Alex Taylor
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Articles by Alex Taylor
Backrooms: cómo surgió la idea de la perturbadora película que se convirtió en uno de los mayores éxitos de 2026 Original
Fuente de la imagen, A24 Pie de foto, El actor británico Chiwetel Ejiofor interpreta a Clark en "Backrooms". Información del artículo Autor, Alex Taylor Título del autor, Reportero de cultura Fecha de publicación 29 minutos Tiempo de lectura: 8 min Un póster de película que muestra una pared cubierta de papel tapiz amarillo podría pasar desapercibido. Pero no este. Es reconocible al instante para millones de personas e inspira pavor.
Truthpaste - I Don’t Know Either EP Review
I discovered Truthpaste by catching their set before The Orchestra (For Now) at Scala, and as much as I adore TO(FN), the cataclysmic clunkiness of Joe Scarisbrick's screamed vocals made me yearn for the twee melodies and plucked guitar of Truthpaste, nought but an hour prior.
My New Band Believe - My New Band Believe Review
No review of any of Picton's solo work is going to be able to sidestep the fact that he was a part of black midi. This is because, evidently, black midi was a band at a creative crossroads, pulling in different directions long before the split.
Estuve muerto durante 40 minutos: esto es lo que me enseñó sobre la vida Original
Pie de foto, Patrick Charnley despertó de un coma con una lesión cerebral que cambió su perspectiva de la vida.Información del artículo Autor, Alex Taylor 11 minutos Tiempo de lectura: 5 min Morir, por lo regular, no suele conducir a una nueva vida para una persona; sin embargo, eso es exactamente lo que le sucedió a Patrick Charnley. Era un abogado corporativo de alto nivel que consideraba el tiempo de inactividad como "tiempo perdido", esforzándose incansablemente por alcanzar el éxito.
Lo que 10 años como negociadora en casos de rehenes me enseñaron en la crianza de los hijos Original
Pie de foto, Nicky se desempeñó durante 10 años como negociadora en casos de rehenes para la Policía Metropolitana de Londres.
Bone Broth (Paperback) | ABRAMS
Ash, a transmasculine queer youth, starts his first job as a sous-chef making bone broth for a ramen-noodle restaurant. But just as he is learning the ropes, Ash finds himself tying himself in knots to cover up an untimely death. In this coming-of-age queer thriller, the young transmasculine Ash begins his transition into adult life by landing his first job at a ramen-noodle shop in London, prepping the bone broth.
Gig Review: The Orchestra (For Now) at Scala, London — Still Listening
So then: the main event. Tuning, preparing, the usual. But then, they leave the stage! Which is very revealing: they're at a size where they still have to prepare most of their own gear, but not too small for a big walk-on! They bounded on, Neil Thomson’s hair bouncing like a spaniel. His enthusiasm is appropriate as they begin curtly with an unreleased song titled ‘Neil’s Favourite’.
The Orchestra (For Now) - Plan 76 Review — Still Listening
The Orchestra (For Now) have been together for two years, and they've been worth listening to for two years. Seemingly arriving onto the burdened London pub circuit with impeccable musicianship and about half-a-dozen memorable melodies in hand, they were destined for a quicker route to the top than most bands.
Disappearing furniture and tears in the break room: the chaotic end to two decades of Doctors
‘Maybe don’t offer work experience on a sinking ship?’ Welcome to The Dispatch. We’re Birmingham's new newspaper, delivered entirely by email. Sign up to our mailing list and get two totally free editions of The Dispatch every week: a Monday briefing, full of everything you need to know about that’s going on in the city; and an in-depth weekend piece like the one you're currently reading.
aya - Hexed! Review — Still Listening
And I don’t just say garage because of the suburban feel that this album emanates. Like how Burial captured the malaise of noughties London, aya presents a true dyed-in-the-wool 21st Century view on things. It’s not an album that looks for the beautiful inside the “crumbling high rise.” Instead, it states that the world, and its relation to the artist, is totally fucked.
Networking with Active Wholesalers in Indianapolis
I’m an investor focused on the Indianapolis market, looking to connect with active wholesalers in the area. Always open to networking and sharing insights on what’s working locally. If you’re moving deals in Indy, would love to connect and hear about how you’re sourcing properties. Feel free to DM me always open to building solid local relationships.
