Cambridge Edition April 2022 - Web

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elcome to our April issue – a bit of a special one for us, since it marks 11 years of Cambridge Edition . Excluding a short hiatus during the peak of the pandemic, we’ve been bringing you the scoop on Cambridge life each and every month since April 2011 – not a bad achievement! We couldn’t have reached this milestone without you, our wonderful readers – so, to say thanks, we’re giving away a prize bundle worth more than £1,000 inside this issue. See what’s up for grabs on page 44! We also preview Fatal Attraction at the Arts Theatre, discovering how the all-star ensemble is giving this classic thriller a modern spin, and learn about a major new gallery show celebrating one of the world’s greatest living artists, David Hockney. Offering an insight into his unique approach and singular style, Hockney’s Eye is a multi- venue exhibition running throughout spring and summer – get the lowdown on page 16. Also in this month’s Culture Club, we pay a visit to Town & Gown, a theatre pledging not just to bring us top-flight entertainment, but – through the power of the arts – bond the city’s historically opposed two camps. As well as art and theatre, there’s a good dose of Cambridge music for you to enjoy, exploring local open mic nights, catching up with viral sea shanty stars The Longest Johns, and hearing all about Sound + Vision – a huge festival of live music and comedy hitting Cambridge this spring. Enjoy the issue and see you next month! Happy birthday to us!

EDITORIAL Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459

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. nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com Assistant editor Miriam Balanescu Editorial assistant Alex Fice Editorial director Roger Payne Chief sub editor Alex Bell Sub editors MatthewWinney & Harriet Williams ADVERTISING Group ad manager Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright-publishing.com Sales executive Hannah Gurney 01223 499463 hannahgurney@bright-publishing.com CONTRIBUTORS Mark Box, Charlotte Griffiths, Matt Hodgson, Anna Taylor & Elisha Young DESIGN & PRODUCTION Senior designer Lucy Woolcomb lucywoolcomb@bright-publishing.com Ad production Man-Wai Wong MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden &Matt Pluck

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Contents

04 Starters Our favourite Instagram pics of the month, plus some brilliant buys from local indies 09 Culture Club Gigs, exhibitions, book recommendations, author interviews and portraits of city characters 38 Music Inside the open mic scene, a discussion with The Longest Johns and news on Sound + Vision 44 Birthday Giveaway Meals out, spa experiences, festival tickets and more are up for grabs 47 Dragon Boat Festival The much-loved event is back, with a brand-new look – discover what’s in store! 51 Savour & Sip Gastro goings-on, wine tips, the best seasonal produce and how to use it, plus tasty recipes

59 EasterWeekendWinners Inspiration for making the most of this

month’s bank holiday weekend 60 Eco Cambridge

The first in a new series on sustainability introduces the city’s zero-waste pioneers 63 Staycations Special Unbeatable UK minibreaks, from creative retreats to foodie escapes 73 Boat Race Find out what’s in store for the hotly contested annual event, as it returns to the Thames 75 Unique Days Out Feeling adventurous? Check out these amazing experiences on our doorstep 77 Discover SaffronWalden Fab food, indie shopping and other reasons we can’t enough of our north-Essex neighbour

84 Home Edition We ask experts how to bring colour to your interiors, plus Anna advises on the essential garden jobs for April

Cover illustration by Lucy Woolcomb, senior designer at Bright Publishing.

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April

THIS MONTH’S MUST-HAVES FROM LOCAL INDIES

1. The Bowls bags, £185-£265, Cambridge Satchel Company This cylindrical bag will give your spring outfits a touch of vintage glamour – it’s even got tiny feet to prevent it from rolling away! 2. Giant perspex earrings, £80, Ark Art Deco-inspired earrings by colourful British brand Toolally, with gold-plated sterling silver fittings 3. Pilgrim Ecstatic gold-plated necklace, £27.99, Jensen’s A strikingly contemporary chain necklace holding a carabiner-style pendant, from Ely boutique Jensen’s 4. Lemon flower pot, £15, Iris & Violet This cheerful yellow pot can brighten up an unloved corner of the room – perfect for cacti or smaller plants 5. Small glaze ombre pink mug, £7.99, The Manor Gift Shop The perfect hot chocolate mug, we love its on-trend ombre and homespun feel 6. Powder Sicilian lemons headband, £26, Lilac Rose Channel your inner Park Avenue princess with this luxurious, intricately embroidered headband 7. The seasonal bouquet, £35-£85, The Flower Project Stunning seasonal flowers from this Mill Road florist are the ultimate celebration of spring

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Culture Club SUMMER DREAMING David Hockney’s vivid and vibrant Beach Umbrella, from 1971, is one of many outstanding works on show ART ATTACK true colours

THE CITY’S NEW HOCKNEY EXHIBITION, A TRIP TO THE TOWN & GOWN, LITERARY FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS & MORE!

