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JOHN WATERS MAKES Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands BRUM DEBUT AT SHOUT

BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON OCTOBER 2019 Birmingham ISSUE 406 OCTOBER 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onbirminghamwhatson.co.uk

PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP WTE:@WHATSONBRUMTWITTER: FACEBOOK:@WHATSONBIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAMWHATSON.CO.UK IFC Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 18:35 Page 1 Contents October Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 14:03 Page 2

October 2019

Contents

The Exorcist - casting out the demons at the Alexandra Theatre more on page 24

James Phelan Sean Foley Dada Masilo the list

Troublemaker promises to be Artistic director looks ahead to brings updated version of Your 16-page mind-blowing at The Old Rep exciting times at The REP Giselle to the Hippodrome week-by-week listings guide page 22 feature page 32 page 36 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 17. Gigs 19. Dance 22. Comedy 24. Theatre 37. Visual Arts 39. Film 43. Events

@whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonbrum Birmingham What’s On Birmingham What’s On What’s On Birmingham

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 MEDIA GROUP Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Lauren Cole [email protected] 01743 281733 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Nanci Davies, Patsy Moss 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 Birmingham October.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 16:57 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Moroccan festive feast at the NEC Birmingham’s NEC is hosting ‘the ultimate Christmas party experience’ this festive season. Moroccan Fire Nights fuses ‘incredible entertainment with a delicious festive feast and a spectacularly themed environ- ment’. Late-night highlights include an ‘epic’ stage show, indoor fairground rides, casino tables and fairground stalls. The parties take place from 29 November to 22 December. For more information and to book tickets, visit birminghamchristmas- parties.com

Celebrating wellbeing... visit the city’s Symphony Hall on 24 May. theatrically recreated so that families can The star trio will take fans behind the scenes immerse themselves in the sights and sounds Birmingham’s Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing of the legendary gangster drama, which was of the classic children’s tale. Festival is back next month. recently ranked by Rolling Stone as the great- Youngsters are invited to join in the fun with Featuring motivational speakers, musicians, est TV show of all time... For more informa- the movie’s characters, while the event also artists and performers from across the globe, tion and to book tickets, visit thsh.co.uk features carol singing and a visit from Santa. the event showcases exhibitors, therapies, At the time of going to print, Vintage Trains, wellbeing & health products, organic food which organises The Polar Express rides, is and holistic retreats. Literary festival offering yet to announce details for 2019. It will do so Free experiences at the festival include the in the near future on thepolarexpressbirm- Live Stage, the Wellbeing Studio, a pop-up something for everyone ingham.com. temple, ceremony space, silent disco, wellbe- Birmingham Literary ing spa and a sanctuary of peace & calm. Festival makes a welcome The event runs at Birmingham’s NEC from 1 return this month (from Snow House Bar returns to 3 November. For more information and to 3 to 13 October), present- to Birmingham’s Bullring purchase tickets, visit birmingham.mind- ing 56 events at a variety After enjoying a Christmas cracker of a bodyspirit.co.uk of city venues. Highlights of this year’s festive season last year, Snow House Bar is festival include appear- making a welcome return to Birmingham’s ances by new Poet Laure- Bullring this month, complete with its super- ate Simon Armitage, former Poet Laureate popular VIP igloos. Carol Ann Duffy, actor and writer Toby Jones, Providing an impressive selection of beers ex-Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and wines, mulled wine and hot chocolate, (pictured) and Yardley MP Jess Phillips. the venue will also be serving German “As always, the programme is packed with sausages and churros from early November highlights from many different writers and onwards. creatives,” says event director Antonia Beck. Snow House Bar reopens for the winter “Visitors are sure to find something which season on 19 October and shuts up shop intrigues and excites them.” again on 5 January. Chatting with The Mob For more information and to check out the at Symphony Hall full line-up of events, visit birminghamlitera- The 20th anniversary of hit TV series The turefestival.org Sopranos will be celebrated next year when three of the seminal show’s biggest charac- ters take to the road and stop off in Birming- All aboard the Polar ham. Express for Christmas fun Steven Schirripa (Bobby ‘Bacala’), Michael The Polar Express train rides are returning to Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Birmingham this Christmas. (‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero) The popular motion picture film will be

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First Word

Zen den reopens at Resorts World has created a dedicated space for visitors to reflect and relax away from everyday life. The Zen Zone is open daily between 11am and 6pm and will host weekly yoga and morning meditation classes. The space was originally de- signed as a pop-up during Mental Health Awareness Week back in May. For more information, visit re- sortsworldbirmingham.co.uk

Roll Up! Roll Up! The circus is coming to Birmingham... audiences are set to be Highlights include appearances by two puppet Dark happenings transported back to the ‘golden age’ of circus elephants - Queenie and Peanut - aerial act The at the O2... late this month. Flying Fredonis, Cuban hand balancer The Great Carnival, circus, theatre and Circus 1903 visits the venue from Friday 25 Rokardy and ‘mind-bending’ juggler The Great clubbing are brought together October to Saturday 2 November and will feature Gaston... To book tickets for the show, visit when Festival Of The Dead a range of new acts from around the globe. birminghamhippodrome.com returns to O2 Academy Birm- ingham on Friday 1 Novem- ber. Discover & buy Fast Forward Festival celebrating Touring for a fourth year, the at open studios inclusion at Midlands Arts Centre event presents The Dark Carnival, a show that features A national disability and arts festival which celebrates inclusion is otherworldly creations, being held at Birmingham’s Midlands Arts Centre this month. acrobats, circus performers Fast Forward takes place at the venue on Thursday 24 October. and carnival processions, all Highlights include performances by BSO Resound - the first disabled- set to a high-octane sound- led ensemble ever to take part in the BBC Proms - and highly track. acclaimed show Twitch, a 90-minute presentation that sees Sarah The UK’s largest touring Fisher showing why disability need not be a barrier to musicmaking. Birmingham Open Studios skeleton prop - a huge this month returns for its mechanical skull known as El third year. Diablo - also features, as does Featuring 67 artists a giant spider on stilts! exhibiting in more than 30 For more information and to venues, the free family- book tickets, visit festival- friendly event takes place ofthedead.co.uk across the weekends of 5 & 6 and 12 & 13 October, providing members of the general public with the opportunity to view and purchase the works on show. For more info, visit birminghamopenstu- dios.com whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Birmingham Weekender_Shout single page.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2019 11:16 Page 1

AThere’s nofeast shortage of opportunity of to enjoy afestivals great selection of performance arts presentations in Birmingham this month, a good number of which take place in this trio of not-to-be-missed festivals...

Birmingham Top pick: DeNada Dance Theatre Caribbean Drag Carnival - Weekender Sunday 6 October - In Digbeth Venue TBA DeNada Dance Theatre When? 4-6 October present a highly camp, Where? various venues dynamic and very Latin around Digbeth celebration of carnival on What? Birmingham’s largest arts the streets of Digbeth. festival is back with an array of world- Choreographed by Carlos class local and international artists and Pons Guerra and inspired companies. by Dominican and Cuban Expect a programme packed with new folk dance, this processional commissions, world premieres, explosion of Caribbean folk roaming and pop-up street theatre, drag, performed by the male participative events and workshops dancers of DeNada, is sure to across Digbeth. enthral audiences of all ages.

Bedlam: Arts And Mental Fierce Festival Health Festival When? 15-20 October Where? various venues across Birmingham When? 1-12 October What? Boasting an international reputation, Fierce is Where? Midlands Arts one of the UK’s most respected festivals of live art, Centre and Birmingham with some of its commissions touring worldwide. The well-established event features theatre, dance, What? The Bedlam Arts music, installations, activism, digital practices and And Mental Health parties. Performances take place in theatres, galleries Festival aims to use the and out-of-the-ordinary spaces. arts to raise awareness of issues connected to mental Top pick: A Very Fierce Grand Opening, health and wellbeing. The Wednesday 16 October - Birmingham Museum & event coincides with World Mental Art Gallery Health Day on 10 October, which this year Hosted by Ginny Lemon, the festival’s grand opening focuses on suicide prevention. features a selection of performances Top pick: The Thing, Friday 4 - Saturday 5 October - around the museum. Birmingham Repertory Theatre Artists include: Sandra Johnston, Keijaun Thomas, Join Olivier-nominated Les Enfants Terribles as they Whiskey Chow, Justin investigate the rising epidemic of suicide. The company Shoulder, Zander Porter X delve into the crisis of identity, depression and anxiety James Batchelor, Ariah which exists within all of us. They ask what it's like to Lester, Lucy McCormick and try and survive in a world where we're constantly told to Susannah Hewlett. 'man up' and 'make our mark'. Plus, it’s all free!

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FEEL THE BASS The UK’s only Black Arts commissioning festival returns to Birmingham this month. What’s On caught up with Bass Festival 2019’s curators to find out more...

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by Lauren Foster

Organised by award-winning music & arts Jamie Rodigan, Italo Skarcha, Layfullstop and the MBC in Digbeth,” says RTkal. “Over the company Punch Records, the UK’s only Black Bake Off's Liam Charles. years, I’ve managed to surround myself with Arts commissioning festival is this year people who are talented and passionate about “The artists I've chosen are part of a wider shining a spotlight on the future. music & arts. I’ve also learnt a lot from having community who are pushing a culture the opportunity to perform across the world Now in its 13th year, Bass Festival has forward,” RTkal explains. “A lot of them are and learn from the music industry interna- entrusted two of Birmingham's brightest second generation, so their parents are tionally. But what it brought to my attention is young creatives - Aliyah Hasinah and RTkal - musicians or work within the creative indus- how overlooked the talent in Birmingham is, with the responsibility of curating the event try, and they’re building careers based on a and how little we have in terms of a creative and leaving a new legacy. lineage of knowledge and culture. They stand industry infrastructure. The MBC and IDST for a bigger thing; it's not just about what’s “I’m a curator and aspiring historian and studios are a contribution to the infrastruc- cool or new. It’s future music and movements filmmaker,” explains Aliyah. “I started my ture. There's a lot of work to be done, but we based on solid foundations.” career in digital marketing, then ended up as aim to give Birmingham-based artists the sup- producer by the end of an apprenticeship. I This year’s festival theme is ‘the future’. port they need to promote their artistry, and a then became freelance and worked on a Explaining where he plans to take it, RTkal place to facilitate the creation of new art. We variety of different projects with an organisa- says: “I’m booking artists from different parts want to keep Birmingham's creative industry tion called Apples And Snakes, which was my of the world and different parts of the country health and thriving. We’re working on a first actual contracted job. But a lot of my and having them perform alongside Birming- sustainable, creative future.” work has been pretty DIY. If I have an idea ham-based artists. Bass 2019 is going to high- “For me,” says Aliyah, “the greatest achieve- and it’s an exhibition, for example, can we light the calibre of artists that we have to offer ment has been the realisation that I don't just put it up in a cafe? Can we speak to this as a city. I also want to highlight the skills and need to work with institutions for my work to artist and get work shown? I've also worked high level of entrepreneurship we have in matter. At one point in my career, everyone with loads of artists and organisations around Birmingham. We really do have so much to was telling me, You need to work with this the theme of decoloniality and what it means offer.” person or you need to work with this. Then I to move the gaze away from the white gaze Aliyah adds: “I’ve been thinking a lot about started to see the value of being DIY and inde- and not to be apologetic about the way we reimagination and what it means to be black pendent. curate and take up space.” and everything that that is. I think the future “And also, although it's not an ‘achievement’, Aliyah’s curated projects include Bald Black is blickity-black-black! It's independent and I would say the incredible people I’ve met Girls with artist Ruth Sutoyé, The Gallery Is its decolonial. Decolonisation is undoing and along the way. I really admire and respect the Many Things at Eastside Projects and The unlearning behaviours that we’ve been taught people around me.” Past Is Now at Birmingham Museum & Art are correct - like what ‘Blackness’ is, for Gallery. example. Decoloniality is unpicking why we What do the pair want festival-goers to take do the things that we do, how that’s affected away from this year’s Bass? Bass Festival’s second young curator, RTkal, us mentally, psychologically, and who we are is a veteran of the Birmingham music scene. “We want the city to feel inspired,” says seeking approval from and why. Decolonisa- “I’m the co-founder of Beats & Barriers Music RTkal. “We want people to feel confident tion is constant questioning, and in terms of Academy,” he explains. “I also co-own IDST about the future locally and in comparison to the future, it's just not a ‘yes man’ future.” music studios and I run a business called The the rest of the nation. Birmingham is rich in MBC - Music, Birmingham, Culture - all of Looking ahead, Aliyah would like Birming- talent, no doubt about that, so let's highlight which are based in Digbeth.” ham’s creative network to look more like an it and nurture it.” industry: “I'd like infrastructure. I'd like us Inspired both by his generation and his her- “I want people to see the multiplicity of possi- not to have to steal resources from other itage, RTkal has used music to spread positive bility,” says Aliyah. “Anything is possible. places, and I'd like there to be spaces for vibes and unite and entertain audiences There are so many different ways to think people to reap benefits, whether that be artis- across the globe. His CV includes perfor- about things, different artists and different tic development programmes or places to mances at Glastonbury, Bestival, Lovebox and versions of what the future could look like. All pitch your ideas or create them. And I’d like it Outlook, to name but a few. we have to do is start making steps towards to be based on the merit of the idea rather them. I’d like people to leave the festival Visitors to Bass Festival can expect six days of than how many followers you have. I’d like it thinking, Shit, something amazing is happen- live music, workshops, panel discussions, to be a decentralisation of everything which is ing in Birmingham, and Birmingham is the exhibitions and film screenings. There will stuck in ; a lot of the industry is there future.” also be an unveiling ceremony for the event’s but a lot of the talent is here, so we have to Future Faces Of Birmingham mural. connect and build something sustainable.” Artists involved in this year’s get-together So what do RTkal and Aliyah feel are their Bass Festival takes place at various venues include Naomi Cowan, Jevon, Randy Valen- greatest achievements to date? across Birmingham from 22 to 27 October. tine, Sevana, Big Zeeks, Cali P, 808INK, Anaïs, Visit punchbass.com for more “Moving back to Birmingham and setting up information.

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Oh, what a circus! International phenomenon Circus 1903 is this month visiting Birmingham for the very first time... What’s On speaks to the show’s Associate Director, Richard Peakman... Circus 1903.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 15:37 Page 2

Birmingham Hippodrome welcomes the big the juggler spinning those clubs. You’re Jackman in cinema blockbuster The Greatest top this month when the circus comes to watching a lifetime of dedication packed into Showman. Although Circus 1903 pre-dates town. an act of a few minutes. Jackman’s film, Richard says the movie’s pop- ularity has helped re-ignite interest in the Taking audiences back to the golden age of “And we wanted to ensure it was lavish. golden age of circus: “I absolutely loved the the travelling show, international phe- Money was so tight in the 1900s and yet circus film, and having worked so closely with our nomenon Circus 1903 features a host of amaz- costumes and sets were so extravagant and production, I was curious to see what they ing acts, feats, highwire stunts and flamboyant. We really wanted to capture that would do with it. I think it’s pulled up the cur- life-size animal puppets. with exquisite costume design and sumptu- tain on a piece of history, and it’s definitely ous sets.” The extravaganza is coming to Birmingham sparked people’s imaginations, so now they for the very first time and is a perfect centre- Recreating the golden age of the big top want to see that kind of show for themselves. piece for the Hippodrome’s 120th birthday cel- meant looking for a new way of incorporating I think people have seen the film and ebrations - the theatre was launched as a animal performers: “We wanted to feature thought, ‘That looks wonderful and amazing circus venue back in 1899. something which was synonymous with turn- and breathtaking’ - and it is!” of-the-century circus - but obviously these Circus 1903 Associate Director Richard Peak- Richard’s career has seen him performing, days we wouldn’t use real elephants. It was man, who grew up in Kinver and knows the choreographing, creating and directing a host the brainchild of our creative producer, Simon Hippodrome well, is delighted the production of shows across the world, including some in Painter, to incorporate puppetry to bring ani- will take centre-stage during the theatre’s an- the Midlands. Working for Qdos Pantomimes, mals back to the circus. Simon had seen War niversary year: “It would’ve felt special to he choreographed Cinderella with Julian Horse, which is on everyone’s radar because bring this show to the Hippodrome last year Clary at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in of just how breathtaking the puppets are, and or next year, but this year is extra-special be- 2014. He’s also been on stage at the Hippo- said we should have the best. And so they cre- cause of the theatre’s birthday. drome in shows such as Fame and Oh! What ated two elephants for us - a mother and A Night, but this is the first time he’s been in baby.” “It’s like we’re recreating history with the Birmingham as part of a show’s creative team. sights, the sounds and the spectacle that When it came to choosing the acts, the team launched the Hippodrome all those years ago. “I’m so excited to be bringing Circus 1903 to again wanted to ensure a feeling of authentic- As a local lad, to bring a show which has the Hippodrome. It’s such a beautiful theatre, ity: “We did a lot of research. I bought this hu- toured the world back to the Hippodrome at and I’ve always loved having the opportunity mongous hardback book which documented this very special time makes me feel very hon- to come back home. My career is predomi- circus from its early origins right up to now. oured and very lucky.” nantly in London these days, but my heart is We were really keen, where possible, to have definitely still in the West Midlands. Richard became part of the creative team be- acts which were present on the circus circuit hind Circus 1903 at its very beginning, work- at the turn of the century. “My family will all be out in force to see the ing with director Neil Dorward, who he’d first show, and I’m also excited because I’ll have “We have a booker who literally trawled the met when they were students together at the the opportunity to bring my nieces - Evie, world and came back with a collection of the Italia Conti Academy in London. The two built who’s five, and Sophie, who’s two. It will be weird and the wonderful, and then we had up successful careers in theatre before collab- the first time they’ll have seen a circus, and I lots of films submitted by performers. We orating on a circus show in China. Then Neil can’t wait to see their faces.” went through all of those, looking for the had the idea for Circus 1903 - and he and the most breathtaking acts.” And Richard is confident that his nieces won’t team had a clear vision for the show: “We be the only ones amazed by what they see: “I were really keen to transport audiences back Some of the acrobats, trapeze and highwire hope that people go away with the biggest to the golden age of circus when the circus artists, contortionists and jugglers - and a smiles on their faces, having been thoroughly was the biggest of its time,” larger-than-life ringmaster - have been with entertained and mind-boggled by what Richard explains. “There was no TV, no cin- the show since it premiered in 2016, but the they’ve seen. There’s something in it for ev- ema, no theatres, no sports games - circus team are always on the look-out for new tal- eryone because of the plethora of acts - was a combination of all those elements. We ent: “We’re a period piece, but we also need to there’s humour but also spectacle. We set out wanted to capture that bygone era. evolve within those parameters to ensure that to entertain people - just as circus did back in we’re fresh, exciting, current and have some- “So we deliberately shied away from anything the day.” thing new to offer audiences.” which would be too futuristic. We wanted to take it back to basics and for our audience to The show’s name pays homage to the age of have an appreciation of these amazing circus the historic Barnum & Bailey circus company, Circus 1903 shows at Birmingham Hippo- acts. There are no gimmicks, no special ef- which launched the extravaganza known as drome from Friday 25 October to Saturday fects, no filter - what you’re seeing is the The Greatest Show On Earth. This is the same 2 November. trapeze artist balancing on that highwire or PT Barnum who was brought to life by Hugh Classical October Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:22 Page 1 Classical October Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:22 Page 2

Classical

Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra: Das Rheingold Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 13 October Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold) was writ- O ten 150 years ago by Richard Wagner and R is the prelude to his gargantuan cycle of Ring operas. A Composed across a period of approxi- a mately 26 years, from 1848 to 1874, the A Ring Cycle relates a fantastical tale about w the ongoing struggle across three genera- p tions to harness the magical power of the M eponymous Ring, which grants its owner ti domination over the entire world. T Telling the story of three daughters who keep watch over a priceless treasure beneath the waters of the river Rhine, Das Rheingold is here performed by the Birm- ingham Philharmonic, one of the region’s Chineke! Ensemble Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Tues 8 October best known and most admired non-profes- sional orchestras. “Chineke! is not only an exciting idea but a which could deepen and enrich classical profoundly necessary one,” says Sir Simon music in the UK for generations. What a Rattle in talking about Europe’s first orches- thrilling prospect!” tra to feature a majority of black and minor- Chineke! here play Coleridge-Taylor’s CBSO: Bruch’s ity ethnic musicians. “The kind of idea charismatic Quintet, written when he was Concerto which is so obvious that you wonder why just 18, and the Trout Quintet, composed by Symphony Hall, Birmingham, it’s not already in place. The kind of idea a 22-year-old Schubert. Thurs 24 October Rising star Simone Lamsma (pictured) here joins the City of Birmingham Sym- Tenebrae Ex Cathedra: phony Orchestra to play what’s often referred to as the world’s best-loved violin The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Rachmaninoff Vespers Wed 23 October concerto. , Sun 27 October ‘Passion and precision’ is the motto of this “Instead of being a violinist, I hope I am a award-winning chamber choir, which, musician,” says Simone. “It’s different. under the direction of Nigel Short, is con- It’s not about playing the violin well, it’s sidered to be one of the world’s finest vocal about communicating through music. I ensembles. feel a violinist’s sound is a reflection of Although dedicated to supporting contem- their soul; it’s very personal.” porary , Tenebrae are also held The concert programme also features in high regard for their interpretations of Wagner’s The Mastersingers Of Nurem- the choral cannon; works by Poulenc, berg: Overture and Bruckner’s Symphony Tavener, Brahms and Bruckner all feature No4. in their extensive repertoire. This Barber Institute appearance sees them performing Joby Talbot’s Path Of Miracles, a dramatic work inspired by the enduring Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago. Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil - often translated as simply Vespers - was one of the ’s two favourite works. Indeed, he loved the composition so much that he requested one of its movements (the fifth) be sung at his funeral. His deep feel- ing for the work, and indeed its brilliance, is all the more remarkable given that it took him less than two weeks to compose.

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by Lauren Cole

Tinkling Brum’s Ivories Birmingham International Festival plays host to some of the world’s finest pianists this month. One such star is Freddy Kempf, former BBC Young Musician of the Year. We caught up with him to find out more...

How does it feel to be a headliner at this long half-hour pieces for piano like other put into children learning instruments by the year’s Birmingham International Piano composers did. The idea behind this pro- government. I think it’s lovely to learn an Festival, Freddy? gramme was to come up with two imaginary instrument, and it’s also good for the person. sonatas. So I picked and combined works to A lot of people who haven’t had that chance I’m really excited to perform. Birmingham’s create a sonata from the earliest part of as a child really wish they had. If kids were always been at the centre of my activities Chopin’s life, and then did the same using the learning instruments, they’d be more encour- somehow. When I took part and won Young works he wrote just before he died. aged to go along to a concert that features Musician of the Year as a kid, my very first their instrument. It’s a chain reaction. In professional date was at Birmingham Sym- Festivals dedicated to the piano - classical other countries, they have much younger phony Hall a few weeks after the competition. piano pieces in particular - are important, audiences. I’ve just come back from Russia, I think Birmingham doesn’t feel like it has to then? where a huge international music competition conform to the national and international had 40 million viewers worldwide. Many of trends like London feels it has to. The city is I think they’re very important to keep going. the audience were young children who slightly more independent in its classical This festival in Birmingham is quite new, so aspired to take part in it some day. I do think scene and has always allowed me to do the it’s obviously appeared for a reason; there’s a times change, though, and I hope people concerts that I want to do, so I’m really happy demand in Birmingham for this kind of event come back to spending more time with the to be a part of this festival and that they con- and for classical music. I do think people arts, whether that’s music, painting or sidered me over other people. need the arts just to find some kind of mean- ing. It’s one way humanity can express what anything else. It’s really important that we’re Do you always play solo when you it’s achieved. Maybe it’s not something we able to appreciate and develop the arts. perform? look to every day, as I think social media and more immediate entertainment have taken Piano is one of the more solitary career paths over, but that can’t fill every void that we Birmingham International Piano Festival in the performing arts. I went on a small tour have. As humans, we ultimately need the arts. takes place at the city’s Barber Institute of of Australia this year, where I did Perth Festi- Fine Arts from Friday 25 October to Friday val, Sydney Opera House and Brisbane - in all What’s the biggest challenge classical 8 November. Freddy Kempf takes to the those places I was on my own on stage. So I music faces in the UK going forward? stage on Wednesday 6 November. think because of that, I do like to return to See birminghampianofestival.com for the chamber music. It’s nice because it’s almost New audiences for classical music usually complete festival programme. like playing in a band. At the same time, come from people learning, which doesn’t when playing with an orchestra, you’re also seem to be happening much in the UK at the To read our full interview with Freddy, separate to them; almost a guest artist per- moment. Overall, there’s less money being visit whatsonlive.co.uk forming with the group. But with chamber music, you’re all colleagues who work to- gether, even if it’s only for a short amount of time. You work, rehearse and create some- thing together, which is a lot of fun for any musician.