Five students, a remote island, and the sequel to a horror classic
For film student Hazel, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. She and four of her classmates at the University of Birmingham were being offered work experience on the set of a proper feature film. Better yet, the movie was tied to the legacy of a global cult classic. And filming would take place amidst the rugged beauty of remote Shetland, travel expenses covered.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy7q4005v2o Version 0 of 1. Are you missing the drama of The Traitors? Fear not because the New Zealand version drops on BBC Three and iPlayer on Monday. But that's not all the next seven days have in store. Yungblud’s new album is out, 28 Years Later is released in UK cinemas, gaming fans have Date Everything to look forward to, and Benson Boone is also dropping a new album. Read on for what's coming up this week...
Chicken Quarter: fair or fowl?
Enjoying this edition? You can get two totally free editions of The Dispatch every week by signing up to our regular mailing list. Just click the button below. No cost. Just old school local journalism. It’s 11.30pm on a Friday night on New Street and a young man called Alex is sitting alone outside KFC. He’s drunk and munching on a burger with the content expression of a grazing cow.
I Write Eulogies, Not Tragedies
After his nan died, this writer discovered an unusual line of part-time student work: peddling paeans from his dorm room, for strangers who couldn’t find the right words of their own. Nan was dead. Of that, no confirmation was needed – mouth hanging open in one final gasp; eyes short of a destination, ceasing to wander. I was 19 at the time, and in that moment, I kissed her cold forehead goodbye. I’d loved my nan – well, great-nan – but this wasn’t her.
Swans - Birthing Review — Still Listening
Swans are monolithic. The chant-at-the-beginning-of-time lyricism that Michael Gira so often uses is monolithic. Their song lengths are monolithic. In fact, it's a miracle that these monoliths have so much depth and texture to them. You can see why the monkeys in 2001 went mad for monoliths. It wouldn't be the same without these core components.
Millennium Girls by Sophia Leonie – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
Sophia Leonie‘s MILLENNIUM GIRLSis a love letter to growing up in the 90s — perfectly messy and shaped by UK garage. The standout show is on now at Brixton House until the May 31 with a 70-minute run time. Directed by Jade Lewis and performed by Tamara Camacho (Chanel), Sophia Leonie (Jessica), Nkhanise Phiri (Jasmine), and Unique Spencer (Latisha), the show follows three best friends as they navigate the space between girlhood and womanhood.
Breakin’ Convention – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
Breakin’ Convention 2025 at Sadler’s Wells in Angel has reaffirmed its status as the world’s largest hip-hop dance theatre festival, delivering a dynamic blend of artistry and community spirit over the May bank holiday weekend. Curated and hosted by the brilliant Jonzi D, the festival transformed the venue into a hub of dance, music, and culture, celebrating hip hop’s global reach and evolving narratives.
Sparkbrook’s pigeon plague
“You’ve got it all wrong,” warns a small man in his eighties, pushing a loaded shopping trolley. It squeaks across the pavement. “The pigeons didn’t just arrive one day: they’ve always been here. We all know what they want too.” He raises a weathered hand from the sleeve of his jumper, and gestures toward the carpet of birds obscuring the tarmac of the Aldi car park in Sparkbrook. Hundreds — and I mean hundreds — of pigeons surround us, pecking calmly around my trainers.
The sets were wobbly. The budget was non-existent. But Crossroads stands the test of time
By Alex Taylor More than forty years ago, HalfPenny Green Airport in Wolverhampton was the site of a terrible tragedy. Not a plane crash, as you might assume, but a colossal fire, one that engulfed the foyer of the famous Crossroads Motel. If you’re from an older generation, you’re probably wondering if I’ve lost the plot. The Crossroads Motel wasn’t in Wolverhampton, you’ll be yelling at your screen, but the town of King’s Oak.
