The Indiependent

The Indiependent publishes music, books, film, tv, gaming, theatre, opinion and lifestyle content by early career stage journalists.

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Featured Writers

Abigail Howe

Emily Holditch

I'm currently studying for a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Warwick, and I've developed a keen interest in writing and storytelling throughout my studies. At present, I'm …

Lucy Carter

Student journalist

Ben Faulkner

I'm a young, versatile freelance writer currently studying for my Masters in History. I pride myself in bringing a distinctive voice into everything I write, whether I'm writing freely for …

Emily Simms

Recent Publishing Media graduate from Oxford Brookes University. Interested in writing on local and global issues, mental health and books.

Pia Cooper

A second year student studying BA Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield. At present, I am the Lifestyle Editor for the award winning university magazine - Liberty Belle. I …

Latest Articles

A Charming Celebration of Queerness and Friendship: 'The Way Old Friends Do' Review

The Way Old Friends Do is a charming feel-good play that celebrates queerness in a touching and joyous fashion. Whether you’re an ABBA fan or not, everyone can find comfort in a show which captures the intimate and quirky nature of friendships.

By Katie Heyes
24th May 2023 • The Indiependent

Where Camp Meets Political Pageantry: Can The Eurovision Song Contest Ever Be Truly Apolitical?

May is the month I develop a spring in my step. Awoken from my dissociative slump I realise, Eurovision is here yet again.

By Emily Holditch
24th May 2023 • The Indiependent

A Delightfully Silly Romp Into The World of Dickens: 'Bleak Expectations' Review

As Charles Dickens once said: “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour” and Mark Evans’ delightfully silly stage adaptation of his award-winning radio comedy Bleak Expectations proves just that.

By Katie Heyes
23rd May 2023 • The Indiependent

Track Review: Walking Backwards // Ben Howard

By Caradoc Gayer
20th May 2023 • The Indiependent

Middle Earth’s Second Age is Finally in the Spotlight: Here’s 7 Tips to Help First-Time Readers Understand It

After years of speculation and anticipation, Amazon’s Rings of Power finally hit our screens in 2022. While Peter Jackson’s now infamous Lord of the Rings trilogy was based on the events of Middle Earth’s Third Age, Rings of Power focussed instead on the Second Age, bringing to life realms that …

By Kate Padley
9th May 2023 • The Indiependent

Hit BBC Northern Irish Police Drama ‘Blue Lights’ Renewed for Season Two

Following huge critical and audience acclaim, the BBC has confirmed that its latest police drama Blue Lights will return for a second season. The hit Northern Ireland drama saw us follow the working and personal lives of three rookie police recruits in season one and will commence filming for season …

By Hannah Bradfield
28th April 2023 • The Indiependent

Track Review: Birdman // Moby Dickless

The three-person Manchester band Moby Dickless have once again added another feather to the cap (pardon the pun) that is their already rich musical repertoire with their first single of the year. If you haven’t previously taken flight with these storytellers and song makers, then indulge yourself with ‘Birdman,’ an …

By Victoria Ruck
27th April 2023 • The Indiependent

Joe Cole And Alexandra Roach To Lead New BBC Thriller 'Nightsleeper'

Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole will be starring alongside Alexandra Roach in the upcoming BBC thriller series Nightsleeper.

By Katie Heyes
25th April 2023 • The Indiependent

TV Review: 'Beef' is a Well-Done Dark Comedy

Beef is a searing commentary on how we let anger rule our lives in more ways than one. The new series took Netflix by storm when it was released earlier this month, proving itself to be a comedy that isn’t afraid to stir the pot.

By Gemma Nettle
20th April 2023 • The Indiependent

'Ane City' Is A Hilarious Look At Student And Dundonian Culture: Review

Elfie Picket’s Ane City follows Tay, a third-year English literature student at Glasgow University, who has returned to her home town of Dundee for the summer.

By Ellen Leslie
15th April 2023 • The Indiependent

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ To Run At Southwark Playhouse Elephant

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is set to open at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant this summer, running from 22 May to 1 July. This follows a limited run in 2019, which saw the new musical gain both critical and audience acclaim. Playing the roles of Benjamin Button and Elowen …

By Jess Boot-Cowie
5th April 2023 • The Indiependent

An Ode to The Leadmill- How Sheffield Could Lose One of its Most Loved Venues

If you catch a train to Sheffield and walk two minutes up the road to The Leadmill, you’ll find an extensive temple to the age-old music culture that has echoed throughout its walls. The Leadmill Archives, currently showing on a weekly basis, are a heartfelt tribute to the rich history …

By Victoria Ruck
3rd April 2023 • The Indiependent

Loreen to Represent Sweden For Second Time at 2023 Eurovision Song Contest

If the UK hosting this year’s Eurovision wasn’t exciting enough, one of the contest’s most famous faces is back to compete...

