In the March issue we celebrate the arrival of the spring season and the new inspiration it brings. Local singer-songwriter Polly Paulusma discusses her own creative inspirations and the dual aspects that shape her work. Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays shares the positives of living in the present, not the past. Sally Petitt of Cambridge University Botanic Garden honours that most welcome of mood-lifters: the arrival of spring blossom. Pastry chef Esther Sánchez channels a new season’s flavours, textures and colours with another delectable recipe. Plus, we’ve got interior design trends that are set to inspire for 2026, and a selection of spring events and Easter activities taking place across the region in the coming weeks.
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LOCAL LIVING DONE WELL
MARCH 2026
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays and local singer-songwriter Polly Paulusma FIND FRESH INSPIRATION IN THE BLOSSOMING OF A NEW SEASON HERE IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE bloom burst into GET THE LOOK Texture, timber and tradition: the interior design trends defining 2026
SEASONAL SPECTACLE Welcoming the joyful sight of spring-flowering trees and shrubs
WELCOME
FRESH STARTS In line with the meteorological and astronomical calendars, March is when that sense of spring I first felt as a small seed of hope in early February bursts fully into bloom. Daffodils of vivid yellow – a colour we haven’t seen in oh so long – welcome the returning sun, while clouds of pink and white blossom froth in the hedgerows and bring streets to life again. So it is, in this issue, that we celebrate both the season itself and the inspiration it so often brings. For local singer-songwriter Polly Paulusma, who is signed to BjÖrk’s record label and performing in Cambridge this month, inspiration lies in emotions – her own, and those of others (page 24). For Sally Petitt at Cambridge University Botanic Garden (page 76), it is found in blossom – which she admits to sometimes wanting to quite literally dive into! For pastry chef Esther Sánchez, it comes with a new season’s flavours, textures and colours (page 40). For the authors of this month’s Book Club titles, it was held in stories of Clouds of pink and white blossom froth in the hedgerows and bring streets to life
EDITORIAL Editor Louise Hoffman 01223 492249
louisehoffman@bright.uk.com Editorial director Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright.uk.com Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Junior sub editors Tabitha John & Kezia Kurtz ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith 07875 711967 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com Ad manager Maria Francis 01223 492240 mariafrancis@bright.uk.com CONTRIBUTORS Charlotte Griffiths, Phoebe Harper, Sally Petitt, Charlotte Phillips & Esther Sánchez DESIGN & PRODUCTION Design director Andy Jennings Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Junior designer & ad production Holly May MANAGING DIRECTOR Andy Brogden TYPEFACE Nyght Serif / Maksym Kobuzan from Tunera Type Foundry
fresh starts (page 28). And for the interior experts canvassed by writer Phoebe Harper, it’s fuelled by this year’s exciting trends and design concepts (page 64). Maybe their thoughts and ideas will inspire you this spring, or maybe you’ll be seized by the muse at one of the events taking place over the coming month. As well as the usual packed calendar of music, art, comedy and theatre dates, the region has an abundance of seasonal activities in store for us all. From family fun to guided garden or nature walks, turn to page 8 to see what takes your fancy. The highlight of the issue for me? Well, it has to be interviewing Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays, who’ll be performing here this month as part of the 35th anniversary celebrations for their iconic 1990 album, Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches . If you’re a fan, check out page 19!
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With all best wishes,
Illustration by Holly May, inspired by a photo from @thecambridgeacademic
Louise Hoffman, editor
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ON THE COVER 08 / BEST OF THE SEASON A host of spring events to add to your calendar, from a tour of Downing College gardens to craft workshops at Wicken Fen 64 / AHEAD OF THE CURVE It’s time to bring timber, texture and tradition into our interior spaces, says Phoebe Harper 76 / SPRING INTO BLOOM With blossom galore gracing our gardens, Sally Petitt is not short of flowers to gush about at this time of year
CULTURE EDITION 16 / CULTURE NEWS Events, interviews and updates from Cambridge’s cultural scene 24 / SOUL’S SONG Local singer-songwriter and Murray Edwards College academic Polly Paulusma shares her inspiring story 28 / BOOK CLUB Charlotte Griffiths welcomes spring by recommending some fictional fresh starts 31 / SCREEN TIME Popcorn at the ready for these films hitting cinema screens in March
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FOOD EDITION 37 / FOOD NEWS The latest gastro goings-on around Cambridgeshire 40 / HOME COMFORTS Esther Sánchez’s citrus loaf cake is the perfect recipe for the start of springtime EDUCATION EDITION 46 / UNITED WE STAND Read about the community values instilled by some of the region’s revered boarding schools
REGULARS 06 / INSTACAMB This month’s stand-out social media snaps, capturing the beauty of Cambridgeshire as we enter a new season 12 / THE AGENDA A choice selection of comedy, theatre, art, music and events to catch in the region during March 57 / LOCAL NEWS What’s happening in the area? Catch up on the latest charity initiatives, plus a royal visit and a new chapter for a much-loved local attraction
70 / EDITION LOVES With statement lighting being a key trend for 2026, use these stylish lamps and chandeliers to create a warm, homely atmosphere 74 / A CUP OF TEA WITH… Declan Fitzhenry, managing director of Citystay Living, tells us why hospitality means so much to him 82 / I ♥ CAMBRIDGE This issue we meet Jennifer Robinson, who moved here for grandparent duties but now enjoys the area for so many more reasons
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LOCAL LIFE
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OUT AND ABOUT
From nature walks and flower festivals to Easter activities, bring a welcome ray of sunshine into your life with this selection of spring events BEST OF THE SEASON
08 MARCH 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
OUT AND ABOUT
HOP ALONG Don’t miss this themed The Wind in the Willows sculpture trail at Anglesey Abbey
11 March SPRING WALK AT GREAT FEN Head into the great outdoors for this Signs of Spring guided walk at the internationally important Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve at Ramsey Heights in Cambridgeshire. Bring binoculars and hand lenses and look out for everything from sky- dancing harriers, wheeling kites, flocks of finches and blossoming wildflowers to busy bees, butterflies and beetles as you explore the peaceful paths. The walk is approximately 1.5 miles long and suitable for adults and children age 10+ (children must be accompanied by a booked adult). Details and booking available online. wildlifebcn.org
