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Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 366 JUNE 2016

Worcestershire ’ MAMMA MIA COMES TO THE MIDLANDS WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On worcestershirewhatson.co.uk

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Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

KING LEAR MICHAEL PENNINGTON STARS IN SHAKESPEARE’S GREATEST TRAGEDY Birmingham Conservatoire (FP- May 16).qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 17:37 Page 1 Contents June Warwickshire/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 16:17 Page 1

June 2016

Contents

Mamma Mia! - smash hit musical arrives in the Midlands page 32

The Country Doctor Rihanna Matt Forde the list

leaving audiences in stitches Rude Boy star at the topical stand-up and political Your 16-page at The Belgrade Ricoh Arena debate at Stratford Artshouse week-by-week listings guide page 8 page 14 page 25 page 51

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4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 24. Comedy 32. Theatre 38. Film 40. Visual Arts 45. Events

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Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Whats On Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 MAGAZINE GROUP Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Adam Jaremko, Kathryn Ewing, David Vincent, Eva Easthope Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD June Warwicks & Worcs Only.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 16:20 Page 1

First Word

Can fairy rave magic open Stratford’s ancient portal?

A band of poets and adventurers are asking for help from mem- bers of the general public ‘to unblock a fairy portal’. Theatre makers including the companies Slung Low, Rash Dash, and the School of Night are spending a week at the site of ‘an ancient fairy portal’ in Stratford-upon-Avon’s Avonbank Gardens, creating and then performing a ‘magical’ ceremony. The fun notion behind the idea is that the world is in imbalance, with seasons altered and the seas rising, and that the portal- opening ceremony will restore the natural order of things. The participating companies will be offering visitors the chance to take part in all sorts of creative tasks. Activities include wil- low work, poetry classes, costume making, singing, improvisa- tion and writing workshops. There’s also the chance to dance around a bonfire at the Rash Dash Fairy Rave, as well as to enjoy the companies’ nightly performances, bringing together song, dance, drama, poetry and a mechanical dolphin! The free-of-charge event takes place at the Gardens from 19 to 25 June. For more information, visit rsc.org.uk/events/fairy-portal- camp

Coventry cranks up its City of Moseley Folk Culture bid at Godiva Festival on the BBC BBC WM will provide cov- erage of Birmingham’s Moseley Folk Festival this summer. The popular local radio station is championing the event under the umbrella of BBC Music, as part of what’s being termed ‘a one-stop shop for the festi- val experience’. Arts Centre to host one- BBC Music will also be cov- day creativity symposium ering a further 41 UK festi- This year’s Godiva Festival will see Coventry crank up vals. A one-day interdisciplinary event exploring its bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021. “Local Radio has a history ‘the use of digital, interactive and networked A host of performances in one of the festival’s tents will of covering and champi- technologies in the creative process’ is taking provide visitors with a flavour of the city’s arts and cul- oning local events that are place at Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry this ture. important to communities month. “The time is right to really take the bid to a place that across the country,” says The Random String Symposium (10 June) brings the whole of Coventry together,” says Laura David Holdsworth, brings together leading thinkers and practi- McMillan, City of Culture Trust manager, “and the Controller of BBC English tioners from the worlds of visual arts, music, Godiva Festival is definitely the right place to do that.” Regions. “Partnering with dance, theatre, participatory arts and con- The festival takes place in Coventry from Friday 1 to BBC Music on this project temporary crafts. Sunday 3 July, with the Coventry’s Got Culture event is incredibly exciting and In addition to the Symposium, a micro festi- being held on the final day. means that audiences all val exploring technology in art takes place in over the country can enjoy Coventry’s City Arcade and recently opened the best bits of a diverse FabLab on 10 &11 June. The event presents a range of festivals.” programme of free, hands-on activities and The Moseley Folk Festival installations suitable for all ages to enjoy. takes place from 2 to 4 September.

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Entertainment news from around the region

Royal family Worcester artist makes to feature at curatorial debut at BMAG Worcestershire Worcester-born artist John Stezaker makes his curato- festival rial debut at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery this summer with a new exhibition, Turning To See: From The charming and quintessentially Van Dyck To Lucian Freud. English village of Broadway, locat- The exhibition forms part of a national tour of Van ed at the foot of Worcestershire’s Cotswolds hills, hosts its fourth arts Dyck’s last and greatest self-portrait. It features paint- festival from the 3rd to the 19th of ings, drawings, photographs and sketches from artists this month. past and present, displayed alongside new and exist- Debuting in 2010, the biennial ing work by the internationally renowned Stezaker. event this year features talks, gar- The artist is highly regarded for his collages, which den tours, music performances make use of photographs, postcards and vintage and a selection of art shows and masterclasses. It also includes an movie stills. exhibition of photographs by Commenting on the exhibition, Stezaker said: “I’ve Patrick Lichfield, among which are always been fascinated by self-portraits: the artist famous images of celebrities and watching themselves watching. The necessary act of members of the royal family, as turning between the canvas and the mirror creates the well as examples of his work for figure of the painter between worlds - capturing the calendars and advertisements. memory of the image as the artist turns from reflec- tion to his work.” Cocktails inspired The exhibition shows until Sunday 4 September. For by the Bard more details, visit birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag

Theatre lovers and cocktail drinkers take note: The Royal Shakespeare Company is currently hosting a series of special cocktail masterclasses at its Rooftop Be inspired Who is Capability Brown? Restaurant bar in Stratford-upon- in Brum A new film is set to help people learn about legendary 18th centu- Avon. ry English landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The masterclasses explain how to mix the perfect drink and will also The five-minute animation has been commissioned by the include plenty of fascinating facts Capability Brown Festival to celebrate this year’s 300th anniver- about the history of cocktail-mak- sary of the Royal Gardener’s birth. ing. They follow on from the RSC’s Commenting on the film, which has been made by production creation of Shakespeare-inspired company Cosmic Carrot, Capability Brown Festival Director Ceryl cocktails designed to celebrate Evans said: “This new animation is a fantastic way to introduce whichever plays the Company is performing on its Stratford stages. new audiences to the life and work of Lancelot Capability Brown, This season’s cocktails include: I showing why he’s still so important today. We hope this film will Am Hamlet, a mix of amarula and specifically appeal to younger audiences who might not be too The wealth of creative tal- apricot liqueur; Mischief Maker, a familiar with 18th century landscape architecture. And you never ent being nurtured and mix of limoncello, gin, pineapple know - we might just inspire the next Capability Brown!” developed at Birmingham and lime which celebrates A The film is available to view on YouTube. For further details of the Midsummer Night’s Dream - A Play City University is being Capability Brown Festival 2016, visit capabilitybrown.org For The Nation; and Innogen, a celebrated this month, bright-looking and layered cocktail courtesy of the Inspired which, like Cymbeline’s feisty daughter after which it’s named, is Festival. guaranteed to pack a punch. Inspired shines a spot- The 45-minute masterclass ses- light on the work of Ball to support local charities sions can be booked Monday to artists, actors, designers, A Solihull businessman who was last year diagnosed with inoper- Friday. To secure your place at engineers, writers and able stomach cancer is providing the inspiration for a fundraising one, contact the RSC’s Rooftop musicians who are gradu- event for local charities. Restaurant on 01789 403449. ating from the university Trevor Stokes has set himself the challenge of raising £64,000 by and launching their his birthday in October. He hopes that next month’s £64K careers. Masquerade Ball event, taking place at the St John’s Hotel in The festival takes place Solihull on Saturday 9 July, will play a significant role in helping from 11 to 26 June. For him achieve his target amount. more information, visit, “I may fail hopelessly in raising the money,” says Trevor, “but bcu.ac.uk/inspired there can be no losers here, as whatever is raised goes to good causes and gives me a purpose to push onwards and upwards. All support is warmly welcomed!” To buy tickets for the Ball, visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/64k-challenge- masquerade-ball-tickets-24720186744

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First Word

Gaz Coombes at the RSC David Bintley The one-time lead singer and guitarist of receives alternative rock band Supergrass is this month performing solo at the Royal Lifetime Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon- Achievement Avon. Award Songwriter and musician Gaz Coombes appears at the venue on 19 June and will be performing material from across his six- year solo career, including numbers from recent album Matador. Tickets for the show are available from the RSC box office on 01789 403493.

Arcadian sways Midlands venue promises to bring to the sounds of a new dimension to Brum clubbing Latin America Birmingham’s biggest nightclub is opening its doors this month. The 2,500-capacity PRYZM will feature a main arena showcasing the Birmingham’s Arcadian BRB’s Artistic Director has Centre is promising visitors latest light and sound technology and frequently hosting guest DJs and celebrities. The club will also have a more intimate room in received the very first What’s a sizzling hot welcome next On Lifetime Achievement month when the Latin which DJs will play the latest R&B chart tracks, and a disco room fea- turing a flashing dancefloor. Award. American Festival makes a The award recognises David welcome return. “Birmingham is a fantastic city with a vibrant scene,” says Peter Cro, who’s fronting PRYZM. “Our club will bring a new dimension, giving Bintley’s outstanding contri- The free one-day event on 3 bution to the arts, with BRB July promises a real feast for people in the city and beyond a world class club experience. We have great plans for the launch weekend, which we’re keeping under continuing to be one of the the senses, courtesy of an UK’s leading ballet compa- imaginative programme of wraps at present, but it promises to be a real crowd pleaser.” PRYZM opens on Birmingham’s Broad Street on 17 June. nies. music and dance. The Lifetime Achievement Cuisine, crafts and culture Award is the most presti- from numerous Latin gious of What’s On American nations also Digbeth’s outdoor art gallery returns Magazine Group’s inaugural features. A festival which transforms the Digbeth area of Birmingham into a Readers’ Awards, which saw Commenting on the festival, colourful outdoor art gallery is making a welcome return this month. thousands of votes cast founder and organiser City Of Colours first took place in 2014, attracting more than 8,500 across numerous regional Annie Bazan-De-Fisher people. categories. said: “Our event embraces The 2016 version of the event is adding music stages, b-boys, spoken Receiving his award, David all cultures of the world and word performances, and dance, music and photography workshops said: “I’m absolutely delight- is a unique opportunity not into its mix. Commenting on the event, City Of Colours’ managing ed to receive the inaugural only to learn about the director, Becci Wright, said: “The festival provides an incredible Lifetime Achievement Award Latin American culture but opportunity for the city’s artists and performers to showcase their for the What’s On Readers’ also to share a great day in work, while giving younger people a chance to participate and learn Awards 2016. It’s a huge a friendly and happy atmos- new skills. honour, particularly as the phere. Everyone is most “City Of Colours is about bringing different cultures from across the award was nominated and welcome to join in the festi- city together, in one big weekend celebration of urban culture and the voted for by the public. This val, which promises to be arts. The event is also important for Digbeth, as it supports regenera- award signals the important an unforgettable event, with tion, with increased contribution that lovely music for the public footfall to the area Birmingham Royal Ballet to dance to. It’s a wonderful and lots of beautiful makes to the arts scene in event for all the family.” artwork on display to the Midlands. I’m very the public all year pleased to have my work, round.” and that of Birmingham City Of Colours takes Royal Ballet, recognised in place in this way and am thrilled to Birmingham’s accept the award, not just Digbeth area on for myself but also for my Saturday 18 June. colleagues at BRB”

6 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD June Warwicks & Worcs Only.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 16:20 Page 4 The Country Doctor DPS (space).qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:15 Page 1

INTERVIEW

In the freezing depths of the vast Russ- ian tundra, a disgraced medical student fleeing prosecution for his crimes hap- pens upon an isolated surgery whose small staff are awaiting the arrival of a Stitch-Up new head doctor. What follows is a bru- tal, blackly comic farce that looks set to be side-splitting, gut-wrenching, heart- Connor Nolan masquerades as a medical professional stopping and promises to leave people in stitches - just perhaps not in the way in Noctium Theatre's The Country Doctor you might imagine. Noctium Theatre's Co-Artistic Director Connor Nolan spoke to What's On about the company's first production, The Country Doctor, which runs at the Bel- grade this summer. “It's based on the writings of Mikhail Bulgakov,” explains Nolan. “Timing- wise, it was sort of strange for us be- cause I read this collection of short stories and as soon as we'd decided to make a show out of it, we found out that Sky Arts was adapting it into A Young Doctor's Notebook with Daniel Radcliffe. But we ploughed ahead with it anyway. Ours is a sort of expressionist adaptation which is completely inspired by the book - we're not lifting anything really.” Not for the faint-hearted, Bulgakov's vis- ceral stories are in turn partly inspired by his real-life experiences as a doctor and feature some toe-curlingly grue- some scenarios. Like the author, Nolan seems to delight in the macabre. “There was one story which we just loved instantly - I think it was called The Steel Windpipe in the original. This girl comes in and she can't breathe, so they have to perform an operation on her tra- chea to put a little pipe in. There's a pas- sage that describes in very vivid detail them holding back the flesh of her neck, and then this trainee doctor gets com- pletely freaked out and faints while he's holding her open with this hook.” Nevertheless, those without the stomach for blood and guts can rest assured that what’s actually seen on stage is kept to a minimum. “It's entirely stylised. The set comprises one table and five chairs, and then there are a few props around. We really liked the idea of keeping it as simple and min- imal as possible, and then trying to cre- ate something fantastic and evoke the

8 whatsonlive.co.uk The Country Doctor DPS (space).qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:15 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

descriptive nature of the book from with as we can to fill the other roles. to introduce opera to new audiences - that. It's been fun finding ways to sug- We've got a couple of graduates from as well as the diverse Strictly Arts gest gore and horror without actually the university, and we're quite Theatre, which will present two showing it, while making sure it still pleased to be able to support them shows - Green Leaves Fall and has the same impact.” and give them something to put on William Freeman - as part of the Bel- Although the version showing at the their CVs as soon as they've finished grade's autumn programme. Belgrade will differ slightly from pre- their degrees.” Good company to be in, then. So with vious incarnations, the play actually Though Coventry is perhaps not well all this support to get them up and began its life almost three years ago. known for theatre, being partly in the running at the start of their careers, Since then, it's been continually cut shadow of nearby Birmingham and what does the future hold for the open, hacked away at and stitched Stratford, for a small, emerging com- bright young things at Noctium? back up again to make it better, ready pany, it's been an ideal place to start, “Well, we received some Arts Council for performances in various small- with a strong, close-knit local net- funding about a month ago. Some of scale spaces in Coventry and Birming- work offering a wealth of advice and that's for The Country Doctor, but ham. support. some of it's also for research and de- “We keep going through drafts of it. It “I think it can sometimes feel like it's velopment on a new show called Ani- was at the Shop Front Theatre first in been overshadowed, but there's all mate, which we started working on 2014, and then it went to the Ellen this really great work bubbling away last May. It's an object manipulation Terry Theatre. Then last year we re- beneath that, and there are lots of piece, bringing to life very mundane, mounted it at Birmingham Fest - we small places like Ego and Shop Front everyday items. So far, it's the story of had to shorten it down to an hour for and Artspace doing fantastic ground- a banana who falls in love with some that. Now we've tried all these differ- work at grassroots level. It's been re- flowers. Yesterday we had our first ent versions of it, I think we've found ally good for us. The year we workshop with Beka Haigh from Frol- the one we're happy with, but then in graduated, we were able to make this icked, which is a puppetry company, six months time, I'll probably have a professional working company, and we've got others lined up to help changed my mind.” largely because of a programme the us too. We're hoping to have the piece It's not only the show that has a his- university was running with the Euro- ready by early next year.” tory in the city - its makers are all pean Regional Development Fund, New projects but perhaps not big new based locally as well. Originally from which helps get businesses off the ventures far from home - at least not Shropshire, Nolan met the rest of the ground. Then we were also able to tap just yet. into the Belgrade as Springboard company at Coventry University, “I think we like the intimacy of being artists, and they've been really sup- where they created the first draft of a smaller company here and knowing portive, giving us a platform and a The Country Doctor for their final-year everyone who you're going to be work- base to build from.” project. The three core members of ing with. We don't have any ambitions the group enjoyed working together Designed to nurture new talent, with to go massive and be the next Knee- so much that they decided to make a an emphasis on artists and companies high or anything like that, but we do go of things professionally. from backgrounds under-represented hope to carry on ploughing away and “There's myself and Jessie Coller, who in the industry, the Belgrade's Spring- doing good things in Coventry.” board scheme provides training op- are both artistic directors and com- A performance in the real Russian portunities, office space and other pany managers, and then there's also wilderness will just have to wait. Charles Craggs, who’s our music di- forms of assistance in developing pro- rector. We all perform as well - I play ductions for the stage. Alongside Noc- the doctor and Jessie plays a nurse. tium, current Springboard companies The Country Doctor shows on the Then we try to use as many of our include the innovative opera group B2 stage at the Belgrade Theatre, friends and people that we've worked High Time - which aims to strip the Coventry, from Wednesday 20 medium of elitist preconceptions and until Friday 22 July.

whatsonlive.co.uk 9 On The Edge DPS.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2016 09:57 Page 1

INTERVIEW

On The Edge

Coming to the UK for the first time ever this year, Josephine Bean, to Pim & Theo, a politically-con- On The Edge is the 2016 World Festival of Theatre scious show for teens which sees four European for Young Audiences, an annual gathering of the companies unite to create an immersive piece international theatre-makers who together form about culture, identity, extremism and the limits the ASSITEJ network. Co-organised by TYA-UK of tolerance in our society. and TYA-Ireland, the week-long festival is both a “Boing is a piece of physical theatre for very chance for industry insiders to test and share young children from a company in Bristol called ideas, and an exciting opportunity for members Travelling Light. I've seen it before and it's fantas- of the public to experience some of the finest the- tic - it's about two brothers on Christmas Eve and atre for children and teenagers from across the their inability to sleep because they're so excited. globe. I think The Hamilton Complex is going to be re- Executive Producer Steve Ball spoke to us about ally interesting and challenging: that features 13 the festival's history and the exciting shows on teenage girls and a bodybuilder, and it's explor- this year's programme. ing self-image and body identity.” “I was chair of TYA-UK for many years, and back Dealing with hard-hitting themes is perhaps not in 2008, I went out to the World Festival in Ade- necessarily what people might expect from the- laide to lead a bid to bring it to London in 2011,” atre for younger viewers, but it's something that Steve recalls. “Rather embarrassingly, we only se- On The Edge is proud to represent. cured 13% of the vote. But then two years ago “I think there's very much a notion that theatre when we went to Warsaw, we pitched to bring the for young people will be purely about light- festival to Birmingham and got 81% of the vote, hearted entertainment, maybe stereotypically so there's massive enthusiasm around the world characterised by bringing fairytales to life, but for coming to Birmingham and engaging with the the best theatre, whether it's for children or arts here.” adults, explores ideas and challenges attitudes. Spanning nine different venues, located mainly Lots of the festival will be fun and entertaining, in the city centre, the festival will showcase 16 but it also tackles important issues that are rele- different shows, each carefully chosen out of vant to the lives of children and young people hundreds of applications. today.” “What we wanted first and foremost was high- One issue that's vital to many kids worldwide is quality, innovative work across a variety of differ- the experience of living with disabilities, and ent theatre genres - so we've got spoken word, with 2016 designated ‘Inclusivity Year’ by AS- conventional plays, dance theatre and multisen- SITEJ, improving access for those with mobility, sory work. We also wanted to make sure we repre- sensory or learning difficulties has been a central sented every continent as well as the four nations concern. of the UK and Ireland.” “We want to set the best possible standard for An easy task, then! But the hard-working team of ways in which theatre can be inclusive, not just in festival directors have risen to this monumental terms of things like wheelchair access to the challenge, putting together a packed and fantasti- buildings and having signing and captioning - cally diverse festival programme, with shows which are of course important - but also in pro- ranging from Shona Reppe's award-winning in- ducing work that's accessible. One of the pieces vestigative adventure, The Curious Scrapbook Of at the festival called Bliss has been designed for

whatsonlive.co.uk On The Edge DPS.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2016 09:57 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

children with moderate and profound learning Members of the public will be able to choose from difficulties by a company called Replay Theatre, a selection of small characters to place around and they'll be performing the show at Mayfield the railway, which they can then create their own Special School.” stories and plays around. Over the course of the It's not only Replay who'll be working directly week, people will continue to add to it, and per- with local schools: a learning programme has formers will enact some of the plays that people been developed alongside the festival to ensure have created.” that children in Birmingham and the wider West On top of all this, there'll be over 40 events for Midlands get the most out of it throughout the delegates, including workshops and networking week. opportunities, as well as special evening gather- “We wanted to make sure that this isn't just for ings themed around each nation of the UK and the delegates - it's for children as well. We've Ireland. But just what is it about Birmingham that worked with 12 different schools across the region makes leading creatives from around the world so and we've twinned them with the international keen to come here? companies. We've had people from Shenley Acad- “Many of our international delegates are excited emy and Small Heath School going out to Dublin about the proximity to Stratford-upon-Avon, so to do some work with an Irish company, and we some of them will be going on an excursion to do sent a dozen teachers to Paris for a workshop. workshops at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Many of the companies will be visiting schools for to see a production of A Midsummer Night's workshops and residencies as well as performing Dream. Also, last year's festival was in Berlin, and here.” you could spend an hour travelling on the sub- Outside of these school group projects, a handful way from one end of the city to the other. Al- of lucky youngsters from across the UK and Ire- though Birmingham is a fairly large city, it's still land will also have the chance to get hands-on quite compact, so virtually everything is within a and learn new skills as part of a young critics' 15-minute walk. It's got a great geographic loca- programme. tion, being right in the middle of the UK with good transport links. It's got good quality and “Twelve young people will be doing a four-day very affordable hotels and restaurants. It's also placement with us, where they'll learn how to be culturally diverse, which is a real attraction to a theatre critic. During the festival, they'll be pro- people who are travelling from around the world, ducing a daily newsletter with their reviews in it, and I think it's the youngest city in Europe demo- and at the end they'll present a Young Critics' graphically. All of that adds up to making it a Award to one of the shows.” great venue.” Certain shows like Bliss and Katie's Birthday Party have limited availability. On the other hand, one production that's completely free and open for everyone to take part in is Terrapin Puppet On The Edge takes place from Saturday 2 until Theatre's I Think I Can, taking place in the Li- Saturday 9 July, at venues including Birming- brary of Birmingham amphitheatre. ham REP, mac Birmingham, Blue Orange The- atre, The Old Rep, The Patrick Centre at “It's by a company from Australia who are work- Birmingham Hippodrome, ACE Dance and ing with local actors and a model railway enthu- Music, Birmingham City University, Mayfield siasts' club to create the world of a model railway. School and the Library of Birmingham.

whatsonlive.co.uk FOOD June - Region Warwickshire .qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 16:15 Page 1 FOOD June - Region Warwickshire .qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 16:15 Page 2

Food

REVIEW: Restaurant 23, Leamington Spa erwise expertly conceived menu, dessert in fact proved the stand- A tantalising taste of contemporary Warwickshire out success of the evening, as well as a natural platform for Gibb’s signature presentational flare. My choice of Bergamot curd, bbq pineapple, toasted meringue and coconut & lime shortbread proved the perfect palate-cleanser; light, zesty and refreshing yet injected with a powerful sharpness from the undercurrents of the citrus. Special mention too must go to the venue’s extensive cham- pagne and cocktail menu. For the intrepid diners amongst you, I recommend opting for a ‘liquid dessert’ such as Toblerone, a hearty blend of Baileys, Frangelico, Khalua, Honey and Cream at £8 each. In addition to the Taster and a la carte menus, Restaurant 23 also Since opening its doors back in Peter Knibb’s undoubted flare creams, accented with crushed offers a popular pre-theatre May 2006, Restaurant 23 has when it comes to both flavour satin window dressings in silver menu and a lunch menu, as well established itself as perhaps the combinations and the inventive and fuchsia - a perfect marriage as a range of afternoon teas, go-to destination for relaxed use of seasonal produce - from of the classical and contempo- starting from £19 per person fine-dining in Leamington Spa. the venue’s award-winning rary and a fitting homage to the (Tuesdays to Saturdays only). Located at the heart of the town, Lighthorne Warwickshire lamb venue’s regency roots. An evening Snack Menu consist- just a short walk from the nearby right through to their choice of From the table linen right ing of light bites and tapas-style Parade, the Grade II listed facili- artisan breads, homemade ice through to the glassware, this nibbles is also available, with ty effortlessly marries 19th cen- creams and locally sourced was a venue which took real prices starting from £3.50 per tury elegance with the best in cheeses. pride in the sophistication of its dish. This, combined with an contemporary interior design, Choosing instead from the a la surroundings - and it showed. extensive drinks menu and styl- boasting stylish facilities which carte menu that evening, my Opting for a main course of Loin ishly refurnished bar, makes include a 40-seat restaurant and starter of seared, diver-caught of Lighthorne lamb, braised Restaurant 23 the ideal choice patio, two private dining rooms scallop and tempura squid with shoulder, wild garlic pesto, for that extra-special ‘special’ and a newly refurbished upstairs cucumber, parsley and ginger turnips and potato terrine, my occasion. bar and cocktail lounge. puree proved the perfect accom- expectations were high. Tender, Celebrating its 10th anniversary Poised somewhere between a paniment to a balmy Spring moist and cooked just the right this year, Restaurant 23 leaves Victorian townhouse and a evening in May. The freshness of side of rare, this award-winning no stone unturned when it Michelin-starred bistro, the cucumber, parsley and gin- local lamb found its perfect part- comes to quality or style. A tan- Restaurant 23’s innovative ger puree provided the ideal ner in the sweet undertones of talising taste of contemporary approach to ingredients is best counterpoint to the subtle smok- the turnip puree and earthy gar- Warwickshire... with a regency reflected in the venue’s choice of iness of the scallop, barely lic pesto accompaniment. twist! Katherine Ewing seven and nine-course Tasting seared and beautifully light in Working together, element by Menus, priced at £55 and £70 texture - as was the tempura element, flavour by flavour, the Food: n n n n n per head respectively. Dishes squid. braised shoulder added further Service: n n n n n featured include Hay Smoked Menu aside for a moment, what depth of flavour to the dish, as Ambience: n n n n n quail with truffled goat’s curd sets Restaurant 23 apart from its did the richness of the potato Overall value n n n n n and pastille, an innovative take nearest competitors is its under- terrine. My partner’s choice of OVERALL n n n n n on the classic Cornish Crab salad stated elegance coupled with its Pan-fried wild brill, Jersey Royal served with curry oil, mango, architectural intimacy, a real rar- potato, Cornish mussel ragout avocado and brown crab cro- ity in restaurants today. and sea vegetables, if a little quettes, and a delightfully Making maximum use of the underwhelming with regards to Restaurant 23 named dessert of macerated property’s original period fea- innovation was nevertheless 34 Hamilton Terrace Gariguette strawberries in tures, high ceilings, decorative beautifully presented, and yet Leamington Spa smoked meringue. cornice work and intricate silver- another fine example of freshly Warwickshire Though the menus are a touch patterned ceiling panels were set prepared, seasonal produce CV32 4LY Tel: 01926 422422 on the pricey side, it’s hard not against a minimalist colour cooked exceptionally well. to be won over by Head Chef scheme of subdued mochas and So often the weak link in an oth-

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open 12 - late mediterranean tapas Happy Hour 4pm - 7pm tues - fri 89a High Street, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 8AQ 01527 878242 / www.casamedtapas.co.uk

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Food

Walkabout in Coventry The operator of the nationwide chain of Walkabout bars has taken over an iconic venue in Coventry. Intertain Ltd has purchased the sub- lease for The Establishment bar & restaurant’s grade II-listed building, which had previously been used as the city’s court house and jail. The building is infamous for being the location in which Coventry and Warwickshire’s last public hanging took place.

