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HONEYBLOOD PLAYS Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE WOLVERHAMPTON & BLACK COUNTRY WHAT’S ON MAY 2019

Wolverhampton & Black Country ISSUE 401 MAY 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On wolverhamptonwhatson.co.uk

inside:

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

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RED BY NIGHT popular after-hours event at WOLVERHAMPTONWHATSON.CO.UK Black Country Living Museum IFC Wolverhampton.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 13:07 Page 1 Contents May Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:10 Page 2

May 2019

Contents

Flares, furs and feathers... Motown The Musical visits The Potteries - page 22

Chantel McGregor Years & Years Red By Night the list

blues rock musician sure to join the party at this month’s popular after-hours event Your 16-page Lose Control at The Robin Birmingham Pride festival returns to Dudley museum week-by-week listings guide page 17 page 19 page 43 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 17. Music 20. Comedy 22. Theatre 38. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events

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

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 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, Tom Silverton 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 Shrops_Staffs_Wolves May.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 12:33 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Crucifixes at the ready as The Exorcist visits Stoke-on-Trent... A stage version of Academy Award-winning 1973 horror movie The Exorcist will be stopping off at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent this autumn. The spine-tingling live production features the voice of Sir Ian McKellen as the demon. The film version of William Peter Blat- tey’s bestselling novel has achieved cult status in the 46 years since it was released, and tells the story of a priest’s desperate attempts to save the life a pos- sessed young girl... The Exorcist shows at the Regent Theatre from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 October. For tickets, visit atgtickets.com/stoke

Shrewsbury’s ukulele fest Movie magic in Dudley very own adventure with the character. Brightly coloured boards featuring Stick Man is back for a second year! and other favourites from the picture book Shrewkfest, Shrewsbury’s newly established are positioned along the trail, to be used ukulele festival, makes a welcome return in alongside a map which can be collected free the summer. of charge from the Arboretum’s ‘welcome’ Following the success of last year’s inaugural desk. The Stick Man trail is available daily event, organisers have confirmed that the until early 2020. 2019 get-together will take place at Eastridge Farm, Habberley, from 26 to 29 July. The event will be headlined by Phil Doleman, Midlanders hungry for Dudley Zoological Gardens is again teaming with other festival highlights including up with Flatpack Projects this summer to pre- The Wizard’s Brunch ukulele jams, workshops, open mic sessions sent its annual open-air cinema event, Be- Get ready to experience all the magic of a crit- and live performances. Tickets for Shrewkfest ware The Moon. ically acclaimed immersive dining experi- are available at shroprock.co.uk Taking place in the Dudley Castle courtyard ence... and featuring spine-chilling special effects After huge sell-out success in Australia and projected onto the historic castle ramparts Canada, The Wizard's Brunch is coming to (and with a very spooky surprise or two Birmingham on Saturday 7 September, com- thrown in for good measure!), the 2019 edi- plete with ‘a fantastic feast’ and ‘wonderful tion of the event features screenings of Tim entertainment’, including illusionists, for- Burton’s afterlife comedy, Beetlejuice (Friday tune-tellers and living statues. 2 August), and supernatural cult classic The The event will take place at the city's Great Blair Witch Project (Saturday 3 August). For Hall in the University Of Birmingham. The more information, visit dudleyzoo.org.uk brunch is family-friendly, with under-18s re- quiring a parent/guardian in attendance. Each ticket includes a meal and all entertain- Stick Man trail leads the ment. Fancy dress is encouraged but guests way at National Arboretum are welcome to wear whatever they wish. To find out more about ticket availability, visit The National Memorial Arboretum in designmynight.com Staffordshire is hosting a free activity trail featuring the Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler children’s book character Stick Man. Offering an interactive learning experience for three to seven-year-olds, the trail has been designed to help youngsters enjoy their

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Opera a la Carte brings Tosca to Walcot Hall Shropshire’s Walcot Hall is once again hosting a production by the highly rated Opera a la Carte this summer. Performing at the venue for the 16th time, the company is on this occasion presenting a ‘film noir’-style version of Puccini’s Tosca, an opera hailed for its rich mix of politics, religion, blackmail and murder. The production is performed in Walcot Hall’s Ballroom on Friday 7 & Saturday 8 June... For more information and to book tickets, visit walcothall.com Scottish superstar Lulu ‘still on fire’ in the Midlands Now this will surely make her legion of Midlands-based fans want to Shout... Lulu is heading to the Celebrating life Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in the autumn as part of a mammoth UK tour! on the canal... The diminutive Scottish singer will be performing all the hits from her 50-plus years in showbusiness, including Shout, The Boat That I Row, To Sir With Love, Boom Bang-a-Bang and the James A free event celebrating life Bond movie theme, The Man With The Golden Gun. on Shropshire Union Canal Lulu: Still On Fire shows at the Grand on Sunday 6 October and Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, on makes a welcome return this Tuesday 8 October. To book tickets for the show, call 01902 42 92 12 or visit grandtheatre.co.uk month. Norbury Canal Festival is being held at Norbury Junc- tion on the More cheese, Gromit? A laugh and a song at Shropshire/Staffordshire bor- An interactive experience featuring Hawkstone’s Follies Fest der from 4 to 6 May. Attrac- specially created animations, live Shropshire’s Hawkstone Park is bringing back its family- tions include: a narrowboat orchestral accompaniment and friendly Follies Festival this summer (Friday 5 to Sunday 7 rally, with owners competing Aardman Animations’ much-loved July). to win the ‘best-looking boat’ characters Wallace & Gromit is The three-day event, set against Hawkstone’s woodland land- competition; a restored his- heading to the Midlands. scape of caves, crags and cliffs, will combine comedy and toric working narrowboat, Wallace & Gromit's Musical Mar- music, with standup comedians Gary Delaney & Paul Sinha open for the public to explore; vels sees Wallace preparing to per- (pictured), Mitch Benn and Eddy Brimson all performing on and the chance to sample a form his musical masterpiece, My the Friday evening. taste of life on board one of Concerto In Ee Lad, with help from A Night At The Musicals is the festival’s Saturday show, Norbury Wharf’s hire fleet. faithful canine companion Gromit. bringing together four leading West End vocalists to perform Live music and a host of chil- What could possibly go wrong?... songs from, among other shows, Les Misérables, Phantom Of dren’s entertainment, includ- The event also features a screening The Opera and Wicked. ing fairground attractions and of the Academy Award-winning The festival finishes with a day of family fun on the Sunday. face painting, also feature. movie, Wallace & Gromit: The For more information, visit hawkstoneparkfollies.co.uk Wrong Trousers, with the soundtrack being performed by the orchestra live on stage. Wallace & Gromit's Musical Mar- vels visits Victoria Hall, Hanley, on Monday 20 May and Birmingham Symphony Hall on Wednesday 29 May. There will be an afternoon and evening performance at both venues.

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Flagship gallery to open at Brum’s Mailbox The UK’s leading fine art retailer is soon to unveil its biggest gallery yet in the heart of the Midlands. Castle Fine Art’s brand new gallery will open to the public on Saturday 8 June in a 6,000 sq ft space at Birmingham’s Mail- box... To find out more, visit castlefineart.com

A show of strength at Balloon Fiesta This month’s Telford Balloon Fiesta is playing host to Ultimate Strongman, a competition which sees 12 ‘strength athletes’ battle it out to try and become national champion. The strongman contest is just one of the highlights of this year’s Fi- esta, which takes place at Telford Town Park on Saturday 11 & Sun- day 12 May. Other attractions include a night-glow display of balloons and numerous family-friendly activities to enjoy.

A musical journey about ‘the silliness and skuldug- gery of that glorious summer… into the past when Shrewsbury reigned Black Country Living Museum supreme’... The show runs at the will come alive with the sound venue from Wednesday 2 to Sat- of music from Saturday 25 May urday 5 October. to Sunday 2 June, courtesy of its Tunes Through Time event. Highlights include wartime music and radio shows in the venue’s 1930s apartments, traditional music-themed street games including ‘pass the par- cel’ and ‘musical statues’, street theatre featuring ukulele-toting buskers and musical miners, and a hands-on music lesson in the Edwardian school.

Shrewsbury’s Finest Hour! Ibiza in the city... A theatre production to mark A 25-piece orchestra is set to the 50th anniversary of Shrews- bring the very best beach-beats bury winning Europe’s zaniest to Birmingham this month. TV game show, Jeux Sans Fron- Skyline Symphonica will be tiere (It’s A Knockout), is being playing Ibiza club classics on presented at the town’s Theatre Level 25 at The Cube on Sunday Severn in the autumn. 26 May, with those in atten- Shrewsbury’s Finest Hour is the dance at the event also having work of Chris Eldon Lee, who the opportunity to enjoy a three- has been liaising with the veter- course dinner. Full details can ans of 1969 to create a play be found at seetickets.com

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by Jenny Ell

Rocking Out! A quarter of one of the most successful boy bands of all time, Blue’s Antony Costa is now turning his hand to playing rock star Stacee Jaxx in the UK tour of Rock Of Ages, which visits Wolverhampton late this month. We spoke to Antony a couple of weeks before he started his run in the show…

How are rehearsals going for Rock Of woman who specialises in singing rock brilliant and a lovely bunch of people, so it Ages? music. I’ve got a powerful voice, but I’m hav- will be nice to go back there, for sure. ing to learn how to sustain it over eight I properly start rehearsals next week, so I’m How long are you contracted with Rock Of shows a week. It can take its toll on your excited about that. I can’t wait to meet the Ages? cast and get my teeth into the material. voice, so I’ve got to treat it as a muscle that’s I start in Eastbourne in early April and finish Stacee Jaxx is a part I’ve loved since seeing it new to me. When I’m singing Blue songs, I in your lovely city of Wolverhampton on the in the West End, so it’s going to be good. could do them with my eyes closed, not because I’m lazy but just because I’ve been first of June, so I’m in the show for eight As the show is currently touring, you will doing them for so many years. However, weeks. be joining an existing company. How do when you’re on your own and the spotlight’s Does a shorter contract appeal to you? you feel about that? on you, there’s a lot of pressure. I’ve never actually done a short contract, so I’m very nervous, I’ll be honest with you, but Do you think the 2012 film version of Rock it’s quite new to me. Sometimes with a six to excited at the same time. I could join the Of Ages is a good representation of the 12-month contract, by the third or fourth company and find a friend that I’ll have for stage production? week, you feel really into it and could do it the rest of my life. I’m told everyone is really with your eyes closed. With my eight-week lovely, so I’m looking forward to it. I saw the film when it came out, but I don’t know if it did the show any justice. I under- contract, I’ll literally be in and out, which is a Does Stacee spark recollections for you of stand why they made a film, but I wasn’t sure bit sad as I’ll probably make some good being in Blue, with so many adoring fans about some of the casting decisions. friends whom I won’t want to leave so soon. following you around? But that’s life! What do you enjoy most about being part I can sort of relate, but I was never an idiot of a musical company? Do you have anything in the pipeline after like Stacee Jaxx! He has fans swarming Rock Of Ages? around him and thinks he’s a rock god, but I I love it because I get to meet and know dif- I hope so. I’ve been speaking to a few produc- certainly wasn’t! Towards the end of the ferent people from various walks of life. ers about potential projects. I tend to do show, you see the real Stacee coming Speaking from a personal perspective as well, panto every year, but I don’t know where I’ll through, who is actually alright. His persona I love the fact that I can be someone else for be yet. I love panto, it’s my guilty pleasure! is more of a façade. two hours every night; that’s what I’m looking forward to. Do you have a favourite song to perform? Have you toured to Wolverhampton be- Dead Or Alive - 100%! It’s just insane. My fore? 15/16-year-old rock self is able to come Antony Costa joins Kevin Kennedy, Zoe Yes, I came to Wolverhampton two years ago through, and I can’t wait to perform it to a Birkett, Jodie Steel, Luke Walsh, Lucas for a play I was in called Judgement In Stone. live audience. Rush, Andrew Carthy, Vas Constanti & I was only in the city for two days, as I had to Rhiannon Chesterman in Rock Of Ages at Has it been a difficult transition from leave sharpish on the Thursday because my Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 28 singing pop songs to ’80s rock classics? other half was having our second baby, but I May to 1 June. Yes, I’ve been going to vocal lessons with a do remember the Wolverhampton crew were

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Food

was, by all accounts, excellent. and regional produce where pos- Presented in a shell, the seafood sible is an attractive one, and starter was perfectly cooked, one which will inevitably stimu- with a delicate sauce benefiting late interest from customers who from the acidity of the mush- want to support local business room and the creaminess of the and have a proper understand- almond, and offset by the addi- ing of where their food comes tion of the vibrant, crisp and from. salty samphire - an ingredient as- After savouring the first two sociated with the coast and one courses, we were presented with which is both unusual and excit- the dessert menu. This had six ing. offerings, all of which were un- For the main, I decided on the usual takes on traditional canon of lamb with purple themes, including a cheese op- potato, pea gnocchi, lettuce and tion. I went for the chocolate REVIEW: The Olive Tree ginger. The plate arrived and, ganache served with milk choco- like all of the dishes presented, late sorbet, caramelised white A chilled-out vibe and quality cuisine was visually akin to a work of chocolate and honeycomb. It was Nestled in an old, winding street and the efficient working of the art. The lamb breast was seared a chocoholic’s dream - sweet and in Lichfield is a gem of an eatery staff. Cherry brought our à la on the outside, deliciously pink indulgent. called The Olive Tree. Offering a carte menus and a carafe of inside, delicately tender in tex- My friend chose the blue cheese fine dining experience with a water. She proceeded to enquire ture and distinctive in flavour - a mousse served with treacle bread chilled-out vibe and quality cui- about drinks as we perused the triumph of cooking. The green and pickled grapes in port - a sine, it was taken over by new imaginative menus, where the pea gnocchi was divine and visu- very modern interpretation of a owners at the end of 2018 and emphasis is on seasonal local ally very enticing next to the pur- cheeseboard. The treacle bread comes complete with an attrac- produce and a modern interpre- ple potato puree. The ginger gave was a sticky and melting alterna- tive new menu. The restaurant is tation of traditional cuisine. I or- the dish an exotic kick and left a tive to the harsh traditional in the process of establishing it- dered a small bottle of Rose warm after-taste which balanced cracker, providing a beautiful self as an innovative and vibrant Lunetta, a sparkling prosecco the extremely hearty meat ele- contrast to the creamy, distinc- venue for eating and relaxing, produced in Northern Italy with ment. It was very creative, boast- tively flavoursome blue cheese presenting a different concept in beautiful red fruit and rose petal ing a real interplay of traditional and the sharp port-infused socialising where the emphasis aromas and a dry yet crisp finish. fare with international ingredi- grapes, which provided that per- is on exciting food and excellent My friend chose another Italian ents. fect fruit acidity to offset the service. classic, Peroni, a refreshing beer My friend opted for the seabass cream element of the cheese. Open Tuesday to Saturday for which suits a variety of food. with langoustine, feta, red pep- Again, we here saw a variety of dining and on Sundays for after- The Olive Tree has two young per, olive, preserved lemon and clever taste and texture combina- noon tea, The Olive Tree has just chefs, Lewis and Adam, who bisque. What a combination! tions being created by the chefs been named ‘best independent have extensive high-level experi- Again, visually, the dish could in the kitchen. restaurant’ in the What’s On ence and are passionate about have been in a gallery, so impres- We rounded off the evening with Readers’ Awards 2019. And hav- the content and presentation of sive was its plating. Taste-wise it fresh coffee served in a cafetière ing recently visited to experience the food. The manager, Becky, was sublime. The seafood ele- whilst listening to the cool jazz the eatery myself, I can quite un- came to take our order and was ments with the bisque and lan- vibes of what is a very impressive derstand why it’s won that acco- extremely knowledgeable and in- goustine elevated the seabass to eatery in the heart of the cathe- lade. formative about the menu. another level, while the sharp- dral city of Lichfield. ness of the feta and lemon with I paid a visit on a Saturday To start, I ordered the mushroom Carol Lovatt the saltiness of the olives pro- evening with a friend, and we pâté, consisting of wild mush- duced a dish which had memo- were both impressed from the rooms including shitake and ries of Mediterranean holidays Food: nnnnn moment we arrived. Small and pickled woodland with avocado, stamped through it. It was a Service: nnnnn intimate, it’s a perfect venue for chestnuts and sorrel. The taste wonderful combination of Ambience: nnnnn romantic dining, a family get-to- and presentation were superb. flavour, texture and taste. Overall value nnnnn gether or just chilling with The pâté was earthy, herby and OVERALL nnnnn friends. intense, the avocado supplying a The Olive Tree prides itself on sourcing fresh ingredients, and On arrival we were greeted by a subtle Mediterranean note to The Olive Tree the manager was proud to talk very sociable waitress named what otherwise felt like a very 34 Tamworth Street about the local dairy supplier Cherry and shown to our table, traditional British dish. My Lichfield and the fact that the fish and which was at the back of the friend chose the scallop with WS13 6JJ vegetables came from regional Tel: 01543 410208 restaurant where we could see brown shrimp, pickled mush- markets. This emphasis on local and experience the open kitchen room, almonds and samphire. 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Shropshire company launches range of new vegan ice creams The Shropshire Ice Cream Company has expanded its range to include vegan options. Mouthwatering flavours including chocolate, salted caramel and roasted strawberry are now available. Alongside the launch of the vegan range, the company has also been developing new retail tubs for sale in farm shops, and expanding the number of fine dining establishments it supplies.

Shrewsbury attains Shrewsbury gets a coffee buzz from new cup scheme highest food hygiene Shrewsbury will be one of the first places in the experience in Shrewsbury town centre, and rating in the West UK to have a town-wide deposit-return scheme reducing plastic waste in an exciting and for reusable takeaway cups to help cut waste innovative way like this fits that perfectly. We Midlands and promote sustainability. believe we are one of the first, if not the first Shrewsbury has scooped top spot for Shrewsbury Cup is designed to replace single- town to create its own reusable cup, which is food hygiene in the West Midlands, use paper cups and will cost just £1, which is all down to the positive attitude of our business according to a new report by High refunded when customers return them to owners. Speed Training. participating cafes. “It’s fantastic that Shrewsbury is leading the The company analyses data from The project is being supported by Shrewsbury way on such an important environmental issue, 250,000 food businesses across the UK BID on behalf of town centre businesses. and we look forward to seeing people using the to investigate how regions, towns and Executive director Seb Slater said: “A big part of cup all over the town.” cities compare nationally. the BID’s remit is to improve the visitor Shrewsbury scored an average of 4.66 out of 5 in food hygiene ratings and was the only West Midlands town to feature in the top 10. The Secret Gin Festival is returning to Wolverhampton The Secret Gin Festival is returning to The Grain Store in Wolverhampton on Star chefs lined up for Saturday 1 June. Newport Show 2019 The 2019 edition of the festival will Regular television favourite Cyrus showcase a selection of 500 gin brands, Todiwala and Shropshire-based including some extremely rare world celebrity chefs James Sherwin and gins and garnishes. Stuart Collins will all be appearing at People can take part in a free gin this year’s Newport Show. masterclass or join industry experts for Taking place at Chetwynd Deer Park on samples and talks. Saturday 13 July, the event features Street food, entertainment, live music, numerous food demonstrations and DJs, cocktails and craft beer bars also promises to be a real gourmet occasion. feature. Live music, an education hub and The event starts at midday. Tickets are competitive classes are among the priced at £7.70 and are available from show’s other highlights. seetickets.com whatsonlive.co.uk 13 RSC Venice Preserved.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:37 Page 1

War. Corruption.

Power.Thomas Otway’s tragedy, Venice Preserved, gets a contemporary reboot by the Royal Shakespeare Company this month. RSC Venice Preserved.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:37 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

What’s On chats to the show’s director, Prasanna Puwanarajah, about the production, its socio-political resonances and his varied career…

“Venice Preserved follows disaffected Vene- ing at it originally - now they just feel like so- from the NHS in order to recharge. I was mak- tian nobles,” the show’s director, Prasanna cial realism! So, if anything, the play has only ing little short films and doing the odd bit of Puwanarajah, explains. “Out of the two main grown in its ability to relate to our present acting in my free time. I remember I audi- male characters, one is the son-in-law of a day.” tioned at the RSC because Helena Palmer, senator and the other is a war veteran. Both one of the casting directors, saw me in a play Venice Preserved also explores feminist of them join a conspiracy against the senate at the Arcola Theatre. So I ended up in issues… of Venice, as they believe it to be oppressive Twelfth Night at the RSC. I finished my final and in need of change. In order to join the “One of the things that I wanted to do was job at Eastbourne General Hospital to do that plot, one of them, Jaffeir, has to demonstrate not to shy away from the fact that, at the time role, and I haven’t been back since, which his allegiance by handing over his wife, this play was written, women suffered at the was more than 10 years ago. So it’s just lovely Belvidera. One of the other conspirators hands of playwrights - not literally as such, to be returning to the RSC now. I’ve been vis- threatens Belvidera, so she and Jaffeir go on but in their representation. So we’ve done a iting as a punter for many years, so it’s a the run and have to work out whether to re- lot of work looking at the genre of play called wonderful thing to be coming back to direct.” veal the conspiracy to the senate, or to carry ‘She Tragedy’, where people got obsessed In his early acting career, Prasanna was often on with it knowing how bloody the outcome with the idea of watching women suffering subject to type casting: “In some ways I think will be…” on stage. Some of the plays we looked at were we’re going forwards and in other ways I absolutely horrendous in their enjoyment of The work of Thomas Otway, Venice Preserved think we aren’t. There’s still a sense that indi- women suffering. Interestingly, Venice Pre- was a widely celebrated play when it was viduals from minority groups ought to be rep- served doesn’t quite feel like those plays be- written and performed in the 1680s. resented in drama, but they often only come cause ‘She Tragedies’ tended to be in the 20 in as frame characters, such as somebody’s “I think theatre back then was very much a or so years that followed Venice Preserved. friend. I think there’s still a lot of head count- vehicle for celebrity,” says Prasanna, “so this This play, however, has a performance his- ing being done, where the interest in diversi- play would have featured some of the stars of tory that is quite operatic in style and ob- fying these industries hasn’t been met with a that age. People would have gone to the the- sessed by the notion of the virgin whore. desire for that to be brought about in an or- atre and seen characters and plotlines that Belvidera is pure until the point where she ganic way. I think it’s a slow journey, as often were insinuating the political events and peo- damages the men around her. When you ac- the instruments of change are quite blunt.” ple who were in the limelight. This is the case tually read it, though, it’s more about the hor- even in drama now. To make something pop- rendous abuse and attempted rape that He also hopes to continue with the many ular, it has to speak to the audience directly. Belvidera has to process, which is a direct threads of his career: “At the moment I’m di- Venice Preserved is talking about a nation consequence of her relationship with Jaffeir. I recting a film that’s set in Northern Ireland, coming out of the war, corruption in power wanted to find the true story about human so that’s a project for the next 12 months. and what happens when people are pushed experience, in a way that feels like it isn’t Then I’ve got a few on-screen roles coming into poverty. But it also explores what hap- looking away from their suffering but that out soon - I have a BBC Two comedy about pens when people’s relationships are threat- also isn’t fetishising it like the ‘She Tragedies’ barristers called Defending The Guilty com- ened by the workings of the state. Mainly, do.” ing out later on this year, and then a couple this play has a really emotionally available of other bits and pieces there too. I’m also Prasanna hopes that other directors follow quality to it.” doing some writing on a new show on Chan- his lead in producing works by Early Modern nel Four.” Prasanna has been thinking about staging playwrights who aren’t Shakespeare: “I defi- Venice Preserved for many years and feels the nitely think more directors should look fur- Prasanna has some final words about why play has become even more relevant in recent ther than Shakespeare for playwrights in this Venice Preserved is not to be missed: “We’re times: “I started looking at the play because I period. Obviously a lot of plays don’t survive making this show in a way that I hope really found it really fascinating how people’s rela- this long because they don’t have those uni- opens it up to the audience, while making it tionships get pulled apart in times of great versal, relatable themes that make good plays really exciting and emotional. It’s a political political upheaval. I was completely intrigued relevant to most time periods. Staging things thriller and feels like a really interesting mix by the play, as it’s famously long and diffi- which don’t have that connectivity to contem- of Restoration play and graphic novel. There cult. Also, its setting and tone caught my eye. porary audiences isn’t really something I really are wonderful actors in it who do some It has that kind of noir theme and feels al- want to be doing, as then it feels more like a incredible things, so it’s one of those rarities most like a graphic novel. When I first started museum exhibition of sorts. That being said, that’s really worth travelling to see!” looking at it, we were in the pre-Trump, pre- there are a lot of gold mines out there.” Brexit era and just after the financial crash. Prasanna turned his hand to directing, writ- The idiot in power or the huge political ing and acting while he was working as a change was somewhat removed from us back doctor for the NHS… then: while it was something we were aware Venice Preserved shows at the Swan of, it wasn’t driving our headlines as it does “It wasn’t an instant switch that I made, it Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Friday today. The political characters that were in was more of a cross-fade that happened over 24 May to Saturday 7 September. the play felt a little satirical when I was look- four to five years. I did acting in my time off Classical May Wolves-Shrops NEW.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 15:23 Page 1

