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Impact Magazine •

‘They Don’t Just Participate, They Innovate’: How Student Creatives are Crafting a Midlands Renaissance - Impact Magazine

Whether orchestrating events, or bringing an exhibition to life, young creatives are shaping the cultural landscape in the Midlands with fresh perspectives and boundless energy.
 
“The impact students have on the arts is undeniable,” says Maria Konyelicska-Visky, Marketing and Communications Manager at Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts centre.
“They don’t just participate; they innovate, bringing contemporary relevance to traditional institutions.
“Students are crucial to our arts scene.”
For Mària ear...
Empoword Journalism •

Trump’s Power Play: How He Undermined Ukraine - Empoword Journalism

Katie Barr
Power, pressure and performative gratitude – Donald Trump’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy was less about diplomacy and more about dominance.
The February 28th meeting was promoted as a show of US support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict. However, it revealed more about Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, which appears to be rooted in personal leverage rather than mutual diplomacy.
While Trump used the meeting as a stage to project his broader foreign policy vision,...
Impact Magazine •

Crime Never Looked So Good: Chicago at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall - Impact Magazine

Katie Barr
This April, Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall welcomes the razzle-dazzle of Chicago, the sultry, satirical musical that’s become one of the most beloved shows in musical theatre history. Running from Monday 7 to Saturday 12 April 2025, the UK & Ireland tour brings something truly special:
Janette Manrara, former Strictly Come Dancing star and co-host of It Takes Two, will make her musical theatre debut as the iconic Roxie Hart.
For Manrara, this is more than just a new chapter — it’s a...
Impact Magazine •

Tom Grennan: Boys Don’t Cry - Impact Magazine

Tom Grennan continues to establish himself as one of the UK’s most formidable pop talents with his latest single, ‘Boys Don’t Cry.’ This powerful track, the third to be unveiled from his upcoming album Everywhere I Went Led Me To Where I Didn’t Want To Be, showcases his ability to merge heartfelt storytelling with infectious melodies. Scheduled for release on August 15th, the album promises to be a defining moment in Grennan’s already illustrious career.
With a stirring 80s groove, warm synth a...
Impact Magazine •

A Thrilling Ride: Murder on The Orient Express - Impact Magazine

There’s nothing quite like a gripping whodunnit to electrify an audience, and the showing of Murder on the Orient Express at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal is a first-class journey into intrigue. Impact reviewer, Katie Barr tells us all of Agatha Christie’s classic detective tale, brought to life in this dazzling stage adaptation, blending glamour, suspense, and razor-sharp wit, ensuring a night of high drama aboard the world’s most luxurious locomotive. 
With Micheal Maloney masterfully embodying t...
Her Campus •

Red Robes and Resistance: Why “The Handmaid’s Tale” isn’t just Dystopian Fiction

Instead it’s a terrifyingly possible reality check.Forget the TV adaptations, the Halloween costumes, the pop culture references. “The Handmaid’sTale” isn’t just a cautionary tale about a theoretic dystopia; it’s a chillingly accurate reflection ofthe insidious ways that power can erode freedom, that ideology can justify oppression, and thatcomplacency can lead to complicity. It’s not just a novel; it’s a warning, a call to action, and a starkreminder that the fight for bodily autonomy and human...
Impact Magazine •

Should the British Museum Return Stolen Items? - Impact Magazine

The British Museum is like a treasure chest of human history, packed with over 8 million artefacts from all corners of the world.  From the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon Marbles, their collection is legendary. But here’s the catch – many of these priceless pieces were taken under highly questionable circumstances, often as spoils of Britain’s colonial past. Today, countries are demanding their stolen heritage back, and the pressure on the Museum to return these artefacts is stronger than ever....
Impact Magazine •

Why is everyone on TV getting high? - Impact Magazine

Teen dramas, drugs, and the fine line between storytelling and glorification 


It’s 11pm on a school night, you’re elbow-deep in a binge-watching spiral. Rue from Euphoria is back at it, popping pills in slow motion, bathed in neon lights and Labrinth’s haunting soundtrack sets the mood. It looks cinematic. It feels intense. And you’re hooked.


But here’s the thing – why are we watching yet another teen drama where getting high, lighting up, or spiralling out on drugs is … a whole vibe?


W...
Empoword Journalism •

Oscars 2025: Triumphs, Surprises And Unforgettable Moments - Empoword Journalism

Katie Barr
The 97th Academy Awards unfolded on March 2nd, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, celebrating the cinematic achievements of 2024.
The evening was marked by a harmonious blend of anticipated victories, unforeseen surprises, and groundbreaking milestones, reflecting the evolving landscape of the film industry.
Leading the accolades, Anora (2024) emerged as the night’s most lauded film, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture.
Director Sean Baker’s vision was duly recognised with th...
Impact Magazine •

Calamity or Classic? A Wild Ride Through Calamity Jane - Impact Magazine

When a classic musical like Calamity Jane rides back into town, expectations are as high as the Dakota sky. The Watermill Theatre’s revival, starring the ever-charming Carrie Hope Fletcher, promises a rootin’-tootin’ adventure across the UK. But does this production gallop to glory, or does it misfire like a rusty revolver? Reviewer Katie Barr tells all, so let’s hitch up our wagons and take a look.
Carrie Hope Fletcher is undoubtedly the beating heart of this production. Known for her powerhous...