Lifestyle and Culture Magazine Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire
No: 152 February 2019
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These boots are made for strutting - Kinky Boots kicks off our Spring Theatre Guide p23 What's on / Ocelot February 152.indd 1
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FEBRUARY ISSUE
For Starters
04 Nerd’s Last Word, Luke Coleman 06 Encyclopaedia Ocelotica 08 Tattoos, booze and poos 09 How to Fad Lifestyle
10 Get Away: Quebec 12 Style 14 Bandersnatch 16 LA Noire Brews and Eats
17 Wine not? 18 Beer Monkey 19 History of game 20 The Alchemist 21 Devizes Beer Festival Arts and Culture
23 The Spring Theatre Guide 34 Macbeth 36 New Sentimentalism arty thingy Music
38 Shakin’ Stevens 40 For The Song 41 EP and Single reviews 42 UFO at The O2 44 The Month Ahead The Final Bit of the magazine
46 Agony Girl
A theatre-tastic tsunami The guy above is Professor Elemental - a legend in the rather small chap hop genre but also a lovely fella. I’ve seen him a few times now and his shows are pretty much the dogs’ left gonads. If you want to catch him in all his colonial glory you need to head to Chippenham and you can find the full details in our spring theatre guide which you can delve into on page 23. It’s definitely exciting times for the theatre community if our guide is anything to go by - there is literally something for everyone. If you like to laugh there’s plenty of comedy, if you don’t like to laugh there’s plenty of tragedy. And if you don’t like to be laughing or not laughing there’s even some stuff that will blow your mind. One of the things that I love about theatre is that it always has something for everyone. You don’t have to be a beard stroking intellectual taking a break from your soy latte to enjoy it any more. You just have to be a human (as theatre has never really caught on in the animal community unfortunately). Whatever your political persuasion we all need a distraction at the moment to take our minds off the real world as we, as a nation, seem to be in an uncertain freefall. And what better way than a trip to the theatre. It has everything from Shakespeare to Shakin’ Stevens. Write in to me at jamie@theocelot.co.uk
Jamie Hill
Editor: Jamie Hill - jamie@theocelot.co.uk Deputy: Ben Fitzgerald - ben@theocelot.co.uk Reporter: Claire Dukes - claire@theocelot.co.uk Sales: Dave Stewart dave@theocelot.co.uk - 07872 176999 Rosy Presley rosy@positive-media.co.uk - 07717 501790 Telephone: 01793 781986 Publisher: Positive Media Group, Unit 3, Arclite House, Peatmoor, Swindon SN5 5YN Printers: Deltor, Saltash, Cornwall
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Get in contact at editorial@theocelot.co.uk 23/01/2019 15:37
For Starters
Polar opposites when it comes to science The Nerd’s Last Word with Michael Bosley “Magnets, how do they work?” goes the oft ridiculed line in the song Miracles by 2000’s face painted hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. The song itself, a wide-eyed ode to all things wondrous in this world of ours; from trees and stars to “long necked giraffes” tries its hardest not to touch on anything specifically scientific or explanatory but simply recognises them all as miraculous and beyond our comprehension. And although their hearts may be in the right place (after all, the world can be a wondrous place), the irony of using lines such as “pure motherfuckin’ magic” and “I don’t wanna talk to a scientist, y’all motherfuckers lying, and getting me pissed” whilst simultaneously describing their reverence of solar eclipses and weather (both of which have been the subject of decades of research and scientific discovery), create a very muddled message. Do they like these things? And if so, why are they so averse to learning more about them? In the eyes of Insane Clown Posse, these miracles are simply there to be appreciated at a superficial level and no more. But what if these miracles had a practical purpose? What if the study of weather phenomena could help us predict the weather and warn of advancing storms? And what about magnets? We already know that they have a wealth of day-to-day applications from sound systems to MRI scanners. But what if they also had miraculous healing powers for chronic conditions and injuries? Spoiler alert: they don’t.
But there are companies manufacturing magnetic devices that supposedly aid conditions ranging from knee injuries to the menopause, from magnetic bracelets to magnets that you shove in your pants and they certainly don’t let something like science get in the way when it comes to selling them. In fact, many of these devices report that their devices are instead a natural remedy that exploit “the natural healing properties abundant in nature through plants, waterfalls, rainstorms and forests.” So that’s cleared that up then. It’s hard to argue with such succinct, logical and convincing principles especially when they run parallel with the lyrical stylings of the Insane Clown Posse. I mean, waterfalls - how do they work? I don’t know and I don’t care, I just think they’re like powerful and majestic and stuff. Many of those who buy these devices openly admit they see no physical healing powers in these devices, but simply use them as a placebo to trick their brains into thinking they are having some effect. But is the answer really just to fool others and fool ourselves? If we disappear too far down the path of shamanism and witch doctors, where does it end?
Dry times for ol’ Lukey baby! Off The Grid with Luke Coleman - Our man in Iraq
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Just a few more days, and I’ll have done the dry month. I know our esteemed editor is usually pounding out the miles at this time of year, sweating, swearing and recording the pain of January. Rather than be a spectator to all the virtuous self-improvement, this year at the ripe old age of 45, I’m doing that resolution thing. I was back in the UK for the first part of the year (and
Ireland over new year), so let the sobriety slip until I landed back in Iraq. I even had a glass of wine in Istanbul’s new airport during transfer, a place which pulls off the uncanny trick of feeling brand new and worn out at the same time. As I write, I’m nearing the half way point of the booze free 31 days. I’ve not been out much, but I’ve been exercising most evenings in the fresh winter air, plastering googly eyes on statues,
posters and graffiti around Erbil. I did try a dinner party, but I left before dessert as all the other guests were deep into the wine and I felt like the designated driver without a car or destination. The videos shared on one of the WhatsApp groups the following day confirmed I’d made the right decision. I remain on this shuttle wagon, trundling along towards midFebruary. Christ, I hope I don’t find myself having that first beer on a Valentine’s first date …
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By Ben Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia Ocelotica:
The dark side of the moon The dark side of the moon, a place synonymous with lunacy and mystery, will soon be giving up more of its secrets than you could glean from listening to the Pink Floyd album of the same name backwards. Even as you read this - a Chinesebuilt robot is embarking on a mission to unearth the secrets of the hidden face of our ash grey neighbour. The nature of the far side remained a mystery until relatively recently when in 1959, it was photographed by the Russian’s Luna 3 space probe - with the Soviet Academy of Sciences publishing the first atlas of the hidden lunar surface in 1960. But the first time humans set eyes upon the surface was when the Apollo 8 astronauts orbited the moon in 1968 - with Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders reading the first ten verses from the Book of Genesis in their famous Christmas Eve broadcast - and becoming the most far travelled human beings in the history of mankind. William Anders described the surface thus: “The backside looks like a sand pile my kids have played in for some time. It’s all beat up, no definition, just a lot of bumps and holes.” But in recent weeks, separated by 238,900 miles - (twice the mileage clocked up by my overworked car in 11 years of solid driving) a rover named Yutu 2 gingerly edged down a ramp from the Chinese Space Agency Chang’e 4 lander to kick up a little dust in the unexplored South Pole Aitken basin - the largest known crater in the solar system. Even within the realm of space exploration, it’s an impressive technical feat - being the first probe to touch down on the ‘dark’ hemisphere of the lunar surface. The problem of communicating with the spacecraft as it passed behind the
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moon was solved by relaying signals through a separately launched satellite called Queqiao - or Magpie Bridge which is maintaining a ‘halo’ orbit on the other side of the moon so that it can communicate with both the lander and Earth. Excitingly, the project will see the cultivation of the first flower on the moon - a small plant called arabidopsis as well as other biological specimens including cotton, rapeseed, potato, yeast and a colony of fruit flies. Frankly I shouldn’t be surprised if there’s a fully fledged garden centre in place by the time the Americans catch up with them. It’s also going to be keeping an electronic ear out for the sounds of the Big Bang and probe the moon’s interior - which is every bit as erotic as it sounds. The far side of the moon is heavily pockmarked by deep craters - unlike the familiar Earth-facing side where a succession of lava flows have smoothed out earlier impacts from a period of heavy meteor bombardment. This is thought to coincide with the formation of life on Earth - and may have played a role in setting the conditions for this to happen. I’m not saying that life was seeded on Earth by aliens... that would be unscientific. As a chilling side note, a secret US plan Project A119 was developed in 1958 to detonate a nuclear bomb on the lunar surface. The idea was that flash would have been visible to all right thinking God fearing Americans on Earth and would have acted as a morale booster in the wake of the USSR’s launch of Sputnik. It was thankfully shelved when some pinko suggested that it might actually provoke a negative reaction. Just don’t mention it to Donald....
