With summer in full swing, the city is abuzz with energy this month. Get the lowdown on music festivals, Cambridge Pride, Jesus Green Lido centenary celebrations and more inside the June issue of Cambridge Edition.
YOUR MONTHLY FIX OF
LOCAL LIFE
JUNE 2023
SUMMER STYLE SPECIAL
CULTURE FIX Upcoming theatre, gigs & art exhibitions TOP TABLES New restaurants, dining tips & delicious recipes
CELEBRATE A CENTURY OF JESUS GREEN LIDO, DISCOVER FESTIVALS MAKING A SPLASH THIS SUMMER, GET SET FOR CAMBRIDGE PRIDE & MUCH MORE INSIDE!
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WELCOME
Going swimmingly n celebration of its centenary, this month’s cover honours the iconic Jesus Green Lido. One of the largest outdoor pools in Europe, this beloved local landmark is a staple of summer in the city – and winter too, for some hardy souls! Join us as we dive into its history and find out how the team will be making a splash to see in 100 years on page 34. Also bringing joy to Jesus Green this month is Cambridge Pride, back for a dazzling day of music and entertainment on 17 June. Get the lowdown on page 9. Another shindig making a return is Secret Garden Party, touching down in the Cambs countryside on 20 July for a weekend of glitter-doused fun. Hear from festival founder Freddie Fellowes on page 17 and discover why the event disappeared for five long years – and why it’s back and better than ever for 2023! Elsewhere in the issue, we bring you the best books to enjoy while sunbathing in the city’s parks, hear from soul star Lemar ahead of his Cambridge Club Festival appearance this month, and chat to the ADC’s Luke Dell, who tells us about life at this thriving creative hub. Enjoy the issue and see you next month!
Cambridge Edition Magazine Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, cambsedition.co.uk • All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Cambridge Edition or Bright Publishing Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage. • Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area. EDITORIAL Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright.uk.com Editorial director Roger Payne Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Sub editor Ben Gawne Junior sub editor Lori Hodson ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com Ad manager Maria Francis 01223 492240 mariafrancis@bright.uk.com CONTRIBUTORS Miriam Balanescu, Mark Box, Charlotte Griffiths, Charlotte Phillips, Anna Taylor, Angelina Villa-Clarke & Elisha Young DESIGN & PRODUCTION Senior designer Lucy Woolcomb Ad production Man-Wai Wong MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck
EDITOR IN CHIEF
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Contents
43 RECIPES 49 ELISHA EATS
04 STARTERS 07 CULTURE CLUB 20 PODCAST PICK 23 ON THE SCENE 24 BOOK CLUB 30 HUMANS OF CAMBRIDGE 32 ON THE BOX 34 100 YEARS OF THE LIDO 40 FOOD NEWS
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50 FASHION 54 BEAUTY 57 ST IVES SPOTLIGHT 59 EDUCATION 69 INTERIORS 79 STORE OF THE MONTH 82 GARDENS
Illustration by Hedzlynn Kamaruzzaman, inspired by a photo of Jesus Green Lido
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LOCAL LIFE
STARTERS
@BUZZY.BEARANDBILLIEBYCLAIRE
@CAMBRIDGE_BUILDINGS_UK
Follow @cambsedition on Instagram for lots more stunning snaps of the city
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@RED.DOG.PHOTOGRAPHY
# instacamb Our favourite Cambridge Instagram pics of the month. Use the #InstaCamb hashtag for a chance to feature!
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THIS MONTH’S MUST-HAVES FROM LOCAL INDIES WISH LIST June
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1. Hoya leaves drop earrings, £32, Just Trade for Kettle’s Yard Created exclusively for Kettle’s Yard by Just Trade, these earrings are inspired by the Hoya plant that trails the wall inside the house 2. Louche Hela sail stripe skirt in pink, £45, Lilac Rose With candy stripes and a flattering A-line cut, this cute skirt is perfect for summertime 3. Bag, £22, Freda & Bert Show your appreciation for summer with this handmade natural tote bag from Burwash Manor’s gift shop 4. Roses and tulips plate, £7, Curating Cambridge Ideal for picnics, this tin plate is inspired by a late 16th-century Turkish fritware dish 5. Ladies’ linen summer hat, £125, Laird Hatters A stylish solution for keeping the sun out of your eyes, this beauty is from our city’s esteemed milliner, Laird Hatters 6. ObjGritta knit cardigan, £45, Iris & Violet With a stunning pointelle design and contrasting piping, this dainty cardy is pure vintage chic 7. David Stonehouse beaker, £29, Kettle’s Yard A stylish stoneware beaker handmade by Cambridge potter David Stonehouse, inspired by the Kettle’s Yard house
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Culture Club
RURAL RIOT Secret Garden Party founder reveals all about the coming event on page 17
A LICK OF PAINT flying colours
A MONTH OF FESTIVALS, PRIDE CELEBRATIONS & THEATRICAL TRIUMPHS AWAIT
© ANDREW WHITTON
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CULTURE CLUB The must-see events around Cambridge this month Arts & Culture