Even better, to celebrate Mother’s Day, all mothers and grandmothers go free
during the event weekend! audley-end-railway.co.uk
21-22 March THRIPLOW DAFFODIL WEEKEND & COUNTRY FAIR Run entirely by volunteers in aid of charity, the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend & Country Fair celebrates an iconic flower of the early spring season: the very embodiment of returning sunshine! Amid the beautiful village setting of Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, you’ll find fun family activities, 100+ stalls, tractor rides, classic car displays, open gardens, dog shows, live music, morris dancing and more. Plus, street food, drinks and plenty of homemade cake to keep you recharged. thriplowdaffodils.org.uk
14-15 March MOTHERS GO FREE AT AUDLEY END ENCHANTED RAILWAY
S pring is finally here! And with it comes a host of exciting events and activities across the region to help us make the most of every moment. After what felt like a particularly long January and a decidedly grey February, the sight of blue skies overhead, sun-bathed daffodils and fresh growth all around us is balm for the soul. And if that isn’t enough, there are the Easter holidays to look forward to, beginning at the end of this month. How will you spend the season?
25 March SPRING GARDEN TOUR AT DOWNING COLLEGE
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a family visit to Audley End Enchanted Railway, which will be launching its brand-new ‘play village’. Designed for toddlers and little ones, it features five themed role-play houses including a cafe, wood workshop, hospital, school and music house. Of course, there’s the enchanted woodland train ride complete with special spring scenes, a Fairy and Elf Walk, the adventure playground and the woodland cafe, which serves hot drinks, lunches and sweet treats.
Soak up the sights and fragrances of trees coming into leaf and woodland blossoms; enjoy plants ‘waking up’ across the borders, beds and woodland; and spot the first bulbs and hellebore flowers. Do all this while learning about Downing’s interesting garden history in this special spring tour led by head gardener Jack Sharp. Booking is
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OUT AND ABOUT
essential; tickets are £25, which includes a delicious cream tea. dow.cam.ac.uk
28 March - 12 April
EASTER ADVENTURES AT WANDLEBURY COUNTRY PARK
There are two Easter activities taking place at Wandlebury Country Park this year: an Easter egg hunt from 28 March until 12 April, and kids’ bushcraft sessions from 30 March to 2 April. For the former, collect an Easter egg hunt sheet from the foyer (under the clocktower) and try to find all ten eggs hidden in The Ring. The bushcraft sessions are for children between ages five and 14 and are run by experienced instructors from Wild Thyme & Embers, who will teach practical survival skills to encourage self-confidence and a sense of achievement. Find out more about how to book online. cambridgeppf.org
28 March - 5 May
MAGICAL TALES AT ANGLESEY ABBEY
HELLO SUNSHINE Celebrate the daffodil in Thriplow and the dog at the National Horseracing Museum!
A brand-new sculpture trail will bring the much-loved characters of The Wind in the Willows to life at the National Trust’s Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill this spring. Inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s timeless story, this trail follows Badger, Toad, Mole and Ratty the water vole, alongside a cast of newly introduced species, as they embark on a modern- day adventure. Trail maps will be available to help you navigate the experience and learn more about the characters, artists and ideas behind the trail. Don’t miss Anglesey Abbey’s Easter egg hunt too, running from 28 March to 12 April. nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey
demo by Anglian Dog Works. In this, you’ll see judged and timed runs, hear feedback from Kennel Club agility judge and dog trainer Emma Filby, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how competitors prepare for agility events. Hot food and drinks will be available, with puppuccinos for those pampered pooches! nhrm.co.uk
ecosystem to take home. Suitable for children aged four to 14, find session dates, times, details and tickets online. wildlifebcn.org
30 March - 9 April
CRAFT WORKSHOPS AT WICKEN FEN
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve is hosting a series of workshops specially for families during the Easter holidays. With materials and guidance provided, learn the simple printing techniques needed to create striking flower designs and transfer them onto paper. Suitable for ages five and above (accompanied by an adult); booking is essential. nationaltrust.org.uk/wickenfen
Until 12 April TALKING PLANTS AT THE BOTANIC GARDEN
Ongoing until April is a world-first at Cambridge University Botanic Garden – an exhibition in which plants are given a digital voice. Visitors can have real-time conversations with 20 of the Glasshouse Range’s residents thanks to artificial intelligence. The two-way conversations can be either voice- or text-based, using your own mobile phone, with the plants answering questions about their ecology, evolution and cultural significance. You can even receive a meditation or play a trivia game! In a fun twist, each plant in the exhibition has been given its own name and distinct personality, designed to reflect aspects of its biology, history or cultural associations. botanic.cam.ac.uk
30 March - 3 April
FAMILY FUN AT PAXTON PITS
3 April EASTER PAW-TY IN NEWMARKET
In a special series of ‘What Does Nature Do for Us Anyway?’ sessions at Paxton Pits Environmental Education Centre, children can have lots of fun over the Easter holidays discovering the amazing jobs that nature undertakes – as well as trying their hand at some of those jobs themselves! And there’ll also be an opportunity to make a terrarium
The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket is hosting a special Easter Paw-ty on Good Friday, with doggie- themed events including a Fun Dog Show, live demos in the arena, have-a- go opportunities and a live dog agility
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THE AGENDA
1 MUSIC Horrible Histories – The Concert, Cambridge Corn Exchange For the very first time, Horrible Histories Live (and Dead!) on Stage will feature both the hit TV songs and stars of the beloved CBBC series – a winning combination. 5 MUSIC Hugh Cutting, Pembroke College In Morpheus – a programme shaped by dreams, night and the blurred edges of reality – countertenor Cutting, with Joseph Middleton on piano, gathers an inspired mix of composers such as Purcell, Cavalli, Britten, Schubert and more.