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CULTURE CLUB Arts & Culture THE MUST-SEE EVENTS AROUND CAMBRIDGE THIS MONTH

On display HOME

To celebrate Women’s History Month, Extraordinary Objects’ latest exhibition Salute features works created exclusively by females – from big names like Bridget Riley and Tracey Emin to local talent and up-and-coming London-based figures. The exhibition celebrates female creativity and the importance of giving voice to women in a traditionally male-dominated industry: “Although slow progress is being made in levelling the disparities between male and female artists, the statistics are still shocking,” says owner and curator Carla Nizzola. “There are roughly an equal number of male and female artists working today, however works sold by women make up only 2% of the total value of sales in the market. As a young female gallerist, I’m excited to play a role in working towards gender equality in the art world.” Make sure to stop by Salute , which runs until 21 April at Extraordinary Objects gallery in Cambridge, to see the dizzying and gorgeously geometric About Lilac by Bridget Riley, the provocative Inflammatory Essays of IS WHERE THE ART IS CREATIVITY IS OVERFLOWING IN CAMBRIDGE, WITH THE SPOTLIGHT ON FEMALE CREATORS, NATURE SCENES AND LIVE PERFORMANCE PIECES

LUSH Prentice’s Late Summer Apple Tree (above), Swoon’s Edeline (below)

Things are also busy at Byard Art this month, with two different exhibitions. A Breath of Fresh Air runs until 17 April and offers an introduction to four contemporary artists: Melanie Goemans, Donald MacDonald, Greg Pearson and Lucy du Sautoy. The latter will display two works by the name of Cambridge Muse , which meld her signature style with images of Cambridge architecture. On 23 April, the gallery opens its Home and Garden Exhibition , which runs until 22 May. With works by Alison Pullen, Fletcher Prentice and Marcelle Milo-Gray, it’s an opportunity to scout out horticulturally themed artworks for your home. At Ely Cathedral from 1-21 April, there’s the chance to visit Toward the Light , featuring works by Essex-based printmaker Janet French. Using leaves and fibres collected from walks in East Anglia, Janet creates beautiful handmade screen prints that represent the fragile, symbiotic relationship between humanity and the natural environment. A selection of original works will be on display in The Lady Chapel and available for purchase.

Jenny Holzer, as well as works by Cambridge creatives Lynne Strover and Mel Fraser. Take a trip to Wysing Arts Centre in Bourn to experience A Tender Ascent , an immersive audio-visual installation created by choreographer and performer Maëva Berthelot and musician, vocalist and DJ Coby Sey. Also forming part of the exhibition are a series of sculptures developed as a collaboration with Alexandre Bavard. Filmed in Wysing’s gallery space, the audio-visual installation sees two figures move in and out of time to a varied soundtrack of synth and piano music, as they explore instruments, a stage set, the natural world and each other – while dressed in hazmat suits. Referencing the strangeness of science fiction, it also recalls the isolation induced by the pandemic, offering a thought-provoking reflection on life over the past two years. On 16 April, the creators of A Tender Ascent will return to Wysing Arts Centre to ‘reactivate’ the gallery with a live performance. The exhibition runs until 14 May and is open fromWednesday to Saturday, 12pm-5pm – booking is essential.

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CURTAIN CALL Centre Stage THERE’S PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM THIS MONTH AT CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE – HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS

20-23 April

Pembrokeshire Murders ) is a great fit for Max, a brutal patriarch who rules the roost. Don’t miss a stunning production of Puccini’s La bohème by the English Touring Opera, from 20-23 April. The production has been highly praised, featuring beautiful period dress, inventive designs and a staggering score of Italian songs. While in town, the English Touring Opera will also put on a single performance of The Golden Cockerel on 21 April – a comic Russian fantasy written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This satirical opera is set during the final days of the Romanov Empire, and delivers an explosive – and timely – critique of Russian imperialism and the Russo-Japanese War. Finally, fans of Lesley Garrett will want to save the date for 24 April, when Britain’s most popular soprano stops by for an evening of music, reminiscences and conversation with A Diva and a Piano . The singing sensation will offer a unique insight into her life, alternating between songs and stories, with piano accompaniment from Anna Tilbrook, one of the UK’s leading pianists. For more information and to book tickets, visit cambridgeartstheatre.com

In case you missed the Footlights Spring Revue last month at the ADC, there’s another chance to see Cambridge’s best-known comedy troupe perform on 3 April at the Arts Theatre. The Footlights are back with a side-splitting show of sketches, songs and stand-up, for what promises to be a riotous evening of hilarity led by some top student comedians. From 4-9 April, Olivier Award winners Griff Rhys Jones and Janie Dee take to the stage for An Hour and a Half Late . Written by Gérald Sibleyras with Jean Dell, the play follows a well-to-do couple as their mundane marital musings escalate towards midlife crisis – just as they’re about to leave for dinner. A collection of hilarious and poignant moments ensues, full of emotional outbursts, home truths and more wine and nibbles than you can shake a breadstick at. Harold Pinter’s 60s masterpiece, The Homecoming , will come to Cambridge from 11 to 16 April. When Teddy, the eldest of three brothers, returns from the US accompanied by his worldly wife, tensions rise. Mathew Horne ( Gavin & Stacey , Bad Education ) is perfectly cast as Lenny, Teddy’s shady younger brother, while Keith Allen ( The Young Ones , The

4-9 April

ART WORKSHOPS FEELING CRAFTY?

If you’re itching to unleash your creativity, or fancy learning a new craft, make sure to check out Haddenham Arts Centre’s busy programme of workshops led by local artists. Design and make your very own table centrepiece using reclaimed ceramic tiles (2 April), create stunning metal and glass inclusions with Sarah Hunt (23 April), get hands-on in Anna Osborne’s two-day stitch and print workshop (26-27 April), and construct an intricate willow sculpture under the guidance of weaver Jane Frost (29 April). To book, visit haddenhamartscentre.org.uk

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A BUNDLE OF LAUGHS COMEDY HIGHLIGHTS

On 2 April at Cambridge Junction, meet the mathematician making sums funny in Matt Parker’s show Humble Pi . The number-crunching comedian explores how mathematical miscalculations can wreak havoc around the world, often in bizarre and unexpected ways. Other shows to catch include Chris McCausland’s hilarious and heartfelt Speaky Blinder on 8 April, Felicity Ward’s three-part ode to motherhood – tackling pregnancy, birth and parenthood each in turn – on 23 April, and Lou Sanders’ One Word: Wow on 27 April.