17 June
A MATTER OF PRIDE
Cambridge Pride is gearing up to return to Jesus Green this month, presenting a joy-filled day of LGBTQ+ celebrations on 17 June. There’s a packed day planned, with entertainment including DJs, drag artists, bands, comedians, panel discussions, wellbeing sessions and lots more lined up. “The team is so excited to return for the city’s third Pride event. Pride is a statement and a movement that needs to be ongoing, bringing the community together on the day and throughout the year,” comments Paul Hyde-Clarke, trustee at Pink Festival Group, the charity that organises the event. “This year, there are even more ways to get involved. We’re running free art workshops in the lead up, led by a recognised community artist and supported by a variety of visiting artists, to get participants parade-ready. We hope to see lots of people getting creative and taking part.” The event will open with a Pride parade at midday. For more information, visit cambridgepride.co.uk
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MUSIC IN THE PARKS Bringing live music to green spaces around the city, Music in the Parks makes a welcome return in July. A programme of free Sunday concerts organised by Cambridge City Council, the series will feature eight in total, beginning on 9 July at Coleridge Rec, when the Royston Town Band will be entertaining the crowds. They’re followed by ska favourites Big 10, playing at Jesus Green on 16 July, before Haverhill Youth and Community Band pitch up on King George V Playing Fields on 6 August. On 13 August, it’s the turn of Rajasthani Brass Band at Jesus Green, before Vocal Remix Choir arrive to impress with unique twists on popular hits at St Albans Rec on 20 August. There’s a chance to catch Somersham Town Band on 3 September at Nightingale Recreation Ground, and Soham Comrades Band at Cherry Hinton Hall on 10 September. The series concludes with a concert from 4 Villages Orchestra on the lawn of the Graduate hotel on 17 September. Welcoming the forthcoming summer concerts, Chris Douglas, general manager at the hotel, says: “Graduate Cambridge is delighted to be sponsoring Music in the Parks for the second year running. We are really looking forward to hosting a concert again in our beautiful riverside garden setting. This time, 4 Villages Orchestra – a 40-piece group specialising in favourite themes from film and TV – will put on a great performance!”
GET INVOLVED The ADC has a huge number of performances taking place throughout the year, with the opportunity for stellar shows to make it big
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BACKSTAGE As easy as ADC
in Hollywood, with Eddie Redmayne and Ian McKellen just two household names to have cut their teeth there. One particularly impressive claim to fame is the musical Six – now a globally touring sensation – which began its life at the ADC, created by the Cambridge University Musical Society back in 2017. “To see our alumni do fantastic, professional work and make a show such a success is what everyone hopes for when pitching their writing. If something is good enough, it will get found – we just provide the platform, resources and people to make it happen. It’s very rewarding. The pandemic created huge challenges for the ADC, but it also led to a spurt of innovation. The theatre laid on a popular programme of radio plays and online productions, as well as acquiring the capability for streaming shows, once live performance was permitted again. But financially, it was a tough blow. “We’re fortunate to have received funds from the Arts Council, but our position has been precarious since the pandemic,” explains Luke. “We are building back now, and we’re seeing our audiences returning, which is very promising. “Our biggest problem has actually been the skills shortage it has created,” he continues. “Students rotate every three years, and we have had a period where they couldn’t do theatre in the same way; suddenly our most experienced have only done a couple of shows – whereas in the past, they would have done two or three a term, building up experience. One of the hardest things since coming back from Covid-19 was building up knowledge, resilience and community again.” Things are definitely looking up, though; Luke describes last term’s offerings as its most artistically successful in memory, and he is full of enthusiasm for the upcoming programme. In particular, he recommends Shakespeare Shorts – family-friendly, accessible adaptations of the Bard’s work –and Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play ; a black comedy set in a dystopian future, complete with live music and opera. As for the future? “I hope we’re able to keep doing exactly what we’re doing, in a financially sustainable way, while providing creative flexibility,” concludes Luke. “I want ADC to continue to allow opportunities for artistic experimentation. Come along, support the theatre and see things you wouldn’t normally see – take a chance and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!”