7 EVENT Mill Road Ecochic Fashion Show,
11 MUSIC
MUSIC Gambarini, West Road Concert Hall
MozART Group, Cambridge Corn Exchange
Bojan Čičić and the Academy of Ancient Music plunge into the colourful world of Elisabetta da Gambarini, who was a composer, virtuoso, entrepreneur and the first woman ever to publish music in England. 12 MUSIC Shirley Smart Trio, St John’s College Jazz artist-in-residence Shirley Smart brings her dynamic blend of North African- and Middle Eastern-infused music to relaunch the jazz hotspot Jazz at Johns . Featuring Shirley on cello, John Crawford on piano and Demi Garcia Sabat on drums. 11 Mar
St Barnabas Church Taking place from 7 to 9pm, this showcase of vintage and sustainable wear will also feature curated fashion pop-ups and the Bacchanalia Bar for snacks and drinks. Booking is essential. 8 EVENT 2026 TTP Cambridge Half Marathon Runners will once again take to Cambridge’s historic streets and college grounds for the annual half marathon event, this year partnering with Alzheimer’s Research UK for fundraising and to bolster community engagement.
From football chants to Elton John’s Crocodile Rock and an interesting reenactment of a violin catching its muse cheating with a cello, the MozART Group promises beautifully played classical music… with a hilarious twist! TOUR Spring Birdsong Garden Walk, Cambridge University Botanic Garden Enjoy the beautiful sounds of spring with staff from the Botanic Garden and the Museum of Zoology in this guided Touch Tour, designed specifically for blind and partially sighted adults. Booking is essential.
An array of events to enjoy in Cambridgeshire this month
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THE AGENDA
21 MUSIC Seven Last Words from the Cross, Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs New Cambridge Singers join the London Mozart Players to perform this poignant, heartfelt and searingly powerful work by James MacMillan, as well as Pulitzer-winning composer Caroline Shaw’s To the Hands . 23 THEATRE The Constant Wife, Arts Theatre Cambridge It’s 1927. Constance is the perfect mother and wife, but her husband is as devoted to her as to his mistress, who just happens to be her best friend. Starring Kara Tointon, this comedy runs until 28 March. 25 EVENT James Phelan, Cambridge Junction The magician’s new show, The Man Who Was Magic , will be a visually rich, roaring-20s-esque spectacle of comedy, surprises and sleight- of-hand storytelling.
23 COMEDY Cambridge Fringe Festiva l The May bank holiday weekend will witness the return of this cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar, bringing the very best May
local, national and international talent together for laughs galore. It takes place at four different pubs around Mitcham’s Corner. Until 24 May. 25 FESTIVAL Cambridge Folk Festival, various venues This celebrated multi-venue, city- wide summer event begins on 25 July and culminates in a two- day festival on 1 and 2 August at Cherry Hinton Hall. 6 MUSIC Heritage Live, Audley End Estate The Heritage Live festival is back with another impressive line-up, including the Scissor Sisters, The Streets, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics and Faithless. It is sure to be unmissable. Until 9 August. Jul Aug
14 EXHIBITION
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COMEDY Pete Firman,
Cambridge Junction Join Pete Firman as he brings his trademark blend of magic and comedy to Cambridge. Expect impossible feats, sleight of hand and big laughs from one of magic’s most exciting performers! 13 EVENT Featuring games, a live DJ and photobooth, a fundraising night of lights, music and excitement awaits young people across Cambridgeshire. For students in years 7 and 8; booking is essential. The Cannon Ball, The Manor Barn, Harlton
Artists for Kettle’s Yard Looking toward Kettle’s Yard’s 70th anniversary in 2027, this exhibition will reflect the gallery’s artists, including works by Rana Begum, Antony Gormley and Celia Paul. Until 12 April. strong relationships with contemporary
The Snuts, Cambridge Corn Exchange
Scottish band The Snuts are back with the single Summer Rain – the first taste of new music from their forthcoming fourth album – which they’ll
perform along with other new material.
