Warwickshire Cover Online.qxp_Warwickshire Cover 25/06/2015 10:34 Page 1 THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE WARWICKSHIRE ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 354 JUNE 2015 MICA PARIS SOUL STAR IN NEW MUSICAL INTERVIEW INSIDE...

BRIAN CONLEY brings the Circus to town interview inside... TRANSPORT MUSEUM re-opens after refurbishment

INSIDE: FILM COMEDY THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VISUAL ARTS EVENTS FOOD & DRINK & MUCH MORE!

performs at Sounds in the Grounds Pop Night at Warwick Castle Simmerdown Festival July 15.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 08:53 Page 1 Contents July Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:12 Page 1

July 2015

Editor: Davina Evans INSIDE: [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: - the circus Brian O’Faolain [email protected] comes to 01743 281701 interview with Lauren Foster [email protected] Brian Conley p6 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Jamie Ryan [email protected] 01743 281720

Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703

Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704

Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Mica Paris Managing Director: stars in new musical - Paul Oliver interview [email protected] p8 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Maxi Priest - reggae star headlines Simmer Down. More on page 43. Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 TO GET THE VERY News p4 Contributors: LATEST LISTING Graham Bostock: Theatre INFORMATION, James Cameron-Wilson: Music p11 Foodies delight Film; Eva Easthope, VISIT: Jessica Aston, Patsy Colmore Food Festival p55 Moss, Jack Rolfe, Jan whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy p18 Watts, Simon Carter INCLUDING Head Office: BOOKING ONLINE 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Theatre p21 Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE The Midlands’ most Tel: 01743 281777 comprehensive e-mail: [email protected] p35 entertainment website Film/DVD

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News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The wonders of the ocean on the big screen The mysterious wonders of the ocean are to be showcased for all to see when the Ocean Film Festival World Tour takes to the road this autumn. Featuring two hours of footage taken above and below the water’s surface, the films are described by the tour’s promot- ers as documenting ‘the beauty and power of the ocean’ and celebrating ‘the divers, surfers, swimmers and oceanographers who live for the sea’s salt spray, who chase the crests of the waves, and who marvel at the mysteries of the big blue’. Impressive-sounding stuff... The Ocean Film Festival World Tour stops off at: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 2 September; Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, 17 September; Malvern Theatre, 27 October. For further information, visit oceanfilmfesti- val.co.uk

New season line-up offers plenty of choice A of celebrations across the city Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has released Birmingham is this autumn set to host one of the biggest free events ever to take place in the details of its autumn/winter line-up of shows, city. Bringing together major arts organisations, Birmingham Weekender (25 to 27 with highlights including the Birmingham September) is an outdoor event boasting a fusion of music, dance, theatre, art, literature, Stage Company UK premiere of David food and fashion. The weekend marks the opening of the newly transformed New Street Walliams’ best-selling children’s novel, Station and the much-anticipated John Lewis store - and also coincides with Style Gangsta Granny. Birmingham Live and the Rugby World Cup. Commenting on the event, Roxana Silbert, The popular Midlands theatre will also be Creative Director of Birmingham Weekender and Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory staging a new production of Moliere’s The Theatre, said: “Birmingham is leading the way with this level of collaboration across the city’s Sisterhood and an Olivier Award-nominated arts and cultural organisations. We have relationships with some of the best national and play celebrating the legendary Judy Garland. international companies and artists in the world. Birmingham Weekender is an opportunity to Also included in the line-up is a brand new showcase Birmingham as a regenerated city full of vibrancy and optimism. And for audiences yuletide comedy called Vampomime, which it will be an amazing, surprising and inspiring couple of days out!” follows the hapless adventures of a theatre company run entirely by vampires. Touring productions stopping off at the this month to explore new creative avenues. Belgrade include: The Smallest Show On Ms Teo joined BRB’s board in 2013 and the Truly scrumptious musical Earth, starring Liza Goddard and Brian Company’s Finance & General Purposes back in Brum Capron (13 to 17 October); She Called Me Committee in 2014. She’s also Director of A brand new staging of Chitty Chitty Bang Mother (7 November), with Cathy Tyson; and the Birmingham Museums Trust and has Bang is visiting the a revival production of Terrence Rattigan’s played an important role in both the annual in 2016. The West Yorkshire Playhouse pro- award-winning World War Two biopic, Flare Deutsche Bank Creative Awards and the duction promises ‘sensational sets and stun- Path (3 to 7 November). For full new-season Women In European Business Diversity ning special effects’, presented alongside listings, visit belgrade.co.uk Group. Commenting on her new appoint- ment, Jan said: “’m delighted to combine the Sherman brothers’ memorable score. Hit my corporate skills with a personal and life- standards from the ever-popular musical long passion for the arts and cultural pur- include Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, suits, and am looking forward to working Hushabye Mountain and the show’s signa- with the immensely talented and dedicated ture tune, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. team at Birmingham Royal Ballet.” Speaking of his involvement in the produc- For details of BRB’s autumn season, visit tion, West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic brb.org.uk Director James Brining said: “Directing such an iconic show is a great opportunity, a thrilling challenge for any director. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a brilliant adventure story, filled with classic songs and scenes that hold so many memories for so many people. I can’t wait to bring the production to New Chief Exec for BRB Birmingham.” Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) has Chitty Chitty Bang Bang shows at announced the appointment of Jan Teo (pic- Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 7 tured) as its new Chief Executive. to Sunday 18 September 2016, with tickets Jan, who takes up her position in priced from £23.50 to £50 on general sale September, replaces current CEO from 10am Monday 6 July. Christopher Barron, who’s stepping down

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A world of magic at Warwick Arts Centre A new interactive adventure for children aged four and older is being presented at Warwick Arts Centre over the Christmas period. The Lost Gift invites families to ‘step into a magical story that they walk through and help create’. The production features ‘a host of charming characters’ and runs at the venue from Sat 12 to Thurs 31 Dec. Lasting for forty-five minutes, the show will be presented at ten-minute intervals - from 10am to 6.40pm - every day except Christmas Day. Commenting on the production, Matt Burman, Head of Programme & Audience at Warwick Arts Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be producing this new Christmas adven- ture with local companies Highly Sprung and Vortex Creates. We’re looking forward to welcoming people of all ages, both old and new friends of the Arts Centre, to expe- rience, together with family and friends, this Watch, try and join in... at Coventry festival very special event. This promises to be A diverse range of arts-based activities and performances await visitors to Coventry’s second unlike anything you’ve seen or heard at the Festival Of Imagineers next month (3 to 8 August). Arts Centre before...” Taking place at various city centre venues - including the Coventry Cathedral Ruins, For further information and to book tickets, Millennium Place and Broadgate - the festival offers a series of free experiences for people to visit warwickartscentre.co.uk sample. There’s also an opportunity to explore hidden spaces and inventions across the city, including a visit underground to Coventry’s slipper baths. Highlights of the festival include: Imagineer Productions’ new performance, Come Fly With Pixie Lott to star in Me; the regional premiere of Pif-Paf’s Planetary - a brand new piece of aerial theatre; Acrojou’s The Wheel House, a contemporary circus experience housed in a hand-built struc- Breakfast At Tiffany’s ture; and Godiva, in all her glory, aboard her cyclopedia. Pixie Lott is to star as Holly Golightly in a For full festival events and times, visit imagineerproductions.co.uk new staging of Breakfast At Tiffany's, which visits Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre in 2016. Arcadian set to sway to Latin beats The production is directed by Nikolai Foster, IN BRIEF Birmingham’s Arcadian Centre is promising visitors a sizzling hot the new artistic director of 's Curve Battle Of Theatre, which is co-producing the show. welcome this month when the Latin American Festival makes a celebrations welcome return (on 5 July). Commenting on her involvement, Pixie said: announced “I’m so excited to be playing Holly Golightly The one-day event promises a real feast for the senses, courtesy in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. I absolutely love The seven hundred- of an imaginative programme of music and dance. Cuisine, crafts Holly’s style and free spirit. She’s always and-fiftieth anniversary and culture from numerous Latin American nations also features. been an icon to me and I can't wait to bring of the Battle Of Performers include the acclaimed Salsa Feugo Band (with my own personality to the role. Alongside Evesham is to be cele- Columbian singer Angelica Lopez), the Los De La Vega Latin music, I've always wanted to be in a play, brated with a packed Band, Carlos Paul and his band from Ecuador, and Expression and getting the opportunity to be in one of programme of activi- Inca Dance Group from Peru, who’ll perform typical dances from my all-time favourites and to play this fabu- ties and talks next the three regions of the country. lous character is a dream come true.” month. Commenting on the festival, Julia Chance, manager of Southside Breakfast At Tiffany's shows at New On Saturday 8 and BID, which is supporting the event, said: “Southside plays host to Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, from Mon Sunday 9 August, many colourful and vibrant festivals throughout the year, and the 18 - Sat 23 April. Evesham’s Crown Latin American Festival is definitely a highlight. It’s got bigger and Meadow will come to better every year, and this year it promises to be an incredible life with battle re- spectacle for all the family.” enactments, a Brum theatre seeks medieval banquet the- art treasure atre, a treasure hunt, Chocolatey celebrations under wraps ghost tours, work- Birmingham’s Old Rep Theatre is asking shops and war games. in Bournville creative children aged twelve and younger For information on the Birmingham-based visitor attraction Cadbury World is planning to to design an artistic masterpiece to tie in full programme of celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary next month with a whole host with its Christmas production of Treasure events, visit battle- of family-friendly activities. Although much of what’s planned is Island. The winning design, chosen by a ofevesham.co.uk still under wraps, the award-winning venue has revealed that its celebrity judge, will then feature on the team of talented chocolatiers will be putting their skills to the test cover of the show’s official programme. to produce a mouthwatering range of show-stopping creations. Gaynor Cheshire, CEO of the Old Rep, said: Visitors to the venue will also be given the chance to book their “We’d like to encourage children across the place on a ‘brand new exclusive experience’ later in the year. region to pick up their paint brushes, Commenting on the forthcoming celebrations, Cadbury World crayons, pens and channel their inner Van marketing manager Diane Mitchell said: “Our twenty-fifth anniver- Gogh. Good luck to all those who enter - sary marks a really exciting we can’t wait to see the submissions!” time for us, and we’re Entrants need to submit a picture of their delighted to be able to share fantasy Treasure Island to the Old Rep by that with all of our visitors. Saturday 10 October. This can be done in There’s plenty to look for- one of two ways. Either post the artwork to ward to for the rest of 2015 Treasure Island Art Competition, The Old and beyond, but it’s also Rep, Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY, or been really nice to look back scan the picture and email it totreasureis- over previous years. There’s [email protected]. a lot to be proud of!” We’ll keep you posted.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Brian Conley Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 16:37 Page 1

interview BRIAN CONLEY talks about bringing the circus to town in Barnum

What are the demands that come with Everyone knows I’m not a professional playing Phineas Taylor Barnum, Brian? It’s renowned for being one of the toughest tightrope walker, so they all sit there musical theatre roles in the business because “ there are so many strands to it - the acting, the singing, the comedy, the circus skills. with their hearts in their mouths. There are many different things that need to be learned to enable you to play the part. And, of course, you’re on stage all the time. But it’s very rewarding to do. Sir Cameron Mackintosh doesn’t do anything by halves.

” How long did it take you to master walking the tightrope? It’s ongoing. It’s one of those things that you think you’ve mastered - and then it rears up and bites you on the bum. I’ve got better as the months have passed, but initially it took six months. I used to go two or three times a week to a circus school in Camden, where I’d start off on a low tightrope about a foot off the ground, which they call the cheese cutter. I ended up breaking my finger on that. Even at a low height you can still hurt yourself - but over time, you progress. The tightrope in the show is seven foot high and ten foot across, and there’s no safety net or wire attached to me.

So not an easy watch for the fainthearted... Too true - and that’s how it should be. Everyone knows I’m not a professional tightrope walker, so they all sit there with their hearts in their mouths. If I fall off, which I do, and then get back up and do it again, it always gets a bigger cheer. First time round it’s a bit ‘Oh yeah, that’s good’, but if I fall off a couple of times, it makes people think I’m doing it on purpose to get the reaction - but I can assure you I always try to get across.

Have you had to up your insurance premium? No, I can’t get fully covered.

Did you have any reservations when Sir Cameron first approached you to play Barnum? I knew it was going to be a tough gig. I’m not getting any younger, so it was something which, if I was going to do it, I had to do now.

6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk . Brian Conley Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 16:37 Page 2

When What’s On recently spoke to Sir What has being part of the Barnum team So you’ll be looking to have something Cameron, he said this was probably your taught you about yourself? named after you? best performance since playing . That I could learn a new skill at fifty-three! Oh, it would probably be a toilet. Would you agree with that? Prior to this, the most I’ve ever done is walk Yes, I would. It’s in the same league as the dogs. I’ve learned that touring is tough. You’ve been filming a brand new series for Jolson. You’re very much out there all the Being away from home is tough, but it’s a the BBC called TV That Made Me... time. You’re leading the company; you’re wonderful honour to be part of this show, and It will be out very shortly - probably when telling the story of this man. Jolson was a to be headlining a production put on by Sir we’re in Birmingham, or in the next month or showman, an entertainer, and that’s what Cameron. Everyone aspires to work with him, so. Each episode has a celebrity guest and Barnum is too. and you know that the designers, the they tell me about their favourite telly. Things costumes, the orchestra are all at the very top they love watching. Things that inspired And what characteristics, if any, do you level. Everyone wants to have working with them. Things that they watched as a family. share with Barnum? Sir Cameron on their CV. Things that scared them. It’s a bit like Desert I’m very much at ease talking to the Island Discs but for television. For forty-five audience, which Barnum does. I’ve always You’re back at the Hippodrome. A bit of a minutes we get lost in their world, show clips been an entertainer and always been capable homecoming? from what they liked to watch, and I dish out of standing there on my own. You have to Of course. It’s always nice to be back there. It trivia information about that particular show. have a confidence in holding an audience. is, without doubt, one of the greatest theatres Knowing what I now know about Barnum, he in the country. I can absolutely vouch for that. Has it been fun to do? must’ve had a real charm because he duped I’ve always loved performing at the A lot of fun. I got the pilot idea through at banks as well as the public. A lot of the big Hippodrome. And I’m honoured to have Christmas and knew straight away it was adventures he had, he never even put the starred there more something I wanted to be involved in. The money in himself. He managed to persuade times than any other BBC are really pleased with it. We’re all banks to put up the money so that he could artist since the looking forward to it being screened and carry on with his dreams theatre opened - seeing how it’s received. It’s a nostalgic look or so I’m told. at television through the years, and every Was the story of Barnum one that you were guest has a different point of view. familiar with before you were approached to star in the show? What were your favourite shows growing I was very aware that he was the first up? entrepreneur - but playing him and reading I used to love watching Cilla Black. She used about him and the things that he did was a to be on on a Sunday night and I vividly real eye-opener. The reason he came up with remember watching her when I was a tiny the three-ring circus, which was very clever, little kid of about seven. I loved Watch With was that not everyone got to see the show Mother with Andy Pandy, Bill And Ben and the first time. Every little theatre in the world the Flower Pot Men. Then, when I was older, has got Barnum to thank for what he did, I’d love watching Captain Scarlet & The because they were quite seedy places in the Mysterons and, later still, Colditz. early 1800s. His aim was to bring in the masses and family audiences. He made And do you have a guilty them all sorts of palaces. We have pleasure on TV today? Barnum to thank for that. In a way he I watch X Factor every now was the first spin doctor, the way and again because the kids he manipulated the press for his love watching it. I never get own means. into any series because I’m constantly flitting all over the You have some big hitters place, so don’t have a on your CV - Jolson, Fagin regular schedule. and Edna Turnblad included. How does this What are you looking to do compare in terms of after you’ve taken a personal achievements? holiday? I saw it many years ago with Who knows? I’ve never Michael Crawford in the title planned anything. You can’t. role and was blown away by it. You just see how it goes. I’ve got Never did I think that one day I pantomime in Southend, so there’s would play that part. It truly is the toughest something there at the end of the year. I gig I’ll ever have to do. There’s no other guess in between I’ll be a dad for a while, show where the end of the first half sees you which is something I enjoy. I’m looking walking across a tightwire, as well as being forward to spending some time at home just out there all of the time. It’s physically pottering around. demanding and you’re very much steering, the captain of the ship. No plans to go off and join the circus, then? How will you follow up playing a role like No. Been there, done that. Barnum? I don’t know, maybe I never will. I can’t plan it. Nothing’s ever planned. I would never have thought a couple of years ago that I’d be here playing Barnum. The same happened with . I went to see the musical and thoroughly enjoyed it but never thought that one day I’d be playing Edna Turnblad. In this game we’re all self- Brian Conley stars as Phineas T Barnum at employed, so you take a job and see where the Birmingham Hippodrome, from Tues 7 it leads you. The only certainty after the July to Sat 1 August Barnum tour finishes is me taking a very long holiday.”

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Micha Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:20 Page 1

interview

My character, Sylvia, “ is very much like me, just with an American accent. It was all too much when I first read the script. She just mirrored me.

Love Me Tender is a brand new musical which, to a certain extent,” sees you entering into the unknown. What drew you to the production? The story. It’s so powerful. I guess it’s almost like Frankie And Johnny. It’s set in the ’50s in America at a time of segregation. My character, Sylvia, is very much like me, just with an American accent. It was all too much when I first read the script. She just mirrored me. Sylvia runs a bar and you get to see her during a twenty-four-hour period. You see what went on in the ’50s, in a bar owned by a black woman, at a time of segregation. And the music is all Elvis. It’s just a very powerful script - and although the subject matter is serious, it’s done in a way that makes you laugh and have fun.

How has the music of Elvis influenced you as an artist? Elvis was my mother’s favourite. I remember being seven years old when he died. My mum was just bawling her eyes out for weeks. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with her. She’s obsessed with Elvis, so when I told her I was doing this play she was made up. I’ve done so much in the past twenty- seven years in this business, but the minute I do this play with the music of Elvis, I’m the best thing since sliced bread as far as she’s concerned. I couldn’t do anything wrong right now.

By your own admission your voice is now as good as it’s ever been. How do you keep it in top condition? The best way to keep your voice in good shape is just to keep singing. It’s like a muscle; you just have to keep using it and it just gets better and better with time. Mine gets a bit raspy and a bit seasoned, but I consider myself very blessed that I still have it. When you’re singing, you don’t try to control it, you allow yourself to be a channel for the energy. I know it will sound like a load of mumbo-jumbo to some people, but it really is true. You have to allow yourself to be led by the energy of the voice. If I was trying to control it, or if I was trained or something, 8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Micha Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:20 Page 2 Mica Paris talks about finding herself in new musical... Mica Paris shot to stardom in the late 1980s, with One Temptation and Where Is The Love featuring amongst her biggest hits. Since making her breakthrough, she’s successfully turned her hand to presenting, writing, acting and fundraising. This month she takes to the stage to star in Love Me Tender, a brand new musical from the producers of Hairspray, Legally Blonde and Jersey Boys. What’s On recently caught up with Mica to find out what audiences can expect.

I would probably lose that sense of what my be visible to have your music sell. Before, you You’ve appeared on a couple of reality TV voice is. I sometimes come off stage and think, could rely on your talent. shows. Is that line of work something you’d ‘How did I do that?’ It’s almost like a cartoon, do again? when you step out of your body, look at What do you class as your biggest The reality shows that I chose were quite good. yourself and think, ‘Oh my gosh, was that me?’ achievement? They weren’t embarrassing or humiliating, and My children, really - my children are fabulous. I always try everything once. I did Strictly and Looking back over your career, what single My biggest achievement outside of my realised I can’t dance. I tried it but you’ll never piece of advice would you give to your children is that, after all these years, people still see me do that again. I’ve just done Celebrity seventeen-year-old self? seem to like me somewhat, find me interesting Masterchef, which is credible as well, but that I’m not a person to look back. I don’t look back and like my music. I think that’s a great will be the last. It’s such a lot of work, thirteen- and I don’t look forward, I’m just in the achievement. hour days. moment. What advice I give to other people who’re young is that you have to really love You’ve had some fantastic collaborations How are you gearing up for being back on this thing. You have to love it so much that it over the years with some really big names. the road? doesn’t matter if you have a hit or not. You Which has been the most memorable for I tour all the time with my band, but I haven’t have to love it so much that you don’t care if you? done a play for twenty-one years. The last one you’re famous or not. The only reason you Prince was great. He wrote me a great song for I did was Mama I Want To Sing. I’m looking should do it is for the love of the art. If you get my second album. Chaka Khan has been forward to being on tour with Love Me Tender the fame on top, that’s a bonus, but the really good to me over the last twenty-odd because we get to stay in the towns for a week beginning of it must be an absolute and total years too, and has given me a lot of love and and I come home on the Sunday. My boyfriend passion for it. support - as have Natalie Cole and Dionne and mother are amazing. I’m very lucky that I Warwick. These are all people who, from day have this great, supportive network. The whole Your daughter’s in the business. Do you one until now, have always been supportive tour falls in the summer holidays, which is pass on your own experiences, or is it a and given me a whole lot of love. I’m very perfect. It’s all fallen into place, so there isn’t case of letting her get on with it? fortunate to have been involved with that going to be any stress. I don’t get involved at all. She comes to me calibre of artist. when she needs me, and I’m there. I don’t You’ve achieved a great deal as a musician, want to get in the way of her progress. She On your twitter page, you describe yourself an author, actress, presenter, ambassador must find her own thing and do it herself. I’m as a survivor. Can you expand on that? for women, campaigner and, obviously, as there when she crashes and that’s all you can I was caught up in that crazy fame stuff. I’ve a mother. What’s left to achieve? do as a mother. You’re their rock and should managed to survive with my faculties intact, I’m on a road of discovery. I want to continue be there when they need you, but you I’ve raised a family and am still pretty much to make people feel great with what I do. If I shouldn’t get involved in pushing them and together. died tomorrow, I’d feel like I’d done everything telling them where to go. You have to leave I wanted to do, but my modus operandi is them to get on with it. They love you for it in the You were recently honoured as an icon at always to do stuff that makes people feel end. Windsor Castle by the Duke of Edinburgh. good. That’s what music is; it’s uplifting. The How was that experience? world is pretty horrible at the moment, so it’s What do you think of the current state of the It was very interesting. It was very weird being good to have something to cheer us up. So music industry? in the same room as Buzz Aldrin and all these when you ask me what I want to do, I just want I think we could sit here and go on about the incredible people. I was just like, ‘Am I an icon to continue to try and empower people, glory days of the ’80s and ’90s, and how there as well? That’s weird!’ So it was a bit strange especially women, and to make people feel was loads of money in the business back then. but very sweet. The Duke’s great, and so was good. Yes, there was - but most of the time the artists Sophie, Countess of Wessex. She’s lovely. didn’t get to keep the money. That’s changed Believe it or not, she was a runner for me when now, which is a good thing. The only downside I first put out my My One Temptation track. She is that it’s much harder for people to come was a runner at Capital Radio and looked after Love Me Tender shows at New Alexandra through nowadays. People think the main way me. I didn’t even know that until I went to the Theatre, Birmingham, from Mon 24 to is through TV and reality programmes. I’m not Icon dinner. She came up and said, ‘Before I Sat 29 August. talking about presenting, I’m talking about got married, I was your runner at Capital getting visibility to sell your music. You have to Radio’. That was so bizarre.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Music July Region One.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:22 Page 1 Music July Region One.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:22 Page 2 Music

Curtis Eller’s American Circus Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, Tues 7 July If this is your first experience of Curtis Eller's Ameri- can Circus, you’re in for a stimulating and unusual evening. The band have variously been described as ‘brutish’, ‘inelegant’ and ‘specialising in gospel music for atheists and dance fads for amputees’. The banjo-playing Eller very much leads from the front, presenting imaginative songs about subjects that range from pigeon racing to presidential as- sassinations. Plenty of diverse historical figures are referenced too, including Abraham Lincoln, Buster Keaton, Joe Louis and Elvis.

Modest Mouse Mary J Blige The Institute, Birmingham, Sun 5 July Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Fri 3 July When it comes to producing albums, American indie rock band Modest Mouse have been as quiet Raised on the mean streets of the Bronx and discovered as a teenager singing karaoke in as a, er, mouse for the better part of a decade. So her local mall, Mary J Blige was subsequently nurtured by Puff Daddy in the days before to say that their recently released offering, he became P Diddy. There was no need for Mary to develop the requisite hip-hop ‘atti- Strangers To Ourselves, has been long-anticipated tude’, though. It was already there, in spades - and to such an extent that it sometimes by their many and varied fans is probably a bit of threatened to all but overshadow her music. an understatement. Still a real talent in a pool of lesser pretenders, her powerful voice demands to be heard. This Birmingham gig forms part of a summertime This Birmingham performance comes in support of her latest album, The Ses- concert schedule that also includes the London sions. Calling and T In The Park festivals. Kaiser Chiefs Warwick Castle, Fri 10 July This is a band that needs no introduction - particularly since lead singer Ricky Wilson be- came a judge on BBC One’s The Voice. Primarily inspired by new wave and punk rock music of the late 1970s and 1980s, the band have released five original studio albums, in- cluding Employment (2005) - which reached number two on the UK album chart - and Education, Education, Education & War (2014). Having kicked off 2015 supporting one of the world’s biggest rock groups, Foo Fighters, in Brazil, the band have a busy few months ahead of them. Not only do they have a string of UK and US tour dates, they’re also currently working on their sixth studio album. The Kaiser Chiefs will be joined by Pro- fessor Green and Ella Eyre for the Friday line-up of this year’s Sounds In The Grounds. Joanne Shaw Taylor The Robin, Bilston, Sat 25 July Brummie-born British blues rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor reckons she’s always had a deep voice. And by the time she was thirteen, she’d started playing the electric guitar. It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that a few years later she decided to bring together her quality vocals and musician- ship and go professional. This Bilston gig sees Joanne very much returning to her roots, as she recently explained to Blues In Britain. “My father used to bring me to the Robin to see international touring bands,” recalls Joanne. “I saw everyone here - John Hammond, Andrew Junior Boy Jones and a lot of the authentic American blues touring artists. So for me that was great.” Joanne’s appearance comes in support of latest album The Dirty Truth. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 113 Music July Region One.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:22 Page 3

Fri 4 Sept ‘MOTOWN’ £32.50 LEGENDS PARTY also appearing on Sat 7 Nov with Soul Legend Fri 11 Sept ‘MAMMA MIA’ £37.50 PARTY with ‘Sensation’ an ABBA tribute A special tribute to Fri 18 Sept WHITNEY £32.50 HOUSTON with Nya King Sat 3 Oct £49.50 PINK BALL AT THE HALL with 80’s Experience Sat 10 Oct THAT’S LIFE £35.00 ‘Take That’ & ‘Westlife’ show

Sat 17 Oct DISCO DIVA PARTY £32.50 with Tameka Jackson as Diana Ross HALLOWEEN Sat 31 Oct DISCO £27.50 with DJ Ian Rogers Sat 14 Nov ‘SUPREME’ MOTOWN £32.50 & SOUL DIVA PARTY with The Motellas LENNON AND Sat 21 Nov McCARTNEY £32.50 with The Lennon and McCartney Experience Sat 28 Nov £35.00 70’S & 80’S PARTY NIGHT with Borderline

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE FROM OUR WEBSITE TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 4 COURSE MEAL WE WILL CATER FOR ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS BY PRIOR ARRANGMENT NAILCOTE LANE, BERKSWELL, WARWICKSHIRE, CV7 7DE

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Music PREVIEWS Badly Drawn Boy Town Hall, Birmingham, Sat 25 July Damon Gough's debut album, The Hour Of Bewilderbeast, made it clear he was a star in the making, winning him the Mercury Music Prize in the year 2000. Twelve months later he penned the score for Hugh Grant movie About A Boy and then followed up with two more critically acclaimed albums in Have You Fed The Fish? and One Plus One Is One. He’s appearing in Birmingham to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of The Hour Of Be- wilderbeast and, accompanied by his band, will be performing the album in its entirety.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 19 July Jools Holland is - somewhat unfairly, it should be said - often viewed as little more than an arch-fan, albeit one with his finger firmly on the musical pulse and committed to bringing his more intriguing and exciting finds to his audience’s attention. His well-established BBC Two TV show has long been an eclectic mixture of styles and genres, encompassing music from across the world. His own talent on the piano is immense, and his attitude towards his famed Beres Hammond And Rhythm & Blues Orchestra friendly and egalitarian. The result is a joyous celebration of music Bunny Wailer - and a sound to which you can’t help but tap your feet. O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sat 18 July Two reggae giants for the price of one is the mouthwatering deal on offer here. One-time Neil Diamond Defeater Zap Pow lead singer Beres Hammond scored Genting Arena, Birmingham, The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham, Wed 8 July a massive hit when he released his debut Sat 11 & Sat 18 July solo album, Soul Reggae, way back in 1976, Neil Diamond has been pumping out the hits Melodic-hardcore band Defeater hail from going on to bask in the full glare of the lime- for over fifty years, not only for himself but Massachusetts and have a penchant for what light some two decades later while con- also for others. Indeed, such stellar names as they describe as ‘taking creative liberties’ tracted to Elektra Records. Elvis, The Monkees, Deep Purple, Lulu and with the business of crafting songs. Their ten- Bunny Wailer, meanwhile, is one of the Ja- Cliff Richard all feature on the impressive list dency to do so sets them apart from many of maican music scene’s elder statesmen and a of artists who’ve benefited from the Brooklyn- their contemporaries - as guitarist Jay Maas founding member of The Wailers (along with born performer’s incredible songwriting skills. explained to Alternative Press Magazine: childhood friends Bob Marley and Peter Neil’s enjoyed plenty of chart success as a “There's a prevalent thing in this genre where Tosh). As with Beres, Bunny released his performer too, with Sweet Caroline, Cracklin’ if you're not doing what hardcore bands have debut solo album in 1976, since which time Rosie, Forever In Blue Jeans and Song Sung been doing for the last twenty-five years al- he’s cut a further twenty-nine, bagging three Blue among his best-known tracks. most verbatim, you're ****ing up.” coveted Grammy Awards in the process. In short, the man’s pretty much a living leg- The band returns to the Midlands next month end. This concert sees him performing the to appear in Cheltenham at the 2000 Trees ever-popular classics alongside material from festival. his most recent album, Melody Road. Gren Bartley Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 18 July “I just enjoy playing,” expert fingerstyle gui- tarist Gren Bartley recently told pennyblack- music.co.uk, in explaining why he favours a challenging touring schedule. “It’s always nice to play in front of a large audience, but it’s not a problem if only a few punters turn up. My passion is writing, striving for the song which works.” Gren performs at Artrix in support of recently released album Magnificent Creatures. Camel Naomi Namz Elliott Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 23 July The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 18 July When seminal Canterbury rock band Camel Having already scored a success with debut first banged out a tune, Edward Heath was single Rainbow and follow-up offering Es- prime minister and the UK was getting to cape, Neo-Soul artist Naomi Namz Elliott is grips with decimalisation (we’re talking 1971 here launching her first EP, Gold Rush. here). Long in the tooth and certainly not Naomi’s been attracting plenty of attention in short on quality, they continue to serve up recent months - so much so, in fact, that The their trademark blend of progressive, sym- Drum is promising an evening that’ll not only phonic and space rock, albeit with only gui- be ‘unforgettable’ but also ‘the start of some- tarist/vocalist Andy Latimer remaining from thing big’. the original line-up.

