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Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 368 AUGUST 2016

JIMMY OSMOND Worcestershire OUT ON NEW UK TOUR ’

WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On worcestershirewhatson.co.uk

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Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

PRESENT LAUGHTER NOËL COWARD’S COMEDY ARRIVES AT MALVERN THEATRES Donington F/P - August '16.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 10:08 Page 1 Contents August Warwickshire/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 12:09 Page 1

August 2016

Contents

The Rover - Aphra Behn’s play returns to the Swan Theatre. Feature page 8

Julian Marley Sir Antony Sher Spectacular Science the list

Reggae superstar embarks on Award-winning actor takes on Brand new show to dispel Your 16-page his first ever UK tour King Lear at the RSC ‘science is boring’ myth... week-by-week listings guide page 14 page 30 page 26 page 51

inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 26. Comedy 28. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events

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Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Whats On Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 MAGAZINE GROUP Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Adam Jaremko, Kathryn Ewing, David Vincent, Eva Easthope Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD August Warwicks.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 12:12 Page 1

First Word

Get glamping!

The Glamping Show is making a welcome return to the Midlands next month. Glamping is a more luxurious form of camping that’s become increasingly popular during the last few years and is now a promi- nent part of the leisure business. Described as ‘a showcase of all that’s glamping in camping’, the show presents a wide selection of pop-up, temporary and pre- pitched accommodation solutions, including yurts, tipi and safari tents. It also features contributions from experts on subjects such as bushcraft, up-cycling and survival techniques. The event takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 September.

Date confirmed for Jodie RSC exhibition Prenger A brand new family-friendly visitor attrac- joins tion is set to reveal the secrets and stories panto cast behind the world’s most famous theatre Musical theatre star company. Jodie Prenger will be The Play’s The Thing is being opened by the making wishes come Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in its true this Christmas Stratford-upon-Avon home in time for the when she stars as autumn half-term holiday. Fairy Bow Bells in The RSC’s first ever permanent exhibition Birmingham Hippodrome's pantomime pro- allows visitors to explore the imaginative duction of Dick Whittington. Celebrating 450 years of ways that Shakespeare’s stories, settings and Jodie, who found fame on BBC talent show Viennese tradition... characters have been brought to life on I’d Do Anything, winning the role of Nancy stage. Treasures from the Company’s archive, in the West End revival of Lionel Bart’s The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is this such as rarely seen props, exquisite cos- Oliver!, will be joined in the Hippodrome autumn celebrating its 450th anniversary tumes and original set designs, are much in panto by John Barrowman, Steve McFadden, with a series of exclusive shows in evidence, as are hands-on digital experi- The Krankies and comedian Matt Slack. Birmingham and London. ences, including the chance for visitors to try Commenting on her forthcoming wand-wav- The shows will be hosted by TV presenter on virtual costumes and to stand on the RSC ing role, Jodie said: “I’m so excited to be and British Dressage Ambassador Nicki stage via state-of-the-art technology. heading to Birmingham this Christmas and Chapman. The exhibition also reveals some of the RSC’s working with my old I’d Do Anything judge Commenting on her involvement, Nicki said: more gory theatrical secrets, including how a John Barrowman. We’ve been saying for “The Spanish Riding School of Vienna tours snapping carrot can replicate the noise of a years we should do another show together, are rare and exceptional. I’ve witnessed first bone breaking, how crispy cereals and glue so to get the chance to do panto with him, hand these graceful horses thrilling crowds are mixed to make scabs, and how actors Steve, The Krankies and Matt is really excit- with their astonishing combination of ele- keep soup in their ing. I can’t wait!” gance and power. This is an extraordinary, mouths so that they Dick Whittington runs at Birmingham once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness can ‘vomit’ on stage. Hippodrome from Monday 19 December to these world-renowned horses performing in The Play’s The Thing Sunday 29 January. the UK during the academy’s momentous opens in The Swan Tickets are available at 450th anniversary year.” Theatre, Stratford- birminghamhippodrome.com The Spanish Riding School of Vienna per- upon-Avon, on form at the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Saturday 22 October. from 18 to 20 November. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD August Warwicks.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 12:12 Page 2

Entertainment news from around the region

The Big Yin gets on his High Horse Legendary Scottish comedian Billy Connolly is heading for Birmingham as part of an autumn tour. Connolly - also known as the Big Yin - will bring his High Horse show to the city’s Barclaycard Arena on 2 & 3 November. Earlier this year, he revealed that touring helps alleviate the symp- toms of his Parkinson’s disease. “It's a miracle,” he said in an interview in the US. “I think science should study it. I've gone on stage sick and come off better.” Tickets for Billy’s Birmingham shows are now on general sale via theticketfactory.com or by calling 0844 33 88 222. Cirque brings critically acclaimed show to the Midlands The internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil is returning to Birmingham in 2017 with its signature production, Varekai. The critically acclaimed show has been updated with acts never before seen in the UK. Paying tribute to ‘the nomadic soul’, it tells the story of a young man who finds himself parachuted into ‘a kaleidoscopic world’ inhabited by fantastical creatures. Varekai visits the Genting Arena, Birmingham, from 1 to 5 March as part of a UK tour.

Young persons Theatres join forces in new festival at the playwriting initiative Hollywood debut Town Hall A year-long playwriting scheme for deaf and disabled writers has been launched in the Midlands. Birmingham’s Town Hall for Birmingham Write To Play is the brainchild of Graeae Theatre Company, an is hosting a free one-day actor organisation dedicated to placing deaf and disabled artists centre music & arts festival on stage. The scheme is being run in partnership with Birmingham A young Birmingham actor is set to Saturday 6 August. appear alongside former Dr Who Repertory Theatre, Curve Leicester and Belgrade Theatre Coventry. The festival is part of favourite Billie Piper in a brand new The 12-month programme Project SoundLounge, an British movie. includes a crash course in the art ongoing initiative curated Twenty-year-old Antonio Aakeel will of playwriting, specialist work- star in the crime thriller City Of Tiny by a team of talented shops, mentoring sessions and Lights, directed by the BAFTA-win- young people between the opportunities to have short ning Pete Travis, whose Hollywood ages of 16 and 25. films include Vantage Point and pieces of work performed in front Commenting on the event, Dredd. of an audience. Discussing his role in the movie, Project SoundLounge Applications to take part in Write Antonio said: “Coming from a Fellow Lucy Mulgrew To Play open on 5 September. working-class background, oppor- said: “The team have tunities like this for people like me worked incredibly hard to are few and far between. I’ve had a create a festival which couple of TV jobs but nothing com- showcases a variety of pares to being on an actual film set.” fresh and unique artists Coventry theatre offers lessons in and performers from the art of clowning across Birmingham. You’re never too old to learn a new skill - and Coventry’s Belgrade Please do join us for an Theatre is giving the over-50s an opportunity to do just that. unforgettable day created The Belgrade is this month running a two-day ‘summer school’ for by young people for people aged 50 and older, offering participants the opportunity to young people.” learn new skills, expand their physical awareness and develop Free tickets for the festival new friendships. The theme on both days is ‘the art of clowning’ can be booked at and will include an exploration of physical theatre and the use of www.thsh.co.uk or by masks in performance. phoning the box office on The Belgrade is also running free taster sessions for people who 0121 780 3333. haven’t attended workshops at the theatre before. These take place on 12 and 23 August. The summer school is being held on the 16th and 17th of the month.

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First Word

RBSA explores the art of printmaking Jon Boden at A new festival exploring and celebrating the art of printmaking is being the RSC launched in Birmingham this month. Co-ordinated by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA), the event Folk band Bellowhead’s lead begins on 15 August with a series of print workshops led by renowned printmak- singer and main arranger, ers. The workshops are suitable for everyone, from beginners with an interest in Jon Boden, is to perform in learning a new skill to advanced printmakers looking to refresh their technique. concert at Stratford-upon- Numerous other festival events will take place during the autumn. Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Commenting on the new festival, RBSA Gallery Director Dr Marie Considine said: Theatre in the new year. “We’re excited to launch Birmingham’s first ever printmaking festival and hope Going solo following the that it will encourage more people to engage with this historic, hands-on art band’s recent decision to form. Birmingham has such a rich printmaking heritage, with many artists still call it a day, Boden is no practising the technique in the city today. The festival offers people of all ages stranger to the RSC, having and abilities the chance to learn something new, whilst introducing both the art composed scores for the form and the RBSA to a wider audience.” For more information, visit Company’s productions of rbsa.org.uk The Merchant Of Venice in 2011 and The Winter’s Tale (2013). Commenting on his forthcoming Stratford gig, Jon said: “It was a real honour to work as a composer on Lighting up two shows for the RSC, and Fusing music and fire at mac I'm so excited to be coming Longbridge back to the space, albeit in a A show featuring fire, live and electronic music and glass blowing is The recently regenerated very different capacity. The being presented at mac birmingham in early September. Longbridge area of theatre is such a beautiful Torcher Chamber Arkestra sees glass artist Carrie Fertig using a process Birmingham is set to host a space and there's always of flameworking with fire to make glass instruments. These are then light festival this autumn. something magical about played by Carrie and participating musicians, together with pre-made Featuring a collection of performing in Stratford.” instruments, and are combined with electronic and digitally manipulat- temporary and permanent Jon appears at the RSC on ed sound. outdoor light & art installa- Sunday 22 January. “We aim to create a new intersection of craft, music and technology,” tions, the event also Other new additions to the explains Carrie. “Torcher Chamber Arkestra combines fire, glass and includes music, perform- Live at the RSC programme digital manipulation of percussive glass instruments to produce a dark, ance, pop-up theatre, free include Bridget Christie and theatrical, audiovisual experience. Through ritualistic music and family workshops, outdoor Andy Hamilton (18 Sept) and action, we take the audience to a new sonic interior between realms.” play, street food and a glow- Al Murray The Pub Landlord Carrie Fertig: Torcher Chamber Arkestra is presented at mac birming- in-the-dark roller disco. (14 May). For information on ham on Friday 2 & Saturday 3 September. There’s an extra ‘relaxed fam- The Longbridge Light all forthcoming shows visit ily performance’ on the Saturday afternoon. Festival takes place on the rsc.org.uk evening of 22 October. For more information, visit LongbridgeLightFestival.co. The future’s bright for Arenacross Just uk The Monster Energy Arenacross Tour is set to make a welcome return to announced... Birmingham in early 2017. Bringing indoors all the spectacular elements of Motorcross and set to The Lapelles - The Rainbow PJ Harvey plays a pumping soundtrack and laser show, Arenacross sees the world’s top Venues - 14 Oct freestylers taking to the track to present some truly awe-inspiring enter- Maxwell & Mary J. Blige - Wolverhampton tainment. Genting Arena, 29 Oct The PJ Harvey is stopping Commenting on the growth and popularity of the event, Matt Bates, the The Lumineers - O2 off in Wolverhampton this boss of organisers e22 Sports, said: “Who would’ve thought just four Academy - 30 Oct autumn as part of a 17-date years ago the UK would have the strongest indoor Motocross series in Walking On Cars - O2 UK and European tour. Europe, with over 50,000 fans attending? I’m massively proud of what Institute - 20 Nov The talented singer-song- we’ve achieved so far, but all I can say is that this is just the beginning Anne-Marie - O2 Institute - writer went to the top of the - I believe we have an 26 Nov UK charts earlier this year absolutely massive future John Cooper Clarke + Hugh with the release of The and want to take the enter- Cornwell - O2 Institute - Hope Six Demolition tainment of Arenacross to 1 Dec Project, her first album for a whole new level.” Against Me - O2 Academy - five years. She plays the The 2017 tour visits 6 Dec city’s Starworks Warehouse Genting Arena, Barbara Dickson - on 4 November. Birmingham, on 21 Symphony Hall - 1 Feb January. Pet Shop Boys - Barclaycard Arena - 24 Feb

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FEATURE

“There is no sinner like a young saint” Aphra Behn's The Rover returns to the RSC for the 30th anniversary of The Swan. What’s On caught up with the show’s director and leading lady to ﬁnd out more...

In the late 1660s, in the midst of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, a young woman returned home to England from a stint as a spy in Antwerp, only to be denied payment for her work by King Charles II. As with much of what we know of the period, the details of Aphra Behn's colourful life are sketchy, but it was around this time, crippled by debt and seeking a new source of income, that she began to write her first plays. Behn would go on to become perhaps the country's first professional female playwright, achieving commercial success in the 1670s with her carnival comedy The Rover. Thirty years after the play was staged as part of The Swan Theatre's opening season, the RSC now presents a new version of the work, directed by Loveday Ingram and starring Alexandra Gilbreath. “The Rover is an incredibly exciting adventure story of three young girls trying to escape the tyrannical intentions of their father and brother, set against the backdrop of the Carnival in 1670,” Ingram explains. “When I first encountered the play about 15 years ago, I'd never heard of Aphra Behn, and when I read it, I was intrigued that a woman had written such a wild, funny play over 300 years ago that I didn't even know about.” Although Behn's work was well known in her own time and continued to be popular in the years immediately following her death, by the late 1700s, her plays had slipped massively out of favour, and were barely performed again until well into the 20th century. “I think it may be to do with the fact that her personal life was so shocking and notori- ous,” Ingram suggests. “She lived an exciting, dangerous life on the edge, and she pushed boundaries and did things that other women wouldn't. Not only was she a spy and arrested for debt, but she also had love affairs with various men and women, and although she called herself Mrs Behn, there's little evidence that she was actually married. Loveday Ingram Alexandra Gilbreath

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by Heather Kincaid

So she may have been deliberately forgotten world the play is set in to the rehearsal room. Belville, one of the main characters, previ- to discourage later generations of young We were working on one of the final scenes ously played one of the smaller characters, women from falling into lives of debauchery of the play last week where Florinda, one of Biskey - so we do have a link to the rehearsal and excess.” the sisters, finds herself in a very awkward room 30 years ago. But to be honest, I don't Behn wasn't only a playwright: her erotic situation with a group of men who are drunk know a huge amount about that production. poems, many referring explicitly to female and a little out of control. They start drawing I’ve spoken to John, but we've talked more lovers, made her something of a hero to Vir- lots to see who wins her, and her brother about the power and the joy of the play than ginia Woolf, and have seen her dubbed ‘The does. We stopped the rehearsal at that point, about what he did with it. I'd have loved to English Sappho’ by some. Back when the thinking it was going somewhere very dark have seen Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack medium was just starting to take shape, she and that couldn't be what was intended, but doing it. They're both extraordinary, wonder- also wrote novels, including Oroonoko, the I got out Samuel Pepys' diary, and read some ful actors, but I can only imagine.” story of an African prince tricked into slavery of the poems and articles that were written Ingram's take on the play sees it relocated by British colonists, which was adapted for around the time, and straight away you see from the Neapolitan Carnival of the original the stage by Biyi Bandele and directed by that this really is the world you're dealing text to the vibrant world of South America. with - it's really filthy and quite shocking in Gregory Doran at The Other Place in 1999. “We’re basing it in a kind of reinvented 17th its treatment of women.” The rover of her most famous play's title century world, where the Spanish were impe- refers to a wandering naval captain called Things may have changed a great deal since rial rulers not just in Naples but also in Willmore, enjoying a hedonistic break at the Behn's day, though there are still ways in Buenos Aires and Havana and other South Neapolitan Carnival. There, he becomes em- which her work continues to break the mould American city-states. Essentially, we've taken broiled in a complicated love triangle with a even today. all the ingredients that make up the play - young woman called Hellena, looking to gain “Angellica is an older courtesan,” says the Carnival, the Catholicism, Spanish colo- worldly experience before her brother sends Gilbreath, who’s performing the role. “It's nial rule, the excessiveness, the wonderful, her to a convent, and the famous courtesan, lovely to be able to play a part like this be- multicultural, dangerous city - and we've cre- Angellica Bianca, played in this production cause oftentimes, as soon as you hit your ated our own version of it. It's very exciting by RSC Associate Artist Alexandra Gilbreath. 40s, you're sidelined overnight. I also love to bring it to life - it should feel hot, steamy “Angellica is a very high-class courtesan who the fact that when you sit in the rehearsal and sexy in a way that's not necessarily Eng- has previously been the mistress of a Spanish room there are 10 women, 10 men and lots of lish, I hope.” general who passed away a number of years interesting roles amongst them, so there's a Helping to develop this exotic atmosphere is ago, so she's on the look-out for another really meaningful equality there. Having now composer Grant Olding, who recently worked wealthy benefactor. Hers is a very sad story: been at the RSC for nearly 25 years, I can say on Don Quixote at the RSC, as well as writing she really falls in love with the rover and it's that most of the time, it's more like three the music for the West End production of One like an awakening for her, even though he's women and 15 men.” Man, Two Guv'nors. very much a 'wherever I lay my hat' sort of Following the recent refurbishment of the “Anyone who's seen either of them will know character. Since we've been rehearsing it, Swan, the production joins Two Noble Kins- how clever he is. It's exciting, engaging, I've been surprised by its emotional depth - men in a season celebrating the theatre's thrilling music that either makes you want to it's like doing Rattigan. There's a moment in 30th anniversary by returning to the two get up, sing and join in or get up and dance. one scene where she's almost like Hester in plays that began its journey in 1986. While But there are also bits that are very moving The Deep Blue Sea - she's in love with some- Ingram hasn't sought to draw directly on the and poignant. It's beautiful and very Latin one who can't possibly love her back in the last RSC staging (The Rover hasn't been per- American-inspired - he'll be taking us on a same way.” formed by the company since then), there are huge journey through the music.” Though the play is superficially a comedy, some interesting links between the two. there's a troubling undercurrent running “I worked for a while as a research assistant through it that’s already surfaced in the re- to John Barton, who directed the 1986 pro- The Rover is at the Swan Theatre, hearsal process. duction,” says Ingram. “And one of our ac- Stratford-upon-Avon from Thurs 8 Sep- “I've tried to bring a sense of the Restoration tors, Patrick Robinson, who’s playing tember 2016 until Sat 11 February 2017

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Food

REVIEW: Terrace On The Hill, Malvern ly the roast and confit barbary duck served on a bed of red Affordable fine dining alive and well in Worcestershire onions, quince & haricot beans - a masterclass in execution and the perfect showcase for the region’s enviable produce. Served on a bed of wilted spinach, not only was the duck beautifully tender, the depth of flavour provided by the meat was complemented perfectly by the subtle sweetness of the accompanying parsnip puree. The confit too was faultless - intense, gamey and rich in natural fat, with an irresistibly crispy skin. A carnivore’s delight. Further testament, if needed, to Jason’s finely tuned choice of menu was my dessert of coconut panna cotta and passion fruit syrup - a small but perfectly formed palate cleanser with added punch. In an otherwise impressively well-balanced menu, the sev- In our fast-paced food culture, end Tasting Menu, rotated on a high from the very first bite. enth and final course of dark saturated with every manner of weekly basis by Michelin-starred Next was a starter of chilled chocolate tart, salted caramel & high-street eatery from grab- chef Jason Lynas and priced at a watermelon, lime and chilli gaz- hazelnut tart felt a little like a and-go brasserie to up-market by no means unreasonable pacho with crab and coriander bridge too far, even for the most bistro, phrases like ‘affordable £39.50 per person. crème fraiche, a bold yet highly determined of diners. fine dining’, ‘relaxed surround- Entering the understated, art- appropriate choice for a mid- Nevertheless, this didn’t detract ings’ and ‘exceptional service’ deco exterior on a warm July summer’s evening. At once from what was otherwise a near- seem to carry less and less evening, one could be forgiven refreshingly light and irresistibly perfect experience. weight. Indeed, to the jaded for mistaking this particular cor- moreish, the rich undercurrent Innovative yet unfussy, gener- palate, they are less a guarantee ner of Malvern for a leafy café in of fresh crab was complemented ously portioned yet carefully of quality than an exercise in downtown Madeira or Portugal. in every way by the zesty over- paced for maximum enjoyment, consumer-savvy PR. But every so Stylishly finished to a contempo- tones of coriander and the cool- every course had been painstak- often, a restaurant will come rary brief, an ambient colour ing properties of the crème ingly chosen to balance, along that takes you completely scheme of natural moccas and fraiche. enhance and complement the and utterly by surprise. creams, solid pinewood table A virtuoso demonstration of next. Add to this an impressive Like a fresh gust of wind blow- tops and textured signature Jason Lynas’s culinary crafts- drinks menu, incredibly atten- ing in from the nearby Malvern walls provided the perfect coun- manship came next in the form tive staff and perhaps one of the Hills, Terrace On The Hill is terpoint to the plush green of the of his delightfully quirky re- most beautiful outlooks in the nothing short of breathtaking. overlooking gardens and terrace imagining of the classic ‘ham, entire county, and you have all Set against the picture-perfect area - a near-perfect backdrop egg and chips’ - an expertly the proof you need that authen- backdrop of the rolling for any balmy summer evening. matched marriage of miniature tic yet affordable fine dining is Worcestershire countryside, this This atmosphere of quiet sophis- ham-hock pinwheels, parsnip alive and well in Worcestershire. beautifully conceived café-come- tication weaved its way through chips and whole-battered Katherine Ewing brasserie has quality written at every aspect of our dining expe- poached egg with piccalilli its very heart, from its highly rience, from the well-informed puree accompaniment. This was Food: n n n n n inventive and unpretentious waiting staff to the choice of followed by the more unusual Service: n n n n n choice of menu right through to table dressings. choice of miko-glazed hake, Ambience: n n n n n the use of only the finest quality, Opening the evening’s taster wakame and spring onions with Overall value n n n n n locally sourced, seasonal pro- menu was a choice of three green tea and ginger broth, a fra- OVERALL n n n n n duce. canapes - goats’ cheese crackers, grant alternative to the tradition- Located at the heart of Malvern’s tuna tartare and homemade al fish course, and one which upper high street, Terrace On parmesan straws with marinated married a Japanese respect for simplicity with an artist’s eye for Terrace On The Hill The Hill brings together a popu- olive accompaniment. Each was Worcester Road beauty. lar daytime menu of afternoon beautifully presented with full- Malvern teas, light lunches and home- on flavour - the marinated olives As if building to a culinary WR14 4QW made cakes with a highly in particular were some of the crescendo, the highlight of the Tel: 01684 438 130 sought-after seven-course week- best I’ve tasted. The bar was set evening, for me, was undoubted-

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

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Food

Sweet treats galore at Tom’s Kitchen to open new Digbeth venue in The Mailbox Located in Digbeth, this latest addi- Award-winning chef Tom Aikens will open a restau- tion to the city’s ever-growing crop of rant, bar and deli in Birmingham in December. dessert parlours showcases a New Tom’s Kitchen will be located in premier lifestyle York loft-style cafe experience, with and shopping destination The Mailbox. It will serve high ceilings, exposed brickwork and British favourites and comfort-food classics in a lots of copper. relaxed and informal setting. Pirlo’s serves everything from cakes Commenting on the news, Tom said: “Birmingham and sundaes to cookie dough, waf- is a vibrant and bustling city with a thriving food fles, crepes and gelato, as well as a scene. There’s already a wonderful array of restau- range of vegan and gluten-free rants in the city, and I believe that Tom’s Kitchen options. It also offers premium coffee will offer an exciting new option for diners in the - from local business Quarterhorse Mailbox development.” Coffee - and a range of milkshakes, The new restaurant will be the first Tom’s Kitchen smoothies and mocktails. There’s venture outside of London. even alcohol-free Champagne! To start, myself and my partner decided to try a Kinder Bueno and a Snickers milkshake. Both were Cue BBQ in Coventry’s creative quarter creamy and full of flavour without being too heavy - a very good start Coventry’s creative quarter, FarGo Village, is shakes, 'freakshakes', homemade lemonade indeed. this month hosting a two-day dining extrava- and alcohol-infused offerings, as well as the Next up was the milk chocolate cook- ganza. company’s signature ice cream and its hugely ie dough served with chocolate The Great British BBQ Festival is being organ- popular bespoke waffle burgers. The event orange sauce and a white Ferrero ised by one of the quarter's tenants, American takes place at FarGo on 13 & 14 August. Rocher gelato. The cookie dough was candy store Spangles. It will feature milk- gooey and delicious, the sauce and gelato perfect accompaniments. Pirlo’s boasts 23 gelato flavours, including Maltesers, bubblegum, midnight mint and banana swirl, to Award-winning restaurant name but a few. appoints new head chef My partner is a huge fan of waffles, so Mallory Court Hotel in Leamington Spa has a new executive naturally we chose one as our second chef. The popular hotel, renowned for its award-winning dish - a Pirlo’s Super Special with cuisine, has appointed former employee and one-time Ferrero Rocher, strawberries, bananas Gordon Ramsay protege Adam Brown to the post. Having and Nutella sauce, to be precise. It previously worked as sous chef at the hotel, Adam has also was huge! Pirlo’s certainly doesn’t been head chef of both the Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon- skimp on its portion sizes. Avon and Brockencote Hall Hotel in Worcestershire. The waffles were cooked perfectly, “I look forward to taking the hotel’s award-winning cuisine extremely tasty, and the ratio of to the next level,” says Adam. “I will be creating innovative ingredients worked well. British menus using the very best ingredients from Both feeling suitably full, we opted Warwickshire and the surrounding area’s local larder.” for just one more dish. As tempting as the red velvet cheesecake was, we went for the lighter option of the mixed berry pavlova - a perfect choice to end the evening. Omar Allibhoy makes By the time we left, the majority of tables were taken - a really positive Spanish cooking simple sign, considering it was 9 o’clock on a The chef and owner of Birmingham’s Grand Wednesday evening. Central-located eatery, Tapas Revolution, is pub- If you’ve got a sweet tooth and fancy lishing his second cookbook next month. a late-night treat, look no further - Omar Allibhoy uses the book, Spanish Made Pirlo’s is the place for you... Simple, to introduce readers to home-cooked meals that are widely enjoyed across Spain. Check it out! “The dishes I grew up with have left an indelible Pirlo’s Dessert Lounge mark on my heart,” says Omar, who hails from 6 Coventry Street Madrid. “My aim is to convince everyone to add Birmingham some of my favourites to their weekly repertoire at B5 5NH home.” Tel: 0121 582 0586 Spanish Made Simple is published by Quadrille on 22 September. whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Music - August - Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 12:10 Page 1

