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EDITORIAL Monday, 17 June 2019

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www.palatinate.org.uk

STAGE 3 Deducing the D’Oscars FEATURES 4&5 A farewell to Durham & Not so fresh Anymore

CREATIVE WRITING 6 Freedom

BOOKS 7 Reading Durham FASHION 8&9 Graduate in style: alternative graduation outfits VISUAL ARTS 10 The Perspective Project FILM & TV 11 Falling out of love with a story FOOD & DRINK 12 Review: Zaps Burrito Bar TRAVEL 13 Pushing perspectives INTERVIEW 14 & 15 Leading the way MUSIC 16 Your guide to the BBC Proms 2019

The three-week period after exams is everyone’s favourite time of year at Durham, but it’s also a strange one. It makes me think about how quickly my university expereince is going. It feels like very little time has passed between me sitting down on my bed on the first day of Freshers and sitting on my bed now (for most of the day) after my second-year exams.

Exams are over but most of us are busier than we have been all year. There’s something we feel like we should be doing but there’s also (technically) nothing to do. Talk of exams has been replaced with worry about internships and summer plans or lack thereof.

Everyone’s more relaxed, but there’s still that feeling of constantly turning over, of getting ready for the next thing.

It makes me grateful though, it allows me to see Durham as a home as well as a place to study. For the students graduating, hopefully it helps them remember Durham as a place which gave them more than just their degree.

With this being the final edition of the year, we have a few articles which say farewell to Durham, although that’s not the case for all of us. Features looks at the differing experiences of two students, whilst Creative Writing explores the theme of freedom. Taking a more practical approach to graduating, Fashion gives some tips on how to stand out from the crowd on the big day.

Looking at life outside the bubble, Music gives a guide to this year’s BBC Proms and Interview talks to the CEO of Stemettes, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE. SL

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Email indigo@palatinate.org.uk Front Cover: Anna Gibbs

INDIGO EDITORS Shauna Lewis Carys Frost (deputy) FEATURES EDITORS Kleopatra Olympiou Mary Bradshaw (deputy)

CREATIVE WRITING EDITORS Rhiannon Morris Susie Bradley (deputy)

STAGE EDITORS Martha Wrench Gabriella Sills (deputy) VISUAL ARTS EDITORS Stella Botes Jo Chandler (deputy) BOOKS EDITORS Imogen Usherwood Lotte Hall FASHION EDITORS Anna Gibbs Ana Hamilton (deputy) Frankie Reffell (deputy) FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Piers Eaton Philipa Murrison TRAVEL EDITORS Abir Mishra Alex Bicknell-Cummins (deputy) FILM & TV EDITOR Hugh Johnson MUSIC EDITORS Matthew Prudham Theo Golden INTERVIEW EDITORS Nathan Kelly Zue Wei Long

STAGE Monday, 17 June 2019

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Deducing the D’Oscars A roundup of the yearly awards

By Gabriella Sills Deputy Stage Editor stage@palatinate.org.uk

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he D’Oscar nominations have been announced and we’ve reached another end of a DST year. However, before we get clad in our glitzy dresses and suits, eat a threecourse meal in a luxury hotel, and applaud the winners, let’s just take a moment to reflect on the year and the nominations.

Yes, we all know the nominations themselves are highly politicized. We can all pretty much only vote for the shows we’ve been involved in, whether that’s out of sworn loyalty or the fact that everyone decided to program shows in the same three weeks of term. This being said, it’s not exactly encouraging to hear a DST member themselves suggesting that the awards appear to be “a personality contest masquerading as a legitimate achievement”.

But let’s not get too pessimistic. There are always those stand out performances which you hear the echoes of in conversation for years to come; I feel like I’ve seen Five Lesbians Eating Quiche despite not being at Durham when it was on. There are equally worthy shows this year, with Killology’s multiple nominations affirming its NSDF selection- the only Durham show selected for the festival.

Although it’s sad to see certain underdogs miss out. This year Something Dark, Stacy, Us/Them and Pink Mist spring to mind, perhaps simply due to smaller performances spaces and less publicity. The non-show specific awards seem to do best in this light, as we can see individuals being credited for their work in general as opposed to being attached to specific shows.

Let’s also not forget that the money pumped into half of these shows is often the defining feature of the nominations. As previously suggested, publicity is often the downfall of shows which aren’t nominated, usually due to budget constraints.

“a personality contest masquerading as a legitimate achievement.”

Although, in some cases money seems to have literally bought nominations. Why Singin’ in the Rain should be nominated for Best Set Design seems bizarre when, in theory, the award should therefore go to ‘Theatre Sets For Hire Ltd’. Instead compliment the tech crew that literally made it rain on stage every night and dealt with the aftermath. Other shows personally gathered rubbish to clutter up the stage, even if it wasn’t the most original set choice.

It is amazing that the theatrical community can come together. The collective range of talent and genuine commitment to DST undoubtably makes

up for any questionable nominations.