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Tattoos, booze and poos by Sara Witham
Getting fed up with food
We had an epiphany in our house over the Christmas holidays that involved the four year old actually eating something healthy. I made pancakes with banana and eggs (initially for the one year old) then curiosity got the better of him and he sidled over... ‘Are they pancakes Mummy?’ ‘Ummmm yeees, kind of’ ‘Can I try one?’ ‘Ummm yeees sure’ ‘What do they have in them?’ Ok so I have a policy where I don’t like to lie (much) to the kids so I tell him I will let him know what’s in them when he’s eaten one. So he eats two. Then I tell him. Oh my goodness, utter meltdown, gagging etc. He then says... ‘Mummy that’s not really what’s in them is it? I mean you’re joking aren’t you?’
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So I’m forced to lie. The one year old on the other hand hated them but has an irrational obsession with ‘nanas’ he has just seen one on telly (bloody Ainsley and your kids cooking programme) and literally lost it in the middle of stuffing sausages into his mouth shouting ‘NANA’ repeatedly til I delivered. I have never got the skin off one so fast. He is pretty loud and bossy for a small person. I’m just pleased he’s eating given the lurgy that has been going round for weeks. No one warned me about having two ill kids. Anyone else find this the epitome of bleak? Not only are you worried sick, you have two small people to nurse, needing to be surgically attached to you plus the numerous trips to the walk in at all hours of
the night and day. Sleeping (when you get a chance) is on the floor, sofa or chair - basically anywhere possible that might enable you to be in the eyeshot of a small person and shut your own eyes. I find they love to come and prise them open for you at every opportunity though. How lovely. Pulling an all nighter is now a regular thing in our house and not in the fun way we used to. You can’t even drink as I think that behaviour might be slightly frowned upon at the walk in...
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Are we engaging with social movements, or fads? Words by Claire Dukes
Do you ever feel like you should be doing something right now? Something active with ‘significant’ meaning? Now that January - the month of trying things all unbeknown to you to try and ease yourself into the new year - has gone, it’s a wonder what people do with the months ahead. Around mid-December we’re hit with all new challenges to force feed the ‘new me’ agenda for the upcoming year, but I often contemplate what significance this holds. Despite my scatty nature I am surprisingly responsive to structure which is my first guess when wondering why people partake in such things as ‘Tryanuary’, - a movement to urge people to try new beers and ultimately support the beer industry ‘Dryanuary’, - going a month without alcohol - ‘Veganuaury’, - opting for a vegan lifestyle - and even ‘Januhairy’, - letting nature take its course in between the pits. I genuinely believe that some of these ideas started out with the best of intentions as ‘social movements’, but they’ve sordidly become nothing more than a January cliché. I mean having days off drinking just sounds healthy, as does
implementing a more plant-based diet. And supporting local businesses? I thought the secret was out on that one. So, a suggested argument for these January exclusive challenges is simply that a lot of people are looking for the latest hashtag trend that will score them a few new followers. It’s good to be current, obviously. But, actively growing your armpit hair (#feminism)? I’m not so sure - in the grand scheme of things it’s trivial, because I fail to see how growing your armpit hair ‘so daringly’ is progressive. If anything, the limelight of it all proves that women are still having to validate it. Girl, please. I fear fads are like one of those personalitybased colour code tests in the way that these ‘trends’ warrant a certain sense of belonging. And the time limit of a month isn’t comforting it breeds the attitude “I’ve done my time, so I don’t need to do it anymore” - god forbid when people ‘try’ to recycle for a whole month. In this regard I am so happy that February is here so I can acclimatise to some normality – like my neighbour not pretending they’re a fitness freak.
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Five good reasons to Five good reasons to
Québec’s unspoilt landscapes, lush forests, over a million lakes and pristine waterways including the mighty Saint Lawrence River make the province a haven for more than 650 species of fauna, including 90 mammals and 300 birds. Each year nature lovers travel from across the globe to see Québec’s spectacular wildlife in its natural habitat. With three main climates and four distinct seasons, it’s no surprise that wildlife flourishes in Québec’s natural environment and there are a wide range of wildlife watching opportunities for visitors throughout the year.
Grey Wolf Québec is home to the fourth largest wolf population in Canada. More than 7,000 wolves inhabit areas north of the Saint Lawrence River. The grey wolf can be observed year-round and the best places to spot this species can be within protected reserves such as the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve and Laurentides Wildlife Reserve but there are also several other ways to observe the elusive grey wolf. These range from wolf calling activities to up close and personal encounters with a 30-strong pack of wolves at Parc Mahikan, located in Girardville north of Lac-Saint-Jean.
visit visit
Blue Whale Between May and October, Québec’s Saint Lawrence River comes alive during the migration of 13 species of whale, including the majestic blue whale. Each year the river becomes the seasonal residence of the largest group of blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere, as the whales migrate here to feed on krill. The best place to spot the whales is at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord. A number of whale watching experiences depart from Tadoussac on the north shore and Baie-Sainte-Catherine on the south. Whether aboard a sightseeing boat, zodiac or sea kayak, the tours offer the perfect opportunity to see these gentle giants up close, including blue whales and humpbacks! Guests can also learn more from specialists at the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre in Tadoussac.
Moose
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The moose population of Québec has doubled since the 90s to around 120,000. This North American giant – the biggest antlered animal on the planet. Moose can be found in nature reserves across Québec, such as the Gaspesie National Park, with guided hikes and photo safaris offering the best way to see these iconic creatures. For more information on wildlife watching in Québec visit: www. quebecoriginal.com
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sit sit
wild Quebec Snowy Owl Shy and nomadic, the stately Snowy Owl is the official bird of Québec easily identified as a large, white owl with no ear tufts. Females and young males are flecked black or brown while the male’s plumage becomes immaculate white as it grows older. Unlike most owls, the Snowy owl is diurnal which means that it is active during the day. This adaptation is not surprising considering daylight is continuous within the Arctic Circle where they birds can be found during much of the summer nesting season. Refuge Pageau in western Québec, which offers shelter to wild animals in need of rehabilitation, also houses a number of snowy owls for visitors to observe.
Black Bear Of the approximately 800,000 black bears that inhabit North America’s forests, 60,000 can be found in Québec. Visitors can view these timid and iconic creatures across many regions, including Mauricie and the Québec Maritime region. At the Log Inn, located in Aux Berges du St-Maurice guests can bear watch at sunset accompanied by a qualified guide into the ‘bear’s valley’ and seek refuge in the camp as a post to spot the infamous black bear. Additionally, at Bioparc de la Gaspésie in the Québec Maritime region, a boardwalk has been built to provide visitors with a unique viewpoint from which to observe the bears. Black bears hibernate during the winter months and so summer is the best time of year to spot them.
