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BIRMINGHAM WHAT’SON BIRMINGHAM THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE BIRMINGHAM ISSUE 353 ISSUE MAY2015

www.whatsonlive.co.uk ISSUE 353 MAY 2015 MARK BENTON INTERVIEW INSIDE

INSIDE PARTOF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS Vicky Entwistle leaves the cobbled stones of Coronation Street behind her... interview inside

Joshua Jenkins on playing the lead in The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time interview inside

INSIDE:

@WHATSONBRUMWWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK FILM COMEDY THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VISUAL QUEEN IFRICA ARTS Legends of Reggae in Brum... EVENTS FOOD & DRINK & MUCH MORE! The Drum F/P May 15.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:45 Page 1 Contents May Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:20 Page 1

May 2015

Editor: Davina Evans INSIDE: [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: Mark Benton Brian O’Faolain [email protected] talks crime on the French 01743 281701 Riviera p6 Lauren Foster [email protected] 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 The Rise And Fall Subscriptions: Adrian Parker Of Little Voice [email protected] 01743 281714 Vicky Entwistle and Chris Managing Director: Gascoyne in Brum p31 Paul Oliver [email protected] 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Joshua Jenkins talks about playing the lead in the National Theatre’s Chris Atherton The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time. Interview page 10 Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 TO GET THE VERY News p4 Contributors: LATEST LISTING Museums At Night Graham Bostock: Theatre INFORMATION, James Cameron-Wilson: Music p13 find out more... p59 Film; Eva Easthope, VISIT: Jessica Aston, Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, Jan whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy p24 Watts, Simon Carter INCLUDING Head Office: BOOKING ONLINE 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Theatre p27 Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE The Midlands’ most Tel: 01743 281777 comprehensive e-mail: [email protected] p40 entertainment website Dance

Follow us on... Film/DVD p43 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is Festivals p47 produced without the use May 2015 of elemental chlorine. Birmingham Visual Arts p51 We endorse the recycling @whatsonbrum MTWTFSS of our magazine and Warwickshire would encourage you to 123 @whatsonwarwicks p55 pass it on to others to Events 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 read when you have Worcestershire finished with it. @whatsonworcs Eating Out p65 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ’ 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 WhatsOn 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 MAGAZINE GROUP All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. News May Region one.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:44 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

New dance venue for Brum The Birmingham-based ACE dance and music this month launches its newly refur- bished dance studio and performance venue. Located in the Digbeth area of the city, ACE SPACE will provide the company with an opportunity to expand its existing pro- gramme, secure additional trading income via hires, and add to Birmingham’s growing stock of high-spec rehearsal spaces and venues. Founded in 1996, ACE dance and music skilfully combines African and Caribbean movement aesthetics with contemporary techniques to create high-quality innovative performance work. Commenting on ACE SPACE, ACE’s founder and Artistic Director, Gail Parmel, said: “It's been ACE dance and music’s long-term ambition to build a multi-purpose space. After several years of dedicated fundraising, we’ve finally managed to achieve our goal. At ACE SPACE we can run our extensive education programme, offer rehearsal and performance space to visiting companies, King Charles III develop and rehearse our own work and per- form to invited audiences.” Diverse new season at The REP Mike Bartlett’s Olivier Award-winning King Charles III opens Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s autumn/winter season. Co-produced by The REP and the Almeida Theatre and directed by Rupert Goold, the production ‘explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family’. King Charles III shows from 4 to 19 September and kick-starts a season of diverse theatre at The REP. Kneehigh Theatre’s Dead Dog In A Suitcase (And Other Love Songs) (29 September to 3 October) and Meera Syal’s Anita And Me (9 to 24 October) are other early-autumn shows being presented at the venue. Maxine Peake’s critically acclaimed Beryl, meanwhile, celebrates the life of unsung sporting ‘legend’ Beryl Burton, who cycled her way into the record books. The pro- duction runs from 24 to 28 November. Other highlights include William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies (3 to 7 November) and the return of The REP’s acclaimed version of John Steinbeck’s Comedy line-up announced Of Mice And Men (4 to 13 February), directed by Roxana Silbert. The venue’s Christmas show for V Festival is the timeless tale of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (19 November to 16 January). For details on all new season shows, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk. Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle and Essex funnyman Russell Kane will headline The Glee Club Comedy Tent at this year’s V Dancing. Black Country-born Jessie Hart is mass-participation performance, Crowd Out, Festival, which takes place at Weston Park currently playing the lead role of Baby which was presented in the glass atrium at on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border on 22 Houseman in the show, which runs at the Millennium Point last summer by one thou- & 23 August. Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 23 sand Birmingham residents. Commenting on the gig, Russell Kane said: May. “Birmingham Hippodrome was where I The performance, which featured people “I can’t believe I’m headlining the V Festival saw the first show I can remember,” reveals singing, yelling, talking, shouting and whis- Glee Club Comedy Tent! I’ll celebrate after- Jess. “I saw Miss Saigon there with all my pering, was composed by Pulitzer Prize-win- wards by heading straight to the dance tent family when I was about eleven. It was my ning American composer David Lang. BCMG and throwing myself around to techno music favourite ever show and I’ll never forget it. produced the show, with the City of like a tribal chief beating It’s crazy to think my run of the tour, playing Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Simon a drum.” the leading role of Baby, opens on that same Halsey directing. Fellow comedians stage.” This year’s RPS Music Awards winners will Seann Walsh, Shappi Jessie stars opposite Lewis Kirk, who plays be announced Khorsandi, Nick Helm Johnny Castle. at a ceremony and Gary Delaney also on Tuesday 5 feature in the Comedy May. A special Tent line-up. Russell Kane programme BCMG up for prestigious about the award Awards will then Black Country Baby... Birmingham Contemporary Music Group be broadcast on A Midlands actress who recently graduated (BCMG) is celebrating after its recent nomi- BBC Radio from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts nation for a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Three on has joined the cast of Eleanor Bergstein’s Society (RPS) Music Award. Monday 11 May record-breaking touring version of Dirty The ensemble has been nominated for its at 7.30pm.

4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News May Region one.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:44 Page 2

Nashville legends in Brum The legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers are this month appearing at Birmingham Town Hall (23 and 24 May), the only UK dates on their current tour. The Singers were originally formed in 1866 from a group of ex-slave music students at the Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The 24 May concert sees the ensemble joined on stage by Black Voices, the UK’s leading female a cappella quintet, to perform a song especially written for the occasion by composer Ken Burton.

Buccaneers and buried gold at The Old Rep Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) has announced Treasure Island as its first Mica Paris to star in new musical Christmas offering at the city’s Old Rep Award-winning singer and platinum-selling artist Mica Paris is to star as Sylvia in the UK and Theatre. The classic tale of Long John Silver Ireland tour of Love Me Tender - a new musical inspired by and featuring the music of Elvis and Jim Hawkins shows at the venue from Presley. 20 November to 3 January. The production Penned by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, of Memphis The Musical fame, the show is will be directed and produced by Scott described as ‘a funny and moving tale of hope, second chances and the healing qualities of Ritchie, who will also be directing Malvern rock’n’roll’. Further casting is yet to be announced. Festival Theatre’s Christmas production of Love Me Tender shows at Stoke’s Regent Theatre from 29 June to 4 July and Birmingham’s Peter Pan. Tickets for Treasure Island are New Alexandra Theatre from 24 to 29 August. now available from the Old Rep box office on 0121 359 9444 IN BRIEF Old Rep reveals new patron Film star Brian Cox is the new patron of Birmingham’s revitalised Kenilworth Show Old Rep Theatre. Next month sees the Cox, whose movies include Troy and the Bourne trilogy, has return of the ever-pop- taken the role at the invitation of Birmingham Ormiston Academy ular Kenilworth Show (BOA), which took over the running of the premises last year. at Stoneleigh Park. The academy’s students are responsible for the complete running Now in its fifty-first of the theatre - both on stage and behind the scenes - allowing year, the event promis- them to develop a combination of performance, administrative es a fun-filled and and technical theatre skills. action-packed day out Cox’s connection to the venue stretches back to the 1960s, when for all the family. Along he spent two years with the then-named Birmingham Repertory with old favourites Theatre company. Food Festival welcomes such as The Kangaroo Commenting on his new role, Brian said: “I have very fond mem- new venues Kid performing his ories of my time here at the Old Rep Theatre, which was a fantas- quad bike stunts tic starting point for me. My love for the theatre is something I’ve The Colmore Food Festival, which showcas- there’s the classic car carried with me throughout my career, and I have no doubt that es the food and drink available in show, rural crafts and these students will do the same. Birmingham’s Colmore Business District equestrian events. “BOA has provided some of the country’s most talented young (CBD), is returning to the city’s Victoria There are plenty of people with a unique stepping stone to utilise such a fantastic Square for a fifth year on 3 and 4 July. As new attractions and stage, and I look forward to seeing them go on to achieve very well as live cookery demonstrations and stands at the show successful careers.” food tastings, the event also hosts a pro- this year too. These gramme of live jazz music and outdoor the- include the gun dog atre. This year’s get-together features three scurry and trials, Doodle-tastic in Stourbridge new independent CBD-based venues, as where dogs compete well as the return of some of the district’s to retrieve a dummy in Doodles by award-winning actress Emma Thompson, the finest eating and drinking establishments. the fastest time. And if Midlands’ own Lenny Henry and music legends Frankie Valli and you fancy yourself a Tony Hadley are to be immortalised in glass and displayed at this good shot, try the month’s International Glass Festival in Stourbridge. Have-A-Go Clay Shoot Each celebrity was asked to create an original drawing on an Air Rifle Shooting. Or if acrylic sheet. The drawing was then translated into a piece of you’re more of a Robin glass art, with the method and style used being decided by the Hood or a artist working on the project. Pocahontas, why not The first to be completed, by Broadfield House try your hand at artist Allister Malcolm, is Franki Valli’s doodle archery? of three brightly coloured kites. The Kenilworth Show The International Glass Festival takes place takes place on Sat 6 from 28 to 31 May. For further information on June. exhibitions, events and workshops, visit www.ifg.org.uk

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Mark Benton interview.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:36 Page 1

interview Mark Benton takes to solving crime on the French Riviera

Roles in Early Doors, Northern Lights, Waterloo Road and Catterick have ensured that Mark Benton is a familiar face on television. Having donned a dress and heels to play Edna Turnblad in the 2012 tour of Hairspray, Mark is this month returning to the stage in the touring production of West End hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...

Explain the role of Inspector Andre, Mark - to be all these posh kids and I’d be the odd diverse than Hairspray and Waterloo Road! I the character you play in Dirty Rotten one out, and that I wasn’t going to really enjoyed the experience. It was great Scoundrels - and give us an idea of what understand what was going on because I was dragging up and a really iconic part. It was the show is about... this lad from the sticks. Actually it was brilliant fun and I could’ve carried on doing it. It’s about a couple of conmen who have a nothing like I expected. It was lovely, and our bet to get some money out of this lady. My year was a real mix of people from all walks Your big break came playing Ricky in character is the sidekick of Lawrence, one of of life. It was a real eye-opener and it Career Girls, a 1997 film by Mike Leigh, the two conmen, and he falls for one of the changed my life forever. Some of the people who’s famously known for using lengthy ladies who he’s trying to con. It’s kind of a who I met then remain my best friends today. improvisations - developed over a period comedy love story but that’s all I’m giving I’ve done quite a lot of weird things of weeks - to build characters and away. You’ll have to come and see the show. throughout my career that I never imagined storylines for his films. How did you find I’d do, but I’ve ended up doing them the experience of working with him? The film was a 1988 remake of 1964’s nonetheless. I’ve really enjoyed the variety. Amazing. He’s a genius, and I would jump at Bedtime Story with David Niven and the chance to work with him again. The thing Marlon Brando. Now the 1988 remake’s You recently faired pretty well on Strictly I found with Mike is not necessarily that he been adapted for the stage. Which Come Dancing. Were you game from the taught me how to act but more that if you elements of the story have ensured its word go, or did you have to be persuaded start with the truth of a character, you can go popularity with different generations of that you’d enjoy the experience? anywhere. I knew my character inside out audience? I wasn’t game. I’d always said I wouldn’t do a because of all the months of hard work we’d It’s such a big, fun piece. There are great reality show. I talked to the guys from Strictly put in, so I was able to say ‘Ricky wouldn’t songs in it and big numbers, but also the and was adamant that I wasn’t going to do it, do that’ and actually be qualified to say so, structure’s really funny. I think it really but I still decided to meet them. I thought because I knew him so well. appealed to me because it’s almost like a about it again, and the one thing that’s comedy with songs. different about Strictly is that you’ve got to And did he give you a lot of freedom to learn a skill. It’s not about sitting in a room develop Ricky? If you weren’t playing Andre, which role chatting. And I do enjoy dancing, so I thought He develops it with you. He’ll maybe steer would appeal to you the most - Lawrence ‘what the hell?’ As an actor, you worry about you in a certain direction but it’s very Jameson or Freddy Benson? your credibility, but it’s one of the few Reality collaborative. I never saw a script but I knew I think Freddy because he’s a slob. He’s a TV shows that doesn’t harm that, because my lines better than when I’ve learned with a mess, and that would be right up my street. people see it for what it is. The people who I script. But I’m happy playing Andre. He’s got so thought would be the most critical about me many fun lines. He’s dry and French... doing it turned out to be the least critical. Talking of freedom, how much were you given when developing the role of Eddie in So how’s the French accent going? You made it through to the eleventh show. Early Doors? It’s kind of a work in progress. I’m trying to Were you surprised by how well you did? That was great fun. When I initially met Craig get a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Very surprised. I damaged my knees on week and everybody for Early Doors, I was going Arsene Wenger. two of the rehearsals and had to see a for the role of the policeman, but it didn’t surgeon, who pumped some steroids into me work out. I knew the director because he’d Moving away from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and said, “You might make a week or two but directed me in The Second Coming. I told to focus on you; you grew up in Teeside in remain philosophical”. I guess I relied on my him Eddie was my favourite, and he said to the mid-1960s - a long way away, I’d acting ability because I couldn’t to certain come back in and audition for him. So I read imagine, from any showbiz glamour. So things due to the knee. I hate to use the for Eddie and this character came out of what made you decide to become an ‘journey’ word, but it was a journey for both nowhere. Obviously all of the lines are Craig actor? me and my dance partner, Evetta. She had to and Phil’s, but all of Eddie’s moves, the way My uncle’s an actor, and I wanted to be like choreograph around my limitations. I was in a he uses his hands and everything, just came him. That inspired me to do as many local lot of pain a lot of the time, but I look back on out of nowhere and continued to develop plays and as much am-dram as I could get it as a really lovely experience. throughout the series. We all had such a into. I went to technical college to do a drama laugh making Early Doors. There’s an course, and I guess I always wanted to be You also starred as Edna Turnblad episode, the last of Series One, where we all either an actor or in a band. I went to drama in Hairspray. How did you enjoy the go on the Big Boys Beano. We’re having school when I was eighteen, then applied to experience of performing in drag - was breakfast and James McAvoy starts choking RADA when I was twenty and moved to it a more difficult challenge than you’d on his cigar smoke. We’re proper laughing, London. imagined it would be? and so they kept it in. I just love that scene. I was doing Waterloo Road at the time and the offer just came out of the blue. I just What’s your criteria for accepting roles and What were your initial expectations of jumped in because I thought I was getting a has it changed over the years? RADA? little bit stale. I’d been doing Waterloo Road I think it’s very hard to say what it is. I’ve done It was much better than I’d expected. I was for two years and fancied doing something jobs in the past where I’ve maybe only done worried because I thought there were going different - and you can’t get anything more one or two scenes, but there’s been

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something in the character that’s really made serious drama or comedy is harder. It’s down likely - but never say never... me want to do it. I think sometimes it’s not to the individual part. Sometimes I’ve done a about playing the biggest part but more comedy - like Early Doors, Catterick or What’s on the cards post-Dirty Rotten about wanting to play a part because it’s Northern Lights - where it’s easy because it’s Scoundrels? different from me. It has to be something that all there in the writing and it just flows. Other I’m also doing a film at the moment called will challenge me - and there has to be times you have to do comedy where it’s not The Eagle. It’s about Eddie The Eagle and something in it that I’ve never done before, quite right and you really have to work on it. we’re filming that alongside rehearsals for like with Strictly. I didn’t know whether I could It’s the same with drama, so I don’t think it’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I rehearse for a do it but I gave it a go. It was the same when I down to the genre. couple of days and then go off and film for a first took on Hairspray. I was excited because couple of days, so it’s a bit busy at the it was a challenge and I didn’t know whether I If you could choose any one character to moment. could do it. revive in the future, who would it be? I’d love to do Eddie Bell again from Early Who do you play in the film? If we were to ask either of your teenage Doors and Mark from Catterick. I’d also love I’m the sidekick to the head of the British children which of your roles they thought to do Northern Lights, so that me and Olympic Association. We’re a couple of was the ‘coolest’, what do you think they’d Robson could get together again. There’s so baddies who try and stop Eddie from say? many, I couldn’t possibly name them all. competing because we sort of see him as an They’re just proud of me whatever I do - but if embarrassment. It’s a great film and real fun I was to ask my youngest, she’d probably say It’s been ten years now since Early Doors, to do. Hairspray or Hobson’s Choice. My oldest is there a possibility that we might see would probably say Catterick, which I did with Eddie again? Finally, have you ever questioned your Vic and Bob. There’s kind of a whole I don’t know. We’d love to. I know that James career choice? spectrum there, really. McAvoy and everybody would be up for I do feel really blessed to have had the career doing it again. It was one of those that I’ve had. I’ve worked really hard at trying You’ve displayed great versatility programmes where you can’t wait to go to not to get bitter about the whole business. throughout your career, playing both work every day. We were in the pub together Acting is tough, and you’re constantly dramatic and comedic roles. Which of the all of the time, laughing and joking and dealing with rejection, so I feel very blessed two do you find the most challenging and learning our script. It was just a very special that I’ve been able to do so many diverse why? job. All I can say is that I hope we get to do it things. I wouldn’t change any of it. I don’t necessarily think it’s about whether again. As the years go by, it kind of gets less

I’ve done quite a lot of weird things “ throughout my career that I never imagined I’d do, but I’ve ended up doing them nonetheless.”

Mark Benton stars in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham from Mon 5 to Sat 16 May and Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 28 July to Sat 1 August

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Vicky Entwistle interview.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:58 Page 1

interview

Vicky Entwistle leaves the cobbled stones of Corrie behind her...

8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Vicky Entwistle interview.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:58 Page 2

Best known to TV viewers as Coronation Street’s Janice Battersby, Vicky Entwistle waved a fond farewell to Weatherfield’s cobbled streets in order to pursue a career on the stage. After a successful stint as Madame Thénardier in the West End production of Les Miserables, Vicky is this month visiting the Midlands to play Mari in a new staging of Jim Cartwright’s hit musical, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice. What’s On recently caught up with her to find out more...

Mari is a huge role and a physically I want to break down barriers and move out of me think, ‘Yeah that’s a proper actor’. demanding one. What coping strategies my comfort zone. Being in Les Miserables did I’m so glad I’m going to be working with him are you putting into place to deal with this? that for me because I’m not a singer. I didn’t because we just get each other. We have a It’s still early days but I’m trying to work my train as a singer, but Cameron Mackintosh real friendship anyway, so it’s really easy. The way through it. Mari’s not an athlete and she’s paid for me to have lessons and that gave me only thing that I’d say is that we’re a little bit not a slim woman - so if I get hot and the confidence I needed. Just because I’m not daunted by having to snog each other’s face bothered, that’s exactly what she’d do too. So a singer shouldn’t mean that I can’t play this off. He played my son-in-law for a couple of I’m not particularly worried about it. amazing woman, so I just played to the years, so that’s going to be a bit odd - but he’s woman and didn’t think about the singing. a good-looking lad so I’m sure I’ll get over it. Are there many similarities between Janice Battersby and Mari? Did the outcome surprise you? Can you see Janice treading the cobbled I don’t think they’re alike at all. For a start, Yeah, I suppose it did. I don’t think I could do streets of Corrie again? they’re from a different era. Mari, although she opera somehow, but it certainly doesn’t have I’m not thinking that way. It was brilliant while it might look trashy, thinks she’s glamorous. She the same fear for me now. I think that’s what lasted and I had an absolute ball, but you can’t really makes an effort - and she’s a lot more it’s all about. When I left Corrie, I went to keep going back. I remember it fondly and it fun than Janice. Mari’s a bit of a dreamer and drama centre and then went on to play a part was a great job, but the whole reason for is into her men. I guess she’s a promiscuous, that was very close to me - a northern girl who wanting to fly was so that I could do other fun-loving party girl, whereas Janice is more of worked in a factory. Now I’m having fun things. To return would go against what I’m a realist and quite dour. They both work in a because I’m getting to put into practice what I trying to do. Sometimes it’s quite hard to factory, but that’s probably where the similarity was taught for three years. shake off a character, so by making a return ends. Well, it certainly will be the way I’m you’d be back at square one. Every single role intending to play it, because I don’t want her to So how did your role as Janice Battersby that I take on now seems to shake off a little bit be anything like Janice. I’m trying to break that come about? more of Janice. I don’t want to sound mould. I don’t think you should play a part and I was doing a play with Jill Halfpenny called ungrateful because I had a great time on there, have it trap you forever. That’s why I’m doing Like A Virgin and the casting director from but I want to work with different people and lots of different theatre. Every part is different Corrie came to see it and offered me an different directors. As lovely as it is working from the one I’ve just played. Otherwise there’s episode. I was told to just come in and play a constantly with the same company and no point in doing it. I might as well have stayed factory girl. I didn’t get wardrobe, costumes directors, you end up knowing exactly how in Corrie. and wigs - or even time to think about the everybody is going to say their lines. You’re character - because as far as I was concerned very rarely surprised. I want to be surprised. You certainly proved there’s more to you it was just a single episode. They asked me if I I want to be kept on my toes and learning than Janice Battersby when you played wanted to do a few more episodes, then a few new things. Madame Thénardier in Les Miserables in more, and then they said they were writing this the West End. How was that experience? family around me. So before I knew it I was The disciplines of working in TV and on It was great, but I felt a bit like Granny Grumble playing Janice as this factory girl. I might have stage are very different. What was the because I was probably the oldest cast made different decisions had I been allowed most difficult change to deal with? member - me and Cameron Blakeley, who the luxury of creating the character myself. It I’d done a lot of theatre jobs before I went into played Thénardier. I see it as another string to was flattering, but at the same time I was Corrie. I just had to learn how to tell stories my bow. always trapped into what I’d done with those which came from the character’s mouth. On first few lines. stage there’s a lot more at stake. You only get Was wanting to progress as an actor your one shot at it. You can’t go again. I much only reason for deciding to leave Corrie? You’ve been back and forth a few times. prefer theatre because you get that instant I wanted to challenge myself and put myself Why did you make the conscious decision reaction from the audience. I love that buzz into positions, parts, situations and roles that to leave? and seeing the emotion that you can provoke. were going to test me; ones which I’m going to The time goes so quickly. I was in it for It’s a really euphoric feeling that you don’t get learn from. fourteen years but it only seemed like seven. with television. When I got to forty I thought, if I don’t move now then I’m never going to play the eleven Jim Cartwright has written Mari in a very women who I want to play. particular way. Do you get much freedom in terms of how you portray her on stage? Who are the eleven? Jim’s been brilliant. If I want to try something I couldn’t say, other than that I’ve played two of and it’s not working then obviously we go them already, Mari included. They’re all very down a different avenue. He’s pretty much different and that’s why I want to play them. allowing me to have real fun with it. What I’ve discovered is yes, Mari’s fun, Your tag line on Twitter is ‘drink life while it’s childlike, demanding and loud, but she’s also still fizzy’. So is your glass half empty or extremely damaged, vulnerable and insecure. half full? Those moments when things don’t go how Leaving a big institution like Coronation Street she wants them to should be absolutely has taught me to embrace every opportunity heartbreaking - and that’s what I’m trying to that comes my way. What can be achieved is achieve. It’s a real rollercoaster ride of quite special when you work hard. emotions, with Mari having these terrific highs where she behaves in a way that normal How do you feel about again appearing people wouldn’t. She’s off the scale and then, opposite Chris Gascoyne, who played Peter when she crashes, she becomes so volatile. Barlow in Corrie? You really don’t know what you’re going to get It makes it a lot better. We came to the from her, which makes it a really exciting role meetings about the roles with absolutely no to play. idea what the other one was doing. We knew nothing until we were cast, but we were both Vicky Entwistle stars in The Rise And Fall Of ecstatic. Out of all the people I worked with on Little Voice at The REP, Birmingham from Corrie, Chris was one of the ones who made Fri 15 to Sat 30 May

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Joshua Jenkins interview.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:31 Page 1

interview

Joshua Jenkins on playing the lead in the National Theatre’s The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time

10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Joshua Jenkins interview.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:31 Page 2

Simon Stephens’ National Theatre adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, has been doing fantastic business both in the West End and on tour. It’s also making a star of Swansea-born Joshua Jenkins, the twenty-seven-year-old actor who’s currently starring as the show’s main character, fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone. Joshua took time out from the role to chat with What’s On...

How does playing Christopher measure up that I had to open the boxes. There was well. But he’s also very different to me, and to to previous roles you’ve undertaken? nothing in there, so I just ran to the next one who I was when I was fifteen. He’s a very It’s the best part I’ve ever played and could in the hope that there would be something special boy and a brilliant, brilliant character. potentially be one of the best parts I’ll ever there. That was only the first couple of times, In many ways I wish I’d been more like him at play. It’s such an amazing role in such a but then I suppose it’s the same as anything - that age. wonderful production. Christopher is on the more you practise, the more you get it. stage from start to finish. He’s such a Do you have any personal experiences complex character - and that, combined with Did you see the West End staging before which have helped you relate to the bond all the physical aspects of the show, makes joining the National Theatre? between Christopher and Siobhan? for a fantastic mixture. I really wanted to see it but never did. Then, Yeah, I feel I’ve been really blessed with when I got the part, I decided I didn’t want to brilliant teachers, especially when I went to Where did your research take you when see it. I wanted to approach the rehearsal college in South Wales. I had a couple of you were preparing to play the character? period with a fresh pair of eyes and put my teachers there who were really supportive It’s never mentioned in the book or the play own spin on it. and really went out of their way to make sure that Christopher is on the autistic spectrum, I could pursue the career I wanted to pursue. but I wanted to do as much research on the Having seen Christopher in the West End They really helped and guided me and are subject as I could. It’s fair to say he and on tour, the difference in how the still my friends today. possesses some of the traits and qualities of character is portrayed is very obvious. someone who’s there. So I read endless How much of that is down to what you’ve Have they been to see you in Curious amounts of books, looked at websites, learned personally, and how much to the Incident, and did that make you nervous? documentaries and films. I also went to a way you’re being directed? Yes, a bit. I’m from Swansea and so when I school in north London to meet some of the I think every Christopher is going to be played Cardiff, I had family and friends in pupils. They were very generous with their completely different because we’re all every single night. It was a bit of a stressful time, and I got to ask some questions. Once different people playing the part. That’s week for me - a bit full on. I’d done the research and I really felt I what’s fun and exciting - but there’s a lot of it understood what autism and Asperger’s that you’re bringing to the table yourself. You What’s been your biggest learning curve were, I let that go a little bit and really tried to bring an element of your own personality, with Curious Incident, and in terms of stay true to the book and Simon Stephens’ which is the case with every part you play. working as part of the National Theatre adaptation. There’s a sense that you’re joining a show team? that already exists, so there are certain things On this production it’s the sense of the Were you familiar with Mark Haddon’s - like the blocking and the physical aspects ensemble; of how important and powerful it novel prior to joining the cast at the of the show - that are already choreographed can be when a group of people come National? and remain the same. The director, Katy together and work really closely and really Yes, I’d read it a few years before I auditioned Rudd, really allowed us to find our own way hard. We’ve got a fantastic company of for the play. I remember loving the novel but and make it ours. We try to keep it fresh while actors, a great creative team, and we’ve didn’t think about it again until the audition at the same time making sure we stay within really put the hours in. As a company we’ve came up. When I re-read it, I was reminded the choreography and set piece. produced work we can all be really, really of just how brilliant it is. I think Simon proud of. It just goes to show that when Stephens has done a great job in terms of Has the physical aspect of the show been everybody comes together and everyone is adapting it. a new challenge for you? supportive, you can produce some really Kind of. I did a little bit of dance when I was great work. As you mentioned, you’re on stage all the younger, and I used to tap dance - so I’ve time. How do you psych yourself up pre- always been comfortable physically. As an You mentioned earlier that this could be performance? actor, I work from a physical point of view the biggest role you ever play. Did you I do a really long physical and vocal warm- first. The physical aspect comes before the ever imagine you’d be in such a huge up, which takes about an hour. Then I just try rest of the character. That said, even though production? to relax a little bit. I listen to music in my I’ve always been comfortable in terms of Well, I think as an actor you hope that you’ll dressing room to take my mind away from working physically in theatre, this was a get a part like this, and you always back your the dread of going on stage in front of over a whole new challenge. We had a boot camp own ability. You always think you could do it if thousand people. every morning - an hour of sit-ups, jogging, you were given the chance. At the same time, press-ups, boxing and weights - just to get fit you always assume it’s never going to As well as portraying someone on the for the show. The whole company and the happen. After all, there are so many talented autistic spectrum and being on stage for whole ensemble were included. It was pretty people out there who could play the part. I’m all that time, you also have to memorise intense but a great experience. extremely grateful that I’ve been given the where all the boxes are and what’s in opportunity. I’m really enjoying the them. How do you do that? We’ve talked about how you prepare, but experience and I’m trying to make the most It’s a very, very technical show, even in terms how do you come down from that high of it. of the lighting and sound. The fact that when you leave the stage? Christopher never leaves the stage means It does take a little while, probably a couple What’s next for you after Curious Incident? half of my brain is focused on the acting and of hours. Normally we try to go for a quiet I’m not quite sure what I’ll be doing after this performance and the other half on the stage drink or a bite to eat, then head off home. I because we’ve still got about eight months of management aspect of the show - making find if I go straight home and straight to bed, the tour left. It’s theatre that I love, and I hope sure I’m in the right spot for the right cue, I can’t get to sleep until about 3 o’clock in the to continue doing it. There’s something about and that I say the right line at the right time morning because I’m filled with adrenaline. it being live that’s really special and quite for the next cue. There’s so much going on exciting for me for whoever’s playing Christopher. Its an There’s a twelve-year age gap between .. awful lot to take in, so the only answer is to you and Christopher. Have you had to dig practise; to just keep doing it and doing it into your younger self to play a fifteen- until it sticks. year-old? The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The I tried to remember what I was like when I Night Time shows at Birmingham Have you ever pulled out the wrong box? was fifteen - the energy and enthusiasm I had Hippodrome from Tues 26 May to Sat 6 Yes, when we were at the Lowry. I ran up to a for things. I definitely had a ‘get up and go’ June. cupboard, but I couldn’t remember the order attitude, which I think Christopher’s got as

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Mark Knopfler Genting Arena, Birmingham, Sat 23 May Guitar and songwriting genius Mark Knopfler makes a welcome return to the Midlands this month. Best known as the frontman of Dire Straits, with whom he enjoyed numerous hits - including Money For Nothing, Brothers In Arms, Sultans Of Swing and Local Hero - Mark’s latest show fea- tures songs from recently released album Tracker.