Talk us through your solo programme for your appearance at the festival. I think every pianist has an affinity with Chopin. He’s just a composer that many, many people will have heard of, even if they’re not classical music listeners. I think that what a lot of people don’t realise is that Chopin almost only wrote music for the piano, whereas composers like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky wrote symphonies, operas, ballets. I think it’s quite fitting to have a whole concert dedicated to Chopin at this fes- tival. I guess Chopin also didn’t really write

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Gigs

Will Young Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 4 October Will Young came to prominence when he won the 2002 series of Pop Idol. His double A-sided debut single, Anything Is Possible/ Evergreen, was released two weeks after the show's finale and became the UK’s fastest- selling debut single. Built around his joy of pop music, Will’s long- awaited seventh , Lexicon, was released this year. "I always say that there's no point in doing it if it's not joyous,” explains Will. “That's been my motto: do it the way you want to do it.”

Hot Chip the synth-pop band’s latest offering is their most definitive release to date and follows O2 Institute, Birmingham, Fri 18 October including The Warning, One Life Hot Chip visit the city on the back of their Stand and In Our Heads. electrifying seventh studio album, A Bath Well known for their colourful melodies and Full Of Ecstasy. pounding electro-pop rhythms, the band Released earlier this year and peaking at make their Birmingham stop-off as part of Remi Harris number 11 on the official UK album charts, their biggest-ever UK headline tour. Pizza Express Live, Birmingham, Fri 25 October Influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Biffy Clyro Boyzone Hendrix and Wes Montgomery, guitarist Remi Digbeth Arena, Birmingham, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Harris plays an eclectic mix of jazz standards, Thurs 17 October Tues 15 October improvisations, original compositions and Known for their electrifying live shows, After six UK number one singles, five UK new of his favourite tunes. explosive energy and hit songs, including number one albums, 25 years together and Career highlights include performances at Mountains, Many Of Horror, Bubbles and the success of last year’s Thank You & Good- Buckingham Palace, Montreal Jazz Festival Black Chandelier, rock band Biffy Clyro have night tour, Keith Duffy, Ronan Keating, and the BBC Proms. sold in excess of 1,240,000 albums and Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch are this 400,000 singles in the UK alone. month visiting Birmingham on their Final Fronted by Simon Neil, the talented three- Five tour. piece perform a special Jack Daniels Pres- "We really can’t put into words just how ents gig in Birmingham this month. much you, the fans, have supported us along the way,” say the boys. “Without that Cher support, we would never have achieved what we have, and for that we’re eternally , Sat 26 October grateful." Award-winning icon Cher brings her Here We Go Again World Tour to the UK for what will be her first live dates in the country in more than 14 years. Holding the UK record for the biggest-selling single of all time by a female artist (for 1998’s Believe), she here performs hits from her back catalogue and songs from the Dancing Queen album - her tribute to the music of ABBA.

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18 whatsonlive.co.uk Dance October.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2019 14:11 Page 2

Dance previews from around the region Dance

Dada Masilo: Giselle Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 15 - Wed 16 October “My reason for revisiting classical ballets is to deal with issues that are relevant today,” says internationally renowned South African dancer & choreographer Dada Masilo. “These ballets deal with power struggles, war, greed, domestic violence, rape - these are things which I see every day.” Dada visits Birmingham with an updated version of Giselle, a surreal ballet premiered in 1841 which tells the story of a girl who kills herself when she finds out that her suitor, Loys, has kept his true identity from her. Loys and another suitor, Hilarion, visit Giselle's unconse- crated grave, where they find themselves in all manner of trouble with the Wilis - ghosts, traditionally, of women who have been jilted by their lovers. In Dada’s version, however, the Wilis are both female and male. “I wanted to alter the concept that only women are victims,” she explains. “Men also get heart-broken. I feel that in ballet the man’s role is basically to lift and support the woman. I think it’s time we found gender equality in dance.”

Doris Uhlich: Every Body Electric Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 18 October “Every human being is thrown into the world with- out asking to be, and has/is a perfect or disabled body,” explains Doris Uhlich. “Should one despair or react? The naked bodies in Every Body Electric react, each appearing with their own unique individuality, each with their own stories, their own energy, their own experiences and their own memory, digging within a sort of ‘futuristic archaeology’. “Not just bodies are dancing but wheelchairs and crutches as well. Every limit is overcome.” The show contains full nudity.

Rambert2: Mixed Bill Patrick Studio, Birming- ham Hippodrome, Wed 30 Ockham’s Razor: & Thurs 31 October This Time Rambert2’s current en- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, semble of talented young Wed 30 & Thurs 31 October dancers (performers are Contemplating the various types of strength drawn from across the accessed and displayed by people at different globe on an annual basis) periods of their life, This Time features a cast here present their latest ranging in age from 13 to 60. The show sees creations - works of dance highly acclaimed aerial theatre company designed not only to Ockham’s Razor once again combining circus showcase the artists’ and physical theatre with narrative story- technical virtuosity but telling and a lively soundtrack. also their ‘raw energy’ The show visits Coventry having won the and ‘fearless spirit’. company plenty of new fans at the Edinburgh Festival a couple of months back.

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A LOVE AFFAIR WITH DANCE

Internationally renowned South African choreographer and dancer Dada Masilo is this month bringing a fearless reimagining of a classical ballet to Birmingham... Dada Masilo's Giselle online.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 14:52 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Dada Masilo’s previous reimaginings of To account for this change to the title each country: “When we do Giselle at home, classical ballets have been extremely character, there’s been an important narrative they understand the cultures and traditions successful worldwide and often turn racial alteration: “I haven’t really changed the featured in the work more. While I always and gender stereotypes on their head, narrative other than the ending - my Giselle perform my works in South Africa first tackling topics including homosexuality, doesn’t forgive Albrecht. I want the audience because my roots are there, it’s also very HIV/AIDS and arranged marriages. This time, to see a reinterpretation of Giselle, but important to try my work out on home soil to she’s turned her hand to Giselle, the iconic certainly not to alienate the audience by get feedback on the narrative. Then I can take ballet of love, rejection and vengeful spirits. completely changing the story they already it outside knowing that people from other Setting her version in rural South Africa, know. I think contemporary dance sometimes countries, with different cultures and Dada promises a mesmerising fusion of becomes a little too abstract, so I wanted to traditions, are going to understand. That’s contemporary genres, classical ballet and make sure the audience still understood the part of making sure that the narrative is traditional Tswana dance. story as that of Giselle but just slightly clear.” different. I always want my works to make “Giselle is fun, dangerous, sad and Dada’s long love affair with dance has people ‘feel’, whether that’s joy, pain, energetic,” says Dada. “It’s simply 14 dancers certainly brought her plenty of success, humour, love. I want people to walk out of the on stage showing their raw passion for their including the Next Generation Prince Claus theatre having been taken through so many craft and telling a fantastic story. If you want Laureate award in 2018 for outstanding emotions. With Giselle, I’ve set myself the to be taken on an emotional journey, then you creative initiative that has a positive impact challenge of improving my storytelling definitely shouldn’t miss it when it comes to on young people. Nevertheless, her further.” Birmingham. relationship with dance continues to evolve: And what else does Giselle have to say about “I’ve been dancing since I was 12. It’s my “I wanted to do Giselle because even though women in the world? passion. Being able to combine the thing that its never been my favourite ballet, I’m always gives me strength with the aim of empowering intrigued by the second act, particularly the “I’m tackling issues of culture and tradition others is a great opportunity. Through my Wilis. The Wilis are these very vicious, from South Africa. For example, there’s a career I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a dangerous female spirits who kill. In Giselle scene with Giselle and her mother, where her woman and a dancer. In the beginning, I just you don’t always see this side to the ballet; mother takes off her top and begins to sweep wanted to be a powerful dancer, but as I’ve with all the focus on purity and the white her breasts. This is a cultural ritual that got older I’ve found my softness and more costumes, the violence isn’t as visible. I really happens to girls when they reach puberty and visceral parts. I’m now very much about wanted to see how vicious I could make this tries to reverse the process by flattening the wanting to emote in my dance and finding the story - not just for the sake of it, but to really breasts, which is quite an abusive act. The subtleties of feeling within the strength. challenge myself and the dancers. I think this fact that it’s still happening now is something When I was younger, I was constantly dangerous side of Giselle was something I I find very disturbing. Also, there are many pushing myself beyond my own boundaries, really wanted to tackle, but also a lot of the traditional healers in South Africa who can trying different techniques. But as you get time with ballets, the action just focuses on use their power for good or evil. Myrtha, who older, the body changes and you have to do the character or characters in the title role. I leads the Wilis, very much uses hers for evil things in a different way. My dance couldn’t really wanted to zoom in on the other in Giselle. Seeing as the second act of Giselle just be physical anymore, so I had to find characters in the ballet too, such as Hilarion does focus on spirits, I’ve tried to incorporate other qualities within myself and my dance.” and Albrecht, to make it more of a three how South African healers will spill bones dimensional story.” and use a fly whisk to tell you your fate.” And that relationship could change again in the future… The title role is taken by Dada herself. Giselle As well as the choreography and themes will be a different character to the one taking inspiration from its South African “I’m currently working on a piece called The traditionally seen in the ballet: “I think setting, Giselle is also accompanied by a score Sacrifice, which is inspired by Igor mainly because my version of Giselle is set in by South African composer Philip Miller. Stravinsky's ballet, The Rite Of Spring, and is rural South Africa, I definitely wanted to tap still very dance-focused. I didn’t think I would “Of course, my very conscious decision to set into those cultures and traditions be dancing so much at my age, but I think the work in rural South Africa meant that it surrounding women - what’s done to women that eventually I will want to go more into made complete sense for the music to reflect and what ‘s expected of them. I also wanted performance art. I’ll see. It all depends on my that. I’d also experienced Philip’s music on to create a character who, in the first act, was body and how much I can do physically. At another project. Giselle is the first time I’ve innocent, loving, carefree, and then is the the moment I’m still loving to dance, but worked with a composer, so in the beginning complete opposite to the usual Giselle in the further down the line I’d like to try out it was very tricky. First, I asked Philip to second: strong, empowered and definitely not something a little different.” reference the original score, but at the same a victim. I think we often view women in time bringing in the African sounds of ballets as fragile and always in need of a man percussion, voice and rhythm. So he took the to take care of them, so I wanted to break that different themes from the classical ballet stereotype. I want to let myself and other Dada Masilo’s Giselle shows at music and fitted it with African sound. Once women know that it’s okay to be a strong Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 15 we had that basis and listened to Adolphe woman and not conform to what society tells & Wednesday 16 October. Adam’s original score together, we were able you. For me, at the age of 34, I’ve reached the to create a dialogue between the two of us.” point where I want to be assertive. I want to empower myself and also other women. That Giselle has already been seen in Vienna, was really important for me when I was and New York - to name but three of its stop- thinking about Giselle.” offs - and the reception to it has differed in Rachel Burns.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 17:17 Page 1

I started a joke... Rachel Burns gives a lesson in comedy...

20 whatsonlive.co.uk Rachel Burns.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 17:17 Page 2

When Birmingham primary school teacher Rachel Burns posted a witty comment during the BBC's Glastonbury coverage back in 2017, she never imagined her tweet about The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb would throw her into a global spotlight. The story of how she went viral is now the subject of Rachel’s first one-woman show, I Started A Joke, which debuts at Birmingham Comedy Festival this month.

So what happened back in 2017, Rachel? world, and people sent me links to articles You’re premiering the show at Birming- How did the Twitter-storm unfold? published in the USA, Germany, Australia, ham Comedy Festival. Are you nervous? I was watching Barry Gibb’s Glastonbury set New Zealand and South Africa. Of course I'm nervous, but also excited and on TV. He'd played all the Bee Gees classics, Some of the Tweets were quite negative - really chuffed that I've got this opportunity to including How Deep Is Your Love and Words. how did you cope with those? Did they tell my ridiculous story. When he started Tragedy, I did something concern you? What led you to stand-up comedy? that I do quite a lot: I told a stupid joke on Yes, some were a bit rude, calling me things Twitter. I said it was a shame that Barry Gibb Peer pressure, I guess! I've always been a bit like 'fool' and 'idiot'. I just kept my cool and didn't have more of his own material - first he of a joker but never really thought of taking it batted them away with some witty ripostes. covered Take That, then Boyzone, now Steps! to the stage. After the Barry Gibb tweet, lots There's no point getting aggressive with peo- I had a few people like it, and a friend said, of people suggested I should do stand-up. My ple who are rude to you. They didn't bother ‘Wonder how many biters you'll get?’ Well, friend Rachel Sambrooks is a pro-comedian me - I didn't feel attacked or threatened. before long, the 'biters' arrived, telling me and she recommended James Cook's comedy What I experienced was extremely mild com- that actually Barry Gibb wrote the songs and course. pared to some of the bullying and threats I've other people covered them. One of them was seen other people suffer on Twitter. It can be Who are your comedy influences? Who do particularly persistent and wouldn't let go. a horrible place but fortunately I had a posi- you admire? Even after I told her it was a joke, she kept on tive experience. telling me it wasn't a joke and asked why I Too many to list! My dad has a very dry sense of humour and I definitely think that's would say anything so silly. It then started to Any idea if Barry picked up on it? rubbed off on me. As a kid, I loved Monty gather more momentum as people liked and Yes! About a week after Glastonbury he was retweeted the joke. But as the joke spread, Python, The Young Ones and The Comic interviewed on Good Morning Britain and Strip. I enjoyed sketch shows like French & more people replied to me, educating me in Richard Arnold asked him about the tweet. the life and works of Barry Gibb. Some were Saunders, Fry & Laurie and later Big Train I'm not going to give away any show spoilers, and The Fast Show. As for stand-ups, I'd say very gracious and apologised for misconstru- though! ing the tweet once I pointed out it was a joke. my current top three are Sarah Millican, Joe One guy in particular was lovely - he went What do The Bee Gees mean to you? Lycett and Mr Millican - Gary Delaney. Milli- can and Lycett are brilliant at working the from 'mansplaining' to being utterly charm- Big hair, high voices and disco classics! I crowd, and their observations are very relat- ing and telling us a hilarious story that in- grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, so tracks from able. Delaney's delivery and pace are second volved a drunken bet with a soap actor. Saturday Night Fever were staples at school to none. To be able to punch out one-liners discos and parties. Obviously they've got a But it didn’t stop there, did it? like that is a real talent. much broader range than disco bangers, but Someone mentioned it to David Baddiel and that's what I remember most about them Do you plan to take your show elsewhere he retweeted it, followed by other comedians when I was growing up. after Birmingham? like Dom Joly and Dara Ó Briain. That was when it started to get really silly. I'd made a Which are your favourite Bee Gees songs? I'd love to take it elsewhere and bring the story to a wider audience - maybe even take it daft joke, people didn't get it, and I was I love Stayin' Alive, Islands In The Stream to Glastonbury, where it all started! being mentioned by comedy legends! Then (the Kenny and Dolly version) and Tragedy. the story was covered by media websites. The My husband is a big fan of You Win Again, Guardian, the BBC, The Poke and the NME all which he got played on Shaun Keaveny's ran stories about the Twitter farce that I had Breakfast Show on BBC 6 Music the day after created. It also got mentioned on The Last the whole debacle. Rachel Burns: I Started A Joke is pre- Leg, and David Baddiel and Richard Herring sented at The Victoria, Birmingham, on talked about it in Richard's Leicester Square How do you turn a brief Tweet into an Sunday 6 October (at 1.15pm) as part of Theatre podcast. hour-long show? Birmingham Comedy Festival’s first Free It's all about the replies! The thread has over Half-Dayer. For more information, see How far did the story spread? 1,500 replies from all sorts of people and it at- bhamcomfest.co.uk It went global! I had replies from all over the tracted a lot of media attention.

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Comedy

Matt Parker Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tues 8 October; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 12 October; The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues 15 October; The REP, Birmingham, 26 October; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 15 November Matt Parker’s unique stand-up shows find him exploring and explaining all things mathematical, from debunking number nonsense and flagrant sudoku abuse to the mysterious patterns in the locations of ancient monuments... and defunct Wool- worths stores! Sell-out shows at the Edin- burgh Festival Fringe, the Melbourne Comedy Festival and in London's West End bear testimony to the quality of his num- bers-driven comedy. If you love maths, Impractical Jokers Arena Birmingham, Fri 11 October you’ll love Matt. If you don’t, just ignore the High school buddies Joseph Gatto, James the show having aired since 2015, the fellas maths and concentrate on the comedy! Murray, Brian Quinn and Salvatore Vulcano have plenty of material around which to stepped into the world of comedy at the end develop a successful live offering. of the 20th century when they formed live But don’t expect anything too sophisticated improv troupe The Tenderloins. from the quartet when they perform in Over a decade later, the boys became the Birmingham. Pulling pranks live on stage in stars of TV’s Impractical Jokers, a reality the confines of a venue really isn’t an series in which they coerce one another option, so instead they play clips, tell jokes into doing public pranks while being filmed and revel in a friendship that’s seen them by hidden cameras. With multiple series of grow a loyal and devoted cult following.

Josh Widdicombe Birmingham Hippodrome, Sun 13 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 14 Octo- ber; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 7 Amy Vreeke November Artefact, Birmingham, Fri 11 October Peddling a nice line in exasperated, self- deprecating humour when performing live, The story of a grim 12-year struggle to be Devon-raised funnyman Josh Widdicombe correctly diagnosed with what turned out to pumps out his cleverly crafted gags at a be endometriosis lies at the heart of Amy brisk pace, hitting the mark with the vast Vreeke’s touring show, The Year My Vagina majority of his observational material. Tried To Kill Me. Widdicombe jokes include: “Hotdogs cause But the subject matter isn’t to everyone’s bum cancer - that was the original slogan taste: “There are for McDonald's before ‘I'm loving it’.” James Phelan people who are like, ‘Nobody Josh visits the Midlands with his new tour- The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sun 20 October ing show, Bit Much... cares about your James Phelan’s new show, Troublemaker, is vagina,’” says being publicised as ‘a mind-blowing roller- Amy. “And I’m coaster filled with mystery and hilarity’. like, ‘Well, you And with several million video views under don’t care and his belt and an ever-growing reputation as that’s fine. Just one of the most talented magicians of his go watch another generation, there’s every chance James will comedian.’” absolutely live up to the pre-show hype. So who does Amy The nephew of the late Paul Daniels, think is most likely to Phelan blends magic with humour to excel- enjoy her show? lent effect, as his famous uncle once admit- “People who like laughing and ted: “You’re funny, you look good, all your fannies - they should definitely tricks work. If you were anyone else, I’d come and see it.” hate you!” 22 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy October.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2019 09:05 Page 2

Russell Kane Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 24 October This man's official publicity blurb once read: "Strap in for some super-speed sunderings and inconvenient sociology in an hour of self-soiling merriment that will leave you with rickets." The message, in short, was that Russell Kane is a very funny man - and it isn’t just his publicist who thinks so. Kane’s been drawing a crowd since bursting onto the scene back in 2004, serving up liberal doses of humour in an act which features some considerably weighty and thought-provoking material. Jokes include: “On a date, you want to present yourself warts and all. Well, maybe not Ed Byrne warts - 'Ooh, you want to Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wed 9 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 28 October; Lichfield Garrick, Tues 29 & Wed 30 October put some liquid nitrogen A highly regarded master of observational So 20-plus years after first dipping his toes on that big one. comedy, Ed Byrne admits to being a little into the decidedly dangerous waters of Either that or a uncomfortable about some of the ‘more lad- standup, does Ed still enjoy touring? hat.'” dish’ material he used in the early days of his “Apart from the travel involved, which no standup career. comic likes, I love it. You have people “My comedy reflected my life at that time - responding to something that you’ve written single and enjoying myself. Most of it was alone in your office, and the work comes fairly harmless, but some of the stuff about alive in a roomful of people. I like the TV an ex-girlfriend I can see was a bit angry, and things I do, but nothing can beat a live I wouldn't do it now.” comedy audience.” Jimeoin Palace Theatre, Redditch, Thurs 17 October; Dudley Town Hall, Fri 18 October; Malvern Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 9 October; Warwick Theatres, Fri 25 October; The Place, Telford, Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 12 October; The Tues 29 October Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Fri 1 November Fancy a straightforward comedy night with Malawian Daliso Chaponda has blended the a straight-talking - well, actually, a bit of a slick North American style of comedy he rambling - comedian? If so, then the learned while working in Canada with a real sublime Jimeoin is the man talent for brevity, ensuring that his gags, for you. A gimmick-free although not one-liners, nonetheless come one-man comedy machine, thick and fast. Jimeoin's proved he's got Like all good comedians, he can adapt his act what it takes on all to suit his audience - on a previous trip to the manner of top TV Midlands, he performed a filthy set in Birming- shows, including ham’s Silhouettes Strip Club before heading Michael McIn- off to regale family audiences at the Greenbelt tyre’s Comedy Christian Festival! Roadshow and Jokes include: “I moved to the UK because of Jason Man- the BNP - they said the immigrants were ford’s Comedy taking all the best jobs and all the best Rocks. Check women, and I thought, ‘Wow, that sounds like him out. a good deal to me!’”

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Ed Byrne.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:06 Page 1

Oh,what a circus!

Comedian Ed Byrne brings his biggest tour to date to the Midlands... Ed Byrne.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:06 Page 2

A household name teetering on the brink of about the fact that there’s an all-female yourself in them. It’s a wake-up call about national treasure status, award-winning co- Ghostbusters remake. That’s nothing to do your own behaviour.’ median Ed Byrne enjoys worldwide acclaim with men’s rights or female entitlement. When I challenge him over the degree of self- for his stand-up. With 25 years under his belt, That’s everything to do with being, well, a loathing he displays, he disagrees. ‘Self-ag- Ed has parlayed his on-stage success into a whiny baby.’ grandising humour is a lot harder to pull off variety of notable television appearances. A As ever, Ed manages to provoke without being than self-deprecating humour,’ he insists. ‘A regular on Mock The Week and The Graham overly polemical, a balancing act that only lot of people get really annoyed when Ricky Norton Show, Ed has recently co-presented someone of his huge experience can really Gervais is self-congratulatory. I always find it Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure and its follow-up pull off. very funny when he accepts awards and does Dara & Ed’s Road To Mandalay, and managed so in the most big-headed way possible. I not to disgrace himself on Top Gear or whilst ‘I did stuff about Trump and the Pizzagate think it’s a trickier type of humour to pull off, tackling one of The World’s Most Dangerous right wing conspiracy,’ he says, ‘and a couple talking yourself up in that way. Roads. As a semi-professional hill-walker of the reviewers said, “Oh, I would have liked himself and fully paid-up humanist, he also to have watched a whole show of this”. And I ‘So no, I don’t think I’m being massively hard brought a refreshing warmth and honesty to think, ‘well you might have, but the average on myself. The fact is when you’re the bloke BBC2’s recent hit The Pilgrimage. person who comes to see me would not like to who is standing on the stage with the micro- see that’. I like to make a point or get some- phone, commanding an audience’s attention, But the Irishman is still best-known and best thing off my chest, or perhaps I’m talking you’re in a very elevated position anyway.’ appreciated for his stand-up performances. A about something that’s been on my mind, but quarter of a century at the comedic coal-face That said, If I’m Honest brilliantly elucidates the majority of stuff is just to get laughs. has equipped Ed with a highly evolved story- the frustration that arrives in middle age – telling ability and a silky mastery of his craft. ‘People who come to see me are not political and lives up to its title. ‘I’m bored looking for Yet his wit, charm and self-deprecatory obser- activists necessarily, they’re regular folk. If things, I’m bored of trying to find stuff, be- vational humour is often underpinned by a you can make a point to them, in between cause I can never find it, and it is entirely my consistently hilarious vitriol and sense of in- talking about your struggles with aging, or fault,’ Ed says. ‘Nobody’s hiding my stuff from justice at a world that seems to be spinning discussing your hernia operation or whatever me. Although my wife did actually move my ever more rapidly out of control. it is, you can toss in something that does give passport on one occasion’. people pause as regards to how men should Having recently hit a new peak with shows He insists that, while the show might have share the household chores.’ such as the sublime Spoiler Alert and reflec- mordant and occasionally morbid aspects, it’s tive Outside, Looking In, which explored the He continues, ‘It’s not that I feel a responsibil- also not without its quietly triumphant mo- minefield that is modern parenting and a gen- ity, I think it just feels more satisfying when ments. ‘I thought I was being quite upbeat erational sense of entitlement, Ed’s new show you’re doing it, and it feels more satisfying talking about the small victories,’ he says. If I’m Honest digs ever deeper into a father’s when people hear it. When a joke makes a ‘You know, finding positivity in being able to sense of responsibility, what it means to be a good point, I think people enjoy it. It’s the dif- spot when a cramp was about to happen in man in 2019, and whether he possesses any ference between having a steak and eating a your leg and dealing with it before it does. I qualities whatsoever worth passing on to his chocolate bar.’ was very happy with myself about that.’ two sons. Occasionally accused of whimsy, If I’m Honest is a show with a seriously steely Ed, who broke through in the mid-1990s when Age, it seems, has not withered him. Espe- core. the New Lad became a genuine cultural phe- cially now that he’s figured out how to head nomenon, doesn’t want to submit to any un- off ailments before they become a problem. Gender politics, for example, is something Ed necessary revisionism, but admits that if the ‘You see comics who are my age and older but readily engages with – deploying his custom- times have changed, he has changed with are still retaining a level of “cool” and draw- ary comedic zeal. ‘I’ll admit that there are them. He reflects a little ruefully on one of his ing a young crowd. I can’t deny that I’m quite things where men get a raw deal,’ he says. most famous jokes. ‘There’s an attitude to- envious of that. But there’s also something ‘We have higher suicide rates, and we tend wards Alanis Morrisette in the opening of that very satisfying about your audience growing not to do well in divorces, but representation routine that I’m no longer comfortable with, old with you.’ in action movies is not something we have an where I call her a moaning cow and a whiny issue with. It was Mad Max: Fury Road that bint… slagging off the lyrics of the song is kicked it all off, even though nobody com- fine, but there’s a tone in the preamble that I Ed Byrne will be bringing his If I’m Honest plained about Ripley in Alien or Sarah Con- wouldn’t write today.’ tour to Redditch Palace 9th October, nor in Terminator 2. Of course, social media Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn 28th October The new show also takes his natural tendency means this stuff gets broadcast far and wide (and 17th March), Evesham's Regal 2nd towards self-deprecation to unexpected ex- in an instant, which emboldens people. November (and 6th December), Bed- tremes. ‘I do genuinely annoy myself,’ Ed con- worth's Civic 9th November, Birmingham ‘The problem with men’s rights activists is cedes. ‘But the thing of your children being a Town Hall 30th January, Telford's Oaken- that it’s not about speaking up for men’s reflection of you, gives you an opportunity to gates 12th March, WAC 14th March, and rights, it’s about hating women. If you’re a build something out of the best of yourself Walsall's Forest Arts Centre 24th March men’s rights activist, you’re not going to care only for you to then see flashes of the worst of Henry Paker.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:09 Page 1 Henry Paker.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:09 Page 2

MAN ALIVE! Comedian Henry Paker brings debut solo tour to Shropshire...