For those looking to book a wildlife-watching escape to Québec, go to Canadian Affair (canadianaffair.com / 0207 616 9933) who offer a seven-day ‘Wild Holiday’ self-drive holiday from £1,353 per person, with an emphasis on experiencing the province’s nature and wildlife. Highlights of this tour include a bear and beaver watching excursion at Saint-Alexis-des-Monts and Station Duchesnay, viewing these impressive creatures in their natural environment and three hour whale watching cruise from Tadoussac. Guests will begin their journey driving to the Mauricie Region, just a few hours from Montréal, before visiting Jacques Cartier National Park and driving along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River to Québec City.
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! y h c a e p g Lookin
Living Coral has been announced as Pantone’s colour of the year for 2019 so we can expect to see a takeover of related shades throughout the seasons. As mix of deep pinkish and orange tones ‘coral’ can even be interpreted as peach shades and a welcome alternative to overpowering pink, great for a more subtle look. This key living colour will also give way to bold orange but also more easy to wear tan and warmer beiges. If the complete coral inspired look sounds too bright then grey is a great shade to mix with coral and its companion shades, all also working well with black or white. By Fashion writer Gina Akers
Wallaroo Hats, have various peach and coral options with the Catalina Cowboy Sun Protection Hat ideal for that casual, classic look. It has a wire-edged brim for perfect shaping and an eclectic mix of leather, coloured string and beads, visit www.wallaroohats.com Emani Vegan Cosmetics Hydrating Lip Colour in Babycakes (£19), is a Lipstick with a super creamy texture, infused with High Impact Pigments that glide on effortlessly to dispense rich, gorgeous colour, available from www. emanivegan.co.uk
Penhaligons Vaara Eau de Parfum 50ml, (£100), is modern and intensely atmospheric, including head notes of Quince, Carrot Seed, Saffron, heart notes of Moroccan Rose Absolute, Bulgarian Rose Oil, Freesia and base notes of Honey, Cedarwood and Sandalwood at www.penhaligons.com
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Crew Clothing’s Foxy V Neck Jumper in Spiced Coral Marl Cashmere Blend (£49), really brings out the warmth of this shade, from www. crewclothing.co.uk
T-Zone’s Australian Pink Clay Mask (£8.99) is enriched with brightening Kakadu Plum Extract and Vitamin C, hydrating Aloe, soothing Witch Hazel, skin clearing Rosemary, and nourishing Vitamins A & E, to help tighten pores, detoxify and brighten in just 15 minutes, suitable for all skin types, dermatologically tested, vegan friendly and cruelty free, from www.superdrug.com
Crazy Rumors make clean, colourful tasty and ethical lip balms in shades including Coral Tinted Lip Balm (Hibiscus flavoured, £4.99). They are made in natural flavours derived from plants, fruits and vegetables, 100% natural, vegan and gluten free in recyclable packaging, at www.crazyrumors.co.uk
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Words and pictures By Bill Hill The Syrup and Salt Coral ‘Powers’ Sweatshirt with Neon Orange Rainbow Motif (£45) really uses the strength of this shade for a bold look, at www. syrupandsalt.co.uk
The EVY Daily UV Face Mousse has been created by EVY Technology, a Swedish brand of sunscreen and skincare, based on innovative patented technology. This Daily Repair Mousse is also a great winter skin protector, from www.evy. uk.com
For living coral inspired style, footwear can be the perfect start such as the LaCoste Women’s L.12.12 Light-WT Textile and Leather Trainers (£85) at www.lacoste.com
The Sockshop’s Colour Burst Bamboo Socks (£3.99) are super comfy with smooth toe seams, available in peaches and cream, and a range of other fun shades and sizes for everyone from www. sockshop.co.uk
For the home Posterhaste’s Heart Star Maps (from £20), allow you to capture a map of the constellations in the night sky at your chosen moment in time. The map can be made to appear in different shapes including the shape of a heart, they can also be personalised and are available framed or unframed in a range of colours at www.posterhaste.com
Appleyard provide the most beautiful of bouquets and flower arrangements such as the Peach Garden Rose Bouquet inspired by the British garden rose, including heavenly scented sweet vuvuzela roses with white eustoma and white veronica, they can be delivered nationwide, visit www.appleyardflowers. com
Emani Vegan Cosmetics Mosaic Blush in St Tropez (£18), is an all-natural, mineralbased formula the gives the cheeks just the right amount of colour to achieve a natural-looking, radiant glow. Wearable as a bronzer or to add colour to your complexion, at www.emanivegan.co.uk
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Sugarpuffs or Frosties? Kill dad, or don’t? Bandersnatch will make you think differently about your day... Just when you think Charlie Brooker and co can’t get anymore more innovative, - or meta - they do. The latest installment of Black Mirror (on Netflix) has come via a film/game mindbender - an interative film, if you will. On the outside it’s a fun activity, but the further you go down the rabbit hole your brain is soon introduced to all kinds of reflexive
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conundrums! Most of us have played The Sims, and most of us have seen The Truman Show - but Bandersnatch is next level. The Bandersnatch story has at least five different endings, and - as The Ocelot team found out - there are number of different permutations within each of them! It literally makes the mind boggle. And now we deliberate...
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Jamie Hill Ocelot editor
Ben Fitzgerald Deputy editor
Claire Dukes Reporter
Firetop Mountain has nothing on Bandersnatch As a gamer, a choose your own adventure freak and a fan of Black Mirror - Bandersnatch was like manna from heaven for me. The closest thing that I’ve been exposed to that comes close to this sensory experience in recent years would be Telltale Games series of The Walking Dead and Batman stories on the PS4. But, for me, it was an original concept that was completely new. Television has always been a passive experience but this suddenly became something completely new as each viewer had real power to affect the story. I know this will lead to plenty more copycats but I say bring them on. It’s about time TV allowed you to play God. I’ve been saying it for years.
Watching B-Snatch - as everyone is starting to call it - is quite a confusing experience. It’s certainly groundbreaking. I was expecting a video version of the ‘choose your own adventure’ stories - but B-Snat (as people are now shortening B-Snatch) is more nuanced than that; take a ‘wrong’ turn and you go back to the start of a thread you were previously on… or do you? Because in this almost identical story thread, the characters say things like… ‘I’m sure I recognise you from somewhere?’. The effect is uber meta in that the characters attempt to break the fourth wall - reaching out beyond the veil of their own dimension into yours - beginning to suspect that their actions are being controlled by a hidden hand. It’s brilliantly unsettling - slick ingenious… but it gave me a headache. You see, when I watch something I prefer actors to entertain me without the need for my input. I’ve had a hard day doing my job… I don’t see why I have to put in extra hours helping them do theirs. B-Sn didn’t leave me feel entertained. Afterwards I wanted to crash out on the sofa and watch a film. I still can’t work out if it’s genius or just B-S.
I have never been a passive film watcher. I’m always switched on, constantly looking at semiotics - not one for ‘Netflix and chill’. So, you can imagine my delight when I first saw the Bandersnatch trailer. The film itself? Mesmerisingly meta. Bandersnatch, for me, is a cross pollination of The Truman Show and The Sims but with a much more intellectual exploration into conspiracy, simulations and free will. It seemed to be a strange balance between escapism and a reality check - so well aligned with the social commentary style of the other Black Mirror episodes. The concept of Bandersnatch is nothing new, but it is pushing the boundaries within mainstream TV and film. I loved it.
