Cover March 2019.qxp_Birmingham Cover 21/02/2019 14:10 Page 1

KIERAN HODGSON AT Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE

BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON MARCH 2019 Birmingham ISSUE 399 MARCH 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onbirminghamwhatson.co.uk

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Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

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YOU ARE HERE! everything in its place at Thinktank science museum BIRMINGHAMWHATSON.CO.UK Belgrade Theatre (FP- March 2019).qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 09:35 Page 1 Contents March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:05 Page 2

March 2019

Contents

Les Misérables - Killian Donnelly talks about playing in the iconic musical... interview page 24

Josie Lawrence George Ezra Podfest Birmingham the list

stars in hit French comedy Award-winning musician riding Comedy stars showcase their Your 16-page Edmond de Bergerac at The REP Shotgun at Resorts World Arena talents at Town Hall week-by-week listings guide interview page 8 page 18 page 22 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 10. Food 18. Music 22. Comedy 28. Theatre 39. Film 44. Visual Arts 47. Events

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Entertainment news from around the region

Get Grinched at the Alex! Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical will stop off at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre this winter (Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 December) as part of a UK tour. Featuring hit songs You’re A Mean One Mr Grinch and Welcome Christmas, the produc- tion broke box-office records for two consecu- tive years on Broadway. Commenting on the show, its UK producer, Simon Friend, said: “I’m so thrilled that The Grinch will be travelling the UK this year, stealing Christmas all around the country! The musical has been enchanting audiences across the US for over a decade, and we’ve been lucky enough to secure some of the best theatres in the country for its UK premiere. We can’t wait to see the UK going green over the coming year!” For more information and to book tickets, visit grinchmusical.co.uk

An icy Christmas tale at reality series in which they coerce one an- Bournville Bookfest this year features story- other into doing public pranks while being telling sessions, singalong events, drawing, the Old Rep Theatre! filmed by hidden cameras - the boys are stop- drama and model-making workshops, and Birmingham’s Old Rep Theatre has an- ping off at Arena Birmingham on Friday 11 special appearances by high-profile kids’ nounced that its Christmas show for 2019 will October as part of a UK tour. For more infor- writers and illustrators. be The Snow Queen. mation, visit arenabham.co.uk The event is joined for the first time by three The Hans Christian Andersen classic will run sister festivals, taking place in Barnt Green, from Saturday 16 November to Monday 30 Solihull and Sutton Coldfield. December. It will be the fifth festive show to Plans revealed for new For more information and dates, visit be produced alongside Birmingham Ormis- bournvillebookfest.com ton Academy. Commenting on the news, Birmingham hotel Michael Penn, Executive Director of the Old Rep, said: “Once again we’ll be bringing the RSC to premiere David best theatre and digital skills to the stage from both a professional and student team. Walliams kids’ story The Old Rep is becoming an established part The Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) of the city’s festive celebrations, and we look winter 2019 season includes the world pre- forward to welcoming families for what will miere of a new musical adaptation of David be a magical winter adventure!” Walliams’ The Boy In The Dress. Helmed by the RSC’s Artistic Director, Gre- A new 225-bedroom hotel is set to open in gory Doran, the show will feature songs by Birmingham date for in two years time. Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. Whitbread’s Premier Inn will occupy a new The production runs at the Royal Shake- Impractical Jokers 13-storey building on a new public square. speare Theatre from Friday 8 November to Commenting on the news, Premier Inn’s Stu- Sunday 8 March. art Rose explained that the deal was part of For more information about this and other the company’s wider acquisition drive in shows in the RSC’s winter 2019 season, visit Birmingham. rsc.org.uk

Bournville’s the place to High school buddies Joseph Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn and Salvatore Vulcano - be for bookworms... otherwise known as live improv troupe The Birmingham's only dedicated book festival Tenderloins - are coming to Birmingham. for children under the age of 12 is this month Best known from TV’s Impractical Jokers - a taking place for the sixth time. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 11:57 Page 2

First Word

Blue Planet II heads for Brum Blue Planet II-Live In Concert, the stage show inspired by the BAFTA-winning television se- ries, visits Birmingham’s Re- sorts World Arena on Saturday 16 March. The concert, hosted by Anita Rani (pictured), shows highlight sequences from across the TV series on a gigantic 4K Ultra HD LED screen. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra provide an emotive musical accompani- ment to the visuals. To book tickets for the show, visit theticketfactory.com

Banksy duo join forces with Birmingham Opera Company Banksy collaborators Block9, who created the dystopian fairytale castle at the centre of the artist’s Dismaland ‘bemusement park’ in 2015, are bringing their anarchic creativity to Birmingham this month for their first opera collaboration. Stephen Gallagher and Gideon Berger are joining forces with the award-winning Birmingham Opera Company to mount Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk at the city’s Tower Ballroom. The show runs from Saturday 9 to Sunday 17 March. For more information, visit birminghamopera.org.uk”

Headlining stars Springing into spring in Birmingham announced for Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio city’s Pride festival A daring piece of physical theatre incorporating an international cast of performers with and without learning disabilities kick- starts the spring season lineup of entertainment in Birmingham Festival provides Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio this month. Launchpad for Directed by Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham, Into The Light young musicians shows at the venue on Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 6 March. Tickets for performances in the Patrick Studio can be booked by Shrewsbury Folk Festival has visiting birminghamhippodrome.com, where you can also find opened applications for its Mid- information about the rest of the spring season programme. lands What’s On Magazine- Soft Cell icon Marc Almond, sponsored Launchpad stage, ’80s favourites Human League which provides young musi- (pictured) and electronic su- cians with a platform to show- case their talents. perstars Faithless are among The festival is inviting people the acts performing at this aged 16 to 26 who live in Shrop- year’s festi- shire, Mid Wales or the West val in the city’s . Midlands to pitch for a perfor- The two-day event, as usual mance slot. being held across the May To apply, send a short biogra- bank holiday weekend (Satur- phy, links to performances day 25 & Sunday 26 May), is (Soundcloud, YouTube etc) and this year taking the theme of your contact details to Love Out Loud. [email protected] before 6 May. Only selected per- Tickets are available from formers will be contacted. birminghampride.com.

whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Birmingham March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 11:58 Page 3

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Paper installation marks iconic art school’s centenary Birmingham City University students have marked 100 years since the formation of the iconic and hugely influential Bauhaus art school by creating a lifesize exhibition crafted entirely from paper and cardboard. Opened in Weimar, Germany, in 1919, the Bauhaus was closed in 1933 under pressure from the Nazis. Commenting on the project, Birmingham City Uni- versity lecturer Hollie Wright said: “Our students were asked to build this installation entirely from paper and cardboard, drawing on a range of differ- ent artistic skills to echo the multi-disciplinary na- ture of the Bauhaus.” The project is now on display to the public at the University’s Parkside Building.

Comic art festival An international festival cele- Celebrating Women’s History Month in Birmingham brating the medium of comic art in all its forms takes place Helen Pankhurst at in Shrewsbury across the first the Custard Factory weekend in June. The great-granddaughter of suf- Comics Salopia features ses- frage leader Emmeline Pankhurst sions with big-name comic- is this month headlining a free book artists, film screenings, event at Birmingham’s Custard Jedi fight training, face paint- Factory. ing, a small press comics mar- Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE will de- ket, an interactive Judge Dredd liver the keynote address at West event, live music, boat trips, a Midlands Women’s Voice’s ‘in con- zombie walk, a Cosplay compe- versation’ event, taking place at tition and live art events. the venue on Wednesday 6 March. Highlight of the festival is sure Commenting on the announce- to be an exhibition by local ment, organiser Jane Kemp said: artist Charlie Adlard of Walking “Dr Pankhurst is such a fascinat- Dead fame. ing woman with a breadth of expe- For more information about the City theatre dedicates the month of rience as both a women’s rights event, visit comicssalopia.com March to female-led creatives activist and through her charity Birmingham's Old Joint Stock Theatre has joined in with Women's work in the UK and abroad.” History Month celebrations by dedicating the entirety of its March programme to ‘female-led creatives’. Highlights of the venue’s lineup include Vulvarine: A New Musical, Women composers by feminist company Fat Rascal, and the critically celebrated in concert acclaimed Narcissist In The Mirror, by Rosie Fleeshman. Royal Birmingham Conservatoire To check out the whole programme, visit oldjointstock.co.uk is hosting a concert to celebrate 17th and 18th century female com- posers on Friday 8 March, as part Women’s Day version of Hit The Ode of the city’s International Women’s A special International Women’s Day version of performance Day celebrations. poetry night Hit The Ode is being held in Birmingham Hippo- The afternoon concert takes place drome’s Patrick Studio on Friday 8 March. in the Organ Studio and comprises Contributors to the show include actor, writer and poet Rosie vocal and instrumental music by Fleeshman, music project AG MA and international writer Ma- Francesca Caccini, Barbara lika Booker. For more information,Ā visit birminghamhippo- Strozzi, Jacquet de la Guerre, Is- drome.com abella Leonarda and Elizabeth Turner. 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 11:58 Page 4 Josie Lawrence DPS.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:28 Page 1

8 whatsonlive.co.uk Josie Lawrence DPS.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:28 Page 2

by Patsy Moss

Josie Lawrence The Queen of Improv talks about starring in Edmond de Bergerac at The REP

Improv Queen and renowned actor Josie “It’s a very friendly theatre, very well run, a comedian. I didn’t mind that, as I like mak- Lawrence is no stranger to Birmingham and I love working with Roxana. The space it- ing people laugh. Equally, though, I like to be Repertory Theatre. Previously she’s graced its self is lovely because it’s huge. It has the feel challenged, and to do things that I can really stage with performances in ’s of a studio to it because the seats go straight get my teeth into. This year is already turning Hapgood and his translation of Chekov’s The down onto the stage. It’s still my local the- out to be good. After playing Sarah here, I Cherry Orchard. She’s also appeared in Eu- atre, so I love it.” move straight into playing Aunt Ellie in Okla- gene Ionesco’s Amedee, Bill Alexander’s The homa!, which is a fantastic part.” Born into a working-class family in Cradley Alchemist and Bryony Lavery’s production of Heath - her father worked at British Leyland As she approaches her 60th birthday in June, Frozen. and her mother was ‘a lovely mum and and with her career still in full flow, is Josie Now she’s preparing to return to the venue housewife’, Josie’s early experiences of the- more selective about the roles she accepts? for a sixth time, taking on numerous roles in atre consisted of trips into Birmingham to see “I’m not a huge fan of touring anymore. I’m a Jeremy Sams’ translation of French theatre pantomimes. bit of a home bird. I love my home and where phenomenon Edmond de Bergerac. Directed She made it known that she wanted to act I live. I love coming up to the Midlands, but I by Roxana Silbert, the ensemble piece fea- from the age of five, and at 16 joined local don’t think I could spend a year or so touring; tures Freddie Fox in the title role as Edmond theatre group Oldbury Barlow Players, where its just not me. Some people love it, but I like Rostand, Henry Goodman as Constant Co- her first role was Honey in Who’s Afraid Of to get back home in the evening - I like my quelin and Chizzy Akudulo as Maria. Virgina Woolf. Three years at Devon’s Dart- own bed too much. When I was younger, I “I play the actress Sarah Bernhardt, who just ington College of Arts (1978 - 1981) resulted in loved the partying every night and all of that, whisks herself in and whisks back out her receiving a Bachelor of Arts honours de- but now I live the quieter life, so that impacts again,” says Josie. “She’s just one of the gree, since which time she’s enjoyed a boun- on the decisions I make.” many parts I perform in the play. As well as tiful career on stage and radio and in Regular performances with the Comedy Store Sarah, I play a prostitute, an old actress, a television and film. Players - a troupe of six who turn up at Lon- waitress and a can-can girl, so there’ll be lots So which does she enjoy most? don’s Comedy Store with ‘no script and not of different hats to wear...” “I love them all. My career trajectory hasn’t the faintest idea what will happen’ - are still a The winner of five Molière awards, Alexis followed any particular path. When I finished big part of Josie’s life. So what is it about im- Michalik’s critically acclaimed comedy con- Theatre College I did a lot of serious theatre. provisation - and her role with the Players - tinues to play to packed houses at the The- If I had to choose my first love, it would be that holds such appeal? atre du Palais-Royale in Paris. when I was playing someone who was mani- “It’s the best part-time job in the world and is cally depressed at the ‘It’s a very funny ‘what if’ play,” Josie contin- so much fun to do. I’ve been part of the Com- with Peter Capaldi. It would’ve been in the ues. “It’s about how Edmond Rostand, the edy Store Players since 1985, on a Wednesday early to mid-’80s, and they were doing late- writer of Cyrano de Bergerac, got the idea to and a Sunday, and when I can’t do it - like night cabaret there. I stayed behind one night write his play. Everyone at the time thought it when I had to have two years off to perform because they were doing improv and needed wasn’t going to work because numerous with the Royal Shakespeare Company - they more girls, so I joined in. things kept going wrong, but when it was get guest performers in. Then, when I’ve fin- first performed at the Théâtre de la Porte “I then joined the Comedy Store Players, and ished the job, I come back again. It’s im- Saint-Martin in 1897, it received 40 curtain a producer came along who asked if I’d be in- mensely funny to do. I did the 30th birthday calls and the applause lasted for an hour. terested in doing this thing called Whose of Whose Line Is It Anyway at the Royal Al- Cyrano made Edmond a huge hero in France, Line Is It Anyway. I’m very thankful for that bert Hall. It sold out for three shows and we and here we have this slightly fictionalised because it made my name. It only used to played to about 17,000 people. It was like version of a young man - played by Freddie - take two weekends to film, and for the rest of being a rock star!” his journey, his woes and his success.” the year I would carry on doing my theatre work, but Whose Line Is It Anyway was what Midlands-born Josie is always happy to re- I became mostly known for. Edmond de Bergerac shows at The REP, turn to the region - and in particular to the Birmingham, from Friday 15 to Saturday Birmingham Repertory Theatre - to perform. “People immediately started to refer to me as 30 March. whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Food March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 12:55 Page 1

Food

The sauce was creamy and the samphire and butternut squash cooked nicely. It was a dish that I'd definitely order again. Zsofia suggested we tried a few of the side dishes, and the moment they touched my lips, I abso- lutely knew why. The crispy sprouts, served with kimchi puree, were just to-die-for - I didn’t know it was possible for a sprout dish to taste so wonder- ful! I love kimchi, and the flavour combination was something of dreams. The hipsi cabbage with nori dust and parmesan, and the parsnip served with pumpkin seed were both fantastic too. Featuring an inventive choice of accompanying ingredients, it’s rare to find side dishes that are so good. To end the evening, we shared REVIEW: Little Blackwood two naughty desserts - the Little Magnificent food and exemplary service at Moseley gem Blackwood chocolate bar with peanut butter, salted caramel Known for its cosmopolitan com- décor and relaxed atmosphere thoroughly enjoyable dish. and strawberry gel, and the munity and vibrant social scene, further added to our sense of The fresh and delectable salmon chocolate brownie with white the Birmingham suburb of Mose- wellbeing. provided a nice contrast. Visu- chocolate ice cream, popcorn ley plays host to a number of The aesthetically pleasing inte- ally it was a work of art, and the and burnt white chocolate. The popular and high-quality bars rior features exposed brick, vel- unusual tapioca added some real descriptions more than speak for and eateries. vet chairs and brightly coloured texture and crunch. themselves - although I feel it’s appropriate to mention just how A relatively recent addition to the statement lampshades. Set For the main event, we chose fil- area’s eating-out offer is Little within the wooden floor is a cir- tasty the brownie in particular let of beef served with bone mar- was. The sweet, homemade Blackwood, opened a year ago cular glass section which ex- row, potato croquette and by award-winning chef Ben Tay- poses the underground wine treats were the perfect end to a Bordelaise sauce, and monkfish perfect evening. lor. cellar - a fantastic feature in a tail and king prawn curry with Boasting innovative, seasonal splendidly quirky establishment. sautéed sea vegetables and but- Our visit to Little Blackwood was and locally sourced British food, Following a couple of delicious ternut squash, served with ba- one of our most enjoyable the restaurant is Ben’s first ven- oysters came our starters. Choos- nana leaf sticky rice. evenings out in the city to date. ture since moving back to his ing from a mouthwatering selec- From the exemplary and wel- The steak was cooked perfectly, coming service to the downright home town, having previously tion, my partner and I opted for resulting in a melt-in-the-mouth made a success of stints at Cen at the Scottish salmon tartare magnificent food, this is a Mose- sensation, the knife gliding ley gem that you’ll want to return Celtic Manor, The Boot at Lap- served with a seaweed tapioca through the meat as if it were worth and Malmaison in Liver- cracker, caviar and nasturtium, to again and again. butter. The sweet, nutty flavour Lauren Foster pool, to name but a few. and the braised pig cheek served provided by the bone marrow, On arrival, my partner and I were with a langoustine bisque along with the light and fluffy Food: politely greeted by Zsofia, the topped with black olive tape- croquette, complemented the nnnnn Service: restaurant’s bubbly and wonder- nade. Each dish was elegantly steak perfectly. Featuring red nnnnn Ambience: ful manager, who showed us to presented and wonderfully tasty. wine, bone marrow, butter and nnnnn Overall value our table. We were wowed from The pig cheek was tender and shallots as the main ingredients, nnnnn OVERALL the moment we walked in. ‘Oys- without doubt the nicest I've the sauce was rich, flavoursome nnnnn ters?’ she asked. We couldn’t eaten anywhere, the creamy, and helped bring the dish to- strong-flavoured langoustine Little Blackwood have wished for a more perfect gether. 145 Alcester Road bisque was beyond delicious, introduction - she evidently On to the curry. As with the Birmingham and the saltiness from the tape- knew the way to our hearts from steak, the monkfish tail and king B13 8JP nade worked as the perfect addi- the off! The restaurant’s trendy prawns were cooked perfectly. Tel: 0121 449 6344 tion. A warm, comforting and 10 whatsonlive.co.uk Food March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 12:55 Page 2 Food March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 12:56 Page 3

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Food

Birmingham Wine Weekend is back Birmingham Wine Weekend is back for a second year, taking place at a number of destinations across the city from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 March. This year’s participating venues include The Cosy Club, Chung Ying Central, Gaucho, Harvey Nichols, Hotel Du Vin, Jekyll & Hyde, Opus and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill. To find out about the 2019 programme of events and for information about how to make the most of the weekend, visit birminghamwineweekend.co.uk

Family-run eatery wins coveted award Sutton Coldfield eatery Sushido has been named Midlands Japanese Restaurant Of The Year in the English Asian Food Awards 2019. Commenting on the success, a spokesperson for the family-run business said: “We couldn’t be more proud and happy to receive this award. Award-winning Digbeth Dining Club launches weekly Thank you to our amazing staff for their hard work, loyalty and for always going vegetarian and vegan street food nights the extra mile - without you and our Award-winning street food event Digbeth Dining Club has introduced a weekly get-together for amazing customers this wouldn’t have vegans and vegetarians following the success of its No Bones evening last year. been possible. Onwards and upwards Taking place every Thursday from 4pm, the event features four or five meat-free traders. for many more happy events together!” Commenting on the new initiative, Digbeth Dining Club co-founder Jack Brabant said: “We were amazed at how quickly our No Bones event gathered pace. It was an instant hit with our diners, so this was an obvious choice for us. While our regular traders are out the front serving a selection of Colmore Food Festival their much-loved dishes, the space at the rear of Digbeth Dining Club is reserved for vegan and back for ninth time vegetarian foods.” The ever-popular Colmore Food Festival will take place in Birmingham’s A mid-May return for the Great British Gin Festival Victoria Square on Friday 5 & Saturday 6 July. The 2019 edition of the Great British The annual celebration of Colmore Gin Festival takes place at The Mill Business District restaurants, bars, in Birmingham on 17 & 18 May. cafés and hotels attracts more than The event will feature over 100 30,000 visitors each year and is one of international gins, from household the city’s most popular summer events. names to exclusive small-batch This year’s festival will be the biggest varieties. yet, with more venues than ever before Event attractions include gin taking part. games, tasting samples and demonstrations. Musical entertainment will be provided by a live swing band performing hits by icons including Amy Winehouse and Frank Sinatra. Tickets for the festival cost £13.50 and are available by visiting thegreatbritishginfest.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Emma Rice.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2019 15:19 Page 1

WISE CHILDREN Emma Rice talks about her stage adaptation of Angela Carter’s final novel Emma Rice.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2019 15:19 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre next month presents a stage adaptation of Angela Carter’s novel, Wise Children - produced by a theatre company that’s also called Wise Children! What’s On caught up with Artistic Director Emma Rice to find out more...

