Coventry & Warwickshire Cover

Coventry & Warwickshire Cover February 2018 .qxp_Coventry & Warwickshire Cover 22/01/2018 15:25 Page 1

COVENTRY&WARWICKSHIRE WHAT’S FEBRUARY ON 2018 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands TIM VINE IN THE MIDLANDS

Coventry & Warwickshire ISSUE 386 FEBRUARY 2018 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On warwickshirewhatson.co.uk

inside: PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

TONY ALLEN legendary drummer plays Warwick Arts Centre WTE:@WHATSONWARWICKSTWITTER:

THE C WORD Bryony Kimmings in Coventry feature inside... FACEBOOK:@WHATSONWARWICKSHIRE

SHAKESPEARE half-term activities in Stratford-upon-Avon WARWICKSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK (IFC) Warwickshire.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2018 17:29 Page 1 Contents February Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:22 Page 2

February 2018

Contents

A Brave Face - Vamos Theatre’s latest full mask production heads out on tour - feature page 22

The C Word Stewart Lee Race Retro the list

Bryony Kimmings’ candid thought-provoking comedy at motorsport showcase at Your 16-page musical shows at the Belgrade Stratford Artshouse Stoneleigh Park week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 page 20 page 45 page 53 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 42. Visual Arts 44. Events

fb.com/whatsonwarwickshire fb.com/whatsonworcestershire @whatsonwarwicks @whatsonworcs Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire What’s On Magazine Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire What’s On Magazine

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 MEDIA GROUP Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Lauren Cole, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts, Daisy Sparkle, Carol Lovatt 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 Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:31 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Photo credit: Modelling Dissection Photography by Gavan Mitchell and science in Worcester The University of Worces- ter and The Hive have once again been selected to ex- hibit the Royal Photo- graphic Society’s international Images Of Science Exhibition (2 Feb- ruary to 18 March). The exhibition’s six-week stay at The Hive coincides with British Science Week, to which the venue is con- tributing via a series of events, talks and exhibitions for the public, families and schools. For more information, visit thehiveworcester.org/arts- Photo credit: Mushrooms - Petersen Phred Amanita ascends exhibitions

Historic Worcester venue and engineering company Arup to produce sible across the UK and internationally, and and tour three major events, building an we’re delighted to add another classic musi- to host new wedding fayre iconic bridge which will transform public cal to our ever-growing portfolio.” Chefs from award-winning Indian eatery Iti- spaces and be used as a platform for immer- haas Restaurant have created menus for a sive live performances. brand new Worcestershire Wedding Fayre Coventry fundraiser event, taking place on Sunday 25 February at historical venue Stanbrook Abbey. Fame The Musical turns for city’s Music Museum Itihaas already has partnerships with a num- 30 and visits the Midlands A fundraising event for the Coventry Music ber of venues, to which it delivers traditional Museum is being held at the city’s Empire Indian cuisine for events and weddings. venue on 3 & 4 February. These include Birmingham Botanical Gar- The event will feature numerous local bands dens, Coventry’s Ricoh Arena and West Mid- and a rare appearance from Special Brew. lands Safari Park. Commenting on the fundraiser, Museum Di- Commenting on the latest collaboration, Iti- rector and gig organiser Neil Twigger said: haas Managing Director Raj Rana said: “The Coventry Music Museum is run totally “We’re honoured to have secured such a won- by volunteers. Money for rent and utilities for derful partnership with Stanbrook Abbey. We the museum are paid for by the entrance fee recognise the venue’s dedication to providing and fundraising, so this can make a massive an unforgettable ‘big day’ for the happy cou- difference to keeping the venue open.” A 2018/19 30th anniversary tour of Fame The ple, as this is something we also uphold.” Musical will stop off at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre. Live outdoor arts project The award-winning show visits the venue later this year, from 19 to 24 November. gets £600,000 grant Commenting on the tour, David Hutchinson, A Midlands-based live outdoor arts project Executive Creative Director of Selladoor, the has been awarded £600,000 by Arts Council company presenting the show, said: “This England. new tour celebrates the 30 years since the The project, entitled Bridge, is being run by premiere of the production and will very the Imagineer organisation and will see an much have its roots in the style and nostalgia ambitious programme of outdoor arts per- of the original musical. formances being presented across the region. “Selladoor are dedicated to bringing large- Imagineer will work with renowned artists scale theatre to as broad an audience as pos-

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First Word

John Lennon’s Monkey-Trail bike up for auction A motorcycle that once be- longed to John Lennon is up for auction at the National Motorcy- cle Museum in Solihull on Sun- day 4 March. Lennon used the Monkey-Trail bike XUC 91H as a fun way of getting around his Tittenhurst Park estate in Surrey, where he lived from 1969 to 1971. It’s esti- mated that the bike will sell for more than £30,000.

Let the festival of gin begin! New exhibition celebrates Coventry’s original Rude Boy Worcester is this spring hosting Coventry Music Museum has opened a new temporary exhibition dedicated to the venue’s very own its first official gin festival. Honorary Patron. Taking place in the city’s iconic Guildhall, the event will feature Neville Staple-The Original Rude Boy-The Exhibition follows Neville from his early days in Jamaica to 100 different gins and provide his arrival in Coventry and his days with the Specials. Commenting on the show, Neville said: “How visitors with the chance to learn cool is this? My life out there for all to see, in my home city - including some hidden gems that fans all about the history of their have never known about me. Stay rude people, 'stop your messing around' and visit soon!" favourite spirit. The exhibition runs until 2 December. The event takes place over the bank holiday weekend of 5 & 6 May. Forest Live gig Pop Art comes to Coventry gallery for George Ezra A new show at Coventry’s Coventry theatre George Ezra will appear at Herbert Art Gallery is provid- company premiere two Midlands venues this ing visitors with the chance to new production year as part of Forest Live, explore the subject of Pop Art. the summer concert series Coventry’s award-winning The- A transatlantic showcase of organised by the Forestry atre Absolute is premiering a the movement’s most iconic new work this month as part of Commission. artists, Pop! British & Ameri- a two-year project exploring sto- One of the biggest-selling can Art 1960 -1975 includes an ries of the personal and the po- male artists of the decade, eight-metre-long fighter plane litical. Ezra will perform at Weston- by James Rosenquist, Andy Chris O’Connell’s Choke, show- birt Arboretum, near Tet- Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup tin, ing at the city’s Shop Front The- bury, Gloucestershire, on a lament for Marilyn Monroe atre from Tuesday 6 to Saturday Sunday 17 June and then in 17 February, tells the story of by Pauline Boty, Joe Tilson’s Cannock Chase Forest, near iconic images of Che Guevara lifelong friends Rob and Stu, Rugeley, Staffordshire, on each ‘staring into the gap be- and prints by Peter Blake. Sunday 1 July. For more in- tween who they thought they The show runs at the Herbert were and who they are now’. formation, visit gallery from 16 February to 3 For more information, visit the- forestry.gov.uk/music June.

atreabsolute.co.uk credit line: © Joe Tilson. All rights reserved, DACS 2018 DACS reserved, rights All Tilson. Joe © line: credit whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:31 Page 3

First Word

Stories of Shakespeare WODS venture Midlands youngsters can find out all Into The Woods about Shakespeare this half term cour- Worcester Operatic & Dra- tesy of immersive storytelling sessions at matic Society (WODS) are two Stratford-upon-Avon venues. turning their attention to the Kate’s Storytree - taking place at Shake- world of fairytales for their speare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall and next production. Stratford Library on Monday 19 February The popular amateur com- - will see storyteller Kate utilising a host pany will present a new ver- of colourful props to transport children sion of Stephen Sondheim’s back in time to Shakespeare's day. award-winning musical Into Commenting on the event, Shakespeare’s The Woods at the Worcester Schoolroom & Guildhall’s Sarah Jervis- Swan Theatre from 17 to 21 Hill said: “Kate’s bright, fun and lively April. tales are a wonderful way to inspire creative thinking and ideas, and she will captivate the whole family with her story Leamington’s of young William Shakespeare.” Comic Con For further information, visit shakespear- makes a return esschoolroom.org Leamington’s Comic Con event is returning by popular demand this spring. Dance with Dame Exhibition of work by Worcestershire’s Organised by Spa Town Comics, the event takes place Darcy in Stratford! ‘greatest ever artist’ opens at gallery at the town’s All Saints An exhibition of work by English landscape painter Benjamin Parish Church on Saturday Williams Leader - the man widely considered to be Worcestershire’s 14 April. Special guests at the greatest ever artist - opens at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum show will include 2000AD this month (Saturday 17 February). legend John Wagner. The exhibition is part of the Worcestershire World War 100 project Independent creators and and includes artworks from the Worcester City collection. It also fea- traders will also be in atten- tures loans from private and public collections dance, and there’ll be plenty of cosplay to enjoy.

A Legally Blonde canine star? The producers of Legally Blonde The Musical are on the hunt for a canine star - a British Bulldog - to appear in the show when it visits Birm- ingham’s New Alexandra Theatre from Monday 21 to Saturday 26 May. Dame Darcy Bussell is coming to The dog needs to have a re- the Midlands. The Strictly Come laxed temperament, be re- Dancing judge will visit Strat- sponsive to commands and ford-upon-Avon next month to Motor Museum to host antique fairs ideally have some form of teach her full body aerobic The British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, is to host four stage experience. workout, DDMIX (Diverse Dance major antiques fairs during 2018. Auditions will be held at the Mix). The indoor fairs will all run on Saturdays and Sundays, with the first New Alex on Sunday 4 Febru- The event takes place on Thurs- taking place this month, on the 10th & 11th. ary between 10am and midday 15 March in the Levi Fox Commenting on the news, Charlotte Milford, Marketing Director for day. Interested parties Hall at the town’s King Edwards Field Dog Fairs, the company organising the events, said: “We’re should email legallyblonde- School. greatly looking forward to welcoming stallholders old and new to [email protected] for Tickets for the class are £15 per this iconic venue in the heart of the country. Last year’s fairs were more information and an ap- person and can be booked by very popular and we look forward to even bigger and better events plication form. contacting 07743101255. this year.” 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:31 Page 4 A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:23 Page 1

THE C WORD Bryony Kimmings’ candid musical shakes up conversations around cancer

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Following its 2016 premiere, Bryony Kimmings’ innovative musical, A Pacifist’s Guide To The War On Cancer, hits the road again this year, fully reimagined for a brief UK tour, with Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre its only Midlands date. We spoke to Kimmings about the revamped version of the show and her unusual treatment of its subject matter.

We’ve all heard the story: Character X lives an And she was like, ‘Oh my God, nobody’s will change the on-stage dynamic, making unremarkable life until disaster strikes in the actually asked me that before.’ Everyone had the show, in Kimmings’ own words, much form of a cancer diagnosis. What follows will just been skirting round it until then.” more truthful. Meanwhile, most other stories be either a tragic tale of hopeless struggle were picked out for their broader political Such polite silence around sickness is not and death, designed to milk our tear ducts resonance. unusual. Even when we do address the issue, for all they’re worth, or a life-affirming, it’s often with platitudes that tend to shut “I think people should do cancer however ‘inspirational’ story of unexpected triumph down dialogue and preclude the possibility they want, but that ‘I’m a survivor’ narrative in the face of adversity. Either way, it’s going that things might not be okay - something is something we hear all the time, so I was to be an epic struggle - a sort of good that only becomes more pronounced after the much more interested in people who were (healthy) vs bad (sick) battle to the end - and experience ends. like, ‘Cancer’s s**t, I can’t afford it,’ or one that will come to define the patient at its ‘Cancer’s s**t because in the black heart. “I think that thing of battling and fighting community nobody talks about it.’ There’s and winning or losing doesn’t give space for Despite the prevalence of narratives around also Jenny, whose husband left her during the fact that you change and become a cancer in the media, there’s a kind of shallow her breast cancer treatment, because, of different person. Nobody ever acknowledges homogeneity to most. But Bryony Kimmings course, misogyny doesn’t stop when you get that post-cancer you’re kind of a wreck - like doesn’t think things have to be this way. ill. If anything it gets worse. you lose your breasts or your relationship Having previously developed shows themed breaks down or whatever. People are just “There are so many different representations. around depression, STIs and childhood like, ‘You don’t have cancer anymore, you Middle-class cancer is different to working- sexualisation, she’s no stranger to tearing up can stop talking about it.’ class cancer. People-with-no-friends cancer taboos around tough topics, and this play is is different to cancer for people with family no exception. Today, cancer may be “Obviously you can’t cure cancer with a around them. One of my favourite scenes at everywhere in every sense, but the frankness theatre show, but you can certainly have an the moment is when Gia, this really poor that A Pacifist’s Guide To The War On Cancer honest, open dialogue about it instead of one black woman from Detroit who’s only being promises still feels surprisingly rare and which is like, ‘You’ll be fine.’ That just ends treated because she’s on a trial, walks in on refreshing. the conversation: you’re saying that for you five white women sharing their problems and to feel okay about it, I as the person with “Everything you usually hear about cancer is is like, ‘Let me give you some perspective on cancer just have to be quiet.” like, ‘We must fight it,’ or ‘We must smash it what cancer’s really like.” to bits,’” says Kimmings. “And I just felt like, Around seven different stories from real-life All this might sound a little doom and gloom, well, not only do I not believe in war, I also patients have made it into the show, but in its way, it’s actually oddly uplifting. don’t believe that if you get breast cancer, it’s including that of the producer who inspired Featuring colourful tumours and musical possible for you to just punch yourself in the it. Among them is Lara Veitch - the numbers ranging from slow ballads to disco t**s. It’s your own body and you can’t fight production’s only patient-performer - who floor-fillers, it aims to have audiences yourself, so I started asking where that has the extremely rare condition LFS (Li- laughing and singing along. More language comes from and how it affects Fraumeni Syndrome), meaning she has no importantly, it affords both characters and people. And then what happens when we tumour suppressant genes. Still in her 20s, viewers the freedom to be normal human don’t talk about it like that.” she’s already had six different kinds of beings. As Kimmings’ co-writer, Brian Lobel, cancer, making her one of the most The initial idea for the show came out of a rather brilliantly says in talks to cancer invaluable contributors to the ‘guide’, and is meeting with theatre company Complicite, patients, ‘I hope you’re as mediocre at the jokingly described by Kimmings as ‘Super who had invited her to pitch them some end of this experience as you were at the Cancer Girl’. ideas. Producer Judith Dimant seemed beginning’. disinterested in her proposals - until During the original run, neither Veitch nor Kimmings made the bold move of asking if Kimmings actually featured in the show - one she’d like to make a show about her illness. undergoing another round of cancer treatment, the other looking after her “She had a bald head and was flinching A Pacifist’s Guide To The War On Cancer severely ill son, an intense and terrifying every time I coughed anywhere near her, so shows at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, period during which the two ended up eventually I just said, ‘Do you have cancer?’ from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 bonding. This time, their joint appearance February.

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Food

Award-winning Thai eatery Sabai Sabai opens its fourth Midlands restaurant The award-winning Sabai Sabai Dykins and her partner, Torquil has opened its fourth Thai Chidwick, the first Sabai Sabai restaurant in the Midlands, its restaurant opened in Moseley, third in Birmingham. with Jureerat’s Thai mum as the The new eatery is housed in the head chef. city centre-located Grade II listed This was followed in 2011 by a building that was formerly the second eatery, in Harborne, and home of Legal & General then a third in Stratford-upon- Assurance Society Limited. Avon in 2016. Founded 14 years ago by Jureerat

The small but well-designed when cut into. It came with rich restaurant area had a luxurious garlic and rosemary dauphinoise yet homely feel. The furniture potatoes and a selection of was stylish and opulent, match- roasted root vegetables. Both ing the rest of the pub’s interior. meats were cooked beautifully Our waiter for the evening, Jake, and accompanied by perfectly was friendly and attentive to- made gravy. The dishes were ex- wards my husband Kevin and I emplary. throughout our time there. His Dessert for myself consisted of knowledge of the food and drink an indulgent chocolate brownie menu was extensive, and he with strawberries, clotted cream made us feel very comfortable. and a hazelnut praline. In my The menu had a good selection opinion, the praline seemed a lit- of meat and vegetarian meals, tle too bitter and didn’t really be- along with varied specials of the long on the plate, but the rest day. There were also numerous more than made up for it. local ales on tap, with samples Kevin had a warm sticky toffee available to help the decision- pudding with ice cream and tof- making process. fee sauce - an oldie but always a We didn’t have long to wait for goodie. our starters. The level of care and All three courses were exception- attention to detail on the plates ally strong. The combination of was impressive. I chose the excellent food, relaxed and Cajun halloumi, my husband friendly ambience and the polite- opting for the seared pigeon ness of the front-of-house staff breast. The halloumi had slight made for an incredibly enjoyable REVIEW: The Royal Oak heat with the spices and roasted evening out. I wouldn’t hesitate peppers, and the pine nuts gave to recommend the restaurant to Evesham pub ably demonstrates why added texture to the dish. Kevin’s others and will definitely be re- it’s a What’s On Readers’ favourite pigeon was smoky and succu- turning there myself in the near lent, with a slightly sweet squash future. Jenny Ell The Royal Oak in Evesham has award, and has been at the Royal puree and crunchy parma ham won the What’s On Readers’ Oak for the last three-and-a-half crisps. Both starters were a good Food: nnnnn Awards ‘Best Restaurant in years. size without being too much Service: nnnnn Worcestershire’ title for the last It was only 5pm on a Saturday prior to the main. Ambience: nnnnn two years under the watchful eye evening when we attended the For the main course, I opted for Overall value nnnnn of award-winning chef Alistair grade two listed venue. Although the pot roast saddle of rabbit OVERALL nnnnn Barlow. Having a great deal of the restaurant part was ex- with flavoursome pork and apri- The Royal Oak experience working in gastrop- tremely quiet, by 5.45pm it was cot stuffing, smooth and creamy 5 Vine Street ubs, Alistair is passionate about almost full. The bar was fairly wholegrain mustard mash and cooking with locally sourced, Evesham busy when we arrived, but the parsnip crisps. Kevin had the Worcestershire ethical ingredients. In 2010, he barman on duty still took the slow-roasted lamb shoulder, WR11 4RE won the Craft Guild of Chefs Pub time to welcome us. which was so tender it fell apart Tel: 01386 442465 Restaurant Chef of the Year whatsonlive.co.uk 11 Food February Birmingham .qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 17:25 Page 3

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Food

Chinese restaurant Warwick’s annual food festival set to expand in 2018 opens in Worcester Warwick’s annual food festival is set to expand Following successful consultation over the past A new Chinese restaurant has opened this year. few weeks with Warwick District Council’s in Angel Street, Worcester. The increasingly popular event will spill into Events Team, we’ve managed to secure U Canteen is situated on the site for- more streets around the town to support the additional streets to accommodate more stalls. merly occupied by Chinese buffet demand in applications. The festival usually takes place on Old Square restaurant Angel Chef, which closed in Commenting on the expansion, Jamie Walker, and finishes at the junction with New Street, 2015. from CJ’s Events Warwickshire, the company but we’re now using Old Square right down to Focusing on traditional Chinese dishes, behind the festival, said: “Just over four years St Mary’s Church and also New Street.” as opposed to adapting to the English ago, we visualised a modest number of food Now in its fourth year, Warwick Food Festival style of cooking, U Canteen’s main and drink stalls, with some music. From this takes place on Sunday 27 May. courses will cost around £7. little idea has grown Warwick Food Festival. Turners At 69 closes Birmingham restaurant Turners At 69 has announced its closure with immediate effect. The popular restaurant held a Michelin star from 2009 to 2017, but lost it last year when head chef Richard Turner changed his approach, replacing elaborate £80 to £90 tasting menus with a more casual style of food. In a statement, Richard said: "The restaurant has enjoyed many wonderful years on the Birmingham dining scene. I would like to apologise to anyone who’ll be disappointed by the closure and extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Turners At 69 over the years." Pieminister create their first vegan pie After nearly a year of mixing, rolling Award-winning street food event coming to Coventry and baking, pie-making company Pieminister have created their first Award-winning street food event vegan pie. Digbeth Dining Club is launching ‘Kevin’ is made with British chestnut a lunch club in Coventry. mushrooms, tomato and red wine with The club will take place at baby onions, red quinoa and thyme. Friargate every first Wednesday The pie, which is registered with the of the month, from 11am to 3pm. Vegan Society and carries their trusted The line-up for the launch event trademark, is available for Midlands ve- on Wednesday 28 February gans to try out in Pieminister’s Birming- includes ‘UK Street Food Awards’ ham and Nottingham restaurants. Best Burger winner The Flying Cows, Middle Eastern deliciousness from The Middle Feast, imaginative Caribbean from Esmies, amazing sourdough woodfired pizza from Handmade Pizza Co and the crispiest churros, hot chocolate and coffee served by Bare Bones Churros’. The free event will also feature music, and stalls from Digbeth Arts Market. whatsonlive.co.uk 13 GIGS February Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:44 Page 1 mica paris Lauren Foster talks to singing sensation Mica Paris ahead of her tribute to Ella Fitzgerald...

You’re bringing your Mica Paris Sings Ella What’s your favourite Ella song? into this big, glamorous world where money Fitzgerald tour to Birmingham’s Jam House My favourite isn’t well known, actually. It’s was no object. Everything was dinner, every- this month. How did the tour come about? called You’re My Thrill. A lot of people have body took you out for dinner all the time. I It wasn’t really planned. Guy Barker and I covered that song - a lot of jazz musicians. got thrust into this music business world of went in his studio with his 70-piece orchestra When she sings that song, it’s just unbeliev- just really posh, upmarket dinners, big living, and we decided to record two songs for the able. limousines, bodyguards - it was a heavy Ella centennial. Then everyone went bloody thing. mental. The next minute we end up doing all Vocally, have you had to put into practice any these shows - Royal Albert Hall, Love new or different techniques? Did you enjoy all of that? Supreme. It was a little side thing and it’s No, I’ve never been trained. They found out I I loved it! It was what I was supposed to do - blown up into this. Now we’re making an could sing when I was six years old. I was it wasn’t even a shock. A lot of the time I was album of Mica Paris Sings Ella Fitzgerald singing Rupert The Bear. I went in for my first nervous about stuff, but I used to pretend I with Guy’s orchestra. competition when I was 10 and won. Then I could do it because my dad would always started winning all the competitions and be- say, ‘Don’t let people see that you’re terrified, Have you always been a fan of Ella’s? came this little prodigy, and that’s where it just always act like you know what you’re Yes! I grew up in a church and lived with my kind of all started. Jazz is so exposed - you doing.’ Thank god I had him as a teacher. I grandparents, but my dad and my mother can’t go in there singing it willy nilly. I don’t know if I could’ve got through all of it would take us at weekends. My dad would al- wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t good at it - not that had he not given me those pointers. ways play Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and I’m trying to blow smoke up my bum, but jazz people like that in the car. When I heard Ella, is something you can’t cheat at. You have to You’ve worked with numerous respected I kind of lost it. I’d seen her on TV - she had be bloody good at it. artists, from Prince to Jools Holland to David this advert, and back then there weren’t Gilmore. Who’s been your favourite? many black people on TV, so it was like, What’s the highlight of your career so far? I really loved working with Prince! When I ‘Wow, there’s a black person on television, The fact that I’m still here - 30 years this year, was 15, I had to hide his records under my and she’s singing and she breaks the glass.’ I and I’m still here. That’s a bit of a shock. bed because if my grandparents had seen remember seeing her and thinking, “I wanna Jesus Christ, I’m still making a living out of them, I would’ve been finished. I was 18 smash that glass.’ I was only about seven. My this. I’ve never had a job - this is the only job when he called me up on stage at one of his dad started to tell me about how amazing she I’ve ever had. I’m really grateful that people private concerts. I almost passed out, I could- was, so I really got into her. still find me remotely interesting. It’s quite n’t even breathe. He said, ‘I think we have nice. Mica Paris here, but she’s not from France,’ and it was like, ‘Oh my god, he knows my You released your debut platinum-selling name.’ The last place I saw him was the first album, So Good, when you were just 19 years place we met. I knew he was thin. Prince was old… really fit, he was always very muscular. He I got signed at 17, it took us a year to make looked really gaunt and he didn’t say much, it and we released it when I was 18. By but I still didn’t think he was going to die! the time it hit number one, I was 19. It Bobby Womack was another great one who I takes time when you release a record. worked with too. He was a great friend of When you had a hit record back mine for many years. I lost him a year ago too then, that shit was on the radio for - that was really sad. a good six months to a year. That’s how it used to be - it was long. And finally, what does the future hold for Mica Paris? How did you cope with it all? My second book will be finished in summer, I quit college and I got roasted and I’m going to be making another record of by my grandparents. Jesus! new songs. I’m still doing Radio Two - I’ve got I was doing my A-Level Art a show on there. The new show I’m doing is & Design, but I was also about women in music. The book is about making £1,000 a week women in music as well. Everything I’m doing backing vocals. doing now is about women and how we’ve It was very strange survived the industry. having the first massive cheque written to you, and coming Mica Paris Sings Ella Fitzgerald takes from the hood and place at The Jam House, Birmingham, on suddenly being thrust Thursday 15 February.