Britain’s oldest university playhouse, the ADC has been producing top-tier student theatre since 1855. With a programme that spans heavyweight drama to light-hearted comedy, the theatre’s output is prolific: during the 2021-2022 term alone, together with sister venue Corpus Playroom, it staged 186 productions, totalling an impressive 746 performances in 12 months. Behind the scenes at this hive of artistic activity, overseeing the programming and making sure everything runs like clockwork both on- and off-stage, is theatre manager Luke Dell, who once trod the boards himself at the ADC. “We give students a creative outlet to experiment and explore – a chance to learn how to do theatre in a professional setting,” he summarises. “It’s a pretty fantastic resource, not just for Cambridge University, but also Anglia Ruskin University students and the community. Non-student productions actually take up about 50% of our yearly programming.” Each year, hundreds of students pitch their ideas for productions, with Luke and a panel of students from different society committees deciding who makes the cut in a highly competitive process. “We get to put together a season based on ideas students pitch to us. It’s really lovely to see the enthusiasm for creating theatre,” he says. “It’s an intense process and very tiring, but in a really good way! The fact that programming is overseen by students is what makes the ADC special.” Aspiring non-student thespians hoping to get involved can check out the websites of community groups who regularly put on shows at the theatre – such as Bawds and Cambridge Theatre Company – for opportunities to audition. “You don’t need to have performed before,” Luke stresses. “We’ve had people who’ve done it professionally, and people who have never set foot on a stage before. There’s a real range of age and experience.” On the technical theatre side, Luke suggests looking to The Penguin Club, which offers roles in stage management, lighting design, technical direction, set design and construction, sound mixing and other behind-the-scenes work. The theatre’s commitment to supporting new talent has had a huge impact on the careers of many show-makers – offering a springboard to stardom for a lucky few. You don’t have to look too hard to find examples of former ADC performers and writers going on to huge things on the West End and even
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DON’T MISS! PHOTO VIDEO 24 CAMBRIDGE The countdown is on for Photo Video 24, a 24- hour creative challenge coming to Cambridge 3-4 June. Hosted by BRIGHT – makers of Cambridge Edition and leading imaging titles such as Photography News , Pro Moviemaker and Definition – the event offers a chance to hone your skills, get expert feedback, try out new kit and win great prizes. Geared towards content creators of all kinds, there will be a host of free and paid-for activities and events through the weekend, ranging from workshops with professionals to guided photo walks and expert feedback sessions. Book your place at eventbrite.co.uk photo enthusiasts, videographers and
3 - 4 June
Not-to-miss gigs
A reggae clash champion, long-missed alt-rock band and Birmingham-formed overnight sensation
DAVID RODIGAN 3 JUNE, JUNCTION
THE BEAT 21 JUNE, JUNCTION
PLACEBO 13 JUNE, CORN EXCHANGE The 90s alt-rock superstars are back on the road again with new music for the first time in nearly a decade.
The legendary selector is in town with his expansive collection of classic cuts and cutting-edge reggae.
Makers of hits including Mirror in the Bathroom , Best Friend and Can’t Get Used to Losing You , the two-tone idols hit Cambridge this month.
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TAKING THE PLUNGE
The Tidal Year A meditation on grief, love and the restorative power of wild swimming, Freya Bromley’s The Tidal Year takes readers on a journey around Britain’s seawater pools as she grapples with the devastating loss of her brother. From the banks
HEALING POWER Exploring cold waters turns into a journey of extraordinary self-discovery
– it’s helped me find a way it can co-exist in my life a bit more.” Freya’s book taps into the surge in popularity wild swimming is enjoying within Cambridge and the country as a whole. Club memberships have soared, while the Outdoor Swimming Society’s membership has risen by a huge 75,000 since 2020. It might seem like a craze, and the pandemic and hot summers have certainly propelled its ascent, but open water swimming is nothing new in the UK, stresses Freya. “It’s been in the news a lot lately, but actually has a long legacy,” she comments. “Especially in coastal communities; tidal pools have always been real landmarks for keeping people well, outside and connected to the landscape for hundreds of years.” For anyone inspired to give it a try, there are a wealth of benefits on offer. Proponents champion the advantages of interacting with nature; the thriving community the sport has and the incomparable high that plunging into natural waters provides. “For me, it’s the clarity: when you’re in cold water, it’s such a shock that your mind is totally cleared of anything else. Any worries you have melt away,” says Freya. “I’ve found that feeling addictive, and it has helped me cope with the shocking despair of losing somebody. Swimming in cold water gives you a release of endorphins, you feel totally ablaze, with so much adrenalin.”
of the Cam in Grantchester to a bright-blue lagoon in Abereiddi, Wales, the book traces her healing process as she ruminates on her love of open water swimming, and the space it creates for reflection and hope. “I started swimming because I found it was helpful for my grief, and it kept me well after my brother died,” shares Freya. “Whenever I chatted to people who were swimming, it was quite a common thing; they were going through a divorce, or breakup, or addiction they were battling, or perhaps they were lonely. It seemed like everybody had a story behind why they swam – I wanted to explore that, and those interesting human stories.” She was inspired to start a podcast on the topic, which led to interest from a literary agent, who suggested Freya chronicle the mission she was on at the time, to swim in every tidal pool in Britain within a year. “Looking back, it has been a journey of compassion and courage,” she says. “Grief is a real journey and something I wasn’t doing a very good job of interweaving with my life at the time. It was something I shut away. This process made me excavate it and bring it to the surface. That has been painful, but good
There are an abundance of beautiful spots locally, from Grantchester Meadows to Milton Country Park and – of course – our city’s famous lido (more on page 34). In among her travels of the UK, Freya has special memories of her dips around Cambridge, of which she had many while studying at Madingley Hall’s Institute of Continuing Education. “The first time I went to Grantchester, I had a message from a friend telling me to meet with a group – bright and early. It was dawn and I did question that! But to see the sun come up on the river was so beautiful, it’s lovely that the people of Cambridge love and respect nature there, and embrace it,” she smiles. “When I go back to Cambridge, I always make an effort to go swimming in Grantchester. I feel like I have much more of a connection with the city because of that. It’s a really beautiful spot and I feel very grateful that the people of Cambridge look after it so well!” The Tidal Year: A Memoir on Grief, Swimming and Sisterhood (hardback) is out now, priced at £16.99
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UNMISSABLE THEATRE
The timeless tale of Phileas Fogg’s epic adventure hits the Arts Theatre this June, promising to delight old and young between 27 June and 1 July. Based on the novel by Jules Verne, this delightful new adaptation by Juliet Forster is a fun and colourful take on the plot, following a band of travelling performers as they embark on an expedition to recreate Phileas Fogg’s race around the world. Drama and hilarity ensue as a globetrotting romp unfolds. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
FESTIVAL FUN!