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FLEETWOOD MAC STRANGER IN DEATH, EVIL Genting Arena, B’ham EMPIRE, RISING STRUG- Music PREVIEWS Music LISTINGS GLE & TOMB HAZARD WED 8 JUL Scruffy Murphys, B’ham For full listing information on gigs, SARAH LENKA (Birming- GOSPEL CENTRAL The ham International Jazz Forest Live including times and dates, Jam House, B’ham Festival), The Barber In- Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, Delamere visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk BIOHAZARD The Slade stitute, Birmingham Forest, Cheshire & Westonbirt Arboretum, Rooms, Wolverhampton Nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire AREA 11 O2 Academy, SAT 11 JUL ART THEMEN QUARTET Birmingham The Forestry Commission’s Forest Live WED 1 JUL (Birmimgham Interna- PASADENA ROOF ORCHES- NEIL DIAMOND Genting events may not be as well established as an TRA Palace Theatre, THE THREE DEGREES tional Jazz Festival), Arena, Birmingham old oak tree but they’ve certainly got some The Redditch Roses Theatre, Tewkes- The Barber Institute, THE JOHNNY CASH ROAD- history behind them, having first taken place Birmingham DEFEATER & NAPOLEON SHOW Malvern Theatres, bury The Rainbow Venues, in 2001. The gigs are held in seven stunning WORCESTERSHIRE YOUTH LUNCHTIME GUITAR CON- Worcester CERT FEATURING Birmingham GUNS VS ROSES The forest locations across the country, a fact JAZZ ORCHESTRA Artrix, THE ADVENTURES OF NEL- Bromsgrove FRANCES GRIFFIN & LEO Slade Rooms, Wolver- that guarantees a unique and memorable TURNER Birmingham LIE BLY Lichfield Garrick hampton atmosphere. And although it wouldn’t be BLACK GRAPE FEAT SHAUN RYDER The As- Museum & Art Gallery THU 9 JUL ROBERT PLANT PRESENTS entirely accurate to coin a well-known sembly, Leamington SENSATIONAL SPACE phrase and say that you can’t see the wood Spa SAT 4 JUL BOOKENDS - TRIBUTE TO SHIFTERS Cannock for the, er, international artists, it’s certainly KATHRYN WILLIAMS SIMON & GARFUNKEL The Chase Forest THE BEAT BROTHERS The THE FLOYD EFFECT Royal reasonable to say that the concerts have Kitchen Garden Cafe, Jam House, B’ham Robin, Bilston Birmingham BETTE MIDLER Barclay- Spa Centre, Leaming- seen their fair share of ‘stars’ landing amid KICK UP THE 80'S The ton Spa MIDNIGHT BONFIRES Robin, Bilston card Arena, B’ham the flora and fauna. Previous ‘forest PLUS THE SHERPAS Hare CHEMICAL MOJO, ANGER STIPE - R.E.M TRIBUTE dwellers’ have included Status Quo, FLEETWOOD MAC The Roadhouse, Birm- & Hounds, Birmingham Genting Arena, B’ham RISING & WHOA MAMA Blondie, Travis, Will Young, Elvis Costello JULIE DEXTER The Jam The Flapper, B’ham ingham WAKENIING THE HOLLOW, SHALAMAR FEATURING and... well, way too many more A and B-list House, Birmingham LET VENGANCE RISE, THE OLI BROWN BAND HIDDEN CHARMS The The Assembly, Leam- HOWARD HEWETT, JEF- performers to mention. SILENT JACK & WHOA FREY DANIEL AND CAR- In short, it’s an event offering great music, a Sunflower Lounge, MAMA Scruffy Murphys, ington Spa Birmingham KING PLEASURE & THE OLYN GRIFFEY The unique atmosphere and the chance to spot Birmingham Robin, Bilston BURT BACHARACH LIVE IN TOM ODELL Delamere BISCUIT BOYS The Jam the occasional woodland creature. Outdoor CONCERT WITH FULL OR- House, Birmingham SPANDAU BALLET West- Forest, Cheshire onbirt Arboretum, Tet- summertime concerts surely don’t get much CHESTRA Symphony THE STONES The Road- CHERYL, MIKE & JAY - Hall, Birmingham FORMERLY OF BUCKS FIZZ bury better than that. house, Birmingham BRENDON MANDERS, BRIEFCASE BLUES SOUL Royal Spa Centre, THU 2 JUL Leamington Spa PIERRE & MERKAGE O2 BROTHERS Nailcote Hall, Academy, Birmingham Robert Plant And The FRANKIE VALLI AND THE Berkswell, Warwickshire FRI 10 JUL CLAY The Oobleck, FOUR SEASONS Genting RESPUBLICA, RED LIGHT Birmingham Sensational Space Shifters Arena, Birmingham ROOM, HARMFOOL, TIDES PALOMA FAITH Cannock JUNGLE TING FEATURING APART & SEASONS O2 Westonbirt Arboretum, Nr Tetbury, Glos, Fri THE THREE DEGREES The Chase Forest BLADERUNNER, COOL Jam House, B’ham Academy, Birmingham THE SUBTERRANEANS HAND FLEX, TIM RYAN, 10 July; Cannock Chase Forest, Rugeley, REVOLVER, BELLA DIEM, Staffs, Sat 11 July THE SIMON AND GAR- The Jam House, B’ham CAUTIOUS, MC RANSKI, FUNKEL STORY Artrix, LOOCA & HOPE STREET WE SAY YEAH Bedworth MARGA MC AND MC PM Black Country boy and former Led Zeppelin Bromsgrove The Flapper, B’ham Civic Hall, Warwickshire The Oobleck, B’ham frontman Robert Plant is here joined on SHAKATAKThe Robin, THE HURLING BOYS Irish ROBERT PLANT PRESENTS GUY ORNADEL Hare & Bilston Centre, Birmingham SENSATIONAL SPACE Hounds, Birmingham stage by his band, The Sensational Space REBEL REBEL DAVID Shifters. Every bit as comfortable perform- WHERE I'M BOUND PLUS SHIFTERS Westonbirt Ar- THE LEWIS BOULTON TRIO SEXTAPES & THIS MEM- BOWIE TRIBUTE The boretum, Tetbury Huntingdon Hall, ing as he is recording, the legendary sixty- ORY The Rainbow Ven- Marr's Bar, Worcester ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW Worcester six-year-old still knows how to leave ues, Birmingham HECTOR COUTO, CUAR- AND THE LOW RIDERS STAR OF THE SEA Irish audiences speechless with his impressive TERO & DETLEF The Solihull Arts Complex Centre, Birmingham- stage swagger, and scored a big hit last FRI 3 JUL Rainbow Venues, Birm- THE COUNTERFEIT SIX- LOUISE PETIT Ort Cafe, ingham year with his album, Lullaby And... The TIES Evesham Arts Cen- Birmingham THE BEAT BROTHERS The TELSEN, SEMANTICS, THE MAD GEESE, HISTORY Ceaseless Roar. Expect tracks from the tre Jam House, B’ham TINNED ASTRONAUT & THE FRIDAY FOLK CON- OF SEX & BLANK PARODY album as well as other solo material and SHOWADDYWADDY Victo- PRETENCE The Rainbow CERT Bowling Green The Rainbow Venues, new interpretations of Zeppelin classics. ria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Venues, Birmingham Inn, Shaw Lane, Broms- Birmingham MARY J. BLIGE Barclay- SEA OF BEES - grove THE SATURDAY FOLK CON- card Arena, B’ham flower Lounge, B’ham THE NEXTMEN Hare & CERT Bowling Green JIVE TALKIN' PERFORM Hounds, Birmingham Inn, Shaw Lane, Broms- THE BEE GEES The Swan SUN 5 JUL CASH - JOHNNY CASH grove Theatre, Worcester TRIBUTE The Road- THE LEWIS BOULTON TRIO GOLDIE LOOKIN CHAIN MODEST MOUSE The In- stitute, Birmingham house, Birmingham The Swan Theatre, The Institute, B’ham CHOIR WITH NO NAME Worcester PAUL CARRACK The ROD AND THE FACEZ The Roadhouse, B’ham BIRMINGHAM'S SUMMER Robin, Bilston SPECTACULAR mac - SUN 12 JUL BANCO DE GAIA PLUS THE NIC’S, BEAR MAKES NINJA, A BORN DISASTER Midlands Arts Centre, MANMADEMAN, DR Birmingham TOM ODELL Cannock TRIPPY & TIMOTHY ELLIS Scruffy Murphys, B’ham Chase Forest BRIC-A-BRAC The Marr's BOYS MAKE NOISE Artrix, The Assembly, Leam- Bromsgrove BROLLY & FRIENDS 2015 Tom Odell ington Spa Bar, Worcester IRISH CHARITY NIGHT LEON BRIDGES The Insti- CHRONIXX & ZINCFENCE Delamere Forest, Cheshire, Sat 4 July; 360 AND FRIENDS Hare & REDEMPTION WITH SPE- Symphony Hall, Birm- Hounds, Birmingham tute, Birmingham ingham Cannock Chase Forest, Rugeley, Staffs, THE WONDER STUFF & CIAL GUEST DRE ISLAND Sat 12 July SLOW CLUB & EKKAH The The Institute, B’ham RIVAL STATE The Rain- Institute, Birmingham THE TWANG Wulfrun bow Venues, B’ham Hall, Wolverhampton CANNIBAL OX The Rain- As with numerous other Forest Live perform- FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- bow Venues, B’ham ROCK OF AGES EXPERI- tre, Birmingham SHILLELAGH Irish Centre, ENCE The Robin, Bilston ers, Tom Odell will probably have learned Birmingham MILESTONE EXPRESS how to live off berries and know all the best THE SIMON AND GAR- Irish Centre, B’ham MCBUSTED Westonbirt FUNKEL STORY HANNAH ALDRIDGE Arboretum, Tetbury places to hibernate for winter by the end of Malvern AC/DC UK Malvern The- Theatres Kitchen Garden Cafe, IRENE & TOM Irish Cen- this month - the 2013 BRIT Award-winner is Birmingham atres, Worcester HELLBOUND HEARTS The MARY HINGE The Marr's tre, Birmingham performing at not one, not two, but all seven Marr's Bar, Worcester TUE 7 JUL Bar, Worcester JOE SMITH AND THE HOLY of the Forestry Commission’s hugely popu- KATY ROSE BENNETT Ort BLAKE Palace Theatre, ROLLERS Ort Cafe, Birm- lar woodland events! Shooting to fame with Cafe, Birmingham KARYN WHITE The Jam Redditch ingham album The Long Way Down and stand-out THE WALL OF FLOYD Pink House, Birmingham WEST COAST EAGLES, DEE Floyd tribute, Palace MON 13 JUL single Another Love, Tom followed up his CURTIS ELLER'S AMERI- D & THE JAMES GANG Theatre, Redditch The River Rooms, BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice gong in 2013 CAN CIRCUS Kitchen CHRIS BARRON (SPIN THE HAIR ROCK EXPERI- Garden Cafe, B’ham with the 2014 Ivor Novello Award for Song- ENCE The Roadhouse, DOCTORS) AND LACH ELIZA CARTHY AND THE THE SUPERSKAS The (BBC RADIO 4'S THE LACH writer Of The Year. His cover of The Beatles' Birmingham WAYWARD BAND Lich- Robin, Bilston PURIFY THE HORROR, AB- CHRONICLES) The Robin, Real Love was used as the audio track to field Cathedral PADRAIG LALOR WITH Bilston SOLUTION, ASCARIS & JON BODEN & SACCONI HENRY MARTEN'S GHOST last year’s hugely popular John Lewis BEAUTICIAN Scruffy Mur- ANVIL O2 Academy, Christmas advert.’. QUARTET Lichfield The Tin Music And Arts, Birmingham phys, Birmingham Cathedral Coventry 14 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Music July Region One.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:22 Page 6

BEST FRIENDS The Sun- Arts Complex TUE 14 JUL flower Lounge, B’ham UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE WITCHSORROW, RELENT- The Jam House, Birm- ALL THINGS CONSIDERED LESS, GEVAUDAN & PELU- ingham & CIRCLE ON THE ROAD GION Scruffy Murphys, THE DRIFTERS Wulfrun Crescent Theatre, Birm- Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton ingham THE TREMBLING AFFIEJAM AND DAVID SUN 19 JUL WILBURYS The Road- FREJA Symphony Hall, house, Birmingham Birmingham LEE MEAD Bedworth THE STRAWBS The BLOOD YOUTH, TRASH Civic Hall, Warwickshire Robin, Bilston BOAT, BLACK ART, BLACK JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- TIE & THE ROMANCE The RHYTHM & BLUES OR- tre, Birmingham Marr's Bar, Worcester CHESTRA Warwick Arts KATE DOUBLEDAY Ort Centre, Coventry Cafe, Birmingham WED 15 JUL MORPHEUS RISING + HI- ADAM BEYER & IDA EN- ON MAIDEN The Robin, BERG The Rainbow Ven- KEITH JAMES The Gar- Bilston ues, Birmingham den Kitchen Cafe, Birm- JUST FLOYD The Robin, EVANS THE DEATH The ingham Bilston Tin Music And Arts, MARY CHAPIN CARPEN- FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- Coventry TER Birmingham Town tre, Birmingham FRONTIER RUCKUS The Hall RENAI Sunflower Lounge, MON 20 JUL Birmingham THU 16 JUL SORANO SANTOS Jazzline NICOLAS MCDONALD The free gig, Symphony ASWAD The Jam House, Institute, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham Birmingham SIMPLY SOWETO Old AUSTINN The Asylum, Joint Stock, B’ham Mary Chapin Carpenter - Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham BLACK COUNTRY DAY LIVE SAT 25 JUL YOU KNOW THE DRILL, Centre, Birmingham Fender All-Star Band MOTOWN'S GREATEST MUSIC BASH WITH THE UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE ELESSAR & ELEMENTS The Flapper, B’ham HITS - HOW SWEET IT IS EMPTY CAN, CROOKED The Jam House, Birm- The Marr's Bar, Worces- MON 27 JUL BROTHERS GROOVE The New Alexandra Theatre, HOUSE & MANY MORE ingham ter Jam House, B’ham Birmingham The Robin, Bilston TAKE@THAT Nailcote SOULFLY O2 Academy, SOLEY MOURNING The SOLSTAFIR The Institute, MY FAVOURITE RUNNER Hall, Berkswell, War- Birmingham Robin, Bilston THU 30 JUL Birmingham UP, DEBUNK & PACIFIC wickshire THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS VIEW The Rainbow Ven- OYE SANTANA The Road- TUE 28 JUL GUNS 2 ROSES The BAND The Marr's Bar, FRI 17 JUL ues, Birmingham house, Birmingham Robin, Bilston THE SONICS The Insti- Worcester DESPERADO - THE VERY DEL CAMINO The Jam FRED ZEPPELIN The tute, Birmingham ROB BARRON TRIO Jaz- TUE 21 JUL BEST OF THE EAGLES Ar- House, Birmingham Robin, Bilston BLITZ KIDS The Rainbow zline free gig, Sym- trix, Bromsgrove THE ELO EXPERIENCE URBAN INTRO The Jam THREE STEP MANOEUVRE Venues, Birmingham phony Hall, Birmingham WHOLE LOTTA LED The Malvern Theatres House, Birmingham The Jam House, Birm- ARTISAN Roses Theatre, Swan Theatre, Worces- MONEY FOR NOTHING ingham WED 29 JUL (DIRE STRAITS TRIBUTE) ter FRI 31 JUL BEACH BABY The Rain- Artrix, Bromsgrove WED 22 JUL THE PROCLAIMERS THE PRETTY THINGS bow Venues, B’ham SCROOBIUS PIP (DJ SET) Malvern Theatres, PEEPSHOW The Robin, SUPREME QUEEN The THE FIVE HUNDRED, PEL- & ALTERNATIVE DUBSTEP LIL' JIMMY REED BAND Worcester Bilston Robin, Bilston UGION, SOMA DARK & ORCHESTRA Hare & The Robin, Bilston BLOOD YOUTH & TRASH THE AMERICAN STANDARD GROUPER The Jam RUSTLUNG Scruffy Mur- Hounds, Birmingham BARS & MELDOY The BOAT The Slade Rooms, TOUR featuring The House, Birmingham phys, Birmingham LUNA AND THE MOON- Slade Rooms, Wolver- Wolverhampton HOUNDS Kasbah, hampton JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR & Coventry THE PAINS OF BEING PURE VIRGIL & THE ACCELERA- DICK GAUGHAN The AT HEART The Rainbow TORS The Robin, Bilston Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands Swan Theatre, Worces- Venues, Birmingham SLAUGHTER HORSE, ter LAETITIA SADIER The Tin VEXXEN, INTHROES, SE- Birmingham Black Country Staffordshire STRANGER IN DEATH, EVIL Music And Arts, Coven- CRETS OF MARIANA & EMPIRE, RISING STRUG- try SAMSARA O2 Academy, 02 ACADEMY CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK 0121 622 8250 0870 320 7000 01538 386112 GLE & TOMB HAZARD SIMPLY SOWETO ENCHA Birmingham OFF THE CUFF FEATURING THE ACTRESS & BISHOP DUDLEY CONCERT HALL LICHFIELD GUILDHALL Scruffy Murphys, Birm- Old Joint Stock, B’ham 0121 236 7426 01384 815577 DINOSAUR PILE-UP, &U&I, 01543 262223 ingham MIKE DIGNAM The Rain- FOREST ARTS CENTRE TANGLED HAIR, THEM ADRIAN BOULT HALL THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY THE SMYTHS The River bow Venues, B’ham 0121 331 5901 0845 111 2898 WOLVES, TIGERCLUB, STOKE-ON-TRENT Rooms, Stourbridge THE ASYLUM NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01159 454 593 THU 23 JUL FRAUDS, SUNSHINE FRIS- 0121 233 1109 01902 572090 BEE LASERBEAM, THE TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS BARCLAYCARD ARENA ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01827 709618 SAT 18 JUL THE FOUNDATIONS The BROKEN OAK DUET, CON- 01902 401211 0121 780 4141 VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY URBAN INTRO The Jam Jam House, B’ham STANT WAVES, LUDOVICO SLADE ROOMS THE RHYTHM CLUB Num- BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 0870 060 6649 House, Birmingham & FALLS The Flapper, 0121 780 3333 WOLVERHAMPTON ber 8 Community Arts Birmingham 0870 320 7000 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE JEAN GENIE - TRIBUTE TO CBSO CENTRE 01785 254653 DAVID BOWIE The Robin, Centre, , WILD IRISH Irish Centre, 0121 780 3333 STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL Worcester (to 25th) 01384 812812 Bilston Birmingham FLAPPER WULFRUN HALL, Warwickshire NEIL DIAMOND Genting ROCK AGAINST THE IDLE STONE COLD KILLERS & 0121 236 2421 RICH Featuring Dispute CLOCKWORK RIFLE WOLVERHAMPTON THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON Arena, Birmingham The GENTING ARENA 0870 320 7000 01926 311311 JAKE QUICKENDEN O2 Settlement Mechanism, Marr's Bar, Worcester 0121 780 4141 Pravad Cabal & Huffy, INSTITUTES, BREEZE, THE KASBAH, COVENTRY Academy, Birmingham THE GLEE CLUB Shropshire 024 7655 4473 GREN BARTLEY Artrix, The Vincent Vaga Band, BLOOM, BLOODSUGAR & 0871 472 0400 Die Wrecked The As- BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY NAILCOTE HALL, Bromsgrove MIDNIGHT CONVOY The HARE & HOUNDS 01952 882210 BERKSWELL GEHTIKA The Slade sembly, Leamington Rainbow Venues, Birm- 0121 444 2081 02476 46 6174 Spa THE BUTTERMARKET, Rooms, Wolverhampton ingham THE INSTITUTE SHREWSBURY STRATFORD CIVIC HALL BERES HAMMOND & CAMEL Wulfrun Hall, BADLY DRAWN BOY Birm- 0121 643 0428 01743 355055 01789 207100 Wolverhampton BUNNY WAILER O2 Acad- ingham Town Hall IRISH CENTRE THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, THE TIN MUSIC & ARTS, emy, Birmingham FELL OUT BOY The Slade 0121 622 2314 MUCH WENLOCK COVENTRY NAOMI NAMZ ELLIOTT Rooms, Wolverhampton SUN 26 JUL THE JAM HOUSE 01952 728911 0247 655 9958 The Drum, Birmingham THE FELICE BROTHERS & 0121 200 3030 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE THE PAPERBOYS Artrix, SHREWSBURY UNDER THE COVERS Irish PIERCE BROTHERS The THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE Worcestershire Bromsgrove 0121 443 4725 01743 361666 Centre, Birmingham Rainbow Venues, Birm- ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE THE SPRINGSTEEN SES- THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY THANK YOU FOR THE ingham THE RAINBOW 01527 577330 SIONS - BRUCE SPRING- 0121 772 8174 01743 234970 MUSIC Ultimate tribute CURTIS ELLER'S AMERI- HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN STEEN TRIBUTE The LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS to ABBA and the Bee CAN CIRCUS The Tin RED LION FOLK CLUB THEATRE 01905 611427 Robin, Bilston 0121472 4253 01584 878141 Gees, Malvern Theatres Music And Arts, Coven- MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER HUM KALAAM mac - Mid- THE ROADHOUSE THEATRE SEVERN, GREEN HAZE The Marr's try 01905 613336 lands Arts Centre, Birm- 0121 246 2273 SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 Bar, Worcester BARBARA DICKSON WITH THE RIVER ROOMS, ingham ROUTE 44 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, JAMES BROUGH, ROBIN- NICK HOLLAND Stratford TELFORD 01952 382382 STOURBRIDGE THE BUS STATION, 0121 708 0108 01384 397177 PLAYSCHORDS & LEG- Artshouse, Stratford- LOONIES, HUSBANDS N SYMPHONY HALL WEM TOWN HALL ENDS OF THE WHITNASH upon-Avon 01939 232299 KNIVES & MORE The 0121 780 3333 STATE CIRCUS Ort Cafe, For additional information Rainbow Venues, Birm- THE VICTORIA Birmingham FRI 24 JUL and to find out What’s On ingham 0121 633 943 at these venues. FINLEY QUAYE Alfie ABBA THE SHOW Solihull BLAKE & BRAZIL Irish Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk Bird’s, Birmingham For full music listings in the , visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Classical July Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 16:39 Page 1

PREVIEWS Phoenix Singers Classical Music Bramall Music Building, Birmingham, Sat 11 July Comprising over one hundred-and-twenty members, Birmingham choir the Phoenix Singers perform for pleasure while at the same time raising money for charity. Their latest concert, presented in aid of Alzheimer’s UK, features Fauré’s Requiem, numerous much-loved choral pieces - including Zadok The Priest - and a selec- tion of popular songs from the shows.

Stratford Symphony Orchestra Stratford Artshouse, Sun 12 July Founded fifty years ago, the Stratford- upon-Avon Symphony Orchestra present programmes of tuneful music from the sev- enteenth through to the twentieth century. Their programme for this summer concert comprises Elgar’s Froissart Overture, Glazunov’s Scenes de Ballet and Dvo ák’s Symphony No. 3. ř The concert is the culmination of a study weekend with a visiting professional.

Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 5 July Richard Farnes here conducts the orchestra and chorus of Opera North as they present what’s been described as ‘the ultimate Romantic opera’. Sung in German with English surtitles, Wagn- er’s much-lauded work features a phantom ship, a satanic curse and ‘a love more powerful than death itself’. It’s also the piece with which the composer attempted to escape the poverty Ex Cathedra: Summer into which he’d fallen in his mid-twenties. The initial critical response to the opera was mixed, and Wagner failed to find the will to speak up for his creation. “I was in sufficiently ill humour to Music By Candlelight remain silent and leave The Flying Dutchman undefended,” said the composer several years Lichfield Cathedral, Thurs 9 July later. Note that this concert is being presented without an interval. Jeffrey Skidmore once again takes the baton to conduct Birmingham’s highly rated early music ensemble, this time in a Carducci Quartet concert which promises to transport the Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 4 July audience to ‘an enchanted world’. The programme, presented by candlelight Performing more than ninety international con- as dusk falls, moves seamlessly from sea- certs each year, Carducci is regarded as one of sonal favourites to ‘rare, rediscovered, con- the most successful string quartets in the busi- temporary and lighter repertoire, sprinkled ness. The Washington Post described their play- with carefully chosen readings from across ing in a recent concert as displaying 'a deep and the ages’. almost familial sense of unity... full of life and The concert also features the world pre- vitality... extravagantly beautiful...' miere of a piece by Lichfield Festival’s Featuring Matthew Denton and Michael Fleming composer-in-residence, David Matthews. on violins, Eoin Schmidt-Martin on viola and His new work has been inspired by the Emma Denton on cello, the quartet this month dawn chorus. return to the region to perform as part of Sym- Michael Seal phony Hall’s Musical Picnic. Sinfonia Of Birmingham St Andrew’s Church, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove, Sat 11 July Leading West Midlands chamber orchestra the Sinfonia of Birmingham has garnered an impressive reputation as a purveyor of what it refers to as ‘high-quality music for the community, from the community’. This latest concert sees the orchestra pre- senting work by three legendary com- posers: Haydn's Symphony No. 101 in D major (known as The Clock because of the second movement’s 'ticking' rhythm); Dvo ák's Violin Concerto, performed by the talentedř Jacqueline Martens, the West Mid- lands Young Musician of the Year 2008; and Mozart's ever-youthful Symphony No. 39. Michael Seal conducts. Jeffrey Skidmore

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Brahms & Finzi, Wed 8 July, New Guesten Hall, Classical LISTINGS Avoncroft, Bromsgrove THE SACCONI QUARTET Celebrating the one For full listing information on classical hundred-and-fiftieth concerts, including times and dates, anniversary of the births of Sibelius and Nielsen, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk the Sacconi Quartet here perform their stun- ENO LIVE SCREENING: REDDITCH ORCHESTRA ning Scandinavian CARMEN ENO’s staging INDEPENDENCE DAY CON- repertoire, Wed 8 July, of Bizet’s passionate CERT Featuring Alex Swinfen Hall Hotel, opera, Wed 1 July, mac Webb (conductor) & Lichfield - Midlands Arts Centre, Sue Beardsmore (com- CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Birmingham & Warwick pere). Programme SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Arts Centre, Coventry includes works by Featuring Lahav Shani MUSIC AT LUNCHTIME: Gershwin, Sousa & (conductor) & Jennifer TAKING A BOW WITH Copland, Sat 4 July, Pike (violin), Wed 8 MICHAEL SEAL Wed 1 Artrix, Bromsgrove July, Lichfield Cathedral July, Guesten Hall, WAGNER'S THE FLYING AMY HARMAN (BASSOON) Avoncroft, Bromsgrove DUTCHMAN Sun 5 July, Principal Basoonist of BURT BACHARACH LIVE IN Symphony Hall, Birm- the Philharmonic CONCERT WITH FULL ingham Orchestra, Amy here Mirga Grazinte-Tyla - Symphony Hall, Birmingham ORCHESTRA Wed 1 July, DANIEL PIORO (VIOLIN) performs in the pro- Charity concert in aid of Wed 15 July, New Part of Bromsgrove Symphony Hall, Birm- Young Artist Recital, gramme of Young Artist Alzheimer’s UK, Sat 11 Guesten Hall, Avon- Festival, Sun 19 July, St ingham Mon 6 July, Wade Recital Concerts, Thurs July, Bramall Music croft, Bromsgrove John’s Church, Broms- CBSO SCHOOLS CONCERT: Street Church, Lichfield 9 July, Wade Street Building, Birmingham REBECCA NEWMAN Thurs grove BITE-SIZE CLASSICS Pro- MICHAEL MORPURGO: Church, Lichfield STRATFORD SYMPHONY 16 July, Lichfield Gar- CBSO SUMMER CONCERT gramme includes works THE MOZART QUESTION AFTERNOON RECITAL ORCHESTRA Featuring rick Featuring Mirga Graz- by Britten, Elgar, Mozart CONCERT Featuring WITH THE SACCONI Philip Meaden (Guest JONATHAN KINGSTON inte-Tyla (conductor). & Holst, Thurs 2 July, Daniel Pioro on violin, QUARTET Programme Conductor) & Diane PLAYS THE POULENC Programme includes Symphony Hall, Birm- Mon 6 July, Lichfield includes works by Lucas (leader). Pro- ORGAN CONCERTO Pro- Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping ingham Garrick Mozart, David Matthews gramme includes works gramme includes works Beauty; Barber’s CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT SEPTURA BRASS Pro- and Beethoven, Thurs 9 by Elgar, Glazunov & by Grieg, Poulenc & Knoxville Summer Of CLASSICS: THE ELLA gramme includes works July, St Michael's Dvorak, Sun 12 July, Richard Strauss, Sat 18 1915 & Beethoven’s FITZGERALD SONGBOOK by Brahms, Handel, Church, Lichfield Stratford Artshouse, July, St John’s Church, Symphony No. 7, Thurs Fri 3 July, Symphony Lassus and more... EX CATHEDRA SUMMER Stratford-upon-Avon Bromsgrove 23 July, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Mon 6 July, Lichfield MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT MUSIC AT LUNCHTIME: ST JOHN’S MUSICFEST Hall, Birmingham THE MAGIC FLUTE A Lich- Cathedral Conducted by Jeffery POOR WAND’RING ONES 2015 Featuring the CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA field Festival production LONDON KLEZMER QUAR- Skidmore, Thurs 9 July, LIGHT OPERA FAVOURITES Orchestra of St John ACADEMY Programme of one of Mozart's best- TET Featuring a pro- Lichfield Cathedral Featuring Bella Harris and Richard Jenkinson, includes works by Mag- loved operas, Fri 3 July, gramme of soulful Jew- CHATHAMS SCHOOL Part (soprano), Joanna Principal Cellist with the nus Lindberg, Strauss Lichfield Cathedral ish music, Mon 6 July, of the Young Artist Goldspink (mezzo), CBSO, Sat 18 - Sun 19 & Brahms, Sun 26 July, JONATHAN MCGOVERN, Garrick Theatre, Birm- Series, four talented Tom Dalton-Cheetham July, Artrix, Bromsgrove Birmingham Town Hall SONGS OF THE NIGHT ingham students from (tenor) & Ben Cuffin- GALA CONCERT: A Baritone Jonathan is SOH-YON KIM (VIOLIN) Chathams School pres- Munday (baritone), BEETHOVEN CELEBRATION joined by pianist James Young Artist Recital, ent a diverse recital Baillieu. Programme Tues 7 July, Wade programme, Fri 10 July, includes works by Brit- Street Church, Lichfield Wade Street Church, ten, Schubert & NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF Lichfield Tchaikovsky, Sat 4 July, MUSIC FOR YOUTH Five- THE SACCONI QUARTET: Wade Street Church, day celebration of HEARTFELT A Sacconi Lichfield music-making, bringing Quartet digital produc- CARDUCCI QUARTET Sat together eight thousand tion with sound, light 4 July, Symphony Hall performers from across and touch, combining Cafe Bar, Birmingham the UK, Tues 7 - Sat 11 an immersive, interac- GWILYM SIMCOCK with July, Birmingham Con- tive musical perform- Wolfgang Muthspiel & servatoire ance with robotics and Julian Arguelles, Sat 4 MICHAEL PETROV Rising audience-responsive July, Lichfield Cathedral star Michael here per- lighting, Fri 10 July, JULIAN LLOYD-WEBBER forms works by Schu- Lichfield Garrick The renowned cellist is bert, Sacher, Dutilleax BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL here joined by his wife and Schumann, with CHORAL SOCIETY Pro- Jiaxin for a programme accompaniment from gramme includes works featuring works by pianist Alexander Ull- by Mendelssohn & Puc- Faure, Andrew Lloyd man, Wed 8 July, Wade cini, Sat 11 July, Rud- Webber, Rachmaninov, Street Church, Lichfield dock Performing Arts William Lloyd Webber, MUSIC AT LUNCHTIME: Centre, Birmingham Philip Glass, Frank ALASTAIR MOSELEY & YUANFAN YANG Young Bridge & JS Bach, Sat THE VIRR STRING QUAR- Artist Recital. Pro- 4 July, Lichfield Cathe- TET Programme gramme includes works dral includes works by by David Matthews, Schumann, Chopin & Yuafan Yang, Sat 11 July, Wade Street Church, Lichfield ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT Pro- gramme includes Vival- di’s Four Seasons & Telemann’s Violin Con- certo ‘The Frogs’, Sat 11 July, Lichfield Cathe- dral SINFONIA OF BIRMING- HAM Programme includes works by Haydn, Dvorak & Mozart. Michael Seal conducts, Sat 11 July, St Andrew’s Church, Barnt Green, Broms- grove PHOENIX SINGERS Pro- gramme includes Faure’s Requiem & The Sacconi Quartet - Lichfield Garrick other choral favourites.

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Patrick Monahan Comedy mac, Birmingham, Thurs 30 July Box Office Half-Iranian, half-Irish stand-up comic Patrick Monahan is no slouch when it comes to bring- ing up the subject of his own ethnicity on stage. ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE 01527 577330 After all, he’s got a quality gag about spending THE BLUE ORANGE all his holidays in customs, and he’s deter- THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM mined to use it! 0121 212 2643 “Iran has been in the news pretty much con- THE COURTYARD, HEREFORD stantly since I was a kid,” says Patrick. “I guess 01432 340555 I like to think that THE DARK HORSE, maybe I’m breaking BIRMINGHAM down stereotypes 0121 689 4372 about Iranians. I’ve THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM 0121 333 2444 lost count of the EVESHAM ARTS CENTRE, number of people WORCESTERSHIRE who’ve come up to 01386 446944 me after a show and THE GLEE CLUB, said that they didn’t BIRMINGHAM 0871 4720400 expect Iranians to be JONGLEURS COMEDY funny.” CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 08700 111 960 KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, BIRMINGHAM Jojo Smith 0121 443 4725 MAC, BIRMINGHAM Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham 0121 446 3232 Fri 17 - Sat 18 July MALVERN THEATRES, Blunt and aggressive material is one-time jour- WORCESTERSHIRE 01684 892 277 nalist Jojo Smith's stock-in-trade, with one MANFORD’S COMEDY reviewer having described her shows as 'an CLUB, BIRMINGHAM unrelenting stream of course filth'. Adam Rowe 0121 643 9132 If that kind of humour happens to be your bag, Manford’s Comdey Club, Birmingham, Sat 25 July OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM then JoJo's the lady for you. Reviews have seen Adam Rowe well remembers the day he died in Stockport (on stage, 0121 200 1892 her described as 'a of course).”It was the day I got my A-Level results in 2010,” recalled ROSE VILLA TAVERN manic force', 'a rol- the twenty-two-year-old Liverpudlian in a recent interview with The 0121 236 7910 licking good stand- Skinny, “and I realised I wasn't going to university for another year. I SHOWCASE, COVENTRY up' and ‘the most 0871 220 1000 decided to rant about my day and not do my material. I died on my STATION PUB, dangerous woman in arse and got gonged off. Awful.” Britain'... Quietly 0121 362 4961 falling asleep behind Fortunately for Adam, most of his gigs bear no resemblance to that one. Blending an affable persona with a quick wit and material that’s SYMPHONY HALL, your beer at one of BIRMINGHAM her gigs clearly isn't seen him likened to Jason Manford, he’s widely considered to be 0121 345 0600 going to be an one of the most promising new acts on the UK comedy circuit. option. Photo: Andy Hollingworth Luisa Omielan Tom Deacon The Glee Club, Birmingham, Fri 10 & Thurs 16 July Old Joint Stock Pub, Birmingham, Mon 6 July; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Luisa Omielan is likely to be a better-known Thurs 30 - Fri 31 July name any day soon. She’s currently gaining Tom Deacon, wrote The Times, is a man ‘with plenty of media attention on account of the fact looks, confidence, charm and great material. that she undresses on stage in her new show, Expect other comics to lynch him’. Am I Right Ladies?!. A winner of the coveted Chortle Student And let’s be honest - nothing garners publicity Award, Tom was chosen by BBC quite like a ‘striptease’. Switch in 2008 to host daily entertainment show “The audience very quickly forget I’m 5:19. Two years later he bagged his own Radio performing in a bra and Spanx and One Sunday night slot. When it comes to it becomes about the jokes,” groundbreaking com- observes Luisa in an article edy, Tom’s isn’t a she recently penned for The name you’d immedi- Guardian. “We strip away all ately mention. On the pretence surrounding body plus side, though, issues and get down to the he’s a comic who bare facts. I love that I am knows absolutely the a woman and I can get profile of his target semi-naked to prove a audience - and also point and then get on how to get them with being funny.” laughing...

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Comedy Club, Comedy LISTINGS Birmingham Comedy PREVIEW TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, ROB DEERING, JOSH For full listing information on comedy HOWIE & BOBBY MAIR Fri gigs including times and dates visit 17 - Sat 18 July, The www.whatsonlive.co.uk Glee Club, Birmingham ALFIE MOORE, GARETH LUCY PORTER & HAL FERRY Thurs 9 July, The BERLINER, WES ZAHURUK CRUTTENDEN Thurs 2 Glee Club, Birmingham & PAUL T EYRES Sat 18 July, mac - Midlands NICK DOODY & ANDREW July, Coventry Showcase Arts Centre, WATTS Thurs 9 July, Birmingham mac - Midlands Arts KEN DODD Sun 19 July, PHIL WANG, COMEDY Centre, Birmingham Malvern Theatres, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY LUISA OMIELAN Fri 10 Worcestershire ROBINSON & COMIC TBC July, The Glee Club, TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Thurs 2 July, Birmingham Mon 20 July, The Blue The Glee Club, TOM STADE, JAMES Orange Theatre, Birmingham DOWDESWELL, EDDY Birmingham ROGER D, MR CEE BRIMSON & ALLYSON JUSTIN MOORHOUSE & FEATURING JAMALI SMITH Fri 10 - Sat 11 MICK FERRY Thurs 23 MADDIX Fri 3 July, The July, The Glee Club, July, Station Pub, Drum, Birmingham Birmingham Sutton Coldfield MIKE WILKINSON, RUDI LICKWOOD, ERIC STEPHEN CARLIN & CHRISTIAN REILLY, WILL LAMPAERT, SALLY-ANNE GEORGE EGG Thurs 23 MARS & ABIGOLIAH HAYWARD & NICK DOODY July, mac - Midlands SCHAMAUN Fri 3 - Sat 4 Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, Arts Centre, July, Jongleurs Jongleurs Comedy Birmingham Comedy Club, Club, Birmingham PAUL TONKINSON, Birmingham LOUDEEMY SOUP JARRED CHRISTMAS & ALEX BOARDMAN, JAVIER COMEDY NIGHT Mon 13 COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH JARQUIN, ANDREW RYAN July, The Blue Orange ANDY ROBINSON Thurs & COMIC TBC Fri 3 July, Theatre, Birmingham 23 July, The Glee Club, The Glee Club, GEIN'S FAMILY GIFT SHOP, Birmingham Alfie Moore Birmingham MICHAEL J DOLAN & ANDREW RYAN & OMAR HAMDI Fri 24 July, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Thurs 16 July; JIMMY CARR Sat 4 July, HARRIET DYER Tues 14 Evesham Arts Centre, Fri 17 July Symphony Hall, July, Rose Villa Tavern, Evesham Arts Centre, Birmingham Birmingham Worcestershire Staunch Sheffield socialist Alfie Moore is a master raconteur and a NICK REVELL, FREDDY ALFIE MOORE & GAVIN ED BYRNE Fri 24 July, very funny man. He was also a serving police officer in Humberside QUINNE, VINCE ATTA & WEBSTER Thurs 16 July, Station Pub, Sutton for eighteen years. Indeed, referencing his two careers, his website PAUL MCMULLAN Sat 4 mac - Midlands Arts Coldfield PAUL TONKINSON, advises that ‘if you would like to see Alfie live’, your options are either July, Coventry Centre, Birmingham to ‘catch him at one of his gigs’ or ‘drive to Scunthorpe and park on a Showcase LUISA OMIELAN Thurs 16 JARRED CHRISTMAS, ALEX BOARDMAN, JAVIER July, The Glee Club, LAURA LEXX & PAUL F double yellow line’. Alfie made it to week five of ITV’s Show Me The JARQUIN, ANDREW RYAN Birmingham TAYLOR Fri 24 July, Funny back in 2011, and is a much-in-demand after-dinner speaker. & MARK SIMMONS Sat 4 CHRIS TURNER Thurs 16 The Glee Club, Jokes include: "I'm in a same-sex marriage... the sex is always the Birmingham July, The Glee Club, July, Evesham Arts same." Birmingham Centre, Worcestershire ANDREW BIRD & KAI ROUGH WORKS - NEW TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, HUMPHRIES, PETE MATERIAL NIGHT Sun 5 ROB DEERING & COMEDY JOHANSSON & PHIL July, The Glee Club, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY WALKER Fri 24 - Sat 25 Birmingham ROBINSON Thurs 16 July, Jongleurs TOM DEACON Mon 6 July, The Glee Club, Comedy Club, July, Old Joint Stock Birmingham Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham STEVE HALL, GLENN MARK OLVER, ADAM PHIL NICHOL & STELLA MOORE & STEVE BUGEJA ROWE & COMIC TBC Sat GRAHAM Tues 7 July, Fri 17 July, The 25 July, Manford’s The Dark Horse Pub, Courtyard, Hereford Comedy Club, Birmingham ALFIE MOORE & CHRIS Birmingham JEN BRISTER, MANDY MARTIN Fri 17 July, JARRED CHRISTMAS, MUDEN, HANNAH Evesham Arts Centre, LAURA LEXX, PAUL F SYLVESTER & MAUREEN Worcestershire TAYLOR & COMIC TBC YOUNGER Wed 8 July, JOJO SMITH, BENNY Sat 25 July, The Glee Kitchen Garden Cafe, BOOT, NICK PAGE & NICK Club, Birmingham Birmingham WILTY Fri 17 - Sat 18 SCOTT BENNETT, TOM STADE & MICK July, Jongleurs STEPHEN BAILEY, TOM BINNS & JOE BOR Sat 25 July, Coventry Showcase KEVIN DAY & PATRICK MORRIS Sat 25 July, Artrix, Bromsgrove THE LAUGHING SOLE - COMEDY CLUB FOR KIDS Sun 26 July, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham PATRICK MONAHAN & JONNY AWSUM Thurs 30 July, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham ALUN COCHRAND & HAL CRUTTENDEN Thurs 30 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham PETER BRUSH, JONNY AWSUM, MICKEY D & ERICH MCELROY Fri 31 July, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham TOM DEACON, ANDY ASKINS, STEVE BUGEJA & SIMON BLIGH Fri 31 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham Jarred Christmas - The Glee Club, Birmingham For more comedy listings, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Theatre July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:31 Page 1 Theatre July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:31 Page 2 Theatre

Barnum Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 7 July - Sat 1 August This Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre revival has Carry On cast member Jim Dale taking the title role. done great business since debuting in 2013. And for long-in-the-tooth The West End version opened the following year, and established theatre-goers it will recall pleasant memories of thirty-plus years ago, Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em star Michael Crawford as one of the UK’s when the show was the talk of the town. brightest theatrical talents. Featuring hit numbers Come Follow The Telling the story of ‘America's Greatest Showman’, Phineas T Bar- Band, The Colours Of My Life and There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry num, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1980, with one-time Minute, this touring production stars Midlands favourite Brian Conley.

Volpone The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Fri 3 July - Sat 12 September Henry Goodman here takes the title role in one of the great- est of all Jacobean plays - a stylish example of playwright Ben Johnson at his very best. Although Volpone seems to be on his last legs, he is, in truth, setting a trap for those about him who covet his for- tune - not least among whom is his ‘faithful’ manservant, Mosca... Former RSC Artistic Director Trevor Nunn returns to Strat- ford to helm this centuries-old satire, which ably illustrates that some things, including man’s avarice and lust, will never change.

Inala New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 27 - Wed 29 July When a group of talented musicians find their way into the public conscious- ness through a baked beans advert, it says a lot about the state of the world and the power of advertising. Such was the case with South African singers Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Still, don’t be fooled - Ladysmith had been around a long time before they pro- vided that memorable Heinz soundtrack, having recorded over forty albums and sold over six million records worldwide. They’re also much in evidence on Paul Simon’s Graceland album, using their Zulu harmonies and unique sound to provide some unusual and interesting additions to his music. This latest presentation sees them collaborating with award-winning choreog- rapher Mark Baldwin and nine world-class dancers - including talent from the Royal Ballet - to present a live storytelling experience that embraces an exhila- rating fusion of South African and Western cultures. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Theatre July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:31 Page 3 Theatre July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:31 Page 4

Theatre PREVIEWS Me At The Zoo The REP, Birmingham, Tues 7 - Wed 8 July This first full-length play by Young REP grad- uate Grace Barrington focuses on the char- acter of seventeen-year-old Charlie Bottle. Unhappy with the impact that social media is having on best friend Amy, Charlie deter- mines to do something about it - courtesy of a video camera, a fake competition and a brilliant plan... The publicity for Me At The Zoo describes the production as ‘a hilarious, fast-paced and thrilling exploration into the light and dark sides of social media’. So if you fancy checking out fresh young writing talent and are willing to run the risk that you may never again think about Facebook and Twitter in quite the same way, this is definitely the show for you. Moscow State Circus Merry Hill Centre, Dudley, Wed 8 - Sun 12 July The Moscow State Circus is very possibly the best-known circus in the world, based on over two hundred years of tradition. When animals became an unpopular aspect of circuses, this flexible family favourite adapted to survive by moving the emphasis to astonishing displays of human skill and endurance, many of which are evident in its latest production, Zhelaniy. Based on a popular Russian folklore story, the show transports its audience to ‘a wondrous and mysterious enchanted garden’. The garden is a place where wishes are granted to the beautiful Zhenya, who finds herself surrounded by ‘a multitude of flying, back-flipping, jug- The Diary Of A Nobody gling, wire-walking and roller-skating performers’. Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 18 July, Stratford Artshouse Sun 19 July larity for a while courtesy of Kenneth The brothers George and Weedon Grossmith Fish In The Sea Branagh’s Hollywood musical version. are the siblings behind this classic Victorian Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 10 July; Blue Orange Taking as its theme men’s preoccupation comic novel, which was originally published Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 17 - Sun 19 July with the opposite sex, it’s a work which has as an intermittent serial in Punch magazine Random Improbability is the company much to offer in the way of chuckleworthy in 1888. It tells the story of social-ladder behind this comedy, which is described as entertainment, a claim which can’t necessari- climber Charles Pooter, along the way offer- being about ‘love and sex and the terror of ly be made for all of the Bard’s comedies. ing a lighthearted and thought-provoking being left on the shelf’. Eager to pursue loftier pastimes, four young study of the manners, customs and experi- The show focuses on two characters - lads decide to boot their wenching ways into ences of suburban Londoners of the late Corisande and Dennis - as they prepare for a touch for a whole year. As luck would have it, nineteenth century. For the purposes of this blind date. Corisande is professional, book- four young beauties unexpectedly arrive on particular adaptation, however, the action ish and feminist; Dennis, rough and ready. the scene and put the boys’ resolve well and has been moved into the modern age, an But is the date a disaster waiting to happen truly to the test! intriguing timeshift which serves to highlight or a romantic encounter with a future?... This outdoor presentation comes courtesy of the fact that, despite everything being pro- travelling theatre troupe Heartbreak Produc- foundly different, nothing much has really tions. changed... The Engagement Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 30 July Mrs Warren’s Profession This is a maiden voyage into theatreland for Malvern Theatre, Tues 28 July - Sat 1 August promising new company Fortitude, a local Considered to be one of George Bernard ensemble specialising in the creation of Shaw’s wittiest and most provocative plays, ‘innovative, engaging and visceral perform- Mrs Warren's Profession uses the controver- ance’... Described as ‘a lust triangle of sus- sies of a mother/daughter relationship to pense, intrigue and saucy wordplay’, The explore the wider Engagement is a one-act costume-drama issues of Victorian romp presented in rhyme and taking its society and its inspiration from various sources, not least constraining among which are Shakespeare’s comedies. morality. “Join the seemingly virtuous Miss Eustacia The play, though Purdue,” offers Fortitude, “as she attempts to written in 1894, retain her reputation in a world of vice, cor- was banned from ruption and sordid back-alley fumblings.” performance until Sounds like an invitation that could well be the arrival of the worth taking up... far racier 1920s. Sue Holderness and Christopher Love’s Labour’s Lost Timothy star in this Cheltenham Every- Brueton Park, Solihull, Wed 22 July; Hill Close Gardens, Warwickshire, Tues 28 July man Theatre Com- pany production. One of Shakespeare’s lesser performed works, Love’s Labour’s Lost gained in popu-

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BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, JULY LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE 2015

Wednesday 15th July Friday 17th July Saturday 18th July CARMEN MONEY FOR GREN BARTLEY ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA NOTHING SCREENING SUPERB TRIBUTE TO DIRE WIDELY ACCLAIMED STRAITS MUSICIAN & LYRICIST

Saturday 25th July Sunday 26th July Mon 27th & Tue 28th July DESPERADO THE PAPERBOYS THE CAT IN THE HAT EAGLES TRIBUTE PRESENT MEXICAN FOLK MIXED WITH STAGE VERSION OF THE SINGLES TOUR IRISH JIGS & BLUEGRASS DR SEUSS’ CLASSIC BOOK

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Woman In Gold (PG) // Far From The Madding Crowd (12A) Age Of Adaline (12A) // A Royal Night Out (12A) // The Spongebob Movie (U)

FORTHCOMING SCREENINGS: Everyman (NT Live) // Othello (RSC Live) // Aida (Opera Australia) Andre Rieu, Merchant Of Venice (RSC Live) // The Beaux’ Stratagem (NT Live) // Hamlet (NT Live) Romeo & Juliet (Royal Ballet) // Roger Waters’ The Wall // Coriolanus (NT Live)

Download the Artrix brochure on www.artrix.co.uk www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site

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Theatre PREVIEWS Beowulf Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 25 July Based on the epic Old English poem of the same name, Beowulf follows the chronicles of the eponymous warrior, a man who’s hell- bent on saving the Danes from the wicked monster known as Grendel. This well-reviewed contemporary version of the Anglo-Saxon epic combines table-top and shadow puppetry, live music and poetry.