It will be compelling to see whether there will be any repeat wins after the Palatinate Awards, especially considering their different voting systems. Many categories are going to be close calls so we should certainly celebrate all of the nominations; it is especially impressive that individuals have been nominated for such wide-ranging categories.

Henrie Allen and Rosie Dart being nominated for both comedy work and serious roles are examples of the scope of talent. Similarly, actors who have been nominated for both supporting and lead roles such as Barney Mercer, Kishore Thiagarajan-Walker, and Fionna Monk show equal ability. It is also notable that many of the plays nominated are being taken up to the Edinburgh Fringe, and the D’Oscars celebrate the continuation of their journey.

In the immortal words of a begrudging third year: “you have to remember we’re students and this is all just a bit of fun, and worth isn’t defined by a bunch of pretentious know-nothings at one university of hundreds. Unless I win, of course. Then it’s everything.”

Photographs: Hannah Roe, Rachel Tan and Sam Harrison

FEATURES 4

Monday, 17 June 2019

A farewell to Durham

Jess Clark discusses her Durham University experience

By Jess Clark features@palatinate.org.uk

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urham: an institution, a city, a giant boarding school with Tesco as its tuck shop. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with Durham across the three years that I’ve spent studying here. The year abroad which my degree included (during which I lived in Peru and Spain) provided further perspective, confirming my suspicions that Durham University is a singular environment in which to make the transition from adolescence into alleged adulthood.

often found Durham’s smallness limiting, but this is balanced by thriving student societies and sub-communities, which keep life varied enough to be exciting.

The top-ranking English department has pushed and stimulated me academically, yet I’ve learnt just as much about how to function (or how not to) as a young adult, and the kinds of experiences and interactions I value an equally indispensable part of university education.

“I took joy in Durham’s fresh northern air” In Freshers’, I relished the chance to meet people from a variety of backgrounds, and engage in the kinds of intellectual discussions that characterise the university experience.

Apart from the initial exhilaration of being away from parents and ‘samey’ home rhythms, and thrust into the novelty of student activities, I took joy in Durham’s fresh northern air and rural surroundings. In contrast with my urban adolescence, the accessibility and cosiness of this greenfringed enclave was striking. It felt refreshing to be able to walk everywhere, to cross paths often with friendly faces, and to be called ‘petal’ and ‘flower’ by baristas and bus drivers – a surprising pleasantry to one accustomed to London’s perpetual state of impatience and impersonality. I’ve

One of the main frustrations that I’ve felt towards Durham University is the fact that its culture is, by any standards, incredibly self-reflexive – our online student magazine isn’t called ‘The Bubble’ for nothing. Events like the Durham University

Charity Fashion Show, which dominate the student social calendar, risk appearing derived from the ideologies of wealthy public schools, a sense enhanced by their prohibitive entry costs. While such a large institution invariably has pockets of diversity, there is a homogeneity to the world of Durham which is, on a good day, nurturing, and on a bad one, suffocating.

“Durham has given me much to be grateful for” For all its drawbacks and idiosyncrasies, Durham has given me much to be grateful for, not least some stellar friendships which I hope will last for years to come. I look forward to a Hild Bede reunion further down the line and am intrigued to see where our cohort ends up in the world. Durham certainly doesn’t have the most hip nightclubs, in spite of the efforts of parties like Rotate and 1984 to bring current trends to its music scene. However, the collegiate culture of belonging to a large, severely dysfunctional and frequently incestuous family has a curious charm. The challenging moments that my time at Durham has involved have been mediated by this sense of disjointed belonging, as well as exemplary tuition, and plenty of (hysterical) laughter. And good luck class of 2019 (see you all in therapy when we’re forty!)

FEATURES Monday, 17 June 2019

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Not so fresh anymore

Meghna Amin reflects upon her first year at Durham

By Meghna Amin features@palatinate.org.uk

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his time last year I was stuck in the middle of what at the time seemed like a never-ending stream of exams with no light at the end of the tunnel. This was followed by the unbearable wait for results, and even worse, the unbearable wait for UCAS to update and tell me whether I’d got into Durham. I never would’ve been able to imagine what university life would be like a year on from then, and looking back on this last year seems just as crazy when I think of everything that’s happened.

“I never would’ve been able to imagine university life”

Whilst I can happily say I have grown more used to ‘adulting’ and general university life over the year, be it finally learning to cook something other than pasta, changing the bed sheets by myself or plucking up the courage to make reservations over the phone, the overwhelming feeling nearly everyone had on the first day of Freshers’ has definitely lasted. Durham does finally feel like home, but there’s always so much going on.

I still encounter novelty in many forms.

I constantly meet new people, still have an endless list of bars and restaurants to try, and my timetable remains a stubborn mystery.

Even now, there is so much excitement in my student experience. Every Klute night might be the same, but nothing else seems to be getting old.

Aside from the social aspect of university (definitely one of the best parts), the actual degree and learning part isn’t so

bad either. The leap from sixth form to university was massive; in the first few weeks I thought I’d never be able to manage the academic expectations at Durham.