Music and food in perfect harmony at Asparafest Music and food (particularly aspara- gus) make a winning combination at this family-friendly festival, here returning for a fourth year. Britpop band Dodgy headline a music programme that also includes Blackbeard's Tea Party, Roving Crows, Barney Newman, DH Lawrence & The Vaudeville Skiffle Show, Poor Boys of Worcester, Misty's Big Adventure and Fred's House. The London Veg Orchestra are taking part as well, giving it their all on impres- Foodies delight at Ragley Hall sively home-grown instruments! There's plenty of fun for the kids to Midlands-based foodies should put a date in skills, the festival hosts a Cake Off competition, enjoy too, courtesy of CBeebies stars their diary to attend this year’s Great British while anybody feeling brave enough can take Cook and Line. Other highlights Food Festival. part in various Men vs Food Challenges, avail- include live cookery demonstrations The popular event features over 50 local pro- able both to men and women throughout the from UK asparagus chef Felice ducers, cookery lessons, children’s activities, weekend. The Great British Food Festival takes Tocchini, cooking workshops, a real live music and top chef demos from Great place at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire on ale & cider festival, an asparagus-eat- British Bake Off finalists Luis Troyano and Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June. For further ing competition, numerous stalls, Miranda Gore-Browne. information visit greatbritishfoodfestival.com street food, morris dancing, theatre, For those wishing to show off their baking falconry and the crowning of the asparagus king and queen. Oh, and the chance to follow in the earthy footsteps of the aforementioned Top baker at Worcestershire festival London Veg Orchestra by making your own vegetable instrument. Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain Yambourine, anyone?... Asparafest (pictured) is certainly busy in the Midlands this takes place at Ashdown Farm, month. As well as an appearance at the Badsey, Nr Evesham on Saturday 4 Birmingham Foodies Festival, she’s also run- and Sunday 5 June. For further infor- ning a cookery masterclass at this two-day mation, visit event. Organisers are hoping that 20,000 visi- aspara13.squarespace.com tors will attend the festival across the weekend. This year’s get-together features a kids’ zone, a Best Dad In Droitwich competition for Father’s Day, a junior bake-off contest, a cider master- class, and street entertainment including per- formances by local singers, stilt walkers and jugglers. Droitwich Spa Food And Drink Festival takes place across the town on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. For further Blackbeard's Tea Party information, visit droitwichspafestival.co.uk

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Gigs

Rihanna Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Sat 25 June Rihanna has become a modern music, enter- tainment and fashion icon. As an accom- plished performer, she’s sold 54 million albums and 210 million digital tracks world- wide, making her the top-selling digital artist of all time. The Barbadian singer-songwriter has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom since bursting onto the scene with debut studio album Music Of The Sun in 2005. Two years later, things really took off for her, courtesy of Good Girl Gone Bad and its chart-topping singles Umbrella, Take A Bow, Disturbia and Don’t Stop The Music. In 2012, American magazine Time named her one of the world's most influential women. Proving her international popularity, the Rude Boy star has amassed eight Grammys, eight American Music Awards, 23 Billboard Music Awards and two BRIT Awards. She visits Coventry as part of her Anti World Tour.

Tcha Limberger and the Clare Maguire Kamasi Washington Kalotaseg Trio The Glee Club, Birmingham, Thurs 2 June mac, Birmingham, Thurs 30 June One of the most renowned Gypsy violin players of his generation, Tcha Limberger is recognised as the most important figure in the folk music of the Carpathian Basin. He opened WOMEX this year, has won Radio France’s France Musique award and was the recent recipient of a Songlines Music Award for his work with the Budapest Gypsy Orchestra. Ahead of his upcoming tour, Tcha states: “This music is little known and I will play it as it is meant to be played. It fol- lows the lives of many, from baptism to the grave. It celebrates their communal existence and brings people together in O2 Institute, Birmingham, Wed 29 June the community of Kalotaszeg.” Kamasi Washington is an American jazz sax- ophonist, composer, production editor and band leader. He’s played alongside a diverse group of musicians - Lauryn Hill, Wayne Singer-songwriter Clare Maguire released her Shorter, Snoop Dogg and Flying Lotus debut album, Light After Dark, back in 2011. included - and also featured on Kendrick It peaked at number seven in the Official UK Lamar’s third studio album, To Pimp A Top 40 and received the BPI Silver Sales Butterfly. Award in the UK. Kamasi’s own band, The Next Step, is a mod- Following her sold-out, three-date residency ern spin on a big band. It includes two drum- at The Glee Club last year, she returns to mers, two upright bass players, keyboard Birmingham in support of new album players, three horn players, a pianist and a Stranger Things Have Happened. vocalist.

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Gig previews from around the region

Gabrielle Aplin Kasbah, Coventry, Thurs 9 June

Megson prising given that Debbie is classically Multi-talented singer Gabrielle Aplin trained and Stu’s a former punk! Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 4 June gained mainstream attention after Specialising in self-composed melodies her cover of Frankie Goes To Since releasing first album On The Side in which bring together intimate harmony Hollywood’s The Power Of Love was 2004, husband-and-wife team Stu and singing and multi-instrumental acoustic chosen to feature on the Christmas Debbie Hanna have developed an enviable playing, the pair have released numerous John Lewis advert. The track charted reputation on the English folk music circuit. albums since On The Side, with their latest at number one on the UK Singles The duo have been hailed as both fresh and studio offering available this summer. Chart in December 2012. innovative - a description that’s hardly sur- She’s since released two albums, English Rain (2013) and Light Up The Dark (2015), both of which have been met with considerable critical Cyndi Lauper Ritchie Blackmore’s acclaim. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 22 June Rainbow Genting Arena, Birmingham, Sat 25 June Ritchie Blackmore here takes to the stage to Mercury Rev celebrate the era-defining music of Rainbow Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, and Deep Purple in a one-off UK tour show. Thurs 23 June With a background in classical and R’n’B, US alt-rock legends Mercury Rev are Blackmore was a founding member and touring their new album on the Bella driving force of Deep Purple. In 1973 he Union label, The Light In You, which formed Rainbow, who went on to sell in was released in September 2015. excess of 28 million albums. The pair play Warwick Arts Centre English rock group Mostly Autumn support. just weeks after their headline slot at Lunar Festival, held at Warwickshire’s Umberslade Estate. Cyndi Lauper burst onto the music scene back in the early ’80s with the release of her first solo album, She’s So Unusual, which featured hit singles Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time and She Bop. Since that time, global record sales in excess of 50 million have more than cemented her Barry Manilow place in the music industry’s history books. Five years after her last UK appearances and Genting Arena, Birmingham, Sat 18 June following the phenomenal success of the Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning award-winning Broadway musical Kinky musician Barry Manilow is performing con- Boots, for which she wrote the music and certs across the world one last time. lyrics, she returns to these shores with a Referring to his band of 13 musicians and new tour. Her shows come in support of lat- singers, Manilow says, “We had a great time est studio album Detour, which finds the putting the show together. We hope to take Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning everyone on an emotional rollercoaster. I singer-songwriter putting her signature spin can’t wait to see everybody dancing in the on a dozen classic country songs. aisles.”

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Classical Music

Aled Jones Malvern Festival Coventry Cathedral, Fri 17 June Chorus: Music For Aled Jones has journeyed a long way since Shakespeare becoming a boy star back in the mid-1980s. As Great Malvern Priory, Worcestershire, a 15-year-old chorister, his breathtaking rendi- Sat 11 June tion of Walking In The Air played its part in With its origins traceable back to 1919 - ensuring the animated version of Raymond and there’s the possibility that it may Briggs’ The Snowman became an annual even have existed in some form before Christmas favourite. that - the Malvern Festival Chorus is hom- In the three decades which have followed, he’s ing in on its 100th anniversary. released no fewer than 30 albums, selling more Its latest concert is to mark a 400th than seven million copies along the way. He anniversary, though - that of William visits Coventry this month as part of a UK-wide Shakespeare’s death. cathedral tour. The programme comprises Vaughan “I'm never more at home than when performing Williams's Serenade To Music, Finzi's Let in one of the UK's unrivalled cathedrals,” says Us Garlands Bring and Parry's This Aled. “I’ve been fortunate to sing in so many of England. A selection of madrigals, songs these beautiful buildings over the years and readings also features. through my work on Songs Of Praise, but the idea of embarking on my biggest cathedral tour ever fills me with so much excitement and joy. I Birmingham Bach promise to give my best performances yet.” Choir: A Shakespearean Concert CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sat 18 June; Katherine Jenkins Royal Philharmonic Stratford ArtsHouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sat 2 July Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 15 June Orchestra: The Birmingham Bach Choir is joined by Katherine Jenkins long ago displaced Lesley The Planets Truly Madly Deeply actress Juliet Garrett as Britain’s best-loved soprano. And Stevenson (in Birmingham) and Game Of as you’d expect from a classical crossover Thrones and Wolf Hall actor Anton Lesser artist, she boasts an ability to connect with a (in Stratford-upon-Avon) for this celebra- whole raft of music lovers, whether they’re tion of Shakespeare’s legacy. classical music aficionados or just fans of The concert combines varied musical ‘greatest hits’. works inspired by the playwright with This Symphony Hall concert to celebrate the passages from his plays and sonnets. Queen’s 90th birthday provides the Welsh- “We’re performing a wonderfully varied born singer with the perfect opportunity to programme,” explains Birmingham Bach display her range, as she joins the London Choir’s Chair, Sarah Platt. “It moves from Concert Orchestra to perform a programme of Vaughan Williams’ eerie part-songs to suitably patriotic music. George Shearing’s jazz-inspired Music To Katherine’s got plenty of form when it comes Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 25 June Hear, where a double bass player will add to honouring the Queen - only last month she that pungent pizzicato to the mix! We're performed at Windsor Castle in front of Her As multimedia, multi-sensory events thrilled, too, that Anton and Juliet will be Majesty, draping herself in a Union Flag and go, this one is positively out of this joining us, to add another layer of drama all but stealing the show from the likes of world. The Royal Philharmonic and enjoyment to this memorable pro- Kylie Minogue and Beverley Knight. Orchestra’s performance of Holst’s awe-inspiring suite, The Planets, is gramme.” accompanied by high-definition pho- tos and moving images from NASA, using material sent back by the Voyager, Mars Rover and other space missions. The images and films, projected onto a 24-foot screen, will form part of what promises to be a spectacular finale to a concert inspired by the subject of outer space. The pro- gramme also includes Strauss II’s Blue Danube Waltz (as featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey) and John Williams’ iconic Star Wars theme.

Robert Ziegler (pictured) conducts. Anton Lesser

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Festivals

Lunar Festival Badly Drawn Boy Umberslade Estate, Tanworth-in-Arden, Fri 3 - Sun 5 June Set in the grounds of the stunning Umberslade Estate in Tanworth-in-Arden, the birthplace of Nick Drake, this fledgeling festival takes the legendary songwriter as its muse, blending dreamy escapism with experiment and discovery, all with a psychedelic sound and colour palette. Billed as ‘one of the UK's most enchanting odysseys’, the festival is reached through a tunnel-like tree-lined avenue, carrying visitors away from reality and into a wondrous world of guerilla archaeology and Kokedama gardening, of blacksmithing workshops and culture on wheels, of mask-making, herbal havens, think tanks and a ‘Digital Funfair’ - not to mention music, fan- tastic food and drinks and the chance to feast your ears on Nick Drake's very own record player. From traditional folk to electro-pop and atmospheric DJ sets, the Lunar Festival line-up is certainly eclectic, but its many acts are united by a shared spirit of eccentricity. Go along and be inspired! Line-up includes: Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev, Television, Badly Drawn Boy, The Zombies, Os Mutantes, Matt Berry & the Maypoles, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Young Pilgrims and Martin Carthy

Acoustic Midge Ure Lichfield Blues & Jazz Download Festival Festival Of Festival Donington Park, Leicestershire, Lichfield City Centre, Fri 10 - Sun 12 June Britain Fri 24 - Sun 26 June Uttoxeter Racecourse, With top billing consistently taken by some Staffordshire, Following a successful launch last of the biggest names in rock and metal, it's Fri 3 - Sun 5 June year, this recent addition to the not hard to see why Download Festival made Lichfield Arts calendar makes a wel- Stripped back, it into our Readers' Awards finals. come return in 2016. Celebrating the unplugged and inti- Conceived as a follow-up to Donington Park's best in local jazz and blues talent as mate performances previous Monsters Of Rock Festival, well as showcasing fine musicianship are the focus of this Download makes its 14th outing this year, from further afield, the festival takes relaxed, family-friendly event. Assembling a owing its name partly to its pioneering use of place across multiple city centre ven- diverse array of acts from Dodgy to the technology to connect with audiences and ues, including Wade Street Church, Demon Barbers XL, The Acoustic Festival of build a community around the event. But Lichfield Guildhall, the 18th century Great Britain is a varied and genre-crossing while it's cutting edge on one hand, its genre George Hotel and various pubs and affair: the only stipulation for performers is of choice is also steeped in local history. cafés. Concerts can be booked individ- that they play acoustic sets. Comfortable and Emerging against a backdrop of thumping, ually, and in addition to the main conveniently located, the festival boasts five grinding machinery in the country's industri- acts, there'll also be an assortment of star-rated camping infrastructure, with al heart, early heavy metal acts have left an hands-on workshops and lively street glamping options, seated food tents and kids unmistakable legacy in the Midlands, and as bands to enjoy. play areas. long as Download continues, they'll always Line-up also includes: The Matt have a home here. 2016 line-up includes: Midge Ure, Judy Schofield Band, Tim Amann Xtet, Tzuke, The Blockheads, King King, Birmingham Jazz Orchestra, Callum 2016 line-up includes: Black Sabbath, Iron Terrorvision's Tony Wright, Dodgy, The Roxburgh Swing Orchestra, Steve Ajao Maiden, Rammstein, Korn, Megadeth, Demon Barbers XL, Blair Dunlop and T- Blues Giants, Rebecca Downes Band, Deftones, Nightwish, Alien Ant Farm, Rextasy Unplugged. Steve Waterman Quartet, Fred Killswitch Engage, Atreyu, Billy Talent, Thelonius Baker and Zappatistas. Jane's Addiction and Disturbed.

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From Mufti Games' Giant Battleships to design-your-own ‘Karma Currency’ notes, this is also a festival with a healthy sense of fun.

2016 line-up includes: Leviathan – An Wei Lu Li (Spain): Inspired by Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, this large- scale visual art installation raises vital ques- tions about individual and collective respon- sibility, calling attention to our disengage- ment with the world around us. Quintetto/Piccole Donne – TiDA (Italy): After wowing audiences with their arts and auster- ity-themed Quintetto at BE 2015, TiDA return with a new full-length show about marriage and female identity. Piccole Donne opens the festival on Tuesday, with Quintetto serving as the Saturday finale. Collective Loss of Memory – DOT504 (Czech Republic): Pulsing with energy that explodes into bouts of violence, this powerful Czech piece makes its UK premiere at BE, launch- ing the festival alongside Piccole Donne. BE Festival and music events are interspersed with feed- Recommended for viewers aged 18-plus, the back cafés, networking lunches and deli- show questions notions of masculinity, iden- Birmingham REP, Tues 21 - Sat 25 June cious dinners, wrapped up with DJ sets right tity and individuality. Uniting actors, artists, acrobats, dancers, through until the morning. Coinciding with Hamlet - ColletivO CinecticO (Italy): directors, makers, musicians, friends and the EU referendum, this year's festival is An irreverent, interactive take on one of fabulous food from across the continent, politically charged, with potent pieces such Shakespeare's most iconic plays, this off-the- Birmingham's BE Festival is a five-day cele- as An Wei Lu Li's Leviathan and Art Activism wall production invites audiences to choose bration of international culture and creative with Adam Scarborough. Visitors are encour- the actor who'll play the title role each time. collaboration, reaffirming Britain's place as aged to get engaged and tweet their thoughts A truly original way to mark the Bard's 400th part of a dynamic and constantly evolving using the hashtags #BEdemocratic and anniversary. European arts scene. All-day theatre, dance #BEfest16, but it won't all be heavy-going.

Alcester Folk Festival together well-established jazz and swing Wychwood Festival musicians with the brightest young talent, The Holly Bush, Alcester, and open jam sessions with dynamic dance Cheltenham Racecourse, Fri 3 - Sun 5 June Fri 17 - Sun 19 June classes, all guaranteed to get toes tapping. With a well-earned reputation as the coun- This small-scale, friendly folk festival takes This year's Upton Jazz Fest is set to feature try's best and friendliest family festival, the place in and around The Holly Bush, an over 60 concerts across nine central venues, award-winning Wychwood celebrates its 12th Everards pub and beautiful Grade II listed with three marquees in the Sports Club year in 2016, with a line-up of over 100 Tudor building in the heart of historic grounds alone. The Conway Castle will be in bands across four stages. This is more than Alcester in Warwickshire. A nearby field operation for jazz river trips - there'll also be just a music festival, however - what makes serves as a convenient festival campsite, a Jazz Bus, Jazz under the Bridge and a spe- Wychwood so unique is the quality and with visitors invited to stay all weekend until cial service in the local church. diversity of entertainment on offer for kids Monday. Expect intimate concerts, story- and grown-ups alike, including comedy, telling and sing-alongs and freshly-pulled 2016 line-up includes: London Swing workshops, spoken word poetry, arts & crafts pints of quality Midlands-brewed beer. Orchestra, Keith Nichols' Jazz Masters of and a fantastic children's literature festival. New Orleans, Sinead McCabe & New Orleans This year, the hugely popular CBeebies star 2016 line-up includes: John Connolly, Update, Remi Harris Trio with John Hallam, Justin Fletcher (Something Special, Scolds Bridle, Paul Downes, Steve Turner, Perdido Street Jazz Band, Dave Martin's Tikkabilla, Justin's House, The Tweenies) Bram Taylor, Mike Nicholson, Hector Jabbo Five, Donnie Joe's American Swing, will also be putting in an appearance. Gilchrist, Tony Barrett, Quartz, Tom Perry & Hot Antic Jazz Band, Malcolm Hogarth & Clive Brooks, Will Morgan, Jamie McCoan, Isabel Toner and Chico Chica. Flaky Tarts, Sound Tradition, Sally 2016 line-up includes: The Waterboys, 10cc, Stereo MCs, Peter Hook & the Light, Whytehead & her dulcimers, Dave & Julia Remi Harris Taylor, Chris King, Hils Ward, Moses and the Idlewild, Kate Rusby, The Selecter, Ms Ref, Malc Gurnham & Gill Gilsenen, and Dynamite, Matt Berry & the Maypoles and Sharp as Razors. The Correspondents. Comedy line-up includes: Bill Bailey, Justin Fletcher, Gary Delaney, Tiernan Douieb, Upton-upon-Severn Patrick Monahan and Howard Read. Kids' literature line-up includes: Abi Jazz Festival Elphinstone, Ali Sparks, Chris Edge, Jo Upton Sports Club, Alcester, Cotterill, John Dougherty, Lyn Gardner, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 June Philip Ardagh, Tamsyn Murray, Steve Antony With a long history stretching back over and Sophia Bennett. more than 30 years, this lively festival brings

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FEATURE

BIRMINGHAM

For a long time in terms of the comedy in- dustry, Britain's second city has played second fiddle to London’s, er, bigger fid- dle?... But things are changing! People passionate about comedy are standing up on stages across the Midlands every week, and doing so with one shared aim - to make their audience laugh. But it all had to start somewhere... Ladywood-born Sid Field made waves in the 1940s with an act that was considered strange for its time, as he jumped between a number of impressions and characters within the same performance. Thanks to Sid, this type of act soon became the norm, slowly transforming the variety scene of the day. Another old-school hero, and a stand-out performer of the ’50s and ’60s, was one- time Hall Green resident Tony Hancock. You may know Tony via his incredible TV and radio legacy, or you may just know him as ‘that sculpture thing’ at the top of Birmingham city centre’s Corporation Street. Either way, he was a true comedy great, and his television series, Hancock’s Half Hour, made for compulsive viewing for the nation’s telly watchers. It was performers like Hancock and Sid Field who provided the inspiration for subsequent generations of Birmingham comedians. With the arrival of the ’80s came a plethora of peeved performers eager to ex- press their views, whether it be as support for local punk bands or standing on a beer

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by Adam Jaremko

crate in the back of a pub. The transition mecca meant audiences for the first time Shazia Mirza, Natalie Haynes, James Cook, from variety to alternative comedy spawned were getting a guaranteed bill of quality Jo Enright, Andy White and Karen Bayley. a handful of Birmingham-based perform- performers every week - and in an environ- Most recently, Joe Lycett has been flying the ers, one of whom was anti-comedian Ted ment that was absolutely fit for the pur- flag for Birmingham’s up-and-coming gen- Chippington. Ted’s main claim to fame was pose. Established comics such as Jack Dee eration of comedians. Joe started out play- a hit single called We’ve Got A Fuzzbox. and Lee Evans, who were regularly touring ing pub nights in Birmingham and Later, he would go on to inspire another theatres across the UK, suddenly had a performing at the Glee, where he presented Midlands-based performer, Stewart Lee. Birmingham base at which they could try his first ever 10 minutes of comedy in 2010. out material and hone their sets. The comedy scene was beginning to flour- Birmingham-based acts continue to make ish. Week in and week out, those aforemen- The Glee’s success provided plenty of inspi- their mark on the UK comedy scene. Hon- tioned beer crates became soapboxes in ration and Birmingham’s comedy scene ourable mentions must go to Jack Kirwan, pubs such as the Ivy Bush on Hagley Road, continued to grow. Jongleurs brought in Craig Deeley, Freddie Farrell, Mickey XXXX (4X) Cabaret - where Frank Skinner more mainstream stand-up and the better Sharma, Lindsey Santoro, Jay Handley and cut his teeth - and the Bear Tavern in Bear- pub comedy nights enjoyed a real renais- Josh Pugh. And come October, Birmingham wood. Whether it was ‘working men’s club’- sance. Out of all of this came the comedi- will once again host its long-running com- style comedy or more in-the-moment ans you still watch in arenas and on TV edy festival, an event which annually at- mayhem that appealed, it was clear that the today. tracts some of the world’s best comedians. people of Birmingham enjoyed seeing As the Glee Club grew in popularity, the UK It can sometimes feel like comedy is pack- something that was markedly different to comedy circuit grew in numbers, becoming aged and sold everywhere these days, the comedy they watched on television. a fully formed union of comedians and ven- whether it be in adverts or on social media, And that still applies to this day. ues. Each week, hundreds of comedians set but let’s not forget its origins - and in par- The 1990s saw pub comedy culture on the out on the road to earn an honest crust, or ticular the journey that Birmingham’s very decline. One of the few Midlands venues to just to get a look in at some of the UK’s own brand of live comedy has undertaken. flourish during this era was the GAG club, most talked-about clubs. It’s time to step out of the shadows and where the organiser’s desire to see a By the 2000s, comedy was very much on show why England’s second city is very mother-like character take to the stage led the up, with small pub nights such as GAG, much its first city when it comes to comedy. to Janice Connolly creating the brilliant Mrs Comedy Kav (Moseley) and Comedy Junc- Barbara Nice. tion (Sutton Coldfield) all providing quality Meanwhile, with London’s Comedy Store line-ups. With the help of TV, local lads It was performers like and infamous Tunnel Club having been Jasper Carrott, Frank Skinner and Lenny ‘‘ Hancock and Sid Field open for almost a decade, and after making Henry had become staples of the comedy who provided the numerous visits to both, Mark Tughan de- world, but there were plenty of lesser- inspiration for subsequent cided to open Birmingham’s Glee Club, the known but nonetheless well-established first purpose-built comedy venue outside Midlands acts who were also making a generations of Birmingham the capital. splash at venues across the UK. Among comedians. The arrival in Brum of a designated comedy them were Andy Robinson, John Simmit, ” whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Comedy June.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:18 Page 1

Comedy

Glenn Wool The Comedy Loft, Birmingham, Fri 17 - Sat 18 June Glenn Wool manages to be smart, sophisticated and silly all in the space of a single evening. And it’s perhaps this chameleon-like quality more than any other which has so endeared him to the great British public. Canadian Glenn is a shaggy beast of a man whose act sees him cleverly putting his own unique spin on the big stories of the day. He touches base with a wide variety of political, religious and social subjects, intelligently pro- cessing the material to create nuggets of pure comedy gold, quite often delivered in a style that’s engagingly surreal.