April sees the return of Custard Comedy’s Tee Hee in the Teepee, offering a cracking line-up of performances by some of the UK’s hottest talent. It takes place on the first Wednesday of each month, in the garden of The Willow Tree in Bourn. For opening night on 6 April, there will be performances by Time Out Comedy Award winner Adam Bloom and Edinburgh Festival sell-out star Sara Barron, or catch Paul McCaffrey on April 8 in his new show Lemon at the Viva Theatre, Soham. Described by GQ as ‘never anything short of gut-bustingly hilarious’, McCaffrey is earning quite the name for himself on the comedy circuit – so grab your chance to see him locally while you can! For quirky laughs, look no further than the Town and Gown, which has a visit from Mr.B the Gentleman Rhymer, 1-2 April. A pipe-smoking Englishman, his brand of ‘chap-hop’ has built up such a cult following, fans can often be spotted sporting handlebar moustaches. Lovers of Victoria Wood can look forward to an evening of music in Paulus and Michael Roulston’s Looking For Me Friend – The Music of Victoria Wood on 23 April. You’ll be treated to 12 of her top tunes, including the ever-brilliant

FOR THE DIARY

6 APRIL REJJIE SNOW Cambridge Junction, £22.50 8 APRIL POLICE DOG HOGAN Cambridge Junction, £18 8 APRIL IMELDA MAY Corn Exchange, £30.50-40.50 11 APRIL MYSTERY JETS Cambridge Junction, £19.50 11 APRIL GOLDFRAPP Cambridge Corn Exchange, £38-£40.50 12 APRIL CELESTE Cambridge Corn Exchange, £25.50 20 APRIL CORINNE BAILEY RAE Cambridge Corn Exchange, £35.50 21 APRIL RIOT JAZZ BRASS BAND Cambridge Junction, £19.50 26 APRIL THE BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA Cambridge Junction, £17 28 APRIL JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ Cambridge Junction, £32.50

Ballad of Barry & Freda (Let’s Do It) . For yet more nostalgia,

don’t miss Mates: The Improvised ’90s Sitcom on 30 April. Drawing inspiration from classic TV shows, three actors give a masterclass in improvised comedy that promises to leave you in stitches.

8 April

27 April

6 April

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13-14 May

MAKING A MARK INK PAPER + PRINT

GET READY FOR THE REGION’S LARGEST ILLUSTRATION AND PRINT FAIR, COMING THIS MAY On 13 and 14 May at St Barnabas Church complex, Ink Paper + Print will host this year’s illustration and print fair – a festival of drawing, printmaking and publishing. There will be workshops and talks, alongside over 50 exhibitor tables showcasing the work of established illustrators and young designers studying at Anglia Ruskin University. From linocuts, screen prints and posters, to handmade books, cards and zines, there’s something for everyone. Admission is £2, opening at 4pm on Friday, and 10.30am on Saturday. For more information, visit inkpaperandprint.co.uk

Don’t Miss! EXPERIENCE SOME UNIQUE EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND CAMBRIDGE THIS MONTH

ZUBIN KANGA, PIANO AND KEYBOARDS 28 April, 8pm, Kettle’s Yard, £12

THE BOBBY KENNEDY EXPERIENCE

VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS BY CANDLELIGHT 22 April, 7.30pm, Ely Cathedral, £19-£38 Listen to the Piccadilly Sinfonietta perform Vivaldi’s iconic The Four Seasons , as you bathe in the soft glow of candlelight at Ely Cathedral.

7-8 April, 7.30pm, Town and Gown, £12 Addressing themes from civil rights to climate change, this one-man show starring Russell Lucas shines a light on the life of an American activist.

Experience music like never before in the finale of the Cyborg Soloists project, with a mesmerising performance by Zubin Kanga.

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David Hockney An eye for detail FOR FANS OF COLOUR, CONNECTION AND ART HISTORY, THIS FASCINATING EXHIBITION IS SURE TO PLEASE, FINDS ALEX FICE

reality, we take in our surroundings bit by bit, utilising our memory to construct the scene in its entirety. As Hockney would put it, ‘the eye is connected to the mind, therefore we see with memory’. This view has had a profound influence on how he represents the human experience of time and space in his art, be that in the form of photo-collage, digital drawing, multi-screen films or paintings. Despite his rejection of certain formal conventions, Hockney is an artist with deep admiration for the master painters of the past, and their influence can be felt everywhere in his craft. Hockney’s Eye aims to explore art history from his unique viewpoint, by placing works in dialogue with some of the great creators on display at the FitzwilliamMuseum’s permanent exhibition. These careful juxtapositions allow us to notice similarities and differences between works, with careful attention to common themes, colours and subjects evident in the curation. “Comparisons are drawn between portraits by Hockney of his contemporaries, and by 18th- century artists Joshua Reynolds and William

When we view an artwork, we see the world filtered through the eyes of the artist. Hockney’s Eye: The Art and Technology of Depiction – an exciting new exhibition at the FitzwilliamMuseum and Downing College’s Heong Gallery – offers us the opportunity to better understand the unique perspective of one of Britain’s most brilliant talents, David Hockney. Running until the end of August, the exhibition showcases the extraordinary range of his work – from paintings and drawings to iPad pieces and video – alongside optical devices and innovative 3D modelling. It also gives the chance to view never-before-seen artworks, including a highly anticipated self-portrait. David Hockney has long been interested in the depiction of three-dimensional space on a two- dimensional canvas. Throughout his astounding career as an artist, he has sought to radically question and subvert traditional representations of space and optical perspective. He has openly criticised the way that photography and linear ‘Renaissance perspective’ forces the viewer to absorb the scene all at once. Whereas, in