Othello Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Thurs 28 August Shakespeare’s tragic tale of lost handkerchiefs, ruined reputations and mistreated wives has always been one of the theatre’s most powerful stories. Dr Seuss’s When the malevolent Iago believes himself to have been overlooked for promotion by Othello, The Cat In The Hat his Machiavellian mind turns to thoughts of vengeance. Othello’s willingness to be led by the Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon 27 - Tues 28 July nose is all grist to Iago’s mill, and fatal consequences ensue... Holby City's Hugh Quarshie returns to the RSC to play the title role, with Lucian Msamati as Based on the much-loved book by Dr Seuss, Iago and Joanna Vanderham as Desdemona. this latest theatrical version of The Cat In The Hat has been designed to engage and (hopefully) delight youngsters aged three and older. Twelfth Night Cyrano de Bergerac The Cat In The Hat is the funniest, most mis- Avoncroft, Bromsgrove, Sun 12 July; Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 4 - Sat 11 chievous cat that Sally and her brother have mac Arena, Birmingham, Sat 18 July; July; Saint Nicholas Place, Birmingham, Wed ever met - and what’s more, he’s got a fan- Whitbourne Hall, Birmingham Tues 21 July; 15 - Thurs 16 July; Castle Bromwich Hall tastic talent for turning the rainiest of after- Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon, Fri Gardens, Birmingham, Sat 18 - Sun 19 July; noons into the most amazing of adventures... 31 July Selly Manor, Birmingham, Tues 21 - Wed 22 July; Harvington Hall, Kidderminster, Sat 25 - Zany funsters Oddsocks here add their Sun 26 July unique brand of humour to Shakespeare’s famous comedy - which many would argue Edmond Rostand’s famous 1897 play tells is already funny enough in its own right. the tale of the poet and soldier of the title, As with a number of Shakespearean works, Cyrano de Bergerac, who’s desperate to win Twelfth Night is based on a case of mistaken the love of the beautiful Lady Roxane. identity, with Viola disguising herself as a boy His efforts to do so, however, are somewhat and causing all sorts of awkward romantic complicated by the fact he’s got a proboscis shenanigans. The play is made by the sub- that's almost as big as the Eiffel Tower (that’s plot, in which the merciless Sir Toby Belch an exaggeration for effect, obviously, but you and his foolish companion, Sir Andrew get the idea). Aguecheek, seek to humiliate the pompous Malvolio - and achieve their ambition with more than a little style... In The Night Garden Emma Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, Sat 11 - Sat 25 July Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire, Sat 18 July; Warley Woods, Birmingham,Thurs 30 July If your little ones are big fans of the top-rated Heartbreak Productions are the team behind CBeebies television series, they’re certain to this latest staging of Jane Austen’s comedy be delighted by this live version. And it’s not of manners. Exploring themes of class, dat- only the kids who’re in love with the produc- ing and friendship, this outdoor adaptation tion. Audience surveys and parents' reviews presents Austen’s pastoral rom-com as a on NightGardenLive.com reveal that, for nine play within a play; one in which the lovable, out of ten adults, it’s a five-out-of-five theatri- meddling Emma tries to match up her friends cal experience! and fails miserably. Taking place in an all-weather, purpose-built inflatable showdome featuring numerous family-friendly facilities, the show uses full- The Flying Ship size costumes and magical puppets to bring The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, to life Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka Fri 17 - Sat 18 July and friends. Popinjay Productions here present their first full-scale show, an adaptation of a much- loved Russian folk tale about a poor boy with a big imagination who dreams of adventure. When the Tsar of Russia offers his daughter’s hand in marriage in exchange for a flying ship, Peter sets off on a quest that will change his world forever... www.whatsonlive.co.uk 25 Theatre July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:31 Page 7

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Theatre, Stratford-upon- Avon Arts FESTIVALS Theatre LISTINGS FREEMAN DANCE SHOW Featuring over three For full listing information on theatre hundred of Coventry's productions, including times and dates, up-and-coming young visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk dancers, taking to the stage with all-new cho- reography, costumes & Sat 4 July, music, Fri 3 - Sat 4 July, From Birmingham Hippo- Belgrade Theatre, WED 1 JULY drome Coventry THE THRILL OF LOVE Sec- THE SITCOM TRIALS ond Thoughts Drama Short extracts of new THE JEW OF MALTA Group present the story sitcoms performed for Justin Audibert makes of Ruth Ellis, Wed 1 - you, the audience, to his RSC debut to direct Sat 4 July, The Bear Pit decide who’s crowned Christopher Marlowe's Theatre, Stratford-upon- the Sitcom Champion subversive play, until Avon, South Shropshire 2015, Fri 3 July, Old Tue 8 Sept, The Swan OPPOSITION Presented Joint Stock Theatre, Theatre, Stratford-upon- by BOA Year 10 Dance Birmingham Avon Pathway, this showcase CYRANO DE BERGERAC THE MERCHANT OF Asian Youth Theatre explores a range of Presented by the Cres- VENICE Polly Findlay dance style pieces and cent Theatre Company, directs Shakespeare's choreographic tasks Sat 4 - Sat 11 July, July Festival uncompromising play, that the students have Crescent Theatre, Birm- until Wed 2 Sept, Royal explored, Wed 1 - ingham Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 8 - Sun 19 July Shakespeare Theatre, Thurs 2 July, The Old BACK TO THE MUSICAL A Inspiring Curiosity: In Our Own Words is a two-week festival celebrat- Stratford-upon-Avon Rep, Birmingham musical theatre OTHELLO ing the fiftieth anniversary of the invention of Theatre In Education at Holby City's CARMEN LIVE Screening odyssey which promis- Hugh Quarshie returns of ENO’s staging of the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. The festival showcases a selection es to transport audi- to the RSC to play Bizet’s passionate ences from the 1920s of new work made for and by young people. The event sees partici- Shakespeare's Othello. opera, Wed 1 July, to the modern day, Sat pants from the Belgrade come together to present a programme of Lucian Msamati fea- mac - Midlands Arts 4 July, mac - Midlands six new works, produced in association with some of the UK’s top tures as Iago and Joan- Centre, Birmingham Arts Centre, Birming- theatre practitioners. na Vanderham as Des- JANE EYRE Chapter- ham demona, until Fri 28 A weekend of live performances brings the festival to an end, with house Touring Theatre Aug, Royal Shake- Company present a Week Commencing the Belgrade participant groups being joined by visiting youth theatre speare Theatre, Strat- staging of Charlotte companies from across the country. ford-upon-Avon Bronte’s classic tale, MON 6 JULY Commenting on the event, Festival Producer and Belgrade Associate DEAD SIMPLE Stage Wed 1 July, Birming- Director Justine Themen said: “The July Festival is all about show- adaptation of Peter ham Botanical Gardens BARNUM Brian Conley James' most famous casing the richness and diversity of theatre made by young people in DON'T LEAVE ME NOW BY stars in the Greatest and popular novel, until BRIAN DANIEL Two the UK today. Much of the community theatre practised across the Show On Earth in Sat 4 July, New Alexan- rehearsed play read- Cameron Mackintosh's UK today exists because of Theatre In Education and the work of dra Theatre, Birming- ings of Brian Daniel’s blockbuster musical, those early pioneers. The legacy of Theatre In Education continues ham play, which explores the Tue 7 July - Sat 1 Aug, to inspire much of the Belgrade’s work within the community, encour- THE MOUSETRAP Touring impact of early-onset Birmingham Hippo- aging a whole new generation of young people to take an active production of Agatha dementia on family life, drome Christie's famous thriller Wed 1 July, mac - Mid- interest in the world around them through drama. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS - the longest running lands Arts Centre, Birm- Worcester Repertory “As the title suggests, Inspiring Curiosity: In Our Own Words aims to show in the history of ingham Company present a give a voice to the diverse experience of young people by exploring British theatre, until Sat ELMHURST SCHOOL OF lighthearted interpreta- issues which impact directly upon their lives.” 4 July, Wolverhampton DANCE Showcase of tion of Shakespeare’s Tickets for all events are priced according to a ‘pay what you can Grand Theatre works from Elmhurst's tale of mistaken identi- THE HISTORY BOYS Sell scheme’. All monies raised will go towards supporting the Belgrade’s students aged eleven to ty, Tues 7 - Sun 19 July, A Door Theatre present nineteen. Programme work within the community. The Commandery, a stage version of Alan includes specially com- Worcester For more information about the fiftieth anniversary of Theatre In Edu- Bennett’s funny and missioned works by ME AT THE ZOO First full- cation and the year-long programme of celebration taking place at moving story about a Birmingham-based length play by Young the Belgrade throughout 2015, visit www.inspiringcuriosity.co.uk group of talented yet contemporary choreog- REP graduate Grace unruly teenage boys rapher/director Corey Barrington, Tue 7 - Wed taught by two eccentric Baker, Carlos Pons 8 July, The REP, Birm- teachers, until Sat 4 Guerra and Birming- ingham Birmingham Fest Simply Soweto Encha July, Malvern Theatres ham Royal Ballet's Ruth MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS OKLAHOMA! New touring Brill, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 Wed 8 - Sun 12 July, Various venues across Birmingham, production of Rodgers July, The REP, Birming- Merry Hill Centre, Dud- Fri 17 July - Sun 2 August & Hammerstein's ham ley Providing an opportunity for UK Pulitzer Prize-winning VOLPONE Former RSC THE SHADOW ROADS musical, starring Gary artists and companies to showcase Artistic Director Trevor Journey into the mind Wilmot as Ali Hakim, Nunn returns to direct their work, Birmingham Fest contin- of a young soldier Belinda Lang as Aunt Henry Goodman in the struggling with the ues to grow as an independent, Eller, Ashley Day as title role of Jonson’s memories of the hor- funding-free event. Curly and Nic Green- comic play, Fri 3 July - rors he’s experienced The two-and-a-bit-week festival, shields as Jud Fry, until Sat 12 Sept, The Swan and the home he’s which takes place at AE Harris, the Blue Orange Theatre, the Crescent and the Old Joint Stock, features theatre, dance, music, comedy, poetry, rehearsed readings, work- shops and seminars. Offering a taster of what’s coming up, a workshop hosted by Tracey Street on 18 July explores the skills needed to unlock creativity and imagination as an actor. Other highlights include One Year Off by FRED Theatre - ‘a surreal comic dystopia told through the eyes of four people defined by foot- ball’ - and the return of Simply Soweto Encha (20 - 22 July), who last year won the event’s Show Of The Festival award. Hailing from South Africa, the highly rated ensemble fuse ‘infectious’ dance with both old and new school cappella arrangements. They are here present- ing a brand new show. For full listings of what’s happening where throughout the festival, visit birminghamfest.co.uk. The Jew Of Malta - The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

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recreates the magical world of the popular Theatre LISTINGS BBC children's show, Sat 11 - Sat 25 July, For full listing information on theatre Cannon Hill Park, Birm- ingham productions, including times and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTH- dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk ING Oddsocks present a high-octane musical fighting to return to, Thurs 9 July, Malvern version of Shake- Wed 8 - Sat 11 July, Theatres speare's witty battle of Playbox Theatre, War- SOMEWHERE TO BELONG the sexes, Sat 11 July, wick This new collaboration Fillongley Lodge, War- THE IMPOSSIBLE LAN- between the Belgrade’s wickshire GUAGE OF THE TIME A Youth Theatre group AN EVENING OF DIRTY young man is shot and Vamos Theatre DANCING Choreo- dead in the street whilst presents a tale of the graphed, highly interac- being confronted by a inner jihad of an Asian tive celebration of the police officer on his youth, Thurs 9; Sat 11 music from the iconic way home. A new play July, Belgrade Theatre, movie, Sat 11 July, by award-winning play- Coventry (Part of July Swan Theatre, Worces- wright Chris O’Connell, Festival) ter exploring relationships I BURN, I PINE, I PERISH TWELFTH NIGHT Odd- between young people Combinations of some socks bring their own and protest, Wed 8; Sat of Shakespeare’s best inimitable style to 11 July, Belgrade The- loved poetry and the Shakespeare’s comedy Scamp Theatre’s Stick Man - Malvern Theatre atre, Coventry (Part of performers’ own work, of mistaken identity, July Festival) telling the tale of two transformation and 15 - Sat 18 July, Cres- dead in the street whilst four people defined by A GREEK CHORUS LINE people who fall in love, deception, Sun 12 July, cent Theatre, B’ham being confronted by a football, Thurs 16 - Sat Presented by BOA Year Thurs 9; Sat 11; Bel- Avoncroft Museum, GIRLS LIKE THAT Evan police officer on his 18 July, Old Joint Stock 10 Acting, Wed 8 - grade Theatre, Coven- Bromsgrove Placey’s urgent and way home. A new play Theatre, Birmingham Thurs 9 July, The Old try, (Part of the July explosive new play by award-winning play- THE JUNGLE BOOK Rep, Birmingham Festival) explores both gender wright Chris O’Connell, Palace Youth Theatre THE HEAD THAT WEARS A THE LION, THE WITCH & Week Commencing equality and the devas- exploring relationships present an amateur ver- CROWN A celebration of THE WARDROBE Leam- MON 13 JULY tating impact of bully- between young people sion of Rudyard the achievements of ington & Warwick Acad- ing, Wed 15 - Sat 18 and protest, Wed 15 Kipling’s much-loved children & young peo- emy of Dance present July, The Crescent The- July, Belgrade Theatre, children’s tale, Thurs 16 I BURN, I PINE, I PERISH ple involved in the CS Lewis' classic tale, atre, Birmingham Coventry (Part of July - Sat 18 July, Palace Combinations of some Learning & Perform- Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, Bel- CYRANO DE BERGERAC Festival Theatre, Redditch of Shakespeare’s best ance Network, where grade Theatre, Coven- Presented by the Cres- TEMPEST Presented by FISH IN THE SEA Ran- loved poetry and the one hundred young try cent Theatre Company, Rain Or Shine Theatre dom Improbability's performers’ own work, people from forty-seven GREYWING HOUSE Wed 15 - Thurs 16 July, Company, Wed 15 July, comedy about love, sex telling the tale of two schools come together Award-winning per- Saint Nicholas' Place, Birmingham Botanical and the terror of being people who fall in love, to present scenes from former Mary Beth Kings Norton, B’ham Gardens left on the shelf, Fri 17 - Mon 13 July, Belgrade Henry IV Parts I & II and Morossa returns with THE IMPOSSIBLE LAN- ONE YEAR OFF A surreal Sun 19 July, Blue Theatre, Coventry, (Part Henry V, Wed 8 July, her second solo show, GUAGE OF THE TIME A comic dystopia told Orange Theatre, Birm- of the July Festival) Royal Shakespeare in which she intertwines young man is shot through the eyes of ingham (Part of Birm- SOMEWHERE TO BELONG Theatre, Stratford-upon- dark storytelling, poetry, This new collaboration Avon cabaret and theatrical between the Belgrade’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S performance, Fri 10 - Youth Theatre group DREAM Chapterhouse Sat 11 July, Old Joint and Vamos Theatre Theatre present an out- Stock Theatre, Birming- presents a tale of the door staging of Shake- ham inner jihad of an Asian speare’s heartwarming OUR DAY OUT Company youth, Mon 13 July, play, Wed 8 July, Birm- Theatre School present Belgrade Theatre, ingham Botanical Gar- their version of Willy Coventry (Part of July dens Russell’s celebration of Festival) BROKEN Melody is cre- the joys and agonies of CASTING Play about the ative in her exploration growing up and being trials and tribulations of of the world, but when footloose, fourteen and putting on a perform- she submits geographi- free from school, Fri 10 ance of Hamlet when cal art as Maths July, The Crescent The- your main characters coursework, her school atre, Birmingham have run off together, puts its foot down, Bel- SLEEPING THROUGH THE Tues 14 - Sat 18 July, grade Black Youth The- ALARM Belgrade Senior Malvern Theatres atre in association with Youth Theatre in associ- STICK MAN Scamp The- Newcastle’s Gateway ation with Frantic atre present a stage Studio present a play Assembly present a adaptation for young- about challenging the play about the pressure sters, based on Julia system, Weds 8, Bel- of choices that affect Donaldson & Alex grade Theatre, Coven- the rest of your life, Fri Scheffler’s popular chil- try (Part of July Festival) 10, Belgrade Theatre, dren’s book, Wed 14 - OLD TIME MUSIC HALL Coventry (Part of July Thurs 16 July, Malvern Sketches, songs and Festival) Theatre laughter providing an FISH IN THE SEA Ran- SLEEPING THROUGH THE evening of classic dom Improbability's ALARM Belgrade Senior British entertainment, comedy about love, sex Youth Theatre in associ- Thurs 9 - Fri 17 July, and the terror of being ation with Frantic Hall Green Little The- left on the shelf, Fri 10 Assembly present a atre, Acocks Green, July, Artrix, Broms- play about the pressure Birmingham grove; (Part of Birming- of choices that affect THE JUNGLE BOOK An hamFest) the rest of your life, in2theatre Production. CTRL-ALT-DELETE A play Tues 14; Thurs 16 July, A new adaptation of exploring the power Belgrade Theatre, Rudyard Kipling’s clas- and fragility of the Coventry (Part of July sic tale for children, mind, Fri 10 July, Bel- Festival) Thurs 9 - Sat 11 July, grade Theatre, Coven- CTRL-ALT-DELETE A play The Bear Pit Theatre, try (Part of July Festival) exploring the power Stratford-upon-Avon IN THE NIGHT GARDEN and fragility of the THE COMPLETE WORKS LIVE Showdome mind, Tues 14; Thurs OF WILLIAM SHAKE- musical theatre experi- 16 July, Belgrade The- SPEARE (ABRIDGED) ence for the whole fam- atre, Coventry (Part of (REVISED) The Reduced ily, presented within a July Festival) Shakespeare Company purpose-built touring THE THIEVING MAGPIE present a fast-paced space. Made up of two Midland Opera pres- romp through the best state-of-the-art show ents a Rossini classic. of the Bard's works, domes, the setting Sung in English, Wed

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Austen’s comedy of manners, Sat 18 July, Much Ado About Nothing - mac, Birmingham Theatre LISTINGS Hanbury Hall, B’ham MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTH- For full listing information on theatre ING Oddsocks present a high-octane musical productions, including times and version of Shake- dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk speare's witty battle of the sexes, Sun 19 July , inghamFest) ers, Fri 17 July, mac - mac - Midlands Arts THE FLYING SHIP A full- Midlands Arts Centre, Centre, Birmingham scale production adapt- Birmingham UNFOLD RE-WORKS Pro- ed from the Russian CYRANO DE BERGERAC fessional dance from folk tale The Fool Of Presented by the Cres- well-known and tradi- The World And The Fly- cent Theatre Company, tional contemporary ing Ship, Fri 17 - Sat 18 Sat 18 - Sun 19 July, dance pieces, re-imag- July, The Bear Pit The- Castle Bromwich Hall ined into more-modern atre - The United Gardens, Birmingham dance works. A Birm- Reformed Church, DIARY OF A NOBODY The inghamfest event, Sun Stratford-upon-Avon classic literary tale of 19 July, The Crescent BROKEN Melody is cre- social climber Charles Theatre, Birmingham ative in her exploration Pooter, presented in the HERITAGE Rogueplay of the world, but when modern day, Sat 18 Theatre’s Young she submits geographi- July, Old Joint Stock Rogues present a ‘blis- cal art as Maths course- Theatre, Birmingham tering black comedy work, her school puts TWELFTH NIGHT Odd- with music that its foot down, Belgrade socks bring their own explores the darker Black Youth Theatre in inimitable style to side of nationalism’. A association with New- Shakespeare’s comedy Birminghamfest pro- castle’s Gateway Studio of mistaken identity, duction, Sun 19 July, present a play about transformation and Crescent Theatre, Birm- Cheek present a fest production, Mon 20 challenging the system, deception, Sat 18 July, ingham though-provoking play - Tues 21 July, The AMALGAMATION Fri 17 July, Belgrade Mac Arena, B’ham RDC Week Commencing exploring the territory Crescent Theatre, Birm- Theatre, Coventry (Part MUSICALS DISCOVERED Youth & ACE Youth join MON 20 JULY between truth and spin, ingham of July Festival) Night Project Theatre in forces to present a Mon 20 & Wed 22 July, 2 UP, 2 DOWN, 1 BACK THE MARRIAGE OF association with Blue showcase of their latest Blue Orange Theatre, Five teenagers wake up FIGARO Mozart’s best- Orange Theatre present work. A Birminghamfest EAST IS EAST Pauline Birmingham (Part of in a void and are forced loved opera, offering a an evening of songs production, Sun 19 McLynn (Father Ted, BirminghamFest) to play a deadly game powerful insight into from smash-hit musi- July, The Crescent The- Shameless and EastEn- A WALK ON THE WILD to escape, Mon 20 July, what it means to be cals, as well as new atre, Birmingham ders) stars as Ella in SIDE On The Floor The- Blue Orange Theatre, DIARY OF A NOBODY human, Fri 17 July, writings, Sat 18 July, The Ayub Khan Din's semi- atre Company present Birmingham (Part of Malvern Theatre Blue Orange Theatre, classic literary tale of autobiographical a unique and unusual BirminghamFest) FLEXUS DANCE COLLEC- Birmingham (Part of social climber Charles account of British Asian production where ani- SHERLOCK HOLMES AND TIVE: LIMITS Choreo- BirminghamFest) Pooter, presented in the life in the 1970s, Mon mal transformations THE RIPPER MURDERS graphed performance EMMA Heartbreak Pro- modern day, Sun 19 20 - Sat 25 July, Regent give way to interestingly Sherlock Holmes and investigating psycho- ductions present a July, Stratford Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent associated mono- Dr Watson are drawn logical and social barri- staging of Jane Artshouse THE SPEECH Damn logues. A Birmingham- into one of the darkest

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plots ever to shake the of reclusive movie star ingham foundations of England, Greta Garbo. A Birm- AN AUDIENCE WITH GOR- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Tue 21 - Sat 25 July, inghamfest production, GEOUS GEORGE Alex Malvern Theatres Thurs 23 July, The Brockie Productions THE DOOR Damn Cheek Crescent Theatre, Birm- present a new bio-play present a play in which ingham about gender-bending two strangers realise A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S persona and outra- they’re not strangers at DREAM Forge Produc- geous behaviour, Sat all, Tues 21; Thurs 23 tion House Ltd present 25 July, Blue Orange July, Blue Orange The- a fast-paced version of Theatre, Birmingham atre, Birmingham (Part Shakespeare’s classic (Part of Birmingham- of BirminghamFest) comedy, Thurs 23 July, Fest) CYRANO DE BERGERAC The Crescent Theatre, BEOWULF Atomic Force Presented by the Cres- Birmingham & Barely Human Pup- cent Theatre Company, BOBBY SOCKS AND BLUE pets present a contem- Tue 21 - Wed 22 July, JEANS Musical featuring porary version of the Selly Manor, Birming- hits from the 50s and Anglo-Saxon epic, com- ham 60s, Fri 24 July, bining table-top and A POSITIVE LIFE Autin Belgrade Theatre, shadow puppetry, live Dance Theatre present Coventry music & poetry, Sat 25 a brand new work of IOLANTHE Award-win- July, Old Joint Stock dance & physical the- ning touring theatre Theatre, Birmingham atre, inspired by the company Ilyria present SHAAM-E-TARANNUM thirtieth anniversary of an outdoor staging of Semi-classical indian the discovery of the HIV Gilbert & Sullivan’s music and dance, virus. A Birminghamfest comic opera, Fri 24 including folk, bolly- event, Tues 21 July, The July, Rose Bank Gar- wood, qawalli, sufi and Crescent Theatre, Birm- dens, Malvern more. Directed by Dr ingham TWELFTH NIGHT The Ranjita Awasthi, Sat 25 THE GRANDMOTHER Irrita- Lord Chamberlain's July, mac - Midlands ble Monkey present Men present Shake- Arts Centre, Birming- THE THREE LITTLE PIGS A present an outdoor ver- ingham (Part of Birm- Nicholas Tuck’s tragi- speare's tale of mistak- ham very curly musical tale sion of one of Shake- inghamFest) comedy, which exam- en identity, transforma- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S starring Simon Webbe, speare's less-performed GRIMM UP NORTH Origi- ines the idea of uncon- tion and deception, Fri DREAM A collaboration Tues 28 July - Sun 2 works, Tue 28 July, Hill nal comedy sketch ditional love and how 24 July, Coughton between the RSC and Aug,Town Hall, B’ham Close Gardens, War- show featuring songs, quickly it can be ripped Court, Warwickshire Garsington Opera, this MRS WARREN'S PROFES- wick video, audience partici- apart. A Birmingham- MEDEA Oakley Flanagan abridged version of SION George Bernard THE ENDURING ROMANCE pation - and a spot of fest event, Tues 21 July, presents a company of Shakespeare's magical Shaw’s period drama, OF CATHY AND HEATH- bingo!, Fri 31 July, Old Crescent Theatre, Birm- young actors who bring play features presented by Everyman CLIFF An unconvention- Joint Stock Theatre, ingham a new version of Euripi- Mendelssohn's Theatre Cheltenham, al reimagining of the Birmingham TWELFTH NIGHT Odd- des’ classic tale of love enchanting music per- Tue 28 July - Sat 1 Aug, classic romance, Tues TWELFTH NIGHT Odd- socks bring their own and revenge to the formed under the direc- Malvern Theatres 28 July, Old Joint Stock socks bring their mad- inimitable style to stage, Fri 24 July, Blue tion of conductor Dou- DIRTY ROTTEN Theatre, Birmingham cap style to Shake- Shakespeare’s comedy Orange Theatre, Birm- glas Boyd, Sun 26 July, SCOUNDRELS Michael LEAR ALONE Theatre- speare’s tale of mistak- of mistaken identity, ingham (Part of Birm- Royal Shakespeare Praed, Noel Sullivan, OfTheQuarter present a en identity, cross-dress- transformation and inghamFest) Theatre, Stratford-upon- Carley Stenson and thought-provoking ing and unrequited deception, Tue 21 July, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S Avon Mark Benton star in this reworking of the origi- love, Fri 31 July, Mary Whitbourne Hall, Birm- DREAM Madcap Theatre SONIA SABRI COMPANY: national touring show, nal play by award-win- Arden's Farm, Stratford- ingham combine comedy, LOK VIRSA A rare based on Frank Oz’s ning playwright Frank upon-Avon ALIENS LOVE UNDER- music, dance, stage chance to experience 1988 film, Tue 28 July - Bramwell and using the A DRAGON’S TALE Magi- PANTS Theatrical experi- combat and physicality regional song, poetry, Sat 1 Aug, Regent The- words of William cal story based on the ence for youngsters to present Shake- visual arts, calligraphy, atre, Stoke-on-Trent Shakespeare, Wed 29 legend of the Lambton based on the best sell- speare's classic come- music & dance from dif- LEAR ALONE Theatre- & Fri 31 July, Old Joint Worm and told via pup- ing children's book, dy, Fri 24 July, mac - ferent parts of Pakistan, OfTheQuarter present a Stock Theatre, B’ham pets, changing scenery, Wed 22 - Fri 24 July, Midlands Arts Centre, Sun 26 July, mac - Mid- thought-provoking EMMA Heartbreak Pro- music and sound Wolverhampton Grand Birmingham lands Arts Centre, Birm- reworking of the origi- ductions present a effects, Fri 31 July, Theatre THE STAR DOOR & MUSIC ingham nal play by award-win- staging of Jane Artrix, Bromsgrove MERCHANT OF VENICE TO BREAK UP TO Jigsaw ning playwright Frank Austen’s comedy of MAGIC RUSS: FAMILY FUN Bramwell and using the manners, Thurs 30 July, FESTIVAL 2015 Russ is RSC Live screening of Collective present a Week Commencing Shakespeare's uncom- double bill of works words of William Warley Woods, Birm- joined by his cheeky promising tragedy, Wed exploring a child’s per- MON 27 JULY Shakespeare, Tues 28 ingham friend Dave the Wonder 22 July, Warwick Arts spective of death in a & Thurs 30 July, St THE ENGAGEMENT Forti- Dog to delight audi- Centre, Coventry family and the trials & RUN AWAY TO THE CIR- Paul’s Church, Jew- tude Theatre presents a ences with magic and LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST woes of going through CUS... A week-long per- ellery Quarter, B’ham tale of love and despair, mayhem, Fri 31 July, Heartbreak Productions a break up. A Birming- formance-making LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Thurs 30 July, Blue Artrix, Bromsgrove present an outdoor ver- hamfest event, Fri 24 adventure working with Heartbreak Productions Orange Theatre, Birm- sion of one of Shake- July, The Crescent The- physical performance speare's less-performed atre, Birmingham company Highly works, Wed 22 July, FLICK & JULIE: POP UP Sprung, Mon 27 - Fri 31 Brueton Park, Solihull PENNY PINCHERS July, Warwick Arts Cen- Theatre Box Office NORMADS Far From The Evening of comedy tre, Coventry Norm transport audi- sketches & songs, Fri IN THE HEIGHTS Lin- ences into the future of 24 July, Old Joint Stock Manuel Miranda’s new Birmingham SUTTON COLDFIELD WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, 0121 355 5355 COVENTRY 02476 524524 hip hop theatre. A Birm- Theatre, Birmingham hip-hop musical, which ALEXANDRA THEATRE inghamfest event, Wed D SE DANCE Bollywood tells the story of three 0844 871 3011 22 July, The Crescent Dreams Dance Compa- days in the life of Wash- BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME Warwickshire Worcestershire Theatre, Birmingham ny marks its tenth ington Heights, Mon 27 0844 338 5000 ALBANY THEATRE, ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, THE HIDEOUT Haste The- anniversary with a - Thurs 30 July, The BIRMINGHAM REP COVENTRY BROMSGROVE atre present a riotous showcase of Bollywood Crescent Theatre, Birm- 0121 236 4455 024 7601 6222 01527 577330 ingham collision of Greek magic, Sat 25 - Sun 26 THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE THE BEAR PIT, STRATFORD- THE HIVE mythology and the Kit July, Crescent Theatre, THE MORNING AFTER 0121 212 2643 UPON-AVON 01905 822866 Kat club, Thurs 23 & Fri Birmingham Sam wakes up not 01789 403416 HUNTINGDON HALL, 24 July, Old Joint Stock SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN knowing what hap- CRESCENT THEATRE 0121 643 5858 BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL WORCESTER Theatre, Birmingham A full screening of the pened the night 024 7637 6707 01905 611427 EXTREME Big Script Disney sensation, com- before... A new comedy DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 0121 706 7139 BELGRADE THEATRE, MALVERN THEATRE presents an evening of plete with on-screen from the writer of Head COVENTRY 01684 892277 short plays, Thurs 23 - lyrics to help audiences Girl, from last year’s THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 024 7655 3055 NORBURY THEATRE, Fri 24 July, Blue sing along with Anna Birmingham Fest, Mon HALL GREEN LITTLE BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, DROITWICH 27 - Wed 29 July, Blue THEATRE Orange Theatre, Birm- and Elsa during the WARWICK 01926 776438 01905 770154 ingham (Part of Birm- film, Sat 25 July, Soli- Orange Theatre, Birm- 0121 707 1874 THE DREAM FACTORY PALACE THEATRE inghamFest) hull Arts Complex ingham MAC 0121 446 3232 01926 419555 REDDITCH 01527 65203 WAITING FOR GARBO The THE JUNGLE BOOK Chap- DR SEUSS'S THE CAT IN OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE ROSE THEATRE, Company Of Legendary terhouse Theatre Com- THE HAT Lively and 0121 200 0946 Children present James pany present an out- engaging theatre expe- THEATRE, 01562 743745 OLD REP 0121 359 9444 Piercy’s drama, set in door production of rience for young chil- STRATFORD-UPON-AVON SWAN THEATRE, New York City in 1990, Rudyard Kipling’s dren aged three-plus, SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 0844 800 1110 WORCESTER where three teenagers enchanting tale, Sat 25 Mon 27 - Tue 28 July, 0121 704 6962 ROYAL SPA CENTRE 01905 611427 sit in wait for a glimpse July, Fort Dunlop, Birm- Artrix, Bromsgrove SUTTON ARTS THEATRE, LEAMINGTON 01926 334418

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Theatre July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:31 Page 13

Theatre REVIEWS CONT...