23 Mar
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ON THE PULSE Cultural happenings and inspiring conversations for March
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Shaun Ryder marks 35 years of an iconic Happy Mondays album
SPRING READS Start afresh this season with stories of new beginnings
Freedom of expression As part of Cambridge Music Festival, singer and actor Ute Lemper, along with an eight-piece band, will bring to life Berlin’s cabaret scene of the 1930s at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 5 March, through famous songs, savage satire and politically charged performances. Focusing on works by Kurt Weill (including the iconic Mack the Knife and Surabaya Johnny ), the programme includes music by Spoliansky, Hollaender and Gershwin. cambridgemusicfestival.co.uk
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CULTURE EDITION
Back in time to Britpop Marking the 30th anniversary of that infamous Blur vs Oasis chart battle, writer, comedian and music journalist Marc Burrows is bringing The Britpop Show to Cambridge Junction on 6 March. A multimedia stand-up celebration of one of Britain’s most iconic and chaotic musical eras, the show unpicks the hype, absurd personalities, rivalries and unforgettable music that defined the 90s Britpop era, changing the face of UK culture. Blending comedy, commentary, classic tunes and nostalgia, the show promises to capture a cultural moment when anything seemed possible – perfect for diehards, curious newbies or anyone who remembers the distinct sound of 1995! Learn more and book tickets at junction.co.uk
The latest from the cultural scene in Cambridge
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CULTURE EDITION
Constable 250 at Gainsborough’s House museum Gainsborough’s House in Suffolk is going to celebrate the 250th anniversary of John Constable’s birth with a rich and vibrant programme of landscape exhibitions beginning next month. Situated in the Stour Valley – which is famously the birthplace and inspiration of Constable and Thomas Gainsborough, two of Britain’s most influential landscape painters – the museum will host an exhibition featuring both of these artists and others alongside two exhibitions of contemporary art, to show that their influence is still felt by artists today. Running from 25 April to 11 October, the main exhibition, called Gainsborough, Turner and Constable, is going to feature more than 40 oil paintings, watercolours and drawings by the three primary artists (mainly from private collections), as well as works by their European forerunners and contemporaries. Key works in the exhibition will include Gainsborough’s Landscape with Cattle, a Young Man Courting a Milkmaid (early 1770s), which has not been exhibited in the UK since 1952; Turner’s large-scale watercolour, Abergavenny Bridge (1799), last on public display in 1799 at the Royal Academy; and (pictured) Constable’s dramatic oil sketch, Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows (circa 1830s). For more information and opening times, visit gainsborough.org
SELF PORTRAIT Three minutes with Emma Boyd, Keeper of Art and Place at Gainsborough’s House Seven and a half years. I started a year before the museum’s temporary closure for redevelopment in 2019 – it was a privilege to see it through its transformation and I feel even luckier to be a part of this next chapter. What is the thing you love most about it? The Gainsborough Gallery: a green, silk-lined gallery at the heart of the new building (the silk woven in Sudbury), filled with Thomas Gainsborough’s portraits and landscapes, adjoining the house he grew up in. How long have you been a curator at Gainsborough’s House? Who is your favourite artist? It’s in my contract to say Gainsborough, but nonetheless... Gainsborough – for his endless innovation and artistic vision that inspired John Constable, another favourite. What is your favourite medium? Oil paint for its versatility and ability to stand the test of time – oil paintings are surprisingly robust! What is an artwork you get lost in? Any of Gainsborough’s highly evocative and experimental landscape drawings made in the latter half of his career, using a mixture of chalk, graphite, ink wash and possibly even a dash of milk. They feel like a direct window into his mind. To explore how landscape art in Britain flourished in the 18th and early 19th centuries through its three greatest exponents – Gainsborough, Turner and Constable – and their contemporaries. What is your favourite piece in the exhibition? Constable’s six-footer, The Leaping Horse (1825), that is on loan from the Royal Academy and which he accurately described as ‘lively and soothing – calm and exhilarating’. What is the main aim behind the Constable 250 exhibition?
GET READY FOR SEASONAL INSPIRATION Tickets are now available for the Cambridge Literary Festival’s Spring Festival 2026, which will take place from 22 to 26 April. Featuring such distinguished guests as Mary Berry, Greg Doran, Sophie Harman, Sophie Raworth, Zadie Smith, Andrew Miller and Jung Chang, speaking on a range of topics from gardening to essay collections, the line-up is sure to be as exciting and inspirational as ever. To explore the full programme and purchase tickets, visit cambridgeliteraryfestival.com
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CULTURE EDITION
THAT MONDAY FEELING
This month, the 35th anniversary tour of an iconic Happy Mondays album arrives in Cambridge. Louise Hoffman caught up with frontman Shaun Ryder ahead of the show I t was in November 1990 that Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches – Happy Mondays’ third studio album – hit the shelves. For those of us who
remember that moment, it is a shock to the system to realise that it took place just over 35 years ago. “Some weeks it feels a lot longer and some a lot shorter!” admits lead vocalist Shaun Ryder with a really wholesome belly laugh. “It just depends how I’m feeling. But mostly it feels pretty damn good. I’ve been very fortunate.” Formed in 1980 in Salford, Greater Manchester – with Shaun performing alongside his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, drummer Gary Whelan and, later, dancer and percussionist Mark ‘Bez’ Berry and vocalist Rowetta – the band’s signature blend of funk, rock, psychedelia, house and rave pioneered the Madchester music and cultural scene that rose up in the late 80s. They had already released Forty Five EP , Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) and Bummed before seeing in a new decade with the album that was to really put them on the map. Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches went platinum in the UK, selling more than 350,000 copies, with two of its hits, Step On and Kinky Afro , reaching number five in the UK singles chart. When asked what his favourite tracks are, Shaun admits his answer has changed over time: “You first start off and it’s all fantastic, and then after three years of being on the road it’s like ‘not that again’. Ten years on and it’s ‘oh no!’, I mean the number of times we did Step On – I’d be pulling my hair out. I’ve got no hair left!
