Indigo i786- Freshers Edition 2016

INDIGO 2

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

FEATURES 3 Letters to My Fresher Self: timely advice just for you Interesting Trivia: some tidbits of information to impress your friends when they ask about Durham FOOD & DRINK 4 Featuring local restaurants and cafes, and why they chose to enter the F&B industry 5 A short guide on the best places to dine TRAVEL 5 The ‘experience’ generation: why we spend more on an experience over any physical item while on holiday 6 Take me back: Summer 2016 in pictures FASHION 7 Interviewing Dr Philip Warkander on why we should care about what we wear 8&9 Indigo’s own minimap showing what’s happening around Durham FILM & TV 10 Interviewing TV personality and Durham Alumnus Nick Mohammed 11 Film & TV show you where university film societies are and what they offer MUSIC 11 & 12 Introducing the hottest clubs around Durham and Newcastle: the best worst nights of your life guaranteed BOOKS 13 The Durham Book Festival is coming: what to look out for during this year’s event VISUAL ARTS 14 Looking out for the best art exhibitions both in Durham and elsewhere STAGE 15 Interviewing Durham Student Theatre President Isabelle Culkin: is student theatre worth your time?

CREATIVE WRITING 16 Hello Goodbye

Cover photograph: Asher Haynes, Palatinate Flickr

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irstly, to the freshers: a very warm welcome to Durham University; and to the returners, welcome back.

This year, Indigo – Palatinate’s arts and lifestyle pull-out – is going to focus much more on you: the students. We’re going to publish more content that’s more directly relevant to you. This means putting up more guides to upcoming events around Durham, as well as giving you more timely updates as to what’s going on.

I hope your university experience has been good so far. I look back upon my first year very fondly, but while I didn’t exactly struggle with getting used to university life, I understand it can be extremely distressing for some students – especially if it’s their first time living away from home.

So to the nervous, afraid, and distraught: know that Durham is an extremely welcoming community where people will be there for you.

Whether it’s your Frep team, College staff, or pastoral tutors, they’ve been some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, so I urge you to reach out to them if you need help.

College communities and societies – distinct from university-level societies – are there; join these to ease yourself into the wider university community. Their smaller size means socialising within them is less intimidating and more intimate.

But to the bravados among you who are absolutely ready to own it, I say: take advantage of the (at least) 17,000-strong community we have in Durham University.

Put yourself out there, and don’t be confined by the limits of your College. Try everything. Get stuck in. Join many College and university societies, explore the town fully, and go to as many random events as possible, even if just for the free wine (like the Palatinate Welcome Drinks on 13 October for instance).

To help with this, the team has dedicated the centre pages (page 8 & 9) a map of Durham, featuring numerous points of interest to explore.

Hope you have an awesome Fresher’s Week and I wish you the best of luck in your studies and a great year ahead.

INDIGO EDITORS YC Chin Olivia Howcroft (deputy) FEATURES EDITORS Isabelle Culkin Sophie Paterson (deputy) CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR Anna Gibbs STAGE EDITORS Sofya Grebenkina Alison Gamble (deputy) VISUAL ARTS EDITORS Jane Simpkiss Lolita Gendler (deputy) BOOKS EDITORS Ellie Scorah Aaron Bell FASHION EDITORS Victor Schagerlund Emma Dennison (deputy) FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Divya Shastri Ariadne Vu (deputy) TRAVEL EDITORS Naoise Murphy Charis Cheesman FILM & TV EDITORS Simon Fearn Eugene Smith (deputy) MUSIC EDITORS Rory McInnes-Gibbons Bethany Madden (deputy)

YC www.palatinate.org.uk www.facebook.com/palindigo Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @indigodurham

#readpalatinate

Have a question, comment, or an idea for a story you’d like to write?

Email indigo@palatinate.org.uk to get in touch.

FEATURES Wednesday, 5 October 2016

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Letters to My Fresher Self Dear freshers, here’s some advice you may or may not want to take...

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ndigo Features asked students what advice they would give themselves if they were able to do their freshers’ week again. Here is a list of some of the most useful (and perhaps not so useful) advice you will come by.

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People just waste time going off and getting wrecked in the evenings and wake up at 1pm the next day. Do stuff during the daytime. Don’t waste a minute of your freshers’ week.

- Second year English Literature student from Collingwood

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Don’t break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend in freshers’ week. Rash decisions pay.

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You will spend the next two years ignoring the friends you made in freshers’ week. The first person you meet when you move in doesn’t have to be your best friend. Just wait.

- Fourth year Biology student from Hild Bede

Ask Urban Oven for a promotional jumper.

Just do it.

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Freshers’ week doesn’t have to be the time of your life. Just get as involved as you can without physically draining yourself. How much you want to do is completely up to you. Some of the best nights you will have are the nights you stay in getting to know the people on your corridor.

- Second year Philosophy student from St. John’s

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Back up your work. Your computer freezing 20 minutes before a deadline is a very real possibility, and you won’t be excused for handing in your work late. Speaking of which, don’t leave your work till the last minute, even though you almost probably and definitely will.

- Third year Politics student from Van Mildert

- Third year Natural Sciences student from St. Chad’s

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Don’t sign up to every single student society when you hit the freshers’ fair. You will notice a significant hit to to your bank account when you leave. You will also notice that your freshers’ week ambition doesn’t pay off.

Note to self: you are lazier than you realised.

- Second year English Literature student from St. Cuthbert’s

- Third year Politics student from Hild Bede

- Third year Theology student from Grey

- Second year History student from St. Chad’s

Get a purple pass.

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If you’re not going to pay attention in your lectures, don’t go. If you’re going to bring your laptop and phone, turn off your wifi.

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Library fines build up quickly. Don’t overestimate how much you are actually going to read your books at home. You are more likely to forget you brought them home, misplace them, and receive a polite message from Billy B saying you’re now £20 in debt to them.

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It’s ok to be homesick. It will often hit the people who don’t expect it the hardest. More importantly, it’s also ok to talk about feeling homesick - you are absolutely not the only person around you who feels that way.

- Second year History student from Hatfield

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It may already be too late, but don’t buy your entire reading list, and if you’re going to buy any, definitely don’t buy it brand new. You will be surprised by how little you will use books which the reading list emphasised as being vital.

- Second year English Literature student from St. Cuthert’s

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Anyone who judges your for your abundant (or lack of) sex life clearly hasn’t grown out of high school. Do whatever works for you.

- Third year Natural Sciences student from Hatfield

You will not learn from this mistake.