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Bruno is a perfectly normal nine-year-old boy who’s more interested in spending his time in playful fan- tasy than in the boring and restricted world of the adults around him. Set during World War Two, the story starts in Berlin, where Bruno lives with his father, mother and sister. But Bruno’s family are no ordinary lot. His father has been personally chosen by Adolf Hitler to carry out what everyone refers to as ‘a very important job’. So the family pack up and move away, leaving Bruno very unhappy at having to leave his grandmother and friends behind in Berlin. It’s lonely and boring for him in his new home. The adults frequently refrain that life isn’t fair The King Dances And Carmina Burana Birmingham Hippodrome and that Bruno should accept his fate. He doesn’t. It’s not only a significant time in the history of Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB), which is Determined to fulfill his ambition and become an marking its twenty-fifth anniversary, but also in the career of David Bintley, who’s been explorer, Bruno sneaks from the confines of the the company’s artistic director for twenty years. This celebratory season offers the birth house and heads towards the rows and rows of of a new ballet by Bintley, one which coincidentally explores the birth of ballet itself. drab huts where all the people wear striped pyja- The King Dances is loosely based on the night in 1653 when King Louis XIV famously mas. His journey ends at a razor-wire fence, where created the Le Ballet De La Nuit. Dancing the role of Apollo, many say Louis was the he meets and befriends Shmuel. The boys try to creator of western ballet. An original production which lasted a long twelve hours, its meet every day. In doing so, their relationship essence is here captured by Bintley in just thirty-five minutes, divided into the four develops beautifully as they find common ground... watches from the original work. Given the weight of the subjects tackled in this pro- Bintley’s choreography is interesting. Representative of court dancing, it nonetheless duction, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas feels light features extremely complex and rapid footwork that comes with a distinctly modern - buoyed, as it is, by Bruno’s innocence and sincer- edge. The staging is quite simplistic, the linear formations basic but extremely strong. ity. The background horror is never directly pre- For some, Stephen Montague’s score will be too much. It’s not Tchaikovsky, that’s for sented and the boys’ ultimate fate is left to the sure, but it is beautifully engulfing - immersive for both dancer and audience. Rich and imagination. John Boyne’s best-selling novel has lavish crescendos oppose the minimal and peaceful breaks. here been brought to the stage by the Children’s It may appear that this ballet isn’t as celebratory as some in the BRB repertoire - it isn’t Touring Partnership. The performance is suitable for a ballet in the sense most people imagine. For me, though, it is rather wonderful - con- adults and older children. stantly pushing at the boundaries of the art form. And I did most definitely sense a hint Ted Finlay n n n n of what Bintley and BRB’s future works may look like. Carmina Burana was the first ballet created for the company by David Bintley as artis- tic director. Symbolic of the modern edge Bintley brings to BRB, it’s rich in both pas- The Deranged Marriage sion and drive. Telling the story of three seminarians’ departure from faith, the produc- tion boasts exciting and imaginative choreography and design. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry There’s absolutely no sign of this work dating. Instead, it matures and comes back Ten years after its original outing, Rifco Arts' The stronger each time it’s performed.. Jamie Ryan n n n n Deranged Marriage more than proves its continued relevance. A colourful collision of Restoration com- edy, Bollywood movies and contemporary drama, it Absent Friends Belgrade Theatre, Coventry tells the story of Sona who, thwarted in her own dreams, finally gives in to her family's wishes and This is prime Alan Ayckbourn territory. We’re in the suburban ’70s and six deeply unlov- consents to an arranged marriage. able and badly dressed characters are spending an enforced afternoon together in a A familiar Shakespearean structure makes up the desperate, old-friends attempt to cheer up poor Colin, whose perfect fiancé has recent- show’s backbone, with multiple romances, buried ly drowned at sea. Judging by his chronically and relentlessly pious cheerfulness, it histories and a generation clash drawn out through may have been suicide. Sona's big fat wedding celebrations. Subplots Five of the characters are definitely glass-half-empty types, and Colin’s glass is decid- seemingly unconnected to the less-than-promising edly three quarters full. Nevertheless, all the depressives have to do to help while away central wedding echo Much Ado, while a beautiful his Saturday afternoon is not to mention death, drowning, the sea or relationships. balcony, warm-colour palette and secret engage- They fail miserably of course; enough to make you squirm. ment self-consciously recall Romeo And Juliet. Director Michael Cabot pushes Ayckbourn’s ‘types’ to the nervy edge of pantomime. Fortunately, in this story, the older generation (with There’s just enough realism to recognise them amongst one’s own social circle, and the exception of hilariously manipulative matriarch enough exaggeration for them to be safely beyond it. Aunty Lata) come to their senses before their chil- Ashley Cook’s Colin is played as such a nerdy ‘pain’ it’s no wonder no one has seen dren doom themselves to misery. him for years. But he’s known them all a long time, which is dangerous stuff; for Colin Along with the classic love versus duty conflict, the has whole tins of beans to spill and tables are bound to be turned. play deals with hot topics like sexual orientation Kathryn Ritchie’s taciturn Evelyn is a woman reduced to a monosyllabic shell, and and the struggle to start a career. The inclusion of Catherine Harvey’s hostess, Diane - in her unflatteringly shapeless, shifting, chiffon, love interest Tony's deaf friend feels a little con- floor-length dress - is such a confessionalist no priest would want to sit next to her. trived - his only real function is to provide a few But the best-invented character in this London Classic Theatre touring production is extra jokes before disappearing altogether - but John Dorney’s ‘John’. In orange cords and kipper tie, he’s a hopelessly uncomfortable otherwise things gel together well. nervous wreck who’s constantly on the move. What really makes this show, however, is Pravesh The show gets off to a surprisingly pedestrian start and Mr Ayckbourn might wince at Kumar's sharp wit and some clever audience the occasional lost opportunity. Not all his knives are pushed firmly home. It also takes engagement, both perfectly delivered by an all- time for the rhythm to settle, but the audience was biddable and generous. round excellent cast. Dialogue falls down a little in I suspect, overall, the author would be more than content to sit back and watch yet more serious moments, but there's never long to another highly entertained audience enjoy a classic from his rich catalogue of remark- wait for the next great gag to lift things up again. ably well-observed plays. Heather Kincaid n n n n ChrisAbsent Eldon Friends Lee shows n n n at n Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, from 3 to 5 September.

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Theatre WEST END Long-running comedy to close in West End The team behind The 39 Steps has announced that the production is to close on 5 September. The comic adaptation of John Buchanan’s classic thriller started out at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005, spending a short period at the Tricycle Theatre before moving to The Criterion in September 2006. Probably best known from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie adaptation, The 39 Steps follows handsome hero Richard Hannay as he battles to retain his stiff upper lip in the face of dastardly murders and life- threatening encounters with double-crossing secret agents. There are some beautiful and mysterious women involved in the storyline too, so it's not all bad news for our intrepid hero! Four fear- less actors play no fewer than one hundred-and-thirty- nine roles in this real gem of a show. To date, more than three mil- lion people have seen The 39 Steps worldwide - so if you want to catch it before its final curtain, you have only until early September to do so.

Beverley Knight to star as Grizabella Wolverhampton-born Beverley Knight has announced she’s to play Grizabella in the record-breaking Cats The Musical. Knight, who’ll be following in the footsteps of Nicole Scherzinger and Kerry Ellis, will take on the role for a ten-week run at the London Pal- ladium (from 23 October 2015 until 2 January 2016). “To be asked to join the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s historic show was so exciting and totally unexpected,” said Beverley. “Vocally I’m so different to the many incredible women who’ve sung the clas- sic Memory over the years. To follow in their footsteps is something to truly relish! I’m really looking forward to transforming into Grizabel- la, with her fabulous costume and amazing make-up, and to playing the role at the . Working with Andrew will be a real privilege.” Based on TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats, Cats The Musical returned to the West End in December last year, reuniting the original creative team of Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show is based around one special night of the year when all Jel- licle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball. Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life. One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, Cats received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it then played for twenty-one record-breaking years.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Film - July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:24 Page 1 Film - July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:24 Page 2 Film

From Fri 3 July

Amy CERT 15 (128 mins) Directed by Asif Kapadia (UK) Asif Kapadia won ecstatic reviews for his Bafta-win- ning documentary Senna (about the Formula One numero uno Ayrton Senna). Now he focuses his at- tention on the career, life and death of Amy Wine- house, the London-born singer-songwriter. Again, the reviews have been exemplary - although Amy’s family are none too happy with the film.

From Fri 24 July

Inside Out CERT U (102 mins) Featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan Directed by Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Car- men (USA) Following the disappointing reception of Cars 2 and the lack of a feature in 2014, Pixar Magic Mike XXL CERT 15 (115 mins) has bounced back with this highly original cartoon. Largely set inside the brain of an Starring Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Man- eleven-year-old girl, the film’s five protagonists are the emotions that dominate her ac- ganiello, Andie MacDowell, Amber Heard, Elizabeth tions: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness, each given its own voice. But there’s more Banks, Jada Pinkett Smith to this set-up than meets the mind, as Joy and Sadness get lost! On the review gatherer Directed by Gregory Jacobs (USA) website Rotten Tomatoes, the film was given a one hundred percent rating. In 3D. The former male stripper ‘Magic Mike’ (Tatum) is back, this time to compete in a stripping conven- tion in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - his last hur- rah. Incidentally, Steven Soderbergh, who directed the original film, returns here as cinematographer. Expect six packs galore.

Terminator Genisys CERT 12a (126 mins) Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Lee Byung- hun, Matt Smith, JK Simmons Directed by Alan Taylor (USA) The Governor of California is back. At least, Arnie, as T-800, is back in cybernetic mode. This time John Connor is played by Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes) and finds himself fighting the Machines on two temporal fronts: from both the past and the future. The London-born Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of Thrones) plays Sarah Connor. In case you’re guessing, this is the fifth instalment of the franchise started by James Cameron back in 1984. In 3D. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Film - July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:24 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 10 July

The Choir CERT PG (103 mins) Starring Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Debra Winger, Garrett Wareing, Eddie Izzard, Josh Lucas Directed by François Girard (USA) A troublesome eleven-year-old orphan (Wareing) ends up at the National Boychoir Academy. However, even though he can sing well, he rebels against his privileged classmates and the school’s exacting choir master (Hoffman). The Canadian director François Girard previously directed the music-orientated films Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould and The Red Violin. For- merly known as Boychoir.

From Fri 10 July

Ted 2 CERT tbc Love & Mercy CERT 12a (121 mins) Released from Fri 17 July Starring Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Liam Nee- Banks, Paul Giamatti, Jake Abel son, Morgan Freeman Directed by Bill Pohlad (USA) Ant-Man CERT tbc Directed by Seth MacFarlane (USA) Brian Wilson was the co-founder of The Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Seth MacFarlane’s Ted (2012) was ar- Beach Boys and this is his story. His Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Michael Douglas, Hayley Atwell guably the most successful comedy to fea- younger self is played by Dano, his older Directed by Peyton Reed (USA) ture a teddy bear - ever (international persona by Cusack. It was not an easy life. Ready for a new franchise? Here comes Ant- gross: $550million). In this follow-up, Ted Man - aka Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) - the latest marries Tami-Lynn (Barth) and they decide superhero to scurry out of the Marvel to have a baby. But Ted, being just a Comics catalogue. Scott Lang is actually a stuffed toy, needs human spermatozoa to conman who comes by a suit that enables impregnate her. Enter John Bennett him to shrink yet become incredibly strong. (Wahlberg), so to speak. With the new technology at his pincer tips he decides to reform his ways and join up with CERT tbc the entomologist Hank Pym (Michael Dou- Self/Less glas) to save the world. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley, Matthew Goode, Michelle Dockery, Natalie Martinez Directed by Tarsem Singh (USA) Damian (Ryan Reynolds) is a healthy young man who, thanks to pioneering medical sci- The Reunion CERT 15 tbc ence, has the consciousness of a wealthy dying aristocratic transferred into his body. Starring Anna Odell, Anders Berg, David Nordström Directed by Anna Odell (Sweden) Inevitably, though, there is a clash of inter- ests… Bizarrely, Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake The school reunion in question is a twenty- Lively also played somebody trapped in a year anniversary and Anna Odell, the class younger body in this year’s The Age Of Ada- loser, had decided to air her grievances... line. One would like to think that the writer-direc- tor-actress Anna Odell got a real kick out of making The Reunion. Unsuspecting filmgo- ers may be drawn to the Swedish film’s pre- The Gallows CERT tbc carious fourth-wall playfulness, furrowing Starring Cassidy Gifford, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan their brows in patient expectation. But, alas, Shoos Directed by Travis Cluff and the end result is at best little more than a Chris Lofing (USA) parlour game, a soufflé-light experiment - at ‘The Gallows’ is the name of a school play worst a self-indulgent whinge. One prays for that, twenty years a third act that ago, ended in will resolve tragedy. To com- this personal memorate the exploration of calamity, the show is school bully- CERT 15 (99 mins) mounted in an an- True Story ing, but in- niversary produc- Starring Jonah Hill, James Franco, Felicity stead the plot Jones, Gretchen Mol, Connor Kikot tion. Not a good just (literally) Directed by Rupert Goold (USA) idea… Another floats away. ‘found footage’ hor- Jonah Hill plays Michael Finkel, a journalist ror film. for The New York Times who is fired for fabri- 37 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film - July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:24 Page 4

cating a front-page story. He then discovers that a murderer, Christian Longo (James Franco), has adopted his identity and is now in prison. Unable to get work, Finkel decides to meet up with Longo, who agrees to tell his story in return for writing lessons. Apparently, this is a true story. The man at the helm is the highly-acclaimed, London- born stage director Rupert Goold, making his film debut.

Released from Fri 17 July

The Legend Of Barney Thomson CERT tbc Starring Emma Thompson, Robert Carlyle, Ray Winstone, Tom Courtenay, Ashley Jensen, Martin Compston Directed by Robert Carlyle (UK/Canada) From Thurs 30 July Unlike Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Glaswegian barber Barney Southpaw CERT 15 (124 mins) Mission: Impossible Thomson stumbles into serial murder by ac- Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rogue Nation CERT tbc cident. Following a somewhat low profile on Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris, Victor the big screen in recent years, Robert Car- Ortiz, Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, Tyrese Gib- Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon lyle (the star of The Full Monty) comes back son Directed by Antoine Fuqua (USA) Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, with a bang, making his directorial debut to Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin With the Weinstein Company's Harvey Wein- Directed by Christopher McQuarrie (USA) boot. stein already predicting Oscar glory for Jake Christopher McQuarrie directed Tom Cruise Gyllenhaal, Southpaw should have some in the smart and thrilling Jack Reacher, so thespian punch. Gyllenhaal plays Billy Hope, let’s hope he repeats the trick for the fifth in- a boxer at the height of his career - but his stalment in the Mission: Impossible fran- wife (McAdams) pleads for him to quit... chise. Of course, it’s the team’s most Incidentally, the American Academy does impossible mission yet - to eliminate a like to hand out Oscars to actors playing rogue organisation every bit as efficient as boxers: think Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank they are themselves. and Christian Bale. Filmed in Vienna, London, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Southampton.

Beyond The Reach CERT 12a (91 mins) Starring Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irvine, Ronny Cox, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence Maggie CERT 15 (95 mins) Directed by Jean-Baptiste Léonetti (USA) Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Michael Douglas plays John Madec, a cor- Breslin, Joely Richardson, Douglas M. Griffin, porate shark who goes hunting in the Mo- JD Evermore Directed by Henry Hobson (USA/Switzerland) jave Desert. But when he accidentally shoots a desert hobo, his reparation takes an unex- Maggie is played by Abigail Breslin, the child pected and dangerous turn… Based on the star who brightened up such movies as Little 1972 novel Deathwatch by Robb White, the Miss Sunshine and My Sister's Keeper. But film was not reviewed kindly in the States. Breslin is now nineteen and plays a teenager infected by the Necroambulist virus, which Released from Fri 17 July turns good folk into zombies. However, Mag- gie’s father (Arnie) stays by her. Mr Schwarzenegger also co-produced. Hot Pursuit CERT 12a (87 mins) Starring Reese Witherspoon, Sofía Vergara, Matthew Del Negro, Michael Mosley, John Carroll Lynch, Richard T. Jones, Vincent Laresca Directed by Anne Fletcher (USA) Reese Witherspoon may be small (5' 1½") but as San Antonio cop Rose Cooper she packs a large piece. And she has to use it when she’s assigned to protect a cartel in- formant (Laresca) and his wife (Vergara) across the back roads of Texas. Wither- spoon, who’s recently made a name for her- self in tough dramas, returns to comedy here but, sadly, to critical disdain.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Shrewsbury Folk Festival (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:28 Page 1

interview SHREWSBURY FOLK AN INSIGHT INTO ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS

38 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Shrewsbury Folk Festival (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:29 Page 2

Seventeen years ago, husband-and-wife team Alan and Sandra Surtees decided to put their love of folk music to good use and create ‘the sort of festival that we would want to go to ourselves’. In fact, it was music which had brought the couple together in the first place. Alan and Sandra met at Bromyard Festival some twenty-odd years ago - and, as Alan pointed out, it was ‘love at first hear’. Starting life in Bridgnorth in 1997, Alan and Sandra’s folk music event moved to Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park nine years later and became the Shrewsbury Folk Festival. The move saw an immediate increase in its attendance by an impressive sixty percent. The following year saw the festival move again, this time to its current home at the West Mid Showground. What’s On recently met up with Festival Director Alan over a cup of coffee to discuss the festival’s past, present and future...

To what do you attribute the festival’s as well. We’ll have all of these wonderful had to swap him into Sunday and persuade continued success, Alan? artists getting together to rehearse side two Callan to come on Monday. So the logistics I think it’s the diversity. I’ve had a lot of stick of Abbey Road. It’s going to be great. can be a nightmare. from the ‘old school’ who say ‘It’s not folk music’ or ‘It’s all got too big’. I think people Purely personal choice - which artists Away from the music, what’s your favourite want to ‘discover’ at festivals. They want to would you choose to headline a Friday, aspect of the festival? say to their mates, ‘Did you see the Carolina Saturday and Sunday night. I think the parade has really got me over the Chocolate Drops? Weren’t they bloody I’d bring Blackie And The Rodeo Kings back. years. The biggest buzz I get out of it is brilliant!’ It’s almost one-upmanship. Then there’s a marvellous band called watching people watching what we put on. Recently, a bloke in a pub near to where I live Tedeschi Trucks from America. They’re a came up to me and said, “You’re Alan husband-and-wife team. They’ve got a horn Have you ever been starstruck? Surtees, aren’t you? I bring all my mates who section, two drummers and are absolutely Yes. Richard Thompson. I can’t talk to him hate folk music to your festival and they go fabulous. I also want to get Daryl Scott, because, to me, he’s God. I’ll make sure I home loving it’. That’s what I want to do to another American, but I’d like to get him with chat to him this year, though. people. I’m like a folk evangelist! Tim O’Brien. Together they’re just magic. Do you play an instrument? Personal artistic preferences will always You’re feeding your hunger for American Not very well. I would say yes, my wife would play a part in programming a festival, but music there then, Alan... say no. I play a little bit of melodeon and a bit how easy or difficult is it to strike a Yeah, I’m thinking of doing an American Day of guitar. I know the rudiments but I’m not balance between those personal for 2016, to get it out of my system. I was very good. I wouldn’t dare play in public. It’s preferences and ensuring the event has looking at a fantastic player yesterday, Texas playing-in-my-bedroom stuff. I sing a bit of commercial appeal? Martha And The House Of Twang. They’re choral and I’m not too bad. Even John Jones It’s not difficult because very often the two great. turned round to me when I was on stage with meet. Commercial appeal appeals to me, so him and said, “You’ve got a pretty good that comes together. The great thing about a Where does your research for artists take voice, Surtees”. festival when you’ve got four days is that you you? can present all the traditional artists who’re in We go to Folk Alliance in the States every If you’d had the talent, would you have demand, you can put new and quirky things other year, and we went to the East Coast liked to be a musician? in, and you can still bring in bands like Music Awards last year. That’s where we met Oh my God, yeah. I was talking to another Bellowhead and Show Of Hands who draw The Barra MacNeils and Ten Strings And A promoter a couple of weeks ago who said, big crowds. I don’t feel I’ve ever Goat Skin, who’re coming this year. I’ve seen “You know why we do this, don’t you? It’s compromised the word ‘folk’. I may have put La Bottine Souriante quite a few times and because we want to be them”. And that’s a rock’n’roll band on, but as far as I’m they’re just terrific. Sometimes we book them exactly right. I want to be that star on stage, concerned rock’n’roll is folk music. It’s more there and other times we just give them our but I haven’t got the talent to do it. about quality than genre. We had Molotov card. Jukebox on last year. Nothing to do with folk - What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever there were some acoustics there - but they’re Who have you persistently tried to get to made? punchy and we knew they’d get the party the festival without succeeding? We had no communication radios the first started. We try to build up to a crescendo There are a few. Not many at the moment. year, so we had to run everywhere. Sandra each night, where it gets more vibrant and There are a number of American acts that I’d lost half a stone in a weekend. We were probably a little bit louder. like to get. We’re working on it. There are dashing everywhere, but I learned a good three hundred folk festivals in the UK and, lesson. When people run up to you and say, The end of Bellowhead leaves a big gap in apart from Cambridge, I think we’re the only ‘We’ve got a problem’, take your time getting the festival market. Is there an upcoming folk festival that spends money flying people there because by the time you do, someone band you’d like to champion who you think over from America. You double up your costs else will have sorted it. I still do that - and might fill that void? if you fly someone like Blackie... over. They then if they don’t sort it, I will. There’s a I want to see Jon Boden and Sam Sweeney were a nightmare. They all came from fortnight of problem-solving leading up to the bring something together. I can understand a different airports. festival. I’m there a week before for the build- thirteen-piece band is going to be hard to up and it’s great fun. You’ve got loads of keep together. They’re working on several Were they your most expensive booking? stewards on site and we have sessions in the things. Jon always has so many irons in the No. Probably Afro Celts, and for several bar. They’re all your mates because they’ve fire. Sam’s a pal, so we keep in touch. Things reasons. The fee is high, and then you have been working with you for years. I think the will evolve, I’m sure. Lots of things will come to bring in a new sound desk for them. They comradeship of the build-up washes into the to the fore. Looking ahead, I’d like to get want their own side of stage monitors. They festival. We’ve got lots of lovely, smiley more involved in world music, and we are this want side fills, which gives them a feel for the stewards because they enjoy being there year. We’re bringing artists over from India, auditorium. If you have a band like that, with us. Canada and Africa, so it really will be a multi- everything gets expensive. national affair. Finally, what’s your long-term vision for How about the logistics of programming? the festival? Which artist are you most looking forward You can’t imagine how complicated the Not to grow it an awful lot because I think to catching at this year’s festival? programming is, especially when I cock we’re maxed out on the showground site. But Dawes from Los Angeles. They’ve got that things up. We’ve got Gordie McKeeman and I’ll continue doing it until I drop. While I’m still lovely Laurel Canyon sound. Great music, his Rhythm Boys coming this year. They’re a loving it, I’ll carry on doing it. My mission is to very thoughtful words and they suit me down Canadian bluegrass group. He’s an East make the festival as good as I can make it. to the ground. I’m also looking forward to the Coast Canadian who dances. He’s like this Folk Slam on the Monday afternoon. It’s a pet man with rubber legs and he’s absolutely Shrewsbury Folk Festival takes place from project of mine and I’ve actually persuaded brilliant. Anyway, I booked him in on the Fri 28 to Mon 31 August Richard Thompson to stay over and play in it Saturday and he’s in Belgium Saturday. So I www.whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 1 Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 2 Festivals

Kathryn Tickell & The Side

Another focus of this year’s festival is the city of Paris. “From the Cheltenham Festival Montmartre of Satie to Claire Martin’s cabaret programme,” explains Various venues around Cheltenham, Tues 30 June - Sat 11 July Meurig, “and from a Joan of Arc silent film to wartime Messiaen.” “In Cheltenham seventy years ago, there was no greater act of look- Music’s close links with film are also explored. “Medieval music, ing to a post-war future than the establishment of a music festival,” Bernard Herrmann and Chopin are live accompaniments to three says Meurig Bowen, the current festival director. “In this anniversary wonderfully different films,” continues the director. year of both the end of World War Two and the start of this festival, we And there’s plenty more besides, including blockbuster symphonies take a look at the kind of music that was being written during the war by Mahler and Rachmaninov, Mendelssohn on period instruments, and at its close - pieces by Britten, Copland, Messiaen, Poulenc, and in excess of twenty world premieres. Meurig is rightly proud of Shostakovich and Strauss that are as strikingly different as they are the festival’s diversity, and hopes visitors will find the 2015 line-up indisputably great.” every bit as enticing as he himself does.

Coventry Godiva Festival War Memorial Park, Coventry, Fri 3 - Sun 5 July Maintaining its status as one of the biggest free, ticketless festivals in the country, Godiva this year hosts a diverse and impressive programme, with ska/reggae bands The Skints and Dreadzone performing on the Saturday night as well as urban acts, Big Narstie and Lady Leshurr. Indie rock Liverpudlians The Wombats take top billing on the Saturday evening, while Embrace round off the festival with a selection of their crowdpleasing hits on the Sunday. As well as its plethora of well-known names - Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Don Broco, The Beat and We Are The Ocean included - Godiva Festival also provides a platform on which local London Klezmer Quartet artists and bands can showcase their skills. The event this year will also bring a Ceilidh Dance for the first time and also offers com- Lichfield Festival edy acts, vintage markets, a silent disco, family field entertainment, licensed bars and Various venues in Lichfield City Centre, food stalls. Fri 3 - Sun 12 July Lichfield Festival brings the best national and inter- national artists and performers to the West Mid- lands each year for a summer celebration of classical music, dance, drama, film, jazz, literature, poetry, visual arts and world music. Following the success of the pig parade in 2011, this year’s event kicks off with an elephant parade - a procession of painted elephants and their keep- ers. London Klezmer Quartet (Mon 6), Soh-Yon Kim (Tues 7) and BBC Big Band (Fri 10) all feature in the festival’s music line-up. Dance and theatre per- formances come from Tango Stories (Thurs 9), with Mark Watson (Tues 7) featuring on the com- edy bill. For the full line-up and more information, visit lichfieldfestival.org The Wombats

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42 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 4

Festival PREVIEWS Simmer Down Festival Handsworth Park, Birmingham, Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Sun 19 July Moseley Park, Birmingham, The fastest growing and most diverse Sat 10 - Sun 12 July festival in Birmingham, Simmer Down last year attracted more than twelve This hugely popular open-air festival returns thousand people to the beautiful sur- to Moseley Park with another three days of roundings of Handsworth Park. The contemporary jazz, funk and soul music. event is now in its sixth year and firmly Headliners include Grammy Award-winning established on the city's summer festi- singer-songwriter Gregory Porter - who’ll be vals calendar. closing festivities on the Sunday night - and Solidly rooted in North Birmingham, musical legends The Sugarhill Gang - best Simmer Down is a free family fun day known for 1979 hit Rappers Delight, the first which celebrates the city's rich musical rap single to reach the top forty on the Bill- diversity. This year’s get-together is board Hot 100. American composer and vi- headlined by international reggae su- braphone player Roy Ayers takes the perstar Maxi Priest. Saturday headline slot. The festival’s attractions include live per- Craig Charles, The Pharcyde, Hackey Col- formances and numerous arts participa- liery Band, The James Hunter Six and The tion activities, taking place across Mouse Outfit feat. Dr Syntax & Sparkz also several stages and marquees. There’s feature in this year’s extensive line-up. also an increasing number of fun activi- But it doesn’t stop there... For those wanting ties for all the family to enjoy, including to party into the early hours, the nearby Hare arts and education workshops, face & Hounds pub is hosting after-parties on the painting, small rides and a community Friday and Saturday evenings. For more in- cricket match. A number of food stalls formation, visit mostlyjazz.co.uk. provide the opportunity to enjoy the wide selection of cuisine that’s readily available in Birmingham.

