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Birmingham Cover September 2018.qxp_Birmingham Cover 20/08/2018 14:26 Page 1 CHRIS TUCKER - Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands RUSH HOUR COMEDIAN IN BRUM BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2018 SEPTEMBER ON WHAT’S BIRMINGHAM Birmingham ISSUE 393 SEPTEMBER 2018 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onbirminghamwhatson.co.uk PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP GROUP MEDIA ON WHAT’S OF PART inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide IndieLET heroes IT SHIIINE Shed Seven play new one-day festival TWITTER: @WHATSONBRUM TWITTER: @WHATSONBRUM newEMILY production BROWN... celebrates 20 years of Tall Stories... FACEBOOK: @WHATSONBIRMINGHAM FACEBOOK: MORE SUN PLEASE popular Channel Four show returns to the NEC BIRMINGHAMWHATSON.CO.UK Donington Park GT F/P Sept 2018.qxp_Layout 1 17/08/2018 12:29 Page 1 Contents September Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2018 09:43 Page 2 September 2018 Contents Bollywood in Birmingham - Taj Express comes to Birmingham Hippodrome... feature on page 8 Going for gold... Pop Music Ballet In Brum the list The Princess of Pop an ‘emotionally contagious BRB launches its new season Your 16-page plays Genting Arena rollercoaster’ at The REP at Birmingham Hippodrome week-by-week listings guide page 15 page 24 page 36 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 42. Visual Arts 45. Events @whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonmediagroup Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine What’s On Media Group 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 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Lauren Cole [email protected] 01743 281706 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Steve Adams, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts, Daisy Sparkle, Steve Taylor, Chris Eldon Lee 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 September copy.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2018 11:47 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region Plans for new world-class cultural centre revealed Proposals for a new centre for heritage, com- munity arts, learning and skills develop- ment, led by Birmingham Museums Trust, have taken a step forward after a plot in the east of the city was approved for regenera- tion by Birmingham City Council. Due to open in 2021, the proposed purpose- built facility will offer ‘a completely new type of cultural proposition to engage and inspire new audiences’. The initial phase will create a new storage facility to house the collections currently held at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, in readiness for the redevelopment of the city’s flagship museum. Half-term digital festival Popular folk in Lichfield composers. Each session, which lasts around an hour, will include musical excerpts to help Lichfield Arts will next month host its annual fun for ‘little geeks’ explain closely what’s being said by our ex- L2F folk event. A homegrown digital festival designed to perts. At each Insight event we invite a spe- The festival takes place from 19 to 21 October entertain ‘little geeks’ and their guardians is cial guest, and encourage the audience to ask and features nationally renowned musicians taking place at Birmingham’s MAC during the questions and join the debate. and bands, local acts, a street procession, autumn half-term holiday. “Our audiences have told us that they’d like dancing, workshops and competitions for The sure-to-be-popular event, which runs an informal opportunity to meet and talk visual artists and songwriters. from 27 October to 3 November, will feature about music, so I’m very excited about this Commenting on the event, the festival’s live shows, virtual reality, gaming, work- new addition to our 2018-19 season.” shops, robotics and a retro arcade game Chair, Stuart Davies, said: “L2F 2018 really play-zone. has something for everyone with an interest For more information, visit macbirming- in folk music and folk traditions, whether it’s Plenty to laugh about at ham.co.uk watching morris dancing on the Saturday, enjoying some fine live music from leading Brum’s comedy festival lights in the folk music world, or taking part The award-winning Birmingham Comedy in one of our many workshops.” Festival brings another 10 days of ‘cracking Saturday Night Fever is comedic entertainment’ to the city next Stayin’ Alive and well in month (Friday 5 to Sunday 14 October). Headlining the event is Joanna Lumley (9 Oc- Birmingham... tober, Symphony Hall), with James Acaster, Dig out your flares The Infinite Monkey Cage’s Robin Ince and and wear your collars the brain behind BBC One’s Hospital People, really high - a new Tom Binns, also contributing. version of hit 1970s Commenting on the 2018 edition of the event, musical Saturday a spokesperson for the festival said: “We’ve Night Fever is coming got another packed line-up this year, with to the Midlands. Birmingham music group over 70 performances featuring not only Based on the cult stand-up comedy but also sketch shows, im- 1977 movie of the offers brand new Insight prov, spoken word, theatre, music, game same name starring Birmingham Contemporary Music Group shows, podcasters, John Travolta, the (BCMG) has launched a new initiative for its fine art and loads show runs at Birmingham’s New Alexandra 2018-19 season. more, with over 20 Theatre from 25 to 29 September. Songs fea- The Insight series will provide audiences shows being free or tured in the production include the Bee Gees’ with the chance to explore contemporary pay-what-you- Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night music. want.” For more in- Fever and Tragedy. Commenting on the initiative, BCMG’s Artis- formation, visit Richard Winsor (pictured) takes the lead as tic Director, Stephan Meier, said: “Insight bhamcomfest.co.uk Tony Manero... For more information, visit will delve into pressing issues of contempo- atgtickets.com/newalexandratheatre rary music with leading writers, thinkers and 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham September copy.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2018 11:48 Page 2 First Word NEC hosts Open Mic auditions Open Mic UK, the country’s pre- mier music competition for un- signed acts, is this month holding auditions at Birming- ham’s NEC (Saturday 22 Septem- ber). Singers, songwriters, rappers and vocal groups of all ages are encouraged to enter, and can do so by registering at Open Mic UK for £5. The competition winner will get the chance to record a debut album and music video, as well as benefitting from extensive media promotion. For more information, visit openmicuk.co.uk Music and The Color Purple on stage at the Hippodrome... science collide Birmingham Hippodrome is teaming up with Leicester’s Curve theatre to co-produce Broadway musical The Color Purple. at Thinktank The new version of the hit show, which is based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Music and science collide at forms part of the Hippodrome’s 2018/19 programme and will be directed by Tinuke Craig (pictured). Birmingham’s Thinktank next It will be staged at the venue next year, from 16 to 21 July. month (2 October) when the Meanwhile, a number of presentations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World ever-adventurous Ligeti Quartet War One, including the National Theatre’s award-winning production of War Horse, feature among take audiences on ‘an astronom- the highlights of the Hippodrome’s autumn programme. ical journey into new music’. Inspired by modern astronomy Tickets for the venue’s new-season shows go on sale to the Friends of the Theatre on Thursday 23 and music, Ligeti will perform August at 11am, and to the general public on Wednesday 29 August (11am). eight new planetary works by For more information, visit birminghamhippodrome.com eight composers. For more information, visit birminghammuseums.org.uk New live music Popular Birmingham festival celebrates After hours at the venue to open 50 glorious years of Reggae music in Birmingham city museum’s The impact, legacy and heritage of 50 years of Reggae music will be Birmingham’s Digbeth celebrated in next month’s BASS2018 festival. collection centre area is getting a brand Taking place at various Birmingham venues across October, the event new live music, bar & features concerts, films, exhibitions and discussions. Highlights in- event venue this month. clude appearances by Toots And The Maytals and Loversrock pioneer The Mill is located on Carrol Thompson. The festival also commemorates the 40th anniver- Lower Trinity Street and sary of the release of iconic Steel Pulse album Handsworth Revolution.