- Third year Combined Arts student from Hatfield

A Short Introduction to Durham Some background and trivia about your new home

Origins The name Durham is derived from the Old English and Norse ‘Dun-holme’ meaning ‘Hill-Island’. Local legend attributes the founding of the city to a tale of monks following two milk maids who were searching for a dun cow. They were supposedly led into the land surrounded by the River Wear, at which point they were no longer able to move Cuthbert’s coffin, which was perceived as a sign that a new shrine was to be established there.

Future Prospects Durham has the highest number of inter-student marriages, with an alleged 72% of graduates tying the knot with a fellow graduate. There’s no hurry though, as one third of these relationships start after graduation.

Secret societies Durham is home to many secret societies. One of the best known examples are the ‘31sts’, who would purportedly streak around Palace Green on the 31st day of each month before the clock struck twelve.

That is, until the police noticed the pattern and they subsequently streak more spontaneously as a result.

Superstitions Be wary not to climb to the top of the Cathedral before graduation, as superstition has it that doing so will prevent you from getting a first. No need to worry about this right now though, as the tower is under renovation at present. This superstition is linked to an early University College student, who threw himself off of the tower in despair over his exam results.

A bell is rung every day at 9PM and has been

since the medieval times to mark the curfew, except for on Saturdays after one of the bell-ringers mysteriously disappeared.

The back staircase of Durham Castle is said to be haunted by ‘The Lavender Lady’, where she is said to have fallen to her death.

Colleges Durham is one of seven collegiate universities in the UK. The University has 16 colleges, its oldest being University College which was founded in 1832 and is the oldest inhabited university building in the world. Students used to have to bring their own servants and furniture to their university accommodation, so Bishop Hatfield’s Hall (now Hatfield college) was created as a more affordable alternative.

The newest college is Josephine Butler, which was established in 2006.

FOOD & DRINK 4

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

A Venture into Flat White

Co-owner and founder of Flat White, Peter Anglesea

By Reece Moore food@palatinate.org.uk

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pen six-days-a-week (Tuesday to Sunday), and offering the best rocky road you will ever consume in your life, over the last five years Flat White has become an established Durham favourite. The pioneers of the Flat White businesses are Peter Anglesea and Patrick Clark, two local businessmen who opened the Flat White Café in 2010. It has been a fruitful journey for Peter and Patrick, with the high demand for their artisan coffee, great food, and great service leading to the opening of the larger, more food-oriented, Flat White Kitchen in 2015. Now almost a year on, Pete and Patrick have decided to expand their venture with Flat White After Hours.

Flat White After Hours is the Kitchen’s answer to the lack of good social places here in Durham, that focus on small plates and wine, which are made for sharing and socialising. In my interview with co-owner Pete, I asked why he wanted this kind of experience to be available, and he said that “there wasn’t any place he could think of that he would take his friends to if they came over.” Like any good businessman, Pete noticed a gap in the market and attempted to fill it.

Pete and Patrick want to educate people, especially students, on the importance of sharing good food and wine – something they feel is becoming less common.

Flat White After Hours offers speciality wine and a small plates menu. The small plates are a take on the traditional arrangement of meal time; replacing starters, mains, and dessert with multiple dishes that are meant to be shared between the table. So instead of a three-course meal, there are various dishes coming out at different times that the group can enjoy.

My first experience of Flat White After Hours seemed surreal. I go to either the Kitchen or Café daily, so seeing Flat White in a more peace-

ful setting was strange. However, I wanted to embrace this new experience, so quickly got to picking my dishes that would be shared with my friend Craig. We went for four different dishes of sourdough bread, panna cotta, corn fritters, and lamb - all of which proved to be delicious.

The original plan for After Hours was to pair speciality wine with cheese boards and charcuterie, but the Flat White chefs suggested the small plates concept in order to use their vast talents and culinary experience, which Pete said may not be fully utilised during the day.

Our After Hours meal allowed me to see a different side of Flat White, and I was greatly impressed with the chef’s skill and creativity.

Flat White has been able to accumulate a cult like status, with huge queues outside of its door on a daily basis After our meal, we were the first to see the new seating and social area. Flat White is a four floored building – the first and second floors serve customers, the first lower floor is where the kitchen and toilets are, and the bottom has a new outside seating area.

This is a lovely addition to Flat White, with the same unique décor as the rest of the building. It was a privilege to be shown this area, since Craig and I were the first customers brought there.

The After Hours concept looks like it will be a huge success due to the different atmosphere, accompanied with high quality food and a more intimate style of service.

As mentioned, Flat White has become a cornerstone in the Durham social scene, and the Flat White brand keeps on growing.

The décor of both the Kitchen and Café are a fundamental part of the brand; co-owner Patrick

has a keen eye for interior design, and Pete believes he can do ‘anything with a room’. However, it isn’t only the décor that makes the brand of Flat White, Peter highlighted the brand of Flat White is ‘the whole picture’: the décor, ambience, the staff, the service, and the reaction of the public.

You will find that there are very few people in Durham who haven’t visited Flat White.

Upon being questioned about his independent coffee shop being able to compete with the chain restaurants, Pete said he is filled with pride at how successful his business has been.

The Durham City centre is filled with chain coffee shops, and there is even a Bill’s next door to Flat White Kitchen.

However, Flat White has been able to accumulate a cult like status, with huge queues outside of its door on a daily basis.

Pete attributes this to the brand of Flat White, and the business being able to offer all three of the most important things in a café/kitchen: quality service, quality food, and quality coffee.

Pete feels that because he and Patrick are involved with the day to day running of Flat White, there is room for more flexibility, especially regarding the menu, which changes frequently – something that gives them an edge over chain businesses.

He also feels that the independent nature of his and Patrick’s business gets more out of the staff, who feel privileged to work for a great business – something which may be lost within chain restaurants.

Altogether, whether you’re a new student or a returning student who has been living under a rock, you have to make both Flat White Café and Kitchen one of your first stops in Durham.

It has everything you could ever want or need,and it has quickly become part of the fabric of Durham society.

Photographs: Reece Moore

FOOD & DRINK

TRAVEL Wednesday, 5 October 2016

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Good Eats

The ‘Experience’ Generation

The best that Durham has to offer

Figures suggest we prefer to spend money on creating memories than on any tangible items.

By Divya Shastri Food Editor food@palatinate.org.uk

By Charis Cheesman Travel Editor travel@palatinate.org.uk

W Best for Afternoon Tea: Chapters Tea Room A cosy and inviting establishment, Chapters Tea Room is the perfect place for afternoon tea. There is a great selection of food and drink, with items such as hot chocolate, scones and sandwiches available.