Maxi Priest

Festival At The Edge Stokes Barn, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, Fri 17 - Sun 19 July The beautiful setting of Wenlock Edge provides a perfect backdrop for this annual get-to- gether, which features artists from across the globe. Recognised as one of the oldest events of its kind in England, Festival At The Edge launches major new storytelling endeavours and fea- tures performances from some of folk’s finest. Artists confirmed to appear in 2015 include Gregory Porter British storytellers Hugh Lupton and Ruth Kirkpatrick and folk artists Steve Ashley and O’Hoo- ley & Tidow. The Hut People, Pete Morton, Ange Hardy and Wilcox:Hulse also feature on the bill. Both day and weekend tickets are available, with an additional fee for camping. For more information, visit festivalattheedge.org. Blues At The Fold The Fold, Worcester, Sat 4 July This Worcester-based community blues festi- val boasts a stellar line-up that features, among others, acoustic roots artist Jack Blackman, good-time blues band The King Biscuit Boys, Swampcandy, Slack Alice and Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde Band.

MADE Birmingham The Digbeth Triangle, Birmingham Sat 25 - Sun 26 July The Metropolitan, Arts & Dance Event (MADE) features a world-class electronic mu- sical line-up and combines it with some of Birmingham's best visual and street artists, designers, set builders, creatives and musi- cians. This year’s line-up includes Beardy- man, Claude VonStroke, David Rodigan & O’Hooley & Tidow Julio Bashmore and many more. An additional day has been added to the pro- gramme this year and offers ‘a celebration of Warwick Folk Billy Bragg food, beverage and artistic talent from the Midlands and beyond’. Digbeth Dining Club, In and around Warwick School, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July the award-winning street food event which has revolutionised the foodie scene in Birm- Now in its thirty-sixth year, this hugely popular ingham, returns to host the food program- festival continues to attract the creme de la ming on the day. A number of independent creme of the folk world, with Billy Bragg, Lil’ breweries and distilleries will also be repre- Jimmy Reed Band, The Demon Barbers XL sented. and Nancy Kerr & Visitor Band all Other attractions include street art from Dig- headlining in 2015. In addition to four days’- beth's City Of Colours, live music, spoken worth of extensive music on its main stages, word and retro gaming. Tickets and more in- the event also features a programme of formation can be found at ceilidhs, workshops, talks, a family festival and madebirmingham.com impromptu acoustic sessions.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 5

ALIVE AT DELAPRE PARK Listings Line-up includes Jessie Festivals J, Alfie Boe & Mc- Busted, Fri 17 - Sun 19 For full listing information on festivals, Jul, Delapre Park, Northampton including dates and line-up, visit FESTIVAL AT THE EDGE www.whatsonlive.co.uk Line-up includes O’Hooley & Tidow, TIVAL Line-up includes Steve Ashley, The Hut Artisan, Colum Sands, People & Pete Morton, JULY Hat Fitz and Cara & An- Fri 17 - Sun 19 Jul, thony John Clarke, Stokes Barn, Much Thurs 9 - Sun 12 July, Wenlock, Shropshire CAMPER JAM Line-up to The Bowling Green, FESTIVAL 8 Line-up in- be announced, Fri 3 - Bromsgrove cludes Alternative Dub- Sun 5 July, Weston NOISILY FESTIVAL Line- step Orchestra, Seas Of Park, Staffordshire up includes Stephan Mirth, Hallouminati & GODIVA FESTIVAL Line- Bodzin, Grouch, Boris Rick Emsley, Fri 17 - up includes The Wom- Brejcha & Parasense, Sun 19 Jul, Cabourne bats, Fun Lovin’ Thurs 9 - Sun 12 Jul, Parva, Lincolnshire Criminals, Embrace & Coney Woods, Leices- BUG JAM Line-up in- The Beat, Fri 3 - Sun 5 ter cludes Neumonics, The July, War Memorial NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Cheeky Keys, Jump MADE Birmingham Park, Coventry Line-up includes Jelly- The Gunn & White- BLUES AT THE FOLD Line- heads, The Session, room, Fri 17 - Sun 19 Park, Brecon Beacons Bieber, McBusted, Rudi- THE JUST SO FESTIVAL up includes Jack Black- Abba Chique & Vendet- Jul, Santa Pod Race- AUGUST mental & Tinie Tempah, man, The King Biscuit tas, Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, way, Northamptonshire Line-up includes Seas Sat 29 - Sun 30 Aug, Boys, Swampcandy & Napton on the Hill, War- L FEST Line-up includes Of Mirth, Formidable Cofton Park, Birming- Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde wickshire Lucy Spraggan, O’Hoo- Vegetable Sound Sys- ham Band, Sat 4 July, The SOUNDS IN THE GROUNDS ley & Tidow, The Tuts & BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR tem, Patch and The Fold, Worcester Line-up includes Kaiser Holloway, Fri 17 - Mon Line-up includes Within Giant & Backyard Burn- SEPTEMBER LEAMINGTON SPA Chiefs, Professor 20 July, Uttoxeter Race- Temptation, Trivium, ers, Fri 21 - Sun 23 UKULELE FESTIVAL Line- Green, Ella Eyre, Royal course, Staffordshire Rob Zombie & Black Aug, Rode Hall Park- up includes Lynda Philharmonic Concert SPLENDOUR Line-up in- Label Society, Thurs 6 - land, Cheshire Styne & Red Hot Duo, Orchestra & Lucy cludes The Specials, Sun 9 Aug, Catton Hall, WILDWOOD FESTIVAL MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Chonkinfeckle, Bitter O’Byrne, Fri 10 - Sat 11 James, Jess Glynne & Derbyshire Line-up includes Albany Line-up includes The Jug Stompers & July, Warwick Castle Lawson, Sat 18 July, BULLDOG BASH Line-up Down, The Band From Monkees, Spiritualized, Gabriela, Sat 4 July, THE MOSTLY JAZZ, FUNK Wollaton Park, Notting- includes Permageddon, County Hell, Big Boy Idlewild & Anna Calvi, Newbold Comyn Arms, & SOUL FESTIVAL Line- hamshire Easydread, TBone & Bloater and The Limits Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept, Warwickshire up includes Roy Ayers, SIMMER DOWN Line-up Sky Valley Mistress, & Chantel McGregor, Fri Moseley Park, Birming- BIRMINGHAM ROCKS FES- Gregory Porter, Craig to be announced, Sun Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, 21 - Sun 23 Aug, ham TIVAL Line-up includes Charles & Hackney Col- 19 Jul, Handsworth Shakespeare County Tupholme Abbey FESTIVAL NO.6 Line-up The Bad Flowers, liery Band, Fri 10 - Sun Park, Birmingham Raceway, Stratford- Fields, Lincolnshire includes Grace Jones, Glassbullet, Wet Let- 12 July, Moseley Park, WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL upon-Avon PERSHORE JAZZ FESTIVAL Belle & Sebastian, DJ tuce And The Magik Birmingham Line-up includes Billy STRAWBERRY FIELDS Line-up includes Kevin Harvey & The 2 Bears, Bean & The Shanklins, PUNKS AGAINST CANCER Bragg, Lil’ Jimmy Reed FESTIVAL Line-up in- Grenfell’s Jazz Giants, Fri 4 - Mon 7 Sept, Port- Sat 4 - Sun 5 Jul, Line-up to be an- Band, The Demon Bar- cludes Bombay Bicycle John Hallam and Remi meirion O’Neills, Birmingham nounced, Fri 10 - Sun bers XL & Nancy Kerr, Club (DJ Set), Mista- Jazz, Gypsy Fire, Digby WELFEST ON THE LLANGOLLEN INTERNA- 12 Jul, The Hairy Dog, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, jam, Mark Knight & Fairweather’s Half MEADOW Line-up in- TIONAL MUSICAL Derbyshire various venues around Jaguar Skills, Fri 7 - Sat Dozen, Fri 21 - Sun 23 cludes The Loose Cov- EISTEDDFOD Line-up in- CORNBURY MUSIC FESTI- Warwick 8 Aug, Cattow Farm, Aug, Pershore College, ers, The Vooz, Souled cludes Rufus Wain- VAL Line-up includes DEERSTOCK Line-up in- Leicester Warwickshire Out 2 Funk & Matt wright, Alfie Boe, Tom Jones, Razorlight, cludes Ferocious Dog, LAKEFEST Line-up to be V FESTIVAL Line-up in- Eaves, Sat 5 Sept, Syn- UB40’s Ali Campbell, Roger Hodgson & The Big Boy Bloater, announced, Fri 7 - Sat 9 cludes Calvin Harris, der Meadow, Warwick- Astro and Mickey Virtue Fratellis, Fri 10 - Sun 12 Doggen All Star Band & Aug, Croft Farm Water- Kasabian, Stereophon- shire & Gareth Malone and Jul, Great Tew Estate, Funke and the Two park, Tewkesbury ics & Sam Smith, Sat 22 BELBROUGHTON BEER his Voices choir, Mon 6 Oxfordshire Tone Baby, Fri 24 - Sun REWIND NORTH Line-up - Sun 23 Aug, Weston AND MUSIC FESTIVAL - Sun 12 July, Royal In- BUXTON FESTIVAL Line- 26 Jul, Newton, Notting- includes Soul II Soul, Park, Staffordshire Line-up to be an- ternational Pavillion up includes English hamshire The Human League, PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL nounced, Thurs 10 - Sat BUXTON FESTIVAL FRINGE Chamber Orchestra, INDIETRACKS MUSIC FES- The Boomtown Rats & Line-up includes 12 Sept, Hartle Lane, Line-up includes Albion, The Schubert Ensem- TIVAL Line-up includes Kim Wilde, Fri 7 - Sun 9 Fenella Humphreys, Worcestershire City Of Manchester Or- ble, The Fitzwilliam The Go! Team, Cin- Aug, Capesthorne Hall, Matthew Taylor, Navarra ONBOARD THE CRAFT chestra, Basin Street String Quartet & Maria erama, Martha & Tiger- Cheshire Quartet & Nova Music FESTIVAL Line-up in- Jazz and Blues & Dale Camahort Quintet, Fri cats, Fri 24 - Sun 26 Jul, FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL Opera Thurs 27 Aug - cludes The Hawklords, Storr, Wed 8 - Sun 26 10 - Sun 26 Jul, various Butterley Station, near Line-up includes Dr Tues 1 Sept, Powys Son of Man, Dr Has- Jul, various venues venues in Buxton, Ripley, Derbyshire Feelgood, Ferocious CREAMFIELDS Line-up been & Glow People, around Buxton Derby NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL Dog, 3 Daft Monkeys & includes Avicii, Tiesto, Fri 11 - Sat 12 Sept, 2000 TREES FESTIVAL THE BURTON REAL ALE Line-up includes The Talisman, Fri 14 - Sun Armin Van Buuren & Stoke Prior Sports & Line-up includes Deaf AND JAZZ FESTIVAL A Wu Tang Clan, Martha 16 Aug, Gatten Farm, The Chemical Brothers, Country Club, Broms- Havana, Idlewild, We weekend of jazz music Reeves and The Van- Shropshire Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, grove Are The Ocean & The and a range of beers, dellas, Beardyman & BETLEY CONCERTS Line- Daresbury, Cheshire WHITWELL FESTIVAL OF Subways, Thurs 9 - Sat ales, cider and food London Elektricity, Fri up includes Tom Jones, BEERMAGEDDON Line-up MUSIC Line-up includes 11 Jul, Upcote Farm, stalls, Fri 17 - Sat 18 24 - Sun 26 July, Brom- Total Access Live & Col- includes Rannoch, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Cheltenham Jul, National Brewery yard, Hereford labro, Fri 14 - Sun 16 Mpire Of Evil, Tyson Seven Little Sisters, BROMSGROVE FOLK FES- Centre, Burton MADE BIRMINGHAM Line- Jul, Betley Court Farm, Dog & Heavenwood, Fri Maelor Hughes & Black up includes Beardy- Cheshire 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Stoke Thorn, Fri 11 - Sun 13 man, Claude Von LICHFIELD FAKE FESTIVAL Prior Country Club, Sept, various locations Stroke, David Rodigan Line-up includes Bon Bromsgrove around Banbury & Julio Bashmore, Sat Jovi Experience, Kaz- SHREWSBURY FOLK FES- SHREWSBURY FIELDS 25 July, The Digbeth Tri- abian & Space Cowboy, TIVAL Line-up includes FOREVER FESTIVAL Line- angle, Birmingham Sat 15 Aug, Beacon Richard Thompson, La up to be announced, Fri Y-NOT FESTIVAL Line-up Park, Lichfield Bottine Souriante, Kate 11 - Sun 13 Sept, loca- includes Snoop Dogg, THE NORTH SHROPSHIRE Rusby & Sharon Shan- tion tbc, Shropshire Primal Scream, Base- CAJUN AND ZYDECO BIG non, Fri 28 - Mon 31 BROMYARD FOLK FESTI- ment Jaxx & Ocean WEEKEND Line-up in- Aug, West Midland VAL Line-up includes Colour Scene, Fri 31 Jul cludes Jimmy Breaux, Showground, Shrews- Breabach, Gerry Colvin - Sun 2 Aug, Randy Vidrine, Rough bury Band, John Doyle & Mouldridge Lane, Der- Chowder & The Hotfoot GREENBELT FESTIVAL Sharon Shannon, Fri 11 byshire Specials, Fri 14 - Sun Line-up includes Duke - Sun 13 Sept, Brom- CARFEST NORTH Line-up 16 Aug, Welshampton, Special, Pascuala Il- yard includes Billy Ocean, North Shropshire abaca, King Porter WORCESTER MUSIC FES- Seasick Steve, Paul THE GREEN MAN FESTI- Stomp & Worry Dolls, TIVAL Line-up to be an- Heaton and Jacqui Ab- VAL Line-up includes St Fri 28 Aug - Mon 31 nounced, Fri 18 - Sun bott & Sophie Ellis-Bex- Vincent, Super Furry Aug, Boughton House, 20 Sept, various venues tor, Fri 31 Jul - Sun 2 Animals, Hot Chip & Northamptonshire in Worcester Rufus Wainwright - Aug, Oulton Park Race Slowdrive, Thurs 20 - FUSION FESTIVAL Line- Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Circuit, Cheshire Sun 23 Aug, Glanusk up includes Justin

44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk A Great Day Out.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 16:31 Page 1 A Great Day Out Aston Hall HERITAGE TOURS

Unicorns, secret doors, cannon balls and maybe a ghost or two - these are just a few things to look out for on Aston Hall's new Heritage Tours. New this year, the Birmingham Museums Trust’s Heritage Tours offer fresh, in-depth insights into the city’s historical treasures. Meanwhile, shorter Heritage Highlights Tours provide an interactive, family-friendly alternative to traditional talks, with a fun, informal approach allowing kids of all ages to get up close and personal with the past. Built between 1618 and 1635, Aston Hall was originally home to Thomas Holte, a wealthy nobleman with a reputation for his terrible temper. Bringing the Jacobean world to life with fascinating facts and stories, the stunning mansion’s expert ambassadors take visitors on a journey that reveals the stark contrast between lavish family rooms and cramped servant quarters. Objects to touch and smell paint vivid pictures of seventeenth-century life, from everyday cooking and hygiene to Civil War sieges. Learn how Renaissance people cleaned their teeth, or how different rooms smelled depending on which candles were used. Marvel at a magnifi- cent table spread, including a lively-looking peacock pie, and sit your- self on the guests’ velvet-covered toilet. While listening to tales of Thomas Holte’s cruelty, keep an eye out for the ghosts of unfortunate former inhabitants. Towards the end, there's also a chance to discover the amazing inven- tions of James Watt Jr, Aston Hall’s last resident owner (from 1817- 1848). Other Birmingham Museums Trust venues introducing Heritage Tours include the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, the Tudor-era Blakesley Hall, Matthew Boulton's Soho House, and Sarehole Mill - a childhood haunt of JRR Tolkien. For further information, visit, birminghammuseums.org.uk

“The tours will make every trip to our heritage sites extra special, and really bring a slice of the past to life” Robert Hayes, Birmingham Museums Trust’s Commercial Director

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Drayton Manor Page.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:13 Page 1 Drayton Manor Page.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:13 Page 2 A Great Day Out Drayton Manor Park THOMAS LAND

Since launching at Drayton Manor Park in 2008, the much-loved Thomas Land has become one of the Midlands’ - and indeed the UK’s - most visited tourist attractions. And now, with a £2.5million expansion bringing about a forty percent then douse fires with their very own hose. increase in its size, there’s even more fun in store for families. Of course, the older rides remain hugely popular. The charming Win- Noticeably bigger and easier to navigate than before, Thomas Land is ston’s Whistle Stop Tour takes you across Thomas Land with a bird’s a fantastic experience, with more than enough excitement to fill an eye view of the park. entire day. And with everything from a gentle carousel to a thrilling rollercoaster, there’s definitely something for all ages. Harold The Helicopter still delights as he takes children soaring into the sky, as does the newly sited Jeremy’s Jet Flying Academy. For devoted Thomas fans, the park is surely the most magical place on earth. And even those not so familiar with the famous blue engine Toddlers will adore driving Sodor’s classic cars, while for more thrill- couldn’t fail to enjoy themselves in this Thomas & Friends-themed seeking children there’s the Troublesome Trucks rollercoaster and world, brought to life by friendly and enthusiastic staff. Cranky The Crane’s terrifying drop. Along with long-standing favourites such as Harold The Helicopter, But the star of the show will always be Thomas himself. His ‘really use- Bertie Bus and Cranky The Crane, there are three brand new rides for ful’ journeys transport guests from Knapford Station across the park to youngsters to enjoy, all situated outside an equally brand new Sodor Farmer McColl’s Farm, where another raft of activities awaits. These Airport. include Terence’s Driving School, Spencer’s Play Area and a Thomas & Friends exhibition featuring a delightful model railway. Captain’s Sea Adventure allows children to climb aboard the yellow rescue boat and set off on a journey of adventure across the waves. The Fat Controller, otherwise known as Sir Topham Hat, also pops up Each boat is armed with water guns which can not only be used by the regularly throughout the day with a host of specially created interactive kids to soak one another but also to drench bystanders who’re daring songs. enough to stand in the Splash Zone. With so much to do, it’s best to arrive early and take advantage of Toby’s Tram Express, meanwhile, allows youngsters to board the long- everything Thomas Land has to offer. There’s little doubt that children suffering character for the ride of a lifetime into the sky. will want to return to the venue again and again. The third new ride is Flynn’s Fire & Rescue, which sees children elevat- ed aboard a platform on the loveable red engine, from where they can

For devoted Thomas fans, the park is surely the most magical place on earth.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Vanley Burke Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:33 Page 1

interview

VanleyI CAPTURING Burke HISTORY ON FILM...

Photographer Vanley Burke has spent almost fifty years documenting the stories of the Windrush Generation and their children - the Caribbean migrants who arrived in the UK in 1948 aboard the Empire Windrush. An avid collector of items relating to the African Caribbean community, Vanley is this month exhibiting the entire contents of his Nechells flat at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery. What’s On recently caught up with the man often referred to as ‘the Godfather of Black British photography’...

48 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Vanley Burke Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:34 Page 2

What inspired you to hand over the entire years old and it arrived in one of the many You recently worked with SAMPAD South contents of your Birmingham flat to the parcels she would send from England to Asian Arts on their exhibition trail along Ikon, Vanley? family for Christmas, birthdays or any other the Stratford Road... I was asked to put on an exhibition and, as special occasion. In this particular parcel was Yeah, I’m the photographer for that. I’ve also I’m an artist, I therefore felt the need to a Kodak Box Brownie 127. I was delighted. I just come back from Canada, where I was respond. As well as being where I live, my flat became fascinated by the whole idea of the involved in the Scotiabank Contact is a place where I keep stuff that I’ve image and how it’s recorded. Photography Festival. It’s one of the world’s collected. I have my art from Africa as well as largest photo festivals, if not the largest. work that I’ve produced. I guess it’s pretty You’ve captured individuals and There were over two hundred exhibitions different from most other places where communities in many other cities and featured, but ours was deemed the most people reside. I’ve worked with Ikon before. towns across the UK and overseas. Why is significant, so we’re quite pleased with that. My first exhibition there was in 1983. It was Birmingham so appealing to you as a My work’s also in the British photographic titled Handsworth From Inside and featured photographer? exhibition that’s showing in China at the photographs taken in Handsworth, so I didn’t I’ve always lived in Birmingham. I left Jamaica moment. I’ve also worked in South Africa. I hesitate when asked to do this. for Birmingham, and when I decided that I photographed Nelson Mandela’s release was going to document the lives and from prison. I spent six weeks there in 1990, What’s in the collection? experiences of African Caribbean people as six months in 1996, and returned again in I’ve been taking photographs for nearly fifty they struggled to establish themselves here, I 2002. Last year I was invited to put on an years now and have also been collecting thought the appearance of people in exhibition at the university of Johannesburg items relating to the African Caribbean Birmingham was quite similar to those in relating to migration and settlement. community for a considerable period of that or Leeds or London or anywhere else. time. My archive in the Birmingham Central So I didn’t really feel the need to move to During your time as a resident of Library features material that’s quite similar to those cities to document as well. I thought I Birmingham you’ll have seen a lot of what I have here. I have a lot of vinyl records, would do a better job if I stuck to a change. What’s been the most significant? a lot of CDs, videos, books, pamphlets and geographical area. Over the years I’ve I think the most significant perhaps would be leaflets. The collection also includes three- photographed various things in London, New Street Station. But for me as a people dimensional objects such as wall plaques, Leeds and Bristol, but I’ve mainly watcher - a watcher of migration and hangings and trinkets - things that the concentrated on Birmingham and its settlement - I’m particularly intrigued by how working class seem to decorate their front community. I’ve photographed aspects of the migrants use areas like Handsworth. Prior to rooms with. Asian community, Sikhs, Muslims and so on. us, the African Caribbeans, there were others I’ve captured some of the Vietnamese who came in. There was a Polish population Which of the possessions in the collection communities and Gambian communities and and a Polish club in Handsworth when we are you most attached to? I’m particularly interested in migration and arrived there, and then the Sikh community Each piece is important. Each one is equally settlement. moved in shortly after us. Now we have a lot as vital. You never know if, in the future, of people from eastern Europe and various someone is going to read the dissertation As an artist you’re renowned for capturing other places. That’s the sort of cosmopolitan that looks at blackness in Britain and be your subjects at ease, whether in their own nature of people in Handsworth. It’s just inspired to do something great from that. Or environment, at work, at play or in the wonderful. maybe even pick up a little leaflet about community. What tip would you give to someone who’s done a talk or something anyone wanting to follow in your In what way would you further like to build which might inspire them. footsteps? on your legacy to Birmingham’s black Get a good pair of shoes! I doubt anyone community? Has anyone ever fed back to you how you would want to follow in my footsteps, to be My interest is just collecting material that or your work has inspired them to go on honest, because it hasn’t been easy. makes art. By that I mean the hats - the sort and do something great? Dedicating your life to documenting a group that women wear to church - and clothes. All of the while. A woman said to me in the of people brings few rewards in terms of One thing I’m very much interested in at the park, ‘I would like to thank you very much for making a living. It’s pretty tough. In terms of moment is dissertations. I’m interested in the work that you’ve been doing because taking photographs, I’d tell them to set dissertations with black people as the without it I wouldn’t be able to tell my story to themselves a goal and stick to it. I think the subject. It doesn’t have to be written by a my children’. A lot of people visit the archives advice I’d give would depend on the black person, they just need to be the and use the material for dissertations. We individual. It’s hard to say ‘follow in my subject. So they’re one of the things I would have many, many visits. In fact, when I was footsteps’ because I wouldn’t wish that on like to concentrate on. Collecting books and selecting some material for the show at Ikon, anyone. magazines as well - perhaps some I saw a pile of posters that some reader had backdated magazines that might be out of requested. For me, that justifies everything I It may not be that rewarding from a print. do. People are using the archive. I’m told it’s financial viewpoint, but surely it must’ve one of the most popular archives in the city, given you great satisfaction? And how will the collection end? and I also receive requests from all over It’s extremely rewarding, but reaching a point I don’t know because it’s so important, is England and abroad, as well publications, where you’re satisfied requires you to crawl being used so widely and is respected within television - you name it. through a few minefields first. I feel history is the community. I’ve had one or two a by-product of life. Whether we write it or academics who’ve said it’s a very valuable You’ve been documenting the Windrush not, history is going to be there. If we don’t resource, so I feel the need to continue. The Generation since the 1960s. Which of the write our own history, then it will be written for idea of taking it slightly more academic is, for many momentous occasions that you’ve us - and we’ve never really trusted the me, an interesting one, not least because recorded has had the biggest impact on traditional writers of history because they dissertations will probably occupy less space you personally? were the very people who enslaved us. How than some of the other objects I’ve collected. I’m not sure which one, but I’m tempted to can you have someone who was previously say the next one. Photographically, the one enslaving you writing your history? I felt What’s the difference between a hoarder that’s stood the test of time, I suppose, would sacrifices had to be made. I knew I’d have to and a collector? be African Liberation Day in Handsworth Park give up something and do it properly, setting With a collector you can see the corners of in 1977. It was a particularly large event and it a foundation for the whole idea of the room, with a hoarder you can’t. was one of the first ones that I covered quite documenting our history as it unfolded here extensively. in England. That was my intention and, to a large extent, it still is. Back to the very beginning... How did you At Home With Vanley Burke shows at first get into photography? Ikon Gallery, from Wed 22 July to I was still living in Jamaica when I was given Sun 27 September a camera by my mother. I was about ten

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50 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts Region 1 July.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:35 Page 2 Visual Arts

Fay Nicolson: Over And Over Pure Form Grand Union, Birmingham, until Sat 8 August Notions of process, documentation, narrative and abstraction weave through Fay Nicolson’s prac- tice. The artist’s final works exist as fragments of a wider aesthetic project. En route to her end prod- uct, she plays not only with the physicality of images but also with possibilities for formal and material transformation. Her works include a series of large-scale, rhythmic screen-prints which connect to textiles and the body.

Wendy Ramshaw’s Room Of Dreams Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 22 May 2016 A major new artwork by one of Britain’s most accomplished artist jewellers, Wendy Ramshaw’s Room Of Dreams is made up of many parts, from small jewels in frames to large, freestanding furniture. Each element of the room draws the viewer into a world of stories that are both ‘familiar and strange’. “The dream is the room, and every one of its individual contents is in some sense a part of a dream,” explains Wendy. “A white wall is covered with frames, each of which con- tains a piece of jewellery, each inspired by a dream or dream-like situation - a series of stories and images waiting to be considered and discovered. “Room Of Dreams has brought into existence so many imagined objects, gathering together so many thoughts in one place - ‘the room’. It has fulfilled and completed a Way Of The Warrior dream for me.” Worcester City Museum & Art Gallery, until Sat 5 September This touring exhibition illustrates the development of personal arms and body armour across the past two thousand, five hundred years. It features armour worn by Liam McIntyre as Spartacus in the Starz television series and a selection of samurai armour from the 2003 Tom Cruise movie, The Last Samurai. Running alongside the exhibition, Worcester City Art Gallery is giving away an official replica of the Spaniard helmet worn by Russell Crowe in Gladiator, with two costumes from the Oscar-win- ning movie also on display. The competition runs for the duration of the exhibition.

