Author: Jonathan Dawson

Billy Elliot at The Liverpool Empire – Review

Billy Elliot at The Liverpool Empire – Review

Posted by | May 14, 2017 | ,

It’s hard to think of any other musical which defines Northern, working class culture as much as Billy Elliot. The musical, set against the backdrop of a north-eastern mining town in the 1980’s, typifies working class culture and identity at a time of complete change in British history, when upheavals in class and identity were beginning to emerge and divide the nation. The search for identity was an unescapable theme in this production of Billy Elliot. However, this is meant in the best possible way, as the production and acting was so good that the musical went beyond the...

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Benedict Drew: KAPUT – Review

Benedict Drew: KAPUT – Review

Posted by | Dec 1, 2016 |

A wall of posters first greets you as you enter the new Benedict Drew: KAPUT exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery; emblazoned with slogans and graffiti of the Virgin Galactica space programme; ‘The Grand Tour’ and ‘The Enlightenment’. It’s an interesting mix, which at first appears abstract but the meaning becomes increasingly clear. Through using a mixture of sculpture, video and audio, Drew creates a provocative take on the influence of wealth and capitalism in modern society. The themes of the exhibition appear to be embodied by Richard Branson, who Drew created a line drawing of to hang high...

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Joe and Caspar: Hit the Road USA – Review

Joe and Caspar: Hit the Road USA – Review

Posted by | Oct 29, 2016 | ,

Joe Sugg and Caspar Lee are known for many things: their collaborative videos, bromance and most notably the 19 million subscribers they have amassed across their YouTube platforms. On 25th October, the duo visited Liverpool’s Empire Theatre, the second date of their 7 night tour around Britain to promote the upcoming release of their docu-film, Joe and Caspar Hit the Road: USA. The show was billed as a preview of Sugg and Lee’s upcoming DVD release, however the realization of this was more varied. 90 minutes of the show’s 2-hour slot was filled with games between the two stars,...

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‘Out of the Blue’ Exhibition at The Bluecoat – Review

‘Out of the Blue’ Exhibition at The Bluecoat – Review

Posted by | Oct 24, 2016 |

Liverpool’s Bluecoat gallery launched their ‘Out of the Blue‘ exhibition on Saturday 22nd October; the showcasing of a project which brings together adults with learning difficulties and local children, who work with one another to create art on a weekly basis. Walking into the exhibition space, at first glance the work on display appeared overly simplistic, a collection of life size portraits and an interactive game set in one room, which left us asking “is this it?.” However, once you begin to engage in the art you start to realise the creativity that has gone in to the pieces...

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