Rambunctious new play “The Wild Sighs” delivers on-the-hoof hilarity

Charlie Ashton on 31 January 2024

Those who were privy to the bout of storytelling that came kicking and bleating onto the stage of the Alec Clegg Studio for three consecutive nights from November 30th to December 2nd are likely not the same people today that they were before then. What was quite apparent in attending a performance of “The Wild Sighs”, produced by the Open Theatre, was that audiences were shocked, riveted, challenged, and delighted all at once by what they saw. Above all, there was rarely a moment in which even the subtlest expression of laughter did not make itself well-known in the room.

The play was best enjoyed for its absurdity and plot, which was anything but predictable, when approached without any prior knowledge of its subject matter. Nevertheless, a synopsis was provided on the event’s TicketSource page:

“A lonely Hiker unwittingly wanders into the middle of a fierce rural dispute. Janine, the prize-winning sheep of a local Farmer, has gone missing. But who has taken her? Could it be the shadowy Farmer King hell-bent on ruining the Farmer’s life? Or perhaps the Old Man with his anarchist tendencies and suspiciously large rucksack? Who knows? Who cares? The Hiker certainly doesn’t. He just wants to walk.”

The intrinsically humorous nature of the situation at the centre of the play made ample fodder for a stampede of gags, witty repartee, and comedic set-pieces which rarely received anything less than the audience’s fervent approval, and which often came about so naturally that it would be interesting to find out whether any given bit arose straight from writer-director Dillon Dowson’s pen or from the creative impulses of the actors in rehearsal. With that said, strong voices were evident on either side of the line. Dowson and co-director Thom Zeff imbued the action with a degree of precision and detail which made an otherwise ludicrous story and concisely decorated set feel part of a lived-in and all-encompassing ewe-niverse of its own, though never too rigid to where the sculptors’ hands were visible.

This is in part because the play’s greatest asset was quite possibly its cast, who portrayed some of the most oddly specific characters put to page of late with instinctive understanding and compassion, almost as though their dialogue was written with only them in mind. A particular favourite of the audience was Callum Smith as the “Farmer King”, the impossibly self-absorbed aggressor of agricultural society whose every inflection and gesture seemed to send tremors of amusement into the ceiling.

Equally, the principal trio of the play, which included Ginny Davis as the “Hiker”, Sara Roche as the “Farmer”, and Samantha Cass as the “Old Man”, led the proceedings with confidence and charm in abundance. It was by means of the Hiker character that the writer-director team was able to use bodily humour traditionally seen as crude to immediately relinquish all possible tensions right at the start of the play in favour of a funnier and more carefree tone while also raising questions about social pretences and constructs which for all intents and purposes have no place in our most natural state. The Farmer’s jarring mood swings were effortlessly captured by Roche which kept audiences guessing throughout, going from authority figure and expert on the land to a tragically whimpering, grieving husk of a man at a moment’s notice, and the Old Man provided perhaps some of the most morbid relief of the entire show, acting on the most steadfast of principles, even at the cost of committing serious crimes against the person.

In part a call to arms, a cry for help, a pastoral tragedy and a baa-rrel of laughs, “The Wild Sighs” came, saw, and conquered, which, ironically, the play would seem to suggest we ought to be doing a whole lot less of as a species.

The Students Working With “Love and Power”, A Charity That Wants To Dismantle Sexism

Noah Willerton on 31 January 2024

This past Hallowe’en, Students Against Sexual Harassment & Assault (SASHA) Society at the University of Leeds joined forces with with students in Bath, Plymouth, LJMU and Liverpool to mark the closing of a revealing student-led survey, designed with Love and Power, a UK-based charity of feminists ‘working together to build the power needed to dismantle sexism.’ The survey’s focus was on illuminating the student experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

‘We dressed up in Halloween costumes, held posters with some of the survey’s initial findings, and ‘treated’ our university, inviting them to meet and discuss the survey’s full findings. The Harassment & Misconduct team at Leeds, have listened to and treated our concerns surrounding sexual violence at university with the utmost respect.’

