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Shropshire Cover Online.qxp_Shropshire Cover 01/11/2016 12:14 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 371 NOVEMBER 2016 Shropshire ’ BILLY CONNOLLY shropshirewhatson.co.uk - THE BIG YIN WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On OUT ON TOUR inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide p02 (IFC) Shropshire.qxp_Layout 1 24/10/2016 17:57 Page 1 Contents November Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 28/10/2016 09:07 Page 2 November 2016 Contents Dirty Dancing - Eleanor Bergstein’s classic story returns to the Midlands... feature page 8 Small Glories Sunny Afternoon Counting down... the list We talk to the Winnipeg duo West End musical pays Festive shows and activities to Your 16-page ahead of their Shrewsbury gig homage to The Kinks enjoy this month week-by-week listings guide interview page 6 page 28 page 33 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 43. Visual Arts 47. Events @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, David Vincent, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox 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 November Shrops_Staffs_Wolves.qxp_Layout 1 24/10/2016 16:56 Page 1 First Word Jodie Prenger to star in Willy Russell classic The winner of a BBC television talent show is set to star in a 30th anniversary stage revival of Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine when it visits Birmingham early next year. Jodie Prenger shot to fame in I’d Do Anything, a TV series which searched for an unknown actress to star as Nancy in a West End revival of Lionel Bart’s musical, Oliver! The touring production of Shirley Valentine will show at the New Alexandra Theatre from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 February. Commenting on the revival, Willy Russell said; “It’s now 30 years since Shirley Valentine first walked onto the page, into my life and the lives of so many others. “When producer Adam Spiegel introduced me to Jodie, I knew in an instant that here was a formidable actress; one who pos- sessed the grit and the warmth, the drive and the vulnerability, the energy and the heart to make Shirley Valentine really live again. How could any playwright resist that, or deny the whole of the UK the chance to see Jodie bring Shirley to life?” Tickets for the New Alexandra Theatre performances of the show are available via atgtickets.com/Birmingham or by ring- ing 0844 871 3011. Something to SHOUT about in the Midlands Birmingham’s annual celebration of queer arts & culture makes a welcome return this month. SHOUT Festival is taking place at venues across the city for an eighth year, showcas- ing ‘the best of queer performance, theatre, visual arts and film from around the UK and beyond’. Staffordshire declared “The event launches with the outrageous home to one of the best Miss Behave’s Gameshow,” says SHOUT zoos in Europe Steering Group Chair Neil Anderson, “a rene- Shrewsbury prison to Drayton Manor Park’s zoo is now officially gade gameshow for the austerity generation. recognised as one of the best in Europe, after host more zombie chases The festival then offers the best in live per- becoming a full member of the European formance, theatre, music, comedy, cabaret, A history & heritage tour company which Association of Zoos & Aquaria (EAZA). visual arts, talks, film, workshops and events took over Shrewsbury’s Dana Prison last Membership was achieved following two rig- at some of the city’s most prominent arts year will continue to operate at the 200-year- orous screening visits, where experts investi- venues. old jail until the end of 2017, after reaching gated all aspects of the zoo’s activities, focus- “We close on 20 November, Trans Day of agreement with the venue’s owners for a 12- ing closely on animal welfare, conservation, Remembrance, with the return of our free month extension of its lease. research and education. and ever-popular community event, SHOUT Jailhouse Tours has been using the Dana to Commenting on the success, Drayton Out, at mac Birmingham, which will include host ‘the world’s most interactive prison Manor’s zoo manager, Chris Mitchell, said: performances and activities throughout the tours’, providing its visitors with a wide “We’re delighted with our EAZA member- day. range of experiences, including prison ship, and I think it’s a great reflection of the “The closing performance of the festival will escape events, zombie chases, sleepover ses- work we do here, and how we go above and be the award-winning Big Girl’s Blouse, a sions, paintball events and prison experi- beyond to make sure all the animals’ needs show that explores what being transgender ence days. are met. was like in the 1970s.” The decision to extend Jailhouse Tours’ lease “Sadly, animals in the wild are becoming SHOUT Festival takes place at venues across means that the planned redevelopment of extinct at an alarming rate, and zoos not the city from Thursday 10 to Sunday 20 the prison, which will see it being turned only narrate this story but also help connect November. into student accommodation, housing, a people with nature. Zoos carry out vital con- For more information, visit gym and a walled garden, will be postponed servation work and are key to safeguarding shoutfestival.co.uk until at least 2018. animals and habitats for future generations.” 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD November Shrops_Staffs_Wolves.qxp_Layout 1 24/10/2016 16:56 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region World-renowned toy store comes to the Midlands Famous toy shop Hamleys has opened its first store in the West Midlands. The shop opened late last month at Resorts World Birmingham, to coin- cide with the latter’s first birthday. Hamleys joins Resorts’ numerous other attractions, including 50 outlet stores, 18 bars and restaurants, an 11-screen cinema with IMAX, a luxu- ry spa, a state-of-the-art casino and a boutique hotel. Mamma Mia! Hit ABBA musical coming to the Grand One of the biggest musical hits ever to grace the Since opening in 1999, Mamma Mia! has been West End stage visits Wolverhampton next year seen by more than 50 million people, with 50- as part of a UK tour. plus productions having been mounted in Written by British playwright Catherine numerous languages. To date, the show has Johnson, Mamma Mia! is based on the songs of grossed more than $2billion dollars. legendary Swedish pop group ABBA. Mamma Mia! comes to the Wolverhampton Band members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Grand Theatre early 2018 - we’ll keep you post- Ulvaeus were both heavily involved in the ed when we hear more... show's development. The Grand will also be hosting a new touring A festive gift of a Set on a Greek island, the feelgood story follows version of award-winning musical Funny Girl. bride-to-be Sophie as she searches for her real The show visits the venue from Monday 24 to fair celebrates its father. Sat 29 July. 21st birthday The annual Festive Gift Fair at Birmingham’s NEC is this year cele- Free workshop brating its 21st anniversary. Prestigious international award for Described by its organisers as ‘a at Shrewsbury acclaimed Wolverhampton medal artist colourful Aladdin’s cave’, the fair features thousands upon thousands arts venue An acclaimed Wolverhampton artist has received one of the highest of Christmas presents, providing vis- Budding Shropshire honours in the world of medal art. itors with the chance to sew up all musicians get the Eighty-year-old Ron Dutton, a former head of sculpture at their festive gift buying in a single Wolverhampton School of Art, was presented with the prestigious day. chance to learn from a professional next Grand Prix of the Federation Internationale de la Medaille d’Art in As well as all the presents, attrac- recognition of the medals he’s created in a career spanning 40-plus tions at this year’s show include a month, when roots giant inflatable snowglobe, a talking singer-songwriter Luke years. letterbox, three giant-sized stockings Jackson shares his tips Ron’s highlights have included winning the competition for the Royal full of goodies to be won, a new on how to get creative.