Alex Noel

West London Wisteria-watching. 💜

From stage to screen, Alex Noel considers how the growing emphasis on women’s perspectives is reshaping familiar narratives and inviting audiences into a deeper, more nuanced understanding of faith.⁠ ⁠.⁠ On 12 April, the annual Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, gathered stars of stage (and screen) to celebrate standout contributions to theatre over the past year. Presenting the award for ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ was Minnie Driver.⁠ .⁠ Read more at link in bio.⁠ #Community #Faith #bible #Church #ChurchLife #God #Jesus #female #Christian #WomanAlive #news ⁠#women ⁠#christianmom #christianmum #dailybibleverse #womenoffaith #christianapparel #womenofgod #christianwoman #christianblog #christiangirl #dailybible #godlywoman #christianwedding #christianposts #prayer #biblestudy⁠ @flexanoel

Bluebells, bluebells, bluebells, And an overpriced flat white. 🤷‍♀️

A lovely evening at the @nationalportraitgallery yesterday. This session's brief was 'Dot Dot Dash Dash - an exploration of mark-making and texture'. We were also referred to a drawing by Lucian Freud which uses this principle really beautifully. I found a cosy spot in the gallery opposite this stunning ensemble portrait [pic 3] of King George V, Queen Mary and their children - 'the Royal Family...' by Sir John Lavery. It was intriguing to look at the painting in terms of how to represent it on the page specifically through textural marks. And fun deciding which marks to make and how to evoke patterns and texture through them [pic 2]. I didn't have time to finish all the figures during the session. Then we all gathered together to look at each others' work [pic 1] which is always so great. I'd had a funny old week but I forced myself to go to this because I knew it would be good for me. And it was. It was refreshing and therapeutic. #drawing #drawings #nationalportraitgallery #artcure

Be better, be punk! 🩷 Even as we surge forward into an uncertain future our present moment bears some resemblance to a time when people started to take things into their own hands - inspired by Punk music to 'do it themselves' - because they believed things could be better. I loved researching and writing this piece. The initial idea came from hearing @maryportasofficial speak at an event in March and I was grateful to talk to her afterwards about 'punk spirituality'. I'm also grateful to punk aficionado @barry.cain.77 for speaking with me about the whole punk scene that was emerging in the late 70s which he was totally immersed in and reporting on for the music papers. I hope you enjoy it. Read at the link in my bio 🔝 @seenunseenmag #punk #spirituality #jesus

Last night I went to Riverside Studios to listen to Massive Attack's debut album from 1991 in the pitch black darkness with @pitchblackplayback . Blue Lines is an album that shaped my taste in music and in some ways my life too. It inspired me to move to Bristol - along with other music from the 'Bristol Sound'. I just wanted to be part of it all. But I've never heard it sound so good as it did last night. It was played on the cinema's speakers and I'd made sure to book a seat down the front near the 7 sub-woofers. I wanted to feel the music! And I realised, beyond doubt that it was made to be played on a big sound system - no surprise there, given the influences of Reggae, Dub and even Punk (which included the 'have a go' mash up approach that got them into the studio in the first place). I can hardly believe this album is 35 years old. It was so fresh and still challenges musically, as well as in its lyrics and sentiment. Everything just sounded SO good from Shara Nelson's soaring vocals to the lines rapped interchangeably by Tricky, Daddy G and 3D to Horace Andy's soul-full voice. The Hymn of the Big Wheel had me in tears at the end. I've written a little more about Blue Lines on my blog, and there's also a piece there about how the Bristol Sound has evolved over the last few decades while still holding on to its essence. You can read at the links in my bio 🔝 Pics: 1. Massive Attack at Bristol Temple Mead by Steve Double 2. Blue Lines album cover - front 3. Blue Lines album cover - back 4. Massive Attack playing in St Petersburg by Alina Platonova #massiveattack #bristolsound #music

Some photos - belatedly - of @thundercatmusic 's London gig at Brixton Academy in late March. His bass playing has to be seen to be believed - absolutely amazing. I was also taken with journalist Ed Potton's review of the gig in The Times and description of Thundercat's "cosmic levels of noodling" which is such an apt description. Cosmic it is. Thundercat did also play the hits and the crowd duly went wild. I've been wanting to see him live ever since I missed him in a supporting slot for Cinematic Orchestra 10 years ago! This gig entirely made up for it. #thundercat #bass #livemusic