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Game review: L.A. Noire Words by Simon Oxlade
While I’ve desperately been scrabbling down the back of the sofa for the estimated 60+ hours it will take me to complete Red Dead Redemption 2, I’ve decided to look at my gaming backlog and finish a few games that have been hanging around for a while, and I turned my attention to the 4k remaster of Rockstar’s L.A. Noire. Originally released in 2011, L. A. Noire is an action adventure game set in 1947 Los Angeles and steeped in film noir – the cinema aesthetic that saw many films of the 50s and 60 sharing similar themes such as crime, moral ambiguity and corruption. The player controls Cole Phelps, a WW2 veteran starting out as a cop in the city of angels and working his way up through the ranks by solving cases. The stand out technology was MotionScan, a technique where real actors were filmed by up to 32 video cameras in order to capture the actors faces from every angle. It is the subtleties of these facial performances that deliver you the clues in order to ask pertinent questions to unlock clues or confessions from suspects and witnesses and ultimately crack the case. L. A. Noire was a game ahead of the curve when first released in 2011. I originally played it on the Xbox 360 and the new 4k remaster improves a lot of the problems I had with the game on my first playing. The impressive recreation of 1947 Los Angeles is now actually populated with lots of cars and pedestrians whereas I remember it being eerily empty. The city’s buildings now have a lot
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more detail and the lighting model has been utterly overhauled. Window glass now carries distortion, metals have a high shine, and clothing is beautifully detailed. Unfortunately, the upgrade means that the MotionScan faces can now look somewhat low rent and varies massively in quality – in places it is uncannily good, in others it looks like shabby photoshop. The cars drive better, the gun fights are punchier, but the unevenness of the original game prevails – bouncy lunatic car chases straight out of GTA punctuate careful contemplation of clues and responses; Clothes and vehicles change between playable- and cut-scenes; collectibles such as cars and locations jar with such a story driven game. For example, you do not want to just drive around the city like you do in GTA, it just isn’t visually interesting enough and the driving isn’t actually any fun. Also, the logic employed in some of the interrogations isn’t the most obvious - which can be frustrating. So, the 4k remaster is an improvement on the original and if you have a 4k screen it is definitely worth a look. If you played the game before and loved it, this is the definitive experience (with all the DLC and supporting mysteries included). Many of the flaws remain, and it isn’t quite as groundbreaking as it was seven years ago, but if you have never played it, this is a chance to try something genuinely different, something we will probably never see again.
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By Darren Willmott of vinesight.me
Follow our advice (don’t) Government tax income relies on public exceeding suggested alcohol intake targets So that was January, a month of mixed feelings for wine lovers. Do you carry on as normal, observe ‘dry January’ to put right any festive indulgences, or maybe even just use it as a yearly detox? Official doctor evidence is still wonderfully confusing, with conflicting studies offering either extreme views or fence-sitting conclusions. Will sudden abstinence do more long-term damage than the short-term benefits? It seems, no one knows. ‘Dry’ campaigners will argue that if you need to take a monthly break from alcohol you’re probably drinking too much anyway. Sobering stuff! Whether you chose to ignore it or observe it, I hope you made it through OK. Most calendar months now have appropriations such as ‘Stoptober’ or ‘Movember’. There’s even ‘Veganuary’! February doesn’t seem to pair with any such affiliations: you’re simply back to getting on with your life. It’s perhaps a nice time then to reflect on an alternative viewpoint to the annual October to January ‘should-we-shouldn’twe’. My driving instructor once told me that road signs displayed the speed limits, not the targets. Recent research suggests that, when it comes to drinking, people not only need to observe the healthy drinking targets, they also need to exceed them! All for the
sake of the Government and the good of the country. To be clear, I’m not in any way suggesting that anyone should drink to excess, but there is a clear confliction of interests. The Chief Medical Officer (representing the Government) might suggest one upper limit intake figure will keep us healthy and living to a ripe old age, but the Government at large are particularly reliant on keeping the taxes pouring in. The study showed that if drinkers stuck to the current weekly alcohol consumption guidelines (14 units for both men and women), overall alcohol sales would fall by £13 billion per year, a revenue decline of 38%*. That’s a massive shortfall in the expected tax generation and their wider overall financial calculations. To clarify, the Government balance sheet currently factors in people vastly surpassing their own suggested health guidelines. Furthermore, the late 2018 October budget saw duty frozen
for beers and spirits, but not for wine, which saw a 7p per bottle increase (9p for sparkling). This signals that, whilst appeasing the concerns of beer enthusiasts who make up the core drinkers of our sadly diminishing pubs (go CAMRA!), it isn’t a tax holiday on general alcohol drinking, it’s a tax grab on the increasing number of home/wine-drinking austerity minded folk. Figures for the financial year 13/14 (the latest available) show that 81%* of off-trade revenue (i.e. sales outside of pubs/clubs/ restaurants) can be attributed to people drinking outside of the recommended limits. Can we expect producers and suppliers to swallow the additional tax hikes? Unlikely. We’ll simply end up paying more per bottle. Do the Government actually want us to cut down our consumption levels to improve our health, or continue drinking to generate the taxes? It’s a ponderous question. Cheers! * Blenheimcdp
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The Beer Monkey Column From The Ocelot’s tame beer industry insider...
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he world of brewing moves at a furious pace. So, as we journey into the new year, what can we expect to see coming out from our best and most interesting beer pioneers? For what it is worth, here are my top beer tips for the discerning drinker in 2019… First up I must mention IPA, for all things pale and hoppy will once again dominate craft beer taps the country over. The emergence of the fruitier, murkier New England IPA in the last 18 months has breathed new life into the style and forced brewers to up their game and think more out of the box. So, we are seeing ongoing brinkmanship as people overload brews with outrageous amounts of multiple hop varieties or push through single hop programmes and new hop varieties as well as utilising lactose for smoother mouthfeels. We will see an increase in sessionable, lower ABV table beers to complement the monstrously high ABV beers that are out there. Brewers are beginning to show off by proving they can load huge flavours into lower ABV beers. Alongside these there will be a huge increase in alcohol free beers. Many I have tried recently have been incredible improvements on Kaliber!
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One of the most exciting results of the growth of craft beer is the resurgence of quality lagers. Not only has Pilsner had a new lease of life as craft brewers show the big boys how to brew this beer, we have started to see a variety of other lager styles on bars like the sweeter, more malty Vienna or amazing dark lagers as well as hybrids like Kolsch beers. One of the biggest successes coming into 2019, spurred on by the hazy IPA phenomenon, is unfiltered lagers and Kellerbiers. Barrel aging beer also started to really hit the scene in a big way in 2018, with brewers snapping up old whisky, rum and wine barrels in which to mature their beers (in a weird twist, the spirits makers started aging their drinks in old beer barrels). Many of these beers will continue to be big Imperial and Milk Stouts, that beautifully complement the tones imparted by the wood and the residual spirit. But we also started to see a lot of barrel aged sours appearing, aged in oak barrels with fruit added, resulting in precise, tart and elegant beers. Speaking of sours, I think we will continue to witness the revolution in this oldest of brewing traditions. Brewers’ ability to kettle sour with more control than using wild yeasts has allowed them a chance to experiment more, and I think we
will see all manner of sour styles with not just fruity flavours and adjuncts, but more spices and herbs and in a more leftfield move, vegetables. Several American brewers have been playing around with tomatoes for example. Sours are interesting for bars as they are great to convert wine and cider drinkers onto beers. Spices and herbs will not just find their way into sours of course. Brewers are experimenting with these additions in all styles, along with tree sap, coconut, peanut butter, pine needles and almost anything edible you can think of. Coffee beers won’t be going away anytime soon either, although perhaps it is losing some attraction as tea and chai flavours increase. The other byproduct of this experimentation is a return to the old European recipes and beers like Belgian blondes that are being updated for modern palates. Finally, I suspect the new phenomena of Brut beers, those brewed with special yeasts that convert 100% of the sugars into alcohol for a drier, crisper champagne style finish and the use of wine barrels for aging will kick off a whole raft of experimentations in beer to mimic wine flavours and characteristics. Whatever happens, here’s to another great year in beer!
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By Ben Fitzgerald
A history of game
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rive down any country road during the summer months and you will almost certainly have to hammer on the brakes at some point to avoid clonking a suicidal pheasant marching out into the road. They are so highly bred that like members of the aristocracy - their pre-frontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for ensuring that we don’t act like a twonk) is almost entirely absent. They just stride about in their preposterous plumage getting in everyone’s way, oblivious to their surroundings - and pheasants are much the same. Like the entire cast of Made in Chelsea, pheasants could not possibly survive independently in the wild, because they are the result of unhelpful selective breeding.
