Indigo Issue 737

indigo 14.02.12

The Valentine’s Edition

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Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

indigo

Indigo Editor: Larry Bartleet indigo@palatinate.org.uk

contents

editor’s letter

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alentine’s Day. ‘Singles Awareness Day’. Day of obligatory relationship ostentation or of crushing loneliness. Two perennial clichés of the relationship world, two insufferable groups – the lovers and the singletons. Walk past any restaurant today and you’ll see tables and tables of boyfs and girlfs attempting to pull off ‘romantic’. Or go to Klute and find the desperate single people, asserting in an inverse, self-obsessed sort of way that the day is really all about them. But they don’t even care about being single, man, they like it better that way.

Who exactly was this St Valentine? A romantic, randy Cupid from the olden days beatified for matchmaking? Who knows?

Wikipedia is certainly a bit iffy on the subject. In any case, the man clearly wasn’t advocating the benefits of chocolate and jewellery to a relationship back in 200AD. So the obvious question is what makes people actually celebrate the day. For couples, any celebration of the day is compulsory, and therefore meaningless.

For single people, today simply raises their awareness of being single. Brilliant. “You can’t be in Valentine’s Day, sorry. It’s not for you.”

Then there’s a third group of people, the people who find the day a bit of a joke. For them, it’s a complete non-event. They look at the harried single people, they look at the schmaltzy couples, and they smile world-weary smiles. For them, today’s like Father’s Day; definitely not a thing for them either. “Dad, you know I love you because I didn’t get you a card. I know how much you hate commercialisation, see. That’s my gift. Hey, let’s subvert this stupid day even further. Why don’t you make the tea?!” It’s pretty uncomfortable, being like this of course: keeping up the appearance of nonchalance is tough. But the rewards are composite; few social obligations, and being the coolest cat since Top Cat. And he was a very cool cat.

The sad part about those in this group is that they never actually do anything if they can avoid it. They might have the right idea about not submitting to the social diktats of evil corporations, but equally, it would be depressing if there were no celebrations ever.

And at its heart (I know), Valentine ’s Day is actually quite nice.

The celebration of love shouldn’t be quite so easily balked at. So what we (slightly counter-intuitively) suggest is a mass boycott of the Valentine’s Day, as it is on February 14th. Why not just surprise your loved one on a different, random day, your own ‘Valentine’s Day’ if you will. Pros: Romantic spontaneity. Individuality. No Single Awareness Day. Cons: The cash-in film Valentine’s Day would not exist. Though this seems a small price to pay.

It seems Valentine’s has the potential to be a great day. Until then though. there’s always indigo. Read on for gifts to give, food to eat, and more. If it’s all too saccharine for you, you can just do it all ironically, which makes it ok, right? LB

i4: Going the distance: On Valentine’s Day we find out two couples’ experiences of long-distance relationships i5: The awkward moment when...: Our new feature tells the story of an awkward massage in India

i6&7: Edible Loving: The Food section takes you through its most seductive menu

i8&9: Thoughts on Figaro: Stage talks to Anna Bailey, director of DOE’s upcoming opera

i10: The Xcerts - ‘new distorted face of pop’: Deputy Music Editor Will Clement chats to Xcert bassist Jordan Smith

i12: The worst shortlist ever? Thoughts on the Oscar nominations and snubs of 2012 i13: Tired or Timeless? We look at Shakespeare adaptations through the lens of Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut, Coriolanus i14: In pursuit of happiness? indigo brings you three books to put a smile on your face

the indigo playlist

i15: A charitable scandal? Travel investigates the risks of volunteering

The Film

The Sketch Show

The Gig

The Event

The Album

A Dangerous Method, centring on Jung and Freud, first impressed critics at the Venice Film Festival in 2011. Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortenson star.

The Durham Revue’s Comedyfest including The Oxford Revue and Cambridge’s Footlights, is for one night only. Superior student comedy at the Gala Theatre, 24th February, 20:00

Matthew Kilford headlines the Vane Tempest Sessions on the 25th February. The singer/songwriter from Swindon lists Joni Mitchell, Jeff Buckley and Radiohead among his influences.

The Durham Drama Festival bursts onto stage from 22-25th February with 15 productions. Performance, workshop and social details are online: www.durhamdramafest.com

Sleigh Bells: Reign of Terror The noise-pop double act return with an even bigger and louder follow-up to 2010’s Treats. Find it online or in music stores from 20th February.

Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

fashion

Fashion Editor: Tom Weller fashion@palatinate.org.uk

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Valentine’s Essence Glitz and Glamour: DUCFS

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Durham does Blue Steel: the Charity Fashion Show Photographs: Yargi Erel

he University Charity Fashion Show, always a spectacle, was more impressive this year than ever before thanks to the enormous effort of its organisers. Held in a beautiful marquee on Palace Green, guests enjoyed cocktails mixed by Popolo’s bartenders and wit supplied by Will Summerlin and Dave Jenkins, auctioneers extraordinaire, who managed to drum up a great amount of money in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

The fashion, which is frankly the last thing everybody is actually there for, happily did not disappoint. After a designer unexpectedly dropped out at the last minute, ASOS managed to step in to deliver great results. A leather jacket over a white-andblack graphic, skintight jumpsuit (a look not to be attempted by the fainthearted) was wonderfully reminiscent of the Keith Haring New York of the ‘80s, as was a neon yellow blazer over black-and-white pinstriped trousers.

Another highlight was a walk of designs by Emily and Olivia Verelst. A Vivienne Westwoodesque red plaid dress, as well as a stunning burgundy gown (worn by the latter Ms Verelst), were some of the high points of the walk. The crowd, naturally, went insane over the underwear walks. Pride was thrown to the wind as audience members clambered upon chairs and literally bowed down to the models on stage as they cavorted around in their underwear.

Apparently excessive wine and excessively toned bodies are a volatile combination.

Interesting fashion was even seen on show in the audience itself. Many boys took interesting takes on the black-tie dress code, with a number of velvet smoking jackets cropping up, and a number of beautiful dresses were on show milling around the marquee during the breaks – a vintage, fur-cuffed Prada number definitely stood out as the look of the night.

The night was capped off in Klute, with the expected quaddie-fuelled debauchery. A huge congratulations is in order for the exec and the models alike – the hard work put in paid off in spades, and here’s hoping that future years can bring about the wonderful results 2012 gave.

Rachel Bailin

The Print

‘You are Simply Wonderful’ Print (£14.99) at www.notonthehighstreet.com

The Scent

The Accessory

Chanel Bois des Iles (£75) at Selfridges

Red Fox Spirithood ($129) at www.spirithoods.com

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Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

features

Does the course of true love run smooth at university? Ellie Ross investigates...

Prince William’s eyes met Kate Middleton’s thighs at a lingerie fashion show she was involved with at St Andrews and now she’s the future Queen of England. But is meeting your future spouse at university commonplace?

According to alumni magazine Durham First, more than 10,000 alumni of Durham University found their spouse while studying for their degrees.

At Edinburgh University, 1 in 10 people are said to find their soul-mate. Either these cities have something in the air or meeting your bride- or groomto-be at university is rather likely.

Jen, a third year from HildBede reckons that there’s a lot of pressure to meet the love of your life at uni. ‘Since Wills and Kate got married I think people are starting to see university as a really good place to find your perfect match. All of my friends are in couples now which means that they don’t want to come with me when I want to pull!’

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More than 10,000 alumni of Durham University found their spouse while studying for their degrees

Other students indigo spoke to agreed that they were worried about finding boyfriends and girlfriends in the world of work because everybody would already be coupled up after university.

