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The Colin Currie Group has released an album of Steve Reich's works, The Sextets, to celebrate the composer's 90th birthday and the group's 20th anniversary. Formed to honor Reich's 70th birthday with a performance of Drumming, the group has now released its fourth Reich album on Currie's own label.The Sextets, from 1985, features two keyboardists playing piano and synthesizers alongside four percussionists on various instruments. The recording, led by Colin Currie, showcases subtle nuances with a naturalistic sound that is less closely mic'd than Reich's own classic accounts.The album also includes Six Marimbas, a rescoring of 1973's Six Pianos, and The Double Sextet, composed in 2007, which features instrumentalists performing against a recording of themselves. Dance Patterns, written for choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, rounds out the album.Currie's relaxed approach to the music results in a chilled and enjoyable interpretation, with Six Marimbas clocking in at 22 minutes, compared to Reich's 16-minute version.

Amid growing international focus on the Iran‑Israel conflict, Israel is pressing ahead with a systematic annexation of the West Bank, centred on the contentious E1 settlement project. The plan envisions the construction of 3,400 new homes on Palestinian land, a move designed to split the territory and undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly condemned the annexation drive, labeling the E1 scheme illegal. Although the war in Iran and Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon have delayed the release of construction tenders, officials confirm that the tenders will be issued on 1 June. Criticism from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy has so far failed to deter the Israeli government, which appears accustomed to rhetorical rebukes without concrete repercussions. As former EU officials note, the Union has yet to leverage its economic and diplomatic weight to stop the settlement expansion. The British Prime Minister has reaffirmed the stance of the International Court of Justice, declaring the 1967 occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank unlawful. This follows the United Kingdom’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine last year, alongside France, Canada and Australia. Given its historic ties and recent diplomatic recognitions, the UK is uniquely positioned to galvanise European and Commonwealth partners. Experts propose a three‑pronged approach: first, issue a clear warning that any contractor involved in designing, building or financing the E1 settlement jeopardises its commercial interests with the UK; second, impose a comprehensive ban on UK trade in goods, services and investment linked to the settlements; and third, suspend the trade concessions granted under the UK‑Israel trade and partnership agreement for breaching its human‑rights provisions. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urged to embed these measures within a broader strategy to strengthen European cooperation, champion equal rights, and secure mutual security for Israelis and Palestinians. Without enforceable consequences, the illegal settlement programme is likely to expand, heightening the risk of further violence. Vincent Fean – former consul‑general in JerusalemDavid Hannay – former UN ambassadorAnn Grant – former high commissioner to South AfricaEmyr Jones Parry – former UN ambassadorDavid Manning – former US ambassadorDavid Richmond – former FCO director generalPeter Westmacott – former US ambassadorJeremy Greenstock – former UN ambassadorFrances Guy – former Lebanon ambassadorPeter Millett – former Jordan ambassadorDerek Plumbly – former Egypt ambassadorEdward Clay – former Kenya high commissionerTony Brenton – former Russia ambassadorWilliam Patey – former Afghanistan ambassadorColin Budd – former Netherlands ambassadorAnthony Cary – former Canada high commissionerAlan Charlton – former Brazil ambassadorEdward Chaplin – former Iraq and Jordan ambassadorPeter Collecott – former Brazil ambassadorRichard Dalton – former Iran ambassadorMichael Hone – former Iceland ambassadorNicholas Hopton – former Iran ambassadorPeter Jenkins – former UN (Vienna) ambassadorRupert Joy – former EU ambassador to MoroccoRobin Kealy – former Tunisia ambassadorRobin Lamb – former Bahrain ambassadorAnthony Layden – former Morocco ambassadorRichard Makepeace – former UAE ambassadorMark Matthews – former Chad ambassadorRichard Northern – former Libya ambassadorChristopher Segar – former Iraq ambassadorAdrian Sindall – former Syria ambassador

Alan Cumming’s latest theatrical venture – The High Life: The Musical, Still Living It! – bursts onto the stage as a gleeful, pantomime‑style extension of the cult 1994 TV sitcom. Co‑written by series creator Johnny McKnight alongside Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, the production is deliberately overloaded with jokes, ranging from references to Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor to a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to Sheena Easton. The show’s panto DNA runs deep. Audiences are addressed directly, invited to sing along, and treated to an underwater neon‑tube dance. The set, a whimsical take on a Brigadoon‑style hotel, features tartan wallpaper designed by Colin Richmond, a life‑size dog, and multiple costume changes that heighten the spectacle. Returning to the stage, Cumming reprises the role of flight attendant Sebastian Flight, while Masson appears as his counterpart Steve McCracken. They are joined by a “legacy cast” that includes Siobhan Redmond as the exacting supervisor Shona Spurtle and Patrick Ryecart delivering a delightfully unhinged performance as Captain Hilary Duff. Supporting them are high‑energy performers Rachael Kendall Brown, Louise McCarthy and Kyle Gardiner, who navigate Masson’s clever, rhyming songs that swing from Broadway flair to Eurovision sparkle. Beyond the slapstick plot – a cartoonish battle over the fictional airline Air Scotia and a detour to the “Lower Largo Triangle” – the musical hints at deeper questions about ageing, national identity and the need for cultural renewal, echoing themes raised in earlier Scottish adaptations. Directed by Andrew Panton, the production is a joint effort between Dundee Rep and the National Theatre of Scotland. It runs at Dundee Rep until 4 April before embarking on a UK tour that concludes on 23 May. In the end, the show is less a philosophical treatise and more a big, joyous laugh‑fest that celebrates the spirit of pantomime.