As Henry Paker heads out on his debut solo live cartoons appearing on a big screen. It they all are. He’s given us a noirish mystery in national tour, the man behind many of your would be cruel to give away the jokes, suffice Guilty, unlocked a private memory box and favourite TV shows, is finally getting himself to say that there are excellent one-off visual decluttered his soul for Unpacked, and went out there in front of audiences nation wide. gags as well as a running story about love and halfway up Kilimanjaro with Cabin Fever. You will have seen Henry’s name whizz by as loneliness. Meanwhile, he’s dabbled in sketch comedy on a writer on the credits of a huge variety of stage with Superclump and The Golden “There’s always this threshold moment when comedy shows, from Michael McIntyre’s Big Lizard, as well as on radio with Small Scenes, you come onto the stage passing from one Show, Eight Out Of Ten Cats, and Mock The while his Radio 4 sitcom ReincarNathan has world into another and it’s always a bit tense Week all the way to Comic Relief and Top been a hit with audiences and critics alike. running up to that moment,” says Henry. “So Gear. Henry is one of comedy’s most sought All this variety is not a coincidence. with this show, as people come in, I’m sitting after writers but, in terms of his own stand- there drawing on the computer and it comes “I think it’s partly to keep myself interested; I up, he has been the industry’s best keep se- up on the screen. Partly I wanted to do that to do like to try new things each time and I also cret…. until now. relax and blur that stark line between on and think I’m on some sort of quest to find the au- Henry has been doing stand-up for years, but off so I’m there before they thentic show. It’s like a constant exploration this is his first show to go national. And, in arrive to slightly take out the drama of that for of the show that I really want to do. Having Man Alive, he is finally able to bring two of myself. Being in the room does already take said that, this show, for me, is the one that his true passions together in one show. Any- the pressure off a bit, and you can look at the feels like it’s the most me, in a way. For the one who has caught his previous stand-up odd person as they come in and give them a next one I do, I’ll probably use this as the will note that Henry (who you may have seen smile. Not in a creepy way.” template.” previously on such TV shows as Josh, Russell Alongside the live cartooning in Man Alive, For now though, Henry is enjoying the Howard’s Good News, and Seann Walsh Henry delivers stand-up which tackles issues prospect of heading out on tour and meeting World) is not only a talented comedian, he is such as encountering other British people on new audiences across the land. Some critics also rather gifted in the arena of visual art. In holiday, discussing friends who have sud- and fellow comics have suggested that he Man Alive, you will see him doing a spot of denly become marathon runners, and why a should probably be a bit more famous than he live cartooning alongside the stand-up. night out at the theatre is generally a bad is right now. He reckons Man Alive might be Henry said: “I love animation: The Simpsons, thing. Perhaps most risky of all are his obser- the turning point. Rick and Morty, Pixar, The Lego Movie and all vations on his own marriage, and whether he “That is something people do say about me that stuff. I’ve done a couple of cartoon books should really be taking such delight in having sometimes, so it’s partly what this tour is and I love the visual side to comedy, but I’ve plenty of time at home alone. about. It’s about getting myself out always thought of them as separate from my “It’s quite awkward talking about your mar- there as me. I also do a lot of writing on other stand up . So what I’ve enjoyed about this riage when your wife is in the audience” comedy TV shows, so I’m often the man at the show is putting them together. There’s some- Henry says “But the fact is she directed the back, in the shadows. So now I want to thing about getting the cartoons onto the show, and she also helped devise it. Partly the emerge into the light, like a beautiful middle- stage which is really enjoyable for me, and show is about how in stand-up you have to aged butterfly”. the audience.” have very black and white opinions on things. As evidenced from the sell-out shows he per- But that’s not really the truth about how we formed of Man Alive at the Edinburgh Fringe, really feel about stuff .” Henry Paker will be at The Edge Arts audiences are certainly lapping it up. Henry is For anyone who has been at a Henry Paker Centre, Much Wenlock on Friday 18th still working out the full logistics for his tour (pronounced ‘Packer’, by the way) show, October shows, but chances are that as the crowd en- chances are you’ll have noticed how different ters the room, he’ll be sat at a laptop with his Theatre October.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:01 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

The Exorcist This first ever stage version of The Exorcist debuted in Birmingham before taking the West End by storm, and is now making an eagerly Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 1 - Sat 5 October; awaited return to the Midlands region. Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 15 - Sat 19 October “I hope audiences will be excited by the production and a little scared Adapted for the cinema in 1973 from William Peter Blatty’s novel of by it at times,” says the award-winning John Pielmeier, who wrote the the same name, The Exorcist tells the story of a mother’s attempts to stage adaptation. “They might get a few of those chilling moments, but rescue her 12-year-old daughter from the clutches of demonic posses- I hope they will come away with a feeling that it’s not just a horror sion. But the priest to whom she turns for help must first fight a battle story; there’s so much more to it than that.” against a demon of his own - his loss of faith in God...

Eye Of The Storm Prism Cabaret Birmingham Hippodrome, The REP, Birmingham, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 8 & Wed 9 October Thurs 3 - Sat 12 October Tues 22 - Sat 26 October Although Eye Of The Storm is a family When a show visits the musical that confronts weighty issues includ- region which, between its ing young carers and the climate emergency, stage and screen versions, Ed Sheeran’s writing partner, Amy Wadge, is boasts multiple Oscars, hopeful that the music she’s written for the BAFTAs and Tony Awards, show will ensure an uplifting experience for it makes sense to get its audience. along and check it out.

“If you’re clever about it, then you make Cabaret is one such show. TheOtherRichard credit: photo something which, firstly, people will like and John Partridge here takes on the role of which isn’t too preachy,” says Amy. “The Emcee, with Kara Lily Hayworth stepping show’s not too highbrow but it says some- into the lead part of the legendary Sally thing. People accept messages in musicals Robert Lindsay stars in this well-reviewed Bowles, a nightly performer at the infamous much more these days.” West Ender, written and directed by the Kit Kat Klub in early-1930s Berlin. award-winning Terry Johnson. Featuring ‘show-stopping choreography, The play tells the true story of Jack Cardiff, ‘a dazzling costumes and some of the most man who made Hollywood’s greatest divas iconic songs in musical theatre’ - including, beautiful, and who lived a life as colourful as of course, the famous title number - Cabaret his cinematography’. is helmed by National Theatre Artistic Direc- Lindsay is joined in the cast by Tara Fitzger- tor Rufus Norris and choreographed by the ald, who previously appeared at The REP in a Olivier Award-winning Javier de Frutos. highly acclaimed production of Ibsen’s A Veteran song & dance star Anita Harris also Doll’s House. features. 24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre October.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:01 Page 2 A Taste of Honey.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:19 Page 1

Music and drama, darkness and humour... A Taste of Honey.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:19 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Playwright Shelagh Delaney’s debut work, A Taste Of Honey, caused a significant stir when it was published in 1958. Now, a new National Theatre version of the play, starring Jodie Prenger, is visiting the Midlands as part of a UK tour. What’s On caught up with Jodie to find out more...

Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste Of Honey Rattigan's Variation On A Theme, a play about 2019. People, particularly women and those (published in 1958) is a career-defining a socialite and a young ballet dancer which from the LGBTQ+ community, continue to be British classic depicting working-class life in aimed to be socially bold. However, its genteel shamed for their style of dress and sexual post-industrial Salford. Tackling taboos of the style and content meant it only skimmed the activities. Hate crimes against minorities are time, including homosexuality, inter-racial surface of its taboo themes. Convinced she on the rise... relationships and single mothers, the play could do better and spurred on by her With all of this in mind, isn’t A Taste Of Honey earned its teenage writer comparisons with loathing of traditional, decorous drawing- just the play we need? After all, the strength Look Back In Anger author John Osborne. room dramas about the love lives of well-bred and complexity of the relationships at the people, Delaney penned A Taste Of Honey Delaney’s debut work was part of a new centre of the work make it a timeless aged just 19. movement in British theatre dubbed ‘kitchen theatrical classic. sink realism’. The movement saw up-and- Set in a dingy Lancashire lodging house, the Jodie Prenger agrees: “I remember speaking coming playwrights striving to create disillu- storyline focuses on schoolgirl Jo, who is soon to my nan about the 1950s’ class divide, as sioned working-class characters who reflected to have a child by a black sailor - a man who she was from Manchester. There was always real life, rather than the crass and gormless abandons her. The play follows Jo’s fractured something to fight for. You rolled your sleeves ones which had long inhabited the genteel relationship with her mother, Helen, and with up and got it done, or you made do. A Taste scripts of West End productions. A Taste Of a kind, homosexual art student named Geoff, Of Honey is all about fighting and striving - no Honey’s association with this new cultural who helps her during her pregnancy and tries matter what you face - and is mixed with gen- movement, and in particular with Osborne’s to reunite mother and daughter. uine, warm humour; something you still find Look Back In Anger, saw Delaney being “I absolutely fell in love with the play because in every corner of the UK today.” pigeonholed as a comparatively ‘angry young it’s so honest, real and tender,” says Jodie. woman’ - a lazy characterisation of her that Jodie is particularly attracted to the play’s “It’s the mother-daughter relationship that she detested. depiction of feisty women: “Strong female really got me. I know I’ll be thinking about my characters with many layers are the main Jodie Prenger, who stars in the new National own relationship with my mum when I’m thing I really enjoy getting my teeth into. For Theatre tour of the play, can absolutely under- trying to create the love and tension between me, reading the play was just like hearing my stand why the description would have made Helen and Jo. They’re so different in some nan’s voice. The feistiness and the fight that the playwright bridle: “Delaney unleashed ways, but also so similar in others, so they my nan had, I saw in Helen. It really shocks this strong female voice that was sort of end up clashing.” me that some past reviewers of the play have unknown. There were definitely those voices A Taste Of Honey was first staged in 1958 by seen Helen as a monster. I think she’s just so out there, but not necessarily put out on the the now-legendary Joan Littlewood Theatre real, and the only way you can play a charac- same scale. I don’t think Delaney was an Workshop. Two years later, it hit the Broad- ter like Helen is with truth. I just don’t see angry young woman. I think I can hear the way stage and was then promptly made into a Helen as a monster; I just find her a character same woman’s voice in A Taste Of Honey as I film. More recently the play was a great influ- of circumstance.” do in women today. It’s just that back then it ence on English rock band The Smiths, partic- wasn’t as acceptable for a woman to be heard, So what makes the National Theatre’s new ularly vocalist Morrissey, whose lyrics borrow especially when talking about such taboo version of A Taste Of Honey different? from the script. Indeed, the band’s song, This subjects as this play does.” Night Has Opened My Eyes, is based entirely “I’m known for doing a lot of musicals, but I A Taste Of Honey’s matter-of-fact approach to on A Taste Of Honey. Delaney also features in do a lot of plays now, too. A Taste Of Honey working-class life, its deviance from sexual the artwork for the band’s single, Girlfriend In promises to be the best of both because we do and social convention, and its sympathetic A Coma. have a lot of fantastic music as a backdrop to presentation of both a gay man and a single the action. What the team at the National So 61 years after it was published and eight mother, was bold for its period. But most of Theatre are trying to do is keep the setting years after the playwright’s death, how all, Delaney was more nuanced than the likes and feeling of the 1950s but mix it with the relevant is A Taste Of Honey to modern times? of Osborne; A Taste Of Honey evokes a sense contemporary to hint at the modern day, of playfulness, warmth and wit that sharply While single mothers are nowadays markedly meaning that it could be set in almost any and brilliantly contrasts with the doom and more of a social norm, 21st century single time. We even have a live band and the music gloom of its subject matter. parents - the majority of whom are women - of artists like Peggy Lee and Amy Winehouse, are still most likely to be from a working class along with live jazz and folk. “That’s the joy of her,” says Jodie. “She or even impoverished background. Adding perfectly balances ‘dark, moving and witty’. I “Music and drama, darkness and humour. further insult to injury, wealth continues to be think that’s why people still want to see it; This is the Hovis of the theatre world.” unequally divided across the UK, with the they want all these truthful representations of South East, when compared to the North West actual human life.” region in which the play is set, boasting more A Taste Of Honey shows at The playwright’s debut offering was certainly than twice the amount of household wealth. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from reactionary. Delaney had been sparked into Sexuality is also an increasingly hot topic in Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 November. writing it by her intense dislike of Terence Theatre October.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:01 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from across the region...

The Entertainer Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 7 - Sat 12 October; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 15 - Sat 19 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 18 - Sat 23 November Written by John Osborne in the 1950s, The Entertainer tells the story of washed-up music hall star Archie Rice. A performer long past his expiry date, Archie is struggling to negoti- ate the changing sociopolitical landscape of the mid-20th century... Heading out on tour for the first time ever, The Entertainer has been updated somewhat - to the 1980s - and unfolds against the back- drop of the Falklands War and Margaret Thatcher. The production stars Shane Richie - best known as EastEnders’ Alfie Moon - in the title role.

It’ll Be Alt-Right A Black Country Night Out Nativity! The Musical On The Night The Core Theatre, Solihull, Fri 4 October; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Dudley Town Hall, Tues 15 October; Theatre Tues 29 October - Sat 2 November The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, Wed 16 Fri 11 & Sat 12 October October; Rose Theatre, Kidderminster, Wed 23 The Wolverhampton Grand gets into the Wound Up Theatre scored a 2015 hit with the & Thurs 24 October; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Christmas spirit a little early with this hugely Wed 27 November tragi-comic Bismillah!, a two-hander popular stage musical based on the much- focusing on the friendship between an This show is almost as old as the Black Coun- loved film franchise. imprisoned British soldier and his Islamic try itself and has matured just as beautifully! The show is written and directed by Midlan- State guard. Bringing a fresh look to proceedings, the au- der Debbie Isitt, who also created the movies. They here return with a story about two tumn 2019 version features some of the re- “I always believed that Nativity! would make squatters, whose love of punk binds them gion’s most ‘brilliantly talented’ acts. a fantastic stage musical,” says Debbie. “It’s together before other considerations pull The line-up includes host Ollie Spencer, so full of joy, the children are so sweet and them apart. As one becomes woke and the comedy act Dandy, and an original Fizzog - funny. The songs really do change the other gets angry, they find themselves on Emma Rollason - who’s presenting a tribute dynamic. It gives you much more insight into different sides of an impassable ideological to Black Country comedienne Dolly Allen. the characters and their backstories. And the divide, in a world where conservatism is emotions are more intense, like with the love considered to be the new punk rock... story between Mr Maddens and Jennifer - it Life Is No Laughing Matter feels even bigger now because they’re singing Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, duets.” Private Peaceful Thurs 24 October Casting for Nativity! The Musical includes Scott Garnham, Ashleigh Gray, Jamie Chap- The Old Rep, Birmingham, Demi Nandhra here com- Wed 9 - Sat 12 October; Albany Theatre, bines live art with stand-up man, Scott Paige & Love Island winner Dani Coventry, Thurs 31 October; The Place, and theatre performance to Dyer. Telford, Tues 12 November recount her story of living Private Peaceful is a short play that packs a with severe depression. real punch. Based on the book by War Horse Advised to eat a banana a author Michael Morpurgo and perfectly day and think happy pitched for the young audience at which it’s thoughts, she got herself a aimed, the stage production has been hailed dog in a desperate attempt to put the brakes for being as moving as the poetry of Wilfred on her downward spiral into mental illness... Owen and as painfully memorable as white- The show made a big impression at Edin- hot shrapnel. burgh in the summer, and rather curiously First World War soldier Private Tommo was performed by Demi while her partner, Peaceful is awaiting the firing squad at dawn. Aaron, was sitting at the back of the stage, With his young life about to be cut tragically quietly scrolling his laptop and generally short, he recalls his joyful past growing up in minding his own business. rural Devon, his schooldays, his father, and It will be interesting to see if she’s still need- the love of his life - a girl named Molly... ing the security of his presence when she visits the Arena Theatre late this month... 26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre October.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:01 Page 4 A Museum in Baghdad.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:15 Page 1

A MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD

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“The play asks why should we care about play, A Museum In Baghdad, which opens at “The play is set in 1926 and 2006 in the artefacts and goddesses carved out of stone the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon this museum of Baghdad,” explains Erica, who’s when people are dying outside the door...” month. directing the production. “Gertrude had a very serious involvement in the founding of Erica Whyman, the Deputy Artistic Director at The play focuses on a real museum which was Iraq after the First World War. She dedicated the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), is founded in the Iraqi capital in 1926 by British her life to this museum and protecting the talking about Hannah Khalil’s brand new archeologist Gertrude Bell. A Museum in Baghdad.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:15 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

antiquities of this new country Iraq, as she since 1926. This sparked this inventive play out the British slave-owners. I think what all wanted the country to have a real grasp on its that moves between the two time periods and three plays do is ask very searching and own extraordinary past. We designed Iraq also puts on stage - in Arabic and English - emotional questions about power and respon- under a British lens in 1926, as the decision to these rather poetic moments called choruses, sibility. In a way, I think the season is as place a king on the throne is very quintessen- where the whole company speak about some- much about what it is to be British. I didn’t tially British for the time... thing that’s older than both these time want us to be doing lots of Brexit plays, but I periods: the deeper history of Iraq.” think asking what Britain’s place is in the “In 2006, times in Baghdad are equally as world, and where our hands are dirtier than turbulent, with the allied invasion of the city A Museum In Baghdad explores how stories we are prepared to admit, is very important at leaving the museum looted. There are two told through objects can bring hope... the moment. female archeologists battling about what the “It’s only by telling stories that humanity can future for Iraq and the museum might look “I certainly didn’t grow up understanding recover from all the terrible things that have like. The challenges in both these times are that in a relatively recent history - 1926 isn’t happened, moving forwards with a new way somewhat similar: there’s violence outside long ago in the grand scheme of things - we of thinking about themselves and their the doors, uncertainty for Iraq’s future, and were still claiming countries for our own and heritage. Through the objects, we can see also an immense amount of hope that this growing our empire. Neither was I taught in ourselves, challenging our own assumptions. museum can be an emblem of a confident, school that the first recorded civilisation was For example, I think the idea that things will unified nation upon which a new future for in Mesopotamia and China, rather than never get better in the Middle East is some- Iraq can be built.” history starting in Greece and leaping forward thing that we need to challenge because it has to the Roman invasion of England. This play While Khalil’s play presents the character of a long history of being a place of great imagi- challenges the West’s version of history as Gertrude Bell in a sympathetic light, making nation, progress and freedom. I think with A Britain tries to work out what its role is in the clear her good intentions, it also acknowl- Museum In Baghdad we’re really trying to world. Thinking we have the power to fix edges that the archeologist’s perspectives open people’s horizons to the deep, wondrous things and create nations because we are were influenced by Britain’s colonial hubris. cultural history of the Middle East, such as some great civilising force was a very danger- the discovery of evidence of matriarchies, “A Museum In Baghdad does honour ous attitude. It’s worth thinking about that which goes against all the West’s assump- Gertrude’s contribution to Iraq,” says Erica. aspect of our legacy as we embark on a new tions. We hope audiences leave with an “She spoke fluent Arabic, in many different chapter of British history.” understanding that the people of Iraq have dialects, and Persian, as we might call it suffered time and again, for which Britain today. She was very influential in the shaping bears much responsibility. This play is of British thinking about Iraq. I think the play exciting, witty and a really tough truth.” paints a balanced picture of Gertrude. While A Museum In Baghdad shows at the Swan she had a passionate love affair with the Arab And how does A Museum In Baghdad Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Friday world and its people, she was ultimately a resonate with events in the Middle East since 11 October to Saturday 25 January. product of her time and participated in a 2006? colonial operation to seize control of Baghdad “At least one of the characters can feel that in and what we decided was called Iraq. The the future things are going to get worse. It play questions what were essentially colonial draws a dark inspiration from events that instincts about the need for the British in happened across the region, including the Iraq. It considers whether the British as a appalling execution of the Head of Antiquities whole actually believed in Arab indepen- of the ancient city of Palmyra, Khaled dence, or whether they were motivated by oil, El-Asaad, by ISIS in 2015. I think there’s a having a power base between India and suggestion in the play that to be the director Turkey and a profound belief that British of the museum in Baghdad is a very risky civilising forces were good in the world. thing to do, especially as the region is set to In our creation of Iraq, we certainly had become even more divided by sectarian something in common with the American violence. To care about archeological objects idealisation of invasion. These are attitudes is seen as somewhat heretical and not in that we should find very uncomfortable now.” accordance with an extreme interpretation of A Museum In Baghdad is a co-commission Islam. So the play signposts the fact that this from the RSC and the Royal Lyceum Theatre, is a country and region that is going to face Edinburgh: “The spark came from Hannah another cycle of terrible violence in the Khalil, the writer. She had been talking to years following 2006.” David Clegg at the Lyceum about wanting to Erica is responsible for the Swan write a play about Gertrude. Hannah is Pales- Theatre’s upcoming season: “We’re tinian and Irish in her heritage, and this is doing Shakespeare’s King John in evident in her previous work exploring places rep with A Museum In Baghdad, of conflict or the Arab world through a Euro- and then later adding in The pean lense. David encouraged Hannah to Whip by Gilkes Romero, think about how to get the story of Gertrude which is about the moment we Bell into that area that really fascinated her, abolished slavery and bailed and also to consider what’s happened in Iraq Theatre October.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:02 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

My Beautiful Laundrette Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 29 October - Sat 2 November Hanif Kureishi’s original movie version of My Beautiful Laundrette, released in 1985, focused on an interracial love story between a young Pakistani man and his old school friend, a white working-class guy who’d lost his way. A clever, funny and powerful reflection of life in Thatcher’s Britain, the film has now been adapted for the stage, with Leicester Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster the man at the helm. “I think this is a play about love, hope and young people moving the world forward,” says Nikolai. “It has a really powerful message, and I hope its vibrancy will be celebrated beyond coming to see the production. I very much hope that audiences take the experience forward with them.”

