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SHROPSHIRE WHAT’SON SHROPSHIRE THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE SHROPSHIRE ISSUE 353 ISSUE MAY201 5

www.whatsonlive.co.uk ISSUE 353 MAY 2015 RUBY WAX TALKS SANE NEW WORLD INTERVIEW INSIDE ...

INSIDE PARTOF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS Slam Dunk Festival Line-up announced Northern Ballet Pippa Moore talks about a life in dance interview inside

INSIDE: @WHATSONSHROPSWWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK FILM COMEDY THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VISUAL ARTS EVENTS FOOD & DRINK HITS SHREWSBURY & MUCH MORE! The Drum F/P May 15.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:45 Page 1 Contents May Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:22 Page 1

May 2015

Editor: INSIDE: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: The Bodyguard Brian O’Faolain Five star musical continues [email protected] 01743 281701 in the Midlands p25 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Jamie Ryan [email protected] 01743 281720

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Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Subscriptions: Northern Ballet Adrian Parker [email protected] Pippa Moore talks about a 01743 281714 life in dance interview p10 Managing Director: Paul Oliver [email protected] 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Ruby Wax talks about her Sane New World - interview page 8 Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] TO GET THE VERY 01743 281717 News p4 Contributors: LATEST LISTING Graham Bostock: Theatre INFORMATION, James Cameron-Wilson: Music p13 Museums At Night Film; Eva Easthope, VISIT: find out more... p59 Jessica Aston, Patsy whatsonlive.co.uk Moss, Jack Rolfe, Jan Comedy p24 Watts, Simon Carter INCLUDING Head Office: BOOKING ONLINE 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Theatre p27 Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE The Midlands’ most Tel: 01743 281777 comprehensive p40 e-mail: [email protected] entertainment website Dance

Follow us on... Film/DVD p43 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is Festivals p47 produced without the use May 2015 of elemental chlorine. Wolverhampton Visual Arts p51 We endorse the recycling & Black Country MTWTFSS of our magazine and @whatsonwolves would encourage you to 1 2 3 Staffordshire p55 pass it on to others to Events 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 read when you have @whatsonstaffs finished with it. Shropshire Eating Out p65 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ’ @whatsonshrops 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 WhatsOn 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 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 May Region two.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:45 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Festival calls upon local artists Telford & Wrekin Council’s free Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival will take place on Saturday 19 September. In addition to featuring a ‘high quality’ craft and food mar- ket, live street entertainment and family activ- ities, this year’s festival also challenges local artists to create a piece of artwork depicting the world famous Ironbridge and its sur- roundings. The artwork must be completed on-site dur- ing the five hours of the festival and be ready for judging on the day. The winner will receive £200, with their work of art then being exhibited at Telford & Wrekin Council’s main office until the end of the year. Further information about the competition can be obtained from Barbara Taylor on 01952 435900 or by emailing barbara.tay- [email protected]

Diverse new season at The REP Mike Bartlett’s Olivier Award-winning King Charles III opens Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s autumn/winter season. Co-produced by The REP and the Almeida Theatre and directed by Rupert Goold, the production ‘explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family’. King Charles III shows Comedy line-up announced from 4 to 19 September and kick-starts a season of diverse theatre at The REP. Kneehigh for V Festival Theatre’s Dead Dog In A Suitcase (And Other Love Songs) (29 September to 3 October) and Meera Syal’s Anita And Me (9 to 24 October) are other early-autumn shows being presented Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle and Essex at the venue. Maxine Peake’s critically acclaimed Beryl, meanwhile, celebrates the life of funnyman Russell Kane will headline The unsung sporting ‘legend’ Beryl Burton, who cycled her way into the record books. The pro- Glee Club Comedy Tent at this year’s V duction runs from 24 to 28 November. Other highlights include William Golding’s Lord Of The Festival, which takes place at Weston Park Flies (3 to 7 November) and the return of The REP’s acclaimed version of John Steinbeck’s on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border on 22 Of Mice And Men (4 to 13 February), directed by Roxana Silbert. The venue’s Christmas show & 23 August. is the timeless tale of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (19 November to 16 January). Commenting on the gig, Russell Kane said: For details on all new season shows, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk. “I can’t believe I’m headlining the V Festival Glee Club Comedy Tent! I’ll celebrate after- wards by heading straight to the dance tent “I saw Miss Saigon there with all my family RougePlay Theatre. and throwing myself around to techno music when I was about eleven. It was my favourite Monkeying Around runs at The Place, like a tribal chief beating ever show and I’ll never Oakengates Theatre, from Monday 20 to a drum.” forget it. It’s crazy to Friday 24 July. The cost of the course is Fellow comedians think my run of the tour, £110 (and £90 for a second child). No previ- Seann Walsh, Shappi playing the leading role ous experience is required. Khorsandi, Nick Helm of Baby, opens on that and Gary Delaney also same stage.” feature in the Comedy Jessie stars opposite Indie band announce Tent line-up. Lewis Kirk, who plays Shrewsbury gig Johnny Castle. A north London indie guitar band who were Black Country Baby... once regular performers at Shrewsbury’s The Fridge are to perform their first gig in the A Midlands actress who recently graduated Monkeying Around in Telford town for twenty-five years. BOB play the Lion from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts A week-long circus skills summer school is Hotel on 22 May as a warm-up for their per- has joined the cast of Eleanor Bergstein’s visiting Telford’s Oakengates Theatre this formance at the Gigantic Indie All Dayer in record-breaking touring version of Dirty July. Monkeying Around introduces local Manchester twenty-four hours later. The gig Dancing. children and young people to a selection of coincides with the Black Country-born Jessie Hart is currently both aerial and ground-based disciplines, release of the playing the lead role of Baby Houseman in including static trapeze and acrobatics. band’s Singles the show, which runs at the Birmingham The course has been designed for young And EPs album, Hippodrome until Saturday 23 May. people aged between eight and eighteen due for release on “Birmingham Hippodrome was where I saw and is being run by circus theatre company 18 May. the first show I can remember,” reveals Jess.

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Nashville legends in Brum The legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers are this month appearing at Birmingham Town Hall (23 and 24 May), the only UK dates on their current tour. The Singers were originally formed in 1866 from a group of ex-slave music students at the Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The 24 May concert sees the ensemble joined on stage by Black Voices, the UK’s leading female a cappella quintet, to perform a song especially written for the occasion by composer Ken Burton.

Hello Kitty goes live The popular Japanese bobtail cat will take to the stage in Fashion & Friends, an inter- active presentation that’s been designed to Mica Paris to star in new musical appeal to fans of all ages. Award-winning singer and platinum-selling artist Mica Paris is to star as Sylvia in the UK and The show will feature a soundtrack includ- Ireland tour of Love Me Tender - a new musical inspired by and featuring the music of Elvis ing Charli XCX, Bruno Mars, Kylie Minogue, Presley. Echosmith, Clean Bandit and Flo Rida. Penned by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, of Memphis The Musical fame, the show is Commenting on the production, Steve described as ‘a funny and moving tale of hope, second chances and the healing qualities of Homer, promoter for the show’s co-produc- rock’n’roll’. Further casting is yet to be announced. ers, Live Nation Entertainment, said: “We’re Love Me Tender shows at Stoke’s Regent Theatre from 29 June to 24 July and Birmingham’s delighted to have Hello Kitty Live - Fashion New Alexandra Theatre from 24 to 29 August. & Friends on our roster. She’s a natural addition to a line-up of global superstars we work with that includes Madonna, Rihanna and Beyonce.” Hello Kitty Live - Fashion & IN BRIEF Forgotten history showcased through dance Friends visits the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on- An event exploring Stoke-on-Trent’s involvement in reconstructing Trent, on 20 October and the Civic Hall, Buccaneers and the Czech village of Lidice, following a Second World War Nazi Wolverhampton on 26 October. buried gold at massacre, takes place in the Potteries next month. The Old Rep The Lidice Shall Live Campaign was set up by Stoke doctor Sir Birmingham Ormiston Barnett Stross to help the Czech government construct a new BCMG up for prestigious Academy (BOA) has model village. This became a forgotten piece of history until local announced Treasure couple Alan and Cheryl Gerrard came across the story back in award Island as its first 2010. Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Christmas offering at Lidice Shall Live (Victoria Hall, Hanley, 8, 11 and 18 June) fea- (BCMG) is celebrating after its recent nomi- the city’s Old Rep tures contemporary dance groups from across the region per- nation for a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Theatre. The classic forming adaptations of the story. Audience members will be invit- Society (RPS) Music Award. tale of Long John ed to stand with characters, listen to the words of the survivors The ensemble has been nominated for its Silver and Jim and weave between the venue’s corridors to encounter sound- mass-participation performance, Crowd Hawkins shows at the scapes. Out, which was presented in the glass atri- venue from 20 Tickets are available from the Regent Theatre box office on 0844 um at Millennium Point last summer by one November to 3 871 7649 or by visiting www.atgtickets.com/stoke thousand Birmingham residents. January. The produc- The performance, which featured people tion will be directed singing, yelling, talking, shouting and whis- and produced by Doodle-tastic in Stourbridge pering, was composed by Pulitzer Prize- Scott Ritchie, who will Doodles by award-winning actress Emma Thompson, the winning American composer David Lang. also be directing BCMG produced the show, with the City of Malvern Festival Midlands’ own Lenny Henry and music legends Frankie Valli and Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Simon Theatre’s Christmas Tony Hadley are to be immortalised in glass and displayed at this Halsey directing. production of Peter month’s International Glass Festival in Stourbridge. This year’s RPS Music Awards winners will Pan. Tickets for Each celebrity was asked to create an original drawing on an be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday 5 Treasure Island are acrylic sheet. The drawing was May. A special programme about the now available from the then translated into a piece of Awards will then be broadcast on BBC Old Rep box office on glass art, with the method and Radio Three on Monday 11 May at 7.30pm. 0121 359 9444 style used being decided by the artist working on the project. The first to be completed, by Broadfield House artist Allister Malcolm, is Franki Valli’s doodle of three brightly coloured kites. The International Glass Festival takes place from 28 to 31 May. For further information on exhibitions, events and workshops, visit www.ifg.org.uk

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interview Northern ballerina Pippa Moore talks Ballet about a life in dance... Leeds-based Northern Ballet has developed a reputation for producing work which is as much about storytelling as it is about dancing. The highly rated company are touring to the Midlands next month with Madame Butterfly, which features Liverpool-born premier dancer Pippa Moore in the lead role. What’s On sat down with Pippa to find out more...

What does being a premier dancer for the which I call decoration - so dancers who’re How many hours do you train? Northern Ballet involve? there to fill the stage. Unfortunately - and I’ve We have company class every morning, I joined the company in 1996 and worked my done it myself, and it’s important and regardless of whether you’re rehearsing or if way through the ranks, starting at corps de interesting at the time - it can become a soul- you have two shows that day. So the hour- ballet level. The roles are given to you as you destroying experience. Here at Northern and-a-quarter class is a given every single prove your competence and also as you Ballet, each dancer is made to feel that their day - we say it’s like brushing your teeth. mature, especially with a part like Madame contribution is one hundred percent On Thursday and Saturday there’s always Butterfly. It’s a very complex character, important. The research we do at the start of a matinee as well as an evening show. around the age that I am now, so I feel I can the production, the workshops, the reading Wednesday and Friday we’re rehearsing deliver the performance with all the relevant out scripts and the role-playing, all serves to for the next ballet. Next week, for example, layers of emotion. So this is the kind of role a make everybody feel hugely important to the we’re doing Wuthering Heights in premier dancer performs - and the same in production. I felt that I was a principal dancer Southampton, so that ballet has to be lots of other ballets, like The Great Gatsby from the minute I joined, even though I was rehearsed this week to keep it in top shape and Romeo And Juliet. just a mere corp de ballet! for next week. So it’s ongoing, I’m afraid.

Would a premier dancer have a similar Who or what inspired you to become a Is it quite hard to change characters and position within the children’s ballet, or ballet dancer? movement each day? do they remain more involved with the The thing that got me into dancing wasn’t Yes, very much so. And you’re often complex roles? ballet at all. I’d not been exposed to ballet as rehearsing a ballet on a different set, which Due to the logistics of the children’s ballet, a child; I was brought up on Grease and can be confusing. We’ll be rehearsing which is on tour with the main company now, Fame - anything that seemed like fun! I went Wuthering Heights this week on the Great the premier dancers aren’t involved in the off to dance school to do tap and modern Gatsby set! Elves And The Shoe Maker. We can’t be in and everything else. I was inspired then, and two places at once, and it’s easier for the all through ballet school I worked hard. Then Northern Ballet has a great reputation choreographers to work with the younger I joined a company and found out, for the outside of London. How has this been dancers of the company, as they’re more first time, what it was like to be on stage. developed? available. Watching the older dancers carry big roles is We’re one of the few companies that tour the inspiring, particularly when you’re living and whole of Great Britain, literally bringing ballet What would you say is the toughest breathing it all with them. That’s what I found to the doorsteps of different people in aspect of being a performer? totally inspiring. It isn’t always the same different regions. The children’s ballets in I think when you’re a younger dancer, you when you watch it at home on video. There particular have done a wonderful job of may be given a solo, or you may be given are disconnections. It’s not real; it’s just like presenting dance and ballet to people who five minutes of material to dance in a trio or watching television. Actually being in the wouldn’t normally be able to travel or have a quartet. So you have a burst of adrenaline, company, I was more blown away by what the resources to see it. The children’s ballet go out there, perform - and then you’re people were doing. has totally changed the face of our tour, done. With a role like Madame Butterfly, it’s a bringing the company to Wolverhampton whole evening of building the character and What advice would you give to someone and other cities. We’re always trying to reach taking the audience on a journey. You have looking to follow in your footsteps and out to as many places and people as we to be fully committed from start to finish. You become a ballet dancer? can. can’t check in and out. There’s very little time Looking after your body and working hard is I’m actually off stage in the second act. So to the norm for a dancer, but what people are Have approaches to ballet changed answer your question, I think the toughest not sufficiently focused on is looking after during the course of your career? aspect is probably mental concentration - themselves mentally. This is important, Dance has kind of become cool again, and the sense of logic you have to bring to because you will have setbacks. You have to hasn’t it? Everybody has something to say the role in order for the audience to be on find the determination to keep going. about it or has seen something. It’s far more board with the story. Anybody can get up and do one show. accessible, thanks to television in particular. What’s difficult is getting up and doing seven Darcey Bussell being on the Strictly Come A lot of people assume the hardest thing shows in a different city each week, which is Dancing panel has done a lot for ballet. is the actual dancing. They forget the what we do. The travel in between is hard, acting side of the performance. Is that and it’s important to keep yourself sane Has the chance to watch live screenings more what Northern Ballet’s about? doing that. So if you want to go into a ballet and, in terms of the company, the fact That’s why I’ve stayed here for so long. company like Northern, you have to be ready that The Elves And The Shoe Maker has There’s always something new for us to work for the full experience, for encompassing been on Cbeebies, pushed the ballet on. We’re always taking on interesting everything that the job entails. You need to boundaries? narrative work, and I’ve never felt anybody is stay mentally strong. That determination has Absolutely! It’s showing people there’s not important on stage. A lot of other got me through on many occasions, nothing to be afraid of. We do stories that are companies do narrative work, and there will especially when I felt my body was going to easily accessible to people. Northern Ballet be a corp of dancers who’re carrying the let me down. is trying to take the fear factor out of ballet. evening. But there will also be a lot of work

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The tour that’s coming to the Midlands What’s your all-time favourite ballet? features very different works - Madame That’s tricky! I love all the shows I’m in, but Butterfly, Perpetuum Mobile and The Elves I’ll give you two contrasting ones. Madame And The Shoe Maker. What’s most Butterfly I love because of the emotional important when dancing to a younger journey. It’s a tragedy, and I’m a sucker for audience? a tragedy. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, All the children’s ballets are under an hour, I found a comedic side to me that I didn’t and there are moments when you absolutely know I could bring to the stage. To hear the know that they’ll laugh. It caters for them. In audience laugh at me and with me was Elves, there’s a section of dance on a fantastic, and simply for that reason it was trampoline - the kids love that. Visually there a memorable ballet. Those two ballets are are lots of things that happen, so it’s not just really contrasting, and that’s why they’re one person they have to keep their focus on. my favourites. Scenes change quite quickly.

As a dancer, is there a different approach to dancing in pointe shoes and on trampolines? It’s different, so obviously you have to have a different thought process too. But I love all the differences between the roles. I wouldn’t want to play Madame Butterfly for ten years because it’s emotionally draining. Everybody needs the release of doing something lighthearted and fun. When we do A Christmas Carol, we have children in the show. It’s a very different aspect of Northern Ballet, and that’s why I’ve been here for so long. You’re never stuck in one corner. We keep moving forward and trying different things.

Northern Ballet perform at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tues 2 to Wed 3 June and Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 16 to Wed 17 June.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Ruby Wax LW.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:52 Page 1

interview

I’m trying to do what my hero Bill “ Bryson does, which is take something that I think is so fascinating and then spin it into comedy. ” Ruby Wax Comedian opens up to a Sane New World

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Loud-mouthed, brassy and unapologetically ‘in your face’, American comedian Ruby Wax needs no introduction, having made a splash during the 1980s as part of the UK’s alternative comedy scene. More recently she’s studied Psychotherapy and gained a Master’s degree in Mindfulness- based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Oxford University. Now she’s bringing together comedy and psychotherapy in her touring show, Sane New World. What’s On caught up with her...

How would you define your brand of hair out. What does the government think is too nervous, and when I’m too nervous I get comedy in 2015, Ruby? going to happen? Forget about Syria, fix your flustered. Eclectic. I’m trying to do what my hero Bill own first. Bryson does, which is take something that I Looking back over the past thirty-plus think is so fascinating and then spin it into You’ve obviously got very strong opinions years, what would you say was the comedy. At least I have a niche, as nobody on this issue. What can you personally do highlight? else is doing anything like this. to help change things? Doing TED talks has been a highlight, but I Me? I go to Parliament. I’ve spoken in guess most people won’t know what they are So why Sane New World? Downing Street and I don’t aim to shut up. (they’re a global set of conferences taking This is a show for everybody and anybody place under the umbrella slogan ‘ideas worth who says things like, ‘how can I have these You’ve been quite candid about your spreading’ - Ed). Another highlight would be critical thoughts, I shouldn’t have them’ or upbringing - and in particular your being in the RSC. Then this is a highlight, ‘I’m a fraud, I can’t write these articles’. And relationship with your parents. Has doing this show. things like, ‘How come we’re so busy even comedy acted as a form of catharsis in when we’re not?’ and ‘Is it too shaming to dealing with this? You’ve got a new book out called Wake say that I do nothing?’ No. Jennifer Saunders had great parents and The F**K Up - A Mindful Guide For The People can’t sleep at night for worrying. I’m she’s a genius, so you can’t always say. Frazzled, which is due for publication in even answering spam, I can’t stop emailing. January. How’s that coming along? These are just some of the questions that I You started out as a straight actress. How Don’t remind me. I’m writing it at the moment put to the audience - and because I got to go did the transition to comedy come about? and the pressure’s on. I’m off to Cape Town to Oxford and learn about how the mind When I was on stage with the RSC, Alan this evening to concentrate just on this, then works, I can discuss why this is happening. Rickman and a few other people said I I’ll have the summer to complete it. It’s not just that I’m bitching about the should stop acting because I wasn’t good. weather. I’m saying ‘Okay, there’s a reason They threw notes at me saying, ‘Get off the Why Cape Town? for this - like every cell in your body only stage, you’re terrible’. I decided that I should It’s somewhere where I can concentrate. It’s cares about your survival and couldn’t give a do something else, and Alan Rickman said, on the ocean - I’m lucky enough to be able to shit about your happiness’. ‘Write a play, because you’re so funny’. So I go there to do this. did, and he directed it. I hadn’t thought of So what would be your top technique for writing before that time, but it was apparent You’ve toured Sane New World previously. achieving and successfully remaining in a that I couldn’t act, so it was the better option. So how has this new tour changed? state of mindfulness? I’m improving it all the time. I’m constantly I talk about learning to fool your brain and For many, that would’ve been a terrible writing. It’s the same show in essence just keep your ear to the ground to blow to the confidence, but you obviously because there are films going on behind me understand. When am I burning out? What’s bounced back... and digital effects, so I’m not going that far my tipping point? Why am I competing with It wasn’t like they said ‘don’t do anything’. from it. the next guy? I talk about people blindly They said ‘you can write comedy’. It was the deciding they’re gonna go on X Factor right decision because there was a career Is it scripted or do you play on audience without realising they have the talent of a waiting for me. interaction? toothpick. We think we can be all of these It’s purely scripted, and then, after the things but you need to have a field. Did you find it tough making your mark as interval, we have a discussion. The audience I say in the show, ‘There was a time when we a female comedian? then do the talking. Then later I sign books were all peasants and then there was a I was there at a time when people were so and meet people. change. We didn’t care. We bred, we died, excited that there was a female being funny shit happens. Now everybody wants to be about being a female that I couldn’t help but How has your approach to life in general king. Where did they get this idea? People be successful. It was completely the right changed since you trained to be a like Sarah Palin, thinking they can run a time. All the female comics before that were psychotherapist? country? What happened that gives these either fat and self-deprecating or Joan Rivers, I wasn’t going to be a psychotherapist. I was people this entitlement? Everybody in the saying what a dog she was. When we did just interested in the subject, and I was really audience understands that this isn’t mental Girls On Top they’d never seen attractive interested in Oxford. I went there to learn this illness, this is our world. women being funnier than men are about stuff so that I could do shows like this. How’s women. That’s why we got the attention. that changed my life? Well, I now know more You describe yourself as a poster girl for about a topic that I’m really interested in. And mental illness. With the election Do you think it’s easier or harder for it’s a niche market - nobody else is doing it. happening this month, what do you think female comics these days? can be done to improve understanding of Do you see a lot of female comics? No. It Ruby Wax performs Sane New World at these issues in the UK? don’t think there are a lot of female comics. Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Fri 29 May To understand that it’s one in four. That it’s Maybe it’s improving but it’s still bad. and Birmingham REP on Sun 25 October physical. That everything that happens that’s wrong in this country, including drug use, You’ve had your own chat show. crime, child abuse, cutting, diabetes two, What were your best and worse infertility, they all come from your brain - and interviewing experiences? yet there’s no money in brain research. Can My worst were Madonna and Donald you figure that one out? It’s unbelievable. Trump, and my best were Imelda Then they use words like happiness. What is Marcos, Tom Hanks and OJ Simpson. that - a greeting card? They say that by 2020 it’s going to be stress that kills us, and Why was Madonna amongst your already a hundred billion a year is lost in worst? business due to absenteeism. The National It was fear-based. I just got it all wrong - Health Service is drained from these kind of and when I get scared I get aggressive. It illnesses, so could they not just address the wasn’t two people flirting, which is what I issue? Nobody knows where to go. I do a try to do in my interviews. With her, I show where the audience are tearing their made her hate me pretty quickly. I was

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Mark Benton interview - [email protected]_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:37 Page 1

interview Mark Benton takes to solving crime on the French Riviera

Roles in Early Doors, Northern Lights, Waterloo Road and Catterick have ensured that Mark Benton is a familiar face on television. Having donned a dress and heels to play Edna Turnblad in the 2012 tour of Hairspray, Mark is this month returning to the stage in the touring production of West End hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...

