Sex Education, Series 2, Netflix review - the teen sex show we deserved

★★★★ SEX EDUCATION, SERIES 2, NETFLIX The teen sex show we deserved

Happy Valentines: this humdrum holiday is the perfect occasion to stream the most affirming sex comedy in years

Netflix’s Sex Education has returned to our screens and streams. The show made waves last year for its refreshing take on the teen comedy-drama. It took on abortion, consent and female pleasure — subjects strikingly absent from our actual high school educations.

Filmmaker Agnieszka Holland: 'Without journalism, democracy will not survive'

FILMMAKER AGNIESZKA HOLLAND 'Without journalism, democracy will not survive'

'Mr Jones' director discusses why she's fascinated by Europe's darkest hours

Agnieszka Holland is one of Europe's leading filmmakers. Growing up in Poland under Soviet rule, her films have often tackled the continent's complex history, including the Academy Award-nominated Europa, Europa, In Darkness and Angry Harvest. In America, she's become a trusted hand for prestige television, with credits on The Wire, House of Cards and The Killing. Her latest film, Mr.

Classical CDs Weekly: William Mathias, Vaughan Williams, Judith Weir

CLASSICAL CDS WEEKLY William Mathias, Vaughan Williams, Judith Weir

Weaponised bagpipes and bugle calls: 20th and 21st century music from England, Scotland and Wales

 

Mathias choralWilliam Mathias: Choral Music St John’s Voices, The Gentlemen of St John’s, Graham Walker (director) (Naxos)

Pink Wall review - scattered scenes from a tortuous relationship

Actor Tom Cullen's directorial debut contains intense performances but lacks clarity

What Jenna (Tatiana Maslany, star of Orphan Black), likes doing is wrangling and coordinating, not creating – she hates that - which makes for a refreshing change in a heroine. Her new boyfriend Leon (Jay Duplass, pictured below, of the Duplass brothers), an ambition-free photographers’ assistant, tells her that, given her talents, what she must do is become a film producer and, in a lightbulb moment, her future is suddenly mapped out. They’ve just met while clubbing – he’s also a DJ - and there’s an instant attraction between them on the dance floor.

Mrs Peachum's Guide to Love and Marriage, Mid Wales Opera review - scaled down seediness, with a swing

★★★★ MRS PEACHUM'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MARRIAGE, MID WALES OPERA Scaled down seediness with a swing

Toxic femininity takes centre stage in the outrageous essence of The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar’s Opera: does any piece of music theatre promise more fun and deliver more tedium? Yes, it was the satirical smash of 1728; yes, it inspired Brecht and Weill; yes, with its combination of popular melodies and a topical script it was effectively the world’s first jukebox musical. I get all that.