Warwickshire Cover Online.Qxp Birmingham Cover 28/06/2016 09:06 Page 1

Warwickshire Cover Online.qxp_Birmingham Cover 28/06/2016 09:06 Page 1

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 367 JULY 2016

THE COUNTRY DOCTOR AT Warwickshire THE BELGRADE ’

WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On warwickshirewhatson.co.uk

inside:

Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

THE ALCHEMIST Polly Findlay directs Ben Jonson’s hilarious satire at The Swan Theatre, Stratford Herbert Art Gallery - July '16.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 09:25 Page 1 Contents July Warwickshire/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:52 Page 1

July 2016

Contents

Godiva Festival - the UK’s biggest free music festival returns page 19

Pauline Black Haçienda Classical Danny Bhoy the list

Coventry’s star talks about the classical meets dance music at Scottish comedian provides all Your 16-page city’s 2021 bid MADE Birmingham the laughs at Artrix week-by-week listings guide Interview page 8 page 15 page 26 page 51

inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 26. Comedy 28. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events

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Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Whats On Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 MAGAZINE GROUP Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Adam Jaremko, Kathryn Ewing, David Vincent, Eva Easthope Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD July Warwicks & Worcs Only.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 18:18 Page 1

First Word

On yer bike in Coventry...

The West Midlands’ only Sky Ride event is once again taking place in Coventry this year. Sky Ride provides participants with the chance to enjoy the experience of cycling around a traffic-free city. The free family event takes place on 7 August. Attractions and activities to enjoy along this year’s route include the Extreme Mountain Bike Show, British Cycling’s Go Ride children’s obstacle course, quiz-show games and facepainting. “We want more people to enjoy riding a bike,” says Sky Ride ambassador Sir Chris Hoy. “That’s why Sky and British Cycling have teamed up to bring you Sky Ride. We’ve made it easier than ever to get out on your bike and spend quality time with your family and friends. “Sky Rides close towns and cities for big bike events so you can ride safely on traffic-free streets. With a huge festival atmosphere and loads to do, they’re great fun and a great way to get on your bike.” For more information and to register to take part, visit GoSkyRide.com/CoventrySkyRide

Pioneer filmmaker Panto on the captured on canvas lookout for local talent The Royal Spa Centre in Leamington is holding autumn auditions for children who’d like to be part of the junior chorus in the venue’s pantomime production of Beauty And The Beast (running from 3 to 31 December). The auditions, which are An award-winning disabled artist will this month paint open to youngsters aged between nine and 16, take a portrait of pioneering filmmaker John Akomfrah at Scouting For Girls Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (Saturday 16 July), place on 11 September, as part of a project celebrating the diversity of common starting at 10am (with reg- humanity. istration from 9.30am). Impressive line-up Tanya Raabe-Webber’s live sitting, fusing digital and Audition forms and further for debut festival traditional drawing and painting techniques, will see information is available via the Royal Spa Centre web- Birmingham band UB40 will next month the artist in conversation with Akomfrah, exploring his headline a live music festival in Solihull to life and work and contemplating the relevance of the site at royalspacentreand- townhall.co.uk raise money for local cancer charity Help artistic process to cultural diversity and contemporary Harry Help Others. society. The Midlands favourites will conclude their Commenting on the live portrait sitting, Tanya said: “As European festival tour at the Solihull a disabled artist, the notion of my own diversity drives Summer Fest, which takes place in Tudor my interest in people, the exploration of the human Grange Park on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 condition and the belief that everyone has the potential August. to be creative if given the opportunity. I am well known Other artists taking part include Kevin Simm as a painter of people; however, I’ve wanted to develop (winner of The Voice UK 2016), Scouting For a way to engage audiences more fully in the subject Girls, The Hoosiers, The Wonder Stuff, Five, matter of my work and also within its physicality. I’ve S Club Party, The Blow Monkeys & Britain’s developed this project to enable creativity to be as Got Talent finalists, The Neales. For further accessible as possible.” information visit solihullsummerfest.co.uk

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Entertainment news from around the region

Lederhosen at Comedy’s finest at the ready... the Belgrade Midlands comedy legends Jasper Carrott and Alistair McGowan are being sent to Coventry. The popular pair will share a stage next March as part of the Belgrade Theatre’s autumn/winter line-up of shows. Other highlights of the season include a brand new production of original British rock’n’roll musical Roll Over Beethoven, the UK premiere of Ostrich A version of legendary Munich Boys - based on the award-winning beer festival Oktoberfest is being novel by Keith Gray - and the return of held in Birmingham this autumn. hit musical Blood Brothers, starring The popular event, returning to the Lyn Paul in the iconic role of Mrs city for a third year, takes place in Johnstone. Cannon Hill Park from 12 to 16 October. Tickets for all Belgrade productions are “The mood at our event is as good now on sale. To book, call the theatre’s as the one in Munich,” says box office on 024 7655 3055 or visit Carsten Raun, the festival’s direc- www.belgrade.co.uk, where cheaper tor. tickets are available. “One thing the British and the Germans have in common is the joy of life with a nice beer, so Oktoberfest is a perfect place to meet.” Lederhosen at the ready, folks... Locals join Brand new look sets venue a-flutter The Wedding National Youth Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm unveils a brand new look this Singer ready to Theatre month (on Friday 22 July) following a major refurbishment. party at the New Included among the popular venue’s new attractions is Maya, an The UK’s leading youth ancient rainforest civilisation exhibit. The first weekend after the Alexandra Theatre arts organisation has Friday unveiling offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy, The stage version of hit Adam marked its 60th year by including mini-beast handling sessions, demonstrations in the Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie accepting six talented Discovery Zone and a competition to win season tickets to the The Wedding Singer is visiting new members from venue. Birmingham next year. Birmingham. The butterfly farm was recently awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate A high-energy homage to the The National Youth 1980s, the critically acclaimed of Excellence for a fifth year running. Theatre (NYT) selected musical stars Jon Robyns, Ray For more information about the venue, visit butterflyfarm.co.uk or Quinn, Cassie Compton, Roxanne the six from a staggering phone 01789 299288. Pallett and Ruth Madoc. It runs at 4,750 applicants. the New Alexandra Theatre, Commenting on NYT, for- Birmingham, from Tuesday 23 to mer member and Doctor Saturday 27 May 2017. To book Who star Matt Smith said: tickets, call 0844 871 3011 or visit “The National Youth www.atgtickets.com/birmingham Theatre is the reason I’m an actor. It’s given me New event all the great confidence, oppor- rave at Artrix tunity and life-long friends. I got an agent A Midlands arts venue is hosting its through performing with first ever ‘baby rave’ this month. NYT, and now I’m a pro- Bromsgrove’s Artrix is holding the event on the afternoon of 31 July, fessional actor who’s It’s open house at the RSC from 2pm till 4pm. Promising ‘plen- working. It completely The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is hosting a day of family- ty of fun, glow sticks and bubbles’, transformed my life. No friendly activities at its recently re-opened studio theatre, The the rave features Jessie DJ playing understatement.’ CBeebies and 1990s tracks. Other Place, on 2 July. Drinks, snacks and ice creams will Attractions at the ‘open house’ event include 20-minute theatre be available at the new Artrix Cafe. tours, live music in the foyer, and a special session showing how For further details, call the venue’s the RSC make-up department creates fake scars and bruises. box office on 01527 577330. Entertainment for younger visitors includes a dressing-up box, special colouring sheets and a playcart with fun craft activities.

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First Word

Festival takes children’s theatre to the edge

A ‘world festival of theatre for young audiences’ is coming to Birmingham this month. On The Edge, visiting the UK for the very first time, is an annual gathering of international theatre-makers. The week-long festival is a chance for industry insiders to test and share ideas, and for members of the general public to enjoy a selection of international theatre productions created specifically for children and teenagers. Included in a packed and impressively diverse festival programme are Shona Reppe's award-winning investiga- tive adventure The Curious Scrapbook Of Josephine Bean, a politically conscious show for teenagers called Pim & Theo, and a work of physical theatre for very young children entitled Boing. On The Edge takes place at various Birmingham venues from Saturday 2 to Saturday 9 July.

Brum Bikeathon for Bloodwise Run away to the circus... Birmingham is this month hosting its first ever aerial and physical theatre festival. Tilt 16 is a five-day event featuring performances from national and international circus artists. It will also include a comprehen- Midlands music industry sive masterclass pro- on the up... gramme catering both for A new report has revealed that the total beginners and professional spend generated by music tourism in the performers. The festival West Midlands last year was £271million - a takes place at the city’s £7million increase on 2014. West Midlands Creation A team of University of Birmingham blood cancer The 2016 edition of the Wish You Were Here Centre from 18 to 24 July researchers will this month join 1,000 cyclists for a report, created on behalf of UK Music and its and line-up confirmed so charity ride around the city. The Birmingham members, also revealed that there was signif- far includes Sarah Bebe Bikeathon takes place on 10 July and raises funds for icant growth in the amount spent directly by Holmes, Mark Glover, Joe blood cancer charity Bloodwise. With the full support of music tourists in the region, with an 82% Garcia and Ambra Vallo. Birmingham City Council, riders can choose to cycle increase year on year - the equivalent of For more information, visit one of three routes on offer - 26 miles, 52 miles or 100 £50million. The spend can be attributed to a tiltfestival.com miles - starting and finishing at the city’s Cannon Hill range of purchases, including tickets, mer- Park. Commenting on the event, Matt Lawley, Head of chandise, accommodation, food and drink. Sport at Bloodwise, said: “We’re delighted that the Commenting on the report, Emma Gray, Birmingham Bikeathon is returning for a third year. A Director of Marketing and Communications lot of research takes place in the city - from understand- at Visit Birmingham, said: "The city’s diverse ing basic principles around how blood cancer works array of festivals combined with world -class and affects patients, to our groundbreaking clinical tri- venues have created the perfect breeding als programme - so much of the money raised from this ground to nurture and promote musical inge- ride will be invested in projects within the city.” nuity. This report confirms just how much To sign up to the event, visit bloodwise.org.uk/birming- music tourism can boost local employment hambikeathon and stimulate the wider economy.”

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Entertainment news from around the region

Water Wars in Warwick Barrowman Warwickshire-based visitor attraction Hatton heads panto Adventure World is hosting a cool and refreshing water-based game for families to enjoy this cast at the hopefully hot summer holiday. Hippodrome Water Wars sees participants catapulting giant water balloons at each other from special battle-station launch pads. The game is one of the highlights of a summertime programme at the venue that also features sheep racing, magic and puppet shows, birds-of-prey displays and laser combat games. For more information, visit hattonworld.com/adventure-world or tele- phone 01926 843411. One of the Midlands’ favourite panto stars is making a welcome return to the Musical Drive South Asian film festival movies to be region this Christmas. Former Dr Who actor John returns to screened at Birmingham cinemas Barrowman will take the horse show Two Birmingham cinemas are this month screening movies from title role in Birmingham A spectacle reminiscent of Europe’s largest South Asian film festival. Hippodrome’s lavish produc- the traditional driving tasks Cineworld Broad Street and mac Birmingham will present a carefully tion of Dick Whittington. asked of heavy-breed horses curated selection of new Indian and South Asian independent cine- John will be joined in the in a bygone era is making a ma, including feature films and documentaries by both established show by comedy duo The welcome return to this and new filmmakers. Krankies, popular funnyman year’s Horse Of The Year A programme of English and European premieres will show at the two Matt Slack and EastEnders Show at Birmingham’s NEC venues, including Parched - a joyous and inspiring tale of cama- badboy Steve McFadden, (5 - 9 October). raderie - at Cineworld on 15 July, and Kannada - an empowering story who plays Phil Mitchell in The Musical Drive sees the based on real-life events - at mac on the same day. The festival runs the long-running BBC One jingling of the chains creat- from 14 to 24 July. soap. ed by the heavy horses’ Commenting on this year’s majestic footing providing a panto, the Hippodrome’s harmonious accompani- Shock And Gore at the Electric artistic director and chief ment to military-style drill executive, Fiona Allen, said: If you like your cinematic treats to be dark, twisted and spattered in music. Last seen as a dis- “It’s never too early to be blood, be sure to get along to this month’s Shock & Gore festival at play in 2008, the Drive per- planning Christmas fun. Birmingham’s Electric Cinema. formance had previously Sales are already set to Creepy happenings include the event’s annual party night, this year been presented from the break records, and this offering audiences the chance to choose between two cult 1990s hor- 1950s up to 1999. year’s pantomime promises ror films - Scream and The Crow. There’s also a Birmingham ghost Commenting on the specta- plenty of laughs, outrageous tour to enjoy - followed by a series of short films based on the stories cle, Musical Drive co-ordi- costumes and special effects of legendary horror writer MR James - and a taste-along-screening of nator John Peacock said: to amaze all the family.” the morbidly romantic Harold & Maude. “The traditional heavy Dick Whittington runs at Although running from Friday 15 to Thursday 21 July, the festival is breeds were the ‘working Birmingham Hippodrome actually launched on the 9th, with a special interactive screening of horses’, and these large but from Monday 19 December Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining at Birmingham's Highbury Hall. majestic animals would har- until Sunday 29 January. For more information, visit shockandgore.co.uk row every part of the arena, Tickets can be booked on making intricate patterns in 0844 338 5000 or from birm- its surface.” inghamhippodrome.com The 2016 Horse Of The Year Celebrating the country’s Show will host the finals of most inspiring young musicians the national Showing and Showjumping The UK’s largest youth music festival is being held in Birmingham Championships, alongside this month. international showjumping A five-day celebration of the country’s most inspiring young musi- and a line-up of equestrian cians, Music For Youth takes place in three city-centre venues - entertainment. Symphony Hall, Town Hall and the CBSO Centre - and features more For more information, visit than 400 live performances. The event also includes free pop-up per- hoys.co.uk formances across the city, a festival tent in Centenary Square and a number of interactive music workshops. For more information, visit mfy.org.uk whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Coventry 2021 DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:53 Page 1

FEATURE

SENT TO COVENTRY Coventry resident Heather Kincaid examines the City Of Culture 2021 bid

What does Coventry mean to you? Is it the looking closely at what's already happening Blitz, the ringroad, a way of saying no one's here and focusing on showing that to the talking to you? Is it Jaguar, Land Rover, jet people of the city.” engines and the industrial hub of yester- Neither Black nor McMillan are originally year? Or perhaps it's our history with Lady from the area - it's perhaps more often those Godiva, ska music, Philip Larkin, our status of us who are, who have a tendency to ig- as an icon of peace and reconciliation? nore or underestimate its merits. But one Chances are, if you're searching for a sym- This is our bid, need only scratch the surface to discover a bol to represent the city, your first thought wealth of talent, activity and enthusiasm for won't be of the thriving creative community ‘‘ our chance to art and culture harboured here. Not only is that exists here today - but a campaign to Coventry relatively unique in boasting two make Coventry the UK's next City of Culture show the rest of world class universities, there's also a great in 2021 could be set to change all that. art gallery, several theatres and museums, the country what Still in its infancy, the bid has already at- tons of live music venues, one of the largest tracted the attention of local business own- arts centres outside London and the coun- Coventry's made ers, journalists and highly successful artists try's biggest free music festival. and musicians. Among those on board to “A lot of people will ask you why you don't help trumpet Coventry's often unacknowl- of, and perhaps live in London,” says Black. “I'm not going edged virtues is The Selecter's Pauline to say they're boring but... I think this is a Black, a leading figure in the 2 Tone move- also to make very exciting, vibrant place with interesting ment of the 1980s and a familiar face to people. I've been here for 44 years now and many of those who live and work in the city. some new have absolutely no desire to go back to “I think there's always been more going on Essex at all.” discoveries in Coventry than people are aware of,” says “Part of the reason I wanted this job,” Black. “We have all of these wonderful McMillan adds, “was because of all those ourselves. buildings for putting on shows - not just people over the last seven years who’ve music but also theatre and all sorts of given me that 'look' when they find out things. I'm hoping that this will encourage where I live. I think of Coventry as Warwick- regeneration, and help us to utilise what's ” shire's rebellious younger sibling. We've got here to the fullest capacity, involving the so much history and heritage, but it's still a people of Coventry in the process.” really young and vibrant city in a way that Laura McMillan, Manager of the Coventry I'm not sure you get anywhere else.” City of Culture bid, agrees: “For some rea- While it might not be on the radar of many son, people don't really shout about what people outside the Midlands today, the city they do in Coventry. They do amazing work, undeniably has a distinctive cultural iden- but it's typically only known about by small tity, thanks to a combination of its relatively numbers of people. We want to make sure youthful demographic (on average, we're six that this bid is absolutely rooted in Coventry years younger than the rest of the UK), its and the surrounding area, so we've been rich history and its massively diverse popu-

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by Heather Kincaid

lation - a diversity which stretches back sev- walk from the station today, I must have time flies when there's a lot to get done and eral generations. Unlike many other places heard five or six different languages.” not many people to do it. with high rates of immigration, those who “I think that's what Coventry is good at,” “We're a small team,” explains McMillan. flock to Coventry come not just from one or adds Black. “It's known for peace and recon- “There are only two of us working full-time, two different parts of the world, but from a ciliation, partly because of what happened and a lot of our supporters are volunteers. huge variety of different backgrounds. here in World War Two, but also the idea of We're not attached to the council or the uni- What's more, as anyone who's lived here any multiculturalism and 2 Tone have really versities. We work with them, but we're to- length of time will tell you, each new wave moved that agenda forward. When I first tally independent, which means we have tends to integrate very quickly - there isn't moved here, there was still a kind of separa- quite a lot of freedom and can have conversa- the same kind of separation and ghettoisa- tion between communities, but since then tions that might be more difficult for other in- tion you'll find in many other big cities. people have settled and had children. Misce- stitutions, but it also means we need all the “I came to Coventry when I was 17,” says genation is the greatest underminer of support we can get. Godiva will be our first Black, “to go to the Lanchester Polytechnic racism, and there's a lot of that. Now that chance to say, 'Hey Coventry, we need you!'” as it was then [now Coventry University], and we're seeing third and fourth generation kids Crucially, then, this is our bid: our chance to as soon as I got off the train here, I felt com- growing up here, they've got a wholly differ- show the rest of the country what Coventry's fortable. It just seemed like such a welcoming ent perspective and different expectations, made of, and perhaps also to make some new place, particularly at that time. That was in and with the universities, it seems to be be- discoveries ourselves. 1972, so obviously there weren't the greatest coming quite a Mecca for overseas students race relations across the country then. And of coming and bringing their skills with them.” “Without the people of Coventry getting be- course, within about seven years of being hind us and getting excited about it, there's This summer, after weeks of planning and here, I’d joined a group of people who would no point in us doing this,” says McMillan. preparation, the bid will officially launch on go on to form arguably one of the last big “We don't want to tell people what they're Sunday 3 July in the Godiva Festival's Rhythm movements in British pop music, with a mes- going to celebrate over the next five years. We Tent, which has been expanded to twice the sage that’s spread all over the world now.” have our ideas, but they only go so far, and size it's been in previous years. yours will be better. Children and young peo- This isn't just a thing of the past: the positive “There are some organisations like Imagineer ple growing up now will be the cultural lead- message of multiculturalism that Coventry and the Belgrade that we knew would be ers as we go into 2021, and so we really want and 2 Tone music espoused remains vital and there,” says McMillan, “but beyond that, ini- to find out what they want. We've just relevant today, with the value it’s added to tially, we weren't sure what it would be like. launched a few social media sites - we're on the city evidenced in almost every aspect of We put a call out to the community hoping Instagram, Facebook and Twitter - and we're life here, from our artistic offerings to high we'd get interest from people we had no idea asking people to share their stories, thoughts street shops and restaurants, to education about, and we've had loads of people coming and ideas.” and innovation in our schools and universi- forward who are just phenomenal! A lot of ties. people who come to the festival might not “Based on the latest statistics,” says McMil- usually go to see theatre or dance, for exam- lan, “we think we'll be the most diverse city ple, so we're subtly introducing them to new in the country soon. I think we have immi- things.” What does Coventry mean to you? Join the grants from something like 183 different na- conversation @Coventry2021, or by going It might seem like a long time in advance to tionalities, which is amazing, and it's along to the Godiva Festival launch event be preparing for a bid that won't take effect amazing that those people are choosing to on Sunday 3 July. for another five years if it's successful, but stay here and have families here. Just on my

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Food

REVIEW: Almanack, Kenilworth market. I loved the concept of the three-tier Summer Cheese Hearty grub... with goodness at its heart! selection, available as a sharing board (£13.75), individual cheese plate (£7.75) or single smidgen served with celery, chutney and crackers (£2.75). For the sweet-toothed diners amongst you, The Almanack’s legendary ‘pie of the day’, served with pouring cream, is ideal for sharing. Or, for the perfect palate cleanser, why not try the light yet satisfying Mango, Passionfruit and Coconut Pavlova at £5.75. In addition to the seven-day-a- week Lunch and Brunch menu, The Almanack also offers a Daily Deal Menu (priced at £12.50 for For the past eight years, The for good food and drink’, The Warm Granary Loaf and Roasted two courses) and a ‘Sunday Best’ Almanack pub has been a stead- Almanack’s commitment to ethi- Garlic butter accompaniment. menu, consisting of roasts, pub- fast and much-loved staple of cally and locally sourced pro- The crispy ham-hock dressing in grub classics and a healthy Kenilworth’s historic town cen- duce weaved its way through the particular was a triumph, adding choice of hearty, English pud- tre. Situated just a short walk typical gastro-pub staples of an unexpected richness and dings. from the main high street, a light-bite brunches, brasserie- potency to an otherwise light Whether it’s a quick coffee after stone’s throw from the magnifi- style grills, seasonal deli boards and refreshing summer soup. work, a light bite on business or cent Kenilworth Castle and and classic Sunday roasts, creat- Swept away by the seasonal a sit-down dinner with friends or Abbey Fields, this stylishly refur- ing something altogether more theme, my main course of Pan- family, The Almanack is a gas- bished and affordably priced memorable and unique than the fried Monkfish and Scallops with tro-pub with vision, proudly restaurant successfully marries average high-street chain. Bombay potatoes, Indian Salad independent yet surprisingly contemporary gastro-pub cui- Infused with the true spirit of and Mint Yoghurt Dressing affordable. Head Chef Dean sine with the unmistakable summer, seasonal specialities in (£18.50) proved perhaps the Grubb’s commitment to locally warmth and personality of a the form of Devon Crab Gratin, most unusual yet delicious dish sourced, seasonal produce of the modern-day ‘local’. Summer Vegetable Risotto and I’ve tasted in recent months. highest quality shines through The venue has been tastefully Pan Fried Seabass with Sautéed Expertly cooked and oozing in every aspect of The refurbished to a slick, modern Tender Stem and Salsa Verde freshness, the superb monkfish Almanack’s delivery, from the brief - exposed dark wood were matched by a tantalising fillet found its perfect partner in humble cappuccino right tables, bright leather stools and choice of sparkling English the richly spiced Bombay potato through to the kitchen table. copper light fixtures combine wines, gin-fizz cocktails and and mint yogurt dressing. The Add to this, spacious, modern with up-lit, mesh bar in a stylish Italian prosecco. Special men- scallops, too, were hard to fault, interiors, down-to-earth staff, union of pub, cocktail bar and tion too must go to the lightly seared and cooked to just inventive presentation and a contemporary coffee house. Almanack’s take on the tradi- the right side of firm - a reward- menu that screams personality Arriving at my booth - uphol- tional ‘Deli Board’, available in ingly light yet flavourful dish at every turn, and you have stered in rich chocolate brown four varieties - meat, veggie, fish best enjoyed on a cool summer’s everything a modern-day gastro- leather and accented with shots and cheese - each one a homage evening. pub should and can be! of teal and coral from the glass- to the simple pleasures of freshly Look out as well for The Hearty grub... with goodness at ware and surrounding cushion prepared, hand-sourced pro- Almanack’s extensive choice of its heart! Highly recommended. covers - I was immediately made duce, best enjoyed with friends. grills, starting from £17.50 and Katherine Ewing to feel at home by the attentive A brief scan of my neighbour’s including a selection of 28-day waiting staff, each of whom Meat Deli board - comprising dry-aged steaks, award-winning Food: n n n n n knew the menu inside out, offer- Rare Roast Beef, Free-range Ham Mustard-glazed Pork Belly Chop Service: n n n n n ing their own recommendations & Cheddar Croquettes, Air-dried and the all-too-uncommon Ambience: n n n n n with what felt like genuine pas- Dorset Pork, Pulled Chicken Market Fish Mixed Grill, with Overall value n n n n n sion. Sliders, Pickles, Chutney & skinny fries, garlic and lemon OVERALL n n n n n A brief glance at The Almanack’s Malted Toast - was enough to butter, and green salad. menu quickly revealed that, as inspire a repeat visit. Though defeated by dessert on well as possessing abundant Opting for a starter of red pep- this occasion, a brief survey of The Almanack style, this was a pub with signifi- per, sweet corn and ham-hock the ‘sweet and savoury’ menu Abbey End North cant substance! As a proud soup with croutons, the quality revealed a refreshingly creative member of the ‘Peach’ family - a approach to the classics, cou- Kenilworth of the produce was unmistak- CV8 1QJ group of ‘like-minded enthusi- pled with a unique understand- able, from the freshness of the Tel: 01926 353637 asts’ fuelled by a shared ‘passion pepper right through to the ing of the venue’s own particular

