Latest news with #Juliet
Western Telegraph
3 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Parents urged not to give their children smartphones
Telecoms expert Juliet Moran is warning parents that smartphones are wiring permanent addiction pathways in children's brains and can be just as harmful as giving them cigarettes or alcohol. Dumbphones, also known as 'feature phones', have no internet access, no social media apps, and no endless scrolling. They're seeing a comeback too, with the total global market projected to bring in £8.5 billion in revenue this year. Yet despite the risks, Ofcom figures show 97% of children own a smartphone by the age of 12, and nearly a quarter of children as young as five to seven already have one. Juliet, who is director of says: 'Smartphones are designed to be addictive and they give children access to the entire world. We don't let children smoke or drink for good reason, yet we give them smartphones which have severe consequences and can be just as addictive. 'There's no need for children so young to own a smartphone. Endless scrolling feeds content addiction by triggering dopamine hits and with children's brains still developing, excessive smartphone use can wire addictive behaviours into young minds permanently.' Juliet is also warning that parental controls may not be as reliable as many hope. With smartphone companies profiting from increased screen time , there's little incentive for them to make these controls as strict or effective as they truly need to be. 'Controls can help but they're not strict enough," she says. "These phone companies want us to be glued to our phones because it benefits them. The best thing you can do for your child is not give them a smartphone until they are at least 13. 'Children need to be outside and dumbphones give them the freedom to do this while allowing parents to stay in touch with them through calls and text messages. This keeps them away from harmful group chats and social media.' Juliet plans to get her own daughter a dumbphone for her next birthday so she can keep in touch when she's out with her friends, but stay free from the dangers of smartphones. 'I want her to be able to play outside and do physical activities rather than be stuck in her room scrolling through content all night,' she says. Recommended reading: Over 90% of schools in England have banned mobile phones, with academic research suggesting they not only affect pupils' educational attainment, but contribute to problems such as bullying. Dumbphones help tackle these issues by removing access to messaging apps and features like Emojis, which have been used for covert bullying - a problem highlighted in this year's Netflix show Adolescence. Campaign groups like Smartphone Free Childhood - now with over 150,000 members - also advise that a child's first phone should only allow calls and texts.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
What does one do on their last day as a ballerina? Gillian Murphy will jump off a cliff (gracefully)
NEW YORK (AP) — In every career, there are plenty of consequential decisions to be made. And they tend to get more consequential as time goes on. So it was when Gillian Murphy, one of the most admired American ballerinas for nearly three decades, began contemplating not only when, but how to retire from American Ballet Theatre. She knew she wanted to go out on a high note. Murphy, at 46, is in incredible shape; at a rehearsal earlier this week, she was leaping and twirling like colleagues in their 20s. But in what role should she take her final bow, after 29 years at ABT? Should it be as Juliet? As Giselle? The first of these ends up stabbing herself to death. The other goes mad. The best (and most athletic) option, it turned out, was to jump off a cliff. That's what Odette, the swan queen, does at the end of ABT's version of 'Swan Lake' — followed in this dramatic leap by the prince who loves her, to be joyfully reunited in the afterlife. (In real life they leap onto a mattress offstage, dust themselves off and clamber back for the finale.) Murphy, who's known for her Odette/Odile — especially those fouettés, Odile's fiendishly hard whiplash turns — will be retiring with 'Swan Lake' on Friday night, ending her career in a blur of bouquets, hugs, tears and maybe confetti at the Metropolitan Opera House. 'We will all miss her incredible work ethic, her exacting attention to detail, her strength and her joy of dance,' ABT head Susan Jaffe said in an email. The day after, Murphy will sleep a bit late, hopefully, and start a new life focused on coaching other dancers. She'll also have more time with her 6-year old son, Ax, whom she shares with husband Ethan Stiefel, himself a celebrated former ABT principal. Murphy spoke to The Associated Press in the rushed moments between rehearsals, classes and delayed commuter trains in the days leading up to the big occasion. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. AP: You were only 17 when you joined ABT. Now you're 46. Did you imagine such a long career? MURPHY: I would have never expected to be dancing this long, honestly. I think in my mind I always had 40 years old as a time frame. But I didn't expect to feel this good at this point! I've truly loved my career at ABT, and it's given me the opportunity to dance all over the world. So I'm happy I'm still here.' AP: Ballet takes a huge amount of athletic ability. But you need to be an actor, too. How have your abilities developed as you've gotten older? MURPHY: I do feel that life experience really does come out in performances. And when we're telling these stories about true love and forgiveness and loss, all the dramatic sort of themes that come out in these ballets, it does make a difference when you've experienced those things in your life. AP: Speaking of true love: Some ABT ballerinas have chosen Juliet for their retirement performance. You've chosen a much more physically demanding role: 'Swan Lake.' Just seeing you rehearse it was exhausting. MURPHY: (laughing) It doesn't get any easier, yeah. I have so many favorite roles, but 'Swan Lake' includes two of my most favorite, Odette and Odile. It's always been incredibly challenging, but also so fulfilling. When I was a kid, my dream role was the Black Swan (Odile), actually. So just in a full-circle moment, it feels special to finish with this ballet that I dreamed of doing as a kid, and first did as a young soloist with ABT 24 years ago. AP: Let's not forget that you're known for Odile's fouettés (32 whiplash turns on one leg that the Black Swan performs). Are you still throwing in double turns? MURPHY: Well, I used to throw in triples, triple pirouettes in the middle of the fouettés. Anything could happen on Friday night, but I think I just want to finish strong ... and take risks elsewhere. I'll probably aim to do the 32, possibly with a few doubles in there. AP: It's such a tough call in any career — how did you make the decision to retire now? MURPHY: It's never an easy decision for any dancer. It's a calling from a very early age ... but I've always wanted to finish strong and with my own sense of agency. I really relish when that sense of imagination and life experience and artistry is integrated with the physicality, the athleticism, the technique. And I feel like I'm still in that place where I can do that. So I want to finish with that sense of fullness. AP: How have you managed to keep your conditioning so strong, for so long? MURPHY: I never knew what to expect in terms of how long I'd be able to do this job that I love so much. But I've always had strong feelings about getting plenty of sleep and rest. I try to keep a daily practice of class and sometimes several hours of rehearsal, but also to take at least one day off in the week to recover. And I've always put a priority on being as fit and strong as possible in terms of my nutrition. So, having a really balanced diet and also enjoying desserts and just good quality, good nutritious food, I think that has helped with longevity. AP: It sounds like you're talking about a healthy attitude toward food. MURPHY: A healthy attitude towards food, and also a sense of humor about myself. You know, dancers are not robots. Like an athlete, we can have an off day and (we should) not let that be too discouraging. That's par for the course. AP: Have there been any major injuries or setbacks along the way? MURPHY: I've been pretty fortunate about bouncing back from muscle strains and things like that. I'd say coming back from pregnancy and an emergency c-section was not easy ... but I was able to get onstage and do a full-length 'Giselle' when my son was 8 months old. And then, a couple of weeks after that, the pandemic hit. I had just gotten everything back together. AP: So when you hang up those pointe shoes ... how do you envision spending your time? MURPHY: I'm going to lean into coaching and staging, especially (husband) Ethan's choreography, for the immediate future. I also want to take some time to process this huge transition and consider options and think about what I really want to do. I would be really surprised if it doesn't involve giving back or working in some way in the dance world, because it's so meaningful to me. Clearly, this is a lifetime pursuit.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
What does one do on their last day as a ballerina? Gillian Murphy will jump off a cliff (gracefully)
