2 h. ago Saul review – probing, dark and engrossing staging of Handel’s oratorio

Glyndebourne, SussexBarrie Kosky’s remarkable 2015 production returns to the summer festival with Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies superb in the lead rolesThe Glyndebourne season continues with a revival by Donna Stirrup of Barrie Kosky’s 2015 staging of Handel’s Saul, widely regarded as one of the festival’s finest achievements and the production that cemented Kosky’s reputation in the UK as a director of remarkable originality. This is the first time I’ve seen it, having missed both its opening run and the 2018 revival, and it strikes me as an example of Kosky’s work at its finest: probing, insightful, sometimes witty, sometimes dark, always utterly engrossing.Premiered in 1739, Saul has often been compared to King Lear. There is much of Shakespeare in this portrait by Handel and his librettist, Charles Jennens, of the Old Testament king whose mind slowly disintegrates under the challenges presented to him politically and privately by David after the death of Goliath. Continue...

Politics

2 h. ago Andy Murray apologises for his ‘diabolical’ tennis on Queen’s Club court named after him

‘I have a new life and [I am] enjoying being away from sport’Three-time grand slam champion opens Andy Murray ArenaAndy Murray admitted that his tennis is “diabolical nowadays” as he officially opened the centre court at Queen’s Club that now bears his name.The two-time Wimbledon champion was given a ball-girl guard of honour before hitting a couple of points with tournament director Laura Robson and two local schoolchildren. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Boots has 50% off 'irresistible' designer perfume that 'attracts loads of compliments'

The Emporio Armani Because It's You Eau de Parfum 50ml has been described as a "happy, delicious and sparkling" perfume for women

Politics

3 h. ago Mythica: Stormbound review – new chunk of swords and sorcery tale ripe for avid franchise audience

The sixth instalment in this low-budget series has a meagre plot and shonky visual effects but the director and cast clearly care about the franchise’s audienceThis low-budget but reasonably competent swords and sorcery yarn is the sixth instalment in a series of Mythica films that goes back to 2014. It seems they were first bankrolled partly by crowdfunding, and then presumably kept going by the production’s low overheads and straight-to-retail distribution to an audience that clearly grooves to quasi-Tolkienian, Dungeons and Dragons-style quests featuring a motley band (there is usually an elf or dwarf). If you like your necromancy tales spiked with huge chunks of nattering as the characters endeavour to bulk out the running time with lots of banter and exposition, this may be just the ticket. Don’t worry too much about not having seen the other five films because this is reasonably watchable, especially as so much time is devoted to filling newbies in on the backstory via dialogu...

Events

4 h. ago Debenhams shoppers can save up to 70% on new styles with this lesser known outlet

Fashion fans can make huge savings across popular brands such as Wallis, Dorothy Perkins, Coast and more.

Politics

7 h. ago The Way We Talk review – sensitive drama explores deafness via three friends’ infectious warmth

Each character uses a different method of communication in Adam Wong’s drama, which benefits from the chemistry of its lead performersAn incisive film-maker with a keen eye for contemporary youth culture, Hong Kong director Adam Wong has returned with another sensitive ensemble drama. The film follows three twentysomething friends as they navigate various degrees of deafness. Alan, played by first-time deaf actor Marco Ng, is a cochlear implant (CI) user. He is also an ambassador for the surgery, which can help restore sound perception for those with hearing loss. Wolf (Neo Yau), his childhood friend, is a staunch user and supporter of sign language, which at one point was prohibited in local deaf schools; such institutions prioritised speech training, then believed to work better for hearing-impaired students. Sophie (Chung Suet Ying) is at a crossroads: she is a CI user who cannot sign, but yearns to learn.It would, of course, be simplistic to portray these different forms of comm...

Events

7 h. ago How every Premier League club’s summer business is shaping up

Aston Villa and Manchester United must shift surplus players while Sunderland and Leeds seek extra squad depthRecruitment was cast as the main reason for the club’s disappointment last season. Mikel Merino playing as an auxiliary centre-forward after Kai Havertz had broken down made that apparent. This will be a summer with a marked difference with Andrea Berta ready to go as the club’s new sporting director. Berta spent 12 years at Atlético Madrid, supplying the players and foundation behind Diego Simeone’s dynasty. Arsenal seek to avoid friction between Arteta dictating as he did previously and Berta wielding the same kind of power that was so effective in Madrid. Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig is heavily linked to the striking vacancy with Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres seen as too costly. Martin Zubimendi is expected to reunite with Merino in Arsenal’s midfield, though Real Madrid may yet turn the midfielder’s head. Kepa Arrizabalaga will come in as a back-up goalkeeper within a squad...