Explain the role of Inspector Andre, Mark - to be all these posh kids and I’d be the odd diverse than Hairspray and Waterloo Road! I the character you play in Dirty Rotten one out, and that I wasn’t going to really enjoyed the experience. It was great Scoundrels - and give us an idea of what understand what was going on because I was dragging up and a really iconic part. It was the show is about... this lad from the sticks. Actually it was brilliant fun and I could’ve carried on doing it. It’s about a couple of conmen who have a nothing like I expected. It was lovely, and our bet to get some money out of this lady. My year was a real mix of people from all walks Your big break came playing Ricky in character is the sidekick of Lawrence, one of of life. It was a real eye-opener and it Career Girls, a 1997 film by Mike Leigh, the two conmen, and he falls for one of the changed my life forever. Some of the people who’s famously known for using lengthy ladies who he’s trying to con. It’s kind of a who I met then remain my best friends today. improvisations - developed over a period comedy love story but that’s all I’m giving I’ve done quite a lot of weird things of weeks - to build characters and away. You’ll have to come and see the show. throughout my career that I never imagined storylines for his films. How did you find I’d do, but I’ve ended up doing them the experience of working with him? The film was a 1988 remake of 1964’s nonetheless. I’ve really enjoyed the variety. Amazing. He’s a genius, and I would jump at Bedtime Story with David Niven and the chance to work with him again. The thing Marlon Brando. Now the 1988 remake’s You recently faired pretty well on Strictly I found with Mike is not necessarily that he been adapted for the stage. Which Come Dancing. Were you game from the taught me how to act but more that if you elements of the story have ensured its word go, or did you have to be persuaded start with the truth of a character, you can go popularity with different generations of that you’d enjoy the experience? anywhere. I knew my character inside out audience? I wasn’t game. I’d always said I wouldn’t do a because of all the months of hard work we’d It’s such a big, fun piece. There are great reality show. I talked to the guys from Strictly put in, so I was able to say ‘Ricky wouldn’t songs in it and big numbers, but also the and was adamant that I wasn’t going to do it, do that’ and actually be qualified to say so, structure’s really funny. I think it really but I still decided to meet them. I thought because I knew him so well. appealed to me because it’s almost like a about it again, and the one thing that’s comedy with songs. different about Strictly is that you’ve got to And did he give you a lot of freedom to learn a skill. It’s not about sitting in a room develop Ricky? If you weren’t playing Andre, which role chatting. And I do enjoy dancing, so I thought He develops it with you. He’ll maybe steer would appeal to you the most - Lawrence ‘what the hell?’ As an actor, you worry about you in a certain direction but it’s very Jameson or Freddy Benson? your credibility, but it’s one of the few Reality collaborative. I never saw a script but I knew I think Freddy because he’s a slob. He’s a TV shows that doesn’t harm that, because my lines better than when I’ve learned with a mess, and that would be right up my street. people see it for what it is. The people who I script. But I’m happy playing Andre. He’s got so thought would be the most critical about me many fun lines. He’s dry and French... doing it turned out to be the least critical. Talking of freedom, how much were you given when developing the role of Eddie in So how’s the French accent going? You made it through to the eleventh show. Early Doors? It’s kind of a work in progress. I’m trying to Were you surprised by how well you did? That was great fun. When I initially met Craig get a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Very surprised. I damaged my knees on week and everybody for Early Doors, I was going Arsene Wenger. two of the rehearsals and had to see a for the role of the policeman, but it didn’t surgeon, who pumped some steroids into me work out. I knew the director because he’d Moving away from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and said, “You might make a week or two but directed me in The Second Coming. I told to focus on you; you grew up in Teeside in remain philosophical”. I guess I relied on my him Eddie was my favourite, and he said to the mid-1960s - a long way away, I’d acting ability because I couldn’t to certain come back in and audition for him. So I read imagine, from any showbiz glamour. So things due to the knee. I hate to use the for Eddie and this character came out of what made you decide to become an ‘journey’ word, but it was a journey for both nowhere. Obviously all of the lines are Craig actor? me and my dance partner, Evetta. She had to and Phil’s, but all of Eddie’s moves, the way My uncle’s an actor, and I wanted to be like choreograph around my limitations. I was in a he uses his hands and everything, just came him. That inspired me to do as many local lot of pain a lot of the time, but I look back on out of nowhere and continued to develop plays and as much am-dram as I could get it as a really lovely experience. throughout the series. We all had such a into. I went to technical college to do a drama laugh making Early Doors. There’s an course, and I guess I always wanted to be You also starred as Edna Turnblad episode, the last of Series One, where we all either an actor or in a band. I went to drama in Hairspray. How did you enjoy the go on the Big Boys Beano. We’re having school when I was eighteen, then applied to experience of performing in drag - was breakfast and James McAvoy starts choking RADA when I was twenty and moved to it a more difficult challenge than you’d on his cigar smoke. We’re proper laughing, London. imagined it would be? and so they kept it in. I just love that scene. I was doing Waterloo Road at the time and the offer just came out of the blue. I just What’s your criteria for accepting roles and What were your initial expectations of jumped in because I thought I was getting a has it changed over the years? RADA? little bit stale. I’d been doing Waterloo Road I think it’s very hard to say what it is. I’ve done It was much better than I’d expected. I was for two years and fancied doing something jobs in the past where I’ve maybe only done worried because I thought there were going different - and you can’t get anything more one or two scenes, but there’s been

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something in the character that’s really made serious drama or comedy is harder. It’s down likely - but never say never... me want to do it. I think sometimes it’s not to the individual part. Sometimes I’ve done a about playing the biggest part but more comedy - like Early Doors, Catterick or What’s on the cards post-Dirty Rotten about wanting to play a part because it’s Northern Lights - where it’s easy because it’s Scoundrels? different from me. It has to be something that all there in the writing and it just flows. Other I’m also doing a film at the moment called will challenge me - and there has to be times you have to do comedy where it’s not The Eagle. It’s about Eddie The Eagle and something in it that I’ve never done before, quite right and you really have to work on it. we’re filming that alongside rehearsals for like with Strictly. I didn’t know whether I could It’s the same with drama, so I don’t think it’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I rehearse for a do it but I gave it a go. It was the same when I down to the genre. couple of days and then go off and film for a first took on Hairspray. I was excited because couple of days, so it’s a bit busy at the it was a challenge and I didn’t know whether I If you could choose any one character to moment. could do it. revive in the future, who would it be? I’d love to do Eddie Bell again from Early Who do you play in the film? If we were to ask either of your teenage Doors and Mark from Catterick. I’d also love I’m the sidekick to the head of the British children which of your roles they thought to do Northern Lights, so that me and Olympic Association. We’re a couple of was the ‘coolest’, what do you think they’d Robson could get together again. There’s so baddies who try and stop Eddie from say? many, I couldn’t possibly name them all. competing because we sort of see him as an They’re just proud of me whatever I do - but if embarrassment. It’s a great film and real fun I was to ask my youngest, she’d probably say It’s been ten years now since Early Doors, to do. Hairspray or Hobson’s Choice. My oldest is there a possibility that we might see would probably say Catterick, which I did with Eddie again? Finally, have you ever questioned your Vic and Bob. There’s kind of a whole I don’t know. We’d love to. I know that James career choice? spectrum there, really. McAvoy and everybody would be up for I do feel really blessed to have had the career doing it again. It was one of those that I’ve had. I’ve worked really hard at trying You’ve displayed great versatility programmes where you can’t wait to go to not to get bitter about the whole business. throughout your career, playing both work every day. We were in the pub together Acting is tough, and you’re constantly dramatic and comedic roles. Which of the all of the time, laughing and joking and dealing with rejection, so I feel very blessed two do you find the most challenging and learning our script. It was just a very special that I’ve been able to do so many diverse why? job. All I can say is that I hope we get to do it things. I wouldn’t change any of it. I don’t necessarily think it’s about whether again. As the years go by, it kind of gets less

I’ve done quite a lot of weird things “ throughout my career that I never imagined I’d do, but I’ve ended up doing them nonetheless.”

Mark Benton stars in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham from Mon 5 to Sat 16 May and Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 28 July to Sat 1 August

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Belle & Sebastian Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 10 May “Stevie (Jackson, guitarist) wants to be in the Vel- vet Underground,” explained Belle & Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch in a recent interview with The Guardian. “Bob (Kildea, bass) wants to be in the Rolling Stones, and I want to be in Abba - but we’re probably more like the Grateful frigging Dead.” The Glasgow indie band celebrate two decades to- gether next year and released their ninth album, Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance, back in Janu- ary. As with their previous offerings, their trade- mark blend of electro-glide, baroque balladry and giant-sized Europop hooks is very much in evi- dence on the new release. Expect a winning blend of new and more familiar material when they stop off in the Midlands this month as part of an extensive tour.

Dr Hook Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 14 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 20 May American rock band Dr Hook (shortened in 1975 from Dr Hook & The Medicine Show) enjoyed eight glorious years of chart success, with hits including Sylvia's Mother, The Cover Of Rolling Stone, Sharing The Night Together and, most famously, When You're In Duets for Django Love With A Beautiful Woman. Lichfield Garrick, Staffs, Fri 8 May They visit these Midlands venues with the actual Dr Hook - Ray 'Eye Patch' Sawyer - and Flamenco, classical, latin, blues and gypsy jazz are will be playing all the hits. all present and correct whenever award-winning acoustic guitarists Paul Vernon Chester and Nick Mellor get together. Paying homage to the magnifi- cent musical legacy of Django Reinhardt, the duo’s repertoire of exquisite ballads and high-octane swing ensures no two concerts are ever the same.

Paul McCartney Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Wed 27 May Living legend Paul McCartney’s Out There concert, so far enjoyed by over two million people in twelve different countries, showcases one of the best- loved back-catalogues in popular music. This Birmingham stop-off, one of nine special shows being performed at venues across Europe, of- fers fans a chance to enjoy a gold-star se- lection of McCart- ney’s output from across the fifty-plus years of his career. Expect songs from latest studio album New, his solo career, Lucy Ward the Wings era and, Stafford Gatehouse, Tues 5 May of course, his Swing- Hailing from Derby, Lucy won the Horizon Award in 2012 and was nominated as last ing ’60s glory days year’s BBC Radio Two Folk Singer Of The Year. Possessing a voice that’s been called ‘ex- as a mop-headed pressive and powerful’, she names Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading as her inspira- member of the Fab tions. A talented songwriter, she last year picked up Best Original Song at the Spiral Earth Four. Awards, and has been called one of the UK folk scene’s hottest performers.

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fri 1 may 7pm michaela wylde ...... sat 2 may 7pm the buskets ...... sun 3 may 7pm kim smith ...... fri 8 may 7pm lou whatling ...... sat 9 may 7pm robbie jones ...... sun 10 may 7pm kim smith ...... Fri 15 May 7pm hannah & brian ...... sat 16 may 7pm tocha booked ...... sun 17 may 7pm lou whatling ...... Fri 22 may 7pm synergy ...... Sat 23 May 7pm dan page

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Music PREVIEWS Kate Rusby Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 21 May Referred to as ‘the Barnsley nightingale’, ‘the first lady of young folkies’ and ‘a superstar of the British acoustic scene’, Kate Rusby is widely regarded as the hip face of English folk. Her beautiful interpretations of traditional songs and finely crafted self-penned tunes have secured for her not only enormous mainstream success but also a legion of hugely dedicated followers.

Ernie Halter Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Thurs 7 May Ernie Halter’s admiration for The Beatles, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder and The Go-Go's has inspired him to create a brand of music that’s chimed with a significant (and ever-growing) fanbase. Burial have liked what he’s been doing too, sampling from Halter’s 2007 song Whis- per, while Justin Bieber’s produced a cover version of Come Home To Me. “I want to be the record you play while you make breakfast, make dinner, make out,” explains The Beach Boys Ernie. “I kept thinking of the songs that made up the soundtrack of my life, and wanted to cre- Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Fri 29 May ate songs that would help others form theirs.” Having won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and been in- ducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Legends Of Reggae Reverend Peyton’s there's no question that The Beach Boys The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 30 May Big Damn Band have, in their time, been just about as big as The cornerstones of reggae music past and The Robin, Bilston, Sun 31 May it's possible to get in the music industry. present are celebrated in this special show, Expect all the hits in this latest touring show, with its promoters having put together a line- When it comes to showing commitment to including Good Vibrations, Wouldn’t It Be up of talent they’re more than happy to de- fingerpickin', scrubboard scratchin', drum- Nice, God Only Knows, Surfin’ USA and I Get scribe as ‘spectacular’. Featured performers bucket country blues, Reverend Peyton’s Big Around. include Heptones lead singer Leroy Sibbles, Damn Band take some lickin’. The talented crossover vocal- trio sold everything they owned in a garage ist Ken Boothe, sale, hit the open road and have been play- ‘dynamic duo’ ing a staggering two hundred-and-fifty-plus Chaka Demus shows a year ever since. and Pliers, ‘li- “We’ll play with anyone, really,’ says the Rev- oness on the erend. “We come from the same tradition that rise’ Queen Charley Patton and Furry Lewis came from. Ifrica, and the They just took off with their instruments and uniquely tal- went out into the world to see what would Queen Ifrica ented Gyptian. stick. They sang about what they were going through in their time, and we’re doing the same thing in ours. It’s a hard way to go, but Twenty One Pilots I think that in this day and age it’s the way you gotta get your music out to people.” Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Wed 13 May As they put it on their website, Josh Dun and Nizlopi Tyler Joseph - otherwise known as indie pop The Glee Club, Birmingham, Tues 12 May; band Twenty One Pilots - are currently earn- Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, ing 'widespread applause for their energetic Thurs 14 May live sets and distinctive fusion of piano-driven When John Parker met Luke Concannon on schizoid pop and lyrical uplift'. And the boys a school bus at the age of thirteen, neither of are pretty clear about their motivation too: them could’ve imagined that the encounter “What's our purpose for playing music? We're would lead to them becoming a prime-time constantly asking ourselves that question. television ‘pop’ act, playing the Wembley The answer can change all the time, but for arena, touring Europe and selling a million right now we’re just going to stick with some- records. thing as simple as ‘we want to make people Their road to success came via afternoons think’.” spent playing and writing songs, and later running their own record label from a spare Paul Lamb & The King Snakes room. But it was unique father-and-son num- Lichfield Guildhall, Staffs, Sat 9 May ber The JCB Song that shot them to stardom Northumberland-born blues harmonica in 2005. player and bandleader Paul Lamb has When the pressure got a bit too much, they clocked up the better part of thirty years and took a break, returning in 2013 following a an impressive fourteen albums with The King four-year hiatus. Snakes. Away from his time with the band, They perform in the Midlands as part of their he's also worked with numerous major current Get Radical tour. names in the music industry - including The Who, Rod Stewart and Mark Knopfler.

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Birmingham LISTINGS BODDIKA, LEVON VIN- Phil Beer - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Music CENT, YOUANDEWAN, SAMUEL DEEP & JANE FITZ The Rainbow Ven- For full listing information on gigs, ues, Birmingham including times and dates, FRIG The Courtyard, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Hereford ouse,MON Birmingham 4 MAY BEHOLDER O2 Academy, CHARLEY PRIDE Sym- FRI 1 MAY Birmingham phony Hall, Birmingham MICHAELA WYLDE Ha- PENTATONIXO2 Acad- THE LOVELY EGGSThe vana Republic, Shrews- emy, Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, bury FM The Robin, Bilston Birmingham MOBB DEEP Plus Rodney MOSS KROH, VAILS, UGLY DUCKLING Hare & P & Daddy Skitz and DJ DUNE, MAMMOTHWING, Hounds, Birmingham 279, O2 Academy, BLEAK ZERO & ACID GOAT WADADA Hare & Birmingham The Asylum, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham ICEAGE Hare & Hounds, BALKANIC ERUPTION DUTCH UNCLES & Birmingham CUMBIA SPECIAL Hare & CAIROBI The Institute, URBAN INTRO The Jam Hounds, Birmingham B’ham House, Birmingham DEAD SEA SKULLS ALSO GOODNIGHT LENIN, JOHN PLAYING; SPEAKING IN TUE 5 MON MCCULLAGH & THE ES- SHADOWS, EOFE, BROKEN HAPPYNESS Hare & CORTS The Rainbow WITT REBELS & POLAR Hounds, Birmingham Venues, Birmingham STATESThe Institute, CARL SINCLAIR DUO The DEF CON ONE, ERADIKA- Birmingham Jam House, B’ham TOR, KREMATED & ENEMO CIERAN CLIFFORD BAND LUCY WARD Stafford J Scruffy Murphys, Irish Centre, B’ham Gatehouse Theatre Birmingham SEMANTICS, SLTP & C.W STONEKING The PLASTIC FACTORY, THE CHAOS PARADE The Sun- The Oobleck, B’ham Rainbow Venues, Birm- SAT 9 MAY SUN 10 MAY LATE RUNNERS, STRAN- flower Lounge, B’ham ingham GLER FIGS, OTHER DOGS DEMONS OF OLD METAL, FRI 8 MAY THE SUBTERRANEANS BELLE & SEBASTIAN & AFTERNOON IDENTITY THE DARKHORSE, CHIL- The Jam House, Birm- Symphony Hall, Birm- WED 6 MAY THE VAMPS O2 Academy, B’ham DREN LOST IN TIME & Genting ingham ingham ROPEWALK Scruffy Mur- Arena, Birmingham JAMES HICKMAN & DAN CLARE MAGUIRE The PUBLIC SERVICE BROAD- EMMA SWEENEY The phys, Birmingham THE SUBTERRANEANS CASSIDY Birchmeadow Glee Club, Birmingham CASTING The Institute, Morris Hall, Shrews- REBEL REBEL - DAVID The Jam House, Birm- Centre, Broseley, MR SCRUFF Hare & Birmingham bury, Shropshire BOWIE TRIBUTE Route ingham Shropshire FEARLESS VAMPIRE Hounds, Birmingham GEORGIE FAME The Jam 44, Birmingham LOU WHATLING Havana ULTIMATE GENESIS O2 KILLERS ARCANE ROOTS The Insti- House, Birmingham O2 Academy, POPPUNKTASTIC FT HID- Republic, Shrewsbury Academy, Birmingham tute, Birmingham DUSTIN KENSRUE The Birmingham DEN SKIES The Slade TWIN ATLANTIC O2 ROBBIE JONES Havana CHRIS DIFFORD FOUR ACES Irish Centre, Glee Club, Birmingham Henry Rooms, Wolverhampton Academy, Birmingham Republic, Shrewsbury Birmingham CHRIS KNOWLES & Tudor House, Shrews I AM PARIAH The Sug- REEDBASS Symphony THE OASIS EXPERIENCE ALI CLINTON Route 44, CATRIN O'NEILL / VICKI bury armill, Stoke-on-Trent Hall, Birmingham The Roadhouse, B’ham Birmingham SWAN & JONNY DYER SAMMY GOULBOURNE, E THE LAST CARNIVAL The THE ONCE Alfie Bird's, BON GIOVI The Robin, The Red Lion Folk Club, DOUBLE D & CARRY Asylum, Birmingham Birmingham Bilston Birmingham SHAUN Hare & Hounds, CLARE MAGUIRE The MODERN MINDS O2 HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPE- TIA MCGRAFF The Robin, Birmingham Glee Club, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham LIN Theatre On The Bilston JACKMASTER, EATS DJ VADIUM & FINGATHING MERRYMOUTH mac - Steps, Bridgnorth, PHIL BEER Theatre Sev- EVERYTHING, SKREAM & Hare & Hounds, B’ham Midlands Arts Centre, Shropshire ern, Shrewsbury SETH TROXLER The Rain- MILESTONE EXPRESS Birmingham JASPER CARROT'S STAND MATT WOOSEY Kitchen UP AND ROCK Featuring bow Venues, B’ham Irish Centre, B’ham SET IT OFF The Asylum, Garden Cafe, B’ham THE SCREAMIN’ ABDABZ Jasper Carrott, Bev THE WARLOCKS, BLACK Birmingham Chris Difford Bevan and guests, The MARKET KARMA & ENE- Route 44, Birmingham 360 AND FRIENDS Hare & MIES EYES The Rainbow THU 7 MAY THE SMITHS INDEED The Hounds, Birmingham Place, Oakengates The- PRETTY VICIOUS Hare & atre, Shropshire Venues, Birmingham THE FULL ENGLISH Birm- Robin, Bilston NEW CITY KINGS The In- CORINA JANE The Glee DUETS FOR DJANGO Lich- stitute, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham THE BACHELORS Festival ingham Town Hall KIM SMITH Havana Re- Drayton Centre, Market Club, Birmingham S CLUB 7 Genting Arena, field Garrick, Staffs PAT BRESLINIrish Cen- LAURA CARTER Sym- LIVEWIRE - TRIBUTE TO tre, Birmingham public, Shrewsbury Drayton, North Shrop- Birmingham CHEATAHS & NO JOY phony Hall, Birmingham AC/DC Tamworth Assem- THEA GILMORE Birming- Hare shire THE PRODIGY O2 Acad- & Hounds, Birmingham GOD DAMN The Sug- emy, Birmingham bly Rooms, Staffs ham Town Hall HOOBASTANK, P.O.D & SHILLEAGH Irish Centre, armill, Stoke-on-Trent SUN 3 MAY PAUL LAMB & THE KING ALIEN ANT FARM Wulfrun SNAKES Lichfield Guild- Birmingham MAYA JANE COLES CHRIS KING BLAZE BAYLEY The Hall, Wolverhampton hall, Staffs Kitchen Gar- NextDoor, Birmingham Roadhouse, B’ham den Cafe, Birmingham THE SUPERSKAS, THE GU- THE RESCUE BLUES The BEYOND THE BARRICADE MOTION CITY SOUND- Slade Rooms, Wolver- Wolverhampton Grand VNORS & THE STRIKE The TRACK O2 Academy, MON 11 MAY Roadhouse, B’ham hampton Theatre Birmingham MORAL PANICS & FRAN- MAMA GENESIS Theatre OCCOEUR, THE ROOZ, KIM SMITH Havana Re- TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST, CISCO THE MAN The On The Steps, Bridg- GUEST ELLA HENDERSON public, Shrewsbury Sugarmill, Stoke-on- north, Shropshire WET LETTUCE AND THE VALOUS, IN SEARCH OF Genting Arena, B’ham MAGIK BEAN & INEGO The The Prodigy Trent LYDIA GLANVILLE QUAR- TOPS & HONEY MOON SUN, EYES OF THE RAVEN, PETE BROWN’S NEW TET The Hive, Shrews- Flapper, B’ham GLASSBULLET & Hare & Hounds, B’ham ALTANmac - Midlands GRASSCUTTERS Stafford bury STONEPIT DRIVE The THE MACCABEES The In- Arts Centre, B’ham Gatehouse Theatre THE PRINTMAKERS Arena Flapper, Birmingham stitute, Birmingham SAT 2 MAY CODY SIMPSON The Insti- MISTY’S BIG ADVENTURE Theatre, Wolverhamp- FARLEY & HELLER Hare & JOHN TAMS & BARRY tute, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birm- ton URBAN INTRO The Jam Hounds, Birmingham COOPE Stafford Gate- PINKSHINYULTRABLAST ingham OOH LA LA NIGHTS - LIT- House, Birmingham LITTLE JIMMY Irish Cen- house Theatre The Institute, B’ham SUZI & THE BACKBEATS & TLE RUMBA Ludlow JASPER CARROT'S STAND tre, Birmingham MATRIX CLUB MATRIX VIJAY KISHORE The Rain- Brewery, South Shrop- UP AND ROCK Featuring THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT The Jam House, B’ham bow Venues, B’ham shire TUE 12 MAY Jasper Carrott, Bev The Sunflower Lounge, REBECCA DOWNES The BLACK TONGUE MESSIAH, NEW CARNIVAL The Bevan and guests, The Birmingham TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL Robin, Bilston THE INFINITE STRUGGLE, Rainbow Venues, Place, Oakengates The- THE KENNEDYS Kitchen GUEST ELLA HENDERSON NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ MERCILESS TIDE & B’ham atre, Shropshire Garden Cafe, B’ham Genting Arena, B’ham ORCHESTRA Stafford COWER HOUNDS Scruffy BONSAI The Sugarmill, THE BUSKETS Havana THE BOHEMIANS - A BOYZ II MEN O2 Acad- Gatehouse Theatre Murphys, Birmingham Stoke-on-Trent Republic, Shrewsbury NIGHT OF QUEEN Theatre emy, Birmingham MIDGE URE Theatre Sev- CHILDREN OF THE GRAVY BAD//DREAMS The Sun- HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPE- Severn, Shrewsbury ROSANNA LEFEVRE & ern, Shrewsbury - MASTERS OF SABBATH flower Lounge, B’ham LIN Theatre On The THE YOUNG'UNS Henry GRACE BRADSHAW The ERNIE HALTER Henry The Roadhouse, Birm- THE HAND AND THE Steps, Bridgnorth, Tudor House, Shrews- Jam House, B’ham Tudor House, Shrews- ingham FLOWERS, BROTHERS OF Shropshire bury SILENCE THE WEAK The bury SID PEACOCK & COREY CAEDMON & ELISON The FOOD FIGHTERZ The FUDGESTOCK The Robin, Rainbow Venues, Bham THE SEX PISSED DOLLS MWAMBA mac - Mid- Flapper, Birmingham Roadhouse, B’ham Bilston NIZLOPI The Glee Club, The Roadhouse, Birm- lands Arts Centre, Birm- DUB FX The Institute, OG HORSE Hare & Birmingham ingham ingham Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham GRYPHON The Robin, SHIELDS & CARCER CITY JOE MCELDERRY Wulfrun RETURN OF THE RAVE Bilston Hall, Wolverhampton The Rainbow Venues, SUN CLUB The Sun- 16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Music May Region Two.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 23:03 Page 6