Best for Cakes: 9 Altars Nine Altars has delicious cakes at great prices; the slices they give you are huge and heavenly. You may not be able to finish it, but you will definitely try. I highly recommend the Lemon Curd or Chocolate Cake.

ould you rather: a) buy a flat screen TV, or b) use that same money to go on a road trip? Statistics say you are more likely to want the memories of the road trip than to want that specific tangible item. You want to spend money on things that will leave an impression on you – not just ‘stuff’.

Here lies the product of research into the ‘millennial’ generation. Eventbrite statistics reveal that 78 per cent of American 18-34 year olds (the so-called millennials) would rather spend money on a desirable experience or event than on a desirable product.

From stories of ‘gap yahs’ and inter-railing extravaganzas, I’m inclined to agree with this observation. It seems we crave live experiences – not least travel – for the way they create lasting memories and greater connections to people, communities and the wider world. Don’t experiences shape our identity far more than objects ever can?

Businesses are catching on to this. AirBnB is one example of an idea that has allowed millions to experience something unique – perhaps many of us are no longer satisfied with the standard hotel suite.

We want to find the undiscovered spot, meeting the real people in the local community.

Reflecting on the difference between my

Friendliest Service: Waffley Good Company Waffely Good Company wins me over on many fronts. The service is always friendly and the options are endless. The waffles are super fluffy and you can choose between sweet and savoury. I love the ‘You Cheddar Believe It’ and the ‘Choco Indulgence’.

Best for Burgers: Tango Tango’s tagline is “no bull…best burger in town”.

With monstrously sized burgers which have a range of toppings, a selection of meat and vegetarian burger options, delectable cheesy chips and a good range of starters and salads, Tango is one of the most frequented restaurants in town. It also has student discounts so you don’t have to worry too much about the impact on your wallet, just on your stomach.

Feeling Fancy: The Cellar Door Tucked away in a narrow lane down precarious steps lies The Cellar Door .The restaurant’s aim is to serve fine food with friendly service. The menu is highly intriguing with dishes such as squid ink tempura and a black olive and charcoal cheesecake. This is definitely the place for someone with a refined palate.

Photograph: Divya Shastri

Last year I purchased an El Camino Bracelet – jewellery designed primarily for travellers with the names of countries visited

mother’s and my own generation, I realise that the technology surge explains a lot. Not only do we have ‘stuff’ at our fingertips – next day delivery, JustEat app, even Call of Duty gaming – social media has become central to our generation.

As the researchers have put it, “FOMO drives millennials’ experiential appetite”. In the Instagram world where nothing looks better than a well-edited photo of your most recent trip, night out or coffee date, the fear of missing out drives our generation to turn up and engage.

We are the generation who not only want to experience life, but broadcast it for the world to see.

Has it become cooler to display ourselves living life to the full than to boast of the things we own?

78% of American 18-34 year olds (so-called millennials) would rather spend money on a desirable experience or event over a desirable product It seems that the recent trend of a healthy and minimalist life has also opened our generation’s eyes to the value of life experiences.

Perhaps travel itself is so popular because it captures one of life’s simplest purposes – to understand our world’s creation, connect with others and grow as we do so.

Last year I purchased an El Camino Bracelet – jewellery designed primarily for travellers who could fill their bracelets with the names of countries visited.

For me, my bracelet not only symbolises my travels, but also reminds me to pray for these places as I look down at it on my wrist.

I have met local people, become involved in communities and, though I have only been able to stick around for short periods, these experiential elements were the most precious parts of my travelling.

The act itself – researching ‘millennials’ – assumes that our generation can be shoehorned into one entity.

But I believe this Eventbrite study reveals more to us than the seeming fact our generation desires ‘experience’ over ‘stuff’.

Ironically, I think it shows us that we, ‘the millennials’, are not the same.

Perhaps it reveals that we are each seeking individuality: our own discoveries, our own travels, our own personal stories – experiences which don’t reflect what we have, but define who we are becoming.

Photograph: Phoebe Dill Illustration: Faye Chua

TRAVEL 6

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Take me back...

Itching to recapture the excitement of your summertime travels? Take a visual trip around the world with some of Durham’s student photographers.

(Below) Nothing remains of a home after it is scavenged for usable building materials by locals. Havana, Cuba. Katie Byford

(Below) The serene blue waters of Capri. Jack Sykes

(Above) Huge lantern displays show off the craftsmanship of Chinese artists during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong. Charles Harry Smith

(Above) The rolling sands of the Al Hatta desert, Dubai UAE Roselyn Mensah (Left) A picture that encapsulates the Icelandic landscape – mountains, basaltic lava fields, and clear blue water. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Thingvellir National Park. Alysia Wee

Have a story or photo you’d like to share?

Contact travel@palatinate.org.uk to get in touch.

FASHION Wednesday, 5 October 2016

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Delving into the superficial An interview with Dr Philip Warkander, the world’s first PhD graduate in Fashion Studies.

He discusses the significance of clothes and how revealing they actually can be.

By Victor Schagerlund Fashion Editor fashion@palatinate.org.uk

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n associate Professor at the renowned Lund University in Sweden, Dr Philip Warkander is working within the discipline first conceptualised at Stockholm University in 2006.

In contrast to, for instance, London College of Fashion’s approach, which is highly informed by sociology, this branch is consciously interdisciplinary. It is “where the object of study – contemporary fashion, historical dress, aesthetics, clothes, etc. – inform the choice of theoretical framework and methodology,” he explained.

He thereby points out the significance of methodology in Fashion Studies “as the scope of potential method is so wide” and continues by saying that “most of the seminal texts were written in other disciplines, such as philosophy, art history and sociology”.

More concretely, Warkander maintains that the study of Fashion holds the key to understanding modern society.

Unlike other cultural expressions, such as art, literature and film, “fashion is situated in our everyday lives, through its intimate connection to the clothes we wear on our bodies”.

Developing this, he says: “Fashion has an immediate connection to how we define ourselves as individuals, how we express our dreams, hopes and desires, both individually but also collectively.

“Therefore, fashion also operates as a form of lens, through which we can study the narratives that are being told through what we wear and how we wear it.”

Looking at his outfit, one can tell it is chosen more for comfort rather than looks: he is writing a book about contemporary fashion and needs to be at ease to concentrate.

Dressed casually in Cheap-Monday denim, an Emporio Armani hoodie paired with a Moncler Gamme bleu vest and Gucci sneakers, he

remarks on the irony, considering the subject of his book, and says: “[Hopefully my] sense of dress will improve once the book is done”.

Egocentrism and a strong sense of individualism are often present in fashion, and when asked about the relationship between innate taste and external influences, Warkander turns philosophical. He asks: “Where does the personality come from? Do we have a soul? Are we born with certain traits or do we develop them based on what we experience as children?”