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Classical

BBC Philharmonic Whittington Chamber Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 10 May Music Festival Residing at the Corporation's Manchester Church Of St John The Baptist, home of Media City in Salford Quays, the Whittington, North Shropshire, BBC Philharmonic is no stranger to Stoke, Tues 21 - Sun 26 May regularly presenting Victoria Hall concert- After last year scoring a hit with their Fan- goers with works from its impressive tasia On A British Theme, the organisers repertoire. of Whittington Chamber Music Festival This latest concert sees conductor Vassily are this month presenting Czech Mates, a Sinaiski being joined by Sunwook Kim. musical celebration of Bohemian variety (both pictured right). and vivacity. Featured composers include The Korean pianist was the youngest win- Dvo ák, Smetana, Janá ek, Martin and ner of the Leeds Piano Competition when Suk,ř with a total of 11 highlyč respectedů in- he took the title back in 2006, and it’s an ternational artists contributing to the fes- achievement of which he remains suitably tival across its six days. proud. “The good thing about winning the Image is of viola playerm, Lea Henninoe. competition was that I had many great op- portunities to introduce myself and share my music with the world,” he explained in an interview with bachtrack. “But there is no shortcut to becoming a mature artist. I have never thought of myself as a successful musician - I just try to practise every day and to get new inspiration from the music of all the greatest composers.” Kim here joins the BBC Phil for a programme that features Elgar’s In The South, Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Dvo- rak’s Slavonic Dances. Russian Philharmonic CBSO: Yuja Wang European Union Of Novosibirsk Plays Prokofiev Chamber Orchestra Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 22 May Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 9 May Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry, Often referred to as ‘Siberia’s cultural North Shropshire, Thurs 2 May gem’, the Russian Philharmonic of She’s currently one of the world’s most Novosibirsk perform under the baton of talked-about pianists, not least for her dar- the impressively energetic Thomas ing wardrobe choices, and she’s coming to Sanderling and are here making their first the Midlands this very month... ever appearance in Birmingham. Fast-rising Chinese star Yuja Wang joins the The programme for the evening features City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Tchaikovsky’s Romeo And Juliet Fantasy and its Music Director, Mirga Gražinyt - Overture, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Tyla, to perform a programme featuring ė Espagnol and Ravel’s arrangement of Ligeti’s Concert Românesc, Brahms’ Sym- Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition. phony No2 and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto British violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky No5 - a work, we’re reliably informed, that Boasting some of Europe’s finest young pro- makes a welcome return to the city to per- will see Wang ‘going for broke’. fessional players, the European Union form Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto. Chamber Orchestra (EUCO) was formed in 1981, since which time it’s toured extensively both across Europe and further afield. Along the way, the orchestra has performed with a wealth of distinguished classical artists, including Nicola Benedetti and Ju- lian Lloyd Webber. This latest Midlands appearance sees the EUCO joined by clarinettist Emma Johnson (pictured) for a concert that includes works by Warlock, Mozart, Barber and Haydn. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 BlueJays DPS.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:03 Page 1 BlueJays DPS.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:03 Page 2

Rock n Roll! The Bluejays chat ahead of musical Rock and Roll Revolution

Tell me more about The Bluejays... the first time to those that remember it the son and Peggy Lee tunes. Amelia’s our secret first time around. One of our favourite com- weapon and often ends up stealing the show. Ollie (Vocals/Guitar): The Bluejays are a ments is always, “You took me back to my Her version of ‘Fever’ is unbelievable. We 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll and from London. Our youth”. We hear that after almost every show once overheard an audience members saying show Rock and Roll Revolution features over and it really means a lot to us. it sent chills up their spine. No pressure, 40 of the biggest hits of the era by some of Amelia! the biggest names in popular music - Elvis What are your favourite songs to play? Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Cliff Strangest gig to date? Ollie: Tough question. There are so many. We Richard, Connie Francis, The Everly Broth- love all the Buddy Holly stuff, I get to do all Ollie: Again, so many to choose from! We’ve ers... the list goes on! the lead guitar parts on those and don the played lots of shows onboard Cunard and You’re all pretty young to be into fifties glasses! Sharing lead vocals with Matt on the P&O cruise ships. That’s always surreal. Par- music. What got you started in Rock ‘n’ Everly Brothers songs is fun and the crowd ticularly when you’re three days from land in Roll? really enjoy singing along to those. Other big the middle of the Atlantic! Aside from that, sing-alongs include The Young Ones, A we played at Brian May’s daughter’s wedding Chris (Bass): Thank you! Yes, we’re all in our Teenager in Love and Johnny B. Goode. a few years back. The man himself got up and 20s and 30s. I think we all had parents who joined us for the encore of Johnny B. Goode. loved the music, so we’ve known it from a What’s been your most fun gig to date? That was incredible. Most bizarre however young age. The big turning point, however, Dan: We post a lot of videos online. (Find us must be being booked to play for Donald came in 2008 when we were cast together in on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheBlue- Trump in New York last year. It didn’t end up Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story on its UK tour. jaysUK. A couple of years ago we shared a happening in the end but the exchange of Ollie played Buddy whilst Dan and I were The video of us recording Buddy Holly’s That’ll emails was enough to raise our pulses for the Crickets. Be The Day for a CD we were making. The rest of time. You just never know who’s going Have you been in any other West End video ended up being seen by Buddy’s family to book you! shows? who then invited us out to play for them in So what can people expect when the come Lubbock, Texas - Buddy’s hometown. It was Dan (Drums): We have! Quite a few actually. and see Rock and Roll Revolution? completely surreal. His brother Larry was After Buddy we all went on to appear in there, as was his wife María Elena, not to Ollie: They can expect a really fun, energetic, Dreamboats and Petticoats on a yearlong tour mention Duane Eddy. It was a crazy few days. slick and truly authentic 1950s experience. of the UK. Ollie then starred as Carl Perkins We even got to record in Buddy’s old studio We actively encourage the audience to sing in the West End production of Million Dollar in Clovis, New Mexico. along throughout and the night always seems Quartet. Matt Wycliffe who plays keys for us to culminate in everyone up and dancing in has just finished playing the same role on the So you’re big fans of Buddy Holly then? the aisles. If you’re a fan of any style of music recent world tour and spent a couple of years Chris: I think that’s fair to say! We love play- we think you’ll love this show! in Jersey Boys in London. ing all the artists from the 1950s but I think Where can we find out more about The What made you write Rock and Roll Revo- our followers really enjoy the Buddy stuff we Bluejays? lution? do. We recently made a video commemorat- ing the 60th anniversary of ‘The Day The Chris: There’s loads on Facebook as Dan Ollie: There are a few Fifties shows out there Music Died’. On February 3rd we re-recorded mentioned but you can also check out our but none of them do what we do. We wanted Buddy’s first posthumous hit It Doesn’t Mat- website www.thebluejays.co.uk for more info, to make a show that not only featured all the ter Anymore complete with a string quartet videos, music and downloads plus all of our songs that audiences know and love but also led by my wife Sally. It’s the best thing we’ve tour dates! Hopefully we’ll see you at the Old looked a little bit into the history of the time. ever done and has already had thousands of Rep! How Rock ‘n’ Roll came into being and how it views. You can find the video online. changed everything that followed. It really was a revolution. Which other artists can we expect to hear? What kind of people come to your shows? Dan: It’s obviously not all about the male The Bluejays will star in the musical Rock Rock ‘n’ Rollers. We have our wonderful fe- Chris: What makes it really fun is that we and Roll Revolution at The Old Rep, male vocalist, Amelia Rendell covering all have an incredible mix of people. All ages. Birmingham on Sunday 12th May the Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Wanda Jack- From people just discovering the music for GIGS May Wolves_Shrops_Staffs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:55 Page 1

16 whatsonlive.co.uk GIGS May Wolves_Shrops_Staffs Davina.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:55 Page 2

Gigs

Ian Prowse & Amsterdam The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Sat 18 May Ian Prowse is currently frontman of Liverpool pop/rock group Amsterdam, having previously played with Cheshire indie rockers Pele. Ian’s new record, Here I Lie, took 18 months to make, used 17 magnificent musicians and rivals anything in the talented singer-song- writer’s 27-year career. Stand-out tracks include The Ballad Of North John Street, a song, explains Ian, about ”the past, present and future of life on this Liver- pool city centre thoroughfare” - Ten Second Journey - “Inspired by The Falling Man documentary” - and Here I Lie - “a song for the kids when we’re gone”.

Honeyblood Now a solo venture, Honeyblood’s third album, In Plain Sight, sees Tweeddale find- Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Tues 7 May ing her most ambitious form and steely focus yet. Originally comprising Stina Marie Claire “Honeyblood is actually a mixture of water, Tweeddale on vocals and guitar, and Cat honey, cornflour and red food dye,” she ex- Myers on vocals and drums, Honeyblood plains. “It comes from a lazy Halloween cos- have shared stages with everyone from Belle tume I once made for a gig. I swirled it And Sebastian and Foo Fighters to Courtney round in my mouth on-stage, and then I Barnett and Wolf Alice. Thea Gilmore spat it over the audience.” Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 23 May Thea Gilmore is globally acclaimed for mak- Simone Felice Chantel McGregor ing music not only of extraordinary beauty Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 1 May The Robin, Bilston, Thurs 16 May but also rare honesty and insight. Blues rock musician Chantel McGregor was Often described as one of the finest songwrit- Best known for playing with his siblings as once told by a major label that she had a ers of her generation, Thea’s new album, the Felice Brothers, Simone Felice’s path "great voice, but girls don't play guitar like Small World Turning, is released on the 17th through life has been far from smooth. As a that!" Ignoring their comments, she enrolled of this month. “Okay, I won’t lie, I love this young boy, he suffered a brain aneurysm at the Leeds College of Music and became record,” says Thea. “I’m told that a lot of the which saw him pronounced clinically dead the first student in the college’s history to songs make you think, a couple make you cry for several minutes. Then, as an adult, the achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 and the odd one may make you laugh. What loss of his child in a late-term miscarriage distinctions. matters to me is that you get to hear them. I’m was swiftly followed by emergency surgery She’s since released two albums, Like No joined by amazing guests including Seth which saw him fitted with a mechanical Other and Lose Control, and is currently Lakeman, Cara Dillon, Sam Lakeman, Ciaran heart... Little wonder, then, that his songs writing her third. Algar, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts.” display such maturity and depth. He returns to Henry Tudor House with his latest album, The Projector.

The Futureheads The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 4 May Best known for their cover of Kate Bush’s Hounds Of Love, and for being one of the most fun and interesting guitar bands in the UK from 2004 to 2013, The Futureheads return from a six-year hiatus from both touring and releasing with their first new album since 2012’s critically acclaimed Rant.

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Festivals

Lichfield Arts Blues & Birmingham Pride Jazz Festival Birmingham Gay Village, Sat 25 - Sun 26 May Various venues around Lichfield, Staffordshire, Thurs 30 May - Sun 2 June Birmingham Pride attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year and boasts a Having launched in 2015, this ever-growing diverse array of activities and entertain- festival is fast establishing itself as a firm ment, including music, cabaret, dance favourite on Lichfield’s cultural calendar. and a hugely popular carnival parade. With events taking place at numerous city This year's two-day celebration is based centre venues, the four-day get-together around the theme of Love Out Loud. celebrates the best in local jazz and blues Tickets are available from birmingham- talent, as well as showcasing quality pride.com. musicianship from further afield. 2019 line-up includes: Years & Years 2019 line-up includes: Remi Harris (pic- (pictured), The Human League, Marc tured), The Escape Committee, The Sleaze Almond, Lady Leshurr, 5ive, Mabel, Kate Brothers, The Alison Rayner Quintet and Nash, Sigala, Faithless (DJ Set), The more. Black Madonna, Hannah Wants, Alice Chater, M.O, Rogue Symphony, Aja and NAO.

Under The Hill Cheltenham Jazz Festival Ashton Under Hill, Worcestershire, Various venues arounds Cheltenham, Fri 24 - Sun 26 May Wed 1 - Mon 6 May Back for a third year, Under The Hill is an Rock And Bowl eclectic, boutique festival with a line-up Picnic Area, Market Drayton, Shropshire, showcasing the best in brass, ska, balkan, Sat 25 - Mon 27 May electroswing, hip-hop and gypsy punk. Run by a small team of arts enthusiasts who Not-for-profit community event Rock And wanted to create a unique experience with a Bowl is described as ‘a small festival with a personal touch, the family-friendly event fea- big heart’ and boasts a variety of acts, in- tures music, crafts, fancy dress fun, live per- cluding some of the UK's best tribute performers and face painting. formers, indie and rock bands, Bollywood Children under the age of 16 go free with a dancers and blues & ska stars. paying adult. One of the festival’s main aims is to promote All tickets offer access to the festival from Fri- up-and-coming local musical and produc- day to Sunday (with camping) and cost no tion talent, both on and off stage. more than £50 depending on which tier ticket “We don’t fit into any one genre,” explain is purchased. the organisers proudly, “and we absolutely don’t want to.” 2019 line-up includes: Slamboree Soundsys- Rock And Bowl has a number of weekend tem, Popes of Chillitown, Mr Tea and The With 20,000-plus music fans attending the camping tickets available for a friendly, fam- Minions (pictured), onlyjoe, Town of Cats, event each year, Cheltenham has become one ily-run campsite just a short walk from the Binbag Wisdom, Mista Trick Live, Jimi Nee- of the country’s best-loved jazz festivals. festival grounds, and also features plenty of dles, Stone Bear, Rob Why?, Ed Spinna and Showcasing its trademark mix of interna- children’s entertainment. The Brass Funkeys. tional icons, up-and-coming artists and unique performances, the festival includes 2019 line-up includes: The Stones (pic- Jamie Cullum and Moira Stuart among its le- tured), Mercury, Re-Take That, Ego Friendly, gion of fans. Hipster, Guns 2 Roses and Boston Shakers. 2019 line-up includes: Gregory Porter (pictured), James Morrison, Katie Melua, Level 42, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Jamie Cullum, The Destroyers, Incognito and Friends, Alfa Mist, Katie Birtill, Charenee Wade, Andreya Triana, Alina Engibaryan, Carmel and Cherise Adams-Burnett.

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Comedy

Bill Bailey Victoria hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 21 May; Arena Birmingham, Thurs 23 May A member of a very select club, Bill Bailey is a musical comedian who actually manages to be funny, rather than just clever and smug. Formerly the funniest of the two Rubber Bishops, Bill was brought up on a diet of Sex Pistols, Morecambe & Wise and Mozart, and presents an act that nicely mixes displays of his musical virtuosity with straight standup. A British Comedy Awards winner, he’s particularly known for a routine that unearthed a new musical genre: classical comedy. Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, it seems, contains the leitmotif, ’Ave A Banana! In- spired nonsense that’s typical of the man. He Kevin Smith & Ralph Garman Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 11 May visits the Midlands with Larks In Transit, All-round American creative Kevin Smith is cover either - the boys will also occasion- here joined by fellow actor Ralph Garman ally wander into the murky waters of US a show that’s been so to present a live touring version of their hit politics. “We do dabble,” Ralph told the well received he’s podcast, Hollywood Babble-On. Calgary Herald, “because there’s a big touring it again. Blending comedy, impressions and impro- crossover now between showbusiness and visation, the seven-year-old podcast is well American politics. When the president is on its way to its 400th edition and brings taking a serious meeting with Kanye West Mark Watson together all manner of Tinseltown tittle-tat- and Kim Kardashian and the guy used to The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sun 5 May; tle for the delight and delectation of Kevin host a reality show himself, you can’t help Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 2 June & Ralph’s ever-expanding army of fans. but realise there’s a connection between And it’s not only showbiz gossip that they the two in this country.”

Seann Walsh Rich Hall The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Wed 22 May Trent, Sat 11 May; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 16 May His official biography somewhat less than modestly describes American funnyman Rich Hall as ‘a comic genius’ - albeit a ‘grouchy, deadpan’ one. Well established on the UK comedy circuit, With much of his comedy focusing on Mark Watson was born in Bristol to Welsh making fun of life across the pond in his parents and initially delivered his act with a homeland, Rich is best known for his cre- Welsh accent, claiming he felt “more com- ation of Otis Lee Crenshaw, a bourbon- fortable talking in a voice that I didn't quite swilling redneck jailbird from Tennessee recognise as my own”. whose many wives have all been named A regular contributor to the Edinburgh Brenda. Fringe, Mark has the curious distinction of Rich returns to the Midlands this month having performed standup shows which with a show that he’s called Hoedown: have lasted for a period in excess of 24 “There’s standup comedy, improvised bal- “Every year I have to write a 100-word blurb hours. “Comedy is certainly a time-consum- lads, cracking good for a new show,” says Seann Walsh, “and ing element of my life,” he admits, “but then musicianship, and basically I've now been doing this long while I’m out touring and on stage, there are ultimately a hilari- enough to know that none of this bullshit people at home doing far less glamorous ous, foot-stomping, makes any difference. I've never heard any- things. There have certainly been times s**t-kicking good one say, 'I think the bloke's an unfunny when I’ve been very happy to say, ‘Of course time to be had by c*nt, but my, what a cracking blurb - two I’d like to stay and help out with that plumb- all. Even if you tickets please!' Come, or don't come.” ing crisis, but Birmingham awaits!’” don’t own a hoe.” 20 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 11:57 Page 2

Tom Allen Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sun 12 May Tom Allen is a master of camp comedy. Often likened in style to legendary racon- teurs Kenneth Williams and Frankie Howard, he also doffs his comedian’s cap in the direction of Michael McIntyre and Eddie Izzard. Jokes include: “For a long time I was in denial about my sexuality and being bald - I had a wig and a beard,” and “I believe in gay marriage so that gay people can be as miserable as straight people.” Tom is here headlining the ‘grand finale’ of the first Coventry Comedy Festival.

The Guilty Feminist Live Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 24 May This touring show will surely prove to be a those goals, the podcast is presented by co- winner with theatre audiences, given that the median Deborah Frances-White. Deborah is podcast of the same name (well, minus the joined for this stage version by Desiree ‘live’ bit) has been downloaded a staggering Burch, Jess Fostekew and Kemah Bob. Music 50 million-plus times. Aimed at exploring the comes from Grace Petrie, who the Huffington 21st century goals of feminists, as well as the Post describe as ‘the musical soul of Corbyn- insecurities, hypocrisies and paradoxes mania’. which work to hamper the achievement of

Scott Bennett The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Fri 17 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 18 May What a standup comedian surely needs after weeks and months of tough touring is a nice relaxing holiday. Well, unless you’re Scott Bennett, that is. Scott’s capacity to fully enjoy his vacations is currently somewhat compromised by his kids, the youngest of whom takes to joining mum & dad in bed. “We came back shattered,” re- veals Scott in writing about his daughter on Edinbrum his blog: “She’d always say, ‘Daddy I’m scared, I’ve had a nightmare.’ I felt like say- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, various dates between Thurs 23 May & Thurs 25 July ing, ‘So have I, mate. What’s yours about? Yep, it’s that time of year again, when all measuring the audience reaction to their Mine started in 2016, looks exactly like you, good comedians stop off at Birmingham’s every gag, as they frantically try to hone their and it doesn’t end even when I’m awake. Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) to try out their material in preparation for their forthcoming But why don’t you pop in here with us and new material en route to the Edinburgh Festi- trip to Bonnie Scotland. for the next eight hours, just use my back as val. MAC’s May Edinbrum shows are: Sarah a treadmill. I love the way you position The venue’s regular line-up of mirthful mer- Kendall & Michael Legge (pictured) on Thurs yourself just at the perfect height to kick me rymakers should certainly ensure a chuckle the 23rd, followed and Darren Harriott & Rob repeatably in the kidneys until the sun or several is never too far away. And the Kemp on Thursday the 3oth. rises.’” comedians in question will no doubt be whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:57 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Motown The Musical The musical’s narrative is based around plans for a 25th anniversary bash for the record label - and a stubborn Gordy’s refusal to attend. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 21 May - Sat 1 June Reflecting on his career, the show tells the story of how the former Based on Motown founder Berry Gordy’s bestselling book and pre- boxer (with the help of an $800 loan from his family) took both black senting a potted history of the famous record label, this five-star pro- and popular music to spectacular new levels. duction is crammed to its proverbial rafters with hit after legendary The show features more than 50 classic Motown hits, including My hit, transporting audiences back to a long-ago era of vinyl, flares, furs Girl, What's Going On, Dancing In The Street, I Heard It Through The and feathers. Grapevine and Ain't No Mountain High Enough.

The Worst Little Warehouse Shylock The Girl On The Train In London Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Wed 8 May Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 13 - Sat 18 May; Theatre Severn, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Mon 27 May - Sat 1 June Fri 31 May & Sat 1 June Faecal explosions, bathroom baskets and First a bestselling book, then a hit film, The shockingly thin bedroom walls are very Girl On The Train took the world by storm. much in evidence when Aussie couple Lala Now, a touring stage adaptation of Paula and Robbie move into a north-London ware- Hawkins' 2015 novel is rolling into the Mid- house that’s been reimagined as a bohemian lands, with EastEnders star Samantha Wom- living space. And they’re not alone there ei- ack in the lead role of Rachel Watson. ther, with a houseload of archetypal hipsters “There’s actually a lot more licence with the- also trying to make a life for themselves at atre to do the dream-like flashback and mem- One Daisy Mill... This high-energy cabaret ory scenes from the book,” says Samantha. was shortlisted for best musical and best Gareth Armstrong's solo play is a sometimes “This means that you can access Rachel’s cabaret at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. moving, often humorous and always fasci- brain in those scenarios a lot more than I nating exploration not only of Shakespeare’s think you can with film.” Shylock but also of Jewish stereotypes in general. Along the way, all manner of characters are presented to the audience, ‘from Portia to Pontius Pilate, Romeo to Max Rein- hardt, and Barabbas to Richard Burbage’. Described as ‘a dazzling dissection of The Merchant Of Venice’, the production is no stranger to four and five-stars reviews.

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:57 Page 2 La Voix online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:43 Page 1 La Voix online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:43 Page 2

chats ahead of bringing her brand new tour to Brum...

Hello, La Voix! How exciting that How do you prepare before Kylie fan club! Well, maybe I still am - I you’re back on tour! What are you performing on stage? never called her to cancel. most looking forward to? I always listen to one of my Oh, I’m beyond excited. It’s what I do! inspirational divas whilst getting Which song is your personal Travelling the country spreading the ready, be it Liza, Judy, Cher or Shirley. favourite to sing live? love! This year I’m let loose! You can I find it just gets me in the mood. It has to be anything Liza. New York, expect to see me give my all, more I have many rituals, which do include New York was my first Britain’s Got thanL ever. It’s all new! New songs, Voixa cheeky vodka cranberry! My motto Talent audition song, and it still holds stories, confessions and costumes. is, if the audience are at the bar in the a great place in my heart. Her It’s hard to describe what occurs in my theatre, I should join them backstage arrangement is so amazing. shows, but it’s an ‘experience’! You in having a tipple. I like to be on the will leave feeling empowered, stage in the wings, hearing the What can people expect from you on exhausted and relieved, all in one. It’s audience, rather than stuck in a this tour? pure escapism entertainment mixed dressing room. It’s all about soaking There are many surprises in the new up with modern therapy. up the atmosphere. show. Have you seen my Theresa May You can escape the misery of life like singing Dreamgirls? Or Judy Garland Gemma Collins on television, or celebs singing Adel? If not, then you need to go smearing, anything political is out, grab a ticket! My favourite classic and most of all, phones are turned off. divas, like Liza, Tina, Shirley and Cher, I endeavour to make my audiences You will leave are still featured of course. And some experience true variety. I recreate “ of the most phenomenal costumes! vaudeville-style cabaret, immerse them in quality entertainment and feeling If you hadn’t become the UK’s most

give them a blast of live music. There’s glamorous performer, what would

no one doing what I’m doing... who empowered, you be doing instead? hasn’t been sectioned! Hunting down whoever had robbed me exhausted and“ of that title! Have you been busy so far this year? I haven’t stopped. As soon as the Is there anyone in particular who curtain fell on my last panto show, on relieved, all in you’d like to work with? New Year’s Eve, I hotfooted it to The Dame Shirley Bassey! It would be Heathrow to start my 2019 residency one a dream! at the glamourous Limelight Club onboard P&O Britannia. Who was the first person you ever Finally, what have you learned from Alongside that, I was itching to get saw in concert, and what was the your experiences in the industry so home and join my full band for this first album you bought? far? new Live, Loud And Fabulous touring Chase your dreams and be nice to It was Barbra Streisand at Madison show. Add to that new dress designs, everyone! Give an audience your all, Square Gardens and it blew my mind. endless visits to the hairdressers for and they will give you it back in It wasn’t in person, it was on a VHS up blowouts and my new passion for buckets! Also, feathers cost a fortune north in Stockton-on-Tees, but she had yoga... if I’m not downward dogging, and Swarovskis are better than men! a really profound impact on me. I’m upright in a fitting! My first single was Eternal Flame by The Bangles, and my first album was La Voix plays The Old Rep Theatre, Kylie’s first ever album! I was in the Birmingham, on Saturday 1 June Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:58 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

The Rocky Horror Show Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 13 - Sat 25 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 3 - Sat 8 June; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 14 - Sat 19 Oct Hook up your fishnets, tighten your corsets and prepare to ‘do The Time Warp again’ - The Rocky Horror Show’s returning to the Midlands! Richard O’Brien’s cult production tells the tale of the straight-laced Brad and the deliciously corruptible Janet, who arrive at the castle of the alien transvestite Frank N Furter and witness the birth of the monster, Rocky. Along the way, they take the audience through a selection of love-’em- or-loathe-’em musical numbers, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn It Janet and The Time Warp. Great fun’s a guarantee - particularly if you get into the spirit of things and attend the show dressed in your very best stockings and suspenders (as many patrons do)! Birmingham's Alison Hammond stars as the Narrator alongside Blue singer Duncan James, Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton and A1’s Ben Adams.