When I compare how I felt in the first few lectures to how I feel now, it’s clear that things aren’t as hard as they first seem. Eventually, the fear subsides.

“the actual degree and learning part isn’t so bad either” In many ways, at the end of my first year I don’t even feel like a fresher anymore. A regular seat in the library and all. homely as Durham may feel to me, I still have much to explore. The many societies and events leave me with so much to do over the next two years.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no regrets about my first year of university, but there are always some ‘what ifs’ about joining societies and attending events like Hummus Fest, and so much promise for the years to come.

All I can think about is how quickly the year has gone, and all the things I’ll have to cram in and take advantage of in the coming years, even when I’m not so ‘fresh’ anymore.

Illustrations by Navya Lobo

CREATIVE WRITING 6

Monday, 17 June 2019

Freedom

As the academic year nears towards its end, Creative Writing explores freedom and liberation

By Millicent Machell creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

By James Lendrum

Tyrannosaurus Megalodon I want to hide from the world, Where hiding is incubation, And the ground does not tip, And my windows are to look through and not reflect, So that when I open them, I can with a firm hand.

There’s a place underground Far away from the threat of the grey river.

But the light is too dim and the ceiling is too heavy.

There’s a place on the hill Where I can spread myself And stand in the wind with my arms outstretched, And take it all, Nothing dragging at the end of my limbs.

But being tossed in that wind for so long begins to batter and bruise.

Why, when I open my eyes Does my does my body tremble damp, And in my sleep I have spoken again.

Sleep is not refuge.

Sleep does not incubate my thoughts,

Below the Black In a world that has so much to say if you look through the microscope, If you take the beauty of tea and toast and a hand that brushes your cheek Then you must speak, and those knotted ropes will frame your horizons Like a finger over the camera.

But, imagine, Like you do to plug your ears, Sitting on that boat with no protests to give the three men And no oar for fickleness.

With surety, surety, in the white-badged waves That you’ll soon become part of.

It does not do to drown in starlight, No glamour but hot suffocation.

We sit like flames, the air clotting about us.

Come Shelter beneath these gods who scorch our lungs.

One, two: three’s a smoke Lifting to your throat box.

Panel of sky, her circuitry vicious, Blue-frying, dark-defying cells.

A chalk body cloth this smoke is, Curse unfurled.

That’s red in my gut, bloom o’ the poppy.

I should be bold as my interior, Gems wedged between ribs.

In and out, out and thinning to a blade, A shaft of acrid white.

Star-rotted, I draw back the blackness.

Some comet bores through this veil, This dusk edge— How I repel Night.

Being awake is the answer, But being awake is anti-paranoia.

And it’s empty and it’s white and clean.

And I know I must stay on the edge of the rabbit’s fur, I must stare into the eyes of the magician And I mustn’t be covered by the warm velvet of that hat.

But standing there is less like a hill and more like a cliff.

People bind you When you threaten to fly away like a child’s balloon.

But who wants to be gagged and bound

Images via Pixabay

BOOKS 7

Monday, 17 June 2019

Reading Durham

By Sian Butler books@palatinate.org.uk

Writers who reflect the rich literary heritage of Durham

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hen I first moved to Durham, I noticed a blue plaque bearing the name ‘Charles Dickens’ as we drove through Barnard Castle. That was my first introduction to the treasure trove of local literary heritage.

In February 1838, one of the greatest British novelists visited the county to research for his novel Nicholas Nickleby. Known as he is for comical characters and social realism, it’s little wonder that Dickens, writing about the ‘Yorkshire Schools’, which offered a cheap but often brutal education to children from poor backgrounds, wanted to see one for himself.

cused on a Polish refugee in Britain: the ‘wanderer’ figure often reappeared in her later works. But it is for her 1810 work The Scottish Chiefs that Porter is best known.

A historical romance about Scottish hero William Wallace, the novel is thought to have been one of the most widely read of the Romantic period, popular across

“steeped in centuries of inspiration and talent”

Dickens returned to Durham in 1858, on his national tour. After performing A Christmas Carol at the new town hall, he wrote to a friend: ‘At Durham, we had a capital audience, led by Dean and chapter, and humbly followed up by Mayor and local bores’. At least he seemed satisfied by the popular response, even if the official reception was lacking.

Her first novel, Thaddeus of Warsaw, fo-

More recently, the university’s graduates have become authors, including crime writer Minette Walters, who studied French atTrevelyan College from 1968 to 1971. Although, by her own admission, she attended few of her lectures, she calls her time here ‘a valuable interlude’.

Walters’ award-winning first novel, The Ice House, was published in 1992. Her most recent works are The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight, compelling historical novels telling the story of Lady Anne and her steward Thaddeus Thurkell as they deal with the terror of the Black Death striking their Dorset home. Taking the Durham connection into account, this successful turn to historical fiction seems particularly fitting.