flower Lounge, B’ham J. COLE Barclaycard GENERATIONS The Sug- WALK THE MOON The In- LIVE & PICKING GEORGIE FAME & THE Arena, Birmingham armill, Stoke-on-Trent THU 21 MAY stitute, Birmingham Newhampton Arts Cen- BLUE FLAMES Lichfield SWERVEDRIVER O2 AWAKE BY DESIGN The PUMA CREEK The Court- tre, Wolverhampton Garrick, Staffs Academy, Birmingham Slade Rooms, Wolver- KATE RUSBY Theatre yard, Hereford CAPTAIN HORIZON O2 SONS OF BILL The INME The Slade Rooms, hampton Severn, Shrewsbury Academy, Birmingham Oobleck, Birmingham Wolverhampton WARLORD UK, ABSOLU- BROTHER STRUT The FRI 22 MAY LONG DISTANCE Irish CLARE MAGUIRE The TION, SODOMIZED CA- Jam House, B’ham Centre, Birmingham WED 13 MAY Glee Club, Birmingham DAVER & FIRESTORM CAPSIZE The Oobleck, ELKIE BROOKS Birming- SLAID CLEAVES Kitchen Scruffy Murphys, B’ham Birmingham ham Town Hall Garden Cafe, B’ham MIKE FLETCHER TRIO CLARE TEAL SINGS THE DAR WILLIAMS The Glee DR FEELGOOD & EDDIE KING ROCKER - ELVIS Birmingham Town Hall DORIS DAY SONGBOOK Club, Birmingham AND THE HOT RODS The PLAYS ROCK Route 44, CHRIS DE BURGH Sym- Birmingham Town Hall CIRCLE, HEY COLOSSUS & Robin, Bilston Birmingham phony Hall, Birmingham THE BOTS The Rainbow OPIUM LORD Hare & UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE BOAT TO ROW, ALESSI’S GOSPEL CENTRAL The Venues, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham The Jam House, B’ham ARK, MY GREY HORSE Jam House, B’ham ARCANE ROOTS Kasbah, KIM RICHEY Kitchen Gar- 80S MANIA The Place, The Rainbow Venues, THE YOUNG'UNS The Red Coventry den Cafe, Birmingham Oakengates Theatre, Birmingham Lion Folk Club, B’ham ROCK OF AGES EXPERI- Shropshire OCCULT NextDoor, Birm- PAPER AEROPLANES The ENCE SYNERGY Havana Re- Clare Maguire SUN 17 MAY The Robin, Bilston ingham Rainbow Venues, Birm- 182 The Slade Rooms, public, Shrewsbury EXPLOSIVE LIGHT OR- ingham MOTOWN AND SOUL THE GRIMETHORPE COL- Wolverhampton JP COOPER The Institute, CHESTRA The Road- ALABAMA SHAKES O2 NIGHT WITH DJ PAUL LIERY BAND Birmingham CREEPOID, GLEAM & HOLY Birmingham house, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham KELLY Irish Centre, Birm- Town Hall The Rainbow Venues, JAMES ARTHUR The Insti- TWENTY ONE PILOTS ingham DIETRICH LETTERS The- Birmingham tute, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham BLUE NATION, TELSEN & atre Severn, Shrews- TERRY REID The Robin, CATALAN Route 44, bury Bilston Birmingham LOU WHATLING Havana DIETRICH LETTERS Lich- LAZY HABITS & FJOKRA Republic, Shrewsbury field Garrick, Staffs The Rainbow Venues, YAMATO DRUMMERS New Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, THU 14 MAY AS EQUALS The Sug- Birmingham armill, Stoke-on-Trent PANIC ROOM The Robin, UK SUBS The Robin, Bil- TRANSMISSION & SHA- Bilston ston MONES The Roadhouse, TOM BAXTER The Glee TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL Birmingham Club, Birmingham GUEST ELLA HENDERSON BLKLSTRS, THEM COCO & THE BUTTER- Genting Arena, B’ham WOLVES, SEXWOLF! & FIELDS Hare & Hounds, DEREK RYAN The Place, CAL BANDA The Flapper, Birmingham Oakengates Theatre, Birmingham SHAWN CUDDY Irish Cen- Shropshire STEVE TROMANS AND tre, Birmingham EWERT AND THE TWO PIERA ONACKO mac - HANS CHEW Kitchen DRAGONS Hare & Midlands Arts Centre, Garden Cafe, Birming- Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham ham NIZLOPI Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury SAT 16 MAY MON 18 MAY CLIMAX BLUES BAND Stafford Gatehouse TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL JACK GARRAT Hare & Theatre GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Hounds, Birmingham THE WYZE GUYZ The Jam Genting Arena, B’ham SLAVES The Institute, House, Birmingham JOE MCELDERRY The Birmingham FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND Courtyard, Hereford The Sugarmill, Stoke- THE RED LEMONS The TUE 19 MAY on-Trent Jam House, B’ham LULU Symphony Hall, POLICE DOG HOGAN DON MCLEAN Symphony Birmingham Kitchen Garden Cafe, Hall, Birmingham NEON WALTZ Hare & Birmingham WILD IRISH Irish Centre, Hounds, Birmingham THE FALL The Institute, Birmingham DANA FUCHS The Robin, Birmingham ROCK FOR SPON - THE Bilston DAVID FORD The Rain- NEW SAINTS & FRIENDS THURSTON MOORE Hare bow Venues, B’ham The Robin, Bilston & Hounds, Birmingham GUTS FOR GLORY, EVIL VIC GODARD & SUBWAY JESSE MALIN O2 Acad- EMPIRE, HIDDEN & TOMB SECT The Flapper, Birm- emy, Birmingham HAZARD The Road- ingham SINGLE MOTHERS The house, Birmingham TOCHA Havana Repub- Oobleck, Birmingham DR HOOK Wulfrun Hall, lic, Shrewsbury CHRIS BOWDENS' TOMOR- Wolverhampton DESI ROCKSTARS Bar- ROW BAND The Jam ANIHILATED The Asylum, claycard Arena, B’ham House, Birmingham Birmingham TOO REX - TRIBUTE TO TIR NA NOG Kitchen Gar- WYLES & SIMPSON Alfie MARC BOLAN & T-REX den Cafe, Birmingham Bird’s, Birmingham The Roadhouse, B’ham INTO THE SHADOWS The- RENAIWED 20 MAY FRI 15 MAY atre Severn, Shrews- bury BRYAN FERRY Sym- TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL LUCY SPRAGGAN The In- phony Hall, Birmingham GUEST ELLA HENDERSON stitute, Birmingham CHRIS & KELLIE WHILE Genting Arena, B’ham SON OF DAVE The Rain- The Red Lion Folk Club, HANNAH & BRIAN Ha- bow Venues, B’ham Birmingham vana Republic, Shrews- ERADIKATOR O2 Acad- PAUL LAMB & THE DE- bury emy, Birmingham TROIT BREAKDOWN The CLOUDBUSTING - A TRIB- BILL PATRICK, SAMU.L & Robin, Bilston UTE TO KATE BUSH O2 ARCHIE HAMILTON OZRIC TENTACLES O2 Academy, Birmingham NextDoor, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham THE RED LEMONS The SIMPLE MINDS TRIBUTE MAWKIN Hare & Jam House, B’ham ALIVE & KICKING Hounds, Birmingham TOM PAXTON Birming- Newhampton Arts Cen- HINDS Hare & Hounds, ham Town Hall tre, Wolverhampton Birmingham MARCIA GRIFFITHS & TOM BAXTER Henry FRIENDS O2 Academy, Tudor House, Shrews- Birmingham bury BREABACH mac - Mid- AS ELEPHANTS ARE The lands Arts Centre, Birm- Sugarmill, Stoke-on- ingham Trent CRAZY P Hare & DR HOOK Theatre Sev- Hounds, Birmingham ern, Shrewsbury JUDIE TZUKE Huntingdon Tom Paxton WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Hall, Worcester Lichfield Garrick, Staffs GOD DAMN & ELEPHAN- GIN ANNIE BAND The TINE The Sunflower Robin, Bilston Lounge, Birmingham

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gates Theatre, Shrop- shire Music LISTINGS ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Sym- phony Hall, Birmingham For full listing information on gigs, LEDDRA CHAPMAN The including times and dates, Robin, Bilston BRANDON FLOWERS O2 visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Academy, Birmingham ALL TVVINS The Sug- Birmingham armill, Stoke-on-Trent SAT 23 MAY THE DROPPERS NECK, PSYCHEDELIC WARLORDS TUSSK, OPHEON & The Roadhouse, Birm- UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE VEXXEN Scruffy Mur- ingham The Jam House, Birm- phys, Birmingham MALEFICE & EXIST IM- ingham CEDAR HOUSE BAND, MORTAL The Flapper, FISK JUBILEE SINGERS MIGHTY YOUNGS, VIRALS Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall & SPIT SHAKE SISTERS HOUGHTON WEAVERS MARK KNOPFLER Hare & Hounds, B’ham The Courtyard, Here- Genting Arena, B’ham JASPER JAMES & DEATH ford DESI ROCKSTARS Civic ON THE BALCONY Hall, Wolverhampton NextDoor, Birmingham FRI 29 MAY DAN PAGE Havana Re- ROCK ‘N’ BLUES ALL DAY public, Shrewsbury FESTIVAL The Road- ROCKET The Jam QUILL Tamworth Assem- house, Birmingham House, Birmingham bly Rooms, Staffs GYPSY UNIT The MON 25 MAY Oobleck, Birmingham THE CARPENTERS STORY Brandon Flowers - O2 Academy, Birmingham FICKLE FRIENDS The Tamworth Assembly Sunflower Lounge, Rooms, Staffs IQ The Robin, Bilston ham Town Hall BOP ENGLISH Hare & Birmingham ELKIE BROOKS Theatre STEVE BROOKSTEIN Lich- BEAR & KITE’S ROCK Hounds, Birmingham BANTOCK MUSIC LIVE Severn, Shrewsbury field Garrick, Staffs DISCO Route 44, B’ham PAT JORDAN & FINIANS Bantock House & Park, THE KOMMITMENTS The INTRODUCING LIVE RAINBOW Irish Centre, Wolverhampton Roadhouse, B’ham RECREATE DAFT PUNK’S Birmingham VICTORY HEIGHTS The BUDDY & THE ILLEGAL DISCOVERY Hare & MY SWEET PATOOTIE Oobleck, Birmingham CRICKETS Tamworth As- Hounds, Birmingham Kitchen Garden Cafe, Quill sembly Rooms, Staffs GODSKITCHEN CLASH OF Birmingham ATOMIC BLONDIE Theatre THE GODS The Rainbow WEAK NERVES & RICHA A VISION OF ELVIS The- TUE 26 MAY On The Steps, Bridg- Venues, Birmingham Scruffy Murphys, Birm- atre Severn, Shrews- DOCTOR WHO SYM- north, Shropshire FRANKLY SINATRA ingham bury PHONIC SPECTACULAR THE JOHNNY CASH ROAD- Wolverhampton Grand REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG THE DOORS ALIVE The Barclaycard Arena, Elkie Brooks SHOW Kidderminster Theatre DAMN BAND The Robin, Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Birmingham Town Hall Bilston Trent KNIFEWORLD The MALLEN, ONE LAST RUN, DOMINIC KIRWAN The IO EARTH Crescent The- SUPREME FABULETTES SUN 31 MAY Oobleck, Birmingham DRIVEN APART & Courtyard, Hereford atre, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall OTIS REDDING III The PANSPERMIA Scruffy MAROON 5 Genting KIERAN GOSS The Hive, SOUL'D OUT The Robin, MONEY FOR NOTHING Glee Club, Birmingham Murphys, Birmingham Arena, Birmingham Shrewsbury Bilston (DIRE STRAITS TRIBUTE) DENNIS ELLSWORTH DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, SHOWADDYWADDY The Theatre On The Steps, Birchmeadow Centre, FALLING RED, VICIOUS Courtyard, Hereford Bridgnorth, Shropshire WED 27 MAY Broseley, Shropshire NATURE, DEVIL RED AND RX BANDITS & CIRCA THE BEACH BOYS Bar- TY Hare & Hounds, MORE... The Road- SURVIVE O2 Academy, PETE KENT The Robin, claycard Arena, B’ham Birmingham house, Birmingham Birmingham Bilston THE UKRAINIANS The THE FATHER TEDS Irish BILLY OCEAN Birming- NOVANA O2 Academy, MUDHONEY The Institute, Rainbow Venues, Birm- Centre, Birmingham ham Town Hall Birmingham Birmingham ingham MIDLANDS METAL CRU- ELVIS COSTELLO Sym- SEINABO SEY AND LION CASH - JOHNNY CASH SADE 4 The Slade phony Hall, Birmingham BABE The Institute, Birm- TRIBUTE The Robin, Bil- Kieran Goss Rooms, Wolverhampton TERRY AND GERRY Hare ingham ston LAMB OF GOD Birming- & Hounds, Birmingham HUNTER HAYES The Insti- COAL CHAMBER Wulfrun tute, Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton THE FULL SHABANG Irish XILLA O2 Academy, Centre, Birmingham Birmingham NEW BAYS & FOX CHAPEL GYPSY UNIT Alfie Bird’s, Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham Birmingham Mudhoney THE BLUES BROTHERS EX- PERIENCE Wolverhamp- Birmingham THE ROADHOUSE MUCH WENLOCK DUB COMES TO TOWN 0121 246 2273 01952 728911 The Slade Rooms, THE DEMON BARBERS ton Grand Theatre 02 ACADEMY MARK MORRISS The 0121 622 8250 ROUTE 44 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE Wolverhampton The Place, Oakengates 0121 708 0108 SHREWSBURY THE BEST OF PRIEST Theatre, Shropshire Flapper, Birmingham THE ACTRESS & BISHOP 01743 361666 ALEXANDER NUT Hare & 0121 236 7426 SYMPHONY HALL (JUDAS PRIEST) Route JASPER CARROT'S STAND 0121 780 3333 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 44, Birmingham UP AND ROCK Featuring Hounds, Birmingham ADRIAN BOULT HALL 01743 234970 FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- 0121 331 5901 THE VICTORIA MUZIK HERTZ NextDoor, Jasper Carrott, Bev 0121 633 9439 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS Birmingham Bevan and guests, tre, Birmingham THE ASYLUM 01584 878141 0121 233 1109 ENDORPHINMANCHINE Stafford Gatehouse CLIVE GREGSON Kitchen Black Country THEATRE SEVERN, The Roadhouse, B’ham Theatre Garden Cafe, B’ham BARCLAYCARD ARENA SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 FRED ZEPPELIN Route 0121 780 4141 CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON KIMBER’S MEN Stafford PRICE & GENDERS 0870 320 7000 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, Gatehouse Theatre Kitchen Garden Cafe, 44, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL TELFORD 01952 382382 NINA KRAVIZ, CARL 0121 780 3333 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL SPECTRASOUL The Birmingham 01384 815577 WEM TOWN HALL CRAIG, ADAM SHELTON, CBSO CENTRE 01939 232299 Oobleck, Birmingham EDDIE ARGOS, SHAUN 0121 780 3333 FOREST ARTS CENTRE GAMBOWL WALSH The LEWIS OXLEY, LOPASKI & 0845 111 2898 WALKING WITH WINGS FLAPPER SUN 24 MAY Rainbow Venues, Birm- 0121 236 2421 NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE Staffordshire ingham The Rainbow Venues, 01902 572090 FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK FISK JUBILEE SINGERS Birmingham GENTING ARENA PAUL MCCARTNEY Bar- 0121 780 4141 ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01538 386112 WITH BLACK VOICES claycard Arena, B’ham THE UKRAINIANS The 01902 401211 LICHFIELD GUILDHALL Birmingham Town Hall Rainbow Venues, Birm- THE GLEE CLUB 0871 472 0400 SLADE ROOMS 01543 262223 THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND - THU 28 MAY ingham WOLVERHAMPTON THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY TRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTI- FLEETWOOD BAC The HARE & HOUNDS 0870 320 7000 0121 444 2081 STOKE-ON-TRENT FUL SOUTH The Robin, JASPER CARROT'S STAND Roadhouse, B’ham STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL 01159 454 593 THE INSTITUTE 01384 812812 Bilston UP AND ROCK Featuring ATTENTION THIEVES & 0121 643 0428 TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS HEAVEN’S BASEMENT, Jasper Carrott, Bev ACODA The Asylum, WULFRUN HALL, 01827 709618 IRISH CENTRE WOLVERHAMPTON GLAMOUR OF THE KILL & Bevan and guests Birmingham 0121 622 2314 0870 320 7000 VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY ASHES Stafford Gatehouse A CELEBRATION OF JOHN 0870 060 6649 The Oobleck, THE JAM HOUSE Birmingham Theatre DENVER Lichfield Gar- 0121 200 3030 Shropshire STAFFORD GATEHOUSE TOM PAXTON Theatre THE SEARCHERS Lichfield rick, Staffs 01785 254653 THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY Severn, Shrewsbury Garrick, Staffs 0121 443 4725 01952 882210 DEL CAMINO BOOT-LED-ZEPPELIN O2 The Jam SAT 30 MAY THE RAINBOW THE BUTTERMARKET, For additional information Academy, Birmingham House, Birmingham 0121 772 8174 SHREWSBURY and to find out What’s On ROCKET The Jam MERRYMOUTH mac - DOMINIC KIRWAN & MARY RED LION FOLK CLUB 01743 355055 at these venues. House, Birmingham Midlands Arts Centre, DUFF The Place, Oaken- 0121472 4253 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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PREVIEWS Dame Emma Kirby Classical Music Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, Sun 24 May “I’m delighted to be coming to Shrewsbury again for Shropshire Music,” says soprano and renowned early music specialist Dame Emma Kirby, who’s joined for this concert by the lute-playing Joel Frediriksen. “And even more pleased that Joel is free to join me. I love to duet with that deep, expres- sive and flexible voice, but also to hear him play the lute, accompanying himself or oth- ers; and then there’s his further world of joyful ensemble music, all the way from mediaeval troubadour pieces, through Dowland and Purcell, to the songs of the late Nick Drake. Alongside a bit of live per- formance - it's remarkable what two singers can do when one of them plays a lute as well! - Joel and I will each play a few CDs to give an idea of our respective careers and favourite colleagues and influences.”

The Opera Boys Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 30 May Crossover artists are big business nowadays, so there’s little wonder that The Opera Boys are enjoying such a successful career. They’re significantly assisted along the way by their remark- able talent, their classically trained voices combining in a powerhouse of vocal harmony to London Mozart Players deliver a winning blend of opera, pop and everything in between. Expect Nessun Dorma and Time To Say Goodbye along with showstoppers from Les Miserables, Phantom, Jersey Boys Featuring Tasmin Little and more. St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Fri 22 May Bring together one of the country’s best- loved violinists (Tasmin Little OBE) with an The Halle Orchestra outstanding group of musicians (the Lon- Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 15 May don Mozart Players) in a delightful eigh- Since its first concert in 1858, the Manchester- teenth century church (St Chad’s in based Halle has been a real force to be reck- Shrewsbury) and you have all but one of oned with. The orchestra is renowned for its the key ingredients for a memorable affinity with English music - particularly the works evening of musicmaking. The missing of Elgar and Delius. The Halle is currently under ingredient is, of course, a programme of the charge of acclaimed conductor Sir Mark exceptional music - but Shropshire Music Elder CBE, an appointment which has brought has got that covered too. about a rise in its international profile and led to This ‘dazzling musical tour through the numerous significant awards. seasons of the year around the world’ fea- This Potteries concert sees the orchestra pre- tures Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons Of senting a programme that features Glinka Over- Buenos Aires and Vivaldi’s The Four Sea- ture, Ruslan & Ludmilla, Beethoven’s Piano Con- sons. Roxanna Panufnik’s Tibetan Winter, certo No. 4 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. which completes the programme, was writ- Jamie Phillips conducts. The soloist is Andrew ten specially for Tasmin. Tyson. Manchester Camerata featuring Ingrid Fliter Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 15 May One of the UK’s leading chamber orches- tras, Manchester Camerata enjoys ‘a flour- ishing residency’ in Stafford, and this month returns to the Gatehouse to deliver a selection of classical favourites. Included in the programme is Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture, K.492, and his Symphony no 41, K.551, Jupiter. Also featured is Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no 2 in B flat major, Op.19 and Jack Sheen’s Études. Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts, with Ingrid Fliter on piano.

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Birmingham LISTINGS LONDON MOZART PLAY- Classical Music PREVIEWS Classical ERS & TASMIN LITTLE: A VIOLIN FOR ALL SEASONS For full listing information on classical Programme includes works by Astor Piazzol- concerts, including times and dates, la, Roxanna Panufnik & visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Vivaldi, Fri 22 May, St Chad’s Church, CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT includes Mozart’s Sym- Shrewsbury CLASSICS: CHARLIE phony No 38 Prague; CLIPPER ERICKSON CHAPLIN Fri 1 May, Dvorak’s Rondo for PIANO Programme Symphony Hall, Birm- Cello and Orchestra, includes works by ingham Silent Woods & Cello Chopin, Dett & Gersh- THE BEAUFORT ENSEM- Concerto arr chamber win, Fri 22 May, The BLE: DREAMS OF ILLYRIA orchestra, Wed 13 May, Barber Institute, Birm- Programme includes Birmingham Town Hall ingham Guy Woolfenden’s Illyri- HELENE GRIMAUD IN BIRMINGHAM GAY SYM- an Dances & Eric RECITAL Thurs 14 May, PHONY ORCHESTRA Whitacre’s October, Fri Birmingham Town Hall (BGSO) Programme 1 May, Adrian Boult MANCHESTER CAMERATA includes works by Hall, Birmingham Featuring Gabor Coates, Debussy, DANIEL TONES & OWEN Takacs-Nagy (conduc- Williams, Elgar, Handel, UNDERHILL Present an tor) & pianist Ingrid Fil- Vivaldi, Parry, Arr. engaging programme ter. Programme Wood & J. Strauss II, of contemporary music, includes works by Sat 23 May, Adrian Fri 1 May, The Barber Mozart & Beethoven, Boult Hall, Birmingham BCMG: Fantasmagoria Institute, Birmingham Fri 15 May, Stafford AN EVENING WITH DAME CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sat 9 May PIRATES OF PENZANCE Gatehouse Theatre EMMA KIRKBY Featuring Tinkers Farm Opera MARCUS FARNSWORTH & The work of David Sawer is here celebrated by Birmingham Contem- Joel Frederiksen (lute), present a modern inter- JOSEPH MIDDLETON Pro- Sun 24 May, The Lion porary Music Group (BCMG), who commissioned the Stockport-born pretation of Gilbert & gramme includes Hotel, Shrewsbury composer’s most well-known work, 2009’s critically acclaimed Sullivan's operatic mas- works by Brahms, Brit- LARA MELDA Pro- Rumpelstiltskin. A late addition to BCMG’s 2014/15 programme, Fan- terpiece, Fri 1 - Sat 2 ten & Barber, Fri 15 gramme includes May, Crescent Theatre, May, The Barber Insti- tasmagoria features three Sawer pieces which are new to the Group. works by Beethoven, Birmingham tute, Birmingham Cat’s-eye takes its inspiration from a simple device in a Fantascope, Chopin & Albeniz, Tues EX CATHEDRA: RACH- ADRIAN MOORE ORGAN 26 May, Birmingham a Victorian magic lantern, to look at ideas of illusion and changing MANINOFF VESPERS Sun RECITAL Fri 15 May, Town Hall perspective. 3 May, Birmingham Holy Trinity Church, FLORENTINE ARTS Between, meanwhile, is described as ‘a short, beautiful solo piece for Town Hall Leamington Spa ENSEMBLE Programme BARBARA HANNIGAN WARSAW PHILHARMONIC harp’, while Good Night is ‘a continuous train of musical thoughts includes works by SINGS MOZART AND Featuring Jacek Kasp- that transform when inspected more closely’. Catoire, Debussy, Syz- STRAVINSKY Tues 5 szyk (conductor), The concert rounds off this current BCMG season. manowsky & Debussy, May, Birmingham Town Claire Maghnagi Fri 29 May, The Barber Hall (soprano), Hannah Institute, Birmingham LA VENEXIANA Wed 6 Pedley (mezzo), RODERICK WILLIAMS May, Barber Institute, Andrew Rees (tenor), (BARITONE) & IAIN BURN- Hélène Grimaud In Recital Birmingham Paul Carey Jones (bari- SIDE (PIANO) Pro- CBSO HAYDN IN LONDON tone) & the University Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 14 May gramme includes Programme includes of Warwick Chorus. works by Vaughan “So often we hear people say, 'Oh, I don’t know anything about clas- works by Haydn, Programme comprises Williams, Robert Sax- sical music',” says French-born Hélène Grimaud in an interview with Mozart, Prokofiev & Schubert's Symphony ton & Gerald Finzi, Fri Haydn, Wed 6 - Thurs No.3 & Beethoven's Examiner.com. “But it’s not about how much you know. It’s about 29 May, St Laurence’s 7 May, Symphony Hall, Symphony No.9, Fri 15 what the music makes you feel, how it affects you on the deepest Church, Ludlow, South Birmingham May, Warwick Arts Cen- Shropshire level. We have to give it a chance.” THE CLAIR-OBSCUR SAX- tre, Coventry OPERA BOYS Sat 30 For anybody questioning the capacity of classical music to make OPHONE QUARTET Thurs HALLE ORCHESTRA Pro- May, Theatre Severn, them ‘feel’ anything, an evening in 7 May, Adrian Boult gramme includes Shrewsbury Hall, Birmingham works by Glinka, the company of the ever-dynamic COME AND SING WITH BAIBA SKRIDE IN THE Beethoven & Grimaud should put paid to their JOHN RUTTER Charity MENDELSSOHN OCTET Tchaikovsky, Fri 15 concert in aid of The uncertainty. The critically acclaimed Featuring Baiba Skride May, Victoria Hall, M.E Trust, Sat 30 May, classical pianist has garnered a rep- (violin), Moritz Pfister, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham Cathedral utation for being a real risk taker, Caroline Simon & THE KLEE QUARTET Pro- ENGLISH VISIONARIES Gabriel Dyker (violins), gramme includes reinventing phrasings, playing in the Featuring the Birming- Catherine Bower & works by Mozart & Brit- face of conventional pianistic wis- ham Conservatoire Amy Fawcett (violas) & ten, Fri 15 May, Birm- Chamber Choir & dom and bringing living colour to Eduardo Vassallo & ingham Museum & Art Nicholas Morris every composition she performs. Helen Edgar (cellos), Gallery (Organ). Paul Spicer This Birmingham concert sees Gri- Fri 8 May, CBSO Cen- BEETHOVEN GROSSE conducts. Programme tre, Birmingham FUGE Featuring Zoe maud taking the themes of water includes works by OLIVER SHE Programme Beyers & Jane Wright and the inextinguishable power of Stanford, Holst, Finzi, Hélène Grimaud includes works by (violins), Adam Romer Berkeley & Vaughan nature as her starting point. Bach, Vine, Albeniz & (viola) & Richard Jenk- Williams, Sat 30 May, Beethoven, Fri 8 May, inson (cello), Fri 15 St Laurence’s Church, The Barber Institute, May, CBSO Centre, Ludlow, South Shrop- Birmingham Birmingham shire Ex Cathedra: Rachmaninov’s Vespers ORGAN PROMS WITH IAN CBSO PARSIFAL Featur- TRACEY Sat 9 May, Vic- ing Andre Nelsons Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 3 May Paul Spicer toria Hall, Stoke-on- (conductor), Burkhard Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil - often translated as simply Ves- Trent Fritz (Parsifal) & Mihoko pers - was one of the composer’s two favourite works. Indeed, he CARDUCCI QUARTET: III Fujimura (Kundry), Sun loved the composition so much that JOURNEY TO ENLIGHTEN- 17 May, Symphony MENT Programme Hall, Birmingham he requested one of its movements includes works by Puc- TAKACS QUARTET Pro- (the fifth) be sung at his funeral. His cini, Beethoven & gramme includes deep love of the piece, and indeed Shostakovich, Sun 10 works by Haydn, its brilliance, is all the more remark- May, Concord College, Debussy & Beethoven, able given that it took him less than Acton Burnell, Shrop- Tues 19 May, Birming- CLARE MCCALDIN shire ham Town Hall (MEZZO), JOHN MARK two weeks to compose. LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- THE PIRATES OF PEN- AINSLEY (TENOR) & IAIN Jeffrey Skidmore conducts and is CERT - THOMAS TROT- ZANCE LIVE Live screen- BURNSIDE (PIANO). Pro- joined by mezzo soprano Martha TER: A BACH RECITAL ing of English National gramme includes McLorinan and tenor Jeremy Budd Mon 11 May, Birming- Opera's performance of works by Finzi, John for a piece which Ex Cathedra ham Town Hall Gilbert and Sullivan's Ireland & Hugh Wood, Sun 31 May, Ludlow describe as ‘passionate, serene, and DVORAK'S CELLO CON- popular comic opera, CERTO WITH RAPHAEL Tues 19 May, mac - Assembly Rooms, rooted in a deep and heartfelt faith’. Jeffrey Skidmore WALLFISCH Programme Midlands Arts Centre, South Shropshire