The Death Show The Hound Of The Les Miserables Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 17 May Baskervilles Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sat 11 May & Tues 30 Jun - Sat 18 Jul 2020 Much admired for Lichfield Garrick, Fri 24 May their playful, dy- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is namic and cross- one of literature’s most enduring characters, artform approach The Hound Of The Baskervilles his most fa- to producing origi- mous adventure. Yet no matter how many ac- nal, contemporary tors don the deerstalker and solve the work, independent mystery of the moors-dwelling beast, the theatre makers story remains a popular choice for both stage Lucy Nicholls and Antonia Beck here get to and screen adaptation. This latest version, grips with the grim reaper. which has been picking up its fair share of Preparation for The Death Show included the plaudits, should be well worth a look for any- Les Misérables is lavish, magnificent and duo working as artists-in-residence at a fu- body with a love of Victorian detective work awesome in its power, an epic saga that grips neral parlour, as well as spending time with or monstrous moorland mutts... from start to finish as it presents a heart- patients at a hospice. rending story of struggle and survival. The pair here invite audience members to cel- Based on Victor Hugo’s classic 1862 novel, ebrate their own mortality, ‘laugh, cry and the show focuses on the character of fugitive stick two fingers up’ at the aforementioned Martha, Josie And The Jean Valjean as he’s pitted against the tena- reaper, and discover why talking about death Chinese Elvis cious Inspector Javert in a lifelong struggle to can ultimately be a life-affirming activity. evade capture. Their high-stakes conflict is a New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Thurs 2 - Sat 18 May deeply personal one, brought to vivid life against a historical backdrop of unparalleled Cranford It’s dominatrix Josie’s 50th birthday, but scale. she’s in no mood to celebrate. Her best client, For all the show’s drama, though, it’s the ma- Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, the cross-dressing Lionel, who’s determined Tues 14 - Sat 18 May jestic music composed by Claude-Michel to give her a party to remember, hires Chi- There’s trouble in the sleepy village of Cran- Schönberg and Alain Boublil for which Les nese Elvis impersonator Timothy Wong, a Mis is best known and most loved. ford, and the rector’s daughter, Miss Matilda man whose spectacular outfits are far more Jenkins, aka Miss Matty, has been left impe- Blockbuster musical numbers include I impressive than his knowledge of the King’s Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, On My cunious. Thank heaven, then, for the other rock’n’roll repertoire... Charlotte Jones’ delightful-if-a-bit-gossipy ladies of the vil- Own and One Day More. quirky comedy bagged awards galore when it The production comes complete with brand lage, who rally round to try and help their premiered in the late 20th century, and is suddenly destitute friend... Elizabeth new staging and the promise to be ‘a Les Mis here produced by the New Vic in association for the 21st century’. Gaskell’s 19th century novel has been with Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre. adapted for the stage by Martin Coleman and Read our ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ review online at is here presented by the Stafford Players. whatsonlive.co.uk

24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:58 Page 4 Joe McElderry Club Tropicana.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:45 Page 1 Joe McElderry Club Tropicana.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:45 Page 2 Club Tropica Camp, witty, flamboyant and sassy - Joe McElderry stars in Club Tropicana...

It might be 10 years since Joe McElderry, then Club Tropicana The Musical takes audiences self but nonetheless admits the decade has a fresh-faced 18-year-old, took X Factor and on a trip back to the electric ’80s, a time since made a massive impression on him: the nation by storm with his chart-topping when hair was big, shoulders were padded, “Club Tropicana has a great storyline. It’s a rendition of The Climb, but the enthusiasm, and mobiles weighed a ton. Set to a sound- fun family-friendly show that you can come passion and energy that endeared him to mil- track of some of the most iconic chart-top- and sing along to. It’s really feelgood, and lions of viewers in 2009 remains undimin- ping hits of the era, the story unfolds in the I’ve realised that ’80s music is still massively ished. vibrant Club Tropicana Hotel, the 1980s an- relevant and that I know most of the songs. I swer to Love Island. don’t remember them being played over the He positively bounces into the interview radio but subconsciously I must have heard room for our “usual natter”, having already When a budding bride & groom get cold feet them many, many times because when we had the cast and company of Club Tropicana, before their wedding, they decide to jet off first had a read-through of the show, I found the brand new ’80s musical in which he separately to sunnier climes, but little do that I knew not just the tunes but the lyrics to stars, in absolute hysterics with his portrayal they realise they’ve checked into the same nearly all of them. That’s the impact ’80s of Garry, a Club Rep with an eye for the outra- hotel. The sizzling summer season sees music has had on me, even though I wasn’t geous and an impressive selection of barbed drinks flowing and tans glowing, but with the around at the time.” one-liners. young lovers unsure whether to go through with the wedding, and hotel inspectors Club Tropicana is the latest in a long line of “Garry is camp, witty, very flamboyant and threatening to close the resort, it looks like projects to have kept the singer busy in the quite sassy,” laughs the 27-year-old from there’s trouble in paradise. decade since winning The X Factor. South Shields. “I’ve never played a comedy role before, but it’s been really fun. At first I Joe is joined on stage by a stellar cast, includ- “It’s mad because when I first started in the was really nervous, but I’m excited by it ing ex-EastEnder Neil McDermott, top im- industry, I was looking for some sort of now.” pressionist Kate Robbins and former longevity. People always used to ask us what Sugababe Amelle Berrabah, who makes her I wanted to do, and I always used to say, I Joe ponders for a moment, then confesses, musical theatre debut in the show. want to still be doing this in 10 years’ time. “There are no rules with Garry - he’s probably The fact that I still am is crazy! It’s feels like me after four or five vodkas!” Born in 1991, Joe missed out on the ’80s him- yesterday, yet I feel like a completely different Joe McElderry Club Tropicana.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:45 Page 3

person now - it’s been a huge learning curve, that. I had to learn how to navigate a way coat. He played the part on and off for two- but I’ve had a good time and grown up a lot. through that, but I was lucky. I had a really and-a-half years, winning rave reviews for his strong tight-knit family behind me, and still performance. “If you ask most 18-year-olds, they will say do.” they haven’t really worked out who they are “Joseph was a challenge because I was step- yet or where they fit in. I was really self-aware Having now done “loads of different things I ping into an iconic role that lots of very fa- for the first three years of my career, until I never thought I’d do”, one thing McElderry mous people have become very loved for realised I just had to be a good person and has been surprised to discover is that he playing: Philip Schofield, Jason trust that. copes very well under pressure, something Donovan, Donny Osmond and the rest. I’d he puts down to his time on The X Factor. seen them and grew up with them playing “There were times people would pick apart Joseph, so I realised the weight of the role I the most ridiculous things, and I didn’t know “I cope under pressure better than when I’m was taking on. I didn’t want to be the worst how to react, so I gave myself a bit of a pep not under pressure!” he laughs. “I think that person to play it!” talk and said, ‘You know Joe, you’re a nice comes from the boiling pot that is The X Fac- person, just enjoy your job and have fun. tor. It’s so intense you have no choice but to Joe was, and still is, aware of the stigma that Showbusiness is supposed to be lights cam- get your head down and get on with it. So comes with being discovered on a TV talent eras, fun’. So I learned to accept it for what it now something really big won’t phase me, show and was determined to prove that he was and not take things too seriously.” but something you might think wouldn’t was the right person for the job. freak me out does. Little things like everyday As a person, Joe reflects that “becoming an “Coming from a show like The X Factor, I worries I find a much bigger deal than adult” in the industry has made him a more wanted people to come to Joseph and say, ‘He preparing for a two-hour musical. It’s really confident performer: “I didn’t trust my own deserves to be in that role and not because he weird.” ability as much as I do now; I was a bit un- was in The X Factor’. I didn’t want to be one sure of myself. There was that pressure of Joe’s musical theatre career took off in 2015 of those people just put in the job to sell tick- being thrust into the public eye with lots of when he was cast in the title role of the An- ets. So I felt the pressure to be good and different people with different opinions be- drew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice musical, worked really hard. hind the scenes telling me to do this or do Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dream- Joe McElderry Club Tropicana.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:45 Page 4

“I don’t think the X Factor stigma ever goes, to be lost so much that I lose perspective on songs. “But first I’ve got Club Tropicana, but in a way you can use it to your advantage real life. Going back to Newcastle, that’s me which takes me up to September,” he says, because if people do come with that expecta- real life, and this is the fun job I step in and gazing at the almost-lifesize picture of him tion, and you’ve grafted really hard to pro- out of.” that adorns the poster for the production. duce something really good, they go away That said, much of Joe’s time these days is So how does ‘Newcastle Joe’ respond when happy and with a new appreciation of what spent on the road, and another venue he’s he looks at that image? you can do.” been looking forward to returning to with “He says, ‘You don’t look like that when you Despite his busy schedule, Joe has eschewed Club Tropicana is the Edinburgh Playhouse. wake up!’ It’s always a very humbling thing the usual path taken by performers and cho- “Last time I was in Edinburgh with Joseph I to see yourself on a huge poster outside a sen to remain based in the north. got a huge apartment and all me family came venue. I’ll never get used to that. It makes me “I’ve always fought living in London because up. We had a few crazy nights out, eating appreciate that not everybody gets to do what I love it in Newcastle. People in the industry haggis and chips, and I even had a deep-fried they love, and I feel very lucky to have expe- come up to me and say, ‘What, you still live Galaxy Bar, which was beautiful. I didn’t feel rienced that as much as I have. I really do feel in Newcastle?’ But I’m very lucky because the so good in the loin-cloth the next day, but it blessed.” work I do fits around my schedule and peo- was wonderful while I was eating it!” ple incorporate my commuting into theirs. He explodes with laughter as he confesses, For me, Newcastle is where me sanity is. I do “You certainly become very aware of mirrors all the crazy work and everything that comes and camera angles when all you’re wearing is Club Tropicana shows at Wolverhampton with it, then I go back to normality where I’m a loin-cloth; you see a camera in the front Grand Theatre from Monday 29 April to not immersed in the industry. row and think, ‘That angle is not going to be Saturday 4 May, and then at the Belgrade “All me childhood friends are there and me pretty’ as you’re singing Close Every Door!” Theatre, Coventry, from Tuesday 7 to family. It’s important to understand that al- Saturday 11 May. To celebrate 10 years in the business, Joe is though we work in a wonderful industry, it’s also writing a new album of original not the be all and end all of life. I don’t want Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:58 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Heart Of Darkness Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 8 - Sat 11 May The company producing this show, Imitating The Dog, have already enjoyed success with a stage adaptation of another literary classic - Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell To Arms - so there’s every chance that their version of Joseph Conrad’s 1899 masterpiece will prove to be a similar tour de force. Relocated in the forsaken landscape of a timeless Europe, the production tells the story of one man’s journey into a perilous unknown - the ‘heart of darkness’ of the title - and comes complete with the benefits of some impressive digital technology.

A Thousand simple enough; poor old Angelo is left in Rotterdam charge of an anarchic Vienna, whilst the Splendid Suns The REP, Birmingham, Mon 20 - Wed 22 May; Duke pretends that he has work overseas. Malvern Theatres, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 May The REP, Birmingham, Tues 2 - Sat 18 May Instead, he uses the opportunity to spy on his diligent (though misguided) deputy, waits for a mistake to be made, then reappears to make Angelo a convenient scapegoat for Vienna’s woes... A stitch-up or just judicial authority? No wonder politicians of all parties quote Shakespeare to justify their dark deeds...

Bells And Spells Khaled Hosseini's spiritual sequel to The Kite Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Runner is here receiving its European stage Tues 21 & Wed 22 May Engaging with a multitude of issues relevant première. Taking the viewer on a journey through hal- to the LGBTQ+ community, Jon Brittain’s When orphaned Laila finds herself left alone lucinatory lands and libertarian countries, heartwarming play features a majority cast of in an Afghanistan ravaged by war, salvation Victoria Thierrée Chaplin’s new production non-binary, transgender and queer actors. comes in the form of her older neighbour, sees Aurélia Thierrée getting inside the skin ‘Rotterdam is a fantastic comedy with lots of Rasheed, who takes her as his second wife of a kleptomaniac - only to find herself ma- heart,” says cast member Ellie Morris, who and makes her pregnant. nipulated by the objects that she steals... plays out-and-proud Dutch party-girl Lelani. Rasheed’s decision kickstarts a rivalry be- Expect a spark of absurdity and more than a “It’s about a lesbian couple - Alice and Fiona tween Laila and his first wife, Mariam - but as dash of surreal humour in a thought-provok- - who live in Rotterdam, and Fiona comes out the Taliban take over and life becomes a des- ing show in which the bizarre rubs shoulders as transgender at the start of the play. The re- perate struggle against starvation and brutal- with the supernatural... mainder of the play follows his journey from ity, the two women find themselves engaging being Fiona to becoming Adrian, and looks at in an unlikely alliance... how that affects his relationship with Alice, his own identity and the people around him.” Measure For Measure Ellie is returning to the role of Lelani having previously played her during Rotterdam’s run Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- Avon, Fri 28 June - Thurs 29 Aug at the Arts Centre in London. “I honestly just adore this play. I think I’ve The darkest of Shakespeare’s comedies, maybe performed it, like, 100 times, and Measure For Measure is usually considered a every single time it’s just as good as the last. problem play. Which means that it asks more If you want fireworks, balloons and a seri- questions than it answers - leaving doubt ously good soundtrack, then this is the play about which side of the political fence for you!” Shakespeare is really on. The structure is 26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:58 Page 6 Calendar Girls Tim Firth.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:31 Page 1

Calenda Award-winning musical comes to the Midlands… Girls Calendar Girls Tim Firth.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:31 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

What’s On speaks to playwright and screenwriter Tim Firth about his heartwarming production...

The original ‘calendar girls’ took the world by lives, especially for women at the local That-inspired show, The Band. storm when they posed nude for a charity cal- Women’s Institute. They started an interna- “There’s a saying that all playwrights write endar following the death of one of their hus- tional phenomenon and raised so much basically the same play but from different an- bands from the blood cancer, non-Hodgkin money for the charity Bloodwise. The nude gles throughout their career, and I think that lymphoma. Since then, their witty, uplifting calendar rose in popularity as a way of rais- could be applied to songwriters also. This can story has touched millions across the world. ing cash for a variety of causes while at the be pretty damaging for a musical because same time having a really good laugh. What In 2003, Tim Firth took on the task of writing after two hours of sitting in a theatre, it can made the Calendar Girls’ calendar so special the screenplay for a film about their story, become pretty obvious that you’re hearing al- was that, firstly, the photographs, taken by and then followed it up with a stage play. He most the same song over and over. The great Terry Logan, were works of art within them- then joined forces with Gary Barlow - and thing about Gary is that he gave me so many selves, and secondly, that it was understated. Calendar Girls The Musical was born… ideas. Also, I think because he’s been work- It was all about what you didn’t see; it was a ing the length of time that he has, he re- “Gary and I have known each other for a very fan dance. Also, if there had just been the sponds to different lyrics with different kinds long time,” Tim explains. “We’d talked about idea of making the calendar, as opposed to of songs. Originally we had over 90 songs, writing a musical together for ages but had making it in response to grief and loss, the and it’s like looking at the wall of an old- nothing to write it about. Seeing as I’d al- mixture would have been a lot less potent. fashioned sweet shop. Through the story, you ready done Calendar Girls as a film and a The reason people react to it in the theatre is hit certain points and jars start to rattle on play, it was the last place I was looking. But because everyone has been touched by loss the shelf and everything falls into place. To the play was always slightly straining to be a and grief, even if it’s not directly through dis- do that, though, you have to have a very musical, I think. What then emerged was a ease. The reason it works as a show is be- strong work ethic, and Gary certainly has different structure to the story. If you’ve seen cause people are laughing and crying at the that. So in Calendar Girls, we have the variety the play, the calendar shoot comes at the end same time. In a way, that’s what people of songs and tones that you need for a musi- of the first act, but in the musical it only across the world were doing in response to cal - and in a more acoustic style too, rather comes right at the very end. What this does is the actual calendar; it was a witty act of war than the pop music Gary is best known for.” allow us to spend more time with the women, against grief. People respond to that bravery their husbands and their children. This little and valiance.” Tim has other exciting projects in the village becomes a small poem for the rest of pipeline: “I’ve got my new comedy, This Is My Tim views the original Calendar Girls as pio- the world that’s full of hope and wit, and is Family, and Gary and I have already started neers of body positivity, challenging the idea all about defeating despair through comedy.” thinking of ideas for our next musical, so that a woman’s body had to fit with a certain we’re busy stockpiling songs. We’ve also been Tim admits Calendar Girls is close to his image: “It’s 20 years since they made the cal- preparing for The Band’s tour of Germany, heart: “It’s set in a tiny village in Yorkshire, endar, and they were so forward-looking with and then Gary will be going out on tour but which also happened to be the village where regard to body-image issues. Obviously, they will also be writing during that time.” my parents went on their honeymoon about hadn’t been airbrushed in any way. Also, in 50 years ago, and to which they took us back the lead-up to the calendar, they all decided And finally, back to Calendar Girls. What many times as kids. I knew the views and I to go on a diet, but that didn’t work out and does Tim think makes the production an knew the way the people spoke, so there was they gave up! I think what’s so beautiful experience not to be missed? a degree of familiarity there for me that about the pictures on the calendar is that “I think it’s an unusual show in that, for helped a lot. Purely by chance, my family and they’re just human beings. These aren’t many, it will be the first time they’ve ever I had gone to a Yorkshire fete and bought the women of an exactly similar shape and body ‘craughed’, to use a borrowed phrase, which calendar a year before I was even approached type - and that should be celebrated. Without means crying and laughing at the same time. to do the film. So I’d had it hanging on my wishing to make a statement about body Calendar Girls is also funny enough for you to wall for a year and I’d already met the real image, they actually made a very loud state- want to come back again. People just can’t Calendar Girls! It felt as if fate and the York- ment about it because it encouraged a great seem to get enough of it!” shire Dales were pushing me towards this sense of collective support. What was great story. In fact, given all those coincidences, I about the calendar, and what’s great about think I’d have been really annoyed if some- the story subsequently being on stage, is that one else had written it!” you get the idea of women sticking together, saluting everybody’s individual body shape Tim has a number of theories as to why the Calendar Girls The Musical shows at and encouraging each other for a common Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday original calendar was such a phenomenon: goal.” “In the first instance, it was completely unex- 28 May to Saturday 8 June, and then at pected and such a funny idea to do a nude Calendar Girls isn’t the only musical on Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from calendar with normal people in their normal which Tim has collaborated with Gary Bar- Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 September. low. They also worked together on the Take Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:58 Page 7

Theatre Theatre for younger audiences...

Zog Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 8 & Thurs 9 May; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 24 - Sun 26 May; Malvern Theatres, Wed 5 & Thurs 6 June With previous shows including Tiddler And Other Terrific Tales and Tabby McTat, it’s fair to say that Freckle Productions know a thing or two about presenting stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler stories... Zog is at Madam Dragon’s school and is determined to win himself a gold star. He’s so determined, in fact, that he tries a little bit too hard and finds himself bumping, burning and roaring his way through years one, two and three.

The Worst Witch the tiger. But keeping Mowgli safe is no walk Imaginative sets and costumes are very much in the jungle, as his two furry pals soon find present and correct in a show that the pro- Birmingham Hippodrome, out... Presented by Wicked Productions and ducers are confident will send your kids Wed 22 - Sun 26 May featuring some brand new songs. home positively wild (which may or may not be a good thing!). X Factor 2016 winner Matt Terry stars. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Aliens Love Underpants Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, Telford, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 May Thurs 30 May In a career stretching back to the mid-1960s, Given its title, it’s Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books perhaps not sur- - writing most of them too. None have been prising that the Step aside, Harry Potter, Mildred Hubble is more famous or successful than his 1969 visiting town - and she’s ready to unleash producers of Aliens story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In Underpants are some family-friendly magic and mayhem! The popular picture book has been translated Many a year before Harry’s Hogwarts hocus- selling the show as into more than 60 languages, selling in ex- one that’s so funny pocus took the world by storm, Jill Murphy cess of 52 million copies... wrote a series of books about ordinary-girl ‘you’ll laugh your This 50th anniversary stage version of Carle’s pants off’. Mildred and her adventures at a school for much-loved tale is presented alongside three witches. The Worst Witch, first published in And they may well be right about that. other popular children’s stories by the same Based on the bestselling children’s book by 1974, spawned seven sequels, a movie and a author: Brown Bear, Brown Bear; 10 Little Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, the produc- television series, with worldwide book sales Rubber Ducks; and The Very Lonely Firefly. tion features ‘stunning effects, madcap ac- reaching the five million mark. The show features no fewer than 75 ‘lovable tion and original music’. This brand new show is directed by Theresa puppets’. Heskins and comes complete with original And if that little lot isn’t enough to tempt you, songs, music, magic and a healthy dose of the promise of a close encounter with ‘lots of aliens’ surely is... Mildred-created pandemonium. Madagascar The Musical Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 7 - Sat 11 May The Flying Bath The Jungle Book The smell of the greasepaint and roar of the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sat 25 May The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, crowd has tempted the furry cast of Madagas- Mon 27 May car the movie to forsake New York's Central Take a book by the brilliant Julia Donaldson, Made universally popular by the classic Walt Park Zoo in favour of treading the boards on place it into the award-winning hands of Lit- Disney movie, Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book a UK tour. tle Angel theatre company - and wait for the tells the story of a young boy named Mowgli The blockbuster DreamWorks film comes to theatrical magic to happen... who’s been raised in the jungle by a family of life in Wolverhampton when Alex the Lion, When everyone has left the house in the wolves. His friends, Baloo the bear and Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Glo- morning, the bath toys spring into action and Bagheera the panther, are determined to save ria the hip hip Hippo stampede onto the head off on exciting adventures in their magi- him from the evil intentions of Shere Khan stage with a great big jungle roar. cal flying bath!

28 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:58 Page 8

whatsonlive.co.uk 29 BRB Peter and The Wolf.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 08:55 Page 1

PETER AND THE WOLF gets an urban makeover

30 whatsonlive.co.uk BRB Peter and The Wolf.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 08:55 Page 2

by Patsy Moss

Birmingham Royal Ballet choreographer and First Artist Ruth Brill talks about delivering an exciting new staging of Prokofiev’s much-loved tale…

An hour-and-a-half spent watching Ruth Brill quite challenging. The show has to be widely out, so it’s best for me to say, ‘What do you putting her choreography skills into action in accessible for families, but my work also think on this, Paul?’ The experts contribute rehearsals for Peter And The Wolf makes for a needs to stand up in its own right when per- their knowledge, I listen and learn. mesmerising experience. Seeing the rumble formed at Birmingham Hippodrome and Lon- I’m still performing with BRB. When I go back unfold between Bird and Wolf gave me a real don Sadler’s Wells.” to that role, I find that my whole approach as sense of how technically challenging it is to Ruth’s approach to satisfying the show’s di- a dancer has changed. I can’t unsee what I’ve put together a Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) verse audience is to keep the narration and learned as a choreographer, on the other production of this magnitude. music true to the original but at the same time side.” Commissioned by outgoing Director David make the setting an urban one. Ruth believes that it’s crucial to let the Bintley, Peter And The Wolf is Ruth’s fourth “Peter And The Wolf is a carefully protected dancers find their own way in a production: commission for BRB. She’s been with the work, and rightly so, as it’s genius. That’s why “If there are two people doing the same role company for seven years as a First Artist, and we’re keeping the core as is. What we are on different days, I don’t feel that they have to her choreographic repertoire (for BRB) to date doing, however, is transporting it to a new set- do it in exactly the same way. Yes, the steps comprises Rhapsody In Blue (2014), ting. Rather than being done in a traditional need to be the same. Yes, the key moments Matryoshka (2015) and Arcadia (2017). way, with a meadow, grandfather’s house and need to be the same, but within that there’s But as Ruth herself admits, Peter And The a forest, we’re setting it in an urban environ- stretch for them to find their own character. Wolf is her most ambitious project to date. ment. I’m collaborating with Spike Kilburn on They then have ownership with their own Her excitement about presenting the show to the set and costume design. The audience will interpretation of the role.” a Midlands audience is palpable: “It’s such an see the tree represented by a huge scaffolding Each of the production’s nine cast members iconic, much-loved story that’s familiar to so tower. It has different levels, a ladder, a pulley has a crucial role in telling the story of Peter many people. Anyone of my age or older and rope with which to catch the wolf. The And The Wolf. “It’s quite a small cast, but I would probably recognise the music. A characters are dressed in street wear. Spike think the amazing thing about this - and the younger generation may not know it, so now has a wealth of experience and great vision. dancers love it too - is that everybody has a seems a perfect opportunity for us to retell the It’s really exciting, as this is the first time he’s character. There’s no big ensemble. We have story.” designed for ballet. There are certainly no Peter, Bird, Cat, Duck, Grandad, Wolf, three tutus in sight!” But this isn’t just any old retelling of Peter hunters and that’s it. Each member of the cast And The Wolf... The music for Peter And The Wolf was origi- has a key role and has their own character to nally written to explain to children about the focus on.” In a quest to appeal to a wider audience, instruments in an orchestra. Every character BRB’s staging of one of Prokofiev’s finest So with the premiere of this much-anticipated has an instrument depicting a theme which works has been given an urban feel - as Ruth production fast approaching, and with will be cleverly used throughout. Ruth is keen explains: “One of the main slants is that Peter umpteen hours of rehearsal under her belt, to point out that although construction of a is going to be played by a girl. It feels very cur- what’s Ruth’s biggest concern about putting production like this always begins with the rent to have a strong heroine at the heart of on her most challenging show to date? music, it’s very much a collaborative affair, the story. This production has dance, narra- “When you’ve made your decisions and and one in which she sees herself as the pro- tion and music all rolled into one, which you’ve set the choreography on the dancers, ject manager, wearing many hats. makes it very accessible because the story is the hardest thing is letting go, letting the per- explained. People don’t expect spoken word “I like to be really involved in every aspect of formance happen. On the night of the pre- as a major element when they go to a ballet. It the process. I see all of the elements - set, cos- miere performance, I’m going to be sitting in breaks down the barriers, so no-one should tume, music, dancers, even the marketing the audience with everyone else, watching. feel apprehensive that they won’t understand campaign - as part of the choreographer’s vi- It’s about detaching and trusting that your the story or know what’s going on.” sion. I trust everyone in charge of those differ- team - the technicians, the musicians, the ent aspects; they have their input and they dancers - will pull it together and do you Ruth’s brief for Peter And The Wolf was a take my ideas to a place that I wouldn’t have proud. Then the production becomes its own challenging one in that it’s being performed got to on my own. However, it’s down to me to thing in its own right, living and breathing as part of BRB’s Home From Home tour, ensure that all of these different threads com- and going on...” which means the production will visit Mid- bine to become a coherent whole. The whole lands venues outside Birmingham; in Wolver- process is a learning curve, and every day I’m hampton, Shrewsbury and Malvern. It will Birmingham Royal Ballet’s performance learning. Principal Conductor Paul Murphy then form part of a programme on the main of Peter And The Wolf shows at Theatre has been so pivotal in this journey because so stage at Birmingham Hippodrome and Lon- Severn, Shrewsbury on Fri 17 & Sat 18 May; much of this production comes back to the don’s Sadlers Wells later in the year. Malvern Festival Theatre, Tues 21 & Wed 22 music. Speeds are really crucial in how every- May; and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, “My brief for the Home From Home tour is thing builds. Paul knows this music inside- Fri 24 & Sat 25 May.