Gigs Gig previews from around the region

Julian Marley O2 Institute, Birmingham, Wed 17 August This month sees Grammy-nominated reggae superstar Julian Ju Ju Marley embark on his first ever UK tour. Son of the legendary Bob Marley, Julian firmly secured his place in the reggae world with the 1996 release of debut album Lion In The Morning. After a second album (A Time & Place, 2003) and various tours, he and his Uprising band were brations in Windsor, hitting the number one invited by the Jamaican government Raghu Dixit spot seven times on the iTunes World Music to represent the country and perform O2 Academy, Birmingham, Wed 31 August Charts and performing at Glastonbury. at the 2008 Bejing Olympics. He visits Birmingham - accompanied by his His third and most recent release, Raghu Dixit’s unique brand of infectious, band, Raghu Dixit Project - as part of a Awake, was nominated for a Grammy happy music transcends age, genre and string of UK events. in the Best Reggae Album category. even language. The collective are also on the Shrewsbury Julian performs with his eleven-piece A real ambassador for Indian music, his Folk Festival bill, playing there two days band on this highly anticipated tour - career highlights include a performance for before their Birmingham date. a must-see for any reggae fan. HM The Queen at the Diamond Jubilee cele-

Ernest Ranglin & Carina Round Good Charlotte Soweto Kinch Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Thurs 4 August O2 Institute, Birmingham, Sat 27 August Hockley Flyover, Birmingham, Sat 20 August Multi-platinum-selling pop punk icons Good Charlotte rose to fame in 2002 with the Jamaican jazz guitarist and composer release of second album The Young And The Ernest Ranglin here joins British jazz Hopeless, the breakthrough single from alto saxophonist and rapper Soweto which, Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, Kinch. The two perform together as topped pop and rock charts around the part of The Flyover Show - a free, globe. one-day event which returns to Fronted by Joel Madden, the band visit Birmingham’s Hockley Flyover after a Birmingham in support of sixth album four-year break. The show features in Youth Authority and ahead of performances Ranglin’s farewell tour schedule, at Reading and Leeds Festivals. with the 84-year-old having already appeared with Kinch at both Glastonbury and Montreal Jazz Festival this summer. In the summer of 1996, following a base- Also featuring in the event’s line-up, ment gig in her home town of among others, are Basil Gabbidon, Wolverhampton, Carina Round was given a Good Charlotte Bad Manners Eska, Ruben James, Alex Wilson, Call three-night support slot at Ronnie Scott’s Me Unique and Knox Brown. club in Birmingham. This led to other such slots with the likes of Coldplay, Annie Bad Manners Lennox, David Gray and Elbow, to name but The Assembly, Leamington Spa, Sat 6 August a few. Long in the tooth they may be, but English 2 The singer-songwriter has since released Tone ska wizards Bad Manners still com- four critically acclaimed albums - Blood mand a significant following around the Mystery (2001), The Disconnection (2003), globe. Very much a novelty act - courtesy, in Slow Motion Addict (2006) and the main, of the on-stage antics of bald- Tigermending (2012). Although she’s been headed frontman Buster Bloodvessel - they producing and performing with the band spent the early 1980s vying for chart posi- Puscifer in recent years, she here appears tions with fellow ska revival bands solo on what’s sure to be an unforgettable Madness, The Specials and The Selecter. Hit night of music for rock and indie lovers albums include Gosh It's... Bad Manners, Soweto Kinch alike. Loonee Tunes! and Ska’n’B. 14 whatsonlive.co.uk Music - August - Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 12:10 Page 2

FEATURE by Heather Kincaid

Articles in Sound

New project gives an insight into Coventry’s rich musical heritage...

Ask any Coventrian about music from the sacred by Herod in Bethlehem following the al tape recorder, a favourite exhibit among area, and they'll probably talk to you at birth of Christ. The song has since become a visitors and volunteers alike. length about the heyday of ska and 2Tone in Christmas staple, with artists ranging from Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the room the ’80s. Tori Amos and Annie Lennox to John Denver stands a re-creation of the circular bench The instrumental role the city played in what and Chas’n’Dave recording their own ver- surrounding the acorns planted by John became a massive musical movement based sions. Lennon and Yoko Ono on their first public on values of multiculturalism and racial har- Among various vinyl records, tickets, tapes ‘date’ in Coventry, a kind of ‘peace-art per- mony is almost certainly its proudest claim and CDs by notable artists, as well as odds formance’ drawing on the city's historical to fame. and ends representing major music venues, status as a symbol of rebirth and reconcilia- Yet The Specials and The Selecter are far there's also a fabulous collection of jackets, tion. The copy of the bench on display fea- from the beginning and end of Coventry's suits and waistcoats belonging to such local tured in a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral contribution to British music. From the legends as Frank Ifield, Vince Hill, Taz Singh when Ono returned in 2005. Visitors are Coventry Carol to Clint Mansell, Pete and The Primitives' Tracy Cattel, along with invited to take a seat and write out a ‘peace Waterman to Panjabi MC, and Delia two pairs of custom Dr Martens worn by King leaf’ to be added to the ‘Cofa's tree’ wall dis- Derbyshire to The Enemy, Coventry's connec- bass player Tony Wall. play. tions to performers, innovators and record- But for any music buff, the real highlights Articles In Sound is an accessible starting ings of national and even international will be the specialist items made for more point for anyone interested in learning more renown have not been insignificant. than just show - the things that helped about music or local history, the optional Seeking to reclaim this rich heritage as secure the success of the musicians who guidebook fleshing out the information on Coventry launches its City of Culture bid is a used and created them. A demo CD featuring display with extra details and quotes from project led by Coventry Music Museum early tracks by The Enemy joins master tapes numerous fans and experts. Both this and founder Pete Chambers BEM, exploring the of Go For It, written by Steve and Heather the accompanying app will be handy for any- city's sonic history, with an exhibition of 50 Taylor in celebration of Coventry City one planning a trip around the town to visit carefully chosen objects at its heart. Football Club's 1987 FA Cup win, and of The some of the key sites the exhibition touches Selecter's Kingston Affair - arguably the song on. Funded through a Heritage Lottery grant, that started 2Tone. Elsewhere, you can catch Articles In Sound is an ambitious multime- The Coventry Music Museum has already a glimpse of Neol Davies' original handwrit- dia venture, encompassing a printed guide- been graced with appearances from various ten lyrics for the group's hit, On My Radio, as book, documentary film, outdoor mural and industry stars. well as distinctive instruments like Panjabi free smartphone app as well as physical Who knows - perhaps Articles In Sound will MC's tumbi and the hand-made musical ‘jug’ exhibits in the museum itself. see many more music pilgrims willingly used by folk singer Rod Felton. The wider sending themselves to Coventry... The story begins over 400 years ago with Warwickshire area also gets a look-in, with James Hewitt of the Coventry Waits, the first items like a harmonica owned by The musician from the city to be mentioned by Shadows' Bedworth-born Brian Locking. name in any surviving written records. It's In a section of the museum devoted to Delia Articles In Sound shows at the Coventry around this time that the first object on our Derbyshire - the electronic music pioneer Music Museum. For further information journey surfaces - the 16th century Coventry responsible for realising the original Doctor visit articlesinsound.co.uk Carol, a haunting lullaby to the infants mas- Who theme - you'll find Derbyshire's person-

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FEATURE

Meet the Music Director

She's been described as ‘mesmerising’, ‘awe- Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla on her some’, ‘a serious intellect’ and ‘the most exciting young conductor to come along since first season with the CBSO Gustavo Dudamel’: in taking on the mantle of CBSO Music Director from Andris Nelsons, Lithuanian-born Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla becomes the latest in a string of brightė young things to land the role, as well as the only female director of an orchestra in Britain. As she prepares for the launch of an exciting 2016-17 season, What's On spoke to her about her plans for the year ahead and beyond. “I feel an incredible good will and enthusiasm from the orchestra and all of our sup- porters to go on this new journey together,” says Gražinyt -Tyla. “It's very impressive, and of courseė that enthusiasm inspires me to give the same back.” Still in her 20s, Gražinyt -Tyla follows in the footsteps of several formerė rising stars who have developed names for themselves in the role. Seven years ago, her immediate prede- cessor took up the position aged 28, and has since gone on to lead the Boston Symphony and Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestras. Before that, a 30-year-old Sakari Oramo took the baton from the now globally renowned Sir Simon Rattle, who led the CBSO for 18 years, beginning at the age of 25. This willingness to take a chance on relative newcomers is largely the result of an openness and recep- tiveness to fresh ideas which Gražinyt -Tyla identifies as a distinguishing characteristicė of the Birmingham orchestra. “The spirit of the CBSO breathes openness and freedom. It is incredible how democratic their system of working is. The musicians are very active, not only during rehearsals and concerts in which they play a direct part, but also in all the issues which affect the orchestra. They participate in discussions on all sorts of decisions, and I think it's something that's very special about the CBSO.” The new director will begin her tenure with an inaugural concert at Symphony Hall on 26

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by Heather Kincaid

The spirit of the CBSO breathes openness and freedom. It ‘‘ is incredible how diplomatic their system of working is. ” August, conducting a small selection of very credited with symbolic significance as a rep- theme of ‘The Spirit of England’ through an different pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and resentation of Fate knocking at the door). eclectic programme of concerts and events the contemporary Danish composer, Hans The whole piece seems to be searching for showcasing a huge diversity of perspectives Abrahamsen. this motif and trying to arrive there, and I'm on the subject of Englishness - an interesting “At the very beginning of the concert will be very glad that we will be presenting this in- choice for someone coming from outside the the overture of The Magic Flute. teresting composer to the British public.” country. Mozart, along with Haydn and Beethoven, is The second piece to be performed to UK audi- “This sense of British and English spirit is absolutely at the core of our Western classi- ences for the first time is an older, but more something I will be taking with me not only cal music tradition, and playing their music recently ‘discovered’ piece from a ballet by for the coming season but across my whole is always a huge challenge because it is so Mieczysław Weinberg, an under-appreciated journey with the CBSO and my time in Birm- simple and so naked. Every single detail is Polish-Jewish composer whose work was ingham. I see it as a wonderful opportunity exposed, which forces musicians to really largely ignored by the Soviet establishment to gain an inside insight. We are starting with concentrate on the smallest things. Also, I during his lifetime. Tippet this season, but for later years I think felt that the humanist ideas expressed by “The suite from The Golden Key will start our it will be one of the most important tasks for Mozart would make it a great, symbolic journey into the work of Weinberg, who al- me to discover more British music and com- choice to start with. ready has a following in Britain. There is a posers.” “On the other hand, new music has always British musicologist called David Fanning Even a cursory glance over the orchestra's been a crucial part of the CBSO's profile, and who has been researching his life and is cur- 2016-17 programme of events reveals plenty is something I wanted to continue with. Hans rently working on a second book about him. to look forward to, and Gražinyt -Tyla can't Abrahamsen's piece is incredibly poetic, and Fanning says that once we've discovered wait to fully immerse herself in theė work of we will be performing it with a wonderful more of Weinberg's work, there will be no the orchestra here. For the time being, singer, Barbara Hannigan, which is very ex- question that he was at least the third most though, there are still a few loose ends to tie citing for all of us. Finally, I chose important Soviet composer after up: this dynamic young conductor is much in Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony because Andris Shostakovich and Prokofiev, and perhaps demand. did a lot of Tchaikovsky with the orchestra, even more significant than that. There is still “There are many exciting projects I am look- and I wanted to follow that focus while also a huge amount of his work left to discover - ing forward to - I have my calendar marked doing something different to the pieces he he wrote 22 symphonies, seven operas and 17 with concerts by Ed Gardner and Michael chose.” string quartets among many other pieces.” Seal. But I have to say that during the coming Over the coming season, Gražinyt -Tyla will Unsurprisingly for the daughter of a choir season, I will still be finishing my engage- bring two UK premieres to Birmingham,ė the conductor, Gražinyt -Tyla is also passionate ments in Salzburg and Los Angeles, so at the first of which is the “atmospheric, explosive” about conducting sungė pieces, and among moment, I may not be able to attend every- Fires, written by a contemporary composer the things we can expect to see under her thing I would really love to. However, once I from her native Lithuania and set to be per- leadership is an increased emphasis on have seen through my contracts to the end of formed in Birmingham in mid-November. opera and choral music. their final year, I will be completely dedi- “The composer, Raminta Šerkšynt , was “We have quite a few ideas which we will be cated to CBSO with a full force, so I'm excited originally commissioned to write aė piece to mainly looking at starting in 2017-18, the sea- about experiencing more in future seasons.” be played before Beethoven's 5th Symphony son after this one, but for the coming season by the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra. At we will be putting on Idomenio in concert, first, she had trouble, because it had never which, of all Mozart's operas, is the chorus been her style to use music or even intona- opera. It has so many wonderful numbers for Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla's welcoming concert tions by other composers, and she almost re- the chorus and all the different characters, so is at Symphony Hall on Friday 26 August. fused the job, but eventually she created it will be a huge pleasure to work on it with The CBSO's full 2016-17 season Fires, which became a kind of story of the the choir led by Simon Halsey.” programme is now available to view online. birth of the Destiny motif (the famous open- Elsewhere, she'll be looking to explore the ing notes of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, often

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Festivals

Shrewsbury Folk Festival West Midlands Showground, Shrewsbury, Fri 26 - Mon 29 August A key date in any folk fan's calendar, this four-day festival takes place in the picturesque, historical town of Shrewsbury, where the West Midlands meets the Welsh and North West borders - the perfect setting for a festival focused on unearthing music from a range of folk tradi- tions. Just don't be fooled into thinking it's all old-fashioned: as medieval instruments meet modern tastes and global grassroots cultures collide in dynamic fusion styles, folk is fast becoming one of today’s most innovative musical genres. Conveniently coinciding with the bank holiday weekend, Shrewsbury Folk offers something for all the family, with dancing, music workshops and children's activities alongside the main acts. It's also been known to broadcast performances live online, so even those at home can join the fun. Line-up includes: Eliza Carthy & the Wayward Band, The Levellers, Show of Hands, Treacherous Orchestra, The Wilsons, Lady Maisery, Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, The Will Pound Band, A Day's Work (a folk opera by Mick Ryan) and Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack & Andy Fairweather Low

Rosanne Cash

Lakefest Brecon Jazz Weekend Sunshine Festival Fish Meadow, Upton-upon-Severn, Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, Various venues, Brecon Town Centre, Worcestershire, Fri 26 - Sun 28 August Thurs 11 - Sun 14 August Powys, Fri 12 - Sun 14 August Taking place during the August bank holiday Priding itself on putting family first and Celebrating 33 years in 2016, Brecon weekend, this multi-stage, family-friendly treating its guests like royalty, Lakefest's Jazz reinvents itself with a smaller- festival brings big-name pop acts and retro story began five years ago with a giant cider scale, more collaborative and commu- favourites together with family fun and fancy festival at Croft Farm Waterpark. The music nity-led approach. Transforming past dress. Tribute bands take to the Sunflower side of things has since expanded massively, difficulties into a platform for positive Stage, alongside pop favourites, comedy acts though it still retains its friendly, hippie, change, the festival re-emerges as and more on the Main and Variety Stages. West Country vibe. This year, the festival strong as ever with the proud support Brand new for 2016 is the Little Sunshine relocates to Herefordshire's beautiful Eastnor of various local partners and organi- Stage, hosting kids' disco and karaoke ses- Castle with an impressive and varied line-up, sations. Expect an exciting mix of sions. This year's optional costume themes ranging from popular indie bands to an headline performers and emerging are ‘glam rock’, ‘tribute’ and ‘tartan’, on eclectic mix of smaller acts. There'll also be a acts, social and folk activities, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. ton of fun activities for the kids. workshops, with indoor and outdoor Full-on fun and silliness guaranteed. venues hosting fantastic line-ups Line-up includes: 3 Daft Monkeys, Primal curated by the Brecon Jazz Club. Line-up includes: Nazareth, MUD, Hello, The Scream, We Are Scientists, Molotov Jukebox, There'll also be film screenings and a Magoos, Midge Ure, Fine Young Cannibals, Cast, Starsailor, Afro Celt Soundsystem, Big special exhibition on Women in Jazz. Bad Manners, T'Pau, Black Lace, Mari Country, The Coral, Newton Faulkner, Nahko Wilson, Bay City Rollers, Sister Sledge & and Medicine for the People, Roving Crows, Line-up includes: Teddy Smith Big Beverley Craven Granny's Attic Band, Tina May & Wales Latin Jazz Ensemble, Brownfield Byrne Quintet with Trish Clowes, Trefor Owen Quartet & Megan Thomas, Geoff Eales, Smooth Celtic Jazz, Ashley John-Long & Friends and a film and exhibition on women in jazz

Molotov Jukebox Midge Ure

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Festivals

Line-up includes: Rihanna, Justin Bieber, David Guetta, Sia, Faithless, Kaiser Chiefs, Bastille, Little Mix, Jess Glynne, Jake Bugg, Years & Years, Rita Ora, Katy B, Tinie Tempah, James Morrison, Craig David's TS5, Travis, Tom Odell, Halsey, Sigma, All Saints, Lethal Bizzle, Rick Astley, Soul II Soul, Lightning Seeds, Corinne Bailey Ray, Laura Mvula and Annie Mac. Comedy line-up includes: Bill Bailey, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Pascoe and Katherine Ryan

Rihanna

V Festival forward the idea of playing in two outdoor venues over two days, V Festival is unique in Weston Park, Staffordshire, Sat 20 - Sun 21 August taking place in two separate locations simul- taneously. Chart-topping acts of all genres, Among the UK's best-known music events, along with a host of comedy talent, take to Virgin's V Festival brings together world- stages in Staffordshire and Chelmsford, visit- class performers in two beautiful parks for ing one on Saturday and the other on one epic cross-country weekend. Born in Sunday. Katherine Ryan 1996 when Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker put

The Green Man Festival Music Line-up Includes: Belle & Sebastian, Line-up includes: The Festival Orchestra (dir. James Blake, Laura Marling, Wild Beasts, Keith Nichols), Richard Leach's 7 Stars of Glanusk Park, Powys, Wales, Grandaddy, Warpaint, Lush, White Denim, Jazz, Ivory & Gold, JB Jazz & Blues, Jeff Thurs 18 - Sun 21 August Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Barnhart's Tribute to Fats Waller, Andy Tindersticks, Battles, The Unthanks, Cate Le Legget & Chris Pearce's Sopranos, Bon and Charlotte Church's Late Night Pop Magnificent 7, Remi Harris Trio with Alan Dungeon Barnes, TJ Johnson Band and the Worcester Youth Jazz Orchestra Comedy Line-up includes: The Horne Section, John Shuttleworth, Ivo Graham, David Trent, Rob Deering and Angela Barnes Beermageddon Films include: A Bigger Splash, High-Rise, Stoke Prior Country Club, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Fri 26 - Sun 28 August Inside Out, Fantastic Planet, Janis: Little Girl Belle & Sebastian Blue, Metropolis (with live piano score from Billed as the best-kept secret in British metal, Dmytro Morykit), Where You're Meant To Be Beermageddon returns after four successive Now in its 14th year, Wales' largest music (+ Aidan Moffat solo show), Green Room, sold-out years to showcase the rising stars of and arts festival has established a strong rep- Expresso Bongo and The Man Who Fell To the UK's alternative music scene. The music utation for its ethical, independent business Earth might be hard and heavy, but the set-up is model and quality line-ups. Over the years, comfortable and civilised, with indoor stages Green Man has picked up a whole host of and facilities, hot food, affordable beers and accolades, including an Outstanding Pershore Jazz Festival free entry for under-14s with any paying Achievement Award for its director, Fiona Pershore College, Avonbank, Pershore, adult. Stewart. Dubbed one of Britain's top 50 Worcestershire, Fri 19 - Sun 21 August Line-up includes: Gehtika, Def-Con-One, coolest brands in 2013/14, Green Man shines Evolving from humble beginnings to gain a spotlight on folk, world, indie, electronic Annihilated, Eradikator, Kambrium, Solitary, renown across the UK jazz scene, Pershore Garganjua, Demons of Old Metal, Cambion, and psychedelic music, lending it a hippie College's annual jazz festival showcases for- vibe in keeping with its folkloric name. In Old Corpse Road, Outright Resistance and midable musical talent on local, national The Dead XIII addition to the main music line-up, there's and even international levels. Though the also literature, film, comedy, theatre, Club tends to err on the side of the tradition- ceilidhs, all-night bonfires and secret gigs, al, young musicians and audiences are all surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of encouraged to come along and share fresh the Brecon Beacons. ideas about the future of jazz. A friendly, not- for-profit event run by a passionate and dedicated team.

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Festivals

ravers, experimenters and anyone looking for music to move to, this 12-stage event has previously earned the title of the UK's best dance festival. Music line-up includes: Chase & Status, Calvin Harris, Annie Mac, Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Eric Prydz, Pete Tong, Gorgon City, Above & Beyond, AVICII, Andy C, Wilkinson, Alesso, Knife Party, Robin Schulz, Kurupt FM, DJ EZ, Mistajam, Charlie Sloth, Axwell & Ingrosso and DVBBS

Chase & Status Creamfields energy of Cream's Liverpool club nights on the wide open space of Halton's Daresbury Daresbury Estate, Halton, Cheshire, Estate. Originally held at Winchester's Thurs 25 - Sun 28 August Matterley Bowl, Creamfields has gone on to A hedonistic four-day dance party packed become a huge, international phenomenon, full of cutting-edge live acts and world-class spawning events in multiple countries DJs, Creamfields lets loose the relentless around the world. Made for the trailblazers, Annie Mac

Towersey Festival Second, Nell Bryden, Nizlopi, Andy Kershaw, Fine Young Cannibals) and Toots & the 9Bach, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Maytals. Thame, Oxfordshire, Fri 26 - Mon 29 August Lynched, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, The Young'uns and Brighde Chaimbeul

The Big Feastival Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, Fri 26 - Sun 28 August Taking place on the idyllic Cotswold farm Roisin Murphy owned by Blur's Alex James, The Big Feastival gets its name from its focus com- The Young’uns bining great food with great music. Co-run Chefs include: Jamie Oliver, Tom Kerridge, by Jamie Oliver, the festival boasts an entic- Raymond Blanc, Thomasina Miers, Gizzi Billed as the original independent festival, ing array of feasts and banquets, cooking Erskine, Nadiya Hussain, Cyrus Todiwala, Towersey began as a single-day village event and healthy-eating workshops, delicious Nathan Outlaw, Olia Hercules, Gennaro in 1965. Folk music and folk movements go street food, market stalls, boutique bars, a Contaldo, Ashley Palmer-Watts, Neil right to its roots: in the ’60s, the village came ‘cheese hub’, hands-on kids' activities and Borthwick, DJ BBQ, Fabulous Baker Brothers together to purchase a field from a family of demonstrations, and Q&A sessions from sev- and The Skinny Jean Gardeners. wealthy landowners nearby, raising funds to eral world-class chefs. In addition to big- drain, plough and reseed the area. Today, name music acts, the entertainment also Towersey has built a reputation as a major includes performances from kids’ TV stars folk festival, attracting some of the biggest Justin Fletcher and Dick ’n’ Dom, a ‘family names in the genre. In honour of its origins, Olympics’, vintage funfair, farm park, a part of the profits are paid back into main- ‘lifestyle village’ and a range of fitness class- taining the village and its facilities, and part es in the Action Station. This is dinner and a donated to local charities. This year's event show like you've never experienced before! features multiple Radio Two Folk Award win- Line-up includes: Mark Ronson, Tinie ners, as well as some well-known indie acts. Tempah, Kaiser Chiefs, Roisin Murphy, Ella Line-up includes: Billy Bragg, Kate Rusby, Henderson, Foxes, DJ Fresh, Reef, The Midge Ure, The Wonder Stuff, Ukulele Proclaimers, Stereo MCs, Reverend & the Jamie Oliver Orchestra of Great Britain, Edward the Makers, DJ Yoda, Norman Jay, Roland Gift (of

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INTERVIEW by Lauren Foster

CORINNE BAILEY RAE Lauren Foster chats to the Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter ahead of her performance at this month’s V Festival