Six of the best...

Paul Alistair Barrie: No More Hilarity McCaffrey Stage Three Charity Henry Tudor Foxlowe Arts Centre, Staffs, Thurs 2 June; Gala House, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 19 June Wolverhampton Shrewsbury, Grand Theatre, Mon Wed 8 June Alistair Barrie’s talent is much in evidence in this touring show, not least because he man- 6 June “I’d always valued ages to make it accessible, enjoyable and This returning getting a laugh,” funny despite the fact that it includes plenty Central Youth says Paul of material about his wife’s grade three Theatre (CYT) McCaffrey, “so it breast cancer. fundraiser is once was a real revelation when I discovered that Describing himself as a post-alternative again compered by Daniel Kitson. it was possible to make a living out of it. I comedian, the delightfully self-deprecating The show brings together Wolverhampton's think my parents thought it was just a pass- Alistair is bringing the show to the Midlands very own Pappy’s with 8 Out Of 10 Cats star ing phase!” having toured it to great acclaim across the Joe Lycett and Have I Got News For You con- Paul made a significant splash when he world. Indeed, it was voted one of the 10 best tributor Nish Kumar. Aishling Bea also stars. landed on the UK comedy circuit a few years shows at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer. Other comedians will be added to the line-up back, winning both The London Paper and in the days leading up to the show. Latitude Festival new act competitions. It’s the third event of its kind to be organised He’s since become a regular contributor to by CYT, Wolverhampton’s leading youth the- all manner of television comedy shows, and atre since 1983. a well-known face at the Edinburgh Festival. Jokes include: “My friend got a personal trainer a year before his wedding. I thought: ‘Bloody hell, how long's the aisle going to be?'”

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Enrych In Stitches The Glee Club, Birmingham, Thurs 9 June Former Goodies star Graeme Garden is the man behind this fundraising show, the financial beneficiary of which is Enrych, a 30-year-old organisation that sup- ports disabled people to enjoy leisure and learning opportunities and lead full and active lives. Marcus Brigstocke, Francesca Martinez, Angela Barnes and Phill Jupitus are the comedians offering their services free of charge. Peddling a line in dark, intelligent comedy, the award-winning Brigstoke boasts a style all his own and is one of the most inventive talents on the comedy circuit. Jupitus is equally high profile. His memorable surname helps, of course (it’s an anglicised version of original surname Šeputis), as does his capacity to branch out beyond the confines of the stand-up world - he’s also a performance poet, cartoonist, podcaster and actor. Francesca Martinez, meanwhile, is perhaps best known for her appearance alongside Ricky Gervais and Kate Winslet in a first-series episode of Gervais's popular comedy, Extras. In the show, she played a character with cerebral palsy, which Francesca herself has - although she prefers to refer to herself as 'wobbly'. When Angela Barnes’s inspirational dad died in 2008, it proved to be the catalyst for her to finally follow his advice and hurl herself into the challenging world of stand-up. And if her early-career success is anything to go by, she’s certainly made the right decision. A BBC New Comedy Awards winner, Angela is a self- confessed Radio Four nerd who looks to have a bright future in the UK comedy arena.

Comedy Matt Forde Will At Ludlow Stratford Artshouse, Franken Festival Stratford-upon- mac, Birmingham, Avon, Fri 10 June Thurs 30 June Various venues around Ludlow, Nottingham-born When a comedian South Shropshire, Matt Forde is this is described as ‘the Sat 18 June - Sun 3 month returning to best alternative to July the Midlands to try psychedelic drugs’, “Growing up, I did- out his material for it’s reasonable to n’t actually know the Edinburgh assume he’s quirky, anyone who performed comedy for a living,” Festival. A one-time advisor to New Labour, oddball and emphatically off the wall. says Birmingham-born Jo Enright, one of the it will come as no surprise to find that he’s Such is the case with American purveyor of comedians appearing at this month’s Ludlow focusing on politics in his new show, mirth Will Franken, a character comedian Fringe Festival, “although I knew plenty of explaining why it’s ‘great/awful that we're with a highly developed sense of the absurd. really funny people. When I started playing in/out of the EU/UK/NATO/whatever the hell Will’s calling in at mac this month en route the circuit, there were only a handful of happens next’. to the Edinburgh Festival, using his women working at it full-time. That said, the The satire will be interspersed with imper- Birmingham stop-off to hone his latest show. handful did include Hattie Hayridge, Jo sonations of the political great and good. Focusing on a man who's trying to write a Brand and Linda Smith - so the bar was set He’s been working on mimicking Corbyn but children's book about a character named very high!” admits to finding the Labour leader’s mix- Little Joe, it should contain plenty by way of Jo is joined at this year’s Fringe by fellow ture of ‘English middle class with a sort of clever, creative comedy. laughter merchants Alex Kealy, Eleanor cockney affectation’ difficult to master. Conway, Tom Binna, Addy Van Der Borgh, Away from the spotlight of live stand-up, Ellie Taylor and Brennan Reece. Matt has written gags for shows like Russell There’s also a Tommy Cooper tribute show, Howard’s Good News, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Just Like That!, starring John Hewer as the Stand-Up For The Week. He also co-hosts fez-wearing funnyman. For further informa- talkSPORT radio show The Warm Up with tion, visit ludlowfringe.co.uk fellow funnyman Jon Richardson.

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Dance Dance previews from around the region

WIN! TICKETS To enter, visit whatsonlive.co.uk Birmingham Royal Ballet Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 16 - Sat 18 June & Wed 22 - Sat 25 June Birmingham Royal Ballet’s season of Shakespeare-inspired works to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death is this month providing audiences with the opportuni- ty to enjoy four captivating dance works. First out of the traps is choreographer John Cranko’s magnif- icent two-act ballet version of The Taming Of The Shrew, set to memorable keyboard works by Domenico Scarlatti and first performed in 1969. It’s followed by three for the price of one, courtesy of a triple bill that brings together tragedy, comedy and poetry. Shakespeare’s Othello is the driving force behind the open- ing piece, José Limón’s The Moor’s Pavane. David Bintley’s Shakespeare Suite, meanwhile, pays tribute to the star-crossed, bewitched, squabbling and romantic couples who are so much a part of the bard’s masterworks. The piece is set to a swinging score by Duke Ellington. The triple bill ends with a world premiere, as Jessica Lang captures the poetry of Shakespeare’s sonnets via a power- house solo performance. David Bintley’s Shakespeare Suite

Motionhouse: Broken Jazz Dance Company Ballet Cymru: Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 17 June Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 21 June Little Red Riding Hood... London Studio Centre (LSC) students here New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mon 20 June; The Courtyard, Hereford, explore a selection of fairytales and folk sto- Wed 29 June; Lichfield Garrick, Sun 3 July ries via the genres of jazz dance and music theatre. The students perform as the UK-tour- ing Jazz Dance Company. Established by LSC over two decades ago, the company’s pur- pose is to provide talented young dancers with the experience of working as part of a creative team in a collaborative environment.

Given their widely recognised commitment to innovation, it’s fitting indeed that the award-winning Ballet Cymru have taken inspiration for their latest work from one of Britain’s most innovative writers, the Broken is one of two specially devised pieces Cardiff-born Roald Dahl. produced in celebration of Motionhouse dance company’s 25th anniversary. In 1982, Dahl published Revolting Rhymes, a The piece fuses athletic dance with digital collection of poems reinterpreting six well- imagery and original music to examine known fairytales. Two of these, Little Red man’s precarious relationship with the earth. Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs, are here In what’s described as ‘an adrenaline-fuelled used by Ballet Cymru as the foundation spectacle’, the Leamington-based ensemble use two contrasting worlds - the caves of our stone for their critically acclaimed produc- ancient ancestors and modern apartments of tion. Both dance works are based on musical glass and steel - to question our ambivalence scores commissioned by The Dahl to the world. Foundation.

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FEATURE by Heather Kincaid

DANCING QUEENS Mamma Mia! comes to Birmingham Hippodrome

In 1999, Judy Craymer's new musical featur- ple coming dressed up in their own versions of ing the songs of Abba opened at London's the Lycra jumpsuits, and they've got a great Prince Edward Theatre. It then transferred to sense of humour. Friday and Saturday nights the Prince of Wales, where it became the the- here in Manchester have been roof-raising!” atre's longest ever running show. If you're in the mood for a dance, here's where Mamma Mia! would go on to smash records you'll get the chance: vital to the continued ap- worldwide, raking up eye-watering audience peal of the stage show is the huge extent to figures and earning billions in box office tak- which the audience feel involved and a part of ings. the action. Right from the opening number, More than 17 years on, enthusiasm for the show you'll be able to hear the first few tentative voices has barely flagged - if anything, the 2008 movie singing along. By the end of the show, there's adaptation has increased interest and lent the barely a bum left on a seat. musical a whole new lease of life. Today, over “Watching it on a TV in your front room just isn't 10% of the UK population has seen the show on the same as singing along with everyone at a live stage, and a whopping one in four households show,” says Coventry's Louis Stockil, who plays owns the film - Amazon's best-selling DVD in his- the puppyish Pepper, Best Man to Sky and best tory. Just what is it about the all-singing stage pal to Eddie. “I think people definitely get more sensation that makes it so impossible to resist? of a buzz from watching it on stage, and it's great “I think you can't really not enjoy it,” says Sam for us to see everyone singing and having a good Robinson, the Black Country boy joining the cur- time. That's when we know we're doing a good rent UK tour as Eddie. “It's such a happy, feel- job.” good show that no one can go out of it feeling “It's got a bit of a concert feel to it at times, which miserable.” is definitely something you don't get from the “There's a strange sense of ownership about the film,” Robinson agrees. “The songs are so iconic show in the UK which we didn't find in foreign that everyone knows them and will sing along, countries,” adds Sara Poyzer, who's been leading and it never gets boring seeing that. It's kind of the production as the fiercely independent overwhelming, really.” Donna Sheridan for four years now. “We get peo- Continued overleaf...

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But there's more to Mamma Mia! than and sends messages, masquerading as in someone else's story. Nor is Donna just a place to go where they play the her mother, to invite them out to her the only self-sufficient fortysomething right music. Beneath all the musical own wedding. Hijinks, chaos and con- female character: her former band- mayhem, there's a touching tale of fusion inevitably ensue, but of course, mates Tanya and Rosie have both cho- love, loss and learning to accept your- everything works out for the best in sen freewheeling lifestyles, with Tanya self the way you are. the end. now travelling the world following “I think people imagine they know “Although it's perhaps not at the fore- multiple marriages, and Rosie having what they're going to get and that it'll front, there’s undeniably a feminist steered well clear of kids and marriage just be lots of laughs and a good night streak running through the story, and I altogether. There's a wonderfully out,” explains Poyzer, “but there's a think that was important to the origi- warm and genuine friendship between kind of dark night of the soul in Act nal creators,” says Poyzer. “I know the three - another area in which Two when Donna realises and faces that Catherine [Johnson], the writer, women still remain woefully under- the mistakes she's made in her life. was reading quite a lot of bad stuff in represented. According to Poyzer, the There's a beautiful, relatively un- the right wing press badmouthing sin- camaraderie among the cast members known Abba song she sings called gle mothers, so one of her ideas was to is just as strong off-stage as it is on. Slipping Through My Fingers about make a single mother the hero of a “There's a scene we call Bedroom One, losing a child as she grows up and pre- story.” which is when the audience first hears pares to get married, and when I sing Dancing Queen, and is when you see that, I hear people crying in the audi- the Dynamos helping Donna solve the ence. Then you've got The Winner dilemma she's facing after these guys Takes It All, and right after that there's have arrived on the island and left her a fantastic comedy number, so there's feeling scared and confused. It's a a lovely swing between humour and great moment of bonding between the sentiment all the way through which three women, and every night we makes it quite moving.” come off-stage in stitches. It's a real joy Set on a Greek island paradise, to perform.” Mamma Mia! tells the story of single Friendship is central to the plot of mum Donna and her 20-year-old Mamma Mia! and not just between daughter Sophie, who's getting mar- women. As well as the Dynamos, ried to her boyfriend, Sky. Formerly there's also Sophie and her two bois- the lead singer of a three-piece girl terous bridesmaids, Ali and Lisa. Then group called The Dynamos, Donna led there's Sky and his two main men, something of a crazy, carefree lifestyle Pepper and Eddie, the latter two to- back in the days of flares, Lycra and For all the growing push to see women gether forming a kind of West Mid- Abba in the charts. As a result, So- better represented on stage and lands double act, which Birmingham phie's never known who her dad is, screen, it's still pretty rare to find a audiences will be pleased to know and the truth is, Donna's not entirely plot centred on a woman old enough they make a feature of on stage. By the sure either. After stealing a sly glimpse to have a grown-up daughter of her end of the story, even Sophie's poten- at her mum's old diary, sneaky Sophie own: once you're a mum, you're more tial dads - Sam, Bill and Harry - are identifies three possible candidates typically relegated to a supporting role getting along pretty well, agreeing to

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The songs are so iconic that everyone knows them and ‘‘ will sing along, and it never gets boring seeing that. It's kind of overwhelming, really

each take on a third of dad duties: it seems Yet at the same time, I'm always quite thrilled Those who” move on aren't forgotten either, all good things come in threes. when I hear that 95% of the cast are leaving - and every person who’s joined the team over Not just about women, then, and not just for not because they aren't great, but because the years has left their own indelible mark on women either. While it might have a reputa- new people bring new energy and new the show. tion as a girls' night out kind of show, in real- choices. Sometimes they bring things that are “There's a kind of saying that once you join ity, audience members vary from very young trickier or better, and I have to adapt and the island you never really leave,” says children to men with grandkids of their own. change my performance, so it's really chal- Poyzer. “I've watched countless actors and lenging and really joyous. Even though I've “I think it was partly the film that changed dancers come and go from the show, and I been doing it for four years, this year still that,” says Poyzer. “We get some very young see that. I think whilst I love it I'll continue to feels new.” children in the matinees now, and I've seen do it, but I know that even if I stopped and I four generations of women and girls in the wasn't here in body any more, I'd still be here audience before. Men come too - reluctantly in spirit.” or not - and always enjoy it. I got tweeted After a long, international tour during which today by a guy who said, 'I'm an all-male, she was lucky enough to visit more than 20 rugby-loving, meat-eating man, and you had different countries, Poyzer is glad to be bring- me singing at the top of my voice last night!'” ing the show back home to Britain: “There’s While Donna and Sophie might officially take nothing like a UK audience. They are ab- centre stage, the show is far more of an en- solutely, undeniably the best. They've got semble piece than a neat summary of the plot just the right balance of coming for a good might lead you to imagine, and it's great to night out and appreciating the sentimental see the full cast given chance to explore the side of the story. Also, there are some jokes various relationships between supporting like, 'You wait 20 years for a dad and three characters. come along at once,' which only work in cer- tain places!” “It's good that everyone gets their moment to shine,” says Robinson. “Even though the sto- The local lads of the cast are also looking for- ryline is very much about Donna and Sophie ward to bringing the show a little closer to and finding the right dad, if you think about home on the Birmingham leg of the tour. a scene like Does Your Mother Know?, none “I'm really looking forward to Birmingham - of those characters are in it.” it's my favourite city,” says Robinson. “I'm “It's nice to be in a show where the ensemble probably biased, but I do love Birmingham are used a lot, because that's not always the anyway, and so to be there and to have all my case,” Stockil agrees. “Having lots of people friends and family coming will be lovely.” on stage can be overwhelming, but it works After 50 productions in 16 different lan- really well here, and I think it adds some- guages worldwide, Mamma Mia! shows no thing for the audience as well.” signs of stopping yet, but for those who still “I think the show itself is the star,” says need persuading to be a part of the phenom- Poyzer. “No single actor is the star of the enon, take some advice from one who hasn't show, and the expectations people come in tired of it in years. with are more about the show as a whole “After over a thousand performances,” says than about any individual performance.” Poyzer, “when I'm in my dressing room and I Stockil makes an important point about new hear the drums of the overture strike up, angles that supporting characters can add. there's always a bit of me that gets excited, Though to date, Mamma Mia! has been per- and I think that's what propels me forward. I This continued enthusiasm and willingness would say to anyone who's seen the film, formed in over 440 major cities to more than to help the show grow and evolve has not 60 million people, each new person who don't think that you know Mamma Mia!, cer- gone unnoticed by the younger, more recent tainly not in this form. Whether or not you've joins the cast or crew brings a little of them- additions to the cast. selves to the production. seen the film, you should absolutely come “I've found that, particularly with Sara, and experience the stage version!” “Bringing in new people is like adding new they've invested in the fact that there are new ingredients to a cake,” says Stockil. “The performers who are going to bring different basic structure stays the same, you're just ideas, and aren't so set in their ways that spicing it up a bit.” they expect everyone to work around them,” Mamma Mia! shows at Birmingham Poyzer, who’s been part of the show for four says Robinson. “Everyone's been willing to Hippodrome from Tuesday 28 June to years now, recognises the importance of workshop and find new things, and I think Saturday 3 September these additions: “I always mourn the loss of a that's what keeps the show fresh and keeps great team, and last year was really special. them getting quality people in to do it for such long periods of time.”

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Chicago WIN! TICKETS To enter, visit whatsonlive.co.uk Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 20 - Sat 25 June Ex-EastEnder John Partridge stars in this new touring production of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s legendary musical. He’s joined by Emmerdale's Hayley Tamaddon and X Factor winner Sam Bailey, who plays Mama Morton. The recipient of numerous awards - most notably six Tonys, two Oliviers, one Grammy and, for its movie version, two Baftas and six Oscars - Chicago is based on real-life events in the Roaring ’20s. It centres on the character of Roxie Hart, a nightclub singer who shoots her lover. Together with her cell- block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, Roxie fights to stay off Death Row with the help of smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn...

Sid Director of Unfinished Business. from. Except that he doesn’t want to go... The production skilfully uses Israel senior’s The ensuing psychological torture, a birth- Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, extraordinary archive of writing, recordings, day party and a tart called Lulu all play their Fri 17 June interviews and performance footage to pres- part in encouraging events towards a discon- ent a show that brings together spoken word, certing but hilarious climax. video and live music by Yako 440.

Black Is The Colour Of My Voice Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 9 June Following the untimely death of her father, Mena Bordeaux goes into self-imposed isola- Leon Fleming’s new 50-minute, one-man tion for three days. Alone with her thoughts, play provides a thought-provoking insight she reflects on a journey that’s seen her into the subject of hero worship, along the become a renowned jazz vocalist at the fore- Ladies In Lavender way questioning what it means to be punk. front of the Civil Rights Movement... The story revolves around the character of Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Based on the life of Nina Simone, Apphia Fri 17 - Sat 25 June loose cannon Craig, a man who’s having a Campbell's one-woman show has enjoyed The Bear Pit Theatre Company is the ensem- bad day and whose girlfriend thinks he’s lost sell-out success in both Edinburgh and New ble behind this new stage version of Charles the plot. And why wouldn’t she, given the York. fact that his ‘best pal’ is the Sex Pistols’ Sid Dance’s 2004 film starring Judi Dench and Vicious, a punk rocker who’s been dead Maggie Smith. since the 1970s... The action unfolds in a close-knit fishing vil- The Birthday Party lage in 1930s Cornwall, as the Widdington Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, sisters, Ursula and Janet, nurse back to The Spinning Wheel Tues 14 - Sat 18 June health a handsome young Polish violinist mac, Birmingham, Thurs 9 June Aside from being his best-known play, who’s been washed ashore on a nearby beach. This exploration of pacifist activism, loss Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party is a come- The sisters soon find themselves forming an and legacy is presented by New York hip-hop dy with a real edge. Stanley is a third-rate emotional attachment to their unexpected theatre artist Baba Israel and celebrates the musician with a mysterious past who lodges guest, but the village community is far less life of his late father - the jazz musician, with deckchair attendant Petey and his wife convinced about the stranger’s merits - par- stand-up comic and countercultural activist Meg in a tatty boarding house. Into this ticularly when he befriends a Russian Steve Ben Israel. Baba has created the work world descend Goldberg and McCann, who woman named Olga... in association with Leo Kay, the Artistic want to take Stanley back to where he came

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Tom: The Story Of Tom Jones New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 1 - Sat 4 June Tom Jones maybe doesn't get quite as many pairs of ladies' knickers tossed in his general direction as he used to, but one thing that definitely hasn't changed is the depth, quali- ty and resonance of his truly incredible vocal. This new musical tells the story of the boy from the valleys who went on to conquer America and provide the inspiration for a jumpsuit-wearing Elvis Presley’s Vegas cho- reography. Expect all the hits, including Swinging ’60s crackers like It's Not Unusual, What's New Pussycat? and Delilah.

Macbeth Gone Mental April 1968. Towards its conclusion, King reviewer has heralded her performance wor- spoke of having been allowed by God ‘to go thy of an Academy Award (assuming they Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 17 June up to the mountain’ and see the Promised were handed out for theatrical endeavours, Macbeth is one of Land. of course). Shakespeare’s dark- “I may not get there with you,” he said, “but The production is directed by the Olivier est and most tragic I want you to know tonight, that we, as a Award-winning Guy Masterson and well tales - but that cer- people, will get to the promised land.” worth a look. tainly hasn’t stopped Within 24 hours, Dr King had been assassi- the highly innovative nated. Tap The Table This huge Broadway hit reimagines events in Gangsta Granny Productions from the hours leading up to his death. Along the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 8 - Sat presenting the play way, it adds into the mix a very real and 11 June; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 28 June - Sat 2 July; Theatre Severn, as a ‘rip-roaring hugely necessary dose of humour, ensuring Shrewsbury, Wed 12 - Sun 16 Oct comedy’. the production is always a pleasure to watch Having struck pay dirt with each of their pre- despite its challenging subject matter. The ever-popular Birmingham Stage vious three productions, the talented ensem- Company make a welcome return with their ble once again use their ‘unapologetic and highly acclaimed adaptation of David ridiculous performance style’ to present an I, Elizabeth Walliams’ best-selling book. evening that blends physical and black com- Ben’s no lover of Friday nights - and why edy with moments of ‘tear-jerking poignan- Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 9 - Fri 10 June; would he be? After all, Friday nights mean Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 15 June cy’. The company is performing the show in having to stay at Granny’s house, where he’s recognition of the 400th anniversary of not only bored senseless but also has to eat Shakespeare’s death. an unholy trinity of cabbage dishes - cab- bage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake. But experiences can sometimes be deceptive, The Mountaintop and Ben soon finds out that there’s way more to his boring old Granny than meets the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Fri 10 - Thurs 25 June eye... The title of Katori Hall’s Olivier Award- winning two-hander recalls the leg- The struggle to reconcile the desires of wom- endary speech given anhood with the duties of sovereignty lies at by civil rights leader the heart of Rebecca Vaughan’s critically Martin Luther King acclaimed study of Elizabeth I. Vaughan’s at Mason Temple in previous work includes the well-received Memphis, Dalloway, Austen's Women and Female Tennessee, on 3 Gothic. She’s here on such fine form that one

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Do something different, see something new

Thu 9 & Sat 11 Jun Cavalleria rusticana Thu 16 - Sat 18 Jun The Taming of & Pagliacci Mascagni & Leoncavallo the Shrew

Wed 22 - Sat 25 Jun Mon30 May Fri 10 Jun Thu 9 - Thu 16 - -Sat 4 Jun In Parenthesis Sat 11 Jun Shakespeare Sat 25 Jun From £20 Iain Bell From £16.50 Triple Bill From £10

Tue 28 Jun - Wed 7 - Tue 20 & Sat 3 Sep Sun 18 Sep Wed 21 Sep From £28 From £23.50 From £17

Dance Consortium presents

Fri 23 & Mon 10 - Mon 24 - Sat 24 Sep Sat 22 Oct Sat 29 Oct From £10 From £18 From £14

0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. 5% transaction charge applies excluding cash sales in person. Theatre June.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:17 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Tongue Tied Othello And Twisted Stafford Castle, Thurs 23 June - Sat 9 July Arena Theatre, Shakespeare’s tragic tale of lost handkerchiefs, Wolverhampton, ruined reputations and mistreated wives is one Thurs 2 June of theatre’s most powerful stories. Traditional Indian folk tales When the malevolent Iago believes himself to from 50 Black Country-based have been overlooked for promotion by Othello, South Asian elders are brought his Machiavellian mind turns to thoughts of together in this collaborative vengeance. Othello’s willingness to be led by the presentation from Black nose is all grist to Iago’s mill, and fatal conse- Country Touring and Creative quences ensue... Black Country. This production marks the first time the Stafford The show celebrates the art of Shakespeare Festival has staged Othello at live storytelling, in the process Stafford Castle. fusing a unique blend of urban hip-hop and classical South Asian sounds. The on-stage storyteller is Peter Chand. “Storytelling is an 7 Promises Blackadder: The Tudor Years immediate and exciting way to Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 18 June Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 7 - Sat 11 June engage instantly with audi- ences,” says Peter. “What I love Random Scream theatre company was created South Birmingham-based semi-professional the- about Tongue Tied And by Brussels-based American performing artist atrical group All & Sundry is the company Twisted is that it’s steeped in Davis Freeman. Its aim is to focus on personal behind this stage version of the hit Rowan the past, but very much interactions and explore the way in which peo- Atkinson television comedy. The production grounded in the present.” ple’s choices directly affect the communities in reworks three popular episodes from Blackadder “The tradition of passing folk which they live. II, the Richard Curtis and Ben Elton-penned 1985 tales down through the genera- Davis’s latest offering turns the spotlight on ‘the series set in Elizabethan England. tions is dying out,” adds the impending ecological disaster’ facing the world, All & Sundry have previously enjoyed success show’s producer, Dawinder and asks why more isn’t being done to avoid it. with a show featuring episodes from 1989’s Bansal, “so we knew it was Davis and his collaborator, Jerry Killick, appear Blackadder Goes Forth, the action of which was important to capture this wis- as two ecological preachers who call on their located in the World War One trenches. dom before it was too late. As audience to turn their words into action. the elders recalled the stories “We propose seven promises for the audience to they were told as children, take, to create a more sustainable world,” Chaplin their eyes twinkled, knowing explains Davis, “and in turn we give them a free Malvern Theatre, their voices will live on for shot of vodka. It’s highly successful, and good Worcestershire, Fri 10 June; decades to come in an online late at night to create a party.” Theatre Severn, archive.” Shrewsbury, Tues 21 - Wed 22 June; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 13 July; Hamlet New Alexandra Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham, Thurs 14 July until Sat 13 August Silent-era movie star Charlie Chaplin died Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is struggling to almost 40 years ago at the age of 88. Since that come to terms with his life. Faced with the ghost time and not surprisingly, his star has faded of his murdered father, he must also grapple considerably. His most famous films, meanwhile with the indecently hasty remarriage of his wid- - made in Hollywood during his halcyon days of owed mother to his conniving uncle... the 1920s and ’30s - have all but disappeared A masterpiece of world theatre, Shakespeare’s from television screens. So this new musical famous play is a challenging piece to perform. play offers a useful reminder of just how talent- The lead role is one of the largest ever written, ed, feted and remarkable Chaplin actually was. and it's a brave actor indeed who undertakes the The show follows the London-born actor from necessary plunge into his own psyche. So good the dark streets of Victorian England to the glitz luck on this particular occasion to Paapa and glamour of Tinseltown in the Roaring ’20s. Essiedu... Steven Arnold, who played Ashley Peacock in The cast also includes Cucumber’s Cyril Nri as Coronation Street, dons the bowler hat and Polonius and James Cooney as Rosencrantz. toothbrush moustache to play the first true British icon of cinema.