Queen Ifrica Legends Of Reggae The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 30 May The cornerstones of reggae music past and present are celebrated in this special show, with its promoters having put together a line-up of talent they’re more than happy to de- scribe as ‘spectacular’. Featured performers include Heptones lead singer Leroy Sibbles, crossover vocalist Ken Boothe, ‘dynamic duo’ Chaka Demus and Pliers, ‘lioness on the Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes rise’ Queen Ifrica, and the uniquely talented Gyptian. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 3 May If anyone were in any doubt as to the high regard in which Albert Lee is held throughout the guitar Belle & Sebastian world, they need only glance at the list of star Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 10 May names with whom he’s performed. “Stevie [Jackson, guitarist] wants to be in the Velvet Underground,” explained Belle & Se- Emmylou Harris, the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton, bastian singer Stuart Murdoch in a recent interview with The Guardian. “Bob [Kildea, Eric Clapton and Sheryl Crow have all benefitted bass] wants to be in the Rolling Stones, and I want to be in Abba - but we’re probably from the brilliance of the Grammy Award-winning more like the Grateful frigging Dead.” musician, who here performs alongside his multi- The Glasgow indie band celebrate two decades together next year and released their talented band. ninth album, Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance, back in January. As with their previous offerings, their trademark blend of electro-glide, baroque balladry and giant-sized Eu- Paul McCartney ropop hooks is very much in evidence on the new release. Expect a winning fusion of new and more familiar material when they stop off in the Mid- Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Wed 27 May lands this month as part of an extensive tour. Living legend Paul McCartney’s Out There concert, so far enjoyed by over two million people in twelve different countries, showcases one of the best- loved back-catalogues in popular music. This Birmingham stop-off, one of nine special shows being performed at venues across Europe, offers fans a chance to enjoy a gold-star se- lection of McCart- ney’s output from across the fifty-plus years of his career. Expect songs from latest studio album New, his solo career, the Wings era and, of course, his Swinging ’60s glory days as a mop-headed member of the Fab Four.

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Sat 9 May £32.50 MOTOWN LEGENDS PARTY with Soul Legend MAMMA MIA Sat 16 May PARTY £37.50 with ‘Sensation’ Abba Tribute Sat 30 May £32.50 SOUL & MOTOWN HITS PARTY with Divas Of Soul Sat 13 Jun SATURDAY NIGHT £37.50 FEVER PARTY with Stayin Alive Thu 18 Jun ROYAL ASCOT £79.50 LADIES DAY plus Disco Party with DJ Franco Fri 19 Jun CHARITY ROYAL £69.50 ASCOT DAY After Races Party with Addicted to 80’s Sat 20 Jun £49.50 MIDSUMMER BALL with Brothers Of Soul Fri 26 Jun HEART & SOUL £32.50 PARTY with Harry Cambridge Sat 4 July AMERICAN £32.50 INDEPENDENCE DAY PARTY with Briefcase Blues Brothers Sat 25 July THE HOT £37.50 SUMMER PARTY with Take@That

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 Nizlopi The Glee Club, Birmingham, Tues 12 May When John Parker met Luke Concannon on a school bus at the age of thirteen, neither of them could’ve imagined that the encounter would lead to them becoming a prime-time television ‘pop’ act, playing the Wembley arena, touring Europe and selling a million records. Their road to success came via afternoons spent playing and writing songs, and later running their own record label from a spare room. But it was unique father-and-son num- ber The JCB Song that shot them to stardom in 2005. When the pressure got a bit too much, they took a break, returning in 2013 following a four-year hiatus. They perform in the Midlands as part of their current Get Radical tour.

Twenty One Pilots Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Wed 13 May As they put it on their website, Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph - otherwise known as indie pop band Twenty One Pilots - are currently earning 'widespread applause for their energetic live sets and distinctive fusion of piano-driven schizoid pop and lyrical uplift'. And the boys are pretty clear about their motivation too: “What's our purpose for playing music? We're con- stantly asking ourselves that question. The answer can change all the time, but for right now we’re just going to stick with something as simple as ‘we want to make people think’.”

The Strypes Heaven 17 Kasbah, Coventry, Tues 26 May Student Union Copper Rooms, Coventry, Reverend Peyton’s Sat 30 May Big Damn Band Irish four-piece punk rock band The Strypes started off by playing blues covers. They One of the best-known new wave synthpop The Robin, Bilston, Sun 31 May were soon signed to Elton John’s Rocket bands from the decade of Glasnost, yuppies, When it comes to showing commitment to Music management company - a develop- Miami Vice and mullet hair-dos, Heaven 17 fingerpickin', scrubboard scratchin', drum- ment which saw the three oldest members of took the early 1980s by storm - not least with bucket country blues, Reverend Peyton’s Big the band quit school. their second album, The Luxury Gap, which Damn Band take some lickin’. The talented Counting such megastars as Noel Gallagher, they’re performing at this gig. trio sold everything they owned in a garage Roger Daltrey and Hailed a pop masterpiece, the album was a sale, hit the open road and have been play- Paul Weller among vehicle for the band's reasonably subtle and ing a staggering two hundred-and-fifty-plus their fans, the band’s engagingly humorous leftist messages. Little shows a year ever since. fast-paced garage wonder, then, that in the austere days of rock ‘speed blues’ has 2015, performing The Luxury Gap once again made them a real seems a pertinent thing to do. force to be reckoned with when performing live.

The Beach Boys Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Fri 29 May Having won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and been in- ducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, there's no question that The Beach Boys have, in their time, been just about as big as it's possible to get in the music industry. Expect all the hits in this latest touring show, Dub Fx including Good Vibrations, Wouldn’t It Be The Institute, Birmingham, Sat 2 May Nice, God Only Knows, Surfin’ USA and I Get Dr Hook Australian-born Benjamin Stanford, better Around. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 14 May known to the world as Dub Fx, creates hip- hop, reggae and drum & bass rhythms, then American rock band Dr Hook (shortened in raps and sings over them. Having started out 1975 from Dr Hook & The Medicine Show) playing and singing in a band called Twitch, enjoyed eight glorious years of chart suc- he went solo after arriving in Europe, devel- cess, with hits including Sylvia's Mother, The oping a style that combined his voice with Cover Of Rolling Stone, Sharing The Night live looping and effect pedals. Together and, most famously, When You're In Stanford’s latest release is Theory Of Har- Love With A Beautiful Woman. mony, which stays true to his live sound while They visit these Midlands venues with the ac- at the same time taking listeners on a hyp- tual Dr Hook - Ray 'Eye Patch' Sawyer - and notic journey. will be playing all the hits.

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Birmingham DUTCH UNCLES & CAIROBI Leamington Spa CIERAN CLIFFORD BAND The Institute, B’ham THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN MusicGIG REVIEWS Irish Centre, B’ham Belgrade Theatre, SEMANTICS, SLTP & TUE 5 MON Coventry CHAOS PARADE The Sun- ROY ORBISON AND For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk flower Lounge, B’ham HAPPYNESS Hare & FRIENDS Artrix, Broms- DEMONS OF OLD METAL, Hounds, Birmingham grove THE DARKHORSE, CHIL- CARL SINCLAIR DUO The BELLA HARDY Hunting- DREN LOST IN TIME & Jam House, B’ham don Hall, Worcester Marc Almond ROPEWALK Scruffy Mur- BRENDAN SHINE Solihull Town Hall, Birmingham phys, Birmingham Arts Complex REBEL REBEL - DAVID PETER BRODERICK & Marc Almond is a quintessentially BRIDGID POWER-RYCE eclectic British artist. As a singer he’s BOWIE TRIBUTE Route 44, Birmingham The Tin Music And Arts, embraced not only pop music but ele- THE BRONZE Royal Spa Coventry ments of variety, vaudeville, theatre... Centre, Leamington C.W STONEKING The the list goes on. Spa Rainbow Venues, Birm- After a support act from Stephen POPPUNKTASTIC FT HID- ingham Langstaff (check out Sirens, it’s great), DEN SKIES The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton WED 6 MAY Almond took to the stage of Birming- TAKE IT EASY: THE SOUND PUBLIC SERVICE BROAD- PETE BROWN’S NEW ham Town Hall. The gig coincided with OF THE EAGLES Dove- GRASSCUTTERS CASTING The Institute, Stafford his latest release, The Velvet Trail, with house Theatre, Solihull Birmingham Gatehouse Theatre ONLY ONE DIRECTION Al- MISTY’S BIG ADVENTURE many of the evening’s tracks coming GEORGIE FAME The Jam bany Theatre, Coventry from this exceptionally accomplished album. But it’s a work that was House, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS SUZI & THE BACKBEATS & almost never made. Prior to recording it, Almond thought his album DUSTIN KENSRUE The The Swan Theatre, VIJAY KISHORE Glee Club, Birmingham The Rain- days were over - that was until producer/songwriter Chris Braide Worcester CHRIS KNOWLES & bow Venues, B’ham emailed him with three instrumental tracks. The songwriting muse re- KAST OFF KINKS Hunting- CATRIN O'NEILL / VICKI BLACK TONGUE MESSIAH, don Hall, Worcester THE INFINITE STRUGGLE, turned to Almond, and a whole new batch of wonderfully melodic SWAN & JONNY DYER The SAMMY GOULBOURNE, E MERCILESS TIDE & numbers have now joined his canon of work. Red Lion Folk Club, DOUBLE D & CARRY COWER HOUNDS As well as the title track - a beautifully crafted, melancholic reflection Birmingham Scruffy SHAUN Hare & Hounds, THE CAVERN BEATLES Murphys, Birmingham on the past - the stand-out live performances from the new album Birmingham SUPERHEROES DREAM Belgrade Theatre, were the poppy Bad To Me and Zipped Black Leather Jacket, and the JACKMASTER, EATS Coventry Warwick Arts Centre, EVERYTHING, SKREAM & ballad and recent single Scar. You hear these songs once and you MATT WOOSEY Kitchen Coventry SETH TROXLER The Rain- CHILDREN OF THE GRAVY think you’ve known them forever. Garden Cafe, B’ham Almond, who appeared relaxed and in total control of the audience, bow Venues, B’ham - MASTERS OF SABBATH THE WARLOCKS, BLACK THU 7 MAY The Roadhouse, Birm- was in fine voice. I won’t pretend I know his back catalogue in great MARKET KARMA & ENE- ingham detail, but on the strength of live performances of the haunting Cham- MIES EYES The Rainbow THE FULL ENGLISH Birm- SID PEACOCK & COREY pagne and Meet Me In My Dreams (a piece of pop perfection), I’ll cer- Venues, Birmingham ingham Town Hall MWAMBA mac - Mid- tainly be investigating the Tenement Symphony album, from which CORINA JANE The Glee S CLUB 7 Genting Arena, lands Arts Centre, Birm- these two tracks come. Club, Birmingham Birmingham ingham LAURA CARTER The evening ended with some of the glorious Soft Cell hits for which Sym- THE PRODIGY O2 Acad- T.REXTASYSolihull Arts phony Hall, Birmingham emy, Birmingham Complex Almond is probably most well known. The wonderfully depressing ALTANmac - Midlands Bedsitter went down a storm - and yes, we got Tainted Love, and yes, SUN 3 MAY Arts Centre, B’ham SAT 9 MAY it was great. But the highlight came in the shape of the final song on CODY SIMPSON The Insti- BLAZE BAYLEY The THE SUBTERRANEANS tute, Birmingham the set list, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, a heartbreaking masterpiece. Roadhouse, B’ham PINKSHINYULTRABLAST The Jam House, Birm- Almond has hinted this might be his last tour. I, for one, certainly hope RAT PACK VEGAS SPEC- The Institute, B’ham ingham that’s not the case. Jack Rolfe TACULAR Stratford ULTIMATE GENESIS nnnnn MATRIX CLUB MATRIX The O2 Artshouse Jam House, B’ham Academy, Birmingham MOTION CITY SOUND- WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN ROBBIE JONES Havana TRACK O2 Academy, NextDoor, Birmingham Solihull Arts Complex Republic, Shrewsbury Birmingham THE OASIS EXPERIENCE THE SUPERSKAS, THE GU- SHOWADDYWADDY Bel- Music LISTINGS VALOUS, IN SEARCH OF The Roadhouse, B’ham VNORS & THE STRIKE The grade Theatre, Coventry SUN, EYES OF THE RAVEN, THE ONCE Roadhouse, B’ham IAN MCCULLOCH The As- Alfie Bird's, GLASSBULLET & OCCOEUR, THE ROOZ, sembly, Leamington Birmingham STONEPIT DRIVE The MODERN MINDS For full listing information on gigs, BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST, Spa O2 including times and dates, WET LETTUCE AND THE Flapper, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk MAGIK BEAN & INEGO FARLEY & HELLER Hare & FRANKIE & THE HEART- The Flapper, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham STRINGS Kasbah, LITTLE JIMMY Irish Cen- Coventry Birmingham tre, Birmingham MERRYMOUTH mac - BON GIOVI The Robin, SAT 2 MAY THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT Midlands Arts Centre, FRI 1 MAY Bilston URBAN INTRO The Jam The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham THE UNDERTONES The MOBB DEEP Plus Rod- House, Birmingham Birmingham SET IT OFF The Asylum, Assembly, Leamington ney P & Daddy Skitz FOOD FIGHTERZ The THE KENNEDYS Kitchen Birmingham Spa and DJ 279, O2 Acad- Roadhouse, B’ham Garden Cafe, B’ham 360 AND FRIENDS Hare & AN EVENING WITH ROD & emy, Birmingham DUB FX The Institute, ALBERT LEE & HOGAN’S Hounds, Birmingham RONNIE Palace Theatre, ICEAGE Hare & Hounds, Birmingham HEROES Artrix, Broms- NEW CITY KINGS The In- Redditch THE SEX PISSED DOLLS Birmingham JOE MCELDERRY Wulfrun grove stitute, Birmingham YAMATO DRUMMERS The Roadhouse, B’ham URBAN INTRO The Jam Hall, Wolverhampton OG HORSE Hare & PAT BRESLINIrish Cen- Warwick Arts Centre, SHIELDS & CARCER CITY House, Birmingham BEHOLDER O2 Academy, Hounds, Birmingham tre, Birmingham Coventry The Oobleck, B’ham GOODNIGHT LENIN, JOHN Birmingham RETURN OF THE RAVE The THEA GILMORE Birming- MCCULLAGH & THE ES- INTO THE SHADOWS Rainbow Venues, Birm- FRI 8 MAY ham Town Hall CORTS The Rainbow Palace Theatre, Red- ingham THE JOHNNY CASH ROAD- Venues, Birmingham ditch BODDIKA, LEVON VINCENT, THE VAMPS Genting SHOW Solihull Arts DEF CON ONE, ERADIKA- PENTATONIX O2 Acad- YOUANDEWAN, SAMUEL Arena, Birmingham Complex TOR, KREMATED & ENEMO emy, Birmingham DEEP & JANE FITZ The THE SUBTERRANEANS STORNOWAY Warwick J Scruffy Murphys, MIRANDA SYKES & REX Rainbow Venues, Birm- The Jam House, B’ham Arts Centre, Coventry Birmingham PRESTON Palace The- ingham TWIN ATLANTIC O2 Acad- BEYOND THE BARRICADE PLASTIC FACTORY, THE atre, Redditch CHRIS LORENZO Kasbah, emy, Birmingham Wolverhampton Grand LATE RUNNERS, STRAN- FM The Robin, Bilston Coventry REEDBASS Symphony Theatre MOSS KROH, VAILS, GLER FIGS, OTHER DOGS ouse, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham VIVA SANTANA Artrix, & AFTERNOON IDENTITY DUNE, MAMMOTHWING, MON 4 MAY Bromsgrove SUPREME QUEEN The THE LAST CARNIVAL The O2 Academy, B’ham BLEAK ZERO & ACID GOAT Asylum, Birmingham SOUL LEGEND Nailcote Swan Theatre, Worces- CHARLEY PRIDE Sym- CLARE MAGUIRE The The Asylum, B’ham CLARE MAGUIRE The Hall, Berkswell, War- ter phony Hall, Birmingham Glee Club, Birmingham BALKANIC ERUPTION Glee Club, Birmingham wicksshire GRAHAM PARKER AND THE LOVELY EGGSThe MR SCRUFF Hare & CUMBIA SPECIAL Hare & DJ VADIUM & FINGATHING SATSANGI, THE RUSH- BRINSLEY SCHWARZ Sunflower Lounge, Hounds, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham MORE, ELECTRIC SPIVS, Huntingdon Hall, Birmingham ARCANE ROOTS The Insti- DEAD SEA SKULLS ALSO MILESTONE EXPRESS GRASSROUTES, DJ'S TAL- tute, Birmingham Worcester PLAYING; SPEAKING IN UGLY DUCKLING Hare & LOWAH, GENERAL THEORY DOUGLAS DARE Irish Centre, B’ham FOUR ACES Irish Centre, The Tin SHADOWS, EOFE, BROKEN Hounds, Birmingham OF POP & VJ PAUL WIN- Music And Arts, Coven- THE SCREAMIN’ ABDABZ Birmingham WITT REBELS & POLAR WADADA Hare & DRIDGE The Assembly, try Route 44, Birmingham ALI CLINTON Route 44, STATES The Institute, Hounds, Birmingham Leamington Spa MAYA JANE COLES LETZ ZEP The Assembly, 16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Music May Region One.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:39 Page 6

PERFECT ALIBI - TRIBUTE atre, Redditch Midlands Arts Centre, TO PINK FLOYD Hunting- DAN BODAN & OPAL ONYX Birmingham don Hall, Worcester The Tin Music & Arts, NEG Kasbah, Coventry NEW CARNIVAL The Rain- Coventry bow Venues, B’ham ANDY DERRICK JAZZ SAT 16 MAY BAD//DREAMS The Sun- QUINTET No.1 Shake- flower Lounge, B’ham speare Street, Stratford- TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL THE HAND AND THE upon-Avon GUEST ELLA HENDERSON FLOWERS, BROTHERS OF Genting Arena, B’ham CAEDMON & ELISON The THU 14 MAY THE RED LEMONS The Flapper, Birmingham Jam House, B’ham UK SUBS The Robin, Bil- DON MCLEAN Symphony SUN 10 MAY ston Hall, Birmingham TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL WILD IRISH Irish Centre, BELLE & SEBASTIAN Sym- GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Birmingham phony Hall, Birmingham Genting Arena, B’ham ROCK FOR SPON - THE BEN POOLE The Assem- EWERT AND THE TWO NEW SAINTS & FRIENDS bly, Leamington Spa DRAGONS Hare & The Robin, Bilston FEARLESS VAMPIRE Hounds, Birmingham VIC GODARD & SUBWAY KILLERS O2 Academy, BRIEFCASE BLUES SOUL SECT The Flapper, Bham Take That - Genting Arena, B’ham Birmingham BROTHERS Nailcote Hall, DESI ROCKSTARS Bar- ADVENTURES IN FILM Berkswell, Warwickshire claycard Arena, B’ham Birmingham DANA FUCHS The Robin, GA GA Solihull Arts Com- MUSIC The Swan The- ALTAN Huntingdon Hall, ELIO PACE PERFORMS THE SHAWN CUDDY Irish Cen- Bilston plex atre, Worcester Worcester BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK tre, Birmingham THURSTON MOORE Hare PAUL LAMB & THE DE- PRETTY VICIOUS Hare & THE WYZE GUYZ The Jam Palace Theatre, Red- HANS CHEW Kitchen Gar- & Hounds, Birmingham TROIT BREAKDOWN The Hounds, Birmingham House, Birmingham ditch den Cafe, Birmingham JESSE MALIN O2 Acad- Robin, Bilston CHEATAHS & NO JOY Hare POLICE DOG HOGAN TOO REX - TRIBUTE TO emy, Birmingham OZRIC TENTACLES O2 & Hounds, Birmingham Kitchen Garden Cafe, MARC BOLAN & T-REX MON 18 MAY SINGLE MOTHERS The Academy, Birmingham SHILLEAGH Irish Centre, Birmingham The Roadhouse, B’ham Oobleck, Birmingham MAWKIN Hare & Birmingham THE FALL The Institute, LUCY SPRAGGAN The In- THE FRYER BARNHART IN- CHRIS BOWDENS' TOMOR- Hounds, Birmingham CHRIS KING Kitchen Gar- Birmingham stitute, Birmingham TERNATIONAL ALL STARS ROW BAND The Jam HINDS Hare & Hounds, den Cafe, Birmingham DAVID FORD The Rain- HOSTED BY MALCOLM House, Birmingham Birmingham bow Venues, B’ham STENT Solihull Arts TIR NA NOG Kitchen Gar- COAL CHAMBER, SOIL, MON 11 MAY MARY BLACK Warwick Complex den Cafe, Birmingham THE DEFILED & DOPE Stu- JACK GARRAT Hare & Arts Centre, Coventry RENAI dent Union Copper TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUTS FOR GLORY, EVIL Hounds, Birmingham WED 20 MAY Rooms, Coventry GUEST ELLA HENDERSON EMPIRE, HIDDEN & TOMB SLAVES The Institute, WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Genting Arena, B’ham HAZARD The Road- Birmingham BRYAN FERRY Symphony Lichfield Garrick, Staffs TOPS & HONEY MOON house, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham BELLA HARDY Roses Hare & Hounds, B’ham DR HOOK Wulfrun Hall, TUE 19 MAY AL STEWART: YEAR OF Theatre, Tewkesbury THE MACCABEES The In- THE CAT TOUR Warwick Wolverhampton LULU Symphony Hall, stitute, Birmingham ANIHILATED The Asylum, Arts Centre, Coventry THU 21 MAY CHRISTY MOORE WITH Birmingham THE NEIL DIAMOND Birmingham SON OF DAVE The Rain- NEON WALTZ Hare & DECLAN SINNOTT War- WYLES & SIMPSON Alfie bow Venues, B’ham STORY Palace Theatre, BROTHER STRUT The wick Arts Centre, Hounds, Birmingham Redditch Jam House, B’ham Bird’s, Birmingham ERADIKATOR O2 Acad- EDDI READER The As- Coventry emy, Birmingham CHRIS & KELLIE WHILE THAT'LL BE THE DAY sembly, Leamington The Red Lion Folk Club, Royal Spa Centre, FRI 15 MAY BILL PATRICK, SAMU.L & Spa TUE 12 MAY ARCHIE HAMILTON Birmingham Leamington Spa TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL NextDoor, Birmingham TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELLA HENDERSON GUEST ELLA HENDERSON THE WHOO & THE QUIK- Genting Arena, B’ham BEATS Artrix, Broms- Genting Arena, B’ham CLOUDBUSTING - A TRIB- BOYZ II MEN O2 Acad- grove UTE TO KATE BUSH O2 MAMMA MIA PARTY WITH emy, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham SENSATION Nailcote Hall, ROSANNA LEFEVRE & GERRY CROSS THE GRACE BRADSHAW The Berkswell, Warwickshire MERSEY The Roses The- MARCIA GRIFFITHS & Jam House, B’ham atre, Tewkesbury FRIENDS O2 Academy, SILENCE THE WEAK The THE RED LEMONS The Rainbow Venues, Bham Birmingham Jam House, B’ham BREABACH NIZLOPI The Glee Club, mac - Mid- TOM PAXTON Birming- lands Arts Centre, Birm- Birmingham ham Town Hall ANDY SHAUF The Tin ingham ELIO PACE PERFORMS THE ROY ORBISON & FRIENDS Music & Arts, Coventry BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK The Swan Theatre, SUN CLUB The Sun- Royal Spa Centre, flower Lounge, B’ham Worcester Leamington Spa CRAZY P Hare & SONS OF BILL The GIN ANNIE BAND The Oobleck, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham Robin, Bilston JUDIE TZUKE Huntingdon J. COLE Barclaycard Hall, Worcester WED 13 MAY Arena, Birmingham GOD DAMN & ELEPHAN- SWERVEDRIVER MIKE FLETCHER TRIO O2 TINE The Sunflower Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall Lounge, Birmingham THE TEMPERANCE SEVEN CHRIS DE BURGH Sym- A MUSICAL MEDLEY - Albany Theatre, Coven- phony Hall, Birmingham STRATFORD CONCERT try GOSPEL CENTRAL The BAND Stratford INME The Slade Rooms, Jam House, B’ham Artshouse Wolverhampton THE YOUNG'UNS The Red WARLORD UK, ABSOLU- CLARE MAGUIRE The Lion Folk Club, B’ham TION, SODOMIZED CA- Glee Club, Birmingham PAPER AEROPLANES The DAVER & FIRESTORM JAMES GRANT Hunting- Rainbow Venues, Birm- Scruffy Murphys, B’ham don Hall, Worcester ingham CLARE TEAL SINGS THE MOTOWN AND SOUL ALABAMA SHAKES O2 DORIS DAY SONGBOOK NIGHT WITH DJ PAUL Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall KELLY Irish Centre, Birm- THE BOTS The Rainbow ingham Venues, Birmingham BLUE NATION, TELSEN & ARCANE ROOTS Kasbah, CATALAN Route 44, Coventry Birmingham LAZY HABITS & FJOKRA SUN 17 MAY The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham THE GRIMETHORPE COL- TRANSMISSION & SHA- LIERY BAND Birmingham MONES The Roadhouse, Town Hall Birmingham YAMATO DRUMMERS New TWENTY ONE PILOTS BLKLSTRS, THEM Alexandra Theatre, WOLVES, SEXWOLF! & Hare & Hounds, B’ham Birmingham CAL BANDA TOM BAXTER TERRY REID The Robin, The Flapper, The Glee Bilston Birmingham Club, Birmingham STEVE TROMANS AND COCO & THE BUTTER- MIDGE URE Palace The- PIERA ONACKO mac - FIELDS Hare & Hounds, For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Music May Region One.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:39 Page 7

