I S S U E 4 | M A Y 2 0 1 2

THE BLACK KEYS

Plus much much more...

Lonely boys?

Royalty Theatre

Creative Hair

Hello!May - the month before June

2 introduction

Everyone at Spark towers is just about recovering from that massive pile of Easter eggs that quickly disappeared, and have now got back to work on producing you the best possible reads for the magazine.

In this issue, we have a look at the new album from the Futureheads, a look back at Sunnycon, plus your regular favourites the Horrorscopes and Weirder World News in our ‘Bit at the Back’ section.

Christopher SmithEditor, Spark Magazine

MUSICSHELLEY McGRATH

FASHION&BEAUTYJESSICA LAING

ENTERTAINMENTTRUDI GIBSON

LIFESTYLELAURA SYMONDS

SPORTSALISTAIR HUNTER

LOCAL MUSICRUTH EDMUNDSON

BIT@THE BACKMARK HODGSON

EDITORCHRISTOPHER SMITH

© 2012 SparkSpark is one of the UK’s most successful community media projects. Based at the University of Sunderland, and run by volunteers from both the student and local communities, we operate a full-time FM community radio station, a monthly eMagazine, and TV Channel online at SparkSunderland.com

All views held are those of the writers and not necessarily those of Spark Magazine. All words and design © Spark 2012, images courtesy of respective rightsholders. Distributed free of charge for non-commercial use only. Copying and altering not permitted without prior written permission.

May - the month before June

3local music

The finest in North East talent Gig GuideMay4th: Lone Wolf Presents...Sonner, Bison Hunting and The Blitz @ Independent - The Little Room Free Entry Doors 8:00

5th: The Others @ Independent – Plugged InnLondon indie-rock outfit, The Others, will be performing one of their fabled live sets.Tickets £8 Doors 8:00

5th: The Death Rays Of Ardilla @ Independent – The Little Room Independent [LIVE] are proud to present this Sheffield Rock ‘N’ Roll duo.Tickets £3/4 Doors 8:00

6th: Howler @ Independent2012’s brightest hopes, Minneapolis’ garage-rock, Howler will be performing in the main room.Tickets £8 Doors 8:00

10th: Stripped Back @ The Ivy HouseFree entry Doors: 8:00

11th: The Complete Stone Roses @ Bar OneTickets £15 Doors 7:30

12th: Natasha Haws @ Sunderland MinsterLaunching her debt EP with a live performance, also includes a free CD.Tickets £6 Doors 7:30

17th: Stripped Back 2012 @ The Ivy House“A weekly showcase of the finest local acts”Free entry Doors: 8:00

18th: Paper Aeroplanes @ Independent – The Little RoomWelsh duo Paper Aeroplanes will be bringing their unique sound to Independent’s Little Room.Tickets £3 Doors 8:00

19th: The Futureheads @ Sunderland MinsterTickets £12.50 Doors 7:00 19th: Foreign Office @ Independent - The Little RoomHackney based four-piece, Foreign Office, are sure to take the crowd by storm with their scintillating mix of post-punk, soul and funk.Tickets £5 Doors 8:00

21st: The Pigeon Detectives @ Bar OneThe Pigeon Detectives are coming to Sunderland as part of their ‘Summer By The Sea’ tour. Catch them playing the main room.Tickets £12.50 Doors 7:30

25th Spector @ Independent Popular quintet SPECTOR will be playing the main room, fresh from storming the stage at Coachella festival.Tickets £8.00 Doors 8:00

24th: Stripped Back 2012 @ The Ivy House Free entry Doors: 8:00 26th: EOCENE + PRAY FOR BLOOD + SUPERCHARGER @ Seven [Sunderland]Free Entry Doors 7:00

Futurebox Festival @ Ashbrooke Cricket Club [Sunderland]Standard tickets - £10 VIP tickets - £15 Doors 1:30Official website: www.futureboxfestival.co.uk

by RUTH EDMUNDSON

reviews by RUTH EDMUNDSON

Lone Wolf at the Little Room - 17/03/2012

4 local music

It was lovely to see Martin Longstaff – The Lake Poets – in disbelief and humbled by the reception and turn out he received at the Sage.

The rafters were packed and there was no end to the good music, as both supporting musicians Natasha Haws and The Union Choir were exceptional.

During Natasha’s set you could hear a pin drop, and although she stood on stage alone, she held the stage as her own. The barrier between audience and performer was non-existent. She spoke openly about the meanings behind her songs and shared with us a few surprises including new song “Transatlantic” and “Perfect Stranger” which was new to me.

As well as that, I was taken back by her statement before playing her single “Stepping Stone” – a year ago yesterday her single was the second song she had ever written, to now be

playing it at the Sage 365 days later is mind blowing !

The Union Choir, who were on stage next, brought a different more aggressive feel to the gig-compared to Natasha stripped back set. It was interesting to watch as the collective of musicians playing interments from the cello, sax, trumpet to the drums, worked together and even swap instruments to make the Union Choirs unique sound. Not a band of many words, their set was a mix of mellow tracks and moved more abrasive songs such as “Potemkin” and personal favourite “Lavender” which closed their set.

During the interlude the few seats that were not full slowly began to fill, then Martin, The Lake Poets, walked out on stage to a full house and performed a set, he himself said, that he will never forget.

The first half of his performance was solo on stage, playing crowd favorites such as “Windowsill” from

the Tunstall Hill sessions. He was then joined on stage by Morris Ford and not soon after a large group of friends that made up the second half of the set turning The Lake Poets now into a band. Even Natasha was invited back on stage to sing “Dead Tree,” a song the pair are hoping to record in the future.

I will admit the music brought a tear to my eye especially when Martin sang his song about his gran, once again it was nice to see an artist feel comfortable and talk about the meaning behind their songs which made them even more poignant.

It was an incredible night for The Lake Poets, a EP launch night I am sure everyone who attend will not forget. The night felt like a collective experience with all those in the crowd. With the highlight of the night came at the very end when The Lake Poets received a well deserved standing ovation.