Your third and most recent album, The hop. Kendrick Lamar and all his crew, Ka- Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena. We also Heart Speaks In Whispers, is your first masi Washington, Flying Lotus - they’re all played at the Eden Project down in Cornwall collection of new material for six years. out of that particular part of LA, so it was re- and lots of rugby stadiums. It was amazing Why have we had to wait so long? ally nice to be there. We went over there for to play outdoors and indoors in these huge It was a really long process because I was seven weeks and ended up staying for seven places and really feel like you have to try producing it myself. I really wanted to get months, just because it was so productive and capture the room. It was a really good the songs right, and I built a studio myself and creative and so much fun. trial for me because everyone’s there to see in Leeds too, and that took a long time. I re- Lionel Richie, but it was great because I think his audience were open to whatever ally wanted to work somewhere where I Can you see yourself moving to LA was going to happen. I signed my record in could be independent and do it whenever I permanently? felt like it; that was really important. I was the break and there would always be 100 I really like moving around quite a lot. I feel just making the right conditions. people waiting to have their copy of the like being a nomad, you know? I’ve recently album signed - that was always really amaz- found out what ‘nomad’ actually means, ing and I really enjoyed that experience. How does the album differ from your and it doesn’t mean just wandering from Also, hanging out with Lionel - he’s a really previous two? place to place aimlessly. It means you visit fun person, a really fun character with a lot It’s different because it’s quite an experi- known homes. I feel like we have a few of great stories. mental record; it’s really joyous. I was using known places we can go to where we feel re- quite a lot of subconscious ideas - it all just ally at home. I love being at home in the UK, Your first headline show for over five came to me in a really natural way. I would but I also loved spending time in LA, I love years sold out in less than 60 minutes. sit and play my guitar and see what hap- spending time in New York, I love being in Were you expecting such a great re- pened. I made a lot of it in my studio in Jamaica - and I’m very happy to keep on a sponse? Leeds, but then we went over to Capital circuit around those places. Thankfully, Records in LA. It was really amazing to work through touring, you end up doing exactly No, I wasn’t actually. It was amazing. I think with some of my heroes, like James Gadson - that. the New York show went in 10 minutes and who used to play with Bill Withers and Mar- everything else went really fast. We deliberately did an intimate tour of the US when vin Gaye - and Pino Palladino, who played You’ve just finished supporting Lionel the album first came out, and that was so re- with D’Angelo. There were lots of musicians Richie on his All The Hits UK tour. How warding for me. People would stay after the around that scene who I really wanted to was that experience for you? hook up with, but I also wanted to meet new show to say hi. At one of the gigs, I think the It was amazing. The main thing for me was people like Moses Sumney and Thundercat. entire audience stayed. There were a lot of playing in these huge venues that I’ve never There’s a really amazing scene in LA; it’s really young people who’d liked me in 2006 played in before, like the O2 Arena and kind of underground, electronic, soul, hip- when they were seven or something and

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their mum had got them into me. They used same. I quite like playing a festival because It’s funny because Helen was always an to listen to me on the way to school and stuff. you feel like you’ve got something to prove. indie, noisy band but also had really soulful I really loved that tour. People might be wandering past who don’t songs. I wrote Like A Star when I was in necessarily know who they’re listening to, Helen and we used to play that song. I liked and you get a chance to show those people Radiohead and Portishead, and I liked If you could collaborate with anyone in what you’re about, which is always a really dreamy, soulful music but also aggressive the industry - dead or alive - who would it good thing. drums. So we always tried to match those be? two things. I guess I got more into soul The people who’ve gone before. I really like music when I started working in a jazz club Has singing been a passion from a young Prince and got to spend a good bit of time while I was at university. I loved hearing age? with him when we were touring. He was a re- that kind of harmony and finding that sub- ally good supporter. We met up in Abu Dhabi I always loved singing but I never felt I could tlety. I guess to cut through loud electric gui- and went back to his hotel room and hung sing. I was brought up in a school where the tars I’d always had this shouty, loud kind of out for hours, ending up having breakfast music education was really quite conserva- style, but it was nice to be able to sing qui- there the next morning. That was a really tive. It was all about singing Andrew Lloyd etly and more conversationally. We were nice time with him. I love Marvin Gaye too; I Webber songs. It had the type of choir where recording in a basement underneath an art think he’s got an incredible voice. I would’ve everyone has an angelic voice. I never felt my shop, so I couldn’t have a whole band pile in loved to have done some work with him. I’ve voice fitted into that. I’d always felt that I had there. So I guess that’s why it turned out been really lucky, though. I got to perform more texture to my voice, and I felt like I more mellow, because a lot of the time it with Al Green on a record, and I was on a couldn’t sing really high like that. Two things would be just me and my guitar. Herbie Hancock record doing a Joni Mitchell opened me up to the idea that there are lots song. I feel like I’ve been really lucky to have of different types of voice. One was getting worked with some of my heroes. I performed into Billy Holiday, the other was hearing Kurt And finally, what does the future hold for with Paul McCartney at an event at the White Cobain sing. That’s what got me into believ- Corinne Bailey Rae? House, did a tribute to him and it got ing in my own voice. I really want to write some music for film, do recorded. And we did a tribute to Fats more writing for TV, do more records and Domino when we were in New Orleans. So I guest on people’s songs. I’ve been sent quite Who were your musical influences grow- feel really lucky that music has brought me a few things since the record came out. It’s ing up? face-to-face with so many of the people I’ve nice when people who have a completely admired for a long time. I loved Nirvana, Radiohead, Bjork, Erykah different style like my voice or whatever. Badu, Portishead - they were really big influ- That’s been a good thing in the past few ences on me. I guess it was that early ’90s weeks - just thinking about which of those You’re playing V Festival this month. Do music which I felt was really independent - projects I’m going to do. I’d love to be in a you prefer playing to audiences of that stuff like Tori Amos and PJ Harvey. The alter- film doing some singing - that would be size or doing smaller, more intimate native became the mainstream. It was a re- amazing - and I’d like to write more stuff. shows? ally exciting time because it meant people I’m going to be touring for the next 12 I like them all, I really like them all. I love in- who were kids who weren’t just cool and on months - South East Asia, Europe, Latin timate shows, where it’s 500 people and you cool blogs and whatever would be exposed America. I’m really looking forward to that. can see everyone. You feel like you’re all in it to this unusual music. That was a really together. Someone can shout out a song and good time to grow up. it can totally change the environment, Corinne Bailey Rae plays V Festival at change the feeling of the place. I also like Weston Park, Staffordshire on Saturday You formed indie group Helen before you playing at festivals. We played Glastonbury, 20 August and brings her headline tour began working on solo material. Was and it’s amazing when it’s going well. You to the O2 Institute, Birmingham, there any reason why you decided to see more and more people arriving where the on Friday 4 November. steer towards a soulful sound? music is. Hopefully V Festival will be the

‘‘ I feel really lucky that my music has brought me face-to-face with so many people I’ve admired for a long time. ”

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Comedy

Sarah Millican: Outsider Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Mon 29 - Tues 30 August One of the brightest comedians around, Sarah Millican enjoyed a sell-out success with her very first tour, with bums on all available seats on no fewer than 120 laughter-filled nights. It almost goes without saying that she’s not looked back since. She returns to the Midlands with touring show Outside, in which she focuses on her recent switch from town to country living. Out on the road since last year and the recipient of plenty of positive reviews, the show is awash with Millican’s trademark smut and flatulence gags, ensur- ing her long-term admirers get exactly the sort of evening they’ve come to expect from her.

Three of the best...

Josh Widdicombe Jarred Dana Alexander Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri 5 August; Christmas The Comedy Loft, Birmingham, Palace Theatre, Redditch, Thurs 23 August; Fri 5 - Sat 6 August Evesham Arts Centre, Fri 26 August Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Tomboy comedian Dana Alexander was once Peddling a nice line in exasperated, self-dep- Wed 17 August; The billed as the only black female comic on the recating humour when performing live, Glee Club, Birmingham, Canadian comedy circuit. Now she’s here in Thurs 18 - Sat 20 Devon-born funnyman Josh Widdicombe fan- August the UK, peddling an outspoken, irreverent cies himself the Speedy Gonzales of the com- and ballsy style of humour that’s often Kiwi comedian Jarred edy circuit, pumping out well-crafted gags at inspired by her diverse lifestyle, her gay Christmas is delighted with the warm recep- the kind of pace you'd maybe expect from a friends and her crazy Jamaican family. tion he receives from UK audiences. “I think man who's worried he might miss the last When it comes to the delivery of material not it’s the charming and ‘sixy’ New Zealand bus home. He’s become an extremely famil- directly connected to Dana’s own life, how- accent that does it,” he jokes. “I think Brits iar face thanks to TV shows like Mock The ever, there’s plenty of room for improvement, are also great at laughing at themselves, so Week and looks set to score a significant hit both in terms of the content and her style of don’t mind Johnny Foreigner making jokes with comedy-loving audiences for many a presentation. If she can work out how better about British stuff. In fact, they seem to love year to come. to engage with this more general subject it.” Jarred is joined for this Shrewsbury gig Josh visits the Midlands this month as part of matter, there’s every chance she could quick- by fellow funnyman Andrew Bird. Resident the second leg of a national tour. ly become one of the UK comedy scene’s host Mark Olver comperes - and as a com- most cutting-edge performers. pere himself, Jarred has some hard-hitting views about the business of being an MC. “A lot of comperes just don’t get it,” he observes. “They seem to forget that, along with keeping the show moving and warming up the audience, they still have to be funny. If they’re not funny, then they should get the **** off the stage.” Best gags at the ready, then, Mr Olver...

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Kerry Godliman

You may remember comedian and actress Kerry Godliman from such TV shows as Ricky Gervais’ Derek (where she played ultra-caring care worker Hannah), Miranda, Our Girl and Extras. She’s also had her own Radio Four show, Kerry’s List. Like a breath of fresh, post-summer air, Kerry will be bringing her rapier wit to October’s BIrmingham Comedy Festival. What’s On caught up with her as she pre- pared to head out on tour...

Kerry Godliman’s new touring show, Stick Or Twist, zeroes in on why people take certain decisions and make particular choices - baby jokes with nostalgia. As they grow up, Donald Trump (“it’s like they’ve got especially when it comes to that potentially your material also changes with them.” Yosemite Sam to lead the Republican life-transforming (or ruining) moment when And so in Stick Or Twist, Kerry will reflect Party”); she’s confused about the TV shows they start to think about moving house, city on why she’s kept her own children’s baby that get made over others which only reach or country. teeth in a box. “I didn’t keep them on pur- pilot episode stage (she’s been there); and she’s also quite befuddled by the modern “I was prompted by whether I should move pose, I just did the tooth fairy thing and teaching methods that enter her home now out of London with my family,” explains threw them in a box which I then stumbled that she has school-age offspring: “I’m Kerry, “but it opens up beyond that to why upon recently and thought, ‘What am I bewildered about my children’s homework. people live where they live: some people going to do with that?’ I mean, they’re just Phonics bewilders me, but that’s how they choose it, others are forced to stay where teeth at the bottom of a box, which is a little do it. My husband went to a phonics work- they are or forced to move. Whether I’m bit macabre and sort of voodoo. They’re shop the other day and that was bewilder- happy where I live is the 64 million dollar quite pristine. They haven’t gone rotten, ing.” question.” which I think is a measure of my good parenting. That routine is about sentimentality Bewildered or not, 2016 is proving to be a As Kerry acknowledges, this is an age where and about why we keep every memento of big year for Kerry. As well as taking a stand- we’re constantly being encouraged to con- their childhood, their hair and every birth- up show across the country (her second full sider alternatives to everything, but nowhere day card they’ve been given, and take mil- UK tour, after 2014’s Face Time), her exten- is this more prevalent than with regard to lions of photos of them. But to what end?” sive acting CV is set be enhanced with a decisions about where we permanently lay major role in Mascots, the new mockumen- our hats and put down our roots. Friendship is still an area which Kerry tary film by Christopher Guest (This Is “Generations ago, people were born some- believes provides a great source of material, Spinal Tap, Best In Show) which is sched- where and lived there and died there, particularly the ever-evolving (and occasion- uled to appear on Netflix. whereas now, people go on Rightmove on a ally warped) nature of companionship in daily basis to find out what they can get for this technologically centred age. “That’s all “I do love acting and going to work with dif- their house. It just seems as though we’re 24- changed because of social media, and the ferent people and playing in an ensemble hour consumers considering alternative way we conduct our friendships has become set-up, where you don’t have to worry about lifestyles all the time.” quite administrative. I do Twitter but I’ve the lines because someone else has written had to step away from Facebook. People just them. But when I go back to stand-up, it’s While Kerry began work on her show around know everything about everyone else now such a creative opportunity to say all the this central theme, she soon found herself and it’s killed conversation. We can’t do stuff I want to say about things like politics wandering into some familiar areas of con- exposition anymore. You can have a debate and parenting. And that’s amazing - there cern. “It was originally about considering with someone about spurious facts and then aren’t many jobs where you can just say moving and then questioning why and how somebody will google it and you suddenly exactly what you like.” where you live influences all other parts of have actual knowledge, Can’t we just mean- your life, such as your friendships and par- der around with half-knowledge?” enting choices. But it then seemed to open Part of Kerry’s stage persona is to be con- out into things that I’ve covered before. Kerry Godliman plays Artrix, Bromsgrove stantly bewildered at the stuff life throws at When you do a few shows, you do notice on Sat 8 October and The Glee Club, her. It turns out that in the real world, she’s that you revisit things. Parenting is an ongo- Birmingham (as part of the Comedy just as perplexed. For now, she’s shocked by ing subject, where you look back on your Festival) on Fri 14 October. politics and the rise of divisive figures like

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Mamma Mia! Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sat 3 September This legendary show is of course a nicely contrived vehicle for the chart-topping music of 1970s Super Troupers Abba. The Swedish Fab Four scored mega-hit after mega-hit with catchy numbers like Waterloo, Dancing Queen, The Name Of The Game, The Winner Takes It All and Take A Chance On Me - all of which are present and correct in this blockbuster offering. Abba boys Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were both involved in the development of the show, while Anni-Frid Lyngstad - she’s the dark one - con- tributed in a financial capacity. A 2008 movie version received a thumbs up from many if not most of Mamma Mia!’s adoring fans - despite former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan having been given, rather unwisely, a Licence to Sing...

The Glenn Miller Story The Old Joint Stock Theatre Company are the MavERICk talented ensemble behind this latest version New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, of the, er, flushed-with-success West End New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tues 23 - Sat 27 August musical, which made its debut off Broadway Tues 30 August - Sat 10 September in 2001. New Vic favourite Eric Smith here makes a welcome return to the stage, saddling up his horse and heading for the Wild West town of Sonia Sabri Company: Dead End Gulch. Set in the 1860s and featur- Salaam ing music from the 1960s, the show is being Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 5 August publicised as ‘the best night out you’ll have this summer’ - and there are plenty of dedi- A double bill celebrating ‘harmony, inner- cated Eric fans who’ll be only too happy to stillness and the simple bliss of being alive’, lend their support to that claim. So how Salaam (meaning ‘peace’) is the latest work about moseying on over to the New Vic an’ Ever-popular song-and-dance man Tommy from British-born dancer-choreographer findin’ out fer yerself, pardner... Steele takes top billing in this homage to leg- Sonia Sabri and her dynamic ensemble. endary band leader Glenn Miller. Sonia describes Salaam as “a response to Featuring classic numbers such as In The unrest around the world that aims to refocus Mood, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Moonlight on and reminisce about all that is good”. Murder On The Serenade and Tuxedo Junction, the show Over the years, her highly rated company has Churchill Express explores Miller’s extraordinary life and established an international reputation for Lichfield Garrick, Fri 26 - Sat 27 August career - from his two-decades’-long effort to its presentation of Kathak dance in a con- create a unique sound, through to his disap- temporary context. All aboard for any theatre lovers who enjoy pearance in mysterious circumstances over an immersive, interactive experience... the English Channel in December 1944. A classic whodunnit story is here combined with plenty of ‘fun and laughter’ as eccentric Austrian inventor Professor Kildorf is shot Urinetown The Musical while awaiting the departure of his train. The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, question is, who perpetrated this most until Sat 6 August heinous of crimes? The professor’s brainbox Social and political satire Urinetown is set in assistant, Heidi Heibrau, is one possible sus- a fictional future where water is scarce. With pect - but then so is the RAF wing command- the government having imposed a ban on all er with the peculiar limp and the bushy private toilets in order to control water con- moustache... sumption, spending a penny proves to be somewhat problematic...

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

King Lear Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- Avon, Sat 20 August - Sat 15 October Greed, betrayal, cruelty and lust for power combine to make King Lear one of the most deeply moving and violent of Shakespeare's tragedies. Lear is an elderly monarch who decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters - as long as each of them first declares their love for him. But when the loyal Cordelia fails to satisfy his demand - saying only that she has no words to describe how much she loves her father - Lear disowns her. In so doing, he sets in motion a train of events that will lead to tragic consequences for all concerned... Sir Antony Sher makes a welcome return to Stratford to take the title role. The RSC’s artistic director, Gregory Doran, is the man at the helm.

Much Ado About Nothing Present Laughter Fast Woman Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 6 August Malvern Theatre, Mon 15 - Sat 20 August Swan Theatre, Worcester, Sat 13 August Much Ado About Womaniser, idol and suavely sophisti- Nude photographic model, dancer at the Nothing revolves cated theatrical Gary Essendine lives in Casino de Paris, enthusiastic downhill skier around the stum- a world of hopeful actors, star-struck and convention-busting Grand Prix motor bling romance teenagers and adoring fans. His antics racing driver - Helle Nice was no ordinary between Benedick and casual love affairs require the most woman. Roaring her way through the and Beatrice. delicate handling by his manager and Roaring 20s, Helle lived life in the fast lane, Their liaison is secretary - and although he pretends to augmenting her aforementioned activities strewn with diffi- be harassed to the brink of a nervous with numerous other daredevil undertak- culties - not least among which is an unwill- breakdown, he secretly welcomes the ings, including high-wire acts, mountaineer- ingness on the part of either to admit a liking adulation... ing and speed-record attempts. for the other... RSC actor Samuel West stars alongside Sandra Hunt is joined for this celebration of Not that the plot of Much Ado is likely to be Downton Abbey’s Phyllis Logan in this a truly remarkable 20th century woman by overly important in this particular produc- stylish Noel Coward offering, directed Fine Time Fontayne, who accompanies on tion, given that it’s zany funsters Madcap by Stephen Unwin. acoustic guitar to evoke a sense of France Theatre who’re at the helm! Expect plenty of between the wars. mayhem and laughter from this Bromsgrove- based ensemble. Joanne The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, Loserville: A New Musical Thurs 11 - Fri 12 August Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Clean Break, the company behind this hour- Wed 10 - Sat 13 August long collection of monologues, have spent Co-written by Busted and Son Of Dork star the last 37 years working with women in James Bourne, first performed in 2009 and prison and exploring issues connected to set in 1971, Loserville tells the story of com- crime and justice... puter geek Michael Dork and his science fic- One of the company’s two current production-obsessed friends and social misfits tions, Joanne debuted to critical acclaim last Lucas, Francis and Marvin. Between the four year. The title character is absent from proof them, they’ve hatched a plan to change ceedings. The five monologues, written by the course of history, fashion and dating - five writers, are given by female characters particularly the dating... who’ve had a brief involvement with Joanne. This new version of Loserville is the product In so doing, they’ve profoundly shaped the of this year’s Stafford Gatehouse summer vulnerable young woman’s destiny... Olivier school. It’s being presented by young per- Award-nominated Tanya Moodie stars in this formers between the ages of seven and 21. thought-provoking one-woman show.

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Theatre for younger audiences...

Big Wooden Horse Peter Pan In Scarlet LazyTown Live

Big Wooden Horse Peter Pan In Scarlet LazyTown Live mac, Birmingham, Sun 21 August New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, The Core, Solihull, Fri 5 August; Regent until Sat 6 August Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 6 - Mon 8 August Having created a whole world of whacky This brand new show looks sure to be a inventions and incredible monsters, young Second star to the right and straight on till major hit with its young audience, blending inventor Monty doesn’t know what to do with morning, that's the way to Neverland. But laugh-out-loud fun and plenty of singalong them all... Wendy and the Lost Boys could certainly be songs with not a little dancing in the aisles. The creators of Aliens Love Underpants make forgiven if they’d forgotten how to reach the When the pink-haired Stephanie arrives in a welcome return with this brand new and magical island, given that it’s been 20 long LazyTown, it isn’t long before she meets the ‘monster-ously good show’, which comes years since their adventures with the boy world’s laziest super-villain, Robbie Rotten, complete with original music and plenty of who wouldn't grow up. When they suddenly and slightly-above-average hero Sportacus, audience participation. find their dreams being infiltrated by visions of pirates, mermaids, fairies and crocodiles, who somehow always manages to save the they realise that something is terribly wrong day... The Smartest Giant and that Peter Pan is in urgent need of their help... In Town This official sequel to JM Barrie’s classic Hairy Maclary & Friends Biddulph Grange Garden, Staffordshire, Sat 6 story was written by three-time Whitbread Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 4 August August; Martineau Gardens, Birmingham, Wed Children’s Book Award winner Geraldine Music and singing lie at the heart of this feel- 10 August; Bishops Wood Garden Centre, Thurs 11 August; Wightwick Manor, McCaughrean. It’s been adapted for the stage good show that’s based around the famous Wolverhampton, Sat 13 August by the New Vic’s Theresa Heskins. character of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's The wise old owls at Folksy Theatre know a Dairy. It features numerous much-loved char- smart move when they come across one - acters from the Hairy Maclary universe, and presenting a stage adaptation of a Julia Ratburger including Hercules Morse, as big as a horse; Donaldson book is just about as clever as a Shugborough Historic Working Estate, Bottomley Potts, covered in spots; Schnitzel theatre company can be when it comes to Staffordshire, Thurs 11 August; St John’s von Krumm, with the very low tum; and House Museum, Warwick, Tues 16 August attracting a young audience. Scarface Claw, the toughest tomcat in town. Donaldson’s Smartest Giant, George, decides Although Heartbreak Productions are per- Nonsense Room Productions are the ensem- his scruffy days are a thing of the past and haps best known for their outdoor presenta- ble behind this highly recommended presen- buys himself some oversized clothes. But tions of Shakespeare plays, the company also tation. when he encounters various animals need- tours a selection of other stage works, one of ing his assistance - and, more particularly, which is this brand new adaptation of David his newly purchased items of clothing - Walliams’ 2012 bestseller. Heartbreak have George soon realises that it isn’t clothes that impressive form when it comes to Walliams’ maketh the giant but rather a gargantuan work, having last year presented a critically sense of generosity and a colossal warm acclaimed, under-the-stars version of his heart... massively popular Mr Stink - so it’s fair to assume this latest offering will also be of the very highest quality. For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows the adventures of a 12-year-old girl named Zoe as she attempts to keep both herself and her pet rat safe from the ever-menacing Burt of Burt’s Burgers. The show is suitable for children aged seven and older.

For full theatre listings, visit whatsonlive.co.uk

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whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Film August - GROUP.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:23 Page 1

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk

Win!

Tickets to the Shrewsbury Tickets to The Two Noble Family day ticket to Flower Show + Meet the Artists Kinsmen Solihull Summer Fest

Closes Friday 5 August Closes Wednesday 10 August Closes Wednesday 17 August

Tickets to Prison Escape at Tickets to Summer Nights Tickets to Daniel Koek The Dana Prison, Shrewsbury Film Festival ‘My West End Story'

Closes Friday 19 August Closes Thursday 1 September Closes Friday 2 September

Tickets to Sister Act Tickets to That'll Be The Day! Tickets to Bowie Experience

Closes Friday 2 September Closes Monday 5 September Closes Wednesday 7 September

Tickets to The Three Degrees at Tickets to Jimmy Osmond Tickets to The Shawshank The Old Rep and his band Redemption

Closes Monday 12 September Closes Monday 19 September Closes Monday 21 September

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk also follow us on Twitter for more great competitions

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Film

Suicide Squad CERT 15 (123 mins) Starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, Ben Affleck, Common Directed by David Ayer (USA) Comic-book fans have been waiting way too long for this. But here it is, with Will Smith heading an all-star cast as the masterful marksman Deadshot. For those in the not-know, this is the third instal- ment in the so-called DC Extended Universe in which superheroes of various stripes share the big screen. Viewers will be familiar with The Joker, here played by the rock star and Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto, and with Batman, courtesy of Ben Affleck. They’re all actually more anti-heroic than superheroes and have been granted clemency should they muster their awesome black-op abilities to combat an unknown menace threatening the very future of the planet. We’re particularly looking forward to Margot Robbie’s psychotic Harley Quinn, a funny-sexy-terrifying combo. She previously starred opposite Will Smith in last year’s crime romance Focus. In 3D. Released Fri 5 August

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in August...