NEW YORK (AP) — In every career, there are plenty of consequential decisions to be made. And they tend to get more consequential as time goes on. So it was when Gillian Murphy, one of the most admired American ballerinas for nearly three decades, began contemplating not only when, but how to retire from American Ballet Theatre. She knew she wanted to go out on a high note. Murphy, at 46, is in incredible shape; at a rehearsal earlier this week, she was leaping and twirling like colleagues in their 20s. But in what role should she take her final bow, after 29 years at ABT? Should it be as Juliet? As Giselle? The first of these ends up stabbing herself to death. The other goes mad. The best (and most athletic) option, it turned out, was to jump off a cliff. That's what Odette, the swan queen, does at the end of ABT's version of 'Swan Lake' — followed in this dramatic leap by the prince who loves her, to be joyfully reunited in the afterlife. (In real life they leap onto a mattress offstage, dust themselves off and clamber back for the finale.) Murphy, who's known for her Odette/Odile — especially those fouettés, Odile's fiendishly hard whiplash turns — will be retiring with 'Swan Lake' on Friday night, ending her career in a blur of bouquets, hugs, tears and maybe confetti at the Metropolitan Opera House. 'We will all miss her incredible work ethic, her exacting attention to detail, her strength and her joy of dance,' ABT head Susan Jaffe said in an email. The day after, Murphy will sleep a bit late, hopefully, and start a new life focused on coaching other dancers. She'll also have more time with her 6-year old son, Ax, whom she shares with husband Ethan Stiefel, himself a celebrated former ABT principal. Murphy spoke to The Associated Press in the rushed moments between rehearsals, classes and delayed commuter trains in the days leading up to the big occasion. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. AP: You were only 17 when you joined ABT. Now you're 46. Did you imagine such a long career? MURPHY: I would have never expected to be dancing this long, honestly. I think in my mind I always had 40 years old as a time frame. But I didn't expect to feel this good at this point! I've truly loved my career at ABT, and it's given me the opportunity to dance all over the world. So I'm happy I'm still here.' AP: Ballet takes a huge amount of athletic ability. But you need to be an actor, too. How have your abilities developed as you've gotten older? MURPHY: I do feel that life experience really does come out in performances. And when we're telling these stories about true love and forgiveness and loss, all the dramatic sort of themes that come out in these ballets, it does make a difference when you've experienced those things in your life. AP: Speaking of true love: Some ABT ballerinas have chosen Juliet for their retirement performance. You've chosen a much more physically demanding role: 'Swan Lake.' Just seeing you rehearse it was exhausting. MURPHY: (laughing) It doesn't get any easier, yeah. I have so many favorite roles, but 'Swan Lake' includes two of my most favorite, Odette and Odile. It's always been incredibly challenging, but also so fulfilling. When I was a kid, my dream role was the Black Swan (Odile), actually. So just in a full-circle moment, it feels special to finish with this ballet that I dreamed of doing as a kid, and first did as a young soloist with ABT 24 years ago. AP: Let's not forget that you're known for Odile's fouettés (32 whiplash turns on one leg that the Black Swan performs). Are you still throwing in double turns? MURPHY: Well, I used to throw in triples, triple pirouettes in the middle of the fouettés. Anything could happen on Friday night, but I think I just want to finish strong … and take risks elsewhere. I'll probably aim to do the 32, possibly with a few doubles in there. AP: It's such a tough call in any career — how did you make the decision to retire now? MURPHY: It's never an easy decision for any dancer. It's a calling from a very early age … but I've always wanted to finish strong and with my own sense of agency. I really relish when that sense of imagination and life experience and artistry is integrated with the physicality, the athleticism, the technique. And I feel like I'm still in that place where I can do that. So I want to finish with that sense of fullness. AP: How have you managed to keep your conditioning so strong, for so long? MURPHY: I never knew what to expect in terms of how long I'd be able to do this job that I love so much. But I've always had strong feelings about getting plenty of sleep and rest. I try to keep a daily practice of class and sometimes several hours of rehearsal, but also to take at least one day off in the week to recover. And I've always put a priority on being as fit and strong as possible in terms of my nutrition. So, having a really balanced diet and also enjoying desserts and just good quality, good nutritious food, I think that has helped with longevity. AP: It sounds like you're talking about a healthy attitude toward food. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. MURPHY: A healthy attitude towards food, and also a sense of humor about myself. You know, dancers are not robots. Like an athlete, we can have an off day and (we should) not let that be too discouraging. That's par for the course. AP: Have there been any major injuries or setbacks along the way? MURPHY: I've been pretty fortunate about bouncing back from muscle strains and things like that. I'd say coming back from pregnancy and an emergency c-section was not easy … but I was able to get onstage and do a full-length 'Giselle' when my son was 8 months old. And then, a couple of weeks after that, the pandemic hit. I had just gotten everything back together. AP: So when you hang up those pointe shoes … how do you envision spending your time? MURPHY: I'm going to lean into coaching and staging, especially (husband) Ethan's choreography, for the immediate future. I also want to take some time to process this huge transition and consider options and think about what I really want to do. I would be really surprised if it doesn't involve giving back or working in some way in the dance world, because it's so meaningful to me. Clearly, this is a lifetime pursuit.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Gazelle Theatre's Romiet returns to Edinburgh Fringe