The Lake Poets at The Sage, Gateshead - 05/04/2012

The night started off with a spell

binding from half, “Fast Hands”

was a stand out song and with

every performance there was an

explanation, a practice that is not

carried out often enough.

Keeping with the mellow mood

that had been created Morris Ford

took to the stage with his warm

vocals and upbeat manner. A pin

drop could be heard in the room as

he captivated the compact crowd.

Then Reckoner stepped on stage

and brought down the house with

a ferocious set that gave you goose

bumps. I was in disbelief how much

noise two people could make. It was

impressive and their set ended on a

high with their latest single “Hope &

Grace”- the nosiest song of the lot.

This Years Love “Take the Stage”

This Years Love is a band with a

twist. Formed by two new fathers

from County Durham, who have

formed a four-piece pop rock band,

to celebrate the birth of their

newborn children.

“Take the Stage” Is an six track

album that has been crafted out of

love, not soppy in anyway: instead it

is a vibrant celebration. It’s not one

big lullaby but instead a pop rock

album that included mellow tones

in its production and even blues can

be heard in some parts. Overall it

is a beautifully crafted album and is

something to be treasured.

reviews by RUTH EDMUNDSON

5lifestyle

BuddhismGetting rid of life’s stresses?

by VIOLETA GORCHEVA

The human mind has been brought up to believe only in those things that can be seen through the eyes and can be touched by the hand. But, is that true? Do our eyes see the reality or can we control our mind in a way that the eyes can see what we want to?

Buddhism is a practice which can teach techniques to help curb negative emotions, not through medication – but through meditation.

Such teachings have been aiding inner peace and positive thought for more than 2000 years, and while people are often skeptical, there are over 150,000 registered Buddhists in Britain.

Professor Peter Harvey teaches meditation classes at the Priestman Building of Sunderland University, though due to the refurbishment of the building the classes have been transferred to Vivekarama Buddhist Monastery in Sunderland.

“I moved the class as building work was being done in the Priestman Building – it made the previous room unusable for a while.

“Having moved to the temple, I and others find it has a good atmosphere, supportive of meditation – both because it is very quiet, it has mats that make sitting on the floor more comfortable, and because of the Buddhist imagery in the shrine room that we use.

“The class will continue there for the rest of this year – until the end

of June. And, I will probably keep it there for the future. Having the class there helps support this developing temple, as I encourage people to make small donations when they visit,” said Prof Harvey.

It seems that the change in location has, in fact, been positive for the students who use the classes.

Mark Liddle, 27, a foundation degree student of counselling at Sunderland University, said: “The new building is far superior to the old one. It has a more purposeful feel and more welcoming; it instills a feeling of calm.”

Joanna Zbroniec, 21, studying Psychology at Gateshead College, agrees: “I found the current location quieter and it is much better than Priestman; there is no traffic sound.”

Moreover, Buddhism helps both Joanna and Mark tackle the stresses and strains of University life.

“I am better at studying systematically,” claims Joanna “and Buddhism helps me with this.”

While for Mark, Buddhism relieves the anxiety of a busy lifestyle.

“When attempting to strike a balance between work, uni and the important relationships in my life, I can sometimes feel overwhelmed,” says Mark.

“Buddhism and meditations help me gain a calm serene perspective on what’s going on for me in the world.

“I feel more capable of tackling the challenges of day to day living,” says Mark.

Joanna’s life experience demonstrates how Buddhism can help in ways far beyond dealing with the pressures of work and study.

“I suffered from chronic depression with occasional anxiety.

“Buddhism helped me to calm my mind, maintain control over myself and look at my problems from a different perspective.

“I still get some depressive episodes, but they are much milder than before. Also, I can now deal with stress much better; it barely affects my life anymore,” says Joanna.

Teaching of Buddhism can also help prisoners reform and deal with their past crimes.

“One of the people I have taught meditation had previously murdered someone; He is now reformed person.

“There is a UK Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy Organisation called Angulimala. Also there is a form of Buddhist meditation – Vipassana [insight] that has been thought to prisoners,” said Professor Harvey.

6 lifestyle

This was Sunderland’s first ever anime convention, and was a huge success selling over 900 tickets and already confirmed to be taking place again next year!

The first of what is hoped to become an annual event took place on March 24 and 25 in Sunderland town centre at the Crowntree leisure centre. It was surreal on the first day of the event to see anime fans walking around as characters from Pokèmon, Sailor Moon and even Residential Evil.

The weekend was full of events and stalls that brought people as far

as Australia – who bought tickets to fit in the event into their holiday in the UK. The main attractions were guests Veronica Taylor – voice of Ash from Pokèmon and Chris Sabat – most well known for his voice over on Dragon Ball Z.

One of the organisers, Tucky, was surprised how easy it was to get the legends involved with the event.

“I was surprised Sabat said yes. It was odd to see him sitting in McDonald’s in the middle of Sunderland just eating a Big Mac so casually despite him been famous all over the world.”

Sabat was particularly interested in

Sunderland history, the Angel of the North and our National Glass Centre of all things.

Chris and Veronica were just two of the many guests that came along to the event including Akami Solloway Tanaka, an ambassador of Japanese culture, who carried out a Chinese tea ceremony and traditional dancing. Fashion and music idols Aisha Masood Bio and Sonia Leong just some of those present.

On top of this were various events such as Cosplay competition, booking signings, gaming area, live kendo demonstrations and even a Japanese fashion show.

SunnyCon

7lifestyle

Phil from The Geek Show – the UK’s only geek radio station – who has been to a number of conventions including MCN Expo in London said, “This is tame compared to MCN Expo which had 64,000 visitors last year.”

However he was full of praise for Sunnycon.

“It was beautifully put on, almost full and brilliant for their first year. Everything ran on time which never usually happens.”

Over the weekend, what made the event was the fans themselves. Almost everyone was in costumes, which were either commissioned or made by themselves. Their enthusiasm was really special, for example people who didn’t know each other would strike up conversation over Yu-Gi-Oh! card games or the characters they were dressed up as and their associated books, films or TV series.