DANIEL ROMANO & DANNI LISTINGS NICHOLS The Tin Music Music & Arts, Coventry ENDORPHINMANCHINE The Roadhouse, B’ham For full listing information on gigs, DIETRICH LETTERS Roses including times and dates, Theatre, Tewkesbury visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk SPECTRASOUL The Oobleck, Birmingham CAPSIZE The Oobleck, try Birmingham KING ROCKER - ELVIS DAR WILLIAMS The Glee PLAYS ROCK Route 44, Club, Birmingham Birmingham CIRCLE, HEY COLOSSUS & BOAT TO ROW, ALESSI’S OPIUM LORD Hare & ARK, MY GREY HORSE Hounds, Birmingham The Rainbow Venues, KIM RICHEY Kitchen Gar- Birmingham den Cafe, Birmingham OCCULT NextDoor, Birm- ROCK OF AGES EXPERI- ingham ENCE The Robin, Bilston EXPLOSIVE LIGHT OR- 182 The Slade Rooms, CHESTRA The Road- SUN 24 MAY Wolverhampton house, Birmingham CREEPOID, GLEAM & HOLY FISK JUBILEE SINGERS The Rainbow Venues, SAT 23 MAY WITH BLACK VOICES Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall Walk The Moon - The Institute, B’ham WALK THE MOON The In- UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND - stitute, Birmingham The Jam House, Birm- TRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTI- Glee Club, Birmingham House, Birmingham Hall, Berkswell, War- ingham FUL SOUTH The Robin, THE STRYPES Kasbah, SUPREME FABULETTES wickshire FRI 22 MAY FISK JUBILEE SINGERS Bilston Coventry Birmingham Town Hall MALLEN, ONE LAST RUN, Birmingham Town Hall LAU Warwick Arts Cen- RORY MCLEOD Roses THE BEACH BOYS Bar- DRIVEN APART & ELKIE BROOKS Birming- MARK KNOPFLER Genting tre, Coventry Theatre, Tewkesbury claycard Arena, Birm- PANSPERMIA Scruffy ham Town Hall Arena, Birmingham HEAVEN’S BASEMENT, ingham Murphys, Birmingham DESI ROCKSTARS Civic GLAMOUR OF THE KILL & WED 27 MAY JIVE TALKIN' PERFORM TY Hare & Hounds, Hall, Wolverhampton ASHES The Oobleck, THE BEE GEES Artrix, Birmingham THE DRIFTERS - RE- PETE KENT The Robin, Bromsgrove ABSOLUTE BLONDIE Hunt- Birmingham Bilston BRANDED TOUR Palace BOOT-LED-ZEPPELIN O2 THE UKRAINIANS The ingdon Hall, Worcester Theatre, Redditch MUDHONEY The Institute, Rainbow Venues, Birm- THE FATHER TEDS Irish Academy, Birmingham Birmingham IO EARTH Crescent The- MERRYMOUTH mac - ingham Centre, Birmingham atre, Birmingham Midlands Arts Centre, CASH - JOHNNY CASH MIDLANDS METAL CRU- SOUL'D OUT The Robin, Birmingham TRIBUTE The Robin, Bil- SADE 4 The Slade Bilston THE DROPPERS NECK, ston Rooms, Wolverhampton JOAN ARMATRADING War- TUSSK, OPHEON & COAL CHAMBER Wulfrun LAMB OF GOD Birming- wick Arts Centre, VEXXEN Scruffy Mur- Hall, Wolverhampton ham Town Hall DR FEELGOOD & EDDIE Coventry phys, Birmingham XILLA O2 Academy, BEAR & KITE’S ROCK AND THE HOT RODS The RX BANDITS & CIRCA CEDAR HOUSE BAND, Birmingham DISCO Route 44, B’ham Robin, Bilston SURVIVE O2 Academy, MIGHTY YOUNGS, VIRALS GYPSY UNIT Alfie Bird’s, INTRODUCING LIVE UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE Birmingham & SPIT SHAKE SISTERS Birmingham RECREATE DAFT PUNK’S The Jam House, B’ham NOVANA O2 Academy, Hare & Hounds, B’ham THE STONES The Assem- DISCOVERY Hare & THE ELVIS YEARS Palace Birmingham bly, Leamington Spa Hounds, Birmingham JASPER JAMES & DEATH THE SAINTS The Assem- Theatre, Redditch BUDDY & THE ILLEGAL ON THE BALCONY MARK MORRISS The GODSKITCHEN CLASH OF JP COOPER The Institute, CRICKETS The Swan bly, Leamington Spa- Flapper, Birmingham THE GODS The Rainbow NextDoor, Birmingham PRICE & GENDERS Birmingham Theatre, Worcester ROCK ‘N’ BLUES ALL DAY ALEXANDER NUT Hare & Venues, Birmingham DJANGO DJANGO War- THE CHRISTIANS Hunt- Kitchen Garden Cafe, Hounds, Birmingham FESTIVAL The Road- Birmingham wick Arts Centre, ingdon Hall, Worcester house, Birmingham THE TEMPERANCE SEVEN SUN 31 MAY Coventry SEINABO SEY AND LION MOONLIGHT SAVING TIME Huntingdon Hall, JAMES ARTHUR The Insti- BABE The Institute, Birm- MON 25 MAY No.1 Shakespeare Worcester MAROON 5 Genting tute, Birmingham ingham Street, Stratford-upon- FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- Arena, Birmingham THE PRIMITIVES The As- HUNTER HAYES The Insti- FICKLE FRIENDS The Avon tre, Birmingham DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, sembly, Leamington tute, Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, EDDIE ARGOS, SHAUN CLIVE GREGSON Kitchen FALLING RED, VICIOUS Spa THE FULL SHABANG Irish Birmingham GAMBOWL WALSH The Garden Cafe, B’ham NATURE, DEVIL RED AND CAPTAIN HORIZON O2 Centre, Birmingham VICTORY HEIGHTS The Rainbow Venues, Bham FRED ZEPPELIN Route MORE... The Roadhouse, Academy, Birmingham NEW BAYS & FOX CHAPEL Oobleck, Birmingham PAUL MCCARTNEY Bar- 44, Birmingham Birmingham DICK GAUGHAN Hunting- The Sunflower Lounge, claycard Arena, B’ham NINA KRAVIZ, CARL BILLY OCEAN Birming- don Hall, Worcester Birmingham TUE 26 MAY CRAIG, ADAM SHELTON, ham Town Hall LONG DISTANCE Irish DUB COMES TO TOWN THU 28 MAY LEWIS OXLEY, LOPASKI & ELVIS COSTELLO Sym- Centre, Birmingham The Slade Rooms, DOCTOR WHO SYM- THE FUREYS Solihull Arts WALKING WITH WINGS phony Hall, Birmingham SCREAM BLUE MURDER Wolverhampton PHONIC SPECTACULAR Complex The Rainbow Venues, TERRY AND GERRY Hare THE BEST OF PRIEST Barclaycard Arena, Kasbah, Coventry WATERLOO - ABBA TRIB- Birmingham & Hounds, Birmingham SLAID CLEAVES Kitchen (JUDAS PRIEST) Route Birmingham UTE Evesham Arts Cen- THE UKRAINIANS The Garden Cafe, B’ham 44, Birmingham KNIFEWORLD The tre, Worcester Rainbow Venues, Birm- AQUASERGE The Tin MUZIK HERTZ NextDoor, Oobleck, Birmingham DEL CAMINO The Jam ingham Music And Arts, Coven- Birmingham OTIS REDDING III The House, Birmingham FLEETWOOD BAC The ENGELBERT Roadhouse, B’ham HUMPERDINCK Sym- ATTENTION THIEVES & phony Hall, Birmingham ACODA The Asylum, OIL SLICK FIRE Hunting- Birmingham don Hall, Worcester LEDDRA CHAPMAN The SAT 30 MAY Robin, Bilston BRANDON FLOWERS O2 ROCKET The Jam House, BOP ENGLISH Hare & Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham PSYCHEDELIC WARLORDS THE FORTUNES - PAST & PAT JORDAN & FINIANS The Roadhouse, Birm- PRESENT Artrix, Broms- RAINBOW Irish Centre, ingham grove Birmingham MALEFICE & EXIST IM- DIRE STREETS Solihull MY SWEET PATOOTIE MORTAL The Flapper, Arts Complex Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham IQ The Robin, Bilston Birmingham HOUGHTON WEAVERS THE KOMMITMENTS The WEAK NERVES & RICHA The Courtyard, Here- Roadhouse, B’ham Scruffy Murphys, Birm- ford HEAVEN 17 The Copper ingham Rooms, Coventry REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG FRI 29 MAY LET'S HANG ON Bedworth DAMN BAND The Robin, Civic Hall, Warwickshire Bilston JACKSON - LIVE IN CON- VIRGIL & THE ACCELERA- CERT Evesham Arts TORS The Assembly, Centre, Worcester Leamington Spa ROCKET The Jam DIVAS OF SOUL Nailcote

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PREVIEWS Hélène Grimaud In Recital Classical Music Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 14 May “So often we hear people say, 'Oh, I don’t know anything about classical music',” says French-born Hélène Grimaud in an interview with Examiner.com. “But it’s not about how much you know. It’s about what the music makes you feel, how it affects you on the deepest level. We have to give it a chance.” For anybody questioning the capacity of classical music to make them ‘feel’ any- thing, an evening in the company of the ever-dynamic Grimaud should put paid to their uncertainty. The critically acclaimed classical pianist has garnered a reputation for being a real risk taker, reinventing phrasings, playing in the face of conven- tional pianistic wisdom and bringing living colour to every composition she performs. This Birmingham concert sees Grimaud taking the themes of water and the inextin- guishable power of nature as her starting point.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group: Fantasmagoria CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sat 9 May The work of David Sawer is here celebrated by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG), who commissioned the Stockport-born composer’s most well-known work, 2009’s crit- ically acclaimed Rumpelstiltskin. A late addition to BCMG’s 2014/15 programme, Fantasmago- ria features three Sawer pieces which are new to the Group. Cat’s-eye takes its inspiration from a simple device in a Fantascope, a Victorian magic lantern, to look at ideas of illusion and changing perspective. Between, meanwhile, is described as ‘a short, beautiful solo piece for harp’, while Good Night is ‘a continuous train of musical thoughts that transform when inspected more closely’. Hélène Grimaud The concert rounds off this current BCMG season. Leamington Music Festival Ex Cathedra: Weekend Rachmaninov’s Vespers The Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 3 May Fri 1 - Tues 5 May Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil - This year’s get-together is certainly a special one often translated as simply Vespers - was for festival director Richard Phillips. The event will one of the composer’s two favourite works. be the one hundredth festival that he’ll either Indeed, he loved the composition so much have created or directed over the last thirty-eight that he requested one of its movements years. (the fifth) be sung at his funeral. His deep Proceedings are kickstarted by the Fitzwilliam love of the piece, and indeed its brilliance, Quartet, who’re joined by Anna Tilbrook to play is all the more remarkable given that it Mozart’s Piano Concerto K414 and took him less than two weeks to compose. Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet. Jeffrey Skidmore conducts and is joined Other highlights of the 2015 event include by mezzo soprano Martha McLorinan and Raphael Wallfisch - returning with his trio, Sha- English String Orchestra tenor Jeremy Budd for a piece which Ex ham Erez Wallfisch - and Roderick Williams, who Cathedra describe as ‘passionate, serene, Elgar Concert Hall, Birmingham University, performs a World War One programme that and rooted in a deep and heartfelt faith’. includes a song by William Denis Browne, a Wed 13 May Leamington-born composer who died at Gallipoli The Worcestershire-based English String in June 1915. Orchestra here welcomes leading piano The festival is and trumpet duo Clare Hammond and brought to a close Simon Desbruslais for an evening of mem- with a perform- orable Russian string music. ance by the Hen- An imaginative programme includes works schel Quartet by Shostakovich and the lyrical Serenade from Munich - For Strings by Tchaikovsky. The concert joined for the first also features the world premiere of Geof- time by Michael frey Gordon’s Saint Blue (a double concer- Collins to play the to for trumpet, piano and strings) - a piece Brahms Clarinet inspired by the works of Russian visual Quintet. artist and visionary Wassily Kandinsky. Raphael Wallfisch Kenneth Woods conducts. Jeffrey Skidmore www.whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Classical May Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:17 Page 2

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to No.4 & Bruckner's Symphony No.7, Fri 8 David Charles - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Classical LISTINGS May, Warwick Arts Cen- tre, Coventry BAIBA SKRIDE IN THE For full listing information on classical MENDELSSOHN OCTET concerts, including times and dates, Featuring Baiba Skride visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk (violin), Moritz Pfister, Caroline Simon & CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT PETER DONOHOE Pro- Gabriel Dyker (violins), CLASSICS: CHARLIE gramme includes works Catherine Bower & Amy CHAPLIN Fri 1 May, by Brahms, Schubert, Fawcett (violas) & Symphony Hall, Birm- Debussy, Poulenc & Eduardo Vassallo & ingham Stravinsky, Sun 3 May, Helen Edgar (cellos), THE BEAUFORT ENSEM- Royal Pump Rooms, Fri 8 May, CBSO Cen- BLE: DREAMS OF ILLYRIA Leamington Spa tre, Birmingham Programme includes DAVID SAINT ORGAN SUPERHEROES DREAM Fri Guy Woolfenden’s Illyri- RECITAL Programme 8 May, Warwick Arts an Dances & Eric includes works by Centre, Coventry Whitacre’s October, Fri Reger, Mendelssohn, OLIVER SHE Programme 1 May, Adrian Boult Brahms, Bridge & includes works by Hall, Birmingham Parry, Mon 4 May, All Bach, Vine, Albeniz & DANIEL TONES & OWEN Saints’ Church, Leam- Beethoven, Fri 8 May, UNDERHILL Present an ington Spa The Barber Institute, engaging programme SIMON WALLFISCH & Birmingham of contemporary music, EDWARD RUSHTON Pro- ARMONICO CONSORT & RECITAL Thurs 14 May, Gilbert and Sullivan's Coates, Debussy, Fri 1 May, The Barber gramme works by BAROQUE PLAYERS Pro- Birmingham Town Hall popular comic opera, Williams, Elgar, Handel, Institute, Birmingham Schubert, Brahms & gramme includes Char- MARCUS FARNSWORTH & Tues 19 May, mac - Vivaldi, Parry, Arr. Wood ANNA TILBROOK & Strauss, Mon 4 May, pentier’s Te Deum, Kuh- JOSEPH MIDDLETON Pro- Midlands Arts Centre, & J. Strauss II, Sat 23 FITZWILLIAM STRING Royal Pump Rooms, nau - Magnificat, gramme includes works Birmingham May, Adrian Boult Hall, QUARTET Programme Leamington Spa Schelle - Vom Himmel by Brahms, Britten & ROYAL PHILHARMONIC Birmingham includes works by TRIO SHAHAM EREZ kam der Angel Schar & Barber, Fri 15 May, The ORCHESTRA Featuring NORMAN HARPER ORGAN Mozart, Haydn & WALLFISCH Programme Bach - Magnificat, Sat 9 Barber Institute, B’ham David Charles Abell RECITAL Mon 25 May, Shostakovich, Fri 1 includes; Haydn’s May, St. Mary’s Church, ADRIAN MOORE ORGAN (conductor) & Wayne All Saints’ Church, May, Royal Pump Piano Trio in Eb Hob Warwick RECITAL Fri 15 May, Marshall (piano). Pro- Leamington Spa Rooms, Leamington XV:31; Brahms’ Piano JOHN LILL Programme Holy Trinity Church, gramme comprises LARA MELDA Pro- Spa Trio No 1 in B Op 8 & includes Bach/Buoni’s Leamington Spa Bernstein's Candide gramme includes works MAGGIE BARTMANIS - Piano Trio No 2 in C Op Chaconne in D minor; WARSAW PHILHARMONIC Overture, Copland's by Beethoven, Chopin AMERICAN SONGS Fri 1 87, Mon 4 May, Royal Schumann’s Fantasy in Featuring Jacek Kasp- Rodeo Suite; Gersh- & Albeniz, Tues 26 May, May, Holy Trinity Pump Rooms, Leam- C Op 17, Chopin’s szyk (conductor), Claire win's Rhapsody In Blue Birmingham Town Hall Church, Leamington ington Spa Nocturne in C minor Op Maghnagi (soprano), & Out On The Town: SHAKESPEARE, SONNETS Spa BARBARA HANNIGAN 48/1 & Polonaise in F# Hannah Pedley Three Dance Episodes; AND STRAVINSKY Fri 29 PIRATES OF PENZANCE SINGS MOZART AND minor Op 44 & (mezzo), Andrew Rees Bernstein's West Side May, Stratford Tinkers Farm Opera STRAVINSKY Tues 5 May, Beethoven’s Sonata in (tenor), Paul Carey Story Symphonic Artshouse present a modern inter- Birmingham Town Hall C minor Op 111, Sat 9 Jones (baritone) & the Dances & American In FLORENTINE ARTS pretation of Gilbert & TRIO SHAHAM EREZ May, All Saints Church, University of Warwick Paris, Thurs 21 May, ENSEMBLE Programme Sullivan's operatic mas- WALLFISCH Programme Leamington Hastings Chorus. Programme Warwick Arts Centre, includes works by terpiece, Fri 1 - Sat 2 includes Schubert’s BARBERSHOP QUARTET comprises Schubert's Coventry Catoire, Debussy, Syz- May, Crescent Theatre, Piano Trio in Bb D898 BIANCO Sat 9 May, St. Symphony No.3 & JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER manowsky & Debussy, Birmingham & Brahms’ Piano Trio Mary Magdalene Beethoven's Symphony Programme includes Fri 29 May, The Barber RODERICK WILLIAMS & No 3 in C minor Op Church, Leamington No.9, Fri 15 May, War- works by Faure, Rach- Institute, Birmingham GARY MATTHEWMAN - 101, Tues 5 May, Royal Spa wick Arts Centre, maninov, Philip Glass, KATIE ALCOCK FLUTE THE GREAT WAR Sat 2 Pump Rooms, Leam- 40TH ANNIVERSARY CON- Coventry Frank Bridge & JS RECITAL Fri 29 May, May, Royal Pump ington Spa CERT Featuring Stour THE KLEE QUARTET Pro- Bach, Thurs 21 May, Holy Trinity Church, Rooms, Leamington MICHAEL COLLINS & HEN- Singers, Cherwell gramme includes works Solihull Arts Complex Leamington Spa Spa SCHEL STRING QUARTET Orchestra, Ruth Holton by Mozart & Britten, Fri FAURE’S REQUIEM - A MARK SWINTON ORGAN COUNTY MUSIC SERVICE - Programme includes (soprano), Shelley 15 May, Birmingham MEDITATION AND TAMSIN RECITAL Sat 30 May, St. ADVANCED MUSICIAN works by Haydn, Schu- Coulter-Smith (mezzo Museum & Art Gallery WALEY-COHEN Fri 22 Mary’s Church, War- CONCERT Sat 2 May, bert & Brahms, Tues 5 soprano), Nathan Vale BEETHOVEN GROSSE May, Stratford wick Royal Pump Rooms, May, Royal Pump (tenor), Darren Jeffery FUGE Featuring Zoe Artshouse COME AND SING WITH Leamington Spa Rooms, Leamington (bass baritone) & Beyers & Jane Wright CLIPPER ERICKSON PIANO JOHN RUTTER Charity ENSEMBLE 360 Pro- Spa Richard Emms (con- (violins), Adam Romer Programme includes concert in aid of The gramme comprises LA VENEXIANA Wed 6 ductor). Programme (viola) & Richard Jenk- works by Chopin, Dett M.E Trust, Sat 30 May, Haydn’s Piano Trio in May, Barber Institute, includes works by inson (cello), Fri 15 & Gershwin, Fri 22 May, Birmingham Cathedral F# minor HoB XV:26, Birmingham Mendelssohn & May, CBSO Centre, The Barber Institute, TOGETHERNEST PRES- Sat 2 May, Royal Pump CBSO HAYDN IN LONDON Beethoven, Sat 9 May, Birmingham Birmingham ENTS OWEN PALLETT, Rooms, Leamington Programme includes St. Edmunds Church, COVENTRY PHILHARMON- BIRMINGHAM GAY SYM- NICHOLAS KRGOVICH & Spa works by Haydn, Shipston-on-Stour, War- IC CHOIR Sat 16 May, St. PHONY ORCHESTRA MARKER STARLING Sun EX CATHEDRA: RACH- Mozart, Prokofiev & wick Mary’s Church, War- (BGSO) Programme 31 May, Stratford MANINOFF VESPERS Sun Haydn, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 ENGLISH PIANO TRIO wick includes works by Artshouse 3 May, Birmingham May, Symphony Hall, PLAY SCHUBERT Sun 10 CBSO PARSIFAL Featur- Town Hall Birmingham May, Helen Martin Stu- ing Andre Nelsons ROBERT MUNNS ORGAN SCHOLARS OF WARWICK dio, Warwick Arts Cen- (conductor), Burkhard RECITAL Sun 3 May, St. SCHOOL CONCERT Thurs tre, Coventry Fritz (Parsifal) & Mihoko Nicholas Church, 7 May, The Bridge LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- Fujimura (Kundry), Sun Classical Box Office Coventry House Theatre, War- CERT - THOMAS TROTTER: 17 May, Symphony JANA NOVAKOVA & PETR wick A BACH RECITAL Mon 11 Hall, Birmingham ADRIAN BOULT HALL, CBSO CENTRE, NOVAK Programme THE CLAIR-OBSCUR SAX- May, Birmingham Town LEAMINGTON CHAMBER BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM includes works by Dvo- OPHONE QUARTET Thurs Hall ORCHESTRA Programme 0121 331 5901 0121 780 3333 rak, Martinu, Novak & 7 May, Adrian Boult JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER includes Vaughan Schubert, Sun 3 May, Hall, Birmingham ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE ROYAL PUMP ROOMS Programme includes Williams’ Fantasia on a Royal Pump Rooms, HANSEL AND GRETEL 01527 577330 LEAMINGTON SPA works by Faure, Rach- Theme of Thomas Leamington Spa Hightime Opera pres- BARBER INSTITUTE, 01926 334418 maninov, Philip Glass, Tallis; Glazunov’s Violin CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA ent a new translation of BIRMINGHAM ST MARY’S CHURCH, Frank Bridge & JS Concerto & Brahms’ (MASCAGNI)/ PAGLIACCI Humperdinck's master- 0121 414 7333 WARWICK Bach, Tues 12 May, Symphony No.3, Sun (LEONCAVALLO) A Met piece which brings the 01926 403940 Artrix, Bromsgrove 17 May, Town Hall, BIRMINGHAM Opera Live screening of traditional tale into the DVORAK'S CELLO CON- Leamington Spa CONSERVATOIRE STRATFORD ARTSHOUSE opera's most enduring twenty-first century, CERTO WITH RAPHAEL TAKACS QUARTET Pro- 01789 207100 tragic double bill, Sun 3 Thurs 7 - Sat 9 May, BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM WALLFISCH Programme gramme includes works May, Warwick Arts Cen- Belgrade Theatre, & ART GALLERY STRATFORD UPON AVON includes Mozart’s Sym- by Haydn, Debussy & tre, Coventry Coventry 0121 348 8000 TOWN HALL phony No 38 Prague; Beethoven, Tues 19 THE SINGING CELLIST - CITY OF BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 01789 269332 Dvorak’s Rondo for May, Birmingham Town SIMON WALLFISCH & SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 0121 780 3333 SYMPHONY HALL, Cello and Orchestra, Hall EDWARD RUSHTON Sun Featuring Andris Nel- BIRMINGHAM Silent Woods & Cello THE PIRATES OF PEN- BRAMALL CONCERT HALL, 3 May, Royal Pump sons (conductor) & 0121 780 3333 Concerto arr chamber ZANCE LIVE Live screen- BIRMINGHAM Rooms, Leamington Baiba Skride (violin). orchestra, Wed 13 May, ing of English National 0121 414 3344 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE Spa Programme comprises Birmingham Town Hall Opera's performance of 02476 524524 MICHAEL COLLINS & Mozart's Violin Concer- HELENE GRIMAUD IN

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interview

The Pub Landlord talks pubs, politics and holidays abroad...

Did you always want to be a pub landlord? What are your views on the policies of the would it be? Oh yes, man and boy. It’s a great calling - Green Party? Crikey. Well, I’d say that the most beautiful you’re there to sooth troubled souls, pour The Greens are great but their sums don’t woman in the world is Jayne Secker Sky balm on troubled waters, make people’s add up. They need to remember to make News (full name). important moments in their lives extra special sure they leave the solar-powered calculator and provide a range of snacks. out in the sunshine a bit more. How do you like to spend your time away from the pub? Do you ever tire of the profession? Which foreign leader do you most admire In the beer garden. Luckily I’ve been blessed, in that I can travel and why? the country - indeed the world - passing on God, that’s a difficult one. I guess if it’s The month of May includes two bank the lessons I’ve learned over the years. And anyone it’s Angela Merkel. She’s tough. I holidays. How will you be spending them? I’ve got a great relief manager from Poland wouldn’t want to owe her money, I’ll tell you Making sure the glass-washing machine who keeps things moving. that much. doesn’t break down. This time of year is murder for wear and tear on that sort of kit. How would you define your politics? You’re an intelligent guy, Al. What would Common sense, reasonable, down to earth, you do to improve the British education Holidays abroad - where would you real world, no nonsense, straightforward, system? choose? rational, tolerant, reasonable, sensible, law- I reckon simply leaving it alone for a few The Falklands via Gibraltar. Leave the country abiding, hard working, normal, reasonable, years might work. Who’d be a teacher? without leaving the country. common sensical and straightforward. Those poor sods are dealing with a new reform or shake-up every two years. It must Finally, what’s the Pub Landlord’s guilty So what is the most common-sense wreck all that extra holiday time they get. pleasure? approach to the country’s problems? No pleasure should be guilty. I’m not a That’s dead simple. What the country is What’s your favourite tipple? Catholic. crying out for is a government that, when it The one I’ve got at the time. You can’t live gets in, decides to do nothing whatsoever for your life dreaming of other drinks. Love the five years. After all, governments make a one you’re with. Al Murray plays Comedy Hullabaloo’s mess of whatever they do do, so a Romantiek Spiegeltent on Sat 23 May government that did nothing could hardly And if you could choose anyone in the mess that up, could it? world with whom to share that tipple, who

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Suzi Ruffell Comedy Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, Wed 13 May; Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham, Sat 23 Box Office May; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 27 May Quirky Suzi Ruffell is a ‘work in progress’ when ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE it comes to the challenging business of stand- 01527 577330 CIVIC & WULFRUN HALLS, up comedy. Presenting an unquestionably like- WOLVERHAMPTON able persona, she imbues her act with an 0870 320 7000 admirable dynamism but suffers from not yet COURTYARD THEATRE, having worked out her HEREFORD own Unique Selling 01432 340555 THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM Point. 0121 333 2444 Her self-deprecating EVESHAM ARTS CENTRE, style is hugely engag- WORCESTERSHIRE ing, and a little more 01386 446944 attention to the quality THE GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM and originality of her 0871 4720400 material could see her KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, reaping significant divi- BIRMINGHAM dends in the years to 0121 443 4725 come. MAC, BIRMINGHAM 0121 446 3232 MANFORD’S COMEDY CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 0121 643 9132 Jimmy Carr PALACE THEATRE, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 30 May REDDITCH Comedy Hullabaloo 01527 65203 There tends to be no middle ground when it THE ROSES THEATRE comes to comedians - people either love ’em or Aurora Spiegeltent and Romantiek Spiegeltent, Stratford-upon-Avon, TEWKESBURY Thurs 21 - Mon 25 May hate ’em. This seems to be particularly true in 01684 295074 Some of the biggest names on the circuit feature in five days of ROYAL SPA CENTRE, the case of Jimmy Carr. LEAMINGTON SPA That said, judging by his regular presence on all comic madness when Comedy Hullabaloo takes place in Stratford- 01926 334418 manner of TV comedy shows, it would appear upon-Avon this month. SHOWCASE, COVENTRY there's a considerably greater number of people Organised by Underbelly, the entertainment company responsible 0871 220 1000 in the 'for' camp than there are in the 'against'. for Udderbelly Festival London and London Wonderground, the fes- THE SLADE ROOMS, tival is being held at two venues in the town. WOLVERHAMPTON Carr’s high-profile enough nowadays to mean 0870 320 7000 Ardal O’Hanlon, Sara Pascoe, Jack Dee (pictured), James Acaster, that most people will SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX have made up their Al Murray, Hal Cruttenden, Justin Moorhouse and Paul Foot are 0121 704 6962 mind about him well in among the well-established names booked to appear. WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, advance of this particu- Meanwhile, a Comedy Club 4 Kids element of the show sees some COVENTRY 02476 524524 lar gig - so if you've got of the festival favourites plying their trade to younger visitors - but yourself a ticket to the without any rude bits. show, it's reasonable to assume you know what you're in for and are going to have a good Dylan Moran time. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 13 May Once labelled 'the Oscar Wilde of come- Jamali Maddix dy’, it's fair to say that Dylan Moran is a Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham, fella with a style of humour all his own. A Sat 30 May star of the films Shaun Of The Dead, Run Reigning Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Fat Boy Run and, more recently, Cavalry, Jamali Maddix has been hailed for his frank yet the hugely entertaining Dylan specialises ironic take on everyday racism and his willing- in stand-up rants that are often bizarre ness to tackle the ‘hot potato’ subject of terror- and always unpredictable. Jokes ism. Sporting a distinctive hair-and-beard include: “I don't do drugs. If I want a combo, Maddix cites influences that range from rush I just stand up when I'm not expect- Gandhi to his Uncle ing it” and “I can't swim. I can't drive Mark. The twenty-two- either. I was going to learn to year-old Londoner is drive but then I thought, well, most definitely ‘one to what if I crash into a lake?” watch’ - a fact ably sup- ported by his selection from a pool of over one hundred comedians to appear on the Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