HOCKNEY FEVER DON’T MISS THESE OTHER HOCKNEY HOTSPOTS IN OUR AREA! THE HOCKNEY GALLERY Located on Bridge Street in Cambridge, The Hockney Gallery sells a variety of pieces by David Hockney, from original works on paper and canvas to limited-edition prints, original posters and books. “As an independent gallery dedicated to David Hockney, we are greatly looking forward to the forthcoming exhibition,” says Roland Clark of The Hockney Gallery. “Hockney’s unique eye, restless curiosity and exploration of art history are fundamental to his creativity, which will be fully on display at the FitzwilliamMuseum and Heong Gallery. We are particularly excited to see Hockney’s most recent paintings, as well as his ‘photographic drawings’ – a manifestation of his lifelong exploration into how we actually see things.” mrandmrsclarks.co.uk The centre’s latest exhibition, Original Artists’ Posters , features a selection created by world-renowned artists, including David Hockney, Georges Braque, Bernard Buffet, Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Matisse and Picasso. The show runs until 19 April. haddenhamartscentre.org.uk HADDENHAM ARTS CENTRE

SELF REFLECTION One of the highlights of the exhibition will be Self Portrait, 22nd November 2021 (left), completed last year in Normandy and displayed for the first time at the Fitz

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CAMBRIDGE PHILHARMONIC 21 MAY, 7.30PM, WEST ROAD CONCERT HALL, £12 Join some of Cambridge’s musicians on a journey through frosty landscapes, in Libby Larsen’s Alaska Spring and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No 2 .

COLOUR KING The unmistakable Hockney is renowned for his bright palette and remarkable presentation of texture and warmth, gloriously seen here in Grand Canyon I, 2017 (above) and Beach Umbrella, 1971 (below)

Hogarth, who were representing distinguished sitters and bluff merchants; drawings of flowers made with an iPad are displayed in one of the greatest galleries of flower paintings in the world. We also look at how Victorian artist Alfred Elmore’s way of painting shame resonates with Hockney’s image over a century later, and how Monet and Hockney captured a light-filled Normandy in spring,” says Jane Munro, keeper of paintings, drawings and prints and co-curator of Hockney’s Eye . Elsewhere in the exhibition, Hockney’s approach to viewpoint comes to light, in the comparison of his reinterpretation of Fra Angelico’s Annunciation with two pieces by Domenico Veneziano – a contemporary of Angelico. In an innovative twist, computer vision has been used to show the actual spaces created by Veneziano in his paintings using linear perspective – revealing some surprises – and demonstrating how Hockney’s use of reverse perspective offers a more fluid approach to the depiction of space. Another important aspect of Hockney’s perception of art history is his fascination with optical devices such as the camera obscura and camera lucida – as explored in his famous book, Secret Knowledge (2001). Hockney believes that many of the great draughtsmen of the past, such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, utilised these optical instruments to aid them in creating highly realistic drawings. This idea initially horrified art historians, but seemed entirely natural to Hockney. For him, using an optical device is no different from picking up a pencil – they are all tools in the same toolkit; it’s how they are used that matters. There will be the chance to see several of these optical devices at the FitzwilliamMuseum, as well as drawings of Sir Ian McKellen, Damien Hirst and Martin Kemp – one of the exhibition’s curators – created using a camera lucida.

RED ROOSTER FESTIVAL 2-4 JUNE, EUSTON HALL, SUFFOLK, TICKET PRICES VARY Save the date for a wholesome weekend of soul, rock ‘n’ roll, blues and country music. New to the festival this year is the Red Roaster BBQ pit arena.

For Prerona Prasad, curator of the Heong Gallery – where the rest of the exhibition takes place – it is Hockney’s open and inquisitive approach to the use of technical instruments in art that makes him such an inspiring artist to observe. “For our community of students, we hope to demonstrate that disciplinary boundaries between humanities and sciences are porous; that the world and its challenges look very different depending on where you stand in relation to them. We hope they learn to look at the world through Hockney’s eye and discover the joy in truly seeing,” explains Prerona. Hockney’s Eye offers the unique opportunity to experience the works of David Hockney in the context of the great artists that have preceded and inspired his work. The exhibition is open now until 29 August, with free admission for all.

SARA PASCOE 3 MARCH 2023, 7.30PM, CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE, £18-27 Author of Sex Power Money and award-winning comedian, Sara Pascoe is bringing her feisty, wry wit to Cambridge next year with Success Story .

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FRINGE THEATRE Talk of the Town (and Gown) THIS FUN VENUE OFFERS STELLAR SHOWS AND THE PERFECT SPOT TO PATCH UP OLD CITY RIVALRIES

The Town and Gown is a thriving pub in central Cambridge, with a professional fringe theatre at its heart. Over the years, the building has taken on many different roles: it started its life as Cambridge’s Conservative Club in 1866, later becoming the Cosmopolitan Cinema and then Cambridge’s Arts Cinema from 1979 to 1999. In more recent years, it played host to many a wild night as a buzzing cocktail bar. The venue has now returned to its arts roots, offering a diverse programme of theatre that brings a

of unique and innovative shows unfolds each month. On show nights, the upstairs bar is sectioned off for ticket holders only, turning it into an exclusive theatre bar – a space of encounter, discussion and shared experience. Audiences can congregate before and after a show, to meet with the acts and unpack what they’ve just seen. The idea of providing a space for mixing is central to what the Town and Gown hopes to contribute to the local theatre scene. In particular, it’s on a mission to unite the two communities after which it is named.