It was really nice to see and gave

the event a welcoming atmosphere as fans of all ages and backgrounds enjoyed the event side by side. It was an eye opener for me when talking to various stall owners that there was such a diverse selection of anime genres and types of manga.

One of the best was “Robot Unicorn Attacks,” made and worn by Heather Bradder a regular to anime events, “I have been to a lot of events since 2006 and this one is really cheap as usually in travel and hotel costs it can be an expensive hobby.”

But Heather has found a way to fund her love for conventions by making commissioned outfits for other fans, “I started in 2010 am starting to get orders over £100 so it’s really exciting.”

As a self-taught seamstress under her guise of Pup Custom Cosplay she is making a career out of her passion – an unexpected but great twist.

The main message from talking to

those selling merchandise was that Anime is not fully understood by the west and often misconceived as simply for children.

Claire from Manga Market – online market for manga books and DVD’s explained, “I have been in Waterstones before and they have age restricted manga novels in children’s reach unwrapped. People just think because they see the cartoons, that it is for children but some books are for adults and not suitable for children.”

With soap operas and manga books dedicated to older fans, I discovered that manga is accessible to everybody; even those who wouldn’t expect to enjoy the anime culture. Over the weekend the manga craze was embraced in Sunderland and with a turn out of more than 900 people, we look forward to its return next year.

by RUTH EDMUNDSON

photos by HELEN TILLER

8 music

Steps: The Ultimate Tour

by LAURA SYMONDS

It was like I had just been in a faulty time machine.

Sitting in Newcastle Arena on April 8 was like being transported back to December 2001 - the final tour before Steps’ devastating split. I was sat in the same arena, the same lower-tier, surrounded by flashing devil horns and giant pointing foam hands, watching the same pop group. Except this time the band members were a little bit weathered, Claire Richards was a little bit well fed and the audience were a little bit older.

Yet, everyone acted the same as 11 years ago. We all knew the words and most importantly, we all knew the dance moves.

To top this crazy illusion off, the stage was a futuristic set where the band themselves had seemingly emerged from what I can only assume was a time machine.

No one uses the term “concert” anymore but hell, this was a Steps concert! It still had everything you wanted from an old Steps show including the simple dance moves that the audience could join in with and the almighty solos where we stood in awe at Claire’s powerful cover of I Surrender, while I imagine Lisa Scott-Lee, who had just sung her rendition of Heaven, Beautiful People and Lately, cracks her fists in envy backstage.

But what did the reformed Steps have to offer a contemporary and possibly more judging audience?

Wait for it… They sung most, if not all, live! And they were good at it. Even Lee Latchford-Evans could be heard. Steps also went for the modern twist of mash-ups with covers of Lady Gaga and Rihanna. It would be gay club heaven.

I don’t care if Steps Reunion was a sickening PR stunt. I’m glad I was sucked in. Steps were my favourite pop group when I was a wee lassy. It was fun to see them entertain the nation of cheesy pop enthusiasts once again. And we have to do our bit to get Faye Tozer out of the Boldon ghetto.

9music

The Ultimate Tour

It’s always hard to review a band where is there a very good chance of bumping into them in the street (The Futureheads are from Sunderland dontcha know?) and having to explain any negative comments to the band face to face.

It’s even harder when the album is Rant, a purely a cappella offering from the usually post-punk, guitar-centric Mackems. When I initially heard that they were releasing a vocal only album my first thoughts were of Ted’s band from the TV series Scrubs: the overly cheesy barber shop quartet. And to be perfectly frank I thought the idea, whilst innovative, was going to a massive flop. Safe to say I wasn’t looking forward to reviewing it.

Luckily, if I do ever bump into The Futureheads while drunken in a pub, I won’t have to explain much because, quite simply, Rant is brilliant.

First things first though, it’s not for everyone. If you haven’t liked the vocal sounds on any of the

band’s previous outings then Rant definitely isn’t for you. Lead singer Barry Hyde’s vocals are as strong and definitive as always and really set the tone for the whole album, and the harmonies from the other band members are spot on and never feel out of place. A difficult accomplishment with no music to mask any mistakes or bum-notes. This works really well with studio production behind it and it will be interesting to see how this works live. With the band recently announced as one of the support acts for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Stadium of Light this summer, as well as coming back home on May 19th at the Sunderland Minster, it looks like it won’t be long before we get to see this.

The tracks themselves borrow heavily from England’s rich folk-song history with takes on traditional songs The Old Dun Cow and The Keeper. On top of this there’s a couple of tracks on there that R&B

fans will recognise with covers of Kelis’ Acapella and the Black Eyed Peas’ Meet Me Halfway which take the originals and put a very north-east spin on them which makes for fantastic listening.

My only issue with Rant is that with it being a hundred percent a cappella it isn’t exactly easy listening and repeated listening can be hard on your ears, especially since we’re so used to having autotune and heavy bass lines thrust onto us with the majority of chart releases these days. That being said, I can’t stop listening and I even find myself singing along trying to harmonise with the lads (something which I assure you, I fail miserably at).

If you’re looking for something a bit different and want to sample the delights of a cappella music, or if you’re already a big fan of The Futureheads, then Rant is definitely one to add to your collection, if only for the absolutely sensational cover of Acapella.

by DAN McCONNELL

Tickets for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball have sold out in under ten minutes, setting a new world record: Reformed British band, The Darkness, are set to support Gaga on her tour of Europe. The singer will play London on Sept 8th and 9th , Manchester on Sept 11th and Dublin on Sept 15th. One Direction sues...One Direction?! Yes you read right. US rock band One Direction are suing our lovely British boy band over rights to the name. The US band say that they are not ‘intimidated’ by Cowell.

Tupac’s appearance at Coachella Festival 2012 left Katy Perry in tears.The ‘Part of Me’ singer revealed via her Twitter page she may have wept a tear during Dr.Dre and Snoop Dogg’s headline performance at Coachella Festival on 15th April. Which saw the pair bring Tupac back to the stage in the form of a hologram. Swedish House Mafia have joined Ellie Goulding and Skrillex in the studio to work on material for Goulding’s new album. The follow up to her debut album ‘Lights’ is due later this year.