3 JUNE STRAWBERRY FAIR Returning to Midsummer Common for its annual community-powered shindig, enjoy this colourful day of music, entertainment and family fun. 9-11 JUNE THE CAMBRIDGE CLUB FESTIVAL A journey of disco and discovery at Childerley Orchard, this much-loved event sees headliners including Lionel Richie and Grace Jones take to the stage. 16-18 JUNE WILD WOOD DISCO A glittery party in a woodland glade, serving a line-up of top DJs including Crazy P Soundsystem, Bradley Zero and Ellie Stokes.
5-29 JULY CAMBRIDGE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL For a more genteel festival
OFF THE WALL
experience, this event serves up a series of stunning classical concerts in unique settings around the city.
The Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour
27-30 JULY CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL
Launching this month is a West Suffolk-wide exhibition of contemporary art featuring more than 300 works from leading artists. Running until October, The Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour will run simultaneously in three locations: Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds, the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket and Haverhill Arts Centre. The show will host over 300 works from some of the planet’s most renowned contemporary artists – including Banksy, Blek le Rat, Pure Evil, Damien Hurst, Tracey Emin and Lamont White, plus many more.
A gathering at Cherry Hinton Hall, including The Proclaimers, Arrested Development and Rufus Wainwright, plus up-and-coming acts.
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Where the magic happens
After the festival’s unexpected return last summer, we find out what’s in store for this July’s Secret Garden Party When Secret Garden Party announced its 2017 event would be its last ever, festivalgoers were dismayed. For 15 years, the event had been a beacon of creativity and anti-commercialism on an increasingly crowded festival scene; an exhilarating three-day party where silliness and hedonism were celebrated above all and guests (or Gardeners as they’re known) were placed front and centre in the unfolding spectacle. On announcing the event’s grand finale, founder Freddie Fellowes promised an almighty send-off, which was more than delivered in spite
THE PARTY RETURNS The fun is back for yet another year, this time with a charity focus
20 - 23 July
of some pretty biblical weather – and then all was quiet for nearly five years. “We genuinely thought we’d ended it!” exclaims Freddie, also known as the Head Gardener. “It was the logical conclusion at that stage. It had always been my intention to go out with a bang rather than slowly fade away. We’d hit a real high, but felt we were in danger of losing our identity to our audience, so we thought it would be a great way to cement the legacy.” Something changed for Freddie during the third national lockdown in early 2021, when he learnt about a film celebrating Secret Garden Party and its
take to the main stage, along with the usual array of immersive entertainment to explore elsewhere around the site. A big innovation for Secret Garden Party 2.0 has been its embracing of a social enterprise model, which will see the festival commit 65% of profits to good causes. “We’re working on the theory that it’s a massive privilege to be able to work in arts – and in some ways it’s the preserve of the privileged, in whatever form that takes. But Secret Garden Party is something that’s brought people
seismic impact on the festival scene. The film’s distributor reached out to discuss a screening on-site, suggesting a mini Garden Party to launch the film. “I had one of those moments, and just thought – do you know what, it would be easier to do a whole festival,” he recalls. A sign-up page was floated on the website to gauge interest, which racked up 70,000 sign-ups in the space of a couple of weeks. “We got picked up in the momentum and excitement. Having been in
“We’ve also got some fun little secret venues coming in this year,” shares Freddie. “One of our standouts will be Khapha – a double-decker bus with full video mapping on it and a really great selection of artists, but I’m most excited about some of the artwork and stage design this year. There are some wonderful contributions.” “The music line-up is probably the best we’ve ever had – in 20 years of doing this, I’ve never had my first choices for headliner, main support and second support all come in! As a programmer, it’s a dream come true.” Away from the main stage, Freddie recommends seeking out hip-hop trio Kneecap and Warhaus, while Secret Garden Party fans will be eagerly awaiting the return of stalwarts like the Saturday night fireworks, the Sunday paint fight and the hidden sunflower field. “Really, it’s about the most fun you can legally have in a field with your clothes on,” laughs Freddie. “And without, actually. In fact, clothing is definitely optional…”
lockdown, it suddenly put closing the festival in a very different perspective. It almost felt like quite a spoilt move… and we knew we could do it again and do it better.” Tickets sold out within two hours on a
together and healed people, so we wanted to formalise how we perceive ourselves as a force for good by putting the company into a social enterprise format, dedicating a
Secret Garden Party 2023 will see iconic acts
large percentage of our profits to organisations working towards the same charitable aims as us. “We’re trying to extend to anybody who doesn’t have the privilege,” he continues. “Be that the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, lost or simply unlucky – the chance to work and rehabilitate through the creative arts.” This summer’s festival will see a return for favourite stages such as The Pagoda, Chai Wallahs and Feast of Fools, as well as welcoming new concepts such as The Vibrary.