For full theatre listings, visit whatsonlive.co.uk

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BRIAN YEATES ASSOCIATES PROUDLY PRESENTS...

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Check out www.yeatesentertainment.co.uk for complete UK tour dates Film June - GROUP.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:20 Page 1

Film

Gods Of Egypt CERT 12a (127 mins) Starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brenton Thwaites, Chadwick Boseman, Élodie Yung, Rufus Sewell, Gerard Butler, Geoffrey Rush, Bryan Brown Directed by Alex Proyas (USA/Australia) Gods and mortals do battle in this big-budget action-fantasy in which a lowly thief called Bek (Thwaites) teams up with the divine Horus (Coster-Waldau). They have a beef with Set (Butler), the god of the desert, who has seized the throne of Egypt and has decided to charge the dead for a passage to the afterlife, a sort of necro-visa. Don’t expect too accurate a portrait of ancient Egypt and do expect a lot of CGI. The director Alex Proyas previously brought us The Crow And I, Robot. Appropriately, he was born in Alexandria, Egypt. Released Fri 17 June

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in June...

The Nice Guys CERT 15 (116 mins) Learning To Drive Starring Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, CERT 15 (90 mins) Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Keith David, Kim Basinger Directed by Shane Black (USA) Starring Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Jake Weber, Grace Gummer, Sarita Choudhury There’s little nice in this look at the seamier Directed by Isabel Coixet (USA) side of 1970s’ Los Angeles, but Russell Crowe When her husband leaves her, Manhattan and Ryan Gosling play the good guys who writer Wendy Shields (Clarkson) decides to investigate the apparent suicide of a porn capitalise on her independence by learning star. The director Shane Black previously to drive. Her instructor, an Indian Sikh brought us Iron Man 3 and the inventive, vio- (Kingsley), is facing a very different nuptial lent and hilarious Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (he prospect: an arranged marriage. They’re as also scripted the first two Lethal Weapon different as chalk and paneer, but they form films). a very special bond over the wheel. Released Fri 3 June Released Fri 10 June

Race CERT PG (103 mins) Starring Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, William Hurt, Carice van Houten Directed by Stephen Hopkins (USA/Canada/Germany) In 1936 Jesse Owens won a record-break- ing four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics. But being a black man from Alabama, his athletic superiority was somewhat at odds with Hitler’s view of Aryan supremacy. Released Fri 3 June

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Film releases in June

CRITIC’S CHOICE Me Before You CERT 12a (110 mins) Starring Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, Brendan Coyle, Matthew Lewis Directed by Thea Sharrock (USA) Adapted by Jojo Moyes from her own 2012 novel, this romantic drama explores the rela- tionship of two very different people: Lou Clark, an unambitious waitress who ends up caring for Will Traynor, and Will himself, a high-achieving young man who’s lost the use of his legs in a car crash. Ms Clarke, who por- trays Miss Clark, is best known for playing Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of Thrones. Released Fri 3 June Independence Day: 1996. He plays an American pilot signed up with the Earth Space Defense [sic], a Resurgence CERT tbc unit established by the United Nations to Starring Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, battle any future extraterrestrial threats. Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A Fox, Well, before the last lot of aliens were Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Angelababy, Sela beaten by Will Smith, they managed to Ward, William Fichtner send out a distress signal to their allies in Directed by Roland Emmerich (USA) deep space, who return with even more With his brother Chris saving the world technologically-advanced weaponry. in the guise of Thor, Liam Hemsworth is The budget is reported to be at least now on hand to battle those pesky aliens $200million. In 3D. from the original Independence Day of Released Fri 24 June

Mother’s Day CERT 12a (118 mins) Elvis & Nixon CERT 15 (86 mins) Starring Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Julia Starring Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Roberts, Jason Sudeikis, Britt Robertson, Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Colin Hanks, Tate Timothy Olyphant, Jack Whitehall, Jennifer Donovan Directed by Liza Johnson (USA) Garner Directed by Garry Marshall (USA) The most requested photo from the US Different narrative strands come together on National Archives is of Richard M Nixon this most important of Sundays as various shaking the hand of Elvis A Presley. The characters cope with their moms and the occasion was on 21 December 1970, in the demands of motherhood. The director Garry Oval Office, and the official notes of the Marshall is rather into these all-star holiday meeting reveal the King’s interest in specials, having previously brought us Communist brainwashing and a distaste for Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, without The Beatles. a single decent review between them. Michael Shannon plays Elvis and Kevin Released Fri 10 June Spacey is Nixon. Released Fri 24 June

The Conjuring 2 CERT 15 (134 mins) Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O'Connor, Madison Wolfe, Simon McBurney, Franka Potente Directed by James Wan (USA) Paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to London to investigate the haunt- ing of a council house in Enfield. It is of course a sequel to The Conjuring (2013), one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time. Released Fri 17 June

whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Visual Arts June Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 19:49 Page 1

Visual Arts

All The World’s Stage The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 10 June - Sun 25 September Continuing this year's Shakespeare 400 celebra- tions, the Barber hosts its first ever exhibition of Elizabethan and Jacobean art, devised in collab- oration with the National Portrait Gallery and co-curated by Masters' students from the University of Birmingham. This major project features paintings, sculp- tures, miniatures and prints dating from 1590 to 1620, including portraits of Anne of Denmark, the Earls of Essex and Derby, Ben Jonson, John Fletcher and Shakespeare himself, as well as a rare first Folio and other beautiful books from the time. Focusing on the Bard's chief patrons at court, his fellow writers, friends and rivals, it aims to show how artists construct character through portraiture, as well as illuminating the world of the Court during this lively period in Britain's cultural history.

Laura Oldfield Ford: Staffordshire Open 2016 Grayson Perry: Solo Exhibition Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, until Sun 3 July The Vanity Of Differences Grand Union, Birmingham, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Fri 17 June - Fri 5 August until Sun 3 July Known for her politically motivated work Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry focusing on British urban areas, psychogeo- here takes his inspiration not only from his graphic artist and writer Laura Oldfield Ford own 2012 television documentary series, All spent six weeks in residence at Grand Union In The Best Possible Taste, but also from in 2015, researching Digbeth through a series William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress - a of walks or dérives. Shifting away from an series of canvases depicting eighteenth cen- emphasis on her own subjective engagement tury society which the artist produced in the with spaces, this exhibition sees the artist early 1730s. move towards a ‘sociogeographic’ style, Charting the story of class mobility and drawing on multiple voices and narratives. examining the influence of social class on Using a mixture of sound, photography, aesthetic taste, the exhibition comprises drawing and painting, Oldfield Ford has cre- many of the characters, incidents and ated a ‘cognitive map’ of the area, encourag- objects that Perry encountered while making ing the activation of memories and the dis- Returning for 2016, this annual exhibition his BAFTA award-winning documentary semination of stories through the process of aims to promote new talent and celebrate the series. Using these characters to weave a nar- walking. work of local artists, often exhibiting for the rative, the artist has produced a social com- first time. Any visual artist who lives, works, mentary which focuses on the minutiae of studies or was born in Staffordshire is invit- contemporary taste, in so doing paying due ed to submit their work for consideration, homage to Hogarth’s collection of 18th centu- with opportunities available for art lovers of ry paintings. all tastes and budgets to buy and sell pieces. This year's exhibition features a diverse range of paintings, drawings, prints, photog- raphy, sculpture, film and animation.

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Black Art In Focus Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until 9 July Celebrating the varied and vital work by contemporary black British artists, this exhibition brings together a diverse array of paintings and prints from the gallery's existing collection with items newly acquired through the Heritage Lottery Fund Collecting Cultures programme. Highlights include iconic works by Turner Prize winner Chris Ofili, as well as pieces by Tam Joseph, Keith Piper, Claudette Johnson, Donald Rodney and other leading fig- ures in the Blk Art Group which emerged from Wolverhampton in the 1980s, going on to exhibit and influence artists of colour across the UK. Eugene Palmer's enigmatic painting, Duppy Shadow, is also displayed in the Georgian Gallery. Curator Carol Thompson said: “Wolverhampton Art Gallery championed the start of the Black Art Movement in Britain, which has seen many of its local founder mem- bers go on to be incredibly influential artists on British culture. It’s great that 35 years later the gallery is putting black art back in focus.”

For more visual arts listings visit whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Tamworth Castle Single Page.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:24 Page 1 Tamworth Castle Single Page.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:24 Page 2

FEATURE

Hands-On with History at Tamworth Castle

From Norman fort to stately home to 21st- set of wooden stocks, dress up a knight in Tamworth in the 19th and 20th centuries, century museum, Tamworth Castle stands shining armour or try on costume from the including the work of Robert Peel and as a physical record of almost a millen- medieval dressing up box. Watch out for the William McGregor, the North Warwickshire nium's worth of history. Built as a wooden ghost of St Editha, said to haunt the castle coalfield, the Glascote and Gibbs & Canning keep around 1080 by conquering Normans since 1139 after Lord Robert Marmion potteries, health and sanitation crises and on the site of an established Saxon “burh”, evicted the nuns from nearby Polesworth the Tamworth or 'Sandyback' pig breed. the castle gained its stone shell some 100 Abbey. Outside, meanwhile, there's a chance to years later, and is today a treasure trove of Attention to detail in period-furnished relax in the castle's extensive grounds, fea- fascinating facts, interesting objects and rooms creates a sense of travelling through turing a kids' play area, crazy golf course, things to do for all the family. time. In the 15th century, just before the bowling green, tennis courts, skate park, Visitors to the castle are invited to journey Tudor age, the castle passed into the hands free outdoor gym, cycle hire, canoeing and a through Tamworth's rich history, beginning of the Ferrers family, responsible for exten- “planet walk”, an outdoor scale model of long before the Norman settlement. Far from sive alterations to the castle over the course the solar system for budding astronauts to the unassuming place it is today, Tamworth of almost 300 years. See how and where explore. was once a thriving market town, complete they would have slept, dined and stored Planning a holiday visit? Keep an eye out for with its own mint, treasury and water mill, their food until the castle's eventual capture special events taking place throughout the as well as a key stronghold for the kingdom by Cromwell's forces during the English Civil summer, including a Living History series of Mercia, which covered much of the mod- War. Discover how, in the 18th century, examining historical weapons, housekeep- ern-day Midlands. George Townshend II began a process of fur- ing and toys, as well as Castle Quest, a video Part of the Mercian Trail partnership, Tam- ther remodelling, including landscaping the game-inspired, “search and collect”, prob- worth Castle is currently home to unique castle's beautiful pleasure grounds and re- lem-solving adventure for older kids and artefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard, and placing its outdated Tudor windows. Tools, teens, and the magical, character-driven En- offers some fascinating insights into the trinkets and pistols from his time are dis- chanted Castle, ideal for any fans of fairies, Anglo-Saxon era from which they date. In- played in the castle's South side, where you knights and dragons. Tamworth Castle may teractive exhibits allow kids to make their can also enjoy a Georgian makeover, com- be known for its colourful St. George's Day own runic messages, assemble a sword, see plete with hats and wigs. Elsewhere, you'll jousts and re-enactments, but there's lots a model water mill in action, and get up find out more about the Victorian tenants more here throughout the year to entertain close and personal with replica armour. who leased the house from the Townshends kids and grown-ups of all ages. Meanwhile, information boards tell stories before its sale to the Tamworth Corporation Tamworth Castle is open Tuesday to Satur- of the 8th-century King Offa (of Offa's Dyke (later Tamworth Borough Council), includ- day (11.30am - 4pm) until September, then fame), and of Æthelflæd, daughter of King ing Thomas Cooke, whose textile business Saturday and Sunday (11.30am - 3pm) until Alfred the Great and Lady of the Mercians, created practical, affordable clothing for the March 2017. The castle also opens extra the only known female ruler of an Anglo- working class and provided hundreds of days for schools and bank holidays. Saxon realm. jobs for the community. In honour of her For a full programme of events taking place home's history, Cooke's daughter was called Laws set down in 1283 Tamworth Court throughout 2016, visit Aethelflaeda, a fitting name for the castle's Rolls provide a window onto crime and pun- tamworthcastle.co.uk ishment in the medieval period. Discover final resident. the penalties for washing tripe in the river or Of course, the story doesn't end there: for inviting a Vicar to your table, try out a there's plenty more to learn about life in

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Events

BBC Good Food Show Summer NEC, Birmingham, Tues 16 - Sun 19 June Brimming with inspiration, handy tips and sure-to-be-welcome advice on how to create the perfect summer menu, the BBC Good Food Show returns to the NEC to provide a food experience ‘like no other’. In addition to the host of celebrities who’re on hand to share their knowledge, including Mary Berry, The Hairy Bikers, James Martin and Paul Hollywood, the four-day event offers visitors an abundance of demonstra- tions, tastings, book signings and shopping experiences to enjoy. The BBC Good Food Kitchen and the Supertheatre also feature. Tickets to the show also provide access to the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event.

Birmingham Diamond Cholmondeley Power Nitro Circus Live League & Speed Festival Worcester Sixways Stadium, Fri 3 June Alexandra Stadium, Birmingham, Sun 5 June Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire, Fri 10 - Sun 12 June Described as the UK’s ‘most dynamic’ motorsport get-together, the Cholmondeley Power & Speed Festival this year takes the theme of Supercars: Past, Present And Future. Star cars to look out for as they make their way around the 3.2-mile track include the McLaren675LT, the Ferrari FXX, the 1913 Chalmers Speedster and the 2016 Aston Martin N430. With over 150 entries in both the car and bike categories, the track action will be constant throughout all three days of the event. Other attractions at the family-friendly show include air displays and pleasure There’s a truly ‘diamond’ line-up of athletes flights, the UK’s only professional taking part in this pre-Rio get-together, with wakeboard tour, a wide selection of Double Olympic, world and European cham- activities for kids to enjoy, displays by The organisers of Nitro Circus are eager to pion Mo Farah leading the pack. over 50 car clubs, a craft beer festival ensure they leave extreme sports fans in no Farah is joined at the event by the US’s with live comedy and the ever-popular doubt whatsoever about the high quality of Trayvon Bromell and Canada’s Andre De military display. entertainment they can expect at this Grasse, two of the world’s best young sprint- action-packed touring show. ing talents. The pair will be competing Record-breaking feats, ‘unbelievable’ tricks against one another in the men’s 200 metres. and ‘insane’ stunts are all part and parcel of “I’m really looking forward to testing myself ‘a theatrical spectacular quite unlike any- over this longer distance,” says world indoor thing you've seen before’. 60-metre champion Trayvon. “I’ve had some The show also features some of the world's close competitions with Andre at collegiate best extreme athletes, not to mention the level and especially in Beijing last summer, sight of a host of ‘ridiculous’ contraptions and it’ll be good to compete against him in a being launched into the air off a 40-foot- 200-metre race.” high Giganta Ramp.

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more events from around the region

Events

Cosford Air Show RAF Cosford, Staffordshire, Sun 19 June Regarded as one of the country’s top aviation events, this annual air show attracts thousands of visitors and features spectacular flying displays, military exhibitions and static aircraft displays. Highlights of this year’s event include a 25th anniversary com- memoration of the 1991 Gulf War conflict, the Great War Display Team performing in the skies over RAF Cosford, and celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the Blitz Hill: 1940s Evening On The Home Front Air Training Corps.

Blists Hill, Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, rousing songs of the Land Army Girls and Sat 18 June Shawbury Military Wives choirs. There’s also Head back in time at Blists Hill to the start of a nostalgic variety show in the style of the the 20th century - and from there, head four hugely popular BBC Workers Playtime, which decades into the future to enjoy this special toured factories and workplaces to boost the 1940s-set event! Blitz Hill presents a pro- nation’s wartime spirits. New for 2016 is the gramme of World War Two-style entertain- Taking Shelter experience. Visitors can take a ment, music and activities, with visitors invit- pre-booked ride on the clay mine railway into ed to attend the event dressed in Shropshire Blists Hill’s air raid shelter, complete with Home Front period costume. flickering lights and atmospheric wartime Highlights include the chance to enjoy the sounds. Lord Mayor’s Park Life! Big Weekend Hot Air Literary Festival Show Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Emma Bridgewater Factory, Hanley, Sun 12 June Sat 25 - Sun 26 June Thurs 9 - Sat 11 June This prestigious civic event this Given that it’s sited in 120 acres of Capability Stoke-on-Trent’s Hot Air Literary Festival year celebrates the Queen’s 90th Brown-designed Grade II-listed parkland, makes a welcome return this month, once birthday. Compton Verney is the ideal place in which again presenting a diverse programme of Three organisations for which Her to host this celebratory event marking the events that features contributions from Majesty is patron - the Lawn 300th anniversary of the landscape archi- authors, writers, playwrights and performers. Tennis Association, The RFU and tect’s birth. Big names gracing the three-day festival the PGA - will be making contribu- Park Life! uses Georgian reenactors to pro- include bestselling novelist Nick Hornby, tel- tions to the show, offering a host vide visitors with the chance to learn more evision presenter Kirstie Allsopp, leading of hands-on activities for visitors about the life and times of the inhabitants of international ceramicist Edmund de Waal, to enjoy. the house, and of those who worked the land acclaimed classic historian Mary Beard and Other attractions at the event after Brown had finished his landscape proj- How To Train Your Dragon author Cressida include falconry and sheepdog ect. Cowell. displays, zumba, Tai Chi, soft The focus on the Saturday is Georgian There’s also a creative workshop based on archery, badminton and hula Heritage And Elegance, while the Sunday David Walliams’s book, Gangsta Granny, for hooping taster sessions, live presentation examines 18th century children aged between 7 and 11, as well as a music, street food stalls, free craft Practicality And Rural Life. discussion about the challenges of adapting workshops, storytelling events and written work for the stage and a showcase for the brand new Greenspaces chil- young writing talent. dren’s play area. The event’s finale is hosted by ceramics man- The Royal Navy, Army and RAF are ufacturer Emma Bridgewater. Along with also in attendance, co-ordinating renowned potter and judge Keith Brymer- various activities and manning Jones and the finalists from the BBC2 series recruitment stalls. Great British Pottery Throw Down, Emma will be discussing the opportunities that the TV programme has brought to the region.

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more events from around the region

Events

Artsfest Brindleyplace Various locations across Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dragon Boat Lichfield and Stafford until Fri 24 June Race Returning for a second year, the University of Wolverhampton’s Artsfest event is already well Brindleyplace, Birmingham, Sat 18 June under way and continues until late this month. A celebration of the creative and cultural arts, the This well-established annual festival features workshops, masterclasses, live fundraiser sees members of the music, theatre and dance productions, along with a city’s business community com- whole host of other attractions. Highlights during peting for first place on the final weeks of the festival include Birmingham’s Fazeley Canal. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre performances of The This year, the organisers have Rocky Horror Show and Northern Ballet’s version of set themselves the challenge of Jane Eyre, an evening of poetry and conversation raising in excess of £65,000 (the with Jo Bell and Luke Kennard, a Light House Media 2015 total) for Birmingham- Centre screening of Thelma And Louise, and a based blood cancer charity Cure Graduate Fashion Show, presenting creations by the Leukaemia. University’s Fashion & Textile students. The one-day event features teams of 11 taking to the water, in fancy dress, in traditional Chinese longboats. The festival also boasts plenty of ing dead’ can play their part in raising Three Counties Show entertainment away from the £10,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. canal, with Brindleyplace’s pub- Malvern Showground, Fri 17 - Sun 19 June That said, there is a competition for best- lic squares being brought to life dressed zombie that needs to be won, so Britain's finest breeds of cattle, sheep and by traditional Chinese street maybe participants should go that extra mile pigs are all present and correct at this always- entertainment and numerous with their outfits after all. Latex ‘wounds’ and popular show - as indeed are the King's Troop family-friendly activities. Royal Horse Artillery. ketchup-covered clothing at the ready... A ceremonial unit of the British Army, the King’s Troop’s contribution to the event marks its only appearance outside London. Viking Weekend The Troop performs in the main arena on Arley Arboretum & Gardens, each day of the show, with teams of six hors- Nr Kidderminster, es each pulling First World War-era field guns Sat 18 - Sun 19 June which are then used to fire an earth-shatter- ing salute, most often seen at state occasions. Telford’s Raudr Vagr Vikings Other main arena attractions include dog group are setting up camp on agility displays, a grand parade of livestock, the front lawn of the Arboretum and the British army’s official parachute dis- to present a weekend-long play team, The Red Devils, dropping in from Living History experience. altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. Over the course of the two days, The event also features numerous ‘villages’ the reenactors will be demon- catering for visitors interested in farming, strating a variety of Viking Age equine pursuits, and hands-on sporting activ- Grand Medieval Joust crafts, skills, games and pas- ities - including Quidditch matches and les- times. Kenilworth Castle, Sat 25 - Sun 26 June sons! They’ll also be engaging in Thundering battles involving heroic knights numerous combat displays and on horseback are the order of the day at this chatting to visitors about all celebration of life and combat in medieval things Viking. Zombie Walk England. Victoria Square, Birmingham City Centre, There’s also the chance for youngsters to test Sat 18 June their strength in the field, and for visitors to sample the medieval way of life by checking It’s time to have a rummage through the out the colourful encampments. dressing-up box, go crazy with the makeup A ‘naughty’ court jester ensures there’s more and get walking in an undead way for chari- by way of entertainment than fearless com- ty... batants prodding each other with blunt- Birmingham’s eighth Zombie Walk is likely to tipped lances... attract in excess of 2,000 people, all of whom are certain to look like they’ve seen better See thelist for all your days. Still, it’s not the drained-of-blood com- plexion that matters, it’s whether the ‘walk- events listings

whatsonlive.co.uk 49 The List Cover June Birmingham ONLY.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 16:29 Page 1

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

50 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Cover June Worcs/Warwicks.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:39 Page 1

Your week to week listings guide June 2016 thelist Megson at Artrix - Saturday 4 June 4 Saturday - Artrix at Megson

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

What’s On Wed 1 to Sun 5 June Mon 6 to Sun 12 June Mon 13 to Sun 19 June Mon 20 to Thurs 30 June

Sara Pascoe at Warwick Arts The Great British Food Festival Jethro at Evesham Arts Centre Jackie The Musical at Malvern Centre, Coventry at Ragley Hall Thurs 16 - Fri 17 June Theatres Thurs 2 June Sat 11 - Sun 12 June Tues 21 - Sat 25 June