A virtual gathering of over 40 countries will set the agenda for a global military planning meeting next week, focusing on clearing sea mines and rescuing vessels immobilised in the Strait of Hormuz.UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper opened the summit by condemning what she described as “Iranian recklessness” that endangers global economic security and threatens the flow of vital energy supplies.The discussions are proceeding without direct US involvement; instead, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and several Gulf states are exploring practical steps to restore access to the strategic waterway.President Donald Trump has urged nations that depend on the strait to “build up some delayed courage” and “just grab it,” a comment that has drawn criticism from UK officials.The strait transports 10‑25% of the world’s oil and gas. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that reopening the lane “will not be easy,” given the scale of the disruption.Cooper outlined a multi‑pronged approach: diplomatic and economic pressure, reassurance for industry, insurers and energy markets, and coordinated actions to guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers.She cited more than 25 Iranian attacks on vessels, estimating around 20,000 seafarers on roughly 2,000 ships are currently stranded.Highlighting the broader stakes, Cooper referenced World Bank projections that a prolonged blockage could push 9 million people into food insecurity and trigger unsustainable spikes in oil and food prices worldwide.At a follow‑up session scheduled for Tuesday, military planners will consider how to marshal collective defensive capabilities, including the removal of mines that Tehran may have laid to sink ships.The meeting will be hosted by Britain’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, London, with many international leaders joining virtually.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned President Trump not to abandon “a mess he’s made” in the Middle East, echoing former US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s dictum, “if you break it, you own it.”Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said he was not “angry” with Trump for entering the conflict but found the president’s press briefings “difficult to interpret.”Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Prime Minister Starmer to “step up” plans and present a clear alternative for reopening the oil‑ and gas‑laden shipping route.

Colin the Caterpillar, a British party favorite for 35 years, has been outperformed by eight supermarket rivals in a recent cake taste test conducted by consumer champion Which?.The 'original' chocolate caterpillar cake, produced by Marks & Spencer (M&S;), scored a mere 64%, ranking it at the bottom of the list. The main criticism was that its sponge was 'too dry', with almost half of the 75-strong panel of cake-testers expressing this concern.In contrast, Waitrose's Cecil caterpillar cake emerged as the winner with a score of 78% and was awarded a coveted 'best buy' gong. Cecil was praised for its remarkably moist texture, flavorful shell, and 'perfect' sponge-to-buttercream ratio.The taste test also revealed that Colin the Caterpillar contained the highest levels of sugar (46.3g) and fat (21.3g) per 100g among the caterpillar lineup, making it one of the most expensive options at £9.50. M&S; responded by highlighting a recent poll of 2,100 adults that named Colin the nation's best caterpillar cake.Key rankings:1st - Cecil (Waitrose): 78%, £9.50, 744g, 38.6g, 17g.2nd = Charlie (Co-op): 73%, £9.85, 702g, 46g, 14g;2nd = Wiggles (Sainsbury’s): 73%, £8.50, 613g, 41.9g, 18.7g.4th - Cuthbert (Aldi): 72%, £6.99, 624g, 43.5g, 17.7g9th – Colin (M&S;): 64%, £9.50, 625g, 46.3g, 21.3g.

The Belfast-set true-crime thriller 'No Ordinary Heist' is based on real-life events from 2004, but the film feels underpowered and apologetic, clumsily assembled and blandly directed by Colin McIvor. The two main male headliners, Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke, deliver fine performances, although Marsan's casting raises questions.Marsan does a good job nailing the Belfast accent, but his presence is recessive, making him an odd choice for the role of Richard Murray, an uptight bank manager. The bank robbers are fairly undifferentiated, apart from a skeevy character played by JB Moore. The film touches on the tension between past and future Northern Ireland, but this rich seam is not thoroughly mined.The film also explores a subplot about Murray being pressured by the bank's owners to make half the staff redundant, which is of particular interest to security chief Mags (Michelle Fairley). However, this strand is left hanging, wasting Fairley's talent. Ultimately, the film feels like the makers had neither the budget nor the vision to make the material sing, resulting in a most ordinary work.No Ordinary Heist is set to release in UK and Irish cinemas from 27 March.