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Joe Lycett Comedy The George Hotel, Lichfield, Thurs 7 May Box Office Joe Lycett may have been described as a fella whose act blends a little of Larry Grayson and a BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL dash of Julian Clary with a large helping of 0121 780 3333 Kenneth Williams, but he’s nonetheless very BREWHOUSE ARTS much his own man. Joe comes from the well- CENTRE, BURTON-UPON-TRENT established British tradition of camp comedians, 01283 508100 and presents a CIVIC HALL, somewhat risque WOLVERHAMPTON act that ably show- 0870 320 7000 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, cases both his natu- MUCH WENLOCK, SOUTH ral charisma and SHROPSHIRE impressive capacity 01952 728911 for mischief-making. FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK, STAFFS Gags include, "What 01538 386112 do we want!? More THE GLEE CLUB, research into a cure BIRMINGHAM for ADHD! When do 0871 4720400 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY we want it!? Let's ROOMS, SHROPSHIRE play swingball!". 01584 878141 MAC, BIRMINGHAM 0121 446 3232 MANFORD’S COMEDY CLUB, BIRMINGHAM Jeremy Hardy 0121 643 9132 Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 22 May OAKENGATES THEATRE, “In an ideal world," The Guardian once wrote, Dylan Moran TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 15 May 01952 382382 "Jeremy Hardy would be extremely famous, but THE SLADE ROOMS, an ideal world would leave him without most of Once labelled 'the Oscar Wilde of comedy’, it's fair to say that Dylan WOLVERHAMPTON his best material." Hardy has developed a repu- Moran is a fella with a style of humour all his own. A star of the films 0870 320 7000 tation for being one Shaun Of The Dead, Run Fat Boy Run and, more recently, Cavalry, THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY of the most topical the hugely entertaining Dylan specialises in stand-up rants that are 01743 281281 comedians on the often bizarre and always unpredictable. Jokes include: “I don't do WULFRUN HALL, circuit, blending his drugs. If I want a rush I just stand up when I'm not expecting it” and WOLVERHAMPTON concerns about the “I can't swim. I can't drive either. I was going to learn to drive but 0870 320 7000 modern-day world then I thought, well, what if I crash into a lake?” with a humour that makes his some- times controversial subject matter all the more accessible and thought-provok- Jarred Christmas ing. Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 13 May Kiwi comedian Jarred Matt Richardson Christmas is delighted with the warm reception he The Garrick, Lichfield, Fri 15 May receives from UK audiences. With his thirtieth birthday still a far-distant mile- “I think it’s the charming and stone on the horizon (he’s only twenty-three!), ‘sixy’ New Zealand accent that Matt Richardson is somewhat inevitably a work- does it,” he jokes. “I think Brits in-progress. He’s got all the necessary raw are also great at laughing at materials to make it big in the rough, tough themselves, so don’t mind world of comedy, but is still in the process of Johnny Foreigner making jokes honing both his material and his delivery. That about British stuff. In fact, they said, if we didn’t think he was ‘one to watch’ and seem to love it.” well worth a gander, we wouldn’t be drawing A 2010 Chortle Award-winning your attention to compere, Jarred has some him. Confident and hard-hitting views about the engaging, he has business of being an MC. “A lot the enviable knack of comperes just don’t get it,” he of swiftly arriving at observes. “They seem to forget that the comedy heart- along with keeping the show moving and land of an anecdote; warming up the audience they still have an admirable talent to be funny. If they’re not funny, then they that ensures the should get the **** off the stage.” next laugh is never too far away.

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PETER WHITE, STEVE GRIBBIN & COMEDY Comedy LISTINGS CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 14 May, The Glee Club, For full listing information on comedy Birmingham gigs including times and dates visit JETHRO Fri 15 May, www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatr Hafren, Powys DYLAN MORAN Fri 15 TIM VINE Fri 1 May, Hotel, Lichfield May, Regent Theatre, KEVIN BRIDGES Lichfield Garrick Fri 8 Stoke-on-Trent PHIL BUCKLEY Fri 1 May, May, Stafford HENNING WEHN Fri 15 mac, Birmingham Gatehouse Theatre May, Wulfrun Hall, ROBIN MORGAN, JOHN NEIL MCFARLANE, Wolverhampton MARLON DAVIS, RO MOLONEY, RON VAUDRY & MATT RICHARDSON, CAMPBELL & COMIC TBC JARLATH REGAN & Thurs SCOTT BENNETT, BEN VAN Fri 1 May, The Glee 8 - Fri 9 May, The Glee DER VELDE & CHRIS Club, Birmingham Club, Birmingham PURCHASE Fri 15 May, CARL HUTCHINSON, NICK CURTIS WALKER, JUDY Lichfield Garrick THOMAS & SPECIAL P Fri PAGE, TIM FITZHIGHAM & PETER WHITE, STEVE 1 May, The Drum, BRAD TASSELL Fri 8 - Sat GRIBBIN, ANDY ROBINSON Birmingham 9 May, Jongleurs & MATT REES Fri 15 - Sat RHODRI RHYS, JOJO Comedy Club, 16 May, The Glee Club, SUTHERLAND, STE Birmingham Birmingham PORTER & JARLATH ANDY PARSONS Sat 9 MATT REED, OWEN REGAN Fri 1 - Sat 2 May, May, Stafford O'NEILL, BRENDAN RILEY Jongleurs Comedy Gatehouse Theatre & STUART MITCHELL Fri PAUL FOOT Club, Birmingham Sat 9 May, 15 - Sat 16 May, JIMMY CARR Sat 2 May, The Slade Rooms, Jongleurs Comedy Civic Hall, Wolverhampton Club, Birmingham Stewart Lee - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury GARY DELANEY, DAN Wolverhampton HENNING WEHN Sat 16 NIGHTINGALE & IAN BEN NORRIS, FERN May, Stafford SLOSS & COMEDY Trent JAMALI MADDIX, STEVE MOORE MICHAEL FABBRI, DANIEL BRADY, CHRIS Sat 9 May, Gatehouse Theatre CAROUSEL WITH ANDY GRIBBIN & DANNY MCCAUSLAND & JASON Manford’s Comedy LOL COMEDY CLUB ROBINSON Thurs 28 SLOSS, PETE FIRMAN & MCLOUGHLIN Sat 30 COOK Sat 2 May, Club, Birmingham WITH MC DAMION LARKIN May, The Glee Club, ERIC LAMPAERT Fri 29 - May, Manford’s CELEBRATION OF COMEDY Manford’s Comedy Sat 16 May, Regent Birmingham Sat 30 May, The Glee Comedy Club, Club, Birmingham Mrs Barbra Nice pres- Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent LUCY BEAUMONT Fri 29 Club, Birmingham Birmingham CHRIS CHOPPING, ents ca showcase BARBARA NICE, CHRIS May, Stafford SAM AVERY, STEFANO AL MURRAY Sat 30 May, MARLON DAVIS, RO where comedy course MARTIN, PAUL MYRE- Gatehouse Theatre PAOLINI, STUART Theatr Hafren, Powys CAMPBELL & COMIC TBC participants try their HAUG & ANDY ASKINS RUBY WAX Fri 29 May MITCHELL & PIERRE DAVID TRENT, ALEXANDER HOLLINS Sat 2 May, The Glee material, Sat 9 May, Sat 16 May, Manford’s Stafford Gatehouse Fri 29 - Sat 30 BENNETT, NICK DOODY & Club, Birmingham mac, Birmingham Comedy Club, Theatre May, Jongleurs DAN NIGHTINGALE Sun LOUDEEMY SOUP ROUGH WORKS - NEW Birmingham KEVIN PRECIOUS, IAN Comedy Club, 31 May, Theatre COMEDY NIGHT MATERIAL NIGHT Sun 3 Mon 11 STEWART LEE Sun 17 - MILLER, ED DE CANTOR, Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury JIMMY CARR May, The Glee Club, May, The Blue Orange Mon 18 May, Theatre CRAIG MURRY & TONY Sat 30 MILES CRAWFORD Sun Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury VINO Fri 29 May, May, Symphony Hall, 31 May, The Glee Club, TOM TOAL Mon 4 May, MICHAEL MCINTYRE Tues TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! National Brewery Birmingham Birmingham DAVE HADINGHAM, Old Joint Stock Pub, 12 May, Regent Mon 18 May, The Blue Centre, Burton-upon- Birmingham Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Orange Theatre, JACK DEE, ROMESH RICHARD HERRING Thurs Birmingham RANGANATHAN & KERRY 7 May, Theatre Severn, LEE NELSON Tues 19 GODLIMAN Shrewsbury Wed 13 May May, Theatre Severn, RON VAUDRY, JARLATH The Glee Club, Shrewsbury REGAN & COMEDY Birmingham JARRED CHRISTMAS, ALI CAROUSEL WITH ANDY JARRED CHRISTMAS, TOM COOK, ZOE LYONS & JOHN WRIGGLESWORTH & ED ROBINSON, Thurs 7 May, MOLONEY Wed 20 May, LAMPAERT The Glee Club, Wed 13 May The Glee Club, Birmingham Henry Tudor House, Birmingham ANDY WHITE, STEVE DAY, Shrewsbury MARK OLVER, CAREY PHIL PAGETT, TOM SHORT SUZI RUFFELL, ANNETTE MARX & COMEDY & LOU CONRAN Thurs 7 FAGON, LINDSEY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY SANTORO & MAUREEN May, Foxlowe Arts ROBINSON Thurs 21, YOUNGER Centre, Leek, Staffs Wed 13 May, The Glee Club, R DAVID, GLEN MANEY Kitchen Garden Cafe Birmingham ALAN CARR WITH COMIC TBC Thurs Thurs 14 JEREMY HARDY Fri 22 7, May, Stourbridge May, Regent Theatre, May, Wulfrun Hall, Town Hall Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton ROMESH RANGANATHAN JOE LYCETT, STEVE KEVIN BRIDGES Sat 23 & SUZI RUFFELL ROYAL, JAY HANDLEY & Thurs May, Ludlow Assembly KEVIN SHEPHERD Thurs 14 May, The Glee Club, Rooms, South Shrops 7 May, The George Birmingham SUZI RUFFEL, DANNY MCLOUGHLIN, NICK Henning Wehn - Stafford DIXON & TONKS Sat 23 Gatehouse Theatre May, Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham MARK OLVER, CAREY MARX, MARK NELSON & ANDREA HUBERT Fri 22 - Sat 23 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham GEOFF BOYZ, GORDON SOUTHERN, ANDREW RYAN & CIAMH MCDONNELL Fri 22 - Sat 23 May, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham MICKEY SHARMA, WILL-E, THANYIA MORRE & PRINCE HARRY Sun 24 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham SUSAN CALMAN Thurs 28 May, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent MICHAEL FABBRI, DANIEL

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One of the most explosive openings in musical theatre brilliantly set the pace for “ Thea Sharrock’s stunning production The Bodyguard ” Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, until Sat 2 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 19 - Sat 30 May Award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film. X Factor win- star Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker, sparks soon begin to fly ner Alexandra Burke takes the lead as Rachel Moran at Wolverhamp- between the pair. Each expects to hold the whip-hand in the relation- ton Grand Theatre & Birmingham Hippodrome, while Zoe Birkett ship; neither expects to fall in love... (ITV's Pop Idol, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert & Thriller Live) takes Featuring classic numbers including One Moment In Time, I Wanna top billing at Stoke's Regent Theatre. Dance With Somebody and the legendary I Will Always Love You, the This blockbusting West End musical is, of course, based on the simi- show received mixed reviews from the critics when it opened in 2012 larly blockbusting 1990s Hollywood movie starring Kevin Costner and but has proved to be a real hit with its audiences - so much so, in Whitney Houston. fact, that productions are now planned for Broadway, Australia, Ger- When ex-Secret Service agent Frank Farmer is hired to protect super- many and the Far East to further extend its considerable fanbase.

A Translation Of Shadows Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 22 May The ever-experimental Stan’s Cafe here present 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, entitled 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 terri- ble, when and why we should cry and laugh, what would happen in the end, why he himself was the greatest, most indispensable Benshi in history, and why we should fall in love with him.” Dirty Dancing Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 30 Apr - 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.

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Theatre PREVIEWS Blood The REP, Birmingham, Tues 19 to Sat 23 May Tamasha and the Coventry Belgrade here collaborate to present a twenty-first century love story. When Caneze meets Sully in the college canteen, sparks fly - but neither of them can know the lengths to which her brother will go to keep them apart. Esther Richardson directs Emteaz Hussain’s stylish and thought-provoking play. “After the 2011 riots,” recalls Emteaz, “I felt frustrated over the myopic portrayal of work- ing-class young people. It was important to me to write a play which captured the com- plexity of their lives and the brave, sassy way they negotiate their identity in a wider con- text.” WIN TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk Twelve Angry Men to enter Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 18 - Sat 23 May Jason Merrells here takes the lead in Reginald Rose’s thrilling courtroom drama alongside Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street), Dennis Lill (The Royal), Gareth David Lloyd (Torchwood) and Robert Duncan (Drop The Dead Donkey). Best known, of course, from the 1957 movie starring Henry Fonda, Twelve Angry Men tells the Births, Deaths And Marriages story of one juror’s battle to save the life of a man on trial for the murder of his father. Initially a lone voice in the wilderness, Juror Eight is faced with the monumental challenge of per- The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire, Wed 13 May; Prince Of Wales Centre, Can- suading his eleven fellow jurors to spare the defendant’s life - a task made all the more diffi- nock, Thurs 14 May; Arena Theatre, Wolver- cult by the other men’s prejudices and preconceptions about the trial. hampton, Wed 20 May This is the latest offering from the Birming- exchange his soul for eternal youth and the ham Repertory Theatre’s collaboration with The Curious Incident Of The fulfilment of his hedonistic desires. the New Wolsey Theatre, Liverpool Everyman The production features numerous musical and Playhouse. The collaboration sees the Dog In The Night Time highlights, including The Jewel Song and the theatres working together to create new pro- Birmingham Hippodrome, Soldiers Chorus. ductions using young theatre makers. This Tues 26 May - Sat 6 June particular show considers the notion that just This National Theatre stage adaptation of for a moment after waking up - before recall- Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel bagged ing either where or who you are - there exists an impressive seven Olivier Awards in 2013 the possibility of becoming someone else for and has met with almost universal acclaim. the day... At its centre is the character of fifteen-year- old Christopher, a boy who describes himself as “a mathematician with some behavioural My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding difficulties”. Initially coming under suspicion after discovering the lifeless body of his Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Tues 26 May neighbour’s dog, Christopher decides to investigate the crime - and embarks on a Black Country Touring’s policy of taking pro- journey that will change his world forever... fessional theatre into community-friendly places such as schools, libraries and art gal- Ladies’ Day leries is certainly paying rich dividends, with Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, the company garnering plenty of praise since Tues 12 - Sat 16 May its formation some eighteen years ago. This latest BCT offering is a fast-moving The highly rated Stafford Players here pres- comedy drama that takes place at a mixed ent the story of fish-filleting foursome Pearl, marriage wedding reception. A cast of four Jan, Shelley and Linda, all of whom are find- play the bride, groom, father of the bride and ing life a bit of a slog. But when Linda finds mother of the groom - not to mention a tickets to Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot the year whole host of other characters who make an it relocated to York, the women start to won- appearance at the wedding. der whether their luck is about to change for the better... Faust Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 22 May Swansea City Opera is celebrating its tenth anniversary with this touring production of Gounod’s masterpiece. Originally recounted in Goethe’s dramatic poem, the story of Faust is universally known. Weary of life and contemplating suicide, Faust encounters Méphistophélès (the Devil) and agrees to

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Sat 16th May TREE FU TOM Time: 1.00pm and 3.30pm

Fri 22nd May 80’S MANIA Time: 7.30pm

Fri 5th June LOUIS HOOVER Time: 7.30pm

Thurs 18th June TWELFTH NIGHT Time: 7.30pm

Fri 26th June A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON Time: 7.30pm

Sat 27th June SEANN WALSH: 28 Time: 8.00pm

Thurs 9th July LADIES ROCK Time: 7.30pm

Sat 8th August JOE PASQUALE Time: 7.30pm

Wed 23rd Sept JOSH WIDDICOMBE Time: 8.00pm

TWC GP 00945

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Theatre PREVIEWS Sex In Suburbia Lichfield Garrick, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May; The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire, Fri 29 May; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sun 31 May Rave reviews and sell-out performances were the order of the day for this brand new pro- duction when it premiered at the Liverpool Royal Court. Described as a show about ‘dating, men and finding Mr Right’, Sex In Suburbia has been hailed for its success in ‘hitting the comedy G-spot’. It stars Claire Sweeney as Britain’s leading 'agony aunt', a woman who’s far happier dishing out rela- tionship advice than taking it. The show features a soundtrack of hit num- bers from across the years, including I’m Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and WIN Somebody Else’s Guy, and is suitable for audience members aged sixteen-plus. TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk to enter The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Fri 15 - Sat 30 May One-time Corrie stars Chris Gascoyne and Vicky Entwistle here star in Jim Cartwright’s much- loved musical. Featuring songs from some of the world’s most iconic divas, including Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland, this Olivier Award-winning show tells the story of a shy young girl with an incredible talent for vocal impersonations who suddenly finds herself catapulted into the limelight by a local talent scout. Private Lives New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Wed 6 - Sat 23 May And Then There Were None Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Grange Theatre, Walsall New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 5 - Written in 1930 with all of his humourous Wed 13 - Sat 23 May Sat 16 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, élan, Private Lives is one of Noel Coward’s Now in their sixty-third season, the Grange Tues 28 July - Sat 1 August sharpest comedies. It tells of a divorced cou- Players remain as committed as ever to their Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson ple - Amanda and Elyot - who meet each original remit - to encourage the local com- and Mark Benton star in this national touring other again on their second honeymoons in munity's interest in drama and theatre show based upon Frank Oz’s 1988 film star- Deauville, and begin to consider dumping through a presentation of entertaining pro- ring Steve Martin and Michael Caine - which their new loves to try and rekindle their rela- ductions. itself was based on 1964’s Bedtime Story tionship. Typically replete with devastating The company’s latest undertaking is a ver- with David Niven and Marlon Brando. one-liners, Private Lives is a cynical portrayal sion of Agatha Christie’s 1943 adaptation of Set in the decadent underworld of the French of married life, infidelity, selfishness and inse- her own novel - a book which she admitted Riviera, it tells the humorous tale of two sea- curity. had been her most difficult to write. soned swindlers and their attempts to hood- Having been invited to a privately owned wink a millionaire soap heiress. remote island off the coast of Devon, a group Unlike the movie which inspired it, the stage of strangers find that their eccentric million- version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a musi- aire host has mysteriously disappeared. It cal - and one that’s in a very safe pair of isn’t long before one of the ten strangers hands too, with Kinky Boots, Hairspray and meets with an untimely demise... Legally Blonde director Jerry Mitchell the man at the helm. Read our interview with Mark Benton on Mess page 6. Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs, Fri 22 May This production bagged the 2012 Stage Our Day Out Award for Best Ensemble and led to its cre- Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock, ator, Caroline Horton, being described as a Thurs 7 - Fri 8 May woman ‘perilously close to genius’. The Devine Theatre Company is the ensem- With such accolades to recommend the ble behind this family-friendly musical come- quality of the dy. Our Day Out was originally a television piece, all that’s play, commissioned by the BBC and written really needed by Blood Brothers playwright Willy Russell here is to way back in 1977. The play proved an instant explain its story- hit with viewers - so much so, in fact, that the line, which sees BBC repeated it within two short months of Josephine its original screening. Six years later, Russell being assisted transformed it into a full-length stage musi- by Boris and cal. The story follows Mrs Kay and her class Sistahl in her of special needs pupils on a school trip to efforts to put on Conwy Castle in Wales. Needless to say, not a play about everything goes entirely according to plan... anorexia...