ROCKSTARS Now their fans have had kids and grandkids, Happy Mondays shows look a little different
So, what does he love about today’s concert crowds? “Well, the thing about today’s audiences is, we should probably be selling family tickets!” he laughs. “I mean, we’re in our 60s, so you’ve got the people who are our age, and they’ve got kids who are in their 40s, who bring their kids along because they’ve been brought up listening to our music with their mam and dad. So, our audience goes from about eight to 80!” With highlights from Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches , plus other fan favourites such as Hallelujah and 24 Hour Party People on the setlist for the show, I conclude by double checking that the whole band (now comprising Shaun, Bez, Mark, Gary, Dan Broad and Firouzeh Berry) will be there. Shaun grins: “Yes, mentally and physically I hope!” Happy Mondays will perform at Cambridge Corn Exchange on 26 March. Find out more at cornex.co.uk
“But you get beyond that, and I mean now – and I’m not just saying it – it’s better than ever. I appreciate and love everything we do. It’s like it was at the start; I’m back to feeling good about it all. I like doing Step On more than ever!” You’d be forgiven for thinking he pines for those 80s and 90s glory days, but that’s far from the case. “I get asked all the time, ‘oh do you wish you were back in the day?’, and honestly, I don’t. I don’t want to be f*cking 20 again, or 18 or even 30. I love where I am now . I’m easy in my shoes; it’s like wearing comfy slippers all the time. The sex and drugs are gone, and we’re left with the rock ’n’ roll.”
It’s better than ever . I appreciate and love everything we do . It’s like it was at the start; I’m back to feeling good
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CULTURE EDITION
WORKSHOP Linocut for beginners In a four-hour session, the Cambridge-based linocut artist Melissa Lhoirit will show you how to transfer a design, carve a lino block and hand-print your own artwork, creating bold and striking prints to take home. Held at St Andrew’s Hall, Chesterton, choose one of the following available dates: 28 March, GET CREATIVE
ROAR INTO SPRING WITH THE LION KING
Disney’s The Lion King is bringing the magic of the West End to Grand Arcade with a free, pop-up spring exhibition, running from 23 March to 19 April. The London production, now in its 27th year at the Lyceum Theatre, tells the story of Simba’s epic adventures, as he struggles with the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king. With this exhibition comes the chance to explore some of the masks, puppets and costumes from the award-winning production up close, and learn about the inspiration behind many of the show’s impressive designs. Iconic characters such as Rafiki, Zazu, Mufasa, Simba and Nala will be on display along with other much-loved pieces from the musical. Find out more at grandarcade.co.uk
18 April, 30 May and 28 June. meliprints.com/workshops
EXHIBITION Relative Ties This new exhibition at Murray
Comedy of badgers Fresh from a sell-out run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe and hitting Cambridge on 19 March, 100% Badgers is a stand-up show by scientist-comedian Matt Hobs. After a PhD in biochemistry, Matt started his comedy journey back in 2012. He draws on his background, explaining science and scientific principles, making complicated concepts sound simple, understandable… and hilarious! Matt also shares his journey from a passing badger interest to an obsession, with fascinating facts about the European badger and its dachshund nemesis, the presidential American badger, the world- famous internet sensation of the honey badger and many more. Book tickets at junction.co.uk
Edwards College runs from 6 March to 6 September, exploring the work of three generations of female artists from the illustrious Nicholson family. Featuring paintings, wallpaper, fabrics, rugs, stencils and works on paper, it will display pieces by Mabel Nicholson, Nancy Nicholson, EQ
Nicholson and Louisa Creed. murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk
EXHIBITION Shutter Hub Open 2026
This large-scale open exhibition of 170+ images is on until 2 April at the Alison Richard Building on West Road, showing a wide range of contemporary photography styles, perspectives and approaches. Plus, Shutter Hub founder Karen Harvey MBE will host a Curator’s Talk and Tour at 2pm on 26 March. shutterhub.org.uk
Local book enthusiasts, Cambridge Spine Crackers, are embarking on a sponsored six-hour ‘readathon’ at Cambridge Waterstones on 28 March. The group aims to raise £250 and awareness for Read Easy, a charity that provides free, confidential reading coaching for adults who struggle with literacy. Members of the public are encouraged to stop by and show support! CHARITY READATHON
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CULTURE EDITION
TV STARS TAKE TO THE ARTS THEATRE STAGE Actor, TV presenter and singer Kym Marsh ( Coronation Street , Waterloo Road , Abigail’s Party ) and actor, TV presenter and chef Lisa Faulkner ( Missing You , The Girl Before , Holby City ) will star in a reimagining of a 90s classic at Arts Theatre Cambridge from 10 to 14 March. Single White Female , a hit 1992 movie from Columbia Pictures and bestselling book by John Lutz, has thrilled audiences worldwide and led a generation to fear the stiletto heel! Now, this new stage play, adapted by author, journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Reid, updates the original story to the age of social media, following Allie, a recently divorced mum balancing single parenthood with the launch of her tech start-up. When she decides to advertise for a lodger, the delightful Hedy offers her a lifeline. But as their lives intertwine, a seemingly perfect arrangement begins to unravel with chilling consequences. Visit artstheatre.co.uk to book tickets
MUSIC NOT TO MISS
7 MARCH Celebration of Women Composers