Ever since I saw the play 'A Little Life' at Easter a few years ago I always think of it when Easter weekend comes around again. It's based on Hanya Yanagihara's bestselling book, which I found both a compelling read and extraordinarily unsettling. And this was echoed in my experience of seeing the play at the Harold Pinter theatre, in which starred - amongst a brilliant cast - James Norton as Jude and Luke Thompson as Willem. Easter makes the contrast between the trauma suffered by the character Jude - the tragedy of his life - and death, and Jesus's willing sacrifice on the cross, even more stark. Both were tragic events marked by hopelessness and confusion but only one story offered any kind of redemption. I explore this uncomfortable dichotomy and the meaning I found in it, in a piece I wrote at the time: 'A (not so) little life'. Read at the link in my bio 🔝 Pics: 1. Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí 2. James Norton in the play 3. James Norton, Luke Thompson and Nathalie Armin in the play 4. The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio 5. My copy of A Little Life. #easter #alittlelife #jamesnorton #lukethompson #jesus

Drawing on both scientific research and biblical truth, Alex Noel reveals how the arts may be one of God’s most overlooked tools for restoring our hearts and minds.⁠ ⁠.⁠ A new book, Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt, explains why engagement in the arts can actually improve health outcomes as well as contribute to our overall wellbeing. Dr Fancourt is Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London, and has built up a body of evidence from scientific studies over several decades to show that creativity and the arts do our bodies and minds serious good. ⁠ .⁠ Read more at link in bio.⁠ #Community #Faith #bible #Church #ChurchLife #God #Jesus #female #Christian #WomanAlive #news ⁠#women ⁠#christianmom #christianmum #dailybibleverse #womenoffaith #christianapparel #womenofgod #christianwoman #christianblog #christiangirl #dailybible #godlywoman #christianwedding #christianposts #prayer #biblestudy @flexanoel

Some highlights from Saturday's Together March in central London, which gathered an estimated 500,000 people to march together against racism - along Piccadilly past Trafalgar Square and on to Whitehall. There was so much good energy and I loved meeting people along the way. It was so great to be joined together in a common cause. Highlights include hearing Billy Bragg reminisce about how he got started as a political activist - marching for Rock Against Racism in 1978. (Swipe to end) @billybraggofficial @togetheralliance

Alex Noel explores why so many young men are being drawn into a culture of dominance, conspiracy, and hostility toward women — and why its growing influence matters for Christian women navigating faith, relationships, and a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.⁠ ⁠.⁠ Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere sheds an uncomfortable light on the male influencers known for disseminating misogynistic content across social media channels, podcasts and websites. Its main proponents include figures like Andrew Tate, as well as a whole host of others who are just as notorious, at least within the Manosphere itself. ⁠ .⁠ Read more at link in bio.⁠ #Community #Faith #bible #Church #ChurchLife #God #Jesus #female #Christian #WomanAlive #news ⁠#women ⁠#christianmom #christianmum #dailybibleverse #womenoffaith #christianapparel #womenofgod #christianwoman #christianblog #christiangirl #dailybible #godlywoman #christianwedding #christianposts #prayer #biblestudy @flexanoel

Another highlight from last week was attending 'Make a Stand With The Circle' hosted by @bbcnuala , wearing a beautiful, eye-catching dress by The Vampire's Wife (I think!) And in conversation with Delphine Uwamahoro (founder of Our Sister's Opportunity), Raakhi Shah (CEO of @thecirclengo ) and "Malala's Dad" Ziauddin Yousafzai (her mum was also there in the audience). Also a message from Annie Lennox - founder of #GlobalFeminist in Solidarity and Action. Fascinating to hear about The Circle's work around the globe and examples of how systemic sexism and misogyny is being successfully addressed at a family and cultural level in places like Rwanda, Pakistan and Afghanistan, through community engagement and education - with relevant lessons for the UK too. #iwd2026 #iwd