taste of the Edinburgh Fringe to Cambridge. The references to the Town and Gown’s arts heritage are in abundance, from the stage door that lures you down Market Passage towards its main entrance, to the Escher-like configuration of staircases and sharply

UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE SHOWS EACH MONTH

It’s a well-known fact that Cambridge locals (colloquially referred to as ‘townies’) and members of the university (the so-called ‘gownies’) are like oil and water: they simply

to uncover this whole historical side – the two feuding communities of a city – which, for me, is totally the opposite of how things should be in the art world. Art and theatre are meant to create a common ground for people, promoting conversation, debate and joy. So, we decided to call ourselves the Town and Gown, because we really wanted to represent how theatre can bring those two together.” Through careful programming, Karl aims to offer output that will appeal to each group, from student productions to touring shows – while always ensuring that there’s something to bring town and gown together. Musicals have proved a sure-fire hit for merging the two. There’s also rich pickings for fans of drag and queer theatre, with Disco Bingo nights led by drag artist Fatt Butcher, as well as killer cabaret and tribute acts. The end result is a packed programme that looks as if it’s been based on a selection of flyers picked at random along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile – and for fans of fringe, what’s not to like about that? It’s clear that the venue deserves a place as one of the main providers of quality theatre in Cambridge. But its role in offering a common ground for the two divided communities is what really sets it apart. The Town and Gown is not just a name, but a modus operandi. townandgown.co.uk UNDER ONE ROOF It’s not just shows! Why not book a table for lunch, a light bite or even a Sunday roast? Then spend an evening being blown away by all the talent on display

staggered floors that hint to the building’s days as a cinema. Downstairs boasts a magnificent space with lofty ceilings, enormous barrel booths and one of the longest bars you’ll come across in the city, while upstairs is an altogether more intimate affair; dark walls, candlelit tables and cosy booths framed with plush curtains. Up another, smaller flight of steps is a black box theatre bathed in purple light. This is the beating heart of the Town and Gown, where an ever-changing programme

don’t mix. The division even extends to theatre venue preferences. According to Karl, who runs the Town and Gown with his partner Paul, ask any student where they go for their dose of theatre and the answer is likely to be the ADC. By contrast, Cambridge locals and tourists prefer the Cambridge Arts Theatre or the Junction. “I’ve never been in a city where town and gown was prevalent before, and I didn’t really know what it was,” says Karl. “Then I started

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IN FOCUS

ON THE BOX FROM SMALL TO BIG SCREEN, HERE ARE YOUR APRIL ESSENTIALS

INTERVIEW

Mother of all Wisdom IN THE FIRST OF A NEW SERIES, WE GO BEHIND THE CAMERA WITH CAMBRIDGE FILMMAKER BEA GODDARD

WORDS BY MIRIAM BALANESCU

graduating in 2020, she studied documentary film directing at Edinburgh University, where she completed her festival-picked project. M(OTHER)HOOD trails the gender transition of Jack, with a focus on their four children’s experiences of having a queer parent. “I don’t agree with the stereotype that documentary filmmaking has

n the opening seconds of M(OTHER)HOOD, Bea Goddard’s BFI Flare-selected film, four children peek into

view against a backdrop of bright, scrawled crayon drawings. The short is expertly shot, both coolly curated and bristling with intimacy. “I got a camera for Christmas when I was about eight,”

to be serious,” Bea says. Her previous work opened up the inner lives of Cambridge’s homeless community, and delved into

Bea recounts. “I remember being so fascinated by capturing everything on film.” By the time she arrived in Cambridge for university, she

I FELT SO MUCH WARMTH

environmentalism in the city. “I love making films that bring out joy and hope in situations society wouldn’t deem happy.” When Bea posted on Cambridge Filmmakers (CFA) Facebook group, seeking crew and contributors, it was the beginning of what would result in The Cambridge Climate , her first documentary. “I learnt on the job. It wasn’t the best film I’ve ever made, but I’m proud of it.” While involvement in CFA means putting in the work yourself, the society fosters fledgling creators, Bea included. The LGBTQIA+ mentorship from Watersprite takes queer filmmakers in particular under its wing. For Bea, BFI Flare – the largest LGBTQIA+ film festival in Europe – was the perfect space for her film’s premiere, especially after attending herself. “I felt so much warmth and happiness about these queer films.” Up next, Bea is tackling sexism in sport, particularly Cambridge and Oxford’s boxing clubs – stay tuned.

was certain documentary filmmaking was her calling. “The story you can tell in a non-fictionalised universe can be pushed so much further,” she explains. “I would use the example of Tickled , about an underground tickling ring. If you tried to tell that as fiction, everyone would say it was ridiculous and unrealistic.” After

HAPPY FAMILY M(OTHER)HOOD is Bea Goddard’s thesis film at Edinburgh University

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IN FOCUS

Directed by The Lighthouse ’s Robert Eggers, this Björk-starring epic features Alexander Skarsgård as a prince out to avenge his father. Where to watch: Vue, The Light Cinema When: 15 April The Northman

YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER The mother-daughter bond could not be more warped than in this horror debut from Dubliner Kate Dolan – a spine-crawling chiller, this is sure to rivet fans of the fearful genre. Where to watch: In selected cinemas and released digitally When: 8 April

BUBBLE Dive into an alternate reality in this Tetsuro Araki-directed anime film. Mesmerising animation and a stunning soundtrack combine in a gravity-defying Tokyo drama. Where to watch: Netflix | When: 28 April ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL Michelle Dockery, Sienna Miller and Rupert Friend star in this Sarah Vaughan adaptation, part of a new Netflix anthology series set to unpick some high-profile public uproars. Where to watch: Netflix | When: 15 April

Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Venice, this Bolivian drama uses amateur actors to bring a story of young miners to life. Where to watch: In selected cinemas and released digitally | When: 15 April THE GREAT MOVEMENT

SlowHorses Ignominious MI5 agents are the subject of this Mick Herron adaptation starring Gary Oldman. Expect muddles, mysteries and dangerously twisty plots. The Slough-set series is rumoured to be partly filmed in Cambridge. Where to watch: Apple TV+ When: 4 April

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE David Yates’ long-awaited final instalment of the fantasy favourite arrives in the nick of time for Easter. The conclusion sees Dumbledore and Grindelwald go head-to-head – accompanied

by the familiar antics of Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander. Where to watch: Vue, The Light Cinema | When: 8 April

Picturehouse Picks THE CAMBRIDGE ARTS PICTUREHOUSE, A CINEMATIC HUB OF THE CITY, REELS OUT WHAT NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH

CHARLI XCX: ALONE TOGETHER From the Cambridge-born artist Charli XCX comes this experimental documentary, charting the creation of her lockdown album How I’m Feeling Now across 40 days – and all its emotional highs and lows. 8.45pm, 14 April

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: HENRY V Screening live from the Donmar Warehouse in London, catch Kit Harington from Game of Thrones rallying his troops for war against France, in this Max Webster-directed Shakespeare adaptation. 7pm, 21 April

NOSFERATU 100TH ANNIVERSARY For all the chills and thrills of pioneering German expressionism, this special screening of FWMurnau’s genre-founding vampire movie – 100 years after its release – should fit the bill. 3pm, 3 April

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CULTURE CLUB

Much more than a potboiler MIRIAM BALANESCU HEADS BACKSTAGE TO CATCH UP WITH THE CAST OF CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE’S FATAL ATTRACTION BACKSTAGE

any will be familiar with the ratcheting suspense, unbearably tense twists and unfortunate treatment of

SCREEN TO STAGE Oliver Farnworth takes Dan in a different direction to the movie

25-30 APRIL

rabbits in Adrian Lyne’s 1987 film Fatal Attraction . This month, Cambridge Arts Theatre hosts a dramaturgical adaptation of the iconic on-screen slasher-thriller, produced by the Academy Award- nominated writer James Dearden, with Louise Redknapp, Susie Amy and Oliver Farnworth taking centre stage. After Dan Gallagher (Oliver) indulges in one night of unfaithfulness, he sends his seemingly happy marriage into a spiral of disruption. The lives of two women, wife Beth (Louise) and editor Alex (Susie), are hurled into chaos. “I haven’t seen the film in 20 years,” says Oliver. “I chose not to rewatch it because when you’re doing any screen adaptation for the stage, especially an iconic one, you can always fall into the trap of mimicry, rather than originating something yourself.” Brought up to date, the theatrical version – on tour since January – stays true to the original ending, previously deemed “not Hollywood enough”, says Susie. “There’s more focus on mental health. Alex was labelled a bunny boiler. These days, we’re looking more closely, thinking about how you treat people and what impact our actions might have.” A subtle, post-Me Too shift in awareness has coloured this play; while plot points have not changed, audiences are likely to take away a very different story than that told 30 years ago. Themes of culpability and retribution run high. “The character I’m playing is a flawed, sometimes repugnant, quite misogynistic individual,” says Oliver. The Yorkshire-born actor does not have much in common with Dan, a

ONCE IT STARTS, IT NEVER STOPS: THE TENSION WINDS UP AND UP

rehearsal process is fun, because at times we have no idea what is going on.” As theatre tentatively returned, the cast rehearsals in December and January were suffused with hope. “Everybody’s just so grateful to be working again after this awful time, and enjoying such a dynamic story,” says Susie. Covid-19 did imperil the process slightly, with the cast working harder in case rehearsals were closed and Susie missing the tech run-through while unwell – the following performances her most memorable experience of the tour so far, she says. When it reaches us, Fatal Attraction may have transformed since its initial run. “Every week is fresh,” Susie says. Oliver adds: “Somewhere like Cambridge, you have a solid core audience who are very committed, and they’ll go to see lots of different things. “Once it starts, it never stops: the tension winds up and up. We’re presenting the original story with a bit of a twist, and all kinds of theatrical bells and whistles as well,” Oliver says. For a modern take on a murderous classic, see Fatal Attraction at Cambridge Arts Theatre, 25 to 30 April.

high-flying New York attorney. “You’ve got to break the character down physically: how does his day-to-day life manifest in his body, his movements, his attitudes towards others, the way he talks? It’s about understanding why behaviours are inherent in certain people.” Susie, switching characters for the Cambridge production, has been rehearsing for the role of Alex by day and playing Beth by night. “They are two very different performances, which is great. When you do a long tour, you usually do the same thing week to week.” She describes Alex as a roller coaster; she has steered clear of copying Glenn Close or even fellow cast-member Kym Marsh, to offer her unique interpretation. James – knowing Fatal Attraction inside-out – has afforded the play a new level of detail. “He’s absolutely not precious with his work, which I think is quite commendable when you’ve written something iconic,” says Oliver. “There’s never a dull moment – the scenery constantly shifts. Costume changes happen on stage, bits of furniture and props fly on and off during scenes. The

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STREET STYLE

Cambridge PHOTOGRAPHER MARK BOX SHARES SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE PORTRAITS FROM THE STREETS OF CAMBRIDGE THIS MONTH – CAN YOU SPOT ANYONE YOU KNOW?

Say hello to @morganheals ! Let’s all show some appreciation for that fabulous, embroidered waistcoat!