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Dance

Rosie Kay: 10 Soldiers Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 21 May The award-winning Rosie Kay Dance Com- pany this month make a welcome return to present an expanded version of their highly acclaimed 2010 production, 5 Soldiers: The Body Is The Frontline - an exploration of how the human body remains essential to war in the 21st century. “Working with soldiers over the last 10 years has been an incredible and eye-open- ing experience,” says Rosie. “Over 8,000 people join the British Army each year, yet it’s not a world that many members of the public get to access. “Using dance, 5 Soldiers has clearly touched a lot of people, with the response from soldiers, veterans and audiences being incredibly positive. Inspired by my own experience of a career-threatening injury, I wanted to tell this story of how soldiers’ bodies remain essential on the frontline. The show digs down into the foundations of their commitment to each other, inner strength and dedication in coping with war and recovery. It’s a story that I hope inspires empathy and a greater understanding of life from a soldier’s perspective.”

Autin Dance Theatre: Dystopia Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 31 May “We draw on contemporary social issues and into intense dance worlds which we hope events to make work which is beautifully will resonate with them long after they leave crafted, accessible and relevant,” says the auditorium.” Johnny Autin, the founder of Birmingham- The company’s latest work is a thought-pro- based Autin Dance Theatre. “The company is voking dance-theatre duet which takes a gaining a reputation for creating powerful look at the human need for connection and performances and catapulting audiences belonging. Northern Ballet: Puss In Boots Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 4 May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Fri 7 June; Crewe Lyceum, Sat 8 June Leeds-based Northern Ballet has developed a reputation for producing work which is as much about storytelling as it is about dancing - a fact very much in evidence in its latest children’s production. Puss In Boots follows on from the company’s hugely successful adaptations of Goldilocks & The Three Bears, The Ugly Duckling and Tor- toise And The Hare. The production is approx- imately 40 minutes in length and offers the - dare we say - purr-fect introduction to live ballet, music and theatre for younger children... 32 whatsonlive.co.uk Dance April.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 11:56 Page 2

Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Amina Khayyam Thurs 16 & Fri 17 May Dance Company: The autumn may still be a summertime away, but fans of Strictly Come Dancing A Thousand Faces don’t need to wait for darker nights and Warwick Art Centre, Coventry, colder temperatures in order to enjoy their Thurs 9 May next fix of the hit television series’ glorious Fusing classical Kathak dance with glitz and glamour. puppetry, the Amina Khayyam Dance This ever-popular stage show brings to- Company here presents a bold perform- gether some of Strictly’s professional ance examining the worldwide phenom- dancers for an evening of ‘sequins, sparkle ena of acid violence against women. The and stunning production values’, not to piece engages its audience via the intri- mention some truly fleet-of-foot presenta- cate and detailed theatrical movements tions of the very best in ballroom and Latin of abhinaya - a South Asian classical dancing. technique of communication based on a narrative mode. Ballet Black Triple Bill Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 23 & Fri 24 May

National Dance Company Afterimage makes use of mirrors to form a ‘unique theatrical experience where the past Wales: Awakening and present collide with a poetic and cre- Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 7 May ative style of dance’... Revellers’ Mass, mean- With its mission statement to create extraor- while, is a new work inspired by famous dinary and inclusive dance which engages religious paintings such as DaVinci’s The and resonates with audiences, National Last Supper... The triple bill is completed by Dance Company Wales ‘makes dance for Tundra, a piece that ‘tears pages from the stages large and small, in unusual spaces Russian history books on folk dance, mass and online’. parades and revolution, revitalising old The ensemble is here presenting three works ideas with renewed meaning’. designed to ‘amuse and amaze’...

Eighteen-year-old company Ballet Black comprises British and international dancers of black and Asian descent and takes an impressively daring approach to its work. Under the guidance of highly rated Artistic Director Cassa Pancho, the company here presents Ingoma (Song) - a fusion of ballet, African dance and singing - Martin Lawrance’s intimate duet, Pendulum - the choreographer’s first work for the company back in 2009 - and the premiere of an original and lighthearted work by Scottish Bal- let’s choreographer-in-residence, Sophie Laplane. whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Dance XChange.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:46 Page 1

First steps into dance Dance takes centre stage in a new education initiative in Birmingham

Hundreds of children are taking their first rather than positioning it on the periphery as topics such as electricity and the weather, steps into dance thanks to a new education part of PE. What we bring is the expertise to and we have also been working with groups initiative by Birmingham-based DanceX- create a bespoke programme with each on positive social interaction, empathy and change. school. well-being. Sessions begin by encouraging the children to think creatively, building on Launched in the autumn of last year, the “In order to ensure that we’re making a long- something they can relate to, for example the dance agency’s schools programme is reach- term impact, we prefer to deliver sessions creative task might be ‘imagine you’re a sol- ing into classrooms across the city, introduc- weekly across a whole academic year. Each dier’ or ‘imagine you’re splashing around in a ing youngsters to dance and using movement school and each class can work differently, puddle’. Our dance artist then guides them to to support the wider school curriculum. depending on the children’s needs and fo- develop movement material around this, to cuses. This new focus on education is the latest step shape their own choreography,” explains in a refreshed strategy for DanceXchange, “While a final performance could be an im- Alex. which is based in the Birmingham Hippo- portant goal, our focus is predominantly on The response to the new programme so far drome campus. For more than 25 years, the process itself and the learning journey has exceeded expectations, with school DanceXchange has supported the growth and the children are on. Their responses and their teachers observing that the sessions have development of dance in the Midlands, con- voices are respected so that they feel a true had a positive impact on the children, help- necting people with great dance, nurturing sense of ownership and achievement by the ing them to gain confidence beyond the young dancers and championing some of the end of the programme.” classroom. UK’s most exciting choreographers – as well For some pupils, it is the first time they have as producing the award-winning Birmingham “We have found that many of the children taken part in organised dance activities. International Dance Festival. have benefitted from increased self-aware- “The children may see the sessions as a way ness, getting to know themselves better and Now the new education project sees dance to express themselves, they may develop expressing themselves more confidently,” artists visiting schools throughout the aca- dance as a hobby or they may find a real says Alex. demic year, working with teachers in pri- commitment to it,” says DanceXchange’s mary, secondary and special needs schools. “Dance has also proved a perfect fit with Head of Learning and Participation Alex Hen- They offer a tailored programme that meets schools’ well-being initiatives and can make wood. “The programme gives them the intro- the specific needs of each school, with op- a valuable contribution to pupils’ personal duction to technical skills and creative tions including themed and topic-based development as well-rounded individuals. expression so they can absorb the experience learning, specialist sessions for GCSE and and use it for their own personal develop- “Each child is unique and not every child has BTEC levels and Continuing Professional De- ment. the chance to express their individuality velopment for teachers. within the school structure. We hope that “We enjoy taking a thematic approach and DanceXchange’s Executive Director Clare dance allows those children to feel they have making sessions cross-curricular. For in- Lewis explains: “We are passionate about a chance to shine, find a new skill to excel in stance, we’ve been working on curriculum placing dance at the heart of the curriculum and express themselves.” Dance XChange.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:46 Page 2

This year the initiative has taken a huge leap able to work with the young people in a really Birmingham where he was busking, doing forward with a project connecting five Birm- bespoke way, so that each individual’s re- hip hop,” recalls Alex. “He came to CAT, then ingham schools which will lead to a perform- sponses are heard and reflected in the mak- went on to dance in National Youth Dance ance by around 500 children and young ing of each piece,” Clare adds. “For us, the Company for two years and now he has set people at the city’s Town Hall in July. The value and legacy of this project is as much in up his own street dance youth academy work has been commissioned by Living Arts the artistic process as it is in the final prod- Brums Dynasty in Birmingham and is invest- Network, supported by the West Midlands uct. We want this to be a rich and engaging ing back into his community and the region, Bridge Organisation Arts Connect, and brings creative process for young people and teach- helping the next generation.” together pupils from five Roman Catholic ers alike, and for them to own and be proud It is success stories like those of Vidya and Schools based in and around Chelmsley of what they share at the final performance Christian which ensure DanceXchange will Wood – John Henry Newman Catholic College event in July.” continue to foster young talent – whether and St John the Baptist, St Thomas More, St For the DanceXchange team, working with this is in the school classroom or through its Anne’s and St Anthony’s Primary Schools. schools is a vital way to engage the next gen- own training programmes. “It’s a creative dance and music project eration in dance at a grassroots level and to “It’s really rewarding to know we are helping which centres on the themes of identity, be- develop the audiences, performers and lead- to create the next generation of successful longing and community and uses the ers of the future. dance artists who are highly skilled and re- schools’ mottos as an artistic stimulus,” says “Our schools work can be a first step for chil- ally capable,” says Alex. “We see it as our job Clare. “For example one class has composed dren to discover they have a talent and a pas- to find these young people with real talent a really heartfelt and uplifting song around sion for dance – which we can then nurture and invest in them so they can go onto the the John Henry Newman Catholic College through our training and talent development next stage.” motto ‘Heart speaks to heart’ – helping the programmes Generate and the Centre for Ad- young people to connect more deeply with Clare adds: “These young people are our rea- vanced Training (CAT), providing young peo- their school values and also with one an- son for being. We want to inspire and facili- ple with the tools to reach their potential as other. This song will be performed live by the tate their journey through dance, supporting dancers,” explains Alex. students as well as being mixed to create a talent right from the grass-roots, through en- track for the dance piece they are soon to Successful CAT alumni include Vidya Patel, gagement with those who want to enjoy choreograph with our hip hop artist. who was a finalist in BBC Young Dancer in dance just for itself, right through to encour- 2015 and has been a guest artist with Richard aging excellence in young people who want “For us, this is an amazing opportunity to de- Alston Dance Company. Vidya was also re- to progress to careers in dance.” liver an authentic and empowering artistic cently nominated for Outstanding Female experience for young people across all five Modern Performance at the 2018 National project schools. Dance Awards. For more on all of DanceXchange’s “It has been important to bring on board a programmes see “Christian Griffin, another successful stu- team of artists who share our ethos and are www.dancexchange.org.uk dent, was talent-spotted on the streets of Comics Salopia.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:52 Page 1 Escape to another world...

Renowned comic book artist Charlie Adlard talks about his involvement in Shrewsbury’s brand new Comics Salopia event - ‘a festival with a difference’...

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by Stephen Taylor

If, one day, The Walking Dead does finish, I’ll be perfectly happy doing French comic books for the rest of my career Charlie Adlard

Judge“ Dredd, The Beano and The Walking For Charlie, the Beano event exemplifies the Dead are just some of the iconic publications broad appeal of the festival: “We’re trying to showcased at a brand new event coming to say, ‘Comics are for everyone, whether it’s Shrewsbury in early June. The Beano, Dandy, something from Redan ” [Publishing] - the local publisher that does Described as ‘a festival with a difference’, pre-school and young kids’ magazines like Comics Salopia will celebrate comic art and Peppa Pig - through to Marvel Comics, its associated wider culture with a series of [Japanese] manga, French comics, under- events at numerous venues across the ground comics, everything. We’re trying to Shropshire town. embrace the whole culture and show people The festival is the brainchild of former Mayor that there’s something for everyone.” of Shrewsbury, Councillor Jane Mackenzie. While others of a similar age to him may have Conscious of the need to create something been devouring copies of The Beano in their unique for the town, Jane approached local youth, Charlie was developing a fascination comic book artist Charlie Adlard with the for superheroes from across the Atlantic. notion of staging a comics event. “When I was really young, my dad had a Charlie has been the artist on the hugely newsagent in Wellington. I remember there successful zombie apocalypse comic book being a spinner rack which had American series, The Walking Dead, for the past 15 comic books. That was what I was brought up years. on, so, since 1972, I was able to access this “My favourite conventions are not ‘conven- stuff, from issue one, to two, to three, to four, tions’, they’re festivals,” says Charlie, “and to five.”

there’s a fundamental difference between a Photo credit: Jamie Ricketts at Shropshire Star Just over 30 years later, Charlie started work convention and a festival. Festivals are cele- on The Walking Dead comic book series, Walking Dead good notice, so we gave him a brations that should be open to everybody.” unaware that it would still be paying the bills year, saying, ‘I want to get back into doing A self-confessed devotee of French comic more than a decade later. both’ because I was getting frustrated and I books, Charlie drew on Gallic inspiration for didn’t enjoy the process. “When Robert [Kirkman] asked me to do it, I what could be achieved in Shrewsbury. was thinking, ‘Great, this could be my oppor- “He did a great job. He was the second-best ‘There’s this amazing festival in Angoulême, tunity to do long-form storytelling’. I didn’t inker on my work, after me, and he genuinely France, and it’s one of the biggest in the know at the time that it would last this long, did a good job, but I wanted to get back and world. It attracts over 100,000 people to a but here we are, 16 years later, still running take full control.” town that’s not too dissimilar in size to with this zombie soap opera!” Apart from his work on The Walking Dead, Shrewsbury. I said to Jane, ‘If we’re going to The Walking Dead was adapted for TV in Charlie has also developed a passion for do it, that’s how I’d like to see it done; 2010, though it would appear that many of comic books from across the Channel. His involve the town, be all-inclusive.” the show’s viewers are ignorant of the origi- second French comic book, Vampire State An interactive exhibition of Charlie’s art - nal comic books, a fact that Charlie takes in Building, was published in early April. featuring original artwork from a complete his stride. “I was a big fan of Asterix, which, when I was issue of The Walking Dead - will form just “I’d say one in 10 people would have heard of six or seven, I didn’t realise was French. one of the many attractions at Comics the comic. Most people go, ‘It’s a TV show,’ French comic books are probably my Salopia. and I inform them that it’s a comic and we’re favourite part of the whole world of comics. I “We’ve got events going on in the prison, the the co-creators, blah-de-blah-blah, and they love the way they’re produced, and I love the castle and the Guildhall. Loads of shops will go, ‘Oh my god, really?’ But that’s the way way the French call comic books the ninth have displays, there’ll be stuff in the Square, Hollywood eats up these things, and fair art, so they respect it enough that they lump and we’ve got a big Judge Dredd experience enough, it’s not up to them to promote the it in with painting, sculpture and the other happening in the prison. The object is to take original source material. It’s there in the arts. over the town and turn it into comic books credits.” “If, one day, The Walking Dead does finish, central.” With issue 191 of The Walking Dead due to be I’ll be perfectly happy doing French comic Many visitors to the two-day festival will have published on the weekend of Comics Salopia, books for the rest of my career.” grown up in a world of comics rather than after several years of pencilling the comic comic books, with titles such as The Beano book, Charlie is looking forward to taking on introducing generations of readers to the inking duties from issue 193. likes of Biffo The Bear and Lord Snooty. Comics Salopia takes place at various “I’ve never really enjoyed just pencilling, to Comics Salopia’s An Audience With The Shrewsbury locations on Saturday 1 & be honest. I’m my own best inker, if you see Beano promises to be an amusing discussion Sunday 2 June. See overleaf for our pick what I mean, so I’ve just gone back to inking. on the enduring success of one of Dundee’s of festival highlights... I wanted to give the guy who was inking The finest exports.

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Top picks You’ll be surprised, amazed and thrilled by what the festival has in store... For full festival listings, head to comicssalopia.com

How Do I Become An Audience With A Comics Writer? The Beano: with Jamali Maddix Live panel with 4 Beano Legends A ‘lively, fascinating and fun discussion’ about creating Join Beano editor John stories for comic books, in Anderson as he welcomes to which standup comedian the stage four of the comic Jamali Maddix quizzes a book’s top artists and writers panel of international comic - Nigel Parkinson, Laura writers - Andy Diggle, Chip Howell, Lew Stringer and the Kidd, Alex Paknadel and Star legendary Hunt Emerson. Wars writer Pierrick Colinet included - about industry trade secrets.

Interview with From Hellboy to Tyler Kirkham Baltimore... The Venom & Spider-Man Exclusive event which sees cover artist talks to Ollie Leonard Sultana interview MacNamee about his Hellboy, Baltimore and BPRD professional career, which artist Ben Stenbeck about his stretches back almost 15 time in the movie industry, years. his working methods and As well as working for the what drives him to keep world’s biggest superhero making comics... publishers, Tyler has also published graphic novels and children’s books.

The Zombie Walk An Interview with Be part of the festival and Eric Stephenson make yourself into one of the by Kieron Gillen undead for a fun zombie walk Join Star Wars and X-Men through the town. The best writer Kieron Gillen in zombies will be awarded conversation with publisher special prizes by Walking and head honcho at Image Dead artist and co-creator Comics, Eric Stephenson. Charlie Adlard. The walk Together, the duo will cover starts at the Castle Grounds subjects including creator- on the Saturday afternoon at owned comics and how the 2pm and goes all the way ’90s upstart publisher has down Pride Hill to the Square, become America’s third where the winners will be largest publisher of comic awarded their prizes. books... whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film May.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 08:56 Page 1

Film

Rocketman CERT tbc Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard, Stephen Graham, Gemma Jones Directed by Dexter Fletcher (UK/USA) Reginald Dwight took up piano lessons at the age of seven and four years later won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. But he was really a fan of Elvis and Bill Haley & His Comets, and it was this passion that was to steer him towards a career in rock’n’roll. In 1972 he changed his name to Elton John... Although for technical reasons he never got a credit on Bohemian Rhapsody, Dexter Fletcher actually directed much of that film (after the original director, Bryan Singer, was dismissed) and high hopes are resting on his new musical biography. The screenplay is by Lee Hall, whose script for Billy Elliot was nominated for an Oscar. Released Fri 24 May CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in May...

A Dog’s Journey CERT PG Extremely Wicked, Tolkien CERT 12a (112 mins) Starring Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Shockingly Evil And Vile Starring Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Henry Lau, Kathryn Prescott, Dennis Quaid Meaney, Derek Jacobi and the voice of Josh Gad CERT tbc (108 mins) Directed by Dome Karukoski (USA) Directed by Gail Mancuso (USA) Starring Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, Jeffrey Donovan, Angela Sarafyan, John Malkovich Directed by Joe Berlinger (USA) Talk about loyal. Elizabeth Kloepfer (Lily Collins) believed only the best of her boyfriend and it wasn’t until many years after his conviction that she conceded Ted Bundy (Zac Efron) was the killer of at least 30 young girls and women. This is the eighth time the killer has been portrayed on the big screen. Released Fri 3 May

Bailey, a dog of many colours and, indeed, Before he went on to write The Lord Of The breeds, finds his soul moving on in this un- Rings, John Tolkien was an orphan who expected sequel to the episodic and fright- found himself something of an outcast at Ox- fully saccharine A Dog’s Purpose (2017). ford. But he also formed a friendship with Well, the first film did make over $200mil- some of his fellow outsiders, a bond that was lion. to inspire his creation of Middle-Earth. Released Fri 3 May Released Fri 3 May

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Film highlights released in May...

The Hustle CERT 12a (94 mins) Starring Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Alex Sharp, Dean Norris, Tim Blake Nelson Directed by Chris Addison (USA) It may look like Ocean’s Two, but this comic story of a pair of female con artists is actually a remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) - which, itself, was a remake of Bedtime Story (1964). Released Fri 10 May

EDITOR’S CHOICE

which really did present A Whole New Aladdin CERT PG World. Here, there will be new songs Starring Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi penned by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Pokémon Detective Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen who previously lit up the soundtracks of Directed by Guy Ritchie (USA) La La Land and The Greatest Showman, as Pikachu CERT PG (104 mins) This might not be a subject one might as- well as the original numbers by Alan Starring Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Suki Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Waterhouse, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy and the sociate with the director of Lock, Stock voice of Ryan Reynolds And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but Aladdin is played by the Egyptian-Cana- Directed by Rob Letterman (USA/Japan) then Guy Ritchie did dabble with fantasy dian newcomer Mena Massoud, and Ryan Reynolds supplies the voice of the in King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword. Al- Princess Jasmine by the London-born eponymous Pikachu, an ace Pokémon detec- addin, though, is very different, as it’s Naomi Scott. Will Smith is the Genie with tive who teams up with the son of his partner aimed at a family audience and is a live-ac- the magic lamp. after the latter goes missing. Let’s hope this is tion remake of Disney’s 1992 cartoon Released Wed 22 May more successful than the previous human/creature crossover semi-animated shambles, The Happytime Murders (2018). Released Fri 10 May Booksmart CERT 15 (102 mins) Godzilla: King Of Monsters Starring Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jes- CERT tbc sica Williams, Billie Lourd, Lisa Kudrow, Will Starring Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Forte, Jason Sudeikis Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Directed by Olivia Wilde (USA) Hawkins, O'Shea Jackson Jr, David Strathairn, Marking the directorial debut of the actress Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi Directed by Michael Dougherty (USA) Olivia Wilde, this comedy focuses on two high school over-achievers who realise that An all-star cast steps up to the plate to marvel they have let academia get in the way of fun. at the mighty combat of Godzilla and a vari- And they have only one night to make up for ety of humongous beasties, including the all their years of hard work. three-headed King Ghidorah. This is the third instalment in the so-called MonsterVerse. The Secret Life Released Mon 27 May Released Fri 31 May Of Pets 2 CERT PG With the voices of Patton Oswalt, Eric Ston- estreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Tiffany Had- Ma CERT 15 (96 mins) dish, Harrison Ford Starring Octavia Spencer, Juliette Lewis, Diana Directed by Chris Renaud and Jonathan Del Val Silvers, Luke Evans, McKaley Miller, Missi Pyle (USA) Directed by Tate Taylor (USA) Max the Jack Russell has his life turned up- A lonely women (Octavia Spencer) befriends side down when his owner gets married and some teenagers and allows them to party at has a child. Patton Oswalt takes over as Max, her place - on the condition that they call her after the original voice artist, Louis C.K., was ‘Ma’. Among other things… From the director mired in sexual misconduct allegations. In of The Help (2011) and The Girl On The Train 3D. (2016). Released Wed 22 May Released Fri 31 May

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

British Wildlife Photographer Awards Exhibition Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Sat 11 May - Tues 10 September “No other image in my portfolio had been so clearly conceived and yet so difficult to achieve,” says Paul Colley in talking about Con- trails At Dawn, the image with which he won last year’s British Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, and which takes pride of place in this touring exhibition of the 2018 competition’s best entries. “I experienced a huge gradient of emotion. There were the lows felt during months of long, cold and exhausting dusk-to-dawn sessions, sometimes waist deep in water and often without getting a single usable image. And then the natural highs of those lightbulb moments, when new ideas blossomed, problems were solved and the project inched closer towards having the potential to win this exceptional ac- colade.” Photo credit: David Bennett, Goose Barnacles, Sanna Bay, Highland

40 whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 14:08 Page 2

Visual Arts

Digital Diorama PACCAR Room, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Sun 8 September Augmented reality technology - similar to popular apps like Pokémon Go and BBC Civilisations - here brings to life a version of Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon - complete with performances by RSC actors and associate artists. To create the performances, the actors were recorded using photogrammetry and motion capture before being turned into avatars - digital versions of themselves. Commenting on the exhibition, RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran said: “Dioramas were very popular in the 19th century. They involved large-scale models with vast panoramas which could transport excited audiences into the midst of a battlefield, a storm at sea, or onto the slopes of an erupting volcano. “Our dioramas are digital. We’ve combined an Childhood Now Compton Verney Art Gallery, Warwickshire, until Sun 16 June old technique with the latest technology to take you right into Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon- Three contemporary figurative British painters - Chantal Joffe, Mark Fairnington and Avon. We’ve invited a great cast of RSC alumni Matthew Krishanu - here develop the conversation initiated in Compton Verney’s to perform tiny extracts from Shakespeare’s Painting Childhood exhibition by depicting childhood in very different ways. plays to illustrate a journey from birthplace to Joffe’s expressive paintings chart the growth of daughter Esme from birth to adolescence. graveyard, and introduce the Seven Ages of Mark Fairnington turns a scientific eye to the depiction of his twin sons with hyper- Man.” realistic precision. Matthew Krishanu’s radiant paintings reveal memories of an exotic childhood in Bangladesh. Taken together, the works aim to present a fresh perspective on what constitutes childhood in the 21st century. Royal Photographic Society: International Photography The White Bicycle Exhibition Library of Birmingham, Sat 4 - Thurs 30 May Andrew Lacon Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Exhibition until Sun 12 May New Art Gallery, Walsall, The world’s longest-running photographic exhi- until Sun 2 June bition makes a welcome return to the region and features 100 images taken by 54 contemporary The value of materials photographers. when viewed in different The images were selected from a shortlist of 189, contexts and historical which itself was created from a total of 7,327 en- periods, particularly in tries. The exhibition’s Midlands Arts Centre relation to public display, stop-off is its only one in the Midlands. is the subject of sculptor Andrew Lacon’s residency at the New Art Gallery. Photographer David Buss’s exhibition demonstrates During his time at the that bicycles are used not only as a means of venue, Andrew will transport, but also for other often surprising extend his knowledge purposes, whether that be as an object to personalise, into display strategies a memorial (known as ‘ghost bikes’), an artwork, a and the history of status symbol, a signifier or an item of nostalgia. sculpture, drawing on The exhibition’s title comes from David’s use of a photographs of the white bicycle as a recurring motif in his photographs; studio of sculptor Sir sometimes as a major element of the image, on other Jacob Epstein and the occasions simply as an incidental fragment. backdrop of sculpture on The show has been mounted to coincide with Velo display from the Birmingham, a major cycling event taking place in Permanent Collection. and around the city on Sunday 12 May.

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Events previews from around the region Events

UK Slot Car Festival British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Sat 18 & Sun 19 May Billed as Europe’s biggest and best slot car event, this two-day festival promises great Scalextric fun for children and big kids! All the major slot car manufactur- ers, including Scalextric, will be at the event, allowing fans not only to meet them face-to-face but also to swap, buy and sell cars. There will also be plenty of interactive activities to enjoy, including a Let’s Go Racing competition, oval banger racing, a drag strip, H0 Scale tracks, digital layouts and a slot stunt show.