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thelist Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 June THROUGHOUT APRIL Gigs and its links with Coventry, until Sun OCEANS ATE ALASKA 19 June. Wed 1 June, The Visual Arts Rainbow Venues, GRAYSON PERRY: THE VANITY OF SMALL Birmingham Artrix, Bromsgrove DIFFERENCES Series of six large-scale tapestries by Turner Prize-winning HANKKS Wed 1 June, NEW RETROSPECTIVELY SPEAKING: artist Grayson Perry, exploring the The Rainbow Venues, NORMAN NEASOM 1930 - 2010 British fascination with taste and Birmingham Redditch-born artist Norman class, until Sun 3 July BOP + GEKO (14/17 Neasom's career spanned well over YEARS ONLY) Wed 1 half a century, from the 1930s to his MAKING A MASTERPIECE Exploring the June, The Empire, death in 2010, Wed 8 June - Sun 10 creative process undertaken by artist Coventry July Graham Sutherland to design the monumental tapestry which hangs HANNAH JOHNSON & THE Birmingham Museum & behind the altar of Coventry BROKEN HEARTS Wed 1 Art Gallery Cathedral, until Sun 3 July June, The Jam House, BIRMINGHAM QUR’AN One of the earli- KORABRA BY GAVIN JANTJES Dramatic Birmingham est surviving copies of the Islamic paintings by Gavin Jantjes, on dis- THIS IS THE KIT + ANDY holy book, on display, until Wed 3 play as part of a collaboration with SKELLAM Wed 1 June, Aug the Black Artists & Modernism proj- The Assembly, BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY ect, until Sun 21 August. Leamington Spa Bruce Springsteen - Ricoh Arena, Coventry IN 130 YEARS The story of the The Hive, Worcester JUMP THE SHARK + Museum & Art Gallery, told via a spe- SHRINKING VIOLETS June, Brindley Place, BOWJANGLES Sat 4 cial anniversary exhibition, until NEW WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ARTISTS Wed 1 June, The Hare B’ham June, Stratford Thurs 1 Sept Exhibition of paintings by local & Hounds, Birmingham THE SONS OF PITCHES Artshouse artists, Sat 18 June - Fri 1 July TURNING TO SEE: FROM VAN DYCK TO CITY OF SOUNDS Fri 3 June, Artrix, THE RAINBOW VENUES LUCIAN FREUD Van Dyck's last self-por- Leamington Spa Art Gallery & FESTIVAL Wed 1 - Sun Bromsgrove WAREHOUSE CLOSING trait, curated by Midlands-born and Museum 26 June, Adrian Boult FRAN THE MAN Fri 3 PARTY Sat 4 June, The internationally renowned artist John Rainbow Venues, SIMON LEWTY: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF Hall, Birmingham June, Irish Centre, Stezaker, Sat 28 May - Sun 4 Sept Digbeth, B’ham WRITING Exhibition including early CELEBRATING CILLA Wed Birmingham works by Lewty, dating back to the 1 June, Belgrade BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Fri FEWS (TRICKY DISCO) Compton Verney Gallery, Sat 4 June, Kasbah, Warwick 1970s, alongside his recent work, Theatre, Coventry 3 June, Ricoh Arena, until Sun 10 July Coventry Coventry SHAKESPEARE IN ART: TEMPESTS, KEITH JAMES Wed 1 EASTWOOD Sat 4 June, TYRANTS AND TRAGEDY Exhibition June, Kitchen Garden SUNDARA KARMA & Rugby Art Gallery & Museum Katie Fitzgerald's, reimagining Shakespeare’s works Cafe, Birmingham INHEAVEN Fri 3 June, WHEN YOU FALL INTO A TRANCE New Stourbridge through a unique series of multi- IGNITE BRUM Wed 1 The Rainbow Venues, film work by internationally media encounters, until Sun 19 June June, The Glee Club, Birmingham MEGSON Sat 4 June, acclaimed artist Emily Wardill, until Birmingham COASTS Fri 3 June, O2 Artrix, Bromsgrove BOYDELL'S VISION Exhibition tracing Sat 11 June the history of John Boydell’s famous LAURA J MARTIN + Academy, Birmingham JOE BROUGHTON'S NEW A LIFE IN PATTERN: THE LIFE & Shakespeare Gallery, which opened SPECIAL GUESTS Wed 1 GOODALL + RINSE + CONSERVATOIRE FOLK WORKS OF SHEILA BOWNAS Exploring in 1789 on London’s Pall Mall, until June, Ort Cafe, B’ham THE SURRENDERS + ENSEMBLE Sat 4 June, Sheila’s life and the development of Sun 19 June JUNK Fri 3 June, The Huntingdon Hall, her artistic and textile design prac- ADAM GREEN & FRIENDS Rainbow Venues, Worcester Forge Mill Needle Museum, tice, Sat 25 June - Sat 3 Sept Wed 1 June, The Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham HUNTER AND THE BEAR Redditch Sat 4 June, The Marr's Warwick Arts Centre,Coventry ATLANTIC SOUL NOVANA Fri 3 June, O2 TANGENT TEXTILES: WARRIORS Bar, Worcester ANOTHER MINIMALISM A Fruitmarket ORCHESTRA Thurs 2 Academy, Birmingham Exhibition inspired by warriors from Gallery touring exhibition, curated by June, Birmingham NELLY Sat 4 June, O2 the ancient world, until Sun 5 June THE URBAN VOODOO Melissa E Feldman. The artists use Town Hall MACHINE Fri 3 June, Academy, Birmingham NEW SCOUR: THE HIDDEN LANDSCAPE materials including glass, mirrors PIG BAG Thurs 2 June, The Flapper, BUSTED Sat 4 June, Through the mediums of sculpture, and coloured lights to alter the view- The Jam House, B’ham Birmingham Barclaycard Arena, video and sound, artists Keith er’s perception of space and time, BUDDY HOLLY'S WINTER Birmingham Ashford and Elizabeth Turner explore until Sat 25 June MAMMAL HANDS Thurs Forge Mill’s needle collection and its 2 June, The Hare & DANCE PARTY Fri 3 THE PARLOTONES Sat 4 unique scouring mill, Fri 10 June - Worcester City Museum & Art Hounds, Birmingham June, Evesham Arts June, Hare & Hounds, Centre King’s Heath, B’ham Sun 3 July, Forge Mill Needle Gallery LUKE FRIEND Thurs 2 Museum THIS GREEN EARTH Malvern-based June, O2 Institute, MILOS KARADAGLIC Fri 3 CONGO NATTY Sat 4 artist Bridget Macdonald’s land- Birmingham June, Forum Theatre, June The Rainbow Malvern Venues, Digbeth, Herbert Art Gallery & scapes, exhibited alongside works CLARE MAGUIRE Thurs 2 B’ham Museum, Coventry by great historic painters Claude June, The Glee Club, SHAM 69 Fri 3 June, COVENTRY OPEN 2016 The ninth Lorrain, Samuel Palmer and Peter Birmingham The Assembly, MUSE INC + SUPPORT Paul Rubens, until Sat 25 June Leamington Spa FROM HUMM Sat 4 Coventry Open for West Midlands SENSER Thurs 2 June, June, The Roadhouse, and Warwickshire artists, displaying DIVIDED LOYALTIES Exhibition explor- O2 Academy, B’ham BLACK SABBATH TRIBUTE work in a wide range of media, until ing Worcestershire’s heroes and Fri 3 June, The Birmingham WESTROCK Thurs 2 Sun 12 June rebels, until Sat 29 Oct Roadhouse, B’ham FRANK NELSON Sun 5 June, Artrix, June, Irish Centre, CECILY BROWN Brown’s Be Nice To Other VISUAL ARTS Bromsgrove THE RED LEMONS Fri 3 - The Big Blue Sea is shown alongside Sat 4 June, The Jam Birmingham BEVERLEY KNIGHT a display of work by Edgar Degas. EMBROIDERERS GUILD EXHIBITION - Thurs House, Birmingham DECADE Sun 5 June, BROWN AT BERRINGTON Hand-crafted 2 June, Symphony On loan from a private collector, until UB42 - UB40 TRIBUTE The Rainbow Venues, textiles inspired by Capability Hall, Birmingham Sun 19 June Sat 4 June, The Digbeth, B’ham Brown's landscape design, which is JOANNA GRUESOME DEGAS' DANCERS Edgar Degas’ Empire, Coventry MOSTLY AUTUMN Sun 5 Berrington's parkland, until Sun 6 famous painting, Two Dancers On A Thurs 2 June, The Hare June, The Robin, Nov, Berrington Hall, Nr Leominster & Hounds, Birmingham LAST HOUNDS Sat 4 Stage, is displayed alongside three June, The Assembly, Bilston NEW ANDY MCGEECHAN PHOTOGRAPHIC PILGRIMAGE WITH other works by the artist, until Sun 19 Leamington THE STAIRS LIVE Sun 5 EXHIBITION Exhibition of large colour YOUNG PILGRIMS & TINY June June, The Hare & photos of Coventry's buildings by BEAST SWIM WITH SHARKS & COURTAULDS IN COVENTRY Selection Fri 3 June, Hare Hounds, Birmingham Andy McGeechan, Fri 17 June - Sat DJ ROB Sat 4 June, Irish of items from the Herbert’s collection & Hounds, Birmingham 16 July, Urban Coffee Company, Centre, Birmingham relating to the Courtaulds company GYPSY BLOOD Fri 3 Coventry

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Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 June

Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge tion, until Thurs 4 Aug, The Swan attempt to unpick the truth from the Classical Music MICKEY SHARMA, TIM CLARK, JOHN Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon fiction of chocolate boxes and untan- gle expectations of adulthood from CBSO: THE SEVEN AGES OF MOLONEY & PIERRE HOLLINS Fri 3 THE ALCHEMIST Polly Findlay directs the promise of power ballads’, pre- SHAKESPEARE Featuring Nicholas June, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Ben Jonson's comedy about human sented by Eggs Collective, Fri 3 McGegan (Conductor), & the CBSO folly, until Sat 6 Aug, The Swan MAX & IVAN Fri 3 June, The Glee June, mac, Birmingham Chorus. Programme includes works Club, Birmingham Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon by Nicolai, Arne, Sullivan, Vaughan SING-A-LONG-A GREASE Sing-a-long MARK STEEL Fri 3 June, The Old Rep HAMLET Simon Godwin directs Paapa Williams' Porter, Berlioz & Purcell, screening of the classic film starring Theatre, Birmingham Essiedu as Hamlet in Shakespeare's Wed 1 June, Symphony Hall, searing tragedy, until Sat 13 Aug, John Travolta and Olivia Newton- Birmingham BILL BAILEY Fri 3 June, Barclaycard Royal Shakespeare Theatre, John, Fri 3 June, Royal Spa Centre, Arena, Birmingham Leamington Spa NICHOLAS MCGEGAN WITH THE CBSO Stratford-upon-Avon BAROQUE ENSEMBLE Songs & music STUART GOLDSMITH, TOM ALLEN, RO CYMBELINE Melly Still directs PONGO'S PARTY Entertainment for inspired by William Shakespeare, CAMPBELL & KEITH FARNAN Fri 3 - Sat Shakespeare's rarely performed young audiences, featuring the voic- including Purcell, Locke, Arne & oth- 4 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham work, Sat 15 Oct, Royal Shakespeare es of CBeebies’ Justin Fletcher & ers..., Thurs 2 June, Symphony Hall, MARTIN MOR, CHRIS BETTS, ANDY Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Nicole Davis as Pongo the Pig and Birmingham WHITE & STEPHEN BAILEY Sat 4 June, Molly-Moo the Cow, Fri 3 - Sat 4 BELONGING WiP presents a brand June, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry CBSO SONGS FROM THE MOVIES Coventry Showcase new work of theatre which explores Featuring John Altman (Conductor) WILL-E, NINIA BENJAMIN, JOHN RYAN & the lives of two groups of characters THE BEST THING A Swinging ’60s story & Lance Ellington (Vocalist). Fri 3 JOHN SIMMIT Sat 4 June, mac, B’ham desperately trying to find a place to of unconditional love from the UK’s June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham belong, Wed 1 June, mac, B’ham leading full mask theatre company, PIERRE HOLLINS, MICKEY SHARMA, Fri 3 - Sat 4 June, Swan Theatre, NICOLA BENEDETTI PLAYS MOZART Also JOHN MOLONEY & TIM CLARK Sat 4 CELEBRATING CILLA Sounds of the Worcester featuring Manchester Camerata & June, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham ’60s review, fronted by Brenda Andrea Marcon (conductor), Sat 4 RETURN OF THE GRUMPY OLD WOMEN Collins, Wed 1 June, Belgrade June, Malvern Theatres Sat 4 June, Bedworth Civic Hall, Theatre, Coventry THE SALVATION ARMY PRESENT Warwickshire RATBURGER Heartbreak Productions SYMPHONY SOUNDS 2016 Sat 4 June, COMEDY WITH CAKE - SUITABLE FOR present the theatrical premiere of Symphony Hall, Birmingham ALL THE FAMILY FEATURING BARBARA David Walliams’ modern thriller, Wed CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY NICE, MAUREEN YOUNGER & IAN 1 - Thurs 2 June, Jephson Gardens, ORCHESTRA Featuring Michael Seal & CRAWFORD Sun 5 June, Artrix, Leamington Spa Julian Lloyd Webber (conductors). Bromsgrove THE WHITE SNAKE WUDS in collabora- Programme includes works by tion with Codpiece present an inven- Mozart, Haydn & Beethoven, Sat 4 tive retelling of the heart-warming June, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Chinese fable - a powerful love story NON ZERO ONE: GROUND CONTROL A Conservatoire which tells of the relationship unique interactive performance, ROSS LEADBEATER’S GREAT BRITISH Theatre between a human and an immortal developed with support from the snake spirit, Wed 1 - Sat 4 June, Unicorn Theatre, Fri 3 - Sun 5 June, SONGBOOK Featuring an eclectic pro- THE MUSICAL OF ALL MUSICALS (THE Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry mac, Birmingham gramme ranging from Ivor Novello to MUSICALS!) An ‘hilarious’ satire where Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lionel Bart to one storyline becomes five delightful TOM: A STORY OF TOM JONES The DISCONNECTED Nick Wilkes’ comedy Leslie Bricusse, with The Beatles, musicals, until Sat 4 June, Crescent Musical Theatre na nÓg present an about an engineer sent to an island Take That, Coldplay & Gilbert & Theatre, Birmingham inspirational story of self-belief and to disconnect an old telephone box, Sullivan, Sat 4 June, Bramall Hall, determination, Wed 1 - Sat 4 June, Fri 3 - Sat 11 June, Hall Green Little SHADOWLANDS Birmingham University Stephen Boxer, Tony New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham Slattery & Amanda Ryan star in the SUNDAY CLASSICS Presenting a range stage version of William Nicholson's THE GIANT’S LOO ROLL Humour, music THE CHRIS & PUI SHOW New stage of young stars of the future from the TV drama and subsequent film of the and a touch of sparkle combine in show featuring toys and characters classical world, ranging from opera same name, until Sat 4 June, The this ‘giant’ of a children’s musical, from the hit TV programme, Sat 4 singers to violinists to harpists at the REP, Birmingham Thurs 2 June, Belgrade Theatre, June, The Core, Solihull very start of their careers... Sun 5 Coventry FEMINASITY Comedy sketch show June The Spotted Dog, Digbeth, THE QUIET HOUSE Gareth Farr’s highly DINOSAUR PARK Show-stopping where Megan Ford takes down the B’ham anticipated new play explores fertility and the taboo that surrounds it, until adventure, spine-tingling theatrics patriarchy with nothing but her bare CHARITY SCRATCH CONCERT WITH CON- Sat 4 June, The REP, Birmingham and megalithic mayhem, Thurs 2 hands and some fabulous wigs, Sat SERVATOIRE ALUMNI ORCHESTRA & June, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham 4 June, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, CHORUS Programme includes works BRIDESHEAD REVISITED English TEA WITH OSCAR WILDE The popular Birmingham by Faure, Parry & Shostakovich, Sun Touring Theatre and York Theatre modern chat show reimagined for SEARCHING FOR THE HAPPINESS New 5 June, Adrian Boult Hall, Royal present the world premiere of the Victorian age, hosted by the children’s play which follows a young Birmingham Conservatoire Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel, until Sat 4 June, Malvern Theatres acclaimed wit of the era, Oscar Esmeralda as she sets off on an Wilde. Thurs 2 - Fri 3 June, Old Joint adventure, Sat 4 June, mac, B’ham Stock Theatre, Birmingham DING DONG Cloud Cuckoo Land pres- Comedy Gigs THE TROJAN WOMAN Swan Youth ents an interactive musical play Theatre present Euripides’ Greek about time for younger children, Sat TOM LUCY, TOM ALLEN & ANDY tragedy, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 June, St 4 June, Albany Theatre, Coventry ROBINSON Wed 1 June, Bramall Swithun’s Church, Worcester Music Building, Birmingham TELL ME ON A SUNDAY Jodie Prenger RIVERS UP! New touring production of stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber and HOWL Wed 1 June, The Mockingbird, Alex Jones' epic tale covering the Don Black’s one-woman musical Birmingham serious subject of climate change, which charts the misadventures of a SARA PASCOE Thurs 2 June, Warwick Thurs 2 - Sat 4 June, Belgrade young English girl in New York in the Arts Centre, Coventry Theatre, Coventry heady days of the 1980s, Sat 4 June, MANILLA ROAD COMEDY Thurs 2 June, CATS Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record- THE NEW KID The Young Rep presents Palace Theatre, Redditch The Victoria, Birmingham, B’ham breaking musical returns, direct from Grace Barrington's drama, which THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST the London Palladium, until Sat 4 GLENN MOORE, GARETH RICHARDS centres on a new boy at school who Heartbreak Productions present an June, Birmingham Hippodrome Thurs 2 June, Stratford Artshouse, rebels against conforming, Thurs 2 - outdoor performance of Oscar Stratford-upon-Avon ALICE IN WONDERLAND Blue Orange Sat 4 June, The REP, Birmingham Wilde’s tour de force, Sat 4 - Sun 5 Arts presents its version of Lewis June, Jephson Gardens, Leamington KEITH FARNAN, RO CAMPBELL & KING ARTHUR AND THE INGLEWOOD Carroll's classic tale, until Sat 11 Spa COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Moon On A Stick uses its unique June, The Blue Orange Theatre, ROBINSON Thurs 2 June, The Glee fusion of puppetry and live action to INTO THE WEST Travelling Light pres- Birmingham Club, Birmingham recount the popular fable, Fri 3 June, ents its internationally acclaimed DOCTOR FAUSTUS Maria Aberg returns Albany Theatre, Coventry story of grit and magic, love and SEAN PERCIVAL, JAMES COOK & to the RSC to direct Marlowe's notori- loss, hope and discovery, Sun 5 JELLYBEAN MARTINEZ Fri 3 June, Katie LATE NIGHT LOVE ‘An unflinching ous tale of vanity, greed & damna- June, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

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thelist Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 June England. Here, he untangles an eco- as they spread chocolate joy, Wed 1 CRAFTY COUNTRYSIDE Create crafts Dance system preserved in a luxury London - Sun 5 June, Cadbury World, B’ham based on animals you can find in the tower block, where a young doctor QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY Including Worcestershire countryside, Fri 3 BEING FRANK: BOOTCAMP Featuring (Tom Hiddleston) moves to the 25th a new parade, Wed 1 - Sun 5 June, June, The Elgar Birthplace Museum, fun and creative devising opportuni- floor to discover fierce dissent Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire Worcester ties where everyone will be given the between the residents. June, Artrix, RHINO WEEK Raising funds for rhino SHREWSBURY FARMERS MARKET Fri 3 opportunity to create their own Bromsgrove, Fri 3 & Sun 5 June, The Square, Shrewsbury dance, until Fri 3 June, Old Rep conservation, Wed 1 - Sun 5 June, Theatre, Birmingham OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (15) A British West Midland Safari and Leisure MEDIEVAL HERALDIC SHIELD Make a couple on holiday find themselves Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire shield with your own coat of arms, Fri PINOCCHIO Presented by Ballet befriended by a Russian oligarch. DIG FOR VICTORY TRAIL Explore the 3 June, Weoley Castle Ruins, Theatre UK, Thurs 2 June, The Core However, Dima has an ulterior motive gardens and learn more about the Birmingham Theatre, Solihull for his amiability, and soon the cou- Dig For Victory campaign, Wed 1 - UK GAMES EXPO Fri 3 - Sun 5 June, ple’s holiday in the sun turns into a Sun 5 June, Upton House & NEC, Birmingham game of shadows. Stars Ewan Gardens, Warwickshire THE KNITTED CHARACTER FOLK McGregor & Stellan Skarsgård. FROM THE FIRE - STUDIO CERAMICS FESTIVAL Sat 4 June, The Blue Boar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 3 - FROM THE MIDLAND POTTERS Warwickshire Thurs 9 June ASSOCIATION Wed 1 - Sun 5 June, PHOTO DAY - IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Selly Manor, Birmingham Talk to experienced photographers (PG) When Charlie wins a golden tick- SHAKESPEARE OUTDOOR GAMES about how to improve your photos, et to the most magnificent chocolate Discover new games such as Sat 4 June, Chedhams Yard, factory in the world, his life is pinecone skittles, knuckle bones, Stratford-upon-Avon changed forever... Stars Johnny checkers with a twist and ‘marvellous SWORDS AND ADMIRAL HATS CRAFT Depp. Warwick Arts Centre, marbles’, Wed 1 - Sun 5 June, ACTIVITY Create your own 18th centu- Coventry, Sat 4 June Compton Verney Gallery, ry sword - or a Lord Nelson-inspired Warwickshire RAN (12a) A 4K digital restoration of hat!, Sat 4 June, Soho House, MISTER MAKER Wed 1 - Sun 12 June, Birmingham Akira Kurosawa’s (Seven Samurai, National Sea Life Centre, Ikiru, Rashômon) famous interpreta- THE KINGMAKER'S MEDIAEVAL BANQUET Talks Birmingham tion of King Lear and 16th century Dine with the infamous Earl of GYLES BRANDRETH - WORD POWER! Sat warlord Mori Motonari; and the most MAKE A TUDOR GALLEON HAT: CRAFT Warwick in the year 1471, Sat 4 4 June, Warwick Arts Centre, expensive Japanese film ever pro- ACTIVITY Thurs 2 June, Blakesley June, Warwick Castle Hall, Birmingham Coventry duced on its original release in 1985. VINTAGE IN THE VILLAGE, FEATURING TONY GARNETT: BROMSGROVE WORDS Stars Tatsuya Nakadai. Foreign lan- EVENING SUPPER LECTURES 2016 A THE MOTOFEST CAR BOOT Celebration British film and television producer guage, subtitled. Warwick Arts two-course supper in the Barn of all things retro and vintage, taking Tony Garnett is best known for his Centre, Coventry, Sun 5 June Restaurant, accompanied by a talk place throughout FarGo and sur- 13-year association with director Ken on a variety of subjects and a chance rounded by a community of over 40 Loach and his TV docudrama Cathy to stroll in the gardens after hours, independent retailers, creatives and Come Home, Sun 5 June, Artrix, Thurs 2 June, Baddesley Clinton, artists, Sat 4 - Sun 5 June, Fargo Solihull Bromsgrove NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Village, Coventry MURDER THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS COVENTRY MOTOFEST 2016 Sat 4 - Sun BLOOD ORANGE (15) Murder-mystery game that takes 5 June, Coventry City Centre BREAKING THE BANK (tbc) place at the Mad Hatters Tea/Dinner FIRST WORLD WAR WEEKEND Sat 4 - HOLDING THE MAN (15) Party, Fri 3 June, Fargo Village, Sun 5 June, Avoncroft Museum, Coventry Film THE MEASURE OF A MAN (tbc) Bromsgrove, Worcestershire TEDDY BEAR ZIPWIRE Make a cape for BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 ME BEFORE YOU (12A) Sat 4 - INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: your teddy and watch him fly down Sun 5 June, Birmingham City Centre THE NICE GUYS (tbc) the house to the crash zone below, Fri 3 June, Croome Park, RAF WALKS Be shown where, in 1940, HEART OF A DOG (15) This documen- RACE (PG) Worcestershire a substantial part of Croome Park tary weaves together childhood VERSUS: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF KEN was requisitioned for the building of memories, video footage and mus- PRINT & SEW A BOOKMARK WITH THE a new airfield, known as RAF LOACH (tbc) EMBROIDER'S GUILD Head to the ings on a post-9/11 world and the Defford, Sun 5 June, Croome Park, Temple Greenhouse to leaf-print and Buddhist conception of the afterlife. Worcestershire stitch your own bookmark, Fri 3 Creating a collage-like visual lan- June, Croome Park, Worcestershire MIDLAND BONSAI SHOW Members will guage out of the raw materials of be staging an extensive display of multimedia artist Laurie Anderson’s ANIMAL MANIA Fri 3 June, Blakesley their trees, which will be divided into life and art. Warwick Arts Centre, Events Hall, Birmingham competitive classes and judged, Sun Coventry, Wed 1 June FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: MASQUERADE DIGBETH FIRST FRIDAY Digbeth comes 5 June, Birmingham Botanical MASKS Make your own masquerade alive on the first Friday of each Gardens DEPARTURE (15) The feature debut of mask and immerse yourself into the month with exhibitions, late-night British filmmaker Andrew Stegall is a THE NATIONAL METRO & MINI SHOW grandeur of Aston Hall, Wed 1 June, openings, special events, culture in tender coming-of-age story about a Sun 5 June, British Motor Museum, Aston Hall, Birmingham unexpected spaces, live music, street Gaydon, Warwickshire young boy realising his sexuality at food and more, Fri 3 June, Digbeth, the same time as his family life is THE COUNTRYSIDE COMES TO TOWN ANTIQUES & COLLECTORS FAIR Sun 5 Find out what goes on down on the Birmingham unravelling at the seams. Warwick June, National Motorcycle Museum, farm and in the countryside with staff NITRO CIRCUS LIVE Direct from sell-out Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 2 June Solihull and students from Moreton Morrell shows across the globe, ‘the world’s MILES AHEAD (15) Don Cheadle as Agricultural College, Wed 1 June, greatest action sports show’ returns THE BIG PICNIC A giant teddy bear’s first-time director was praised for his Coventry Transport Museum for its first ever UK outdoor stadium picnic. Bring along your favourite approach to film biography, creating tour, Fri 3 June, Sixways Stadium, teddy (adults can bring theirs too!), CRAFTY KIDS WORKSHOP Come and Sun 5 June, Compton Verney Gallery a free-flowing style in keeping with get crafty! A family-friendly make- Worcester his subject’s music. Ewan McGregor and-take craft activity led by a A BATTY EVENING Discover some of ARCHERY LESSONS WITH REALLY RURAL plays an unscrupulous journalist designer maker, Wed 1 - Thurs 2 the bat habitats at Spetchley, Fri 3 Sun 5 June, Croome Park, attempting to get the inside skinny June, Museum of the Jewellery June, Spetchley Park Gardens, Worcestershire on the reclusive trumpeter, band- Quarter, Birmingham Worcester BIRMINGHAM DIAMOND LEAGUE Sun 5 leader and composer Miles Davis. EXOTIC ANIMAL AND BIRD ENCOUNTERS June, Alexander Stadium, Light House Media Centre, WITH TREVOR HILL Wed 1 - Thurs 2 Birmingham Wolverhampton, until Thurs 2 June; June, Hampton Court Castle, CLASSIC FORD SHOW The UK's pre- mac, Birmingham, Wed 1 - Thurs 2 Worcestershire mier classic Ford event, featuring June; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington DESIGN YOUR OWN THEATRE SET drag strip action, huge club car dis- Spa, Fri 3 June Create your own mini-theatre set in a plays and more, Sun 5 June, Santa HIGH-RISE (15) The director Ben box, Wed 1 - Fri 3 June, Compton Pod Raceway, Northants Wheatley has garnered considerable Verney Gallery, Warwickshire acclaim following his films Down HALF-TERM FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Terrace, Kill List and A Field In Join a host of children's entertainers