Dotheboys Hall, where the eponymous Nicholas teaches, was modelled on Bowes Hall Academy, while the one-eyed, evil headmaster, Wackford Squeers, was supposedly inspired by William Shaw, who ran Bowes Hall. The cruelty and neglect that Dickens depicted in his novel was instrumental in ending this school system: Bowes Hall Academy closed only two years after his research trip.

Delving deeper into Durham’s literary history, I discovered Jane Porter, who was baptised at the Church of St Mary-le-Bow (now the Durham Heritage Museum, opposite the Cathedral) in 1776. She lived in the city until she was three, when the family moved to Edinburgh. It was there, steeped in local stories, that she began to write.

ends Bridge, inspired by the famous view of the cathedral rising above the trees: ‘Grey towers of Durham / Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles.’ It might not be the most poetic description, but Scott’s words about Durham reflect the special place the city holds in many hearts.

Britain and America, and even banned by Napoleon for its British patriotism. Another historical novel followed in 1815, The Pastor’s Fireside, about members of the House of Stuart in the eighteenth century.

Along with family friend Sir Walter Scott, Jane Porter is considered one of the earliest writers of historical fiction. A short verse by Scott is inscribed on Preb-

Dickens, Porter, Byron, Scott, Walters: here are merely a handful of the writers linked to Durham City and the surrounding county. Steeped in centuries of inspiration and talent, I’m certain that Durham’s impressive literary history is only set to grow.

Illustration by Amber Conway Frame via Pixabay

FASHION 8

Monday, 17 June 2019

Graduate in Style : Alternative Graduation Outfits

By Anna Gibbs Fashion Editor fashion@palatinate.org.uk

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it bored of the typical pastel bodycon dress and heels combination, or of the same old black suit plain tie graduation uniform?

Us too. Here are some ideas to inject some sparkle, colour and pattern into your degree-collecting attire. Graduate with more than just a degree this July (or January) and bow out with a style statement which sets you apart from the gowned crowd.

Hypocritically, coming from a fashion editor, I have to emphasise that these are only ideas. The outfit you wear on your graduation day is not the be all and end all, it is only one day in your life after all, and every day is a new chance to dress up. Instead it’s an opportunity to express your personal style on a day on which you will be heavily photographed alongside those you love as you step into your next era of life. Take this opportunity to enjoy curating an outfit you’ll remember, and use fashion as it is meant to be usedas a simultaneous extension and a celebration of your personality, imagination and achievements as an individual.

Bright Ideas It’s a simple tactic, and it’s a Palatinate fashion favourite, but throwing some bright colour into the mix is one of the easiest ways to look like you’ve made a lot of effort when you’ve just bought a last minute piece from the Asos sale.

Especially contrasted against the black of the graduation gowns, and not forgetting the iconic fur hoods, a bright orange, red, yellow or tangy green may sound a bit much, but will give those Instagram photos a memorable, celebratory punch even if you don’t get lucky with the weather on the day.

Whatever Suits Bonus marks for high-waisted, and double that for shorts. Tartan trousers and braces never get old, and are not solely an option for the boys. The boom in 1980s power suits is not something to be frowned at, and it isn’t going anywhere fast. Sharp silhouettes, (especially looking to the shoulders) and billowed or oversized sleeves or collars will make sure your outfit does not get overshadowed by your gown. The satisfying joy of wearing a neon pink trouser suit to graduate, in a cathedral whose construction began well before women were allowed to wear a trouser-suit- let alone be educated at university level- isn’t something to be missed.

FASHION 9

Monday, 17 June 2019

Some may wish that Durham had graduation caps like most other universities.Then again, the freedom from the inevitable hat hair in the July heat, as well as the additional hair styling and headpiece options are yet another arena in which to play. A well tousled quiff, or a complicated Heidi-style plaited style dotted with delicate metallic or pearl hair clips can instead be your crowning glory on the day.Take the opportunity to get creative with the current trend for hair accessories- aside from balls and formal events, it isn’t too often you can get away with essentially wearing a crown. Chunky over-sized hair-clips, bejewelled wide velvet headbands in rich reds or powder blues (see Prada’s offerings for inspiration and eBay for cheaper dupes) , or even a literal gold laurel-leaf inspired piece to collect your Classics Bachelors ( look to Gucci’s recent antiquity inspired collections for inspiration); none are off limits.

Perhaps Durham University doesn’t offer Fashion or Art BA courses, but this shouldn’t be an excuse for us not to demonstrate the Durham Difference by the way of our graduation style.

The Finer Details Alongside hair adornments, accessorizing in general has never been better and magpie’s have never experienced such high levels of supply for their demand. Depop, Etsy, local markets, and charity shops can offer unique alternatives to the mass-produced BooHoo options, and something which will be a present to yourself after exams as souvenir of your last days at Durham. I say this whilst deep into my overdraft after just having bought some delicate starfish huggies from Orelia, so perhaps take my suggestion with a pinch of salt. My degree is in mythological creatures and temperamental gods, not finance.