Politics

8 h. ago Tony Awards 2025: Nicole Scherzinger and Sarah Snook among big winners as host Cynthia Erivo shines

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo shines as host at glittering 2025 Tony Awards ceremony

Events

10 h. ago Netflix’s Frankenstein might be the most urgent and timely blockbuster of 2025

Guillermo del Toro’s new adaptation of a 200-year-old book has uncanny relevance to our present day. And it’s a film that the acclaimed director of ‘The Shape of Water’ and ‘Hellboy’ has been rehearsing for his entire career, writes Xan Brooks

Politics

11 h. ago Under Patel, FBI heightens focus on violent crime, illegal immigration. Other threats abound, too

The FBI under the leadership of Director Kash Patel has made fighting violent crime and illegal immigration top priorities

Events

12 h. ago Oprah accused of RUINING Cynthia Erivo's Tony Awards 2025 hosting debut with 'unnecessary' Wicked skit

Cynthia Erivo drew a mixed reaction as she hosted the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday-delivering a performance that fans called both electrifying and cringeworthy. 

Events

15 h. ago Wicked 2 director confirms Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will each have a brand new song

‘Wicked: For Good’ is expected to be released in theaters November 21

Economics

15 h. ago Katie Holmes channels Wicked as she leads worst dressed list at the 2025 Tony Awards

From over-the-top feathers and nearly naked looks to bright colors and clashing patterns, the 2025 Tony Awards has been filled with a slew of sartorial nightmares and fashion faux pas.

Events

18 h. ago Mike Flanagan Closes SXSW London With ‘Life of Chuck’ as Director Hails ‘Beauty’ of Horror, Apologizes for ‘Killing’ Blumhouse’s ‘Ouija’ Franchise

Mike Flanagan Closes SXSW London With ‘Life of Chuck’ as Director Hails ‘Beauty’ of Horror, Apologizes for ‘Killing’ Blumhouse’s ‘Ouija’ Franchise  Variety

Events

21 h. ago Audacious Banton turns tables on West Indies to seal series for England

Second T20I: WI 196-6, Eng 199-6; England won by 4 wktsRight-hander dominant in the middle with Jacob BethellThe drought continues for the West Indies men. A total of 196 looked serious enough to end a sequence of nine consecutive away defeats against England, a run going back to the bio-bubble Test series of 2020. With the hosts requiring 71 off 39 balls, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook gone, the game looked up. Then came Tom Banton, a first-ball six and a change of tune, the final summary a four-wicket victory to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Twenty20 international series.The Somerset right-hander is usually a top-order man but was dominant in the middle alongside Jacob Bethell as the pair put on 43 off just 15. Banton pummelled Gudakesh Motie’s left-arm spin while Bethell struck Alzarri Joseph for three monstrous sixes. The left-hander’s failed ramp on 26 mattered little as Banton remained, his own audacity including a reverse-flick for four off Jason Holder. He finished on ...

Events

21 h. ago England beat West Indies by four wickets: second men’s T20 – cricket live

Over-by-over report from T20 match in Bristol‘Harry’s team now’ Brook makes instant impactHe’s got him first ball! A snorter of a yorker beats Lewis for pace and bangs him right in front. The batter reviews but it’s more in hope than anything. Maybe he thought he made contact with the ball as he attempted to dig it out, but there’s a gap between leather and willow. A stunning start for Wood and England.The players are now geared up and ready to roll. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago ‘Lilo & Stitch’ cruises to No. 1 again; John Wick spinoff ‘Ballerina’ dances to 2nd place

“Lilo & Stich” has topped the domestic box office charts for a third weekend

Politics

24 h. ago Bryce Dallas Howard says director of 2005 film ‘insulted’ her father and threw water in her face

Lars von Trier directed Howard in the 2005 film ‘Manderlay’

Events

26 h. ago Amelie Mauresmo vows to find answer and address massive French Open problem

The French Open has showcased some thrilling action during this season's tournament at Roland Garros, but there has been a standout problem that tournament director Amelie Mauresmo needs to address: Empty seats

Politics

27 h. ago How to make perfect tandoori chicken (without a tandoor) – recipe | Felicity Cloake's How to make the perfect

Don’t let the lack of a traditional clay oven stop you from making this ‘king of kebabs’ at homeWhen was the last time you had tandoori chicken? Described by the Liverpool Daily Post in 1962 as “roast chicken Indian fashion”, this delicately seasoned, but often luridly coloured, dish was once the mainstay of the British Indian restaurant menu; yet, always greedy for novelty, I can’t remember when I last had the pleasure.The loss is mine, because it’s one of the very best ways to eat chicken – rich and tender, thanks to its yoghurt marinade, tangy with lemon and perfumed with spice. Vivek Singh argues that “no Punjabi celebration can be complete without tandoori chicken”, while J Inder Singh Kalra went as far as to crown it the “king of kebabs”, a sentiment echoed by Rohit Ghai. Continue reading...

Politics