Showbiz, sex, scandal and family drama lie what my lead characters say all the way ally looking forward to it!” at the heart of Wise Children, the late Angela through the play. Organising Wise Children as an ensemble Carter’s final novel. Emma Rice’s theatre “Nora and Dora are just fantastic birds! Top theatre company was an absolute no-brainer company of the same name is next month birds, as I like to call them! They work hard. for Emma: “Ensemble theatre is what I’ve presenting a stage adaptation of the book at They talk a lot about being illegitimate in done all my life. I trained quite classically as the Coventry Belgrade. Indeed, Wise Children every way throughout the play. They were an actor at the Guildhall, and then went on to will be Wise Children’s debut production! born on the poor side of the tracks and have do a lot of work in children’s theatre using “I’ve loved Angela Carter’s work for many, really grafted through showbusiness the hard storytelling forms where you work very many years,” says Artistic Director Emma. “I way. They’re not completely identical twins. tightly as a company. Then I spent some time previously did an adaptation of Nights At The Dora has got secrets in her past and is much in Poland and very much worked in an en- Circus, so have been thinking about doing more guarded and sharp than Nora, while semble, and spent some time doing chorus Wise Children for a long time. I was certainly Nora is very emotional. With the Chance work. I think ensemble is just the way I like thinking about putting it on at The Globe be- twins, we really go through their history in its to work. Everybody’s on stage all the time, fore I left the post of artistic director there. entirety - their loves, their losses and the everybody tells the story, everybody sings, After I’d had artistic differences with the abuses that they suffer. Yet throughout, everybody dances, and that’s just where my board at The Globe, I decided to start my own they’re such good fun and are never victims. whole career and practice has led to. I never theatre company so that I could work for my- They’re always joyful, irreverent and, actu- like choosing a famous play and just sticking self and have complete creative licence. So ally, very sexy. We initially meet them when a famous person in it. The focus for me is to when I woke up with a clean slate in front of they’re 75 and they’re still sexy and full of find a great story and a great ensemble to tell me, I already knew I was going to do this sauciness!” it.” piece. It’s really a love letter to theatre, so it Emma made the decision to be fluid in terms She has high hopes for the future of the com- felt perfect for me at this time. With this of age, gender and race when casting Wise pany: “I just hope we make fantastic, positive piece, I could celebrate theatre, the family of Children: “I just made the decision straight theatre that enhances the lives of the audi- choice that is theatre, and all the work, the away that to cast a type for a lot of the char- ence and those in the company creating it, highs and the lows that is theatre. I thought acters in this play would be so narrowing. and that we also train the next generation of Wise Children would be perfect for the com- Imagine how hard it would be to find two 75- brilliant artists at the same time.” pany name as well. I’m at a time in my life year-old women who look alike and could where I need to be really smart and clever Emma is very secretive about what she has in sing and dance! Honestly, when you’re telling with the direction I take myself in, but at the the pipeline for Wise Children: “I do have stories, the audience will go anywhere with same time I don’t want to lose that joy in the- specific plans, but they’re secret, so I’m not you. Anything is possible. It didn’t matter atre which is almost like childhood inno- going to tell you! I have the next four years what gender, what background, what race cence. I thought that me being a wise child planned out, but I’m not going to tell anyone anybody I cast was from. So I’ve gone for a and my company being Wise Children was just yet.” completely diverse company where each per- just perfect.” son is cast because of their spirit, and it just So why does she think people should visit the Wise Children closely follows the trials, tribu- works. The audience doesn’t for a minute Belgrade next month to see Wise Children? lations and triumphs of theatrical twins Nora start separating men and women. We tell “The show is a celebration of theatre. It’s and Dora Chance. Emma explains why she them what gender each character is, what funny, full of music, and is really a modern thinks their story makes for such good the- their relationship to each other is, and the Shakespeare full of twists and turns, knots, atre: “I think Wise Children really encapsu- audience just believe it because the actors are twins and cases of mistaken identity. But ulti- lates why people go to the theatre - the so brilliant.” mately, it’s a show about endurance, joy and glamour, the sawdust, the threat! It’s a crack- hope.” The Belgrade is one of only two venues where ing good story. We’ve really put time and care Emma herself will be taking to the stage as into our characters, and we go through an in- Nora - but it seems she didn’t have much tense history with them that’s very theatrical. choice in the matter: “The actor who’s play- It really sends the audience out into the ing Nora couldn’t do the last two dates, so the world afterwards feeling positive about their Wise Children shows at Coventry’s choice was either to get somebody else or for ability to endure hardship, and feeling aware Belgrade Theatre from Tuesday 2 to me to do it. So I thought I would, and I’m re- of what a joy it is to dance and sing, which is Saturday 6 April. .qxp_Layout 1 28/02/2019 10:41 Page 1 LET’S GET

Kinky Boots struts ontoKinky! the stage... Kinky Boots.qxp_Layout 1 28/02/2019 10:42 Page 2

IN CONVERSATION WITH KAYI USHE

We caught up with West End star Kayi Ushe, who will be putting on the boots to play Lola when the show heads to Birmingham this month...

What’s the best thing about playing on. Be that men in dresses, women in Lola in Kinky Boots? miniskirts, people wearing their cul- Being able to sink my teeth into such a tural garb, people with tattoos…the multifaceted and exuberant character list goes on! every day is such an incredible experi- ence. But I can honestly say the best How long does it take you to get thing about playing Lola is knowing into character - tell us about the how many people resonate with the process? character and feel empowered to be On an average day I get into work themselves after seeing the show. about 2 and a half hours before the show, usually to stretch and warm up. How easy is it for you personally to Then about 2 hours before the show relate to the character/ What’s your we start the makeup, which takes 45 personal experience of drag? minutes. Then there is company vocal I have no personal experience of drag. warm up and parish notices. After I've admired it from a distance as an that, it's back to the dressing room to art form and now having done it and add the costume, mics and the wig. I'll continuing to do it as this character, I usually sing a few bits from the show have a much deeper appreciation for and then head to the stage for my en- the holistically transformative art trance. form that it is. It’s really easy for me to personally relate to the character, and Did you have to have your boots I think that's what makes this part and made specially? this show so unique. We've all been All my heels were custom made by the oddball at some point in our lives Jodie Morrison, owner of “Steppin’ without realising that actually, odd- out”. I was fitted for them on my 30th ness and uniqueness is what makes us birthday in Chester as it was the only who we are. We shouldn't shy aware time that worked for all of us and I from it. was already there performing in rep at the Storyhouse. Give us 3 good reasons why people from the Midlands should bag One of the Kinky Boots sentiments themselves a ticket NOW!... is Be Someone’s Reason To Smile! - Everybody should come and see this what brings a smile to your face? show, it really is a show for all. Come Seeing audience members up on their and feel seen. Come and feel repre- feet and singing along at the end of sented. Come and let us raise you up! the show, it really is an incredible at- mosphere that I feel so happy and Do you have a favourite one-liner grateful to be a part of. from the show? My favourite one liner in the show is “I'm not looking for you to say any- Kinky Boots shows at thing.” I think it's so poignant be- Birmingham Hippodrome from cause how I look, how I dress, how I Monday 11 to Saturday 23 March feel comfortable when I'm being me is not something I need your approval Classical March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:05 Page 1 Classical March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:05 Page 2

Classical

Sir Karl Jenkins: 75th Birthday Concert Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 10 March “Karl Jenkins,” says opera and concert star Bryn Terfel, “produces always impec- cable writing for a multitude of voices and instruments. I wish I had his talent to compose tunes but am proud to consider myself one who adores to sing them.” Terfel is far from alone in his admiration of his fellow Welshman. A recent exhaus- tive survey revealed that Sir Karl is the most-performed living composer in the world. Indeed, his best-known work, The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace (which he conducts in this birthday concert, along with 6000 Pipes Organ Concerto, Palladio and excerpts from Symphonic Adiemus) Oslo Philharmonic Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 8 March has been performed more than 1,500 times The Oslo Philharmonic’s reputation as Scandinavia’s finest orchestra has been emphati- in 20 different countries. cally underlined in recent times, thanks in the main to the arrival of the dynamic Vasily Petrenko (pictured) as chief conductor. The St Petersburg-born 42-year-old is best known for his contribution to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, of which he’s been chief conductor since 2006. During his time with the or- chestra, he’s presided over not only a refashioning of its sound but also an impressive in- crease in concert ticket sales... Petrenko’s trademark energy is sure to be much in evidence when the Oslo Phil take to the stage to present Sibelius’ fifth symphony. Works by Delius and Grieg also feature on the bill.

Birmingham Bach Choir: Quatuor Bozzini Di Xiao - Femmes Music For Passiontide The Barber Institute, Birmingham, De Legende Wed 13 March St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 12 March Sat 30 March Celebrated Chinese pianist Di Xiao is in no One of the city's oldest and most distin- doubt about the professional ambition guished musical groups here gets its collec- which she holds closest to her heart. “I tive teeth into two 20th century small-scale want to become an international ambas- masterpieces: Kenneth Leighton’s power- sador for the piano,” she explains, “com- fully dramatic cantata, Crucifixus pro nobis bining Chinese and Western repertoire in - a mini Passion for choir, organ and tenor the programming of my concerts, thereby soloist (sung by Robin Morton) - and Her- creating a bridge between two cultures.” bert Howells’ moving Requiem. Although in her relatively short career The concert is part of the choir’s centenary Xiao has displayed a real flair for that season and also features Lotti’s timeless When it comes to forging collaborative pro- aforementioned bridge building, her pro- Crucifixus, Bruckner’s magisterial motets jects, presenting new works and taking mu- gramme on this occasion focuses on the and Ruht Wohl, one of Bach’s most famous sical risks, Quatuor Bozzini’s reputation theme of women - both as composers and and beautiful pieces. precedes them. Indeed, the Canadian per- as inspiration. formers have even been dubbed ‘one of the most daring string quartets in the entire world’. Their visit to Birmingham sees them pre- miering two works: John Woolrich’s Débri- collage - from his current project, A Book Of Inventions - and fellow Canadian Scott Wil- son’s a mezza voce. Works by Linda Caitlin Smith, Stravinsky and Bartók also feature.

whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Seth Lakeman.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:33 Page 1

It’s a rollercoaster. “People do end up on their feet often, and you try to take them along. I think that’s the point of music;

it’s escapism, it’s about

lifting people up and showing them something“ different. I think that’s important.

16 whatsonlive.co.uk Seth Lakeman.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:33 Page 2

by Stephen Taylor

Seth Lakeman marks the 400th anniversary of The Mayflower’s journey to the New World As a native of Devon, folk singer-songwriter Wampanoag tribe, the descendants of the The eventual winner of the award was Seth Lakeman is planning to mark an impor- original Native American Indians who met Antony And The Johnsons, but Seth acknowl- tant historical landmark for the county next the settlers, and they’re going to be part of edges his nomination as a real turning point year. the theatre show. So there’s a lot that’s going in his career: “The Mercury seemed more of into it to cross the sea, cross the divide and an event back then than it does now. I was “The most recent project I’ve been working make sense in Massachusetts, as well as over performing, and it was the biggest step in my on is the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower, here in Plymouth. It’s a big moment.” career. I’ve had some incredible hurdles, but the Pilgrim Fathers’ boat, and their journey that was the one that broke my career.” over to the New World,” explains Seth. “So Before he follows in the Pilgrims’ footsteps, I’m writing the music for a theatre show though, Seth will continue to promote his Seth has since shared the stage with the likes that’s going to happen in June next year.” most recent album, The Well Worn Path, of Billy Bragg, Jethro Tull, Mumford & Sons which was released on Cooking Vinyl late and the Levellers. More recently he’s added The Puritans who became known as the Pil- last year. the name of one of rock’s legendary frontmen grim Fathers set sail on the Mayflower from to his list of collaborators - Led Zeppelin’s Plymouth in September 1620. By the end of “It’s done incredibly well. The way people Robert Plant: “He’s a bit like a father figure that year, they had established the ‘Plimoth are receiving and responding to it is really now. Robert is someone who’s a massive in- Plantation’, one of the earliest English settle- positive. It’s gone down very well, so it’s cer- spiration and a very energetic, creative force ments in North America. tainly an exciting time, with a brand new who you can only look up to. I feel quite hon- line-up. It’s always good to keep the cogs Lakeman has ambitious plans to mark their oured to be part of his whole setup and to be turning, keep things evolving, and it feels momentous journey: “We’ll call it The Pil- able to call him a mate. He’ll definitely come like we’re doing that with this new band. grims’ Tale, and it will be music with visuals to some of the gigs that we do on this tour.” - there’ll be narration in between some of the “It’s a really strong band, so we’re quite ex- If Plant decides to rock up in Shrewsbury or songs - but the actual theatre show itself will cited by it all. There’s a guitarist, double bass Birmingham, what can he expect to see when be a big 80-person performance. It’s a bit player, drummer and myself. It’s very groovy, Seth walks on stage? more of an epic, and we’ll have a spin-off quite uplifting at moments, and it’s a very album alongside it.” good show, we hope.” “It’s a real journey around the west country, from shipwrecks to farmers, to train drivers Instead of following the usual pattern of Seth reveals that the recruitment of Kit and legends of the moors. Musically, it’s very presentation for a show - a West End debut Hawes on guitar helped to influence the colourful, it’s very rhythmic, it’s quite high followed by a tour of provincial theatres - overall sound of The Well Worn Path. energy, but there are also very stripped-back Seth is hoping to take the production on a “We were exploring the [Fender] Stratocaster moments that are quite emotional. very special and unique route: “We’ll pick guitar - that Richard Thompson sound and the 11 towns and cities that the Puritans “It’s a rollercoaster. People do end up on the way he writes within it - and it’s certainly came from. We’re going to be quite specific their feet often, and you try to take them the sound that will come out in Shrewsbury about it, so it’ll include Nottingham, Leiden, along. I think that’s the point of music; it’s and Birmingham. It’s probably the coolest in Holland - where they spent time - Dart- escapism, it’s about lifting people up and sound we’ve ever had.” mouth, Southampton, Boston, Darlington showing them something different. I think and Scrooby in Nottinghamshire. It’ll be The Well Worn Path is Seth’s ninth album that’s important.” quite an unusual tour; not the usual venues.” release. His second album, Kitty Jay, earned him a nomination for the prestigious And like the Pilgrim Fathers, Seth is hoping Mercury Prize in 2005, alongside some to head across the Atlantic: “Fingers crossed, notable company. it’ll have a run in Boston in Massachusetts. Seth plays Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn on Sunday 3 March and Birmingham’s That would be fantastic. “It was a big year. Coldplay, KT Tunstall, the Glee Club on Wednesday 27 March. launch of Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party’s first “When I was touring America, I met the record - I was up against some big acts.” whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Cov Music Museum.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2019 15:18 Page 1

somewhere special... credit: Coles Photo John Cov Music Museum.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2019 15:18 Page 2

by Stephen Taylor

Celebrating 40 years of 2-Tone at Coventry Music Museum...

In the summer of 1979, 2-Tone Records, an in- The 2-Tone Trail, and that’s where it started.” ‘kids go free’. We want to educate the kids dependent label from Coventry, released about 2-Tone, so throughout this year they The museum opened five years ago, and Gangsters by The Special A.K.A. (or The can visit the museum for free, as long as while its 2-Tone exhibits include items Specials, as they would become known). The they’re accompanied by an adult. We’ve also relating to Selecter, Madness and The Beat, single signalled the start of a musical revolu- got a little comic book that explains about all of whom released records on the label, it’s tion. Over the next few years, 2-Tone would 2-Tone in a child-friendly way.” The Specials who remain the chief reason become a voice of protest against the Mar- why people visit the venue. While Pete acknowledges that the museum is garet Thatcher-led Conservative government. inspired by 2-Tone, he’s also keen to cele- The band’s single, Ghost Town - a damning The 2-Tone movement boasted an exciting brate the work of other musicians, not only indictment of Thatcher-led policies - topped roster of bands and a distinctive black-and- from Coventry but also neighbouring towns the charts in July 1981. Its success coincided white chequered logo featuring a sharp- and cities. These include Frank Ifield, with an outbreak of inner-city rioting across dressed man in a pork-pie hat. And, in Jerry Lieutenant Pigeon, The Enemy and The Britain - a response to escalating racial ten- Dammers - who, as leader of The Specials, Primitives. But it’s the story of a Coventry- sion and social deprivation. would be responsible for some of the most born woman who pioneered British elec- memorable tunes of the 1980s - it had an The video for Ghost Town featured a scene tronic music which attracts a significant iconoclastic and gifted founder. where the band are singing the song’s refrain number of visitors to the museum... in a classic Cresta. A re-creation of Forty years on, 2-Tone’s contribution to As a member of the BBC Radiophonic Work- the car has become a popular new attraction British music is being celebrated at the shop, Delia Derbyshire took an original tune at the Music Museum. Coventry Music Museum. by Ron Grainer and helped to compose the “We believe that parts of our Ghost Town car Dr Who theme in 1963. Her innovative ap- Pete Chambers, the museum’s director and are from the original,” says Pete. “People proach to recording music created some of curator, remembers when Gangsters skanked love the car - everybody wants their photo the earliest electronic sounds, many of which its way from his home city to the top 10 in the taken in it.” were way ahead of their time. Derbyshire UK chart: “The Clash had been playing with died in 2001 at the age of 64. reggae and punk, but I think The Specials Just like the label that inspired a couple of fe- took it to another level, and it was incredible male fans from east Asia to make a 6,000- “After 2-Tone, she’s the next most popular for Coventry. We happened to go on holiday mile pilgrimage, the Coventry Music Museum pilgrimage people make. Delia’s definitely to Lloret De Mar in Spain, and we were all is an independent operation, with funding number two - we have a lot of people coming there, skanking. Gangsters was being played mainly provided by admission charges: for that. It’s a shame she never saw any of and we were so proud. Some cities have got “We’re part of the 2-Tone Village, made by the this. their own bands, but we ended up with a fans for the fans. We’ve got two shops, the 2- “We got a road named after her in Coventry. whole movement!” Tone café, the Coventry Music Wall of Fame The local authority wanted to call it ‘street’ or outside, and we’ve got the museum, so it’s a As Chambers recalls, Coventry was “the epi- ‘road’, but I said we should have the double lovely little enclave.” centre of the British music scene for a while”, meaning of ‘way’, because Delia liked to do but it was 2-Tone’s international popularity As 2-Tone nears its 40th anniversary, it seems things her own way. So it became Derbyshire that fired his passion to recognise the contri- appropriate that Encore, the first album of Way.” bution the label had made to the city. original material by The Specials in more than 20 years, went straight to number one in “A friend of mine was approached by two the UK album chart, less than a week after Japanese girls in Coventry city centre who Coventry Music Museum is located at the band announced they would play four were looking for the ‘2-Tone’. He reported this 80 Walsgrave Road, Coventry, CV2 4ED. nights in July in the ruins of Coventry Cathe- back to me, and I was disgusted that there For more information, visit covmm.co.uk dral. Also, one of the things we’re doing is was nothing. I decided to write a book called GIGS March Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:06 Page 1

Gigs

Erja Lyytinen Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Thurs 28 March With a sound rooted in both traditional and modern blues that successfully blends styles including jazz, pop, soul and rock, Erja Lyyti- nen was voted best guitarist in the 2017 Euro- pean Blues Awards. Her latest album, Stolen Hearts, sees the ‘Finnish slide goddess’ working alongside multi-platinum-selling engineer and pro- ducer Chris Kimsey, best known for his con- tributions to Rolling Stones albums Sticky Fingers and Some Girls.

George Ezra One of the biggest-selling male artists of the decade and often described as having a Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, 17 March voice beyond his years, George recently re- George Ezra enjoyed a certified 4x platinum leased second album Staying At Tamara’s, success with debut album Wanted On Voy- featuring hit single Shotgun - another chart- age. The 2014 release amassed an impres- topper. sive 122 weeks in the charts, four of which He visits Birmingham this month as part of were spent in the top slot. his first ever headline arena tour. The Cinematic Orchestra O2 Institute, Birmingham, Fri 29 March Paul Carrack Dreadzone The Cinematic Orchestra are a British nu-jazz and electronic music group created in 1999 Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 3 March The Mill, Birmingham, Sat 2 March by Jason Swinscoe, whose background in fine Paul Carrack’s most recent album, These Presenting an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, art inspired him to ‘translate visual art into Days, has been hailed the most accom- techno, folk and rock music, Dreadzone audible art’. plished collection of songs in his distin- formed in 1993, during their early years em- The group's sound, in both live and studio guished career. Described as ‘grown-up pop ploying backing vocalists who included contexts, is created by a live band improvis- music made by, and for, people who've had Melanie Blatt, Denise van Outen and Alison ing along with a turntablist and electronic el- the ups and downs that life unfailingly pro- Goldfrapp. ements, including samples provided by vides’, it features 11 brand new composi- One of the most energetic, exciting and pow- Swinscoe. tions - six Carrack solos and five co-writes erful live bands to emerge from the post-rave Their definitive new album, for which Swin- with old Squeeze bandmate Chris Difford. scene, they last year released the album scoe and longtime partner Dominic Smith “It's about getting to an age and appreciat- Dread Times, tracks from which will feature have enlisted contributions from collabora- ing what you've got,” says Carrack. “I hope in this gig. tors old and new - including Roots Manuva it will resonate with people who’re going and Moses Sumney - explores a timeless through the same stuff. It's not being question of vital importance in 2019: what frightened of it, and just trying to enjoy it.” Panic! At The Disco should we believe? Arena Birmingham, Tues 26 March Fronted by vocalist and multi-instrumental- ist Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco first came to prominence with the release of their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, in 2005. Fourteen years later and the band are em- barking on their biggest-ever European tour, to promote sixth studio album Pray For The Wicked. The new record has debuted at number two in the UK Official Album Chart and number one on the USA’s Billboard 200. 18 whatsonlive.co.uk HAM GAY V NG ILL BIRMI AGE

H & SUN 26T SAT 25T H MAY ʻ19

THE UK’S LARGEST 2-DAY LGBTQ+ FESTIVAL TICKETS/INFO: BIRMINGHAMPRIDE.COM Kiri.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:17 Page 1

20 whatsonlive.co.uk Kiri.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:17 Page 2

by Tom Silverton Kiri Pritchard-McLean hoping to become Wales’ favourite daughter...

Comedian and podcaster Kiri Pritchard-McLean is proving to be a major hit on the UK comedy circuit, not least as writer and director of highly rated sketch group Gein's Family Giftshop. What’s On chatted to her ahead of her upcoming Midlands dates...

Rising star Kiri Pritchard-McLean is making a thing if it’s excellent, and do I think I could Proving herself as a comedy force across so name for herself as a standup comedian, write an excellent musical? Probably not.” many different platforms, could a Netflix spe- podcaster, MC and sketch trouper. She’s also cial be on the horizon? “Everyone would love As though standup and a musical night aren’t flying the flag for Wales - although born in a Netflix special, surely? I’ve just done a spe- enough, Kiri also has a podcast with fellow Gloucester, she was raised on a farm in An- cial for Comedy Central that’ll be out soon. comedian Rachel Fairburn, in which they dis- glesey. “I absolutely identify as Welsh. I love That was really fun to do. It’s great because cuss, amongst other things, serial killers - a playing gigs in Wales because I think the au- whole new audiences are opening up for peo- macabre subject which seems peculiarly pop- diences have got a peculiar sensibility. Maybe ple. The comedy coming out of Britain onto ular with comedians. Does she have any some of that seeps into my standup. I think it Netflix is only going to get better and better.” thoughts about why that might be? “People definitely shows in my sketch group because who do comedy tend to be weird outsiders, Unless you’ve been under a rock or wearing a three out of four of us are Welsh.” which that genre is all about. Comedians blindfold, you might recognise Kiri not just The sketch group to which Kiri refers is Gein’s have a much darker sensibility with each for her standup but also her signature style - Family Giftshop, which she formed with Kath other. Everyone I knew growing up, we were dressed to the nines in sequins. “Where did it Hughes and Edward Easton. Adam Scott- all into horror and comedy, and when you come from, I hear you ask. I have a respect Rowley joined later. “Kath and Ed are the two start doing comedy, you’re like, ‘That’s quite for old-school showbiz and love all that stuff. funniest, most talented people I know, so enough of that!’” When I first started, I didn’t think there was spending time with them is amazing. When I anything that stood out about me as a comic, To top off her already-jampacked schedule, start directing, they take direction so bril- so I thought maybe if I always wore some- Kiri has been hosting BBC Radio 4extra’s top- liantly and they’re just a joy to watch. There’s thing interesting and different, then people ical comedy show, Newsjack. “It’s had some something about Geins that keeps us all com- would at least remember that about me. I al- great hosts, and you don’t want to be the one ing back to working together and pursuing it. ways like to dress up when I’m on stage be- who nobody talks about - or who everyone We love doing it so much and we love the lit- cause I spend my nights out gigging, so I’ve talks about! I just want to do a solid job and tle gang.” got all these great clothes I can’t wear be- keep my integrity. I really believe in it as a cause I’m working. It’s sort of a nod to work- When she’s not busy with standup, Kiri runs programme because it’s crowd-sourced and ing men’s clubs and musicals.” comedy musical night Amusical, where the is a genuine opportunity for people to hone audience enjoy (or are subjected to) standups their skills and get writing. It’s a dark art! Kiri definitely seems likes she’s on the path performing their favourite musical numbers. to stellar success, even if she’s being modest Surely with so demanding a professional life, “It’s a really fun, silly, joyous, underdog, about it. So what might she call her autobiog- something is going to have to give for Kiri. campy, naughty vibe, which is not like any- raphy - if she ever got round to writing it? Might she, for example, jettison the standup thing else that I do. I love it. And the band “Well, I’m trying to push the agenda at the comedy? “I would never want to do that. I ba- are incredible, so everyone sounds great moment of ‘Wales’ favourite daughter’, which sically feel like I’ve got several plates spin- whether they are or not! The audience are I’m determined to become, so I’m going to ning - some things I’m doing badly, some just brilliant; we’re very, very lucky. I think call it that. Riding on the back of a corgi, with things I’m doing well. Geins is doing a new Richard Herring is pencilled in to do it in a Welsh dragon draped round my shoulders!” show in Edinburgh this year, so I won’t do a June.” solo show there because I don’t have time to So has Kiri ever thought about creating a mu- do a good job of both of them. It’s so annoy- sical? “I’d need to have some time off to actu- ing because you just wish you could do all of ally write it, but I’d love to. But it’s also very them! Sometimes stuff has to give, and at the Kiri Pritchard-McLean brings her Victim, hard at the moment, as the landscape’s moment it’s going to be my standup, and Complex show to Midlands Arts Centre, changed because everyone watched Hamil- that’s fine, because it’s important to me that Birmingham on Thursday 14 March and ton and went, ‘Well, what’s the point… that’s Geins do a good show. I love everything I do, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on the benchmark!’ You only want to do some- and I don’t want to give up anything!” Friday 26 April

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Comedy March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:18 Page 1

Comedy

Carl Hutchinson The REP, Birmingham, 9 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 23 March Observational comedian Carl Hutchinson makes a welcome return with a show that covers all manner of common-or-garden topics, from the challenges of buying a house to the experience of having kids. Prior to becoming a full-time standup, Carl spent some time as a maths teacher. ”There are certainly comparisons between the two professions,” says the popular Geordie co- median, “but the definite advantage with comedy is that if you have a bad gig, you can rest assured that you don't have to see the same audience the next day at 10am!”