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Food

Rib-sticking grub gets Three days of gastro the thumbs up... delights in Worcester Have you ever eaten pierogi (dumplings) in a thatched barn in the This year’s Worcester Foodie Festival has been middle of a major city? expanded from two days to three (29 to 31 July). It’s a novel eating experience - but Showcasing what the city has to offer by way then everything about The Karczma is of gastronomic delights, the popular event fea- a little bit different from the norm. tures cookery demonstrations, tasting sessions, Step through the doors of its unas- masterclass workshops, a plethora of food and suming entrance and you’re trans- drink stalls, themed trails, street entertain- ported to a Polish cottage, some time ment, competitions and fun activities for in the 1970s. The benches are wood- younger visitors. en, the rugs are sheepskin and the In short, it’s a veritable banquet of food-related roof - well, the roof is made of straw. entertainment. The Karczma serves up traditional The festival’s headlining chefs for 2016 are Polish food; think proper rib-sticking Dean Edwards, whose family-friendly cooking grub that goes heavy on the pork, style has made him a firm favourite on ITV’s potato and cheese. The Russian Lorraine, and Worcestershire-based Fusion dumplings (£7.90) were huge but sur- Brasserie chef Felice Tocchini (pictured), prisingly light, made from a steamed who’ll be demonstrating how to make a deli- pasta-type dough stuffed with cream cious summer pudding with basil and choco- cheese and potatoes then topped late. For more information, visit with slow-cooked onion. worcesterfoodiefestival.com The intriguingly named Maryna’s Breast (£14.90) was 1970s cooking at its best - chicken breast stuffed with mushrooms, shaped into a ball, then breaded and deep fried. It came Sabai Sabai launches in Stratford-upon-Avon smothered in cheese sauce with a mountain of fries and, in a token to Following the success of its two Birmingham restaurants, healthy eating, a mixture of beetroot, award-winning Thai eatery Sabai Sabai is this month carrot and marinated cabbage salads. branching out into Stratford-upon-Avon. Great stuff. “We’re really excited to be opening in Stratford, the artis- The salmon (£16.30) arrived perched tic heart of Warwickshire,” says Torquil Chidwick, joint on top of a crispy potato pancake, owner of Sabai Sabai with his wife, Juree. “The location with a mustard sauce and those for the restaurant couldn’t be more perfect. Our other dinky crinkle-cut carrots that take restaurants are in the suburbs, but Wood Street is right in you back to school dinners. The the centre of Stratford, just a stone’s throw from the apple pie (£5.70) is more like an Royal Shakespeare Company. The process of finding the apple bar - shortbread base covered right location, as well as developing the look and style in stewed apple, topped with crum- we wanted inside the Grade-II listed building, took about ble. A sensation. 12 months.” In a city full of concept bars and The new Sabai Sabai restaurant will open at the end of swish new eateries, this is old-style the month. dining that’s full of honesty. A map of Poland on the wall is heaving with post-its from diners tagging their town or village: The Karczma is where our Polish friends come for a Get hot under the collar taste of home. Come November, when sleet is hammering against the win- at Warwick’s Chilli Festival dow and your tummy growls for the The first Sunday of this month looks set to be a comfort of home cooking, I’m willing sizzling-hot day in Warwick whatever the weather, to bet that The Karczma is the place thanks to the historic town’s first ever chilli festival. to be. Helen Stallard And competition should certainly be hotting up Why not check it out for yourself... during the course of the day, as visitors to the event participate in chilli-eating and chilli con carne The Karczma cooking contests. The festival also includes an Polish Millennium House array of chilli stalls, with chilli chocolate brownies, Bordesley Street burgers, curries, sausages and preserves all featur- Birmingham ing. B5 5PH Tel: 0121 448 0017 Warwick Rocks Chilli Festival takes place in the town’s main square on Sunday 3 July.

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Gigs

Lionel Richie Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Thurs 7 July Boasting in excess of 100 million album sales, a Golden Globe, numerous Grammy Awards and the Crystal Award for Humanitarianism, Lionel Richie is a 24-carat superstar. This latest concert - All The Hits - blends new material with old. Undoubtedly on the playlist will be classics from his extensive and much-loved repertoire, such as Hello, Dancing On The Ceiling and Endless Love, as well as mega-hits from his Commodore days, like Easy, Brickhouse and Three Times A Lady. Last year saw Richie sell out his All The Hits All Night Long tour, as well as playing Glastonbury’s ‘legends’ slot, previously filled by the likes of Dolly Parton and James Brown. Special guest singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae provides support for the evening.

Don Broco Quantic O2 Institute, Birmingham, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Fri 15 July Sun 31 July - Mon 1 August Quantic is just one name used by talented musician and producer Will Holland. Recording under monikers including The Quantic Soul Orchestra and The Limp Twins, he creates beat-heavy sounds in the ‘soul, Latin and funk’ category. Now onto his 16th studio album - having also released several compilations - this globally renowned musician and vinyl collector uses hand-sourced samples to add an international flavour to his music. Holland stops off in Birmingham as part of a tour to support new album 1000 Having formed officially eight years ago after Watts, recorded with his Flowering Inferno band. a long time spent playing not only together but also in various other bands, vocalist Rob Damiani, guitarist Simon Delaney and drummer Matt Donnelly have certainly honed the art of making rock music with a gloriously melodic edge. Joined by Tom Rufus Wainwright Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 15 July Doyle on bass, the quartet's first album, Priorities, was adrenaline-fuelled, Blending the deeply personal with sharp social commentary, Rufus Wainwright has hook-heavy and critically acclaimed. The established himself as one of modern music's boys’ new headline tour features two nights shining talents. The American-Canadian singer-songwriter has recorded numerous in each of the cities they’re visiting, the first albums, including the Juno Award-winning evening being dedicated to their debut Rufus Wainwright (1998) and Poses (2001). album, the second featuring Top 10 offering He’s also collaborated with a host of A-list artists, including Elton John, Boy George and Automatic. Joni Mitchell, to name but three.

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Gig previews from around the region

Afla Sackey & Afrik Bawantu mac, Birmingham, Fri 15 July

Led by Ghanaian-born percussion master Afla Sackey, 10-piece orchestra Afrik Bawantu produce a rhythm- driven, dance-induced traditional roots fusion. Their unique blend of vibrant African rhythms, fast, animated horn sections and heavy bass Bunny Wailer & Not only is he a three-time Grammy winner, lines brings a whole new definition Max Romeo he’s also released over 30 albums, debuting to the afro-funk genre. with Blackheart Man way back in 1976. O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sat 9 July Bunny is here joined by former Emotions lead singer Max Romeo. Their Roots Founding member of The Wailers - along- Renaissance tour promises to be an unmiss- side Bob Marley and Peter Tosh - the well- able night for any reggae lover. Hayseed Dixie respected Bunny Wailer is a legend on the The Robin, Bilston, Thurs 21 July Jamaican music scene.

Haçienda Classiçal Sun Kil Moon The Rainbow Open Air Arena, Birmingham, The Glee Club, Birmingham, Tues 19 July Sun 31 July Named after a Korean lightweight boxer, Sun Kil Moon is the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist Mark Kozelek. Previously the founder of Red House Painters, Kozelek started writing Sun Kil Moon material back in 2002, following Although they’ve produced some the delayed release of the Painters’ last pretty unforgettable and comically album, Old Ramon. The American folk rock crude songs, including I'm Keeping act have since released eight studio albums. Your Poop In A Jar and She Was Skinny When I Met Her, Hayseed Dixie are probably best known for their rollicking rockgrass covers. Co-founder, guitarist and frontman Sun Kil Moon Arijit Singh John Wheeler names Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades as his favourite, but Presented by MADE Birmingham, Haçienda it’s the music of AC/DC with which Classiçal sees dance music icons Graeme Arijit Singh they’re most closely associated. Park and Mike Pickering teaming up with Kiss, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and the Manchester Camerata Orchestra. Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sat 9 July Queen are others to have received the “I'm extremely excited by this project,” says Following a sell-out concert at the SSE Hayseed Dixie treatment. Park. “The passion, romance and energy of Arena, Wembley, last year, Rock On Music Having played over 1,000 gigs in 30- the original house masters has stood the test brings award-winning playback singer and plus countries, it’s fair to say they’re of time, and I think we're going to blow music programmer Arijit Singh to a much-loved act, so bag yourself a some minds and take the euphoria of Nude Birmingham. Across his career, Singh has ticket asap. nights at The Haçienda to a whole new, received in excess of 20 awards for his out- mind-blowing level. I really can't wait.” put, the majority for the song Tum Hi Ho, Support comes from Joy Division’s Peter which featured in the Indian movie Hook and The Light, who’ll perform an elec- Aashiqui 2. tric New Order set.

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Classical Music

CBSO: Falstaff Ex Cathedra: Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 13 July New Jerusalem People are decidedly split on Verdi’s Tewkesbury Abbey, Wed 13 July Falstaff. For some, it’s a warm and wise Jeffrey Skidmore once again takes the comedy; for others, a work that struggles baton to conduct Birmingham’s highly to make the grade, due mainly to the rela- rated early music ensemble, this time in a tive weakness of its source material - concert performed as part of the Shakespeare’s not altogether universally Cheltenham Music Festival. acclaimed Merry Wives Of Windsor. The programme brings together old and Verdi’s final opera, it was composed as a new works connected to one another by response to the oft-voiced accusation that the theme of ‘Jerusalem’. Gloucestershire he was no good at writing comedy - hence composer Hubert Parry’s famous choral his decision to place Shakespeare’s funni- song of that same name is featured, as is est character at the very heartland of the his coronation anthem, I Was Glad, and work. two more of his works - Blest Pair Of The City of Birmingham Symphony Sirens and Lord, Let Me Know Mine End. Orchestra are joined for this new produc- O Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem, a tion by the CBSO Chorus and a cast head- work by another Gloucestershire composed by baritone Ambrogio Maestri, who er, Herbert Howells, is also included, as is plays Falstaff. Edward Gardner conducts. Judith Weir’s Illuminare, Jerusalem. The opera is sung in Italian with English Ambrogio Maestri The concert finale is James MacMillan’s surtitles. Seven Angels, a new ‘Last Judgment’ work featuring texts from the Book of Revelation and biblical instruments such as trumpets, a harp and a ram’s horn... Orchestra Of The Swan City Of Birmingham Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Choir: Folk Songs & Sat 30 July Finzi The Stratford-based Orchestra Of The Swan brings to an end its Shakespeare 400 Bramall Hall, Birmingham University, Sun 3 July Anniversary season with this all-English concert. David Curtis is the conductor for a pres- Five years away from celebrating its entation which features BBC Young Musician centenary, the City of Birmingham of the Year Laura van der Heijden performing Choir continues to embrace the chal- the Elgar Cello Concerto. lenge of performing a wide and The concert also includes: adventurous repertoire. This latest Nicolai’s Overture, The concert, remembering the Great War Merry Wives Of Windsor; and paying homage to the folk song, Birmingham Bach Elgar’s Pomp & presents a programme of music by Choir: A Shakespearean Circumstance March no 1 Ralph Vaughan Williams, Harold and March no 4; Hubert Darke and popular contemporary Concert composers John Rutter and Cecilia Parry’s classic Jerusalem; Stratford ArtsHouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Henry Wood’s McDowall. The music of composer Sat 2 July Gerald Finzi is also celebrated, via a Fantasia On British Sea David Curtis The Birmingham Bach Choir is joined Songs. performance of his rarely heard Game Of Thrones and Wolf Hall actor Requiem da Camera. Anton Lesser for this celebration of Shakespeare’s legacy. Last Night Of The The concert combines varied musical Summer Proms works inspired by the playwright with passages from his plays and sonnets. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 2 July “We’re performing a wonderfully varied As quintessentially English as cucumber programme,” explains Birmingham Bach sandwiches and Pimms, this ever-popular Choir’s Chair, Sarah Platt. “It moves from event promises to provide an evening of Vaughan Williams’ eerie part-songs to uplifting classics and prom favourites. George Shearing’s jazz-inspired Music To Rousing compositions such as Land Of Hope Hear, where a double bass player will add And Glory, Jerusalem, Battle Hymn Of The that pungent pizzicato to the mix! We're Republic and Zadok The Priest all feature - as thrilled, too, that Anton and Juliet will be does a Mary Poppins medley! The concert is joining us, to add another layer of drama performed by the Midland Voice Choir & and enjoyment to this memorable pro- Orchestra. gramme.”

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Festivals

Godiva Festival War Memorial Park, Coventry, Fri 1 - Sat 3 July Claiming the title of the UK's biggest free music festival, the Coventry Godiva has come a long way from its 17th century origins as a procession in honour of the medieval Countess of Mercia. Though the procession still continues today, the event has snowballed since the early noughties, attracting ever-growing audiences and a diverse array of both veteran performers and emerging acts to play across its three stages. Over the years, festival line-ups have covered Britpop bands, up-and-coming indie talents, ’80s electro pop, familiar ska and two-tone favourites, reggae, hip-hop and even international stars. Line-up Includes: The Charlatans, Mystery Jets, Space, The Boomtown Rats, Scouting for Girls, The Subways, The Pigeon Detectives, Luna Kiss, Milburn, D Double E and Yungen

Scouting For Girls The Subways The Boomtown Rats

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Splendour The Birmingham And Festival Wollaton Park, Nottingham, Sat 23 July Solihull Jazz & Blues Moseley Park, Birmingham, Fri 8 - Sun 10 July Festival Brought to you by the masterminds behind Various locations throughout Birmingham & Solihull, Fri 15 - Sun 24 July Moseley Folk and the Lunar Festival, Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul does exactly what it says Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival has this on the tin. World-class artists come together year teamed up with Solihull Jazz Festival for with the leading lights of the local jazz scene the very first time. in a laid-back, family-friendly event that cel- Like Mostly Jazz and the International Jazz ebrates Birmingham's musical heritage. Like Festival, the Birmingham Jazz & Blues cele- its sister folk festival, it's also located in the brates the city's long-running history with Jess Glynne gorgeous Moseley Park, a stunning wood- the genre, which has maintained a strong land glade tucked away from busy city local following since the 1920s. The success Since its inception in 2008, Splendour streets - a perfect escape from the city centre in previous years of the Solihull event, in Nottingham has assembled an bustle. meanwhile, has offered plenty of evidence impressive range of musical talent, that the town has a huge appetite for jazz Line-up Includes: De La Soul, George Clinton unrestricted by genre or audience. music. Parliament Funkadelic, Average White Band, Centrally located in the heart of the This coming together of the festivals sees Booker T. Jones, Grandmaster Flash, beautiful Wollaton Park, the festival is around 200 performances taking place in Blackalicious, Eska, Craig Charles' Funk & easy to access for locals and visitors more than 40 venues, with both home-grown Soul Show alike, and is well-situated for com- and international artists taking part. bined visits with other local attractions - the Nottingham Natural Line-up Includes: Pepper And The Jellies, History Museum, Nottingham Digby Fairweather And The Chasemen, The Industrial Museum and nearby herds Catfish Kings, The Humors, The Whiskey of red and fallow deer. Brothers, The Busquitos, Walter Trout Band, Remi Harris Trio and the Roy Forbes Trio. Line-up Includes: Jess Glynne, The Human League, UB40, The Darkness, Turin Brakes, Jamie Lawson, The Fratellis, The Rifles, Stiff Little Fingers, Jeremy Loops, Ady Suleiman Grandmaster Flash

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Festivals

Williams, Colin Matthews and Deborah Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain Pritchard, as well as a stunning light show from Luxamuralis, prompt reflections on the war, while exhibitions, talks and cabaret sessions take a closer look at life and culture at the time. Film critic Mark Kermode introduces screen- ings of Charlie Chaplin's The Rink (1916) and The Immigrant (1917), while The Foundry Group perform Those Magnificent Men - a play about aviation pioneers Alcock and Brown - and Ballet Cymru present dance adaptations of two Roald Dahl stories, the author having been born in 1916. Elsewhere, expect readings from well-known authors, kathak dance, classic movies, Shakespeare, Mozart, folk music and hands- on, family-friendly fun. Line-up includes: Susan Calman, Rob Beckett, Kate Rusby, Claire Martin, Mark and more, Lichfield Festival this year cele- Lichfield Festival Kermode, Sebastian Faulks, Mona Siddiqui, brates an impressive 35 years. Spanning 10 BBC National Orchestra of Wales and The Various locations in and around Lichfield, days and multiple venues, the 2016 event Fri 1 - Sun 10 July Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. begins on the 100th anniversary of the Battle Bringing together a diverse array of music of the Somme and takes the First World War with theatre, film, comedy, dance, visual art as a major theme. Compositions by Vaughan

MADE Birmingham MADE... My Night Line-up Includes: Knee Warwick Folk Festival Deep in Sound, Speedy Sonics, Hot Since 82, The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham Davide Squillace, Sidney Charles, Cause & Warwick School, Thurs 21 - Sun 24 July Sat 30 July Effect, Preditah, Friction and Slimzee

Wolvestock 22 Wolverhampton Racecourse, Friday 1 - Sun 3 July Offering (for over 20 years now) a rare chance to enjoy country music in the heart of the West Midlands, the unique Wolvestock The Unthanks Rudimental festival has previously won recognition as the best UK event at the British Country Music Awards, making it an essential date on Attracting some of the folk scene's most sea- From cutting-edge live music and dance to the calendar for any fan of the genre. soned performers as well as scouting out the vibrant street art and design, the Conveniently located at Wolverhampton hottest new talent, Warwick Folk Festival is Metropolitan Arts & Dance Event (MADE Racecourse, the festival features free parking among the best when it comes to traditional Birmingham) compiles the best in contempo- and very affordable tickets, available from music offerings. Conveniently located in the rary urban and underground culture in the the Wolves Civic box office. grounds of Warwick School, with indoor and bustling, creative heart of Britain's second outdoor performance space and plenty of city. Expect dynamic, award-winning per- Line-up includes: indoor facilities, it also boasts one of the best formers, drum and bass, hip-hop, grime, Donna Wylde festival sites around. Folk dance, kids' activi- techno and all-night DJ sets at the biggest (pictured), Lisa ties, a friendly atmosphere and lots of fringe MADE... My Night after-party to date, spread Wright, Katy Jane, acts around the town all contribute to mak- across two separate rooms. Easy to access Dee D & The ing Warwick Folk one of the Midlands' most thanks to its inner-city location, this adults- James Gang Band, all-round enjoyable festival experiences. only festival takes place across various ven- Emma Swindells Line-up Includes: The Unthanks, Show of Donna ues in Birmingham's Digbeth Triangle. Band, Shotgun Hands, Korrontzi, Le Vent du Nord, Michael Annies, The Ash Line-up Includes: Rudimental DJ, Stormzy, McGoldrick & Friends, Jamie Smith's Cooper Band, Andy C, Kano, Dusky, Shy FX, Boddika, MABON, Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Narn, Henry Logan Sama, Toddla T, Noisia, Chris Barluath, Will Pound Ceilidh Band and Smith Band, The Lorenzo, Low Steppa and Mike Skinner & Jigdoll (Hannah James) Diabolos Band Murkage present Tonga

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Festivals

Dizzee Rascal all while maintaining a strong sense of community absent from many modern festivals. Even better, it's affordably priced, and absolutely free for under-10s. Music line-up includes: Happy Mondays, Dizzee Rascal, Mystery Jets, Netsky, Wretch 32, Friction, K-Klass, The Sunshine Underground, Sonny Wharton, Graeme Park, The Hunna, Icarus, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show. Art & Comics line-up includes: Howard Chaykin, Roland Boschi, Goran Parlov, Jason Starr, John Wagner, David Baillie, Dan Berry, Doug Brathwaite, Brox, Andy Diggle and Barry Kitson.

Shrewsbury Fields from it’s previous home - Greenhous West Mid Showground - to the picturesque Quarry Forever Park, with another excitingly diverse line-up. The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Readily accessible and centrally located, the Fri 15 - Sun 17 July event brings together brilliant breakthrough Shropshire's largest festival of contemporary acts with established music and comedy per- music, electronica, arts and comedy moves formers as well as visual artists and writers, Mystery Jets

Bromsgrove Folk Fuse Festival L Fest Various venues across Bromsgrove, Beacon Park, Lichfield, Fri 8 - Sun 10 July Worcestershire, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 July Uttoxeter Back for 2016, Lichfield's free, family-friendly Racecourse, community music and arts festival promises Staffordshire, Fri 15 - Mon 18 July to be bigger, brighter and better than ever. Expect music, circus and entertainment from Billed as the UK's across the UK and Europe, as well as deli- only lesbian music, cious food and the chance to get hands-on arts and comedy with various creative workshops and com- festival, the multi- Heather Peace munity projects, all in the gorgeous sur- award-winning L roundings of Beacon Park. Fest is a relatively recent venture. It started out just a few years ago when its Director, Rory McLeod Line-up includes: The Indecision, Funke & Cindy Edwards, decided to utilise her experi- the Two Tone Baby, The Roz Bruce Infusion, ence of running a women's football tourna- A small-scale, friendly music festival, Sonic Boom Six, K.O.G. and the Zongo ment to develop what's now turned into Bromsgrove Folk offers a chance to enjoy up- Brigade, Kissin' Kippers Fishin' Club, three major international events. Thanks to close-and-personal, intimate concerts from Sugarthief, Deny All Robots, The Jar Family, its open and inclusive atmosphere, its friend- UK-based folk, roots and acoustic perform- Pearl Handled Revolver and Misty's Big liness and originality, the not-for-profit festi- ers, and this year celebrates its 25th anniver- Adventure. val has already met with huge success, draw- sary. Taking place in the town's Bowling ing in audiences of all ages. Men, straight Green Inn on Shaw Lane, the festival spreads Sonic Boom Six folks and the whole LGBTQI community are across two marquees (one 350-seater and welcome, kids go free, babysitting services one 120-seater), with sessions and sing- are offered and the event has even been arounds inside the pub. recognised for its commitment to improving access for deaf and disabled visitors. Line-up includes: Rory McLeod & The Familiar Strangers, Steve Tilson & Jez Lowe, Line-up includes: Heather Peace, Saffron Anthony John Clarke, Steamchicken, Mad (from Republica), Eva Iglesias and Pink and Jocks & Englishmen, Kristina Olsen, Vicki Amy Winehouse tribute acts. Swan & Jonny Dyer, Steve Turner and Union Jill.

