OLLY MURSOLLY NEVER BEEN BETTER IN THE MIDLANDS... Black Country humour Country Black tour on inside... interview Soldiers... 5 with Brum in back explores the dark side dark the explores JONNY COLE JONNY DANCE KAY ROSIE GOTHIC EXHIBITION GOTHIC APRIL 2015 APRIL ISSUE 352 352 ISSUE sOn ’ .co.uk

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www. BIRMINGHAM What THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE ENTERTAINMENT ULTIMATE MIDLANDS THE April Cover - Shrek.qxp_Birmingham 23/03/2015 14:33 Page 1 Page 14:33 23/03/2015 - Shrek.qxp_Birmingham Cover April BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON ISSUE 352 FEBRUARY 2015 PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS @WHATSONBRUM WWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK Star City Easter (FP-April 15).qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:39 Page 1 Contents APRIL Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:16 Page 1

April 2015

Editor: Davina Evans INSIDE: [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: The Producers Brian O’Faolain [email protected] arrives in Brum p25 01743 281701 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Jamie Ryan [email protected] 01743 281720

Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703

Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Olly Murs Subscriptions: Adrian Parker Never Been Better [email protected] 01743 281714 in the Midlands p15 Managing Director: Paul Oliver [email protected] 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell swamp-dwelling ogre set to make a splash in Shrek The Musical, page 27 Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 TO GET THE VERY News p4 Cougar The Musical Contributors: LATEST LISTING makes its UK debut... Graham Bostock: Theatre INFORMATION, interview p8 James Cameron-Wilson: Music p13 Film; Eva Easthope, VISIT: Jessica Aston, Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, Jan whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy p22 Watts, Simon Carter INCLUDING Head Office: BOOKING ONLINE 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Theatre p25 Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE The Midlands’ most Tel: 01743 281777 comprehensive e-mail: [email protected] p40 entertainment website Dance

Follow us on... Film/DVD p43 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is Visual Arts p51 produced without the use April 2015 of elemental chlorine. Birmingham Events p55 We endorse the recycling @whatsonbrum MTWTFSS of our magazine and Warwickshire would encourage you to 12345 @whatsonwarwicks p65 pass it on to others to Eating Out 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 read when you have Worcestershire finished with it. @whatsonworcs 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ’ 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 WhatsOn 27 28 29 30 MAGAZINE GROUP 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. News April Region one.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:15 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Corrie stars in fine voice at The REP... Former Coronation Street favourites Vicky Entwistle and Chris Gascoyne are set to star in a brand new Birmingham Repertory Theatre production of Jim Cartwright’s Olivier Award-winning play, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice. Vicky, who played Janice Battersby in the long-running ITV soap, and Chris, who starred as Peter Barlow, will be joined in the show by Nancy Sullivan as Little Voice. Nancy has previously starred at The REP in The Wizard Of Oz. The new show has been produced in collab- oration with West Yorkshire Playhouse and shows at The REP from Friday 15 to B-Town in Victoria Square, Image from IDFB 2014. Credit: Tim Cross Saturday 30 May. Tickets cost from £7 to £35 and can be pur- chased from the box Plans for fifth dance festival revealed... office on 0121 236 International Dance Festival Birmingham’s (IDFB) co-producers, DanceXchange and 4455, or online at Birmingham Hippodrome, have revealed that plans for the event’s fifth edition, taking place in Birmingham-rep.co.uk. 2016, are already well under way. Speaking at a recent special event held to celebrate IDFB, David Massingham, artistic director of DanceXchange and co-artistic director of the festival, said: “IDFB 2014 truly was ‘a world of dance in one city’. IDFB 2016 will build on ten years of Double celebrations at gallery festival programming experiences and deliver another exciting line-up of performances and Digbeth contemporary art gallery and artists’ events. The focus in 2016 will be ‘Destination Birmingham’, selling the city as a city of dance. studio Grand Union has received a £122,800 There will be more world-class dance content to look forward to, performances, community investment from Arts Council England. News engagement and participation, talks and debates, city, region and worldwide collaborations, of the grant comes as the venue prepares to strong digital elements and more world premieres. IDFB 2016 will showcase Birmingham as celebrate its fifth anniversary. A 5 April birth- one of the world’s leading dance cities.” Since the inaugural IDFB in 2008, the festival has day party features a one-off performance by seen over 172,000 audience members attend 416 free events and 164 ticketed events. artist-in-residence Phil Hession, followed by Members of the public have enjoyed over 25,000 participatory experiences, and artists from DJs and dancing. 36 countries have been welcomed to the city. Instrumental in the regeneration of Birmingham’s Digbeth area, Grand Union and Mats Ek. Contemporary offerings has hosted twenty-eight exhibitions during its include the acclaimed 6000 Miles Away, Kate Rusby live at the RSC five-year history. The venue has worked with which Sylvie performed at International Acclaimed singer/songwriter Kate Rusby is over two hundred artists and commissioned Dance Festival Birmingham in 2014. to give a special performance at Stratford- the same number of new artworks. Sylvie’s final show is Life In Progress, which upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre on she’ll perform at the 2 August. Joined on stage by a string Hippodrome on ensemble, Kate will perform new arrange- Tuesday 8 and ments of classics from her Wednesday 9 back-catalogue, together September. The with tracks from her latest presentation features studio album, Ghost. both existing and Tickets priced £25 and £15 new works by chore- are available from the the- ographers who have atre’s box office on 0844 influenced her con- Photo credit: 800 1100, or by visiting temporary career. Lesley Leslie-Spinks rsc.org.uk

Guillem bows out in Brum... Love Me Tender on tour Treat for Bangladeshi Dance supremo Sylvie Guillem has A brand new musical inspired by and featur- music lovers announced she’s to present her last ever UK ing the music of Elvis Presley is coming to The largest indoor bangla concert ever to be performance on the Birmingham the region this summer. From the producers staged in the UK will take place at Hippodrome stage in September. of Hairspray, Jersey Boys and West Side Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena on 26 Guillem, who will receive a special award for Story, Love Me Tender features twenty-five of August. her lifetime achievements at this month’s Elvis’s best-loved hits and is described as ‘a Hosted by Nadia Ali and Mumzy Stranger, Olivier Awards (12 April), began her career hilarious feelgood show’. The production the Bangla Beats is a must-attend event for as a ballerina before diversifying into the runs at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, lovers of Bangladeshi music. world of contemporary dance. Her extensive from Monday 29 June to Saturday 4 July, Composer/musicians Habib Wahid, Hridoy repertoire includes numerous iconic roles in and at New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Khan, Kaya and Shireen Jawad all feature in ballets by Kenneth MacMillan, Maurice from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 August. the line-up. Béjart, Frederick Ashton, William Forsythe

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Tub on a hot Brum roof One of Birmingham’s iconic rooftops is set to get steamy next month, courtesy of the city’s first ever rooftop hot tub cinema. Super Spa Cinema will be situated atop Fort Dunlop and promises an evening like no other. Guests are invited to take to the roof of the one hundred-foot building to enjoy ‘an evening of experimental entertainment and cult cinema’. Taking place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 May, the unique event features a host of themed activities, including a Tom Cruise cocktail flairing and hook-a-shark competitions. There’s even the chance to enjoy the thrills and spills of mastering the waves on Fort Dunlop’s surf- board simulator. For further information, visit fortdunlop.com

West End musical coming to the Midlands One of the biggest musical hits ever to grace the West End stage visits Birmingham next year as part of its first ever UK tour. Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, Mamma Mia! is based on the songs of legendary Swedish pop group ABBA. Band members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus were both heavily involved in the show's development. Set on a Greek island, the feelgood story follows bride-to-be Sophie as she searches for her real father. Since opening in 1999, Mamma Mia! has been seen by over fifty-four million peo- Visitor numbers give cause to ple, with forty-nine productions having been mounted in fourteen different languages. To date, the show has grossed more that $2billion dollars. rejoice at museum trust... Commenting on Mamma Mia!’s visit to the Midlands, Birmingham Hippodrome Chief Bosses at Birmingham Museum Trust are Executive Stuart Griffiths said: “The Hippodrome has a great reputation for staging the city’s celebrating after newly released figures big summer musical, and we’re thrilled to continue that tradition by presenting this hugely show that more than one million people popular show.” have visited the Trust’s nine museum sites Mamma Mia! runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from 28 June to 3 September 2016. in the past twelve months. The news coin- cides with the launch of the new Spitfire Gallery at Thinktank, one of the Trust’s nine Celebrating the Bard’s birthday at the RSC venues. The other eight sites are Aston Hall, IN BRIEF The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is next month celebrat- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Blakeslee Milestone event ing Shakespeare’s 451st birthday with a special Birthday Bash Hall, Sarehole Mill, Soho House, Weoley for Leamington musical concert and a range of free family activities. Castle, Birmingham Museum Collection The Birthday Bash, taking place on 26 April, will feature music Centre and Birmingham Museum & Art Festival Director written for previous RSC productions and for the forthcoming Gallery. Next month marks a milestone for Richard summer season. The music will be interspersed with speeches Phillips, Director of the and extracts from Shakespeare, performed by actors who have a Leamington Music close association with the Company. Festival Weekend. The event will also feature the first public performance of the win- Richard will be staging ning entry from the RSC’s recent Shakespeare’s Birthday Song his one hundredth pro- Competition. As part of the birthday celebrations, on Saturday 25 duction as part of the April the RSC is providing a range of free activities for the whole 2015 event, which family to enjoy. These include live music, storytelling sessions, takes place in the stage-fighting workshops and the chance to discover how fake town from 1 to 5 May. scars and bruises are created. For more information, visit Having first entered www.rsc.org.uk. the world of arts Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery administration in 1996, when he worked for Names announced for Made Birmingham Sadlers Wells Opera in A festival reaffirming Birmingham’s reputation as a groundbreak- Exhibition celebrates London, Richard has ing, innovative and diverse hub makes a welcome return this university’s half century since played a major summer. Made Birmingham debuted in 2014 and returns to the role in numerous art- Digbeth Triangle on Saturday 25 July. Festival Director Pete An exhibition celebrating the fiftieth anniver- related events across Jordan has promised that this year’s event will ‘step up a few sary of the University of Warwick’s art col- the UK. In 2010 he gears and become something that the city will truly be proud of’. lection is set to open this month. The uni- received the Held in association with Rainbow Venues, the midday-to-midnight versity itself is also celebrating its half cen- Outstanding event features a fusion of tury and is using the exhibition to examine Contribution to British live music and DJ perform- the development of the collection across Arts Festivals Award, ances. Beat-boxer the decades. Work by over sixty artists is presented to him by Beardyman, legendary dub included in the display. Imagining A the British Arts ambassador David University: Fifty Festivals Association. Rodigan and London’s Years Of The For full details of next Trojan Sound System crew University Of month’s festival pro- are just some of the well- Warwick Art gramme, visit known names who’re per- Collection shows www.leamingtonmu- forming at the event. For in the venue’s sic.org tickets and further informa- Mead Gallery from tion, visit madebirming- Wed 29 Apr to Sat ham.com 20 June. Beardyman

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Steve Thompson interview.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:29 Page 1

interview

Gerald Kyd who’ll take the lead as Michael in Feed The Beast at The REP, Birmingham Feed The Beast Steve Thompson’s political drama makes its debut in Birmingham

British playwright and screenwriter Steve Thompson’s television writing credits include numerous episodes of Dr Who, Sherlock, Silk and The Whistleblowers. On stage he scored a major hit with debut play Damages in 2004, since which time he’s also penned Roaring Trade, Whipping It Up and Naughty Bits. Steve’s latest play, Feed The Beast, makes its debut in Birmingham this month. What’s On recently met up with him to find out more......

6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Steve Thompson interview.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:29 Page 2

What spurred you to write Feed The knew I wasn’t a Tory voter but he said, are some very right wing parties that Beast? ‘You’re still my constituent and if I can help suddenly stand up. I’m appalled at what they My wife was one of the legal team at the you, then I will’. He knew I was a playwright think, but they’re standing on their principles. Leveson Inquiry, so I ended up watching and the chances were that I was going to be That means that, occasionally, some people almost the whole thing. I was sat at home pretty left wing. We had a really good spout theories which I loathe. Overall, with my one-year-old daughter, who wanted afternoon and he was very entertaining. though, conviction is lacking, and I think to watch her mum on TV. There were four I also met Michael Portillo, who was utterly everybody feels that. Prime Ministers who gave evidence, and that charming and so incredibly loyal to his party evidence was so compelling that I ended up that getting any juice out of him for that play Do you feel the rise of UKIP and the effect becoming quite engrossed in the whole was fairly pointless. it’s had on the main parties is a good or a thing. bad thing for British politics? Why do you think there’s such a Provoking discussion is great. There’s not a We’re led to believe that your main disconnect between politicians and the single UKIP policy that I agree with but that protagonist, Michael, is a man of strong electorate nowadays? doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s right and good social and political morals. Who then, in My favourite show of the week is Question that they’re able to provoke a strong the whole spectrum of politics, is his Time, and every week the same two discussion. character based on? questions arise. Question one is always He’s based on a lot of people, actually. about immigration and question two is Away from politics and back to you and There’s no one character in the play who’s always some form of ‘why don’t we trust you your beginnings... You were a maths based on one person. I do this a lot, this sort anymore?’. There was an interview with Roy teacher before you became a playwright. of mosaic of lots of different people, lots of Hattersley about ten years ago where he said How did the transition come about? different incidents. However, the two people ‘we’re going to suffer for the lack of I jacked in being a teacher to look after my who stood out at the Leveson Inquiry as ideology’. In the ’70s and particularly the children. I pushed a pram around for five having suffered most cruelly at the hands of ’80s, there was this huge ideology around. years and then became a writer. the press were John Major and Gordon Whether you liked or hated Thatcher, you Brown. Although Michael is a socialist Prime damn well knew what she stood for. It’s now Was being a writer something you always Minister, I do think he might have borrowed possible that we might end up with a wanted to do? from both of them. Major, when he gave coalition of Labour and Conservative. They Not at all. It came about because I was at evidence, had obviously come through the are that changeable and that close to one home with my first child. Everybody likes to tough times and was able to rationalise the another, their ideology has sort of withered think they’ve got a novel in them, don’t they? whole thing. He was very positive and made away. The fact that they’re so willing to I used to go to the theatre a lot, so thought a lot of positive suggestions on how we surrender their ideology clearly makes us all I’d write a play. I was really lucky. Somebody could move forward in this country. Brown, very suspicious. read it, gave it to the Bush Theatre in on the other hand, was still very bruised Shepherd’s Bush and they phoned me up when he gave evidence. They both gave very Is the timing coincidental, or was it always out of the blue and said, “Can we do your different pictures, but both of them had gone your intention to stage this play in the lead play?”. This sounds very glib, but it was into Downing Street deciding they weren’t up to the general election? never intended for me to end up doing this. going to court the press and had suffered as Purely coincidental. I told Roxana Silbert that a result of it. I wanted to write a play about those two Your first play, Damage, won a New Prime Ministers at Leveson who’d both Writers Award... Do you think the media’s always been so encountered the same problems, had It was an absolute dream for me. Mike hungry a beast? If not, what’s made it decided they weren’t going to play the press Bradwell from Around The Bush created a more so in recent times? game and had suffered for it. She got terribly career for me out of nothing, and I’m I think most people feel that newspapers excited and said, “Great! We’ll do it during eternally grateful to him. The Bush gets five haven’t got long to run. The chances of the election. I suppose, really, the question thousand plays a year, chooses one or two newspapers being in their current state in ten the play asks is, what do we want from our from those sent in on spec, and he chose years’ time is incredibly small, and that’s politicians and what do we want from our mine. The BBC came to see it and I’ve made them all the more ravenous. I wouldn’t Prime Minister? What better time to be asking worked solidly in television ever since - and say anything so facile as 'newspapers are a that than when we’re about to go to a polling written some plays as well. bad thing' because they’re clearly not, but it’s booth? a complex relationship. It’s doubly complex How does writing for TV programmes like now because newspapers fight so incredibly Is Feed The Beast similar to any political Dr Who, Sherlock and Silk - three very hard to survive. satires that we’ve seen in the past? different but distinct series - differ from I would say not. I know it may sound feeble writing for an on-stage character like Where did your research take you? but my plays are dramas which tend to be a Michael? Fortunately the Leveson Inquiry is now a little bit funny. I’m not deliberately trying to Theatre’s obviously very freeing because it’s matter of public record and you can go write satire or political satire. The market has just you. When you’re writing in television, online and read all of the testimonies. I did a been completely cornered by Armando you have to be a good listener. You have to lot there and a lot of reading. Damien Iannucci. The stuff he did with The Thick Of It work incredibly well in teams because it’s so McBride’s book, Power Trip: A Decade Of was so brilliant and so strong, and I wouldn’t collaborative. You have to read other Policy, Plots And Spin was fascinating, and I even attempt to go into satire. Some of it’s people’s scripts, watch other people’s interviewed a lot of politicians, but it was the quite funny, I hope. I’m not billing it episodes, talk to other writers, talk to the lead Leveson Inquiry which started me off and got personally as a comedy but I hope it writer and just be a chameleon and learn to me so excited. functions in two different ways. assimilate the kind of music. When I started working on Dr Who, Matt Smith was the Do you know many politicians on a What do you think needs to be done to Doctor and he had such a distinctive style of personal level off whom you were able to make politics something in which the speech. Just reading all of Steven Moffat’s bounce your ideas? British public take a significant interest? script, I was able to pick that up. It’s just Not really. I’ve written political dramas in the I don’t have any answers for it but when about listening to the music of the past and have been quite cheeky in the past. somebody stands up and says, ‘This is what characters, the way they speak, and trying to Seven years ago I wrote Whipping It Up, I think and I know it’s unpopular but I think it’, take it on board. It can be quite fun. about the whips’ office. My MP at the time that, oddly enough, is very appealing. was Grant Shapps. He’d just got into Vivienne Westwood said ‘unpopular ideas Out of all your TV writings, which has been parliament, so I phoned his parliamentary change the world’, and she’s sort of right. the most memorable and why? office to ask if I could meet to discuss the Popular ideas can somehow be assimilated It has to be Sherlock, just because it’s been play and he obliged. Some politicians when quickly because they’re popular. It’s the so phenomenally popular.. you meet them can be great, some of them unpopular ideas that jar and get us talking. are a little more ‘I’m happy to talk to you but The most alluring thing is people standing up I’d rather my name wasn’t bandied around as and saying, ‘You know what, I know that not Feed The Beast shows at The REP, part of the research’. Some are only too everyone is going to agree with this, but I Birmingham from Thurs 16 April to Sat 2 willing, and Grant Shapps was incredible. He think...’ That’s tough, because clearly there May.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Donna Moore interview.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:19 Page 1

interview

I prefer to see the older woman/younger “ man relationship as a way in which women can empower themselves.”

Donna Moore American playwright talks about bringing Cougar The Musical to the Midlands...

8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Donna Moore interview.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:19 Page 2

Described as hilarious, raunchy and insightful, Cougar The Musical is a four-person show from American playwright Donna Moore. An unexpected off-Broadway hit, the musical this month makes its UK debut at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre. What’s On recently caught up with Donna to find out more about the play - and about the phenomenon of the ‘cougar’, who’s defined as ‘an older woman seeking a sexual relationship with a younger man’...

It could be said that Donna Moore has show but doesn’t end up with the younger If we believe the hype, as a single, fifty-two- performing in her blood. Her grandmother man.” year-old female, Donna is perfect cougar was in vaudeville and she has a string of material. Has she any personal experiences cousins involved in the arts in one way or So has Donna challenged the stereotypical she’d like to share? another. Since contributing her first writing at perceptions of Cougars? “I used to say that I was only interested in the tender age of nine and two years later “The character who owns the bar wears a lot older men, especially when I was doing performing on TV in Zoom - a programme of leopard print, that’s for sure. She’s the stand-up comedy - but I did once date a man for which she also wrote - Donna has more cliched one, but she’s got a heart of nine years my junior. I’ve been on dating remained focused on a life in showbusiness. gold and is creating an app for the iPhone for sites where I’ve been contacted by men in After graduating at New York University affirmations of women over forty. She’s their twenties. It’s so funny because part of Drama School, she enjoyed a successful almost naive about life. She’s got this me is quite interested. But these boys who’ve career as a stand-up comedian. Always childlike verse about creating happiness and contacted me, it’s more that they’re wanting looking to give her routine a socio-political joy, but she also has it in her head that she’s to have a sexual encounter with an older angle, she stumbled on the term Cougar at a going to be with a younger man. woman, which to me isn’t terribly interesting. party. “I remember feeling perplexed at “The other character is a recently divorced If I was to meet a young man who I women being given this derogatory name,” woman who’s empty-nesting. Her children connected with in mind, body and soul, I’d she recalls. are off at college and she’s alone. It’s not look beyond his age. That’s also the premise natural for her to be in this situation, as she’s of the young man that I wrote into the Responding to the experience and how it had always looked outside herself for validation, musical. He actually has an old soul, so he’s made her feel, Donna wrote a song on the whether it’s been with her kids or with her able to have a pretty deep relationship with subject which she included in her cabaret husband. Now, all of a sudden, she’s like the woman he dates, and they’re both act. One night after a performance, she was ‘what do I do?’ She’s never dated a younger transformed by their relationship.” approached by a producer who, impressed man before and she just sort of happens into with her work, offered to back her if she wrote the cougar bar. She was just looking for a There have been plenty of examples down a whole show around the subject of cougars. drink after her divorce became final, and the years of famous older women dating Donna jumped at the offer and wrote a piece that’s how she enters into the bar. The two younger men, but which modern-day called The Cougar Cabaret. She then women become friends and are like the odd celebrities provided Donna with her proceeded to perform the show at a New couple, I guess. inspiration when writing the show? York cabaret venue for the following three- “They meet the third character in a nail salon. “Demi Moore obviously wasn’t the first, but and-a-half years. She’s a business woman who’s a single she was out there and widely covered in the mother and very successful in finance. She press when I was doing my research. She As the show’s audiences steadily increased, decides to go back to Grad school to do a was famous for dating Ashley Kutcher, who so too did interest from Broadway degree in women’s studies and she writes was twenty years her junior. When I wrote the “They said if we developed this element of her thesis on the cougar phenomenon. This first song for the musical, the lyrics were the cabaret show into a larger-format show, is someone who hasn’t been with a man in about their relationship. I guess Demi could more people would get behind me,” explains twenty years and would never, ever entertain be credited for turning ‘cougar’ into a Donna. “It took me four years to turn it into a a younger man. Her thesis statement is that household word, at least in New York.” musical. Twenty songs and four scripts later, I cougar is a derogatory term and is setting finally got the show that you guys will be women back fifty years. She ends up, It’s now nine years since the musical made seeing this month.” through the arc of the play, coming into her its New York debut. Have Donna’s own in a very surprising way.” perceptions of the cougar changed at all For many here in the UK, the term cougar during that time? conjures up images of middle-aged women I ask Donna if she thinks her musical will “Interestingly, I still believe the cougar clad in leopard skin (think Dorian in Birds Of work with a British audience. phenomenon reflects an energetic yearning A Feather) who spend much of their spare “I’ve tried to write a funny show that my to address a matriarchal system. I very much time trying to entice younger men into their mum, who’s eighty-two, would enjoy. She’s a believe that now is the time for women to bed. bit of a prude, so I didn’t want to go crazy. I really hunker down into their divine value. This view of the older woman as a sexual tried to be classy and funny. That said, things We women give birth, we are wise, we have predator isn’t one with which Donna holds. that I might find totally mild may not be the healing properties, we can help our children, “I prefer to see the older woman/younger same for everyone. Everything is character- we can help our men, we can help our sisters man relationship as a way in which women driven. I didn’t throw anything in just for the in ways that men can’t. Moving forward, that can empower themselves. I had this image of sake of it. Everything had to be authentic. mission has probably become stronger for this recently divorced older woman on a There is one bit that’s shocking but it won’t me than it was. Years later, I’m still believing Saturday night, before she goes out. She offend.” the same things.” ings. may be a mum but she’s also someone looking for love and to enjoy herself. She’s The musical was initially described as ‘an Donna Moore looking for someone to create value in her unlikely hit’ - so what is it that’s made the life. The fact that we’re even using a show such a great success in the US? derogatory name for a woman is just a “I would say it’s because it speaks of truth symptom of how misogynistic and patriarchal and because it goes deeper. I wasn’t making our society is.” fun of women preying on younger men, because I don’t think that’s the reason for But doesn’t the mere fact that Donna’s show this phenomenon. The musical speaks to takes place in a ‘cougar bar’, where the three people. In America, people would dance out principal characters openly admit they’re of the theatre. It’s a very joyful and soulful seeking a younger man, support the exploration of women saying yes to life. stereotypical image of the cougar woman? Although you think you’re buying into this “I use this to say yes to life, no matter what. whole cougar thing, you see that although it’s The character who has the cougar bar is an set in a cougar bar, it’s actually about women innocent. She’s actually thinking she wants who’re just coming into their own. In the Cougar The Musical plays Coventry’s to have a new lease of life and be with a show, not everyone ends up with the younger Belgrade Theatre from Sat 16 May younger man. She ends up having a really man.” to Sat 6 June funny and interesting arch at the end of the

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Jonny Cole interview region one.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:16 Page 1

interview

Jonny Cole on why Black Country people have the best humour in the world... A Black Country lad through and through, comedian/singer/songwriter Jonny Cole uses everyday life in the region as the basis for his ‘catchy songs and cheeky melodies’. Initially grabbing the public’s attention with his viral hit, The Wednesbury Song, Jonny is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with, both locally and further afield. In addition to his programme of solo shows, he this month takes to the road as part of A Black Country Night Out. What’s On caught up with him to find out more…

10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Jonny Cole interview region one.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:16 Page 2