Rhod Gilbert Ken Cheng Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sun 3 March; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 7 March; Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 6 Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 17 - Sat 18 May March; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 3 May Welsh funnyman Rhod Gilbert has acquired a huge and still-growing following thanks to a There’s plenty more to Ken Cheng than a high-energy brand of grumpiness that marks him out as one of the top comedians of his standup comedy routine. The son of Chinese generation. With several sell-out UK tours to his name, the multi-award-winner is this immigrants in the UK, he not only earned a month returning to the Midlands with a brand new show. place at Cambridge to study mathematics, Rhod’s best-loved gags include: “In the Bible, God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. he also decided to drop out. He’s a profes- That’s a pretty good summer for Wales. That’s a hosepipe ban waiting to happen.” And “A sional poker player too, so even if the jokes spa hotel? It’s like a normal hotel, only in reception there’s a picture of a pebble.” dry up, his cash flow hopefully won’t. Ken won the Dave Funniest Joke of the Fringe award in 2017, beating the opposition with the gag: "I'm not a fan of the new pound Lucy Frederick Olga Koch coin, but then again, I hate all change.” Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 16 March Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 3 March Lucy Frederick is a comedian who tries not to set the bar too high for herself. Asked in The daughter of Mark Steel an interview what reaction she looks for in a former deputy Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thurs 14 March; an audience, she replied: “Largely I look prime minister Evesham Arts Centre, Fri 29 March for laughter. But I will take smiling. Or not of Russia who “I started doing standup in 1982, around the grimacing. Beggars can’t be choosers.” went on to circuit of bizarre gigs,” recalls highly re- It’s in part this self-effacing attitude which become a game- garded writer and comedian Mark Steel. “I’d has seen Lucy make her way up the greasy show host and go on after jugglers and escapologists and comedy pole at an impressive rate of live in exile, people who banged nails into their ear. knots. She’s also got some very good gags Olga Koch re- Since then, I’ve spoken at lots of demonstra- and isn’t averse to bearing her soul - a fact counts the story tions, union meetings, protests and benefits which goes some way towards explaining of her father’s treatment at the hands of - and yet capitalism still seems to rule the why she’s called this latest show Even the country he once served with distinc- world. Maybe I’m a jinx!” More Naked. tion. In the process, she invites her audi- A well-established performer on the UK ence to join her on a journey through what comedy circuit, Mark’s CV includes the is essentially a family album by sharing a BAFTA-nominated Mark Steel Lectures for selection of home videos from her child- BBC Two, BBC One’s hood (as well as vintage clips of pro-Gor- Have I Got News For bachev TV adverts!). You and Radio An autobiographical show with a heavy Four’s News Quiz. dollop of espionage thrown in for good He visits the Mid- measure, this debut offering from Olga lands with his latest was nominated in the best newcomer cate- touring show, Every gory at last summer’s Edinburgh Comedy Little Thing’s Gonna Awards. Be Alright.

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:18 Page 2

Kieran Hodgson Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Wed 27 March; Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Thurs 28 March With the epic Brexit saga continuing to ex- cite and bore in equal measure, Kieran Hodgson here decides to take a stroll down memory lane and tell the tale of how Britain joined Europe in the first place. To do so, he returns to the decade that taste forgot and discovers that the 1970s were about way more than just ‘TISWAS, the colour brown and the words “Let’s go on strike again”’. A three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, character comedian Kieran has built an impressive reputation on the standup circuit and is well worth a look.

Podfest Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, Sat 23 & Sun 24 March Birmingham Town Hall is this month host- podcast features YouTube and Instagram ing the city’s first ever Podfest. sensations Louise Pentland and Emma The brand new event will see an array of Conway - and Sofie Hagen with her Moh- podcasters bringing their expertise to the Pod (Made Of Human) podcast, in which stage in an exclusive set of live shows. the UK-based Danish comedian ‘sits down Contributors include Stuart Goldsmith, with a lovely person and talks about life’. whose Comedians Comedian shines a light Joe Lycett with panel game Do The Right on the joke-writing process, and Richard Thing, Sarah Millican and Beverley Knight Stephen Bailey Herring, who will be chatting with a sur- in the ‘by women for women’ Standard The Core Theatre, Solihull, Wed 20 March; prise guest from the city. Issue, and the ever-brilliant No Such Thing Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 23 Others taking part include Scummy Mum- As Fish complete the weekend line-up of March mies Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson - whose shows. Potty-mouthed comedian Stephen Bailey may not be a household name but he’s cer- tainly coming up fast on the tracks. Having supported Katherine Ryan and Jenny Éclair on sell-out UK tours, he’s now hitting the road with his own show, Our Kid. Describing himself as a ‘working-class, gin- ger, gay, northern comic’, Stephen has a black belt in tae kwon-do and freely admits to loving a conspiracy theory - preferably one involving a celebrity and a cucumber...

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Killian Donnelly Les Mis.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 11:06 Page 1

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Interview by Jenny Ell D Yo Hear

ThStorm the barricades! Peopl Les Misérables is returning Sin? to the Midlands... It’s been a whole decade since Les Misérables night and had a real swagger about him. He dents, plus five cameramen brought in about last visited the region, so to say that the pro- was a rock star! 20 minutes before the end of our call one day. duction’s springtime return to Birmingham We were stood on a purpose-built street in Hippodrome is eagerly anticipated would be Have you drawn inspiration from your Pinewood Studios and Tom asked us to tear something of an understatement. predecessors for your interpretation of the place apart and build a barricade. So in On the eve of the show opening in Manches- Jean Valjean? 20 minutes, we ripped doors and shutters off ter, Killian Donnelly, who stars as Jean Val- I think Michael Bublé said that when you their hinges, boosted each other up to get jean, chatted to us about all things Les take something from another performer, peo- into houses and pushed pianos out of win- Misérables ... ple call it stealing. But if you take something dows etc. We destroyed the place and from a bunch of other performers, it’s re- couldn’t believe we were running around and How does it feel to have made your way search! My Valjean is definitely a mixture of getting paid to do it! The production team through the Les Mis ranks, from starting Drew, a bit of Colm (Wilkinson) and John had built another barricade on a neighbour- as a swing to now playing Jean Valjean? Owen-Jones etc. ing sound stage, which was meant to come in I feel a lot of pressure but am loving every at the weekend, removing our makeshift one. You’ve performed in the stage show, the minute of it. Starting as a swing in 2008, I But ours was so good that they just put O2 anniversary concert and featured in looked up to the Valjeans of the day and screws and bolts into it to hold it together the film. Do you have a Les Mis highlight? asked them questions, but now I’m the one and used that for the film. As we built it with being asked questions! I just try to relay my With the O2 concert, I was excited to work our bare hands, I could say that I knew where experiences to them rather than saying, with James Powell, who’s our current tour di- that shutter came from, where that coffin “Well, when I played so-and-so…” It’s hard rector. I was able to see how he worked with came from or the elephant tusk that came not to do that, but it’s an incredible baton to a massive cast of 90, as opposed to a stan- from down the street there, on the right. Mo- be passed. I’m loving every minute of playing dard-size cast of thirtysomething. I played ments like that will never happen again, so it Jean Valjean - it’s just so surreal that I’m now Courfeyrac (one of the students) in the con- was very special. the older guy! cert, so it was a pleasure to watch James in Have you been able to watch the BBC TV action. Also, I managed to choose my mo- version of Les Misérables? Who was Jean Valjean when you started ment backstage to speak to Colm Wilkinson - with the production in 2008? the original Valjean and a special I haven’t, but everyone’s saying how brilliant An American guy named Drew Sarich, who guest at the concert. He was so friendly, so it is. There was a moment the other day when brought rock to the role. Drew came to work encouraging, and asked me who I was play- I was flicking through channels and saw the smiling every day, and smashed it out of the ing in the show in town. I said , and I part where Valjean was going to meet Thé- park at every performance. He didn’t go had long blonde hair down to my shoulders nardier and Thénardier attacks him. His round trying to inspire, he just naturally did. at the time. He said, “Well at least you’ve got whole gang pin Valjean down to a table, but Following him, there was Simon Bowman the hair for it!” It was nice Irish banter. with his strength, he pushes the gang off and and David Shannon, but I will never forget With the movie, my highlight was filming the puts a hot poker to his arm. I saw that and Drew. He gave the same performance on a barricade scenes. The director, Tom Hooper, thought it looked incredible. I’ve heard that Wednesday matinee as he did on a Saturday had 60 extras dressed as peasants and stu- Fantine’s story is stunning too and really whatsonlive.co.uk 25 Killian Donnelly Les Mis.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 11:06 Page 3

shows what I Dreamed A Dream is all about. Macintosh has said that he’s still blown away break between Leicester and , so I still Things you can’t do on stage, you can repli- by the passion which longstanding fans have had the Valjean look. When I put the boots cate on TV and in film, so I’m dying to see it. for the show. I don’t think people can under- back on, my lower back was the first thing to stand the power of Les Mis, especially in this go because I realised I didn’t have the body Do you have a favourite musical number version, until they see it. Also, I think people for it anymore! I had a bit of a Ned Kelly belly in the show, either to perform or listen to? want to experience the cinematic feel of this going on and my calves were in bits! How- Stars is the ultimate Les Mis moment for me. new production. ever, after about four or five hours walking Ever since I was 23 and standing at the side of around backstage, I got used to them again the stage watching Earl Carpenter sing it as Do you have an opinion about this new and muscle memory brought it back to me. , it’s been a real pinch-me moment. I production of Les Mis replacing the origi- Other than looking in the mirror and seeing still have those moments today. One minute nal in the West End? It’s a decision that’s Valjean, I had to almost separate myself from I’m talking to Katie Hall (Fantine) backstage caused quite a stir... it and start being the English shoe salesman about our dogs, then she goes on stage to I didn’t realise what a ruckus it had created again. After finding a voice for Valjean, with sing I Dreamed A Dream and I think to my- until recently, when I heard about a petition my belly hanging out and needing to really self, “That’s Fantine in Les Mis!” Also, when I going round. When you compare the amount use my diaphragm, I had to go back to grab Fantine and Éponine’s hands towards of signatures on it to the fact that, in one singing Cyndi Lauper pop music as Charlie, the end of the show, I look at Tegan Bannister show, we perform the new version to 2,500 which is using my upper chest. The musical (Éponine) and think, “Wow, it’s Éponine!” audience members who’re on their feet at the director spent a long vocal session with me, These things will never escape me, and it in- end, I think people are generally commenting and by the end of it, Charlie was back. But spires me to love the show all over again. But on something that they don’t know the full after filming ended, I only had one day of rest the first moment for me was definitely Stars. facts about. You have to give new things a and then had to find Valjean’s voice again. Even now, when I hear our Javert, Nic Green- chance. Les Mis has always been a stunning It’s not like popping into one theatre and shields, belting it out over the tannoy, it’s production, but if you’re able to add to it with then another - it really strains you - but I just incredible. I’m a huge fan! new technology, why wouldn’t you? It’s got wouldn’t change it for the world. real colour, it’s fast-paced and is much You clearly still have an overwhelming darker. My mam is the first person to say she Are you looking forward to spending passion for the show... loves or hates something, but the one thing some time in Birmingham? That’s Drew Sarich again. Drew spoke so she said after watching this version was that I can’t wait! I went to Birmingham to see my highly of the show and loved every minute of the storytelling was a lot clearer. There have friend in Oliver! years ago, but I never got to it. I think even if you sound like a crazy fan, been standing ovations every night of the experience the city properly. When I got of- it’s important to love what you do. I don’t tour so far, so we’re really excited to visit fered the Les Mis tour, one of the main rea- work for a living because I get to perform Val- other UK venues and find out what the public sons I said an instant yes was so that I could jean in Les Mis every night. It’s the show that reaction is to the new version. see parts of the UK that I’d never seen before. keeps on giving, and once you get used to a When we get a proper sit-down for six weeks, moment, another one flashes up. Most recently you’ve been playing Charlie like we have in Birmingham, I’ll be able to in Kinky Boots, both in the West End and drive around with my dog and find different The last UK tour of Les Mis was 10 years on Broadway. Donning heels every night locations to take him for walks. Also, there ago, for the 25th anniversary. Why do you seems a far cry from the French Revolu- are so many people I know who’ve toured be- think it’s taken so long to get the show tion! Do you find it easy to switch from fore and who make suggestions about where back on the road? one character to another? to go, including bars to drink in and good I think it was about not sending it round No, not at all. It’s unlikely that I’ll perform in places to buy your coffee etc. I’m really look- again too quickly. It allowed things to settle, a concert or release an album because I like ing forward to it.” and when the producers decided to put an- to get lost in a character - as ‘actor-y’ as that other tour out, they knew that people would sounds. Whatever’s going on in my life, I can be hungry for it. The last time Les Mis was in filter it out in some way. Valjean is the biggest Les Misérables shows at Birmingham Dublin, for instance, was 23 years ago, with gift ever because he takes me through every Hippodrome from Tuesday 2 April to Colm Wilkinson, and it was the fastest-selling emotion. I had to go back and film the Saturday 11 May show at the venue this time around. Cameron screening for Kinky Boots in the Les Mis 26 whatsonlive.co.uk Killian Donnelly Les Mis.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 11:06 Page 4

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

War Horse Joey, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France at the beginning of the First World War. Joey’s subsequent adventures lead to him finding Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 27 March - Sat 6 April himself alone in a no man's land. But Albert is in no mood to give up Described as ‘the theatrical event of the decade’ when it opened in the on his beloved companion, and sets out to find him and take him West End in 2009, War Horse has continued to garner great praise in home to Devon. the ensuing years. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s hugely popular 1982 The show returns to the Midlands having played to more than seven novel, it tells the story of a young man named Albert, whose horse, million people in 11 countries around the world.

Bound If My Father Only Knew ART Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 14 March Tues 5 - Thurs 7 March Mon 18 - Sat 23 March Justice In Motion are the ensemble behind Charlie is a young man grieving the loss of Yasmina Reza's award-winning play revolves this thought-provoking work, a two-hour his mother, struggling in his relationship around a seemingly unremarkable painting production that ably fulfills the physical- with his father, and determined not to reveal and the major dispute it triggers between theatre company’s primary aim: to raise the secret with which he’s been living... three old friends - a dispute that uncovers awareness of social injustice through power- Birmingham writer Nathalie Bázan presents longstanding grievances and unspoken mis- ful and visually stunning theatre. her fifth show at the Old Joint Stock - and is understandings... Fusing dance, circus, music, poetry, parkour more than likely about to enjoy her fifth sell- Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen and projection, the performers present three out success too. Tompkinson star. very different but equally shocking accounts Focusing on themes of identity, sex and of human trafficking. beauty in today's society, as well as the diffi- culties faced by young people wishing to ex- press their true self, the play was originally showcased as a devised performance at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 2017. Bázan established her theatre company, Lying Lips, five years ago, and has previ- ously staged A Slave To Love, Billy Young: A Life On Death Row, The Virgin Marias and Kanada. So if you caught and enjoyed any or all of those previous productions, If My Fa- ther Only Knew is an absolute must-see.

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Kunene And The King Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 21 March - Tues 23 April South African performer, activist and playwright John Kani has not only penned this brand new play, he’s also starring in it. The Black Panther actor is joined by Sir Antony Sher to tell the funny and moving story of two men from markedly different walks of life who are thrust together to reflect on a quarter- century of change in post-apartheid South Africa. “The play marks 25 years since the first democratic elections in South Africa,” explains Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Gregory Doran. “John started to write the play when he was playing Caliban in 2009, opposite Antony as Prospero, in The Tempest, so we’re thrilled to be staging Kunene And The King’s world premiere.”

The Life I Lead Desert Island Flicks Crimes Under The Sun, this brand new show finds Belgian detective extraordinaire The REP, Birmingham, Mon 11 - Wed 13 March Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sat 30 March Artemis Arinae embroiled in a challenging Quintessentially English gentleman actor Two women and some of cinema’s most murder-mystery while taking a cruise along David Tomlinson is best remembered for memorable scenes here combine to provide the Nile. Expect outrageous characters, playing Mr Banks in Mary Poppins - but away what’s being described as ‘a blockbuster ad- clever set pieces and a highly motivated cast from the screen, his own life featured more venture and rom-com rolled into one’. of four. than its fair share of difficulty and heart- The ladies in question reimagine, remake break... and spoof all manner of magic movie mo- “I was attracted to The Life I Lead firstly be- ments from timeless classics and modern- The 39 Steps cause of the character of Tomlinson himself,” day marvels. In the process, they present a New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, says standup comedian Miles Jupp, who’s production which they describe as existing Fri 8 - Sat 30 March starring in this touring version of James Ket- somewhere between a dance performance, a Anybody who remem- tle’s biographical stage comedy. “He was a sketch show, a night at the movies and an bers the various film man whose acting performances seemed ef- epic game of charades. versions of John fortless but which concealed a great skill be- Buchan's classic spy neath the surface. It’s a script that contains thriller will be hard- both comedy and moments of extraordinary Romeo & Juliet pressed to call any of sadness and pain, and I hope that I can do The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, them 'humorous'. So it's the play, and Tomlinson, justice.” Wed 13 - Sat 16 March a bit weird, to say the Widely regarded as Shakespeare’s fifth least, to think of Patrick tragedy, this story of a forbidden and secret Barlow’s stage version love tends to fair less well critically than the of the story having bagged the Olivier Award rest of the playwright’s high-profile works. Its for best new comedy. Nonetheless, that's ex- popularity is nonetheless ensured by its actly what it managed to do back in 2007, timeless themes and its regular appearance courtesy of some imaginative thinking on the as a study text on the National Curriculum. part of its creative team. The show is presented by the National Pro- So why not catch up with handsome hero duction Company. Richard Hannay as he battles to remain im- pressively stiff-upper-lipped in the face of Crimes On The Nile dastardly murders and life-threatening en- counters with double-crossing secret agents. Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 21 - Sat 23 March Oh, and there are some beautiful and myste- The ever-inventive New Old Friends make an- rious women involved too, so it's not all bad other welcome return to the Garrick stage news for our intrepid hero! with their latest splendidly inventive comedy Four fearless actors play no fewer than 120 thriller. The sister production to last year’s roles in this real gem of a show.