Although many did agree that a lot of relationships at university can be casual at best, with most admitting to a casual hook up in a bar - hardly the making of everlasting love!

Next time you lock eyes (or lips) with a hottie in Klute though, think about whether you’d want to get a mortgage, travel the world and buy a dog with them. The chances are higher than you might think!

Photograph: Nicoletta Asciuto

Love: going the distance Up to 80% of students will be in a long distance relationship at some point. indigo asks two couples about their experiences Alex Calvert, 19 and boyfriend, 20 Where does your partner live?

Norwich, he goes to the University of East Anglia.

How long have you been together?

Just over 2 years. .

Where did you meet?

Sixth Form college.

How often do you see each other?

We try and make it every 3rd weekend.

How difficult have you found being apart?

Freshers’ week was the worst part. Going back after the holidays is always hard after spending a lot more time together during the holidays, it takes time to adjust. It’s hard not having them there when you’re feeling down and need a cuddle!

What do you do to keep the relationship going?

Communication is the most important thing, it can be so easy to drift apart when distance is an issue.

What are some of the benefits of being in a long distance relationship?

You can look forward to visits and it makes time together special. It’s harder to get complacent and you aren’t torn between friends and boyfriend when at uni.

Do you do anything special to help being apart? We send each other packages, nothing expensive, just funny things or chocolates etc.

How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Not sure yet. He’s planning on coming up to visit the weekend before and we’ll probably go out for a meal or something.

Do you ever worry about your partner cheating on you?

I’ve seen him dancing in a club – nobody would be impressed!

How important is trust in your relationship?

Very, but cheating never really crosses my mind with him. If you don’t trust somebody when they’re that far away then there is no way it could work. If I constantly worried about what he

was doing it would ruin my time at university.

Laura Dymond, 19 and boyfriend, 20 Where does your partner live?

Devon How long have you been together?

One year on Valentine’s day!

Where did you meet?

At a “young farmers” party... cringe!

How often do you see each other?

Every 10 weeks, then 5 days a week when I’m at home.

How difficult have you found being apart?

It was hard at first but I soon adjusted. I find it hard half way through the term whereas my boyfriend misses me instantly.

What do you do to keep the relationship going?

We try to keep in contact as much as possible so we still know what’s going on and feel part of each other’s lives.

What are some of the benefits of being in a long distance relationship?

You really appreciate each other when you do see each other – your time spent together is special.

Do you do anything special to help being apart, ie. write love letters instead of email, send gifts regularly?

I send gifts according to seasons like advent calendars etc, but I don’t get any back!

How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Probably with a Skype conversation – sad ey?!

Do you ever worry about your partner cheating on you?

Not at all, we have always trusted each other, although we do occasionally joke about kissing other people!

How important is trust in your relationship?

For me it’s the most important aspect. I couldn’t handle a long distance relationship if I didn’t trust him.

Sarah Murray

INDIGO | Tuesday 14th February 2012

Features Editor: Sarah Murray feature@palatinate.org.uk

The awkward moment when... ...an Indian lady manhandles your boobs In our new feature, Miriam Skinner tells about the perils of having a massage overseas

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f you are a ‘proper Durhamite’ (and I speak here from experience) then you will probably have spent part of your summer touring the globe indulging in a bit of contrived poverty and taking pictures featuring slightly malnourished children.

Travelling abroad in cultures and surroundings very different from your own brings, in addition to almost inevitable vomiting and an increased threat of malaria, a great deal of awkwardness; not least of these scenarios is the full body massage.

In the West a massage includes white waffle dressing gowns, mood lighting, difficult to pronounce essential oils (ylang ylang?) and a CD of whale noises and pipe music. This is a slightly odd experience perhaps, but supremely relaxing; just the ticket for a hot and weary traveller in India.

The Ayurvedic massage,

an ancient Indian medicinal massage translating from Sanskrit as “the complete knowledge for long life”, in theory, promises the desired relaxation plus a bonus spot of culture.

What it delivered was nudity, awkwardness, and frankly, downright groping. Suffering from the deeply ingrained British syndrome of almost painful courtesy and stoicism I, like many tourists, smiled politely as I was stripped completely and laid on a bed next to another traveller.

But, if you think that the incident outlined thus far is the awkward one I speak of, you would be very wrong.

The back, neck, leg and even bottom massage were fairly enjoyable actually, putting aside briefly the cultural oddity of communal nudity.

The real ‘awkward turtle’ reared its head when she turned me face up and proceeded to massage the well

“Keep your eyes shut and think of England” Photograph: escarpmentretreat

know boob-muscle (!?) and I was faced with the rather daunting ‘what should my facial expression be under these circumstances’ conundrum.

Too enthusiastic, in order to show approval, could easily be misconceived as bosom groping pleasure; on the other hand, a stony faced response could appear rude.

So I did what every normal person does when faced with an almost impossible social maze - attempt all solutions.

The latter reaction was greeted only by more vigorous pummelling, presumably so as to produce effect and thus, I was forced to smile serenely while the lady in question kneaded my breasts like bread dough.

So readers, unless what you are really after is a slightly amusing anecdote and a supremely awkward afternoon, I implore you; stay away from the foreign massage.

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Mrs Elvet sorts you out indigo’s very own Agony Aunt solves all your problems Dear Mrs Elvet, I’ve trawled the nightclubs of North Road and the Bailey, I’ve charted the college bars from Butler to Hild Bede, but my dear Mrs Elvet, there’s no one quite like you. I keep your (incredibly attractive) picture in a frame next to my bed, I read your advice so ardently that I’ve lost all hope in the rest of the female Durham student population. Mrs Elvet, save me from this torment, please do me the honour of being my Valentine?

Don Juan from St John’s Oh your words are but mere flattery… but it’s nice to see that my new beauty regime is doing me some good. Now Mr Juan, as much as I admire the boldness of your proposition, you must understand some things about me. I enjoy the finer things in life - I won’t be satisfied with a box of Milk Tray and a bottle of Lambrini; as the Spice Girls so eloquently put it, ‘if you want to be my lover, you gotta get with my friends’ Moët & Chandon.

So, if you would like to be considered (I’ve had many other offers) please send a copy of your latest bank statement along with a bottle of Dom Pérignon directly to Palatinate and I will reply in due course.

Dear Mrs Elvet, My problem is written all over my clothes. I just don’t have that ‘Durham look’. I don’t own lobster red chinos or a cable knit jumper, and I don’t even have a wardrobe full of gilets. I like trainers and jeans, I might even go as far as a fleece. You seem like a woman who knows her way around a man’s clothes; how can I learn to fit in with my

friends who seem to have the look down to a T? from Grey I may not be Gok Wan but I like to think that I can help you gain that Durham ‘je ne sais quoi’. To begin, forget your prejudices, red chinos draw the eye to the leg and away from the unfortunate face of the wearer – benefitting all involved. Secondly, if gilets aren’t for you, consider a rugby shirt to highlight your home county pedigree. Finally, to cement your Durhamite look, put that cable knit jumper to good use, place it around your neck, JW logo on show - being from a hill college, the ladies need to be reassured that you’ve got at least a little cash in the bank.

Dear Mrs Elvet, I’ve found myself in a rather sticky situation; I’m at Durham and I’ve just discovered I’m a feminist. I’m in such a minority, how am I to deal with this? Am I shaming my college by reading Germaine Greer? How will I ever tell my friends? Help!

Desperate - Castle

My dear, whilst this is something I’ve not really come across before in Durham, I can offer a few tips. First and foremost, make sure to time your nights out around the rugby/football club socials, they’ll temper your mind back into its true Durham state. Secondly, whilst I appreciate you contacting me with such a horrific problem, do not tell your friends; our sacred Palace Green will not become Greenham Common.

