News

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Reviews round-up

See what events are coming up with reviews of events and exhibitions

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New drama Ackley Bridge must try harder to go beyond the stereotypes

Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge promises a hard hitting exploration of the social issues associated with growing up in poor and supposedly ethnically segregated northern industrial towns.

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The Handmaid’s Tale is a bleak but compelling story of women’s oppression

The new TV adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic feminist text could be the best drama of the year, writes Sarah Bates

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Beyond the Great Wave—British Museum’s focus is not on Hokusai’s best

The British Museum is celebrating the most famous figure in Japanese art. Katsushika Hokusai was a prolific print-maker and painter who lived from 1760-1849.

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The Other Side Of Hope puts refugees’ struggles in a cold context

Well over a million people have been shoved through Europe’s “reception centres” since the refugee crisis began in 2015. Yet it’s remarkable how little impact this has had on the big screen.

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The Shepherd—a cruel tale of greed, developers, land and sheep

Nothing much goes on in Anselmo’s world, which he shares with his beloved dog Pillo. Like any other farmer the land and the weather are the important things in his life.

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Broken explores one priest’s conflict in a heartless world

Jimmy McGovern’s new TV series promises to expose some of the monstrous practices that prey upon poverty rather than alleviate it, writes Sarah Cox

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The Liar’s Quartet—a history of cops, spies and struggle in new publication

Comedian Mark Thomas’ new book brings together three plays with stories that should be heard but are rarely told, writes Jasmine Francis

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Imagine Moscow: How Stalin debased the design of revolution and other exhibitions

Imagine Moscow exhibition showing until 4 June at The Design Museum London, W8 6AG

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Three Girls - A harrowing view of how system treats survivors of abuse

Socialist Worker readers should watch BBC drama Three Girls, which airs this week.

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Prix Pictet at V&A - powerful and socially-engaged

This small exhibition is rich in powerful, innovative examples of socially-engaged photography.

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American Gods sees ancient gods fight for their place in the modern world

Fans of Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods and newcomers alike will find the audacious new TV adaptation worth watching, argues Iven Boldon

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New play Octopus pokes fun at racist assumptions of what ‘Britishness’ is

'Octopus' challenges racist assumptions and Paul Mason’s new play fails to breath life into the story of Louise Michel’s exile after the defeat of Paris Commune in 1871.

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Russia 1917—new book is a weapon against the right

As the centenary of the Russian Revolution progresses, shelves in bookshops are beginning to groan under the weight of books about 1917.

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Hope, Tragedy, Myths—British Library throws the book at the Russian Revolution

The British Library’s new Russian Revolution exhibition has some fantastic artefacts but a poor conclusion, writes Sarah Bates

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Diffusion—Cardiff photography festival humanises tragedy and revolt

On 1 August 2016, 118 people were rescued from a rubber boat drifting in the Mediterranean Sea, 20 nautical miles off the Libyan coast.

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Josephine Baker biography celebrates the rebel behind the singer

Josephine Baker is most recognisable to some in her iconic skirt of rubber bananas as the “first black star of the world stage”.

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Reviews—Sleaford Mods film will do well ahead of the elections

This portrait of the musical act Sleaford Mods goes on national cinema release this week.

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Albert Camus’ novel plagued by a disappointing adaptation in new play

A new adaptation of the novel The Plague showing at the Arcola Theatre is disappointing with stilted, unpolished performances

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New book on Trump details his crimes but falls short on politics

President Trump Unveiled —Exposing the Bigoted Billionaire by John K Wilson, published by OR Books

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