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Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands Staffordshire ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 363 MARCH 2016 MARY POPPINS FLIES INTO THE MIDLANDS

inside:

Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

Tony Award-winning musical at the Regent Theatre, Slam Dunk (FP- Mar 16).qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 11:30 Page 1 Contents March Region Shropshire/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 18:53 Page 2

March 2016

Contents

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - truly scrumptious musical in Stoke page 8

Lulu Mary Poppins Katherine Ryan the list

getting back out there and West End musical flies into Kathbum takes a wry look at all your 16-page doing it all again... the Midlands aspects of life week-by-week listings guide page 15 page 19 page 22 page 51

inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 22. Comedy 24. Theatre 32. Film 38. Visual Arts 40. Events

@whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine

Editorial Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 MAGAZINE GROUP Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Helen Stallard, Katherine Ewing Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD March Wolves/Shrops/Staffs Only.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 18:54 Page 1

First Word

Indie band back in the Shire An indie pop group that once opened for The Smiths is next month playing a gig in Shropshire - the home county of two of its founder members. The June Brides’ Ade Carter and Simon Beasley both hailed from Shrewsbury and got together with Phil Wilson, Frank Sweeney, Jon Hunter and Brian Alexis in the summer of 1983. Championed by the legendary John Peel, the band quickly established a name for themselves via their intriguing sound, a melodic blend of guitar pop, viola and trumpet. Their debut studio album, There Are Eight Million Stories, reached number one in the independent charts in 1985. Within a year, they were visiting Belfast, Dundalk and Dublin with Morrissey and The Smiths. Sadly, although the Brides’ star shone bright, it also fizzled out pretty quickly. By the end of 1986, the band had gone their separate ways. It would be more than two decades before they reformed. They play The Lion in Shrewsbury on 6 April.

The Christians to headline Contributors Local drama company Shrewsbury Flower Show sought by invited to perform English Staffordshire premiere arboretum A Shropshire theatre company has just received the invitation of a lifetime. Midlanders are being Love Lee Productions, who are next month invited to contribute to a presenting the English premiere of Canadian huge photo montage on playwright Vern Thiessen’s 2005 play, the theme of Shakespeare’s Will, have also accepted an Remembrance. offer to perform the work at Elsinore Castle The montage, to be dis- in Denmark, where Hamlet is famously set. played in a new remem- The Elsinore engagement will see the compa- brance centre at ny performing the play on the precise date of Staffordshire’s National Shakespeare’s death, as part of an Memorial Arboretum, will International Shakespeare Symposium. comprise between 5,000 “We’ll be playing to Shakespeare boffins to 15,000 digital photo- from all over the world in one of The Bard’s graphs. The images will most iconic settings,” says the play’s direc- explore what the theme tor, Chris Eldon Lee. “Just two plays have of remembrance means to been booked for the event, ours and the individuals, families and London Globe Theatre’s production of society. Hamlet. So I hope they can pull their socks The exhibition is being up!” created by British artist Shakespeare’s Will is set on the day of The Helen Marshall, whose Bard’s funeral and finds his wife, Anne The Christians will be the headline music act at this year’s work is rooted in photog- Hathaway, wondering whether she dare open Shrewsbury Flower Show. raphy and design. and read the most contentious thing her hus- The Liverpool band, who made a name for themselves in Anybody wishing to con- band ever wrote - his Last Will and the late 1980s, will play the Saturday night. The Red Hot tribute a photo to the Testament. Chilli Pipers will headline the Friday evening. montage can do so until Local actor Joanna Purslow stars in the The Flower Show also recently announced broadcaster and the end of March by show. journalist Sarah Raven as its 2016 celebrity gardener. uploading their pictures The English premiere of the play takes place Sarah’s television career includes presenting Gardeners’ onto at The Wightman Theatre in Shrewsbury World, The Great British Garden Revival and Bees, thepeoplespicture.com/n from 27 to 30 April. The performances Butterflies And Blooms for the BBC. She’s also made ma/ encompass the anniversary of the reading of numerous guest appearances at the Chelsea Flower Show. Shakespeare’s will - exactly 400 years ago. Now in its 129th year, the Shrewsbury Flower Show takes To book tickets, visit wegottickets.com place in the town’s Quarry Park on 12 & 13 August.

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Entertainment news from around the region

Award-winning show stops off at The Old Rep An award-winning show about Muslim-American women is visiting Birmingham as part of a UK tour. Dirty Pakistani Lingerie, which interweaves the stories of six Muslim-American females aged between six and 65, is being per- formed at the city’s Old Rep theatre by Aizzah Fatima, who also wrote the show. Commenting on the production, Aizzah said: “I felt as if I was sur- rounded by all these amazing women who had remarkable stories West Bromwich youngster to star in smash hit musical to tell, and who just happened to be A 12-year-old boy from West Bromwich has been selected to play the title role in Billy Elliott The Pakistani Americans. There’s a human side to the experience of Musical when it tours the UK and Ireland for the very first time. being a Muslim American woman Lewis Smallman is one of four youngsters who’ll alternate the role of Billy, a young boy from a that’s completely missing in the northern mining town who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. media, completely missing in the The highly acclaimed musical, which is based on the Oscar-nominated movie of the same name, types of characters we see on televi- has so far been seen by nearly 11 million people across five continents. The show has won over 80 sion and in film and theatre.” awards internationally, including ten Tonys and five Oliviers. Dirty Pakistani Lingerie will be per- formed on 2 March at The Old Rep - The new touring production visits Birmingham Hippodrome from 7 March to 6 May. alongside works in development from West Midlands theatremakers - as part of the venue’s New Work Nights programme. Award-winning musical rocks into Brum The evening has been designed to Zoo-tastic showcase work by female writers panto fun A Tony Award-winning West End musical is set to leave Midlands audi- and theatremakers in the lead up to ences ‘all shook up’ when it visits Birmingham this autumn. International Women’s Day 2016. Dudley Zoological Gardens is to sponsor Inspired by real events, Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of how Johnny the Wolverhampton Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley were brought together Grand Theatre’s 2016/17 for an impromptu jam session in Memphis in 1956. pantomime version of The show includes more than 20 legendary rock’n’roll hits, including Blue Aladdin. Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, I Walk The Line and Great Balls Of Fire. Commenting on the The production runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 24 to news, the Grand’s chief Saturday 29 October. executive, Adrian Jackson, said: “I’m absolutely delighted Free entry marks 30th anniversary that Dudley Zoo has of World Heritage Site come on board for this year’s panto. As two of Telford and Shropshire residents can visit Ironbridge Gorge Museums the leading leisure free of charge on the 19th of March. attractions in the Black The offer has been made to mark the 30th anniversary of the Gorge Go Ape! Birthday Country, it’s important being designated a World Heritage Site. celebrations at to develop a close work- Telford and Shropshire residents will need to bring proof of their home ing relationship, to address within the county. The Vaults showcase what both The popular visitor attraction will be celebrating the 30th anniversary An evening of hip hop, funk, soul companies have to offer throughout 2016, presenting a variety of activities and events in part- and reggae awaits Shropshire music to the local area.” nership with other UK sites that were also listed in 1986. lovers next month when the hugely Dudley Zoo director The Museums - with the exception of Broseley Pipeworks, which popular Go Ape! celebrates its sev- remains closed for the enth birthday at The Vaults in Derek Grove added: Shrewsbury. “We’re excited to be winter season - are open Well-established favourites Hayden joining forces with the 10am to 5pm. T, Lazy Jay and Stevie T are joined Grand, a premier enter- For further information, for the occasion by DJ Shepdog, the tainment attraction on contact the Ironbridge head honcho at Nice Up! Records. our doorstep, and look Tourist Information The gig takes place on Saturday 30 Centre on 01952 433 424 April. forward to working closely with them in the or visit coming months.” www.ironbridge.org.uk.

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First Word

Festival celebrates You’re ’avin the ‘Irish spirit’ a laugh! Birmingham’s ever-popular St Patrick’s Day Parade is once again taking place in What’s On’s new column Digbeth this month (Sunday 13 March). looks at the comedy cir- The theme of this year’s procession, ‘The cuit from the perspective Irish phoenix rising from the flames of dias- of a local comic... pora’, will celebrate ‘the famous Irish spirit, Sausage rolls, traffic alerts heritage and journey throughout the years’. and the M6! There's more to Funding for the parade, which no longer comedy than the glamour of receives financial support from Birmingham applause and encores, City Council, is being raised via an official y’know... launch party, taking place at the Macdonald Each week, hundreds of Burlington on Friday 4 March. The evening comedians set out across the includes a two-course meal and live enter- country in cars and on trains tainment from The Holy Show band. to stand on stages and enter- For tickets to the fundraiser, visit stpatricks- tain their audiences. From birmingham.com/product/launch-party- Small Heath to Scunthorpe, tickets they live for one thing - to make you laugh! But before the glitz and glamour of 30-day tours and Champagne baths (I can Absurd Tate artworks on display in Walsall only imagine!) comes the seemingly endless grind of comedy debuts Sixteen works from Tate’s renowned collections are now on display at writing and perfecting mate- in Lichfield The New Art Gallery Walsall. rial to comedy club stan- The artworks are being exhibited in association with the Midlands dard. An absurd physical comedy gallery’s Garman Ryan Collection. Clubs such as The Glee host combining inventive pup- Commenting on the new exhibition, Caroline Collier, Director, four different comedians petry with haunting mask Partnerships & Programmes, Tate, said: “We’re delighted that we’ve each weekend - unsung and shadow theatre is been able to lend these works from Tate's collection to The New Art heroes of the comedy world. debuting at Lichfield Gallery Walsall, where they resonate beautifully with the Garman And make no mistake, every Garrick this month. Ryan Collection. comedian you’ve ever heard Boris And Ingrid is the lat- “We’re pleased to be working with The New Art Gallery on a range of of - from rising star Joe est offering from award-win- projects over a three-year period. Recent major loans from Tate have Lycett to long-in-the-tooth ning international company included Epstein's Rock Drill, which was seen at The New Art Gallery Lee Evans - has paid their 2theatre. Described as ‘a last year.” dues on the comedy circuit. hilariously sharp and unex- The 16 Tate works will be on display in Walsall until 11 February 2017. Stars of TV they may be, but pectedly poignant play that doesn't stop them from exploring the inevitability of making the occasional wel- time, solitude and the joys Midlands venues secure come return to the club cir- of being odd’, the show fea- cuit where it all began... tures ‘captivating’ live music Arts Council funding Throughout the year, The played on instruments and Six arts and cultural venues in the Midlands region are set to benefit Glee welcomes back special household objects. from nearly £2million of Arts Council England funding. ‘mystery guest performers’, Boris And Ingrid shows at The £1.9million investment is being shared out between well-known comedians the Garrick on Saturday 12 Wolverhampton Central Youth Theatre, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, who’re busily honing new March. Leicester’s Curve, Derby Theatre, Northampton’s Royal & Derngate material to TV and arena and Hereford’s Rural Media Company. standard. Commenting on the investment, Peter Knott, Area Director for Arts So visit The Glee and expect Council England, said: “This is fantastic news for the Midlands. Arts the unexpected - you never and culture plays a vital role in making the area a great place to live, know who might pop in! and we’re pleased to be investing in some really exciting projects which will benefit local people and their communities. by Adam Jaremko “By equipping arts and cultural venues with the buildings and equip- ment they need, we hope this investment will help the region’s creative economy to thrive.” Joe Lycett

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Phil Jupitus DPS MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:59 Page 1

FEATURE

CHITTY ON TOUR

Phill Jupitus talks evil rulers, never-ending childhoods and Dinky toys...

From performance poet and musician to stand-up comedian and stage used to have that was a favourite - the musical star, Phill Jupitus' career has been nothing if not varied. Follow- Dinky Thunderbird 2, which had a lit- ing appearances in the likes of Hairspray, The Producers and Spamalot, tle Thunderbird 4 in the pod. Now that probably means nothing to you, but I his latest theatre venture sees him take on the double role of Lord think some of your readers have just Scrumptious and Baron Bomburst in a UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang burst into tears.” Bang - a far cry from his Never Mind The Buzzcocks days. We caught up Funnily enough, Jupitus came across with him to find out more about the show - and how he was enjoying another Dinky toy recently - sourced the rather fancy titles that come with it. online, of course, as if to prove his point about the internet. “Well, I've been a king in Spamalot said you have to leave childish things “I was with a couple of the lads in the and a sort of oligarch in Urinetown, so behind, but there was a time when cast, and they'd got the 1968 Dinky I'm doing all of the major 'evil ruler' once you got your job and became a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that they'd roles,” says Phill. “Lord Scrumptious is grown-up, you threw all your toys out. bought off eBay. They were showing kind of Alan Sugar in a top hat. Obvi- Nowadays, people don't do that, partly me this little model of the car and the ously the Baron's a much bigger part. because they can sell them on eBay. little people that sit in it, and I went, He's quite childish, because his wife And then, of course, the longer they 'Yeah, I know it'. And I hit a lever to re- hates kids so he gets to be the child in keep them, the greater their value is, so lease the wings, and they were her life. It's a laugh.” people never end up selling the stuff amazed. They'd had that car for six For Jupitus, Baron Bomburst is in many anyway. In the end, people just die and months without realising it had ways a very 21st century chap, with his leave a box full of crap for their fami- wings.” lies to deal with.” Peter Pan complex, bespoke commis- Based on the few hints he drops about sions from a personal toymaker, and The ‘childish things’ paraphrase is Bib- it, it sounds like the Chitty in the show general accumulation of stuff. lical, in case you're wondering - (1 is quite a spectacle to behold - but “We live in an age where people can Corinthians 13:11) “when I became a you'll have to wait until you see it if pursue hobbies and interests using the man, I put away childish things” - and you want to know more. today, attitudes have changed so much internet, and men are able to delay the “I don't want to spoil any surprises, that the idea of growing out of things end of childhood for a lot longer. I'm but they've come up with a really new seems almost as distant as the quote it- looking right in front of me now, and way of doing the flying car thing, self. Aside from “more Star Wars crap”, I've got a 3ft-high, pewter statue of which looks amazing. When you see it, I wondered what, given the same op- Darth Vader, and then, over my fire- you'll be overwhelmed - I know I was, portunities as Baron Bomburst, Jupitus place, there's a similar statue of Boba anyway. Computers play a part in it, might commission his own toymaker to Fett. Now what kind of adult has that let's put it that way. But the car's beau- create. kind of nonsense in their life? But it's tiful, absolutely beautiful.” just the nature of modern culture, isn't “What were my favourites when I was a For the baron who has almost every- it? I can't remember who it was who kid?” he ponders. “I tell you what I thing, Chitty is something shiny and

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I’d like to try being a singer-songwriter or to play very noisy guitar in a rock band. ‘‘ ” new and near impossible to resist. much-lamented Never Mind The Buz- it, it was a deliberate decision not to Even if he wasn't already spoilt, it'd be zcocks, because it got me into musi- watch it. I've decided that I'll watch the hard to blame Bomburst for wanting a cals!” film as a bit of an ‘end of Chitty Chitty piece of the fun: after all, who wouldn't A long-term, carefully followed career Bang Bang’ treat.” love a flying car? Of all the places you plan is probably not something you Of course, with Jupitus and a number might take it, though, Jupitus' first could accuse Jupitus of ever having. of his co-stars set to leave the tour at choice is rather a sweet one: “I'd fly to After beginning his working life as a the end of April, there'll also be an op- America, to see my daughter who lives civil servant, by his own reckoning, he portunity to come back and see how out there.” “drifted into performing”, initially as a the new guys interpret the roles. Quite the family man, his main pre- spoken-word poet. “That's part of the fun of it really, going Chitty experience of performing to a “I like the way that it's all been a kind to see all your mates who you've been family audience consists of taking part of happy accident, all of the jobs that working with. When I was in The Pro- in his daughter’s school play. I've got. I'm very content with that way ducers, I went back to see Ross Noble, “Just after I was in Hairspray, the of working.” who was playing the part I'd been drama teacher asked if I would play Mr These days, there are few areas of doing. It's interesting because the Bumble in the school production of showbiz left that he's yet to try his working, backstage version of a show Oliver!, so I ended up in a school play hand at, but given the chance, he'd and the one that an audience gets to when I was 48.” still like to do more music. “I'd like to watch are so wildly different -when What was that about not growing up? try being a singer-songwriter or to play you're in the show, you never really But then, musicals aren't exactly a line very noisy guitar in a rock band. I was know what it looks like.” of work he sought out for himself. Jupi- in the Idiot Bastard Band with Ade Ed- by Heather Kincaid tus' first stage musical part came mondson and Neil Innes and Rowland through an approach by a pair of cast- Rivron, and I've also sung with The ing directors who happened to be Blockheads and the Bonzo Dog Doo- shows at Never Mind The Buzzcocks fans. Dah Band on tour, but I never did it Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fully on my own.” Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent “There were two very nice gentlemen from Wed 30 March until Sat 9 April, & called David Grindrod and James Or- Also still on the to-do list is to actually Birmingham Hippodrome ange who invited me to come and chat sit down and watch the movie version from Wed 7 to Sun 18 September to them in their office, where they said of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - something that they thought I could be in musi- that he's somehow so far managed to cals. And I said, 'What on earth are you avoid doing. basing that on?' And they said, 'Well, “I knew a couple of the songs and I we've seen the intros round on Buz- knew it was about a flying car, but I zcocks, and we know that you can hold hadn't seen it until December, when I a tune.' So that’s why I will always came to see this production at the West have to be eternally grateful to the Yorkshire Playhouse. Once I got cast in

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Mother’s Day Sunday 6th March

1 Course £12.95 2 Course £16.95 3 Course £19.95

The Peach Tree

Served from 12noon - throughout the day. Reservations strongly advised 01743 355055 18-21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE. FOOD new March - SHROPS/STAFFS/WOLVES - Brian.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 18:56 Page 2

Food

Plenty of delights in store New venue for pie man at Stourbridge festival Birmingham street food vendor Are you a whisky lover muddled by your Pietanic has launched a kitchen resi- malts or puzzled by peat? If so, the dency at the city’s Sunflower Lounge. Midlands Whisky Festival is the place to Pietanic owner Jay Jones is serving up head for. As well as offering the opportuni- his handmade gourmet pies at the ty to sample a wide variety of rare whiskies, live music venue from Tuesdays to the Stourbridge Town Hall event also fea- Saturdays. The new menu also fea- tures a series of educational masterclasses tures a range of snacks and sharers, by numerous experts, one of whom is including a frazzles scotch egg and a Master Blender Richard Paterson, whose charcuterie board. nose is insured for £1.6 million! For more information, The Midlands Whisky Festival takes place visitpietanic.co.uk at the town hall on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 April.

A vegan delight... REVIEW: Bilash, Wolverhampton Birmingham’s second Vegan Beer & Murmers of appreciation at Michelin listed restaurant Food Festival will take place in the summer. The family-run Bilash serves The event made its debut last year at an original mix of South the Gunmakers Arms pub in Bath Indian and Bangladeshi dish- Street and will return to the venue es. Michelin listed, it has a on 15 & 16 July. mighty reputation for both The festival’s selection of vegan food and service - so much so beers will include brews made by that it’s a real local favourite Halesowen’s Angel Ales & Fixed and celebrity haunt (not that Wheel Brewery, Stourbridge’s Green we encountered any on our Duck Brewing Company and visit). Walsall’s Beowulf Brewing After a pleasant welcome by Company. Hockley’s Two Towers the waiter, we were shown to Brewery, which reopened the our seats and given the menu. Now usually, I’m a creature of Gunmakers Arms last year, will also were upped for the main and the staff members, a good habit when it comes to Indian contribute an ale. course - and we weren’t disap- number were obviously dining, essentially because the pointed. I chose palak ghost returning customers. Owner menu in most establishments (£14.90), a Bangladeshi dish and chef Sitab Khan stopped is pretty much the same. But MasterChef winner of lamb and spinach with a by our table more than once to the menu at Bilash presented at Debenhams perfect blend of flavours that ensure that everything was to me with some tricky choices, included chilli, ginger and the required and exceptionally peppered, as it was, with an AA MasterChef winner is set to bring fenugreek. From the other side high standard. It was a shame impressive selection of house a taste of Malaysia to the heart of of the table there came sighs we had to dash off - it specialities. Birmingham. Ping Coombes, who and murmurs of great appreci- would’ve been lovely to take Both starters came with a won the popular TV show in 2014, ation for the kozhi kundapuri some more time over the food. salad. I opted for a reshami has signed a partnership deal with (£13.90), a chicken dish from But then that can be our rea- kebab (£6.95), described in Pan-Asian restaurant Chi Kitchen. South India served in a son to return. Ted Finlay the menu as a ‘spicy, minced Ping will be creating her own menu coconut-based sauce with for the Debenhams-based Bullring chicken pattie’. This proved to flavours of fennel and corian- Food: n n n n n eatery. Commenting on her new be a wonderfully flavoured der. Service: n n n n n deal, Ping said: “I am very proud to dish, possessing a surprising The prices for these dishes Ambience: n n n n n announce my involvement with Chi chilli heat. My partner had the were slightly above average, Overall value n n n n n Kitchen. I love that they share my kakuri sheek kebab (£7.95), a but this was justified by the OVERALL n n n n n minced lamb kebab, tandoor approach to food and dining, which quality of the food. I certainly roasted with a fine balance of is serving fresh ingredients in a believe we got more than we spices (not chilli hot). It was warm and inviting environment. paid for! No 2 Cheapside, described by my dining com- Asian cuisine is obviously my In the short time we were in Wolverhampton, panion as the best kebab he’d WV1 1TU favourite type of food - it can be sim- the restaurant, quite a few ever had. Tel: 01902 427762 ple yet so flavoursome and deli- more diners arrived. Judging After such an impressive start cious. I have lots of new ideas, so I by the show of familiarity to the meal, our expectations can’t wait to get started.” between many of the patrons

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Thursday 10th March at 7.30pm Friday 18th March at 7.30pm Saturday 2nd April at 2.30pm

Steven Lee HOW THE KOALA LEARNT TO HUG

Adverse Camber THE OLD WOMAN, THE BUFFALO AND THE LION OF Jazz at the Arena MANDING PARTIKEL

Tickets £10 / £8 concessions Tickets £15 / £13 concessions Tickets: £5

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Food

A taste of South Africa at It’s all about Shrewsbury restaurant the gin... A popular Shrewsbury restaurant The wine tasting will be accom- The UK’s biggest gin festival is is bringing a taste of South Africa panied by sharing plates selected coming to the Midlands this to Shropshire late this month. for the occasion by The Peach autumn. Gin Festival Birmingham The Peach Tree is hosting a wine Tree’s executive head chef, Chris will offer visitors the opportunity tasting evening on Wednesday 30 Burt. to sample over 100 different vari- March, inviting guests to enjoy a Tickets for the event cost £25 and eties of gin, learn about the histo- varied range of premium wines in can be booked by ringing 01743 ry of ‘Britain's favourite spirit’, the company of South African 281 751. meet industry experts and enjoy wine expert Simon Grayson. live music.“We absolutely love gin,” says Jym Harris, who found- ed the festival with his wife, Marie, “so we started these events because we thought other people would want the same as us. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reception, and it’s been fantastic to see so many people rediscover this amazing drink.” For more information, visit www.ginfestival.com

Sat 5thLive March, 9pmMusic CHRIS QUINN ...... Fri 12th March , 9pm Mothering JORDAN BROWN Sunday ...... Sat 19th March, 9pm 3 course meal deal JOE SEAGAR £19.95 ...... for bookings please call Sun 27th March, 7pm or visit our website MICHAELA WYLDE

LUNCH GRILL NIGHT PIZZA NIGHT EVERY SUNDAY EVERY OUR 2 COURSES EVERY WEDNESDAY FAMOUS FOR THURSDAY Includes one SUNDAY £10 bottle of wine 2 FOR 1 ROAST MON - SAT per couple ON PIZZA 12 - 9pm

Victoria Quay, Victoria Avenue, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HH Tel: 01743 233244 www.visitriverbank.co.uk

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Gigs

Adele Genting Arena, Birmingham, Tues 29 - Wed 30 March & Fri 1 - Sat 2 April Adele's soulful sound has captivated audi- ences worldwide. Her debut album, 19, was released in 2008 and is certified seven times platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US. Her second offering, 21, saw her spend longer at number one than any other female artist in the history of both the UK and US album charts. It was also the fourth best-selling album of all time in the UK. Arguably one of the music industry’s most iconic stars, Adele has a hugely impressive 88 awards under her belt, including BRITs, Golden Globes and Grammys. She’s also produced six UK top 10 singles, including Bond movie theme Skyfall, Someone Like You and Rolling In The Deep. The global superstar is now back with a third studio album, 25, and her first tour in four years.