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Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

food & drink

Whilst getting your date drunk probably isn’t a good way to seduce them, our aphrodisiac influenced menu will get the job done just as well.

Main photograph: Katie Merchant Article photographs: Molly Fowler

Flirtinis A fun, sexy and, you’ve guessed it, flirty take on a Cosmopolitan, a pitcher of Flirtinis is guaranteed to get the evening off to a great start.

Alcohol is proven to lower inhibitions, and whilst you don’t want your date sobbing whilst explaining all their failed accolades thus far at university, a drink or two is a great way to ensure flowing conversation.

Inspired by Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw, this delicious combination of vodka and champagne should have guys and girls alike demanding another round.

Ingredients: 1-2 raspberries 1 ounce raspberry vodka 1/2 ounce Cointreau 1/2 ounce pineapple juice 1/2 ounce cranberry juice a dash of fresh lime juice float of champagne (cheap fizz will do) Method: Crush the raspberries in the bottom of a martini glass.

Combine the raspberry vodka, Cointreau, pineapple, lime and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker filled with crushed ice.

Shake until chilled and strain into the martini glass.

Top up with champagne, and garnish with a raspberry if you’re feeling very fancy.

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Edible loving Stimulate your senses this Valentine’s Day with our aphrodisiac-inspired three course menu of lurve

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hey say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but I’m inclined to believe that this theory is just as relevant to a woman; there is nothing more romantic than having a man cook for you (especially if he’s been following indigo’s guide

to a romantic meal and so produces something fabulously tasty). So regardless of gender, if there’s someone special you’ve got your heart set on impressing come February 14th, read on for a foolproof guide to the perfectly romantic and utterly fabulous Valentine’s Day meal.

We’ve been a bit cheeky and made sure that these three courses are packed full of aphrodisiacs, so you don’t need to sweat over how you’re going to charm your date into accepting the offer of a nightcap. Don’t worry, you can thank us tomorrow morning…

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Gorgonzola stuffed figs wrapped in Parma ham

Apart from being ridiculously rich and tasty (and one of your five a day), crops of figs are said to have been celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulation ritual, thus earning their

status in the 21st century as an aphrodisiac.

It’s also a good idea to serve them on a bed of rocket; as well as prettying up the plate, rocket’s strong peppery flavour helps to stimulate your taste buds and makes your mouth more sensitive.

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Crops of figs are said to have been celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulation ritual

Ingredients: 4 whole figs 4 slices Parma ham 100g gorgonzola Balsamic vinegar 1 packet rocket leaves Method: Preheat the oven to 180°c

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Slice the figs into four segments, making sure not to cut all the way through, so that they can be opened up.

Stuff the figs with the chopped up gorgonzola cheese, then wrap tightly with a slice of Parma ham.

Place on a baking sheet and cook for about ten minutes, until the cheese is melted and gooey. (You may want to blast it for a minute or so under the grill, just to give it a golden brown colour.

After all, appearance is everything on an occassion like this, just make sure not to burn

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them!)

Ar-

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range a bed of rocket leaves

INDIGO | Tuesday 14th February 2012

on a plate, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and then place the figs lovingly on top. Serve whilst warm.

(Truffle) mushroom & asparagus risotto Said to arouse the body with its earthy aroma (plus the fact that they’re bloody hard to come by), ancient lovers were supposedly guilty of gorging themselves to the point of bursting with truffles during their wedding feast, to prepare them for their wedding night celebrations. However, since truffles are insanely expensive, for most of you penniless students, any wild mushrooms will have to do.

Asparagus is also celebrated for getting the juices flowing; 19th century bridegrooms used to be given at least three doses of the stuff before their wedding night, believing that they couldn’t possibly perform satisfactorily without it.

Ingredients: 150g risotto rice 250ml white wine 750ml vegetable stock 200g asparagus 200g wild mushrooms 1 onion Zest of 1 lemon Olive oil Parmesan cheese, to serve Salt and pepper, to season Method: Preheat the oven to 200°c.

Chop off the ends of the asparagus and put in a baking tray, covering with liberal amounts of olive oil and salt and pepper.

Roast in the oven for fifteen minutes, turning occasionally, and then take out and leave to cool. Once cooled, chop into small bite-

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Food & Drink Editor: Molly Fowler food@palatinate.org.uk

sized pieces.

In a pan, fry off the chopped onion until soft, add the mushrooms and cook until browned and soft.

Add the risotto rice, the zest of one lemon and the chopped up roasted asparagus. Then allow it to cook for a few minutes until the rice has been toasted.

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Ingredients: For the cake: 150ml milk 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp vanilla extract 3 eggs 200g caster sugar 175g plain flour 3 tbsp best cocoa 1 tbsp baking powder

Nigella Lawson’s decadent chocolate cake with a fresh raspberry filling & chocolate ganache

Aside from the fact that the effort of preparing a homemade cake screams “I love you”, it’s not surprising that chocolate is said to lead to friskiness; no wonder it’s so bad for you.

Containing both sedatives to lower inhibitions and stimulants to increase – er – activity, chocolate is so well suited to seduction that it was actually banned from several ancient monasteries.

As if this wasn’t enough to handle, strawberries are known as the symbol of passion in the fruit-and-veg world, as well as being high in Vitamin C which is proven

Heartfelt homemade chocolates

For the filling: 125ml double cream 125g raspberries

For the icing: 150ml double cream 150g dark chocolate 1 tbsp golden syrup 125g raspberries (to decorate) Method: Preheat the oven to 170°c and grease the cake tins.

Heat the butter and milk in a pan and add the vanilla extract.

Whisk the eggs and sugar until light and frothy, then mix in the milk and butter.

Slowly fold in the sifted flour, along with the cocoa and baking powder, until it is all incorporated.

Pour into the two tins and bake for about 1520 minutes until firm and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, then turn out onto a wire rack and allow to cool.

To make the raspberry cream filling, whip the cream until thick (but not too stiff) and add the raspberries, then mash with a fork until a beautiful marbled pink colour, and use to sandwich the two cakes together.

For the ganache icing, melt the cream, broken up chocolate and golden syrup in a pan, then whisk until completely liquid and smooth.

Pour over the cake, allowing some to drip down the sides, then decorate as you wish with the raspberries.

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Add the wine and vegetable stock, making sure all the rice is covered with liquid. Once the liquid starts to boil, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 30 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is no longer hard.

Season with salt and pepper, and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

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to treat impotence.

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Molly Fowler

Photograph: Emily Parker Being students, we are all busy people, especially once the joys of a light workload in first term seem like decades ago.

It’s for this reason that attempting anything homemade for a Valentine’s Day gift can seem more impossible than scoring a 91 on your next formative. But never fear, indigo is here to provide you with a recipe that is not only incredibly quick and simple, but also surprisingly fun to make (who doesn’t love getting their hands covered in chocolate?) So read on for an easy recipe for beautiful handmade chocolates; the perfect Valentine’s treat for all chocolate addicts.

Ingredients: 200g good quality 70% cocoa chocolate 80g milk chocolate 50g butter 184ml double cream Flavourings of your choice (amaretto, orange liqueur, Baileys etc) Extra chocolate, cocoa powder, icing etc to decorate Mini cup-cake cases

Method: 1. Break the chocolate up into pieces and put into a large bowl.