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of the trials, tribulations, tears & triumphs of par- Theatre LISTINGS enthood, Fri 1 May, Lichfield Garrick For full listing information on theatre FIVE KINDS OF SILENCE productions, including times and dates, Shelagh Stephenson's visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk tension-filled drama portraying a cycle of family violence and May, Crescent Theatre, abuse, Fri 1 - Sat 2 From Birmingham May, Old Joint Stock FRI 1 MAY LITTLE WOMEN Birming- Theatre, Birmingham ham Ormiston Acade- OPEN HOUSE First my present a staging of Stages present an inter- THE LADYKILLERS A New Louise May Alcott’s active experience fea- Vic and Hull Truck The- classic tale, until Sat 2 turing performance, atre Production of the May, The Old Rep The- music, puppetry and classic Ealing comedy, atre, Birmingham other surprises, Sat 2 until Sat 2 May, New HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL May, The REP, B’ham Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Mad Cow Productions SCHUBERT THE WANDER- under-Lyme present an amateur ER Original one-man FEED THE BEAST World production of the show exploring the last premiere of Steve award-winning Broad- few days of Franz Thompson's fiercely way musical, until Sat 2 Schubert’s short life, funny look at the rocky May, Theatre Severn, Sat 2 May, Lichfield relations between our Shrewsbury Garrick press and politicians in NEVILLE'S ISLAND Tim CREATING REBECCA a world of spin-doctors Firth’s comedy, which Kneehigh Theatre Com- and Leveson Inquiries, follows the misadven- pany discuss their cre- until Sat 2 May, The tures of four out-of-con- ative process and the REP, Birmingham. Read dition, out-of-their-depth making of Rebecca, Sat the review on page 39 Oh What A Lovely War, The REP, Birmingham businessmen on an 2 May, The REP, Birm- THE BODYGUARD Award- out-of-control team- ingham France, where two sea- warming comedy star- winning musical based building exercise, until ing journey through the COLLIDOSCOPE Freshold soned swindlers try to ring Crissy Rock, on the blockbuster film. Sat 9 May, Sutton Arts life of a legend still Theatre's patchwork of hoodwink a millionaire Dolores Porretta, Leah X Factor winner Alexan- Theatre, Sutton Cold- idolised the world over, poetry and live music, heiress, Tue 5 - Sat 16 Bell & Jason Jones, Fri dra Burke takes the field fifty years after her telling the story of an May, New Alexandra 8 May, Theatre Severn, lead as Rachel Marron, DIRTY DANCING Eleanor death, Sun 10 May, ordinary girl on an Theatre, Birmingham Shrewsbury until Sat 2 May, Wolver- Bergstein's smash-hit Theatre Severn, extraordinary journey, A NIGHT AT THE MUSIC PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO hampton Grand The- West End musical that Shrewsbury Sat 2 May, Arena The- HALL Hosted by Duggie CHUMS Join Paul Mer- atre Read the review on tells the classic love atre, Wolverhampton Chapman & featuring ton and his renowned page 39 story of Baby and Week Commencing EMBRACED BURLESQUE The Bachelors with Impro Chums, Mike THE TURN OF THE SCREW Johnny. This touring Featuring a Burlesque John Stokes, Chas McShane, Lee Simp- MON 11 MAY Blue Orange Arts fuse production will feature striptease, live music McDevitt, Marilyn Hill- son, Richard Vranch shadow puppetry and brand new choreogra- and comedy, Sat 2 May Smith, Adam Daye, The and Suki Webster, as BIRTHS, DEATHS & MAR- projection to tell Henry phy, performed along- Newhampton Arts Cen- Simmons Brothers & they create a new and RIAGES James' gothic classic, side a host of memo- New work tre, Wolverhampton Safire, Wed 6 May, unique comedy show, until Sat 2 May, The rable tunes, including where four young the- JOYCE... AT REST Site- Wolverhampton Grand based entirely on sug- Blue Orange Theatre, the award-winning (I've atre makers decide to specific performance Theatre gestions from the audi- Birmingham Read the Had) The Time Of My change the course of which remembers the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ence, Sat 9 May, The- review online at what- Life, until Sat 23 May, their lives forever by stories of the Newman Youth On Stage present atre Severn, Shrews- sonlive.co.uk Birmingham Hippo- exchanging the parts of Brothers’ factory in an amateur production bury REBECCA Kneehigh The- drome their personalities Birmingham’s historic FASHIONABLY LATE atre present Emma A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT of the high-octane Ginny they’ve never much Jewellery Quarter, Sat 2 American musical, Wed Davis’ witty tale con- Rice's adaptation of OUT Featuring Jonny liked for the alternative - Sun 3 May, The Coffin 6 - Sat 9 May, The Old cerning the celebration Daphne du Maurier's Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, traits they’ve always Works, Birmingham Rep Theatre, B’ham of family, love and all timeless tale, until Sat 2 and introducing Kaylee wanted, Mon 11 May, PRIVATE LIVES A New that matters. Ginny May, The REP, B’ham Cropper and The The REP, Birmingham Week Commencing Vic and Octagon The- Davis & James JACKIE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Ronaldos, Fri 1 May, Porthill Players atre Bolton production Goldsworthy star, Sat 9 Tinkers Farm Opera Tamworth Assembly present the Jackie Trent MON 4 MAY of Noel Coward’s May, Lichfield Garrick present a modern inter- Rooms story, Mon 11 - Sat 16 sparkling comedy, Wed BEYOND THE BARRICADE pretation of Gilbert & IF, BUTS AND BABIES A May, Stoke Repertory DERREN BROWN The 6 - Sat 23 May, New Vic Songs from the world’s Sullivan's operatic mas- show which offers all- Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent award-winning master Theatre, Newcastle- greatest musicals in PYGMALION terpiece, until Sat 2 too-familiar snapshots The Nonen- of psychological illusion under-Lyme concert, Sat 9 May, tities present an ama- returns to the Midlands Dirty Dancing - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury (H)EXPERIMENT: PANDEM- Wolverhampton Grand teur version of George with a brand new show, IC LIVE! Join award-win- Theatre Bernard Shaw’s most Mon 4 - Sat 9 May, ning comedians James (H) EXPERIMENT: SLOT popular play, Mon 11 - Regent Theatre, Stoke- Cook and Paul Savage TOGETHER Birmingham- Sat 16 May, Rose The- on-Trent in a unique sketch based Stan’s Cafe host atre, Kidderminster OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR show based on the eight brand new shows, PLASTIC FIGURINES Box Joan Littlewood’s leg- popular Z-man board each using the same Of Tricks present Ella endary musical, revived game, Thurs 7 May, twelve props, each Carmen Greenhill’s to commemorate the mac - Midlands Arts twenty minutes long ‘funny & moving’ new one hundredth anniver- Centre, Birmingham and each playing by play, which explores the sary of World War One, OUR DAY OUT Ambient the same rules, Sat 9 relationship between Tue 5 - Sat 9 May, The Productions present May, mac - Midlands siblings with very differ- REP, Birmingham Willy Russell’s touching Arts Centre, B’ham ent views of the world, SISTER ACT The Arcadi- tale, which explores the A DOLL’S HOUSE Amateur Tues 12 May, Theatre ans present an amateur challenges of growing staging of Henrik Severn, Shrewsbury staging of the comic up, Thurs 7 - Fri 8 May, Ibsen’s emotional SPRING AWAKENING Uni- musical concerning Prince of Wales Centre, thriller, Sat 9 - Sat 16 versity of Wolverhamp- disco diva-come-nun Cannock May, Oldbury Rep ton Drama Department Deloris Van Cartier, Tue AN EVENING WITH GER- THE LONG ROAD The presents its version of 5 - Sat 9 May, Crescent VASE PHINN Stories, Crescent Theatre Com- the Tony Award-winning Theatre, Birmingham anecdotes, poems and pany present Shelagh musical, which cele- SISTER ACT Amateur readings from the Stephenson's thought- brates the unforgettable production presented comic writer, author provoking play, which journey from youth to by Brownhills Musical and raconteur, Fri 8 delves into the murky adulthood, Tues 12 - Theatre Company, Tues May, The Place, Oaken- world of teenage vio- Wed 13 May, Arena 5 - Sat 9 May, Lichfield gates Theatre, Shrop- lence, Sat 9 - Sat 16 Theatre, Wolverhamp- Garrick shire May, Crescent Theatre, ton DIRTY ROTTEN PERSUASION Hotbuckle Birmingham KISS ME, KATE Bournville SCOUNDRELS Based on bring Jane Austen’s NO REGRETS: THE LIFE Musical Theatre Com- the classic comedy film most personal novel to STORY AND SONGS OF pany present Cole starring Sir Michael the stage, Fri 8 May, EDITH PIAF A salute to Porter's musical version Caine & Steve Martin, Theatre Severn, the iconic French of Shakespeare's The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Shrewsbury singer Edith Piaf, this Taming Of The Shrew, is set in the South of DIRTY DUSTING Heart- ‘bio-show’ is a fascinat- Tues 12 - Sat 16 May,

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MANCHESTER CAMERATA: FINALE, FILTER AND FIGARO GATEHOUSE THEATRE Fri 15 May Exceptional pianist, Ingrid Fliter, will appear in Stafford for the MAY season finale to perform Beethoven's dramatic Piano Concerto No.2. Showcasing 6 May, 12pm some of the greatest pieces of chamber orchestra repertoire, Literature Talk & Film with Manchester Camerata will Dr Jane – Harper Lee’s open with Mozart's world- To Kill a Mockingbird 7.30pm, £16/£14 concs famous Marriage of Figaro Overture, followed by a surprise première. Tickets: £6 incl. Screening

12 - 16 May, 7.30pm GERVASE PHINN Mellow Dramatics presents GATEHOUSE THEATRE Bad Girls Thurs 21 May Tickets: £12 Gervase Phinn has been tour- ing theatres across the country for over 10 years as a hilarious Fri 22 May, 7.30pm raconteur. The best-selling and award winning author, Radio Caroline Horton & China and TV personality, really is at Plate his best and most exciting in front of a live audience. An Mess Evening with Gervase Phinn 7.30pm, £17.50 will have you on the edges of your seats, as he shares his hilarious and sometimes poignant 23 May, 7.30pm tales of life Absolution

KIMBERS MEN Tickets: £12 THE MET STUDIO

Sat 23 May 26 May, 7.30pm Probably the finest and funni- est perveyors of sea shanties The Picture of in Europe, they never fail to entertain. Expect to laugh, sing Dorain Gray and be generally entertained. Tickets: £10 Remember, nothing beats hear- ing singers of this quality live. 8pm, £12.50 Thurs 28 May, 8.00pm Susan Calman - LUCY BEAUMONT Lady Like THE MET STUDIO Tickets: £14 Fri 29 May Foster’s Best Newcomer nomi- 30 May, 8.00pm nee 2014. Winner of The BBC New comedy award, Chortle The Madhouse Best Newcomer and star of BBC 3's Live at the Electric. Paul Liddle Lucy Beaumont presents her Tickets: £10 hugely anticipated debut show. Spend an hour in Lucy's uni- verse on the North-East coast 8pm, £12 JUNE with her unique blend of surre- al, offbeat humour and big belly laughs. 3 June, 12pm RUBY WAX Literature Talk & Film with GATEHOUSE THEATRE Dr Jane – Nevil Shute’s On The Beach Fri 29 May Tickets: £6 incl. Screen- Ruby Wax new show is based on her critically acclaimed book ‘Sane New World’ which helps us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking. This show is your passport to saner living. She might not be sane herself but she does a pretty good imitation. 7.30pm, £17.50/£15.50

JUICE COMEDY THE MET STUDIO Sat 6 June Stafford’s longest-running comedy club returns! Bringing the best in alternative comedy to the MET Studio with five acts from across the comedy circuit! Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, 7.30pm, £12 Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1AA Box office: 01283 508100. www.brewhouse.co.uk BOOKONLINE Box Office 01785 619080 www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

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ers and the sloppy, drunken storytelling Theatre LISTINGS that accompanies that 3am kebab, Thurs 14 - For full listing information on theatre Sat 16 May, The REP, Birmingham productions, including times and THE FOOTSIE CLUB Bask dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk in the secluded deca- dence of the elegant Crescent Theatre, Birm- atre present Oliver venue for an exclusive ingham Goldsmith’s comedy of evening of the most LADIES' DAY Stafford manners, Wed 13 - Sat delectable femme Players present a 16 May, Netherton Arts fatales, quirky comedy, humorous story about Centre, Dudley and extraordinary per- four women who ditch SISTER ACT Presented formances, Thurs 14 - their drab day job to go by Shrewsbury Ama- Wed 20 May, Old Joint to Ladies' Day at Royal teur Operatic Society, Stock Theatre, B’ham Ascot, Tue 12 - Sat 16 Wed 13 - Sat 16 May, BIRMINGHAM CABARET May, Stafford Gate- Theatre Severn, FESTIVAL Brand new house Theatre Shrewsbury event promising some BAD GIRLS MUSICAL (H) EXPERIMENT: of the best cabaret acts Great Barr Musical The- QUIZSHOWREOKE Inter- in the UK, Thurs 14 - atre Company present active game show Sat 30 May, Old Joint the story of new idealis- where audience mem- Stock Theatre, B’ham tic Wing Governor bers are invited to SOMETHING ELSE Deafi- Helen Stewart and her become contestants nitely Theatre present a battles with the and be in with the story about a small The Judy Garland Songbook - New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham entrenched old guard chance of winning creature who lives his of Officer Jim Fenner prizes... Thurs 14 May, life always trying to fit award-winning comedy, Mon 18 - Sat 23 May, wanted, Wed 20 May, and his sidekick Sylvia mac - Midlands Arts in, Fri 15 May, Arena Fri 15 - Sat 30 May, The Wolverhampton Grand Arena Theatre, Wolver- Hollamby, Tue 12 - Sat Centre, Birmingham Theatre, Wolverhamp- REP, Birmingham Theatre hampton 16 May, The Old Rep BIRTHS, DEATHS AND ton SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A SOMEWHERE TO TOP VOCA PEOPLE Interna- Theatre, Birmingham MARRIAGES New work BORIS & SERGEY'S full screening of the GIRLS Caryl Churchill’s tional phenomenon fea- BIRTHS, DEATHS AND where four young the- VAUDEVILLIAN ADVEN- Disney sensation, com- 1982 play, exploring turing more than eighty MARRIAGES New work atre makers decide to TURE An improvised plete with on-screen contemporary issues of all-time favourite musi- where four young the- change the course of crossover cabaret fea- lyrics to help you sing women in the work- cal hits, from Madonna atre makers decide to their lives forever by turing tabletop pup- along with Anna and place, Tues 19 May, to Michael Jackson via change the course of exchanging the parts of petry and character Elsa during the film, Sat mac - Midlands Arts Mozart, Wed 20 May, their lives forever by their personalities comedy for discerning- 16 May, Victoria Hall, Centre, Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre, exchanging the parts of they’ve never much ly twisted adult audi- Stoke-on-Trent MURDER IN PLAY An Birmingham their personalities liked for the alternative ences, Fri 15 May, Old TREE FU TOM New show amateur production of A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT they’ve never much traits they’ve always Joint Stock Theatre, starring the world's Simon Brett’s comedy OUT Featuring Jonny liked for the alternative wanted, Thurs 14 May, Birmingham smallest superhero, thriller which centres Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, traits they’ve always The Prince Of Wales, NOAH: A MUSICAL direct from the smash- around the backstab- and introducing Kaylee wanted, Wed 13 May, Cannock, Staffs ADVENTURE Saltmine hit CBeebies series, Sat bing & sexual politics of Cropper and The The Place, Oakengates CARDBOARD CITIZENS: Theatre present a ‘fun- 16 May, The Place, an inept theatre compa- Ronaldos, Thurs 21 Theatre, Shropshire BENEFIT Three interwov- filled’ family musical Oakengates Theatre, ny, Tues 19 May, Lich- May, The Old Rep The- THE PICTURE OF DORIAN en stories unlock the based on the biblical Shropshire field Garrick atre, Birmingham GRAY European Arts frustrations and pas- story, Fri 15 May, Bed- (H) EXPERIMENT: SLOT STORIES FROM THE PUN- LILI LA SCALA: SIREN present their adaptation sions of characters worth Civic Hall TOGETHER Birmingham- JAB & BEYOND Lively ‘Stunning' new cabaret of Oscar Wilde's classic struggling with their PARDON ME PRIME MIN- based Stan’s Cafe host tales for all the family show fusing Lili's classi- play, using a cast of five bank balances, their ISTER Edward Taylor & eight brand new shows, from Indian storyteller cal roots with dark versatile actors, Wed 13 histories and their own John Graham’s farce, each using the same Peter Chand, Tues 19 eclectic songs in a May, Theatre Severn, sense of self, Thurs 14 - which sees a Prime twelve props, each May, West Bromwich bewitching theatrical Shrewsbury Fri 15 May, mac - Mid- Minister’s former indis- twenty minutes long Central Library voyage, Thurs 21 May, GHOST THE MUSICAL lands Arts Centre, Birm- cretion come back to and each playing by THE PIRATES OF PEN- Old Joint Stock The- West Bromwich Operat- ingham haunt him, Fri 15 - Sat the same rules, Sat 16 ZANCE Live screening of atre, Birmingham ic Society present an CHEWING THE FAT Rep 23 May, Hall Green Lit- May, mac - Midlands English National AN EVENING WITH GER- amateur staging based Foundry member Seli- tle Theatre, Birmingham Arts Centre, Birming- Opera's performance of VASE PHINN Stories, on the 1990 block- na Thompson invites THE RISE AND FALL OF ham Gilbert and Sullivan's anecdotes, poems and buster movie, Wed 13 - audiences to join her LITTLE VOICE Birming- MATT RICARDO: SHOW- popular comic opera, readings from the Sat 16 May, Wolver- for her own version of a ham Repertory Theatre MAN Big laughs, seri- Tue 19 May, mac - Mid- comic writer, author hampton Grand The- midnight feast: some- Company & West York- ous skills, slapstick & lands Arts Centre and raconteur, Thurs 21 atre where between the shire Playhouse pres- breathtaking spectacle THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN May, Stafford Gate- SHE STOOPS TO CON- confessions made over ent Jim Cartwright's from the 'UK's most Amateur production house Theatre QUER Dudley Little The- coffee at Weight Watch- successful juggler', Sat presented by Rockhop- JUDY: THE JUDY GAR- The Picture Of Dorian Gray - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury & Brewhouse Art 16 May, Old Joint Stock per Productions, Tues LAND STORY A journey Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs Theatre, Birmingham 19 - Sat 23 May, Stoke through the life and SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Repertory Theatre, music of Judy Garland, Sweeney stars in a Stoke-on-Trent featuring timeless clas- comedy about dating, BLOOD Emteaz Hus- sic songs performed by men and finding Mr sain's twenty-first centu- award-winning singers Right, Sat 16 - Sun 17 ry love story, Tue 19 - & dancers, Thurs 21 - May, Lichfield Garrick Sat 23 May, The REP, Sat 23 May, New YAMATO DRUMMERS The Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, ancient art of taiko THE BODYGUARD Award- Birmingham drumming is brought winning musical based A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT bang up to date in an on the blockbuster film. OUT Featuring Jonny exhilarating display of Zoe Birkett (ITV's Pop Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, expertise and athleti- Idol, Priscilla Queen Of and introducing Kaylee cism which has thrilled The Desert & Thriller Cropper and The audiences worldwide..., Live) takes top billing Ronaldos, Fri 22 May, Sun 17 May, New as Rachel Marron, Tue Theatre On The Steps, Alexandra Theatre, 19 - Sat 30 May, Regent Bridgnorth, Shropshire Birmingham Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent A TRANSLATION OF SHAD- Read the review on OWS World premiere of page 39 Week Commencing Stan's Cafe's latest BIRTHS, DEATHS & MAR- work, Fri 22 May, MON 18 MAY RIAGES New work Arena Theatre, Wolver- where four young the- hampton TWELVE ANGRY MEN atre makers decide to FAUST Swansea City Jason Merrells, Andrew change the course of Opera present Goun- Lancel, Dennis Lill & their lives forever by od’s Gothic tale, Fri 22 Gareth David Lloyd star exchanging the parts of May, Theatre Severn, in a new production of their personalities Shrewsbury Reginald Rose's grip- they’ve never much ping courtroom thriller, liked for the alternative traits they’ve always

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Wed 20 May, 7.30pm Wed 22 May, 7.30pm Fri 29 & Sat 30 May, 7.30pm

Black Country Touring The New Wolsey Theatre & Young Theatre Makers Stan’s Cafe A Translation Of Shadows

Occasionally We Skype CellBirths, Deaths and Marriages Occasionally We Skype explores what it means Four young theatre-makers have decided to exist in a digitally connected, globalized that they’ve got just enough time left to world. change the course of their lives forever – so When silent film first arrived in Japan a narrator, Using Kathak dance, live music, spoken word, iphones, digital projection and theatre, they’re going to exchange the parts of their called a Benshi, was employed to explain the movie and you would fall in love with them. Occasionally We Skype brings together the personalities they’ve never much liked for combined talents of the Sonia Sabri Company the alternative traits they’ve always wanted. They were the stars and they guided you through their interpretation of the screen and Black Country Touring, with the able So come and see how they’re doing, images. Though once mighty and numerous, support of Sampad and The Arena Theatre, whether they’ve made it and how long the dominance of the Benshi was short-lived. in a unique and compelling new show. they’ve got left. 'The talkies' eventually killed them off. Part of Southbank Centre’s Alchemy Black Country

Tickets: £5 Tickets: £10/£8 concs Tickets: £10/£8 concs

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MR B THE GENTLEMAN Olivia Newton-John and don's award-winning RHYMER Mr B The Gen- John Travolta, Mon 25 novel, Tue 26 May - Sat tleman Rhymer brings May, Wolverhampton 6 June, Birmingham his ongoing quest to Grand Theatre Hippodrome Read the reconnect hip-hop with THE IMPORTANCE OF interview with Joshua manners and the BEING ERNEST David Jenkins on page 10 Queen’s English to Suchet dons a dress to THE DISAPPEARING Birmingham!, Fri 22 star as Lady Bracknell WOMAN, FEATURING GER- May, Old Joint Stock in Oscar Wilde’s much- MAINE GREER Theatre, Birmingham loved masterpiece. Australian academic & MESS Caroline Horton's Emily Barber, Michael journalist Germaine play of obsession, Benz, Philip Cumbus, Greer explores forty addiction & not wanting Imogen Doel, Michelle years of feminism, Wed to get out of bed, Fri 22 Dotrice & Richard 27 May, Arena Theatre, May, Brewhouse Arts O’Callaghan also star, Wolverhampton Centre, Burton-upon- Mon 25 - Sat 30 May, RAPUNZEL Tutti Frutti Trent, Staffs Malvern Theatre Productions uses its THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD WE'LL MEET AGAIN - HITS inventive & physical AND LOEB STORY FROM THE BLITZ Brand style in a re-telling of Stephen Dolginoff's new Wartime Caval- the popular fairytale award-winning musical, cade show celebrating which explores the Fri 22 - Sat 23 May, seventy years since the curiosity and joys of The Old Rep Theatre, end of WWII, Tue 26 growing up, risk taking Birmingham May, The Old Rep The- & discovering who you JAMES AND THE GIANT atre, Birmingham are, Wed 27 May PEACH Blue Orange Arts TREE FU TOM New show mac - Midlands Arts presents Roald Dahl's starring the world's Centre, Birmingham A Black Country Night Out - Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs; Old REP, Birmingham; classic tale, Sat 23 May, smallest superhero, THE WEATHERMAN Criti- Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire The Blue Orange The- direct from the smash- cally acclaimed clown atre, Birmingham hit CBeebies series, Kiki Lovechild uses Country Touring pres- favourites, funky dance breaking the mould that BOYS TALK Women & Tue 26 May, Royal Spa physical comedy, pup- ent a dramatic perform- routines and plenty of features energetic Theatre present an Centre, Leamington petry, mime and illusion ance based on a true laughter, Fri 29 May, clowning and a vibrant engaging celebration of Spa in a show that brings incident and the life Palace Theatre, Red- soundtrack, Sat 30 male communication MY BIG FAT COWPAT together modern clown- events of the perform- ditch May, The REP, Birming- with movement, per- WEDDING Black Country ing with a collection of ers, Thurs 28 May, PETER PAN Presented by ham formance and spoken Touring, Kali Theatre & forgotten vaudeville art Arena Theatre, Wolver- Blue Orange Theatre, STORIES FROM THE PUN- word, Sat 23 May, Arts Alive present a forms, including the hampton Fri 29 May, Solihull Arts JAB & BEYOND Lively mac - Midlands Arts fast-moving comedy routines that have THE COMPLETE HISTORY Complex tales for all the family Centre, Birmingham where the audience made Kiki a firm OF COMEDY - ABRIDGED OCCASIONALLY WE SKYPE from Indian storyteller NELL GWYNN’S HISTORY become the guests at favourite on the UK The Reduced Shake- Black Country Touring Peter Chand, Sat 30 LAID BARE Join Bur- the wedding reception cabaret scene, Wed 27 speare Company fuses Kathak dance, May, Bleakhouse lesque performer Gin- of an intercultural mar- May, Old Joint Stock embark on a ninety- live music, spoken Library, Oldbury ger Blush as she takes riage between a coun- Theatre, Birmingham minute rollercoaster word, iPhones, digital MINISTRY OF SCIENCE her audience on a try girl & an Indian lad THE NEW ADVENTURES ride, deconstructing the projection & theatre to LIVE! From the creators whirlwind tour through from the city, Tue 26 OF PUSS IN BOOTS Star- entire history of come- explore what it means of Brainiac Live comes the life & times of Nell May, Newhampton Arts ring Julie Paton from dy, Thurs 28 May, to be digitally connect- a brand new show Gwyn, Sat 23 May, Old Centre, Wolverhampton Cats as Puss In Boots Wolverhampton Grand ed, Fri 29 May, Arena which takes an anar- Joint Stock Theatre, PITSCHI - THE KITTEN & Lichfield’s favourite Theatre Theatre, Wolverhamp- chic approach to sci- Birmingham WITH DREAMS Story- Dame, Ian Adams, as THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW ton ence communication, PARADE The Crescent telling, physical theatre, Queen Catrovia, Wed Britain's most loveable SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Sat 30 May, Royal Spa Theatre Company pres- music & song are here 27 May, Lichfield Gar- fox is back on the road, Sweeney stars in a new Centre, Leamington ent Jason Robert woven together in a rick along with his TV chum brand comedy about Spa Brown's musical, which classic Swiss story for MASTERPIECES Warwick Mr Stephen (aka Chris dating, men and finding BACK TO BROADWAY All- tells the tale of the trial children which tells of a University Drama Socie- Pizzey). Together they Mr Right, Fri 29 May, singing, all-dancing the- of Leo Frank, accused kitten who learns to be ty presents Sarah take audiences on a The Place, Oakengates atrical extravaganza, and condemned to happy by being exactly Daniels’ fiery & uncom- journey of laughs, sto- Theatre, Shropshire Sat 30 May, Palace death for murder, Sat what she is, Tue 26 promising play about rytelling & song in a THE COMPLETE HISTORY Theatre, Redditch 23 - Sat 30 May, Cres- May, mac - Midlands our cultural attitude brand new stage show, OF COMEDY - ABRIDGED EMBRACED BURLESQUE cent Theatre, Birming- Arts Centre, B’ham towards pornography, Thurs 28 May, Roses The Reduced Shake- Featuring a Burlesque ham THE PICTURE OF DORIAN Wed 27 - Sat 30 May, Theatre, Tewkesbury speare Company striptease, live music BASHMENT GRANNY 3 GRAY European Arts Warwick Arts Centre, STORIES FROM THE PUN- embark on a ninety- and comedy, Sat 30 BASHY DEAD Keith She- present their adaptation Coventry JAB AND BEYOND Fun, minute rollercoaster May, Newhampton Arts bada Ramsey returns of Oscar Wilde's classic HORRIBLE HISTORIES: interactive and very ride, deconstructing the Centre, Wolverhampton as ‘Bad Boy Trevor’ in play, using a cast of five INCREDIBLE INVADERS lively tales for the family entire history of come- POSTCARDS FROM THE this action-packed versatile actors, Tues 26 Brand new show from from Indian storyteller dy, Fri 29 May, Swan SEASIDE New musical comedy sequel that May, Brewhouse Arts the Horrible Histories Peter Chand, Thurs 28 Theatre, Worcester celebrating the Home promises to grip from Centre, Burton-upon- team. This time round May, Newhampton Arts EASTEND CABARET: PER- Front at the time of the start to curtain call, Sun Trent, Staffs it's the ruthless ways of Centre, Wolverhampton VERTS Award-winning Dunkirk Evacuation, Sat 24 May, New Alexandra TINA TURNER: TEA LADY the Romans which FOGHORN IMPROV: cult comedy duo East- 30 - Sun 31 May, Artrix, Theatre, Birmingham A parody, not affiliated come under scrutiny, FOGHORN FOLLIES An End Cabaret present Bromsgrove THE BOY WHO BIT PICAS- with Tina Turner, Tue 26 Wed 27 - Sat 30 May, intimate comedic their raucous and WHY THE WHALES CAME SO Interactive family May, Old Joint Stock Belgrade Theatre, cabaret experience for risqué musical comedy, The Roses Youth The- show featuring story- Theatre, Birmingham Coventry a discerning comedic headlining the first ever atre presents Michael telling, music & a HORRIBLE HISTORIES: KING LEAR Northern clientele, Thurs 28 May, Birmingham Cabaret Morpurgo’s tale of chance for audience GROOVY GREEKS From Broadsides present a Old Joint Stock The- Festival, Fri 29 - Sat 30 friendship, Sat 30 - Sun members to make their savage Sparta to angry production for a new atre, Birmingham May, Old Joint Stock 31 May, Roses Theatre. own art, Sun 24 May, Athens, discover the generation of Shake- SWEET CHARITY Amateur Theatre, Birmingham Tewkesbury All Stretton Village Hall, truth about growing up speare fans, Wed 27 production presented ALIENS LOVE UNDER- THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW Church Stretton, South in Greece, Tue 26 - Sat May - Sat 13 June, New by the Viv Kelly Youth PANTS Children's tale Sun 31 May, New Shropshire 30 May, Belgrade The- Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Theatre, Thurs 28 - Sat based on the best- Alexandra Theatre, atre, Coventry under-Lyme 30 May, Theatre Sev- selling book, Fri 29 - Birmingham THE PYRAMID TEXTS DIRTY DUSTING Heart- ern, Shrewsbury Sun 31 May, SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Week Commencing James Cosmo warming comedy star- INTO THE WOODS Back- Warwick Arts Centre, Sweeney stars in a new MON 25 MAY (Trainspotting, Brave- ring Crissy Rock, street Theatre Compa- Coventry brand comedy about heart & Game Of Dolores Porretta, Leah ny present Stephen ALEXEI SAYLE: LISTEN dating, men and finding Thrones) delivers a per- Bell & Jason Jones, Sondheim’s modern WITH ALEXEI The best- Mr Right, Sun 31 May, SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A sonal & haunting Thurs 28 May, Bed- classic, which inter- selling author, comedi- Wolverhampton Grand full screening of the monologue from worth Civic Hall twines the plots of an an & actor gives a pre- Theatre Disney sensation, com- BAFTA Award-winning STORIES FROM THE PUN- array of Brothers view of the second vol- ALONG THE RIVERBANK plete with on-screen writer Geoff Thompson, JAB & BEYOND Lively Grimm fairytales, Thurs ume of his ‘hilarious Bamboozle present a lyrics to help you sing Tue 26 - Sat 30 May, tales for all the family 28 - Sat 30 May, Prince and thought-provoking’ ‘magical production’ along with Anna and The REP, Birmingham from Indian storyteller of Wales Theatre, Can- memoirs with a reading inspired by Kenneth Elsa during the film, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT Peter Chand, Thurs 28 nock from Thatcher Stole My Grahame’s Wind In The Mon 25 May, Wolver- OF THE DOG IN THE May, Newhampton Arts MILKSHAKE PARTY PARTY Trousers, Sat 30 May, Willows, Sun 31 May, hampton Grand Theatre NIGHT-TIME Highly Centre, Wolverhampton LIVE! Brand new musi- mac - Midlands Arts Warwick Arts Centre, SING-A-LONG-A GREASE acclaimed National NIRBHAYA Southbank cal spectacular for chil- Centre, Birmingham Coventry Singalong version of Theatre production Centre, Oldham Colise- dren featuring new STATIK First Stages the classic film starring based on Mark Had- um, Cast & Black songs alongside old present a show about

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Arts FESTIVALS Birmingham Cabaret Festival Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 14 - Sat 30 May This is Birmingham’s first ever cabaret festival, taking place as a response to the growing popularity of the art form. “Cabaret has undeniably undergone a renaissance in the past couple of decades,” explain the festival’s organisers. “Music, comedy, circus, drag and burlesque acts, to name but a few branches, frequently dominate the headlines at festivals and venues across the world, and cabaret is often the place to discover the newest and most daring cross-discipli- nary theatre. London has been enjoying the flourishing, thriving and multi-faceted scene for many years, and it’s something we're delight- ed to be bringing to the second city.” Award-winning 'musical mischief-makers' EastEnd Cabaret headline the festival, which also features a cabaret-themed exhibition.