Goulding has been dating Skrillex for four months after asking her out via album; nice move.Marilyn Manson recently played the Golden Gods Awards, only to be joined onstage by Johnny Depp. The 48-year-old made the guest appearance, playing the guitar as Manson sang Sweet Dreams. Am I the only one that wants a battle of the bands style contest in the next Pirates of the Caribbean sequel? I can just imagine it now - having Johnny Depp on guitar, Davy Jones on the organ. Let’s go.

Music News

12 music

So you might recently have decided, in an alcohol-induced haze no doubt, that you intend to finally put your jangle pop skills to the test and band up with some bandy-legged drummer with five left feet and less than half the brain cells? You might then have decided you’d need to actually pick up a six-string first? Not to worry, The Black Keys have been perfecting your craft for over a decade now.

Emerging at the forefront of fuzzy, bluesed-up rock n’ roll, The Black Keys were born in 2001, way back when The Strokes were leading the charge in the garage rock revival. And there are only two of them. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, friends since 8 or 9 years old, quickly swapped their bikes and baseballs for guitars and garage rehearsals, with things snowballing years later as the pair dropped out of college.

Seven albums, a handful of

Grammys and millions of record sales later, they’re sub-headlining for Foo Fighters at Reading & Leeds Festival, headlining Coachella festival in their native US, and they’ve got a red hot record on their hands. El Camino, which hit shelves in December, romped to an impressive second in the US Billboard 200, proving if any evidence were needed that, no, guitars are not dead.

The assertion that rock n’ roll is indeed on its last legs is one that’s circulated for decades; The Beatles were the last of the line, Led Zeppelin would be the end of it, AC/DC would surely be the final guitar band. These rock dinosaurs would never outlast the synth crescendos brought in with the 1980s? Guns N’ Roses emerged in 1987 with an emphatic no, followed swiftly by the grunge movement, Britpop, nu-metal and garage rock as the 90s progressed. The point being, there’s

always been a perceived ‘decline’ in rock n’ roll. There’s just never been any actual shortage of it.

Auerbach and Carney sold out Madison Square Garden this year. In 15 minutes, no less. Tell them that rock is dead and you’ll likely be greeted by a monster riff and wailing banshee choruses, and it’s exactly that which has seen them soar from always bubbling under the surface of success to hitting the biggest stages in the world with the songs to keep them there for years to come.

If you haven’t heard of them, if you don’t think there’s a place for rock n’ roll in today’s charts, in today’s music at all, shake yourself. Kick back with the window open, the speakers jammed to eleven and The Black Keys back catalogue on Spotify. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself desperate for Reading or Leeds tickets within the first four songs.

Guitars, dead?!Tell that to the

Black Keys

by LIAM WAITE

After his success with Tinie Tempah collaboration, Pass Out, back in February 2010, Labrinth has since made a huge impact on the British music scene. His first single ‘Let the Sun Shine’ constantly reigned throughout my freshers week back in 2010; I couldn’t help but buy it. After learning of his previous work, producing the album Disc-Overy for British rapper Tinie Tempah, I think it’s fair to say that most of us were eagerly anticipating what would come of his own album. I didn’t think we’d be kept waiting for two years; so was it better late than never?The album opens with Climb on Board. The first 20 seconds of the song feature no backing music; however the vocals are electronically mixed enough to carry the song into the main beat which is lively enough to set the tone of the album. Labrinth’s second single, Earthquake, is the second track to grace our ears. This song has dominated the Sunderland club scene for a while now with various remixes such as Benny Benassi’s, a personal favourite, making appearances on DJ’s sets. This song is brilliant but the real star of it for me has to be Tinie Tempah. As soon as his verse kicks in with ‘Yeah...Fire, Fire’ I awkwardly find myself thinking I’m a ‘mini-Tempah’; incorporating rapping with embarrassing dance moves I seem to have invented, that at best should probably be left at home.

His latest single, Last Time, is growing on me. I think I was at first put off due to the obscure video that accompanied the song; however this track doesn’t fail in being catchy. After Earthquake, Treatment is the next best song on the album. This is the point where the album takes a turn from its expected electro origins and develops a pop feel to it, echoing sounds similar to The Wanted or The Script. Lyrics such as ‘you don’t understand the damage you’ve done now’ reveal a personal tone to the album and a softer side to the star. Beneath your Beautiful, featuring rising star Emeli Sande has a similar sound, drawing comparisons with James Morrison. I don’t feel that this song particularly works for Labrinth as it’s too out of place on the album. What he should be credited for is his ability to sample other tracks. Express Yourself, samples Charles Wright’s version mixed with an electro synthesized background and really shows his talent at producing. Sundown, samples Big Yellow Taxi originally a hit for Joni Mitchell back in the 70’s. This track is fairly bland and seems to get lost behind the other tracks on the album; it doesn’t seem to pick up until the drums and electric guitar set in at the end. The guitar solo featured in Sweet Riot, proves he can

successfully incorporate rock into his signature electro beats. Closing track, Vultures is slower, yet it works as a good round-off to the album. The vultures are ‘flying but he’s not dying. I think that means we can be expecting a second album from him.Whilst the lyrics aren’t astounding, this doesn’t stop the album from containing some epic tuneage. This album has certainly established Labrinth’s talent as an artist as well as a producer and I recommend you give it a listen.

Random Fact

Labrinth gave the music loops and chorus of Earthquake to Welsh rockband

Lostprophets before creating his own with Tinie Tempah. The band wrote drum

and guitar parts for the track, before being told their help was no longer needed. by SHELLEY McGRATH

Labrinth Electronic Earth

by LIAM WAITE

11music

12 entertainment

Royalty TheatreSunderland’s hidden gem

It’s the largest theatre in the North East and the only venue between Manchester and Edinburgh capable of housing large scale touring productions from London’s West End, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Empire has the monopoly on theatre in Sunderland.

But next time you fancy a night of live drama or comedy, would you think of going to the Royalty Theatre?