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Mon 18 May, The Blue Comedy LISTINGS Orange Theatre, Birmingham Comedy Hullabaloo RICHARD HERRING Tues 19 May, Station Pub, For full listing information on comedy Sutton Coldfield RUSSELL KANE, HAL SARA PASCOE, MARK PASCOE, ARDAL gigs including times and dates visit DAN NIGHTINGALE, ALI CRUTTENDEN, ZOE WATSON, DANNY BHOY O’HANLON & JOHN www.whatsonlive.co.uk COOK, ZOE LYONS & JOHN LYONS & KERRY & JUSTIN MOORHOUSE ROBINS Sun 24 May, MOLONEY Wed 20 May, GODLIMAN Thurs 21 Sat 23 May, Aurora Romantiek KATHERINE RYAN Fri 1 Centre, Coventry The Glee Club, May, Aurora Spiegeltent Spiegeltent May, Artrix, Bromsgrove PAUL FOOT Sat 9 May, Birmingham Spiegeltent MARK WATSON, DANNY CHARLIE BAKER, ARDAL SEANN WALSH Fri 1 May, The Slade Rooms, MARK OLVER, CAREY KERRY GODLIMAN, JOEL BHOY, TOM ALLEN & O’HANLON, DANNY The Roses Theatre, Wolverhampton MARX & COMEDY DOMMETT, BRETT ALUN COCHRANE Sat BHOY, JUSTIN Tewkesbury GARY DELANEY, DAN CAROUSEL WITH ANDY GOLDSTEIN & ANDREW 23 May, Romantiek MOORHOUSE & ALUN CURTIS WALKER, JUDY NIGHTINGALE & IAN ROBINSON Thurs 21 RYAN Fri 22 May, Spiegeltent COCHRANE Sun 24 THOMAS & SPECIAL P Fri MOORE Sat 9 May, May, The Glee Club, Romantiek May, Aurora 1 May, The Drum, Manford’s Comedy B’ham Spiegeltent Spiegeltent Birmingham Club, Birmingham JEREMY HARDY Fri 22 JAMES ACASTER, ZOE ROBIN INCE Sun 24 PHIL BUCKLEY Fri 1 May, PETER WHITE, RAY May, Wulfrun Hall, LYONS & BRETT May, Romantiek mac, Birmingham BRADSHAW, TUDUR Wolverhampton GOLDSTEIN Fri 22 May, Spiegeltent NEIL MCFARLANE, OWEN & NEIL COLE Sat 9 MARK OLVER, CAREY Romantiek MORGAN AND WEST’S MARLON DAVIS, RO May, Coventry MARX, MARK NELSON & Spiegeltent UTTERLY SPIFFING CAMPBELL & COMIC TBC Showcase ANDREA HUBERT Fri 22 - ZOE LYONS, JASON SPECTACULAR MAGIC Fri 1 May, The Glee CELEBRATION OF COMEDY Sat 23 May, The Glee BYRNE & ANDREW SHOW Sun 24 May, Club, Birmingham Mrs Barbra Nice pres- Club, Birmingham RYAN Fri 22 May, Mark Watson Romantiek RHODRI RHYS, JOJO ents comedy course GEOFF BOYZ, GORDON Aurora Spiegeltent JACK DEE Sat 23 May, Spiegeltent SUTHERLAND, STE participants showcas- SOUTHERN, ANDREW JASON BYRNE, JAMES Aurora Spiegeltent JON RICHARDSON & PORTER & JARLATH ing their material, Sat 9 RYAN & CIAMH ACASTER, JOEL DOMETT COMEDY CLUB FOR FRIENDS Sun 24 May, REGAN Fri 1 - Sat 2 May, May, mac, Birmingham MCDONNELL Fri 22 - Sat & KERRY GODLIMAN Fri KIDS Sat 23 May, Aurora Spiegeltent Jongleurs Comedy HENNING WEHN Sun 10 23 May, Jongleurs 22 May, Aurora Romantiek THE ONLY WAY IS Club, Birmingham May, Warwick Arts Comedy Club, Spiegeltent Spiegeltent DOWNTON Mon 25 JIMMY CARR Sat 2 May, Centre, Coventry Birmingham ARDAL O’HANLON, AL MURRAY Sat 23 May, Romantiek Civic Hall, LOUDEEMY SOUP JETHRO Sat 23 May, JAMES ACASTER, ALUN May, Aurora Spiegeltent Wolverhampton COMEDY NIGHT Mon 11 Solihull Arts Complex COCHRANE & COMICS Spiegeltent COMEDY CLUB FOR CHRIS CHOPPING, May, The Blue Orange GARY DELANEY Sat 23 TBC Sat 23 May, PETE FIRMAN, DANNY KIDS Mon 25 May, MARLON DAVIS, RO Theatre, Birmingham May, Warwick Arts Romantiek BHOY, SARA PASCOE, Romantiek CAMPBELL & COMIC TBC DYLAN MORAN Wed 13 Centre, Coventry Spiegeltent JUSTIN MOORHOUSE, Spiegeltent Sat 2 May, The Glee May, Warwick Arts SUZI RUFFEL, DANNY ARDAL O’HANLON, JOHN ROBINS & ALUN HULLABALOO FINALE Club, Birmingham Centre, Coventry MCLOUGHLIN, NICK JUSTIN MOORHOUSE, COCHRANE Sun 24 Mon 25 May, PADDY LENNOX, DAN JACK DEE, ROMESH DIXON & TONKS Sat 23 SARA PASCOE & TOM May, Romantiek Romantiek EVANS, KEVIN DEWSBURY RANGANATHAN & KERRY May, Manford’s ALLEN Sat 23 May, Spiegeltent Spiegeltent & FUNMBI OMITAYO Sat 2 GODLIMAN Wed 13 May Comedy Club, Aurora Spiegeltent PAUL FOOT, SARA May, Coventry The Glee Club, Birmingham Showcase Birmingham HAYLEY ELLIS, MATT BEN NORRIS, FERN SUZI RUFFELL, ANNETTE REES, PIERRE HOLLINS & BRADY, CHRIS FAGON, LINDSEY GEORGE EGG Sat 23 For full details visit www.comedyhullabaloo.com MCCAUSLAND & JASON SANTORO & MAUREEN May, Coventry COOK Sat 2 May, YOUNGER Wed 13 May, Showcase Manford’s Comedy Kitchen Garden Cafe MIKE GUNN & SUPPORT Birmingham Club, Birmingham HENNING WEHN Thurs 14 TBC Sun 24 May, ROUGH WORKS - NEW May, Palace Theatre, Station Pub, Sutton MATERIAL NIGHT Sun 3 Redditch Coldfield May, The Glee Club, ROMESH RANGANATHAN MICKEY SHARMA, WILL-E, Birmingham & SUZI RUFFELL Thurs THANYIA MORRE & TOM TOAL Mon 4 May, 14 May, The Glee Club, PRINCE HARRY Sun 24 Old Joint Stock Pub, Birmingham May, The Glee Club, Birmingham PETER WHITE, STEVE Birmingham JIMMY CARR Tues 5 GRIBBIN & COMEDY STEWART FRANCIS Tues May, De Montfort Hall, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY 26 May, Artrix, Leicester ROBINSON Thurs 14 Bromsgrove FOIL, ARMS & HOG Wed May, The Glee Club, ROMESH RANGANATHAN 6 May, Royal Spa Birmingham & SUZI RUFFELL Wed 27 Centre, Leamington HENNING WEHN Fri 15 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove Spa May, Wulfrun Hall, MICHAEL FABBRI, DANIEL KEVIN BRIDGES Wed 6 Wolverhampton SLOSS & COMEDY May, The Roses JARLATH REGAN, KIERAN CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Theatre, Tewkesbury BOYD & SUNIL PATEL Fri ROBINSON Thurs 28 RICH HALL Thurs 7 May 15 May, The Courtyard, May, The Glee Club, Palace Theatre, Hereford Birmingham Redditch PETER WHITE, STEVE MICHAEL FABBRI, DANIEL RON VAUDRY, JARLATH GRIBBIN, ANDY SLOSS, PETE FIRMAN & REGAN & COMEDY ROBINSON & MATT REES ERIC LAMPAERT Fri 29 - CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Fri 15 - Sat 16 May, The Sat 30 May, The Glee ROBINSON, Thurs 7 May, Glee Club, Birmingham Club, Birmingham The Glee Club, MATT REED, OWEN SAM AVERY, STEFANO Birmingham O'NEILL, BRENDAN RILEY PAOLINI, STUART ANDY PARSONS Fri 8 & STUART MITCHELL Fri MITCHELL & PIERRE May, The Courtyard, 15 - Sat 16 May, HOLLINS Fri 29 - Sat 30 Hereford Jongleurs Comedy May, Jongleurs LEWIS SCHAFFER Fri 8 Club, Birmingham Comedy Club, May, Palace Theatre, ROY CHUBBY BROWN Sat Birmingham Redditch 16 May, The Assembly, JIMMY CARR Sat 30 MARK GRIST AND MC Leamington Spa May, Symphony Hall, MIXY Fri 8 May, Palace BARBARA NICE, CHRIS Birmingham Theatre, Redditch MARTIN, PAUL MYRE- DAVE HADINGHAM, ROBIN MORGAN, JOHN HAUG & ANDY ASKINS JAMALI MADDIX, STEVE MOLONEY, RON VAUDRY & Sat 16 May, Manford’s GRIBBIN & DANNY JARLATH REGAN Fri 8 - Comedy Club, MCLOUGHLIN Sat 30 Sat 9 May, The Glee Birmingham May, Manford’s Club, Birmingham RAY PEACOCK, CHRIS Comedy Club, CARL HUTCHINSON, NICK MARTIN, MIKE NEWALL & Birmingham PAGE, TIM FITZHIGHAM & ANDREW MCBURNEY Sat DUNCAN OAKLEY, SY BRAD TASSELL Fri 8 - Sat 16 May, Coventry THOMAS, DAVID WHITNEY 9 May, Jongleurs Showcase & EDD HEDGES Sat 30 Comedy Club, ALAN CARR Sat 16 - Sun May, Coventry Birmingham 17 May, Warwick Arts Showcase STEWART FRANCIS Sat 9 Centre, Coventry MILES CRAWFORD Sun May, Warwick Arts TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! 31 May, The Glee Club,

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 5 - Sat 16 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 28 July - Sat 1 August Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson and Mark Benton star wink a millionaire soap heiress. in this national touring show based upon Frank Oz’s 1988 film star- Unlike the movie which inspired it, the stage version of Dirty Rotten ring Steve Martin and Michael Caine - which itself was based on Scoundrels is a musical - and one that’s in a very safe pair of hands 1964’s Bedtime Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando. too, with Kinky Boots, Hairspray and Legally Blonde director Jerry Set in the decadent underworld of the French Riviera, it tells the Mitchell the man at the helm. humorous tale of two seasoned swindlers and their attempts to hood- Read our interview with Mark Benton on page 6

Blood The REP, Birmingham, Tues 19 - Sat 23 May Tamasha and the Coventry Belgrade here collaborate to present a twenty-first century love story. When Caneze meets Sully in the college canteen, sparks fly - but neither of them can know the lengths to which her brother will go to keep them apart. Esther Richardson directs Emteaz Hussain’s stylish and thought-provoking play. “After the 2011 riots,” recalls Emteaz, “I felt frustrated over the myopic portrayal of working-class young people. It was important to me to write a play which captured the complex- ity of their lives and the brave, sassy way they negotiate their identity in a wider context.” Read our review of Blood at whatsonlive.co.uk The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 26 May - Sat 6 June This National Theatre stage adaptation of Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel bagged an impressive seven Olivier Awards in 2013 and has met with almost universal acclaim. At its centre is the character of fifteen-year-old Christopher, a boy who describes himself as “a mathematician with some behavioural difficul- ties”. Initially coming under suspicion after discovering the lifeless body of his neighbour’s dog, Christopher decides to investigate the crime - and embarks on a journey that will change his world forever... Read our interview with Joshua Jenkins who plays Christopher, on page 10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 27 Theatre May 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:52 Page 3

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Theatre PREVIEWS This Is How We Die Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 19 - Wed 20 May If you’re looking for an unchallenging evening of conventional theatre, refrain from buying a ticket for Christopher Brett Bailey’s ‘motor-mouthed collage of spoken word and storytelling’. If, however, you decide to give This Is How We Die a whirl, expect to leave the theatre at the end of the night having either loved or loathed the experience. Although one review- er called it challenging and thought-provok- ing, they also noted that, were you to see it when you weren’t in quite the right mood, there was every chance you might think it pretentious drivel. You have been warned. Cougar The Musical Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 16 May - Sat 6 June Cougars are women of a certain age who seek sexual relationships with younger men. There are three of them in this show (cougars, that is), all of whom are desperately disillusioned with life - at least until they unleash their ‘inner cougar’ by dating the aforementioned younger men! But for these particular women, the experience doesn’t just lead to lots of hot fun with guys who’ve got far fewer wrinkles than they have - in the process they also get to discover both self-love and empowerment. “This cougar exploration is entirely funny and poignant and goofy and campy and soulful and grounding and healing,” says creator Donna Moore. “I want nothing less than for everyone Judy: The Songbook who sees the show to leave with their spirits uplifted, a song in their heart and a racy story to share with their friends.” Of Judy Garland This brand new production, marking the show’s UK premiere, is directed by the Belgrade’s New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Creative Associate, Patricia Benecke. Thurs 21 - Sat 23 May Read our interview with Donna Moore at www.whatsonlive.co.uk This is the only officially recognised Judy Garland show currently touring, having been the strongest magic the world has ever given the green light by her family. known. And when James accidentally spills Postcards From The Seaside One-time Strictly Come Dancing judge the contents of the bag near an old peach Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May Arlene Phillips is the creative director on the tree, it isn't long before the most incredible Local professional company MadCap The- production, which pays homage to Wizard Of things start to happen... atre Productions make a welcome return with Oz star Garland and her memorable song- this 1940s-set musical recounting the trials book. Never-before-seen film highlights and and tribulations of interviews are featured in the show, which wireless star Lester also boasts Judy's daughter Lorna Luft and Thrill Me: The Leopold And Duvall. The show special guests Ray Quinn and Louise Dear- Loeb Story celebrates the man. Judy’s dancers, The Boyfriends, ensure Old Rep, Birmingham, Fri 22 - Sat 23 May Home Front during the show’s energy levels are suitably high. Given that the events which unfold in its seventy-fifth Stephen Dolginoff’s award-winning musical anniversary year took place across the Atlantic over ninety and has been writ- years ago, it’s perhaps not surprising that ten by Wallop Mrs relatively few people are familiar with the Cox playwright story of Nathan Freudenthal Leopold Jr and Laurie Hornsby. Richard Albert Loeb. Two wealthy and intelligent law students, Leopold and Loeb signed a contract in blood to commit the perfect crime. Boys Talk Their arrangement was to bring to a tragic mac, Birmingham, Sat 23 May end the life of fourteen-year-old Robert Award-winning Birmingham-based company Franks... Women & Theatre is the ensemble behind this ‘engaging celebration of male communi- James And The Giant Peach cation’. The thirty-three-year-old company pioneers Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 23 May - Sun 7 June new ways of addressing contemporary issues through performance, in the process One of Roald Dahl's best loved and most aiming to reflect the language and lives of famous masterpieces, James And The Giant ordinary people. Peach tells the tall tale of a little boy (bet you “Boys Talk was created using the stories and can't guess what his name is!) and the truly experiences of young men living in Birming- horrid and terrible time he has with his revolt- ham,” explain Women & Theatre. “The show ing old aunties, Sponge and Spiker. Given explores how men express themselves, what how generally unpleasant his life is, it's no they talk about every day, what they never surprise that James grabs with both hands talk about and the impact of technology on the chance to have an adventure - and sud- their communication.” denly finds himself involved with a mystical old man who gives him a bag that contains

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See The Full Line Up On Our Website

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

Saturday 9th May Tuesday 12th May Saturday 16th May VIVA SANTANA JULIAN LLOYD QUARDOPHENIA POWERFUL TRIBUTE TO WEBBER NIGHT CARLOS SANTANA AN EVENING OF STORIES TWO TOP BANDS PLUS THE AND MUSIC CLASSIC FILM

Tuesday 19th May Friday 22nd May Friday 29th May PIRATES OF INTOTO DANCE JIVE TALKIN’ PENZANCE TALENTED YOUNG STUNNING TRIBUTE TO THE ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA CHOREOGRAPHERS & BEE GEES SCREENING DANCERS

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Kingsman: The Secret Service (15 ) // Still Alice (12A) Quadrophenia (18) // The Water Diviner (15) // Home (U) // A Little Chaos (12A)

FORTHCOMING SCREENINGS: La Fille Mal Gardee (Royal Ballet) // Man & Superman (NT Live) Pirates Of Penzance (ENO) // La Boheme (Royal Opera House) // Carmen (ENO) // Andre Rieu Everyman (NT Live) // Merchant Of Venice (RSC) // Othello (RSC) // Aida (Opera Australia) The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk from 7 March 2015

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

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Theatre PREVIEWS Dear Lupin Malvern Theatre, Mon 11 - Sat 16 May Jack Fox shares the spotlight with his rather better-known father, James, in this brand new comedy. Based on letters sent by renowned racing journalist Roger Mortimer to his son, Charlie, it presents not only a mem- oir of their relationship but also an affection- ate portrait of a time gone by.

The Merchant Of Venice Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 14 May - Wed 2 September Undoubtedly one of Shakespeare’s most difficult, complex and controversial works, The Mer- The Ghost Train chant Of Venice follows the fortunes of the unfortunate Antonio, who bets on a venture that Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, fails to repay and finds himself forced to borrow money from Shylock, a man whom he Tues 12 - Sat 16 May loathes. Directed by Polly Findlay, this RSC production features Nadia Albina as Nerissa and To generations of fans, Arnold Ridley is best Makram J Khoury as Shylock. remembered as Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. But decades before he joined Captain Mainwaring and the Home Guard, Ridley Expect songs, dances and plenty of audi- The Rise And Fall penned this classic comedy thriller about a ence participation - not to mention goody group of travellers stranded in the waiting bags complete with all the kit required to Of Little Voice room of an isolated railway station on a dark take part. The REP, Birmingham, Fri 15 - Sat 30 May and stormy night. Their plight isn’t helped by Whoever would’ve thought that joining the One-time Corrie stars Chris Gascoyne and the station master’s spine-tingling warning - ‘living dead’ could be so much fun?... Vicky Entwistle here star in Jim Cartwright’s that death will claim anyone who sets eyes much-loved musical. Featuring songs from on the ghostly train that haunts the line. some of the world’s most iconic divas, Hi-de-Hi!’s Jeffrey Holland top-bills alongside Tree Fu Tom including Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey his real-life wife, Judy Buxton. Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, and Judy Garland, this Olivier Award-winning Tues 26 May show tells the story of a shy young girl with CBeebies’ favourite Tree Fu Tom finds the an incredible talent for vocal impersonations eponymous hero regularly disappearing into who suddenly finds herself catapulted into the woodland near his home. Once there, the limelight by a local talent scout. Read our Tom’s power belt shrinks him to the size of interview with Vicky Entwistle on page 8. an insect, allowing him to enter the magical world of Treetopolis - a miniature village located on part of a tree trunk... This brand new show, blending adventure, music and participation, has been created to appeal to the TV series’ target audience of children aged between two and six.

The Boy Who Bit Picasso Shaun Of The Dead Live Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Swan Theatre, Worcester, Sun 31 May Thurs 21 - Fri 22 May Play-clothes are very much the order of the Shaun Of The Dead, the hit movie about a day with this show - it’s fair to say things legion of zombies, has acquired an equally could get decidedly messy! An interactive Hansel And Gretel significant legion of fans since its release in theatre production for children aged four and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, 2004 - and given its continued popularity, it’s older, The Boy Who Bit Picasso tells the Thurs 7 - Sat 9 May hardly surprising that the movie has now story of how a young lad became friends Hightime Opera present a new translation of spawned a stage version. with one of the greatest artists who ever Humperdinck's masterpiece which brings the Gloucestershire-based Almost Legal Produc- lived. Along the way, the show offers audi- traditional tale into the twenty-first century. tions is the organisation behind this brand ence members the chance to get really Sibling rivalry is pushed to its very limits in new show, which has the backing of Shaun hands-on by making this new version of the timeless Brothers Of The Dead star Simon Pegg. A collective their own art (hence Grimm fairytale, presented here by Language theatre and film production company, ALP’s the play-clothes rec- Alive. stated philosophy is ‘to kiss goodbye to old ommendation!). Pre- Eccentric traveller guide Tattershawl takes skool theatre operations and revamp the sented by Untied the show’s audience on a journey to unex- entire theatrical experience for everyone con- Artists in association pected destinations and dark secrets, as the cerned’... In short, they’re looking to offer with Oxford Play- story of Hansel and Gretel is vividly brought something pretty darned unique. house. to life. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Theatre May 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:52 Page 7

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exhilarating display of expertise and athleti- Theatre LISTINGS cism which has thrilled audiences worldwide... For full listing information on theatre Fri 1 May, Warwick Arts productions, including times and dates, Centre, Coventry visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk FIVE KINDS OF SILENCE Shelagh Stephenson's tension-filled drama tions present Agatha portraying a cycle of From Christie's gripping family violence and FRI 1 MAY thriller which follows the abuse, Fri 1 - Sat 2 adventures of Tommy & May, Old Joint Stock Tuppence through Theatre, Birmingham DEATH OF A SALESMAN 1920s London, until Sat PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO Sir Antony Sher, Alex 2 May, Belgrade The- CHUMS Join Paul Mer- Hassell & Harriet Walter atre, Coventry ton and his renowned star in Arthur Miller's PIRATES OF PENZANCE Impro Chums, Mike great American tragedy, Tinkers Farm Opera McShane, Lee Simp- until Sat 2 May, Royal present a modern inter- son, Richard Vranch Shakespeare Theatre, pretation of Gilbert & and Suki Webster, as Stratford-upon-Avon Sullivan's operatic mas- they create a new and FEED THE BEAST World terpiece, until Sat 2 unique comedy show, premiere of Steve May, Crescent Theatre, based entirely on sug- Thompson's fiercely Birmingham gestions from the audi- funny look at the rocky GREEN LEAVES FALL ence, Sat 2 May, War- relations between our Strictly Arts Theatre wick Arts Centre, press and politicians in Company present a Coventry Oh What A Lovely War - The REP, Birmingham a world of spin-doctors debut play which BACK DOWN Highly- and Leveson Inquiries, explores two of the anticipated first play by staging of the comic screening of Frederick EVENING OF MURDER An until Sat 2 May, The most pressing social Birmingham-born musical concerning Ashton's final full-length illustrated tour through REP, Birmingham. Read issues of our time - Steven Camden, more disco diva-come-nun ballet, Thurs 7 May, the dark story of our the review on page 39 inequality & unemploy- commonly known as Deloris Van Cartier, Tue Warwick Arts Centre, fascination with murder. THE BODYGUARD Award- ment, until Sat 2 May, the award-winning per- 5 - Sat 9 May, Crescent Coventry With Dr Lucy Worsley, winning musical based Belgrade Theatre, formance poet Polar- Theatre, Birmingham HANSEL AND GRETEL Sat 9 May, Malvern on the blockbuster film. Coventry bear, Sat 2 May, Artrix, DIRTY ROTTEN Hightime Opera present Theatre X Factor winner Alexan- LITTLE WOMEN Birming- Bromsgrove SCOUNDRELS Based on a new translation of (H) EXPERIMENT: SLOT dra Burke takes the ham Ormiston Acade- OPEN HOUSE First the classic comedy film Humperdinck's master- TOGETHER Birmingham- lead as Rachel Marron, my present a staging of Stages present an inter- starring Sir Michael piece, which brings the based Stan’s Cafe host until Sat 2 May, Wolver- Louise May Alcott’s active experience fea- Caine & Steve Martin, traditional tale into the eight brand new shows, hampton Grand The- classic tale, until Sat 2 turing performance, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels twenty-first century, each using the same atre Read the review on May, The Old Rep The- music, puppetry and is set in the South of Thurs 7 - Sat 9 May, twelve props, each page 39 atre, Birmingham other surprises, Sat 2 France, where two sea- Belgrade Theatre, twenty minutes long THE TURN OF THE SCREW NEVILLE'S ISLAND Tim May, The REP, B’ham soned swindlers try to Coventry and each playing by Blue Orange Arts fuse Firth’s comedy, which CREATING REBECCA hoodwink a millionaire ANDREW DEE: THE BLACK the same rules, Sat 9 shadow puppetry and follows the misadven- Kneehigh Theatre Com- heiress, Tue 5 - Sat 16 OR WHITE TOUR Spirit May, mac - Midlands projection to tell Henry tures of four out-of-con- pany discuss their cre- May, New Alexandra medium Andrew Dee Arts Centre, B’ham James' gothic classic, dition, out-of-their-depth ative process and the Theatre, Birmingham promises to guide audi- A DOLL’S HOUSE Amateur until Sat 2 May, The businessmen on an making of Rebecca, Sat FOIL, ARMS & HOG Best ences 'through some of staging of Henrik Blue Orange Theatre, out-of-control team- 2 May, The REP, Birm- Of Ireland’s top comic life's mysteries with Ibsen’s emotional Birmingham Read the building exercise, until ingham sketch group, Wed 6 help from loved ones in thriller, Sat 9 - Sat 16 review online at what- Sat 9 May, Sutton Arts JOYCE... AT REST Site- May, Royal Spa Centre, the spirit world', Fri 8 May, Oldbury Rep sonlive.co.uk Theatre, Sutton Cold- specific performance Leamington Spa May, Solihull Arts Com- THE LONG ROAD The AS YOU LIKE IT SYC field which remembers the A NIGHT AT THE MUSIC plex Crescent Theatre Com- present Shakespeare's DIRTY DANCING Eleanor stories of the Newman HALL Hosted by Duggie THE WOMAN WHO pany present Shelagh tale of love, jealousy & Bergstein's smash-hit Brothers’ factory in Chapman & featuring COOKED HER HUSBAND Stephenson's thought- regeneration, until Sat 2 West End musical that Birmingham’s historic The Bachelors with Debbie Isitt's darkly provoking play, which May, The Dream Facto- tells the classic love Jewellery Quarter, Sat 2 John Stokes, Chas comic exploration of delves into the murky ry, Warwick story of Baby and - Sun 3 May, The Coffin McDevitt, Marilyn Hill- contemporary love and world of teenage vio- MACBETH SYC present Johnny. This touring Works, Birmingham Smith, Adam Daye, The marriage, Fri 8 - Sat 16 lence, Sat 9 - Sat 16 Shakespeare's drama production will feature CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA Simmons Brothers & May, The Bear Pit The- May, Crescent Theatre, of power, dread and brand new choreogra- (MASCAGNI)/ PAGLIACCI Safire, Wed 6 May, atre - The United Birmingham supernatural confronta- phy, performed along- (LEONCAVALLO) A Met Wolverhampton Grand Reformed Church, FASHIONABLY LATE Ginny tion, until Sat 2 May, side a host of memo- Opera Live screening of Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon Davis’ witty tale con- The Dream Factory, rable tunes, including opera's most enduring A CLOCKWORK ORANGE BEYOND THE BARRICADE cerning the celebration Warwick the award-winning (I've tragic double bill, Sun 3 HoW College degree Songs from the world’s of family, love and all REBECCA Kneehigh The- Had) The Time Of My May, Warwick Arts Cen- students bring Anthony greatest musicals in that matters. Ginny atre present Emma Life, until Sat 23 May, tre, Coventry Burgess’ timeless piece concert, Sat 9 May, Davis & James Rice's adaptation of Birmingham Hippo- to the stage, Wed 6 - Wolverhampton Grand Goldsworthy star, Sun Daphne du Maurier's drome Week Commencing Thurs 7 May, Artrix, Theatre 10 May, Artrix, Broms- timeless tale, until Sat 2 LOVE'S SACRIFICE Bromsgrove SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A grove May, The REP, B’ham Matthew Dunster MON 4 MAY HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL full screening of the THE LAST TRAIN Drama THE KING'S SPEECH makes his RSC debut, Youth On Stage present Disney sensation, com- set in 1914 Kings Heath Jason Donovan directing John Ford's REBECCA Kneehigh The- an amateur production plete with on-screen with the world on the (Logue) & Raymond rarely performed atre present Emma of the high-octane lyrics to help you sing brink of war, presented Coulthard (King revenge tragedy, until Rice's adaptation of American musical, Wed along with Anna and by Lunarust Theatre, George) star in a new Wed 24 June, The Daphne du Maurier's 6 - Sat 9 May, The Old Elsa during the film, Sat Sun 10 May, Albany staging of the story of Swan Theatre, Strat- timeless tale, Mon 4 - Rep Theatre, B’ham 9 May, Palace Theatre, Theatre, Coventry one-man's struggle to ford-upon-Avon Sat 9 May, Malvern PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Redditch; Belgrade overcome his personal THE JEW OF MALTA Justin Theatre Amateur production Theatre, Coventry affliction and, in his Audibert makes his Week Commencing OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR presented by Coventry SING-A-LONG-A DIRTY country's darkest hour, RSC debut, directing Joan Littlewood’s leg- Youth Operatta Group DANCING The brand MON 11 MAY deliver the now iconic Christopher Marlowe's endary musical, revived (YOG), Wed 6 - Sat 9 new Sing-a-long-a speech broadcast subversive play, until to commemorate the May, Albany Theatre, screening of the classic BIRTHS, DEATHS & MAR- across the globe to Tue 8 Sep, The Swan one hundredth anniver- Coventry film starring Patrick RIAGES New work inspire his people, until Theatre, Stratford-upon- sary of World War One, (H)EXPERIMENT: PANDEM- Swayze and Jennifer where four young the- Sat 2 May, Malvern Avon Tue 5 - Sat 9 May, The IC LIVE! Join award-win- Grey, Sat 9 May, Bel- atre makers decide to Theatres F.A.N.Y The story of five REP, Birmingham ning comedians James grade Theatre, Coven- change the course of OUR HOUSE Solihull On young women fighting PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Cook and Paul Savage try their lives forever by Stage present an ama- for the First Aid Nursing The Swan Theatre in a unique sketch BRIDGING THE VOID exchanging the parts of teur production of the Yeomanry (F.A.N.Y) dur- Amateur Company show based on the Experiential's latest their personalities Madness musical, until ing the Great War, Fri 1 presents its version of popular Z-man board work has been inspired they’ve never much Sat 2 May, Solihull Arts May, Palace Theatre, Jane Austen’s romantic game, Thurs 7 May, by the Native American liked for the alternative Complex Redditch comedy, Tues 5 - Sat 9 mac - Midlands Arts saying, 'Every night is traits they’ve always THE SECRET ADVERSARY YAMATO DRUMMERS The May, Swan Theatre, Centre, Birmingham followed by sunrise', wanted, Mon 11 May, The Watermill Theatre ancient art of taiko Worcester ROH SCREENING: LA Sat 9 May, Artrix, The REP, Birmingham in association with drumming is brought SISTER ACT The Arcadi- FILLE MAL GARDEE Royal Bromsgrove DEAR LUPIN Father and Eleanor Lloyd Produc- bang up to date in an ans present an amateur Opera House live DR LUCY WORSLEY: AN son, James & Jack Fox,