For more festivals visit whatsonlive.co.uk 23 The Levellers DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 18:10 Page 1

FEATURE

LEVELLING THE LAND The Levellers' Mark Chadwick talks festivals, folk music, and filming a documentary

In the late 1980s, a bunch of young radicals This summer, the band will be touring sev- on the fringes of the so-called ‘crusty’ trav- eral UK festivals, including the Shrewsbury eller movement emerged onto the booming and Moseley Folk Festivals in the Midlands. indie music scene with a band that took its Earlier in the year, they also performed at name from a 17th century progressive politi- Derbyshire's Bearded Theory. Having begun cal faction. Inspired both by popular punk their career with a big following amongst bands like The Clash and by the folk acts travellers on the free festival scene, and twice they'd been hearing on the live circuit, The gone on to smash records for drawing the Levellers developed a fresh, dynamic sound, biggest ever crowds at Glastonbury's Pyramid combining traditional acoustic instruments and Avalon stages, music festivals have al- with electric base, thumping rhythms and a ways seemed a natural home for The Lev- furious rock energy, as well as unapologeti- ellers. cally politicised lyrics. “They can be really special events,” says In some ways, it's hard to imagine less likely Chadwick. “You never know what you're candidates for mainstream musical success, going to get, and quite a lot of the time, you'll but something about the frustrated, rebel- find there are people there who've never seen lious spirit of the time combined with their you before, which is great. There's always a exhilarating live performances enabled them buzz from that - when you just play your own to build a massive audience. Their first gigs, you're always preaching to the con- album, A Weapon Called The Word (1990), verted, to an extent.” went gold and their second, Levelling The As well as appearing at events across the Land (1991), entered the charts at number 14 country, since 2003, the band have also run and eventually went platinum. Twenty-seven their own non-commercial Beautiful Days years, multiple albums and a documentary Festival in Devon. The proliferation of music ‘‘ film later, The Levellers are still going strong. festivals during the last decade or so might Though it's been a few years since their last have resulted in a rather crowded market studio album, the band have been continu- place, but enthusiasm for them doesn't ap- ally out on tour, releasing several live records pear to have waned. as well as their Greatest Hits. “People don't seem to mind - they're still What's On caught up with Levellers frontman going and it's a big business. We sell our fes- Mark Chadwick. tival out without even advertising it, but “We've been writing and working on new we're in quite a fortunate position there be- songs since November, and we've been trying cause it can be risky. Often people think it's a some of them out live, but we're not in a quick way of making money, but to be hon- hurry to get a new album out,” explains est, it's not really a way of making any money Mark. “We just want to make sure it's some- at all. Not if you do it properly, anyway - if thing special - there's no point in putting out you don't want to treat people horribly and an average record.” have terrible infrastructure and bad food and 24 whatsonlive.co.uk ” The Levellers DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 18:10 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

rubbish toilets and herd them around. It's not that much. I just find it disappointing. be more expressive and personal, I suppose.” just ripping people off, and long-term that's And surprising, actually, because there's Since recording their last studio album, not a great idea - those kinds of events tend plenty of scope. There's a lot to write about. Static On The Airwaves, in 2012, The Levellers to disappear quite quickly.” We're living in a very scary world with a lot of have been the subject of a documentary film injustices right now, and I don't really under- That being said, while the ranks of independ- directed by Chumbawamba's Dunstan Bruce. stand why people aren't singing about it.” ent festivals have been growing, it's still the Primarily told from the perspective of the larger, better advertised events that tend to The Levellers' belief in the importance of charismatic bassist and album artist Jeremy dominate, something also true in other as- speaking up for ordinary people ties them in Cunningham, it tells the story of the band's pects of the music industry. It's hard to get with a long folk tradition that has historically rise to success from 1988 to ’98. away from the fact that popular music is served to give voice to those who might other- “We thought it was about time, actually! It more managed and manufactured than ever, wise have been silenced. At the 2011 BBC doesn't cover everything of course - it's not which poses the question of whether a Radio Two Folk Awards, they received the like a typical 'rock-u-mentary'. It's got more boundary-pushing, genre-defying, outspoken Roots Award for outstanding contribution to of a narrative to it, which makes it a better band like The Levellers would be able to folk music from a grassroots level upwards. film. Making it was quite easy really. We gave reach as many people if they were starting Though folk is only one aspect of their dis- him complete carte blanche to do whatever out today. tinctive style, which has always resisted easy he wanted. We didn't want to influence it in categorisation, the band have lately been “It is difficult now. I mean, it takes money. I any way - so if he saw us as a horrible bunch, strengthening their connection to the genre, appreciate you can just about do all right on that's how we would’ve come across. Fortu- working with Sean Lakeman to produce their your own with the internet and gigging, but nately, I think we come across pretty well!” albums and collaborating with the likes of to actually reach a wide audience and get re- Bellowhead and Billy Bragg on new versions Today, after more than 25 years in the busi- ally well known does require investment from of their earlier hits. ness, The Levellers continue to inspire new a record company, and they just don't seem listeners with songs that seem just as impor- to do that much now. They'll do it for pop “We love folk music - we always have. Back tant and relevant as ever. During their time music, but they won't really do it for anything in the day it was a dirty word but it's not any together, they've seen a whole generation else.” more. But again, folk music is traditionally grow up with their music, and even begin to the music of protest, a kind of descriptive It's perhaps partly down to this shift that introduce a new one to the fold. narrative of the times, and I do think that's there's been a noticeable decline in the num- missing in folk at the moment. It's all very “It's a very broad church, our audience. As a ber of overtly political and countercultural nicey-nicey.” band I think we're quite unique in that re- acts emerging in recent years, at least spect. We get everyone from eight-year-olds amongst those achieving widespread recog- In 2010, Chadwick also made his solo debut to 80-year-olds coming along to our gigs. It's nition. This is despite the fact that our cur- with All The Pieces, following this up with a really great!” rent political landscape is characterised by a second album, Moment, in 2014. similar polarisation to that which prompted a “I still feel more at home with the band, to be creative backlash in the ’80s and early ’90s. honest, but I like doing solo stuff. It's just dif- The Levellers play Shrewsbury Folk “There's good music, but the lyrical content I ferent. It's great getting to work with different Festival on Monday 29 August and do find generally lacking across the board. musicians after 27 years. And it's freeing - it Moseley Folk Festival on Friday 2 You can find it in some British rap music, but frees me up to write in a different way. I can September.

whatsonlive.co.uk 25 Comedy July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:39 Page 1

Comedy

EastEnd Cabaret: Yeti's Demon Dive Bar mac, Birmingham, Tues 19 - Wed 20 July ‘A high-powered Flight Of The Conchords dipped in acid and drenched in smut’ is how Australian website Crikey summed up EastEnd Cabaret. New Zealand’s Theatreview, meanwhile, said the pair were ‘like the mutant child of a Victorian circus, locked away in the Pet Shop Boys’ basement and forced to watch nothing but Eurovision’... You no doubt get the picture. Well, some sort of picture, anyway. EastEnd Cabaret’s description of themselves may further enlighten: ‘a globe- trotting, manbeast-riding, accordion-wielding, filth-mongering musical comedy duo’. Featuring Jennifer Byrne as European chanteuse Bernie and Victoria Falconer-Pritchard as the freakish hermaphrodite Victor Victoria, the award-winning act brings together a winning combination of risqué songs and character comedy. This latest show, debuted last year, features all manner of bizarre new characters, including an overly amorous yeti, a sleazy severed head and the intriguingly named Psychedelic Nuns.

Six of the best...

Mark Just The Tonic Danny Watson The Comedy Loft, Birmingham, Bhoy Fri 29 - Sat 30 July Theatre Severn, Slade Rooms, Shrewsbury, Just The Tonic began in Nottingham over 20 Wolverhampton, Sat Fri 9 July 2 July; The Glee years ago and has now taken over the Club, Birmingham, Well established Jongleurs site in Birmingham. Sun 3 July; Artrix, on the UK come- The popular event this month features the Bromsgrove, Mon 4 July dy circuit, Mark highly rated Markus Birdman, a comedian Watson was born who firmly believes that comedy should There can surely be in Bristol to always be presented live, in a dingy club, no greater pressure Welsh parents and initially delivered his act and to no more than 200 people. for a Scottish comedian than to be consid- with a Welsh accent, claiming he was "more With that kind of attitude, he may find it ered one of the country’s brightest hopes comfortable to be talking in a voice that I tricky to forge ahead with a television career since Billy Connolly. Such is the cross which didn't quite recognise as my own". - but then that’s absolutely fine by Markus. Danny Bhoy is currently having to bear. That A regular contributor to the Edinburgh Markus is joined on the bill by ‘a very special said, Danny is without question an incredi- Fringe, Watson has the curious distinction of guest’ the organisers ‘cannot announce’. And bly talented guy, blending ironic wit, obser- having performed stand-up shows which by Ray Peacock... vational humour and an appealingly laid- have lasted for a period in excess of 24 Although best known as one half of the high- back style to excellent effect. Whether he’s hours. “Comedy is certainly a time-consum- ly rated Peacock & Gamble double-act, Ray’s got what it takes to enjoy a career as long as ing element of my life,” admits Watson, “but no stranger to flying solo as a comedian. He the legendary Mr Connolly’s, only time will then while I’m out touring and on stage, also writes, acts and presents, and lists his tell, but there’s little doubt that he's become there are people at home doing far less glam- passions as The Muppets, Lemony Snicket, one of the most sought-after young comedi- orous things. There have certainly been Star Wars and Les Dawson. ans on the circuit. times when I’ve been very happy to say, ‘Of Completing the line-up is well-established He appears in the Midlands prior to touring course I’d like to stay and help out with that funnyman Luke Toulson, a regular Canada, New Zealand and Australia. plumbing crisis, but Bromsgrove awaits!’” Edinburgh Festival contributor with a refreshingly down-to-earth style of delivery.

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Patrick Monahan Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge, Fri 1 July; Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tues 19 July; David Lloyd, Dudley, Fri 22 July; Brook Street Community Centre, Tipton, Fri 22 July; mac, Birmingham, Thurs 28 July Half-Iranian, half-Irish stand-up comic Patrick Monahan is no slouch when it comes to bringing up the subject of his own ethnicity on stage - after all, he’s got a quality gag about spending all of his holidays in customs and he’s not afraid to use it! “I guess I like to think that maybe I’m breaking down stereo- types,” explains Patrick, who’s eager to make it clear that his comedy isn’t just political. “The comedians I most admire are the ones who can play to everybody. I think it’s important to look for positive stuff in life. Focusing on the bad stuff all the time would mean that the only people who’d come to my shows would be the ones who thought the end of the world was nigh!”

Live At Edinburgh Dane The Civic Comedy Baptiste Brierley Hill Civic Previews Lichfield Garrick, Hall, Sat 16 July Fri 15 July Evesham Arts The Civic is this Centre, With a new sitcom month offering a Fri 15 & Fri 22 July hitting TV screens real ‘Brierley belter’ Enjoy a taste of the last month and this for lovers of stand- Edinburgh Festival touring show enjoy- up comedy to without leaving the ing a positive enjoy. The venue’s Midlands. response from crit- latest laughter-laden live event brings togeth- Across two shows, Evesham Arts Centre pres- ics and audiences alike, it’s fair to say 2016 is er Paul Tonkinson, Doc Brown and The ents four well-regarded comedians busily working out well for Dane Baptiste. Fizzogs. honing their sets en route to the Scottish It’s certainly been a whirlwind couple of Regularly booked by the UK Armed Forces, capital. years for the London-born funnyman. In Tonkinson was the first comic to perform in Former Detective Sergeant Alfie Moore 2014, he became the first ever black comedi- Iraq after the war officially ended. explains how to get away with murder, Chris an to be nominated for the Foster's Best Doc Brown (pictured) is an actor and rapper Stokes (pictured) presents ‘8½ stone of Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, a as well as a comedian who starred in police vegan fury’ as he rails against rudeness (Fri success achieved with his debut solo show, and legal drama Law & Order: UK under his 15), Tom Binns offers an evening of charac- Citizen Dane. real name of Ben Bailey Smith. ter-driven comedy and Will Mars sets out to “This is my second show,” says Baptiste of Black Country favourites The Fizzogs are show why his material often features in lists the currently touring Reasonable Doubt, “so suitably proud of their Midlands roots and of ‘the funniest jokes ever told’ (Fri 22). essentially it’s like my second album. And urge anybody who enjoys a good laugh to get the pressure’s cranked up because the first along to the Civic. show did so well. I’ve pretty much always wanted to be a comic, so there’s no Plan B for me - I’ve got to make sure this goes well...”

For more comedy listings visit whatsonlive.co.uk 27 Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:56 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Mamma Mia! Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sat 3 September This legendary show is of course a nicely contrived vehicle for the chart-topping music of 1970s Super Troupers Abba. The Swedish Fab Four scored mega-hit after mega-hit with catchy numbers like Waterloo, Dancing Queen, The Name Of The Game, The Winner Takes It All and Take A Chance On Me - all of which are present and correct in this blockbuster offering. Abba boys Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were both involved in the development of the show, while Anni-Frid Lyngstad - she’s the dark one - con- tributed in a financial capacity. A 2008 movie version received a thumbs up from many if not most of Mamma Mia!’s adoring fans - despite former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan having been given, rather unwisely, a Licence to Sing...

Much Ado About Nothing separated from one another, find themselves Shakespeare has been reincarnated as a slipping under the control of the mysterious present-day woman. In conversation with Avoncroft, Bromsgrove, Sun 10 July; Prospero. Matters are confused further by the therapist Henry, the now-renamed Mrs mac, Birmingham, Sat 16 July presence of supernatural spirit Ariel and the Shakespeare comes to the conclusion that grotesque man-beast, Caliban... she’s made a total hash of her most famous Presented beneath the stars by Heartbreak play, Hamlet. An entire reworking of the 400- Productions. year-old masterpiece is undertaken by the gender-switching playwright - but not before the play’s less-than-supportive dramatis per- sonae have made their feelings known...

RENT: The Musical Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, Much Ado About Nothing revolves around Tues 26 - Sat 30 July the stumbling romance between Benedick Written by Jonathan Larson and the recipient and Beatrice. Their liaison is strewn with dif- of both a Tony Award for best musical and a ficulties, not least among which is an unwill- Pulitzer Prize for drama, Rent takes its audi- ingness on the part of either to admit a liking ence on an intimate journey through a year for the other... Mrs Shakespeare in the lives of a small circle of friends and Not that the plot of Much Ado is likely to be Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, artists. Busily living out their dreams and overly important in this particular produc- 15 - 16 July; The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford- upon-Avon, 18 - 23 July battling their demons, the group boldly cele- tion, given the fact that it’s zany funsters brate life on the streets of New York’s East Oddsocks who’re at the helm! Expect plenty Village... Local lad Timothy Gough (pictured) of madcap mayhem and laughter from this takes the lead as Roger. always-value-for-money ensemble.

The Tempest Brueton Park, Solihull, Tues 19 July Shakespeare’s last and most complete play, The Tempest also represents the culmination of his art, bringing together many of the Irene Kelleher is the one and only cast mem- themes that informed his greatest dramas. ber in this critically acclaimed Edinburgh A wild storm forces a royal ship onto the Fringe tragicomedy. The ludicrous-but-fun rocks of an enchanted isle. The castaways, premise of the show is that William

28 For more theatre previews visit whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:56 Page 2

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Guys And Dolls Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 19 - Sat 23 July Opening on a Broadway that’s bustling with tourists and chorus girls, this legendary musical finds Nathan Detroit in dire need of some gambling money. Luckily for Nathan, he counts among his acquaintances Sky Masterson, one of the greatest gamblers in the country and a man who’ll bet on pretty much anything. “For a close relationship that can last us through all the years of our life,” says Sky, “no doll can take the place of aces back to back.” When Nathan bets Sky he can persuade Sarah Brown of the Save A Soul mission to go to Cuba with him, the stage is set for a warmhearted tale of love and laughter. Expect nifty dancing, high-stakes gambling and some truly fabulous Broadway numbers, including Luck Be A Lady and Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat.

Those Magnificent Men Singin’ In The Rain The Hired Man Lichfield Garrick, Tues 5 July New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lichfield Garrick, Fri 29 July - Sat 6 August until Sat 16 July Based on a Melvyn Bragg novel and featur- The behind-the-scenes story of two ing music by award-winning composer singers in the era when the talkies hit Howard Goodall, this stage version of The Tinseltown, the film of Singin’ In The Hired Man sees a cast of local performers Rain is one of the jewels in the collaborating with the Garrick’s professional Hollywood crown. Made in 1952 and production team. The theatre’s artistic direc- starring the irrepressible Gene Kelly, it tor, Tim Ford, is the man at the helm, pre- boasted a raft of unforgettable numbers senting the timeless tale of a young married - most memorably, of course, the title couple struggling to eke out a living from the track itself, a brilliantly choreographed land as the storm clouds of war gather Cardboard, chairs and some left-over props piece which has indelibly imprinted across Europe. are the somewhat modest storytelling tools itself on the collective memory of mod- in this clever and well-reviewed play about ern-day movie-goers. the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight. This latest stage version is a collabora- HMS Pinafore The show presents the thrilling story of tion between the New Vic, Bolton’s British aviation pioneers Alcock and Brown, Octagon Theatre and Salisbury Malvern Theatre, Tues 5 - Sat 9 July; Playhouse. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, and their daredevil dash across the Atlantic Mon 18 - Wed 20 July in the tiny, open cockpit of a converted Getting wet may never have been more fun. Gilbert and Sullivan’s fourth operatic collab- Vickers biplane. Radio Four regular David oration and their first international sensa- Mounfield stars. tion, HMS Pinafore’s opening run at London’s Opera Comique began in 1878 and lasted for an impressive 571 performances. Dogfight A nautical tale of romance and mistaken Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, identities, the two-act comic opera features Tues 12 - Sat 16 July some of Gilbert’s wittiest characters and This amateur show, a musical adaptation of showcases such songs as I Am The Captain the 1991 film of the same name, finds six Of The Pinafore, When I Was A Lad, A young Marines determined to enjoy them- British Tar and I’m Called Little Buttercup. selves before heading off to the Vietnam War. The Marines engage in a ‘dogfight’, a tradition which sees each of them trying to out- manoeuvre the others by taking along the ugliest girl they can find to a party. But the rules of the game are changed dramatically when Private Eddie Birdlace meets Rose... Photo credit: Richard Davenport 30 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:56 Page 4 Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:56 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Flames Footloose Arena Theatre, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Mon 4 - Sat 9 July Fri 29 - Sat 30 July Featuring classic numbers such as ‘Alfred Hitchcock meets Edgar Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Allan Poe’ is how this much- Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, praised Stephen Dolginoff and of course the title track itself, offering has been described. this remastered show stars Gareth When Meredith visits the grave Gates and Maureen Nolan. A hit both of her fiancée Edmund, who on Broadway and in the West End, it died in a fire a year before, tells the story of city boy Ren’s arrival she’s accompanied by his best in Bomont, and the impact which his friend and work colleague, dancing has on a town held back by Eric. the memory of a tragedy... As Eric returns to their car, another man appears; a man who claims to be Edmund, returned from a grave he never in fact inhabited... The Country Doctor patriotism in a modern England where a new Expect twists, turns and sur- national identity is being forged, Seaton focuses prises in what’s been Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, on an attack against a student that belies the Wed 20 - Fri 22 July described by one hugely notion of community cohesion... admiring critic as ‘a must-see In the freezing depths of the vast Russian tun- Fall Of The Kingdom, Rise Of The Foot Soldier is piece of musical theatre’. dra, a disgraced medical student fleeing prose- being performed in Stratford-upon-Avon as part cution for his crimes happens upon an isolated of Making Mischief, the RSC’s festival of bold Rehearsal pic surgery whose small staff are awaiting the and thought-provoking new plays. arrival of a new head doctor... This brutal, blackly comic farce is inspired by the stories of Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov Chaplin and presented by local theatre company Noctium. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 13 July; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 14 July Silent-era movie star Charlie Chaplin died almost 40 years ago at the age of 88. Since that time and not surprisingly, his star has faded considerably. His most famous films, meanwhile Daisy Pulls It Off - made in Hollywood during his halcyon days of The Bear Pit Theatre, the 1920s and ’30s - have all but disappeared Stratford-upon-Avon, Wed 13 - Sat 16 July from television screens. So this new musical play offers a useful reminder of just how talent- This Second Thoughts Drama ed, feted and remarkable Chaplin actually was. Group amateur production of The show follows the London-born actor from Denise Deegan’s play reflects the dark streets of Victorian England to the glitz the uncomplicated innocence and glamour of Tinseltown in the Roaring ’20s. of ‘modern schoolgirl stories’, Steven Arnold, who played Ashley Peacock in made popular by such authors Coronation Street, dons the bowler hat and as Angela Brazil and Enid toothbrush moustache to play the first true Blyton. It tells the tale of British icon of cinema. super-achiever Daisy Meredith, a girl from a poor, elementary- school background who’s des- Fall Of The Kingdom, Rise perate to find acceptance in Of The Foot Soldier the snobby confines of The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, Grangewood School for Young until Wed 27 July - Sat 27 August Ladies. “Subject matters that make us uncomfortable inspire my writing,” reveals Nigerian and Jamaican Londoner Somalia Seaton, “the kind of conversations you’re led to believe it’s best not to have at a party. Those things that need to be talked about so that change can be evoked.” Somalia’s latest work certainly falls into that category. With protectionism masquerading as

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theatre for younger audiences...

Brush A Feast Of Bones Losha

Brush in times of war, and the psychological very highest quality. For those unfamiliar responses which those actions induce. with the story, it follows the adventures of a mac, Birmingham, Sun 3 - Tues 5 July “In this play,” explains its writer, Frances 12-year-old girl named Zoe as she attempts to This home-made, eco-friendly production Kay, “we try to show how war might be built keep both herself and her pet rat safe from has been widely praised on its travels and into our very genes, making it almost impos- the ever-menacing Burt of Burt’s Burgers. looks set to win a whole new army of devo- sible to give up our notions of ‘enemies’ and Suitable for children aged seven and older. tees when it stops off in Birmingham. ‘battles’. We don’t talk about the Great War, Presented by Korea’s Brush Theatre, the but you can find it there in the underlying show brings together a collection of ‘weird mood of the play.” The Giant’s Loo Roll and wonderful characters, live music, dance The Place, Oakengates, Telford, Tues 26 July and fanciful puppets’. Paintings are created Peter Pan In Scarlet Children's writer and illustrator Nicholas live on stage, as an oft-told Korean fantasy Allan certainly shows no reticence when it story about a child’s quest for a baby brother New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, comes to publishing kids’ stories inspired by Sat 23 July - Sat 6 August magically unfolds. gentle toilet humour, bathroom habits and With numerous coveted awards evidencing Second star to the right and straight on till bottoms, bottoms, bottoms. His books their success, Brush Theatre are a company morning, that's the way to Neverland. But include The Prince And The Potty, Father operating at the cutting edge of children’s Wendy and the Lost Boys could certainly be Christmas Comes Up Trumps, The Queen’s entertainment and are well worth a look. forgiven if they’d forgotten how to reach the Knickers and Cinderella’s Bum. He also magical island, given that it’s been 20 long wrote Father Christmas Needs A Wee!, a Losha years since their adventures with the boy musical version of which, performed by who wouldn't grow up. When they suddenly TaleGate Theatre Productions, has done Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, find their dreams being infiltrated by visions Tues 5 - Fri 8 July great business both at the Edinburgh Fringe of pirates, mermaids, fairies and crocodiles, and out on tour. This new adaptation of Monkeyshine Theatre’s well-reviewed ‘feast they realise that something is terribly wrong another Allan children’s book is presented for the senses’ blends poetry, dance, shadow and that Peter Pan is in urgent need of their by the selfsame company. It finds the vil- play, puppetry and projection to tell the story help... lagers who live beneath a giant’s house sud- of a magical creature who likes to collect This official sequel to JM Barrie’s classic denly compromised by the arrival in their things. story was written by three-time Whitbread midst of an enormous runaway toilet roll... “A candle holds the magic of a birthday Children’s Book Award winner Geraldine party,” explains the company, “a teddy bear McCaughrean. It’s been adapted for the stage holds a child’s fear of the dark, a grain of by the New Vic’s Theresa Heskins, who also sand carries the freedom of a midnight swim. directs. Danny The Champion Losha is a rich and thoughtful play that cap- Of The World tures the heart and stirs the memory.” The production is presented as part of On Ratburger Dosthill Park, Tamworth, Staffs, Sat 2 July To Danny, life is perfect. He’s the youngest The Edge - a world festival of theatre for Brueton Park, Solihull, Tues 26 - Wed 27 July young audiences. car mechanic around and his dad is ‘the Although Heartbreak Productions are per- most marvellous and exciting father a boy haps best known for their outdoor presenta- ever had’. The pair enjoy a happy existence, A Feast Of Bones tions of Shakespeare plays, the company also but have one dark cloud looming over their tours a selection of other stage works, one of Birmingham Repertory Theatre, lives: Brewery owner Mr Hazell is keen to Thurs 7 - Sat 9 July which is this brand new adaptation of David move Danny and his father off their land. But Walliams’ 2012 bestseller. Heartbreak have Danny’s dad has a secret - the kind of secret Theatre Lovett’s contribution to the On The impressive form when it comes to Walliams’ that can lead to a daring adventure... Edge festival of theatre for young people is a work, having last year presented a critically This is an outdoor production. revenge fantasy set in a Dublin restaurant in acclaimed, under-the-stars version of his 1918. Although the production is ostensibly massively popular Mr Stink - so it’s fair to about a pompous man named Monsieur assume this latest offering will also be of the Renard and a ‘waitress’ who’s far from happy with him, its underlying theme is the acts of desperation which are committed by people For full theatre listings, visit whatsonlive.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Doreen DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:23 Page 1

INTERVIEW Doreen Tipton

In early 2012, a five-minute mockumentary written by playwright David Tristram went viral on the internet. The video satirised benefit scroungers and starred actress Gill Jordan as Doreen Tipton, a Black Country-born woman suffering from Lazy Cow Syndrome. Now established as one of the most remarkable comic creations of modern times, Doreen took time off from avoiding work to speak to What’s On...