Mike And Dave Need Nerve CERT 15 (96 mins) Pete’s Dragon Wedding Dates CERT 15 (98 mins) Starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, CERT tbc (100 mins) Juliette Lewis, Emily Meade Directed by Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Starring Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Adam Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (USA) Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Robert Redford DeVine, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Root Directed Directed by David Lowery (USA/New Zealand) by Jake Szymanski (USA) You can’t keep a good dragon down. A Zac Efron continues the backlash against his remake of Disney’s very own film of the formerly squeaky-clean persona, this time same name of 1977, this is the tale of a young playing the outrageous Dave Strangle, who lad with a dragon for a pet. This time, has a habit of destroying family get-togeth- though, there will be no musical numbers. In ers. However, when his sister is to be married 3D. in Hawaii, their parents insist that he and his brother Mike (DeVine) find appropriate dates Released Fri 12 August for the occasion. So they advertise themselves on television… Nerve is what you need to play the Released Wed 10 August Internet game of the same name, a sort of ‘truth or dare’ without the truth. The film suggests that the world is divided between ‘watchers’ and ‘players’ and baits the gullible with financial rewards. But once you start to play… A clean cinematic leap from last year’s Unfriended to David Fincher’s The Game (1997), Nerve is a slick, kinetic exploration of the dangers of and addiction to the World Wide Web. Hang on to your mobiles. Released Thurs 11 August

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Film

The Shallows CERT 15 (86 mins) Starring Blake Lively, Óscar Jaenada, Brett Cullen Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (USA) Just when you thought it was safe… A surfer on a secluded beach in Mexico finds herself the prey of a great white shark, even though she is only 200 yards from the beach. From the director of House Of Wax, Orphan and Non-Stop. CRITIC’S CHOICE Released Fri 12 August

comedies with a twist, which more often Up For Love CERT 12a (98 mins) than not end up being remade by Starring Jean Dujardin, Virginie Efira, Hollywood. The difference here is that Cédric Kahn Directed by Laurent Tirard (France/Belgium) Laurent Tirard’s effortlessly Gallic and engaging comedy is a remake of a 2013 Following a flaming row with her ex, Argentine film. Although technically a Diane Duchêne (Efira) leaves her phone romcom, Up For Love is more than just behind at a restaurant. Not long after- touching and funny, although it is cer- wards a stranger rings her at her apart- tainly both those things. Ultimately, ment and, with a bit of coaxing, per- though, it is about prejudice, in whatever suades her to meet for lunch the follow- form it occurs, and in spite of his enor- ing day. Not knowing what to expect, mous success, Dujardin’s Alexandre does Diane is more surprised than she could have his shortcomings - but only because have imagined: the man who rescued her of the preconceptions of other people. phone (Dujardin) is suave, charming, It’s a small film, but an enchanting, witty funny, handsome and fabulously and poignant one. wealthy. And 4’7”… The French have a habit of producing delightful romantic Released Fri 5 August

Wiener-Dog CERT tbc (90 mins) David Brent: Life On Starring Ellen Burstyn, Kieran Culkin, Julie The Road CERT 15 (96 mins) Delpy, Danny DeVito, Greta Gerwig, Tracy Letts Directed by Todd Solondz (USA) Starring Ricky Gervais, Doc Brown, Andy Burrows, Tom Basden, Nina Sosanya Taking the template of François Girard’s Directed by Ricky Gervais (UK) remarkable film The Red Violin (1998) - in David Brent, you will remember, is the char- which a violin passed through innumerable acter that Ricky Gervais played in the mocku- hands explored the diversity of mankind - mentary sitcom The Office (2001-7). Now, 15 Todd Solondz has replaced the fiddle with a years later, Brent fancies himself a rock star dachshund, or wiener-dog. Here, though, the and is followed up and down the country by pooch’s ‘owners’ are all rather dysfunctional a camera crew. However, Brent’s delusions of and are dramatically changed by the tenure grandeur sit uneasily in the real world… of the dog. Released Fri 19 August Released Fri 12 August Nine Lives CERT 12a (87 mins) Starring Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Walken, Malina Weissman, Cheryl Hines Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (France/China) Like so many workaholics, business tycoon Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) has put his work before his family. So, when’s he turned into a cat, he has to reconcile with his young daughter before he can think about being human again. The director previously brought us The Addams Family, Get Shorty and Men In Black. Released Wed 17 August

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Film releases in August

Lights Out CERT 15 (81 mins) The Purge: Election Year Starring Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Billy CERT tbc (90 mins) Burke, Maria Bello Directed by David F Sandberg (USA) Starring Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson After lights out, the dark takes on an entirely Directed by James DeMonaco (USA) more menacing aspect. Having believed that When did The Purge become a trilogy? When she has rid herself of a supernatural entity the first film grossed almost $90million (on a that once haunted her, Rebecca (Palmer) dis- budget of $3m). The original was certainly covers that the ‘being’ is now picking on her one of the most disturbing and frightening little brother. Based on David F Sandberg’s Hell Or High Water films of 2013, and now comes the supposed CERT tbc (102 mins) short film of the same name. conclusion to the franchise (but we’ll see Released Fri 19 August Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben how much money it makes, first). There is a Foster, Gil Birmingham Directed by David Mackenzie (USA) presidential election afoot and the front-run- ner (Mitchell) is seeking to abolish the Purge, Chris Pine has already been through the one night of the year when killing is hell and high water this year (in the endorsed by the government. waterlogged Finest Hours), but here the title proves to be a little more Released Fri 26 August metaphorical. He plays a Texan farmer whose business is facing foreclosure, so he and his brother, an ex-con, set about acquiring some major cash by somewhat unorthodox means. Swallows And Amazons Released Fri 26 August CERT tbc Starring Rafe Spall, Andrew Scott, Kelly Macdonald, Jessica Hynes, Harry Enfield Mechanic: Resurrection Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe (UK) CERT tbc Can’t remember the last time we had a remake, but this one goes back to Arthur Starring Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sam Ransome’s original 1930 book about a child- Hazeldine hood summer in the Lake District, last filmed Directed by Dennis Gansel (USA) in 1974. Two groups of children - in their Jason Statham, 48, has been no slouch dinghies Amazon and Swallow - play pirates when it comes to sequels and here he in between the camping and fishing trips. resurrects his role as Arthur Bishop, an Let’s just hope the new film retains the old assassin who disguises his hits as acci- innocence and nostalgia. dents. Although now retired, he’s War Dogs CERT tbc (120 mins) Released Fri 19 August forced to go back into business when Starring Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, his girlfriend is kidnapped. Bradley Cooper Filmed in Thailand, Bulgaria, Brazil Directed by Todd Phillips (USA) and Australia. From the director of The Hangover films, this Released Fri 26 August is the true story of David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, two arms dealers who were given $300million by the US government to pro- vide weapons for the country’s allies in Popstar: Never Stop Afghanistan. You couldn’t make it up. Never Stopping Released Fri 26 August CERT 15 (87 mins) Bad Moms CERT tbc Starring Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Jorma Taccone, Sarah Silverman, Tim Hahn, Annie Mumolo, Jada Pinkett Smith, Meadows, Imogen Poots Christina Applegate Directed by Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (USA) Taccone (USA) We’ve had bad teachers, bad neighbours, a A musical mockumentary, Popstar fol- bad Santa and, now, Heaven forbid, some lows the privileged life of wanton mamas. When Amy Mitchell (Kunis) Conner4Real(Samberg), a singer who reaches the end of her tether, she decides to becomes quite desperate when his sec- take off with another couple of over-stressed ond album fails to make the grade. moms to find a bit of fun, freedom and fast Expect lots of star cameos. living. Could this be the mother of all come- Released Fri 26 August dies? Released Fri 26 August

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Visual Arts

Inspire 16: The Young Creatives Of Birmingham Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Sat 17 September This summer showcase celebrates the diversity and creativity of local young artists. Included in the presentation are sculptural models designed by Birmingham schoolchildren and a selection of high-quality entries from an online youth arts competition. The show also encourages visitors to get ‘hands on’ via a dedicated programme of creative activities for youngsters. Arts masterclasses, performances, spoken word events, storytelling and a ‘crafty kids’ session all feature. First-prize recipient Sonia Tam’s mixed media piece, Essence (pictured), is inspired by the atmosphere and textures of an old fishing village, Tai O, at her family home in Hong Kong.

Britain In The Fifties Coast Wildlife Photographer Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, Of The Year until Sun 2 October until Sun 4 September Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Nostalgic beach scenes, atmospheric until Sun 18 September seascapes and an installation of 600 ceramic sardine tins are included in this multimedia selling exhibition inspired by and celebrating ‘the coast’. Comprising paintings, photographs, textiles, glass and ceramics, the display features jewellery by Jasmine Bowden, metalwork by Sharon McSwiney and textiles by Jo Hill. A range of rock pool glass bowls by Loco Glass and ceramics by Rose Dickinson and Caroline Barnes are also included.

As part of an international tour spanning six Objects as diverse as a Vespa scooter and continents, this globally renowned exhibi- original illustrations for a celebrated tion arrives in Wolverhampton on loan from Ladybird book take pride of place in this the National History Museum. engaging exhibition exploring the history of Launched in 1965, Wildlife Photographer Of post-war design in Britain. The show looks at The Year is the most prestigious photography all aspects of design during the 1950s, a event of its kind, with this year's competition decade which saw the country rediscovering attracting over 42,000 entries from 96 differ- its reputation for innovation following years ent countries. of austerity and rationing. The 100 award-winning photographs will Other ’50s design items under the spotlight take visitors on a journey across seas, skies include Lucienne Day’s furnishing fabrics, and sand dunes, with shots of breathtaking Robert Welch’s cutlery, Ken Wood’s Kenwood landscapes, fascinating animal behaviour Chef, Enid Seeney’s ‘Homemaker’ ceramics and other awe-inspiring scenes from nature and Alec Issigonis’ Mini. all featuring.

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Jesse Bruton Common Culture Cabaret Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, mac, Birmingham, until Sun 11 September until Sun 11 September The public fascination with celebrity takes centre stage in this brand new One of the founding artists of Ikon, presentation by collaborative artists' group Common Culture. Featuring a Jesse Bruton took landscape - in partic- video installation specially commissioned for mac, the show combines ular the Welsh mountains and the the use of ventriloquism and impersonation to explore television viewers’ Pembrokeshire coast - as a starting appetite for the often cruel spectacle of TV talent shows. point for his highly praised abstract paintings. Created using a stringent palette of black and white, his artworks reflect his interest in “the way things work, things like valleys, rock formations and rivers”. The paintings depict the landscape in terms of how it appears when a viewer is actually passing through it on a car journey. Bruton stopped producing artwork in the early 1970s in favour of a career in picture conservation.

For more visual arts listings visit whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Flower Show MM2.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 18:16 Page 1

FEATURE

10 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT SHREWSBURY FLOWER SHOW

One of the country’s premier horticultural events, the an- taking the headline spots on the main stage. nual Shrewsbury Flower Show delivers a diverse pro- If you’ve not already checked out what Shrewsbury Flower gramme of attractions and entertainment for all the family Show has to offer this summer, here are 10 ‘blooming’ good to enjoy. This year it’s the Red Hot Chilli Pipers (Friday) reasons to add this prestigious event to your holiday list of and ’80s chart-toppers The Christians (Saturday) who’ll be places to visit...

Floral attractions Attractions for These include: the Quarry Mar- quee, featuring two floral the young arrangements designed and cre- This year’s show features an ated to mark the 90th birthday array of themed activities 1 of Her Majesty The Queen; the 4 based around Beatrix Potter Severn Marquee, packed to the and Roald Dahl, for whom rafters with vegetables, cut flowers, hanging 2016 is a special anniversary year. Mr Boom, baskets, pot plants and alpines; the Dingle Malcolm Malan and Jack the Jester all pres- Marquee, showcasing the artistic talents of ent new shows and circus workshops, while amateur exhibitors; ten Show Gardens in- David Hatfield hosts a series of children’s spired by the theme Hope & Glory; a Lecture personal account of the life, history and gar- planting sessions and workshops in which Theatre featuring talks and demonstrations dens of Sissinghurst in Kent - regarded as youngsters can decorate their own plant by experts. one of the most inspirational gardens in the pots. world. Craft Marquee From unique papercut cards and Slip Trailed Ceramics to bespoke upholstery and silk 3 clothing from France and Italy, the marquee features an impressive array of artisan crafts, with more than 66 exhibitors showcasing their wares.

Gardening Food and drink There are gastronomic delights exhibitors for all tastes and pockets at this Inspirational and passionate year’s Shrewsbury Flower broadcaster, journalist, public 5Show, with more than 30 ex- 2 speaker and teacher Sarah hibitors showcasing artisan Raven is the celebrity gardener products from across the region and further at this year’s show. afield. From sweet pies and pastries, Turkish Sarah speaks on a variety of subjects, in- Delight and Baklava to all things garlic from cluding gardening, flower arranging and the Isle of Wight, there’s plenty to tantalise cooking. She also delivers an in-depth and your tastebuds...

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Live Music Main stage acts are always a Food Exhibitors Fireworks real crowd-puller at Shrews- People flock from all over bury Flower Show. This year’s to bag a good vantage line-up features When Will I point from which to wit- 6 Be Famous winners The Red ness the skies above Hot Chilli Pipers - taking to the stage on the 8 10 Shrewsbury being lit up Friday evening - and ’80s soul sensations Celebrity chef by a magnificent py- The Christians (Ideal World, Harvest For Gizzi Erskine rotechnic display. The finale to both days’ The World and Forgotten Town), who prom- is making her activities, the firework display is regarded by ise to wow audiences on the Saturday fair share of many locals as a signal that summer is draw- evening. festival ap- ing to a close. pearances Main arena over the summer months. She stops off in Shrewsbury on both days of the show to attractions share her knowledge of the UK food scene. As always, there’s plenty of Gizzi was one of the first to back the pop-up main arena activity taking restaurant trend and has opened numerous 7 place at Shrewsbury Flower pop-ups over the past 14 years. She was also Show. Renowned for its show jumping one of the first to introduce Korean street classes, the event has in the past attracted food to the UK. big names including Tim Stockdale and Geoff Billington. Other main arena highlights include performances from The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Musical Ride, an Army Shrewsbury Flower Show takes place at Section and Forge Falconry display. The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 August

Steam Locomotive A brand new attraction for 2016. Railway enthusiasts young and old can delight in the arrival of a steam engine from the Ffestin- iog and Welsh Highland Rail- 9 way. It will operate close to the river side of the Quarry site.

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Events

Insomnia58 huge exhibition hall, special guests ‘doing cool interactive content’, large-scale eSports tournaments and a wide selection of activities tai- NEC, Birmingham. Fri 26 - Sun 29 August lored to gamers of all ages. The UK’s biggest gaming festival has recently relocated to Commenting on the event, Craig Fletcher, founder and CEO of Birmingham’s NEC, having outgrown its previous home at the Ricoh Multiplay, the company which runs Insomnia, said: “The festival has Arena in Coventry. enjoyed an incredible journey in recent times. Ticket sales have Insomnia58 is a four-day, round-the-clock event ‘combining all the soared in the last four years and we’re expecting to welcome a total best bits of video-gaming’. The show features LAN gaming halls, a of over 100,000 visitors through our doors in 2016.”

Donington Classic Digital Days Spy School Motorcycle Festival Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, The REP, Birmingham, Shropshire, Mon 1 - Thurs 18 August Mon 8 - Fri 12 August Donington Park, Derby, Fri 5 - Sun 7 August If your youngster loves James Bond, this The legendary Steve Baker makes a headline week-long event is one that they really won’t appearance at this year’s get-together, almost want to miss. 40 years after he became the first American Children between the ages of seven and 12 motorcycle racer to win a road racing world get the chance to work with professional championship (the Formula 750, on a factory theatre directors, participate in games, Yamaha in 1977). improvisations and drama workshops, and “I’m very excited to return to England and take part in a story about spies, secrets and the Donington Classic,” says Steve, who, in all things espionage. They can follow sus- that same Formula 750-winning season, also pects, bug telephones and create secret triumphed in the prestigious Daytona 200 How to use LEGO, construct a program- identities too, not to mention cut eye-holes race and finished second to Barry Sheene in mable robot and tell stories via anima- in a newspaper so that they can pretend the 500cc World Championship. “It’s like a tion are among the workshops being they’re reading when they’re actually spy- dream come true to ride at Donington and be offered in this new series of entertain- ing. All in all, then, an event that’s only a with old friends and the best racing fans in ing and educational teacher-led activi- ‘vodka martini shaken not stirred’ away the world.” ty days. There’s also the opportunity from being the full spy experience! As well as star appearances by Steve, Jim for youngsters to explore, play and dis- Redman and Steve Parrish, this year’s festi- cover the world of Minecraft within a val also features 50 races throughout the safe and secure digital environment. weekend, huge display areas, parades and Suitable for children aged between six numerous activities to keep younger mem- and 15, all workshops need to be bers of the family entertained. booked and paid for in advance. For more information, visit ironbridge.org.uk/shop

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Events

Our pick of top places to visit this Summer

Coventry Transport Museum A journey through the recently relaunched museum begins with a look at the transport industry's history and includes the chance to hop inside a Coventry-made black taxi to enjoy a video tour of the city. Visitors can then check out numer- British Showjumping National Championships ous work & leisure vehicles - including unique items like a Sky Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, be crowned. A new addition to the calendar Blues tour bus - and stop off in the Tues 9 - Sun 14 August last year and returning in 2016 is the Innovation & Future area, offering The British Showjumping National Stoneleigh Horse Show, running in conjunc- glimpses of modern car construc- Championships this month come to tion with the championships and sure once tion and a state-of-the-art driver- Warwickshire for the third time. The event is again to make a big impression. less model. one of the summer highlights on the British The event also offers plenty of competitions, Other attractions include the showjumping calendar and features the pres- indoor performances, hospitality and shop- Supersonic section - complete with tigious International Stairway League final ping opportunities for visitors to enjoy. And three simulations to enjoy - and (Sunday 14 August), at the end of which the just to make the day even more appealing, the glittering Jaguar room, the British Showjumping National Champion will entry to the show is free. bright lights and sparkling floors of which complement the gleam- ing surfaces of the new F-Type and C-X75. Art In The Park Spectacular Jephson Gardens, Royal Leamington Spa, Science Show Sat 6 - Sun 7 August The Core Theatre, Solihull, Thurs 25 August British Motor Leamington’s Art In The Park festival is Museum expected to attract in excess of 5,000 visitors The British Motor Museum, for- when it makes a welcome return this month. merly known as the Heritage The 2016 edition of the event features exhibi- Motor Centre, recently reopened tions of paintings, ceramics, textiles and following a £1.1million refurbish- sculpture, a dozen bands presenting a feast ment. The museum features an of blues, jazz and soul music, and numerous immersive display of British motor- workshops ranging from upcycling to ing history and a new Collections bespoke T-shirt designing and a pottery Centre. The centre allows members ‘throw down’. of the general public access to an Local ensemble Motionhouse perform physi- extra 250 cars from the reserve col- cal dance piece Lost, while the Pauline lections of the British Motor Quirke Academy and Stagecoach Theatre TV astronomer and author Mark Thompson is Industry Heritage Trust and the School also make contributions. the man behind this brand new show, which Jaguar Heritage Trust. As well as Commenting on the festival, organiser Carole has been designed with the very definite one of the top car collections in Sleight said: “With the range of art and activ- intention of dispelling the popular myth that the world, the museum also boasts ities on offer, we know that visitors will get a science is boring. a comprehensive archive and pic- huge amount of value from the weekend and “This is science like you’ve never seen ture library, runs education and leave with many great memories, new skills before,” says Mark. “The Spectacular Science learning programmes, and hosts and inspirational ideas.” Show explores the strange and magical prop- numerous specialist motoring erties of matter, with exploding elephant’s events, clubs and rallies through- toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins, danc- out the year. ing paste, vanishing beakers and even exploding Pringle tubes!” The show is suitable for children aged six and older.

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more events from around the region

Our pick of top places to visit this Summer

Thinktank Thinktank science museum offers plenty for children to see and do throughout the summer holidays, from unlocking Birmingham’s industrial heritage to uncovering the secrets of the science that’s all around them - in the city, in the wild and even in their own bodies. There’s the chance to explore the outer reaches of space too, and to get to grips with innovative inventions and contemplate scientists’ predictions for the future. Family Night Other activities include arts & crafts and daily Planetarium Black Country Living Museum, Sat 13 August face painting and singalong songs to the museum’s cobbled streets. There’s also the shows, while Birmingham’s An evening of old-fashioned fun is on offer at chance to enjoy a birds of prey show and go ‘Spitfire story’ is recounted in the the Black Country Living Museum this month face-to-face with a variety of creepy crawlies. Spitfire Gallery. as Family Night returns. Featuring a jam- This year’s get-together celebrates the 100th New for 2016 is the Marine Worlds packed line-up of activities, the seventh anniversary of the birth of children’s author Gallery, featuring the Thinktank incarnation of this annual event brings Roald Dahl. Ichthyosaur, a giant sea monster games, Punch & Judy shows, storytellings, from the dinosaur era that’s being displayed in full for the first time. The outdoor Science Garden, meanwhile - complete with giant- Lockdown at The Dana Gypsy Wedding sized exhibits - is open daily and The Dana Prison, Shrewsbury, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire, free to enter after 3pm. Thurs 11 - Sat 13 August Sat 27 - Mon 29 August After over 200 years of service, former HM Prison Shrewsbury - or the Dana, as it’s affec- tionately known - closed its doors in 2013. Jackfield Tile Following much speculation about the build- Museum ing’s future, the cobwebs were dusted off, the Ironbridge Gorge’s popular muse- hinges oiled, and history & heritage tour um provides visitors with the company Jailhouse Tours took active posses- opportunity to learn about the his- sion of the decommissioned gaol... tory of the tile-making industry, as One of the company’s August attractions at well as to design and create a the Dana is Lockdown, a prison-based unique tile of their own. The Zombie-chase event which its organisers say venue’s attractions include the is the first of its kind in the UK (perhaps not The chance to view a traditional gypsy wed- chance to walk through an surprisingly, given its curious nature). ding is one of the highlights of a bank holi- Edwardian tube station, a pub, a The governor of the prison has lost control day weekend of entertainment at Blists Hill children's hospital ward and the and the inmates are not only revolting, Victorian Town. Visitors to the popular attrac- original gas-lit trade show room. they’re clawing, scratching and biting - them- tion can check out the elaborate gypsy wag- Visitors can also discover tile-dec- selves as well as the prison officers. Escape is ons on the Green before settling down to orating techniques, see the Craven the only option - but where are the keys to watch the recreated marriage ceremony, after Dunnill factory in operation (on the front gate? Visitors will certainly need to which they can join in with the post-wedding certain days) and enjoy an enter- get a wriggle on if they want to stay one step fun and merriment. taining and educational factory ahead of the undead... Other activities taking place at Blists Hill tour, taking place every Jailhouse Tours are keen to make it known across the weekend include candle-dipping Wednesday at 11am. that this isn’t a suitable event for anybody workshops, a lesson in the school house, a who is affected by strobe lighting, in poor ride on a horse-drawn bus and a singalong in health, has a heart condition or is unable to the pub. climb stairs and cover one mile at a brisk pace.

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more events from around the region

Events

Coventry Sky Ride Our pick of top Coventry City Centre, Sun 7 August places to visit The West Midlands’ only Sky Ride event is once again taking place in Coventry this year. this Summer Sky Ride provides participants with the chance to enjoy the experience of cycling around a traffic-free city. Attractions and activities to enjoy along this year’s Tamworth Castle route include the Extreme Mountain Bike Show, British Cycling’s Go Ride children’s obstacle course, From Norman fort to stately home quiz-show games and face painting. to 21st century museum, “We want more people to enjoy riding a bike,” says Tamworth Castle stands as a phys- Sky Ride ambassador Sir Chris Hoy. “That’s why Sky ical record of almost a millenni- and British Cycling have teamed up to bring you Sky um's worth of history. Ride. We’ve made it easier than ever to get out on The castle is currently home to your bike and spend quality time with your family unique artefacts from the and friends. Staffordshire Hoard and offers “Sky Rides close towns and cities for big bike events some fascinating insights into the so you can ride safely on traffic-free streets. With a Anglo-Saxon era from which they huge festival atmosphere and loads to do, they’re date. great fun and a great way to get on your bike.” Summer holiday visitors to the venue this month can learn about weaponry, armour and battle tac- tics from the Saxon, Medieval, There’s plenty of music to enjoy too, and ‘eye- Festival Of Quilts Tudor and English Civil War peri- swivelling’ acrobatics to (hopefully) make you ods (4 August), and about the his- NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 11 - Sun 14 August gasp - not to mention a different story every tory of toys and games, from Bringing together a unique blend of day, recounting the adventures of princes and Medieval times to the Second exhibitors, galleries, practical workshops and maidens, donkeys and roosters, enchanted World War (9 - 11 August). There’s in-depth lectures, the Festival Of Quilts is fish and forest-dwelling wild men. also a Tudor Living History Day Europe’s largest celebration of patchwork and Each show has been designed to appeal to (well, three actually - 16 to 18 quilting. people of all ages and lasts for approximately August) and the chance to follow Commenting on the show, Jonathan Burton, 75 minutes. a ‘magical trail’ through the castle Portfolio Director, said: “The festival offers a from the 22nd to the 26th of the truly inspirational showcase of quilt-making, month. with the finest skills on display. It’s a place August’s programme of family- for beginners through to professionals to friendly events is rounded off on share ideas, learn new skills and meet with Bank Holiday Monday (the 29th) others who’re equally passionate about the with a storytelling session, includ- world of patchwork and quilting.” ing sure-to-be-enchanting tales of castles, knights, dragons and princesses.

The Big Read: Enchancted Circus Animal Story Time Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire Soho House, Birmingham, Sat 13 August Thurs 4 - Sun 7 August Birmingham children’s author BB Taylor takes The circus is coming to town - and what’s her writing inspiration from her love of ani- more, it’s an enchanted one. Visitors who mals, enjoys making magic come to life step inside the big-top tent located within the through the power of words, and here shares castle walls will find themselves transported some of the tricks of her trade. ‘deep into a forest, past a robber’s hideout An interactive workshop in which BB teaches and right to the edge of the sea’. Ancient sto- participants how to write their own stories, ries are brought to life in a fairytale world the event has been designed for children aged illuminated by ‘glittering’ visual effects. between five and 10.

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Places ito visit Enjoy the great

Thinktank, Birmingham Blists Hill, Ironbridge Drayton Manor Theme Park

The Midlands is home to an abundance of enjoyable and exciting places to visit, catering for people of all ages and from all walks of life. Whatever you’re looking for to keep the kids entertained this summer, you’re sure to find somewhere and something that fits the bill. Our What’s On directory features just a small handful of some of the best places to visit across the region this summer. Check out whatsonlive.co.uk for more details...