How would you describe your brand of Country accent. I played at the Blackpool hundred pound German woman called the comedy? Grand and I just had to slow everything down Alpha Female. Check her out online! She’s It’s difficult for me to put it into an industry- a bit. I do a song about a woman leaving me scary! standard soundbite. There are a lot of people because she found out I was playing away We’ve started filming a documentary for it. who love Black Country humour and who’d and she took the TV remote to be spiteful. I It’s going to be half about me putting on an love to go into a rough and ready Black follow that up with a version of No Woman, event and how difficult that can be - with a Country pub just to listen to the banter, and No Sky. That works all over the country. comedic twist, of course - and half about that’s exactly what I do. I’ve absorbed Black visiting Women’s Aid, seeing all the good Country humour the whole of my life. I take it Have you ever offended anyone with your work they do and explaining what else they out of that pub where people wouldn’t dare songs? could do if they had more funding. go in case they got their teeth knocked out, Never ever, and I think that’s testament to the and I put it into a safe, controlled Black Country humour. Generally, the people How much are you hoping to raise? environment where they can enjoy it. I think who’re laughing the most are the ones who I haven’t really worked it out, but anything it’s just a case of getting back to the basics of I’m taking the piss out of. They’re the ones over five grand I’d be happy with. Anything good banter. Black Country folk have got the who buy you a pint afterwards. over that is a bonus. best humour in the world. They can laugh at themselves before anyone else, which is why Your style has been compared to that of a Will people who come along to see the I can get away with it. young Jasper Carrott. Has he inspired you new tour of A Black Country Night Out see in your work? the same material you use in your one- What’s the biggest misconception about I was a massive fan of Jasper when I was man show? Black Country people? very young. I wouldn’t follow him around or You’ll see a cleaner slice of what’s in my one- That they’re stupid. I think the accent lends go looking for his stuff, but everything that man show. A Black Country Night Out is very itself to that. On the TV, if there’s ever anyone came my way by him I really enjoyed. I met much geared towards a family audience, and who needs to be depicted as being a bit him once. My sister had cystic fibrosis and I’ve got to be careful not to upset anyone in slow, they get given a Black Country accent. was in the Birmingham Children’s Hospital that respect. I think it’s a common misconception. It’s the quite a lot. One weekend Jasper took time Peter Lee is the compere. He’s older than only accent in the world that makes good out after shopping to come to the hospital to God’s dog. We wheel him out once a year. I news sound like bad news. see the kids and cheer them up. So I’ve think we might be doing a song together this always had my eye on him because I’d met time round, which I’m looking forward to. When did you first realise that you were him. I really loved his early stuff but I never Last year was my debut on the show and I funny? thought I could do that kind of stuff myself, was the warm-up. This year is kind of exciting I don’t really know that I am. The Black nor even imagined I would want to. As I said, because I’ll be the last on. Country’s funny and I just tell people about it. I fell into it by accident, but I definitely think I’ve always been a bit of a prankster. At he influenced me. So as a Black Country chap, what are you school I was just an idiot with a guitar, and I most proud of about the region? used to get told off for that. Nobody tells you How do you keep your material fresh? I’m proud of the Black Country people. that if you get really good at being an idiot You hear the old boys in the pub having They’re happy to stick together. They look with a guitar, people might start paying you banter with each other, or you hear a woman after their own and I think it should be for it one day. shouting something really common at her kid celebrated. There’s Brummies and there’s in a shop. Anything like that. Another gag I Black Country folk. Brummies hate to be So when did they start paying you? came up with recently is, ‘You notice all the thought of as Black Country and vice versa. I I woke up one morning with a bit of a kids in Walsall have the same second name - think we know we’re safe together and we hangover and decided to write this song Get here! And then every now and again you look out for each other. And we’re funny, called The Wednesbury Song - just for hear a posh one with a double-barrelled we’re really funny. We should celebrate that. myself, just for a laugh. I recorded it in about name - Get here-now!’ twenty minutes in my home studio and It’s all there. You’ve only got to look. In a way Talking of celebrating, last year saw the emailed it to my dad. We put it on YouTube it feels like cheating. first ever Black Country Festival taking for a laugh, and a couple of days later I saw place. How was that for you? that it had got a couple of thousand hits. My You’re involved in Women’s Aid. Tell us The best thing about the festival was that dad said to me, “Son, I’m not being funny but about that. nobody outside of the Black Country gave a you want to write some more of this because It’s all very exciting. Although I’m not going to shit. Nobody funded it very much. It was just nobody likes your other stuff”. So I wrote make anything out of it personally, it’s the Black Country people getting out of the another one called How Can I Tell Her It’s most exciting thing that’s happening for me house and having loads of fun, thinking of Over When I’ve Still Got My XBox At Her this year. When you become known as a what they could do for their own people. It House?, which went viral as well. I started comic, you get lots of charities approach you wasn’t aimed at the masses, it was just for slipping these songs into the cover sets I was to do stuff. You’d like to say yes to them all, us. That’s the spirit of the Black Country that doing around the pubs, and they were going but if you did you’d be so busy and so skint I’m proud of. down better than the covers! It all evolved because you’d never have time to work for from there, really. yourself! So I try and choose one charity It’s back this year, ‘bigger and better’. every year. Last year I did Help For Heroes What’s going to be your involvement? There’s a lot going on in your life at the and this year I’ve chosen Women’s Aid. I’m not sure yet but I’ve just started doing an moment. Do you feel like you’re being It all came about during a drunken evening online radio show at Black Country Radio. carried along on a wave? with a good mate of mine. I said ‘how am I They have a lot to do with the festival, so I’m Yeah, It’s the best feeling in the world. I don’t going to make lots of dough for this sure I’m going to be roped into doing all like planning for anything because it means Women’s Aid?’, and he said, ‘It’s for battered sorts of things. I’ve got to stick to plans, and that’s not in my women, ain’t it? Well you want to get battered personality. This is a positive thing, by a woman then, don’t yer. Get a kickboxer One last question. What’s your guilty everyone’s enjoying it and I’m getting some to kick hell out of yer’. I said I couldn’t see pleasure? great feedback. I’ve got a brilliant team Women’s Aid advocating violence between a The Jeremy Kyle Show. It’s a great source for around me and I don’t know where it’s going. man and a woman as a way of stopping my material. That’s fun and very exciting. It’s a blast and violence between men and women. He said, .. I’m the luckiest man alive as far as I’m ‘Well what about one of those women Jonny Cole stars in A Black Country Night concerned. wrestlers? That’s like pantomime, innit. That Out which shows at various venues across would be a laugh’. So we looked on the the Midlands this month, including Walmley Your comedy is very focused on the Black internet and found this picture of the female Club, Sutton Coldfield Sat 4 April; Country. Does it travel well? champion wrestler. We sent her an email and Stratford Artshouse Thurs 9 April; Palace It’s not all focused on the Black Country, it’s within the hour she got back to us and said Theatre, Redditch Fri 17 April; Solihull Arts just delivered from a Black Country ‘Yeah, just pay my airfare and I’ll be there and Complex Wed 22 April; Aston Wood, perspective. I talk about travel, things that do it for free’. I hadn’t even sobered up and it Sutton Coldfield Thurs 30 April. happen in pubs, relationships - all of which had been arranged. are universal. It just comes with a Black She’s from Berlin. She’s a six-foot-two, two For full tour dates, visit brianyeates.co.uk

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Seasick Steve Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Wed 29 April This is Seasick Steve’s first full UK tour in four long years and comes in support of brand new album Sonic Soul Surfer, released only last month. “The whole record is mostly me and my longtime drummer, Dan Magnusson, sitting there drinking and playing,” says Steve. “There ain’t a whole lot of producing going on! But I know what I’m doing and I know what I want.” A memorable evening of authentic folk-blues music awaits...

Drum Got Soul ft. Omar & Don-E The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 25 April The world of Soul and R’n’B is here being cele- brated via performances by two of the most re- spected names on the UK music scene. Soul legend Omar selects hits from his extensive back- catalogue. Singer-songwriter Don-E delivers silky- smooth and soulful sounds from hit album Little Star. The fellas will be joined for the gig by a yet-to- be-announced DJ who, it’s promised, ‘will be drop- ping in to deliver a hardcore guest slot for the party people’. Marc Almond Town Hall, Birmingham, Fri 14 April Although he’s nowadays well established as a solo artist and international DJ specialising Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club in electro-clash, the elfin Marc Almond nonetheless remains best known for his Soft Cell Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Mon 13 April collaborations with the far more anonymous-looking Dave Ball. Drug addiction, alco- The enigmatic ensemble have decided to call time holism and a major nervous breakdown brought the Soft Cell days to an end and, save on their stellar career, so are here visiting Birming- for a brief reunion a decade ago, Almond’s pretty much been flying solo ever since. ham to say a fond farewell. The Adios tour is being described as ‘a distillation of more than a thousand shows over sixteen years and involving more than Paul Simon & Sting forty musicians’. Genting Arena, Birmingham, Musical director, band leader and trombonist Sun 12 April Jesus ‘Aguaje’ Ramos once again helms the en- Long-time pals Paul Simon and semble, and is joined for the occasion by, amongst Sting here offer fans a ‘two super- others, veteran diva Omara Portuondo, trumpeter stars for the price of one’ package, Guajiro Mirabal and laúd virtuoso Barbarito Torres. courtesy of their On Stage To- An evening of Cuban musical tradition celebrated gether tour. Originated at the Robin with flair and élan is most definitely on the cards... Hood Foundation benefit in 2013, the show features thirty-plus songs, including Boy In The Bub- ble, Fields Of Gold, Driven To Tears, Mother & Child Reunion, Desert Rose, Every Breath You Take, The Boxer and Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes. Reviews of the show have, on the whole, been positive - but then what else would you expect when you bring together two songwriting giants and a back-catalogue of pure gold?

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SPRING & SUMMER PARTY NIGHTS 2015

Fri 10 Apr SUPREME £32.50 MOTOWN & SOUL DIVA PARTY with The Motellas THE ULTIMATE Fri 24 Apr SOUL PARTY £37.50 with The Soul Suvivors and Mel Day Sat 9 May £32.50 MOTOWN LEGENDS PARTY with Soul Legend

MAMMA MIA Sat 16 May PARTY £37.50 with ‘Sensation’ Abba Tribute Sat 30 May £32.50 SOUL & MOTOWN HITS PARTY with Divas Of Soul

Sat 13 Jun SATURDAY NIGHT £37.50 FAVER PARTY with Stayin Alive

Thu 18 Jun ROYAL ASCOT £79.50 LADIES DAY plus Disco Party with DJ Franco Fri 19 Jun CHARITY ROYAL £69.50 ASCOT DAY After Races Party with Addicted to 80’s Sat 20 Jun £49.50 MIDSUMMER BALL with Brothers Of Soul

Fri 26 Jun HEART & SOUL £32.50 PARTY with Harry Cambridge

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE FROM OUR WEBSITE TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 4 COURSE MEAL WE WILL CATER FOR ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS BY PRIOR ARRANGMENT BOOKING HOTLINE 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk Nailcote Hall Hotel, Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire CV7 7DE

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Music PREVIEWS Photo by Yu Tsai Nadine Shah The Rainbow, Birmingham, Sat 18 April Dual-heritage Geordie lass Nadine has the kind of bubbly personality that sits at odds with her far-from-cheery music. “I get compared to Nick Cave, whose music I love,” she says, “but I don’t just want to be a female Nick Cave.” PJ Harvey’s another with whom comparison is often drawn - and Nadine’s in no doubt as to why. “We both sound serious and have big noses,” she offers with a smile. Nadine tours to the Midlands this month in support of her new album, Fast Food. “It’s an album about love, really,” she says, “and the realisation that as you get older you’re never going to be anybody’s first love ever again.”

Olly Murs Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sun 26 - Tues 28 April Over the years, plenty of X Factor’s aspiring stars have found that scoring a success on the hit TV series is no guarantee of a future in the limelight. Not so Olly Murs, who’s impressively transformed from talent-show wannabe to celebrity musicmaker in his own right. Olly’s appearing in Birmingham in support of new album Never Been Better and is joined for the gig by the BRIT Award-winning Ella Eyre. Turbowolf Kasbah, Coventry, Sat 11 April Adam Ant Portico Turbowolf have been helped in their rise to The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Thurs 16 Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Tues 28 April April; Student Union Copper Rooms, Warwick Comprising three young musicians from prominence by the media’s uncertainty about University, Coventry, Fri 24 April how best to categorise their music, a fact South London, Portico pride themselves on which promotes the notion that the band are Swashbuckling new-wave star Adam Ant creating a truly unique sound and are always peddling a sound that’s refreshingly unique. made a generation of young girls positively looking to explore new sonic territories. Elements of heavy metal, punk rock, elec- swoon way back in the early 1980s, at his Blending jazz and folk styles for their first two tronica, rock’n’roll and psychedelia are all peak playing three hundred gigs a year. albums, the boys have since turned to elec- present and correct in their songs, with Tur- Now returning to his musical roots after tronic, synthpop and ambient genres. bowolf themselves stating that their mission spending a period of time trying to make it as They appear in Birmingham in support of is ‘to create something innovative and new an actor, he visits the Midlands as part of a new album Living Fields, released this very and quite fun and rock music and not to promotional tour for seminal debut album month. tread old ground’. Dirk Wears White Sox. They’re touring to the Midlands in support of “In the face of the sterile perfection of the dig- second album Two Hands, released this ital age,” says Adam, commenting on his month. Midlands appearances, “I invite you all to an evening of one hundred percent British Leather Rock.” John Cooper Clarke Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 9 April Expect a mix of humorous anecdotes about life in a northern town interspersed with many a quickfire poem when you check out John Cooper Clarke. Often referred to as a 'punk poet', John has supported the likes of The The Skints Sex Pistols, The Fall, Joy Division, Buzzcocks The Institute, Birmingham, Sat 18 April and Elvis Costello in his time and offers a truly unique evening of entertainment. “Reggae music is the sound that makes all Dreadzone “People think those punk gigs must’ve been four of us geek out,” says Skints vocalist and The Robin, Bilston, Fri 10 April rowdy for a poet,” says John of his early-ca- guitarist Josh Waters Rudge, “so it’s always reer experiences, going to be where our greatest strength lies. Presenting an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, The music has so much history, so it’s impor- techno, folk and rock music, Dreadzone “but punk came from the arty end tant to be respectful at the same time as try- formed in 1993, during their early years em- ing to create something new.” ploying backing vocalists who included of the spectrum, so they were a A ska and reggae band hailing from East Melanie Blatt, Denise van Outen and Alison London, The Skints quickly established a for- Goldfrapp. doddle com- pared to working midable reputation as live performers. They Their second album, 1995’s Second Light, also scored a significant hit with their first was championed by the legendary John men’s clubs - particularly the album, selling more than seven thousand Peel, who cited it as one of his favourite al- copies. Follow-up offering Part & Parcel was bums of all time. Twenty years on and the Glasgow ones. I didn’t help mat- hailed a modern-day dub, reggae and hip band’s magic remains resolutely intact, with hop-inspired classic. recently released seventh studio album Es- ters by calling myself a poet, The band play the Midlands in support of re- capades being well received by both old and cently released third album FM. new fans alike. mind!” www.whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Music April Region One.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:23 Page 5

A PLACE TO BURY GIG REVIEWS LISTINGS STRANGERS The Rain- Music Music bow Venues, B’ham ZOAX Alfie Bird's, B’ham TOVEY BROTHERS The For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk For full listing information on gigs, Jam House, B’ham including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk WED 8 APR The Script BIPOLAR SUNSHINE The Genting Arena, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham Striding past screaming fans and followed by a spotlight. It was an en- House, Birmingham SLEEPING WITH SIRENS WED 1 APR THE SMITHS LTD The O2 Academy, B’ham trance that even Rocky Balboa would’ve appreciated! Playing to an BARLUATH Roadhouse, B’ham EDGAR BROUGHTON The arena packed with mostly young women, charismatic Irish frontman The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham DIRTY DC - TRIBUTE TO AC Robin, Bilston Danny O’Donoghue was on fine form, launching into Paint The Town DANNY VAUGHN & DAN / DC The Robin, Bilston STACEY KENT Royal Spa Green, Before The Worst and Breakeven. His voice was fizzing with REED The Slade Rooms, THE SOLID SILVER 60S Centre, Leamington energy - although sometimes drowned by poor acoustics. We Cry and Wolverhampton SHOW 30TH ANNIVER Spa SARY TOUR Symphony SUPERFOOD If You Could See Me Now were solid, as was Nothing - a popular tour THE CRAZY 88S & THE The Rain- Hall, Birmingham bow Venues, B’ham stunt where Danny sang to a fan’s ex-boyfriend, along with the fans! HIGH FLYING ACES The Jam House, B’ham GORDON GILTRAP, JOHN GHOSTPOET Hare & But it was a moving rendition of monster hit The Man Who Can’t Be FERRYMAN, CANCEL TO- ETHERIDGE, CLIVE CAR Hounds, Birmingham Moved that proved to be the showstopper - an example of The Script MORROW, STRANGER IN ROLL & RAYMOND BUR GURT, BONG CAULDRON & at the very top of their game. No Good In Goodbye and For The First DEATH Scruffy Murphys, LEY The Assembly, PIST & CONJURER Scruffy Leamington Spa Time featured towards the end of the show, with proceedings being Birmingham Murphys, B’ham RAINBOW VENUES CHAP- CLARENCE CLARITY Hare rounded off with the spectacular Hall Of Fame. THE WEDDING CRASHERS The Jam House, B’ham TER XI Featuring; Loco & Hounds, Birmingham One thing was for certain - The Script were Superheroes that night! FEAST OF FIDDLES Hunt- Dice, Ben Klock, Seth PIERCE THE VEIL O2 Malaka Chowdhury nnnn ingdon Hall, Worcester Troxler, Steve Lawler, Academy, Birmingham Bicep and more... The TRASH BOAT, NATHAN DE- THU 2 APR Rainbow, Birmingham TROIT & MAYCOMB The POLICED The Marr's Bar, Flapper, Birmingham LARRY MILLER The Worcester GOSPEL CENTRAL The Robin, Bilston IN HINDSIGHT O2 Acad- Jam House, B’ham CHARLI XCX The Insti- emy, Birmingham NEW MOTION The tute, Birmingham PARTYNEXTDOOR The In- Oobleck, Birmingham KING PLEASURE & THE stitute, Birmingham BISCUIT BOYS The Jam THE ROVING CROWS Ar- THU 9 APR House, Birmingham trix, Bromsgrove JOSH HARTY & KELLY TORANAGA, D.A.M, SOLI- BLUE De Montfort Hall, MACRAE DUO Kitchen TARY, SUICIDE WATCH, Leicester Garden Cafe, B’ham BLOODROCTRED & HOT- IAN PARKER & HIS BAND LAURENCE JONES The COPS The Asylum, Birm- The Robin, Bilston Assembly, Leamington ingham FEAST OF FIDDLES The Spa GURDAS MAAN Civic Hall, Roses Theatre, Tewkes- SWIM DEEP The Wolverhampton bury Oobleck, Birmingham ARRON ERSKINE O2 BRIBRY & DODIE CLARK LOST DIALS O2 Acad- Academy, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham emy, Birmingham THE STRIKE, LOBSTER, LIMEHOUSE LIZZY The ONDAHWUN, DIRTY SAINT SHOOZE, THE UNDER- Marr's Bar, Worcester & THE MIGHTY YOUNG CLASS & ABBI BAKER The TALON - THE BEST OF EA- The Roadhouse, B’ham Institute, Birmingham GLES Palace Theatre, JUBILEE CLUB The Insti- Redditch FRI 3 APR tute, Birmingham OBEY THE BRAVE The SYLVIA The Sunflower Oobleck, Birmingham Ryan Adams ELO AGAIN The Robin, Lounge, Birmingham JOHN COOPER CLARKE Ar- Civic Hall, Wolverhampton Bilston THE COUNTERFEIT SIX- trix, Bromsgrove OF MICE & MEN O2 TIES Swan Theatre, TOSELAND The Asylum, It was 2007 when Ryan Adams last performed in Wolverhampton. Academy, Birmingham Worcester Birmingham Since then he's married and split from actress-singer Mandy Moore, B'SPOKE The Jam LA BETE BLOOMS The Tin RETOX The Sunflower battled drug and drink problems, taken a hiatus from music and been House, Birmingham Music & Arts, Coventry Lounge, Birmingham treated for a career-threatening ear condition. With all of this behind STEEL PULSE The Insti- SAXONIZED Route 44, SUBURBAN LEGENDS & tute, Birmingham Birmingham MC LARS The Rainbow, him, it was a relaxed Ryan who was greeted by a lively Civic crowd. OCCOEUR, THE ELEGANT Birmingham The set launched with a snarling Gimme Something Good (the lead CHAOS & FREE SUN RIS- SUN 5 APR OPHEON, THE FINAL track from his self-titled new album) and Stay With Me - both Tom ING Route 44, B’ham CHAPTER, VEXXEN & THIS Petty-style rockers which showcased the more straight-ahead, hard- NICKI MINAJ The Bar- RAINOVER, TEMPERANCE, MEMORY The Flapper, SEVENTH SIN, DIVIDED WE rock style of the new record. claycard Arena, B’ham Birmingham FALL & ROSE AVALON The SHALAMAR The Jam Backed by an incredibly tight four-piece featuring the talents of singer Roadhouse, B’ham House, Birmingham and guitarist Mike Viola - and with the stage decked with two giant DEFINITELY MIGHT BE AND fender amps, vintage arcade machines, a stuffed leopard and the ADORED The Robin, Bil- FRI 10 APR now-customary stars-and-stripes CND flag draped over the organ - ston MARILLION WEEKEND UK Adams effortlessly slid between gentle folk and soulful rock. Magnolia JOEY NEGRO Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Civic Hall, Wolverhamp- Mountain's extended jam, with its glistening, shimmering guitar inter- DJ ALPHA BIRTHDAY BASH ton play, was a nod to The Grateful The Institute, Birming- TALON - THE BEST OF EA- Dead. Songs from his two ham GLES Wulfrun Hall, Grammy-nominated albums, Nicki Minaj BOX OF LIGHT O2 Acad- Wolverhampton THE ELVIS YEARS The Heartbreaker and Gold, were emy, Birmingham BENNY JACKSON Kitchen Swan Theatre, Worces- well represented in a nicely VOODOO VEGAS The As- sembly, Leamington Garden Cafe, B’ham ter paced twenty-two-song set. Spa JERU THE DAMAJA The THE WOMBATS O2 Acad- A solo winding wheel gave the 90'S NIGHT PRESENTS: A Oobleck, Birmingham emy, Birmingham audience a chance to find their VERY GOOD FRIDAY The CHARLES DEXTER WARD, SUPERONIT - OASIS TRIB- voice. Institute, Birmingham THE IMAGINEERS & RES- UTE Route 44, B’ham SOLID SOUL The Jam Impressive support act Natalie KHAOS THEORY, SISTER URRECTION MEN The Tin SHOTGUN, CELESTRIAL Music & Arts, Coventry House, Birmingham Prasse returned to sing backing WISH & EVERLUST DREADZONE The Robin, vocals on Oh My Sweet Car- Scruffy Murphys, B’ham MON 6 APR Bilston olina, while La Cienga Just THE ATLANTIC PLAYERS MARIUS NESET CBSO TUFF LOVE The Sun- Smiled was beautifully mes- Hare & Hounds, B’ham Centre, Birmingham flower Lounge, B’ham BLACK YAYA The Tin merising. A rousing finale of JOURNEY 2 TOTO & AN- DREW P DONE The Road- Music & Arts, Coventry Come Pick Me Up brought the house, Birmingham TUE 7 APR THE ELO EXPERIENCE Ar- two-hour set to a close. trix, Bromsgrove ouse, Birmingham JACK MCNEILL & CHARLIE David Davies nnnnn SAT 4 APR AARON SNAPES Hare & HEYS Kitchen Garden Hounds, Birmingham B'SPOKE The Jam Cafe, Birmingham THE MOTELLAS Nailcote 16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Music April Region One.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:23 Page 6

Hall, Berkswell, War- Lounge, Birmingham BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK Bella Hardy - mac - Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham wickshire DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, LAW- The Roses Theatre, JUKEBOX JURY & THE LESS & SHYNE Route 44, Tewkesbury DELRAY ROCKETS The Birmingham BENJAMIN FOLKE Roadhouse, B’ham THOMAS Hare & SHEBREW, MORASS OF SUN 12 APR Hounds, Birmingham MOLASSES, VICTORIAN STEVE HOWE The Robin, WHORE DOGS & RESUR- MARILLION WEEKEND UK Bilston RECTION MEN Scruffy Civic Hall, Wolverhamp- DEMORALISER The Murphys, Birmingham tons Oobleck, Birmingham MATTHEW LONG Dove- MARIANA SADOVSKA mac SIGMA The Institute, house Theatre, Solihull - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham FALLING RED The Asy- Birmingham THERAPY? The Rainbow lum, Bromsgrove LA VILLA STRANGITO The Venues, Birmingham SAMOANS, ENQUIRY, MAY- Robin, Bilston ROO PANES The Sun- ORS OF TORONTO & PAUL SIMON & STING flower Lounge, B’ham POCKET APOCALYPSE The Genting Arena, B’ham ADAM ANT The Slade Flapper, Birmingham BALTHAZAR The Sun- Rooms, Wolverhampton MATTHEW EDWARDS & flower Lounge, B’ham THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS THE UNFORTUNATES Hare FINLEY QUAYE The The Jam House, B’ham & Hounds, Birmingham Oobleck, Birmingham ENGRAVED DISILLUSION, RITA PAYNE Artrix, WHITE NOISE THEORY, Bromsgrove OFFSHORE & DISTANCE ANGLAGARD The Robin, TO FALL Scruffy Mur- Bilston phys, Birmingham BARS AND MELODY O2 BENIGHTED, CANCEROUS Academy, Birmingham WOMB & ABHORRENT BRETFORTON SILVER DECIMATION The Flap- BAND Evesham Arts per, Birmingham Centre, Worcestershire WALK OF FAME Kitchen FRI 17 APR Matthew Edwards Garden Cafe, B’ham SUBURBAN LEGENDS The UB40 The Barclaycard TIDY BOYS The Marr’s Assembly, Leamington Arena, Birmingham Bar, Worcester Spa THE SOLID SILVER 60S THE ASSIST The Rain- BURDEN OF THE NOOSE, SHOW 30TH ANNIVER- NADINE SHAH bow, Birmingham BOYCOTT THE BAPTIST, SARY TOUR Wolver- The Rain- REEVES The Roses The- NAI HARVEST The SAMOANS, ENQUIRY, MAY- SEALCLUBBER & A HORSE hampton Grand Theatre bow, Birmingham atre, Tewkesbury Oobleck, Birmingham ORS OF TORONTO & CALLED WAR Scruffy THE HOLLIES Symphony DARLIA Student Union RAY QUINN Stratford CROOKED HOUSE Cres- POCKET APOCALYPSE The Murphys, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham Copper Rooms, War- Artshouse cent Theatre, B’ham Flapper, Birmingham FRED ZEPPELIN The wick University, Coven- RENAISSANCE The As- GIRL FRIEND The Sun- ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW MON 13 APR Roadhouse, B’ham try sembly, Leamington flower Lounge, B’ham MARC ALMOND Birming- YOUTH MAN The Sun- Spa & THE LOWRIDERS Hunt- ORQUESTA BUENA VISTA ingdon Hall, Worcester ham Town Hall flower Lounge, B’ham GEORGE CLINTON & PAR- TUE 21 APR SOCIAL CLUB Symphony CLASSIC CLAPTON Artrix, JAMES BAY The Institute, LIAMENT FUNKADELIC O2 THE LIFE & MUSIC OF JIM Hall, Birmingham Bromsgrove Birmingham Academy, Birmingham SAT 11 APR REEVES Solihull Arts YOUNG KATO The Rain- GROUPER The Jam TREORCHY MALE CHOIR Complex MARILLION WEEKEND UK bow Venues, B’ham House, Birmingham Artrix, Bromsgrove PRONG O2 Academy, Civic Hall, Wolverhamp- MARK OLSON Kitchen ANDY WHITE Kitchen RED SHOES Palace The- Birmingham ton Garden Cafe, B’ham Garden Cafe, B’ham atre, Redditch POLAR BEAR Hare & SOLID SOUL The Jam NORTH SEASONS The DIRT BOX DISCO The Asy- BOOTLEG BLONDIE The Hounds, Birmingham House, Birmingham Flapper, Birmingham lum, Birmingham Roadhouse, B’ham KYSHERA, BROKEN HEY BEATLES Crescent TOM BROSSEAU The Tin MAINLY MADNESS The THE SKINTS The Institute, CHORDS & GOODING The Theatre, Birmingham Music & Arts, Coventry Robin, Bilston Birmingham Robin, Bilston T.REXTASY The Robin, THE SHIRES The Insti- OZZMOSIS The Slade THE SWELLERS The Rain- Bilston TUE 14 APR tute, Birmingham Rooms, Wolverhampton George Clinton SIMPLE MINDS PVRIS O2 Academy, bow Venues, B’ham O2 Acad- THAT'LL BE THE DAY The MIKE HURST AND THE Birmingham THE BLATHERSKITES & emy, Birmingham Roses Theatre, Tewkes SPRINGFIELDS Hunting- VIBRACATHEDRAL OR- NADINE SHAH The Rain- STURMTIGER, NNGNN, CHARLIE AND THE FUNK bury don Hall, Worcester CHESTRA, DEATH bow Venues, B’ham CHRISTGRINDER & EXQUI- FACTORY The Jam CIRCA WAVES The Insti- GHOSTS IN DAYLIGHT Ort SHANTIES & HEATHER MARKS BROTHERS Nail- SITE ENDING Scruffy Mur- House, Birmingham tute, Birmingham Cafe, Birmingham cote Hall, Berkswell, phys, Birmingham VALOUR, IMPURITAS, LEIGH The Tin Music & SKELETONWITCH, GOAT- THE LEISURE SOCIETY Warwickshire XOVA Hare & Hounds, MONASTRIES & MERCI- Arts, Coventry WHORE & MORTALS The The Rainbow Venues, COMPLETE MADNESS CHRIS TYE Ort Cafe, Birmingham LESS TIDE Scruffy Mur- Oobleck, Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham DANNI NICHOLLS Kitchen phys, Birmingham Evesham Arts Centre, THE GLOWROGUES The FIRE RED EMPRESS The Worcester Slade Rooms, Wolver- HORDES, SLOW WORM, Garden Cafe, B’ham Jam House, B’ham FVNERALS & COLOSSLOTH CREEPER, VAULT OF EA- WED 22 APR THE PHIL BEER BAND The NIGHT AT THE MOVIES hampton GLES, LANTERNS & Roses Theatre, Tewkes- STEREO KICKS O2 Acad- Scruffy Murphys, B’ham BEN POOLE The Robin, The Roadhouse, B’ham GURDAS MAAN CHASE THE DEER bury emy, Birmingham Genting The Bilston DIZZY LIZZY The Road- BLOOM O2 Academy, Arena, Birmingham Marr’s Bar, Worcester WHILE SHE SLEEPS & WED 15 APR THEM WOLVES, BLACK THE NATURAL EMOTIONS house, Birmingham Birmingham CANCER BATS The Insti- MEKON, THE CASTIL- BRING IT ALL BACK! ULTI- THAT'LL BE THE DAY The THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS The Roadhouse, B’ham tute, Birmingham LIANS, SUNSHINE FRIS- THE XCERTS MATE 90S SHOW Solihull Roses Theatre, Tewkes- The Marr’s Bar, Worces- The Rain- ENCHANTE The Red Lion BEE LASERBEAM, Arts Complex bury ter bow, Birmingham Folk Club, Birmingham SWAMPMEAT FAMILY CRACKED ACTORS The ANDY IRVINE The Red CALLAGHAN The Sun- Birmingham ECHOSMITH O2 Acad- BAND, THREADS Pig And Drum, Worces- Lion Folk Club, B’ham flower Lounge, B’ham Hare & MON 20 APR emy, Birmingham ter LARKIN POE OZZMOSIS Route 44, Hounds, Birmingham Hare & KATHRYN ROBERTS & SKINNY LISTER The Rain- DRENGE The Institute, Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham ESTABLISHMENT, THEIR SEAN LAKEMAN Artrix, bow Venues, B’ham Birmingham BRETT DENNEN The Glee SOULS ARE GOLD & TIDES Bromsgrove SASHA MCVEIGH & SONIA THE UPBEAT BEATLES Ar- Club, Birmingham APART SEASONS The In- SAT 18 APR BEN HOWARD The Bar- LEIGH Hare & Hounds, trix, Bromsgrove stitute, Birmingham Birmingham GROUPER The Jam claycard Arena, B’ham THANK YOU FOR THE 3SIXTY, STONE COLD PATSY FULLER & THE REV- House, Birmingham KILLERS & BLACKOUT MUSIC Crewe Lyceum ELATORS The Jam UFO Wulfrun Hall, SUN MEGHAN TRAINOR The In- The Marr’s Bar, House, Birmingham Wolverhampton stitute, Birmingham Worcester RYLEY WALKER The Tin CHICAGO BLUES BROTH- CLOUDBUSTING TURBOWOLF Kasbah, Hunting- Music & Arts, Coventry Coventry ERS New Alexandra don Hall, Worcester HOT CLUB DE SWING Theatre, Birmingham WE ARE THE OCEAN Kas- THU 23 APR Hare & Hounds, B’ham DIRT The Asylum, B’ham bah, Coventry NATHAN SYKES The Insti- CHAMPIONS OF ROCK BOGUS BLOOZE Route 44, THE FORTUNES - PAST & tute, Birmingham Brett Dennen Wolverhampton Grand Birmingham PRESENT Solihull Arts HOWL, BEARDMORE & Theatre Ben Howard Complex SPIRIT KREEK Scruffy PLANES The Rainbow, THE COUNTERFEIT SUN 19 APR GERRY AND THE PACE- Murphys, Birmingham STONES The Robin, Bil- MAKERS Artrix, Broms- Birmingham CURVED AIR KRIS DREVER & BOO HEW- PURPLE VELVET & ADAM ston The Robin, grove ERDINE TURNER Hare & Hounds, ALMONRY FOLK Eve- Bilston Hare & Hounds, KATE RUSBY Warwick THU 16 APR TEXAS Birmingham sham Arts Centre, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Arts Centre, Coventry STORMZY EKKAH The Sunflower ELIO PACE PERFORMS THE Worcestershire Birmingham The Institute, CAROLYN SAMPSON & THE LIFE & MUSIC OF JIM Birmingham For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Music April Region One.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:23 Page 7