Have your doctors and consultants given you any hope for the future in terms of your Lazy Cow Syndrome? There's apparently no cure, but I've become an ambassador for a local charity called the LCA - the Lazy Cows Association - and I sometimes get involved in fundraising events. I'm currently in training to watch a half marathon.

Are you benefit free now? All my benefits are free - that's the whole point of them. Besides, it's in my blood.

What are the best and worst bits of being a celebrity? The worst bits are probably being asked to answer stupid questions for magazines. There aren't any best bits.

Tell us about your relationship with Robert Plant? He told me not to tell anybody that I had a relationship with him. He's got a girlfriend.

If you could choose anyone in the Black Country to have a selfie with - dead or alive - who would it be? Probably not the dead one. Although even then they'd probably still smile more than me. I normally get my next-door neighbour Doris to do my selfies for me, because I'm not very good with technology.

You're invited to appear on a reality TV programme of your choice, what would be your first option? I quite like the Jeremy Vile show. Good fam-

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I wouldn't like to see Brummies and Yam-Yams inter-breeding. ‘‘ It's not right, even though the Government tend to encourage multifunctionalism these days. ”

ily entertainment. And it would be good to fi- keep the Yam-Yams out of Brum, so it's a win- come to the show, if they can get a free ticket. nally get those DNA results. There was a ru- win. I don’t like the idea of the matinees though - mour I was the love-child of a royal scandal. that's my afternoon nap ruined. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. I've just got to concen- Who's your favourite member of the royal trate now on trying to learn my line. What’s your biggest inspiration? family and why? Sleep. I quite like the corgis. Although I am a great admirer of HMV The Queen, or to use her for- Beyond Panto, what does the future hold mal title, Elizabeth Vagina. She is a perfect for Doreen Tipton? Where's your favourite holiday destina- example of how a woman in modern Britain I've just launched an exciting new venture tion? can bring up a family successfully on bene- called Doreen TV - my own online comedy Nowhere foreign. Especially Wales. fits. She's become a sort of rogue model for channel for the Black Country. If I had a me. I think she'll do well. pound for every time somebody said I should We live in interesting political times, be on the telly, I'd probably have about three quid by now, but I got bored waiting for some Doreen. The EU referendum will have What would be the worst things about London bloke in a suit to make his mind up, happened by the time this issue of What's moving to Birmingham? On hits the streets, but our readers would so I started my own. It's loads of bite-sized I think I'd find it tough learning a new lan- no doubt like to know your views on the loffs on video, taken from the shows over the guage at my age. And it's probably changed a EU... years. And new stuff is being added all the bit since I last went there, in 1963. And that time, including spoofs of just about every- I don't normally tend to get involved in poli- was a mistake - I got on the wrong bus. I'm thing from Time Team to Top Gear, and tics, but the EU thing did get me fired up. I not sure if they still have segregation there - footage from the live stage shows - stuff you'll don’t like the idea of being ruled by like they did in South America when Nelson never see on YouTube. I want it to grow and unerected Bureauprats, all being paid loads Mandelson was President - but I wouldn't develop into a unique comedy channel for on some big gravy boat. If we can save £350 like to see Brummies and Yam-Yams inter- the Black Country (including Brummies), so I million a week, I want some of it. breeding. It's not right, even though the Gov- need folk to rally round and support it. A ernment tend to encourage Doreen VIP pass costs just £12 for a whole In your eyes, who's the sexiest Nigel multifunctionalism these days. You'd end up year - less than the price of one live ticket - I Farage or Jeremy Corbin? with loads of Yum-Yums, or Brammies. bet most Black Country folk spend more than that in snuff. You can check it out and sub- Are they members of boy bands? I tend not to scribe on doreen.tv watch X-Factor. Looking back on your life to date, what would you say is your biggest regret?

If you were an American, would you vote All of it, really. Although as I get older I see Doreen’ brings her Grand Night Out to St for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? there are compensations, such as winter fuel allowance. George’s Hall, Bewdley on Sat 9 July; I like Donald Trumpet. I especially liked his Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, on Wed idea of building a big wall to keep the for- 13 and Thurs 14 July; Lichfield Garrick on eigners out. If I was Prime Minister the first How will being in panto at The Grand en- Fri 15 July and Highbury Theatre, Sutton thing I'd do is build a wall around the Black hance your Christmas? Coldfield on Sat 16 July. Country to keep out the Brummies. And if Well, for the first time in years I'll be able to Doreen will also star in the Grand any Brummies reading this are offended, see my own kids this Christmas. They're due Theatre’s pantomime, Aladdin, from Sat think of it this way. The same wall would to be released soon and they've promised to 10 Dec 2016 to Sun 22 Jan 2017.

whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Competitions July 2016.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:59 Page 1

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk

Win!

Tickets to The Chris and Pui Tickets to the 1940s Weekend Tickets to The Pet Show + Show at Black Country Living Museum Midlands Food & Drink Festival

Closes Friday 8 July Closes Monday 11 July Closes Friday 15 July

Tickets to Guys and Dolls Tickets to That's Entertainment Tickets to Forever In Blue Jeans

Closes Wednesday 13 July Closes Wednesday 13 July Closes Fri 7th July

A Weekend Family Ticket to A meal for two at FIVE Tickets to the Shrewsbury Dubtoberfest restaurants Flower Show + Meet the Artists

Closes Monday 18 July Closes Monday 11 July Closes Friday 29 July

VIP Weekend Tickets to MADE Tickets to Quill and Raymond Tickets to The Two Noble Birmingham Froggatt Kinsmen

Closes Thursday 21 July Closes Friday 8 July Closes Wed 10th Aug

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk also follow us on Twitter for more great competitions 36 whatsonlive.co.uk Film July - GROUP.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:00 Page 2

Film

Finding Dory CERT U (103 mins) With the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Idris Elba, Willem Dafoe Directed by Andrew Stanton (USA) It’s amazing it hasn’t happened sooner. Since it opened in 2003, Finding Nemo has become the sixth highest-grossing cartoon of all time, with a tidy $937 million in the bank. With the additional money from DVD and Blu-Ray sales, broadcasting rights and merchandising, that figure will be humon- gous. So, here is the sequel. Dory is the for- getful Pacific regal blue tang from the first film which, in case you’ve been away, is a fish. She (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) suddenly remembers the events of her childhood and so sets off to find her family – along with the clownfish Nemo (Brooks) and Marlin (Rolence). There will be adventure along the way… The original director, Andrew Stanton, returns. In 3D. Released Fri 29 July

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in July...

Absolutely Fabulous: The Colony CERT 15 (106 mins) The Movie CERT tbc Starring Emma Watson, Daniel Brühl, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey Directed by Florian Starring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Gallenberger (Germany/Luxembourg/France) Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield, Jane Horrocks, Kathy Burke Directed by Mandie Fletcher Set against a backdrop of the Chilean mili- (UK/USA) tary coup, this historical drama explores the Darling, you know everything’s going to be personal repercussions for a young woman, fabulous, if not outrageous. The eternally Lena (Emma Watson), when her husband is youthful Jennifer Saunders and Joanna abducted by Augusto Pinochet's secret Lumley reprise their small-screen roles as Central Intelligence police. The Colony – or Colonia Dignidad – Edina and Patsy and get into awful trouble, of the title was a secret cult from which CERT 12a (108 mins) forcing them to flee to the French Riviera. At nobody ever escaped. We look forward to least the champagne will be good there. And Starring Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Watson’s Chilean accent. Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul Directed by let’s just say that Kate Moss is a trouper. Rawson Marshall Thurber (USA) Released Fri 1 July Released Fri 1 July It was probably bound to happen: the unification of Hollywood’s biggest short star with all six-foot four inches of The Rock. The Big Johnson (aka The Rock) plays Bob Stone, a CIA agent who attends his high school reunion and is reunited with Calvin (the five-foot-four inch Kevin Hart), the former ‘big’ man on campus. Calvin is now a mild-man- nered accountant and is reluctantly drawn into Bob’s world of espionage and fire fights. Anyway, that’s the size of it. Released Fri 1 July

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Film

CRITIC’S CHOICE Now You See Me 2 CERT 12a (129 mins) Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman Directed by Jon M. Chu (USA) The magic troupe calling themselves The Four Horsemen are back and, against their will, are enlisted by a high-tech wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) to pull off their most daring heist yet. Filmed in Macau and Middlesex. Released Mon 4 July

Mark Rylance) who kidnaps a little girl The BFG CERT PG (117 mins) (Ruby Barnhill) to help him outwit the Starring Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, man-eating giants that have been plagu- Dame Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader ing the human world. Rylance previously Directed by Steven Spielberg (USA) played the Russian spy Rudolf Abel for Spielberg in Bridge Of Spies and walked The last time Steven Spielberg and the off with both a Bafta and an Oscar for his screenwriter Melissa Mathison collaborat- pains (deservedly). Ms Mathison died in ed on a film was on ET The Extra- November of last year. In 3D. Terrestrial, 34 years ago. This one is a live-action adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Released Fri 29 July story of the lonely giant (played here by

The Legend Of Tarzan Maggie’s Plan CERT 15 (99 mins) CERT 12a (110 mins) Starring Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke, Bill Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Hader, Maya Rudolph, Travis Fimmel, Julianne Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou Moore Directed by Rebecca Miller (USA) Christoph Waltz, Jim Broadbent, John Hurt Maggie’s plan is to have a baby on her own, Directed by David Yates (USA) courtesy of the seed of a former college col- The director David Yates segues from one league (Fimmel). Then she falls in love with iconic figure (Harry Potter) to another a married man (Hawke)... Rebecca Miller, (Tarzan) in this reboot of the story created by daughter of the playwright Arthur Miller and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Here, John Clayton, wife of Daniel Day-Lewis, previously brought 3rd Viscount Greystoke (Skarsgård), has been us The Ballad Of Jack And Rose and The absorbed into the aristocracy of London Private Lives Of Pippa Lee, so we expect good when he is called back to the jungle as a things. trade emissary for the British government. Released Fri 8 July However, there are Machiavellian forces The Neon Demon behind the mission, forcing the Apeman to CERT 18 (117 mins) bare his impressive physique one more time. Starring Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman, Jena Released Wed 6 July Malone, Bella Heathcote, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (France/Denmark/USA) The talk of this year’s Cannes film festival, The Neon Demon divided critics mightily. Some called it a masterpiece, others an abomination. Set in the world of high fashion, the film features extreme gore, graphic nudity and one scene of ‘aberrant sexuality.’ You have been warned. Released Fri 8 July

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Film releases in July

The Wait CERT tbc The Purge: Star Trek Beyond CERT tbc Starring Juliette Binoche, Lou de Laâge, Election Year CERT tbc Starring John Cho, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Giorgio Colangeli, Domenico Diele Reynolds Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Directed by Piero Messina (Italy/France) Starring Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Idris Elba Directed by Justin Lin (USA) Mykelti Williamson Anna (Binoche) accidentally bumps into her Directed by James DeMonaco (USA) son’s fiancée at a villa in Sicily and together they wait for his return, although Anna When did The Purge become a trilogy? knows better… Inspired by two works by When the first film grossed almost Luigi Pirandello, The Wait marks the directo- $90million (on a budget of $3m). The rial debut of Piero Messina, a protégé of the original was certainly one of the most Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (on disturbing and frightening films of whose The Great Beauty he served as assis- 2013 and now comes the supposed tant director). conclusion to the franchise (but we’ll see how much money it makes, first). Released Fri 8 July How many Star Trek films have there been? There is a presidential election afoot Whoops, this is the 13th and the third in the and the front-runner (Mitchell) is seek- rebooted series. Simon Pegg penned the Ghostbusters CERT tbc ing to abolish the Purge, the one night screenplay (in collaboration with Doug Jung) Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate of the year when killing is endorsed by and takes the USS Enterprise into the fur- McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Charles Dance, Chris the government. thest reaches of unchartered space where the Hemsworth, Andy Garcia Released Fri 15 July crew encounters a really nasty piece of work Directed by Paul Feig (USA) (Idris Elba). In 3D. Who you gonna call? Paul Feig, apparently, Released Fri 22 July he who guided Melissa McCarthy to stardom in Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy. Now McCarthy and the girls are replacing the The Commune CERT 15 (112 mins) boys in this distaff remake of the 1984 hit Starring Ulrich Thomsen, Fares Fares, Trine about a motley crew of spectral experts who Dyrholm Directed by Thomas Vinterberg join forces to save the world. The special (Denmark/Sweden/The Netherlands) effects should be considerably more special Thomas Vinterberg (Festen, The Hunt, Far this time round. In 3D. From The Madding Crowd) sets his latest film Released Fri 15 July Summertime in a commune in the ’70s where not every- CERT 15 (105 mins) body sees eye to eye. Trine Dyrholm won the Starring Cécile de France, Izïa Higelin, best actress award at Berlin for her perform- Noémie Lvovsky Directed by Catherine ance. And if Ms Dyrholm looks familiar to Corsini (France/Belgium) you, she starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in Two women from entirely different the delightful Love Is All You Need (2012). worlds – Carole is a militant feminist Released Fri 29 July teaching Spanish in Paris and Delphine is a farmer’s daughter committed to her parents in rural south- west France – fall passionately in love. Jason Bourne CERT tbc The drama, directed by the veteran Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Alicia French filmmaker Catherine Corsini, is Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Tommy Lee Jones, set in 1971. Riz Ahmed Directed by Paul Greengrass (USA) Ice Age: Collision Course Released Fri 15 July Jason Bourne, like Dory (see Finding Dory), is beginning to remember stuff. And so he CERT U (94 mins) sets about trying to uncover the truth about With the voices of Ray Romano, John Keanu CERT 15 (100 mins) who he really is. The good news is that Paul Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Simon Pegg, Greengrass returns as the director of this Jennifer Lopez, Queen Latifah Directed by Starring Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Mike Thurmeier and Galen T. Chu (USA) Key, Method Man, Nia Long, Will Forte, hopelessly addictive franchise (he directed Luis Guzmán Directed by Peter Atencio the best in the series, The Bourne Supremacy It’s all getting a bit serious. When Scrat, the (USA) single-minded sabre-tooth squirrel, leaves and The Bourne Ultimatum). Filmed in Las Jordan Peele is the name to conjure Earth in pursuit of his elusive acorn, he trig- Vegas, Berlin, Tenerife, London, Iceland and with here, an American comedian who gers a series of cosmic events that threaten Rome. wrote, produced and stars in this origi- the future of the planet. So Manny, Sid and Released Fri 29 July nal action comedy. He plays a guy co. have to move home (again) in order to called Rell, who adopts a cat after his preserve their respective species. In case you girlfriend has dumped him, unaware were wondering, this is the fifth in the Ice that it belongs to a Mexican drug car- Age animated franchise. In 3D. tel. He calls the moggie Keanu, Released Fri 15 July although in the drugs’ world it’s known as Iglesias. Released Fri 15 July

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Visual Arts

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 23 July - Sun 18 September As part of an international tour spanning six continents, this globally renowned exhibition arrives in Wolverhampton on loan from the National History Museum. Launched in 1965, Wildlife Photographer Of The Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, with this year's competition attracting over 42,000 entries from 96 different countries. The 100 award-winning photographs will take visitors on a journey across seas, skies and sand dunes, with shots of breathtaking landscapes, fascinating animal behaviour and other awe- inspiring scenes from nature that celebrate the huge diversity of life on planet earth.

Pirates, Pants & Kan Xuan BBC Faces Of Comedy Wellyphants Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Wed 6 July - Sun 11 September Sat 9 July - Sun 2 October Worcester City Art Gallery, Sat 9 July - Sat 3 September Celebrating 60 side-splitting years of the TV sitcom, BBC Faces Of Comedy offers an Best-loved children's illustrator Nick Sharratt exclusive glimpse of some of Britain's great- brings his quirky, colourful characters to est comedians at work - on set, behind the Worcester in this interactive, kid-friendly scenes, deep in script discussions or simply exhibition, part of a Showstoppers national enjoying a well-earned cuppa. Ninety never- tour. Anyone who's ever read Tracy Beaker, before publicly displayed photographs from Eat Your Peas or Shark In The Park will love the BBC's Photo Library have been specially this chance to take a peek at Nick's old selected by some of the nation's best-loved school work, step into a recreation of his stu- contemporary sitcom stars, curating the dio, and find out how it all started. Catch a exhibition in homage to the comedy greats sneaky glimpse of his original sketchbooks, who inspired them. design your own ‘Sharracter’, dress up as From Hancock's Half Hour to Only Fools And your favourites, add your pants to the dis- Presenting her first ever UK exhibition, Horses and from Steptoe And Son to play, or write a postcard to send to Nick him- renowned Chinese artist Kan Xuan brings Miranda, this unique photo exhibition pro- self. Perfect for a family outing! her refreshingly unpretentious and economi- vides an insight into the lives of our comedy cal video art to Ikon, following a screening of legends and the evolution of the sitcom over her seminal film A Happy Girl at the gallery the years. back in 2006. Comprising a wide selection of work ranging from the single-screen pieces of the late 1990s through to her very latest installation, the exhibition exemplifies the artist's pro- foundly philosophical approach to human experience in her attempts to “represent the state of our daily life, set against this crowded and noisy modern world”.

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Bert Hackett: The Gemini Years mac, Birmingham, until Sun 4 September Following the recent passing of Bert Hackett, mac Birmingham presents a timely tribute to the former Birmingham Post cartoonist, whose professional pseudonym was Gemini. The exhibition of his best-loved drawings follows a major retrospective held at mac in 2013, which celebrated his 80th birthday. Between 1966 and 2008, Hackett's daily cartoons were well known and respected by readers of the paper. During his 42 years at the Post, the artist worked with over a dozen editors and produced more than 10,000 cartoons, finally departing from the paper shortly before its relocation to Fort Dunlop. Born in Balsall Heath and subsequently a long-term resident in Moseley, Hackett was initially reluctant to take up the daily cartoonist role at the Post, but was eventually persuaded by his business partner and fellow cartoonist Graham Gavin, with whom he coined the Gemini name. The two began by sharing the role, taking it in turns and each producing a cartoon every other day. When Gavin dropped out eight years later, Hackett took on the demanding job full-time. After a four-year battle with prostate cancer, the popular cartoonist died on Friday 8 April this year. Said Birmingham Post Features Editor Sarah Probert: “Bert's enormous contribution to the Birmingham Post will never be forgotten.”

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Events

Antiques For Everyone varieties from more than 100 factories. Curated by Birmingham’s Pen Museum, the exhibition celebrates the NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 21 - Sun 24 July lives of the manufacturers and workers who helped place the city at With more than 200 dealers showcasing their wares, Antiques For the centre of a worldwide trade. The display is presented at Antiques Everyone is one of the largest events of its kind in the UK. For Everyone ahead of next month’s Heritage Lottery-funded This latest show, one of three taking place this year, features an relaunch of the pen museum. exhibition exploring the history of Birmingham’s highly successful As well as the exhibition, other connected highlights include a spe- 19th and early 20th century pen trade. At the height of the trade, the cialist talk focusing on the important place of the pen in the city’s city was producing around 1.5 billion pen nibs in 100,000 different commercial heritage, and a review of the pens featured in Birmingham-based BBC drama series Peaky Blinders (pictured).

Silverstone Classic Latin American The Big Arts Show Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, Festival West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury Fri 29 - Sun 31 July Fri 1 - Sun 3 July The Arcadian, Birmingham, Sun 3 July Birmingham’s Arcadian Centre is promising visitors a sizzling hot welcome early this month when the Latin American Festival makes a welcome return. The free one-day event promises a real feast for the senses, courtesy of an imaginative programme of music and dance. Cuisine, crafts and culture from numerous Latin American nations also Billed as ‘the world’s biggest classic motor- features. Shrewsbury’s Big Arts Show returns for a racing festival’, the Silverstone Classic is a Commenting on the festival, founder third summer (with a second 2016 event real mecca for car enthusiasts, at the same Annie Bazan-De-Fisher said: “Our scheduled to take place in the autumn). time offering top-notch entertainment for event embraces all cultures of the Providing a showcase for a wide variety of families to enjoy. world and is a unique opportunity not artwork, the family-friendly event features Highlights at this year’s event include track only to learn about the Latin American over 150 exhibitors, numerous talks by the parades, infield displays from over 100 car culture but also to share a great day in artists, an area dedicated to the work of new clubs featuring more than 10,000 classic a friendly and happy atmosphere. graduates, a real ale bar, eateries and live cars, interactive driving activities, ‘dynamic’ Everyone is most welcome to join in the music. demonstrations, aerial displays, a vintage festival, which promises to be an unfor- Other attractions and activities for visitors to funfair and a shopping village. gettable event, with lovely music for enjoy include art and craft demonstrations, Live music comes from, among others, The the public to dance to. It’s a wonderful film, photography, animation, puppetry and Boomtown Rats and The Stranglers. event for all the family.” performing artists.

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more events from around the region

Events

Our pick of top places to visit this Summer

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust In the year marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, a visit to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Stratford-upon- Avon heritage sites would certainly be well timed. The SBT is an independent charity which looks after five unique properties: Shakespeare’s birthplace itself; Hall’s Croft, the home of the bard’s daughter, Susanna; Anne Hathaway’s Cottage; Mary Arden’s 1940s Weekend Farm - the childhood home of Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, lesson in St James’ school. Other attractions Shakespeare’s mother; and, from Sat 16 - Sun 17 July include wartime variety shows, austerity- the 1st of this month, The Black Country Living Museum is hosting busting ‘make do and mend’ workshops, Shakespeare's New Place, provid- its largest ever 1940s Weekend this month. fashion shows and street performers. There’s ing visitors with the chance ‘to The event offers visitors the chance to stroll also the chance to experience air-raid scenar- walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps through vintage memorabilia markets, meet ios and listen to some of Churchill’s most stir- and meet the man behind the 1940s characters and prepare for an evacuee ring speeches, performed live by a re-enactor. works’.