Never heard of it? Well, I can understand that. It is almost hidden away on a small street just off Chester Road, opposite the Royalty pub. An unassuming building which, from the outside, looks pretty

small and pokey. But looks can be deceiving.

Step through the doors and immediately you come face to face with a thriving hub of creative activity. A group of amateur actors, directors and backstage crew who work together to put on seven productions a year here, including a pantomime.

Now, amateur dramatics can have a bit of a bad reputation. A bunch of self-indulgent middle-class OAP’s putting on dated Agatha Christie’s in a draughty church hall, serving weak orange juice and running a bingo during the interval. But this is far from the truth here; the Royalty Theatre is in fact a thriving small business with some big plans for the

future. Last year it hosted an event which was attended by Gandalf – a.k.a. actor Ian McKellen.

Certainly, this building is no draughty church hall. It’s a real theatre, complete with a fully functioning proscenium arch stage, full lighting rig, state-of-the-art sound equipment, and a very comfortable 216 seat auditorium. The theatre also has a smaller studio space, which seats up to 60 audience members and is used for new and experimental plays, as well as for outside companies to hire and put on their own productions. At the time of going to press the theatre is in talks with a student of the drama degree at the University of Sunderland to produce a brand new

13entertainment

by PAUL DUNN

piece of writing. The Royalty also has a thriving Youth Theatre.

The next surprise is the bar. Far from being restricted to plastic cups of fruit juice and cups of weak tea served from an ancient metal urn, the Royalty Theatre has its own well stocked, fully licensed bar, which opens before and after every play, as well as during the interval. It’s a great place to sit and take in the buzz of the place, and discuss the play you’ve just seen with other equally enthusiastic theatre-goers.

And the bar prices are pretty reasonable too!

Despite being staffed entirely by volunteers who give a huge amount of their time for free (much like us here at Spark), it’s very noticeable how friendly and welcoming all of the staff at the Royalty are - not to mention professional in their attitude. As well as putting on their seven main house productions each year they hold regular social evenings, including quiz nights, informal play readings, and open

auditions. And every Friday night they open the green room bar for members to meet, have a drink and just catch up.

The theatre is always open to welcoming new members through the doors, and at the moment they’re particularly keen to recruit younger members. Anna Snell, the theatre’s chairperson, said, “because we produce so many different plays each season, we need a large pool of actors from which to draw, and at the moment we’re keen to build on what we’ve got. We’d like to hear from people of all ages, really, but in particular any actors – male or female – in their twenties or thirties would be very welcome!”

If you’re interested in joining the theatre, or just finding out more about what’s involved, you can take a look at royaltytheatre.co.uk, or you can just come along to the bar on a Friday night and introduce yourself,” Anna continues. “You’ll be made to feel very welcome!”

The next production is this month, 14th to the 19th. Called My Own Show, it focuses on chat show host Fay, whose career is on the wane and who is mortified to be reunited on This Is Your Life with an old school friend who she’s been trying to avoid. But the friend’s recent bereavement gives Fay an idea that could rescue

her ratings. “It’s a great comedy about the fickle nature of fame,” says the play’s director Paul James. “And we’ve been really lucky to have input from Maggie Ollerenshaw, the actress from the original professional production.” You can book tickets for the show by calling the Tourist Information Centre on 0191 553 2000.

on 1st May, 1994, in an horrific crash at the Imola circuit in Italy. To this day, nobody is completely sure why the crash occurred, with a majority believing a minor car malfunction took place. The best way to pay respect to this astonishing driver was to watch the movie that tells the story of who he was.

Ayrton Senna is widely considered to be the greatest driver who has ever lived, and he reached the pinnacle of motorsport in the shape of Formula 1. Moving from Brazil to Europe, racing carts and moving in to junior Formula. The movie is primarily focused around his feud with Alain Prost, which is one of the greatest rivalries any sport has ever witnessed. Some reviews believe that the film portrays Prost as the antagonist, but I didn’t get this impression. If there is a bad guy in this movie, it is Jean Marie Balestre, then head of the FIA, and a genuinely contemptible man. He seems to have a seething hatred for the drivers, which he barely contains, instead trying to hide behind his dark tinted sunglasses.

Senna had a gift for driving, and could do things with a car that others could not. The footage in the film is second to none and gives a real impression of how hard the driving was. In his first season he very nearly won the Monaco GP in a Toleman, a car which in other hands, would not have been capable of such a feat. One of his greatest achievements is outqualifying Prost at the Monaco GP in 1988 by 1.5’s. They were both driving the McLaren car at the time, which makes the feat all the more monstrous. He was a religious man, and had a deep faith in God, and footage shows that he

felt at one point an actual presence of God with him in the car. He felt God gad given him a gift.

The movie goes to great lengths to tell you as much about the man as it does the racer. Senna was a compassionate, caring human being, who had a great love for his countrymen. He used his position as world champion to benefit them greatly, setting up a charity to benefit the under privileged children of Brazil, a charity which still runs today known as the Instituto Ayrton Senna.

After watching the film, and I’ll be honest, wiping some tears from my eyes, I spoke to a friend and advised her she should try watching it (she’s a bit of a film nerd.) She said it sounded boring. I suppose if you aren’t initially interested in Formula One, it may seem that way, but this is a film that every person should see. It is less a film about F1 as it is about a man’s struggle to become the greatest of all time. The sacrifices, the lessons learnt, every trial and tribulation he faces, it is all caught and shown wonderfully in this excellent motion picture. For me, it allowed me to learn more about Formula 1 from an emotional perspective, and also learn more about a driver I so sadly did not get to see. I was 4 at the time of his death. This movie provides a real insight into the most sensational driver who has ever lived. It is a beautiful story about a hero which without, the world is most definitely a darker place to be.

I only wish that I had seen him race. Just once.

RIP Ayrton.

by WILLIAM GRAHAM

14 entertainment

I’m a busy man. Not rushing around in a suit, shouting down mobile phones busy, but busy none the less. As such, I don’t watch much in the way of movies. I find it very hard to sit down and feel like I’m wasting 2 hours on nothing more than a poorly written story with some sub par acting, or yet another comic book movie. I’m waiting on Banana Man, personally.

