Digest archive
Search every story
Culture
How a Melbourne bookselling job reshaped Caitlin Cassidy’s view of reading
Original report:
In a Guardian personal essay, Caitlin Cassidy recalls how working at Melbourne’s Readings bookshops turned a private love of books into an appreciation of community, through conversations with grieving customers, regular visitors and colleagues.
Culture
Lagos thrift-fashion videos brought Rachel Ojuromi to Chanel’s Paris runway
Original report:
Rachel Ojuromi and stylist Debby Fasingha used secondhand clothes and Lagos street settings to reinterpret luxury fashion. The Guardian’s November 2026 profile traces how their videos attracted Chanel’s attention and explores Ojuromi’s wider work supporting young African creatives.
Culture
Bob Mackie obituary traces a career shaping spectacle, glamour and comedy
Original report:
The Guardian’s September 2026 obituary reports the death of costume designer Bob Mackie at 87. Best known for his collaboration with Cher, he created stage and television looks that combined meticulous craftsmanship, extravagant decoration and visual humour.
Culture
Edward Lucie-Smith remembered for art criticism and pioneering poetry workshops
Original report:
A Guardian obituary published on 6 November 2026 reported the death of Edward Lucie-Smith, aged 93. The prolific art historian and poet wrote almost 100 books and helped turn a London literary discussion group into a workshop for developing poems.
Culture
Omar Rajeh’s London solo connects dance, resistance and personal loss
Original report:
Omar Rajeh’s Dance Is Not for Us brought movement and reflections on choreography to London’s Dance Umbrella festival. A Guardian review published in October 2026 described a deeply personal solo shaped by political upheaval and the closure of his Beirut cultural centre.
Culture
Four places shortlisted for UK city of culture 2029
Original report:
Blackpool, Sheffield, Milton Keynes and Wrexham made the shortlist for UK city of culture 2029, the Guardian reported in October 2026. The winner was set to receive £10m, with the contenders highlighting distinct cultural identities and ambitions.
Culture
British clubland debates dancefloor chatter, filming and the freedom to dance
Original report:
A plea from DJ Jane Fitz to curb conversations during sets exposed competing ideas about club culture. In an October 2026 Guardian feature, DJs, dancers and venue operators weighed musical immersion against social connection, alongside concerns about filming and drug use.
Culture
Cody Dahler puts accessible political satire at the heart of his book
Original report:
In a November 2026 Guardian interview, comedian and podcaster Cody Dahler described bringing his online approach to political explanation into a book shaped by followers’ questions. He argued that inaccessible language discourages people who are already interested in politics.
Culture
Tate St Ives retrospective reconsiders Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s experimental career
Original report:
A career-spanning exhibition at Tate St Ives traces Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s movement from coastal landscapes and Swiss glaciers into restless abstraction. The Guardian’s November 2026 report explores how curators and admirers are challenging her marginal position in accounts of British modernism.
Culture
Guardian review praises Ocarina of Time remake’s balance of nostalgia and change
Original report:
A Guardian review dated 4 November 2026 describes a Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time that preserves its puzzles and structure while updating presentation and controls. The reviewer praises its emotional impact, while openly acknowledging a strong nostalgic attachment.
Culture
Steven Sater’s Nero reaches London after two decades of development
Original report:
Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s musical about the Roman emperor is receiving its second full professional production in London. Sater discusses its political resonance and a separate play recasting John F Kennedy’s assassination through the structure of Greek tragedy.
Culture
Andy Field’s daily horse drawings turn artistic mishaps into an online hit
Original report:
Comedian Andy Field began drawing horses during his Edinburgh fringe run despite having little confidence in his artistic skills. Now nearing 80 daily instalments, his playful social-media series has attracted millions of views and encouraged some viewers to draw themselves.