Jewellery Quarter Festival The Pet Show Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Fri 22 - Sun 24 July Sat 23 - Sun 24 July With nearly 100,000 people having attended last year’s inaugural event, the decision to host a 2016 edition of the Jewellery Quarter Festival was a real no-brainer. Dudley Canal Trust The three-day presentation is a celebration of Created to protect and preserve the community and craftsmanship, providing vis- famous network of tunnels, the itors with the chance to learn more about Trust runs regular guided boat some of the Quarter’s most creative trades. trips. The excursions are accompa- Other attractions include a free helter skelter, nied by videos, lifelike reconstruc- performances by CircusMASH and a number tions and impressive light and of family trails across the Quarter and its his- music shows. The Trust re-invests toric cemeteries. any trading surplus into the main- Pet Show organisers are promising ‘a fantas- tenance of the tunnels and their tic day out’ for animal-loving visitors to this environment, to ensure that visi- fourth festival of fun, fur and feathers. tors can continue to enjoy and Attractions include animal habitat features, appreciate 420 million years of liv- educational workshops, have-a-go activities, ing history. a wide selection of the latest products, sup- plies and equipment, numerous special guests and meet-and-greet areas. And for those who work up a healthy appetite while enjoying the event, a visit to the Midlands Food & Drink Festival (also taking place at Stoneleigh across the same weekend) should ensure the noise of rumbling stom- achs isn’t added to the Pet Show’s cacophony of animal sounds.

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more events from around the region

Events

Our pick of top places to visit this Summer

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Highlights of a visit to this well- regarded museum, widely consid- ered to be one of Britain’s best, include the chance to view the world’s greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics, a World War Two Spitfire and numerous items from the Staffordshire Hoard. There’s also a secret garden - ‘a sensory oasis with plants and fungi to smell and touch’ - a International Craft And Hobby Fair unique collection of artwork by painters including Picasso, Durer NEC, Birmingham, Fri 1 - Sun 3 July ellery-making and beading workshops, and Degas, and the opportunity to papercrafts and cardmarking, and the chance An absolute dream for craft enthusiasts, this explore the wildlife, landscape to learn how to sew. hugely popular event features talks and and geology of The Potteries There’s also the opportunity to gaze in won- demonstrations, new product launches and region. der at a life-sized knitted garden, created plenty of inspiration for the thousands of vis- through a nationwide collaboration between itors who pass through its doors. Attractions hundreds of knitters and crocheters. at the 2016 edition of the show include jew-

Camper Jam Family Festival Weston Park, Shropshire, Fri 1 - Sun 3 July British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Sun 31 July The beautiful grounds of Weston Park pro- Croome Park vide the perfect setting for this popular annual event, which is aimed at owners and lovers The legendary Lancelot of the VW Bus in all its models and types. ‘Capability’ Brown was the man One of the most anticipated and highly responsible for designing Croome regarded Volkswagen shows on the calendar, Court and park, a task he under- the weekend-long Camper Jam includes live took at the behest of the sixth Earl bands, hundreds of traders, a ‘tastebud-tan- of Coventry in the mid-18th centu- talising’ food village, numerous children’s ry. It was Brown's first landscape activities, a funfair and the ever-popular design and first major architectur- Cooking In A Camper competition. al project. The chance to enjoy ‘a fun-filled day of art A popular National Trust destina- and science activities based around the great tion, the park features a man- British car’ should ensure an impressive made lake and river, gatehouses, a turnout for this brand new event. The festival church, a grotto, follies and features a wide range of hands-on work- numerous statues and temples. shops, all of which are suitable for children There are also four eye-catching aged three and older. Activities include the buildings - Pirton Castle, chance to create a unique fantasy car using Panorama Tower, Dunstall Castle paper cups and the opportunity to find out and Park Seat. These were strategi- what it was like to drive a bus through the cally built in particular areas of streets of London almost 100 years ago. the park to draw visitors’ eyes There’s also a clay-modelling workshop with towards the wider landscape. expert model makers from Aardman - the creators of Shaun The Sheep and Wallace & Gromit - and live entertainment from local percussionist Richard Grundon, who’ll be creating music by drumming with car parts.

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more events from around the region

Events

Newport Show Our pick of top Chetwynd Deer Park, Newport, Sat 9 July places to visit Shropshire’s Newport Show this year includes a new Festival of Food. this Summer The popular event is introducing a pop-up street food area and a dedicated Little Foodies marquee for children wishing to try their hand at cooking. Birmingham The show’s existing food theatre has been increased in size Botanical and will feature demonstrations from local chefs and Great Gardens British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain. Commenting on the new addition to the annual event, the Opened in 1832, the 15-acre show’s Festival of Food Chairman, Tony Asson, said: “With Birmingham Botanical Gardens Newport Show’s agricultural roots, food production and has changed very little in its local produce has always played an important part in our near-200-year history. The gar- event, to encourage greater understanding of the journey dens feature four glasshouses - from farm to fork. tropical, subtropical, “With the growing popularity in home cooking and healthy Mediterranean and arid - a wet- eating and the brilliant response to our previous food activi- lands enclosure and a seasonal ties, creating the Festival of Food was a natural progression.” butterfly house. The venue also The Newport Show’s 2016 programme also includes a host of boasts in excess of 7,000 differ- family entertainment, a focus on horticulture, a craft fair, a ent types of plant, and is home dog show, and strongly contested livestock and equine com- to the British National Bonsai petitions. Collection and a small number of exotic birds from around the world.

The Shugborough Weekend visitors to Bordesley Abbey can check out a medieval knight's encampment, Country Show settle down to enjoy a spot of medieval story- Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire, telling and find out all about the abbey’s Sat 23 - Sun 24 July masonry. They can also drop into the visitor This firm family favourite returns to centre, an original reconstructed 16th century Shugborough for a sixth year and, as usual, barn housing many of the finds that have offers a weekend’s-worth of lively and imagi- been excavated over the years. native entertainment. Highlights of the 2016 bash include a sheep Blists Hill show, a sure-to-be-impressive contribution Game Fair Victorian Town from the Suffolk Punch Heavy Horse Display Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, Blists Hill’s sights, sounds, Team, birds of prey taking to the skies, a dog Fri 29 - Sat 30 July smells and tastes all play their and duck show, a medieval village, children's Recent times have proved somewhat chal- part in recreating a sense of ‘life entertainment with Devilstick Peat, and arts, lenging for this well-established show, with as it would have been in a crafts, gifts and food marquees. the Country Land & Business Association last Victorian town more than a cen- Sunday visitors to the event can bring along a year announcing that it would no longer be tury ago’. One of Ironbridge canine friend and have a go at the able to run the event. Luckily, new investors Gorge’s many impressive muse- Companion Dog Show, all proceeds from came forward towards the end of 2015, ensur- ums, the town plays host to a which will be donated to Marie Curie Cancer ing the 58th edition of the game fair could go community of Victorian charac- Care. ahead. ters going about their daily busi- The popular show is visiting Ragley for the ness, in so doing providing visi- National Archaeology third time and is expected to attract more tors with a fascinating insight than 100,000 visitors. It features clay shoot- into a bygone world. The high- Weekend ing, archery, gundog scurries, international lights of a trip to the popular Bordesley Abbey / Forge Mill Needle Museum, championships, fishing, falconry, ferreting visitor attraction are numerous, Redditch, Sat 16 - Sun 17 July and equestrian sports. from journeying around the town on a horse and cart and The 2009 discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard Artisan food and drink, shopping opportuni- having fun at the Victorian fair- certainly caught the imagination of the nation ties and hands-on outdoor activities are ground, to dressing up in the and stirred a real interest in the subject of among the event’s other attractions. costumes of the day and sam- archaeology. Little wonder, then, that there Ragley will also host the 60th anniversary pling some traditional, are an increasing number of events such as show in 2018. Victorian-style fish and chips. this one, specifically designed to be educational, entertaining and, above all, family friendly.

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FEATURE

Banged Up! in shrewsbury

For the last year, a well-known Shrewsbury landmark, former HM to work or educate yourselves; no time for slackers here - and remem- Prison Shrewsbury - or the Dana, as it’s affectionately known - has ber that rehabilitation is not sweet, and neither is the prison food. been home to more than a few hair-raising events. For those of a more daring disposition, A Night In The Dana - an With over 200 years of service, The Dana closed its doors in February overnight custodial under the watchful eye of the prison guards - may 2013. be the experience for you. You and your friends also get the Night After much speculation about the building’s future, the cobwebs Walk, a haunting tour of the prison... were dusted off, the hinges oiled, and history & heritage tour compa- Adventure and thrills await those with the cunning and nerve to ny Jailhouse Tours took active possession of the decommissioned breach prison security. Join the Prison Escape and try your luck hid- gaol. ing, bribing and sneaking your way to freedom. The opportunity to visit a building usually out of bounds has proved Promising the ultimate in immersive fun is the return of the popular a great attraction, with tens of thousands of people crossing the Zombie Lockdown. Carnage and mayhem will ensue as Jailhouse threshold since the first tour took place last July - including former Tours and Immersive Events promise an adrenaline-fuelled experi- prisoners and their families! ence featuring more than 80 actors, most of whom want to eat you! Educational and informative, the tours are led by ex-prison officers, With tour dates yet to be confirmed, check the Facebook page for reg- many of whom spent their working life inside those very walls - so ular updates - facebook.com/jailhousetours expect authentic tales both dark and humourous that offer a fascinating insight into prison life. The tours take approximately two hours and cover most of the prison site. For those curious to see more, ‘top- Prison Tours and Top Up Tours throughout July - £15 up’ tours are also available and allow access to rarely seen prison A Day in the Life Of A Prisoner, Sat 30 to Sun 31 July - £45 secrets. A Night In The Dana: Prison Sleepover - Fri 22 to Sat 23 July - £45 Jailhouse Tours has teamed up with Immersive Events to provide a Prison Escape, Sat 16 to Sun 17 July & Sat 27 & Sun 28 Aug - £45 realistic presentation of life behind bars. Experience, for example, A For more information, and to book tickets, visit Day In The Life Of A Prisoner, and leave the world and all your per- jailhousetours.com sonal belongings behind. You and your fellow felons will be required

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50 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Cover July Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:43 Page 2

Your week to week listings guide July 2016 thelist The Kooks at The Assembly, Leamington - Friday 8 July 8 FridayAssembly, - The Leamington at Kooks The

Music I Comedy I Theatre I Dance I Film I Events I Visual Arts I and more!

What’s On Fri 1 to Sun 10 July Mon 11 to Sun 17 July Mon 18 to Sun 24 July Mon 25 to Sun 31 July

El Dorado Festival at Chaplin: The Charlie Chaplin Big Picnic Day at Anne Dubtoberfest at Throckmorton Eastnor Castle Story at Artrix, Bromsgrove Hathaway’s Cottage Airfield, near Pershore Fri 1 - Sun 3 July Wed 13 July Sat 18 - Sun 19 June Fri 29 - Sun 31 July

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thelist Friday 1 - Sunday 10 July THE HURLING BOYS Malvern Theatres THROUGHOUT JULY Gigs Sat 2 July, Irish Centre, DURAN: THE TRIBUTE Fri Birmingham 8 July, Route 44, NEW WAY OF THE WARRIOR: EPIC KICK UP THE 80'S Birmingham MOVIES AND ARMOUR An exhibition of SI HAYDEN AND DAVID Visual Arts Sat 2 July, The props and costumes that have been MACGREGOR MILLICENT STEPHENSON Roadhouse, Kings used in historical blockbuster Fri 1 July, The Tin WITH LIVE BAND Fri 8 Artrix, Bromsgrove Norton, Birmingham movies, Sat 23 July - Sun 4 Sept Music And Arts, July, Crescent Theatre, RETROSPECTIVELY SPEAKING: NORMAN Warwickshire BRIDGEFEST Sun 3 July, Birmingham NEASOM 1930 - 2010 Redditch-born Herbert Art Gallery & The River Rooms, ROCK AND ROLL B'SPOKE Fri 8 - Sat 9 artist Norman Neasom's career Museum, Coventry Stourbridge PARADISE July, The Jam House, spanned well over half a century, MAKING A MASTERPIECE ‘CHRIST IN Fri 1 July, The Roses BLAKE AND BRAZIL Birmingham from the 1930s to his death in 2010, GLORY’ Exploring the creative Theatre, Tewkesbury Sun 3 July, Irish KAST OFF KINKS Fri 8 until Sun 10 July process undertaken by artist Graham Centre, Birmingham July, Artrix, Sutherland to design the monumen- BABY I NEED YOUR LOVIN NEW SUMMER EXHIBITION 2016 Open SUNDAY CLASSICS Bromsgrove tal tapestry which hangs behind the Fri 1 July, Palace exhibition of contemporary work Sun 3 July, The altar of Coventry Cathedral, until Sun Theatre, Redditch THE KOOKS Fri 8 July, from artists and photographers, Wed Spotted Dog, Digbeth, 13 July - Sun 14 Aug 3 July GRIZZLEROOT The Assembly, Birmingham Leamington Spa KORABRA BY GAVIN JANTJES Dramatic Fri 1 July, The Marr's Birmingham Museum & HEART Sun 3 July, paintings by Gavin Jantjes, on dis- Bar, Worcester REVOLVER Sat 9 July, Art Gallery Symphony Hall, play as part of a collaboration with ELVIS TRIBUTE NIGHT Nailcote Hall, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM QUR’AN One of the earli- the Black Artists & Modernism proj- Fri 1 July, Irish Centre, Warwickshire est surviving copies of the Islamic ect, until Sun 21 August. Birmingham PAWS & THE SPOOK HOT GINGER'S SUMMER holy book, on display until Wed 3 Aug SCHOOL Mon 4 July, NEW NATURE NOTES A multi-sensory BOYS MAKE NOISE 2016 SMACKDOWN Sat 9 July, Hare & Hounds, B’ham BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY exhibition with beautiful artworks and Fri 1 July, Artrix, Hare & Hounds, B’ham IN 130 YEARS The story of the real natural history specimens, Fri 1 Bromsgrove THE JEEPS Tues 5 July, DJ LUCK AND MC NEAT Museum & Art Gallery, told via a spe- The Jam House, B’ham July - Sun 20 Nov PILGRIMAGE WITH Sat 9 July, Hare & cial anniversary exhibition, until NEW BRICK WONDERS Exhibition of YOUNG PILGRIMS & TINY ELECTUS Wed 6 July, Hounds, Birmingham Thurs 1 Sept over 70 amazing models, including BEAST Fri 1 Jul, Hare & The Robin, Bilston MAINLY MADNESS & TURNING TO SEE: FROM VAN DYCK TO the Great Wall of China and Niagara Hounds, Birmingham LYNNE HANSON & FRIENDS Sat 9 July, The LUCIAN FREUD Van Dyck's last self-por- Falls, Fri 22 July - Sun 15 Jan 2017 KIMBERS MEN AMANDA PEARCY Empire, Coventry trait, curated by Midlands-born and Fri 1 July, Huntingdon Wed 6 July, Kitchen ARIJIT SINGH Sat 9 July, internationally renowned artist John Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Hall, Worcester Garden Cafe, B’ham Barclaycard Arena, Stezaker, until Sun 4 Sept Museum LOVE REVISITED Fri 1 PIONEERS OF THE Birmingham BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE AND CHANGE IN SIMON LEWTY: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF July, The Empire, SYNTHESISERS Thurs 7 THE SUPERSONIC 70’S THE INNER-CITY Birmingham People WRITING Exhibition including early Coventry July, The Robin, Bilston SHOW Sat 9 July, explores the ways in which ordinary works by Lewty, dating back to the BRINGING ON BACK THE Albany Theatre, Brummie folk have been represented 1970s, alongside his recent work, BUDDY HOLLY'S WINTER 60’S Coventry in art during the 20th and 21st cen- until Sun 10 July DANCE PARTY Fri 1 July, Thurs 7 July The Core Theatre, Palace Theatre, turies. Change In The Inner City NEW CONCEALMENT AND DECEPTION: BUNNY WAILER & MAX Solihull Redditch focuses on the four inner-city wards THE ART OF THE CAMOUFLEURS OF ROMEO Sat 9 July O2 of Ladywood - include Nechells, LEAMINGTON SPA IN WW2 Presenting THE NAKED BEATLES MILLBROOK Thurs 7 Academy, Birmingham Soho, Aston and Ladywood, until Fri the work of the camouflage staff - Fri 1 July, The River July, Hare & Hounds, 31 Mar 2017 often known as 'camoufleurs' - Rooms, Stourbridge Birmingham NEW INSPIRE 16: THE YOUNG CREATIVES against the backdrop of life on the THE UNDA-VYBES LIONEL RICHIE Thurs 7 OF BIRMINGHAM An array of artwork Home Front during World War Two, Sat 2 July, The July, Barclaycard from the 10th anniversary exhibition Fri 22 July - Sun 16 Oct Rainbow Venues, Arena, Birmingham of Arts Council England’s Arts Award Digbeth, Birmingham FAITHFUL CITY SHOWS achievers, plus sculptural models Rugby Art Gallery & Museum THE JOHNNY CASH Thurs 7 July, The created by local schools and A LIFE IN PATTERN: THE LIFE & WORKS ROADSHOW Sat 2 July, Marr's Bar, Worcester inspired by the Birmingham Big Art OF SHEILA BOWNAS Exploring Sheila’s Belgrade Theatre, OMAR Thurs 7 July, Project, Sat 9 July - Sat 17 Sept life and the development of her artis- Coventry The Jam House, B’ham tic and textile design practice, until Compton Verney Gallery, Sat 3 Sept UNDERGROUND EMPIRE STEVE DAGGETT Fri 8 Warwick Sat 2 July, O2 July, The Marr's Bar, NEW BBC FACES OF COMEDY Worcester City Museum & Art Acacemy, Birmingham Worcester Celebrating 60 side-splitting years of Gallery SOUL STRIPPER MOSTLY JAZZ FESTIVAL RHINO AND THE RANTERS ‘the TV sitcom’, with an exclusive DIVIDED LOYALTIES Exhibition explor- Sat 2 July, The Marr's AFTERPARTY Fri 8 July, Sat 9 July, Katie glimpse of some of Britain's greatest ing Worcestershire’s heroes and Bar, Worcester Hare & Hounds, Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge comedians at work, Sat 9 July - Sun rebels, until Sat 29 Oct STAR WARS & BEYOND - Birmingham 2 Oct NEW PIRATES, PANTS AND A SPACE SPECTACULAR FOXES MORRIS FOXTROT FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS NEW BRITAIN IN THE FIFTIES: DESIGN WELLYPHANTS Hands-on exhibition Sat 2 July, Symphony WEEKEND Fri 8 - Sun 10 Sat 9 July, The Roses AND ASPIRATION Examining the cru- from illustrator, Nick Sharratt, Sat 9 Hall, Birmingham July, The Fleece Inn, Nr Theatre, Tewkesbury cial role of design in shaping the July - Sat 3 Sept SOUL LEGENDS Evesham MOTHER POPCORN Sat 9 ‘brave new world’ of post-war Britain, Sat 2 July, Bedworth THE COUNTERFEIT July, Irish Centre, Sat 9 July - Sun 2 Oct Other VISUAL ARTSr Civic Hall SIXTIES Fri 8 July, Birmingham ANDY MCGEECHAN PHOTOGRAPHIC KATE RUSBY Sat 2 July, Evesham Arts Centre ENDORPHINMACHINE: Forge Mill Needle Museum, EXHIBITION Exhibition of large, colour Redditch Lichfield Garrick LEGEND - LEGENDS OF PRINCE TRIBUTE Sat 9 photos of Coventry's buildings by July, The Roadhouse, 'AMERICAN ROCK Fri 8 July, The SCOUR: THE HIDDEN LANDSCAPE Andy McGeechan, until Sat 16 July, Birmingham Through the mediums of sculpture, Urban Coffee Company, Coventry INDEPENDENCE DAY River Rooms, PARTY' WITH BRIEFCASE Stourbridge KICK UP THE 80'S video and sound, artists Keith NEW GRAYSON PERRY: THE VANITY OF BLUES SOUL BROTHERS Sat 9 July, The River Ashford and Elizabeth Turner explore SMALL DIFFERENCES A series of six ABBA FOREVER Fri 8 Sat 2 July, Nailcote Rooms, Stourbridge Forge Mill’s needle collection and its large-scale tapestries by Turner- July, The Roses Hall, Warwickshire unique scouring mill, until Sun 3 July Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry Theatre, Tewkesbury THE COOPERS Sun 10 NEW CLASS ART! The children from St which explore the British fascination SUPREME QUEEN SOUNDS OF THE SIXTIES July, The Night Owl, Bede’s Catholic Middle School with taste and class, Sat 9 July - Sun Sat 2 July, Palace Fri 8 July, The Birmingham showcase their artistic talents using 11 Sept, Croome Park, Worcester Theatre, Redditch Roadhouse, B’ham MICK FLAVIN Sun 10 a variety of mediums, Wed 6 - Sun FULLY LOADED Sat 2 THE BON JOVI July, Irish Centre, 17 July July, Route 44, B’ham EXPERIENCE Fri 8 July, Birmingham

