33 m. ago ‘Touching the soul is all that matters!’ The outrageous genius of Barrie Kosky and his Wagner phantasmagoria

He put Carmen in a gorilla suit and had Das Rheingold’s Erda represented by an 82-year-old naked woman. What are the the director’s plans for his edge-of-the-seat Die Walküre?From the Muppet Show to Kafka, Yiddish theatre to Vivaldi, pop music to Wagner – Barrie Kosky’s enthusiasms ricochet at a speed that leaves you dizzy as well as, in their rampant variety, a touch envious. This 58-year-old Australian theatre and opera director sees all art, all life, as one. His love of clowns, cabaret and musicals is as intense as his passion for theatre and grand opera. “Whether it touches the soul is all that matters,” he says, his loquacious personality expanding into a small side office at the Royal Opera House in London before a rehearsal. His new staging of Die Walküre, the second opera in Wagner’s Ring cycle, openson 1 May .Kosky was born in Melbourne but has been based in Berlin for the past 20 years, where he was artistic director of the Komische Oper and still has an association there...

Politics

94 m. ago Pretty little UK village on the edge of a huge city with three highly rated pubs

Stock in Essex is the kind of village you dream about. With its historic charm, countryside calm and three pubs, it's worth a detour as it is just minutes from busy Chelmsford

Politics

5 h. ago Deborah James laboratory’s new blood test trial that could detect disease sooner

The laboratory will house leading scientists conducting ‘cutting-edge’ research and could be used in the NHS

Events

6 h. ago Elon Musk to pull back in Doge role starting May amid 71% dip in Tesla profits

CEO to pare back White House work to one to two days weekly as analysts say role has caused branding crisisThe Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said he will start pulling back from his role at the so-called “department of government efficiency” starting in May. Musk’s remarks came as the company reported a massive dip in both profits and revenues in the first quarter of 2025 amid backlash against Musk’s role in the White House.On an investor call, Musk said the work necessary to get the government’s “financial house in order is mostly done”. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago 6 ‘security guards’ charged after booting woman for Republican town hall

During the incident in February a female protester – Teresa Borrenpohl – was pulled from her seat, wrestled to the ground and dragged out of a packed auditorium by the unidentified men

Politics

8 h. ago US supreme court seems inclined to allow exemption of LGBTQ+ books for elementary schoolers

Justices heard from Christian and Muslim parents from Maryland seeking to pull children from certain classesThe US supreme court appeared inclined to rule in favor of Christian and Muslim parents in Maryland seeking to keep their elementary school children out of certain classes when storybooks with LGBTQ+ characters are read in the latest case involving the intersection of religion and LGBTQ+ rights.The nine justices heard arguments on Tuesday in an appeal by parents with children in public schools in Montgomery county, located just outside of Washington, after lower courts declined to order the local school district to let children opt out when these books are read. The plaintiffs – including Muslim, Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox parents – contend that the school board’s policy of prohibiting opt-outs violates the US constitution’s first amendment protections for free exercise of religion. Donald Trump’s administration backed them in the case. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago CBB's Ella Rae Wise revealed real reason behind shock split from TOWIE co

Celebrity Big Brother star Ella Rae Wise and Dan Edgar split up shortly before she entered the house. Before the programme started, she revealed the reason behind their split

Events

10 h. ago Freddie Flintoff makes telling admission on TV career after terrifying Top Gear crash

Freddie Flintoff is working as the head coach of England Lions and is clear that cricket is the most important thing for him work-wise, having rediscovered the sport

Events

10 h. ago Wales' potential new coaching team as two Welsh icons could reunite

The WRU are busy assembling a coaching team to take Wales forward

Politics

10 h. ago Business as usual at Scottish Rugby amid Steve Tandy to Wales rumours as 'impossible task' warning fired

Scotland assistant tipped to become next Wales head coach

Events

10 h. ago Addison Rae wows in thong bodysuit for racy Elle photoshoot after Coachella gig

Social media sensation turned singer Addison Rae has wowed fans with her latest photoshoot as she posed up a storm for Elle Magazine after her Coachella performance

Events

11 h. ago Earth Day marks the chance to help save the planet. The environment was already on the edge before Trump took office

Scientists are calling for rapid action to curb emissions as the Trump administration embraces the fossil fuel industry

Politics

12 h. ago Tonight's Cardiff City news as Ramsey brings in new coach and Salech makes future admission

The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium

Sport

12 h. ago Mountainhead: first trailer for Jesse Armstrong’s topical Succession follow

Billionaires, starring Steve Carell and Ramy Youssef, meet amid an international crisis in HBO’s of-the-moment satireA summit of influential male billionaires is under way in the first teaser trailer for Mountainhead.HBO unveiled the extended look at the first feature from the Succession creator Jesse Armstrong on Tuesday, which stars Steve Carell, Cory Michael Smith, Ramy Youssef and Jason Schwartzman as a group of billionaire friends who meet at an alpine retreat during an international crisis. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Matt Sherratt reveals stance on taking Wales job amid attack coach links

The Cardiff coach has been linked with coaching Wales once again after his Six Nations secondment

Events

13 h. ago Hegseth pulled airstrike info from secure military channel for Signal posts, NBC News reports

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pulled the airstrike information he posted into Signal chats with his wife, brother and dozens of others from a secure communications channel from U.S. Central Command

Events

13 h. ago R&A ‘would love’ the Open to return to Donald Trump’s Turnberry course

Scottish course last hosted event in 2009R&A says logistics, not politics, are a concernThe R&A would like to see Donald Trump’s Turnberry course in Scotland return as host of the Open but will first need to assess the feasibility of the venue, the governing body’s chief executive, Mark Darbon, said.Turnberry, a seaside course in South Ayrshire, has staged the Open four times – most recently in 2009 when American Stewart Cink edged past his compatriot Tom Watson to claim the title in a thrilling victory. Trump bought the property in 2014 and has spent £200m upgrading the resort’s courses. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Mikel Arteta offers Bukayo Saka injury update after Arsenal star's huge scare

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has allayed fears over Bukayo Saka's injury scare and revealed the issue is not serious ahead of the Gunners clash against Crystal Palace

Events

13 h. ago What Cardiff City now need to happen to pull off survival miracle

The Bluebirds suffered an agonising draw against Oxford United which has left them perilously close to the drop

Events

13 h. ago Arsenal outcast could hand Liverpool title as Crystal Palace boss admits he's 'sad' for him

Arsenal face Crystal Palace on Wednesday night in a crucial game that will see Liverpool named Premier League champions if the Eagles pull off a victory at the Emirates - and ex-Gunner Eddie Nketiah will hope to start against his old side

Politics