Providing a balanced conclusion, he believes it to be a combination of extrinsic experience and intrinsic personality and that “some people have a greater inclination to think about and care for aesthetics, and to develop strong personal interpretations of style.

“And yes I do think this is part of the very core of who those people are, but that again brings us back to the original question of where we come from.

“In this life, I care a great deal about aesthetics and style, but will that translate to my next existence? I don’t know.”

Often, fashion analysis never goes beyond personal opinion and, according to Warkander, this is a critical error.

In reviewing fashion “a routine mistake is to filter it through our own preferences”, and instead “we should understand it based on the cultural and aesthetic context in which it is presented, and from that point initiate our analysis”.

Objectivity is not necessarily the aim, he says, but “we should try to find as many perspectives and points of view as possible, to compare and contrast with, in order to create a nuanced and critical account”.

Furthermore, he withholds that an understanding of the arts favours any thorough analysis of fashion as it “helps you connect the dots.”

Having said this, Warkander remains hesitant to the current ‘academisation’ of Fashion education.

After years of experience working at prominent schools in France and Sweden, he has seen an increased tendency in of design students being required to write academic essays.

“I would actually encourage young people to carefully think about what it is they want to do in fashion.

“For some, who want to work with management or the business aspect, going to university makes sense. But for others, who want to become stylists or photographers or something like this, I think they should try to become someone’s assistant, and learn the practical aspects of the trade.”

In tandem with his career advice, his final style lesson is about self-assurance and that, in contrast to all dogmatic publications out there, we should “not listen to what others tell [us] so much”.

But perhaps something easier said than done, when indeed our wardrobes are but mere products of contemporary society.

Photograph: Tomas Falmer

INDIGO 8

INDIGO 1 Freshers’ Fair: 5-6 October, Elvet Riverside 2 Palatinate Welcome Drinks: 13 October, 8pm at Kingsgate Bar, Durham Students’ Union – meet the editors and get some free wine!

FILM & TV 3 Science Fiction and Fantasy Society: 6:30pm, every Wednesday in ER141 or ER142 4 Durham Arthouse Film: Every Tuesday at CG19 (Chemistry department) 5 World Cinema Society: Every Thursday night at 19:00 in ER140 FOOD & DRINK 6 Flat White Kitchen: cafe – great for brunch 7 The Cellar Door: restaurant – a refined eatery for more expensive tastes 8 Fat Hippo: juicy and tasty burgers 9 9 Altars: cakes and coffee 10 The Bishop Langley: pub grub 11 Spice Lounge: Indian food – curries and kebabs galore 12 Chapters Tea Room: afternoon tea – great sandwiches and scones 13 Zen: Thai Food – delicious pad thai and dumplings 14 Nadon Thai: thai food – awesome thai fried rice and thai curries 15 Golden Pearl: asian cuisine – cheap and no frills asian food. Great noodle soups here 16 Falafel Alhana: takeout – many takeout joints line Claypath, but this is one of the best 17 Lebaneat: lebanese food – delicious lebanese food; hugely convenient for the Bailey lot STAGE 30 ‘East’ by Steven Berkoff: 20 – 22 October, 7.30pm, at the Assembly Rooms Theatre 31 The Returners Show: Gigglebox by The Durham Revue, 13 October, 8pm at The Assembly Rooms Theatre

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

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INDIGO Wednesday, 5 October 2016

in Durham

ns for the latest and greatest happenings around the city

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BOOKS 21 Empty Pages: new book group at Empty Shop with free tea and coffee 22 People’s Bookshop: independent, radical bookshop 23 Oxfam Bookshop: lots of secondhand books with an especially good classics section 24 Palace Green Library: original university library with archive collections 25 Gala Theatre: apart from being a movie theatre, it is one of the locations for the Durham Book Festival 2016 26 Durham Town Hall: one of the locations for the Durham Book Festival 2016 FEATURES 27 Osbournes: club with LGBT themed night every Monday 28 Cuth’s Bar: Rainbow Night LGBT+A social every Monday at 8pm 29 Durham mosque: located behind the Dun Cow Inn, it’s used by Durham’s Islamic community VISUAL ARTS 18 Art Society: they hold Life Drawing sessions and other events including portrait speed dating, sketchbook binding, and henna drawing in Elvet Riverside 19 History of Art Society: on 22 Nov, Dr Anthony Parton presents a documentary on Van Gogh in Elvet Riverside 20 Photography Society: beginner’s workshop on 11 Oct at PG21 (Palace Green), as well as a night photography workshop on 18 Oct at ER143 MUSIC 32 Loft 33 Klute 34 Trains to Newcastle 35 Wiff Waff 36 Lloyds 37 Loveshack 38 Jimmy Allens 39 Fabio’s 40 Alington House 41 Studio Photo: Screenshot taken from Google Maps Icon illustration: Faye Chua

FILM & TV 10

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Nick Mohammed: comedian, actor, Durham alumnus Currently writing his own sitcom and getting parts in some huge blockbusters, it’s fair to say Nick Mohammed has come a long way since his days as a Geology student at Durham...

By Simon Fearn Film & TV Editor film@palatinate.org.uk

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urham has its fair share of famous alumni – George Alagiah and Jeremy Vine to name a couple – but most of you will probably have seen Nick Mohammed on the big or small screen, perhaps without realising it. In the summer of 2015 you could catch him in cinemas saving Matt Damon from Mars, and he recently rubbed shoulders with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth in a hilariously awkward scene from Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Film & TV catch up with actor, comedian, writer and St. Aiden’s alumnus Nick Mohammed fresh from his five-star Edinburgh Fringe show Mr Swallow – Houdini. He is currently finalising the scripts for Channel Four sitcom Morning Has Broken, which he co-wrote with Julia Davis (Nighty Night, Camping), and the day after we interviewed him is the final deadline for his upcoming children’s book. It’s fair to say Mohammed is pretty in demand, but how did he get here from trudging up and down Elvet like the rest of us?

Aside from working as a professional magician since his late teens, it was far from obvious that Mohammed was destined to become an actor and comedy writer when he arrived at Durham. “I always had this pipe dream that maybe I could be a magician or entertainer in some kind of way,” he remembers, “but because I’d gone from secondary school to university and then applied for a PhD, I’d kind of been swept up in academia a little bit. It felt a little too rebellious to think maybe I could be an artist; I’d never really considered it and certainly didn’t know the route to it.”

Mohammed still has a warm affection for Dur-

There was always so much going on in Durham, it was such a close knit environment

ham, and he remains in touch with the vast majority of the friends he lived with in college. “It’s kind of crazy to think that being put next door to each other kind of dictated the rest of our lives,” he laughs. “There was always so much going on in Durham, it was such a close knit environment – so much fun and such a beautiful place!”