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SamanthaSamantha WomackWomack Samantha Womack.qxp_Layout 1 28/02/2019 10:51 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Eastenders’ star rolls into the Midlands with The Girl On The Train

First a bestselling book, then a hit film, The kind of lost her way. I was attracted to the didn’t really need to rehearse because I knew Girl On The Train took the world by storm. recklessness that makes her so interesting. I exactly how to play her. I feel like, with the- Now, a touring stage adaptation of Paula like the whole renegade vibe she has, where atre, you just get so much more time to re- Hawkins' 2015 novel is rolling into the Mid- she just disorientates everyone with her mad- hearse and build the character before going lands, with EastEnders star Samantha Wom- ness. I’ve never really been in a situation straight in. I’m also a bit of a control freak! ack in the lead role of Rachel Watson. where I’ve felt the way Rachel does and gone I like the way I have complete control over off the rails like she has, so I don’t have any “I think the stage version is a response to the creating the character. What you see is what direct obsessions of the public,” says Sam, who inspiration for how to play her charac- you get: the adaptation itself can’t be shot to stardom in 1991 when she represented ter, but sometimes these parts just come and changed in writing, or edited afterwards, so get you. They appear right in front of you and you completely know what you’re signing up the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. you know exactly how you’d like to play for. I really like that element of control, where “Thrillers, detective & police programmes them, so you just go and do it.” what I put out at that very moment is exactly and real-life crime drama are incredibly pop- what the audience will see. ular. I know that all the shows I like to watch Sam also thinks the book lends itself really on Netflix are things like Making Of A Mur- well to theatre: “There’s actually a lot more “I would say I prefer stage to screen, partly derer and the new Ted Bundy Tapes series. I licence with theatre to do the dream-like because I’m very impatient and like being think people are more interested in things flashback and memory scenes from the book, able to work the story from start to finish in that are, or could be, real life now. I think so you can access Rachel’s brain in these sce- one night. Television and movies take such a people are moving away from genres like fan- narios a lot more than I think you can with long time to film. Sometimes you’re doing the tasy and towards thrillers. The book was such film. I think theatrically the plot of the book same scene for a whole day! It’s hard to stay a strong brand and such a success that peo- works really well because you’re able to delve fresh in that kind of environment. With the- ple are excited to see the story presented how deep into what Rachel is thinking and feel- atre, as soon as you set off playing your char- it was in the book. A lot of people were disap- ing. Obviously with every new production acter on the night, it feels like you’re in a big pointed in the film, I think - some people and adaptation it will change. New actors race of emotions and acting - it’s very excit- loved it and others really didn’t. I mean, I will play the roles differently, and each adap- ing!” loved it because I just love Emily Blunt and tation adds things in and cuts things out, but Although she’s thoroughly enjoying starring everything she does. But really, people just the format is very much the s ame. I think in The Girl On The Train, Sam admits that love a good thriller - they really do!” what happens when audience members come she’s looking forward to taking a break after- to see it is that they almost forget the exact The Girl On The Train combines thriller with wards. details of what they’ve already read because voyeurism. Sam’s character Rachel watches they’re so involved in the piece - it’s very cap- “The production is proving very popular, so I two couples from the train and over time be- tivating.” know there’s incredible demand for it to con- comes obsessed with them. Sam thinks the tinue until after the already-scheduled dates immense popularity of the story is largely Rachel turns amateur detective when Megan, and until the end of the year. I think I need to down to Rachel. one of the women she’s been watching from decide what it’s going to take out of me. I’ve the train, goes missing. Sam explains why “I think it’s been so popular because Rachel only been playing Rachel for one month and her character becomes so engaged with the is an anti-hero. She says the wrong things, she’s such a hard part to play, as she’s just so disappearance. she’s inappropriate, broken and damaged, emotional. Sometimes it kind of gets under which the audience seems to really respond “Rachel sees Megan going missing as the way my skin a bit. But I’m definitely having a long to. I know for sure that the audiences I’ve ex- to get herself back on track. For the first time break over the summer. perienced in the theatre respond really well in months she feels needed by other people to Rachel’s bad behaviour and the racy things and has a purpose. At this point, she’s very she says. I think sometimes people enjoy much been consumed by her alcoholism and characters who kind of rally against the ap- her lies about going to work, so trying to fig- The Girl On The Train shows at propriate way to behave.” ure out the mystery brings her back from the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from abyss.” Monday 18 to Saturday 23 March. This is also the main reason that Sam was The show then visits Shrewsbury’s drawn to the role. Playing Rachel is certainly a departure from Theatre Severn from Mon 27 May to Sat the role for which Sam is best known - Ron- “While Rachel is broken - covering up all her 1 June; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from nie Mitchell in EastEnders. damage with drinking - and has this devil- Mon 13 to Sat 18 May & The Alexandra may-care attitude, she also has this really in- “I played Ronnie on and off for nine years, so Theatre, Birmingham from Mon 26 August teresting arc to her character. She’s an I really got to know that character very well - to Sat 31 August incredibly bright, strong woman - she’s just to the point where, once I’d learnt the lines, I .qxp_Layout 1 28/02/2019 10:48 Page 1

Strip Advisor

The last chance to see them dance, Vicky Edwards gets the naked truth from the cast of The Full Monty as they embark upon the final tour of the show… The Full Monty.qxp_Layout 1 28/02/2019 10:48 Page 2

It may be the last ever tour of this particular none of us know what the future holds.” clares James, while Andrew admits that he production, but it is the story that keeps on hates the rigmarole of searching for digs. Joe, Liz Carney who plays Jean is keen to chip in. giving. Originally an award-winning movie, nodding his head, chimes in: “It’s my first “It appeals to men and women of all ages and as a stage play The Full Monty has won both tour and finding accommodation is more from all classes. The girls in the play tell their awards and hearts. In fact, such is the show’s daunting than getting my kit off!” own story, so audiences connect with them popularity that as fast as one tour gets under- too.” “I’m not a veteran tourer like Andrew, and it way, producers David Pugh and Dafydd is difficult in the sense that I have three Rogers are compelled to map out the next. Playing Mandy, Amy Thompson voices her young children and I do like my own bed. Few shows can sustain that level of repeti- agreement, adding: “And the thing that I find That said, it’s great to absorb different towns tion. But then The Full Monty isn’t an ordi- really special is that it gets people coming to and cities,” says Louis, explaining that he nary show. the theatre who haven’t been before. “ and Andrew generally share digs, trying to “It is special,” insists Gary Lucy (famous for Well known for roles including Rhys in book places that will give them a daily walk playing Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks as well as Torchwood and Pete in Hollyoaks, Kai Owen into the theatre. for roles in EastEnders, The Bill, Footballers’ returns to the role of Dave and admits that he With most venues being return visits there Wives and as a Dancing on Ice winner) who loves the audience reaction. are some that the cast are especially looking plays Gaz. Having starred in almost every forward to revisiting. ‘Monty’ tour to date, he knows just how read- “They may start shouting at the start, but this isn’t Dream Boys or The Chippendales and as ily people fall for this funny, poignant and “Shrewsbury has a lovely theatre and is a soon as they realise that it is a story they set- bitter-sweet story. great little town,” Andrew tells me. The pub tle down. It is so well written that they get im- at the back of the theatre did such good busi- “People really love it. From proper theatrego- mersed and carried along until the end. Then ness last time we were there that the landlord ers in Cambridge to Blackpool hen parties, everyone goes crazy!” did the full Monty to celebrate!” everyone has an absolute ball. It is a gift of a A play that covers a huge range of modern is- role for me.” It sounds very much like the good publican sues – as well as unemployment themes in- should up the ante this time – rope in a few Louis Emerick, recently on our screens in clude financial insecurity, mental health, barmen to join him and then they can all Coronation Street, concurs. “This is the third divorce, sexuality and body image – the mix drop ‘em to raise money for a local charity, tour for me and it really is a special show. It is of comedy, pathos, warmth and sadness is perhaps? a great story that still resonates now. They perfectly balanced. are also a lovely company to work and travel “Good idea,” laughs Gary. with.” And then there are the bums and willies. There’s no way to pussy foot around the sub- The youngest member of company, sixteen- Telling the story of six out-of-work steelwork- ject of the boys getting naked, so I ask out- year-old Fraser Kelly is an old hand, having ers from Sheffield who put on a strip show to right: Is it absolutely terrifying? already been in the production previously. raise much-needed cash, the film went on to Telling me that they have been blessed with “I’m sure we’ll break Joe and James in gen- become one of the most successful British some excellent children playing the role of tly,” says Louis with a naughty grin, recount- movies of all time. Writer of both the screen- Nathan, the returning cast are unanimous ing the first day in 2014 when he first had the play and the stage script, Simon Beaufoy is that Fraser has something special. He in turn ‘undress’ rehearsal. also the talent behind The Hunger Games: can’t wait to embark on his first tour without Catching Fire and Slumdog Millionaire. Joe “We had only been rehearsing for three days needing to be formally chaperoned. Over the Gill (familiar to Emmerdale viewers as Finn and we hardly knew each other. But we did chorus of fond banter and mickey taking, he Barton) believes the play’s credibility is key it, although we all looked each other firmly in says: to its success. the eye! From then on it was pretty easy. It’s “I can’t wait to start. It is a privilege working much more of a man’s story in many ways “It is my first time on the show [he plays with such great people and great actors.” Lomper] but everyone knows how iconic it is and it is great when you see blokes in the au- and what a culture it has, so they come dience.” Ah, but are they great role models? knowing that they will enjoy it.” “It is done really well on stage, although you “No! He’s our role model” says Kai, as they Another ‘Monty’ virgin, James Redmond has do have to trust the lighting technicians, and all collapse into fits of giggles. some venues do have slow-closing curtains,” done lengthy stints in Hollyoaks and Casu- The last word goes to Gary: “There is no bet- chuckles Andrew, best known for playing alty but has never toured in a stage play be- ter show on the road. Come along and I’ll Tony in TV’s Dinnerladies. fore. However, that doesn’t stop him prove it to you.” recognising the show’s broad appeal. That sounds like a challenge, Mr Lucy. And “We can all relate to it and it is very moving. Talking of different venues, the tour schedule one that I am delighted to accept. The poverty these guys lived in; Maggie is so full that it gives me motion sickness just Thatcher encouraged them to buy their coun- reading it. cil houses and then closed the steelworks so The Full Monty will show at Theatre “I’ve been on stand-up circuit for nine years they were desperate. It’s a heart-warming Severn, Shrewsbury Monday 4 - Saturday and I do like to explore and learn about story that still feels relevant today. Because 9 March half of us voted remain and half voted leave where I am. I am looking forward to it,” de- Theatre March new.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 16:54 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

A Song At Twilight Malvern Theatres, Mon 25 - Sat 30 March Noel Coward’s A Song At Twilight was first performed in 1966 at London’s Queen's The- atre. The production not only marked the leg- endary actor/playwright’s farewell stage appearance - Coward played the semi-autobi- ographical role of Sir Hugo Latymer - but also a revival in his fortunes with the critics. "The most incredible thing has happened,” the playwright wrote in his diary. “Not only has A Song At Twilight opened triumphantly, but the press notices have on the whole been extremely good. Most particularly the Ex- press and the Evening Standard. Fortunately the Sun struck a sour note... which convinced me that I hadn't entirely slipped.” Simon Callow and Jane Asher star in this touring revival of the play, in which the old, rude and haughty Sir Hugo sees life take an unexpected turn with the arrival of an old flame...

Vulvarine: A New Musical Amy Ng’s Under The Umbrella is set in Rouse, Ye Women! Coventry and Guangzhou - the capital of Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 2 March; Old Guangdong province in southern China - and Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 5 March; Netherton Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 20 - Sat Arts Centre, Dudley, Thurs 7 March; Midlands 23 March is described by the playwright as ‘an explo- Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 8 March; Theatre ration of tradition, trauma and triumph in Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 31 March; Women intending to check out this brand the art of finding love’. Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, new musical comedy are advised to grab Tues 9 April; Library, After its run at the Belgrade, the play will their tights, spanx and most supportive Thurs 18 April visit Poole, Liverpool and London. sports bra in preparation for an evening of fe- In 1910, the women chainmakers of the Black male superheroics. Country laid down their tools to strike for bet- The superhero in question is the astound- ter money. They were inspired to do so by ingly average Bryony Buckle, whose life charismatic union organiser Mary Reid seems to be heading nowhere fast. Until, that Macarthur, whose campaign struck a real is, a dose of hormone therapy gone wrong chord with the nation and led to the intro- and a well-timed bolt of lightning turn her duction of the minimum wage... into Vulvarine, the superhero saviour of all Townsend Theatre Productions are the com- womankind... pany behind this lively and informative show, revealing the horrors of sweated labour through a selection of rousing tradi- tional songs and moving ballads. Truth Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 13 - Thurs 14 March In an era of fake news, what better time can there be to turn the spotlight on the (maybe) once-simple notion of ‘truth’? Singer-songwriter Helen Chadwick and Olivier Award-winning Steven Hoggett team Under The Umbrella up to present this thought-provoking evening Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, of song theatre, basing their production Sat 2 - Sat 16 March around a selection of real testimonies This Belgrade run marks the world premiere collected from across the world. “Some are of a play about a UK-based Chinese woman brutal, some hilarious,” says Helen, “but we whose grandmother fears she may be left ‘on intend that all are presented in a fresh and the shelf’. exhilarating style!”

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Theatre Theatre for younger audiences...

Dinosaur World Live Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Mon 18 & Tues 19 March; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 28 - Wed 29 May; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 30 - Fri 31 May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thurs 13 - Sat 15 June Dinosaurs are once again roaming the earth this spring, thanks to this interactive family show. Youngsters get to meet a host of im- pressive prehistoric creatures - including, of course, every child's favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. A special meet-and-greet after the show of- fers brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.

Animalcolm The Musical diel’s much-loved book. Malcolm’s family are wild about animals. Bridge House Theatre, Warwick, Malcolm himself, though, is less than im- Sun 31 March; Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 20 & Sun 21 April pressed. But when he goes on a school trip to a farm, he starts seeing his four-legged The award-winning Story Pocket Theatre ‘friends’ in an altogether different light... The Girl, The Bear present a stage adaptation of David Bad- And The Magic Shoes Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 16 March North Kirklees-based Creative Scene as part Tom Gates Live On Stage Not only a girl, a bear and some magic shoes of Arts Council England’s Creative People & but also , unicorns and a whole The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Places programme. The initiative funds pro- Wed 13 - Sat 16 March host of glittering characters are visiting Town jects in parts of the country where involve- Hall for this live draw-along session. Birmingham Stage Company makes a wel- ment in arts and culture is significantly Long-time Julia Donaldson collaborator and come return to present this brand new pro- below the national average. duction inspired by author and illustrator Liz award-winning illustrator Lydia Monks is in Pichon’s award-winning Tom Gates stories. attendance too, for a show that’s being pre- Liz’s series of books about the character have sented as part of Birmingham’s annual Book- been translated into 40-plus languages, sell- fest event. ing more than four million copies worldwide. “So far there are 15 books in the series, with the 16th due out this year,” says Liz. “But The Sooty Show there could be 17 books, or maybe more, if I Oakengates Theatre at The Place, Telford, have loads of other ideas!” Sat 9 March; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, The new show, written especially for the Sat 20 April stage, finds young Tom doing his best to stay One of the 20th century’s best-loved chil- out of trouble and make sure he doesn’t miss dren’s characters makes a welcome return. the school trip. Bing Live! A simple glove puppet created by Harry Cor- bett almost 70 years ago, Sooty continues to Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 12 & Wed 13 March; The REP, Birmingham, Sat 6 - Sun go down a storm with generation after gener- Rabbit Girl & The 7 April ation of youngsters, impressively bucking the Search For Wonder Bing Live!’s promoters are confident that trend for far more sophistocated, high-tech their show is a perfect ‘first theatre trip’ for entertainment. Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, pre-schoolers and their families. And why Richard Cadell is the fella now operating Sun 31 March wouldn’t they be, given that it’s awash with Sooty and his longtime companions, Sweep Rabbit Girl and her dad pack their tent, head ‘fun, laughter, music and dressing-up’?... For and Soo, and is here joined by circus star out into the wilderness and share campfire those not in the know, the show is based on Michael Jordan and ultraviolet specialists tales of love, loss and wonder... an animated CBeebies television series. The Fantasie de la Nuit. Designed for children aged between four and stage production is visiting Shrewsbury for Expect magic, music, mayhem and plenty of eight, the production is presented by the the very first time. audience participation.

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Dance

Juliet And Romeo The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 14 March Ben Duke and Lost Dog’s brilliant dance-theatre piece has been showered with praise by audiences and critics alike - and little wonder. Clever, sexy and utterly absorbing, it takes the story of Romeo & Juliet as told by William Shakespeare and steers it in an altogether different direction - one in which the star-crossed lovers survive into middle age, only to find that familiarity has started to breed a level of con- tempt. Their passion having subsided, the couple find them- selves re-living and re-assessing the key moments in their shared history - an exercise that leads them to some stagger- ing and unexpected conclusions... “At the point that this piece is set, Romeo and Juliet are in something of a marital crisis,” explains choreographer Ben Duke. “Basically they love each other and sometimes they wish the other one were dead. The bloom of teenage ro- mance has faded but it haunts them... “I was inspired to make this piece by a feeling that we aren’t all that honest about relationships in our culture, and that too many stories focus on how relationships start rather than how they continue. My hope is that audiences will take away a sense of realistic optimism about the state of their relation- ships - past, present or future.”

Here Come The Girls Fagin’s Twist Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 30 March; Wed 13 & Thurs 14 March Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sun 23 June; Lichfield Garrick, Sun 30 June “I’ve always been excited by the idea of Strictly stars Dianne Buswell and Amy Dow- retelling a popular tale,” says Tony Adigun, den are here joined by one-time Britain’s the artistic director of innovative hip-hop and Got Talent semi-finalist Chloe Hewitt for a contemporary dance company Avant Garde. “I show that blends individual performances wanted to add a mischievous twist that would and group numbers. play with and challenge the audience’s per- Featuring a mix of ballroom and Latin rou- spectives of a much-loved classic.” tines, the production has been choreo- The classic to which he refers is Charles Dick- graphed by another Strictly dancer, Patrick ens’ Oliver Twist, which Adigun and his com- Helm. pany are here reimagining. The piece delves deep into the back-stories of the novel’s most prominent characters: Oliver, Fagin, Bill, Nancy and the Artful Dodger. “We’ve exam- KOKO ined the relationships between the five of them,” explains Adigun. “The back-stories will Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sat 16 March allow the dancers who’re playing these dy- ‘KOKO is a piece which revolves around se- namic people to be engrossed by the charac- quins and sadness,’ explain Fin Projects of ters and to really embody the roles.” their brand new production. ‘There’s an unrav- elling of muchness through a bizarre and gar- ish fantasy, where she becomes he and he becomes she. ‘Featuring eclectic music, a weird topia of dys- functional feelings embodies a party of self- understanding. Struggling to balance comfort into one person, the ghosts of the past visit, represented through a single ever-changing character, depicting and directing the revela- tions of inner-self until he is deconstructed, the real flesh and bones, an extravagant mess.’ whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Pepperland Online .qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 16:28 Page 1

Pepperland The internationally acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group pay tribute to The Beatles' groundbreaking album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

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by Roz Laws

It’s probably the most iconic album ever rock and pop music by everyone from David Sgt Pepper has a wide range of musical styles made and is still a much-loved bestseller, 50 Bowie and Nirvana to Black Sabbath and - from psychedelic and Indian to music hall - years on. Pink Floyd. I know Mark liked our version of and Pepperland has a nod to them all. So it’s a brave man indeed who dares to med- Blondie’s Heart Of Glass. I had experience of Ethan’s six original pieces are based on the dle with Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club looking at material in a way that’s intriguing classical forms of Allegro, Scherzo, Adagio Band. As composer Ethan Iverson admits: and trying to do something new with it, and the blues, and take their cue from spe- “There’s nothing potentially more terrible which is what I’ve done with Sgt Pepper. cific parts of the album. than a Beatles’ covers project.” “It’s important to note that Pepperland isn’t For example, a single line of trombone from Thankfully he’s pulled it off, and his innova- like a Beatles’ concert and people shouldn’t Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is tive score is far from terrible. He provides the expect that. Their music is the fundamental turned into a fully-fledged sonata for the Al- music for Pepperland, a production from the backbone of the piece, but the album now is legro section, while a chord progression be- acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group. essentially a piece of folk music. We take lib- comes a cat-and-mouse chase for erties with it like we would with Twinkle The New York-based contemporary company harpsichord and piano in the Scherzo sec- Twinkle Little Star, pieces we know so well was asked to create the piece by the City of tion. but can change. Liverpool to mark the 50th anniversary of Sgt “The first thing we hear on the album is a Pepper. “It’s a hit show and audiences love it, though guitar blues lick, which I expanded into a there are still one or two people who don’t Pepperland made its debut in May 2017, with blues piece for horns. I know Mark so well quite get it because they’re expecting a Beat- one critic describing it as a “truly joyous, cel- that while I was composing, I kept thinking les’ show. Instead The Beatles open a door to ebratory work of art”, and is now embarking of dance moves he could put to it. It was like thinking about other things, like dance and on a seven-week international tour, including giving him a softball and saying, ‘Go on, the Swinging ’60s. 11 UK dates presented by Dance Consortium. knock this one out of the park!’ Of course, the “The score is played by these remarkable jazz choreography didn’t really turn out like that.” Frequently at the top of lists of the greatest musicians, the best in the world. They need albums of all time, and described by Rolling Ethan is a self-confessed anglophile who is to be, as it’s an incredibly complicated Stone magazine as “the most important rock very much looking forward to the UK tour. album. Your average bar band couldn’t play & roll album ever made”, Sgt Pepper is “I grew up watching the BBC. I’m a huge fan covers from it. It’s almost symphonic in packed with Beatles’ hits. of Agatha Christie, and as a child I was ob- scope.” Ethan intersperses his own arrangements of sessed with Doctor Who. I really like the com- Ethan, 45, is a pianist in Pepperland’s half-a- With A Little Help From My Friends, A Day In position of the new theme tune. dozen-strong ensemble, which includes The Life, When I’m Sixty-Four, Within You “I’ve been to England a lot and love your voice, saxophone, percussion, trombone and Without You, Penny Lane and the title track music. I wouldn’t say The Beatles were the organ, plus the more unusual instruments of with six original Pepper-inspired pieces. best British band ever, but I do think the best harpsichord and theremin. Speaking from his New York home, the tal- rock has been made by British bands. “Part of the commission was a request to in- ented pianist said: “When Mark Morris called “I had to come on the tour. It’s a thrill-and-a- clude an electronic element. They probably me to say he’d been asked to create a piece on half to be part of Pepperland, and as long as wanted a DJ or hip-hop sampling, but trying Sgt Pepper and would I like to compose the they perform it, I want to do it. It’s a really to do the latest thing felt forced. So I went for music, I realised what a daunting project we fun show. There’s a certain amount of dark- the first electronic instrument, which is were taking on. It could be awful, but Mark’s ness, but it’s a very joyful piece. At the end nearly 100 years old. Invented by Leon such a genius that I thought I could do it with we feel good, and I hope the audience does Theremin in the 1920s, it’s incredibly difficult him. too. to play it well and it requires a particular type “The album is a favourite record of mine from of genius. “It’s a soul-destroying, dark time out there in high school. They made a masterpiece, really. some ways, but Pepperland has no political “I’d listened to this wonderful theremin It has that kind of weight, and each new gen- commentary whatsoever. It’s joy for joy’s player, Rob Schwimmer, playing Bach’s Air eration discovers it with awe. sake, an escape which takes you to another On A G String. It was one of the most beauti- place.” “I was Mark Morris’s musical director for five ful things I’d ever heard, and it made me cry. years around the turn of the century and I really wanted to work with him, and Pep- played hundreds of performances with him. I perland was the perfect opportunity. quit that wonderful job to become a jazz pi- “When Rob starts to play our version of A Day anist with my own band, The Bad Plus, but In The Life on the theremin, it stops the kept in touch with Mark. Pepperland shows at Birmingham show. It’s a heck of a moment which makes Hippodrome on Tuesday 26 “We became known for our reconstruction of the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.” & Wednesday 27 March.

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Film

Captain Marvel CERT tbc (128 mins) Starring Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Clark Gregg, Jude Law Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (USA) After Patty Jenkins steered Wonder Woman to box-office glory in the summer of 2017, it made sense to get a woman on board the next female superhero behemoth. Well, at least one-half of the directorial team of Boden and Fleck is female and, to be fair, they do tend to work together. This is the story of Carol Danvers, a bright spark and former US Air Force fighter pilot who, when her DNA is accidentally merged with that of an alien race, finds that she can fly and is much stronger than she used to be. Perfect, then, to help out when Earth is threatened by the repercussions of two extraterrestrial species battling each other to the death. Incidentally, Birds Of Prey, the Harley Quinn movie with Margot Robbie, is also being directed by a woman, Cathy Yan. Released Fri 8 March EDITOR’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in March...