Never underestimate a sock The sock maketh the outfit. But really. A bold pop of mustard, or even a vertical stripe affair, with the trousers turned up a fold or two, can break up an otherwise typical black suit affair, especially if you’ve opted for black shoes. The same can be said for a pair of tights. We no longer have just the boring Marks and Spencer classics on offer - elegant sheer polka dots to fishnets to baroque flower patterns have been re-invented in modern fabrics and colour ways of late. Maybe you don’t fancy large fishnets to collect your History degree, but the smaller fishnet option is definitely a statement that I hope someone will make this graduation season. Pair these with a minimalist yet statement shoe.

Fluffy sliders for graduation: has it been done? Can it be done? Should it be done?

Illustrations: By Anna Gibbs, inspired by Prada, Versace and Asos

The Barnet The Barnet

VISUAL ARTS Monday, 17 June 2019

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The Perspective Project

Visual Arts visits Alice Christie’s exhibition: ‘Personal Perspectives on Mental Health’

By Charlie Norton visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk

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midst the (cold, damp) post-exams revelry I had the pleasure of visiting a pop-up exhibition curated

by Alice Christie for The Perspective Project, a charity working to destigmatize mental health through art. ‘Personal Perspectives on Mental Health’ offered fresh insights on illness, awareness and recovery, and reinforced my own belief in the potential of the arts as a tool for change.

The installation, set in Christie’s living space, aimed to take viewers on a ‘journey through the mind’ –– and that it did.

The first room was bright and busy with illustrations and energetic canvases. I was excited to see depictions of ‘fringe’ mental illnesses; Kat Shave’s bold and accessible representations of Borderline Personality Disorder, an illness often demonized in popular discourse, were incredibly relatable.

Meanwhile, Ted Lavis Coward’s poetry offered a sexy and impulsive look at the world from the intersection of queerness and mental illness.

The next section, ‘Lauren’s Room’, was incredibly intimate with makeup paraphernalia fanned out on the desk and towels on the radiator; I felt I was stepping into my own bedroom. On the walls, Lauren Drinkwater’s ineffably cool artworks showed familiar bodies – women with stretchmarks, scars and sexual hang-ups –– and her self-portraits conveyed the instability of selfhood in times of mental ill health.

encouraged to draw their own pieces and stick them to the walls, resulting in a beautifully vibrant sprawl of doodles.

By giving time and space to each creator’s story, the ‘full picture’ of the ‘Personal Perspectives’ was incredibly diverse, offering a range of personal stories which shed light on the complexities of the issue. It was refreshing to see nuanced representations of mental health as opposed to media depictions which can oversimplify and lack the understanding necessary for real change.

Christie is keen to express that the exhibition is a celebration: ‘The Perspective Project shows that art is power –– art has the potential to help people grow and change their lives for the better.’

Despite improvements in mental health awareness, Mind states that 1 in 4 people in the UK still experience mental illness each year. The issue is especially prevalent in working class, BAME, LGBT+, and otherwise marginalised communities –– more so for individuals who exist at the intersection of these groups.

In light of this, I asked founder Mark Anscombe what’s up next for The Perspective Project. As well as continuing to work in student spaces and holding ‘wellness workshops’ the charity is keen to broaden discussions about mental health in the corporate world, using art as a ‘hook to get the conversation rolling’.

The most ‘immersive’ experience was in the third and darkest room, where the viewer was plunged into the unlit depths of mental illness and the problem of stigma through the evocative works of Siri Hill and Eva Charkiewicz. The use of sombre piano to accompany an eerie reel of photographs – Charkiewicz’s series ‘My Four Walls’ – was particularly successful in conveying the allencompassing distortions of depression.

If the recent exhibition in Durham is anything to go by, I’m sure the Project will be successful in driving change and sparking new discussions on mental health –– this very article is indicative of the impact art can have on thought. Creativity must be used to its full potential as a vehicle for change as, in the immortal words of surrealist Salvador Dalí, ‘it can propel people toward social emancipation.’

The exhibition finished on a lighter note in room four where viewers were

Images: Perspective Project and Charlie Norton.

Film & TV Monday, 17 July 2019

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Falling out of love with a story

Film and TV discusses the bad taste left by the final series of Game of

By Hugh Johnson Thrones Film & TV Editor film@palatinate.org.uk

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ame of Thrones is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most ambitious shows to ever grace our screens. However, season eight left a bad taste, and I found myself getting irritated at a show that was once so fulfilling.

Season eight had a momentous task: to give a satisfying conclusion to a show that, throughout the seasons, has had more characters and ongoing plots than anything else on television. The first thing to point out is that writers Benioff and Weiss had run out of source material. While George R Martin had given them his general outline of how he wanted the show to end, the task of getting there was left to them alone. Unfortunately, their talent as writers was not up to the task, leaving them writing character development that felt utterly forced, and cramming events together in quick succession.