2. Place the cream and butter in a saucepan and heat until the butter melts and the cream starts to simmer.

3. Take off the heat, and then pour over the chocolate. Stir together until the mixture is smooth.

4. Separate the mixture into bowls and add flavours into the truffle mix as required.

Cool and chill for at least four hours.

5. To shape the truffles, cover fingertips/hands in flavourless oil such as sunflower oil. Make them into a ball shape as small or large as desired.

6. Next, once shaped, coat the truffles in the topping of your choice. (Tip: popular choices are things like cocoa powder, melted chocolate, icing sugar or crushed nuts.)

7. Place the finished truffles carefully in mini cup-cake cases and into a box, keep them refrigerated until you are ready to give them to that special someone, or just eat them yourself!

Emily Parker

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Tuesday 14th February 2012| INDIGO

stage

Festival Director Paul Moss gives indigo the lowdown on Durham’s annual thesp-fest

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his year’s Durham Drama Festival will take place from the 22nd – 25th of February and promises to deliver its biggest year yet – which is no mean feat after 36 previously successful years.

With premieres of plays by Durham student writers, numerous workshops to be delivered by industry professionals on all aspects of working in theatre, and a large helping of late-night socials, the festival is one of the highlights of Durham’s theatrical calendar.

We had over thirty budding playwrights apply to showcase their work at this year’s festival, and we’ll be putting the work of 15 of them on the stage over the course of the festival.

Unlike previous years, the festival won’t just be confined to the Assembly Rooms stage, as this year we’ll be putting on plays in various venues around

Durham – historic buildings, basements, bars – it’s certainly going to be an interesting week.

Shows from previous festivals have gone on to be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and in London theatres, making DDF the place to be to see up-andcoming talent.

The programme for this year has something for every taste – a fair share of comedies alongside drama, musicals and improvised pieces.

And there’s plenty to do in the daytime too – with workshops on all kinds of subjects being held at various times throughout the week, which Sarah Peters, the festival’s publicity officer, is particularly excited about: “t’s just amazing – we’ve got workshops on devising drama and teaching drama from professionals at Northern Stage and the Darlington Arts Centre, discussions on writing for theatre and reviews with Matt Wolf,

a reviewer for the New York Times and the Herald Tribune, and most excitingly we’ve got musical theatre workshops from prolific composer Ann Dudley, who’s currently working on the new film of Les Miserables, starring our good friend Russell Crowe.’’

The socials include a spooky night with a hypnotist, an open mic night, the D’aftas – a glittering award ceremony featuring performances from Instep and DULOG - and a legendary afterparty.

As well as being great events, the socials give festival participants a chance to chat to the workshop leaders and judges, allowing the actors, directors and writers of the future to network with people already thriving in the industry.

Visit www.durhamdramafest. com for full details of the festival and (most importantly) how to book tickets.

Mystery of the Missing Mimes

If anybody has any idea of the whereabouts of the festival’s pair of Mimes – known as Didier and Francoise – then then we ask that you please come forward. The duo have been missing since the 28th January and are instrumental to the running of the festival, so it is of utmost importance that they are found as soon as possible. Reports can be posted on the festival’s website: www.durhamdramafest.com.

Durham Drama Festival’s Missing Mime Mascots Photograph: Harry Gatt Bent The Assembly Rooms

««««« Hannah J Davies

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week on from Holocaust Memorial Day, and beginning on the same night as Auschwitz survivor Arek Hersh’s visit to Durham, 3DTC’s production of Bent held much poignancy.

Despite focusing on the treatment of gay people rather than the Jewish populace, Sarah Peters’ interpretation of a 1979 work by Martin Sherman paints a universally bleak picture of persecution in Nazi Germany.

From the opening scenes in a kitsch boudoir between Max and Rudy - a pair of soon-tobe-outlawed lovers - as well as SA man Wolfgang (a brief role but one played emotively by Michael McLauchlan), the dark humour that permeates even Bent’s most harrowing episodes is apparent.

Rory Quinn as dancer Rudy is wickedly neurotic and insecure at the outset, giving no forewarning of his bloody death on route to Dachau at the end of the first act. This murder (on account of his being an “intellectual” and here we were just thinking he was a hipster with those glasses) sparks a series of disturbing torture scenes at the hands of three uniformed SS, chillingly portrayed by Kate Hunter, Charlie Warner and

Elizabeth O’Connor (O’Connor in particular deserves a mention for her ability to stand to attention for much of the second act).

Greg Silverman’s formerly debauched, coke-loving Max goes on to brave the concentration camp in the company of Horst (Joe Leather). The sexual tension which builds between these two leads over the course of the next sixty minutes is highly fraught - the audience is aware that the wire structure at the front of the stage isn’t just a metaphor for captivity, but could, at any moment become a live electric fence.

A no-sex sex scene between Silverman and Leather is bizarre and tragic in equal measure, with a host of disorientating scenes (read: Leather and

Silverman repeatedly lugging rocks back and forth across the stage) further emphasising the strangeness of a piece that started out in such frivolous fashion.

The inverted pink triangle that Max refuses to wear is an ominous symbol; without a single Swastika, Peters’ impressive production has evoked the horror of the era through its tone, staging and the delivery of its occasional offbeat comedy.

Silverman especially stood out as the piece reached its depressing denouement by way of murder, rape, necrophilia and suicide.

Highly realistic, although not overly stylised, Bent is chilling in its realism rather than on account of its often abstract nature.

Thoughts on Figaro...

Preview: Durham Drama Festival

Photograph: Nicoletta Asciuto,

INDIGO | Tuesday 14th February 2012

Stage Editors: Anna Bailey & Sarah Johnson stage@palatinate.org.uk

Sarah Johnson talks to Anna Bailey, Figaro Director about the opera

indigo chats to The Durham Revue’s Stef Jones, before their annual Gala show with The Oxford Revue and Cambridge’s Footlights

It’s an extremely exciting production to be putting on; The Marriage of Figaro is just a huge, huge opera. Not only are a vast number of songs instantly culturally recognisable to even the most inexperienced of opera-buffs, but the opera has frequently been referred to as the greatest comic opera ever written. It’s a massive undertaking to attempt to do it justice.

So Stef, how do you feel the newest members are settling in?

Really good actually! It was always going to be strange having a new group dynamic when we were so close last year, but it is working well!

Tell us a bit about the production.

What drew you to this Figaro?

I think the sheer accessibility of the opera was what most attracted me. I am by no means a music buff, and am totally out of my depth surrounded by very talented musicians every day, but I don’t think anyone could fail to appreciate how beautiful some sections of the opera are. The plot is entertaining, the music is recognisable, and the opera manages to maintain its levity without compromising moments of genuine pathos. It’s perfect for opera beginners and connoisseurs alike.

How have you found the experience of directing a production of such large scale?

It’s certainly been tougher than anything I have undertaken before. I think the total amount of rehearsal time clocked in at just over 25 hours last week, which was completely exhausting but definitely worth it. Directing a large-scale production gives you the scope to do so many exciting things; even the new Chancellor Sir Thomas Allen is keen to get involved, and I was very fortunate to be able to discuss it with him in his dressing room at Covent Garden!

I’ve heard that you’re transforming Castle Great Hall into a theatre; how challenging has that been?

Model: Katy Quicke, Hair and Makeup: Anna Bailey

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Staging anything in a World Heritage Site requires a lot of thought- not only do we have to preserve the hall and its artefacts, but we also have to keep in mind that people live and eat in the space three times a day. It’s a complicated process to organise, but worth it for the magnificent venue.

Are you doing anything radical with the piece or sticking closely with tradition?