bury Laura Marling - The Institute, Birmingham OLLY MURS The Barclay- Music LISTINGS card Arena, B’ham JACK JONES Birmingham Town Hall For full listing information on gigs, DAN WHITEHOUSE War- including times and dates, wick Arts Centre, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Coventry SIMON GOODALL PER- FORMS THE CLIFF JOSEPH MIDDLETON phony Hall, Birmingham RICHARD SONGBOOK Malvern Theatres, MAHALIA The Rainbow, Crescent Theatre, Birm- Worcestershire Birmingham ingham MIKE STEWART BELLA HARDY mac - Mid- ZERVAS & PEPPER The LAWRENCE Dovehouse lands Art Centre, B’ham Rainbow Venues, Birm- Theatre, Solihull ADAM ANT Student ingham NAJMA AKHTAR Kitchen Union Copper Rooms, FREDDIE STARR The Garden Cafe, B’ham Warwick Uni, Coventry Robin, Bilston STATUS QUO Civic Hall, URIAH HEEP The Assem- Wolverhampton bly, Leamington Spa FIVE The Institute, Birm- SHAWN SMITH Hare & ingham Hounds, Birmingham DONA OXFORD The Jam THE INTERRUPTERS O2 House, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham RENAISSANCE The GREN BARTLEY Kitchen Robin, Bilston Garden Cafe, B’ham AMPLIFIER The Slade SYMMETRY O2 Acad- Rooms, Wolverhampton Adam Ant emy, Birmingham TOM WILLIAMS Ort Cafe, WALSALL JAZZ ORCHES- Birmingham TRA Symphony Hall, MERCILESS TIDE O2 DURAN Route 44, B’ham Birmingham Academy, Birmingham WILL BUTLER The Insti- SAT 25 APR MON 27 APR tute, Birmingham STEALING SHEEP The TRU GROOVE The Jam OLLY MURS The Barclay- Rainbow, Birmingham House, Birmingham card Arena, B’ham HOT WAXX The Institute, MIKE & THE MECHANICS Hounds, Birmingham House, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham FRI 24 APR Birmingham Symphony Hall, B’ham EMILIA MARTENSSON DUOTONE & MALARKIE DANGEROUS GIRLS Hare LOVEBITE O2 Academy, MOON DUO Hare & Hare & Hounds, B’ham The Tin Music & Arts, & Hounds, Birmingham GERRY MCAVOY'S BAND Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham JACKSON LIVE IN CON- Coventry THE LOST NOTES, SMALL OF FRIENDS The Robin, YO! & KEIRON BOOTH PURITY RING The Insti- CERT Evesham Arts CALABRESE The Slade CHANGES & KATE BARRY Bilston Hare & Hounds, B’ham tute, Birmingham Centre, Worcestershire Rooms, Wolverhampton The Roadhouse, B’ham THE KILKENNYS Solihull GO ON PUNK MAKE MY LAURA MARLING The In- MEXRRISSEY - MEXICO INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY Arts Complex DAY AGAIN The Assem- stitute, Birmingham THU 30 APR GOES MORRISSEY War- CONCERT The Pump SPIRO The Roses The- bly, Leamington Spa wickshire University SU, Rooms, Leamington TELLISON The Rainbow, HIGHER ON MAIDEN & atre, Tewkesbury ROCK ANTHEMS Eve- Birmingham Coventry Spa THE SMYTHS O2 Acad- sham Arts Centre, SAXONISED The Robin, OUR LAST NIGHT The THE TAKE THAT EXPERI- emy, Birmingham Worcestershire TUE 28 APR Bilston Oobleck, Birmingham ENCE Swan Theatre, DEREK RYAN Irish Cen- DRUM GOT SOUL FEATUR- DEL CAMINO The Jam THEY SURRENDER O2 Worcester tre, Birmingham ING OMAR The Drum, OLLY MURS The Barclay- TRU GROOVE The Jam Birmingham card Arena, B’ham House, Birmingham YEALLOW, NATIVE WRECK, CHRIS MURRAY Hare & RYAN BOLDT & KACEY MYTH CITY, LIGHT THE Hounds, Birmingham Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands CLAYTON The Tin Music SKIES, BESIDE ALL HOPE SUNJAY The Roses The- & Arts, Coventry & HIVE O2 Academy, atre, Tewkesbury SOLID GOLD 70'S SHOW Birmingham MALCOLM STENT IN THE Birmingham Black Country Staffordshire Malvern Theatres, MANIFEST The Drum, AFTERNOON Solihull Arts 02 ACADEMY CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK Worcester Birmingham Complex 0121 622 8250 0870 320 7000 01538 386112 THE BUDDY PRESLEY SCOPYONS & RECKLESS THEORY OF A DEADMAN THE ACTRESS & BISHOP DUDLEY CONCERT HALL LICHFIELD GUILDHALL SHOW The Roadhouse, HEART The Roadhouse, The Institute, B’ham 0121 236 7426 01384 815577 01543 262223 Birmingham Birmingham KARMA TO BURN The ADRIAN BOULT HALL FOREST ARTS CENTRE THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY TALON - THE BEST OF EA- THE ROAD TO BLISS- Oobleck, Birmingham 0121 331 5901 0845 111 2898 STOKE-ON-TRENT GLES Royal Spa Centre, FIELDS 2015 The Sug- PORTICO Hare & THE ASYLUM NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01159 454 593 01902 572090 Leamington Spa armill, Stoke-on-Trent Hounds, Birmingham 0121 233 1109 TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS THE EARLY NOVEMBER THE CRUXSHADOWS The 4 PARTS GUITAR Hunting- BARCLAYCARD ARENA ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01827 709618 01902 401211 The Slade Rooms, Institute, Birmingham don Hall, Worcester 0121 780 4141 VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY Wolverhampton CRACKED ACTORS The WATERLOO - THE BEST OF BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL SLADE ROOMS 0870 060 6649 0121 780 3333 WOLVERHAMPTON RALEIGH RITCHIE The In- Custard Factory, Birm- ABBA Evesham Arts 0870 320 7000 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE stitute, Birmingham ingham Centre, Worcester CBSO CENTRE 01785 254653 0121 780 3333 STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL THE BIRTHDAY MAS- VON HERTZEN BROTHERS 01384 812812 FLAPPER SACRE, THE RED PAINT- The Slade Rooms, WED 29 APR WULFRUN HALL, Warwickshire 0121 236 2421 INGS, AMONG THE Wolverhampton WOLVERHAMPTON THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON ECHOES & THE DEAD LUCY PARHAM AND MAN OVERBOARD The GENTING ARENA 0870 320 7000 01926 311311 0121 780 4141 BETAS The Institute, SIMON RUSSELL BEALE Slade Rooms, Wolver- THE KASBAH, COVENTRY Birmingham Stratford Artshouse hampton THE GLEE CLUB Shropshire 024 7655 4473 0871 472 0400 THE SOUL SURVIVORS KWABS Hare & Hounds, THE SANDY DENNY SONG- BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY NAILCOTE HALL, WITH MEL DAY Nailcote Birmingham BOOK Kitchen Garden HARE & HOUNDS 01952 882210 BERKSWELL 0121 444 2081 Hall, Berkswell, War- QUERCUS Arena Theatre, Cafe, Birmingham THE BUTTERMARKET, 02476 46 6174 wickshire Wolverhampton KATHRYN ROBERTS & THE INSTITUTE SHREWSBURY STRATFORD CIVIC HALL NUALA HONAN & BETH THE MIGHTY WRAITH, SEAN LAKEMAN The 0121 643 0428 01743 355055 01789 207100 PORTER Ort Cafe, B’ham CHEMKILL, TOLEDO Roses Theatre, Tewkes- IRISH CENTRE THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, THE TIN MUSIC & ARTS, 0121 622 2314 SHOWADDYWADDY STEEL, NEVERSTAR, HID- bury MUCH WENLOCK COVENTRY Regal 01952 728911 Cinema, Evesham DEN & GEE HARLIQUIN SEASICK STEVE Civic THE JAM HOUSE 0247 655 9958 0121 200 3030 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE SWAMP DELTA O2 Acad- Scruffy Murphys, B’ham Hall, Wolverhampton THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE SHREWSBURY Worcestershire emy, Birmingham RIFF RAFF & DIZZY LIZZY DAMAGE O2 Academy, 01743 361666 Birmingham 0121 443 4725 ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE HOWL The Flapper, The Marr’s Bar, Worces- THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY BLACK Artrix, Broms- THE RAINBOW 01527 577330 Birmingham ter 0121 772 8174 01743 234970 BUFFALO SUMMER The ALBERT HAMMOND Hunt- grove HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN RED LION FOLK CLUB LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS THEATRE 01905 611427 Oobleck, Birmingham ingdon Hall, Worcester JULIE FELIX The Red 01584 878141 0121472 4253 MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER WRETCHED SOUL, THERAPY? Kasbah, Lion Folk Club, B’ham THEATRE SEVERN, GIRLS WITH GUITARS THE ROADHOUSE 01905 613336 ERADIKATOR, INVASIVE & Coventry The 0121 246 2273 SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 THE RIVER ROOMS, KILLER HURTS Scruffy IVOR & LYNN’S CLASSIC Robin, Bilston THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, ROUTE 44 STOURBRIDGE Murphys, Birmingham ROCK DISCO Route 44, BLAIR DUNLOP & EMMA 0121 708 0108 TELFORD 01952 382382 STEVENS The Glee Club, 01384 397177 HANGING TREE The Birmingham SYMPHONY HALL WEM TOWN HALL Marr’s Bar, Worcester Birmingham 0121 780 3333 01939 232299 For additional information PELIKANN The Marr’s SUN 26 APR IMAGINATION WITH LEEE THE VICTORIA JOHN The Jam House, and to find out What’s On Bar, Worcester 0121 633 943 at these venues. ALAN BENZIE TRIO Sym- RAYMOND FROGGATT The Birmingham Roses Theatre, Tewkes- CC SMUGGLERS Hare & Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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PREVIEWS English Touring Opera Classical Music Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 13 - Tues 14 April; Warwick Arts Cen- tre, Coventry, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 April English Touring Opera travels to more regions and plays more venues than any other English opera company, presenting as many as one hundred-and-ten perform- ances every year. The company’s stated aim is to make opera accessible to every- one. It achieves this not only via its varied repertoire of professional productions but also through an ambitious outreach pro- gramme. The programme comprises an average of one hundred-and-seventy work- shops and performances each year, rang- ing from full-scale community operas to intimate performances in care facilities. This month sees the company returning to the Midlands to present a new production of the Puccini masterpiece La Boheme, featuring Ilona Domnich as Mimì and David Butt Philip as Rodolfo. The programme also includes a revival of Donizetti’s The Siege Of Callais - a tale of heroism in the face of defeat - and a first staging in Britain during modern times of Donizetti’s The Wild Man Of The West Indies.

Noah Stewart Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 25 April One of international opera’s most talked-about tenors, Noah Stewart’s potential was first recog- nised at the age of twelve when his choir teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Awarded a scholarship to New York’s prestigious Juilliard School, Noah committed to an oper- atic career. Towards the end of his time at Juilliard, having attracted the attention of the profes- sional classical community, he was invited by the Bach Society of Columbia to perform the title role in their touring version of Acis And Galatea. It was the beginning of what has since proved to be an award-winning career for Noah, who went on to win the Mario Lanza Competition for Tenors. The Harlem-born singer’s self-titled fourteen-track debut album, released in 2012, proved to be a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, topping the UK classical charts for an impressive seven weeks. A critically acclaimed Covent Garden debut - starring as Hassan in Judith Weir’s Miss Fortune - further established Noah’s rising-star status. Stopping off in Birmingham as part of a seven-date solo tour, Noah here performs a programme featuring some of opera’s most-celebrated arias, presented alongside numerous hand-picked West End and big-screen favourites. BCMG: The Miracle Of The Rose Ex Cathedra: Good Friday CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sat 25 April St Matthew Passion Acclaimed conductor Oliver Knussen makes his Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 3 April only Birmingham outing of the season at this much-anticipated concert with Birmingham Con- A favourite at Easter, Bach’s moving temporary Music Group (BCMG). retelling of Christ’s betrayal and death is Knussen takes the helm to present Hans Werner one of classical music’s most profound Henze’s Le Miracle de la Rose, a musical evoca- experiences. Sung in German with English tion of a written work of the same title by French surtitles, St John Passion is here per- poet and playwright Jean Genet. The instruments formed by the Ex Cathedra Choir and used in the piece are representative of figures Baroque Orchestra. Under the direction of from Genet’s book. conductor Jeffrey Skidmore and featuring Henze is one of two German composers whose Jeremy Budd (Evangelist), Greg Skidmore work is featured in the concert programme. The (Jesus) and James Geidt (Pilate), the other is Arne Gieshoff, BCMG’s Apprentice Com- Beauchamp Sinfonietta much-celebrated early music ensemble poser-in-Residence. His work, Kata, here St Mary’s Church, Warwick, Sat 25 April; present a new approach to the composer’s receives its world premiere. Town Hall, Leamington Spa, Sun 26 April piercingly beautiful work. The programme also includes works by three Leamington Spa-based Beauchamp Sin- American composers - Septet (Stravinsky), Criti- fonietta is widely regarded as one of the cal Moments I and II (George Perle) and region’s premier chamber orchestras, pre- Between The Lines (Alexander Goehr). senting music that covers a wide spectrum of classical periods. Performing regular concerts across the Midlands under the leadership of Musical Director Nic Fallowfield, the orchestra is this month staying particularly close to home by performing at two Warwickshire venues. The programme for both concerts features: Mendelssohn’s Overture The Fair Melusine; Schumann’s Cello Concerto with soloist Tim Gill; and Beethoven’s Sympho- Oliver Knussen ny No.7. Greg Skidmore

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Friday 1 May, 7.30pm Anna Tilbrook - Piano Fitzwilliam String Quartet Mozart • Haydn • Shostakovich

Saturday 2 May, 12 noon Roderick Williams - Baritone Gary Matthewman - Piano The Great War Butterworth • Finzi • Gurney • Ireland • Ives Somervell • Vaughan Williams and more

Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm Ensemble 360 Haydn • Brahms • Schubert Sunday 3 May, 12 noon Jana Novakova - Violin Petr Novak - Piano Dvorak • Martinu • Novak • Schubert

Sunday 3 May, 3pm Family Concert The Singing Cellist Simon Wallfisch - Baritone and Cello Edward Rushton - Piano

Sunday 3 May, 7.30pm Michael Collins - Clarinet Peter Donohoe - Piano Brahms • Schubert • Debussy • Poulenc Stravinsky • Lovreglio

Monday 4 May, 12.30pm Simon Wallfisch - Baritone and Cello Edward Rushton - Piano Schubert • Brahms • Edward Rushton • Strauss Caplet • Mozart

Monday 4 May, 7.30pm Hagai Shaham - Violin Raphael Wallfisch - Cello Arnon Erez - Piano Haydn • Brahms • Schubert

Tuesday 5 May, 12 noon Hagai Shaham - Violin Raphael Wallfisch - Cello Arnon Erez - Piano Schubert • Brahms

Tuesday 5 May, 7pm Michael Collins - Clarinet Henschel String Quartet Haydn • Schubert • Brahms

To Book Call 01926 334418 www.royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk www.leamingtonmusic.org

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Classical LISTINGS

For full listing information on classical concerts, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk GOOD FRIDAY BACH ST Mon 13 Apr, Wolver- MATTHEW PASSION Ex hampton Grand The- Cathedra Choir and atre Baroque Orchestra. THE SIEGE OF CALAIS Featuring Jeffrey Skid- English Touring Opera more (conductor), Jere- present Donizetti's my Budd (Evangelist), opera in three acts Greg Skidmore (Jesus) which tells the story of & James Geidt (Pilate). the citizens of Calais Programme includes who offer up their lives JS Bach - St Matthew to save their city from Passion 180', Fri 3 Apr, the besieging English Symphony Hall, Birm- army. Sung in Italian ingham with English surtitles, BACH’S ST JOHN PASSION Tue 14 Apr, Wolver- Performed by Saint hampton Grand The- Michael’s Singers & the atre The Borodin Quartet - Birmingham Town Hall English Symphony HMS PINAFORE Trinity Orchestra, Fri 3 Apr, Operatic Society pres- J S BACH MASS IN B tra Of The Swan. Pro- Henze, Sat 25 Apr, LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- Coventry Cathedral ent an amateur staging MINOR St James’ gramme includes works CBSO Centre, Birming- CERT FEATURING TOM G4 THE REUNION TOUR of Gilbert & Sullivan's Singers 30th Anniver- by Barber, Adams, Bar- ham WINPENNY Mon 27 Apr, Sun 5 Apr, Birmingham comic opera, Wed 15 - sary Concert, Sat 18 ber, Gershwin & Cop- BEAUCHAMP SINFONIETTA Birmingham Town Hall Town Hall Fri 17 Apr, Newhamp- Apr, St Mary’s Church, land, Tue 21 Apr, Strat- Programme includes COULL QUARTET: JOE PEPPINO D’AGOSTINO ton Arts Centre, Wolver- Warwick ford Artshouse works by Mendelssohn, CUTLER A 50TH ANNIVER- Wed 8 Apr, Queen’s hampton COULL QUARTET: GRAND APRIL SINGS FOR SPRING Schumann & SARY COMMISSION Pro- Head, Redditch CBSO MENDELSSOHN'S TOUR Featuring Gustav AND SUMMER From the Beethoven, Sat 25 Apr, gramme includes rarely CBSO BAROQUE ENSEM- MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S Clarkson (viola) & moving contemplation St Mary’s Church, War- heard work by BLE Programme DREAM Programme Michal Kaznowski of Barber's Adagio for wick Beethoven for Quartet includes works by Pur- includes (cello). Programme Strings to the final high BIRMINGHAM ST & Choir, Wed 29 Apr, cell, Locke & Matteis, Mendelssohn’s The Fair comprises Brahms' spirits of Copland's GEORGE’S DAY ANNUAL Warwick Arts Centre, Fri 10 Apr, CBSO Cen- Melusina Overture, Ser- Sextet in No.2 in G Appalachian Spring, CONCERT Featuring Coventry tre, Birmingham enade and Allegro Gio- Op.36 & Tchaikovsky this concert encom- Bewdley Concert Band, CBSO: SYMPHONIE FAN- MICHAEL BALL: IF EVERY- joso, Piano Concerto Souvenir de Florence passes some of the Birmingham Icknield, TASTIQUE Featuring ONE WAS LISTENING No 1 & Incidental Music Op.70, Mon 20 Apr, greatest American Cradley, Solihull, New- Nikolai Znaider (con- TOUR Sun 12 Apr, Sym- to A Midsummer Night's Warwick Arts Centre, music of the 20th cen- port, Hadley & District ductor) & Jian Wang phony Hall, Birming- Dream, Thurs 16 Apr, Coventry tury. Featuring Orches- & Gentlemen Songster (cello). Programme ham Symphony Hall, Birm- BORODIN QUARTET Pro- tra Of The Swan. Pro- Choirs, Sat 25 Apr, includes works by Dvo- MICHAEL PETROV & ASH- ingham gramme includes works gramme includes works Symphony Hall, Birm- rak & Berlioz, Wed 29 - LEY FRIPP Mon 13 Apr, CBSO MENDELSSOHN'S by Shostakovich & by; Barber, Adams, Bar- ingham Thurs 30 Apr, Sympho- Birmingham Town Hall MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S Beethoven, Tue 21 Apr, ber, Gershwin & Cop- NOAH STEWART Concert ny Hall, Birmingham THOMAS TROTTER: BELLS DREAM Programme Birmingham Town Hall land, Wed 22 Apr, Birm- featuring some of PIRATES OF PENZANCE AND WHISTLES Pro- includes APRIL SINGS FOR SPRING ingham Town Hall opera’s most celebrat- Tinkers Farm Opera gramme includes works Mendelssohn’s The Fair AND SUMMER From the CBSO ELGAR'S CELLO ed arias, Sat 25 Apr, present a modern inter- by J S Bach, Byrd, Melusina Overture, Ser- moving contemplation CONCERTO Programme Birmingham Town Hall pretation of Gilbert & Coates, Vierne, Ketel- enade and Allegro Gio- of Barber's Adagio for includes works by CBSO FAMILY CONCERT: Sullivan's operatic mas- bey & Bonnal, Mon 13 joso, Piano Concerto Strings to the final high Elgar, Bridge & Tippett, BITE-SIZE CLASSICS II terpiece, Wed 29 April - Apr, Birmingham Town No 1 & Incidental Music spirits of Copland's Thurs 23 Apr, Sympho- Sun 26 Apr, Symphony Sat 2 May, Crescent Hall to A Midsummer Night's Appalachian Spring, ny Hall, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham LA BOHEME English Dream, Sat 18 Apr, this concert encom- THE WILD MAN OF THE Touring Opera present Symphony Hall, Birm- passes some of the WEST INDIES Presented a new production of ingham greatest American by English Touring Puccini's romantic CANOLDIR 49TH ANNUAL music of the 20th cen- Opera, Thurs 23 Apr, opera. Sung in Italian CONCERT Sat 18 Apr, tury. Featuring Orches- Warwick Arts Centre, Classical Box Office with English surtitles, Birmingham Town Hall Coventry CAROLYN SAMPSON & ADRIAN BOULT HALL, OLD REP THEATRE, Coull Quartet - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry JOSEPH MIDDLETON Pro- BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM gramme includes works 0121 331 5901 0121 359 9445 by Purcell, Schumann, ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE PALACE THEATRE, Quilter, Britten, Goun- 01527 577330 REDDITCH od, Faure & Bizet, Thurs 23 Apr, Malvern BARBER INSTITUTE, 01527 65203 Theatre BIRMINGHAM ROSES THEATRE, CZECH PHILHARMONIC 0121 414 7333 TEWKESBURY 01684 295074 PERFORM MAHLER Pro- BIRMINGHAM ROYAL PUMP ROOMS gramme includes works CONSERVATOIRE LEAMINGTON SPA by Bruch & Mahler, Fri 0121 331 5901/2 24 Apr, Symphony Hall, 01926 334418 BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME Birmingham ST CHAD’S CATHEDRAL, 0844 338 5000 CBSO CENTRE Featuring BIRMINGHAM Zoë Beyers & Elizabeth BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM 0121 236 2251 Golding (violins), & ART GALLERY ST MARY’S CHURCH, Amy Fawcett & Myriam 0121 348 8000 WARWICK Guillaume (violas) & BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 01926 403940 Kate Setterfield & 0121 780 3333 Corinne Frost (cellos), ST PHILLIP’S CATHEDRAL, BRAMALL CONCERT HALL, Fri 24 Apr, CBSO Cen- BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM tre, Birmingham 0121 262 1840 0121 414 3344 LA BOHEME English STRATFORD ARTSHOUSE Touring Opera present CBSO CENTRE, 01789 207100 Puccini’s romantic BIRMINGHAM STRATFORD UPON AVON opera. Sung in Italian 0121 780 3333 TOWN HALL with English surtitles, EVESHAM ARTS CENTRE 01789 269332 Fri 24 - Sat 25 Apr, War- 01386 446944 wick Arts Centre, MALVERN THEATRE SYMPHONY HALL, Coventry 01684 892277 BIRMINGHAM BCMG: THE MIRACLE OF NEW ALEXANDRA 0121 780 3333 THE ROSE Programme THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM WARWICK ARTS CENTRE includes works by 0844 871 3011 02476 524524 Stravinsky, Perle &

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Jo Enright Comedy Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 11 April Box Office Birmingham-born actor and comedian Jo Enright admits she’s happiest when she’s hid- ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE ing behind a character. “I like anonymity,” says 01527 577330 Jo. “That’s the great thing about being an actor; BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL you can be in things 0121 780 3333 without anybody recog- THE BEAR PIT, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON nising you.” 01789 403416 Jo’s career so far has CIVIC HALL, seen her taking refuge WOLVERHAMPTON behind one character or 0870 320 7000 another in some of the COURTYARD THEATRE, HEREFORD UK’s most successful 01432 340555 comedy series - THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM Phoenix Nights, I’m 0121 333 2444 Alan Partridge and Life’s DRUMMONDS BAR, Too Short. WORCESTER 01905 28190 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, MUCH WENLOCK, SOUTH Jeremy Hardy SHROPSHIRE Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 22 April; 01952 728911 The Courtyard, Hereford, Sun 26 April EVESHAM ARTS CENTRE, WORCESTERSHIRE “In an ideal world," The Guardian once wrote, 01386 446944 "Jeremy Hardy would be extremely famous, but FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, an ideal world would leave him without most of LEEK, STAFFS his best material." Hardy 01538 386112 THE GLEE CLUB, has developed a reputa- BIRMINGHAM tion for being one of the 0871 4720400 most topical comedians Lee Nelson HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM on the circuit, blending Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 30 April 0844 844 0044 his concerns about the HUNTINGDON HALL, Lee Nelson is the hugely popular creation of former medical doctor WORCESTER, modern-day world with a Simon Brodkin. After years of wearing cheap bling and drinking 01905 611427 humour that makes his Stella like it's going out of fashion, Nelson is now moving up in the KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, sometimes controversial BIRMINGHAM world, with Brodkin deciding to ‘suit and boot’ the character for this subject matter all the 0121 443 4725 latest tour. Nelson is joined in the show by various other Brodkin more accessible and LUDLOW ASSEMBLY alter-egos, including pitch-invading Premier League footballer Jason ROOMS, thought-provoking. SOUTH SHROPSHIRE Bent, bigoted pastor Daniel Doolay and unhinged club rep Chris 01584 878141 Young from Kicking Off In Kavos. MAC, BIRMINGHAM Speaking about the experience of touring a show, South London 0121 446 3232 Matt Forde geezer Lee said: “There’s no bigger buzz in the world than turning up OAKENGATES THEATRE, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 25 April in a new city, making two thousand people laugh and then sleeping TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE 01952 382382 with about five of them afterwards. The only downside’s Chlamydia.” Nottingham-born Forde is this month returning PALACE THEATRE, to the Midlands with a show that brings togeth- REDDITCH er topical stand-up and political debate (Forde 01527 65203 PLAYERS BAR, is a one-time political advisor to the Labour Matt Reed BIRMINGHAM Party). Away from the spotlight of live stand-up, Manford’s Comedy Club, 0121 643 6871 Matt writes gags for shows like Russell Players Bar, Birmingham, THE ROSES THEATRE Sat 25 April TEWKESBURY Howard’s Good News, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and 01684 295074 Stand-Up For The Week. He also hosts Sunderland-born Matt Reed has ROYAL SPA CENTRE, talkSPORT radio show Extra Time. acquired a loyal band of enthu- LEAMINGTON SPA siastic followers, particularly in 01926 334418 SHOWCASE, COVENTRY his homeland of the North East, 0871 220 1000 and always brings plenty of THE SLADE ROOMS, energy to his stand-up routines. WOLVERHAMPTON “The best gigs are always the 0870 320 7000 most unexpected,” he told gig- SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 0121 704 6962 glebeats.co.uk. “I’ve been held STRATFORD ARTSHOUSE above a bouncer’s head, I’ve 01789 207100 been topless, naked, and I’ve THEATRE SEVERN, got a nineteen-year-old boy his SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 first kiss off a girl in front of two WARWICK ARTS CENTRE thousand people at a festival. 02476 524524 I’ve done gigs in a cave, up a WULFRUN HALL, mountain, too drunk, too ill and WOLVERHAMPTON with broken ribs. But I love my 0870 320 7000 job and I can’t see that chang- ing any time soon.”