Red By Night tions, good food, living history and more’. Visitors to the Red By Night event will be in- The Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, vited to step inside period houses and shops to Sat 18 May discover how Black Country folk used to live. The Black Country Living Museum this month The evening also features street entertainment opens its doors ‘after hours’ to provide ‘an and the chance to try the museum’s 1930s-style atmospheric evening of industrial demonstra- fish and chips!

Freddo’s Treasure This Morning Live Donington Historic Festival Trove NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 16 - Sun 19 May Donington Park, Fri 3 - Sun 5 May Cadbury World, Birmingham, The live version of the popular ITV daytime show Sat 25 May - Sun 2 June returns to the NEC for a third year. Boasting in- Ahoy, me hearties! Cadbury’s spiring and informative content presented by Freddo is this half term donning This Morning’s very own stars, the show features his captain’s hat and teaching lit- more than 200 exhibitors offering shopping deals tle ones about becoming a pirate across four distinct areas - Beauty & Wellbeing, on the seven seas. Freddo’s show Fashion & Style, Home & Gifts and Food & Drink. comes complete with ‘a barrel of New for 2019 are two evening stage shows - An laughs and a chestful of goodies’ - Evening With The Speakmans and Loose Women but will your youngster have what Late: Girls’ Night Out. it takes to become a pirate - or might they have to walk the dreaded plank instead?!...

Fifteen grids take to the track across 18 races this month when 400-plus classic racing cars con- verge on Donington Park from all over the world. New for 2019, the international historic series Sportscar 2000 grid will be added to the timetable for 1961-71 two-litre cars, while making its festival debut will be the HRDC Allstars grid for pre-’66 sports, GT and touring cars. whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events May.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 08:57 Page 3

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Events previews from around the region Events

Knights’ Tournament Kenilworth Castle, Sun 26 - Mon 27 May Go back in time and get closer to the action as rival knights com- pete in the ultimate test of strength and skill. Arrows will fly, swords will clash and the winner will be decided in the Grand Melee finale. Immerse yourself in medieval life in the encampment, where you can meet people from the Middle Ages and try on a knight’s armour for yourself. Budding warriors can join in with drills out on the field, and even get a taste of medieval combat in the kids’ battle.

Shropshire Kids Festival slide, roll around in zorb balls, jump around on the inflatable obstacle course or have a go at a Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Sat 11 & Sun 12 May host of sports. Building popularity year on year, Shropshire For the more creatively minded youngster, Kids Festival is back and bigger than ever this there are music and drama performances to month. enjoy, relaxing storytime sessions in the book Event highlights include a specialised under- tent, the chance to play a variety of instru- fives area featuring crafts and inflatables. ments and the opportunity to get delightfully Kids who love an adventure can take part in cir- messy via a number of arty workshops. cus skills workshops, slip down the giant water

The Baby Show The Original Harlem Globetrotters NEC, Birmingham, Fri 17 - Sun 19 May Arena Birmingham, Thurs 2 May Sleep-deprived new parents would do well to call on their reserves of energy and get along to this Featuring some of the world’s popular show. Widely considered to be the UK’s finest athletes, the world famous leading pregnancy and parenting event, The Baby Globetrotters bring their spectacu- Show brings together leading retailers and lar show to Birmingham as part of brands, includes one-to-one demonstrations, and a worldwide tour. also provides the opportunity to ‘touch, feel and Expect ball-handling wizardry, compare’ items, enabling shoppers to make an in- rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, formed decision about their purchases. plenty of humour and some brilliant fan interaction. Telford Balloon Fiesta Telford Town Park, Sat 11 & Sun 12 May It’s a case of up, up and away in Telford this month when the town’s family-friendly balloon festival makes a welcome return. As well as numerous arena performances and children’s activities, the two-day event also offers visitors the chance to experience their very own balloon ride. The Saturday evening sees the balloons lit up and dancing in a special glow-in- the-dark musical display.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Castle Capers Evening Dudley Castle, Fri 24 May There’s the chance to go back in time at Dudley Castle this month to learn about the history of the popular visitor attraction. Highlights of the evening include ghost and history walks, archery demonstrations and the opportunity to try on arms and armour. Attingham Camp Attingham Park, Shropshire, Sat 25 May Described as a ‘one-night, fun- filled camping spectacular in the beautiful grounds of Attingham Park’, this popular event is now in its fourth year. Guests can enjoy the National Trust site after dark and take part in a wide variety of family activi- RHS Malvern Spring Festival inspiration from exhibitors in the floral marquee ties, including storytelling and and acquire some handy hints and tips via nu- marshmallow-eating around the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, merous talks and demonstrations. Worcestershire, Thurs 9 - Sun 12 April campfire, twilight bushcraft and Famous faces appearing at this year’s show in- star-watching. Green-fingered horticultural types can prepare clude gardening favourites Monty Don, Joe Swift for the upcoming gardening season by paying a and Carol Klein, and culinary whizzes Raymond visit to this ever-popular festival and taking a Blanc and John Torode, who’ll be treating the stroll around the always-impressive selection of crowds to a feast of food-related chat. show gardens. There’s also the chance to gather

Seals in the City The National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham has opened a state-of-the-art marine rescue facility following multi-million pound investment and an extensive remodelling of the popular visitor attraction. Two of the newest residents of the rescue facility are Miley and Boo, seals who each have medical conditions which mean that they wouldn’t survive in the wild. Cherry Tree Walk Several rescued mammals will take up Mitton Manor, near Penkridge, Staffordshire, Sun 5 May residency in the newly engineered open-to-the- public environment, which spans two floors of Enjoy the beauty that spring the venue. The new facility has been carefully brings by admiring Mitton designed and constructed to emulate the Manor’s hopefully-in-full-bloom natural ocean habitat to which the mammals cherry trees and exploring the are accustomed. seven-acre country garden sur- Atmospheric effects in the themed area help rounding the Victorian manor create a replica environment to further house. enhance the experience. Visitors can also treat themselves For more information or to book tickets, visit to afternoon tea and a glass of sealife.co.uk/birmingham beer or Champagne to celebrate the bank holiday weekend.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Midlands Air Festival Arbury Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Fri 17 - Sun 19 May Taking place at Arbury Hall for the first time, the Midlands Air Festival offers three action-packed days of aviation-based fun. More than 30 aircraft are on display across the weekend, 100 hot- air balloons take to the skies, and multiple exhibitors, rides and other forms of entertainment ensure there’s plenty for the whole family to enjoy. The Friday evening sees a Night- fire display lighting up the sky with pyrotechnics, a flying circus, glowing hot-air balloons and, of course, fireworks.

Shrewsbury Wacky Races fully avoiding the icy waters of the River Severn at the end of their journey! Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Sun 26 May Competitors will work their way through a knock- Forty-four crazy soapbox cars descend on out-style competition, with only the fastest 10 Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park this Spring Bank Holi- cars making it through to the final, where they’ll day Sunday, as the town hosts its first ever wacky battle it out to take home the winner’s trophy. races. The event is free to attend, with pop-up street Spectators can watch as racers hurtle down the food stalls, bars and loads of family-fun activities 300m track in their carefully crafted carts, hope- all featuring. Unicorn Pony Rides Arley Arboretum, Worcestershire, Mon 6 and Mon 27 May Back by popular demand, the Bellator Birmingham: Primus vs Wilde Resorts World Arena, Sat 4 May magical unicorns of Arley Arbore- Leading mixed martial arts promoter Bellator periment’ Wilde. Birmingham’s hometown tum are making appearances on MMA's next event in the European Fight Series hero Fabian Edwards, who fights out of Team both of this month’s Bank Holiday is headlined by a lightweight bout between for- Renegade Gym, also competes on the card Mondays. mer Bellator world champion Brent alongside a host of other local fighters. Children can take a ride on a ‘uni- Primus and the Cannock-based Tim ‘The Ex- corn’ through the enchanted woodland, ending their journey at the Unicorn Bar and enjoying some special treats. The rides are suitable for youngsters aged three to 12, depending on size and height. Pre-booking is required.

whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Eurovision feature.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:02 Page 1

Let’s hear it for the...

EurovisionEurovision superfan Dean Asker gives us the lowdown ahead of this month’s Song Contest...

Brexit or no Brexit, one thing is certain: the Netherlands. Duncan Laurence, pretty much song, Soldi, is my personal favourite. And UK will continue to take part in the unknown in his own country, sings Arcade, a Sweden’s John Lundvik (he looks after Eurovision Song Contest. Thankfully entry to superb, atmospheric ballad that really does himself too!) should do well with the gospel- everyone’s favourite musical event is not deserve to come out on top. The Dutch last flavoured Too Late For Love. limited to EU countries. won in 1975 with the classic Ding-A-Dong by Teach-In (YouTube it if you’re under 40), so The return of Sergey Indeed, this year, following Netta’s victory another win is very much overdue. Some with Toy, we’re in Tel Aviv in Israel, a full 20 readers might also be interested in years after the contest came from Jerusalem YouTubing Duncan’s promo video, which One of the biggest stories in the lead-up to (thanks to Dana International’s win in features him naked and underwater. this year’s contest has been the return of Birmingham in 1998). Sergey Lazarev for Russia. Sergey came third If unclothed men in water is your thing, then back in 2016 with the Eurobanger You Are The big news actually has nothing to do with also take a look at the video for Azerbaijan’s The Only One. Expectations for another the 41 countries taking part. Three years ago, entry. The beefy and topless Chingiz sings the strong entry were high, but when he released Justin Timberlake was the Contest’s interval very catchy Truth, which, if you concentrate his song, the bombastic ballad Scream, it was act, and now it’s Madonna’s turn. Although on the music (and not just the body!), could met with a muted response from fans. That not 100% signed and sealed, it’s looking very also be a contender for a top-five place. said, Sergey is a great performer and Russia likely that the Queen of Pop will perform two will throw the kitchen sink at the staging, so songs, including one from her forthcoming This year’s Eurovision has more than its fair its chances must not be dismissed. album. share of good-looking guys. Switzerland’s Luca Hänni is well fancied with She Got Me, What about the girls? The frontrunners which sounds a bit like the Latin hit Despacito. Luca’s definitely been hitting the gym, and it’s easily Switzerland’s best entry What about the girls? Well, following the But what of the competition itself? Do we since Celine Dion walked away with the second-placed success of Fuego last year, have any budding Madonnas in our midst? crown in 1988. Cyprus is sending another upbeat song, Well, maybe a couple, but this year’s front- Replay, by Tamta. Fans who love it get a bit runners are all men. If you can’t get enough of Eurovision totty, annoyed when you say it sounds like Fuego, then check out Italy’s Mahmood, whose but it does (not that that’s a bad thing!). To The favourite to win comes from the Eurovision feature.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:02 Page 2

How will the UK’s entrant Michael Rice fare on the Eurovision stage?

be fair, there are a few songs that seem to then I point you in the direction of have been inspired by the Cypriot entry from Norwegian pop trio KEiiNO. Spirit In The Sky 2018, including the aforementioned Swiss is pure Eurovision: poptastic, dramatic and entry and Chameleon by Malta’s Michela with a bit of Sami joik - ‘the traditional form Pace. To prove a point, some joker’s even of song of the Sami people’ - thrown in. What created a mash-up of these four tunes. Bigger Than Us is, more could you ask for? Well, maybe the “ entry from San Marino. Turkish crooner And as for the UK... Serhat returns to the contest for a second for me, the UK’s time with Say Na Na Na, the title of which The UK’s hopes rest with Michael Rice, who should really tell you everything you need to won the first series of BBC One talent show know. It’s cliched, a bit trashy, and yes, All Together Now. Michael has a powerful best entry since utterly fabulous. voice, and the song, Bigger Than Us (written by Swedish contender John Lundvik), is, for In a period when the world outside is a bit me, the UK’s best entry since Blue in 2011. Blue in 2011. Let’s divisive and downbeat, Eurovision provides a Let’s just hope Michael can nail the stage welcome distraction from these uncertain performance on the night. times. So pour yourself some Bucks Fizz, make sure plenty of nibbles are on hand, and

If Europop is really not your thing, then just hope Michael enjoy the most joyous musical experience of

Iceland’s ‘award-winning, anti-capitalist, the year. BDSM, techno-dystopian, performance art collective’ Hatari might be right up your can nail the stage “ street. Hatrið mun sigra is a slice of techno- The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 takes punk sung in Icelandic. That’s not something place in Tel Aviv, Israel, from Tuesday 14 you hear every day, is it? But it’s certainly performance to Saturday 18 May. different and should see Iceland back in the The Grand Final will be broadcast on BBC final after an absence of four years. One on Saturday 18 May.

If Europop is your thing (and I suspect it is), Eurovision feature.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:02 Page 3

The contenders Michael Rice has some stiff competition in Tel Aviv. Here are the bookies favourites... 50/1

13/8 4/1 8/1 Duncan Laurence Sergey Lazarev Mahmood THE NETHERLANDS RUSSIA ITALY

8/1 8/1 John Lundvik Luca Hänni Hatari 12/1

SWEDEN SWITZERLAND ICELAND

17 :B 18 :A 19 :A 20 7 :A 8 :C 9 :B 10 :C 11 :A 12 :A 13 :C 14 :B 15 :A 16 :C :B 1 :C 2 :A 3 :A 4 :B 5 :C 6 ANSWERS: :B Eurovision feature.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 10:02 Page 4

Top marks or QUIZ ‘nul points’?

1. ABBA’s Waterloo won the 1974 Contest, 8. How many times has Norway ended 15. How is Thomas Neuwirth better but which song did the Swedish super- the Contest with ‘nil points’? known? group enter into their national heats the A. Four times A. Cliff Richard year before? B. Three times B. Conchita Wurst A. People Need Love C. Twice C. Alexander Rybak B. Ring Ring 9. Which of these songs did Jedward not C. Hasta Mañana 16. Which of these UK cities has not sing at the Contest? hosted the Contest? 2. How many UK number one singles did A. Lipstick 1981 winners Bucks Fizz have? B. Waterline A. Manchester B. Harrogate A. One C. All The Small Things B. Two C. Brighton C. Three 10. The last time the UK hosted the Con- test, it was presented by Terry Wogan and 17. Which of these pop groups unsuccess- 3. How many times has the UK finished in which other presenter? fully tried to represent Norway in the 2010 the Top 10 since 2010? A. Davina McCall Contest? A. None B. Ulrika Jonsson A. Brother Beyond B. Once C. Nathasha Kaplinsky B. S Club 7 C. Twice C. A1 11. Which of these countries is the only African country to have taken part in the 4. Which of these countries has yet to win Which former UK entrant said they Contest? 18. the Contest? would rather put pins in their eyes than A. Tunisia A. Iceland represent the UK again? B. Egypt B. Serbia C. Morocco A. Cliff Richard C. Luxembourg B. Michael Ball 12. What was memorable about the 1969 C. Sonia Celine Dion won the 1988 Contest, but 5. contest? for which country? A. There were four winners 19. Which year did Australia first take A. France B. The contest wasn’t broadcast live part in the Contest? B. Switzerland C. It was the first contest to be broadcast in C. Monaco A. 2015 colour B. 2016 C. 2017 6. Blue represented the UK in 2011 with 13. Which of these song titles is not a Eu- which song? rovision winner? 20. The theme for this year’s Contest is: A. I Will A. Pif Paf Pof B. I Do B. Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley A. Dare To Dream C. I Can C. La La La B. Feel The Rhythm C. Join Us 7. Who wrote the UK’s 2009 entry, It’s My 14. How many countries took part in the Time, sung by Jade? first Contest in 1956? A. Pete Waterman A. Five Check answers at the B. Andrew Lloyd Webber B. Six bottom of page 18 C. Jim Steinman C. Seven How did you score?

17-20 10-16 5-9 0-4 As Cliff Richard Gina G Bucks Fizz Lynsey De Paul’s ‘Making Your would say, ‘Ooh Aah... ‘Rock Bottom’ - ‘Congratulations!’ Mind Up’ as to Just A Little Bit’ whether you like you’re better off you’re a Superfan down the pub more effort... Eurovision? The List Cover May Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 15:21 Page 1 The List Cover May Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 15:22 Page 2

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

Madagascar The Musical at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre - Tues 7 - Sat 11 May

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

What’s On Wed 1 to Sun 12 May Mon 13 to Sun 19 May Mon 20 to Sun 26 May Mon 27 to Fri 31 May

Jarred Christmas at Henry Palace Of Curiosities at The The Flying Bath at Arena Orlando at Stafford Tudor House, Shrewsbury Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Theatre, Wolverhampton Gatehouse Theatre Fri 3 May Sat 18 May Sat 25 May Tues 28 - Wed 29 May

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List Wolverhampton 1-5 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:00 Page 1

thelist Institute, Birmingham May, The River Rooms, THROUGHOUT MAY Gigs THE JAM'D Fri 3 May, Stourbridge Eleven, Sandyford, FRENCH BOUTIK Sat 4 NEW QUEEN VICTORIA: 200TH ANNIVER- EDWINA HAYNES PLUS Stoke on Trent May, Newhampton SARY OF HER BIRTH A celebration of SONNY Wed 1 May, The Visual Arts FLING + MARC + SHAI Arts Centre,Wolver- Queen Victoria and her 63-year reign Red Lion Folk Club, BRIDES Fri 3 May, The hampton as monarch, with every aspect of her Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, New Art Gallery - Walsall life documented in ceramics, Sat 18 SIMONE FELICE Wed 1 Birmingham SARAH TAYLOR SILVERWOOD - DAPHNE May - Sun 1 Sept May, Henry Tudor KIT DOWNES Fri 3 May, Sarah uses drawing and language as House, Shrewsbury material to produce publications, ani- Newhampton Arts Qube Gallery, Oswestry CONNIE CONSTANCE mation and installation works. Her ex- Centre, W’hampton NEW HAPPINESS IS... Open photogra- Wed 1 May, Hare & hibition considers the relationship SWAMPCANDY Fri 3 phy competition and exhibition to cel- Hounds, Birmingham between women and language, tak- May, Albert’s Shed, ebrate art and wellbeing, Thurs 2 ing the ancient Greek myth of CHARLIE LANDSBOR- Shrewsbury May - Thurs 13 June CREST GLIDER Sat 4 Daphne & Apollo as a focus, until OUGH: THE FAREWELL CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. May, The Slade Room, Sun 12 May TOUR Thurs 2 May, THE NEW REPUBLIC Fri 3 Wolverhampton The Willow Art Gallery, Oakengates Theatre at DANIEL SILVER Exhibition by ac- May, O2 Academy, Oswestry The Place, Telford THE FUTUREHEADS Sat claimed contemporary sculptor Birmingham 4 May, The Sugarmill, Daniel Silver celebrating the gallery’s NEW BORDERLAND VISUAL ARTS 2019 STEALING SHEEP Thurs FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO Stoke-on-Trent As part of Open Studios, the Willow 2 May, Hare & longstanding commitment to sculp- QUEEN Fri 3 May, The ture, until Sun 2 June Gallery presents a rich variety of work Hounds, Birmingham by emerging and established artists. River Rooms, Stour- ALABAMA 3 ACOUSTIC SCULPTURE IN FOCUS The trail posi- All the artists are members of Border- bridge Thurs 2 May, The Mill tions a key piece of contemporary land Visual Arts (BVA), Sat 18 May - AC/DC EXPERIENCE Fri 3 Digbeth, Birmingham sculpture from the Permanent Collec- Sat 29 June May, The Slade Room, tion within each of the 10 themed col- JUNIORE Thurs 2 May, Wolverhampton lection rooms, until Sun 22 Dec The Sunflower Wolverhampton Art Gallery THE MARLEY EXPERI- Lounge, Birmingham ENCE Himley Hall & Park, Dudley MATERIALS AND MAKING Exhibition fea- Fri 3 May, The turing a selection of sculpture, ce- NAFE SMALLZ Thurs 2 Robin, Bilston JAMIE LAWSON Sat 4 RECLAIM PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL 2019: May, O2 Institute, May, Birmingham ramics, glass, metalware and ESA Fri 3 - Sat 4 May, WINDOWS INTO INDUSTRIAL WORLDS Birmingham Town Hall decorative art items from the art Hare & Hounds, Birm- Group exhibition by five regional pho- gallery’s collection, until Sun 1 Sept JOSEPHINE FOSTER ingham RAINBOW RISING Sat 4 tographers focusing on the people, Thurs 2 May, The Glee May, Eleven, Sandy- PAINTED LADIES: AN EXCHANGE OF FREE RADIO HITS LIVE places and industries of the Black Club, Birmingham ford, Stoke-on-Trent Country, until Sun 30 June IDEAS Display of 20th century paint- 2019 Sat 4 May, Arena ings depicting women painted by HANNAH ALDRIDGE & Birmingham DRESSED TO KILL Sat 4 HIMLEY HALL & DUDLEY CASTLE EXHIBI- THE GOAT ROPER RODEO May, The Robin, Bil- both female and male artists, until THE UPBEAT BEATLES TION New exhibition about Dudley BAND Thurs 2 May, ston Sun 1 Sept Sat 4 May, Sutton Castle & Himley Hall from 1066 to the Hare & Hounds, Birm- present day, until Sun 6 Oct PICK OF THE POPS New exhibition in- Coldfield Town Hall OPEN ARMS Sat 4 May, ingham O2 Institute, B’ham cludes works by famous Pop artists THE NELSON BROTHERS BOWIE EXPERIENCE Fri 3 such as Pauline Boty and Andy Sat 4 May, Stafford DAVID RODIGAN & Newcastle Borough Museum May, Regent Theatre, & Art Gallery Warhol, alongside a selection of Gatehouse Theatre MIGHTY CROWN Sun 5 rarely-seen pieces, until Sun 1 Sept, Stoke-on-Trent May, O2 Academy, THE BAR-STEWARD OPEN ART AND CRAFT EXHIBITION 2019 Wolverhampton Art Gallery DEFINITELY MIGHTBE V Birmingham SONS OF VAL DOONICAN Annual exhibition featuring work by ADORED Fri 3 May, Sat 4 May, Folowe Arts PUNK RUNS WILD WITH Staffordshire artists, until Sun 12 May Foxlowe Arts Centre, Other VISUAL ARTS Centre, Leek HUNG LIKE HANRATTY NEW BIRMINGHAM WATERCOLOUR SOCI- Leek, Staffordshire Sun 5 May, The Slade Potteries Museum & Art LOTTO BOYZZ: LOTTO ETY Display of work by members of THE VAMPS Fri 3 May, Rooms, Wolverhamp- Gallery - Stoke-On-Trent LINGO TOUR Sat 4 May, the society, Wed 1 - Thurs 30 May, Arena Birmingham ton JULIE COPE’S GRAND TOUR: THE STORY O2 Academy, B’ham Weston Park, Nr Shifnal LANCO Fri 3 May, O2 IMAGINE - THE JOHN OF A LIFE BY GRAYSON PERRY Exhibi- SWEDE DREAMZ Sat 4 NEW PICTURES OF RURAL HEALTH FROM LENNON SONGBOOK Sun tion showcasing two of the Craft THE PHILIPPINES Community-based 5 May, Stafford Gate- Council’s latest acquisitions for its na- exhibition co-created by local artists house Theatre tional collection of contemporary and rural communities from the craft: a pair of large-scale tapestries SON OF TOWN HALL Sun Philippines, Thurs 2 May - Tues 4 by Grayson Perry, winner of the 5 May, The Hive, June, Keele University, Staffordshire Turner Prize in 2003. To complement Shrewsbury the exhibition, artworks by Perry from NEW PAINTING WITH FABRIC EXHIBITION WET WET WET Sun 5 the museum’s own collection will also Artist Kate Findlay has been working May, Birmingham be on display, until Sun 30 June exclusively in textiles for the past 12 Town Hall years and is currently focusing on de- THE COLLECTION OF TED WATKIN Ted picting the beauty of the British coun- GETS WORSE / FETUS Watkin was an active member and tryside and its wildlife, Sat 4 May - CHRIST / VILE SECT / AR- chairman of both the North Stafford- Sun 23 June, Museum of Cannock CANE RITE Sun 5 May, shire Group of the Geologists’ Asso- Chase, Staffordshire Scruffy Murphys, Birm- ciation and the North Staffordshire ingham Field Club. His vast collecting inter- NEW BAWDEN & ALFRED STOCKHAM Ex- THE BON JOVI EXPERI- ests included minerals and fossils, hibition of new work by printmaker ENCE Sun 5 May, The until Mon 1 July Richard Bawden and painter Alfred Stockham, Fri 10 May - Sat 8 June, River Rooms, Stour- V&A DESIGNLAB LOANS Display of six Twenty Twenty Gallery, Ludlow, South bridge ceramic objects from the V&A Mu- Shropshire STRANGEFISH + JOHN seum, presented as part of their edu- HACKETT BAND Sun 5 cational initiative, DesignLab Nation, May, The Robin, Bil- until Sun 28 July Simone Felice - Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury ston 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 1-5 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:00 Page 2

Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 May

tion of the epic musical, until Sat 11 Classical Music May, Birmingham Hippodrome THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Shake- ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: PETER speare's energetic comedy of gender DONOHOE PLAYS MOZART Also featur- and materialism is turned on its head ing Jason Lai (conductor). Pro- to offer a fresh perspective on its por- gramme includes works by Vaughan trayal of hierarchy and power, until Williams & Mozart, Wed 1 May, The Sat 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare The- Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham atre, Stratford-upon-Avon Conservatoire AS YOU LIKE IT Riotous version of EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHES- Shakespeare's romantic comedy, TRA Featuring Emma Johnson (clar- until Sat 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare inet). Programme includes works by Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Warlock, Mozart, Barber & Haydn, Thurs 2 May, Holy Trinity Church, Os- HAIR THE MUSICAL Fiftieth anniversary westry, North Shropshire production of the legendary rock musical, starring Jake Quickenden, CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- Daisy Wood-Davis & Marcus Collins, CHESTRA: MIRGA CONDUCTS THE FIRE- Mon 29 Apr - Sat 4 May, The Alexan- BIRD Featuring Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla dra Theatre, Birmingham (conductor) & Patricia Kopatchin-ė skaja (violin). Programme includes CLUB TROPICANA - THE MUSICAL Joe works by Weinberg, Tchaikovsky & McElderry, Neil McDermott, Kate Hair The Musical - The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Stravinsky, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 May, Sym- Robbins, Emily Tierne & Amelle MARTHA, JOSIE AND THE CHINESE ELVIS THAT’LL BE THE DAY Ever-popular pro- phony Hall, Birmingham Berrabah star in this ‘ultimate holiday Quirky comedy about learning to ac- duction fusing comedy and music musical’ homage to the 1980s, Mon cept who you are and making the from the ’50s to the ’70s, Sun 5 May, 29 Apr - Sat 4 May, Wolverhampton most of your moves, Thurs 2 - Sat 18 Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Grand Theatre May, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle- THE FULL MONTY A Musical Theatre under-Lyme Comedy Stafford Production, Tues 30 Apr - THE PROVOKED WIFE Outspoken Sat 4 May, Stafford Gatehouse The- Restoration romp that shocked 17th CATHERINE BOHART, CHRISTOPHER atre century society, Thurs 2 May - Sat 7 MACARTHUR-BOYD & COMEDY Kids Shows HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES Vicki Sept, The Swan Theatre, Stratford- CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW Michelle (‘Allo ‘Allo!) stars in a roller- upon-Avon 2 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham Critically acclaimed production coaster comedy, for women, about AN EVENING OF ERIC AND ERN Homage ROGER MONKHOUSE, BEN HARRINGTON, based on Eric Carle’s much-loved women... Wed 1 May, Regent The- to British comedy’s best-loved dou- RUTH COCKBURN & DAN SMITH Thurs 2 children’s book, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 May, atre, Stoke-on-Trent ble act, Fri 3 May, Oakengates The- May, Stourbridge Town Hall Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham FORECASTING Flatpack Festival and atre @ The Place, Telford, Shropshire GLENN MOORE, MIKE GUNN, ADAM Birmingham International Dance Fes- DEBUT: AN EVENING OF NEW MUSICAL BEARDSMORE & MATT STELLINGWERF tival present a one-woman (and her THEATRE Level 4 students present Thurs 2 May, The George Hotel, Lich- laptop) show where dance meets songs by West Midlands composers field theatre meets YouTube mashup, Wed & lyricists in collaboration with Musi- Dance JUSTIN MOORHOUSE Fri 3 May, The 1 May, The REP, Birmingham cal Theatre West Midlands, Fri 3 - Sat B-SIDE HIP-HOP FESTIVAL Featuring ex- Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, LIBRARY OF SCREAMS Don’t Go Into 4 May, Arena Theatre, W’hampton plosive dance battles on an outdoor South Shropshire The Cellar present classic spine-tin- A MOMENT OF MADNESS Gritty theatre stage, high-energy workshops, live glers from the golden age of horror, ANDREW MAXWELL Fri 3 May, The fusing compelling drama with the ex- music and DJ sets from legendary Thurs 2 May, Stafford Gatehouse Glee Club, Birmingham citement of real-time gameplay to names on the international hip-hop Theatre JARRED CHRISTMAS Fri 3 May, Henry create a visceral new live experience. scene, Fri 3 - Sun 12 May, various lo- Tudor House, Shrewsbury I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW The event forms part of Flatpack Fes- cations including Birmingham Hippo- CHANGE Amateur production, Thurs 2 tival, Fri 3 - Mon 6 May, The REP, drome, The Arcadian, The Bullring May, Lichfield Garrick Birmingham and Digbeth WOYZECK Newman University pre- THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP Camp clas- PUSS IN BOOTS Northern Ballet presents its version of Georg Büchner’s sic presented by Blue Orange Arts, sent a child-friendly performance tale of sexual jealousy and social ex- Fri 3 - Sat 11 May, The Blue Orange based on the much-loved children’s ploitation, Thurs 2 - Fri 3 May, The Theatre, Birmingham story, Sat 4 May, Regent Theatre, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham KEVIN QUANTUM - VANISHING POINT Stoke-on-Trent FAME Amateur staging presented by Magic Circle member Kevin Quantum Youth On Stage, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 May, explores the concept of invisibility in The Old Rep, Birmingham a world of disappearing identity and CATHERINE BOHART, CHRISTOPHER 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL HQPA present an vanishing privacy, Sat 4 May, Lich- MACARTHUR-BOYD, KEVIN MCCARTHY & amateur staging of the Dolly Parton field Garrick COMIC TBC Fri 3 - Sat 4 May, The Glee Film musical, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 May, Theatre I’M WOMAN Unbroken Angels present Club, Birmingham INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Severn, Shrewsbury the hard-hitting true story of actress STEPHEN BAILEY, NICK PAGE, DARIUS AVENGERS ENDGAME Action/Adven- CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Everyone's Ana Daud... Sat 4 May, The Crescent DAVIES & THOMAS GREEN Sat 4 May, ture. Starring Brie Larson, Robert favourite flying car returns in this mu- Theatre, Birmingham The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Downey Jr. Light House Media Cen- sical adaptation by Mad Cow Produc- WHODUNNIT? Join KRYPT's Junior tre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 25 Apr - tions, Thurs 2 - Sat 4 May, Theatre Group as they delve into the murky Thurs 2 May Severn, Shrewsbury world of detection, Sat 4 - Sun 5 May, THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (15) The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS Euro- Drama/Mystery. Starring Maggie Gyl- pean stage première of Khaled Hos- TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT Amateur stag- lenhaal, Gael García Bernal. Old Mar- Theatre seini's spiritual sequel to The Kite ing of Graham Greene’s popular ket Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 26 Apr - LES MISÉRABLES Cameron Mackin- Runner, Thurs 2 - Sat 18 May, The novel, Sat 4 - Sat 11 May, Oldbury Thurs 2 May tosh's acclaimed Broadway produc- REP, Birmingham Rep

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dance comedy music

giselle Reginald D Hunter simply rered Wed 29 May @ 7.00pm Thurs 6 June @ 8.00pm Fri 7 June @ 7.30pm

comedy music music

hormonal housewives the beach boys tribute Grimethorpe Colliery Band Thurs 13 June @ 7.30pm Fri 14 June @ 7.30pm Sun 16 June @ 3.00pm

music music music

Sentimental Journey 80s Mania The Johnny Cash Roadshow TWC GP 01451 Mon 24 June @ 2.00pm Thurs 4 July @ 7.30pm Fri 5 July @ 7.30pm

54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 1-5 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:00 Page 4

thelist Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 May ZOO CLUB Activities themed around activities. Make your own Green Man animals, wildlife, nature and zoos for mask or May crown and join the children aged between eight and 14, horse-drawn procession, Sat 4 - Mon Sat 4 May, Drayton Manor Theme 6 May, Black Country Living Museum, Park, Tamworth Dudley FIELD TO FORK One-day free event championing the country’s single biggest manufacturing sector - food, Sat 4 May, Harper Adams, Newport, Shropshire FLATPACK 2019: COLOUR BOX EXPLORER DAY Make yourself a pair of binocu- lars, grab a map and explore what’s on offer, including a keyboard that projects images, oversized optical toys, an interactive audiovisual dome, green-screen madness, and plenty of crafting, Sat 4 May, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham LEGO SEA EXPLORERS Help the team unlock underwater secrets and get BELLATOR MMA BIRMINGHAM Leading creative as you draw and colour your Swingamajig - Birmingham Botanical Gardens mixed martial arts promoter Bellator new discoveries, Sat 4 May - Sun 2 MMA's next event in the European LANCASTER SKIES (PG) Drama/War. June, National Sea Life Centre, Fight Series, Sat 4 May, Resorts B’ham Starring Kris Saddler, Rosa Coduri. World Arena, Birmingham Light House Media Centre, Wolver- Festivals CHERRY TREE WALK Visit Mitton Manor hampton, Fri 26 Apr - Thurs 2 May CHAMPAGNE ON THE TRAIN Severn Val- Gardens to see the Cherry Tree Walk CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up ley Railway in partnership with Nick- AT ETERNITY'S GATE (12a) features Gregory Porter, James Morri- in full bloom, Sun 5 May, Mitton olls & Perks welcome you aboard the Manor, Staffordshire Biography/Drama. Starring Willem son, Katie Melua and Level 42, Wed 1 Champagne Train, Sat 4 - Sun 5 May, Dafoe, Mads Mikkelsen. Stoke Film - Mon 6 May, various venues around Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr PIRATE WEEKEND Featuring ‘thrilling pi- Theatre, Thurs 2 May Cheltenham Kidderminster rate battles’ throughout the day, Sun THE AFTERMATH (15) Drama/War. Star- UPTON-UPON-SEVERN FOLK FESTIVAL 5 - Mon 6 May, Tutbury Castle, Bur- MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDER ton-on-Trent ring Keira Knightley, Alexander Skars- Line-up features Melrose Quartet, Featuring traditional May Day-themed gård. Festival Drayton Centre, Market Alice Jones, Cosmotheka and The Pi- Drayton, North Shropshire, Thurs 2 geon Swing, Fri 3 - Mon 6 May, vari- May; Wem Town Hall, North Shrop- ous venues around shire, Thurs 2 May Upton-Upon-Severn, Worcestershire FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS (12a) Com- LEAMINGTON MUSIC FESTIVAL WEEKEND edy/Drama. Starring James Purefoy, Line-up features Roderick Williams, Tuppence Middleton. Festival Drayton Tasmin Little, Jonathan Cunliffe and Centre, Market Drayton, North Shrop- Howard Skempton, Fri 3 - Fri 10 May, shire, Fri 3 May; Wem Town Hall, Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa North Shropshire, Fri 3 May NO FUTURE FESTIVAL Line-up features STAN & OLLIE (15) Biography/Comedy. Angelic Upstarts, Anti-Nowhere Starring John C. Reilly, Shirley Hen- League, GBH and 999, Sat 4 May, derson. Shropshire Hills Discovery The Mill, Birmingham Centre, Fri 3 May HANDMADE FESTIVAL Line-up features OUT OF BLUE (15) Crime/Drama. Star- Metronomy, The Futureheads, The ring Patricia Clarkson, Toby Jones. Sherlocks and Ibibio Sound Machine, Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 3 - Sat 4 May Sun 5 May, O2 Academy, Leicester BEN IS BACK (15) Drama. Starring Julia SWINGAMAJIG Line-up features Hack- Roberts, Lucas Hedges. Old Market ney Colliery Band, A.Skillz, Electric Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 3 - Thurs 9 May Swing Circus, Cut Capers, Sun 5 WONDER PARK (U) Animation/Adven- May, Birmingham Botanical Gardens ture. With the voices of Sofia Mali, Jennifer Garner. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Sat 4 - Mon 6 May SOULBOY (15) Comedy/Drama. Star- ring Alfie Allen, Martin Compston. Events Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, THE ORIGINAL HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Sun 5 May The world famous basketball stars visit Birmingham as part of a world NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: tour, Thurs 2 May, Arena Birmingham Released from Fri 3 May, showing at THE MURDER OF ALICE JOINER Follow selected cinemas the clues and question the suspects to discover the truth about the death A DOG'S JOURNEY (tbc) of Alice Joiner, Fri 3 May, Birmingham LONG SHOT (15) Back to Backs TOLKIEN (12a) DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVAL Featur- EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL ing more than 400 classic racing cars AND VILE (tbc) spanning nine decades, Fri 3 - Sun 5 May, Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Wolverhampton 6 - 12 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:05 Page 1

COMING SOON

SAT 4 MAY

8th May, 7.30pm Once Upon A Wednesday: Naomi Paul

Tickets: £7, £8.50 otd KEVIN QUANTUM: VANISHING POINT 9th May 7pm SAT 11 MAY Vienna Festival Ballet: Coppelia

Tickets: £18, £16 conc.

11th May, 8pm AT BURTON TOWN HALL: Seann Walsh: After This One, I’m Going Home EXCALIBOW Tickets: £15

14th - 18th May 7.30pm FRI 24 MAY (2.30pm matinee) Mellow Dramatics presents The Wedding Singer

Tickets: £12, £10 matinee

25th May 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm Lost and Found: Mischief & Mystery in THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Moonin Valley Tickets: £8 Adults & £5 Children

THURS 30 -FRI 31MAY 25th May 10am - 4pm Festival Funday A day of performances and activities for the whole family to enjoy together at The Brewhouse Tickets: FREE

29th May, 10am - 3pm Burton Market Hall & Place Play in the Place DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE Pop-up performances, stories, installations and things to do for the whole family Tickets: FREE SAT 8 - SUN 9 JUNE

3rd - 8th June Beer Town Film Festival

Find out more at www.beertownﬁlmfestival.co.uk

5th June, 7.30pm RHYTHM OF THE DANCE Once Upon A Wednesday: Ursula Holden Gil

MON 17 - SAT 22 JUNE Tickets: £7, £8.50 otd Box ofﬁce: 01283 508100 BOOK ONLINE AT www.brewhouse.co.uk THE LADY VANISHES Brewhouse Arts Centre BOX OFFICE: 01543 412 121 Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent Staffordshire DE14 1AA www.lichfieldgarrick.com LICHFIELD GARRICK, CASTLE DYKE, LICHFIELD, STAFFS, WS13 6HR

56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 6 - 12 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:05 Page 2

thelist Monday 6 - Sunday 12 May Shed, Shrewsbury 11 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham VUKOVI + SUPERLOVE Classical JIMMY CARR Sat 11 May, Dudley Fri 10 May, The Sug- Town Hall armill, Stoke-on-Trent Music BEE GEES FEVER Fri 10 May, Oakengates The- PAVEL KOLENIKOV PIANO CONCERT Pro- atre @ The Place, gramme includes works by Brahms, Telford Beethoven, Tchaikovsky & Couperin, Wed 8 May, The Barber Institute, THE LEGEND OF SPRING- Birmingham STEEN Fri 10 May, The Robin, Bilston CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- CHESTRA: YUJA WANG PLAYS THE ORB 30TH ANNIVER- PROKOFIEV Also featuring Mirga SARY TOUR Sat 11 May, Gražinyt -Tyla (conductor). Pro- The Sugarmill, Stoke- grammeė includes works by Ligeti, CROFT & PEARCE Sat 11 May, Mid- on-Trent Arcadia Roots - Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury Prokofiev & Brahms, Thurs 9 May, lands Art Centre, Birmingham WHOLE LOTTA DC Sat 11 Symphony Hall, Birmingham RICK WAKEMAN Thurs 9 KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN, GAVIN WEB- May, Sutton Coldfield May, New Vic Theatre, BRAHMS PIANO QUINTET Featuring STER, ARCHIE MADDOCKS & PETE Gigs Town Hall Newcastle-under- Jane Wright (violin), Michael Jenkin- OTWAY, Sat 11 May, The Comedy son (viola), Helen Edgar (cello) & NUBYA GARCIA Mon 6 Lyme THE COLOUR SIX Sat 11 Loft, Birmingham May, Resorts World, John Thwaites (piano). Programme May, Hare & Hounds, MARINA Thurs 9 May, TROY HAWKE & JACK GLEADOW Sun 12 Birmingham comprises Brahms’ Piano Quartet Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury OCCOEUR WITH I, AS- No.2, Thurs 9 May, CBSO Centre, OLD SEA BRIGADE + DRAHLA Thurs 9 May, SASSIN, SEVERN & SID Birmingham FERGUS CHANNELL + Hare & Hounds, Birm- Sat 11 May, Route 44, PAVEL KOLESNIKOV PIANO RECITAL Pro- MIDGE Mon 6 May, The ingham Cuban Embassy, Birmingham gramme includes works by Brahms, THE STORY OF GUITAR Birmingham EXCALIBOW Sat 11 Beethoven, Tchaikovsky & Couperin, HEROES Thurs 9 May, May, Lichfield Garrick Thurs 9 May, Stoke Repertory The- Theatre LOWLY Mon 6 May, The Robin, Bilston atre, Stoke-on-Trent THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL Peter Hare & Hounds, Birm- DAN WALSH TRIO Sat 11 GRACE PETRIE Fri 10 James' modern-day ghostly thriller, ingham May, Newhampton CALLINO QUARTET Featuring Sarah May, Midlands Arts Mon 6 - Sat 11 May, The Alexandra Arts Centre, Wolver- Sexton & Tom Hankey (violins), Re- DERMOT KENNEDY Tues Centre, Birmingham becca Jones (viola) & Sarah McMa- Theatre, Birmingham 7 May, O2 Institute, hampton SHOW OF HANDS Fri 10 hon (cello). Programme includes A LESSON FROM AUSCHWITZ One-man Birmingham SAMANTHA FISH Sat 11 May, Ludlow Assembly John Woolrich’s Scamander & show exploring how and why the May, O2 Academy, HONEYBLOOD Tues 7 Rooms, South Shrop- Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No.6 Nazis did what they did, shedding Birmingham May, Newhampton shire in F minor, Op.80, Fri 10 May, The light on the mentality of the perpetra- Arts Centre, Wolver- BRANDON ALLEN / TIM Barber Institute, Birmingham tors and the disturbing reality of life SUSTO Fri 10 May, O2 hampton LAPTHORN QUARTET Sat in a death camp, Tues 7 May, Institute, Birmingham BBC PHILHARMONIC Featuring Vassily 11 May, The Hive, TEN TONNES Tues 7 Sinaisky (conductor) & Sunwook Stafford Gatehouse Theatre BOTH SIDES NOW – THE May, O2 Institute, Shrewsbury Kim (soloist). Programme includes JONI MITCHELL CELE- Birmingham LEO SAYER Sat 11 May, works by Elgar, Grieg & Dvorak, Fri BRATION CONCERT Fri Theatre Severn, 10 May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent THE BETHS Tues 7 May, 10 May, Foxlowe Arts Shrewsbury Hare & Hounds, Birm- Centre, Leek, Stafford- BRILLIANT BAROQUE Shrewsbury ingham shire 80S PARTY NIGHT WITH School musicians present a selec- JOHNNY 2 BAD Sat 11 tion of works from the eighteenth PREGOBLIN Tues 7 May, SAM FENDER Fri 10 May, Oakengates The- century, Sat 11 May, St Chad’s Hare & Hounds, Birm- May, O2 Institute, atre @ The Place, Church, Shrewsbury ingham Birmingham Telford THOMAS TROTTER ORGAN RECITAL Sat TEN TONNES Tues 7 MARTIN KEMP DJ SET Fri STRAIGHT FOR THE SUN 11 May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent May, O2 Institute, 10 May, The Mill, Birm- Sat 11 May, O2 Insti- Birmingham ingham CARDUCCI STRING QUARTET SERIES tute, Birmingham Programme includes works by Schu- A CELEBRATION OF THE OLLY MURS Fri 10 - Sat BLANCMANGE Sat 11 mann, Saint Saens & Brahms, Sun SONGS AND MUSIC OF 11 May, Resorts World May, Hare & Hounds, 12 May, Blackburn Theatre, Prest- GEORGE MICHAEL Tues Arena, Birmingham Birmingham 7 May, Symphony felde School, Shrewsbury LOWER THAN ATLANTIS Hall, Birmingham STRICTLY ABBA Sat 11 THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Presented Fri 10 May, O2 May, Theatre On The by University of Wolverhampton Mu- CHRIS YOUNG Wed 8 Academy, Birmingham Steps, Bridgnorth, sical Theatre students, Tues 7 - Wed May, O2 Academy, A CERTAIN RATIO Fri 10 South Shropshire 8 May, Arena Theatre, W’hampton Birmingham May, Newhampton BLACK HEART ANGELS OLIVER! Bournville Musical Theatre JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS Arts Centre,Wolver- Comedy Sat 11 May, Albert’s Company present an amateur stag- RHYTHM ‘N’ BLUES OR- hampton SUZI RUFFELL Tues 7 - Wed 8 May, Shed, Shrewsbury ing of Dickens’ classic tale, Tues 7 - CHESTRA Wed 8 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE MADCHESTER EXPE- Sat 11 May, The Crescent Theatre, The Jam House, Birm- DOG OF TWO HEAD Sat RIENCE Fri 10 May, ZOE LYONS, DALISO CHAPONDA, ADAM Birmingham ingham 11 May, Eleven, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent ROWE & WAYNE BEESE Thurs 9 May, Sandyford, Stoke-on- THE SOUND OF MUSIC Amateur stag- THE BONFIRE RADICALS Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Dudley THE DANIEL WAKEFORD Trent ing presented by Brownhills Theatre Wed 8 May, The Red EXPERIENCE Fri 10 May, IAN COPPINGER, ANDY ASKINS & COM- Company, Tues 7 - Sat 11 May, Lich- Lion Folk Club, Birm- MICHAEL BALL Sun 12 - O2 Institute, B’ham EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON field Garrick Tues 14 May, Sym- ingham Thurs 9 May, The Glee Club, B’ham THE SMITHS LTD Fri 10 phony Hall, B’ham SHYLOCK Gareth Armstrong’s award- ELIZA AND MARTIN May, The River PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO CHUMS Fri 10 winning solo play, offering a fascinat- CARTHY Thurs 9 May, TAKE THAT Sun 12 - Rooms, Stourbridge May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury ing insight into Shakespeare’s Midlands Arts Centre, Tues 14 May, Arena infamous character, Wed 8 May, Mid- Birmingham ARCADIA ROOTS Fri 10 Birmingham IAN COPPINGER, ANDY ASKINS, ELLIOT May, The Albert’s STEEL & SOPHIE WILLAN Fri 10 - Sat lands Arts Centre, Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Wolverhampton 6 - 12 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:05 Page 3

thelist THE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE Pre- sented by European Arts Company, Talks Sat 11 May, Theatre Severn, Shrews- bury MONOLOGUESLAM 2019 Showcase of local talent, from actors to musicians, DUMTEEDUM LIVE The Archers Fan Fri 10 May, The REP, Birmingham Podcast featuring Emerald O’Hanra- han (Emma Grundy), Sat 11 May, Birmingham Town Hall ANDREA MCLEAN: CONFESSIONS OF A MENOPAUSAL WOMAN One-woman show featuring ‘stories of Film menopausal meltdowns, salacious INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: secrets and take-away tit-bits that BLINDSPOTTING (15) Comedy/Crime. every woman needs to hear’, Sat 11 Starring Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal. May, The Old Rep, Birmingham Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tues 7 CONSTELLATIONS Thought-provoking May comedy which questions the role of FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS (12A) Com- free will and chance, Sat 11 - Sat 18 edy/Drama. Starring James Purefoy, May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Tuppence Middleton. Wem Town Hall, Atlantic Ladies - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury CATS West Bromwich Operatic Soci- North Shropshire, Tues 7 & Thurs 9 ety present an amateur staging of the May ONCE UPON A WEDNESDAY: NAOMI PAUL Senior Youth Theatre, Thurs 9 - Sat hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, ANA DE DIA (15) Comedy/Drama. Star- Satirical solo show with original 11 May, Forest Arts Centre, Walsall Tues 14 - Sat 18 May, Wolverhampton ring Fernando Albizu, María José Al- songs, topical stories and Jewish hu- Grand Theatre THE BENCH Keir McAllister drama, de- fonso. Foreign language, subtitled. mour, Wed 8 May, The Brewhouse scribed as Waiting For Godot meets The Hive, Shrewsbury, Wed 8 May Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent Still Game, Fri 10 May, Lichfield Gar- DUMBO (U) Family/Fantasy. Starring WHERE THE HELL IS BERNARD? Award- rick Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. Festival winning company Haste Theatre fuse PAUL MERTON’S IMPRO CHUMS Also Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, visuals, movement, live song and featuring Lee Simpson, Richard Kids Shows North Shropshire, Fri 10 May clowning to create a darkly comic Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike McShane FREE SOLO (12A) Documentary/Sport. warning for the future, Wed 8 - Thurs & accompanist Kirsty Newton, Fri 10 MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL Matt Terry Starring Alex Honnold, Tommy Cald- 9 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury takes the lead in a musical adventure ingham based on the smash-hit movie, Tues well. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South CHESS: THE MUSICAL University of 7 - Sat 11 May, Wolverhampton Shropshire, Fri 10 & Sun 12 May ATLANTIC LADIES The true story of Wolverhampton Musical Theatre pre- Grand Theatre THE WHITE CROW (12a) three women in a boat (two from sent an amateur staging of the Tim Biography/Drama. Starring Oleg Shropshire, one from Wales) who Rice musical, Fri 10 - Sat 11 May, ZOG Julia Donaldson & Axel Schef- Ivenko, Ralph Fiennes. Old Market bravely became the oldest female Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, fler's much-loved character comes to team to row right across the ocean, life in a new staging accompanied by Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 10 - Thurs 16 Wed 8 - Fri 10 May, Theatre Severn, MUCKERS Created by award-winning a 'sumptuous' folk score, Wed 8 - May theatre maker Caroline Horton and Shrewsbury Thurs 9 May, Theatre Severn, THE SISTERS BROTHERS (15) Adven- an international ensemble, Muckers Shrewsbury ture/Comedy. Starring Joaquin FIDDLER ON THE ROOF CWAGMS pre- is described as a mischievous show Phoenix, John C. Reilly. Stoke Film sent an amateur staging of the all- exploring what it takes to stand proud HORRIBLE HISTORIES - BARMY BRITAIN Theatre, Sat 11 May time classic musical, Wed 8 - Sat 11 and be true to ourselves..., Fri 10 - The history of Britain - with the nasty May, Prince Of Wales Centre, Can- Sat 11 May, The REP, Birmingham bits left in!, Sun 12 May, Stafford nock Gatehouse Theatre SUMMER STREET - THE AUSSIE SOAP NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: KISS ME KATE Tinkers Farm Opera MUSICAL Take a trip down memory Released from Fri 10 May, showing at presents its version of Cole Porter’s lane to the 1990s and the heyday of selected cinemas iconic musical, Wed 8 - Sat 11 May, the Aussie soap opera, Fri 10 - Sun DETECTIVE PIKACHU (tbc) Stourbridge Town Hall 12 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, THE GREATEST SHOWS Musical extrava- Birmingham Dance THE HUSTLE (tbc) ganza presented by Walsall Junior & NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY WALES: AWAKENING Triple bill of works to ‘amuse and amaze’, Tues 7 May, The- Vienna Festival Ballet: Coppelia atre Severn, Shrewsbury Events The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Thurs 9 May STAFFORD’S GOTTA DANCE Wed 8 - Sat 11 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre MAY DAY FOLK DAY Featuring morris Founded in 1980 by celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Malleck, KNOT Acclaimed circus and dance dancers, maypole dancing, trails, the now-UK-based Vienna Festival Ballet presents a repertoire work by Nikki Rummer and JD crafts and traditional games, Mon 6 which comprises both full-length classics and new commissions. Broussé that asks the question: How May, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham Touring extensively for two-thirds of the year, the company this can we be honest with ourselves UNICORN PONY RIDES Featuring uni- month visits the Midlands with its production of without hurting those we love? Thurs corn-themed pony rides through the Coppelia, bringing together Leo Delibes’ dazzling 9 May, The Patrick Studio, Birming- enchanted woodland and unicorn ham Hippodrome treats at the Unicorn Bar, Mon 6 May, score with some truly breathtaking choreography. COPPELIA Thurs 9 May, The Brew- Arley Arboretum, Bewdley, Nr Kidder- When Dr Coppelius’s mannequin, Coppelia, is left house Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent minster on the workshop balcony, she causes quite a stir - BURN THE FLOOR ‘Jaw-dropping BODYPOWER EXPERIENCE Whether not only in the heart of the red-blooded Franz but choreography and ground-breaking you’re new to health & fitness, a reg- also in the mind of his jealous fiancee, Swanilda, moves’ with Strictly Come Dancing ular gym-goer or even an elite ath- who foolishly mistakes Coppelia for a flesh-and- favourite Kevin Clifton and Italian lete, ‘this show will provide everything blood rival... heartthrob Graziano Di Prima, Sun 12 you need to help you achieve your May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury next goal’, Fri 10 - Sun 12 May, NEC, Birmingham