‘Like gunshots going off outside my window’: how padel tore a Sutton Coldfield community in half
By Alex Taylor I’m sitting in Jason Kerrigan’s cottage in a residential area of Sutton Coldfield, when the conversation turns to the conspiratorial. In a low whisper, Jason unspools the story of the fox. The fox had a den behind the row of houses Jason and his neighbours live in, backing onto the local tennis court. The fox was beloved by the local community, Jason tells me. He would often film it on his phone and his neighbours enjoyed watching it scurry about.
Exclusive behind the scenes of Ryan Calais Cameron’s Retrograde
Ten years before he becomes the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Actor, Retrograde, this gripping drama captures the moment a young Sidney Poitier prepares to sign a career-defining Hollywood contract that could make him a star. But there’s a catch. Will he put his career before his principles? In a time of betrayals, will he name names? Will he sign his life away? Ryan Calais Cameron’s punchy Retrograde will debut at the Apollo Theatre following a sold-out run at the Kiln Theatre.
‘Like gunshots going off outside my window’: how padel tore a Sutton Coldfield community in half
By Alex Taylor I’m sitting in Jason Kerrigan’s cottage in a residential area of Sutton Coldfield, when the conversation turns to the conspiratorial. In a low whisper, Jason unspools the story of the fox. The fox had a den behind the row of houses Jason and his neighbours live in, backing onto the local tennis court. The fox was beloved by the local community, Jason tells me. He would often film it on his phone and his neighbours enjoyed watching it scurry about.
Corteo, Cirque Du Soleil – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo, a mesmerising celebration of life and dreams, has premiered at the Royal Albert Hall. Written and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, it masterfully explores human vulnerability through a whimsical journey of acrobatics, music, and theatre. With spine-tingling feats from some of the best acrobats and clowns in the world, Corteo is a high-energy, captivating spectacle.
Oliver! – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
The Gielgud Theatre has premiered its vibrant revival of Oliver! Producer Cameron Mackintosh and director/choreographer Matthew Bourne have collaborated on the staging of ‘Oliver!’ for over 30 years, breathing new life into Lionel Bart’s 1960 classic. Once again, their latest production is a delight for modern audiences. Oliver! tells the story of a young orphan boy, Oliver Twist (Cian Eagle-Service), who escapes a harsh workhouse and ends up in the seedy streets of Victorian London.
Beer, Wine & Spirits Packaging: Countless Routes to Sustainability
2024 was rife with innovation when it comes to beer, wine and spirits packaging. Many of the headline-making developments had the common theme of sustainability — not to mention the perennially important theme of ensuring product quality. Archer Roose and ecoSIP offer two different but equally intriguing approaches to wine packaging.
Wolves on Road by Beru Tessema – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
Wolves on Road, written by Beru Tessema and directed by Daniel Bailey, debuted on November 14, at the Bush Theatre. The punchy play follows two young entrepreneurs, Manny (Kieran Taylor-Ford) and Abdul (Hassan Najib), as they’re lured into the world of cryptocurrency during its peak of popularity. The show begins in Manny’s family home, where he lives with mum Fevan (Alma Eno).
The Mountaintop by Katori Hall – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
Imagining Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth, Katori Hall’s Olivier award-winning play, ‘The Mountaintop’, directed by Nathan Powell. explores the multi-faceted life of the iconic civil rights leader as he reckons with his own mortality. With welcome invitation, the show exposes how tragedy and hope have shaped our past and will inevitably shape our future.
The University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus is up and running. But do its LGBTQ+ students feel safe?
Dear readers — in 2017, when the University of Birmingham announced it would be opening a campus in Dubai, there was almost immediate backlash. Staff and students expressed concerns over what Edgbaston MP Preet Gill referred to as the “watering down” of LGBT rights and the university’s Rainbow Network warned that an act as simple as wearing a rainbow lanyard could be considered illegal in Dubai.
Swipe or Swing?
Dear Patchers — we’ve made it to the midweek hump, a fitting time for today’s article. This week, Alex got elbow deep (figuratively) in the world of West Midlands swinging, after learning a friend of his had visited a sex club called Chameleons, in Walsall. A real ‘fish out of water’ piece, Alex interviews patrons of all ages and learns about the ins, outs and leather seating, all to answer the question, why are more young people engaging with ‘the lifestyle’?