The opera is one of the best and well-known pieces of 18th Century theatre, and fits the century so perfectly, that I wanted to remain faithful to the period in terms of costume and design. We have some very authentic costumes which have kindly been loaned to us by the National Theatre, so the production should be beautiful, at least!

Do you think that Figaro, written in 18th Century Austria, can still be relevant to a contemporary British audience?

Figaro is typical of the 18th century, yet some its fundamental themes and ideas are still poignant today. The explorations of adultery and a failing marriage are intelligently handled in both the music and libretto; they are still as heart-wrenchingly moving and recognisable today as they would have been 200 years ago. Moreover, some of the characters move way beyond standard 18th century archetypes; the principal maid, Susanna, for example, is deliciously stubborn, independent and aggressive; the character is just as complex and recognisable as any modern character; she is a pleasure to watch.

Sum up the plot in one sentence.

On the day of their wedding, Susanna and Figaro, two scheming servants, attempt to trick, confound and beguile their lecherous employer, the Count, from having his way with the bride.

Why should indigo readers come and see this performance?

The opera is set to be the largest scale production ever mounted

by Durham Opera Ensemble, and with a well-known tune at every corner, it is perfect for absolutely anyone wanting to experience an opera. Don’t forget that the performance on Sunday 19th February will have a Black Tie dress code, to make for a really amazing experience.

DOE’s The Marriage of Figaro runs in Castle’s Great Hall from 15th-19th February, 20:00

What is this comedy show?

Well it is an opportunity for us to show Durham an hour of our newest and best material, as well as showcasing the extremely talented Oxford Revue and Cambridge Footlights who have travelled miles up north to come and perform with us!

It’s a one night only event so it really cannot be missed.

Some formidable talent to compete with, then - what preparations have you undertaken?

Mainly rehearsing, writing and eating of snacks! I’ve personally been hitting the gym, planning a sketch in which I lift Jack above my head!

Confident?

Fairly, we’ve been working very hard on being funny, but we’re mainly really excited! I love watching what Cambridge and Oxford put together, I didn’t apply for Oxbridge so there’s no bitterness there.

What is the best joke on your personal repertoire?

Two blondes are walking along the road and one see’s a dead pigeon on the floor and says to the other ‘oh no look, a dead bird’, and the other blonde looks up and asks ‘where?’

Poor I know but I struggle with being funny. I’m mainly in the Revue for my looks.

And to more pressing issues; Snog, marry, avoid: Fergus Leathem, David Knowles, Jack Harris, and why?

Tricky! I would probably avoid Fergus, as we are strictly business acquaintances, which was made clear after a Frank Sinatra impersonator mistook us for a couple. Probably snog David because he’s a cheap drunk! Which leaves me marrying Jack... I’ve always wanted tall children!

Comedyfest is on Friday 24th February at the Gala Theatre

Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

10 music

Alongside Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic in a Scottish alt-rock Renaissance, The Xcerts are a genrestraddling force to be reckoned with. Will Clement caught up with bassist, Jordan Smith, to discuss modern pop, endless touring, and meeting your heroes

The Xcerts - the new distorted face of pop F

or those people who haven’t yet heard the Xcerts, how would you describe your ‘distorted pop’ approach to music?

Exactly that, really. At its core, our songs are pop music, just made by guys who watch too many David Lynch movies.

The Xcerts are (left to right) Jordan Smith, Murray Macleod, and Tom Heron Photo: Press Counsel PR

Scatterbrain, which you guys released at the end of 2010, was an absolute scorcher of an album. Where did you get your main influences from for the record?

Musically, it was just a reflection of the records we were listening to at the time. The sound of the record was more a combination of working with Mike (Sapone, producer) and a kind of reaction to the workmanlike approach we had to the first record. Just letting ideas form, and working from there.

What was it like working with Sapone, who has produced critically acclaimed albums such as Brand New’s The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me and Taking Back Sunday’s Tell All Your Friends?

Working with Mike was a joy and an education, to say the least. Meeting someone for the first time and just getting straight to work is always going to be odd, and he just has the perfect attitude to making music. It was easy, really.

You’ve previously described the sound of the album as ‘the sweet sound of a young man losing his mind” : personal experience, or just artistic speculation?

Well nobody got sectioned, if that’s what you mean. But yeah, the title does reflect the record.

Everything happened so fast in putting the record together, it was very seat-of-the-pants

type stuff, financially speaking.

There’s more pressure than people realise being in a band.

Speaking of pressures, you’ve had a pretty exhausting year on the road promoting the album, as well as having just completed a January

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I like to think we thrive more on momentum than adrenaline

headline tour. Are you starting to feel the fatugue, or is the adrenaline still running high?

I like to think we thrive more on momentum than adrenaline.

Adrenaline only last 30 minutes to an hour on stage every night, but momentum is something you build over a period of time.

Whether it’s the momentum of a tour that’s kicking off, or a record you’re about to put out, it’s the distant horizons that pull you through the difficult hereand-now.

In addition to your headline dates, you supported Taking Back Sunday last year, and

will be hitting the road in February with Brand New. How does it feel to see you name on the same bill as these bands?

Strange and humbling. TBS was the beginning of a crazy string of supports, all with bands we respected, and whom we now consider our peers and friends. Brand New is heavy though. I mean, that’s a big one.

You’re pretty frequent users of social media websites, with Murray (Macleod, Guitarist/ Vocalist)’s tumblr Q&As as well as the band’s Facebook page. Do you think that, with this new level of interaction with the fans, modern music

has entered a new era?

It’s definitely done away with the ‘enigmatic rockstar’ cliché.

Kids today expect to know everything about bands they like. Every little detail. It can be weird sometimes, but thankfully we’re all insane, egomaniacal narcissists.

They play in Newcastle’s O2 Academy Newcastle this Thursday, 17th February, supporting Brand New.

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For more music news go to palatinate.org.uk

INDIGO | Tuesday 14th February 2012

Music Editors: Jess Denham and Will Clement music@palatinate.org.uk

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Fishtank fires up as the bubble burns again

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he lively yet cosy atmosphere of Fishtank was the perfect setting for the latest music night hosted by student-run project TheBubbleBurning. Providing an eclectic choice of live bands and DJ sets, there was a sound to suit almost every taste and as a result, the venue was quickly filled.

Tim and Sam kick-started proceedings with quirky covers of well-known hits such as ‘Virtual Insanity’ by Jamiroquai and ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears.

Their guitar and cello combination made for beautiful instrumentals while nostalgic song choices (particularly ‘Fat Lip’

by Sum 41, a classic from most of our pre-teen years) ensured some singing along. Friendly yet professional, they eased the audience into the start of a brilliant night.

Liv and the Lionhardts, who have been gracing the college open-mic night circuit and were recently awarded second place at Collingwood’s Got Talent, presented an enticing concoction of acoustic folk and rhythmic percussion.

Up next and continuing the trend for ‘girl and her band’ groups were the widely praised Hannah and the Hedgehogs.

Another folk-based outfit, the trio met upon starting at Dur-

Born To Die

Lana Del Rey

««««« Aalok Vora

Lana Del Rey or Lizzy Grant?

Independent hero or major label marketing ploy? Has she had plastic surgery or not?

These questions can, and should be met with a resounding indifference, for it is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that someone has created a persona to support their musical ambitions.

More important is the music, and when you have ‘Video Games’, a majestic pop nugget, under your belt, you needn’t worry about anyone who doubts your credibility.

However, her album makes it clear that her persona has now taken precedence over her music.

‘Video Games’ had a senti-

ham and showcased a set that was chilled-out while successfully keeping all ears enthralled.