MAC A huge range of theatre, music, comedy, plays toric aircraft are displayed in three wartime hangars Birmingham for children, dance, creative and craft courses, fam- on an active airfield. Shifnal, TF11 8UP ASTON HALL This 17th century red-brick mansion ily shows, film and free exhibitions on offer, Cannon SEVERN VALLEY COUNTRY PARK An oasis of calm and hosts many family activities throughout the season, Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH beauty on the banks of the River Severn, this Aston, Birmingham, B6 6JD MUSEUM OF THE JEWELLERY QUARTER The museum award-winning, 51-hectare country park is a place BBC BIRMINGHAM Go behind the scenes of some of tells the story of Birmingham’s renowned jewellery for quiet enjoyment of the countryside. Bridgnorth, your favourite TV shows with informative and enter- and metalworking heritage, Hockley, Birmingham, WV15 6NG taining tours, The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1RF B18 6HA SHREWSBURY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY Housed BECKETT’S FARM Hosts a number of family events NATIONAL SEA LIFE CENTRE Featuring over 1,000 within the town’s grade II Victorian Music Hall and throughout the year, including cookery classes for creatures and 60-plus displays, including a million- one of the country’s rare 13th century mansions, young and old, with a farm shop and restaurant on litre underwater tropical tank, Nemo's Kingdom, tur- featuring a broad range of artefacts alongside a site, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6AJ tle breeding and much more, Brindleyplace, rolling programme of contemporary art. Shrews- Birmingham, B1 2HL bury, SY1 1LH BIRMINGHAM BACK TO BACKS Restored 19th-century courtyard of working people’s houses, Hurst Street, RESORTS WORLD Boasting the largest casino in the TELFORD STEAM RAILWAY A heritage railway located Birmingham, B5 4TE UK, a shopping mall, restaurants and cinemas, at Horsehay and formed in 1976. The railway is op- Birmingham, B40 1NT erated by volunteers on Sundays and Bank Holi- BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS Spanning 15 days. Telford, TF4 2NF acres, with four glasshouses hosting a variety of cli- SAREHOLE MILL A 250-year-old working watermill fa- mates, from tropical rainforest to arid desert, Edg- mous for its association with Lord Of The Rings au- THE BRITISH IRONWORK CENTRE Boasting a varied baston, Birmingham, B15 3TR thor JRR Tolkien, Hall Green, Birmingham, B13 collection of beautifully decorative metal items, 0BD some of which are faithful reproductions of iron- BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY Explore over work no longer seen today. There’s also a collec- 40 galleries displaying various eras of art, with a di- THINKTANK SCIENCE MUSEUM Over 200 interactive exhibits on science and discovery, including a pro- tion of animal sculptures to admire. Oswestry, SY11 verse exhibition programme on offer, Chamberlain 4JH Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH gramme of workshops, shows and demonstrations, and a digital Planetarium, Millennium Point, Birm- THE QUARRY PARK Shrewsbury’s 29-acre parkland BLAKESLEY HALL Discover a fine Tudor house and ingham, B4 7XG hosts numerous events throughout the year, includ- beautiful gardens just a few miles from the heart of ing the Shrewsbury Flower Show 12-13 August, the city, Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8RN SY1 1RN CADBURY WORLD Discover the origins of everyone’s Shropshire favourite sweet treat, from the cocoa beans in the Aztec jungle to the making of Cadbury confec- ATTINGHAM PARK An elegant 18th century mansion Staffordshire tionery today, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2LU house with Regency interiors. Set within an expan- CANNON HILL PARK Opened in 1873, the park is sive deer park, there are riverside walks, a wood- AERIAL EXTREME Ever fancied swinging about, high made up of 80 acres of formal parkland and 120 land sculpture trail and family events to enjoy. up in the trees? Now's your chance with Aerial Ex- acres of conservation and woodland plantation, Shrewsbury, SY4 4TP treme’s tree-mendous course at the Trentham Es- Moseley, Birmingham, B12 9QH CARDING MILL VALLEY Covering almost 5,000 acres, tate. All ages are guaranteed a bucketload of fun. How much can you handle? Trentham, ST12 9HR EASTSIDE PARK Birmingham’s first central city park with stunning views of the Shropshire and Welsh in over 130 years, situated only a stone’s throw hills. An important place for wildlife, geology and ALTON TOWERS Enjoy a mind-blowing mix of fantas- from the Bullring Shopping Centre and New Street archaeology. Church Stretton, SY6 6JG tic rides and attractions, offering unlimited fun for Station, Birmingham City Centre, B4 7AP CHOLMONDELEY CASTLE A Gothic castle - a product kids of all ages, families and thrill-seekers. Alton, ST10 4DB LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM A major cultural destina- of the early 19th century - that stands on a high rise tion, providing a dynamic mix of events, activities above a lake. The castle is surrounded by lawns, a BIDDULPH GRANGE COUNTRY PARK Originally part of a and performances, resources and access to expert variety of mature trees and gardens. Whitchurch, larger Biddulph Grange Estate, this is a 73-acre help for learning, information and culture, Cente- SY14 8AH wooded hillside site with a large lake, ponds and nary Square, Birmingham, B1 2ND IRONBRIDGE GORGE MUSEUMS The Shropshire site of meadows, Stoke-on-Trent, ST8 7TA LICKEY HILLS COUNTRY PARK Covering 524 acres, the the birth of the Industrial Revolution has been des- CENTRAL FOREST PARK Located in the heart of Stoke, park is a place for family fun, whether that be walk- ignated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with 10 Central Forest Park is a green space providing fa- ing the dog, cycling, horse riding, or maybe just for award-winning museums. Ironbridge, TF8 7DQ cilities for walking, cycling, dog walking, informal the views and a cup of tea, Rednal, Birmingham, RAF COSFORD The museum houses one of the sports and skateboarding. Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6BB B45 8ER largest aviation collections in the UK. Over 70 his- CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY Take a journey back to

48 whatsonlive.co.uk Venue Directory MM.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 18:06 Page 2 outdoors this August!

Coventry Transport Museum Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove

Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

the classic days of railway travel on a rural line that KENILWORTH CASTLE A vast complex of ruined fortifi- with an important collection of Pre-Raphaelite and passes through beautiful countryside known as cations and palatial apartments spanning over five Arts & Crafts pictures and furnishings, Wolver- Staffordshire's ‘Little Switzerland’. Froghall, ST10 centuries,CV8 1NE hampton, WV6 8EE 2HA RAGLEY HALL Family entertainment, with an adven- WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY Explore more than DRAYTON MANOR THEME PARK A definite stop-off ture playground, 3D maze, boating and a wood- 300 years of art, including regular world class tour- venue for thrill-seekers, featuring, as it does, all land walk. Alcester, B49 5NJ ing exhibitions, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU manner of white-knuckle rides. Also offers a range SHAKESPEARE BIRTHPLACE TRUST Six unique proper- of rides that are somewhat less challenging.And ties - Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Harvard House, with a zoo on site, it’s a venue that’s got plenty for Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Mary Worcestershire kids and adults of all ages to enjoy. Tamworth, B78 Arden’s Farm & Shakespeare’s New Place. 3TW AVONCROFT MUSEUM A fascinating museum of his- STONELEIGH ABBEY Visitors to the Abbey can learn HANLEY PARK Hanley Park and the adjacent toric buildings spanning seven centuries, rescued about the house's history through a guided tour of from imminent destruction and carefully rebuilt, tim- Cauldon Grounds are open to the public. Features the West Wing, CV8 2LF include three play areas: toddler, sensory and ad- ber by timber or brick by brick, on a beautiful open- venture (including aerial slide). Shelton, ST1 4DX STRATFORD BUTTERFLY FARM A unique opportunity to air site in the north of Worcestershire, Bromsgrove, watch hundreds of the world's most spectacular B60 4JR PEAK WILDLIFE PARK Large walk-throughs allow you butterflies flying around. Stratford-upon-Avon, BERRINGTON HALL Created by architect Henry Hol- to come face to face with exotic and endangered CV37 7LS animals from across three continents. Leek, ST13 land, the hall is one of a small number of his build- 7QR WARWICK CASTLE Experience over 1,000 years of ings to survive intact. As well as being able to history at Warwick Castle. Aside from visiting the explore the family rooms and servant quarters, THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & ART GALLERY Exhibits in- castle itself and looking at the battlements, towers, guests can take part in activities or relax by the clude the world’s greatest collection of Stafford- turrets and interiors, there are also jousting shows, lake, Nr Leominster, HR6 0DW shire ceramics, a World War Two Spitfire, the Horrible History show and Time Tower to keep BROCKHAMPTON ESTATE Set in 1,700 acres of estate, decorative arts and natural history, along with items you entertained. CV34 4QU from the Staffordshire Hoard. Hanley, ST1 3DW the romantic Manor House dates back to the late 14th century and is accessible via a small gate- THE WEDGWOOD MUSEUM The home of one of the house and over a moat, Nr Bromyard, WR6 5TB most interesting ceramic collections in the world. Wolverhampton The galleries tell the story of Josiah Wedgwood, his CROFT CASTLE Located deep in the heart of the family, and the company he founded over two cen- & Black Country Herefordshire countryside, surrounded by 1,500 turies ago. Stoke-on-Trent, ST12 9ER acres of historic woodland, farm and parkland. BANTOCK HOUSE MUSEUM Restored to its Edwardian Home to the Croft family for nearly 1,000 years, this glory, Bantock House sits within 43 acres of park- castle has many intriguing stories to uncover. Warwickshire land, with activities for all ages, Wolverhampton, Yarpole, Nr Leominster, HR6 9PW WV3 9LQ CROOME PARK Explore what remains of a secret BADDESLEY CLINTON A secluded estate set in the BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY A lively programme of wartime air base and discover how thousands of heart of the Forest of Arden. With guided talks, changing exhibitions featuring the best of contem- people lived and worked there during the 1940s. walks through the gardens and activities for chil- porary ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, metal, Worcester, WR8 9DW dren such as pond dipping and garden trails. War- woodwork and more, Wolverhampton, WV14 7LU EASTNOR CASTLE DEER PARK Set within the dramatic wick, B93 ODQ BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM A tribute to the tra- beauty of the Malvern Hills and surrounded by a BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM The museum features the ditional skills and enterprise of the people that beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake. Ledbury world's greatest collection of classic, vintage and once lived in the heart of industrial Britain, Dudley, HR8 1RL veteran British cars. Gaydon, CV35 0BJ DY1 4SQ HAMPTON COURT CASTLE Originally formed by the CHARLECOTE PARK This grand 16th century country DUDLEY CANAL TUNNEL TRUST Guided boat trips merging of two manors, Hampton Court was re- house comes complete with deer park and is a through the tunnels, accompanied by videos, life- modelled in the 1830s/’40s. The castle and property of the National Trust. Warwick, CV35 9ER like reconstructions and stunning music and light grounds offer a great location for adventure and COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK Set in 160 acres of park- shows, Dudley, DY1 4SB events, Leominster, HR6 0PN land and gardens, Cotswold Wildlife Park now has DUDLEY CASTLE AND ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS Home to HARTLEBURY CASTLE A Grade I listed building which one of the UK’s largest zoological collections. Bur- more than 1,300 animals, with up to 200 species. was built in the mid-13th century as a fortified ford, OX18 4JP At the heart of the site sits the ruins of an 11th cen- manor house. Kidderminster, DY11 7XZ COVENTRY MUSIC MUSEUM Activities to interest and tury castle, Dudley, DY1 4QF SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY A full-size standard-gauge delight youngsters, and a studio in which visitors HIMLEY HALL & PARK An 18th century building set in railway line which runs regular steam-hauled pas- can try their hand at composing and music-mak- 180 acres of Capability Brown-landscaped park- senger trains, for tourists and enthusiasts alike, being. CV2 4ED land, Dudley, DY3 4DF tween Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, a distance of 16 miles, Bewdley, DY12 1BG COVENTRY TRANSPORT MUSEUM The museum RED HOUSE GLASS CONE A heritage site with 225 houses the largest publicly owned collection of years of glass, industrial and social history within THE MALVERN HILLS A wide variety of walks, from British vehicles in the world. Now fully open after a its walls, Stourbridge, DY8 4AZ short and gently graded slopes to more strenuous £9.5million redevelopment programme. CV1 1JD options, WR14 3EY SANDWELL PARK FARM A fully restored working Vic- HATTON ADVENTURE WORLD An attraction for families torian farm with grazing meadows, a traditional WITLEY COURT One hundred years ago, Witley Court with children up to the age of 12. Hatton, CV35 8XA farmyard, walled kitchen gardens, Grade II listed was one of England’s great country houses, host- HERBERT ART GALLERY & MUSEUM A family-friendly buildings, a small museum and award-winning tea ing many extravagant parties. Today, it’s a spectac- museum, with activities that run throughout the rooms, West Bromwich, B71 4BG ular ruin, the result of a disastrous fire in 1937. Great Witley, WR6 6JT school holidays. Coventry, CV1 5QP WIGHTWICK MANOR & GARDENS A manor house filled

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50 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Cover August Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:43 Page 2

Your week to week listings guide August 2016

thelist August 28 Sunday until Stratford-upon-Avon Theatre, Shakespeare Royal the at Stratford-on-Sea

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

What’s On Mon 1 to Sun 7 August Mon 8 to Sun 14 August Mon 15 to Sun 21 August Mon 22 to Wed 31 August

Ultimate Street Car at Santa Battle Proms at Ragley Hall, The Color Run at NEC, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Pod Raceway, Northants Warwickshire Birmingham Witley Court, Worcestershire Fri 15 August Sat 13 August Sat 20 August Fri 27 August

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thelist Monday 1 - Sunday 7 August THROUGHOUT AUGUST BRITAIN IN THE FIFTIES: DESIGN AND Visual Arts ASPIRATION Examining the crucial role of design in shaping the ‘brave Artrix, Bromsgrove new world’ of post-war Britain, until Sun 2 Oct SUMMER EXHIBITION 2016 Open exhibition of contemporary work from Forge Mill Needle Museum, artists and photographers, until Sun Redditch 14 Aug WAY OF THE WARRIOR: EPIC MOVIES Birmingham Museum & AND ARMOUR An exhibition of props Art Gallery and costumes used in historical blockbuster movies, until Sun 4 Sept BIRMINGHAM QUR’AN One of the earliest surviving copies of the Islamic Herbert Art Gallery & holy book, on display until Wed 3 Aug Museum, Coventry BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY KORABRA BY GAVIN JANTJES Dramatic IN 130 YEARS The story of the paintings by Gavin Jantjes, on dis- Museum & Art Gallery, told via a spe- play as part of a collaboration with Brick Wonders cial anniversary exhibition, until the Black Artists & Modernism proj- Thurs 1 Sept ect, until Sun 21 Aug Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 15 January TURNING TO SEE: FROM VAN DYCK TO NATURE NOTES Multi-sensory exhibi- LUCIAN FREUD Van Dyck's last self- Although for the majority of people Lego bricks are simply a toy with tion with beautiful artworks and real which to keep small children entertained, for some they’re a chal- portrait, curated by Midlands-born natural history specimens, until Sun and internationally renowned artist 20 Nov lenging and enjoyable modelling medium. The potential of these John Stezaker, until Sun 4 Sept hugely popular plastic construction pieces is here celebrated via an BRICK WONDERS Exhibition of over 70 INSPIRE 16: THE YOUNG CREATIVES OF models, including the Great Wall of exhibition that uses the bricks to build models of some of the world's BIRMINGHAM An array of artwork from China and Niagara Falls, until Sun 15 best-known buildings and landmarks. Included in a collection of the 10th anniversary exhibition of Jan 2017 over 70 constructions are models of the Great Wall of China and Arts Council England’s Arts Award Niagara Falls. achievers, plus sculptural models The Hive, Worcester created by local schools and inspired by the Birmingham Big Art THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR A walk- Project, until Sat 17 Sept through sensory exhibition for children based on a new tactile edition Aug, Hare & Hounds, Aug, The River Rooms, ABBEYFIELD'S GOLDEN GALLERY: ART & of the classic book, until Thurs 1 Birmingham Stourbridge SOUL Pioneering new exhibition high- Sept Gigs lighting the therapeutic benefits that RELAPSE Fri 5 Aug, BAD MANNERS Sat 6 art brings to older people - particular- Hare & Hounds, Aug, Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa Art Gallery & DON BROCO Mon 1 Aug, ly those living with dementia and Museum Birmingham Leamington Spa other medical conditions, until Fri 14 O2 Institute, CONCEALMENT AND DECEPTION: THE URBAN INTRO Fri 5 - Sat Oct Birmingham ART OF THE CAMOUFLEURS OF 6 Aug, The Jam House, LOCK & KEY Tues 2 Aug, BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE AND CHANGE IN LEAMINGTON SPA IN WW2 Presenting Birmingham THE INNER-CITY Birmingham People Sunflower Lounge, the work of the camouflage staff - THE NAKED BEATLES explores the ways in which ordinary Birmingham often known as 'camoufleurs' - Fri 5 Aug, The Robin, Brummie folk have been represented IMARHAN Wed 3 Aug, against the backdrop of life on the Bilston in art during the 20th and 21st cen- Home Front during World War Two, Hare & Hounds, FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 5 turies. Change In The Inner City until Sun 16 Oct Birmingham Aug, Route 44, focuses on the four inner-city wards HONKY TONK ROSE Wed Birmingham of Ladywood - Nechells, Soho, Aston Rugby Art Gallery & Museum 3 Aug, The Jam House, and Ladywood, until Fri 31 Mar 2017 MARAUDIOLOGY Sat 6 A LIFE IN PATTERN: THE LIFE & WORKS Birmingham Aug, Hare & Hounds, FAITH IN BIRMINGHAM, Exploring how OF SHEILA BOWNAS Exploring Sheila’s TROUBLEMAKER - OLLY Birmingham different faiths have influenced and life and the development of her artis- MURS TRIBUTE Wed 3 shaped the city, until Sun 3 Feb 2019 tic and textile design practice, until Aug, The Robin, Bilston BERES HAMMOND Sat 6 Aug, O2 Academy, Sat 3 Sept PHUNDO ART Wed 3 Compton Verney Gallery, Birmingham Bad Manners Warwick Aug, Sunflower Worcester City Museum & Art Lounge, Birmingham GREEN CIRCLES Sat 6 BBC FACES OF COMEDY Celebrating 60 Gallery Aug, The Irish Centre, side-splitting years of ‘the TV sitcom’, LISA STANLEY AND HER CREEDENCE CLEARWATER PIRATES, PANTS AND WELLYPHANTS Birmingham with an exclusive glimpse of some of BAND Thurs 4 Aug, REVIEW Sat 6 Aug, The Hands-on exhibition by illustrator, Britain's greatest comedians at work, The Robin, Bilston STRAIGHT FOR THE SUN Roadhouse, B’ham Nick Sharratt, until Sat 3 Sept Sat 6 Aug, O2 Institute, until Sun 2 Oct BEGGAR & CO Thurs 4 PURE/DC Sun 7 Aug, DIVIDED LOYALTIES Exhibition explor- Birmingham Aug, The Jam House, The Robin, Bilston BBC Faces Of Comedy ing Worcestershire’s heroes and Birmingham ZOE GREEN BAND Sat 6 JON DYER & ALFIE GID- rebels, until Sat 29 Oct Aug, Route 44, B’ham CARINA ROUND Thurs 4 LEY Sun 7 Aug, The Other VISUAL ARTS Aug, Hare & Hounds, BRUK UP WITH EVM 128 Fleece Inn, Evesham Birmingham & LORD BYRON Sat 6 IRENE & TOM Sun 7 GRAYSON PERRY: THE VANITY OF SMALL Aug, Hare & Hounds, DOCK 83 Thurs 4 Aug, Aug, The Irish Centre, DIFFERENCES A series of six large- Birmingham scale tapestries by Turner-Prize-win- Marr’s Bar, Worcester Birmingham THE 58’S BLUES BAND ning artist Grayson Perry which THE WEST COAST EAGLES ALCHEMISTA Sun 7 Aug, Sat 6 Aug, Tamworth explore the British fascination with Fri 5 Aug, The River Tin Music & Arts, Castle taste and class, until Sun 11 Sept, Rooms, Stourbridge Coventry GIN ANNIE BAND Sat 6 Croome Park, Worcester MENTALLICA Fri 5 Aug, WESTROCK Sun 7 Aug, Aug, The Robin, Bilston EMBROIDERERS GUILD EXHIBITION - The Roadhouse, The Roses Theatre, BROWN AT BERRINGTON Hand-crafted Birmingham THE WRONG UNS Sat 6 Tewkesbury Aug, Sunflower textiles inspired by the Capability BAZAAR PRESENTS AN CLOWNS Sun 7 Aug, Lounge, Birmingham Brown-designed Berrington park- EVENING OF LIVE MUSIC, Marr’s Bar, Worcester land, until Sun 6 Nov, Berrington COMEDY & MORE... Fri 5 KILLERSTREAM Sat 6 Hall, Nr Leominster

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Monday 1 - Sunday 7 August

when water was worth its weight in Shakespeare's pastoral comedy, Fri 5 truth about who he really is. The Classical Music gold, until Sat 6 Aug, Old Joint Stock Aug, Martineau Gardens, B’ham good news is that Paul Greengrass Theatre, Birmingham LAZYTOWN LIVE A nonstop, highly returns as the director of this hope- HAMLET Simon Godwin directs Paapa interactive show, jam-packed with lessly addictive franchise (he direct- NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF GREAT Essiedu as Hamlet in Shakespeare's singing, dancing, acrobatics, music ed the best in the series, The Bourne BRITAIN Conducted by Edward searing tragedy, until Sat 13 Aug, and original tracks from the hit chil- Supremacy and The Bourne Gardner. Programme comprises Royal Shakespeare Theatre, dren's TV show, Fri 5 Aug, The Core Ultimatum). Stars Matt Damon & Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, Stratford-upon-Avon Theatre, Solihull Julia Stiles. The Electric Cinema, 33’; Holst’s The Planet, 49’ & Isir ter Birmingham, until Thurs 11 Aug Schiphort’s Gravitational Waves, 6’, ALWAYS ORANGE Fraser Grace pres- BIRMINGHAM IS FUNNY: YOU, ME & POOR COW (15) Beautiful, free-spirited Fri 5 Aug, Symphony Hall, ents a tragicomic exploration of how MONKEY: ABSURDLY FABULOUS - THE and resilient Joy has a catalogue of Birmingham to be human in a world always on IMPROVISED EPISODE Feature-length edge, until Sat 27 Aug, Studio show inspired by the hit ’90s sitcom, bad choices to look back on. Now, SUNDAY CLASSICS Presenting a range Theatre @ The Other Place, Fri 5 Aug, mac, Birmingham Joy is struggling to cope as a single of young stars of the future from the Stratford-upon-Avon mother while her uncaring husband classical world, ranging from opera SALAAM Sonia Sabri Company crafts is in jail. Clutching at any slight singers to violinists to harpists at the MAMMA MIA! The smash-hit musical a stunningly intricate dialogue chance of happiness, she falls for his very start of their careers…, Sun 7 continues to show in Brum as part of between Kathak dance and live associate, Dave - but with heart- Aug, The Spotted Dog, Birmingham its first ever UK tour, until Sat 3 Sept, music that celebrates harmony and breaking results. Warwick Arts Birmingham Hippodrome the finding of peace within the simple Centre, Coventry, Mon 1 - Tues 2 CYMBELINE Melly Still directs pleasures of being alive, Fri 5 Aug, Aug Artrix, Bromsgrove Shakespeare's rarely performed MONEY MONSTER (15) ‘Money Comedy Gigs romance, until Sat 15 Oct, Royal A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Illyria Monster’ is the name of a TV show Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- Theatre present an outdoor staging that gives its viewers useful tips on upon-Avon of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Fri how to manage their finances. JQ COMEDY Tues 2 Aug, Rose Villa REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN Play 5 Aug, Rose Bank Gardens, Malvern However, when Kyle Budwell loses all Tavern, Birmingham by Alice Birch which examines the RATBURGER Heartbreak Productions his dosh on a bad tip from the MANILLA ROAD COMEDY Thurs 4 Aug, language, behaviour and forces that present an outdoor staging of David show’s host, Lee Guest, he decides The Victoria, Birmingham shape women in the 21st century. Walliams’ acclaimed children’s tale, to take him hostage - live on-air. COMEDY CAROUSEL FEAT. ANDY ROBIN- Note: this production contains strong Fri 5 Aug, Hartlebury Castle, Stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts SON, JUNIOR SIMPSON & COMIC TBC language and scenes of a sexual Worcestershire & Jack O'Connell. Roses Theatre, Thurs 4 Aug, The Glee Club, B’ham nature, Tues 2 - Sat 13 Aug, Studio MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Madcap Tewkesbury, Mon 1 - Wed 3 Aug Theatre @ The Other Place, Theatre Productions present a fast- ANGRY BIRDS (PG) Based on the video ROB ROUSE, NOEL JAMES, PETER COLE Stratford-upon-Avon & MC DAVE WILLIAMS Thurs 4 Aug, paced version of Shakespeare’s game of the same name, this cartoon The George Hotel, Lichfield sparkling battle of the sexes, Sat 6 from Sony Pictures Imageworks Aug, Artrix, Bromsgrove attempts to get to the bottom of all BIRMINGHAM IS FUNNY: YOU, ME & that avian indignation. Set on an idyl- MONKEY: ABSURDLY FABULOUS - THE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM lic island populated by flightless IMPROVISED EPISODE Fri 5 Aug, mac, Chapterhouse Theatre Company birds, the film suggests that some Birmingham present Shakespeare's classic comedy, Sat 6 Aug, Packwood House, green pigs may have something to FITZ OF LAUGHTER COMEDY CLUB Fri 5 Solihull do with it. With the voices of Jason Aug, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge Sudeiki & Josh Gad. Festival Drayton THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Sun Centre, Tues 2 Aug; Roses Theatre, JOSH WIDDICOMBE: WHAT DO I DO NOW & Moon Theatre present an outdoor Fri 5 Aug, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 6 - Tues 9 Aug Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again staging of one of Shakespeare’s first Tewkesbury and most underrated plays, Sat 6 HOME (U) There’s no place like… TREVOR CROOK, NOEL JAMES, JUNIOR Actually, the loveable extraterrestrial THE HOLLYWOOD SPECIAL EFFECTS Aug, The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon SIMPSON & COMIC TBC Fri 5 - Sat 6 Oh is very far from home when he SHOW Interactive and explosive fami- AS YOU LIKE IT The King’s Troupe Aug, The Glee Club, Birmingham escapes to Earth to evade an alien ly show which goes behind the return to The Dell along with a race. He then teams up with a JUST THE TONIC FEAT. KEVIN GILDEA, scenes of famous films to discover Romanian inter-generational theatre teenage girl, Tip (voiced by Rihanna), STEVE SHANYASKI, DANA ALEXANDER & the science and secrets of creating group they helped establish, the and they both find themselves on the DAN NIGHTINGALE Fri 5 Aug, The movie magic, Tues 2 - Wed 3 Aug, London Taiko Drum School and run. mac, Birmingham, Wed 3 – Comedy Loft, Birmingham Artrix, Bromsgrove actors from a Halifax centre for Thurs 4 Aug JASON MANFRED Sun 7 Aug, Artrix, refugees, Sun 7 Aug, The Dell, LES MISÉRABLES Worcester Operatic LES COWBOYS (15) Alain and his fami- Bromsgrove Stratford-upon-Avon & Dramatic Society Youth Section ly attend a cowboy fair in rural present an amateur staging of Boubil France. When his 16-year-old daugh- & Schonberg’s world famous musi- ter disappears amongst the festivi- cal, Tues 2 - Sat 6 Aug, Swan ties, he questions whether she was Theatre Theatre, Worcester Film kidnapped or left on purpose. What PANDORA’S MAGICAL BOX Indigo Moon follows is an extensive search across Theatre fuse shadow theatre, table- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: France to Pakistan, requiring Alain to DOCTOR FAUSTUS Maria Aberg returns top puppetry and live acting to bring question his own prejudices about to the RSC to direct Marlowe's notori- the classic Greek myth to life, Wed 3 Islam and its transformations of the ous tale of vanity, greed and damna- Aug, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury MA MA (12a) In the aftermath of a contemporary world. Foreign lan- tion, until Thurs 4 Aug, The Swan tragedy, a woman, Magda, reacts in guage, subtitled. Warwick Arts TREASURE ISLAND A family musical a way that engulfs her circle of family Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon show featuring sea shanty songs and Centre, Coventry, Wed 3 - Thurs 4 and friends. Stars Penélope Cruz & Aug THE ALCHEMIST Polly Findlay directs plenty of audience participation, Luis Tosar. Foreign language, subti- Ben Jonson's comedy about human Thurs 4 Aug, The Core Theatre, tled. mac, Birmingham, until Thurs 4 BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (15) folly, until Sat 6 Aug, The Swan Solihull Aug Some time in the ’80s, trucker Jack Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon ROMEO & JULIET GB Theatre Burton arrives in a small town to RACE (PG) In 1936, Jesse Owens won deliver his cargo and win a few THE HIRED MAN A cast of talented Company present an outdoor stag- a record-breaking four gold medals local performers join the theatre's ing of the world’s most famous love bucks playing cards with the locals at the Berlin Olympics. But being a down at the Chinese market. professional production team to story, Thurs 4 Aug, Roses Theatre, black man from Alabama, his athletic present Melvyn Bragg and Howard Tewkesbury Practically bankrupting nearly all of superiority was somewhat at odds his opponents, he’s offered the Goodall's award-winning British musi- HAIRY MACLARY & FRIENDS Stage with Hitler’s view of Aryan suprema- cal, until Sat 6 Aug, Lichfield Garrick chance to play ‘double or nothing’. adaptation of Lynley Dodd’s much- cy. Stars Stephan James & Jason The Mockingbird, Birmingham, Thurs URINETOWN THE MUSICAL The Old loved Hairy Maclary children’s Sudeikis. Roses Theatre, 4 Aug Joint Stock Musical Theatre books, Thurs 4 Aug, Artrix, Tewkesbury, until Thurs 4 Aug ELVIS AND NIXON (18) The most Company presents its version of the Bromsgrove JASON BOURNE (12a) Jason Bourne is award-winning tale of greed, love, requested photo from the US AS YOU LIKE IT Folksy Theatre present beginning to remember stuff. And so National Archives is of Richard M revolution (and musicals), in a time an outdoor production of he sets about trying to uncover the