Mark International Women’s Day with a series of free concerts. A 1pm recital at Trinity College by six women organ scholars from Peterhouse, Magdalene and Pembroke Colleges will feature work by women composers. Informal mid-morning performances will also take place at colleges such as Magdalene, Emmanuel and Peterhouse. cmp.cam.ac.uk 14 MARCH Dvořák Requiem At West Road Concert Hall, conductor Harry Sever will lead the Cambridge Philharmonic Chorus and Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra in this monumental, awe-inspiring choral work from one of the great Romantic composers. cambridgephilharmonic.com
LOCAL LITERATURE Galahad and the Grail MALCOLM GUITE The first volume of acclaimed poet
23 MARCH Imeneo
(and former chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge) Malcolm Guite’s Merlin’s Isle series is published this month. Galahad and the Grail follows the Arthurian hero’s quest from Camelot and the Wasteland to the shores of Faerie, plumbing the depths of the human soul on the way. Published as a beautiful hardback with 25 full-colour woodcut illustrations by Stephen Crotts. Who’s the Favourite? CATHERINE CARR Another local author with a March book launch, Carr explores the ‘messy realities’ of sibling relationships. It is part memoir, concerning her own complex sibling bond, and part psychological exposition on the largely unexplored territory of sibling estrangement, bereavement, parental favouritism, ‘blended’ families and more.
Capturing the lyricism and immediacy of the story of the original Italian libretto, with creative input from young participants through an Opera Makers programme, the Cambridge Handel Opera Company’s production will be performed on 23, 25, 27 and 28 March at the Cambridge Buddhist
Centre’s Festival Theatre. cambridgehandel.org.uk
27 MARCH Colin Currie Quartet
The Cambridge Music Festival Spring Series concludes at West Road Concert Hall with the Colin Currie Quartet, showing three generations of New York percussion in a charged programme. cambridgemusicfestival.co.uk
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CULTURE INTERVIEW
Signed to Björk’s record label, local singer-songwriter Polly Paulusma discusses defining moments, creative superpowers and an extra-special live show
Images LINA JUSEVIČIŪTĖ
Cambridge Edition: As a Cambridge resident and alumnus, what does the area mean to you? Polly Paulusma: I was born in Cambridge; my dad was a historian at Queens’ College, Cambridge in the 70s, but we moved away when I was three, so I don’t remember it. My older brother and sister would crow at me about how beautiful Cambridge was while I was growing up. When I came to university here in 1994 (at Murray Edwards College, or New Hall as it was then called), I spent three years reading novels and poetry, and singing in a ten-piece, soul-funk cover band. Back then, I didn’t realise that both parts of my education would be just as formative as one another. For a long time I felt that being an artist and an academic were competing activities. I felt I was riding two horses, jumping back and forth between them, and it was exhausting. But since doing my PhD in my 40s on writer Angela Carter and folk singing, and seeing the crossovers between them, I realise I have in fact been riding a chariot all of this time, and my two horses have been helping each other. I moved back to Cambridge in 2010 with my husband Mick to raise our two children. I swim in the river all year round
practical criticism and helping with their dissertations. I remembered going to the houses of poets and artists who lived on the edge of town when I was a student, and I became one. Thanks to encouragement from them and others, I embarked on a PhD in 2016 and completed it in 2020. In 2025, they made me a Bye-Fellow of the college – an official friend, essentially. I am so honoured that my work with the students has been recognised in this way. CE: What are some of the other threads that are woven together in the fabric of your musical life today? PP: My emotional electrical sea is always the place I go to for my songwriting – the feelings that flicker across my senses daily. Like many artists I know, I am sensitive; some might see it as an affliction, but I think of it as a superpower. I feel other people’s feelings and can find myself moved to write a song about someone else’s situation if I feel immersed in it. I am bipolar and I am sure this contributes: it gives and takes away from my artistic capacity in equal measure. It can knock me out of action if I let it, but it can also lift me up over the hedge for a moment to see the sunset.
STRIKING A CHORD Polly balances songwriting with academic and familial responsibilities
and buy my vegetables from Simon at the Sunday market. There’s an eerie beauty to the Fens I find mesmeric. I feel very much part of the town; a native to these parts. CE: I believe you now hold an academic position at Murray Edwards College – can you tell us a bit about that? PP: When I moved back to Cambridge in 2010, I reconnected with my alma mater Murray Edwards and, in 2013, started doing little bits like teaching the English students
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CULTURE INTERVIEW
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CULTURE INTERVIEW
My emotional electrical sea is always the place I go to for my songwriting
I have learned to bob in the sea of my feelings, to ride them a bit. It is a beautiful sea to swim in: others’ feelings, my own and our perceptions of what being alive feels like. CE: For those who aren’t yet acquainted with your music, can you describe it? PP: Others have described it as Norah Jones meets Edie Brickell. I just make, sing and share it – and I hope it connects us. CE: Which moments in your career have stood out above all others? PP: Supporting Bob Dylan and playing Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London both had the same effect: they got my dad off my back about my career choice – just for five minutes. That was helpful! But I am happiest when writing and when playing live. The best moments have probably been in my shed, writing. Seeing a connection. The making. And then the sharing of it. The rest is gravy.