Anne Frank And You Millennium Point, Birmingham, until Wed 15 July “We’re honoured to have been chosen by the Anne Frank Trust as the venue for this flagship exhibition,” says Neil Anderson, director of marketing, events and communica- tions at Millennium Point. “We’re all familiar with the story of Anne, but this exhibition tells it in a very different and contemporary way - not only in the way it presents the story physically, but also via the comparisons it makes with current issues.” As well as exploring Anne Frank’s story through use of photographs, videos and diary extracts, the exhibition features a life-size replica of her bedroom in the secret annexe and a range of interactive panels which explore the impact of prejudice in modern-day society. “Millennium Point is a venue which is all about learning and creative thinking,” continues Neil. “I’ve no doubt this compelling and thought-provoking exhibition will capture the interest and curiosity of our visitors.”

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inspired by the RSC’s THE HISTORY OF US: A PREVIEWS LISTINGS summer 2015 season STENCILLED (SORT OF) VisualArts VisualArts of plays and the world HISTORY OF THE HUMAN of sixteenth century RACE, BY STREET ARTIST For full listing information on Visual Art Venice, until Sun 6 Spray-painted with Further exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, Sept, Royal stencils and offering an visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Shakespeare Theatre, unconventional view of Stratford-upon-Avon the past, this is our his- NAUTICAL CRAFT EXHIBI- tory as seen through ANNA LORENZ NWA between 1914 and TION Works by contem- the eyes of street artist Portrait Salon Sculptural and wall- 1918, using personal porary designer/makers Pahnl, until Sun 4 Oct, based explorations objects, medals and Parkside Gallery, Birmingham, Mon 6 - Fri 31 created in response to Herbert Art Gallery & developed from the memorabilia, until Sun July the sea and coast, until Museum, Coventry Next Wave exhibition, 26 July, Birmingham Sat 12 Sept, RBSA 9 EVENINGS: REDUX The photographs featured here have been held at the RBSA Museum & Art Gallery Gallery, Birmingham Fresh look at Billy drawn from the four thousand, one hundred Gallery in May 2014 to NÁSTIO MOSQUITO A THE STORY OF CHIL- Kluver’s seminal 1966 and thirty-three images last year rejected from support emerging selection of the artist’s DREN’S TELEVISION art, performance & the National Portrait Gallery’s Taylor Wessing artists, until Sat 4 July, work at the fifty-sixth RBSA Gallery, FROM 1946 TO TODAY technology pro- Prize. One of the most prestigious photography Biennale di Venezia, gramme, until Sat 17 Birmingham until Sun 26 July, Ikon Fascinating exhibition competitions in the world, the Prize’s exhibition which takes a look at Oct, Vivid Projects, TREVOR APPLESON: Gallery, Birmingham some of the shows and Digbeth, Birmingham last year featured sixty photographs, with many BIRMINGHAM Exhibition JAMAICAN HIDDEN HIS- characters that have AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD high-quality images failing to make the cut. exploring self-represen- TORIES Exhibition show- excited and delighted tation as a counterpoint Exhibition examining This touring show provides an opportunity to casing historical, cultur- youngsters across the to the conventions of the changing focus of view ‘the best of the rest’. al & economic links decades, until Sun 13 the traditional photo- pilgrims and the coun- between Jamaica and Sept, Herbert Art graphic portrait, until tries which their pilgrim- Britain, until Thurs 30 Gallery & Museum, Sun 5 July, mac - ages have taken them July, The Drum, Coventry to, until Sat 31 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham The Story Of Children’s Birmingham THE DAN PEARSON Worcester City Museum DAVID GEORGE RBSA A WILLIAM MORRIS & Art Gallery SAMARA SCOTT: SILKS Television From selection of oils and MEADOW Dan Pearson’s New body of work STILL WITH US: THE watercolours of recent commission will create Review which draws on the STORY OF YARDLEY 1946 To Today travels to Cornwall, a mown parterre (a for- phenomenon of post- PEOPLE IN WORLD WAR Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, France, Cuba, Portugal, mal garden) based on internet art, until Sat 11 ONE An exhibition that until Sun 13 September Ibiza and Wales, until the designs of leg- July, Eastside Projects, celebrates the lives of Sat 8 Aug, RBSA endary English design- There are few occasions when one gets to Birmingham some of the people in Gallery, Birmingham er William Morris, until see as many grinning adult faces as this Yardley during World YOU AND ME HERE WE FAY NICOLSON: OVER AND Sun 13 Sept, Compton Herbert exhibition is able to inspire. It's irre- ARE Exhibition of origi- War One, until Sun 1 OVER PURE FORM Solo Verney Gallery, Nov, Blakesley Hall, sistible; a rainbow-coloured trip down memo- nal material including exhibition showcasing Warwickshire the artist’s film, The Birmingham ry lane that's a joy for kids from one to sev- how the artist plays LOVE, LIFE & LAND- Most Smallest Heath In ART IN THE PARK: KERN with the physicality of SCAPES Featuring enty-one. The Spaghetti Junction, BABY BY FAYE CLARIDGE images and possibilities German romantic prints Which of the exhibits excites you most will until Sat 11 July, This enigmatic new for formal and material & drawings from the depend on your age, but there's something Eastside Projects, commission by artist transformation through Barber’s collection, Birmingham Faye Claridge for the here to make even the biggest cynic misty- repetition, until Sat 8 until Sun 13 Sept, The eyed. Highlights include original animation FRIENDS’ EXHIBITION Aug, Grand Union, grounds at Compton Barber Institute, Verney takes on the cells, Grange Hill and Blue Peter scripts, Showcase of jewellery, Birmingham Birmingham ceramics, textiles, form of an exaggerated paper parts illustrating Captain Pugwash's ROB LECKEY ARBSA A THE ARTS AND CRAFTS drawing, paintings & sculptural emblem of display of harbours, HOUSE: THEN AND NOW unique animation style, and an astonishing printmaking, until Sat folklore, until Sun 13 boats, cities and land- Exhibition tracing the number of original puppets, from Muffin the 11 July, RBSA Gallery, Dec, Compton Verney, scapes using acrylic origins, legacy and Warwickshire Mule and Wonky Donkey to Morph and Jess Birmingham paint and inks, collage enduring appeal of the CHINESE COLLECTION RE- the Cat. One room is dedicated to Midlands- OPEN 2015 Showcasing and mixed media, until historic arts & crafts DISPLAY Consisting of based company Ragdoll (responsible for the work of local artists, Sat 15 Aug, RBSA, movement and its fasci- until Sun 12 July, Royal Birmingham over one hundred Rosie And Jim, Brum and ), and nation with the creation objects spanning over there are several interactive elements, includ- Pump Rooms, GREEN FINGERED Solo of the home, until Sun Leamington Spa three thousand years, ing a card game, dress-up clothes, 'guess exhibition by Gemma 13 Sept, Compton until Sun 13 Dec, Marmalade, until Sat 29 Verney, Warwickshire the theme tune', contemporary kids' apps, CRAZY ABOUT QUILTS Compton Verney Exhibition showcasing Aug, BOM (Birmingham THE HART SILVERSMITHS: Gallery, Warwickshire and a chance to share your memories. a rare collection of Open Media), Dudley A LIVING TRADITION BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE The centrepiece, however, is a massive TV quilts, from the Street, Birmingham Exhibition which tells AND CHANGE IN THE Victorian era to modern camera from around 1970, mounted on a MADE AT MAC: CERAMICS the story of the tradi- INNER-CITY Display ’50s stand. It's a thing of beauty. Today's digi- day, until Sun 12 July, An exhibition of course tion, skill and way of life Forge Mill Needle exploring the way in tal cameras make it easy to forget the com- participants’ work, until of the silversmith, until which ordinary Museum, Redditch Sun 13 Sept, Compton plexity of the equipment at our fingertips, and Mon 31 Aug, mac - Birmingham people PAVEL BÜCHLER Midlands Arts Centre, Verney, Warwickshire the thought of wrestling with something like have been represented Exhibition of work utilis- Birmingham THE MODERNIST FACE: in art during the twenti- this certainly offers pause for thought. Yet ing a wide range of WAY OF THE WARRIOR SMITH, DOBSON & eth and twenty-first surrounded by so many weird and wonderful media. This is the Exhibition of arms and BRITISH PORTRAITURE centuries, until Thurs creations, it's impossible to doubt whether it artist’s most compre- armour from historical 1920-60 A snapshot 31 Dec, Birmingham was worth it. Reviewed by Heather Kincaid hensive UK exhibition movies, including through the lens of Museum & Art Gallery to date, until Sun 12 Gladiator, Last Samurai Modernism, this latest 20TH CENTURY BRITISH July, Ikon Gallery, & War Horse, until Sat Barber exhibition STUDIO CERAMICS Birmingham A 5 Sept, Worcester City explores the work of display of seventy-eight GAME OVER BY TRAN- Art Gallery & Museum two under-appreciated pieces of studio ceram- British artists, until Sun SIENT-ART A fascinating LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY ics made by twenty- 27 Sept, The Barber exhibition which pres- WARHOL AND WILLIAM nine potters working in Institute, Birmingham ents new artwork MORRIS Exhibition England and Wales inspired by the visit of bringing together signif- JACQUES NIMKI: during the twentieth artists and designers to icant and iconic works SEEN/UNSEEN A new century, until Thurs 31 The Coffin Works, until by both artists, includ- permanent installation Dec, Birmingham Fri 24 July, Newman ing some rarely seen featuring more than Museum & Art Gallery Brothers Coffin Works, pieces, until Sun 6 three hundred barely INHERITING ROME Birmingham Sept, Birmingham visible works referenc- Exhibition which uses SOLDIERS’ STORIES: Museum & Art Gallery ing plant drawings, until money to explore and Sun 27 Sept, Ikon BIRMINGHAM AND THE FROM ‘RED’ ELLEN TO question our deep-seat- Gallery, Birmingham ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE OSWALD MOSLEY ed familiarity with the REGIMENT 1914 - 1918 Portraits of inter-war HIDDEN STORIES An art Roman Empire’s Exhibition which com- politicians by Edmund installation created by imagery, until Sun 24 memorates the cente- Knapp, until Sun 6 local artist Matt Reeves Jan 2016, The Barber nary of the First World Sept, The Barber and Ignite (Thinktank's Institute, Birmingham War and recounts the Institute, Birmingham Young People's Forum) WENDY RAMSHAW’S experiences of until Wed 30 Sept, SUSAN STOCKWELL: SEA ROOM OF DREAMS An Birmingham men who Thinktank at Millennium MARKINGS Exhibition installation made up of served in the regiment Point

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Showcase of end-of- Ikon, Birmingham large number of works year work by Cannon which haven’t been dis- SIR TERRY FROST R.A Hill Art School played before, Fri 24 (1915-2003): A LEAMING- Students, Sat 18 July - July - Sun 11 Oct, TON LAD This exhibition, Sun 6 Sept, mac - Leamington Spa Art in the year which marks Midlands Arts Centre, Gallery & Museum the centenary of the Birmingham artist’s birth, includes a ALIEN INVASION Meet iconic lifesize charac- ters from Star Wars: Chewbacca, Yoda and Museums & Art Galleries the Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader, Sat 18 Birmingham DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY July - Sun 6 Sept, ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield 01384 815575 Forge Mill Needle 0121 323 3776 Museum, BARBER INSTITUTE LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE Worcestershire 0121 414 7333 WOLVERHAMPTON 01902 716055 WALKING THE RAINBOW: BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & EARLY YEARS ACTIVITY ART GALLERY THE NEW ART GALLERY SPACE Delve into a 0121 303 2834 WALSALL 01922 654400 world of colourful pos- CASTLE GALLERIES RED HOUSE GLASS CONE sibilities, where the light 0121 248 8484 01384 812750 sparkles and textures GRAND UNION WOLVERHAMPTON ART and materials inspire 0121 643 9079 GALLERY 01902 552055 young imaginations to IKON GALLERY soar, Wed 22 July - Sun 0121 248 0708 Warwickshire 6 Sept, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY 0121 643 9099 Coventry 01926 645500 The Modernist Face - The Barber Institute, Birmingham RBSA GALLERY HERBERT ART GALLERY AT HOME WITH VANLEY 0121 2364353 COVENTRY 02476 832386 many parts, from small Gallery & Cafe, RBSA Gallery, BURKE Exhibition show- STRYX GALLERY, DIGBETH jewels in frames to Birmingham Birmingham casing the entire con- LANCHESTER GALLERY, [email protected] COVENTRY large, freestanding fur- tents of the artist’s flat PORTRAIT SALON PORTRAIT PRIZE EXHIBI- 02476 887831 niture, until Sun 22 May in Nechells, north-east THREE WHITE WALLS Exhibition of photo- TION This biennial event GALLERY 2016, Birmingham Birmingham, Wed 22 MEAD GALLERY WARWICK graphs, Mon 6 - Fri 31 sees RBSA team up 0121 200 3328 02476 524524 Museum & Art Gallery July, The Parkside with the charity July - Sun 27 Sept, BEORMA (II) An explo- Gallery, Birmingham Changing Faces. Part Ikon Gallery, ROYAL PUMP ROOMS ration of the of the exhibition shows Birmingham Black Country 01926 742700 PHILIP POTTER ARBSA BANTOCK HOUSE RUGBY MUSEUM & ART Birmingham art scene’s Drawing inspiration how portraiture can TAKEHISA KOSUGI archives regarding the reveal the richness and WOLVERHAMPTON GALLERY 01788 533201 from natural and syn- Exhibition featuring 01902 552195 subject of gender, Fri 3 thetic forms, Philip here diversity of faces, Thurs three of the artist’s - Sat 25 July, Stryx, 16 July - Sat 22 Aug, sound installations, BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY Worcestershire explores relationships 01902 552507 Birmingham to culture, landscape RBSA Gallery, involving everyday WORCESTER CITY ART BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS ESTONIAN STREET ART and body in this display Birmingham materials and radio GALLERY 01905 25371 electronics, Wed 22 MUSEUM, DUDLEY Group show, Fri 3 - of sculptures, Mon 6 CANNON HILL ART 01384 812745 Wed 29 July, Centrala July - Sat 29 Aug, SCHOOL SUMMER SHOW July - Sun 27 Sept,

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Antiques For Everyone NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July Antiques For Everyone offers the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts Blue John, a form of fluorite which has a translucent appearance. and collectors to browse, purchase and obtain information on a vast Colours range from dark purple and violet to light brown and honey array of furniture and collectables. Items for sale include Georgian yellow. The collection is the core of a unique sale on loan from and Victorian furniture, British and European works of art, and highly Fellows Auctioneers prior to its auction in Birmingham’s historic collectable pottery, porcelain and jewellery from the past three hun- Jewellery Quarter in October. It features exceptional ornaments and dred years, with prices ranging from £10 to £100,000. items of jewellery, many of which were made in Birmingham by This particular show also features a superb collection of Derbyshire Matthew Boulton in the late eighteenth century.

Silverstone Classic Silverstone Circuit, Northampton, Fri 24 - Sun 26 July Billed as ‘the world’s biggest classic motor-racing festival’, the Silverstone Classic is a real mecca for car enthusiasts, at the same time offering top-notch entertainment for families. Renowned for attracting some of the biggest names in the industry, this year sees the event celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Highlights include more than twenty races, a per- formance from Status Quo, a display of over ten thousand clas- sic cars, a giant wheel and vintage funfair, a huge shopping vil- lage and numerous ‘dynamic’ demonstrations.

Colmore Food Festival Victoria Square, Birmingham, Fri 3 - Sat 4 July Showcasing the excellent food and drink on offer in Birmingham’s com- mercial quarter (Colmore Business District), this two-day event features an eclectic programme of entertainment and edible delights. In addition to demonstrations from top chefs and mixologists, visitors can enjoy outdoor theatre performances and a magic show. Music comes courtesy of the Colmore Chorus and the Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival.

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Events PREVIEWS Birmingham Cocktail Weekend Various venue across Birmingham, Fri 10 - Sun 12 July Showcasing some of the city’s finest cocktail venues, the Birmingham Cocktail Weekend offers the chance to try as many cocktails as take your fancy - some for just £4! The idea behind the event is simple - purchase an e- ticket online for just £6 and then exchange it for a wristband. The wristband provides access to over twenty venues - and to those all-important £4 cocktails. The event also features a range of master- classes and free tastings, as well as the chance to learn about the spirits that con- tribute to your favourite cocktails. 1940s Weekend Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 18 - Sun 19 July This is the Black Country Living Museum’s largest ever 1940s weekend. The event offers visi- tors the chance to stroll through vintage memorabilia markets, meet 1940s characters and prepare for an evacuee lesson in St James’ school. Other attractions include wartime variety shows, austerity-busting ‘make do and mend’ workshops, fashion shows and street perform- ers. There’s also the chance to experience air-raid scenarios and listen to some of Churchill’s most stirring speeches, performed live by a re-enactor.

weekend of entertainment boasting com- Birmingham Beer Bash mendably broad appeal. Included in the The Bond Co, Fazeley Street, Birmingham, event’s line-up of attractions is five arenas- The Women Thurs 23 - Sat 25 July worth of music, ever-popular drag racing, A pure love for all things beer is what ‘run what ya brung’ public track time, ‘show Chainmakers’ Festival brought together the organisers behind the & shine’, comedy talent aplenty, hair-raising Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Birmingham Beer Bash. Opening its doors at stunt displays (including the car-crushing Sat 11 July a canalside location in Digbeth in 2013, the mayhem of monster trucks), an interactive Cradley Heath high street will be closed off Bash has gone from strength to strength, in circus skills workshop for all the family, an for this Black Country Festival event, which the process making a significant mark on the autojumble and a funfair. If you’ve not been celebrates the achievements of eight hun- national beer landscape. to the show before, make 2015 the year you dred women chainmakers who, via a ten- Highlights at this year’s adult-only event check it out. As the above list makes evident, week strike at the beginning of the twentieth include more than forty breweries presenting entertainment will most definitely not be in century, fought to establish a minimum wage over one hundred beers and ciders, and lots short supply! for their labour. The strike was led by trade of local street food outlets serving a range of unionist Mary Macarthur, who founded the tasty cuisine to satisfy your hunger pangs. National Federation of Women Workers and later stood for Parliament as a Labour candi- date. The festival’s line-up of entertainment includes comedy from The Fizzogs, period theatrical reenactments, a funfair and a chance to enjoy a variety of circus skills.

Stratford River Festival Photo credit: Francis Clarke Stratford-upon-Avon, Sat 4 - Sun 5 July The 2015 Stratford-upon-Avon River Festival Birmingham Music Bus Tour features a host of entertainment for the local Victoria Square, Birmingham, Sun 12 July community to enjoy. A highlight of the two- day event is the illuminated boat display on Birmingham’s contribution to the music the Saturday evening, which comes with the scene comes under the spotlight on this promise of a ‘spectacular firework display’. sure-to-be-fascinating bus tour. Birmingham Live music, a craft village, a climbing wall, Music Archive founder Jez Collins is the man stalls and market traders also feature, while The Big Art Show at the helm for a magical mystery tour that street entertainment is on offer in the historic West Midland Showground, Shrewsbury, promises to spill the beans on Brummie town centre itself. Fri 3 - Sun 5 July bands including Black Sabbath, UB40 and Showcasing work from some of the best art Musical Youth. The tour lasts approximately and craft artists in Britain, aiming to make it one-and-a-half hours, starting and finishing the biggest art event of its kind in the West at the city’s Victoria Square, next to the Midlands. Glass smiths, ceramicists, furniture Council House. designers, textile artists, sculptors, painters, metalworkers and jewellers will be among the 120 exhibitor line-up for 2015. As well as Bug Jam 29 - VW Festival over 100 short animation films, Shropshire Santapod, Northampton, Fri 17 - Sun 19 July Photographic Society is holding its summer Hailed as the original and best VW festival, exhibition at The Big Art Show. Bug Jam 29 is a high-powered, high-energy

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Events PREVIEWS Mela In The Midlands Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 25 July Adding a spectacular dash of colour to the Midlands’ summertime events calendar are these hugely popular melas (a word which, in translation, means ‘a gathering’ or ‘a fair’). The Belgrade Mela sees representatives from Coventry’s diverse South Asian com- munities coming together in celebration. The event’s ‘special guest star’ is Punjabi hit- maker Sukshinder Shinda. Commenting on the mela, artistic director Nasreen Akhtar Khan said: “To have secured the services of a name like Sukshinder Shinda is a huge coup for the theatre and for the city. Sukshinder is fast becoming one of the biggest names in Punjabi music culture, with a Twitter following in excess of fifty-seven thousand and a dedicated fan base through- out the UK. Alongside Mr Shinda, we’ll also be showcasing a range of some of the best local South Asian talent, from classical dance right through to modern-day Bollywood and more.”

Blists Hill Country Fair Blists Hill Victorian Town, Nr Ironbridge, Shropshire, Mon 27 July - Sun 2 August The atmosphere of a traditional Victorian country fair is this month being recreated at Blists Hill. Attractions include traditional games on the green with the town’s residents, the chance to be entertained by the Prince Albert Players, working-horse demonstrations and a whole host of games, including apple bobbing, musical chairs, sack races and a tug-of-war. Demonstrations of country crafts, from rag rug making to woodwork skills, are also included.

Showcasing the food The chance to take Backs Working Estate, and drink available in your car or motorcycle AN INTRODUCTION TO Staffordshire Events LISTINGS Birmingham’s commer- out on the famous BEEKEEPING Join Colin STEP BACK TO THE 1940S cial quarter, Fri 3 - Sat 4 quarter-mile dragstrip and Ian from Bournville Popular event taking a For full listing information on Events, July, Victoria Square, and test its perform- Beekeepers, Sat 4 July, lighthearted journey including times and dates, visit Birmingham ance limits in a safe Selly Manor, B’ham back to wartime Britain. CAMPER JAM Highlights and legal environment, STAFFORDSHIRE CYCLING Attractions include cos- www.whatsonlive.co.uk include live bands, food Sat 4 July, Santa Pod FESTIVAL The second tumed re-enactments, a village, children's activi- Raceway, Northampton day of two-wheeled fun, 1940s Blackout Fair, sea creature. Take part from ties and the ever-popu- STAR-SPANGLED RAG incorporating a mass- displays of historic civil- in other activities to lar 'cooking in a RUGGING Create an participation cycle ride ian & military vehicles, become a real-life Lego WED 1 JULY camper' competition, American-inspired rag in the daytime, cycling a wartime operations City Deep Sea Explorer, Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, rug for your home. activities for the family room and period mem- until Mon 31 Aug, THE GRAND GARDEN Weston Park, Perfect for beginners to and a professional orabilia stands Sat 4 - National Sea Life TOUR Learn more about Staffordshire this traditional tech- cycle race in the Sun 5 July, Severn Centre, Birmingham the history of the gar- THE BIG ART SHOW nique, Sat 4 July, evening, Sat 4 July, Valley Railway, BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ den and its most recent Showcasing work from Birmingham Back to Shugborough Historic Kidderminster TOURS A chance to see additions, Wed 1 July, some of the best art & Birmingham in all its Ragley Hall, craft artists in Britain, glory, until Sun 27 Sept, Warwickshire Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, West Victoria Square, WIMBLEDON LIVE! Midland Showground, Birmingham Watch the on-court Shrewsbury GRANDSLAM MADNESS action while out and 2015 FORMULA 1 BRITISH TOUR Fresh from a sell- about in Brindleyplace, GRAND PRIX Fri 3 - Sun out tour, Madness kick courtesy of a large out- 5 July, Silverstone off the British Grand door screen in Central Circuit, Northampton Prix Weekend, Thurs 2 Square, until Mon 6 AMERICAN REDWORK July, Silverstone Circuit, July, Brindleyplace, EMBROIDERY WITH JANE Northampton Birmingham COBBETT Workshop STRATFORD-UPON-AVON MILLING SUNDAYS See where visitors can POETRY FESTIVAL the mill as it’s brought make a pretty floral Featuring an exciting back to life to grind sachet incorporating line-up of events and wheat into flour, and traditional hand embroi- special recitals. For the learn how the mill's dery stitches, Sat 4 full programme and machinery works, until July, Forge Mill Needle ticket bookings, visit Sun 19 July, Sarehole Museum, Redditch www.shakespeare.org. Mill, Birmingham CRAZY VICTORIAN uk/poetry-festival, Thurs HORRIBLE HISTORIES: PATCHWORK WITH JANE 2 July - Sun 2 Aug WICKED WARWICK New COBBETT Create a Various locations in for 2015, the Horrible unique piece of patch- Stratford-upon-Avon Histories bring Wicked work using luxury fab- TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC Warwick back to life, rics and decorated with Enjoy a picnic at the until Sun 6 Sept, fancy embroidery mill, with craft activities, Warwick Castle stitches, Sat 4 July, songs and games, Fri 3 LEGO CITY DEEP SEA Forge Mill Needle July, Forge Mill Needle EXPLORERS Get hands- Museum, Redditch Museum, Redditch on and build a Lego RUN WHAT YA BRUNG COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL Horrible Histories: Wicked Warwick - Warwick Castle