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 6 - 12 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:05 Page 4

Monday 6 - Sunday 12 May

CHERRY BLOSSOM PAINTING IN ACRYLIC ist valuers and TV experts from Stour- Following the Cherry Tree Walk, take bridge-based auctioneers Fieldings, part in a painting workshop hosted Sat 11 May, Severn Valley Railway, by local artist Debbie Chatfield, Sat Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster 11 May, Mitton Manor, Staffordshire MAKERS CENTRAL Show bringing to- THE ART OF DEATH TOUR As part of the gether thousands of makers from national Dying Matters week, this free around the world, from crafters & in- tour takes in everything from Roman ventors to hobbyists and artists, Sat cremation chests to paintings of poi- 11 - Sun 12 May, NEC, Birmingham sonings, Sat 11 May, Birmingham SHROPSHIRE KIDS FEST Hosted by Museum And Art Gallery Shropshire Festivals, Sat 11 - Sun 12 TALES OF ACQUISITION TOUR As part of May, The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury the national Dying Matters week, take THERE AND BACK AGAIN: JRR TOLKIEN the opportunity to explore objects AND SAREHOLE GUIDED WALK A guided and artworks left to Birmingham Mu- introduction to Tolkien, the area of seum & Art Gallery by supporters in Sarehole and its influence on The their wills, or purchased using a Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, legacy, Sat 11 May, Birmingham Mu- Sun 12 May, Sarehole Mill, B’ham seum And Art Gallery Ludlow Spring Festival DR DASHING AND NURSE NICE WILL SEE YOU NOW Doctor Dashing and Nurse Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire, Sat 11 - Sun 12 May Nice assess your cuteness and help This annual festival ably illustrates why Ludlow is one of the coun- you understand your diagnosis, Sat For Foodies 11 May, Birmingham Museum And try’s most reputable foodie towns. Art Gallery THE GREAT BRITISH FOOD FESTIVAL A The two-day event features more than 200 beers alongside an array ZOO CLUB Activities themed around foodie day out for the whole family in of food stalls, with vendors offering delectable delights ranging animals, wildlife, nature and zoos for the company of the finest local arti- from artisan flours to charcuterie, award-winning cakes, gourmet children aged between eight and 14, san producers, Sat 11 - Sun 12 May, sausage rolls and local cheeses. Chillington Hall, Wolverhampton Sat 11 May, Drayton Manor Theme The Marches Transport Festival and a wealth of musical entertain- Park, Tamworth ment complete the weekend’s programme of attractions. THE ANTIQUES RAILSHOW Join special-

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Wolverhampton 13 - 19 May.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:57 Page 1

thelist BISCUIT BOYS Thurs 16 May, O2 Academy, SON & LENNY SHERMAN Fri 17 May, Gigs May, O2 Academy, Birmingham Classical The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham GLAM 45 PLUS SWEET SCOTT BENNETT, NJAMBI MCGRATH, RUMOURS OF FLEET- T0M ROBINSON Thurs 45 Fri 17 May, Eleven, JARLETH REGAN & DAMION LARKIN Fri WOOD MAC Mon 13 16 May, Foxlowe Arts Sandyford, Stoke-on- Music 17 May, The Slade Rooms, Wolver- May, Theatre Severn, Centre, Leek, Staffs Trent JOSEP-RAMON OLIVÉ - SCHUBERT, hampton Shrewsbury ALEX AIONO Thurs 16 SWERVEDRIVER Fri 17 MAHLER & STRAUSS Featuring Josep- MATT PRICE, MARK MAIER, MARK NEL- MARTIN CARTHY & ELIZA May, O2 Academy, May, O2 Institute, Ramon Olivé (baritone) & Ian Tindle SON & COMIC TBC Sat 18 May, The CARTHY Mon 13 May, Birmingham Birmingham (piano). Programme includes works Glee Club, Birmingham New Vic Theatre, New- by Schubert, Korngold, Raquel Gar- FOREIGN BEGGARS CATAPULT CLUB FT. OUR TRACE Sat 18 May, Oakengates castle-under-Lyme cía-Tomás, Mahler & Strauss, Tues Thurs 16 May, Hare & XILLA Fri 17 May, O2 14 May, Birmingham Town Hall Theatre @ The Place, Telford THE SUMMER OF LOVE Hounds, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham SCOTT BENNETT, JOSH PUGH, JUNIOR Mon 13 May, Victoria SHEKU KANNEH-MASON CELLO CON- CHANTEL MCGREGOR LOVE DISTRACTION Fri SIMPSON & DAMION LARKIN Sat 18 Hall, Stoke-on-Trent CERT Also featuring Isata Kanneh- Thurs 16 May, The 17 May, The Robin, Mason (piano). Programme includes May, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent SEVEN DRUNKEN Robin, Bilston Bilston TOM BINNS, HAYLEY ELLIS & SIMON NIGHTS - THE STORY OF works by Beethoven, Lutoslawski, TAKE THAT Thurs 16 - VOODOO ROOM: A NIGHT WOZNIAK Sat 18 May, The Comedy THE DUBLINERS Tues Debussy, Fauré & Mendelssohn, Sun 19 May, Arena OF HENDRIX, CLAPTON & Loft, Birmingham 14 May, Theatre Sev- Thurs 16 May, Birmingham Town Birmingham CREAM Fri 17 May, ern, Shrewsbury Hall THE NOISE NEXT DOOR Sun 19 May, Stafford Gatehouse THE ROLLING STONES Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury PAUL YOUNG Tues 14 FLORIAN KITT (CELLO) & CARLOS STORY Fri 17 May, Oak- Theatre May, Victoria Hall, RIVERA-AGUILAR (PIANO). Programme engates Theatre @ RASCALTON + FEEDBAC Stoke-on-Trent includes works by Debussy, The Place, Telford + 2 HOUR OVERKILL Sat Friedrich Cerha & Prokofiev, Fri 17 STONEFIELD Tues 14 BLACK CELEBRATION - 18 May, The Sugarmill, May, The Barber Institute, Birming- May, Hare & DEPECHE MODE Fri 17 Stoke-on-Trent ham Hounds, Birmingham Theatre May, The River NIRVANA UK (TRIBUTE) NOX QUARTET Featuring Boglárka Gy- THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Hot from a JASON DONOVAN Tues Rooms, Stourbridge Sat 18 May, O2 orgy & Tomohiko Kimura (violins), 14 - Wed 15 May, Fes- sell-out world tour and now having CREAM LIMOUSINE Fri Academy, Birmingham Nichols Fidler (viola) & Flora McNi- tival Drayton Centre, been experienced by more than 30 17 May, Resorts STONE FOUNDATION Sat coll (cello). Programme includes Market Drayton, North million theatre-goers across the World, Birmingham 18 May, O2 Institute, works by Haydn & Schubert, Fri 17 Shropshire globe, Richard O’Brien’s timeless Birmingham May, The Round Room, Birmingham THE PEAK DISTRICT BIG musical masterpiece returns, Mon 13 SONS OF THE EAST Wed Museum & Art Gallery BAND Fri 17 May, DIRTY DC Sat 18 May, - Sat 25 May, The Alexandra Theatre, 15 May, O2 Academy, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Eleven, Sandyford, PIANO RECITAL WITH ARTHUR YU Fri 17 Birmingham Birmingham Leek, Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent May, Maidment Auditorium, Shrews- A MONTH OF SUNDAYS The Lichfield PAUL YOUNG Wed 15 bury School HALLOUMINATI Fri 17 DIVAS THE LEGENDS Sat Players present Bob Larbey’s bitter- May, Theatre Severn, May, The Albert’s 18 May, Festival Dray- GORDON STEWART GALA ORGAN sweet comedy about growing old, Shrewsbury Shed, Shrewsbury ton Centre, Market RECITAL Programme includes works Tues 14 - Sat 18 May, Lichfield Gar- ISHMAEL ENSEMBLE by Handel, Alfred Hollins, JS Bach, A THE BAR-STEWARD Drayton, North Shrop- rick Wed 15 May, Hare & shire Ketèlbey, Edwin Lemare, Zsolt Gár- SONS OF VAL DOONICAN ROCKBETH South Staffordshire Col- Hounds, Birmingham donyi & Jules Grison, Sat 18 May, St Fri 17 May, The Hive, CUSTARD CONNECTION lege present a retelling of Shake- Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, South KRS-ONE Wed 15 May, Shrewsbury Sat 18 May, Albert’s speare's classic tragedy - with a O2 Institute, B’ham Shropshire ALUNAH Fri 17 May, O2 Shed, Shrewsbury musical twist, Wed 15 May, Lichfield CITY OF BRISTOL CHOIR: SPIRIT OF MARC ALMOND Wed 15 Academy, Birmingham KAMASI WASHINGTON Garrick SPRING Programme includes works May, Symphony Hall, Sat 18 May, O2 Insti- FRED JEFFS: THE SWEETSHOP MURDER GLENN HUGHES PER- by Walton, Dove, Parry, Britten, Birmingham tute, Birmingham On Good Friday 1957, Quinton FORMS CLASSIC DEEP Wilby & Bob Chilcott, Sat 18 May, St sweetshop owner Fred Jeffs was THE BON JOVI EXPERI- PURPLE Fri 17 May, O2 THE COLDPLAYER Sat Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, South murdered. Over 60 years later, the ENCE Wed 15 May, Institute, Birmingham 18 May, Foxlowe Arts Shropshire Stafford Gatehouse killing remains unsolved. Here, his OLI NG Fri 17 May, The Centre, Leek, Stafford- Theatre GRIMETHORPE COLLIERY BAND Sun 19 great nephew, Graeme Rose, exam- Sugarmill, Stoke-on- shir May, Prince of Wales Centre, Can- ines the case, Wed 15 - Sat 18 May, WALKING ON CARS Trent THE ONE LOVE BAND Sat nock Thurs 16 May, O2 In- The REP, Birmingham HATS OFF TO LED ZEP- 18 May, The River stitute, Birmingham A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM The PELIN Fri 17 - Sat 18 Rooms, Stourbridge National Production Company pre- SPINN Thurs 16 May, May, Theatre On The SOUL'D OUT UK Sat 18 sents its version of Shakespeare's The Castle & Falcon, Steps, Bridgnorth, May, The Robin, Bil- popular comedy, Wed 15 - Sat 18 Birmingham South Shropshire ston Comedy May, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham KING PLEASURE & THE JON RONSON Fri 17 RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS MUGENKYO TAIKO DRUMMERS: TRIBE Sun 19 May, Theatre MICHAEL MCINTYRE Tues 14 May, 25 Brand new show featuring skill, Severn, Shrewsbury Birmingham Hippodrome LARRY DEAN Tues 14 May, The Glee stamina and red-hot rhythms, Sat 18 LP: HEART TO MOUTH May, Dudley Town Hall TOUR Sun 19 May, O2 Club, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham RUSSELL KANE Wed 15 May, Birming- BEAK> Sun 19 May, ham Hippodrome Hare & Hounds, Birm- MATT PRICE, MARK MAIER & COMEDY ingham CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON DEAN FRIEDMAN Sun 19 Thurs 16 May, The Glee Club, B’ham May, Folowe Arts Cen- JIM TAVARÉ Fri 17 May, Midlands Art tre, Leek, Staffordshire Centre, Birmingham MR PUNCH - MARILLION: JOHN-LUKE ROBERTS Fri 17 May, The THE FUGAZI SHOW Sun Glee Club, Birmingham 19 May, The Robin, MATT PRICE, MARK MAIER, MARK NEL- LP - O2 Institute, Birmingham Bilston 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 13 - 19 May.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:57 Page 2

Monday 13 - Sunday 19 May

Festival Drayton Centre, Market Dray- Dance ton, North Shropshire, Fri 17 May THE FAVOURITE (15) Biography/Com- RITE OF SPRING Showcase of Indian edy. Starring Olivia Colman, Emma classical dance, Tues 14 May, The Stone. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippo- South Shropshire, Fri 17 - Sat 18 May drome WILD ROSE (15) Drama/Music. Starring STRICTLY COME DANCING THE PROFES- Julie Walters, Jessie Buckley. Stoke SIONALS 2019 Featuring Dianne Film Theatre, Old Market Hall, Buswell, Pasha Kovalev, Giovanni Shrewsbury, Fri 17 - Thurs 23 May Pernice, Katya Jones and AJ Pritchard, Thurs 16 - Fri 17 May, Sym- phony Hall, Birmingham NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: BBC YOUNG DANCER 2019 GRAND FINAL Released from Fri 17 May, showing at Five outstanding young dancers bat- selected cinemas tle it out in front of a panel of interna- PAW PATROL: MIGHTY PUPS (tbc) tionally renowned judges. The evening also includes a feature per- ALADDIN (tbc) formance from 2017 winner Nafisah ROCKETMAN (tbc) Baba, Sat 18 May, Birmingham Hip- THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 (tbc) podrome THE BALLROOM BOYS Strictly favourites Whitchurch Food & Drink Festival, Shropshire Iain Waite & Vincent Simone join day, red by night’ to life, Sat 18 May, Birmingham forces in a brand new show, Sat 18 Black Country Living Museum, Dud- May, Lichfield Garrick ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE GRAVEYARD TALK Events ley An illustrated talk about the archaeol- STORE STORIES: A BEHIND THE SCENES DISCOVER RAG RUGGING Learn the art ogy of Park Street burial ground, TOUR See the hidden treasures in the of rag rugging with craft specialists, which is being excavated as part of collection stores at Attingham and Sat 18 May, Birmingham Back to the preparatory work for the HS2 rail meet the team carrying out some of Backs line, Sat 18 May, Birmingham Mu- Talks the conservation work, Mon 13 May, EDWARDIAN TEAROOMS LATE: MUSE- seum And Art Gallery UMS AT NIGHT FESTIVAL WITH HIDDEN INDUSTRIAL MIGHT Discover the awe- AN EVENING WITH HARRY REDKNAPP I’m Attingham Park, Shrewsbury SPACES An evening of dinner and live inspiring industrial might of the Black A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! win- WWE LIVE WWE superstars live in ac- music, plus the chance to enjoy the Country, with live demonstrations and ner Harry Redknapp shares stories tion, all under one roof, Wed 15 May, Secrets Of The Museum tour, Sat 18 fun for visitors of all ages, Sat 18 - from his football days and his time in Resorts World Arena, Birmingham May, Birmingham Museum And Art Sun 19 May, Black Country Living the jungle, Mon 13 May, Birmingham SPRING DIESEL FESTIVAL Featuring her- Gallery Museum, Dudley Town Hall itage and mainline diesels, Thurs 16 - THE TWELFTH ANNUAL DUCK RACES 'MORRIS GANG' DANCING DAVID STARKEY - A MONARCHY OF MIS- Sat 18 May, Severn Valley Railway, The Blists Hill Race a duck along the stream in Morris Gang perform traditional FITS A talk tracing the radically shift- Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster Carding Mill Valley, Sat 18 May, Card- dances, Sun 19 May, Blists Hill Victo- ing marriage customs of the British THIS MORNING LIVE Shopping festival ing Mill Valley & The Shropshire Hills, rian Town, Ironbridge, Shropshire monarchy, Tues 14 May, Stafford with hundreds of well-known brands, Church Stretton Gatehouse Theatre small boutiques and unique retailers, MIXED TRACTION DAY A selection of the Thurs 16 - Sun 19 May, NEC, Birm- PALACE OF CURIOSITIES Meet the Mar- visiting diesel locomotives will be op- ingham cus Island Mermaid, Sat 18 May, The erating alongside the steam trains, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Han- Sun 19 May, Severn Valley Railway, WATT 2019: ILLUMINATING JAMES WATT ley, Stoke-on-Trent Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster Find out more about the great Geor- Film gian inventor, industrialist and steam THE COSMONAUT’S WIFE Enjoy an af- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: pioneer, Fri 17 May, Soho House, ternoon tea with the wife of the first Birmingham man in space, Yuri Gagarin, Sun 19 DUMBO (U) Family/Fantasy. Starring May, The Potteries Museum & Art Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. The THE BABY SHOW The UK’s largest Gallery, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 13 event for parents-to-be, new parents, May; Festival Drayton Centre, Market grandparents and babies, Fri 17 - Drayton, Shropshire, Mon 13 May Sun 19 May, NEC, Birmingham GREEN BOOK (PG) Biography/Comedy. BIG BANG CAMPER & BUS SHOW - VW Starring Viggo Mortensen, Maher- FESTIVAL Featuring racing, music and For Foodies shala Ali. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon entertainment, Fri 17 May - Sun 19 FRESTIVAL Festival specialising in 13 May Sept, Santa Pod Raceway, Welling- borough free-from foods and products, Sat 18 THE WIFE (15) Drama. Starring Glenn May, West Midland Showground, THE DOORSLAMMERS Doorslammers Close, Jonathan Pryce. Edge Arts Shrewsbury Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shrop- returns in a bigger and better format, VICTORIAN CRIME AND PUNISHMENT BIRMINGHAM VIVA! MAGICAL VEGAN shire, Mon 13 May along with a huge prize fund, Fri 17 - Sun 19 May, Santa Pod Raceway, See what it was like to be a police- FESTIVAL Featuring vegan delicacies, ALL IS TRUE (12A) Biography/Drama. Wellingborough man during the Victorian period - and ethical clothing, cruelty-free cosmet- Starring Kenneth Branagh, Lolita also what happened if you ended up ics and much more, Sat 18 May, New ZOO CLUB Activities themed around Chakrabarti. Wem Town Hall, North on the wrong side of the law... Sat 18 Bingley Hall, Birmingham Shropshire, Tues 14 & Thurs 16 May animals, wildlife, nature and zoos for May, The Potteries Museum & Art children aged between eight and 14, Gallery, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent RUM & REGGAE FESTIVAL Sat 18 May, THE SISTERS BROTHERS (15) Adven- Sat 18 May, Drayton Manor Theme The Mill Digbeth, Birmingham ture/Comedy. Starring Joaquin ASTON ALIVE: GEORGIAN HOUSE PARTY Park, Tamworth WHITCHURCH FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Phoenix, John C. Reilly. Stoke Film Join in the fun of a Georgian house Celebrating all things great about Theatre, Thurs 16 May RED BY NIGHT Experience the indus- party, witness sword-fighting duels trial might of the Black Country as food & drink in the North Shropshire THE KEEPER (15) Biography/Drama. and meet some glorious and gaudy skilled craftsmen and live demonstra- Georgians, Sat 18 May, Aston Hall, area, Sat 18 - Sun 19 May, Starring David Kross, Freya Mavor. tions bring the reality of ‘black by Whitchurch Civic Centre whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Wolverhampton 20 - 26 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:07 Page 1

thelist DOOMSDAY OUTLAW Centre, Walsall SCOTT CAPURRO & COMEDY CAROUSEL Gigs Thurs 23 May, Eleven, RITA ORA Sat 25 May, Classical WITH ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Sandyford, Stoke-on- Arena Birmingham Thurs 23 May, The Glee Club, B’ham Trent MICHAEL BUBLÉ Mon 20 SARAH KENDALL & MICHAEL LEGGE - Tues 21 May, Resorts KSI & RANDOLPH Thurs Music Thurs 23 May, Midlands Art Centre, World Arena, B’ham 23 May, O2 Institute, LUNCHTIME MUSIC Featuring Petrina Birmingham Birmingham THE RONNIE SCOTT’S Phua Wei Ching & Orestis Magou ANGELA BARNES Fri 24 May, Festival ALL STARS Mon 20 MANIC STREET PREACH- (pianos) & Jeffrey Armstrong (violin). Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, May, New Vic Theatre, ERS Thurs 23 May, O2 Programme includes works by Schu- North Shropshire Newcastle-under- Academy, Birmingham bert & Faure, Mon 20 May, The Lab, BARBARA NICE & LADS Fri 24 May, The Lyme Royal Birmingham Conservatoire BIRMINGHAM CONSER- REP, Birmingham THE TINA TURNER EXPE- VATOIRE FOLK ENSEM- WALLACE & GROMIT’S MUSICAL MAR- SCOTT CAPURRO, JOJO SMITH, CRAIG RIENCE SHOW Tues 21 BLE Thurs 23 May, VELS Interactive experience featuring HILL & ALISTAIR WILLIAMS Fri 24 - Sat May, Stafford Gate- Foxlowe Arts Centre, specially created animations along- 25 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham house Theatre Leek, Staffordshire side a live orchestral accompani- CHRIS BEVINGTON OR- ment, Mon 20 May, Victoria Hall, SUKH OJLA & BRYONY TWYDLE Sat 25 HELLOGOODBYE Tues 21 STEVIE NIMMO TRIO GANISATION + THE May, The REP, Birmingham May, O2 Academy, Stoke-on-Trent Thurs 23 May, The EMMA JONSON TRIO Sat Birmingham WHITTINGTON CHAMBER MUSIC FESTI- SOL BERNSTEIN, JOEY PAGE, MIKE Robin, Bilston 25 May, Foxlowe Arts VAL: CZECH MATES: DVORAK AND THE NEWALL & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 25 May, BRY Tues 21 May, Hare WANNABE - THE SPICE Centre, Leek, Stafford- BOHEMIANS 1 - 6 Tues 21 - Sun 26 The Comedy Loft, Birmingham & Hounds, B’ham GIRLS SHOW Fri 24 shire May, Church of St John the Baptist, WILL E, JUNIOR BOOKER, MARLON WILL BURNS & HANNAH May, Oakengates The- EGO FRIENDLY Sat 25 Whittington, North Shropshire DAVIS & KANE BROWN Sat 25 May, PEEL Tues 21 May, atre @ The Place, May, Albert’s Shed, RUSSIAN PHILHARMONIC OF NOVOSI- The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton Theatre Severn, Telford, Shrewsbury Shrewsbury BIRSK: PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION Shrewsbury BEAT FACTORY Fri 24 COMEDY IN THE MET Sat 25 May, THE BIG BIRMINGHAM Featuring Thomas Sanderling (con- May, Resorts World Stafford Gatehouse Theatre THE JEEPS Tues 21 SOUL NIGHT Sat 25 ductor) & Alexander Sitkovetsky (vio- Arena, Birmingham STEWART FRANCIS May, O2 Academy, May, Birmingham lin). Programme includes works by Sun 26 May, The- Birmingham DEFINATELY MIGHTBE + Town Hall Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rimsky-Kor- atre Severn, Shrewsbury THE TREATMENT & BIG- ADORED Fri 24 May, ROBIN NOLAN TRIO Sat sakov & Mussorgsky arr. Ravel, Wed THE COMEDY ROAST - SANDRA MARTIN FOOT Wed 22 May, The The River Rooms, 25 May, Ludlow As- 22 May, Symphony Hall, B’ham FEATURING KANE BROWN, DIZZLE, ES- Stourbridge THERMANITO, AURIE STYLA & MR CEE Slade Rooms, Wolver- sembly Rooms, South THE OPERA BOYS Thurs 23 May, Dud- hampton DAN WALSH TRIO Fri 24 Shrewsbury ley Town Hall Sun 26 May, The Glee Club, B’ham May, Stafford Gate- WHISKEY MYERS Wed THE SMITHS LTD Sat 25 NICOLA BENEDETTI WITH THE SCOTTISH house Theatre 22 May, O2 Institute, May, Eleven, Sandy- CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Also featuring Birmingham TAKE THE 5TH - AN AP- ford, Stoke-on-Trent Benjamin Marquise Gilmore CHILDREN OF ZEUS Wed PRECIATION OF THE THE SMYTHS Sat 25 (violin/director). Programme in- 22 May, O2 Institute, CLASH Fri 24 May, The May, O2 Academy, cludes works by Mozart & Anna Theatre Birmingham Night Out, B’ham Clyne, Fri 24 May, Birmingham Town Birmingham WALLACE & GROMIT'S MUSICAL MAR- Hall CHRIS DIFFORD Wed 22 RAYMOND FROGGATT Fri EXPLOSIVE LIGHT OR- VELS Interactive experience followed 24 May, Theatre Sev- May, The Glee Club, CHESTRA Sat 25 May, THE LUDLOW ORCHESTRA Featuring by a screening of the Oscar-winning ern, Shrewsbury Birmingham The Robin, Bilston Claire Tocknell (leader), Thomas Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Payne (conductor) & Daniel Browell LYNETTE WALTERS AND ALICE IN CHAINS Fri 24 THE WATERBOYS Sat 25 Trousers', with the soundtrack being (soloist). Programme include works BAND Wed 22 May, O2 May, Arena B’ham May, Symphony Hall, performed by the orchestra, Mon 20 by Liadov, Prokofiev & Shostakovich, Academy, Birmingham MAGNETIC JELLYFISH Fri Birmingham May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Sat 25 May, St Laurence’s Church, 24 May, Eleven, Stoke- ROTTERDAM Jon Brittain's bittersweet MIKE MASSÉ Wed 22 THE ELVIS WORLD TOUR Ludlow, South Shropshire May, The Robin, Bil- on-Trent STARRING SHAWN comedy about gender, sexuality and A BEETHOVEN EXPERIENCE: COMPLETE ston TOTAL STONE ROSES & KLUSH & DEAN Z Sun being a long way from home, Mon WORKS FOR CELLO & PIANO Featuring OAYSIS Fri 24 May, The 26 May, The Alexandra 20 - Wed 22 May, The REP, B’ham THE JAMES TAYLOR Richard Jenkinson & Benjamin Frith, Buttermarket, Shrews- Theatre, Birmingham LES MUSICALS Jonathan Ansell (G4) STORY Thurs 23 May, Sun 25 May, Concord College, bury & Jai McDowall (Britain’s Got Talent) Sutton Coldfield Town THE SUMMER OF LOVE Acton Burnell, Shropshire Hall KILLING EVE Fri 24 May, Sun 26 May, Stafford join forces to create a celebration of CORY BAND & ONLY MEN ALOUD; BRASS The Slade Rooms, Gatehouse Theatre musical theatre, Tues 21 May, The- RUMOURS OF FLEET- & VOICES FROM THE MOVIES Wolverhampton Sun 26 atre Severn, Shrewsbury WOOD MAC Thurs 23 JULIANA HATFIELD May, Birmingham Town Hall May, Wolverhampton DURAN DURAN EXPERI- THREE Sun 26 May, O2 THEATRE SUPPER: FOR THOSE WHO PROMS & PROSECCO IN THE PARK Fea- Grand Theatre ENCE Fri 24 May, The- Institute, Birmingham MISSED IT THE FIRST TIME See new turing String Infusion, Belle Voci theatre work and enjoy a meal and THEA GILMORE Thurs atre On The Steps, SONIC BOOM LIVE Sun (opera duo), Charlie Green (vocals), drink for just £10, Tues 21 May, 23 May, Theatre Sev- Bridgnorth, Shrops 26 May, Albert’s Shed, David Lane (piano) & the Darby Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton ern, Shrewsbury STING & SHAGGY Fri 24 Shrewsbury Singers, Sun 26 May, Weston Park, RUNNING BETWEEN THE LINES Central HOWARD JONES Thurs May, O2 Academy, ESTELLE Sun 26 May, Weston-under-Lizard, Staffs Youth Theatre perform a play about 23 May, Symphony Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham love, grief and learning how to move Hall, Birmingham BAND OF FRIENDS FEA- WINTER IN EDEN Sun 26 on, Tues 21 May, Newhampton Arts TURING GERRY MCAVOY, WILLIAM THE CON- May, The Robin, Bil- Centre, Wolverhampton QUEROR Thurs 23 May, TED MCKENNA & MAR- ston ANIMAL FARM Grand Arena Youth Hare & Hounds, Birm- CEL SCHERPENZEEL Fri THE DRIFTERS Sun 26 Theatre present an amateur staging ingham 24 May, The Robin, Comedy May, Prince Of Wales of George Orwell’s classic tale, Tues Bilston BILL BAILEY Tues 21 May, Victoria INDIGO VELVET Thurs Centre, Cannock 21 May, Wolverhampton Grand The- THE BOMBPOPS Fri 24 - Hall, Stoke-on-Trent 23 May, Hare & TALON - THE ACOUSTIC atre Hounds, Birmingham Sat 25 May, Hare & BILL BAILEY Thurs 23 May, Arena COLLECTION Sun 26 ERIC’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY We know Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham POKE Thurs 23 May, May, Theatre Severn, he doesn’t look a day over 19, but NAVI KING OF POP Sat O2 Academy, B’ham Shrewsbury AL MURRAY Thurs 23 May, Stafford the rumours are true… Eric is turning 25 May, Forest Arts Gatehouse Theatre 62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 20 - 26 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:07 Page 2