RUSH: A Joyous The Night Watch way. At its heartland is an uplifting story of the friendship shared between three pals, Jamaican Journey Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, who hop aboard a battered old bus and head Mon 21 - Sat 26 October The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 3 October off in search of love and romance. The lesbian experience across history sits at “One of the key aims behind RUSH,” says the The show comes complete with a dazzling the heart of much of Tipping The Velvet show’s producer, Owen Miller, “is to high- array of costumes and a glorious selection of author Sarah Waters’ work, including her light the positive impact immigration can dancefloor favourites, including It’s Raining bestselling novel, The Night Watch. have on a wider culture. The show brings Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff Brilliantly adapted for the stage by the together musicians and artists from different and Always On My Mind. Olivier Award-nominated Hattie Naylor and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate Reggae set in the initially dangerous then stultify- music. The story revolves around the ingly drab world of 1940s London, the story Windrush Generation, the music they Orlando focuses on four ordinary people caught up brought with them and how that went on to Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, in the aftermath of an extraordinary time. develop into Reggae. Thurs 10 October “Overall our aim is to provide an evening of Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel is the starting superb music coupled with facts and infor- point for this latest presentation from the mation. We want the audience to feel widely admired Dyad Productions - other- informed and uplifted in a ‘shared experi- wise known as performer Rebecca Vaughan ence’ with the artists.” and writer/director Elton Townend Jones. Their previous offerings - Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, Dalloway, The Time Machine Season’s Greetings and Austen’s Women - all proved to be New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, unqualified triumphs for the talented two- Tues 8 - Sat 26 October some, and there’s every reason to imagine Alan Ayckbourn’s Christmas cracker of a Orlando will follow suit. The titular charac- play gets an autumn outing courtesy of the Priscilla Queen Of ter is an immortal author himself, who’s directing this poet whose gender production. The Desert is unspecified, The story revolves around Belinda and Malvern Theatres, Mon 14 - Sat 19 October; whose spirit can- Neville Bunker, whose Christmas festivities Birmingham Hippodrome, Mon 13 - not be caged - and Sat 18 April are marred by petty squabbles, rifled who knows a thing presents, eccentric uncles, a drunken aunt Based on the movie of the same name, or two about time- and a shooting... Lust, gluttony, greed and Priscilla the stage show has wowed both travelling across jealousy are all present and correct as West End and Broadway audiences, picking British history in yuletide tensions boil over and Christmas up a coveted Olivier and an equally presti- search of adven- turns out to be a far from merry occasion. gious Tony award along its accolade-strewn ture...

28 whatsonlive.co.uk Phantom Of The Opera Full October 2019.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:07 Page 1 Paul Zerdin online.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:02 Page 1 JOIN THE PUPPET PARTY Paul Zerdin online.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:02 Page 2

After hitting the big time in Las Vegas, London-born ventriloquist Paul Zerdin returns to the UK with a brand new show. What’s On spoke to him to find out more...

What can you tell us about your new show, The Muppets - and Dave Houseman do my an- family’s party in north London and I was Paul Zerdin’s Puppet Party? imatronics. Those guys are geniuses. I don’t heckled by the dog! I was used to people say ‘geniuses’ to their faces because they’ll swearing or shouting “get off!” - you get used It’s a fresh, funny, fast-paced show - and a bit put their prices up, but it’s such a specialism. to those heckles when you’re starting out - but edgy. I describe it as stand-up comedy where I If I come up with a crazy idea, they’ll find a when you’ve got a golden retriever freaking happen to use puppets. There’s something way of doing it. But I don’t rely on the tech- out when you bring out a puppet… I’d never about a ventriloquist doing ventriloquism nology, I simply use it to create certain extra experienced that before! without a puppet - I like the idea of that. moments in the show. After touring North America, are you look- Tell us about the puppets... America’s helped boost your ing forward to spending some time back in There are the three core members of my profile in the US. Having won The Big Big the UK? sponge family - Sam, Albert and Baby - plus Talent Show in the UK in 1996, how did it I’ve been lucky enough to go to some amazing some new characters: Roger, my bodyguard, feel to be winning another TV talent con- places, but I’ve also spent a lot of time at and an urban fox. The idea with Roger is that test two decades later? 38,000 feet over the last few years. I live in when I did America’s Got Talent they gave me It felt funny. I was 24 when I won The Big Big London, and it’s nice to be at home and get to a bodyguard and I can’t get rid of him. He’s Talent Show, and I was 42 when I did Amer- see a lot of the UK. It’s a beautiful country and paranoid and thinks everyone’s out to get him ica’s Got Talent. So I gained a lot of experi- I’ve toured it a lot, so I’m looking forward to and me... The urban fox stowed away in my ence from performing for so many years. I getting around as much as I can and not hav- luggage when I was packing and couldn’t get genuinely didn’t expect to win, so when I did, ing to get on a plane! out, so he’s now involved in the show. I’ve I was in shock. I thought they would go for an never had any animal characters, and I’ve al- You’re also back in London this Christmas, American, but they didn’t!’ ways liked the idea of having one. performing in panto at the Palladium. If you’d won the show earlier in your ca- How do you feel about performing at such How do you go about creating a puppet? reer, do you think you would’ve coped a legendary venue? It takes a long, long time to develop new char- with the success and exposure? The Palladium is the most incredible theatre. acters - it takes me years. When I was working No, I don’t think so. I watch these talent I did Brucie’s last series of Tonight At The in Las Vegas, the fox was actually going to be shows and I see very young people winning - London Palladium back in 1999 and then did a coyote for American audiences. But by the and they’re remarkably talented - but it’s so another TV show there a few years ago. It’s time I’d thought about the character properly, useful to have experience. It can particularly just wonderful. This is my fourth year running the Vegas show was over, and I thought, ‘I help with the pressure of the promotion and at the Palladium and my 25th in pantomime. know, why not make it an urban fox?’ the PR side of things. When I won America’s You must enjoy it, then! Who’s your favourite character? Got Talent, the amount of interviews I did over the next few hours, days, weeks - it was I love it! It’s a totally different discipline and Probably Albert. He’s got selective deafness, relentless. I constantly had to find a new something that I’ve had to learn. But it’s also and he can talk utter bollocks and get away angle to stop myself going mad. That’s an art nice to be on stage with other people. With with it. You can do anything with Albert. We in itself. That comes with experience, and I my own show, I’m on stage talking to myself all know someone - parents, grandparents - of had a wealth of experience from touring and for 90 minutes every night. With panto, I’m in that sort of age, so he’s easy to relate to. My doing all kinds of gigs for years. Experience a show with other people. It’s so nice to be father is 92 and gives me an amazing amount makes you a better performer, and it means part of a company that isn’t made of sponge. of material for Albert. you can cope in most situations, because Your puppets have got more technically ridiculous things happen all the time.’ advanced over the years, with robotics and What kind of ridiculous things? Paul Zerdin’s Puppet Party shows at radio control. Who’s helped you bring The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, late them to life? ‘I did a gig in someone's back garden a few next month - on Saturday 26 October. years ago. I was performing at a very wealthy Tim Rose - who’s worked on Star Wars and Theatre October.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:02 Page 7

Theatre Theatre & Dance previews from across the region...

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Fri 4 - Sun 6 October; Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 26 October - Sun 3 Novem- ber; Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 26 Decem- ber - Sun 12 January Suitable for children aged two and older, this Little Angel Theatre adaptation of Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s popular picture book follows the adventures of a family as they head out on an intrepid quest to find a bear. Catchy songs and enchanting puppets are combined with no shortage of swishy swashy grass and oozy, squelchy mud in a show that seems certain to keep youngsters splendidly entertained.

Peppa Pig’s Expect ‘thrilling action, daft nonsense, stir- Tom Gates Live On Stage! ring shanties, the weirdest of mechanical Best Day Ever contraptions’ and music and songs by BBC Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 30 October - Sat 2 November The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Radio Two Folk Award winner Jon Boden. Wed 23 & Thurs 24 October Birmingham Stage Com- pany makes a welcome re- Emily Rising turn to present this new Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, production inspired by au- Sat 12 October thor and illustrator Liz Pi- Little Angel Theatre have garnered plenty of chon’s award-winning Tom praise for this clever, thoughtful and visually Gates stories. engaging production since it premiered three Liz’s series of books about the character have years ago. been translated into 40-plus languages, sell- If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the The story unfolds in a flat in Islington where ing more than four million copies worldwide. previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and 10-year-old Emily, whose parents are getting “So far there are 15 books in the series, with enjoyed the experience of watching them a divorce, wakes up one morning to find that the 16th due out this month,” says Liz. “But having a fantastic time - you’ll already know her feet no longer touch the ground. What’s there could be 17 books, or maybe more, if I that this latest production is well worth more, she keeps rising higher and higher, have loads of other ideas!” catching. eventually soaring over London and further The new show, written especially for the Peppa Pig is heading out on a road trip with away from her crumbling family... stage, finds young Tom doing his best to stay George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig, and out of trouble and make sure he doesn’t miss there are plenty of adventures waiting to be Monstersaurus! the school trip. had - including ones that involve dragons, dinosaurs, ice-creams and muddy puddles... The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 19 October Having created a whole world of whacky in- I Believe In Unicorns ventions and incredible monsters, young in- Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tues 8 October; The Pirate Cruncher ventor Monty doesn’t know what to do with Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 24 October them all... Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Michael Morpurgo’s much-loved book is bril- Sat 26 & Sun 27 October The creators of Aliens Love Underpants make liantly brought to life by the Olivier Award- a welcome return with this ‘monster-ously Goat And Monkey are the company bringing nominated Wizard Presents, who debuted good show’, which comes complete with orig- to life this bestselling picture book by Jonny this show at Edinburgh back in 2013. inal music and plenty of audience participa- Duddle, winner of the Waterstone's Chil- The story revolves around the outdoors-lov- tion. dren's Book Prize. ing Tomas, a boy whose negative attitude to- When child inventor extraordinaire Emily wards books and being dragged to the library finds her tavern being raided by the dastardly by his mother is challenged and changed the Captain Purplebeard, she sends the ne’er-do- day he meets the Unicorn and the Unicorn well pirate and his motley crew on a wild Lady... Wizard Presents describe their show goose chase that leads them into the far- as being suitable ‘for families with children from-friendly tentacles of the terrifying Pirate aged six-plus and everyone who loves stories Cruncher... and books’. 30 whatsonlive.co.uk Moroccan Fire Nights Full October 2019.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 16:06 Page 1 Sean Foley From Gray.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2019 16:48 Page 1

Quite a Rep-utation... There are exciting times ahead at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, as the venue’s new artistic director, the Olivier Award-winning Sean Foley, explains…

32 whatsonlive.co.uk Sean Foley From Gray.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2019 16:49 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Olivier Award-winning actor, director and dramas, there’s such a wealth of Midlands professional experience is much more in the writer Sean Foley has his nose to the grind- and Birmingham stories that can be told. area of new writing and new plays, so we stone at the moment. As the new artistic complement each other in that way with my “One of the best parts about having three director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre, experience of the commercial theatre of the theatres in The REP complex is that it allows the 54-year-old has got his work cut out West End. Amit is also an Asian disabled us to have such different things running at adding the finishing touches to his first man. That’s a very important understanding the same time. We could have a massive season of productions at the venue, which to have at a theatre in a city that’s very diverse comedy tour on in the main house and a gets under way in the new year. and has a high percentage of BAME [black really hard-hitting drama with contemporary, Asian & minority ethnic] residents. It was a “I was quite merrily going along with a free- social themes or local work in The Door. bit of a shotgun marriage, but we both have a lance directing career, mainly in commercial Then, The Studio theatre, which we share good sense of humour and seem to have theatre in the West End and almost exclu- with the , is also a struck it off. I look forward to us working sively directing comedies,” says Sean, who fantastically exciting place that we’re going to together.” co-wrote hit Morecambe & Wise tribute show brand as the starting-point for the country’s . “Somebody rang me best new plays.” Sean’s first season of shows is impressively up and asked me to apply for the job. The eclectic... Sean believes that audience satisfaction is the more I looked at The REP as a theatre, and at most effective way to catapult Birmingham “From January we’ve got some amazing Birmingham as a city - where I have personal Rep to national and international acclaim: things in the programme. We’re starting with roots on my mum’s side of the family and my “Theatre does have a problem, a barrier, Asking For It in our main house, which is a dad was part of the huge Irish community where a lot of people don’t think it’s for them. contemporary play on the subject of consent. here - the more I was reminded of how won- Ultimately, we have to give them a good night It’s a fantastic award-winning show from the derful both are. I was also attracted by the out, which doesn’t mean that what we offer Abbey Theatre - Ireland’s national theatre. I opportunity and financing for producing at can’t be smart, sophisticated and offer up hope we’ll present lots of international work The REP. All of those factors combined en- issues or themes that are relevant and diffi- at The REP - particularly Irish work, as it’s on couraged me to apply for the role of artistic cult. People need to make that connection a complete high at the moment. This will be director - and then I ended up getting it!” with theatre, just like they do when they tune the show’s UK premiere and we’re incredibly Sean is aiming to tap into the theatre’s great into dramas on the telly or go to see a film proud to be doing that. potential: “I honestly believe that although because it’s a renowned director’s latest “Then we’ll be doing a fantastic comedy The REP has been run tremendously over the blockbuster or features an excellent actor in written originally by Molière - a French play- last couple of years, it’s nonetheless a sleep- their most recent role. I want people to always wright. About 18 months ago, the RSC did a ing giant - the same with Birmingham as a think that everything which comes to the version of Tartuffe but set within a Muslim city. There’s an enormous amount of unful- Birmingham Rep is of excellent quality. That’s community in Sparkhill, Birmingham. We’re filled potential here - such talent and an in- the bottom line.” going to do a new production of that show, credible sense of humour. But I think the city So what professional experience does Sean bringing it back to its roots. is also self-deprecating in a way that’s not bring to his new role? always to its advantage. Here at The REP, we “We also have an amazing new version of have an 820-seat main house that’s one of the “Well, there’s no other artistic director in Doctor Faustus coming up, in collaboration most amazing theatres in the country. We also Britain who’s received an Olivier nomination with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and have incredible workshop facilities that not or award for acting, directing and writing. Headlong Theatre Company, in which Faustus many theatres have anymore. Then, of course, I think the fact that I have that range of expe- is reimagined as a woman. our classic studio theatre, The Door - histori- rience in the creative and performance “There’s also the incredible Ramps On The cally one of the national leaders for small aspects of theatre really helps, as I can always Moon project, which strives for the inclusion theatres presenting new plays - brings that look at a piece from another perspective and of deaf and disabled individuals in theatre. word ‘potential’ to mind again. The Birming- through the eyes of my different disciplines. I They’ll be bringing a fantastic version of ham Rep is also in this iconic building. It just think the main way my past will impact my Oliver Twist to us. seemed like a great place to take over and work at The REP is in terms of my unconven- make into a national hub for great theatre. At tional route into the profession. I didn’t go to “There are just so many great things coming the moment, it’s a city theatre that represents drama school and go that traditional route. I up in 2020 that it’s impossible to mention the creativity and talent of the wider region, created my own theatre company and started them all - everything’s a highlight in our but I do also feel strongly that it should be writing and co-writing original comedies for programme. Then, beyond that, I’m really brought up to a national and international that. My whole background is quite untypical looking forward to celebrating 50 years of the level.” of an artistic director, and I feel like that fits building in 2021 and then seeing how we’re well with Birmingham, which is a unique city And how will this be achieved? going to get involved with the 2022 Common- with a pioneering spirit.” wealth Games. There’s so much to look “We hope to have a real mix of locally sourced forward to at The REP.” Sean has been joined by two other newcom- stories created into theatre, and to be a ers at The REP: Deputy Artistic Director Amit launchpad for bigger shows that can go into Sharma and Executive Director Rachael the West End or tour nationally and interna- Thomas. tionally. Personally, my taste is what can be To find out more about what’s coming up called ‘popular theatre’. I like doing come- “Part of the idea when I was appointed was at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, visit dies, I like doing musicals. Then, in terms of that Amit would join at the same time. Amit’s birmingham-rep.co.uk whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Shout Highlights single page.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 17:13 Page 1

34 whatsonlive.co.uk Shout Highlights single page.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 17:13 Page 2 SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT SHOUT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture returns to Birmingham next month (5 - 17 November). Check out our selection of highlights below and then head to shoutfestival.co.uk for the full festival line-up.

Shout Opening Party: Hedwig And The Angry Inch The Nightingale Club - Tues 5 November Hosted by Birmingham’s very own Yshee Black, the launch party features the unveiling of two murals commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nightingale Club. The event also includes performances from a stellar line-up of queer cabaret acts, including Juno Birch, and a screening of one of the greatest queer films of all time, Hedwig And The Angry Inch.

John Waters | This Filthy World Hit The Ode | Birmingham Hippodrome - Wed 13 November Shout Takeover Birmingham Queer icon, living legend and ‘master of filth’ John Waters - Hippodrome - once referred to as ‘the pope of trash’ - visits Birmingham for the very first time. His one-man show is a vaudeville act Fri 8 November celebrating both his film career and his obsessional tastes. This unique performance- Focusing on John’s early negative artistic influences and his poetry night boasts a fascination with true crime, exploitation films, fashion knock-out line-up of queer lunacy and the extremes of the contemporary art world, this spoken-word artists, joyously devious monologue - a homage to all that’s trashy including Jay Hulme, Keith in life - is a call-to-arms to ‘filth followers’ everywhere. Jarrett, Dean Atta and Jackie Hagan.

Fab! The Fabulous Kids Party MAC Birmingham - Sun 17 November This year’s SHOUT OUT includes a daytime children’s party featuring music, DIY costume-making, a variety of fun games, a disco and a host of glittery and colourful friends. The event is suitable for children aged three-plus, so bring along your little ones and get set to boogie!

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Visual Arts

The Mughals: Power And Beauty At The Indian Court The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 11 October - Sun 2 February Drawings, prints, coins and manuscripts are here brought together to explore aspects of life in the Indian subcontinent during 300-plus years of Mughal rule, from the 16th century to the 19th. The featured objects - some of which come from the Barber’s own rarely exhibited collection - reveal how patrons and artists developed a distinctive Mughal style that reflected both their power and their ideals of beauty.

Tim Mara: Not Pop? Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Sun 29 March Although frequently associated with the Velásquez and Vermeer. Those prints had Pop Art movement, Irish printmaker and much more to do with painting.” one-time Wolverhampton Polytechnic Mara’s work saw him blending traditional student Tim Mara - who died in 1997 at the processes with digital printing techniques, age of 48 - found his inspiration but his main consideration was always the elsewhere. “I knew that the Pop thing was subject matter: “In the hierarchy of fine going on,” he said. “Screen printing was art, printmaking is usually associated there, photography was there, the with craft skills - with technique. And that everyday objects were there - but I was gets in the way. My work was always about much more interested pictorially in the ideas more than the medium.”

Coventry Biennial: British Ceramics Biennial The Twin Various venues in Stoke-on-Trent, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 13 October Sat 5 October - Sun 26 January An expanded programme of exhibitions, The theme for this year’s citywide Biennial installations and events featuring more than 300 - ‘the twin’ - reflects the fact that Coventry contemporary artists is ensuring that the 10th is twinned with no fewer than 26 other anniversary of this hugely popular free festival is cities around the world. These include being celebrated in fine style. Russia’s Volgograd, with which it’s Taking place across six venues, the event has as celebrating 75 years of friendship in 2019. its centrepiece the vast China Hall, located in the The works on display in the Herbert exhi- former Spode Factory. bition explore themes of collaboration and The Hall features 13 exhibitions and hosts not togetherness while also pondering the dif- only a number of workshops but also the festival’s ficulties presented by globalisation, politi- two flagship shows. The first, entitled Award, cal inequality and conflict. features new work by 10 leading ceramic artists, “Coventry has been an international, all of whom are vying for prize money of £10,000. welcoming and activist city for decades,” The second, Fresh, showcases a selection of says Ryan Hughes, Artistic Director of pieces by some of the UK’s most promising Coventry Biennial. “We are thrilled to be ceramics graduates. working with artists, our twin cities and a Work by celebrated artists from other ceramic wide variety of partners to explore what it biennials around the world is also available to means to be together in 2019.” view. whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film October (2 pages).qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 18:43 Page 1 Film October (2 pages).qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 18:43 Page 2

Film

A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Joker CERT tbc (122 mins) Farmageddon CERT U (86 mins) Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, With the voice of Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Kate Harbour Directed by Will Becher and Douglas Hodge Richard Phelan (UK) DirectedDirected byby ToddTodd PhillipsPhillips (USA)(USA) A spin-off of Aardman It’s no laughing matter: Arthur Fleck was Animations’ Shaun desperate to make people laugh, but after The Sheep Movie a public humiliation he turned on society (2015), this stop-mo- and adopted the moniker of The Joker... tion cartoon sees This is the first time that a villain from DC Shaun and his flock Comics has been given his own stand- encounter a beguiling alone movie, much as the case with the extraterrestrial down wicked godmother from Disney’s Sleeping at the farm. It puts the Beauty, who was turned into Maleficent. ET into bleat. Here, the producers Todd Phillips and Released Bradley Cooper have opted for a character Fri 18 October study of failure and madness, and Joaquin Phoenix would seem to be a savvy choice for the title role. The Joker has been Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil previously played on film by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Jared Leto, CERT tbc (118 mins) but Phoenix’s interpretation promises to Starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, be something else - to prepare for the role, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Ed Skrein, Imelda Staunton, Michelle Pfeiffer the actor lost 52 pounds. Directed by Joachim Rønning (USA) Released Fri 4 October EDITOR’S CHOICE After a four-year ab- sence from the screen, Angelina Jolie returns as the wicked fairy Film highlights released in October... godmother she first depicted in Maleficent (2014). The latter was Judy CERT 12a (118 mins) Official Secrets CERT 15 (112 mins) a live-action spin-off of Disney’s Sleeping Starring Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Starring Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Goode, Rhys Ifans, Adam Bakri, Beauty (1959) and Directed by Rupert Goold (UK) Ralph Fiennes showed why the fairy Directed by Gavin Hood (USA/UK) Adapted from Peter Quilter's 2005 play End turned her powers to Of The Rainbow, this musical drama focuses The invasion of Iraq will not go away. This the greater bad. Here, she’s riled again when on Judy Garland’s sold-out appearance at the real-life thriller centres on Katharine Gun Princess Aurora (Fanning) is embraced by the Talk Of The Town in London in 1968. She (Keira Knightley), the British translator who family of the charming Prince Phillip (Harris died in the summer of the following year. leaked top-secret information on America’s il- Dickinson). In 3D. legal attempts to push for war in Iraq. Released Fri 4 October Released Fri 18 October Released Fri 18 October Zombieland: Double Tap Abominable CERT PG (92 mins) CERT tbc With the voices of Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Eddie Izzard, Sarah Starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Palson, Tsai Chin Directed by Jill Culton and Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, Rosario Dawson, Todd Wilderman (China/USA) Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson Directed by Ruben Fleischer (USA) We’ve had Smallfoot and The Missing Link, Ten years after the zombie spoof Zombieland and now we’ve got the story of a Yeti who (2009) proved a surprising success for the finds himself lost in Shanghai, as they do. genre, the original stars have returned for But he has the help of the teenage Yi and her more bloody sarcasm. This time, the ill- two scampish friends to aid his journey home matched quartet head for the American heart- to the Himalayas. The cartoon is a collabora- land to encounter more evolved versions of tion between DreamWorks Animation and the undead. Chinese production company Pearl Studio. Released Fri 18 October Released Fri 11 October

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Film highlights released in October... Film

The Addams Family CERT PG (105 mins) With the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, , Nick Kroll, Bette Midler, Allison Janney Directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan (USA) Charles Addams' ghoulish clan has been around since 1938 when they first appeared in a comic strip in The New Yorker magazine. Since then, they were immortalised in the 1964-66 TV series and then three films. This version, in which the Addamses move to New Jersey and confront the 21st century, is the first computer-animated edition. In 3D. Released Fri 25 October CRITIC’S CHOICE

The Peanut Butter Falcon wrestling star seem impractical. However, he escapes the home and sets off to find his CERT tbc (117 mins) wrestling hero, the Salt Water Redneck. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern, Wearing nothing but a pair of Y-fronts, he Thomas Haden Church Directed by Tyler Nil- hides out in the boat of a local fisherman, son and Michael Schwartz (USA) Tyler (LaBeouf), an anti-social loner with Films featuring Down’s syndrome charac- issues of his own… The title is unlikely to ters are few and far between, particularly attract a huge following, nor the central Black And Blue in American cinema. Yet Zack Gottsagen is character of a pot-bellied lad with Down’s CERT 15 (101 mins) such a forceful presence that the scriptwrit- syndrome, but it’s a strikingly original tale Starring Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Mike ers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz built which has the good sense not to push its Colter, Reid Scott, Beau Knapp, Frank Grillo an entire film around his talents. He plays agenda down the viewer’s throat. Display- Directed by Deon Taylor (USA) Zack, a deserted 20-year-old who is housed ing a novelistic feel, with overtones of Alicia West (Naomie Harris) is a black woman at a North Carolina retirement home be- Mark Twain, the film is an entertaining ad- in a blue uniform. But, being a rookie, she is cause nobody knows what to do with him. venture that manages to be both wildly off- also green, so that when she films the mur- He’s a bit of a troublemaker, whose practi- beat and deeply affecting. der of a drug dealer by her partner, she tries cal jokes are lapped up by the home’s aged Released Fri 18 October to do the right thing in a world that is any- residents, but his dreams of becoming a thing but black and white…. Released Fri 25 October

The Last Black Man In San Doctor Sleep CERT tbc By The Grace Of God Francisco CERT tbc (121 mins) Starring Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis, Carl Lumbly, CERT 15 (138 mins) Starring Jimmie Falls, Jonathan Majors, Danny Bruce Greenwood, Jacob Tremblay Glover, Tichina Arnold, Rob Morgan, Mike Directed by Mike Flanagan (USA) Starring Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet, Epps, Finn Wittrock Swann Arlaud, Éric Caravaca, Bernard Verley Directed by Joe Talbot (USA) It had to happen. Directed by François Ozon (France/Belgium) Playing a character partly based on himself, Thirty-nine years Three men link up to try to expose the priest Jimmie Falls is a man who is trying to reclaim after the chilling who abused them as children. Based on true the home in which he grew up... The film events that un- events, the French film won the Silver Bear at marks the directo- folded in Stanley this year’s Berlin film festival. rial debut of Jim- Kubrick's The Released Fri 25 October mie’s childhood Shining, this friend Joe Talbot sequel sees poor and its develop- Danny Torrance ment budget was now a grown man, played by Ewan McGre- raised through gor. With his psychic powers still intact, Kickstarter. Danny is struggling with alcoholism when he meets a teenage girl (Curran) with her own Released Fri extrasensory gift, known as the 'shine'. 25 October Released Thurs 31 October

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Events previews from around the region Events

Destination Star Trek NEC, Birmingham, Fri 25 - Sun 27 October Boldly go where lots of people have gone before by attending Europe’s official Star Trek convention. As well as featuring interactive exhibits with genuine props and costumes from Star Trek’s 50-plus years, the event provides fans with the chance to come face to face with cast and crew members from the much-loved franchise.

