A live show examining what exactly makes someone a serial killer is coming to Leeds this October, bringing all those true crime documentaries you watched during lockdown to life in a live theatre experience.
Hosted by one of the UK’s most notable psychological therapists and crime commentators, Emma Kenny, the three-hour show will give guests a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer.
Kenny specialises in victimology and is known in the media for presenting a host of TV crime shows, including the likes of Britain’s Darkest Taboos, Lady Killers, and The Killer in My Family.
Throughout her career to date she has presented over seventy different crime shows, analysing some truly horrific crimes along the way that have occurred both here in the UK and across the pond in the US.
Emma Kenny specialises in victimology and has presented over seventy shows on crime during her career
In the talk, she explores what makes a killer and explains why some people can be born into a seemingly normal, trauma-free family and still end up becoming a murderer.
Whilst might want to believe that we'd know if we were to come face to face with a serial murderer, according to Kenny they are much harder to spot than you might think.
For those who have spent the majority of lockdown on their sofa watching every true-crime documentary on Netflix, this won't come as so much of a surprise.
After all, some of the world's most notorious serial killers got away with what they were doing for so long simply because they came across as so 'normal.' The sad truth is that anyone can fall foul of a serial killer - as history has shown many times.
Throughout the show, Emma Kenny will answer questions like "what creates a serial killer" and "could anything have prevented their potential from being activated, or were they simply born to kill?"
She'll also analyse some famous crimes including those of Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Paul Knowles - examining what led them to their actions and if anything could've been done to prevent them.
Image: Netflix
The description on the event listing reads: "Maybe you simply accept that lift home, or agree to have dinner with your internet hook up, or find yourself taking a shortcut with the clean-cut, nice guy who started chatting to you whilst you strolled home?
"Then it's game over, because rare though they may be, serial killers live amongst us, move between us, are even married to us, and only by studying their behaviour, can we adapt ours to give us a fighting chance of survival should they sliver into our lives
"We all want to believe that we would know if we came into contact with a serial killer, that somehow our natural intuition would raise our physical hackles that would alert us to the very real threat around us.
"That myth, that we could somehow sniff out the angel of death is sadly why the term ‘serial killer’ was coined.
"Their body count is so high,because we all like to imagine that finding ourselves at the hands of a tortuous murderer simply wouldn’t happen to us."
Taking place at Left Bank in Leeds on Thursday 12 October from 7.30 pm, tickets for the show are on sale now from £19 and can be purchased here.
News
The Yorkshire artist who’s put together the official FIFA World Cup scarf collection
A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.
Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.
The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.
Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.
In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.
With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."
In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.
The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.
Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.
You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.
It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.
Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.
Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."
He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."
We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.
Award-winning Sardinian restaurant Domo announces Leeds opening date
Clementine Hall
Domo will officially open the doors to its Leeds venue this summer.
Get ready for Domo Leeds, a Sardinian independent born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities from homemade pasta dishes to show-stopping grills.
They've also got a banging cocktail menu full of signature serves and refreshing spritz, perfect for enjoying with friends over some delicious sharing plates.
Images: The Sheff
Domo has confirmed it will officially open the doors to its first Leeds venue on Friday June 5, so we really don't have long to wait.
Located at the iconic Tower Works development, Domo Leeds will offer a vibrant new canal-side destination, perfect for the summer months.
Alongside the main restaurant menu, there’ll be a dedicated bar food menu designed around relaxed dining and carefully crafted small plates designed to pair with the drinks offering creating a more informal way for guests to experience Sardinian flavours.
Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.
“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”
Georgina Pellant -
1st October 2021 