Though it wasn’t until his PhD at Cambridge that he started to think seriously about comedy, in its own way Durham has played a part in his success. “It undoubtedly improved my confidence; not that I was shy, but I was definitely on the geekier side of things at school,” Mohammed remembers. “School was great, but it lacked that tiny bit of ambition which Durham had.”

Unfortunately there were limited opportunities to showcase his growing interest in comedy. He ironically auditioned unsuccessfully for the Durham Revue twice, which at the time “was the only kind of comedy society.”

“There wasn’t another outlet for comedy, so I didn’t do it,” he explains. In fact Mohammed’s time in Durham was not especially out of the ordinary: he was involved in Castle Theatre Company’s summer tours; starred in a few plays at the Assembly Rooms; and conducted Hill Orchestra.

It wasn’t until he successfully auditioned for the Cambridge Footlights while studying for a PhD that his comedic talents became apparent.

It’s surprising to hear that Mohammed’s decision to leave Cambridge in order to pursue comedy wasn’t especially difficult. “It’s very strange to say

Try and be realistic; try and do the dream part time that,” he reflects, “my parents thought it was a big deal!” He took time out from his Geology PhD in the summer for the Footlights’ Edinburgh Fringe run “pretty much knowing I would never go back.”

Instead, he started temping at Morgan Stanley in the day and gigging in the evening, quitting in 2007 when he landed a part in the BBC anthology series Fairy Tales which was quickly followed by his first Radio Four series. “I wasn’t earning tonnes and I could hardly rest on my laurels, but it certainly felt like I was a professional comedian then,” Mohammed says. His advice to other aspiring performers: “Try and be realistic; try and do the dream part time.”

Starting out in television isn’t too difficult “as long as you’re reasonably good and not a dick about it,” Mohammed says prosaically. “It really counts to be quite humble and not assume too much; a lot of those producers remember you and might get you in for another thing.” Saying this, things might be trickier nowadays. “I started off doing it at a good time,” Mohammed said.

“BBC Three was a big thing; they were a bit more experimental and giving new comedians more opportunities. There’s a worry now that budgets have been slashed, but hopefully it might make them take more risks with it being online.”

After considerable success in television (including roles in The Job Lot and Fresh Meat), he started auditioning for film roles, but bagged the chance to star in Ridley Scott’s latest blockbuster through a lucky twist of fate. The Martian’s casting director Nina Gold happened to catch Mr Swallow – The Musical in Edinburgh, in which Mohammed was Northern, nasal and very camp. From this Gould had the surprising thought that Mohammed would be prefect as “this straight American guy” in The Martian, and several more films followed, including Absolutely Fabulous and upcoming literary adaptation The Sense of an Ending.

Mohammed is eager to explore film further, partly because “everything is afforded more time”.

“There’s money in film,” he explains, “so you can shoot a scene a day rather than ten scenes a day like you do on telly. In Bridget Jones I’m only in it briefly for this good fun scene, but we spent one or two days doing it to get it right, and as an actor that’s very fulfilling.” Aside from gracing multiplexes, Mo-

hammed is also excited to begin shooting for Morning Has Broken, which is set for release in Spring 2017. “Getting to work with Julia [Davis] on my first series has been a dream,” he says. “It’s been brilliant fun, but quite scary! There was a patch of time just before Edinburgh where Julia wasn’t around and I had to finish off some scripts on my own and felt a weight of responsibility, thinking that this will go out to a lot of people when it’s televised!”

What with the live shows, films, television and his book out next February, Mohammed is something of a polymath, and keen to keep doing a variety of different work. “It flexes different muscles,” he says, “going from writing Morning Has Broken to Mr Swallow rehearsals in Edinburgh is such a different experience. They all end up complementing each other to a certain extent; they all have my comic voice in them, even if it’s a slightly different tone.”

Throughout, Mohammed has stressed the importance of being easy to work with and, of course, good at what he does – and just under ten years into his career as a full-time comedian and performer he seems swamped with new projects. When success in film and television seems so elusive, perhaps the simpler virtues of hard work and humility are a good place to start.

Photograph: Debbie Scanlan

FILM & TV

MUSIC Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Durham Nightlife

What’s On The presidents of Durham’s film societies tell us what they’ve got in store for you this term.

11

Your definitive guide to the best nights out in Durham

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film-making taster session with Durham’s only production company: Durham Student Productions! We shall be having an informal meeting on Thursday 6th October with a friendly activity to get to know each other and learn the way around some film equipment.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, shall be to split into groups, and create a short (and hopefully amusing) clip of a well-known line from a famous film, supplied to you at random from a hat.

Hopefully this session will give you an idea of the work we get up to throughout the year, and you’ll be excited to come back and get stuck into our larger Freshers’ project! No previous experience is at all necessary! Hugh Memess, Durham Student Productions.

Durham Arthouse Film specialises in screening cinematic classsics alongside thought-provoking indie dramas. As well as high quality English and American cinema, we also offer some excellent foreignlanguage-fare, French periodicals such as La Reigne Margot, alongside the very best of Nordic noir including Mads Mikkelson’s award-winning The Hunt.

We are friendly, relaxed society that is always open to suggestions from our members. It’s only £3 for a year’s membership and £7 for life. And if all that still isn’t enough, we usually go to the pub afterwards! Our first showing will be the classic Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on Tuesday 11th October at 7pm in CG19 (Chemistry department) where we will meet every subsequent Tuesday. Come along! Christian Round, Durham Arthouse Film.

Durham University World Cinema Society aims to show some of the best films from around the world every Thursday night at 19:00 in ER140.

Coming along to watch one of our films is a great way to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of university life for a couple of hours each week.

This year we kick off on 13th October with a screening of the classic The Battle of Algiers: a thrilling historical drama narrating the events which led to the start of the Algerian War. Hope to see you all there! Daniel Milne and Francesco Di Stani, World Cinema Society.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Society will hold weekly TV and Film viewings at 18:30 on every Wednesday in term-time in ER141 or ER142.

Looking further ahead, we will have our own genre convention, DurhamCon, on Saturday, January 28th, with Guests of Honour Farah Mendlesohn and Charlie Stross. Maciej Matuszewski, Science Fiction and Fantasy Society.

By Bethany Madden Deputy Music Editor deputy.music@palatinate.org.uk

Klute If you’re looking for a night of unapologetically cheesy pop, a lack of personal space and a surprisingly good smoking area, then look no further. What more could you want than a club which claims to be the worst in Europe? A title threatened by their recent nomination for ‘Best Nightclub in Tyne and Wear’.

Jimmy Allens The perfect place to go if you turn up to Klute too early. Drinks are cheap and a Jonny Woodgate is essential Durham drinking.