Horse Of The Year Show and international showjumping classes and also hosts the finals of the Pony Club Mounted Games NEC, Birmingham, Wed 2 - Sun 6 October Prince Philip Cup. The biggest event of the year for equestrian enter- Equestrian acrobat Laurent Serre is set to thrill tainment makes a welcome return and promises audiences with his daredevil stunts, while to offer something for all the family to enjoy. French performer Mélie Philippot brings light The five-day show includes a range of national comedy to the show with her ‘dancing duo’. Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show Staffordshire County Showground, Grand Designs Live Sat 19 & Sun 20 October Celebrating the growing popular- NEC, Birmingham, Wed 9 - Sun 13 October ity of emerging classics from the Based on the popular Channel Four series and 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, this annual packed with inspirational ideas, Grand Designs event now attracts more than Live features new product launches, the latest 30,000 enthusiasts and features eco-innovations and over 400 specialist compa- over 900 traders, dealers and nies across six project zones. autojumble stands. With the 2019 edition of the show marking the TV This year’s guests of honour are series’ 20th anniversary, the live event is bringing 10-time world side car champion back designers from across the years to talk Rocket-fuelled Half Term Steve Webster MBE and Classic about their projects and offer plenty of useful British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Motorcycle Mechanics contributor hints and tips. Sat 26 October - Sun 3 November Allen Millyard. The TV show’s presenter, Kevin McCloud, will be The British Motor Museum is hosting a rocket- on stage across the weekend, taking part in fuelled selection of fun family activities this educational seminars and debates with a host of autumn half-term holiday - so prepare for take- industry experts. off! Recycled rocket making and rocket-powered family tours are among the attractions. There’s also the chance to design and build your own Rocket K’nex Car and see how far it travels from its pneumatic rocket launch. On Halloween, Professor Pickle & Doctor Pump- kin are back with their not-to-be-missed science show, a 25-minute presentation of fascinating interactive demonstrations and rocket-inspired science. The Museum’s Halloween Black Cat Trail is avail- able every day throughout half-term week too.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Supreme Cat Show NEC, Birmingham, Sat 26 October Now here's a purr-fect opportunity to get 'up close and purr-sonal' with marvellous moggies aplenty! With more than 800 cats expected to feature, this 43rd such show promises an enjoyable day out for cat lovers and owners alike. The family-friendly event includes grooming demonstrations, hot tips from cat experts and a ‘meet the cats’ section, with an abun- dance of owners, breeders and ex- hibitors in attendance. So if you love your common-or- garden moggy and are 'feline' in the mood for what should be a great day out, then this is very Museum Of The Moon Luke Jerram’s seven-metre moon sculpture is an definitely the show for you! awe-inspiring work of art created using detailed Enginuity, Ironbridge, Mon 21 October - NASA imagery of the lunar surface. Internally lit Sun 10 November to provide an up-close and surreal experience, To celebrate 50 years since man first walked on the sculpture features lunar imagery, moonlight the moon, Enginuity is offering visitors the and a surround-sound composition by BAFTA chance to enjoy an immersive lunar experience. and Ivor Novello award winner Dan Jones.

BRICKLIVE NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 31 October - Sunday 3 November Children can play, create, discover and get hands-on at this ever-popular event, which features no fewer than 10 million Lego bricks! Miniatura Interactive experiences, free build activities, NEC, Birmingham, live stage challenges and a fully immersive Sat 5 & Sun 6 October educational brick experience are among the Now in its 36th year, the ever-pop- highlights of the show. ular Miniatura brings some of the Old favourites the Mosaic Builder, Race world’s most talented craftspeo- Ramps, Map Builder, Minecraft, Duplo Lego ple to Birmingham. soft bricks and City Builder all make a The show provides the perfect welcome return. CHANGE Festival 2019 opportunity to pick up a new skill, New for 2019 is the Sci-Fi Zone, a space in Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, with professional and expert which visitors can build their very own inter- Fri 18 - Sun 20 October tutors running workshops across galactic spaceship. This new event gathers performers and speak- the weekend. ers from the West Midlands and beyond in The exhibitors will be busy world-class shows, talks, comedy and work- making works of miniature art shops - with the aim to inspire visitors to imag- right up until the start of the ine a more positive future for all. event, meaning that visitors will Highlights include‘The World We Made’, a play be able to check out the very latest set in 2050 and based on environmentalist items in their collections. Jonathon Porritt’s book of the same name, a comedy evening asking ‘What Will We Tell Our Grandkids?’, a panel of transformational women sharing their stories for ‘MetamorphSIS- TER’ and plenty of enlivening talks and discus- sions.

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Spooky previews from around the region Halloween

Halloween Spook-tacular National Forest Adventure Farm, Burton-upon-Trent, Sat 19 - Sun 20 & Fri 25 October - Fri 1 November Expect some spooky fun down on the farm this Halloween. Activities include broomstick training, pumpkin picking and a mummy maze hunt. There’s a haunted house to visit too, and a new-for-2019 wizard academy.

Haunted Castle Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, Sat 26 October - Fri 1 November Tamworth Castle is hosting a week Scarefest selection of extra entertainment. of ghostly goings-on this Hal- Younger visitors can enjoy the colourful Hal- loween. Expect to meet some seri- Alton Towers, Staffordshire, Sat 5 & Sun 6, Sat 12 loween Playland, join in with the Alton Towers ously creepy characters as you & Sun 13, Fri 18 October - Sun 3 November ancestors’ flashmob, or dance and play games tour the castle - including the cack- Alton Towers’ popular Halloween season of at the CBeebies Monster Ball. ling hags - but cross your fingers events returns for another year, complete with For older thrill-seekers, the park’s award-win- you don’t bump into Master ‘spooks, frights and thrills for everyone’. ning scare mazes have been ‘re-scarified’ for Slaughter, who’s always on the The extended opening hours allow visitors to 2019, with a brand new maze added to the lookout for body parts to steal! enjoy their favourite rides in the dark, while the spinetingling line-up of attractions. For visitors fancying a late-night popular visitor attraction is also hosting a thrill, there’s the opportunity to take part in candlelit vigils in some of the castle’s most haunted rooms. More Treat Than Trick Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire, Spooky Sat 19 - Thurs 31 October Science Night Drayton Manor is inviting families to dust off their broomsticks and treat themselves to some Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham, Thurs 31 October ghoulish Halloween fun this month. Attractions include The Haunting, which sees Calling all mad scientists, witches visitors being challenged to make their way and wizards - Thinktank is set to through a long-abandoned vicarage in which host a seriously spooky party this ghostly apparitions and supernatural events are Halloween! very much par for the course. Pop along to the event in your best fancy dress, watch the ‘spectacu- lar’ Trick Or Treat show and dance the night away at the silent zombie disco. A-Scarium Visitors can also get hands-on by experimenting in the slime lab or National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham, Sat 12 October - Sun 3 November making their very own family light photos. Discover the spooky creatures that lurk beneath the waves and explore the ocean depths when you visit the National Sea Life Centre this Hal- loween. Meet the mer-witch in her lair and help her cast a spell by finding the missing ingredi- ents around the aquarium so that you can claim your reward. Visitors can also take part in a creepy creature twister game or watch a spooky pumpkin show.

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Spooky previews from around the region Halloween

Tudor World Halloween Tudor World, Stratford-upon-Avon, Fri 25 October - Sun 3 November Stratford-upon-Avon gets splen- didly spooky this Halloween, when one of its most haunted buildings hosts an array of creepy events for all the family to enjoy. Daytime visitors can take part in a ‘witch’s quiz’, complete with a chance to win a ghoulish prize. A fortune teller and storyteller will be on hand on selected days too. Nighttime entertainment comes in the form of family-friendly ghost tours and, later still, adults-only ghost tours and ghost hunts. New for 2019 are special Jack the The Haunted Castle Highlights include the Dead Of Knight scare- Ripper ‘interactive evenings’. maze, in which the army of the dead rise up, and Taking place on Friday 25 October Warwick Castle, Sat 19 October - Sun 3 November The Haunted Hollows, a Halloween trail where and Friday 1 November, the events Warwick Castle certainly doesn’t do anything by participants can expect to meet ‘creepy charac- offer visitors the chance to study halves when it comes to Halloween. ters at every turn’. crime scenes and immerse them- The ever-popular visitor attraction is offering a The ‘wondrous witches’ are back with a new selves in the dark and murky back- whole host of suitably spooky scenarios for visi- show too, while a trip into the castle dungeon is streets of Victorian-era tors to enjoy in the second half of the month, probably best avoided if you happen to be of a Whitechapel. including a couple of new-for-2019 attractions. sensitive disposition!

Halloween Torch-lit Pumpkin Walk Bodenham Arboretum, Sat 26 - Thurs 31 October Apple bobbing, marshmallow toasting and spooky storytelling keep the kids active and amused at this special Halloween event. The main attraction, though - as ably evidenced by the event’s title - Halloween Nights There are creepy characters to meet, a prize to is the torch-lit pumpkin walk, a be won for ‘best-dressed ghoul’, the chance to fun undertaking that sees families Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Fri 25 - use your detective skills to become a historic making their way around the big Sat 26 & Wed 30 - Thurs 31 October hero and an opportunity to check out the pool in search of pumpkins with Visitors to the Black Country Living Museum Fiendish Felons trail. letters carved into them, from will find themselves trick or treating down the Circus performers, fire jugglers and magicians which can be made a special venue’s gaslit cobbled streets this Halloween, ensure there’s no shortage of good old-fash- hidden word. on what should be a frightfully good evening of ioned street entertainment to enjoy too. Visitors are invited to bring along spinetingling entertainment. their very own carved pumpkin too - there’s a prize for the best one... whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Oktoberfest.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:18 Page 1 Oktoberfest.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:18 Page 2

CHEERS TO THAT! Shropshire Oktoberfest - the perfect place for a get-together with family and friends...

Returning for a third year, Shropshire tioned and award-winning Shrewsbury Food Carter, Vince Atta and compere Chris Brooker. Oktoberfest is the brain child of Beth Heath, Festival, Oktoberfest’s gastronomic offering is EXTRAS... Returning for 2019 is the popular Director of Fun at the award-winning Shrop- of real importance to Beth and her team, so Volvo Carpool Karaoke Tent; perfect for those shire Festivals. The company is responsible expect a vast array of delicious and locally wanting to showcase their singing prowess - for some of the county’s most popular events, produced street food. or not! including Shrewsbury Food Festival, Shrop- LET’S DANCE... Entertainment comes in the shire Kids Fest and Field To Fork Festival. NEW FOR 2019 The latest addition to form of comedy and music, presented by Oktoberfest’s line-up of entertainment is a Taking place over two days inside a huge beer talented local artists... Saturday evening silent disco, which Beth is tent in Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park, Oktober- The line-up for the latter includes Microbaby, confident will ‘create a memorable, unique fest provides the perfect environment (believe Weekenders, The Paprika Blues Band, experience with plenty of laughs’. us, we know!) in which to have fun with Custard Connection and headliners The Folli- family and friends while enjoying a fabulous AND ALL WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE... cles on the Friday evening. Saturday perform- offer of food, drink and entertainment. Also new for 2019 - and in keeping with ers are Reverie, The List, Asparagus And The Shropshire Festivals’ commitment to reducing Here’s what to expect... Kilburn, Izzy And The Hotheads, The End- plastic waste - is the introduction of a ings, Vorsprung Dutch Oompah, Dirty Rockin’ CHEERS! In addition to a plethora of real ales reusable beer cup scheme. Scoundrels, Five O’Clock Hero and headliners - there are around 150 in total - Oktoberfest Bouncing Betty. Drinkers will be able to pick up a pint or half- boasts a prosecco parlour, gin den and wine Be sure to wear your dancing shoes! pint cup with a £1 deposit at the festival. They bar from Hencote. And to ensure that every- can then either keep their cup or return it and one is catered for on the alcoholic beverage ARE YOU HAVIN’ A LAUGH?... Guffaws reclaim their deposit. front, there’s also a choice of lagers, ciders aplenty are guaranteed when internationally and perries to explore. What more could you renowned comedian Gordon Southern - he Shropshire Oktoberfest returns to want?... goes down a storm in Australia - takes to the Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park on Friday stage in the comedy tent. 4 & Saturday 5 October. FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD... As might be Fancy it? Bag yourself a ticket at expected from the team behind the aforemen- Joining Gordon are Stephen Carlin, Keith shropshireoktoberfest.co.uk/tickets 10 reasons to visit Compton Verney (changed).qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:16 Page 1

10 REASONS TO VISIT COMPTON VERNEY ART GALLERY & PARK Located in the South Warwickshire countryside, Compton Verney is a great place to revel in nature, broaden your cultural horizons, unleash your creativity, or simply treat yourself to a relaxing day out. Although only a stone’s throw from Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon, and an easy drive from Birmingham and Coventry, the venue feels a world away from hoards of tourists and the bustle of city life. The art and exhibitions on show are among the best in the country, while there’s also plenty to keep the kids entertained for hours on end - and at reasonable prices too! Find out below why Compton Verney should be the next place you visit…

Magnum Whether you’re into history, Manifesto photography or are just fascinated by people and Possibly one of the most humanity, the images on show important exhibitions you’ll will move, educate, inspire and see this year (Compton Verney empower you. is its only UK tour venue), this Compton Verney is also giving showcase of work by the you the chance to have your world’s greatest photographers photography featured in its captures the most significant galleries as part of a related events of the last 70 years, from display, allowing everybody to the Second World War to the contribute a snapshot of the fall of the Berlin Wall. world. Opens 11 October.

Leonard Freed, Martin Luther King, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 1964 © Leonard Freed /Magnum Photos Make a mud pie popular, particularly in the holidays when it’s open to For younger visitors, the Forest older kids too. School (Thursdays during term There’s also a great adventure Ancient Chinese A free tour by a tremendously time, 12.30pm - 2.30pm) is playground, a pond-dipping knowledgeable ‘gallery bronzes and usually the highlight of their platform, a bird hide and interpreter’ will bring the portraits of visit. It’s a chance to play, to get sandpits to play in, meaning impressive collections to life. royalty muddy, to make and build you can spend the whole day things and to make new friends. there without getting bored. Among Compton Verney’s The Forest School is hugely many attractions are Chinese bronzes that are thousands of years old, the largest collection Inspired by a fascinating of British folk art in the UK, The Women’s history, the library’s book- portraits of Tudor royals and Library shelves change every year when masterpieces by Canaletto and guest curators are invited to other artists from the ‘golden If you’re looking for your next choose a selection of books that age’ of Neapolitan art. good read, get some ideas from this beautiful library. are special to them. 10 reasons to visit Compton Verney (changed).qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2019 12:16 Page 2

ARTfernoon tea afternoon tea. Served in a beautiful room with views While you can pop into the café across the gardens, it really for fantastic cakes and turns a visit into a special delicious hot meals, it’s well occasion. worth booking in advance for

Learn a new skill and fauna, keep an eye on Compton Verney’s fantastic If you’ve ever fancied having a programme of workshops, go at botanical illustration, talks and events, all of which turning your hand to whittling change seasonally. or learning about native flora

Shopping with And you can shop with a clear Autumn delights! incredible views (after all, it’s conscience too, knowing that what the original landscape With autumn upon us, the purpose all the money you spend goes designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ landscape at Compton Verney straight back to charity to Brown, was famous for!). Start - and finish! - your is transforming before our very support emerging artists, the Walking through the grounds Christmas shopping here! eyes. site’s restoration and arts feels like taking a trip around Compton Verney’s got a great With a range of walks education for local children. the world, with Redwood selection of products to available, from short strolls on Check out the Textiles Fair (16 & Sequoias as big as you’d find in purchase, from quirky gifts and paved pathways to longer 17 November) for handmade California and Cedars of beautiful cards to coffee-table jaunts through meadows, the products direct from the artists Lebanon dating back to the books and unique homewares huge site boasts some and handbags. who created them. 18th century.

Brand new art and on the work of Israeli artist Ariel Schlesinger. half-term fun Ariel has designed a special Well known for supporting half-term programme featuring artists and commissioning new games and activities designed creations, Compton Verney is to challenge your creativity and this autumn shining a spotlight imagination.

Great value for money Compton Verney’s Annual Pass is exceptionally good value for money. A £33 Family Annual Pass gives unlimited entry for two adults and four children to everything except exhibitions for a whole year.

Visit comptonverney.org.uk to find out more about upcoming exhibitions, events and activities, and to plan your visit. But hurry, the venue closes for winter on 15 December, and does so with a bang - a fabulous firework finale to say goodbye to 2019! Grandpa's Great Escape Full October 2019.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 18:46 Page 1 The List Cover October Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 10:56 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide OctoberOctober 20192019 thelist

Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years Of Magic - Arena Birmingham, Wed 16 - Sun 20 October

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

What’s On Tues 1 to Sun 6 October Mon 7 to Sun 13 October Mon 14 to Sun 20 October Mon 21 to Thurs 31 October

Kano at Birmingham Revolving Door at Birmingham Angie Stone at O2 Institute Lamb at O2 Academy Town Hall Repertory Theatre Thurs 17 October Thurs 24 October Sat 5 October Tues 8 October

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List Birmingham 1 - 6 October Davina.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 18:18 Page 1

thelist Solihull THROUGHOUT OCTOBER NATASHA WATTS Sat 5 Oct, Pizza Express RBSA Gallery Live, Birmingham Visual Arts NEW FRAGILITY: PRISM TEXTILES Exhi- HANNAH WICKLUND & bition offering a different perspective THE STEPPIN STONES Birmingham Museum & on fabric, thread and mixed media, PLUS GORILLA RIOT Sat Art Gallery Tues 8 - Sat 19 Oct 5 Oct, The Flapper, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM IN THE 1980S: FILMS BY NEW DAVID HARBAN RBSA Series of BLACK ASTEROIDS, YUGESH AND SUNANDAN WALIA Films etchings reflecting David’s interest in SODEN, CEGVERA & THE which explored specific cultural mo- dramatic rock scenery, Mon 14 Oct - GREY ments and experiences for black and Sat 16 Nov Sat 5 Oct, Scruffy Murphy’s, Birmingham Asian communities in Birmingham: NEW SCULPTURA: VISION AND FORM Sweet Chariot 1981, until 13 Oct; Wide variety of artwork, from the figu- STEVE HARRIS MEMO- African Oasis, 1982, 14 Oct - 18 Nov rative to the abstract, Mon 21 Oct - RIAL FUNDRAISER Sat 5 Oct, Route 44, B’ham COLLECTING BIRMINGHAM: WHO IS Sat 2 Nov BIRMINGHAM? Discover new collec- THE PAGANS Sat 5 Oct, tions that reflect the experiences of The Barber Institute Katie Fitzgerald’s, diverse Birmingham people - from Stourbridge A TALE OF TWO EMPIRES: ROME AND working lives to community activists THE MARLEY REVIVAL + PERSIA Exhibition exploring how the and protest movements, until Sun 27 THE UB40 TRIBUTE SET ancient superpowers of Rome and Oct Kano - Birmingham Town Hall Sat 5 Oct, O2 Persia spun humiliating defeats and THOUGHTS ON PORTRAITURE Featuring Academy, Birmingham promoted their bloody victories on Thurs 3 Oct, The works by Picasso, Pacheco, Auer- the small pieces of art circulating in Robin, Bilston PIERCE BROTHERS Sat 5 bach and Bomberg, the exhibition ex- the pockets of the masses, until Sun Gigs Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- CHASE ATLANTIC Thurs plores how artists have used a wide 15 Mar ingham range of styles and imagery to inter- HOUSE OF PHARAOHS 3 Oct, O2 Institute, : THE pret complex human emotions and NEW THE PRINTED WORD: IMAGE, TEXT Tues 1 Oct, O2 Birmingham AND MEANING Exhibition focusing on Academy, Birmingham GLORY SOUND PREP experiences, until Mon 18 Nov ODYSSEY Thurs 3 Oct, European prints from the 16th to the TOUR Sat 5 Oct, O2 THE SIMON & GAR- The Jam House, Birm- 20th century by or after artists as di- Academy, Birmingham Ikon Gallery FUNKEL STORY Thurs 1 ingham verse as Samuel Palmer, Goya, Grosz Oct, The Core, Solihull THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS BARRY FLANAGAN Selection of the and Miró, Fri 18 Oct - Sun 26 Jan PHOBOPHOBES Thurs 3 Sat 5 Oct, O2 Institute, artist’s iconic bronze sculptures ALI BARTER + THE BUT- Oct, Hare & Hounds, NEW TRULY BRIGHT AND MEMORABLE: Birmingham (1980s & ’90s), presented alongside TERS ALIENS Tues 1 Birmingham JAN DE BEER’S RENAISSANCE ALTAR- earlier works using different materials Oct, The Sunflower PLANET ROCK ROAD- PIECES Exhibition focusing on the Bar- MAN & ECHO Thurs 3 from the 1960s & ’70s, until Sun 24 Lounge, Birmingham STARS Sat 5 Oct, The ber’s own double-sided altarpiece Oct, Hare & Hounds, Nov Flapper, Birmingham featuring the Nativity and the apoc- PETE HARRIS Tues 1 Birmingham THE LAFONTAINES Sat 5 CLAUDIA LOSI - BEING THERE Intricately ryphal tale of Joseph and the suitors, Oct, The Jam House, JAY 1 Thurs 3 Oct, O2 Oct, O2 Academy, embroidered woollen cloth featuring Fri 25 Oct - Sun 19 Jan Birmingham Institute, Birmingham Birmingham a depiction of the Antarctic as repre- TDE PROMOTIONS PRE- ABBAMANIA Thurs 3 sented in XII Book by Athanasius SENTS : PUNKT VRT BLOXX Sat 5 Oct, The Oct, The Core, Solihull Kircher in Mundus Subterraneus Other VISUAL ARTS PLASTIK Tues 1 Oct, Sunflower Lounge, (1664), until Sun 24 Nov JEWELLERY QUARTER TYPE Photo- Midlands Arts Centre, VEXED & IN DEPTHS Fri Birmingham graphic exploration of the Jewellery Birmingham 4 Oct, Scruffy Mur- KANO Sat 5 Oct, Birm- phy’s, Birmingham MAC, Birmingham Quarter as it stands today, until Thurs ENERGY BIRMINGHAM ingham Town Hall 31 Oct, Museum of the Jewellery Tues 1 Oct, O2 Insti- LUKE DANIELS Fri 4 Oct, MADE @ MAC: FAMILY FUN AT MAC Ex- DUOTONE Sat 5 Oct, Ar- Quarter, Birmingham tute, Birmingham Artrix, Bromsgrove hibition of work produced by families trix, Bromsgrove WATT IN THE WORLD Exhibition featur- who have taken part in a wide range LULU Tues 1 Oct, Birm- HOTTER THAN HELL - MEME DETROIT Sat 5 ing all manner of memorabilia con- of courses at MAC, until Sun 3 Nov ingham Town Hall KISS TRIBUTE + RED- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- nected to legendary engineer James LINE Fri 4 Oct, Route SIMPLY RERED Wed 2 ingham GRAHAM CHORLTON: SUBURB Exhibition Watt, from notebooks detailing his ex- 44, Birmingham which takes the viewer on a journey periments to Sir Thomas Lawrence’s Oct, The Core Theatre, COCO AND THE BUTTER- STATIC-X Fri 4 Oct, O2 through suburban streets, glimpsing highly regarded 1812 portrait of him, Solihull FIELDS Sun 6 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham or imagining lives lived within them, until Sat 2 Nov, Library Of Birming- MALFUNCTION Wed 2 Academy, Birmingham until Sun 10 Nov ham Oct, The Red Lion Folk NOCNY KOCHANEK Fri 4 AMBER RUN Sun 6 Oct, Oct, The Asylum, Birm- JENNA NAYLOR: BEDLAM FESTIVAL COM- NEW BHM2019 - EXHIBITION OF BRITISH Club, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham ingham MISSION A menagerie of strange crea- ASIAN LIFESTYLE Exhibition aiming to KNOXVILLE HIGHWAY LULU Sun 6 Oct, tures drawn directly onto the walls, capture the ‘here and now’ in British Wed 2 Oct, The Jam ALVORADO Fri 4 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand until Sun 17 Nov society through art, fashion, culture House, Birmingham Pizza Express Live, Theatre and ‘gupshup’, Tues 1 - Thurs 31 Oct, Birmingham JIM HOLYOAK AND MATT SHANE: THE ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN BLACK PEAKS Sun 6 Birmingham City University HILLS ARE SHADOWS Collaboration Wed 2 Oct, The Old WILL YOUNG Fri 4 Oct, Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- showcasing sections of three large NEW THE ART OF STEVE LILLY Check Rep Theatre, B’ham Symphony Hall, Birm- ingham installations as well as correspon- out the work of the award-winning ingham SEBADOH Wed 2 Oct, THE MYSTERY LIGHTS dence art, ephemera and a selection local artist, Fri 4 - Sun 13 Oct, Birm- O2 Academy, B’ham GORDON HENDRICKS IS Sun 6 Oct, Hare & of small-scale works, until Sun 24 ingham Back to Backs ELVIS Fri 4 - Sat 5 Oct, Hounds, Birmingham Nov THE COSMICS, MOTELS, NEW BIRMINGHAM OPEN STUDIOS 2019 Artrix, Bromsgrove EXHAILERS Thurs 3 Oct, BELINDA CARLISLE Sun NEW BIG DRAW DAY The theme of this Sat 5 - Sun 6 Oct & Sat 12 - Sun 13 The Night Owl, B’ham THE BACKBONE SLIPS 6 Oct, Symphony Hall, year’s Big Draw is ‘creativity and well- Oct, various locations throughout Sat 5 Oct, The Night ROMDERFUL Thurs 3 Birmingham being', encouraging conversations Birmingham Owl, Birmingham around the role of mark making and Oct, O2 Academy, KITTY MACFARLANE Sun drawing as a life-enhancing tool, Sat Birmingham PATSY CLINE & FRIENDS 6 Oct, Lichfield Guild- Sat 5 Oct, The Core, 12 Oct BLACKMORE’S BLOOD hall 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 1 - 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Tuesday 1 - Sunday 6 October

LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY CLUB FOR Classical KIDS Sun 6 Oct, Midlands Arts Cen- tre, Birmingham CBSO: ALISON BALSOM PLAYS MUS- GRAVE Featuring Mirga Gražinytè-Tyla (conductor), Alison Balsom () & the City of Birmingham Symphony Theatre Orchestra. Programme includes works by Gipps, Thea Musgrave & KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely per- Walton, Wed 2 Oct, Symphony Hall, formed tale of a nation in turmoil, Birmingham until Sat 21 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon THE HERMES EXPERIMENT Quartet made up of harp, clarinet, voice & REBEL MUSIC Robin French's new play double bass, Fri 4 Oct, The Barber In- celebrating the diverse music legacy stitute, Birmingham of the Midlands, until Sat 5 Oct, The REP, Birmingham MARTYN RAWLES ORGAN CONCERT Fri 4 Oct, Lichfield Cathedral FIRST ENCOUNTERS: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Shakespeare’s story of justice ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE and mercy, brought to life in a 90- STRINGS ORCHESTRA Featuring Dmitri minute production created specially Sitkovetsky. Programme includes for seven to 13-year-olds, Mon 30 works by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky Sept - Sat 5 Oct, The Swan Theatre, & Brahms, Fri 4 Oct, Royal Birming- Stratford-upon-Avon ham Conservatoire GASLIGHT Martin Shaw stars in Patrick AN AUDIENCE WITH LESLEY GARRETT Fri Hamilton’s psychological thriller, Mon 4 Oct, Lichfield Garrick 30 Sept - Sat 5 Oct, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Comedy FRISKY & MANNISH Wed 2 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham BASILE, CHRIS MARKO K Wed 2 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham JOANNE MCNALLY, DAVID TRENT & COM- EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Skin Reimagined - The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome Thurs 3 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham Friends present a comedy thriller in- JAMES ACASTER Fri 4 Oct, Birming- spired by the works of Agatha ham Town Hall Kids Shows BLOOD BROTHERS Willy Russell’s Christie, Noel Coward & PG Wode- BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL BREAK- iconic musical, Mon 30 Sept - Sat 12 house, Thurs 3 - Sat 5 Oct, The Old THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR Fea- ING TALENT AWARD 2019 Fri 4 Oct, The Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome Rep Theatre, Birmingham turing Four of Eric Carle’s much- Glee Club, Birmingham loved children’s stories, Sun 6 Oct, KOKO BROWN: WHITE Solo show about PRISM Robert Lindsay takes the lead Lichfield Garrick FERN BRADY Fri 4 Oct, The Glee Club, identity, being a mixed-race black in Terry Johnson's poignant play Birmingham woman and always feeling like an about Oscar-winning cinematogra- LOVDEV BARPAGA, HANNAH SILVESTER, outsider, Tues 1 Oct, Midlands Arts pher Jack Cardiff - 'the man who ADAM ELMI, TOM HAM & MORE! Fri 4 Centre, Birmingham made women look beautiful', Thurs 3 Oct, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, B’ham THE WIZARD OF OZ Amateur staging - Sat 12 Oct, The REP, Birmingham Dance DAVID TRENT, ALFIE BROWN, EDDY presented by West Bromwich Oper- A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Variety STUART WATERS: ROCKBOTTOM ‘Vis- BRIMSON & COMIC TBC Fri 4 - Sat 5 atic Society (WBOS), Tues 1 - Sat 5 show featuring Dandy, a tribute to ceral, provocative and uplifting’ solo Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Black Country comedienne Dolly dance theatre work about the Allen by Emma Rollason (from The strength of the human spirit, Wed 2 JONATHAN PIE Sat 5 Oct, Symphony MARSHALL STREET Paul Magson’s Fizzogs) and music from ukulele Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham Hall, Birmingham new play, set in the Smethwick area of Birmingham in 1965, Wed 2 Oct, maestro Joe Thomas, Fri 4 Oct, The CANDOCO DOUBLE BILL Featuring the GAVIN WEBSTER, MIKE COX, STEVE Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Core Theatre, Solihull never-before-seen Hot Mess, by Theo BUGEJA & BARRY DODDS Sat 5 Oct, A STATE OF MIND Jay Adkins combines Clinkard, and the ‘wild and sensual’ The Comedy Loft, Birmingham RUSH FEATURING THE JA REGGAE BAND The story of reggae music, from the mentalism & comedy in a new show, Face In, by Yasmeen Godder, Thurs 3 JOSH PUGH Sun 6 Oct, The Glee Club, arrival of the Windrush Generation Fri 4 Oct, Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Birmingham through to the 1960s & ’70s, when ingham SKIN REIMAGINED Double bill explor- reggae took the world by storm, THE THING (BEDLAM FESTIVAL) Les En- ing what it is to be human, Fri 4 Oct, Thurs 3 Oct, The REP, Birmingham fants Terribles delve into the crisis of Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippo- NO BOND SO STRONG Life-affirming identity, depression & anxiety, Fri 4 - drome show about motherhood and holding Sat 5 Oct, The REP, Birmingham your family together, even when you AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANI- find yourself unravelling, Thurs 3 - Fri MALS I’VE F*CKED Critically acclaimed 4 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham production about love, acceptance Talks / VIC LLEWELLYN: A LITTLE DEATH One- and boundaries, Fri 4 - Sat 5 Oct, Old man show about mass , fea- Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Spoken Word turing original songs from Kid Carpet, DOWN IN THE DUMPS Interactive the- ARMISTEAD MAUPIN An evening with very tiny objects, torches, and an in- atrical performance exploring mental the bestselling Tales Of The City au- visible gorilla, Thurs 3 Oct, Midlands BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL FREE health with children and their families. thor and LGBT activist, Wed 2 Oct, Arts Centre, Birmingham HALF-DAYER PART 1 Sun 6 Oct, Cherry Suitable for children aged seven- Birmingham Town Hall Reds Cafe-Bar, Birmingham CRIMES ON THE COAST New Old plus, Sat 5 Oct, The REP, Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List Birmingham 1 - 6 October Davina.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 18:18 Page 3

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thelist Tuesday 1 - Sunday 6 October AN EVENING WITH CAROL ANN DUFFY & (PG) Drama. Starring FRIENDS Part of Birmingham Litera- Matthew Goode, . The ture Festival, Thurs 3 Oct, The Brad- Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, shaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Tues 1 - Thurs 3 Oct Conservatoire US + THEM (15) Documentary/Music. HOW TO FAIL WITH ELIZABETH DAY The Starring Roger Waters. Midlands Arts journalist & writer talks about her new Centre, Birmingham, Wed 2 Oct book as part of Birmingham Litera- CALAMITY JANE (U) Comedy/Musical. ture Festival, Sat 5 Oct, Royal Birm- Starring Doris Day, Howard Keel. De- ingham Conservatoire mentia friendly screening. Lichfield BOYS WILL BE BOYS Confronting Garrick, Wed 2 Oct power, patriarchy & toxic masculinity, BAIT (15) Drama. Starring Ed Rowe, Sat 5 Oct, Royal Birmingham Conser- Giles Smith. Malvern Theatres, Wed 2 vatoire - Thurs 3 Oct; Midlands Arts Centre, PAM AYRES: UP IN THE ATTIC Join Pam Birmingham, Fri 4 Oct as she performs poems from her new APOCALYPSE NOW (15) Drama/War. book alongside classics from her Starring Martin Sheen, Marlon long career, Sun 6 Oct, Birmingham Brando. Electric Cinema, Birming- Town Hall ham, from Thurs 3 Oct Vidya Patel Mindful Movement Dance Workshop - Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery A TALE OF TWO CITIES: A CELEBRATION THE MUSTANG (15) Drama. Starring OF RIGA AND BIRMINGHAM Featuring Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason that mixes big comedy names with Birmingham writer Anna Laurence & Mitchell. Midlands Arts Centre, Birm- emerging talent, Fri 4 - Sun 13 Oct, Riga writer Andris Kuprišs. Part of ingham, Fri 4 Oct; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Events various venues across Birmingham Birmingham Literature Festival, Sun 6 Fri 4 Oct BRITISH CERAMICS BIENNIAL Celebrat- Oct, Royal Birmingham Conserva- JEWELLERY QUARTER HERITAGE WALK ing its 10-year anniversary, the Bien- toire THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG) Biogra- Lively guided walk looking at the phy/Musical. Starring Hugh Jackman, nial is the UK’s premiere ceramics people, places and themes that have MURDER SHE WROTE Join writers Hallie Michelle Williams. Showing includes festival, until Sun 13 Oct, Stoke-on- helped to shape the district, Sat 5 Rubenhold and Jo Baker for an in- brunch. The Mockingbird Cinema, Trent City Centre Oct, Museum of the Jewellery Quar- depth discussion about society’s ob- Birmingham, Sat 5 Oct STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ter, Birmingham session with true crime, sexual - LIVE IN CONCERT Composer John politics and dead women’s bodies as SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET (PG) Adven- CREATESPACE - ARTS FOR WELLBEING Williams’ score performed live to the entertainment. Part of Birmingham ture/Biography. Starring Brad Pitt, Chance to learn new skills in a film, Tues 1 Oct, Arena Birmingham Literature Festival, Sun 6 Oct, Royal David Thewlis. The Highbury Theatre, friendly and supportive atmosphere, Birmingham Conservatoire Birmingham, Sat 5 Oct BEDLAM FESTIVAL Celebration of the Sat 5 Oct, Birmingham Museum And arts, mental health & wellbeing, Tues Art Gallery TRUTH TO POWER WITH JESS PHILLIPS CHARMING (PG) Animation/Adventure. 1 - Sat 12 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, The Labour MP speaks out against With the voices of Demi Lovato, VIDYA PATEL MINDFUL MOVEMENT Birmingham and Birmingham Reper- injustices. Part of Birmingham Litera- Wilmer Valderrama. Artrix, Broms- DANCE WORKSHOP Join Kathak-Indian tory Theatre ture Festival, Sun 6 Oct, Royal Birm- grove, Sat 5 Oct classical dance artist Vidya for a free ingham Conservatoire INNA DE YARD (12a) GUIDED TOUR: HERITAGE AND HISTORY workshop to support your wellbeing, Documentary/Music. Midlands Arts OF THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GAR- Sat 5 Oct, Birmingham Museum And Centre, Birmingham, Sat 5 Oct DENS Learn more about how the Gar- Art Gallery dens were designed and the history OLDBOY (18) Crime/Horror. Starring MINIATURA Take a closer look at the of the Victorian glasshouses, Wed 2 Choi Min-sik. Foreign language, sub- world of miniature modelling and Oct, Birmingham Botanical Gardens titled. Midlands Arts Centre, Sat 5 Oct dolls' houses, Sat 5 - Sun 6 Oct, HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW The biggest NEC, Birmingham PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE (U) Anima- week of the year for equestrian enter- tion/Adventure. With the voices of WHEN YOU WISH UPON A BRUNCH Sin- tainment, Wed 2 - Sun 6 Oct, NEC, Anya Taylor-Joy, Daniel Radcliffe. galong to your favourite fairytale film Birmingham Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, tunes, while eating brunch and drink- Sat 5 - Sun 6 Oct CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO ing bottomless booze, Sat 25 Oct, PODCAST FROM THE PAST Liz Berry & BACKS Enjoy a tour of the Back to The Lord Clifden, Birmingham STAN & OLLIE ON THE BIG SCREEN (U) Stuart Maconie in conversation with Backs in an atmospheric glow, Thurs Comedy. Three classic black and APPLE DAY Find out about the history Tom Jackson. Part of Birmingham Lit- 3 Oct, Birmingham Back to Backs of the apple and take part in the erature Festival, Sun 6 Oct, Royal white comedies. Starring Stan Laurel, BURGER BINGO Three hours of burgers Apple Trail, Sun 6 Oct, , Birmingham Conservatoire Oliver Hardy. Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sun 6 Oct & bottomless booze with non-stop Birmingham MARJORIE BLACKMAN IN CONVERSATION entertainment, Thurs 3 Oct, The Red HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSO- THERE AND BACK AGAIN A guided intro- Join the legendary author as she in- Lion, Hockley, Birmingham duction to Tolkien, the area of Sare- troduces her new novel, Crossfire, PHER'S STONE (PG) Adventure/Fantasy. BIRMINGHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL hole and its influence on The Hobbit Sun 6 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint. The Mockingbird Cinema, Featuring a wide selection of writers, and The Lord Of The Rings, Sun 6 WATT 2019: BOULTON, WATT AND THE Birmingham, Sun 6 Oct artists and commentators, Thurs 3 - Oct, , Birmingham WYATTS Talk exploring the many Sun 13 Oct, various locations BRIDGE (12a) Drama. Starring Sand- SUNDAY TOUR OF Take a Wyatt connections with Boulton and throughout Birmingham tour of Matthew Bolton’s house and Watt activities, Sun 6 Oct, Soho hya Mridul, Mamata Shankar. In- WARWICK CASTLE GHOST HUNT Ghosts visit the rooms where he received his House, Birmingham cludes Q&A with the director. Foreign language, subtitles. Midlands Arts aplenty roam the ramparts at a venue eminent guests, including the leg- Centre, Sun 6 Oct with a long history of battles, gore endary Lunar Society, Sun 6 Oct, and death, Fri 4 Oct, Warwick Castle Soho House, Birmingham DEATH CAFE: BEDLAM FESTIVAL Group- STATE OF THE MIND: A GUIDED TOUR OF Film NEW FILMS ON GENERAL ART AND MENTAL HEALTH A walk and INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: RELEASE: directed discussion on death aimed at helping people ‘make the most of tour through the galleries and the Released from Fri 4 Oct, showing at JOKER (15) Crime/Drama. Starring their finite lives’, Fri 4 Oct, Birming- ages, exploring the impact of mental selected cinemas Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro. ham Museum And Art Gallery health on art, Sun 6 Oct, Birmingham Electric Cinema, Birmingham, from JOKER (tbc) Museum & Art Gallery BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL Annual Tues 1 Oct JUDY (12a) citywide ‘mirth-filled extravaganza’

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thelist Monday 7 - Sunday 13 October EMPIRE / SOLARS / Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham Gigs BROCKEN SPECTRE Birmingham Classical JUMPROV Wed 9 Oct, Serve, 55A Thurs 10 Oct, Scruffy INHALER + APRE Fri 11 Temple Row, Birmingham WHENYOUNG Mon 7 Murphy’s, Birmingham Oct, The Castle & Fal- ADAM KAY Thurs 10 Oct, The Bramall, Oct, Hare & Hounds, Music KANADIA 2019 TOUR con, Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Thurs 10 Oct, Hare & BRAHMS LUNCHTIME MUSIC Featuring RED LEMONS Fri 11 - REGINALD D HUNTER Thurs 10 Oct, MIDGE URE: VIENNA & Hounds, Birmingham Ben Isaac (violin) & Robert Markham Sat 12 Oct, The Jam Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham VISAGE Mon 7 Oct, JORDAN RAKEI Thurs 10 House, Birmingham (piano). Programme comprises Birmingham Town Hall Oct, The Mill, Digbeth, Brahms’ Violin Sonata No.2 in A SAMANTHA PRESSDEE Thurs 10 Oct, THEM HEAVY PEOPLE - major, Op.100, Mon 7 Oct, Recital The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham BLACK FLAG Tues 8 Birmingham KATE BUSH TRIBUTE Fri Hall, Royal Birmingham Conserva- MATT HOLLINS Thurs 10 Oct, The Oct, The Mill, Digbeth, TION WAYNE Thurs 10 11 - Sat 12 Oct, Lich- toire Birmingham Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- field Garrick Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham CHINEKE! ENSEMBLE Programme in- CATHERINE NIGHTIN- ingham ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? ALBERT SMITH Thurs 10 Oct, Eastside cludes works by Coleridge-Taylor & Projects, Birmingham GALE & OZ MCGOWAN RICHARD HAWLEY Thurs Sat 12 Oct, Route 44, Schubert, Tues 8 Oct, The Bradshaw Tues 8 Oct, The Jam 10 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham Hall, Royal Birmingham Conserva- ALEX BLACK'S RECORD COLLECTION House, Birmingham Birmingham THIS FEELING ALIVE: toire Thurs 10 Oct, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, LAURAN HIBBERD Birmingham Tues THE GREATEST LOVE OF SUGARTHIEF + THE ES- ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: TALES OF 8 Oct, Hare & Hounds, ALL: CELEBRATING THE TEVANS + HOURGLVSS THE CITY Featuring Rebecca Miller TOM WARD, MICKY P KERR & COMEDY Birmingham MUSIC OF WHITNEY + THE KICKLIPS Sat 12 (conductor), Viv McLean (piano), CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON MURKAGE DAVE Tues 8 HOUSTON Thurs 10 Oct, The Sunflower Hugh Davies (trumpet) & Louise Thurs 10 Oct, The Glee Club, Birm- Oct, Hare & Hounds, Oct, Symphony Hall, Lounge, Birmingham Braithwaite (cor anglais). Pro- ingham Birmingham Birmingham AMY WINEHOUSE TRIB- gramme includes works by Rossini, IMPRACTICAL JOKERS Fri 11 Oct, THYLA + PARTY HARDLY AL STEWART Thurs 10 UTE BY MARINA Sat 12 Gershwin, Copland, Mozart & new Arena Birmingham Tues 8 Oct, The Sun- Oct, Birmingham Town Oct, The Night Owl, work by Catherine Mole, Wed 9 Oct, BRING YOUR OWN BABY COMEDY Fri 11 flower Lounge, B’ham Hall Birmingham The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birming- Oct, Birmingham Town Hall ham Conservatoire JAMBINAI Tues 8 Oct, FROM THE STYLE COUN- DEFINITELY MIGHTBE JOSH PUGH, MARY FLANIGAN, ERIC The Flapper, B’ham CIL Thurs 10 Oct, The Sat 12 Oct, O2 SAMUELE TELARI (ACCORDION) Pro- RUSHTON, TOM HAM AND MORE! Fri 11 Jam House, B’ham Academy, Birmingham gramme includes works by Bach THE DUNWELLS + LISSY Oct, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, B’ham SAMUELE TELARI (AC- ROACHFORD Sat 12 (arr. Busoni), Bruno Mantovani & TAYLOR + ELLISHA Mussorgsky, Thurs 10 Oct, Royal TOM WARD, MICKY P KERR, JOSH PUGH GREEN Wed 9 Oct, The CORDIAN) Thurs 10 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham Conservatoire & JAY LAFFERTY Fri 11 - Sat 12 Oct, Sunflower Lounge, Oct, Royal Birming- Birmingham The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham ham Conservatoire JAMES ARTHUR Sat 12 THE PRIMROSE PIANO QUARTET Pro- gramme includes works by Saint- HENNING WEHN Fri 11 - Sat 12 Oct, JP COOPER THE JACKSON POLLOCK Oct, O2 Academy, Wed 9 Oct, Saëns & Fauré, Fri 11 Oct, The Birmingham Town Hall O2 Institute, B’ham Thurs 10 Oct, Actress Birmingham & Bishop, Birmingham Barber Institute, Birmingham MATT PARKER Sat 12 Oct, Artrix, GOSPEL CENTRAL Wed THE MURDER CAPITAL NAVARRA STRING QUARTET Featuring Bromsgrove 9 Oct, The Jam Sat 12 Oct, Castle And Magnus Johnston & Marije Johnston JOSH HOWIE, LAURA DAVIS, DANNY House, Birmingham (OF MIS-TEEQ) Fri 11 Falcon, Birmingham Oct, Pizza Express (), Sascha Bota (viola) & Brian MCLOUGHLIN & FREDDY QUINNE Sat 12 HUSSAIN MANAWER TENSILE / BEXIE JAMES / Live, Birmingham O’Kane (), Fri 11 Oct, Artrix, Oct, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Wed 9 Oct, O2 Insti- EVENTUAL FATE / ICE- Bromsgrove JOSH WIDDICOMBE Sun 13 Oct, Birm- tute, Birmingham CALL ME UNIQUE, LADY FIRE Sat 12 Oct, SANITY AND TRADE- Scruffy Murphy’s, ILLUMINATE STRING QUARTET Featur- ingham Hippodrome SNAPPED ANKLES Wed MARK BAND Fri 11 Oct, Birmingham ing Patricia Auchterlonie (soprano), BRUM CRAIC Sun 13 Oct, Symphony 9 Oct, Hare & Hounds, Midlands Arts Centre, Sat 12 Oct, Birmingham Centrala Hall, Birmingham Birmingham QUADROPHENIA NIGHT Birmingham Sat 12 Oct, Artrix, LUDOVICO EINAUDI THE 7 DAYS WALK- BACK TO THE OLD SKOOL Sun 13 Oct, CURSE OF LONO + JOHN THE CURV3 Fri 11 Oct, Bromsgrove ING TOUR Also featuring Redi Hasa The Glee Club, Birmingham MURRY Wed 9 Oct, The Night Owl, B’ham (cello) & Frederico Mecozzi (violin), Hare & Hounds, Birm- TIN TINS HYPE 26 Sat Sat 12 Oct, Symphony Hall, B’ham BERTIE BOULEVARD'S BRILLIANT ingham EGYPTIAN BLUE Fri 11 12 - Sun 13 Oct, Hare BAZAAR Sun 13 Oct, The Patrick Ka- Oct, The Flapper, & Hounds, B’ham DAS RHEINGOLD Featuring Birming- vanagh, Moseley WALTER TROUT Wed 9 Birmingham ham Philharmonic Orchestra and Oct, Birmingham Town VANT Sun 13 Oct, The Michael Lloyd (conductor), Julian Hall S-X Fri 11 Oct, The Castle & Falcon. Birm- Close (Wotan) & John Graham Hall Flapper, Birmingham ingham GREENGRASS / DAVID (Loge), Sun 13 Oct, Symphony Hall, Theatre FISHER Wed 9 Oct, The ALICE COOPER Fri 11 ETHAM Sun 13 Oct, Birmingham Red Lion Folk Club, Oct, Resorts World Hare & Hounds, Birm- SWITCHED ON Geese Theatre Com- Birmingham Arena, Birmingham ingham pany present ‘a beautiful coming to- gether of different people finding a JOE BROWN & THE THE SONGS OF BARRY GAZEL + GÜRL + THE common ground’, Mon 7 Oct, The BRUVVERS Wed 9 - WHITE Fri 11 Oct, Sym- NAVETTES Sun 13 Oct, Comedy phony Hall, B’ham The Sunflower REP, Birmingham Thurs 10 Oct, The LAUGH TIL IT HURTS Mon 7 Oct, Core Theatre, Solihull THE DIVINE COMEDY Fri Lounge, Birmingham THE IMPROLECTUALS Some of the Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, Birmingham Midlands’ finest improvisers create SHVPES, PRESS TO 11 Oct, O2 Institute, JESCA HOOP Sun 13 LOST VOICE GUY Tues 8 Oct, The Core completely new comedy sketches MECO, PENGSHUI CHAP- Birmingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, Theatre, Solihull on the spot, Mon 7 Oct, Crescent TER AND VERSE Thurs Birmingham VICTORIES AT SEA Fri 11 Theatre, Birmingham 10 Oct, Mama Roux’s, Oct, Hare & Hounds, DANNY CLIVES AND GOOD KIDS Tues 8 Birmingham Birmingham Oct, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, B’ham THE ENTERTAINER Shane Richie, Diana Vickers & Sara Crowe star in a HUSKY LOOPS + FUSION EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE LIVE Wed 9 REVEREND AND THE brand new staging of John Os- + A$TROBOY$ + Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham MAKERS Fri 11 Oct, O2 borne’s iconic play, Mon 7 - Sat 12 STELLA Thurs 10 Oct, BOOTHBY GRAFFOE Wed 9 Oct, Sta- Institute, Birmingham Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre The Sunflower tion Pub, Sutton Coldfield CALL ME UNIQUE, LADY REVOLVING DOOR Drama exploring Lounge, Birmingham CHERRY SHREDS NEW MATERIAL NIGHT SANITY AND TRADE- the suicide of a 19-year-old gay LUNG MONEY / DRIP FED Wed 9 Oct, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, MARK BLUD Fri 11 Oct, man. Part of The Rep's Bedlam Festi-