Sunday morning in late 2021, allaying any fears Freddie and his team may have had that the once loyal Gardeners might have moved on. “Last year was like hanging onto the tail of a screaming comet!” he laughs. “It was exhilarating – and one hell of a ride. And it was fun enough that we want to take it forward into its new chapter.” Back in its beautiful Abbots Ripton site this July, Secret Garden Party 2023 will see iconic acts like The Libertines, Underworld and Fat Freddy’s Drop
Tickets are available now from secretgardenparty.com, priced at £250 per person (plus a booking fee)
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GIDDY UP
Bringing five fabulous concerts to the world-famous July Course this summer, Newmarket Nights begins its hotly anticipated run this month. Offering guests a chance to enjoy an action-packed day of horse racing followed by a sensational open- air gig as the sun sets, these events are highlights of the local calendar. Kicking things off on 30 June are Brit Award winners Bastille, who are celebrating a decade since the release of their chart-conquering debut album Bad Blood . Known for their blistering live performances, it’s sure to be an epic show. Next up, on 21 July, it’s over to R&B icon Craig David, who brings a back catalogue including Re-Rewind , 7 Days and What’s Your Flava? . He’ll be followed on 28 July by Haçienda Classical, the acclaimed live orchestral series that gives iconic clubbing anthems a classical spin. Heading into August and it’s over to the mighty McFly for some noughties nostalgia on the 11th. Expect a whistle-stop tour of favourites including: All About You , Five Colours in Her Hair and Obviously , as well as some brand-new material. Rounding things off in style is Newmarket Nights returnee Olly Murs on 18 August, who shot to fame on The X Factor and went on to achieve acclaim in his music and TV career. Tickets are available from £33.60 via thejockeyclub.co.uk NEWMARKET NIGHTS
LIVE AND KICKING A fantastic chance to see some big races and famous faces, with live performances happening on select Fridays throughout the summer months
Pitching up on Parker’s Piece, the Cambridge Town and Country Fair brings stalls and entertainment to the city centre on the weekend of 10 and 11 June. Free to attend, the event attracts around 40,000 guests each year, offering the chance to shop, try all kinds of delicious food and enjoy family-friendly fun. On offer will be handmade jewellery, artisan cheese, wine, local art and crafts and more. charlieowenevents.co.uk CAMBRIDGE TOWN AND COUNTRY FAIR
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CULTURE CLUB
Vanessa Ward, founder of Wine Gums Comedy, tells Edition how she went from a career in teaching to curating one of the city’s best-loved comedy gigs What’s so funny?
Hosting regular stand-up shows at the NCI Centre in Arbury and Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester, Wine Gums has established itself as a leading light of the local comedy circuit since forming in 2015. The woman behind it – Vanessa Ward – came to the scene later in life, discovering her knack for stand-up after retiring from a teaching career. “When I finished work, I took a gap year and went travelling on my own. When I got back, I found I really missed certain bits of it – especially the young people I used to work with,” she explains. “I went to see the comedian Jo Caulfield, and I was sitting near the front. She was telling these jokes about her husband, and I thought – I could do that!” Soon after, she signed up for a six-week comedy course in London, where she had the opportunity to practise the craft each week. “The other students were all in their 20s, and they would make me do really rude stuff and then die laughing!” she chuckles. A friend of Vanessa’s offered her a gig at their pub in Kent, where she set about creating a monthly event that brought together her favourite up-and-coming comedians. Among her first crop was Sindhu Vee – then virtually unknown – who would go on to become a regular on our screens in shows such as Have I Got News for You , Sex Education and Matilda the Musical . From there, she was offered a slot at Cambridge Wine Merchants, which was where the Wine Gums concept was born. Always careful to look after the acts, paying
them well and treating them to nice food and drink, she’s found this approach has paid dividends as the event has evolved. “I’ve found that people – even when they become quite famous – remember me! They’ll say, ‘You gave us fish and chips and lovely wine! Of course we’ll come back to Wine Gums!’” As things scaled up, the event moved to the Grad Pad on Granta Place, which saw comedians including Stuart Goldsmith and Tom Lucy grace the stage, before the pandemic put a halt on all live events. “At that point, I was thinking about giving it up. I started getting in touch with outdoor venues – writing to golf clubs and cricket clubs – but didn’t have much luck. Then I reached out to The Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester. They were really up for it, and so lovely.” Vanessa is still committed to unearthing fresh talent, travelling up to Edinburgh each year for the Fringe, where she makes an effort to see every show she can; bringing the best of the bunch to the Wine Gums crowd. On the comedy scene in Cambridge more broadly, she says there are green shoots all around. “When I started six or seven years ago, it was just the Junction and the odd open mic; now there’s definitely more little clubs coming up which is fabulous.” Catch Wine Gums at The Orchard Tea Garden where you can watch shows on 16 June, 14 July and 15 September. Keep an eye out for upcoming gigs at the NCI Centre, to be announced.