However, I always make time for F1. It is my biggest passion, my sport. I’ve woken up at 4am after 3 hours sleep to be bitterly disappointed by the result. It’s apart of the appeal. I’m interested in all aspects, from the technical side to the politics, to the teams and the characters within. So, last year, when the Senna film was finally realised on DVD, I snapped it up. (It was actually Blu Ray, but I still think you sound stupid saying it, like you’re in an exotic chip shop.)

Unbelievably, that copy of that critically acclaimed documentary has been sitting in it’s box since October, when it arrived. I felt I haven’t had time to sit and properly absorb the film, something that was so important to me. I didn’t just want it on in the background, I wanted to absorb every last second and detail, as not to miss a thing.

Ayrton Senna died 18 years ago,

Retrospective: Senna The Movie

by WILLIAM GRAHAM

Colour Me Happy

Fuchsia, lilac, aqua, tangerine, mint green, the list goes on for shades that are in for Spring/Summer 2012. The trend doesn’t just apply to clothes though; bright hues have proved to be the hair colour trend to be rocking this season. It all started last year with ombre hair streaks and the craze has persisted longer than we thought and evolved to incorporate more and brighter colours.The catwalks were full of bright and daring hair colours, whether it was Narciso Rodriguez showcasing pulled back hair sprayed with graffiti style hair paint or Thakoon Panichgul’s covered plaits and braids in pastel clay powered shades. The celebrities took quickly to the trend and although the likes of Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga have been experimenting with the brightly coloured hair trend for years many of their fellow

A-listers have been seen sporting the look recently and it looks like it’s here to stay.Kate Bosworth has appeared on the May 2012 cover of Company magazine with brilliant blue dip-dyed ends and BBC’s The Voice judge Jessie J has caught the public’s attention with her sleek two-tone black and violet style. But it doesn’t just stop at the ends of hair. Hair chameleon Katy Perry turned heads at Paris fashion week with an electric blue bob and was seen with longer purple hair at the recent Coachella festival in America.It’s really simply to get in on the look and there are many different colours to choose from so there will be a shade perfect for you. Hair spray colours like Colour Xtreme can be found in most drugstores and can add colour to sections of your hair in seconds and simply wash out. For a more permanent colour look no

further than Directions or Stargazer, both available on Amazon. Just pick the section of your hair that you want colouring, pop on some gloves and old clothes so you don’t get any unwanted stains and colour away! If however you don’t fancy putting anything on your locks you can opt for clip in colour extensions for a streak of colour which you can pick up from most extension shops or on Ebay. Or if you want an all over colour change take a look at Annabelle’s wigs from Asos which are bang on the colour trend. This is a hair trend that is easy to do at home but if you’re nervous head to your nearest salon where they will be able to help you out.So there you have it, it does in fact look like the future is bright! For hair at least.

What’s your shade?

by ROBYN HODGSON

15fashion

16 technology

Gadget Show Live

Gadgets to watch in 2012

The Gadget Show Live at Birmingham’s NEC is a great place to

start if you want to find out what’s hot in the world of tech - and

Spark Magazine was at the press day to bring you our picks from

the event - sharing special moments was a key theme

Bubblescope£60 - Release Summer 2012The Bubblescope is a 360-camera attachment for your iPhone that provides panoramas with a difference - captured in one frame! The special optics capture 360 degrees simultaneously, allowing you to shoot movable 360-degree videos. Too cool.bubblepix.com

3M CP45 £300 - Out Now

Once you get past the catchy name, the CP45 is a pretty nifty little guy to have in your pocket. On the back, you’ve got a 720P HD Camcorder, flip to the top and you’ve got an 800x600 pico portable projector, all powered by battery. Shoot, then share. Could watching Aunt Mary’s holiday videos get any easier? Erm...3m.co.uk

Polaroid Z340£200 - Out Now

We all know what Polaroid do - instant pictures that you take then shake - right? Well, not any more, with the new Z340 Polaroid’s gone into the digital age. Take a photo on the slightly-mediocre built in camera, press ‘print’, and watch the inkless printer produce a 4x3 mugshot in seconds. Clever, huh?polaroid.co.uk

by CHRISTOPHER SMITH

17technology

With a slew of much-anticipated sequels and games that have been in development for frankly too long, this year is going to be one to go down in history for gaming. There are absolutely loads of promising games coming out this year, but we’ve managed to narrow it down to the five we’re most excited to play; only time will tell whether they will live up to everyone’s expectations.

5. Halo 4Release date: November 6thWhen it was announced last year that Halo 4 was to not be developed by Bungie and instead 343 Studios, fans were skeptical. However, we’re drawing ever closer to the release date of this title and we’re still excited to see if it can live up to previous Halo games. Exclusively for Xbox 360 and picking up where Halo 3 left off, you get to take control of Master Chief once again in this all new adventure. Described as “the start of a new trilogy”, we’re far from seeing an end to the Halo universe, which in no way is a bad thing.

4. Assassin’s Creed IIIRelease date: October 30thEveryone knew it was coming, but AC3 was only officially announced in February this year. With only a few screenshots to go by and no trailer as of yet, we are very excited to learn what’s to come.

2012 is already well under way, but in terms of big game releases,

the year has barely begun.

Reportedly in development for three years, it promises us a new protagonist, new setting and new time period; the American Revolution. The developers have claimed that this is going to be the biggest game in the franchise, and we’re hoping that after the somewhat minor changes between the last three installments, this is going to be a whole new experience.

3. The Last GuardianRelease date: Late 2012Announced three years ago, much of the gaming community were blown away by an announcement trailer for this game, showing us a beautiful art style and capturing the unique relationship between a young boy and a huge griffin-type creature. This Playstation-exclusive title has been in development for a very long time, yet we’re still as excited for its release as when we first heard of it. This game looks set to be a truly incredible experience, and we just hope that 2012 is the year it finally makes its appearance.