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thelist Monday 1 - Sunday 7 August Nixon shaking the hand of Elvis A MOUNTAIN BIKING: THE UNTOLD BRITISH Mon 5 Sept, Berrington Hall, nr Presley. The occasion was on 21 STORY Mountain biking is now in its Events Leominster December 1970, in the Oval Office, fourth decade and it’s come a long SUMMER TRAILS Until Tues 6 Sept, and the official notes of the meeting way from its beginnings in the hills of Croome Park, Worcestershire reveal the King’s interest in the West Coast USA. But that’s only BEATRIX POTTER TRAIL Follow the fam- Communist brainwashing and a dis- part of the story. The UK MTB scene ily trail to see which characters can WALLED GARDEN Featuring new paths taste for The Beatles. Michael grew in parallel with the US’s and be found at Croft and collect a prize and planting schemes, restored Shannon plays Elvis and Kevin this documentary tells its unique his- at the end, until Thurs 4 Aug, Croft greenhouses, vibrant border plant- Spacey is Nixon. Artrix, Bromsgrove, tory. Followed by Q&A. mac, Castle, Worcestershire ing, a blooming rose garden and working vegetable plots, until Sun 30 Thurs 4 Aug Birmingham, Sat 6 Aug JESTERS & CIRCUS SKILLS Fabulously Oct, Croome Park, Worcestershire ROBINSON CRUSOE (PG) An animated MOTHER’S DAY (12a) Different narrative foolish day out for the whole family, adventure; on a tiny exotic island, strands come together on this most until Fri 5 Aug, Kenilworth Castle, ZOO CLUB An opportunity for animal- Tuesday, an outgoing parrot, lives important of Sundays as various Warwickshire loving eight-to-12-year-olds to take part in a range of exciting activities at with his quirky animal friends in para- characters cope with their moms and DROP IN CRAFT until Tues 23 Aug, Drayton Manor Zoo, Mon 1 - Wed 3 dise. After a violent storm, they wake the demands of motherhood. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Aug, Drayton Manor Theme Park, up to find a strange creature on the director Garry Marshall is rather into Stratford-upon-Avon beach: Robinson Crusoe. Roses these all-star holiday specials, having Tamworth BOOKBENCH SUMMER CRAFT ACTIVITIES Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 4 - Mon previously brought us Valentine’s KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS Challenging Join in a family craft activity inspired 8 Aug Day and New Year’s Eve, without a experiences and fun activities for by a different children's story each single decent review between them. kids, with more than 20 outdoor ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS week of the summer holidays, until Stars Jennifer Aniston & Kate activities to choose from, under the (PG) Like Superman and Marty McFly Tues 23 Aug, Blakesley Hall, Hudson. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, supervision of highly qualified staff, (and others), Alice is forced to travel Birmingham back in time in order to alter the out- Sat 6 - Fri 12 Aug Tues 2 Aug, The Old Vicarage HISTORY DETECTIVE THURSDAYS come of events. You see, when she DISTANT NORTH - HIDING THE Adventure Centre, Kidderminster Become a History Detective for the returns to Underland she finds the KUNGSLEDEN Four friends set off on a BLOOD, GUTS AND GORE Join former day and enter Blakesley Hall to com- Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) in a terri- 440km journey through the largest RSC Head of Wigs and Make-up plete the history mystery trail, until ble state and decides to dabble in a remaining wilderness in Europe. This Brenda Leedham as she talks about Thurs 25 Aug, Blakesley Hall, bit of quantum physics. But would documentary charts their journey, the tricks of the trade and how bruis- Birmingham Lewis Carroll approve? Also stars beginning in the northern most sec- es, cuts and scars are created, Tues Anne Hathaway & Mia Wasikowska. tion of the trail in Abisko. It’s a stren- SAFARI SUMMER SCHOOL Three differ- 2 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, mac, Birmingham, Fri 5 Aug uous 30-day hike over impressive ent clubs on offer, all tailored towards Stratford-upon-Avon different age groups and all offering THE SWIMMER (PG) A wealthy, middle- mountains and down through glacial SPEAKING SHAKESPEARE A chance to hands-on animal experiences and aged advertising man embarks on a carved valleys abundant with rein- perform some of Shakespeare's knowledge of the natural world, until revelatory journey through suburban deer. Followed by Q&A. mac, speeches, Wed 3 Aug, Clore Sat 27 Aug, West Midland Safari and Connecticut, slowly making his way Birmingham, Sun 7 Aug Learning Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon Leisure Park, Worcestershire to his split-level home by travelling SUMMERTIME (15) Two women from STORYTELLING IN THE COURTYARD Hear HANDS ON HISTORY - SIEGE! A summer from swimming pool to swimming entirely different worlds - Carole is a a variety of old folktales from Britain of time-travelling fun, until Sat 27 pool. At each stop he faces an inci- militant feminist teaching Spanish in and beyond - tales of dragons, trolls, Aug, Kenilworth Castle dent from his past. Stars Burt Paris and Delphine is a farmer’s giant cats and magical mermaids, Lancaster & Janet Landgard. mac, daughter committed to her parents in BODENGNOME HUNT Fun for all the Wed 3 Aug, Aston Hall, Birmingham Birmingham, Fri 5 Aug rural southwest France - fall passion- family, hunt out the BodenGnomes in FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: PUPPET ately in love. Stars Cécile de France the Poplar Dingle, until Sun 28 Aug, MAGGIE'S PLAN (15) Maggie’s plan is MAKING Turn your hand to puppet- & Izïa Higelin. Malvern Theatres, Sun Bodenham Arboretum, to have a baby on her own, courtesy making and create colourful charac- 7 - Thurs 11 Aug Worcestershire of the seed of a former college col- ters to ignite your imagination, Wed 3 league. Then she falls in love with a MR. TURNER (12a) Presented by The PLAY DAY WEDNESDAYS Enjoy tradi- Aug, Aston Hall, Birmingham married man… Stars Greta Gerwig & Film Food Club in partnership with tional garden games, including TEDDY BEAR ZIP WIRE Make a cape for Ethan Hawke. mac, Birmingham, Fri Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. A quoits, giant jenga and croquet, until your teddy and fly him/her down the 5 – Tues 9 Aug; Warwick Arts Centre, screening of Mike Leigh's award-win- Wed 31 Aug, Blakesley Hall, zipwire, Wed 3 Aug, Blakesley Hall, Coventry, Fri 5 - Sat 6 & Mon 8 - Tues ning biopic, Mr Turner, at The Electric Birmingham 9 Aug Cinema at 3.30pm. Audience mem- Birmingham HANDS-ON HISTORY - NATURE bers will then head to the LET'S ANIMATE: FAMILY ANIMATION STAR TREK BEYOND (15) How many DETECTIVES Until Wed 31 Aug, Witley Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery WORKSHOP - PLASTERCINE Learn to Star Trek films have there been? Court, Worcestershire Whoops, this is the 13th and the third for an exclusive 'after hours' visit at model plastercine characters which MIC LAB: WORKING VEHICLES Get your in the rebooted series. Simon Pegg 6.30pm. Fine Art Curator Victoria will then be brought to life through designers’ head on and create a penned the screenplay (in collabora- Osborne will then present an intro- the animation process, finishing off strong working vehicle, then try it out tion with Doug Jung) and takes the duction to Turner’s dramatic painting with editing and adding sounds, Wed on the different terrains in the test USS Enterprise into the furthest The Pass Of St Gotthard. Finally 3 Aug, Fargo Village, Coventry and play area, until Fri 2 Sept, reaches of unchartered space where guests will be treated to a buffet din- LEGO CASTLES WORKSHOP Castles for Coventry Transport Museum the crew encounters a really nasty ner at 7.30pm, served in the muse- knights with the Create Build Learn piece of work (Idris Elba). Warwick um's Edwardian Tea Room, complete OUTDOOR GAMES Play outdoor games team, Wed 3 Aug, Forge Mill Needle Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 5 - Thurs with live music from the in the orchard and grounds, until Sat Museum, Worcestershire Conservatoire Quartet. The Electric 3 Sept, Brockhampton Estate, 11 Aug KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS Featuring Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 7 Aug Herefordshire FANTASTIC MR FOX (PG) Mr and Mrs more than 20 outdoor activities to Fox live an idyllic home life but after SUMMER NIGHTS West Midland Safari choose from, each executed under 12 years of quiet domesticity, the Park continues its late-night open- the supervision of highly qualified bucolic existence proves too much NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: ings, until Sun 4 Sept, West Midland staff, Thurs 4 Aug, The Old Vicarage for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts. Safari and Leisure Park, Adventure Centre, Kidderminster Worcestershire Director Wes Anderson's adaptation New Films On General Release CHARLECOTE CHILDREN'S CLUB of a beloved children's novel by Released from Fri 5 Aug, showing at MAKING MUSICAL MEMORIES - Featuring a variety of nature and Roald Dahl. With the voices of selected cinemas MUSICAL MELODIES TRAIL Find a vari- craft-based activities, Thurs 4 Aug, George Clooney & Willem Dafoe. ety of activity stations around the BOBBY SANDS: 66 DAYS (15) Charlecote Park, Warwickshire mac, Birmingham, Sat 6 Aug museum, including a musical instru- COLLAGE PORTRAITS: INSPIRED BY VAN SID AND NANCY (18) ment area and colouring post. Try THE WITCHES (PG) Based on the clas- DYCK Be inspired by 400 years of the Memory Game, using Elgar's sic book by Roald Dahl. A young boy SUICIDE SQUAD (tbc) portraits & create your own portrait very own desk, until Sun 4 Sept, The stumbles onto a witch convention SWEET BEAN (PG) with feathers, sequins and more, and must stop them - even after he’s Elgar Birthplace Museum, Worcester UP FOR LOVE (12a) Thurs 4 Aug, Aston Hall, Birmingham been turned into a mouse. Stars DESIGN YOUR OWN LANDSCAPE TRAIL INTRODUCING SHAKESPEARE Thurs 4 Anjelica Huston & Rowan Atkinson. Follow the family trail to discover Aug, Clore Learning Centre, Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 6 Aug some of Capability Brown's top tips Stratford-upon-Avon and collect a prize at the end, until AN EVENING WITH SCROOBIUS PIP

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Celebrating the launch of Distraction FESTIVAL Featuring a massive line-up 1940S WEDDING WEEKEND Experience THE BADDESLEY BOOK FAIR 2016 Sat 6 Pieces, Thurs 4 Aug, Waterstones, of hundreds of racing machines, the entertainment of a wartime wed- - Sun 14 Aug, Baddesley Clinton, Solihull huge off-track displays and numer- ding party with live music, dance and Solihull ACTIVE STORYTELLING Become an ous stars of the sport, Fri 5 - Sun 7 costume demonstrations, Sat 6 - Sun RARE PLANT FAIR Sun 7 Aug, Castle actor and tell Shakespeare’s stories, Aug, Donington Park Racing Circuit, 7 Aug, Upton House & Gardens, Bromwich Hall Gardens, Birmingham Derby Warwickshire Thurs 4 Aug, Clore Learning Centre, CLASSIC VAN AND PICK UP SHOW The Stratford-upon-Avon ULTIMATE STREET CAR Europe’s RHINO WEEKEND Helping raise aware- best light commercial vehicles from ENCHANTED CIRCUS Follow the for- biggest modified car festival, Fri 5 - ness and funds for Rhino yesteryear, including vans, pick-ups, tunes of princes and maidens and Sun 7 Aug, Santa Pod Raceway, Conservation work in Africa through campers and police vehicles, Sun 7 see their adventures come to life via Northants fun activities and competitions, Sat 6 Aug, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, eye-swivelling acrobatics, Thurs 4 - WHEEL MAKING / WHEELWRIGHTING Sat - Sun 7 Aug, Cotswold Wildlife Park Warwickshire Sun 7 Aug, Kenilworth Castle 6 Aug, Chedhams Yard, TRANSIT VAN CLUB RALLY Sat 6 - Sun 7 RAF WALKS Be shown where, in 1940, CRAFTY KIDS WORKSHOP Thurs 4 - Warwickshire Aug, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, a substantial part of Croome Park Thurs 25 Aug, Museum of the WEDDING WEEKEND TEA DANCE Watch Warwickshire was requisitioned for the building of Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham the professionals dance and learn BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 a new airfield, known as RAF DIGBETH FIRST FRIDAY Exhibitions, the steps to have a go yourself, then Beginning in the commercial heart of Defford, Sun 7 Aug, Croome Park, late-night openings, special events, enjoy some delicious rations of tea the city at the end of Colmore Row, Worcestershire culture in unexpected spaces, live and cake, Sat 6 Aug, Upton House & this live guided tour takes in all of the WINDMILL SAILING See the historic music, street food and more, Fri 5 Gardens, Warwickshire city’s major buildings of architectural windmill in action as it’s sailed by the Aug, Digbeth, Birmingham TWILIGHT MAZE IN AID OF ST. GILES interest including St Philip’s and St team of specially trained volunteers, Chad’s Cathedrals, the Victoria Law MURDER THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS HOSPICE Charity event to raise money Sun 7 Aug, Avoncroft Museum, for St Giles Hospice, Sat 6 Aug, Courts, the Town Hall, the Council Bromsgrove A murder-mystery game that takes House, Birmingham Museum & Art place at the Mad Hatters Tea/Dinner National Forest Adventure Farm, SKY RIDE COVENTRY See page 48 for Burton-on-Trent Gallery and Library, Sat 6 - Sun 7 party, Fri 5 Aug, Fargo Village, Aug, Birmingham City Centre details, Sun 7 Aug, Coventry City Coventry HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK Admire Centre ART IN THE PARK More than 120 artists CONDENSED HISTORIES: ANCIENT fine Georgian and Victorian architecture, a convent designed by from Leamington’s vibrant creative WARRIOR SHOWS Greg Chapman scene showcase their talent, Sat 6 - uses juggling, unicycling and other Augustus Pugin, a church that was built nearly one thousand years ago, Sun 7 Aug, Jephson Gardens, variety skills to perform shows about Leamington Spa the gladiators of Ancient Rome, war- Sat 6 Aug, Soho House, Birmingham rior queen Boudicca and the BUCKINGHAM’S RETINUE: MEDIEVAL ROMAN AND ANCIENT BRITONS Step Spartans, Fri 5 Aug, Forge Mill WEEKEND Sat 6 - Sun 7 Aug, back into an ancient world, Sat 6 - Needle Museum, Worcestershire Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Sun 7 Aug, Forge Mill Needle Museum, Worcestershire DONINGTON CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE Worcestershire

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thelist Monday 8 - Sunday 14 August Scheffler's story of a giant who gives Classical Music away his clothes to those who need them more than he does, Thurs 11 Aug, Bishops Wood Centre Garden, THE REALLY BIG CHORUS Programme Stourport-upon-Severn, comprises Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Sat Worcestershire 13 Aug, Birmingham Town Hall JOANNE One-woman show performed by the Olivier Award-nominated Tanya Moodie, Thurs 11 - Fri 12 Aug, Studio Theatre @ The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon Comedy Gigs KISSING FROGS A journey of love, loss and self-discovery set against a LOUDEEMY SOUP COMEDY NIGHT backdrop of classic hits from the Featuring new and established acts, 1980s, Fri 12 - Sat 13 Aug, mac, Mon 8 Aug, The Blue Orange Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham Kissing Frogson MY COMEDY FEAT. MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed 10 Aug, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham COMEDY CAROUSEL FEAT. ANDY ROBIN- Hayseed Dixie - The Assembly, Leamington Spa SON, MARK OLVER & MICK FERRY Thurs 11 Aug, The Glee Club, Birmingham Thurs 11 Aug, Katie THE JAM’D Sat 13 Aug, JUST THE TONIC FEAT. PAUL TONKINSON, Gigs Fitzgerald’s, The Roadhouse, WES ZAHARUK, ANDY ROBINSON & MATT Stourbridge Birmingham REED Fri 12 Aug, The Comedy Loft, CLAY & RISCAS Thurs 11 THE REPEAT OFFENDERZ Birmingham SHOW ME THE BODY Aug, Sunflower Sat 13 Aug, Route 44, Mon 8 Aug, Hare & FAST WOMAN The story of Helle Nice, Lounge, Birmingham Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham a woman who risked her life many THE TIDE Fri 12 Aug, GOD’S COUNTRY Sat 13 times in daredevil undertakings as DAG NASTY Mon 8 Aug, O2 Institute, B’ham Aug, Katie Fitzgerald’s, diverse as high-wire acts, moun- O2 Academy, BENTLEY RHYTHM ACE Stourbridge taineering and speed-record Birmingham attempts, Sat 13 Aug, Swan Theatre, Fri 12 Aug, Hare & BLACK BOMBERS Sat 13 RYLEY WALKER Tue 9 Worcester Hounds, Birmingham Aug, Hare & Hounds, Aug, Assembly Rooms, THE WIZARD OF OZ Immersion Theatre FRAN THE MAN Fri 12 Kings Heath, B’ham Leamington Spa present an outdoor re-telling of the Aug, The Irish Centre, BRITISH SEA POWER Sat BIG D AND THE KIDS classic children's tale, Sat 13 Aug, Birmingham 13 Aug, Hare & TABLE Wed 10 Aug, Paul Tonkinson Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Hounds, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham LEVELLERS Fri 12 Aug, Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon The Empire, Coventry SWIM WITH SHARKS Sat CHRIS KENT, ROB HUGHES, MARK OLVER HAYSEED DIXIE + THE TWELFTH NIGHT Fathom Theatre 13 Aug, The Irish & COMIC TBC Fri 12 - Sat 13 Aug, The JOKERS Wed 10 Aug, GLAMBUSTERS Fri 12 Company present an outdoor pro- Centre, Birmingham Glee Club, Birmingham Assembly Rooms, Aug, The River Rooms, duction of Shakespeare’s identity- Leamington Spa Stourbridge QUILL Sat 13 Aug, JUST THE TONIC FEAT. SIMON BLIGH, swapping comedy, Sat 13 Aug, The Artrix, Bromsgrove DOUGIE DUNLOP & MATT REED Sun 13 GOSPEL CENTRAL Wed THE BOSS UK Fri 12 Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon Aug, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham 10 Aug, The Jam Aug, The Marr's Bar, THE HARTS Sat 13 Aug, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Sat 13 - House, Birmingham Worcester Sunflower Lounge, THE LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY FOR KIDS Sun 14 Aug, Greyfriars House & Birmingham Compered by Mrs Barbara Nice, the DEATH SPELLS Thurs 11 SKABUCKS Fri 12 Aug, Garden, Worcester comedy club is specifically for chil- Aug, O2 Academy, The Roadhouse, MALC EVANS Sun 14 RICHARD II Everyman Youth Theatre dren and their families, bringing Birmingham Birmingham Aug, The Fleece Inn, presents an outdoor staging of together some of the best acts on DETROIT SOUL Fri 12 - Evesham Shakespeare’s tale of justice, power, APOLLO SOUL Thurs 11 the circuit performing family friendly Sat 13 Aug, The Jam GLYNDWR FINCH identity and loyalty, Sun 14 Aug, The Aug, The Jam House, Sun 14 jokes. Recommended age 5 plus, House, Birmingham Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham Aug, The Tin Music & Sun 14 Aug, mac, Birmingham Arts, Coventry FLAMINGO FLAME Thurs VANT Fri 12 Aug, 11 Aug, Hare & Kasbah, Coventry BLAKE & BRAZIL Sun 14 Hounds, Kings Heath, VON KRYSATI ROXZ & MR Aug, The Irish Centre, Birmingham APOLLO Fri 12 Aug, Birmingham KEVIN DONALDSON Route 44, Birmingham Theatre Film THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN Folksy Theatre present an outdoor perform- INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: ance of Julia Donaldson & Alex EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (12a) A Scheffler's story of a giant who gives sacred plant with mythical healing away his clothes to those who need properties becomes the Holy Grail them more than he does, Wed 10 for two separate expeditions into the Aug, Martineau Gardens, Amazon rainforest in this stunningly Birmingham original Columbian drama. Though DOTTY THE DRAGON A puppet show decades apart, each trip is led by the for all the family, Wed 10 Aug, Roses same Amazonian Shaman; the last of Theatre, Tewkesbury his tribe in a land ravaged by colo- nialism. Stars Nilbio Torres & Antonio OUR TOWN Malvern Theatres Young Bolivar Salvador. Foreign language, Company presents its version of subtitles. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-win- Mon 8 Aug ning play, Wed 10 - Sat 13 Aug, Malvern Theatre FANTASTIC MR FOX (PG) Mr and Mrs Fox live an idyllic home life but after THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN Folksy 12 years of quiet domesticity, the Theatre present an outdoor perform- bucolic existence proves too much Levellers - The Empire, Coventry ance of Julia Donaldson & Alex for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts.