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PODCAST PICK
Tune In Cambridge podcaster Catherine Carr tells Nicola Foley about her new series, Where Are You Going? VOX POPULI F ollowing the success of Relatively, a series shining a light on sibling relationships, local podcaster Catherine Carr’s latest offering sees her approaching people in the street WHAT’S YOUR STORY? Catherine
Carr cajoles fascinating accounts out of everyday people
with one simple question: Where Are You Going? What unfolds are a series of fascinating, funny and often moving conversations, with Catherine travelling from Brighton to Brooklyn, mic in hand, to coax strangers into sharing their life stories. Encouraging passers-by to open up is something she has an obvious talent for, but she insists that most people are happy to engage in conversations about big topics – it’s just a case of asking them. “If you can connect quickly enough, people have things they want to say – to put out there,” she asserts. “There’s something in us that makes us want to unburden ourselves – and that’s universal. “I also believe that, especially now, there’s a tender-heartedness to people that wasn’t there before,” she continues. “We’re all a little bit broken down and emotional – and we’re all looking for connection. There’s this rhetoric of us all being divided right now – but a podcast like this, really gently and without that being the intention behind it, can show us how much we all
have in common with each other. And I think that’s what people are responding to: finding that comfort of common ground with themes of love and loss, as well as joy and silliness.” The podcast is already proving a
“It’s a fresh idea in podcasting. It’s so short and unexpected – even to the people making it – we don’t know what it’s going to be about each week, and it’s not rehearsed; people aren’t trying to gain
anything by telling their stories,” she reflects. “They own it, they share it, and we hold it carefully and try to present it as they told it. It’s an honouring of people’s stories. I genuinely find it moving.”
There are variations in the way people open up
hit with both critics and listeners, with the Radio Times describing it as ‘a classic instance of the simplest idea being the best’, and The Spectator calling
it ‘riveting’. Furthermore, it was selected as Apple Podcasts’ editor’s choice during its launch week. For Catherine, the magic ingredient that’s making it resonate with people is its uniqueness.
At under 15 minutes apiece, the episodes are short, but they pack a hefty emotional punch at times. A cheerful man on his way to Soho House excavates the painful memory of watching his colleague get killed in an accident at work, while another turns out to be a cancer patient on his way to hospital. Closer to home, an elderly man in Ely reminisces on farming the Fens in the 50s and meeting the love of his life at a local dance, then recounts her illness and death, voice audibly cracking. “In these fleeting interactions – even though they’re going to be broadcast and people give their consent to that – it’s like depositing something somewhere, with no comeback,” muses Catherine. “It feels safe for people, and it seems to be something they want to do. Depending on where in the world we are, there are variations in the way people open up; with different sorts of manners in different cultures. But once you get through that, you get to the same stuff, which is really interesting.”
Where Are You Going? is available on all major podcast platforms. Read more about the project at whereareyougoing.co.uk
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ON THE SCENE
Soul Life and
Lemar sits down with Miriam Balanescu to reflect on two decades since his breakout album and contemplate one of his first comeback gigs at The Cambridge Club Festival
T hinking back to 20 years ago, it’s likely that slouchy, low- waist jeans, unnecessary belts, brick-sized phones and Craig David are a few of the things that come to mind. The year 2003 was also when Lemar – a staple artist of the noughties – emerged, having grabbed the showbiz industry’s attention while on reality show Fame Academy . His debut album Dedicated spawned some of the decade’s biggest hits, from Dance (With U) to Lullaby , and though the singer has been keeping relatively quiet on the scene for a while, he is about to come roaring back. “It was daunting before I started,” Lemar admits. “But once I got the ball rolling, it’s been nice. The support has been really cool.” Though his last album release was 11 years ago, Lemar has by no means been on a break. The artist has been keeping busy writing for other musicians and has even begun to dabble in acting – most recently in Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte . “I’ve always wanted to try a bit of
‘Yeah, I have new stuff.’ But, you know, I was busy doing other things. I can’t really say ‘come and celebrate 20 years of me’ without giving them something new.” Page in My Heart blends a familiar 80s soul soundscape with a modern edge. Electronics and synths spruce up the classic Lemar sound, bringing the music right up to date. Lemar reveals it was a balancing act between the old and new. “My voice lends itself well to particular types of songs, more emotional ones. To get that across but also move the sound forward a bit – without turning my back on people who like me for a certain style – was always a challenge.” The biggest change, the singer insists, is not his music but the way it is now released. “Music will always evolve and progress to new forms or flavours of the same thing,” he says. “But the way it’s being consumed, I think, has been the biggest difference: the fact that songs are now shorter, attention spans seem to be shorter.
