Star & Crescent – News for and by the people of Portsmouth

‘Excluded from the Welfare State’: An Interview with Friends Without Borders, Pt II

20th March 2019

In the second of a two-part interview, Helen Salsbury talks with Michael Woolley, the Chair of Friends Without Borders (FWB), a Portsmouth-based charity providing support and advice to asylum seekers. I wanted to know more about [… read more ]

The Killing Fields of the Philippines: Opposing Duterte’s Tyranny from Portsmouth and the UK

15th March 2019

In advance of his lecture at the University of Portsmouth’s Global Week on 19th March at 5pm at the Eldon Building, Filipino poet, journalist and activist Gene Alcantara discusses the unprecedented crisis engulfing his home [… read more ]

Time for Rebellion: Why I Support the Youth Strike 4 Climate in Portsmouth

14th March 2019

Tomorrow (Friday 15th) at 11 am in 106 towns and cities across the UK, schoolchildren, students and young people will take the day off from their work or educational establishments, to say with one voice, [… read more ]

‘Dedication, Determination and Talent’: Pompey TV Presenters in the Making

14th March 2019

Musical theatre teacher Helen Wallis from the TADAA performing arts school in Portsmouth writes about five successful students learning the art of TV presenting. TADAA (The Alternative Dramatic Arts Academy) performing arts school is a [... read more ]
Creative Portsmouth: Building a Cultural Collective

22nd February 2019

The first Creative Portsmouth event took place on 31st January 2019 run by Portsmouth City Council. Local writer Maddie Wallace reports. Judging by the huge turnout at the city’s first Creative Portsmouth collaborative event at the [... read more ]

‘The Words That Work’: An Interview with Dr Alison Habens, Head of Creative Writing at the University of Portsmouth

13th March 2019

Elizabeth Palmer has been interviewing various teachers of creative writing to gain insights into their motives, methods and approaches. Lately she spoke to Dr Alison Habens, novelist, poet and Head of Creative Writing at the [… read more ]

Pompey’s Musical New Blood: Meet the Bands

4th March 2019

At 7pm tomorrow, Tuesday 5th March, four bands will compete for the chance of a lifetime. Teaming up with the Hot Vox agency, the Isle of Wight Festival is on the hunt for the best [… read more ]

Creative Portsmouth: Building a Cultural Collective

22nd February 2019

The first Creative Portsmouth event took place on 31st January 2019 run by Portsmouth City Council. Local writer Maddie Wallace reports. Judging by the huge turnout at the city’s first Creative Portsmouth collaborative event at the [… read more ]

Review: BSO Strings Drive a Hairpin Bend at 100mph

8th March 2019

Community reporter, Paul Valentine, reviews the recent Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) performance, Superhuman Strauss, and is far from disappointed Well here we are at the Guildhall in Portsmouth again. Tonight, I am full of expectancy; there [… read more ]

Review: Oozing Mastery – ‘Natural Beauty’ with the BSO

13th February 2019

Community reporter, Paul Valentine, reviews the recent Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) performance, Natural Beauty, at Portsmouth Guildhall on 8th February 2019, conducted by Michael Seal, and violin by Ning Feng. Full disclosure, nothing grabbed me about this programme. [… read more ]

Review: ‘Backward Glimpses’ with the BSO

6th February 2019

Community reporter, Paul Valentine, reviews the recent Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) performance, Backwards Glimpses, at Portsmouth Guildhall on 24th January 2019, conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk. I mused during this performance on the irony that is current concert-going, [… read more ]