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Gigs

Tony Allen Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 8 February The legendary drummer of the iconic Fela Kuti, Tony Allen returns to his jazz roots on his visit to Coventry this month. Described by Brian Eno as “perhaps the greatest drummer who’s ever lived”, Allen was one of the pri- mary co-founders of the afrobeat genre. Support comes from Nubiyan Twist, whose style draws on jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, latin, soul, reggae and dance music.

Kitty Macfarlane make her debut EP, Tide & Time. It was released the following year and met with rave Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 23 February reviews... Among Kitty’s other career high- Morrissey In 2015, Somerset-based singer-songwriter lights are support sets for Seth Lakeman, Genting Arena, Birmingham, Tues 27 February Kitty Macfarlane teamed up with acclaimed Alasdair Roberts, Rachel Sermanni and Revered by many, reviled by some, Morrissey folk artist Sam Kelly (winner of the BBC Blair Dunlop, to name but a few, and a BBC has been performing and recording as a solo Radio Two Horizon Folk Award 2016) to Young Folk Award nomination. artist since The Smiths broke up in 1987. His sensitive, melancholic persona and poetic, literate lyrics spoke directly to a generation of disaffected young people in the 1980s, Sunjay Jaya The Cat The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, Mon 12 February elevating him to the status of icon and guar- Evesham Arts Centre, Thurs 22 February anteeing a solid fan base in the decades Stourbridge-based singer-songwriter Sunjay Amsterdam’s finest drunk-reggae-punks hit which have followed. last year played the lead role in touring the- Worcester this month. Originating from He stops off in Birmingham on his first full atre show Buddy Holly & The Cricketers. Boston, the band have released four full- UK tour since 2015, giving fans the chance to Now focusing on his solo career, Sunjay’s length albums and undergone multiple line- hear tracks from recently released album Low new show blends exquisite blues, country up changes since their inception in 1998. In High School. and folk music with a master class in guitar The current line-up comprises founder and playing. There may even be the occasional lead Geoff Lagadec, Karl Smith on guitar & Buddy Holly song to enjoy too. vocals, Jan Jaap ‘Jay’ Onverwagt on bass & vocals and David ‘The Germ’ Germain on drums. Steve Knightley Featuring ‘reggae, punk, ska, a splash of Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Fri 9 February electronics and a sprig of dub’, this high-en- Award-winning songwriter and Show Of ergy show is not to be missed. Hands frontman Steve Knightley stops off in Worcester on highly anticipated solo tour Songs & Stories, inviting his audience on a musical journey that charts ‘the winding roads’ of his impressive career. In a rare glimpse into the personal playlist of a songwriting legend, Knightley also pays tribute to some of the musicmakers who’ve influenced him along the way, from Bob Dylan through to Radiohead and beyond. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Classical February Warwickshire_Worcestershire.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:24 Page 1 Classical February Warwickshire_Worcestershire.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:24 Page 2

Classical

Roderick Williams And The English Song Stratford Artshouse, Tues 13 February; Birmingham Town Hall, Wed 14 February; Worcester Cathedral, Fri 6 April Outstanding British baritone Roderick Williams (pictured) here joins forces with Stratford-upon-Avon’s Orchestra of the Swan to present a programme comprising compositions by Vaughan Williams, Ger- ald Finzi and John Ireland. Patrycja Pieczara, one of Poland’s most outstanding young conductors and a rising international star, is the lady with the baton.

Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 28 February The Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Valery Polyansky are here joined by internet sensation Valentina Lisitsa (pictured), a woman whose staggering 80 million- plus Youtube hits have made her one of the most-watched pianists in history. Valentina joins the orchestra for a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto. One of the most loved of all Russian concertos, it takes its place in a programme that also features highlights from all three of Tchaikovsky’s great ballets - Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker - as well as the composer’s Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.

Arcadia String Quartet English Symphony Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Orchestra Fri 16 February Leon McCawley Malvern Theatre, Thurs 15 February Having last played Leamington in 2013, it’s Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 9 February fair to say Arcadia’s appearance at the A regular visitor to Artrix, pianist Leon town’s Royal Pump Rooms this month is McCawley this month plays the venue as long overdue. Widely considered to be one part of the 2017/18 Bromsgrove Concerts of the most exciting string quartets of their season. generation, the award-winning Romanian As well as works by Haydn, Schubert and ensemble here present a concert featuring Beethoven, his programme also includes works by Haydn, Bartók and Beethoven. short pieces by Hans Gal, whose complete The concert forms part of the 2017/18 Leam- piano works Leon recorded back in 2004. ington Music season.

Formed in the mid-1970s, the English Sym- phony Orchestra is based in Edward Elgar’s home town of Worcester, and not surprisingly has a rich history of performing the composer’s work. On this particular occa- sion, however, the orchestra is turning its attention to pieces by three other legendary names, presenting Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Schumann’s Third Symphony and Brahms’ Violin Concerto. They are joined for the latter by violinist Chloe Hanslip (pictured above). whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Tim Vine DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:59 Page 1

18 whatsonlive.co.uk Tim Vine DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:59 Page 2

TIM VINE one of the UK’s top punmakers talks about milking it with wordplay

With Sunset Milk Idiot, the name of his new are probably best the first time or couple of wrong about it. Sometimes there are jokes pun-packed touring show, Tim Vine has done times you hear them.” that I’ve done one way round and it turns out something a bit different. The former star of One thing Tim is most unlikely to do prior to they work better in reverse.” BBC sitcom Not Going Out and a Guinness his tour is pop into his nearest comedy club Tim admits he’d like to do a bit more acting at World Record holder for most jokes told in an and check out the latest offerings of similar some point. As well as Not Going Out and hour, Tim is confident that, try as you might, wordplaying stand-ups. “Me and Milton Tim Vine Travels In Time, he made a brief you won’t be able to find a clever bit of Jones have chats about this sort of thing cameo appearance in Neighbours back in wordplay anywhere in that title. because we hone similar areas, but there’s a 2009. “I was at the Melbourne Comedy “Lots of comedy acts have no puns in their slight wariness about seeing each other’s Festival at the time - I didn’t take the trip all shows but a pun in their title, while I quite show because sometimes it can be a bit the way over there just for one line!” enjoy the fact that I have loads of puns in this uncomfortable waiting to hear a joke that you For now, though, he’s preparing to get in show but none in the title,” says the man might also have. Having said that, I did see amongst his UK fans and make them laugh whose previous shows have had puntabulous his show recently and there weren’t any (albeit with the occasional groan thrown in). names such as Punslinger, The Joke-Amotive moments when I screamed, ‘No! I’m going to Touring, of course, has its ups and downs. and the amusingly elaborate Tim Timinee have to chop that!’” “The upside is that I tour with my gang - John Tim Timinee Tim Tim To You. As with most comedians, when a tour Archer and my tour manager, Andrew “The title of the new show is just describing approaches, there’s a distinct need to put Jobbins - and the three of us have a great what’s on the poster: there’s a bit of a sunset other projects to one side and get on with time. If you’re driving around and staying in colour, and there’s an idiot with some milk writing the new live show. Just before Tim hit hotels, it does help when you’re all very good bottles on his head. The title made us laugh the nation’s roads, the BBC broadcast the friends. If you didn’t like those people, it because the photographer, my tour manager latest instalment of his Tim Vine Travels In wouldn’t be very nice. Generally, when you’re and myself had spent so much time thinking Time comedy, the filming of which took up a on tour, audiences come along because they of a pun for it.” solid period towards the end of 2017. Once already know the kind of thing you do and that programme was in the bag, it gave him While much of contemporary comedy they like it - so when you walk on, you’re the chance to put the hours in on concocting features some sort of autobiographical already in credit a bit. Still, that always some quality gags. element, top punmakers such as Tim are amazes me. I look through a crack in the quite simply on a perpetual hunt for the “Most days I will think of a joke, but I’ll not curtain, see people coming in and I think, finest jokes they can dream up. But once you wake up every morning and immediately ‘Who are these people and why have they have a full hour-plus of gags, there are other start comfort-rocking and yelling out come to see me!?’ The downside of touring is challenges to putting a show together, such different words at the wall. Things will just that it’s very tiring, but I head that off at the as the order you tell those jokes in. occur to me as I’m pottering around, but pass nowadays by having Sundays and “There’s a vague science to this, but you when I’m getting ready for a tour, I have to Mondays off. One of the catchphrases that I certainly make sure there are good ones at make a more concerted effort. So when I see chuck out there in the van is ‘I could live like the beginning and at the end. I finish with a the first dates of a tour looming, suddenly I this’. But, you know, it’s not a bad life.” song, so rather than bringing the house get into a frame of mind where I’m looking down, I try to bring the floor up. My support for things, or I’ll book a room and just write act, John Archer, will do the first half, then all day. And then I try them out on an I’ll do an hour or so, and then maybe the audience. If a joke isn’t going down as well as Tim Vine performs Sunset Milk Idiot at audience will want me to do some jokes I’ve you’d hoped, you try and tinker with it, but Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 16 and done before. I’m happy to do that, but jokes eventually you just have to admit that you’re Saturday 17 February.

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Comedy

Tom Wrigglesworth The Bramall, University of Birmingham, Thurs 15 February Whimsical storytelling and twisted logic, stylishly wrapped in some elegant flourishes of language, are the lifeblood of Chortle Award-winner Tom Wrigglesworth’s highly rated act. Yorkshire-born Tom scored a big hit in Edinburgh a couple of years back, since which time he’s been ploughing all the usual comedy furrows, particularly those available on BBC Radio Four. Likened by the Guardian to Mark Thomas in the way he crusades for social justice, ‘albeit in a more homely fashion’, Tom is here joined by Andy Askins and Freddy Quinne for The Bramall’s latest comedy night.

Stephen Bailey Stafford Gatehouse, Sat 9 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 17 February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Sat 3 March; Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Thurs 8 March Bobby Mair Potty-mouthed comedian Stephen Bailey may not be a household name but he’s cer- Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 9 February; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 17 February; Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Thurs 1 March; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Fri tainly coming up fast on the tracks. 9 March; Stafford Gatehouse, Sat 10 March; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 17 March Having supported Katherine Ryan and Jenny “He's either going to be a huge international comedy star,” says Jimmy Carr of Canadian co- Éclair on sell-out UK tours, he’s now hitting median Bobby Mair, “or the funniest homeless man ever.” the road with his own show, Can’t Think Right about now the safe money’s on Mair becoming massive. A third cousin of Justin Straight. Describing himself as a ‘working- Bieber, Bobby bagged the best newcomer gong at the Canadian Comedy Awards and is class, ginger, gay, northern comic’, Stephen nowadays a familiar face on all manner of UK TV comedy shows. has a black belt in Tae Kwon-Do. He also “I'm like a sober finger in the ass,” says Bobby in describing his comedy style, “a little un- freely admits to loving a conspiracy theory - comfortable at first, but after a while you'll get into it. I’m on the dark side, but I don’t class preferably one involving a celebrity and a myself as a dark comedian - I’m just somebody who loves jokes.” cucumber... Read the interview with Stephen online at whatsonlive.co.uk Mark Steel New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mon 19 February “I started doing stand-up in 1982, around the circuit of bizarre gigs,” recalls highly regarded writer and comedian Mark Steel. “I’d go on after jugglers and escapologists and people that banged nails into their ear. “Since then, I’ve spoken at lots of demonstrations, union meetings, protests and benefits - and yet capitalism still seems to rule the world. Maybe I’m a jinx!” A well-established performer on the UK comedy circuit, Mark’s CV includes the BAFTA- nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC Two, BBC One’s Have I Got News For You and Radio Four’s News Quiz. He visits the Potteries with his latest touring show, Every Little Thing’s Gonna Be Alright.

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Phil Wang Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 21 February; The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Thurs 22 February; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 24 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 4 March Phil Wang’s first ever five minutes behind the mic as a standup comedian were spent telling other people’s gags. “I thought standup was like karaoke with jokes,” he recalls. “Most of the material I used was stolen, but I learned fast and immediately started writing my own material.” Inspired to become a comedian by his desire to avoid having to get up in the mornings, Phil describes his style of humour as smart, cheeky but always changing.

Lefty Scum Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 16 February; MAC, Birmingham, Tues 27 February “We welcome people of all political persua- ferred to by comedian pal Nish Kumar as ‘the sions,” say Lefty Scum, “but we will probably David Bowie of standup’. Nish used the de- take the piss out of you if you’re a Tory!” scription on account of the 35-year-old Coming together for an evening of music, hu- comic’s impressive capacity for reinventing mour and revolutionary socialism are British herself. Comedy Award nominees Jonny & The Bap- Josie’s jokes include: “When I was a kid, I Stewart Lee tists and acclaimed protest musician Grace asked my mum what a couple was and she Stratford Arts House, Tues 20 February; Petrie. They’re joined by Edinburgh Comedy said, ‘Oh, two or three”. And she wonders Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Weds 21 Award nominee Josie Long, a woman once re- why her marriage didn’t work out...” February Shropshire-born Stewart Lee makes a welcome return to the Midlands with critically acclaimed touring show Content Provider. Sean Lock Stewart first shot to fame courtesy of his partnership with Richard Herring, and then Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 27 February later scored a massive international hit with the musical, Jerry Springer The Opera. Although Sean Lock is best known from the Chan- His style of comedy won't make for the most nel Four panel game 8 Out Of 10 Cats, on which he comfortable ride, but he's thought-provok- appeared as a team captain for 10 years, he's also ing, funny and memorable, so suffering the picked up the odd gong or two for his stand-up, so a odd moment that makes you feel awkward night in his company is always a surefire bet for a is a small price to pay for a great night out. big barrel of laughs. He’s visiting Birmingham this month with his latest touring show, Keep It Light. Jokes include: “So what if Jesus turned water into wine? I turned a whole student loan into Vodka once. Your move, Jesus...” and “I’m in therapy at the moment. I don’t need it, obviously, but I got all these psychiatrist gift vouchers for Christmas which my family clubbed together for. What I wanted was a cross- bow...”

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Stephen Bailey.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 15:00 Page 1

Stephen Bailey

Potty-mouthed comedian Stephen Bailey Is there a place and time where you’re societal sphere that we don’t feel equal. Gay may not be a household name, but he’s cer- most creative? people still feel on the fringes and not fully tainly coming up fast on the tracks. Having Every time when I want my brain to shut off! accepted. We still don’t feel comfortable supported Katherine Ryan and Jenny Éclair Last year, I wrote my Edinburgh Fringe show holding hands with our partner in the street. on sell-out UK tours, he’s now hitting the whilst I was on holiday in July, and I was per- I may have a white straight man telling me road with his own show, Can’t Think Straight. forming it in August. It was very last minute, it’s fine to be gay now - thank you for that in- Describing himself as ‘a working-class, gin- but it was brilliant. It’s this tour show I’m sight, Richard Hammond - but it won’t be ger, gay, northern comic’, Stephen has a doing now. I find that when I’m supposed to until someone feels safe to hold their part- black belt in Tae Kwon-Do. He also freely ad- be switched off is when I’m actually at my ner’s hand in the street, without actually mits to loving a conspiracy theory - prefer- best - everywhere that you don’t have a thinking about it, that people will be able to ably one involving a celebrity and a notepad or your phone to make notes - like stop marching and talking about it. I’ve tried cucumber... when I’m on the toilet, or in the shower, or to write articles for the Guardian or the Metro when I’m in the pool on holiday. You can and they just won’t take them. But if the articles were about race or feminism, they abso- When did you decide you were funny? guarantee that the minute my phone dies, I’ll come up with about 10 brilliant ideas, and I’ll lutely would. Once again it’s straight people Well, I still don’t know if I’ve figured that out, have to recite them in my head until I get a telling us that everything’s fine for us now to be honest. I was quite a shy person, but phone charger. and we don’t need to feel that way. when I moved to London, I decided I had to come out of my shell because I didn’t know anyone there at the time. So I joined a cre- You’re heading out on your first solo tour. What makes you ‘everyone’s gay best ative writing course. Someone there said that What excites you the most about this, and friend’? I should do stand-up comedy because they what are your concerns? I don’t know! That was a quote about me in a thought I was quite funny when one-to-one. Let me tell you, my bowels haven’t been the review. When I’m on stage I’m very sassy and So that’s how that happened. same since I agreed to this tour. I’m very ex- very roasty. I’m surprised people leave my cited because the show went really well at shows even wanting to be my best friend. I think sometimes, especially with girls and When and where was your first ever com- the Edinburgh Fringe and when I supported gays, I go after straight men so much that I edy gig? Katherine Ryan. I keep thinking that it’s going to be great, but I’m concerned about think maybe people like the flip of power or It was in 2011 in a room above a pub in Le- whether anybody is going to come. something. For someone who can’t think icester Square. It only had 20 people in, but it straight, I can talk straight. I’m very straight- was so small that 20 people meant it had sold talking. I hate doing the things that people out. I just did a lot of material comparing my The tour is called Can’t Think Straight. think a gay best friend loves. I don’t want to housemate’s vagina to a Sunday roast. It Why can’t you? sit and do your makeup, I don’t want to go went really well. Because I don’t know what straight people shopping. I certainly don’t want to talk about are thinking nowadays. Let’s look at politics, your troubles. I want to talk about mine, and Who was the funniest person you knew for example. Straight people are in charge I don’t want to be your sidekick. growing up? and it’s not working out for me. I think behind every straight person, there’s a brilliant Oh, it still is my mum. She’s ridiculous. She What’s been your most memorable gig? gay best friend and they make great deci- comes out with lots of ‘mum-isms’. The stuff sions. So I think they need to run the world if Well, the best gig I’ve done, being a Manch- about her in my show, I don’t have to edit it. I they’re ever given the opportunity to. ester boy, was when I opened for Katherine just say it as it is. Ryan at The Lowry in Salford. I was able to do proper local material about growing up in the Your comedy provides a platform from Who’s been your biggest inspiration? area. It was brilliant because there were so which you can talk about LGBT rights. If many people. The reaction was great because That’s a tough question! When I was growing you could influence any one piece of LGBT it made me feel like I could do it forever. That up, I watched Popstars: The Rivals and saw legislation, which would it be? was a nice feeling. But the opposite was my Girls Aloud go from little chubby chavs to Oh my god, that’s a tough question! Do you fourth ever gig, where I was really nervous. pop princesses. I wanted that to happen to know what I’d like? My friend said this to me I’d drunk three bottles of wine before I went me. So yeah, Girls Aloud. the other day. With a lot of things in the law, on stage, thinking it would calm my nerves. It we’ve pretty much got equality. It’s just in the was at this prestigious venue in London, the Stephen Bailey.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 15:00 Page 2

Comedy Café. I walked on stage and fell into If you weren’t a comedian, what would the microphone, which fell into the audience. you be? By the time I’d reset the stage, I had, like, a Well, I worked at Sainsbury’s for six years, so minute left of my set! I’d probably still be there. I really loved it there. How important is celebrity and fame? I always joke about being famous, but I just Finally, what wise piece of advice would want to be successful. Last year I managed to you offer to someone hoping to follow a book two holidays thanks to being a come- similar career path to yourself? dian. That was brilliant; it meant I was living Don’t do it - there’s more money in finance. I a normal life from doing my dream job. I would say that, one, you have to really, really want to have a mortgage, so that means I love it. When you’re sat on a train station have to save up through my job, but comedy platform by yourself, it’s not fun. And is so expensive to do. I don’t need to be fa- two, buy a decent travel pillow. mous per se, but the TV stuff I do helps me You’re always on trains, so top up my bank account. I absolutely have no make it as comfortable as dream to be a celebrity, but I enjoy doing a possible! mix of it all, just because it means one day I can have that mortgage. Stephen Bailey visits the Gatehouse, What’s your guilty pleasure? Stafford, on Friday 9 Soaps. I love Coronation Street, EastEnders February; Guildhall, and Emmerdale when I know there’s going to Derby, on Saturday 10 be a good storyline. I think it’s real life some- February; Warwick times. For instance, someone got shot in Arts Centre, Coven- Coronation Street the other week and died. try, on Saturday 17 They’d kept it so secret that you weren’t pre- February; The Brew- pared for it, and I was like, “Holy fuck balls!” dog, Leicester, on I couldn’t sleep that night because I was Friday 23 February; thinking how he must’ve felt, because he did- Slade Rooms, n’t die straight away. They set the car on fire, Wolverhampton, so he died from that. How awful! on Thursday 8 March and Glee Club, Birming- What’s been your worst ever heckle? ham, on Friday I’m really lucky, I don’t really get heckled. I 30 March. think because I get so mouthy, people get scared. The two I have had were both a bit weird. I was in Edinburgh, and whenever I do a comedy club, I like to see who’s in my audience so that I can figure out how far I can go. When I asked, “Where’s my gays?” some voice from the back of the room shouted, “Dead! Like they should be!” I just didn’t know what to say. The other time was in Birmingham when I’d just walked on stage. Before I’d even had the chance to open my mouth, someone shouted, “Gay as fuck!” How gay is fuck?... But yeah, I don’t normally get heckled. Vamos Theatre.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:58 Page 1 Putting On A Brave Face

The artistic director of Vamos Theatre, Rachael Savage, talks about the company’s latest production

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by Jenny Ell

With a tour of a new production each year, Guardian newspaper, was about a young ex- work absolutely needs to be realistic, telling a Worcestershire-based full mask wordless military man whose parents didn’t know he story in a theatrical way means a few rules theatre company Vamos open A Brave Face at had a problem until they found him in the need to be bent - otherwise the piece the London Mime Festival in February, prior wheelie bin at 3am. It’s stories like this one becomes a documentary. to an extensive UK and European tour. that provide pictures in Savage’s head, The incredible number of venues being causing questions to be raised. “I’m a really The show tackles the emotional subject of visited on the show’s tour is testament to visual person, and as soon as I see a post-traumatic stress and has been over two Vamos’s nationwide following. Savage frightened, terrified young man hiding in a years in the making, in collaboration with particularly enjoys performing close to home: wheelie bin, I know that it would make a British war veterans and their extended “We always sell out at the Worcester Swan good full mask scene.” support networks. Theatre, and it’s wonderful playing to our Vamos held a mask-making residency at Help home crowd.” As artistic director and writer/director of A For Heroes, working with four ex-military Brave Face, Rachael Savage’s CV is certainly She recalls performing at The Torch in people living with PTS. “I was inspired by the impressive. Even prior to her setting up Milford Haven, Wales, for the first time, when men’s work ethic - fast and efficient, listening Vamos over a decade ago, she worked for there were only about 12 people in the hard and taking orders. They worked so Trestle (the world’s leading full mask theatre audience - and one of those was the theatre’s diligently, and then I realised that they were company at the time) as a performer, artistic director! However, they loved the military.” assistant director and director of the Trestle show so much that they pleaded with the Young People’s Theatre, before leaving when Their fragility made Savage want to do more board to allow Vamos to return, even though they stopped doing full mask theatre - her research with them. One man in particular the theatre lost money first time round. The passion since the age of 12. Vamos gave has read through every version of the show, company’s shows there have sold out ever Savage the ability to put into practice helping and supporting Vamos over the last since. everything that she had learned and to year. “I’ve been humbled by his honesty and Last year saw Vamos become a National establish her own company brand, looking generosity in sharing his fears, traumas, Portfolio Organisation, a status that ensures in-depth at social and political subject matter hopes and, ultimately, his journey.” regular funding from the Arts Council. “Now rather than solely playing for laughs. You would’ve thought that writing and that we have this secure footing, over the With her enthusiasm radiating throughout directing a wordless show would bring with it next four years we look forward to building our conversation, Savage clearly loves the additional challenges, but Savage doesn’t see more exciting partnerships with venues and variety that her job provides. “I even enjoy it that way. For her, it’s just exciting. “You get working with new artists.” looking at the management accounts!” she to give a voice to people who don’t have one,” Three Cirque du Soleil clowns worked with gushes. From directing and devising in the she enthuses. the company last year, and Savage is excited rehearsal room, to performing and running Because there’s no dialogue, the show’s about the prospect of more people wanting to training courses for non-art professionals, music is a massively important factor. Having be a part of Vamos. there’s no doubt that Vamos is a ‘passion once auditioned Savage for a job at Trestle project’ for Savage: “I love working with Constantly watching the news, Savage is Theatre Company, composer and script people who relate to the ethos of our work always searching for new production ideas. consultant Janie Armour is now a regular and the way in which we communicate She mentions her interest in the plight of creative within the Vamos family. “I’ve without words.” refugees and the UK’s current small island worked with Janie on every single show in attitude with Brexit going forward. She also She also feels that her time performing as Joy, different companies I’ve been with. It’s the recalls a recent news story about Africa’s a dementia sufferer, in the company’s best gift to receive Janie’s interpretation population being set to double by 2050, and Finding Joy production, has enabled her to musically.” the huge impact such an enormous increase empathise more with the actors. “Getting Having tackled dementia in Finding Joy and will have on the rest of the world. “I’m behind one of those horrible pieces of sweaty now PTS in A Brave Face, Savage feels a huge interested in big global themes such as PTS plastic makes you realise what you can and responsibility when exploring subjects that and dementia but also in the individual can’t do, and makes you an actor’s director.” really impact on people’s lives. “It’s what I stories of people who want a voice.” New production A Brave Face came about feel most anxious about - not letting people when the artistic director of the Mercury down.” Theatre Colchester, Daniel Buckroyd, A series of workshops with invited audiences A Brave Face shows at Warwick Arts approached Vamos about working on a co- lead up to the premiere of a new production. Centre, Coventry, on Wed 22 February; production. Due to Colchester being a For A Brave Face, army veterans and people Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South military garrison town, this gave Savage an with PTS have been invited into the rehearsal Shropshire, Fri 9 March; New Vic Theatre, angle to research. Pretty quickly the topic of room. One veteran in particular has provided Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mon 12 March; post-traumatic stress (PTS) came to the the kind of straight-talking, no-nonsense MAC, Birmingham, Wed 14 March; Arena forefront. “I wasn’t very aware of PTS before, approach that’s essential to ensuring the Theatre, Wolverhampton, 15 & 16 March; and to be honest, it wasn’t something that I material is accurate. “‘Well you wouldn’t do Malvern Theatre, Thurs 29 - Fri 30 March; knew I cared about until I started reading that, that’s stupid!’ has now become a Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 25 & stories about people affected.” regular phrase in the rehearsal room!” smiles Thurs 26 April; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 27 One of the first stories Savage read, in the Savage. She also notes that although the April

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Shrek The Musical it. Pretty much retelling the story of the first movie, it peddles a line in humour that calls to mind both the surrealist Pythons and an evening New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 14 - Sun 25 February of festive-season pantomime fare. The popularity of this family-friendly West Ender hardly comes as a There are plenty of new songs to enjoy too, presented alongside cult surprise. After all, Dreamworks’ animated Shrek movies, inspired by Shrek anthem I’m A Believer, originally a chart-topping hit for The cartoonist William Steig's 1990 book, were absolutely huge. It was Monkees way back in 1966/67. only ever going to be a matter of time before everybody’s favourite All in all, then, a feelgood show that pretty much touches all the swamp-residing ogre made a big splash away from the silver screen. bases for its young target audience, at the same time offering plenty to After a tentative Broadway start, the production was revised for its keep the adults amused. subsequent US tour and West End residency - and is all the better for In other words, bag yourself a ticket now.