Liv Dennings, President of SASHA

A full report of the findings will be released this month, however initial findings, unfortunately, show:

  • Nearly 90% of students have faced at least one form of sexual harassment 
  • Over 60% of students have experienced sexual assault 
  • 58% of student sexual assault survivors were assaulted by another student at their university
  • University support services only reach 14% of sexual assault survivors
  • Nearly 40% of students say that they have no understanding of what to expect from a uni sexual misconduct investigation
  • Over 50% of sexual assault survivors had at least one assault happen in a uni bar or club

If you want to find out more about the survey, or SASHA, or indeed, both, then head to their instagram page: @sasha_uol for more information about their team, their missions, and upcoming socials!

Modern Dance Society Fundraiser in aid of RainbowJunktion

Megan Buchanan on 28 November 2023

“Generosity is the best weapon against austerity… and generosity takes a whole community.” – Emily Carrigan.

The Modern Dance Society are excited to announce their new Christmas fundraiser! On Monday 4th December, the University Union’s dance societies are coming together to put on a Christmas-themed showcase featuring numerous performances, all in aid of the charity Rainbow Junktion. The event will take place at 17:30 at the LUU Pyramid Theatre and will also include a raffle and performances from some non-dance societies like SASHA and Sustainability Soc.

The society is no stranger to putting on fantastic showcases as they produce summer performances annually, however, this is the first year that they have collaborated to create a Christmas showcase. With the large number of members across the society, it makes it a powerhouse amongst the University Union in terms of fundraising. Throughout the year they hold events and incentives for members and non-members alike to raise money for various charities; already in this semester they have fundraised for numerous organisations, including CoppaFeel by having a ‘Pink Week’ where they encouraged dancers to wear an item of pink clothing in rehearsals and make a donation, an effort which proved to be vastly successful.

For this occasion, they have chosen to raise money for the Leeds based charity ‘Rainbow Junktion’, which tackles issues of food poverty and waste in the LS6 area. Their work involves intercepting food waste from establishments like restaurants and supermarkets and creates healthy meals for those in need; there is no set amount of money to be paid for these meals, the charity only asks for a donation. This charity was chosen by the Modern Dance Society ‘because of the pressing issue of the cost-of-living crisis’ and ‘as a student, […] it is easy to feel that services, like food banks etc., are not for you. However, as a society, we want to change this mindset. Through fundraising for Rainbow Junktion’s amazing services, we can help promote them to students and hopefully break some stigmas.’

The upcoming winter months are difficult for most people, but especially those facing poverty, at a time when attendance at food banks and community kitchens are already at a record high, those numbers will only increase as winter approaches. As Emily Carrigan (the charity’s café/ food share manager) explains ‘we are on the frontline of poverty in the city, and we are extremely worried for the year ahead’. The charity’s organisers plea for extra support whether that be in the form of volunteering, monetary donations or food donations. As well as tackling food poverty in the area, the organisation also offers services for LGBTQ+ members of the community and host a community café Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 am to 3pm at All Hallows church, alongside many other weekly and monthly events.

What an amazing opportunity to have such a unified effort from two powerful groups within our community; the collaboration between the Modern Dance Society and RainbowJunktion offers a chance for students to give back to their surrounding community and help those in need, at a time where kindness and generosity triumphs.

Tickets are still TBC, however, a FIXR event will be made closer to the time where tickets will be available. Furthermore, the link to the event will be posted on the society’s instagram @luumoderndance.

Cheer: How the Leeds Celtics are setting the pace for gender equality across campus

Claudia Watson on 20 October 2023

Established in 2001, and today comprising of 6 different teams, both co-ed and all-women’s, Leeds Celtics Cheerleading are fast becoming one of the most popular sports societies on campus. With both national and grand-national titles to their name, the Celtics compete across multiple levels of difficulty, with teams tailored to a variety of abilities and skill sets. Cheerleading provides a unique opportunity to support and work alongside other sports societies. Cheer attendance at games not only boosts spectator spirit, but also player morale, fostering a culture of partnership and community. Traditionally, the cheerleading team have primarily attended men’s games, but this year, the society are working to change that, by cheering for a wider variety of sports, with a particular focus on supporting women’s teams.

With this in mind, I sat down with Celtics Captain Holly Rattigan, and Match Secretary Lilly Mansfield, to discuss how the society is using their central position to promote women’s sport across campus.