By Erin Zammitt
3rd April 2023 • The Indiependent

Juggle like an Egpytian: 'Akhnaten' review

By Alexander Cohen
21st March 2023 • The Indiependent

Album Review: Songs of Surrender // U2

“Is it getting better? Or do you feel the same?” How to forget the iconic and endlessly romantic opening of one of U2’s greatest hits, ‘One’. A sentiment of rebirth, of a fresh start, of redemption, starts off Songs of Surrender, or SOS, the band’s new (or old) album. Paul …

By Silvia Pellegrino
20th March 2023 • The Indiependent

Travelling To: Seville, Spain

At the end of 2022, I was lucky enough to live in beautiful Seville for the first part of my year abroad, where I got to experience the best of quintessential Spanish culture. A historical, yet bustling city, Seville is sure to have something for everyone, whether you’re into vibrant …

By Victoria Ruck
17th March 2023 • The Indiependent

TV Review: Netflix's 'You' Season Four is Deliciously Unhinged

Netflix’s hit thriller You has returned to screens, and fans are once again lapping up Penn Badgley’s own special brand of Deranged Murderer. The first five episodes of You season four dropped on February 9th and introduced a new cast of characters, as well as a new backdrop for their …

By Kate Padley
16th March 2023 • The Indiependent

Delicious Tension and Flawless Performances: 'Under the Black Rock' Review

Set against the backdrop of the troubles in Ireland, Under the Black Rock spotlights the fragility of relationships during a time of great tension. When Niamh Ryan (Evanna Lynch) is enlisted as a new recruit to the IRA, she must navigate a series of increasingly complex moral dilemmas which test …

By Kate Padley
10th March 2023 • The Indiependent

Starbucks Release New Olive Oil Infused Coffee Range In Italy

Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, have launched their first olive oil infused coffee range, named Oleato, in Italy. The range includes a latte with olive oil steamed oat milk, ice shaken espresso, and a cold brew coffee in which “a silky infusion of Partanna extra virgin oil with vanilla …

By Jess Boot-Cowie
9th March 2023 • The Indiependent

'Afire' Berlinale Review: A New Take on Fragile Masculinity

The ongoing insecurities of masculinity are brought to the forefront in Christian Petzold’s newest film, Afire. The film, recent winner of the Berlinale’s Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, brings four young people together, trapped by ever-growing forest fires. Leon (Thomas Schubert), a writer, and his friend Felix (Langston Uibel), a …

By Sarah Storer
9th March 2023 • The Indiependent

'The Plough' Berlinale Review: A Potent Look at Grief

What happens when the patriarch of your family business dies? That’s one of many questions answered in Philippe Garrel’s latest film, The Plough. Art imitates life for Garrel as he directs his three children for the first time. Louis, Esther and Léna Garrel respectively play Louis, Martha and Léna, the …

By Sarah Storer
8th March 2023 • The Indiependent

Bebe Neuwirth to Return as Lilith in 'Frasier' Reboot

Good morning, Seattle! We’re kicking off today’s broadcast with some juicy news: Bebe Neuwirth has renewed her role as Lilith in the upcoming Frasier reboot, sparking another round of discourse about the highly-anticipated Paramount+ show. Aside from Kelsey Grammer as the show’s highly-strung namesake, Neuwirth is the first original cast …

By Kate Padley
6th March 2023 • The Indiependent

The Significance of ‘Parade’: A History of Protested Shows in America

Parade became the latest play on Broadway to hit the news this week, with right wing extremist groups lining the street to protest the show. The group shouted slurs, waved banners, and handed out flyers that promoted a group that have been linked to an antisemitic shooting in Los Angeles …

By Jess Boot-Cowie
3rd March 2023 • The Indiependent

'Scouts! The Musical' To Open At The Other Palace

Gigglemug Theatre’s Scouts! The Musical will premiere at The Other Palace in June.

By Ellen Leslie
3rd March 2023 • The Indiependent

Ben Platt and Producers of 'Parade' Issue Statements After Antisemitic Protests Outside First Preview

Both the producers and leading actor Ben Platt have released statements responding to antisemitic protesters at the first preview of the Broadway revival of Parade on 21 February. Before the first preview began at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, members of far-right hate groups protested outside the theatre and shouted …

By Jess Boot-Cowie
1st March 2023 • The Indiependent

Interview With New York City Ballet Dancer, Tiler Peck: Performing At Sadler's Wells This March

World-renowned choreographer prima ballerina Tiler Peck is set to make her London debut at Sadler’s Wells with Turn It Out With Tiler Peck & Friends, running from 9 – 11 March.

By Katie Heyes
28th February 2023 • The Indiependent

Games Done Quick Bans Hogwarts Legacy From Events

Charity speedrunning event Games Done Quick has announced that Hogwarts Legacy and other games in the Harry Potter series cannot be used for any Games Done Quick events.

By Ellen Leslie
24th February 2023 • The Indiependent

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre Announces New Season

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre have announced their forthcoming season, moving from the autumn into 2024. The west London venue’s season will open with a new revival of Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, which will be directed by Nicholai La Barrie and will run from 1 to 30 September 2023. As …

By Jess Boot-Cowie
24th February 2023 • The Indiependent

Track Review: New Order T-Shirt // The National

Trying to write this through glossy eyes is proving harder than expected. The only time I felt like this about a song is when I first listened to ‘Slow Show’ by the same band, The National, which boasts the same warm personality as the brand new single ‘New Order T-Shirt’, …

By Silvia Pellegrino
24th February 2023 • The Indiependent

Everything You Need to Know about ‘Bridgerton’ Spin-Off ‘Queen Charlotte’

Dear reader, this Valentine’s Day fans of the Ton gathered from far and wide for a virtual event celebrating the upcoming Bridgerton spinoff Queen Charlotte, with first glimpses, insider info, and romance galore. In season one of Bridgerton, the formidable Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) reminds her nephew why he should …

By Kate Padley
20th February 2023 • The Indiependent