First Bite Festival mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 2 May This returning event - a celebration of theatre-making in the Midlands - showcases unfinished extracts and new ideas from some of the region's most highly rated creatives. All of the work on show is shaped by audience feedback. Two of the pieces will be selected for commission and will then be presented in First Bite’s sister festival, Bite Size, later in the year. Both festivals are organised by independent theatre studio China Plate, working in collaboration with mac birmingham and Warwick Arts Centre.

Alchemy Festival various venues across the West Midlands, Tues 19 - Sat 30 May Alchemy 2015 is the result of a new partnership between Southbank Centre and Black Country Touring (BCT). The event sees ‘the best in South Asian arts’ visiting the region. Highlights include Knives, Forks & Fingers, a new comedy show created especially for the festival by comedian, broadcaster, journalist and chef Hardeep Singh Koli. Internationally acclaimed theatre production Nirbhaya is another stand-out attraction, as is Occasionally We Skype, a major new dance, music and theatre co-production by Sonia Sabri Company and Black Country Touring. “We’re very excited to be bringing Alchemy to the region,” says Frances Land, Co-Artistic Director at BCT. “As a small yet dynamic arts organisation, we’re really looking forward to this unique partner- ship with the festival.” For further details visit alchemy.bctouring.co.uk

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Theatre REVIEWS CONT...

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Blood Brothers Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Have you heard the tale of the Johnstone twins? For the benefit of those who haven’t - Willy Rus- sell’s Blood Brothers is a show that’s achieved icon- ic status in the world of musical theatre. Nicknamed ‘the standing ovation musical’, it’s a gold-star clas- sic that keeps on giving - and the audiences keep on rolling in, too. Combining humour and heartache in equal meas- ure, it tells the story of Eddie Lyons and Mickey Johnstone. Twins separated at birth, the boys are raised at different ends of the ‘class’ spectrum, only to be brought together by fate at various stages of The Bodyguard Wolverhampton Grand Theatre their lives before meeting their destiny in a tragic finale. One of the most explosive openings in musical theatre brilliantly set the pace for Thea Top billing this Theatre Severn production was show Sharrock’s stunning production of The Bodyguard. stalwart Maureen Nolan, who gave a solid perform- There were gunshots, a scuffle - and then we got to meet the dashing Frank Farmer, ance as the matriarch of the Johnstone clan. wonderfully played by Stuart Reid. Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow showcased his It was then full pelt into the opening scene where, resplendent in gold, Alexandra Burke raspy tones to full effect as the Narrator, lurking showcased why she’s the perfect choice to play Rachel Marron - a role made famous Grim Reaper-like in the shadows and doorways to by the late Whitney Houston. Accompanied by an ensemble of ripped dancers in the remind us that it’ll all end in tears - which, of course, first of the show’s spectacularly choreographed routines, Burke’s vocals were sublime. it does. As pyrotechnics intermittently burst from the stage, I found myself hoping that none of No matter how many times you see Blood Brothers, the front-row audience members had gone overboard with the hairspray. you can never properly prepare yourself for that Burke displayed a real versatility throughout; her acting was every bit as impressive as final scene. But there are plenty of laughs to enjoy her singing. There was neither a note off key nor a foot out of step the whole evening. in the show too, many of which are provided by the Delivering her lines with conviction, she shone like the star she is. Very much at ease in young Mickey, Eddie and Linda - wonderfully played the role, her soft American tones didn’t falter once. by Sean Jones, Joel Benedict and Danielle Corlass Melissa James, as Rachel’s sister Nicki, deserved equal credit. Possessing the voice of respectively. a nightingale, her powerful solos and harmonies with Burke gave me goosebumps, The show is perfectly cast throughout. Full credit while cute-as-a-button Jhayheim Davis, as Marron’s son Fletcher, displayed all the qual- goes to Graham Martin for his instant transforma- ities of a star in the making. tion from posh school master to harassed state Striking lighting design by Mark Henderson ensured Mike Denman’s portrayal of Mar- school teacher, and to Kate Jarman for her powerful ron’s stalker was menacing and creepy in equal measure. Pastyportrayal Moss of then n neurotic n n Mrs Lyons. This stunning production was further enhanced by an effectively designed set, an abun- dance of spectacular costume changes from Tim Hatley, orchestration by Chris Egan, superb video effects by Duncan McLean and first-class performances from each and Rosie Kay: every one of the supporting cast. As entertainment goes, The Bodyguard is Grade A quality, a true theatrical spectacle that’sPatsy impressively Moss n n n superior n n to the film which inspired 5 Soldiers it. I urge you to go see for yourself. The Bodyguard shows at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Sat 2 May, returning to The REP, Birmingham play Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 19 to Sat 30 May, and Birmingham Hip- Creating a production podrome, Wed 5 to Sat 29 August. around a subject about which most people know relatively little is Feed The Beast The REP, Birmingham always a difficult task, Michael Goodlad is the kind of Prime Minister I would love to vote for; a true, principled yet Rosie Kay manages to present the world of the statesman. Swept unexpectedly into No 10, he sets out to build a new, fair and square British military in a very insightful way. nation. He’s ideal - but dangerously idealistic. He also intends to ignore the press. In 5 Soliders explores the life of British soldiers - the other words, he refuses to Feed The Beast. The question is, how will The Beast bite existence inside the barracks, the training pro- back? Preparing for the power struggle, the PM hires a straining-at-the-leash Red Top gramme and, of course, the experience of war. Rottweiler as his press officer. Let battle commence… Having spent several months conducting field This is an amazingly perceptive and timely play. Dr Who writer Steve Thompson takes research in various military bases, Kay’s knowledge us only slightly into the future - into a world where the public really are sick of the same is clearly both current and accurate. Her dancers old stories and vote for something new; and where Internet forums rule supreme. also spent time with soliders, learning various drills Sadly, probably the day after tomorrow. and weapon handling - although Kay decided This is a play fizzing with topical traumas. The writing is exceptionally exciting and against using actual weapons in the production. energetic, and a thunderingly good cast pick up Thompson’s jubilant jokes and lanc- The piece as a whole is strong and the dancers are ing lines and slice their way through the evening. Gerald Kyd is outstandingly dynamic a credit to the choreographer. They manage to por- as the bright-new-dawn PM. Shaun Mason is terrifyingly super-real as his raunchy, go- tray a discipline usually achieved after years of mili- get-’em press advisor. But this is far from a two-way fight. Director Peter Rowe has tary training, while at the same time bringing a assembled six hugely talented and versatile ensemble actors. He seems to just wind beautiful, contemporary quality and a real sense of them up and let them go, each character a star turn in their own right. Meanwhile, the movement to the material. The repetitive structure family scenes are a delicately observed haven from the hellfire. Badria Timimi and of quick marches and drills is hypnotising, the Aimee Powell tenderly infuse the antidote of love and affection into the lifeblood of their dancers moving in a machine-like unit. man at No 10... and he protects them from the press with all his sacrificial might. There are moments of comedy, seduction and pure As you might imagine, it all starts to go wrong. Even ideal men are only human. emotion. Kay has successfully captured a sense of Steve Thompson’s message is fearfully clear. We are doomed. He presents a sharply a somewhat secret world - one in which outsiders focused picture of a world in which elected democracy is terminally undermined by the aren’t welcome. clicking classes. This is a beautiful, engaging and touching piece. It’s a remarkable evening and, I fancy, a landmark production in the history of political Jamie Ryan n n n theatre. Robin Day would love it. Chris Eldon Lee n n n n n

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Tigress Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May Tamworth Castle here provides a stunning backdrop to new work and featuring over one hundred Tamworth choir members, two hun- from innovative dance company Motionhouse. dred local schoolchildren and twenty-two semi-professional dancers - Tigress makes up the dance element of I Am Tamworth, a twelve- the project aims to make impressive use of the Tamworth Castle envi- month celebration of the arts which has been organised by Tamworth ronment. Borough Council. Not only an original production, Tigress also features an original The production follows the story of the formidable Aethelred, Lady of score - specifically created for the project - and provides audience the Mercians - the daughter of Alfred the Great - as she commands members with the chance to play a significant part in making the her army at the time of the Viking invasion. story of the Mercians come to life. Combining elements of dance, acrobatics, music and drumming -

Birmingham Royal Ballet Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May Embarking on a celebration of twenty years with David Bintley as artistic director, Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) here pres- ent three works designed to show off the range of the compa- ny’s repertoire. Les Rendezvous by Sir Frederick Ashton is an exercise in pure technique and boasts a lighthearted and flirtatious quali- ty, while Kin, from former BRB dancer Alexander Whitley, is an athletic, abstract piece celebrating the kinetics of dance through group ensembles, delicate solos and tender duets. Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, meanwhile, is described as flash, jazzy and laugh-out-loud funny. The BRB orchestra accompanies the dancers live on stage.

Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 22 - Tues 26 May Michael Flatley’s ever-popular Lord Of The Dance looks set to attain new heights. Dangerous Games comes complete with world champion acrobats, groundbreaking technology - including holographs and dancing robots - and, as always, some of the greatest Irish Dancers in the world. There’s also a new score to enjoy, composed by the hugely talented Gerard Fahy. 40 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Dance May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:15 Page 2

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL Dance LISTINGS BALLET A showcase of greats, featuring works by Sir Frederick For full listing information on dance, Ashton, Sir Kenneth including times and dates, visit MacMillan and a new www.whatsonlive.co.uk piece by Alexander Whitley, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May, Theatre PASHA: LIFE THROUGH Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury DANCE Sat 2 May, ALADDIN Ballet Theatre ALADDIN Ballet Theatre Lichfield Garrick; Fri 8 UK re-tell the classic UK re-tell the classic May, Malvern Theatre; tale of the lonely tale of the lonely Tues 5 - Wed 6 May, orphan whose life is orphan whose life is Palace Theatre; destined for greater destined for greater Redditch; Tues 12 May, things, Fri 15 May things, Wed 27 May The Roses, Tewkesbury Palace Theatre, Solihull Arts Complex CADIZ Wed 6 - Thurs 7 Redditch BROMANCE Crying Out May, DanceXchange, EDGE15 London Loud & Barely The Patrick Centre, Contemporary Dance Methodical Troupe cel- Birmingham School post graduate ebrate all things blokey FOLLOWING THE YELLOW company present a through a series of risk- BRICK ROAD: DANCING triple bill, Fri 15 May, taking physical feats, THE LYRICS OF BERNIE Artrix, Bromsgrove Tues 26 - Wed 27 May, TAUPIN Presented by CINDERELLA Ballet Warwick Arts Centre, University of Cymru present a new Coventry Wolverhampton Dance work based on the eter- The Spalding Suite VARIETY IS THE SPICE: Department, Thurs 7 nal fairytale, Wed 20 The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May THE BEST OF BRITISH May, Arena Theatre, May, New Vic Theatre, ASIAN MUSIC & DANCE Inspired by the UK’s basketball scene, Fuel’s The Spalding Suite Wolverhampton Newcastle-under-Lyme Oldham Coliseum, BRIDGING THE VOID Film, LAST MAN STANDING presents a new type of physical theatre. A combination of live beat- Black Country Touring, dance and music inter- James Wilton Dance boxing, music, hip-hop moves and poetry, the show celebrates the Cast and Southbank lace to create a dance explore the fragility of elegance of the sport. Writer Inua Ellams and award-winning director Centre present an film production, Sat 9 human existence, Thurs evening of music, Benji Reid explore the highs and lows of the game through the expe- May, Artrix. Bromsgrove 21 May, Roses Theatre, dance and comedy, rience of five young men who play it. The show has been commis- TIGRESS Motionhouse Tewkesbury Wed 27 May sioned by Southbank Centre and Contact. Sat 9 - Sun 10 May LORD OF THE DANCE - Newhampton Arts Tamworth Castle, Staffs DANGEROUS GAMES Centre, Wolverhampton JALEO FLAMENCO Mon Fri 22 - Tues 26 May, VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET 11 May, New Vic Symphony Hall, 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Theatre, Newcastle- Birmingham Cadiz Sat 30 May, The Old under-Lyme INTOTO DANCE 2015 Rep Theatre, DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, THE SPALDING SUITE London Studio Centre Birmingham Birmingham, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 May Presented by Fuel, presents work by up- A real taste of Spanish culture hits Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May, and-coming talents, Fri Birmingham this month in the form of DanceXchange, The 22 May, Artrix, Patrick Centre, Bromsgrove Jesús award-winningFernández’s Cádiz, dancer’s an exploration Andalucian roots.of the The piece sees choreographer and director take his audience on a nostalgicFernández journey through his home town - its history, beaches, walls, sense of mys- tery and music providing his inspiration. Fernandez is joined on stage by four out- standing musicians, all from recreate original flamenco music.Cádiz, who

Bromance Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May Celebrating all things blokey, all-male acrobatic trio Barely Methodical Troupe won a Total Theatre Award at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival. They visit Coventry with an award-winning show that’s both playful and touching, exploring the limits of male companionship via a series of risk-taking physical feats.

Sun 2 May, 2.30pm & 7.30pm The Little Theatre, Leicester  01527 577330

Thurs 21 - Sat 23 May, 7.30pm Garrick Theatre, Lichfield  01543 412121

Sat 30 May, 7.30pm Old Rep, Birmingham  0121 359 9444

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Film - May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:35 Page 1 Film - May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:35 Page 2

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

FROM FRI 15 MAY

Mad Max: Fury Road CERT tbc Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Hugh Keays-Byrne Directed by George Miller (Australia/USA) Two rebels - a man and a woman - join forces to circumnavigate the desert in a post-apocalyptic universe gone mad… Thirty years after the last Mad Max film (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, 1985), and twenty-five years in ‘development hell,’ Fury Road arrives with a budget of $150mil- lion. Mel Gibson, now fifty-nine, is obviously a tad too long in the tooth to play the road warrior, and is replaced by Tom Hardy. Hardy should cer- tainly do the franchise justice and is paired by three of the sexiest women in the cinema firmament: Charlize Theron, Zoë Kravitz and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Can the series retain its Fury? Is it another dystopian future too many? Its thespian heft should certainly play in its favour. TOP 5 FILM BOX OFFICE

1 Fast & Furious 7 (12a) 2 Cinderella (U) 3 Home (U) 4 The DUFF (12a) From FRI 22 MAY 5 SpongeBob Movie (U)

Tomorrowland - A World BeyondCERT tbc Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Judy Greer Directed by Brad Bird (USA) It’s a Wonderful World. Or, in this case, a place in time and space that changes due to our very actions (much like real life, but more so). George Clooney stars as a jaded inventor whose disillusionment with his own world is transformed by the scientific curiosity and optimism of a teenager. So, together, they travel to Tomorrowland. Like Pirates Of The Caribbean and the Eddie Murphy comedy The Haunted Mansion, Tomor- rowland is based on a Disney theme park attraction, which is really weird. The director, Brad Bird, previously brought us The Incredibles and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Fast & Furious 7 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Film - May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:35 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES Released from Fri 1 May

Far From The Madding Crowd CERT 12a (119 mins) Starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoe- naerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge, Juno Temple, Jessica Barden Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (UK/USA) The last time Thomas Hardy’s immortal 1874 novel was adapted for the screen was cour- tesy of the modern-day, thinly disguised Tamara Drewe (2010), with Gemma Arterton. Thomas Vinterberg’s version is strictly of the costumed variety, set in Victorian England. Carey Mulligan, as the fêted Bathsheba Everdene, is already getting rave reviews.

From FRI 8 MAY

Unfriended CERT 15 (83 mins) Big Game CERT 12a (90 mins) Starring Shelley Hennig, Renee Olstead, Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Onni Tom- Courtney Halverson, Jacob Wysocki mila, Ray Stevenson, Victor Garber, Ted Directed by Levan Gabriadze (USA) Levine, Felicity Huffman, Jim Broadbent Directed by Jalmari Helander In The Ring it was that wretched VHS. Here, (Finland/Germany/UK) it’s a girl talking on Skype - and she’s not very nice. We’re talking horror here and an- The most expensive Finnish film in his- CERT 15 (119 mins) Samba other low-budget “found footage” thing. But, tory, Big Game would seem to be an un- Starring Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, hey - it got some pretty good reviews in the likely Scandinavian export. Samuel L. Tahar Rahim, Izïa Higelin, Hélène Vincent States. Jackson plays the US president whose Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano plane is shot down by terrorists, landing (France) him in the middle of a Finnish forest. It In light of the headlines devoted to immigra- would seem that only a thirteen-year-old tion in this country, this story of a Sene- boy (Tommila) - out hunting for deer - is galese dish washer in Paris should shed a around to help him... refreshing perspective on the other side. Omar Sy, incidentally, previously starred in the accomplished and irresistible Untouch- MI5 head of counter-terrorism Harry Pearce able (2011), for which he won the French (Firth). And with an impending terrorist at- Oscar. tack on London, the timing could not be worse.

Released from Fri 8 May

The Age Of Adaline CERT 12a tbc Starring Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn Directed by Lee Toland Krieger (USA) Some accidents come at a price. The reclu- Two By Two: Oops... sive Adaline Bowman (Lively), following an accident, is rendered ageless, for all intents CERT U (87 mins) The Ark Has Gone and purposes remaining twenty-nine for al- Top Five CERT 15 (102 mins) Directed by Toby Genkel and Sean McCor- most eight decades. She then meets a man Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, mack (Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg/Ire- with whom she might just share her secret… Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shepherd, land) JB Smoove Directed by Chris Rock (USA) It’s the end of the world again but this time Stand-up comic-cum-movie star Chris Rock we’re in pre-history. But while Noah guides plays Andre Allen, a stand-up comic-cum- all the animals of the earth onto his ark, he movie star in this romantic-comedy written has embargoed the admission of all Nestri- and directed by Chris Rock. ans (who wouldn't?). So the Nestrian Dave Like Michael and his son Finny have to resort to all their Keaton’s Riggan wiles to get on board. An animated adven- Thomson in Bird- ture for all the family. Obviously. man, Andre Allen now wants to be taken seriously as an actor, but then Spooks: The Greater Good agrees to have his CERT 15 (104 mins) upcoming wedding Starring Peter Firth, Kit Harington, Jennifer broadcast as a Re- Ehle, Elyes Gabel, Lara Pulver ality TV special. Directed by Bharat Nalluri (UK) The reviews in A spin-off of the BBC series Spooks, this America were actu- topical thriller details the disappearance of ally very good. 44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film - May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:35 Page 4

Released from Fri 15 May Clouds Of Sils Maria CERT 15 (124 mins) Starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hanns Zischler Directed by Olivier Assayas (France/Switzer- land/Germany/USA/Belgium) Twenty years ago, the actress Maria Enders (Binoche) made her name playing a young woman who drives her female boss to sui- cide. Now she has agreed to star in a revival of the play, this time portraying the older woman, with her original part to be played by a Hollywood star with a predisposition for scandal. Interestingly, the latter is embodied by Kristen Stewart.

From FRI 22 MAY

Released from Fri 22 May The Cobbler CERT 12a tbc Starring Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, Method Man, Ellen Barkin, Steve Buscemi, CERT 15 (106 mins) Melonie Diaz, Dan Stevens Danny Collins Directed by Thomas McCarthy (USA) Starring CERT 12a (115 mins) Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Pitch Perfect 2 Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plum- When New York cobbler Max Simkin (San- Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel mer Directed by Dan Fogelman (USA) dler) discovers a magic heirloom, he finds Wilson, Adam Devine, John Michael Higgins, Danny Collins (Pa- that he can literally step into other peo- Elizabeth Banks ple’s shoes... Thomas McCarthy, inciden- Directed by Elizabeth Banks (USA) cino) is an ageing rocker and still lives tally, previously directed the critically The a cappella group calling themselves the idolised The Station Agent and The Visitor. Barden Bellas are back, this time to com- the part. Then he pete in an international event. And to stack comes across a letter written to him by the odds, an American group has never won Timbuktu CERT 12a (96 mins) before. John Lennon forty years previously and Starring Abel Jafri, Hichem Yacoubi decides to change Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako (France/Mauritania) his ways... Inspired by a true Nominated for an Oscar for best foreign lan- story. guage film, Timbuktu is the story of a simple cattle herder and his wife and what happens to them when the Malian city of the title is occupied by Islamic Jihadists. Set in 2012. Poltergeist CERT tbc Starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jared Harris, Jane Adams Directed by Gil Kenan (USA) Following the original Poltergeist (1982), its two sequels and the TV series, now comes A Royal Night Out CERT 12a (97 mins) the reboot. Once again an ideal American Starring Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Bel family finds its suburban home invaded by Powley, Rupert Everett, Jack Reynor, Roger Allam Directed by Julian Jarrold (UK) indignant spirits - but this time it’s in 3D. Quite what the Queen will make of this fic- tionalisation of the first flutters of her heart is anybody’s guess. Anyway, it’s VE Day and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are San Andreas CERT tbc allowed to mingle with the commoners to Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kylie Minogue, celebrate. Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Gia- Think Roman Holiday set in London. matti, Ioan Gruffudd Directed by Brad Peyton (USA) Welcome back to the Disaster Movie. After California is devastated by an earthquake, a muscly pilot and his ex-wife attempt to leave Los Angeles to find their estranged daughter Released from Fri 29 May in San Francisco.

Man Up CERT 15 (88 mins) Starring Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Olivia Williams, Rory Kinnear, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sharon Horgan Directed by Ben Palmer (UK/France) Don’t you hate it when you’re mistaken for someone’s blind date? Such a thing hap- pens to Nancy (Bell), leading to unforeseen romantic circumstances… www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Festivals May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:28 Page 1 Festivals May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:28 Page 2 Festivals

Wychwood Festival Cheltenham Racecourse, Fri 29 - Sun 31 May Regularly nominated in the Best Family Festival category of the UK Festival Awards, the annual Wychwood Festival features over one hundred bands on four stages, more than one hundred workshops, a kids’ literature festival and a real ale festival. This year’s line-up features UB40, The Proclaimers, Boney M, The Undertones, Ghostpoet, comedians Mitch Benn and Tiernan Douieb and CBeebies favourite Justin Fletcher.

