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Girls Night In: Students are making a stand against drink spiking and violence on nights out
Join Girls Night In on Wednesday 27 October and boycott clubs for one night in protest of drink spiking, violence and unwanted behaviour on nights out.
On Wednesday 27 October, Leeds students are urging students to boycott clubs and bars to tackle drink spiking.
Students across Leeds have had enough of worrying or actually having their drinks' spiked on a night out.
And rightly so. Students, nor anyone, should have to worry about having their drink spiked, violence or any unwanted behaviour.
According to founding groups,Girls Uncut Leeds and Girls Night InLeeds, cases of assault, spiking and violence against women on nights out have increased and with methods of injecting drugs into victims through needles on the rise, it's important to make a stand and show that this cannot be tolerated any longer.
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So next Wednesday, grab yourself a seat on the sofa and enjoy a night in with the girls for 'Girls Night In': a boycotting event to show the industry that more needs to be done to prevent and tackle drink spiking.
For those outside of the student bubble wondering why a mid-week protest is taking place, it's unofficially student night across the city.
It's known as the 'sports society night' and according to Girls Uncut Leeds, it's often the biggest night in the week for nightclubs across Leeds.
Responses to the boycott have been overwhelmingly positive and comments have flooded across social media:
"I hope this leads to change, women’s safety on nights out needs to be prioritised now. Fingers crossed."
Even though clubbing won't be on the agenda, there are still plenty of exciting and empowering activities to get involved in during the evening.
Girls Night In will be collaborating with Leeds Student Radio and hosting a five hour live event from 7pm until midnight.
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Although the Girls Night In has been organised by Leeds students and groups in collaboration with University of Leeds Clubs and Societies, they are keen to stress that the problem of drink spiking isn't just Leeds-based.
"Increased reports all over the country of young students on nights out facing violence are being seen every week. Universities, clubs and student even organisations have done little to nothing to address this problem."
According to a study by the BBC found that between 2015 and 2019, there were 2650 reports of drink spiking in England and Wales, 72% of victims were women and 10% were under 18.
Clubs in Leeds have also been overwhelmingly supportive, Cirque Du Soul states that:
"We are completely and utterly appalled by the rise in spiking within both Leeds and the broader student population of the UK. We will be consulting with Beaver Works as well as other venues we use to look at ways to improve this moving forward."
The event, amongst other organisations across the UK are calling to make it a legal requirement for nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry.
The petition has already received over 120,000 signatures so it is eligible for Parliamentary consideration, but the more signatures the petition receives, the more substantial the case for increasing security will be.
If you have been affected by any of the issues that have been brought up in this post, please reach out to #AskForAngela, Street Angels Leeds, Good Night Out Campaign, Not on my Campus UK, Women's Lives in Leeds or Nightlife Crew.
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Leeds
Leeds zoo named one of the best in the country as it receives national mark of excellence by experts
Lotherton Hall’s Wildlife World has received an official mark of excellence from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium.
After a visit from experts earlier this year, the Wildlife World at Lotherton Hall is now officially credited by the organisation.
The achievement recognises the high quality of the zoo in animal welfare, education, conservation and research.
The accreditation also ranks the zoo as one of the best in the country.
The centre is home to a range of wildlife species including wallabies, capybaras, penguins, emus and critically endangered Visayan warty pigs.
Image: Supplied, Leeds City Council
The zoo also takes part in international breeding and conservation programmes.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the staff at Lotherton Wildlife World on the great work they undertake in making sure that the zoo holds a world class standard. This accreditation shows our high standard of animal care and the passion we have for helping support international conservation efforts.
“At both Wildlife World and Tropical World there’ll be lots going on for Love Your Zoo week, and they both make a great day out for the whole family.”
Dr Jo Judge, the CEO of BIAZA congratulated Wildlife World on their achievement. She said: “Receiving accredited status is not an easy thing to do. It is testament to the passion and hard work of every member of staff.”
“Our accreditation program means visitors can be sure that BIAZA zoos and aquariums are dedicated to looking after their animals to the highest standard and to inspirational work in conservation and education. We need good zoos more than ever. We face a nature crisis and we have the power to make a big difference.”
You can find out more about Lotherton Hall's Wildlife World here.
The Shawshank Redemption comes to Leeds Grand Theatre: a story of hope, survival and humanity
Declan Kelly
More than a prison story: it’s a discovery into toxic masculinity within prisons.
Adapting a film as iconic and widely loved as The Shawshank Redemption for the stage comes with enormous expectations, yet this touring production at Leeds Grand Theatre delivers a gripping and emotionally charged theatrical experience.
Rather than relying solely on the legacy of the film, the production successfully uses the intimacy of live theatre to create a darker, more psychologically intense interpretation of Stephen King’s story.
From the opening moments, the audience is immersed in the harsh world of Shawshank prison. The cold lighting, industrial staging and haunting sound design establish an atmosphere dominated by confinement, fear and institutional control.
Image: Supplied
The stripped-back set works effectively in creating a bleak and claustrophobic environment, allowing the emotional tension between characters to take centre stage. Unlike the cinematic scale of the film, the stage adaptation feels far more immediate and uncomfortable, forcing the audience to confront the realities of prison life at close range.
Joe McFadden delivers a restrained yet powerful performance as Andy Dufresne, capturing the character’s quiet resilience, intelligence and emotional vulnerability without attempting to imitate the film portrayal.
Image: Supplied
Ben Onwukwe is equally compelling as Red, bringing warmth, humour and emotional depth to the role. The chemistry between the two actors becomes the emotional core of the production, perfectly reflecting the play’s themes of friendship, survival and hope.
One of the production’s strongest aspects is its exploration of toxic masculinity within the prison system. Shawshank is presented as an environment where power is maintained through aggression, intimidation and emotional suppression.
Image: Supplied
Vulnerability becomes dangerous, while violence and dominance are treated as necessary forms of survival. Bill Ward’s portrayal of Warden Stammas embodies this culture perfectly, delivering a performance filled with controlled menace, hypocrisy and quiet authority.
However, there were moments where the production lost some emotional realism. Several stage combat sequences, intended to highlight the brutality and hierarchy of prison life, felt under-rehearsed and lacked the intensity needed to fully convey the violence of the narrative. At times, the choreography appeared slightly unstructured, unintentionally reducing the tension of scenes that should have felt genuinely threatening.
Image: Supplied
Similarly, while the minimal set design effectively reinforced the oppressive atmosphere of Shawshank, the visual staging occasionally became repetitive throughout the production. Aside from the movement of Dufresne’s cell and the recurring use of the mobile bookcase, there was limited visual variation across scenes. Although this may have been a deliberate directorial choice to reflect the monotony of prison life, it did affect the pacing at points, with some audience engagement appearing to dip during slower sections.
Despite these criticisms, the production remains a powerful and emotionally resonant piece of theatre. Through strong performances, effective direction and its exploration of institutional power and masculinity, The Shawshank Redemption captures the endurance of hope and humanity in even the darkest environments. Thought-provoking, intense and deeply moving, it is a production that earns every moment of its standing ovation.
Running from 18 - 23 May at Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House, you can get your tickets here.
Sophie Smith -
20th October 2021 