Episode 3 was the battle against the White Walkers. This is something the show has been building up to since the very first episode and was meant to be a threat that could have ended the entire world. But the fabled battle lasted a single night, with the army of the undead not making it past Winterfell.

In the end, defeating the army of the undead was surprisingly easy.

Arya ending the battle was an unsatisfying conclusion. Her character arc has had no relevance to the white walkers: she’d never even seen one before the battle. Her ending the battle felt entirely undeserving and hollow. Jon Snow has been fighting the white walkers since the first season.

Daenerys’s character was utterly butchered. Let me quickly outline: I have no issue with her becoming the mad queen. I do have an issue with how we got there: her descent into madness was spontaneous and utterly unbelievable. It didn’t feel real.

Now some people will point out that it was foreshadowed she would become the mad queen because she crucified the slavers and showed no remorse when her brother was killed. However, while these things were cruel, they were not in any way insane: she crucified the slavers because they had crucified children and she showed no remorse when her brother died because he was evil and had sold her as property

“Miles away from the high points of previous seasons” The point is that Daenerys was always the breaker of chains, the only one who would not kill innocent people. She locked

her dragons away for an entire season because they killed a single child. Are we really meant to believe that her character has had such a radical change of mental state that she will freely commit mass genocide?

This season had so many wasted opportunities. Game of Thrones was always so loved because it went against the clichés of the fantasy genre and told a mature, politically orientated and clever tale, one full of twists, brilliant characters and well-thought out plot lines. This season felt miles away from the high points of previous seasons and saw Game of Thrones become filled with clichés, CGI and predictable storylines.

The show will still go down as one of the greatest of all time, but seasons seven and eight should be quickly forgotten. When I tell people how much I love Game of Thrones, I’m really talking about the first six seasons, where it was all building up to a finale that ultimately fell flat.

Image: Juan Carlos Uribe Garza via Flickr Creative Commons

FOOD & DRINK Monday, 17 June 2019

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Review: Zaps Burrito Bar Meghna Amin gives readers a review of Durham’s newest mexican fast food restaurant

By Meghna Amin food@palatinate.org.uk

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ettled above (literally and metaphorically) the infamous Paddy’s Pizza, sits a corner of Durham that is underappreciated to say the least. Zaps Burrito Bar is, in three words, a Mexican Subway.

So if you’re worried that a weekly lunch here might make more of a dent in your student loan than you can afford, don’t be.

The prices are cheap for the food you get.

Not only that, but student discounts also apply in the afternoon, and there’s always

Fast food at its finest, you can watch your meal being made and pick and choose the toppings and extras you want. Whether it’s a burrito, soft tacos, or just a salad bowl, Zaps offers a whole variety of main options and side dishes, each with a choice of 6 fillings to enjoy (2 of which are veg and vegan friendly too).

“dynamic atmosphere and

The mains themselves are very well priced for a student budget, but, at first sight you might be shocked at the pricing for sides like chicken wings and jalapeno bites.

vibrant murals” As if the food, pricing and speed of Zaps wasn’t enticing enough, the dynamic atmosphere and vibrant murals covering every inch of wall space make you feel as though you’ve stepped off the cobbled streets straight into Mexico.

Having said that, whilst paying around £6 seems overpriced for nachos, the mountain you get is definitely worth more than just a side. In fact, filling up on extras like guac (which definitely should not be considered an extra anywhere anymore), jalapeños and even the option of having one of the main dishes included will definitely be just as satisfying as one of the main meal options.

“underappreciated to say the least”

your food shouldn’t take five questions to the manager or over eight minutes to compile; the fact that you can see it being made right in front of you and you can tell them exactly what you want makes the whole situation ten times easier (for the customer and the trainee!). And the speed of the food being made definitely makes up for this - a fraction of the time you’d be waiting to be served at a normal Mexican restaurant.

days like Taco Tuesday or meal deals to ensure you’re not filling your stomach and heart in exchange of emptying your bank account.

Although they always seem to be training new staff which can get frustrating when

And if you needed another reason to go to Zaps, they have a very reasonably priced cocktail menu. Whether you’re planning a girls night out or just want a cheeky drink after an afternoon lecture, the cocktails available will give your lunch a tasty twist.

With no other fast-food Mexican I can think to compare it to, Zaps is definitely worth a visit.

Image Credit: Midnight Believer and Jessica and Lon Binder via Flickr

TRAVEL Monday, 17 June 2019

13

Pushing Perspectives Chiang Mai, Thailand: the benefits of variation in adventure

By Abir Mishra Travel Editor travel@palatinate.org.uk

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ost often we may come across Thailand for its expansive beaches, blue waters and tropical highlights. The truth of the situation, as one may see more often than not with any exploration of a nation, is that much more lies below the superficiality of the Nth resort advertised. Such is the case in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Although the fourth most populated city in the country, it is often sidelined on account of its mountainous nature.