From clandestine parties to sober socials - did Freshers’ Survive COVID at UoB?
Dear Patchers — for most people who attend uni, the first year is a time for making new friends and exploring new surroundings. For those who entered their first year in September 2020, it was a very different experience. Our intern, Alex Taylor, was one of those bright eyed and bushy tailed freshers who had their freshers experience curtailed by COVID. Students at other unis seemingly had it easier — parties were illicit but still frequent.
Jewellery fit for a Freemason - the Birmingham shop that’s been bejewelling the brotherhood for 100 years
Dear readers — Masonic Jewellers, in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, upholds a century-old tradition: crafting bespoke jewellery and paraphernalia for the Freemasons. On a rainy afternoon, The Dispatch visited the workshop, which uses techniques and equipment handed down through the generations. The Freemasons are a fraternal organisation, shrouded in secrecy, with a history that spans centuries. That didn’t stop them from trying to recruit our journalist, however.
Does David Craddock truly have Good Intent?
Dear readers — The Good Intent is a plush pub in Birmingham city centre’s historic Great Western Arcade. It is one of five pubs owned by the Stourbridge business Craddock’s Brewery. But the watering hole is more than just a well-oiled bar — all of the pub’s profits go to local charities. Or do they? When The Dispatch received a tip-off that organisations weren’t receiving the money, of course we had to find out what was going on.
Slave Play by Jeremy O’Harris - review
Slave Play, written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Robert O’Hara, has made its way across the pond, coming off-Broadway to debut at the West End’s Nöel Coward Theatre. The controversial show explores the complicated dynamics in interracial relationships, namely the cognitive dissonance they can raise about our racial identities, desire, and power imbalances at play. Introducing the taboo fetish, race play, O.
My Father’s Fable by Faith Omole – review • Afridiziak Theatre News
My Father’s Fable is a captivating and witty story of self-discovery, family and culture, now on at Bush Theatre. Alongside its poignant exploration of grief and loss, the show will have you howling. Faith Omole makes her debut as the writer of My Father’s Fable, having previously won the Alfred Fagon Award for acting and, more recently, a nomination for the Olivier Award for her role as Joy in Standing at The Sky’s Edge.
Redbrick Interviews: Danny Robins, ‘Uncanny’
The live show ‘Uncanny: I Know What I Saw’, based on the international podcast phenomenon, Uncanny, that has sparked a BBC series, book, and sell-out live tour. At the helm of it all, the red parka adorning ‘go-to ghost guy’, Danny Robins. Of The Battersea Poltergeist, The Witch Farm, and 2:22 A Ghost Story fame, Danny, and his reliable team of returning experts return to the stage in what is the undeniably the biggest investigation into the paranormal ever conducted.
Redbrick Newspaper Saved: Community Raises Over £5000
On the 8th March 2024, Redbrick Newspaper (est. 1936) began a fundraising campaign. After the financial repercussions of COVID-19, the consequent loss of long-term sponsors, rising print and maintenance costs, and further years of financial neglect, Redbrick required imminent financial action in order to continue. Redbrick Newspaper is one of the oldest student newspapers in the country.
Issue 1534: Letter from the Editor-in-Chief
After such a fulfilling and challenging year, being faced with the end of my tenure fills me with an eclectic mix of emotions. Like a prime minister, you campaign for the role with promises and inspiring ideas, before turning up at number 10 (the basement Redbrick office) greeted with the hidden challenges, and all the reasons why you will be unable to fulfil what you intended.
Avicii’s dad: 'I miss him every minute, but I get angry at him for leaving'
Avicii’s dad: 'I miss him every minute, but I get angry at him for leaving' The Bergling family want people to know Tim, their son behind the Avicii moniker [Getty Images] On April 20, 2018, the world lost a music superstar, chart-topping DJ Avicii. Aged just 28, he tragically took his own life while on holiday in Oman. For Klas Bergling, he lost his son, Tim. "I miss him every minute," Klas Bergling shares over a candid, deeply personal video call. "Of course, I talk to him every day.
