Taz Usher

Hi, I’m Taz. I’m an aspiring journalist and am currently completing my 3rd year of the BA English Language and Applied Linguistics degree at the University of Reading. I am passionate about the journalism industry and my experience includes, but is not limited to: a traineeship and part time employment at The Wokingham Paper, experience in the news room of The Kent Courier, my role as Print Editor and Entertainment Editor of The Spark Newspaper, and founder of The Weald of Kent Grammar School’s Student Magazine. I am keen to gain as much experience as possible in the sector and to expand my networks with journalists.

The Wokingham Paper •

Crowthorne woman fulfils dream of competing in European Masters Athletics Championships with help from employer.

A Berkshire company granted its employee the sporting opportunity of a lifetime last September when it sent Natasha Norris to compete in the European Masters Athletics Championships. The ten-day long tournament hosted in Venice between September 5 and 15 welcomed athletes aged 35 and over from teams across Europe to compete in the events. Representing GB in the women’s 40 100m and 200m was Natasha from Crowthorne who- aided by sponsorship from her employer Berkshire Consultancy Ltd -was compet
The Spark Newspaper •

Battle of the Brains: students and staff prepare for BBC Radio quiz show taking place next week.

Battle of the Brains: students and staff prepare for BBC Radio quiz show taking place next week. Students and staff will go head to head in a lively quiz show next Tuesday as BBC Radio 4 head onto campus to record the latest instalment of The 3rd Degree. The general knowledge and specialist subject contest, hosted by comedian and actor Steve Punt, will pit three undergraduates against three staff members to decide whether it really is the teacher that knows best. The participants- selected fr
The Spark Newspaper •

R U Running? Apply now to join RUSU’s 2020/21 team of representatives.

Nominations are now open for RUSU’s 2020/21 team of representatives. The roles- which are open to all students at UoR- include the five salaried positions of RUSU President, Welfare, Activities, Education and Diversity Officers, as well as part-time roles including Women’s, BAME and LGBQ+ Officers. The election period- running from January 13th to February 28th– will also feature the selection of next year’s student trustees and school reps, resulting in more than 1,500 students stepping into
The Wokingham Paper •

“We’re going to tell you our stories how WE want to.”

“We’re going to tell you our stories how WE want to.” Refugees will share their stories with audiences at South Street this July. “We’re going to tell you our stories how WE want to.” “We’re going to tell you our stories how WE want to. I am not here to make your conscience feel better. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me.” A tale of cultural identity, fatherhood, and resilience will make its way to Reading this July. Phosphoros Theatre, one of the UK’s leading refugee theatre companies, w
The Wokingham Paper •

From vision to reality: Wokingham tech company revamps brand image for new decade.

A Wokingham business is celebrating the turn of the decade with a new brand image. Volume – based on London Road – has channelled its tech expertise towards the launch of its new mantra, colour scheme and logo. And it’s not just the new year which can be credited for these changes. Addressing the motives behind the brand’s fresh visuals, Volume said: “We have extinguished the colour red and replaced it with four gender-neutral pastel tones that are light, fresh and modern. They are interchange
The Wokingham Paper •

REVIEW: Amélie The Musical at The Hexagon, Reading.

A captivating tale of self-discovery awaits audiences of a Broadway spectacular showing at The Hexagon this week. Directed by Michael Fentiman, Amélie The Musical follows a young woman as she struggles to find her place in a world which has swallowed her up since childhood. The musical opens in the charming city of Paris where polished melodies and genius puppetry set the tone for the faultless performance to follow. The prologue, performed by company members who deliver both vocals and music
The Spark Newspaper •

Dear Evan Hansen, theatre review: “honest and emancipating”

Fresh from Broadway, Dear Evan Hansen has captivated the first of its London audiences with a story pertinent to our daily lives and relationships. The new musical- which premiered in December 2016- follows the struggles of a teenager with social anxiety who, torn between the advice of his protective mum and finding his own place in the world, becomes tangled in a web of white lies. Sam Tutty gives a spectacular performance as Evan Hansen, acing every twitch, note and stutter in this fascinati
The Spark Newspaper •

Britain’s Got Talent winner to entertain crowds at local theatre venue this November.

Last year’s winner of Britain’s biggest talent contest will take to a local theatre venue this November as part of his comedy tour. Lee Ridley- who is famously known as Lost Voice Guy- won the 2018 series of Britain’s Got Talent and is continuing his success with an extended UK tour. The new performance dates, added by popular demand following Mr Ridley’s sell-out spring tour, span October and November and include venues in Exeter, Liverpool, Bath, and Maidenhead. Lee said: “The show seems to
The Spark Newspaper •

REVIEW: Jumanji 2 is next level jungle genius.

Adventure-seekers will unwrap an early Christmas present this winter as Sony Pictures treats them to another installment of action series, Jumanji. The sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)- which officially reached cinemas on Wednesday- takes viewers on another quest to the fantasy world; this time trusting them to do much of the code busting themselves. Blockbuster favourites Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black once again star as game avatars challenged with the moral mayhem
The Spark Newspaper •

Restaurant review: The Real Greek, Reading.