Speaking first about what encouraged them to begin cheer, both Holly and Lilly discussed their desire to try something new at university. With over 160 members, Celtics is a great way to meet new people and make friends outside of your course, whilst keeping fit and learning new skills.

“We’re a huge society…and it’s like one big family.” (Holly)

Many people haven’t tried cheer before, and transfer from dance or gymnastics backgrounds. It’s a sport which requires discipline, strength, and rhythm, with the Celtics training extensively before attending any fixtures.

‘At what point did you begin to notice a gap in the sports that cheerleaders were directed to cheer for?’

“Immediately… ‘[Whilst] we did cheer for women’s sports sometimes… it wasn’t the focus” (Lilly).

The Celtics have been a society for a long time, and naturally, relationships with other sports have developed, leading to traditions and long-established partnerships. In light of this history, the Celtics already had many teams they wanted to cheer for in the upcoming semester, however, there was a noticeable gap in cheer representation at women’s games. Captain of the Celtics, Holly, attributes this to the stereotypical perception of cheerleaders, which has emerged from US cheer culture, “The traditional view of side-line cheerleaders in America was girls with pompoms cheering on men’s games…but it’s something we really want to push against.”

With the new academic year commencing, the Celtics have set out to change tradition and challenge cheer stereotypes, all the while supporting other women’s sports societies.

‘What steps are you taking to ensure women’s sports are receiving the same support from the Celtics?’

“As soon as I became Match Sec, I said I wanted to cheer for women’s sports” (Lilly).

As Match Secretary, Lilly oversees the booking of the cheer team’s fixtures, and it was upon starting the position that she began to notice a lack of cheer presence at women’s matches. She raised the issue with the coaches and committee, and everyone was onboard with extending the scope of the Celtics’ game attendance.

“We loved the idea of girls supporting girls, and the female led societies at the Uni are amazing, so we thought it would be great if we could cheer for them as well … they appreciate the work that has been done to get cheer and other women’s sports the platform, participation and support they have now.” (Holly)

Following these internal discussions, Lilly contacted a variety of on campus women’s sports teams, each of whom were thrilled to receive cheer support at their games and begin creating a relationship with the Celtics.

Alongside match presence, a huge part of building cross-society connections comes from socials. Cheer have always enjoyed collaborative socials with other sports, however, “every time we did a joint social with another society, it was only the men’s [teams]” (Holly).

Conversations have already begun, and dates saved to change this, with the upcoming Celtics season full of socials and appearances at both men’s and women’s games, and for a wider range of sports than ever before, “we’ve got a really nice broad, even split.” (Lilly)

Whilst there is a plethora of benefits to connecting with more societies and teams, at the heart of this move for change was a desire to see women supporting women.

Women’s sport has always faced adversity. Whether it’s through lack of funding, support, or resources, female athletes have all shared in the struggle of gaining equal recognition and respect. By using their platform to promote women’s sports too, the Celtics hope to tackle harmful prejudices, and give female athletes the equal celebration and support they deserve.

“We…love the idea of pushing back against the misogynistic undertones and stereotypes that often come to people’s mind[s] when they think of side line cheer, and we prioritise the girls wanting to support, uplift and encourage other female societies, and hope that this can go some way to change people’s perceptions.” (Holly)

The Celtics have an exciting year ahead, with requests to cheer from the Leeds Gryphons Women’s Ice Hockey team, who have made it into the premiership, and Leeds’s very own professional rugby club, the Leeds Rhinos.

The changes the Celtics are making set the standard for gender equality across campus, and challenge historic gender stereotypes which threaten to limit and undervalue women’s sport.

