arts More than 40 volunteers aged
75-106 gave open and honest accounts of their life stories, which revealed hardship and deprivation, luck and good fortune, laughter and tears, and what it means to be old.
www.tracscotland.org/scottish- storytelling-centre/exhibitions
Power in the Land BayArt Gallery, Cardiff Until 17 March Nuclear power is and has been frequently in the news. It is particularly pertinent given current debates surrounding pressures of energy supply around the world. Artist group X-10 bring together the fruits of two years of working together around the closure and decommissioning of the last nuclear power station in Wales. Merging art, science and
technology, their show brings new questions and thoughts to the nuclear debate. The works present a breadth of
ideas, such as responses to the often-hidden and somewhat mysterious physical actions of the reactor, the sensitive issue around containment of radioactive waste and the wider associations of nuclear power.
www.bayart.org.uk/exhibitions/
Dance National Concert Hall Dublin 6-14 March A group of extraordinary and virtuosic musicians, the
Spotlight
A determined editor fights against fake news The editor is passionate
A four-legged newshound is one of the stars of a play making its premiere in February. Written by journalists
Susan Wear and Rob Lawson, Five Dead No Bodies is about an evening newspaper struggling to retain its circulation and relevancy in the era of social media.
about the vital role local newspapers play in communities and will do almost anything to keep the paper afloat. A former chief reporter
at the Newcastle Journal, Susan Wear said: “The editor believes in good old-fashioned, honest news reporting and, as the
new, fast-moving digital media blurs the line between fact and fiction, it drives him mad. Not only is his newspaper dying, but nobody seems to care about the truth any more as the internet takes over. “It also reminds us that
we really are in danger of losing our local newspapers, and we
won’t know what we’ve lost until they’re gone.” Wear was a journalist
for 12 years and is now director of corporate affairs at the Port of Tyne. 15-18 February, The Customs House, South Shields. www.
customshouse.co.uk/ theatre/five-dead-no- bodies/
Book review The dilemmas facing Lenin that resonate today
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the leader of the October 1917 uprising, is one of the most misunderstood leaders of the 20th century. In his own time, there were many – even among his enemies – who acknowledged the magnitude of his intellectual and political achievements. But his legacy has been lost in misinterpretation; he is worshipped but rarely read. On the centenary of the Russian
Revolution, Tariq Ali explores the two major influences on Lenin’s thought – the turbulent history of Tsarist Russia and the birth of the international labour movement – and explains how Lenin confronted dilemmas that still cast a shadow
Gloaming have received widespread critical acclaim throughout their performances to capacity crowds at the world’s most prestigious venues. Founded to pursue a new musical direction, the band balances tradition with a sharp edge that seems entirely new. The band’s piano player, Thomas
Bartlett, is synonymous with the independent rock scene because of his work with the National and Glen Hansard among others, while singer Iarla Ó Lionaird’s singing has reached into the realms of electronic and world music.
over the present. Is terrorism ever a viable strategy? Is support for imperial wars ever justified? Can politics be made without a party? Was the seizure of power in 1917 morally justified? Should he have parted company from his wife and lived with his lover? In the Dilemmas of Lenin, Ali
provides an insightful portrait of Lenin’s deepest preoccupations and underlines the clarity and vigour of his theoretical and political formulations. He concludes with an affecting account of Lenin’s last two years, when he realised “we knew nothing” and insisted that the revolution had to be renewed lest it withered and died.
Festivals
Byline Festival Pippingford Park, Sussex 2-4 June NUJ members can get a 50 per cent discount on tickets to what is billed as the world’s first festival for independent journalism and free speech. Organisers say the weekend event in East Sussex will recapture the spirit and purpose of festivals such as Woodstock. There is an eclectic line-up
incorporating theatre, art, comedy and music, with contributions from John Cleese, June Sarpong, Luke Harding, Bonnie Greer, Hugh Grant, Frances Barber, Lenny Henry, Heather Brooke, AL Kennedy, Hardeep Singh
Kohli, John Sweeney, Tom Watson, the Priscillas and How’s Harry. Organiser Peter Jukes says: “For all the media’s current issues, there is more journalism happening today than at any other time. The festival will feature its most brilliant, being in equal parts masterclass, open-air newsroom and rock festival.” In the daytime, four big tents will bring together people to talk about everything from the state of the media, fake news and social media to dark data and the rise of populism. At night, the forest will be
transformed with four evening venues including the Red Carpet Lounge with the Bad Press Awards presented by John Cleese followed by the main bands. The Comedy Lounge will feature nonstop satire and comedy, while the Beatnik Lounge will show poetry and acoustic sets. The Campfire of the Vanities will offer an open mic until late, and a silent disco through the woods will end the night. To get a 50 per cent discount on the usual £150 ticket price, NUJ members should enter the offer code NUJBYFEST at
www.bylinefestival.com.
The Dilemmas of Lenin: Terrorism, War, Empire, Love, Revolution, by Tariq Ali, £16.99, is published by Verso.
www.versobooks.com
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