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thelist Monday 7 - Sunday 13 October val 2019, Tues 8 Oct, The REP, B’ham Oct - Sat 25 Jan, The Swan Theatre, ham Conservatoire Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT Surreal and Stratford-upon-Avon BILLY BRAGG, PAUL MASON & SELINA Grint. The Mockingbird Cinema, confronting new work combining THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES In- TODD: UNDERSTANDING THE PAST, Birmingham, Sun 13 Oct dance and new writing, participation ventive two-man staging of Arthur BUILDING OUR FUTURE Part of Birming- ELVIS UNLEASHED (tbc) Music. The and performance, children and Conan Doyle’s acclaimed Sherlock ham Literature Festival, Sun 13 Oct, Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, adults... Tues 8 Oct, Midlands Arts Holmes mystery, Sat 12 Oct, The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Sun 13 Oct Centre, Birmingham Core Theatre, Solihull MISTRESS TO THE MIDNIGHT Spoof of RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME ‘Uplifting’ the classic British horror film, live on comedy starring Crissie Rock, Paul stage, Wed 9 Oct, Old Joint Stock Dunn, Billy Pearce, Tommy Cannon & Film Events Theatre, Birmingham Leah Bell, Sun 13 Oct, Lichfield Gar- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: I QUITE LIKE MONDAYS Musical quiz PLAYING THE GAME Production asking rick THE SOUVENIR (15) Drama/Mystery. hosted by Impossible Things Enter- whether prison is really the right Starring Neil Young, Tosin Cole. Ar- tainment, Mon 7 Oct, The Red Lion, place for mothers. Part of The Rep's trix, Bromsgrove, Mon 7 Oct Hockley, Birmingham Bedlam Festival 2019, Wed 9 - Thurs THE MUSTANG (15) Drama. Starring GRAND DESIGNS LIVE BIRMINGHAM 10 Oct, The REP, Birmingham Kids Shows Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Wed 9 - Sun 13 Oct, NEC, B’ham PRIVATE PEACEFUL National Produc- EYE OF THE STORM Award-winning mu- Mitchell. Midlands Arts Centre, Mon 7 CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO tion Company’s staging of Michael sical about chasing storms and - Thurs 10 Oct BACKS Enjoy a tour of the Back to Morpurgo’s wartime tale, Wed 9 - Sat changing the world. Suitable for chil- ROJO (15) Drama/Thriller. Starring Backs in an atmospheric glow, Thurs 12 Oct, The Old Rep, Birmingham dren and young people, Tues 8 - Wed Dario Grandinetti, Andrew Frigerio. 10 Oct, Birmingham Back to Backs 9 Oct, The Patrick Studio, Birming- Foreign language, subtitles. Midlands ham Hippodrome ROCKET IN MY POCKET Join rocking’ Arts Centre, Birmingham, Mon 7 & retro DJ, Telstar, and special guests, Wed 9 Oct for a musical odyssey that promises US + THEM (15) Documentary/Music. to rocket you back in time, Thurs 10 Starring Roger Waters. Artrix, Broms- Oct, The Red Lion, Hockley, B’ham Dance grove, Tues 8 Oct CREATESPACE - ARTS FOR WELLBEING SNOW WHITE Vienna Festival Ballet INNA DE YARD (12a) Opportunity to learn new skills in a present the famous Brothers Grimm Documentary/Music. Midlands Arts friendly and supportive atmosphere, story, Sun 13 Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove Centre, Birmingham, Wed 9 Oct Sat 12 Oct, Birmingham Museum METALLICA: S&M²: THE 20TH ANNIVER- And Art Gallery THE TEMPEST Royal Birmingham Con- SARY CONCERT (tbc) Music. The Mock- SAVED BY THE 90S BOTTOMLESS servatoire Theatre Company present ingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Wed 9 BRUNCH Live performances & 3 hours Shakespeare’s magical tale of be- Oct of borromless Laine Beer, Mimosas trayal, love and forgiveness, Wed 9 - Talks / BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (tbc) Ac- or Bloody Marys, Sat 12 Oct, The Sat 12 Oct, , B’ham tion/Adventure. Starring Kurt Russell, Lord Clifden, Birmingham TRADE The story of three very different Spoken Word Kim Cattrall. The Mockingbird Cin- SCAREFEST Alton Towers stays open women with one thing in common... ema, Birmingham, Thurs 10 - Fri 11 late for thrill-seekers looking to enjoy Thurs 10 Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove SIMON ARMITAGE: IN CONVERSATION Oct spooky rides in the dark, Sat 12 - Sun WITH STUART MACONIE Special ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE 13 Oct, Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent ORLANDO Rebecca Vaughan’s one- evening of poetry and conversation. THINGS (12a) Biography. Midlands woman show based on Virginia Birmingham Poet Laureate Richard Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 11 Oct Woolf’s satirical novel of the same O’Brien & Birmingham Young Poet name, Thurs 10 Oct, Midlands Arts Laureate Aliyah Begum also feature. SUZI Q (tbc) Documentary. Starring Centre, Birmingham Part of Birmingham Literature Festi- Suzi Quatro. The Mockingbird Cin- LITTLE WOMEN (THE BROADWAY MUSI- val, Tues 8 Oct, Birmingham Town ema, Birmingham, Fri 11 Oct CAL) Royal Birmingham Conserva- Hall MRS LOWRY AND SON (PG) Biogra- toire production, based on Louisa HIT THE ODE Unique performance po- phy/Drama. Starring Vanessa Red- May Alcott’s novel, Thurs 10 - Sat 12 etry night featuring talented spoken- grave, Timothy Spall. Artrix, Oct, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham word artists, Fri 11 Oct, Patrick Bromsgrove, Fri 11 - Mon 14 Oct WRITE-OFF Free Spirit Theatre present Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome THE FAREWELL (PG) Drama/Comedy. a collection of short plays from up- REAL LIFE PARENTING: THE GOOD, THE Starring Awkwafina, Tzi Ma. Midlands and-coming writers, Thurs 10 - Sat 12 BAD AND THE FUNNY Join the panel for Arts Centre, Fri 11 - Thurs 17 Oct Oct, The Dovehouse Theatre, Olton, an in-depth discussion about writing PRINCESS EMMY (U) Animation/Family. Solihull and what being a parent in 2019 is With the voices of Ruby Barnhill, THE THREE MUSKETEERS: A COMEDY really like. Featuring Liz Berry, Kenny Blyth. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat Four actors play over 30 characters in Matthew Coyne and Kathryne Wal- 12 Oct a ‘chaotic adventure for all the fam- lace, Sat 12 Oct, Birmingham Town BRICK OR TREAT Featuring Halloween FOR THOSE WHO DON'T READ ME (15) ily’, Fri 11 - Sat 12 Oct, Lichfield Gar- Hall activities, rides and 4D films, Sat 12 Drama. Starring Martin Dubreuil, Cé- rick SWANN & BLOFELD: DANCING DOWN THE Oct - Sat 2 Nov, Legoland Discovery line Bonnier. Foreign language, subti- Centre, Birmingham IT’LL BE ALT-RIGHT ON THE NIGHT What WICKET Test Match Special’s Henry tled. Midlands Arts Centre, happens when two best friends find Blofeld and ex-England bowler Birmingham, Sat 12 Oct A-SCARIUM Discover the spooky crea- themselves on different sides of a Graeme Swann talk about cricket, tures that lurk beneath the waves and FOR SAMA (18) Documentary. Mid- seemingly impassable ideological di- Graeme’s time on Strictly Come explore the ocean depths, Sat 12 Oct lands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat vide? Fri 11 - Sat 12 Oct, Old Joint Dancing and Henry’s life since leav- - Sun 3 Nov, National Sea Life Centre, 12 Oct Stock Theatre, Birmingham ing the TMS commentary box, Sun Birmingham THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG) Biogra- THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Amateur 13 Oct, The Old Rep Theatre, Birm- BACK TO BACK MURDERS: THE MURDER phy/Musical. Starring Hugh Jackman, staging of Kenneth Grahame’s river- ingham OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND THE LAUREL Michelle Williams. Showing includes side tale, Fri 11 - Sat 19 Oct, Hall NEW KINGS OF THE WORLD Join ac- AND HARDY MURDER CASE Spend an brunch. The Mockingbird Cinema, Green Little Theatre, Birmingham claimed author Fatima Bhutto as she evening in the Back to Backs' court- Birmingham, Sat 12 Oct A MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD Story of trea- shares her experiences of meeting yard with some true comedy heroes, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF sured history, desperate choices and and ‘uncovering’ the new kings of the Sun 13 Oct, Birmingham Back to SECRETS (PG) Adventure/Fantasy. the remarkable Gertrude Bell, Fri 11 world... Sun 13 Oct, Royal Birming- Backs whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Birmingham 14 - 20 October.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 08:55 Page 1

thelist HOLLY Thurs 17 Oct, The Asylum, B’ham Oct, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham Gigs Resorts World Arena, JOHN TAMS & JOHN RHYS NICHOLSON, DAMIAN CLARK & Birmingham Classical Music KIRKPATRICK Fri 18 Oct, COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH DANIEL CAESAR Mon 14 THE MUSIC OF CREAM - Lichfield Garrick SON Thurs 17 Oct, The Glee Club, Oct, O2 Academy, THOMAS TROTTER Programme in- 50TH ANNIVERSARY THE GREATEST SHOW ON Birmingham Birmingham WORLD TOUR Thurs 17 cludes works by Mendelssohn, J.S EARTH - SHY FX AND Bach & Wammes, Mon 14 Oct, Birm- GRIFF RHYS JONES Fri 18 Oct, Artrix, ISSUES Mon 14 Oct, Oct, The Mill, Digbeth, STAMINA MC Fri 18 Oct, ingham Town Hall Bromsgrove O2 Academy, B’ham Birmingham The Mill, Digbeth, MOSCOW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: RHYS JAMES Fri 18 Oct, The Glee DRIVIN N CRYIN Mon 14 THE CULT - A SONIC Birmingham SHOSTAKOVICH'S NO.10 Featuring Yuri Club, Birmingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, TEMPLE Thurs 17 Oct, WAX ON BACK TO BACK Simonov (conductor) and Alexandra RHYS NICHOLSON, DAMIAN CLARK, DAVE Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham SPECIAL Fri 18 - Sat 19 Dariescu (piano). Programme in- LONGLEY & JOHN FOTHERGILL Fri 18 - RAK-SU Thurs 17 Oct, Oct, Hare & Hounds, THE SONGS OF STEVIE cludes works by Maria Antal, Sat 19 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham WONDER Mon 14 Oct, O2 Academy, B’ham Birmingham Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, Tues DANA ALEXANDER, JACK GLEADOW, Symphony Hall, Birm- OLDEN YOLK Thurs 17 JAH9 AND THE DUB 15 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham MIKE NEWALL & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 19 ingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, TREATMENT Sat 19 Oct, CBSO: THE THRILL OF THE NEW Featur- Oct, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham OLD DOMINION Tues 15 Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham ing Michael Seal (conductor) and THE GILDED MERKIN: BURLESQUE & Oct, O2 Academy, ANOMALIE Thurs 17 UNEARTHED FESTIVAL Paul Rissmann (presenter). Pro- CABARET Sun 20 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, Sat 19 Oct, The Flap- gramme includes works by John Birmingham BOYZONE Tues 15 Oct, Birmingham per, Birmingham Adams, Knussen, Jörg Widmann, Resorts World Arena, KEVIN BLOODY WILSON COAST TO COAST Sat 19 Steve Reich and Thomas Adès, Thurs Birmingham Thurs 17 Oct, Birming- Oct, The Asylum, 17 Oct, Symphony Hall, B’ham KARA MARNI Tues 15 ham Town Hall Birmingham KAPOOR-LEUNG DUO Featuring Usha Theatre Oct, Hare & Hounds, CARROLL THOMPSON ANTARCTIC MONKEYS Kapoor & Edward Leung (), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Hook up Birmingham Thurs 17 Oct, The Jam Sat 19 Oct, O2 Thurs 17 Oct, Recital Hall, Royal your fishnets, tighten your corsets House, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Conservatoire SKINNY PELEMBE Tues and prepare to ‘do The Time Warp SIWAN RHYS (PIANO) AND GEORGE BAR- 15 Oct, Hare & LLOYD COLE Fri 18 Oct, CATE & CO Sat 19 Oct, again’. Joanne Clifton & Stephen TON (PERCUSSION): CROSSCURRENTS Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall The Night Owl, Birm- Webb star, Mon 14 - Sat 19 Oct, Programme includes works by Steve HMLTD W/WALT DISCO ingham Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Reich, Mark David Boden, Hannah Wed 16 Oct, The Flap- THE JULIE JULY BAND Lash, Liam Mattison, Barbara Monk per, Birmingham Sat 19 Oct, Artrix, Feldman, Gregory Rose & Howard FAITH I BRANKO Wed 16 Bromsgrove Skempton, Fri 18 Oct, The Barber In- Oct, Artrix, Broms- BANG BANG ROMEO Sat stitute, Birmingham grove 19 Oct, The Castle & PHOENIX CLARINET QUARTET Featuring HOOTIE AND THE BLOW- Falcon. Birmingham Katie Jenner, Kaethe Uken, James FISH Wed 16 Oct, O2 ART ALEXAKIS Sat 19 Mackinder & Nathan Isaac, Fri 18 Academy, Birmingham Oct, Actress & Bishop, Oct, Birmingham Museum & Art BARNS COURTNEY Wed Birmingham Gallery 16 Oct, O2 Institute, CHINA CRISIS Fri 18 GARY NUMAN Sat 19 LAUREN ZHANG PLAYS RAVEL Also fea- Birmingham Oct, Pizza Express Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- turing Marie-Christine Zupancic IN MANY HANDS Brussels-based Kate TESSA VIOLET Wed 16 Live, Birmingham ingham (), Rachael Pankhurst (oboe), McIntosh dives into the tactile and Joanna Patton (clarinet) & Margaret Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- NECROW PRESENTS KILLSWITCH ENGAGE the multi-sensory, inviting the audi- Cookhorn (bassoon). Programme in- ingham BLOODSHOT DAWN, Sat 19 Oct, O2 ence to test, touch, listen, search and cludes works by Saint-Saens, Ravel STAINED BLOOD PLUS Academy, Birmingham sniff. Part of Fierce Festival, Tues 15 - MIGHTY MIGHTY Wed & Schmitt, Fri 18 Oct, CBSO Centre, SUPPORT Fri 18 Oct, Thurs 17 Oct, The REP, Birmingham 16 Oct, Hare & JUDITH OWEN EGO NON Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham Scruffy Murphy’s, KARAOKE 'I DON’T DO THE EXORCIST Stage version of the Birmingham LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA: MUSIC AND IN THE END: A CEL- KARAOKE' Sat 19 Oct, spine-tingling horror story, featuring FROM THE MOVIES Featuring Anthony WISHBONE ASH Fri 18 Pizza Express Live, the voice of Ian McKellen as the EBRATION OF ABBEY Inglis (conductor). Programme in- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Birmingham Demon, Tues 15 - Sat 19 Oct, The ROAD AND LET IT BE cludes scores from Pirates of the Wed 16 Oct, Sym- ingham Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ROXYMPHONY FEATUR- Caribbean, Star Wars and Lord of the phony Hall, B’ham THE SOUND OF MUSIC Peterbrook Play- THE FEELING PRESENTS: ING ANDY MACKAY & Rings, Fri 18 Oct, Symphony Hall, ers present an amateur staging of the KOVIC Thurs 17 Oct, AMONG THE CITIZENS Fri PHIL MANZANERA Sun Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham 18 Oct, Actress & 20 Oct, The Alexandra Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, ANDREA BOCELLI Sat 19 Oct, Resorts Bishop, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham Tues 15 - Sat 20 Oct, The Core The- ANGIE STONE Thurs 17 World Arena, Birmingham atre, Solihull Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE DURAND JONES & THE CBSO: SAINT-SAËNS ORGAN SYMPHONY ingham Fri 18 Oct, Hare & INDICATIONS Sun 20 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) ‘An Featuring Andrew Litton (conductor) Hounds, Birmingham Oct, O2 Academy, adaptation like no other’ as men, Birmingham and Thomas Trotter (organ). money and microphones are fought TOYAH Fri 18 Oct, The Programme includes works by over in an all-female presentation of Mill, Digbeth, B’ham TOUCH WITH MATT HOY Sibelius, Ravel, Widor, Dukas and Sun 20 Oct, Hare & Jane Austen's literary classic, Tues 15 HOT CHIP Fri 18 Oct, Saint-Saëns, Sun 20 Oct, Symphony Hounds, Birmingham Oct - Sat 2 Nov, The REP, B’ham O2 Institute, B’ham Hall, Birmingham SKATING POLLY + SHE FAMILIAR Collaborative performance K.FLAY Fri 18 Oct, O2 MAKES WAR Sun 20 exploring ‘significant otherness’. Part Academy, Birmingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, of Fierce Festival, Thurs 17 - Sat 19 MAD DOG MCREA Fri 18 Birmingham Comedy Oct, The REP, Birmingham Oct, O2 Academy, SOKOL Sun 20 Oct, The FUNNY FACES Two one-handers focus- Birmingham MILTON JONES Mon 14 Oct, The Old ing on Carry On stars Sid James and Mill, Digbeth, B’ham Rep Theatre, Birmingham NIGHT MOVES Thurs 17 JENNY STURGEON Fri 18 Joan Sims, Fri 18 Oct, Lichfield Gar- LIVE ON MARS: A TRIB- Oct, The Sunflower Oct, Artrix, Broms- SPONTANEOUS POTTER Tues 15 Oct, rick UTE TO Lounge, Birmingham grove The Glee Club, Birmingham Sun 20 Oct, Birming- THE TRUE HISTORIE OF MR WILLIAM ROY ORBISON & BUDDY PELICAN Fri 18 Oct, ham Town Hall THE HARRY & CHRIS SHOW Wed 16 SHAKESPEARE Brand new satirical 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 14 - 20 October.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 08:55 Page 2

Monday 14 - Sunday 20 October

farce that takes aim at ‘culture’s banned and women are kept sub- greatest prize and those who yearn servient to men, Fri 18 - Sat 19 Oct, after it’, Fri 18 - Sun 20 Oct, Old Joint Birmingham Hippodrome Stock Theatre, Birmingham MARIANA VALENCIA: ALBUM Solo per- TOM BRACE: BRACE OF SPADES Brand formance ‘fusing text, song and new magic show for the whole family, dance inside of the content of an Sat 19 Oct, Lichfield Garrick album’, Fri 18 - Sat 19 Oct, Midlands WORKING WITH CHILDREN Performance Arts Centre, Birmingham essay exploring the problem of inti- RIP IT UP: THE 70S Join Olympic macy and exposure. Part of Fierce champion Louis Smith, Rachel Festival, Sat 19 Oct, The REP, B’ham Stevens (S Club 7), Melody Thornton PRESSURE The Crescent Theatre (Pussycat Dolls) and Lee Ryan (Blue) Company presents a fast-paced for ‘a groovy evening of singing and drama about meteorologist James dancing’, Sat 19 Oct, Symphony Hall, Stagg, Sat 19 - Sat 26 Oct, The Cres- Birmingham cent Theatre, Birmingham IFEEL2 Marco Berrettini’s chore- AN APIAN PARADOX Elaborate installa- ographed performance asks the Disney On Ice Celebrates tion where two female ‘bee-ings’ question, ‘Why are we here, on this remix symbolist poet Maurice Maeter- earth?’, Sun 20 Oct, Patrick Studio, 100 Years Of Magic Birmingham Hippodrome linck’s classic natural history text, The Arena Birmingham, Wed 16 - Sun 20 October Life Of The Bee, to a soundtrack of Earth’s drone music, Sun 20 Oct, A centenary of Mouse House magic is well worth celebrating - and Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham that’s exactly what Disney is doing with its latest ‘on ice’ spectacular. PRIVATE: WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU TALK Talks / A production which stars an international team of award-winning TO ME Exploration of how gender and figure skaters, Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years Of Magic also sexual desire are fabricated through Spoken Word boasts impressive sets, colourful costumes and high-energy the ritualised repetition of bodily ges- choreography - not to mention characters from no fewer than 14 tures... Sun 20 Oct, Midlands Arts ANDREA MCLEAN: CONFESSIONS An- Centre, Birmingham drea shares all, from how mistaken classic and modern stories. identity got her a job on breakfast TV The Mouse-ter of Ceremonies is of course Mickey himself. He’s joined to ‘incredible stories of menopausal on the ice by Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Disney meltdowns’, Tues 15 Oct, The Old princesses including Jasmine, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow Rep Theatre, Birmingham White and Tiana. Kids Shows NADIYA HUSSAIN: FINDING MY VOICE Buzz, Woody, Bo Peep and new pal Forky get their skates on too, MONSTERSAURUS Energetic show full The TV presenter, cook and best- of ‘thrills, spills, magic and mayhem’, selling author considers her roles as while Frozen’s Anna, Elsa and Olaf are sure to delight the audience Sat 19 Oct, The Old Rep Theatre, mother, Muslim, working woman and as they take a spin or several on the ice. Birmingham celebrity, Tues 15 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall Gardens Marys, Sat 19 Oct, The Lord Clifden, AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PALIN: Birmingham NORTH KOREA Monty Python stalwart CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO and intrepid globetrotter Michael BACKS Enjoy a tour of the Back to FREDDO'S HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Cabaret Palin offers a glimpse of life inside the Backs in an atmospheric glow, Fri 18 Pop along dressed up and join in the Oct, Birmingham Back to Backs fun as Freddo creates his very own TINA T’URNER TEA LADY’S STEAMY notoriously secretive Democratic Halloween monster out of a little bit of BINGO Laugh, dance & play to win as People’s Republic of Korea, Wed 16 SCAREFEST Alton Towers stays open string and plenty of green & gooey Tina spins her cage of balls to a high- Oct, Birmingham Town Hall late for thrill-seekers looking to enjoy slime, Sat 19 Oct - Sun 3 Nov, Cad- energy ’80s soundtrack, Thurs 17 spooky rides in the dark, Fri 18 Oct - KATE TEMPEST Wed 16 Oct, O2 Insti- bury World, Bournville, Birmingham Oct, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham tute, Birmingham Sun 3 Nov, Alton Towers, Stoke-on- Trent AUTUMN CRAFT FAIR Browse and buy OUT OF THE ASHES: AN EVENING WITH handmade and crafted items in the BOYCOTT & AGGERS Brand new show MEAN GIRLS BRUNCH Tickets (priced £28) include three hours of bottom- mill courtyard, Sun 20 Oct, Sarehole featuring two of cricket’s finest - Test Mill, Hall Green, Birmingham Dance Match Special’s Jonathan Agnew and less Laine beer, Mimosas or Bloody DADA MASILO: GISELLE South Africa’s recently knighted former England internationally renowned choreogra- batsman Geoffrey Boycott, Sun 20 pher, Dada Masilo, presents her ‘fear- Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham less’ reimagining of the classic ballet, Tues 15 - Wed 16 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome SOFTPLAMP.AUTONOMIES Chore- Events ographed performance celebrating a MUSICAL MADNESS Brand new musi- future without authorities and con- cal themed evening, Mon 14 Oct, The straints, Thurs 17 Oct, Patrick Studio, Red Lion, Hockley, Birmingham Birmingham Hippodrome THE MOTORHOME AND CARAVAN SHOW DORIS UHLICH: EVERY BODY ELECTRIC Be one of the first people to see the Innovative production exploring po- new and exclusive leisure vehicle tential through dance. Please note launches from major manufacturers, that this production contains full nu- Tues 15 - Sun 20 Oct, NEC, B’ham dity, Fri 18 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, GUIDED TOUR: HERITAGE AND HISTORY Birmingham OF THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GAR- SOME LIKE IT HIP HOP Choreographed DENS Learn about the heritage and story of love, mistaken identity and history of the Gardens, Wed 16 - revolution in a city where books are Thurs 17 Oct, Birmingham Botanical