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CAROUSEL Thurs 16 Apr, LISTINGS The Glee Club, Comedy Birmingham MILTON JONES Fri 17 Apr, Civic Hall, For full listing information on comedy Wolverhampton gigs including times and dates visit COUNT ARTHUR STRONG www.whatsonlive.co.uk Fri 17 Apr, New Alexandra Theatre, JUNIOR SIMPSON, ROBINSON WITH COMEDY Birmingham HANNAH SILVESTER, CAROUSEL & COMIC TBC DIANE SPENCER, JUNIOR FREDDIE FARRELL, JOE Thurs 9 Apr, The Glee SIMPSON, ANDY ASKINS ROWNTREE, ALBERT Club, Birmingham & RAYMOND AND MR SMITH, NICK CLARKE, ADAM KAY, JAMES, TIMPKINS REVUE Fri 17 PAUL NIGHTINGALE, DOWDESWELL & DAVID Apr, Jongleurs Comedy GARETH BERLINER & MORGAN Thurs 9 Apr, Club, Birmingham KAREN BAYLEY Wed 1 Bramall Music Building, DAN NIGHTINGALE, LIAM Apr, Station Pub, Birmingham WILLIAMS, LLOYD Sutton Coldfield PATRICK MONAHAN Thurs LANGFORD & SEAN KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY 9 - Fri 10 Apr, PERCIVAL Fri 17 - Sat 18 NIGHT Thurs 2 Apr, Old Joint Stock Apr, The Glee Club, Stourbridge Town Hall Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham JETHRO Thurs 2 - Fri 3 MATT FORDE Fri 10 Apr, CAREY MARX, JONATHAN Apr, Huntingdon Hall, The Slade Rooms, ELSTON, MICHAEL FABBRI Worcester Wolverhampton & JULIET MYERS Sat 18 IVO GRAHAM, IAN DAVE JOHNS, MARK Apr, Coventry COPPINGER, ANDY NELSON, KEVIN GILDA & Showcase ROBINSON & COMEDY JIM SMALLMAN Fri 10 - DIANE SPENCER, JUNIOR CAROUSEL Thurs 2 - Sat Sat 11 Apr, Jongleurs SIMPSON, ANDY ASKINS 4 Apr, The Glee Club, Comedy Club, & GEORGE EGG Sat 18 Birmingham Birmingham Apr, Jongleurs Comedy ANDY PARSONS Fri 3 Apr, ADAM BLOOM, MAFF Club, Birmingham Evesham Arts Centre BROWN & ERIC LALOR MICKEY D Sat 18 Apr, SLIM, DANA MICHELLE Fri 10 - Sat 11 Apr, mac, Birmingham Tim Vine ALEXANDER & REM The Glee Club, ANDY WHITE Sat 18 Apr, CONWAY Fri 3 Apr, Birmingham mac, Birmingham MATT REED, BARRY Avon ROB ROUSE PLUS The Drum, Birmingham ALAN CARR Fri 10 - Sat JOHN LYNN, BRENNAN DODDS, CHRIS ANDY PARSONS Wed 29 SUPPORT Thurs 30 Apr, ALL ACTS TBC Fri 3 Apr, 11 Apr, Malvern REECE, ZOE LYONS & ED WASHINGTON & ANDREW Apr, Palace Theatre, Station Pub, Sutton Jongleurs Comedy Theatres GAMBLE Sat 18 Apr, BIRD Sat 25 Apr, Redditch Coldfield Club, Birmingham JO ENRIGHT Sat 11 Apr, Players Bar, Players Bar, LEE NELSON Thurs 30 CHRISTIAN O'CONNELL IVO GRAHAM, IAN Artrix, Bromsgrove Birmingham Birmingham Apr, Warwick Arts Thurs 30 Apr, The Glee COPPINGER, MATT TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! RICH HALL Sun 26 Apr, Centre, Coventry Club, Birmingham RICHARDSON & ROMESH DAVID TRENT, DANA Mon 20 Apr, The Blue Warwick Arts Centre, DYLAN MORAN Thurs 30 MARLON DAVIS, ANDY RANGANATHAN Fri 3 - Sat ALEXANDER & DANNY Orange Theatre, Coventry Apr, Symphony Hall, ROBINSON Thurs 30 Apr, 4 Apr, The Glee Club, MCLOUGHLIN Sat 11 Apr, Birmingham HELEN LEDERER Sun 26 Birmingham The Glee Club, Birmingham Players Bar, TIM VINE Wed 22 Apr, Apr, The Bear Pit SEANN WALSH Thurs 30 Birmingham ANDREW STANLEY, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Theatre, Stratford-upon- Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove RICHARD MORTON, QUINCY, MATT RUDGE, Birmingham SIMON FEILDER & BRETT GOLDSTEIN & JEREMY HARDY Wed 22 HARRIET DYER Sat 4 Apr, LOST VOICE GUY Sat 11 Apr, Warwick Arts Coventry Showcase Apr, Coventry Centre, Coventry JOHN LYNN, JOHN Showcase ANDY PARSONS Thurs 23 FOTHERGILL, MICHAEL NINA BENJAMIN, Apr, Wulfrun Hall, FABBRI & WAYNE DEAKIN MAUREEN YOUNGER, Wolverhampton Sat 4 Apr, Jongleurs PETE TECKMAN & JOSH GAVIN WEBSTER, JONNY Comedy Club, PUGH Sun 12 Apr, AWSUM WITH ANDY Birmingham Drapers Bar, Coventry ROBINSON & COMEDY DAVE HADINGHAM, CHRIS LOUDEEMY SOUP CAROUSEL Thurs 23 Apr, TURNER, STEVE GRIBBIN COMEDY NIGHT Mon 13 The Glee Club, & BRYAN LACEY Sat 4 Apr, The Blue Orange Birmingham Apr, Players Bar, Theatre, Birmingham GAVIN WEBSTER, JONNY Birmingham JULIET MEYERS & AARON AWSUM, JOE LYCETT & LEE NELSON Sun 5 Apr, TWITCHEN Mon 13 Apr, KATIE MULGREW Fri 24 Wulfrun Hall, Old Joint Stock Pub, Apr, The Glee Club, Wolverhampton Birmingham Birmingham ALLYSON JUNE SMITH, DAN NIGHTINGALE, STEWART FRANCIS Fri 24 ALICE FRICK & MAUREEN BRENNAN REECE, GARETH Apr, Wulfrun Hall, YOUNGER Wed 8 Apr, BERLINER, HARRIET DYER Wolverhampton Kitchen Garden Cafe, & COMIC TBC Tues 14 MILTON JONES Fri 24 Birmingham Apr, Rose Villa Tavern, Apr, Warwick Arts ANDREW LAWRENCE Birmingham Centre, Coventry Thurs 9 Apr, The Slade COUNT ARTHUR STRONG BRYAN LACEY, OTIZ Rooms, Thurs 16 Apr, The Swan CANNELLONI, CHRIS Wolverhampton Theatre, Worcester WALKER & RORY KEN DODD Thurs 9 Apr, DAN NIGHTINGALE, LIAM O'HANLON Fri 24 Apr, Bedworth Civic Hall WILLIAMS WITH ANDY Jongleurs Comedy ADAM BLOOM & ANDY ROBINSON & COMEDY Club, Birmingham GAVIN WEBSTER, JONNY AWSUM, JOE LYCETT & Rob Rouse DAVID WHITNEY Sat 25 Apr, The Glee Club, Birmingham BRYAN LACEY, OTIZ CANNELLONI & CHRIS WALKER Sat 25 Apr, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham STEWART FRANCIS Sat 25 Apr, Malvern Theatres JUNIOR SIMPSON, JOE BROMEHEAD, SUSAN MURRAY & JAVIER JARQUIN Sat 25 Apr, Coventry Showcase MATT FORDE Sat 25 Apr, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa

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The Producers New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 20 - Sat 25 April Jason Manford and Phil Jupitus are among the big-name stars head- “I’m basically Judy Garland - that’s who Leo Bloom is,” explains ing up the cast in this latest touring version of Mel Brooks’ hit Broad- Jason Manford about his character. “He’s brand new to showbusi- way musical. ness and is having his eyes opened very quickly to a lot of things When down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock and his he’s never experienced before. My favourite line of his is, “Stop the hapless accountant Leo Bloom stage a theatrical show called Spring- world, I want to get on”. It’s a really big moment for him, and you time For Hitler, they’re assuming it will be a great big flop, leaving the could just imagine a young Judy Garland saying it off camera, with a two of them to share out all the money they’ve raised to mount the little glint in her eye...” production. Sadly for Max and Leo, things don’t turn out quite as Louie Spence, David Bedella and Cory English also star. they’d expected...

Rebecca The Rep, Birmingham, Mon 27 April - Sat 2 May; Malvern Theatre, Mon 4 - Sat 9 May The always splendid Kneehigh Theatre here make a wel- come return to Birmingham to present a brand new produc- tion of Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall-set masterpiece. The new Mrs Maxim de Winter feels threatened by the mem- ories of her husband’s first wife, the glamorous and now- deceased Rebecca. But when her jealousy prompts her to uncover the secrets of the house in which she is now the mistress, she soon comes to realise that all is not quite what it seems... Read our interview with Daphne du Maurier’s son, Kit, online at whatsonlive.co.uk

Dirty Dancing Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 30 April - Sat 23 May Seen by millions across the globe, Eleanor Bergstein's worldwide smash-hit musical tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together for what will prove to be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Hit numbers include Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby, Do You Love Me? and I’ve Had The Time Of My Life. If you've not seen the show before, it's well worth check- ing out - its celebrity fans include Sir Ian McKellen, Judy Dench, Emma Forbes, Naomi Campbell, Alan Shearer, Graham Norton and Joanna Lumley, to name but a few. So if you enjoy the show, you'll certainly be in exalted company! Photo credit: Steve Tanner

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Theatre PREVIEWS Feed The Beast The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 16 April - Sat 2 May Award-winning Sherlock and Doctor Who writer Steve Thompson is the man behind this brand new political comedy. It focuses on the character of Michael, who, as the newly elected Prime Minister, is determined to avoid all media charm offensives in favour of concentrating on the real business of mak- ing the world a better place. Trouble is, his family’s private life looks set to be the next big story. And when Michael is advised by a press secretary to “feed the beast before it turns on you”, he finds himself wondering whether his lofty principles are set to take a serious tumble... Read the interview with Steve Thompson on page 6. Shrek Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sun 26 April; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wed 30 September - Sun 11 October The popularity of this family-friendly West End winner of a show hardly comes as a surprise. After all, Dreamworks’ animated Shrek movies, inspired by cartoonist William Steig's 1990 book, were absolutely huge. It was only ever going to be a matter of time before everybody’s favourite swamp-dwelling ogre made a big splash away from the silver screen. After a tentative Broadway start, the production was revised for its subsequent US tour and West End residency - and is all the better for it. Pretty much retelling the story of the first movie, it peddles a line in humour that calls to mind both the surrealist Pythons and an evening of festive-season pantomime fare. Bouncers There are plenty of new songs to enjoy, too, presented alongside the cult Shrek anthem I’m A Old Rep, Birmingham, Wed 15 - Sat 18 April Believer. All in all, then, a feelgood show that pretty much touches all the bases for its young “Although it was written more than thirty target audience, while at the same time offering plenty to keep the adults amused. years ago, it feels like it could be about any Friday or Saturday night in any town or city up and down the country”, says John God- Different Is Dangerous The Turn Of The Screw ber when asked about one of the biggest The Drum, Birmingham, Thurs 16 April The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 23 April - Sat 2 May successes in British theatre in the last thirty- Conceived by Nyla Levy and Fadia Qaraman odd years. John Godber’s clever comedy while they were studying drama at Leeds An innovative use of shadow puppetry and provides a sharp and funny perspective on University, Different Is Dangerous combines projection help crank up the atmosphere in the club scene in the late twentieth century. headphone verbatim and fictional mono- this stage adaptation of Henry James’ gothic It focuses on four mean and moody bounc- logues to explore themes of ethnicity and classic. A young governess hired to care for ers as they prowl around a nightclub, and ‘race’. Nyla and Fadia gathered their informa- two children at a remote country estate four good-time girls out on a hen night. tion for the show by conducting interviews begins experiencing eerie visions of a man Godber has a talent for hitting the right notes within Leeds’ Asian community, talking to a and woman wandering through the house - with his observations on contemporary life, broad cross-section of people - from school- and soon becomes convinced that the and Bouncers exemplifies this talent at its children through to the older generation. youngsters in her charge are aware of the very best. Read our interview with John The resulting theatre piece offers a thought- ghostly presence too... online at whatsonlive.co.uk provoking insight into the experiences and challenges of multicultural life. The Mist In The Mirror Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Anne Of Green Gables Tues 14 - Sat 18 April mac, Birmingham, Thurs 9 - Sat 11 April When Sir James Monmouth determines to Prior to the arrival of Annie Warbucks in uncover the secrets of his childhood hero, Annie The Musical, Anne Shirley was surely the mysterious Conrad Vane, he finds himself the fictional world’s best-known redheaded haunted at every step by a pale, thin boy. orphan. He hears chilling screams and desperate The central character in Lucy Maude Mont- sobbing too - and when his search leads him gomery’s 1908 novel, Anne is mistakenly to the old lady of Kittiscar Hall, he discovers sent to live with a middle-aged brother and that something far more terrible is at work sister who live on Green Gables farm in the than ever he could’ve imagined... Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. Imitating The Dog present this atmospheric A spirited girl, Anne soon makes a big new production of Woman In Black author impression - and not only on the siblings Susan Hill’s spinechilling gothic tale. who’ve adopted her... Redhead Reach, the ensemble behind this new production, will be presenting a free post-show talk entitled Carrots!, which takes a look at the theme of red hair and identity. A free post-show writing workshop for chil- dren aged seven to eleven follows the mati- nee performance.

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For full linewebsite up visit our

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Theatre PREVIEWS A Translation Of Shadows Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 22 - Fri 24 April The ever-experimental Stan’s Cafe here pres- ent the world premiere of their latest show. The Birmingham-based ensemble last year travelled to Tokyo to make a silent movie about a young couple in love. The film, enti- tled Shadows, plays a key part in this new production, which focuses on the intriguing figure of the Benshi, a narrator employed during Japan’s silent-movie era to explain to cinema-goers what was happening in the film they were watching. “The Benshi were the stars,” explains Stan’s Cafe. “They would tell us what every shot and symbol meant, who the actors were, why he loved them, why the director was terrible, when and why we should cry and laugh, what would happen in the end, why he him- self was the greatest, most indispensable Benshi in history, and why we should fall in love with him.” A View From The Bridge Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 8 - Sat 11 April Dempsey And Makepeace actor Michael Brandon stars in this new version of Arthur Miller’s 1955 study of love, jealousy and betrayal. Set in New York during the 1950s, it finds longshoreman Eddie Carbone becoming increas- ingly obsessed with his orphaned niece, Catherine. But when Eddie and his wife welcome two cousins - Marco and Rodolpho, illegal immigrants from Italy - into their home, Catherine falls for the somewhat effeminate Rodolpho. The scene is suddenly set for an act of betrayal on Eddie’s part that leads to tragic conse- quences - not only for himself but also for his family and the whole community.... Read our interview with Michael at whatsonlive.co.uk

blance to Shakespeare’s Othello. piano recital, part fantasy lecture. Snow White On Ice The Duke of Pavia has married the beautiful Will scored a major hit with the show at the Malvern Theatre, Tues 14 - Sun 19 April Bianca, unaware that his best friend Fernan- Edinburgh Fringe in both 2013 and last year. The much-loved fairytale of Snow White - do loves her too. The Duke’s sister, mean- He uses piano solos, songs, underscores complete with its evil queen, enchanted mir- while, loves Fernando and racked with jeal- and hand-drawn projections to uncover the ror, rosy red apple and handsome prince - is ousy begins to manipulate her brother to act physical, emotional and spiritual anatomy of here presented by the highly accomplished against his friend... the piano, as well as to tell his own story as a Russian Ice Stars. Boasting the talented musician. ensemble’s usual blend of lavish sets, sump- tuous costumes and breathtaking athleticism The Picture Of Doreen Gray - not to mention an appearance from Mid- Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 30 April Death Of A Salesman lands favourite Rustie Lee - this is a produc- The well-established and always-value-for- Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- tion that should be well worth, er, getting money Lip Service - aka Maggie Fox and Sue Avon, until Sat 2 May your skates on for... Ryding - return to the region to present their As the world changes around him, Willy latest comic offering, which takes its inspira- Loman struggles to keep up. An on-the-road tion from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dori- salesman for longer than he cares to remem- an Gray. ber, Willy’s notched up countless miles in his Maggie and Sue are this year celebrating efforts to earn an honest crust for himself and three decades of working together, present- his family. But as the corporate world moves ing shows like Withering Looks - ‘an authen- on, sixty-year-old Willy finds himself question- tic insight into the lives and works of those ing the decisions he’s made - and wonders three Bronte sisters’ - and Inspector Norse - how the world can care so little for a man ‘a self-assembly Swedish crime thriller’. who’s given so much... You get the picture. Arthur Miller’s poignant and harrowing play is This time they’re telling the story of drive-time regarded as one of the twentieth century’s radio show host Doreen, who finds her high- most influential works, its study of loneliness profile career set to go up in smoke as she and failure having touched a chord with post- Love’s Sacrifice fast approaches her half century. war America. At a time when society is While attending a school reunion, she stum- changing at an ever-faster pace, the play Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, bles across a youthful self portrait - and finds Sat 11 April - Wed 24 June continues to have resonance today, particu- herself making a dark and dreadful deal... larly for anybody who’s ever had the feeling A rarely performed revenge tragedy written The production features community actors as that the world is passing them by. by John Ford, who also scribed Tis Pity Doreen’s high school friends. Sir Antony Sher takes She’s A Whore, Love’s Sacrifice hasn’t the lead as Willy, always met with universal acclaim. One of its while Dame Harriet most notable critics was TS Eliot, who once Anatomy Of The Piano Walter stars as his described it as ‘disfigured by all the faults of Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, wife, Linda. Sam which Ford was capable’. That said, the play Thurs 16 April Marks as Happy was well received when first performed in the Loman and Alex Has- The co-dependency that exists between the seventeenth century, and is further recom- sell as Biff also fea- piano and the pianist is just one of the sub- mended by its more than passing resem- ture. jects explored by Will Pickvance in this part

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BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, APRIL LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE 2015

Saturday 4th April Thursday 9th April Saturday 11th April ROVING CROWS JOHN COOPER JO ENRIGHT HIGH-ENERGY FOLK AND CLARKE ONE-WOMAN SHOW CELTIC MUSIC PERFORMANCE POET ERDINGTON GIRL RETURNS TO ARTRIX

Monday 20th April Wednesday 29th April Thursday 30th April KATHRYN BLACK SEANN WALSH ROBERTS & SEAN COLIN VEARNCOMBE WITH THE LIE-IN KING IS BACK LAKEMAN CALUM MacCOLL WITH HIS NEW SHOW 28 POPULAR FOLK DUO WITH HATTIE BRIGGS

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Whiplash (15) // Selma (12a) // Shaun The Sheep (u) // Wild (15) A Most Violent Year (15) // Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG) // Leviathan (15)

FORTHCOMING SCREENINGS: The Rise & Fall of The City of Mahogonny (Royal Opera house) La Traviata (ENO) // The Hard Problem (NT LIve) // La Fille Mal Gardee (Royal Ballet) Man And Superman (NT Live) // The Pirates Of Penzance (ENO) The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk

www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site

30 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre April 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:19 Page 8

Arts Complex MIDDAY VARIETY Coven- Theatre LISTINGS try’s finest variety show, with live music and a For full listing information on theatre star line-up, Thurs 2 productions, including times and dates, Apr, Belgrade Theatre, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Coventry CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DINOSAURS Les sain's twenty-first centu- Petits Theatre Compa- From ry love story, until Sat ny present a pirate WED 1 APR 11 Apr, Belgrade The- adventure fusing live atre, Coventry music, puppetry, physi- DERREN BROWN The cal performance & das- DR SEUSS’S THE CAT IN award-winning master tardly dinosaurs, Thurs THE HAT Lively & engag- of psychological illusion 2 Apr, Royal Spa Cen- ing theatre for children returns to the Midlands tre, Leamington Spa aged three-plus, until with a brand new show, THE PASSION Playbox Wed 1 Apr, Malvern until Sat 11 Apr, New Theatre presents a bold Theatre Alexandra Theatre, new staging of its BACK DOWN Highly Birmingham acclaimed production, anticipated first play by BEAUTIFUL THING Featur- with a new cast of Birmingham-born ing Charlie Brooks, young actors from Steven Camden, more Anne Of Green Gables - mac, Birmingham Thomas Law, Sam across Warwickshire commonly known as Jackson & Gerard and the West Midlands, Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, themes of love and adventure fusing live award-winning perform- McCarthy, until Sat 11 This performance forms and introducing Kaylee starring Michael Bran- music, puppetry, physi- ance poet Polarbear, Apr, Birmingham Hip- part of St Mary's Good Cropper and The don, Wed 8 - Sat 11 cal performance & das- until Wed 1 Apr, podrome Friday Service, Fri 3 Ronaldos, Sat 4 Apr, Apr, Belgrade Theatre, tardly dinosaurs, Fri 10 Newhampton Arts Cen- SHREK THE MUSICAL Vis- Apr, St Mary's Church, Walmley Club, Sutton Coventry Apr, Solihull Arts Com- tre, Wolverhampton iting the Midlands direct Warwick Coldfield NO REGRETS: THE LIFE plex A PASSION FOR BIRMING- from the West End, until PUSS IN BOOTS Lyngo THE CHUCKLES OF OZ STORY AND SONGS OF WE'LL MEET AGAIN - HITS HAM An immersive, Sun 26 April Theatre present a new Children's TV stars Paul EDITH PIAF A salute to FROM THE BLITZ Brand promenade production Birmingham Hippo- show for children aged and Barry take audi- the iconic French new wartime cavalcade which reimagines one drome three to eight, based on ences on a journey into singer, this ‘bio-show’ is show celebrating sev- of the world's most DEATH OF A SALESMAN the much-loved fable, the Emerald City in a a fascinating journey enty years since the important stories, the Sir Antony Sher, Alex Fri 3 Apr, Artrix, Broms- show packed with audi- through the life of a leg- end of WWII, Fri 10 Apr, life and death of Jesus Hassell & Harriet Walter grove ence participation and end who’s still idolised The Roses Theatre, Christ, until Fri 3 Apr, star in Arthur Miller's DINOSAUR ZOO Bringing laugh-out-loud comedy, fifty years after her Tewkesbury Old Joint Stock The- great American tragedy, a plethora of prehistoric Sat 4 Apr, Wolverhamp- death, Thurs 9 Apr, THE AMAZING BUBBLE atre, Birmingham until Sat 2 May, creatures to the stage, ton Grand Theatre Crescent Theatre, Birm- MAN International hit OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR Royal Shakespeare this unique experience ingham show, featuring bubble Joan Littlewood’s leg- Theatre, Stratford-upon- enables audiences ‘to Week Commencing SHOWSTOPPERS: THE art, magic, science and endary musical, revived Avon interact with lifelike FANTASTICAL STORY FAC- lots of fun, Fri 10 - Sat to commemorate the MON 6 APR CHRIS & PUI Brand new dinosaurs in an engag- TORY An improvised 11 Apr, Belgrade The- 100th anniversary of show packed with ing live show’, Fri 3 - musical adventure for atre, Coventry World War One, until songs, games and a Sun 5 Apr, Warwick Arts ARCADIA Tom Stop- kids of all ages - and THE PICTURE OF DORIAN Sat 4 Apr, Belgrade few surprises! Wed 1 Centre, Coventry pard's 1993 master- adults who act like GRAY European Arts Theatre, Coventry Apr, Palace Theatre, THE SOOTY SHOW A piece explores two kids! Everything is Company present an THE ADDAMS FAMILY: THE Redditch brand new family show groups of people (two made up on the spot adaptation of Oscar MUSICAL Worcester On PENELOPE RETOLD An featuring Sooty and his hundred years apart) in and entirely from audi- Wilde’s decadent tale Stage provide a rare irreverent collision of friends..., Sat 4 Apr, the same room of one ence suggestions, of infatuation, Sat 11 chance to see a new classic myth and con- Solihull Arts Complex of England's great Thurs 9 Apr, Royal Spa Apr, Swan Theatre, musical, fresh from temporary rage, written THE DANCING BEAR Philip country houses, Mon 6 Centre, Leamington Worcester Broadway, until Sat 4 & performed by Caro- Monks’ play for young - Sat 11 Apr, Malvern Spa BOUNCERS AND SHAKERS Apr, Crescent Theatre, line Horton, Wed 1 & children, providing fun, Theatre MARTIN HUGHES-GAMES The Crescent Theatre Birmingham Thurs 2 Apr, The REP, songs & audience par- JUSTIN AND FRIENDS: MR Join the presenter of present two one-act JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN Birmingham ticipation for two-to- TUMBLE'S CIRCUS Tues 7 BBC's Springwatch and plays devoted to the PERFECT NONSENSE Hit DISNEY ON ICE: MAGICAL nine-year-olds, Sat 4 Apr, Genting Arena, Autumnwatch as he men and women who West End comedy ICE FESTIVAL In a new Apr, Huntingdon Hall, Birmingham talks about his 'thrilling work clubs up and adapted from the works twist on fairytale fun, Worcester DANNY CHAMPION OF and often hilarious' down the country, Sat of PG Wodehouse, comical segments from THE MYSTERIES Playbox THE WORLD London memoir, A Wild Life, 11 - Sat 18 Apr, Cres- directed by Sean Foley. everyone’s favourite Theatre presents a bold Contemporary Theatre which recounts the tri- cent Theatre, Birming- Robert Webb, Jason Disney characters set new staging of its put an entirely new als and tribulations of ham Thorpe & Christopher the scene for the show- acclaimed production. slant on Roald Dahl’s filming the natural LOVE'S SACRIFICE Ryan star, until Sat 4 stopping on-ice stories These performances classic tale, Tues 7 Apr, world, Thurs 9 Apr, Matthew Dunster Apr, Malvern Theatre of princesses Ariel, are based on the origi- Roses Theatre, Tewkes- Kings High School, makes his RSC debut, THE JEW OF MALTA Rapunzel and Belle, nal production, with a bury Warwick directing John Ford's Justin Audibert makes Thurs 2 - Sun 5 Apr, new cast of young PUSS IN BOOTS Lyngo A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT rarely performed his RSC debut to direct Genting Arena, Birm- actors from across War- Theatre use puppetry to OUT Featuring Jonny revenge tragedy, Sat 11 Christopher Marlowe's ingham wickshire and the West bring to life this 'classic Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, Apr - Wed 24 Jun, The subversive play, until THE REDUCED SHAKE- Midlands, Sat 4 - Sun 5 furry tale', Tues 7 - Wed and introducing Kaylee Swan Theatre, Strat- Tues 8 Sept, The Swan SPEARE COMPANY A fast- Apr, The Dream Facto- 8 Apr, mac - Midlands Cropper and The ford-upon-Avon Theatre, Stratford-upon- paced romp through all ry, Warwick Arts Centre, Birming- Ronaldos, Thurs 9 Apr, Avon of The Bard's plays, A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT ham Stratford Artshouse BLOOD Emteaz Hus- Week Commencing Thurs 2 Apr, Solihull OUT Featuring Jonny KEY FOR TWO Stoke-on- ANNE OF GREEN GABLES Trent Repertory Players Redhead Reach pres- MON 13 APR present John Champ- ent a new staging of All My Sons - Malvern Theatre man & Dave Freeman’s this bestselling coming- LA BOHEME English farce concerning a of-age tale, Thurs 9 - Touring Opera present woman canny enough Sat 11 Apr, mac - Mid- a new production of to be kept by two men, lands Arts Centre, Birm- Puccini's romantic Tues 7 - Fri 10 Apr, ingham opera. Sung in Italian Stoke Repertory The- AND THIS IS MY FRIEND with English surtitles, atre, Stoke-on-Trent MR LAUREL Jeffrey Hol- Mon 13 Apr, Wolver- THE GHOST TRAIN Jeffrey land's one-man play, hampton Grand The- Holland & Judy Buxton which portrays his idol atre star in Arnold Ridley's Stan Laurel. Set In Oliv- MAXINE PEAKE AS HAM- classic comedy thriller er Hardy's bedroom, LET Royal Exchange about a group of trav- the play provides an in- Theatre screening of ellers stranded at an depth, humorous and the critically acclaimed isolated railway station, touching account of the production, Tues 14 Tues 7 - Sat 11 April comedian's life, Thurs 9 Apr, Malvern Theatre Wolverhampton Grand Apr, Wolverhampton 42ND STREET The Peter- Theatre Grand Theatre brook Players present A VIEW FROM THE CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE their version of the BRIDGE Arthur Miller's PIRATE DINOSAURS Les much-loved musical, modern classic, com- Petits Theatre Compa- which tells of Peggy plete with universal ny present a pirate Sawyer's rise from cho-