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Friday 1 - Sunday 10 July

LLOYD GRIFFITH, ADDY BORGH, TOM Birmingham Hippodrome Festival Of Theatre For Young Classical Music LUCY & VERY SPECIAL GUEST THAT BEYOND THE WATER'S EDGE Midland Audiences, Sun 3 - Tue 5 July, The CANNOT BE ANNOUNCED! Fri 8 July, Creative Projects take the words of REP, Birmingham 2016 INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETI- The Comedy Loft, Birmingham poets and present them on stage BRUSH Inventive family show, direct TION: THE FINAL Sat 2 July, Town THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, MATT REED, with live music, Fri 1 - Sat 2 July, from Korea, telling a bewitching tale Hall, Birmingham STUART MITCHELL & MARTIN MOR Fri 8 Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and featuring weird and wonderful GLORIA Performed by the Lindale July, The Glee Club, Birmingham RHYTHM OF THE DANCE Celebrating characters, live music, dance, fanci- Singers & The Circle Singers of BEN HANLIN Fri 8 July, The Old Rep the rich history of Ireland and the ful puppets and a company of Royal Leamington Spa. Programme Theatre, Birmingham art of Irish dance, Fri 1 July, Malvern engaging performers. Suitable for comprises Vivaldi’s Gloria, Vaughan Theatre ages four-plus. Part of On The Edge ANDREW LAWRENCE - The World Festival Of Theatre For Williams’ Mass in G Minor & Fri 8 July, The MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Madcap Young Audiences, Sun 3 - Tue 5 Bruckner & Stanford motets, Sat 2 Glee Club, Birmingham THEO'S COMEDY SKOOL LIVE Sat 9 July, Theatre Productions present an out- July, mac, Birmingham July, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford- The Core Theatre, Solihull door production of Shakespeare’s upon-Avon battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Fri 1 BOING! Join brothers Wilkie & Joel BOBBY MAIR, HARRIET DYER, MATTHEW as they wait for Santa to arrive on MUSIC OF THE SPHERES: SOUNDS OF July, Church Of St Andrew, OSBORN & TJ MCDONALD Sat 9 July, Droitwich, Worcestershire the most magical night of the year SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND Sat 2 July, Coventry Showcase in this enchanting tale from St Mary’s Church, Warwick STAR WARS & BEYOND - A SPACE Travelling Light Theatre. Part of On LLOYD GRIFFITH, ADDY BORGH, SPECTACULAR For lovers of all things BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR: A SHAKE- STEPHEN BAILEY & SPECIAL GUEST The Edge - The World Festival Of SPEAREAN CONCERT Sat 2 July, space, Sat 2 July, Symphony Hall, Theatre For Young Audiences, Sun THAT CANNOT BE ANNOUNCED! Sat 9 Birmingham Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon- July, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham 3 - Tue 5 July, mac, Birmingham Avon TITUS ANDRONICUS The Brit School RHYTHM OF THE DANCE Celebrating MATT REED, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR & present an outdoor production of REDDITCH ORCHESTRA Featuring the rich history of Ireland and the MARTIN MÓR & STUART MITCHELL Sat 9 Shakespeare’s bloodiest revenge Graham Longfils (leader) & Alex art of Irish dance, Mon 4 July, July, The Glee Club, Birmingham play, Sat 2 July (1pm), The Dell, Webb (guest conductor). Wolverhampton Grand Theatre ZOE LYONS Sat 9 July, The Old Rep Stratford-upon-Avon Programme includes work by Theatre, Birmingham OUR KYLIE'S HAVIN' A BAB Stripped Mozart, Brahms & Tchaikovsky, Sat MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The Brit Down Theatre are good to their 2 July, Artrix, Bromsgrove JOE LYCETT School present an outdoor produc- name with this latest presentation, Sun 10 July, New tion of Shakespeare’s battle-of-the- STAR WARS & BEYOND: A SPACE SPEC- which ‘lays bare’ the altogether Alexandra sexes comedy, Sat 2 July (3pm), challenging business of having a TACULAR Music, lights, lasers, fire- Theatre, The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon works... Programme includes works family, Mon 4 July, Crescent Birmingham MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by John Williams, Holst & Strauss, Madcap Theatre, Birmingham Theatre Productions present an out- Sat 2 July, Symphony Hall, B’ham NOSFERATU Presented by unconven- door production of Shakespeare’s tional French creatives Bob Theatre, A NIGHT IN VENICE A glittering opera battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Sat 2 Mon 4 - Tues 5 July, The Patrick extravaganza presented by World Theatre July, The Mary Stevens Hospice, Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome On Stage Ltd, Thurs 7 July, The Stourbridge Core Theatre, Solihull TIDDLER & OTHER TERRIFIC TALES GANGSTA GRANNY Birmingham Stage AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Mark Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s THOMAS NICKELL PLAYS BACH Sun 10 Company bring a production of Brown’s adaptation of one of the best-loved titles are here woven July, Stratford Artshouse, Stratford- David Walliams' best-selling book to greatest adventure stories of all together with live music, puppetry upon-Avon the stage, until Sat 2 July, New time, Sat 2 - Wed 6 July, St and a whole host of colourful char- Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Nicholas Place, Kings Norton, acters, Mon 4 - Tues 5 July, Malvern SWAP! New comedy directed by Birmingham Theatre Return Of The Saint star Ian Ogilvy, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING The BROKE ’N' BEAT COLLECTIVE Mash-up Comedy Gigs until Sat 2 July, Wolverhampton Crescent Theatre Company present of hip-hop, beatboxing, spoken Grand Theatre Andrew Bovell's thought-provoking word and puppetry, presented in ADAM BLOOM, MIKE NEWALL, LIZ MIELE CAPTURED The story of Isaac and play, Sat 2 - Sat 9 July, Crescent the form of a live gig and exploring & PETE OTWAY Fri 1 July, The Comedy Sophie, of photographer and sub- Theatre, Birmingham the impact which life in 21st century Loft, Birmingham ject, of perception and reality, until LOVE’S LABOURS LOST The Brit Britain has on the young people HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI Fri 1 July, mac, Sat 2 July, Old Joint Stock Theatre, School present an outdoor produc- who live here, Mon 4 - Wed 6 July, Birmingham Birmingham tion of Shakespeare’s classic battle The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham OTHELLO Shakespeare’s tragic tale of the sexes, Sun 3 July, The Dell, FOOTLOOSE Brand new tour of the PATRICK MONAHAN, BARRY DODDS & Stratford-upon-Avon ANDREW MCBURNEY of lost handkerchiefs, ruined reputa- explosive Rock 'n' Roll musical Fri 1 July, Katie tions and mistreated wives, until Sat MACBETH Gobstoppers Theatre based on the 1980s screen sensa- Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge 9 July, Stafford Castle present an outdoor production of tion of the same name, Mon 4 - Sat STAND UP COMEDY SHOWCASE Fri 1 - Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Sun 9 July, New Alexandra Theatre, Sat 2 July, mac, Birmingham DOCTOR FAUSTUS Maria Aberg returns to the RSC to direct 3 July, The Dell, Stratford-upon- Birmingham DAVE TWENTYMAN, MATT KIRSHEN, Marlowe's notorious tale of vanity, Avon HMS PINAFORE Sasha Regan's all- NOEL JAMES & DARREN HARRIOT Sat 2 greed & damnation, until Thurs 4 THEY CALL IT DANCE, WE CALL IT LIFE male version of one of Gilbert & July, Coventry Showcase Aug, The Swan Theatre, Stratford- Showcase of work from the Jennifer Sullivan's most popular operas, ADAM BLOOM, MIKE NEWALL, LIZ MIELE upon-Avon Lee School of Dance, Sun 3 - Mon Tues 5 July, Malvern Theatre & PETE OTWAY Sat 2 July, The HAMLET Simon Godwin directs 4 July, Albany Theatre, Coventry THE HAMILTON COMPLEX Lies Comedy Loft, Birmingham Paapa Essiedu as Hamlet in PIM & THEO Immersive theatre show Pauwel’s physical, visual and philo- DANNY BHOY Sun 3 July, The Glee Shakespeare's searing tragedy, until about culture, identity, life, rules and sophical view on those moments in Club, Birmingham Sat 13 Aug, Royal Shakespeare tolerance, Sun 3 - Tue 5 July, The life when things begin to change. DANNY BHOY Mon 4 July, Artrix, Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon REP, Birmingham Performed by 13 teenage girls and Bromsgrove THE ALCHEMIST Polly Findlay directs OUT OF THE BLUE Perfect introduction a bodybuilder, Tues 5 - Wed 6 July, The REP, Birmingham CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 5 - Fri Ben Jonson's comedy about human to live theatre, full of captivating 8 July, The Dark Horse, Moseley, folly, until Sat 6 Aug, The Swan images and intriguing sounds. Part HEAL THE WORLD Great Barr School Birmingham Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon of On The Edge - The World present a brand new musical Festival Of Theatre For Young inspired by the music of Michael LUCY PORTER, CAREY MARX CYMBELINE Melly Still directs Wed 6 Audiences, Sun 3 - Tue 5 July, Jackson, Tues 5 - Wed 6 July, July, The Glee Club, Birmingham Shakespeare's rarely performed play, until Sat 15 Oct, Royal Birmingham City University Crescent Theatre, Birmingham MATT REED, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR & Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- THE CURIOUS SCRAPBOOK OF LOSHA Monkeyshine Theatre’s well- COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY upon-Avon JOSEPHINE BEAN Award-winning chil- reviewed ‘feast for the senses’ ROBINSON Thurs 7 July, The Glee dren’s show where a scrapbook blends poetry, dance, shadow play, Club, Birmingham MAMMA MIA! The smash-hit musical arrives in Brum as part of its first becomes a window into a secret puppetry and projection to tell the MANILLA ROAD COMEDY Thurs 7 July, ever UK tour, until Sat 3 Sept, world where a curious life unfolds. story of a magical creature who The Victoria, Birmingham Part of On The Edge - The World likes to collect things, Tues 5 - Fri 8

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thelist Friday 1 - Sunday 10 July July, The Blue Orange Theatre, Gilded Balloon and the legendary fables in which history blends with NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Birmingham So You Think You're Funny competi- fairytale as viewers are whisked off to ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE (15) HEARTBEAT ITV’s popular Sunday tion at the Edinburgh Fringe in a enchanted lands full of dragons, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (12a) night, ’60s-set police drama comes quest to find the best new sitcom werewolves, captive princesses, sor- to the stage, starring members of creators in the country. The evening cerers, and enormous talking bees - FROM AFAR (15) and each fable ends with its own the TV cast, Tues 5 - Sat 9 July, will consist of up to eight perform- THE COLONY (12a) Wolverhampton Grand Theatre ances, all ending in nail-biting cliff- ironic twist. mac, Birmingham, Sat 2 hangers. The audience will then July NOTES ON BLINDNESS FLIRT OFF A brand new open mic vote for which one they want to see QUEEN OF EARTH (15) story featuring true tales about dat- THE DAUGHTER (15) Christian returns the ending to. Suitable for ages 12- to his hometown for his father's wed- NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (12a) ing and holiday relationships, Wed plus, Sat 9 July, mac, Birmingham 6 July, Old Joint Stock Theatre, ding. Reconnecting with childhood THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (12a) Birmingham SECOND SOPRANO A poignant tale friends and family, he unearths a presented by a virtuosic comedy long-buried secret that threatens to BAYOU MAHARAJAH BLISS Immersive pirate adventure duo and a piano, Sat 9 July, Old shatter lives. Stars Geoffrey Rush. MAGGIE'S PLAN (15) created for children and young peo- Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Malvern Theatres, Sat 2 - Thurs 7 THE NEON DEMON (18) ple with Profound & Multiple July Learning Difficulties (PMLD), Wed 6 MACBETH Oddsocks present a musi- THE WAIT (TBC) cal version of Shakespeare's BADLANDS (PG) Filmed in the summer - Fri 8 July, Mayfield School, B’ham WEINER (15) WOT? NO FISH!! The true story of a famous tragedy, Sat 9 July, of 1972, but set in a dreamlike and Jewish family living in 20th century Fillongley Lodge, Coventry indistinct 1950s America, Badlands GHOSTBUSTERS (TBC) London, Thurs 7 - Fri 8 July, The THE URBAN JUNGLE Out Of The Box follows 15-year-old Holly as she falls, REP, Birmingham presents its end-of-term show, against her father’s wishes, for which explores how human beings charismatic local greaser Kit, trusting PARADISE KILL International premiere implicitly in her protector all the of a new play by Toby Quash, writ- are often uncannily similar to animals, Sat 9 July, Artrix, Bromsgrove while, despite his increasingly violent Events ten for and developed by the and anti-social behaviour. Sissy Ustinov Theatre School (UK) in part- PERICLES York Shakespeare Project Spacek & Martin Sheen. The Electric nership with Playbox Theatre, Thurs present an outdoor staging of the Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 3 July BODENGNOME HUNT Fun for all the 7 - Sat 9 July, The Dream Factory, Bard’s tale of journeying and fulfill- family, hunt out the BodenGnomes Warwick ment, Sat 9 July, The Dell, Stratford- HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (U) When an in the Poplar Dingle, until Sun 28 upon-Avon unconfident young woman is cursed REINRAUMRAUS Puppeteer & actress with an old body by a spiteful witch, Aug, Bodenham Arboretum, Myriam Rossbach breathes new life THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Fox & Hawk her only chance of breaking the spell Worcestershire into the kitchen by using utensils in Theatre Company breathe new life lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure MURDER THROUGH THE LOOKING unconventional ways, Thurs 7 - Sat into Shakespeare’s famous come- young wizard and his companions. GLASS A murder-mystery game that 9 July, mac, Birmingham dy, Sat 9 - Sun 10 July, The Dell, The Electric Cinema, Birmingham, takes place at the Mad Hatters Stratford-upon-Avon A FEAST OF BONES A dark musical Sun 3 & Wed 6 July; mac, Tea/Dinner Party, Fri 1 July, Fargo fable from Theatre Lovett, set in the AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Mark Birmingham, Mon 4 July Village, Coventry shadows of World War One, Thurs 7 Brown’s adaptation of one of the SPOTLIGHT (15) The true story of the DIGBETH FIRST FRIDAY Digbeth - Sat 9 July, The REP, Birmingham greatest adventure stories of all Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe comes alive on the first Friday of time, Sat 9 - Sun 19 July, Castle CRAZY JANE Birds Of Paradise investigation into allegations of each month with exhibitions, late- Bromwich Hall Gardens, B’ham Theatre Company present the story abuse in the Catholic Church. Stars night openings, special events, cul- of Jane Avril, star of the Moulin AS YOU LIKE IT Mate Productions Michael Keaton & Mark Ruffalo. ture in unexpected spaces, live Rouge and immortalised in fuse original live music and country Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon 4 July music, street food and more, Fri 1 Toulouse Lautrec’s iconic posters, dancing in Shakespeare’s romantic DESPITE THE FALLING SNOW (12a) In July, Digbeth, Birmingham Thurs 7 - Sat 9 July, The REP, comedy, Sun 10 July, The Dell, 1950s Moscow, communist Katya TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC If you go down Birmingham Stratford-upon-Avon secretly spies for the Americans in to the mill today, you’ll enjoy a WHY DO HYENAS HAVE SHORTER BACK MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING the Cold War arms race. When she teddy bear trail in the grounds, Fri 1 LEGS THAN FRONT LEGS AND WHY DO Oddsocks brings its zany humour lands her biggest assignment, steal- July, Forge Mill Needle Museum, MONKEYS HAVE BARE BOTTOMS? A to Shakespeare’s battle-of-the- ing secrets from rising government Redditch popular tale from Burkina Faso sexes comedy, Sun 10 July, star Alexander, the last thing she CAMPER JAM Highlights include live about authority, cunning, conceited- Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove expects is to fall in love with him. bands, a food village, children's ness and consequences. Set Stars Rebecca Ferguson & Sam activities and the ever-popular against a fantastical and comic Reid. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, 'cooking in a camper' competition, backdrop, the story denounces Wed 6 - Thurs 7 July Fri 1 - Sun 3 July, Weston Park, greed and lying in relationships THE THING (18) An American Shropshire between people. Suitable for ages Research Base is greeted by an alien Talks THE STITCHING, SEWING & four-plus. Part of On The Edge - force that can assimilate anything it HOBBYCRAFT SHOW Fri 1 - Sun 3 The World Festival Of Theatre For touches. It's up to the members to July, NEC, Birmingham Young Audiences, Fri 8 - Sat 9 July, NICK SHARRATT: LITTLE WORDS Join stay alive, and be sure of who is mac, Birmingham children’s illustrator & author Nick human... Stars Kurt Russell & A THE BIG ARTS SHOW Family-friendly CELTICA 2016 Charity show which Sharratt as he shares some of his Wilford Brimley. The Mockingbird, event featuring over 150 exhibitors, sees performers aged four to 40- favourite books and shows how he Birmingham, Fri 8 July workshops and talks by the artists, creates his characters, Sun 10 July, a real ale bar, eateries and live plus present an evening of Irish FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (PG) Meryl Artrix, Bromsgrove music, Fri 1 - Sun 3 July, West dance & music. All monies raised Streep stars in the true story of Midland Showground, Shropshire go to Coventry Mytton Hospice, Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York Coventry Snowball Appeal, as well heiress and socialite who obsessively KERBSIDE KITCHEN Ten different as other local charities, Fri 8 - Sat 9 pursued her dream of becoming a street food trucks & stalls, plus an July, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry great singer. Convinced of her own ever-changing selection of craft WOODBINE WILLIE: POET & PADRE talent, the voice Florence heard in beers, ciders, wines & cocktails, Fri Searchlight Theatre Company pres- Film her head was beautiful, while to 1 July - Fri 23 Dec, Fargo Village, ent a heart-warming tribute to everyone else it was both hilarious Coventry Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy - the INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: and awful. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 8, BIRMINGHAM RUM FESTIVAL Sat 2 vicar of St Paul’s Church, Tues 12 & Sun 17 July July, The Cuban Embassy, Moseley, Worcester, who volunteered as a THE NICE GUYS (15) There’s little nice PONYO (U) An adventure about a five- Birmingham chaplain on the Western Front dur- in this look at the seamier side of year-old boy and his relationship with WORK AID - TOOLS FOR THE 3RD ing World War One, Fri 8 - Sat 9 1970s’ Los Angeles, but Russell Ponyo, a goldfish princess who WORLD If you have any tools you July, Swan Theatre, Worcester Crowe and Ryan Gosling play the longs to become a human after don’t use, and never will, take them THE SITCOM TRIALS A situation com- good guys who investigate the falling in love with him. mac, along. They will be given to a chari- edy showcase that's been running apparent suicide of a porn star. Birmingham, Sat 9 July; The Electric ty, ensuring they go to good use, since 1999, The Sitcom Trials is Malvern Theatres, Fri 1 - Thurs 7 July Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 10 July Sat 2 July, Chedhams Yard, once again teaming up with the TALES OF THE NIGHT (PG) Six exotic Stratford-upon-Avon

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Friday 1 - Sunday 10 July

HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK Worcestershire BRATION Thurs 7 July, Birmingham VICTORY JAZZ PARTY Bring a picnic Admire fine Georgian and Victorian WINDMILL SAILING See the historic Botanical Gardens and enjoy some classic jazz, Sat 9 architecture, a convent designed by windmill in action as it’s sailed by a WORCESTERSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST AT July, Upton House & Gardens, Augustus Pugin, a church that was team of specially trained volunteers. BODENHAM Thurs 7 - Fri 8 July, Warwickshire built nearly 1,000 years ago, Sat 2 If the weather isn’t suitable, volun- Bodenham Arboretum, WIMBLEDON FINALS ON THE BIG July, Soho House, Birmingham teers will be available to show visi- Worcestershire SCREEN Sat 9 - Sun 10 July, THE SOOTY SHOW: SOOTY IN SPACE tors inside the windmill, in small GIN & GATSBY Fri 8 - Sat 9 July, Brindleyplace, Birmingham Sat 2 - Sun 3 July, Cadbury World, groups, Sun 3 July, Avoncroft Fargo Village, Coventry CADBURY CHARACTER WEEKEND Sat 9 Bournville, Birmingham Museum, Bromsgrove COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL Fri 8 - Sat 9 - Sun 10 July, Cadbury World, BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 2 - RETRO SHOW The show is open to July, Victoria Square, Birmingham Bournville Sun 3 July, Birmingham City Centre all retro vehicles from the 1950s 2016 FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX CHATEAU IMPNEY HILL CLIMB THE BMC & LEYLAND SHOW Sun 3 through to 1995, Sun 3 July, Santa Competitors sprint up the challeng- Pod Raceway, Northants Fri 8 - Sun 10 July, Silverstone July, British Motor Museum, Circuit, Northants ing, MSA-approved 1,000-yard Gaydon CORDELIA LEIGH'S 150TH BIRTHDAY course in an attempt to beat the Historian and author Sheila Wolf CROOME'S HIDDEN HERITAGE: clock, Sat 9 - Sun 10 July, Chateau SUNDAY TALK: THE MAGIC LANTERN DEFFORD AIRFIELD HERITAGE DAY Find out about this popular element gives a 30-minute talk, Sun 3 July, Impney Hotel & Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth Come and meet the veterans who Droitwich Spa of Victorian entertainment via a cos- served at Croome's RAF Defford tumed slideshow and period music MUSIC FOR YOUTH NATIONAL FESTIVAL war base during World War Two, NEWCOMEN ENGINE IN STEAM Sat 9 - inside Blakesley’s historic barn, Sun 2016 Tues 5 - Sat 9 July, Sat 9 July, Croome Park, Sun 10 July, Black Country Living 3 July, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Birmingham City Centre Worcestershire Museum, Dudley, Staffordshire WORKSHOP: LAVENDER WAND MAKING PANORAMA TOWER OPEN DAY Enjoy CYCLO-CROSS The UK’s top cyclo- DROITWICH MODEL BOAT CLUB Enjoy Produce your own lavender wands 360-degree views from the balcony cross riders ride modern bikes watching hand-crafted model boats and learn about their history, design of the tower, Wed 6 July, Croome through Blists Hill Victorian Town as sail on the Big Pool, Sun 10 July, and making, Sun 3 July, Avoncroft Park, Worcestershire part of a challenging cycling event. Bodenham Arboretum, Museum, Bromsgrove EARLY YEARS: GO MESSY Farmyard- Sat 9 July, Blists Hill, Ironbridge Worcestershire PANORAMA TOWER OPEN DAY Enjoy inspired messy play time, Wed 6 THE WEAVER'S HOUSE OPEN DAY Step BIRMINGHAM BIKEATHON Sun 10 July, 360-degree views from the balcony July, Coventry Transport Museum back in time to Coventry’s medieval Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham of the tower, Sun 3 July, Croome HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK past, Sat 9 July, The Weavers COIN & BANKNOTE FAIR Sun 10 July, Park, Worcestershire Admire fine Georgian and Victorian House, Coventry National Motorcycle Museum, RAF WALKS Be shown where, in architecture, a convent designed by CARS & COFFEE BREAKFAST CLUB An Solihull 1940, a substantial part of Croome Augustus Pugin, a church that was opportunity for classic car and JAP SHOW Japanese cars and bikes, Park was requisitioned for the build- built nearly 1,000 years ago, Wed 6 motorcycle owners to show off their Sun 10 July, Santa Pod Raceway, ing of a new airfield, known as RAF July, Soho House, Birmingham cars in front of the museum, Sat 9 Northants Defford, Sun 3 July, Croome Park, EID - DANCE, MUSIC AND FOOD CELE- July, Coventry Transport Museum