The Machiavellia ended the live music part of the night, bringing a slightly heavier sound than is usually found at most Durham student gigs.

Dynamic and engaging vocals from Edd Toomey and expert accompaniment from Joel Cockcroft and Tom Cox on drums and bass respectively gave an edgier feel to the evening as they played a selection of their own songs to an enthusiastic crowd.

They gave an energetic and memorable performance which left the room buzzing for the three DJs that followed: Crafty Barnardo, Tim Japp, and The Raspberry Armadillo.

TheBubbleBurning crew returns to appease the now ever-growing appetites of Durham’s live music fans, with a charity event at Market Vaults this Thursday 16th February.

Entry will cost a mere £2.50, with at least £1 from each ticket sale going towards UNICEF to help the victims of the recent disaster in the Philippines. Great music for a great cause, what’s not to like?

Tim and Sam play Fishtank Photograph: TheBubbleBurning

Emma Chapman and Jess Denham

album review round-up mentality which struck a chord with people and melted their hearts. These same sentiments are hard to come by on the rest of the album.

Instead we find her delving into a mire of pop gluttony: money, sex and drugs.

However, her lyrics in this vein are clunky and lack substance, for example: “Money is the reason we exist/Everybody knows that it’s a fact/ Kiss kiss” and “Up Bacardi chases/Chasing me all over town”.

Worse than the vapidity of it is the lack of fun, retaining a morose and morbid atmosphere.

Is there any real longevity in the persona that is Lana Del Rey, or is she destined to be remembered for one moment of brilliance?

Luckily she does not close completely the door on the former possibility, she just needs some life behind those pretty eyes.

A Flash Flood of Colour

Django Django

Enter Shikari

Django Django

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«««««

Scott Simpkin Imagine metal, post-hardcore, dubstep and rock with politically influenced lyrics all mixed into one 43 minute record. This is a cocktail that is not meant to work. However, Enter Shikari’s third album A Flash Flood of Colour manages to pull it off with aplomb.

Highlights on the album include the cleverly constructed opening double-wammy of ‘System…Meltdown’, the haunting and surprisingly quiet ‘Stalemate’, and the catchy yet dirty ‘Arguing With Thermometers’.

This truly unique album cements Enter Shikari as pioneers of the future of music. Expect to see big things from these four boys in 2012.

Larry Bartleet This Scottish band’s catchy debut album is an eclectic hybrid record, dedicated to surf-rock, spaghetti-western and psychedelic electro music, sometimes all at once. This blend is as hyper as it sounds, but in their hands the mix becomes something new and exciting.

‘Hail Bop’ works dissonance into hook-laden harmonies, and the clearest Beach Boys influence is revealed in the carefree sun-and-surf song ‘Life’s a Beach’. Most striking of all is ‘WOR’, a thrumming Wild West battle song mixed with air-raid sirens and handclaps.

The length of the album may detract from the effervescence of the initial tracks, but vibrant creativity is always on display.

Given to the Wild

The Maccabees

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Django Shelton The Maccabees embark on their third studio album, managing what many modern day artists fail to do: constantly tweaking their sound while still retaining what made them successful in the first place.

Opening track ‘Child’ builds from a simple, elegant introduction to a crescendo of distinguishing bass lines and hooks.

This Foals-influenced theme is repeated throughout.

However, this is still distinctively a Maccabees album, with lead single ‘Pelican’ drawing up memories of their 2007 debut.

This effort is highly polished and successfully combines their traditional sound with an interesting new direction.

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Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

film&tv

Student Cinema

Cult Film Society The running order of these films have yet to be decided, and there are other films to be confirmed.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Swedish Version) Exit Through the Gift Shop Badlands Midnight in Paris O Brother Where Art Thou Some Like it Hot Picnic at Hanging Rock Being John Malkovich The Cult Film Club is a small club of individuals who are passionate about film, showing films for the public in the Birley Room of Hatfield College for the knockdown price of £1.

They are renowned for having very good taste in films, endeavouring to show an eclectic mix including the lesser-known, the critically acclaimed and works by famous directors.

Highlights last term including Hitchcock’s The Birds, Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums (coincidentally this writer’s favourite film) and the classic Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life.

The club was founded on the idea of watching and sharing interesting films with like-minded film fans in a friendly environment.

This environment is no doubt helped by the club’s enthusiastic and generous bakers, who make treats to snack on during the film, and encourage others to do the same.

Simply put, they provide a lovely place to watch films.

The Cult Film Club’s films are shown in the Birley Room in Hatfield College.

The films start at 7.30pm, and admission is £1, with £5 for a yearly membership and £10 for life.

Email http://groupspaces. com/cultfilmclub/ to join the mailing list and learn more.

The Oscars - all the wrong choices? Photograph: Davidlohr Bueso

The worst shortlist ever?

Alex Leadbeater dissects this year’s Oscar nominations

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ast year wasn’t a great year for cinema; even Pixar couldn’t make a good movie.

But there were enough quality films that there should have been a fair fight come awards season.

Two weeks ago, the nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were released, and not only were a lot of these films ignored, but we also got the worst Oscar shortlist in a long time.

The main injustices came in the acting categories. There was surprisingly no sign of Tilda Swinton for her sublime performance in Lynn Ramsey’s haunting We Need to Talk About Kevin.

The most shocking omission was Michael Fassbender for Best Actor. maybe the Academy preferred the superstar status of Clooney and Pitt on their shortlist over the newly risen Fassbender.

Or maybe Shame, in which he plays a sex addict, was just too edgy for Academy.

“

Drive could quite easily have swept the board with Best Picture, Director and Supporting Actor

These disappointing choices are made worse by very bland shortlists.

Discussing Best Actress is hardly a moot point as it will undoubtedly go to Meryl Streep for playing Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Best Actor is more up in the air; a mixture of nominations representing Best Picture and a couple of out there choices.

One can only hope Gary Oldman will walk away with the prize for the underrepresented Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; how long can such a consistent actor go without being rewarded?

Bizarrely, many deserving films have been left out altogether.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive was universally accepted by critics as film of the year, but gained only one nomination, in a technical category.

It could quite easily have swept the board with Best Picture, Director and Supporting Actor for psychotic Albert Brooks’ seemingly obvious nods.

The aforementioned Shame and We Need to Talk About Kevin could also have had mileage beyond acting, as could The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which got only one serious nomination, for Rooney Mara’s vulnerable turn as the title character.

Hugo, on the other hand, recieved far too much praise, with a

total of 11 nominations. It may be a film about the birth of cinema from directing legend Martin Scorsese, and while it is technically impressive, the film itself is far from best of the year.

It’s interesting that none of the above got into the Best Picture category, which contains some undeserving films.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close sounds like Oscar bait but got a critical drubbing and The Tree of Life was so loathed by half its audience its inclusion here is as confusing as the film itself. Ultimately, the appalling nominations don’t matter, as only one movie stands a chance.

Come February 26th, the night will belong to a silent, French, black and white film that has all the momentum and, more importantly, quality to snap up the big prize; hilarious, moving and ingenious, The Artist will go home with all the gongs.

INDIGO | Tuesday 14th February 2012

Film & TV Editor: Ed Owen film@palatinate.org.uk

Shakespeare on film Tired or timeless? In light of the release of Ralph Fiennes’s Coriolanus, Gabriel Samuels assesses the Bard’s ever-growing cinematic legacy

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he melancholy lord Jaques famously mused, in Act II of As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

This is one of Shakespeare’s greatest quotations, and whilst it may be a metaphor, it does pose the question: what if there really were no limits? What if we really could make the world our stage?