Of note, I would say, is that Chiang Mai encompasses a breadth of the Thai lifestyle sufficient in conveying some of everything – what more could you ask for from a week abroad? Everything from elaborate temples and a thriving night market to white water river rafting and mountainous trekking are possible within the area, making opportunities to explore or even selectively plan what you’d like to do straightforward and even grace throughout.

The city is renowned for its preservation of Buddhist heritage, dating back to the 14th century in the form of temples, the ancient architecture standing proud some seven hundred years on. Most astounding to me was the respect commanded by the struc-

Images via Pixabay

tures even now, made understandable in recognition of the reverence paid to them over many centuries. That even now bustling roads and busy hotels give way to structures so monumental not in magnitude but in significance cannot be underestimated; it is without reservation symbolic of the foundational importance of respect I have seen amongst the Thai peoples.

Alongside the many trinkets and baubles on display at the night markets is an astonishing choice of local food and drink – now this is where I believe the majority of one’s time at the market must be spent. A remarkable selection of stir fry, curries and more were being freshly prepared, encapsulating the market in many an aroma and spots of colour. Where you’d be led to believe that these markets are a dime a dozen, indeed the peculiarities of Northern Thailand shone through for a unique flavour.

Spending a week trekking through thick vegetation, river rapids and paddy fields stretching for miles, on the other hand, was a stark departure from the hubbub of the main town. The humidity of the tropics in the day was juxtaposed quite comfortably with the relatively chilly nights on moun-

tains, making a snug sleeping bag and an experienced local tour guide essential elements to appreciating everything around me. While the more irritating parts of any trip (i.e. having a tent collapse on you at three in the morning) aren’t the most favourable of situations, a laugh and a bit of begrudging effort tends to go a long way.

“a bit of begrudging effort goes a long way” Where it is clear that no one experience can properly sample all of what Thailand has to offer, the wideness of the activities participated in allow for an understanding of what is, in my opinion, the most important point of any trip abroad: perspective.

Without fail, immersing myself in such a variety of activities was simply invaluable in not just going through the motions as it were, but in taking steps to developing an understanding of the world around us.

INTERVIEW 14

Monday, 17 June 2019

Leading the way Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon, MBE, CEO, and co-founder of Stemettes

By Zue Wei Leong Interview Editor interview@palatinate.org.uk

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n the morning of International Women’s Day, Indigo touched base with Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE to discuss her incredible journey in the science and technology industry, where she has risen to prominence as a champion for gender diversity.

She shared her experience as CEO and co-founder of Stemettes, a leading organisation which empowers young women in STEM education and careers, as well as her excitement about a new podcast series with The Evening Standard called Women Tech Charge.

Anne-Marie was fittingly repurposing a desk lamp to adjust the backlighting from the sun streaming in through her window when she called in on Skype from South Africa. She was in Cape Town to speak at the annual YPO EDGE conference for business leaders and CEOs. ‘It’s almost like a two-day retreat,’ she says about the event, ‘there’s so much to see and so much to do!’

“It was magic, having all these girls in the same house”

Throughout this virtual interview, she reveals that most of the conferences she attends are far from what one would expect.

‘It was just like London Fashion Week,’ she laughs, describes a tech conference she attended early in her career, ‘Google took over the city and it became like a playground for us during this massive party!’

However, it was at this same conference when

she realised for the first time that she was a woman in tech. ‘I’ve never really noticed it before but there were 3,500 people attending, most of whom were women, and I realised that I had never been in an environment in tech with a female majority.’ It’s not a surprising statement considering she was one of three women in a class of 70 when reading Mathematics and Computer Science at Oxford University.

‘That was the moment,’ she continues, ‘when I decided that someone should be doing a lot more about this issue. I didn’t want to be in a shrinking minority of women in this industry.’

“I had never been in an environment in tech with a female majority” Soon after, she founded Stemettes and it has since helped over 40,000 young women and girls realise their STEM potential in creative new ways. In particular, the Stemillion Clubs has been widely praised for its ingenuity by allowing young girls to run their own weekly STEM-focused clubs or ‘Stemillion Clubs’ at school with the support of the organisation.

For Anne-Marie, the Outbox Incubator, first launched in 2015 for girls aged 11 to 21, continues to be one of her favourite events, although she’s ‘not meant to be picking favourites’.

INTERVIEW

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Monday, 17 June 2019

She explains that the Incubator was like ‘Big Brother meets The Apprentice meets Dragons’ Den’, aiming to instil an entrepreneurial spirit among young girls, where they even had opportunities to present their ideas to a panel for extra funding.

The conversation quickly turned to the idea of funding and sponsorship in the area of STEM. Stemettes stands out as an organisation funded by corporate partnerships. For instance, Stemettes was able to fly out girls from all over Europe to participate in the Outbox Incubator. This funding places Stemettes in a ‘privileged’ position, where they are able to employ full-time staff and provide more impactful support for young women and girls.

ing need for more funding in the industry.

She breaks down the Stemettes’s ‘more than mentoring’ approach, geared more towards girls in secondary and college education. ‘A mentor is more than someone to talk to or make you feel better. Instead, they will work towards a practical, tangible goal,’ she says, ‘They may help you with the university application process or open doors by connecting you with the right people to actualise your ideas’.