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whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List 6 - 12 June - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:34 Page 1

thelist Monday 6 - Sunday 12 June RICKY COOL AND THE IN O2 Academy, B’ham Gigs CROWD Fri 10 June, PINK FLOYD'S THE WALL Classical Music Comedy Gigs The Blue Monkey Club, 'LIVE' Sat 11 June, LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 7 June, Birmingham Crescent Theatre, HUGH MASEKELA & THOMAS TROTTER & CATRIN FINCH The Dark Horse, Birmingham PAT BRESLIN Fri 10 Birmingham LARRY WILLIS Mon 6 Programme includes works by J. BETHANY BLACK, SUSAN MURRAY, VG June, Irish Centre, June, Warwick Arts U2 2 Sat 11 June, The Sanders, C. Franck, J.S Bach, LEE & MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed 8 B’ham Centre, Coventry Swan Theatre, Worcs Debussy, Elias Parish-Alvars, M. June, Kitchen Garden Cafe, DECLAN MCKENNA Fri 10 Grandjany & Handel, Mon 6 June, NICHOLAS ALLBROOK WILD WILY BARRETT'S Birmingham June, The Empire, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Mon 6 June, The Hare FRENCH CONNECTION EDDIE IZZARD Wed 8 June, Royal Spa Coventry & Hounds, Birmingham Sat 11 June, Evesham CHAMBER ENSEMBLES Mon 6 June, Centre, Leamington Spa THE CRIBS Fri 10 June, Arts Centre, Worcs The Dome, Bramall Music Building, ADAM ANT Tues 7 June, Kasbah, Coventry Birmingham University Symphony Hall, GREG RUSSELL & CIARAN Birmingham PROSE + SPECIAL ALGAR Sat 11 June, CBSO: ITALIAN SYMPHONY Featuring GUESTS Fri 10 June, Kenilworth Castle Walter Weller (Conductor) & TIR NA NOG - LEO The Flapper, Laurence Jackson (Violin) O’KELLY & SONNY WOMEN IN ROCK + Birmingham Programme includes works by CONDELL Tues 7 June, BACKSTREET THUNDER Dvorak, Bruch & Mendelssohn, Wed Kitchen Garden Cafe, TIGRESS Fri 10 June, Sat 11 June, The 8 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham O2 Institute, Roadhouse, B’ham Birmingham THE THREEPENNY OPERA Opera TOTALLY TINA Tues 7 DAVE HANSON Sat 11 Warwick, in Collboration with June, Belgrade THINK FLOYD Fri 10 June, Cafe Nero, Codpiece Theatre, present a steam- Theatre, Coventry June, The Swan B’ham punk-styled performance of Bertolt Theatre, Worcester JACKSON - MICHAEL JIM CAUSLEY Tues 7 Brecht & Kurt Weill’s mock-opera, HOWL Wed 8 June, The Mockingbird, JACKSON TRIBUTE June, Roses Theatre, BEN WATT BAND Fri 10 Sat Thurs 9 - Sat 11 June, Warwick Arts Birmingham June, Hare & Hounds, 11 June, Belgrade Tewkesbury Centre, Coventry ROB ROUSE, CHRISTIAN REILLY Thurs 9 Kings Heath, B’ham Theatre, Coventry THE WEDDING CRASHERS LUNCHTIME PIANO & ORGAN DUET BY June, mac, Birmingham ALL FOLK'D UP Fri 10 KNOXVILLE HIGHWAY Tues 7 June, The Jam MATTHEW GIBSON & RICHARD COOK Fri ENRYCH IN STITCHES COMEDY June, The Core Sat 11 June, Palace House, Birmingham 10 June, Worcester Cathedral FUNDRAISER FEATURING PHILL JUPITUS, Theatre, Solihull Theatre, Redditch SUGARHILL GANG Wed 8 BLAKE Fri 10 June, Royal Spa Centre, MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE, FRANCESCA IVE TALKIN' June, The Assembly, MAMMA MIA PARTY WITH J Sat 11 Leamington Spa MARTINEZ & ANGELA BARNES Thurs 9 Leamington Spa VIVA ABBA Fri 10 June, June, Royal Spa June, The Glee Club, Birmingham Nailcote Hall, Berkswell Centre, Leamington BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- BRYAN CORBETT Wed 8 BOBBY DAVRO Thurs 9 June, New Spa TRA Featuring Michael Lloyd (con- June, Stratford THE BORN AGAIN ductor BPO), Daniele Rosina (con- Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham BEATLES Fri 10 June, THE RIFLES Sat 11 Artshouse ductor - Aspire Ensemble), Di Xiao ROB ROUSE, FELICITY WARD, MARK The Roadhouse, B’ham June, Stratford WALKING ON CARS Wed (piano). Programme includes works SIMMONS & THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS Artshouse 8 June, O2 Academy, JOHN GRANT Fri 10 by Mozart, Ravel & a selection of FACE Fri 10 June, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham June, O2 Institute, THE ORBISON STORY Sat BBC 10 pieces, Sat 11 June, Adrian Birmingham B’ham 11 June, New Boult Hall, Birmingham SYLVAIN DARRIFOURCQ MATT FORDE, KIERAN BOYD Fri 10 Alexandra Theatre, + IN LOVE WITH Wed 8 THE OTHER COVERS TRIO CAPABILITY BROWN 300: A CELEBRATION June, Stratford Artshouse, Stratford- Birmingham June, mac, Fri 10 June, Marr’s Bar, OF HIS LIFE IN MUSIC Featuring upon-Avon Worcester TALON - THE BEST OF Birmingham Conservatoire’s Birmingham JAMALI MADDIX, JOEL DOMMETT, DAVE EAGLES Sat 11 June, Chamber Orchestra. Programme BYE BYE BABY - THE CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. TWENTYMAN & SEAN COLLINS Fri 10 - Bedworth Civic Hall includes works by Handel, Arne, MUSIC OF FRANKIE VALLI RUBIO Fri 10 June, O2 Sat 11 June, The Glee Club, B’ham Acadamy, Birmingham T.REXTASY Sat 11 June, Boyce & Mudge, Fri 10 June, & THE FOUR SEASONS DEBORAH FRANCES Sat 11 June, Artrix, The Core Theatre, Birmingham Cathedral Wed 8 June, Belgrade P!NK - MISS Bromsgrove Theatre, Coventry UNDERSTOOD Fri 10 Solihull BIRMINGHAM PROMS Free outdoor ANDRE VINCENT, FELICITY WARD, MARK June, The River 100% APE WITH concert culminating with a spectacu- BEN SMITH Thurs 9 SIMMONS & THE BOY WITH THE TAPE ON Rooms, Stourbridge SATSANGI, SCREECH lar firework display, Sat 11 June, The June, Katie HIS FACE Sat 11 June, The Comedy BATS, GENERAL THEORY Bramall, Birmingham University Fitzgerald's, DRONGOS FOR EUROPE Loft, Birmingham Stourbridge + LUCIFER STAR OF DUB, BOLAPSE Sat 11 MALVERN FESTIVAL CHORUS - MUSIC June, The Assembly, FOR SHAKESPEARE Featuring works by SARA PASCOE Sun 12 June, The Glee INTRIGUE IN TANGIERS MACHINE + DRAGSTER Leamington Spa Vaughan Williams, Finzi & Parry, Sat Club, Birmingham Thurs 9 June, Katie Fri 10 June, The 11 June, Great Malvern Priory, Fitzgerald's, Rainbow Venues, WALK OF FAME Sun 12 Worcestershire Stourbridge Birmingham June, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham BCMG - REMEMBERING THE FUTURE HOW SWEET IT IS - JULIAN ARGUELLES' Programme includes works by Judith Theatre MOTOWN'S GREATEST TETRA WITH PERCY TONY KEARNEY Sun 12 Weir, Luke Bedford, Richard Baker, AFTER MISS JULIE Helen George (Call HITS Thurs 9 June, PURSGLOVE Fri 10 June, June, Irish Centre, Zoe Martlew, Howard Skempton & The Midwife) plays Miss Julie in Belgrade Theatre, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham John Woolrich, Sun 12 June, CBSO Patrick Marber’s erotic psychological Coventry Birmingham BAND OF ROGUES Sun Centre, Birmingham thriller, Mon 6 - Sat 11 June, Malvern LYON ESTATES + ABBA MANIA Fri 10 12 June, The Marr's Theatre CITY OF SOUNDS: BGSO HALL OF FAME CARDINAL Thurs 9 June, June, Belgrade Bar, Worcester Featuring Birmingham Gay The Flapper, B’ham Theatre, Coventry DANCING IN THE STREET, Symphony Orchestra, Kat Galbraith ROY ORBISON & THE MOTOWN'S GREATEST BEACH SLANG Thurs 9 (violin) & Philip Mills (clarinet). WILBURYS HITS Sun 12 June, June, The Sunflower Fri 10 June, Programme includes works by Grieg, Birmingham Town Hall Lounge, Birmingham Roses Theatre, Mozart, Dvorak, Saint-Saens, Tewkesbury CHARLOTTE CARPENTER HACKNEY COLLIERY Copland & Prokofiev, Sun 12 June, Thurs 9 June, Hare & POST WAR GLAMOUR BAND Sun 12 June, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Hounds, Kings Heath, GIRLS + FRAUDS (EP mac Birmingham Conservatoire LAUNCH) Birmingham Fri 10 June, SENSATION - THE WHO THE BEGGAR’S OPERA Students from The Hare & Hounds, GABRIELLE APLIN Thurs SHOW Sun 12 June, the University of Birmingham present Birmingham 9 June, Kasbah, Roses Theatre, an original interpretation of Britten’s Coventry BLAKE Fri 10 June, Tewkesbury work, combining opera, musical the- Royal Spa Centre, TALON - THE BEST OF KAST OFF KINKS Sun 12 atre & cabaret, Sun 12, Tues 14 & BLACKADDER: THE TUDOR YEARS All & Leamington Spa Wed 15 June, The Barber Institute, EAGLES Thurs 9 June, June, Hare & Hounds, Sundry present a stage show based Birmingham The Core Theatre, THE JENTS Fri 10 June, Kings Heath, B’ham on the much-loved TV series, Tues 7 Solihull Brindley Place, B’ham - Sat 11 June, Artrix, Bromsgrove JAKE SIMS Sat 11 June, 56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 6 - 12 June - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:34 Page 2

Monday 6 - Sunday 12 June

THAT'LL BE THE DAY A musical romp rather furious females take to the through the youthful days of stage for an orgy of middle-aged Rock’n’Roll in the ’50s, on through mayhem, Fri 10 June, New Alexandra the Swinging ’60s and into the taste- Theatre, Birmingham free days of the 1970s, Wed 8 June, CHAPLIN A heartwarming musical tale New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham of the first true British icon of cinema. I, ELIZABETH From the creators of Steven Arnold (Ashley Peacock in Dalloway & Austen's Women comes Coronation Street) & Nicole Faraday a one-woman play which explores (Bad Girls, Emmerdale), star, Fri 10 the struggles of Queen Elizabeth as June, Malvern Theatre she attempts to reconcile the desires WNO - IN PARENTHESIS British com- of womanhood with the duties of poser Iain Bell’s adaptation of the sovereignty. Rebecca Vaughan stars, epic poem by Welsh poet, writer and Guy Masterson directs, Wed 8 June, artist David Jones, Fri 10 June, Swan Theatre, Worcester Birmingham Hippodrome THE TEMPEST Heartbreak Productions LOVEHARD Two men (LoveHard) play present an outdoor staging of more than 30 characters on a night Shakespeare’s final play, Wed 8 - of frights, blights and lack of lights... Thurs 9 June, Jephson Gardens, Fri 10 June, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Leamington Spa Birmingham THE TEMPEST Heartbreak Productions present an outdoor staging of Shakespeare’s final play, Fri 10 June, Hartelbury Castle, Worcestershire

MONSTERSAURUS Brand new, ener- Chaplin - Malvern Theatre & Artrix, Bromsgrove getic show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants. Expect AUTHORS OF A CERTAIN ERA Four nov- Queen and her children. This is the spills, thrills, magic & mayhem... Sat elists share their experience of get- seventh volume in the BFI's ongoing 11 June, The Old Rep Theatre, ting a novel published when no releases of the films produced by the Birmingham longer in the first flush of youth, Sun UK Government's Central Office of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The Lord 12 June, St John’s Library, Worcester Information, and the first to focus on BEYOND CARING Darkly humorous Chamberlain’s Men present an out- official films made about the royalty. new play by Alexander Zeldin which door staging of Shakespeare’s battle This four-hour documentary has exposes an invisible class, Wed 8 - of the sexes, Sat 11 June, Packwood been divided into two screenings. Sat 11 June, The REP, Birmingham House, Solihull mac, Birmingham, Fri 10 June WNO - CAVALLERIA FIRST STAGES: DING DONG Cloud Film WHERE TO INVADE NEXT Just in time RUSTICANA/PAGLIACCI Welsh National Cuckoo Land presents an interactive for election season, America's politi- Opera celebrates its 70th birthday musical play about time for younger cal provocateur, Michael Moore, is with the double bill that started it all, children, Sat 11 June, The REP, INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: back with his new film, confronting Thurs 9 June, Birmingham Birmingham ONLY YESTERDAY (PG) It’s 1982, and the most pressing issues facing Hippodrome WNO - CAVALLERIA Taeko is 27 years old, unmarried, America today and finding solutions and has lived her whole life in Tokyo. BOBBY DAVRO Brand new show from RUSTICANA/PAGLIACCI Welsh National in the most unlikely places. Followed She decides to visit her relatives in one of last year’s Celebrity Big Opera celebrates its 70th birthday by a Q&A via satellite with Michael the countryside, and as the train trav- Brother finalists, Thurs 9 June, New with the double bill that started it all, Moore. mac, Birmingham, Fri 10 els through the night, memories Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Sat 11 June, Birmingham June; Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Hippodrome flood back of her younger years... Fri 10 June BLACK IS THE COLOUR OF MY VOICE With the voices of Daisy Ridley & Inspired by the story of Nina Simone, COOKING WITH ELVIS The Crescent FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (PG) Meryl Dev Patel. mac, Birmingham, Tues 7 Streep stars in the true story of a successful jazz singer and civil Theatre Company present Lea Hall’s June rights activist seeking redemption anarchic play about child abuse, wife Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York THE DIVIDE (12a) A documentary after the untimely death of her father, abuse, sex, loss and cooking, Sat 11 heiress and socialite who obsessively telling the story of seven individuals Thurs 9 June, The Old Rep Theatre, - Sat 18 June, The Crescent Theatre, pursued her dream of becoming a striving for a better life in the mod- Birmingham Birmingham great singer. Convinced of her own ern-day US and UK - where the top talent, the voice Florence heard in MURDER ON THE TERRACE Heartbreak 0.1% owns as much wealth as the her head was beautiful, while to Productions present an outdoor stag- bottom 90%. By plotting these tales everyone else it was both hilarious ing of David Kerby-Kendall’s part together, we uncover how virtually and awful. Royal Spa Centre, romp, part farce, Sun 12 June, every aspect of our lives is controlled Leamington Spa, Fri 10 June; Roses Severn Bank House, Severn Stoke, by one factor: the size of the gap Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 11 - Thurs Worcester between rich and poor. mac, 16 June Birmingham, Tues 7 & Thurs 9 June DHEEPAN (15) Arguably the most high- ly acclaimed director working in Dance French cinema today, Jacques LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & THE THREE Audiard invariably delivers credible LITTLE PIGS Ballet Cymru present and pertinent dramas that explore THE SPINNING WHEEL A fusion of sto- their versions of two poems from the the world we live in. Here, he focuses rytelling, projection mapping, hip pen of Roald Dahl, Sat 11 June, The on Dheepan, a Tamil Tiger fighter hop, jazz and spoken word, Thurs 9 Roses, Tewkesbury who flees to Paris for political asylum June, mac, Birmingham with a fake identity... Winner of the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Amateur pro- Palm d’Or at last year’s Cannes festi- duction of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s val. Stars Antonythasan Jesuthasan. musical, presented by the Harlequins Foreign language with subtitles. LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (U) Kate Drama Group, Thurs 9 - Sat 11 June, Talks Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon Palace Theatre, Redditch CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS: WARFARE AND 7 & Thurs 9 June who, while staying at a massive COCKROACHED Intense drama where THE PUBLIC ARCHIVE A symposium THE QUEEN ON TOUR PART 1 With estate, sets about finding a suitable two actors swap roles, their produc- exploring the subject of conflict and unprecedented access to the royal husband for her daughter. Of course, tion taking on a different shape every its interpretation in our national household, the films in this unique she wouldn’t mind an eligible man night, Thurs 9 - Sat 18 June, The Old archives. Chaired by Professor Lynda collection provide a valuable record for herself… Also stars Chloë Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Morris, Sat 11 June, mac, B’ham of royal tours and state visits, and Sevigny. Warwick Arts Centre, GRUMPY OLD WOMEN Three live and also include revealing portraits of the Coventry, Fri 10 - Thurs 16 June

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Monday 6 - Sunday 12 June

thelist Hogarth Hughes befriends an alien 90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth in giant robot that has fallen from outer true FarGo Style! Sat 11 June, Fargo space and landed in his small home- Village, Coventry town. When a US Government agent UNPLUG AND PLAY Playday outdoors is assigned to destroy the giant at all in the gardens, Sat 11 June, Castle costs, it’s up to Hogarth to protect Bromwich Hall Gardens, Birmingham him. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 11 June PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR Sat 11 June, Arley Arboretum, Worcestershire EVERYBODY WANTS SOME! (15) On their last weekend before the start of BOLLYWOOD CELEBRATION Sat 11 school, a group of college baseball June, Birmingham Botanical Gardens players test the waters of unsuper- THE WEAVER'S HOUSE OPEN DAY Step vised adulthood... If the concept of back in time to Coventry’s medieval this comedy fails to get your juices past, Sat 11 June, The Weavers flowing, remember that director House, Coventry Richard Linklater’s last film, CARS & COFFEE BREAKFAST CLUB An Boyhood, was nominated for six opportunity for classic car and Oscars (and won the BAFTA for best motorcycle owners to display their film). Stars Blake Jenner & Zoey cars in front of the museum, Sat 11 Deutch. mac, Birmingham, Sat 11 - June, Coventry Transport Museum Wed 15 June PIKES AND MUSKETS See the grisly GABOR (PG) Directed by Sebastián work of the Barber Surgeon and Alfie, this inspiring documentary tells Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave - Rainbow Venues, Digbeth learn what it takes to be a solider, Sat the remarkable story of a friendship 11 June, Aston Hall, Birmingham SING STREET (12a) A simple love story classic. Electric Cinema, between Sebas and Gabor, a young filmmaker and a blind cinematogra- GREAT ROYAL GARDEN PARTY in which a boy starts up a band in Birmingham, Sat 11 June Celebrating the Queen’s official 90th order to impress a girl. Bono himself pher. HOME has specially commis- ZOOTROPOLIS (PG) Here, the leading sioned an audio description for blind birthday, Sat 11 June, Hall's Croft, collaborated on the soundtrack. characters are a red fox who’s a con Stratford-upon-Avon Stars Lucy Boynton & Maria Doyle or partially sighted customers to artist (Jason Bateman) and a rabbit CLASSIC AND VINTAGE COMMERCIAL Kennedy. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, accompany this screening. Foreign who’s a rookie cop (Ginnifer SHOW Featuring over 400 pre-1997 South Shropshire, Fri 10 - Tues 14 language, subtitled. mac, Goodwin). Together, they team up to commercial vehicles, Sat 11 - Sun 12 June; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Birmingham, Sun 12 June try and uncover a conspiracy. Idris June, British Motor Museum, Fri 10 - Wed 15 June Elba is the voice of a cape buffalo, Gaydon, Warwickshire COOL HAND LUKE (15) Paul Newman's obviously. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 11 NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: THE GREAT BRITISH FOOD FESTIVAL Sat rebellious chain-gang prisoner fights June Released Fri 10 June, showing at 11 - Sun 12 June, Ragley Hall, the system and Oscar winner George THE IRON GIANT (PG) Nine-year-old selected cinemas Warwickshire Kennedy's fellow inmate in this 1960s THE BOSS (tbc) BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 11 - EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (12a) Sun 12 June, Birmingham City FIRE AT SEA (tbc) Centre LEARNING TO DRIVE (tbc) THE SOOTY SHOW: SOOTY IN SPACE Join Sooty, Sweep and Soo for an MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN (12a) adventure on the space station, com- MOTHER’S DAY (12a) plete with Sooty's Turbo Rocket, Sat WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (tbc) 11 - Sun 12 June, Cadbury World, Birmingham FIELDS OF JOY: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF THE TRACTOR Musical acts, food, fashions and culture with Events an Eastern flavour, Sun 12 June, Coventry Transport Museum DUNSTALL CASTLE OPEN DAYS Climb the spiral staircase at Dunstall to get AUSTIN HEALEY CONCOURSE EVENT See views across the countryside, Tues 7 a collection of these iconic cars, Sun June, Croome Park, Worcestershire 12 June, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens, Birmingham AUTOMECHANIKA BIRMINGHAM Tues 7 - Thu 9 June, NEC, Birmingham CHURCHILL FORGE OPEN DAY Sun 12 June, Churchill Forge Mill, EARLY YEARS: GO MESSY Farmyard- Worcestershire inspired playtime, Wed 8 June, Coventry Transport Museum BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS: PEAKY BLINDERS Sun 12 June, Birmingham HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK Admire City Centre fine Georgian and Victorian architec- ture, a convent designed by BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL RECORD Augustus Pugin and a church that FAIR Sun 12 June, National was built nearly 1,000 years ago, Motorcycle Museum, Solihull Wed 8 June, Soho House, COIN & BANKNOTE FAIR Sun 12 June, Birmingham National Motorcycle Museum, GEORGIAN BIRMINGHAM & CAPABILITY Solihull BROWN BUS TOUR Guided bus tour on BIG FISH LITTLE FISH FAMILY RAVE Sun the Big Brum Open Top Bus, Fri 10 12 June, The Rainbow Venues, June, Birmingham City Centre Digbeth, Birmingham ROYAL GARDEN PARTY Bring a picnic VIP RECORD FAIR Sun 12 June, Fargo and take part in a whole host of fun Village, Coventry activities, including a live trail, Sat 11 SCALEXTRICS SUPER PRIX 2016 June, Soho House, Birmingham Budding Lewis Hamiltons can put BAT WALK Sat 11 June, Forge Mill their racing skills to the test, Sun 12 Needle Museum, Redditch, June, Wonderful World of Trains and Worcestershire Planes, Birmingham QUEEN E'S BLOC PARTY Celebrate the

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Saturday 4 June, 7.30pm Bowjangles If you like music, song, dance and comedy you will love Bowjangles. This multi talented piece not only play their instruments superbly, they also sing, dance, leap, tumble, juggle and joke.

Thursday 16 June, 8pm Patrick Monahan The family’s favourite funnyman is on tour across the UK with his brand new stand up show. As seen on ITVs Splash! Fake Reaction, Show Me The Funny and Celebrity Squares.

This is a well put together show and Patrick Monohan is a great comic.

Friday 245 June 7.30pm Clare Teal and her Trio A dazzling evening of exquisite melodies and fabulous arrangements all interspersed with Clares warm and witty story telling.