Avicii’s dad: 'I miss him every minute, but I get angry at him for leaving'
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Shadow - River Goddess by Adanma Nwankwo - review • Afridiziak Theatre News
‘Shadow ~ River Goddess’ is a performance piece by artist Adanma Nwankwo, filmed in October 2023 in the City of London. Created in honour of the Walbrook River, Nwankwo reminds us how our forgotten histories can reshape our relationship between nature and progress. The Walbook River was once a vital tributary of the Thames, providing transportation for the Roman settlement and serving as a natural power source during the medieval period.
Theatre Review: Withnail and I - A Double Perspective
Editor-in-Chief Alex Taylor and Print & Features Editor Jess Parker review Withnail and I, criticising the failure to update the original 1987 story The Birmingham Rep’s recent production of Withnail & I, based upon writer and director Bruce Robinson’s 1987 magnum opus of the same name, premiered to a packed audience of eager fans of the cult classic. Robinson penned the play, evidently as a passion project to bring the source material to audiences of today through the medium of theatre.
Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki - review • Afridiziak Theatre News
Step into the enchanting world of Spirited Away as it comes to life on stage at the London Coliseum! Adapted from Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved animated film, this theatrical masterpiece transports audiences to a realm of wonder and magic. Set in modern-day Japan, the story follows the adventures of Chihiro (Kanna Hashimoto), a brave young girl who finds herself trapped in a mysterious spirit world after her parents undergo a bizarre transformation.
Redbrick Interviews: Andy Street
In an elegant office in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, I met with mayor Andy Street, in his campaign for re-election. Thank you to Andy’s campaign assistant, Hugo Rasenberg, in facilitating our meeting. And thank you to Charlie O’Keeffe, Will Hammond, Jessica Parker, and Jacob Dyke for their assistance. Why should not only University of Birmingham students vote for you in the upcoming election, but young people in general?
OUT by Ray Young plus q+a - review
Ray Young’s OUT is a poignant, vibrant exploration of multi-faceted identity and self-discovery. Exploring Caribbean queer culture through embodied storytelling, OUT carves a new space for Black & queer experiences. Having already been nominated for the 2017 Total Theatre & The Place Award for Dance and winning the 2017 South East Dance ‘A Space to Dance’ Brighton Fringe Award, OUT has arrived in its third iteration at the Lilian Baylis Theatre.
Review: Mary & George
Editor-in-Chief Alex Taylor reviews historical drama Mary & George, revelling in its immersive, dark and compelling depiction of the Jacobean era The creativity, performances, aesthetic, and triumphant fun of Mary & George will reaffirm your faith in quality television, while it undermines your belief in humanity.
Nouveau Riche’s For Black Boys... – new cast interviews - interview • Afridiziak Theatre News
Following sold-out runs at the Apollo Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and New Diorama Theatre, Ryan Calais Cameron’s Olivier Award-nominated, multi award-winning For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy returns to the West End for a limited 9 week run at the Garrick Theatre.
Review: Doctor Who Christmas Special
Christmas Day’s Doctor Who Christmas special, ‘The Church on Ruby Road’, marks the fifteenth Doctor’s first solo outing since the 60th anniversary specials. The plot follows new, vibrant companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), who, after being abandoned as a baby outside a church on ‘Ruby Road’ on Christmas Eve, is taken in as a foundling by foster Mother Carla (Michelle Greenidge),and foster-grandmother Cherry (Sunday) (Angela Wynter).
Playing God with AI – Alex Taylor
Good fiction, especially science fiction, can be prophetic, not because the writer has some mystical way of reading the future, but because, as Southern Catholic novelist Flannery O’Connor once wrote, “prophecy is a matter of seeing near things with their extensions of meaning and thus of seeing far things close up.” Audiences turned out in record numbers this past summer to see Jim Caviezel’s film Sound of Freedom, which exposed the tremendous global evil of child trafficking.
Theatre Review: Life of Pi - A Double Perspective
Having won five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards, the 2023/2024 UK & Ireland theatrical tour of Life of Pi landed in Birmingham at The Hippodrome on 12 February 2024. The press performance was on 13 February 2024, and performed to a packed audience of all ages. The play is based on Yann Martel’s 2001 book of the same name, which won the Man Booker Prize and has sold over fifteen million copies across the globe.
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