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Director Wes Anderson's adaptation SUMMERTIME (15) Two women from of a beloved children's novel by entirely different worlds - Carole is a Roald Dahl. With the voices of militant feminist teaching Spanish in George Clooney & Willem Dafoe. Paris and Delphine is a farmer’s Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 10 Aug daughter committed to her parents in REMAINDER (15) This psychological rural southwest France - fall passion- thriller starts when a mysterious ately in love. Stars Cécile de France black box falls from the sky, hitting a & Izïa Higelin. mac, Birmingham, Sat man and leaving him in a coma. 13 - Tues 16 Aug When he comes around and is WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (15) awarded £8.5million in damages, he Documentary from master satirist sets about making sense of his past Michael Moore which was filmed in by reconstructing the fragments of secret on three continents. In a vari- memory he has left. Stars Tom ety of countries, Moore explores Sturridge & Cush Jumbo. Roses what the nations have to offer the Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed 10 Aug US, from the efficient prison system THE NEON DEMON (18) The talk of this of Norway to the gourmet school year’s Cannes film festival, The Neon lunches of France. Roses Theatre, Demon divided critics mightily. Some Tewkesbury, Fri 12 - Tues 16 Aug called it a masterpiece, others an FINDING DORY (U) Since it opened in abomination. Set in the world of high 2003, Finding Nemo has become the Nature Notes fashion, the film features extreme sixth highest-grossing cartoon of all Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 20 November gore, graphic nudity and one scene time. So, here is the sequel. Dory is of ‘aberrant sexuality’. You have been the forgetful Pacific regal blue tang Families are provided with the chance to uncover the secrets of the warned. Stars Elle Fanning & Karl from the first film which, in case natural world and find out more about local wildlife in this multi- Glusman. Warwick Arts Centre, you’ve been away, is a fish. She sensory exhibition. Hands-on activities, numerous artworks and real Coventry, Wed 10 - Thurs 11 Aug (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) sud- natural history specimens are among the main attractions in a show denly remembers the events of her ELVIS AND NIXON (18) The most that investigates the ways in which wildlife adapts and changes childhood and so sets off to find her requested photo from the US through the seasons. National Archives is of Richard M family - along with the clownfish Nixon shaking the hand of Elvis A Nemo (Albert Brooks) and Marlin Presley. The occasion was on 21 (Hayden Rolence). There will be December 1970, in the Oval Office, adventure along the way... Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 12 - Thurs THE SHALLOWS (15) Brenda Leedham as she talks about and the official notes of the meeting the tricks of the trade and how bruis- reveal the King’s interest in 18 Aug; Malvern Theatres, Fri 12 - VALLEY OF LOVE (15) Thurs 18 Aug es, cuts and scars are created, Tues Communist brainwashing and a dis- THE WAVE (15) 9 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, taste for The Beatles. Michael JASON BOURNE (12a) Jason Bourne is WIENER-DOG (tbc) Stratford-upon-Avon Shannon plays Elvis and Kevin beginning to remember stuff. And so Spacey is Nixon. Artrix, Bromsgrove, he sets about trying to uncover the BALLOON MODELLING Have a go at Thurs 11 Aug truth about who he really is. The creating your very own car out of a balloon, Tues 9 - Thurs 11 Aug, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (U) It’s a good news is that Paul Greengrass returns as the director of this hope- British Motor Museum, Gaydon, dog’s life for a terrier called Max Warwickshire when his owner adopts a mongrel lessly addictive franchise (he direct- Events from a dog pound. But this problem ed the best in the series, The Bourne BRITISH SHOWJUMPING NATIONAL seems small fry when the pooches Supremacy and The Bourne VOICE SKILLS A practical workshop CHAMPIONSHIPS AND STONELEIGH uncover a conspiracy aimed at pets Ultimatum). Stars Matt Damon & exploring how to use your voice, HORSE SHOW See page 46 for details, from human homes. With the voices Julia Stiles. Warwick Arts Centre, Mon 8 Aug, Clore Learning Centre, Tues 9 - Sun 14 Aug, Stoneleigh of Louis CK, Eric Stonestreet. Roses Coventry, Fri 12 - Thurs 18 Aug; Stratford-upon-Avon Park, Warwickshire Malvern Theatres, Fri 12 - Thurs 18 Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 11 - Fri BOATING ON THE LAKE DROP-IN ANIMATION Create simple cut- Aug Mon 8 Aug, 12 Aug; mac, Birmingham, Sat 13 Berrington Hall, nr Leominster out characters then have a go at ani- Aug JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (U) An mation. Make a 30-second silent CONDENSED HISTORIES: ANCIENT orphan with terrible aunts for stop-frame animation and take it HAIRSPRAY (PG) Sundown Cinema WARRIOR SHOWS Greg Chapman returns to mac's Outdoor Arena with guardians befriends human-like bugs home on a CD, Wed 10 Aug, Royal who live inside a giant peach. Stars uses juggling, unicycling and other Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- this popular musical comedy starring variety skills to perform shows about John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer. Paul Terry & Joanna Lumley. Artrix, upon-Avon Bromsgrove, Sat 13 Aug the gladiators of Ancient Rome, war- mac, Birmingham, Fri 12 Aug rior queen Boudicca and the FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: MONSTER THE CONFESSION (15) From supporting INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (12a) Spartans, Mon 8 Aug, Forge Mill MASKS Make your very own monster the Bosnian Mujahideen to being Liam Hemsworth is on hand to battle Needle Museum, Worcestershire mask, inspired by the grotesques those pesky aliens from the original who decorate the Great Dining imprisoned in Bagram and BERRINGTON'S BOATING CAPABILI-TEA Independence Day of 1996. He plays Room’s ceiling, Wed 10 Aug, Aston Guantanamo, from the rebel training Celebrate Capability Brown and Red camps in Syria to the prison cells of an American pilot signed up with the Hall, Birmingham Earth Space Defense [sic], a unit Earth's work at Berrington with a day Belmarsh in Britain, Moazzam Begg of boating on the lake, accompanied HONDA RON HASLAM RACE SCHOOL has experienced a generation of con- established by the United Nations to Experience riding on the Donington battle any future extraterrestrial by an 18th-century picnic hamper, flict. This is his first-hand account, a Mon 8 - Fri 12 Aug, Berrington Hall, Park GP Circuit, Wed 10 Aug, chronicle of the rise of modern jihad, threats. Well, before the last lot of Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby aliens were beaten by Will Smith, nr Leominster its descent into terror and the disas- STAGE FIGHTING Learn how to stage trous reaction of the West. Followed they managed to send out a distress KNIGHTS AND PRINCESSES ACADEMY signal to their allies in deep space, An academy for budding knights and fight from the RSC experts. Suitable by Q&A. mac, Birmingham, Fri 12 for adults and children, Wed 10 Aug, Aug who return with even more techno- princesses, with hands-on medieval logically advanced weaponry. Also fun. Transform yourself into a courtly Clore Learning Centre, Stratford- BORN TO BE BLUE (15) In the 1950s, stars Jeff Goldblum. Roses Theatre, lord or lady, with tips on everything upon-Avon Chet Baker was one of the most Tewkesbury, Sat 13 Aug from curtsies to combat, Mon 8 - Fri LEGO CASTLES WORKSHOP Castles for famous trumpeters in the world, 12 Aug, Kenilworth Castle knights with the Create Build Learn renowned as both a pioneer of the KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS Featuring team, Wed 10 Aug, Forge Mill Needle West Coast jazz scene and an icon NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Museum, Worcestershire of cool. By the 1960s, he was all but more than 20 outdoor activities to Released Fri 12 Aug, showing at choose from, each executed under HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK Admire washed up, his career and personal selected cinemas life in shambles due to years of the supervision of highly qualified fine Georgian and Victorian architec- addiction. Stars Ethan Hawke & ID2: SHADWELL ARMY (18) staff, Tues 9 Aug, The Old Vicarage ture, a convent designed by Carmen Ejogo. mac, Birmingham, Fri THE IDOL (PG) Adventure Centre, Kidderminster Augustus Pugin, a church that was built nearly 1,000 years ago, Wed 10 12 - Sat 13 Aug PETE'S DRAGON (tbc) BLOOD, GUTS AND GORE Join former RSC Head of Wigs and Make-up Aug, Soho House, Birmingham

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thelist

Ragley Battle Proms - Ragley Hall KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS More than 20 AN INDIAN SUMMER NIGHT Sat 13 outdoor activities to choose from, Aug, Soho House, Birmingham under the supervision of highly qual- THE BIG READ: ANIMAL STORY-TIME ified staff, Thurs 11 Aug, The Old Hear tales about author BB Taylor's Vicarage Adventure Centre, favourite animals and meet them in Kidderminster real life, Sat 13 Aug, Soho House, CHARLECOTE CHILDREN'S CLUB A vari- Birmingham ety of nature and craft-based activi- MOTORCYCLE RIDER SKILLS ties, Thurs 11 Aug, Charlecote Park, WORKSHOP Improve your riding Warwickshire skills, knowledge and hazard aware- GENERAL TEST SESSION Thurs 11 ness, Sat 13 Aug, British Motor Aug, Donington Park Racing Circuit, Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire Derby THE WEAVER'S HOUSE OPEN DAY Step INTRODUCING SHAKESPEARE Thurs 11 back in time to Coventry’s medieval Aug, Clore Learning Centre, past, Sat 13 Aug, The Weavers Stratford-upon-Avon House, Coventry ACTIVE STORYTELLING Become an MOTORSPORT MARSHALLING TASTER actor and tell Shakespeare’s stories DAY Sat 13 - Sun 14 Aug, Donington with a storyteller leading the way. Park Racing Circuit, Derby Thurs 11 Aug, Clore Learning BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 13 Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon - Sun 14 Aug, Birmingham City LAKEFEST Thurs 11 - Sun 14 Aug, Centre Eastnor Castle Deer Park, GT & FORMULA CAR RACES Sat 13 - Herefordshire Sun 14 Aug, Donington Park Racing THE FESTIVAL OF QUILTS Celebrating Circuit, Derby patchwork and quilting in all its BIG SUMMER BBQ PARTY See page 13 forms, Thurs 11 - Sun 14 Aug, NEC, for details, Sat 13 - Sun 14 Aug, Birmingham Fargo Village, Coventry CREATING COLLAGES Enjoy a hands- WHEELWRIGHT DISPLAY Display of on session creating your own col- tiny, detailed models by the Guild of lage-based illustration with artist Model Wheelwrights, Sat 13 - Sun Gareth Courage, Fri 12 Aug, Clore 14 Aug, Forge Mill Needle Museum, Learning Centre, Stratford-upon- Redditch Avon STEAM ON THE ROAD Gathering of THE WEAVER'S HOUSE OPEN DAY Sat vintage steam road vehicles, Sat 13 13 Aug, The Weavers House, - Sun 14 Aug, Severn Valley Railway, Coventry Kidderminster RAGLEY HALL BATTLE PROMS The final HISTORY COMES ALIVE Battles, skir- night of the UK’s premier picnic con- mishes and displays performed by cert series, Sat 13 Aug, Ragley Hall, over 650 re-enactors and spanning Warwickshire eight major periods, from medieval JEWELLERY QUARTER HERITAGE WALK to WWII, Sat 13 - Sun 14 Aug, Sat 13 Aug, Museum of the Spetchley Park Gardens, Worcester Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham THE NATIONAL BMW FESTIVAL Sun 14 RUN WHAT YA BRUNG Take your car Aug, British Motor Museum, or motorcycle out on the famous Gaydon, Warwickshire quarter-mile dragstrip and test its MINI IN THE PARK The UK’s top Mini performance limits in a safe and show, Sun 14 Aug, Santa Pod legal environment, Sat 13 Aug, Raceway, Northants Santa Pod Raceway, Northants

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 8 - 14 Aug - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 12:14 Page 4

Coming Soon... BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE

Saturday 13th August Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th Thursday 8th September September QUILL THE BOOTLEG ONE MORE TIME FOLK ROCK BAND SIXTIES WITH FEELING (18) FEATURING BEV BEVAN FANTASTIC 60S SHOW THE MAKING OF NICK RETURNS FOR TWO NIGHTS CAVE’S NEW ALBUM SKELETON TREE

Friday 16th September Sunday 18th September Friday 30th September LYNCHED SHAZIA MIRZA GRAHAM PARKER & GUTSY TRADITIONAL IRISH THE KARDASHIANS MADE BRINSLEY SCHWARZ FOLK GROUP ME DO IT

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Elvis & Nixon (15) // The Witches (PG) // Fantastic Mr Fox (PG) // James & The Giant Peach (U)

FORTHCOMING SCREENINGS: The Deep Blue Sea (NT Live) // Turandot (Opera Australia) // The Sleeping Beauty (Australian Ballet) // Cymbeline (RSC) King Lear (RSC) // Cosi Fan Tutte (Royal Opera House) // The Entertainer (Kenneth Branagh) // The Nutcracker (Royal Ballet)

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

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List 15 - 21 Aug - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:51 Page 1

thelist Monday 15 - Sun 21 August GREASE: STAGE EXPERIENCE Featuring Classical Music some of the West Midlands’ most talented young performers, hungry for a taste of life in professional musical theatre, Wed 17 - Sat 20 Aug, New NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ORCHESTRA OF Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham GREAT BRITAIN Programme includes works by Verdi, Curtis, Tchaikovsky, THE SECOND BEST BED Liz Grand stars Gershwinn arr. Rose & Badelt arr. as Anne Hathaway on the night of Ricketts, Sat 20 Aug, Birmingham Shakespeare’s funeral, Thurs 18 Town Hall Aug, Swan Theatre, Worcester SUNDAY CLASSICS Presenting a range RENT Amateur production presented of young stars of the future from the by Wing It Theatre as part of their classical world, ranging from opera summer project, Thurs 18 - Sat 20 singers to violinists to harpists at the Aug, Albany Theatre, Coventry very start of their careers…, Sun 21 PETER PAN Chapterhouse Theatre Aug, The Spotted Dog, Birmingham present an outdoor staging of JM Barrie’s classic story, Fri 19 Aug, Coughton Court, Alcester JESUS MY BOY The Worcester Comedy Gigs Repertory Company present John Dowie’s one-man play, telling the TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Members of story of Jesus as seen through the Box of Frogs present their own inim- eyes of Joseph, Fri 19 Aug, Swan itable brand of high-octane impro- Theatre, Worcester vised nonsense from audience sug- VESTA The Worcester Repertory gestions, Mon 15 Aug, The Blue Company present Chris Jaeger’s Atomic Kitten - Kasbah, Coventry Orange Theatre, Birmingham one-man show about the life and COMEDY CAROUSEL FEAT. ANDY ROBIN- times of one of the most remarkable FORTHERINGAY Fri 19 Birmingham SON, CRAIG MURRAY & JARRED CHRIST- female entertainers ever to have Gigs Aug, Huntingdon Hall, THE GLAMOPHONES Sat MAS Thurs 18 Aug, The Glee Club, lived, Sat 20 Aug, The Swan Theatre, Worcester 20 Aug, Tamworth Birmingham Worcester BOW WOW WOW Fri 19 Castle ANNA AND ELIZABETH JUST THE TONIC FEAT. OTIZ CANNELLONI, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM OUDS Aug, O2 Institute, Mon 15 Aug, Kitchen SURF’S UP Sat 20 Aug, JULIAN DEANE, QUINCY & DAVID MOR- present an outdoor staging of the Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham Huntingdon Hall, GAN Fri 19 Aug, The Comedy Loft, Bard’s celebrated fantasy comedy, Worcester Birmingham Sat 20 Aug, The Dell, Stratford-upon- JULIAN JU JU MARLEY Avon Wed 17 Aug, O2 IVOR & LYNN’S CLASSIC JOHN FOTHERGILL, ANDREW STANLEY, Institute, Birmingham ROCK NIGHT Sat 20 Aug, CRAIG MURRAY & JARRED CHRISTMAS KING LEAR RSC Artistic Director Route 44, Birmingham Fri 19 - Sat 20 Aug, The Glee Club, Gregory Doran directs Antony Sher MC DEVVO Wed 17 Aug, Birmingham in Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, Assembly Rooms, STAR OF THE SEA Sat 20 Sat 20 Aug - Sat 15 Oct, Royal Leamington Spa Aug, The Irish Centre, UPFRONT COMEDY’S SUMMER JAM Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- Birmingham Featuring Slim, Judi Love, Jamie THE BIG WOLF BAND upon-Avon Howard & John Simmit, Sat 20 Aug, Wed 17 Aug, The Jam NIRVANA UK Sat 20 Aug, mac, Birmingham THE TAMING OF THE SHREW The ALPs House, Birmingham The Roadhouse, B’ham present a Commedia dell’arte version MR C Fri 19 Aug, Hare JUST THE TONIC FEAT. OTIZ CANNELLONI, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS SOUL JUNCTION Sat 20 of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, & Hounds, Kings JULIAN DEANE, ROB HEENEY & DAVID Wed 17 Aug, O2 Aug, The Robin, Bilston Sun 21 Aug, The Dell, Stratford- Heath, Birmingham MORGAN Sat 20 Aug, The Comedy Academy, Birmingham ICONIC 80'S Sat 20 Aug, upon-Avon MOTOWN & SOUL NIGHT Loft, Birmingham HEAVEN 17 Wed 17 The River Rooms, HAMLET WITH DJ PAUL KELLY Fri Festival Players Theatre Aug, Assembly Rooms, Stourbridge 19 Aug, The Irish Company present an outdoor pro- Leamington Spa THE MIGHTY YOUNG Centre, Birmingham Sat duction of the Bard's most famous BUZZ D'ANGELO BAND 20 Aug, Hare & play, Sun 21 Aug, Hall's Croft, EMPTY CAN Fri 19 Aug, Thurs 18 Aug, The Jam Hounds, Birmingham Stratford-upon-Avon Katie Fitzgerald’s, Theatre House, Birmingham TEMPLETON PEK MONSTERSAURUS Stourbridge Sat 20 Brand new chil- MINISTRY Thurs 18 Aug, O2 Academy, dren’s show from the creators of UK GUNS N' ROSES Fri PRESENT LAUGHTER Samuel West and Aug, O2 Institute, Birmingham Aliens Love Underpants, Sun 21 Aug, 19 Aug, The River Phyllis Logan star in Noel Coward’s Birmingham mac, Birmingham Rooms, Stourbridge classic comedy, Mon 15 - Sat 20 THE FLYNNTONES Thurs SKIT FEST Fri 19 Aug, Aug, Malvern Theatre 18 Aug, The Hare & Hounds, Kings RATBURGER Heartbreak Productions Roadhouse, B’ham Heath, Birmingham present an outdoor staging of David ATOMIC KITTEN Thurs 18 THE HANDSOME BEASTS Walliams’ acclaimed children’s tale, Aug, Kasbah, Coventry Film Fri 19 Aug, Route 44, Tues 16 Aug, St John's House MOTION CITY Birmingham Museum, Warwick SOUNDTRACK Thurs 18 INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: MR BEN Fri 19 - Sat 20 THE VISION OF PIERS PLOWMAN The Aug, O2 Institute, Aug, The Jam House, THE RAINBOW VENUES Worcester Repertory Company pres- Birmingham Birmingham Sat 20 Aug, The ent William Langland’s epic poem, SILENT SHAKESPEARE (tbc) The Bard DIAMOND HEAD Rainbow Venues, which offers a humorous commen- was of course best known for his THE FLYOVER SHOW FEAT HEAVY METAL BAND Birmingham tary on corruption and greed, Wed words, but that didn’t stop silent film- SOWETO KINCH Sat 20 Thurs 18 Aug, 17 Aug, Swan Theatre, Worcester makers from bringing his stories to Aug, Hockley Flyover, NIK TURNERS INNER CITY The Robin, Bilston life. This selection of earliest surviv- Birmingham UNIT Sun 21 Aug, THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN Based on BRING WORCESTER Hare & Hounds, B’ham Chaucer's The Knight's Tale, The Two ing screen adaptations, restored THE STRAIGHT ACES Sat HOME WITH MISSING Noble Kinsmen is attributed to John from rare nitrate prints held in the BFI 20 Aug, Katie SECRET RULE Sun 21 SPARROWS Fri 19 Aug, Fletcher and William Shakespeare National Archive, include beautiful Fitzgerald’s, Aug, The Asylum, The Marr's Bar, and is best described as a tragicom- examples of hand stencilling, tinting Stourbridge Leamington Spa Worcester edy exploring the intoxication and and early special effects that still PAT JORDAN & FINIANS TROPICAL SPECIAL WITH strangeness of love, Wed 17 Aug have a magical allure about them MOON SUGAR Fri 19 RAINBOW Sun 21 Aug, ALTERNATIVE DUBSTEP 2016 - Tues 7 Feb 2017, The Swan today. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Aug, O2 Institute, The Irish Centre, ORCHESTRA Sat 20 Aug, Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Mon 15 Aug Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

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Monday 15 - Sun 21 August

DAVID BOWIE IS (PG) The Victoria & - Thurs 18 Aug Albert Museum presents David Bowie MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (12a) Eight-year-old Is Happening Now, a nationwide cin- Alton has some very special powers ema event screened live from David that have caught the attention of the Bowie Is, as the finale to the muse- police, high-level government and um’s enormously successful exhibi- religious extremists. Fearing for their tion. This unique event is the last safety, Alton and his father go on the opportunity to view the exhibition run, risking everything to fulfill a des- before it goes on international tour. tiny that could change the world for- mac, Birmingham, Tues 16 Aug ever. Stars Michael Shannon & THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (U) It’s a Kirsten Dunst. Roses Theatre, dog’s life for a terrier called Max, Tewkesbury, Thurs 18 Aug when his owner adopts a mongrel BARRY LYNDON (12a) In this adaptation from a dog pound. But this problem of William Makepeace Thackeray’s seems small fry when the pooches novel about the exploits of an 18th uncover a conspiracy aimed at pets century Irish adventurer, Ryan O’Neal from human homes. With the voices stars as Redmond Barry (later Barry of Louis CK, Eric Stonestreet. Lyndon) and Marisa Berenson is Festival Drayton Centre, Market Lady Lyndon. mac, Birmingham, Fri Drayton, Tues 16 Aug 19 Aug HARD TIME BUS (15) After a rude MAD MAX (15) Sundown Cinema at awakening, Mark Bishop makes mac's Outdoor Arena presents Mel hasty plans to marry long-term girl- Gibson as a vengeance-bent cop in Worcester Festival friend Denise. Everyone’s patience the near-future dystopian Australian has been severely tested due to a outback. Also stars Joanne Samuel & various locations, Sat 13 - Mon 29 August web of lies and deceit. Mark soon Steve Bisley. mac, Birmingham, Fri 19 Seventeen days of drama, exhibitions, film, live music, street theatre, learns that with complacency comes Aug risk. A special screening of this new arts & crafts and historical events are here brought together in British film, followed by a Q&A. Light ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (U) It’s all Worcester’s biggest summertime celebration. As usual, the popular House Media Centre, getting a bit serious. When Scrat, the festival - which has grown year on year since its debut in 2003 - will Wolverhampton, Tues 16 Aug Aug single-minded sabre-tooth squirrel, leaves Earth in pursuit of his elusive end with a suitably large bang (or several, to be precise), courtesy of WEINER (15) Documentary about US acorn, he triggers a series of cosmic a sky-lighting fireworks display. politician Anthony Weiner's failed events that threaten the future of the attempt to run for Mayor of New York planet. So Manny, Sid and co. have City in 2013. Many politicians have to move home (again) in order to pre- seen their careers slip off the tracks, serve their respective species. With THE COMMUNE (15) Thomas workshops and masterclasses for the but few have had their failure so inci- the voices of Ray Romano & John Vinterberg (Festen, The Hunt, Far Birmingham community, Mon 15 - Fri sively and painfully recorded. mac, Leguizamo. Roses Theatre, From The Madding Crowd) sets his 19 Aug, Circusmash, Birmingham Birmingham, Tues 16 - Wed 17 Aug Tewkesbury, Fri 19 - Mon 22 Aug latest film in a commune in the ’70s MEDIEVAL FUN & GAMES Hands-on WE ARE MANY (12a) A documentary LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (U) Kate where not everybody sees eye to activities, Mon 15 - Fri 19 Aug, about the protest movement against Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon eye. Trine Dyrholm won the best Kenilworth Castle the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Directed actress award at Berlin for her per- who, while staying at a massive BOATING ON THE LAKE Mon 15 Aug by Amir Amirani. Followed by Q&A. estate, sets about finding a suitable formance. And if Ms Dyrholm looks mac, Birmingham, Tues 16 - Wed 17 familiar to you, she starred opposite 2016 - Sat 2 Sept 2017, Berrington husband for her daughter. Of course, Hall, nr Leominster Aug she wouldn’t mind an eligible man for Pierce Brosnan in the delightful Love ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE (15) herself… Also stars Chloë Sevigny. Is All You Need (2012). mac, KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS More than 20 Darling, you know everything’s going mac, Birmingham, Fri 19 - Sat 20 Birmingham, Sun 21 - Thurs 25 Aug outdoor activities to choose from, to be fabulous, if not outrageous. Aug; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, under the supervision of highly quali- The eternally youthful Jennifer Fri 19 - Mon 22 Aug fied staff, Tues 16 Aug, The Old Saunders and Joanna Lumley reprise Vicarage Adventure Centre, ASTERIX AND OBELIX: MANSION OF THE NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Kidderminster their small-screen roles as Edina and GODS (U) The setting is 50 BC. The Patsy and get into awful trouble, forc- entire territory of Gaul is occupied by BLOOD, GUTS AND GORE Join former ing them to flee to the French the Romans... Or is it? mac, Released from Fri 19 Aug, showing RSC Head of Wigs and Make-up Riviera. At least the champagne will Birmingham, Fri 19 - Thurs 25 Aug at selected cinemas Brenda Leedham as she talks about be good there. And let’s just say that 400 DAYS (tbc) the tricks of the trade and how bruis- Kate Moss is a trouper. Artrix, THE CARER (15) Appointed to care for es, cuts and scars are created, Tues ALMOST HOLY (PG) Bromsgrove, Tues 16 - Thurs 18 Aug; terminally ill theatrical legend Sir 16 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Wem Town Hall, North Shropshire, Michael Gifford, Dorottya secretly ASTERIX AND OBELIX - MANSION OF THE Stratford-upon-Avon Tues 16 & Thurs 18 Aug; Roses hopes to become his pupil. The can- GODS (U) tankerous actor bullies and exploits BUILD YOUR FAVOURITE BRITISH CAR Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri 19 - Sun 28 BEHEMOTH (tbc) Build your favourite British car with Aug her until an impromptu exchange from Hamlet reveals a mutual love of COSMOS (tbc) LEGO, Tues 16 - Thurs 18 Aug, PAN (PG) A charming retelling of the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Shakespeare. Stars Brian Cox & DAVID BRENT: LIFE ON THE ROAD (15) classic story of Peter Pan! Peter is Coco Konig. Old Market Hall, Warwickshire LIGHTS OUT (15) whisked away from his orphanage to Shrewsbury, Fri 19 - Thurs 25 Aug SPEAKING SHAKESPEARE Have a go at Neverland where he must defeat SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS (tbc) performing Shakespeare's speeches, Blackbeard, a ruthless pirate, along- GHOSTBUSTERS (12A) Who you gonna call? Paul Feig, apparently, he who Wed 17 Aug, Clore Learning Centre, side his new friends, Tiger Lily and Stratford-upon-Avon James Hook. Mitchell Arts Centre, guided Melissa McCarthy to stardom FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: SILHOUETTE Stoke, Wed 17 Aug in Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy. Now McCarthy and the girls are STAGES Get crafty and creative as ME BEFORE YOU (12a) This romantic replacing the boys in this distaff Events you make your own puppet theatre, drama explores the relationship of remake of the 1984 hit about a mot- complete with silhouette props, Wed two very different people: Lou Clark, 17 Aug, Aston Hall, Birmingham ley crew of spectral experts who join CONDENSED HISTORIES: ANCIENT an unambitious waitress who ends forces to save the world. The special WARRIOR SHOWS Greg Chapman HONDA RON HASLAM RACE SCHOOL up caring for Will Traynor, and Will effects should be considerably more uses juggling, unicycling and other Experience riding on the Donington himself, a high-achieving young man special this time round? Stars Melissa variety skills to perform shows about Park GP Circuit, Wed 17 Aug, who’s lost the use of his legs in a car McCarthy & Kristen Wiig. Warwick the gladiators of Ancient Rome, war- Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby crash. Ms Clarke, who portrays Miss Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 19 - Tues 23 rior queen Boudicca and the Clark, is best known for playing Aug; mac, Birmingham, Fri 19 - Thurs PEPPA PIG See Peppa Pig and Spartans, Mon 15 Aug, Forge Mill Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of 25 Aug; Wem Town Hall, North George appear in the gardens, Wed Needle Museum, Worcestershire Thrones. Also stars Sam Claflin. Shropshire, Sat 20 - Thurs 25 Aug 17 Aug, Birmingham Botanical Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed 17 CIRCUSMASH WORKSHOPS Circus Gardens