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and what happened to musical, Tues 21 - Sat 25 those left behind, Fri 17 - Apr, Palace Theatre Red- Theatre LISTINGS Sat 25 Apr, Hall Green Lit- ditch tle Theatre, Acocks ALL MY SONS Talawa The- For full listing information on theatre Green, Birmingham atre Company presents BY THE RIVERBANK First Arthur Miller's searing productions, including times and dates, visit Stages present a multi- investigation of honesty, www.whatsonlive.co.uk sensory adventure guilt and the corrupting inspired by Kenneth Gra- power of greed, Tues 21 - rus girl to Broadway star, tion and charmingly surre- hame's much-loved clas- Sat 25 Apr, Malvern The- Tues 14 - Wed 15 Apr, Soli- al humour to the Midlands, sic, The Wind In The Wil- atre hull Arts Complex Thurs 16 Apr, Old Joint lows. Suitable for children WEST SIDE STORY Worces- THAT'LL BE THE DAY Rock- Stock Theatre, Birming- aged three to six, Sat 18 ter Operatic And Dramatic 'n'roll spectacular combin- ham Apr, The REP, Birmingham Society (WODS) present ing music from the ’50s, TWELVE Kali Theatre take a F.A.N.Y - ANONYMOUS IS A an amateur production of ’60s & ’70s with wacky look at the subject of ‘hon- WOMAN THEATRE COMPANY one of the best-known comedy routines, Tues 14 our-based violence’. This New writing centred musicals of all time, Tues - Wed 15 Apr, The Roses performance comprises around the lives of five 21 - Sat 25 Apr, Swan The- Theatre, Tewkesbury twelve moving, touching young women fighting in atre, Worcester THE MIST IN THE MIRROR and sometimes humorous the First World War for the A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT An Oldham Colliseum The- monologues which tell sto- First Aid Nursing Yeoman- OUT Featuring Jonny Cole, atre production of Susan ries of friendship, first love, ry, Sat 18 Apr, Artrix, Dandy, Peter Lee, and Hill's gothic fireside story, defiance, death and sur- Bromsgrove introducing Kaylee Crop- Tues 14 - Sat 18 Apr, Bel- vival, Thurs 16 - Fri 17 Apr, DALLOWAY Dyad Produc- per and The Ronaldos, grade Theatre, Coventry mac - Midlands Arts Cen- tions present an adapta- Wed 22 Apr, THE PAJAMA GAME Leam- tre, Birmingham tion of Virginia Woolf’s cel- Solihull Arts Complex ington & Warwick Musical DIFFERENT IS DANGEROUS ebrated map of hearts, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY Birm- Society present a revival of Two's Company & The minds and memories, ingham Ormiston Acade- the popular 1954 musical, Drum present a devised which offers a compelling my present a contempo- set within the Sleep-Tite piece of theatre which feminist response to the rary staging of Dickens’ Pajama Factory, Tues 14 - offers a unique insight into aftermath of the First comic masterpiece, Wed Sat 18 Apr, Royal Spa the idiosyncratic life of the World War, Sat 18 Apr, 22 - Fri 24 Apr, Old Rep Centre, Leamington Spa Asian community living in Swan Theatre, Worcester Theatre, Birmingham SNOW WHITE ON ICE Join Leeds, Thurs 16 Apr, The CIRQUE SPECTACULAR Pop A TRANSLATION OF SHAD- the world-famous Russian Drum, Birmingham concert featuring 'dynamic OWS World premiere of Ice Stars as they embark THE HARD PROBLEM Nation- dancers and breathtaking Stan's Cafe's latest work, on a magical journey to al Theatre Live screening circus performers', Sat 18 Wed 22 - Fri 24 Apr, War- the heart of one of the of Tom Stoppard's highly Apr, Albany Theatre, wick Arts Centre, Coventry best-loved fairytales of all anticipated new play, Coventry THE TURN OF THE SCREW time, Tues 14 - Sun 19 Apr, Thurs 16 Apr, Warwick Arts Blue Orange Arts fuse Malvern Theatres Centre, Coventry; Royal shadow puppetry and pro- BOUNCERS John Godber's Spa Centre, Leamington Week Commencing jection to tell Henry James' classic comedy, Wed 15 - Spa MON 20 APR gothic classic, Thurs 23 Sat 18 Apr, The Old Rep CHARLES DARWIN: THE ORI- Apr - Sat 2 May, The Blue Theatre, Birmingham GIN OF SPECIES Tangram THE BOY WHO BIT PICASSO Orange Theatre, Birming- OCTONAUTS AND THE DEEP Theatre Company present With storytelling, music ham SEA VOLCANO ADVENTURE A a musical comedy about and lots of chances to THAT'LL BE THE DAY Rock- brand new stage show the life and works of the make your own art, this 'n'roll spectacular combin- based on the popular biologist, Charles Darwin, hands-on family show ing music from the ’50s, CBeebies TV show, Wed Fri 17 - Sat 18 Apr, Old introduces one of the ’60s & ’70s with wacky 15 - Thurs 16 Apr, Wolver- Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- twentieth century’s most comedy routines, Thurs 23 hampton Grand Theatre ingham - Fri 24 Apr, Stafford Gate- 69 SHADES OF BLACK New FRANK: JUST ANOTHER influential artists through the eyes of a young boy. house Theatre comedy 'full of nipple- BROTHER A New Stuff The- Be sure to wear some MY FATHER AND OTHER twisting action and inde- atre Company Production play-clothes because it’s SUPER HEROES A one-man cent proposals', Thurs 16 which explores (some of) going to get messy!, Sun show that innovatively Apr, Palace Theatre, Red- the life and times of Fran- 19 - Mon 20 Apr, mac - fuses storytelling, physical ditch cis of Assisi, Fri 17 - Sat 18 Midlands Arts Centre, theatre and contemporary FEED THE BEAST World pre- Apr, The Bear Pit Theatre - Birmingham spoken word in a powerful miere of Steve Thomp- The United Reformed THE PRODUCERS Mel one-hour performance, son's fiercely funny look at Church, Stratford-upon- Brooks' smash-hit musical Thurs 23 Apr, The Drum, the rocky relations Avon Birmingham between our press and A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT comedy based on the Academy Award-winning AS YOU LIKE IT politicians in a world of OUT Featuring Jonny Cole, movie, Mon 20 - Sat 25 SYT present Shake- spin-doctors and Leveson Dandy, Peter Lee, and Apr, New Alexandra The- speare's tale of love, jeal- Inquiries, Thurs 16 Apr - introducing Kaylee Crop- atre, Birmingham ousy and regeneration. Sat 2 May, The REP, Birm- per and The Ronaldos, Fri THE BODYGUARD Alexandra Thurs 23 Apr - Sat 2 May, ingham 17 Apr, Palace Theatre, Burke stars in the lead role The Dream Factory, War- ANATOMY OF THE PIANO Redditch as Rachel Marron, Tues 21 wicks Part piano recital, part fan- TOP GIRLS Caryl Churchill’s Apr - Sat 2 May, Wolver- PALACH Newman University tasy lecture, pianist Will muscular and moving hampton Grand Theatre Second Year Drama pres- Pickvance brings his sell- study of success in THE PRODUCERS Studley ents Alan Burns' neglected out Edinburgh Fringe Thatcher’s England, the Operatic Society present experimental work, Thurs show of virtuosity, dissec- compromises we made an amateur staging of Mel 23 - Fri 24 Apr, Crescent Brooks' award-winning Theatre, Birmingham musical comedy, Tues 21 - THE BEAUTY MANIFESTO Sat 25 Apr, Palace The- The Belgrade Acting Out atre, Redditch Company present a world I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS of extreme physical con- Theatre Alibi present a formity, where teenagers staging of Michael Morpur- celebrate their sixteenth go's spellbinding story birthdays with cosmetic about a Unicorn Lady who surgery, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 arrives in town with a sack- Apr, Belgrade Theatre, ful of magical tales, Tues Coventry 21 - Wed 22 Apr, mac - MAXINE PEAKE AS HAMLET Midlands Arts Centre, Royal Exchange Theatre Birmingham screening of the critically JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING acclaimed production, TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Thurs 23 Apr, Warwick Arts Tim Rice and Andrew Centre, Coventry Lloyd Webber musical, MACBETH SYC present Tues 21 - Sat 25 Apr, Bel- Shakespeare's drama of grade Theatre, Coventry power, dread and super- THE PRODUCERS Studley natural confrontation, Fri Operatic Society presents 24 Apr - Sat 2 May, The an amateur production of Dream Factory, Warwick The Picture Of Doreen Gray - Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Mel Brooks’ award-winning www.whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Theatre April 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:19 Page 11 Theatre April 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:19 Page 12

2 May, Belgrade The- atre, Coventry Theatre LISTINGS I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS Theatre Alibi present a For full listing information on theatre staging of Michael Mor- productions, including times and dates, purgo's spellbinding visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk story about a Unicorn Lady who arrives in town with a sackful of IN CONVERSATION WITH talgia, Sun 26 Apr, magical tales, Tues 28 STEVE THOMPSON An Huntingdon Hall, Apr - Sat 2 May, insight into the working Worcester Malvern Theatre process of the award- A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT winning writer of Feed Week Commencing OUT Featuring Jonny The Beast, Sherlock Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, and Doctor Who, Sat MON 27 APR and introducing Kaylee 25 Apr, The REP, Birm- Cropper and The ingham ROMEO AND JULIET Ronaldos, Tues 28 Apr, GLASS MOUNTAIN Bro- Encore live screening The Robin, Bilston ken Glass Theatre of a 'dazzling' modern- POETRY SLAM Hosted by Company present an day take on one of former Birmingham original fairytale com- Shakespeare's best- Poet Laureate SPOZ, bining storytelling with loved plays, Sun 26 Tues 28 Apr, Palace puppetry and a live Apr, Warwick Arts Cen- Theatre, Redditch musical soundtrack, Sat tre, Coventry ARCH 468: CUDDLES 25 Apr, Crescent The- REBECCA Kneehigh The- Debut play from Capital atre, Birmingham atre present Emma Award-winning young SHACKLETON'S CAT Eng- Rice's adaptation of playwright Joseph lish Touring Opera Daphne du Maurier's Wilde, Wed 29 - Thurs present a new one-act timeless tale, Mon 27 30 Apr, mac - Midlands opera for seven-to- Apr - Sat 2 May, The Arts Centre, B’ham eleven-year-olds and REP, Birmingham PIRATES OF PENZANCE Disney On Ice Presents: Magical Ice Festival - Genting Arena, Birmingham their families, in cele- THE KING’S SPEECH Tinkers Farm Opera Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, Louise May Alcott’s DIRTY DANCING Eleanor bration of the centenary Jason Donovan & Ray- present a modern inter- and introducing Kaylee classic tale, Thurs 30 Bergstein's smash-hit of the voyage of The mond Coulthard star in pretation of Gilbert & Cropper and The Apr - Sat 2 May, The West End musical tells Endurance to the a new staging of the Sullivan's operatic mas- Ronaldos, Thurs 30 Old Rep Theatre, Birm- the classic love story of Antarctic. The opera story of one man's terpiece, Wed 29 Apr - Apr, Aston Wood, Sut- ingham Baby and Johnny. This includes moments of struggle to overcome Sat 2 May, Crescent ton Coldfield NEVILLE’S ISLAND Tim touring production fea- participation, science his personal affliction Theatre, Birmingham THE PICTURE OF DOREEN Firth’s comedy, which tures brand new chore- and participatory and, in his country's GREEN LEAVES FALL GRAY Brand new pro- follows the misadven- ography performed songs, Sat 25 Apr, War- darkest hour, deliver a Strictly Arts Theatre duction from the award- tures of four out-of-con- alongside a host of wick Arts Centre, speech to inspire his Company present a winning LipService The- dition, out-of-their-depth memorable tunes - Coventry people, Mon 27 Apr - debut play which atre, Thurs 30 Apr, The businessmen on an including the award- MET OPERA: MASCAGNI Sat 2 May, Malvern explores two of the Roses Theatre, Tewkes- out-of-control team- winning (I've Had) The CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA Theatre most pressing social bury building exercise, Thurs Time Of My Life, Thurs & LEONCAVALLO I PAGLI- OUR HOUSE Solihull On issues of our time - LITTLE WOMEN Birming- 30 Apr - Sat 9 May, Sut- 30 Apr - Sat 23 May, ACCI Opera’s most Stage present an ama- inequality and unem- ham Ormiston Acade- ton Arts Theatre, Sutton Birmingham Hippo- enduring tragic double- teur production of the ployment, Wed 29 Apr - my present a staging of Coldfield drome bill returns in an evoca- Madness musical, Tues Sat 2 May, Belgrade tive new production 28 Apr - Sat 2 May, Theatre, Coventry from Sir David McVicar, Solihull Arts Complex CURIOUS Half Moon who sets the action THE SECRET ADVERSARY presents a Tam Tam Theatre Box Office across two time periods The Watermill Theatre Theatre production, a but in the same Sicilian in association with play with a few words, village, Sat 25 Apr, Eleanor Lloyd Produc- an imaginative world Birmingham NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL Malvern Theatre tions present Agatha where kitchen meets 01902 572090 024 7637 6707 WELL REALLY, CAPTAIN Christie's gripping garden and where dirt ALEXANDRA THEATRE MAINWARING! Dad’s thriller, which follows 0844 871 3011 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY BELGRADE THEATRE, is good, Wed 29 Apr, 0121 552 2761 COVENTRY Army vicar Frank the adventures of BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME Newhampton Arts Cen- 024 7655 3055 Williams invites you to Tommy & Tuppence 0844 338 5000 tre, Wolverhampton Shropshire BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, join him for an after- Beresford in 1920s Lon- BIRMINGHAM REP A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON WARWICK 01926 776438 noon of television nos- don, Tues 28 Apr - Sat OUT Featuring Jonny 0121 236 4455 01952 222277 THE DREAM FACTORY THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 01926 419555 0121 212 2643 01952 728911 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE CRESCENT THEATRE THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY THEATRE, 0121 643 5858 01743 234970 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON DOVEHOUSE THEATRE LUDLOW ASSEMBLY 0844 800 1110 0121 706 7139 ROOMS 01584 878141 ROYAL SPA CENTRE THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 HALL GREEN LITTLE TELFORD 01952 382382 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, THEATRE THEATRE SEVERN, COVENTRY 02476 524524 0121 707 1874 SHREWSBURY MAC 0121 446 3232 01743 281281 Worcestershire OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, 0121 200 0946 Staffordshire BROMSGROVE OLD REP 0121 359 9444 LICHFIELD GARRICK 01527 577330 SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 01543 412121 THE HIVE 0121 704 6962 NEW VIC, NEWCASTLE- 01905 822866 SUTTON ARTS THEATRE, UNDER-LYME 01782 717962 HUNTINGDON HALL, SUTTON COLDFIELD PRINCE OF WALES WORCESTER 0121 355 5355 CENTRE, CANNOCK 01905 611427 01543 578762 MALVERN THEATRE Black Country REGENT THEATRE, STOKE 01684 892277 0870 060 6649 ARENA THEATRE NORBURY THEATRE, WOLVERHAMPTON RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE DROITWICH 01902 321321 01889 584036 01905 770154 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE BLOXWICH THEATRE PALACE THEATRE 01785 619080 01922 653183 REDDITCH 01527 65203 STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE DUDLEY CONCERT HALL ROSE THEATRE, 01782 209784 01384 812812 01562 743745 FOREST ARTS CENTRE, SWAN THEATRE, WALSALL Warwickshire WORCESTER 01922 654555 ALBANY THEATRE, 01905 611427 GRAND THEATRE, COVENTRY 01902 429212 024 7601 6222 Arch 468: Cuddles - mac, Birmingham www.whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Theatre April 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:19 Page 13 Theatre April 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:19 Page 14

Theatre REVIEWS CONT...

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk One Man, Two Guvnors Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

One Man, Two Guvnors secured its writer, Richard Bean, the 2011 Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play and the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best New Comedy. Expectations, therefore, were understandably high. The play centres on the not-too-bright and easily confused Francis Henshall. Francis, who’s recently entered the employ of one Roscoe Crabbe, finds Top Hat himself in Brighton, assisting Roscoe recover a Birmingham Hippodrome large debt. The debtor is Charlie ‘The Duck’ Clench, who’s reneged on an arrangement in which his Set in the 1930s, Top Hat is a musical that recreates the glamour and decadence of daughter was to marry Roscoe. From here on in, the age. The production, based on the 1935 film of the same name starring Ginger life gets ever more complicated for Francis - and Rogers and Fred Astaire, is a non-stop thrill-ride from start to finish. getting himself an additional guvnor only adds to his From New York to London and finally Venice, the musical follows tap star Jerry Travers dilemma. as he moves from Broadway to the West End to star in a new show produced by What unfolds is a fast-paced farce in which a befud- Horace Hardwick. He meets and pursues gal-about-town Dale Tremont and follows her dled Francis takes centre-stage, with those around to Venice, where the classic tale of mistaken identity takes plenty of twists and turns. him seemingly oblivious to his predicament. Hilari- With stunning scenery that evokes the glitz of Hollywood’s heyday, rich satin and silk ous dialogue and great physical comedy are in costumes that glide sensuously across the performers’ sinewy bodies, and an even plentiful supply here. There are scenes that involve grander soundtrack, Top Hat is a dazzling spectacle. The original score by musical the audience, but I thought these were unnecessary maestro Irving Berlin has spawned numerous hits - Puttin’ On The Ritz, Cheek To and drawn out - they certainly distracted from the Cheek and Let’s Face The Music And Dance - making it a musical that can be enjoyed play itself. But Gavin Spokes, who plays Francis, by all. steals the show with a fantastic and very energetic Dale is played by Charlotte Gooch, who’s sensational both in looks and movement, performance. gliding around the stage and performing effortless high kicks - as well as delivering One Man, Two GuvnorsTed Finlayis a riot n nfrom n n start to finish. wise-cracking put-downs with aplomb. Alan Burkitt plays the endearing Jerry, his charm Catch it if you can! and charisma winning the affection of the audience. Added to this mix are Horace Hardwick and his hardball-playing wife, Madge, who have a jaded view on marriage. “A man is incomplete until he’s married,” proclaims Horace, “after that he’s finished.” Another shining star is John Conroy as Bates, the classic butler archetype who goes one step further, donning costumes - including that of a gondolier and a waiter - in his efforts to serve Mr Hardwick. Providing even more comedy is Sebastien Torkia’s Alberto Beddini, whose exaggerated flamboyance steers the show into the realms of farce. A glitzy affair with plenty of style and pizazz, Top Hat is a spectacle that shouldn’t be Alev Dervish n n n n n missed.

Milked Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury It’s tough being twenty in the countryside; especially if you’re straight out of university with a useless degree, or a local lad struggling to identify an ambition. Author Simon Longman presents us with two pals with precious little purpose, suffer- ing from the uselessness of youth. They were clearly unprepared by their school for life beyond (a predicament which may have rung more true a generation ago) and are Cirque Berserk already nostalgic for their lost childhoods. Paul (Adam Redmore) is making hundreds of pointless phone calls in search of jobs The REP, Birmingham beyond his experience and Snowy (Oliver Mott) does know what to do with himself This was definitely one berserk circus, and I was other than succumb to parental pressures. clapping like a happy seal at each death-defying Longman gives them some very witty, machine gun dialogue – much of which I stunt! The clubby vibe and pulsating music provid- ‘remembered’ from my own youth…though I was surprised by the residual levels of ed a contemporary twist to the more-traditional acts childishness in their conversation. I would have pitched the naivety of their dialogue to - and the audience went wild. be more like that of young teenagers. With a supernaturally talented troupe of internation- But their sense of frustration is very palpable…until a chance encounter with a downed al performers, it felt like a transatlantic mystique cow gives them a ‘project’. The poor beast is clearly ill and - rather than use adult sen- had landed in Brum for one night only. The Cuban sibility and call for assistance – they try to help it themselves; hopelessly. What is ini- Tropicana Troupe were truly thrilling, catapulting off tially an empowering experience only deepens their sense of failure. a springboard and somersaulting through the air It’s a very clever, amusing and original device. I enjoyed the banter; and the business with perfect grace. The Timbuktu Tumblers were of finding a plastic glove big enough to do a particularly mucky job is reliably funny… my favourite, drawing gasps as they limboed under as toilet humour generally is. fire, dived through hoops and back-flipped around The trouble is the central scenario is totally unlikely. Cows cost money. No farmer the confined stage. Other acts included awesome checking his herd twice a day would leave one lying around to fade away. Good com- acrobatics, knife throwing and a more-exciting- edy is based on reality…and the cow’s ultimate fate is laughable for all the wrong rea- than-it-sounds handstand. Tweedy the clown con- sons. tributed too - but it was the Globe Of Terror, with I came away with a sense that the play was piggy backing on real rural issues rather four motorbike riders zooming in dizzy directions, than dealing with them head-on to an audience that already gets the picture. that really had the crowd cheering! Increasingly in Pentabus productions, we don’t actually see anything happen; and this Daring and dramatic, this was dynamite entertain- show also feels a bit like a pilot for a radio drama. ment in a league of its own. Ultimately it’s an amusing but incomplete evening in the theatre. Malaka Chowdhury n n n n Chris Eldon Lee n n n www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Theatre April 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:19 Page 15

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Theatre WEST END Mark Rylance back in the West End Hot on the heels of his performance as Thomas Cromwell in the BBC2 adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, Mark Rylance has announced he’s to return to the stage to star in Claire van Kampen’s new play, Farinelli And The King. The production - which transfers to the West End in the autumn from the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe - sees Rylance starring as King Philippe of Spain. Set in eighteenth century Spain, the play tells the story of Carlo Broschi - stage name, Farinelli - who at the time was the world’s most famous castrato and one of the greatest celebrities of the age. Farinelli And The King will show at the Duke of York’s Theatre for a limited season from Sep- tember. Rylance’s recent theatre credits include John- ny ‘Rooster’ Byron in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem (Royal Court, West End and Broad- way).

Ex-Dr Who star Peter Davison joins Gypsy All Creatures Great And Small favourite and one-time Dr Who actor Peter Davison has joined the cast of the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Gypsy. Davison will star as Herbie, opposite Imelda Staunton as Rose, in an eagerly anticipated staging of the classic musical. Boasting music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, this new production is the first West End staging of Gypsy in forty years. Based on the true-life memoirs of legendary burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, the show tells the story of Momma Rose and her two daughters, Baby June and Louise, as they trek across America in their family vaudeville act. But times are changing, audi- ences are expecting more, and the two girls have their own ambitions in mind. The rise of burlesque is upon them, and nothing will ever be the same again for Momma Rose... Gypsy shows at the Savoy Theatre and is currently booking until 18 July.

Women On The Verge... for longer

Producers of hit musical Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Break- down have announced that the production has extended its booking period at the Playhouse Theatre until 22 August. Directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlet Sher and starring Tamsin Greig and Haydn Gwynne in the lead roles, Women On The Verge... is based on Pedro Almodovar’s film of the same name. Set in Spain in the 1980s, the story follows the messy love lives of several women, including Pepa (Greig), an actress and singer who struggles to deal with being dumped by her boyfriend. At the time of going to print, both Greig and Gwynne have been nom- inated for Olivier Awards, Greig for Best Actress In A Musical and Gwynne for Best Supporting Actress In A Musical.

Casting announced for The Spalding Suite A new show inspired by UK basketball culture is to make its debut at London’s Southbank Centre this month before heading out on a nationwide tour. Written by spoken-word artist Inua Ellams and directed by the award- winning Benji Reid, The Spalding Suite is described as ‘a physical theatre show com- bining original poetry with contemporary movement to explore the elegance and beau- ty of basketball’. Featuring UK Beatboxing Champion and World Finalist MC Zani, Marcquelle Ward (E4’s Banana) and Emmanuel Akwafo (Forev- er, Cuckoo), The Spalding Suite shows at the Southbank Centre from 29 April to 2 May. On tour, it shows at Birmingham’s DanceX- change from 14 to 16 May.

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Rosie Kay Dance - 5 Soldiers: The Body Is The Frontline The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 April The award-winning Rosie Kay Dance Company this month returns to The production has seen the company working in partnership with the region to present a highly acclaimed work exploring how the theatres, military bases and the Army Welfare Service. The tour human body remains essential to war in the twenty-first century. model comprises two months of community outreach work in each Created in 2010, 5 Soldiers: The Body Is The Frontline is a moving location, followed by a weekend of events, community performances, and thought-provoking work of dance theatre featuring one female professional presentations and post-show talks with Kay, the cast and and four male dancers. Looking at the physical training that’s under- a local commanding officer. taken in preparation for war, the show blends moments of great “We aim to make an impact with this tour,” says Rosie, “and make humour and brutal honesty, all delivered in Kay’s inimitable dance people see conflict and the repercussions of war in a new way.” style.

