Review - Bhangra Bollywood night at Stratten Hall 17th April 04 By Jane Foster

This night was organised by Mrs Kamlesh Singh, from the Lakh Kushia shop on Newland Avenue. Lakh Kushia specialises in all things Eastern, and was set up to attract people from all sections of the local community. This was the second of these nights to take place - the first one being a ladies-only event. The evening began with a tasty two-course meal, consisting of pakoras and bombay mix, followed by keema curry, chick pea curry, rice, dhal, salad and puris.

There were various stalls around the hall, selling Indian jewellery, shoes and outfits to buy or hire. All these were from the Lakh Kushia shop. Next, Kamlesh's son Laki gave us a short demonstration on how to play the dhol - the large double-ended drum that gives Bhangra music it's driving rhythm. It looked to me like it takes some co-ordination to play this type of drum.

They were hoping to have a Bollywood dance team this evening. Unfortunately they couldn't make it, so instead we were treated to a fashion show. The girls modelled both traditional and more modern Indian dress, as well as Indian-inspired Western outfits.

There followed some useful information on the different types of Indian dress, such as the sari and salwar kameez. Some braver people in the audience took part in a demonstration on how to wear a sari.

I found out there are many different ways of folding it. The evening ended with a demonstration of some Bollywood style dancing, with nearly everyone getting up to join in (myself included, though I can't dance for toffee!!) Finally there was henna painting, and many people left with these dainty patterns on their hands. I didn't venture for this as I am soon hoping to do a special feature on henna painting for thisisUll.com ...watch this space !

Going Down - An EveningWith The Dark Poet - Bill Hicks Anniversary Tribute At the Adelphi By Rich Mills
	It seems strange to be doing a review of Bill Hicks ten years after his death from pancreatic cancer. On 26th of February 1994, the world became a darker place. However, a legacy of words that has resonated across the years, shows that the man who described himself as a dark poet was a shining light. A genius with a razor sharp wit, who never compromised, and only spoke the truth! Read more...

Going Down - Hit And Run Poetry By Rich Mills
	Well the Renegades have been at it again. Sunday night, as the rest of the world took in the news of Saddam's capture, the Renegade Writers stormed the Jaz Bar in Lowgate, Hull. Now feelings would be mixed, I'm sure, as to whether they went down a storm or like a lead balloon. One thing is for certain - the quiet Sunday audience were not prepared for the Renegades onslaught. Read more...

Going Down - Got to pick a Poet or Two by Mo.
	Last night I accompanied Jane from the Renegade writers to Nellies Pub in Beverley to what turned out to be a terrific night of competitive poetry readings. Ten years ago I'd be ribbed and teased. My mates would have said "you're going soft" to have spent the evening in front of a roaring fire listening to poetry in one of the oldest pubs in England. . Read more...

Going Down - Celebrations of Eid al-Fitr
	This evening (29th Nov) I was invited out by Adelat a Kurdish friend to take part in the local celebrations of Eid al-Fitr marking the Breaking of the Ramadan Fast. We met up in one of the only two Kurdish restaurants in Hull, where I found him tucking into chicken and rice dinner alongside several other Kurdish friends. Read more...

Reviews, Films - Are you Passionate? By Lee Cassanell
	I recently saw The Passion of Christ; the Mel Gibson film that portrays the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth who Christians believe was the Messiah of ancient prophecy. The film was beautifully shot, highly stylised, Jim Caviezel born to play Old JC and it had the added bonus of Monica Bellucci Read more...

Reviews Films - Slack Video at the Lamp - Monday 12th April 04 By Gail Anthony
	This is the third Slack Video night I've been to. And the best, in my opinion. And what do I know? Slack Video is where a bunch of local film makers show off their skills. Slack is all about the audience's views on local films. Everyone will have their own favourite. They are organised once a month at Read more...

Reviews, Theatre - Fusion @ Hull University - 1 March to 1 April By Michelle Dee Clark
	Contemporary multimedia art from Hull: art-music-film. Tearing through the traffic on a cold Monday evening, anxiously watching the big hand tick by quarter past seven.. We were supposed to be at the Middleton Hall on the Hull University grounds for Fusion. Read more...

Going Down - Wymersley Park Action Group
	Family Fun Day Saturday August 16th Noon to 4pm Wymersley Road Park Opposite 'The Highway' compliments an exhibition for the proposed park at Wymersley Road. Read more...

Fiction - Old Tired & Completely Rucked By Martin Dale
	Of course, I used to be big league me. Right up there with the bigwigs I was. Every game I'd be out there, working my socks off for the club. I'd be at the bottom of every ruck, in the thick of every maul, I'd cover more of the pitch than anyone else on the team. Pretty good really, now that I come to think about it, Read more...

Fiction - From a Spirited Beginning By Martin Dale
	My earliest memory? Isolation. Being small, vulnerable, completely alone. I was surrounded by seemingly alien life, one with the life, but at the same time different, distinct. I came from this being, but I was no longer completely a part of it. I had a separate consciousness. No. Not yet. That was to come. At that time it was only an instinct. Read more...

News - Victorian Valentine Hunt at Wilberforce House
	From Hull City Council Press Office Come along to Wilberforce House Museum during the half-term holiday and take part in our Victorian Valentine Hunt. There are six original Victorian Valentines hidden in rooms around the Museum for you to find. Read more...