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List 13 - 20 June - Worcs & Warwicks ONLY VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:38 Page 1

thelist Monday 13 - Sunday 19 June Beethoven, Sat 18 June, Symphony Classical Music Hall, Birmingham THE ATEA WIND QUINTET Programme CONCERT BY THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION includes works by Eugene Bozzam OF MALE VOICE CHOIRS Sat 18 June, Jean Francaix, Olivier Truan & Arthur Worcester Cathedral Bird, Mon 13 June, Adrian Boult Hall, BRANT INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETI- Birmingham Conservatoire TION 2016 Sat 18 - Sun 19 June, The SHOSTAKOVICH QUARTETS II FEAT. THE Barber Institute, Birmingham LIGETI QUARTET Mon 13 June, Recital SUNDAY CLASSICS Presenting a range Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire of young stars of the future from the MOZART, MESSIAEN & CHOPIN Featuring classical world, ranging from opera Jessica Efezeybek, Tung Khng Chua singers to violinists to harpists at the & Stavroula Thoma (pianos), Mon 13 very start of their careers… Sun 19 June, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham June, The Spotted Dog, Digbeth, Conservatoire Birmingham THE GILDAS QUARTET Part of the City BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- Of Sounds Festival. Programme TRA: NATURE’S REALM Richard Laing includes works by Turnage & conducts a programme of works by Shostakovich, Wed 15 June, Adrian Dvorak, Bax & R Strauss, Sun 19 Boult Hall, Birmingham June, The Bramall, Birmingham University KATHERINE JENKINS A celebration of her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birth- day The London Concert Orchestra & Anthony Inglis (conductor), also fea- Jonny & The Baptists - Warwick Arts Centre ture, Wed 15 June, Symphony Hall, Comedy Gigs THE SLAMBOVIAN JONNY & THE BAPTISTS Birmingham LOUDEEMY SOUP COMEDY NIGHT Mon CIRCUS OF DREAMS Sat 18 June, Warwick CBSO: SIBELIUS' SECOND Programme Gigs 13 June, The Blue Orange Theatre, Thurs 16 June, The Arts Centre, Coventry includes works by Beethoven, Elgar & Birmingham Jam House, PAUL MCCLURE + Sibelius, Thurs 16 June, Symphony IBEN FOLDS & YMUSIC CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 14 Birmingham ASHLAND Sat 18 June, Hall, Birmingham Mon 13 June, June, The Dark Horse, Birmingham KILLER WAVE PSYCH Ort Cafe, Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN RECITAL BY PHILIP Symphony Hall, B’ham HOWL Wed 15 June, The SPECIAL WITH THE CULT THE MOJO FILTERS Sat RUSHFORTH (CHESTER CATHEDRAL) AN EVENING WITH Mockingbird, Birmingham OF DOM KELLER Fri 17 18 June, The Rainbow Thurs 16 June, Worcester Cathedral HAFDIS HULD Mon 13 June, The Hare & Venues, Birmingham MURRAY PERAHIA IN RECITAL JAMALI MADDIX, JASPER CROMWELL- June, Kitchen Garden Hounds, Birmingham JONES Sun 15 June, Stratford ANGELIC UPSTARTS Sat Programme includes works by Cafe, Birmingham Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon THE ELVIS YEARS Thurs 18 June, Hare & Haydn, Mozart, Brahms & Beethoven, NASHVILLE Tues 14 16 June, Palace Hounds, Birmingham Fri 17 June, Symphony Hall, B’ham SOFIE HAGEN, SILKY Thurs 16 June, June, Symphony Hall, Theatre, Redditch SUMMER FESTIVAL VOICES Featuring mac, Birmingham Birmingham BARRY MANILOW Sat 18 UB4T Fri 17 June, Irish June, Genting Arena, Jack Apperley (conductor). DANNY MCLOUGHLIN, MIKE WILMOT & MA POLAINE'S GREAT Centre, Birmingham Birmingham Programme comprises Purcell’s The COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY DECLINE Tues 14 June, ANIMALS & FRIENDS Fri Tempest, Fri 17 June, The Barber ROBINSON Thurs 16 June, The Glee Kitchen Garden Cafe, BEBE AND THE TROJANS 17 June, Huntingdon Institute, Birmingham Club, Birmingham Birmingham Sat 18 June, Katie Hall, Worcester Fitzgerald's, ALED JONES Fri 17 June, Coventry TIFF STEVENSON, JARLATH REGAN Thurs LEE JONES Tues 14 LIZZIE AND THE Stourbridge Cathedral 16 June, Stratford Artshouse, June, The Jam House, BANSHEES Fri 17 June, BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR - A Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham ULTRA 90’S TRIBUTE The Marr's Bar, BAND Sat 18 June, The SHAKESPEAREAN CONCERT Conducted PATRICK MONAHAN Thurs 16 June, TIM GARLAND Tues 14 Worcester River Rooms, by Paul Spicer, Sat 18 June, CBSO Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon- June, Adrian Boult ABSOLUTE BOWIE Stourbridge Centre, Birmingham Avon Hall, Birmingham (TRIBUTE) Fri 17 June, ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? ‘RAISE THE ROOF’ FUNDRAISING GALA JACK PACK Wed 15 O2 Institute, B’ham Sat 18 June, The Featuring some of Europe’s most June, The Glee Club, BRITISH SEA POWER Fri Roadhouse, B’ham enduring classics, including a new Birmingham piece by David Freeman & Te Deum 17 June, Stratford RICKY COOL AND THE IN KATHERINE JENKINS by Paul Leddington Wright, Sat 18 Artshouse, Stratford- CROWD Sun 19 June, Wed 15 June, June, Warwick Road United upon-Avon The Brass House, Symphony Hall, Reformed Church, Coventry PETE CHURCHILL & Birmingham Birmingham THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS Elgar’s work MISHKA ADAMS Fri 17 C.W. STONEKING Sun 19 SON OF TOWN HALL is here performed by two long estab- June, The Glee Club, June, The Assembly, Wed 15 June, Tin lised Midlands choirs - the Birmingham Leamington Spa Music & Arts, Coventry Birmingham Choral Union & Solihull- SIMPLY MORE RED Fri 17 T R DALLAS Sun 19 based The Chandos Choir, Sat 18 LUCAS D & THE GROOVE June, Palace Theatre, June, Irish Centre, June, The Bramall, Birmingham KIAN ‘N’ JC Thurs 16 June, O2 GHETTO Wed 15 June, Redditch B’ham University Academy, Birmingham The Jam House, JOHN COOPER CLARKE Birmingham MIDLAND YOUTH JAZZ CITY OF SOUNDS: RAISING THE ROOF! JETHRO Thurs 16 - Fri 17 June, Fri 17 June, ORCHESTRA WITH CLARE Featuring Sutton Coldfield Choirs, Evesham Arts Centre, Worcs EXPIRE Thurs 16 June, Birmingham Town Hall TEAL Sun 19 June, Four Oaks Cluster Choir, Sutton The Rainbow Venues, IVO GRAHAM, TANYALEE DAVIS, DANNY HELLS BELLS ~ AC/DC Artrix, Bromsgrove Coldfield Youth Voices & The Digbeth, Birmingham MCLOUGHLIN & MIKE WILMOT Fri 17 - TRIBUTE Fri 17 June, DESTRUCTION PARTY Accidentals, Sat 18 June, Adrian Sat 18 June, The Glee Club, THE GOOD, THE BAD & The Roadhouse, Sun 19 June, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire Birmingham THE ELDERLY Thurs 16 B’ham Boult Hall, Birmingham STRATFORD CHAMBER CHOIR June, The Fleece Inn, GLENN WOOL, DANNY WARD, MATT REED UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE Programme comprises Handel Dixit Bretforton, Worcs THE OFFSPRING Sun 19 & EDDIE BRIMSON Fri 17 - Sat 18 June, Fri 17 - Sat 18 June, June, O2 Academy, Dominus and Bach Cantata No4 The Comedy Loft, Birmingham THE BIG WOLF BAND The Jam House, BWV4, Sat 18 June, Stratford Birmingham STEVE ROYLE, JAMIE SUTHERLAND, Thurs 16 June, The B’ham Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon Roadhouse, B’ham SHERRY BABYS Sun 19 RUSSELL HICKS & PAUL MCMULLAN Sat AN EVENING WITH THE June, Roses Theatre, CBSO BEETHOVEN'S SEVENTH Featuring 18 June, Coventry Showcase IMAX Thurs 16 June, DREAMERS Sat 18 June, Kazuki Yamada Conductor & Pieter Tewkesbury ED ACZEL Sat 18 June, Palace theatre, O2 Institute, The Swan Theatre, Wispelwey (Cello) Programme Redditch Birmingham Worcester includes works by Weber, Elgar &

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 13 - 20 June - Worcs & Warwicks ONLY VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:38 Page 2

Monday 13 - Sunday 19 June

homicide and challenging precon- ceptions, written and performed by Theatre Stephanie Ridings, Wed 15 - Thurs THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Ben 16 June, mac, Birmingham Freeman stars opposite X Factor finalist Diana Vickers in this new tour- SISTER ACT Amateur production pre- ing version of Richard O’Brien’s cult sented by Three Spires & The classic, Mon 13 - Sat 18 June, Guildhall, Wed 15 - Sat 18 June, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Albany Theatre, Coventry MALCOLM STENT IN THE AFTERNOON CIPHERS Staging of Dawn King’s Spend an afternoon in the company provocative espionage thriller which of Malc and be home by teatime, examines versions of identity, Wed Tues 14 June, The Core, Solihull 15 - Sat 18 June, Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham THE MAGNETIC DIARIES Reaction Theatre Makers present a perform- A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Relive the ance dramatised from Sarah James’ passion, indulge in the romance and award-winning collection of poems, celebrate one of the greatest movie Tues 14 June, The Hive, Worcester soundtracks of all time, Thurs 16 June, Malvern Theatre THE KING AND I Amateur production of IDLE WOMEN OF THE WARTIME WATER- the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, Broken - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry presented by Queensbridge Musical WAYS A double bill to whisk you back to the days of WWII when a shortage Theatre Co, Tues 14 - Sat 18 June, Worcestershire Litfest & Fringe, of crews to keep the working boats The Core Theatre, Solihull Thurs 16 June, The Old Rectifying going brought a new breed of boater Dance DEATH AND THE MAIDEN Amateur pro- House, Worcester to the canal - nicknamed the Idle THE TAMING OF THE SHREW duction of Ariel Dorfman’s explo- Women, Thurs 16 June, Camp Birmingham Royal Ballet present THE QUIET COMPERE Established ration of torture, power, vulnerability, House Inn, Grimley Lane, Worcester Shakespeare’s tale of mismatched poets and emerging voices perform, ethics and trust, Tues 14 - Sat 18 with 10 poets each given a 10-minute MACBETH GONE MENTAL Tap The Table marriage, Thurs 16 - Sat 18 June, June, Swan Theatre, Worcester slot, Fri 17 June, The Hive, Worcester productions present Shakespeare's Birmingham Hippodrome OLIVER! Bromsgrove Operatic Society quintessential tragedy as a rip-roar- BROKEN Motionhouse present an THE ANTIPOET Featuring Paul present an amateur staging of Lionel ing comedy, Fri 17 June, The Blue adrenaline-fuelled spectacle packed Eccentric and Ian Newman, who Bart’s musical version of the Charles Orange Theatre, Birmingham with trickery and illusions - a thought- together are the world’s finest expo- Dickens classic, Tues 14 - Sat 18 nents of beatrantin’ rhythm ’n’ views!, SID New 50-minute one-man play by provoking piece which has the June, Artrix, Bromsgrove Sat 18 June, Cafe Bliss, Worcester Leon Flemming which explores the capacity to leave audiences breath- Arts Workshop THE BIRTHDAY PARTY London Classic true nature of hero worship and what less as dancers contort their bodies Theatre presents its version of it means to be a punk, Fri 17 June, to negotiate the cracks and craters of Harold Pinter's 'cryptic thriller and Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham a place where all is not as it seems... macabre comedy’, Tues 14 - Sat 18 Fri 17 June, Warwick Arts Centre, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM June, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Coventry Chapterhouse Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s romantic Film comedy, Fri 17 June, Hanbury Hall, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Droitwich, Worcestershire STALKER (PG) Deep within the Zone, a DUETS The Billesley Players present bleak and devastated forbidden land- Peter Quilter’s quartet of separate scape, lies a mysterious room with short comedic plays exploring the the power to grant the deepest wish- various stages of different relation- es of those strong enough to make ships, Fri 17 - Sat 18 June, The the hazardous journey there. Dovehouse Theatre, Solihull Desperate to reach it, a scientist and a writer approach the Stalker, one of BEYOND BELIEF Riverside Performing the few able to navigate the Zone’s Arts present a showcase of thought- menacing terrain, and begin a dan- CUTTIN' IT Charlene James' new play provoking plays and monologues gerous trek into the unknown. explores the urgent issue of FGM in exploring the theme of belief, Fri 17 - Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Britain and the price some girls pay Sat 18 June, mac, Birmingham Foreign language, subtitled. mac, to become a woman, Tues 14 - Sat LADIES IN LAVENDER Shaun Talks Birmingham, Tues 14 June 18 June, The REP, Birmingham McKenna's stage adaptation of the GYLES BRANDRETH - WORD POWER! PURPLE RAIN (15) The late Prince's CALAMITY JANE BMOS Musical hit film screenplay by Charles Dance, Mon 13 June, Palace Theatre, flamboyant rock musical tells the Theatre present an amateur produc- Fri 17 - Sat 25 June, The Bear Pit Redditch semi-autobiographical story of a tion of the classic Wild West musical, Theatre - The United Reformed RUBBER SWORDPLAY Worcester young musician struggling to win Tues 14 - Sat 18 June, New Church, Stratford-upon-Avon Writers’ Circle & Friends present a respect, complete with an epic Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham THE TOMMY COOPER SHOW Featuring selection of their humorous stories soundtrack which includes When INVINCIBLE Spiky new comedy from West End & Blood Brothers star and poems in an evening that ‘will be Doves Cry. Electric Cinema, the pen of Torben Betts. Alastair Daniel Taylor as Tommy, Sat 18 June, more fun than an EU referendum Birmingham, Fri 17 June Whatley, Emily Bowker & Graeme The Roses, Tewkesbury debate’, Mon 13 June, St Swithun’s THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY (12a) Brookes star, Tues 14 - Sat 18 June, Institute, Worcester 7 PROMISES Two ecological preach- This is a must for those who adored Malvern Theatre ers (Davis Freeman & Jerry Killick) MUTINY: SCREENING & TALK Exploring A Beautiful Mind and Good Will THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST call for the audience to turn their the British Caribbean experience of Hunting. Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Heartbreak Productions present an words into action, Sat 18 June, the First World War and its legacies, Patel) is a young man who, after an outdoor performance of Oscar Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry as revealed by the last surviving vet- impoverished childhood in Madras, erans of the British West Indies Wilde’s tour de force, Wed 15 June, TEENY TINY & THE WITCH WOMAN managed to secure a place at Trinity Regiment, Tues 14 June, mac, The Hunt Field, Broadway, Staging of Barbara K Walker's chil- College in Cambridge. He later went Birmingham Worcestershire dren’s story, based on an old Turkish on to lead the field in mathematical MURDER ON THE TERRACE Heartbreak folk tale, Sat 18 - Sun 19 June, The 42 WORCESTER LIT FEST SPECIAL analysis, number theory, infinite Productions present an outdoor stag- Dream Factory, Warwick Writers and poets perform their work series and continued fractions. Gosh. on the theme of Last Stop On The Also stars Jeremy Irons. Wem Town ing of David Kerby-Kendall’s part WUTHERING HEIGHTS Chapterhouse Worcester Night Train, Wed 15 June, Hall, North Shropshire, Tues 14 & romp, part farce, Wed 15 - Thurs 16 Theatre presents its version of Emily Drummonds Bar, Worcester Thurs 16 June; Artrix, Bromsgrove, June, Jephson Gardens, Leamington Bronte’s classic love story, Sun 19 Fri 17 June Spa June, mac, Birmingham SPEAKEASY LIT FEST SPECIAL THE ROAD TO HUNTSVILLE An explo- Worcester’s own dedicated spoken OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (15) A British ration of unconventional love, state word platform from the couple on holiday find themselves

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thelist Monday 13 - Sunday 19 June befriended by a Russian oligarch. Mononoke is a stunning tale of a war However, Dima has an ulterior motive between nature and man. Stars Yoji for his amiability, and soon the cou- Matsuda. Foreign language, subti- ple’s holiday in the sun turns into a tled. Electric Cinema, Birmingham, game of shadows. Stars Ewan Sun 19 June McGregor & Stellan Skarsgård. Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 17 June NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: THE DAUGHTER (15) Christian returns BANG GANG (A MODERN LOVE STORY) to his hometown for his father's wed- (18) ding. Reconnecting with childhood THE CONJURING 2 (tbc) friends and family, he unearths a GODS OF EGYPT (12a) long-buried secret that threatens to shatter lives. Stars Sam Neill & THE KEEPING ROOM (15) Geoffrey Rush. mac, Birmingham, Fri LONG WAY NORTH (tbc) 17 - Wed 22 June THE VIOLATORS (tbc) LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (U) Kate WHERE YOU WERE MEANT TO BE (15) Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon who, while staying at a massive estate, sets about finding a suitable husband for her daughter. Of course, she wouldn’t mind an eligible man for herself… Also stars Chloë Events WOODCRAFT (GRASS RAKE MAKING) Sevigny. mac, Birmingham, Fri 17 - Coventry Pride - Fargo Village, Coventry Thu 23 June Produce your own traditional grass rake, Tues 14 June, Avoncroft SOLARIS (12a) On a space station Birmingham 19 June, The Custard Factory, Museum, Bromsgrove, orbiting the ocean-covered planet Digbeth, Birmingham Worcestershire ZOMBIE WALK BIRMINGHAM 2016 Sat Solaris, cosmonaut Kris Kelvin inves- 18 June, Birmingham City Centre BMW SHOW All BMWs welcome - race HEAD GARDENER'S EVENING TOURS tigates a series of mysterious and cars, show cars, modern, retros, Wed 15 June, Packwood House, BRINDLEYPLACE DRAGONBOAT RACE bizarre occurrences among the crew. classics, new minis and BMW bikes, Stars Natalya Bondarchuk. Foreign Solihull 2016 Sat 18 June, Brindleyplace, Birmingham Sun 19 June, Santa Pod Raceway, language, subtitled. mac, EARLY YEARS: POPULAR TRACTOR Northants Birmingham, Fri 17 - Thu 23 June STORIES A fantastic opportunity for BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 18 - MEDIEVAL FATHER'S DAY Including fire children aged between one and four Sun 19 June, Birmingham City A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (12a) shows, beds of nails and displays of (and their families) to explore the Centre Business has not been going well for all-round derring-do, Sun 19 June, tractor exhibition using action- Alan Clay (Tom Hanks). So the sales- COVENTRY PRIDE 2016 Sat 18 - Sun 19 Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire man heads to Saudi Arabia to pitch packed stories and Makaton signs, June, Fargo Village, Coventry Wed 15 June, Coventry Transport DUNSTALL CASTLE OPEN DAYS Climb his latest idea to an Arab king build- GAY CLASSIC CAR GROUP 18 - Sun 19 ing a massive new complex in the Museum the spiral staircase at Dunstall to get June, Coventry Transport Museum views across the countryside, Sun 19 desert. Based on the 2012 novel by DISCOVER WEDGWOOD SILVER: THE VIKING WEEKEND Raudr Vagr Vikings June, Croome Park, Worcestershire Dave Eggers. Warwick Arts Centre, WEDGWOOD MUSEUM OPENS ITS JEW- group from Telford recreate the Coventry, Fri 17 - Thu 23 June ELLERY BOX - DISCOVERY DAY Wed 15 CLASSIC CAR DAY Sun 19 June, lifestyles of the Vikings and Anglo- June, Wedgwood Museum, Stoke- Coventry Transport Museum ANATOMY OF A MURDER + LIVE Saxons, Sat 18 - Sun 19 June, Arley on-Trent JAZZLINES PERFORMANCE (12) A Arboretum, Worcestershire 2016 PCA BRITISH FINALS The first ever screening of Otto Preminger's classic SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS GARDEN TOUR Physical Culture Association (PCA) FATHER'S DAY PIE WEEKEND Sat 18 - courtroom drama, followed by a live Thurs 16 June, Winterbourne House British Finals, featuring male and Sun 19 June, Bodenham Arboretum, jazz performance of some of Duke & Garden, Birmingham female bodybuilding & fitness class- Ellington's best. Electric Cinema, Kidderminster, Worcestershire es, Sun 19 June, Symphony Hall, EVENING SUPPER LECTURES 2016 A Birmingham, Sat 18 June LACE WARS The 18th century Jacobite Birmingham two-course supper in the Barn rebellions of 1745 are brought to life BILL (12a) Hopeless lute player Bill Restaurant accompanied by a talk on FAMILY FUN RUN Sun 19 June, by re-enactment group Lace Wars, Shakespeare leaves his home to fol- a variety of subjects and a chance to Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire Sat 18 - Sun 19 June, Berrington low his dreams - a story filled with stroll in the gardens after hours, Hall, Leominster BANBURY RUN Sun 19 June, British murderous kings, spies, lost loves Thurs 16 June, Baddesley Clinton, Motor Museum, Gaydon, and a plot to blow up Queen Solihull GORGEOUS GEORGIANS Sat 18 - Sun Warwickshire Elizabeth. From the people who 19 June, Avoncroft Museum, BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW SUMMER (see brought you the CBBC TV show Bromsgrove, Worcestershire BIRMINGHAM ARMS FAIR Sun 19 June, page 45 for details), Thurs 16 - Sun Horrible Histories comes a very National Motorcycle Museum, 19 June, NEC, Birmingham DROITWICH SPA FOOD AND DRINK Solihull funny romp about the early life of FESTIVAL Sat 18 - Sun 19 June, BBC GARDENERS WORLD LIVE 2016 Shakespeare. Warwick Arts Centre, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS - CELLAR Coventry, Sat 18 June Thurs 16 - Sun 19 June, NEC, Sun 19 June, Witley Court, Birmingham CADBURY CHARACTER WEEKEND Sat 18 Worcestershire EDDIE THE EAGLE (PG) With lashings of - Sun 19 June, Cadbury World, THE DAIMLER REVEALED Make the BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS - SERVICE comedy, this is the true story of Bournville Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, a young most of this rare chance to see the AREA & STABLE YARD Sun 19 June, Englishman who was determined to 1955 Daimler Regency Mk II, Fri 17 - CITY OF COLOURS 2016 Sat 18 - Sun Witley Court, Worcestershire become an Olympic skier - against Mon 20 June, Sunnycroft, improbable odds. Stars Taron Birmingham Egerton & Hugh Jackman. Warwick BLITZ HILL Enjoy a summer evening Art Centre, Coventry, Sat 18 - Mon 20 on the home front as you travel to June the 1940s with vintage entertainment, BREATHLESS (PG) Jean-Luc Godard's activities and characters from the semi-improvised, groundbreaking World War Two era, Sat 18 June, drama about the brief love affair Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire between a petty criminal and a BLACKSMITHING - TALES & CUSTOMS young American student. Stars Jean- Hear some stories, poems and anec- Paul Belmondo & Jean Seberg. dotes about the legends and tradi- Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 19 tional customs associated with black- June smithing, Sat 18 June, Chedhams PRINCESS MONONOKE (PG) The first Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon Studio Ghibli film to have major suc- CREATIVE CARERS PROGRAMME: PAPER cess outside of Japan, Princess MARBLING Sat 18 June, Aston Hall, Medieval Fathers Day - Kenilworth Castle

62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 13 - 20 June - Worcs & Warwicks ONLY VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:38 Page 4

June 2016 BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE

Tues 7 – Sat 11 June Fri 10 & Weds 29 June Tues 14 – Sat 18 June BLACKADDER: THE AUDIENCE OLIVER! THE TUDOR YEARS NT LIVE SCREENING BROMSGROVE OPERATIC ALL & SUNDRY PRODUC- STARRING HELEN MIRREN SOCIETY PRODUCTION TION

Sun 19 June Fri 24 June Sat 25 June MIDLANDS YOUTH ROXY MAGIC BARRY CRYER & JAZZ ORCHESTRA TRIBUTE TO ROXY MUSIC COLIN SELL WITH CLARE TEAL AND BRYAN FERRY PRESENT STRICTLY COME JOKING

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Zootropolis (PG) // High Rise (15) // The Man Who Knew Infinity (12A) // Eye In The Sky (15) // Calamity Jane (PG)

FORTHCOMING SCREENINGS: The Audience (NT Live) // Hamlet (RSC) // Romeo & Juilet (Keneth Branagh) //Andre Rieu’s Maastricht Concert