Wiff Waff Ping pong by day, beer pong by night. With Wiff Waff’s signature Paradise Disco Monday night somewhat losing the Battle to Loft’s Cheapskates last year, hopefully they’ll come back fighting.

Fabio’s Fabio’s is the best place to go if you want some space to dance and music that’s not relentlessly pop. A favourite amongst the Bailey colleges, it frequently hosts live music nights which are a rarity in Durham.

General Gyro’s Soundsystem The edgiest night Durham has to offer, promising Jungle, Dub and Rave. Though not a permanent Durham fixture, the nights it holds often sell out in minutes. Held at Alington House on the Bailey, your memory of it will be a weird, hazy night in a community centre, but a fun one none the less.

Loveshack This one’s the biggest that Durham has to offer. Its busiest night is on a Wednesday when the sports clubs flock in droves.

Lloyds The Wednesday night alternative to Loveshack, conveniently situated right next door. If you want slightly more space and don’t mind your clubs doubling as a Wetherspoons during the day.

Loft Situated on North road, this one’s quite far away for students living in college. However, Monday night Cheapskates is the place to be for hip-hop and R&B. Also hosting a fresher’s week edition of hip-hop night Ignition on the 7th October.

Studio The confusing counterpart to Loft, promising to bring Durham’s first techno night with Bleep.Dur. And with a new Saturday night on the cards promising Miami vibes and electro funk, students might be able to stop avoiding weekends.

Newcastle For those longing for big city nightlife, Newcastle is an option as long as you’ve got the stamina for the first train back at 4:45am or are willing to pay around £30 for a taxi back. The classics are Digital or Club Trop (a combo night from House of Smith and Florita’s). If you want something slightly more alternative look out for events at World Headquarters and those hosted by Ape-X. Additionally Cosmic Ballroom is the place to for DJs and electro.

Photograph: Klute

MUSIC 12

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Fantastic Freshers and Where to Find Them Going to gigs in a new city is a great way to christen your freshers’ friendship, fortunately Newcastle is just down the road

By Rory McInnes-Gibbons Music Editor music@palatinate.org.uk

Y

ou will be meeting a fair few freshers over the next week: from the indie nutcase who speaks a different language to the intellectual with his Mother’s record collection to the lad who likes guitars. But what happens next? How about a night in Newcastle to consecrate the amity? If you are game, better target a gig in the North East’s culture capital, Newcastle.

During your time in Durham, you may well spend an unholy amount of time and money watching bands at the 02 Academy. But Newcastle caters for many different acts. From the tiny Cluny to the striking Sage Gateshead (pictured above), there is strong variety in the scene up here.

So don’t be disappointed by Durham’s gigs, get yourself a £4.80 return train ticket and have yourself a mighty fine night on the Toon…

The Unashamedly ‘Indie’ Looks a little aloof and actually cares about what they listen to - making them an awful hipster in your opinion. However, keep faith because they may reveal a philosophical heart of gold while waxing lyrical about the merits of Morrissey.

Don’t ever tell them they are hip, they will either choke on a gogi berry or shrug smugly under their sheepskin. Financially, an Indie queen will prove relatively reasonable to accompany. So even if you haven’t heard of the act, trust their judgement, they will like that (a lot):

Wild Beasts - 7 October - Northumbria Students Union, £17.50

Field Music/Band of Skulls - 22 October - Sage Gateshead, £14.51/Northumbria Students’ Union, £17.60 (Don’t book both) Sleaford Mods - 24 October - 02 Academy, £16.87 Slow Club - October 26 - The Cluny, £7.50

The Damned -19 November - 02 Academy Newcastle, £28.12 Madness - 8 December - Metro Radio Arena, £35 Pixies - 3 December - 02 Academy Newcastle, £35.75

White Boys with Guitars

Nostalgic Nigel Those who probably had access to copious quantities of their parents’ vinyl. They may not look like they are particularly ‘into’ music, but they sure as hell know how to rock like it’s 1977. They have the habit of knowing the lyrics to every song at the silent disco, though they might look a bit geeky.

Sadly, you will need a wedge of overdraft to accompany this person to the gig, but get it right and it might just be a once in a lifetime experience:

Buzzcocks -12 October - 02 Academy Newcastle, £25.31 The Specials - 20 October - 02 Academy Newcastle, £45 The Undertones - 27 October - Sage Gateshead, £23.65

To be honest with you, I’d probably avoid the ‘lads’ like the plague and stick to the old-school or indie crew. Otherwise, you could get christened into some Noel Gallagher renaissance tribe, or worse, the Liam Gallagher revivalism movement. Unlikely to be an intellectual, they probably worship Ka-sa-bi-an and believe music originated in the 1990s though they believe Britpop to be a Soviet conspiracy. However, you might get lucky and find yourself a Jamie T fan: the Tinder date from heaven:

Courteneers - 21 November - O2 Academy Newcastle, £28.12 Brian Fallon and The Crowes - 25 November - 02 Academy Newcastle, £25.31 Jamie T - 16 October - 02 Academy Newcastle, £28.12 Slaves - 17 November - 02 Academy Newcastle, £18 Photograph Courtesy of Chris Beckett and Dav1dk1ng via Flickr

BOOKS Wednesday, 5 October 2016

13

Durham Book Festival Highlights Books takes you through what to book at the Durham Book Festival 2016

By Ellie Scorah and Aaron Bell Books Editors books@palatinate.org

E

very year poets and authors and people who love books descend on Durham for the annual Durham Book Festival. Established in 1990, it is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, featuring big names like Michael Morpurgo, brand new commissions including collaborative songwriting, and stunning venues such as Palace Green Library, the Cathedral and Durham Town Hall. There is something for everyone, from traditional author sessions to poetry readings, theatre, and even a silent book disco.

Indigo Books have collected our top picks from the programme below and will be reviewing the events throughout the week online.

Owen Jones: The Politics of Hope Tuesday, 11 October, 7.30pm, Gala Theatre Post-Brexit and in the midst of the US election campaign, a politics of hope is certainly an attractive idea.

Guardian columnist and author of Chavs and The Establishment, Owen Jones looks at alternative ways of building societies and ending inequalities and injustice. With his own independent YouTube channel and a willingness to challenge authority, Jones often steps outside traditional media views to provide a welcome fresh look on society. If you are feeling disillusioned with politics, this is the event for you!

be discussing his new book The Co-op’s Got Bananas! A Memoir of Growing Up in The Post-War North.

A fascinating insight to post-war life, remembering the rationing, the repairs, and austerity that formed the path towards the sixties, as well as the art of just getting by as a young person amongst it all.