Crimes Under The Sun The play is set in the year 1663, with the ac- The Winslow Boy Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 28 February; tion unfolding backstage in a Restoration The REP, Birmingham, Lichfield Garrick, Sat 17 March playhouse. When Charles II allows women on Wed 21 February - Sat 3 March When a scandal-inducing femme fatale mys- stage for the first time, four actresses sud- teriously loses her life at a secluded island denly find themselves becoming household hotel just off the English coast, suspicion in- names. But behind the scenes, as the friend- evitably falls on the other guests - but per- ship between them develops, so too does the haps not everybody on the idyllic island has rivalry... been accounted for... Four actors play multiple characters in this lively new production inspired by the stories of Agatha Christie, the genre of film noir and The actor who played the villainous Rob the movies of Alfred Hitchcock. Presented by Titchener in Radio Four’s The Archers ap- the award-winning New Old Friends. pears in this brand new version of Terence Rattigan’s classic family drama. Timothy Watson hit the headlines when he Playhouse Creatures starred as Rob in The Archers’ controversial New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, storyline about domestic abuse. Fri 2 - Sat 24 February He appears in The Winslow Boy alongside ‘Bawdy comedy, theatrical flair and emo- Tessa Peake-Jones (BBC 1’s Only Fools And tional poignancy’ are the key ingredients of Horses, ITV’s Grantchester) and Aden Gillett this 1993 feminist offering from April De An- (BBC 1’s The House Of Elliot). gelis. 24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 2 Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Mamma Mia! sent and correct in this blockbuster offering. Abba boys Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were both involved in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 6 - Sat 24 February the development of the show, while Anni-Frid Lyngstad - she’s the This legendary show is of course a nicely contrived vehicle for the dark one - contributed in a financial capacity. chart-topping music of 1970s Super Troupers Abba. A 2008 movie version received a thumbs up from many if not most of The Swedish Fab Four scored mega-hit after mega-hit with catchy Mamma Mia!’s adoring fans - despite former James Bond star Pierce numbers like Waterloo, Dancing Queen, The Name Of The Game, The Brosnan having been given, rather unwisely, a Licence to Sing... Winner Takes It All and Take A Chance On Me - all of which are pre-

Kanada The Strange Case Of Brief Encounter The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde The REP, Birmingham, Fri 2 - Sat 17 February Tues 6 - Sat 10 February Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 14 - Fri 16 February Dr Jekyll is not himself! Robert Louis Steven- son’s gothic novella is a dark, twisted tale of love, redemption and the seductive power of evil. A bonafide literary classic, it tells the story of a brilliant but obsessive scientist whose sadistic alter-ego wreaks havoc and Ten years after its 2008 premiere, Kneehigh mayhem on the cobbled streets of Victorian Theatre’s spectacular stage adaptation of London... Blackeyed Theatre are the highly Brief Encounter returns to the venue where it rated company behind this latest incarnation all started. of the famous fog-bound fantasy. Much like the 1945 David Lean film that inspired it - in which the thrill of an illicit trip to the pictures is what kicks off the quiet romance between the separately married Alec and Laura - the production feels like a love letter to the magic of the cinema. “On a really practical level,” says writer and A brand new play telling the story of two Jew- ish prisoners in the Second World War Nazi director Emma Rice, “it used to have an concentration camp of Auschwitz, Kanada is interval but doesn’t now, so it runs more like being presented by the Old Joint Stock in as- a film. I remember rewatching the film after sociation with Lying Lips Theatre Company. I’d made it and thinking there was something The play has been written in honour of the extraordinary about following this journey Holocaust survivors, one of whom, Zigi Ship- from beginning to end without getting off - a per, will be attending the opening night. bit like being on a train.”

26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 4 David Baddiel Rewritten version.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:27 Page 1 David Baddiel Rewritten version.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:27 Page 2

by Jenny Ell

DAVIDtalks family, Frank Skinner, andBADDIEL fantasy football...

David Baddiel can turn his hand to virtually just liked the fame part,” he explains. scored a massive TV hit with their Fantasy anything. As well as being a much-loved Football League show. They even recorded a My Family: Not The Sitcom was incredibly comedian, he’s had great success as a chart-topping song called Three Lions - the successful at the Menier Chocolate Factory novelist, screenwriter and TV presenter. official ‘anthem’ of the England football team and in the West End back in 2016, earning He’s now going back to stand-up, to take his during the Euro 96 championships. David an Olivier Award nomination. If you Olivier Award-nominated one-man show - My were fortunate enough to have caught the So after all these years, are they still close Family: Not The Sitcom - on tour around the show in London, you’d be forgiven for friends? “Frank lives in my road!” laughs UK. assuming that you’d already seen everything David. “He lives 10 doors down from me. He’s As its title suggests, the show is a comedy it has to offer. Not so, however. The show has always doing that! It’s a very expensive form based on stories about his family - or, more evolved significantly over the last couple of of stalking!” specifically, about his parents - and his own years, not least because David has gleaned Given the success the pair enjoyed in the experiences of growing up in the 1970s. more information about his parents - some past, would they ever contemplate teaming “My mum was mental,” says David, “an from people who’ve been to see him perform. up again? “We talked about doing Fantasy extreme personality - obsessive, sexual and “Even the niece of the person my mum had Football at the last World Cup but decided very interested in golf because she had a an affair with has come to see the show,” he against it in the end. It turned out to be the long-term, fantastical, crazy, ‘in the moment’ says. “Three times!” right decision because England played so affair with a golfing memorabilia salesman. On a more serious note, David hopes that badly. Not ideal for a comedy show whereby She died in 2014, and at her funeral a lot of anybody attending the show who, like you pin the response of the audience on how people were telling me that my mother was himself, has a close relative with dementia, well England are going to do!” wonderful. That gave me a sense that no one will feel more comfortable talking about the really knew her - it’s just something people David may have many a string to his bow in a illness afterwards. “I want people to know say at funerals. My mum was wonderful, but professional sense, but he struggles to decide it’s alright to talk about it, and it’s alright to not in that way!” which of them he enjoys the most. “I think laugh about it.” I’m just one thing, really, and that’s a David’s dad suffers from dementia. “He’s a David hasn’t been on tour since 2013, when storyteller. Everything I do is storytelling in complete nutcase and a very sweary and he travelled the length and breadth of the different forms. And I’m weirdly happy with cantankerous man!” country with his show Fame: Not The Musical everything I’ve done. My aim when I’m on Despite such brutally honest assessments of (there’s a definite theme in evidence in the stage is to be as much like I actually am as his parents, the New York-born comedian titles of his stand-up gigs!). Although he possible. It’s not much different to coming clearly retains an enormous fondness for enjoys touring, he admits to finding it quite a round to my house for a chat!” both of them. Even so, the more he reveals, lonely experience nowadays. “In the very old the more evident it becomes that home life days, I used to tour with Rob Newman and do was a far from ideal experience for him and shows with Frank Skinner - that would be David Baddiel brings My Family: Not The his brothers. His parents certainly didn’t stop more of a laugh!” Sitcom to New Alexandra Theatre, living their own lives once they had children - And speaking of Frank Skinner... It’s via his Birmingham, on Wednesday 28 February; and when David became well known, television work with the West Bromwich-born Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, on although his mum attended his every gig, she funnyman that David achieved real celebrity. Wednesday 28 March; and Dudley Town didn’t really engage with the material. “She Back in the ‘lad era’ of the 1990s, the pair Hall on Thursday 19 April. Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Jersey Boys Don't Cry, Sherry and December 1963 (Oh, What A Night). This massive jukebox musical tells their story. Taking a documentary- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 6 - Sat 17 February; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 28 August - Sat 8 September style format, the show is structured as four ‘seasons’, each being nar- rated by a different member of the band. Rockin’ and rollin’ New Jersey boys Frankie Valli And The Four Sea- The Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning production is visiting sons scored some truly massive hits during the mid-1960s, with best- the Midlands as part of a UK tour. known numbers including Walk Like A Man, Bye Bye Baby, Big Girls

Great Expectations A Pandemonium Of Poe Black Men Walking Malvern Theatre, Thurs 15 - Sat 17 February Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 10 February Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 7 - Sat 10 February A not-to-be-missed evening of fear-filled fiction for fans of Edgar Allen Poe, Don’t Go Into Black Men Walking is the first nationally The Cellar’s latest touring production has touring play to emerge from the Revolution been garnering plenty of positive reviews on Mix initiative - a three-year movement spear- its travels during the last few months. heading the largest ever countrywide delivery The sinister Dr Trevellyan is the host for an of Black British stories. evening visit to the Sanitorium, where a jour- Produced by Eclipse Theatre - the UK’s fore- ney into the deepest recesses of the human most Black-led national production company psyche awaits... - in collaboration with the Royal Exchange, the show focuses on regular Saturday morning walking companions Thomas, Matthew Translunar Paradise and Richard, three men who, on one particular ramble, ‘find themselves forced to walk Great Expectations is perhaps one of Charles Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Dickens' most popular novels, and is cer- Tues 27 February backwards through two thousand years before they can move forwards’. tainly one of his best known. The award-winning Theatre Ad Infinitum Following an encounter with the terrifying make a welcome return to Warwick Arts Cen- convict Magwitch, a young lad named Pip tre with this poignant and life-affirming tale, finds himself embarking on an adventure told without words. that leads him not only to the big city, but When Rose passes away, her husband also to encounters with the chilling Estella, William finds himself rejecting the reality of the manipulative Jaggers, and the tragic and his grief in favour of fantasy and past memo- mysterious Miss Havisham... ries. As his bereavement weighs him down, Olivier Award-winning actress Nichola Rose returns from beyond the grave to per- McAuliffe stars. form one final act of enduring love...

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whatsonlive.co.uk 29 Hairspray.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:28 Page 1 Hairspray.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:28 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid Bubblegum fun...... but there’s more to Hairspray than meets the eye

It’s 1962 and in Tracy Turnblad’s Baltimore about watching it and wanting to be part of it and encourages her to do the kinds of moves hometown, massive hairdos, dancing the one day!” that get her onto The Corny Collins Show. twist and Corny Collins’ daytime dance show He’s really supportive and helps to give her But there are also more uncomfortable are the hottest tickets in teen culture. In some the confidence to go for it. Also, when he parallels. In the show, Tracy and her mother ways, life for this starry-eyed girl starts out as falls in love with Penny, having a mixed-race are mocked and taunted for their size, while big and bright and breezy as a bubblegum couple becomes a really central part of the in the racially segregated 1960s, black balloon - but there’s trouble bubbling just show. Actually, when you think about it, the dancers like Tracy’s friend Seaweed can only beneath the surface. As Tracy grows up and show is kind of all about me!” perform on certain days, away from their wakes up to the everyday injustices in her white friends and peers. Today, such Yet what makes Hairspray such a delight is neighbourhood, it looks as though her discrimination is illegal, yet even now, actors the fact that, as Rebecca Mendoza puts it, it’s bubble might be set to burst. of colour regularly decry the relative lack of told in such a fun, lighthearted way. There Shimmying and shaking into Wolverhampton opportunities available in some areas of the may be an important message at its core, but Grand this month (and Stoke’s Regent industry. it’s so well wrapped up in a whirlwind of Theatre in the summer), much-loved musical vibrant 1960s colour, witty dialogue, “I kind of got lucky with my first role as a kid, Hairspray arrives against a backdrop of irresistible tunes and spectacular so I haven’t really faced the same struggles online echo chambers and political change choreography, that it never once feels that a lot of people do,” says Layton that make its revelations - as well as its preachy, and is guaranteed to win over even Williams, who plays Seaweed. “But even cheerily optimistic message of strength in those who aren’t already sold. then, I remember people making a big deal unity - seem both more relevant and more about the fact that I was playing Billy Elliot, “I was pretty much the exact opposite of appealing than ever. When Tracy gets the and not really understanding why at the Rebecca before I auditioned,” confesses Matt chance to audition for The Corny Collins time. Generally I feel that, as long as a role Rixon, who plays Tracy’s larger-than-life Show, the harsh realities of prejudice and isn’t specific to a certain sex or race, then mother, Edna. “I was aware of the show, but I discrimination intrude on her rosy, cosy there’s no reason why you can’t have a whole hardly knew anything about it. And it did world, demanding to be confronted. range of different actors playing it.” surprise me. It’s so clever and well-written - As she says herself in a line that might have really concise and comical. Also, structurally Elsewhere, the pressure on girls and women been lifted from one of countless newspaper it’s genius. It’s designed to get you on your to look a certain way has, if anything, only pieces over the last couple of years: “I think feet by the end, and it never fails to do so. I increased. There’s still a profound lack of I’ve kind of been in a bubble… thinking that can start off in a terrible mood, but by the leading roles available to women who don’t fairness was just gonna happen. It’s not. end of the show I always feel much better.” fit a standard mould, particularly in People like me are gonna have to get up off musicals, which can make it hard for actors Above all, the joy of experiencing Hairspray their father’s laps and fight for it.” playing Tracy to progress in their careers. live is sharing in its warm, inclusive spirit: “It’s sad, but I don’t think things have really it’s like arriving at a massive party where “We see so much body shaming all the time changed that much,” says Rebecca Mendoza, everyone’s invited. In the end, it’s just the now,” says Rebecca, “and all the airbrushing who makes her professional stage debut as story of a bunch of kids who want to dance that’s happening on TV or in modelling. So I the show’s plucky young protagonist. “We together - and before too long, you’re going to think it’s really important for young girls might not be doing the same things now as want to join in as well. particularly to see things like this. As long as we were in the ’60s, but we’re still fighting you’re fit and you can keep up and do the “It’s about being allowed to be whoever you the same problems, just in a different form.” moves, there’s no reason why someone who’s are,” says Matt, “whatever body shape or Much like her character, self-avowed a couple of sizes bigger can’t have a starring colour or anything else. We should all be Hairspray megafan Mendoza has had the role in a musical. Also, I think it’s lovely that allowed the freedom to just be ourselves, and chance to live out her dream on this tour by Tracy ends up with the good-looking guy - in Hairspray, for two-and-a-half hours, starring in her favourite show. people need to see that if they like someone, everyone can be.” it’s okay to go for it without belittling or “I knew it inside-out!” she laughs. “I’ve Take note, Hollywood - in Tracy’s own words, trying to change themselves.” followed the show for years and years, and “People who are different, their time is it’s been my dream role since I was tiny. The Luckily, Tracy is more than equal to the coming.” last time I saw it was in Liverpool when I challenge of standing up for what’s right, went for four nights in the run, and willing to risk her reputation and even prison interestingly, it worked out that the first night to support her friends. After all, it’s largely Hairspray shows at Wolverhampton was exactly seven years ago to the day before thanks to them that she was able to get her Grand Theatre from Mon 26 February to our own opening night in Cardiff. We found big break in the first place… Saturday 3 March, and at the Regent out because my sister had a Facebook “Meeting Seaweed is a real turning point for Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Tues 12 - timehop message where I’d been talking Tracy,” says Layton. “He doesn’t judge her Sat 16 June. Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 7

Theatre Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region

Mirror Mirror Teletubbies: Big Hugs Penguins Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Fri 2 Febru- New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, The REP, Birmingham, ary; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 4 February; Wed 7 - Thurs 8 February Thurs 1 - Sat 10 February MAC, Birmingham, Sun 11 February Despite having been around for many a year, Friendship, fun, identity and the ever-chang- The ever-popular Red Earth Theatre here pre- the world famous Teletubbies are here ap- ing meaning of family are among the themes sent a brand new version of the timeless tale pearing in their first ever theatre show cre- being explored in this brand new theatre & of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, com- ated especially for little ones. dance production. plete with ‘beautiful puppets, captivating Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po continue Inspired by a true story reported in the New storytelling and mesmerising sign lan- to enchant and delight pre-school youngsters York Times, the show focuses on two male guage’... A leading company in the develop- a full 20 years after making their television Chinstrap penguins named Roy and Silo. ment of inclusive touring theatre, Red Earth debut on BBC Two. Living alongside other penguin pairs in Cen- regularly take shows to small-scale, rural and Brand new songs and the popular supporting tral Park Zoo, they determine to try and hatch community venues across the country. characters of Tubby Phone, Noo-noo and Sun a rock in place of an egg - a decision that sees Baby also feature. them embarking on a most unexpected adventure... Milkshake Live Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 17 February; The Place, Oakengates, Telford, Wed 21 February; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 22 Febru- ary; Malvern Theatre, Sun 25 February; Prince Of Wales, Cannock, Wed 3 April; Regent The- atre, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 6 April Here taking youngsters on a journey through the world’s favourite fairytales is, among others, Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy, Fireman Sam and Shimmer & Shine. If you’ve watched the TV series and/or been The Gingerbread Man to a previous live production, you’ll already Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, know what to expect. If not, get ready for an Tues 20 - Thurs 22 February The Jungle Book event that promises lots of laughter, bucket- For those not in the know, this terrific tale loads of family fun, bags of audience partici- tells the story of a cheeky gingerbread man Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 17 February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wed 21 February; pation and plenty of singing and dancing. who sets off on the biggest adventure of his The Old Rep, Birmingham, Fri 23 February life. Out of the kitchen, through the town and Made universally popular by the classic Walt across the fields he goes, all the way to the Disney movie, Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book Little Mochi Man river... Fingers crossed he manages to avoid the sly old fox en route! tells the story of a young boy named Mowgli Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, who’s been raised in the jungle by a family of Sat 24 February Hiccup Theatre are confident that they’ve wolves. His friends, Baloo the bear and managed to cook up a real winner of a show Bagheera the panther, are determined to save with this latest production, bringing together him from the evil intentions of Shere Khan ‘delicious’ original live music, ‘tasty’ story- the tiger. But keeping Mowgli safe is no walk telling and ‘dollops’ of fun. in the jungle, as his two pals soon find out... The company’s previous work includes well- reviewed versions of Rumpelstiltskin and The Owl And The Pussycat.

Dear Zoo When little Mochi Man decides to run away after being bullied because of his small size, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 8 & Fri 9 February; The Core, Solihull, Mon 19 & Tues he finds himself embroiled in an adventure 20 February; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, 21 - that will take him from the snowy mountains 22 February; Lichfield Garrick, Wed 4 April; of Hokkaido to the hustle and bustle of Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Fri 6 - Sat 7 April Tokyo... First published in 1982, Rod Campbell’s lift- The traditions of Shogatsu - Japanese New the-flap book has delighted generations of Year celebrations - along with ‘origami’ pup- children and accumulated in excess of eight pets, animation and music provide the inspi- million sales worldwide. ration for this lively show, a production This first-ever stage version of the story fea- which is being publicised as ‘the perfect in- tures child-friendly puppets, music and lots troduction to Japan for young children’. of audience participation.

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whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Fairytales in Dance.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:28 Page 1

32 whatsonlive.co.uk Fairytales in Dance.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:28 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

Magical Moments Birmingham Hippodrome presents fairy tales in dance

With the new year now in full swing, the But while traditional fairytale interpretations round Sound by Paul Groothius. panto season has come to an end - but at like Petipa’s have lost none of their power Having kicked off its tour at Sadler’s Wells in Birmingham Hippodrome, the fairytale magic and popularity over the years, the stories are December, the show concludes the 30th an- lives on, courtesy of a series of enchanting also a source of fascination for high-profile niversary celebrations of Bourne’s New Ad- dance shows. contemporary choreographers such as ventures company, 20 years after it premiered Ever since the 19th century, fairytales have Matthew Bourne. Following the huge success in the West End. of his production of The Red Shoes in Birm- been a staple source of subject matter for Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella shows at ingham last year, Bourne this month brings dance shows; the fascination with folk tales Birmingham Hippodrome from 6 to 10 his beloved take on Cinderella back to Brum. and fantasy that swept the worlds of art and February. literature was very much mirrored in the bal- Heading to the Hippodrome as part of a let of the time. Today, more than a century wider UK tour, the hugely popular and hotly Finally, looking further ahead to April, the after they were first performed, classics like anticipated Birmingham run will see Red award-winning Metro-Boulet-Dodo will be Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty continue to Shoes stars Cordelia Braithwaite and Ashley joining forces with Open Theatre Company delight audiences around the world, remain- Shaw again sharing the lead role. In this for an imaginative reworking of Hansel And ing a vital part of any ballet company’s reper- thrillingly evocative reworking, the action of Gretel. In this lively and original production, toire. the story is relocated to a London torn apart a flustered storyteller is joined by a mis- This is certainly the case for Birmingham by World War Two. For Cinderella and her chievous mocking bird as he follows the title Royal Ballet. A company with an outstanding dashing RAF pilot Harry (Will Bozier, Andrew characters deep into the forest, encountering reputation for visual storytelling, BRB this Monaghan and Dominic North), a chance the Wicked Witch and her eccentric chefs month revives the opulence of the Imperial meeting results in a magical few hours to- along the way. But as characters interrupt his Russian Ballet in its ‘matchless’ production gether - just long enough for the young cou- narrative to tell their own version of this pe- of Sleeping Beauty. ple to fall in love before being parted by the culiar adventure, we soon discover that all is horrors of the Blitz. not exactly as it seems... Live music, mes- In this spectacular show, Tchaikovsky’s merising design and a quirky sense of hu- sparkling score is performed live by the ac- “Cinderella is one of my most heartfelt works mour combine to make this an ideal treat for claimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia, while Marius and a personal favourite amongst my re- all the family. Petipa’s original choreography is reinter- imagined classic stories,” says Matthew preted by virtuoso dancers. Dazzling specta- Bourne of the production. “I’m delighted to This exciting new show, produced by Birm- cle is combined with the timeless tale of a have brought together this cast of current star ingham Hippodrome, features performers sleeping princess, a fairy curse and an adven- performers, experienced New Adventures vet- drawn from Because We Can Can Can, the turing prince in what’s been described as a erans and exciting young talent. I’m thrilled venue’s disabled arts company that works version with ‘no equal in the ballet world to see another generation of Company with Open Theatre Co to support emerging today’. A great introduction to ballet, it’s an dancers take on this beloved production.” performers with learning disabilities, some of ideal choice for a family outing. Featuring sumptuous Olivier Award-winning whom appear in the production. Produced by Peter Wright and designed sets by Lez Brotherston and lighting by Neil The Twisted Tale Of Hansel And Gretel by Philip Prowse, Sleeping Beauty shows Austin, this lavish retelling is performed to a shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from at Birmingham Hippodrome from 13 to 24 specially commissioned recording of 4 to 8 April, with relaxed performances on February, with a relaxed performance on Prokofiev’s magnificent score, played by a Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th. Tuesday the 20th. 60-piece orchestra and presented in Sur-

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Dance previews from around the region Dance

#JeSuis The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 15 & Fri 16 February Birmingham-born choreographer Aakash Odedra’s latest work is a reflection on the feelings of those who perform it, a group of Turkish dancers frustrated by the media’s ongoing misinterpretations of their motherland. Engaging with the hugely pertinent issues of displacement, refuge and political and geographical instability, the work portrays the experience of living in a homeland ‘that doesn’t know the meaning of “home” anymore’, and where safety, peace and freedom can no longer be taken for granted... A rising star of contemporary British dance, Odedra has previously worked with some of the most high-profile choreographers in the business, including Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi and Russel Maliphant.