Pasha Kovalev Solihull Arts Complex, Tues 7 April; Lichfield Garrick, Sat 2 May; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Tues 5 - Wed 6 May; Malvern Theatre, Fri 8 May; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues 12 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 6 June; Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock, Thurs 18 June. A firm favourite on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Siberian-born Pasha Kovalev’s forte is ballroom and latin dance. Having toured with the Strictly team in 2012 and then with professional dance partner Katya Virshilas in 2013, Pasha is currently on the road with his brand new show, Life Through Dance. Promising non-stop Maati (Earth) action, the production mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Thurs 30 April features ‘breathtaking choreography, sensa- According to The Independent, ‘If you only see Kathak once, make sure it’s tional music and amaz- Nahid Siddiqui dancing it.’ ing costumes’. Described as Pakistan’s ‘face of Kathak dance’, Siddiqui fuses traditional and Pasha is joined by fel- contemporary techniques to extend the Kathak repertoire and develop its univer- low dancers Anya sal appeal. Garnis, Ryan In this new work, based on the writings of seventeenth-century Eastern philoso- Hammond, Marcella pher and poet Hazrat Bulleh Shah, Siddiqui presents a ‘haunting baafi’ which Solimeo, James Wilson unveils the phenomena of earth and questions the fundamental truths of human and Leila Stewart. existence.

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Exploration of Irish co-existence, Thurs 23 LISTINGS myths through narra- Apr, mac - Midlands Dance tion, Irish music and Arts Centre, Irish dancing, Sun 12 Birmingham For full listing information on dance, Apr, Wolverhampton SNOW WHITE Midland including times and dates, visit Grand Theatre Theatre Ballet's inter- www.whatsonlive.co.uk SUITE FROM SNOW pretation of the much- WHITE (SCHNEE- loved Grimm fairytale, WITTCHEN) A BALLET IN Thurs 23 - Sat 25 Apr, VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET the Strictly star as he FOUR ACTS World pre- Crescent Theatre, Thirty-fifth anniversary transports audiences miere of music for bal- Birmingham gala featuring excerpts into the world of let set to the original 5 SOLDIERS - THE BODY from the world’s most Ballroom & Latin dance Brothers Grimm version IS THE FRONTLINE Rosie beloved Tchaikovsky in a new production of Snow White, Tues 14 Kay Dance Company ballets, Wed 1 Apr, The featuring 'fabulous cho- Apr, The Old Rep, present a powerful Roses Theatre, reography, sensational Birmingham dance theatre produc- Tewkesbury music & amazing cos- IVAN THE TERRIBLE (LIVE) tion that explores the A NIGHT OF DIRTY tumes', Tue 7 Apr, Live screening from the physicality of modern DANCING Dancing Solihull Arts Complex Bolshoi Ballet in warfare, Thurs 23 - Sat ESSENCE OF IRELAND extravaganza present- Moscow. Recently 25 Apr, The REP, ed by an all-star cast, Exploration of Irish revived, Ivan The Birmingham Tangomotion - The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury including West End myths through narra- Terrible is an essential NEVER GOING HOME performers, Thurs 2 tion, Irish music and part of the company’s AGAIN Rutherford Apr, Palace Theatre, Irish dancing, Sat 11 repertoire, a twentieth- Dance Company here Dance Box Office Redditch Apr, Palace Theatre, century classic and a celebrate diversity and PASHA KOVALEV: LIFE Redditch wonderful theatrical investigate differences ESSENCE OF IRELAND THROUGH DANCE Join experience, Sun 19 Apr, defined by sexual ori- ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE STAFFORD GATEHOUSE Royal Spa Centre, entation, Mon 27 Apr, 01527 577330 THEATRE Stopgap: Artificial Things - mac, Birmingham 01785 254653 Leamington Spa Artrix, Bromsgrove CRESCENT THEATRE TANGOMOTION Journey MAATI (EARTH) PRESENT- 0121 643 5858 THEATRE SEVERN, into the heart of Tango ED BY NAHID SIDDIQUI MAC, BIRMINGHAM SHREWSBURY Argentino with world- Acclaimed Kathak 0121 446 3232 01743 281281 famous dancers dancers and choreog- NEW ALEXANDRA THE OLD REP, Giraldo Escobar, rapher Nahid Siddiqui THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM Christina Bensan, present a new work 0121 230 9082 0121 359 9445 Richard Manuel and developed on the writ- PALACE THEATRE THE REP, BIRMINGHAM Pauline Reibel, Thurs ings of seventeenth- 01527 65203 0121 236 4455 23 Apr, The Roses century Eastern ROYAL SPA CENTRE, THE ROSES THEATRE, Theatre, Tewkesbury philosopher & poet LEAMINGTON SPA TEWKESBURY STOPGAP: ARTIFICIAL Hazrat Bulleh Shah, 01926 334418 01684 2955074 THINGS In this cinematic whose poetry highlights SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, and evocative produc- his spiritual journey 0121 704 6962 COVENTRY tion, Stopgap Dance through Sufism, Thurs 02476 524524 Company create a 30 Apr, mac, compact world of rid- Birmingham For full venue information dles that questions our visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk notions about unity and

M motionhouse @ motionhousedt motionhouse

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Film TO WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

FROM FRI 24 APRIL

The Avengers: Age Of Ultron CERT tbc Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Hayley Atwell, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgård, Tom Hiddle- ston Directed by Joss Whedon (USA) The film of the year? Considering that Avengers Assemble (2012) is now the planet’s third highest-grossing movie of all time, one might think so. Thankfully, Joss Whedon is once again at the helm and has reunited the original Sensational Six - Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Captain Amer- ica, Black Widow and Hawkeye - to fight a new threat to mankind. The villain better be good to sustain this tentpole and he comes in the form of James Spader as the eponymous Ultron. Ultron is another sentient robot (cf. Ex Machina, Big Hero 6, Chappie), and although programmed with some of the personality traits of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), his aim is to save our planet by extinguishing humanity. He has a point… The film was primarily shot in Surrey (at Shepperton Studios), as well as on location in South Africa, Italy, South Korea, Bangladesh, New York and Norwich. A truly global phenomenon, then. TOP 5 FILM BOX OFFICE

The Second Best Exotic 1 Marigold Hotel (PG) 2 Run All Night (15) 3 Focus (15) 4 Suite Francaise (15) From FRI 3 APR 5 Fifty Shades Of Grey (18) Fast & FuriousCERT 7 tbc Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Lucas Black, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Djimon Hounsou Directed by James Wan (USA) As Fast & Furious 6 (2013) grossed over $788million at the global box-office, the producers could afford to pay for this astonishing cast of heavyweights. Indeed, the budget finally came in at a wallet-buckling $250mil- lion. Jason Statham is the new hardman to beat and you can smell the testosterone from here. He plays the brother of Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans in the last film) and is out for revenge for Owen’s death. Sadly, Paul Walker - who plays Brian O’Conner - died during production (in a car, no less) and filming was put on hold for four months while the writers figured out a way to explain his departure from the story (no spoilers here). Filming took place in Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Colorado, Tokyo, Atlanta and California. Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Film - April.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 16:31 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES Released from Fri 3 April

Kidnapping Freddy Heineken CERT 15 (93 mins) Starring Anthony Hopkins, Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, Jemima West Directed by Daniel Alfredson (UK/Belgium/Netherlands) Freddy Heineken was not small beer. In fact, his abduction resulted in the largest ransom ever paid out for a single person. Sir Tony plays the brewing bigwig of the title, his kid- napping chronicled by the investigative jour- nalist Peter R de Vries, on whose two books the film is based. If you can’t remember, it all happened in 1983.

From FRI 3 APR

Jauja CERT 15 (110 mins) The Water Diviner CERT 15 (91 mins) Starring Viggo Mortensen, Viilbjørk Malling Starring Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Agger, Ghita Nørby Yılmaz Erdo an, Cem Yılmaz, Jai Court- Directed by Lisaandro Alonso ney Directedğ by Russell Crowe (Aus- (Denmark/Argentina/France/Mexico/USA) tralia/USA/Turkey) You don’t often come across existential Danish Having worked with Ridley Scott, Ron films shot in Argentina, but this is one such. Howard, Michael Mann and Peter Weir, Viggo Mortensen (whose father is Danish) plays Russell Crowe now takes up the directo- While We're Young Gunnar Dinesen, an engineer working for the rial reins himself for this historical drama. CERT 15 (97 mins) Danish army who is posted to a remote outpost He plays the father of three boys who Starring Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam of Patagonia. Then his fifteen-year-old daughter went missing during the Battle of Gallipoli Driver, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Grodin, (Agger) elopes with a soldier and so Dinesen and travels to Turkey to find them. Adam Horovitz Directed by Noah Baumbach (USA) embarks on an epic journey through the desert to find her. Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at last Having written and directed The Squid And The year's Cannes festival. CERT 15 (100 mins) Whale, Margot At The Wedding and Frances Good Kill Ha, Noah Baumbach has carved himself a nice Starring Ethan Hawke, January Jones, Zoë Kravitz, Jake Abel, Bruce Greenwood little niche in critically acclaimed indie cinema. Directed by Andrew Niccol (USA) Here, he’s cast Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a (gasp) middle-aged couple who have em- The writer-director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, braced the technology available to them. How- S1m0ne, In Time) likes to explore ideas of ever, their lives are turned around when they technology and morality. Here, he casts meet a twentysomething pair who are really into Ethan Hawke (Gattaca, Boyhood) as a drone vinyl, typewriters and all that old stuff. Pre- pilot who begins to question the ethics of his dictably, the film has received rave reviews in job. We can’t wait. the States.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 CERT 15 (102 mins) Starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Adam Scott, Chevy Chase Directed by Steve Pink (USA) The original film, released in 2010, was a one- joke comedy about three guys transported back to 1986 via a magic hot tub. The sequel - which received withering reviews in the US - sees Corddry, Robinson and Duke now trans- Released from Fri 10 April ported into the future. So they have to alter the Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 future in order to save the past. John Cusack, CERT PG (94 mins) the original star (and producer), is nowhere to Starring Kevin James, Molly Shannon, Neal CERT 15 (93 mins) be seen. McDonough, Daniella Alonso, Raini Ro- Lost River driguez Directed by Andy Fickman (USA) Starring Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, Iain De Caestecker, Matt Smith, Eva Mendes, Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) was pretty well Ben Mendelsohn panned by the critics - yet it still managed to Directed by Ryan Gosling (USA) gross $183million worldwide. Anyway, this time Who would have thunk it? Ryan Gosling direct- security guard Blart (Kevin ing Doctor Who? Matt Smith plays a well-honed James, who also co- thug called Bully (at one point he shouts “look scripts) takes his daughter at my muscles!”), but the story really belongs to on vacation in Las Vegas. Christina Hendricks' Billy, a single mother However, what was meant drawn into a “macabre and dark fantasy under- to be a time of relaxation world.” The film was panned at Cannes. Oh, turns out to be something and expect some pretty strong violence. of a busman’s holiday…

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Woman In Gold CERT 12a (109 mins) Starring Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl, Katie Holmes, Tatiana Maslany, Charles Dance, Jonathan Pryce Directed by Simon Curtis (UK/USA) Don’t be fooled: Dame Helen Mirren is still only sixty-nine. However, here she plays Maria Alt- mann, a Jewish octogenarian who, with the help of an American lawyer (Reynolds), takes on the Austrian government in order to reclaim Gustav Klimt's Portrait Of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, stolen from her family by the Nazis. Based on a true story.

From FRI 10 APR Released from Fri 17 April A Little Chaos CERT 12a tbc John Wick CERT 15 (101 mins) Starring Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Child 44 CERT 15 (137 mins) Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci, Helen McCrory, Alfie Allen, Bridget Moynahan, Ian Mc- Jennifer Ehle Shane, Willem Dafoe Starring Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Noomi Ra- Directed by Chad Stahelski (USA) pace, Joel Kinnaman, Paddy Considine, Directed by Alan Rickman (UK) Jason Clarke, Vincent Cassel There just aren’t enough films about landscape John Wick (Keanu) is a hitman who’s thrown Directed by Daniel Espinosa (USA/UK) gardeners. This one pits Kate Winslet’s Sabine in the towel. However, when Russian gang- Filmed in the Czech Republic, this hard-hit- against the designs of André Le Nôtre (Schoe- sters shoot his beagle puppy - a gift from his ting thriller takes as its subject a spate of naerts, recently seen in Suite Française), both late wife - he unpacks his shooter. The action- child murders. Tom Hardy plays Leo Demi- of whom are com- thriller - co-directed by an uncredited David dov, a disgraced intelligence agent in the peting to win the Leitch - takes much of its inspiration from Stalin-era Soviet Union who takes it upon prize of constructing anime and martial arts films as well as from himself to investigate the killings. Based on a new a fountain at the oeuvre of John Woo. the 2008 novel by Tom Rob Smith. the Palace of Ver- sailles. Alan Rick- man plays King Released from Fri 24 April Louis XIV and also directs, following his debut behind the The Good Lie CERT 12a (110 mins) camera with The Starring Reese Witherspoon, Corey Stoll, Winter Guest (1997). Sarah Baker, Maria Howell Directed by Philippe Falardeau (USA) Based on true events, this is the story of a brassy American woman (Witherspoon) who The Salvation CERT 15 (92 mins) assists in the relocation of four young Su- Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Eric danese refugees. Corey Stoll, the male lead, Cantona, Mikael Persbrandt, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jonathan Pryce previously played Ernest Hemingway in Woody Directed by Kristian Levring Allen’s Midnight in Paris (Denmark/UK/South Africa) The Last 5 Years CERT 12a (94 mins) Any new film starring Mads Mikkelsen is good Starring Anna Kendrick, Jeremy Jordan, Na- news, but it’s a surprise to see him in a West- Stonehearst Asylum talie Knepp, Alan Simpson ern. And not just any Western: this is a Danish CERT 15 (101 mins) Directed by Richard LaGravenese (USA) cowboy drama shot in South Africa. Mikkelsen Starring Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Bren- Adapted from the Off-Broadway musical, this is plays a settler whose family is murdered and so dan Gleeson, Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, an intriguing concept for a film, with or without he takes the law into his own hands… Expect David Thewlis songs. Essentially a deconstruction of a roman- strong violence. Directed by Brad Anderson (USA) tic relationship, the story unfolds through the Based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story, The songs of an aspiring actress (Kendrick), whose System Of Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether version of events are played backwards, while Glassland CERT 15 (93 mins) (1845), this violent thriller is set in the mental in- her beau (Jordan) sings the songs that lead up stitution of the title. Here, Edward Newgate to the culmination of their liaison. Starring Jack Reynor, Toni Colette, Will Poul- ter, Michael Smiley (Sturgess), a re- Directed by Gerard Barrett (Ireland) cent medical From the director of Pilgrim Hill (2013), Glass- school graduate, land is the story of a Dublin taxi driver (Reynor) arrives to take caught up in up residency. He the world of is then immedi- human traffick- ately drawn to ing. In addition, the very beauti- he is resolved ful Eliza Graves (Beckinsale), a to wean his woman diag- mother (Col- nosed with ‘fe- lette) off the male hysteria’… bottle.

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image courtesy of Shrewsbury Folk Festival All hail the festival season... They’re big news in the UK and come in many guises, with some of the very best taking place right here in the Midlands. Yes, we’re talking festivals - and the festival season is very nearly upon us... Theatre, dance, comedy and film all play their part in ensuring the When it comes to beautiful surroundings, the Lunar Festival at Um- Midlands offers a diverse and vibrant festival scene. And when it berslade Park (Tanworth-in-Arden, near Solihull, 5 to 7 June) takes comes to music - regardless of your preference, be it jazz, indie, folk, some beating. Set in the spiritual home of Nick Drake, Lunar offers an classical, world or pop - you’re almost certain to find a festival to suit eclectic programme of peripheral activities alongside an impressive your taste. line-up of performers, with Dr Feelgood founder Wilko Johnson head- Meanwhile, an abundance of food festivals across the region play lining the weekend. their part in helping to satisfy the nation’s insatiable appetite for all An event on a smaller scale, though no less impressive, is the Lich- things culinary. field Blues & Jazz Festival (Lichfield Cathedral, Guildhall and But the Midlands festival scene doesn’t cater only for adults, with George Hotel, 25 to 28 June). Contributors include the Tommaso more and more organisers programming their events to ensure they Starace Quartet, John Etheridge, Steve Ajao and the Climax Blues offer plenty of family-friendly fun for youngsters to enjoy. Band. If it’s noise you’re after, Slam Dunk (Wolves Civic, Wulfrun Hall and Something for all... Civic Bar, 25 May) might be right up your street. Described as the Well established as one of the UK’s top ten summer festivals, UK’s ‘loudest’ punk rock festival, the event this year features You Me Shrewsbury Folk (West Midland Showground, 28 to 31 August) at- At Six, Taking Back Sunday and Lower Than Atlantis. tracts some of the biggest names in the business. This year’s event One of the biggest pop events in the country, V Festival (Weston sees the Richard Thompson Electric Trio making a welcome return as Park, Staffordshire, 22 to 23 August) regulary attracts the creme de la the Sunday night headliners. A family-friendly event, Shrewsbury Folk creme of popular music. Grammy Award-winner Sam Smith, Paloma Faith and the man with The Voice, Tom Jones features Pandemonium! and Refolkus - two ‘festivals within a festival’ , all feature amongst the for children and teenagers to enjoy... line-up.

Pick of the month... Pick of the month... Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Montpellier Gardens, 29 April to 4 May Boasting a typically bold programme, Cheltenham Jazz Festival fea- area, and the Take Five Tent - hosting talks, workshops and family tures a range of exclusive one-off performances, unique collabora- activities. tions, special commissions and debut UK appearances from a Although the main action takes place in the tented village, a number heady mix of established stars and emerging talent. of festival shows are taking place at various venues around the Taking place across six days, this year’s festival is hosted in a tented town. village and presents a balance of classic and contemporary jazz, blues, soul and pop from an impressive line-up of pioneering acts. Performers appearing at the festival include million-selling singer- songwriter Rumer, Dutch superstar Caro Emerald, experimental pro- ducer and composer Squarepusher, ‘queen of soul’ Martha Reeves, world-renowned DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson, former Dr Feel- good guitarist Wilko Johnson, Californian blues-rocker Beth Hart and consummate jazz singer and broadcaster Clare Teal. The festival also features a jazz arena, a food, drink and market

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Helden, Jamie Jones & cludes; Paul Carrack, Shadow Child, Fri 22 - Big Country, Show Of Festivals Listings Sun 24 May, Donington Hands & From The Park Racing Circuit, Jam, Fri 19 - Sun 21 For full listing information on festivals, Derby Jun, Uttoxeter Race- THE COLOUR FESTIVAL course, Staffordshire including dates and line-up, visit Line-up to be an- LINTON MUSIC FESTIVAL www.whatsonlive.co.uk nounced, Sat 23 May, Line-up includes; Wilko The Rainbow Arena, Johnson, Andy Fair- NANTWICH JAZZ, BLUES & FUDGESTOCK Line-up in- Birmingham weather Low & The Low MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up cludes; AKA Skaface, SLAM DUNK Line-up in- Riders, The Hoax & includes; Thea Gilmore Bethan and The Mor- cludes; You Me At Six, Ryan McGarvey, Fri 19 - & her band, Connie gans, Hot Rocks & spe- Taking Back Sunday, Sun 21 Jun, The Alma Lush, Andy Fairweather cial guest tba, Sun 3 Architects & Don Broco, Inn, Herefordshire Low & FM, Thurs 2 - May, The Robin, Bilston Mon 25 May, various 100 ABOVE (LAINFEST) Mon 6 Apr, various ven- FULL ON Line-up in- venues and locations Line-up includes; ues around Nantwich cludes; Ferry Corston, around the city centre, Amber Run, Bipolar MARILLION WEEKEND UK Ben Gold, Menno De Wolverhampton Sunshine, Laurel & Line-up includes; The Jong & Angry Man, Sat WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL Bwani Junction, Fri 19 - Steve Rothery Band, 9 May, Boxxed Ware- Line-up includes; UB40, Mon 22 Jun, Gopsall Ginger Tom & Synaes- house, Birmingham Tom Jones - V Festival, Weston Park, Staffordshire The Proclaimers, Lady- Hall Farm, Warwickshire thesia, Fri 10 - Sun 12 STOURBRIDGE BLUES smith Black Mambazo KINETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Apr, Civic Hall, Wolver- FESTIVAL Line-up in- CAMPER JAM Line-up to various venues around & Ghostpoet, Fri 29 - Line-up includes; Hot hampton cludes; Tom Walker be announced, Fri 3 - Warwick Sun 31 May, Chel- Tubes, The Folly Broth- CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTI- Trio, Big Wolf Band, The Sun 5 Jul, Weston Park, NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL tenham Racecourse ers, Neighbourhood VAL Line-up includes; Mentulls & Rebecca Staffordshire Line-up includes; The LUNAR FESTIVAL Line-up Cotch & The Har- Caro Emerald, Laura Downes Band, Sat 16 GODIVA FESTIVAL Line- Wu Tang Clan, Martha includes; Tinariwen, vesters, Sat 20 Jun, Mvula, Wilko Johnson & May, Old Halesonians up to be announced, Fri Reeves and The Van- Wilko Johnson, Public Kineton Sports and So- Gregory Porter, Wed 29 RFC, Stourbridge 3 - Sun 5 Jul, War Me- dellas, Beardyman & Service Broadcasting & cial Club, Warwickshire Apr - Mon 4 May, Mont- BEARDED THEORY morial Park, Coventry London Elektricity, Fri Line- Sun Ra Arkestra, Fri 5 - LICHFIELD BLUES AND pellier Gardens, Chel- up includes; New BLUES AT THE FOLD Line- 24 - Sun 26 Jul, Brom- Sun 7 Jun, Umberslade JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up tenham Model Army, James, up includes; Jack yard, Hereford Farm Park, Warwick- includes; The Blues CLUN GREEN MAN FESTI- Afro Celt Sound System Blackman, The King MADE BIRMINGHAM Line- shire Band, Jay Phelps Quar- VAL Line-up includes; & Cara Dillon, Thurs 21 Biscuit Boys, Swamp- up includes; Beardy- VALEFEST Line-up to be tet, Tommaso Starace Whalebone, The End- - Sun 24 May, Catton candy & Will ‘Harmon- man, Claude announced, Sat 6 Jun, Quartet & Steve Ajao & ings and more to be an- Hall, Derbyshire ica’ Wilde Band, Sat 4 VonStroke, David Rodi- The Vale, Birmingham Climax Blues Band, nounced, Sat 2 - Mon 4 BREAKING BANDS FESTI- Jul, The Fold, Worces- gan & Julio Bashmore, LEAMINGTON PEACE FES- Thurs 25 - Sun 28 Jun, May, various venues VAL Line-up includes; ter Sat 25 Jul, The Digbeth TIVAL Line-up to be an- various venues around throughout Clun, Voodoo Vegas, Monu- L FEST Line-up to be an- Triangle, Birmingham nounced, Sat 13 - Sun Lichfield Shropshire nounced, Fri 17 - Mon SHREWSBURY FOLK FES- ment, Breed 77 & The 14 Jun, Leamington UPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL SWINGAMAJIG Line-up Heretic Order, Fri 22 - 20 Jul, Uttoxeter Race- TIVAL Line-up includes; HOLI ONE FESTIVAL BIRM- Line-up includes; Alan includes; Chinese Man, Sun 24 May, Stoke Prior course, Staffordshire Richard Thompson, La INGHAM Line-up to be Barnes, Old Hat Jazz Electric Swing Circus, Country Club, Broms- WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL Bottine Souriante, Kate announced, Sat 13 Jun, Band, Chris Pearce The Correspondents & grove Line-up includes; Billy Rusby & Sharon Shan- The Rainbow Venues, Quartet & Gypsy Fire, Ed Solo, Sun 3 May, OUTBREAK FESTIVAL Bragg, Lil’ Jimmy Reed non, Fri 28 - Mon 31 Birmingham Fri 26 - Sun 28 Jun, The The Custard Factory, Line-up includes; Sven Band, The Demon Bar- Aug, West Midland THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL Riverside, Upton-upon- Birmingham Vath, Armand Van bers XL & Nancy Kerr, Showground, Shrews- OF BRITAIN Line-up in- Severn Thurs 23 - Sun 26 Jul, bury

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The Non-Conformists: Photographs By Martin Parr Compton Verney, Warwickshire, until Sun 7 June “These photographs are from another era,” says celebrated documentary photographer and satirist Martin Parr of his Non-Conformists project, “but hopefully they will appeal to people interested in northern life from the 1970s, particularly the Hebden Bridge area.” Martin’s highly praised mid-’70s project docu- mented the lives of people who were residing in the Yorkshire mill town of Hebden Bridge and the surrounding Calder Valley. The collection of pho- tographs captured a traditional way of life organ- ised around the church and hill farming - and one that was very much in decline. As well as offering a unique perspective on a dis- appearing community, The Non-Conformists also records a bygone stage of Martin’s own photo- graphic career, during which his focus was very much on recording remnants from past eras. “If you’re a documentary photographer you can’t just do nostalgia alone,” Martin said in a recent interview with The Yorkshire Post. “You’re obliged to try and reflect current trends in society. You can’t just photograph things from the past. Photographers love nostalgia and I’m no different, but I fully understand that photographing a super- market is just as important and valid as doing pic- tures of Morris dancers.”

Love Is Enough: Andy Warhol and William Morris Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Sat 25 April - Sun 6 Sept Citing both Andy Warhol and William Morris as significant influences on his work - which explores socio-political aspects of contemporary culture - artist Jeremy Deller has here curated an exhibition designed to compare and contrast the interests and ideas of the two men. Love Is Enough brings together significant and iconic works by both artists, including some rarely seen pieces. It also features archival material owned or made by Warhol and Morris that sheds light on their influences and working practices.

Gothic Exhibition AK Dolven Library of Birmingham, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, until Sun 19 April Tues 7 April - Sat 2 May AK Dolven’s work is primarily concerned with the With a new version of representation of sublime natural forces, a fact Daphne du Maurier’s which connects her to fellow Norwegian artist Gothic romance Rebecca Peder Balke (1804–1887), whose work is also this month being staged included in this exhibition. at the adjacent Repertory Using painting, installation, film and sound, Theatre, the Library of Dolven explores the nature of perception and the Birmingham is hosting an subconscious functioning of memory and feeling. exhibition exploring differ- “I hope people have very individual experiences in ing approaches to the viewing the exhibition,” she said in a recent inter- Gothic - from literature view with countryandtownhouse.co.uk. “I think and film to architecture, every work is different to every person; it mirrors art and Goth culture. who they are and where they come from.” The interdisciplinary show is being presented by Birmingham City University artists. A special Gothic Day on 2 May offers an opportu- nity to investigate the subject in greater depth.