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thelist Monday 21 - Thursday 31 October AROUND THE WORLD DEPTFORD NORTHERN Birmingham Town Hall Gigs Wed 23 Oct, Birming- SOUL CLUB Fri 25 - Sat Classical EDEN STELL DUO Programme in- ham Town Hall 26 Oct, Hare & cludes works by Mompou, Scarlatti & TENEBRAE: PATH OF MIRACLES KIEFER SUTHERLAND GEORGE PANNELL WITH Hounds, Birmingham Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Thurs 31 Oct, Programme comprises Joby Talbot’s Mon 21 Oct, O2 Insti- KARKOSA & FLOWERS CROONERS Sat 26 Oct, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Path of Miracles. Nigel Short directs, tute, Birmingham Thurs 24 Oct, Mama Lichfield Garrick servatoire Wed 23 Oct, The Barber Institute, Roux’s, Birmingham WHY DON'T WE - 8 LET- OSTR Sat 26 Oct, The Birmingham TERS TOUR Mon 21 CHARLES ESTEN Thurs Castle & Falcon, Birm- CITY OF LONDON SINFONIA: THE FRUIT OF Oct, The Alexandra 24 Oct, O2 Institute, ingham SILENCE Programme includes works Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham Comedy PATTI BOULAYE 'ARETHA by Peteris Vasks, Arvo Part & Do- THE SKINTS & BEDOUIN LAMB Thurs 24 Oct, AND ME' Sat 26 Oct, brinka Tabakova, Wed 23 Oct, Lich- TOADALLY FREE COMEDY Mon 21 Oct, SOUNDCLASH Mon 21 O2 Academy, B’ham Pizza Express Live, field Cathedral The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham Tues 22 Oct, Birmingham Birmingham CBSO: BRUCH’S VIOLIN CONCERTO Fea- AWOL & PANDEMONIUM turing Fabien Gabel (conductor) & Si- Town Hall KOFI STONE Mon 21 PRESENTS THE HAL- mone Lamsma (violin). Programme BEN PHILLIPS Wed 23 Oct, O2 Oct, Hare & Hounds, LOWEEN SPECIAL Sat 26 includes works by Wagner, Bruch & Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Bruckner, Thurs 24 Oct, Symphony ELLIE TAYLOR Thurs 24 Oct, Artrix, ingham CHRIS DE BURGH Mon Hall, Birmingham Bromsgrove 21 Oct, Symphony CHER Sat 26 Oct, CBSO CENTRE STAGE: THE FOUR SEA- NICK HELM Thurs 24 Oct, The Comedy Hall, Birmingham Arena Birmingham SONS OF BUENOS AIRES Programme in- Loft, Birmingham GLORYHAMMER Tues 22 AND FINALLY PHIL cludes works by Strauss, Piazzolla & ADAM BLOOM PLUS COMEDY CAROUSEL Oct, The Mill, Digbeth, COLLINS Sat 26 Oct, Bruch, Fri 25 Oct, CBSO Centre, Birm- WITH ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Birmingham The Core Theatre, ingham Thurs 24 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham A BOOGIE WIT DA Solihull EX CATHEDRA: RACHMANINOFF’S VES- CASSIA Thurs 24 Oct, ADAM BLOOM, JASON PATTERSON, TOM HOODIE Tues 22 Oct, THE SELECTER Sat 26 PERS Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore (con- Hare & Hounds, Birm- TOAL & COMIC TBC Fri 25 - Sat 26 Oct, O2 Academy, B’ham ingham Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- ductor), Martha McLorinan (mezzo soprano) and Jeremy Budd (tenor), The Glee Club, Birmingham HEADIE ONE Tues 22 ingham JOHNNY2BAD Thurs 24 Sun 27 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall COMEDY FOR KIDS Sat 26 Oct, The REP, Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- ASHEN CROWN Sat 26 Oct, The Jam House, Birmingham ingham Birmingham Oct, O2 Academy, LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH WAYNE MARSHALL Programme in- DOUG MACLEOD Tues Birmingham MATT PARKER Sat 26 Oct, The REP, THE WORLD FAMOUS cludes works by Wayne Marshall, Birmingham 22 Oct, The Jam REFUSED + THRICE Sat ELVIS SHOW Thurs 24 - George C Baker and Franz Schmidt, House, Birmingham 26 Oct, O2 Academy, THOMAS GREEN, HAYLEY ELLIS, CRAIG Fri 25 Oct, The Core Mon 28 Oct, Symphony Hall, B’ham THE FALLEN STATE Tues Theatre, Solihull Birmingham MURRAY & IAN SMITH Sat 26 Oct, The MARTIN ROSCOE & PETER DONOHOE Comedy Loft, Birmingham 22 Oct, O2 Academy, WSTRN Sat 26 Oct, O2 BLACKBEAR Fri 25 Oct, PIANO CONCERT Programme includes Birmingham Institute, Birmingham CARL DONELLY, MATT ROSS Sat 26 Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham works by Stravinsky, Debussy, Mozart, The Glee Club, Birmingham MIKE PETERS Wed 23 LIFE OF AGONY Fri 25 POM POKO Sat 26 Oct, Saint-Saens & Rachmaninov, Wed 30 Oct, Artrix, Broms- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Hare & Hounds, Birm- Oct, The Barber Institute, Birmingham BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 26 grove ingham Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove ingham CBSO: DVORAK’S SEVENTH Featuring CONOR MAYNARD Wed RAMMLIED DEBUT + THE CARPENTERS STORY Anja Bihlmaier (conductor) & Renaud ROUGH WORKS: NEW MATERIAL NIGHT 23 Oct, O2 Institute, THE LOVED & LOST Fri Sun 27 Oct, The Capuçon (violin). Programme in- Sun 27 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham Birmingham 25 Oct, Route 44, Alexandra Theatre, cludes works by Bizet, Chausson, BARBARA NICE'S COMEDY PLAYGROUND A2 Wed 23 Oct, O2 Birmingham Birmingham Ravel & Dvorak, Wed 30 Oct, Sym- Sun 27 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham phony Hall, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham AFRO CUBAN JAZZ OR- HEELS OF HELL Sun 27 SINDHU VEE Mon 28 Oct, The Glee SHALAMAR Wed 23 CHESTRA Fri 25 Oct, Oct, O2 Academy, A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC FROM Club, Birmingham Birmingham GAME OF THRONES... Oct, The Jam House, Royal Birmingham Special orchestral SOFIE HAGEN Wed 30 Oct, Artrix, concert, Thurs 31 Oct, Symphony Birmingham Conservatoire BIZARRO 30TH ANNIVER- Bromsgrove SARY TOUR Sun 27 Hall, Birmingham BEN PHILLIPS LIVE TOUR WHITNEY: QUEEN OF THE CRAIG MURRAY, TOM TAYLOR & COMEDY Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- HALLOWEEN SILENT MOVIE SPECIAL: THE Wed 23 Oct, O2 NIGHT Fri 25 Oct, The CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs ingham HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Academy, Birmingham Alexander Theatre, Featuring 31 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham Nigel Ogden on organ, Thurs 31 Oct, MICHAEL RAY Wed 23 ROYAL REPUBLIC Sun Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- PURPLE ZEPPELIN Fri 25 27 Oct, O2 Academy, ingham Oct, Artrix, Broms- Birmingham SI BARRON / THE LOST grove SOUP OF JURASSIC 5 NOTES Wed 23 Oct, CLARE TEAL & HER BIG PRESENTS: FULLEE LOVE The Red Lion Folk MINI BAND Fri 25 Oct, COLLECTIVE Sun 27 Club, Birmingham Lichfield Garrick Oct, Pizza Express Live, Birmingham DEAD NAKED HIPPIES MEMBRANES Fri 25 Oct, Wed 23 Oct, The Flap- Hare & Hounds, Birm- SKENGDO X AM Sun 27 per, Birmingham ingham Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- ingham SQUEEZE PLUS SPECIAL JAZZ JAMAICA ALL GUESTS HEAVEN 17 STARS: A TROJON STORY THE RAILS Sun 27 Oct, Wed 23 Oct, Sym- Fri 25 Oct, Birming- Hare & Hounds, Birm- phony Hall, B’ham ham Town Hall ingham TALON Wed 23 Oct, SUBSET Fri 25 Oct, OSCAR JEROME Sun 27 The Core, Solihull Scruffy Murphy’s, Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham DAVID FORD Wed 23 Birmingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, REMI HARRIS Fri 25 HIPKISS WITH PATSY Birmingham Oct, Pizza Express GAMBLE Sun 27 Oct, Lichfield Guildhall SONS OF PITCHES: Live, Birmingham Sophie Hagen- Artrix, Bromsgrove whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Birmingham 21 - 31 October.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 10:29 Page 3

TOURING OCTOBER to DECEMBER 2019

Saturday 12 October Forest Arts Centre, WALSALL

Friday 18 - Saturday 19 October Netherton Arts Centre, DUDLEY

Friday 25 - Saturday 26 October Rose Theatre, KIDDERMINSTER

Thursday 21 November Crescent Theatre, BIRMINGHAM 14+ Thursday 28 - Saturday 30 November Theatre on the Steps, BRIDGNORTH

Sunday 1 December Artrix Theatre, BROMSGROVE

FOR TICKETS £18 7.30pm thefizzogs.com

64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 21 - 31 October.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 10:30 Page 4

thelist Monday 21 - Thursday 31 October HYDE Award-winning one-man show Theatre based on the famous novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, Wed 30 Oct, BEYOND THE BARRICADE Musical the- Artrix, Bromsgrove atre concert featuring past principal SEEKING ISOLDE New family show de- performers from Les Misérables, Tues scribed as ‘Horrible Histories meets 22 - Wed 23 Oct, Lichfield Garrick the world’s geekiest Indiana Jones’, DORIAN Contemporary retelling of Wed 30 Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, Wed 23 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR BITA Musi- Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham cal Theatre present an amateur stag- UP UP AND AWAY Highly Sprung fuse ing of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim theatre, aerial dance & innovative de- Rice's classic rock musical, Wed 30 sign to tell a story about individuality, Oct - Sat 2 Nov, The Old Rep Theatre, uniqueness and , Wed 23 Birmingham Oct, The Old Rep, Birmingham PRIME TIME Three monologues by three different playwrights exploring the wide-ranging experiences of Kids Shows women of retirement age. Janice PEPPA PIG’S BEST DAY EVER Featuring Connolly (pictured) stars, Wed 23 - ‘songs, games and laughter’ - a must Sat 26 Oct, The REP, Birmingham for Peppa Pig fans everywhere, Wed Ballet Theatre UK The Wizard Of Oz - The Core Theatre, Solihull AUSTENTATIOUS Improvised comedy in 23 - Thurs 24 Oct, The Alexandra which a cast of the country's quickest Theatre, Birmingham Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippo- Family/Adventure. Starring Isabela drome Moner, Benicio del Toro. Midlands performers conjure up a brand new COMEDY FOR KIDS. HOW DOES THIS POL- Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 26 Oct 'lost' Jane Austen novel based on ITICS THING WORK THEN? ‘Fun and in- nothing more than a title suggested formative’ show for young audiences, ASTERIX: THE SECRET OF THE MAGIC PO- by the audience, Thurs 24 - Fri 25 Sat 26 Oct, The REP, Birmingham TION (PG) Biography/Drama. With the Oct, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham voices of John Innes, Ken Kramer. Ar- THE PIRATE CRUNCHER Swashbuckling Talks / trix, Bromsgrove, Sat 26 Oct JACK THE RIPPER: THE VICTIMS An all- tale of greed punished and ingenuity female cast focus on the stories of rewarded, Sat 26 - Sun 27 Oct, Mid- Spoken Word SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK Jack the Ripper’s victims, Thurs 24 lands Arts Centre, Birmingham (15) Horror/Mystery. Starring Zoe Mar- Oct - Sat 2 Nov, The Blue Orange garet Colletti, Michael Garza. The WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Michael Theatre, Birmingham THE HARD ROAD TO EVEREST Insight Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Rosen’s beloved book is brought to CIRCUS 1903 Unique show featuring into the life of mountaineering legend Sat 26, Tues 29 & Thurs 31 Oct life with beautiful puppets and origi- Doug Scott, Wed 23 Oct, The Bra- life-sized elephants created by pup- THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (18) nal music, Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 Nov, mall, peteers from War Horse and ‘jaw- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham Drama/Thriller. Starring Anthony Hop- dropping’ acts from across the globe, IN CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET kins, Jodie Foster. Midlands Arts Cen- ZOG & THE GRUFFALO - FILM WITH LIVE Fri 25 - Wed 30 Oct, Birmingham Hip- ATWOOD Join the bestselling author tre, Birmingham, Sun 27 Oct - Fri 1 ORCHESTRA World premiere concert podrome as she discusses her career and new Nov performance of two of Julia Donald- novel, The Testaments - the sequel to PAUL ZERDIN'S PUPPET PARTY Brand SHAUN OF THE DEAD (18) Comedy/Hor- son & Axel Scheffler's much-loved The Handmaid's Tale, Mon 28 Oct, new UK tour featuring the acclaimed ror. Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost. works. Terry Davies conducts René Symphony Hall, Birmingham ventriloquist and his ever-dysfunc- Aubry's inspired scores, Sun 27 Oct, Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Thurs tional puppet family, Sat 26 Oct, The Symphony Hall, Birmingham 31 Oct Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham HOCUS POCUS (PG) Comedy/Fantasy. THE ESCAPE ACT: A HOLOCAUST MEMOIR Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica The true story of how a Jewish acro- Film Parker. The Mockingbird Cinema, bat escaped the Nazis by running Cabaret INDEPENDENT LISTINGS Birmingham, Tues 29 Oct; Midlands away to join the circus, Sat 26 - Sun Arts Centre, Birmingham, Thurs 31 CIRCUS OF HORRORS Twenty-fifth an- 27 Oct, CircusMASH, Kings Heath, BAIT (15) Drama. Starring Ed Rowe, Oct Birmingham niversary tour, Tues 22 Oct, Artrix, Giles Smith. Midlands Arts Centre, DON'T LOOK NOW (15) Bromsgrove Birmingham, Tues 22 Oct Drama/Horror. THE BEATLES: HORNSEY ROAD WITH Starring , Donald Suther- SCREAMY BINGO WITH TINA T’URNER MARK LEWISOHN Fast-moving illus- THE LAST TREE (15) Drama. Starring land. Midlands Arts Centre, Birming- TEA LADY Spooky Halloween special trated history of the Fab Four, Mon 28 Nicholas Pinnock, Denise Black. Mid- ham, Wed 30 Oct Oct, The Alexandra Theatre, B’ham with the award-winning domestic lands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Tues RING (15) diva, Thurs 31 Oct, Old Joint Stock 22 - Wed 23 Oct Horror/Mystery. Starring Hi- LES MUSICALS Concert production Theatre, Birmingham royuki Sanada. Foreign language, featuring classics from Les Misérable, GHOSTBUSTERS (tbc) Action/Comedy. subtitled. Midlands Arts Centre, Birm- Phantom, Blood Brothers & more... Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd. ingham, Thurs 31 Oct Jonathan Ansell & Jai McDowall star, The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- Tues 29 Oct, The Alexandra Theatre, ham, Wed 23 & Sat 26 Oct Birmingham Dance THE LOST BOYS (12a) Comedy/Horror. NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Released from Fri 25 Oct, showing at BLACK MEN WALKING The first story EMANUEL GAT YOOO!!! New hip-hop-in- Starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim. selected cinemas from Revolution Mix - an Eclipse spired piece for all ages, Tues 22 - The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- movement spearheading the largest Thurs 24 Oct, Patrick Studio, Birming- ham, Thurs 24 - Sat 26 Oct TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (tbc) ever national delivery of new Black ham Hippodrome THE THING (18) Horror/Mystery. Star- THE ADDAMS FAMILY (tbc) British stories, Tues 29 - Thurs 31 THE WIZARD OF OZ Ballet Theatre UK ring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley. The Oct, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham BLACK AND BLUE (tbc) present a choreographed version of L Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, BY THE GRACE OF GOD (15) NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL Debbie Isitt’s Frank Baum’s classic tale, Wed 30 Fri 25 - Sat 26 Oct feelgood musical, based on the Oct, The Core Theatre, Solihull JUDY (12a) Biography/Drama. Starring COUNTDOWN (tbc) much-loved film of the same name, RAMBERT2 - MIXED BILL New creations Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRAN- Tues 29 Oct - Sat 2 Nov, Wolver- combining technical virtuosity with Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, CISCO (tbc) hampton Grand Theatre Fri 25 - Thurs 31 Oct raw energy, Wed 30 - Thurs 31 Oct, DOCTOR SLEEP (tbc) THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL & MR DORA & THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (PG) whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Birmingham 21 - 31 October.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2019 10:30 Page 5

thelist Monday 21 - Thursday 31 October ellery Quarter, Fri 25 - Sat 26 Oct, Mu- ley, Nr Kidderminster museum’s atmospheric factory, Events seum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birm- HALLOWEEN WHEN YOU WISH UPON A dressed for Halloween, Wed 30 Oct, ingham BRUNCH Singalong to your favourite Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, SKILL BY MOUTH Spoken word night DESTINATION STAR TREK BIRMINGHAM fairytale film tunes, while eating Birmingham hosted by Impossible Things Enter- Boldly go where no one has gone be- brunch and drinking bottomless GUIDED TOUR: HERITAGE AND HISTORY tainment, Mon 21 Oct, The Red Lion, fore at Europe’s Official Star Trek booze, Sat 26 Oct, The Lord Clifden, OF THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GAR- Hockley, Birmingham convention, Fri 25 - Sun 27 Oct, NEC, Birmingham DENS Learn more about how the Gar- IRONBRIDGE BY MOONLIGHT DINNER To Birmingham DIVE 2019 The UK's biggest event for dens were designed and have mark 50 years since the first Moon GCCF SUPREME CAT SHOW The UK’s scuba divers and snorkellers, Sat 26 - evolved over time, Wed 30 Oct, Birm- landing, guests dine in the shadow of premier cat show, Sat 26 Oct, NEC, Sun 27 Oct, NEC, Birmingham ingham Botanical Gardens the Museum Of The Moon exhibition, Birmingham HUBBLE BUBBLE - TRICK OR TREAT Ex- a touring artwork by Luke Jerram, HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT FRIGHT CAGE WARRIORS 109 The leading and NIGHTS A night of macabre goings-on plore the halls to track down the bats Thurs 24 Oct, Enginuity Museum, - but best beware of creepy things! Ironbridge, Shropshire longest-running mixed martial arts as groups of visitors tour the darkest promotion in Europe, Sat 26 Oct, Re- depths of the museum on a hunt for Wed 30 - Thurs 31 Oct, Soho House, GHOSTLY VICTORIAN TALES AT THE BACK sorts World Arena, Birmingham treats - but watch out for tricks... Sat Birmingham TO BACKS Spend an evening listening 26 - Sun 27 Oct, Avoncroft Museum, HALLOWEEN NIGHTS Trick or treat to some of the spookiest stories FLAME & THUNDER Action-packed day for all the family featuring motorsport Bromsgrove along the Black Country Living Mu- Birmingham has to offer, Thurs 24 - seum’s gas-lit cobbled streets, Wed Fri 25 Oct, Birmingham Back to stunts and drag racing, Sat 26 Oct, HAUNTED CASTLE A week of ghostly Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough goings-on in Tamworth Castle’s 30 - Thurs 31 Oct, Black Country Liv- Backs ing Museum, Dudley GHOST TRAINS Arrive early at Kidder- haunted spooktacular, Sat 26 Oct - FRIGHT NIGHTS: ASTON ALIVE! Spend Fri 1 Nov, Tamworth Castle ASTON HALLOWEEN See the Hall trans- the scariest time of year at one of minster Station for face-painting and a spooky disco, then make your way FAMILY FUN DAYS - HALLOWEEN 2019 formed into a haunted mansion, Britain’s most haunted buildings! Fri Thurs 31 Oct, , B’ham 25 - Sat 26 Oct, Aston Hall, B’ham along the dark platform to find your Enjoy a spooky outdoor trail with seat on the Ghost Train, Sat 26 Oct, take-home activities, Sat 26 Oct - Sun CREATE A SPELL JAR FAMILY CRAFT AC- HALLOWEEN NIGHTS Trick or treat Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr 3 Nov, Packwood House, Solihull TIVITY Create your own spell jar to along the Black Country Living Mu- Kiddersminster THE WIZARD EXPRESS The Wizard Ex- take home with you, Thurs 31 Oct, seum’s gas-lit cobbled streets, Fri 25 Aston Hall, Birmingham - Sat 26 Oct, Black Country Living THE ROCKY HORROR MONSTER BALL press returns to take young witches Museum, Dudley ‘Characters, costumes and outra- and wizards on ‘a magical journey to MEET THE WITCHFINDER: HALLOWEEN geousness to perfectly replicate the Wizard School’, Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 FAMILY TOUR Take a trip round the JEWELLERY QUARTER GHOST WALK A original show’, Sat 26 Oct, West Mid- Nov, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley hall, but stay alert for vampires, trolls, tour of all things grim and macabre land Safari and Leisure Park, Bewd- fairies, goblins and ghosts, Thurs 31 around Birmingham’s historic Jew- ASTON HALL LATE: GHOSTLY ENCOUN- TERS Theatrical ghost tour of one of Oct, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Britain’s most haunted buildings, Sun SPOOKY SCIENCE NIGHT Spooky party 27 Oct, Aston Hall, Birmingham for all mad scientists, witches and OG SINGER/SONGRWRITER Open mic wizards to come together and have night for budding, established & some fun, Thurs 31 Oct, Thinktank wannabe singer-songwriters, Mon 28 Science Museum, Birmingham Oct, The Red Lion, Hockley, B’ham HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT FRIGHT TALL TALES: CINDERELLA STORY TOUR NIGHTS Join in with a night of Interactive telling of the ever-popular macabre goings-on by touring the fairytale, Tues 29 Oct, Aston Hall, darkest depths of the museum, Thurs Birmingham 31 Oct, Avoncroft Museum, Broms- grove NICK SHARRATT'S DRAWALONG Join ac- claimed children’s writer and illustra- MURDER-MYSTERY DINNER Play detec- tor Nick for a fun drawing session, tive and enjoy a three-course dinner Tues 29 Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove in the elegant surroundings of the Loudon Suite, Thurs 31 Oct, Birming- PUMPKIN FLOTILLA Bring a beautifully ham Botanical Gardens carved pumpkin with you to the Mill and float it on the mill pond at dusk, GHOST SEARCH Ghost walk around the Tues 29 - Thurs 31 Oct, Sarehole Mill, castle, with vigils conducted in reput- Hall Green, Birmingham edly haunted rooms, Thurs 31 Oct, Tamworth Castle SPOOKY HALLOWEEN TRAIL AT BLAKESLEY HALL Family-friendly trail SH*T IS GETTING REAL TV & film quiz featuring vampires, goblins and with Sue Vaneer, Thurs 31 Oct, The ghosts, Tues 29 - Thurs 31 Oct, Red Lion, Hockley, Birmingham Blakesley Hall, Birmingham BRICKLIVE Play, create and discover SMETHWICK ENGINE STEAMING DAY together in an event aimed at under- Check out the Smethwick Engine 12s, Thurs 31 - Sun 3 Nov, NEC, now that it’s undergone an extensive Birmingham restoration, Wed 30 Oct, Thinktank SIMPLY CHRISTMAS - THE CRAFTY Science Museum, Birmingham CHRISTMAS SHOW ‘Extravaganza’ of GHOSTLY TALES: FAMILY FRIENDLY exclusive ranges, including glass, GHOST TOUR Daytime tour of one of jewellery, art, candles, ceramics and Birmingham’s most haunted build- clothing, Thurs 31 Oct - Sun 3 Nov, ings, Wed 30 Oct, Aston Hall, B’ham NEC, Birmingham PUMPKIN CARVING WITH DASTARDLY THE CREATIVE CRAFT SHOW Wide-rang- DAN Carve a spooky face or scary ing show for knitters, stitchers, hob- scene, Wed 30 Oct, Lichfield Garrick byists and crafters, Thurs 31 Oct - Sun 3 Nov, NEC, Birmingham EXPLORE THE FACTORY FLOOR: HAL- LOWEEN AT THE MUSEUM OF THE JEW- ELLERY QUARTER Experience the 66 whatsonlive.co.uk Belgrade Theatre Full October 2019.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 14:56 Page 1 Mind Body Spirit October 2019.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 14:59 Page 1