One of the unfortunate results of this is that members of minor royalty are utterly crap at hunting. This soon became obvious to game keepers working on royal estates who were forced to quickly think up a way of making their pay masters appear to be proficient in this important manly pursuit to avoid losing either a) their jobs b) their Land Rovers c) their heads. So they chose the largest slowest and most gormless birds they could find and bred them with each other in the hope that Lord Farquaar Bisquet D’chocolat would be able to hit one of them with a wide spreading shotgun. When not even this was sufficient to help, they set about getting everyone from the village to work from the other end of the estate, beating the trees and bushes with sticks to scare the useless thicko birds towards
the useless thicko aristocrats to increase their chances of, at least one of them shooting some lead in their general direction. It just about worked (in the same way that if you left enough chimps alone with enough typewriters for long enough they might type out a copy of Iain Bank’s The Wasp Factory) and soon great game reserves were springing up all over the home counties to give the toffs something to do when they weren’t breeding with their cousins. Game birds by definition are birds that are hunted for sport and food. Examples include grouse, partridge, pheasant, quail, snipe (which lends its name to the term sniper) and woodcock (which lends its name to a genital ailment). And the best way to eat them is in a pie. In fact that’s the best way to eat anything.
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The Alchemist, Oxford “This is the kind of science I can get on board with” Words by Claire Dukes
I didn’t really like cocktails when I was first introduced to them “overpriced alcoholic juice” was my underwhelmed verdict. Then again, at that stage in my adolescence, I hadn’t been to a specialist cocktail bar. These days, now times have changed, and my palate has developed, if I want a cocktail, I’m happy to stretch the purse strings. Gone are the days of seeking the best two-for-one deals - I want class in a glass. I’m talking about places like Brickfields (Brockley, London), The Dead Canary (Cardiff) and - my new nearby favourite - The Alchemist (Oxford). The character of The Alchemist is signified through subtle and
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well-executed nods - the first being in the title, ‘alchemist’. The bar is decorated with glass vials you’d use in school science classes, but what goes into them seems like advanced wizardry (science with an edge) - as I soon discovered with Black Magic (gin, more gin, almond, black gold, and citrus). Black Magic lends itself to the very essence of The Alchemist mixology meets theatrics. Unlike my previous experience with ‘drinks for two’ this particular cocktail was extra in every way. Our waitress came over and provided a basic chemistry lesson as she poured out the drinks - I could have learned a thing of two, probably, if I wasn’t
so shamelessly dazzled by the smoking beverage. Based on the twinkling contents I was also curious to know if I would be pissing glitter later. For my next, borderline sardonic, choice I opted for 3.5oz of Happiness (gin, Chambord, Vermouth, and citrus). It was perfect - fruity, yet bitter, and smooth. The evening then ended with a signature classic, a Smokey Old Fashion - concocted with a twist of maple syrup. It was new for me, and it worked splendidly. The Alchemist isn’t an everyday treat, but it’s definitely the kind of science I can get on board with - pro mixologists and wonderful service in a suave setting. They should teach this in school.
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Devizes Festival of Winter Ales There will be beer, food and some singing...
This is the sort of thing that, in all likelihood, might well occur...
Brace yourselves, it’s time for the annual Devizes Festival of Winter Ales! The event, which will take place on from 15 to 16 February is a fundraising knees up to help meet the cost of running the free Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) programme of outdoor events and activities. This year the money will go towards the Devizes International Street Festival, Confetti Batle, Carnival and the Christmas Lantern Parade. Held in partnership with Stealth Brewery, the DOCA festival of Winter Ales will feature bespoke warming
ales and ciders from some of the best independent breweries in the country. And to keep the wolf from the door, punters will be able to choose from a selection of Lovett’s pies and top quality snacks. And as if all that snacking and drinking is not reason enough to book tickets, there is a pretty decent line-up of bands over the three dates including George Wilding, Loved-Up Les Glover, People Like Us and Phil Jinder Jewhurst and some sort of cabaret nonsense (yet to be announced). Tickets are available for three sessions
over two days: Friday 15th February (4pm - 11pm) Saturday 16th February (11am - 5pm) and (5.30pm - 11pm) The event is open to over 18s and tickets will include a half pint glass and enough beer tokens for two half pints. Tickets are available to buy online and are also available to pick up from town venues including Devizes Books, The British Lion, The Vaults and the Wadworths Visitors Centre. For more information see the event website at https:// www.docadevizes.org.uk/ winter-ales
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The Ocelot’s guide to all things theatre this Spring Words by Claire Dukes
It’s weird how quickly February has come around - New Year seems like a far distant memory. But, to be honest, I’m hardly mourning because Spring is on the horizon and that means theatres across our regions have announced some incredible shows coming up! This month The Ocelot has aimed to sort you out with a selection of theatre productions, comedy shows, talks and music for your ears at some of our favourite venues including Oxford Playhouse, New
Theatre Oxford, The Watermill, Swindon Arts Centre and Salisbury Playhouse. As I hope you’ll find, there is a vast range of shows and talks on offer to benefit you culturally - things you may not usually consider opening your mind - and if nothing else entertain you. During the process of creating this guide, I myself felt spoilt for choice and I’m sure you will too. The Ocelot would love to hear from you for show previews and reviews email claire@positive-media.co.uk
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The Neeld, Chippenham Once upon a time The Neeld was a wartime hospital, even a Cheese Hall, but now it stands as Chippenham’s cultural hub for theatre, comedy, dance and talks/Q&As. Upcoming for the months ahead watch this space for award winning hip hop artist Professor Elemental (Feb 1), Clog Musical Theatre’s highly anticipated Blitz! The Musical (March 13 to March 17), and Feast of Fiddles’ 25th annual spring tour (April 6). www.neeld.co.uk
The Pound Arts, Corsham It’s home to an art collective, a theatre and an exhibition space - Pound Arts is nothing less than diverse bringing both contemporary and classic projects through its doors. Key highlights for Spring include comedian Sindhu Vee’s new show Sandhog (Feb 2), and the return of Fest West 2019 kicking off with opera from Over the Moon (Feb 15), followed by Toby Thompson’s I Wish I Was a Mountain (Feb 20) and neo-folksters Young Waters (Feb 23). www.poundarts.org.uk
Cornerstone Arts, Didcot Since 2008 Cornerstone Arts have been providing South Oxfordshire with exhibitions, theatre and outreach work to enrich Didcot’s arts and culture scene. This Spring be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the visual story telling of The Capital (Feb 9), the number one Tommy Cooper Show ‘Just Like That’ (March 1), and the critically acclaimed Hymns for Robots (March 15). www.cornerstone-arts.org
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Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury It’s a little gem out in the wilderness of West Berkshire. Acts small and niche have passed through the doors here - and all profits made go to the Mary Hare School For The Deaf Charity. Highlights for the Spring season include 80’s sensations Moscow Drug Club (Feb 1), The Thinking Drinkers lastest show ‘Pub Crawl’ (Feb 22 to 23), and Haircut 100’s former frontman Nick Heyward’s solo tour (April 10). www.arlington-arts.com
Corn Exchange, Newbury Newbury’s thriving theatre, cinema, learning centre and Kitchen & Bar all in one. Newbury’s Corn Exchange has a really exciting Spring line-up including Barely Methodical Troupe’s stunning show Shift which I could not recommend more - (Feb 7), an exploration of PTS in A Brave Face (March 27), and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Seann Walsh’s ‘After This I’m Going Home’ (May 30). www.cornexchangenew.com
The Watermill, Newbury Fair play to this picturesque little cottage - The Watermill Theatre has been bringing Newbury some of the best award-winning shows around, and the next few months are no exception (look to the left)! Coming up, look out for the in-house production of Macbeth (Feb 28 to March 30), the whimsical and mesmerising story of Amélie brought to the stage (April 11 to May 18), and Sir Ian McKellen ‘On Stage’ (July 5). www.watermill.org.uk