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Monday 15 - Sun 21 August

LET'Sthe ANIMATE: FAMILYlist ANIMATION Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon WORKSHOP - LEGO Filmmakers build AZTEC ADVENTURE DAY Featuring and create their very own Lego kayaking, canoeing, archery, circus scene, which is then brought to life skills and more, Fri 19 Aug, Hampton through the animation process, fin- Court Castle, nr Leominster ishing off with editing and the adding of sounds, Wed 17 Aug, Fargo FAMILY FUN DAY Sat 20 Aug, Village, Coventry Chedhams Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon CHARLECOTE CHILDREN'S CLUB A vari- THE COLOR RUN Unique 5km run cele- ety of nature and craft-based activi- brating healthiness, happiness, ties, Thurs 18 Aug, Charlecote Park, friendship and having the time of Warwick your life, Sat 20 Aug, NEC, B’ham PRINTED PORTRAITS: INSPIRED BY VAN ROUNDHOUSE UN-TOUR Tour of the DYCK Try out polytile printing and Roundhouse Birmingham with a dif- make your own portrait in a beautiful ference, Sat 20 Aug, Birmingham frame, Thurs 18 Aug, Aston Hall, Back to Backs Birmingham THE BIG READ: BEATFREEKS One-hour INTRODUCING SHAKESPEARE Thurs 18 creative writing session for young Aug, Clore Learning Centre, people, Sat 20 Aug, Soho House, Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham ACTIVE STORYTELLING Become an BECKETTS VINTAGE FAIR Sat 20 Aug, actor and tell Shakespeare’s stories Beckett's Farm, Birmingham with a storyteller leading the way, WILD WOOD CAMP One-off overnight Monster Truck Nationals - Santapod. Northants Thurs 18 Aug, Clore Learning Centre, camp with the rangers, Sat 20 - Sun Stratford-upon-Avon 21 Aug, Croft Castle, nr Leominster formance limits in a safe and legal and coaches, Sun 21 Aug, British environment, Sat 20 - Sun 21 Aug, Motor Museum, Gaydon, PAPER CUTTING WORKSHOP Create LACE WARS Eighteenth century living Santa Pod Raceway, Northants Warwickshire your own paper cutting picture, Fri history re-enactment weekend, Sat 19 Aug, Clore Learning Centre, 20 - Sun 21 Aug, Avoncroft Museum, MERCEDES BENZ CLUB Sun 21 Aug, MONSTER TRUCK NATIONALS The battle Stratford-upon-Avon Bromsgrove, Worcestershire Coventry Transport Museum to find the ultimate Monster Truck National Champion, Sun 21 Aug, CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP Join BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 20 - VINTAGE CAR RALLY Featuring 100 vin- Santa Pod Raceway, Northants poet Aoife Mannix for a creative writ- Sun 21 Aug, Birmingham City Centre tage cars from 1900 to 1975, Sun 21 Aug, Charlecote Park, Warwickshire BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS - CELLAR ing session using the RSC's current RUN WHAT YA BRUNG Take your car or Sun 21 Aug, Witley Court, exhibition, Well Said!, as a starting motorcycle out on the famous quar- BUSES FESTIVAL Featuring up to 100 Worcestershire point, Fri 19 Aug, Royal Shakespeare ter-mile dragstrip and test its per- restored, vintage and modern buses

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whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List 22 - 31 Aug - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:51 Page 1

thelist Monday 22 - Wednesday 31 August which Howard Robinson attempts to Classical Music dispel the many myths of his 9x-great grandfather, Oliver Cromwell, Thurs 25 Aug, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester CBSO: WELCOMING MIRGA GRAZINYTE- MURDER ON THE CHURCHILL EXPRESS TYLA Introducing the City of An interactive, immersive evening of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s fun centred around the murder of new Music Director. Programme eccentric Austrian inventor, Professor includes works by Mozart, Kildorf, Fri 26 - Sat 27 Aug, Lichfield Abrahamsen & Tchaikovsky, Fri 26 Garrick Aug, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Rain Or Read our interview with Mirga on Shine Theatre Company present an page 16. outdoor production of Shakespeare's classic comedy, Sat 27 Aug, Witley Court, Worcestershire A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM & Comedy Gigs MACBETH The same company of actors present two one-act versions of plays linked by the dangerous JOSH WIDDICOMBE: WHAT I DO NOW power of magic, Sat 27 - Sun 28 Tues 23 Aug, Palace Theatre, Aug, The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon Redditch MACBETH Oddsocks present a musi- COMEDY CAROUSEL FEAT. ANDY ROBIN- cal version of Shakespeare's famous SON, DAVID HADINGHAM & COMIC TBC tragedy, Tues 30 Aug, Victoria Thurs 25 Aug, The Glee Club, Gardens, Tewkesbury Birmingham THE SHAKESPEARE REVUE JUST THE TONIC FEAT. DALISO CHAPON- Shakespeare meets showbiz in a glit- DA, JOSH HOWIE, JOHN FOTHERGILL & tering cabaret-style musical featuring BILLY KIRKWOOD Fri 26 Aug, The songs and sketches by Victoria Comedy Loft, Birmingham Wood, Alan Bennett, Maureen TIM CLARK, ANDY WHITE, DAVID HAD- Lipman, Monty Python, Noel Coward, INGHAM & COMIC TBC Fri 26 - Sat 27 Cole Porter, Stiles & Drewe and Aug, The Glee Club, Birmingham many more... Tues 30 Aug - Sat 3 CHARITY COMEDY NIGHT FEAT. ANDY Sept, Malvern Theatre The Jam House, B’ham Birmingham WHITE In aid of Alzheimer’s Society, Gigs FRED ZEPPELIN & DIZZY CLUB A GO GO Sun 28 Sun 28 Aug, The Glee Club, B’ham LIZZY TRIBUTE TO LED Aug, Hare & Hounds, JUST THE TONIC FEAT. DALISO CHAPON- ZEPPELIN & THIN LIZZY Birmingham DA, JOSH HOWIE, JOHN FOTHERGILL & WHITNEY Tues 23 Aug, Fri 26 Aug, The Marr's BILLY KIRKWOOD Mon 29 Aug, The Film Hare & Hounds, THE GARDEN Sun 28 Bar, Worcester Comedy Loft, Birmingham Birmingham Aug, Hare & Hounds, THE SCOPYONS Fri 26 Birmingham SARAH MILLICAN: OUTSIDER Mon 29 BEACH SLANG Tues 23 INDEPENDENT CINEMAS: Aug, The Roadhouse, Aug, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Aug, The Sunflower TEMPERS FRAY & Birmingham RESTRICT Sun 28 Aug, FAT PENGUIN COMEDY Wed 31 Aug, Lounge, Birmingham SID & NANCY (18) Morbid biographical DIRE STREETS Fri 26 Marr’s Bar, Worcester The Patrick Kavanagh, Birmingham CELEBRATE - KOOL AS story of Sid Vicious, bassist with Aug, The Roses THE GANG Wed 24 Aug, NICKY AGER Sun 28 JOE PASQUALE Wed 31 Aug, Lichfield British punk group the Sex Pistols, Theatre, Tewkesbury The Jam House, B’ham Aug, The Tin Music & Garrick and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. THE HURLING BOYS Sat Arts, Coventry ETHAN JOHNS Wed 24 Stars Gary Oldman & Chloe Webb. 27 Aug, The Irish Aug, Hare & Hounds, DEFINITELY MIGHTBE & mac, Birmingham, Mon 22 - Tues 23 Centre, Birmingham Kings Heath, B’ham ADORED Sun 28 Aug, Aug GOOD CHARLOTTE Sat 27 The River Rooms, PETER KNIGHT’S TALE OF TALES (15) Like a wickedly Aug, O2 Institute, Stourbridge GIGSPANNER Wed 24 Theatre twisted episode of Game Of Thrones, Birmingham Aug, The Roses TONT KEARNEY Sun 28 this lavishly produced triptych of adult fairy tales is set in a medieval Theatre, Tewkesbury OZZY OZZSPAWN Sat 27 Aug, The Irish Centre, HAMLET Festival Players Theatre world of kings, queens, trolls and sea Aug, The Roadhouse, Birmingham Company present an outdoor pro- DEAD! Wed 24 Aug, The monsters and follows the rulers of Birmingham ELKIE BROOKS Mon 29 duction of the Bard's most famous Asylum, Birmingham three neighbouring kingdoms on THE COMMANDMENTS Aug, Swan Theatre, play, Tues 23 Aug, Swan Theatre, KEVIN MORBY Thurs 25 obsessive quests which become Sat 27 Aug, The River Worcester Worcester Aug, Hare & Hounds, their undoing. Stars Salma Hayek & Rooms, Stourbridge Birmingham RAGHU DIXIT Wed 31 SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL Based on the Toby Jones. Roses Theatre, DIRTY JANE Sat 27 Aug, Aug, O2 Academy, works of Dr Seuss, presented by DEL CAMINO Thurs 25 Tewkesbury, Tues 23 Aug O2 Academy, B’ham Birmingham Malvern Theatre's Young Company, Aug, The Jam House, THE COMMUNE (15) Thomas Tues 23 - Sat 27 Aug, Malvern Birmingham T-REXTACY Sat 27 Aug, THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS Vinterberg (Festen, The Hunt, Far The Robin, Bilston Wed 31 Aug, The Jam Theatres ESTHER Thurs 25 Aug, From The Madding Crowd) sets his House, Birmingham THE GLENN MILLER STORY Tommy Katie Fitzgerald’s, OUR WORLD BELOW Sat latest film in a commune in the ’70s Steele stars as America’s most Stourbridge 27 Aug, O2 Academy, HOODIE ALLEN where not everybody sees eye to Birmingham - Unsigned American famous big band leader, Tues 23 - eye. Trine Dyrholm won the best THANK ABBA FOR THE hip-hop artist and rap- Sat 27 Aug, New Alexandra Theatre, actress award at Berlin for her per- MUSIC Fri 26 Aug, SUBHUMAN RACE Sat 27 per, Wed 31 Aug, O2 Birmingham formance. And if Ms Dyrholm looks The Swan Theatre, Aug, Route 44, B’ham Institute, Birmingham DESDEMONA: A PLAY ABOUT A HAND- familiar to you, she starred opposite Worcester SOLIHULL SUMMER Pierce Brosnan in the delightful Love TEN STRINGS & A GOAT KERCHIEF Paula Vogel’s tongue-in- DOING YOUR OWN DANG FESTIVAL Featuring Is All You Need (2012). Warwick Arts SKIN Wed 31 Aug, The cheek take on the role of women Fri 26 Aug, Hare & UB40, Lucy Spraggan Centre, Coventry, Tues 23 - Thurs 25 Fleece Inn, Evesham through the ages, Tues 23 - Sat 27 Hounds, Birmingham & Scouting For Girls, Aug, Swan Theatre, Worcester Aug Sat 27 - Sun 28 Aug, BENJAMIN FOLKE THE REPLICAS Fri 26 CHEVALIER (18) From the producer of Tudor Grange Park, THOMAS Wed 31 Aug, TRAPPED: A STORY OF A MAN LIVING Aug, The River Rooms, Before Midnight comes this scathing Solihull Kitchen Garden Cafe, THE WRONG KIND OF LIFE Wed 24 Aug, Stourbridge Huntingdon Hall, Worcester comedy about six men sailing across SUMMER CHAPTER Birmingham UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE the Greek Islands. A game to deter- Sat 27 - Sun 28 Aug, OLIVER CROMWELL & THE BATTLE OF Fri 26 - Sat 27 Aug, mine which of them is ‘The Best in The Rainbow Venues, WORCESTER Worcester Festival talk in

64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 22 - 31 Aug - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:51 Page 2

Monday 22 - Wednesday 31 August

General’ escalates into an absurd BARRY LYNDON (12a) In this adaptation one-upmanship that ranges from the of William Makepeace Thackeray’s best sleeping posture to the most novel about the exploits of an 18th efficient IKEA flatpack technique. century Irish adventurer, Ryan O’Neal Friends will become rivals and rivals stars as Redmond Barry (later Barry will become hungry as the roots of Lyndon) and Marisa Berenson is male antagonism and ego are laid Lady Lyndon. Warwick Arts Centre, bare. Foreign language, subtitled. Coventry, Sat 27 - Sun 28 Aug Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (12a) The 24 - Thurs 25 Aug director David Yates segues from THE MARTIAN (12a) A team of astro- one iconic figure (Harry Potter) to nauts encounter a raging storm dur- another (Tarzan) in this reboot of the ing a mission to planet Mars. They story created by Edgar Rice escape the burning planet but leave Burroughs. Here, John Clayton, 3rd Mark Whatney, (Matt Damon) whom Viscount Greystoke, has been they believe to be dead, behind. But absorbed into the aristocracy of Whatney is alive, and now finds him- London when he is called back to self alone on the red planet, where the jungle as a trade emissary for the he must develop means to survive British government. However, there Scouting For Girls until his rescue. Warwick Arts Centre, are Machiavellian forces behind the Coventry, Fri 26 - Mon 29 Aug mission, forcing the Apeman to bare Solihull Summer Festival THE BFG (PG) The last time Steven his impressive physique one more Spielberg and the screenwriter time. Stars Alexander Skarsgård & Tudor Grange Park, Solihull, Sat 27 - Sun 28 August Melissa Mathison collaborated on a Samuel L. Jackson. Festival Drayton film was on ET The Extra-Terrestrial, Centre, Market Drayton, Fri 26 Aug; Birmingham band UB40 headline this live music festival to raise 34 years ago. This one is a live- Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun 28 - money for Help Harry Help Others, a local cancer charity set up in Tues 30 Aug action adaptation of Roald Dahl’s memory of the late schoolboy Harry Moseley, who died five years story of the lonely giant (played here GHOSTBUSTERS (12A) Who you gonna ago aged 11. by Mark Rylance) who kidnaps a little call? Paul Feig, apparently, he who girl (Ruby Barnhill) to help him outwit guided Melissa McCarthy to stardom The longstanding Midlands favourites will conclude their European the man-eating giants that have been in Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy. festival tour at the event, the first of its kind in Solihull. Other plaguing the human world. Also stars Now McCarthy and the girls are artists taking part include Kevin Simm (winner of The Voice UK Ruby Barnhill & Dame Penelope replacing the boys in this distaff 2016), Scouting For Girls, The Hoosiers, The Wonder Stuff, Five, S Wilton. mac, Birmingham, Fri 26 Aug remake of the 1984 hit about a mot- Club Party and The Blow Monkeys. - Wed 31 Aug ley crew of spectral experts who join

whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List 22 - 31 Aug - Warwicks & Worcs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:51 Page 3

thelist Monday 22 - Wednesday 31 August Wed 24 - Thurs 25 Aug, Forge Mill Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Needle Museum, Redditch, Herefordshire Worcestershire MULTI-PERIOD LIVING HISTORY KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS More than 20 WEEKEND Sun 28 - Mon 29 Aug, outdoor activities to choose from, Harvington Hall, Kidderminster under the supervision of highly quali- THE SIEGE OF KENILWORTH CASTLE fied staff, Thurs 25 Aug, The Old Mark 750 years since the Kenilworth Vicarage Adventure Centre, siege with a weekend of live-action Kidderminster re-enactments, Sun 28 - Mon 29 Aug, CHARLECOTE CHILDRE N'S CLUB A vari- Kenilworth Castle ety of nature and craft-based activi- BANK HOLIDAY FUN DAY Mon 29 Aug, ties, Thurs 25 Aug, Charlecote Park, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Warwickshire Worcestershire ACTIVE STORYTELLING Become an THE FACE OF SUMMER Family day out actor and tell Shakespeare’s stories including a craft fair, the return of Iris with a storyteller leading the way, May Falcons, Warwickshire Wildlife Thurs 25 Aug, Clore Learning Centre, Trust, the Guild of Weavers, Spinners Stratford-upon-Avon & Dyers, a beekeeper with an obser- SUMMER WORKSHOP - EDWARDIAN TOY vation hive, master composters and MAKING Get toy tinkering and make plenty more, Mon 29 Aug, Fargo Once Upon A Time There Were your own peg doll, Jacob’s ladder Village, Coventry Four Little Rabbits... and spinning tops, Thurs 25 Aug, SUMMER CRAFT FAIR Mon 29 Aug, Selly Manor, Birmingham Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth Arley Gardens, Bewdley, Worcestershire, Mon 29 August ANIMATION WORKSHOP Have a go at STORYTELLING WITH RUBY Visitors are mastering the basics of animation What better way can there be to celebrate the 150th anniversary of invited to pop along dressed in their and watch your character come to favourite costume and listen to sto- Beatrix Potter’s birth than by staging the adventures of her most life, Fri 26 Aug, Clore Learning ries of knights, dragons, princesses beloved of characters, Peter Rabbit? And that’s exactly what the well- Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon and castle-related themes, Mon 29 regarded Quantum Theatre do in this open-air show that’s been GARDEN TOURS Discover the fabulous Aug, Tamworth Castle described as ‘a magical and enchanting experience for young and flora and fauna that thrive at Witley KIDS' ADVENTURE DAYS More than 20 old alike’. with one of the expert gardeners, Fri outdoor activities to choose from, 26 Aug, Witley Court, Worcestershire When Peter Rabbit defies his mother and sneaks into Mr McGregor’s under the supervision of highly quali- garden, it isn’t long before he finds himself in a spot of real bother - TWISTED BARREL BREWERY TOURS fied staff, Tues 30 Aug, The Old 2016 Meet the team behind Twisted Vicarage Adventure Centre, not to mention divested of his clothes... Barrel Ale on this exclusive tour. Kidderminster Learn how the brewing process SUMMER WORKSHOP - DINOSAUR works and sample the ales and food, DESIGNS Stomp along to Selly Manor Sat 27 Aug, Fargo Village, Coventry forces to save the world. The special Kenilworth. Would-be young castle and construct your very own terrific effects should be considerably more defenders can practise their tre- THE BIG READ: STORY-TIME TRAIL T-Rex or brilliant brachio using recy- special this time round? Stars buchet skills and hear tales about the Explore Soho with Stories By Jo. cled materials, Tues 30 Aug, Selly Melissa McCarthy & Kristen Wiig. terrifying siege, Mon 22 - Fri 26 Aug, Make your own story by collecting Manor, Birmingham Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 29 - Kenilworth Castle items through the story time trail, Sat MAKE A CODE BREAKER Make your 27 Aug, Soho House, Birmingham Wed 31 Aug BLOOD, GUTS AND GORE Join former very own code breaker to help you RSC Head of Wigs and Make-up MOTORCYCLE RIDER SKILLS WORKSHOP write messages in code, Tues 30 NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Brenda Leedham as she talks about Improve your riding skills, knowledge Aug, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham the tricks of the trade and how bruis- and hazard awareness, Sat 27 Aug, CIRCUS DAY Plate spinning, juggling, Released from Fri 26 Aug, showing es, cuts and scars are created, Tues British Motor Museum, Gaydon, clowns and more, Tues 30 - Wed 31 at selected cinemas 23 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Warwickshire Aug, Birmingham Botanical Gardens BAD MOMS (tbc) Stratford-upon-Avon THE GRUB CLUB Food and drink spe- HANDS ON HISTORY - SIEGE! Get set for CELL (PG) SUPERHEROES TO THE RESCUE! Make cial featuring bakers, growers, grillers a summer packed with time-travelling and brewers, Sat 27 - Sun 28 Aug, JULIETA (15) your own mask and cape, and use fun, Tues 30 - Wed 31 Aug, your special powers to create a utility Fargo Village, Coventry Kenilworth Castle KIDS IN LOVE (15) belt, Tues 23 Aug, Selly Manor, BECKETTS BANK HOLIDAY FAMILY GREAT FIRE OF LONDON WEEK THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR (TBC) Birmingham WEEKEND A weekend of family fun, Commemorate 350 years since the WAR DOGS (TBC) TEDDY BEARS PICNIC Featuring games with fairground rides, inflatables, and Great Fire of London, with themed on the lawn, a bouncy castle, a chil- plenty for the whole family to see and crafts, garden and house trails, dren’s entertainer, arts and crafts and do, Sat 27 - Mon 29 Aug, Beckett's quizzes and performances based on activity trails, Wed 24 Aug, Farm, Birmingham the Great Fire, Tues 30 Aug - Sun 4 Birmingham Botanical Gardens SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY FUN: TALES, Sept, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Events FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: CRAFTY TRAILS AND TUDORS There's so much FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: HAND PRINT CASTLES Take inspiration from the to see and do this summer at the BEASTS Aston Hall is filled with mythi- magnificent architecture of Aston Hall Shakespeare Family Homes. All LADYBIRD GARDEN PARTY Songs, cal and legendary beasts hidden to create a crafty castle and become activities are included in admission - dance and entertainment with Katy within the architecture. Find as many the lord or lady of your own make- so if you already have a valid ticket, Ashworth, the star of CBeebies pro- as you can and then get hands-on as believe world, Wed 24 Aug, Aston you can pop along for free, Sat 27 - gramme, I Can Cook With Katy, Mon you create your own colourful crea- Hall, Birmingham Mon 29 Aug, Shakespeare's ture, Wed 31 Aug, Aston Hall, B’ham 22 Aug, Spetchley Park Gardens, nr Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon Worcester THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE YUCKY STORYTELLING IN THE COURTYARD Hear Interactive family show which finds WESTERN WEEKEND Commemorating CONDENSED HISTORIES: ANCIENT a variety of old folktales from Britain, the Mrs History team trying to out- 40 years since the end of Class 52s WARRIOR SHOWS Greg Chapman and beyond; tales of dragons, trolls, gross each other with nasty objects on British Rail, Sat 27 - Mon 29 Aug, uses juggling, unicycling and other giant cats and magical mermaids, from the past, Wed 24 Aug, Aston Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster variety skills to perform shows about Wed 31 Aug, Aston Hall, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham the gladiators of Ancient Rome, war- SCARECROW DAY Family fun day with SUMMER WORKSHOP - ANIMATION AND rior queen Boudicca and the STAGE FIGHTING Learn how to stage a whole host of scarecrow charac- OLDSKOOL CINEMA Learn about a Spartans, Mon 22 Aug, Forge Mill fight from the RSC experts. Suitable ters, Sun 28 Aug, Forge Mill Needle range of inventors and animators Needle Museum, Redditch, for adults and children, Wed 24 Aug, Museum, Redditch, Worcestershire who’ve worked with early forms of Worcestershire Clore Learning Centre, Stratford- BOUNCE & BOING Featuring an inflat- cinema, then create your own mini upon-Avon SIEGE THE DAY! A week-long event able slide, obstacle course and theatre and shadow puppets, Wed preparing for the great siege of SCARECROW-BUILDING WORKSHOPS bouncy castle, Sun 28 - Mon 29 Aug, 31 Aug, Selly Manor, Birmingham 66 whatsonlive.co.uk p67 (IBC) R2 Worcestershire.qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 16:02 Page 1

whatsonlive.co.uk 67 Shrewsbury Folk Festival (FP- August 16).qxp_Layout 1 25/07/2016 10:19 Page 1