Richard Alston This month sees his highly rated company Joss Arnott Triple Bill return to the region with a triple-bill featur- Dance Company ing a brand new work performed to Schu- MAC, Birmingham, Wed 7 February Malvern Theatre, Tues 27 & Wed 28 February mann’s Carnaval and a new piece by Martin Highly charged and visually stunning, Joss A choreographer who’s very much at the Lawrance. Completing the bill is Gypsy Mix- Arnott’s shows present dance that explodes forefront of contemporary dance in the UK, ture, a popular work from the Alston reper- with power and technical brilliance. And Richard Alston takes inspiration directly toire, performed to the infectious music of this current production in no way lets the from the music he uses. Romanian and Macedonian gypsy bands. side down... A triple bill created in collaboration with some of the industry’s finest dancers, com- Sonia Sabri Company: posers and designers, the show features two brand new dance works - A Movement Virago In 3 and RUSH. The Old Rep, Birmingham, The company’s award-winning V completes Thurs 15 February the programme. A solo work exploring the “We’ve always tried to create something rare and contorted beauty of the human which is groundbreaking and pioneering,” body, the piece here features live music for says Sonia Sabri. “I feel proud to say that the very first time. we’ve presented something that’s very new and very different. We’ve been at the forefront of creating new ideas, and that’s exactly what we intend to continue doing.” Sabri’s belief in the need to push the boundaries of dance is reflected in this groundbreaking dance-digital solo production, an exploration of the perceptions and misconceptions surrounding the subject of female body image. The dancer’s unique ‘urban Kathak’ language is here brought together with mo- tion-triggered digital art and a sound score combining spoken word and music, creating a show which Sabri describes as “un- compromising, thought-provoking and humorous”. whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Macbeth DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:25 Page 1

The vicious pursuit “ of power to fill a void will always be relevant - the Macbeths are everywhere in every age, because they are a part of us

36 whatsonlive.co.uk ” Macbeth DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:25 Page 2

Double, double toil and trouble Following on from acclaimed productions of Dracula and The Odyssey, Mark Bruce Company this month brings its haunting re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to DanceXchange. We caught up with Mark to find out more...

Why Shakespeare’s Macbeth? the right time in their careers to pursue this bearing on whether I pursue it or not - Macbeth hits you fast, cuts through to the vocabulary. I feel that there’s a time when whether it’s an established narrative or bone and, for me, is the least ambiguous of you’re ready to do a production, and you something I’ve written myself. With Macbeth, Shakespeare's plays. Its darkness opens our can’t really contrive that. I had a combination of dancers I already nightmares; we recognise fundamental traits knew and some new ones. I held an audition, How have you approached the text? inside ourselves and the consequences of for which we had over 650 applicants. From acting upon them. The vicious pursuit of The Macbeths are mere playthings of the evil that, I took three dancers. They needed to be power to fill a void will always be relevant - they set free, and in the madness and strong dramatically and in contemporary and the Macbeths are everywhere in every age, emptiness that ensues, they become but classical technique. because they are a part of us. walking shadows - or, as in my adaptation, simply clowns of sound and fury. Your music choice for Macbeth is classical When did you first discover Macbeth? My approach has been quite simple, so that I and doesn't involve any of your own composition, unlike many of your other I first read it as a teenager. Returning to it can really explore the text, get deeply into the productions... now, the images, the atmosphere it evokes, characters and the world in which it’s set. haven’t changed. Its power lies in a relentless The music of Arvo Pärt was a fundamental Are you influenced by other artists? tale of supernatural horror told with a beauty decision in realising a through-line for and symbolism that reaches to the tragic Influences always begin subconsciously, and Macbeth. I was instantly drawn to how it state of the ‘other’. often it’s only in retrospect that I identify captures something deep inside us. It can be The supernatural is always present in them. I don’t expect to completely sparse, refined - and for me, Macbeth is a Macbeth, bending our own thoughts and understand why an influence has imposed refined play. Like Arvo Pärt’s music, there’s perceptions as well as those of the itself. I do think I've been affected by the so much going on with every line, every protagonists. It infects us, always one step films of David Cronenberg for this suggestion. This enables our imagination to ahead, and Macbeth’s decisions are made in production: pace, economic shot selection, transcend to the state of what’s inside the the world of a nightmare, as if there’s no his film Eastern Promises especially. The protagonists, what they’re missing, the state separation between thought and action. brooding atmosphere, the colour, the of their souls. I felt the combination of the Murder is done and descent is rapid. darkness seem to marry with the world I saw subject matter and this music created Macbeth taking place in. Compared to a something beautiful and tragic. And these Why now? production like The Odyssey, in which there two elements were the basis of my It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I had was a myriad of influences, Macbeth is far interpretation of Macbeth. a vision of Macbeth’s world and some of the leaner. It’s written for the stage. cast in mind. It was the same with Dracula Mark Bruce Company performs Macbeth How do you choose your dancers? and The Odyssey. The choreographic at DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, language of Macbeth is very specific and Sometimes I’ll have particular dancers in Birmingham Hippodrome, on Thurs 8 & detailed, and I felt I had the right dancers at mind for a production, and this will have a Fri 9 February.

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Film

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Black Panther CERT tbc Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis Directed by Ryan Googler (USA)

It’s all so melodramatic. Anything that happens in the Marvel Uni- agent Everett K Ross (Martin Freeman), and special forces within his verse is always catastrophic or dystopian or cataclysmic - or all three. own country, to avert catastrophe. While not strictly endowed with This edition - the 18th Marvel spectacular - sees T'Challa (Chadwick superhero powers, T'Challa does possess a formidable intellect as Boseman) return to his African nation on the death of his father, the well as some pretty good martial arts skills, which should help. The King of Wakanda. However, as T'Challa - aka Black Panther - takes his director, Ryan Googler, previously brought us the critically acclaimed rightful seat on his father’s throne, factions in his country rise up to Fruitvale Station (2013) and Creed (2015). depose him. So, in order to prevent a world war, T'Challa calls on CIA Released Tues 13 February

Film highlights released in February...

Journey’s End CERT 12a (108 mins) Phantom Thread Starring Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield, Toby CERT 15 (130 mins) Jones, Tom Sturridge, Stephen Graham, Paul Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Bettany Directed by Saul Dibb (UK) Vicky Krieps, Camilla Rutherford, Gina McKee In light of the explicit nature of more recent Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (USA) war films, it is refreshing to encounter the Daniel Day-Lewis is Reynolds Woodcock, an mental mutilation of war rather than the obsessive, controlling couturier in 1950s’ physical. Saul Dibb is a competent if some- London, and the actor commands the screen times journeyman director, but he has se- with his customary presence. It’s a painstak- cured some first-rate acting from his cast, ingly crafted drama, reflecting the attention particularly Paul Bettany. Based on the 1928 Lies We Tell CERT 15 (110 mins) to detail which Woodcock lavishes on his cre- play by RC Sherriff, the drama is set in the Starring Gabriel Byrne, Sibylla Deen, Mark ations for the rich and famous. However, it is trenches of the First World War. Addy, Jan Uddin, Harvey Keitel a film that one tends to admire rather than Directed by Mitu Misra (UK) Released Fri 2 February engage with, but one cannot deny its noble Gabriel Byrne plays the chauffeur for an power and originality. American gangster (Keitel) who has to Released Fri 2 February eradicate all trace of his employer’s mis- tress (Sibylla Deen), both the cousin and ex-wife of a notable Muslim gangster. Unfortunately, Byrne is woefully miscast as the lowly, long-suffering dogsbody, while the Muslims are drawn as stereotypes. Nothing rings remotely true. Released Fri 2 February

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Film highlights released in February...

The Shape Of Water lishment figure who looks down on anybody or anything that doesn’t fit in with his narrow CERT 15 (123 mins) view of what is all-American. As played by Starring Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Michael Shannon, he is a suitably despicable Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael figure, constantly crunching on cheap candy Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer (when he’s not swigging on the hard stuff). Directed by Guillermo del Toro (USA/Canada) But none of the stereotypes here stick to the It’s not every day that you come across a ro- expected norm. It’s hard not to supress a gig- mantic sci-fi fantasy steeped in nostalgia and gle when a thick-set Russian thug, chowing menace. Perhaps the most original film we down on a slice of butter cake, asks for a are likely to see all year, this nonetheless re- glass of milk to go with it. But what is The calls a number of unique classics, from Shape Of Water? It’s a hopelessly romantic Amélie to Beauty And The Beast via The adult fairytale which reminds us not to fear Creature From The Black Lagoon and Splash. what we don’t understand. It’s a timely piece, The first shock is to see the Dulwich-born too, albeit set in Maryland in the early 1960s, Sally Hawkins surrounded by a slew of when Mister Ed was on television and racism heavyweight American character actors, all was still a way of life. Yet, no sooner do we of whom play to their strengths. think we’ve got the film clocked, than the di- In the opening voice-over, the benign, con- rector, Guillermo del Toro, throws us a curve- sidered tones of Richard Jenkins tell us of ball. It’s sweet and funny, yes, but it’s got “the princess without voice” and “the mon- extremely sharp teeth. ster who tries to destroy it all.” The monster Released Wed 14 February is Colonel Strickland, a cold-blooded estab- CRITIC’S CHOICE

Roman J Israel, Esq Fifty Shades Freed The Mercy CERT 12a (102 mins) CERT 12a (122 mins) CERT tbc Starring Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger, Arielle Kebbel, Luke Grimes, Rita Ora Directed by James Foley (USA) Just when Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey have finally tied the knot, ghosts from the couple’s past emerge to darken their domestic bliss. At last, the final chapter in the Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy. Released Fri 9 February Starring Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz, David Thewlis, Ken Stott, Jonathan Bailey Directed by James Marsh (UK) Starring Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Colin Firth plays Donald Crowhurst, the ama- Carmen Ejogo, Amari Cheatom Directed by Dan Gilroy (USA) teur sailor who competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in 1968. However, An idealistic defence attorney in the cut- Crowhurst was not entirely honest about his throat criminal court system of Los Angeles, attempt to navigate his way around the Roman finds himself at a dramatic cross- world’s oceans. roads in his career. For his part, Denzel received his ninth Golden Globe nomination. Released Fri 9 February Released Fri 2 February The 15:17 To Paris Winchester CERT tbc CERT 15 (94 mins) Starring Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Starring Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Snook, Angus Sampson Directed by The Spencer Stone, Judy Greer, Jenna Fischer Spierig Brothers (Australia/USA) Directed by Clint Eastwood (USA) Dame Helen stars as the heiress of the Sadler, Skarlatos and Stone play themselves Winchester Repeating Arms Company who in this re-telling of the terrorist attack on the believes she is being haunted by the gunshot Thalys train to Paris in August of 2015. Clint victims of the rifle. From the siblings who Eastwood, now 87, directs the real-life brought us Jigsaw (2018). thriller. Released Fri 2 February Released Fri 9 February 40 whatsonlive.co.uk Film February - DOWNSAVE.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:14 Page 4

Film

Tad The Lost Explorer And The Secret Of King Midas CERT U (85 mins) With the voices of Kerry Shale, Ariel Winter, Bruce Mackinnon, Cheech Marin Directed by Enrique Gato and David Alonso (Spain) An animated spoof of Indiana Jones from Spain, this is actually a sequel, in which the awkward archaeologist Tad Jones must rescue his would-be girlfriend from the clutches of a greedy millionaire. In 3D. Released Fri 9 February

Lady Bird CERT 15 (94 mins) grim portrayal of a disintegrating marriage Loveless CERT 15 (122 mins) Starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy and the domestic unit as battlefield. On the Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Starring Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, radio, there’s talk of Armageddon, and later Beanie Feldstein Matvey Novikov, Marina Vasilyeva, Andris Directed by Greta Gerwig (USA) Keišs Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia) the horrors of the Ukrainian conflict. His protagonists, when not trading insults, are glued As character studies goes, this nuanced por- Andrey Zvyagintsev's last film, Leviathan to their mobile phones. trait of a young woman learning to walk in an (2014), was powerful, pervasive, poetic and Zvyagintsev would seem to be trading in his adult world is as truthful, funny and moving shocking. With Loveless, the director still ex- country’s propensity for gloom, and bran- as any we’ve seen. As an actress, Greta Ger- erts a mastery of his form and wallows in the dishing it with nationalistic pride. You have wig can tend towards the mannered, but her bleak wintry landscape of Moscow and its en- been warned. skill as a writer and debutant director is com- virons. He’s also lured starkly naturalistic pletely free of artifice. Her film is one we will performances from his cast in order to paint a Released Fri 9 February want to re-visit, if only to savour its discreet period milieu (2002), understated humour and marvellous performances. I, Tonya CERT 15 (119 mins) Released Wed 14 February Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Alli- son Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Can- navale, Mckenna Grace Directed by Craig Gillespie (USA) Father FiguresCERT 15 (113 mins) The Tonya in question is the figure skater Starring Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, JK Simmons, Tonya Harding, who was famously involved June Squibb, Christopher Walken, Glenn Close Directed by Lawrence Sher (USA) in an attack on her rival and Olympic team- mate Nancy Kerrigan. Twin brothers Owen Wilson and Ed Helms hit For her role as Tonya, Margot Robbie was the road on a quest to find their father, after nominated for a Golden Globe. discovering that he is still alive. The Ameri- can critics were not amused. Released Tues 20 February Released Wed 14 February Finding Your Feet CERT 12a (111 mins) Starring Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie, David Hayman, John Sessions, Joanna Lumley Directed by Richard Loncraine (UK/Canada/Australia/USA) Sandra (Staunton) moves in with her estranged sister Bif (Imrie) when she discovers that her husband has been cheating on her. But Bif, darling, is so not her and lives on an inner-city council estate. Needs must… Released Fri 23 February

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

New Art West Midlands Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 16 February - Sun 6 May; Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 23 February - Sat 31 March; Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Sat 24 February - Sun 13 May Recent graduates from the region’s six art schools have the chance to see their work professionally exhibited this month when New Art West Midlands (NAWM) returns with its annual showcase. Now in its sixth year, the exhibition forms part of the NAWM organisation’s wider mission to develop new talent and promote engagement with visual arts. “The idea is that this is a multi-site exhibition rather than a tour,” says Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery curator Lisa Beauchamp, “so there will be different artists presenting work at each of the galleries. Each venue curates their own exhibition, so they will all be communicating different themes and ideas through the work of the artists they show. “Part of that will be based on what we feel is going to resonate with and appeal to our audiences, which are quite different in each location. For example, Airspace is a dedicated contemporary art space that only has one exhibition at a time, whereas in Birmingham, we’ve got lots of things going on at once and all sorts of different visitors, from families to art students and from people who are already really engaged with art to people who may never have come into a gallery Image credit: Olivia Peake before. So all of that contributes to the choices we make.”

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Visual Arts

Clangers, Bagpuss & Co. Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 10 February - Sun 29 April This new exhibition is set to bring back nostal- gic childhood memories for fans of TV favourites Pogles’ Wood, Noggin The Nog and Ivor The Engine. Clangers, Bagpuss & Co, a touring show from the V&A Museum of Childhood, pays homage to the creations of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, who started collaborating on children’s television programmes back in the 1950s.

The Dekkan Trap MAC, Birmingham, Sat 17 February - Sun 22 April Mumbai-based artist Sahej Rahal works across performance, video, installation and sculpture to develop complex narrative-based installations. Taking influences from subjects as diverse as philosophy and science fiction, Sahej this month brings his latest sculptural and film work Photo credit: The Dunara Castle at Iona by FCB Cadell (1871 - 1935) courtesy of the © Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation to Birmingham, and will continue to evolve the exhibition during its MAC residency. The Rhythm Of Light: Scottish Colourists From The Fleming Collection Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 16 February - Sun 13 May Comprising works on loan from the prestigious Fleming Collection, The Rhythm Of Light features paintings produced by a quartet of artists collectively known as the Scottish Colourists. SJ Peploe, JD Fergusson, FCB Cadell and Leslie Hunter each responded to the revolutionary impact of modern French art - from Manet to Matisse - to produce vibrant images of cityscapes, still lifes and

landscapes, all of which reveal a shared Photo courtesy of the artist and Chatterjee & Lai, Mumbai preoccupation with light, rhythm and Photo credit: The Feathered Hat, c.1915 by FCB Cadell (1871 - colour. 1935) courtesy of the © Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation Sacred Things Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 11 February LEGO: Brick History tic construction pieces is here celebrated This thought-provoking exhibition has been cre- via an exhibition that brings history to life ated with the intention of introducing recently Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 9 February - Sun 15 April at a relatable, human level. arrived Syrians to the people of Coventry. Lego models on show include representa- Showcasing the work of photographer and an- Although for the majority of people Lego tions of key figures from Mozart to Martin thropologist Liz Hingley, Sacred Things ques- bricks are simply a toy with which to keep Luther King, presentations of scientific dis- tions the importance and impact of ownership, small children entertained, for some coveries from the Big Bang to DNA, and personal experience and cultural concepts of they’re a challenging and enjoyable mod- constructions acknowledging major beauty. The Syrians featured in Hingley’s dis- elling medium. achievements, from the creation of mobile play have come to Coventry as part of a unique The potential of these hugely popular plas- phones to man landing on the moon. United Nations programme. whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 1

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Events previews from around the region Events

Race Retro Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Fri 23 - Sun 25 February Now in its 16th year, Race Retro showcases every motorsport discipline, including formula and circuit racing, rallying, hill climbs, touring cars, motorcy- cling, sports and GT cars. The show also offers visitors the chance to purchase parts, spares, helmets and clothing, not to mention new racing or rally cars in a special auction. Highlight of the 2018 event is a 40th-anniversary celebration of the ground-effects era, the centrepiece of which is the Lotus 79 that took Mario Andretti to the world championships. The car was the first to take on the ground-effects technology (way back in 1978), and is featured at the show alongside numerous other iconic cars of the same era. Among them is the Williams FW07, which saw Alan Jones win the cham- pionship in 1980, and the Ralt 3 in which Martin Brundle raced against Ayrton Senna in British F3.

Star Cars British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Sat 10 - Sun 25 February “We have an exciting two weeks of interactive family-friendly activities planned,” says British Motor Museum’s Emma Rawl- inson, in talking about the venue’s Star Car event. “There’ll be plenty to keep everyone entertained, whatever the weather!” Highlights include the opportunity to meet Thunderbirds’ Parker or Lady Penelope on a special family tour, and the chance to make a Star Car to take home - creative kids can choose from templates of FAB1, Tomb Raider or Shaun the Sheep's Land Rover. Large Lego bricks are available for under-fives to enjoy, along with a self-guided trail designed to enable visitors of all ages to explore the Star Cars as a family.

Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show NEC, Birmingham, Tues 20 - Sun 25 February Attracting huge crowds and promising to be bigger and better than ever, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show features hundreds of exhibitors. As well as showcasing all the latest products, the show also offers buying tips, holiday advice and a packed programme of events and entertainment. New for 2018 is the Holiday Park Experience, complete with climbing wall, play area and bushcraft classes. Other features include a top dog arena, the Discovery Theatre - offering a programme of contributions by inspirational and in- formative speakers, including Birmingham’s very own celebrity chef, Rustie Lee - live cookery demonstrations and taster towing & motorhome manoeuvring tuition. The show is being opened by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who’ll be sharing stories of his worldwide adventures as well as highlight- ing the benefits of spending time in the great outdoors in terms of overall health and wellbeing. whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 3

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Events previews from around the region Events

Pirate and Princess The National Takeover Wedding Show Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, NEC, Birmingham, Sat 10 - Sun 25 February Fri 23 - Sun 25 February Well shiver those timbers and Promising a one-stop shop for all a straighten that tiara - Alton Towers Re- bride and groom’s wedding needs, sort is certainly the place to take your The National Wedding Show pro- little pirates and princesses this half- vides a platform for retailers to term holiday! showcase both the trendy and the The popular visitor attraction is hosting traditional, and features an unri- a range of family-focused themed activ- valled selection of wedding ities this month, including a disco, a dresses. treasure hunt, meet-and-greets with The 2018 show includes the chance CBeebies Land characters and the to get creative with free DIY wed- chance to learn some essential pirate ding workshops at the Inspiration skills (we’re confident this won’t in- Lab, top tips on fashion, health clude making people walk the plank!). and beauty on the Style Stage, ad- Away from the princess & pirate theme, vice from industry experts on the visitors can check out Sharkbait Reef to Hitched Wedding Planning Plat- see a variety of amazing fish, splash form, and an opportunity to check around in the tropical surroundings of out a selection of ‘delectable cre- the Alton Towers Waterpark, and enjoy ations’ from top cakemakers at the a round of what’s being termed ‘ex- Inspired Bakes Gallery. traordinary’ golf.