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

whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List 20 - 30 June - Warwicks & Worcs ONLY VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:40 Page 1

thelist Monday 20 - Thursday 30 June JEFF LYNNES ELO Fri 24 Birmingham Orchestra & the University of Gigs June, Barclaycard SIMPLY DYLAN Sun 26 Classical Music Warwick Symphony Orchestra, Sun Arena, Birmingham 26 June, Warwick Arts Centre, June, Kitchen Garden LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH GRIMES Fri 24 June, O2 Cafe, Birmingham Coventry SAMANTHA BARKS Mon THOMAS TROTTER Mon 20 June, Institute, Birmingham ORGAN RECITAL WITH DAVID HARDIE 20 June, New THE SONS OF PITCHES Birmingham Town Hall Mon 27 June, Birmingham Cathedral Alexandra Theatre, PANIC ROOM Fri 24 Sun 26 June, PIANO RECITAL BY RISING STAR, CATHY Birmingham June, The Marr's Bar, Birmingham Town Hall KRIER Programme includes works by RUSSELL WATSON: SONGS FROM THE Worcs HEART Tues 28 June, Warwick Arts GNARWOLVES Mon 20 SULTANS OF STRING Mon Berg, Denis Schuler, Janacek, Rihm Centre, Coventry June, The Assembly, TREMBLING BELLS Fri 24 27 June, Kitchen & Schubert, Mon 20 June, Leamington Spa June, Tin Music & Arts, Garden Cafe, Birmingham Town Hall PRIZEWINNER RECITAL WITH JAMAL Coventry Birmingham ALIYEV Also featuring Maria MCFLY Mon 20 - Wed CITY OF SOUNDS: STEREO IS KING Tarasewicz (piano). Programme 22 June, O2 Academy, DEXY'S BOOTLEG VINTAGE TROUBLE WITH Programme includes works by includes works by Schubert, Brahms, Birmingham RUNNERS Fri 24 June, SLYDIGS Mon 27 June, Mason Bates, Mark Norman, Steve Hare & Hounds, B’ham The Assembly, Reich, John Cage, Chick Corea & Franck & Chopin, Tues 28 June, TESTAMENT Tue 21 Artrix, Bromsgrove MAETLOAF Fri 24 June, Leamington Spa Christopher Tyler Nickel, Mon 20 June, The Assembly, LUNCTIME ORGAN RECITAL BY RICHARD The River Rooms, GEORGE BENSON Mon June, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Leamington Spa PINEL Stourbridge 27 June, Symphony Conservatoire Thurs 30 June, Worcester JARED JAMES NICHOLS Hall, Birmingham EX CATHEDRA: SUMMER MUSIC BY CAN- Cathedral + BAD TOUCH + DAVE JEREMIH Fri 24 June, DLELIGHT Programme includes works HANSON Tues 21 June, Kasbah, Coventry KENNY G Tues 28 June, by Matthews Dawn, Morley, Vaughan The Rainbow Venues, Symphony Hall, FLEETWOOD BAC Fri 24 Williams & Gershwin, Tues 21 June, Birmingham Birmingham June, The Roadhouse, Birmingham Cathedral BOYSETSFIRE Birmingham COLLIE BUDDZ Tues 28 Tue 21 LUNCHTIME ORGAN RECITAL BY Comedy Gigs June, O2 Academy, June , O2 Institute, DETROIT SOUL Fri 24 - RICHARD DUNSTER-SIGTERMANS Thurs TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 20 Birmingham Birmingham Sat 25 June, The Jam 23 June, Worcester Cathedral June, The Blue Orange Theatre, TOM WALKER TRIO House, Birmingham THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS B’ham Wed CITY OF SOUNDS: FROM BACH TO BERIO 22 June, The Jam Tues 28 June, The Jam THE VOW BAND Sat 25 Programme includes works by Bach, TOM WARD, PIERRE NOVELLIE Mon 20 House, Birmingham House, Birmingham June, Irish Centre, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, June, Stratford Artshouse, Stratford- THE MELVINS Wed 22 Birmingham THE KILKENNYS Tues 28 Schumann, Liszt & Brahms, Thurs 23 upon-Avon June, The Rainbow AND FINALLY Sat 25 June, The Core June, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 21 Venues, Birmingham June, Roses Theatre, Theatre, Solihull Conservatoire June, The Dark Horse, Birmingham CYNDI LAUPER Wed 22 Tewkesbury RUSSELL WATSON Tues ROMANY WOOD Featuring massed CARL DONNELLY, NAZ OSMANOGLU Mon June, Symphony Hall, THE DECADES BAND Sat 28 June, Warwick Arts choirs from primary & prep schools 21 June, Stratford Artshouse, Birmingham 25 June, The River Centre, Coventry throughout Birmingham. Martin Leigh Stratford-upon-Avon HOWE GELB WITH ERIKA Rooms, Stourbridge HURRAY FOR THE RIFF conducts Shostakovich’s Festive HOWL Wed 22 June, The WENNERSTROM Wed 22 BRANDY LIVE Sat 25 RAFF + SPECIAL GUESTS Overture op.96 (7) and Mockingbird, Birmingham Wed 29 June, The Gaukroger/Carr’s Romany Wood June, The Assembly, June, O2 Academy, ZOE LYONS, CAIMH MCDONNELL Thurs Leamington Spa Birmingham Rainbow Venues, (40’), Fri 24 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham 23 June, mac, Birmingham CROBOT Wed 22 June, VICIOUS NATURE Sat 25 ODDISEE & GOOD THE MUSICAL & AMICABLE SOCIETY: JENNY COLLIER, JOE BOR PLUS COMIC The Rainbow Venues, June, O2 Academy, TBC Thurs 23 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham COMPNY Wed 29 June, FOUR SEASONS Programme includes O2 Institute, B’ham works by Vivaldi & Bach, Fri 24 June, Birmingham MERCURY REV Thurs 23 FORTY SHADES OF GREEN ELEVENSES, BARNI Worcester Cathedral MILTON JONES, CRAIG HILL, STEVE June, Warwick Arts MEETS COUNTRY ROADS HARRIS PLUS COMIC TBC Thurs 23 Centre, Coventry Sat 25 June, Evesham SCOTT Wed 29 June, THE PLANETS: AN HD ODYSSEY Palace Theatre, Featuring the Royal Philharmonic June, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham ZZ TOP Thurs 23 June, Arts Centre Redditch Orchestra, Northampton Bach Choir JEN BRISTER, BILLY KIRKWOOD, MILO O2 Academy, BRANDY Sat 25 June, & Robert Ziegler (conductor). MCCABE & OTIZ CANNELLONI Fri 24 Birmingham O2 Academy, KAMASI WASHINGTON Wed 29 June, O2 Programme includes works by June, The Comedy Loft, B’ham VIN GARBUTT Thurs 23 Birmingham Institute, Birmingham Strauss, Bach arr. Stokowski, RAW COMEDY Fri 24 June, Evesham June, Katie YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND: Beethoven, Williams & Holst, Sat 25 Arts Centre, Worcs Fitzgerald's, THE MUSIC OF JAMES ALIBIS + SPECIAL June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham AL PORTER, JAMES DOWDESWELL, Stourbridge TAYLOR AND CAROLE GUESTS Wed 29 June, SOLIHULL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JENNY COLLIER & JOE BOR Fri 24 - Sat KING Sat 25 June, Ort Cafe, Birmingham ABSOLUTE BLONDIE Programme includes works by Ravel, 25 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham Thurs 23 June, The Royal Spa Centre, JONATHAN BYRD Wed 29 Sarasate, Piazzolla, De Falla & QUINCY, KAREN BAYLEY, CAIMH Jam House, Leamington Spa June, Kitchen Garden Rimsky-Korsakov. Jon MCDONELL & PHIL CHAPMAN Sat 25 Birmingham RIHANNA Sat 25 June, Cafe, Birmingham Malaxetxebarria conducts, Sat 25 June, Coventry Showcase BLANK PARODY Fri 24 Ricoh Arena, Coventry KAMASI WASHINGTON June, Shirley Methodist Church, BILLY KIRKWOOD, JEN BRISTER, IVAN June, The Flapper, RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S Wed 29 June, O2 Solihull BRACKENBURY & IAN D MONTFORD Sat Birmingham RAINBOW Sat 25 June, Institute, Birmingham CITY OF SOUNDS: ELEGY FOR A CON- 25 June, The Comedy Loft, B’ham JEREMIH Fri 24 June, Genting Arena, B’ham VIN GARBUTT Thurs 30 CERT HALL Featuring Junior BARRY CRYER & COLIN SELL Sat 25 Kasbah, Coventry ANDREW O'NEILL'S June, Katie Conservatoire Choirs & Orchestras. Fitzgerald's, Programme includes works by June, Artrix, Bromsgrove ANDY FAIRWEATHER Fri HISTORY OF HEAVY Stourbridge Howells, Tchaikovsky & Percy 24 June, Roses METAL Sat 25 June, ANDREW O'NEILL Sat 25 June, Pursglove, Sat 25 June, Adrian Boult Theatre, Tewkesbury Huntingdon Hall, SEAL Thurs 30 June, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester Worcester Symphony Hall, Hall, Birmimgham Conservatoire SAUL WILLIAMS Fri 24 FAT PENGUIN COMEDY Wed 29 June, Birmingham CITY OF SOUNDS: REQUIEM FOR A CON- June, O2 Institute, GREEN HAZE Sat 25 The Patrick Kavanagh, Birmingham CERT HALL Featuring Sir Richard Birmingham June, The Marr's Bar, TCHA LIMBERGER AND HOWL Wed 29 June, The Worcs THE KALOTASZEG TRIO Armstrong (conductor), Birmingham ROXY MAGIC Fri 24 Mockingbird, Birmingham Thurs 30 June, mac, Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra June, Artrix, KORN AGAIN + STIFF WILL FRANKEN, DAVID TRENT Thurs 30 Birmingham & Choir, Caroline Modiba (soprano), Bromsgrove BIZKIT - FAMILY VALUES Victoria Simmonds (mezzo-soprano), June, mac, birmingham TRIBUTE Sat 25 June, JOHN BRAMWELL Thurs CHRIS GREEN & SOPHIE David Butt (tenor) & Barnaby Rae OWEN O'NEILL & COMEDY CAROUSEL The Roadhouse, 30 June, Hare & MATTHEWS Fri 24 June, (bass). Programme comprises Maya WITH ANDY ROBINSON PLUS COMEDIAN Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham Huntingdon Hall, Verlaak’s Carrier & Verdi’s Messa di TBC Thurs 30 June, The Glee Club, Worcsester GOLDIE Sat 25 June, DEL CAMINO Thurs 30 Requiem, Sun 26 June, Adrian Boult Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham June, The Jam House, Hall, Birmingham CLARE TEAL AND HER Birmingham TRIO Fri 24 June, MICK FLAVIN Sun 26 TWO ORCEHSTRAS: UK & USA Featurin Stratford Artshouse June, Irish Centre, the Young People’s Symphony

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Monday 20 - Thursday 30 June

Company, Sun 26 June, New Theatre Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham CHICAGO John Partridge stars as A TALE OF THE RAILWAY A story about lawyer Billy Flynn in a brand new UK love, family and the kindness of tour of the Kander & Ebb smash-hit strangers, Sun 26 June, Artrix, musical. X Factor winner Sam Bailey Bromsgrove stars as Mama Morton, Emmerdale JUMPSTART Initiative showcasing new favourite Hayley Tamaddon takes the work by performance makers living lead as Roxie Hart, Mon 20 - Sat 25 or working in Worcestershire, Sun 26 June, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre June, Artrix, Bromsgrove MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Oddsocks TIDDLER AND OTHER TERRIFIC TALES present a high-octane musical ver- Scamp Theatre present a staging of sion of Shakespeare’s witty battle of one of Julian Donaldson's best-loved the sexes, Tues 21 - Thurs 23 June, titles, where various tales are woven Belgrade Theatre, Coventry together with live music & puppetry, JACKIE THE MUSICAL Brand new 'fun Mon 27 - Wed 29 June, Warwick Arts and feisty' musical featuring original Centre, Coventry choreography by Arlene Phillips, KING LEAR Michael Pennington takes Tues 21 - Sat 25 June, Malvern the lead in Shakespeare’s famous Theatre tragedy, Mon 27 June - Sat 2 July, Malvern Theatre GANGSTA GRANNY Birmingham Stage Company bring a production of Eye In The Sky -- Artrix, Bromsgrove David Walliams' best-selling book to the stage, Tues 28 June - Sat 2 July, THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE Dance Torres & Jan Bijvoet. Foreign lan- New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham extravaganza based on the popular guage, subtitled. mac, Birmingham, MAMMA MIA! The smash-hit musical children’s classics by Enid Blyton, Tues 21 - Thurs 23 June visits Brum as part of its first ever UK Sat 25 - Sun 26 June, Albany EYE IN THE SKY (15) Striding across tour, Tues 28 June - Sat 3 Sept, Theatre, Coventry the same moral minefield as last Birmingham Hippodrome year’s Good Kill with Ethan Hawke, BILLY LIAR Amateur production pre- this British drama stars Dame Helen MURDER ON THE TERRACE Heartbreak sented by Blue Orange Acting, as a colonel forced to weigh up the Productions present an outdoor Devising and Performance students, consequences of a drone strike in staging of David Kerby-Kendall’s part Wed 29 June, The Blue Orange Talks Kenya. The target is a group of ter- romp, part farce, Wed 22 June, Theatre, Birmingham SAVING COUNTRY HOUSES Malvern rorists planning a major suicide Parish Field, Market Bosworth, Civic Society’s Ben Cowell talks attack, but then a nine-year-old girl is THE TEMPEST Heartbreak Productions seen entering the kill zone... Stars Warwickshire present an outdoor staging of about the country house, how it was saved and how continued vigilance Helen Mirren & Aaron Paul. Artrix, RATBURGER Heartbreak Productions Shakespeare’s final play, Wed 29 Bromsgrove, Mon 21 & Sun 26 June present the theatrical premiere of June, St Augustine’s Catholic High is needed in the face of ongoing David Walliams’ modern thriller, Wed School, Redditch threats to its existence, Tues 28 MIRROR (U) As one of Tarvoksy’s 22 June, St Paul’s Church, B’ham June, Malvern Theatre most beloved works, Mirror is noted BOA YEAR 12 MUSICAL THEATRE SHOW- for its loose and non-linear narrative, PEPPA PIG'S SURPRISE Peppa Pig, CASE Evening of singing, dancing & similar to the stream of conscious- George and their friends return with acting from Birmingham Ormiston ness technique in modern literature. a brand new live stage show, Wed 22 Academy’s Musical Theatre Pathway It unfolds as a flow of memories and June, Palace Theatre, Redditch students, Wed 29 - Thurs 30 June, dreams from a dying poet, present- SWEET CHARITY Amateur production The Old Rep, Birmingham Film ing key moments from his life both presented by Birmingham Youth CAPTURED The story of Isaac and INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: with respect to his immediate family Theatre, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 June, The Sophie, of photographer and sub- GOLDEN YEARS (12a) A well-seasoned and the tumultuous Russian history Old Rep, Birmingham ject, of perception and reality, Wed cast of British thespians star in this of the 20th century. Foreign lan- 42ND STREET Amateur production 29 June - Sat 2 July, Old Joint Stock credit-crunch comedy. Fate, the pen- guage, subtitled. Warwick Arts presented by Coventry Musical Theatre, Birmingham sions crisis and the injustice of old Centre, Coventry, Thurs 23 June Theatre Society, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 REDDITCH HAS TALENT Thurs 30 June, age contrive to force a retired couple MUSTANG (15) One summer, five June, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Palace Theatre, Redditch into a life of crime. Refusing to take Turkish sisters play innocently with TITLE OF SHOW Described as ‘a love MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The Lord the loss of their pensions lying down, some boys. A passing neighbour letter to musical theatre’, Title Of Chamberlain’s Men present an out- they decide to take back what was reports what she considers to be Show follows Hunter, Jeff and their door staging of Shakespeare’s battle theirs in the first place. They decide illicit behaviour to their parents, who friends as they journey through the of the sexes, Thurs 30 June, to start robbing banks. Stars Bernard react by virtually imprisoning them in experience of self-expression, Thurs Hanbury Hall, Worcester Hill & Philip Davis. Festival Drayton their home to maintain their ‘purity’ 23 - Sat 25 June, Old Joint Stock Centre, Market Drayton, South until marriage. Stars Günes Sensoy. Theatre, Birmingham Shropshire, Mon 20 June; Roses Foreign language, subtitled. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun 26 - Wed Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 23 June OLIVER! Thurs 23 - Sat 25 June, 29 June Bridge House Theatre, Warwick Dance THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET: THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY (12a) (15) The cult movie hits the Electric BREAKNECK HAMLET American actor & Srinivasa Ramanujan is a young man Cinema for a late-night showing, star- author Timothy Mooney recklessly SHAKESPEARE TRIPLE BILL Featuring work from José Limón, David Bintley who, after an impoverished child- ring Tim Curry as the sexually deca- slices Shakespeare's four-hour mas- hood in Madras, managed to secure dent Dr Frank-N-Furter. Electric terpiece to create an hour-long romp, and Jessica Lang, Wed 22 - Sat 25 June, Birmingham Hippodrome a place at Trinity College in Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 24 June Sat 25 June, The Blue Orange Cambridge. He later went on to lead Theatre, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET - CLASS MONEY MONSTER (12a) ‘Money the field in mathematical analysis, Monster’ is the name of a TV show TEENY TINY & THE WITCH WOMAN ON STAGE A chance to look behind number theory, infinite series and the scenes and watch BRB’s talented that gives its viewers useful tips on Staging of Barbara K Walker's chil- continued fractions. Gosh. Stars Dev how to manage their finances. dren’s story, based on an old Turkish dancers in their final preparations for Patel & Jeremy Irons. Roses Theatre, a performance of world-class danc- However, when Kyle Budwell (Jack folk tale, Sat 25 - Sun 26 June, The Tewkesbury, Mon 20 - Wed 22 June O’Connell) loses all his dosh on a Dream Factory, Warwick ing, Sat 25 June, Birmingham Hippodrome EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT A breath- bad tip from the show’s host, Lee VARIETY PERFORMANCE IN AID OF taking journey through the Guest (George Clooney), he decides JUST DANCE Dance extravaganza pre- BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Colombian Amazon, following the to take him hostage - live on-air. sented by JJTA Promotions, Sat 25 - CHARITY Featuring Marti Webb, Mrs interwoven stories of two European Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 24 Sun 26 June, Palace Theatre, Barbara Nice, Chris Howard, Steve explorers; one in the early 1900s, the - 30 June Day, CircusMASH & Phoenix Dance Redditch other 40 years later. Stars Nilbio whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List 20 - 30 June - Warwicks & Worcs ONLY VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 18:40 Page 3

thelist Monday 20 - Thursday 30 June CALAMITY JANE (PG) Sharpshooter on the mantle of the legendary coun- Calamity Jane falls for cavalry Lt try and blues singer Hank Williams, Danny Gilmartin. Stars Doris Day. from whose famous gospel song the Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 24 June film takes its title. Williams’ life was THE MEASURE OF A MAN (12a) At the tragically short-lived, but his influ- age of 51 and after 20 months on ence was considerable, as is his unemployment, Thierry’s new job in musical legacy. Roses Theatre, security at a supermarket soon Tewkesbury, From Wed 29 June brings him face to face with a moral IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (U) Clark dilemma. Stars Vincent Lindon. Gable and Claudette Colbert star in Foreign language, subtitled. mac, Frank Capra’s Oscar-winning screw- Birmingham, Fri 24 - Tues 28 June ball comedy classic. Colbert plays MATAR A UN HOMBRE (15) Winner of spoiled heiress Ellen Andrews, a the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize pampered socialite who’s eloped at Sundance in 2014 and based on with pilot ‘King’ Westley against her real events, this psychological thriller father’s wishes. Ludlow Assembly is a portrait of an ordinary man driv- Rooms, South Shropshire, From Wed en to murder in defence of his family. 29 June Stars Daniel Candia. Foreign lan- A WALK IN THE WOODS (15) It’s hard to guage, subtitled. mac, Birmingham, imagine Bill Bryson’s 1998 memoir Fri 24 - Tues 28 June being turned into a film, let alone ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (12) having Robert Redford play Bryson. Henry Fonda trashed his nice-guy The cuddly writer was in his mid-40s image in Sergio Leone's bravura then and Redford is 79 now. The spaghetti western, a sprawling epic walk in the woods was actually a Grand Medieval Joust - Kenilworth Castle that pays tribute to classic Hollywood 2,200 mile trek along the westerns of yesteryear. Electric Appalachian Trail, an amble that was sample the ales and food, Sat 25 ers, grillers and brewers, Sat 25 - Cinema, Birmingham, Sat 25 June somewhat complicated by the June, Fargo Village, Coventry Sun 26 June, Fargo Village, Coventry accompaniment of Bryson’s dis- SPIRITED AWAY (12) Hayao Miyazaki's JAGUAR SUPER SATURDAY Featuring HERITAGE WEEKEND AT CADBURY solute ‘former’ friend, Stephen Katz WORLD Oscar-winning classic tells the story up to 50 Classic Swallow/SS/Daimler Sat 25 - Sun 26 June, (Nick Nolte). Forest Arts Centre, and Jaguar cars, on display on Cadbury World, Birmingham of a 10-year-old girl who must battle Walsall, Thurs 30 June Millennium Place, Sat 25 June, ancient spirits to save her family. SUMMER NATIONALS A huge variety of Coventry Transport Museum Stars Rumi Hiragi. Foreign language, race cars and bikes, as well as the subtitled. Electric Cinema, NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: STORYTELLING FESTIVAL Storytelling Fireforce Jet Car, will keep the track Birmingham, Sun 26 June performances, storytrails, live music, action-packed all day long, Sat 25 - CRAZY ABOUT TIFFANY’S (tbc) dance, arts, stalls and crafts for chil- Sun 26 June, Santa Pod Raceway, YOUTH (15) Michael Caine plays Fred ELVIS & NIXON (15) dren, Sat 25 June, Martineau Northants Ballinger, a world famous conductor Gardens, Birmingham THE LAST KING (tbc) WALK FOR WHALES A five-mile spon- and composer who is chilling with a EXPLORE RAG RUGGING Learn a new sored walk for whale and dolphin life-long friend, the film director Mick MA MA (tbc) skill and make a 'rag rug', Sat 25 conservation, Sun 26 June, National Boyle (Harvey Keitel), and his daugh- POOR COW (tbc) June, Birmingham Back to Backs Sea Life Centre, Birmingham ter Lena (Rachael Weisz), who also REMAINDER (tbc) GRAND MEDIEVAL JOUST Sat 25 - Sun FARM FUN SUNDAY An opportunity to happens to be Mike’s daughter-in- 26 June, Kenilworth Castle meet cuddly creatures and enjoy law. There is no driving plot as such, some other rural activities, Sun 26 although unexpected things occur all RETURN OF THE GARRISON Meet the stars and your favourite characters in June, Forge Mill Needle Museum, the time, both imaginary and real. Redditch Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon 27 June a tribute weekend to a galaxy far, far away, Sat 25 - Sun 26 June, National CITROEN CAR CLUB Citroen Car Club GOLDEN YEARS (12a) A well-seasoned Events Space Centre, Leicester (West Midlands) form a display of up cast of British thespians star in this PANORAMA TOWER OPEN DAY Enjoy THE CLASSIC LAND ROVER SHOW Sat to 40 vehicles on Millennium Place, credit-crunch comedy. Fate, the pen- 360-degree views from the balcony 25 - Sun 26 June, British Motor Sun 26 June, Coventry Transport sions crisis and the injustice of old of the tower, Tues 21 June, Croome Museum Park, Worcestershire Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire age contrive to force a retired couple WEDDING FAIR Sun 26 June, National into a life of crime. Refusing to take EARLY YEARS: GO MESSY Farmyard- MIDSUMMER MADNESS Watch the Tudors get into midsummer mischief Motorcycle Museum, Solihull the loss of their pensions lying down, inspired playtime, Wed 22 June, as they celebrate the longest day of EARLY YEARS: POPULAR TRACTOR they decide to take back what was Coventry Transport Museum the year, Sat 25 - Sun 26 June, Mary STORIES Opportunity for children theirs in the first place. They decide SKETCHING AND WATERCOLOUR COURSE Arden's Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon aged between one and four and their to start robbing banks. Stars Bernard WITH KAREN STONE Thurs 23 June, families to explore the tractor exhibi- Hill & Philip Davis. Wem Town Hall, Spetchley Park Gardens, BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 25 - tion using action-packed stories and North Shropshire, Tues 28 & Thurs Worcestershire Sun 26 June, Birmingham City Centre Makaton signs, Wed 29 June, 30 June GARDEN TOURS Fri 24 June, Witley THE GRUB CLUB A two-day food and Coventry Transport Museum CEMETERY OF SPLENDOUR (tbc) Court, Worcestershire drink special. A mix of bakers, grow- Soldiers afflicted by a mysterious THE AUTISM SHOW A national event for sleeping sickness are stationed in a autism (including Asperger syn- temporary clinic in a former school. A drome) offering practical support to nurse intuits a connection between the two million people in the UK who the soldiers' malady and the ancient, live and work with autism on a daily mythical site on which the clinic is basis, Fri 24 - Sat 25 June, NEC, built. Stars Jenjira Pongpas. Foreign Birmingham language, subtitled. mac, THE BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS The best Birmingham, Tues 28 - Thu 30 June of Britain will descend on Birmingham as they compete for the VERSUS: THE LIFE & FILMS OF KEN prestigious honour of being crowned LOACH (12a) A special 'pay what you British champion, as well as for a can' matinee of this new documen- place on the British Athletics team for tary, a candid behind-the-scenes the Olympic Games in Rio de account of Loach's politically aware Janeiro, Fri 24 - Sun 26 June, career. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham Mon 27 June; Warwick Arts Centre, TWISTED BARREL BREWERY TOURS Coventry, Wed 29 - 30 June 2016 Meet the team behind Twisted I SAW THE LIGHT (15) Here, the Barrel Ale on this exclusive tour, learn London-born Tom Hiddleston takes how the brewing process works and Classic Land Rover Show - British Motor Museum

66 whatsonlive.co.uk The Overtones (FP- May 16).qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 17:35 Page 1 Pet Show (FP- June 16).qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2016 17:53 Page 1