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VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS Stanhope Forbes’ England - Worcester City Art Gallery For full listing information on Visual Art Further exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Aideen Doran: Im Bau MAT JENNER: DREAMS produces Market TIME FREE until Fri 3 Factory. Resonating Grand Union, Birmingham, Apr, Grand Union, with Birmingham’s her- Sat 18 April - Sun 14 June Birmingham itage as a place for The shifting landscape and regeneration of YOU ARE HERE A series trade and making Birmingham are investigated in this fascinating of newly commissioned things, the new work- space manufactures new project from Aideen Doran. Exploring the audio & video portraits by Chris Paul Daniels of limited-edition chairs for city as a space for artistic, economic and ideo- residents and workers sale, until Sun 19 Apr, logical production, Im Bau sees the artist build from Digbeth and mac, Birmingham a research lab within the gallery space. During Bordesley Village, until DRESDEN EXCHANGE the course of the project, Doran will also curate Fri 3 Apr, A3 Project Artist-led initiative a number of workshops and talks specifically Space, Digbeth, founded in 2012 by Birmingham John Yeadon and Jean Museum & Art Gallery, small golden paintings designed to generate conversation between the Kirsten which seeks to city’s residents. ELIZABETH ROWE Stoke-on-Trent (c.1965) which reflect Disparate images care- develop dialogue and the artist’s strong inter- communication ONE HUNDRED THOU- fully selected from SAND WELCOMES An est in Middle Eastern & women’s magazines, between artists from South Asian culture, the cities of Coventry exhibition showcasing National Geographic collected welcomes until Mon 4 May, Ikon Stanhope Forbes’ England volumes and old books and Dresden, until Sun Gallery, Birmingham 19 Apr, Lanchester from Birmingham & Worcester Museum & Art Gallery, feature at the heart of Gallery, Coventry beyond, until Sun 26 JON WILLIAMS: SENSA- until Sat 6 June Elizabeth Rowe’s work, University Apr, mac, Birmingham TIONAL CLAY Touring until Sun 5 Apr, New Art exhibition from Bilston Although he was born in a city (Dublin) and Gallery, Walsall NÁSTIO MOSQUITO: DAILY REVOLUTIONISING FASH- ION Display of elegant Craft Gallery, featuring studied in two other cities (London and SARANJIT BIRDI - COGN, I LOVEMAKING Exhibition ceramics by Hereford- Paris), it was for his paintings of towns and fusing music, photogra- eighteenth & early-nine- Using drawing, dance teenth century British based maker Jon villages that Stanhope Forbes was most and digital media, this phy, film and perform- Williams, until Mon 4 ance poetry to reflect miniatures by the likes admired. multimedia work inves- of Richard Cosway, May, Royal Pump tigates cognition and on the nature of the Rooms, Leamington This new exhibition takes a look at some of globalised world, and George Engleheart & habit, until Mon 6 Apr, John Smart, until Sun Spa the artist’s best-known works - his beautiful The Drum, Birmingham how lovemaking can costal scenes of Newlyn and the surrounding act as an antidote to 26 April, The Barber HIDDEN TREASURES BIRMINGHAM SHOW Institute, Birmingham CRAFT EXHIBITION areas - and includes the painting Chadding corruption and Large-scale group exhi- hypocrisy, until Sun 19 100 DAYS: THE RWANDAN Exhibition featuring new On Mount’s Bay. bition, until Sat 11 Apr, Apr, Ikon Gallery, GENOCIDE TWENTY techniques such as 3D- “Chadding On Mount's Bay is considered Eastside Projects, Birmingham YEARS LATER A display printing to examine cur- Birmingham rent trends in ceramics Stanhope Forbes' greatest work and is a STEVE EVANS ARBSA of photographic, digital jewel in Worcester's collection,” says Philippa JERWOOD ENCOUNTERS and installation works & jewellery, until Sat 9 Display of abstract per- May, RBSA Gallery, Tinsley, Senior Curator at Worcester City Art 3-PHASE SHOW 1 First of spex works & ink draw- from a selection of international contempo- Birmingham Gallery & Museum. “The exhibition brings two exhibitions by ings, until Sat 25 April, emerging artists - in rary artists, giving voice A LEAMINGTON MUSICAL together a fascinating selection of other land- RBSA Gallery, this case, Kelly Best Birmingham to the women who lived METEOR: THE LIFE OF scapes by Forbes, from both public and pri- and Georgie Grace, through the conflict, WILLIAM DENIS BROWNE vate collections, to tell the story of this impor- until Sat 11 Apr, ANDREW MATHESON until Thurs 30 Apr, (1888 - 1915) Exhibition Showcase of stoneware tant artist.” Eastside Projects, Herbert Art Gallery & which brings together Birmingham & porcelain pieces, Museum, Coventry family archive material until Sat 25 Apr, RBSA alongside compositions SIGN, SYMBOL & SCRIPT Gallery, Birmingham TONY CLARKE: ON THE David Walton’s large THRESHOLD OF A DREAM by Browne, to celebrate Susan Stockwell: abstract paintings, NEW ART WEST MID- New exhibition honour- his career, until Sun 10 based on the symbolic LANDS Showcase of ing one of Coventry’s May, Royal Pump Sea Markings marks on ancient work by thirty of the most beloved sons, Rooms, Leamington stones, until Sat 11 Apr, region’s best emerging until May, Coventry Spa Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- artists, until Sat 25 Apr, Avon, Wed 1 April - Sun 6 September Wolverhampton Art Music Museum STONES & BONES EXHIBI- Gallery Wolverhampton Art TION Discover more Gallery THE POETIC IMPOSSIBILI- “Working as artist-in-residence at the RSC EAT, DRINK, WORK, REST TY TO MANAGE THE INFI- about the early history has been insightful, inspirational and enjoy- & PLAY EXHIBITION STEPHEN BUTT: THE NITE Exhibition which of the Midlands and able,” says Susan Stockwell. “Witnessing the A show by Colin MEASUREMENT OF documents our quest how that history was Wilkinson & John NATURE A series of to penetrate the astro- uncovered, recorded inside workings of the organisation has prints and watercolours and told by prominent revealed a very collaborative process, differ- Shakespeare RBSA physical reality of the which celebrates every- reflecting Stephen’s universe in order to bet- local geologists and ent to the visual artists' practice, which tends day life and objects, ongoing exploration of ter understand time, scientists, until Sun 17 to be more solitary. It’s been a great opportu- until Sat 11 Apr, RBSA, the relationship space & matter, until May, Library of nity to push my work further and explore Birmingham between the natural Sat 2 May, Birmingham and man-made world, Wolverhampton Art NEW ART WEST MID- Shakespeare's language to make new art EXPRESSIONS OF THE as seen through cities, which I hope will surprise and intrigue visi- HUMAN ART FORM Six Gallery LANDS Showcase of gardens and objects, work by thirty of the tors.” RBSA members and until Sat 25 Apr, RBSA, MADE AT MAC: TEXTILES Featuring work from region’s best emerging Stockwell’s exhibition, inspired by the RSC’s associates focus on the Birmingham human figure within the mac’s From Paper To artists, until Sun 17 summer 2015 season of plays and the world context of the traditions RECORDING BRITAIN Fabric course, until Sun May, The Barber of sixteenth century Venice, explores themes of western art, until Sat Victoria & Albert 3 May, mac, Institute, Birmingham & of identity, migration and trade. The show is 11 Apr, RBSA, Museum collection Birmingham Birmingham Museum & Birmingham comprising over one Art Gallery a response to Othello and The Merchant Of thousand, five hundred DISRUPTED Curated by INTERLACE BY RUTH Noemi Lakmaier, this GODS AND HEROES Venice. It includes a ‘spectacular’ installation paintings that present a Seeking to uncover the of sails, a series of quilts and textiles pieces, SINGER & BETHANY remarkable snapshot of exhibition invites visi- WALKER New collabora- tors to encounter the methods and motives and a flotilla of boats made from paper cur- the fast-changing coun- behind the representa- tion between textile try, until Sun 26 Apr, ‘other’ - that which is rency from around the world. artists Ruth Singer and different and unfamiliar, tion of the superhuman Herbert Art Gallery & and supernatural in art. Bethany Walker which Museum, Coventry until Sun 3 May, mac, features a combination Birmingham Subjects drawn from ECHOES OF WAR both ancient mythology of delicate, manipulat- FOUND Bringing togeth- ed textiles set into con- Focusing on the major and the Judo-Christian contribution that Stoke- er seven contemporary tradition feature, until crete, until Sat 18 Apr, artists who work with Bilston Craft Gallery on-Trent made to the Mon 25 May, The war effort through its found images, until Sun Barber Institute, WILL SHANNON: THE infirmary and the role of 3 May, New Art Gallery, Birmingham CLOSET CRAFTSMAN In Walsall the Millicent Sutherland ART FROM ELSEWHERE: this new exhibition for Ambulance, until Sun ROBERT GROVES: GOLDEN Birmingham, Shannon INTERNATIONAL CONTEM- 26 April, Potteries YEARS Constellation of PORARY ART FROM UK 52 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts April.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:21 Page 4

GALLERIES Touring exhi- architecture and engi- tries that their pilgrim- Birmingham senting works by six Birmingham bition which considers neering, until Sun 7 ages have taken them THE SALTLEY STORIES UK & Japanese artists, TIBOR REICH An exhibi- themes of global June, Compton Verney, to, until Sat 31 Oct, Presenting the results curated by Amanda tion of drawings by the change, postcolonial Warwickshire Worcester City Museum of a community history Francis (UK) & Koh prolific Stratford-based experiences and failed THE JEWELLERY QUAR- & Art Gallery project which records Yoshida (Japan), Fri 10 textile designer, Mon 20 utopias, until Sun 31 TER DURING THE FIRST ART IN THE PARK: KERN the memories and Apr - Sat 23 May, Apr - Sat 30 May, May, Waterhall Gallery, WORLD WAR Exhibition BABY BY FAYE CLARIDGE experiences of people AirSpace Gallery, Parkside Gallery, Birmingham Museum & of artefacts, images This enigmatic new from all backgrounds Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham City Art Gallery and oral histories relat- commission by artist and of all ages, and the CANDIDATES EXHIBITION University NEW ART WEST MID- ing to the recruitment of Faye Claridge for the collation of images of Annual exhibition fea- IMAGINING A UNIVERSITY LANDS Showcase of soldiers from the grounds at Compton Saltley & Alum Rock turing works by artists Fifty years of The work by thirty of the Jewellery Quarter, until Verney will take on the over the past five to six seeking election to University of Warwick region’s best emerging Sat 27 June, The form of an exaggerated decades. Wed 8 Apr - become associates or Art collection, Wed 29 artists, until Sun 31 Jewellery Quarter, sculptural emblem of Thu 7 May, The Drum, members of the Royal Apr - Sat 20 Jun, The May, Herbert Art Gallery Birmingham folklore, until Sun 13 Birmingham Birmingham Society of Mead Gallery, Warwick & Museum, Coventry SOLDIERS’ STORIES: Dec, Compton Verney, INDEFINABLE CITIES Artists, Mon 13 - Sat 25 University, Coventry STANHOPE FORBES’S BIRMINGHAM AND THE Warwickshire Group exhibition pre- Apr, RBSA Gallery, ENGLAND Marking the ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE INHERITING ROME first time this collection REGIMENT 1914 - 1918 Exhibition which uses of works has been Exhibition which com- money to explore and Museums & Art Galleries brought together for memorates the cente- question our deep-seat- public viewing, until Sat nary of the First World ed familiarity with the 6 June, Worcester City War and recounts the Roman Empire’s Birmingham Black Country Warwickshire Museum & Art Gallery experiences of imagery, until Sun 24 ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield BANTOCK HOUSE COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY Birmingham men who Jan 2016, The Barber 0121 323 3776 WOLVERHAMPTON 01926 645500 FAITH & ACTION: QUAK- 01902 552195 ERS & THE FIRST WORLD served in the regiment Institute, Birmingham BARBER INSTITUTE HERBERT ART GALLERY 0121 414 7333 BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY WAR Exhibition which between 1914 and CLAIRE COOPER-WALSH COVENTRY 02476 832386 01902 552507 uses original photo- 1918, using personal EXHIBITION Wed 1 - Sun BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & LANCHESTER GALLERY, graphs, film interviews objects, medals & 26 Apr, Artrix, ART GALLERY BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS COVENTRY 0121 303 2834 MUSEUM, DUDLEY & artefacts to tell the memorabilia, until Sun Bromsgrove 02476 887831 26 July, Birmingham CASTLE GALLERIES 01384 812745 compelling stories of THE CURRENT SITUATION MEAD GALLERY WARWICK Quaker men and Museum & Art Gallery 0121 248 8484 DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART 02476 524524 A selection of five art- GALLERY women during the LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY GRAND UNION ROYAL PUMP ROOMS works by artist Yara El- 01384 815575 1914-1918 conflict and WARHOL AND WILLIAM 0121 643 9079 01926 742700 Sherbini which, LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE its aftermath, until Sun MORRIS Exhibition although diverse, bring IKON GALLERY RUGBY MUSEUM & ART 7 June, Birmingham bringing together signif- 0121 248 0708 WOLVERHAMPTON GALLERY 01788 533201 together a common 01902 716055 Museum & Art Gallery icant and iconic works theme, Wed 1 Apr - Sat NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY THE NEW ART GALLERY CANALETTO: CELEBRAT- by both artists, includ- 27 Jun, Wolverhampton 0121 643 9099 ing some rarely seen WALSALL 01922 654400 Worcestershire ING BRITAIN Bringing Art Gallery RBSA GALLERY WORCESTER CITY ART together the paintings pieces, until Sun 6 0121 2364353 RED HOUSE GLASS CONE Sept, Birmingham CHINESE LIVES IN 01384 812750 GALLERY 01905 25371 & drawings which BIRMINGHAM EXHIBITION STRYX GALLERY, DIGBETH Museum & Art Gallery WOLVERHAMPTON ART Canaletto created Exhibition which looks [email protected] GALLERY 01902 552055 between 1746 and AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD at the development of THREE WHITE WALLS 1755, a period during Exhibition examining the Chinese community GALLERY which he celebrated the the changing focus of in Birmingham, Thurs 2 0121 200 3328 Visit whatsonlive.co.uk for venue website details achievements of British pilgrims and the coun- - Sat 25 Apr, Library of

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Antiques For Everyone NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 9 - Sun 12 April Birmingham’s silversmiths, craftsmen and artisans are very much at Jungle Book, beautifully illustrated by wildlife artist Lute Vink. the heart of this month’s Antiques For Everyone (AFE) Spring Fair. Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in 2015, Antiques For Everyone is Celebrating the comeback of ‘real tea’-making, AFE features an exhi- one of the largest events of its kind in the UK. The show features dis- bition titled The Story Of The Caddy Spoon c1775 - 2015. Around five plays of antique and decorative furniture, treen, ceramics, kitchenalia, hundred caddy spoons, ranging from the very plain to the incredibly silver, glass, jewellery and works of art, arms and armour, maps, ornate - and mostly in silver - will be on display at the show, with over dolls, bears and an array of vintage and decorative collectables. half of those showcased having originated in Birmingham. With more than two hundred-and-fifty dealers showcasing their wares For those interested in art and literature who’re looking for something - and with items ranging in price from as little as £10 right up to new to add to their collections, AFE Spring Fair is commemorating £100,000 for the more serious collectors - this ever-popular event the one hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of Rudyard Kipling by mak- offers the perfect opportunity to pick up some unusual gifts. ing available two hundred copies of a new edition of the author’s

Horrible Histories: Stratford Literary Festival Various Locations Around Mediaeval Mayhem Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle, Warwick, Sat 25 April - Sun 3 May Sat 28 March - Sun 12 April Stratford Literary Festival is one of the The truly gruesome sights, sounds and smells most significant get-togethers of its kind of Mediaeval England are brought back to life in the UK. Offering a fusion of celebrity- at Warwick Castle this Easter, courtesy of author events, debates and workshops, Horrible Histories. this year’s festival features a plethora of Featuring funny moments from history, a weird big names - including four dames: Dame crowd of characters and gory games aplenty, Harriet Walter, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the Horrible Histories shows are always a hit Dame Antonia Fraser and Dame Wendy with children and parents alike. Hall. Other highlights during the nine-day festi- val include appearances by comedian Paul Merton, former political spin-doctor Alastair Campbell, actor Simon Russel Beale and Waterstones’ Book of the Year winner Jessie Burton. A selection of music-and-word events also features, as does the festival’s well- established Children’s Day. For a full festival line-up, visit www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk

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Events PREVIEWS Festival Of Power Santa Pod Raceway, Northampton, Fri 3 - Sun 5 April Promising a memorable weekend for families and dyed-in-the-wool drag racing fans, Santa Pod’s three-day Easter celebration boasts a bumper package of entertainment. As well as enjoying spectacular racing by two and four- wheeled vehicles, visitors to the event can look on as a huge array of cars and motorcy- cles hit the national championship trail. The Jet Car Shootout, a real hit with fans at last year’s inaugural event, welcomes the return of Germany’s Gerd Habermann and his Dragon Hunter, while Globe Of Death fea- tures gravity-defying bikers hurtling around inside a giant sphere. Other off-track programming worthy of men- tion includes a static display of supercars and the chance to inspect a Chieftain Battle Tank. Funfair rides, a climbing wall, helicop- ter pleasure flights, monster truck rides and a Peugeot 205 Jet Car also feature. Drayton Manor Theme Park For the festival’s full itinerary, visit Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tamworth, Open Daily www.santapod.com Drayton Manor Theme Park’s newly expanded Thomas Land attraction is opening to the public on 8 April. A celebration of the adventures of Thomas The Tank Engine and friends, Thomas Land is the only one of its kind in Europe. The massive £2.5million expansion increases its size by a whopping forty percent and includes three brand new rides - Flynn’s Fire Rescue, Captain’s Sea Adventure and Toby’s Tram Express - as well as a ‘stunning’ new two-storey Sodor Airport terminal. Drayton Manor Theme Park’s 2015 season started in late March and runs until Sunday 1 November.

available. Meanwhile, over in the Discovery Room there’s a chance to learn more about Museum Detectives the newly re-displayed Chinese Collection. Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry Tues 7 - Fri 17 April Visitors can also create their own version of Compton’s Heavenly Horse to take home. Become a museum detective at Herbert Art For further information on all activities, visit Gallery this Easter and join in a series of ‘fun RSC Easter Activities www.comptonverney.org.uk investigations’. Over the course of the two- Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- week holiday, learn to examine clues, solve Avon, Sat 28 March - Sun 12 April crimes in a ‘whodunit spectacular’ and inves- The Royal Shakespeare Company is offering tigate new ways to work with art materials. a whole range of activities and workshops for Activities include a messy Magnificent families to enjoy this Easter. Included in the Marbling workshop involving ink and shaving programme of attractions is a Stage Fighting cream, light investigations with shadow workshop with an RSC expert and the sculptures and the chance to help interview chance to find out all about the company’s the suspects in ‘the case of the missing wigs and make-up department. A ‘Speaking cloak’. Shakespeare’ session provides the opportu- nity to perform some of the bard’s most icon- ic speeches, learning to quote them like a pro! Most sessions run throughout the week but for a full time table, visit www.rsc.org.uk Children’s Easter Fun Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Sun 5 - Fri 10 April An action-packed day of high-quality fun is being promised by Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens this Easter Sunday. In addition to perusing the garden’s horticultural displays - a real treat at this time of year - visitors can Harlem Globetrotters also meet Bibbledy Bob and take part in Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, activities including face-painting, a children’s Tues 21 April trail, an egg hunt and an Easter bonnet Having played exhibition basketball games parade. combining athleticism and comedy for the best part of a century, the Harlem Globetrotters this month return to the Midlands with a brand new Chinese-inspired Activities family show that takes fan Compton Verney, Warwickshire, intervention to a whole new level. until Sun 12 April Via pre-show online voting at Whatever the weather this Easter, one thing’s harlemglobetrotters.com/rule, for sure - there’s plenty to keep visitors enter- followers can decide which tained at Compton Verney. Chinese-inspired new game-changing rules pot-making classes are on offer at the site’s they want to see introduced Forest School, where a family tour to discov- when the team stops off in er Compton’s permanent collection is also Birmingham. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 57 Events April Region Jamie.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:23 Page 5

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Events PREVIEWS Egg-citing Easter Activities Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 28 March - Sun 12 April Discover the Easter delights of the Black Country Living Museum, where a programme of fun events awaits. There’s the opportunity to win a prize in the Easter quiz, enjoy a clas- sic Easter Egg hunt and egg-rolling competi- tion, and to get crafty with egg-painting activ- ities. There’s also the chance to discover what playtime was like in the Victorian era by find- ing out about traditional street games like hopscotch, skipping, cup-and-ball and whip- and-tops. Visitors can also test their skills in the hoop-and-stick challenge, to find out how long they can keep the hoop rolling. A jour- ney ‘into the thick’, meanwhile, offers the chance to experience life in an 1850s coal mine. Who Do You Think You Are? NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 16 - Sat 18 April After eight successful years in London, Who Do You Think You Are? Live moves to Birmingham. The event boasts numerous informative and interactive features and is aimed at anyone and everyone with an interest in tracing their past. Over one hundred-and-twenty specialist exhibitors are on hand during the event, including the UK’s largest gathering of family history societies. Archives, museums and online resources are also represented. Visitors are encouraged to bring photos, documents and heirlooms for expert analysis and can also learn how to use DNA in their research. The event also features appearances by various celebrities talking about their own family history. Commenting on the event, Show Director Andy Healy said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Who Do You Think You Are? Live to Birmingham and therefore providing a central location and better accessibility to the UK’s biggest family-history show. We promise no-one will leave without having discovered more about their family tree.”

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Events LISTINGS

For full listing information on Events, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

from Sun 12 Apr, Warwick Castle, Warwick, WED 1 APR Warwickshire SPRING IN THE GARDEN The garden team give detailed tours of the SPONGEBOB Spring flowers, Mon 30 SPONGEHUNT Mar - Wed 1 Apr, Help Spongebob find Croome Park, Croome his friends, who’re hid- D’Abitot, den throughout the Worcestershire Sealife Centre, Fri 27 EASTER EGGVENTURES Mar - Sun 19 Apr, Join the egg hunt and National Sea Life make easter chicks, Centre, Birmingham sun visors and bunny EASTER EGG HUNT boxes, Mon 30 Mar - Easter-themed treasure Sun 5 Apr, Selly Manor, hunt around the Bournville, Birmingham Museum of the EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY Jewellery Quarter, Sat FUN Family entertain- Gadget Show Live - NEC, Birmingham 28 Mar - Sat 11 Apr, ment on offer every Museum of the day, Mon 30 Mar - Sun Jewellery Quarter, Baddesley Clinton, Insurance British EASTER EGG Create your Jewellery Quarter, 19 Apr, Cadbury World, Birmingham Warwickshire Superbike own stain glass Easter Birmingham Bournville, Birmingham FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: CADBURY EASTER EGG Championship, with a egg, Tue 7 Apr, DINOSAUR EGG HUNT GROSS GAZUNDAS & SHIP A'HOY Celebrating TRAIL Hunt high and world-class field of rid- Museum of the Order of TRAIL Test your PUTRID PRIVIES Explore the discoveries made low for eggs on this ers, Sat 4 - Mon 6 Apr, St John, Worcestershire dinosaur knowledge the interesting world of by Tudor explorers, special Cadbury trail, Donington Park Racing EASTER HOLIDAY: GO and fool the Egg Hunt gross gazundas and make your own sail Fri 3 - Mon 6 Apr, Circuit WILD! Let the children Trail. Starting in the putrid privies by follow- boat and check it floats Birmingham Back To NEWCOMEN IN STEAM go wild in the great out- Stones and Bones ing the trail while taking before taking it home, Backs The only full-sized doors. Activities include Exhibition, through the a tour of the Back To Thurs 2 Apr, Blakesley EASTER ADVENTURE working replica of the shelter building, library and ending in Backs, Tues 31 Mar - Hall, Birmingham QUEST Get hands-on world's first steam bushcrafts, discovering the Children's Library, Sun 12 Apr, FUSED GLASS BUNNIES with history and meet engine can be seen in creatures and making Sat 28 Mar - Sat 11 Apr, Birmingham Back to Thurs 2 Apr, Broadfield characters from the action. Due to the bugs and butterflies to Library Of Birmingham, Backs, Birmingham House Glass Museum, past. Crack the clues unpredictable nature of take home, Tues 7 - Birmingham BRUNEL IN SOUTH WALES Kingswinford as you explore the the Newcomen, please Thurs 9 Apr, Avoncroft EASTER Lecture by Stephen K GOOD FRIDAY Watch the venue and reap a check running details Museum, Bromsgrove EGGSTRAVAGANZA Jones which explores inhabitants cleaning chocolate reward, Fri 3 with the museum prior MUSEUM DETECTIVES Join the Easter fun at the works of Brunel and and preparing for - Mon 6 Apr, to travelling, Sat 4 - Become a super sleuth Dudley Canal & his impact on South Easter and have a go at Kenilworth Castle; Mon 6 Apr, Black museum detective, Limestone Mines and Wales, Wed 1 Apr egg decorating, Fri 3 Whitley Court and Country Living examine clues in visit the underground Thinktank at Millennium Apr, Avoncroft Museum, Gardens, Great Whitley, Museum, Dudley archaeological finds ‘eggsibition', Sat 28 Point, Birmingham Bromsgrove, Worcestershire EASTER HOLIDAY: FAMILY and help solve a crime Mar - Sun 12 Apr, KEEP THE HOME FIRES Worcestershire CADBURY EASTER EGG FUN DAYS Traditional that’s taken place in Dudley Canal Tunnel BURNING Children’s EASTER EGG HUNT Find TRAIL Hunt high and celebrations and activi- one of the galleries. and Limestone Mines, activities and pastimes all the eggs before they low for eggs on this ties include egg rolling, Content suitable for Dudley from WWI, Wed 1 Apr, hatch, Fri 3 Apr, Weoley special Cadbury trail, egg and spoon races, children aged five-plus, HORRIBLE HISTORIES: The Elgar Birthplace Castle Ruins, Fri 3 - Mon 6 Apr, pony rides and minia- Tues 7 - Fri 17 Apr, MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM The Museum, Lower Birmingham Packwood House, ture train rides. Sun 5 - Herbert Art Gallery & fun never stops with the Broadheath, DINOSAUR ZOO Bringing Solihull Mon 6 Apr, Avoncroft Museum gruesome sights, Worcestershire a plethora of prehistoric CADBURY EASTER EGG Museum, Bromsgrove THE GADGET SHOW LIVE sounds and smells of RETRO MARVEL NOW creatures to the stage, TRAIL Hunt high and Five-day event packed Mediaeval England, Sat Exhibition of work by this unique experience low for eggs on this Week Commencing with gaming celebrities, 28 Mar - Sun 12 Apr, top comic book artist enables audiences ‘to special Cadbury trail, brand new games and Warwick Castle, MON 6 APR Lee Bradley. Various interact with lifelike Fri 3 - Mon 6 Apr, top tournaments, Tues Warwick, Warwickshire workshops available, dinosaurs in an engag- Greyfriars’ House and 7 - Sun 12 Apr, NEC, EGG-CITING EASTER Wed 1 - Sun 12 Apr, ing live show’, Fri 3 - Garden, Worcester, SPRING CRAFT FAYRE Birmingham ACTIVITIES Activities Forge Mill Needle Sun 5 Apr, Warwick Worcestershire Crafts, cards, bric-a- HANDS ON MOON include an Easter egg Museum, Redditch, Arts Centre, Coventry CADBURY EASTER EGG brac, tombola and ACTIVITIES Explore the hunt, Easter bonnet Worcestershire FESTIVAL OF POWER An TRAIL Hunt high and much more, Mon 6 Apr, phases of the moon by parade, egg painting, SCIENCE OF SOUND action-packed Easter low for eggs on this Stoneleigh Abbey creating a flick book, quizzes, egg rolling Wed 1 Apr - Fri 5 June, weekend of family Drag special Cadbury trail, ROLLING MILL try moon-themed puz- and more, Sat 28 Mar - Symphony Hall, Racing entertainment, Fri 3 - Mon 6 Apr, DEMONSTRATION zles and fire your own Sun 12 Apr, Black Birmingham including European Wightwick Manor, Originally used to rocket to the moon, Country Living EASTER HOLIDAY DANCE Nitro Funny Car Series, Wolverhampton amend and resize iron Tues 7 - Fri 17 Apr, Museum, Dudley ACTIVITY Suitable for Jet Car Show and SCIENCE SHOW - THE bars, the Rolling Mill is Jodrell Bank EASTER ages four to eleven, National Drag Racing MOON AND THE ECLIPSE a typical Black Country Observatory EGGSTRAVAGANZA Lots Thurs 2 Apr Solihull classes headlined by Learn about the moon hand rolling mill from MY DREAM: of Easter activities on Arts Complex the MSA 200mph Pro and eclipses with this around the 1900s, Mon BIRMINGHAM'S YOUNG offer, including discov- EASTER HOLIDAY ART & Mods, Fri 3 - Sun 5 Apr, fun science show, fea- 6 Apr, Black Country POET LAUREATES A rare ery trails, ‘Livingstone’ CRAFT Suitable for chil- Santa Pod Raceway, turing rocket launches Living Museum, Dudley chance to catch up with the explorer and the dren aged seven to Wellingborough, and demonstrations. Fri EASTER MONDAY RACE some of Birmingham's chance to win prizes, eleven, Thurs 2 Apr, Northamptonshire 3 - Fri 17 Apr, Jodrell DAY: AFTERNOON RACING former Young Poet Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12 Solihull Arts Complex, EASTER ACTIVITIES Make Bank Observatory All-weather racing, with Laureates, Wed 8 Apr, Apr, West Midlands Solihull crafts to take home, Fri EASTER EVENT Sat 4 Apr, children's activities and Library Of Birmingham Safari Park, Bewdley, PRO PEAK PERFORMANCE 3 - Mon 6 Apr, Croome Castle Bromwich Hall pony rides, Mon 6 Apr, RAMBLE WITH THE Worcestershire TEST & TUNE DAY Park, Croome D’Abitot, Gardens, Birmingham Wolverhampton RANGER Join the CADBURY EASTER Only open to racers Worcestershire CADBURY EASTER EGG Racecourse Ranger on an explo- EGGSPLORER TRAIL Hunt entered into the Festival EASTER TRAIL Hunt high and EASTER BONNET CANOE ration of the parkland high and low for eggs of Power, Thurs 2 Apr, EGGSTRAVAGANZA low for eggs on this TOUR Mon 6 Apr, The and woodland, Wed 8, on this special Cadbury Santa Pod Raceway, An action-packed pro- special Cadbury trail, Ackers, Birmingham Fri 10 Apr, Croome trail, Sat 28 Mar - Sun Northamptonshire gramme of chocolatey Sat 4 - Mon 6 Apr, CHILDREN'S EASTER FUN Park, Croome D’Abitot, 12 Apr, Croome Park, FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: fun for all the family, Fri Coughton Court, Easter fun for all the Worcestershire Croome D’Abitot, EASTER BUNNIES Artist 3 - Mon 6 Apr, Cadbury Warwickshire family, including Easter EASTER HOLIDAY DANCE Worcestershire Lisa Broughton helps World, Birmingham MCE INSURANCE BRITISH trails, a bonnet parade ACTIVITY Suitable for JOUSTING Experience families decorate their CADBURY EASTER EGG SUPERBIKE and arts and crafts, ages four to eleven, the drama of the joust own mixed-media 3D TRAIL Hunt high and CHAMPIONSHIP Sun 5 - Fri 10 Apr, Thurs 9 Apr, Solihull as brave knights face Easter Bunny, Thurs 2 low for eggs on this Donnington Park plays Birmingham Botanical Arts Complex each other on River Apr, Museum of the special Cadbury trail, host to the first round Gardens EASTER HOLIDAY ART & Island, Sat 28 Mar - Fri 3 - Mon 6 Apr, of the 2015 MCE CREATE A STAINED GLASS CRAFT Suitable for chil- www.whatsonlive.co.uk 61 Events April Region Jamie.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:23 Page 9 Events April Region Jamie.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 19:23 Page 10