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thelist Monday 11 - Sunday 17 July Wolverhampton Grand SOL BERNSTEIN, IAN COPPINGER, BRIAN Theatre Classical Music LACEY & JIM CAMPBELL Fri 15 & Sat 16 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham CHASING YESTERDAY GEOFF BOYZ, DAVE WILLIAMS, ANTHONY Sat 16 July, The Marr's MUSIC FOR LUNCH: SUMMER ORGAN KING & NICK CRANSTON Sat 16 July, Bar, Worcester FESTIVAL Featuring organist Nicholas Coventry Showcase ULTIMATE BOWIE Sat 16 Morris, Mon 11 July, Birmingham July, Malvern Theatres Cathedral SEAN PERCIVAL, CRAIG MURRAY, PIERRE HOLLINS & SCOTT BENNETT FRONT ROW Sat 16 July CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY Sat 16 Irish Centre, B’ham ORCHESTRA: FALSTAFF Featuring July, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham DOC BROWN, PAUL TONKINSON, THE STARVIN' RASCALS Sat Edward Gardner (conductor), the FIZZOGS & WAYNE BEESE Sat 16 July, 16 July, Katie CBSO Chorus & Ambrogio Maestri Brierley Hill Civic Hall Fitzgerald's, as Falstaff, Wed 13 July, Symphony Stourbridge Hall, Birmingham ED GAMBLE Sat 16 July, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham RAHMA ROSE AND EX CATHEDRA: NEW JERUSALEM ILKACASE Sat 16 July, Featuring works by Parry, Judith O2 Institute, B’ham Weir, Howells & James MacMillan, Wed 13 July, Tewkesbury Abbey NEVER 42 Sat 16 July, Huntingdon Hall, CBSO COMMUNITY CHOIR SHOWCASE Warwickshire Sat 16 July, Birmingham Town Hall Theatre FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Programme Vin Garbutt - The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Sat 16 July, includes works by Mozart, Dvorak & THE WIZARD OF OZ Amateur produc- Wolverhampton Grand Mendelssohn, Sun 17 July, Stratford tion presented by Sacred Heart ICEFIRE Fri 15 July, Theatre Artshouse, Stratford-upon Avon Catholic Primary School, Tue 12 Route 44, Birmingham July, Albany Theatre, Coventry Gigs IVOR & LYNN'S CLASSIC THE PIRAGONS Fri 15 ROCK NIGHT Sat 16 July, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Mark July, The Roadhouse, MIKE HERON & Route 44, Birmingham Brown’s adaptation of one of the Birmingham greatest adventure stories of all TREMBLING BELLS Mon THE COMMANDMENTS AFLA SACKEY & AFRIK time, Tues 12 - Wed 13 July, Selly 11 July, Hare & Sat 16 July, The River Comedy Gigs BAWANTU Fri 15 July, Manor, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham Rooms, Stourbridge mac, Birmingham THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST MATT CARDLE Mon 11 BLACK PEAKS Sat 16 LOUDEEMY SOUP COMEDY NIGHT Mon DRAG & BETHAN AND THE Amateur production of Oscar July, The Glee Club, July, The Asylum, 11 July, The Blue Orange Theatre, MORGANS Fri 15 July, Wilde’s much-loved masterpiece, Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Katie Fitzgerald's, presented by Worcester Repertory VIN GARBUTT Tues 12 Stourbridge DIANA ROSS DISCO DIVA CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tue 12 July, Company, Tues 12 - Sun 17 July, July, The Roses PARTY WITH TAMEKA The Dark Horse, Moseley, B’ham ROCKABILLY BIG BASH The Commandery, Worcester Theatre, Tewkesbury JACKSON Sat 16 July, WEEKEND Fri 15 - Sat 16 ZOE LYONS Wed 13 July, Kitchen MURDER ON THE TERRACE Heartbreak REEDBASS Tues 12 July, Nailcote Hall, July, Irish Centre, Garden Cafe, Birmingham Productions present David Kerby- The Jam House, B’ham Warwickshire Birmingham JIMMY CARR Wed 13 July, Royal Spa Kendall’s part farce, part romp, mur- SCOTT MATTHEWS OCEAN COLOUR SCENE QUANTIC LIVE Fri 15 Centre, Leamington Spa der-mystery, Wed 13 July, Hanbury Tues 12 July, The Glee Sat 16 July, Moseley July, Hare & Hounds, Hall, Worcestershire Club, Birmingham Park, Birmingham TOM BINNS Thurs 14 July, Station Birmingham Pub, Sutton Coldfield CHAPLIN: THE CHARLIE CHAPLIN AS SIRENS FALL Wed 13 ROCK 'N' ROLL BACK THE WINGS OVER ABBEY STORY Steven Arnold (Coronation July, The Flapper, YEARS WITH DAVID LLOYD LANGFORD, PETER BRUSH Thurs ROAD Fri 15 July, Artrix, Street) stars as Charlie Chaplin in a Birmingham HAMILTON Sat 16 July, 14 July, mac, Birmingham Bromsgrove heartwarming and powerful musical CBSO FALSTAFF Wed 13 Artrix, Bromsgrove STEVE ROYLE, JAMES SHERWOOD, tale of the first true British icon of CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. July, Symphony Hall, CHAS N DAVE Sat 16 JONNY PELHAM & BARRY BODDS Thurs cinema, Wed 13 July, Artrix, XILLA Fri 15 July, O2 Birmingham July, The Roses 14 July, Sadler’s Brewhouse, Bromsgrove Academy, Birmingham Stourbridge STEVE CLAYTON Thurs Theatre, Tewkesbury THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS 14 July, Katie THE STONES Sat 16 July, SOL BERNSTEIN, IAN COPPINGER & Fri 15 July, The Marr's Fitzgerald's, The Roadhouse, B’ham COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Bar, Worcester ROBINSON Thurs 14 July, The Glee Stourbridge THE ELVIS YEARS Sat 16 WHO'S WHO Fri 15 July, Club, Birmingham TRACEY K. HOUSTON July, Bedworth Civic The Robin, Bilston Thurs 14 July, The Hall PAUL MCCAFFREY, ROB ROUSE, PIERRE OCEAN COLOUR SCENE HOLLINS & SCOTT BENNETT Fri 15 July, River Rooms, JEAN GENIE - TRIBUTE TO Fri 15 July, Moseley The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Stourbridge DAVID BOWIE Sat 16 Park, Birmingham HILLFOLK NOIR Thurs 14 July, The Robin, Bilston SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED THE BON JOVI MUSICAL Fri 15 July, mac, July, Kitchen Garden THE DAVID CROSS BAND EXPERIENCE Fri 15 July, Birmingham Cafe, Birmingham Sun 17 July, The The River Rooms, KRS-ONE Thurs 14 July Robin, Bilston ALFIE MOORE, CHRIS STOKES Fri 15 Stourbridge July, Evesham Arts Centre, Worcs O2 Institute, B’ham TELSTAR COUNTRY Sun CHOIR WITH NO NAME FRISCO Thurs 14 July 17 July, Irish Centre, Fri 15 July, mac, SENSE & SENSIBILITY Chapterhouse The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham Birmingham Theatre present an outdoor produc- Birmingham TRACEY K. HOUSTON MOTOWN AND SOUL tion of Jane Austen’s Regency clas- UK FEDS Thurs 14 July, Sun 17 July, Kitchen NIGHT WITH DJ PAUL sic, Wed 13 July, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham Garden Cafe, B’ham KELLY Fri 15 July, Irish Botanical Gardens 1-EYE REGGAE REVIEW Centre, Birmingham SUNDAY CLASSICS BOA YEAR 10 MUSICAL THEATRE Thurs 14 July, The Jam Sun 17 July, The QUANTIC Fri 15 July SHOWCASE Year 10 pupils studying House, Birmingham Spotted Dog, Digbeth, Hare & Hounds, B’ham on the acclaimed Musical Theatre EVE SELIS Thurs 14 Birmingham Pathway at Birmingham Ormiston SOLID SOUL Fri 15 - Sat July, The Robin, RHYTHM OF THE DANCE Academy (the sister institution to 16 July, The Jam Bilston Sun 17 July, Royal Spa the BRIT School in London) make House, Birmingham BASEMENT Fri 15 July, Centre, Leamington their debut at The Old Rep in a RUFUS WAINWRIGHT The Slade Rooms, SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY showcase which highlights their Fri 15 July, Symphony Wolverhampton OF JAZZ Sun 17 July, achievements during their first year Hall, Birmingham of study at the academy, Wed 13 - OCCOEUR + THIS Crescent Theatre, QUILL Fri 15 July, Birmingham Thurs 14 July, The Old Rep Theatre, ELEGANT CHAOS + Birmingham

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Monday 11 - Sunday 17 July

DOREEN'S GRAND NIGHT OUT Doreen 21 years on the road, Sat 16 July, returns with a brand new live show Wolverhampton Grand Theatre at the poshest venue she’s ever MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING seen in her life, Wed 13 - Thurs 14 Oddsocks present an outdoor pro- July, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre duction of Shakespeare’s battle-of- DAISY PULLS IT OFF! Second the-sexes comedy, Sat 16 July, Thoughts Drama Group present mac, Birmingham Denise Deegan's parody of the ROMEO & JULIET Shakespeare’s ‘English schoolgirl adventure’, Wed famous love story is played out by 13 - Sat 16 July, The Bear Pit all-female troupe The HandleBards, Theatre - The United Reformed Sat 16 July, The Dell, Stratford- Church, Stratford-upon-Avon upon-Avon SPOONFACE STEINBERG Stage2 pres- AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Mark ents Lee Hall’s story of a young Brown’s adaptation of one of the autistic Jewish girl who, learning greatest adventure stories of all she is terminally ill, contemplates time, Sat 16 - Sun 17 July, the meaning of life, Wed 13 - Sat 16 Harvington Hall, Kidderminster July, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham MACBETH Oddsocks present a musi- MEET TOMMY ATKINS A new one-man cal version of Shakespeare's play which takes a look at the reali- famous tragedy, Sun 17 July, mac, ty of war through the eyes of Birmingham Tommy Atkins, a young soldier who fought in Ypres, Passendale, Loos WHAT THE DICKENS? Fast-moving, Romeo & Juliet - The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon and on the Somme, Thurs 14 July, audience-led, made-up comedy Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham romp which explores the sumptu- ous drawing rooms, murky streets Tewkesbury, Mon 11 - Fri 15 July; THE WIND RISES (PG) Jiro dreams of CHAPLIN: THE CHARLIE CHAPLIN and smoky taverns of Victorian Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 15 July flying and designing beautiful air- STORY Steven Arnold (Coronation Britain, Sun 17 July, The Crescent planes, inspired by the famous Italian Street) stars as Charlie Chaplin in a POWER IN OUR HANDS This ground- Theatre, Birmingham breaking new documentary uses aeronautical designer Caproni. heartwarming and powerful musical Nearsighted and unable to be a pilot, tale of the first true British icon of THE SNOW QUEEN Storybook theatre archive film to tell the story of the present a haunting, beautiful tale of deaf community’s fight for civil rights he becomes one of the world's most cinema, Thurs 14 July, New accomplished airplane designers Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham a journey through childhood, Sun in the UK. Subtitled and signed 17 July, Artrix, Bromsgrove throughout. Roses Theatre, instead, experiencing key historical HIS DARK MATERIALS Palace Youth events in an epic tale of love, perse- MUSTARDSEED’S MAGICAL MAYHEM Tewkesbury, Tues 12 July Theatre present an amateur produc- verance and the challenges of living Playbox Theatre present a unique tion of Philip Pullman’s fantastical SING STREET (12a) John Carney start- and making choices in a turbulent and participatory new work intro- tale, which centres around a young ed out as bassist for the Irish rock world. mac, Birmingham, Sat 16 July; ducing children under six to A girl and her mysterious uncle, Thurs band The Frames, directed some of The Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sun 17 14 - Sat 16 July, Palace Theatre, their music videos and went on to Sun 17 July July, The Dream Factory, Warwick helm the critically acclaimed feature Redditch THE PASSENGER (12) Jack Nicholson THE TAMING OF THE SHREW All-female films Once and Begin Again. He ROMEO & JULIET Shakespeare’s stars as David Locke, a world-weary troupe The HandleBards present an keeps to the theme of music here famous love story is played out by reporter who takes on a dead man’s outdoor staging of Shakespeare’s with this simple love story in which a all-female troupe The HandleBards, identity to discover what’s on ‘the finest romantic comedy, Sun 17 boy starts up a band in order to Fri 15 July, The Fleece Inn, other side of the window.’ The July, The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon impress a girl. Bono himself collabo- Worcester rated on the soundtrack. Stars Lucy Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 17 WINNERS BULL Mike Bartlett’s razor-sharp Fred Theatre present Boynton & Maria Doyle Kennedy. July play about the fine line between Abigail Rahman’s exploration of the Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 14 office politics and playground bully- precarious relationship between - Fri 15 July love, money and happiness, Sun 17 ing, Fri 15 - Sat 16 July, The Coach DEEP RED (18) One night, musician House Theatre, Malvern - Wed 19 July, The Crescent NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Theatre, Birmingham Marcus Daly, looking up from the PONDWIFE A 'joyfully ingenious' street below, witnesses the brutal axe Released Fri 15 July, showing at mash-up of magic and music, murder of a woman in her apartment. selected cinemas where music and mermaids collide Racing to the scene, Marcus just THE HARD STOP (tbc) - inspired by Hans Christian manages to miss the perpetrator... or ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (tbc) Andersen's story, The Little does he? Stars David Hemmings. Mermaid, Fri 15 - Sat 16 July, The The Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Fri MEN AND CHICKEN (15) Dream Factory, Warwick 15 July PRECIOUS CARGO (15) MRS SHAKESPEARE An entertaining EVERYBODY WANTS SOME! (15) On THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR (tbc) one-woman comedy where William their last weekend before the start of SUMMERTIME (15) Shakespeare finds himself reincar- school, a group of college baseball nated in the present day as a players test the waters of unsuper- woman, Fri 15 - Sat 16 July, Old vised adulthood... If the concept of Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham this comedy fails to get your juices MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Madcap flowing, remember that director Events Theatre Productions present an out- Richard Linklater’s last film, door production of Shakespeare’s Boyhood, was nominated for six Oscars (and won the BAFTA for best battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Fri 15 - UNDERSTANDING BROWN'S DESIGN film). Stars Blake Jenner & Zoey Sat 16 July, Mary Arden’s Farm, WALK Find out about how Capability Deutch. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Stratford-upon-Avon Film Brown re-designed the landscape Wed 13 July RECKLESS ABANDON 4Front Theatre for the 6th Earl of Coventry, Tues 12 present a feature-length stage INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (U) Kate July, Croome Park, Worcestershire Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon adaptation of an incredible true POMP AND POETRY A programme of who, while staying at a massive story, Sat 16 July, Crescent Theatre, poetry with a background of some A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (12a) estate, sets about finding a suitable Birmingham of Elgar's music, Tues 12 July, The Business has not been going well for husband for her daughter. Of course, Elgar Birthplace Museum, PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS Non-sexual Alan Clay (Tom Hanks). So the sales- she wouldn’t mind an eligible man Worcestershire show that features full-frontal male man heads to Saudi Arabia to pitch for herself… Also stars Chloë nudity. Suitable for adults only! Sat his latest idea to an Arab king build- Sevigny. Royal Spa Centre, 2016 F1 TEAM TEST Teams test their 16 July, New Alexandra Theatre, ing a massive new complex in the Leamington Spa, Fri 15 - Wed 20 cars around the Grand Prix circuit, Birmingham desert. Based on the 2012 novel by July Tues 12 - Wed 13 July, Silverstone FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS Celebrating Dave Eggers. Roses Theatre, Circuit, Northants

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Monday 11 - Sunday 17 July

thelist REVAMP: STREET ARTS & CULTURE GENIUS LOCI - TELLING THE WATERS Street art, live across the site. With Environmental artists Red Earth live music, performances, food and bring to life Capability Brown's final drink in the mix too, Sat 16 - Sun 17 landscape with a series of outdoor July, Fargo Village, Coventry installations in the park, Sat 16 July DANCEFEST Involving dancers of all - Sun 7 Aug, Berrington Hall, ages, Sat 16 - Sun 17 July, Croome Leominster Park, Worcestershire THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME FILM TAE KWON DO INTERNATIONAL WORLD SCREENING Imperial War Museumss CHAMPIONSHIPS Sat 16 - Sun 17 UNESCO-listed film screening, Sun July, Barclaycard Arena, 17 July, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Birmingham BONSAI DEMO Demonstrations of BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 16 best care and practice for Bonsai Coventry Car Day - Coventry Transport Museum - Sun 17 July, Birmingham City Trees, Sun 17 July, Birmingham Centre Botanical Gardens BRINDLEYPLACE FILM FESTIVAL Tues tells stories to children, after which 1940S WEEKEND Vintage entertain- OLD FORD RALLY Featuring up to 750 12 - Thurs 21 July, Brindleyplace, they can draw the characters in the ment, food and fashion, Sat 16 - old Ford vehicles, Sun 17 July, Birmingham stories and take their drawings Sun 17 July, Black Country Living British Motor Museum, Gaydon home, Sat 16 July, Chedhams Yard, DUNSTALL CASTLE OPEN DAYS Wed Museum, Dudley MIDLAND CLOCK AND WATCH FAIR Sun 13 July, Croome Park, Stratford-upon-Avon NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY WEEKEND: A 17 July, National Motorcycle Worcestershire BAT WALK Led by Warwickshire Bat CELEBRATION OF BORDESLEY ABBEY Museum, Solihull Group, Sat 16 July, Charlecote BRUM VEGAN BEER & FOOD FESTIVAL Fun archaeology-themed activities HEART OF ENGLAND BIKE RIDE Take Park, Warwickshire Fri 15 - Sat 16 July, Gunmakers for all the family, Sat 16 - Sun 17 on the challenge of the 12, 18, 30 Arms, Birmingham EXCALIBUR PAPER CRAFTING FAIR July, Forge Mill Needle Museum, or 60-mile routes to help raise funds DRAGSTALGIA A weekend dedicated Papercrafting and Stamping Show, Worcestershire for the British Heart Foundation, Sat 16 July, National Motorcycle to drag racing, hot rods and bikes HERITAGE WEEKEND AT CADBURY Sun 17 July, Packwood House, Museum, Solihull from a bygone era, Fri 15 - Sun 17 WORLD Sat 16 - Sun 17 July, Solihull July, Santa Pod Raceway, Northants ROUNDHOUSE UN-TOUR A chance to Cadbury World, Bournville, ANIMALS R MAGIC IN AID OF THE COVENTRY CAR DAY Showcasing the experience a tour of the Birmingham CINNAMON TRUST Day designed to Roundhouse Birmingham, but with unique motoring heritage of the city, BEATRIX POTTER TRAIL Follow the raise awareness for local animal a difference. The 'Un-Tour' is history Sat 16 July, Coventry Transport family trail to see which characters charities, Sun 17 July, The Jinney but not as you know it, with a twist Museum can be found at Croft and collect a Ring Craft Centre, Bromsgrove where you get to teach the tour prize at the end, Sat 16 July - Thurs POEMS AND PAINTS FOR CHILDREN guide, Sat 16 - Sun 17 July, 4 Sept, Croft Castle, Leominster Maureen Taylor reads poems and Birmingham Back to Backs

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whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List 18- 24 July - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:50 Page 1

thelist Monday 18 - Sunday 24 July Classical Music Theatre

MUSIC FOR LUNCH: SUMMER ORGAN THE PHYSICAL FELLOWSHIP Bringing FESTIVAL Featuring Marcus Huxley, together young people from across Mon 18 July, Birmingham Cathedral the region to take part in profes- CBSO SUMMER CLASSICS Featuring sional training, performance making Robert Ziegler (conductor). and skill development in physical Programme includes works by theatre. The result is four nights of Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Vivaldi, inspiring, original, devised physical theatre, Mon 18 - Thurs 21 July, Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov & Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Mendelssohn, Fri 22 July, Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE TEMPEST Heartbreak Productions present an outdoor CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA ACADEMY staging of Shakespeare’s magical Programme includes works by play, Tues 19 July, Brueton Park, Britten, Bridge, Maxwell Davies & Solihull Beethoven, Sun 24 July, Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham FANNY: A NEW MUSIC HALL New play by Carolyn Scott Jeffs, set against Shed Seven- The Empire, Coventry the backdrop of the infamous Contagious Diseases Acts of the JOKERS Thurs 21 July, A FOREIGNERS JOURNEY 1860s, Tues 19 July, The Crescent The Robin, Bilston Fri 22 July, The Gigs Theatre, Birmingham SHED SEVEN Thurs 21 Roadhouse, B’ham THE TAMING OF THE SHREW All-female July, The Empire, SSEX PISTOLSS Sat 23 THE URBAN PIONEERS troupe The HandleBards present an Coventry July, Route 44, B’ham Mon 18 July, Kitchen outdoor staging of Shakespeare’s Garden Cafe, B’ham ORANMORE Fri 22 July, ANDREW BROWNING AS romantic comedy, Tues 19 July, Irish Centre, GEORGE MICHAEL Sat 23 SUN KIL MOON Tues 19 FarGo Village, Coventry Birmingham July, The Robin, Bilston July, The Glee Club, GUYS AND DOLLS Sizzling New York PERGOLESI STABAT MATER Birmingham TERRORVISION + THE FATHER TEDS Sat 23 tale of gamblers, gangsters and Programme includes works by Lotti, ASYLUMS Fri 22 July, July, Irish Centre, nightclub singers, direct from the THE GINGER WILDHEART Victoria, Grieg, Poulenc, Stravinsky, The Copper Rooms, Birmingham West End, Tues 19 - Sat 23 July, BAND Tues 19 July, The Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov, Sun Coventry SASS AND FRIENDS Sat Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Slade Rooms, 24 July, Catholic Church of St BUCK AND EVANS Fri 22 23 July, Hare & Wolverhampton George & St Teresa, Solihull July, The Asylum, Hounds, Birmingham JESSARAE Tues 19 July, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham EXPOSURE OF THE 6 Sat DESPERADO- FREEZE 23 July, O2 Academy, SETH FAERGOLZIA Tues OVER EDEN Fri 22 July, Birmingham 19 July, Kitchen Artrix, Bromsgrove Garden Cafe, B’ham THE WEST COAST EAGLES THE WHITE BUFFALO Sat 23 July, The PETE KENT Tues 19 July, Comedy Gigs Fri 22 July, O2 Institute, Roadhouse, B’ham The Robin, Bilston Birmingham THE STARVING RASCALS JOYCE MOHOLOAGAE TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 18 July, DEFINITELY MIGHT BE + Sat 23 July, The River Wed 20 July, mac, The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham ADORED Fri 22 July, Rooms, Stourbridge Birmingham YETI'S DEMON DIVE BAR Tues 19 - Wed The Robin, Bilston MAZ MITRENKO BAND THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT Musical the- FEWS (TRICKY DISCO) 20 July, mac, Birmingham RATTLESNAKE JAKE Fri Sat 23 July, Katie atre favourite Ruthie Henshall stars Wed 20 July, Hare & PATRICK MONAHAN Tues 19 July, 22 July, Katie Fitzgerald's, in this brand new song & dance Hounds, Birmingham Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon- Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge production, Tues 19 - Sat 23 July, GOSPEL CENTRAL Wed Avon Stourbridge MULTI STORY Sun 24 New Alexandra Theatre, B’ham 20 July, The Jam CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 19 MOON DUO Fri 22 July, July, The Robin, Bilston THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST House, Birmingham July, The Dark Horse, Moseley, Hare & Hounds, B’ham LITTLE JIMMY Sun 24 Amateur production of Oscar WALTER TROUT Wed 20 B’ham BACK:N:BLACK Fri 22 July, Irish Centre, Wilde’s much-loved masterpiece, July, The Robin, Bilston GAVIN WEBSTER, JOLLYBOAT Thurs 21 July, The River Rooms, Birmingham presented by Worcester Repertory RAGING SPEEDHORN July, mac, Birmingham Company, Tues 19 - Sun 24 July, Stourbridge MOTOWN'S GREATEST Wed 20 July, O2 JIMMY MCGHIE, JASON JOHN The Commandery, Worcester THE SUBTERRANEANS HITS: HOW SWEET IT IS Academy, Birmingham WHITEHEAD & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH Fri 22 - Sat 23 July, The Sun 24 July, New THE BLUES BROTHERS: APPROVED ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 21 July, The KING PLEASURE & THE Jam House, B’ham Alexandra Theatre, Dust off your pork pie hats, dig out Glee Club, Birmingham BISCUIT BOYS Wed 20 Birmingham your shades and prepare to party July, The Core Theatre, LEE NELSON Thurs 21 July, The like never before - The Blues Solihull Comedy Loft, Birmingham Brothers are back in town!, Wed 20 July, Royal Spa Centre, JOHN POWER Thurs 21 THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, KEVIN GILDEA, Leamington Spa July, The Night Owl, ELEANOR TIERNAN & SAM AVERY Fri 22 Birmingham July, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham THE RAILWAY CHILDREN Chapterhouse Theatre Company KID CREOLE & THE TOM BINNS, WILL MARS Fri 22 July, present an outdoor production of COCONUTS Thurs 21 Evesham Arts Centre, Worcs this heartwarming story, Wed 20 July, The Jam House, JIMMY MCGHIE, JASON JOHN July, B’ham Botanical Gardens Birmingham WHITEHEAD, JIM SMALLMAN & DALISO THE COUNTRY DOCTOR Inspired by SCOTTY T'S WORLD TOUR CHAPONDA Fri 22 & Sat 23 July, The Mikhail Bulgakov, Noctium Theatre Thurs 21 July, Glee Club, Birmingham takes audiences into a world of O2 Academy, B’ham BRETT GOLDSTEIN, JOHN RYAN, RAY gruesome operations set deep in ANNETTE GREGORY BRADSHAW & JACK CAMPBELL Sat 23 the isolated, frozen wastes of the SINGS & CELEBRATES July, Coventry Showcase Russian countryside, Wed 20 - Fri ELLA FITZGERALD BARBARA NICE'S SUMMER SPECIAL Sat 22 July, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry SONGBOOK Thurs 21 23 July, mac, Birmingham LEARNED FRIENDS Prosecution and July, Old Joint Stock defence employ all the tricks of the Theatre, Birmingham THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, KEVIN GILDEA & ELEANOR TIERNAN & SAM AVERY trade in the trial of a high-profile HAYSEED DIXIE + THE The White Buffalo - O2 Academy Sat football manager - but who will 23 July, The Comedy Loft, B’ham 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 18- 24 July - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 16:50 Page 2

