken in conjunction with Porsche Centres and Porsche Recommended Repairers. Featuring a bespoke interior and a ’70 years of Porsche’ commemorative plaque, each was also finished in ‘Liquid Metal’ silver paint that up to now had only been seen on the stunning Porsche 918 Spyder. The meticulous restorations used Porsche Classic Genuine Parts as well as accessories from the Porsche Classic range including navigation and vehicle tracking systems.
Entry to the Moto Cirque arena is completely FREE, with performances taking place at 12.00 and 14.00 from Monday-Thursday, 12.00, 14.00 and 15.30 on Friday and at 11.30, 14.00 and 15.30 at the weekends. “We like to push the limits on what’s possible with a live performance and Moto Cirque will be the first of its kind,” said Matt Bates, director of Arena Sports Live. “It’s an all-new show in a completely different layout that showcases everything possible on two wheels; but what makes this show stand out, is that it’s all performed in the dark. If you’re visiting Motorcycle Live, you can’t afford to miss it!”
MOTORS
Rally Of The Year Awarded
The Royal Automobile Club 1000 Mile Trial has won the 2018 Rally of the Year Award at the International Historic Motoring Awards, which took place on Thursday 25 October 2018 at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane hotel. The International Historic Motoring Awards recognises and celebrates the skills and achievements of the worldwide historic motoring industry and comprises of a broad spectrum of award categories ranging from Restoration of the Year through to Motorsport Event and Personal Achievement awards. Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring of the Royal Automobile Club said, "We are delighted to have won Rally of the Year Award against such a high calibre of contenders. I would like to thank our event partner, HERO Events, for their expert organisation and challenging routes, which keep the participants on their toes. The event has won this award three times and it won the FIA Heritage Cup in 2015 so its wonderful to add another accolade to its illustrious history".
Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - November 2018
thephoenixnewspaper.com
- STREET CRED MAGAZINE -
ENTERTAINMENT
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Taking a Gap Year Introduce yourself, what did grades did you receive for a levels?
WITH RHEA DEHANEY
W
elcome to another edition of Teen flair where I give you advice highlight realer people and much more! This month I want to introduce you to a amazing long term friend of mine who did exceedingly well in her A-levels. Asharnah is going to speak on her experience on
KEEP IN TOUCH As we are all aware there is power in social media, I will be using these networking sites, to promote this newspaper page, and #TEAMFLAIR which will not only advertise, but will promote
what to look forward to in the newspaper. I’m not only hoping to create just another column, but a movement, for young people of all races.
To Advertise on my page, or to send me news, information and more, contact me at rhea.dehaney@thephoenixnewspaper.com
taking a Gap year for those who might be considering taking a gap year. I hope you enjoy and share with friends you might know who are maybe considering the same! This is the month of new change for a lot of people, are you excited for what the future has in store? Have faith, and remember to take full grasp of every door that opens.
Scripture of the month
Hi I’m Asharnah and I’m 19 years old. For A levels, I got a Distinction* for law which is equivalent to an A*, I got a B for history and a B for religious studies.
Congrats on your fantastic results! Did you always plan to take a gap year?
Thank you! And honestly, No. I knew about the idea of a gap year but my sixth form never really gave it to us as an option. It was either Uni or an apprenticeship so the research for a Gap year was all for me to do. I planned to go to uni after sixth form but i became so indecisive as to what uni i wanted to go to and what to study. I still applied and got accepted but on results day i decided to take a gap year to make sure my decision on uni was right.
What advice can you give to someone wanting to take a gap year?
Make sure you have a plan for your gap year. Jumping into a gap year with no plan is a huge risk. Set yourself with some goals to achieve monthly as well as for the year. It could be as little as ‘Go to the gym for an hour’ or as big as ‘pass my driving test’. Take this year out to truly find who you are. Discover new things about you. Travel the world. We are so young and we have so much to discover. Uni is not running away, its always going to be
there. If your not in the right mental space because of A levels then take a year out. A levels cause depression and so many other things. Bettering yourself is better than going to uni and damaging yourself even more.
That sounds exciting. How has it affected you so far and what’s your plan for the future?
It’s been very mind opening for me in the sense that I’ve realised that I can do so much in so little time. It has been hard seeing my friends all pack up for uni but im excited to hear their stories. I do miss being in the education environment but it doesn’t mean I can’t educate myself. The
library is around the corner. So far i’ve been working, achieving goals and already decided what im going to do with my uni situation so this gap year has blessed me so far. My plan for the future is to travel, work, deepen my relationship with God and be the happiest person ever. Uni is only a couple months away so i have a lot to achieve before then but I’m very excited for uni.
Check out my first Youtube video ‘Rhea Dehaney’ I hope you are blessed :)