The invention of the motion picture in the 19th century, almost precisely three hundred years after the birth of our greatest playwright, revolutionised the performance of Shakespeare’s work,

and opened up avenues that even the Bard himself never would have dreamt possible.

Over 420 feature-length adaptations of his work have followed in cinemas and on the television, the latest being the bloody and bellicose Coriolanus directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, released in UK cinemas on the 20th January.

In his directorial debut, Fiennes plays the disgraced general with aplomb in this excellent modernday interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most underrated histories, complete with modern weapons and gadgetry.

He is aided by a clear understanding of the linguistic intricacies of the text. and as such, the modern setting does not jar at all: the Serbian war surroundings actually serving to compliment the harshness of the play itself.

Vanessa Redgrave is exceptional as the calm and stately Volumnia, providing the perfect foil to Fiennes’ relentless desire for revenge, as well as providing the Achilles’ heel for his otherwise implacable man of iron.

Indeed, so good is Redgrave’s fierce portrayal of the domineering matriach that there have been

rumours of an Oscar nomination, even if such speculation has since since been extinguished by this year’s controversial shortlist.

The adaptation as a whole is very faithful to Shakespeare’s original work; it’s just that there are AK-47s instead of spathae, and bullet-proof vests instead of breast-plates.

Reimagining the world in which a Shakespearian drama takes place is far from a novel concept, with films such as Baz Luhrmann’s, the hyperkinetic Romeo + Juliet, (starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes) proving to be immensely

Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus - modern and mesmerising Photograph: image.net

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popular, raking in £150 million at the box office.

There have also been marginally less successful 2010 cinematic offerings such as The Tempest (with Helen Mirren and, ahem, Russell Brand) and the BBC’s 2010 version of Macbeth starring Patrick Stewart, transferred from stage to screen by Rupert Goold.

Updated Shakespeare plays on screen tend to work because the stories and themes they put forward are timeless and appeal on a range of levels– the only real difference is the inclusion of shiny modern things that bring in punters who wouldn’t normally bother with the Bard.

In fact, a modern theme can really resonate - when one looks at the mad-as-hell plebian uprisings in Coriolanus, it is impossible to not think of the recent Arab Spring.

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Updates of Shakespeare plays on screen tend to work because the stories and themes they put forward are timeless

For the purists, there are plenty of cinematic versions in original dress in circulation – in the 80s, the BBC undertook the mammoth task of broadcasting 37 of the plays, with all the original settings and clothing, over the space of seven years.

Yet however the drama is framed, however fancy the graphics or famous the stars may be, it’s always Shakespeare’s genius that shines through.

But can a motion-picture version ever truly beat the drama of seeing the play live on stage, a Shakespeare intended?

The fundamental difficulty in adapting a play to film lies in the attributes of the concepts and physical temperaments that inform each and which it is not easy to reconcile– the excitement that sweeps the stage can feel claustrophobic, and raw emotion muted when transferred to the screen.

But, simply put, it’s the next best thing, exposing the brilliance of our greatest author to the masses in an accessible manner - and that can only be a good thing, surely.

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Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

books

Books Editor: Izzie Bengoechea books@palatinate.org.uk

In pursuit of happiness?

With the waves of dissertation blues gradually enroaching on our sanity, Durham students bring you their best reads to brighten up a dark day....

Margot Berwin Hothouse Flower and The Nine Plants of Desire by Anni Pekie

Valentine’s Day not going your way? Valentine’s Day going so far your way you’re quite frankly bored of it? Give Margot Berwin’s Hothouse Flower and Nine Plants of Desire a go, and rediscover the mystery and excitement of a real romance.

Lila Nova just got divorced.

Looking round her flat, she realises that not only is her home empty, but so is her life. So she does what anyone would do to get over a broken heart: she buys a plant.

As she becomes more interested in greenery she befriends the eccentric Armand, who offers her a very rare fern. If it

grows roots under her care, he promises to show her the nine mysterious plants of desire.

However, these mysterious plants being stolen, Lila must travel to Mexico to find replacements where, on entering the jungle, she is enraptured by its magic and romance and discovers more about herself than she ever expected.

Love at first sight, Immortality, Fortune, Female Sexuality, Power, Magic and High Adventure – these are the qualities of the Nine Plants of Desire, as well as the tenth nameless plant. We encounter every plant in the story of one woman’s journey to

If you need a bit of a pick-meup this winter, why not cheer yourself up with a favourite English pasttime: making fun of the French?

A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke tells the story of a young Englishman, Paul West, who moves to Paris to set up English-style tea houses.

Clarke’s descriptions of

Parisians, waiters on strike and struggling through French bureaucracy make for a hilarious read. He’ll make you laugh out loud.

Stephen Clarke writes with a dry, sarcastic and utterly English sense of humour, and I guarantee he will put a smile on your face during the cold winter months.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, and few books could claim to exploit this weakness in its readers more thoroughly than Laurie Lee’s 1959 autobiography Cider With Rosie.

Taking us through his childhood years in a rural Gloucestershire village, Lee creates a coming-of-age narrative which, though it may not reflect our own experience, is none the less truthfully and lucidly portrayed through his unrivalled mastery of language.

At times we see Lee’s countryside as an idyll, yet he is not afraid to peel away this false exterior, and devote an entire chapter to death. This honesty,

aside from making the work more endearing, actually fuels the uplifting spirit behind the text, as it allows us to appreciate the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of life.

Cider With Rosie does demand that its readers accept that everything will perish (even Lee’s childhood village is doomed in the end with the ever-increasing popularity of automobiles), but at the same time, through its inspired imagery, it encourages us to appreciate the world while we can.

Laurie Lee’s past, like that first taste of cider, is one that is “Never to be forgotten, or ever tasted again...”

discover more about herself and about the power of love.

It was only by accident that I picked up this novel, and was rather dubious about what, quite frankly, looked like trashy Chick Lit. I thought I knew what to expect from it before I had even opened it. To some degree

I got just what I expected, but then again I also got a wonderful story the like of which I’ve never read before!

Though indeed Chick Lit, it certainly an unusual and dazzling example. The plot is fairly simple, but being such a quick and light read is one

of the book’s strengths. If you just want to lean back for a few hours, enjoy yourself, keep that flame of romance burning bright, and escape into the exotic world of Yucatan, where the moon is bigger and the world is greener, then I urge you to pick up this book!

Stephen Clarke A Year in the Merde

by Emma Fielding

Laurie’s Lee Cider with Rosie

by Christian Kriticos

The delights of a good book Photograph: Matthew Duerden

INDIGO | Tuesday 14th February 2012

travel

Travel Editor: Alexandra Groom travel@palatinate.org.uk

Many volunteering placements are genuine, but some are only money-spinners Photograph: Sarah Ludlow

A charitable scandal Georgia Gray delves into the dark side of the “voluntourism” industry

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olunteering has long had a big red circle around it on the gap year student’s “‘to do” list. The possibility of cultural immersion is much greater than simply trekking to a few beaches and having a sunbathe with half of your school year, and perhaps that person from a rival school that you always used to play at hockey (“fancy bumping into you in Koh Phi Phi!”). Along with the warm fuzzy feeling a little selflessness gives, many travellers genuinely enjoy meeting locals, and giving something back to the place which has (hopefully) hosted them so well. Whilst volunteering can surely only be a good thing, inevitably, there are those who will take advantage of it. AG It’s four o’ clock on a Tuesday afternoon and the smartlydressed children of Buenos

Aires’ elite are being carefully ushered out of their prestigious, state-of-the-art school and into the hands of their chauffeurs, or into buses that will take them to the gated communities in which their custom-built houses sit, surrounded by a sprinkling of swimming pools and four wheel drives.