Humans of Cambridge is an Instagram photoblog by local photographer Mark Box. It began as a ABOUT THE PROJECT lockdown project and has turned into a sensation, featuring an ever-growing number of Cambridge’s colourful characters on the @humanofcambridge grid. Mark is out most days snapping, and can usually be found in the Market Square, on King’s Parade, Burrell’s Walk and Garret Hostel Bridge – your best bet for being papped is to head out around lunchtime wearing something suitably eye-catching!

Vive le steampunk, @fion.helios .

You make me want to go dancing in the street, and those red shoes are nothing short of awesome! What a great outfit @nihilovely .

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STREET STYLE

Never too old to stand out from the crowd. Say hello to Ian, a well-known and much-loved Cambridge character, who can be spotted out and about in the city centre.

Such a fun spirit, whose character is as loud as the colours of her hair and clothes! And those dried-orange earrings... so cool.

How not to get lost on an underground? Have it printed on your T-shirt, simples. Also, that hair!

Introducing Lucian, aka @misterlucian : a self-proclaimed Fenland wizard, ‘rune pervert’ and art jester – who’s also good at research and comms…

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ADVERT I SEMENT FEATURE

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA! Thanks to the Rose Quarter Assocation, an extra special bunny hunt is taking place at Easter – with plenty of surprises lined up

The Department of Magical Gifts on Rose Crescent – where you’ll receive chocolate reward for all your hard work! The competition is open to all children under 15, who should be accompanied by adults. Each entry will also have the chance to win a large Easter Egg worth £135, by local chocolatier Chocolat Chocolat. Anne Bannell, chair of the Rose Quarter Association and owner of Jacks on Trinity Street, said: “The Rose Quarter Association promotes the wonderful shops and eateries in this historic part of Cambridge. The Easter Bunny Hunt follows our successful October Deals promotion and Christmas hamper competition. More events, including a summer-long Jubilee celebration, are also in the pipeline.”

he Rose Quarter Association in Cambridge is organising an Easter bunny hunt from 1-18 April – and you’re invited to join the fun!

Comprising premium beauty retailers such as Jo Malone, Molten Brown and Neal’s Yard, as well as North Shoes, Cellini and nightspot La Raza, Rose Quarter is a top shopping destination, featuring some of the city’s finest shops, bars and cafes. In celebration of Easter, ten fluffy bunnies will be positioned in different shop windows around Rose Quarter. Each will have a name and number, and participants are asked to collect an entry card from shops and write the correct bunny number against each bunny name. Correctly completed cards should then be taken to

EGGS-CITING A feast of chocolate treats are waiting to be snapped up by young adventurers

“This is a lovely collaboration of local traders, which we hope will bring a bit of fun to the Easter holidays, providing parents with another option to keep their children entertained,” adds Charlie Anderson, one of the organisers and owner of La Raza and Pinch on Rose Crescent. You can follow The Rose Quarter Association on Instagram @rose.quarter

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CULTURE CLUB

Book Club CAMBRIDGE EDITION MYSTERIOUS AND THRILLING, THIS MONTH WE DELVE INTO SOME OF THE BEST NEW NOVELS THAT WILL KEEP YOU GUESSING

WORDS BY CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

THE CANDY HOUSE BY JENNIFER EGAN

An absolute tour-de-force of a novel, this extraordinary work asks questions of reality, consciousness and our grip on personal narratives. It will leave you breathless: both at the scale of the stories covered and the literary skills on display within its pages. At one point in the book, two characters fling synonyms at each other, struggling for the correct, most powerful and accurate words to describe their reality – which is neatly analogous with attempts to define The Candy House . Part-romance, part-family epic, part-science fiction thriller, part-political commentary on our image and technology-obsessed culture, Egan shifts deftly between narrative styles: at one point the tale is even picked up in a series of tweets. The story is told as a set of connected vignettes, which gradually reveal their links over decades. The main arc follows tech mogul Bix Bouton – who appears as a minor character in Egan’s 2011 Pulitzer-winning novel, A Visit from the Goon Squad , which is described as this book’s ‘sibling’ – and his fledgling service, ‘Own Your Unconscious’, PART-ROMANCE, PART-SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER

which allows you to download, store and review all your memories. You can also access the memories of others, assuming you’re willing to pay the price of sharing your own thoughts, feelings and histories with the world. Egan’s description of this service is so plausible you’d be forgiven for wondering if it already exists – or not be that surprised if Meta introduces it later this year. Those who prefer privacy and resist uploading their memories are outcast, but have they got it right? As with the moral learned fromHansel and Gretel’s cottage – which gave the novel its title – nothing in life comes for free. The links between the two books offer the perfect excuse to revisit Egan’s earlier work, then read this afterwards. Approach with a clear head, an open mind, and prepare to be blown away.

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This superb debut is set in Mohalla, the ancient walled red-light district of Lahore, where highly regarded detective Faraz is suddenly reassigned to a new post, to help ‘take care of’ the murder of a young girl from the district. As well as being a young father, silently unhappy husband and rising star in the police force, Faraz is also the unacknowledged son of local dignitary Wajid, having been born out of wedlock to a dancer from the same area as the murdered girl. Despite the precariousness of his position, Faraz finds himself unable to cover up her violent death, and feels a deep sense of injustice at the attempts to hush up the crime, resolving to investigate – whatever the cost. As he questions the close-knit community surrounding the young girl, he slowly remembers more about his past in the same streets and alleyways, recalling the few short years he spent with his mother and sister before being abducted by his absent father. We also learn more about his dad’s motivations: the relentless, merciless time he spent enduring captivity in prison camps during the second world war, and why he decided to steal his son away. Full of beautiful meditations on ageing and the importance of family – whether biological or the one you forge for yourself – this is a compelling novel that also serves as a good reminder that politics is always personal in some way. The Return of Faraz Ali BY AAMINA AHMAD

