Wolverhampton Cover Online.qxp_Birmingham Cover 28/06/2016 09:06 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 367 JULY 2016 Wolverhampton ’ MAMMA MIA! WEST END SHOW AT THE WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On wolverhamptonwhatson.co.uk HIPPODROME inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide Doreen’s grand night out! youtube sensation on tour LFEST F/P July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 13:01 Page 1 Contents July Region Shropshire/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:05 Page 1 July 2016 Contents Guys And Dolls - gangsters, gamblers and nightclub singers at the Grand page 30 Rebecca Vaughan Patrick Monahan Mamma Mia! the list talks about her one-woman aiming to break down West End musical continues at Your 16-page shows for Dyad Theatre stereotypes across the region The Hippodrome week-by-week listings guide page 8 page 27 page 28 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 26. Comedy 28. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On 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 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Adam Jaremko, David Vincent 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 July Wolves/Staffs Only.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:01 Page 1 First Word Midlands music industry on the up... A new report has revealed that the total spend generated by music tourism in the West Midlands last year was £271million - a £7million increase on 2014. The 2016 edition of the Wish You Were Here report, created on behalf of UK Music and its members, also revealed that there was significant growth in the amount spent directly by music tourists in the region, with an 82% increase year on year - the equivalent of £50million. The spend can be attributed to a range of purchases, including tickets, mer- chandise, accommodation, food and drink. Commenting on the report, Emma Gray, Director of Marketing and Communications at Visit Birmingham, said: "The city’s diverse array of festivals combined with world - class venues have created the perfect breeding ground to nurture and promote musical ingenuity. This report con- firms just how much music tourism can boost local employment and stimulate the wider economy.” Travelling Natural History Civic Hall Showing an Appetite for Museum makes its way to appeal the arts in Stoke Shropshire A one-time resident of A programme of events designed to give peo- Wolverhampton is ple the chance to experience and be inspired A ‘roarsome’ one-day event is set to leave a monster-sized appealing to music lovers by the arts is this summer taking place in footprint on Telford Town Park’s QEII Arena this month. for help in solving a 46- Stoke-on-Trent for a fourth successive year. Taking place on Saturday 16 July, the free-to-attend year-old mystery connect- The Appetite 2016 programme includes The Carnival Of Giants sees the Travelling Natural History ed to Fleetwood Mac. Enchanted Chandelier, an epic outdoor show Museum bringing a huge selection of prehistoric creatures Dave Finely, who now which sees a vast chandelier lifted skywards to Shropshire. lives in Australia, has a to fly trapeze artists, bell ringers, singers, Attractions on the day include a sand dig that contains a T- memory of seeing the percussionists and acrobats through the Rex skeleton, providing children with the chance to uncov- band perform at either night sky. There’s also The Big Feast festival, er fossilised dinosaur bones. the Wolverhampton Civic presenting a weekend of street shows for all The event also features a 500-person parade, numerous or Wulfrun in or around the family to enjoy, from quirky bee installa- sports activities, a dressing-up box, a craft marquee, a 1970. Unfortunately, the tions to ‘hilarious’ dry-land synchronised climbing wall, a market and a mini fair. venues’ records don’t go swimmers and flamboyant marching bands. Commenting on the event, Councillor Liz Clare, cabinet back that far, so Dave’s To check out the full line-up of events, visit member for Culture, Sport, Parks & Green Spaces, said: hoping that a member of appetitestoke.co.uk “Children and adults the general public might alike are going to be be able to confirm his blown away by the recollection for him. sheer size and scale Anyone able to help can of the prehistoric either email creatures on display Wolverhampton Civic - and while the Hall or go to emphasis will be on wolvescivic.co.uk and having fun, I have click on the ‘contact us’ no doubt that every- form to get in touch. one who attends will leave the event knowing a little bit more about dinosaurs then they did before.” 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD July Wolves/Staffs Only.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:01 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region Costumes from The Grand announces Downton on show new season line-up in the Potteries Former James Bond star Sir Roger Moore Downton Abbey may have closed will have a licence to chat when he spends its doors for the last time following an afternoon at the Wolverhampton Grand six hugely successful television Theatre as part of the venue’s series, but fans of the show can this summer check out some of its autumn/winter season of shows. characters’ costumes at the The 88-year-old actor will be reminiscing Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in about a showbusiness career that not only Stoke-on-Trent. included seven Bond movies but also hit A special exhibition running from television series The Saint and The Saturday 2 July to Sunday 2 Persuaders!. October features a selection of out- fits from series one and two of the An Afternoon With Sir Roger Moore takes critically acclaimed ITV drama. place on Thursday 17 November. Costumes on display include an Other autumn/winter highlights at the evening dress worn by Lady Mary Grand include the return of The Fizzogs, and a gown worn by Cora, the Meera Syal’s production of Anita & Me, Countess of Grantham. The exhibi- the acclaimed stage version of David tion is complemented by items from the museum’s collection and Walliams’ Gangsta Granny, Thriller Live - there will be a whirlwind trip A West End celebration of Michael Jackson through the history of the hat on 3 and an audience with Lesley Garrett (pic- July. tured), hosted by Nick Owen. For more information, visit grandtheatre.co.uk Celebrating The Wedding Singer ready to party the sea in at the New Alexandra Theatre song... The stage version of hit Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie Wombourne & District The Wedding Singer is visiting Birmingham next year. Choral Society is inviting A high-energy homage to the 1980s, the critically acclaimed musi- Midlanders to join them cal stars Jon Robyns, Ray Quinn, Cassie Compton, Roxanne for ‘a night on the ocean Pallett and Ruth Madoc. It runs at the New Alexandra Theatre, waves’. Birmingham, from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 May 2017. To book Locals join The well-established tickets, call 0844 871 3011 or visit www.atgtickets.com/birming- ensemble, a mixed choir ham National Youth of 80 singers, is this Theatre month presenting The Sea! The Sea!, an evening The UK’s leading youth arts organi- Making a Commitment after Corrie of nautical songs and sation has marked its 60th year by Coronation Street’s one-time resident Curly Watts is set to star in readings. accepting six talented new mem- critically acclaimed musical The Commitments when it visits the bers from Birmingham. The concert takes place at Midlands early next year. The National Youth Theatre (NYT) the Beckminster Actor Kevin Kennedy, who played Curly in the ITV1 soap for 20 selected the six from a staggering Methodist Church in Penn 4,750 applicants. years, will take the role of Jimmy’s Da in the stage version of Fields, Wolverhampton, Commenting on NYT, former mem- Roddy Doyle’s bestselling novel. on Saturday 16 July. ber and Doctor Who star Matt Commenting on the news, Kevin said: “After working abroad, I’m Tickets are £10 each, with Smith said: “The National Youth delighted to be returning to Theatre is the reason I’m an actor. children under 16 going such an iconic musical as It’s given me great confidence, free, and can be pur- The Commitments.