The Aftermath CERT tbc (108 mins) Serenity CERT tbc (106 mins) What They Had Starring Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne CERT 15 (101 mins) Jason Clarke Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane, Dji- Directed by James Kent (UK/USA/Germany) mon Hounsou, Jeremy Strong Starring Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Directed by Steven Knight (USA) Robert Forster, Blythe Danner, Taissa Farmiga, Josh Lucas Shades of Double Indemnity and Body Directed by Elizabeth Chomko (USA) Heat here as a woman approaches a man to help knock off her abusive husband. The twist is that the man she approaches is her former husband, the skipper of a fishing boat. From the co-creator of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Released Fri 1 March

Based on the 2013 novel by Rhidian Brook, this drama sees an English woman (Keira What they had was a life together, but when Knightley) move into a Hamburg house still Ruth Everhardt develops Alzheimer's, her occupied by its owner, a German widower husband must learn to say goodbye to the (Alexander Skarsgård) and his daughter. It is woman he has always known and loved. Keira’s husband, a British colonel (Jason Premiered at the Sundance festival last year, Clarke), who is tasked with helping to rebuild the film received glowing reviews from Amer- Hamburg after the Second World War. ican critics. Released Fri 1 March Released Fri 1 March whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Film March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 15:21 Page 3

Film

Miss Bala CERT 15 (104 mins) Rosie CERT 12a (84 mins) The Prodigy CERT 15 (92 mins) Starring Gina Rodriguez, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Starring Sarah Greene, Moe Dunford, Natalia Starring Taylor Schilling, Jackson Robert Scott, Anthony Mackie, Aislinn Derbez Kostrzewa Colm Feore, Paul Fauteux, Brittany Allen Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (USA/Mexico) Directed by Paddy Breathnach (Ireland) Directed by Nicholas McCarthy (USA) When her landlord sells her Dublin flat, Rosie Davies (Sarah Greene) must learn what it means to be homeless. From an original screenplay by Roddy Doyle. Released Fri 8 March

A remake of the Mexican film of the same name, this action-thriller stars Gina Ro- Young Miles may be a child prodigy but when driguez (Deepwater Horizon) as a make-up he starts to exhibit more disturbing be- artist from Los Angeles who visits her friend haviour, his mother (Schilling) suspects that Suzu in Tijuana. When the latter is kid- evil forces are at play. Expect some “disturb- napped by a Mexican drug cartel, our heroine ing and bloody images.” takes the law into her own hands… Released Fri 15 March Released Fri 1 March Fisherman’s Friends CERT 12a (112 mins) What Men Want Everybody Knows CERT 15 (117 mins) CERT 15 (113 mins) Starring Daniel Mays, James Purefoy, David Hayman, Dave Johns, Tuppence Middleton, Starring Taraji P Henson, Starring Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Ri- Noel Clarke Directed by Chris Foggin (UK) Aldis Hodge, Richard cardo Darín, Bárbara Lennie Roundtree, Wendi Directed by Asghar Farhadi Not a film about the menthol lozenges, but a McLendon-Covey, Tracy (Spain/France/Italy) true story in which a group of Cornish fisher- Morgan Directed by Adam Shankman (USA) Returning to Spain for her sister’s wedding, men regularly get together to sing sea Buenos Aires native Laura (Cruz) is con- shanties. What they didn’t expect was an ex- A vague remake of the Mel Gibson romcom fronted by bruising secrets from her past. ecutive from Universal Records to show a What Women Want (2000), this comic fantasy From the Iranian director of the Oscar-win- commercial interest in their music. sees a struggling sports agent (Henson) dis- ning A Separation (2011) and The Salesman Released Fri 15 March cover the ability to read men’s thoughts. (2016). Shiver her timbers. Released Fri 8 March Released Fri 15 March Girl CERT 15 (109 mins) Starring Victor Polster, Arieh Worthalter, Ben Is Back CERT 15 (103 mins) The Kindergarten Teacher Katelijne Damen Directed by Lukas Dhont (Bel- CERT 12a (97 mins) gium/Netherlands) Starring Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Court- ney B. Vance, Kathryn Newton Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Parker Sevak, Directed by Peter Hedges (USA) Anna Baryshnikov, Rosa Salazar, Michael Chernus, Gael García Bernal Not a million miles from the subject of Beau- Directed by Sara Colangelo (USA) tiful Boy, this drama focuses on a mother Films about child prodigies always make for (Julia Roberts) attempting to reconcile her interesting viewing, but this one takes an un- son’s drug addiction. Lucas Hedges, from Boy expected route. Maggie Gyllenhaal is the Erased, is Ben and is the son of the writer-di- eponymous teacher who discovers a prodi- rector Peter Hedges. gious literary bent in a boy in her charge. Released Fri 15 March Released Fri 8 March

Lara, 15, is undergoing hormone replacement therapy and dreams of being a ballerina... Inspired by the story of Nora Monsecour, a trans female dancer from Belgium, the film won the Caméra d'Or at Cannes last year. Released Fri 15 March

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Film highlights released in March...

Us CERT tbc Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisa- beth Moss, Tim Heidecker Directed by Jordan Peele (USA) Well, there’s us and then there’s them. Here, the ‘them’ are doppelgängers and they are very threatening indeed. From the writer-di- rector of modern horror classic Get Out. Released Fri 22 March

The White Crow CERT 12a (127 mins) Starring Oleg Ivanko, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Chulpan Khamatova, Ralph Fiennes Directed by Ralph Fiennes (UK/France) CRITIC’S CHOICE Inspired by Julie Kavanagh’s book Rudolf Nureyev: The Life, this biography of the leg- And, like Roald Dahl, he seems to have endary ballet dancer is scripted by Sir David Dumbo CERT tbc Hare. It marks Ralph Fiennes’ third directo- tapped into a different kind of ‘family- Starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, friendly’ audience. Here, he takes the clas- rial outing, following Coriolanus (2011) and Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, The Invisible Woman (2013). Roshan Seth, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker sic Disney cartoon of 1941 and gives it his Directed by Tim Burton (USA) own inimitable, live-action spin. Released Fri 22 March An elephant with outsize ears is able to fly And this is just the first of three live-action ("The ninth wonder of the universe! The remakes of animated Disney classics to be world's only flyin' elephant!") and is the released this year, preceding Aladdin and star attraction of a circus that subse- The Lion King. quently falls into the hands of a dastardly Thandie Newton's daughter, Nico Parker, entrepreneur (Michael Keaton). co-stars as Dumbo’s little friend, Milly. Tim Burton is still one of the most anar- Released Fri 29 March chic, top-dollar filmmakers working today.

Captive State CERT 12a (110 mins) At Eternity’s Gate Starring John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, CERT 12a (111 mins) Jonathan Majors, Colson Baker, Vera Farmiga Directed by Rupert Wyatt (USA) Starring Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen, Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle The state in question is our own planet in the Seigner, Oscar Isaac, Amira Casar future, when it has been occupied by an alien Directed by Julian Schnabel force seeking a (USA/UK/France) peaceful unifica- Willem Dafoe received an Oscar nomina- tion. But even now, tion for his portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in a Chicago neigh- in this biopic from the American painter bourhood, there and filmmaker Julian Schnabel. The film are collaborators focuses on the artist’s last years in the and dissenters. South of France. Oscar Isaac plays Paul Released Gauguin. Fri 29 March Released Fri 29 March

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by Lauren Foster Cid s Pa Kidtropolis returns to Birmingham’s NEC for a second year running

Not sure where to take the kids during the friend get dancing - and appearances by TV Easter holidays? Fear not, for popular royalty Sam and Mark, who’ll be hosting their children’s event Kidtropolis is returning to very own live show on the Saturday and Sun- Birmingham’s NEC for a second year. day. Packed full of live shows, activities, much- Also announced for this year is a 200ft-long loved brands, characters and entertainment, inflatable assault course that allows children this year’s event is taking place from to venture through a number of different and Saturday 13 to Monday 15 April. imaginative zones, including the Arctic and a jungle. Founder Gemma Gallagher launched Kidtropolis in London in 2016. She has since Kidtropolis events are aimed at children aged organised a further two events in the capital, 12 and under, as Gemma explains: “We say 12 as well as last year’s sell-out show in Brum. because we do get a lot of parents asking if older siblings can come along too. We do So what was the idea behind the event?... recommend that people look at the website to “We really wanted to produce a great experi- see what’s on before they purchase a ticket. ence full of lots of activities and shows which Ultimately, it’s up to the parents to decide was cost-effective to attend. Days out are whether it’s appropriate for their child. generally expensive and there aren't many “People have asked us why we don’t zone our family experiences which are affordable.” events as a three-year-old zone, a five-year- Tickets for Kidtropolis cost £12, and visitors old zone etc, and that is purely down to can currently take advantage of a limited visitor experience. If mum or dad is on her or ‘buy one get one half-price’ adult offer. his own with two children of completely dif- ferent ages, it would be harder to manage. “Kidtropolis is an amalgamation of inflata- We like our content to be presented in a way bles, rides, different brand activities, live that means everyone can enjoy it at the same shows, character meet-and-greets and more. time. We try to bring in lots of different We like to give families the opportunity to content related to all age groups. meet celebrities too. It’s a bit different to a festival, as there’s no overnight camping, but “Kidtropolis isn’t just about putting inflata- it’s a very similar mechanic. Luckily for us, it bles into an event or putting live shows in the doesn’t matter what the weather’s like, as auditorium, it’s about putting exciting and we’re located indoors. We don’t need to worry fun content on the showfloor too, so that if it’s raining, and obviously the price is a lot when people are walking past, they can see different to what a festival ticket would cost. something that they might not have realised We saw a gap in the market to create some- was on - something that families can all thing that families could enjoy together, with enjoy together; an immersive experience. lots of different things going on for different It’s all about the atmosphere. We try and age groups, all under one roof. We then book lots of things that appeal to different decided to branch out into Birmingham be- people - things that are entertaining as well cause it’s pretty central. Travel-wise it’s great; as hands-on, so that the whole family can get the NEC is very accessible as a venue, so it involved together.” seemed completely sensible to host it there.” Kidtropolis takes place at Birmingham’s Attractions at the 2019 edition of Kidtropolis NEC from Saturday 13 to Monday 15 April. include a Baby Shark live mini show on the For further information, visit Saturday - in which Pinkfong and his best kidtropolis.co.uk/birmingham/tickets/

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

Painting Childhood: From Holbein To Freud Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 16 March - Sun 16 June This celebration of children, childhood and innocence brings together a selec- tion of iconic paintings, sketches and sculptures. Painting Childhood: From Holbein To Freud explores the creative process and specific challenges posed by producing artwork featuring children as the sub- ject matter. It also contemplates the place of family within an artist’s life, and the ongoing tension between biog- raphy and creativity. Addressing themes such as royal por- traiture, play and learning, the exhibi- tion features loans from, among other venues and sources, the Royal Collec- tion and the National Gallery. Hogarth, Gainsborough and Millais are among the artists whose work is featured.

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

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Visual Arts

Handsworth Self-Portrait: 40 Years On Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 23 March - Sun 2 June A groundbreaking ‘selfie’ project in 1979 saw Derek Bishton, Brian Homer and John Reardon create a pop-up photography studio in Birming- ham’s Handsworth area, inviting passers-by to take their own photograph by handing them the shutter release. More than 500 people participated in the pro- ject, which is here being celebrated 40 years on. Offering a snapshot of a vibrant, multicultural community at the moment it first became visi- ble, the exhibition features the original photo- graphic prints, many of which have never before been on public display.

Tess Jaray The Barber Institute, University of Birmingham, until Sun 12 May The celebrated Art Deco architecture of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts provides the inspiration for From Outside, the Tess Jaray exhibition currently showing at the venue. One of the UK’s most distinguished living artists, Tess uses the show to continue her career-long meditation on space, colour, form and pattern, presenting minimal, abstract compositions in subtle shades of green, blue, buff and pink. A selection of drawings made by Tess throughout her career accompanies the exhibition, not only shedding light on her method of work but also demonstrating her interest in experimentation and her meticulous eye for detail. A display of 1930s photographs and architectural blueprints of the Barber further complements the exhibition.

Make Art Not War sponse. The artwork on show in this ex- hibition has been produced by students Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 23 - Sun 31 March at City of Wolverhampton College, the Midlands’ chosen representatives for the ‘What does peace mean to you?’ project. Make Art Not War is being pre- That was the question asked of young sented by 14-18 NOW, a major cultural people nationwide, who were invited to programme designed to mark the cente- present their answer via a creative re- nary of the First World War.

Leonardo da Vinci: extraordinary artist. Daniel Silver None of the 12 drawings on display at A Life In Drawing BMAG have ever before been seen in New Art Gallery, Walsall, until Sun 2 June Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham. The exhibition is Juxtaposing existing works and new pieces - in- until Mon 6 May accompanied by a series of talks and cluding a series of mannequins presenting links Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s tours, as well as a programme of events between the classical and contemporary depic- (BMAG) display of 12 drawings by aimed at ‘bringing to life’ Leonardo’s tion of the human body - Daniel Silver’s New Art Leonardo da Vinci forms part of a techniques, to enhance visitors’ Gallery exhibition is his most ambitious in the nationwide event to mark the 500th appreciation of the drawings on show. UK to date. anniversary of the artist’s death. The display not only celebrates the venue’s long- Featuring a total of 144 of the Renaissance standing commitment to sculpture but also master's greatest artworks, drawn from the marks the 60th anniversary of the death of Royal Collection and displayed in 12 sculptor Jacob Epstein. The gallery has a strong simultaneous exhibitions across the connection with Epstein via his widow, Lady country, A Life In Drawing provides the Kathleen, whose family hailed from the Black widest-ever UK audience with the Country and who gifted the Garman Ryan collec- opportunity to see the work of a truly tion to Walsall in 1973. whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Events March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 16:29 Page 1 Events March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 16:30 Page 2

Events previews from around the region Events

Robot Day Coventry Transport Museum, Sat 9 March A major science & technology event aimed at everyone from tod- dlers to academics, Robot Day ex- plores ‘all things robotic’. Visitors to the free get-together have the chance to build their own robot, get hands-on with coding, hear from experts about how robots improve people’s lives and experience virtual reality. Bomb disposal, industrial robot and drone displays also feature, as does a specially created perfor- mance in which Imagineer Produc- tions’ six-metre-high Lady Godiva engages with the Urban Astronaut and the Hummingbird drone. Other attractions include craft and Yonex All England Open sport’s oldest and most prestigious competi- dance workshops, a range of static tion. This latest edition of the championship and moving exhibits, and inspira- Badminton Championships features 155 matches, more than 50 hours of live tional talks and lectures from Arena Birmingham, Wed 6 - Sun 10 March badminton and appearances by the world’s some of the world’s leading robotics experts. Now in its 109th year, Yonex is one of greatest players. In short, it’s a must-attend badminton’s five ‘majors’, as well as being the event for dedicated fans of the sport... Crufts NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 March Practical Classics Classic Pit Stop Car & Restoration Show Enginuity, Ironbridge, Sat 9 & Sun 10 March NEC, Birmingham, Fri 22 - Sun 24 March Ironbridge Gorge Museums have partnered with the University of Wolverhampton Race Team to stage this high-energy family event. Including four interactive sessions based around engineering, racing and science, the show’s high- lights include a talk by Shane Kelly about his life as a Formula 3 race driver. There’s also a wealth of hands-on activities to enjoy, including the chance to change a racing- car tyre and the opportunity to try out Forensic, The world’s biggest dog show is Biology & Physics STEM (science, technology, en- back. With over 22,000 canine gineering & maths) experiments. companions competing for the coveted title of Best In Show, the event features a range of displays and competitions across its four days. Midlands classic car enthusiasts can really Away from the arena, there are immerse themselves in their passion at this more than 550 trade stands to ex- specialist event. Featuring in excess of 1,000 plore, a Good Citizen Dog Scheme magnificent motors, the show also boasts live training ring and plenty of activi- demos, expert tutorials, workshops, celebrity ties to keep the kids entertained. appearances and hundreds of exhibitors selling Youngsters under the age of eight a wide range of popular products. get free entry into the show. Other attractions include an autojumble, a ‘cars In short, if you’re a dog lover, for sale’ area, the Practical Classics Live Stage you’d have to be absolutely, er, and the UK’s biggest collection of barn find dis- ‘barking’ not to attend... plays. whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Kidtropolis Full March 2019.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 10:38 Page 1 Events March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 16:30 Page 4

Events previews from around the region Events

Springtime Babies The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 16 March

Families can celebrate the arrival of spring by checking out this ut- terly delightful ‘farm on wheels’, which visits Stoke complete with baby chicks, ducklings, rabbits and young lambs. Children can pet and bottle-feed the new ar- rivals while at the same time find- MCM Comic Con Birmingham screenings and multiple opportunities to meet ing out about the life processes of the stars and creators of some of the world’s most the animals and their young. NEC, Birmingham, Sat 23 & Sun 24 March popular movies, video games, comics and TV Thirty-five thousand fans are expected to de- shows. Celebrities making live appearances at scend on the NEC for this action-packed celebra- the event include Game Of Thrones’ Ser Meryn & Elizabethan tion of pop culture. The two-day show features Syrio Forel, Supernatural’s Felicia Day and Osric Living History brand new interactive content, numerous talks Chau, and Merlin favourites Alexander Vlahos, and panel-based events, a selection of exclusive Tom Hopper and Rupert Young. Harvington Hall, Kidderminster, Sat 2 & Sun 3 March

Presenting a wide range of dis- plays and activities across the weekend, this interactive event in- vites visitors to abandon modern You Are Here! its place - in the solar system, the universe and comforts, travel 400-plus years beyond!’ back in time and learn about the Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham, In the process, the hosts are confident they’ll Sat 2 & Sun 3 March lives of the Elizabethans. provide audiences with a truly out-of-this- Attractions include archery and Join the hosts of Wow Tours for a family show world experience - as they’re happy to explain: musket-firing displays, cookery combining live theatre with an immersive 360- “With Jupiter as the ultimate ‘behind you’ mo- and craft presentations, and degree full-dome planetarium experience. ment, a zoom through Saturn’s rings and a voy- music recitals and dancing. A 30-minute presentation designed for children age down to the surface of Mars, this is a tour There’s even the possibility of and their families, You Are Here! sees the you’ll never forget!” stumbling across a secret chamber show’s hosts ‘attempting to put everything in or two...

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

Billie Eilish plays the O2 Institute, Birmingham, on Sat 2 March

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

What’s On Fri 1 to Sun 10 March Mon 11 to Sun 17 March Mon 18 to Sun 24 March Mon 25 to Sun 31 March

Good Dog at Jack Lukeman plays KT Tunstall at The Hairy Bikers at The REP, Birmingham the Glee Club Birmingham Town Hall Symphony Hall Wed 6 - Sat 9 March Fri 15 March Wed 20 March Sat 30 March

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thelist THROUGHOUT MARCH

MAC, Birmingham Visual Arts MATTHEW KRISHANU: THE SUN NEVER Birmingham Museum & SETS London-based painter Matthew Art Gallery Krishanu takes inspiration from a WOMEN POWER PROTEST Inspired by childhood spent in Bangladesh to the bold work of feminist artists and produce dream-like, reflective paint- activists, Women Power Protest aims ings, until Sun 10 Mar to raise awareness, provoke debate NEW ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: and assess how much has changed INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBI- for women, until Sun 31 Mar TION IPE 161 Comprising 100 images WITHIN AND WITHOUT: BODY IMAGE AND by 54 contemporary photographers, THE SELF Exhibition examining how Sat 30 Mar - Sun 12 May social, historical and cultural factors NEW BRAVE: THE GIRLS OF SOUTH affect body image, and how this is ex- SUDAN Exhibition by award-winning pressed through objects and art- photographer Kate Holt showing Billie Eilish - O2 Institute, Birmingham works, until Sun 5 May girls’ everyday lives as they survive in Birmingham TOO CUTE!: SWEET IS ABOUT TO GET the world’s youngest country, Sat 30 PER, EFFIGY FOR SLEEP Sat 2 Mar, Scruffy Mur- SINISTER A range of artworks that Mar - Sun 19 May Gigs MR BEN Fri 1 - Sat 2 phys, Birmingham show different takes on cuteness, Mar, The Jam House, from contemporary-based issues to RBSA Gallery OASIS MAYBE AT COME Birmingham BASS DRUM OF DEATH TOGETHER Fri 1 Mar, 19th century oil paintings, until Sun NEW RBSA OPEN ALL MEDIA 2019 Fea- BILLIE EILISH Sat 2 Mar, Sat 2 Mar, The Sun- Night Owl, B’ham 12 May turing jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, O2 Institute, B’ham flower Lounge, B’ham PURE WHITNEY HOUS- textiles, drawing, painting and print- CLOUDBUSTING - THE MAET LIVE Sat 2 Mar, TON Fri 1 Mar, The making, Thurs 14 Mar - Sat 13 Apr MAGIC OF KATE BUSH The River Rooms, River Rooms, Stour- NEW NEXT WAVE ASSOCIATE SHOWCASE Sat 2 Mar, Artrix, Stourbridge bridge Group exhibition featuring work by Bromsgrove HARRY JORDAN + RAI GODSMACK Fri 1 Mar, artists from the 2018 Next Wave exhi- ASHA BHOSLE Sat 2 KAH MERCURY Sat 2 O2 Institute, B’ham bition, Mon 25 Mar - Sat 11 May Mar, Resorts World Mar, The Night Owl, THE ELO EXPERIENCE Fri Arena, Birmingham Birmingham The Barber Institute 1 Mar, The Alexandra DREADZONE Sat 2 Mar, COLLECTING BIRMINGHAM: WHO IS OCTAVIAN Sat 2 Mar, Theatre, Birmingham The Mill, Digbeth, BIRMINGHAM? Discover new collec- THE LAST ROMAN Emperor Justinian I O2 Academy, B’ham GREEN HAZE (GREEN Birmingham tions that reflect the experiences of (527 - 565 AD), the so-called ‘last SCOTT BRADLEE'S POST- DAY) & ONE EIGHTY TWO diverse Birmingham people - from Roman emperor’, rose from peasant MODERN JUKEBOX Sat 2 IMAANI ˜ECLECTIC (BLINK 182) working lives to community activists beginnings in Serbia to become the Fri 1 Mar, Mar, O2 Academy, ACOUSTIC SOUL’ Sat 2 The Robin, Bilston and protest movements, until Sun 27 most powerful man on earth, until Birmingham Mar, Pizza Express Oct Sun 14 Apr CATAPULT CLUB FT. THE Live, Birmingham GUS DAPPERTON Sat 2 BUTTERS ALIENS DRAWING OUT THE SOUND Featuring Fri 1 Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- ANDY FAIRWEATHER Mar, O2 Academy, Eastside Projects artists ranging from Dürer to Renoir, ingham LOW & THE LOW RIDERS this print display brings together Birmingham FEATURING THE HI RID- NEW SOMEWHERE IN THE CROWD WOOD AND NAILS, works that reflect on the changing AN ORCHESTRAL RENDI- ERS SOUL REVUE Sat 2 THERE’S YOU Cardiff-based artist DEARIST, GEORGE GADD, meanings of music in society, until TION OF DR. DRE: 2001 Mar, The Robin, Bil- Freya Dooley works with writing, LAST LIGHT Sat 2 Mar, Sun 19 May Fri 1 Mar, The Mill, Dig- ston moving image, sound and perfor- The Flapper, B’ham mance, Sat 2 Mar - Sat 27 Apr beth, Birmingham PAUL CARRACK Sun 3 RAYMOND FROGATT Other VISUAL ARTS JESSOP JESSOP JESSOP Mar, Symphony Hall, ACOUSTIC Sat 2 Mar, ONCE UPON A TIME: WOMEN WHO Fri 1 Mar, Pizza Ex- Birmingham Grand Union The Core Theatre, DARED TO DREAM Exhibition of the 30 press Live, B’ham LAUREN GAULT: DRYE EYES A series of Solihull GEORGIE FAME Sun 3 illustrations commissioned for the sculptural moments, through objects DAN SHAKE Fri 1 - Sat 2 Mar, Artrix, Broms- book Once Upon A Time In Birming- RANNOCH, WITCH TRIP- and sound, until Sat 13 Apr Mar, Hare & Hounds, grove ham: Women Who Dared To Dream, JOANNE MASDING: BRUNTWOOD COR- all of which were created by up-and- NERBLOCK COMMISSION Permanent in- coming female illustrators, until Thurs stallation made by artist and Grand 18 Apr, Birmingham Hippodrome Union studio holder Joanne Masding, NEW DIGITAL DIASPORA Exhibition until Fri 5 July based on the topics of unity and divi- sion, Fri 1 Mar - Sun 14 Apr, Centrala Ikon Gallery Gallery & Cafe, Birmingham NEW HEW LOCKE: HERE’S THE THING NEW CARL KNIBB - LIFE IN LIGHT Exhibi- Work involving a wide range of media tion by the Midlands artist who com- - painting, drawing, photography, peted as a semi-finalist in Sky Arts sculpture and installation - making Landscape Artist Of The Year, Sat 2 extensive use of collage and found Mar - Mon 1 Apr, Artifex Gallery, Sut- objects, Fri 8 Mar - Sun 2 June ton Coldfield NEW KE - FLY Performance video NEW CATHERINE DE BARNES ART SOCI- screened in the Tower Room and fea- ETY & SOLIHULL SOCIETY OF ARTS turing a young Chinese artist facing a SPRING JOINT ART EXHIBITION Show- laptop camera, his meditative posi- casing for-sale paintings, pottery, jew- tion foiled by the irritating movement ellery and cards, Wed 20 Mar - Mon 1 of his mouse cursor, as if it were a fly- Apr, The Core Theatre, Solihull ing insect, Fri 8 Mar - Sun 2 June Dan Shake - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 1-3 March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 08:48 Page 2