Lemar has been sitting on since before the pandemic. The idea of celebrating the anniversary of his debut album encouraged him to finally take the plunge: “I wanted to do a few shows. But over the years a lot of my core fans have asked me, ‘When are you doing an album? Can we hear new songs?’ And I’ve told them:
DEDICATED Beloved singer Lemar returns to the fray with a fresh
album this year, titled Page in My Heart
“I try to keep my writing as personal and as true as possible,” he adds. At Cambridge Club Festival this summer, Lemar will be mixing up classic hits with fresh new singles. “At the end of my recent show, I got to see a lot of fans who have come along over the years, but this time they’re bringing their kids who are teenagers or almost 20. They’re also saying hello, how fabulous the show was and that their parents told them about me – it’s changing that way. But it’s pretty cool.”
acting,” the pop star says. “And it’s nice to finally get my foot through the door, start getting one or two roles and seeing how that feels. There is a parallel in that, when I’m on set, I feel a bit more comfortable in front of camera. Obviously, as a musician, you do make music videos!” This year felt like the right time to return to releasing his own music, some of which My voice lends itself to emotional songs
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CULTURE CLUB
CAMBRIDGE EDITION Book Club Take your pick from these brilliant new titles to read by the pool this summer, from gripping thrillers to dramatic tales of family and friendship
WORDS BY CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS
Yellowface BY REBECCA F KUANG Last summer, R F Kuang’s fifth novel, Babel , took readers by both lapels and shook them hard. A gripping alternate history thriller set in a magical, dystopian version of 1830s England, it challenged perceptions around language and colonialism, and it was impossible to enter a bookshop without encountering its stark monochromatic cover. This year will undoubtedly see the citrus- bright cover of Yellowface , the newest book from this star author, deservedly stacked high across the same shelves. Yellowface takes a turn into yet another subject for the writer, but it’s not surprising that someone with first-hand experience of the maelstrom often accompanying publishing success would turn their attention to the world of books, authors and creativity itself. The story follows June Hayward, a struggling writer and friend of Athena Liu – the current literary it girl – three novels into a multi-book deal (which she signed straight out of college), who has secured a Netflix contract and 70,000 Instagram followers, but has very few acquaintances in the real world. June and Athena met at Yale, and though June’s career has stalled – a reduced print run on her debut novel, a vastly diminished book tour and an editor who’s forgotten she exists – Athena’s has sky-rocketed to stardom, making their complicated relationship a heady mix of envy and admiration. One night, during drinks at Athena’s apartment, she asks June to read the solitary hard copy of the first draft of her new novel (it’s brilliant, of course), just before a late- night, drunken pancake-making session results in Athena’s tragic accidental death. In the frenzy of paramedics, the manuscript – the one which no- one else knows exists – ends up in June’s bag. After wrestling with her very real grief, and the flattering-yet-hollow attention of the media when
it was revealed she was with Athena at her death, she starts to work on her friend’s novel. One thing leads to another: the edited manuscript secures June a huge publishing deal under a new pen name – Juniper Song – and the stardom she’s always craved is finally hers. But is it – really? This is a fantastic book; a captivating look at the process of writing, editing and publishing and a challenging, wryly satirical take on creativity, ownership and justifying actions to ourselves. TOP WORDSMITH R F Kuang is the New York Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy and Babel: An Arcane History
One thing leads to another: the edited manuscript secures June a huge publishing deal
24 JUNE 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
CULTURE CLUB
NIGHT WHEREVER WE GO
BY TRACEY ROSE PEYTON
This debut is a transfixing work of historical fiction, rooted firmly in awful fact. Set on a plantation in Texas in 1852, the book opens as six enslaved women meet in the woods under cover of darkness. A place to talk safely – soon essential for survival. Plantation owner, Mr Lucy (named by the women after Lucifer), has hired a stockman, Zeke – another slave – to impregnate the women and bear a second generation of slaves. They have each tried and failed to dissuade Zeke from his task; his life also depends on the women becoming pregnant. The eldest of them, Nan, shares her herbal knowledge: chewing on cotton roots can help to prevent or end pregnancy, and if all of the women fail to become pregnant, they can point the finger at the stockman rather than themselves, sparing the emotional and physical burden of bearing a child into this world. The plan only works if they all take part: the danger is that if one woman slips up and becomes pregnant, they risk revealing the plan to their sadistic owners. Peyton’s writing is stark and visceral, sparing the reader nothing, yet the book is impossible to put down – grimly beautiful in its descriptive passages of nature, human bodies, remembrances of past times of peace and hope for future contentment. This is a haunting, heartbreaking read that will stay with you for a long time after its final pages.