CE: This year brings an exclusive run of three performances, kicking off in Cambridge, to celebrate the anniversary of your double album, Wildfires . What do you have in store for us? PP: I will play in Cambridge, London and Edinburgh with two extraordinary musicians. The first is Jon Thorne on the double bass. Jon played on Wildfires , and we toured together last March when the album came out. We played tiny little dives – the scruffy kind of acoustic places I love – as a duo. But for these special shows I’m stepping up to play bigger venues and fewer shows. The second musician is an incredible jazz pianist I’m not allowed to name. But if you’re curious, he played on the record so you can just check the liner notes.
With the shows, I’m celebrating the one-year anniversary of Wildfires by releasing The Wildfires Tapes , which are alternative versions of songs that were on the record – mostly demos and early voice notes. And if that isn’t enough, there’s a reissue of my very first album, Scissors in My Pocket , to mark its 21st birthday. There’s a new vinyl edition in red and a new deluxe CD version with five bonus tracks that were recorded at the time of the original release. This run of special dates is a proper celebration of the work, of the horses I am so lucky to ride and of all the connections yet to make. Catch the show on 23 March at Cambridge Junction J2, and find out more about Polly and her music at pollypaulusma.com
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LITERATURE
March Book Club As spring finally arrives, Charlotte Griffiths focuses on fresh starts in fiction
The Eights JOANNA MILLER
University accommodation is home to a familiar skit. It goes something like this. A first-year student meets their neighbour and says: “Hi, nice to meet you – my room’s next door. Do you want to be the best man at my wedding and become friends for life?” The Eights follows four female undergraduates that have been assigned neighbouring rooms on Corridor Eight at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, and who, despite their wildly different backgrounds, immediately become the best of friends. It’s 1920 and the Eights are part of the very first cohort of women to be admitted as full students at the University of Oxford. We get to know them during their first year, as they study their subjects while also learning about themselves, each other and the world that awaits them upon graduation. It’s a complicated time to be a woman: they’ve just won the right to vote, but years of warfare have taken an emotional and physical toll on the entire population. Despite armistice bringing peace, change is in the air. Each of the Eights has her own reasons for wanting a degree, yet what brings them all together is their pursuit of new opportunities and courage in taking this revolutionary step into the unknown. Joanna Miller, who is Cambridge-raised, has a beautifully descriptive prose style and has clearly done her research, depicting all of the academic romance of life at Oxford, as well as the darkness of – and extraordinary misogyny faced by women in – inter-war Britain. The Eights is a captivating, expertly constructed historical novel about the very best female friendships, which you’ll still be thinking about long after finishing its final pages. A captivating historical novel about the very best female friendships
STAY FOR THE STORY… If your love of literature is on life support, our very own University Arms has a proposition for you and your neglected TBR pile. The hotel’s new ‘Stay for the Story: A Reading Retreat’ package includes a two-night stay with breakfast, plus the unique opportunity to consult with a dedicated Book Butler, who will select the perfect book to get you back into reading. You can even hand over your phone during your stay for a total digital detox. Even better: 5% of all revenue from these literary retreats will be given to the National Literacy Trust’s year-long campaign to reinstil a love of reading in adults and young people. The perfect treat for a book-lover! universityarms.com/a-reading-retreat
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LITERATURE
California Gold JODIE CHAPMAN
Young Frank O’Hara has a dream: to give his new, American wife Chrissy the House of Tomorrow, a mid- century, glass-and-white-concrete mansion that’s straight out of Palm Springs, dropped into the English countryside like an alien spaceship exploring strange new worlds. Their meet-cute is pure cinema: he’s hitchhiking on the west coast of the US to seek a new life, wearing an Elvis shirt that’s already out-of-date, and she’s escaping expectations in a yellow convertible. They fall hard and fast for each other, are married within weeks and the American Dream seems right in their grasp – but will their love get lost in translation? California Gold is a wide-screen epic of a novel, spanning 40 years and three generations of the O’Hara family as they repeatedly try to escape their version of the House of Tomorrow: the ominously named Mirage, which reminds us that their beliefs in each other and their connections are built on the flimsiest of foundations. Frank and Chrissy’s glossy, high-contrast, anything-is-possible dream becomes a nightmare, dulled by British snobbery, tradition and the weight of expectation. An extraordinary life always has a cost. Here, the next generation will pay. Chapman’s stylish, cinematic writing reaches new, dazzling heights in her third novel: a superb, shimmering, stoically life-affirming read.
A WIDE-SCREEN EPIC Read Jodie Chapman’s take on the American Dream in her third novel
Life After Life KATE ATKINSON
fragments of her alternate lives. At other times, she is alone in her thoughts, yet always surrounded by the same cast of characters: family, colleagues, lovers. Once Ursula reaches adulthood and the horror of the Blitz, she dies in bomb shelters, works for the War Office and does her bit in London. In one life, she even appears as the now wife of a German in Munich, unable to return to her family. Eventually, enough of her existences align that she can discern a purpose beneath all the layers of life. Swirling, feverish, peppered with beautiful domestic detail, this clever book reminds us that a single existence contains a stunning amount of possibilities: change can be just around the corner.