You Me At Six Slam Dunk In and around the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Mon 25 May The Proclaimers The UK’s biggest independent touring festival, Slam Dunk returns to the Midlands this month to celebrate the best of pop-punk, ska and emo. Swingamajig Headlining the seven-stage event are British rockers You Me At Six, who have a very spe- cial place in Slam Dunk history, having played the festival regularly on their road to star- The Custard Factory, Birmingham, Sun 3 May dom. They also released their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, through the festival’s Returning to Birmingham for the third year, very own Slam Dunk label. Fans can expect to hear hits from Cavalier Youth - the band’s Swingamajig is a unique festival which invites Elec- first UK number one album. tro Swing lovers and vintage connoisseurs to take Taking Back Sunday, Don Broco and Lower Than Atlantis also feature in the Main Stage to the streets and party in style. Bringing the line-up. Metalcore seven-piece Architects headline the Monster Energy Stage, while the ‘sounds and styles of the 1920s up to date with a Desperados Stage plays host to acts including Reel Big Fish, Millencolin and Mariachi El modern twist’, this year’s event features festival Bronx. creators and organisers Electric Swing Circus and headliners Chinese Man, Dutty Moonshine and The Correspondents. Birmingham Pride Jess Glynne Gay Village, Birmingham, Asparafest Sat 23 - Sun 24 May Ashdown Farm, Evesham, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May Celebrating the city’s diverse LGBT community, Birmingham Described as Worcestershire’s ‘Aspara-tastic Pride is the largest two-day festi- music and food festival’, this two-day family event val of its kind in the UK. features two music stages, family crafts and work- The annual event, which takes shops, falconry displays, numerous vintage vehi- place in the heart of the city’s cles, a cookery kitchen with local and celebrity Gay Village, attracts visitors from chefs, a funfair, and food, real ale and cider stalls. a cross-section of communities. As well as an asparagus-eating competition and Festivities begin with a colourful appearances from the ‘world famous’ aspara- Carnival Parade which sets off mancer, the festival boasts a music line-up that in- from the city’s Victoria Square at cludes The Wurzels, The Moulettes, Blackbeard’s midday on the Saturday, winding Tea Party & Bayou Seco. Katy Ashcroft from CBee- its way to the main festival area bies’ I Can Cook and Junkfish are on hand to keep where a host of attractions await. youngsters entertained. High-profile performers Exam- ple, Jess Glynne, Fuse ODG, Union J, Jimmy Somerville and Heather Small feature on the Pride Main Stage, while numer- ous popular acts from across the UK share the limelight on the Village Cabaret Stage. Pride 2015 also features a com- munity village green, a Women’s Arena, funfair and Dance Arena. Visit www.birminghampride.com for further details.

Bayou Seco www.whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Birmingham Pride 2015 FP MAY_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:14 Page 1

ThE biggest 2 DAy LGBT fESTIVAL IN ThE UK!

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BIRMINGHAM PRIDE FES- THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL ternational Pavillion LICHFIELD FAKE FESTIVAL Festivals Listings TIVAL Line-up includes OF BRITAIN Line-up in- BROMSGROVE FOLK FES- Line-up includes Bon Jess Glynne, Example, cludes Paul Carrack, TIVAL Line-up includes Jovi Experience, Kaz- Fuse ODG & Jimmy Big Country, Show Of Artisan, Colum Sands, abian & Space Cowboy, For full listing information on festivals, Somerville, Sat 23 - Sun Hands & From The Hat Fitz and Cara & An- Sat 15 Aug, Beacon 24 May, Gay Village, Jam, Fri 19 - Sun 21 thony John Clarke, Park, Lichfield including dates and line-up, visit Southside, Birmingham June, Uttoxeter Race- Thurs 9 - Sun 12 July, PERSHORE JAZZ FESTIVAL www.whatsonlive.co.uk OUTBREAK FESTIVAL course, Staffordshire The Bowling Green, Line-up includes Kevin Line-up includes Sven LINTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Bromsgrove Grenfell’s Jazz Giants, gans, Hot Rocks & spe- Vath, Armand Van Line-up includes NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL John Hallam and Remi MAY cial guest tba, Sun 3 Helden, Jamie Jones & Snakechamer, Wilko Jellyheads, The Ses- Jazz, Gypsy Fire, Digby May, The Robin, Bilston Shadow Child, Sat 23 - Johnson, Andy Fair- sion, Abba Chique & Fairweather’s Half FULL ON Line-up in- CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTI- Sun 24 May, Donington weather Low & The Low Vendettas, Fri 10 - Sat Dozen, Fri 21 - Sun 23 cludes Ferry Corston, VAL Line-up includes Park Racing Circuit, Riders & The Hoax, Fri 11 July, Napton on the Aug, Pershore College, Ben Gold, Menno De Caro Emerald, Laura Derby 19 - Sun 21 June, The Hill, Warwickshire Warwickshire Jong & Angry Man, Sat Mvula, Wilko Johnson & DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL Alma Inn, Herefordshire SOUNDS IN THE GROUNDS V FESTIVAL Line-up in- 9 May, Boxxed Ware- Gregory Porter, Wed 29 Line-up includes Saint ALCESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Kaiser cludes Calvin Harris, house, Birmingham Apr - Mon 4 May, Mont- Raymond, Rae Morris, Line-up includes Lynne Chiefs, Professor Kasabian, Stereophon- STOURBRIDGE BLUES pellier Gardens, Chel- Swim Deep & Hudson Heraud, Pat Turner, Green, Ella Eyre, Royal ics & Sam Smith, Sat 22 FESTIVAL Line-up in- tenham Taylor, Sun 24 May, vari- Derek Gifford & Les Philharmonic Concert - Sun 23 Aug, Weston cludes Tom Walker Trio, HANDMADE FESTIVAL ous locations around Sullivan, Fri 19 - Sun 21 Orchestra & Lucy Park, Staffordshire Big Wolf Band, The Line-up includes Bo Nottingham June, Holly-Bush, War- O’Byrne, Fri 10 - Sat 11 PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL Mentulls & Rebecca Ningen, Eagulls, Toy & SLAM DUNK Line-up in- wickshire July, Warwick Castle Line-up includes Downes Band, Sat 16 Slaves, Fri 1 - Sun 3 cludes You Me At Six, 100 ABOVE (LAINFEST) THE MOSTLY JAZZ, FUNK Fenella Humphreys, May, Old Halesonians May, Old Town Quarter, Taking Back Sunday, Line-up includes Lucy & SOUL FESTIVAL Line- Matthew Taylor, Navarra RFC, Stourbridge Leicester Architects & Don Broco, Rose, Bipolar Sunshine, up includes Roy Ayers, Quartet & Nova Music BEARDED THEORY Line- UPTON FOLK FESTIVAL Mon 25 May, various Amber Run & To Kill A Gregory Porter, Craig Opera Thurs 27 Aug - up includes New Model Line-up includes Sun- venues and locations King, Fri 19 - Sun 21 Charles & Hackney Col- Tues 1 Sept, Powys Army, James, Afro Celt jay, Hilary Ward, An- around the city centre, June, Gopsall Hall liery Band, Fri 10 - Sun BEERMAGEDDON Line-up Sound System & The drew McKay and Carole Wolverhampton Farm, Warwickshire 12 July, Moseley Park, includes Rannoch, Mission, Thurs 21 - Sun Edwards & Jim WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL KINETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Birmingham Mpire Of Evil, Tyson 24 May, Catton Hall, Mageean and Graeme Line-up includes UB40, Line-up includes Hot BIRMINGHAM FEST Line- Dog & Heavenwood, Fri Derbyshire Knights, Fri 1 - Mon 4 The Proclaimers, Lady- Tubes, The Folly Broth- up to be announced, Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Stoke HOWTHELIGHTGETSIN May, Upton-upon-Sev- smith Black Mambazo ers, Neighbourhood 17 July - Sun 2 Aug, Prior Country Club, FESTIVAL Line-up in- ern, Worcestershire & Ghostpoet, Fri 29 - Cotch & The Har- various locations Bromsgrove cludes Lianne La TROYFEST Line-up in- Sun 31 May, Chel- vesters, Sat 20 June, throughout Birmingham SHREWSBURY FOLK FES- Havas, Sam & The cludes Mr. Scruff, Gilles tenham Racecourse Kineton Sports and So- L FEST Line-up includes TIVAL Line-up includes Womp, Rae Morris & Peterson, Molotov ASPARAFEST Line-up in- cial Club, Warwickshire Lucy Spraggan, O’Hoo- Richard Thompson, La Luke Sital-Singh, Thurs Jukebox & By The cludes The Wurzels, LICHFIELD BLUES AND ley & Tidow, The Tuts & Bottine Souriante, Kate 21 - Sun 31 May, Hay Rivers, Fri 1 - Sun 3 The Moulettes, Thrill JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up Holloway, Fri 17 - Mon Rusby & Sharon Shan- On Wye, Powys May, Baskerville Hall, Collins & Blackbeard’s includes The Blues 20 July, Uttoxeter Race- non, Fri 28 - Mon 31 STOURBRIDGE FOLK FES- Hay-on-Wye Tea Party, Sat 30 - Sun Band, Jay Phelps Quar- course, Staffordshire Aug, West Midland TIVAL Line-up includes LEAMINGTON MUSIC FES- 31 May, Ashdown Farm, tet, Tommaso Starace SPLENDOUR Line-up in- Showground, Shrews- Lucy Ward, Ranagri, TIVAL WEEKEND Line-up Evesham Quartet & Steve Ajao & cludes The Specials, bury The New Bushberry includes Fitzwilliam Climax Blues Band, James, Jess Glynne & FUSION FESTIVAL Line- Mountain Daredevils & String Quartet, Roder- Wed 24 - Sun 28 June, Lawson, Sat 18 July, up includes Justin Flat Stanley, Wed 20 - ick Williams, Anna JUNE various venues around Wollaton Park, Notting- Bieber, McBusted, Rudi- Sun 24 May, Katy Tilbrook & Ensemble Lichfield hamshire mental & Tinie Tempah, Fitzgerald’s, Stour- 360, Fri 1 May - Tues 5 UPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL Sat 29 - Sun 30 Aug, bridge May, Royal Pump ENGLISH HAYDN FESTIVAL Line-up includes Alan Line-up includes Billy Cofton Park, Birming- CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Rooms, Leamington Line-up includes The Barnes, Old Hat Jazz Bragg, Lil’ Jimmy Reed ham Line-up includes The Spa Sacconi String Quartet, Band, Chris Pearce Band, The Demon Bar- Young’uns, Greg Rus- CLUN GREEN MAN FESTI- The Chistophe Coin Quartet & Gypsy Fire, bers XL & Nancy Kerr, sell & Ciaran Algar, VAL Line-up includes Trio, The Salomon Thurs 25 - Sun 28 June, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, SEPTEMBER John Kirkpatrick & Bar- Whalebone, The String Quartet & The The Riverside, Upton- various venues around luath, Fri 22 - Mon 25 Johnny Cash Tribute, English Haydn Orches- upon-Severn Warwick May, Kelsall Village, Les Amis D’onno & The tra, Wed 3 - Sun 7 June, NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Cheshire Endings, Sat 2 - Mon 4 various locations in Line-up includes The Line-up includes The BREAKING BANDS FESTI- May, various venues Bridgnorth, Shropshire JULY Wu Tang Clan, Martha Monkees, Spiritualized, VAL Line-up includes throughout Clun, South THE GATE TO SOUTHWELL Reeves and The Van- Idlewild & Anna Calvi, Monument, Voodoo Shropshire FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up dellas, Beardyman & Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept, Vegas, Breed 77 & SWINGAMAJIG Line-up includes Billy Bragg, CAMPER JAM Line-up to London Elektricity, Fri Moseley Park, Birming- Death Valley Knights, includes Chinese Man, Clannad, The Urban be announced, Fri 3 - 24 - Sun 26 July, Brom- ham Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Electric Swing Circus, Folk Quartet & Chris Sun 5 July, Weston yard, Hereford WELFEST ON THE Stoke Prior County The Correspondents & Wood, Thurs 4 - Sun 7 Park, Staffordshire MADE BIRMINGHAM Line- MEADOW Line-up in- Club, Bromsgrove Ed Solo, Sun 3 May, June, Southwell, GODIVA FESTIVAL Line- up includes Beardy- cludes The Loose Cov- THE COLOUR FESTIVAL The Custard Factory, Nottinghamshire up includes The Wom- man, Claude ers, The Vooz, Souled Line-up includes DJ Birmingham WIRRAL FOLK FESTIVAL bats, Fun Lovin’ VonStroke, David Rodi- Out 2 Funk & Matt Fresh, Shift K3y, Tough FUDGESTOCK Line-up in- Line-up includes Fair- Criminals, Embrace & gan & Julio Bashmore, Eaves, Sat 5 Sept, Syn- Love & Just Kiddin, Sat cludes AKA Skaface, port Convention, Cara The Beat, Fri 3 - Sun 5 Sat 25 July, The Dig- der Meadow, Warwick- 23 May, The Rainbow Bethan and The Mor- Dillon Band, Richard Di- July, War Memorial beth Triangle, Birming- shire Arena, Birmingham gance & The Houghton Park, Coventry ham ONBOARD THE CRAFT Weavers, Thurs 4 - Sun BLUES AT THE FOLD Line- FESTIVAL Line-up in- 7 June, Whitby Sports up includes Jack Black- cludes The Hawklords, & Social Club, Cheshire man, The King Biscuit AUGUST Son of Man, Dr Has- LUNAR FESTIVAL Line-up Boys, Swampcandy & been & Glow People, includes Tinariwen, Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde Fri 11 - Sat 12 Sept, Wilko Johnson, Public Band, Sat 4 July, The BULLDOG BASH Line-up Stoke Prior Sports & Service Broadcasting & Fold, Worcester includes Permageddon, Country Club, Broms- Sun Ra Arkestra, Fri 5 - LEAMINGTON SPA Easydread, TBone & grove Sun 7 June, Umber- UKULELE FESTIVAL Line- Sky Valley Mistress, SHREWSBURY FIELDS slade Farm Park, War- up includes Lynda Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, FOREVER FESTIVAL Line- wickshire Styne & Red Hot Duo, Shakespeare County up to be announced, Fri VALEFEST Line-up to be Chonkinfeckle, Bitter Raceway, Stratford- 11 - Sun 13 Sept, loca- announced, Sat 6 June, Jug Stompers & upon-Avon tion tbc, Shropshire The Vale, Birmingham Gabriela, Sat 4 July, FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL BROMYARD FOLK FESTI- DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL Newbold Comyn Arms, Line-up includes Dr VAL Line-up includes Line-up includes Muse, Warwickshire Feelgood, Ferocious Breabach, Gerry Colvin Slipknot, Kiss & Faith LLANGOLLEN INTERNA- Dog, 3 Daft Monkeys & Band, John Doyle & No More, Fri 12 - Sun TIONAL MUSICAL Talisman, Fri 14 - Sun Sharon Shannon, Fri 11 14 June, Donington EISTEDDFOD Line-up in- 16 Aug, Gatten Farm, - Sun 13 Sept, Brom- Park Racing Circuit, cludes Rufus Wain- Shropshire yard Derby wright, Alfie Boe, BETLEY CONCERTS Line- WORCESTER MUSIC FES- HOLI ONE FESTIVAL BIRM- UB40’s Ali Campbell, up includes Tom Jones, TIVAL Line-up to be an- INGHAM Line-up to be Astro and Mickey Virtue Total Access Live & Col- nounced, Fri 18 - Sun announced, Sat 13 & Gareth Malone and labro, Fri 14 - Sun 16 20 Sept, various venues June, The Rainbow his Voices choir, Mon 6 Jul, Betley Court Farm, in Worcester Swingamajig - The Custard Factory, Birmingham Venues, Birmingham - Sun 12 July, Royal In- Cheshire

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Martin Parr: Black Country Stories Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 23 May - Sat 22 August Martin Parr’s photographic exhibition is here pre- sented as part of Black Country Stories, a project which invites critically acclaimed photographers, filmmakers and authors to work with local people ‘to tell amazing stories that celebrate everyday life’. Much admired for his close-up and intensely colourful work, Martin embraced the challenge of documenting Black Country life back in 2010, ini- tially focusing on the borough of Sandwell before moving on to examine Walsall, Wolverhampton and Dudley. The project has seen him visit facto- ries, foundries, pubs, working men’s clubs, shops, markets, temples, mosques and churches. He’s also documented St George’s Day celebrations, Royal Wedding street parties, horticultural shows and dog training class- es. “The one thing that binds all these photo- graphs together is humour,” says Martin, “the diversity and the single-minded quality of the Black Country folk. British Glass Biennale 2015 This is a celebration of The Glasshouse Arts Centre at Ruskin Glass Centre, Thurs 28 May - Sun 28 June their community.” This is the UK’s major selling exhibition of contemporary glass. Showcasing in excess of one hundred pieces, the Biennale offers a rare opportunity to see a huge variety of work in a selling exhibition - from finely crafted vessels to bold sculptural works and installa- To Check The Tide Of Prejudice tions. Coalbrookdale Gallery, Ironbridge, Shropshire, The exhibition has formed part of all six International Festival of Glass events, its remit until Thurs 10 September being to show ‘the pulse of recent achievement in contemporary British glass, and to Featuring lithographs, original sketches and wash display this wide range of creativity’. Since the inaugural 2004 exhibition, almost five hun- drawings, this fascinating exhibition explores how dred glass works have been showcased by the Biennale to thousands of festival visitors. John Cooke Bourne’s art presented the railway in a picturesque fashion for the very first time. Bourne’s idyllic images had a strong political undertone to them. As with the construction of HS2 today, the building of the railway back in the 1830s was a highly controversial issue. A signifi- cant body of land owners, farmers and social commentators were extremely concerned about the level of impact it would have on the English countryside. Bourne’s works were widely used to address criti- cism of the construction of the London & Birmingham Railway. The items on show have been drawn from the col- lections of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the National Railway Museum.

The Liberated Quilt Bilston Craft Gallery, Sat 16 May - Sat 25 July Work by twenty-four of the world’s top textile artists is featured in this vibrant new exhibi- tion. Strong narratives, bold visions and raw emotional responses are key features of the works on show. The artists have used the exhibition to expand the boundaries of textile art and challenge preconceived ideas of what a quilt can be. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 51 Visual Arts Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 22:01 Page 2

Trent Wolverhampton, until VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS OPEN ART AND CRAFT Sat 2 Apr, 2016 EXHIBITION Open to all SIAN MACFARLANE: WE For full listing information on Visual Art artists, makers & pho- ARE ILLUMINATED Siân tographers who live, presents a multi-lay- Further exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, work or study in ered film which inter- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Staffordshire, until Sun weaves past and pres- 31 May, Newcastle ent and explores the STONES Borough Museum, synchronicities of Mental Spaces THE POETIC IMPOSSIBILI- & BONES EXHIBITION Staffordshire leisure pastimes TY TO MANAGE THE INFI- Discover more about Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, THE CURRENT SITUATION throughout the ages, NITE Exhibition which the early history of the Fri 1 May - Sun 26 July, until Sat 2 April 2016 Midlands and how that A selection of five art- documents our quest works by artist Yara El- New Art Gallery, Walsall Graffiti artist Steve ‘Graffolarge’ Edwards and to penetrate the astro- history was uncovered, recorded and told by Sherbini which, FROM ‘RED’ ELLEN TO graphic artist Rachel Emery are among the physical reality of the although diverse, fea- OSWALD MOSLEY universe in order to bet- prominent local geolo- creatives displaying work in this rolling exhi- gists and scientists, ture a common theme, Portraits of inter-war ter understand time, until Sat 27 Jun, politicians by Edmund bition, located in the venue’s Lock Works space & matter, until until Sun 17 May, Café Bar. Library of Birmingham Wolverhampton Art Knapp, Fri 1 May - Sun Sat 2 May, Gallery 6 Sept, The Barber An ongoing project, Mental Spaces features Wolverhampton Art NEW ART WEST MID- THE JEWELLERY QUAR- Institute, Birmingham work produced by local artists who’re affiliat- Gallery LANDS Showcase of work by thirty of the TER DURING THE FIRST TREVOR APPLESON: ed to The Asylum Art Gallery. The gallery is DISRUPTED Curated by WORLD WAR Exhibition BIRMINGHAM Exhibition Noemi Lakmaier, this region’s best emerging located in the Chapel Ash district of artists, until Sun 17 of artefacts, images exploring self-represen- Wolverhampton, a creative quarter of the city exhibition invites visi- and oral histories relat- tation as a counterpoint tors to encounter the May, The Barber which is home to a number of art-related Institute, Birmingham & ing to the recruitment to the conventions of ‘other’ - that which is of soldiers from the the traditional photo- businesses and numerous creative industries different and unfamiliar, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Jewellery Quarter, until graphic portrait, Sat 2 and professionals. until Sun 3 May, mac, Sat 27 June, The May - Sun 5 July, mac - Birmingham INDEFINABLE CITIES Jewellery Quarter, Midlands Arts Centre, FOUND Bringing togeth- Group exhibition pre- Birmingham Birmingham er seven contemporary senting works by six UK & Japanese artists, FACE TO FACE Portrait GRAHAM LEONARD KING artists who work with exhibition where visitors RBSA Featuring a selec- found images, until Sun curated by Amanda Francis (UK) & Koh can come face to face tion of small & large 3 May, New Art Gallery, with artists, academics, atmospheric land- Walsall Yoshida (Japan), until Sat 23 May, AirSpace everyday folk - and scapes using acrylics ROBERT GROVES: GOLDEN Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent even a countess, until on wooden panel and YEARS Constellation of Sat 27 June, Dudley paper, Mon 4 May - Sat small golden paintings ASCENTIS PROGRAMME Museum & Art Gallery 27 June, RBSA Gallery, LIFE SKILLS E1 (c.1965) which reflect TOVE JANSSON: TALES Birmingham the artist’s strong inter- Exhibition of the work completed by Entry FROM THE NORDIC ANNA LORENZ NWA est in Middle Eastern & ARCHIPELAGO Sculptural and wall- South Asian culture, One students at the City of Wolverhampton Presenting originally based explorations until Mon 4 May, Ikon unseen photographs & developed from the Gallery, Birmingham College, until Sat 23 May, Bilston Craft materials relating to the Next Wave exhibition, ENJOY ART EXHIBITION Gallery life & work of Moomins held at the RBSA Showcasing works creator Tove Jansson, Gallery in May 2014 to from some of the SPRING OPEN Featuring until Sat 27 June, support emerging region’s finest talents, a wide range of subject Wednesbury Museum artists, Mon 4 May - Sat until Mon 4 May, matter & media, until & Art Gallery 4 July, RBSA Gallery, Sat 23 May, Willow Shugborough Estate, POP IN SPACE: WE Birmingham Staffordshire Gallery, Oswestry, Shropshire CHOOSE TO GO TO THE LOUIS WAIN A touring JOHN RATTIGAN - PEOPLE MOON Exploring artists’ exhibition from Bethlem PRIZE WINNER 2014 GODS AND HEROES responses to the Space Hospital featuring the Staffordshire Open Art Exhibition showcasing Seeking to uncover the Race during the Cold works of Louis Wain - examples of circular methods and motives War, until Sat 18 July, an English artist best Exhibition artwork together with behind the representa- Wolverhampton Art known for his drawings Shire Hall Gallery, Staffs, paintings that explore tion of the superhuman Gallery of cats and kittens, Fri and supernatural in art. Sat 16 May - Sun 5 July formats such as unusu- LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY 8 May - Mon 15 June, ally tall, thin or elongat- Subjects drawn from Qube Gallery, A significant event in the Shire Hall gallery’s both ancient mythology WARHOL AND WILLIAM ed canvases, until Mon MORRIS Exhibition Oswestry, North calendar, the Staffordshire Open Art exhibi- 4 May, Newcastle and the Judo-Christian Shropshire tradition feature, until bringing together signif- tion provides an opportunity for the region’s Borough Museum & Art icant and iconic works CUTTING EDGE: Gallery, Staffs Mon 25 May, The newly emerging artists to display their work - Barber Institute, by both artists, includ- HUNGARIAN CONTEMPO- often for the very first time. The exhibition is ARTISTS FOR IKON Birmingham ing some rarely seen RARY GLASS open to any artist who lives, works, studies Featuring works from pieces, until Sun 6 Showcasing the work some of the most HI STYLE JEWELLERY & or was born in the county, and features paint- Sept, Birmingham of seventeen studio important contempo- BODY ADORNMENT An Museum & Art Gallery artists from Hungary, ings, drawings, prints, photography, film, ani- rary artists, all of whom exciting new style of Sat 9 - Sun 31 May, exhibition featuring the BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE mation and sculpture. have previously exhibit- AND CHANGE IN THE Broadfield House Glass Most of the work is for sale. According to ed at the gallery, until highly sought-after Museum, Dudley work of invited INNER-CITY Display organisers, the exhibition usually features Mon 4 May, Ikon exploring the way in FROM ART TO STITCH Gallery, Birmingham Shropshire jewellery & something to suit ‘all tastes and pockets’. accessory designer which ordinary Featuring textile work MADE AT MAC: TEXTILES makers, until Sat 30 Birmingham people from the Breakway Featuring work from May, VAN Gallery, have been represented Textile Artists Group, mac’s From Paper To Market Hall, in art during the twenti- with each piece Fabric course, until Sun Shrewsbury eth & twenty-first cen- inspired by well-known Indefinable Cities 10 May, mac, turies, until Thurs 31 artists, including Andy HELEN GARRETT: THE Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham Dec, Birmingham Warhol, David Hockney SECRET JOY Exhibition until Sat 16 May Museum & Art Gallery & Rennie Mackintosh, ON THE RIGHT TRACKS featuring a collection of Exhibition exploring INHERITING ROME Sat 9 May - Sun 28 AirSpace Gallery has teamed up with paintings inspired by June, Newcastle Wolverhampton’s the Shropshire land- Exhibition which uses Japanese organisation Tsukiyo To Syonen to involvement in the money to explore and Borough Museum, scape, until Sat 30 May, Staffs realise this ambitious project. The exhibition growth of the railways, Twenty Twenty Gallery, question our deep-seat- takes a look at the ways in which artists are until Sun 10 May, Much Wenlock, South ed familiarity with the WISH YOU WERE HERE? responding to and documenting cities in flux, Bantock House Shropshire Roman Empire’s Selected from Jeremy Museum, and how they’re impacting on their environ- imagery, until Sun 24 Cooper's major artists' Wolverhampton AHEAD OF THE CURVE: Jan 2016, The Barber postcards collection, ments and the regeneration of those cities. NEW CHINA FROM CHINA Institute, Birmingham Wish You Were Here? RPS INTERNATIONAL Unique exhibition “The project provides an opportunity to form PRINT 157 Featuring one MENTAL SPACES presents works by a dialogue around this area of practice,” showcasing contempo- some of today's most hundred images select- rary ceramics & glass Ongoing project con- explains AirSpace Gallery. “In so doing, it ed by a panel of profes- taining work produced famous artists, Sat 9 from emerging and May - Sun 28 June, creates a space for international conversa- sionals, until Sun 10 established Chinese by local artists affiliated May, Shire Hall Gallery, with The Asylum Art mac - Midlands Arts tions around the role that artists may have in artists, until Sun 31 Centre, Birmingham Stafford May, Potteries Museum Gallery, Light House contributing to the development of healthy, Media Centre, NAUTICAL CRAFT EXHIBI- happy cities.” & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-