Skerryvore Natty Lichfield Guildhall, Sun 6 March O2 Academy, Birmingham, Wed 16 March Based in North London, singer-song- writer Natty is best known for his top 20 debut album, Man Like I, which was released back in 2008. After a seven-year wait, he’s now making a return with highly anticipated second album Release The Fear, released on his independent record label Vibes And Pressure. This new future-roots concept album promises to take its listeners on a journey through love, redemption, self- identity and unity.

Skerryvore comprise brothers Daniel Gillespie (accordion) and Martin Gillespie (bagpipes, whistles & accordion), Fraser West (drums & vocals), Alec Dalglish (lead Emmy The Great O2 Institute, Birmingham, Sat 19 March vocals & guitar), Craig Espie (fiddle) and Hong Kong-born acoustic guitar singer Jodie Bremaneson (bass). Emma-Lee Moss became a well-respected Their self-titled third album catapulted the musician on the folk circuit following collab- orations with Lightspeed Champion and Fyfe band into the limelight in 2011, winning a Dangerfield, and festival appearances at string of prestigious awards into the bargain. Glastonbury, Latitude and Green Man. She Last year’s Decade - an album celebrating released debut album First Love in 2009, ranking at number seven on the New York the band’s 10-year journey - featured the Times’ Albums Of The Year list. number one single Happy To Be Home, a Second album Virtue, fuelled by the last- minute breakdown of an engagement, fol- collaboration with Irish musician Sharon lowed three years later... Shannon. This current tour comes in support of Moss’ third album, Second Love, released on the 11th of the month.

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Gig previews from around the region

Stiff Little Fingers The Robin, Bilston, Tues 1 March

This punk rock group from Belfast haven’t had the smoothest of careers. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star, doing rock covers until they discovered punk. After six years and four albums, they split up, Partikel format. Drawing influence from African and reforming five years later in 1987. Latin American music, combined with the Lead singer Jake Burns is the only Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 18 March style of the contemporary jazz scene, the member to have been with the Comprising Duncan Eagles on saxophone, band present a personal, committed and band throughout. Despite major Max Luthert on double bass and Eric Ford on refreshingly contemporary take on the saxo- personnel changes, 2014 saw the drums, London-based Partikel’s music puts phone trio. release of their 10th studio an interesting twist on the standard jazz album, No Going Back.

Lulu The Skints Kris Drever Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 21 March Tues 29 March Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, “Reggae music is the sound that makes all Sun 27 March “Last year was an exceptional four of us geek out,” says Skints vocalist and Kris Drever is a Scottish contemporary folk one for me,” says Lulu, “from guitarist Josh Waters Rudge, “so it’s always musician and songwriter who came to promi- performing at Glastonbury to going to be where our greatest strength lies. nence in 2006 with the release of his debut releasing my first self-penned The music has so much history, so it’s impor- solo album, Black Water. His voice and guitar album and touring the UK solo tant to be respectful at the same time as try- is a part of the backbone of today’s contem- with my fabulous band for the ing to create something new.” porary folk and roots scene. first time in 10 years. I had so A ska and reggae band hailing from East He’s celebrating his first decade as an much fun that I’ve decided to get London, The Skints quickly established a for- acclaimed solo artist and songwriter with the back out there and do it again - midable reputation as live performers. They release of a brand new studio album, If and I really can’t wait!” also scored a significant hit with their first Wishes Were Horses. Expect to hear such classics as To album, selling more than 7,000 copies. As well as this new material, Kris will revisit Sir With Love, Shout, The Man Follow-up offering Part & Parcel was hailed a older songs from across his catalogue, play- Who Sold The World, Relight My modern-day dub, reggae and hip hop- ing many live for the first time. Fire and The Man With The inspired classic. Golden Gun. The band play the Midlands in support of their album, FM, which was released last The Bootleg Beatles year. Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 19 March Formed in 1980 from the cast of the musical Beatlemania, the Bootleg Beatles remain one of the most popular tribute acts in the coun- try, despite the emergence of numerous rivals. Their ongoing success is down to the accuracy of their portrayals of the Fab Four, not only managing to look uncannily like them but sounding incredibly authentic too. An evening in their company offers a nostal- gic but vital journey through the Beatles years.

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Classical Music

Carducci String Quartet Halle Orchestra Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, Sun 13 March Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 18 March Performing more than 90 international concerts each year, Carducci are regarded Since its first concert in 1858, the as one of the most successful string quar- Manchester-based Halle has been a tets in the business. The Washington Post real force to be reckoned with. The described their playing in a recent concert orchestra is renowned for its affinity as displaying ‘a deep and almost familial with English music - particularly the sense of unity... full of life and vitality... works of Elgar and Delius - and is cur- extravagantly beautiful...’ rently under the charge of acclaimed The quartet here present a Shropshire conductor Sir Mark Elder CBE. Music Trust concert that takes its audi- This Potteries concert sees the Halle ence on a musical ‘journey of enlighten- presenting Beethoven’s ‘perfect’ Fifth ment’, from Shostakovich’s ‘springlike’ under the conductorship of Markus first quartet to the vigour of Beethoven’s Stenz. Op.18 No.6 and Elgar’s only quartet, one Wagner’s Siefried Idyll and of his last great works. Schumann’s Piano Concerto also fea- ture in the programme. The soloist is Kirill Gerstein. Sir Mark Elder CBE

Ex Cathedra: CBSO: Mahler’s Tenth Easter with Bach Symphony Hall, Birmingham, St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, Thurs 31 March Sat 19 March; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 25 March Gustav Mahler died before finishing his 10th symphony. Although sub- stantially complete in the form of a continuous draft, it was only the first movement that could be played in the way the composer had intended. Brahms’ German Almost 50 years after Mahler’s death, Requiem and on the cusp of celebrations to St John’s United Reformed Church, mark the centenary of his birth, musi- Stourbridge, Sat 12 March cologist Deryck Cooke, in association with Berthold Goldschmidt, set about It took Johannes Brahms three years to producing a 'performing version' of compose this stunning work, a large-scale the unfinished draft... piece - his longest ever composition - for It’s the Cooke version of the 10th that chorus, orchestra, a soprano and baritone the City of Birmingham Symphony soloist. The Restoration Chorus and Orchestra here perform, in a concert Stourbridge Chamber Orchestra here per- conducted by Nicholas Collon. The form the work with the assistance of two piece, hailed as a work of ‘shattering eminent soloists - the baritone David honesty and piercing beauty’, is pre- Milner-Pearce and German soprano Nina- sented alongside Brahms’ Four Songs Maria Fischer (pictured). The concert also For Women’s Voices and Webern’s Six features Vaughan Williams’ Wasps Pieces Op. 6 (chamber version), two Overture and his Five Mystical Songs. A favourite at Eastertide, Bach’s St John miniatures described as tiny, concen- Passion, a re-telling of Christ’s betrayal and trated worlds of poetry and emotion. death, continues to be one of classical music’s most profound experiences. The Nicholas Collon work is here performed by the Ex Cathedra Consort and Baroque Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jeffrey Skidmore. And Skidmore picks up the baton again later in the week as Ex Cathedra present a Good Friday performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, widely considered to be among the most powerful and moving of sacred works.

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FEATURE by Heather Kincaid

Mary Poppins “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun” Magic and madness as Mary Poppins flies into Birmingham Hippodrome

It's over 50 years since Walt Disney's take on PL Travers’ classic story of a magical nanny first captured the hearts of fami- lies around the world. Now firmly ce- mented in popular imagination, Mary Poppins has won over generations with her spoonfuls of sugar, magic umbrella and bottomless carpet bag. But as anyone who's seen the film Saving Mr Banks will know, the creator of the iconic character was rather less than im- pressed with Disney's saccharine-sweet adaptation of her stories. Her vision of Mary Poppins was as a much more hard- nosed figure, fighting to win round the kind of materially spoilt but under-nur- tured trouble-makers that most of us will recognise - a far cry from the misunder- stood angels in the movie. Embarking on a new UK tour for 2016 that stops off at Birmingham Hippodrome in the spring, Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed stage production aims to strike a balance be- tween the two. “I think the show is a mixture of the film and the PL Travers books,” explains Zizi Strallen, who will follow in her big sister Scarlett's footsteps by playing the title role. “Anyone who's read them will know that in the books, Mary Poppins is a stricter nanny, more of a disciplinarian, and the kids are really badly behaved by comparison. I'm quite feisty at the beginning, and then I start to soften to- wards the end.” Nevertheless, this isn't to suggest that Julian Fellowes' reworking of the story is in any way downbeat. Though partly inspired by the real-life figures which are a dark blot on many childhoods, Mr Banks’ own monstrous nanny, Miss Andrew, is more pantomime vil- lain than genuine horror. Moreover, there's perhaps a greater satisfaction to be derived from the Banks family's resolution of gen- uine problems. Mary Poppins’ triumph here is to draw out courage and kindness from very vulnerable people, not only preventing unfortunate adults from inflicting their mis- ery on their children, but encouraging them to see their kids as offering a clean slate - an opportunity to find happiness themselves. Continued overleaf... whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Mary Poppins DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 14:42 Page 3

FEATURE

‘‘ If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound

“My mum read the books to me and my sis- chines. Those who know a little about the There's masses of stuff to be shifted, from ters when we were younger,” says Strallen, show might already have heard whispers of the two-ton nursery, 25 flying elements and “so I was always very aware of that side of its spectacular finale. For those who 58 motors used to suspend the set and the story, and I think it gives the show a re- haven't, we'll refrain from spoiling any- equipment, right down to carefully organ- ally good journey.” thing, but suffice to say there's flying in- ised make-up sets and multiple chimney Worcester-born Maria Garrett, who’s per- volved... brushes. Most of this will be transported in forming in the ensemble cast, agrees: “I feel “The Saturday matinees are my favourite,” 18 trailers, each 45ft long. Electrical equip- like the film focuses more on Mary and Bert, says Garrett, “because that's when all the ment, including smoke machines, haze ma- whereas the musical takes you on this jour- kids come with their mums and their dads, chines, foggers, followspots and 97 moving ney with the family, and really shows the and you can just see their faces light up lights, takes up two of these alone. Since importance of how George and Winifred when they see Mary flying - it's so magical!” much of it runs on rechargeable batteries, Banks come together as a family unit at the “It feels amazing,” adds Strallen, “and the it's down to the electrics department to end.” audience just love it because it's so well make sure everything is always fully charged. There's no sense of throwing the baby out done. Because I have so much to do in the with the bathwater either: this is a show- show, it's actually quite a nice little rest for “This is the biggest touring show in Eu- stopping, super-sized musical retaining all me when I get to fly, and we have a brilliant rope,” says White, “so moving it is such a the Sherman Bros' irresistible tunes, along team that makes me feel very safe.” military operation. Everything is labelled with the odd addition here and there. As Mary Poppins’ production manager, Neil beyond belief.” Strallen's favourite is the poignant Feed The White, explains, the most important person This is, of course, before we've even come to Birds, while Garrett prefers the energy of Su- travelling with a show on this scale is the wigs and costumes. According to White, the percalifragilisticexpialidocius (‘Supercal’ health and safety advisor, who performs three washing machines and four tumble for short): “It's really exhilarating,” she checks after every performance, including dryers that tour with the production get says, “especially when we do the reprise be- between matinee and evening shows. Atten- through roughly as much laundry in a week cause all the audience tends to clap along tion to detail in every aspect of the produc- as does an average family household in a and join in.” tion is key to ensuring things are year. Each day, two people arrive at 8am to Then there's the larger-than-life look of the “practically perfect in every way”, inspiring start on washing and ironing, and members film, beautifully reimagined for the stage a sense of wonder in big kids and little ones through elaborate sets and some truly spec- alike. tacular effects. Intricately hand-painted “Everything looks as good up close as it backdrops have the charming, sketchy qual- does out front,” White continues. “Cameron ity of storybook illustrations, as though the Mackintosh is a whirlwind when he visits: action has burst into life directly from the he can spot a moustache out of place or a page. The Banks’ three-dimensional home light that isn't quite right. A member of the is pulled out, spun around and opens up to creative team watches every show and reveal different rooms at the front and back; writes a report of it, so that standards never the upper floor nursery and the bank are slip. It really keeps you on your toes!” separate sets entirely. In Jolly Holiday, a In the two or three days before opening at a drab black-and-white palette suddenly ex- new venue, a huge crew of 100-plus people plodes into colour, while numerous chim- works around the clock in two shifts to get neys fill the stage for Chim Chim Cher-ee, everything ship-shape and ready for action. each with their own individual smoke ma-

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precocious, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! ” of the wardrobe department will spend hours tender age of nine, is excited about getting to from 8am until about 11pm, leaving just darning stockings. Clean costumes are stored grips with the dancing. enough time to get a bit of sleep in before in an extensive ‘Quick Change Village’, where “I used to come to the Hippodrome every Sat- they're up and doing it all over again. every character has their own section with urday because I was a Junior Associate of “It's not a show where anyone has an easy three sets of each of their outfits. Of course, Birmingham Royal Ballet,” she explains. “It's ride,” says White. “It's exhausting, but every some of these, such as the chimney sweep great to be doing this show because I've time you do a show like this, everyone is re- costumes, never stay clean for very long - a known the choreography of people like ally proud to get people in to see it.” special spray called Dirty Down is used to get Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear for years, As Mary herself would suggest, all you have things grubby without causing lasting dam- so it's exciting to finally be performing their to do is, “find the fun and - snap! - the job's a age. work.” game”. Luckily, there are plenty of people to “You spend so much time getting things A stepping up of the dance moves for Mary share the pressure, and by all accounts, over clean and then a lot of it has to be deliber- and Bert is just one of the many changes that the course of the full year they spend to- ately dirtied up again!” White laughs. have taken place since Mary Poppins’ last gether, the whole team ends up pretty close. For such an energetic show, getting the tour, so even if you've seen the show before, “Unlike when you just do a show in London, clothes right is essential: they must be flexi- there should still be some surprises this time on a touring production we're like a second ble enough for dancing and able to withstand round. family,” says White. “You get to know how a lot of wear and tear, as well as always look- everyone works. In a lot of touring shows, the “It never stops evolving,” says White. ing fantastic. ensemble casts are cut down, so you might “Cameron's not just about money - he's about have about eight people on stage. In this, Strallen is particularly pleased with hers: making great theatre. The audience is getting there are 30. People in Birmingham are es- “They've all been made for me, which is a return on every penny they pay to see it, sentially getting a West End show without lovely because everything fits me really well. and it's such a nice thing in this industry having to pay a ridiculous price to go to Lon- I do have to wear a corset and a bustle under- when you know you're not short-changing don and see it.” neath my skirt because it's all very traditional anyone.” and true to the Edwardian period, but my For Garrett, the trip back up to Birmingham In addition to the main cast, there are two clothes are comfortable enough that I can is likely to spark a few fond memories of her understudies for every adult role (the parts of move and dance and fly and slide up a ban- time both as an audience member and as a Jane and Michael are each shared between nister in them. It's a joy to wear them.” budding performer. seven to eight young actors), as well as six For Strallen, who’s a fully trained dancer swings (understudies who prepare several “It’s fun getting to travel round the UK doing with experience of working on the likes of roles) on hand to fill in any gaps in the en- what I love, but the Hippodrome's so special Matthew Bourne's Car Man, there'll be even semble. Each swing has 19 sets of costumes, because that's where it all started for me. We more dancing than in previous runs of the shoes and hats, ready to jump into any scene used to go to the old-fashioned sweet shop show. at short notice. just across the road from the theatre to “Zizi is such a strong dancer that they've in- choose our favourite sweets every Saturday “A production like this couldn't function creased all the choreography for Mary,” says after ballet, so I'll definitely be going back without the swings,” says White. “Their White. “Matt [Lee, who plays Bert] is brilliant there!” brains are just amazing - they know all the too. It's things like this that keep it really parts.” fresh.” It's hard to exaggerate the huge demands a Garrett, who trained at Harlequin Stage production like this places on every member Mary Poppins shows at Birmingham School and played a small part in BRB's of the cast and crew. Even after the 72-hour Hippodrome from Wednesday 9 March Giselle at Birmingham Hippodrome at the set-ups, on matinee days, they'll be working until Saturday 23 April.

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Comedy

Bridget Christie Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 17 March; mac, Birmingham, Tues 22 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 28 April Bridget Christie describes herself as ‘a female person’ and ‘the only stand-up to have been billed alongside both Lionel Blair and Naomi Wolf’. Married to fellow laughter merchant Stewart Lee since 2006, Bridget’s gags include: “Every vagina is a unique snowflake... made of gam- mon”, and “Feminism isn’t a fad. It’s not like Angry Birds. Although it does involve a lot of angry birds. Bad example.” Bridget’s latest touring show promises to answer a wide range of intriguing questions, including why she’s been sending her stained underpants to George Osborne at Her Majesty’s Treasury every month. She’ll also be explaining the difference between Eddie Izzard and Caitlyn Jenner... So as you can see, missing this show just isn’t an option.

Six of the best...

Katherine Carl Romesh Ranganathan Ryan Donnelly Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 11 March; Evesham Arts Centre, Sat 16 April; Warwick Warwick Arts The Glee Club, Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 27 April; Artrix, Centre, Coventry, Birmingham, Thurs Bromsgrove, Sun 22 May Tues 3 March; The 10 - Sat 11 March Place, Oakengates, With his support slots having included one Telford, Thurs 10 Launching himself for Ricky Gervais, it’s fair to say former March; Birmingham onto an unsuspect- Town Hall, Fri 20 Maths teacher Romesh Ranganathan has ing comedy circuit May made a significant impact since bursting in 2004, Carl onto the comedy circuit in 2010. The 2013 Having experi- Donnelly’s made winner of the prestigious Leicester Mercury enced motherhood, divorce and MTV, award- his name via numerous festivals and plenty New Act Award, Romesh has also become a winning Canadian funny lady Katherine of contributions to all manner of radio familiar face on TV, with credits including Ryan is well placed indeed to take a wry look shows. At his best when portraying himself Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, Russell at those aspects of life that make people as a bit of a hapless idiot, Carl’s as happy as Howard’s Good News and a regular slot on angry and bitter. the proverbial sandboy chatting about all Channel Four’s Stand Up For The Week. Alongside her comedy career, Katherine also manner of subjects, from encounters with It’s all a far cry from his previous career in a takes occasional acting roles - the part of intimidating yahoos on a train to the rather Crawley classroom. "In the early days I George in Channel Four’s Campus and more personal business of accidentally soil- would be performing to eight people in a Merc’s assistant in Episodes feature among ing himself. her more recent engagements. pub and my sixth formers would turn up,” She visits the Midlands this month with her Romesh recalled recently in an interview new show, Kathbum. with Crawley News. “I couldn't help but Check out page 65 for EXCLUSIVE think, 'Oh God, this isn't going to end well’. Friday night deals at The Glee Club It undermined my authority to tell the stu- dents off the next day, because it must’ve been hilarious for them to see me die on stage and think 'I'm just going to heckle him now'!”

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Barbara Nice’s Easter Funny The Glee Club, Birmingham, Wed 23 March “Our Easter Funny promises to be a night of much laughter,” says Janice Connolly, whose alter-ego is comedy creation Barbara Nice. “I’m delighted that the very talented Angela Barnes, Rachel Parris and Rob Deering will be joining Barbara for these Easter-themed antics.” Barbara’s Easter Funny is a comedy fundraiser for Birmingham-based charity Women & Theatre. The company delivers performances, projects and workshops for a variety of target groups, including looked-after young people, young carers, mental health service users and older adults in residential settings. “The evening is an opportunity for us to fundraise for Women & Theatre,” says Janice, the charity’s artistic director. “The funds will ensure we’re able to continue working with a range of people to understand what matters to them, and with them to create theatre and comedy that reflects their lives.”

Nathan Chris Gein’s Caton Purchase Family Bramall Music Lichfield Garrick, Giftshop Building, Sat 5 March Birmingham Warwick Arts University, “A while ago, I was Centre, Coventry, Thurs 31 March Wed 16 March; starting to experi- mac, Birmingham, Chortle’s Student ment with slightly Fri 15 April Comic Of The Year darker comedy,” This three-strong 2005 and an explains Chris sketch group, Edinburgh Fringe Purchase, a finalist comprising two boys and one girl, is one of regular, the charismatic Nathan Caton is a in the Best Midlands Comedian category of the newer kids on the comedy block, scoring man with plenty of good material and some this year’s What’s On Readers’ Awards. “I high marks at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe sharp storytelling skills. sent out a couple of jokes into the ether, not Festival. “I did a gig recently where I got booed off really hoping for anything back but just see- Kath, Jim and Ed’s material ranges from stage for saying that I live at home with my ing what everyone thought of my new direc- being very funny to not funny at all. parents,” explains Nathan, in joke-telling tion. The response was phenomenal. It made Thankfully, though, the majority of their mode. “I walked out and said: ‘Hello. My me feel incredible. I was talking about stuff I offerings are in the former category rather name's Nathan Caton. I'll tell you a bit about believed in and people loved it.” than the latter. myself. I still live at home with my family...’ Chris’ change of direction coincides with the As the group’s name suggests (‘Gein’ was the And as soon as I said it, the whole audience tour of his first ever solo offering, Distant - a surname of a notorious US serial killer and went, “Booooo!”. I gotta tell you, that's the show about getting closer to people and body snatcher), their material is of a dark last time I do a charity gig for an orphan- making new friends... and definitely adult nature, but is presented age!” Away from the wonderful world of comedy, with more than enough silliness to ensure it Chris cites his ambitions as (1) swimming feels neither oppressive nor uncomfortable. with dolphins and (2) being able to go to Alton Towers without having to sit in a spe- cially constructed chair designed to embar- rass larger people.

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FEATURE by David Vincent

Sisters are doing it for themselves As close harmony trio The Puppini Sisters release their new album, Marcella Puppini talks DIY and her year-long New Year's Resolution challenge...