What if Romeo and Juliet didn't die — and Romeo went off to find himself instead? Gazelle Theatre invites Fringe audiences to find out in Romiet, their bold and playful reimagining of Shakespeare's classic, running from 30th July to 10th August at C Venues – Alto Studio, Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, Romiet returns this summer with a brand-new Juliet, Martha Meager alongside Brad Collett's Romeo after a sold-out run and five-star reviews at Brighton Fringe. Two years from the original tragedy, Romiet picks up as Juliet reunites with Romeo — now living in San Francisco and performing as a drag queen. As the star-crossed lovers meet again, sparks fly, old wounds reopen, and the big question looms: can love survive transformation? And can Juliet overcome insecurity and entrenched beliefs for the sake of something real? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fierce, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, Romiet blends theatre, drag, music and movement in a high-energy, gender-fluid tale of self-discovery and second chances. It's a celebration of love beyond labels and Shakespeare like you've never seen it before. Fourth Monkey alumni Martha Meager as Juliet Gazelle Theatre's, Romiet is part of the company's mission to create accessible, socially conscious theatre with a twist. Their return to Edinburgh follows a successful year of touring and community engagement. Catch Romiet daily at 8pm from 30 July–10 August at C Venues – Alto Studio. Tickets available via or at the venue.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Parents urged not to give their children smartphones
Telecoms expert Juliet Moran is warning parents that smartphones are wiring permanent addiction pathways in children's brains and can be just as harmful as giving them cigarettes or alcohol. Dumbphones, also known as 'feature phones', have no internet access, no social media apps, and no endless scrolling. They're seeing a comeback too, with the total global market projected to bring in £8.5 billion in revenue this year. Yet despite the risks, Ofcom figures show 97% of children own a smartphone by the age of 12, and nearly a quarter of children as young as five to seven already have one. Juliet, who is director of says: 'Smartphones are designed to be addictive and they give children access to the entire world. We don't let children smoke or drink for good reason, yet we give them smartphones which have severe consequences and can be just as addictive. 'There's no need for children so young to own a smartphone. Endless scrolling feeds content addiction by triggering dopamine hits and with children's brains still developing, excessive smartphone use can wire addictive behaviours into young minds permanently.' Juliet is also warning that parental controls may not be as reliable as many hope. With smartphone companies profiting from increased screen time , there's little incentive for them to make these controls as strict or effective as they truly need to be. 'Controls can help but they're not strict enough," she says. "These phone companies want us to be glued to our phones because it benefits them. The best thing you can do for your child is not give them a smartphone until they are at least 13. 'Children need to be outside and dumbphones give them the freedom to do this while allowing parents to stay in touch with them through calls and text messages. This keeps them away from harmful group chats and social media.' Juliet plans to get her own daughter a dumbphone for her next birthday so she can keep in touch when she's out with her friends, but stay free from the dangers of smartphones. 'I want her to be able to play outside and do physical activities rather than be stuck in her room scrolling through content all night,' she says. Recommended reading: Over 90% of schools in England have banned mobile phones, with academic research suggesting they not only affect pupils' educational attainment, but contribute to problems such as bullying. Dumbphones help tackle these issues by removing access to messaging apps and features like Emojis, which have been used for covert bullying - a problem highlighted in this year's Netflix show Adolescence. Campaign groups like Smartphone Free Childhood - now with over 150,000 members - also advise that a child's first phone should only allow calls and texts.