Writing the First World War with Michael Morpurgo and Pat Barker Friday, 14 October, 7pm, Durham Cathedral Do you have fond memories of curling up with a Michael Morpurgo book at the age of ten? Or perhaps you have had your heart torn apart by Pat Barker’s Regeneration? The festival’s flagship event presents two of Britain’s foremost First World War literary chroniclers to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Somme offensive. Pat Barker’s Regeneration, the first novel of her awardwinning First World War trilogy, is this year’s Big Read and has been distributed throughout the region, while Michael Morpurgo has an impressive list of children’s literature to his name, including the hugely successful War Horse. This is a unique opportunity to see two great minds in conversation in a beautiful venue and is not to be missed!

Laura Bates: Girl Up Saturday, 8 October, 10.30am, Durham Town Hall Girl Up is about what it means to be a young woman in today’s society. From media representation to sex and relationships, Laura Bates laments at the double-standards surrounding women and provides some handy patriarchy-smashing tips along the way.

In 2012, Laura Bates founded the Everyday Sexism project, a catalogue of sexism endured by women on a day-to-day basis and hardly the cheeriest resource, but providing a significant contribution to raising awareness of the need for feminism. Bates follows the project with Girl Up’s practical advice. This talk is a brilliant opportunity to hear one of today’s most important campaigners for women’s rights.

An Evening with Anthony Horowitz Wednesday, 12 October, 7.30pm, Gala Theatre

A (secret) personal favourite here, Anthony Horowitz is the author of teen-fiction Alex Rider series, which was estimated to have sold 19 million copies worldwide, as well as over 40 other books including the latest James Bond novel, and TV scripts for Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War. Horowitz is discussing his career and latest novel The Magpie Murders.

For more info visit durhambookfestival.com

Hunter Davies: The Co-Op’s Got Bananas!

Saturday, 8 October, 3pm, Durham Town Hall Author of the only authorized biography of The Beatles (and Durham graduate!) Hunter Davies will

The Announcement of the Gordon Burns Prize Friday, 7 October, 8pm, Durham Town Hall Six fantastic novels are shortlisted for the Gordon Burn’s Prize, celebrating the bold and innovative approaches to fiction and non-fiction writing that characterised the work of Gordon Burn. The presentation features extracts read by the authors, as well as a musical performance from North East folk musician Richard Dawson (The Guardian gave his 2014 album Nothing Important five stars). Oh, the ticket includes a complimentary Gin & Tonic courtesy of Durham Distillery, so I will see you there!

Photographs: Durham Book Festival

Three Word Book Reviews “Pigs in hats” – Animal Farm “Politeness in Parlours” – Pride and Prejudice “Crash, bang, whollop” – The Iliad Send your own three word book reviews to books@palatinate.org.uk

VISUAL ARTS 14

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

More Than Meets The Eye Check out the must see exhibitions in the North East this term!

Hearing Voices: Suffering, Inspiration and the Everyday 5th November to 26th February 2017 Explore the way in which voice hearing effects the human experience, from the suffering of schizophrenia to the inspirational voices of medieval mystics, childhood imaginary friends and the inner voices of writers.

By Jane Simpkiss Visual Arts Editor visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk Durham gets a bad rep for not being the most arty of universities. However, look a little closer and you will find that the North East is brimming with vibrant art galleries and fantastic exhibitions. There’s more art in Durham than meets the eye.

International Print Biennale: 2016 Awards, Vane Gallery, Newcastle See the most exciting print artists of the moment.

Wanderlust: the World in Watercolour Laing Art Gallery until 8th July 2017 Travel through time to the distant corners of the world in this exhibition of the Laing’s watercolour collection; with works by Lear,Turner and Constable.

Durham University, Palatine Centre Durham houses the largest collection of 20th century art of any university in the UK. Take a tour to view works by Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol, to name just a few.

Open Treasure, Durham Cathedral After a 10 million pound development you can now explore previously hidden areas of the cathedral, including the monks’ dormitory and a brand new collections gallery showcasing some of the cathedral’s most beautiful treasures.

Ultimate Dancer: Holy Smoke 22nd October 2016, The Baltic Centre If you feel Durham doesn’t have enough performance art featuring loads of smoke and a “gang of hyper present beings” head down to Gateshead to find some!

Public Sculpture in Newcastle Newcastle has over 100 pieces of public art in and around the city. Get out of Durham for the day and do some exploring.

Angel of the North Whether you are a fresher or returner, go and see Anthony Gormley’s iconic symbol of the North east.

Childhood. 1977 – 2016, Side Gallery, Newcastle If you feel university is getting too much for you and you want to return to a simpler time, head down to Side Gallery’s photography exhibition on the imaginative worlds of children.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park Set in the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, this sculpture park contains fantastic works by Henry Moore, Sol le Witt and Miro.

The Land of Reinvention

By Lolita Gendler Deputy Visual Arts Editor deputy.visualarts@palatinate.org.uk

S

tudent A, complete with paint-spattered backpack, walks into her smiling new neighbour’s room. On the wall directly facing her is an A3 poster of a white flower that fills the frame of the blue-tacked sheet.

Stretched across the middle of the image, in bold Tate-typeface letters, is written the name ‘Georgia O’Keeffe’. Just below that, like the reassuring ghost of galleries past, one word: ‘TATE’.

Student A is going to like it here.

To find the meaning in any piece of art we must follow a simple formula. We must first examine the artist and their intentions and then the audience

and their appropriation. How an audience appropriates a piece however, can go beyond simply attributing meaning to a piece, it is often a hijacking that exploits the art to fit our own end; our end, as students, being the fabrication of our university character.

With every pin we stick in our blown up illustration, exhibition poster and reproduced painting, we impose upon the artist and, with the most earnest of intentions, use these works as the mould for our ‘new student’ persona. By sign-posting aspects of our ideal guise, we are able to create a visual profile. The university bedroom becomes our primary means of self-expression, of vain reinvention.

So with Damien Hirst standing proudly as the poster boy for our new lives, we open the door.

We allow our fellow students to piece together the

personality we have so meticulously curated for ourselves, praying each visitor doesn’t probe too far into the origin of the David Bowie poster found for £2.50 at the Fresher’s Fair.

But don’t be disheartened by this cynicism.

The beauty is that all our university selves stand proudly in the same exhibition. That Duchamp inspired maverick by the toilet and the post-modernism fanatic in the corner, they are your brothers in arms. Together you will take on university life one niche art reference at a time.

Welcome to the land of reinvention, artificial ratification, and manufactured ‘originality’.

You’re going to like it here.