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Oxford Playhouse Last Autumn Oxford Playhouse celebrated 80s years of curtain raising on Beaumont Street. Since 1938 Oxford Playhouse house has been bringing awardwinning, original and innovative works of art to the stage in Oxford and the Spring season is looking particularly fresh. Taking 2019 by the horns start booking your tickets now for shows including girl power at its best with Made in Dagenham (Feb 13 to 16), Rambert2 (March 8 to 9) from “a new group of the world’s best young dancers”, lessons in how to let go with What Comes After (March 5 to 9), Missing (March 19 to 20) by the critically-acclaimed Gecko, the “extravagant and sexy” tale of Nell Gwynn (April 5 to 6), an exploration into a wolrd cosumed by image through Brawn (April 24) a game-changing moment in history by Richard III (May 7 to 11), and talks with Ruby Wax (May 30). For further information visit www.oxfordplayhouse.co.uk
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New Theatre Oxford New Theatre Oxford hit the ground running at the start of 2019 kicking off with the National Theatre’s touring production of Macbeth, and if this Spring’s line-up is anything to go by it’s looking like a great year all round! Don’t miss your chance to see the 30th anniversary tour of Fame The Musical (Feb 13 to 16), Kinky Boots with West End star Kayi Ushe and songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper (Feb 18 to 23), An Evening with The Hairy Bikers (Feb 28), Our House in Town (March 2) for an evening of London’s finest cabaret artistes in the Piano Bar, Art Garfunkel (April 6), Annie (March 4 to 9) direct from London’s West End, the awardwinning Calendar Girls - The Musical (April 16 to 20), an evening of Katherine Jenkins (April 26), and Madagascar – The Musical (April 30 to May 4) with X-Factor Winner Matt Terry. For further information visit www.atgtickets.com/new-theatre-oxford/
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The North Wall Since opening its doors in 2007 The North Wall Arts Centre has built up indisputable momentum, providing Oxford’s artists and theatregoers with cutting-edge performances and exhibitions. Constantly in motion, there’s such a wide range of events taking place in this space. A few things have immediately caught my eye including comedian Suzi Ruffell’s Nocturnal (Feb 1), a
theatrical rendition of Big Brother with The War of the Worlds (Feb 12 to 14), music from “the best British vocalist to emerge in an age” - The Independent - Julia Biel (March 1), an exploration of multi-cultural inequality in good dog (March 11 to 12), and the multi-award-winning Electrolyte (May 2 to 3) eploring mental health through gig theatre. For further info visit www.thenorthwall.com
Old Fire Station Arts at the Old Fire Station is a very progressive and public space in the centre of Oxford, - a place where you can either make or experience art - which also houses its own homeless programme called Crisis. Over the years it’s proven itself to be a very inclusive and creative art hub with some unmissable shows. Ones to watch over the next few months include music from one of the
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UK’s top Folk guitarists John Smith (Feb 2), the political comedy ‘Trump The Musical’ (Feb 22), an autobiographical portrayal of slavery in ‘SOLD: The Mary Prince Story’ (March 14), a cross-combination of comedy and spoken word with ‘Kevin, King of Egypt’ (April 25), and an insight into gender conditioning in ‘She’s A Good Boy’ (April 27). www.oldfirestation. org.uk
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Pegasus Theatre Pegasus Theatre may have only launched in Oxford in 2010, but it is certainly wise beyond its years and now boasts two resident youth companies. The theatre introduces small scale productions that accommodate all ages with contemporary and forward-thinking performances from theatre, sculptor and film. This Spring don’t miss your chance to see Wild Boor Ideas’
family-friendly Hey Little Bird (Feb 9) bebearded storytellers and musical merfolk in the Paper Balloon Theatre Company’s The Boy and the Mermaid (Feb 15 and 16), Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad (March 9) for a “hilarious cabaret musical about depression”, and athletic combat in Lord of The Flies (March 15 to 16). www.pegasustheatre. org.uk
Dancin’ Oxford Calling out around the world! Are you ready for Dancin’ Oxford?! Dancin’ Oxford has been at the helm in Oxfordshire for celebrating and showcasing local, regional and national dance companies. One thing’s for sure - my feet are already tapping at the sight of their Spring catalogue! Don’t miss your chance to see the storytelling of micro-gravity and mythology in Moving
With The Times (March 1 to 2), the awe-inspiring Spring Festival Launch (March 2), a poetical look at dementia in A Million Memories (March 7), an exploration of mental health in Body Politic – Father Figurine (March 8), the critciallyacclaimed Rambert2 (March 8 to 9), and an interative discussion with Moving the Boundaries & Oxford Dance Forum (March 30). www. dancinoxford.co.uk
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Salisbury City Hall Salisbury City Hall has hosted some of the biggest names in comedy, TV, theatre and music with hundreds of names still awaiting to hit the stage. Highlights for Spring have to include Hollywood legend Joan Collins’ Unscripted tour (Feb 21), platinum-selling singer Shakin’ Stevens (March 1), an evening with historian Dan Snow (March 19) and Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (April 30). www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk
Salisbury Arts Centre Now under the umbrella of Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury Arts Centre still remains a key player for the arts in Wiltshire. As well as seeing Fest West into its eighth year there are many exciting shows coming up this Spring including 5 Soldiers: The Body is the Front Line (Feb 1), policeman turned comedian Alfie Moore’s Getting away with Murder (Feb ), Fest West Live Launch (March 2), and stand-up Stuart Goldsmith’s ‘End Of’ (April 13). www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk
Salisbury Playhouse Also partnered in with Wiltshire Creative Salisbury Playhouse is one of the best theatre houses in Wiltshire. Unmissable productions upcoming for the months ahead include the psychological drama The Mirror Crack’d (Feb 15 to March 9), the sensational BalletBoyz in Them/ Us (March 12 to March 13), and Northern Broadsides’ Much Ado About Nothing (March 19 to 23). www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk
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Swindon Arts Centre I believe this is Swindon’s oldest performing arts institute, bursting open its door in 1956. Swindon Arts Centre consistently features up and coming acts as they warm up for the bigger stages making it a prime place for a more initmate show. Keep your eyes peeled for a classic whodunit with Murder, She Didn’t Write (Feb 28), Andrew Bird’s ‘Ha Ha Time’ (March 7) and comedian Ivo Graham’s Motion Sickness (May 29). www.swindontheatres.co.uk
Swindon Dance I maintain that Swindon Dance is one of the most underestimated gems in Swindon - I’ve seen amazing performances from both inhouse and touring companies! So, get these guys on your radar and look out for a Hitchcockian window display in Window Wanderland (March 2 to 3), Ieva Kuniskis’ emotive drama They Live Next Door (March 22), and contemporary ballet with Yorke Dance Project (April 26). www.swindondance.org.uk
Wyvern Theatre, Swindon Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip opened the doors to the Wyvern Theatre in 1971, and yes, the outside could do with a lick of paint but as always it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Be sure to too look out for Henning Wehn’s ‘Get on With It’ (Feb 8 to 9), New Old Friends’ Crimes On The Nile (March 4), M People’s Heather Small (April 14), and The Dreamboys (May 23). www.swindontheatres.co.uk
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Macbeth at New Theatre Oxford – “an avant-garde remaking” Words by Claire Dukes
An apocalyptic outback awaited the audience at New Theatre Oxford as the National Theatre delivered a contemporary and brutalist rendition of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Having only seen amateur productions of Macbeth, last month ignited within me a new-found appreciation for the play. Co-directors Liz Stevenson and Rufus Norris presented a dystopian depiction of Macbeth with modern touches, creating an urban setting that still carries Shakespeare’s motifs of superstition and corruption during the Civil War. This fresh revamp relied heavily on the mise-en-scene, which wasn’t overbearing to the point of distasteful but certainly left the realm of traditional Shakespeare in this respect. Costume design from Mortiz Junge contemporised the characters and effectively blurred the boundaries and conventions of gender roles – this adequately reflected the world we see in 2018/19, which pushed this play once more into new territories. The juxtaposition of Shakespearean language was balanced well with these urban and modern touches rippling through the cast from the ‘War dog’ mentality of the soldiers, to the undressing of hierarchies which seem less prominent in this production.