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by exchanging the parts of ance of Gilbert and Sulli- LISTINGS their personalities they’ve van's popular comic opera, Theatre never much liked for the Tue 19 May, mac - Mid- alternative traits they’ve lands Arts Centre For full listing information on theatre always wanted, Sat 16 THIS IS HOW WE DIE Chris May, Palace Theatre, Red- Brett Bailey presents a spi- productions, including times and dates, visit ditch ralling odyssey of pitch- www.whatsonlive.co.uk MAN AND SUPERMAN black humour and night- National Theatre Live marish prose, Tues 19 - here star alongside each self, Thurs 14 - Fri 15 May, screening of Bernard Wed 20 May, Warwick Arts other in a brand new com- mac - Midlands Arts Cen- Shaw's witty, provocative Centre, Coventry edy based on the Sunday tre, Birmingham classic. Ralph Fiennes THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Times Humour Book of the CHEWING THE FAT Rep stars, Sat 16 May, Warwick Amateur production pre- Year, Mon 11 - Sat 16 May, Foundry member Selina Arts Centre, Coventry sented by Rockhopper Malvern Theatre Thompson invites audi- (H) EXPERIMENT: SLOT Productions, Tues 19 - Sat SPRING AWAKENING Univer- ences to join her for her TOGETHER Birmingham- 23 May, Stoke Repertory sity of Wolverhampton own version of a midnight based Stan’s Cafe host Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Drama Department pres- feast: somewhere between eight brand new shows, BLOOD Emteaz Hussain's ents its version of the Tony the confessions made over each using the same twenty-first century love Award-winning musical, coffee at Weight Watchers twelve props, each twenty story, Tue 19 - Sat 23 May, which celebrates the unfor- and the sloppy, drunken minutes long and each The REP, Birmingham gettable journey from storytelling that accompa- playing by the same rules, AGATHA CRUSTY & THE VIL- youth to adulthood, Tues nies that 3am kebab, Sat 16 May, mac - Mid- LAGE MURDERS The 12 - Wed 13 May, Arena Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May, The lands Arts Centre, B’ham Phoenix Players present a Theatre, Wolverhampton REP, Birmingham MATT RICARDO: SHOWMAN whodunnit spoof where THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK THE FOOTSIE CLUB Bask in Big laughs, serious skills, Agatha Crusty is called Musical comedy presented the secluded decadence of slapstick & breathtaking upon to solve the mystery by Solihull Theatre Compa- the elegant venue for an spectacle from the 'UK's before anyone else dies, ny, Tue 12 - Sat 16 May, exclusive evening of the most successful juggler', Wed 20 - Sat 23 May, The Solihull Arts Complex most delectable femme Sat 16 May, Old Joint Bear Pit Theatre - The Unit- KISS ME, KATE Bournville fatales, quirky comedy, Stock Theatre, Birmingham ed Reformed Church, Musical Theatre Company and extraordinary perform- A WORLD BEYOND MAN Cen- Stratford-upon-Avon present Cole Porter's musi- ances, Thurs 14 - Wed 20 tric Theatre's epic story of THE BODYGUARD Award-win- cal version of Shake- May, Old Joint Stock The- ice, polar bears, adventure ning musical based on the speare's The Taming Of atre, Birmingham and death... Sat 16 May, blockbuster film. Zoe Bir- The Shrew, Tue 12 - Sat 16 BIRMINGHAM CABARET FES- Artrix, Bromsgrove kett (ITV's Pop Idol, Priscil- May, Crescent Theatre, TIVAL Brand new event ALEXEI SAYLE: LISTEN WITH la Queen Of The Desert & Birmingham promising some of the ALEXEI The best-selling Thriller Live) takes top THE GHOST TRAIN Arnold best cabaret acts in the author, comedian and billing as Rachel Marron, Ridley's classic comedy UK, Thurs 14 - Sat 30 May, actor gives a preview of Tue 19 - Sat 30 May, thriller. starring Jeffrey Hol- Old Joint Stock Theatre, the second volume of his Regent Theatre, Stoke-on- land (Hi-de-Hi!), Tom Birmingham ‘hilarious and thought-pro- Trent Read the review on Butcher (The Bill, Doctors), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE voking’ memoirs, with a page 39 Sophie Powles Polly Findlay directs reading from Thatcher VOCA PEOPLE International (Emmerdale), Judy Buxton Shakespeare's uncompro- Stole My Trousers, Thurs phenomenon featuring (General Hospital & On mising play, Thurs 14 May 16 May, Albany Theatre, more than eighty all-time The Up) and David Janson - Wed 2 Sep, Royal Shake- Coventry favourite musical hits, from ('Allo 'Allo!, Keeping Up speare Theatre, Stratford- COUGAR THE MUSICAL Madonna to Michael Jack- Appearances), Tue 12 - Sat upon-Avon Raunchy & insightful musi- son via Mozart, Wed 20 16 May, Belgrade Theatre, SOMETHING ELSE Deafinitely cal about three women of May, New Alexandra The- Coventry Theatre present a story a certain age saying yes to atre, Birmingham BAD GIRLS MUSICAL Great about a small creature who life and learning that hap- THAT'LL BE THE DAY Rock- Barr Musical Theatre Com- lives his life always trying piness lies within, Sat 16 'n'roll spectacular combin- pany present the story of to fit in, Fri 15 May, Arena May - Sat 6 Jun, Belgrade ing music from the ’50s, new idealistic Wing Gover- Theatre, Wolverhampton Theatre, Coventry ’60s & ’70s with wacky nor Helen Stewart and her BORIS & SERGEY'S VAUDEVIL- YAMATO DRUMMERS The comedy routines, Thurs 21 battles with the entrenched LIAN ADVENTURE An impro- ancient art of taiko drum- May, Royal Spa Centre, old guard of Officer Jim vised crossover cabaret ming is brought bang up Leamington Spa Fenner and his sidekick featuring tabletop puppetry to date in an exhilarating A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT Sylvia Hollamby, Tue 12 - and character comedy for display of expertise and OUT Featuring Jonny Cole, Sat 16 May, The Old Rep discerningly twisted adult athleticism which has Dandy, Peter Lee, and Theatre, Birmingham audiences, Fri 15 May, Old thrilled audiences world- introducing Kaylee Crop- NURSING LIVES A full-mask Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- wide..., Sun 17 May, New per and The Ronaldos, theatre production alive ingham Alexandra Theatre, Birm- Thurs 21 May, The Old with visual inventiveness, NOAH: A MUSICAL ADVEN- ingham Rep Theatre, Birmingham evocative music and song, TURE Saltmine Theatre OLIVIA Theatretrain Solihull LILI LA SCALA: SIREN ‘Stun- physical theatre and 1940s present a ‘fun-filled’ family present an innovative fami- ning' new cabaret show dance sequences, Wed 13 musical based on the bibli- ly show. Set in Victorian fusing Lili's classical roots May, Royal Spa Centre, cal story, Fri 15 May, Bed- times the story traces the with dark eclectic songs in Leamington Spa worth Civic Hall steps of Olivia, from down- a bewitching theatrical voy- GHOST THE MUSICAL West THE TIGER WHO CAME TO trodden orphan to star of age, Thurs 21 May, Old Bromwich Operatic Society TEA... LIVE ON STAGE! Chil- the stage, Sun 17 May, Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- present an amateur stag- dren’s show based on Solihull Arts Complex ingham ing based on the 1990 Judith Kerr’s picture book AN EVENING WITH PAM blockbuster movie, Wed 13 of the same name, Fri 15 - AYRES Thurs 21 May, - Sat 16 May, Wolverhamp- Sun 17 May, Malvern The- Week Commencing Palace Theatre, Redditch ton Grand Theatre atre MON 18 MAY SHAUN OF THE DEAD LIVE AVENUE Q Amateur produc- PARDON ME PRIME MINISTER Stroud-based collective tion presented by Music Edward Taylor & John Gra- TWELVE ANGRY MEN Jason Almost Legal Productions Theatre Warwick, Wed 13 ham’s farce, which sees a present a unique theatrical - Sat 16 May, Warwick Arts Prime Minister’s former Merrells, Andrew Lancel, Dennis Lill & Gareth David experience based on the Centre, Coventry indiscretion come back to cult zombie comedy, Thurs (H) EXPERIMENT: haunt him, Fri 15 - Sat 23 Lloyd star in a new pro- duction of Reginald Rose's 21 - Fri 22 May, Swan The- QUIZSHOWREOKE Interactive May, Hall Green Little The- atre, Worcester game show where audi- atre, Birmingham gripping courtroom thriller, Mon 18 - Sat 23 May, JUDY: THE JUDY GARLAND ence members are invited THE RISE AND FALL OF LIT- STORY A journey through to become contestants TLE VOICE Birmingham Wolverhampton Grand Theatre the life and music of Judy and be in with the chance Repertory Theatre Compa- Garland, featuring timeless of winning prizes... Thurs ny & West Yorkshire Play- SOMEWHERE TO TOP GIRLS Caryl Churchill’s 1982 play, classic songs performed 14 May, mac - Midlands house present Jim by award-winning singers Arts Centre, Birmingham Cartwright's award-winning exploring contemporary issues of women in the & dancers, Thurs 21 - Sat CARDBOARD CITIZENS: BENE- comedy, Fri 15 - Sat 30 23 May, New Alexandra FIT Three interwoven sto- May, The REP, Birmingham workplace, Tues 19 May, mac - Midlands Arts Cen- Theatre, Birmingham ries unlock the frustrations BIRTHS, DEATHS & MAR- OLIVER! Amateur produc- and passions of characters RIAGES New work where tre, Birmingham THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE tion presented by Coventry struggling with their bank four young theatre makers Musical Theatre Society, balances, their histories decide to change the Live screening of English National Opera's perform- Thurs 21 - Sat 23 May, Bel- and their own sense of course of their lives forever grade Theatre, Coventry

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MR B THE GENTLEMAN Olivia Newton-John and don's award-winning RHYMER Mr B The Gen- John Travolta, Mon 25 novel, Tue 26 May - Sat tleman Rhymer brings May, Wolverhampton 6 June, Birmingham his ongoing quest to Grand Theatre Hippodrome Read the reconnect hip-hop with THE IMPORTANCE OF interview with Joshua manners and the BEING ERNEST David Jenkins on page 10 Queen’s English to Suchet dons a dress to THE DISAPPEARING Birmingham!, Fri 22 star as Lady Bracknell WOMAN, FEATURING GER- May, Old Joint Stock in Oscar Wilde’s much- MAINE GREER Theatre, Birmingham loved masterpiece. Australian academic & MESS Caroline Horton's Emily Barber, Michael journalist Germaine play of obsession, Benz, Philip Cumbus, Greer explores forty addiction & not wanting Imogen Doel, Michelle years of feminism, Wed to get out of bed, Fri 22 Dotrice & Richard 27 May, Arena Theatre, May, Brewhouse Arts O’Callaghan also star, Wolverhampton Centre, Burton-upon- Mon 25 - Sat 30 May, RAPUNZEL Tutti Frutti Trent, Staffs Malvern Theatre Productions uses its THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD WE'LL MEET AGAIN - HITS inventive & physical AND LOEB STORY FROM THE BLITZ Brand style in a re-telling of Stephen Dolginoff's new Wartime Caval- the popular fairytale award-winning musical, cade show celebrating which explores the Fri 22 - Sat 23 May, seventy years since the curiosity and joys of The Old Rep Theatre, end of WWII, Tue 26 growing up, risk taking Birmingham May, The Old Rep The- & discovering who you JAMES AND THE GIANT atre, Birmingham are, Wed 27 May PEACH Blue Orange Arts TREE FU TOM New show mac - Midlands Arts presents Roald Dahl's starring the world's Centre, Birmingham A Black Country Night Out - Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs; Old REP, Birmingham; classic tale, Sat 23 May, smallest superhero, THE WEATHERMAN Criti- Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire The Blue Orange The- direct from the smash- cally acclaimed clown atre, Birmingham hit CBeebies series, Kiki Lovechild uses Country Touring pres- favourites, funky dance breaking the mould that BOYS TALK Women & Tue 26 May, Royal Spa physical comedy, pup- ent a dramatic perform- routines and plenty of features energetic Theatre present an Centre, Leamington petry, mime and illusion ance based on a true laughter, Fri 29 May, clowning and a vibrant engaging celebration of Spa in a show that brings incident and the life Palace Theatre, Red- soundtrack, Sat 30 male communication MY BIG FAT COWPAT together modern clown- events of the perform- ditch May, The REP, Birming- with movement, per- WEDDING Black Country ing with a collection of ers, Thurs 28 May, PETER PAN Presented by ham formance and spoken Touring, Kali Theatre & forgotten vaudeville art Arena Theatre, Wolver- Blue Orange Theatre, STORIES FROM THE PUN- word, Sat 23 May, Arts Alive present a forms, including the hampton Fri 29 May, Solihull Arts JAB & BEYOND Lively mac - Midlands Arts fast-moving comedy routines that have THE COMPLETE HISTORY Complex tales for all the family Centre, Birmingham where the audience made Kiki a firm OF COMEDY - ABRIDGED OCCASIONALLY WE SKYPE from Indian storyteller NELL GWYNN’S HISTORY become the guests at favourite on the UK The Reduced Shake- Black Country Touring Peter Chand, Sat 30 LAID BARE Join Bur- the wedding reception cabaret scene, Wed 27 speare Company fuses Kathak dance, May, Bleakhouse lesque performer Gin- of an intercultural mar- May, Old Joint Stock embark on a ninety- live music, spoken Library, Oldbury ger Blush as she takes riage between a coun- Theatre, Birmingham minute rollercoaster word, iPhones, digital MINISTRY OF SCIENCE her audience on a try girl & an Indian lad THE NEW ADVENTURES ride, deconstructing the projection & theatre to LIVE! From the creators whirlwind tour through from the city, Tue 26 OF PUSS IN BOOTS Star- entire history of come- explore what it means of Brainiac Live comes the life & times of Nell May, Newhampton Arts ring Julie Paton from dy, Thurs 28 May, to be digitally connect- a brand new show Gwyn, Sat 23 May, Old Centre, Wolverhampton Cats as Puss In Boots Wolverhampton Grand ed, Fri 29 May, Arena which takes an anar- Joint Stock Theatre, PITSCHI - THE KITTEN & Lichfield’s favourite Theatre Theatre, Wolverhamp- chic approach to sci- Birmingham WITH DREAMS Story- Dame, Ian Adams, as THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW ton ence communication, PARADE The Crescent telling, physical theatre, Queen Catrovia, Wed Britain's most loveable SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Sat 30 May, Royal Spa Theatre Company pres- music & song are here 27 May, Lichfield Gar- fox is back on the road, Sweeney stars in a new Centre, Leamington ent Jason Robert woven together in a rick along with his TV chum brand comedy about Spa Brown's musical, which classic Swiss story for MASTERPIECES Warwick Mr Stephen (aka Chris dating, men and finding BACK TO BROADWAY All- tells the tale of the trial children which tells of a University Drama Socie- Pizzey). Together they Mr Right, Fri 29 May, singing, all-dancing the- of Leo Frank, accused kitten who learns to be ty presents Sarah take audiences on a The Place, Oakengates atrical extravaganza, and condemned to happy by being exactly Daniels’ fiery & uncom- journey of laughs, sto- Theatre, Shropshire Sat 30 May, Palace death for murder, Sat what she is, Tue 26 promising play about rytelling & song in a THE COMPLETE HISTORY Theatre, Redditch 23 - Sat 30 May, Cres- May, mac - Midlands our cultural attitude brand new stage show, OF COMEDY - ABRIDGED EMBRACED BURLESQUE cent Theatre, Birming- Arts Centre, B’ham towards pornography, Thurs 28 May, Roses The Reduced Shake- Featuring a Burlesque ham THE PICTURE OF DORIAN Wed 27 - Sat 30 May, Theatre, Tewkesbury speare Company striptease, live music BASHMENT GRANNY 3 GRAY European Arts Warwick Arts Centre, STORIES FROM THE PUN- embark on a ninety- and comedy, Sat 30 BASHY DEAD Keith She- present their adaptation Coventry JAB AND BEYOND Fun, minute rollercoaster May, Newhampton Arts bada Ramsey returns of Oscar Wilde's classic HORRIBLE HISTORIES: interactive and very ride, deconstructing the Centre, Wolverhampton as ‘Bad Boy Trevor’ in play, using a cast of five INCREDIBLE INVADERS lively tales for the family entire history of come- POSTCARDS FROM THE this action-packed versatile actors, Tues 26 Brand new show from from Indian storyteller dy, Fri 29 May, Swan SEASIDE New musical comedy sequel that May, Brewhouse Arts the Horrible Histories Peter Chand, Thurs 28 Theatre, Worcester celebrating the Home promises to grip from Centre, Burton-upon- team. This time round May, Newhampton Arts EASTEND CABARET: PER- Front at the time of the start to curtain call, Sun Trent, Staffs it's the ruthless ways of Centre, Wolverhampton VERTS Award-winning Dunkirk Evacuation, Sat 24 May, New Alexandra TINA TURNER: TEA LADY the Romans which FOGHORN IMPROV: cult comedy duo East- 30 - Sun 31 May, Artrix, Theatre, Birmingham A parody, not affiliated come under scrutiny, FOGHORN FOLLIES An End Cabaret present Bromsgrove THE BOY WHO BIT PICAS- with Tina Turner, Tue 26 Wed 27 - Sat 30 May, intimate comedic their raucous and WHY THE WHALES CAME SO Interactive family May, Old Joint Stock Belgrade Theatre, cabaret experience for risqué musical comedy, The Roses Youth The- show featuring story- Theatre, Birmingham Coventry a discerning comedic headlining the first ever atre presents Michael telling, music & a HORRIBLE HISTORIES: KING LEAR Northern clientele, Thurs 28 May, Birmingham Cabaret Morpurgo’s tale of chance for audience GROOVY GREEKS From Broadsides present a Old Joint Stock The- Festival, Fri 29 - Sat 30 friendship, Sat 30 - Sun members to make their savage Sparta to angry production for a new atre, Birmingham May, Old Joint Stock 31 May, Roses Theatre. own art, Sun 24 May, Athens, discover the generation of Shake- SWEET CHARITY Amateur Theatre, Birmingham Tewkesbury All Stretton Village Hall, truth about growing up speare fans, Wed 27 production presented ALIENS LOVE UNDER- THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW Church Stretton, South in Greece, Tue 26 - Sat May - Sat 13 June, New by the Viv Kelly Youth PANTS Children's tale Sun 31 May, New Shropshire 30 May, Belgrade The- Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Theatre, Thurs 28 - Sat based on the best- Alexandra Theatre, atre, Coventry under-Lyme 30 May, Theatre Sev- selling book, Fri 29 - Birmingham THE PYRAMID TEXTS DIRTY DUSTING Heart- ern, Shrewsbury Sun 31 May, SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Week Commencing James Cosmo warming comedy star- INTO THE WOODS Back- Warwick Arts Centre, Sweeney stars in a new MON 25 MAY (Trainspotting, Brave- ring Crissy Rock, street Theatre Compa- Coventry brand comedy about heart & Game Of Dolores Porretta, Leah ny present Stephen ALEXEI SAYLE: LISTEN dating, men and finding Thrones) delivers a per- Bell & Jason Jones, Sondheim’s modern WITH ALEXEI The best- Mr Right, Sun 31 May, SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A sonal & haunting Thurs 28 May, Bed- classic, which inter- selling author, comedi- Wolverhampton Grand full screening of the monologue from worth Civic Hall twines the plots of an an & actor gives a pre- Theatre Disney sensation, com- BAFTA Award-winning STORIES FROM THE PUN- array of Brothers view of the second vol- ALONG THE RIVERBANK plete with on-screen writer Geoff Thompson, JAB & BEYOND Lively Grimm fairytales, Thurs ume of his ‘hilarious Bamboozle present a lyrics to help you sing Tue 26 - Sat 30 May, tales for all the family 28 - Sat 30 May, Prince and thought-provoking’ ‘magical production’ along with Anna and The REP, Birmingham from Indian storyteller of Wales Theatre, Can- memoirs with a reading inspired by Kenneth Elsa during the film, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT Peter Chand, Thurs 28 nock from Thatcher Stole My Grahame’s Wind In The Mon 25 May, Wolver- OF THE DOG IN THE May, Newhampton Arts MILKSHAKE PARTY PARTY Trousers, Sat 30 May, Willows, Sun 31 May, hampton Grand Theatre NIGHT-TIME Highly Centre, Wolverhampton LIVE! Brand new musi- mac - Midlands Arts Warwick Arts Centre, SING-A-LONG-A GREASE acclaimed National NIRBHAYA Southbank cal spectacular for chil- Centre, Birmingham Coventry Singalong version of Theatre production Centre, Oldham Colise- dren featuring new STATIK First Stages the classic film starring based on Mark Had- um, Cast & Black songs alongside old present a show about

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Arts FESTIVALS Birmingham Cabaret Festival Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 14 - Sat 30 May This is Birmingham’s first ever cabaret festival, taking place as a response to the growing popularity of the art form. “Cabaret has undeniably undergone a renaissance in the past couple of decades,” explain the festival’s organisers. “Music, comedy, circus, drag and burlesque acts, to name but a few branches, frequently dominate the headlines at festivals and venues across the world, and cabaret is often the place to discover the newest and most daring cross-discipli- nary theatre. London has been enjoying the flourishing, thriving and multi-faceted scene for many years, and it’s something we're delight- ed to be bringing to the second city.” Award-winning 'musical mischief-makers' EastEnd Cabaret headline the festival, which also features a cabaret-themed exhibition.

First Bite Festival mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 2 May This returning event - a celebration of theatre-making in the Midlands - showcases unfinished extracts and new ideas from some of the region's most highly rated creatives. All of the work on show is shaped by audience feedback. Two of the pieces will be selected for commission and will then be presented in First Bite’s sister festival, Bite Size, later in the year. Both festivals are organised by independent theatre studio China Plate, working in collaboration with mac birmingham and Warwick Arts Centre.

Alchemy Festival various venues across the West Midlands, Tues 19 - Sat 30 May Alchemy 2015 is the result of a new partnership between Southbank Centre and Black Country Touring (BCT). The event sees ‘the best in South Asian arts’ visiting the region. Highlights include Knives, Forks & Fingers, a new comedy show created especially for the festival by comedian, broadcaster, journalist and chef Hardeep Singh Koli. Internationally acclaimed theatre production Nirbhaya is another stand-out attraction, as is Occasionally We Skype, a major new dance, music and theatre co-production by Sonia Sabri Company and Black Country Touring. “We’re very excited to be bringing Alchemy to the region,” says Frances Land, Co-Artistic Director at BCT. “As a small yet dynamic arts organisation, we’re really looking forward to this unique partner- ship with the festival.” For further details visit alchemy.bctouring.co.uk

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Theatre REVIEWS CONT...

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Blood Brothers Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Have you heard the tale of the Johnstone twins? For the benefit of those who haven’t - Willy Rus- sell’s Blood Brothers is a show that’s achieved icon- ic status in the world of musical theatre. Nicknamed ‘the standing ovation musical’, it’s a gold-star clas- sic that keeps on giving - and the audiences keep on rolling in, too. Combining humour and heartache in equal meas- ure, it tells the story of Eddie Lyons and Mickey Johnstone. Twins separated at birth, the boys are raised at different ends of the ‘class’ spectrum, only to be brought together by fate at various stages of The Bodyguard Wolverhampton Grand Theatre their lives before meeting their destiny in a tragic finale. One of the most explosive openings in musical theatre brilliantly set the pace for Thea Top billing this Theatre Severn production was show Sharrock’s stunning production of The Bodyguard. stalwart Maureen Nolan, who gave a solid perform- There were gunshots, a scuffle - and then we got to meet the dashing Frank Farmer, ance as the matriarch of the Johnstone clan. wonderfully played by Stuart Reid. Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow showcased his It was then full pelt into the opening scene where, resplendent in gold, Alexandra Burke raspy tones to full effect as the Narrator, lurking showcased why she’s the perfect choice to play Rachel Marron - a role made famous Grim Reaper-like in the shadows and doorways to by the late Whitney Houston. Accompanied by an ensemble of ripped dancers in the remind us that it’ll all end in tears - which, of course, first of the show’s spectacularly choreographed routines, Burke’s vocals were sublime. it does. As pyrotechnics intermittently burst from the stage, I found myself hoping that none of No matter how many times you see Blood Brothers, the front-row audience members had gone overboard with the hairspray. you can never properly prepare yourself for that Burke displayed a real versatility throughout; her acting was every bit as impressive as final scene. But there are plenty of laughs to enjoy her singing. There was neither a note off key nor a foot out of step the whole evening. in the show too, many of which are provided by the Delivering her lines with conviction, she shone like the star she is. Very much at ease in young Mickey, Eddie and Linda - wonderfully played the role, her soft American tones didn’t falter once. by Sean Jones, Joel Benedict and Danielle Corlass Melissa James, as Rachel’s sister Nicki, deserved equal credit. Possessing the voice of respectively. a nightingale, her powerful solos and harmonies with Burke gave me goosebumps, The show is perfectly cast throughout. Full credit while cute-as-a-button Jhayheim Davis, as Marron’s son Fletcher, displayed all the qual- goes to Graham Martin for his instant transforma- ities of a star in the making. tion from posh school master to harassed state Striking lighting design by Mark Henderson ensured Mike Denman’s portrayal of Mar- school teacher, and to Kate Jarman for her powerful ron’s stalker was menacing and creepy in equal measure. Pastyportrayal Moss of then n neurotic n n Mrs Lyons. This stunning production was further enhanced by an effectively designed set, an abun- dance of spectacular costume changes from Tim Hatley, orchestration by Chris Egan, superb video effects by Duncan McLean and first-class performances from each and Rosie Kay: every one of the supporting cast. As entertainment goes, The Bodyguard is Grade A quality, a true theatrical spectacle that’sPatsy impressively Moss n n n superior n n to the film which inspired 5 Soldiers it. I urge you to go see for yourself. The Bodyguard shows at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Sat 2 May, returning to The REP, Birmingham play Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 19 to Sat 30 May, and Birmingham Hip- Creating a production podrome, Wed 5 to Sat 29 August. around a subject about which most people know relatively little is Feed The Beast The REP, Birmingham always a difficult task, Michael Goodlad is the kind of Prime Minister I would love to vote for; a true, principled yet Rosie Kay manages to present the world of the statesman. Swept unexpectedly into No 10, he sets out to build a new, fair and square British military in a very insightful way. nation. He’s ideal - but dangerously idealistic. He also intends to ignore the press. In 5 Soliders explores the life of British soldiers - the other words, he refuses to Feed The Beast. The question is, how will The Beast bite existence inside the barracks, the training pro- back? Preparing for the power struggle, the PM hires a straining-at-the-leash Red Top gramme and, of course, the experience of war. Rottweiler as his press officer. Let battle commence… Having spent several months conducting field This is an amazingly perceptive and timely play. Dr Who writer Steve Thompson takes research in various military bases, Kay’s knowledge us only slightly into the future - into a world where the public really are sick of the same is clearly both current and accurate. Her dancers old stories and vote for something new; and where Internet forums rule supreme. also spent time with soliders, learning various drills Sadly, probably the day after tomorrow. and weapon handling - although Kay decided This is a play fizzing with topical traumas. The writing is exceptionally exciting and against using actual weapons in the production. energetic, and a thunderingly good cast pick up Thompson’s jubilant jokes and lanc- The piece as a whole is strong and the dancers are ing lines and slice their way through the evening. Gerald Kyd is outstandingly dynamic a credit to the choreographer. They manage to por- as the bright-new-dawn PM. Shaun Mason is terrifyingly super-real as his raunchy, go- tray a discipline usually achieved after years of mili- get-’em press advisor. But this is far from a two-way fight. Director Peter Rowe has tary training, while at the same time bringing a assembled six hugely talented and versatile ensemble actors. He seems to just wind beautiful, contemporary quality and a real sense of them up and let them go, each character a star turn in their own right. Meanwhile, the movement to the material. The repetitive structure family scenes are a delicately observed haven from the hellfire. Badria Timimi and of quick marches and drills is hypnotising, the Aimee Powell tenderly infuse the antidote of love and affection into the lifeblood of their dancers moving in a machine-like unit. man at No 10... and he protects them from the press with all his sacrificial might. There are moments of comedy, seduction and pure As you might imagine, it all starts to go wrong. Even ideal men are only human. emotion. Kay has successfully captured a sense of Steve Thompson’s message is fearfully clear. We are doomed. He presents a sharply a somewhat secret world - one in which outsiders focused picture of a world in which elected democracy is terminally undermined by the aren’t welcome. clicking classes. This is a beautiful, engaging and touching piece. It’s a remarkable evening and, I fancy, a landmark production in the history of political Jamie Ryan n n n theatre. Robin Day would love it. Chris Eldon Lee n n n n n

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Tigress Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May Tamworth Castle here provides a stunning backdrop to new work and featuring over one hundred Tamworth choir members, two hun- from innovative dance company Motionhouse. dred local schoolchildren and twenty-two semi-professional dancers - Tigress makes up the dance element of I Am Tamworth, a twelve- the project aims to make impressive use of the Tamworth Castle envi- month celebration of the arts which has been organised by Tamworth ronment. Borough Council. Not only an original production, Tigress also features an original The production follows the story of the formidable Aethelred, Lady of score - specifically created for the project - and provides audience the Mercians - the daughter of Alfred the Great - as she commands members with the chance to play a significant part in making the her army at the time of the Viking invasion. story of the Mercians come to life. Combining elements of dance, acrobatics, music and drumming -

Birmingham Royal Ballet Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May Embarking on a celebration of twenty years with David Bintley as artistic director, Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) here pres- ent three works designed to show off the range of the compa- ny’s repertoire. Les Rendezvous by Sir Frederick Ashton is an exercise in pure technique and boasts a lighthearted and flirtatious quali- ty, while Kin, from former BRB dancer Alexander Whitley, is an athletic, abstract piece celebrating the kinetics of dance through group ensembles, delicate solos and tender duets. Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, meanwhile, is described as flash, jazzy and laugh-out-loud funny. The BRB orchestra accompanies the dancers live on stage.

Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 22 - Tues 26 May Michael Flatley’s ever-popular Lord Of The Dance looks set to attain new heights. Dangerous Games comes complete with world champion acrobats, groundbreaking technology - including holographs and dancing robots - and, as always, some of the greatest Irish Dancers in the world. There’s also a new score to enjoy, composed by the hugely talented Gerard Fahy. 40 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Dance May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:15 Page 2

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL Dance LISTINGS BALLET A showcase of greats, featuring works by Sir Frederick For full listing information on dance, Ashton, Sir Kenneth including times and dates, visit MacMillan and a new www.whatsonlive.co.uk piece by Alexander Whitley, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May, Theatre PASHA: LIFE THROUGH Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury DANCE Sat 2 May, ALADDIN Ballet Theatre ALADDIN Ballet Theatre Lichfield Garrick; Fri 8 UK re-tell the classic UK re-tell the classic May, Malvern Theatre; tale of the lonely tale of the lonely Tues 5 - Wed 6 May, orphan whose life is orphan whose life is Palace Theatre; destined for greater destined for greater Redditch; Tues 12 May, things, Fri 15 May things, Wed 27 May The Roses, Tewkesbury Palace Theatre, Solihull Arts Complex CADIZ Wed 6 - Thurs 7 Redditch BROMANCE Crying Out May, DanceXchange, EDGE15 London Loud & Barely The Patrick Centre, Contemporary Dance Methodical Troupe cel- Birmingham School post graduate ebrate all things blokey FOLLOWING THE YELLOW company present a through a series of risk- BRICK ROAD: DANCING triple bill, Fri 15 May, taking physical feats, THE LYRICS OF BERNIE Artrix, Bromsgrove Tues 26 - Wed 27 May, TAUPIN Presented by CINDERELLA Ballet Warwick Arts Centre, University of Cymru present a new Coventry Wolverhampton Dance work based on the eter- The Spalding Suite VARIETY IS THE SPICE: Department, Thurs 7 nal fairytale, Wed 20 The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May THE BEST OF BRITISH May, Arena Theatre, May, New Vic Theatre, ASIAN MUSIC & DANCE Inspired by the UK’s basketball scene, Fuel’s The Spalding Suite Wolverhampton Newcastle-under-Lyme Oldham Coliseum, BRIDGING THE VOID Film, LAST MAN STANDING presents a new type of physical theatre. A combination of live beat- Black Country Touring, dance and music inter- James Wilton Dance boxing, music, hip-hop moves and poetry, the show celebrates the Cast and Southbank lace to create a dance explore the fragility of elegance of the sport. Writer Inua Ellams and award-winning director Centre present an film production, Sat 9 human existence, Thurs evening of music, Benji Reid explore the highs and lows of the game through the expe- May, Artrix. Bromsgrove 21 May, Roses Theatre, dance and comedy, rience of five young men who play it. The show has been commis- TIGRESS Motionhouse Tewkesbury Wed 27 May sioned by Southbank Centre and Contact. Sat 9 - Sun 10 May LORD OF THE DANCE - Newhampton Arts Tamworth Castle, Staffs DANGEROUS GAMES Centre, Wolverhampton JALEO FLAMENCO Mon Fri 22 - Tues 26 May, VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET 11 May, New Vic Symphony Hall, 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Theatre, Newcastle- Birmingham Cadiz Sat 30 May, The Old under-Lyme INTOTO DANCE 2015 Rep Theatre, DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, THE SPALDING SUITE London Studio Centre Birmingham Birmingham, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 May Presented by Fuel, presents work by up- A real taste of Spanish culture hits Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May, and-coming talents, Fri Birmingham this month in the form of DanceXchange, The 22 May, Artrix, Patrick Centre, Bromsgrove Jesús award-winningFernández’s Cádiz, dancer’s an exploration Andalucian roots.of the The piece sees choreographer and director take his audience on a nostalgicFernández journey through his home town - its history, beaches, walls, sense of mys- tery and music providing his inspiration. Fernandez is joined on stage by four out- standing musicians, all from recreate original flamenco music.Cádiz, who

Bromance Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May Celebrating all things blokey, all-male acrobatic trio Barely Methodical Troupe won a Total Theatre Award at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival. They visit Coventry with an award-winning show that’s both playful and touching, exploring the limits of male companionship via a series of risk-taking physical feats.

Sun 2 May, 2.30pm & 7.30pm The Little Theatre, Leicester  01527 577330

Thurs 21 - Sat 23 May, 7.30pm Garrick Theatre, Lichfield  01543 412121

Sat 30 May, 7.30pm Old Rep, Birmingham  0121 359 9444

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Film TO WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

FROM FRI 15 MAY

Mad Max: Fury Road CERT tbc Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Hugh Keays-Byrne Directed by George Miller (Australia/USA) Two rebels - a man and a woman - join forces to circumnavigate the desert in a post-apocalyptic universe gone mad… Thirty years after the last Mad Max film (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, 1985), and twenty-five years in ‘development hell,’ Fury Road arrives with a budget of $150mil- lion. Mel Gibson, now fifty-nine, is obviously a tad too long in the tooth to play the road warrior, and is replaced by Tom Hardy. Hardy should cer- tainly do the franchise justice and is paired by three of the sexiest women in the cinema firmament: Charlize Theron, Zoë Kravitz and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Can the series retain its Fury? Is it another dystopian future too many? Its thespian heft should certainly play in its favour. TOP 5 FILM BOX OFFICE

1 Fast & Furious 7 (12a) 2 Cinderella (U) 3 Home (U) 4 The DUFF (12a) From FRI 22 MAY 5 SpongeBob Movie (U)

Tomorrowland - A World BeyondCERT tbc Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Judy Greer Directed by Brad Bird (USA) It’s a Wonderful World. Or, in this case, a place in time and space that changes due to our very actions (much like real life, but more so). George Clooney stars as a jaded inventor whose disillusionment with his own world is transformed by the scientific curiosity and optimism of a teenager. So, together, they travel to Tomorrowland. Like Pirates Of The Caribbean and the Eddie Murphy comedy The Haunted Mansion, Tomor- rowland is based on a Disney theme park attraction, which is really weird. The director, Brad Bird, previously brought us The Incredibles and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Fast & Furious 7 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Film - May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:35 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES Released from Fri 1 May

Far From The Madding Crowd CERT 12a (119 mins) Starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoe- naerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge, Juno Temple, Jessica Barden Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (UK/USA) The last time Thomas Hardy’s immortal 1874 novel was adapted for the screen was cour- tesy of the modern-day, thinly disguised Tamara Drewe (2010), with Gemma Arterton. Thomas Vinterberg’s version is strictly of the costumed variety, set in Victorian England. Carey Mulligan, as the fêted Bathsheba Everdene, is already getting rave reviews.

From FRI 8 MAY

Unfriended CERT 15 (83 mins) Big Game CERT 12a (90 mins) Starring Shelley Hennig, Renee Olstead, Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Onni Tom- Courtney Halverson, Jacob Wysocki mila, Ray Stevenson, Victor Garber, Ted Directed by Levan Gabriadze (USA) Levine, Felicity Huffman, Jim Broadbent Directed by Jalmari Helander In The Ring it was that wretched VHS. Here, (Finland/Germany/UK) it’s a girl talking on Skype - and she’s not very nice. We’re talking horror here and an- The most expensive Finnish film in his- CERT 15 (119 mins) Samba other low-budget “found footage” thing. But, tory, Big Game would seem to be an un- Starring Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, hey - it got some pretty good reviews in the likely Scandinavian export. Samuel L. Tahar Rahim, Izïa Higelin, Hélène Vincent States. Jackson plays the US president whose Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano plane is shot down by terrorists, landing (France) him in the middle of a Finnish forest. It In light of the headlines devoted to immigra- would seem that only a thirteen-year-old tion in this country, this story of a Sene- boy (Tommila) - out hunting for deer - is galese dish washer in Paris should shed a around to help him... refreshing perspective on the other side. Omar Sy, incidentally, previously starred in the accomplished and irresistible Untouch- MI5 head of counter-terrorism Harry Pearce able (2011), for which he won the French (Firth). And with an impending terrorist at- Oscar. tack on London, the timing could not be worse.

Released from Fri 8 May

The Age Of Adaline CERT 12a tbc Starring Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn Directed by Lee Toland Krieger (USA) Some accidents come at a price. The reclu- Two By Two: Oops... sive Adaline Bowman (Lively), following an accident, is rendered ageless, for all intents CERT U (87 mins) The Ark Has Gone and purposes remaining twenty-nine for al- Top Five CERT 15 (102 mins) Directed by Toby Genkel and Sean McCor- most eight decades. She then meets a man Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, mack (Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg/Ire- with whom she might just share her secret… Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shepherd, land) JB Smoove Directed by Chris Rock (USA) It’s the end of the world again but this time Stand-up comic-cum-movie star Chris Rock we’re in pre-history. But while Noah guides plays Andre Allen, a stand-up comic-cum- all the animals of the earth onto his ark, he movie star in this romantic-comedy written has embargoed the admission of all Nestri- and directed by Chris Rock. ans (who wouldn't?). So the Nestrian Dave Like Michael and his son Finny have to resort to all their Keaton’s Riggan wiles to get on board. An animated adven- Thomson in Bird- ture for all the family. Obviously. man, Andre Allen now wants to be taken seriously as an actor, but then Spooks: The Greater Good agrees to have his CERT 15 (104 mins) upcoming wedding Starring Peter Firth, Kit Harington, Jennifer broadcast as a Re- Ehle, Elyes Gabel, Lara Pulver ality TV special. Directed by Bharat Nalluri (UK) The reviews in A spin-off of the BBC series Spooks, this America were actu- topical thriller details the disappearance of ally very good. 44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film - May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:35 Page 4

Released from Fri 15 May Clouds Of Sils Maria CERT 15 (124 mins) Starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hanns Zischler Directed by Olivier Assayas (France/Switzer- land/Germany/USA/Belgium) Twenty years ago, the actress Maria Enders (Binoche) made her name playing a young woman who drives her female boss to sui- cide. Now she has agreed to star in a revival of the play, this time portraying the older woman, with her original part to be played by a Hollywood star with a predisposition for scandal. Interestingly, the latter is embodied by Kristen Stewart.

From FRI 22 MAY

Released from Fri 22 May The Cobbler CERT 12a tbc Starring Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, Method Man, Ellen Barkin, Steve Buscemi, CERT 15 (106 mins) Melonie Diaz, Dan Stevens Danny Collins Directed by Thomas McCarthy (USA) Starring CERT 12a (115 mins) Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Pitch Perfect 2 Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plum- When New York cobbler Max Simkin (San- Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel mer Directed by Dan Fogelman (USA) dler) discovers a magic heirloom, he finds Wilson, Adam Devine, John Michael Higgins, Danny Collins (Pa- that he can literally step into other peo- Elizabeth Banks ple’s shoes... Thomas McCarthy, inciden- Directed by Elizabeth Banks (USA) cino) is an ageing rocker and still lives tally, previously directed the critically The a cappella group calling themselves the idolised The Station Agent and The Visitor. Barden Bellas are back, this time to com- the part. Then he pete in an international event. And to stack comes across a letter written to him by the odds, an American group has never won Timbuktu CERT 12a (96 mins) before. John Lennon forty years previously and Starring Abel Jafri, Hichem Yacoubi decides to change Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako (France/Mauritania) his ways... Inspired by a true Nominated for an Oscar for best foreign lan- story. guage film, Timbuktu is the story of a simple cattle herder and his wife and what happens to them when the Malian city of the title is occupied by Islamic Jihadists. Set in 2012. Poltergeist CERT tbc Starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jared Harris, Jane Adams Directed by Gil Kenan (USA) Following the original Poltergeist (1982), its two sequels and the TV series, now comes A Royal Night Out CERT 12a (97 mins) the reboot. Once again an ideal American Starring Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Bel family finds its suburban home invaded by Powley, Rupert Everett, Jack Reynor, Roger Allam Directed by Julian Jarrold (UK) indignant spirits - but this time it’s in 3D. Quite what the Queen will make of this fic- tionalisation of the first flutters of her heart is anybody’s guess. Anyway, it’s VE Day and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are San Andreas CERT tbc allowed to mingle with the commoners to Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kylie Minogue, celebrate. Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Gia- Think Roman Holiday set in London. matti, Ioan Gruffudd Directed by Brad Peyton (USA) Welcome back to the Disaster Movie. After California is devastated by an earthquake, a muscly pilot and his ex-wife attempt to leave Los Angeles to find their estranged daughter Released from Fri 29 May in San Francisco.

Man Up CERT 15 (88 mins) Starring Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Olivia Williams, Rory Kinnear, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sharon Horgan Directed by Ben Palmer (UK/France) Don’t you hate it when you’re mistaken for someone’s blind date? Such a thing hap- pens to Nancy (Bell), leading to unforeseen romantic circumstances… www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Festivals May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:28 Page 1 Festivals May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:28 Page 2 Festivals

Wychwood Festival Cheltenham Racecourse, Fri 29 - Sun 31 May Regularly nominated in the Best Family Festival category of the UK Festival Awards, the annual Wychwood Festival features over one hundred bands on four stages, more than one hundred workshops, a kids’ literature festival and a real ale festival. This year’s line-up features UB40, The Proclaimers, Boney M, The Undertones, Ghostpoet, comedians Mitch Benn and Tiernan Douieb and CBeebies favourite Justin Fletcher.

You Me At Six Slam Dunk In and around the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Mon 25 May The Proclaimers The UK’s biggest independent touring festival, Slam Dunk returns to the Midlands this month to celebrate the best of pop-punk, ska and emo. Swingamajig Headlining the seven-stage event are British rockers You Me At Six, who have a very spe- cial place in Slam Dunk history, having played the festival regularly on their road to star- The Custard Factory, Birmingham, Sun 3 May dom. They also released their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, through the festival’s Returning to Birmingham for the third year, very own Slam Dunk label. Fans can expect to hear hits from Cavalier Youth - the band’s Swingamajig is a unique festival which invites Elec- first UK number one album. tro Swing lovers and vintage connoisseurs to take Taking Back Sunday, Don Broco and Lower Than Atlantis also feature in the Main Stage to the streets and party in style. Bringing the line-up. Metalcore seven-piece Architects headline the Monster Energy Stage, while the ‘sounds and styles of the 1920s up to date with a Desperados Stage plays host to acts including Reel Big Fish, Millencolin and Mariachi El modern twist’, this year’s event features festival Bronx. creators and organisers Electric Swing Circus and headliners Chinese Man, Dutty Moonshine and The Correspondents. Birmingham Pride Jess Glynne Gay Village, Birmingham, Asparafest Sat 23 - Sun 24 May Ashdown Farm, Evesham, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May Celebrating the city’s diverse LGBT community, Birmingham Described as Worcestershire’s ‘Aspara-tastic Pride is the largest two-day festi- music and food festival’, this two-day family event val of its kind in the UK. features two music stages, family crafts and work- The annual event, which takes shops, falconry displays, numerous vintage vehi- place in the heart of the city’s cles, a cookery kitchen with local and celebrity Gay Village, attracts visitors from chefs, a funfair, and food, real ale and cider stalls. a cross-section of communities. As well as an asparagus-eating competition and Festivities begin with a colourful appearances from the ‘world famous’ aspara- Carnival Parade which sets off mancer, the festival boasts a music line-up that in- from the city’s Victoria Square at cludes The Wurzels, The Moulettes, Blackbeard’s midday on the Saturday, winding Tea Party & Bayou Seco. Katy Ashcroft from CBee- its way to the main festival area bies’ I Can Cook and Junkfish are on hand to keep where a host of attractions await. youngsters entertained. High-profile performers Exam- ple, Jess Glynne, Fuse ODG, Union J, Jimmy Somerville and Heather Small feature on the Pride Main Stage, while numer- ous popular acts from across the UK share the limelight on the Village Cabaret Stage. Pride 2015 also features a com- munity village green, a Women’s Arena, funfair and Dance Arena. Visit www.birminghampride.com for further details.

Bayou Seco www.whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Birmingham Pride 2015 FP MAY_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:14 Page 1

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BIRMINGHAM PRIDE FES- THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL ternational Pavillion LICHFIELD FAKE FESTIVAL Festivals Listings TIVAL Line-up includes OF BRITAIN Line-up in- BROMSGROVE FOLK FES- Line-up includes Bon Jess Glynne, Example, cludes Paul Carrack, TIVAL Line-up includes Jovi Experience, Kaz- Fuse ODG & Jimmy Big Country, Show Of Artisan, Colum Sands, abian & Space Cowboy, For full listing information on festivals, Somerville, Sat 23 - Sun Hands & From The Hat Fitz and Cara & An- Sat 15 Aug, Beacon 24 May, Gay Village, Jam, Fri 19 - Sun 21 thony John Clarke, Park, Lichfield including dates and line-up, visit Southside, Birmingham June, Uttoxeter Race- Thurs 9 - Sun 12 July, PERSHORE JAZZ FESTIVAL www.whatsonlive.co.uk OUTBREAK FESTIVAL course, Staffordshire The Bowling Green, Line-up includes Kevin Line-up includes Sven LINTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Bromsgrove Grenfell’s Jazz Giants, gans, Hot Rocks & spe- Vath, Armand Van Line-up includes NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL John Hallam and Remi MAY cial guest tba, Sun 3 Helden, Jamie Jones & Snakechamer, Wilko Jellyheads, The Ses- Jazz, Gypsy Fire, Digby May, The Robin, Bilston Shadow Child, Sat 23 - Johnson, Andy Fair- sion, Abba Chique & Fairweather’s Half FULL ON Line-up in- CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTI- Sun 24 May, Donington weather Low & The Low Vendettas, Fri 10 - Sat Dozen, Fri 21 - Sun 23 cludes Ferry Corston, VAL Line-up includes Park Racing Circuit, Riders & The Hoax, Fri 11 July, Napton on the Aug, Pershore College, Ben Gold, Menno De Caro Emerald, Laura Derby 19 - Sun 21 June, The Hill, Warwickshire Warwickshire Jong & Angry Man, Sat Mvula, Wilko Johnson & DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL Alma Inn, Herefordshire SOUNDS IN THE GROUNDS V FESTIVAL Line-up in- 9 May, Boxxed Ware- Gregory Porter, Wed 29 Line-up includes Saint ALCESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Kaiser cludes Calvin Harris, house, Birmingham Apr - Mon 4 May, Mont- Raymond, Rae Morris, Line-up includes Lynne Chiefs, Professor Kasabian, Stereophon- STOURBRIDGE BLUES pellier Gardens, Chel- Swim Deep & Hudson Heraud, Pat Turner, Green, Ella Eyre, Royal ics & Sam Smith, Sat 22 FESTIVAL Line-up in- tenham Taylor, Sun 24 May, vari- Derek Gifford & Les Philharmonic Concert - Sun 23 Aug, Weston cludes Tom Walker Trio, HANDMADE FESTIVAL ous locations around Sullivan, Fri 19 - Sun 21 Orchestra & Lucy Park, Staffordshire Big Wolf Band, The Line-up includes Bo Nottingham June, Holly-Bush, War- O’Byrne, Fri 10 - Sat 11 PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL Mentulls & Rebecca Ningen, Eagulls, Toy & SLAM DUNK Line-up in- wickshire July, Warwick Castle Line-up includes Downes Band, Sat 16 Slaves, Fri 1 - Sun 3 cludes You Me At Six, 100 ABOVE (LAINFEST) THE MOSTLY JAZZ, FUNK Fenella Humphreys, May, Old Halesonians May, Old Town Quarter, Taking Back Sunday, Line-up includes Lucy & SOUL FESTIVAL Line- Matthew Taylor, Navarra RFC, Stourbridge Leicester Architects & Don Broco, Rose, Bipolar Sunshine, up includes Roy Ayers, Quartet & Nova Music BEARDED THEORY Line- UPTON FOLK FESTIVAL Mon 25 May, various Amber Run & To Kill A Gregory Porter, Craig Opera Thurs 27 Aug - up includes New Model Line-up includes Sun- venues and locations King, Fri 19 - Sun 21 Charles & Hackney Col- Tues 1 Sept, Powys Army, James, Afro Celt jay, Hilary Ward, An- around the city centre, June, Gopsall Hall liery Band, Fri 10 - Sun BEERMAGEDDON Line-up Sound System & The drew McKay and Carole Wolverhampton Farm, Warwickshire 12 July, Moseley Park, includes Rannoch, Mission, Thurs 21 - Sun Edwards & Jim WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL KINETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Birmingham Mpire Of Evil, Tyson 24 May, Catton Hall, Mageean and Graeme Line-up includes UB40, Line-up includes Hot BIRMINGHAM FEST Line- Dog & Heavenwood, Fri Derbyshire Knights, Fri 1 - Mon 4 The Proclaimers, Lady- Tubes, The Folly Broth- up to be announced, Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Stoke HOWTHELIGHTGETSIN May, Upton-upon-Sev- smith Black Mambazo ers, Neighbourhood 17 July - Sun 2 Aug, Prior Country Club, FESTIVAL Line-up in- ern, Worcestershire & Ghostpoet, Fri 29 - Cotch & The Har- various locations Bromsgrove cludes Lianne La TROYFEST Line-up in- Sun 31 May, Chel- vesters, Sat 20 June, throughout Birmingham SHREWSBURY FOLK FES- Havas, Sam & The cludes Mr. Scruff, Gilles tenham Racecourse Kineton Sports and So- L FEST Line-up includes TIVAL Line-up includes Womp, Rae Morris & Peterson, Molotov ASPARAFEST Line-up in- cial Club, Warwickshire Lucy Spraggan, O’Hoo- Richard Thompson, La Luke Sital-Singh, Thurs Jukebox & By The cludes The Wurzels, LICHFIELD BLUES AND ley & Tidow, The Tuts & Bottine Souriante, Kate 21 - Sun 31 May, Hay Rivers, Fri 1 - Sun 3 The Moulettes, Thrill JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up Holloway, Fri 17 - Mon Rusby & Sharon Shan- On Wye, Powys May, Baskerville Hall, Collins & Blackbeard’s includes The Blues 20 July, Uttoxeter Race- non, Fri 28 - Mon 31 STOURBRIDGE FOLK FES- Hay-on-Wye Tea Party, Sat 30 - Sun Band, Jay Phelps Quar- course, Staffordshire Aug, West Midland TIVAL Line-up includes LEAMINGTON MUSIC FES- 31 May, Ashdown Farm, tet, Tommaso Starace SPLENDOUR Line-up in- Showground, Shrews- Lucy Ward, Ranagri, TIVAL WEEKEND Line-up Evesham Quartet & Steve Ajao & cludes The Specials, bury The New Bushberry includes Fitzwilliam Climax Blues Band, James, Jess Glynne & FUSION FESTIVAL Line- Mountain Daredevils & String Quartet, Roder- Wed 24 - Sun 28 June, Lawson, Sat 18 July, up includes Justin Flat Stanley, Wed 20 - ick Williams, Anna JUNE various venues around Wollaton Park, Notting- Bieber, McBusted, Rudi- Sun 24 May, Katy Tilbrook & Ensemble Lichfield hamshire mental & Tinie Tempah, Fitzgerald’s, Stour- 360, Fri 1 May - Tues 5 UPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL Sat 29 - Sun 30 Aug, bridge May, Royal Pump ENGLISH HAYDN FESTIVAL Line-up includes Alan Line-up includes Billy Cofton Park, Birming- CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Rooms, Leamington Line-up includes The Barnes, Old Hat Jazz Bragg, Lil’ Jimmy Reed ham Line-up includes The Spa Sacconi String Quartet, Band, Chris Pearce Band, The Demon Bar- Young’uns, Greg Rus- CLUN GREEN MAN FESTI- The Chistophe Coin Quartet & Gypsy Fire, bers XL & Nancy Kerr, sell & Ciaran Algar, VAL Line-up includes Trio, The Salomon Thurs 25 - Sun 28 June, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, SEPTEMBER John Kirkpatrick & Bar- Whalebone, The String Quartet & The The Riverside, Upton- various venues around luath, Fri 22 - Mon 25 Johnny Cash Tribute, English Haydn Orches- upon-Severn Warwick May, Kelsall Village, Les Amis D’onno & The tra, Wed 3 - Sun 7 June, NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Cheshire Endings, Sat 2 - Mon 4 various locations in Line-up includes The Line-up includes The BREAKING BANDS FESTI- May, various venues Bridgnorth, Shropshire JULY Wu Tang Clan, Martha Monkees, Spiritualized, VAL Line-up includes throughout Clun, South THE GATE TO SOUTHWELL Reeves and The Van- Idlewild & Anna Calvi, Monument, Voodoo Shropshire FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up dellas, Beardyman & Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept, Vegas, Breed 77 & SWINGAMAJIG Line-up includes Billy Bragg, CAMPER JAM Line-up to London Elektricity, Fri Moseley Park, Birming- Death Valley Knights, includes Chinese Man, Clannad, The Urban be announced, Fri 3 - 24 - Sun 26 July, Brom- ham Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Electric Swing Circus, Folk Quartet & Chris Sun 5 July, Weston yard, Hereford WELFEST ON THE Stoke Prior County The Correspondents & Wood, Thurs 4 - Sun 7 Park, Staffordshire MADE BIRMINGHAM Line- MEADOW Line-up in- Club, Bromsgrove Ed Solo, Sun 3 May, June, Southwell, GODIVA FESTIVAL Line- up includes Beardy- cludes The Loose Cov- THE COLOUR FESTIVAL The Custard Factory, Nottinghamshire up includes The Wom- man, Claude ers, The Vooz, Souled Line-up includes DJ Birmingham WIRRAL FOLK FESTIVAL bats, Fun Lovin’ VonStroke, David Rodi- Out 2 Funk & Matt Fresh, Shift K3y, Tough FUDGESTOCK Line-up in- Line-up includes Fair- Criminals, Embrace & gan & Julio Bashmore, Eaves, Sat 5 Sept, Syn- Love & Just Kiddin, Sat cludes AKA Skaface, port Convention, Cara The Beat, Fri 3 - Sun 5 Sat 25 July, The Dig- der Meadow, Warwick- 23 May, The Rainbow Bethan and The Mor- Dillon Band, Richard Di- July, War Memorial beth Triangle, Birming- shire Arena, Birmingham gance & The Houghton Park, Coventry ham ONBOARD THE CRAFT Weavers, Thurs 4 - Sun BLUES AT THE FOLD Line- FESTIVAL Line-up in- 7 June, Whitby Sports up includes Jack Black- cludes The Hawklords, & Social Club, Cheshire man, The King Biscuit AUGUST Son of Man, Dr Has- LUNAR FESTIVAL Line-up Boys, Swampcandy & been & Glow People, includes Tinariwen, Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde Fri 11 - Sat 12 Sept, Wilko Johnson, Public Band, Sat 4 July, The BULLDOG BASH Line-up Stoke Prior Sports & Service Broadcasting & Fold, Worcester includes Permageddon, Country Club, Broms- Sun Ra Arkestra, Fri 5 - LEAMINGTON SPA Easydread, TBone & grove Sun 7 June, Umber- UKULELE FESTIVAL Line- Sky Valley Mistress, SHREWSBURY FIELDS slade Farm Park, War- up includes Lynda Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, FOREVER FESTIVAL Line- wickshire Styne & Red Hot Duo, Shakespeare County up to be announced, Fri VALEFEST Line-up to be Chonkinfeckle, Bitter Raceway, Stratford- 11 - Sun 13 Sept, loca- announced, Sat 6 June, Jug Stompers & upon-Avon tion tbc, Shropshire The Vale, Birmingham Gabriela, Sat 4 July, FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL BROMYARD FOLK FESTI- DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL Newbold Comyn Arms, Line-up includes Dr VAL Line-up includes Line-up includes Muse, Warwickshire Feelgood, Ferocious Breabach, Gerry Colvin Slipknot, Kiss & Faith LLANGOLLEN INTERNA- Dog, 3 Daft Monkeys & Band, John Doyle & No More, Fri 12 - Sun TIONAL MUSICAL Talisman, Fri 14 - Sun Sharon Shannon, Fri 11 14 June, Donington EISTEDDFOD Line-up in- 16 Aug, Gatten Farm, - Sun 13 Sept, Brom- Park Racing Circuit, cludes Rufus Wain- Shropshire yard Derby wright, Alfie Boe, BETLEY CONCERTS Line- WORCESTER MUSIC FES- HOLI ONE FESTIVAL BIRM- UB40’s Ali Campbell, up includes Tom Jones, TIVAL Line-up to be an- INGHAM Line-up to be Astro and Mickey Virtue Total Access Live & Col- nounced, Fri 18 - Sun announced, Sat 13 & Gareth Malone and labro, Fri 14 - Sun 16 20 Sept, various venues June, The Rainbow his Voices choir, Mon 6 Jul, Betley Court Farm, in Worcester Swingamajig - The Custard Factory, Birmingham Venues, Birmingham - Sun 12 July, Royal In- Cheshire

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50 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:59 Page 2 Visual Arts

New Art West Midlands Birmingham Museum & Gallery, until Sun 17 May; The Barber Institute, Birmingham, until Sun 17 May; Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, until Sun 31 May Thirty of the region’s best emerging artists are here being given the opportunity to showcase their work, as the third edition of the New Art West Midlands exhibition continues to show at four local art galleries. A Turning Point West Midlands initiative, New Art West Midlands features an eclectic mix of artistic disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photog- raphy, performance, installation and video work. All the participating artists have graduated from one of the region’s undergraduate or postgradu- ate fine art degree courses during the past three years. “It’s exciting to see how New Art West Midlands has grown since 2013,” says Wendy Law, Director of Turning Point West Midlands. “There’s an inter- esting and diverse range of talent and work com- ing out of our art schools and universities today. New Art West Midlands provides an important opportunity at a crucial point in the careers of these artists, enabling them to have their work dis- The Story Of Children’s Television From 1946 To Today played in highly respected galleries and to be Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Fri 22 May - Sun 13 September seen and enjoyed by a large public.” Each generation of children from the mid-twentieth century onwards will have their own favourite collection of memorable kids’ television programmes. This fascinating exhibition takes a look at some of the shows and characters that have excited and delighted youngsters across the decades - from television’s earliest days to the multi-channel world of 2015. Highly interactive - and, of course, incredibly family friendly - the exhibition brings together objects, memorabilia, merchandise, clips and images from a whole host of iconic children’s programmes. Trevor Appleson: Birmingham mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 2 May - Sun 5 July Pavel Büchler “Birmingham echoes the diversity of Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, multicultural Britain and the birth of Wed 13 May - Sun 12 July British subcultures in working class Renowned as an influential teacher and figure on neighbourhoods,” observes interna- the international art scene, Prague-born Pavel tionally renowned artist and photog- Büchler has been resident in the UK since the rapher Trevor Appleson. “I’m interest- 1980s. His work utilises a wide range of media. ed in examining how inner-city diver- Obsolete technologies, found objects, text and sity influences young people across appropriated digital material all play their part in cultural divides in local communities, helping Büchler draw attention to the fundamen- and how that representation mani- tally strange nature of everyday life. fests itself through style and fashion.” This is the most comprehensive UK exhibition to Appleson’s latest photographic proj- date of the artist’s work. ect - selected images from which are presented in this exhibition - saw him focus on youth culture in Birmingham. He took in excess of five hundred photos during the course of a year. The photographer’s images reflect the infinite styles and tribal affinities of young people in the UK’s second city. The photos are here presented as installations alongside personal objects and social media content, collected from the archives of his subjects.