Sit back, relax, and indulge in the gorgeous tastes of traditional Greek dishes. This Reading restaurant will transport you to the shores and tavernas of idyllic Greece with its velvety wines and mouth-watering mezes. The Real Greek sits on the riverside of the Oracle shopping centre, next to Italian eatery Franco Manca and just a stride away from stylish bar and restaurant Caffeine and Cocktails. However, despite the restaurant’s town-based location- it’s authentic dining experiences promises
The Spark Newspaper •

CATS film review: struck of its nine lives before reaching the screen?

CATS film review: struck of its nine lives before reaching the screen? A dictionary, love for cats, and impartial outlook were just a few of the features required by viewers of December’s highly-anticipated Cats. The majorly criticised remake of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical- which was rated as low as 1 star by top news outlets including The Guardian- was struck of its nine lives before given the chance to impress cinema-goers. Cats tells the tale of a community of felines- known as Jellicle
The Spark Newspaper •

REVIEW: Amélie The Musical at The Hexagon, Reading.

A captivating tale of self-discovery awaits audiences of a Broadway spectacular showing at The Hexagon this week. Directed by Michael Fentiman, Amélie The Musical follows a young woman as she struggles to find her place in a world which has swallowed her up since childhood. The musical opens in the charming city of Paris where polished melodies and genius puppetry set the tone for the faultless performance to follow. The prologue, performed by company members who deliver both vocals and music
The Wokingham Paper •

You shall go to the ball! - Local charity launches project helping disadvantaged students celebrate their school proms in style.

A Berkshire charity which takes pride in providing clothes to less fortunate families has just launched its most glamourous initiative yet. The Cowshed- based in Winnersh- will be Fairy Godmother to 16-18-year olds from backgrounds of hardship this year as it strives to provide school leavers with quality dresses and suits to wear to their school proms. The initiative Prom at The Cowshed will invite individuals-who otherwise could not afford a special outfit- to choose from a selection of form
The Spark Newspaper •

UoR graduate Brontë King helps thousands of students tackle university-related anxiety.

Female degree students can now confide in the help of graduates across the UK, thanks to a new and empowering digital community founded by University of Reading alumnus, Brontë King. The social media grown platform, Gals who Graduate, was created by Brontë to reassure students about the natural anxiety that surrounds life after university. And it has already attracted more than 4000 engagers across its Facebook and Instagram pages since launching in June. The model and influencer said: “After
The Spark Newspaper •

Reading Festival interviews: Kawala.

“We felt so small on that stage. It is huge.” Kawala are a duo from North London- Jim Higson (vocals) and Daniel McCarthy (acoustic guitar, vocals). Following a fantastic performance on the Main Stage, they spoke to The Spark Newspaper about their first time performing at Reading Festival and gave some advice to our student readers… Facing their biggest audience yet, the musicians tackled a wave of nerves before their set but were immediately calmed by the enthusiasm of the crowd. Reflecting
The Spark Newspaper •

London Fashion Week 2019: celebs, colour, catwalks.

London Fashion Week- one of the Big Four fashion events of the world calendar- took place from Friday, September 13 to Tuesday, September 17 this year. The celebration featured catwalks displaying the latest trends from top designers including Molly Goddard, Victoria Beckham, and Margaret Howell. And the fantastic array of colour, texture, and personality on display was open for members of the public to view for the first time, starting at £135 per ticket. Elsewhere in London, members of the
The Wokingham Paper •

24-year-old Wokingham entrepreneur celebrates the growth of his million-pound tech business.

A 24-year-old entrepreneur from Wokingham is celebrating the success of his million-pound tech company, two years on from its launch. Hugo Tilmouth- who studied Renewable Energy Engineering at Exeter University- innovated his phone charging initiative ChargedUp following a light bulb moment during a cricket match. The CEO said: “I was sitting at Lord’s Cricket Ground waiting for a call to come in about a job offer and my phone battery was running low – the ultimate panic situation. I had to le
The Spark Newspaper •

Mental Wellness Fayre lends a hand

A RUSU officer- and former student of the university- orchestrated a welfare triumph this month as part of her goal to create a safe place for mental health discussion. Gemma King- Welfare Officer for the Students’ Union -hosted a Mental Wellness Fayre coinciding with World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10. The event was attended by students who visited stalls run by support groups and a workshop focusing on suicide prevention. Commenting on her inspiration for the event, Gemma said:
The Spark Newspaper •

Help a refugee or survivor of domestic violence by donating your unused make-up.

Help a refugee or survivor of domestic violence by donating your unused make-up. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” An empowering charitable initiative is calling for women to donate their unopened or slightly used beauty items to refugees and survivors of abusive relationships. Give and Makeup- founded in 2010 by beauty and lifestyle expert Caroline Hirons- is a non-profit scheme with a sole purpose to donate everyday essentials to women and children who need them the most. Working al
The Spark Newspaper •

Festival Fashion: Spotted at Reading 2019.

The music, food and mood of this year’s Reading Festival were comparable to the hundreds running throughout the UK this summer. If there’s teenagers, sun and alcohol to enjoy- the vibe is guaranteed to be a good one. But, the one thing that differs at festivals each year is the range of outfits on display. Each summer, there’s different trends, personas, and celebrity influences on the horizon- and it was up to us to find out what the most popular festival looks of this year were. Unsurprisi
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