2. Tomb RaiderRelease date: Q3 2012This year’s Tomb Raider is a complete reboot of the franchise,

and let’s be honest, it was needed. Now the ninth game in the series, Tomb Raider sees the story of a brand new younger

Lara Croft from the very beginning. It’s set to have a much

grittier feel and more immersive storyline with the familiar running-and-jumping the fans love, with a touch of RPG elements. A more realistic approach was needed, and we can’t wait to start exploring this

new mysterious world as a much more vulnerable Lara.

1. Bioshock: InfiniteRelease date: TBA 2012Having gained a tremendous

amount of hype over the last year, Bioshock Infinite is our pick as the top game to look out

for this year. Bioshock was one of the standout games from 2007 with its eerie underwater world of Rapture. Set in the sky in a floating world called Columbia in 1912, Bioshock Infinite is neither a direct prequel nor sequel, yet still maintains the same immersive atmosphere the first game conjured. This game will see a number of unique game styles coming together in an experience we feel can almost guarantee will be unmissable. Let’s hope 2012 is the year it surfaces.

by BEN JONES

5 Games to look forward to in 2012

18 sport

Sport and fashion don’t often collide, but every now and then there’ll be an outfit on a football pitch, Olympic track or golf course that’ll draw a: “what is he wearing?”

Last month the US Masters hit our screens; providing a fantastic weekend of golfing action, accompanied with some very interesting outfit choices.

As we witnessed Bubba Watson don the green winners’ jacket after victory at Augusta, Spark Magazine looked back at some of the fashion faux-pas on show by some of the world’s greatest golfers.

April saw Augusta, indisputably the prettiest course in the world, splattered with hideous colours and outfit designs. Watson’s jacket joined his bright pink driver and while many turned up in respectable attire, there were those whose dress seemed out of bounds.

In terms of fashion, the green jacket would itself be found deep in the rough. The jacket is a vulgar colour of green and if it weren’t for its iconic significance, Bubba might think about throwing it deep into the back of his wardrobe.

Back on the course, American wonderkid Ricky Fowler was found on the fairways disastrously clad in all orange. Fowler wears the bright orange outfit on the final day of every tournament in honour of his home american state, Oklahoma, however the 23-year-old looked more like an escaped convict from a high-security prison.

Meanwhile, British golfer and, erm, fashion icon Ian Poulter, turned up in tartan. On the final day Poulter’s dull grey tartan bottoms were joined by equally hideous pair of bright yellow shoes, although his golf failed to shine quite as brightly as his clothing, as he finished seventh, five shots off the lead.

Elsewhere, Jonathan Byrd refused to brave the cold climes of the fairways as he pulled on a pastel purple fleece. But this wasn’t just a fleece - it was a fleece vest. Byrd somehow managed to combine two of the most out-of-date fashion items and mould them into one high-collared, sleeveless pullover that even my granddad would be embarrassed to leave the house in.

Worst of all, Rory Sabbatini made one of the most terrible fashion faux-pas modern day golf has ever witnessed. The South African decided he would wear… wait for it… a cowboy hat. Looking like a cast member in a Clint Eastwood classic, Sabbatini failed to ‘grab the bull by the horns’ and was sent crashing out after the second round.

Although it seems the world of golf has some way to go before it can rub shoulders with the world of fashion, my message to the golf’s elite is simple: keep it smart. Don’t try to be bold and unique because you just end up looking utterly ludicrous. Leave fashion to the catwalks and focus on your game and you might find success follows.

Golf Fashion Faux Pars

by ANTHONY KENDRICK

19sport

Some might argue the French Open, the second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, is a warm-up to Wimbledon. But try telling Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova that.

It is, however, the last chance we’ll get to see the best players in the world put to the test before they leave the clay-courts and make their way onto grass in preparation for SW19. On the men’s side, this years clay-court season is the most exciting to date, but once again we’re left with the question: Can Andy Murray win it?

The Scot is definitely getting closer to a breakthrough. His record on clay is not the greatest, but last year he proved the critics wrong with fine performances at the Monte-Carlo Masters and in Rome. He finished in the final four in both and followed it up with a run to the semis in Paris. The world number four is becoming more assertive in his matches as his quest for a Grand Slam title continues. But it won’t be simple for Murray, as the likes of Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic will hope to be on top of their game.

Nadal’s love affair with the clay-courts has seen him win the last eight Monte Carlo Masters and he will be looking to take that form

into the French Open. Despite injury concerns, the world number two is still seen as the one to beat at Roland Garros.

But, Djokovic might have something to say about that. The Serbian won the first Grand Slam of the season in Australia and as Nadal’s record last year on clay dipped, he smashed his way past the Spaniard to win tournaments in both Madrid and Rome.

That said, we mustn’t forget the final part of the big four: Roger Federer. The proficiency of the veteran Swiss hasn’t been prolific in the French Open thanks largely to Nadal’s dominance, but he will have fond memories of his epic win in 2009.

In the women’s’ tournament, Australian Sam Stouser is catching the eye of many and did so in 2010 where she went on a brilliant run to the final. Maria Sharapova is always a name in the frame when it comes to Grand Slams and over the last 18 months the world number

two has really improved last year winning in Rome and performing soundly at Roland Garros. The same can be said about Petra Kvitova, who’s in with a great shout of winning in Paris.

Victoria Azarenka has been on top of her game and on top of the rankings thanks to a terrific start to 2012 as she went on an incredible 26-match winning streak. In the form she’s in at the moment, who would bet against her?

Whatever happens, we’re sure to see some super tennis. Will Nadal be crowned the ‘King of Paris’ again – or will it be Murray’s turn to join the elite members of the big four with a Grand Slam victory? As for the

women, it’s hard to call. It may well be a current champion

or a dark horse from the WTA, its wide open! Either way, whoever performs in Paris will have surely laid down their marker down for Wimbledon.

by CHRIS HEAL

Spark takes a look at the French OpenFashion Faux Pars

Roll on Roland Garros

Weirder WorldTurn the hymns down!We all know how annoying it is to have someone making noise when you just want peace; but imagine if it was the local church which was source of the racket. Well this is the case in Nottingham where a gospel church has been fined after neighbours complained about the amount of noise coming from the building.The complaints dated back for four years and eventually led to two members of the church being fined more than £300 each. The noise was being caused by the church playing music through an amplifier during its services; at times it was louder than the city traffic.