British Athletics Indoor Championships 2018 Arena Birmingham, Sat 17 & Sun 18 February With the prestigious honour of being crowned British champion up for grabs, not to mention the need to impress ahead of next month’s IAAF World Indoor Championships (1 - 4 March, also at the Arena), this is certainly a high-stakes weekend for the compet- ing athletes. The event is this year debuting in Birming- ham, having previously been held in Sheffield. The British Dragon Hunt Shooting Show Tamworth Castle, Sun 18 - Sat 24 February NEC, Birmingham, Fri 16 - Sun 18 February As half-term activities go, Tamworth Castle’s is a The jewel in the crown of the shoot- pretty unusual one. Dragon-finding! ing-show calendar, this two-day The castle’s resident fire-breather, Ruby, invited get-together offers visitors the her mischievous brother Hafgrim to stay with her. chance to check out a vast range of Problem is, Hafgrim thought it’d be a jolly good guns, ammunition, reloading laugh to hide from his sister, and now seems to equipment and shooting associa- have gotten himself well and truly lost. Hence the tions and schools. need for some serious dragon-finding activity! Highlights include a historical Participants need to stay on their guard, mind, as arms collection, gunsmith & en- the ne’er-do-well dragoncatcher is up to his old graving demonstrations and nu- tricks again, beguiling visitors into helping cap- merous arena displays. ture Ruby and Hafgrim. You have been warned... whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 5

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Events previews from around the region Events

Augmented Reality Thomas & Friends Drayton Manor Theme Park, Dinosaur World Staffordshire, Sat 10 - Sun 25 February Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Mon 19 - Fri 23 February Thomas the Tank Engine fans are Ironbridge Gorge’s Enginuity venue is certainly well catered for at Dray- going dino-crazy this half-term. ton Manor Park this half-term. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, visi- The Staffordshire visitor attraction tors can immerse themselves in an Aug- is home to Europe’s only Thomas mented Reality world in which they will Land and will be running numer- magically appear on a big screen, seem- ous rides during the holiday pe- ingly surrounded by dinosaurs! riod, including Harold Helicopter Other dinosaur-related half-term attrac- Tours, Bertie Bus and Cranky tions include workshops in which young- Crane. sters can learn how to make Pterodactyl Among the venue’s other half-term Fliers using brightly coloured craft materi- highlights are selected family als. favourite rides around the park A Dig Up A Dinosaur sand-pit, meanwhile, (not including the thrill rides), live provides budding archaeologists with the shows with the Fat Controller and chance to search for hidden artefacts. friends, and the chance to check out the 15-acre zoo, complete with recently arrived Red Pandas Tika and Pema. Behind The Scenes Coventry Transport Museum, Sat 17 - Fri 23 February Half-term at the Science and the arts combine at Royal Shakespeare Coventry Transport Museum this Company half-term when visitors to the Various RSC venues, Stratford- venue’s Learning Centre get the upon-Avon, Mon 19 - Fri 23 February chance to make spectroscopes, thermometers and bugs. Other holiday-week attractions include a chance to experiment with different types of fluids, use different materials to make a car collage and learn some ingenious engineering in order to make boxes with just a single piece of The Royal Shakespeare Company paper. (RSC) is offering so much by way of activities to enjoy this half-term holiday that it might make sense to spend the whole week in Stratford! Shropshire Kids Festival Highlights of the RSC’s family- Telford International Centre, friendly programme include the Sat 24 & Sun 25 February chance for children of different “We're celebrating our first year in Telford in ages to create their very own short- style,” say the organisers of this action-packed ened version of Macbeth. There’s event for youngsters of all ages. “We're going also a special workshop in which to make the International Centre into one huge kids can learn how to use their play park for children to enjoy, with so much voices, and a behind-the-scenes going on that your kids will have an amazing look at how theatrical bruises, cuts day filled with fun activities and giggles while and scars are created. at the same time discovering new talents. Our The line-up also features a story- Shropshire Kidsfest really is a great day out for telling session and a day of free the whole family. We have something to suit all craft activities. the little ones, and great food and drink for the If ever a legendary theatre com- adults to enjoy, not to mention live music pany had all the half-term bases throughout both days.” covered... whatsonlive.co.uk 49 New Readers Awards.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 20:45 Page 1

Award FINALISTS in each category announced! VOTE for your WINNER! Readers’ What’sOn Awards

Yes, you VOTED in your thousands in the first round of nominations in the What’s On Readers’ Awards - over 10,000 votes across the West Midlands region!Now it’s time for you to VOTE once more to choose your ultimate WINNER in each category! Here are the award shortlist finalists:

THEATRE: Midlands Large Theatre l Rosie K Dance THEATRE: Best Festive Show l Birmingham Hippodrome l Vamos Theatre l 101 Dalmatians - l New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham The REP, Birmingham l Regent Theatre, Hanley l A Christmas Carol - THEATRE: Best Home-Produced Show l Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford The RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon In The Midlands l The REP, Birmingham l Alice In Wonderland - l 101 Dalmatians - l Wolverhampton Grand Theatre The Old Rep, Birmingham The REP, Birmingham l Stick Man - Birmingham Town Hall l Alice In Wonderland - The Old Rep THEATRE: Midlands Arts Centre l The Lion, The Witch And The l Brassed Off - Grand Theatre l Foxlowe Arts Centre, Stoke Wardrobe - Crescent Theatre, l The Dreaming - Lichfield Garrick l MAC, Birmingham Birmingham l The Nativity - The REP, Birmingham & Newhampton Arts Centre, l Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Wolverhampton THEATRE: Best Kids Show l The Hive, Shrewsbury l Disney On Ice: Passport To Adventure l Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry THEATRE: Best Pantomime In l Gangsta Granny The Midlands 2017/18 l Stick Man Aladdin - Lichfield Garrick THEATRE: Best Touring Musical l l The Snowman l Cinderella - Birmingham Hippodrome l Billy Elliot l We're Going On A Bear Hunt l Jack And The Beanstalk - l Hairspray Wolverhampton Grand Theatre THEATRE: Best Amateur l Miss Saigon l Sleeping Beauty - The Addams Family Dramatic/Operatic Group l Swan Theatre, Worcester l The Jersey Boys l Birmingham & Midland Operatic l Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs - Society (BMOS) Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury l Get Your Wigle On, Shrewsbury THEATRE: Best Touring Play l Mad Cows Productions, Shrewsbury l Curious Incident Of The Dog THEATRE: Best Panto Dame l Old Joint Stock Musical In The Nighttime l Ben Humphrey - Sleeping Beauty at Theatre Company l Finding Joy - Vamos Theatre Swan Theatre, Worcester l West Bromwich Operatic Society l Jane Eyre (National Theatre) l Brad Fitt - Snow White 1And The (WBOS) l Shirley Valentine Seven Dwarfs at Theatre Severn, l The Play That Goes Wrong Shrewsbury THEATRE: Best Amateur Production Ceri Dupree & David Dale - Cinderella l l BMOS: Miracle On 34th Street - at Birmingham Hippodrome New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham THEATRE: Best Touring Company Ian Adams - Jack And The Beanstalk l l Bilston Operatic Company: l Fizzogs at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre A Christmas Carol - l Highly Sprung l Sam Rabone - Aladdin at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Lichfield Garrick l Motionhouse l Get Your Wigle On: Hairspray - l Pentabus Theatre Severn VOTE today atwhatsonlive.co.uk

50 whatsonlive.co.uk New Readers Awards.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 20:45 Page 2

#readersawards2018

l Mad Cow Productions: Present Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Best Midlands Musician Laughter - Theatre Severn, l New Art West Midlands - l Dan Owen Shrewsbury various venues l Laura Mvula l OJS Company - Bonnie & Clyde l Quentin Blake: Inside Stories - l Jack Blackman Compton Verney, Warwickshire l Scott Matthews l Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 DANCE: Best Production l Soweto Kinch - Wolverhampton Art Gallery l Balletboyz: Fourteen Days l Birmingham Royal Ballet: Aladdin Best Midlands Live Band l Birmingham Royal Ballet: Best Independent Cinema l Black Sabbath The Nutcracker l Artrix - Bromsgrove l Ocean Colour Scene l Breakin’ Convention - The REP l Electric Cinema - Birmingham l The Ronaldos l Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes l Light House Media Centre - l The Specials Wolverhampton l UB40 l Old Market Hall - Shrewsbury CLASSICAL (inc Opera): l Red Carpet Cinema - Burton Best Midlands Chef Best Production l Adam Stokes (Adams, Birmingham)) l BCMG@30 - COMEDY: Best Midlands l Andrea Birch (New Inn, Baschurch, CBSO Centre,Birmingham Comedian North Shropshire) l Birmingham Bach Choir: Handel's l Glynn Purnell (Purnell’s, Birmingham) Messiah - Wolverhampton Grand l Barbara Nice Greg Davies l Josh Crouch (CSONS, Shrewsbury) l CBSO Spectacular Classics - l l Luke Tipping (Simpsons, Birmingham) Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Joe Lycett Jonny Cole l Eugene Onegin - Welsh National l Opera @ Birmingham Hippodrome l The Fizzogs Best Midlands Food Festival l Ex Cathedra: Summer Music By l Colmore Food Festival - Birmingham Candlelight - Birmingham Cathedral COMEDY: Best Midlands l Foodies Festival Birmingham l The Sixteen: Glory To The Christ Child Comedy Night l Lichfield Food Festival Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Blue Giraffe Wolverhampton l Ludlow Food Festival l Comedy Carousel at l Shrewsbury Food Festival CLASSICAL: The Glee Club - Birmingham Best Orchestra/Choir l Comedy at Henry Tudor House, Best Midlands Street Food Vendor Shrewsbury l Birmingham Cathedral Choir l Bournville Waffle Co Comedy 42 - Lichfield Garrick l Birmingham Contemporary l l Buddha Belly Music Group l Fitz of Laughter (Stourbridge) l Vegan Grindhouse Funhouse Comedy - Birmingham & l Birmingham Gay Symphony l l Victorian Creperie Orchestra West Midlands l The Meat Shack l Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra l CBSO Best Midlands Music Venue Best Midlands Retail (Large: 1000+ capacity) Shopping Centre ARTS: Best Midlands Arts/ l Arena Birmingham l Bullring - Birmingham Cultural Festival l Civic Hall, Wolverhampton l Grand Central - Birmingham Genting Arena, Birmingham l Artsfest Wolverhampton l l intu Merry Hill - Brierley Hill O2 Academy, Birmingham l Birmingham Comedy Festival l l Telford Shopping Centre Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Birmingham Weekender l l Touchwood - Solihull l Lichfield Arts' Fuse Festival l Worcester Festival Best Midlands Music Festival Midlands Entertainment Personal- l Godiva Festival l Birmingham Pride ity of the Year Award l Lichfield Festival l Beverley Knight ARTS: Best Exhibition l Moseley Folk Festival l Doreen Tipton l Brick Wonders - l Shrewsbury Folk Festival l Frank Skinner Wolverhampton Art Gallery l Swingamajig, Birmingham l Joe Lycett l I Want! I Want! - l Julie Walters and choose your WINNER!

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 New Readers Awards.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 20:45 Page 3

What’sOn FINALISTS in each REGION

BIRMINGHAM BLACK COUNTRY WARWICKSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE STAFFORDSHIRE SHROPSHIRE

Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Venue Venue Venue Venue Venue Venue l Theatre On The Steps l MAC Birmingham l Arena Theatre l Belgrade Theatre, l Artrix, Bromsgrove l Lichfield Garrick l Theatre Severn l New Alexandra l Forest Arts Centre Coventry l Huntingdon Hall, l New Vic Theatre, l The Hive, Shrewsbury l Old Joint Stock l Grand Theatre l Bear Pitt Theatre, Worcester Newcastle-under-Lyme The Place, Telford l The Old Rep l Light House Media Stratford-upon-Avon l Malvern Theatres l Prince of Wales, l Swan Theatre, The Wightman, l The REP Centre l Royal Shakespeare l Cannock l Worcester l Stourbridge Town Hall Theatre, Stratford l Regent Theatre, Shrewsbury Royal Spa Centre, l The Rose Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Best Music Venue l Best Music Venue Best Music Venue Leamington Spa Kidderminster l Stafford Gatehouse l The Glee Club l Warwick Arts Centre l Palace Theatre, Red- Theatre l Albert's Shed, l Brierley Civic Hall Hare & Hounds ditch Shrewsbury l Newhampton Arts l Best Music Venue l Henry Tudor House, l MAC, Birmingham Centre Best Music Venue l The Jam House Best Music Venue l Lichfield Guildhall Shrewsbury l The Robin l Shakespeare Street, l The Sunflower l Huntingdon Hall, l Eleven, l The Buttermarket, l The Slade Rooms Stratford-Upon-Avon Lounge Worcester Stoke-on-Trent Shrewsbury l Wolverhampton Civic l The Assembly, l The Sugarmill, Stoke l The Hive, Shrewsbury l O2 Academy Hall Leamington Spa l The Boar's Head, Kidderminster l Victoria Hall, Hanley l The Wightman, l The Big Comfy The Hop Pole Inn, Best Festival Best Visitor Bookshop, Coventry l Best Festival Shrewsbury Tin Music & Arts, Bromsgrove Birmingham Comedy Attraction l l Lichfield Arts' Fuse Best Festival l Coventry l The Marr's Bar, l Birmingham l Black Country Living Worcester Festival l Farmer Phil’s Festival l Warwick Arts Centre Weekender Museum l The Queen's Head, l Lichfield Festival l Ludlow Food Festival Lichfield Food Festival l Moseley Folk l Dudley Canal & Best Festival Bromsgrove l l Shrewsbury Tamworth Arts Festival l Mostly Jazz, Funk & Tunnel Trust l The Iron Road, Eve- l Chocolate Festival l Godiva Festival l V Festival Soul l Dudley Zoo sham l Shrewsbury Folk l Leamington Food and l RAF Cosford Museum l SHOUT Festival Drink Festival Festival l Wightwick Manor Best Festival Best Visitor Stratford-upon-Avon l Shrewsbury Food l l Droitwich Spa Attraction Best Visitor Best Event Music Festival Food Festival Festival l Alton Towers Attraction l Stratford River Festival l Malvern Food Festival l 1940s Evening - Black l Cannock Chase Best Visitor l Warwick Folk Festival l Worcester Festival l Birmingham Back to Country Living Visitor Centre l Worcester Music Fest Attraction Backs Museum Best Visitor l Drayton Manor l Upton Upon Severn l Attingham Park l Birmingham Botanical l Artsfest W’hampton Theme Park Attraction Jazz Festival l British Ironworks Gardens l Black Country l Lichfield Cathedral l Charlecote Park l Asparafest, Evesham Centre, Oswestry l Birmingham Museum Boating Festival l National Memorial l Compton Verney l Dana Prison Tours & Art Gallery l Cosford Air Show Arboretum l Coventry Transport Best Visitor l Ironbridge Museums l Cadbury World l Dudley Beer Festival l Tamworth Castle Museum l Severn Valley Railway, l Thinktank Shakespeare’s Attraction Best Gallery/ l Avoncroft,Bromsgrove Best Event Bridgnorth Birthplace Trust l Exhibition Venue Hanbury Hall l Bonfire & Fireworks Warwick Castle l Best Outdoor l and Gardens at Trentham Estate Best Event l Bilston Craft Gallery l 1940s Evening at Event Dudley Museum Best Event l Severn Valley Railway, l Lichfield Proms at l Blists Hill & Art Gallery Bewdley Beacon Park l Birmingham Frankfurt l 1960s Vintage Day at l West Mid Safari Park l Scarefest at l The Big Busk l Light House Christmas Market Compton Verney Witley Court l Oktoberfest Media Centre l Alton Towers l Birmingham Pride l Art In The Park l Arley Arboretum l St. George's Day at l Ludlow Food Festival l New Art Gallery, British Showjumping l Christmas at l l Eastnor Castle Tamworth Castle l Shrewsbury Flower Walsall Championships Birmingham Botanical l The Cathedral Show l Wolverhampton Gardens l Godiva Festival Best Independent Illuminated - Lichfield Museum & Art Gallery Best Gallery/ l Digbeth Dining Club l War of the Roses Live Cathedral at Warwick Castle Restaurant l Summer in Southside Exhibition Venue Best Independent Ostlers at No.1, l Best Independent Bear Steps Art Best Gallery/ Worcester l Restaurant Gallery, Shrewsbury Best Indoor Event l The Old Rectifying Café Bella Restaurant, Exhibition Venue l House, Worcester l 15 On The Corner, l Coalbrookdale l BBC Good Food Wolverhampton l Compton Verney Gallery, Ironbridge l The Olive Branch, Lichfield Il Michaelangelo, l Coventry Music Show l Worcester l Little Green Frog l Shrewsbury Museum l Birmingham Cocktail Brierley Hill Museum l The Orangery, Cafe, Lichfield & Art Gallery l Herbert Art Gallery Weekend l Indigo Restaurant, Redditch l Snug Coffee and Tea l Twenty Twenty Wolverhampton l Leamington Spa Art l Harry Potter and the l Venture In, Ombersley Emporium, Rugeley Gallery, Much Wenlock Mad O'Rourkes Pie Gallery & Museum Philosopher's Stone l l The Royal Oak, l The Apple Tree, l Van, The Market Hall, l Mead Gallery In Concert Factory, Dudley Evesham Barton Marina Shrewsbury l MCM Birmingham l The Bilash, l The Lounge of Comic Con Wolverhampton Best Independent Best Independent Lichfield Best Independent l Strictly Come Restaurant Café Café Dancing Live Best Independent l Coffee No.1, Pershore Best Independent l Edward Moon, l The Bird’s Nest Cafe, Cafe Stratford-Upon-Avon l G&Tea, Worcester Restaurant Lorita's Bakehouse, l Mackenzies, Lichfield Shrewsbury Best Gallery/ l Cozy Coffee, Dudley l Fleur De Lys, l Bromsgrove l 1709, The Brasserie l Ginger & Co, l Gluttons For Henley-in-Arden Exhibition Venue Mac & Jac's Cafe-Deli, Shrewsbury Nourishment l La Coppola, l l Olive Tree Restaurant l The Barber Institute Worcester l Netherstowe House l The Winding House l Madame Clarkes, Leamington Spa The Shambles Cafe, Tea Rooms, B-north l Birmingham Museum Wolverhampton l Lambs Restaurant, l l Christopher’s British & Art Gallery Bewdley Bistro, Tamworth l Liar, Liar, Oswestry l The Old School Tea Stratford-Upon-Avon l Word Of Mouth, l Crystals Cupcakes, l MAC Birmingham Rooms, W’hampton l Vintner, IKON Gallery Evesham Telford l l Zuri, Wolverhampton Stratford-Upon-Avon l Thinktank Museum

52 whatsonlive.co.uk Penguins.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 17:10 Page 1 GETTING IN A FLAP!

Steve Ball talks to What’s On about Penguins, a new LGBT-friendly show about two ‘gay’ penguins that’s coming to the Birmingham Rep this month... Penguins.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 17:10 Page 2

Why Penguins, Steve? choreographed by Carlos Pons Guerra, relate to. As they grow up, children will I’ve always been fascinated by the true founder of DeNada Dance Theatre, who’s meet, work and live alongside people story of Roy and Silo, two chinstrap created lots of cutting-edge dance, who’re different to them, and as they watch penguins at New York City’s Central Park much of which has explored LGBT themes. Penguins they’ll be transported to a world Zoo, who bonded as a couple and tried to where difference isn’t questioned; it just is. hatch a rock as if it were an egg. On No one questions the two male penguins Who’s the show for? noticing this, the zookeeper gave them a who fall in love, and no one questions their spare egg from another couple that It’s for everyone, but it’s been made with desire to have a child. It’s very timely subsequently hatched. The baby penguin, young children aged from three to seven in because the government has confirmed Tango, and her two dads achieved celebrity mind. It’s a family show, though, so will that from September 2019, all schools in status when the story was told in the New appeal to adult s too. England will be required by law to teach York Times in May 2004. It caught my Relationship & Sex Education which must include reference to same-sex imagination as being a story that could be Why is the show important? brought to life on stage. relationships. First of all, it’s gong to be a great piece of dance theatre that will entertain and Who’s making the show? captivate audiences. But it’s also a When is Penguins on and how do we get tickets to see it? It’s an international collaboration. We have celebration of different types of families a director from Northern Ireland, a French and provides a safe space to explore and Catch it at The REP from 1 to 10 February. designer and a Spanish choreographer. celebrate family relationships and diversity. For tickets, call The REP’s box office on Penguins is directed by Paul Bosco There are very few examples of theatre for 0121 236 4 455 or book online at McEneaney, founder and artistic director of children that offer these opportunities in a birmingham-rep.co.uk Belfast children's theatre company Cahoots way that’s child-friendly in its simplicity and focus on story. Ultimately, this NI, who’ve gained an inte rnational Steve Ball is Associate Director at the production is about love within a family, reputation for creating magical theatrical Birmingham Repertory Theatre and which is something all children should experiences for young audiences. It’s Birmingham Hippodrome The List Cover February Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:26 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide Februaryebruary 22018018 thelist

Awful Auntie at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry - Tues 20 to Sat 24 February

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

What’s On Thurs 1 to Sun 4 February Mon 5 to Sun 11 February Mon 12 to Sun 18 February Mon 19 to Wed 28 February

Mirror Mirror at Artrix, Dane Baptiste at Royal Spa Stunt Fest at Santa Pod A Midsummer Night's Dream Bromsgrove Centre, Leamington Spa Raceway, Northampton at Palace Theatre, Redditch Sun 4 February Fri 9 February Sat 17 February Fri 23 February

whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List Warwicks/Worcs Thurs 1 - Sun 4 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:25 Page 1

thelist Robin, Bilston THE ROCK 'N' ROLL ERA THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY Gigs CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. Sat 3 Feb, Huntingdon ROOKIE Fri 2 Feb, O2 Hall, Worcester NEW NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS Mixed- HVMM Thurs 1 Feb, Academy, Birmingham ALLISTER WHITEHEAD, Visual Arts media exhibition including painting, The Marr's Bar, MELLSTOCK TRIO - JON DASILVA, TOMISLAV sculpture, digital and sound installa- Worcester THOMAS HARDY SONG- & PHIL GIFFORD Sat 3 tions, assemblage, photography & Feb, Hare & Hounds, THE BOB DYLAN STORY BOOK Fri 2 Feb, Hunt- Artrix, Bromsgrove prints by 28 selected artists, all of Birmingham Thurs 1 Feb, The ingdon Hall, Worcester NEW STUDIO 4: FIRE AND ICE Exhibition whom are recent graduates from the Swan Theatre, DANIEL CAESAR Sat 3 of striking images by four women region’s six university art schools, Sat SHADOW CITY Worcester Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- 24 Feb - Sun 13 May SOUNDSYSTEM & artists with an interest in contempo- ingham rary art, Wed 7 Feb - Sun 1 Apr SOME GUYS HAVE ALL SALARY BOY Fri 2 Feb, The Hive, Worcester THE LUCK Thurs 1 Feb. Hare & Hounds, Birm- ANDY BROWN Sat 3 Belgrade Theatre, ingham Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- Birmingham Museum & NEW HEATHER & IVAN MORISON SCULP- Coventry MODERN DAY DELILAHS ingham Art Gallery TURES Heather and Ivan were ‘artists Fri 2 Feb, Hare & THE BHANGRA SHOW- COMING OUT: SEXUALITY, GENDER AND in residence’ at The Hive and Univer- BROOKE BENTHAM Hounds, Birmingham DOWN Sat 3 Feb, IDENTITY Ground-breaking exhibition sity of Worcester in 2017, Thurs 1 Thurs 1 Feb, The Tin Genting Arena, B’ham marking the 50th anniversary of the Feb - Sat 24 Mar Music And Arts, Canal THE DEAD BOYS Fri 2 Basin, Coventry Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- CELINE DOMMAERT & partial decriminalisation of male ho- NEW ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY IN- ingham MONTPARNASSE Sat 3 mosexual acts in England and Wales. TERNATIONAL IMAGES FOR SCIENCE Ex- SLEEPTALKING Thurs 1 Feb, The Bear Pit The- Featuring over 80 modern and con- hibition featuring 100 images Feb, The Sunflower THE LEN PRICE 3 + THE atre, Stratford-upon- temporary artworks by internationally submitted from over 80 countries and Lounge, Birmingham DEEP SIX Fri 2 Feb, Avon renowned artists who explore themes selected by an expert judging panel, BITE THE BUFFALO Thurs The Flapper, B’ham of gender, sexuality and identity in Fri 2 Feb - Sun 18 Mar 1 Feb, Hare & Hounds, DEFINITELY MIGHTBE & GREEN HAZE Sat 3 Feb, art, until Sun 15 Apr The Marr's Bar, NEW SUFFRAGETTES, VOTERS AND Birmingham ADORED Fri 2 Feb, The Worcester NEW NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS A WORCESTER WOMAN Exhibition to LADY GAGA Thurs 1 River Rooms, Stour- mixed-media exhibition including mark the centenary of some women’s Feb, Genting Arena, bridge PAUL CARRACK Sat 3 painting, sculpture, digital and sound enfranchisement in Britain on 6 Birmingham GAZ BROOKFIELD AND Feb, Symphony Hall, installations, assemblage, photogra- Birmingham February 1918, Mon 5 - Fri 23 Feb THE DAMNED THE COMPANY OF phy & prints by 28 selected artists, all Thurs 1 NEW WORCESTER STANDS TALL DESIGNS THIEVES Fri 2 Feb, The GAZ BROOKFIELD AND of whom are recent graduates from Feb, O2 Academy, Artists have been dreaming-up Marr's Bar, Worcester THE COMPANY OF the region’s six university art schools, Birmingham colourful and inventive designs for gi- THIEVES Sat 3 Feb, O2 Fri 16 Feb - Sun 6 May THE AMAZONS Thurs 1 'OLLY MURS & BRUNO Institute, Birmingham raffe sculptures, Thurs 8 - Tues 13 Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- MARS' WITH ROBBIE Feb, The Hive Worcester Leamington Spa Art Gallery & ingham GLENN Fri 2 Feb, Nail- SWEDE DREAMZ Sat 3 cote Hall, Berkswell, Feb, The River Rooms, Museum POLICE DOG HOGAN Worcester City Museum & Art Warwickshire Stourbridge LIGHTS OF LEAMINGTON In the 1950s, a Thurs 1 Feb, MAC, Gallery LET'S HANG ON Fri 2 - GUNTHER PRAGUE, THE festival called The Lights of Leaming- Birmingham NEW THE WAR TO END ALL WARS Exhi- Sat 3 Feb, The Core COURTESY GROUP + ton drew 300,000 visitors to the FAIRPORT CONVENTION bition exploring how our future was Theatre, Solihull FUN SPONGE Sat 3 Feb, town. This new exhibition, selected Thurs 1 Feb, Albany changed forever by the First World The Tin Music And and curated by Birmingham-based Theatre, Coventry THE COUNTERFEIT War, Sat 3 Feb - Sat 10 Nov STONES Fri 2 - Sat 3 Arts, Canal Basin, artist Stuart Whipps, brings the HIGHLY SUSPECT Fri 2 NEW BENJAMIN WILLIAMS LEADER: Feb, Artrix, Broms- Coventry theme up to date, showing the di- Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- BLEST BY THE SUNS OF HOME Exhibi- grove NATHAN CARTER Sun 4 verse ways that light runs through the ingham collection at Leamington Spa Art tion exploring the significance of THE ELVIS YEARS Sat 3 Feb, New Alexandra TOTALLY TINA, Fri 2 Gallery & Museum, until Sun 15 Apr landscape painting during World War Feb, The Roses The- Theatre, Birmingham Feb, Belgrade Theatre, One, when the British countryside be- atre, Tewkesbury SHAKE THE CHAINS Sun came a symbol of hope and national Coventry Rugby Art Gallery & Museum KAST OFF KINKS Sat 3 4 Feb, Birmingham identity at a time of crisis, Sat 17 Feb THE HOWL & THE HUM MADE IN THE MIDDLE A recurring tour- Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Town Hall - Sat 2 June Fri 2 Feb, The Tin ing exhibition of high-quality contem- Coventry THE TASK IN HAND + Music And Arts, Canal porary craft and applied art from the SURPRISE ATTACKS PRE- Other VISUAL ARTS Basin, Coventry MALEEK BERRY Sat 3 Midlands, until Sat 10 Mar Feb, O2 Academy, SENTS... Sun 4 Feb, THE STYLE COUNCIL- GARAGE ART GROUP Garage Arts pro- Birmingham The Marr's Bar, The Herbert Art Gallery & Mu- motes health & wellbeing through LORS, Fri 2 Feb, The Worcester seum painting, drawing, textile and other visual arts, until Fri 9 Mar, Evesham SACRED THINGS: ELALMADINAH …TO Arts Centre THE CITY Thought-provoking exhibition by photographer and anthropol- CLARE WOODS Renowned British ogist Liz Hingley, created with the painter Clare has established her rep- intention of introducing recently ar- utation with large-scale landscapes rived Syrians to the people of Coven- painted in household gloss and try, until Sun 11 Feb enamel on aluminium. The artist has recently moved into figurative paint- NEW COVENTRY ARCHIVES: COVENTRY ing, until Sat 10 Mar, Warwick Arts LIFE IN THE 1960S Explore the Swing- Centre, Coventry ing 60s through photographs, news- papers, theatre, music and cinema, NEVILLE STAPLE - THE ORIGINAL RUDE Fri 16 Feb - Fri 1 June BOY The exhibition hopes to show many aspects of a man who has NEW POP! BRITISH & AMERICAN ART done so much for Coventry music, 1960 -1975 Explore how art found its but also so much for other artists, POP! in this transatlantic showcase of until Sun 2 Dec, Coventry Music Mu- the movement’s most iconic artists, seum Fri 16 Feb - Sun 3 June Paul Carrack - Symphony Hall, Birmingham 54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwicks/Worcs Thurs 1 - Sun 4 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:25 Page 2

Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 February

JUNIOR SIMPSON, ALLYSON JUNE Classical Music SMITH, JARLETH REGAN & PETE OTWAY Sat 3 Feb, The Comedy Loft, B’ham RACHMANINOV'S SECOND Featuring DESIREE BURCH, EDDIE BRYANT & Kazuki Yamada (conductor) & Dejan SPUDDZ Sat 3 Feb, MAC, Birmingham Lazi (piano). Programme includes worksć by Glinka, Beethoven & Rach- maninov, Thurs 1 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham CELEBRITY RECITAL: PETER DONOHOE (PIANO) Programme comprises five Theatre Mozart Sonatas, Thurs 1 Feb, Con- LET THE RIGHT ONE IN The Crescent cert Hall, Royal Birmingham Conser- Theatre Company present an ama- vatoire teur production based on John Ajvide CBSO PRE-CONCERT SHOWCASE FEAT. Lindqvist's Swedish vampire fiction ROMAN KOSYAKOV, DEJAN LAZI & XI- novel of the same name, Sat 27 Jan - Guy Masterson’s Shylock - The Swan Theatre, Worcester AOFEN SONG (PIANOS) Programmeć in- Sat 3 Feb, Crescent Theatre, B’ham cludes works by Haydn, NO SEX PLEASE WE'RE BRITISH Amateur ring Jacob Lovick & Vita Fox, Fri 2 Booth, Jerome Flynn. Artrix, Broms- Rachmaninov, Glinka, Beethoven, staging presented by the Nonentities, Feb, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham grove, Fri 2 & Mon 5 Feb Gershwin/Earl Wild & Fazil Say, Thurs Mon 29 Jan - Sat 3 Feb, The Rose UNDER MILK WOOD Guy Masterson MOLLY'S GAME (15) Biography/Drama. 1 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Theatre, Kidderminster brings all of Dylan Thomas’ 69 char- Starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba. ALEC FRANK-GEMMIL (HORN) & DANIEL THE LATE MARILYN MONROE Biographi- acters to life in an ‘amazing’ feat of Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, GRIMWOOD (PIANO) Programme in- cal drama based on the final day of memory and virtuosity, Fri 2 Feb, The Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Feb; Roses Theatre, cludes works by Mozart, Punto & one of the most iconic movie stars of Swan Theatre, Worcester Tewkesbury, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Feb Beethoven, Fri 2 Feb, The Barber In- all time, Tues 30 Jan - Sat 3 Feb, The BRIEF ENCOUNTER Emma Rice's stag- ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (15) Bi- stitute, Birmingham Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham ing of Noel Coward's haunting love ography/Crime. Starring Mark ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE HAYFEVER Noel Coward’s celebrated story, Fri 2 - Sat 17 Feb, The REP, Wahlberg, Michelle Williams. Roses PROJECTS ORCHESTRA Featuring comedy, until Sat 3 Feb, Hall Green Birmingham Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Daniele Rosina (conductor). Pro- Little Theatre, Birmingham SHYLOCK Guy Masterson promises a Feb gramme includes works by Schu- BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL powerful portrayal of Shakespeare’s THE POST (12a) Biography/Drama. mann, Ibert & Korngold, Fri 2 Feb, The inspiring story of Carole King’s comic villain, Sat 3 Feb, The Swan Starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks. Concert Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- remarkable rise to stardom, until Sat Theatre, Worcester Malvern Theatres, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Feb; servatoire 3 Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome MRS BLOSSOM’S MAGIC CAKES Join in Warwick Arts Centre, Fri 2 - Sun 11 ARMONICO CONSORT Feb Programme com- A CHRISTMAS CAROL David Edgar’s the fun, songs and audience partici- prises Handel’s Water Music & adaptation of Charles Dickens’ festive pation in popular plays for children PADDINGTON 2 (PG) Animation/Adven- Biber’s Missa Salisburgensis, Sat 3 classic. Phil Daniels stars, until Sun 4 aged from two to nine, Sat 3 Feb, The ture. Starring Ben Whishaw, Hugh Feb, Malvern Theatres Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Swan Theatre, Worcester Grant. Warwick Arts Centre, Sat 3 EX CATHEDRA: MOZART’S WOMEN Fea- Stratford-upon-Avon THE M.M.O.R.P.G SHOW Return of the Feb turing Jeffrey Skidmore (conductor) IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART 1 much-acclaimed show, combining & Carolyn Sampson, Elizabeth CONSPIRATOR Mike Poulton turns his improvised comedy with tabletop NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Cragg, Elizabeth Adams & Katie gaming, Sat 3 - Sun 4 Feb, Old Joint pen to the thrilling world of power Released from Fri 2 Feb, showing at Trethewey (sopranos), Sun 4 Feb, politics in the ancient Rome of Robert Stock Theatre, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham selected cinemas Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. MIRROR MIRROR Red Earth Theatre CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & EARLY MODERN Gregory Doran directs, until Sat 10 fuse puppetry, storytelling and sign DEN OF THIEVES (tbc) ENSEMBLE Featuring Andrew Kirkman Feb, The Swan Theatre, Stratford- language in a mischievous take on JOURNEY'S END (12a) (conductor) & Amy Brosius (EMVE upon-Avon the ever-popular tale of Snow White, PHANTOM THREAD (15) Director) Sun 4 Feb, Elgar Concert Sun 4 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART II ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ (12a) Hall, The Bramall, University of B’ham DICTATOR Mike Poulton turns his pen to the thrilling world of power politics WINCHESTER (tbc) in the ancient Rome of Robert Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. Gregory Doran directs, until Sat 10 Feb, The Film Comedy Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon TWELFTH NIGHT Ade Edmundson & THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, Events GEOFF NORCOTT, PAUL MCCAFFERY & Kara Tointon star in Shakespeare’s MISSOURI (15) Crime/Drama. Starring COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- BOUNDARY WALK tale of unrequited love, until Sat 24 Frances McDormand, Woody Harrel- Series of guided SON Thurs 1 Feb, The Glee Club, Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, son. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri walks around the park's boundaries, Birmingham Stratford-upon-Avon 2 - Wed 7 Feb; Warwick Arts Centre, Fri 2 Feb, Charlecote Park, Warwick JIM DAVIDSON Thurs 1 Feb, Wolver- MALCOLM STENT’S SONGS OF PRAISE Coventry, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Feb SUNDAY TALK: 'THE GREAT BIRMINGHAM hampton Grand Theatre SQUABBLE' Hymns & songs with a comedy JUPITER'S MOON (15) Drama/Sci-Fi. Fascinating glimpse into KATHERINE RYAN Fri 2 Feb, Symphony sparkle, Thurs 1 Feb, The Core, Soli- Starring Merab Ninidze, Zsombor the history of Tudor and Stuart Birm- Hall, Birmingham hull Jéger. Foreign language, subtitled. ingham and Yardley, Sun 4 Feb, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham SCOTT CAPURRO Fri 2 Feb, The Glee THAT'LL BE THE DAY Thurs 1 Feb, War- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, until Club, Birmingham wick Arts Centre, Coventry Thurs 1 Feb DIGITAL ENGINEERING FOR KIDS & FAMI- LIES Learn more about coding with RAW COMEDY Fri 2 Feb, Evesham Arts PENGUINS Unique and engaging A WOMAN'S LIFE (12a) Drama. Starring your kids at these brand new work- Centre show for children about friendship, Judith Chemla, Jean-Pierre Dar- fun, identity and the ever-changing roussin. Foreign language, subtitled. shops, Sun 4 Feb, Enginuity Mu- SUZI RUFFELL, GEOFF NORCOTT, ANDY meaning of family, Thurs 1 - Sat 10 Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, until seum, Ironbridge, Shropshire ROBINSON & PAUL MCCAFFERY Fri 2 - Feb, The REP, Birmingham Thurs 1 Feb SPRING FAIR The UK’s definitive desti- Sat 3 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham ON WINGS Two-hander fusing comedy LOVING VINCENT (12a) Animation/Biog- nation for the home & gift industry, SAMANTHA BAINES Sat 3 Feb, Artrix, with a love story. Written by and star- raphy. With the voices of Douglas Sun 4 - Thurs 8 Feb, NEC, B’ham Bromsgrove whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Waricks/Worcs 5 - 11 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:27 Page 1

thelist Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Classical ENSEMBLE 360: STAN & MABEL AND THE RACE FOR SPACE Featuring Polly Ives (narrator), Sun 11 Feb, Royal Music Spa Centre, Leamington Spa

ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTEN- SINFONIA OF BIRMINGHAM Featuring MENT Featuring Marin Alsop (con- Michael Seal (conductor) & Ben ductor) & Nicola Benedetti (violin), Dawson (piano). Programme in- Tues 6 Feb, Symphony Hall, B’ham cludes works by Copland & Vaughan Williams, Sun 11 Feb, Elgar GARNIER ORGAN RECITAL Featuring Concert Hall, The Bramall, University Henry Fairs & Daniel Moult, Tues 6 of Birmingham Feb, Elgar Concert Hall, The Bra- mall, University of Birmingham MIDDAY MUSIC WITH FU-MIN TSENG (PIANO) Programme includes works by Brahms, Carl Vine & Liszt, Tues 6 Comedy Feb, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Natalie Imbruglia - Birmingham Town Hall Conservatoire AHIR SHAH Thurs 8 Feb, The REP, Birmingham don Hall, Worcester Hare & Hounds, Birm- CBSO: PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION Featuring Constantinos Carydis THE COMEDY HUT Fri 9 Feb, The Civic, NOBLE JACKS Fri 9 Feb, ingham Gigs (conductor) & Javier Perianes Stourport-on-Severn Number 8 Community THE WORLD FAMOUS (piano). Programme includes works Arts Centre, Pershore ELVIS SHOW Fri 9 - Sun PATRICK MONAHAN Fri 9 Feb, The NATALIE IMBRUGLIA by Skalkotttas, Falla & Mussorgsky, 11 Feb, Albany The- Glee Club, Birmingham Mon 5 Feb, Birming- STEVE KNIGHTLY - Wed 7 Feb, Symphony Hall, B’ham ham Town Hall SONGS & STORIES 2018 atre, Coventry JOE LYCETT, TOM PARRY, MIKE BUBBINS, LONDON SINFONIETTE: TURNING POINTS TOUR Fri 9 Feb, Hunt- SUPREME QUEEN Sat 10 RACHEL PARRIS & DANNY CLIVES Fri 9 KAIA KATER Mon 5 Feb, 1960 Programme includes works by ingdon Hall, Worcester Feb, The River Rooms, Feb, MAC, Birmingham Kitchen Garden Cafe, Ligeti, Stockhausen, Boulez & Berio, Stourbridge ANDREW LAWRENCE, MICHAEL FABBRI, Birmingham RE-TAKE THAT: WONDER- Wed 7 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, ANT DEWSON & CHRIS BROOKER Fri 9 NYJO - FEMALE JAZZ LAND Fri 9 Feb, Palace ALIVE AND DREL Sat 10 Coventry Theatre, Redditch Feb, Malvern Theatres Feb, Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton ICONS Tues 6 Feb, LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH MUSICIANS PAUL CHOWDHRY Sat 10 Feb, War- Palace Theatre, Red- PEGGY SUE Fri 9 Feb, SWINGING 60’S & MO- FROM KING’S SCHOOL, WORCESTER wick Arts Centre, Coventry ditch Warwick Arts Centre, TOWN’ PARTY WITH THE Thurs 8 Feb, Worcester Cathedral Coventry KRYSTALETTES Sat 10 GARRETT MILLERICK, ANDRE VINCENT, WHILE SHE SLEEPS CBSO OPERA GALA Featuring Stephen Feb, Nailcote Hall, STEVE HARRIS & JAKE LAMBERT Sat 10 Tues 6 Feb, O2 Insti- REGGAE TAKEOVER Fri 9 Bell (conductor), Natalya Romaniw Berkswell Feb, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham tute, Birmingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, (soprano), Madeleine Shaw (mezzo ZARA MCFARLANE Wed Birmingham JEZ LOWE Sat 10 Feb, soprano), Noah Stewart (tenor) & BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 10 7 Feb, Hare & CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. Lichfield Guildhall Simon Thorpe (bass). Programme Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Hounds, Birmingham THE WHITE NOISE Fri 9 BARS AND MELODY Sat includes works by Saint-Saens, Puc- MILTON JONES Sun 11 Feb, New HOLLIE COOK Wed 7 Feb, O2 Academy, 10 Feb, O2 Academy, cini, Donizetti, Rossini, Ponchielli, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Feb, O2 Academy, Birmingham Bristol Street Bizet, Wagner, Gounod & Verdi, Fri 9 JOSH PUGH & JO D'ARCY Sun 11 Feb, Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham COLOSSUS YETI Fri 9 JUAN MARTIN Sat 10 The Glee Club, Birmingham THE SIXTEEN: VIVALDI GLORIA FAIRPORT CONVENTION Feb, O2 Institute, Feb, Warwick Arts Fri 9 VENUS VS MARS Sun 11 Feb, The Wed 7 Feb, Lichfield Birmingham Centre, Coventry Feb, Worcester Cathedral Glee Club, Birmingham Garrick KENDRICK LAMAR Fri 9 KEYWEST Sat 10 Feb, MARK NEVIN & BAND Feb, Genting Arena, O2 Institute, B’ham Thurs 8 Feb, Kitchen Birmingham ABBA FOREVER Sat 10 Garden Cafe, B’ham THE PASADENA ROOF Feb, The Swan The- TONY ALLEN Thurs 8 ORCHESTRA Fri 9 Feb, atre Worcester Theatre Feb, Warwick Arts Malvern Theatres THE FEZ Sat 10 Feb, Centre, Coventry NICK HARPER Fri 9 Feb, The Marr's Bar, ABSENT FRIENDS Amateur staging of JHENÉ AIKO Thurs 8 Kitchen Garden Cafe, Worcester Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy, Mon 5 - Sat 10 Feb, Talisman Theatre & Feb, O2 Institute, Birmingham MEAT LOUD Sat 10 Feb, Arts Centre, Kenilworth Birmingham KENT DUCHAINE Fri 9 Evesham Arts Centre SIGLO DE ORO Programme weaves to- THE SOUND OF MUSIC TDE PROMOTIONS: BIG Feb, Katie Fitzgerald's, TRANSATLANTIC SES- gether a musical history from the Re- Lucy O’Bryrne (The Voice) takes the lead as Maria SATAN: TIM BERNE, Stourbridge SIONS Sat 10 Feb, formation and Counter-reformation in a lavish staging of one of the MARC DUCRET AND TOM BEE GEES FEVER Fri 9 Symphony Hall, Birm- with works by Josquin, Tye, Shep- greatest musicals of all time, Tues 6 - RAINEY Thurs 8 Feb, Feb, The River Rooms, ingham pard, Byrd, Palestrina & Victoria, Fri MAC, Birmingham 9 Feb, The Barber Institute, B’ham Sat 10 Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Stourbridge MADE IN LIVERPOOL LEON MCCAWLEY PIANO CONCERT Coventry THE MAVERICKS Thurs FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 9 Sun 11 Feb, Hare & Pro- KANADA Brand new play telling the 8 Feb, Symphony Hall, Feb, Route 44, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham gramme includes works by Haydn, Birmingham Hans Gal, Beethoven & Schubert, Fri story of two Jewish prisoners in the CLAUDE BOURBON, ME- ERASURE Sun 11 Feb, 9 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Second World War concentration HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT DIEVAL & SPANISH O2 Academy, B’ham BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR - COME AND camp of Auschwitz, Tues 6 - Sat 10 Thurs 8 Feb, The BLUES Fri 9 Feb, BREABACH Sun 11 Feb, SING! MOZART’S REQUIEM Feb, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham Robin, Bilston Palace Theatre, Red- Sat 10 Feb, The Fleece Inn, Bret- Selly Oak Methodist Church, B’ham JERSEY BOYS The story of Frankie NIGHTMARES ON WAX ditch forton, Nr Evesham Valli & The Four Seasons, Tues 6 - Thurs 8 Feb, Hare & ENSEMBLE 360: BRAVO BRAHMS Pro- MAX BOYCE Fri 9 Feb, THE LIQUOR AND POKER Sat 17 Feb, Regent Theatre, Stoke- Hounds, Birmingham The Roses Theatre, gramme comprises Brahms' Piano BAND Sun 11 Feb, Quintet in F minor Op. 34 & Sere- on-Trent TANNAHILL WEAVERS Tewkesbury Katie Fitzgerald's, nade No.1 in D Op 11, Sun 11 Feb, CHOKE Chris O’Connell’s story of life- Thurs 8 Feb, Hunting- LOST SOCIETY Fri 9 Feb, Stourbridge 56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Waricks/Worcs 5 - 11 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:27 Page 2

Monday 5 - Sunday 11 February

long friends Rob & Stu, each staring SLEEPING BEAUTY GOES BACK TO THE at the gap between who they thought FUTURE Travel through time as this they were and who they are now, traditional pantomime is given an un- Tues 6 - Sat 17 Feb, Shop Front The- usual twist, Fri 9 - Sat 10 Feb, The atre, Coventry Core, Solihull MAMMA MIA! The sensational feel- ROBBIE'S SUPERSONIC ROCKET - THE good musical returns to the Mid- MUSICAL! Timeless musical based on lands, Tues 6 - Sat 24 Feb, Hazel & Andy Hiles’ newly published Wolverhampton Grand Theatre picture storybook. Suitable for chil- BLACK MEN WALKING Eclipse Theatre dren aged between one and 11, Sat Company present an innovative new 10 Feb, Crescent Theatre, B’ham play which tells the story of three MIRROR MIRROR Red Earth Theatre middle-aged men who find them- fuse puppetry, storytelling and sign selves travelling further than any of language in a mischievous take on them expected when they set out for the ever-popular tale of Snow White, a walk in the Peak District, Wed 7 - Sun 11 Feb, MAC, Birmingham Sat 10 Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Coven- DON’T DRIBBLE ON THE DRAGON Musi- try cal adventure about growing up and the importance of family, Sun 11 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Austen The Musical - Artrix, Bromsgrove Drama/Thriller. Starring Charles Az- Leamington Spa navour, Marie Dubois. Foreign lan- 100 COCKPITS AND CABS Rare chance guage, subtitled. The Coach House to get a closer look inside 100 cock- Dance Theatre, Malvern, Sun 11 Feb pits and vehicles from the collection, THE DISASTER ARTIST (15) Biogra- Fri 9 Feb, RAF Cosford, Shifnal CINDERELLA New Adventures present phy/Comedy. Starring James Franco, RAG RUG VALENTINES HEART Have a go Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of Dave Franco. Malvern Theatres, Sun at crafting a traditional handmade AUSTEN THE MUSICAL Rob Winslow's the classic fairytale, hailed as one of 11 Feb decoration with a romantic twist, Sat full version of his new musical, which the company’s most popular and 10 Feb, Birmingham Back to Backs explores the transition of Jane Austen beloved productions, Tues 6 - Sat 10 Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: ST RICHARD'S HOSPICE LANTERN WALK from country parson's daughter to Sat 10 Feb, Croome Park, Worcester one of the most widely read writers in JOSS ARNOTT DANCE: TRIPLE BILL Fea- Released from Fri 9 Feb, showing at NORDIC WALKING COURSE English literature, Thurs 8 Feb, Artrix, turing two brand new dance works - selected cinemas Nordic walk- Bromsgrove A Movement In 3 and RUSH - along- FIFTY SHADES FREED (18) ing is a complete body workout that can be enjoyed by anyone of any fit- GREAT EXPECTATIONS New staging of side the company's internationally LOVELESS (15) award-winning solo, V, which features ness level, Sat 10 Feb, Packwood Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SE- House, Solihull Thurs 8 - Sat 10 Feb, Malvern The- live music for the very first time, Wed CRET OF KING MIDAS (U) VICTORIAN VALENTINE WEEKEND atres 7 Feb, MAC, Birmingham See THE 15:17 TO PARIS (15) the townsfolk at Blists Hill Victorian TWIST & SHOUT An all-star West End MACBETH The award-winning Mark THE MERCY (12a) Town preparing for the romantic day cast present a musical celebration of Bruce Company present a striking dance theatre adaptation of Shake- in their cottages, demonstrating the 1960s, Fri 9 Feb, The Swan The- crafts such as decoupage and card- atre, Worcester speare’s famous tragedy, Thurs 8 - Fri 9 Feb, The Patrick Centre, Birm- making, Sat 10 - Sun 11 Feb, Blists THAT'LL BE THE DAY Evening of nostal- ingham Hippodrome Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire gia, laughs and comic sketches, Sat Events ANTIQUE AND COLLECTORS FAIR Sat 10 10 Feb, Bedworth Civic Hall - Sun 11 Feb, British Motor Museum, NOTHING Series of interwoven mono- Gaydon, Warwickshire STAR VEHICLE STORIES Interactive sto- logues dealing with issues including ries, songs and hands-on experi- STAR CARS - FEBRUARY HALF TERM customer service, crap television, cup ences, Mon 5 Feb, Coventry Meet Parker or Lady Penelope and cakes, sex, buses and stalking, Sat Transport Museum discover some of the stories behind 10 - Sat 17 Feb, Crescent Theatre, Film the museum's collection of Star Cars. PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 Birmingham Get creative with crafts and complete Every Monday in February enjoy a BILLY LIAR Roses Youth Theatre pre- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: the Star Car Trail, Sat 10 - Sun 25 delicious breakfast followed by an ex- sent an amateur staging of Keith Wa- Feb, British Motor Museum, Gaydon. BATTLE OF THE SEXES (12a) Biogra- clusive tour of the house and attic terhouse’s groundbreaking novel, Warwickshire phy/Comedy. Starring Emma Stone, spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash Sun 11 Feb, The Roses, Tewkesbury Steve Carell. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues intended his guests to view them, THOMAS & FRIENDS Meet Thomas and 6 & Fri 9 Feb Mon 5 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- all his friends at Europe's only DARKEST HOUR (PG) hull Thomas Land, Sat 10 - Sun 25 Feb, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tam- Biography/Drama. Starring Gary Old- STEMTASTIC EXPLORERS Introducing worth man, Lily James. Warwick Arts Cen- different Science, Technology, Engi- Kids Theatre tre, Coventry, Fri 9 - Thurs 15 Feb neering, Maths (STEM) themes with PIRATE AND PRINCESS WEEK Featuring DOWNSIZING (15) Comedy/Sci-Fi. Star- songs, stories and experiments, Wed a treasure hunt, meet-and-greets with TELETUBBIES LIVE The iconic, Teletub- ring Matt Damon, Kirsten Wiig. 7 Feb, Coventry Transport Museum CBeebies Land characters, an essen- bies star in their first ever theatre tial pirate skills school and a disco Malvern Theatres, Fri 9 - Thurs 15 CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO show, Wed 7 - Thurs 8 Feb, New with fancy dress parade, Sat 10 - Sun Feb BACKS Fri 9 Feb, Birmingham Back to Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham 25 Feb, Alton Towers, Staffordshire EARLY MAN (PG) Animation/Adventure. Backs HUSH-A-BYE Oily Cart present an inter- DIGITAL ENGINEERING FOR KIDS & FAMI- With the voices of Tom Hiddleston, ALL-STAR SUPERSLAM WRESTLING 2018 active, multisensory production for LIES Learn more about coding with Eddie Redmayne. Roses Theatre, Larger-than-life characters from all the very young, with live music and your kids at these brand new work- Tewkesbury, Fri 9 - Fri 16 Feb corners of the world do battle inside puppets, Wed 7 - Sun 11 Feb, War- shops, Sun 11 Feb, Enginuity Mu- the ring, Fri 9 Feb, Royal Spa Centre, wick Arts Centre, Coventry TIREZ SUR LE PIANISTE (12) seum, Ironbridge, Shropshire whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Warwicks/Worcs 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:28 Page 1

SUN 18th FEB, 2.30pm THU 19th APR, 7.30pm CAPTAIN FLINN & THE PIRATE JANE EYRE – DINOSAURS 2: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY THE MAGIC CUTLASS ★★★★★ ‘Truly extraordinary… one of the most exciting young Les Petites Theatre Company performs the hugely performers on the British Stage’(British Theatre Guide) anticipated sequel based on the book by Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto. Ages 3+

TUE 24th APR, 7.30pm TUE 1st MAY, 2.30pm & 7.30pm A BRAVE FACE LEARNED FRIENDS A Brave Face explores Post-Traumatic Stress, an unseen and Prosecution and Defence Counsel await the verdict in the often unrecognised injury of war, and the impact it can trial of a high proﬁle football manager. Each holds a secret have on even the closest of families. With compassion and which will pose irreconcilable conﬂicts as irregularities in fearlessness, Vamos brings its trademark, wordless, full the trial are exposed and friendships, careers and the true mask style to a story that needs to be told. course of justice are placed on trial.