We're only a few weeks into 2016, yet Mar- The Puppini Sisters’ update of Andrews Sis- fully take control of their career. cella Puppini is already wondering if her ters-styled ’40s harmonies has been wowing “Who’s the most passionate about The Pup- New Year's Resolution was perhaps a little audiences for over a decade. The trio have pini Sisters? Us three! Record companies too ambitious. an eye on nostalgic ‘Golden Age of Holly- have bottom lines, and if you don’t sell mil- wood’ glamour and a foot in the London “I set myself a fashion challenge - my 365 lions of copies in the first week, they’re onto burlesque, cabaret and performance art Outfit Challenge,” says the glamorous the next release, so we decided that we scene. Their slick and swingin' take on such singer. wanted to be the record company and set up standards as Jeepers Creepers, Diamonds Millionaire Records. Although she trained in fashion as well as Are A Girl's Best Friend and In The Mood, music, working from home all day, the along with the odd contemporary number - “It’s almost a full-time job, there’s so much temptation to skip the lip gloss and reach such as Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights, The to do every day. Apart from the promotion, for well-worn yet comfortable scruffs was Smiths' Panic and Beyonce's Crazy In Love - there are all the things that fans buy.” Mar- getting too great. has attracted a fan base that includes Prince cella is here referring to the 'pledges' the trio Charles, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Bublé. offer in return for funding. “If I don’t go out all day, although I’d not say In fact, King of the Crooners Bublé was so I’m sitting around in my pyjamas, I certainly impressed with the girls' 2010 Christmas “One of the things we offered was sing-a- don’t bother with what I’m wearing, which With... album that he famously whisked grams, so we’d have to meet up for a day to gets me down. When we were recording our them over to LA to guest on his own 2011 write and record those. It was a lot of work, new album, I thought about what I was Christmas record and later his ITV1 festive but I’m surprised how much I loved it. wearing more, and I liked that. This 365 special. There’s been nothing better. We wrote a Challenge is making me much happier work- song and made a film for one pledger’s wife, ing - it’s a nice feeling.” The Puppini's fifth record, The High Life, is and when she saw it... Wow! It was written released on 5 March and features Marcella, with her husband, he gave us all the The challenge Marcella has set herself is to Kate Mullins and ‘newcomer’ Emma Smith prompts, and she was so moved. She’d told wear a new outfit every day over the coming (who joined in 2012) in fine voice. him she’d gotten to an age where no-one year - all 365 days, without exception (we would ever consider writing a song for her... didn’t like to point out to her that it’s a leap It’s been over four years since The Sisters’ so he did. It was beautiful. You see the joy! year!). She’ll document her progress with a last long-player. Marcella states that part of Priceless!” daily blog post and selfie. the unintentionally lengthy gap between al- bums has been down to the threesome kick- “It’s a proper, full-on challenge. So far, I’ve starting their own record label, and paying used all the stuff in my wardrobe, so I’m for the entire process via online crowdfund- The Puppini Sisters play Warwick Arts working through stuff I’ve not worn in ages. ing platform PledgeMusic. Though it means Centre, Coventry, on Tues 15 March I’ve already realised that there aren’t going she's now spending more time at home, to be enough clothes, so I’ve started cus- holed up in her office, Marcella reckons it tomising things.” was the perfect move, allowing the trio to whatsonlive.co.uk 25 Theatre March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 13:02 Page 1

Theatre

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 30 March - Sat 9 April; Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 7 - Sun 18 September Everybody's favourite flying car makes a welcome return to the Midlands this month, complete with ‘sensational’ sets, ‘stunning’ special effects, the Sherman Brothers’ memo- rable score and a high-energy cast headed by Jason Manford, Michelle Collins and comedian Phill Jupitus. When eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (Manford) creates an amazing flying car, he takes his family to the fictional country of Vulgaria. But all is not well in the European barony, where the sinister Baron Bomburst has decided to make children illegal... Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song feature among the show’s best-known musical numbers.

Goodnight Mister Tom The Government A Passion For New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Inspector Birmingham Tues 15 - Sat 19 March The REP, Birmingham, Sat 19 - Sat 26 March Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 15 - Fri 25 March When news reaches them that a government inspector is set to visit, the bureaucrats in a The Old Joint Stock Theatre Company once small Russian town are sent into a blind again present their promenade retelling of panic. And why wouldn’t they be? After all, the Passion Story, set in modern-day the town’s hospital is a health hazard, its Birmingham and spanning numerous build- school a war zone and its soldiers lacking ings and various streets in the city centre. trousers to march in... The show has met with positive reviews in Nikolai Gogol’s biting moral satire is here previous years, the young ensemble widely presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre hailed for their ambition, creativity and com- in association with Ramps On The Moon, a mitment. Earlier presentations drew gentle ground-breaking touring project committed criticism for being a little overlong, so it will to disability arts provision in the UK. be interesting to see how the show’s evolved. Set during the dark and dangerous build up to the Second World War - and based on the Marvellous Imaginary 1981 novel of the same title by Michelle Magorian - Goodnight Mister Tom follows the Menagerie story of evacuee William Beech. Crewe Lyceum, Wed 2 March; Lichfield Relocated to the idyllic English countryside, Garrick, Fri 18 March; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Thurs 24 March the young boy builds a remarkable and mov- ing friendship with an elderly recluse named The Edinburgh Spotlight was well impressed Tom Oakley. with Les Enfants Terribles’ Marvellous Life suddenly seems perfect for William - Imaginary Menagerie when it performed at until, that is, he receives a summons from the city’s Fringe festival. The popular website his abusive mother to return home to described it as the show which Roald Dahl London... and Tim Burton would’ve produced had they A tale of two broken souls at very different ever met one another and decided to open a ends of the age scale, Goodnight Mister Tom travelling circus! Les Enfants Terribles have is here presented by Chichester Festival previously enjoyed stage success with the Theatre. The production is an Oliver Award equally clever shows Alice Underground and winner. Captain Flinn And The Pirate Dinosaurs. They here present a combination of vaude- ville, circus, puppets, dance, music and magic that seems sure to delight.

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Theatre previews from around the region

WIN! TICKETS To enter, visit whatsonlive.co.uk The Jewellery Quarter At War Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 12 - Sat 19 March Blue Orange’s Youth Theatre here present a production that promises to be every bit as edu- cational as it is imaginative. The show comprises a number of devised works of drama, pre- sented at various locations around the Jewellery Quarter and based on the experiences of local people during the Great War. The presentation is sup- ported by Birmingham City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Hamlet A masterpiece of world theatre, Shakespeare’s famous play is a challenging Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- piece to perform. The lead role is one of the Avon, Sat 12 March - Sat 13 August largest ever written, and it's a brave actor Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is struggling indeed who undertakes the necessary plunge to come to terms with his life. Faced with the into his own psyche. So good luck on this ghost of his murdered father, he must also particular occasion to Paapa Essiedu... ‘Safe’ What Is The grapple with the indecently hasty remarriage Additional casting includes Cucumber’s Cyril State Of Your of his widowed mother to his conniving Nri as Polonius and James Cooney as Empire uncle... Rosencrantz. Malvern Theatre, Worcestershire, Fri 18 March This emotionally charged piece sees five male performers inhab- Tinned Goods This Land it the world of the 1930s con- mac, Birmingham, Fri 18 March; Artrix, Bromfield, Nr Ludlow, South Shropshire, Wed struction workers who built the Bromsgrove, Sat 19 March; Lichfield Garrick, 9 March; All Stretton Village Hall, South Empire State Building. Pitting Thurs 31 March Shropshire, Thurs 10 March; Snailbeach masculinity against fragility and Village Hall, Shropshire, Thurs 11 March; SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, hailed for its punchy choreo- Fri 12 March; Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch, graphic language, the show is Shropshire, Wed 16 March; Foxlowe Arts presented by the highly Centre, Staffordshire, Thurs 17 March; Worcester Arts Workshop, Sat 19 March acclaimed ZoieLogic Dance Theatre. Producing quality theatre about the contem- porary rural world is the stated mission of Shropshire-based company Pentabus. They here join forces with Salisbury Playhouse to present a new play by Siân Owen that explores concerns about the process of frack- The hugely accomplished Tea And Tenacity ing. contemplate politics, picket lines and princi- “Fracking is a controversial issue which is ples in their latest offering, which takes as its happening right now across the UK and all subject matter the national miners’ strike of over the world,” says the play’s director, Jo 30 years ago. Presented by an all-female cast, Newman. “This Land is going to be touring to the production focuses on Sue and Rachel, places where the prospect of fracking is a two women whose friendship has been pro- reality. We’re heading towards some scary foundly compromised by the miners’ walk and challenging times in the continued out. As the pressure mounts, the women find search for power. We more than ever need to themselves engaged in a desperate battle to be alert to what’s happening, and question- save not only their relationships but also ing, for ourselves, what is right.” their very way of life...

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Shen Yun Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 5 - Sun 6 March The New York Times described this show as ‘5,000 years of Chinese music and dance in one night’. As evenings of theatrical enter- tainment go, sounds like a pretty good deal. Based in New York, Shen Yun is a not-for- profit organisation dedicated to reviving authentic Chinese culture. And they certain- ly do that here, with a show that’s been enjoyed by millions of people across the globe. Expect ethnic and folk dancers, ‘brave generals, heavenly maidens, mischie- vous monks’ and plenty more besides. Heck, there’s even a contribution from a flying pig!

Don Quixote Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral. Red Snapper The work is best known to modern audi- Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- ences for its spectacularly bawdy charms, Avon, until Sat 21 May Sat 5 - Sun 19 March and features more than its fair share of refer- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s novel is one ences to willies, bottoms and bodily func- of the Spanish Golden Age’s most influential tions. Presented by Blast From The Past. works of literature, inspiring, among others stories, The Three Musketeers and The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn. Fake It 'til You Make It His sanity compromised by his love of chival- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, ric romances, a nobleman decides to adopt Thurs 17 - Sat 19 March; mac, Birmingham, the name of Don Quixote, take up the sword, Wed 23 - Thurs 24 March recruit a simple farmer named Sancho Panza ‘Brutally honest’ and ‘powerfully as his squire, and revive the chivalric code. heartbreaking’ feature among reviewers’ To say that things don’t go quite according to assessments of this well-received Edinburgh plan would be an understatement... Fringe First winner. A show described by creator Bryony Kimmings as being about ‘the wonders of the human brain, being in love and what it takes to be a real man’, Fake It ’til You Make It takes a look at the issue of clinical depression. The show’s been made by Bryony in collaboration with her partner, The first full production to come out of the Tim, who suffers from the condition himself. Belgrade Theatre’s Critical Mass playwriting project, Red Snapper is set in Jamaica in 1962 - a Jamaica where personal and political ten- sions simmer against a backdrop of mass emigration and unrest. Cuba’s communist leader, Fidel Castro, is set to pay a visit - but nobody’s quite sure how he’ll be received. As the wives of five council- The Canterbury Tales lors prepare a welcome meal for Castro, long- Solihull Arts Complex, Thurs 24 March held resentments threaten to turn the occa- sion into an unmitigated disaster... One of English literature's most famous Mona Lisa star Cathy Tyson heads the all- works, Geoffrey Chaucer's legendary epic female cast in this debut offering from prom- was written at the end of the 14th century. It ising new playwright Liz Mytton. presents a series of cautionary tales suppos- edly recounted by a group of pilgrims as they travel together to the shrine of Saint

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A new look for Spring 2016

Wed 9 Mar - Mon 25 - Tue 24 - Sat 23 Apr Sat 30 Apr Sat 28 May From £25 From £13.50 From £20

Thu 16 - Sat 18 Jun The Taming of the Shrew

Wed 22 - Sat 25 Jun Mon30 May Thu 16 - Tue 28 Jun- -Sat 4 Jun Shakespeare Sat 25 Jun Sat 3 Sep From £20 Triple Bill From £10 From £28

Nederlands Carlos Acosta Cloud Gate Dance Dance: Sampled Ballet BC Theatre of Taiwan

Tue 3 & Thu 5 - Tue 10 & Tue 17 & Fri 20 & Wed 4 May Sat 7 May Wed11May Wed18May Sat 21 May From £15 From £15 From £15 £15 From £15

Produced by DanceXchange in partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome, funded by Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council.

0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Calls cost 4.5p per min. plus access charge. 5% transaction charge applies excluding cash sales in person. Theatre March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 13:03 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Kiss Me The Tailor Of Inverness Quickstep The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 3 - Sat 5 March New Vic Theatre, It’s reasonable to assume writer and performer Newcastle-under-Lyme, Fri 4 - Sat 19 March Matthew Zajac has at some point needed to pur- chase a sturdier mantlepiece, given the amount of The New Vic has collaborated silverware this compelling work of theatre has with Oldham Coliseum Theatre received over the last few years. to produce this brand new Debuting in 2008, The Tailor Of Inverness has offering from Amanda scored a massive success internationally, playing Whittington, whose previous to tens of thousands of people in no fewer than 10 successes include The Thrill Of countries. Telling the story of Matthew’s search Love and Be My Baby. for his Polish father, the play is here making its Set in the ultra-competitive English debut, and has been described as ‘a pow- world of ballroom dancing, the erful allegory for all victims of war’. play focuses on the lives, loves and sorrows of a handful of performers competing in the national championships in Of Mice And Men is about what’s happened to the north since the Blackpool. They’re all desper- miners’ strike. There have been a lot of plays ate to achieve their dreams - Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, about the strike per se but nothing about what Tues 8 - Sat 12 March but it isn’t long before the reali- happened next. When the television cameras ties of life away from the ball- George and Lennie are drifters who only have went away, it was almost like, ‘well you’ve had room begin to take their toll... each other and their shared search for the your moment’s coverage, now get on with your The New Vic’s artistic director, American Dream to sustain them. George is the lives’. So this is a very vitriolic play about what’s Theresa Heskins, is the woman sharp little guy who looks out for Lennie. happened to the north since the strike ended 30 at the helm of this thought-pro- Lennie, meanwhile, is his big-hearted compan- years ago.” voking new show. ion who, unaware of his own strength, seems unable to keep out of trouble. Finding work on a ranch in California, they plan Transports Lysistrata to stay long enough to buy a little place of their Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 15 March own - but their arrival triggers a tragic chain of Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, events that threatens to destroy the very dream Furthering its already impressive reputation for Tues 1 March; Arena Theatre, addressing serious material in a lighthearted Wolverhampton, Tues 15 - that unites them... Wed 16 March; The This returning version of the John Steinbeck and thought-provoking way, Pipeline Theatre Brewhouse Arts Centre, classic stars Dudley Sutton in the role of Candy. here presents a story inspired by the Burton-upon-Trent, Fri 18 Kindertransport refugees of the Second World March War. The production jumps between the ’40s and Actors of Dionysus here the late 1970s, when a spiky 15-year-old’s arrival continue with their avowed in a foster home leads to a devastating collision intention to ‘put flesh on the of revelations. bones of ancient Greek drama’ by presenting an absurdist ver- sion of Aristophanes’ comic Tell Me On A Sunday masterpiece. Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 3 - Sat 5 March; Lysistrata is a woman on a mis- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sun 20 March sion. She intends to end the Peloponnesian War by encour- One of the minor constellations in Andrew Lloyd aging the women of Greece to Webber’s firmament of shows, Tell Me On A join her in withholding sexual Sunday has some real gems hidden in its score, privileges from their husbands the most memorable among which is the plain- and lovers - until such time as tive Take That Look Off Your Face. Charting the the menfolk negotiate a peace. course of an optimistic Needless to say, Lysistrata’s English girl as she arrives in plan isn’t one that the men of Shafted New York seeking love and Greece are happy to accept success, the show combines New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under Lyme, lying down... British wit with American Wed 30 March - Sat 2 April sass, running a gamut of My writing has become much more angry, a kind emotions in the process. of amphicentric vision of how we are,” says John Godber in talking about his latest play. “Shafted

For full theatre listings, visit whatsonlive.co.uk

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For more theatre previews visit whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Theatre March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 13:03 Page 7

Theatre Kids shows this month...

Hetty Feather at The Rep Up, Up And Away at Warwick Arts Centre Peppa Pig’s Surprise at Malvern Theatres

Hetty Feather Tracy Beaker Gets Real The Old Woman, The The REP, Birmingham, Tues 8 - Sat 12 March Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Buffalo And The Lion Of Tues 29 - Wed 30 March Manding “She’s very naughty, very difficult but full of Jacqueline Wilson’s most famous character spirit,” says author Jacqueline Wilson of her Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, here makes a welcome return to the Thurs 10 March character Hetty Feather. A child of the Midlands in a musical written by the BAFTA- Victorian era, Hetty was left at the Foundling nominated Mary Morris. The show finds 15- Having played to great acclaim at the Hay Hospital when she was a baby and has year-old Tracy wondering whether her mom’s Literature Festival and the RSC in Stratford- grown up to have a famously short fuse... reappearance in her life may finally bring to upon-Avon, this story of West African king- Featuring all the best-loved characters from an end her days of being passed around like ship and battle is here making a sure-to-be- the hugely popular books - including the a parcel. But if there’s one thing Tracy’s welcome return to the Midlands. frightening Matron ‘Stinking’ Bottomly - this hard-knock existence has taught her, it’s that Telling the tale of the birth of Sundiata Keita, well-reviewed touring show is suitable for nothing in life can be taken for granted... visionary leader of the great Malian empire, children aged seven and older. it brings together much-admired storyteller Jan Blake, West African musicians Kouame The Remarkable Tale Peppa Pig’s Surprise and Raymond Sereba, and a range of musical Malvern Theatre, Wed 23 - Thurs 24 March instruments that includes Nordic flutes, Of Oliver Twist djembe drums and the extraordinary dodo If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wed 9 March; mouth bow. previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and mac, Birmingham, Thurs 10 March The show is presented by the highly rated enjoyed the experience of watching them Adverse Chamber, specialists in the presen- Based on Charles Dickens’ famous novel, having a fantastic time - you’ll already know tation of ‘epic stories told by countless voices this Red Earth production tells the story of a that this latest production is well worth over hundreds of years’, and is suitable for raggedy orphan boy as he discovers the dif- catching. audience members aged 14 and older. ference between the darkness of the under- “It hardly seems like seven years since we world and the love and warmth of the upper started on the first Peppa Pig Live stage classes in Victorian London. Along the way, show,” observes the show’s writer and direc- he encounters many of Dickens’ most colour- tor, Richard Lewis. “It’s been an incredible Handa’s Hen ful characters, not least among whom are Mr experience seeing the children’s reactions, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Bumble, The Artful Dodger, Bill Sykes, Nancy not only in the UK but throughout the world. Wed 9 March and, of course, everyone’s favourite pick- It just confirms that Peppa really is a global With a running time of just 35 minutes and a pocketing wrong-doer, the conniving and phenomenon.” cast of 55 hand-created puppets, this brand sinister Fagin. new offering from the supremely talented Presented in the style of Victorian music The Boy Who Bit Picasso Little Angel Theatre is ideal for youngsters hall, complete with speciality acts and vari- aged between two and six. ety entertainments, the show is suitable for Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 20 March The play’s been adapted from the book by children aged six and older. Play-clothes are very much the order of the Eileen Browne and finds Handa and her day with this show - it’s fair to say things friend, Akeyo, looking for Grandma’s black Rainbow Magic Live: could get decidedly messy! hen. Problem is, the hen is nowhere to be Saving Fairyland An interactive theatre production for chil- found - although there’s certainly no short- dren aged four and older, The Boy Who Bit age of other creatures making their presence Solihull Arts Complex, Mon 14 March Picasso tells the story of how a young lad felt, including fluttery butterflies, stripy mice and lurking lizards... If your children have enjoyed any of Rainbow became friends with one of the greatest Magic’s 130 Rainbow Fairies books, they’re artists who ever lived. Along the way, the sure to be delighted by this associated musi- show offers audience members the chance to cal. Best pals Rachel and Kirsty take centre get really hands-on by making their own art - stage in the show, enjoying plenty of fun and hence the play-clothes recommendation! adventures as they help their fairy friends hunt for magical moonstones and tackle naughty goblins. For full theatre listings, visit whatsonlive.co.uk

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For more theatre previews visit whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Jackie The Musical DPS MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:57 Page 1

FEATURE Arlene Phillips talks about choreographing Jackie The Musical

The year is 1964, and on Wednesday 1st Jan- teenagers at the time,” says Phillips. “Girls uary, the very first episode of Top Of The wrote in to its columnists, Cathy and Claire, Pops airs on BBC1, beginning a British insti- in their droves, sometimes about meeting tution that would last for over 42 years. Less boys but also about problems at home. For than two weeks later, on Saturday the 11th, many of them, Cathy and Claire were the the first issue of Jackie magazine hits the only people they could turn to for advice. shelves of shops around the country... Nina Myskow was Editor-in-Chief on the The near simultaneous launch of these two magazine, and she's been very involved in hugely successful brands marked a growing the whole development of the musical.” industry awareness of a rapidly expanding The story begins with Jackie (Janet Dibley), youth market. Pop music, fashion and ro- a recent divorcée for whom everything mance were hot topics in this teen-domi- seems to have taken a downward turn. As nated age, where greater freedom and she seeks to get her life back on track, she purchasing power among young people finds herself turning once more to the pages played a pivotal role in shaping the culture, of Jackie - and more particularly to Cathy and would continue to do so for decades to and Claire - for advice, transporting audi- come. ences back to her own coming of age. It would be a few more years before both “There's the ex-husband, John (Graham platforms would really reach their peak. By Bickley), who's got a new, younger model the early ’70s, the new teen culture had for a girlfriend - there's always one of those, taken root, with sales of Jackie rising to isn't there?” Phillips laughs. “And then 605,947 copies and Top Of The Pops attract- there's Jackie's younger self, who is another ing around 15 million viewers each week. character played by a separate actor (Daisy It's around this time that the story of Jackie Steere).” The Musical unfolds - at least in part. Half The show's double timeline has provided set in the present-day and half in the past, Phillips with the interesting challenge of Mike James' and Anna Linstrum's new marrying different dance styles in keeping show, arriving in the Midlands this month, with the two settings. Having risen to fame tells the story of Jackie, a middle-aged as the founder of dance troupe Hot Gossip woman reflecting on her formative years. during the ’70s, she's well-versed in the Choreographing the musical is the illustri- styles of that period. ous Arlene Phillips, whose diverse work on “Because the show is set in two eras, we've stage musicals, pop videos, live gigs, special got a lot of contemporary choreography as events, feature films and, of course, Strictly well as a lot of ’70s dance styles,” she ex- Come Dancing, has won her huge renown plains. “Hot Gossip really impacted in the both at home and overseas, as well as leav- late ’70s and were known mainly for their ing her uniquely qualified for the job. sexiness. While there will be some connec- “Jackie magazine was a huge influence on tion through iconic moves from the ’70s,

34 whatsonlive.co.uk Jackie The Musical DPS MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:57 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

with Jackie The Musical, we're looking back “I think that even though girls were asking at a slightly earlier, younger era, so there's a the same questions in the ’60s, they weren't lot of disco and a much fresher look.” quite so obsessed with love and fashion as Phillips' choreography will be set to the they became in the ’70s. In the ’60s, there likes of Puppy Love, Tiger Feet and I Love To were many homes that didn't have tele- Love - ‘blast from the past’ chart-toppers phones, but by the ’70s, everyone had one. the ’70s weren’t guaranteed to make a certain generation of That meant that a boy could actually call viewers misty-eyed with nostalgia. “It's a you, even though your parents would proba- without their bly be standing in the hallway listening in to non-stop ’70s music fest!” she exclaims. ‘‘own social and the conversation! So I think that's part of It's not only the trends of the time that have why the magazine really took off then.” influenced her choices in creating routines technological for the production. Phillips has also taken Naturally, this is a show primarily for and inspiration directly from the unique features about the women who will enjoy getting upheavals, and of Jackie magazine itself. right back to where they started from and looking back fondly on reflections of their Jackie’s genera- “I'm older than the Jackie readers, but I al- life, but it's not all about turning back the ways loved their photo and drawn picture hands of time or harking back to golden tion witnessed stories with speech bubbles. I was fasci- years. This is just as much a show about nated by those, and I've always wanted to many cultural holding your head up, finding the confi- find a way to use speech bubbles in a musi- dence to express yourself, realising we've cal, so I'm delighted that I've been given changes that

only just begun and looking forward to an- that opportunity at long last.” other day as it is about that sweet and inno- might have Adrift in a new age of social media, mobile cent time. Phillips certainly believes that

phones, internet dating and tech-savvy there's enough in this colourful, feel-good come as a teens, our protagonist yearns for the relative production to make just about anyone want innocence and simplicity of her youth. to get up and boogie. surprise to those “Nowadays, relationships are available at “My daughters, who are 25 and 36, have al- of their parents’ ‘‘ the touch of a button,” says Phillips. “If you ready peeped in on rehearsals and they want to speak to a boy, you can look him up can't wait to see it now! It's not just for and grandpar- on your phone, find out all about him and women, either - I think there's enough in it send him a message. It appears to be so for men to enjoy too.” ents’ time. much simpler, but does it actually make life any easier? I'm not sure. It's just faster.” For all that, of course, the ’70s weren't with- Jackie The Musical boogies on down at: out their own social and technological up- Belgrade Theatre, Coventry heavals, and Jackie's generation witnessed from Tues 15 to Sat 19 March; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham many cultural changes that might have from Tues 24 to Sat 28 May & come as a surprise to those of their parents' Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent and grandparents' time. from Tues 31 to Sat 4 June. whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Film March - GROUP.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:56 Page 1

Film

CRITIC’S CHOICE Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice CERT 12a Starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Michael Shannon Directed by Zack Snyder (USA) It’s what we’ve been waiting for now for aeons: the showdown between The Caped Crusader and The Man of Steel. Ben Affleck may not have been everybody’s choice for the role of the former, but he does have the chiselled chin and stature. And he’s even taller than Henry Cavill (just don’t mention Daredevil). Anyway, Batman decides to pick a spat with Superman and while the super- heroes are having their argy-bargy, Lex Luthor sees an opportunity to unleash his ultimate secret weapon on Metropolis: Doomsday. Thank God, then, for Wonder Woman… For those who care, the budget reached $200 million. Released Fri 25 March Film highlights released in March...