This intricately structured novel follows Ursula Todd living life after life after life. Set in 1910, in the first chapter she dies at birth before taking a breath. In the second chapter she begins again, but the doctor makes it to the house in time so she lives on, only to later die in a childhood accident – which is then avoided in the chapter after that. Each of Ursula’s lives feels like a piece of music reaching a crescendo before crashing down into darkness, and then beginning again at a gentler, softer pace. In some she is unlucky, taken by influenza or in the wrong place at the wrong time; in others her undoing is the work of someone else, whether bad actors or well- meaning relatives. Sometimes, she can sense
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6 March In this latest Pixar animation, a groundbreaking new technology that allows people to communicate with animals, as animals, reveals mysteries beyond imagination. Featuring the voices of Bobby Moynihan, Piper Curda, Meryl Streep and Jon Hamm. Hoppers
13 March Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar protagonist Becket Redfellow will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way. How to Make a Killing
20 March A science teacher played by Ryan Gosling wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission… Project Hail Mary
LOCAL CINEMAS Arts Picturehouse picturehouses.com Everyman everymancinema.com The Light cambridge.thelight.co.uk
27 March In this new adaptation of the beloved Enid Blyton book series, a modern family relocates to the countryside where the children discover a magical tree that transports them to fantastical lands. The star-studded cast includes Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield, Rebecca Ferguson and Jennifer Saunders. The Magic Faraway Tree
Movie magic not to miss this month
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SCREEN TIME PICTUREHOUSE PICKS Cambridge Arts Picturehouse duty manager and events coordinator Chloe Kelly reveals some more of the exciting new films hitting the big screen this month
The Bride!
Pairing with The Bride! , a different kind of resurrection is upon us as we summon Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) to make a comeback in Netflix’s Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man , showing in select cinemas on 6 March. A continuation of the well-loved BBC series Peaky Blinders , the feature film The Immortal Man follows Tommy as he is driven back from a self- imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons and choose whether to confront his legacy or burn it to the ground. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
A reimagining of the well-known tale of Frankenstein , director Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! will be released on 6 March. Transporting us to 30s Chicago, we are introduced to a lonely Frankenstein’s monster (Christian Bale), who asks the groundbreaking scientist Dr Euphronious (Annette Bening) to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and the titular bride (Jessie Buckley) is born. But what ensues is beyond anything either of them imagined. Murder! Possession! A wild and radical cultural movement! And outlaw lovers in a combustible romance!
The opening film of 2025’s Venice Film Festival is Paolo Sorrentino’s take on political despair, La Grazia . Coming 20 March, it sees Sorrentino’s long-term muse Toni Servillo return to the screen as the president of Italy, Mariano De Santis, whose term is coming to an end. A leader riddled with grief after losing his wife, who seeks solace in listening to hip-hop, the president must make a series of bold decisions that will dictate his legacy. La Grazia
For families and those with a flair for animation, Picturehouse Entertainment’s Arco will be released on 20 March. A remarkable journey through time, Arco is a French animated odyssey full of magic, friendship and generational hope. Accidentally crash landing back into 2075 from a peaceful future, a ten-year-old boy discovers a world in peril. On his journey, Arco develops a friendship with a girl named Iris. Banding together, they set out on a quest to get Arco home. Directed by Ugo Bienvenu, the film features the voices of Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea and Andy Samberg. Arco
Visit picturehouses.com/arts for the full programme, special screenings and events
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CULINARY CATCH-UP The latest updates from the local foodie scene
ZING FOR SPRING Bright, light and zesty; this month’s seasonal bake
Sunday vibes It’s Mother’s Day on 15 March, and what better way to celebrate than by taking mum, or the mother figure in your life, out for a hearty roast dinner. City or countryside, we’re so lucky here in Cambridgeshire to have such a smorgasbord of top-notch eateries to choose from. The delicious turkey dinner pictured is on the Mother’s Day menu at The Pheasant in Great Chishill – turn the page to find out more.
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FOOD EDITION
Mother’s Day at The Pheasant Known for its countryside hospitality – and as the highest pub in Cambridgeshire geographically speaking – The Pheasant in Great Chishill is offering a perfect package for Mother’s Day this year. A relaxed ambience is coupled with an award-winning Sunday roast, lovingly prepared using top-quality ingredients and all the traditional trimmings you’d expect for a classic British Sunday dinner. And, to make your day together as special as possible, there are two sittings available from midday, giving you flexibility to arrange either a leisurely lunch or a late- afternoon feast that smoothly slots in with your Mother’s Day celebrations. Booking is essential, so be sure to reserve your table in good time! Call 01763 838535 or visit pheasantgc.com
NEW FOODIE SCHEME TO TACKLE LONELINESS
solo travellers and anyone feeling isolated to enjoy a meal and connect with others. “Many people want to dine out alone but feel awkward or unwelcome,” said Paul. “Join the Table aims to change that by turning everyday meals into opportunities for human connection.” To pre-register your interest and, soon, to browse and book a seat at a shared table for one of the scheme’s first events, visit jointhetable.co.uk
Late last year, businessman and divorcé Paul Jaggard launched a new scheme called Join the Table to combat what he sees as a growing loneliness crisis. Inspired by his own personal experiences, the grassroots campaign invites restaurants, hotels and cafes to introduce welcoming Join the Table options – shared dining set-ups that make it easier and more comfortable for single people,
Culinary updates to whet your appetite
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