MYTON ROAD, WARWICK. CV34 6PP / BOX OFFICE: 01926 776438 www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwicks/Worcs 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:28 Page 2

thelist Monday 12 - Sunday 18 February Tin Music And Arts, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Canal Basin, Coventry Classical servatoire SOME GUYS HAVE ALL ORCHESTRA OF SOLIHULL SCHOOLS IN THE LUCK Sat 17 Feb, CONCERT Fri 16 Feb, Warwick Arts Palace Theatre, Red- Music Centre, Coventry ditch GAMELAN ENSEMBLE Dr Andy Chan- LONDON HANDEL PLAYERS: BAROQUE THE REAL COOL Sat 17 ning directs a lunchtime concert fea- REBELLION Featuring Mary Collins & Feb, The Sunflower turing traditional music from Steven Player (baroque dancers), Fri Lounge, Birmingham Indonesia, Mon 12 Feb, The Dome, 16 Feb, Recital Hall, Birmingham MAGIC VOICES IN CON- The Bramall, Universiry of B’ham Conservatoire CERT Sat 17 Feb, The RODERICK WILLIAMS AND ENGLISH ARCADIA STRING QUARTET Featuring Core Theatre, Solihull SONG Featuring Orchestra Of The Ana Török & Râsvan Dumitru (vio- GYJO & MYJO: A BIG Swan & Patrycja Pieczara (conduc- lins), Traian Boal (viola) & Zsolt BAND EXTRAVAGANZA tor). Programme includes works by Török (cello). Programmeā includes Sat 17 Feb, The Roses Vaughan Williams, Finzi & Ireland, works by Haydn, Bartok & Theatre, Tewkesbury Tues 13 Feb, Stratford Artshouse, Beethoven, Fri 16 Feb, Royal Pump Rachel Newton - The Fleece Inn, Nr Evesham Rooms, Leamington Spa TROPICAL SOUNDCLASH Stratford-upon-Avon Lounge, Birmingham Sat 17 Feb, Hare & CZECH PHILHARMONIC - DVORÁK’S NEW ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: ENGLISH Gigs DERMOT KENNEDY Hounds, Birmingham WORLD SYMPHONY Featuring the GENIUS Featuring David Curtis (con- Thurs 15 Feb, O2 Insti- Czech Philharmonic, Tomáš Netopil ductor) & Francesca Moore-Bridger HRH METAL: WEEKEND (horn), Fri 16 Feb, Number 8 Com- FCS: JAYA THE CAT Mon tute, Birmingham (conductor) & Alisa Weilerstein TICKET Sat 17 Feb, O2 munity Arts Centre, Worcestershire 12 Feb, The Marr's DON BROCO Thurs 15 Academy, Birmingham (cello). Programme includes works Bar, Worcester Feb, O2 Academy, by Mozart & Dvo ák, Wed 14 Feb, CAROLIN WIDMANN VIOLIN CONCERT I’M STILL STANDING – Symphony Hall, Birmingham Programme includes works by Pas- MAX & HARVEY Mon 12 Birmingham ř THE ELTON JOHN STORY cal Dusapin, Hans Abrahamsen, Sal- Feb, O2 Academy, RODERICK WILLIAMS AND ENGLISH THE SCRIPT Thurs 15 Sat 17 Feb, Albany vatore Sciarrino & Michael Zev Birmingham Feb, Genting Arena, Theatre, Coventry SONG Featuring Orchestra Of The Swan & Patrycja Pieczara (conduc- Gordon, Fri 16 Feb, The Barber Insti- NICK HAKIM Mon 12 Birmingham $UICIDEBOY$ Sat 17 tor). Programme includes works by tute, Birmingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, THE ELVIS YEARS – THE Feb, O2 Institute, Vaughan Williams, Finzi & Ireland, NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE Featuring Birmingham STORY OF THE KING Fri Birmingham Wed 14 Feb, Birmingham Town Hall Daniele Rosina (director) & Lydia ALIEN ANT FARM Mon 16 Feb, Palace The- ALADDINSANE - SOUND CBSO: GRIEG’S PIANO CONCERTO Fea- Haynes (voice), Sat 17 Feb, The Bar- 12 Feb, O2 Institute, atre, Redditch & VISION OF DAVID turing the City Of Birmingham Sym- ber Institute, Birmingham Birmingham THE LIONEL RICHIE BOWIE Sat 17 Feb, The phony Orchestra, Michael Seal CBSO: CARMINA BURANA Featuring IRON & WINE Tues 13 SONGBOOK Fri 16 Feb, Marr's Bar, Worcester (conductor) & Freddy Kempf (piano). Michael Seal (conductor, Freddy Feb, Symphony Hall, The Swan Theatre, VALENTINE'S HEART & Programme includes works by Bax, Kempf (piano), Fflur Wyn (soprano), Birmingham Worcester SOUL PARTY WITH Grieg & Elgar, Thurs 15 Feb, Sym- Oliver Johnston (tenor), Leigh Mel- MADI SASKIA Tues 13 THE CLASSIC ROCK HARRY CAMBRIDGE Sat phony Hall, Birmingham rose (baritone), the CBSO Chorus & Feb, Hare & Hounds, SHOW Fri 16 Feb, 17 Feb, Nailcote Hall, ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CBSO Children's Chorus. Pro- Birmingham Malvern Theatres Berkswell Featuring Rory Macdonald (conduc- gramme includes works by Bax, Grieg & Orff, Sat 17 Feb, Symphony WILLY MASON Tues 13 CHANGING MAN VS. THE THE WHITNEY HOUSTON tor) & Kian Soltani (cello), Thurs 15 Hall, Birmingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, POLICE FORCE Fri 16 LIVE EXPERIENCE Sat 17 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Birmingham Feb, The River Rooms, - Sun 18 Feb, Artrix, JOSE MENOR Lunchtime piano con- MUSICAL & AMICABLE SOCIETY: BACH & Stourbridge Bromsgrove VIVALDI CONCERTOS Featuring Ro a REBECCA FERGUSON cert, Thurs 15 Feb, Warwick Arts Bene, Robin Bigwood, Steven Tues 13 Feb, Birming- JEN CLOHER Fri 16 Feb, RODERICK WILLIAMS & Centre, Coventry ź Devine & Martin Perks (harpsi- ham Town Hall Hare & Hounds, Birm- IAN BURNSIDE Sun 18 THE GONZAGA BAND: VENICE 1629 Fea- ingham Feb, Malvern Theatres chords), Sat 17 Feb, Concert Hall, BOWLING FOR SOUP turing Faye Newton (soprano), Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Tues 13 Feb, O2 KING 810 Fri 16 Feb, THE BLACKHEART OR- Jamie Savan & Helen Robert (cor- MALVERN CONCERT CLUB WITH RODER- Academy, Birmingham The Asylum, B’ham CHESTRA Sun 18 Feb, nett), Oliver Webber & Theresa Cau- Kitchen Garden Cafe, dle (violins) & Steven Devine (organ ICK WILLIAMS (BARITONE) & IAIN THE BLUES BAND - 39 JOHN OTWAY Fri 16 Birmingham & harpsichord), Thurs 15 Feb, BURNSIDE (PIANO) Programme com- YEARS AND BACK FOR Feb, The Marr's Bar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- prises Schubert’s Winterreise, D.911, MORE Wed 14 Feb, Worcester TRIP Sun 18 Feb, Katie servatoire Sun 18 Feb, Malvern Theatre Huntingdon Hall, CASH (PAYIN' RESPECT Fitzgerald's, Stour- Worcester TO THE MAN IN BLACK) bridge LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH ALEX MASON (ORGAN) Thurs 15 Feb, WARWICK FUSED VII: Fri 16 Feb, O2 PENGUIN CAFE Sun 18 Worcester Cathedral LOVE WILL FIND A WAY Academy, Birmingham Feb, Warwick Arts Wed 14 Feb, Warwick THE LEGENDS OF AMERI- Centre, Coventry ENGLISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Fea- Comedy Arts Centre, Coventry CAN COUNTRY Fri 16 PAUL CARRACK Sun 18 turing Chloe Hanslip (violin) & Ken- neth Woods (conductor). DAN NIGHTINGALE, ELEANOR TIERNAN & TANNAHILL WEAVERS Feb, Bedworth Civic Feb, Symphony Hall, Programme includes works by OTIZ CANNELLONI Mon 12 Feb, Bel- Wed 14 Feb, The Red Hall Birmingham Mendelssohn, Brahms & Schumann, grade Theatre, Coventry Lion Folk Club, B’ham THE RONNIE SCOTT’S THE LEGENDS OF AMERI- Thurs 15 Feb, Malvern Theatre TOM ALLEN THURS 15 Feb, Evesham FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS ALL STARS Fri 16 Feb, CAN COUNTRY, Sun 18 BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL Arts Centre Wed 14 Feb, The Core The Roses Theatre, Feb, The Roses The- RECORDER & EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL Theatre, Solihull Tewkesbury atre, Tewkesbury TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, ANDY ASKINS & Thurs 15 - Sun 18 Feb, Royal Birm- FREDDY QUINNE Thurs 15 Feb, The ROMANCE ON VALEN- LABOUR OF LOVE - UB40 RACHEL NEWTON Sun ingham Conservatoire Bramall, Birmingham TINE’S NIGHT WITH TRIBUTE Sat 17 Feb, 18 Feb, The Fleece ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: BOOTLEG BARLOW Wed The River Rooms, Inn, Bretforton, Nr Eve- LOU CONRAN Thurs 15 Feb, MAC, SYMPHONIC ROCK Fri 16 Feb, Sym- 14 Feb, Nailcote Hall, Stourbridge sham Birmingham phony Hall, Birmingham Berkswell PIANO WIRE, TENE- PUBLIC ACCESS T.V Sun ADAM HESS & GLENN MOORE Fri 16 DAN LAURIN (RECORDER) & ANNA PAR- INDOOR PETS Thurs 15 BROUS LIAR + HORSE- 18 Feb, Hare & Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham ADISO (HARPSICHORD) Fri 16 Feb, Feb, The Sunflower FLIES Sat 17 Feb, The Hounds, Birmingham STEVE WILLIAMS, TOM LUCY, JOHN whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Warwicks/Worcs 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:28 Page 3

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwicks/Worcs 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:28 Page 4

thelist Monday 12 - Sunday 18 February FOTHERGILL & KAE KURD Fri 16 Feb, Bobby Whitlock. Roses Theatre, PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 The Glee Club, Birmingham Kids Theatre Tewkesbury, Tues 13 - Mon 19 Feb Every Monday in February enjoy a JIM DAVIDSON Sat 17 Feb, Bedworth THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, delicious breakfast followed by an exclusive tour of the house and attic Civic Hall DON’T DRIBBLE ON THE DRAGON Musi- MISSOURI (15) Crime/Drama. Starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrel- spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash STEPHEN BAILEY Sat 17 Feb, Warwick cal adventure about growing up and intended his guests to view them, Arts Centre, Coventry the importance of family, Mon 12 Feb, son. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Mon 12 - Tues 13 & Thurs 15 Feb Mon 12 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- TOM LUCY, STEVE WILLIAMS, JOHN The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury hull FOTHERGILL & KAE KURD Sat 17 Feb, SHREK THE MUSICAL Join Shrek and DOWNSIZING (15) Comedy/Sci-Fi. Star- ring Matt Damon, Kirsten Wiig. Roses AFTER-HOURS CONSERVATION TOUR Ex- The Glee Club, Birmingham Donkey as they embark on a quest to plore Croome court through the eyes rescue Princess Fiona from a fire- Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 12 - Thurs REGINALD D HUNTER Sat 17 Feb, War- 15 Feb of the house steward, Tues 13 Feb, wick Arts Centre, Coventry breathing, love-sick dragon, Wed 14 - Croome Park, Worcester Sun 25 Feb, New Alexandra Theatre, BATTLE OF THE SEXES (12a) Biogra- ANDREW O'NEILL Sun 18 Feb, MAC, Birmingham phy/Comedy. Starring Emma Stone, CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO Birmingham BACKS Wed 14 Feb, Birmingham FIRST STEPS, A CHILD'S SLEEPING Steve Carell. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon Back to Backs BEAUTY Hour-long interactive show for 12 & Thurs 15 Feb children aged three-plus, performed THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE (18) THE NATIONAL FRANCHISE EXHIBITION by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Fri 16 Drama. Starring Beryl Reid, Susan- Showcasing a huge range of national Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome nah York. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 13 franchise opportunities for anyone looking to run their own business, Fri Theatre MILKSHAKE LIVE! Feb All-singing, all-danc- 16 - Sat 17 Feb, NEC, Birmingham ing celebration of the world’s THE DISASTER ARTIST (15) Biogra- METAMORPHOSIS Splendid Produc- favourite fairytales, Sat 17 Feb, Royal phy/Comedy. Starring James Franco, BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW The UK’s tions present Franz Kafka's chilling Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Dave Franco. Malvern Theatres, Tues flagship shooting event, featuring story of dislocation, mutation and iso- leading manufacturers, distributors, JACK AND THE BEANS TALK 13 & Thurs 15 Feb lation, Mon 12 Feb, MAC, B’ham Children’s retailers and shooting organisations, show featuring audience participa- BRIEF ENCOUNTER (PG) Drama. Star- THE BALD PRIMA DONNA Eugene Fri 16 - Sun 18 Feb, NEC, B’ham tion, an enormous beanstalk, bags of ring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard. Ionesco’s maniacal assault on the gold and a smelly old giant, Sat 17 Artrix, Bromsgrove, Weds 14 Feb NORDIC WALKING COURSE Nordic walk- banality of English suburbia, Tues 13 ing is a complete body workout that Feb, Farlow & Oreton Village Hall, WALK WITH ME (PG) Documentary. - Sat 17 Feb, The Bear Pitt Theatre, Kidderminster, DY14 0TP can be enjoyed by anyone of any fit- Stratford-upon-Avon Starring Thich Nhát Hanh, Brother ness level, Sat 17 Feb, Packwood CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DI- Pháp De. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 16 SON OF A PREACHER MAN Debra House, Solihull NOSAURS 2: THE MAGIC CUTLASS Ac- Feb Stephenson and Alice Barlow star in STUNT FEST Featuring some of the tion-packed theatrical experience for LAST FLAG FLYING (15) Craig Revel Horwood’s touching new younger audiences, complete with UK’s top stunt drivers and riders, Sat musical featuring the greatest hits of Comedy/Drama. Starring Bryan 17 Feb, Santa Pod Raceway, live music, puppetry and dastardly di- Cranston, Laurence Fishburne. War- Dusty Springfield, Tues 13 - Sat 17 nosaurs, Sun 18 Feb, Bridge House Northampton Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry wick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 16 - Theatre, Warwick Thurs 22 Feb FEBRUARY HALF TERM: BEHIND THE CONSTELLATIONS Nick Payne’s meta- SCENES Explore the science used ‘be- physical love story, Wed 14 - Sat 17 EARLY MAN (PG) Animation/Adventure. hind the scenes’ of a museum, Sat 17 Feb, Criterion Theatre, Coventry With the voices of Tom Hiddleston, - Fri 23 Feb, Coventry Transport Mu- Eddie Redmayne. Warwick Arts Cen- A PACIFIST’S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON seum tre, Coventry, Fri 16 - Thurs 22 Feb CANCER Bryony Kimmings’ ‘funny and Dance FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE GEORGIANS moving’ show, which looks behind FERDINAND (PG) Animation/Adventure. TRAIL Follow the family trail around With the voices of Kate McKinnon, the poster campaigns and pink rib- POINT OF ECHOES bgroup and China the gardens and learn about the tra- bons and into the reality of cancer, David Tennant. Artrix, Bromsgrove, ditions of the era, the language of the Plate present a theatre/dance piece Sat 17 Feb Wed 14 - Sat 17 Feb, Belgrade The- about love, death and the supernatu- fan and how flowers were used as atre, Coventry ral, Mon 12 - Tues 13 Feb, Warwick UNREST (12a) Documentary. Starring symbols of affection, Sat 17 - Sun 25 ELEPHANT Highly anticipated return of Arts Centre, Coventry Jennifer Brea. Warwick Arts Centre, Feb, Berrington Hall, Nr Leominster Coventry, Sun 18 Feb Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's work, which BRB: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Birming- ENCHANTING FAIRY TRAIL Discover centres on family relationships and ham Royal Ballet version of the beautiful, enchanted, miniature lies... Thurs 15 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, The Tchaikovsky classic, Tues 13 - Sat 24 NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: houses created from Bodenham’s REP, Birmingham own wood, Sat 17 Feb - Sun 25 Mar, Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome Released from Tues 13 Feb, showing WICKED WIZARD OF FIZZOG Bodenham Arboretum, Kidderminster Black #JESUIS A company of Turkish at selected cinemas Country theatre favourites Fizzog pre- CREATE ANOTHER WORLD AT ENGINUITY dancers explore the media’s presen- BLACK PANTHER (tbc) sent their version of The Wizard Of tation of their country, Thurs 15 - Fri Immerse yourself in an Augmented Oz, Fri 16 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove 16 Feb, The Patrick Centre, Birming- THE SHAPE OF WATER (15) Reality world, where dinosaurs 'roam' JAY FOREMAN’S DISGUSTING SONGS ham Hippodrome FATHER FIGURES (15) around Enginuity, Sat 17 - Sun 25 Feb, Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, FOR REVOLTING CHILDREN Family- VIRAGO Sonia Sabri Company present LADY BIRD (15) Shropshire friendly show with songs, poems and a dance-digital solo production ex- comedy for children of all ages, Sat ploring light vs dark and real vs fairy- FEBRUARY HALF-TERM AT PACKWOOD 17 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coven- tale versions of female existence, Build a den, play hoop-la, splash in try Thurs 15 Feb, The Old Rep Theatre, the puddles and have your own fam- TEECHERS Blackeyed Theatre Com- Birmingham ily adventure, Sat 17 - Sun 25 Feb, pany present John Godber's classic Events Packwood House, Solihull classroom comedy, Sat 17 Feb, The CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018 Free perfor- TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Over 500 stalls Swan Theatre, Worcester mances, market stalls, fairground packed with all kinds of collectable rides and Asian street food, Sun 18 toys, trains and models for sale, Sun Feb, Arcadian Centre, Birmingham Film 11 Feb, NEC, Birmingham TAMWORTH CASTLE DRAGON HUNT Can STAR VEHICLE STORIES Interactive sto- you help find a rather mischievous INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: ries, songs and hands-on experi- dragon who’s gotten a bit lost?, Sun ences, Mon 12 Feb, Coventry ERIC CLAPTON: A LIFE IN 12 BARS (15) 18 - Sat 24 Feb, Tamworth Castle, Transport Museum Documentary. Starring Eric Clapton, Staffs

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FEBRUARY 2018 www.artrix.co.uk

Sat 10th February Fri 16th February Sat 17th & Sun 18th February CLOUDBUSTING THE WICKED THE WHITNEY STUNNING TRIBUTE TO THE WIZARD OF FIZZOG HOUSTON LIVE MUSIC OF KATE BUSH EXPERIENCE FEATURING NYA KING

HILARIOUS PARODY OF TWO AMAZING STORIES

Thurs 22nd February Fri 23rd February Sun 25th February MONSTERSAURUS! KITTY MACFARLANE FAIRPORT ENERGETIC SHOW FULL OF SOMERSET BASED SINGER- CONVENTION THRILLS, SPILLS, MAGIC & SONGWRITER FINAL DATE OF WINTOUR MAYHEM 2018

COMING SOON: Germaine Greer, Counterfeit Stones, Samantha Baines, Mirror Mirror, ROH Live: Tosca, Austen The Musical, Leon McCawley, Barnstormers Comedy, Bobby Mair, RSC Live: Twelfth Night, T.Rextasy, Phil Wang, Official Receivers, You’ve Got A friend, Dane Baptiste, Sonia Sabri Company, Roy G Hemmings, Cwmbach Male Choir, Andrew Lawrence, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Macca, Emily Maguire, Genesis Connected, George Egg, Complete Madness...