Little Sister

BY GYTHA LODGE Cambridge-based Gytha Lodge is becoming one of those writers whose name on a cover instantly transforms a book into your next read. Her latest novel is another instalment in her series featuring Detective Jonah Sheens and his team of investigators: in Little Sister , the sleuth is confronted with a mysterious pair of young siblings who have recently run away from a care home. Nina is missing and Keely, who was covered with blood when she stumbled into Jonah on a rare day away from his desk, proves to be less than forthcoming with the truth. Just where is her sister, and what’s happened to her? Sheens and his squad are treated to a retelling of the sisters’ life story and experience of the care system via a series of dramatic and traumatic discoveries – yet, as usual with Lodge’s fiction, nothing is ever quite as it seems. Twisting and turning to the last, Lodge leads readers through some very uncomfortable events, tempered throughout by Sheens’ rough, but steadfast humanity. A gripping thriller that’ll keep you engaged: if you’ve not encountered Detective Sheens before, this is a good place to pick up the thread – and then immediately head back to the start to read the rest in this superb series.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT Detective fiction is a pretty saturated area of literature, but the Jonah Sheens series is bound to impress even the most discerning thriller fans

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CULTURE CLUB

By the Book MIRIAM BALANESCU LANDS ON THE SAME PAGE AS THIS SPRING’S CAMBRIDGE LITERARY FESTIVAL AUTHORS

CHORUS OF APPROVAL The debut novel from local author Jo Browning Wroe is on the receiving end of rave reviews

ow is a time when many turn a new leaf, as greenery shoots onto the trees and flowers come

into bloom. Spring can often feel like a seasonal clean slate. Some of the authors gracing the stage at the Cambridge Literary Festival – the city’s foremost event in honour of the written word – will quite literally be moving on to the next chapter of their lives. The biannual festival invites local, regional (and occasionally international) authors to share their recent work, host workshops or join panels. This year will see an immersive Earth Day event with

author Christopher Lloyd, and a centenary celebration of Virginia Woolf with Susan Sellers and Maggie Humm. Expect speakers from across the spectrum, from Will Young to Ali Smith, and talks to tickle the literary fancy of bibliophiles of all ages. The festival puts a marked effort into magnifying the voices of first-time authors: Kitty and Al Tait, Rebecca Birrell and Keiran Goddard are among those who will see their first pages in print this year.

JO BROWNING WROE APPEARS AT THE FESTIVAL AS PART OF ALI SMITH’S NEW WRITERS’ SHOWCASE ON 24 APRIL PREACH TO THE CHOIR Jo Browning Wroe, a Cambridge resident, has long drawn inspiration from the city’s surrounds. She first moved from Birmingham to study creative writing at the University of East Anglia, and has been a supervisor in the subject at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, for nearly a decade. While carrying out research for a separate project, she happened upon conference papers from 1966, detailing embalmers’ experiences of the tragedy at Aberfan – the mining-caused landslide that buried a junior school, with a death toll of 144. Her reading opened up a realm of possibilities. She rooted out the contact

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CULTURE CLUB

READMY LIPS Check out the various events held around the city, including at the glorious University Arms and historic FitzwilliamMuseum

details for two of the embalmers present at the disaster and interviewed them. One had been 18 – just back from his honeymoon – when he was enlisted. “It made me wonder, what if somebody went to help, carrying their own sense of loss? How that would impact them?” Choral music is a recurring motif throughout her debut, A Terrible Kindness , jumping between Cambridge and the Welsh valleys. “The men of Aberfan responded by forming a male voice choir, which has gone on to sing all over Europe,” says Jo. She decided her central character, William, would be both a Cambridge chorister and an embalmer, closely basing the novel on accounts she was given by former choirboys in the 50s and 60s. “The bit I put off, which I knew I had to do, was to watch an embalming,” Jo says. “But, it meant I got to know a current embalmer, who taught me very

YOU GET A BUZZ AND FEEL LIKE PART OF THE COMMUNITY

Observer ’s top 10 debut novels of 2022 and already translated into multiple languages – done and dusted, a full draft of her next novel is at the ready. She is a stickler for routine; two hours are spent writing every day for six days a week, submerged in the imagined worlds of her books. Immersed in the writing scene at Cambridge, she runs workshops for students of any discipline at Lucy Cavendish College, a residential course with fellow writer Miranda Doyle, and teaches at Hills Road College and the Institute of Continuing Education. “I’ve met so many wonderful writers and you get fed by that. You get a buzz and feel like part of the community.” SOIL AND STRIFE Joe Swift is likely to be a familiar face. With 24 years of presenting Gardener’s World , nine books and a bespoke design company called Modular under his belt, this year sees five comprehensive guides published by the gardening great. As lockdown crept in, the importance of gardening for physical and mental health – and the benefits for wildlife – hit home for Joe.

openly about the price people like him pay daily, facing the very thing the rest of us spend time avoiding. That opened up the sense of humanity behind people who do jobs like that.” Growing up in a crematorium – where Jo and her family would watch funerals proceed past the kitchen window every 20 minutes – was another influence, albeit a subconscious one. She credits the experience with allowing her to speak to embalmers with ease, and imbuing William’s day job with familiarity. “What growing up in the crematorium taught me was the inevitability of

death – that it happens all the time. It doesn’t prepare you for the shock of losing someone yourself, but it makes me able to talk about things and be aware of the physical elements – what’s involved when someone dies and what has to happen.” Far from morbid, however, Jo’s novel is steeped in love, gentleness and hope. With A Terrible Kindness – one of The

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