It is interesting to see how Stemettes have navigated the growing debate of the merits of sponsorship over mentorship.

Anne-Marie herself has a scholarship named after her, offered by the Computer Science department at Durham University.

“Women and girls believe that STEM is not a thing that we can do”

‘When we talk about sponsorship at Stemettes, we try to do things for people rather than just fund them,’ she comments while acknowledging that there is a press-

Anne-Marie also identifies harmful ‘social norms’ that prevent women from not only entering the industry but keeping them there. ‘Women are always reminded by their peers, teachers or colleagues that

they do not belong in these spaces,’ she points out, ‘not only by words but by actions, such as not promoting STEM subjects among female students or not giving women positions of responsibility’.

‘So when we hear horror stories about behaviour towards women in these spaces, it only justifies what women think they already knew – that STEM is not a thing that we can do’. Anne-Marie offers a new perspective by proposing, ‘If we take a moment to look at the history of STEM, it wasn’t just Einstein and Newton. We need to remember that we had Hedy Lamarr, Marie-Sophie Germain, Katherine Johnson, Gladys West.’

That is the main inspiration behind Anne-Marie’s latest project, a new podcast with the Evening Standard, Women Tech Charge. Every episode highlights the achievements of women in tech that are often overlooked in mainstream media.

Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon reassures readers, especially young women at university, that ‘it’s never too late to enter the world of STEM.’ Image Credits: Stemettes

MUSIC Monday, 17 June 2019

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Your guide to the BBC Proms 2019 Our top picks from the programme of the 93 rd Proms

By Theo Golden Music Editor music@palatinate.org.uk

T

he BBC Proms are a celebration of music and culture in the heart of London bringing some of the most influential performers and groups onto the London stages. My earliest memories of going to the Proms is from when I attended a Jazz prom with my dad.

The majesty of the Royal Albert Hall has stayed with me even when I have performed on the stage myself.

performing orchestrated version of their album “The Race for Space”, which explores the events of the 1960s Space Race. I’m really intrigued by this concert as I have been a long-time admirer of the ethos and projects of The Multi-Story Orchestra, so I’m excited to see the product of this collaboration.

When attending the Proms, you have many options about where to sit and how much you would like to spend.

Prom 10: Public Service Broadcasting,10:15pm , Thursday, 25 July The first of the late-night proms, and another in the Moon series, this concert looks interesting. ‘Cult London band’ Public Service Broadcasting is joined by one of The Multi-Story Orchestra. They will be

Online Reviews Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride Ezra Koenig’s vigour leads a 18-track journey through New Order inspired jazzdub, bluegrass-tinged soft rock, and three Danielle Haim-featuring duets.

A concert featuring the choral group Tenebrae should be enough to sell it to you but in case it doesn’t… This is another of the late-night proms but featuring the infamous minimalistic and tintinnabular style of Arvo Part and designed to help you unwind. Also featuring music for meditation, this should be a really amazing evening.

Prom 37: L’Enfance Du Christ, 7.00pm, 14 August

On a budget? No worries! The amazing thing about the Proms is how accessible they are. No Prom is ever sold-out. On the day of a prom you can queue for a standing ticket in the Arena or Gallery which only costs £6!

But beware, some very popular proms will fill up quickly.

This year’s line-up will not disappoint, with a programme jam-packed with some fantastic, affordable concerts. Here are my suggestions for the must-see concerts:

Prom 36: Late-Night Mixtape, 10:15pm, 13 August

Prom 29/30: The Warner Brothers Story, 3:00/7:30pm, 9 August The John Wilson Prom is one of the highlights each year. This conductor and orchestra have won over audiences each year for 10 years. This year Wilson will present some of the most iconic sound tracks for the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood cinema’.

I cannot recommend this Prom enough but buy tickets soon as it will sell out fast.

Lewis Capaldi Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent Whilst great expectations are perhaps not satisfied wholly, what Lewis Capaldi lacks in originality is made up for in powerful songs of heartbreak and strikingly honest lyricism.

With huge names like Dame Sarah Connolly, Allan Clayton, Roddie Williams and Neal Davies, all under the baton of the awe-inspiring Sir Mark Elder, it really doesn’t get better than this.

Berlioz’s grand oratorio is quite something to behold as it tells the story of Jesus’ birth and how he, Joseph and Mary fled Bethlehem for Egypt. It is one of my favourite romantic works and Natalie Houlston (St. Chad’s Fresher) will be singing as part of the Genesis Sixteen chorus.

The Proms really are open to everyone and whatever are your tastes you will most definitely find something.

For a full listing of all the concerts head over to the BBC Proms website.

Photograph: Jacek.NL via Flickr Creative Commons Too Many Zooz Live @ Riverside The band which sparked my passion for jazz and pushing instrumental limits did come off flat and uninspiring. It’s true they say to never meet your heroes.