Douglas Gibson

Douglas was born and bred in south London and studied English literature as an undergraduate. He went on to do a Masters in creative writing at the University of Edinburgh where he wrote for publications such as Broadway Baby and The Student. In his early twenties he moved to Spain to teach English as a foreign language. 

Douglas recently gained NCTJ status after completing a part-time journalism course with News Associates. He writes about current affairs and culture and enjoys making and editing videos to tell stories too. He is a regular contributor for South West Londoner.  

Contact Douglas via email or on social media to commission a piece of work.  

The Merchant of Venice 1936: 3 star review by Douglas Gibson

One of Shakespeare’s most problematic characters, Shylock the Jewish moneylender has undergone polarised interpretations since The Merchant of Venice was first performed. This has ranged from miserly and cruel to demonic and inhumane when the Nazis hijacked the protagonist to further fuel antisemitism and xenophobia. Ostracised from society and forced to renounce all that he holds dear, in more recent years Shylock tends to be played as a tragic figure and one who deserves our pity. In this dari...

Playhouse Creatures: 4 star review by Douglas Thomas Gibson

After 18 years of pious, puritanical rule, theatres could at last re-open their doors when Charles II came out of exile and assumed the throne. And what’s more, a royal decree: women, for the first time in Britain’s history would be allowed on stage.April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures transports us back to the ‘swinging’ 1660s and introduces us to five actresses coming to terms with this newly-found freedom. Yet their livelihoods still very much hang in the balance as they find themselves subj...

Unchartered Waters:

Shepperton Open Water Swimming Lake, with its picturesque views, fresh water and abundant wildlife is an idyllic place to swim.

In 2010 it opened to the public and has grown in popularity ever since, especially since the pandemic.

It's home to veteran swimmers and those just dipping their toes into the sport.

Owner of the lake Emma Pattinson learnt how to swim there.

Originally a meadow, her family converted the land into a gravel pit in the 1960s- a business that lasted forty years.

Subseq
South West Londoner •

Fleur Anderson leads Big Putney Bike Ride to promote safer cycling

As part of the Great Big Green Week to celebrate community climate action, MP for Putney Fleur Anderson led the Big Putney Bike Ride.

The event aims to promotes cycling in the area, highlight the need for safer cycle routes and instil confidence in anyone less experienced on two wheels.

Organised by the London Cycling Campaign and Wandsworth Cycling, a number of Labour councillors took part along with many local residents of all ages.

Jeremy Vine, talk-show host and outspoken advocate of safe
South West Londoner •

Amrutha Lounge: life-affirming pakoras

The pakoras here are life-affirming: mushroom, broccoli and aubergine come together in a coat of golden batter. This is where it all started for Arvin Suntaramoophy, owner and chef at Amrutha Lounge, who used to sell these delicious fritters from a food truck at festivals up and down the country.

Daniella Santangeli, who has worked at this vegan restaurant in Earlsfield for two years explained: “The pakoras are incredibly popular.

“They’re Arvin’s own take on traditional Indian pakoras which a
South West Londoner •

Number of Romanian speakers in London trebled between 2011 and 2021

The number of Romanian speakers living in London more than trebled between the years 2011 and 2021, ONS data shows.

Harrow had the highest percentage of all London boroughs with over 7.5% of the population reporting it to be their main language.

Other London boroughs with a large number of Romanian speakers included: Newham (5.26%); Barking and Dagenham (4.78%); Brent (4.75%) and Redbridge (4.31%).

Ramona Gonczol, an associate professor in teaching Romanian at UCL said: “The main economical f
South West Londoner •

WATCH: Coronation celebrations on Wimbledon Common

In celebration of King Charles’ coronation, processions took place from two war memorials in Wimbledon Common on Sunday.

Both processions were led by a piper and a drummer who played traditional music celebrating the four nations of the United Kingdom.

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields and Steven Hammond, MP for Wimbledon attended the event.

The processions made their way to the windmill on Wimbledon Common which was illuminated as part of a coronation event which saw
South West Londoner •

Decline in teacher recruitment as fewer postgraduates pursue a career in the classroom

Teacher recruitment in London fell by 17% in 2022/2023 as more postgraduates chose a career away from the classroom.

Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) in December revealed 1,180 fewer London-based graduates enrolled on Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes compared to the previous year.

Mari Jo Valentine, Director of Teacher Education at Kingston University, believed the cost-of living crisis and soaring inflation impacted recruitment.

She said: “We had trainees dropp
South West Londoner •

Standing At The Sky's Edge: The National Theatre

Standing At The Sky’s Edge is set on the infamous Park Hill housing estate in Sheffield.

The musical sprawls across 60 turbulent years of British history and is an absolute triumph.

The iconic words, ‘I love you will u marry me’, graffitied onto a bridge above the city in 2001 and still visible to this day in neon lights, greet you on entering the Olivier Theatre – a perfect venue for such an ambitious piece of storytelling.

The lyrical ingenuity of Richard Hawley’s music is exquisite through