Monday 18 - Sunday 24 July

ELITE DANCE ACADEMY: MOVIN ON UP battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Sun 24 Annual showcase featuring all styles July, Victoria Pleasure Gardens, of dance, from tap, ballet, Irish and Tewkesbury Acro to street and musical theatre, CHAPLIN: THE CHARLIE CHAPLIN Fri 22 - Sat 23 July, Warwick Arts STORY Steven Arnold (Coronation Centre, Coventry Street) stars as Charlie Chaplin in a DICK BARTON: THE TANGO OF TERROR heartwarming and powerful musical A ‘hilarious adventure’ with every- tale of the first true British icon of one's favourite special agent and cinema, Sun 24 July, Royal Spa his faithful sidekicks, Snowy and Centre, Leamington Spa Jock, Fri 22 - Sat 30 July, Hall Green Little Theatre, Birmingham OUR KYLIE’S GETTIN’ WED Stripped Down Theatre perform Paul Fellows’ comedy about the trials and tribula- Talks tions of family weddings, Sat 23 July, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham Q&A WITH HIP HOPS KRS1 Join WIND IN THE WILLOWS Munchkins & Lawrence Krishna Parker aka KRS1 Monsters use puppets, interactive for an intimate Q&A where KRS1 sets, songs and dance in their navigates his pioneering life which adaptation of the Kenneth Grahme included the legendary Boogie classic, Sat 23 July, Blue Orange Down Productions and his personal Theatre, Birmingham involvement in the Stop The MACBETH Presented by Three Inch Violence Campaign, Thurs 14 July, The Country Doctor - Belgrade Theatre Fools, Sat 23 July, The Dell, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham The BFG. Warwick Arts Centre Stratford-upon-Avon win?, Thurs 21 July, Blue Orange the kindhearted BFG, who is consid- IN-NOCENTES National Youth Dance Theatre, Birmingham ered an outcast by the other giants Theatre Company (NYDC) perform because, unlike them, he refuses to ROMEO & JULIET Civil Brawl Theatre a new work by critically acclaimed eat children. Warwick Arts Centre, present their first production, Thurs Sadler's Wells Associate Artist from Fri 22 July 21 - Sat 23 July, Stratford Methodist Michael Keegan-Dolan. Set to Church, Stratford-upon-Avon Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Dolan's THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (U) THE STORYTELLER Academy Theatre show utilises the clarity, integrity Found inside a shining stalk of bam- Arts present some of the greatest and power of 42 young dancers boo by an old bamboo cutter and his stories ever told, Thurs 21 - Sun 24 moving through space with a wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an July, Swan Theatre, Worcester shared intention, Sat 23 July, mac, exquisite young lady. The mysterious THE VOICES IN MY HEAD MADE ME DO Birmingham young princess enthrals all who encounter her - but ultimately she IT Gemma Layton introduces her THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Energetic must confront her fate, the punish- second dark and quirky character storytelling from GYP, Sat 23 - Sun ment for her crime. mac, comedy show with video and 24 July, The Dell, Stratford-upon- Birmingham, Sat 23 July; The songs, Fri 22 July, Old Joint Stock Avon Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 24 theatre, Birmingham Film BOLLYWOOD DANCE SHOWCASE Aaja July MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The Lord Nachle Let's Dance present their ENTER THE DRAGON (18) Recruited by Chamberlain’s Men present an out- fourth annual Bollywood Dance INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: an intelligence agency, outstanding door production of Shakespeare’s Showcase, Sun 24 July, mac, OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (15) A British martial arts student Bruce Lee partici- battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Fri 22 Birmingham couple on holiday find themselves pates in a brutal karate tournament July, Coughton Court, Alcester, SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE HOUND OF befriended by a Russian oligarch. hosted by the evil Han (Kien Shih). Warwickshire THE BASKERVILLES Chapterhouse However, Dima has an ulterior motive Along with champions Roper (John VENTOUX 2Magpies chart the paral- Theatre attempt to solve the great- for his amiability, and soon the cou- Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly), Lee lel lives of Lance Armstrong and est mystery of all time in a new ple’s holiday in the sun turns into a uncovers Han's white slavery and Marco Pantani as they embark on staging of Arthur Conan Doyle’s game of shadows. Stars Ewan drug trafficking ring, located on a the greatest cycle race ever wit- famous detective story, Sun 24 July, McGregor & Stellan Skarsgård. secret island fortress. The Electric nessed - a drug-fuelled ascent of mac, Birmingham Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 18 - Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 24 July the most fearsome mountain Thurs 21 July MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Madcap JAWS (12a) Based on a pulpy best- encountered on the Tour de France, Theatre Productions present an out- A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (12a) seller by Peter Benchley, Jaws is a Fri 22 July, mac, Birmingham door production of Shakespeare’s Business has not been going well for masterfully constructed thriller about Alan Clay (Tom Hanks). So the sales- three disparate men - a cop (Roy man heads to Saudi Arabia to pitch Scheider), a scientist (Richard his latest idea to an Arab king build- Dreyfuss) and a sea dog (Robert ing a massive new complex in the Shaw) - setting out in a boat to cap- desert. Based on the 2012 novel by ture a shark that’s terrorising swim- Dave Eggers. Artrix, Bromsgrove, mers off the coast of Martha’s Wed 20 July Vineyard. The Electric Cinema, LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (U) Kate Birmingham, Sun 24 July Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon who, while staying at a massive estate, sets about finding a suitable NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: husband for her daughter. Of course, she wouldn’t mind an eligible man Released from Fri 22 July, showing for herself… Also stars Chloë at selected cinemas Sevigny. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 22 THE BFG (tbc) July MING OF HARLEM (tbc) THE BFG (PG) Stephen Spielberg directs the captivating adaptation of STAR TREK BEYOND (tbc) Roald Dahl’s children’s classic. Starring Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant and introducing Ruby Barnhill as Sophie, the film follows Sherlock Holmes & The Hound Of The Baskervilles - mac, Birmingham the adventures of a young girl and

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Monday 18 - Sunday 24 July

thelist BUG JAM Featuring five music are- classical dancing, colourful stalls Events nas, drag racing, Run What Ya selling unique hand-crafted items Brung public track time, show & and free workshops, Sat 23 July, shine, comedy, traders, stunt dis- Belgrade Theatre, Coventry PENCIL AND WATERCOLOUR plays, jet car, autojumble, funfair TWISTED BARREL BREWERY TOURS WORKSHOP Mon 18 July, Bodenham and more, Fri 22 - Sun 24 July, 2016 Meet the team behind Twisted Arboretum, Worcestershire Santa Pod Raceway, Northants Barrel Ale on this exclusive tour. LAVENDER WEEK A week of TREE ART & SCULPTURE Sat 23 July, Learn how the brewing process Lavender-themed activities, Tues 19 Chedhams Yard, Stratford-upon- works and sample the ales and - Sun 24 July, Blakesley Hall, Avon food, Sat 23 July, Fargo Village, Birmingham THE OPEN ROAD: STORY OF BLACK Coventry BIRMINGHAM BEER BASH Thurs 21 - COUNTRY VEHICLES Sat 23 July, SCULPTURE MODELLING AT FORGE Sat 23 July, The Bond Complex, Black Country Living Museum, MILL Sat 23 - Sun 24 July, Forge Birmingham Dudley Mill Needle Museum, Redditch ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE SUMMER ROUNDHOUSE U N-TOUR A chance to THE PET SHOW Sat 23 - Sun 24 July, Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire FAIR Thurs 21 - Sun 24 July, NEC, experience a tour of the Knights Tournament - Kenilworth Castle Birmingham Roundhouse Birmingham, but with BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 23 a difference. The 'Un-Tour' is history museum, including a musical instru- MIC LAB: WORKING VEHICLES Get - Sun 24 July, Birmingham City but not as you know it, with a twist ment area and a colouring post. Try your designer’s head on and create Centre where you get to teach the tour the Memory Game, using Elgar's a strong working vehicle, Thurs 21 guide, Sat 23 July, Birmingham THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTORS FAIR very own desk, Sat 23 July - Sun 4 July - Fri 2 Sept, Coventry Transport Back to Backs, Birmingham Sat 23 - Sun 24 July, British Motor Sept, The Elgar Birthplace Museum, Museum Museum, Gaydon ROLL UP! ROLL UP! VICTORIAN DAY AT Worcestershire SUMMER TRAILS Thurs 21 July - Tues ASTON HALL Sat 23 July, Aston Hall, KNIGHTS' TOURNAMENT Swords are SUMMER NIGHTS Sat 23 July - Sun 4 6 Sep, Croome Park, Birmingham wielded, archery skills tested and Sept, West Midland Safari and Worcestershire helmets battered, Sat 23 - Sun 24 ANNE HATHAWAY'S BIG PICNIC DAY Leisure Park, Bewdley, PLANT IT, GROW IT, EAT IT ACTIVITY July, Kenilworth Castle, Spread out your picnic in Anne's Worcestershire DAY Decorate a plant pot and sow Warwickshire beautiful cottage gardens, Sat 23 WORLD WAR ONE HISTORY BUS your seeds, take it home and watch July, Anne Hathaway's Cottage & MIDLANDS FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL Discover Birmingham’s contribution them grow, Fri 22 July, Croome Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon Sat 23 - Sun 24 July, Stoneleigh to the Great War, Sun 24 July, Park, Worcestershire Park, Warwickshire COVENTRY BELGRADE MELA Birmingham City Centre A NIGHT IN THE DANA Insight into the Celebration of South Asian arts and MAKING MUSICAL MEMORIES - ANTIQUES & COLLECTORS FAIR Sun 24 nightlife of a 200-year-old prison, Fri culture featuring an array of enter- MUSICAL MELODIES TRAIL Find a vari- July, National Motorcycle Museum, 22 - Sat 23 July, The Dana Prison, tainment, from Dhol drumming to ety of activity stations around the Solihull Shrewsbury

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Birmingham @WHATSONBRUM Wolverhampton @WHATSONWOLVES Shropshire @WHATSONSHROPS staffordshire @WHATSONSTAFFS Worcestershire @WHATSONWORCS warwickshire @WHATSONWARWICKS

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thelist Monday 25 - Sunday 31 July STEVE HARRIS, DANIEL TOWNES, MARK Classical Music MAIER & LAURA LEXX Sat 30 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham

MUSIC FOR LUNCH: SUMMER ORGAN Steve Harris FESTIVAL Featuring Steven McIntyre, Mon 25 July, Birmingham Cathedral PALESTINE YOUTH ORCHESTRA Featuring Arabic songs from Egypt alongside contemporary British music and works by Beethoven & Mussorgsky, Fri 29 July, Birmingham Town Hall ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: LAST NIGHT OF THE SHAKESPEARE PROMS Featuring Laura van der Heijden (cello) & David Curtis (conductor). Programme includes works by Nicolai, Elgar, Parry & Henry Wood, Sat 30 July, Stratford Artshouse, Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon Conya Doss - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham HEAD GIRL A dark comedy set in the sixth form of an all-girls private Birmingham MAHALIA Fri 29 July, school, Mon 25 - Wed 27 July, Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham Gigs THE ELECTRIC SWING The Glee Club, B’ham CIRCUS Thurs 28 July, THE HAIR ROCK AWAY FROM HOME Gritty Theatre mac, Birmingham EXPERIENCE Fri 29 July, present an edgy, witty, moving and KOSHIRO, GUILT CITY subversively political piece that DAN WALSH Thurs 28 The Roadhouse, Mon 25 July, The tackles football’s last taboo: homo- July, Katie Fitzgerald's, Birmingham Flapper, Birmingham phobia, Tues 26 July, The Crescent Stourbridge EVANS THE DEATH Fri 29 THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS Theatre, Birmingham DAPZ ON THE MAP Thurs July, The Tin Music Tues 26 July The Jam RATBURGER Heartbreak Productions 28 July, O2 Acacemy, And Arts, Coventry House, Birmingham present an outdoor staging of David Birmingham TRU GROOVE Fri 29 - Sat THE DEAD DAISIES Walliams’ acclaimed children’s tale, 30 July, The Jam Tues 26 July, The THE LEGENDS OF Tues 26 - Wed 27 July, Brueton House, Birmingham Slade Rooms, MOTOWN Fri 29 July, Park, Solihull Crescent Theatre, JOHN O'DOWD Wolverhampton Sat 30 RENT Jonathan Larson's story of Birmingham July, Irish Centre, GUITAR HEROES WITH love, friendship and a fight to sur- Birmingham PHIL WALKER & HIS BLUE BUS - DOORS Comedy Gigs vive, Tue 26 - Sat 30 July, The Old BAND Wed 27 July, The TRIBUTE Fri 29 July, STONE BROKEN Sat 30 Rep Theatre, Birmingham Route 44, Birmingham Robin, Bilston July, O2 Academy, PETER PAN Chapterhouse Theatre Birmingham THE LAUNCH PAD Wed OLB #5 & GROVE STREET CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tue 26 July, present an outdoor staging of JM 27 July, The Jam FAMILIES Fri 29 July, PERMAGEDDON Sat 30 The Dark Horse, Moseley, B’ham Barrie’s story of the boy who would- The Marr's Bar, House, Birmingham July, The River Rooms, FAT PENGUIN COMEDY Wed 27 July, n’t grow up, Wed 27 July, Worcester Stourbridge CONYA DOSS Wed 27 The Patrick Kavanagh, Birmingham Birmingham Botanical Gardens FEMI & THE INRHYTHMS July, Hare & Hounds, PURPLE ZEPPELIN Sat 30 PATRICK MONAHAN, EDDY BRIMSON ALWAYS ORANGE Fraser Grace pres- Fri 29 July, mac, Birmingham July, Artrix, Thurs 28 July, mac, Birmingham ents a tragicomic exploration of Birmingham Bromsgrove how to be human in a world always HUMDRUM EXPRESS STEVE HARRIS, DANIEL TOWNES & NICETRAXUK RELEASE on edge, Wed 27 July - Sat 27 Aug, Thurs 28 July, Katie JOANNA EDEN Sun 31 COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY PARTY Fri 29 July, Hare Studio Theatre @ The Other Place, Fitzgerald's, July, Kitchen Garden ROBINSON Thurs 28 July, The Glee & Hounds, Birmingham Stratford-upon-Avon Stourbridge Cafe, Birmingham Club, Birmingham GREEN DIESEL Thurs 28 BOOGIE NIGHTS - 70'S & HACIENDA CLASSICAL FALL OF THE KINGDOM, RISE OF THE July, Evesham Arts 80'S MUSIC WITH DJ ROB Sun 31 July, The FOOT SOLDIER A provocative new Centre Fri 29 July, Irish Rainbow Venues, play by Somalia Seaton which Centre, Birmingham Birmingham peels away the privileged ignorance GUNS 2 ROSES Thurs 28 of middle-class tolerance to expose UB40 - LABOUR OF LOVE DON BROCO Sun 31 July July, The Robin, Bilston the deep wound of cultural tension Fri 29 July, The River - Mon 1 Aug, O2 DEL CAMINO Thurs 28 cutting through modern England, Rooms, Stourbridge Institute, Birmingham July, The Jam House, Wed 27 July - Sat 27 Aug, Studio Theatre @ The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon RATBURGER Heartbreak Productions present an outdoor staging of David ADAM BLOOM Thurs 28 July, Station Walliams’ acclaimed children’s tale, Pub, Sutton Coldfield Thurs 28 July, Bodymoor Heath Lane, Kingsbury, Warwickshire RAY PEACOCK, MARKUS BIRDMAN, LUKE TOULSON & VERY SPECIAL GUEST THAT URINETOWN THE MUSICAL The Old CANNOT BE ANNOUNCED! Fri 29 July, Joint Stock Musical Theatre The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Company (OJSMTC) presents its version of the award-winning tale of STEVE HARRIS, DANIEL TOWNES, MARK greed, love, revolution (and musi- MAIER & LAURA LEXX Fri 29 July, The cals) in a time when water was Glee Club, Birmingham worth its weight in gold, Thurs 28 THE NOISE NEXT DOOR July - Sat 6 Aug, Old Joint Stock Sat 30 July, Theatre, Birmingham mac, Birmingham RAY PEACOCK, MARKUS BIRDMAN, LUKE THE TAMING OF THE SHREW TOULSON & VERY SPECIAL GUEST THAT Presented by Little Arden Theatre CANNOT BE ANNOUNCED! Sat 30 July, Company, Fri 29 July, The Crescent Joanna Eden - Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham

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Monday 25 - Sunday 31 July

MAGIC RUSS: FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL Core, Solihull Magic & fun for younger audiences, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Madcap Fri 29 July, Artrix, Bromsgrove Theatre Productions present an outdoor version of Shakespeare’s battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Sun 31 July, Arley Arboretum, Worcestershire TIMON OF ATHENS Outdoor production of Shakespeare’s comic tragedy, presented by Rendered Retina Theatre, Sun 31 July, The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon

ROBIN HOOD New adaptation of the action-packed adventure featuring Talks men in green tights... Sat 30 July, The Coach House, Malvern CRAZY TOWN The Pauline Quirk LUISA OMIELAN With readings from Academy Of Performing Arts, her book and a live Q&A, Luisa will Solihull, presents a low-tech show you how there is no situation evening of comedy which takes in which Beyonce can't save the audiences on a tour of a messed-up day, Tues 26 July, The Crescent town in America. Suitable for audi- Theatre, Birmingham Dr Faustus ences aged 12-plus, Sat 30 - Sun 31 July, mac, Birmingham The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Thurs 4 August SHANDAAR 2016 Dance showcase First published in 1604, eleven him relinquishing his soul in the celebrating the very best Bollywood years after its author Christopher afterlife in exchange for the hits of recent years, Sat 30 - Sun 31 Marlowe's death, the enjoyment of unlimited power July, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Elizabethan-age story of Dr during his time on earth... Faustus is a familiar one. A disil- Maria Aberg returns to the RSC RHYTHM OF THE DANCE Celebrating the rich history of Ireland and the lusioned but knowledge-hungry to direct this notorious tale of art of Irish dance, Sun 31 July, The academic enters into a pact with vanity, greed and damnation. the devil - one which will see

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thelist Monday 25 - Sunday 31 July BOOKBENCH SUMMER CRAFT ACTIVITIES tractors on Millennium Place, Sat 30 Join in a family craft activity inspired July, Coventry Transport Museum by a different children's story each BECKETT’S FARM SUMMER CRAFT FAIR week of the summer holidays, Tues Stalls, entertainment and plenty to 26 July - Tues 23 Aug, Blakesley see for the whole family, Sat 30 July, Hall, Birmingham Beckett's Farm, Birmingham FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: ROYAL OUTDOOR CINEMA - DIRTY DANCING An CARRIAGE PHOTO FRAMES Travel in the opportunity to watch the movie style of a king or queen as you make against the backdrop of the moated a fairytale carriage photo frame, Wed manor house, Sat 30 July, Baddesley 27 July, Aston Hall, Birmingham Clinton, Solihull PLAY DAY WEDNESDAYS Enjoy tradi- INSANE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING Sat tional garden games, including 30 July, O2 Institute, Birmingham quoits, giant jenga and croquet, Wed 27 July - Wed 31 Aug, Blakesley Hall, MOSELEY ARTS MARKET Featuring a Birmingham broad spectrum of artwork, ceramics, jewellery, mosaics, textiles and other OUTDOOR CINEMA - DIRTY DANCING An unique hand-crafted gifts, produced opportunity to watch the hit movie by artists & designers in and around against the backdrop of the moated Moseley, Sat 30 July, Victoria Parade, manor house, Thurs 28 July, Moseley, Birmingham Baddesley Clinton, Solihull AN INTRODUCTION TO BEEKEEPING Join HISTORY DETECTIVE THURSDAYS Ragley Game Fair - Ragley Hall, Warwickshire Colin and Ian from the Bournville Become a History Detective for the Beekeepers for an afternoon learning day and complete a history-mystery about urban beekeeping, Sat 30 July, JAWS (12a) Based on a pulpy best- trail, Thurs 28 July - Thurs 25 Aug, Selly Manor, Birmingham Film seller by Peter Benchley, Jaws is a Blakesley Hall, Birmingham masterfully constructed thriller about THE BIG READ: BB TAYLOR Author BB OUTDOOR CINEMA - THE LADY IN THE three disparate men - a cop (Roy Taylor presents an interactive work- VAN An opportunity to watch the INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: Scheider), a scientist (Richard shop about how to write stories, Sat movie against the backdrop of the Dreyfuss) and a sea dog (Robert 30 July, Soho House, Birmingham moated manor house, Fri 29 July, Shaw) - setting out in a boat to cap- LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (U) Kate Baddesley Clinton, Solihull ARTISAN & CRAFT FAIR Featuring a ture a shark that’s terrorising swim- Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon range of jewellery, cards, trinkets, mers off the coast of Martha’s BRINDLEYPLACE SUMMER MARKETS Fri who, while staying at a massive home wares, gifts, candles, knitted Vineyard. The Electric Cinema, 29 July, Brindleyplace, Birmingham estate, sets about finding a suitable items and multicultural specialities, Birmingham, Sun 31 July husband for her daughter. Of course, GARDEN TOURS Discover the fabulous Sat 30 - Sun 31 July, Fargo Village, she wouldn’t mind an eligible man flora and fauna that thrive at Witley, Coventry for herself… Also stars Chloë Fri 29 July, Witley Court, THE COUNTRY FAIR Join Blists Hill’s Worcestershire Sevigny. Roses Theatre, Mon 25 - NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: residents on the Green at this new Wed 27 July; Artrix, Bromsgrove, THE 58TH GAME FAIR 3 day show fea- event, based on a Victorian country Tues 26 July Released from Fri 22 July, showing at turing falconry, country crafts, fishing, fair. See country craft demonstra- selected cinemas KES (PG) Based on the late Barry country fashion, food & drink, Fri 29 - tions, working horses and have a go Hines’ novel, A Kestrel For A Knave, AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY (tbc) Sun 31 July, Ragley Hall, at horse driving, Sat 30 - Sun 31 July, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire this classic British coming-of-age tale BARRY LYNDON (PG) Warwickshire focuses on a troubled teenager from THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC WEEKEND BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 30 FINDING DORY (tbc) a northern mining town who finds a Featuring track parades, infield dis- July - Mon 1 Aug, Birmingham City new purpose in life when he adopts JASON BOURNE (tbc) plays from over 120 car clubs featur- Centre a baby kestrel. Stars David Bradley & ing more than 10,000 classic cars, FAMILY FESTIVAL Fun-filled day of art Lynne Perrie. Roses Theatre, interactive driving activities and and science activities based around Tewkesbury, Tues 26 July dynamic demonstrations plus live the great British car, Sun 31 July, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (U) An music from headline acts, Fri 29 - British Motor Museum, Gaydon orphan with terrible aunts for Events Sun 31 July, Silverstone Circuit, Northants TEDDY BEAR ZIPWIRE Make a cape for guardians befriends human-like bugs your teddy and watch him fly down who live inside a giant peach. Stars 23RD MOPAR EURO NATIONALS The the house to the crash zone below, Paul Terry & Joanna Lumley. mac, PENCIL AND WATERCOLOUR WORKSHOP biggest muscle car door slammer Mon 25 July, Bodenham Arboretum, Sun 31 July, Croome Park, Birmingham, Wed 27 July event in Europe, Fri 29 - Sun 31 July, Worcestershire Worcestershire Santa Pod Raceway, Northants SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE (U) When ARCHERY LESSONS WITH REALLY RURAL Shaun decides to take the day off CONDENSED HISTORIES: ANCIENT WEAR YOUR WELLIES DAY Sat 30 July, WARRIOR SHOWS Greg Chapman An Archery GB-qualified instructor and have some fun, he gets a little Coventry Transport Museum will show you how to shoot a 'recurve more action than he bargained for... uses juggling, unicycling and other skills to perform shows about the MOTORCYCLE RIDER SKILLS WORKSHOP bow', with as much time spent shoot- Expect some gastric gas. mac, Sat 30 July, British Motor Museum, ing arrows as possible, Sun 31 July, Birmingham, Thurs 28 July Gladiators of Ancient Rome, Warrior Queen Boudicca and the Spartans, Gaydon Croome Park, Worcestershire THE SNARLING (U) Three locals have Mon 25 July, Forge Mill Needle 70 TRACTORS FOR 70 YEARS Celebrate WORLD SHAKESPEARE CONGRESS 2016 the chance to get involved in a new Museum, Redditch the 70th anniversary of Massey Sun 31 July - Sat 6 Aug, Stratford horror film being made in their area - HANDS-ON HISTORY - SIEGE! Get set for Ferguson in Coventry with a parade Town Centre but the horror becomes real as a and display of 70 Massey Ferguson series of gruesome murders and dis- a summer packed with time-travelling appearances follow the cast and fun, Mon 25 July - Sat 27 Aug, crew. The police are soon on the Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire scene... then the problems really SAFARI SUMMER SCHOOL Featuring start! Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 28 three different clubs, all tailored July towards different age groups but WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (U) When offering hands-on animal experi- shy, artistic Anna moves to the sea- ences and knowledge of the natural side to live with her aunt and uncle, world, Mon 25 July - Sat 27 Aug, she stumbles upon an old mansion West Midland Safari and Leisure surrounded by marshes, and the Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire mysterious young girl, Marnie, who HANDS-ON HISTORY - NATURE lives there... mac, Birmingham, Fri 29 DETECTIVES Mon 25 July - Wed 31 - Sun 31 July Aug, Witley Court, Worcestershire Country Fair - Blists Hill, Shropshire

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