Monday 20 - Sunday 26 May

20! To celebrate, he’s throwing one LOWED A FLY Featuring singalong the life, the palaces and the rich WOMEN'S WORK IN THE JEWELLERY huge party and everyone’s invited!, songs and colourful animal charac- colourful age of Queen Victoria, Sun QUARTER A tour explaining the type of Tues 21 - Sat 25 May, New Vic The- ters, Sat 25 May, Theatre Severn, 26 May, Birmingham Town Hall work undertaken by women from the atre, Newcastle-under-Lyme Shrewsbury late 1800s until the 1980s, Sat 25 MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Hit West Ender THE FLYING BATH Little Angel Theatre May, Museum of the Jewellery Quar- telling the story of Berry Gourdy, the bring Julia Donaldson’s book to life, ter, Birmingham legend behind the Motown record Sat 25 May, Arena Theatre, Wolver- INTERNATIONAL MARQUETRY EXHIBITION label, Tues 21 May - Sat 1 June, Re- hampton Festivals Featuring 200 examples of contem- gent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent MISCHIEF & MYSTERY IN MOOMIN VAL- porary marquetry including the work THE TOMMY COOPER STORY Complete LEY Storytelling experience for BEARDED THEORY Line-up features The of top golfer, Tony Jacklin CBE, Sat with live musical accompaniment, younger audiences in which Lost & Cult, Suede, Doves and Stiff Little 25 - Thurs 30 May, Middleton Hall, Nr this critically acclaimed tribute deliv- Found Theatre Company fuse pup- Fingers, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 May, Cat- Tamworth ers plenty of magic and mirth, Wed petry, original music & interactive ton Hall, Derbyshire NIMROD TOURS Step on board the 22 May, Oakengates Theatre @ The play, Sat 25 May, The Brewhouse Arts STAFFS FEST Line-up features Pig Man Nimrod XV249 and learn about its in- Place, Telford Centre, Burton-upon-Trent & The Rubber Band, Kioko, Juniper telligence-gathering role in the Royal THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Fol- Wolf and Cutch-I, Fri 24 - Sun 26 May, Air Force, Sat 25 May - Sun 2 June, low Sherlock Holmes and his incom- Lower Drayton Farm RAF Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton parable sidekick, Dr Jane Watson, on MELLO Line-up features Brand New FREDDO'S TREASURE TROVE Cadbury’s their journey through the streets of Heavies, Craig Charles, Incognito Freddo dons his captain’s hat to London to the Devonshire Moors as Dance and The Wonder Stuff, Fri 24 - Sun 26 teach little ones what it takes to be- they attempt to solve the mystery of May, Severn End Country Estate, come a pirate on the seven seas, Sat the monstrous hound, Fri 24 May, BLACK COUNTRY DANCE HUB TRIPLE Hanley Castle, Worcestershire 25 May - Sun 2 June, Cadbury World, Lichfield Garrick BILL Mon 20 May, Forest Arts Centre, Birmingham Walsall DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL Line-up features FOOTLOOSE Curtain Call Theatre Com- Crystal Fighters, Jordan Rakei, Swim FIRST WORLD WAR HALF TERM Insight pany present an amateur staging of THE BALLROOM BOYS Strictly favourites Deep and The Night Cafe, Fri 24 - into life as a pilot in the RAF during the ‘explosive’ rock’n’roll musical Iain Waite & Vincent Simone join Sun 26 May, various locations around the First World War, with a chance to based on the 1980s hit film of the forces in a brand new show, Mon 20 Nottingham get a closer look inside the Sopwith same name, Fri 24 - Sat 25 May, The- May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Pup, Sat 25 May - Sun 2 June, RAF CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up fea- atre Severn, Shrewsbury Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton ROSIE KAY: 10 SOLDIERS Portrait of tures Blackbeard’s Tea Party, The BIN AND GONE One-man show telling army life told through dance-theatre, Askew Sisters, Crows, Belshazzar’s LEGO CITY Explore what a city of the the story of 3-2-1 host Ted Rogers, Fri Tues 21 May, Birmingham Hippo- Feast, Fri 24 - Mon 27 May, Kelsall, future would look like, Sat 25 May - 24 - Sun 26 May, Old Joint Stock drome near Chester Sun 1 Sept, Legoland Discovery Cen- Theatre, Birmingham tre, Birmingham PETER AND THE WOLF Birmingham HOWTHELIGHTGETSIN Line-up features VENICE PRESERVED Fast-paced version Royal Ballet presents a brand new Anna Calvi, Donovan, British Sea SHREWSBURY WACKY RACES Racers of Thomas Otway's restoration staging of Prokofiev’s classic tale. Power and Zero 7, Fri 24 - Mon 27 hurtle along a custom-made route in tragedy, Fri 24 May - Sat 7 Sept, The Poet Hollie McNish narrates, Tues 21 May, Hay-On-Wye carefully crafted carts, Sun 26 May, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon - Wed 22 May, Malvern Theatres The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury BIRMINGHAM PRIDE Line-up features END THE SILENCE Agape Theatre Com- BALLET BLACK The popular dance Years & Years, Kate Nash, Marc Al- EASTNOR STEAM & VINTAGE Featuring pany examines the intoxicating effect troupe return with a showcase of mond, The Human League, Sat 25 - steam engines, a tea tent, giant gar- of power, Sat 25 - Sun 26 May, The modern ballets, Thurs 23 - Fri 24 May, Sun 26 May, Birmingham Gay Village den games, model steam engine Crescent Theatre, Birmingham The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hip- rides, a vintage carousel, a chair podrome ROCK AND BOWL Line-up features The Stones, Mercury, Re-Take That and swing and more, Sun 26 - Mon 27 PETER AND THE WOLF Birmingham Guns 2 Roses, Sat 25 - Mon 27 May, May, Eastnor Castle, Ledbury Royal Ballet presents a brand new Market Drayton, Shropshire MAY DAY REVELS Sun 26 - Mon 27 staging of Prokofiev’s classic tale. May, Harvington Hall, Kidderminster Poet Hollie McNish narrates, Fri 24 - Cabaret Sat 25 May, Wolverhampton Grand 1940S WEEKEND Featuring hundreds DREAMBOYS ‘The UK’s most famous Theatre of reenactors dressed in 1940s uni- girls’ night out’, Wed 22 May, Wolver- forms and civilian dress, Sun 26 - hampton Grand Theatre Events Mon 27 May, Tutbury Castle, Burton- on-Trent MAY TILE DECORATING Create your own superbug-themed designs at family drop-in tile-decorating work- Talks shops on weekdays over the half- Kids Shows DAVID GOWER An evening of anec- term break, Fri 24 May, Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire Foodie Events PETER PAN THE MUSICAL Amateur stag- dotes and chat with the Sky Sports ing presented by Five Towns Theatre, presenter and former England cricket CASTLE CAPERS EVENING Family- MAC GIN & JAZZ CLUB Start your week- Wed 22 - Sat 25 May, Stoke Reper- captain, Wed 22 May, Theatre Sev- themed evening where visitors can end off the right way - with a gin tory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent ern, Shrewsbury learn about the history of the castle, cocktail in hand, listening to ‘the best take part in ghost & history walks, live jazz around’, Fri 24 May, Mid- THE WORST WITCH Major new show DR JOHN COOPER CLARKE The performance poet brings his Luckiest Guy and try on arms & armour, Fri 24 May, lands Arts Centre, Birmingham bringing Jill Murphy's much-loved Dudley Zoological Gardens characters to the stage, Wed 22 - Sun Alive tour to the Midlands, Thurs 23 DINING CRUISE - FISH & CHIP SUPPER 26 May, Birmingham Hippodrome May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPI- Jump on board the newest narrow- ONSHIP Featuring familiar faces, big- boat for a dining cruise around the BEDTIME STORIES Series of scenes, MARK BEAUMONT - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Film & photography com- name superstars and young guns local area, Sat 25 May, Dudley Canal loosely connected by place, time and battling it out for the title, Fri 24 - Sun and Tunnel Trust ‘a most unusual radio broadcast’, bine to provide an insight into Mark’s career, Fri 24 May, Stafford Gate- 26 May, Donington Park Racing Cir- THE COCKTAIL EXPRESS The Severn that follows the interwoven lives of cuit, Derby various characters on a single house Theatre Valley Railway in partnership with evening. Thurs 23 - Sat 25 May, LUCY WORSLEY: QUEEN VICTORIA - ATTINGHAM CAMP 2019 A ‘one-night, Nickolls & Perks welcomes visitors Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock DAUGHTER, WIFE, MOTHER, WIDOW... fun-filled camping spectacular’, Sat aboard the Cocktail Express, Sat 25 - 25 May, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury Sun 26 May, Severn Valley Railway, THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWAL- Join Lucy for an illustrated talk about Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Wolverhampton 27 - 31 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:09 Page 1

thelist lary O’Neil star, Tues 28 May, Prince Classical Of Wales Centre, Cannock ORLANDO Dyad Productions explores Music ‘what it means to find our place in the world whilst remaining utterly CATHEDRAL CLASSICS: AFTERNOON true to who we are’, Tues 28 - Wed RECITAL Mon 27 May, Lichfield 29 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Cathedral CBSO: BRAHMS’ SYMPHONY NO.2 Fea- turing Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla (conductor), Programme includes works by Honegger, Ravel & Brahms, Fri 31 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Comedy Cara Dillon - Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs ANGELA BARNES Wed 29 May, The ROCK OF AGES Smash-hit musical fea- Glee Club, Birmingham Thurs 30 May, The FRED ZEPPLIN Fri 31 turing 25-plus classic rock anthems. Gigs Alexandra Theatre, May, Eleven, Sandy- CARL DONNELLY, THE RAYMOND AND Zoe Birkett, Kevin Kennedy & Antony Birmingham ford, Stoke-on-Trent MR TIMPKINS REVUE & COMEDY Costa star, Tues 28 May - Sat 1 June, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Wolverhampton Grand Theatre THE MUFFIN MEN Mon MARK KNOPFLER Thurs THE DOORS ALIVE Fri 31 Thurs 30 May, The Glee Club, B’ham 27 May, The Robin, 30 May, Resorts World May, The Robin, Bil- CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL Tim Bilston Arena, Birmingham ston DARREN HARRIOTT & ROB KEMP Thurs Firth & Gary Barlow’s award-winning production, Tues 28 May - Sat 8 HUGH JACKMAN: THE 30 May, Midlands Art Centre, B’ham MAREN MORRIS: GIRL SHOP FRONT HEROES June, Birmingham Hippodrome MAN. THE MUSIC. THE THE WORLD TOUR 2019 SUPPORT FIGHT THE SOFIE HAGEN Fri 31 May, The Old Rep SHOW. Mon 27 - Tues Thurs 30 May, O2 In- BEAR Fri 31 May, Al- Theatre, Birmingham THAT’LL BE THE DAY Ever-popular production fusing comedy and music 28 May, Resorts World stitute, Birmingham bert’s Shed, Shrews- KAREN BAYLEY, MICHAEL FABBRI & from the ’50s to the ’70s, Wed 29 Arena, Birmingham bury GERRY K (PICTURED) Fri 31 May, CARA DILLON Thurs 30 May, The Alexandra Theatre, B’ham LITTLE MIX EXPERIENCE May, Foxlowe Arts AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ OR- Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton Tues 28 May, Stafford Centre, Leek CHESTRA Fri 31 May, CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN Based Gatehouse Theatre Royal Birmingham on the bestselling novel by Louis de GIO SPANO Thurs 30 Berniéres that inspired the hit film of YOLA Tues 28 May, Conservatoire May, O2 Academy, the same name, Wed 29 May - Sat Hare & Hounds, Birm- Birmingham REMI HARRIS Fri 31 15 June, The REP, Birmingham ingham May, The Edge Arts THE ALLERGIES FT. ANDY BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS Starcross 20 GUILDERS Tues 28 Centre, Much Wen- COOPER Thurs 30 May, Youth Theatre present an amateur May, Hare & Hounds, lock, South Shropshire Hare & Hounds, Birm- staging of the Dennis Potter classic, Birmingham ingham FASTLOVE - GEORGE Fri 31 May - Sat 1 June, Arena The- SAM DRAISEY AND THE PUNCH THE SKY + MICHAEL TRIBUTE Fri 31 atre, Wolverhampton REVOLT Wed 29 May, May, Prince Of Wales BLACKBEARD'S TEA THE WORST LITTLE WAREHOUSE IN The Robin, Bilston Centre, Cannock PARTY Thurs 30 May, LONDON A ‘mind-bogglingly funny GAZ COOMBES Wed 29 Hare & Hounds, Birm- THE SKA45’S Fri 31 story of companionship, shared ac- May, Newhampton ingham May, The River commodation, and how to grit your Arts Centre, Wolver- IAN PARKER AND HIS Rooms, Stourbridge teeth and bare it’, Fri 31 May - Sat 1 hampton BAND Thurs 30 May, GOV’T MULE Fri 31 May, June, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, KIP MOORE Wed 29 The Robin, Bilston Birmingham Town Hall CARL DONNELLY, DANNY MCLOUGHLIN, Birmingham THE RAYMOND AND MR TIMPKINS May, Birmingham HIPSWAY Fri 31 May, SUBVERT PRESENTS REVUE & DAISY EARL Fri 31 May, The Town Hall O2 Academy, B’ham DRUMSOUND & Glee Club, Birmingham KYLA BROX BAND Wed HEAVY RAPIDS Fri 31 BASSLINE SMITH – 20 29 May, O2 Academy, May, The Actress & YEARS OF TECHNIQUE Birmingham Bishop, Birmingham Fri 31 May, The Butter- Kids Shows market, Shrewsbury THE MEAT LOAF STORY THE JUNGLE BOOK A classic tale with brand new songs, creative staging Theatre and ‘bags full of fun’, Mon 27 May, The Old Rep, Birmingham MRS KAPOOR’S DAUGHTER’S WEDDING Bollywood comedy & dance produc- THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF PINOC- tion featuring YouTuber and BBC CHIO Immersion Theatre present a sensation Parle Patel, Mon 27 May, brand new larger-than-life musical The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham adaptation of the much-loved classic, Wed 29 May, Stafford Gatehouse THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Adapted from Theatre Paula Hawkins' bestselling novel and starring Samantha Womack, Mon 27 ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS Expect May - Sat 1 June, Theatre Severn, madcap action, original music and Shrewsbury plenty of laughs, Thurs 30 May, Oak- engates Theatre @ The Place, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL Musical Telford, Shropshire parody featuring a host of one-liners about hot flushes, memory loss and DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE Interactive pop classics. Cheryl Fergison, Mau- show for all the family, Thurs 30 - Fri Yola - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham reen Nolan, Rebecca Wheatley & Hi- 31 May, Lichfield Garrick 64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolverhampton 27 - 31 May.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2019 16:09 Page 2

Monday 27 - Friday 31 May

Cabaret Events JULIAN CLARY - BORN TO MINCE Outra- UNICORN PONY RIDES Unicorn-themed geously camp new show in which the pony rides through the enchanted prince of innuendo bares his soul in woodland in the grounds of the beau- the interests of light entertainment, Fri tiful Arboretum, plus unicorn treats at 31 May, The Alexandra Theatre, Birm- the Unicorn Bar, Mon 27 May, Arley ingham Arboretum, Bewdley, Nr Kiddermin- ster WATT 2019: SOHO STEAM FAIR Watch a working traction engine in full steam and take a ride on a miniature steam Dance locomotive, Mon 27 May, Soho GISELLE Romantic ballet presented by House, Birmingham Vienna Festival Ballet, Wed 29 May, MAY TILE DECORATING Create your Oakengates Theatre at The Place, own superbug-themed designs at Telford family drop-in tile-decorating work- AUTIN DANCE THEATRE: DYSTOPIA shops on weekdays over the half- Thought-provoking dance theatre term break, Mon 27 - Fri 31 May, duet looking at the human need for Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, connection and belonging, Fri 31 Shropshire May, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham POETS AND STORY TELLERS ASSEMBLE An evening of poetry, storytelling and spoken word, presented by ‘the best the Black Country has to offer’, Tues Vienna Festival Ballet: Giselle 28 May, Arena Theatre, W’hampton Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, Telford, Shropshire, Wed 29 May ANIMAL MASKS CRAFT ACTIVITY AT Founded in 1980 by celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Malleck, the Film BLAKESLEY HALL Choose an animal INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: mask or create your own, then colour now-UK-based Vienna Festival Ballet presents a repertoire which comprises both full-length classics and new commissions. Tour- MISSING LINK (PG) Animation/Adven- and decorate it with a heap of craft ture. With the voices of Hugh Jack- materials, Tues 28 May, Blakesley ing extensively for two-thirds of the year, the company this month man, Zach Galifianakis. Old Market Hall, Birmingham visits the Midlands with its production of Giselle, a surreal ballet Hall, Shrewsbury, Sat 25 - Fri 31 May DEER PARK SAFARI Find out all about which tells the story of a girl who kills herself when she finds out THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (15) Biogra- Attingham's deer and take a seat on a that her suitor, Loys, has kept his real identity from her - pretend- phy/Musical. Starring Hugh Jackman, tractor & trailer safari ride to see if you can spot them, Tues 28 May, At- ing to be a peasant when actually he's a member of the aristoc- Michelle Williams. Shropshire Hills racy. Loys, whose real name is Albrecht, and another suitor, Discovery Centre, South Shropshire, tingham Park, Shrewsbury Mon 27 May PETER RABBIT STORY TIME Special sto- Hilarion, who had jealously told Giselle of Albrecht's deception, visit Giselle's unconsecrated grave. There, they find themselves in BILLY ELLIOTT (15) Drama/Music. Star- rytelling event with Beatrix Potter’s ring Jamie Bell, Julie Walters. Forest most famous character, Wed 29 May, all manner of trouble due to the presence of the Wilis - ghosts of Arts Centre, Walsall, Tues 28 May Birmingham Botanical Gardens girls jilted by their lovers. It falls to the spirit of Giselle to try and DUMBO (U) Family/Fantasy. Starring ANIMAL MANIA Featuring around eight save her suitors from beyond the grave... Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. Wem to 12 small animals that children can Town Hall, North Shropshire, Tues 28 see and interact with in slots of 30 off the beaten path, Wed 29 May, At- ATTINGHAM UNCOVERED Week-long & Thurs 30 May minutes, Wed 29 May, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham tingham Park, Shrewsbury live archaeological dig, Thurs 30 May MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (15) Biogra- ENCHANTED FOREST Featuring arts & - Thurs 6 June, Attingham Park, phy/Drama. Starring Saoirse Ronan, FAMILY WILDLIFE DAY Including a crafts, a fairy dell, a fairy school, Shrewsbury Margot Robbie. Ludlow Assembly guided tractor & trailer ride around wand & wing making, wish lessons, a PIRATES AND MERMAIDS NIGHT An Rooms, South Shropshire, Fri 31 May the Deer Park and a woodland walk minibeast hunt & woodland creature evening of ‘mer-mazing and swash- care, Wed 29 May, Museum of Can- buckling fun, packed full of activities nock Chase inspired by two of the most famous LITTLE SKIPPERS - BOSTIN BLACK COUN- legends of the sea’, Fri 31 May, Dud- TRY A morning of Black Country- ley Canal and Tunnel Trust themed activities, Wed 29 - Thurs 30 UK GAMES EXPO Open to anyone of May, Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust any age wanting to play, learn to play, FAMILY FUN DAY Featuring a guided buy, experience or know more about tour of the Smith & Pepper jewellery table-top games, Fri 31 May - Sun 2 factory and a craft activity in the Edu- June, NEC, Birmingham cation Space, Thurs 30 May, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham ANIMAL FINGER PUPPETS CRAFT ACTIV- ITY Make your own finger-sized animals, add some tails, horns or stripes, and make a theatre for a finger-animal performance, Thurs 30 May, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham ESL ONE BIRMINGHAM Three days of COMIC CON Drop-in art & craft activi- intense Dota 2 action, with partici- ties celebrating all things superhero, pants battling it out for a share of the sci-fi & film, Thurs 30 May, Museum $300,000 prize pool, Fri 31 May - Sun Calendar Girls - Birmingham Hippodrome of Cannock Chase 2 June, Arena Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 65 IFC Shropshire.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 12:51 Page 1 Dan Owen Full May 2019.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:34 Page 1 Birmingham Pride 275mm X 210mm.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2019 09:15 Page 1

YEARS & YEARS THE HUMAN LEAGUE FAITHLESS DJ SET MARC ALMOND NAO MABEL SIGALA MYA KATE NASH AJA ROGUE SYMPHONY LADY LESHURR M.O ALICE CHATER THE BIG GAY TIME PARTY FT. 5IVE & GLITTERSH*T - SATURDAY DAYTIME - THE BLACK MADONNA PRESENTS HANNAH WANTS - WE STILL BELIEVE - MONKI HORSE MEAT DISCO OCTO OCTA MOXIE HOOKER CLUB ADONIS JAGUAR FLEUR SHORE LISA SHARRED - SATURDAY NIGHTTIME - JORDANNA JADE MARIE SAM DIVINE SOPHIA ESSEL LAUREN GOULDER

THE VIVIENNE GALS ALOUD MISS PENNY THE VIXENS BAGA CHIPZ VICKY JACKSON AS PINK THE VIVIENNE MISS MARTY SANDRA SANDRA LOLA LASAGNE DRAG WITH NO NAME DIVINA DE CAMPO MARSHA MELLOW KELLY WILDE AMY LA QUEEFA TWIGGY MISS THUNDERPUSSY TANYA HYDE MARTHA D’ARTHUR DAVE LYNN KARA VAN-PARK SHANIA PAIN KY KELLY POPPY COCK HEARTS & SOULS TOPSIE REDFERN SUM TING WONG GLITTER LIPS

KAIIT QUAY DASH PAIGEY CAKEY MOHO RICO NASTY ASHNIKKO NAKHANE CALL ME LOOP LEIKELI47 OJERIME LACEY LOU’S FEMME PALACE EMILY BURNS ABISHA ANDREA DI GIOVANNI LADY SANITY M-A.D UNPRONOUNCEABLE MIYAGIMIYAGI LUCY WHITTAKER UNPRONOUNCEABLE THE CLAUSE SOPHIELOU DRAG PUNK