Welcome to my gap year work placement, arranged (believe it or not) through an organisation for people wishing to ‘provide a vital service where resources are limited’; the vast discrepancy between the premise and the reality speaks for itself.

The organisation’s website is littered with the word ‘volunteer’ and when I questioned their use of the term, I was told that technically we were volunteers, as we were unpaid.

If we’re going to start splitting semantic hairs, then yes, we

were volunteers but companies must understand the connotations attached to this word that is thrown around so carelessly.

However naïve the notion might be, to the mind of a young, idealistic adult the word suggests helping those desperately in need.

In all fairness to the company in question, their website has now been carefully reworded to more accurately reflect the reality of the placement, but only after a steady succession of complaints from displeased and disillusioned ‘volunteers’ who felt that alongside being mislead, they were simply not needed.

Volunteerism, also known as voluntourism has boomed in recent years; the chance for people, often students, to give something back to the countries they set out to explore, as they

haul their desire to do good alongside their heavy backpacks into the developing world has proved irresistible for many.

But, as the ever-wise Oscar Wilde once said, “Charity creates a multitude of sins,” and sadly, experiences like mine are the norm rather than the excep-

“

Many of the children at orphanages are not orphans at all, but have been rented, bought or stolen

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tion in the world of the volunteerism industry.

And without a doubt, this is definitely an industry – companies charge what at times can only be described as extortionate amounts to give well-meaning volunteers the opportunity to help a charity.

Did you know you can volunteer with lion cubs in South Africa for two weeks – a snip at just £1399 (flights excluded)!

Charging such high fees can only mean one of two things: either the project has been set up with sole aim of making money, or the volunteers’ presence is a hindrance to the genuine work of the charity, one that needs to be compensated for in some way.

Lately, reports of a more sinister nature have been leaking out of the volunteerism world.

Worse than taking advantage of naïve, well-meaning gappers is the exploitation of those the charity purports to help.

Wildlife and conservation projects are notoriously exploitative and expensive, with the notion of feeding orphaned tiger cubs too appealing a novelty or too good a photo opportunity for wealthy Westerners to pass up.

The result of this lucrative industry is many animals needlessly taken from the wild or purposely kept in sub-standard conditions in what is essentially a glorified petting zoo.

Now, reports of similar treatment towards children are emerging. In Cambodia, to take one well-documented example, a rapid spike in the numbers of orphanages and children in care has been fuelled by the booming volunteerism industry.

Many of these children are not orphans at all, but have been rented, bought or stolen from impoverished families, many of whom have been tricked into thinking that a better life awaits their children.

Instead, they are used as a heart-rending tool in an industry built on guilt, pity and misguided generosity, a pawn in the owners’ quest to coerce money from Western wallets.

Although the volunteerism industry shows no signs of slowing down, ultimately scandals such as these may dissuade people from devoting their time and effort to genuine causes.

It falls to potential volunteers to thoroughly research prospective organisations, ensuring that they will be useful and, more importantly, that their wellmeaning gesture does more good than harm.

Tuesday 14th February 2012 | INDIGO

The perfect guide to a home-cooked menu Forget restaurants: it’s all about the homecooked meal i6&7 Thoughts on Figaro Stage Editor Anna Bailey tells us about the upcoming opera i8&9

the back page

Excerpt from the Xcerts An interview with the ‘new distorted face of pop’ i10

crossword

online

Is anyone out there?

Radar: Kentish Fire

Read an Nightliner’s point of view on the anonymous calling service, which anyone can call for support or advice on 0191 334 6444

indigo brings you new music in the form of this indie dance group from Camden who are gaining mainstream attention

Scan the codes with your smartphone to read:

Across: 6 Start the month in charge of subordinate (6) 8 Appealer slips in very quietly to dinner (6) 9 Cultivate work out (7) 10 Refer everyone before due bent (6) 11 At least presently, a small fish (6) 12 Trusted that on the Devil’s head be it, there wasn’t one in Hell (5) 13 Could common couple be Ian’s keepers? (8) 16 Once more afresh (4) 18 Sort of greeny fire (6) 19 A golden one for the fairest (5) 20 Beastly partner (6) 22 Lost foundation of Thyme reverts to legend (4) 23 We’d vocally go after nuisance of a plant (8) 26 Lures recklessly into controlling the kingdom (5) 27 Not common, but ordinary (6) 28 Meet in combat before the wedding (6) 29 Redraft on spare character (7)

30 Set off at the front (6) 31 Universal donor tips off Amber for Spanish cards (5)

Down 1 Detach United Nations’ coherer (6) 2 What Molly does to her eggs (6) 3 Fairy king relaxed on robe (6) 4 Stupid saint supplanted by catholic cherub (5) 5 In which white makes first move on a lucky break (7) 7 Family name niece must choose alternately (3) 8 Unknown person is single after a few (6) 12 Cheerful mishap: pygmy found out! (5) 14 Rally for a place to stand (5) 15 Little old wife of Isaac crows for half a shekel (5) 16 A royal fight is ended by flights (5) 17 Where eagles nest for a year in windswept Ireland (5) 18 He lives, perhaps, bizarrely! (5)

19 Musically of one mind (7) 21 Endless exchanging rent and ale (7) 23 I’d best organise a little room (6) 24 Liven up Monday with a hard worker (6) 25 Exchange our charm for the Spanish pottery (6) 26 Returning leper will fail to attract (5) 28 Antacid of some renown (3) Emily Woodhouse Solutions from Issue 736: Across: 1 Rats 5 Diary 8 Vermeer 9 Aided 10 Lodg-e 11 S-even 12 Regular 13 Saw 15 Te-epee 18 Re-doubt 19 Skates 21 B-log 23 Kit 24 Cheetah 25 Robot 26 PO-you 27 Avail 28 A-bridge 29 Court 30 Arch Down: 1 Sliver 2 A-venue 3 Red 4 Amber 5 Deleted 6 I-ron 7 Reggae 11 Sagas 13 Spilt 14 Weigh 15 Tight 16 Ask 17 Bat 18 Rapid 20 K-IM-O.N.O 21 Beaver 22 O-a-fish! 24 C-olin

25 R-oar 27 Aga

A goodbye message from DJ Robin

Dear Students past and present,

4 Brentwood Court Stanley Durham DH9 6XW 16/11/2011

Over the years, DJ-ing at DSU Planet of Sound and around the colleges, I’ve enjoyed every moment. There are so many students I would like to thank for their friendship over the years.

Here is a small amount of what I remember from the last few years: Katie Wrethmall from St Mary’s for setting up “The DJ Robin fan club.” This was a great surprise! Thank you to all who joined the fan club. Andy, Gavin Coy, Scott Parker and Alex from Collingwood. Amelia, Madeline Johnson (Dalziel), Alex Sharp from Grey. Dave Hill from Aiden’s. Mike Hansen, Mike Johnson from Hild Bede. James Woodward at the Shorinji Kempo Society.

Purple Radio: I enjoyed playing my Heavy Rock music on Monday nights. Jez Light, Ian Burton, Ray, Gordon and all the staff at Dunelm. There are so many I would like to thank, and to all I have missed I apologize.

I’ve played cheese for years, but the funny thing is, I don’t like cheese! But in the right places, like Planet or around the colleges it creates a party atmosphere, something I try to do every time I DJ.

I’m on Facebook. I love you all, a very big thank you and goodbye! Have a great life away from Durham hopefully some time I might meet you again.

Very best regards, DJ Robin (Robin P Balfour) Tel. 01207284303