Friday 1 - Sunday 3 March

DLE Two short plays performed by Classical Music Stourbridge Theatre Company, Fri 1 Mar, Stourbridge Town Hall NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE Featuring A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Featur- Daniele Rosina (director) & Sabrina ing Black Country comedy act Ko & Olivia Tait (conductors), Fri 1 Dandy, musicians The Empty Can & Mar, The Barber Institute, B’ham compere Wayne Beese, Fri 1 Mar, Lichfield Garrick SEX CELLS Amateur staging of Anna Longaretti’s funny and poignant play about motherhood, friendship, love Comedy and loss, Fri 1 - Sat 9 Mar, Hall Green RACHEL PARRIS Fri 1 Mar, Artrix, Little Theatre, Birmingham Bromsgrove SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSI- MATT FORDE Fri 1 Mar, Stourbridge CAL Brand new musical comedy cre- Town Hall ated from scratch at each performance, Sat 2 Mar, Lichfield BILL BURR Fri 1 Mar, Resorts World Garrick Arena, Birmingham DANGEROUS OBSESSION Amateur stag- TONY LAW Fri 1 Mar, The Glee Club, ing of NJ Crisp’s psychological Birmingham Lauren Zhang thriller, Sat 2 - Sat 9 Mar, Oldbury Rep ALLYSON SMITH, JOHN FOTHERGILL, AN- Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Tues 12 March YAMATO DRUMMERS: PASSION Theatri- DREW RYAN & ED PATRICK Fri 1 - Sat 2 cal performance of Japanese Taiko Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham A Birmingham resident from the age of nine, American-born 17- drumming, Sun 3 Mar, The Alexandra year-old Lauren Zhang is the current BBC Young Musician of the CROFT & PEARCE Sat 2 Mar, Artrix, Theatre, Birmingham Bromsgrove Year, winning the title for her performance of Prokofiev's Second DANA ALEXANDER, CHRISTIAN REILLY, Piano Concerto, accompanied by the City of Birmingham PAUL PIRIE & FREDDY QUINNE Sat 2 Symphony Orchestra. Mar, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham In the 10 months since securing the coveted title, Lauren has per- JOHN-LUKE ROBERTS Sun 3 Mar, The Kids Shows formed at the BBC Proms with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and at Glee Club, Birmingham THE CAT IN THE HAT Riotous rhymes & Proms In The Park with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. SINDHU VEE Sun 3 Mar, Artrix, Broms- infectious laughter in a new stage Forthcoming engagements include concerto performances with grove show based on the much-loved book London Mozart Players, the European Union Chamber Orchestra AURIE STYLA, JASON PATTERSON, SPE- by Dr Seuss, until Sun 3 Mar, The and Brno Philharmonic. This Conservatoire concert sees her CIAL P, MR CEE & DIZZLE Sun 3 Mar, REP, Birmingham performing works by Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin. The Glee Club, Birmingham BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Interactive show for children aged three-plus featuring excerpts from Beauty And Stephan James. The Mockingbird The Beast, performed by Birmingham Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 1 - Thurs 7 Events Royal Ballet's dancers & orchestra, Mar Theatre JAWSOME SHARKS Come face-to-fin Fri 1 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome VICE (15) Biography/Comedy. Starring with some of the venue’s most ‘jaw- THE BAND Tim Firth’s much-acclaimed Christian Bale and Amy Adams. Ar- some’ species, until Sun 10 Mar, Na- jukebox musical, featuring the songs trix, Bromsgrove, Fri 1, Mon 4 & tional Sea Life Centre, Birmingham of Take That, until Sat 2 Mar, Wolver- Thurs 7 Mar hampton Grand Theatre THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW Featur- GREASE (18) Musical/Romance. Star- Dance ing hundreds of wedding specialists, CONCUBINE Urgent look at woman- ring John Travolta, Olivia Newton- from bridal boutiques and florists to hood, sexuality and faith, written and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Birmingham John. Inc singalong brunch. The jewellers and photographers, Fri 1 - performed by Amahra Spence, until Royal Ballet presents its version of Mockingbird Cinema, Sat 2 Mar Sat 2 Mar, The REP, Birmingham Sun 3 Mar, NEC, Birmingham the classic fairytale, until Sat 2 Mar, DESTROYER (15) Crime/Drama. Star- SUTTON COLDFIELD BOOKFEST A day of ME AND MY DOLL Birmingham-based Birmingham Hippodrome ring Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell. workshops and storytelling for chil- theatre company Paperback explore ASIAN SPRING Sampad hosts an The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- dren up to the age of 12, Sat 2 Mar, the challenges, joys and pitfalls of al- evening of performances from some ham, Sat 2, Tues 5 - Thurs 7 Mar lowing yourself to be vulnerable, until Sutton Coldfield Library of the most exciting dance groups in TURNER & HOOCH (PG) Comedy/Crime. Sat 2 Mar, Old Joint Stock Theatre, YOU ARE HERE! Live theatre combines the country, Sun 3 Mar, Birmingham Starring Tom Hanks, Mare Winning- Birmingham with an immersive 360-degree full- Town Hall ham. Dog friendly screening. The dome planetarium experience, Sat 2 - METAMORPHOSIS Beyond The Horizon Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 3 Mar, Thinktank Science Mu- bring Franz Kafka's acclaimed novella Sun 3 Mar to life using state-of-the-art makeup seum, Birmingham OF LOVE & LAW (15) Documentary. The and prosthetic effects, until Sat 2 Mar, OPEN ASTON Take a wander around Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham the grand old mansion, Sun 3 Mar, Sun 3 Mar Film Aston Hall, Birmingham AS YOU LIKE IT Kimberley Sykes di- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: rects a riotous version of Shake- speare's romantic comedy, until Sat TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON'T NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: KNOW ME Documentary. The Mock- 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Released from Fri 1 Mar, showing at ingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 1 Stratford-upon-Avon selected cinemas Mar POPSTARS THE 90S MUSICAL SOSage THE AFTERMATH (tbc) Factory (the youth wing of Solihull On ALIEN (18) Horror/Sci-Fi. Starring SERENITY (tbc) Stage) present a boy vs girl band Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt. The jukebox musical, Thurs 28 Feb - Sat Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, WHAT THEY HAD (12a) 2 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull Fri 1 - Sat 2 Mar IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (15) A SMALL FAMILY MURDER & THE BUN- Crime/Drama. Starring KiKi Layne, whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List Birmingham 4 - 10 March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:10 Page 1

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thelist Monday 4 - Sunday 10 March Gigs Classical Comedy SHAKIN' STEVENS LOST VOICE GUY Mon 4 Mar, The Glee GREATEST HITS - AND Music Club, Birmingham MORE! Tues 5 Mar, The LUNCHTIME MUSIC: BEETHOVEN Fea- BARBARA NICE, MANDY MUDEN, JULES Alexandra Theatre, turing Ruifan Xuan (piano), Olga OLIVER & MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed 6 Birmingham Eckert (violin) & Elizabeth Haughan Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove ITCHY FEET Tues 5 Mar, (piano), Mon 4 Mar, Recital Hall, RHOD GILBERT Thurs 7 Mar, Sym- The Jam House, Birm- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire phony Hall, Birmingham ingham ED PETHER (VIOLIN) Programme in- SCOTT BENNETT, ALAN HUDSON, JOBY BAS Tues 5 Mar, O2 In- cludes works by Bartók, Webern & R MAGEEAN, DAVE WILLIAMS Thurs 7 stitute, Birmingham Strauss, Tues 5 Mar, The Bradshaw Mar, The George Hotel, Lichfield Hall, Royal Birmingham Conserva- DAN NIGHTINGALE & STEVE GRIBBIN BRIT FLOYD - ANOTHER toire BRICK IN THE WALL PLUS COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Wed 6 Mar, Symphony PETER MOORE IN RECITAL Also featur- ROBINSON Thurs 7 Mar, The Glee Hall, Birmingham ing Jonathan Ware (piano). Pro- Club, Birmingham gramme includes works by Christian THE FUREYS PAUL MCCAFFREY Fri 8 Mar, The Glee Wed 6 Gouinguene, Jacques Casterede, Mar, The Core Theatre, Club, Birmingham Roxanna Panufnik, Brahms & Gersh- Solihull win, Tues 5 Mar, Birmingham Town DAN NIGHTINGALE, STEVE GRIBBIN, EM- VONDA SHEPARD & Hall MANUEL SONUBI & COMIC TBC Fri 8 - SHARON CORR Wed 6 Freya Ridings - O2 Institute, Birmingham Sat 9 Mar, The Glee Club, Birming- Mar, Birmingham Town ham MATT FORD'S SALUTE TO The Night Owl, Birm- Hall JASON MANFORD SINATRA & THE KINGS ingham Sat 9 Mar, Dudley JOEL CULPEPPER Town Hall Wed 6 OF COOL Fri 8 Mar, The Mar, Hare & Hounds, 10CC Sat 9 Mar, Sym- Core Theatre, Solihull phony Hall, B’ham RICH HALL Sat 9 Mar, Lichfield Gar- Birmingham rick THE VERY BEST OF BURT WOMEN IN ROCK Sat 9 HANNAH JOHNSON & GLENN WOOL BACHARACH Fri 8 Mar, Mar, Artrix, Broms- Sat 9 Mar, Artrix, THE BROKEN HEARTS Lichfield Garrick Bromsgrove Wed 6 Mar, The Jam grove CARL HUTCHINSON House, Birmingham STIFF LITTLE FINGERS THE SENSATIONAL 60’S Sat 9 Mar, The Fri 8 Mar, O2 EXPERIENCE Sat 9 Mar, REP, Birmingham THE TAKE THAT EXPERI- Academy, Birmingham ENCE Thurs 7 Mar, The The Alexandra The- JESSIE CAVE Sat 9 Mar, Birmingham Core Theatre, Solihull SEAN DUGGAN BAND + atre, Birmingham Hippodrome BLACK KNIGHT SATEL- THE LANCASHIRE HOT- LAUREN PATTISON, DAVE LONGLEY, NICK ODDITY ROAD Thurs 7 LITE + CALI ROW + Mar, The Sunflower POTS - HIGHWAY TO DOODY Sat 9 Mar, The Comedy Loft, GAZELLE Fri 8 Mar, Ac- HULL TOUR Sat 9 Mar, Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham tress & Bishop, B’ham O2 Academy, B’ham MAUREEN YOUNGER, JUDI LOVE, QUILL Thurs 7 Mar, BLAK TWANG, RODNEY P Lichfield Garrick FREYA RIDINGS Sat 9 LUCY RUSSELL (VIOLIN) & SEZI SESKIR GLENDA JAXSON & DANA ALEXANDER & TY Fri 8 Mar, O2 Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- (FORTEPIANO) Programme includes (PICTURED) Sun 10 Mar, The Glee JON BODEN & THE REM- Academy, Birmingham ingham works by Beethoven, Mozart & CPE Club, Birmingham NANT STRINGS Thurs 7 CATAPULT CLUB FT. Bach, Thurs 7 Mar, Recital Hall, Mar, Midlands Arts CATS IN SPACE - ROCK SHALLOW GLOW Fri 8 GODDESS Sat 9 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Centre, Birmingham Mar, O2 Academy, O2 Institute, B’ham SPRING OPERA: THE MAGIC FLUTE Fea- P.O.D. | ALIEN ANT FARM Birmingham turing Michael Barry (director) & Thurs 7 Mar, O2 Insti- BELLA AND THE BOUR- JACK & JACK Fri 8 Mar, Christopher Bucknall (conductor), tute, Birmingham BON BOYS Sat 9 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham Pizza Express Live, Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Mar, The Crescent HIS WAY: THE FRANK CROOKED COLOURS Fri Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham SINATRA STORY Thurs 7 8 Mar, O2 Institute, CHETHAM’S SCHOOL OF MUSIC Featur- Mar, The Old Rep The- GORDON HENDRICKS: Birmingham ing Rose McLachlan (piano), Joanne atre, Birmingham UNPLUGGED Sun 10 THE MERSEY BEATLES: Mar, Artrix, Broms- Lee (flute) & Nick Oliver (piano). Pro- PETER ANDRE Thurs 7 THE ABBEY ROAD TOUR grove gramme includes works by Mar, The Alexandra Beethoven, Sancan & Boehm, Fri 8 Fri 8 Mar, The Old Rep CALVA LOUISE Sun 10 Theatre, Birmingham Mar, The Barber Institute, B’ham Theatre, Birmingham Mar, The Sunflower ELIZA Thurs 7 Mar, URBAN INTRO Fri 8 - Sat Lounge, Birmingham OSLO PHILHARMONIC: SIBELIUS' FIFTH Hare & Hounds, Birm- Featuring Vasily Petrenko (conduc- 9 Mar, The Jam ROAD TRIP - ROAD TRIP ingham tor) and Nikolai Lugansky (piano). Theatre House, Birmingham 2.0 TOUR Sun 10 Mar, OMAR Programme includes works by ROUSE, YE WOMEN! Folk opera based Thurs 7 Mar, The ULTIMATE BUBLÉ Sat 9 O2 Academy, B’ham Delius, Grieg and Sibelius, Fri 8 Mar, on the story of Mary Macarthur and Jam House, B’ham Mar, The Old Rep The- LOREENA MCKENNITT Symphony Hall, Birmingham her universal campaign for equality THE ESKIES Thurs 7 atre, Birmingham Sun 10 Mar, Birming- in the workplace, Tues 5 Mar, Artrix, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY - EARLY Mar, The Robin, Bil- PEACH CLUB / KILLER ham Town Hall Bromsgrove ston MUSIC TREASURES Fri 8 Mar, Organ BOB / DOLLCANOES Sat THE ORB Sun 10 Mar, Studio, Royal Birmingham Conserva- INTO THE LIGHT An international cast MR EAZI Thurs 7 Mar, 9 Mar, Scruffy Mur- Hare & Hounds, Birm- toire of performers with and without learn- O2 Institute, B’ham phys, Birmingham ingham ing disabilities present a show about SIR KARL JENKINGS: 75TH BIRTHDAY ROY HEMMINGS: HITS NAUGHTY NINETIES Sat the right to be seen and heard... LUTHER - LUTHER VAN- CONCERT Featuring Sir Karl Jenkins OF MOTOWN Fri 8 Mar, 9 Mar, The River , The Patrick Stu- DROSS CELEBRATION (conductor), Manchester Concert Or- Artrix, Bromsgrove Rooms, Stourbridge dio,Tues Birmingham 5 - Wed 6 Mar Hippodrome Sun 10 Mar, The chestra, Kathryn Rudge (mezzo so- MAN OF MOON Fri 8 AMY WINEHOUSE TRIB- Alexandra Theatre, prano) and Jonathan Scott (organ IF MY FATHER ONLY KNEW Nathalie Mar, The Sunflower UTE BY MARINA Birmingham soloist), Sun 10 Mar, Symphony Hall, Bazán's devised exploration of iden- Lounge, Birmingham COOMBES Sat 9 Mar, Birmingham tity, sex and beauty in today's soci-

whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Birmingham 4 - 10 March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:10 Page 3 The List Birmingham 4 - 10 March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:10 Page 4

Monday 4 - Sunday 10 March

theety, Tues 5 - Thurs 7 Mar,list Old Joint rian Gray, Fri 8 Mar, Lichfield Garrick Stock Theatre, Birmingham THE FOOTSIE CLUB An exclusive THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY evening of ‘delectable femme fatales, Smash-and-grab comedy promising quirky comedy and extraordinary per- ‘swag-loads of laughter’, Tues 5 - Sat formances’, Fri 8 Mar, Old Joint Stock 9 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Theatre, Birmingham HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR The classic Justin Au- radio comedy, live on stage, Wed 6 dibert directs Shakespeare’s comedy Mar, The Alexandra Theatre, B’ham of gender and materialism, Fri 8 Mar - UN BALLO IN MASCHERA Welsh Na- Sat 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare The- tional Opera present Verdi's tale of atre, Stratford-upon-Avon love, power and politics, Wed 6 Mar, OPEN MIC NIGHT Featuring local com- Birmingham Hippodrome panies and singers showcasing their HIS WAY: THE FRANK SINATRA STORY talents, Sat 9 Mar, Old Joint Stock Wed 6 Mar, The Old Rep Theatre, Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham KNIGHTMARE LIVE Comedy stage GOOD DOG Arinzé Kene's story of adaption of the cult TV classic, Sat 9 growing up in a multicultural commu- Mar, Midlands Arts Centre, Birming- Welsh National Opera nity and the everyday injustices that ham Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 6 - Sat 9 March drive people to take back control, LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK Per- Wed 6 - Sat 9 Mar, The REP, B’ham formed by Birmingham Opera Com- A regular visitor to the Midlands, Welsh National Opera is commit- pany with music by Shostakovich, ted to producing works which are extremely accessible for its au- Sat 9 Mar, Tower Ballroom, Edgbas- diences, whether they be opera-going regulars or people ton, Birmingham attending an opera for the very first time. HOLDING BABY: THE REALITIES OF KIN- The company’s spring-season Hippodrome programme features SHIP CARE Rag City Productions pre- sent a poignant insight into the lives Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera - based on the real-life assassination of carers and the cared for, Sat 9 - of King Gustav III of Sweden, who was shot at a masked ball in Sun 10 Mar, CircusMash, Kings 1792 - Mozart’s The Magic Flute - a fairytale-style story of good ver- Heath, Birmingham sus evil - and Donizetti’s Robert Devereux, in which the epony- mous character’s life hangs in the balance when he leaves Queen Elizabeth I heartbroken.

THE PRODUCERS MUSCOM present an Dance Starring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer CHAMPIONSHIPS Featuring the world’s amateur staging of Mel Brooks’ clas- U.DANCE WM 2019 A ‘vibrant and excit- Grey. The Mockingbird Cinema, Birm- best players, Wed 6 - Sun 10 Mar, sic comedy, Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Mar, ing’ mix of dance genres and themes, ingham, Sat 9 Mar Arena Birmingham Wolverhampton Grand Theatre celebrating some of the best young BIRDS OF PASSAGE (15) Drama. Star- CRUFTS 2019 Twenty-two thousand THE MAGIC FLUTE Welsh National performers from the , ring Anastasia Carmiña Martínez, dogs compete for the title of Crufts Opera's production of Mozart's fa- Sun 10 Mar, The Patrick Studio, Birm- José Acosta. Foreign language, sub- Best In Show, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Mar, mous work, Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Mar, Birm- ingham Hippodrome titled. The Mockingbird Cinema, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham ingham Hippodrome Birmingham, Sun 10 Mar LICHFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL This ROBERTO DEVEREUX Acclaimed pro- TRON: DOUBLE BILL (PG) year’s festival theme is Frontiers, Bor- duction by Welsh National Opera. Adventure/Sci-Fi. Starring Jeff ders And Barriers, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Sung in Italian, with English surtitles, Talks Bridges. The Mockingbird Cinema, Mar, various venues across Lichfield Fri 8 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome ANGIE THOMAS IN CONVERSATION WITH Birmingham, Sun 10 Mar THE MURDER OF LOUISA SMITH There's THE CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS: MO- RAKEEM OMAR Author Angie Thomas POLINA (12a) Drama. Starring Anasta- been a murder at the Back to Backs. TOWN MISSION The Chicago Blues talks about her highly anticipated sia Shevtsova, Veronika Zhovnytska. Can you get to the bottom of what Brothers head for Detroit to take on second novel, On The Come Up, Foreign language, subtitled. The happened to poor Louisa Smith? Fri some of the biggest and best-loved Tues 5 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, 8 Mar, Birmingham Back to Backs Motown anthems, Fri 8 Mar, The Sun 10 & Tues 12 Mar Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham DANCING WITH THE STARS WEEKEND Featuring the stars of Strictly Come ROUSE, YE WOMEN! Folk opera based Dancing at the Alton Towers Resort on the story of Mary Macarthur and NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Hotel, Fri 8 - Sun 10 Mar, Alton Tow- her universal campaign for equality in Released from Fri 8 Mar, showing at ers, Stoke-on-Trent the workplace, Fri 8 Mar, Midlands Film selected cinemas Arts Centre, Birmingham INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: DISCOVER RAG RUGGING Learn the art CAPTAIN MARVEL (tbc) of rag rugging, Sat 9 Mar, Birming- GREEN BOOK (12a) Comedy/Biography. EVERYBODY KNOWS (15) ham Back to Backs Starring Viggo Mortensen, Maher- THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (12a) shala Ali. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 7 SOLIHULL BOOKFEST One-day celebra- Mar ROSIE (12a) tion of stories and storymaking, Sat 9 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull CAPTAIN MARVEL (12a) Action/Adven- ture. Starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR Discover the Jackson. Electric Cinema, Birming- world behind the curtain, Sat 9 Mar, ham, from Fri 8 Mar Birmingham Hippodrome ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (12a) Action/Ad- Events PIT STOP Brand new interactive event venture. Starring Rosa Salazar, packed with hands-on activities CANDLELIGHT TOURS Experience the Christoph Waltz. The Mockingbird based on science, technology, engi- atmospheric Back to Backs by can- Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 8 - Thurs 14 neering and maths, Sat 9 - Sun 10 dlelight, Tues 5 Mar, Birmingham Mar, Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, DORIAN Contemporary retelling of Mar Back to Backs Shropshire Oscar Wilde's acclaimed novel, Do- DIRTY DANCING (12) Drama/Music. YONEX ALL ENGLAND OPEN BADMINTON whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Birmingham 11 - 17 March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:11 Page 1

thelist Birmingham Town Hall THE ATLANTIC PLAYERS Gigs DODIE Thurs 14 Mar, Fri 15 Mar, Hare & Classical Comedy O2 Academy, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham LARKIN POE Mon 11 BRING YOUR OWN BABY COMEDY Tues DESPERATE JOURNALIST MARI WILSON Fri 15 Mar, The Glee Club, Music 12 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Thurs 14 Mar, Hare & Mar, Pizza Express Birmingham KIRI PRITCHARD MCLEAN Thurs 14 Hounds, Birmingham Live, Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH SWMRS Mon 11 Mar, THOMAS TROTTER Programme com- Mar, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham APOLLO SOUL Thurs 14 NAPOLEON Fri 15 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham prises Fauré’s Requiem, Mon 11 COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Mar, The Jam House, The Asylum, B’ham Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham RICHARDSON FEATURING COMEDIAN SELF ESTEEM Tues 12 Birmingham DETROIT SOUL COLLEC- TBC Thurs 14 Mar, The Glee Club, Mar, Hare & Hounds, TIVE Fri 15 - Sat 16 DI XIAO FEMMES DE LÉGENDE WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI Birmingham Birmingham Mar, The Jam House, Featuring Di Xiao (piano). Pro- QUINTET Thurs 14 Mar, gramme includes works by Schu- YUNGBLUD Tues 12 Birmingham NISH KUMAR Fri 15 Mar, Birmingham Pizza Express Live, mann, Mcdowall, Chopin and Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- Town Hall Birmingham THE STRANGE DOORS Mélanie Hélène Bonis, Tues 12 Mar, ingham ROB ROUSE, VIKKI STONE, ALISTAIR BECKY HILL Thurs 14 Sat 16 Mar, The Night Birmingham Town Hall ROY HARPER Tues 12 Owl, Birmingham BARRIE & TOM LUCY Fri 15 - Sat 16 Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- LAUREN ZHANG (PIANO) RECITAL Tues Mar, Symphony Hall, Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham ingham MOTHERSHIP - LED ZEP- 12 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birming- Birmingham PELIN TRIBUTE LUCY FREDERICK Sat 16 Mar, Artrix, BOOTLEG BLONDIE Fri Sat 16 ham Conservatoire DELANO MILL'S DREAD Mar, Artrix, Broms- Bromsgrove 15 Mar, Artrix, Broms- QUATUOR BOZZINI Featuring Clemens & JAZZ SESSION Tues grove EDDIE BRIMSON, JESSICA FOSTEKEW, grove Merkel & Alissa Cheung (violins), 12 Mar, The Jam LIVEWIRE - THE AC/DC JAMIE HUTCHINSON & FREDDY QUINNE NIGHT OF THE Stéphanie Bozzini (viola) & Isabelle House, Birmingham SHOW Sat 16 Mar, The Comedy Loft, Birm- VALKYRIES Fri 15 Mar, Sat 16 Mar, The Bozzini (cello). Programme includes Robin, Bilston ingham SMOKEPURPP Tues 12 Scruffy Murphys, Birm- works by John Woolrich, Scott Wil- Mar, The Mill, Digbeth, ingham THE STRANGLERS Sat son, Stravinsky & Bartók, Wed 13 Birmingham MAWKIN Fri 15 Mar, Ar- 16 Mar, O2 Academy, Mar, The Barber Institute, B’ham ELLES BAILEY Wed 13 trix, Bromsgrove Birmingham LONDON WINDS: COMMUTER CONCERT Mar, O2 Academy, OH! WHAT A FEELING Fri XY&O + DAME Sat 16 Featuring Michael Collins Theatre Birmingham 15 Mar, Lichfield Gar- Mar, The Sunflower (clarinet/director), Thurs 14 Mar, The LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK Per- ARCADE HEARTS + rick Lounge, Birmingham Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham formed by Birmingham Opera Com- HARICO + RISCAS DJ THE AMY WINEHOUSE Conservatoire JACK LUKEMAN Fri 15 pany with music by Shostakovich, SET Wed 13 Mar, The EXPERIENCE - A.K.A LI- Mar, The Glee Club, FIDELIO TRIO Featuring Darragh Mor- Mon 11, Wed 13, Fri 15 & Sun 17 Sunflower Lounge, ONESS Sat 16 Mar, O2 Birmingham gan (violin), Adi Tal (cello) & Mary Mar, Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham Dullea (piano). Programme includes THIS FEELING – RORY Birmingham HOODIE ALLEN Wed 13 JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR: works by Michael Zev Gordon & WYNNE + YOUNG THE LIFE I LEAD Miles Jupp brings to Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- THE RECKLESS HEART Fauré, Fri 15 Mar, The Barber Insti- CHASERS + LOWER life the story of actor David Tomlin- ingham TOUR Sat 16 Mar, O2 tute, Birmingham LOVEDAY + THE VERSE son, best remembered for playing Institute, Birmingham NSG Wed 13 Mar, O2 Fri 15 Mar, Actress & LUNCHTIMES @BMAG Featuring Mark Mr Banks in Mary Poppins, Mon 11 - Institute, Birmingham Bishop, Birmingham THE DUBLIN LEGENDS Ashford, Fri 15 Mar, The Round Wed 13 Mar, The REP, Birmingham Sat 16 Mar, Birming- Room, Birmingham Museum & Art THE PHIL BEER BAND THE WAILERS Fri 15 KINKY BOOTS Acclaimed musical ham Town Hall Gallery Thurs 14 Mar, Artrix, Mar, O2 Academy, which takes audiences on a journey Bromsgrove Birmingham KIKI DEE & CARMELO BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY SINGERS & from the factory floor of Northamp- YALE GLEE CLUB Featuring Simon STEVE GIBBONS BAND LENE LOVICH BAND - LUGGERI 'AN ACOUSTIC ton to the glamorous catwalks of Carrington & Jeffrey Douma (con- Thurs 14 Mar, The STATELESS 40TH AN- JOURNEY' Sat 16 Mar, Milan. Songs come courtesy of pop ductor). Programme includes works Robin, Bilston NIVERSARY TOUR Fri 15 Pizza Express Live, icon Cyndi Lauper, Mon 11 - Sat 23 by Byrd, Paul Crabtree, Schumann, Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- Birmingham Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome NICKI MINAJ AND FU- Bob Chilcott & Bernstein, arr. Edger- ingham GEORGE EZRA Sun 17 TURE Thurs 14 Mar, ton, Fri 15 Mar, Elgar Concert Hall, MACBETH The National Theatre Mar, Resorts World Arena Birmingham MIKE AND THE MECHAN- The Bramall, University Birmingham brings Shakespeare’s bloodiest play ICS Fri 15 Mar, Sym- Arena, Birmingham into the 21st century, Tues 12 - Sat UFO 50TH ANNIVERSARY CBSO: MIRGA CONDUCTS TOUR Thurs 14 Mar, phony Hall, B’ham 16 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand The- SHOSTAKOVICH Featuring the City of atre Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla (conductor), TOP HAT Knowle Musical Society pre- Anna Vinnitskaya (piano) and sent an amateur staging of the Jonathan Holland (trumpet), Sat 16 award-winning musical, Tues 12 - Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sat 16 Mar, The Core Theatre, Soli- hull UNIVERSITY CAMERATA Featuring Sarah Charista, Mariana Rosas & NARCISSIST IN THE MIRROR Dark com- Philip Townley (conductors). Pro- edy about life, ambition and millen- gramme includes works by Ken nial expectation, Wed 13 - Thurs 14 Steven, Britten, Mozart, Barber & Mar, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- Tallis, Mon 18 Mar, Elgar Concert ingham Hall, The Bramall, University of Birm- NANJING Jude Christian's monologue ingham about identity, flawed heroes and the UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA consequences of war, Wed 13 - Sat Featuring Daniele Rosina (conduc- 16 Mar, The REP, Birmingham tor), Sabrina Ko & Olivia Tait (student ROMEO & JULIET Presented by the conductors) & Joshua Rapley National Production Company, Wed (cello). Programme includes works 13 - Sat 16 Mar, The Old Rep The- by Saint Saens, Dukas, Berlioz & atre, Birmingham Fauré, Sun 17 Mar, Elgar Concert LABURNUM GROVE JB Priestley's tale Hall, The Bramall, University of Birm- of intrigue, set in sleepy suburbia, ingham Jack Lukeman - The Glee Club, Birmingham Wed 13 - Sat 16 Mar, The Blue Or- 58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 11 - 17 March.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 15:11 Page 2

Monday 11 - Sunday 17 March

ange Theatre, Birmingham chon's popular characters to life, Wed THE TERROR New physical theatre pro- 13 - Sat 16 Mar, The Alexandra The- duction fusing film, music and live ac- atre, Birmingham tion as characters and events from RAINBOW FISH Underwater tale with a history crash into each other, Wed 13 universal message about making - Sat 16 Mar, Crescent Theatre, Birm- friends and sharing, Fri 15 Mar, ingham Rowheath Pavilion, Bournville, B’ham BOUND Justice In Motion fuse dance, LYDIA MONKS’ THE GIRL, THE BEAR & theatre & aerial acrobatics in a THE MAGIC SHOES Mermaids, unicorns thought-provoking tale of ‘dreams & and a whole host of glittering charac- broken promises, hope, optimism ters and sparkling stories come to life and resilience in harrowing circum- before your very eyes... Sat 16 Mar, stances’, Thurs 14 Mar, Midlands Arts Birmingham Town Hall Centre, Birmingham THE WONDERFUL DISCOVERY OF WITCHES Dawn State’s new play, in- spired by the true story of Britain’s bloodiest witch hunt, Fri 15 Mar, The Dance Glasshouse Arts Centre, Stourbridge FAGIN’S TWIST Avante Garde Dance Tom Gates Live On Stage - The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham TINA T'URNER TEA LADY AND FRIENDS fuse hip-hop, music and narrative in a Jameson Irish Whisky cocktail. Elec- dlelight, Fri 15 Mar, Birmingham Back The award-winning cult favourite re- contemporary retelling of Dickens’ tric Cinema, Birmingham, Sat 16 Mar to Backs turns with new musical comedy char- Oliver Twist, Wed 13 - Thurs 14 Mar, acters, including Audrey Heartburn Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY WITH and Milk Jagger, Fri 15 Mar, Old Joint JAMESON A meet-the-distiller evening JULIET & ROMEO Lost Dog Dance fuse NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Stock Theatre, Birmingham celebrating St. Patrick's Day and fea- dance, theatre & comedy in a perfor- Released from Fri 15 Mar, showing at turing traditional foods paired with BLINDSIDE One-eyed storytelling mance that imagines what life selected cinemas whiskey tastings, Fri 15 Mar, Black champion and cancer survivor would’ve been like for the world’s FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS (12a) Country Living Museum, Dudley Stephanie Morin-Robert recounts her most famous lovers if they had lived life as a feisty seven-year-old who into their 40s, Thurs 14 Mar, The GIRL (15) BARNT GREEN BOOKFEST One-day festi- wields her glass eye as a super- Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippo- MISS BALA (15) val for children who love stories, Sat power, Fri 15 Mar, Thimblemill Library, drome 16 Mar, Barnt Green Parish Centre, Smethwick THE PRODIGY (tbc) Birmingham WHAT MEN WANT (15) BLUE PLANET II LIVE IN CONCERT Based on the Bafta-winning BBC One televi- sion series, Sat 16 Mar, Resorts Talks World Arena, Birmingham LYDIA MONKS: THE GIRLS, THE BEAR & AN EVENING WITH AGGERS One of Events THE MAGIC SHOES Long-time Julia cricket’s best-known commentators Donaldson collaborator Lydia Monks talks about his life in sport, Thurs 14 THE BIG BANG FAIR 2019 The UK’s visits BookFest with a draw-along Mar, Lichfield Garrick largest celebration of science, tech- nology, engineering and maths show, Sat 16 Mar, Birmingham Town THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND With (STEM) for young people, Wed 13 - Hall Catherine Doyle. Part of Bournville Sat 16 Mar, NEC, Birmingham DISCOVER YOUR IRISH FAMILY HISTORY PAPER CINEMA'S MACBETH Shake- Book Festival, Sun 17 Mar, Midlands Celebrate St Patrick’s Day by tracing speare's tragedy, vividly told via illus- Arts Centre, Birmingham SEWING FOR PLEASURE/FASHION & EM- tration, puppetry and a live score, Fri BROIDERY Thurs 14 - Sun 17 Mar, your Irish family history with expert THE WAY PAST WINTER With Kiran Mill- 15 Mar, The REP, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham Maggie Loughran, Sat 16 Mar, Birm- wood Hargrave, Sun 17 Mar, Mid- ingham Back to Backs EDMOND DE BERGERAC Josie Lawrence lands Arts Centre, Birmingham THE CREATIVE CRAFT SHOW Featuring & Freddie Fox star in the award-win- knitting, cross stitch, paper crafting, THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW Offering ev- ning play inspired by the story of jewellery, dressmaking, felting & new erything an amateur or pro could Cyrano de Bergerac, Fri 15 - Sat 30 craft trends, Thurs 14 - Sun 17 Mar, need to take their stills creations to Mar, The REP, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham the next level, Sat 16 - Tues 19 Mar, NEC, Birmingham HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR The classic Film BOURNVILLE BOOKFEST One of the biggest children's book festivals in ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL The annual radio comedy, live on stage, Sat 16 INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Mar, Lichfield Garrick the UK, Thurs 14 - Sun 24 Mar, vari- parade through the streets of Digbeth followed by a day of music on St BEAUTY & THE BEAST (PG) Fantasy/Mu- ous venues in Bournville A SELF-HELP GUIDE TO BEING IN LOVE Pat’s Rock Stage opp The Irish cen- sical. Starring Emma Watson, Dan CANDLELIGHT TOURS Experience the WITH JEREMY CORBYN Performance tre, Sun 17 Mar, Digbeth, Birmingham poetry show about Labour, the Tories Stevens. This is a sing-a-long show- atmospheric Back to Backs by can- and the division of the left, Sat 16 ing. Lichfield Garrick, Tues 12 Mar Mar, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (15) Biog- raphy/Comedy. Starring Melissa Mc- Carthy, Richard E. Grant. The Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Tues 12 - Thurs 14 Mar Kids Shows SNATCH (18) Comedy/Crime. Starring NEST Multi-sensory experience for Jason Statham, Brad Pitt. All accom- very young audiences - a journey panied by a Jameson Irish Whisky through the seasons, using playful cocktail. Electric Cinema, Birming- poetry, sound and song... Tues 12 ham, Fri 15 Mar Mar, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham THE BLUES BROTHERS (18) Adven- TOM GATES LIVE ON STAGE! Birming- ture/Comedy. Starring John Belushi, ham Stage Company bring Liz Pi- Dan Aykroyd. All accompanied by a The Creative Craft Show - NEC, Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Birmingham 18 - 24 March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:30 Page 1

March 2019 www.artrix.co.uk

Wednesday 6 March Saturday 9th March Saturday 16 March STAND UP FOR WOMEN IN ROCK MOTHERSHIP WOMEN FEAT: BARBARA NICE, MANDY A JOURNEY THROUGH THE A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED MUDEN& JULES OLIVER GREATEST FEMALE ANTHEMS FOR ANY ZEPPELIN FAN.

Tuesday 19 March Thursday 28 March Saturday 30 March SIR GEOFF HURST THE GIRL FROM JULIAN DUTTON: TIGER BAY DO YOU THINK AN EVENING WITH THE UNIQUE STORY OF THAT'S WISE? ENGLAND’S HAT TRICK HERO DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN LE MESURIER

COMING SOON: Croft & Pearce, Cloudbusting, Sindhu Vee, Georgie Fame, Rouse-Ye Women Glenn Wool, Women in Rock, Gordon Hendricks, The Phil Beer Band, Mawkin, Mothership Lucy Frederick, Eblana Trio, Barnstormers Comedy, Soul Manifesto, Julian Dutton, Erja Lyytenen Ed Gamble, Piatti String Quartet, Harriet Kemsley, The Counterfeit Stones, Vamos Thetare The Lindisfarne Story, Genesis Connected, ldsmith,Stuart Go Urban Folk Quartet, Morgan & West, Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, The Sound of Springstein, Frankie’s Guys... Free parking on-site Join our Mailing List and receive our weekly e-flyer withup-to-date information about upcoming showsor download our latest brochure @artrixarts @artrix arts centre Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1GN Box Office: 01527 577330

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 18 - 24 March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:30 Page 2

thelist Monday 18 - Sunday 24 March CORDUROY Thurs 21 Birmingham ductor). Programme includes works Gigs Mar, Hare & Hounds, THE SLEAZE BROTHERS Classical by Ives, Respighi & Shostakovich, Birmingham Sat 23 Mar, Lichfield Sun 24 Mar, Elgar Concert Hall, The DAMO SUZUKI Tues 19 JOHNNY2BAD Thurs 21 Guildhall Bramall, University of Birmingham Mar, Hare & Hounds, Music Mar, The Jam House, SLEAFORD MODS Sat 23 Birmingham Birmingham Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- LINES/REDGRAVE/MCCARTHY TRIO Fea- ON STAGE WITH: IAIN SHERIDAN SMITH: A ingham turing Tim Lines (clarinet), Rose BALLAMY QUARTET Redgrave (viola) & Eliza McCarthy NORTHERN SOUL Thurs THE PINEAPPLE THIEF Tues 19 Mar, Sym- (piano), Mon 18 Mar, Organ Studio, 21 Mar, Symphony Sat 23 Mar, O2 Insti- Comedy phony Hall, B’ham Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Hall, Birmingham tute, Birmingham TOADALLY FREE COMEDY Mon 18 Mar, D BLOCK EUROPE Tues NICHOLAS DANIEL (OBOE) & CHARLES LOLLO MEIER QUARTET SUGARTHIEF Sat 23 The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham 19 Mar, O2 Institute, MATTHEWS (PIANO) Programme in- Thurs 21 Mar, Pizza Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- STEPHEN BAILEY Wed 20 Mar, The Birmingham Express Live, B’ham cludes works by Bach, Pavel, Julian ingham Anderson, Tues 19 Mar, The Brad- Core Theatre, Solihull THE SLOW READERS FAT CAT + THE AROSA + KRISTIN HERSH Sat 23 shaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- BRUM CRAIC Wed 20 Mar, Symphony CLUB Wed 20 Mar, O2 BROOZER Fri 22 Mar, Mar, Hare & Hounds, servatoire Hall, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham The Sunflower Birmingham CBSO: SCHUMANN'S RHENISH SYM- LEE NELSON Wed 20 Mar, The Glee KT TUNSTALL Wed 20 Lounge, Birmingham THE HARA Sat 23 Mar, PHONY Featuring Jac van Steen Club, Birmingham Mar, Birmingham Town SKINNY LIVING Fri 22 The Asylum, B’ham (conductor) and Steven Osborne Hall Mar, The Castle & Fal- NATHAN CATON, GARY LITTLE, HAYLEY I LOVE REGGAETON Sat (piano). Programme includes works ELLIS & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH LOW ISLAND Wed 20 con, Birmingham 23 Mar, O2 Institute, by Smetana, Shostakovich and ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 21 Mar, The Mar, The Sunflower THE SENSATERIA Fri 22 Birmingham Schumann, Wed 20 Mar, Symphony Glee Club, Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham Mar, The Night Owl, Hall, Birmingham RESPECT - THE ARETHA ANDREW BIRD Fri 22 Mar, The Glee JOSH SMITH Wed 20 Birmingham FRANKLIN SONGBOOK THE WORLD OF HANS ZIMMER Thurs Club, Birmingham Mar, The Jam House, BARS AND MELODY Fri Sat 23 Mar, Alexandra 21 Mar, Arena Birmingham Birmingham 22 Mar, O2 Academy, NATHAN CATON, GARY LITTLE, HAYLEY Theatre, Birmingham FRANCK LAURENT-GRANDPRE (PIANO) ELLIS, JENNY COLLIER & MICK FERRY DISTRICT 7 + YIKES + Birmingham 40 YEARS OF DISCO 2 Thurs 21 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Fri 22 - Sat 23 Mar, The Glee Club, DEARIST + VEDA Thurs KAMELOT - THE SHADOW Sun 24 Mar, Resorts Birmingham Conservatoire Birmingham 21 Mar, The Sunflower TOUR PT. II Fri 22 Mar, World Arena, B’ham CBSO: LET THERE BE LOVE, A CELEBRA- Lounge, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham ROB ROUSE, PIERRE HOLLINS, MARK DYLAN CARLSON Sun TION OF NAT KING COLE Featuring Guy SIMMONS, HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 23 Mar, THE WORLD OF HANS NAO Fri 22 Mar, O2 In- 24 Mar, The Flapper, Barker (conductor) and Gary The Comedy Loft, Birmingham ZIMMER Thurs 21 Mar, stitute, Birmingham Birmingham Williams, Cherise Adams-Burnett Arena Birmingham PALUCH Fri 22 Mar, The (vocalists) & the City of Birmingham THE FISH BROTHERS Symphony Orchestra, Fri 22 Mar, SHARON VAN ETTEN Mill, Digbeth, B’ham Sun 24 Mar, Katie Thurs 21 Mar, The Mill, Symphony Hall, Birmingham KIM CYPHER Fri 22 Mar, Fitzgeralds, Stour- Digbeth, Birmingham Pizza Express Live, bridge UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S CHOIR Featur- SMOKESAC ing Patrick Barrett (conductor). Pro- Thurs 21 Birmingham RIVERSIDE Sun 24 Mar, Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- gramme includes works by Sarah SUBTERRANEANS Fri 22 The Mill, Digbeth, ingham Quartel, Oliver Tarney, Kerry Andrew, - Sat 23 Mar, The Jam Birmingham Andy Brooke, Cecilia McDowall & JAMES Thurs 21 Mar, House, Birmingham A PALE HORSE NAMED Toby Young, Fri 22 Mar, The Barber O2 Academy, B’ham DEATH SOUL MANIFESTO Sat Sun 24 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham LIMMY Sun 24 Mar, The Glee Club, YUNGBLUD Thurs 21 Academy, Birmingham 23 Mar, Artrix, Broms- EBLANA STRING TRIO Programme in- Birmingham Mar, O2 Academy, grove LOSKI - MAD MOVE TOUR cludes works by Purcell, Finzi, ROUGH WORKS Sun 24 Mar, The Glee Birmingham Sun 24 Mar, O2 Insti- MY BABY Sat 23 Mar, Beethoven, David Matthews & Mo- Club, Birmingham PICTURE THIS Thurs 21 The Castle & Falcon, tute, Birmingham eran, Fri 22 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- Birmingham CELLAR DARLING Sun PETER DONOHOE PIANO RECITAL Pro- ingham HIGHLITE + THE FAUNA 24 Mar, Hare & gramme includes works by Schu- AJ TRACEY Thurs 21 + ESTATE + DEMI MAR- Hounds, Birmingham mann, Tchaikovsky & Mussorgsky, Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- RINER Sat 23 Mar, The Fri 22 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal ingham Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham Conservatoire Theatre MIDLAND CHAMBER PLAYERS Pro- THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Samantha gramme includes works by Womack stars alongside Oliver Beethoven, Fri 22 Mar, The Birming- Farnsworth in a stage adaptation of ham & Midland Institute Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel, Mon 18 - Sat 23 Mar, Wolverhamp- UNIVERSITY CHORUS Featuring ton Grand Theatre Toscana Strings, Julian Wilkins (con- ductor) & Nick Wearne (organ). Pro- PRONOUN The Crescent Youth The- gramme includes works by atre presents its version of Evan Whitacre, Beethoven, Gibbons, Ola Placey's love story about transition, Gjeilo, Haydn & Monteverdi, Sat 23 testosterone and James Dean, Wed Mar, Elgar Concert Hall, The Bramall, 20 - Sat 23 Mar, The Crescent The- University of Birmingham atre, Birmingham CBSO: MUSICAL MYSTERY APPROACHING EMPTY Ishy Din’s new FAMILY SHOW Featuring Tianyi Lu drama lays bare the everyday strug- (conductor) and Tom Redmond (pre- gles of a post-industrial generation senter). Programme includes works of British men, Wed 20 - Sat 23 Mar, by Elgar, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Prokofiev, Quincy Jones and Britten, VULVARINE The astoundingly average Sun 24 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham Bryony Buckle finds herself trans- UNIVERSITY PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- formed into a superhero... Wed 20 - KT Tunstall - Birmingham Town Hall TRA Featuring Daniele Rosina (con- Sat 23 Mar, Old Joint Stock Theatre, whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Birmingham 18 - 24 March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:30 Page 3