Photography by Brinkhoff Mogenburg
Attention to detail was carried through in the set, as if loomed over by a thunder cloud ready to break at any given moment, with medieval features varnished in a gothicgrunge aesthetic – the backdrop hanged like seeping black oil, blockading any prospect of new and reformed life to perfectly precursor the decay of the Macbeths. Macbeth’s confliction was brashly portrayed by Michael Nardone, gracing the character with both poetical finesse as well as brutish masculinity. Amidst his bravado, Nardone also eloquently depicted Macbeth’s emotional torment which became easily identifiable with injections of unexpected humour. His performance was unquestionably matched by Kirsty Besterman who did indeed “unsex” our Lady Macbeth to transcend into a genderless survivor adapting to the brutal climate, while also managing to depict her nurturing compassion. Our leads set the precedent for an unforgiving world in which survival is the only goal, whilst showing a humane accessibility to the characters for a couple essentially trying to exist. A favourable mention goes to the representation of the witches – not wart-faced old women, but majestic entities that haunted the stage and soon Macbeth’s
conscience. This perfectly set up the reliance on mythical prophecies and fantastical ideals that are imbedded within all the characters, connoting to the audience as to why such dire and radical actions are taken. This excellently foreshadowed both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness as they’re consumed by murderous guilt. But not as you might think. No, this was not a power-hungry couple hell bent on the crown but two survivors combatting the desolate world around them. This notion was certified by Rae Smith’s striking set design which, frankly, left me mesmerised – I was in awe of the swift stage transitions as the cast weaved in and out of the moving segments. Despite my admirations this wasn’t necessarily an easy watch. For those unfamiliar with Macbeth it could have feel quite enduring in this respect, making some narrative steps uneasy to follow – some scenes forgoed their welcome, whereas others concluded too soon. That being said, this production of Macbeth seems to take a more tailored and specific approach to focus less on the traditional telling of Macbeth, but reshape a story of gender roles, corruption, and sacrifice and spin it in a – dare I say – avant-garde remaking to resonate with audiences today.
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Gallery 9 New Sentimentalism Gallery Number Nine in Theatre Square, Swindon, is inviting creatives to submit work for an exhibition featuring both UK and International artists. Artsite curator and artist Beatrice Mar, who is organising the event in partnership with fellow artist Elena Stavaki, explained: “The theme for the exhibition is based on a concept created by a group of artists called A New Sentimentalism.
“This concept aims to outline the nostalgia of old techniques from Dirty Realism and New Sincerity from the 80s and 90s, a feeling that can only be described as saccharine, something that is really sweet and bitter at the same time. This concept was initiated by the writings of David Foster Wallace on literature and the effect of irony on contemporary culture. “As a response, ‘New
Sentimentalism’ brings forward vulnerability as means for strict expression that challenges artists to showcase their courage in ways that are ordinarily saccharine, thereby noting that in order to escape irony, the subject should be a human and emotional one.” For more information or to enquire about exhibiting, contact bea.v.mar@gmail. com. The show will run from 21 February - 3 March.
Some art, yesterday
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By Ben Fitzgerald
A whole lot of Shakin’ goin’ on! The Welsh Elvis spoke to the Ocelot about the rocky road to success, musical influences and touring the new album... How do you address Shakin’ Stevens? This occured to me in a flash in the dead few seconds before I dialled his number and he picked up… It’s the sort of thing a professional would have found out ahead of time. I briefly considered asking if I was speaking to ‘The Welsh Elvis’ but lost my nerve. “Err what do I call you?” I asked weakly, before adding “Hello”. “It’s Shakey - I’m afraid,” he replies - sounding slightly apologetic. His real name’s Michael Barratt - Shakey’s much cooler. The fact is, Shakin’s got every right to insist upon a stage name - he’s a frigging Platinum selling artist - from an era when you had to sell a huge number of records to earn a slot on Top Of The Pops. And when I was 10, he was the epitome of cool - a shot of Rock n’ Roll electricity in a market dominated by po-faced foundation-wearing big-hair wearing humanoids. “I stood out like a sore thumb at that time I have to say - but I must have clicked for some people because it was This Ole House that really took off for me and went global.” And to this I can attest - my mate Rotatin’ Richard Andrews and myself, Boppin’ Ben Fitzgerald, had his dance moves locked down tight at the St Mary’s Primary School disco. For those who were not around for the birth of Rock n’ Roll, Shakey was there to re-invent and repackage it for a new generation. And although it may fade away,
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double denim, brylcreemed hair and hip gyration will always have a bookmark in the lexicon of cool. When Shaky shot to fame he was already a seasoned circuit professional - having cut the cloth since forming his first groups in the mid 60s - The Olympics, The Cossacks and The Denims in quick succession. “I always wanted to sing and perform - I was brought up in a big family. I’m the youngest of 13 so there was always a lot going on at home. But I did have to work hard to achieve the success that I eventually found.” The former milkman and upholsterer got off to a false start, signing to Parlophone Records in the late 60s where Michael adopted the stage name Shakin’ Stevens - inspired by his old school friend Steven Vanderwalker - and fronted Shakin’ Stevens and the Sunsets. “It was our first step up - and we even opened for The Rolling Stones in 1969 when they came to Cardiff. It was an amazing experience and great to meet the Stones at that time.” But success was elusive - with their album never really taking off in the UK, despite seeing some success in mainland Europe. “We spent seven years on the road - where I really learned my trade. In fact at the time it was the only way to learn how to do it. But my first big break came when I was spotted during a London gig and invited to audition for a new West End musical, Elvis! Where I became one of three actors to
take on the role. It was that break really that allowed me to find real fame with my first hit This Ole House and the rest followed from there.” A slew of hits followed, with 10 more songs reaching the top five including three number one hits Green Door, Oh Julie and Merry Christmas Everyone. Since then, Shaky has become part of the musical furniture - with Merry Christmas Everyone popping by every December like a good friend. And as well as dipping in and out of the album charts with greatest hits albums he also cemented his place in rock n’ roll history by opening the second day of Glastonbury in 2008. Shakin’ Stevens will be kicking off his Greatest Hits and More tour at Salisbury City Hall on Friday March 1 2019 - the first of 18 dates. Audiences will be treated to reworkings of his songbook of 33 hit singles. And he will also be showcasing tracks from his 12th studio album Echoes Of Our Times - which sees Shaky shakin’ off rock n’ roll to embrace a range of other musical genres. “From country rock to Cajun, classic rock to Latin and blues to Americana I’ve had the pleasure of rediscovering the jewels from my repertoire that are so well liked. Of course there’ll be hits and some songs that I haven’t performed live on stage for a decade or two... so some surprises.” For tickets log on to www. eventim.co.uk
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on!
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‘For the Song’ competition has smooth first round Words by Claire Dukes Photography by Jennifer Berry
The winner: Paul Lappin Song: ‘Life was Good’
There’s a new music competition in town. Earthworm Recording Studio, based in Swindon, have launched a new music competition ‘For the Song’. The entry is simple: record a demo of an original song of any genre. The idea behind the competition is to assist independent musicians in getting some limelight. The winning song will receive £500 worth of free recording time (at Earthworm Recording Studio), music production, professional
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photography, and video promotion. A team of industry experts will select the winning track. The musician, or band, will also be given a live set to debut the finalised song. Sound too good to be true? Well, we will soon be following up on the progress of For the Songs’ first winner - Paul Lappin. In support of the competition, The Ocelot will be having a chat with Paul to talk about his track ‘Life Was Good’. Watch this space.