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VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS For full listing information on Visual Art Further exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Samara Scott TONY CLARKE: ON THE MADE AT MAC: TEXTILES THRESHOLD OF A DREAM Featuring work from Eastside Projects, Birmingham, New exhibition honour- mac’s From Paper To Sat 16 May - Sat 11 July ing one of Coventry’s Fabric course, until Sun London-based Samara Scott’s first solo show in most beloved sons, 10 May, mac, a publicly funded UK gallery sees her undertak- until May, Coventry Birmingham Music Museum ing the challenge of developing an ambitious A LEAMINGTON MUSICAL THE POETIC IMPOSSIBILI- new body of work. METEOR: THE LIFE OF TY TO MANAGE THE INFI- WILLIAM DENIS BROWNE Much admired for her practice of drawing on NITE Exhibition which (1888 - 1915) Exhibition the phenomenon of post-internet art, Scott’s documents our quest which brings together works for this exhibition ‘contain all passages of to penetrate the astro- family archive material what follows the first contact of the consumer physical reality of the alongside compositions universe in order to bet- experience - from the touch to mastication to by Browne, to celebrate Love Is Enough - Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery ter understand time, his career, until Sun 10 assimilation and finally dispersal’. space & matter, until May, Royal Pump experiences and failed bygone age of Martin’s Sat 2 May, Rooms, Leamington utopias, until Sun 31 own photographic Wolverhampton Art Spa May, Waterhall Gallery, career, during which Gallery STONES & BONES EXHIBI- Birmingham Museum & time his focus was very Game Over GOTHIC EXHIBITION TION Discover more Art Gallery much on recording Newman Brothers Coffin Works, Birmingham, Exploring different about the early history NEW ART WEST MID- remnants from past until Tues 28 July approaches to the of the Midlands and LANDS Showcase of eras, until Sun 7 June, Gothic - from literature how that history was work by thirty of the Compton Verney, This fascinating exhibition presents new art- & film to architecture & uncovered, recorded region’s best emerging Warwickshire work inspired by the visit of artists and Goth culture, Library of and told by prominent artists, until Sun 31 AIDEEN DORAN: IM BAU designers to The Coffin Works. Birmingham, until Sat 2 local geologists and May, Herbert Art Gallery Exploring the city as a May The Birmingham museum is located in the scientists, until Sun 17 & Museum, Coventry space for artistic, eco- DISRUPTED Curated by May, Library of nomic & ideological one-time Jewellery Quarter home of the Birmingham STANHOPE FORBES’S Noemi Lakmaier, this ENGLAND Marking the production, until Sun Newman Brothers, a company renowned for exhibition invites visi- NEW ART WEST MID- 14 June, Grand Union, producing some of the world’s finest coffin first time this collection tors to encounter the LANDS Showcase of of works has been Birmingham furniture - including the fittings for the funer- ‘other’ - that which is work by thirty of the brought together for IMAGINING A UNIVERSITY als of Churchill, Chamberlain and the Queen different and unfamiliar, region’s best emerging public viewing, until Sat Fifty years of The Mother. until Sun 3 May, mac, artists, until Sun 17 6 June, Worcester City University of Warwick Birmingham May, The Barber Museum & Art Gallery Art collection, until Sat The artwork on show in Game Over Institute, Birmingham & embraces ‘the nature and thematic of the ROBERT GROVES: GOLDEN FAITH & ACTION: QUAK- 20 June, The Mead YEARS Constellation of Birmingham Museum & Gallery, Warwick museum, juxtaposing history with contempo- Art Gallery ERS & THE FIRST WORLD small golden paintings WAR Exhibition which University, Coventry rary examination’. (c.1965) which reflect GODS AND HEROES uses original photo- THE CURRENT SITUATION the artist’s strong inter- Seeking to uncover the graphs, film interviews A selection of five art- est in Middle Eastern & methods and motives & artefacts to tell the works by artist Yara El- South Asian culture, behind the representa- compelling stories of Sherbini which, until Mon 4 May, Ikon tion of the superhuman Quaker men and although diverse, fea- Gallery, Birmingham and supernatural in art. women during the ture a common theme, JON WILLIAMS: SENSA- Subjects drawn from 1914-1918 conflict and until Sat 27 June, TIONAL CLAY Touring both ancient mythology its aftermath, until Sun Wolverhampton Art exhibition from Bilston and the Judo-Christian 7 June, Birmingham Gallery Craft Gallery, featuring tradition feature, until Museum & Art Gallery Mon 25 May, The THE JEWELLERY QUAR- ceramics by Hereford- CANALETTO: CELEBRAT- TER DURING THE FIRST based maker Jon Barber Institute, Birmingham ING BRITAIN Bringing WORLD WAR Exhibition Williams, until Mon 4 together the paintings of artefacts, images May, Royal Pump TIBOR REICH An exhibi- & drawings which and oral histories relat- Rooms, Leamington tion of drawings by the Canaletto created ing to the recruitment Spa prolific Stratford-based between 1746 and of soldiers from the ARTISTS FOR IKON textile designer, until 1755, a period during Jewellery Quarter, until Featuring works from Sat 30 May, Parkside which he celebrated Sat 27 June, The some of the most Gallery, Birmingham the achievements of Jewellery Quarter, important contempo- City University British architecture and Birmingham rary artists, all of whom ART FROM ELSEWHERE: engineering, until Sun 7 POP IN SPACE: WE have previously exhibit- INTERNATIONAL CONTEM- June, Compton Verney, CHOOSE TO GO TO THE ed at the gallery, until PORARY ART FROM UK Warwickshire MOON Exploring artists’ Mon 4 May, Ikon GALLERIES Touring exhi- THE NON-CONFORMISTS: responses to the Space Gallery, Birmingham bition which considers Image credit: Jon Wilkes PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAR- Race during the Cold THE SALTLEY STORIES themes of global TIN PARR Recording a War, until Sat 18 July, Presenting the results change, postcolonial of a community history project which records Love Is Enough: Andy the memories and experiences of people Warhol And William Morris from all backgrounds Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and of all ages, and the until Sun 6 September collation of images of Saltley & Alum Rock Citing both Andy Warhol and William Morris over the past five to six as significant influences on his work - which decades. until Thurs 7 explores socio-political aspects of contempo- May, The Drum, rary culture - artist Jeremy Deller has here Birmingham curated an exhibition designed to compare HIDDEN TREASURES and contrast the interests and ideas of the CRAFT EXHIBITION two men. Love Is Enough brings together Exhibition featuring new techniques, such as significant and iconic works by both artists, 3D-printing, and exam- including some rarely seen pieces. It also ining current trends in features archival material owned or made by ceramics & jewellery, Warhol and Morris that sheds light on their until Sat 9 May, RBSA influences and working practices. Gallery, Birmingham The Non-Conformists: Photographs By Martin Parr - Compton Verney, Warwickshire

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Wolverhampton Art Exhibition examining Gallery, Light House held at the RBSA Cooper's major artists' hundred barely visible Gallery the changing focus of Media Centre, Gallery in May 2014 to postcards collection, works referencing plant GAME OVER Exhibition pilgrims and the coun- Wolverhampton, until support emerging Wish You Were Here? drawings, Wed 13 May - by fine art & fashion tries that their pilgrim- Sat 2 Apr, 2016 artists, Mon 4 May - Sat presents works by Sun 12 July, Ikon artists, until Tues 28 ages have taken them SIAN MACFARLANE: WE 4 July, RBSA Gallery, some of today's most Gallery, Birmingham July, The Coffin Works, to, until Sat 31 Oct, ARE ILLUMINATED Siân Birmingham famous artists, Sat 9 OPEN 2015 Showcasing Jewellery Quarter, Worcester City Museum presents a multi-layered FROM ART TO STITCH May - Sun 28 June, the work of local artists, Birmingham & Art Gallery film which interweaves Featuring textile work mac - Midlands Arts Fri 15 May - Sun 12 Centre, Birmingham SOLDIERS’ STORIES: ART IN THE PARK: KERN past and present and from the Breakway July, Royal Spa Centre, BIRMINGHAM AND THE BABY BY FAYE CLARIDGE explores the syn- Textile Artists Group, NAUTICAL CRAFT EXHIBI- Leamington Spa ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE This enigmatic new chronicities of leisure with each piece TION Works by contem- THE LIBERATED QUILT: REGIMENT 1914 - 1918 commission by artist pastimes throughout inspired by well-known porary designer/makers NEW WORK FROM Exhibition which com- Faye Claridge for the the ages, Fri 1 May - artists, including Andy created in response to THROUGH OUR HANDS memorates the cente- grounds at Compton Sun 26 July, New Art Warhol, David Hockney the sea and coast, Mon Showcase for twenty- nary of the First World Verney takes on the Gallery, Walsall & Rennie Mackintosh, 11 May - Sat 12 Sept, three international War and recounts the form of an exaggerated FROM ‘RED’ ELLEN TO Sat 9 May - Sun 28 RBSA Gallery, artists working with experiences of sculptural emblem of OSWALD MOSLEY June, Newcastle Birmingham mainly stitched textile Birmingham men who folklore, until Sun 13 Portraits of inter-war Borough Museum, JACQUES NIMKI: techniques, Sat 16 May served in the regiment Dec, Compton Verney, politicians by Edmund Staffs SEEN/UNSEEN A new per- - Sat 25 July, between 1914 and Warwickshire Knapp, Fri 1 May - Sun WISH YOU WERE HERE? manent installation fea- Wolverhampton Art 1918, using personal BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE 6 Sept, The Barber Selected from Jeremy turing more than three Gallery objects, medals & AND CHANGE IN THE Institute, Birmingham memorabilia, until Sun INNER-CITY Display TREVOR APPLESON: 26 July, Birmingham exploring the way in BIRMINGHAM Exhibition Museum & Art Gallery which ordinary exploring self-represen- LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY Birmingham people tation as a counterpoint WARHOL AND WILLIAM have been represented to the conventions of MORRIS Exhibition in art during the twenti- the traditional photo- bringing together signif- eth & twenty-first cen- graphic portrait, Sat 2 icant and iconic works turies, until Thurs 31 May - Sun 5 July, mac - by both artists, includ- Dec, Birmingham Midlands Arts Centre, ing some rarely seen Museum & Art Gallery Birmingham pieces, until Sun 6 INHERITING ROME GRAHAM LEONARD KING Sept, Birmingham Exhibition which uses RBSA Featuring a selec- Museum & Art Gallery money to explore and tion of small & large SUSAN STOCKWELL: SEA question our deep-seat- atmospheric land- MARKINGS Exhibition ed familiarity with the scapes using acrylics inspired by the RSC’s Roman Empire’s on wooden panel and summer 2015 season of imagery, until Sun 24 paper, Mon 4 May - Sat plays and the world of Jan 2016, The Barber 27 June, RBSA Gallery, sixteenth century Institute, Birmingham Birmingham Venice, until Sun 6 MENTAL SPACES ANNA LORENZ NWA Sept, Royal Ongoing project con- Sculptural and wall- Shakespeare Theatre, taining work produced based explorations Stratford-upon-Avon by local artists affiliated developed from the AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD with The Asylum Art Next Wave exhibition,

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International Festival Of Glass Stourbridge Glass Quarter, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May The Stourbridge Glass Quarter sees the return of the International glass painting. Festival of Glass this month, complete with a range of attractions for Visitors with a penchant for history, meanwhile, can take guided her- artists, glass enthusiasts and visitors to enjoy. itage walks along the Stourbridge canals to the churches frequented The festival offers a diverse and jam-packed programme featuring by glass-making dynasties, visiting the graves of famous glassmak- have-a-go sessions, family activities, evening events and live demon- ers along the way. strations. The Glass Festival offers plenty to keep youngsters happily engaged Exhibitions include the British Glass Biennale, the UK’s top contem- as well, including art & craft activities, puppetry workshops, donkey porary glass showcase, and a wall of one hundred-and-fifty glass rides, falconry displays and storytelling sessions. postcards created by members of the Contemporary Glass Society. Retail stores, street entertainment and a range of refreshments offer Prior to the four-day festival, renowned glass artists Dante Marioni further opportunities for visitors to enjoy themselves. and Penny Rakov are holding a series of glassmaking masterclasses. In short, the festival’s well worth a visit, whether glass is your thing or Glass artists wishing to improve their technique can attend lessons in not. glass blowing, furnace building, beadmaking, hot glass casting and For more information, visit www.ifg.org.uk/glass-festival

Dragonboat Festival Red By Night Brindleyplace, Birmingham, Sat 30 May Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Sat 16 May Birmingham’s favourite corporate fundraising event is back this month with a new charity part- To celebrate the industrial might of the ner. The Dragonboat Festival aims to raise a region in the 1800s, the Black Country staggering £100,000 for Cure Leukaemia, pro- Living Museum is here hosting an viding essential funds to treat Leukaemia immersive, living-history event, recreat- patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in ing the distinctive ‘red glow’ that was so Birmingham. The event sees twenty teams com- often described by visitors to the area. pete in fancy dress along the Birmingham and The event offers a chance to walk Worcester canals. As spectators line the route to around smoky, noisy, Victorian streets watch the spectacle, they can enjoy family- and witness a full-scale replica of the friendly activities, live music and food stalls. world’s first steam engine in action. Live demonstrations from costumed craftsmen make sparks fly as they use century-old techniques to forge chains, nails and brass. The period houses and shops, meanwhile, depict how Black Country folk lived in the murky condi- tions, while street theatre is used to illustrate the scale and intensity of the Industrial Revolution. To book tickets, visit bclm.co.uk

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Events PREVIEWS The Main Event Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sat 23 May A landmark ‘happening’ on the UK combat sports calendar, the Main Event includes an International Kickboxing Federation World Title challenge, plus the UK’s top fighters pit- ting their skills against the best Thailand and Europe have to offer. An evening of explo- sive, quality entertainment for combat sports enthusiasts. For more information visit: www.themainevent.media

National Kit Car Motor Show Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Sun 3 - Mon 4 May The world’s largest kit car show motors into Warwickshire this month, boasting four thou- sand kit cars and seven hundred trade stands. Featuring every kit car part a builder could wish for, the show has five exhibition halls full of specialist suppliers, kit car manufacturers, Half Term Activities sportscar replicas and building demonstrations. Compton Verney, Warwickshire New for 2015 is autotester Ian Chapman stunt driving in the Riot Action Arena. There’s even Sun 23 - Fri 29 May the chance to get involved as a passenger if your stomach can handle it! Half-term visitors to Compton Verney can Visitors with a passion for ‘off-road and muddy’ can enjoy the Dakar 4x4 experiences, as well take inspiration from Italian artist Canaletto as over one hundred outdoor kit car clubs. and contemporary photographer Martin Parr For more information, visit nationalkitcarshow.co.uk to create a collage about their own life, fami- ly and community. Also on offer at Compton Verney are a selection of all-weather family backpacks, enabling adults and children to Celebrate Queen Worcester Motor Festival explore the venue’s collections through a Victoria’s Birthday Worcester City Centre, Sat 16 May range of activities. Backpack options include Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Now in its ninth year, the Worcester Motor Percy the Pig and friends taking visitors Sat 23 May - Sun 31 May Festival provides visitors with the chance to through the British Folk Art collection with a Get your flags out as Blists Hill Victorian compare and contrast fifty of the newest cars story, jigsaw and colouring sheets. Hidden Town celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday. on the market with the latest models being Treasures, meanwhile, challenges families to Traditional Victorian occasion-wear, parties, showcased along the city’s High Street by solve the clues and riddles to hunt out the parades and patriotic concerts on the village various local dealerships. New this year is an hidden treasure in Compton Verney’s collec- green all feature - as do the Sundial Theatre F1 cockpit simulator and special feature tions. Company, performing alongside the Darby areas with police car displays, Army vehicles Singers and the Bridgnorth Male Choir and Shelsley Walsh race cars. throughout the weekend. Presented by Worcester BID, the festival also Other Blists Hill events in May include a invites visitors to wander around eighty-odd Spring Wedding, Blists Hill In Steam, Sound classic and vintage cars, listen to live music & Light Night, Dementia-Friendly Day and and enjoy the talents of numerous roving numerous arts & crafts workshops. street performers.

Vintage Family Fun Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, Sun 24 - Mon 25 May A nostalgic family fun day is on offer at Eastnor Castle this Spring Bank Holiday Stratford Literary Festival weekend. Vintage Family Fun features a Various locations around Stratford-upon- huge line-up of steam engines and a smaller Avon, until Sun 3 May model steam engine ride, as well as a pop- Stratford Literary Festival is one of the most up tea tent offering various refreshments. significant get-togethers of its kind in the UK. The giant garden games, carousel and Offering a fusion of celebrity-author events, swing chair are other vintage attractions for debates and workshops, this year’s festival visitors to enjoy features a plethora of big names - including Sooty’s Fun House four dames: Dame Harriet Walter, Dame Cadbury World, Birmingham, Jacqueline Wilson, Dame Antonia Fraser and Sat 9 - Sun 10 May Dame Wendy Hall. Izzy wizzy let’s get busy - by visiting Sooty’s Other highlights during the nine-day festival Fun House! Sooty, Sweep and Soo return include appearances by comedian Paul with a show that promises ‘magic, music and Merton, former political spin-doctor Alastair mayhem’, not to mention games, dancing, Campbell, actor Simon Russel Beale and singing, the appearance of a water pistol and Waterstones’ Book Of The Year winner plenty of prizes for the kids! Other fun activi- Jessie Burton. A selection of music-and-word ties available at Cadbury World include the events also features, as does the festival’s magical Cadabra Ride and meeting the well-established Children’s Day famous drumming gorilla. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 57 Events May Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:25 Page 5

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Events PREVIEWS Great Malvern Food Festival Great Malvern Priory Church, Sun 24 - Mon 25 May This foodtastic weekend is kicked off by the Malvern Munch Food Walk. Participants are invited to walk over and around the breath- taking Malvern Hills, stopping off to sample great local cuisine and listen to live music. Bank Holiday Monday’s Food Festival fea- tures over sixty food and drink stalls and demonstrations by Michelin-trained chef Jason Lynas. Gaydon Classic Car Show Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, Sun 24 May A brand new family-friendly event for 2015, the Gaydon Classic Car Show brings togeth- er an impressive array of classic vehicles, including sports cars, military machines and emergency services vehicles.The event also features numerous demonstrations and fully working fire truck pumps and military defences. Entry to the show includes admis- Museums At Night sion to the museum, home to the largest col- Various museums across the Midlands, Wed 13 - Sat 16 May lection of British cars in the world. This biannual event sees museums all over the UK throwing open their doors after hours, allowing visitors to explore the country’s rich and diverse culture in a different light (see what we’ve done there!). The evening events also provide the opportunity for real enthusiasts to indulge their particular interest in an atmosphere that’s calm and relaxing - not always possi- ble during normal opening hours. A total of twenty-one museums across the West Midlands are taking part in the event. Featured attractions include Murder Mystery nights, wartime music and entertainment, film screenings in spooky surroundings, and light painting on a boat underground. For more information or to run an event, visit museumsatnight.org.uk

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machines in their full working splendour, plus Chilli Festival - Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire Events LISTINGS visiting miniature engines brought by For full listing information on Events, steam enthusiasts, Sat including times and dates, visit 2 - Mon 4 May, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, www.whatsonlive.co.uk Shropshire PIRATE WEEKEND Pirates 2 May, Wolverhampton from invade Cadbury World Art Gallery for a weekend of DAWN CHORUS WALK FRI 1 MAY swashbuckling fun, Sat Join wildlife expert 2 - Mon 4 May, Ashley Grove for a walk AN HOUR OF EDWARDIAN Cadbury World, around Ragley estate, MUSIC HALL A nostalgic Birmingham identifying the sights journey back in time for DONNINGTON HISTORIC and sounds at dawn, an hour of music hall, FESTIVAL Featuring a Sat 2 May, Ragley Hall, Fri 1 May, Dudley Canal number of new attrac- Warwickshite and Limestone Mines tions, including the CITY WIDE TREASURE STRATFORD LITERARY Super Touring Car HUNT Secret, themed FESTIVAL One of the Trophy, Le Mans proto- event for all the family most significant get- types, single-seater rac- with a chance to win a togethers of its kind in ing cars and more, prize, Sat 2 May, the UK, until Sun 3 Sat 2 - Mon 4 May Broadgate, Coventry May, Various locations Donington Park Racing BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ in Stratford-upon-Avon Circuit SIGHTSEEING TOUR SCIENCE OF SOUND until HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Chocolate, custard, Fri 5 Jun, Symphony MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM The cars, whistles and ban- Hall, Birmingham truly gruesome sights, gles to the best in the CREATING REBECCA sounds and smells of world for science, med- Kneehigh Theatre Mediaeval England are icine, education, cul- Company discuss their brought back to life, ture, sport and art – creative process and Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Birmingham has it all, the making of Rebecca, Warwick Castle Sat 2 May, Victoria Sat 2 May, The REP, NEWCOMEN IN STEAM Square, Birmingham Birmingham The only full-sized ROLLING MILL Black Country Living most accessible track CHEEKI MONKEY’S BIG SATURDAY NIGHT working replica of the DEMONSTRATION Museum, Dudley time in the UK. Run BABY AND CHILDREN’S SPECIAL Run What Ya world's first steam Originally used to THE NATIONAL KIT CAR What Ya Brung offers MARKET Community Brung till late. Track engine, seen in action. amend and resize iron MOTOR SHOW A major you the chance to take events for the whole open from 9.30am-8pm Due to the unpre- bars, the Rolling Mill is show for the kit car your car or motorcycle family - buy and sell with evening entertain- dictable nature of the a typical Black Country industry, Sun 3 - Mon 4 out on the famous quality children’s toys, ment and camping, Sat Newcomen, please hand rolling mill from May, Stoneleigh Park, quarter-mile dragstrip clothes and equipment, 2 May, Santa Pod check running details around the 1900s, Sat Warwickshire and test its perform- Sun 3 May, Raceway, Northampton with the museum prior 2 May, Black Country RUN WHAT YA BRUNG ance limits in a safe Wolverhampton YOUNG ARTISTS Learn to travelling, to avoid Living Museum, Dudley Santa Pod Raceway in and legal environment, Racecourse new drawing, painting disappointment, BLISTS HILL IN STEAM Northamptonshire Sun 3 May, Santa Pod MUSEUM HERITAGE BUS and sculpture skills, Sat Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Collection of steam offers the cheapest and Raceway, Northampton TOUR Enjoy a ride on

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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]

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

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SPORTS & SALOON CAR event with live music, Coventry cars, whistles and ban- LISTINGS RACES Featuring a line- raffles and more, Wed ROLLING MILL gles to the best in the Events up dominated by 13 May, Coffin Works, DEMONSTRATION world for science, medi- Caterhams and tin Jewellery Quarter, Originally used to cine, education, culture, For full listing information on Events, tops, Sat 9 - Sun 10 Birmingham amend and resize iron sport and art – including times and dates, visit May, Donington Park HONDA RON HASLAM bars, the Rolling Mill is Birmingham has it all, Racing Circuit RACE SCHOOL The Ron a typical Black Country Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, www.whatsonlive.co.uk BRITISH MOTORCYCLE Haslam Race School hand rolling mill from Victoria Square, RACING CLUB The oldest offer the chance to ride around the 1900s, Sat Birmingham the Big Brum Open Top Museum, Bromsgrove and one of the biggest on an international rac- 16 May, Black Country A CLOSER LOOK A Buz and discover SPRING UP A bank holi- motorcycle racing ing circuit, Wed 13 May, Living Museum, Dudley chance to tour the Birmingham’s unique day celebration with clubs, Sat 9 - Sun 10 Donington Park Racing MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: CAR house by night, Sat 16 community museums, morris dancing, gar- May, Silverstone Circuit Circuit STORIES AT DUSK An May, Packwood House, Sun 3 May, Victoria dening demonstrations CLASSIC SPORTS CAR QUILTS UK Keen quilters exclusive out-of-hours Solihull Square, Birmingham and garden produce, CLUB Two exciting days get together to demon- experience, Sat 16 May, PEAK PERFORMANCE STRATFORD FESTIVAL OF Mon 4 May, Greyfriars of Classic Sports Car strate techniques, Heritage Motor Centre, TEST & TUNE DAY RWYB MOTORING 2015 House & Garden, Club action, Sat 9 - Sun Thurs 14 - Sun 17 May, Gaydon, Warwickshire with maximum track Featuring over three Worcestershire 10 May, Silverstone Three Counties RED BY NIGHT For one time for serious enthu- hundred classic cars, RHS MALVERN SPRING Circuit Showground, Malvern night only, the museum siasts. Car clubs, per- Sun 3 & Mon 4 May, FESTIVAL The Royal NATIONAL MILLS JEREMY DELLER IN recreates the industrial formance specialists Stratford Town Centre Horticultural show cele- WEEKEND The muse- CONVERSATION Artist might of the region, Sat and individuals all wel- WINGS FOR LIFE WORLD brates being the um’s windmill will be in Jeremy Deller in con- 16 May, Black Country come, Sun 17 May, RUN Sun 3 May, ‘Glastonbury of garden- operation (wind permit- versation about the Living Museum, Dudley Santa Pod Raceway, Silverstone Circuit ing’, Thurs 7 May - Sun ting!). Breadmaking in Love Is Enough exhibi- MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Northhampton MALVERN HILLS MORRIS 10 May, Three Counties the Toll House, where tion, Thurs 14 May, LIGHT PAINTING Joining NATIONAL GARDEN MINOR OWNER'S CLUB Showground, Malvern children can see the Birmingham Museum for the first time, Dudley SCHEME Sun 17 May, BRANCH RALLY BUILDBASE BEES V food chain of grain to And Art Gallery Canal Trust offers the Castle Bromwich Hall Featuring lots of Morris SWINDON Watch the flour to bread, Sat 9 - MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: chance for budding Gardens Minors, Sun 3 May, Buildbase Bess race Sun 10 May, Avoncroft GROWN-UP ADDITION photographers to SPRING EVENT Sun 17 Avoncroft Museum, against Swindon, Fri 8 Museum, Birmingham Featuring the chance to experiment with light May, Martineau Bromsgrove May, Brandon Stadium, NATIONAL VINTAGE explore dark spaces and shutter speeds. Gardens, Birmingham WINDMILL SAILING Coventry COMMUNICATION FAIR An with torches. Live Don’t forget your DSLR, PORSCHE 924 OWNERS (WEATHER PERMITTING) BLACKSMITH EXPERIENCE antique-type collectors’ music, life drawing and Sat 16 May, Dudley CLUB Up to fifty-five Specially trained volun- DAY A taster session fair specialising in early short screenings, Thurs Canal and Limestone Porsche 924s on dis- teers will be sailing providing an introduc- technology, Sun 10 14 May, The Herbert Art Mine play, Sun 17 May, Avoncroft’s windmill, tion to the forge, the May, Warwickshire Gallery, Coventry WORCESTER MOTOR Coventry Transport Sun 3 May, Avoncroft basic tools, and how to Exhibition Centre ARTIST-LED TOUR: NEW FESTIVAL Featuring Museum Museum, Bromsgrove use them, Sat 9 May, SHEPHERD & WILLIAMS ART WEST MIDLANDS around sixty-odd clas- GAYDON SPRING DISCOVER BEES AT Black Country Living ANTIQUES & COLLECTORS Join artists Reece sic and vintage cars, CLASSIC, GAYDON FRINGE CROOME Learn about Museum, Dudley FAIR Find something Kennedy and Lisa live music & roving AND CREAM TEA RUN A producing honey from POETRY WRITING perfect to complement Marie Williams for a dis- street performers, popular gathering of the lead beekeeper in WORKSHOP A day of your home, wardrobe cussion about their Sat 16 May, various vehicles over twenty the beehives at West writing poetry with Dave or collection, Sun 10 work, Fri 15 May, locations in and around years old, Sun 17 May, Field Farm, Sun 3 May, Reeves, built on the May, Wolverhampton Birmingham Museum Worcester Heritage Motor Centre, Croome Park, environment of the Racecourse And Art Gallery MUSEUMS AT NIGHT 2015 Gaydon, Warwickshire Warwickshire museum, Sat 9 May, TOLKIEN & HOBBIT BUS MUSEUMS AT NIGHT Solve the clues to dis- A PLEASANT SUNDAY CHILLI FESTIVAL A Black Country Living TOUR Celebrate Middle Watch Night At The cover who the murderer AFTERNOON Join the unique event celebrat- Museum, Dudley Earth weekend with a Museum and then is, Sat 16 May, The Friends of the Black ing the different MARDI GRAS PARTY tour highlighting the explore the grounds of Elgar Birthplace Country Living Museum flavours of all things NIGHT A premier party area around Sarehole the museum after dark. Museum, Worcester in the quaint nineteenth chilli... Cookery theatre, race day with a carnival Mill which is said to All buildings are lit with NEWCOMEN IN STEAM century Providence life music, entertain- atmosphere, Sat 9 May, have been the model candlelight, Fri 15 May, The only full-sized chapel and celebrate ment and a chilli-eating Warwick Racecourse for The Shire - the Avoncroft Museum, working replica of the the work of John competition also fea- COVENTRY TRANSPORT home of the Hobbits, Bromsgrove world's first steam Blackham, who set out ture, Sun 3 - Mon 4 MUSEUM CLASSIC CAR Sun 10 May, Victoria REAL ALE FESTIVAL The engine can be seen in to lighten and brighten May, Eastnor Castle BREAKFAST CLUB A Square, Birmingham first real ale festival to action. Due to the worship in the mid- Deer Park, chance to show off ROVER P4 GUILD be held at Highbury unpredictable nature of 1870s. Limited seating, Herefordshire your classic car and/or NATIONAL RALLY Hall, featuring ales from the Newcomen, please please call to book, BRITISH FALCONRY AND motorcycle, Sat 9 May, Featuring Rover Models local breweries from check running details Sun 17 May, Black COUNTRY FAIR Sun 3 - Coventry Transport from the 1950s and around the West with the museum prior Country Living Mon 4 May, Chetwynd Museum 1960s, Sun 10 May, Midlands. With live to travelling, to avoid Museum, Dudley Park, Newport, BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ Avoncroft Museum, music and ploughman's disappointment. MG CAR CLUB: MGC Shropshire SIGHTSEEING TOUR Bromsgrove platters, Fri 15 May, Sat 16 May RALLY Featuring some Chocolate, custard, UBER 200-100 CYCLING Highbury Hall, Moseley, Black Country Living of the best-surviving cars, whistles and ban- Week Commencing EVENT The super-chal- Birmingham Museum, Dudley modes of the classic gles to the best in the lenging cycle event to THE BABY SHOW Fri 15 - HERITAGE WEEKEND sports car, Sun 17 May, MON 4 MAY world for science, medi- get your legs burning! Sun 17 May, NEC, Listen to informative Avoncroft Museum, cine, education, culture, Sun 10 May, Stoneleigh Birmingham talks about the Cadbury Bromsgrove BUILDBASE BEES V LAKE- sport and art – Park, Warwickshire RUN WHAT YA BRUNG family before taking a REMEMBERING THE 40S SIDE HAMMERS Watch Birmingham has it all, The chance to take stroll around the his- Re-live life during the the Buildbase Bees Sat 9 May, Victoria your car or motorcycle toric Bournville Village, Second World War with race against Lakeside Square, Birmingham Week Commencing out on the famous Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, displays, en-enact- Hammers, Mon 4 May, SPRING WEDDING MON 11 MAY quarter-mile dragstrip Cadbury World, ments and activities, Brandom Stadium, Celebrate a traditional and test its perform- Birmingham Sun 17 May, Forge Mill Coventry Victorian spring wed- FULKE GREVILLE A talk ance limits in a safe NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE Needle Museum, MAY DAY AT THE ding with the residents on the Elizabethan and legal environment, RACES The chance for Redditch MUSEUM of Blists Hill Victorian courtier, statesman and Sat 16 May, Santa Pod beginners and experi- TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Take part in the May Town, Sat 9 - Sun 10 poet Sir Fulke Greville, Raceway enced racers to race on Fair held in Avon Hall, Day celebration, with May, Blists Hill, Mon 11 May, MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: the track, Sat 16 - Sun entrance via Brown Maypole dancers Ironbridge, Shropshire Warwickshire County POST WAR PARTY 17 May, Donington Park Cafe, Sun 17 May, demonstrating an age- SOOTY'S FUN HOUSE Records Office Commemorating the Racing Circuit Three Counties old tradition, in Folkes's Direct from CITV, Sooty CARL NIELSEN - THE seventieth anniversary UK SLOT CAR FESTIVAL A Showground, Malvern Park, Mon 4 May, Black returns to Cadbury DANISH ELGAR An explo- of VE Day with themed weekend of showcas- Country Living World with a fabulous ration of Nielson's life activities, live music, ing the world of Museum, Dudley new show to delight the Week Commencing and music, and com- dancing & refresh- Scaletric, Sat 16 - Sun FAMILY FUN DAY - whole family, parisons with Elgar, ments. Attendees are 17 May, Heritage Motor MON 18 MAY PIRATES & PRINCESSES Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Tues 12 May, The Elgar encouraged to dress in Centre, Gaydon, Family fun and chil- Cadbury World, Birthplace Museum, period costume, Sat 16 Warwickshire HERBERT ILLUMINATION: dren's entertainment, Birmingham Worcester May, Royal Pump HISTORIC SPORTS CAR NEW ART WEST Mon 4 May, Warwick 1940S WEEKEND A LADIES CHARITY LUNCH Rooms, Leamington CLUB - INTERNATIONAL MIDLANDS CURATORS Racecourse themed event featuring A lunchtime event to Spa TROPHY An event for TOUR With Lisa TRADITIONAL MAY DAY music, a wedding shop, raise funds to refurbish MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: nostalgia buffs and Beauchamp, May Day celebration American army the glasshouse and FAMILY EDITION Work race enthusiasts, Sat 16 Birmingham Museum's with maypole dancing, encampment and add new attractions, together to investigate - Sun 17 May, curator of modern and country crafts, music, wartime military vehi- Wed 13 May, a crime that’s taken Silverstone Circuit contemporary art, Tues food and traditional cles, Sat 9 - Sun 10 Birmingham Botanical place in the museum, BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ 19 May, Herbert Art morris dancing, Mon 4 May, Castle Bromwich Gardens Sat 16 May, The SIGHTSEEING TOUR Gallery & Museum, May, Avoncroft Hall Gardens MINI FEST A charity Herbert Art Gallery, Chocolate, custard, Coventry www.whatsonlive.co.uk 63 Events May Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:25 Page 11