Snakes on a planeA plane had to perform an emergency landing in Australia last month after a snake slithered out from under the dashboard and crawled up the pilot’s leg.It bears similarities to the Samuel L Jackson film only this time the snake was on the plane because it had apparently been chasing a tree frog which had found its way under the passenger seat. Fortunately, the snake is thought to be non-venomous. However, it wasn’t caught despite ground staff trying to lure it out with a mouse.

Pantomime performance from student runnersTwo runners from Manchester University have broken the world record for the quickest

10km completed wearing a two-person pantomime costume. They completed the challenge at the Isle White athletics festival which took place over the Easter weekend and included a half marathon pub crawl and a beer racing championship.They said that the initial idea had come to them while they were in the pub. But when they got racing they found the costume was incredibly hot and had poor visibility.They were awarded a certificate by former long distance runner Ron Hill who, in his running days, was the world record holder for the: 16km, 24km and 25km.

Sex, drugs and tidying your room…Two school girls have written a book to help guide parents on how to raise their children when they reach their teenage years. The book, which is more than 200 pages long, gives tips on how parents should deal with topics such as sex, drugs and tidying their room. It also advises that parents should use scare tactics to stop their teenagers from taking drugs. Such as telling girls that drugs could ruin their hair or skin. The girls were chosen to write the book after they entered a creative writing competition run by a publisher.

Poo owe me £131A Chinese business man has launched what he claims is the world’s most expensive cup of tea. The tea comes from plants that have been fertilised with ten tonnes of panda dung, which is apparently a prolific organ fertiliser.He is charging £131 a cup for the brew – but it is yet to be seen whether anyone will be willing to spend that much.An Yanshi, the tea’s grower, claims panda poo is such a good fertiliser because the animals only retain 30% of the nutrition from their food so 70% remains in their faeces and fertilises the plants.

20 bit at the back

by MARK HODGSON

News

Taurus April 20 – May 20On May 20, the first solar eclipse of 2012 will arise within your sign. There will be a shift in time and space. Strange things will happen to you on this day. Paranormal activities will lead you astray. For one day and one day only, you shall be a god/goddess among men or you be doomed and lonely.

Gemini May 21 – June 20An acquaintance will go to new heights to become something more in your eye. Gemini this month will have a new squire, a new friend or a new significant other. Beware of stalkers, as Pluto follows Mercury. You are desirable this month. Some people want to be you. Some want to be with you. Some want to wear your skin as their meat suit.

Cancer June 21 – July 22As Earth’s moon comes into alignment with Jupiter and takes an illegal U-turn at the Milky Way junction, you will be feeling the same bitter rage that the moon feels towards his orbiting satellite navigation system. Keep a cool head. It does no good to dwell on technological difficulties that are out of your control.

Leo July 23 –August 22You are snowed under. You are drowning and the surface is a long way up. The darkness squeezes the life out of you. Just when you see the sunlight through the cracks, someone with the spade of persistence will fill in the cracks. Whether workload or social problems, you will not overcome them this month.

Virgo Aug 23 – Sep 22Your personality traits will be heightened this month. You will be more helpful but moody about it. You

will be critical of others’ laziness when you, yourself are untidy – a symptom of laziness. You will be empathetic, yet you are still critical of laziness. What is this problem you have with laziness, Virgo? You will be more charming and witty. That charm and wit will go a long way when you’re criticising someone’s laidback lazy lifestyle.

Libra Sep 23 – Oct 22A Libran’s desire in life is to have an easy life. Fact. Your element is air. You breathe this air, making your life easier. Your stone is opals. Opals have no purpose and are in no way related to this point. Break away from your star sign, Libra. Rebel! Now is the time for the uprising of the Librans. You are more than an easy life! What does Libra stand for? Let it stand for libraration!

Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 21Apparently, Libra is having an uprising this month. Where they got this crazy idea, we cannot say. One heard through the grapevine that Scorpios live to triumph over all opposition. Libra is the opposition. Defend whatever it is you want to defend. You have a battle on your hands. Charge!

Sagittarius Nov 22 – Dec 21Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? If so, you will meet a lost soul like yourself and love will blossom. Time is of the essence with Earth’s impending doom toward the end of 2012 so use your time wisely. Can you tick off items from you bucket list? Do so now.

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 19It is time to mend broken bridges. Life is too short to hold a grudge forever. Learn to forgive, and the karma chameleon

will grant you with great wealth. Unfortunately, the karma chameleon is no genie so wishes will not be coming true. The only thing that can make your wish come true is you. These are all very original sayings in these horoscopes, honest.

Aquarius Jan 20 – Feb 18This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, as the hippies in Hair would say. That can only be a good thing right? 2012 is bringing a shift into the new, although it is not clear what we are shifting away from. Aquarians are significant. So keep doing what you are doing and remain awesome.

Pisces Feb 19 – Mar 20Keep your head down. Do not draw any more attention to yourself. Libra is having an uprising and Scorpio is getting all up in Libra’s business. You will be faced with a decision to get involved in others’ disputes or simply turn away. You may want to feel needed but, quite frankly; no one needs you this month. Fight your instinct and fade into the background.

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 19Your life plan is running smoothly, whether this is your personal plan or the plan of the stars. Do not be afraid to go off course this month. A revelation is waiting to happen. It could be found in the unlikeliest of places. Take a step into the unknown. Go out of your comfort zone. Hopefully these different ways of saying the same thing will drill the message into your brain.

from Psychic Symonds*HorrorscopesNews

*No guarantee is made as to the accuracy of these horoscopes. Which is just as well, as they’re all completely fictitious. However, we’re sure they’ll apply to someone’s life, somewhere. They always do.

21bit at the back