London Has Fallen The Other Side Of CERT 15 (125 mins) The Door CERT 15 (125 mins) Starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Starring Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Freeman, Alon Moni Aboutboul, Angela Javier Botet, Sofia Rosinsky Bassett, Robert Forster, Melissa Leo, Radha Mitchell Directed by Johannes Roberts (UK/India) Directed by Babak Najafi (USA/UK/Bulgaria) However much one loves someone, be they a The last time Secret Service agent Mike partner, a parent or a child, one should let Banning (Butler) had his work cut out for them rest once they have passed on. him, he was saving the White House from the However, grieving mother Maria (Wayne clutches of North Korean terrorists. That was Callies) believes she has a right to say good- in Antoine Fuqua’s ludicrous, extremely vio- bye to her late young son, and so unlocks a lent and guiltily thrilling Olympus Has portal that she should have well left alone... Fallen. Now, as world leaders gather in The Choice CERT 15 (125 mins) Expect some extreme bloody imagery. London for the funeral of the British prime Starring Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Released Fri 4 March minister (not David Cameron), Banning has Maggie Grace, Alexandra Daddario, Tom Welling, Tom Wilkinson to thwart a mass assassination plot. Directed by Ross Katz (USA) Released Thurs 3 March Nicholas Sparks adaptations are now as common as awards ceremonies and this one, based on Sparks’ 2007 novel of the same name, is the simple story of two neighbours falling for each other. Yet nothing is that straightforward in love and outside events do conspire to rock the boat. And in case you were interest- ed, Teresa Palmer played the female lead in last month’s Point Break. Released Fri 4 March

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Film releases in March

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Truth CERT 15 (125 mins) Starring Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Topher Grace, Elisabeth Moss, Dennis Quaid, Bruce Greenwood, Stacy Keach Directed by James Vanderbilt (USA/Australia) Based on the so-called Killian Documents controversy (aka Rathergate), this top-tier political docudrama packs an impressive cast. Cate Blanchett plays the CBS news pro- ducer Mary Mapes, on whose memoir - Truth And Duty: The Press, The President And The Privilege Of Power - the film is based. Robert Redford plays the legendary anchorman Dan Rather. Released Fri 4 March

Clooney is back on board, following his Hail, Caesar! CERT 12a (106 mins) turns in the filmmakers’ O Brother, Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Where Art Thou? and Intolerable Cruelty. Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Brolin himself starred in the Coens’ No Swinton, Channing Tatum, Christopher Country For Old Men, while Frances Lambert McDormand - who plays a film editor - is Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (USA) married to Joel Coen. When a Hollywood star in 1950s’ The film in which Clooney’s hungover Hollywood is kidnapped, a ‘fixer’ (Josh matinee idol stars is called Hail, Caesar! Brolin) is called in to solve the problem. Released Fri 4 March The third instalment in the Coen broth- ers’ so-called ‘Numbskull Trilogy,’ George

The Divergent Series: The Ones Below CERT PG (95 mins) Allegiant CERT 12a Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jeff Starring Clémence Poésy, David Morrissey, Daniels, Octavia Spencer, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Stephen Campbell Moore, Laura Birn, Kravitz, Miles Teller, Naomi Watts Deborah Findlay Directed by Robert Schwentke (USA) Directed by David Farr (UK) Young adult dystopia continues apace with A wealthy couple, Kate and Justin, are this, the third edition in the film series based expecting the birth of their first child when on Veronica Roth’s literary trilogy. Now, the they befriend the new occupants in the deviant and rebellious Beatrice 'Tris' Prior apartment below. As it happens, the new (Woodley) aims to escape the walls that con- couple are also expecting, although their fine her and her friends in a mad, futuristic take on parenthood would appear to be dia- Chicago. What they find will blow their metrically opposed to Kate and Justin’s. And minds... But it’s not all over yet, as the film- Kung Fu Panda 3 so a new tension enters all their lives... makers have decided to divide Roth’s final The debutant writer-director David Farr pre- CERT PG (95 mins) viously scripted the TV series Spooks. book into two movies. We wonder where they Featuring the voices of Jack Black, J. K. got that idea from. Simmons, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Released Fri 11 March Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Released Thurs 10 March Damme, Seth Rogen Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni (USA/China) When the kung fu master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) retires, he insists that Po (Jack Black) takes his place, an eventuality that does not go smoothly. Meanwhile, Po finds that he also has to combat a far more super- natural threat... Of course, it’s anything but po-faced. In 3D. Released Fri 11 March

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Film

Anomalisa CERT 15 (90 mins) Risen CERT 12a (107 mins) High-Rise CERT 15 (119 mins) Featuring the voices of David Thewlis, Jennifer Starring Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Starring Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan Peter Firth, Cliff Curtis, Leonor Watling Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Directed by Kevin Reynolds (USA) Purefoy Directed by Ben Wheatley (UK) Johnson (USA) The risen in question is none other The director Ben Wheatley has garnered con- David Thewlis provides the voice of a self- than Jesus of Nazareth, and it befalls siderable acclaim following his films Down help author who views everybody as identi- the Roman centurion Clavius (Joseph Terrace, Kill List and A Field In England. cal until meeting a highly original woman in Fiennes) to investigate the rumours Here, he untangles an eco-system preserved a Cincinnati hotel. A stop-motion cartoon surrounding his resurrection. The in a luxury London tower block, where a based on Charlie Kaufman’s 2005 play of the director Kevin Reynolds previously young doctor (Hiddleston) moves to the 25th same name, Anomalisa has been getting rave brought us Robin Hood: Prince Of floor to discover fierce dissent between the reviews ever since it premiered at the Thieves, so one might be wary of residents. Based on the 1975 novel by JG Telluride Film Festival last September. expecting enormous historical accura- Ballard. Kaufman, of course, has always delved into cy. It’s described as a mystery thriller. Released Fri 18 March the surreal, having scripted the wildly Released Fri 18 March inspired Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. Released Fri 11 March Rock The Kasbah CERT 12a (107 mins) Starring Bill Murray, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel, Danny McBride, Scott Caan, Bruce Willis Directed by Barry Levinson (USA) Loosely adapted from the 2009 documentary Afghan Star, this is the story of a music manager My Big Fat Greek severely down on Wedding 2 CERT tbc his luck. Then, when Richie Lanz (Bill Starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie The Witch CERT PG (95 mins) Murray) finds himself in Kabul without Kazan, Michael Constantine, Andrea Martin a penny or his passport, he encounters Directed by Kirk Jones (USA) Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw a young Afghan girl with an amazing The original 2002 comedy was not only a Directed by Robert Eggers (Canada/USA) voice. The next step is getting her into hugely surprising hit but it went on to spawn the Afghan version of American Idol... a slew of My Big Fats. Here, though, is the Set in the 1630s, The Witch is an award-win- From the director of Rain Man and very first sequel in which the profoundly ning Canadian horror film that would appear Good Morning, Vietnam. married Toula (writer and star Nia Vardalos) to be something of an original. Living on the and her gorgeous husband (Corbett) are edge of the New England wilderness, a Released Fri 18 March experiencing marital issues. Meanwhile, Puritan family battles with the loss of their there’s another Greek wedding around the infant son when darker forces start to emerge corner which is even bigger and fatter than from them thar woods. Preceding the Salem 10 Cloverfield Lane the first one. Well, it would be, wouldn’t it? Witch trials, the film’s events are said to be CERT tbc pretty damned authentic. Released Fri 25 March Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Released Fri 11 March Goodman, John Gallagher Jr Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (USA) Zootropolis CERT PG (108 mins) No sooner have we recovered from The Boy CERT 15 (97 mins) Lenny Abrahamson’s remarkable Featuring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, J.K. Starring Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, Jim Room, than this claustrophobic thriller Simmons, Octavia Spencer Norton, Diana Hardcastle drops us into the same scenario. Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Directed by William Brent Bell A woman (Winstead) wakes up from a Jared Bush (USA) (China/USA/Canada) car accident to find herself trapped in Disney’s 55th ‘official’ animated feature film, We don’t get many Chinese-American- a stranger's basement. He tells her that Zootropolis is set in an anthropomorphic Canadian horror films, so this may be differ- he’s saved her from a global chemical metropolis, obviously. Here, the leading ent from the rest. Here, a young American attack that has left the earth’s surface characters are a red fox who’s a con artist nanny (Cohan) moves in with an English uninhabitable... (Bateman) and a rabbit who’s a rookie cop family to look after their son, only to discov- The good news is that co-scripter (Goodwin). Together, they team up to try and er that he is a life-sized doll. Maybe. A sequel Damien Chazelle previously brought us uncover a conspiracy. Idris Elba is the voice is already in the works (called The Boy 2). Whiplash (2014). of a cape buffalo, obviously. Released Fri 18 March Released Fri 18 March Released Fri 25 March

whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Arts & Science NEW MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:52 Page 1

FEATURE

Memory and Forgetting: University of Birmingham Art and Science Festival

Themed around the act of remembering more for active research and collabora- these, he created one-minute sound ex- itself, this year's University of Birming- tions within fields of science, and periences, which were given to the sub- ham Art and Science Festival looks set there's a greater awareness and accept- jects to access whenever they were to be a memorable one. With a diverse ance of its value.” feeling low. array of concerts, screenings, perform- These Large Hadron-like collisions be- “We found that this not only had a ances, exhibitions, workshops, talks tween diverse fields of research have massive positive effect on them, but and lectures on offer, the week-long resulted in the development of some also that it helped their families, both festival offers something to excite the fascinating ideas. In “Silent Signal”, in terms of leaving a legacy and bridg- curiosity of just about anyone. Best of Vivid Projects presents a series of ani- ing a gap at a time when conversation all, the vast majority of events are com- mations exploring the human body, is hard. When you see someone at a pletely free to attend. created by six artists and six leading hospice, day in, day out, you often end Highlights for 2016 include a talk from biomedical scientists. A performance up not talking about what's important Professor Alice Roberts on her recent from contemporary dancers Mairi and just discussing mundane things BBC series, The Celts, discussions Pardalakiand and Fanny Travaglino like medication, so this became a way around commemoration inspired by called “The Neutrino Passoire” ex- for people to share emotions.” last year's World War One centenary, plores the phenomenon of neutrino os- Since then, he's been exploring other and exhibitions and events drawing on cillations and the unconscious passing potential applications for the project in Birmingham's own past and commu- of these particles through the human schools and elsewhere. Workshop at- nity heritage. body. Meanwhile, in “Art that Tickles tendees will each be given a “memory What makes this festival so special, the Brain”, Professor Jane Raymond of atlas”, which, with guidance, they'll however, is its bringing together of sci- the School of Psychology leads an in- use to select memories and relate them ence and art on an equal footing. Music teractive session at The Barber Institute to specific sounds. Then sounds will meets medicine and dark matter meets revealing the activity that occurs in the then be collated in a “Phonic Memory dance in this multi-disciplinary cele- brain when we encounter works of art. Garden”, where visitors will be able to bration of innovation and experimenta- Then, of course, there's Wiggan's own hear their own memories as well as tion. It's more than just a case of work, which explores the links between those of others, which may, in turn, different events being programmed sound, memory and wellbeing. trigger new connections. side by side: there's an emphasis on “Life Echo started when I discovered “I think it's really important, not just meaningful connections between the that my wife had triple negative breast for people who are ill but for people arts and sciences through new and ex- cancer, which obviously had a massive from all walks of life. Things like de- citing collaborations. impact on our lives. I became aware of mentia are on the rise, but also a lot of “It's an amazing festival, because how much I was relying on recalling people are insecure about their future, there's no other event that touches on good memories to get me through this and this helps them to allow their past so many elements of art and science in traumatic period, and I started to be moulded by positive experiences. this way,” said sound artist Justin Wig- analysing those memories. As a sound It's a different way for people to use gan, who will be running an interactive artist, I was curious about the connec- their memories – not in a nostalgic workshop at the festival as part of an tion between sound and memory, and way, but in a very purposeful, meaning- ongoing project called Life Echo. “Art wanted to investigate that further.” ful way that contributes to wellbeing and science have always gone hand in It wasn't long before Wiggan realised and social interaction.” hand, but I think in the past art has that his research might be able to im- often been pushed into the background pact positively on other people's lives The University of Birmingham Art and while its older brother science has as well; thus, he embarked on a resi- Science Festival takes place from taken the lead, partly because some dency at the John Taylor Hospice, inter- Monday 14 to Sunday 20 March. people just see art as just entertain- viewing patients and selecting five A full brochure is accessible at birming- ment. I think now artists are pushing strong memories from each. From ham.ac.uk/events/arts-and-science

40 whatsonlive.co.uk NEC 2016 Spring A4:Layout 1 17/02/2016 15:25 Page 1

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Visual Arts

Shakespeare In Art: Tempests, Tyrants And Tragedy Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 19 March - Sun 19 June Organised in association with the RSC as part of this year's 400th anniversary celebrations, this unique, multi-media experience com- bines iconic visual representations of Shakespeare's plays with specially commis- sioned audio accompaniments. Through recorded excerpts, RSC actors bring to life the scenes depicted in classic paintings, dis- played alongside more recent responses to the texts in photography and film. Art and theatre enthusiasts alike can explore Shakespeare's enduring appeal to artists through the ages, from Singer Sargent, Fuseli, Watts, Romneyi and the Pre-Raphaelites to Tom Hunter and other contemporary artists.

Willard Wigan MBE: Birmingham People Endangered And Extinct Micro sculptures And Change In The Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, Sat 12 March - Sun 8 May The Light House Media Centre, Inner City Wolverhampton, Sun 13 March - Mon 2 May Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, After hosting her hugely popular Mon 14 - Thurs 31 March Reincarnated Rubbish exhibition in 2014, Shire Hall Gallery invites Val Hunt to return Shedding a light on the people and with more creative transformations of house- places of Birmingham's past, these hold waste. Themed around the issue of ani- free, joint exhibitions at BMAG offer a mal extinction and human impact on deli- fascinating glimpse into the changes cate ecosystems, this new exhibition sees the city has witnessed over the years, drinks cans and plastic bags, among other as portrayed in a variety of media. items, sculpted into an assortment of colour- Focusing on the 20th and 21st cen- ful creatures, each representing a species Wednesfield-born sculptor Willard Wigan turies, Birmingham People explores now lost or on the verge of dying out. returns to the Black Country for a special the representation of ordinary resi- homecoming exhibition at Wolverhampton's dents of the city through a range of oil Light House Media Centre, launching in paintings, photographs, film and March with a VIP celebration of the region's sculpture. Meanwhile, Change In The cultural and sporting achievements. Inner City highlights the evolution of Known for his minute works which are dis- the urban landscape since the Second played and viewed through microscopes, World War, with a focus on the four Wigan has gained a huge international fol- central wards of Nechells, Soho, lowing. In tribute to his home region, his lat- Aston and Ladywood. Material from est work is a micro sculpture of another local the museum's art and history collec- legend, Noddy Holder, reflecting his belief tions is displayed alongside architec- that Black Country boasts incredible beauty tural models, including one of the and creativity that its modesty often fails to Aston Expressway in 1967. highlight.

42 whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 13:07 Page 2

Design And Desire: The Great Exhibition of 1851 Taylor Wessing Coalbrookdale Gallery, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Mon 21 March - Fri 24 February 2017 Photographic Portrait Bringing together objects, prints and paintings from the Elton Collection, this free Prize presentation aims to revive the excitement and intrigue of The Great Exhibition, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, the world's first international show of manufactured products. Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 27 February - Held in the futuristic glass and iron setting of Hyde Park's Crystal Palace in 1851, Sun 5 June the ground-breaking show was the ultimate embodiment of Victorian ingenuity, This loan exhibition from the National combining art, science and engineering and capturing imaginations across Portrait Gallery showcases award-win- boundaries of class and culture. After its closure, many of its exhibits became part ning photographic portraits from last of the collection of the year's Taylor Wessing competition, a South Kensington Museum prestigious annual event celebrating (later the V&A). By examin- the best in contemporary portrait pho- ing the creation of the exhi- tography from around the world. The bition, its social and eco- 2015 entries range from informal pic- nomic impact, and the pub- tures of family and friends, to reveal- lic response at the time, ing images of well-known figures such Design And Desire offers as Benedict Cumberbatch and Barack visitors an insight into how Obama. it might have felt to witness this incredible spectacle 165 years ago.

For more visual arts listings visit whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 18:21 Page 1

Events

International Crafts And Hobby Fair NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 17 - Sun 20 March Cake International is this year linking up with three other well- established NEC shows for the very first time. The popular sugarcraft, cake decorating and baking show joins forces with Fashion & Embroidery, Sewing For Pleasure and Hobbycrafts. Highlights of the 2016 event include demonstrations by Daniel Diéguez, who specialises in 3D, wedding and celebration cakes and chocolate sculpture. Daniel returns to Cake International having won a gold medal at last year’s show. Fashion & Embroidery enthusiasts, meanwhile, are sure to be impressed by the chance to check out skilfully made costumes from the 2015 film version of Far From The Madding Crowd, starring Carey Mulligan. Sewing For Pleasure is also turning to the arts for its inspira- tion, presenting a life-sized knitted and crocheted creation depicting three scenes from The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. And be sure to visit the Hobbycrafts element of the show, which KIDS welcomes back TV stars Julie Peasgood and Wendy Turner. The GO * Crafty Beggars In The House favourites will be helping visitors FREE make simple sock teddies and delightful desk hogs. *Children under 16 go FREE when accompanied by a parent/guardian

Yonex All England Open White Water Active Edible Garden Show Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Badminton Championship Chapel Street, Llangollen, Wales Fri 11 - Sun 13 March If you’re bursting with energy and fancy a new adventure, this well- regarded outdoor-activity provider is well worth a look. Kayaking whitewater rapids, ‘descending into the mysterious green gorges of Wales’, 90-foot abseil- ing experiences and whitewater rafting are just some of the adrenaline-pump- ing experiences available to enjoy. The company also caters for stag and hen weekends, offering a range of options designed to meet most needs, from peaceful ‘pamper days’ to The Edible Garden Show here returns to the pumped-up adventures in the great Midlands for the first time since 2013. outdoors. Now in its sixth year, the event brings together a wide range of experts and exhibitors to offer visitors an insight into how to get the very best out of their garden or window box. “Although we’ve had two good years in Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Tues 8 - Sun 13 March London, a large proportion of our audience remains our loyal following from This month sees a host of world-class bad- Stoneleigh,” says the event’s director, minton players descend on Birmingham to Geraldine Reeve. “Last year’s post-show compete not only for the coveted Yonex title research clearly illustrated that nearly half itself but also for Rio 2016 Olympic qualifica- of our audience wanted the show to return tion points. to the Midlands. Now in its 106th year, Yonex is one of bad- “With the changes we’ve made this year, minton’s five ‘majors’, as well as being the adding more interactive features as well as sport’s oldest and most prestigious competi- entertainment for the whole family, we tion. This year’s highlights include husband- know we’ve got a winning formula. By and-wife team Chris and Gabby Adcock Quote “What’s On” to receive returning to Stoneleigh, we’re able to bring attempting to win their first ever Yonex All 10% discount when booking back the popular animal marquee, as well England title. as offering a great food festival.”

44 whatsonlive.co.uk Events March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:54 Page 2

whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Events March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 14:07 Page 3

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

46 whatsonlive.co.uk Events March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:54 Page 4

more events from around the region

Events

Easter half term Fun at Cadbury World Cadbury World, Bournville, Sat 19 March - Sun 17 April A wealth of Easter fun awaits visi- tors to Cadbury World this month, with an egg hunt, a chance to meet a host of colourful Cadbury characters and the opportunity to enjoy live family entertainment adding to the usual fare on offer. A great day out for adults and chil- dren alike, Cadbury World com- prises various zones which take visitors through the origins of the cocoa bean and the history of the Cadbury brand. A trip on board the magical Cadabra is a surefire hit with younger visitors, as is the 4D cine- Egg Dancing at Blists Hill ma experience - complete with the Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire, ing to avoid the eggs placed along their route. chance to ride the Crunchie roller- Fri 25 March - Sun 10 April After they’ve demonstrated how to do it - or coaster and dive into liquid Join the residents of Blists Hill Victorian maybe how not to do it! - it’s time for any Cadbury Dairy Milk. Town this month for a spot of sure-to-be-fun have-a-go visitors to ‘go blind and get danc- And, of course, there are always Easter egg dancing. Watch the residents ing’! the free samples to enjoy... dance blindfolded across the streets, attempt- Enginuity Workshops Easter half term activities Practical Classics Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire, at Coventry Transport Restoration Show Fri 25 March - Sun 10 April Museum NEC, Birmingham, Sat 5 - Sun 6 March These Easter holiday drop-in work- Coventry Transport Museum, Midlands Classic Car enthusiasts can really shops provide participants with Sat 26 March - Sun 10 April immerse themselves in their passion at this the chance to design colourful Coventry Transport Museum’s latest interac- specialist event. spring-loaded creatures and see tive exhibition, a celebration of the city’s link Showcasing in excess of 700 magnificent how far they can jump. Visitors with tractors, has been mounted to coincide motors, the show also boasts live demos, can also make and experiment with the 70th anniversary of the first tractor expert tutorials, workshops, celebrity semi- with a catapult to compare how far off the line at the Massey Ferguson Banner nars and 350 exhibitors selling a wide range it can launch a ‘missile’. The work- Lane plant. of popular products. shops take place each day (see As you’d expect - and particularly during the Other attractions include the Spring’s largest above dates) between 10.30am and Easter holidays - it’s a family-friendly experi- indoor autojumble, a ‘cars for sale’ area, 3.45pm, with activities varying ence, offering visitors the chance to learn all Silverstone auctions, the Practical Classics from day to day and some addi- about tractor technology. Artist Jim Morris is Live Stage and the UK’s biggest collection of tional costs applying. on hand too, showing youngsters how to use barn find displays. recycled card and tactile materials to make a model tractor. His workshop is suitable for children aged four and older. And speaking of workshops, there’s a tractor- free one to enjoy in the Transport Museum’s MiC Lab, with children aged four-plus being given the chance to ‘experience the power of veg’ by making it light up!

whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Events March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:54 Page 5

more events from around the region

Events

Insomnia 57 Birmingham NEC, Birmingham, Botanical Fri 25 - Mon 28 March Gardens at Easter The UK’s biggest gaming festival has Edgbaston, Birmingham, recently relocated to Birmingham’s Mon 28 March - Fri 1 April NEC, having outgrown its previous Alongside its usual attractions of home at the Ricoh Arena in exotic glasshouses and beautiful Coventry. lawns, Birmingham’s Botanical Insomnia Gaming Festival is a 24- Gardens is this month offering hour event ‘combining all the best plenty of Easter-themed family bits of video-gaming’, with the show entertainment. Highlights offering visitors the chance to play include an egg trail through the an impressive selection of both new gardens - with a prize awaiting and vintage games. They can also intrepid participants - the chance watch their favourite online to have a photo taken with the YouTube and Twitch stars as they Easter Bunny, and plenty of fam- participate in live Q&A sessions and ily entertainment courtesy of the interactive activities. ever-popular Bibbledy Bob.

Acorn Academy numerous displays, which take visitors on a MCM Comic Con The Potteries Museum and Art NEC, Birmingham, Sat 19 - Sun 20 March journey from Saxon to Victorian times. Items Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, from the world famous Staffordshire Hoard Sat 19 March American actress Lindsay Wagner became are also available to view. one of Hollywood’s hottest properties in the Beatrix Potter’s magical world of 1970s when she starred as the bionically- animals is brought to life in this enhanced Jaime Sommers in hit television special event celebrating the series The Bionic Woman. Gandeys Circus 150th anniversary of the author’s Lindsay is one of numerous celebrities (Red Old Sainsbury’s Site, Ryecroft, Newcastle- birth. Professor Bramble the Dwarf’s Robert Llewellyn’s another) who’re under-Lyme, Fri 11 - Sun 20 March; Lighwoods Badger and headmistress Miss Park, Smethwick, Fri 25 March - Sun 10 April making guest appearances at this well-estab- Nutella Nutkins’ impressive lished show. The event brings together a Boasting a long tradition of presenting acces- show-and-tell collection makes broad scope of popular-culture categories sible big-top entertainment for the whole for a fun game of ‘animal, veg- including movies, gaming, comics, anime, family to enjoy, Gandeys is this month visit- etable or mineral’ - an ideal way television shows, gadgets, clothing and toys. ing the region with a brand new production. to introduce youngsters to the Your Circus Awakens is being described as a wonders of natural history. show that uses modern-age technology ‘to Children can also enjoy the expe- bring its audience a truly intergalactic experi- rience of holding real animals Easter at Tamworth Castle ence’. and discovering facts about their Tamworth, Staffordshire, “You can expect all the usual high-octane habitats and behaviour. Mon 28 March - Fri 8 April thrills and world-class performances,” says Entertainment and education is the package Gandey’s, “but this time with a space-tacular being offered to families visiting Tamworth theme from a circus far, far away.” Castle this Easter. Highlights include belly-busting trio Most importantly (given the fact it’s a holiday Equivokee, fast-paced bolas act the Torres from school!) is the entertainment element of Brothers, high-speed juggler Gordon the visit, which comes in the form of an Marquez, Star Wars ewok Trevor Jones as Easter egg hunt. Peanuts the Clown, and the ‘breathtaking Ruby, the castle’s dragon, has hidden her neon skills’ of the intriguingly named Lazer eggs from the dastardly dragon hunter (cue Girl. panto-style booing and hissing). Problem is, she’s been a bit too clever for her own good and can’t quite remember where she’s put them. As you can imagine, any assistance visiting families can offer her will be greatly appreciated - although Ruby herself won’t be around, as she’ll be way too busy searching for her missing eggs... As for the educational element of a day out at See thelist for all your the venue, that’s provided by enjoying a walk events listings around the castle and checking out its

48 whatsonlive.co.uk Events March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 12:55 Page 6

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk

Win!

A Big Boy Beanbag worth £159 Tickets to Horrible Histories Ticket to Disney On Ice Silver Groovy Greeks Anniversary Celebration

Closes Monday 7 March Closes Friday 11 March Closes Tuesday 29 March Tickets to Hannah Wants Tickets to The Perfect Murder Tickets to Slam Dunk Festival

Closes Friday 11 March Closes Monday 21 March Closes Friday 20 May Tickets to Wipers Tickets to Jackie The Musical Tickets to Of Mice and Men

Closes Thursday 5 May Closes Tuesday 8 March Closes Tuesday 1 March Tickets to The All-Star Family Passport Ticket to Tickets to The Government Stand-up Tour Ironbridge Gorge Museums Inspector

Closes Monday 4 April Closes Monday 21 March Closes Monday 14 March Tickets to Get Carter Tickets to Goodnight Mister Tom Tickets to Hamlet

Closes Monday 14 March Closes Monday 7 March Closes Thursday 24 March

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk also follow us on Twitter for more great competitions whatsonlive.co.uk 49 The List Cover March Birmingham ONLY.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 15:08 Page 1 The List Cover March Region 2 p.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:09 Page 2

Your week to week listings guide March 2016 thelist TheCircus of Horrors -Welcome to the Carnevil at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre -Sat 26 March

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

What’s On Tues 1 to Sun 6 March Mon 7 to Sun 13 March Mon 14 to Sun 20 March Mon 21 to Sun 27 March Mon 28 to Thur 31 March

Kiss Me Quickstep at Romesh Ranganathan at Bridging The Void at Sartaaj at Wolverhampton Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at New Vic Theatre Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Severn, Grand Theatre Regent Theatre, Stoke-on- Fri 4 - Sat 19 March Theatre Shrewsbury Fri 25 March Trent Fri 11 March Wed 16 March Wed 30 March - Sat 9 April

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List 1-6 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:10 Page 1

thelist Monday 29 February - Sunday 6 March THROUGHOUT MARCH Shrewsbury Museum & Art Visual Arts Gallery SHREWSBURY AND NEWPORT CANAL Bilston Craft Gallery EXHIBITION until Sat 16 Apr. TREASURE! DISCOVERING THE VALHALLA - LIFE AND DEATH IN VIKING STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD Interactive BRITAIN until Sun 5 June. exhibition, until Sat 12 Mar NEW! TREASURES: THE LITERATURE AND PHOENIX - CREATED BY LANDSCAPE OF MARY WEBB’S WOLVERHAMPTON'S SCHOOLCHILDREN SHROPSHIRE Mon 7 Mar - Sun 5 until Thurs 31 Mar. June. NEW! MIXED BAG A group of contem- Wolverhampton Art Gallery porary artists working in ceramics, A WORLD TO WIN: POSTERS OF jewellery, paper, print and textiles, PROTEST AND REVOLUTION until Sun 10 Sat 5 Mar - Sat 2 Apr. April Dudley Museum & Art Gallery HOTEL DIARIES Sat 27 Feb - Sat 7 TREASURES FROM THE GLASS May. COLLECTION until Sat 31 Dec. BIG CERAMICS: DISCOVER CLAY ON A THE GREAT WAR until Sun 11 Nov ‘18. MONUMENTAL SCALE until Sat 28 May. Foxes at o2 Academy in Birmingham on 3 March NEW! VICTORIAN ART Pictures dating ASSEMBLED DREAMS: A HISTORY OF from the reign of the second longest BUILDING TOYS until Sat 5 Mar. THE DRIFTERS Fri 4 Mar, THE SENSATIONAL 60S serving British monarch, Tues 29 Mar NEW! NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS 2016 Gigs New Alexandra EXPERIENCE Sat 5 Mar, - Sat 25 June. Exhibition of works by graduates Theatre, Birmingham New Alexandra from various West Midlands art Theatre, Birmingham THE CULT Tue 1 Mar O2 Light House Media Centre schools, Sat 12 Mar - Sun 15 May. SLEEPING WITH SIRENS Institute, Birmingham Wolverhampton NEW! THE HOUSE IS STILL NAMED Sat 5 Mar, O2 MENTAL SPACES until Sat 2 Apr AFTER HIM BY ANDREA HANNON MEAT LOAF GREATEST Academy, Birmingham HITS TOUR Tue 1 Mar, Hannon creates surreal two-dimen- MUMBO JUMBO Sat 5 NEW! WILLARD WIGAN MBE - MICRO- New Alexandra sional and three-dimensional works, Mar, Theatre On The SCULPTURES Exhibition of micro- Theatre, Birmingham sculptures which includes a special Sat 12 Mar - Sat 14 May. Steps, Bridgnorth, tribute to Black Country legend STIFF LITTLE FINGERS Shropshire Other VISUAL ARTS MILOS KARADAGLIC Fri 4 Noddy Holder, Sun 13 Mar - Mon 2 Tue 1 Mar, The Robin, Mar, Birmingham Town BLOSSOMS Sat 5 Mar, May. RURAL MUSINGS until Sat 5 Mar, The Bilston Hall The Sugarmill, Stoke Bear Steps Gallery, Shrewsbury THE RIFLES Wed 2 Mar, SHOWADDYWADDY Sat 5 New Art Gallery - Walsall ‘DEFENCE THROUGH THE LENS - 100 O2 Institute, B’ham THEORY OF A DEADMAN Fri 4 Mar, O2 Academy, Mar, Ludlow Assembly THE JOHN RUSKIN PRIZE - RECORDING YEARS OF MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHY’ THERAPY? Wed 2 Mar, Birmingham Rooms, Shropshire BRITAIN NOW until Sun 17 Apr until Sun 13 Mar, RAF Cosford, The Slade Rooms, RECKLESS LOVE Sat 5 JAN VANRIET: THE MUSIC BOY until Sun Shifnal Wolverhampton PLATINUM - ABBA TRIBUTE BAND Charity Mar, The Slade Rooms, 8 May NEW! THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. event in aid of Wolverhampton Members’ individual pieces interpret MYTH CITY Wed 2 Mar, LAURA LANCASTER until Sun 8 May MacMillian Cancer JAMIE WOON Sat 5 Mar, Capability Brown’s work at Weston O2 Academy, B’ham WORKS FROM TATE INTO THE GARMAN Park, Tues 1 - Thurs 31 Mar, Weston Support in Shropshire, O2 Institute, B’ham CROOKS Wed 2 Mar, RYAN COLLECTION until Sat 11 Feb Park, Shifnal, Shropshire Fri 4 Mar, Buttermarket, UB40 - LABOUR OF LOVE 2017 The Asylum, B’ham Shrewsbury NEW! ART BY THE METRE VAN artists Sat 5 Mar, The River KEITH JAMES SOLIDAIR choose their art, choose the space ROBIN NOLAN TRIO Fri 4 Rooms, Stourbridge Potteries Museum & Art CONCERT Wed 2 Mar, and choose how the work is dis- Mar, Theatre On The FLEETWOOD BAC Sat 5 Gallery - Stoke-On-Trent The Robin, Bilston played, Tues 1 - Sat 2 April, VAN Steps, Bridgnorth, LETTER SIGNED BY ADMIRAL LORD Mar, The Robin, Bilston Gallery, Market Hall, Shrewsbury THE ELO EXPERIENCE Shropshire NELSON DAN PAGE Sat 5 Mar, until Sun 3 Apr. Thurs 3 Mar, New NEW! EURYL STEVENS Shrewsbury- CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. THE Havana Republic, MINERS’ TOOLS until Sun 10 Apr Alexandra Theatre, based artist Euryl’s images of fig- NEW BLACKS Fri 4 Mar, Shrewsbury TAYLOR WESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC POR- Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham ures, combining painting, textiles and THE BLOCKHEADS Sun 6 TRAIT PRIZE 2015 until Sun 5 June. FOXES Thurs 3 Mar, O2 stitch work, Thurs 3 Mar - Mon 4 Apr, BREEZE Fri 4 Mar, O2 Mar, Theatre Severn, Institute, Birmingham ANGLO-SAXON KINGDOM OF MERCIA Qube Gallery, Oswestry, Shropshire Institute, Birmingham Shrewsbury Featuring pieces from the FAIRPORT CONVENTION NEW! DECAPOD - AIRSPACE GALLERY MEAT LOUD Fri 4 Mar, FAIRPORT CONVENTION Staffordshire Hoard, until Sat 1 Oct. Thurs 3 Mar, Theatre 10TH BIRTHDAY 10-artist group exhibi- Newhampton Arts Sun 6 Mar, Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury FIRST WORLD WAR REPLICA TRENCH tion, Fri 4 Mar - Sat 2 Apr, AirSpace Centre, Wolverhampton Town Hall until Sun 11 Nov 2018. Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent UK GUNS N' ROSES Fri 4 LADY LESHURR Sun 6 MINTON ARCHIVE Interactive exhibition NEW! TOLKIEN AND STAFFORDSHIRE Mar, The River Rooms, Mar, O2 Academy, until Sun 27 Mar. 1915-1918 Mon 7 Mar - Sun 24 April, Stourbridge Birmingham Museum of Cannock Chase NEW! LINKS TO A LANDSCAPE Featuring THE BLOCKHEADS Fri 4 JAKE MORLEY Sun 6 unusual reminders of how the local NEW! WOLVERHAMPTON EMBROIDERS Mar, The Robin, Bilston Mar, Henry Tudor landscape’s been formed and influ- GUILD Exhibition in the showcase House, Shrewsbury enced. 5 Mar - Mon 30 May gallery, Sat 12 Mar - Sun 1 May, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge NEW! BEATRIX'S ANIMALS Celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth NEW! DESIGN AND DESIRE: THE GREAT of Beatrix Potter, Sat 19 Mar - Sat 24 EXHIBITION OF 1851 Objects and FEARLESS VAMPIRE Sept. images, including prints and paint- KILLERS Thurs 3 Mar, ings from the Elton Collection, telling O2 Academy, B’ham Shire Hall Gallery - Stafford the story of how the Great Exhibition SYLOSIS & DECAPITATED became one of the most influential STILL, STILL LIFE until Sun 6 Mar. Thurs 3 Mar, O2 SKERRYVORE Sun 6 Mar, and renowned events of the 19th NEW! ENDANGERED AND EXTINCT Academy, Birmingham Lichfield Guildhall century, Mon 21 Mar 2016 - Fri 24 HANNAH & BRIAN Fri 4 Selection of sculptures by award-win- Feb 2017, Coalbrookdale Gallery, GUNNRUNNER Thurs 3 Mar, Havana Republic, JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Sun ning recycling artist Val Hunt, Sat 12 Telford, Shropshire Mar, The Robin, Bilston Shrewsbury 6 Mar, The Robin, Mar - Sun 8 May. Bilston

52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 1-6 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:10 Page 2

Monday 29 February - Sunday 6 March

University Chorus, children’s choirs will become and the people who’ve & soloists. Michael Lloyd conducts. populated it, Wed 2 Mar, Arena Classical Music Programme comprises Mahler’s Theatre Theatre, Wolverhampton Symphony of a Thousand, Sun 6 THE 39 STEPS Fiery Angel present HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GROOVY GREEKS VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY CONDUCTS Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Alfred Hitchcock's classic spy thriller, From savage Sparta to angry Athens, RACHMANINOV’S SYMPHONY NO 3 Mon 29 Feb - Sat 5 Mar, The REP, discover the truth about growing up Featuring Philharmonia Orchestra, Birmingham in Greece, Wed 2 - Sat 5 Mar, Vladimir Ashkenazy (conductor) & Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Vikingur Olafsson (piano). Comedy Gigs A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: A PLAY Programme includes works by Liszt FOR THE NATION A co-production HORRIBLE HISTORIES: INCREDIBLE and Rachmaninov, Tues 1 Mar, between the Royal Shakespeare INVADERS Brand new show from the Symphony Hall, Birmingham TOM STADE Wed 2 Mar Company and amateur theatre com- Horrible Histories team. This time The Glee Club, Birmingham panies across the UK, until Sat 5 round, it's the ruthless ways of the CBSO THE FIREBIRD Featuring Mar, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Romans which come under scrutiny, Nicholas Collon (conductor) and SEAN LOCK Wed 2 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Shrops and Fri Stratford-upon-Avon Thurs 3 - Sat 5 Mar, Wolverhampton Leonard Elschenbroich (cello). Grand Theatre Programme includes works by 4 Mar, The Place, Oakengates DOCTOR FAUSTUS Maria Aberg returns Tchaikovsky, Berlioz and Stravinsky, Theatre, Telford to the RSC to direct Marlowe's notori- Thurs 3 Mar, Symphony Hall, ZOE LYONS, GEOFF NORCOTT & COMEDY ous tale of vanity, greed and damna- Birmingham CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs tion, until Thurs 4 Aug, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon CBSO CENTRE STAGE: SHAKESPEARE 3 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham Featuring Jane Wright & Charlotte LOST VOICE GUY & LUKE GRAVES Thurs DON QUIXOTE James Fenton's staging Skinner (violins), Catherine Bower 3 Mar, Stourbridge Town Hall of Cervantes' comic novel - a work regarded as one of the foundation (viola) and Catherine Ardagh-Walter ANGELA BARNES, ADAM ROWE, DANNY stones of modern fiction. Rufus (cello). A unique programme cele- HURST, TOM CHRISTIAN & DAVE BRYON Hound stars. Until Sat 21 May, The brating the Bard’s birthday: Thurs 3 Mar, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare’s words & stories illus- Leek, Staffordshire trated with theatrical chamber music, Read our interview with Rufus online Fri 4 Mar, Symphony Hall, STEPHEN GRANT, IAN STONE, DIMITRI at whatsonlive.co.uk BAKANOV & FIN TAYLOR Thurs 3 Mar THE PRESTON BILL Award-winning the- Birmingham THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Welsh The George Hotel, Lichfield atre maker Andy Smith’s newly com- MADAM BUTTERFLY Russian State National Opera presents Kelly missioned work of theatre, which he ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Opera presents its version of Thurs 3 Mar Rourke’s new translation of the ulti- also performs. A story about a man Puccini's tragic opera, Fri 4 Mar, The Old Post Office, Burton-upon- mate feelgood opera, Tue 1 Mar from Preston that will make you stop Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Trent, Staffordshire Birmingham Hippodrome and think about where you - and we - JETHRO Thurs 3 Mar, Ludlow THE BEST THING Vamos Theatre pres- are in the world, Thurs 3 Mar, Arena Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire ent a fully masked performance of a Theatre, Wolverhampton ZOE LYONS, GEOFF NORCOTT, KEVIN Swinging ’60s story of unconditional FIGARO GETS A DIVORCE Welsh MCCARTHY & TOM LUCY Fri 4 - Sat 5 love, Wed 2 Mar, Brewhouse Arts National Opera present a new opera Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham Centre, Burton-upon-Trent described as part comedy, part politi- STUART GOLDSMITH Fri 4 Mar, The WILLIAM GOLDING’S LORD OF THE FLIES cal thriller, Thurs 3 Mar, Birmingham Glee Club, Birmingham WITH DR JANE MACKAY Join the Nobel Hippodrome Prize winner as she studies the dis- JOJO SUTHERLAND, KAI HUMPHRIES & TELL ME ON A SUNDAY Jodie Prenger intigration of a group of English pub- JOHN ROBERTSON, NIPPER THOMAS & stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber and lic schoolboys when the restraints of HARRIET DYER Fri 4 Mar, Katie Don Black’s one-woman musical, CBSO POULENC’S GLORIA Featuring civilisation are removed, Wed 2 Mar, Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge which charts the misadventures of a Nicholas Collon (conductor), Sophie Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- young English girl in New York in the ADAM HILLS Sat 5 Mar, Stafford Bevan (soprano) & CBSO Chorus. Trent heady days of the 1980s, Thurs 3 - Gatehouse Theatre Programme includes works by THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Welsh Sat 5 Mar, Lichfield Garrick Tchaikovsky, Berlioz & Stravinsky, Sat CHRIS PURCHASE Sat 5 Mar, Lichfield National Opera present Mozart’s THE TAILOR OF INVERNESS Dogstar 5 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Garrick great comic work, Wed 2 Mar, Theatre Company present Matthew LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS Presented ALUN COCHRANE Sat 5 Mar, Stafford Birmingham Hippodrome Zajac's moving story of displacement by the West Shrewsbury Hospice Gatehouse Theatre THE FORENSICS OF A FLAT (AND OTHER and survival in war-torn Europe, Support Group. Featuring the MARTIN DANIELS Sat 5 Mar, Festival STORIES) One-woman show Thurs 3 - Sat 5 Mar, The REP, B’ham Shrewsbury Light Orchestra, Sat 5 Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, described as ‘part stand-up, bit biog- Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Welsh North Shropshire raphy and bit documentation’. National Opera presents Kelly BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- Francesca Millican Slater tells stories TOMMY TIERNAN Sun 6 Mar, The Glee Rourke’s new translation of the ulti- TRA Also featuring the City of about her beloved flat, the area it Club, Birmingham mate feelgood opera, Fri 4 Mar, Birmingham Choir, Birmingham stands in, what it used to be, what it Birmingham Hippodrome

whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List 1-6 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:11 Page 3

Thursday 17th March A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Time: 7.30pm

Friday 18th March ELO AGAIN Time: 7.30pm

Thursday 31st March MARK BEAUMONT Time: 7.30pm

Thursday 7th April COUNTRY SUPERSTARS EXPERIENCE Time: 7.30pm

Friday 15th April THE JOHNNY CASH ROADSHOW Time: 7.30pm

Wednesday 20th April SWAN LAKE Time: 7.00pm

Friday 22nd April MONEY FOR NOTHING Time: 7.30pm

Wednesday 27th April DEREK RYAN IN CONCERT Time: 7.30pm

Thursday 19th May SNOOKER LEGENDS Time: 7.15pm

TWC GP 01043

54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 1-6 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION MM.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:11 Page 4

thelist Monday 29 February - Sunday 6 March MADAM BUTTERFLY Russian State ish and satirical study of a marriage Opera presents its version of Talks in trouble and of professional rela- Events Puccini's tragic work, Fri 4 Mar, tionships; in short, of modern lives. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury RAY MEARS: TALES OF ENDURANCE Tues 1 Mar, Light House Centre, THE BIRTHDAY PARTY London Classic Through carefully selected stories, Wolverhampton; Sun 6 Mar, Ludlow DEER FEEDING Get closer to the fallow Theatre presents its version of Harold Ray Mears reflects on our ingenuity, Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire deer as the wardens feed them in the Pinter's 'cryptic thriller and macabre adaptability and sheer determination THE WAR YOU DON’T SEE (12a) A pow- winter months, Tues 1 - Sun 13 Mar, comedy', Fri 4 - Sat 5 Mar, Arena to provide an insight to what makes erful and timely investigation into the Attingham Park, Shropshire Theatre, Wolverhampton a survivor, Tues 1 Mar, Theatre media’s role in war, tracing the histo- BE A BODGER FOR THE DAY Carving KISS ME QUICKSTEP A new play which Severn, Shrewsbury ry of ’embedded’ and independent and crafting using greenwood from takes a look at the real lives behind SPACE TO BREATHE: THE STORY OF reporting from the carnage of World Fordhall Farm woodlands, Fri 4 Mar, the fixed smiles and fake tans of the WOLVERHAMPTON'S EAST AND WEST War One to the destruction of Fordhall Organic Farm, Market ballroom dance world, Fri 4 - Sat 19 PARKS A free talk by historian Advolly Hiroshima, and from the invasion of Drayton, Shropshire Mar, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Richmond. Tues 1 Mar, Bantock Vietnam to the recent war in NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW The UK’s under-Lyme House & Park, Wolverhampton Afghanistan and disaster in Iraq. Wed biggest wedding show featuring over 2 Mar, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, 300 wedding specialists from bridal THE SENSATIONAL 60S EXPERIENCE RJ MITCHELL CBE, THE SPITFIRE AND Staffordshire Seven legendary names take to the THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN ... THEIR FINEST boutiques and florists to jewellers & stage, Sat 5 Mar, New Alexandra HOUR Meet some of the men who OUR LITTLE SISTER (PG) The story of photographers, Fri 4 - Sun 6 Mar, Theatre, Birmingham fought the Battle of Britain including three sisters in their twenties who live NEC, Birmingham together in a rambling ancestral THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Welsh a distinguished Luftwaffe ace, Sat 5 DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS FIRST Mar, RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton home. Their existence is carefully ROUND GREAT BRITAIN VS JAPAN Fri 4 - National Opera present Mozart’s calibrated, but when their smart great comic work, Sat 5 Mar, ALEX HENSHAW MBE... THE FLIGHT OF Sun 6 Mar, Barclaycard Arena, younger half-sister Suzu comes to Birmingham Birmingham Hippodrome THE MEW GULL AND SIGH FOR A stay with them, they’re forced to re- EMBRACED BURLESQUE MERLIN Alex Henshaw tells his own examine their sheltered lives. Wed 2 - 4X4 IN THE FOREST Join the rangers in Wolverhampton’s ultimate cabaret story starting with his adventures in Thurs 3 Mar, Ludlow Assembly your 4x4 to explore Cannock Chase. extravaganza, featuring live music, the Golden Age of Flying, Sat 5 Mar, Rooms, South shropshire Meet at Birches Valley Forest Centre, comedy, burlesque and audience RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton Sat 5 Mar, Cannock Chase Forest, THE ASSASSIN (12a) Set during the Staffordshire participation. Over 18s only, Sat 5 Tang Dynasty in the 9th century and Mar, Newhampton Arts Centre, tells a story adapted from a contem- A NIGHT OF CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING - Wolverhampton porary legend; about Nie (Shu Qi), EGGINGTON V SKEETE Sam Eggington PASSING STRANGERS Amateur produc- Film who – having been abducted as a defends his British and tion of Eric Chappell's romantic com- child and inducted into the world of Commonwealth Welterweight titles edy, Sat 5 - Sat 12 Mar, Oldbury Rep INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: martial arts – is forced to choose against Bradley Skeete, Sat 5 Mar, Genting Arena, Birmingham - Barlow Theatre, Oldbury THE HATEFUL EIGHT (18) Tarantino’s between love and duty when she THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS: CARNEVIL long-awaited re-imagining of The returns to the land of her birth. Wed STARS IN YOUR SKIES - ASTEROIDS, The show that stormed into the finals Magnificent Seven, with less clean- 2 Mar, The Electric Cinema, METERORITES AND IMPACTS Get up of Britain's Got Talent and is now a cut protagonists. Set in post-Civil Birmingham; Thurs 3 Mar, Stoke Film close and personal with Dr. Alan West End smash is back to mark its War Wyoming, the film features eight Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Longstaff's meteorites, Sat 5 Mar, 21st anniversary, Sun 6 Mar, New disparate bounty hunters who take THE REVENANT (15) Inspired by true Carding Mill Valley & The Shropshire Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham refuge at a stagecoach stopover dur- events and filmed in the frozen wilds Hills, Shropshire ing a blizzard. Stars Samuel L. of Alberta and British Columbia. PAWS WALKS Explore the beauty of Jackson & Kurt Russell. Tues 1 Mar, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Hugh Erddig with your pooch. A great Festival Drayton Centre, Market Glass, an 1820s’ frontiersman who opportunity to socialise with dogs Dance Drayton, North Shropshire; Fri 4 - Sat was left for dead after being mauled and their walkers. It's sure to be tail 5 Mar, Stoke Film Theatre, Stoke-on- by a bear. Incensed by his abandon- waggingly good fun, Sat 5 Mar, 016 DANCE - SPORT IN THE CITY Until Trent ment, Glass dreams of revenge – but Erddig Hall, Wrexham Sat 5 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on- BROOKLYN (12A) An Irish immigrant first must find the will to survive in PRACTICAL CLASSICS RESTORATION Trent lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she unhospitable terrain. Fri 4 & Mon 7 SHOW Discover everything for your MAPDANCE 2016 Tenth anniversary quickly falls into a new romance. Mar, Market Drayton Centre, Market project from barn find to concours at performance featuring new commis- When her past catches up with her, Drayton, North Shropshire; Fri 4 - the Practical Classics Restoration sions and reconstructions from however, she must choose between Thurs 10 Mar, Light House Media and Classic Car Show, Sat 5 - Sun 6 renowed international contemporary two countries and the lives that exist Centre, Wolverhampton Mar, NEC, Birmingham choreographers, as well as emerging within. Stars Saoirse Ronan & SPOTLIGHT (15) The spotlight is on THOMAS & FRIENDS WEEKENDS new talents, Thurs 3 Mar, Domhnall Gleeson. Tues 1 - Wed 2 Catholic priests in Boston back in A weekend full of fun for all the fami- The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham Mar, Light House Media Centre, 2001. ‘Spotlight’ was the name of a ly, Sat 5 - Sun 6 Mar, Drayton Manor Wolverhampton special investigative unit within The Theme Park, Staffordshire A BIGGER SPLASH (15) A famous rock Boston Globe and the film reveals MOTHER'S DAY 50 THINGS CHALLENGE star & a film maker have their holiday more about the mechanics of top-tier Challenge mum to take on some of disrupted by the unexpected arrival American journalism than it does the 50 Things To Do Before You're of her old flame and his daughter, about the corruption of the Catholic 11¾ and see how many things you creating a whirlwind of jealousy, pas- church. Stars Mark Ruffalo & Michael can tick off together throughout the sion & ultimately danger for every- Keaton. Fri 4 - Sun 6 Mar, Ludlow day to collect your certificate, Sun 6 one. Stars Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire Mar, Attingham Park, Shropshire Swinton. Tues 1 - Thurs 3 Mar, Light MOTHER'S DAY AFTERNOON TEAS Treat House Media Centre, NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: a special mum to a traditional Wolverhampton Released Fri 4 March, showing at Afternoon Tea for two in the cosy TRUMBO (15) Set in the golden age of selected cinemas. Factory Cafe, Sun 6 Mar, Emma Hollywood, this entertaining biopic Bridgewater Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent LONDON HAS FALLEN (15) looks at the troubled career of screen SPRING BIRD SHOW The greatest gath- writer Dalton Trumbo, who was THE CHOICE (12a) ering in the country for aviculture, unjustly ostracized by film studios for GOODNIGHT MOMMY (tbc) Sun 6 Mar, Staffordshire County refusing to testify in the House Showground, Stafford Committee on Un-American HAIL, CAESAR! (tbc) Activities. Stars Bryan Cranston & THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR (15) MOTHERS DAY TEA PARTY Treat your mum to a special day at Monkey Diane Lane. Tues 1 - Thurs 3 Mar, TIME OUT OF MIND (15) Light House Media Centre, Forest. All mums receive a free Wolverhampton TRUTH (15) tea/filter coffee when buying a slice See Film section for previews on p40 of cake from the Banana Cafe, Sun 6 LE MEPRIS (15) Brigitte Bardot stars in Mar, Trentham Monkey Forest Jean-Luc Godard’s sumptuously styl-

whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List 7-13 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:30 Page 1

thelist Monday 7 - Sunday 13 March COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Classical Music ROBINSON Thurs 10 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham TIFF STEVENSON Thurs 10 Mar, Henry MUSICA CALLADA/ MUSIC OF SILENCE Tudor House, Shrewsbury, The magical music of the Spanish Shropshire composer Federico Mompou forms the basis of this musical journey and CRAIG CAMPBELL Fri 11 Mar, The search for silence. Classical, jazz and Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton improvisation in a continuous pro- ROMESH RANGANATHAN gram full of surprises feature along- Fri 11 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse side a commission by Dutch com- Theatre poser Oene van Geel, Mon 7 Mar, MARK WATSON Fri 11 Mar, Theatr Birmingham Town Hall Hafren, Powys THOMAS TROTTER ORGAN RECITAL Mon STEWART FRANCIS Fri 11 Mar, Artrix, 7 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall Bromsgrove BRENTANO QUARTET Programme WV1 COMEDY Fri 11 Mar, Molineux includes works by Bach, Shostakovic Stadium, Wolverhampton & Dvorak, Tues 8 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall CARL DONNELLY, STEVE GRIBBIN, INEL TOMLINSON & FREDDIE FARRELL Fri 11 PETER DONOHOE PLAYS SHOSTAKOVICH - Sat 12 Mar, The Glee Club, B’ham Following last season’s astonishing performance of the Shostakovich ROY CHUBBY BROWN Sat 12 Mar, The Mari Wilson at Henry Tudor House in Shrewsbury on 13 March piano concerto no 2, Peter is back to Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford perform the first concerto, comple- JOHN ROBBINS Sat 12 Mar, Theatre O2 Academy, B’ham Birmingham mented by one of Mozart’s earlier Severn, Shrewsbury FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE WINGS OVER ABBEY Gigs piano concertos. Tchaikovsky’s JENNY ECLAIR Sun 13 Mar, The Old Thurs 10 Mar, The ROAD Sat 12 Mar, Andante Cantabile adds a gentler Rep Theatre, Birmingham Slade Rooms, Theatre On The Steps, RUDIMENTAL Mon 7 Russian flavour, Wed 9 March, Wolverhampton Bridgnorth, Shropshire Birmingham Town Hall MARK WATSON Sun 13 Mar, The Glee Mar, O2 Academy, Club, Birmingham Birmingham DAKESIS Thurs 10 Mar, THE STRANGLERS Sat 12 SHOSTAKOVICH'S FIFTEENTH Featuring O2 Academy, B’ham Mar, O2 Academy, the City of Birmingham Symphony KEN DODD Sun 13 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre THE CORAL Thurs 10 Birmingham Orchestra, Alpesh Chauhan (conduc- Mar, O2 Institute, tor) & Eduardo Vassallo (cello). Birmingham Programme includes works by FRAGILE FEATURING Borodin, Osvaldo Golijov and Theatre CLAIRE HAMILL Thurs 10 Shostakovich, Wed 9 Mar, Symphony Mar, The Robin, Bilston Hall, Birmingham THRILLER LIVE A musical celebration RUMOURS OF CBSO SYMPHONIC DISCO SPECTACULAR WOLF ALICE Mon 7 Mar, featuring the hit songs of Michael FLEETWOOD MAC Fri 11 Featuring Stephen Bell (conductor), Keele University, and The Jackson 5, Mon 7 - Sat 12 Mar, Birmingham Town Annie Skates (vocalist), Hazel Staffordshire THE MANFREDS Sat 12 Fernandes (vocalist), Lance Ellington Mar, New Alexandra Theatre, B’ham Hall Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove MARTIN SIMPSON Mon 7 (vocalist) & Andrew Playfoot (vocal- BOUNCERS The Little Theatre JOSEF SALVAT Fri 11 Mar, Stafford THE SELECTER Sat 12 ist). Programme includes songs such Company present an amateur pro- Mar, O2 Academy, Gatehouse Theatre Mar, The Slade Rooms, as Blame It On The Boogie, I Will duction of John Godber’s classic Birmingham Wolverhampton Survive & Disco Inferno, Fri 11 Mar, comedy, Tues 8 - Sat 12 Mar, WALSALL JAZZ KATHRYN ROBERTS AND Symphony Hall, Birmingham Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- ORCHESTRA Mon 7 Mar, SEAN LAKEMAN Fri 11 Trent Forest Arts Centre, OSLO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Mar, The Glee Club, Walsall Featuring Vasily Peterenko (conduc- RUDDIGORE Gilbert & Sullivan's farci- Birmingham tor) & Simon Trpc˘eski (piano). cal tale of lost love, revenge and RE-GENESIS Mon 7 Mar, REEF Fri 11 Mar, O2 Programme includes works by Grieg, ghostly ancestors that come to life, The Robin, Bilston Institute, Birmingham Rachmaninov & Mahler, Sat 12 Mar, Tue 8 - Sat 12 Mar, The Old Rep TURIN BRAKES Tue 8 Symphony Hall, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham Mar, The Glee Club, SEVEN LAST WORDS Featurting the HETTY FEATHER Jacqueline Wilson's Birmingham THE MERSEY BEATLES Ludlow Choral Society. Programme tale of the plucky Hetty Feather is Sat 12 Mar, Stafford includes works by Haydn and here brought to life by award-winning Gatehouse Theatre Mozart, Sat 12 Mar, Ludlow script writer Emma Reeves and DJ ALPHA'S BIRTHDAY Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire Olivier Award-nominated director BASH 2016 Sat 12 Mar, ORGAN PROMS Sat 12 Mar, Victoria Sally Cookson. Suitable for children O2 Institute, B’ham Hall, Stoke-on-Trent aged seven-plus, Tue 8 - Sat 12 Mar, THERAPY? Fri 11 Mar, The REP, Birmingham MARION FLEETWOOD GRAND ORGAN GALA An afternoon of The Sugarmill, Stoke- WITH GREG CAVE Sat 12 OLIVER! Walsall Operatic Society on-Trent popular music including Saint-Saëns’ Mar, Lichfield Guildhall magnificent Symphony No. 3 presents an amateur version of MATT CORBY Tue 8 Mar, Lionel Bart’s musical, which, in turn, CHUBBY CHECKER Fri 11 EXPRESSO BONGO ‘Organ’, Sun 13 Mar, Symphony Hall, O2 Institute, B’ham is based on Charles Dickens’ classic Mar, The Place, ORCHESTRA Sat 12 Mar, Birmingham THE RIFLES Wed 9 Mar, tale, Tues 8 - Sat 12 Mar, Lichfield Oakengates Theatre, Newhampton Arts The Sugarmill, Stoke- Garrick Telford, Shropshire Centre, Wolverhampton on-Trent OF MICE AND MEN Roxana Silbert THE FEELING Fri 11 Mar, TYKETTO Sat 12 Mar, MAGNIFICENT MUSIC directs John Steinbeck's classic O2 Academy, B’ham The Robin, Bilston Comedy Gigs HALL Wed 9 Mar, The story. Dudley Sutton stars. Tue 8 - COLD OCEAN LIES Fri 11 Place, Oakengates DAVID BUSHBY Sat 12 Sat 12 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Mar, Lichfield Guildhall Theatre, Shropshire Mar, Havana Republic, JETHRO Wed 9 Mar, Stafford Theatre LOS PACAMINOS FEAT Shrewsbury Gatehouse Theatre LAPSLEY Wed 9 Mar, IMPOSSIBLE The world’s greatest illu- PAUL YOUNG Fri 11 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham MARI WILSON Sun 13 JENNY ECLAIR Thurs 10 Mar, Theatre sionists, live on stage in a magic The Robin, Bilston Mar, Henry Tudor Severn, Shrewsbury, Shropshire DAN REED NETWORK spectacular, Tues 8 - Sat 12 Mar, SYNERGY Fri 11 Mar, House, Shrewsbury Wed 9 Mar, The Robin, KATHERINE RYAN Thurs 10 Mar, The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Havana Republic, Bilston NATHAN CARTER Sun 13 Place, Oakengates Theatre, Read our interview with the stars from Shrewsbury Mar, Birmingham Town Shropshire Impossible, online at PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ULTIMATE GENESIS Sat Hall whatsonlive.co.uk ABBOT Thurs 10 Mar, CARL DONNELLY, STEVE GRIBBIN & 12 Mar, O2 Academy,

56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 7-13 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:31 Page 2

COMING SOON...

2 March, 7.30pm Vamos Theatre presents: The Best Thing

Tickets £12 adv, £10, conc. *

8 - 12 March, 7.30pm 2.30pmSat Mat, Little Theatre Company presents: Bouncers Tickets: £10, £9 Conc

17 March 7pm Brewhouse Lates: Sugarcraft Flowers with Exquisite Bakes Tickets: £5

18 March, 7.30pm Actors Of Dionysus: Lysistrata Tickets: £12, £10 Conc.* (14+)

14 & 23 March, 7pm Annual Youth Dance Platform b - Dance

Tickets: £7, £5 conc.

24 March, 7pm Youth Dance Platform: Trinity Warriors Academy Tickets: £7, £5 conc.

25 March, 2.30pm Hubbub Theatre: Kessoku - Tales of Togetherness Tickets £6, £20 Family of 4

26 March, 1.30pm Second Hand Dance: Grass

Tickets: £6 , £20 Family of 4

29 March - 2 April, 7.30pm Little Theatre Company The Phantom Of The Opera

Tickets: £12, £10 Conc.

4 April, 2pm Winter Walker: Three Keepers

Tickets: £6 , £20 Family of 4

* £8 Students

Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1AA Box office: 01283 508100. www.brewhouse.co.uk

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58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 7-13 March - SH/WOL/ST VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 16:32 Page 4

Monday 7 - Sunday 13 March

RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET and the joys of being odd, Sat 12 however, she must choose between THE HERE AFTER (15) Brand new production of the Olivier Mar, Lichfield Garrick two countries and the lives that exist KUNG FU PANDA 3 (PG) Award-winning rock’n’roll spectacular within. Stars Saoirse Ronan & PENTABUS: THIS LAND The story of NEXT TO HER (15) - a ’60s science fiction musical, Wed community, belonging and the Domhnall Gleeson. Stourbridge Town THE ONES BELOW (15) 9 - Sat 12 Mar, Theatre Severn, ground beneath our feet, Sat 12 Mar, Hall, Mon 7 Mar Shrewsbury Sparc Theatre, Bishops Castle, SUFFRAGETTE (12a) A drama that TRADERS (tbc) THE REMARKABLE TALE OF OLIVER Shropshire tracks the story of the foot soldiers of THE WITCH (tbc) TWIST Red Earth Theatre present WOMEN & THEATRE: THEATRES OF the early feminist movement, women See Film section for previews Charles Dickens' classic tale in the CONSCIENCE Interactive theatre who were forced underground to style of Victorian music hall, with exploring the subject of conscien- pursue a dangerous game of cat and speciality acts and variety entertain- tious objectors in World War One, mouse with an increasingly brutal ments, Wed 9 Mar, Arena Theatre, Sat 12 - Sun 13 Mar, mac, State. Stars Anne-Marie Duff, Carey Events Wolverhampton and also Thurs 10 Birmingham Mulligan & Meryl Streep. Mon 7 Mar, Mar, mac, Birmingham Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, HAMLET Simon Godwin directs Paapa Shropshire BE A BUTCHER FOR THE DAY Help HANDA'S HEN Based on the book by Essiedu as Hamlet in Shakespeare's Eileen Browne, this engaging family DEPARTURES (12a) Daigo Kobayashi is Charlie the butcher in his daily duties searing tragedy. Cucumber actor and learn some basic butchery skills, show features 55 stunning puppets, Cyril Nri stars as Polonius. Sat 12 a devoted cellist in an orchestra that all created by hand, Wed 9 Mar, has just been dissolved and finds Tues 8 Mar, Fordhall Organic Farm, Mar - Sat 13 Aug, Royal Market Drayton, Shropshire Newhampton Arts Centre, Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- himself without a job. After returning Wolverhampton upon-Avon to his hometown with his wife he THE BEST EXOTIC TASTES IN THE WORLD MAGNIFICENT MUSIC HALL Step back Read our interview with Cyril online at secures a job in which he takes a Learn how to cook Asian vegetarian in time to the glorious and glam- whatsonlive.co.uk certain pride and begins to perfect cuisine that is fun to prepare and orous heyday of British music hall, the art of Nokanshi, acting as a gen- perfect for sharing, Tues 8 Mar, AUSTEN'S WOMEN Adapted and per- tle gatekeeper between life and Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, circa the 1890s, Wed 9 Mar, The formed by Rebecca Vaughn, Place, Oakengates Theatre, death, between the departed and the Craven Arms Austen’s Women brings together no family of the departed. Tues 8 Mar, Shropshire fewer than thirteen of Jane Austen’s THE YONEX ALL ENGLAND OPEN Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS One of THE BEST THING Vamos Theatre pres- most celebrated female characters, Staffordshire ent a fully masked performance of a Sun 13 Mar, Theatre Severn, the oldest and most prestigious open Swinging ’60s story of unconditional Shrewsbury CUBAN FURY (15) 22 years after a bul- badminton tournaments in the world lying incident robbed him of his shot which brings together the world's top love, Wed 9 Mar, New Vic Theatre, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE AdLib Newcastle-under-Lyme at glory in the UK Junior Salsa ten players from each discipline to Theatre Company present an ama- Championships, overweight and self- compete for the coveted title, Tues 8 MARY POPPINS The supercalifragilistic teur production of the hit American loathing office worker Bruce Garrett - Sun 13 Mar, Barclaycard Arena, international hit arrives in Brum as musical, which focuses on a naive falls for the charms of his new, seem- Birmingham part of a UK tour, Wed 9 Mar - Sat 23 young woman who finds herself at ingly out-of-reach American boss Apr, Birmingham Hippodrome the centre of a series of madcap CRUFTS 2016 The world’s biggest and Julia. Stars Nick Frost. Fri 11 Mar, best dog event, Crufts is a fun family Read our feature on page 19 adventures, Sun 13 Mar, Lichfield Forest Arts Centre, Walsall Garrick day, full of unforgettable dog shows, THE STORY OF FRED & GINGER Telling ROOM (15) Bed, lamp, skylight, rug… the best in dog shopping and hun- the story of the legendary 1930s These are the things that five-year- dreds of canines for you to meet, dancing duo, Thurs 10 Mar, Forest old Jack’s physical world comprise Thurs 10 - Sun 13 Mar, NEC, Arts Centre, Walsall Talks of. He may have been trapped in an Birmingham THE OLD WOMAN, THE BUFFALO AND 11-square-foot room since his birth, BOWMAN ANTIQUES The Best selection THE LION OF MANDING A story of but he doesn’t see it that way, as the of antiques, curios, vintage, retro & hunters, kings, prophecy, insult and CAITLIN MORAN "MORANTHOLOGY" In world outside the room doesn’t exist collectables in the West Midlands, Fri women of power, Thurs 10 Mar, conversation, to coincide with the for him. Stars Brie Larson & Jacob 11 - Sun 13 Mar, Staffordshire Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton publication of Moranifesto, Wed 9 Tremblay. Fri 11 Mar, Festival Drayton County Showground, Stafford ALICE IN WONDERLAND Amateur pro- Mar, Birmingham Town Hall Centre, Market Drayton, North Shropshire THE EDIBLE GARDEN SHOW AND GOOD duction presented by Stafford JAMES MARTIN - PLATES, MATES AND LIFE LIVE Perfect for anyone interest- Gatehouse Youth Theatre, Thurs 10 - AUTOMOBILES Join the celebrated TRUMBO (15) Set in the golden age of ed in growing their own produce, cul- Sat 12 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse chef and TV personality for his very Hollywood, this entertaining biopic tivate their urban spaces, raising live- Theatre first UK tour, Thurs 10 Mar, looks at the troubled career of screen stock, keeping bees or brewing their WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? Central Youth Symphony Hall, Birmingham writer Dalton Trumbo, who was own, Fri 11 - Sun 13 Mar, Stoneleigh Theatre explore the stories of 12 par- RAY MEARS - TALES OF ENDURANCE - unjustly ostracized by film studios for Park, Warwickshire refusing to testify in the House ents and the trials and tribulations of STORIES TO INSPIRE Through carefully OPEN DRAWERS AND DOORS Explore raising children, Fri 11 - Sat 12 Mar, selected stories, Ray explores what Committee on Un-American Activities. Stars Bryan Cranston & the life of the Lander family told Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton makes a survivor, Sat 12 Mar, through the hidden objects, Fri 11 - Birmingham Town Hall Diane Lane. Fri 11 - Sat 12 & Tues 15 FIRST STAGES: TADPOLES MD Theatre Mar, Stoke Film Theatre, Stoke-on- Mon 14 Mar, Sunnycroft, Wellington, Company present an highly visual, Trent Shropshire energetic show featuring the voice of SPOTLIGHT (15) The spotlight is on FAMILY WORKSHOPS Sat 12 Mar, Sue Johnston OBE as Mission Eastside Projects, Birmingham Control. Recommended for children Film Catholic priests in Boston back in aged five-plus, Sat 12 Mar, The REP, 2001. ‘Spotlight’ was the name of a NIGHT RUN A fun family run through special investigative unit within The the parkland after dark, Sat 12 Mar, Birmingham BROOKLYN (12A) An Irish immigrant Boston Globe and the film reveals Attingham Park, Shropshire lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she BORIS AND INGRID The world premiere more about the mechanics of top-tier quickly falls into a new romance. GO RUN ULTRAVIOLET DERBY Walk, of a ‘sharp & poignant’ play explor- American journalism than it does ing the inevitability of time, solitude When her past catches up with her, dance or just go! Enjoy the glow sta- about the corruption of the Catholic tions, lighting effects & music zones church. Stars Mark Ruffalo & Michael as you make your way around the Keaton. Tues 8- Thurs 10 Mar, Stoke course, Sat 12 Mar, Donington Park Film Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent; Sat 12 Racing Circuit, Derby Party Piece Mar, Festival Drayton Centre, Market MAGICAL ASIAN FUSION The Grange Playhouse, Walsall, Wed 9 - Sat 19 March Drayton Join experi- enced Asian chef Sheela Udeshi for Now in their 64th season, the Grange Players remain as committed as an unforgettable cookery session ever to their original remit - to encourage the local community's inter- NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: featuring food from three Asian coun- est in drama and theatre through a presentation of entertaining pro- Released Fri 11 March, showing at tries, Sat 12 Mar, Shropshire Hills ductions. selected cinemas. Discovery Centre, Craven Arms The company’s latest undertaking, a comedy by Outside Edge writer DIVERGENT SERIES: THE ALLEGIANT (tbc) MYSTERY MARCH Take a walk on an unknown part of the site, Sun 13 Mar, Richard Harris, finds Michael and Roma’s fancy dress party taking ANOMALISA (15) more than the occasional turn for the worse... Attingham Park, Shropshire FIFTY SHADES OF BLACK (15)

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thelist Monday 14 - Sunday 20 March provoking production which sees two sets of revelations collide - with dev- Classical Music astating consequences, Tue 15 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury ELLEN KENT: DIE FLEDERMAUS Opera & LYSISTRATA Actors Of Dionysus pres- Ballet International present a brand ent a bawdy, provocative and deligh- new production of Johann Strauss' fully absurd comedy which follows light-hearted opera, Wed 16 Mar, Lysistrata as she leads the women of Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Greece in a revolt against the male CARMEN Ellen Kent Productions pres- establishment, Tue 15 - Wed 16 Mar, ents its version of Bizet's passionate Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton opera in which Carmen shifts her FAME Amateur production presented passion from one lover to another by the Wolverhampton Musical with tragic consequences, Thurs 17 Comedy Company, Tue 15 - Sat 19 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre CBSO ELGAR’S SECOND Featuring IPHIGENIA IN SPLOTT Sherman Cymru Edward Gardner (conductor) & presents Gary Owen’s powerful Lawrence Power (viola). Programme drama, which, inspired by the endur- includes works by Walton and Elgar, The Hollies at Regent Theatre, Hanley on 19 March ing Greek myth, sheds light on the Thurs 17 Mar, Symphony Hall, high price people pay for society’s SCOTT BRADLEE & Wolverhampton Birmingham shortcomings, Tue 15 - Sat 19 Mar, Gigs POSTMODERN JUKEBOX JOE BONAMASSA Sat 19 EX CATHEDRA: BACH ST JOHN PASSION The REP, Birmingham Fri 18 Mar, O2 Mar, Barclaycard Sat 19 Mar, Birmingham Cathedral GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM The award- Academy, Birmingham Arena, Birmingham BRITTEN SINFONIA Featuring the Britten winning Chichester Festival Theatre BEVERLEY CRAVEN Mon JASON DONOVAN: TEN Sinfonia chorus & Eamonn Dougan production of Michelle Magorian's 14 Mar, New Vic THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GOOD REASONS & (conductor). Programme includes uplifting tale, Tue 15 - Sat 19 Mar, Theatre, Newcastle- Sat 19 Mar O2 Institute, GREATEST HITS TOUR Fri works by Byrd, Shostakovich arr. New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham under-Lyme Birmingham 18 Mar, Symphony Barshai, Bach & James MacMillan, DIE FLEDERMAUS Opera & Ballet JAMES MORRISON Mon THE WONDER STUFF Sat Hall, Birmingham Sun 20 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall International present a brand new 14 Mar, Symphony 19 Mar, O2 Academy, STEREO MC'S Fri 18 Mar, SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS production of Johanm Strauss' light- Hall, Birmingham Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham Part of Birmingham International hearted opera, Wed 16 Mar, Regent TONY MORTIMER Sat 19 DEFEATER Mon 14 Mar, Concert Season, Sun 20 Mar, Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent ELO AGAIN Electric Light Mar, O2 Academy, O2 Academy B’ham Birmingham Town Hall Orchestra tribute show. Birmingham THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY FRANKIE BALLARD Mon Fri 18 Mar, The Place, WURLITZER THEATRE ORGAN CONCERTS SPELLING BEE An amateur production PETER ANDRE Sat 19 14 Mar, O2 Institute, Oakengates Theatre, Sun 20 Mar, The Buttermarket, of a tale of overachievers’ angst while Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Telford, Shropshire Shrewsbury vying for the spelling championship Birmingham CHRISTINA MARTIN Mon LIFE OF AGONY Fri 18 of a lifetime, Wed 16 Mar, Lichfield 14 Mar, The Robin, Mar, The Slade Rooms, EMMY THE GREAT Sat 19 Garrick Mar, O2 Institute, Bilston Wolverhampton BRIDGING THE VOID New dance/film Birmingham OH WONDER Tue 15 Mar, MODERN MINDS AND Comedy Gigs production performed by fast-rising O2 Institute, B’ham FAITH Fri 18 Mar, O2 PAUL LIDDELL Sat 19 UK dance company Experimental. Mar, Lichfield Guildhall THE ARTHUR DOHERTY Institute, Birmingham RICHARD HERRING Tues 15 Mar Devised and choreographed by the company’s artistic director and resi- BAND Tue 15 Mar, NEW ORLEANS HEAT Fri MAETLOAF & THE NEVER The Glee Club, Birmingham dent filmmaker, Rachel Johnson, Wed Stafford Gatehouse 18 Mar, Ludlow NEVERLAND EXPRESS JARLETH REGAN, MIKE WILMOT & 16 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Theatre Assembly Rooms. Sat 19 Mar, The River COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Rooms, Stourbridge TOSELAND Tue 15 Mar, South Shropshire ROBINSON Thurs 17 Mar, The Glee 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL Get Your Wigle On presents its version of the hit O2 Academy, B’ham THE POOZIES Fri 18 Mar, THE THREE DEGREES Sat Club, B’ham musical based on the popular movie Theatre Severn, 19 Mar, The Robin, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR Thurs 17 Mar PHIL ROBSON ORGAN of the same name, Wed 16 - Sat 19 Shrewsbury Bilston The Glee Club, Birmingham TRIO Tue 15 Mar, Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Lichfield Garrick GWYNETH HERBERT Fri ANDY MILLS Sat 19 Mar, JARLETH REGAN, MIKE WILMOT, JORDAN Havana Republic, BROOKES & ANGELA BARNES Fri 18 Mar, CALL MR. ROBESON A rollercoaster FRANCESCO PIEMONTESI 18 Mar, The Glee Club. Shrewsbury The Glee Club, Birmingham journey through the remarkable and Wed 16 Mar, PARTIKEL Fri 18 Mar, eventful life of Paul Robeson - actor, MAIDEN UNITED Sun 20 NICK DOODY, JON PEARSON & CHRISTIAN Birmingham Town Hall Arena Theatre, singer and civil rights campaigner, Mar, The Slade Rooms, REILLY Fri 18 Mar, Lichfield Garrick TRAGEDY Wed 16 Mar, Wolverhampton Thurs 17 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton The Slade Rooms, HANKKS Fri 18 Mar, O2 MARK THOMAS Sat 19 Mar, Lichfield Wolverhampton BARRON KNIGHTS Sun Wolverhampton Institute, Birmingham Garrick A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Tribute 20 Mar, Theatre ROACHFORD Wed 16 GARY DELANEY Sat 19 Mar, Festival show inspired by the hit movie star- 'ROCK TIL YOU DROP' Severn, Shrewsbury Mar, The Glee Club, FEATURING GUNS OR Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, ring Patrick Swayze & Demi Moore, Birmingham ROSES + MOTLEY CRUE MARIAH CAREY Sun 20 Shropshire Thurs 17 Mar, The Place, Oakengates Mar, Barclaycard STRIKING MATCHES Wed UK + SUBHUMAN RACE PATRICK MONAHAN Sat 19 Mar Theatre, Shropshire Arena, Birmingham 16 Mar, O2 Institute, (SKID ROW) Fri 18 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, FEN South Staffs College Performing Birmingham The Robin, Bilston JOEY CAPE Sun 20 Mar, Shropshire Arts Students present an amateur ver- O2 Academy, B’ham NATTY Wed 16 Mar, O2 80'S INVASION Fri 18 JOE LYCETT Sun 20 Mar, The Glee sion of Caryl Churchill’s mysterious Academy, Birmingham Mar, Birmingham Town THE WEST COAST EAGLES Club, Birmingham play, offering a clear ‘feminist-social- Hall Sun 20 Mar, The ist’ perspective on women and labour, PAUL HEATON & JACQUI SIMON EVANS Sun 20 Mar, The Edge Moathouse, Acton Thurs 17 Mar, Lichfield Garrick ABBOT Thurs 17 Mar, HEIDI BROWNE Fri 18 Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Trussel, Stafford Victoria Hall, Hanley, Mar, Havana Republic, Shropshire DIAL M FOR MURDER Stourbridge Stoke-on-Trent Shrewsbury THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE Theatre Company presents its version of Frederick Knott's erotic tale of THE BOOTLEG BEATLES Sun 20 Mar, The River MARK RADCLIFFE'S betrayal, passion and, ultimately, mur- Sat 19 Mar, Victoria Rooms, Stourbridge GALLEON BLAST Thurs Theatre der, Thurs 17 - Sat 19 Mar, Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- PETE BODDIS BAND + 17 Mar, Slade Rooms, Stourbridge Town Hall Wolverhampton Trent FREEWHEELIN' BAND Sun SALLY MORGAN: PSYCHIC SALLY ON THE MARVELLOUS IMAGINARY MENAGERIE THE HOLLIES Sat 19 20 Mar, The Robin, FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO ROAD Tue 15 Mar, The Place, Packed with puppets, physical the- Mar, Regent Theatre, Bilston QUEEN Thurs 17 Mar, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire atre, music and magic, The Terrible The Robin, Bilston Stoke-on-Trent TRANSPORTS Pipeline Theatre here Infants and The Vaudevillains present DIIV Thurs 17 Mar, O2 SLADE UK Sat 19 Mar, weave film and drama in a thought- a spectacle with professional charla- Institute, Birmingham The Slade Rooms, tans that regale you with tales of wit,

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62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List 14-20 March - SH/WOL/ST MASTER VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 18:59 Page 4

thelist Monday 14 - Sunday 20 March virtue and courage, all loosely based rights and principally, the right to be upon their fables, Fri 18 Mar, Lichfield heard. Mon 14 Mar, Ludlow Garrick Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire EMMA Hotbuckle Productions pres- BROOKLYN (12A) An Irish immigrant ents a new staging of Jane Austen’s lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she Regency classic, Fri 18 Mar, Sparc quickly falls into a new romance. Theatre, Bishops Castle, Shropshire When her past catches up with her, LYSISTRATA Actors Of Dionysus pres- however, she must choose between ent a bawdy, provocative and deligh- two countries and the lives that exist fully absurd comedy which follows within. Stars Saoirse Ronan & Lysistrata as she leads the women of Domhnall Gleeson. Tues 15 Mar, Greece in a revolt against the male Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, establishment, Fri 18 Mar, Staffordshire Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- THE ASSASSIN (12a) Set during the Trent Tang Dynasty in the 9th century and HALFWAY TO PARADISE Musical which tells a story adapted from a contem- charts the rise to fame of Billy Fury, a porary legend; about Nie (Shu Qi), shy young boy from Liverpool who who – having been abducted as a became one of Britain's best-loved child and inducted into the world of rock stars. Timeless hits featured in martial arts – is forced to choose the show include I Will, Jealousy, It's between love and duty when she Cake International; Hobbycrafts Show; Fashion & Embroidery; and Sewing For Only Make Believe and, of course, returns to the land of her birth. Tues Pleasure Show - 4 shows for the price of 1 - at the NEC, Birmingham 17-20 March Halfway To Paradise, Fri 18 Mar, 15 - Thurs 17 Mar, Ludlow Assembly course for the whole family to enjoy, Dudley Town Hall Rooms, South Shropshire Sat 19 Mar, Drayton Manor Theme YOUTH (15) Michael Caine turns in a Spoken Word OLD MOTHER HUBBARD An ideal first Park, Staffordshire theatrical experience for children superb performance in Paolo POTTERIES & DISTRICT DOG SHOW aged three to six, Sat 19 Mar, Sorrentino’s follow up to his Oscar SIMON CALLOW ON ORSON WELLS The Sat 19 Mar, Staffordshire County Lichfield Garrick winning The Great Beauty. Set in a acclaimed actor and author probes luxury Alpine spa, a retired composer one of the most complex artists of Showground, Stafford THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR Roxana reminisces with his lifelong film direc- the 20th century. The event is fol- MCM BIRMINGHAM COMIC CON Silbert directs Gogol's satirical mas- tor friend about past loves, the frivoli- lowed by a Q&A session and book Numerous celebrities make guest terpiece, Sat 19 - Sat 26 Mar, The ty of youth and the wisdom of age. signing, Sat 19 Mar, Ludlow appearances at this well-established REP, Birmingham Wed 16 - Thurs 17 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire show, which brings together a broad TELL ME ON A SUNDAY Jodie Prenger Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire AN AUDIENCE WITH TONY IOMMI scope of popular-culture categories stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber and ACES HIGH (PG) New air force recruit Sat 19 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall including movies, gaming, comics, Don Black’s one-woman musical Peter Firth takes an instant dislike to anime, television shows, gadgets, which charts the misadventures of a his embittered squadron leader. But clothing and toys, Sat 19 - Sun 20 young English girl in New York in the as the young pilot experiences the Mar, NEC, Birmingham heady days of the 1980s, Sun 20 Events tensions and stresses of warfare his BECOME A SCIENTIST Become a Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent dislike turns to admiration. Stars Scientist for the day and take part in Malcolm McDowell & Christopher UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM ARTS AND the science quiz, Sat 19 - Sun 20 Plummer. Thurs 17 Mar, Forest Arts SCIENCE FESTIVAL Mon 14 - Sun 20 Mar, Trentham Monkey Forest, Stoke- Dance Centre, Walsall Mar, The University of Birmingham on-Trent RAMS (15) In a remote Icelandic farm- THE BIG BANG UK YOUNG SCIENTISTS & CADBURY CHARACTER WEEKEND Pose ing valley, two estranged brothers ENGINEERS FAIR The largest celebra- for photographs alongisde Freddo, THE SNOW MAIDEN Based on a tradi- must come together in order to save tion of science, technology, engineer- Caramel Bunny and friends as they tional folk tale set in the snow-cov- what’s dearest to them - their sheep. ing and maths (STEM) for young meet and greet visitors, Sat 19 - Sun ered landscape of rural Russia, this Fri 18 - Sat 19 Mar, Ludlow Assembly people in the UK, Wed 16 Mar, 20 Mar, Cadbury World, Birmingham Rooms, South Shropshire NEC, Birmingham seasonal sparkler follows the Snow SPORTS & SALOON CAR RACES Maiden as she dances into the SENSE & SENSIBILITY (15) One of cine- INTERNATIONAL CUISINE Uncover the Including 13 different championships human world, Sun 20 Mar, ma’s most successful Jane Austen secrets of Cajun-Caribbean dishes and categories, Sat 19 - Sun 20 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre adaptations, Ang Lee’s Sense and influenced by global cuisine, Wed 16 Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby BRENDAN COLE - A NIGHT TO Sensibility stars Emma Thompson Mar, Shropshire Hills Discovery IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS REMEMBER Brand new show from the (who also wrote the screenplay), Centre, Craven Arms, South TODAY... Bake a jacket potato in the Strictly star that brings together ‘ball- Kate Winslet & Hugh Grant. Sun 20 Shropshire campfire and be inspired by 17th room magic and Latin excitement', Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South FASHION & EMBROIDERY SHOW century woodcuts to create your own Sun 20 Mar, Symphony Hall, Shropshire Part of ICHF event, Thurs 17 - Sun 20 potato prints, Sat 19 - Sun 20 Mar, Birmingham Mar, NEC, Birmingham Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: HOBBY CRAFTS SHOW THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW The UK’s Released Fri 18 March, showing at Part of ICHF event, Thurs 17 - Sun 20 largest event for people with a pas- selected cinemas. Mar, NEC, Birmingham sion for photography, Sat 19 - Tues Film SEWING FOR PLEASURE SHOW 22 Mar, NEC, Birmingham 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (tbc) Part of ICHF event, Thurs 17 - Sun 20 EASTER BARN Sat 19 Mar - Sun 3 Apr, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Mar, NEC, Birmingham Beckett's Farm, Wythall THE BOY (15) THE OSWESTRY LITFEST Now in its 7th SPECTRE (12a) A cryptic message SPORT RELIEF MILE Sun 20 Mar, HIGH-RISE (tbc) year, Oswestry Litfest is a celebration from Bond’s past sends him on a Shrewsbury Sports Village, KAPOOR AND SONS (tbc) of the word – written, spoken and trail to uncover a sinister organisa- Shropshire sung, Thurs 17 - Sun 20 Mar, Various tion. While M battles political forces MARGUERITE (15) SPRING COLLECTORS' FAIR Featuring Locations around Oswestry, North to keep the secret service alive, models, photographs, videos, memo- NORM OF THE NORTH (U) Shropshire Bond peels back the layers of deceit rabilia, any transport related collecta- THE PEARL BUTTON (tbc) to reveal the terrible truth behind CAKE INTERNATIONAL ble items on offer, Sun 20 Mar, SPECTRE. Stars Daniel Craig. Mon RISEN (12a) Part of ICHF event, Fri 18 - Sun 20 Aston Manor Road Transport Museum, Walsall 14 Mar, The Edge Arts Centre, Much ROCK THE KASBAH (tbc) Mar, NEC, Birmingham Wenlock, Shropshire WEDDING FAYRE Sun 20 Mar, National See Film section for previews on p40 SHIRE HORSE SOCIETY NATIONAL SHOW POWER IN OUR HANDS (12a) A ground- The world’s largest gathering of Shire Brewery Centre, Burton upon Trent breaking documentary - containing horses, Fri 18 - Sun 20 Mar, G SCALE SOCIETY SHOW Sun 20 Mar, newly digitised archive footage avail- Staffordshire County Showground, Staffordshire County Showground, able to the public for the first time - Stafford Stafford on the Deaf community's fight for civil THE MUD YARD A muddy obstacle

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thelist Monday 21 - Sunday 27 March in Greece, Tue 22 - Sat 26 Mar, Comedy Gigs New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham HORRIBLE HISTORIES: INCREDIBLE INVADERS Brand new show from the BARBARA NICE, ROB DEERING, ANGELA Horrible Histories team. This time BARNES & RACHEL PARRIS Wed 23 Mar round it's the ruthless ways of the The Glee Club, Birmingham Romans which come under scrutiny, COMEDY IN THE MET Wed 23 Mar Tue 22 - Sat 26 Mar, New Alexandra Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Theatre, Birmingham RAY PEACOCK Thurs 24 Mar, The Old THE BIRTHDAY PARTY London Classic Rep Theatre, Birmingham Theatre presents its version of Harold JOHN GORDILLO, THE RAYMOND & MR Pinter's 'cryptic thriller and macabre TIMPKINS REVIEW, & COMEDY comedy', Tues 22 - Sat 26 Mar, New CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme The Vamps at Genting Arena in Birmingham on 25 and 26 March 24 Mar, The Glee Club, B’ham LADY CONNIE AND THE SUFFRAGETTES CROSSFAITH Thurs 24 Gatehouse Theatre RICHARD HERRING Fri 25 Mar Classwork Theatre present Ros Connelly's play, which explores Lady Mar, The Slade Rooms, SHANE FILAN Sat 26 The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton Gigs Constance Lytton's unique role in the Wolverhampton Mar, Symphony Hall, JOHN ROBINS Fri 25 Mar, The Glee Suffragette Movement, from priv- RUMOURS OF Birmingham ELLIE GOULDING Mon 21 Club, Birmingham iledged 'useless spinster' to heroric FLEETWOOD MAC Thurs Mar, Barclaycard HRHAOR FESTIVAL TOUR ARTHUR SMITH Fri 25 Mar, Lichfield icon. The tale is drawn from 24 Mar, Theatre Arena, Birmingham Featuring The Garrick Constance's own writings in her let- Severn, Shrewsbury Quireboys, Faster NATHAN CARTER Mon 21 RUSSELL HOWARD Fri 25 Mar, Stafford ters, diaries and book, Wed 23 Mar, JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Pussycat, Bonafide, Mar, Prince Of Wales Gatehouse Theatre Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Thurs 24 Mar, Theatre The Texas Flood, Centre, Cannock MADE IN THE MIDLANDS From choco- Severn, Shrewsbury Thirteen Stars and JOHN GORDILLO, THE RAYMOND & MR KELLY OLIVER Mon 21 TIMPKINS REVUE, CLINT EDWARDS & late and jewellery to Cluedo and KANO Thurs 24 Mar, O2 Skam, Sat 26 Mar, O2 Mar, Stafford COMIC TBC Fri 25 - Sat 26 Mar, The much more, Young REP groups from Institute, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham Gatehouse Theatre Glee Club, Birmingham all over the region examine the out- MUSHROOMHEAD & SOX Sat 26 Mar, O2 standing objects, industry and ideas THE SKINTS Mon 21 LEE NELSON Sat 26 Mar, Brewhouse AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE Institute, Birmingham that originated here in the Midlands, Mar, The Sugarmill, Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent Thurs 24 Mar, O2 LEFT FOR RED Sat 26 Wed 23 - Thurs 24 Mar, The REP, Stoke-on-Trent Academy, Birmingham Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham THE 1975 Tue 22 Mar, ALL-STAR AMERICAN Birmingham IRELAND'S CALL Inspired by true Barclaycard Arena, LEGENDS LIVE Thurs 24 KARMA TO BURN Sat 26 events and spanning three decades, Birmingham Theatre Mar, The Robin, Bilston Mar, The Slade Rooms, Ireland’s Call follows the extraordi- MARTIN HARLEY & nary journey of the strong-headed THE VAMPS Fri 25 - Sat Wolverhampton DANIEL KIMBRO Tue 22 AVENUE Q Tony Award-winning musi- Sean Dempsey, who, at the end of 26 Mar, Genting Arena, REFUSED Sat 26 Mar, Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove cal that centres on a group of love- World War Two, leaves behind his Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham TRACER PLUS FEDERAL able yet hopeless characters on a childhood sweetheart and beloved ALESSIA CARA Fri 25 GIN ANNIE BAND Sat 26 CHARM Tue 22 Mar, O2 downtown New York street, Mon 21 - homeland in search of a better life in Mar, O2 Institute, Mar, The Robin, Bilston Institute, Birmingham Sat 26 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke- New York, Thurs 24 Mar, Stafford Birmingham GUNS 2 ROSES Sat 26 on-Trent Gatehouse Theatre HALF MOON RUN Tue 22 SARTAAJ LIVE Fri 25 Mar, The Sugarmill, Mar, O2 Institute, Bham MISSING: DAN NOLAN Lichfield Garrick Mar, Wolverhampton Stoke-on-Trent Youth Theatre presents the story of a AMORPHIS Tue 22 Mar, Grand Theatre TIMES SQUARE BAND teenage boy who went missing on The Slade Rooms, ROBINSON-STONE Fri 25 Sat 26 Mar, Havana the night of 1 January 2002 after a Wolverhampton Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove Republic, Shropshire fishing trip with friends. Based on a EMMA STEVENS Tue 22 true story, Thurs 24 - Sat 26 Mar, THUNDERDAZE Fri 25 KRIS DREVER Sun 27 Mar, The Robin, Bilston Lichfield Garrick, Staffs Mar, The River Rooms, Mar, Henry Tudor COLOUR THE EMPIRE Stourbridge House, Shrewsbury KESSOKU- TALES OF TOGETHERNESS Wed 23 Mar, The Slade Fusion of physical theatre, puppetry KICK UP THE 80'S Fri 25 ACDC UK Sun 27 Mar, Rooms,Wolverhampton and music entertainment for families, Mar, The Robin, Bilston The River Rooms, PHOENIX RISING Wed 23 Fri 25 Mar, The Brewhouse Arts BEN FOGLER Fri 25 Mar, Stourbridge Mar, The Robin, Bilston Centre, Burton-upon-Trent Havana Republic, MORPHEUS RISING + ANGER MANAGEMENT New work THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS: CARNEVIL CLINT MANSELL Wed 23 Shrewsbury BLACK ROSE Sun 27 devised by the Young Rep and Mar, Symphony Hall, directed by Tom Saunders, Mon 21 - The show that stormed into the finals THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Mar, The Robin, Bilston Birmingham Tue 22 Mar, The REP, Birmingham of Britain's Got Talent and is now a Sat 26 Mar, Stafford West End smash is back to mark its MEMORIES ARE MADE OF HITS A cele- 21st anniversary, Sat 26 Mar, bration of some of the greatest and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre most popular hit recordings ever made, including songs from Judy Garland, Doris Day, Connie Francis, EX CATHEDRA CHOIR Featuring Ex Johnnie Ray, Buddy Holly, Perry Classical Music Cathedra Choir, City of Birmingham Como, Billy Fury, Matt Monro, Bobby Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Darin, Dusty Springfield, The THOMAS TROTTER & MICHAEL Skidmore (conductor), Andrew Shadows & Burt Bacharach, to name BROADWAY ORGAN CONCERT Mon 21 Tortise (Evangelist) & James but a few!, Tue 22 Mar, Dudley Town Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Rutherford (Jesus). Fri 25 Mar, Hall Symphony Hall, Birmingham UNIVERSITY WIND BAND AND ON THE MATTER OF STUFF Central SAXOPHONE CHOIR Featuring Lee Youth Theatre presents its version of Peter Roberts' comedy, which takes Chapman and Harry Hextall (wind GRASS Second Hand Dance present audiences on a journey of de-suffo- band conductors), Edgar Divver and a dance performance as part of cation. A story inspired by the book Gerry Brazell (saxophone choir con- Burton Children’s Easter Festival, Sat by James Wallman, Tue 22 - Wed 23 ductors), Sarah Carbis and Hannah 26 Mar, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Mar, Newhampton Arts Centre, Coutts (saxophone duo). Programme Burton-upon-Trent includes works by Philip Sparke, Wolverhampton Martin Ellerby, John Adams and HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GROOVY GREEKS EMBRACED BURLESQUE Jacob de Hann, Thurs 24 Mar, From savage Sparta to angry Athens, Wolverhampton’s ultimate cabaret Bramall Music Building, Birmingham discover the truth about growing up extravaganza featuring live music, comedy, burlesque and audience

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Monday 21 - Sunday 27 March

participation. Over 18s only, Sat 26 old Jack’s physical world are com- Mar, Newhampton Arts Centre, prised of. He may have been trapped Wolverhampton in an 11-square-foot room since his birth, but he doesn’t see it that way, as the world outside the room doesn’t exist for him. Stars Brie Talks Larson & Jacob Tremblay. Fri 25 - Sat 26 Mar, Ludlow Assembly GORDON BUCHANAN The highly Rooms, South Shropshire acclaimed wildlife cameraman and presenter of The Bear Family And Me SUFFRAGETTE (12a) A drama that hosts an evening of personal recol- tracks the story of the foot soldiers of lections, letting you into his world of the early feminist movement, women weird and wonderful wildlife, Thurs who were forced underground to 24 Mar, Lichfield Garrick pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State. Stars Anne-Marie Duff, Carey Mulligan & Meryl Streep. Sun 27 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Dance Shropshire THE LADY IN THE VAN (12a) Inspired by CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT 2016 the true story of a homeless woman Family Easter Egg Hunt around the grounds, with a chocolate egg prize who moved into a Bedford van in the and take home activities, Fri 25 - Mon 28 Mar, Baddesley Clinton, Solihull; drive of Alan Bennett’s Camden Berrington Hall, Leominster; Birmingham Back to Backs; Carding Mill Valley home. Sun 27 Mar, Ludlow Assembly & The Shropshire Hills, Craven Arms; Charlecote Park, Warwickshire; Croft Rooms, South Shropshire Castle, Leominster; Packwood House, Solihull; Sunnycroft, Shropshire; Upton House & Gardens, Warwickshire; Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton; NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton Released Fri 25 March, showing at and take part in the hunt for the of Britain’s most haunted buildings, selected cinemas. missing mascot, Fri 25 - Mon 28 Mar, Sat 26 Mar, Aston Hall, Birmingham BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton WHITTINGTON CASTLE SIEGE WEEKEND JUSTICE (tbc) EASTER FUN ON THE FARM Meet the Sat 26 - Sun 27 Mar, Whittington SLEEPING BEAUTY Russian State Ballet IONA (15) Easter bunny, join an Easter egg Castle, Shropshire presents its version of the classic MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 (tbc) hunt, take part in egg & spoon races THUNDERSPORT GB MOTORCYCLE story of love and innocence, mystery and create springtime crafts down on and magic. Set to Tchaikovsky's sub- SPEED SISTERS (tbc) RACES Sat 26 - Mon 28 Mar, the farm this holiday, Fri 25 Mar - Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby lime score, Mon 21 Mar, THE CLUB (tbc) Wed 6 Apr, Lower Drayton Farm, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Stafford EASTER EGG HUNT Follow the Egg Trail WELCOME TO ME (tbc) throughout the Gardens, to win a SWAN LAKE The Russian State Ballet EASTER AT THE ESTATE Take a walk & Opera House perform ZOOTROPOLIS (tbc) prize at the end, Sun 27 Mar, around the magical Easter egg trail, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, the story See Film section for previews on p38 take part in traditional Easter baking of a princess who’s turned into a or visit the newborn animals on the UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: BEHIND THE swan by a terrible curse, Tue 22 Mar, farm, Fri 25 Mar - Wed 6 Apr, SCENES TOUR Join the knowledgeable Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Shugborough Historic Working guides who’ll give you a glimpse into SALAAM Sonia Sabri Company pres- Events Estate, Staffordshire life upstairs and downstairs in a ents a double bill of works which working 21st century stately home, EGG-CITING EASTER ACTIVITIES Hop on Sun 27 Mar, Weston Park, Shropshire cleverly weave a dialogue between BAKE AND MAKE - STUART BAKING over to the canalside village where a live music and Kathak dance to cele- Advance your skills in Stuart 17th cracking programme of Easter fun is MOTORFEST Sun 27 - Mon 28 Mar, brate harmony, inner stillness and century baking and learn how to ready and waiting, Fri 25 Mar - Sun Weston Park, Shropshire the simple bliss of being alive, Thurs make herb bread and shape it into 10 Apr, Black Country Living EASTER EGG HUNT TRAIL Collect your 24 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, rolls in a variety of ways. Use local Museum, Dudley trail sheet to win your Easter treat, South Shropshire ingredients to make a honey cake EGG DANCING Watch the townsfolk Sun 27 - Mon 28 Mar SAN FRANCISCO BALLET: ROMEO AND and lavender biscuits, Mon 21 Mar, dance across the street without step- Whittington Castle, Shropshire JULIET A passionate re-telling of Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton Shakespeare’s heartbreaking ping on eggs that are carefully CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT 2016 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR tragedy, Thurs 24 Mar, Sparc placed along their route, Fri 25 Mar - Family Easter Egg Hunt around the SEASON LAUNCH Theatre, Bishops Castle, Shropshire Tues 22 Mar, Sun 10 Apr, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, grounds, with a chocolate egg prize Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby Shropshire and take home activities, Sun 27 - BREAD MAKING FOR BEGINNERS Learn EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Take the Mon 28 Mar, Dudmaston Estate, how to mix. knead, shape and bake Easter Eggspress tractor and trailer Shropshire Film your white and spelt loaves so that ride to Bunny Woods. Meet some MEDIEVAL LIVING HISTORY EVENT The you can bake your own bread at interesting characters as you follow Medieval period will be brought to home, Wed 23 Mar, Shropshire Hills the woodland path to find the Easter life with the hall's re-enactment INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Discovery Centre, Craven Arms bunny, Fri 25 Mar - Sun 10 Apr, group, Sun 27 - Mon 28 Mar, INSOMNIA57 The UK’s biggest gam- National Forest Adventure Farm, Harvington Hall, Kidderminster Burton upon Trent PEGGY GUGGENHEIM (15) Heiress ing festival, Fri 25 - Mon 28 Mar, EASTER FAMILY WEEKEND Fairground Peggy Guggenheim defied family NEC, Birmingham EGGCELLENT EASTER The bunnies rides, vintage vehicles, easter egg expectation to become one of 20th EASTER WEEKEND Museum and have created an egg-citing Easter trail, farm animals, and many more century art’s most influential patrons. Factory Tour treasure trails, a Trail, but watch out for the cheeky activities for all, Sun 27 - Mon 28 Mar, Beginning as an amateur, she even- Woodland Walk trail and, of course, monkeys along the way, Fri 25 Mar - National Brewery Centre, Burton tually became a heroine in the art plenty of delicious dishes on the Fri 15 Apr, Trentham Monkey Forest, upon Trent world: building a superb international menu in both the Dining Hall and Tea Stoke-on-Trent EASTER WILDLIFE TRAILS Come collection and championing Rothko, Room, Fri 25 - Mon 28 Mar, World of EASTER FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Enjoy eggsploring over the Easter Mondrian and Kandinsky, as well as Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent live shows from the resident magi- Weekend and Easter holidays on the helping save art and artists from the MISSING MASCOT - EASTER WEEKEND cians, ventriloquists and more, with wildlife Easter trail around the 12 Nazis during wartime. Fri 25 - Tues TRAIL Percy the Penguin, an RAF air- giggles and games for the whole acre hillside garden. Take a walk of 29 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, man’s flying mascot, has disap- family, Fri 25 Mar - Sun 17 Apr, discovery and learn about the South Shropshire peared from his display case in Cadbury World, Bournville, B’ham wildlife, plants and flowers that are ROOM (15) Bed, lamp, skylight, rug… search of a “cooler” home. Visit GHOST TOURS OF ASTON HALL An within, Sun 27 Mar - Wed 6 Apr, The These are the things that five-year- Cosford this Bank Holiday weekend immersive evening ghost tour of one Dorothy Clive Garden, Shropshire

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thelist Mon 28 March - Sun 3 April MADDY PRIOR IN O2 Academy, ClassicalMARCH Music Gigs CONCERT WITH GILES Birmingham Film LEWIN & HANNAH JAMES JANET JACKSON Wed 30 HIGHLIGHTS Tue 29 Mar, The Robin, Mar, Barclaycard DISTRICT 97 + DAVE INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: COLLABRO Tues 29 - Wed 30 Mar, Bilston Arena, B’ham KERZNER BAND featur- SymphonyTue 3rd - Sat 5th Hall, Mar, SUNSET SONS Wed 30 TOP HAT (U) Fred Astaire is the ing special guest NOTHING BUT THIEVES Birmingham7.30pm Mar, O2 Institute, Bham famous American hoofer Jerry Durga McBroom (Pink Thurs 31 Mar, O2 CBSOTELL MEMAHLER'S ON A Travers, in London preparing for a SUNDAY Floyd) + more! Mon ADELE Tue 29 - Wed 30 Institute, Birmingham TENTH Featuring new show with his befuddled pro- Charts the romantic 28 Mar, The Robin, Mar, Genting Arena, Nicholas Collon THE MANFREDS Thurs ducer Horace Hardwick when he falls misadventures of a young Bilston B’ham SOLD OUT (conductor)English girl in New York& the in 31 Mar, Solihull Arts for Dale Tremont, a lovely, wisecrack- CBSOthe heady Youthdays of the 1980’s. LULU Tue 29 Mar, Complex ing American girl as light on her feet Chorus.starring Jodie Prenger Theatre Severn, OTWAY/BARRETT: THE as Jerry. Stars Fred Astaire & Ginger ProgrammeTickets: £21- £27 Shrewsbury FINAL STRAW Featuring Rogers. Thurs 17 Mar, Forest Arts includes works by John Otway & Wild Centre, Walsall Webern, Brahms Willy Barrett, Thurs 31 Sat 12th Mar, 7.45pm and Mahler, Thurs Mar, The Robin, Bilston BORIS AND INGRID 31 Mar, "Old people, love and STELLA ROBERTS Thurs Events Symphonybananas" - An absurd Hall, physi- 31 Mar, Bramall Music Birminghamcal comedy combining inven- Building, Birmingham tive puppetry, haunting mask CLIMB LORD HILL'S COLUMN and shadow-theatre. ROOM 94 Wed 30 Mar, Mon 28 Mar, Shrewsbury Town Tickets: £12.50 Centre, Shropshire DISCOVERY DAY One of the museum’s SHAFTED John Godber’s epic new WWI personnel takes you on a guid- Fri 18th Mar, 7.00pm play traces the lives of ex-miner ed tour of the site’s extraordinary MARVELLOUS Comedy Gigs IMAGINARY Harry and his wife, Dot, in the 30 WWI trench system, Mon 28 Mar, The years after the 1984 miners’ strike, Staffordshire Regiment Museum, MENAGERIE MARK WATSON Thurs 31 Mar, Artrix, Wed 30 Mar - Sat 2 Apr, New Vic Lichfield Roll up; roll up, for the most Bromsgrove magnifical, tremendible and Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme. APLEY EASTER SUNDAY Take part in an fantasticulous experience in SHAPPI KHORSANDI Thurs 31 Mar, The CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Brand new Easter bonnet parade, dress up for a town! Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, ] production featuring Jason Manford fancy dress competition, play fun Tickets: £10/£8 child South Shropshire as Caractacus Potts, Martin Kemp as games & try out the Apley Easter The Childcatcher, Amy Griffiths as egg hunt, Mon 28 Mar, Sat 19th Mar, 7.30pm Truly Scrumptious, Michelle Collins Apley Farm Shop, Shropshire MARK THOMAS - TRESPASS Theatre as Baroness Bomburst and Andy EGG HUNT Ruby the Castle Dragon Carries on from where Mark's Hockley as Grandpa Potts, Wed 30 has hidden her eggs from the das- Mar - Sat 9 Apr, Regent Theatre, previous show 100 Acts of HEARTBEAT ITV's popular Sunday tardly dragon hunter. Visitors are Minor Dissent left off. It is his Stoke-on-Trent invited to help locate Ruby’s eggs, usual odd mix of theatre, stand evening police drama makes its up, activism, a dash of journal- stage debut. Set in rural Yorkshire in IRANIAN FEAST A play with food from Mon 28 Mar - Fri 8 Apr, Tamworth ism and a dollop of mayhem. the 1960s, Heartbeat on stage fea- the heart of Persia - a contemporary Castle Tickets: £16, tures a brand new script, video piece of British theatre from UK tour- BE A BUTCHER FOR THE DAY Help £14 students footage and a 'clever set', Mon 28 - ing company Farnham Maltings. Set Charlie the butcher in his daily duties Sat 2 Apr, New Alexandra Theatre, in modern-day Tehran, Thurs 31 Mar, Thu 24th - Sat 26th Mar, and learn some basic butchery skills, 8pm, Sat Mat 2.45pm Birmingham Newhampton Arts Centre, Tues 29 Mar, Fordhall Organic Farm, Wolverhampton The Garrick Youth Theatre THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Amateur Market Drayton, Shropshire Presents IRELAND'S CALL Inspired by true MISSING DAN NOLAN performance presented by the Little EASTER ACTIVITIES events and spanning three decades, Tues 29 Mar - Fri 1 Missing Dan Nolan is based Theatre Company Youth, Tues 29 Ireland’s Call follows the extraordi- Apr, RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton on the true story of Dan Mar, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Nolan, a teenage boy who nary journey of the strong-headed PLANTING THE DAM Join the Ranger Burton-upon-Trent went missing on the night of Sean Dempsey, who, at the end of team in the Dingle helping them January 1st 2002 after a TRACEY BEAKER GETS REAL Get Your fishing trip with friends. World War Two, leaves behind his plant spring woodland bulbs on Wigle On presents its version of Mary Tickets: £10 - £15 childhood sweetheart and beloved Tuesdays and Thursdays during the Morris' show, which brings Tracy homeland in search of a better life in Easter Holidays, Tues 29 Mar - Thurs Beaker's trademark talent for trouble- New York, Thurs 31 Mar, 7 Apr, Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire Fri 25th Mar,7.30pm making, fun and friendship to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre BE A FARMER FOR THE DAY Get ARTHUR SMITH - stage, Tue 29 - Wed 30 Mar, TINNED GOODS Tea & Tenacity present involved with farm chores and lend a AT YOUR SERVICE Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Guaranteed to bring you a a pacy drama which explores the hand to Farmer Ben. Be prepared for night of hilarity, mirth and RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET strength of friendship under the mud and fun, Wed 30 Mar, Fordhall scandal...with a touch of Brand new production of the Olivier strain of politics, picket lines and Organic Farm, Market Drayton, rudeness thrown in for Award-winning rock’n’roll spectacular principles, Thurs 31 Mar, Lichfield Shropshire good measure. - a ’60s science fiction musical, Tues Garrick EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY DAYS WITH Tickets: £17 29 Mar - Sat 2 Apr, Tamworth CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT Wed 30 Assembly Rooms, Staffs Mar - Wed 6 Apr, Dudmaston Estate, Sat 26th Mar, 7.30pm AMERICAN IDIOT Lichfield Garrick Bridgnorth, Shropshire Youth Theatre presents an amateur CHRIS DEAN'S Talks EGGOSAURUS Have fun with arts and SYD LAWRENCE production of the two-time Tony crafts and make your own scary ORCHESTRA Award-winning musical, Tues 29 Mar GORDON BUCHANAN The highly dinosaur nest, complete with hatch- Offering the bubbly verve - Sat 2 April, Lichfield Garrick and energy of that glorious acclaimed wildlife cameraman and ing dinosaur babies, Thurs 31 Mar, music with a hearty helping THAT'LL BE THE DAY A musical romp presenter of The Bear Family And Me Bantock House & Park, of nostalgia. through the youthful days of hosts an evening of exciting personal Wolverhampton Tickets: £21.50 Rock’n’Roll in the ’50s, on through recollections, letting you into his BE A BUSHCRAFTER FOR THE DAY An the Swinging ’60s and into the taste- world of weird and wonderful wildlife, exciting opportunity for children to free days of the 1970s, Wed 30 Mar, Wed 30 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse. spend the day learning some basic Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury MARK BEAUMONT: AFRICA SOLO A can- woodland survival skills, shelter BOX OFFICE: 01543 412 121 A GRAND OPERETTA GALA Featuring a did and heart-warming account of building and fire lighting, Thurs 31 www.lichfieldgarrick.com full orchestra, rediscover firm the world-famous cyclist’s ambition Mar, Fordhall Organic Farm, Market favourites from The Mikado, The to push his limits and set unbreak- Drayton, North Shropshire LICHFIELD GARRICK, CASTLE DYKE, Gondoliers, The Merry Widow and able World Records, Thurs 31 Mar, THE GADGET SHOW LIVE Thurs 31 Mar LICHFIELD, STAFFS, WS13 6HR many more, Wed 30 Mar, The Place, Oakengates - Sun 3 Apr, NEC, Birmingham Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

66 whatsonlive.co.uk Comic Con Birmingham Feb 16.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2016 18:47 Page 1 grand_whatson FP MAR:Layout 1 18/02/2016 16:50 Page 1

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