friendly people for a day of sketching Events LISTINGS around Coventry city centre. Must supply For full listing information on Events, own materials. Meet in including times and dates, visit the Herbert Café, Sat 11 Apr, Herbert Art www.whatsonlive.co.uk Gallery & Museum, Coventry dren aged four to take home, Thurs 9 Apr, RUN WHAT YA BRUNG eleven, Thurs 9 Apr, Blakesley Hall, Take your car or motor- Solihull Arts Complex Birmingham cycle out on the MARTIN HUGHES-GAMES DECORATE A MINI VASE famous quarter-mile Join the presenter of Decorate a mini vase dragstrip and test its BBC's Springwatch and for some Spring flow- performance limits in a Autumnwatch as he ers, Thurs 9 Apr, safe and legal environ- talks about his 'thrilling Museum of the Order of ment, Sat 11 Apr, Santa and often hilarious' St John, Warwick Pod Raceway, memoir, A Wild Life, FAMILY CRAFTS - JACK Northampton which recounts the tri- AND THE BEANSTALK TREE CLIMBING AT als and tribulations of Thurs 9 Apr, Red House CROOME An hour of tree filming the natural Glass Cone, climbing with The Big world, Thurs 9 Apr, Stourbridge Tree Company, Sat 11 Kings High School, ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE Apr, Croome Park, Warwick Including a display of Croome D’Abitot, FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: silverware from the Worcestershire METAL POPPIES Artist Soldiers Of Gloucester DROP-IN FAMILY ARTS Jolene Smith helps Museum, Thurs 9 - Sun Make your own artwork families make poppies 12 April, NEC, to take home and try out of metal, wire and Birmingham Wedding Fair - The REP, Birmingham out new techniques, beads, Thurs 9 Apr, SPRING FAIR & Sat 11 Apr, Birmingham Museum of the CHILDREN'S TRAIL Join in Featuring a range of Gardens, Warwickshire Mantra Enthusiasts Museum And Art Jewellery Quarter, the fun with a day of fun activities for all the GTI SPRING FESTIVAL Club, Sun 12 Apr, Gallery Birmingham crafts, artwork and pho- family, Sat 11 Apr, RWYB event for water- Coventry Transport COVENTRY TRANSPORT STONES & BONES tography, Fri 10 Apr, Library Of Birmingham cooled VWs with Museum MUSEUM CLASSIC CAR WORKSHOP: EXPLODING Birmingham Cathedral THUNDERSPORT GB show’n’shine, clubs, COIN & BANKNOTE FAIR BREAKFAST CLUB A VOLCANOES! Find out 2015 FIA WORLD MOTORCYCLE RACES autojumble and more, Over forty-six dealers chance to show off about volcanoes at this ENDURANCE Includes the FIM Sun 12 Apr, Santa Pod from the UK and your classic car and/or interactive workshop CHAMPIONSHIP Sidecar World Raceway, Northampton Ireland, Sun 12 Apr, motorcycle, Sat 11 Apr, and make your own to The opening of the Championships, Sat 11 MG OCTAGON CAR CLUB National Motorcycle Coventry Transport take home, Thurs 9 Apr, 2015 FIA World - Sun 12 Apr, Featuring a display of Museum, Solihull Museum Library Of Birmingham Endurance Donington Park Racing up to twenty classic THE NATIONAL JEWELLERY QUARTER FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: Championship packed Circuit cars, Sun 12 Apr, TELEPHONE KIOSK HERITAGE WALK Sat 11 GLITTERING TREASURE with six hours of non- TULIPS IN BLOOM Coventry Transport COLLECTION Explore the Apr, Museum of the Celebrate the discover- stop action, Fri 10 - Sun Numerous varieties of Museum telephone kiosks and Jewellery Quarter, ies made by Tudor 12 Apr, Silverstone tulips in the gardens, THE MATRA ENTHUSIASTS exchanges from the Birmingham explorers and create a Circuit Sat 11 - Tues 21 Apr, CLUB UK A display of 1920s to 1990s, Sun 12 WILDLIFE WATCH glittering treasure to SKETCH COVENTRY Join Upton House & ten cars from the Apr, Avoncroft Museum,

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landmark victory over the Harlem Events LISTINGS Globetrotters, Tues 21 Apr, Barclaycard Arena, For full listing information on Events, Birmingham including times and dates, visit HERBERT ILLUMINATION: HARPING ON Spanning www.whatsonlive.co.uk centuries and conti- nents, this talk will be Bromsgrove POTTER AND PAINTER: illustrated by recorded WEDDING FAIR Featuring THE ARTISTIC UNION OF and live music, Tues 21 a huge range of suppli- EVELYN AND WILLIAM DE Apr, Herbert Art Gallery ers, dress makers, pho- MORGAN Discover what & Museum, Coventry tographers, make-up made this couple such THE ULTIMATE YOUNG artists and cake makers a force in English art, ADULT LITERATURE QUIZ to help you plan your Sat 18 Apr, Wightwick A literature-themed big day, Sun 12 April, Manor, Wolverhampton quiz, Thurs 23 Apr, The Rep, Birmingham DAFFODIL SOCIETY Waterstones - High St, NATIONAL SHOW 2015 Birmingham The Daffodil Society Week Commencing ADULT CRAFTS - GLASS return with a show MOSAICS Fri 24 April, MON 13 APR packed full of hundreds Broadfield House Glass of exhibits, new vari- Museum, Stourbridge IF MUSIC AND SWEET eties and expert advice, TAI CHI Tai Chi lesson in POETRY AGREE Donald Sat 18 - Sun 19 Apr, the peaceful setting of Hunt takes a look at Coughton Court, the Birmingham English poetry inspired Warwickshire Botanical Gardens, by music, Tues 14 Apr, DUNLOP MSA BRITISH Sat 25 Apr, Birmingham The Elgar Birthplace TOURING CAR Botanical Gardens Museum, CHAMPIONSHIP BRUMBATS A guided Worcestershire Gladiatorial-style rac- walk with bat experts STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD ing, Sat 18 - Sun 19 BrumBats, Sat 25 Apr, & CONSERVATION TOUR Apr, Donington Park St. Geroge’s Weekend - Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire Martineau Gardens, Behind-the-scenes tour Racing Circuit Birmingham to find out the goings ONCE MORE UNTO THE MARSHALLING TASTER Apr, Heritage Motor 26 Apr, Shelsley Walsh, FESTIVAL OF CHOCOLATE on of the Conservation BREACH Celebrate the DAY Get closer to the Centre, Gaydon, Worcestershire Featuring chocolate- Studio, Tues 14 Apr, six hundredth anniver- action by becoming a Warwickshire DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG making workshops, Birmingham Museum sary of the Battle of marshall, Sun 26 Apr, Chance to practise drift- craft sessions, demon- And Art Gallery Agincourt, Sat 18 - Sun Donington Park Racing Week Commencing ing in safe and legal strations and story- RAG RUG WORKSHOP 19 Apr, Avoncroft Circuit conditions on some of telling, Sat 25 Apr, Selly MON 26 APR Jessie Lindon explains Museum, Bromsgrove GAYDON TOY & the Pod's thirty acres of Manor, Birmingham the traditional recycling THE CENTRAL COLLECTORS FAIR open tarmac, where WORLD PENGUIN DAY tradition of Rag Rug PERFORMANCE SHOW Including over 100 MSA SPRING CLASSIC A there are beginners, Help celebrate World making, Tues 14 Apr, See the fastest sports & exhibitors from all over non-competitive scenic intermediate and Penguin Day with talks Packwood House, performance cars in the the UK with thousands tour for classic cars, advanced tracks open and activities at the Warwickshire country battle it out of toys both old and open to all road cars at the same time each Penguin Pool, DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG head to head, Sun 19 new, train models and manufactured before 31 DWYB day, Wed 29 Sat 25 Apr, Cotswold Chance to practise drift- Apr, Santa Pod collectables, Sun 26 December 1994, Mon Apr, Santa Pod Wildlife Park ing in safe and legal Raceway, Northampton BAMMA 20 One of the conditions on some of SPRING CRAFT FAIR biggest MMA events of the Pod's thirty acres of Shop for some unusual the year returns with a open tarmac, where gifts from a variety of huge headline fight fea- there are beginners, stalls, or relax in the turing Brett McDermott intermediate and pop-up tea room, Sun and Marcin Lazars, Sat advanced tracks open 19 Apr, Highbury Hall, 25 Apr, Barclay Card at the same time each Birmingham Arena, Birmingham DWYB day, Wed 15 SIMPLE SCIENCE - THE OPENING DAY & Apr, Santa Pod KALEIDOSCOPES Sun 19 WORLD WAR I GARDEN Raceway Northampton Apr, Broadfield House Sat 25 Apr, Chedhams WINES FROM THE Glass Museum, Yard, Stratford-upon- HEDGEROW Ken Stourbridge Avon Marshall shares tales CAMERA FAIR The UK's SOOTY'S FUN HOUSE about the perks and pit- largest independent Direct from CITV, The falls of hedgerow grow- camera fair, featuring Sooty Show returns, ing, Thurs 16 Apr, over one hundred Sat 25 - Sun 26 Apr, Winterbourne House & stands, Sun 19 Apr, Cadbury World, Garden, Birmingham Wolverhampton Birmingham WHO DO YOU THINK YOU Racecourse GT & FORMULA CAR ARE? LIVE 2015 Offering FORGE MILL FARM FUN RACES MotorSport expert advice to both DAY Meet some cuddly Vision Racing visits for new and experienced creatures and join in two days of sportscar family historians, Thurs rural activities, Sun 19 and single-seater 16 - Sat 18 Apr, NEC, Apr, Forge Mill Needle action, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Birmingham Museum, Redditch, Apr, Donington Park CLASSIC VIRGINS Worcestershire Racing Circuit EXPERIENCE DAY A day THE BOY WHO BIT ST GEORGE'S WEEKEND designed to encourage PICASSO With story- Discover the legend of and support potential telling, music and lots St George, patron saint British classic car own- of chances to make of both England and ers, Sat 18 Apr, your own art. Be sure soldiers, Sat 25 - Sun Heritage Motor Centre, to wear some play- 26 Apr, Kenilworth Gaydon, Warwickshire clothes because it’s Castle, Warwickshire RUN WHAT YA BRUNG going to get messy, BIKE 4 LIFE FEST 2015 Take your car or motor- Sun 19 - Mon 20 April In support of the RAF cycle out on the mac - Midlands Arts Museum and Midlands famous quarter-mile Centre, Birmingham Air Ambulance, ride out dragstrip and test its from Meole Brace performance limits in a Week Commencing Shrewsbury at 11.30am safe and legal environ- to RAF Cosford, Sun 26 ment, Sat 18 Apr, Santa MON 20 APR Apr, RAF Cosford Pod Raceway, BMW CAR CLUB GB Northampton AGM Mon 20 Apr, The Central Region’s SILVER RING WORKSHOP Bromsgrove Rugby first visit to Coventry, With designer-maker Football Club featuring up to fifty Grace Page, Sat 18 Apr, HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS BMWs, Sun 26 Apr, Museum of the Witness history in the Coventry Transport Jewellery Quarter, making as Washington Museum Birmingham Generals look for a MOTORSPORT

64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out April region one.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 18:48 Page 1 Eating Out Mailbox welcomes new bar and restaurant A hotly anticipated new bar and restaurant has recently opened its doors in Birmingham’s Mailbox. Gas Street Social serves up seasonal European food alongside a range of international craft beers, fine wines and signature handcrafted cocktails. The venue, which has been opened with the support of the Regional Growth Fund, has a restaurant area catering for up to one hun- dred-and-twenty diners and an outdoor terrace accommodating up to thirty-six people.

Plenty to Nosh & Quaff in Brum... Birmingham is set to get its first dedicated lobster restaurant. The aptly named Nosh & Quaff prom- ises to get creative with the popular crustacean, using fresh and organic ingredients to bring a taste of the sea - with a special twist - to the Midlands. Also on tap will be a wide variety of beers selected both to complement the menu Great addition to Broad Street... and quench the thirst. We’ve got high expecta- tions of this latest addition to the Birmingham REVIEW martini through to black- would be to ask for fries food scene, as it’s a new member of the award- berry julep and pomegran- instead. winning Lasan Group. Other members are Lasan ate collins. Those with a Puddings include in the Jewellery Quarter, Fiesta del Asado on It’s all change again at sweet tooth might enjoy a Repertory Mess - a mix of Hagley Road and Raja Monkey on Stratford The REP. After the venue’s peanut butter martini. I almond, meringue, coffee Road. Nosh & Quaff is set to open on Colmore major refurbishment a stuck to the delicious sponge and berries - and Row at the end of May. couple of years ago, the booze-free rhubarb fizz. gingerbread cheesecake theatre’s Bistro & Bar - The food menu has the (all £5.75). Marmalade - is now being usual pub classics - fish All credit to Marmalade for Wolves restaurant maintains run by Birmingham food and chips, burgers, steak - creating a cosy-feeling group Bitters’n’Twisted, and a selection of smaller space that works for a Michelin status the people behind some plates which would be daytime coffee stop as Wolverhampton’s popular Bilash restaurant has of the city’s best-known ideal for a light pre-theatre well as a late-night restau- succeeded in maintaining its Michelin-star status venues - Bodega, the New dinner. rant. There’s a bit of tinker- for the fourteenth consecutive year. The family- Villa Tavern and the New We went for the crab and ing to be done to make it run eatery first opened its doors on Cheapside Inn in Harborne. cod korokke - a kind of all run smoothly, but this over thirty years ago, in 1982, and has been So what’s new? The bar deep-fried fish cake which could be a great addition going from strength to strength ever since. and restaurant area has a came with mango salsa to the Broad Street food Specialising in Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine, fresh new look, with cosy and celeriac remoulade scene. the restaurant is popular with locals and visitors dens, rich textiles and (£6.95). Our baharat chick- alike. Bilash prides itself on offering ‘mouthwater- murals painted on the en thighs, meanwhile, Food: n n n n n ing, innovative food’ - and obviously those in the walls. There’s 1950s- arrived dusted with spice Service: n n n n n know at the Michelin Guide continue to be in inspired sideboards and and served on top of a Ambience: n n n n n agreement light shades, giving the hearty lentil dahl (£7.95). Overall value n n n n n with that feeling of a place where The slow-cooked beef rib OVERALL n n n n n assessment. you could enjoy either a lasagne (£13.50) was So why not quick cup of coffee or a stuffed full with shredded Marmalade Bistro & Bar sample some full pre-theatre meal. beef and doused in a rich The Rep award-winning Cocktails are a big deal at beef jus. The sirloin steak Broad Street dishes next Marmalade - from their (£18.95) disappointed, Birmingham time you’re in own take on the classic with chunky ‘chips’ that B1 2EP the area? cosmopolitan, mojito and were more akin to reheat- Tel: 0121 245 2080 ed roast potatoes. My tip

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MINT Yew Tree Retail WAGAMAMA Brindley Restaurant LISTINGS Park, Stoney Lane Place, birmingham B1 Yardley, B25 8YP WATERS ON THE SQUARE 0121 789 8908 Chad Square, Hawthorne For full listing information on restau- MOUNT FUJI The Bullring, Rd, Edgbaston, B15 3TQ rants, including opening times and B5 4BH 0121 633 9853 type of cuisine, visit: www.whatson- NUVO BAR 11 Brindley Place, B1 2LP 0121 631 Warwickshire live.co.uk 1600 7 SQUARE 7 Old Square, B5 4RT 0121 622 5669 OPUS 54 Cornwall St, B3 2DE 0121 200 2323 Warwick CV34 4RA Birmingham CHUNG YING CENTRAL 126 01926 411 755 Colmore Row, B3 3AP THE ORIENTAL The Mailbox, 128-130 NO. 9 CHURCH STREET AALTO RESTAURANT Hotel 0121 400 0888 La Tour, Albert Street, Wharfside St, B1 1RQ Stratford upon Avon, Birmingham B5 5JT CHUNG YING GARDEN 17 0121 633 9988 Warwickshire CV37 6HB Thorpe St, B5 4AT 0121 718 8000 PEACHY KEENS 1741 01789 415522 0121 666 6622 AIR RESTAURANT LG Coventry Road, B26 AGRA PLACE 12 Abbey Arena, Bickenhill Rd, CIELO 6 Oozells Square, 1DS 0121 764 5519 Green, Nuneaton, CV11 0844 338 0333 Brindleyplace, B1 2JB PENNY BLACKS 5DR 024 7635 0515 0121 632 6882 BALCONY BRASSERIE The Mailbox, 132-134 THE ALMANACK Abbey Selfridges On4, The COAST TO COAST 9 Wharfside St, B1 1XL End North, Kenilworth Bullring, B5 4BP Brindleyplace, Broad 0121 632 1460 CV8 1QJ 01926 353637 Street, B1 2HJ BANK 4 Brindleyplace, PICCOLINO AUBERGINE 32 Smith St, B1 2JB 0121 633 4466 COTE The Mailbox, 9 Brindleyplace B1 2HS Warwick CV34 4HS B1 1RX 0121 631 1587 BAR ESTILO 10-114 0121 634 3055 01926 400 086 Wharfside St, The CUCINA RUSTICA 24 PITCHER & PIANO THE BELL Alderminster, Prezzo - Birmingham Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121 Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX Brindleyplace, B1 2HP Stratford-upon-Avon, 643 3443 0121 233 2277 0121 643 0214 CV37 8NY ONE ELM 1 Guild St, Droitwich WR9 7NQ BARAJEE 265 Broad EASTZEAST 167 Broad POPPY RED Arcadian 01789 450414 Stratford-Upon-Avon, 01905 345874 Street, B1 2DS 0121 643 Street, Birmingham, B15 Centre, Birmingham B5 BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St, CV37 6QZ 01789 404919 CHADDESLEY RESTAURANT 6699 1AY, 0121 643 4808 4TD 0121 687 1200 Coventry, CV1 3BA 024 PREZZO 1-3 High St, Brockencote Hall Hotel, BELLA ITALIA 102 New EDMUNDS 6 Brindley PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall 7622 9274 Warwick CV34 4AP Kidderminster DY10 4PY Street, B2 4HQ 0121 place, B1 2JB 0121 633 St, B3 2DH 0121 212 CARLUCCIOS 13 Waterside, 01926 475867 01562 777876 643 1548 4944 9799 Stratford-Upon-Avon RESTAURANT 23 THE CHASE INN Chase Rd, BERLIOZ Burlington FIESTA DEL ASADO 229 PURNELL’S BISTO 11 CV37 6BA 34 Hamilton Terrace, Holly Upper Colwall, Malvern. Arcade, New St, B2 4JQ Hagley Road, Newhall Street, B3 3NY, 01789 267424 Walk Leamington Spa, WR13 6DQ 01684 0121 633 1737 Birmingham, B16 9RP 0121 2000 1588 CATALAN 6 Jury St , CV32 4LY 01926 422422 540276 BLUE GINGER 32 Poplar, 0121 445 9331 RAJDOOT TANDOORI 78 - Warwick CV34 4EW RISTORANTE DA VINCI 50 CHESTERS 51 New St, Rd, Kings Heath, B14 FLEET STREET KITCHEN 79 George St, B31 1PY 01926 498 930 Earlsdon Street, Coventry, Worcester, WR1 2DL 7AD 0121 444 0999 Fleet Street, Islington 0121 236 1116 THE CHURCH STREET CV5 6EJ 024 7671 3554 01905 611638 BLUE MANGO Regency Gates, B3 1JH 0121 236 THE RECTORY 50-54 St TOWNHOUSE 16 Church ROBBIE’S RESTAURANT 74 CROWN & SANDYS Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS 0100 Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS Street, Stratford-upon- Smith Street, CV34 4HU Main Rd, Ombersley, 0121 633 4422 ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 0121 605 1001 Avon CV37 6HB 01789 01926 400470 WR9 0EW 01905 62025 BLUE PIANO RESTAURANT 1JL 0121 212 3383 RED PEPPERS 117 262222 ROOFTOP RESTAURANT EWE AND LAMB Hanbury AND BAR 24-26 Harborne JAMIE’S ITALIAN Middle Wharfside St, B1 1RF COOMBE ABBEY Brinklow @ The RST, Waterside, Road, Bromsgrove B60 Rd, B15 3AA 0121 454 Mall, Bullring Shopping 0121 643 4202 Road, Coventry, CV3 2AB Stratford-upon-Avon, 4DN 01527 871 929 6877 Centre, B5 4BE SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, 024 7645 0450 CV37 6BB 01789 403449 THE FIG TREE 99 Church BUONISSIMO 1 Albany 0121 270 3610 B2 5BN 0121 633 0251 CROSSED KHUKRIS GURKHA SAFFRON GOLD Market St, Street, Gt Malvern, WR14 Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX JIMMY SPICES Regency SHIMLA PINKS 215 Broad 115 Abbey Street, Westgate House, 2AE 01684 569909 0121 426 2444 Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS St, B15 1AY 0121 633 Nuneaton, CV11 5BX 024 Warwick CV34 4DE FUSION BRASSERIE CAFE OPUS 1 Oozells 0121 643 2111 0366 7634 4488 01926 402061 Hawbridge, Stoulton, Square, Brindleyplace, LAS IGUANAS Arcadian SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield EDWARD MOON 9 Chapel THE SAXON MILL Worcester WR7 4RJ B1 2HS 0121 248 3226 Centre, Hurst St, B5 4TD Rd, Edgbaston B13 3DU Street, Stratford-upon- Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe, 01905 840647 CAFE SAFFRON 0121 622 4466 0121 454 3434 Avon, CV37 6EP 01789 Warwick CV34 5YN THE INN AT STONEHALL 267069 Wolverhampton Road, LASAN 3-4 Dakota THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, 01926 492 255 Stonehall Common, Oldbury B69 4RR Buildings, James St, St Brindley Place, EGO 29 The Square, TAILORS 22 Market Place, Worcester, WR5 3QG 0121 552 1752 Paul’s Square, B3 1SD Birmingham B1 2HL Kenilworth, CV8 1EF Warwick CV34 4SL 01905820462 0121 212 3664 01926 864463 CARLUCCIO’S The Water’s 0121 633 3049 01926 410590 KING CHARLES II King THE LOFT LOUNGE THE ENCORE Edge, Brindleyplace STRADA 109-111 THE TREVELYAN Warwick Charles House, New St, 143 Bromsgrove St, Bridge Street Stratford B1 2HP 0121 633 9262 Wharfside St, The Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester WR1 2D B5 6RG 0121 622 2444 upon Avon CV37 6AB CENTENARY BAR & Mailbox B1 1XL CV37 ONR 01905 22449 THE LOST & FOUND 01789 269462 BRASSERIE Broad Street, 0121 643 7279 01789 295252 L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51 8 Bennetts Hill, B2 5RS FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd, B1 2EP 0121 245 2080 TGI FRIDAYS 180 Hagley THE VINE INN 86 - 88 West Graham Rd, Malvern. 0121 643 9293 Henley in Arden. B95 CHI BAR & GRILL 61 Road, Edgbaston, B16 St, Warwick CV34 6AW WR14 2HU 01684 5QR 01564 793783 Newhall Street, B3 3RB LOVES The Glasshouse, 9NY 0121 454 1930 07873 219005 572427 Browning St, B16 8FL FIVE RIVERS 20-22 Victoria 0121 233 3150 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower 0121 454 5151 Terrace, CHIMICHANGA 41 Mill Lane B1 2HL 0121 643 3993 Street, CV34 4HS 01926 Mill Street, MECHU 47 - 59 Summer Leamington Spa, CV31 Arcade, Touchwood, TURTLE BAY 81-91 John 491736 Kidderminster. DY11 Solihull, B91 3GS 0121 Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212 3AB 01926 431999 6UU 01562 744976 1661 Bright Street, B1 1BL ZIZZI 85-87 Regent 704 0749 HIGH PAVEMENT BAR & DIN- MAEKONG THAI 12 METRO BAR & GRILL THE VAULTS Newhall Square House, Parade, CHUNG YING 73 ING 3 High Street, CV34 Worcester Road, Cornwall St B3 2DF Place, Newhall Hill, 4AP 01926 494725 Leamington Spa CV 32 16-18 Wrottersley Street, B1 3JH 0121 212 9837 4NL 01926 432532 Bromsgrove B61 7AE 0121 200 1911 HELP OUT MILL Heather 01527 578888 Rd, Shakerstone, MASSALLA LOUNGE 35 Nuneaton. CV13 0BT Worcestershire Broad St, Worcester 01530 260666 ANAKARALI 47 The WR1 3NH 01905 INDIA RED 25 Abbey 729955 Street, Nuneaton, CV11 Tythings, Worcester. WR1 MUG HOUSE Claines (EST 86) 5BX 024 7634 2090 1JT 01905 21412 THE DINNER CLUB ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St, Lane, Worcester WR3 A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans 7RN 01905 456649 Nest, Bridgford, Stratford Worcester WR1 3QT ON THE ROCKS upon Avon. CV37 7LT 01905 731131 44 01789 264804 ANUPAM 85 Church Worcester Road, SINGLE? Street, Malvern. WR14 Bromsgrove, B61 7AE MALLORY COURT Harbury 01527 882412 For the more discerning Lane, Leamington Spa, 2AE 01684 573814 CV33 9QB, 01926 330214 BACCHUS 44 Worcester PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower unattached person, age 40+ Road, Bromsgrove B61 Mill Street, Kidderminster MATRICARDIS 97 High St, DY11 6UU 01562 60479 Henley in Arden. B95 5AT 0TA 01527 877557 PORTWAY ITALIAN, Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie 01564 792735 BENEDICTOS 34 Sidbury, Alcester Rd, Redditch. Worcester WR1 2HZ balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. MERCHANTS Swan Street, B48 7HT 01564 824794 Warwick CV34 4BJ 01926 01905 21444 ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Rd, 403833 BINDLES BAR & BRASSERIE Aston Fields, NOT A DATING AGENCY 55 Sidbury, WR1 2HU NICOLINIS 14 The Parade, Bromsgrove. B60 2DZ 01905 611120 Leamington Spa, CV32 01527 889948 (Day) (Eve/W-end) 4DW 01926 421620 BRAMBLINGS Hither Green 01244 677030 /01244 548816 SAFFRON BISTRO 15 New NUMBER SIX Castle Street, Lane, Redditch, B98 9BE St, Worcester WR1 2DP Warwick, CV34 4BP 01527 406600 01905 610505 www.thedinnerclubuk.com 01926 497663 BRIDGE INN Plough Road,

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SAT 4 APRIL TUES 7 - SAT 11 APRIL SUN 12 APRIL

JEFFREY HOLLAND

JUDY BUXTON

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LA BOHÈME (PUCCINI) THE SIEGE OF CALAIS (DONIZETTI)

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