how many of the ‘fifty Family Activities - Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Warwickshire things to do before Events LISTINGS you're 11 and 3/4’ you can tick off, Sat 23 - For full listing information on Events, Sun 31 May, Packwood including times and dates, visit House, Solihull LET'S GET SPORTY! www.whatsonlive.co.uk Outdoor games guar- anteed to get the heart THE ARDENCOTE LADIES CROFT A weekend of racing, with costumed DAY A glamorous day talks and displays on demonstrators on hand featuring various com- the First World War with to help you have some petitions, champagne re-enactors bringing the old-fashioned fun, Sat bars and lots of glam- past to life, Sat 23 - Sun 23 - Sun 31 May, Black our, Wed 20 May, 24 May, Croft Castle Country Living Warwick Racecourse BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ Museum, Dudley BRIGHTWELLS PERFORM- SIGHTSEEING TOUR MAY HALF TERM ANCE HORSE & PONY Chocolate, custard, ACTIVITIES Explore the SALE Sale of proven cars, whistles and ban- gardens and join in the and potential horses gles to the best in the activities this half term, and ponies. Wed 20 world for science, medi- Sat 23 - Fri 29 May, May, Three Counties cine, education, culture, Upton House & Showground, Malvern sport and art – Gardens, Warwickshire PRO PEAK PERFORMANCE Birmingham has it all, HORRIBLE HISTORIES: TEST & TUNE DAY Only Sat 23 - Sun 24 May, MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM open to racers entered Victoria Square, The truly gruesome into the FIA Birmingham sights, sounds and Championship event, QUEEN VICTORIA'S smells of Mediaeval large outside pitches SELLY MANOR An excit- at the Savoy - and how Thurs 21 May, Santa BIRTHDAY Celebrate England are brought selling everything and ing talk about the build- Sipsmith fits into the Pod Raceway, Queen Victoria’s birth- back to life, Sat 23 - anything! Mon 25 May, ing’s medieval origins picture, Sat 30 May, Old Northampton day, Sat 23 - Sun 31 Sun 31 May, Warwick Three Counties and its move to its cur- Joint Stock Theatre, ENI FIM SUPERBIKE May, Blists Hill, iron- Castle Showground, Malvern rent Bournville site, Birmingham WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS bridge, Shropshire HORRIBLE HISTORIES: DRESSING UP BOX Dress Wed 27 May, Selly DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL Catch all the live World ANCIENT OCEANS A host WICKED WARWICK New up with a range of Manor, Birmingham The Brindleyplace Superbike action over of exciting activities, for 2015, Horrible props from the RSC STAGE FIGHTING Learn Dragonboat Festival is the bank holiday week- workshops and talks. Histories bring Wicked costume store, Mon 25 how to stage fight from one of the best known end, Fri 22 - Sun 24 Join in the archaeologi- Warwick back to life, - Sun 31 May, Royal the RSC experts. and most-established May, Donington Park cal digs with Dr Dug, Sat 23 May - Sun 6 Shakespeare Theatre, Suitable for adults and annual corporate Racing Circuit Sat 23 - Sun 31 May, Sep, Warwick Castle Stratford-upon-Avon children, Wed 27 May, fundraising events in FIA/FIM EUROPEAN National Sea Life FAMILY WORKSHOP: THE SPRING BANK HOLIDAY: Clore Learning Centre, Birmingham, Sat 30 CHAMPIONSHIPS - MAIN Centre, Birmingham MERCHANT OF VENICE A ONCE UPON A TIME... A Stratford-upon-Avon May, Brindleyplace, EVENT Santa Pod’s flag- FAMILY FUN DAYS Get fun family workshop family day out with a SINGING WORKSHOP Birmingham ship championship outside and explore the where you’ll work as an fairytale theme, Mon 25 Sing with the RSC MEET THE LACEMAKERS event, attracting over gardens and estate at actor does. Suitable for May, Avoncroft voice coach. Suitable A chance to meet the two hundred-and-fifty of Baddesley, Sat 23 - Sun ages eight and over, Museum, Bromsgrove for ages eight and over, lacemakers whose Europe’s top drag rac- 31 May, Baddesley Sat 23 May, Clore HALF-TERM FUN Mon 25 Wed 27 May, Royal work makes up the cur- ing teams. The event Clinton, Warwickshire Learning Centre, RST, - Fri 29 May, Shakespeare Theatre, rent exhibition, Sat 30 includes 300mph Top LEMUR WEEK A week of Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham Botanical Stratford-upon-Avon May, Forge Mill Needle Fuel Dragsters, FIM Lemur-based talks and MAY HALF TERM: THE Gardens FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: Museum, Redditch Drag Bikes, jet cars, air activities to highlight STORY OF CHILDREN’S SPEAKING SHAKESPEARE MAY MADNESS Make a COVENTRY MOTOFEST displays, stunts, mon- the park's conservation TELEVISION A week of Perform some of jester's stick to take Celebrating the her- ster trucks, traders, work to save species events to celebrate the Shakespeare’s speech- home, and follow the itage, endeavours and sideshows and more such as the Great launch of the new es like a pro! Suitable trail to find out about exciting future of per- family entertainment, Fri Bamboo Lemur and Children’s Television for ages eight and over, celebrations in Tudor sonal transport, Fri 29 - 22 - Mon 25 May, Santa Sifaka from extinction, exhibition, Sat 23 - Sun Tues 26 May, Clore times, Thurs 28 May, Sun 31 May, Coventry Pod Raceway, Sat 23 - Sun 31 May, 31 May, The Herbert Art Learning Centre, Blakesley Hall, City Centre Northampton Cotswold Wildlife Park Gallery, Coventry Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ THE MAIN EVENT (THAI FAMILY FUN DAYS - MAY GAYDON CLASSIC CAR THE STORY GARDEN WHAT'S IN THE SIGHTSEEING TOUR BOXING) The UK's HALF TERM May half- SHOW A brand new Enjoy performing parts GARDEN?Explore the Chocolate, custard, longest-standing and term family fun, with event bringing together of a Shakespeare play, gardens and discover cars, whistles and ban- premier Thai Boxing outdoor games, a trail and highlighting some Tues 26 May - Wed 27 the beasts and birds gles to the best in the promotion, featuring the around the grounds of the best classics May, Clore Learning that live there, Thurs 28 world for science, medi- world's best fighters and a chance to see ever made, Sun 24 Centre, Stratford-upon- - Sun 31 May, The cine, education, culture, and global stars in front how many of the fifty May, Heritage Motor Avon Elgar Birthplace sport and art – of the biggest crowds. things to do before Centre, Gaydon, COLOURFUL GAMES OF Museum, Worcester Birmingham has it all, A must-see event on you're 11 and 3/4 you Warwickshire THE WORLD Make a BLOOD, GUTS & GORE Sat 30 - Sun 31 May, the combat sports cal- can tick off, Sat 23 - CLASSIC CAR AND colourful game inspired Join the former head of Victoria Square, endar. Fireworks, Sun 31 May, Coughton TRANSPORT SHOW by a map of the world. RSC make-up as she Birmingham pyrotechnics, lasers & Court, Warwickshire Featuring over six hun- Booking required, Tues demonstrates how CLASSIC FORD SHOW dancers also feature, MAY HALF TERM AT dred vintage and clas- 26 May, bruises, cuts & scars The UK's premier clas- Sat 23 May, SHAKESPEARE'S FAMILY sic cars, Sun 24 - Mon Wolverhampton Art are created, Fri 29 May, sic Ford event, featur- Barclaycard Arena, HOMES There’s family- 25 May, Ragley Hall, Gallery Royal Shakespeare ing drag strip action, Birmingham friendly fun on offer Warwickshire SPRING HALF TERM: Theatre, Stratford-upon- huge club car displays SCRUFFS DOG SHOW across Shakespeare's VINTAGE FAMILY FUN A ...HAPPILY EVER AFTER Avon and more, Sun 31 May, Dogs of all ages and family homes this day packed with nostal- Craft activities and sto- JINNEY RING BEER AND Santa Pod Raceway, abilities are welcome to school holiday, Sat 23 - gia, including a Punch rytelling with a fairytale BLUES FESTIVAL Full Northampton take part. All monies Sun 31 May, & Judy show, impres- theme, Tues 26 - Thurs line-up to be EXTREME STUNT SHOW raised go to a chosen Shakespeare's sive displays of steam 28 May, Avoncroft announced soon, Fri 29 The Extreme Stunt charity, Sat 23 May, Birthplace; Mary engines, a vintage Museum, Bromsgrove - Sun 31 May, The Show team visit Cotswold Wildlife Park Arden's Farm; Hall's carousel, a model CRAFT WORKSHOP: VENE- Jinney Ring Craft Beckett's Farm with DISCOVER RAG RUGGING Croft; Harvard House & steam engine and pony TIAN MASQUERADE Centre, Worcestershire monster trucks and Join the craft specialists The Museum of British rides, Sun 24 - Mon 25 MASKS Design carnival RUN WHAT YA BRUNG A daredevil acts, Sun 31 to learn the art of rag Pewter, Stratford-upon- May, Eastnor Castle masks inspired by tradi- chance to take your car May, Beckett's Farm, rug, Sat 23 May, Avon Deer Park, tional costumes from or motorcycle out on Wythall, Birmingham Birmingham Back to MAY HALF TERM FAMILY Herefordshire Venice, Tues 26 - Fri 29 the famous quarter-mile SPRING FLOWER Backs FUN From Lego to A VERY VICTORIAN DAY May, RST, Stratford- dragstrip and test its FESTIVAL Orchid and BLANCPAIN ENDURANCE paper - design, build OUT Take a trip back to upon-Acon performance limits in a cactus displays situated SERIES The world's best and test-drive your own Witley's Victorian SECRETS FROM THE RSC safe and legal environ- in the Garden and supported GT3 racing car, Sat 23 - Sun 31 heydey, Sun 24 - Mon COLLECTION Explore a ment, Sat 30 May, Terrace Suites, Sun 31 series, Sat 23 - Sun 24 May, Heritage Motor 25 May, Witley Court, selection of rarely dis- Santa Pod Raceway, May, Birmingham May, Silverstone Circuit Centre, Gaydon, Worcester played props, cos- Northampton Botanical Gardens YOUNG DRIVER Driver Warwickshire tumes and accessories GIN TASTING WITH THE HISTORIC MARATHON training course aimed FAMILY FUN DAYS - MAY from the RSC SIPSMITH Hear about RALLY SHOW A celebra- at eleven to seventeen- HALF TERM May half- Week Commencing Collection, Tues 26 - the history of gin in tion of human and year-olds, Sat 23 May, term family fun, with MON 25 MAY Wed 27 May, Royal London, from its che- motoring endeavour, Three Counties outdoor games, a trail Shakespeare Theatre, quered past of Mother's Sun 31 May, Heritage Showground, Malvern around the grounds FLEA FAIR Three hun- Stratford-upon-Avon Ruin & Dutch Courage Motor Centre, Gaydon, FIRST WORLD WAR AT and the chance to see dred stallholders and THE LOST HISTORY OF to the cocktail heyday Warwickshire

64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out May region one.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:21 Page 1 Eating Out Brum’s Foodies Festival The UK’s biggest nationwide food and drink festi- val comes to Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park from Fri 15 to Sun 17 May. Featuring pop-up restau- rants, a tasting theatre, street food, artisan pro- duce, children’s cookery, a BBQ arena, demon- strations from top chefs and, of course, the feast- ing tent, the festival offers three days-worth of stuffing your face with all the culinary delights you could wish for. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.foodiesfestival.com

Pop-up burger joint launched Award-winning Birmingham steak restaurant Anderson’s Bar & Grill is set to preview its new pop-up ‘burger joint’ this month. And the steak specialists are even providing an Flower power in Birmingham accompanying lunchtime delivery service throughout Birmingham! REVIEW have to wait for another deli items to mix and While the search for a permanent city centre loca- day. match into your own plat- tion continues, the pop-up burger joint will be If you’re a beer person, ter (£9.95), but we went based within the St Paul’s Square-located restau- The Botanist has only there’s another lengthy for the more substantial rant itself. been open a few weeks - menu. If undecided, sim- gammon cutlet (£12.50) Anderson’s will be previewing its new creations at and judging by the crowds ply have both. The and chicken & chorizo pie the Foodie Festival (see above) from Fri 15 to spilling out on to the pave- Botanist has crafted three (£10.95), both of which Sun 17 May. ment early on a Friday miniature cocktails to were fine. We could have night, it’s having no prob- complement craft beers - gone for the Hanging lems making its presence so a bottle of Innis and Kebabs (£10.95, and known. Gunn Rum Finish ale they’ve gone to the trouble Part of a portfolio of bar- comes with a Number One of trademarking them), a restaurants owned by (mint, lime, passion fruit, fiddly but fun contraption Manchester-based Living pineapple and Wray & that bastes your dinner Ventures, it looks set to Nephew rum). with garlic butter at the blow a hurricane of fresh After that lot you’ll be table. air through Birmingham’s needing dinner to soak up Desserts are old-school post-work cocktail scene. the booze. We watched and substantial; the tradi- Don’t expect to find any ours being prepared by an tional trifle sundae (£4.95), boring old B52s or army of chefs in the open complete with sprinkles, Street banquets come to Digbeth margheritas: the over- kitchen. We found our- was easily enough for two. whelmingly huge botani- selves sympathising with The Botanist: it’s busy, it’s Digbeth’s Victorian viaducts are getting a cally-inspired drinks menu one young man whose noisy, it’s fun and the serv- makeover this month thanks to Lab 11’s new includes Rose Mai Tai sole job for the evening ice is great. Just watch out Street Banquet venture - a brand new casual din- (pink rose buds with rum, was to fry chips for the for hangovers. ing experience. almond and rose syrup, hordes. He did a good job Using upcycled materials including pallets, scaf- lime juice and rose - they came to the table Food: n n n n n fold boards and oil barrels, the banquet initiative liqueur) and Bloody hot and crisp, seasoned to Service: n n n n n brings together the best of the UK’s street food Porcini (garlic chive, micro within an inch of their lives Ambience: n n n n n traders. celery, porcini syrup, with garlic, herbs and salt. Overall value n n n n n Featured delights include produce from tomato juice, gin and The menu is posh pub- OVERALL n n n n n Harborne’s Butcher’s Social, Spectacular Goat’s lime). grub: the homemade wood-fired pizzas, burgers from The Flying Cow, Of the sixteen gins on Scotch egg (£5.95) came The Botanist quirky pies from Pietantic, South African cuisine offer I opted for the warm with piccalilli. Salt- 14-16 Temple Street from Savannah Grill and pancakes from the Hoxtons, which came gar- and-pepper onion petals Birmingham, Victorian Creperie. nished with grapefruit and (£3.50), meanwhile, are B2 5BG With children and families welcome, this new coconut to complement 2015’s answer to the Tel: 0121 600 7430 trend in casual dining is a great way to enjoy a the nutty flavours. The soggy onion ring. selection of top quality food and drink. cherry blossom martini will There’s an extensive list of

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out May region one.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 19:23 Page 2

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, Nuneaton, 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, Marmalade, Broad Street, Birmingham 643 3443 0121 233 2277 0121 643 0214 CV37 8NY BARAJEE 265 Broad EASTZEAST 167 Broad POPPY RED Arcadian 01789 450414 PREZZO 1-3 High St, Brockencote Hall Hotel, Street, B1 2DS 0121 643 Street, Birmingham, B15 Centre, Birmingham, B5 BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St, Warwick, CV34 4AP Kidderminster, DY10 4PY 6699 1AY, 0121 643 4808 4TD 0121 687 1200 Coventry, CV1 3BA 024 01926 475867 01562 777876 BELLA ITALIA 102 New EDMUNDS 6 Brindley PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall 7622 9274 RESTAURANT 23 34 THE CHASE INN Chase Rd, Street, B2 4HQ 0121 place, B1 2JB 0121 633 St, B3 2DH 0121 212 CARLUCCIOS 13 Waterside, Hamilton Terrace, Holly Upper Colwall, Malvern, 643 1548 4944 9799 Stratford-Upon-Avon, Walk, Leamington Spa, WR13 6DQ 01684 BERLIOZ Burlington FIESTA DEL ASADO 229 PURNELL’S BISTO 11 CV37 6BA 01789 267424 CV32 4LY 01926 422422 540276 Arcade, New St, B2 4JQ Hagley Road, Newhall Street, B3 3NY, CATALAN 6 Jury St , RISTORANTE DA VINCI 50 CHESTERS 51 New St, 0121 633 1737 Birmingham, B16 9RP 0121 2000 1588 Warwick, CV34 4EW Earlsdon Street, Coventry, Worcester, WR1 2DL BLUE GINGER 32 Poplar, 0121 445 9331 RAJDOOT TANDOORI 78 - 01926 498 930 CV5 6EJ 024 7671 3554 01905 611638 Rd, Kings Heath, B14 FLEET STREET KITCHEN 79 George St, B31 1PY THE CHURCH STREET ROBBIE’S RESTAURANT 74 CROWN & SANDYS 7AD 0121 444 0999 Fleet Street, Islington 0121 236 1116 TOWNHOUSE 16 Church Smith Street, CV34 4HU Main Rd, Ombersley, BLUE MANGO Regency Gates, B3 1JH 0121 236 THE RECTORY 50-54 St Street, Stratford-upon- 01926 400470 WR9 0EW 01905 62025 Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS 0100 Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS Avon, CV37 6HB 01789 ROOFTOP RESTAURANT EWE AND LAMB Hanbury 0121 633 4422 ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 0121 605 1001 262222 @ The RST, Waterside, Road, Bromsgrove, B60 BLUE PIANO RESTAURANT 1JL 0121 212 3383 RED PEPPERS 117 COOMBE ABBEY Brinklow Stratford-upon-Avon, 4DN 01527 871 929 AND BAR 24-26 Harborne JAMIE’S ITALIAN Middle Wharfside St, B1 1RF Road, Coventry, CV3 2AB CV37 6BB 01789 403449 THE FIG TREE 99 Church Rd, B15 3AA 0121 454 Mall, Bullring Shopping 0121 643 4202 024 7645 0450 SAFFRON GOLD Market St, Street, Gt Malvern, WR14 6877 Centre, B5 4BE SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, CROSSED KHUKRIS GURKHA Westgate House, 2AE 01684 569909 0121 270 3610 BUONISSIMO 1 Albany B2 5BN 0121 633 0251 115 Abbey Street, Warwick, CV34 4DE FUSION BRASSERIE Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX JIMMY SPICES Regency SHIMLA PINKS 215 Broad Nuneaton, CV11 5BX 024 01926 402061 Hawbridge, Stoulton, 0121 426 2444 Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS St, B15 1AY 0121 633 7634 4488 THE SAXON MILL Worcester, WR7 4RJ CAFE OPUS 1 Oozells 0121 643 2111 0366 EDWARD MOON 9 Chapel Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe, 01905 840647 Square, Brindleyplace, LAS IGUANAS Arcadian SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield Street, Stratford-upon- Warwick, CV34 5YN THE INN AT STONEHALL B1 2HS 0121 248 3226 Centre, Hurst St, B5 4TD Rd, Edgbaston, B13 Avon, CV37 6EP 01789 01926 492 255 Stonehall Common, CAFE SAFFRON 0121 622 4466 3DU 0121 454 3434 267069 TAILORS 22 Market Place, Worcester, WR5 3QG Wolverhampton Road, LASAN 3-4 Dakota THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, EGO 29 The Square, Warwick, CV34 4SL 01905820462 Kenilworth, CV8 1EF Oldbury, B69 4RR Buildings, James St, St Brindley Place, 01926 410590 KING CHARLES II King Paul’s Square, B3 1SD 01926 864463 0121 552 1752 Birmingham, B1 2HL Charles House, New St, 0121 212 3664 THE TREVELYAN Warwick CARLUCCIO’S The Water’s 0121 633 3049 THE ENCORE Bridge Street, Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, WR1 2D THE LOFT LOUNGE Edge, Brindleyplace, STRADA 109-111 Stratford upon Avon, CV37 ONR 01789 295252 01905 22449 143 Bromsgrove St, B1 2HP 0121 633 9262 Wharfside St, The CV37 6AB 01789 269462 B5 6RG 0121 622 2444 THE VINE INN 86 - 88 West L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51 CENTENARY BAR & Mailbox, B1 1XL FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd, St, Warwick, CV34 6AW Graham Rd, Malvern, THE LOST & FOUND BRASSERIE Broad Street, 0121 643 7279 Henley in Arden, B95 07873 219005 WR14 2HU 01684 8 Bennetts Hill, B2 5RS B1 2EP 0121 245 2080 5QR 01564 793783 572427 0121 643 9293 TGI FRIDAYS 180 Hagley WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith CHI BAR & GRILL 61 Road, Edgbaston, B16 FIVE RIVERS 20-22 Victoria LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower LOVES The Glasshouse, Street, CV34 4HS 01926 Newhall Street, B3 3RB 9NY 0121 454 1930 Terrace, Leamington Spa, 491736 Mill Street, Browning St, B16 8FL CV31 3AB 01926 431999 0121 233 3150 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, ZIZZI 85-87 Regent Kidderminster, DY11 0121 454 5151 HIGH PAVEMENT BAR & DIN- CHIMICHANGA 41 Mill Lane B1 2HL 0121 643 3993 Square House, Parade, 6UU 01562 744976 MECHU 47 - 59 Summer ING 3 High Street, CV34 Arcade, Touchwood, TURTLE BAY 81-91 John Leamington Spa, CV32 MAEKONG THAI 12 Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212 4AP 01926 494725 Solihull, B91 3GS 0121 Bright Street, B1 1BL 4NL 01926 432532 Worcester Road, 704 0749 1661 HELP OUT MILL Heather Bromsgrove, B61 7AE METRO BAR & GRILL THE VAULTS Newhall CHUNG YING 73 Rd, Shakerstone, 01527 578888 Cornwall St, B3 2DF Place, Newhall Hill, 16-18 Wrottersley Street, Nuneaton, CV13 0BT Worcestershire MASSALLA LOUNGE 0121 200 1911 B1 3JH 0121 212 9837 35 01530 260666 Broad St, Worcester, INDIA RED 25 Abbey ANAKARALI 47 The Tythings, Worcester, WR1 WR1 3NH 01905 Street, Nuneaton, CV11 729955 5BX 024 7634 2090 1JT 01905 21412 ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St, MUG HOUSE Claines LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans Lane, Worcester, WR3 Nest, Bridgford, Stratford Worcester, WR1 3QT (EST 86) 7RN 01905 456649 upon Avon, CV37 7LT 01905 731131 ON THE ROCKS 44 THE DINNER CLUB 01789 264804 ANUPAM 85 Church A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY Worcester Road, MALLORY COURT Harbury Street, Malvern, WR14 2AE 01684 573814 Bromsgrove, B61 7AE Lane, Leamington Spa, 01527 882412 CV33 9QB, 01926 330214 BACCHUS 44 Worcester SINGLE? PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower MATRICARDIS 97 High St, Road, Bromsgrove, B61 0TA 01527 877557 Mill Street, For the more discerning Henley in Arden, B95 5AT Kidderminster, 01564 792735 BENEDICTOS 34 Sidbury, DY11 6UU 01562 60479 unattached person, age 40+ Worcester, WR1 2HZ MERCHANTS Swan Street, PORTWAY ITALIAN, 01905 21444 Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie Warwick, CV34 4BJ Alcester Rd, Redditch, 01926 403833 BINDLES BAR & BRASSERIE B48 7HT 01564 824794 balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. 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66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk p67 (IBC) R1.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:51 Page 1 grand_whatson FP May:Layout 1 27/04/2015 10:44 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 13 - SAT 16 MAY MON 18 - SAT 23 MAY TUES 2 - WED 3 JUNE

FRI 5 JUNE SAT 6 JUNE SUN 7 JUNE Nights oN broadway

the bee gees story

‘Spellbinding fusion of acoustic guitar, rhythm, songs, handclapping and ignitable dance’ The Guardian Now, come aNd see their story live oN stage

TUES 9 - SAT 13 JUNE SUN 14 JUNE SAT 20 JUNE

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