Illustrations: Faye Chua

STAGE Wednesday, 5 October 2016

15

Interview with DST President

Durham Student Theatre President Isabelle Culkin talks about changes to come in the new academic year

By Sofya Grebenkina Stage Editor stage@palatinate.org.uk

C

onfusion abounds during Freshers’ Week.

There’s pressure to fit in and similarly, pressure to stand out. Yet if you have a yearning for drama and even for a little stardom, then Durham Student Theatre (DST) may be the perfect place to start looking. DST is a student-led organisation that allows its members to get involved in Durham’s diverse theatre scene.

Whether you wish to be the next Hamlet or to sew the doublet that takes the audience back to the Elizabethan age, then DST is the sort of community you should set your eye on. In conversation with the new DST president, Isabelle Culkin, I discover what sort of changes are to come and how DST can make an impact on your student experience.

As her priority she sees improving the “communication and accountability” in order that the executive committee can do what they are set out to, namely to “represent the best interests of its members.” As a member you receive information of current productions and the like via a frequent email update. However what Culkin is more concerned with is making sure that members are aware of the core decisions that are being made and who they involve. Through increased public-

Theatre can be an activity of great involvement and Culkin is wary of it becoming all-consuming

ity members can become more aware of who the committee are and what they do, becoming ‘a port of call’ if necessary.

Apart from that she is ‘hugely concerned with welfare’ and wants to continue placing an emphasis on it in the coming year, in order to keep DST’s

members psychologically healthy. Theatre can be an activity of great involvement and Culkin is wary of it becoming all-consuming.

Recently DST has made the move from being a part of the Durham Students’ Union to being a member of Experience Durham. What this means is that the University, and not the Students’ Union, is accountable for any issues that arise.

The move, many students hope, will result in members’ time being primarily spent on creating high-calibre theatre.

DST also aims to increase the number of

Theatre companies will be ‘disadvantaging themselves’ if they don’t decide to make nontraditional decisions in casting

productions that opt-in for gender-blind and racial-blind casting. This means actively encouraging productions to specify this when conducting auditions. Culkin cites the International Women’s Week Showcase, commissioned by DST, which she claims “enfranchised women” and ensured that women from any racial or cultural background felt they could apply and perform. She firmly believes that if theatre is to continue the practice of the ‘suspension of disbelief,’ then ability has to be the only thing under consideration when productions decide on whom to cast.

To drive that progress she envisions a ‘topdown effort’ and then it’s a matter of it being a self-perpetuating process where production teams actively decide to jump onto the bandwagon. In productions like Fourth Wall Theatre’s all-female Lord of the Flies, “people saw how fantastic girls were at playing parts traditionally reserved for guys”. Theatre companies will be ‘disadvantaging themselves’ if they don’t decide to make non-traditional decisions in casting. She believes the talent is definitely there, however, it needs some encour-

agement to come forward.

The DST Freshers’ Play is another way in which fresh talent is often revealed, not only in terms of acting but also in backstage production.

After that, Culkin says that it’s a ‘matter of being keen’ about theatre, as there are always productions with roles to be filled. There is an existing Assistant Producer and Assistant Director scheme, which also allows members who have yet to try these roles to be under the guidance of students more experienced in those positions. Volunteering opportunities are ubiquitous, and you should be on the lookout for a potential one with internal hires.

One of the big advantages of joining DST is the ability to use the facilities that the group has access to. The Assembly Rooms Theatre is a more traditional venue for larger-scale performances.

However Culkin reveals that there are is a longterm plan set in motion for the procurement of a permanent black box facility. She sees this as really beneficial development which will widen the array of plays, in terms of style, chosen by production teams and also obviously increase venue space that is available.

If you want to be involved in the theatre scene at Durham, there are many brilliant opportunities out there and DST definitely offers quite a few of them. There is ‘a certain novelty to good student theatre’, says Culkin, one that can attract students and locals alike. It is up to you whether you want to be a part of that.

If you prefer commenting on and reviewing plays rather than taking part, then make sure to email the editors to get in touch!

Photograph: taken from Facebook; Samuel Kirkman, Jiahe Max Luan, Nina Hudson, Grace Tseng, Anna Lermolaieva, Alexander Gottlieb, Tom Mack

CREATIVE WRITING 16

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Hello Goodbye A Word From The Editor

By Anna Gibbs Creative Writing Editor creativewriting@palatinate.org.uk

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or this first edition of the academic year, I wanted to start with something simple.

Although initially I thought that perhaps the theme, inspired by the Beatles song of the same name, might be overly minimalist, the wonderful submissions I received truly developed the complexity and depth of these two simple words.

Hellos can be the tentative packing of a suitcase or a tight hug communicating that which cannot be expressed verbally. And sometimes, goodbyes can weigh heavily in our chests, whilst at other times they feel like a small bird has just escaped our lungs and fluttered to freedom.

I find university to be an odd, temporary state of constant farewells and greetings. The best way in which I can describe this is by comparing it to that brief moment every morning, when your dreams and the reality of the day you’ve just woken up to swirl together, making it impossible to know which is true.

Personally, as a second year student, I see my hello to Durham as a hello to a friend which I understand on a deeper level now than at the time of our first meeting. Hopefully, a hello to a year with increased wisdom...

Illustration: Faye Chua

When you leave I’ll mark an X Where I find treasure So excuse me if I kiss Every freckle on your body

Théo à St.Pierre Occasionally I put on sepia tinted spectacles, Making sure that my spirit matches my shoes.

Dressed like this I can get lost.

Lost in Louise and the Pink City.

White washed walls whisper tomorrow’s news; Babylon burning under ink filled skies.

A rain filled syringe has no cost.

Democratically designed festivals Lead to me to a cathedral, so pretty, Where I sit down and take out my eyes.

I’ve never been one to say goodbye, Stuck in moss and bannana leaves, I’ll have forgotten you before you start to cry.

Asa Williams

I remember everything Rounded hips Hands fading into the shadows of your covers A hot pink tongue gulping The juice of a dragon fruit The black seeds jumping out from the Whiteness of your fingers But the photos don’t show Lazy Mondays When we were too hungover To even call in sick Come to think of it We never even said goodbye Most of all I think I’ll miss Hearing your voice on the phone The taste of the goddamned dragon fruit Still languishing on your smile And somehow looking up at the night sky Even now the stars still Resemble your freckles and your eyes Susan Maginn

Turning Around Turn around and look at the roads you have walked — Have you imagined how they look, on this day.

Believing your footsteps are still stamped on that mud-covered ramp, your tears once startled a tiny carp in the burn, your sigh has reached across the cloud, and touched upon the wind.

You turn around.

You see a broad way, and crystal, running water, and soft wind, smooth cloud.

As if a little person has not left a trace on earth.

Mengmeng Yan