Jon Bucket, producer at Earthworm Recording Studio: “In October of last year we launched ‘For the Song’ - a collaborative idea of Earthworm Recording Studio and local music and media professionals to find a great song from an independent artist and lend it a collective hand through production, recording, photography, video and promotion. “When we closed submissions on November 1 it was clear we had so many impressive entries across a wonderful spread of styles and genres. Great song writing is alive and very well indeed. It’s been fun to listen to them all and also very challenging to decide on our winner. “We poured our collective ears over all the submissions and by Christmas had selected a long list of 15 songs, all of which had scored top marks from at least one of the panel. Over the following weeks we considered each in detail; lyrics, melody, arrangement, scope for us to make a real difference to the production/recording, suitability for live shows, visually stimulating for video, radio friendliness, originality, and many other factors. We narrowed it down to our Top 3 - ‘Good Shoes’ by Pete Goss, ‘Fuzzy Love’ by Jess Tuthill and ‘Life was Good’ by Paul Lappin. “All great songs were submitted with wonderful musiciality and performance energy. We would have been thrilled to work with any one of them. “We could only however choose one song for this year and ‘Life was Good’ by Paul Lappin won us over. We’re excited to be working with Paul and can’t wait to get started and aim for a release in a few months time!”
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Single review: Running Up That Hill Artist: Candy Says www.candysays.bandcamp.com
Covering Kate Bush is no easy feat. And yet, Oxford’s Candy Says have completely owned their cover of Bush’s Running Up That Hill. From the moment the track begins I feel as though the space around me will plunge into darkness, for neon lights to then electrify the room. It’s thrilling from the get-go. Candy Says’ take on the classic is unquestionably colder, but despite its dark
“It’s thrilling... a haunting remake”
depth there’s a fragility echoed in Julia Walker’s vocals - majestic, yet sombre. The track still maintains the bewitching qualities of the original but holds its own in a haunting remake which has been twisted with electro pop the use of synth keeps that founding mystical quality but lends itself to the contemporary music market. Running Up That Hill has been written by Candy Says (Julia and Ben Walker) and
Marc Canham for a new Netflix thriller, ‘Close’. I’ve seen the film advertised and have yet to dive in. Running Up That Hill is all the convincing I need to take the plunge. This is another exemplary track from a cutting-edge band. I can’t wait to see this performed live. Candy Says will be releasing their latest EP, ‘You Are Beautiful; We Are All Beautiful’ in April followed by a UK tour.
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One final flight for UFO
In what will be frontman Phil Mogg’s last ever shows with the band, UFO are set to embark on thier Last Orders – 50th Anniversary Tour and will be coming to Oxford in March. Over a career spanning 51 years, U.F.O have released 22 studio albums, and were big in the late 1970s and early 1980s with several albums and singles, (including their 1979 live album Strangers in the Night, in the UK and US
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Top 40 charts, and have sold over 20 million records worldwide. UFO are considered one of the greatest classic hard rock acts, and are cited as one of the key influences on the 1980s and 1990s hard rock and heavy metal scenes. Prepare for lift-off with UFO at the O2 in Oxford on Saturday 9 March at 7pm. For information and tickets see www. academymusicgroup.com/o2academyoxford
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Music for the months ahead Words by Claire Dukes
Music-wise I am loving 2019 so far! From my perspective The Bullingdon, Oxford, is boasting the stellar line-up in this edition - Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, Laura Veirs, She Drew The Gun, Willie J Healey, and Beans On Toast (to name a few)! But, needless to say, Oxford’s O2 Academy and
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Swindon’s Level III are close seconds. At the O2 we’ve got Blue October, Buckcherry & Hoobastank, and Sea Girls - leading up to Oxford’s Candy Says and Kanadia at the start of March. And I have to admire the turnaround of Level III - last year it closed its doors for what was thought to be for good (again). But fortunately, The Victoria’s
owners have taken it over and have booked in Pete Doherty & The Puta Madres, Sean McGowan, Reef and Electric Six! I definitely know who I’m going to see! The Ocelot always wants to hear from you! For music previews, interviews and reviews email claire@positive-media.co.uk.
www.theocelot.co.uk
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The Real Cheesemakers
Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes
Willie J Healey
Where: The Neeld, Chippenham When: Friday 1 Feb, 7.30pm www.neeld.co.uk
Where: The Bullingdon, Oxford When: Thursday 7 Feb Doors open: 7pm www.thebullingdon.co.uk
Where: The Bullingdon, Oxford When: Thursday 14 Feb Doors open: 7.30pm www.thebullingdon.co.uk
Blue October
Allusinlove
Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres
Where: O2 Academy, Oxford When: Friday 15 Feb Doors open: 6pm www.academymusicgroup.com
Where: Jericho Tavern, Oxford When: Monday 18 Feb Doors open: 7.30pm wwwthejerichooxford.co.uk
Where: Level III, Swindon When: Monday 18 Feb Doors open: 7.30pm www. level3swindon.com
Sean McGowan
She Drew The Gun
Kanadia
Where: Level III, Swindon When: Thursday 21 Feb Doors open: 8pm www. level3swindon.com
Where: The Bullingdon, Oxford When: Friday 1 March Doors open: 7pm www.thebullingdon.co.uk
Where: O2 Academy, Oxford When: Saturday 2 March Doors open: 6pm www.academymusicgroup.com
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Agony Girl Five-year-old Amy celebrates her birthday this month and is hoping for nothing but LOL dolls to fulfil her life of owning every LOL doll in the world, but she’s still got time to answer your questions. We read her the questions and these are her answers... honest. Dear Amy, I’m really confused. I’m a girl and I’ve started to grow hair in my armpits but I’m being told I need to shave them. Why should I? My brother doesn’t have to shave his so why should I shave mine? And how do you shave your armpits anyway? It’s really awkward. Claire, Dixon Street, Swindon You have to get a shave beard thingy and instead of getting your armpits shaved you should leave them and let them grow more and then shave them. You could turn them a funny colour too. That would be funny. Dear Amy, What is the best way to save up the deposit to buy a house? I’ve heard fixed ISAs are good but should I be a bit braver and gamble on the financial markets to really see a sizeable return in a short period of time? Karen, Kidlington Save your money so you can get a house even if it’s £150,000. I would get an LOL Doll house. For my birthday can I have an LOL Doll house? They’re £150,000 too. That’s actually how much an LOL Doll house is. Dear Amy, Just lately I’ve been afraid of my own shadow. It’s always there just behind me following me wherever I go. The other day it was even in front of me watching me but when I turned around it was behind me again. How do I make my shadow go away as it’s getting a bit creepy now? Dave, Devizes You shouldn’t be scared because it’s only a shadow from the sun. That’s it. Go somewhere not sunny if you want to get rid of it.
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Dear Amy, Would you visit a zoo if it was just a zoo for invisible animals? How would you know it’s not just you staring at empty cages with the zoo owners just playing recorded animal noises to fool you? What do we do about all of these zoo owners trying to make a fast buck by conning people that they are seeing real life invisible animals when in fact they are conning you? Steve, Swindon Yes. I would hear the sound of a snake and I would go in and touch one of them and then I would know if it was real. If it bit me I would tell the owner to tell it off. Dear Amy, Can we ever truly know ourselves? Ben, Swindon Yeeeaaaasssss! Because weeeeee areeee ourrrrrselves. Just look in the mirror. Next! Dear Amy, If all the world is a stage and the men and women merely players is the moon the backstage area and the sun the box office? Gavin, Chippenham No. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve not been to the moon. I might build my LOL Doll House on the moon. Dear Amy, What are you doing right now? Donald, Washington Sitting on a chair. To write into Agony Girl send in your questions to editorial@theocelot.co.uk
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