THE ISLAND OF LOST GIRLS
BY ALEX MARWOOD Strap into your sun lounger for this compelling thriller of a holiday read; a perfect second helping for anyone who enjoyed the latest season of HBO’s The White Lotus . This story takes place between the 1980s and 2016, on the fictional Mediterranean island of La Kastellana. In 1985, the traditional community finds itself on the cusp of massive investment by the super-rich, who have just discovered its unspoiled natural beauty and willing locals, ripe for employment and exploitation. The duke who owned the island has died, passing the title to a new, internationally minded owner. A 12-year-old local girl, Mercedes, finds herself indebted to multimillionaire Matthew Meade, architect of ‘the New Capri’, and his daughter, Tatiana. Thirty years later, La Kastellana is a fully realised, secretive and glamorous playground for the ultra-wealthy. Mercedes is still in the employment of the Meades, running their luxury property on the island, managing their house staff and catering to their every whim. Elsewhere on La Kastellana, Robin arrives by ferry in search of her missing 17-year-old daughter, Gemma, having discovered she may have visited the island – and knowing the stories of young women abused by rich men holidaying. But no-one wants to help and risk the wrath of the jet set, who pay everyone’s wages and hold the local community in a vice-like grip. Dripping with glamour, yet sinisterly shadowed with darkness, this is a superb summer read where nothing is as it seems. Perfect for devouring propped up at the edge of an infinity pool.
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JUNE 2023 25
CULTURE CLUB
THIS COULD BE US
BY CLAIRE MCGOWAN It is 2002, and Kate’s 30th birthday. On paper, she has it all: a beautiful house, handsome husband, a two-year-old son and a second baby due in a month. She’s throwing a birthday party and has invited friends and colleagues to join her at home. Her friend Olivia arrives early to assist with setting up, incredibly helpful as she always is. As expected, the party is a great success: guests mingle and laugh, music plays, food and drink is enjoyed – until Kate falls to the floor and her labour begins, a month early. A terrifying whirl follows as Kate is rushed to hospital, resulting in an emergency caesarean. She slowly wakes, husband Andrew at her side, and a consultant is uttering the life- changing sentence: “I’m sorry to tell you I have some bad news.” Kate and Andrew’s daughter Kirsty has been born with a chromosomal disorder so rare that it doesn’t even have a name. She will never walk, talk or hold herself up. The whole family’s life changes forever in a heartbeat. The mutated gene has come from Kate’s side: at the consultant’s mention of miscarriage in the family history, she recalls long-forgotten memories of her mother being mysteriously ill, crying and not coming home for months. Kate and Andrew’s two-year- old son Adam has a 50% chance of carrying the gene, though he can’t be tested until he can give consent. After a heartbreaking, exhausting year of trying to keep her daughter’s small, red body alive, Kate asks Olivia for help, and she becomes another member of the household. The book then skips through time: Kate is now living in a glamorous LA home with her film producer husband Conor, and arrives home to challenge him. She has learnt that back in the UK, her ex-husband Andrew has not only written a smash-hit book about the experience of parenting Kirsty – but Kate’s new husband wants to option it and
make a film with the story. As different chapters reveal more of the family’s tragic past and re-entwined present, we discover Olivia seems to now be with Andrew, and Kate walked out on her family just five years after Kirsty’s birth. Is Andrew’s book and film about to throw Kate to the wolves, just as she’s rebuilt her life? Or would that be a deserved fate for the woman who abandoned her husband, son and severely disabled daughter? Or perhaps, is it all a lot more complex? The book begins with a heartfelt author’s note, explaining McGowan’s intention. Her brother was born with a similarly unknown disorder. She says writing the book was meant to “shine a light on families like mine, which struggle on with so little support, broken by love and pain.” A challenging, unforgettable novel, which leaves you wondering at the harsh lottery of life and how people bear to carry such burdens – yet find tiny scraps of purest joy, even in short supply.
BY RACHELLE ATALLA Thirsty Animals
Anyone who spent last summer in the UK and experienced the record-breaking heatwave will no doubt be unsettled by this disturbingly believable work of speculative fiction. Set in Scotland after a dry winter, the rain has stopped and water has dried up. Daily life continues, grimly recognisable, subtly reminiscent of restrictions during the pandemic. You get the sense of the wider issues taking place in the background, behind regular day-to-day challenges of being a young person in the world. The book opens as twenty-one-year-old Aida arrives at her job at the service station just across the border with England. While she flirts with shift partner Aaron, news on the TV is covering the swift building of desalination plants to deal with the country-wide water shortage. Then it wheels out an opposing opinion, a mortgage-free man in his mid-sixties who took videos of water running from his own taps to prove there weren’t any shortages. The two discuss rumours that the border between England and Scotland is about to close, meaning they’d probably lose their jobs. Customers arrive and Aida rings up their order: “I scanned the crisps through first, £1.19. But it took me a moment to remove the security tag from the bottle of water. Eventually, after I’d fought with the tag, the item rang through at £14.99.” The unsettling plausibility continues. In the service station toilets, the taps have been disconnected to stop people filling bottles with water. Out in the fields nothing is growing: “a country with a population of sixty-odd million had essentially run dry.” After her shift, Aida returns to her parents’ farm; her mum is wrestling with keeping livestock alive in lambing season and their well has not yet run dry, but they know it’s a possibility. And then some strangers arrive on the farm... Brilliantly descriptive and alarmingly plausible, this is not a fun summer read, but it will make you grateful there’s still water coming from your tap.
The rain has stopped, water has dried up
26 JUNE 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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