Free parking on-site Join our Mailing List and receive our weekly e-flyer withup-to-date information about upcoming showsor download our latest brochure @artrixarts Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1GN @artrix arts centre Box Office: 01527 577330

62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwicks/Worcs 19 - 25 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:29 Page 2

thelist Monday 19 - Sunday 25 February The Core Theatre, TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 19 Feb, Solihull Classical The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham ATTAN + CONJURER Sat STEWART LEE Tues 20 Feb, Stratford 24 Feb, The Flapper, Music Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham JO ENRIGHT AND FRIENDS Thurs 22 CATHEDRALS GROUP MIDDAY MUSIC FEAT KATARZYNA DEJA Feb, Palace Theatre, Redditch Programme comprises Beethoven’s CHOIRS FESTIVAL PER- DAN NIGHTINGALE, GLENN WOOL & FORMANCE Sat 24 Feb, Sonata Op.10, No.3, Mon 19 Feb, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Symphony Hall, Birm- SON servatoire Thurs 22 Feb, The Glee Club, ingham Birmingham JOGLARESA: THE ENCHANTRESS OF SOUNDWAVES MUSIC BARBARA NICE: RAFFLE! SEVILLE Featuring Belinda Sykes Fri 23 Feb, COMPETITION - BIRM- The REP, Birmingham INGHAM FINAL Sat 24 (voice, bagpipes, director), Angela TEZ IIYAS, JOE BOR & CHRIS PURCHASE Feb, O2 Academy, Hicks (voice, harp), Mary Robertson Fri 23 Feb, Wolverhampton Grand Birmingham (fidel, voice), Louisa Anna Duggan (duclimer, percussion, voice). Guy Theatre CHEMIKILL Sat 24 Feb, Schalom (percussion), Tues 20 Feb, LLOYD GRIFFITH Fri 23 Feb, The Glee O2 Academy, B’ham St Mary's Church, Warwick Club, Birmingham LONDON CALLING + THE Roni Size - O2 Institure, Birmingham UNIVERSITY OF CAMERATA Featuring GLENN WOOL, DAN NIGHTINGALE, ALIS- RAMONAS Sat 24 Feb, David Rice, Peter Gortner & Au- TAIR BARRIE & ELEANOR TIERNAN Fri Birmingham The Assembly, Leam- gustina Kapoti, Tues 20 Feb, The 23 Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham Gigs HIGH TYDE Thurs 22 ington Spa Dome, The Bramall, Birmingham Feb, Mama Roux's, PHIL WANG Sat 24 Feb, Artrix, Broms- THE COUNTERFEIT SIX- HUW WATKINS AND CLARE HAMMOND Birmingham grove IRIT Mon 19 Feb, The TIES TRIBUTE SHOW 24 An evening of British contemporary PAUL PIRIE, SEAN MEO, NIGE & KANE Glee Club, B’ham HUSKY LOOPS Thurs 22 Feb, Palace Theatre, piano music as part of the Univer- BROWN Sat 24 Feb, The Comedy HELL IS FOR HEROES Feb, The Flapper, Redditch sity's CrossCurrents new music festi- Loft, Birmingham Mon 19 Feb, O2 Insti- Birmingham IMAGINE DRAGONS Sat val. Programme includes works by tute, Birmingham WILEY Thurs 22 Feb, 24 Feb, Genting acclaimed composers Alexander FRANZ FERDINAND Tues O2 Institute, B’ham Arena, Birmingham Goehr, Robin Holloway and Michael Berkeley, Wed 21 Feb, The Barber 20 Feb, O2 Academy, WILSON AND WAKEMAN RONI SIZE - NEW FORMS Institute, Birmingham Birmingham Thurs 22 Feb, The LIVE Sat 24 Feb, O2 In- Theatre JOGLARESA Tues 20 Core Theatre, Solihull stitute, Birmingham MY FIRST CONCERT: JACK MCNEIL & GEORGE BENSON - STE- FRIENDS Designed to give babies & Feb, Royal Spa Cen- SUNJAY Thurs 22 Feb, SON OF A PREACHER MAN Debra VIE WONDER PARTY children and introduction to the tre, Leamington Spa Evesham Arts Centre Stephenson and Alice Barlow star in WITH NAT AUGUSTIN Sat world of classical music, Wed 21 BRIAN FALLON & THE JESSARAE Thurs 22 Craig Revel Horwood’s touching 24 Feb, Nailcote Hall, Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry HOWLING WEATHER Feb, O2 Academy, new musical featuring the greatest Berkswell, Warwick- CBSO: ROMEO AND JULIET Featuring Tues 20 Feb, O2 Insti- Birmingham hits of Dusty Springfield, Tues 20 - tute, Birmingham shire Leo McFall (conductor) & Paul Lewis KITTY MACFARLANE Fri Sat 24 Feb, Malvern Theatres THE OFFICIAL RE- (piano). Programme includes works LAURA MISCH Tues 20 23 Feb, Artrix, Broms- MENTAL Moving and personal story CEIVERS Sat 24 Feb, by Brahms & Prokofiev, Thurs 22 Feb, Hare & Hounds, grove about one son's relationship with his Artrix, Bromsgrove Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham mother and her mental health, Wed ICONS OF THE 80S Fri LA VIE PARISIENNE Royal Birmingham PERMAGEDDON Sat 24 21 - Fri 23 Feb, Old Joint Stock The- THE TEMPERANCE 23 Feb, Symphony Conservatoire Vocal Department Feb, The River Rooms, atre, Birmingham MOVEMENT Hall, Birmingham presents a semi-staged version of WITH NAKED SIX Wed Stourbridge THE SKA45'S Fri 23 Feb, Offenbach’s champagne cork oper- NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH BY ALAN AY- 21 Feb, O2 Institute, NEW DISORDER Sat 24 The River Rooms, atta. Michael Seal conducts, Thurs CKBOURN Amateur staging of Alan Birmingham Feb, The Marr's Bar, Stourbridge 22 Feb, Concert Hall, Royal Birming- Ayckbourn’s dark suburban comedy, SEAL Wed 21 Feb, Worcester ham Conservatoire Wed 21 - Sat 24 Feb, Swan Theatre, ITCH (THE KING BLUES Symphony Hall, Birm- JAMIE LENMAN Sun 25 Worcester UNPLUGGED) Fri 23 LIGETI QUARTET Featuring Mandhira ingham Feb, O2 Institute, Feb, The Asylum, De Saram & Patrick Dawkins (vio- A BUNCH OF AMATEURS Second Birmingham ARIANA GRANDE TRIB- Birmingham lins), Richard Jones (viola) & Val Thoughts Drama Company present UTE Wed 21 Feb, Al- FAIRPORT CONVENTION Welbanks (cello). Programme in- Ian Hislop & Nick Newman’s affec- THE GODFATHERS Fri 23 bany Theatre, WINTER TOUR 2018 Sun cludes works by John Zorn & Schnit- tionate study of amateur theatre, Feb, Hare & Hounds, Coventry 25 Feb, Artrix, Broms- tke, Fri 23 Feb, The Barber Institute, Wed 21 - Sat 24 Feb, The Bear Pitt Birmingham Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon DUKE SPECIAL Wed 21 grove Birmingham DAVE SHARP Fri 23 Feb, Feb, The Glee Club, RUPERT MARSHALL- CATHEDRAL GROUPS CHOIRS FESTIVAL THE WINSLOW BOY Tessa Peake- Katie Fitzgerald's, Birmingham LUCK & DUNCAN HONEY- PERFORMANCE Sat 24 Feb, Sym- Jones and Aden Gillett star in a Stourbridge major revival of Terence Rattigan's NEON WALTZ Wed 21 BOURNE Sun 25 Feb, phony Hall, Birmingham A FISTFUL OF SPOOKIES compelling tale of honesty and hon- Feb, Hare & Hounds, Huntingdon Hall, CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA: MAHLER’S Fri 23 Feb, The Fleece our, Wed 21 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, The Birmingham Worcester SIXTH Featuring Jac van Steen (con- Inn, Bretforton, Nr Eve- REP, Birmingham JOHN COOPER CLARKE THE X FACTOR LIVE ductor), Sun 25 Feb, Symphony sham CIRQUE ENCHANTMENT A concert-style Wed 21 Feb, The TOUR 2018 Sun 25 Feb, Hall, Birmingham CHASE & STATUS DJ SET cirque production featuring choreog- Roses Theatre, Genting Arena, B’ham Fri 23 - Sat 24 Feb, raphy, vocals and circus performers, Tewkesbury DAMIEN O’KANE BAND The Assembly, Leam- Thurs 22 Feb, Palace Theatre, Red- Sun 25 Feb, The DAPPY Wed 21 Feb, ington Spa ditch O2 Academy, B’ham Fleece Inn, Bretforton, THE MAN UPSTAIRS Sat Nr Evesham A BRAVE FACE Vamos Theatre ex- AUSTINN Wed 21 Feb, 24 Feb, Kitchen Gar- plores post-traumatic stress in the THE STRAIGHT ACES Comedy O2 Academy, B’ham den Cafe, Birmingham military, Thurs 22 Feb, Warwick Arts Sun 25 Feb, Katie Centre, Coventry PAUL YOUNG Wed 21 THE LIONEL RICHIE Fitzgerald's, Stour- PAUL CHOWDHRY Mon 19 Feb, Sym- Feb, Mama Roux's, SONGBOOK Sat 24 Feb, bridge phony Hall, Birmingham HAMLET Shakespeare's tragedy, told

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thelist through the eyes of those who came Sat 24 - Sun 25 Feb, Old Joint Stock bits left in, Wed 21 Feb, Lichfield Gar- of ‘thrills, spills, magic and mayhem’, after him, Thurs 22 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, Theatre, Birmingham rick with original music and plenty of au- The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham FLO SMITH - NOW AND THEN A woman THE JUNGLE BOOK Immersion Theatre dience participation, Thurs 22 Feb, AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE Expect looks back on life in London, from the brings its trademark style and energy Artrix, Bromsgrove corsets, killer heels and stockings Boer War to the Summer of Love, to what they're describing as their THE JUNGLE BOOK Immersion Theatre aplenty - and that's just the theatrego- Sun 25 Feb, The Bear Pitt Theatre, 'wildest show yet’. There's even a brings its trademark style and energy ers who come to see the show! Fri 23 Stratford-upon-Avon chance to meet the characters after- to what they're describing as their Feb, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury wards, Wed 21 Feb, Palace Theatre, 'wildest show yet’. There's even a FRANKENSTEIN 1899 Starring Jonathan Redditch chance to meet the characters after- Goodwin as Frankenstein, Fri 23 Feb, HOOT OWL Proon Productions fuse wards, Fri 23 Feb, The Old Rep The- Palace Theatre, Redditch original songs, puppetry, animation atre, Birmingham PSYCHIC SALLY: KISSES TO HEAVEN Kids Theatre and rapid costume changes in a THE DOODLE DANCE SHOW Interactive TOUR Fri 23 Feb, Royal Spa Centre, show for children and their carers, show designed to get the whole fam- Wed 21 Feb, Stratford Artshouse, ily doodling, moving and imagining Leamington Spa DEAR ZOO Puppetry and audience par- Stratford-upon-Avon together, Fri 23 - Sun 25 Feb, War- ticipation are the order of the day in A TIGER’S TALE M6 Theatre present a wick Arts Centre, Coventry show featuring circus balancing acts, this new staging for children, based LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD Little Angel puppetry, live music and song, Fri 23 on the book of the same name, Mon Theatre put a new spin on the much- LITTLE MOCHI MAN Join Little Mochi - Sun 25 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, 19 - Tues 20 Feb, The Core, Solihull loved fairytale, Wed 21 - Sun 25 Feb, Man as he embarks on an adventure MAC, Birmingham across the snowy mountains of Coventry THE GINGERBREAD MAN Hiccup The- Hokkaido, Sat 24 Feb, The Patrick atre cook up a brand new version of MILKSHAKE LIVE! All-singing, all-danc- CROONERS Big band swing and Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome crooner classics from the likes of the classic tale, Tues 20 - Thurs 22 ing celebration of the world’s Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry favourite fairytales, Thurs 22 Feb. MORGAN & WEST'S - MORE MAGIC FOR Lichfield Garrick KIDS Morgan & West mix brain-bust- Davis Jr, Matt Monro, Tony Bennett AWFUL AUNTIE Birmingham Stage ing illusion with old-fashioned tom- and Nat King Cole, Sat 24 Feb, Lich- Company’s award-winning staging of LEAPING FROG Natural history adven- foolery, Sun 25 Feb, MAC, field Garrick David Walliams’ tale of frights, fights ture for children following the journey Birmingham THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN OF THE and friendship... Tues 20 - Sat 24 of a jaunty wood frog who unsuspect- LOST WAVES - HIDDEN GEMS Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry ingly leaps from Little Pond into Big MILKSHAKE! LIVE: THE MAGIC STORY Pond, Thurs 22 Feb, The Old Rep BOOK All-singing, all-dancing celebra- Vaudeville-esque show using song, HORRIBLE HISTORIES - MORE BEST OF Theatre, Birmingham tion of the world’s favourite fairytales, storytelling and a multitude of 'inter- BARMY BRITAIN History with the nasty galactic time detective expressions', MONSTERSAURUS! Energetic show full Sun 25 Feb, Malvern Theatres

64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwicks/Worcs 19 - 25 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:29 Page 4

Monday 19 - Sunday 25 February

Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun 25 - Dance Wed 28 Feb

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Ballet NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Theatre UK present Shakespeare’s Released from Tues 20 Feb, showing magical tale of lovers, fairies, mis- at selected cinemas chief and moonlight, Fri 23 Feb, Palace Theatre, Redditch I, TONYA (15) A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Ballet DARK RIVER (tbc) Theatre UK present Shakespeare’s FINDING YOUR FEET (12a) magical tale of lovers, fairies, mis- chief and moonlight, Sat 24 Feb, The Albany Theatre, Coventry U. DANCE WM 2018 Show combining dance genres and themes to cele- Events brate some of the West Midlands’ best young performers, Sun 25 Feb, PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hip- Every Monday in February enjoy a podrome delicious breakfast followed by an exclusive tour of the house and attic spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash intended his guests to view them, Mon 19 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- A Midsummer Night’s Dream Film hull Palace Theatre, Redditch, Fri 23 February; Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sat 24 February MINI MOTORISTS Under-fives activity INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: morning - discover through play the After scoring a hit with their production of Romeo And Juliet, Bal- world's largest collection of historic EARLY MAN (PG) Animation/Adventure. let Theatre UK here turn their attention to another of Shakespeare’s British cars, Mon 19 Feb, British With the voices of Tom Hiddleston, best-loved plays. Original choreography set to the iconic Motor Museum, Gaydon Eddie Redmayne. Roses Theatre, Mendelssohn score transports audiences to a magical woodland FEBRUARY HALF TERM FUN Including Tewkesbury, Mon 19 Feb where all manner of japes and capers are rapidly unfolding. arts and crafts, Mon 19 Feb, Birming- JOURNEY'S END (12a) Drama/War. Star- ham Botanical Gardens Lysander and Demetrius are vying for the love of Hermia while He- ring Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany. Roses lena sits on the shelf, Titania and Oberon are up to no good, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 19 - Thurs HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 2018 Drama 22 Feb; Warwick Arts Centre, Coven- games and practical activities, Mon Puck’s got his finger in more pies than Mr Kipling and Bottom is try, Fri 23 - Wed 28 Feb 19 - Tues 20 Feb, Belgrade Theatre, making a complete Ass of himself... Coventry FERDINAND (PG) Animation/Adventure. Shakespeare, Mendelssohn and a critically acclaimed dance com- With the voices of Kate McKinnon, RSC FEBRUARY HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES A pany doing what they do best. What’s not to like?... David Tennant. Artrix, Bromsgrove, week of workshops and activities for Mon 19 & Wed 21 Feb all the family, Mon 19 - Fri 23 Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Strat- WALK WITH ME (PG) Documentary. Tues 20 - Sun 25 Feb, NEC, B’ham biggest & best wedding event. With ford-upon-Avon Starring Thich Nhát Hanh, Brother FROM PUDDING LANE TO PIE CORNER hundreds of wedding specialists, Pháp De. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 20 WILD CHILD WEEK Are you tough Lighthearted family-friendly short from bridal boutiques and florists to Feb enough to brave the great outdoors drama. Samuel Pepys visits jewellers and photographers, this is at Brockhampton for a week of the ultimate wedding shopping expe- MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (12a) Blakesley Hall and recounts his expe- bushcraft survival, food foraging and rience, Fri 23 - Sun 25 Feb, NEC, Crime/Drama. Starring Kenneth rience of London ablaze, Wed 21 den building? Mon 19 - Fri 23 Feb, Birmingham Branagh, Penélope Cruz. Artrix, Feb, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Brockhampton Estate, Nr Bromyard Bromsgrove, Wed 21 Feb CREATE THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON NORDIC WALKING COURSE Nordic walk- DIY DRIVE-IN CINEMA Flatpack Ensem- ing is a complete body workout that THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG) Biogra- SKYLINE Use a variety of craft materi- ble present a family-friendly event can be enjoyed by anyone of any fit- phy/Drama. Starring Rebecca Fergu- als to create and decorate your own aimed at toddlers and their carers. ness level, Sat 24 Feb, Packwood son, Hugh Jackman. Artrix, 17th century London buildings. Add Help build cars using scrap and craft House, Solihull Bromsgrove, Wed 21, Fri 23 & Mon some flames and some final touches, materials before settling down and 26 Feb then add them to the large collage of CARS THROUGH THE LENS Get to know watching an array of animations from the London skyline that’s displayed your camera - and build your confi- THE LION KING (U) Animation/Adven- Flatpack's Colour Box Touring Shots on the windows of the visitor centre, dence to move away from 'auto' set- ture. With the voices of Matthew Programme, Tues 20 Feb, MAC, Thurs 22 Feb, Blakesley Hall, B’ham tings - while taking pictures of the Broderick, Jeremy Irons. Abbey The- Birmingham museum’s cars, Sat 24 Feb, British atre, Nuneaton, Thurs 22 Feb 999 EMERGENCY DAY Does your little CREATE THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON one love playing pretend police? Are Motor Museum, Gaydon, B’ham PHANTOM THREAD (15) Drama/Ro- SKYLINE Use a variety of craft materi- they a fan of Fireman Sam? Emer- LIGHTS, CAMERA, CARS Photography mance. Starring Vicky Krieps, Daniel als to create and decorate your own gency vehicles will be on display out- workshop to help you develop light- Day-Lewis. Warwick Arts Centre, 17th century London buildings. Add side the museum, with hands-on ing skills, in order to achieve the per- Coventry, Fri 23 - Wed 28 Feb some flames and some final touches, activities taking place all day, Thurs fect photo of your car, Sat 24 Feb, FUNNY GIRL (U) Biography/Comedy. then add them to the large collage of 22 Feb, Soho House, Birmingham British Motor Museum, Gaydon, War- the London skyline that’s displayed Starring Barbra Streisand, Omar ANIMAL MANIA Mobile zoo featuring wickshire Sharif. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 24 Feb on the windows of the visitor centre, Tues 20 Feb, Blakesley Hall, B’ham lizards, snakes, chinchillas, hedge- DAD’S DAYS OUT WORKSHOP Workshop ROMAN J. ISRAEL ESQ (12a) hogs, giant bunnies, tortoises, creepy series offering an opportunity for Crime/Drama. Starring Denzel Wash- CARAVAN, CAMPING AND MOTORHOME crawlies and more!, Fri 23 Feb, dads of all ages to spend quality time ington, Colin Farrell. Roses Theatre, SHOW 2018 The biggest indoor dis- Blakesley Hall, Birmingham with their children, exploring the Tewkesbury, Sat 24 - Wed 28 Feb play of motorhomes, campervans, world of Science, Technology, Engi- caravans, caravan holiday homes & THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW Try, buy, WINCHESTER (tbc) Biography/Horror. neering and Maths (STEM), Sat 24 lodges, trailer tents & tents in the UK, book and hire everything you need Starring Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook. for your special day at the UK’s Feb, Coventry Transport Museum

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thelist Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 February Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic thriller, Tues 27 Feb - Sat 3 Comedy Mar, Malvern Theatres LEFTY SCUM Tues 27 Feb, MAC, DAVID BADDIEL - MY FAMILY: NOT THE Birmingham SITCOM Show about memory, age- ing, infidelity, dysfunctional relatives, NOREEN KHAN, JUDI LOVE, SINDHU VEE moral policing on social media, golf & SUKH KAUR OJLA Wed 28 Feb, The and gay cats... Wed 28 Feb, New Glee Club, Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham AN ACT OF KINDNESS Award-winning play exploring gender pressure and its impact on our identity Wed 28 Feb - Thurs 1 Mar, Old Joint Stock Theatre Theatre, Birmingham

THE BEST OF BE FESTIVAL 2018 Featur- Peter Knight’s Gigspanner - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry ing three 30-minute samples of mask, theatre and circus produc- Mon 26 Feb, O2 Insti- DAVE GUNNING Wed 28 tions, Mon 26 Feb, Warwick Arts Dance Gigs tute, Birmingham Feb, MAC, B’ham Centre, Coventry NORTH SEA GAS Tues K2 Wed 28 Feb, O2 In- WHERE IS MRS CHRISTIE? Worcester RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY PETER KNIGHT'S 26 Feb, Kitchen Gar- stitute, Birmingham Repertory Company presents Chris Programme includes a new work set Jaeger’s rollercoaster account of the GIGSPANNER BIG BAND den Cafe, Birmingham JD MCPHERSON Wed 28 to Schumann’s Carnaval and a new mysterious disappearance of Agatha Mon 26 Feb, Warwick FIZZY BLOOD Tues 27 Feb, Hare & Hounds, piece by Martin Lawrance. Alston Christie, Mon 26 - Tues 27 Feb, Arts Centre, Coventry Feb, The Sunflower Birmingham favourite Gypsy Mixture also fea- Swan Theatre, Worcester tures, Tues 27 - Wed 28 Feb, THE LYNNES Mon 26 Lounge, Birmingham HAK BAKER Wed 28 HAIRSPRAY Brenda Edwards stars a Malvern Theatres Feb, Kitchen Garden JUSTIN WIGGAN Tues Feb, Hare & Hounds, Motormouth Maybelle in the smash- DANCE TO THE MUSIC Cafe, Birmingham 27 Feb, MAC, B’ham Birmingham Featuring hit musical comedy, Mon 26 Feb - Strictly star Kristina Rihanoff, Wed 28 PLAYBOI CARTI Mon 26 RICKIE LEE JONES Tues THE ROVING CROWS Sat 3 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Feb, The Albany Theatre, Coventry Feb, O2 Academy, 27 Feb, The Assembly, Wed 28 Feb, Kitchen Theatre Birmingham Leamington Spa Garden Cafe, B’ham DANGEROUS OBSESSION The Nonenti- MIKE DAWES Mon 26 MORRISSEY Tues 27 THE JIGANTICS Wed 28 ties present an amateur staging of Feb, The Glee Club, Feb, Genting Arena, Feb, The Red Lion NJ Crisp’s psychological thriller, Mon Birmingham Birmingham Folk Club, Birmingham 26 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, The Rose The- Events THE FRONT BOTTOMS THE ENNIS SISTERS & atre, Kidderminster TRANSLUNAR PARADISE Theatre Ad In- STAR VEHICLE STORIES Interactive sto- finitum presents a poignant, life-af- ries, songs and hands-on experi- firming tale without words, Tues 27 ences, Mon 26 Feb, Coventry Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Transport Museum WARWICKSHIRE GANG SHOW 2018 PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 (WAGS) Tues 27 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, Every Monday in February enjoy a Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa delicious breakfast followed by an MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT Eric exclusive tour of the house and attic Idle’s riotous comedy full of misfit spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns intended his guests to view them, and ferocious Frenchmen, Tues 27 Mon 26 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- Feb - Sat 3 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, hull Coventry AFTER-HOURS CONSERVATION TOUR DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE Phil Daniels Explore Croome court through the takes the lead in a new version of eyes of the house steward, Tues 27 Feb, Croome Park, Worcester

Tamás Pálfalvi - Birmingham Town Hall Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde ham Town Hall includes works by Malvern Theatre, Tues 27 February - Sat 3 March; Classical GARNIER ORGAN Kodály, Tchaikovsky & Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 1 - Sat 5 May Mendelssohn, Wed 28 RECITAL 2 Featuring tal- Productions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novella are all Music ented organ scholars Feb, Symphony Hall, from the Royal Birm- Birmingham the rage at the moment, and there’s every reason to suppose this ingham Conservatoire, RUSSIAN STATE PHIL- Touring Consortium Theatre Company/Rose Theatre Kingston col- TAMÁS PÁLFALVI IN Tues 27 Feb, Elgar HARMONIC Featuring laboration will be one of the best of them. Adapted by David RECITAL Also featuring Concert Hall, The Bra- Valentina Lisitsa Marcell Szabò (piano). Edgar, whose imaginative version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol mall, University of (piano) & Valery Programme includes proved a major hit for the RSC over Christmas, the production Birmingham Polyansky (conduc- works by Eino Tam- tor). Programme in- stars former EastEnder and one-time Quadrophenia star Phil berg, Dmitri CBSO: TCHAIKOVSKY’S cludes works by Daniels. The action, for anybody who doesn’t know, centres Shostakovich, George FIRST PIANO CONCERTO Tchaikovsky & Rach- around Dr Henry Jekyll, a man whose willingness to dabble in the Enescu, Péter Eötvös Featuring Joana Mall- maninov, Wed 28 Feb, & Pablo de Sarasate, witz (conductor) & dark recesses of the scientific world lead him down a murderous Warwick Arts Centre, Mon 26 Feb, Birming- Gabriela Montero path of utter self-destruction. (piano). Programme Coventry 66 whatsonlive.co.uk BRB F/P February.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2018 17:12 Page 1 Coventry Music Fundraiser F/P February.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2018 17:14 Page 1