‘The Cagebirds’, David Campton’s allegorical play that first graced the stage seventy years ago, has found a promising new interpretation in the Theatre Group’s production, under the direction of Harry Daisley, Alicia Edwards-Farrer, Ela Fisher and Jeremy Allaire. In a true experiment of physical theatre, the cast and production team employ two seemingly contradictory elements – freedom of movement and the discussion of entrapment – to create a profound commentary on the complexities of modern-day oppression. Reminiscent of Plato’s ‘Allegory of the Cave’, the play seeks to confront the audienc ..read more

For the last 16 years, Leeds RAG Fashion Show has been putting the University of Leeds on the map for staging shows that dare to be bold, innovative, and thought-provoking. Produced on the essence of compelling themes such as ‘Ignite’ and ‘Timeless’, the Leeds Raising and Giving Society never fails to push the boundaries of fashion whilst fundraising for a plethora of good causes. And this year is no different. Lippy had the pleasure of attending the show’s launch party last night which unveiled the theme ‘Eclipse’ as the creative vision for the 2024 event. You would be forgiven for thinking t ..read more

If you’re on the hunt for some gorgeously harmonised acoustic folk-pop, then look no further than the Boston-based band, Tiny Habits. Coming together in a three-piece trio, members Maya Rae, Cinya Khan, and Judah Mayowa, can be defined by their intimate performances and stunning harmonies.    On Friday 10th November, Tiny Habits gave Leeds exactly that. Taking to the Leeds Beckett Union stage as the supporting act to Grammy nominee Noah Kahan, the band wowed audiences.   You might have thought you were in Tiny Habits’ living room rather than the Leeds Beckett Uni ..read more

The writer’s insights into love, heartbreak, and growing up continue in her second fiction novel. When I think Dolly Alderton, I think friendship, twenties, parties, relationships, and incredible writing. Good Material is her second novel, and her fourth book – with Everything I Know About Love being first, released in 2018, Ghosts (her first work of fiction) in 2020, and Dear Dolly, a collection of her agony aunt articles, released in 2022. Everything I Know About Love was a huge success, with the BBC creating a series based on it. Five years later, it’s still a firm favourite ..read more

The Last Dinner Party are undoubtedly the most exciting group on the indie music scene right now. Established in 2021, the London five-piece have captured the attention of fans and artists alike. With no music released at the time, they supported The Rolling Stones, which initiated much discussion as to how they had gained themselves such a high profile when their music was unreleased. As you can imagine, the terms ‘industry plant’ and ‘nepo-babies’ were thrown around (and still are) - because how could five incredibly talented women be so successful with no logical explanation?! Honestl ..read more

Open Theatre’s latest production ‘Train Stations,’ written by Sam Cooke and directed by Caroline Rauch follows a blossoming friendship between two strangers as they meet on a train platform. The isolated and lonesome protagonist Bryony (Izzy Higgins) has just started a new job and we follow her on her daily commute. We are invited to dip in and out of the lives of others at the train station as Bryony plays witness to humorous, engaging stories. Before long, she meets Adam (Zak Muggleton). I loved the chilling awkwardness between “squeaky shoes” (Bryony) and Adam, which evolved into a friendl ..read more

After his overdue debut on ‘Live at the Apollo’, Ignacio Lopez is bringing his tour show ‘Nine Ig Fails’ to Leeds. Telling the tale of his pilgrimage to see the last ever Nine Inch Nails concert in LA, the Welsh Spaniard uses observational comedy and his unique style of humour to recall the highs and lows of his journey. His unique perspective of both Welsh and Spanish culture allows him to explore themes and experiences which are not usually portrayed in the mainstream as we know it. No stranger to the UK comedy scene, Lopez is a regular headliner at comedy clubs and has supported for the lik ..read more

-A conversation on diverse casting and inclusivity’s place in Fashion with Model Director, Archie Summer-Hayes. The Leeds RAG Fashion Show has been a prolific part of student life for more than a decade now and, being awarded Best Event for 8 years running, the show’s notoriety has consistently championed fundraising within the University of Leeds. The Raise and Give society’s (RAG) Fashion Show allows for upcycled garments, often created and designed by local designers and students, to reflect the causes supported by the charities selected. Last year’s theme, Eudaimonia, reflected the focus o ..read more

A time for pumpkins, sweets, and spooks; as a mood reader I feel like I’m compelled to tackle something scary when I’m reading in October. Last year I was disturbed by the descent into insanity in ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ by Shirley Jackson, and the gothic settings of ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker. But this year I felt like I needed a different kind of unsettling, something that was going to shake me to my core, because scary doesn’t have to be gore and monsters. Horror can be detached from your situation, but it’s the questions it raises that stay with you. What if it did happen? Could it happ ..read more

Our culture has a celebrity problem. I’m not suggesting this is a new issue: an insidious expectation that famous artists can, and will, provide whatever we want of them has pushed people ranging from Greta Garbo to Thomas Pynchon to purposefully, and painstakingly, avoid the public spotlight. However, with the turn of the social media age, greater visibility has led fans to believe they can take ownership of their favourite celebrities’ lives in ways we haven’t seen before. All-time great artist and recluse Lauryn Hill put it better than anyone else could in a 2021 Rolling Stone interview ..read more