Ways to Support International Women’s Day 2023

Lottie Passmore on 8 March 2023

Even if you aren’t aware now, you will be on 8th March when your entire Instagram feed consists of the following:

  1. Groups of girlfriends on a night out
  2. Celebrity women, probably Beyoncé, perhaps the Kardashians
  3. Someone’s mother doing amateur modelling in the 80s

All will be unified by something resembling “my women #IWD”. Once upon a time, International Women’s Day became nothing more than an opportunity to show your otherwise apathetic followers that you too are a girl-power loving, feminist queen. For one day a year, if you don’t post anything with the eponymous IWD hashtag, you are a woman hater and may as well join an Andrew Tate fan club. With the stakes this high, chances are you will come across a post of a girl you know full well to have famously and consistently slandered her friends, now aligning herself with the upper echelons of feminism. Herein lies the fallibility of ‘clicktivism’ and why a hashtag does not make you a supporter of International Women’s Day. Instead, you can show your support all year round and avoid becoming victim to an, albeit annual, micro internet trend.

Despite the above, there is obviously no problem with honouring your friends online, IF you are going to love them on the other 364 days as well. University can be a tricky time for comparison, when others are getting internships and job offers, and you seem to be faced with rejection after rejection. Excitement for them can sometimes be overshadowed by your own disappointment but it is really important, both for them and for the longevity of your friendship, if you can give them the praise they deserve. Equally, when you’re enshrined in success, don’t forget about those that are not having the best luck.

If we consider feminism to be the raising of women to reach an equilibrium with men, then it is essential that women are bolstering one another along the way. Not putting other women down to elevate yourself and being nice to your friends are things we should be doing every day, regardless of whether you are posting about it. The International Women’s Day campaign theme for 2023 is #EmbraceEquity, a hashtag with an impact. This year there is a push towards equity for inclusivity amongst all genders, with an emphasis on the fact that feminism that isn’t intersectional, isn’t feminism.

LGBTQ+ women are subjected to a double burden of sexism and sexual-orientation discrimination. A 2021 University study, conducted by Stonewall, showed that nine out of ten LGBTQ+ students have a positive or neutral Uni experience. As a reader of The Gryphon, the likelihood is that, in one way or another, you contribute to Leeds student culture. Think of your words and actions as the microbiome of the university environment and continue to make a conscious effort to make everyone’s Uni experience the best it can be; be vigilant, call out offensive jokes, challenge stereotypes and confront bias. Although LGBTQ+ experiences tend to be far improved than they once were, there is still a long way to go, so if you are wondering whether we still need International Women’s Day, the answer is YES. And if your annoying male housemate asks, “when’s international men’s day?” you can tell him it is the 19th November.

Check Your Boobs Too!

Felicity Wright on 7 October 2022

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s that time of year when pink ribbons start to flood businesses’ campaigns and cover packaging. Even though many use this marketing tool with genuine intentions, commercialisation has taken over the root purpose of the month dedicated to women, men, and non-binary people suffering from breast cancer. We see the iconic pink ribbon symbols everywhere, but have we seen it so much that we forget it is not only to support but to remind us to check our own breasts too?

CoppaFeel! is a “charity focused on promoting early detection of breast cancer, by encouraging women under 30 to regularly check their breasts”. Statistically, most breast cancers are diagnosed in people over 50, but there is no harm in giving your breasts a little check every so often, just to be safe and to get into the routine.

“Get to know your normal” is a quote the charity goes by, reminding us that all bodies are different and getting to know your own is important to be able to detect any unusual changes. Hormones can play a big part in changes in the breasts too, so don’t be alarmed when noticing slight changes during that time of the month! Remember – it is normal for your breasts to change constantly throughout your life, particularly during puberty and adolescence.

Everyone knows to feel for lumps but there are a number of other signs to look out for including, but not limited to, irritation of breast skin, redness or flaky skin in the breast or nipple area, pulling in of the nipple, nipple discharge other than breast milk and any pain in the area. 

The majority of changes to your breasts will not be breast cancer, but if it is, early detection is crucial. When found early, breast cancer results in more successful treatments and higher survival rates.

CoppaFeel! has campus representatives, the Leeds University Boob Team (UBT) society, who will be running fun events and socials this year to continue to raise awareness and fundraise for the cause. They encourage everyone, no matter age or gender, to join the society and give your breasts a good feel to check for any irregularities. Early detection saves lives!

Please visit @ubtleeds on Instagram for more information and to donate to the Just Giving fundraising page linked in the bio.

A great first step is to sign up to free monthly reminders to check your chests. To do so, text ‘UBT LEEDS’ to 82228.

Quote credits – https://coppafeel.org