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July, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Events LISTINGS Birmingham CHARACTER WEEKEND For full listing information on Events, Get snapped with some including times and dates, visit of Cadbury's most colourful characters, www.whatsonlive.co.uk including Caramel Bunny, Freddo, Creme HERITAGE WEEKEND July, The Arcadian Egg and Mr Cadbury's Centre, Birmingham Listen to informative Parrot, Sat 11 - Sun 12 talks about the July, Cadbury World, Cadbury family before Week Commencing Birmingham taking a stroll around MON 6 JULY BLACK COUNTRY the historic Bournville WEEKEND Embark on a Village, Sat 4 - Sun 5 discovery trail and SUMMER EVENING July, Cadbury World, uncover the proud GARDEN PARTY Enjoy Birmingham industrial heritage of MASTERS FESTIVAL the peace and tranquili- A the region, or relax with ty of the gardens, along two day celebration of a local real ale and a with drinks and the history of motor- bag BCLM’s famous canapes, Fri 10 July, sport, Sat 4 - Sun 5 traditional fish and Park, July, Donington Park chips, Sat 11 - Sun 12 Warwickshire Racing Circuit July, Black Country JAPSHOW DRAGSTALGIA A week- The first Living Museum, Dudley major event for end event dedicated to CITY OF Japanese car fans, fea- race cars, bikes and WOLVERHAMPTON SHOW hot rods from a bygone turing RWYB competi- Including a trio of new era, Fri 10 - Sun 12 tion, Jap Drag Series, attractions alongside FWD Drag Series, club July, Santa Pod favourites Big Pete No Fit State Circus, performers at City of Wolverhampton Show Raceway, Northampton displays, drifting, drag Monster Truck and COVENTRY TRANSPORT demos, Show’n’Shine Bolddog Lings July, Victoria Square, tips, courtesy of Mell artist Karoline Rerrie, MUSEUM CLASSIC CAR and more, Sun 5 July, Motorcycle Display Birmingham Square’s fashion and Sat 18 July, BREAKFAST CLUB A Santa Pod Raceway, Team, Sat 11 - Sun 12 SOUTH STAFFS BONSAI beauty retailers, Sun 12 Birmingham Museum & chance to show off Northampton July, Wolverhampton SHOW Sun 12 July, July, Mell Square, Art Gallery OUTER EYE-CATCHERS: your classic car and/or Racecourse Birmingham Botanical Solihull COUGHTON VILLAGE DUNSTALL TOWER motorcycle, Sat 11 July, NATIONAL CAR RACES Gardens SUMMER FETE Explore inside the eye- Coventry Transport THE BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CHURCHILL FORGE OPEN Week Commencing Traditional stalls, Museum catcher, opened at a Two days of racing, Sat DAY Visit one of the last games and competi- MORGANS THRILL ON THE MON 13 JULY certain time throughout 11 - Sun 12 July, surviving waterwheel- tions, Sat 18 July, HILL Featuring hun- the year, Sun 5 July Donington Park Racing powered forges in the Coughton Court, dreds of Morgan Cars, Croome Park, Circuit country, Sun 12 July, HONDA RON HASLAM , Warwickshire Worcester live music, trade stands RAF DEFFORD WEEKEND Churchill Forge Mill, RACE SCHOOL The Ron CLASSIC NOSTALGIA BMC & LEYLAND SHOW and much more, Sat 11 Two days of music, Worcestershire Haslam Race School Annual event that July, Shelsley Walsh, Celebrate a host of museum displays, re- TRIUMPH RAZOREDGE OC offers the experience of attracts a very wide Worcestershire British vehicles, manu- enactors and much 40TH ANNIVERSARY riding on an internation- range of classic cars, AN INTRODUCTION TO factured by the British more... Part of the Up to fifteen Triumph al racing circuit, Mon not just competing on BAROQUE ART Curator Motor Corporation, Croome's Hidden Razoredge Classics on 13 July, Donington Park the hill but also on dis- Helen Hillyard gives a British Leyland and Heritage series, Sat 11 display, Sun 12 July, Racing Circuit play, Sat 18 - Sun 19 special lecture on Rover. Also celebrating - Sun 12 July, Coventry Transport BRINDLEYPLACE FILM July, Shelsley Walsh, Baroque Art, Sat 11 thirty years of the Croome Park, Museum FESTIVAL Free outdoor Worcestershire July, Birmingham Montego, Sun 5 July, Worcestershire FLYING POTTER Creative event, Mon 13 - Sun 19 FASHION IN THE Heritage Motor Centre, Museum And Art NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY workshops with Eastnor July, Brindleyplace, SIXTEENTH CENTURY Gaydon, Warwickshire Gallery WEEKEND: A ROMAN Pottery, Sun 12 July, Birmingham Julia Lowe talks about VINTAGE AND PVT FUN REGATTA Sat 11 The INVASION Two days of Eastnor Castle Deer SIR MALCOLM SARGENT the varying details of July, Stratford-upon- annual MAC Vintage archaeology-themed Park, Herefordshire WITH ANDREW KEENER sixteenth century fash- Avon Boat Club meeting in association fun for all the family, BREAKFAST CLUB This distinguished ion, Sat 18 July, Selly SILVER PENDANT with the Vintage Sports Sat 11 - Sun 12 July, Monthly social gather- recording producer Manor, Birmingham JEWELLERY WORKSHOP Car Club, Sun 5 July, Forge Mill Needle ing open to all, Sun 12 takes a personal look at LARGE MODEL AIRCRAFT Join designer maker Shelsley Walsh, Museum, Redditch July, Shelsley Walsh, Sir Malcolm Sargent, RALLY An air show in Worcester Louise Mary Muttitt and BIRMINGHAM MUSIC BUS Worcestershire the great conductor, miniature - a must for HOT HOT HOT! LATIN learn the skills and TOUR Chance to SUNNYHULL - FASHION, organist and composer, any aviation enthusiast, AMERICAN FESTIVAL techniques of a silver- explore Birmingham’s HEALTH AND BEAUTY Tues 14 July, The Elgar Sat 18 - Sun 19 July, smith in a creative one- Featuring music, dance contribution to the Pop-up boutiques, Birthplace Museum, RAF Cosford, Nr day workshop, Sat 11 and workshops, Sun 5 music scene, Sun 12 beauty labs and fashion Worcester Wolverhampton HEAD GARDENER'S MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL: EVENING TOURS Join TOURNAMENT & JOUST! head gardener Mick Magnificent knights Evans as he reveals the compete for victory in secrets of planting at this celebration of all Packwood, Wed 15 things medieval, Sat 18 July, Packwood House, - Sun 19 July, Solihull Kenilworth Castle, LOCAL HISTORY TALK - Warwickshire NINETEENTH CENTURY GAMES THROUGH THE ACCIDENTS A talk by AGES Take a trip back in local historian Jane time to play some of Smith, Fri 17 July, the popular games of Wolverhampton Art yesteryear, Sat 18 July - Gallery Mon 31 Aug, THE BURTON REAL ALE Shakespeare's AND JAZZ FESTIVAL A Birthplace; Mary weekend of jazz music, Arden's Farm; Anne beer and food, Fri 17 - Hathaway's Cottage & Sat 18 July, National Gardens; Hall's Croft; Brewery Centre, Harvard House & The Burton-upon-Trent Museum of British CROOME'S DISCOVERY Pewter - all in Stratford- LOG BOOKS Join the upon-Avon journey of discovery SUMMER HOLIDAY around the park, using FAMILY FUN Join the a log book, Fri 17 July - summer of fun at Sun 6 Sept, Croome Cadbury World with a Park, Worcestershire whole host of entertain- ADULT WORKSHOP: ers, Sat 18 July - Wed 2 CONTEMPORARY Sept, Cadbury World, SCREENPRINTING Create Birmingham Summer holiday fun at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire designs and prints with SUMMER HOLIDAY

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MEETING POINT: corner of Colmore Row & Waterloo Street, Victoria Square

TOUR TIMES: 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm

CONTACT: 0121 427 2555 / 07805 115 998 [email protected]

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Coventry Transport Museum Events LISTINGS COSFORD FOOD FESTIVAL Featuring cooking For full listing information on Events, demonstrations, food including times and dates, visit and drink giveaways and entertainment www.whatsonlive.co.uk across the weekend, Sat 25 - Sun 26 July, FAMILY ACTIVITIES July, Heritage Motor RAF Cosford, Nr Explore over two hun- Centre, Gaydon, Wolverhampton dred cars whilst com- Warwickshire BRITISH TRUCK pleting interactive fami- HONDA RON HASLAM CHAMPIONSHIP & ly activities, Sat 18 July RACE SCHOOL The Ron SUPPORT RACES Sat 25 - - Sun 6 Sept, Haslam Race School Sun 26 July, Donington Heritage Motor Centre, offers the experience of Park Racing Circuit Gaydon, Warwickshire riding on an internation- AUDAX DIAMOND JUBILEE PLAY LIKE AN EDWAR- al racing circuit, Wed RALLY A weekend rally DIAN Test your skill with 22 July, Donington Park with camping - cele- an array of Edwardian Racing Circuit brating cars from the and wartime fete DECORATE A FLOWER POT Rootes stable, Sat 25 - games, Sat 18 July - WORKSHOP Wed 22 Sun 26 July, Heritage Sun 6 Sept, Croft July, Museum of the Motor Centre, Gaydon, Castle, Nr Leominster Order of St John, Warwickshire HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Warwick LACE WARS - JACOBITE MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM Sat SUMMER HOLIDAYS AT REBELLION RE-ENACT- 18 July - Sun 6 Sept COVENTRY TRANSPORT MENT Skirmish re-enact- Sept, Warwick Castle MUSEUM Featuring a ments, drills and living SUMMER HOLIDAY AT whole host of fun activi- Heritage Weekends - Cadbury World, Birmingham history camp, Sat 25 - MAD A chance to ties for all the family to Sun 26 July, Avoncroft design a part of the enjoy, Wed 22 July - Fri Backs RACE SCHOOL The Ron drop of the moated Museum, Bromsgrove MAD Marbles Wall, Sat 28 Aug, Coventry FAMILY ART WORKSHOP: Haslam Race School manor house, Fri 31 WEEKEND 18 July - Mon 7 Sept, Transport Museum POPTASTIC PRINTING offers the experience of July, Baddesley Clinton, ARCHAEOLOGISTS A The MAD Museum, LOVE IS ENOUGH: DIGITAL Inspired by Andy riding on an internation- Warwick chance to join in with Stratford-upon-Avon POP Make your own Warhol, the learning al racing circuit, Wed ULTIMATE STREET CAR the volunteers and SEVEN SECRET DOORS photo portraits, Fri 24 officers are on hand to 29 July, Donington Park The fastest, hottest, community members in Discover the seven July, Birmingham help you make your Racing Circuit largest and loudest archeological activities doors and what secrets Museum And Art very own vibrant and LOVE IS ENOUGH: FAMILY modified car festival in including pot washing, lay behind them, Sat 18 Gallery colourful prints, Wed 29 FRIDAY Family-friendly Europe, Fri 31 July - sieving soil and gener- July - Mon 7 Sept, SUMMER ACTIVITY DAYS: July, Birmingham tour of the new exhibi- Sun 2 Aug, Santa Pod ating theories about Shugborough Historic PLANT IT, GROW IT, EAT IT Museum And Art tion, with craft activities Raceway, Northampton excavations, Sat 25 - Working Estate, Decorate your very own Gallery too, Fri 31 July, SUMMER ACTIVITY DAYS: Sun 26 July, Staffordshire plant pot, plant some STORYTELLING WITH Birmingham Museum HUNT FOR BUGS & MINI Brockhampton Estate, ANIMALS R MAGIC A seeds and take them MARGARET BATESON-HILL And Art Gallery BEASTS Grab a bug- Nr Bromyard fundraising event in aid home to watch them Wed 29 July, Museum OUTDOOR CINEMA: hunting kit and see FESTIVAL OF BLACK of the Cinnamon Trust, grow, Fri 24 July, of the Order of St John, GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL what you can find, Fri COUNTRY VEHICLES Now bringing together many Croome Park, Warwick A chance to watch a 31 July, Croome Park, in its thirteenth year, local animal charities. Worcestershire HONDA RON HASLAM film against the back- Worcester this is an annual gather- Attractions include a 22ND MOPAR EURO ing of cars, motorcycles dog show, dog agility, NATIONALS The Ultimate and commercial vehi- flyball and gundog American Muscle Car cles, all built in the demonstrations, ferret show with RWYB, a Black Country, Sun 26 racing, alpacas and burnout competition, jet July, Black Country donkeys, Sun 19 July, car and live evening Living Museum, Dudley The Jinney Ring Craft entertainment, Fri 24 - LOK VIRSA - BEYOND Centre, Hanbury, Nr Sun 26 July, Santa Pod BORDERS A one-day arts Bromsgrove Raceway, Northampton festival celebrating the OLD FORD RALLY Sun 19 SILVERSTONE CLASSIC rich cultural heritage of July, Heritage Motor Billed as ‘the world’s Pakistan, Sun 26 July, Centre, Gaydon, biggest classic motor- mac, Birmingham Warwickshire racing festival’, Fri 24 - SUNNYHULL - KIDS DAY TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC Sun 26 July, Silverstone Fun for the whole family Take along your Circuit, Northampton with a pop-up cinema, favourite teddies for a POP-UP POETRY WITH balloon modelling, hula picnic, with stories, fun LOCAL POET LAUREATES hoop and face painting, and games from enter- Featuring a poetry walk Sun 26 July, Mell tainer Jem, Sun 19 July, and the chance to have Square, Solihull Eastnor Castle Deer a poem created for Park, Herefordshire you, Sat 25 July, SUNNYHULL - FOOD AND Croome Park, Week Commencing DRINK EXTRAVAGANZA Worcestershire MON 27 JULY Grown-ups can kick KIDS DISCOVER RAG back and relax in the al RUGGING Join the crafty AN EVENING WITH fresco dining area folk to learn how to BOYCOTT & AGGERS - THE whilst little ones learn make a mini rag rug, SECOND INNINGS Mon 27 their way around the Sat 25 July, July, Symphony Hall, kitchen, Sun 19 July, Birmingham Back to Birmingham Mell Square, Solihull Backs RUN AWAY TO THE THE BIG PICNIC Take a CIRCUS... A week-long picnic basket to the Week Commencing performance-making annual Big Picnic, with adventure with physical MON 20 JULY free musical entertain- performance company ment and activities for Highly Sprung, Mon 27 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACK all the family. Stratford- - Fri 31 July, Warwick TO BACKS The Back To upon-Avon residents Arts Centre, Coventry Backs mice are playing (proof of address CRAFT AND WILDLIFE hide and seek - find required) can enjoy free CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES them all to win a prize, entry on the day, Sat 25 Tues 28 July, Tues 21 - Sun 26 July, July, Anne Hathaway's Spetchley Park Birmingham Back to Cottage & Gardens, Gardens, Backs Stratford-upon-Avon Worcestershire SUMMER HOLIDAYS LAND THE RILEY MOTOR CLUB - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACK ROVER COLLECTION 90TH ANNIVERSARY TO BACKS The Back To ACTIVITIES Explore the To celebrate this mile- Backs mice are playing Land Rover Collection, stone, the club are hide and seek - find with some fun activities bringing thirty classic them all to win a prize, to complete along the Rileys to Millennium Tues 28 - Fri 31 July, way, Tues 21 - Thurs 30 Place, Sat 25 July, Birmingham Back to

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64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out July region one.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:16 Page 1 Eating Out Celebrity chef brings the tastes and smells of Italy to Wolverhampton Gino D’Acampo is bringing his inimitable charm, wit and culinary skill to Wolverhampton Civic Hall in November. Gino’s Italian Escape Live On Stage delivers the tastes and smells of Mediterranean cuisine to Midlands audiences, with selected fans being invited to join him on stage. Tickets priced £26.95 are now on sale for the 3 November event.

Birmingham Independent Food Amantia: A Spanish labour of love... Fair becomes a weekend event with honey (£5.95). Now, bursting from the tasty Last year’s Birmingham Independent Food Fair REVIEW I’m a huge cheese fan - breaded shells. The sopa was such a huge success that a second day has but faced with five large tri- marinera (£7.95) - a fra- been added to the 2015 event. Over four thou- This fairly new city centre angles of the stuff, dotted grant mussel, monkfish, sand hungry visitors are expected to descend on Spanish restaurant is locat- with just sauce and nuts, prawn and crab meat stew Millennium Point on Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 ed on the trendy Bennett’s even my zeal faltered. We boasting earthy, delicate September to sample the produce of sixty local Hill, opposite The Briar felt bemused by the lack of flavours - tasted as good food and drink suppliers. Participating business- Rose. The contrast of the inventiveness. The unusual as any coastal dish. We felt es include new restaurants, wine merchants, arti- clean whitewash exterior chips, however, were an pleasantly satisfied. san delis, bakers and confectioners, street food and the tall black gates is a absolute delight, marked As we rounded off with a traders and more. Visit birminghamindependent- classy European touch. by a moreish melt-in-the- standard vanilla cheese- foodfair.co.uk for more details. Opened this March by mouth texture. cake with strawberry coulis Madrid-born owner Marta Unfortunately, the tortilla (£4.95), Marta discussed and her husband and head patata (£4.95), Spain’s adding some Spanish-style chef, Andrea, Amantia is classic potato and onion hanging flower pots, a la clearly a labour of love, omelette, was too salty. I Madrid. This is a great from the considered menu began pondering idea. More authentic to the stylised flourishes. Amantia’s hit-and-miss Spanish touches, including Receiving a warm wel- tapas style. By the time our a tad more care with the come, we felt a grand other dishes arrived, the tapas, would undoubtedly sense of occasion, sur- restaurant had filled with ensure that Amantia was a rounded, as we were, by chattering families and truly original Spanish expe- the opulent purple and couples, all enjoying them- rience. More Marta and grey decor, offset beautiful- selves. Marta confirmed less ‘city chic’ would ly with dark wood furnish- the venue was full almost absolutely guarantee this. ings and pretty, leafy every night. The vast Malaka Chowdhury plants. menu, including pasta and The Mailbox welcomes a new We chose a variety of mains, as well as a white Food: n n n n n Indian seafood restaurant tapas, which arrived in a corner bar, means there’s Service: n n n n n something for everyone. A new restaurant offering diners the perfect blend staggered fashion. First to Ambience: n n n n n The turning point came of seafood and spice is opening its doors in the table was the Overall value n n n n n after our tapas were mis- Birmingham’s Mailbox this month. Vivaanta - manchego con mermeleda OVERALL n n n n n takenly sent to a delighted meaning ‘to live well’ - takes the place of the de pimiento - cheese neighbouring table. Our 9-10 Bennetts Hill Kinaree Thai Restaurant in Holliday Wharf and is served with homemade red last tapas dishes were Birmingham the creation of the team at West Bromwich’s pepper marmalade and wonderful. The creamy B2 5RS Akash Balti. The menu not only includes a range fried Valencia almonds mushroom croquettes Tel: 0121 643 3647 of fish dishes but also caters for diners seeking (£5.95) - and berenjenas (£5.95) were lip-smackingly more traditional Indian cuisine. con miel, lightly battered aubergine chips drizzled good, the velvety filling

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MINT Yew Tree Retail WAGAMAMA Brindley Restaurant LISTINGS Park, Stoney Lane Place, Birmingham, B1 Yardley, B25 8YP WATERS ON THE SQUARE 0121 789 8908 Chad Square, Hawthorne For full listing information on restau- MOUNT FUJI The Bullring, Rd, Edgbaston, B15 3TQ rants, including opening times and B5 4BH 0121 633 9853 type of cuisine, visit: www.whatson- NUVO BAR 11 Brindley Place, B1 2LP 0121 631 Warwickshire live.co.uk 1600 7 SQUARE 7 Old Square, B5 4RT 0121 622 5669 OPUS 54 Cornwall St, B3 2DE 0121 200 2323 Warwick, CV34 4RA Birmingham CHUNG YING CENTRAL 126 01926 411 755 Colmore Row, B3 3AP THE ORIENTAL The Mailbox, 128-130 NO. 9 CHURCH STREET AALTO RESTAURANT Hotel 0121 400 0888 La Tour, Albert Street, Wharfside St, B1 1RQ Stratford upon Avon, Birmingham, B5 5JT CHUNG YING GARDEN 17 0121 633 9988 Warwickshire, CV37 6HB Thorpe St, B5 4AT 0121 718 8000 PEACHY KEENS 1741 01789 415522 0121 666 6622 AIR RESTAURANT LG Coventry Road, B26 AGRA PLACE 12 Abbey Arena, Bickenhill Rd CIELO 6 Oozells Square, 1DS 0121 764 5519 Green, , CV11 0844 338 0333 Brindleyplace, B1 2JB PENNY BLACKS 5DR 024 7635 0515 0121 632 6882 BALCONY BRASSERIE The Mailbox, 132-134 THE ALMANACK Abbey Selfridges on 4, The COAST TO COAST 9 Wharfside St, B1 1XL End North, Kenilworth, Bullring, B5 4BP Brindleyplace, Broad 0121 632 1460 CV8 1QJ 01926 353637 Street, B1 2HJ BANK 4 Brindleyplace, PICCOLINO AUBERGINE 32 Smith St, B1 2JB 0121 633 4466 COTE The Mailbox, 9 Brindleyplace, B1 2HS Warwick, CV34 4HS B1 1RX 0121 631 1587 BAR ESTILO 10-114 0121 634 3055 01926 400 086 Wharfside St, The CUCINA RUSTICA 24 PITCHER & PIANO THE BELL Alderminster, Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121 Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX Brindleyplace, B1 2HP Stratford-upon-Avon, Marco’s New York Italian - Kenilworth 643 3443 0121 233 2277 0121 643 0214 CV37 8NY BARAJEE 265 Broad EASTZEAST 167 Broad POPPY RED Arcadian 01789 450414 RESTAURANT 23 34 THE CHASE INN Chase Rd, Street, B1 2DS 0121 643 Street, Birmingham, B15 Centre, Birmingham, B5 BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St, Hamilton Terrace, Holly Upper Colwall, Malvern, 6699 1AY, 0121 643 4808 4TD 0121 687 1200 Coventry, CV1 3BA 024 Walk, Leamington Spa, WR13 6DQ 01684 BELLA ITALIA 102 New EDMUNDS 6 Brindley PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall 7622 9274 CV32 4LY 01926 422422 540276 Street, B2 4HQ 0121 place, B1 2JB 0121 633 St, B3 2DH 0121 212 CARLUCCIOS 13 Waterside, RISTORANTE DA VINCI 50 CHESTERS 51 New St, 643 1548 4944 9799 Stratford-Upon-Avon, Earlsdon Street, Coventry, Worcester, WR1 2DL BERLIOZ Burlington FIESTA DEL ASADO 229 PURNELL’S BISTO 11 CV37 6BA 01789 267424 CV5 6EJ 024 7671 3554 01905 611638 Arcade, New St, B2 4JQ Hagley Road, Newhall Street, B3 3NY, CATALAN 6 Jury St , ROBBIE’S RESTAURANT 74 CROWN & SANDYS 0121 633 1737 Birmingham, B16 9RP 0121 2000 1588 Warwick, CV34 4EW Smith Street, CV34 4HU Main Rd, Ombersley, BLUE GINGER 32 Poplar, 0121 445 9331 RAJDOOT TANDOORI 78 - 01926 498 930 01926 400470 WR9 0EW 01905 62025 Rd, Kings Heath, B14 FLEET STREET KITCHEN 79 George St, B31 1PY THE CHURCH STREET ROOFTOP RESTAURANT EWE AND LAMB Hanbury 7AD 0121 444 0999 Fleet Street, Islington 0121 236 1116 TOWNHOUSE 16 Church @ The RST, Waterside, Road, Bromsgrove, B60 BLUE MANGO Regency Gates, B3 1JH 0121 236 THE RECTORY 50-54 St Street, Stratford-upon- Stratford-upon-Avon, 4DN 01527 871 929 Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS 0100 Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS Avon, CV37 6HB 01789 CV37 6BB 01789 403449 THE FIG TREE 99 Church 0121 633 4422 ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 0121 605 1001 262222 SAFFRON GOLD Market St, Street, Gt Malvern, WR14 BLUE PIANO RESTAURANT 1JL 0121 212 3383 RED PEPPERS 117 COOMBE ABBEY Brinklow Westgate House, 2AE 01684 569909 AND BAR 24-26 Harborne JAMIE’S ITALIAN Middle Wharfside St, B1 1RF Road, Coventry, CV3 2AB Warwick, CV34 4DE FUSION BRASSERIE Rd, B15 3AA 0121 454 Mall, Bullring Shopping 0121 643 4202 024 7645 0450 01926 402061 Hawbridge, Stoulton, 6877 Centre, B5 4BE SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, CROSSED KHUKRIS GURKHA THE SAXON MILL Worcester, WR7 4RJ BUONISSIMO 1 Albany 0121 270 3610 B2 5BN 0121 633 0251 115 Abbey Street, Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe, 01905 840647 Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX JIMMY SPICES Regency SHIMLA PINKS 215 Broad Nuneaton, CV11 5BX 024 Warwick, CV34 5YN THE INN AT STONEHALL 0121 426 2444 Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS St, B15 1AY 0121 633 7634 4488 01926 492 255 Stonehall Common, CAFE OPUS 1 Oozells 0121 643 2111 0366 EDWARD MOON 9 Chapel TAILORS 22 Market Place, Worcester, WR5 3QG Square, Brindleyplace, LAS IGUANAS Arcadian SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield Street, Stratford-upon- Warwick, CV34 4SL 01905820462 B1 2HS 0121 248 3226 Centre, Hurst St, B5 4TD Rd, Edgbaston, B13 Avon, CV37 6EP 01789 01926 410590 KING CHARLES II King CAFE SAFFRON 0121 622 4466 3DU 0121 454 3434 267069 THE TREVELYAN Warwick Charles House, New St, Wolverhampton Road, LASAN 3-4 Dakota THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, EGO 29 The Square, Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, WR1 2D Oldbury, B69 4RR Buildings, James St, St Brindley Place, Kenilworth, CV8 1EF CV37 ONR 01789 295252 01905 22449 0121 552 1752 Paul’s Square, B3 1SD Birmingham, B1 2HL 01926 864463 0121 212 3664 THE VINE INN 86 - 88 West L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51 CARLUCCIO’S The Water’s 0121 633 3049 THE ENCORE Bridge Street, St, Warwick, CV34 6AW Graham Rd, Malvern, THE LOFT LOUNGE Edge, Brindleyplace, STRADA 109-111 Stratford upon Avon, 07873 219005 WR14 2HU 01684 143 Bromsgrove St, B1 2HP 0121 633 9262 Wharfside St, The CV37 6AB 01789 269462 572427 B5 6RG 0121 622 2444 WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith CENTENARY BAR & Mailbox, B1 1XL FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd, Street, CV34 4HS 01926 LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower THE LOST & FOUND BRASSERIE Broad Street, 0121 643 7279 Henley in Arden, B95 491736 Mill Street, B1 2EP 0121 245 2080 8 Bennetts Hill, B2 5RS 5QR 01564 793783 Kidderminster, DY11 0121 643 9293 TGI FRIDAYS 180 Hagley ZIZZI 85-87 Regent CHI BAR & GRILL 61 Road, Edgbaston, B16 FIVE RIVERS 20-22 Victoria 6UU 01562 744976 LOVES The Glasshouse, Square House, Parade, Newhall Street, B3 3RB 9NY 0121 454 1930 Terrace, Leamington Spa, Leamington Spa, CV32 MAEKONG THAI 12 0121 233 3150 Browning St, B16 8FL CV31 3AB 01926 431999 Worcester Road, 0121 454 5151 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, 4NL 01926 432532 CHIMICHANGA 41 Mill Lane B1 2HL 0121 643 3993 HIGH PAVEMENT BAR & DIN- Bromsgrove, B61 7AE Arcade, Touchwood, MECHU 47 - 59 Summer ING 3 High Street, CV34 01527 578888 Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212 TURTLE BAY 81-91 John Solihull, B91 3GS 0121 4AP 01926 494725 Worcestershire MASSALLA LOUNGE 35 1661 Bright Street, B1 1BL 704 0749 HELP OUT MILL Heather Broad St, Worcester, METRO BAR & GRILL THE VAULTS Newhall ANAKARALI 47 The CHUNG YING 73 Rd, Shakerstone, WR1 3NH 01905 Cornwall St, B3 2DF Place, Newhall Hill, Tythings, Worcester, WR1 16-18 Wrottersley Street, Nuneaton, CV13 0BT 729955 0121 200 1911 B1 3JH 0121 212 9837 1JT 01905 21412 01530 260666 MUG HOUSE Claines INDIA RED 25 Abbey ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St, Worcester, WR1 3QT Lane, Worcester, WR3 Street, Nuneaton, CV11 7RN 01905 456649 5BX 024 7634 2090 01905 731131 ANUPAM 85 Church ON THE ROCKS 44 LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans Worcester Road, Nest, Bridgford, Stratford Street, Malvern, WR14 (EST 86) 2AE 01684 573814 Bromsgrove, B61 7AE upon Avon, CV37 7LT 01527 882412 THE DINNER CLUB 01789 264804 BACCHUS 44 Worcester A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower MALLORY COURT Harbury Road, Bromsgrove, B61 0TA 01527 877557 Mill Street, Lane, Leamington Spa, Kidderminster, CV33 9QB, 01926 330214 BENEDICTOS 34 Sidbury, DY11 6UU 01562 60479 SINGLE? Worcester, WR1 2HZ MATRICARDIS 97 High St, PORTWAY ITALIAN, 01905 21444 For the more discerning Henley in Arden, B95 5AT Alcester Rd, Redditch, 01564 792735 BINDLES BAR & BRASSERIE B48 7HT 01564 824794 unattached person, age 40+ 55 Sidbury, WR1 2HU MERCHANTS Swan Street, ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Rd, 01905 611120 Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie Warwick, CV34 4BJ Aston Fields, 01926 403833 BRAMBLINGS Hither Green Bromsgrove, B60 2DZ balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. NUMBER SIX Castle Street, Lane, Redditch, B98 9BE 01527 889948 Warwick, CV34 4BP 01527 406600 SAFFRON BISTRO 15 New NOT A DATING AGENCY 01926 497663 BRIDGE INN Plough Road, St, Worcester, WR1 2DP ONE ELM 1 Guild St, Droitwich, WR9 7NQ 01905 610505 Stratford-Upon-Avon, 01905 345874 01244 677030 (Day)/01244 548816 (Eve/W-end) CV37 6QZ 01789 404919 CHADDESLEY RESTAURANT PREZZO 1-3 High St, Brockencote Hall Hotel, Warwick, CV34 4AP Kidderminster, DY10 4PY www.thedinnerclubuk.com 01926 475867 01562 777876

66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk p67 (IBC) R1.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 08:51 Page 1

For full Restaurant listings visit: whatsonlive.co.uk

READ THE REVIEWS ONLINE whatsonlive.co.uk grand_whatson FP July:Layout 1 22/06/2015 11:52 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 22 - FRI 24 JULY SAT 25 JULY THU 20 AUG

THU 3 SEPT FRI 4 - SAT 5 SEPT TUES 8 - SAT 12 SEPT

West Bromwich Operatic Society are extremely proud to present

Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER Book & Lyrics by DON BLACK & CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON Based on the film by BILLY WILDER

An amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd

SUN 13 SEPT SAT 26 SEPT WED 30 SEPT - SUN 11 OCT

Follow us on @WolvesGrand Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand

Box Office 01902 42 92 12 BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk