Coventry & Warwickshire Cover

Coventry & Warwickshire Cover February 2019.qxp_Coventry & Warwickshire Cover 21/01/2019 16:40 Page 1

NICK HANCOCK AT Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands COVENTRY’S BELGRADE THEATRE COVENTRY&WARWICKSHIRE WHAT’S ONFEBRUARY 2019

Coventry & Warwickshire ISSUE 398 FEBRUARY 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On warwickshirewhatson.co.uk

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

THE CAPITAL Stan’s Cafe explore inequality at Warwick Arts Centre WTE:@WHATSONWARWICKSTWITTER:

GIOVANNI PERNICE brings his Dance Is Life tour to Coventry’s Albany Theatre FACEBOOK:@WHATSONWARWICKSHIRE

BRITISH ATHLETICS Indoor Championships return to the Midlands WARWICKSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK (IFC) Warwickshire.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 17:58 Page 1 Contents February Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:53 Page 2

February 2019

Contents

Going Wild - Wildlife Photographer Of The Year exhibition at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery ... page 38

Maya Youssef Giovanni Pernice Tread the boards... the list

showcases her Syrian Dreams Dance Is Life for Strictly star half-term workshops for Your 16-page at Warwick Arts Centre at Coventry’s Albany Theatre budding thespians at the RSC week-by-week listings guide page 15 page 33 page 47 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 35. Film 38. Visual Arts 43. Events

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

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 MEDIA GROUP Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Steve Adams, Lauren Cole, Nanci Davies, Jack Rolfe, Daisy Sparkle, Steve Taylor, Chris Eldon Lee, Patsy Moss Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 18:17 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Birmingham Royal Ballet appoints Carlos Acosta Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) has appointed the internationally renowned Carlos Acosta CBE as its new Director. He will take up the post in January 2020, replacing David Bintley, who is standing down from the role in the summer. Commenting on his appoint- ment, Carlos said: “My ambition is to build on BRB’s classical traditions, to expand its repertoire and to reach out to new and more diverse audiences. I want to define what it is to be a world-leading classical ballet company in the 21st century.”

Motor museum celebrates pendent charity which cares for five Shake- go behind the scenes at Worcester Race- speare heritage sites in Stratford-upon-Avon. course. 60 years of the iconic Mini A prominent artist, fashion and textile de- The exclusive experience will include break- signer, Lee is creating two bespoke pieces of fast and a tour of David Dennis’ yard, a meet furniture inspired by the historic interiors of & greet with a jockey, an award-winning sit- the Shakespeare houses and the Trust’s mu- down meal and access to a private box from seum and archive collection. The pieces will which to view the racing. For further infor- go on display at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage mation, visit midlandsairambulance.com and Hall’s Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon from Monday 11 March through to mid-September. Go Ape! Coventry outdoor adventure park approved A Go Ape! site at Coventry’s Coombe Country Park has been unanimously approved by councillors. It’s expected that the high-rope The British Motor Museum in Warwickshire is courses will be built in the woodland area ad- celebrating 60 years of the iconic British Mini jacent to Coombe Abbey’s formal gardens, with a number of special events during 2019. where there are also plans for zip wires and Starting with three weeks of ‘Mini madness’ timber structures. family activities in the Easter holidays, the programme of events will also include an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest Mini mosaic. For more information, visit britishmotormuseum.co.uk Exclusive racecourse Birthplace Trust gets new experience to raise funds artist-in-residence for Air Ambulance charity One of the UK’s leading creative talents, Lee An event in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance Lapthorne, is the new artist-in-residence at Charity will this autumn provide 18 lucky the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the inde- horse-racing enthusiasts with the chance to 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 18:17 Page 2

First Word

Kids go free in 2019 at Coventry Music Museum Children aged 15 and under can visit Coventry Music Mu- seum for free this year, to mark the 40th anniversary of the 2-Tone movement. Created in Coventry and fus- ing traditional ska with musical elements of punk rock, 2-Tone music was made famous by bands including The Specials, The Selecter, Mad- ness, The Beat and Bad Man- ners. Commenting on the news, the museum’s Director Curator, Pete Chambers, said: “2-Tone is part of Coventry's history, and we want the next genera- tion to learn about this won- Under The Umbrella - Coventry theatre hosts new play derful music - a music genre The world premiere of a play about a UK-based Chinese woman whose grandmother fears she may be that was created in Coventry left ‘on the shelf’ takes place at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre next month. and given to the world.” Amy Ng’s Under The Umbrella is set in Coventry and Guangzhou - the capital of Guangdong province in southern China - and shows at the Belgrade from Saturday 2 to Saturday 16 March. It then heads out on a UK tour. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit belgrade.co.uk 50 years of Black Sabbath on show in Birmingham WWE action Choral blockbuster Elijah to be performed Birmingham Museum & Art in Coventry in Worcester for the first time in 16 years Gallery (BMAG) will this sum- NXT UK - the United One of the region’s most accomplished choirs, Worcester Festival mer host a major exhibition Kingdom-based brand of Choral Society, will perform Mendelssohn’s masterwork, Elijah, in exploring the legacy of local the US’s World Wrestling Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 23 March. heavy metal superstars Black Entertainment - better The 150-strong choir, ac- Sabbath. Showing at the known as WWE - is visit- companied by the Merid- venue from 22 June to 29 ing Coventry this month. ian Sinfonia symphony September, Black Sabbath: 50 Fans will be able to see orchestra, is bringing the Years will explain how the their favourite competi- classical choral favourite music of four working-class tors in action at the Sky- to the city for the first lads captured the hearts and dome Arena on Friday 22 time in 16 years. minds of a global fanbase. and Saturday 23 Febru- For more information Commenting on the exhibi- ary. Toni Storm (pic- and to book tickets, visit tion, a spokesperson at Birm- tured) and Pete Dunn worcesterfestivalchoral- ingham Museums Trust said: will be in attendance. society.org.uk. “Black Sabbath are Midlands Visit iceaccount.co.uk legends and we’re thrilled to for more information be hosting this exhibition. We and to purchase tickets. Stratford Literary Festival launches 2019 will keep fans updated when tickets go on sale and look for- edition of its Young Poets competition ward to welcoming them to The Stratford Literary Festival is once again running its popular Young BMAG this summer to trace Poets competition. Poems can be written on any theme and by anyone Black Sabbath’s journey from aged five to 21 living in the UK. The winning entries will be published their beginnings in Aston to in a special Festival book, available to purchase from Waterstones in global success.” Stratford-upon-Avon and the Festival website. The deadline for the competition is Monday 25 February. For more information, visit stratlitfest.co.uk whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 18:17 Page 3

First Word

Calling all Coventry-based artists The team charged with delivering Coventry ‘s UK City of Culture year of events in 2021 has launched a search for artists to respond to its #HumansOfCov campaign. The Coventry City of Culture Trust launched the campaign in December to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Uni- versal Declaration of Human Rights. Now seeking to engage with poets, writers, storytellers and spoken-word performers who live within a CV postcode, The Trust is commissioning 30 written or verbal pieces that respond to the 30 articles in the Declaration. The pieces will be no more than 10 lines in length, with all commissioned artists receiving a fee of £500. The call-out closes at midday on 8 February, and the final commission will need to be delivered by 30 April. For more information, visit coventry2021.co.uk/jobs

Ballet Russes Grab a cab! Learn about the history of Northern Ballet and Matisse the taxi at Coventry Transport Museum pirouette onto shows on view Grab a cab and head for Coventry Transport Museum this half-term the big screen in Worcester holiday, where drop-in workshops based around the subject of taxis will be taking place from Monday 18 to Friday 22 February. An exhibition celebrating Bal- Designed to appeal to youngsters aged five and older, the event will lets Russes - the most spectac- not only explore the story of the London Taxi in Coventry but also pro- ular and scandalous ballet vide participants with the chance to make their very own taxi to take company of the early 1900s - home. They can even have a go at making their creation run with a bat- is opening at Worcester City tery-powered motor... Visit transport-museum.com for more details. Art Gallery & Museum this month. The show features alongside an exhibition of Talking Birds app nominated for award work by Henri Matisse, one of Coventry theatre company Talking Birds has been shortlisted for a numerous artists who were prestigious Stage Award. The company is a finalist in the Awards’ In- commissioned to create cos- novation category for its mobile access tool, The Difference Engine. tumes and scenery for Ballets The tool allows deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences to access captions Russes. Both exhibitions run or subtitles via their mobile devices for performances that would oth- from Saturday 2 February erwise be inaccessible to them. For more information about the Differ- until near the end of April. For ence Engine system, visit talkingbirds.co.uk/DE more information, visit muse- umsworcestershire.org.uk BBC Asian Network going live again BBC Asian Network will next month present its Asian Network Live event for the fourth year. Northern Ballet’s short Featuring some of the hottest acts on the British Asian and global dance version of Elves And music scenes, the event is hosted by Harpz and the Asian Network DJ The Shoemaker will make its family. cinema debut this month. Commenting on the show, which takes place at Arena Birmingham on The show is one of six dance Saturday 2 March, Ben Cooper, Controller of Radio One, 1Xtra and works created specifically for Asian Network, said: children by the award-win- “Asian Network Live is an ning company. It will be amazing event, full of in- screened in collaboration credible energy and excit- with CinEvents at cinemas ing new talent, and brings across the Midlands on Sat- the best of the UK and the urday 23 February. To search world to Birmingham.” To for your closest participating book tickets, visit theticket- cinema and to book tickets, factory.com visit bitesizedballets.com 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Warwickshire February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 18:17 Page 4 RSC feature-2.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:18 Page 1

21st century Shakespeare

RSC puts inclusivity front and centre in three new Shakespeare comedies...

8 whatsonlive.co.uk RSC feature-2.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:18 Page 2

by Peter Joshua

A collaborative cross-cast ensemble - reflecting the nation in terms of gender, ethnicity, regionality and disability - is this year presenting three Shakespeare comedies at the RSC, two of which open in the next few weeks. What’s On chats to the respective directors of As You Like It and The Taming Of The Shrew to find out more about their brand new shows...

“This season reflects the power of storytelling high-profile artists, including Peggy Ashcroft, restrictions that a woman in 1590s England in its most essential form,” says RSC Artistic Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins and Juliet would’ve had. The actors are playing their Director Gregory Doran in talking about the Stevenson. Kimberley firmly believes that own gender, but we’ve flipped which gender company’s summer line-up of shows. “With Lucy Phelps will be a worthy addition to that holds power.” directors Justin Audibert and Kimberley roll of honour: “Lucy is relentlessly intelli- So why has Justin decided to take such an in- Sykes, I’m creating a company which reflects gent and rigorous in what she, as an actress teresting route with the play? the nation in terms of gender, ethnicity, re- and as a woman, wants from the world, and “At the moment, there’s an important conver- gionality and disability - 27 actors who will she does all of that with generosity and the sation about gender and power and where all appear in two out of three Shakespeare most infectious spirit. I think you have to that lies, and whenever you make any play or plays.” have both of those things to play Rosalind. work of art of any kind, you’re always influ- The plays to which Gregory refers are As You Lucy’s never satisfied as an artist. She’s always digging, always chipping away. But if enced by what’s going on around you. During Like It, The Taming Of The Shrew and, later rehearsals it’s been fascinating to see how in the year, Measure For Measure. And as you chip, chip, chip away in rehearsal, and then walk on stage and you’ve stopped chip- things feel when, for example, a mother sells you’d expect from a company determined to off her two sons, as opposed to in the tradi- build on its commitment to inclusivity, the ping because you’ve decided what it is, then you’ve lost Rosalind - whereas Lucy has the tional retelling, when a father sells off his productions are reflective of society’s ongo- two daughters. We’re somehow not shocked ing conversations about a range of issues, in- bravery to keep discovering, to keep searching.” by the traditional version, but when we see a cluding the empowerment of women. This is mother selling off her sons, that feels trans- strongly evidenced in the first of the three What does Kimberley hope audiences take gressive.” plays to open - As You Like It, directed by away from the production? Justin’s version of Shrew certainly promises Kimberley Sykes. The play’s lead character, “I would like them to take away a new rela- to be thought-provoking, but might it not also Rosalind, is credited with more lines than tionship with their own ‘magician’. To feel face accusations of being gimmicky? any other female Shakespearean character. able to explore the possibility of and poten- “I can understand why someone might feel tial for change, especially right now, with all So was this something that attracted Kimber- that, but I’d like to think that, as a company of the uncertainty in this country and Europe ley to the play? of 19, we’re going about this with a sense of and the rest of the world. To feel that change intellectual curiosity and artistic enquiry. I “Yes absolutely! I was drawn to a woman is possible, and that change can come by think you have to come and see the show to who’s busy working out who she is as the working together, learning from each other make up your own mind. The fact that if you play unfolds. I think sometimes with Shake- and from being more honest; being brave come, the vast majority of the lines are going speare’s women, it feels like they already enough to jump off the cliff into the un- to be spoken by women in those iconic roles know who they are. Or that their internal life known.” isn’t really the thing that Shakespeare is ex- means that the play is going to feel different ploring in the play. With Rosalind, it’s com- Jumping off the cliff into the unknown is ex- to every other time you may have seen it. actly what Kimberley’s fellow RSC director, pletely different. She changes her mind all “The late, great and much-missed Cicely Justin Audibert, is doing with The Taming Of the time, and she changes her mind with us, Berry from the RSC Voice Department has al- The Shrew, which opens in Stratford next with the audience. ways been my guiding light. She said you month: “I didn’t want to make a Shrew in the have to make the play talk to now - and that’s “She talks about this magician, this uncle way it’s been done many times before,” says exactly what we’re trying to do with this pro- magician, who she’s conversed with since the Justin. “I’m really interested in seeing what duction.” age of three. Lucy Phelps, who’s playing Ros- happens when you get female actors to play alind, and I have talked a lot about who on traditionally powerful male roles, and vice earth this magician is. We feel that this magi- versa. cian is inside all of us, representing the po- “So for example, the role of Petruchio, which As You Like It shows at the Royal tential for change and to be different people. we’ve renamed Petruchia, is being played by Shakespeare Theatre (RST), Stratford- The play is really all about Rosalind having a Claire Price as a woman in a woman’s cos- upon-Avon, from 14 February to 31 August. conversation with herself to find a route to tume, but with the same character motiva- contentment, and that’s not easy. Sometimes The Taming Of The Shrew shows at the tions and social status as Petruchio in any you have to crawl through the dirt to get to same venue from 8 March to 31 August. other production. Likewise Katherine is being the diamond.” played by a male actor, Joseph Arkley, and Measure For Measure, directed by Gregory Down the years, the character of Rosalind he’s playing it as a man and will be wearing a Doran, shows at the RST from 28 June to has been played for the RSC by numerous man’s costume, but will have the same social 29 August.

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Food

flavours were so subtle as to be almost negligible. And given the prices (£24.50 and £22.95 respec- tively), I’d have expected more accompaniment than a smatter- ing of samphire and a pot of (al- beit perfectly cooked) chips. The latter could be traded for salad, but it would cost more to have both, and sauces - I chose the excellent chimichurri - also came at an extra cost. Mercifully, the best was yet to come, in the shape of two tremendous puddings (there are no ‘desserts’ on this restaurant’s menu) - a fabulously decadent chocolate churros sundae and an excellent sticky toffee pudding. The former featured two tall churros (perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and warm on the inside) poking like bunny ears out REVIEW: Bar + Block hand-cut on-site, according to of a jam-jar of delights (salted the menu. caramel ice cream, brownie Consistency the aim for new addition to My colleague and I chose a cou- chunks and toffee sauce). The Leamington’s bar & restaurant scene ple of the tapas-style grazing latter featured a really light, plates to start, coming up trumps date-studded sponge lathered in Bar + Block has not only been table - definitely the best option - with the wonderful salt & pepper toffee sauce, the sweetness of repositioned as a challenger to we found the vibe definitely im- squid - beautifully delicate, in a which was subtly offset by salted the UK’s growing number of proved; even more so with the smoky tempura-style batter - but caramel ice cream. steak house chains, it’s also serv- splendid service (our waitress, not getting quite as lucky with The perfect puddings certainly ing up an all-day food offer de- Georgie, was helpful and friendly the cheese & jalapeno-stuffed ended our evening on a high signed to make the most of being in equal measure) and a drink in dippers - mini pasties that were note, but the disparate quality of strategically sited adjacent to hand. Speaking of which, the filled with a yellow mush the our steaks (the venue’s main Premier Inn hotels - both the bar’s selection is considerable, consistency of baby food and just draw, after all) was a definite restaurant chain and the hotel with a healthy number of lagers, as appealing. cause for concern. So unless chain are part of Whitbread’s craft beers and ciders, a decent Our main courses took a similar you’re an expert, I’d recommend portfolio. wine list and a wide range of trajectory, with another major consulting your server and/or the The newest Bar + Block (the sev- cocktails, the latter of which are success and another disappoint- guide on the back of the menu to enth, but there will soon be nine) half price from Monday to Thurs- ment. We both chose from the determine the best cut of meat is located in Leamington - next day between 5pm and 7pm.... ‘speciality cuts’ section of the for you, and the best way to have door to the Premier Inn (obvi- ...Which was no good to us at menu. My spiral cut fillet was a it cooked. There’s too much at ously) and at the bottom of the 8pm! So we perused the menu beautifully tender, perfectly steak not to… Steve Adams town’s main drag, The Parade. while each nursing a pint of cooked piece of meat with bags The stylish venue is nicely heavenly craft lager Camden of flavour, but my colleague’s Food: nnnnn turned out, if a little charmless - Hells. churrasco de chorizo - a 10oz spi- Service: nnnnn on the night I visited, the bar and Food options range from some ral cut sirloin - was tougher and Ambience: nnnnn drinkers’ seating area nearest the interesting nibbles and grazing fattier than my steak and, if any- Overall value nnnnn door was largely empty, despite plates through to salads, fish thing, had been cooked rather OVERALL nnnnn the restaurant being packed, dishes, grills, burgers and of more rare than the medium rare making it not only a wasted course steaks, with prices rang- he’d ordered. We later noted that Bar + Block space but hardly a welcoming ing from £3 (the nibbles) up to the menu recommended medium 148-150 Parade site for anyone peering in £23 to £28 for one of the top-of- as the optimum cooking time. Leamington Spa CV32 4AG through the window. the-range steaks - all from British Both steaks were supposedly Tel: 01926 563772 The dining area is a little further breeds of cattle reared across the marinaded in garlic and parsley back, and once settled at a booth Pampas in South America, all for 24 hours, but you could aged for at least 28 days and all barely tell - the additional whatsonlive.co.uk 11 Food February Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 18:13 Page 3

February 2019 www.artrix.co.uk

Saturday 9 February Wednesday 13 February Friday 15 February

GEORGE EGG QUENTIN CRISP: CREEDENCE Thursday 7 Feb 7.30pm Tuesday 12 Feb 2pm NAKED HOPE CLEARWATER THE GIRL FROM TIGER BAY KEITH SLATER'S 60S GEORGE RETURNS WITH PERFORMED BY REIMAGINED DIY CHEF MARK FARRELLY TRIBUTE TO THE MIGHTY CCR CELEBRATION The Dame Shirley Bassey Story A tribute to the ‘Swinging Sixties’ FROMFROM THETHE BLUESBLUES BANDBAND PAULPAUL

Tuesday 12 Feb 7.30pm Wednesday 20 Feb 11am Sunday 17 February Thursday 21 February Saturday 23 February FAIRPORT ROB NEWMAN THE WHITNEY DAD'S ARMY RADIO SHOW EXCITING SCIENCE SHOW CONVENTION HOUSTON LIVE Three complete episode recreated A half term show full of wiz, bang, by two amazing actors! pop... and splurt! FOLK GIANTS’ 2019 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF EXPERIENCE WINTOUR DESCARTES WITH NYA KING

Thursday 21& Friday 22 Feb 7.30pm Saturday 23 Feb 7.30pm LET'S HANG ON A NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS COMING SOON: T.Rextasy, Andrew Doyle, Darren Harriott, Young Drummer Of The Year,Tribute to Frankie Valli & WITH KARL LOXLEY Mark Watson, Best Of Wham, Mandy Muden, Andrew Maxwell, Mimi & The Mountain Dragon,The Four Seasons From TV's 'The Voice' Living Spit, Barnstormers Comedy, Croft & Pearce, Cloudbusting, Sindhu Vee, Georgie Fame, Rouse Ye Women, Stand Up For Women, Roy G Hemmings, Glenn Wool, Women In Rock, Gordon Hendricks, Phil Beer Band, Bootleg Blondie, Mawkin,ship, Mother Lucy Frederick, Sir Geoff Hurst, Soul Manifesto, Tom Stade, Erja Lyytinen… Free parking on-site Join our Mailing List and receive our weekly e-flyer withup-to-date information about upcoming showsor download our latest brochure @artrixarts @artrix arts centre Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1GN Box Office: 01527 577330

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Food

New Indo Chinese noodle bar set to open in Coventry One of the UK’s leading Indo Chinese brands, Oodles Chinese, is set to open a noodle bar in Coventry’s Burges area. The bar will be the company’s eighth, with other Midlands branches located in Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. An official opening date is yet to be announced.

Southam Food Festival to move to new central location for 2019 The organisers of Southam Food Festival have revealed that this year’s event will be moved from the town’s rugby club to a more central location. The event, which is organised by CJ’s Events Warwickshire, takes place on 15 September and features 40 food & drink vendors, live entertainment and numerous children’s activities. Tom Kerridge’s Pub In The Park event to return in 2019 Tom Kerridge Presents Pub In The Park - a laid-back celebration of ‘the very best food, drink and Celebrate your love music the country has to offer’ - is back for 2019 and visiting Warwick. Tom and his foodie friends toured the country last year with an impressive line-up of top-class at Aldwyn’s restaurant chefs, chartbusting music and award-winning pubs & restaurants serving their most popular this Valentine’s Day dishes to over 67,000 people. The Cross at Kenilworth is one of the venues taking part this year, while the event’s music line-up Aldwyn’s at Ellerslie in Malvern is boasts Will Young, Razorlight, Scouting For Girls and Stereo MCs... providing not one but two dining Tickets are on general release on 1 February and can be bought via pubintheparkuk.com. options for Valentine’s Day. Pub In The Park visits Warwick’s St Nicholas Park from 5 to 7 July. The restaurant’s romantic three-course dinner includes dishes such as pan- seared hand dived scallops, 28-day-aged sirloin steak and Multi-million pound rooftop bar & restaurant opens at passionfruit & white chocolate tart. major Midlands venue Resorts World Birmingham Also available is their Valentine’s Afternoon Tea, featuring a range of A new multi-million pound rooftop bar & sweet delicacies, including strawberry restaurant has opened its doors at Resorts World and prosecco jelly, and a selection of in Birmingham. finger sandwiches. Described as an exciting new social dining & For more information and to book a drinking experience with stunning views, Sky table, visit aldwynsrestaurant.co.uk By The Water has a capacity of 260, a private- dining space for groups of 12 to 48, and a Chef’s Table option for between two and 10 people. The menu has been created by Birmingham- born Head Chef Aaron Darnley. Dishes include slow-cooked ox cheek, bamboo steamed medallion of cod with a chorizo & bean cassoulet, lamb hotpot with sticky red cabbage, and lightly spiced curried sweet potato, cauliflower, spinach and peas with puffed black rice. whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Fatboy Slim.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 10:56 Page 1

Fatboy in the arena Fatboy Slim.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 10:56 Page 2

by Lauren Foster

What’s On catches up with DJ superstar Norman Cook - better known as the legendary Fatboy Slim - as he prepares to visit Arena Birmingham...

It’s been more than 20 years since the release mate’s wedding than I am to be inflicting it quite an individual style, the way he makes of Norman Cook’s global breakthrough on the rest of you. Over the years I've realised documentaries; they’re not traditional. It’s album - You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby - yet that I'm a much better DJ than I am a bass been a pleasure to work with him - he’s been the 55-year-old remains very much a current player.” one of my favourites for many years. It’s re- and prominent member of the world music ally nice to flex different muscles but still be After The Housemartins split, Cook formed scene. working within the parameters of the Ibiza the electronic band Beats International in his soundtrack, which has been the soundtrack Praised by critics for its sound and style, the home town of Brighton, producing number- of my life for the last 25 years. album - which features two of the most popu- one single Dub Be Good To Me. lar Fatboy Slim songs, Praise You and Right Fatboy Slim followed shortly afterwards, in “The intention is to premiere it at Glaston- Here, Right Now - brought international at- 1996. bury this year, but if I'm not there presenting tention to Norman, earning him a Brit the film, I'll be there anyway - you know me. Since then, Norman has become one of the Award in 1999, and was later certified four Isn’t it amazing how we all miss Glastonbury global DJ scene’s most treasured and impor- times platinum. during the fallow year? I was thinking it may tant figures. His infamous Big Beach Bou- be nice to have a year off, but I've really This year sees the global superstar heading tique gig in 2002 saw a staggering 250,000 missed it. It seems like it’s been three years! out on tour for the umpteenth time - but on fans flock to Brighton beach and he’s worked It’s good, though, because we’re all really this occasion he’ll be creating something ‘un- with musical greats aplenty, including David chomping at the bit to get back there now. usual and completely different’. Expect a big Byrne and Iggy Pop. You’ll be seeing me in all the familiar places production, a revolving stage, rave ushers Norman recently became the first DJ to per- over the summer - lots of Ibiza action and lots and a live smiley face experience. No seat in form at the top of Brighton’s i360 tower. So of festival action. I’m really, really enjoying the house will be far away from the stage. how was that experience, and are there any DJing - it’s a wonderful job!” “I’ve played different shows at festivals, on other particular locations in which he’d like If you’ve ever been to a Fatboy Slim gig or beaches and in big venues,” says Norman, to perform? watched one on YouTube, you’ll absolutely “but I've always shied away from arenas, “Well, that was definitely top of my bucket know that he 100 percent means what he even though I’ve always thought it’s some- list. It’s just up the road from me. I'm very says about loving his trade - his enthusiasm thing you should do in your lifetime. Arenas Brighton-centric, and there was nobody else for DJing couldn’t be more apparent than dur- can be quite impersonal places; it’s quite who was going to do that. We’ve been trying ing his gigs. hard to get atmosphere going, and they can for three years to make that happen, so to fi- be quite cavernous and daunting for DJs. I “Is it weird to say that I actually enjoy it more nally do it was quite emotional. It was such a had a one-off show last year at O2 in London, now? Obviously, as I get older, there’s some beautiful sunset, almost like the gods were and we worked out that if we did it in the kind of clock running that says some day I'll approving of what we were doing. It was nice round, all of a sudden, rather than feeling have to stop doing it, so I'm savouring it because it put Brighton on the map too. Still like an arena, it felt like a big nightclub. For more. Now I'm DJing sober, I'm remembering on my bucket list? Obviously outer space some reason, it worked. It takes away all the more. It might’ve been better back then, but would be good. I thought I’d got a gig there impersonality and you forget you’re in an as far as I remember, it’s better now. It’s the actually. Richard Branson phoned me up and arena; it’s just me in the middle of people most wonderful job in the world, and it ticks offered me the job of being the first DJ to play having a load of rave-up nonsense which to- all the boxes for me. I love music, I love per- in space, but it turned out it was Beardyman tally works. So we thought we’d roll it out forming and I love just travelling around the doing an impersonation.” around the country. It’s a chance to do the world, making friends, telling stories and show I’ve always wanted to do in terms of As well as his upcoming tour, Norman reveals sharing music.” size and production.” that he’s currently working on the music for a Having achieved so much in his life, what are film that Julien Temple is making about Ibiza. Norman first came to musical prominence in Norman’s highlights? the mid-1980s during his time with indie rock “It’s called Ibiza: The Silent Movie, but rather “The gig on Brighton beach, definitely! Hav- band The Housemartins. After three top-10 than getting Paul Oakenfold, Pete Tong and ing number ones - that feels like the pinnacle albums and six top-20 singles, the band de- me to bang on about Ibiza, it’s about the his- because you know you’re doing it right. I’m cided to go their separate ways. tory of the island before we invaded it. It very proud of my children, of course. I look starts with the Venetians and the Romans, “I might consider playing in a band again, back on those things and think, ‘Yeah, that the Nazis and all the different people who’ve but probably not The Housemartins. I’m still was a good idea; that was worth doing.” visited it over the years. It’s a lighthearted mates with them, but we did vow never to re- documentary, but it’s silent, there’s no vox form. We still get together every now and pops and there’s no commentary. The music Fatboy Slim plays Arena Birmingham on again to confirm our vows. To be honest, I'm and the visuals tell the story. Julien has got Friday 22 February. more likely to be playing in a band at a GIGS February Warwicks_Worcs (1).qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:19 Page 1

14 whatsonlive.co.uk GIGS February Warwicks_Worcs (1).qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:20 Page 2

Gigs

Maya Youssef Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 15 February A regular on the BBC, Maya Youssef is a virtu- oso player of the Syrian qanun, a 78-stringed plucked zither. “The war started in my homeland in 2011,” says Maya. “From that point on, making music was no longer a choice; it was a crucial means to express and come to terms with intense feelings of loss and sadness from seeing my people suffer and my homeland de- stroyed. On a hot summer's afternoon in Lon- don in 2012, I was watching the news. At the time, I felt overwhelmed, as if I was going to explode, so I held my qanun and Syrian Dreams came out of me. That was the very first piece of music I wrote.” Cara Dillon male vocalists, she developed a style of singing that allowed her to blend the tradi- Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 8 February; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Fri 15 February; tional with the contemporary, ensuring not Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 16 March only that her sound evolved but that her fanbase did too. Once Cara Dillon had decided she was hap- As well as a selection of favourites from her piest singing the traditional Irish songs with previous releases, Cara here performs mate- which she’d grown up, there was simply no rial from new album Wanderer alongside stopping her. Setting off on a journey which husband and musical partner Sam Lake- saw her become one of the UK’s finest fe- man.

Tears For Fears Fairport Convention Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 12 February Fri 15 February One of the UK’s most influential bands, Given that seminal album Liege & Lief is Ozzy Osbourne Tears For Fears - otherwise known as Roland hailed as having been the inspiration for the Orzabal and Curt Smith - have sold more electric folk movement, it’s hardly surpris- Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, than 30 million records worldwide and ing that Fairport Convention is considered to Sat 9 February boast a string of huge hits, including Every- be one of English folk rock’s most important The Prince of Darkness is back in his home- body Wants To Rule The World, Shout, Mad groups. Founded in 1967, the band has, at town this month to present his final global World, Head Over Heels and Woman In various times, featured some of the coun- extravaganza - No More Tours 2. Chains. try’s most talented musicians. Having amassed sales of more than 100 mil- They’re visiting Birmingham this month This Coventry concert sees the boys show- lion records both solo and with Black Sab- with their Rule The World tour, rescheduled casing their musical sophistication and in- bath, Ozzy is using the show to celebrate five from last year. Alison Moyet supports. strumental virtuosity, as they undertake a glorious decades in the music business. nostalgic journey through their fit-to-burst back-catalogue. King King Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 1 February Scottish award winners King King have been described as ‘the living, breathing here-and- now of classic rock music’. With a reputation for creating a fantastic chemistry with their audience, the band boast an outstanding back-catalogue, a full- blooded style, technical brilliance and im- passioned vocals from lead singer Alan Nimmo. This is a must-see show for rock and blues lovers alike. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Danielle deNiese.qxp_Layout101/02/201910:54Page

by Stephen Taylor

Love Is In The Air Danielle de Niese performs a Valentine’s Day concert in Brum

For celebrated soprano Danielle De Niese, the that’s likely to be reflected in a performance that echoed the marriage of Christie’s grand- 14th of February will always be an extra-spe- to suit all tastes. father, John Christie, who constructed the cial day. So when she performs in Birming- original opera house for his wife, Canadian “I’m going to do some arias in the first half, ham this Valentine’s Day, she will also be soprano Audrey Mildmay. and in the second it’s going to be a lot of mu- celebrating an important anniversary. sical repertoire, so I’m doing stuff from the Now resident at Glyndebourne, Danielle will “My husband proposed to me on Valentine’s golden age of musicals like ‘You say to-may- play the title role in a new production of Jules Day, in 2009, so it’s an extra-special day be- to, I say to-mah-to’ and fun things about play- Massenet’s Cendrillon at the festival in June. cause we always remember that. He waited ful love. I want to do some songs of Before that, she returns to London’s West End until Valentine’s Day, which meant that we Bernstein’s, which are all about wistful, ro- for a revival of Man Of La Mancha, where she were in Bowling Green, Ohio.” mantic love, and I want to end on a high, cel- will be joined by a familiar face to fans of hit ebrating all the great things about love.” TV comedy shows Cheers and Frasier: “It’s De Niese’s Valentine’s Night Special at the going to be with Kelsey Grammer, and he’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire sees her re- Danielle’s rise to stardom began in 1988, at incredible. It’s an amazing chance for me and turning to a venue that holds fond memories the tender age of nine, when she became the a dream come true.” for her from a couple of years ago. youngest winner of Australian television programme Young Talent Time, in which she Danielle will notch up a decade as a UK resi- “I’d been invited by Royal Birmingham Con- performed a medley of Whitney Houston hits. dent later this year - and it would appear that servatoire Principal Julian Lloyd Webber to Her prize was $5,000 and a grand piano that she’s settled very well into life in rural Eng- sing at his birthday celebrations, and that’s she still owns. Soon after, her family relo- land. how we connected. As soon as Julian wanted cated to the States, where her career as a tal- to get me back, I said yes. I’m thrilled to come “Getting to know England was like returning ented young singer and dancer flourished. back. I found the audience so warm, nice, to a little piece of myself because I grew up in lovely and very engaged. When asked about her earliest Valentine’s Australia, in the Commonwealth, with the Day memory, Danielle recalls a gift she re- monarchy. All of these things, their roots are “The first thing that happened when Julian ceived from an admirer at junior high school: in England but they took root in Australia, so asked, ‘Do you want to perform the recital on “My first Valentine’s Day memory was when I there are a lot of things that I relate to in a Valentine’s Day?’ was that I rang my husband was in sixth grade. This boy gave me a ring much more ‘feels like home’ way. and said, ‘Do you want to come to Birming- watch - rings that had little watch dials on ham on Valentine’s Day?’ and he said, ‘Sure.’ “I feel fully a part of English life, and I feel them - but I remember telling him, ‘Gene, I like England has really taken me in as one of “I’ve always been a real girly girl, somebody really like you so much, but there’s just no its own. Rather than feeling out of place who’s in love with love. I love that about my- spark.’” everywhere I go, I find commonality every- self, and I love that that hasn’t changed as Danielle made her debut at the prestigious where I go, and that really helps me feel at I’ve grown older, wiser and had more love ex- Glyndebourne Festival Opera in 2005, when home.” periences. I’m still totally enamoured with she stepped in at short notice to play Cleopa- love, which is why I said yes to doing a recital tra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare. She received on Valentine’s Day.” enough critical plaudits to earn her a return Danielle de Niese performs her Valentine's While the Australian-born diva is known as to the South Downs. Four years later, she Night Special at The Bradshaw Hall, Royal an opera singer, her versatility has seen her went one step further by marrying Glynde- Birmingham Conservatoire, on Thursday tackle a wide range of musical genres, a fact bourne Director Gus Christie. It was a match 14 February. Ida Barr-2.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:17 Page 1

Setting the Barr... A character comedian, musician, Olivier Award-winning experiential theatre-maker and all-round entertainer, Christopher Green this month brings his music hall ‘creation’, Ida Barr, to Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...

Ida Barr is an extremely elderly lady with symbolises her and her gangster-grandma at- ing to make changes for the good rather than many extraordinary talents. As an old-fash- titude.” having such hostility.” ioned music hall singer turned grime & hip- So what does Christopher think makes Ida so Audience participation is frequently a part of hop rapper, Ida fuses her old and new music funny? Christopher’s character comedy shows. But genres in revolutionary performances filled don’t be put off by that - it’s not as intense as with fun and laughter. “Ida herself steers clear of doing old-fash- you’d think… ioned jokes because she’s worried about ‘I’m really interested in music hall and other being misinterpreted by the modern genera- “Audience participation is an awful phrase forms of old-school entertainment like vari- tion, but she’s really, really funny inadver- and I really hate using it, because while it’s ety,” says Christopher Green, the man behind tently. It’s just that clash of old meets young, one that people understand, it makes every- Ida. “I’ve spent a lot of time researching in typically British meets multicultural urban body really worried. But actually, certainly in the archives, and a lot of that time at the city life. It’s just observations on what life is the context of Ida, the audience involvement British Library. I found some mentions of this like now if you’re impossibly old, have been is really, really gentle because it’s just like Royal Music Hall singer called Ida Barr. She around to see so much happen, but are now having a sing-song. I really do believe in the died in 1969, and I just really liked the sound struggling to understand things in the mod- power of collective. Groups of people are re- of her. Seeing as most people don’t remember ern world.” ally powerful, and I think the angry mob is her, I thought that instead of just inventing very rare - a benign, well-meaning crowd is something completely new, I’d resurrect her Ida’s latest show, Granarchist, explores the much more common. I really, really like in a certain way. I imagined that she hadn’t dreaded ‘p’-word - politics - in a lighthearted group behaviour. So it’s not like I’m getting died in the ’60s but had carried on living but very frank way. one person out of the audience and saying, until she was incredibly old. I thought that right, do this, and I’m going to make a fool of she seemed pretty sparky, and that by now “What I’m exploring with this new show is you. It’s absolutely the whole audience she’d have thought of doing something com- the idea that ordinary people are voicing singing along, or making decisions amongst pletely new, so my character is combining old their unhappiness and dissatisfaction with themselves and talking to me as a collective and modern songs. It’s a very basic comic their political structures a lot more. I think group. I think having a sing-song in shows is confit to have an oldie doing contemporary we could do worse than listening to a really something we used to do a lot, and we’ve rap.” old lady whose learned a few things. I think her sort of attitude, of not caring anymore be- kind of lost that.” Ida calls her genre ‘artificial hip-hop’ - as cause she’s got nothing to lose so just says Alongside Ida, Christopher’s other characters Christopher explains: “The ‘artificial hip- everything as it is, is great. I think she’s got include Tina C, a raunchy satire on country hop’ refers to the ‘pensioner music hall really great values; they’re very open and tol- singers: “I think what you have to contem- singer meets the streets’ idea, so you’ll get a erant. Being overwhelmed by a lack of com- plate when going into standup is which ver- really old woman rapping about her prescrip- mon sense in our political structures seems sion of yourself you want to present. All tion meds. I think my favourite Ida song is to be rife among us all at the moment. She’s standups are a part of themselves that’s mag- Get Old Or Die Trying - I think that really really no-nonsense, talking as it is and want- nified for the audience. In terms of that

16 whatsonlive.co.uk Ida Barr-2.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:17 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

All standups are a part of ‘‘themselves that’s magnified for the audience. In terms of that process, I find it much easier and much more fun for me - and therefore for the audience - to be someone completely different to me. ’’

process, I find it much easier and much more fun for me - and therefore for the audience - to be someone completely different to me. I think that’s why two of my most successful characters have been women: Ida Barr and Tina C. Some performers work really well being completely different from themselves, and some work well being closer to themselves. I definitely prefer to be as far away as possible! It’s also a way of being able to sing, as I’m primarily a musician and entertainer. So having a musical character who can sing all kinds of songs, whether good or bad, and make them work just makes sense really.” Although he’s currently touring with Ida, Christopher has other irons in the fire: “I have two big strands to my career. One is the character comedy, the other is experiential theatre. A lot of my creative work is in that theatre field. I’m doing a big show this year for a fake old people’s home, where the audience come and live for three days and the elderly people care for them. It’s pretty full-on as a piece. I’m hoping lots of people get excited about it, and that it really gets people talking about vulnerability, loneliness and all of that. Obviously, I’m very interested in ageing and why people are scared of it, and I’m exploring that subject both through Ida and through this new piece.”

Ida Barr: Granarchist shows at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on Thursday 21 February. whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Ray and Liz for online mag.qxp_Layout 1 31/01/2019 10:37 Page 1

Ray & Liz Richard Billingham’s debut film explores growing up in 70s Midlands Ray and Liz for online mag.qxp_Layout 1 31/01/2019 10:37 Page 2

Richard Billingham is a born-and-raised Birmingham photographer, artist, and now director. His debut feature film, Ray & Liz explores the memories of his family from his childhood, whilst growing up in 70s Midlands. The film looks at the lives of his alcoholic father Ray; his mother Liz; and his younger brother Jason, who lived on the margins of society and societal taboos.

You wrote the film a long time ago; do you brim, and pickled red cabbage. That’s time stood still. And that out the window, think all your photography has been a sto- such a specific choice to make, is that a time was moving forwards; time was still for ryboard to the test out moments of the very firm memory for you? us. There’s a symmetry there with animals film you had in your head? Yes! And the pickle going onto white bread and cages, time stood still for them in a way. Well, I made that work in the early 90s. and then the fingerprints in the bread. It You’ve mentioned before a fascination Maybe I’d have used moving images, a video makes it particular. with confinement. You’ve mentioned be- camera. But the thing is, it wasn’t affordable Photography is a quite solitary and per- fore you were planning to make a 20 back then. I think the first video camera I got sonal experience; how did you find it let- minute short film set in a prison. was in 1996 and that was £1000. So 96’ was ting others become part of that process in That was an idea I had, yes. There’s a short when they first became affordable. I probably terms of lighting and design? story that I was interested in and I did write a would’ve used moving image and moved script, but it’s one of those projects that onto that a lot quicker, if the technology had Yes, photography is solitary, or can be, espe- never happened. To go back and do that now been there. cially landscape photography. It’s a different sort of process though; it’s documentary. And wouldn’t make much sense because I’ve done In relation to technology, in the film, a film, you have to recreate everything before something similar in this film. I might be re- tape recorder has a significance to a par- you can film it, it’s a very different process. I peating a lot of things if I went back and ticular scene – was that just part of the was trying to recreate memories, so it’s just made that. plot, or the factual beginnings of your fas- what you have to do. I enjoyed it, working When I was a little kid, I do remember watch- cination with capturing real life? with lots of different people because it was a ing a film A Man Escaped, by Robert Bresson. No, I used to have a tape recorder like that, learning process. I remember that film being on the TV and and I used to make audio tapes of friends and being very intrigued by it. It was very tense, As a photographer, you focus on visual family, especially of my Uncle. I’d say ‘Can even though it was just this prisoner picking composition, so when it came to sound, you do this?’ or ‘Can you take off George away at the wood of his door. you needed something that would com- Formby?’, and he would. And also, I’d tape plement the visuals. How involved were Throughout the film, there’s an element of conversations and things off the radio if I you with sound designer Joakim Sund- religious imagery. Some film makers who thought they was interesting. In fact, I still strom? have come from a Christian/ Catholic have some of those audiotapes, and I used background have a tendency to include them as research for the film. So yes, it prob- With the voices, for example, the voices of iconography in their films. Coogan ex- ably was, before the camera. The first time I your family are in your head, that’s fine to plored this extensively in ‘PHILOMENA’, got a camera I was 19, I’d been recording deal with. Natural sounds were fine, the only and Dennis Kelly says his plays, particu- since I was about 10. I guess it’s a way of ob- problem I maybe had was, I don’t have many larly ‘DEBRIS’, deals with what he calls jectifying the world around you. musical memories. When I was a kid, the TV was on all the time, it was very rare the radio ‘Catholic guilt’. How was this specific to Was it a way to process it, listening back was on and we heard songs. So I had help you? to the conversations? with the music; Jacqui (Davies), the producer It was always around on the walls, I think my Probably, but I wouldn’t have been able to ar- helped choose the music that you hear in the mum used to put things on the wall like that. ticulate that back then. film, so that was tricky for me. My Uncle believed in that – Lol, in the film, he believed in God. My mum didn’t believe in You’re so meticulous in terms of your di- And although the 70s were perhaps a drab God, I think maybe she put it up because she rection, was it difficult to find actors that era, everything both visually and sound- saw it around when she was a kid. It adds were happy with this process? Did you wise are very busy. Was that something texture, and maybe tells you something like to rehearse and shoot on first takes to that came from your memories? about the characters. give it a natural feel? Well it was intentional, you have to keep the No, I didn’t find it difficult, but it was hard to viewer engaged and the more visually stimu- If you were to make another film, do you find actors in the sense that they had to look lating it is the better. When you remember feel you’ve said everything you want to like family members, and have to be good ac- things, you do remember the more textural, within the world of Ray and Liz? And if tors at the same time. Yes, I did do quite a bit or maybe you feel them more? Looking at you did, would you have had to been the of rehearsing. The scene where Ray, Lol and other movies, I do remember scenes in that one wrote it to make it a personal enough Liz are together, when Lol walks in, I re- are very textural, like Ivan’s Childhood. experience? hearsed that a lot. I told them the spaces of I think so, yes; It’d be completely different. I Some of the busiest scenes involves ani- the room to inhabit; I was quite specific, be- am writing things, but I haven’t tried to seek mals. Are they somewhat a parallel of cause I’m trying to recreate things I remem- out any scripts. Ray’s self-imposed captivity, or Jason ber. being left alone in the flat? There’s a lot of specific visual elements, Well when I was a kid growing up, and we Ray & Liz will be shown 24th January at such as Ray filling his drinks to the very lived in these four walls, I had a sense that Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham at 7pm Classical February Warwickshire NEW.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 12:16 Page 1

Classical

Ex Cathedra: Purcell, The Indian Queen Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 17 February Jeffrey Skidmore (pictured) once again picks up the baton to conduct Birming- ham’s highly rated early music ensemble. On this occasion, they’re performing Pur- cell’s famous tale of tangled loyalties and seemingly hopeless love, as war rages between a Mexi- can Indian Queen and an Inca king. The concert closes the newly revived Birmingham Festival of Early Music. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Mozart & Brahms Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 13 February Symphony Hall, Birmingham, CBSO Music Director Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla this month takes the orchestra down the road to Thurs 28 February Coventry, to perform a concert with aė definite Nordic feel about it. It may only be February, but if the pro- Highlight of the evening is undoubtedly Grieg’s Peer Gynt, which Gražinyt -Tyla (pictured gramme for this concert is anything to go above) chooses to tell in its entirety, complete with familiar incidental music.ė by, the City of Birmingham Symphony Or- A couple of dark musical legends by Sibelius also feature in the programme - Rakastava chestra already have one eye firmly set on (The Lover) and En Saga - as well as Einojuhani Rautavaara’s hauntingly beautiful Cantus summer. Arcticus, in which the birds of Northern Finland become the soloists. With Olari Elts taking on conducting du- ties for this afternoon concert, the CBSO turn their attention to Brahms’s First Sere- Roderick Williams Elias String Quartet nade. A work evocative of warm nights Bridge House Theatre, Warwick, Leamington Town Hall, Leamington Spa, and romantic melodies, the piece is widely Thurs 7 February Fri 15 February considered to be the sunniest symphony Internationally acclaimed baritone Roder- the composer ever produced. ick Williams is joined by pianist Christo- Beethoven’s stirring Leonore Overture No3 pher Glynn for a performance of Schubert’s and Mozart’s exuberant Double Piano Winter Journey, widely considered to be the Concerto also feature, as do talented world's most famous and challenging song Dutch pianists and siblings Lucas and cycle... The concert will follow on from a Arthur Jussen. day during which Roderick will be working with students from Warwick and King’s High Schools on his long-running project, Endymion Schubert In Schools Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 8 February “It’s nearly 20 years since we began life as a Endymion is 40 years old in 2019, and quartet,” says Elias’ Sara Bitlloch. “Our mix somewhat unusually for so well estab- is a fairly unusual one - two French/ lished a chamber group, retains many of Catalan sisters, a Dutch violist and a Scot! its original players. The initial line-up In terms of instrumental approach, we are comprised a number of outstanding Na- all very different. The thing that unites us is tional Youth Orchestra students, drawn our passion and feel for the music that we together by a shared desire to champion play.” mixed chamber music of all genres... Elias’ Town Hall appearance, their first in This Bromsgrove concert sees the group Leamington since 2016, sees them perform- presenting a programme of work featuring ing a concert featuring the music of Mozart, compositions by Brahms, Beethoven and Britten and Beethoven. Ligeti. 18 whatsonlive.co.uk B'ham Conservatoire F/P Jan 2019.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 17:53 Page 1 Comedy February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 14:02 Page 1

Comedy

Robert White The Old Rep, Birmingham, Fri 22 February; Prince Of Wales Theatre, Cannock, Thurs 7 March; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Fri 22 March Clever jokes and pitch-perfect delivery are the stock in trade of gay, Aspergeric and quarter-Welsh musical comedian Robert White. Robert’s been playing the Edinburgh Fringe to great effect for the better part of a decade now, but really came to prominence last year when he made the final of Britain’s Got Talent. He’s visiting the Midlands this month with a suitcase full of his trademark vests and a show that’s appropriately enti- tled The Tank Top Tour.

Jessie Cave Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 24 February; Birmingham Hippodrome, Sat 9 March “I think that maybe being open about sex and relationships - things like STDs, monogamy, pregnancy, motherhood - allows us all to feel a little less alone sometimes.” So says rising star of the comedy circuit Jessie Cave, whose latest show, Sunrise, is all about her experiences of dating following a tricky breakup with the father of her children, fellow comedian Alfie Brown.

Tony Law Dave Spikey Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Stafford Gatehouse, Thurs 21 February; Wed 20 February Malvern Theatres,Thurs 21 March Zany alternative comedy is the name of Tony Law's game, a fact which means his audience is guaranteed an evening of truly off-the-wall, boundary-defying standup. The popular Canadian funnyman appears on Henry Tudor House’s Comedy Club bill this month alongside Danny McLoughlin and the event’s resident host, Dan Nightingale.

Dave Spikey is not only a very funny man, he’s also got the silverware to prove it, including a prestigious British Comedy Jack Barry Award and an equally coveted gong from Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, the Royal Television Society. Co-writer of Fri 22 February Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights (in which he Having previously provided tour support for played the role of Jerry), he turns up here James Acaster and Joe Lycett, Jack Barry with a touring show designed to celebrate here steps out on his own for a show that the 30th anniversary of his decision to sees him explaining the ‘thrills, spills and swap a career as a biomedical scientist for slip-ups’ associated with his unofficial ap- a life spent on the UK comedy circuit. pointment as his feuding parents’ couples Audiences are duly warned to prepare therapist. “It’s all good clean fun,” says themselves for an evening of great hilarity Jack, “just be sure not to bring along your in the company of a master craftsman. mum and dad!” 20 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 14:02 Page 2

Carl Hutchinson Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 15 February; The REP, Birmingham, Sat 9 March Observational comedian Carl Hutchinson makes a welcome return with a show that covers all manner of common-or-garden topics, from the challenges of buying a house to the experience of having kids. Prior to becoming a full-time standup, Carl spent some time as a maths teacher. ”There are certainly comparisons between the two professions,” says the popular Geordie comedian, “but the definite advantage with comedy is that if you have a bad gig, you can rest assured that you don't have to see the same audience the next day at 10am!”

Sindhu Vee Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 13 Febru- ary; Glee Club, Birmingham, Fri 22 February “Kids are to marriage as tsunamis are to beach holidays,” explains former banker Sindhu Vee, who’s this month touring to the Midlands with first ever solo offering Sand- hog, a show that proved an unqualified success at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Although her previous career in the City no doubt offers plenty of material for a standup show, Sindhu’s decided to let the subject of finance gain some extra interest in the com- Zakir Khan Glee Club, Birmingham, Sun 17 February edy bank for the time being. “I’ve been writing jokes ever since I was a them.” Instead, she’s turning the spotlight on the kid,” says Indian comedian Zakir Khan. “My The winner of Comedy Central’s ‘best trials and tribulations of marriage and do- early years were spent in a boys’ school, a standup comic of India’ award, Zakir has per- mestic life. fact that gave me a near-unlimited stock of formed more than 1,000 sold-out shows in tales that I could use to make people roll venues across the world. He’s this year bring- around on the floor. The challenge for me ing his act to the UK for the very first time. was working out the best way to present

Adam Kay Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 6 February; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle- under-Lyme, Wed 24 April After watching an Adam Kay performance, Stephen Fry declared, “This made me very, very happy.” Numerous sell-out years at the Edin- burgh Fringe and tens of millions of YouTube hits later, former obstetrician and gynaecologist Adam is this month visiting the Midlands with his latest tour, This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Di- aries Of A Junior Doctor. The show features one hour and one minute’s-worth of humorous material based on his bestselling book of the same name. Expect splendidly silly spoof songs and some seriously shocking stories from the NHS frontline...

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Brian Cox.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 10:40 Page 1

starProfessor Brian Cox takes man us on adventure in space and time

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Brian Cox.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 10:40 Page 2

It isn’t easy making complicated ideas accessible to a mass audience, but Professor Brian Cox has spent the last decade doing precisely that to stunning effect. His exploration of particle physics and astronomy on TV shows such as Stargazing Live, Wonders Of The Solar System and Forces Of Nature have entranced millions of viewers. And given the vast numbers who got off their sofas to check out his last touring show, people clearly can’t get enough of Brian in person either - so much so, in fact, that he’s even earned himself an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for ‘most tickets sold for a science tour’.

While Brian can rightly be proud of such nology a year-and-a-half in advance or you Talking of impersonations, Brian is one of achievements, it merely confirms a long- can’t get it - lots of massive rock bands like numerous celebrities to have been immor- standing belief of his: “I’ve always thought Coldplay and U2 use it - and it’s really expen- talised in mimicry by Dead Ringers’ Jon Cul- that most people are interested in these sive, so you take a risk. But it’s worth it to see shaw. Does he take this as a compliment? “I ideas. If science is available, they’ll come and these images of the cosmos as you’ve never know Jon very well, but he’s doing the 40- listen and think and enjoy being challenged. seen them before.” year-old me and hasn’t moved on to the al- Everybody’s interested in questions or ideas most-50-year-old me. I’ve evolved in the way I Brian’s mention of globetrotting rock behe- that are best addressed by astronomy or present television programmes, but the early moths provides the perfect opportunity to physics or biology or geology; they’re inter- ones are exactly like Jon Culshaw. But now I ask him about his own previous life as a ested in whether aliens are out there, or how speak a bit faster and keep my arms in check member of ’90s bands Dare and D:Ream. The the universe began, or how it’s going to end. a bit more.” latter had a number-one hit with Things Can “Some people get the mistaken impression Only Get Better, the song New Labour As well as putting on entertaining and en- that they won’t be able to understand it; that adopted as its anthem for the 1997 general lightening live shows, Brian is also keen to science is for weird boffin-type people. It’s election. So is there a little bit of Brian that dispel some myths about his work. One of very important to get the message across, es- hankers after those bygone days in the music them is that scientists spend hour upon hour pecially to children, that scientists have cho- industry? every day on their own in the lab, shuffling sen a career in finding out about nature, and home to write up their research before doing “There really isn’t. I’d say I’m a competent that’s it. You don’t have to be freakishly it all again the next day. “One of the key musician, but not that good! I think if I’d got clever. You don’t have to be Mozart to be a points about modern science - certainly as- to my age now in music, I wouldn’t have been professional musician or Einstein to be a sci- tronomy and particle physics - is that it’s ex- creating great things; I don’t think I have it in entist, otherwise we wouldn’t have many!” tremely collaborative and international. With me. I couldn’t write Abbey Road, and that’s the science I do, no single country can build With his forthcoming tour, Brian will once what I’d have wanted to do, so I think I’m not those facilities anymore. One of the great at- again aim to have audiences walk away with good enough. I can play and operate in a tractions of the job, which I emphasise par- a better understanding about the universe’s band, but that’s about it. I’m definitely better ticularly for younger people thinking of a origins and evolution than they had when at science than I am at music.” career in science, is that you get to travel and they bought their ticket. And this time round, Joining Brian onstage for the Q&A section of meet different people from different cultures he’ll be educating and entertaining consider- the show will be comedian Robin Ince, the and countries, and this is vitally important. ably bigger audiences: “For the last tour, we pair having worked together on BBC Radio The more perspectives we can get, the more had a lot of dates in smaller venues, and they Four’s The Infinite Monkey Cage since 2009. likely we are to understand nature. This col- sold out very quickly. So we decided to put So was he a fan of Robin’s before they teamed laboration is a blueprint for the way that our more shows in arenas, which I thought I up? “I’d never heard of him until I worked civilisation must develop. We all live on the wouldn’t enjoy because it wouldn’t be the with him! There was this idea of doing a topi- same planet, after all.” same experience. But what it allowed us to cal science show on Radio Four. I was intro- do was to use these enormous hi-res LED duced to him because the producer wanted to screens, and suddenly the images from the see if it would work, having a comedian and Hubble Space Telescope and the Cassini a scientist co-presenting. And it did work be- spacecraft around Saturn came to life in a Brian Cox Universal: Adventure In Space cause, among other things, Robin is one of way that I’d never seen before. You usually & Time visits Arena Birmingham on the most well-read people I know, so he’s full look at them on a computer monitor. I think Saturday 23 February, returning to the of information and he knows something the audience really enjoyed the spectacle that venue in the autumn, on Saturday 21 about everything. He’s also been trying to astronomy can deliver. The only downsides September. teach me how to impersonate John Peel, but I are that you have to book that kind of tech- just can’t do it.”

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre February new.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:14 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Annie character until the end of April, at which point Craig Revel Horwood will step back into a role that he first performed in 2015. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 19 - Sat 23 February; Birmingham A heart-warming rags-to-riches story of a little girl who finds herself Hippodrome, Tues 23 July - Sun 11 August; Regent Theatre, transported from a New York orphanage to the luxurious world of mil- Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 18 - Sat 23 November lionaire Oliver Warbucks, the show features plenty of memorable Anita Dobson is the latest high-profile performer to take on the cov- songs, including It's A Hard Knock Life, I Don’t Need Anything But eted role of Miss Hannigan in Annie, the oft-touring Broadway musi- You, Easy Street and, of course, the legendary Tomorrow. cal that’s once again hitting the road this month. Anita is playing the

Blue Orange The Misogyny Trials Nick Hancock (pictured), who’s best remembered as the 1990s host of TV shows The REP, Birmingham, Fri 1 - Sat 16 February Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, They Think It’s All Over and Room 101. “The Thurs 28 February Racism, ideology, prejudice and egotism lie play’s central idea is of being swept up into at the heart of this Olivier Award-winning The Misogyny Trials is the product of a col- some sort of white-collar criminal enterprise play by Joe Penhall, best known to Netflix laboration between seven female writers without really knowing how it happened. subscribers as the creator of hit serial-killer who are members of Shakti Women, a 12- Octopus Soup! may not be Bertolt Brecht, but show Mindhunter. year-old Midlands organisation dedicated to I’m hoping that it’s going to be a slick, funny In a London psychiatric hospital, the helping women reach their full potential. Set farce and an enjoyable evening of nonsense schizophrenic Christopher states that he’s in 2030, 10 years after the outlawing of and fun.” the son of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin misogyny but with the practice still rife, the - a claim that leaves his doctor and senior play takes a look at some of the cases consultant at serious odds with each other... brought before Judge Serendipity Hope, a woman dedicated to stamping out misogyny in all its ugly forms - even as she grapples with some deep, dark secrets of her own...

Octopus Soup! Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 2 - Sat 16 February “My Octopus Soup! character, Seymour, is a slightly down-on-his-luck insurance broker,” explains Stoke-born and Shrewsbury-based

24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February new.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:14 Page 2 Kevin Clifton.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 10:59 Page 1

Rocking it! Kevin Clifton unleashes his inner rock star... Kevin Clifton.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 10:59 Page 2

by Patsy Moss

Kevin Clifton is temporarily hanging up his dance shoes to play rock legend Stacee Jaxx in hit jukebox musical Rock Of Ages. What’s On recently caught up with the Strictly Come Dancing 2018 Glitterball winner to find out more...

Last year ended on an enormous high for So how does Kevin plan to tackle a role made on in our parents’ dance classes. I was just Kevin Clifton. As Strictly Come Dancing fans famous by Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise? stood at the back trying to copy them. And will know, Kevin and his dance partner, then at some point I started to go to one of “I’d actually seen the musical quite a few Stacey Dooley, won the TV show’s public the classes. I guess I’ve never really known times before the film came out, so Tom Cruise vote, meaning that he finally got to lift the any different, but there was never any pres- was one of the last people I saw as Stacee. coveted Glitterball trophy after coming so sure. It was just a normal part of life - wake I’ve seen the show both on Broadway and in close on a couple of previous occasions. up, eat breakfast, go to school (or work, as I the West End, and in all honesty it’s my got older) and then go dancing. It’s always Unassuming and ever so modest, Kevin was favourite show. Stacee is quite over the top been a normal part of my day. I just loved to genuinely surprised by the result: “I didn’t and flamboyant. He’s really self-obsessed, so dance, but I’d always wondered about musi- think for one second that we were going to I need to tap into all of that a little bit and be cal theatre, especially as I got older. Dance is win. I thought it was going to be another as pretentious as I can about it all. As far as something I’ve always done, but with musi- runners-up spot, so when Tess called out our rock icons are concerned, I went over to Paris cal theatre it was mor names, it was just total shock. My legs kind of to visit Jim Morrison’s grave because I e of a conscious deci- gave way and I screamed. I’d always thought thought that would be a really cool rock’n’roll sion, something that I was leaning towards; that if it did ever happen, I’d be cool, calm thing to do, and I want to tap into a bit of well, either that or becoming a rock star, so and collected. Instead, I just lost control and him. As for over-the-top flamboyancy, I’ll this has all worked out nicely.” started crying!” probably look to the band The Darkness. Be- Although obsessed with dancing and in- tween them, they play into the Rock Of Ages What makes the win even sweeter for Kevin is trigued by musical theatre, Kevin did have ethos quite nicely.” that he nearly didn’t make it to the Strictly his eye on one other career for a period of time: “I wanted to be a wrestler - like, a WWE dancefloor. Having been rejected twice, his Kevin is no stranger to musical theatre, hav- wrestler. That’s what I thought I’d be, but I opportunity only came when the producers ing made his debut in Dirty Dancing in the would never have looked the part.” upped the ante and decided to make the West End - but how will his vocals stand up show bigger - increasing the number of to belting out the show’s repertoire of rock- Kevin most certainly does look the part as a dancers from 14 to 15 and finally giving Kevin ’n’roll classics, including Bon Jovi’s Wanted Strictly dancer, though - so will he be return- the break he needed to showcase his dancing Dead Or Alive and Foreigner’s I Want To ing to the hit BBC One television show in the prowess. “I feel like I snuck in through the Know What Love Is? autumn? back door a little bit to get into the show. This “I’ve always loved singing, and I used to have “I hope they’ll ask me back, but they don’t five-year journey has been one of trying and a lot of singing lessons when I was doing make any decisions until a couple of months trying and just never giving up.” Dirty Dancing, even though I only had to do into the new year. They normally have an ini- As many of the show’s dancers and celebri- backing vocals in that particular show. As for tial conversation with you around February ties hit the road with the Strictly Live Tour, my vocal range, I can get up quite high, or March, and then, if they want you, you get Kevin is living another dream - playing Stacee which was one of the reasons I was interested offered a contract later in the year. If they still Jaxx in the UK tour of acclaimed jukebox mu- in doing this. The thing I need to focus on is want me on the show, then yes, I’d love to be sical Rock Of Ages. So just how rock’n’roll is the maintenance of the voice, and that’s there.” he? something I’m continuing to work on so that I can sustain doing seven or eight shows a “The truth is I’m not really rock’n’roll at all, week.” but I’ve always fancied myself as a wannabe In the meantime, you can catch Kevin in rock star. I always felt before Strictly that I It would be fair to assume that Grimsby-born Rock Of Ages at the Regent Theatre, Stoke- dressed the part all of the time. I would wear Kevin was always destined for a career in on-Trent, from Tues 12 to Sat 16 February. leather trousers, big boots and a long leather dance - both his parents were dance teachers, coat. I had this long black hair and wore eye- while his sister, Joanne Clifton, won Strictly He will then be bringing his Burn The liner and makeup all of the time. I love rock- in 2015. She’s since carved out an impressive Floor tour to the region in the spring. ’n’roll music, but when it actually comes to career in musical theatre. Visit whatsonlive.co.uk for venues and acting up like a rock star, then not anymore. “My first dance class, so I’ve been told, was dates. Even at the Strictly wrap party, I left early be- when I was about four years old. I just started cause I wanted to get home and have a cup of joining in as I was watching what was going tea.” Blue Orange for online mag.qxp_Layout 1 31/01/2019 10:37 Page 1 Blue Orange for online mag.qxp_Layout 1 31/01/2019 10:37 Page 2

Peeling back the layers

Richard Lintern takes on new role at The Rep

For millions of television viewers, actor ther have these issues themselves or they will Old Vic last year, the Netflix series Mind- Richard Lintern is best known as a patholo- have friends who have issues about confi- hunter and he also wrote the screen adapta- gist – but this month he switches medical dence, about crises in people’s lives or about tions of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love and professions to become a psychiatrist. mental health in one way or another.” Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Richard, who has played Dr Thomas Cham- And Richard believes audience members will Blue/Orange may have been written nearly berlain in six series of the hit BBC drama also have strong opinions over the decisions two decades ago but Richard says it hasn’t Silent Witness, is taking on a new role in the surrounding the future for Christopher. dated at all – in fact its themes may be even play Blue/Orange at Birmingham Repertory more pertinent in 2019 than they were in Theatre. “The two psychiatrists, a younger one and an 2000. older one, have very different views about Written by Joe Penhall, Blue/Orange pre- how the young man should be treated. “The reason I was attracted to do the play is miered at the National Theatre in 2000 before because it’s a terrific piece of theatre,” transferring to the West End and picking up a “And so it ends up with the audience mem- Richard says. “It was a massive success in the raft of awards. It tells the story of Christo- bers becoming almost amateur psychiatrists West End and there’s a reason it’s being re- pher, who is sectioned to a psychiatric unit themselves because they will either agree or vived. The issues are as contemporary and where professionals wrangle over his diagno- disagree with the course of treatment which relevant today, if not more so, than they were sis and treatment. one or other of the psychiatrists is recom- when this play was first written 20 years ago. mending.” When Christopher tells the specialists he is You can’t open a paper these days without the son of the former Ugandan president Idi The specialists are not just influenced by reading about teenagers struggling with de- Amin, he opens a Pandora’s box of racism, their age and experience – their views are pression or women or men having issues misunderstanding, prejudice, professional ri- also coloured by the fact that Christopher is around mental health. valry and bigotry. black. “It’s rather a sad thing to say that the themes Richard plays the senior consultant Robert “Race massively impacts on those decisions – are still so relevant. If you’d asked the people alongside Thomas Coombes as junior con- whether there’s an unconscious bias or a who did the play originally if they’d thought sultant Bruce and Ivan Oyik as Christopher in conscious bias,” says Richard. “I’ll leave the that 20 years in the future these issues of race the new production directed by Birmingham people who come and see the show to decide and mental health would be as relevant and Rep’s associate director Daniel Bailey. And whether or not, certainly my character, has a as full of controversy now as they were then, Richard says both the play and his role are hidden agenda. they would probably have said not. They thought-provoking. would have expected us to make progress on “I don’t want to pre-judge him. In many ways them. “Whenever I talk to my friends about the he says things which are valid and justifiable play, if you don’t present it in the right way, it but at certain points he comes out with stuff “Sadly we haven’t and in a multicultural en- sounds like the worst play in the history of which will take the audience’s breath away – vironment like Birmingham the play is a very the world because it’s about mental health or I certainly hope it will!” relevant reminder of that.” and race,” Richard says. Blue/Orange was one of Joe Penhall’s first “But it’s actually hysterically funny and it’s a successful theatre productions. His other Blue Orange shows at The Rep, play that has issues in it which will touch vir- works include The Kinks’ musical Sunny Af- Birmingham from Fri 1 - Saturday 16 tually everyone in the audience. They will ei- ternoon, Mood Music which premiered at the February Theatre February new.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:14 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Glengarry Glen Ross The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 18 - Sat 23 February Although David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize- winning classic is probably best known from its 1992 all-star movie adaptation, the Christian Slater/Robert Glenister version of the play that’s showing in the London West End until the third of this month has certainly been winning some plaudits of its own. Visiting Birmingham just two weeks after closing at the Playhouse Theatre, and starring one-time EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman (pictured left), the show tells the story of four under-pressure Chicago real-estate salesmen and their desperate attempts to close some deals. If they’re successful enough, they can win a Cadillac; if they’re not, the scrapheap beckons... Harman is joined in the cast by Mark Benton (pictured right).

The Capital When aspiring earth scientist Melvin Ferd the mated sets and innovative puppetry, the Third attempts to clean up Tromaville’s pol- show focuses on the idea of miniaturised Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 12 lution problem, the town’s corrupt mayor has human workers - Intronauts - who’re injected February; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wed 13 February him thrown into a vat of toxic waste - from into the body in order to carry out essential which he emerges as New Jersey's first ever maintenance work. The question is, though... The ever-clever Stan’s Cafe are at their im- superhero, The Toxic Avenger... Do people actually want to know about pressively ingenious best with this latest slice what’s going on inside them?... of thought-provoking theatre. Performed without words to a ‘stunning’ soundtrack, The Capital uses moving-walk- Metamorphosis ways to present a visual story based around The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, The House On Cold Hill themes of financial and social inequality. Tues 26 February - Sat 2 March Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 4 - Sat 9 Stan’s Cafe are presenting the show in associ- A desire for more control over the material he February; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 11 - Sat 16 February ation with Birmingham Repertory Theatre. was performing inspired actor Adam Lloyd- James to set up Beyond The Horizon (BTH) EastEnders’ favourite Rita Simons and four years ago - since which time the theatre Strictly 2017 winner Joe McFadden spearhead company has majored in producing dynamic this new stage adaptation of Peter James’ in- and immersive touring shows driven by emo- genious novel. With more than 17 million tive stories and high-quality effects. Latest copies of his books sold worldwide, James’ production Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka’s reputation as a talented crime-fiction author famous story about a man who wakes up one was further enhanced a couple of years back morning to find that he’s been transformed when he received the coveted Diamond Dag- into ‘a monstrous vermin’ - looks set to fur- ger award, crime-writing’s highest honour. ther enhance BTH’s reputation as one of the This latest stage adaptation of the novelist’s UK’s brightest new theatre companies. Lloyd- work sees the Hargreaves family moving into James himself takes the lead role of Gregor. the house of their dreams - a house, it soon becomes apparent, in which they may not be alone... Intronauts Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, The Toxic Avenger Wed 20 - Fri 22 February The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Green Ginger are frequently praised for their Thurs 7 - Sat 16 February refreshingly anarchic approach to theatre - There’s certainly nothing toxic about this and this latest production offers them plenty show - a five-star rock musical based on a of opportunity to illustrate just why they’ve cult classic and boasting a fantastically origi- become so widely admired. Set in the near fu- nal storyline. ture and blending absurd visual comedy, ani-

26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February new.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:14 Page 4 Rufus Norris DPS Macbeth the grand.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 11:00 Page 1

21ST CENTURY MACBETH Rufus Norris DPS Macbeth the grand.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 11:00 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

What’s On catches up with National Theatre Artistic Director Rufus Norris to discuss the reimagined production of Macbeth he’s touring to Wolverhampton next month...

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s fiercest news feeds and many of the play’s thematic good. I have sympathy for the old-school crit- tragedies. The familiar story of murder, deceit roots.” ics in broadsheet newspapers because they and suicide undergoes a thrilling remake for have incredible knowledge of theatre, and The metaphysical is also a vital part of the National Theatre’s (NT) touring production. it’s very difficult for them at the moment be- play. In productions of Macbeth, creatives cause a lot of the arts sections are being cut “I feel Macbeth speaks very keenly to a lot of must think carefully about how the witches back. However, I’m also all for the diversifica- aspects of nowadays,” explains NT’s Artistic fit into their vision. tion of criticism through the world of blog- Director, Rufus Norris. “It’s a story of cor- “The witches are a hugely important element ging and social media, as it’s much closer to rupted leadership, ambition and survival. You of the play. There’s something very unevent- the informed word-of-mouth you get from au- don’t have to look very far in the world to see ful about other-worldly goings-on in the 11th dience members.” how ambition can change leaders, and how century, and still a lot of pagan belief sys- taking various courses of action can lead to a Moving away from talking about Macbeth, tems giving a context to that metaphysical corruption of them spiritually and literally. If what does Rufus feel is the National The- world. In conflict situations, even nowadays, you look to places like Syria or Libya, it’s not atre’s primary remit? superstitions rise to the surface. People hard to see contemporary parallels to my vi- adopt different belief systems, or begin to put “We have to live up to our name. Obviously, sion of the play.” their faith in lucky charms and the like, to we have to make theatre that’s good, but be- Rufus believes it’s these parallels that al- help themselves find a way through the hor- yond that, we have to continue to earn that lowed him to take Macbeth from the 11th cen- ror. That’s how our setting honours the meta- title of ‘national’. For me, part of the Brexit tury to a contemporary post-civil war setting: physical.” vote was a very deep protest against inequal- “Eleventh century Scotland was a time where ity of opportunity and the break-up of com- Rufus’ Macbeth wasn’t received all that well Vikings were rampaging. Trying to keep a munities all over Britain. It’s part of our duty by the critics when it debuted at London’s kingdom together at that time would’ve been and privilege to make sure we prioritise en- Olivier Theatre: “I think there’s generally just really difficult. I’ve seen various productions couraging and supporting arts centres, the- a resistance to updating Shakespeare - and of Macbeth, where it’s set in the 1920s or the atres and all creative infrastructure around also, many people don’t really like looking 16th century, and I don’t think they work be- the country, because theatre does bring ev- with a depressing or pessimistic eye to the fu- cause the play rapidly becomes about rich eryone together. It’s also important to main- ture. Our concept wasn’t just plucked from people killing other rich people. The influ- tain equality of opportunity across the UK. nowhere. I think the brilliance of Shake- ence of corrupt, ambitious leadership and the It’s a no-brainer to take this production speare is that it can easily be adapted. It’s a relationship between characters comes around the country, and in certain key slightly abbreviated text in our case, but I’ve through, but I feel it misses that true 11th cen- places, like Wolverhampton, to make our never seen a Shakespeare play that wasn’t in tury element of ‘survival’. To get by in that tu- communication and collaboration deeper, to some way. We cut one or two sequences, multuous environment, people would’ve had address how important the creative indus- which the die-hard Shakespeare fans were to take opportunities when they came, which tries are to our nation.” critical of, but I was genuinely surprised by sometimes may have provoked the kind of the reaction from some critics, and obviously Encouraging engagement with the arts in ed- radical, murderous action we see in Macbeth. very disappointed. However, the auditorium ucation is also something about which Rufus “Therefore, the contemporary setting was an has always been full and the audience’s re- is passionate: “The degradation of arts in ed- obvious place to go for me. If all the lights sponse to it has been very positive. I’m just ucation is a huge issue. There’s a relentless went out, the internet stopped working, the very relieved that word-of-mouth pushed drive by authorities towards maths and the banks stopped giving people their money back against the tide of those initial negative sciences, or to see literature as the only valu- and the rubbish was no longer collected, in a responses.” able art. I do feel very strongly that drama week, let alone a month, the streets would texts are being studied in schools in a way Despite the lack of correlation between critic look very different. In 10 years’ time, when that focuses solely on them being words on a and audience reaction, Rufus still believes we would see those who’d survived and had page, rather than what they’re supposed to theatre criticism to be of immense value. adapted to living in this new world, the scene be - a performance.” would probably play out much more like the “I think critics are important, particularly for 11th century Scotland of Macbeth than any productions with less well-known titles and other time since. It made sense to place Mac- without any serious stars. Those reviews are Macbeth shows at the Wolverhampton beth in a contemporary, post-civil war set- essential because fewer people would buy a Grand Theatre from Tuesday 12 to ting, which chimes with what we see on our ticket without having already been told it’s Saturday 16 March Theatre February new.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:14 Page 5 Theatre February new.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:14 Page 6

Theatre previews from around the region Theatre

The Band Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 26 February - Sat 2 March Despite being co-produced by Take That and featuring their music, Tim Firth’s show isn’t about Gary Bar- low and co. It’s actually a story about the fans, the power music can have over people and, as Firth himself says, how music ‘makes time travellers of us all’. For five teenage girls in 1992, ‘The Boys’ and their music are everything. Twenty-five years later, the quintet attempt to rekindle their friendship with a trip to a concert by the band they loved so dearly as teenagers. But none of the ladies’ lives have turned out quite the way they were expecting...

Kinky Boots Today on 1 November 1977, Mike Leigh’s Abi- be honest, it wasn’t something that I knew I gail’s Party became an instant hit and cata- cared about until I started reading stories Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, pulted the brilliant Alison Steadman to about people who’d been affected by it.” Mon 28 January - Sat 9 February; Birmingham Hippodrome, stardom. A fascinating study of the preten- Focusing on the difficulties experienced by a Mon 11 - Sat 23 March sions of 1970s suburbia, the play focuses on soldier returning from the war in The newly appointed manager of his late fa- the interplay between five ill-matched char- Afghanistan, the show has been produced in ther’s shoe factory in Northampton, Charlie acters during an evening characterised by al- collaboration with British war veterans and Price has got some tough decisions to make cohol, cigarettes, Demis Roussos records and their extended support networks. as he attempts to save the struggling busi- cheesy nibbles. ness. After a chance meeting with drag queen Steadman’s portrayal of the monstrous Bev- Lola, Charlie identifies a potentially lucrative erly was so definitive that it’s since been vir- niche market - creating footwear to cater for tually impossible for any actress to play the men who dress as women... character in any other way. Jodie Prenger is A topical story about diversity and accep- the latest to embrace the challenge. tance, Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film of the same name and features music & lyrics by ’80s pop star Cyndi Lauper. Expect a feel- good evening of catchy tunes, fierce anthems and warm-hearted humour.

Back In Our Day: The Life & Times Of The Dancing Grannies Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, Fri 1 & Sat 2 February; Forest Arts Centre, A Brave Face Walsall, Fri 15 February; Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 22 February Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 26 & Wed 27 February; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Black Country laughter merchants Fizzog Fri 29 Mar; Lichfield Garrick, Sat 30 March; make a welcome return with their internet Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 10 April sensations The Dancing Grannies, presenting Worcestershire-based full mask theatre a show that charts the elderly trio’s fabulous Abigail’s Party company Vamos here tackle the emotional friendship, from the 1940s right through to Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, subject of post-traumatic stress. the present day. Mon 18 - Sat 23 February “I wasn’t very aware of PTS before,” says Making its television debut as a BBC Play For Vamos’ Artistic Director, Rachel Savage. “To

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Theatre for younger audiences... Theatre

that Fireman Sam, Noddy, Shimmer & Shine and all their friends are on hand to help out... If you’ve watched the TV series and/or been to a previous live production, you’ll already know what to expect from this latest Milkshake! show. If not, get ready for an event that promises lots of laughter, bucket- loads of family fun, bags of audience participation and plenty of singing and dancing.

Jack And The Beanstalk Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 22 February Jack and his mam are hard-up and have no choice but to take their cow to market to raise some cash. However, Jack being Jack, he de- cides to trade her in (the cow, that is, not his The Cat In The Hat have ever met. And what’s more, he’s got a mam) for a handful of magic beans, which fantastic talent for turning the rainiest of af- then grow into a real ogre of a beanstalk... The REP, Birmingham, ternoons into the most amazing of adven- Tues 26 February - Sun 3 March If you’re up for a bit of post-panto-season fe- tures... This latest theatrical version of Dr fi-fo-fumming, the Gatehouse is most defi- The Cat In The Hat is the funniest, most Seuss’s much-loved book boasts plenty of nitely the venue to head for, as the hugely mischievous cat that Sally and her brother circus-style action. popular Lyngo Theatre prove that not every encounter with a grumpy, cash-counting ogre need end in tears. Elmer The Patchwork Exciting Science Show Elephant The Core Theatre, Solihull, Wed 20 February Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sat 2 February; The If your kids love things that wiz, bang, pop Mimi And The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, and splurt, then this is most definitely the Wed 27 & Thurs 28 February Mountain Dragon production for them! Created with children Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 21 February This lively production tells the story of a aged four and older in mind, and featuring This ‘magical musical puppetry adventure’ is patchwork elephant who determines to hide ‘silly, fun and factual’ science experiments, presented by Skewbald Theatre and based on his ‘true colours’ in an effort to blend in, only the show is being hailed by its producers as the popular children’s book by Michael Mor- to find that he feels happiest when he’s sim- ‘the perfect way to engage the imagination purgo. The story unfolds in the snowy moun- ply being himself. during a dull and boring half-term holiday’. Selladoor Family is the company behind this tains of Switzerland, where the villagers of latest stage presentation of David McKee's Dorta create a cacophony of noise in order to much-loved creation, which comes complete keep away the Mountain Dragon. with puppetry, plenty of colour and, er, a The Amazing Adventures But when a young girl named Mimi discovers trunk-load of fun... Of Pinocchio a baby dragon sleeping in her woodshed, she realises that she must conquer her over- Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 24 February whelming sense of fear in order to return the Sourpuss The walking, talking puppet with the mis- little creature to its fiercesome mother... chievous nose that grows and grows when- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, ever he tells even the smallest of porky pies Sun 17 February makes a welcome return in a brand new, Buzzing bees, chirpy robins, vibrant flowers larger-than-life musical. Immersion Theatre Twirlywoos Live! and stinky rubbish are much in evidence are the company behind this latest version of Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 22 - Sun 24 when a grumpy ginger cat named Sourpuss Carlo Collodi’s classic tale. February; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, finds himself shut out of the house. Tues 26 February Intrigued by the garden, he heads off on an The Twirlywoos’ big red boat drops anchor adventure that makes him realise there’s at two major Midlands venues this month. maybe more to the great outdoors than he’d Milkshake! Live 2019 CBeebies stars Great BigHoo, Toodloo, previously imagined... Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Wed 20 February; Lich- Chickedy and Chick have earned themselves Featuring beautifully handcrafted string and field Garrick, Sat 23 February; Prince Of Wales an impressive following of young television shadow puppets, the show is performed by Theatre, Cannock, Wed 17 April viewers since debuting in 2015. They’re visit- professional puppeteer Lori Hopkins and is Milkshake Monkey’s desire to put on a new ing the region with a live show that features suitable for youngsters aged between three musical has hit the skids due to a nasty bout mischief, music, plenty of surprises and and eight. of rampant stage fright - so thank heaven some beautifully inventive puppetry.

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Dance

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 5 - Sat 16 February “It’s always exciting to bring back Swan Lake,” says Matthew Bourne, whose company, New Adventures, bring his classic version of the legendary ballet back to the Hip- podrome this month. “So many people love it, and you know they’re going to want to come and see it again and bring along friends and family who didn’t see it last time.” First staged in 1995 and the longest-running ballet in the West End and on Broadway, Bourne’s Swan Lake is best known for the fact of having an all-male cast. “It was such an iconic image for people to have a male dancing swan,” continues Matthew. “It was very unex- pected, and people couldn’t imagine what it was going to look like. It got dubbed ‘the gay Swan Lake’, which wasn’t what the aim was, but there was certainly a story within it that was very meaningful for gay audiences, and I celebrate that. It’s accepted now by a much wider audience, who, rather than be shocked by any element of it, find it uplifting that this is a story being told about a young man who’s confused about his future and his sexuality. I think that’s something which is very meaningful for young people in the audience.”

Torus Autin Dance Theatre: A stories around sex, love and relationships unravels, with audience participation and The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Posi+ive Life original scenography transporting the Fri 15 & Sat 16 February Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, guests to the heart of the piece.” “Torus is a return to the tribal,” explain Rudi Thurs 14 February Now in its sixth year, Autin Dance Theatre Cole and Júlia Robert Parés, the co-artistic di- Project-based Birmingham company has gained an enviable reputation for rectors of Humanhood, the contemporary Autin Dance Theatre describes its re- producing impressively innovative artistic dance ensemble presenting the show. worked version of this 2017 show as ‘an performances based around contempo- “It’s a tribal hurricane of effortless fluidity interactive sex education and coming-of- rary social issues and events. The com- where rhythm takes over the performers and age dance-theatre experience for pany also runs an extensive the viewer.” teenagers and young adults’. “The piece community-focused learning and partici- Commissioned by DanceXchange and Sadler’s is a special invitation to a house party like pation programme. Wells, the new show explores issues relating to no other,” explains company founder and physics and Eastern mysticism, contemplating choreographer Johnny Autin. “A web of the ways in which the connections between these two seemingly very different subjects ‘shape our human experience of ourselves and BalletBoyz: Them/Us reality’. Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 28 February This innovative double bill is a brand new collaboration from Ballet Boyz’s critically acclaimed dancers and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. The first of the two shows, Them - set to a score by emerging composer Char- lotte Harding - is the work of the company's own in-house talent. The follow-up presentation, Us, is inspired by the Wheeldon-choreo- graphed duet that featured in the company's previous show, Fourteen Days. 32 whatsonlive.co.uk Dance February 2019-2.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 13:54 Page 2

Dance previews from around the region

Giovanni Pernice: Dance Is Life Albany Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 21 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 24 February; Lichfield Garrick, Sun 31 March; Oakengates Theatre at The Place, Telford, Mon 1 April Giovanni Pernice is a two-time Guinness Book of Records star, thanks to the stunning speed at which he can perform jive kicks & flicks and Charleston swivels. Here presenting a production that’s maybe just a cut or two above similar showcases by other much-loved Strictly stars, the 28-year-old Ital- ian is visiting the Midlands just 11 short days after finishing the Strictly Live! tour, during which he once again teamed up with his 2018 celebrity dance partner, Steps’ Faye Tozer. Strictly’s newest pro, Luba Mushtuk, joins in the fun.

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Beauty And The Beast Birmingham Hippodrome, to spend the rest of his life as a grotesque Tues 19 February - Sat 2 March beast, eventually finds salvation in the Beauty And The Beast is one of Birming- heart of a beautiful girl. ham Royal Ballet’s most popular produc- Featuring a golden ballroom full of won- tions, thanks in no small measure to David drous animals and a magical transforma- Bintley’s rich choreography and Philip tion as the beast once again becomes a Prowse’s stunning sets. handsome prince, the production’s music Much loved by generations, the story tells is composed by Glenn Buhr and performed of a cruel prince who, having been cursed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Jasmin Vardimon: Medusa Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 9 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 18 February Founded in 1998, Jasmin Vardimon’s company combines physical theatre and quirky characteri- sation with innovative technologies, text and dance. The choreographer’s latest work, focusing on the myth surrounding the powerful feminine symbol of Medusa and its various connotations in contemporary life, was created on the coast of Barcelona and inspired by its marine life. “A lot of the time, people stay behind after our performance for the post-show discussion,” explains Jasmin. “You can see that they’re emotionally attached or intellectually engaged and want to speak and talk about it more. And that’s exactly what I always hope to do with my art. I want to make people think and ask questions; I don't want to give answers. At the end of the day, I see myself as a storyteller and communicator about things that are important to me.”

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Film

Green Book CERT 12a (130 mins) Starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini Directed by Peter Farrelly (USA) Voted best film of the year by the National Board of Review, Green Book is shaping up to be a major Oscar contender. Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) has already won a fistful of glittering prizes as the classical jazz pianist 'Doc' Don Shirley, who tours the Deep South in the 1960s. As a flipside to Driving Miss Daisy, Shirley’s chauffeur is actually an Italian-American bouncer, played by Mortensen, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his part (although Ali actually won it). Based on interviews with Shirley, the film marks a seismic artistic switch for its writer-director Peter Farrelly, who is better known for his gross-out comedies Dumb And Dumber, Shallow Hal and There's Something About Mary. Released Fri 1 Feb EDITOR’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in February...

Can You Ever Forgive Me? Escape Room How To Train Your Dragon: CERT 15 (106 mins) CERT 15 (99 mins) The Hidden World Starring Melissa McCarthy, Richard E Grant, Starring Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, CERT PG (104 mins) Dolly Wells, Jane Curtin Deborah Ann Woll, Tyler Labine Directed by Marielle Heller (USA) Directed by Adam Robitel (USA) With the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, Six strangers find themselves trapped in a Jonah Hill, Kit Harington, Gerard Butler series of rooms that only offer a meagre Directed by Dean DeBlois (USA) possibility of escape… Fans of Saw, The Maze Runner and especially Cube take note. Filmed in South Africa. Released Fri 1 Feb

The first two cartoons were terrific and this Based on the eponymous memoir by Lee Is- one builds on the mythical universe of burly rael, this bittersweet drama tells how the bi- Scotsmen and flying creatures, as Hiccup ographer turned to forgery to keep up with (Baruchel) discovers ‘The Hidden World,’ a her rent. It’s a fascinating tale well told with dragon utopia that may be under threat. sparkling performances from the three leads. Released Fri 1 Feb Released Fri 1 Feb whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Film February 1.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 20:01 Page 3

Film

Alita: Battle Angel If Beale Street Could Talk Instant Family CERT 12a (122 mins) CERT 15 (119 mins) CERT 12a (118 mins) Starring Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Starring KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Colman Starring Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Domingo, Dave Franco, Ed Skrein, Regina Moner, Margo Martindale, Julie Hagerty, Oc- Jackie Earle Haley King Directed by Barry Jenkins (USA) tavia Spencer Directed by Sean Anders (USA)) Directed by Robert Rodriguez (USA) The first film from Barry Jenkins since his Oscar-winning Moonlight (2016), this drama follows a pregnant woman (Layne) as she tries to clear the name of her wrongly ac- cused lover. Based on the 1974 novel by James Baldwin. Released Fri 8 Feb

Produced and co-scripted by James Cameron, Mark Wahlberg returns to comedy (after the this is a big-budget adaptation of the cyber- blistering heroics of Mile 22) and is punk manga comic. Set in a post-apocalyptic reunited with Sean Anders, director of world, it stars Salazar as a disembodied soul Daddy’s Home and Daddy’s Home 2. He who is given a body by a scientist (Waltz), en- (Marky Mark) and Rose Byrne play eager par- abling her to try and find out who she really ents whose cup runneth over when they is. Expect lashings of CGI. adopt three children. Idiots. Released Wed 6 Feb Released Thurs 14 Feb The Lego Movie 2: The All Is True CERT 12a (101 mins) Isn’t It Romantic CERT tbc CERT PG (126 mins) Starring Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Ian Second Part Starring Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, Adam McKellen Directed by Kenneth Branagh (UK) With the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, DeVine, Priyanka Chopra, Jennifer Saunders In a bizarre about-face of his TV sitcom Up- Tiffany Haddish, Will Arnett, Channing Tatum, Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson Margot Robbie Directed by Mike Mitchell (USA/Australia) start Crow, scenarist Ben Elton looks at (USA/Australia/Denmark/Canada/Norway) Shakespeare in his later years as he mourns The boxy figurines are back for another ad- the death of his son Hamnet and the destruc- venture set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. tion of The Globe theatre due to fire. Writing, By the sounds of it, the collective tongue re- it seems, is the last thing on the Bard’s mind. mains in its cheek as Batman, Superman, Released Fri 8 Feb Aquaman and Emmet struggle to preserve the status quo of Apocalypseburg. Boy Erased CERT 15 (115 mins) Released Fri 8 Feb Starring Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Joe Alwyn, Xavier Dolan When Natalie, an Australian architect work- Directed by Joel Edgerton (USA/Australia) ing in New York (Rebel Wilson), is knocked When the son of a preacher is raped by a fel- out, she wakes up to find herself stuck inside low student, he is sent away to a gay therapy a romcom. It’s full of clichés and other hack- conversion centre. Amazingly, there are still neyed situations, but in order to claw her way 36 states that allow conversion therapy to be back to reality, Natalie must first find true practised on minors and this sensitive drama love within her new parameters. is based on the real-life memoirs of Garrard Released Fri 15 Feb Conley. Released Fri 8 Feb Happy Death Day 2U The Kid Who Would CERT 15 (120 mins) Be King CERT PG Starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Starring Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Phi Vu, Suraj Sharma, Steve Zissis Rebecca Ferguson, Patrick Stewart, Denise Directed by Christopher Landon (USA) Gough Directed by Joe Cornish (UK/USA) Two years ago, Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) Alex Elliot is bullied at school but discovers had a habit of dying every day. And now her that he is bestowed with a very special, cen- friends are at it. But who’s the killer? turies’ old power. A modern-day reincarna- tion of King Arthur, Alex is compelled to Released Thurs 14 Feb

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Film highlights released in February...

protect his world from the ancient forces of darkness rallied by Morgana le Fay (Fergu- son). Alex is played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis, son of the actor and director Andy Serkis. Released Fri 15 Feb

Capernaum CERT tbc (121 mins) Starring Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole Directed by Na- dine Labaki (Lebanon) CRITIC’S CHOICE Winner of the Jury Prize at last year’s Cannes that can be heard around the world... film festival, Capernaum is the extraordinary A Private War CERT 15 (110 mins) story of a 12-year-old Syrian refugee boy who A Private War - based on Marie Brenner’s Starring Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Tom feature, Marie Colvin’s Private War, for takes his parents to court. Hollander, Stanley Tucci, Corey Johnson, Vanity Fair - marks the ‘fictional’ debut of Released Fri 22 Feb Faye Marsay Directed by Matthew Heineman (UK/USA) Matthew Heineman, who directed the vis- “Nobody in their right mind would do what ceral, harrowing Cartel Land and City Of you do,” Sean Ryan tells Marie Colvin. He Ghosts, two of the best documentaries in is the foreign editor for The Sunday Times, the last decade. Here, he applies his nose she is his star player, a fearless correspon- for the frontline drama with an accom- dent who has reported from the hellholes plished verve, while permitting his actors of Chechnya, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Sri the chance to shine. Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan. As Colvin, Rosamund Pike is as selfless in As the film opens, Marie Colvin’s voice ru- her portrayal of a one-eyed alcoholic minates on the nature of her work and of woman in her 50s as was Nicole Kidman as her fear, something, she says, that came the washed-up alcoholic cop in Destroyer, after the fact. She is in Homs, Syria, a place but Pike inhabits her role more fully. She Cold Pursuit CERT tbc (118 mins) where houses, streets and whole districts never seems to be acting and is every inch Starring Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Emmy have been reduced to rubble, decorated by the damaged, searching and highly intelli- Rossum, Tom Bateman, William Forsythe gent reporter that Colvin obviously was. Directed by Hans Petter Moland (USA) the entrails of its inhabitants. Her job is to share the fear, to give her subjects a voice Released Fri 15 Feb Liam Neeson is on the warpath again, this time seeking retribution for the death of his son at the hands of a drug cartel. The difference this time is that Liam plays a snow- plough operator. It’s a remake of the 2014 On The Basis Of Sex The Rhythm Section CERT tbc Norwegian actioner In Order Of Disappear- CERT 12a (120 mins) Starring Blake Lively, Jude Law, Max Casella, ance, also directed by Hans Petter Moland. Starring Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Daniel Mays, Richard Brake, Sterling K Brown Released Fri 22 Feb Theroux, Sam Waterston, Kathy Bates, Cailee Directed by Reed Morano (UK/USA) Spaeny, Jack Reynor Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively) was meant Directed by Mimi Leder (USA) to be on a flight that killed her family. Then That’s sex as in gender. Following the mar- she discovers that the crash was not an acci- vellously engaging documentary RBG last dent… Based on the novel by Mark Burnell month, now comes the dramatisation of the and directed by the former cinematographer early years of the iconoclastic Ruth Bader Reed Morano, so it should look good. Ginsberg, the Supreme Court justice who Released Fri 22 Feb fought the corner for her sex. Released Fri 22 Feb

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Sat 16 February - Sun 2 June The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition makes a welcome return to the Herbert this month in the form of 100 stunning images. The on-show pics were selected by expert judges and drawn from a staggering 45,000-plus entries, the images being rated for their creativity, originality and technical excellence. Open both to professional and amateur snappers, the competition celebrates biodiversity, promotes conservation and champions ethical photography. In the process, it also provides visitors with the opportunity to view dramatic landscapes and endangered habitats, as well as to come face-to-face with some of the

world’s most bizarre species. © Marsel van Oosten - Wildlife Photographer of the Year the of Photographer Wildlife - Oosten Marsel van ©

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Visual Arts

Pick Of The Pops Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 2 February - Sun 1 September Wolverhampton Art Gallery boasts the UK’s largest collection of Pop Art outside of London - so it’s hardly surprising that the venue frequently mounts exhibitions celebrating the hugely influential 20th century art movement. This particular show is a little different from its predecessors, however, with visitors being given the chance to vote for their favourite on-display work of art. The re- sults will then be used to form the gallery’s very own ‘pick of the Pops’… Featured image is Colour Her Gone by Pauline Boty (1962) Leonardo da Vinci: A Life In Drawing and copyright is the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Artist’s Estate. Fri 1 February - Mon 6 May Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s (BMAG) display of 12 drawings by Leonardo da Vinci forms part of a nationwide Drawing Out The Sound event to mark the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death. Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham, Featuring a total of 144 of the Renaissance master's greatest until Sun 19 May artworks, drawn from the Royal Collection and displayed in 12 simultaneous exhibitions across the country, A Life In Drawing provides the widest-ever UK audience with the opportunity to see the work of a truly extraordinary artist. None of the 12 drawings on display at BMAG have ever before been seen in Birmingham. The exhibition is accompanied by a series of talks and tours, as well as a programme of events aimed at ‘bringing to life’ Leonardo’s techniques, to enhance visitors’ appreciation of the drawings on show.

The Range snacks, hysteria, diversity initiatives, grief, sadness, flu, joy, irreverence and Eastside Projects, Birmingham, until Sat 27 April pleasure. We hope you enjoy the show.” “The Range is an exhibition approached A bravura display of drawings and prints by as an artwork,” explains its curator, Re- artists ranging from Dürer to Renoir, Drawing hana Zaman. “It uses instinct and intu- Out The Sound explores the ways in which vi- ition as a guiding principle, bringing sual artists have risen to the challenge of depict- together a group of people and sharing ing music and sound through the silent media resources, both material and emotional, of graphic art. to realise an idea. The exhibition coincides with the Barber’s loan “The artists gathered in this show, and of the National Portrait Gallery’s Johan Zoffany for the purposes of this show, speak to a masterpiece, The Sharp Family. The sumptu- sentiment, an attitude, a conviction; ously painted artwork depicts 13 musicmaking they have the range. All have shown relatives who captivated 18th century audiences work or created a public discussion that with al-fresco performances from their barge on I have found myself drawn to. All the the Thames. artists have crafted new works for the The painting, never before seen outside London, show - a show initiated by one group is the centrepiece of a Barber programme of gathering in October 2018, a WhatsApp events and presentations - including Drawing group chat and endless email threads. Out The Sound - which has been designed to in- “We discuss suns and moons, rice vestigate the subject of music in art.

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

Yes, you VOTED in your thousands in the first round of nominations in the What’s On Readers’ Awards - over 15,000 votes across the West Midlands region!Now it’s time for you to VOTE once more to choose your ultimate WINNER in each category! Here are the award shortlist finalists:

Midlands Large Theatre Broadway Messiah - Symphony Hall l Birmingham Hippodrome l Birmingham Royal Ballet: Sleeping l Welsh National Opera: War & Peace - l Belgrade Theatre - Coventry Beauty Birmingham Hippodrome l Royal Shakespeare Theatre - Stratford l Birmingham Royal Ballet: The l The Alexandra Theatre - Birmingham Nutcracker Best Touring Theatre Play/Show l The REP - Birmingham l Matthew Bourne: Cinderella l Blood Brothers l Wolverhampton Grand Theatre l Transitions Dance Company Triple Bill l Brighton Rock l Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Best Touring Musical Best Orchestra/Choir l The Play That Goes Wrong l Dirty Dancing l Birmingham Cathedral Choir l War Horse l Jersey Boys l Birmingham Gay Symphony l Mamma Mia Orchestra Best Pantomime in l Matilda l Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra The Midlands 2018/19 l Wicked l CBSO l Dick Whittington - Lichfield Garrick l Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra l Mother Goose - Theatre Severn Best Home-Produced Show l Peter Pan - Birmingham Hippodrome l A Christmas Carol - RSC l Sleeping Beauty - Belgrade Theatre Best Classical/Operatic l Boogie Nights - The Alexandra Theatre l Sleeping Beauty - Production l Once Upon A Mattress - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Birmingham Cathedral Choir: The Lichfield Garrick l Divine Beauty - Birmingham Cathedral l Pinocchio - The Old Rep Best Kids Show l Birmingham Philharmonic: War & l The Wizard Of Oz - The REP l Awful Auntie Peace - The Bramall l Disney On Ice: Dream Big l CBSO: Spectacular Classics - l Disney On Ice: Best Dance Production Symphony Hall Worlds Of Enchantment l Anton & Erin: From Hollywood To l City Of Birmingham Choir: Handel’s l Elf: A Christmas Spectacular VOTE today atwhatsonlive.co.uk

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#readersawards2019

l The Snowman Annie - Belgrade Theatre l Adam Bennett - The Cross in l Get Your Wigle On: Grease - Theatre Kenilworth, Warwickshire Best Arts/Cultural Festival Severn, Shrewsbury l Adam Stokes - Adams, Birmingham l Artsfest - Wolverhampton l Lichfield Operatic Society: Avenue Q - l Brad Carter - Carters Of Moseley, l Birmingham Comedy Festival Lichfield Garrick Birmingham l Birmingham Fest l Glynn Purnell - Purnell’s, Birmingham l Birmingham International Dance Best Comedy Night l Josh Crouch - CSONS, Shrewsbury Festival l Comedy Carousel at l Lichfield Arts’ Fuse Festival The Glee Club - Birmingham Best Midlands Food Festival l Comedy at Henry Tudor House, l Colmore Food Festival - Birmingham Best Exhibition Shrewsbury l Foodies Festival Birmingham l Coming Out: Sexuality, Gender & l Funhouse Comedy - Birmingham & l Lichfield Food Festival Identity - Birmingham Museum & Art West Midlands l Ludlow Food Festival Gallery l Just The Tonic - Birmingham l Shrewsbury Food Festival l Dippy The Dinosaur - Birmingham l Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Museum & Art Gallery Best Street Food Vendor l LEGO: Brick History - Shrewsbury Best Midlands Music Venue l Bournville Waffle Co Museum & Art Gallery l Arena Birmingham l Dick’s Smokehouse l Real Bodies: The Exhibition - NEC, l O2 Academy - Birmingham l Press De Cuba Birmingham l Resorts World Arena - Birmingham l Urban Cheesecake l Women. Power. Protest - Birmingham l Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Vegan Grindhouse Museum & Art Gallery l The Empire - Coventry Best Amateur Best Midlands Market Best Midlands Music Festival Dramatic/Operatic Group Production l Beckett’s Farm - Birmingham l Birmingham Pride l Birmingham & Midland Operatic l Bullring Indoor Market - Birmingham Download Society: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang l l FarGo Village - Birmingham l Godiva l Birmingham Ormiston Academy: Lord l Moseley Arts Market - Birmingham Moseley Folk Festival Of Flies - The Old Rep Theatre, l l Shrewsbury Market Hall Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Birmingham l Best Midlands Chef l Coventry Musical Theatre Society:

What’sOn FINALISTS in each REGION

BIRMINGHAM Best Music l Birmingham Lit Fest Gardens Best Indoor Event Best Independent Festival l Flatpack l Birmingham Museum Restaurant & Art Gallery l Birmingham Best Arts/Theatre International Tattoo l Carters Of Moseley l Birmingham Pride Best Food l Cadbury World l British Athletics Indoor l Little Blackwood Venue l Birmingham & Solihull l National Sealife Festival/Event Championships l The Meat Shack l Crescent Theatre Jazz & Blues Festival Centre l Crufts l Original Patty Men l Core Theatre, Solihull l MADE Festival l BBC Good Food l Thinktank l MCM Birmingham Purnell’s Midlands Arts Centre l Moseley Folk Show l l Comic Con l The Old Joint Stock l Mostly Jazz, Funk & l Birmingham Cocktail Soul Weekend Best Outdoor l Polar Express B’ham l The Old Rep Best Independent Colmore Food Festival Event l The REP l Coffee Shop Best Arts l Digbeth Dining Club l Birmingham Frankfurt Best Gallery/ Cherry Reds Cafe Bar Best Music Venue Festival l Foodies Festival at Christmas Market Exhibition Venue l Cannon Hill Park l Damascena Coffee l Ice Skate Birmingham The Barber Institute l The Asylum l Arts & Science Fest l House l Magical Lantern Birmingham Museum l The Glee Club (University of B’ham) l l Java Lounge Best Visitor Festival Birmingham & Art Gallery l Hare & Hounds l Birmingham Comedy l Wayland’s Yard Attraction l Summer in Southside Coffin Works l The Jam House Festival l l Yorks Cafe & Coffee l We Are Balsall Heath l IKON Gallery l The Night Owl l Birmingham Int Dance l Birmingham Back to Street Market Roasters Festival Backs l Midlands Arts Centre l Birmingham Botanical and choose your WINNER!

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What’sOn FINALISTS in each REGION

Best Independent l Il Michaelango, Best Gallery/ Best Independent l National Memorial l Shrewsbury Literary Bar/Pub Brierley Hill Exhibition Venue Restaurant Arboretum Festival l The Old Glasshouse, l Tamworth Castle l Wellington Arts l 1000 Trades CET Building, Bolero Bar & Kitchen, Dudley l l Festival l The Old Crown, Coventry Worcester Best Event Digbeth l Compton Verney l Dine India, l Cathedral Illuminated Best Visitor Coventry Music Bromsgrove l The Old Joint Stock WARWICKSHIRE l at Lichfield Cathedral Attraction l The Plough, Harborne Museum l The Old Rectifying l Fireworks Spectacular Attingham Park l The Prince Of Wales, l Herbert Art Gallery House, Worcester at Drayton Manor l Best Arts/Theatre l British Ironworks Moseley l Leamington Spa Art l The Olive Branch, l Lichfield Proms in Venue Gallery & Museum Worcester Beacon Park Centre, Oswestry l The Orangery, l Hawkstone Park & l Albany Theatre, l Scarefest at Alton BLACK COUNTRY Coventry Best Independent Redditch Towers Follies l Belgrade Theatre, Restaurant l Staffordshire County l Ironbridge Museums l Severn Valley Railway, Coventry Shields Of Henley STAFFORDSHIRE Show Best Arts/Theatre l Bridgnorth l Royal Shakespeare l The Cross, Kenilworth Venue Theatre, Stratford Best Independent l Dough And Brew, Best Event l Arena Theatre l Royal Spa Centre, Warwick Best Arts/Theatre Restaurant Chocolate Festival, l Forest Arts Centre, Leamington Spa l My Dhabba, Coventry Venue l 1709, The Brasserie l Walsall l Warwick Arts Centre Shrewsbury l Simmer Down l Lichfield Garrick l Mackenzies, Lichfield Grand Theatre, l Ludlow Medieval l Restaurant, Coventry l Mitchell Arts Centre, l The New Olive Tree, Wolverhampton Best Music Venue Stoke-on-Trent Cheadle Fayre Light House Media Shrewsbury Flower l The Assembly, WORCESTERSHIRE l New Vic Theatre, l NOM Restaurant, l Centre, W’hampton l Show Leamington Spa Newcastle-under-Lyme Hanley l Newhampton Arts l Shropshire l The Kasbah, Coventry l Regent Theatre, l Olive Tree, Lichfield Centre, Wolverhampton Oktoberfest l Knights’ Wine Bar, Best Arts/Theatre Stoke-on-Trent l The Polar Express, Coventry Venue l Stafford Gatehouse SHROPSHIRE Best Music Venue The Tin Music & Arts, Theatre Telford Steam Railway l Artrix, Bromsgrove Coventry l l Brierley Civic Hall Huntingdon Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, l Best Music Venue Best Arts/Theatre l Dudley Town Hall l Worcester Best Gallery/ Coventry Eleven, Venue l Newhampton Arts l Malvern Theatres l Exhibition Venue Centre, Wolverhampton l Palace Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent l Theatre On The Steps l The Robin, Bilston Best Festival Redditch l Lichfield Guildhall l Theatre Severn l Bear Steps Art Gallery, Shrewsbury l The Slade Rooms, l Godiva Festival l Swan Theatre, l Victoria Hall, Hanley l The Hive, Shrewsbury l Coalbrookdale Wolverhampton l Leamington Food and Worcester l The Sugarmill, Stoke l The Place, Telford Drink Festival l The Underground, l Ludlow Assembly Gallery, Ironbridge l Stratford River Festival Best Music Venue Stoke Rooms l Shrewsbury Museum Best Visitor & Art Gallery l Warwick Folk Festival l The Boar's Head, Best Music Venue Attraction l Stratford-upon-Avon Kidderminster Best Music l Twenty Twenty l Albert's Shed, Gallery, Much Wenlock l Black Country Living Music Festival l Huntingdon Hall, Festival Worcester Shrewsbury l Willow Gallery, Museum Lichfield Arts' Fuse The Marr's Bar, l l The Buttermarket, Oswestry l Dudley Canal & Best Visitor l Festival Tunnel Trust Worcester Shrewsbury l Lichfield Blues & Attraction l Paradiddles Music l Havana Republic, Best Independent l Dudley Zoo Jazz Festival RAF Cosford Museum l Charlecote Park Cafe Bar, Worcester Shrewsbury l l Lichfield Festival Restaurant Wightwick Manor l Coventry Music l The Queen’s Head, l Henry Tudor House, l l Lichfield Festival Of l CSONS, Shrewsbury Museum Bromsgrove Shrewsbury Folk l Henry Tudor House, l Coventry Transport l The Hive, Shrewsbury l Staffs Fest Shrewsbury Best Event Museum Best Music l Hundred House, l Kenilworth Castle Festival l 100 Years Of The RAF Best Music Telford Festival, RAF Cosford l Warwick Castle l Bewdley Festival Best Arts Festival Big Feast, l The Olive Tree, 1940s Evening - Black l Bromsgrove Folk l Festival l Stoke-on-Trent Shrewsbury Country Living Museum Festival l Beardy Folk Festival Best Event l Lichfield Festival l Umai, Shrewsbury l Cosford Air Show l Upton Blues Festival l Farmer Phil’s Festival l Stafford Arts Festival l Peaky Blinders Nights l Art In The Park, l Upton Jazz Festival l Let’s Rock l Stoke Literary Festival at BCLM Leamington Spa l Worcester Music Shrewsbury Best Independent Festival l Tamworth Arts Festival l Wolverhampton l Coventry Steampunk l Shrewsbury Folk Café Literature Festival Carnival Festival l The Bird’s Nest Cafe, l Dragon Slayer at Best Event Best Food l Shropfest Shrewsbury Best Gallery/ Warwick Castle l Bromsgrove Light Festival l The Coffee House, Festival Of Exhibition Venue l Festival l Great British Food Best Food Shrewsbury Imagineers, Coventry l Malvern Food Festival Festival l Bilston Craft Gallery l CSONS at The Green l HSBC City Ride, l Worcester Festival l Lichfield Food Festival Festival l Dudley Museum Cafe, Ludlow Coventry l Worcester Food l Field to Fork At The Archives l Stafford Cheese & Ale l Ginger & Co. Festival Festival l Great British Food l Light House Shrewsbury Best Food l Worcester Stone Food & Drink Festival, Weston Park Media Centre, l l House Coffee Co. Oktoberfest Ludlow Food Festival Wolverhampton Festival/Event Festival l l Tamworth Food Gusto l Owestry Food & Drink l New Art Gallery, l Coventry Food And Best Visitor Festival Festival Walsall Drink Festival l Shrewsbury Food l Wolverhampton Digbeth Dining at Attraction l Festival Museum & Art Gallery Coventry Cathedral l Avoncroft,Bromsgrove Best Visitor l Fargo’s Vegan l Hanbury Hall Attraction VOTE Best Independent Festival, Coventry and Gardens l Alton Towers Best Arts Festival l West Mid Safari Park Restaurant l Royal Leamington l Cannock Chase l Church Stretton Arts Food & Drink Festival l Severn Valley Railway, Visitor Centre Festival Banks Bistro, Bewdley NOW! l l Warwick Food Festival l Drayton Manor l Ludlow Fringe Festival l Witley Court, Wolverhampton Theme Park l Oswestry Literary l Bella, Wolverhampton Worcester l Lichfield Cathedral Festival l Fiume, W’hampton

42 whatsonlive.co.uk Events February Copy.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 20:05 Page 1

Events previews from around the region Events

Lantern Walk Croome Park, Worcester, Sat 9 February

Visitors participating in this 1.5- mile walk around Croome’s pic- turesque grounds will be given a lantern and LED candle to take with them, so that they can help Race Retro disciplines including formula and circuit rac- light up the parkland as they make ing, rallying and motorcycling. Stoneleigh Park, Staffordshire their way along the route. Fri 22 - Sun 24 February Visitors also have the chance to purchase parts, The event is being held in aid of St spares, helmets and clothing from more than Richard’s Hospice in Worcester. The turbo-charged era of Formula One is cele- 250 specialist exhibitors - not to mention the brated at this year’s Race Retro. Zooming into opportunity to bag themselves a racing or rally its 17th year, the event showcases motorsport car in a special auction! Harry Potter Book Night Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust, Pirate And Princess Open Cockpits: Thurs 7 February Takeover Hunter and Phantom Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, RAF Museum, Cosford, Sat 16 - Sun 24 February Fri 15 - Sun 24 February The RAF Museum Cosford is this half term opening up the Hawker Hunter F Mk4 cockpit for closer inspection. It’s also allowing visitors to take a seat inside the McDonnell Douglas Phan- tom FG1, featured as part of the museum’s National Cold War Exhibition. Alongside the cockpits will be a Cold War han- dling collection, consisting of helmets, life jackets and a collection of photos.

Well shiver those timbers and straighten that tiara - Alton Towers Resort is certainly the place to take your little pirates and princesses this Expelliarmus! Celebrating all half-term holiday! things Harry Potter, this ‘magical’ The popular visitor attraction is hosting a range evening of wizard fun features a of family-focused themed activities this month, spellbinding selection of free activ- including a disco, a treasure hunt, meet-and- ities for visitors to enjoy, including greets with CBeebies Land characters and the the chance to create their own chance to learn some essential pirate skills. wand, make magic potions and Away from the princess & pirate theme, visitors head out on a quest for some magi- can check out Sharkbait Reef to see a variety of cal creatures. amazing fish, splash around in the tropical sur- Participants are encouraged to don roundings of the Alton Towers Waterpark, and their very best Wizarding World enjoy a round of what’s being termed ‘extraordi- fancy dress for the event. nary’ golf. whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events February Copy.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 20:05 Page 2

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Events previews from around the region Events

Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust Various Shakespeare Birthplace Trust venues, Sat 16 - Sun 24 February

There's plenty of fun to be had at Shakespeare's family homes this February half term, with a series of special events taking place across five venues. Highlights include a Jacobean sugar work workshop at Hall’s Croft, a chance to see the super- moon at a special stargazing event in the gardens of Shakespeare's Hands-on workshops also feature in the venue’s Pop-up Planetarium New Place, and the opportunity line-up of holiday attractions, with youngsters for younger audiences to have a Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire, having the opportunity to use craft materials to Sat 16 - Sun 24 February go at creating their very own ver- design and make (and then take home) their very sion of a Shakespeare play in the Families can check out the night sky and dis- own space-themed model.... Budding as- puppet theatre. cover more about the solar system, distant stars tronomers can enjoy an evening of sky-gazing on and outer space in a pop-up planetarium at Iron- Tuesday the 19th, complete with the chance to bridge Gorge Museums’ Enginuity this half-term. see some fantastic star constellations. Jawsome Sharks National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham, Sat 9 February - Sun 10 March The National Sea Life Centre is promising that this brand new event will have plenty of ‘extra bite’, as families come face-to-fin with some of the venue’s most ‘jawsome’ species in the UK’s only 360-degree Ocean Tunnel. The fully immersive experience gives visitors the chance to check out a number of sharks, including the Black-tip Reef, Nurse and Zebra varieties. Younger visitors, meanwhile, can become Jawsome Shark Rangers Caravan, Camping & tion and advice about where to head for and by helping Professor Finn to find what to do when they get there. some missing sharks’ teeth. Motorhome Show The six-day event also features plenty of free NEC, Birmingham, Tues 19 - Sun 24 February activities and attractions, including the Holiday The UK’s biggest showcase of motorhomes, Park Experience, bringing a park holiday to life campervans, caravans, caravan holiday homes and including a climbing wall, play area, and lodges returns to Birmingham this month. bushcraft classes and more. Visitors to the show can check out all the new- Other features include a top dog arena, a full season models and products, stock up on their programme of speakers, live cookery demon- holiday accessories. and gather ideas, inspira- strations and motorhome manoeuvring tuition.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Thomas & Friends Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire, Sat 9 - Sun 24 February

Thomas the Tank Engine fans are certainly well catered for at Dray- ton Manor Park this half term. The Staffordshire visitor attraction is home to Europe’s only Thomas Land and will be running numerous rides during the holiday period, including Harold Helicopter Tours, Bertie Bus and Cranky Crane. Among the venue’s other half- SPAR British Athletics not-to-be-missed opportunity to see some of the term highlights are selected fam- UK’s finest performers coming together for a ily-favourite rides around the Indoor Championships weekend of high-quality action. park (not including the thrill Arena Birmingham, Sat 9 & Sun 10 February The championships comprise a total of 13 events - rides), live shows with the Fat This is the 63rd edition of the indoor champi- including the 60m sprint and 5,000m race walk - Controller and friends, and the onships, providing Midlands athletics fans with a and have a grand total of 26 titles up for grabs. chance to check out the 15-acre zoo, complete with red pandas Tika and Pema. Tattoo Freeze Whodunnit? Telford International Centre, Sat 2 & Sun 3 February Aston Hall, Birmingham, Sat 23 February Celebrating its 10th year and following on from the success of previous shows, this spe- Whodunnit? is described as a cialist event offers members of the general drop-dead-fun, time-travelling public the chance to get themselves tattooed mystery-trail aimed at families by one (or more!) of the 200-plus talented tat- and those young at heart. tooists who’ll be in attendance. Participants are invited to travel The two-day get-together also features bur- back to the Victorian era to find lesque performances, body painting, circus out who stole the precious and workshops and numerous trade stands sell- mystical Star of Al-Ara gem... ing everything from clothing to cupcakes. The wearing of Victorian costume for the event is greatly encour- RSC half-term activities aged but by no means essential. Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, Mon 18 - Fri 22 February The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is hosting a range of workshops for young thespians during February half term, providing activities for children aged four to eight, nine to 12 and 13 to 17. Using approaches straight from the RSC rehearsal rooms, kids will have the opportunity to hone their talents in singing, clowning and set design. They also get the chance to reenact Shake- speare’s classic comedy, As You Like It. whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Events February Copy.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 20:06 Page 6

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Events previews from around the region Events

The Classic Dirt Bike Show Telford International Centre, Sat 16 & Sun 17 February

This annual off-road and road-racing show makes a welcome return. Multiple world, indoor and British Trials champion Dougie Lampkin and ‘BSA warrior’ John Banks have been confirmed as the star guests for 2019. The off-road leg- Discover Bostin’ sure-to-be-lively two-day event. ends will be giving fans the low- Black Country Fittle All manner of dishes and delights will be avail- down on their spectacular careers. able to sample as Black Country Living Museum The show also features an outdoor Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, characters cook up a storm. Younger visitors, autojumble, overflowing with bar- Sat 16 - Sun 24 February meanwhile, not only get to check out the tasty gains and boasting classic dirt Discover the Black Country’s “bostin’ fittle” tucker but can also enjoy street games, competi- bike machinery galore, from parts (‘good food’ in Black Country ‘spake’!) at this tions, crafts and street theatre. and spares to accessories, riding kits and bike projects. Dragon Hunt Chinese New Year Tamworth Castle, Sat 16 - Fri 22 February Of The Pig Tamworth Castle’s resident dragon, Ruby, and her brother, Hafgrim, have gone missing while Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Sun 10 February playing a game of hide & seek. And they’re prob- The Potteries’ popular Chinese ably going to stay horribly lost too, unless some New Year celebrations are back, young and enthusiastic half-term-holiday visi- this time welcoming in the Year of tors are willing to put in the hard yards to help the Pig. find them!... The dragon hunt is just one of nu- Highlights of the event include merous dragon-based activities taking place at traditional music and dance, with the castle this month; kids can also learn how to dragon, lion and unicorn dance decorate the dragon’s den, identify dragon eggs Nick Sharratt’s Right performances all featuring. and have a go at a dragon-related craft. Royal Drawalong Chinese craft workshops, fire- The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, crackers and acrobatics are also Tues 19 February included in the day’s programme Grab your pencils & paper and join acclaimed of entertainment. children’s writer and illustrator Nick Sharratt as he hosts a fun-filled family-friendly drawalong. Nick will show participants how to sketch favourite characters, including Tracy Beaker and Timothy Pope, and share ways of creating fantastic creatures like dragons and uni- corns. And to celebrate his latest book, Nice Work For The Cat And The King, everything will have a special 'royal' twist!

whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Paws Cafe for online mag.qxp_Layout 1 31/01/2019 10:36 Page 1

Feline coffee shop is just purr-fect... Paws Cafe opens in Shrewsbury Paws Cafe for online mag.qxp_Layout 1 31/01/2019 10:36 Page 2

Where did you get the inspiration for want it there then just stand up and it will get meaning most cats are done at the same time. Paws Cafe? off. It’s very much the cats’ home here, and It’s nice for the vet to see them in their natu- you’re coming into that, so we have a hatch at ral environment. Whatever the cats need, we James is an engineer and I’m a teacher. About the top where we keep the food and the litter will go out and get it. For example, when we two years ago, we both went through a tough trays, so if they want time out from the cafe, got Elsa, she was underweight, so we took time at work; too many hours, late nights, they can simply go up there. her to the vets straight away and they advised early mornings, and didn’t reap any benefit us about what food and milk we needed. And from it. We have the coffee counter, and some drinks Cleo has a very specific breed gastro food. It are available in the price that you pay. We We’ve got a cat at home and for James’s birth- can all be very expensive, but it’s not a ques- have a selection of cakes and tray cakes, day, my mum got him tickets to the Manches- tion of price but of the cats’ well-being. cookies and things like that, but it’s basically ter cat cafe. We were only supposed to be about just spending time with the cats. We do You’re planning film nights... there for an hour, but we really, really en- have to explain to people that it’s not a zoo or joyed it and found it so calming and relaxing. We’re going to do them every Friday evening, a circus and we can’t guarantee that the cats It was lovely spending time with their cats. starting in February, to ease everyone in. We will interact. We went home feeling quite good about our- do have a premises licence, so you can come selves and quite interested in the concept. We What’s the minimum time people can and have a beer and some popcorn. They will looked into it and found out that there were stay? probably be cat-themed and we’ll put them quite a few popping up in the UK, though on rotation. Because the cinema is quite a The minimum stay is 30 minutes, and then mainly in big cities. Then we went back to small, intimate space, the cats will come and we charge for every five minutes after that. work on the Monday, had another stressful snuggle and watch the film with you. We do have some vouchers that proved very week and just ended up thinking, let’s give it popular over Christmas; if you have vouchers Is there anything else you’re thinking a go, as it had got to the point where we or you have very young children, then you about introducing? didn’t want to do what we were doing any- will need to book. We don’t currently have an more. Yes, James came up with a lovely idea that age-restriction in place like a lot of the other links in with the ‘parent policy’ because we So why Shrewsbury? cat cafes do. We’ve decided that for the first don’t really want to enforce an age limit. So couple of weeks we will run a ‘parent policy’. I’m orignally from Crewe in Cheshire and in February, probably over the half-term holi- It will be up to the parents to make sure their James is from Ludlow, but we live in Telford. day, we’re holding the Cat Academy. If children abide by the rules. So for example, if We often come into Shrewsbury and quite younger children want to come, parents can some children start playing around and like the smaller, one-off, quirky sorts of bring them and do activities or workshops to stressing the cats, the mum and dad will be places, so we actually thought it was an ideal learn about what to do if you were to have a given a warning or alternatively asked to town. But to be honest, we didn’t think we pet, and that it’s not just all cuddles. We’ll be leave because the cats’ welfare is the priority could afford it. But we had a look around at having a variety of workshops on subjects for us. different areas within the town centre and like which types of food they’ll eat, litter came across a few that we really liked and Are there any stand-out personalities trays, what you need to protect them from thought might work for us. among the cats? and when to take them to the vets. When you complete those workshops, you get a certifi- Once you’d found your ideal premises, I think for us the Bengals are the obvious cate and a badge. were there any obstacles to moving things ones. We nicknamed them ‘the raptors’ be- forward? cause they’re so energetic. Bengals have a How did you choose which breeds you bad reputation because they’re so mischie- were going to have? Yes. We looked into it and thought we may vous and very active all the time, unlike other have to have a cattery licence. Other cafes With a lot of research, really. We’ve been to cats who tend just to sit and have a cuddle on offer things like an adoption service or a re- see a lot of cats! It’s quite easy to go with the your knee. But because ours have been hand- homing service, and because they’re doing ‘business head’ on and say, this is our budget reared, they do have that softer side where that, they need a cattery licence. But because - but each cat is individual and different. So they do want the cuddles and the fuss. these are our pets, we didn’t. for example, the Bengals are a lot softer and Cleo is our Canadian Sphynx. We got her more affectionate than a traditional Bengal Talk us though the visitor experience... thinking that she’d be a bit like Marmite - might be, so it was very much a case of want- We take walk-ins and bookings - because you’d either love or hate her. I did take some ing the cats to choose us. So we researched we’re only just opening, we’ve said to people convincing because of the look, so we did the breeds to see if they were suited to an in- that they’re more than welcome to wait in the have a look at other breeds. She’s very affec- door environment and would socialise with reception area, but that it might be a bit of a tionate and loving and can get a little posses- other cats. wait as we’re busy with bookings at the mo- sive with other cats! ment. When they come to the reception desk, How do you look after the cats’ welfare? they’re given some information about the Paws Cafe is sited at 53 Mardol Head, cats and the rules of the cafe. For example, if All of the cats have got a care plan with Shrewsbury, SY1 1PP. Visit a cat is sleeping or walking away from you, Vets4Pets, so they all have monthly de- www.pawscafe.co.uk for further don’t interrupt what it’s doing, don’t pursue fleaing and worming. They’ve all had their information it or pull its tail. And if it comes and sits on vaccinations or are having their boosters, so your lap, your can stroke it, but if you don’t we do have a vet coming in once a month, The List Cover February Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 11:45 Page 1

50 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Cover February Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 11:45 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide Februaryebruary 22019019 thelist

James Wilton Dance: The Storm at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry: Tues 26 - Thurs 28 February

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

What’s On Fri 1 to Sun 10 February Mon 11 to Sun 17 February Mon 18 to Sun 24 February Mon 25 to Thurs 28 February

Beth Rowley at Dad’s Army Radio Show at Kelli-Leigh at Gary Delaney at Marr’s Bar, Worcester The Core Theatre, Solihull Kasbah, Coventry Artrix, Bromsgrove Thurs 7 February Tues 12 February Sat 23 February Thurs 28 February

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thelist THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY Gigs Leamington Spa Art Gallery & ENTER SHIKARI Fri 1 Visual Arts Museum Feb, O2 Academy, Birmingham AMY SHARROCKS Exhibition by sculp- Artrix, Bromsgrove tor, filmmaker and live artist Amy THE SNAKE DAVIS TRIO Sharrocks, showing works from over Fri 1 Feb, Pizza Ex- 5 CUBED: NEW BEGINNINGS Featuring a decade of making, collecting and press, B’ham work by a group of mature artists conversations, until Sun 24 Feb who have exhibited together for the KING KING Fri 1 Feb, last 14 years, until Sun 3 Feb Birmingham Town Hall NEW 98 LACE: FROM CLASSICAL BEGIN- HER’S Fri 1 Feb, The NING Exhibition by a fellowship of Sunflower Lounge, lacemakers with varied textile back- Birmingham Gordon Giltrap - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester grounds who use traditional tech- PLAYAZ Fri 1 Feb, The niques to create lace for the 21st Mill, Birmingham Feb, Artrix, Broms- bly, Leamington Spa grove century, Tues 5 Feb - Sun 31 Mar THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Fri U2 BABY Sat 2 Feb, The 1 Feb, The Alexandra X-PRESS 2, KELVIN AN- Assembly, Leamington Birmingham Museum & Theatre, Birmingham DREWS AND PHIL GIF- Spa Art Gallery FORD Sat 2 Feb, Hare THE ULTIMATE PORTRAIT THE BARRON KNIGHTS & Hounds, B’ham FIGHTING FOR OUR HERITAGE Exhibition Fri 1 Feb, The Roses OF MATT MONRO Sat 2 explores the rich history of amateur Rugby Art Gallery & Museum Theatre, Tewkesbury KAISER CHIEFS Sat 2 Feb, The Swan The- boxing clubs and famous boxers PETER RABBIT: MISCHIEF & MAYHEM Ex- Feb, O2 Academy, atre, Worcester BLACKBALLED Fri 1 Feb, Birmingham from Birmingham, until Fri 1 Feb hibition telling the story of the cre- Scruffy Murphys, Birm- HAYLEY KIYOKO Sun 3 FAITH IN BIRMINGHAM, Exploring how ation of Peter Rabbit, including ingham BUDDY HOLLY’S WINTER Feb, O2 Academy, original rarely exhibited artworks and DANCE PARTY Sat 2 Birmingham different faiths have influenced and THE RESURRECTION shaped the city, until Sun 3 Feb manuscripts, until Sat 27 Apr Feb, The Core Theatre, ELVIS LIVES Sun 3 Feb, MAN, SLOWBRO, RAIN- Solihull WOMEN POWER PROTEST Inspired by EDUCATING RUGBY Explore the history BOW GRAVE Fri 1 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birm- the bold work of feminist artists and of schools and colleges in Rugby The Tin Music and MARTIN YATES + MAY- ingham activists, Women Power Protest aims with objects from the museum’s so- Arts, Canal Basin, DAY Sat 2 Feb, The STEVE LAMACQ - GOING to raise awareness, provoke debate cial history collection, until Sat 27 Apr Coventry Sunflower Lounge, DEAF FOR A LIVING Sun Birmingham and assess how much has changed COMMON PEOPLE Fri 1 3 Feb, The Slade for women, until Sun 31 Mar The Herbert Art Gallery & Mu- Feb, The Night Owl, GORDON GILTRAP WITH Rooms, Wolverhamp- WITHIN AND WITHOUT: BODY IMAGE AND seum Birmingham SPECIAL GUEST ton NICHOLAS HOOPER Sat THE SELF Exhibition examining how COVENTRY OPEN 2018 The work on dis- HYENA KILL/KILLER BOB SWINGING AT THE COT- social, historical and cultural factors 2 Feb, Huntingdon TON CLUB Sun 3 Feb, play, selected by a panel of judges, is Fri 1 Feb, The Flapper, Hall, Worcester affect body image, and how this is ex- produced in a wide range of media, Birmingham Royal Spa Centre, pressed through objects and art- THE BONGOLIAN Sat 2 Leamington Spa from painting and drawing to sculp- NU GUINEA Fri 1 Feb, works, until Sun 5 May ture and textiles, until Sun 24 Feb Feb, The Night Owl, JOE ARMON-JONES Sun Hare & Hounds, Birm- Birmingham TOO CUTE!: SWEET IS ABOUT TO GET A WORLD WAR ONE COMMEMORATION ingham 3 Feb, Hare & Hounds, SINISTER A range of artworks that AND YOU WILL KNOW US Birmingham Exhibition including work by contem- BONES PRESENTS A LIT- show different takes on cuteness, porary artists and work by artists BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD LIELA MOSS Sun 3 Feb, from contemporary-based issues to TLE SOMETHING Fri 1 Sat 2 Feb, Castle & from the period of the war, until Sun 3 Feb, The Slade Hare & Hounds, Birm- 19th century oil paintings, until Sun Mar Falcon, Birmingham ingham 12 May Rooms, Wolverhamp- NEW WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE ton GREEN HAZE Sat 2 Feb, GHETTS Sun 3 Feb, O2 YEAR Exhibition from the Natural His- The Marr’s Bar, Institute, Birmingham MIKE YOUNG Fri 1 Feb, Worcester tory Museum featuring breathtaking O2 Institute, B’ham UNCOVER WITH THE animal portraits, dramatic land- VNV NATION Sat 2 Feb, FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 1 PINKK DIAMOND REVUE, scapes, bizarre species and endan- The Asylum, B’ham LEGPUPPY AND MORE gered habitats, Sat 16 Feb - Sun 2 Feb, The River Rooms, Stourbridge THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Sun 3 Feb, The Marr’s June Sat 2 Feb, The Assem- Bar, Worcester T.REXTASY Fri 1 - Sat 2 Worcester City Museum & Art Gallery NEW MATISSE Two exhibitions com- COLLECTING BIRMINGHAM: WHO IS bine to provide a spectacular, colour- BIRMINGHAM? Discover new collec- ful show: Matisse: Drawing With tions that reflect the experiences of Scissors - a Hayward Gallery Touring diverse Birmingham people - from exhibition from the Southbank Cen- working lives to community activists tre, London - and Diaghilev's Ballet and protest movements, until Sun 27 Russes; a unique collection of cos- Oct tume and ephemera telling the story NEW LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN of the spectacular and sometimes scandalous 20th century ballet com- DRAWING To mark the 500th anniver- pany, Sat 2 Feb - Sat 27 Apr sary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, 12 of the Renaissance master's drawings from the Royal Collection Other VISUAL ARTS are displayed as part of 12 simultane- THE PLAY'S THE THING Display of cos- ous exhibitions across the UK, Fri 1 tumes and props from the archives, Feb - Mon 6 May until Tues 31 Dec 2019, Swan The- Kaiser Chiefs - O2 Academy. 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Friday 1 - Sunday 3 February

HAL CRUTTENDEN Sat 2 Feb, The Old racism and mental health in modern 9 TO 5 (15) Comedy. Starring Jane Classical Music Rep, Birmingham Britain, Fri 1 - Sat 16 Feb, The REP, Fonda, Lily Tomlin. The Mockingbird CURTIS WALKER, AURIE STYLA, JAY Birmingham Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 1 Feb ARMONICO CONSORT: BACH EASTER OR- DROCH & MISS MO'REAL Sat 2 Feb, STEVE STEINMAN’S VAMPIRE’S ROCK THE FRONT RUNNER (15) ATORIO Featuring Christopher Monks Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham Featuring special guest star Sam Bai- Biography/Drama. Starring Hugh (director), Fri 1 Feb, Malvern Theatres IMPROV COMEDY WITH BOX OF FROGS ley, Sat 2 Feb, Alexandra Theatre, Jackman, Vera Farmiga. The Mock- HALLE ORCHESTRA Featuring Sir Mark Sun 3 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham Birmingham ingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 1 - Elder (conductor) & Stephen Hough VESTA One-woman show starring Thurs 7 Feb (piano). Programme includes works NOREEN KHAN, JUDI LOVE, ESTHER Claire Worboys as Vesta Tilley, ‘one COLETTE (15) Biography/Drama. Star- by Wagner, Saint-Saens & Berlioz, Fri MANITO, MAUREEN YOUNGER & FATIHA of the greatest music hall stars this ring Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlin- 1 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry EL-GHORRI Sun 3 Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham country has ever produced’, Sat 2 son. Midlands Arts Centre, JONIAN-ILIAS KADESHA (VIOLIN) & JEAN- Feb, Henry Sandon Hall, Worcester Birmingham, Fri 1 - Wed 6 Feb SÉLIM ABDELMOULA (PIANO) Pro- THE SEAGULL The Crescent Theatre gramme includes works by JS Bach, Company presents its version of Beethoven & Ravel, Fri 1 Feb, The Anton Chekhov's acclaimed drama, Barber Institute, Birmingham Theatre Sat 2 - Sat 9 Feb, Crescent Theatre, COME & SING! WITH THE BIRMINGHAM THE CHILDREN Amateur staging of Birmingham BACH CHOIR Programme comprises Lucy Kirkwood’s award-winning play OCTOPUS SOUP! Nick Hancock stars in Elgar’s The Music Makers, Sat 2 Feb, about two retired nuclear scientists a brand new British farce, Sat 2 - Sat Selly Oak Methodist Church, B’ham living in an isolated cottage by the 16 Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry COVENTRY CATHEDRAL CHORUS: DIS- sea as the world around them crum- COVER THE CLASSICS 5 Sat 2 Feb, bles, until Sat 2 Feb, Criterion The- Coventry Cathedral atre, Coventry BEAUTIFUL BOY (15) Drama. Starring DUO TROBAIRITZ: ROMANCE & REVELRY TREASURE ISLAND Traditional Phoenix Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet. Part of Birmingham’s Early Music Players panto, until Sat 2 Feb, Strat- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Festival and featuring Faye Newton ford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon Fri 1 - Thurs 7 Feb (soprano) & Hazel Brooks (vielle), TIMON OF ATHENS Simon Godwin di- DOWN TO EARTH (U) Documentary. Di- Sun 3 Feb, The Barber Institute, Uni- rects Kathryn Hunter in Shake- rected by Renata Heinen & Rolf Win- versity of Birmingham speare's satire on wealth, greed & ters. Midlands Arts Centre, betrayal, until Fri 22 Feb, The Swan Birmingham, Sun 3 Feb Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon SING-A-LONG-A THE GREATEST SHOW- THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (U) Musical. TARTUFFE New updated version of MAN Sun 3 Feb, The Alexandra The- Starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Moliere’s provocative French classic, atre, Birmingham Williams. This is a sing-a-long show- Comedy until Sat 23 Feb, The Swan Theatre, ing. The Alexandra Theatre, Birming- DARREN HARRIOTT Fri 1 Feb, The Glee Stratford-upon-Avon ham, Sun 3 Feb Club, Birmingham THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST ANDREW DOYLE Fri 1 Feb, Artrix, The Nonentities present an amateur NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Bromsgrove staging of Oscar Wilde’s ‘trivial comedy for serious people’, Mon 28 Jan - Kids Shows Released from Fri 1 Feb, showing at ED GAMBLE Fri 1 Feb, The Old Rep, Sat 2 Feb, The Rose Theatre, I AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GHOST Nostalgic selected cinemas Birmingham Kidderminster trip back to the ’80s and a comic ex- CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME (15) NICK PAGE, ANDREW O'NEILL, THOMAS BLOOD BROTHERS Willy Russell’s ploration of a childhood haunting ESCAPE ROOM (15) GREEN & TONY COWARDS Fri 1 Feb, award-winning musical, set in his na- where nothing is quite as it seems, Fri Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton GREEN BOOK (12a) tive Liverpool, Tues 29 Jan - Sat 2 1 Feb, Farlow and Oreton Village RAW COMEDY Fri 1 Feb, Evesham Arts Feb, Malvern Theatres Hall, Nr Kidderminster HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HID- Centre DEN WORLD THE VERDICT Middle Ground Theatre GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE MARTIANS SANDI TOKSVIG Fri 1 - Sat 2 Feb, Birm- presents its version of Barry Reed's Space-age pantomime, Fri 1 - Sat 2 ingham Hippodrome critically acclaimed courtroom drama, Feb, The Core Theatre, Solihull DARREN HARRIOTT Sat 2 Feb, Artrix, Wed 30 Jan - Sat 2 Feb, Belgrade ELMER THE PATCHWORK ELEPHANT The- Bromsgrove Theatre, Coventry atre for younger audiences based on Events DADMAN: THE BATHTIME WARRIOR A the classic children’s book series by show for adults about not baby-sitting David McKee, Sat 2 Feb, Albany The- LET’S ANIMATE PRESENTS AWESOME your own kids. Warning: This show atre, Coventry ANIMATORS Each month filmmakers uses moderately strong language MR AND MRS CONSTABLE AND THE will be given creative animation activi- and deals with adult themes, Fri 1 VOICE CATCHER Theatre for two to ties, helping them to learn and under- Feb, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham nine-year-olds, Sat 2 Feb, Swan The- stand animation while at the same SING-A-LONG-A GREASE Fri 1 Feb, atre, Worcester time having fun, Fri 1 Feb, Fargo Vil- Swan Theatre, Worcester lage, Coventry FOLLOW THAT HARE: AN ART AND NA- MIDDAY VARIETY Featuring songstress TURE TRAIL Helen Farrell, piano man Dean A self-led art & nature trail Stansby, comedian Steve Barclay, around campus, Sat 2 Feb, Warwick diva of magic Romany and special Film Arts Centre, Coventry guests the London Philharmonic Skif- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: OPEN ASTON Wander around the STEVE BUGEJA Sat 2 Feb, Lichfield fle Orchestra, Fri 1 Feb, Belgrade grand old mansion, Sun 3 Feb, Aston Garrick THE FAVOURITE (15) Biography/Com- Theatre, Coventry Hall, Birmingham ANDREW BIRD, RACHEL FAIRBURN, JOSH edy. Starring Olivia Colman, Emma MISTRESS TO THE MIDNIGHT Spoof of Stone. Artrix, Bromsgrove, until Mon ARTS MARKETS Featuring a range of JONES & STEPHEN GRANT Sat 2 Feb, the classic British horror film, Fri 1 - 4 Feb stalls with a broad selection of quality The Glee Club, Birmingham handmade products, including ce- Sat 2 Feb, Old Joint Stock Theatre, MARY POPPINS RETURNS (U) Adven- IAN COGNITO, DANIEL MUGGLETON, JU- ramics, jewellery, paintings and craft Birmingham ture/Family. Starring Emily Blunt, LIAN DEANE & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 2 Feb, items, Sun 3 Feb, Midlands Arts Cen- BLUE ORANGE Joe Penhall's darkly Emily Mortimer. Midlands Arts Centre, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham tre, Birmingham funny dissection of institutional Birmingham, until Thurs 21 Feb

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thelist Monday 4 - Sunday 10 February Worcester Theatre, Worcester (arr. Gallay), Gounod and Gounod Gigs GANGSTAGRASS Fri 8 THIRD EYE COLLECTION Classical (arr. Brémond), Fri 8 Feb, The Barber Feb, O2 Institute, Sat 9 Feb, Mama Institute, Birmingham PSYCROPTIC & AVER- Birmingham Roux’s, Birmingham ENDYMION Programme includes SIONS CROWN Mon 4 Music THE SPINOUT REVUE Fri NEARLY DAN - THE works by Beethoven, Ligeti & Feb, The Asylum, 8 Feb, The Night Owl, SPIRIT & SOUND OF HARMONIE BAND Featuring Daniele Brahms, Fri 8 Feb, Artrix, Broms- Birmingham Birmingham STEELY DAN Sat 9 Feb, Rosina (director) plus Sabrina Ko & grove ODUNSI (THE ENGINE) Olivia Tait (conductors). Programme JARROD DICKENSON + Huntingdon Hall, ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE Mon 4 Feb, Hare & includes works by Haydn, JP RUGGIER Fri 8 Feb, Worcester PROJECTS ORCHESTRA Featuring Hounds, Birmingham Beethoven, arr. Friedrich Starke & The Cuban Embassy, BE BOP A LULA Sat 9 Daniele Rosina (conductor). Pro- Beethoven, arr. Wenzal Sedlak, Mon gramme includes works by Britten, RIVAL SONS Tues 5 Birmingham Feb, The Roses The- 4 Feb, The Bramall, University of Feb, O2 Academy, Bartók & Rachmaninoff, Fri 8 Feb, ROB DEE’S VALENTINE atre, Tewkesbury Birmingham Birmingham The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birming- ROCK & ROLL SPECIAL BENNY PAGE, BRIAN CHINESE NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL Featur- ham Conservatoire THE FAIM Wed 6 Feb, Fri 8 Feb, Huntingdon BRAINSTORM, DJ HY- ing Didi Xiao (piano), Jiaxin Lloyd O2 Academy, B’ham Hall, Worcester BRID + MORE! Sat 9 EX CATHEDRA; BEGINNINGS & ENDINGS Webber (cello), Shui Zhao (face Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore (conduc- ROSETTA FIRE + CHAS- Feb, Hare & Hounds, VALERAS Fri 8 Feb, changing artist) & Du Dan (Chinese tor), Katie Trethewey (soprano), ING DEER Wed 6 Feb, Birmingham Kasbah, Coventry traditional dancer), Tues 5 Feb, Sym- Martha McLorinan (alto), Samuel Hare & Hounds, Birm- GEORGE FITZGERALD (DJ SAM MITCHAM & DYL- phony Hall, Birmingham Boden (tenor) & Greg Skidmore ingham SET) Fri 8 Feb, Hare & HEN Sat 9 Feb, Hare & KIAN SOLTANI IN RECITAL Also featur- (bass). Programme includes works VERSATILE Wed 6 Feb, Hounds, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham ing Mario Häring (piano). Pro- by Bach & Roth, Sat 9 Feb, The Bra- O2 Institute, B’ham BOYZONE Fri 8 Feb, Re- THE BEST OF WHAM Sat gramme includes works by mall, University of Birmingham THE BLACK FEATHERS sorts World Arena, 9 Feb, Artrix, Broms- Schumann, Franghiz Ali Zadeh, ORCHESTRA OF THE ROYAL OPERA Wed 6 Feb, The Red Birmingham grove David Helbock and Prokofiev, Tues 5 HOUSE Also featuring Sir Antonio Lion Folk Club, B’ham Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham TRANSATLANTIC SES- ROSETTA FIRE/CHASING Pappano (conductor) & Anita BETH ROWLEY Wed 6 SIONS Fri 8 Feb, Sym- DEER Sat 9 Feb, The DUNEDIN CONSORT: APOLLO AND Rachvelishvili (soloist). Programme Feb, Symphony Hall, phony Hall, Empire, Coventry DAPHNE Part of Birmingham’s Early includes works by Stravinsky, Rach- Birmingham Birmingham BUCKCHERRY/HOOB- Music Festival & featuring John Butt maninoff & Tchaikovsky, Sun 10 Feb, (conductor), Rowan Pierce (so- Symphony Hall, Birmingham KOVIC Thurs 7 Feb, O2 STANK Sun 10 Feb, O2 THE FOO FIGHTERS prano) & Matthew Brook (Bass). Pro- Institute, Birmingham TRIBUTE Fri 8 Feb, The Institute, Birmingham ENSEMBLE 360 Programme includes gramme comprises 3 works by works by Mozart, Beethoven & SHOTTY HORROH Thurs River Rooms, Stour- SEAN MCGOWAN + SPE- Handel, Wed 6 Feb, The Barber Insti- Schubert, Sun 10 Feb, Royal Spa 7 Feb, Hare & bridge CIAL GUESTS Sun 10 tute, University of Birmingham Centre, Leamington Spa (3pm) Hounds, Birmingham CHVRCHES Fri 8 - Sat 9 Feb, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: TASMIN LIT- ENSEMBLE 360 - GIDDY GOAT: FAMILY THE CHRISTIANS Thurs Feb, O2 Academy, TLE PLAYS VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS CONCERT Narrated by Esther Sheri- 7 Feb, The Jam Birmingham BREABACH Sun 10 Feb, Also featuring David Le Page (violin). dan, Sun 10 Feb, Royal Spa Centre, House, Birmingham THE WORLD FAMOUS Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Programme includes works by Vi- Evesham Leamington Spa (11.30am) HANNAH BROWN Thurs ELVIS SHOW Fri 8 - Sat valdi, Arvo Pärt & Bach, Wed 6 Feb, BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- 7 Feb, Hare & 9 Feb, The Albany THE SEARCHERS Royal Birmingham Conservatoire TRA Featuring Richard Laing (con- Hounds, Birmingham Theatre, Coventry FAREWELL TOUR Sun CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- ductor) & Samantha Ward (piano). CARNIVAL MAGNIFICO 10 Feb, Evesham Arts BEATLEMANIA Thurs 7 CHESTRA: A HERO’S LIFE Featuring Programme includes iconic scores WITH BIG NARSTIE Centre Feb, The Bramall, Sat 9 Nikolaj Znaider (conductor) & from the movies, Sun 10 Feb, The Feb, The Mill, B’ham OLD FIRM CASUALS + Birmingham Steven Isserlis (cello). Programme Bramall, University of Birmingham DRONGOS FOR EUROPE includes works by Strauss & Schu- THE RONNIE SCOTT’S RED SHOES Sat 9 Feb, + SUCKERPUNCH Sun mann, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 Feb, Sym- ALL STARS Thurs 7 Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Worces- 10 Feb, Castle & Fal- phony Hall, Birmingham Feb, The Roses The- con, Birmingham atre, Tewkesbury tershire RODERICK WILLIAMS SINGS WINTER SOCIAL BEINGZ Sun 10 JOURNEY Also featuring Christopher BEHEMOTH Thurs 7 OZZY OSBOURNE Sat 9 Feb, O2 Institute, Glynn (piano), Thurs 7 Feb, Bridge Comedy Feb, O2 Institute, Feb, Resorts World Birmingham House Theatre, Warwick NEW MATERIAL COMEDY Tues 5 Feb, Birmingham Arena, Birmingham THE LUCID DREAM Sun DANIEL LEBHART PIANO CONCERT Pro- The Civic, Stourport, Stourport-on- FERRIS & SYLVESTER SPICE FOREVER - SPICE 10 Feb, Hare & gramme includes works by Severn Thurs 7 Feb, The GIRLS TRIBUTE Sat 9 Hounds, Birmingham Beethoven & Rachmaninoff, Thurs 7 MARK WATSON Wed 6 - Thurs 7 Feb, Cuban Embassy, Feb, The River Rooms, Feb, Royal Birmingham Conserva- Artrix, Bromsgrove Birmingham Stourbridge MADE IN LIVERPOOL BEATLES TRIBUTE Sun toire LAURA LEXX, ANDREW STANLEY PLUS BETH ROWLEY Thurs 7 RESPECT TO ARETHA 10 Feb, Hare & LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH CLARE LAN- COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Feb, The Marr’s Bar, Sat 9 Feb, The Swan Hounds, Birmingham GEN (FLUTE) & HELEN LEEK (PIANO) SON Thurs 7 Feb, The Glee Club, Thurs 7 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Birmingham Coventry ROB NEWMAN Thurs 7 Feb, Midlands CBSO CENTRE STAGE: PÄRT & NIELSEN Arts Centre, Birmingham Featuring Veronika Klirova (flute), SCOTT CAPURRO Fri 8 Feb, The Glee Emmet Byrne (oboe), Oliver Janes Club, Birmingham (clarinet) & Nikolaj Henriques (bas- soon). Programme includes works ANDREW LAWRENCE Fri 8 Feb, Royal by Pärt, Nielsen & Vasks, Fri 8 Feb, Spa Centre, Leamington Spa CBSO Centre, Birmingham BONGO'S BINGO Fri 8 Feb, The Assem- BITE-SIZED BACH Fri 8 Feb, Organ bly, Leamington Spa Studio, Royal Birmingham Conserva- LAURA LEXX, ANDREW STANLEY, MARK toire NELSON & ADAM BLOOM Fri 8 - Sat 9 ANNEKE SCOTT (NATURAL HORN) & Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham STEVEN DEVINE (PERIOD PIANO) Pro- GEORGE EGG Sat 9 Feb, Artrix, Broms- gramme includes works by Schubert grove Beth Rowley - Symphony Hall, Birmingham & Marr’s Bar - Worcester whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Warwickshire 4 - 10 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 11:42 Page 3

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Monday 4 - Sunday 10 February

theAHIR SHAH Sat 9 Feb,list Royal Spa Cen- THAT’LL BE THE DAY Rock’n’roll variety CINDERELLA from Witley’s partying heyday, Fri 8 tre, Leamington Spa show featuring hits from the ’50s, Performed by the Rus- Feb, Witley Court & Gardens, ’60s and ’70s, Fri 8 Feb, Bedworth sian State Ballet of Siberia, Sun 10 Worcestershire JARRED CHRISTMAS, ROSCO MCLEN- Feb, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre NAND, CHRIS WASHINGTON & HAYLEY Civic Hall CHINESE NEW YEAR 2019 Featuring ELLIS Sat 9 Feb, The Comedy Loft, THE BURLESQUE SHOW An evening of performances from Birmingham Con- Birmingham tassels and teasing, Fri 8 Feb, The servatoire & Dans Dance Company, LUCY PORTER Sun 10 Feb, Warwick Roses, Tewkesbury Fri 8 Feb, St Philip’s Cathedral & Arts Centre, Coventry BEYOND THE BARRICADE The UK’s Talks Grounds, Birmingham LLOYD GRIFFITH Sun 10 Feb, The longest-running musical theatre con- TRACEY THORN: ANOTHER PLANET Join CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS Fea- Glee Club, Birmingham cert, Sat 9 Feb, Palace Theatre, Red- Thorn as she reconsiders the green- turing a parade of lion and dragon ditch dancers; acrobats and martial arts KAT B, NJAMBI MCGRATH, DESIREE belt post-war dream, Mon 4 Feb, DI & VIV & ROSE The Crescent Theatre Symphony Hall, Birmingham from Shaolin Warriors plus Hip-Hop BURCH, ASHLEY HESSON & AXEL BLAKE dance from Hong Kong born chore- Sun 10 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham Company presents Amelia Bullmore's LEO HOULDING: THE SPECTRE EXPEDI- exploration of friendship, Sat 9 - Sat ographer Si Rawlinson, Sat 9 Feb, TION Presented by Speakers From Bullring & Grand Central, B’ham 16 Feb, Crescent Theatre, B’ham The Edge, Wed 6 Feb, Malvern The- atres FOLLOW THAT HARE: AN ART AND NA- TURE TRAIL Self-led art & nature trail LENNY HENRY IN CONVERSATION Wed 6 around campus, Sat 9 Feb, Warwick Theatre Feb, Royal Birmingham Conserva- Arts Centre, Coventry SOLO FEST: MAN ON THE MOON One- toire DAD’S DAYS OUT – ENGINES Workshop woman show written and performed Kids Shows POETRY JAM 6TH BIRTHDAY SPECIAL An offering families and friends the by Keisha Thompson, who journeys GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE MARTIANS open-mic night that promises to be chance to explore the world of Sci- through space and time while fuelled Space-age pantomime, Fri 8 - Sat 9 ‘unfiltered, unapologetic and united’, ence, Technology, Engineering and by fear and Afro-futurism, Mon 4 - Feb, The Core Theatre, Solihull Thurs 7 Feb, Birmingham Town Hall Maths (STEM), Sat 9 Feb, Coventry Tues 5 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, TRUNK TALES Tell Tale Hearts present Transport Museum Coventry an interactive storytelling show de- LANTERN WALK 2019 Walk a beautiful SOLO FEST: 100 WORDS FOR SNOW signed to unleash the imagination of 1.5-mile route around the grounds of Gemma Barnett performs Tatty Hen- children aged four-plus, Sat 9 Feb, Croome Court and help light up the nessey's coming-of-age story about Henry Sandon Hall, Worcester Film night sky in aid of St Richard's Hos- being an explorer in a melting world, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: MESSY Award-winning Zoo Co blend pice, Sat 9 Feb, Croome Park, Mon 4 - Thurs 7 Feb, Warwick Arts visual storytelling, puppetry, clowning WILDLIFE (12A) Worcester Centre, Coventry and dance in a show celebrating the Drama. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan. Number BASIC BREADS AT BACKHAUS Chance to THE WEEKEND Amateur staging of creativity that explodes from The 8, Pershore, Mon 4 & Thurs 7 Feb learn the groundbreaking techniques Michael Palin’s comedy, Mon 4 - Sat Mess, Sun 10 Feb, Bridge House needed to make a multitude of differ- 9 Feb, Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth Theatre, Warwick THE FAVOURITE (15) Biography/Com- edy. Starring Olivia Colman, Emma ent breads at home, whilst having BOUND Justice In Motion fuse dance, Stone. Number 8, Pershore, Fri 8 Feb fun, Sat 9 Feb, Fargo Village, Coven- theatre, aerial acrobatics, music and try projection to tell a thought-provoking STAN & OLLIE (PG) Biography/Comedy. CADBURY CHARACTER SHOWS Sat 9 - tale of dreams, broken promises, op- Starring John C. Reilly, Shirley Hen- Sun 10 Feb, Cadbury World, B’ham timism and resilience in the face of Dance derson. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 8 - harrowing circumstances, Tues 5 MATTHEW BOURNE'S SWAN LAKE Thurs 14 Feb THOMAS & FRIENDS FEBRUARY HALF Feb, Bridge House Theatre, Warwick Bourne’s famous reimagining of the THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB (15) Ac- TERM Meet Thomas and his friends at Europe's only Thomas Land, Sat 9 - RAIN MAN Paul Nicholls and Chris classic ballet features male dancers tion/Crime. Starring Claire Foy, Beau Sun 24 Feb, Drayton Manor Theme Fountain star in a new stage version as the swans, Tues 5 - Sat 16 Feb, Gadsdon. Number 8, Pershore, Sat 9 Park, Tamworth of the Oscar-winning film of the same Birmingham Hippodrome Feb name, Tues 5 - Sat 9 Feb, Malvern ABOUT TIME Theatre, dance, psychol- JAWSOME SHARKS Help Professor Theatres ogy and philosophy combine in a set NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Finn find the missing sharks’ teeth to become a Jawsome Shark Ranger, SOLO FEST: I WISH I WAS A MOUNTAIN of ground-breaking performances ex- Released from Wed 6 Feb, showing Sat 9 Feb - Sun 10 Mar, Sea Life Cen- Former Glastonbury poetry slam ploring what it means to exist in a at selected cinemas tre, Birmingham champion Toby Thompson reimag- time-bound world, Fri 8 - Sat 9 Feb, ines Herman Hesse’s classic fairytale, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (12) TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Explore over Wed 6 - Thurs 7 Feb, Warwick Arts SPIRIT OF THE DANCE ALL IS TRUE (12a) 500 stalls packed with all kinds of col- Combining heart- lectable toys, trains and models for Centre, Coventry BOY ERASED (15) pounding Irish dance with the sensual sale, Sun 10 Feb, NEC, Birmingham RACING DEMON Here To There Produc- Latino rhythms of flamenco and red IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (15) CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS Fea- tions present David Hare’s play about hot salsa, Fri 8 - Sat 9 Feb, Belgrade turing acrobatics, circus, dance per- the Church of England, Wed 6 - Sat 9 Theatre, Coventry Feb, Malvern Theatres formances and karaoke on two stages plus market stalls & fun fair, CIRCUS OF HORRORS Brand new show Sun 10 Feb, Chinatown, Birmingham featuring sword swallowers, demon Events Hippodrome & The Arcadian, South- dwarfs, knife throwers, contortionists NORDIC ADVENTURE WALK Sociable side, Birmingham and more... Thurs 7 Feb, Swan The- Nordic walking in stunning locations - atre, Worcester a mixed-ability group, Mon 4 Feb, THE GIRL FROM TIGER BAY Musical Croome Park, Worcester show chronicling the unique story of MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - RAMPS AND Dame Shirley Bassey, Thurs 7 Feb, RACERS Fun session exploring ramps The Core Theatre, Solihull and racers. Practise your engineering THE TOXIC AVENGER: THE MUSICAL An JASMIN VARDIMON COMPANY: MEDUSA skills and make ramps, racers and aspiring earth scientist cleans up a A reflection on the powerful feminine race tracks, Wed 6 Feb, Coventry toxic waste problem, in a show that’s symbol of Medusa, the myth and its Transport Museum based on the 1984 cult classic, Thurs various connotations in contempo- BEHIND THE SCENES AT WITLEY COURT 7 - Sat 16 Feb, Old Joint Stock The- rary life, Sat 9 Feb, Midlands Arts Explore parts of the court seldom atre, Birmingham Centre, Birmingham open to visitors, and discover objects whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Warwickshire 11 - 17 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 11:40 Page 1

thelist THE ELVIS YEARS - THE FRIENDS Fri 15 - Sat 16 cell & Byrd, Fri 15 Feb, The Barber Gigs STORY OF THE KING Feb, Palace Theatre, Classical Institute, University of Birmingham Thurs 14 Feb, The Redditch ENGLISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - THE MURLOCS, NIGHT Roses Theatre, THE CLASSIC ROCK WAGNER’S DIE WALKÜRE ACT 1 Featur- BEATS Mon 11 Feb, Tewkesbury SHOW Sat 16 Feb, Music ing Kenneth Woods (artistic direc- Hare & Hounds, Birm- TALVIN SINGH Thurs 14 Birmingham Town Hall LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT: PEDAL tor), Stacey Rishoi (Sieglinde), ingham Feb, Warwick Arts PEACH Sat 16 Feb, POWER Mon 11 Feb, Birmingham Brennen Guillory (Siegmund) & HANSON Mon 11 Feb, Centre, Coventry Hare & Hounds, Birm- Town Hall Matthew Sharp (Hunding), Sat 16 Symphony Hall, Birm- SOMEONE LIKE YOU: THE ingham BOCCHERINI CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Feb, Swan Theatre, Worcester ingham ADELE SONGBOOK Thurs THE ANNUAL VALEN- Mon 11 - Tues 12 Feb, Royal Birm- CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- WITT LOWRY Tues 12 14 Feb, The Core The- TINES BALL Sat 16 Feb, ingham Conservatoire CHESTRA: PEER GYNT AND THE SEA Feb, O2 Institute, atre, Solihull O2 Institute, B’ham CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- Featuring Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla (con- Birmingham LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Thurs CHESTRA Featuring Mirga Gražinyte - ductor), Klara Ek (soprano), Norman THE NEWGRASS CUT- Perryman (artist). Programme com- KEITH SLATER’S 60S 14 Feb, The Marr’s Tyla (conductor). Programme TERS Sat 16 Feb, Eve- prises works by iurlionis & Grieg, CELEBRATION Tues 12 Bar, Worcester sham Arts Centre includes works by Rautavaara, Sat 16 Feb, SymphonyČ Hall, B’ham Feb, The Core The- Sibelius & Grieg, Wed 13 Feb, CASH Fri 15 Feb, O2 THE FEZZ (STEELY DAN atre, Solihull Academy, Birmingham Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry RUSSELL WATSON Featuring Laura TRIBUTE) Sat 16 Feb, Wright (guest singer), Simon Chalk TEARS FOR FEARS Tues BINCHOIS CONSORT: MUSIC FOR ST STONE BROKEN Fri 15 The Marr’s Bar, (conductor) & Manchester Concert 12 Feb, Resorts World CATHERINE & THE HISTORIC SCOTLAND Feb, The Mill, B’ham Worcester Orchestra, Sun 17 Feb, Symphony Arena, Birmingham Programme includes works by Wal- OASIS VS THE STONE FLEETWOOD BAC Sat 16 ter Frye & John Dunstaple, Wed 13 Hall, Birmingham CHIP Tues 12 Feb, O2 ROSES Fri 15 Feb, The Feb, Huntingdon Hall, Feb, The Barber Institute, University EX CATHEDRA: PURCELL, THE INDIAN Institute, Birmingham River Rooms, Stour- Worcester of Birmingham QUEEN Programme features evoca- WHENYOUNG Tues 12 bridge MCGOLDRICK, MC- CBSO: SIBELIUS & GRIEG Featuring tive Latin American Baroque music Feb, Hare & Hounds, THE BOHEMIANS - THE CUSKER AND DOYLE Sat Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla (conductor), unearthed by conductor Jeffrey Birmingham BEST OF QUEEN 16 Feb, Fleece Inn, Fri 15 Klara Ek (soprano), CBSO Chorus & Skidmore during his visits to Mexico Feb, The Swan The- Bretforten, Evesham THUNDER Tues 12 Feb, the CBSO Youth Chorus. Pro- and Bolivia, Sun 17 Feb, Birming- atre, Worcester Symphony Hall, Birm- POST MALONE Sat 16 gramme includes Esa-Pekka Salo- ham Town Hall ingham THE LEMONHEADS Fri Feb, Resorts World nen, Rautavaara, Sibelius & Grieg, MALVERN CONCERT CLUB: RODERICK HOT 8 BRASS BAND 15 Feb, O2 Academy, Arena, Birmingham Thurs 14 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birm- WILLIAMS & IAIN BURNSIDE Pro- Tues 12 Feb, Hare & Birmingham THE SENSATIONAL 60’S ingham gramme comprises works by Schu- Hounds, Birmingham RE-TAKE THAT GREATEST EXPERIENCE Sat 16 DANIELLE DE NIESE - VALENTINE’S SPE- bert, Sun 17 Feb, Malvern Theatres THE LEGENDS OF AMERI- HITS: THE SING-A-LONG Feb, Wolverhampton CIAL Thurs 14 Feb, The Bradshaw CAN COUNTRY Tues 12 Fri 15 Feb, Palace Grand Theatre Hall, Royal Birmingham Conserva- Feb, Bedworth Civic Theatre, Redditch UK PINK FLOYD EXPERI- toire Hall CARA DILLON Fri 15 ENCE Sat 16 Feb, LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH ANNA POLYPHIA Wed 13 Feb, Feb, Huntingdon Hall, Palace Theatre, Red- BOLTON (SOPRANO) & LYNN ARNOLD Comedy O2 Academy, B’ham Worcester ditch (PIANO) Thurs 14 Feb, Warwick Arts ROB DEERING, JANE GODLEY PLUS Centre, Coventry PROFESSOR GREEN ART BRUT Fri 15 Feb, THE SEARCHERS COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Wed 13 Feb, O2 Insti- Hare & Hounds, Birm- FAREWELL CONCERT AN EVENING OF MUSIC AND DANCE SON Thurs 14 Feb, The Glee Club, tute, Birmingham ingham TOUR Sat 16 Feb, Ar- WITH BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET & Birmingham trix, Bromsgrove THE ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA Pro- ANOTHER SKY Wed 13 CREEDANCE CLEARWA- ANDREW MAXWELL Fri 15 Feb, Artrix, gramme includes works by Verdi, Feb, Hare & Hounds, TER REIMAGINED Fri 15 HRH METAL Sat 16 - Bromsgrove Orff/Bintley, Copland, Prokofiev/Bint- Birmingham Feb, Artrix, Broms- Sun 17 Feb, O2 MANDY MUDEN Fri 15 Feb, Artrix, ley, Berlioz, Elgar, Brubeck/Bintley & grove Academy, Birmingham Bromsgrove HOLY HOLY Wed 13 Smetana, Fri 15 Feb, Symphony WAKENING THE HOLLOW THE DEAD SOUTH Sun Feb, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham ROB DEERING, JANE GODLEY, ALISDAIR Town Hall Fri 15 Feb, O2 Insti- 17 Feb, O2 Institute, BECKETT-KING & ROBIN MORGAN Fri 15 FRANÇAIX WIND TRIO Featuring Jacob tute, Birmingham Birmingham - Sat 16 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham WHITE DENIM Wed 13 Perkins (oboe), Will Hammond (clar- RUTS DC Fri 15 Feb, O2 UK PINK FLOYD EXPERI- Feb, O2 Institute, inet) & Dominic O’Sullivan (bas- JIM DAVIDSON Sat 16 Feb, Bedworth Institute, Birmingham ENCE Sun 17 Feb, The Birmingham soon). Programme includes works Civic Hall Alexandra Theatre, THE ELVIS YEARS Wed WHITE LIES Fri 15 Feb, by Ibert Cinq, Beethoven, Bradbury, Birmingham ANDREW LAWRENCE Sat 16 Feb, The 13 Feb, Wolverhamp- O2 Institute, B’ham Françaix & Poulenc, Fri 15 Feb, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury ton Grand Theatre MAYA YOUSSEF Fri 15 JAPANESE TELEVISION Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery + GUESTS Sun 17 Feb, ANDREW DOYLE Sat 16 Feb, Royal DONELL JONES Thurs Feb, Warwick Arts ELIAS STRING QUARTET Featuring Hare & Hounds, Birm- Spa Centre, Leamington Spa 14 Feb, O2 Institute, Centre, Coventry Sarah Bitlloch & Donald Grant (vio- ingham STUART GOLDSMITH, KANE BROWN, IG- Birmingham lins), Simone van der Giessen (viola) THE WILD TONICS Fri 15 NACIO LOPEZ & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 16 VENUS VOICES AND & Marie Bitlloch (cello). Programme MARC REBILLET Thurs Feb, The Albany The- MAGIC VOICES IN CON- Feb, The Comedy Loft, B’ham 14 Feb, Hare & atre, Coventry includes works by Mozart, Britten & CERT Sun 17 Feb, The Beethoven, Fri 15 Feb, Leamington GLEE FAMILY COMEDY CLUB Sun 17 Hounds, Birmingham COSMOTHEKA AND Core Theatre, Solihull Town Hall Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE X FACTOR LIVE THE SIXTEEN CHOIR & ORCHESTRA: ZAKIR KHAN Sun 17 Feb, The Glee TOUR 2019 Sun 17 Feb, MONTEVERDI VESPERS OF 1610 Featur- Club, Birmingham Resorts World Arena, ing Harry Christophers (conductor); Birmingham Katy Hill & Charlotte Mobbs (so- THE LEGENDS OF AMERI- prano); Jeremy Budd & Mark Dobell CAN COUNTRY Sun 17 (tenor); Ben Davies & Robert Davies Feb, The Roses The- (bass), Fri 15 Feb, Worcester Cathe- Theatre atre, Tewkesbury dral WOLF Following sell-out perfor- CONSORTIUM 5 Part of Birmingham’s FAIRPORT CONVENTION mances at the Edinburgh Fringe, Early Music Festival. Programme in- Sun 17 Feb, Artrix, Lewis Doherty brings to life 30 char- cludes works by Dowland, Tye, Pur- The Wild Tonics - Albany Theatre, Coventry Bromsgrove acters, car chases and multi-man 58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 11 - 17 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 11:40 Page 2

Monday 11 - Sunday 17 February

brawls as he goes on ‘a hilarious ad- CIRCUS OF HORRORS Brand new show turer and extreme endurance athlete, MAGNETS Open-ended exploration of venture across a cyber-punk land- featuring sword swallowers, demon Tues 12 Feb, Stratford Playhouse, magnets, Wed 13 Feb, Coventry scape’, Mon 11 - Wed 13 Feb, The dwarfs, knife throwers, contortionists Stratford-upon-Avon Transport Museum REP, Birmingham and more... Fri 15 Feb, Wolverhamp- GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW The THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL Joe McFad- ton Grand Theatre shooting industry’s leading manufac- den & Rita Simmons star in Peter turers, distributors, retailers and James' modern-day ghostly thriller, shooting organisations come to- Mon 11 - Sat 16 Feb, Belgrade The- Film gether to offer visitors Europe’s atre, Coventry INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: largest and most varied choice of BEN HANLIN - 50 Ben presents 50 ‘fan- Kids Shows shooting-related products, Fri 15 - tastic tricks’ in this fast-paced magic THE FAVOURITE (15) Biography/Com- Sun 17 Feb, NEC, Birmingham LORI HOPKINS: SOURPUSS Playful ad- edy. Starring Olivia Colman, Emma show, Mon 11 - Sat 16 Feb, Midlands venture for three to eight-year-olds BIG AMATEUR WEEKEND Special event Arts Centre, Birmingham Stone. Number 8, Pershore, Mon 11 - for amateurs who are, or would like to featuring string and shadow puppets, Tues 12 Feb VISITORS Amateur staging of Barney Sun 17 Feb, Midlands Arts Centre, be, involved in the technical or back- Norris’ ‘beautiful and sharply funny Birmingham THE UPSIDE (12A) Comedy/Drama. stage side of theatre-making, Sat 16 Starring Nicole Kidman, Kevin Hart. Feb, The Other Place, Stratford-upon- love story’, Mon 11 - Sat 16 Feb, The THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN Fusion of Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon Avon comedy, artistry, audience participa- 11 - Thurs 14 Feb A MONTH OF SUNDAYS Amateur stag- tion and ‘spellbinding’ bubble tricks, FOLLOW THAT HARE: AN ART AND NA- ing of Bob Larby’s bittersweet com- Sun 17 Feb, Swan Theatre, Worces- DISOBEDIENCE (15) Drama/Romance. TURE TRAIL Self-led art & nature trail edy about growing old, Mon 11 - Sat ter Starring Rachel Weisz, Rachel around campus, Sat 16 Feb, Warwick 16 Feb, Priory Theatre, Kenilworth McAdams. The Roses Theatre, Arts Centre, Coventry BRAINIAC LIVE! SCIENCE ABUSE Expect Tewkesbury, Tues 12 - Wed 13 Feb DAD'S ARMY RADIO SHOW Stage show exploding dustbins, combusting mi- CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO based on scripts from the original crowaves and loads of daredevil THE GUILTY (15) Crime/Drama. Star- BACKS Sat 16 Feb, Birmingham Back BBC TV comedy series, Tues 12 Feb, stunts in this family show based on ring Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Din- to Backs The Core Theatre, Solihull the award-winning TV series, Sun 17 nage. Foreign language, subtitled. FEBRUARY HALF TERM FAMILY CRAFT Feb, Leamington Assembly, Leaming- Number 8, Pershore, Thurs 14 Feb ACTIVITIES: SATURDAY ENGINEERS Get ton Spa STAN & OLLIE (PG) Biography/Comedy. inventive and engineer the next taxi Starring John C. Reilly, Shirley Hen- for Coventry, Sat 16 Feb, Coventry derson. Number 8, Pershore, Fri 15 - Transport Museum Sat 16 & Mon 18 Feb FEBRUARY HALF-TERM LANDSCAPE FAM- COLETTE (15) Biography/Drama. Star- ILY TRAIL Trail taking families through Dance ring Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlin- the landscape created by ‘Capability’ son. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 15 - Wed Brown, Sat 16 Feb, Croome Park, THE NUTCRACKER Performed by the 20 Feb Worcester THE CAPITAL Birmingham-based Russian State Ballet of Siberia, Mon MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (15) Biogra- SNOWDROP WALKS Take a walk Stan's Cafe present a word-free per- 11 Feb, Wolverhampton Grand The- phy/Drama. Starring Saoirse Ronan, around 26 acres of formal gardens to formance which transforms themes of atre Margot Robbie. The Roses Theatre, check out the snowdrops hand- SWAN LAKE financial and social inequality into ‘a Tewkesbury, Fri 15 - Thurs 21 Feb planted by the gardening team, Sat beautiful, thoughtful and emotionally Performed by the Russian SMALLFOOT (U) 16 - Sun 17 Feb, Ragley Hall, Alces- gripping experience’, Tues 12 Feb, State Ballet of Siberia, Tues 12 Feb, Animation/Adventure. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre With the voices of Channing Tatum, ter Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY James Corden. Number 8, Pershore, SWEETMEATS AND SUCKETS Introduc- AVENUE Q Tues 12 - Sat 16 Feb, The Triple bill of works, including the Sat 16 Feb tion to Jacobean sugar work and Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham world premiere of Martin Lawrance’s MAMMA MIA! (PG) Musical/Romance. sweet foods, Sat 16 - Sun 24 Feb, AMERICAN IDIOT Luke Friend, Tom Mil- Detour, Tues 12 - Wed 13 Feb, Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon Malvern Theatres Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Bros- ner and Sam Lavery star in Green nan. This is a sing-a-long showing. SHAKESPEARE IN EMOJIS Using emojis, BRENDAN COLE: SHOW MAN Day’s explosive rock musical, Tues Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, Sun 17 create your own version of a Shake- 12 - Sat 16 Feb, Malvern Theatres Brendan presents ‘a thrilling extravaganza of Feb speare play in the puppet theatre, Sat MARK THOMAS: CHECK UP - OUR NHS music and dance, from ballroom to MAMMA MIA - HERE WE GO AGAIN! (PG) 16 - Sun 24 Feb, Shakespeare’s New Based on a series of interviews with high-energy Latin’, Thurs 14 Feb, Musical/Romance. Starring Meryl Place, Stratford-upon-Avon leading experts in and on the NHS Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Streep, Pierce Brosnan. Abbey The- POP-UP PLANETARIUM Check out the AN EVENING OF MUSIC & DANCE and residencies in hospitals and atre, Nuneaton, Sun 17 Feb night sky and discover more about surgeries, Mark explores what state Featur- ing Birmingham Royal Ballet & the our solar system, distant stars and we’re in, Wed 13 Feb, Warwick Arts outer space, Sat 16 - Sun 24 Feb, En- Centre, Coventry Royal Ballet Sinfonia Fri 15 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ginuity Museum, Ironbridge, Shrop- IT IS NOW Anonymous Is A Woman TORUS A ‘tribal hurricane of effortless shire Theatre Company present a ‘charm- fluidity’ from contemporary dance Events KNIGHTS AND PRINCESSES Test your ing, funny and gentle’ immersive company Humanhood, Fri 15 - Sat 16 steel with sword skills, show off your JAWSOME SHARKS Help Professor night of theatre, Wed 13 Feb, Henry Feb, The Patrick Studio, Birmingham best Tudor moves and experience the Finn find the missing sharks’ teeth to Sandon Hall, Worcester Hippodrome best bits of life as a young Tudor become a Jawsome Shark Ranger, QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE Mark Far- BRENDAN COLE: SHOW MAN royal, Sat 16 - Sun 24 Feb, Kenilworth Brendan until Sun 10 Mar, Sea Life Centre, relly’s critically acclaimed solo play, Castle presents ‘a thrilling extravaganza of Birmingham Wed 13 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove THE SCIENCE OF POWER Explore power music and dance, from ballroom to VALENTINE SHAKESPEARE Join William A BRAVE FACE Vamos Theatre use War- and the science behind it, Sat 16 - high-energy Latin’, Sun 17 Feb, Shakespeare on a romantic walk their trademark full-mask style to ex- wick Arts Centre, Coventry Sun 24 Feb, British Motor Museum, around his home town, Mon 11 Feb, plore PTSD (post-traumatic stress Gaydon, Warwickshire Tudor World, Stratford-upon-Avon disorder), Thurs 14 Feb, Swan The- THE GOBLIN'S REVENGE The Goblin of ADULT ONLY EVENING An evening for atre, Worcester Eymore Wood is back, to seek his re- big kids where adults can explore AS YOU LIKE IT Kimberley Sykes di- venge on the Little Folk of Arley who Birmingham’s ‘ultimate indoor play- rects Shakespeare's romantic com- Talks live in the woodland! Sat 16 Feb - Fri ground’, Wed 13 Feb, Legoland Dis- edy, Thurs 14 Feb - Sat 31 Aug, 12 Apr, Arley Arboretum, Upper Arley, A LIFE MORE ADVENTUROUS - SEAN covery Centre, Birmingham Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Strat- CONWAY An evening with the adven- Worcestershire ford-upon-Avon MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - MOVING whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Warwickshire 18 - 24 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:25 Page 1 The List Warwickshire 18 - 24 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:25 Page 2

thelist Monday 18 - Sunday 24 February Bishop, Birmingham RED HOT BOOGIE – THE ROBERT WHITE Fri 22 Feb, The Old Gigs THE BLOCKHEADS Fri 22 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ERA Sat Classical Rep, Birmingham Feb, The Robin, Bil- 23 Feb, Huntingdon ADAM ROWE, SEAN COLLINS, JARRED MAYDAY PARADE & THE ston Hall, Worcester CHRISTMAS & ASHLEY STORRIE Fri 22 - WONDER YEARS Mon Music FATBOY SLIM Fri 22 KELLI-LEIGH Sat 23 Sat 23 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham 18 Feb, O2 Academy, ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND THE SYMPHONY Feb, Arena B’ham Feb, Kasbah, Coventry JIMEOIN Sat 23 Feb, Warwick Arts Birmingham ORCHESTRA OF INDIA Featuring Zane THE SOUND AKA + THE HEY CHARLIE Sat 23 Centre, Coventry OHMME Mon 18 Feb, Dalal (conductor) & Zakir Hussain BRITANNIA BEAT Fri 22 Feb, Kasbah, Coventry CAREY MARX, BRENNAN REECE, SARA Hare & Hounds, Birm- (tabla). Programme includes works Feb, The River Rooms, DODGY Sat 23 Feb, O2 BARRON & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 23 Feb, ingham by Berlioz, Hussain & Rimsky-Kor- Stourbridge Institute, Birmingham sakov, Tues 19 Feb, Symphony Hall, The Comedy Loft, B’ham LAMANT DOZIER Mon THE BILLY FURY STORY ROY ORBISON & THE Birmingham BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 23 18 Feb, Birmingham Fri 22 Feb, Palace TRAVELLING WILBURY’S Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Town Hall XIZI ZHANG PIANO CONCERT Pro- Theatre, Redditch EXPERIENCE Sat 23 gramme includes works by Chopin, GARY DELANEY Sun 24 Feb, Warwick HIPPO CAMPUS Mon 18 BLUE OCTOBER Fri 22 Feb, Stratford Play- Debussy & Schumann, Tues 19 Feb, Arts Centre, Coventry Feb, O2 Institute, Feb, O2 Institute, house, Stratford-upon- Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Birmingham Birmingham Avon servatoire JAY ROCK Tues 19 Feb, TANKUS THE HENGE Fri THE CLAUSE Sat 23 CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- O2 Academy, B’ham 22 Feb, The Marr’s Feb, O2 Institute, CHESTRA: YAMADA CONDUCTS MAN- YAMATO DRUMMERS OF Bar, Worcester Birmingham FRED Featuring Alexander Gavrylyuk Theatre JAPAN Tues 19 Feb, BROKEN MINDS PRE- HOSPITALITY Sat 23 (piano) & Kazuki Yamada (conduc- KITE The Wrong Crowd present a Warwick Arts Centre, SENTS GROOVERIDER Fri Feb, The Mill, B’ham tor). Programme includes works by word-free play inspired by the world Coventry 22 Feb, Hare & PURPLE ZEPPELIN Sat Schumann, Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky, of indoor kite flying, Mon 18 - Tues THE ORIELLES Tues 19 Hounds, Birmingham 23 Feb, The Albany Wed 20 Feb, Symphony Hall, B’ham 19 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coven- Feb, Hare & Hounds, KEITH JAMES IN CON- Theatre, Coventry ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE try Birmingham CERT - THE SONGS OF THANK ABBA FOR THE COMPOSER’S ORCHESTRA Featuring DU BLONDE Tues 19 LEONARD COHEN Fri 22 MUSIC Sat 23 Feb, Daniele Rosina (conductor), Fri 22 Feb, Hare & Hounds, Feb, Huntingdon Hall, Bedworth Civic Hall Feb, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birm- Birmingham ingham Conservatoire Worcester ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF NILS FRAHM Wed 20 WAKEDOWN Sat 23 – WITH MEAT LOUD AND LAWSON PIANO TRIO Programme in- Feb, O2 Academy, Feb, O2 Academy, ALL-WAYS Sat 23 Feb, cludes works by Panufnik, Rach- Birmingham Birmingham The Swan Theatre, maninov, Paul Juon, Shostakovich & Dvorak, Fri 22 Feb, Artrix, Broms- JASON MANNS & PAUL Worcester FLING + MARC Sat 23 grove CARELLA Wed 20 Feb, Feb, The Cuban Em- STEELY DAN Sat 23 Hare & Hounds, Birm- bassy, Birmingham Feb, Resorts World CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- ingham Arena, Birmingham CHESTRA: A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS THE COMMANDMENTS Featuring Anthony Weeden (conduc- GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Nigel Harman LAU Wed 20 Feb, The Sat 23 Feb, The River H.E.R. Sat 23 Feb, O2 tor) plus Norman Bowman & Louise and Mark Benton play a couple of Glee Club, B’ham Rooms, Stourbridge Academy, Birmingham Dearman (vocalists). Programme in- cut-throat salesmen in a revival of K-TRAP Thurs 21 Feb, THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN ENGLISH FIDDLE WEEK- cludes works by Korngold, Stothart, David Mamet's Olivier and Pulitzer O2 Institute, B’ham Sat 23 Feb, Palace END Sat 23 Feb, North, Rozsa, Bernstein, Mancini, Prize-winning masterpiece, Mon 18 - Sat 23 Feb, The Alexandra Theatre, AVI BUFFALO Thurs 21 Theatre, Redditch Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Jarre, Sherman Brothers, Kostal & Birmingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, FRED ZEPPELIN Sat 23 Evesham Williams, Fri 22 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Feb, The Marr’s Bar, JOE & KEYSHIA COLE Birmingham THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL Joe McFad- den & Rita Simmons star in Peter JACOB & DRINKWATER Worcester Sun 24 Feb, O2 ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: James' modern-day ghostly thriller, Thurs 21 Feb, Eve- Academy, Birmingham SYMPHONIC POP Featuring Nick A NIGHT AT THE MUSI- Mon 18 - Sat 23 Feb, Malvern The- sham Arts Centre CALS WITH KARL LOX- PETAL Sun 24 Feb, Davies (conductor), Capital Voices & Phil Upton (presenter), Sat 23 Feb, atres FASTLOVE - A TRIBUTE LEY Sat 23 Feb, The Hare & Hounds, Birm- Symphony Hall, Birmingham ANNIE Anita Dobson stars as Miss TO GEORGE MICHAEL Core Theatre, Solihull ingham Hannigan in a revival of the much- Thurs 21 Feb, Palace THE SONGMEN - A CAPELLA GROUP Sun THE WHITNEY HOUSTON THE REVOLVERS Sun 24 loved rags-to-riches story, Tues 19 - Theatre, Redditch 24 Feb, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester LIVE EXPERIENCE Sat 23 Feb, Priory Theatre, Sat 23 Feb, Wolverhampton Grand THANK YOU FOR THE Feb, Artrix, Broms- Kenilworth CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA: COPLAND’S Theatre MUSIC - THE ULTIMATE grove THIRD Featuring Cristian M celaru THE STRUTS Sun 24 THE LAST FIVE YEARS Awesome Cow TRIBUTE TO ABBA (conductor), Tasmin Little (violin)ā & ENTER THE DRAGON Sat Feb, O2 Institute, Theatre Company present a contem- Thurs 21 Feb, Royal the City Of Birmingham Symphony 23 Feb, Hare & Birmingham porary song-cycle musical that Spa Centre, Leaming- Orchestra. Programme includes Hounds, Birmingham chronicles a five-year-long marriage, ton Spa works by Anna Clyne, Szymanowsku & Copland, Sun 24 Feb, Symphony from meeting to breaking up... Tues THE JOY FORMIDABLE Hall, Birmingham 19 - Sat 23 Feb, Swan Theatre, Thurs 21 Feb, O2 Insti- Worcester tute, Birmingham CIRQUE BERSERK! Featuring contem- YAMATO - THE DRUM- porary artistry, adrenaline-fuelled MERS OF JAPAN Thurs stunt action and ‘the world's most 21 Feb, Malvern The- Comedy hair-raising circus act’ - the leg- atres endary Globe of Death, Tues 19 - ADAM ROWE, SEAN COLLINS PLUS COM- LET’S HANG ON Thurs Sun 24 Feb, The REP, Birmingham EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON 21 - Fri 22 Feb, The Thurs 21 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham THE HOLE National Youth Theatre pre- Core Theatre, Solihull sent a new play by Rachel De-lahay, ROB NEWMAN Thurs 21 Feb, Artrix, LOST TIGER Fri 22 Feb, Wed 20 - Thurs 21 Feb, The Old Bromsgrove O2 Academy, B’ham Rep, Birmingham JACK BARRY Fri 22 Feb, Midlands Arts BANG BANG ROMEO Fri INTRONAUTS Puppetry, physical com- Centre, Birmingham 22 Feb, The Actress & edy, original music and integrated Kelli-Leigh - Kasbah, Coventry whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Warwickshire 18 - 24 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:25 Page 3 The List Warwickshire 18 - 24 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:25 Page 4

Monday 18 - Sunday 24 February

theanimated projection combinelist to take book, Wed 20 Feb, Palace Theatre, SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT A fusion of CREATE THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON audiences to a bizarre dystopian fu- Redditch kathak and contemporary dance, live SKYLINE Use a variety of craft materi- ture, Wed 20 - Fri 22 Feb, Warwick WOW! IT’S NIGHT TIME Little Angel pre- music and physical storytelling, Thurs als to create and decorate your own Arts Centre, Coventry sent a staging of Tom Hopgood’s 21 - Sat 23 Feb, The Patrick Studio, 17th century London buildings, Tues IDA BARR: GRANARCHIST Music hall nocturnal sequel. Suitable for chil- Birmingham Hippodrome 19 Feb, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham singer turned rap star Ida presents dren aged between two and five, THE CARAVAN, CAMPING AND MO- her brand of artificial hip-hop, Thurs Wed 20 - Thurs 21 Feb, Midlands Arts TORHOME SHOW The UK’s biggest 21 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coven- Centre, Birmingham showcase of motorhomes, camper- try BILLIONAIRE BOY Family musical vans, caravans, caravan holiday SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE SIGN OF FOUR based on David Walliams' bestselling Film homes and lodges, plus new-season Blackeyed Theatre fuse live music, book, Wed 20 - Sat 23 Feb, Belgrade INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: tents of all sizes, trailer tents and fold- ing caravans, Tues 19 - Sun 24 Feb, theatricality and storytelling in a new Theatre, Coventry PITCH PERFECT (12) Comedy/Music. NEC, Birmingham staging of Arthur Conan Doyle’s sec- MIMI AND THE MOUNTAIN DRAGON Starring Anna Kendrick, Brittany ond Sherlock tale, Thurs 21 - Fri 22 Michael Morpurgo’s tale of friend- Snow. This is a sing-a-long showing. CLOWNING Discover what makes you Feb, Swan Theatre, Worcester ship, courage and adventure, pre- Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, Tues 19 funny and how to get your audience LIVING SPIT: GIANTS OF SCIENCE Dim- sented by Skewbald Theatre, Thurs Feb belly laughing in this introductory workshop, Wed 20 Feb, Clore Learn- witted duo Howard Coggins and Stu 21 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove SMALLFOOT (U) Animation/Adventure. ing Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon Mcloughlin present a raucous romp FIRST STAGES: LITTLE GIFT Puppetry & With the voices of Channing Tatum, through the history of scientific stu- original music combine in this brand James Corden. Number 8, Pershore, ANIMAL MANIA A chance to meet Ani- pidity, Fri 22 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove new story from M6 Theatre & Andy Wed 20 Feb mal Mania's cute and furry animals, POETIC THEATRE-MAKERS’ SHOWCASE Marley. Suitable for children aged be- Wed 20 Feb, Blakesley Hall, B’ham Showcase of new work from the tween three and seven, Thurs 21 - OPEN ASTON Wander around the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Sat 23 Feb, The REP, Birmingham NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: grand old mansion, Wed 20 - Sun 24 Apples & Snakes Poetic Theatre Mak- THE BOY WHO WANTED TO FLY Rhubarb Released from Fri 22 Feb, showing at Feb, Aston Hall, Birmingham ers development programme... Fri 22 Theatre discover the healing power of selected cinemas CODING ACTIVITY Free workshop intro- Feb, The REP, Birmingham stories, Fri 22 Feb, The Hive, Worces- COLD PURSUIT ducing children aged between nine THE SHY MANIFESTO Bittersweet com- ter CAPERNAUM and 13 to computer coding, Thurs 21 edy-drama about a boy who’s fed up Feb, The Hive, Worcester SHLOMO’S BEATBOX ADVENTURE FOR ON THE BASIS OF SEX (12a) of being told to come out of his shell, KIDS Become the sonic superhero’s PALACE DRUM CLINIC Monthly drum RHYTHM SECTION Fri 22 - Sat 23 Feb, The Old Joint sidekick in a world of funny sounds, clinic, Thurs 21 Feb, Palace Theatre, Stock Theatre, Birmingham brilliant noises and cool music, Fri 22 Redditch A NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS WITH KARL Feb, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham TWISTED BARREL ALE QUIZ NIGHT Pit LOXLEY New touring show, Sat 23 ELMER THE PATCHWORK ELEPHANT The- your wits against the Quizmaster Feb, The Core Theatre, Solihull atre for younger audiences based on Events General, Thurs 21 Feb, Fargo Village, CHINESE NEW YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA the classic children’s book series by Coventry PLAY IN A DAY Explore key scenes and Chinese performing arts, including David McKee, Fri 22 Feb, Royal Spa KATE’S STORYTREE Discover what you create a shortened version of As You the lion dance and contortion, Sat 23 Centre, Leamington Spa love about where you live, Fri 22 Feb, Like It in just a day, with help from an Feb, Malvern Theatres MILKSHAKE! LIVE 2019 Sing and dance Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Strat- RSC expert, Mon 18 Feb, Clore SHEILA’S MHS MENTAL HEALTH SHOW with your kids’ favourite Milkshake ford-upon-Avon Learning Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon Laughter and education combine in friends, Sat 23 Feb, Lichfield Garrick EXPLORE: SET DESIGN Work with an FEBRUARY HALF-TERM FAMILY CRAFT this thought-provoking show about SNOW WHITE, ROSE RED, BEAR BROWN RSC assistant designer to create a ACTIVITIES: MADE IN COVENTRY - TAXIS mental health, Sat 23 Feb, Palace Theatre show for younger audiences, set design suitable for a thrust stage, Make your own taxi, complete with Theatre, Redditch featuring puppetry, storytelling, origi- Fri 22 Feb, The Other Place, Strat- battery-powered motor, Mon 18 - Fri THE SECOND BEST BED Liz Grand stars nal music and a ‘fantastical fairytale ford-upon-Avon 22 Feb, Coventry Transport Museum in a one-woman play set on the night forest’, Sat 23 Feb, Henry Sandon RACE RETRO Showcase of classic FOLLOW THAT HARE: AN ART AND NA- of Shakespeare’s funeral, Sat 23 Feb, Hall, Worcester cars, motorsport legends, specialist TURE TRAIL Self-led art & nature trail Henry Sandon Hall, Worcester PETER PAN JR Amateur staging pre- exhibitors and live rally action, Fri 22 - around campus, Mon 18 - Sat 23 sented by Beginners On Stage, Sat Sun 24 Feb, Stoneleigh Park, Kenil- Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 23 - Sun 24 Feb, Norbury Theatre, worth SOURPUSS SHADOW PUPPETRY WORK- Droitwich WHODUNNIT? A FAMILY-FRIENDLY MYS- SHOPS Join talented puppeteer Jo TERY TRAIL ‘Drop-dead fun time-trav- May in a hands-on puppet-making Children elling mystery trail aimed at families, workshop for families, Tues 19 Feb, MARK THOMPSON: SPECTACULAR SCI- and those who’re young at heart’, Sat Henry Sandon Hall, Worcester ENCE The strange and magical prop- 23 Feb, Aston Hall, Birmingham OPEN ASTON Wander around the erties of matter are explored with Dance FEBRUARY HALF-TERM FAMILY CRAFT grand old mansion, Tues 19 Feb, fireballs, fire tornadoes and explosive BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Birmingham ACTIVITIES: SATURDAY ENGINEERS Aston Hall, Birmingham chemical reactions, Mon 18 Feb, Mid- Royal Ballet presents its version of Make your own taxi, complete with lands Arts Centre, Birmingham the classic fairytale, Tues 19 Feb - Sat NICK SHARRATT’S RIGHT ROYAL DRAWA- battery-powered motor, Sat 23 Feb, SOURPUSS Playful adventure for 2 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome LONG Join children’s writer & illustra- Coventry Transport Museum tor Nick Sharratt for a fun drawing younger audiences featuring string & MEDIEVAL BANQUET Immersive session, Tues 19 Feb, The Roses shadow puppets and an original evening of medieval entertainment, Theatre, Tewkesbury soundtrack, Tues 19 Feb, Henry San- Sat 23 Feb, Warwick Castle don Hall, Worcester INTRODUCING: SINGING Fun introduc- EXCITING SCIENCE SHOW Half-term tion to singing and projection, Tues show ‘full of wiz, bang, pop and 19 Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, splurt!’, Wed 20 Feb, The Core The- Stratford-upon-Avon atre, Solihull THE CURSE OF AGGARA - MEET THE AU- THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF PINOC- GIOVANNI PERNICE: DANCE IS LIFE THOR WORKSHOP Meet Chronicles Of CHIO Immersion Theatre present a Strictly favourite Giovanni presents The Golden Light author Jayn E larger-than-life musical based on his smash-hit dance show, set in a Winslade, Tues 19 Feb, The Hive, Carlo Collodi’s fantastical children’s Sicillian cafe, Thurs 21 Feb, Albany Worcester Theatre, Coventry whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Warwickshire New 25 - 28 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:27 Page 1 The List Warwickshire New 25 - 28 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:27 Page 2

thelist Monday 25 - Thursday 28 February Classical Comedy TIM VINE Tues 26 Feb, Palace The- Music atre, Redditch THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK WIND ROB AUTON Tues 26 Feb, The Glee ORCHESTRA: WONDERFUL WINDS Fea- Club, Birmingham turing Chloé Postel-Vinay & Vasudha GARY DELANEY Thurs 28 Feb, Artrix, Marthi (conductors), Mon 25 Feb, Bromsgrove Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry K’ANTU ENSEMBLE Programme explores the vibrant music of Spain and the New World, Tues 26 Feb, St Mary’s Church, Warwick THE BRITISH PARAORCHESTRA - TERRY RILEY’S IN C Featuring Extraordinary Bodies, Charles Hazlewood (conductor), Claire Hodgson & Billy Knight & Spiers - Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Evesham Alwen (directors), Wed 27 Feb, Birm- ingham Town Hall Feb, The Flapper, Birmingham ALLYSON SMITH, JOHN FOTHERGILL CASTALIAN QUARTET Featuring Sini Si- Birmingham PLUS COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Gigs TRAGEDY: ALL METAL monen & Daniel Roberts (violin), ROBINSON Thurs 28 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, IDER Tues 26 Feb, The TRIBUTE TO THE BEE Charlotte Bonneton (viola) & Christo- The Glee Club, Birmingham TRIXIE MATTEL Mon 25 Sunflower Lounge, GEES & BEYOND Wed pher Graves (cello). Programme in- Feb, O2 Academy, Birmingham 27 Feb, The Robin, Bil- cludes works by Beethoven & Birmingham ONLY THE POETS Wed ston Brahms, Wed 27 Feb, Recital Hall, DEMOB HAPPY Mon 25 27 Feb, O2 Academy, TWENTY ØNE PILØTS Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Feb, O2 Institute, Birmingham Wed 27 Feb, Resorts THE TROUT QUINTET Featuring Birmingham Theatre AREA 11 Wed 27 Feb, World Arena, B’ham Jonathan Martindale (violin), Louise TROY SIVAN Tues 26 The Asylum, B’ham POP EVIL Thurs 28 Feb, Landsdown (viola), Hannah Roberts THE FULL MONTY Gary Lucy, Andrew Feb, O2 Academy, (cello), Anthony Alcock (double Dunn, Louis Emerick, Joe Gill, Kai MEGAN DAVIES Wed 27 O2 Academy, B’ham Birmingham bass) & John Thwaites (piano). Pro- Owen & James Redmond star in Feb, O2 Institute, ERIC BENÉT Thurs 28 gramme comprises Schubert’s Quin- Simon Beaufoy's staging of the SEA GIRLS Tues 26 Birmingham Feb, O2 Institute, Oscar-winning film, Mon 25 Feb - Sat Feb, Hare & Hounds, tet in A major D.667 ‘The Trout’, Wed GABBIDON Wed 27 Feb, Birmingham 2 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Birmingham 27 Feb, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal The Jam House, Birm- ALINA BZHEZHINSKA Birmingham Conservatoire THE KING’S SPEECH The Nonentities MOTHERS Tues 26 Feb, ingham Thurs 28 Feb, The Tin CARDUCCI QUARTET Featuring Emma present an amateur staging based Hare & Hounds, Birm- Music and Arts, Canal SHE DREW THE GUN Johnson (clarinet). Programme in- on David Siedler’s Oscar-winning ingham Basin, Coventry Wed 27 Feb, Castle & cludes works by Brahms, Stephen screenplay, Mon 25 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, KNIGHT & SPIERS Tues Falcon, Birmingham JAY PRINCE Thurs 28 Johnson & Mozart, Thurs 28 Feb, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster 26 Feb, Fleece Inn, DARIA KULESH & Feb, Hare & Hounds, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry ART Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson & Bretforton, Evesham JOHNNY DYER Wed 27 Birmingham Stephen Tompkinson star in Yasmina THE LEMON TWIGS Tues Feb, The Red Lion JEROME THOMAS Thurs Reza’s study of friendship, prejudice 26 Feb, O2 Institute, Folk Club, B’ham 28 Feb, The Cuban and tolerance, Mon 25 Feb - Sat 2 Birmingham BLUE OYSTER CULT Wed Embassy, Birmingham Mar, Malvern Theatres LEIF ERIKSON Tues 26 27 Feb, O2 Institute, THE BAND Tim Firth’s much-acclaimed jukebox musical, featuring the songs of Take That, Tues 26 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre CONCUBINE Amahra Spence takes a look at womanhood, sexuality and faith, Tues 26 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, The REP, Birmingham METAMORPHOSIS Beyond The Hori- zon bring Franz Kafka's acclaimed literary novella to life using state-of- CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- the-art makeup and prosthetic ef- CHESTRA: MOZART & BRAHMS Featur- fects, Tues 26 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, The ing Olari Elts (conductor), Lucas & Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham Arthur Jussen (pianos). Programme A CLOCKWORK ORANGE Presented by includes works by Beethoven, Sudden Impulse Theatre Company, Mozart & Brahms, Thurs 28 Feb, Wed 27 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, Abbey The- Symphony Hall, Birmingham atre, Nuneaton TRIO GOYA Programme includes DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER Swan The- works by Mozart, Bach, Paxton, atre Amateur Company presents Haydn & Beethoven, Thurs 28 Feb, Marc Camoletti’s romantic farce, Evesham Arts Centre Wed 27 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, Swan The- LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH LYNN atre, Worcester ARNOLD & CHARLES MATTHEWS THE MISOGYNY TRIALS Snapshot of (PIANO) Thurs 28 Feb, Warwick Arts some of the cases brought before Jerome Thomas - The Cuban Embassy, Birmingham Centre, Coventry Judge Serendipity Hope, who’s whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Warwickshire New 25 - 28 February.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 19:27 Page 3

Monday 25 - Thursday 28 February

thelist BALLETBOYZ - THEM/US Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Feb Double bill of new works,Thurs 28 Feb, Lichfield BEAUTIFUL BOY (15) Drama. Starring Garrick Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet. The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues 26 - Thurs 28 Feb THE GUILTY (15) Crime/Drama. Star- ring Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Din- Talks nage. Foreign language, subtitled. TRUST FAST HEALTH WITH MICHAEL Number 8, Pershore, Wed 27 Feb MOSLEY The man behind the iconic 5:2 diet explodes common health myths and offers fascinating insights into the workings of the human body, Mon 25 Feb, Birmingham Town Hall Events DAN SNOW: AN EVENING WITH THE HIS- MINI MOTORISTS Under-fives activity TORY GUY Historian and TV presenter morning, allowing youngsters to dis- Dan recounts anecdotes from his ca- cover through play the world's largest reer, Tues 26 Feb, Birmingham Town collection of historic British cars, Mon Hall 25 Feb, British Motor Museum, Gay- don, Warwickshire MARK JACKSON TALKS: NORTHERN IRE- LAND 1972 & 1994 Lieutenant Colonel MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - TOOL SKILLS Enjoy playing with real tools, The Shy Manifesto - The Core, Solihull Mark Jackson OBE gives an insight into his first and last tours of opera- Wed 27 Feb, Coventry Transport Mu- seum made it her mission to stamp out Birmingham tional duty in Northern Ireland, Tues misogyny in all its ugly forms, but at ELMER THE PATCHWORK ELEPHANT The- 26 Feb, Henry Sandon Hall, Worces- the same time is grappling with her atre for younger audiences based on ter own dark secrets, Thurs 28 Feb, Mid- the classic children’s book series by KENDALL MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL UK TOUR lands Arts Centre, Birmingham David McKee, Wed 27 - Thurs 28 ‘Amazing films and awe-inspiring THE SHY MANIFESTO Bittersweet com- Feb, The Alexandra Theatre, B’ham talks’ from some of the world's most edy-drama about a boy who’s fed up dedicated adventurers, Thurs 28 Feb, of being told to come out of his shell, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham Thurs 28 Feb, The Core Theatre, Soli- hull DO YOU THINK THAT’S WISE? An affec- Dance tionate tribute to the life and times of THE STORM James Wilton Dance fuse one of Britain’s best-loved comedy athleticism, acrobatics, break-danc- Film stars, John Le Mesurier, Thurs 28 ing, martial arts and contact work in a INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Feb, The Roses, Tewkesbury dance production that promises to MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (15) Biogra- FORBIDDEN NIGHTS Brand new show 'blow audiences away'. Tues 26 - phy/Drama. Starring Saoirse Ronan, CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO featuring provocative choreography Thurs 28 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, Margot Robbie. Number 8, Pershore, BACKS Hear the stories of the ordinary and ‘the ultimate Forbidden Coventry Mon 25 - Wed 27 Feb people who called Court 15 home for striptease’, Thurs 28 Feb, Palace The- over 160 years as you walk around TIRABASSO & MASUI Double bill of COLETTE (15) Biography/Drama. Star- atre, Redditch work from two rising female choreog- the houses, Thurs 28 Feb, Birming- ring Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlin- ham Back to Backs ME AND MY DOLL Birmingham-based raphers, Thurs 28 Feb, The Patrick son. The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, company Paperback present a ro- Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome mantic comedy exploring the challenges, joys and pitfalls of allowing yourself to be vulnerable, Thurs 28 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, Old Joint Stock The- atre, Birmingham POPSTARS: THE 90S MUSICAL Packed with smash hits from the ’90s by artists including The Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and MC Hammer, Thurs 28 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull

Children THE CAT IN THE HAT Family theatre based on the much-loved book by Dr Seuss, Tues 26 Feb - Sun 3 Mar, The REP, Birmingham I AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GHOST Nostalgic trip back to the ’80s and a comic exploration of a childhood haunting where nothing is quite as it seems, Wed 27 Feb, Midlands Arts Centre, James Wilton Dance: The Storm - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 66 whatsonlive.co.uk BRB Beauty And The Beast Full Feb 2019.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 17:26 Page 1 BMAG Leonardo Divinci F/P January 2019.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2019 11:34 Page 1