62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 18 - 24 March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 16:30 Page 4

Monday 18 - Sunday 24 March

theBirmingham list the Scummy Mummies for a podcast PICNIC Staging of William Inge’s mid- featuring YouTube and Instagram 20th century play, Wed 20 - Sat 23 sensations Louise Pentland and Mar, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Emma Conway, Sun 24 Mar, Birming- ham Town Hall SAVE EUROPE NOW: FRIENDS OF ENE- MIES Work-in-progress event with PODFEST BIRMINGHAM: DO THE RIGHT strong echoes of current political ten- THING Podcast panel game in which sions... Thurs 21 Mar, Midlands Arts comedians try to work out the right Centre, Birmingham thing to do in some weird and won- derful situations, Sun 24 Mar, Birm- NORTH The whimsical story of John, a ingham Town Hall young man who finds himself lost in the harsh yet delicate wilderness of the north, Thurs 21 Mar, Thimblemill Library, Smethwick CRIMES ON THE NILE Award-winning theatre company New Old Friends re- Dance REMEMBERING THE MOVIES turn with another inventive comedy Strictly’s thriller, Thurs 21 - Sat 23 Mar, Lich- very own Aljaz and Janette are back field Garrick on tour with a brand new show, Sat PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Amateur stag- 23 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ing presented by Birmingham Ormis- ton Academy's Year 13 musical theatre students, Thurs 21 - Sat 23 Crimes On The Nile - Lichfield Garrick Mar, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham Talks OTHELLO Scott Ellis directs Shake- the voices of Jodi Benson & Samuel speare's tale of jealousy, betrayal and SIR GEOFF HURST An evening with E. Wright. This is a singalong brunch. deceit, Thurs 21 - Sat 23 Mar, The England’s World Cup-winning hat- The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- Events Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham trick hero, Tues 19 Mar, Artrix, Broms- ham, Sat 23 Mar MINI MOTORISTS Activity morning al- grove KUNENE AND THE KING World premiere THE GREAT ESCAPE (U) lowing under-fives to discover, of John Kani's 'moving and funny' A GROWN-UP EVENING WITH MICHAEL Adventure/Drama. Starring Steve Mc- through play, the world's largest col- play, which sees two men from con- ROSEN Michael presents an evening Queen, James Garner. On the 75th lection of historic British cars, Mon 18 trasting walks of life thrust together to of stories and performance poetry, anniversary of The Great Escape, Mar, British Motor Museum, Gaydon reflect on a quarter-century of change Thurs 21 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall Dan Snow hosts a commemorative PRACTICAL CLASSICS CLASSIC CAR & in South Africa. Sir Antony Sher stars STORIES FROM THE OPERA With author- evening featuring The D-Day Darlings RESTORATION SHOW Officially the UK’s alongside Kani himself, Thurs 21 Mar illustrator James Mayhew and so- and special guests, culminating with fastest-growing classic car show, Fri - Tues 23 Apr, The Swan Theatre, prano Abigail Kelly. Part of Bournville a gala screening of the remastered 22 - Sun 24 Mar, NEC, Birmingham Stratford-upon-Avon Bookfest, Sun 24 Mar, The Barber In- 1963 cult film. Midlands Arts Centre, GYMNASTICS WORLD CUP Featuring SIGH OF THE MUSAAFIR This fusion of stitute, Birmingham Birmingham, Sat 23 Mar some of the world’s best gymnasts, text, spoken word, soundscapes, SAUVAGE (18) Drama. Starring Félix Sat 23 Mar, Resorts World Arena, dance, visual projections and live Maritaud, Eric Bernard. Foreign lan- Birmingham music forms part of the Transforming guage, subtitled. Presented by CineQ GHOST TOURS An evening ghost tour Narratives Project - a three-year initia- Film Festival. Midlands Arts Centre, of one of Britain’s most haunted tive which aims to establish Birming- Film Birmingham, Sat 23 Mar buildings, Sat 23 Mar, Aston Hall, ham as a leading international centre INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: SHAKEDOWN (18) Documentary/His- Birmingham for contemporary South Asian arts tory. Starring Egypt, Jazmyne. Pre- practice, for the mutual benefit of MURDER-MYSTERY DINNER A pilot has GREEN BOOK (12a) Comedy/Biography. sented by CineQ Film Festival. The Birmingham and cities in Pakistan been found dead. Was it an accident Starring Viggo Mortensen, Maher- Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, and Bangladesh, Sat 23 Mar, The or did someone deliberately tamper shala Ali. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon 18 Sat 23 Mar REP, Birmingham & Wed 20 Mar with his Spitfire? Sat 23 Mar, Think- M/M (18) Drama/Mystery. Starring An- tank Science Museum, Birmingham PODFEST BIRMINGHAM: NO SUCH THING H IS FOR HARRY (12a) Documentary. toine Lahaie, Nicolas Maxim AS A FISH Now in its fifth year, No MCM BIRMINGHAM COMIC CON The ulti- The screening will be followed by a Endlicher. Presented by CineQ Film Such Thing As A Fish is at the fore- mate show for comic-book fans, Sat live onstage Q&A with directors Festival. The Mockingbird Cinema, front of the British podcast scene, Sat 23 - Sun 24 Mar, NEC, Birmingham Jamie Taylor and Edward Owles. Mid- Birmingham, Sun 24 Mar 23 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall lands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Wed TOLKIEN READING DAY Two-day cele- LITTLE MERMAID/MOANA (U) Animation. PODFEST BIRMINGHAM: COMEDIANS CO- 20 Mar bration of the life and works of JRR Double Feature. The Mockingbird MEDIAN Stuart Goldsmith shines a Tolkien, Sat 23 - Sun 24 Mar, Sare- IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (15) Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 24 Mar light on comedians’ most furtive cre- Crime/Drama. Starring KiKi Layne, hole Mill, Hall Green, Birmingham ative secrets to explore the joke-writ- Stephan James. Artrix, Bromsgrove, ing process, Sat 23 Mar, Birmingham Thurs 21 Mar Town Hall RAFIKI (12a) Drama. Starring Saman- PODFEST BIRMINGHAM: MADE OF tha Mugatsia, Neville Misati. Foreign HUMAN Podcast in which comedian language, subtitled. Presented by Sofie Hagen ‘sits down with a lovely CineQ Film Festival. Midlands Arts person’ and talks about life, Sun 24 Centre, Birmingham, Fri 22 Mar Mar, Birmingham Town Hall A DEAL WITH THE UNIVERSE Documen- PODFEST BIRMINGHAM: STANDARD tary. Starring Jason Barker telling the ISSUE Podcast magazine made by story of a very different kind of preg- women, for women, and covering ev- nancy. Presented by CineQ Film Fes- erything women are interested in, tival. Midlands Arts Centre, Sun 24 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham, Sat 23 Mar PODFEST BIRMINGHAM: SCUMMY MUM- LITTLE MERMAID (18) Animation. With MIES Join less-than-perfect parents Tolkien Reading Day - Sarehole Mill, Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Birmingham 25 - 31 March NEW.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 10:59 Page 1

64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 25 - 31 March NEW.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 10:59 Page 2

thelist Monday 25 - Sunday 31 March NONAME Thurs 28 Mar, Express Live, B’ham Gigs O2 Institute, B’ham CUTE IS.. & RED JUMP- Classical Comedy THE LOUNGE KITTENS SUIT APPARATUS Fri 29 FOIL, ARMS AND HOG Thurs 28 Mar, Thurs 28 Mar, Hare & Mar, The Asylum, THE MOUSE OUTFIT Music Birmingham Hippodrome Mon 25 Mar, The Glee Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT KIERAN HODGSON Thurs 28 Mar, Mid- Club, Birmingham ERJA LYYTINEN Thurs BLACK GRAPE Fri 29 Pro- gramme Includes works by Bach, lands Arts Centre, Birmingham PIST.ON Mon 25 Mar, 28 Mar, Hare & Mar, The Mill, Digbeth, Dove, Vaughan-Williams, Delius & G. DANA ALEXANDER, JOHN MOLONEY & O2 Academy, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham Litaize, Mon 25 Mar, Birmingham COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- DEL CAMINO Thurs 28 THE CINEMATIC ORCHES- THE INTERNET Mon 25 Town Hall SON Thurs 28 Mar, The Glee Club, Mar, The Jam House, TRA Fri 29 Mar, O2 In- Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- ALBION QUARTET IN RECITAL Birmingham ingham Birmingham stitute, Birmingham Featuring Tamsin Waley-Cohen & HENNING WEHN Fri 29 Mar, Birming- GABRIELLE Thurs 28 THE MAGIC OF THE BEAT- NEON WALTZ Mon 25 Emma Parker (violins), Rosalind Ven- ham Town Hall Mar, Hare & Hounds, Mar, Birmingham Town LES Fri 29 Mar, The tris (viola) and Nathaniel Boyd DANA ALEXANDER, JOHN MOLONEY, Birmingham Hall Alexandra Theatre, (cello). Programme includes works JOHN LYNN & STUART MITCHELL Fri 29 THE ROLLING STONES Birmingham by Kate Whitley, Elizabeth Maconchy PANIC! AT THE DISCO - Sat 30 Mar, The Glee Club, B’ham Tues 26 Mar, Arena STORY Fri 29 Mar, Lich- ERJA LYYTINEN Sat 30 and Kate Soper, Tues 26 Mar, SINDHU VEE Birmingham field Garrick Mar, Artrix, Broms- Birmingham Town Hall Sat 30 Mar, The Core grove Theatre, Solihull THE GALLERYS LIVE ARETHA - RESPECT Fri YCAT AT THE CONSERVATOIRE: BEN- Tues 26 Mar, Hare & 29 Mar, Wolverhamp- THE SWINGING SIXTIES JAMIN BAKER & DANIEL LEBHARDT Pro- Hounds, Birmingham ton Grand Theatre SHOW Sat 30 Mar, The gramme includes works by Core Theatre, Solihull Beethoven & Schumann, Wed 27 STEWART COPELAND YAK Fri 29 Mar, The Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birm- LIGHTS UP THE ORCHES- Castle & Falcon, Birm- NETHERHALL Sat 30 ingham Conservatoire TRA Tues 26 Mar, Sym- ingham Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- phony Hall, B’ham ROCK AND ROLL REVO- ingham CBSO FUNDRAISING CONCERT: RATTLE CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN Featuring The THE ZUTONS: WHO LUTION Fri 29 Mar, Ar- THE GOOD WATER + City of Birmingham Symphony Or- KILLED THE ZUTONS? trix, Bromsgrove BEACH FOR TIGER Sat chestra, Sir Simon Rattle (conduc- Tues 26 Mar, O2 Insti- 30 Mar, The Night Owl, STARMAN - THE STORY tor), Iwona Sobotka (soprano), tute, Birmingham OF DAVID BOWIE Fri 29 Birmingham Chrystal E. Williams (mezzo so- JARLATH REGAN, ADAM STAUNTON, DRAKE Tues 26 - Thurs Mar, The Core Theatre, JAMES MORRISON Sat prano), Joshua Stewart (tenor) and ROGER MONKHOUSE, FREDDY QUINNE 28 Mar, Resorts World Solihull 30 Mar, O2 Institute, Eric Greene (bass). Programme in- Sat 30 Mar, The Comedy Loft, B’ham Arena, Birmingham BUSTED Fri 29 Mar, Re- Birmingham cludes works by Jonathan Dove, BARBARA NICE Sun 31 Mar, The Glee MAKE FRIENDS Wed 27 sorts World Arena, BARB JUNGR 'SHELTER Imogen Holst and Beethoven, Thurs Club, Birmingham Mar, The Sunflower Birmingham FROM THE STORM' Sat 28 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham UB40 FEAT ALI CAMP- 30 Mar, Pizza Express MENDELSSOHN & ENESCU STRING Live, Birmingham SETH LAKEMAN Wed 27 BELL & ASTRO Fri 29 OCTETS Featuring Jeffrey Armstrong, Mar, The Glee Club, Mar, Arena B’ham ASHLEY HUTCHINGS Alicja Humeniuk, Olga Eckert & Mark Birmingham WATSKY Fri 29 Mar, O2 Sun 31 Mar, Lichfield Lee (violins); Mabon Llyr & Yue Yu Guildhall (violas); Flora McNicoll & Bora Kim GRACE CARTER Wed 27 Institute, Birmingham Theatre (cellos), Thurs 28 Mar, Recital Hall, Mar, O2 Institute, Birm- GERRY CINNAMON Sun MACBETH English Touring Opera pre- PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS Royal Birmingham Conservatoire ingham PIGS PIGS PIGS + CAT- 31 Mar, O2 Academy, sent Verdi’s interpretation of Shake- Birmingham GIUSEPPE GUARRERA PIANO RECITAL speare’s famous tragedy, Mon 25 SLOWTHAI Wed 27 Mar, TLE Fri 29 Mar, Hare & Programme includes works by Scar- Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre O2 Institute, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham ORCHARDS Sun 31 Mar, The Sunflower latti & Liszt, Fri 29 Mar, The Barber A SONG AT TWILIGHT Simon Callow & POPPY AJUDHA Wed 27 DAVID GRAY Fri 29 Mar, Lounge, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham Jane Asher star in Noel Coward’s Mar, Hare & Hounds, Symphony Hall, Birm- BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCI- bittersweet play, Mon 25 - Sat 30 Birmingham ingham RIZWAN MUAZZAM QAWWALI Sun 31 Mar, ETY: GLORIA Sat 30 Mar, St John's Mar, Malvern Theatres FRANKIE STEW & HAR- TRU GROOVE Fri 29 - Birmingham Town Hall and St Peter's Church, MALCOLM STENT IN THE AFTERNOON VEY GUNN Wed 27 Mar, Sat 30 Mar, The Jam Ladywood ARC, Birmingham Tues 26 Mar, The Core Theatre, Soli- Hare & Hounds, Birm- House, Birmingham THE JOHNNY CASH BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR: MUSIC FOR hull ingham RODNEY BRANIGAN 'A ROADSHOW Sun 31 Mar, The Alexandra PASSIONTIDE Sat 30 Mar, St Philip’s IDOMENEO English Touring Opera DECLAN J DONOVAN FIRST CLASS U.S. IM- Theatre, Birmingham Cathedral, Birmingham present Mozart’s story of high ideals Wed 27 Mar, The PORT' Fri 29 Mar, Pizza BIRMINGHAM CHORAL UNION Pro- and deep emotions, Tues 26 Mar, Cuban Embassy, gramme includes works by Bruck- Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Birmingham ner, Brahms & Gounod, Sat 30 Mar, IOLANTHE Birmingham Savoyards JULIA JACKLIN Thurs 28 Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- present Gilbert & Sullivan's political Mar, The Castle & Fal- servatoire satire, Tues 26 - Sat 30 Mar, The Old con, Birmingham CBSO: WEINBERG'S VIOLIN CONCERTO Rep Theatre, Birmingham THE LINDISFARNE Featuring the City of Birmingham MACBETH All & Sundry presents its STORY Thurs 28 Mar, Symphony Orchestra, Mirga version of one of Shakespeare's The Core Theatre, Gražinyte -Tyla (conductor) and bloodiest plays, Wed 27 - Sat 30 Solihull Gidon Kremer (violin). Programme Mar, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham WE RUN THE WORLD includes works by Schubert and 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL Midlands Thurs 28 Mar, The Mill, Weinberg, Sun 31 Mar, Symphony Academy of Musical Theatre pre- Digbeth, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham sents its version of the musical com- WILLE AND THE BANDITS BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- edy, based on the cult film starring Thurs 28 Mar, O2 TRA Featuring Michael Lloyd (con- Dolly Parton, Wed 27 - Sat 30 Mar, Academy, Birmingham ductor). Programme includes works The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham by Mendelssohn, Stravinsky & DEAF HAVANA Thurs 28 GLORY DAZED Dark comedy examin- Mar, O2 Academy, Brahms, Sun 31 Mar, The Bramall, University of Birmingham ing the plight of ex-servicemen in Birmingham David Gray- Symphony Hall, Birmingham modern Britain, Wed 27 - Sun 31 whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Birmingham 25 - 31 March NEW.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 10:59 Page 3

Monday 25 - Sunday 31 March

theMar, Old Joint Stock listTheatre, B’ham THE GIRL FROM TIGER BAY Musical Dance show chronicling Shirley Bassey’s GISELLE Vienna Festival Ballet present journey from the back streets of a tale of innocence, love, betrayal Cardiff’s Tiger Bay to the glitz and and madness, Tues 26 Mar, Royal glamour of Monte Carlo, Thurs 28 Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove PEPPERLAND THEY CAME FROM MARS AND LANDED Mark Morris Dance pre- OUTSIDE THE FARNDALE AVENUE sent a 50th-anniversary tribute to The CHURCH HALL... Amateur staging of Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts David McGillivray & Walter Zerlin Club Band album, Tues 26 - Wed 27 Jnr’s farce, Fri 29 Mar - Sat 6 Apr, Hall Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome Green Little Theatre, Birmingham CONFESSIONS OF A COCKNEY TEMPLE DANCER One-man show in which WILLNE AND STEPHEN TRIES LIVE An Shane Shambhu combines Indian evening with two of YouTube’s ‘funni- dance and standup comedy to lead est (looking) men’, Sat 30 Mar, The audiences on a journey through his Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham life, Thurs 28 Mar, The Patrick Studio, JULIAN DUTTON: DO YOU THINK THAT’S Birmingham Hippodrome WISE Affectionate tribute to the life SPIRIT OF BOLLYWOOD Dance journey and times of John Le Mesurier, Sat 30 of Indian Cinema, from its early tunes Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove to its current hits, Sat 30 Mar, Birm- SING-A-LONG-A THE GREATEST SHOW- ingham Hippodrome MAN Sat 30 Mar, Wolverhampton HERE COME THE GIRLS Grand Theatre All-new show A BRAVE FACE Worcestershire-based featuring ballroom and Latin routines full mask theatre company Vamos ex- choreographed by Strictly’s Patrick The National Homebuilding & plore the subject of post-traumatic Helm, Sat 30 Mar, Theatre Severn, Renovating Show stress, Sat 30 Mar, Lichfield Garrick Shrewsbury GIOVANNI PERNICE - 'IL BALLO È VITA’ NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 March I TALK TOO MUCH: AN EVENING OF CHAT (DANCE IS LIFE) Strictly favourite Gio- AND MUSIC WITH FRANCIS ROSSI Anec- vanni presents his smash-hit dance This one-stop shop for homebuilding and renovating returns to dotes aplenty from the Status Quo show, Sun 31 Mar, Lichfield Garrick Birmingham for another year, providing visitors with the chance to star, Sat 30 Mar, Birmingham Town access everything they need for their next big building project (or Hall small building project, come to that). COLLABORATION Exploration of the re- From interior design to exterior landscaping, roofing to flooring, lationship between composer Richard Strauss and his librettist, restoration to new-builds, the National Homebuilding & Renovat- Film ing Show has got it covered. There are thousands of products avail- Stephan Zweig, Sat 30 Mar - Sat 6 INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Apr, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham able to buy and plenty of experts on hand with free nuggets of ALL IS TRUE (12a) Biography/Drama. sure-to-be-helpful timely advice. Free seminars and masterclasses, Starring Kenneth Branagh, Lolita interactive features and practical demonstrations further add to Chakrabarti. Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Tues 26 Mar the fun, while celebrity spotters are sure to recognise special guest Sian Astley, lady builder extraordinaire and presenter on BBC Talks SAVING FACE (15) Documentary. Star- Two’s Watch This Space programme. AN EVENING WITH BRIAN BLESSED The ring Sarkar Abbas, Mohammad actor and mountaineer shares anec- Jawad. Foreign language, subtitled. dotes from his illustrious career, Wed Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, 27 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand The- Wed 27 Mar atre RAY & LIZ (15) Drama. Starring AN AUDIENCE WITH SIMON REEVE Richard Ashton, Michelle Bonnard. Simon recounts tales from his trips to Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, the remote and extreme corners of Fri 29 - Sun 31 Mar the planet, Thurs 28 Mar, Wolver- hampton Grand Theatre HIT THE ODE Unique performance po- etry night featuring Kamil Mahmood, Amani Saeed and Oshanti, Fri 29 Events Mar, The Patrick Studio, Birmingham THE NATIONAL HOMEBUILDING & RENO- Hippodrome VATING SHOW Featuring interior de- AN EVENING WITH THE HAIRY BIKERS signing, exterior landscaping, Sat 30 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham roofing, flooring, restoration and new- builds, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 Mar, NEC, Birmingham ASTON HALL LATE: JACOBEAN MUSIC AT THE MANSION A chance to pay a nighttime visit to the grand old man- sion, Fri 29 Mar, Aston Hall, B’ham THE MURDER OF CHARLES LANE Charles Lane has suffered an unfortu- nate fate. Can you solve the mystery of his death? Sat 30 Mar, Birmingham Back to Backs

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