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TION Works by contem- materials, Mon 18 May STUDENT EXHIBITION porary designer/makers - Sun 12 July, Works in glass, wood, created in response to Shrewsbury Museum & textiles, metal & more the sea and coast, Mon Art Gallery by the students of 11 May - Sat 12 Sept, MARTIN PARR: BLACK Glasshouse College, RBSA Gallery, COUNTRY STORIES Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May, Birmingham Photographic portrait & Ruskin Glass Centre, JACQUES NIMKI: archive about life in the Stourbridge SEEN/UNSEEN A new Black Country, Sat 23 NEW BEGINNINGS A look permanent installation May - Sat 22 Aug, back at the life of “To featuring more than Wolverhampton Art leave is to enter” the three hundred barely Gallery glass mirrored gates, visible works referenc- WILLIAM SMITH, FATHER created by artist Robyn ing plant drawings, OF GEOLOGY Exploring Smith for the British Wed 13 May - Sun 12 the first scientific map Glass Biennale 2012, July, Ikon Gallery, of the British Isles, Sat Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May, Birmingham 23 May - Sat 19 Sept, St John’s Church, GEORGIAN ENAMELS: A Dudley Museum & Art Stourbridge NEW NARRATIVE Gallery 21ST CENTURY Featuring imagined sto- ANIMAL ALPHABET Have ENGRAVED GLASS A ries and new enamels, fun working your way selected exhibition of created by local crafts- through the alphabet work by members of man John Grayson, with animals from the the Guild of Glass Thurs 14 May - Sun 9 museum’s collections Engravers, Thurs 28 - Aug, Bantock House in this family-friendly Sun 31 May, Red Museum, show, Sat 23 May - Sun House Glass Cone, Wolverhampton 27 Sept, Potteries Stourbridge STAFFORDSHIRE OPEN Museum & Art Gallery, GRAVUR ON TOUR: MOD- ART Sat 16 May - Sun 5 Staffs ERN EUROPEAN GLASS July, Shire Hall Gallery, A TRIO OF ARTISTS ENGRAVING Small tour- Stafford Exhibition featuring the ing exhibition of thirty- THE LIBERATED QUILT: work of Anne Hackett, one pieces of engraved NEW WORK FROM Chris Tarplee & Claire art by thirty-one EU THROUGH OUR HANDS Sherwin, Sun 24 May - artists, Thurs 28 - Sun Showcase for twenty- Mon 3 Aug, Red House 31 May, Red House three international Glass Cone, Glass Cone, artists working with Stourbridge Stourbridge mainly stitched textile BRUNTNELL ASTLEY CON- SHADOWS & DUST An techniques, Sat 16 May TEMPORARY GLASS EXHI- audiovisual installation - Sat 25 July, BITION Featuring some exploring ‘spirit of Wolverhampton Art of the finest names in place’ of dormant Gallery contemporary glass art, buildings, Thurs 28 - JOHNNY WHITE’S BEAST- Mon 25 - Sun 31 May, Sun 31 May, Red LY MACHINES Display of Wordsley Methodist House Glass Cone, quirky artworks cleverly Church, Kingswinford Stourbridge sculpted from recycled GLASSHOUSE COLLEGE

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International Festival Of Glass Stourbridge Glass Quarter, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May The Stourbridge Glass Quarter sees the return of the International glass painting. Festival of Glass this month, complete with a range of attractions for Visitors with a penchant for history, meanwhile, can take guided her- artists, glass enthusiasts and visitors to enjoy. itage walks along the Stourbridge canals to the churches frequented The festival offers a diverse and jam-packed programme featuring by glass-making dynasties, visiting the graves of famous glassmak- have-a-go sessions, family activities, evening events and live demon- ers along the way. strations. The Glass Festival offers plenty to keep youngsters happily engaged Exhibitions include the British Glass Biennale, the UK’s top contem- as well, including art & craft activities, puppetry workshops, donkey porary glass showcase, and a wall of one hundred-and-fifty glass rides, falconry displays and storytelling sessions. postcards created by members of the Contemporary Glass Society. Retail stores, street entertainment and a range of refreshments offer Prior to the four-day festival, renowned glass artists Dante Marioni further opportunities for visitors to enjoy themselves. and Penny Rakov are holding a series of glassmaking masterclasses. In short, the festival’s well worth a visit, whether glass is your thing or Glass artists wishing to improve their technique can attend lessons in not. glass blowing, furnace building, beadmaking, hot glass casting and For more information, visit www.ifg.org.uk/glass-festival

Open Cockpits Evening Red By Night Royal Airforce Museum, Cosford, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Nr Wolverhampton, Fri 15 - Sat 16 May Sat 16 May To celebrate the industrial might of the Visitors are here given the rare opportunity to region in the 1800s, the Black Country take a glimpse inside the cockpits of a range Living Museum is here hosting an of spectacular aircraft, including jet fighters immersive, living-history event, recreat- and research airframes. The exclusive evening ing the distinctive ‘red glow’ that was so offers enthusiasts the chance to get a feel for often described by visitors to the area. what it would be like to actually fly the aircraft. The event offers a chance to walk It also provides them with after-hours access around smoky, noisy, Victorian streets to the Royal Airforce Museum. and witness a full-scale replica of the world’s first steam engine in action. Live demonstrations from costumed craftsmen make sparks fly as they use century-old techniques to forge chains, nails and brass. The period houses and shops, meanwhile, depict how Black Country folk lived in the murky condi- tions, while street theatre is used to illus- trate the scale and intensity of the Industrial Revolution. To book tickets, visit www.bclm.co.uk

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Events PREVIEWS Main Event Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sat 23 May A landmark ‘happening’ on the UK combat sports calendar, the Main Event includes an International Kickboxing Federation World Title challenge, plus the UK’s top fighters pit- ting their skills against the best Thailand and Europe have to offer. An evening of explo- sive, quality entertainment for combat sports enthusiasts. For more information visit: www.themainevent.media

Celebrate Queen Victoria’s Birthday at Blists Hill Ludlow Spring Festival Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Sat 23 May - Sun 31 May Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire, Get your flags out as Blists Hill Victorian Town celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday. Fri 8 - Sun 10 May Traditional Victorian occasion-wear, parties, parades and patriotic concerts on the village This annual festival ably illustrates why green all feature - as do the Sundial Theatre Company, performing alongside the Darby Ludlow is one of the country’s most rep- Singers and the Bridgnorth Male Choir throughout the weekend. utable foodie towns. The three-day event fea- Other Blists Hill events in May include a Spring Wedding, Blists Hill In Steam, Sound & Light tures more than one hundred-and-ninety Night, Dementia-Friendly Day and numerous arts & crafts workshops.. beers (from more than fifty local brewers) and an array of food stalls. Delectable delights on offer range from artisan flours to Shropshire County Show Family Fun Weekend charcuterie, award-winning cakes, gourmet West Mid Show Ground, Shrewsbury, Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth, sausage rolls and local cheeses. Sat 23 May Sat 9 - Sun 10 May A hugely popular element of the festival is its talks and demonstrations. This year’s pro- Attracting thousands of visitors each year, This is surely every toddler’s idea of a great gramme features Karl Martin from Old the Shropshire County Show is a true cele- weekend - taking a ride on a steam train and Downton Lodge, a Shropshire hotel that bration of a rural community. meeting Peppa Pig! boasts two AA Rosettes and five gold stars. The popular event features lots of livestock The Severn Valley Railway is hosting a week- Rob Swift, whose family have been baking and produce from local businesses, as well end of fun for all the family, with different for over one hundred-and-fifty years, also as an agricultural trade area. activities at each stop. contributes to proceedings, as does TV chef The show has a definite family feel to it, with Boarding the steam train at Bridgnorth or and local cookery school owner Marcus the Kid Zone offering a wide range of activi- Kidderminster, families can stop off at vari- Bean. For younger visitors, the festival offers ties. ous points along the line to enjoy a disco, hands-on cookery classes. The edible food area, meanwhile, specialises inflatable and railway-themed play areas, a The Marches Transport Festival and a wealth in Shropshire foods only and is a real treat magic show, face painting fun, a bouncy of musical entertainment - from jazz and for budding foodies. castle, numerous arts & crafts and, of blues to latin and folk - completes the week- course, a meeting with Peppa and Daddy end’s programme of attractions. Pig. Aerial Extreme Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent Set in the beautiful grounds of Trentham Estate, Aerial Extreme offers the chance to fuel that inner adrenaline junkie. Varying in height from three to fourteen metres, the course is ideal for families and leads partici- pants through a series of ever more enjoy- able challenges. Rest assured an instructor is always on hand in case the nerves get a little too frayed. Marcus Bean A new and optional one hundred-and-eigh- teen-metre zip wire provides the perfect way to end the course. Spitfire 70th Birthday Heritage Weekend The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Cadbury World, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 9 May Sat 16 - Sun 17 May This day of family fun, presented in the form Comprising three guided walks around the of a VE-style street party, celebrates the Mark village, the Cadbury World Heritage XVI Spitfire’s seventieth birthday. Visitors can Weekend provides visitors with an opportuni- make their own ty to appreciate the original vision of George bunting and find and Richard Cadbury - and to learn about out what life was the way in which their revolutionary journey like on the Home changed the lives of the people of Front in 1945. Birmingham...

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Events PREVIEWS Shrewsbury Bookfest Various locations around Shrewsbury Sat 2 May - Sun 3 May The Shrewsbury Bookfest’s aim is to provide inspiration and encouragement for Shropshire children by bringing books to life in a series of fun-filled events and storytelling sessions. Working closely with local primary schools and arts venues, the festival offers free and ticketed events for all age groups across its two days. Highlights include CBeebies favourite Cerrie Burnell presenting storytime and craft activi- ties, Dr Suess appearing in the Square, and a chance to learn how to construct the best builds from the writers of The Minecraft Construction Handbook. For more information on events or how to book tickets, visit shrewsburybookfest.co.uk

Museums At Night Various museums across the Midlands, Wed 13 - Sat 16 May This biannual event sees museums all over the UK throwing open their doors after hours, allowing visitors to explore the country’s rich and diverse culture in a different light (see what we’ve done there!). The evening events also provide the opportunity for real enthusi- asts to indulge their particular interest in an atmosphere that’s calm and relaxing - not always possible during normal opening hours. A total of twenty-one museums across the West Midlands are taking part in the event. Puppet Workshops Featured attractions include Murder Mystery nights, wartime music and entertainment, film Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 23 May screenings in spooky surroundings, and light painting on a boat underground. The Fetch Theatre Company here present an For more information or to run an event, visit .museumsatnight.org.uk interactive workshop using their Bunraku puppets, which are based on characters ROLLICKING ROMANS Fri Enginuity, Ironbridge, from the city of Lahore. Museums At Night listings 15 May, Museum of Shropshire Cannock Chase, PAINTING WITH LIGHT The workshops provide visitors with the MIXED PROGRAMME Borough Museum and Cannock Sat 16 May, Dudley chance to test their skills as puppeteers. Wed 13 - Sat 16 May, Art Gallery, Newcastle- OPEN COCKPITS Fri 15 - Canal Trust, Dudley Indian tea and sweets will be available to The Pen Museum, under-Lyne Sat 16 May, Royal Air QUEER TRACES: enjoy from the Pakistani tea cart. Birmingham BLUE AND WHITE AT Force Museum, REALNESS Sat 16 May, NIGHT WITH THE NETTE- NIGHT Fri 15 May, The event is suitable for children aged seven Cosford, Nr Minerva Works, FOLDS Thurs 14 May, Middleport Pottery, Birmingham and over and is part of the Alchemy Festival, Wolverhampton Winterbourne House Stoke on Trent GAME OVER Sat 16 RED BY NIGHT Sat 16 more info at: alchemy.bctouring.co.uk and Garden, CANDLELIT TOURS Fri May, Coffin Works, May, Black Country Birmingham 15 May, Erasmus Birmingham Living Museum, A STICH IN TIME Fri 15 Darwin House, SPEED AND LIGHT AT Dudley May, Newcastle Lichfield NIGHT Sat 16 May,

walking, Fri 1 - Sun 10 tor Deb Klemperer, Sat May, Ironbridge, 2 May, The Potteries Events LISTINGS Shropshire Museum & Art Gallery, BISHOPS CASTLE WALK- Stoke-on-Trent For full listing information on Events, ING FESTIVAL A mix of BOMBS, BULLETS & BAY- including times and dates, visit short and medium ONETS A presentation walks, some more chal- on the weapons of www.whatsonlive.co.uk lenging than others, Fri trench warfare, using 1 - Mon 25 May, real, deactivated Goddess of Flowers, from Bishops Castle, weapons and ammuni- Fri 1 - Mon 4 May, Shropshire tion, Sat 2 May, The Wightwick Manor and FRI 1 MAY SCIENCE OF SOUND until Potteries Museum & Art Shrewsbury Regatta Gardens, Nr Fri 5 Jun, Symphony Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Pengwern Boat Club, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton AN HOUR OF EDWARDIAN Hall, Birmingham SOUNDS OF NOW Create Sat 9 - Sun 10 May TREASURE! THE MUSIC HALL A nostalgic CAR RALLIES AT sound bites from the DISCOVERY OF THE This much-loved annual event offers a free journey back in time for COSFORD until Thurs 31 local area with artist STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD day out for the family (weather permitting!) an hour of music hall, Dec, RAF Cosford, Nr Polly Brannan, Sat 2 An interactive touring Fri 1 May, Dudley Wolverhampton May, The Potteries and sees rowing enthusiasts lining the banks exhibition which tells Canal and Limestone BEHIND THE SCENES Museum & Art Gallery, of the River Severn to cheer on the crews. the fascinating story of Mines TOURS Go behind the Stoke-on-Trent how the Staffordshire Organised by the Pengwern Boat Club, races LOVE RHINOS WEEK Join scenes with the spe- NORMAN INVASION A Hoard was found and begin every two minutes, with Saturday’s in the fundraising to cialist curators of the Norman re-enactment saved for the nation, event taking place over one thousand metres help save rhinos from ceramic and natural takes over the castle until Sun 10 May, extinction, until Sun 3 history collections, Sat with a campsite featur- and Sunday’s over six hundred metres. Shrewsbury Museum & May, West Midland 2 May, The Potteries ing over two hundred The boat club is hosting a Friday night curry Art Gallery Safari and Leisure Park, Museum & Art Gallery, re-enactors, Sat 2 - and a Saturday night food and music event, IRONBRIDGE GORGE Bewdley Stoke-on-Trent Mon 4 May, Whittington WALKING FESTIVAL as well as providing free camping and park- FLORALIA FESTIVAL STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD Castle, North Celebrating its tenth ing. For more information or to find out how Celebrate Spring with TOUR Explore the mys- Shropshire anniversary year, offer- Flora, the Roman terious Staffordshire CREATING REBECCA to take part, visit pengwernbc.co.uk ing ten days of free Hoard with expert cura- Kneehigh Theatre www.whatsonlive.co.uk 59 Events May Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:32 Page 7

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other activities, Society, Thurs 7 - Sun May, Blists Hill, your child, Tues 12 May LISTINGS Sun 3 - Mon 4 May, 10 May, Stafford Ironbridge, Shropshire Bilston Craft Gallery Events Harvington Hall, Bingley Hall SOOTY'S FUN HOUSE LADIES CHARITY LUNCH Kidderminster DORNIER BOMBER, THE Direct from CITV, Sooty A lunchtime event to For full listing information on Events, BRITISH FALCONRY AND INSIDE STORY Free talk returns to Cadbury raise funds to refurbish including times and dates, visit COUNTRY FAIR Sun 3 - on the recovery of the World with a fabulous the glasshouse and Mon 4 May, Chetwynd world’s only surviving new show to delight the add new attractions, www.whatsonlive.co.uk Park, Newport, Dornier from the whole family, Wed 13 May, Shropshire seabed, Fri 8 May, The Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Birmingham Botanical Company discuss their Shropshire Pottery Museum & Art Cadbury World, Gardens creative process and DECORATE THE MAYPOLE Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham MINI FEST A charity the making of Rebecca, Help decorate the sev- Week Commencing SPITFIRE 70TH BIRTHDAY 1940S WEEKEND A event with live music, Sat 2 May, The REP, enteenth century may- MON 4 MAY PARTY Enjoy a VE Day themed event featuring raffles and more, Wed Birmingham pole, Sat 2 - Mon 4 street party, discover music, a wedding shop, 13 May, Coffin Works, EVENING SCENIC May, Moseley Old Hall, PIG WASH DAY Join in facts about rationing American army Jewellery Quarter, SPECIALS A scenic Wolverhampton the May Day fun as the and the Home Front in encampment and Birmingham evening ride with the GAME ON!: ATTINGHAM'S rare breed pigs get 1945, Sat 9 May, The wartime military vehi- CRAFTPLAY LITTLE added option of tradi- BIG SPORTS WEEKEND scrubbed up and pam- Potteries Museum & Art cles, Sat 9 - Sun 10 EXPLORERS Explore tional fish and chip Local sports teams and pered, Mon 4 May, Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent May, Castle Bromwich your senses in the supper, Sat 2 May, clubs will be on hand to Shugborough Historic SILK A presentation on Hall Gardens, weekly Little Explorer Severn Valley Railway, give you a taster of Working Estate silk from cocoon to Birmingham sessions for young chil- Bewdley their favourite sports. MAY BANK HOLIDAY FUN couture, Sat 9 May, SHREWSBURY REGATTA dren and babies, Wed CANCER RESEARCH UK - From croquet to volley- Kids’ crafts, quizzes, Potteries Museum & Art Organised by 13 May, Bilston Craft PRETTY MUDDY 10K & 5K ball, there's something trails and games, Mon Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Pengwern Boat Club, Gallery RUN A muddy obstacle for all the family, Sat 2 - 4 May, Oak House LOCAL HISTORY FILMS great racing, great food JEREMY DELLER IN course where women Mon 4 May, Attingham Museum, West Local film clips, includ- and great atmosphere, CONVERSATION Artist of any ability can Park, Shrewsbury Bromwich ing pottery production Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Jeremy Deller in con- ‘climb, jog and walk all PIRATE WEEKEND Pirates CELEBRATING VE DAY and mining, Sat 9 May, Pengwern Boat Club, versation about the over cancer’, Sat 2 May invade Cadbury World Join in the commemo- Gladstone Pottery Shrewsbury Love Is Enough exhibi- Weston Park, for a weekend of rations of the seventieth Museum, Stoke-on- FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: tion, Thurs 14 May, Staffordshire swashbuckling fun, Sat anniversary of VE day, Trent PEPPA PIG AND DADDY Birmingham Museum INFLATABLES WEEKEND 2 - Mon 4 May, Mon 4 May, Haden Hill EVENING SCENIC PIG Steam train rides, And Art Gallery (WITH RODEO BULL UK) Cadbury World, House Museum, SPECIALS A scenic family fun attractions ARTIST-LED TOUR: NEW Brand new event - a Birmingham Cradley Heath evening ride with the and the chance to meet ART WEST MIDLANDS variety of inflatables NEWCOMEN IN STEAM MAY BANK HOLIDAY FAM- added option of tradi- Peppa Pig and Daddy Join artists Reece ranging from bucking The only full-sized ILY CRAFT DAY Learn to tional fish and chip Pig, Sat 9 - Sun 10 Kennedy and Lisa bulls to bouncy castles working replica of the make paper flowers to supper, Sat 9 May, May, Severn Valley Marie Williams for a dis- and bungee runs to world's first steam take home, Mon 4 May, Severn Valley Railway, Railway, Bewdley cussion about their slides, Sat 2 & Sun 3 engine, seen in action. Wightwick Manor and Bedley VILLAGE LACEMAKERS work, Fri 15 May, May, Hoo Farm Animal Due to the unpre- Gardens, STOKE-ON-TRENT Discover the skilled Birmingham Museum Kingdom, Telford, dictable nature of the Wolverhampton MILITARY TATTOO In Aid craft of lacemaking, And Art Gallery Shropshire Newcomen, please DISCOVERY DAY: THE of ABF The Soldiers Sun 10 May, Moseley REAL ALE FESTIVAL The YOUNG ARTISTS Learn check running details BATTLE OF GALLIPOLI Charity in Staffordshire, Old Hall, first real ale festival to new drawing, painting with the museum prior Uniform and weapon an evening of entertain- Wolverhampton be held at Highbury and sculpture skills, Sat to travelling, to avoid handling, and lots of ment featuring The BRITISH MINI DAY The Hall, featuring ales from 2 May, Wolverhampton disappointment, interactive activities, Military Wives Choir, largest mini show in the local breweries from Art Gallery Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Mon 4 May, The Sat 9 May, King's Hall, Midlands, Sun 10 May, around the West GALLERY TOUR Find out Black Country Living Staffordshire Regiment Stoke-on-Trent Himley Hall and Park, Midlands. With live more about the gallery Museum, Dudley Museum BLACKSMITH EXPERIENCE Dudley music and ploughman's and its collections, Sat CLUN GREEN MAN MAY DAY AT THE DAY A taster session SHEPHERD & WILLIAMS platters, Fri 15 May, 2 May, Wolverhampton FESTIVAL A traditional MUSEUM providing an introduc- ANTIQUES & COLLECTORS Highbury Hall, Art Gallery Springtime festival with Take part in the May tion to the forge, the FAIR Find something Birmingham CRAFTPLAY SATURDAYS music, drama and Day celebration, with basic tools, and how to perfect to complement OPEN COCKPITS EVENING Create, make and play medieval malarkey, Sat Maypole dancers use them, Sat 9 May, your home, wardrobe This annual event for ages nought to 2 - Mon 4 May, High demonstrating an age- Black Country Living or collection, Sun 10 allows visitors the seven, Sat 2 May, Street, Craven Arms, old tradition, in Folkes's Museum, Dudley May, Wolverhampton chance to get up close Bilston Craft Gallery South Shropshire Park, Mon 4 May, Black GETTING TO GRIPS WITH Racecourse and personal to the ROLLING MILL SPRING PLANT FAIR A Country Living YOUR DIGITAL SINGLE- ANNIVERSARY OF HADEN workings of a wide DEMONSTRATION must-attend event for Museum, Dudley LENS REFLEX CAMERA HILL HOUSE Celebrating range of the museum’s Originally used to both plantaholics and BIT OF A DO Family fun (DSLR) Join Karl twenty-five years since aircraft, Fri 15 - Sat 16 amend and resize iron novices alike, with day organised by the Bungey to learn how to the house first opened May, RAF Cosford, Nr bars, the Rolling Mill is experts on hand to offer Friends of Bantock get the best out of your to the public, Sun 10 Wolverhampton a typical Black Country advice and tips on House Museum, with DSLR, Sat 9 May, May, Haden Hill House THE BABY SHOW Fri 15 - hand rolling mill from selecting the right types Punch & Judy, don- Shropshire Hills Museum, West Sun 17 May, NEC, around the 1900s, Sat of plants for the time of keys, music, stalls and Discovery Centre, Bromwich Birmingham 2 May, Black Country year, Sun 3 - Mon 4 activities, Mon 4 May, Shropshire HANDICRAFT WEEKEND Living Museum, Dudley May, Weston Park, Bantock House & Park, YOUNG ARTISTS Learn Featuring demonstra- ONESIE WALK Back by Staffordshire Week Commencing Nr Wolverhampton new drawing, painting tions by local craft popular demand, pack STRATFORD FESTIVAL OF STORYTELLING Fun for and sculpture skills, Sat MON 11 MAY groups, including the your onesie and walk MOTORING 2015 the kids with imagina- 9 May, Wolverhampton Wrekin branch of the around the grounds to Featuring over three tive storytelling ses- Art Gallery TILE DECORATING Embroiderers' Guild, raise money for charity, hundred classic cars, sions, Mon 4 May, SPRING BANQUET A WORKSHOP Drop-in tile Shrewsbury Sat 2 May, Dudley Sun 3 & Mon 4 May, Tamworth Castle comedic look at the life decorating workshop. Lacemakers and, new Zoological Gardens Stratford Town Centre MEDIEVAL THEMED RE- of a shepherd. Four- Try the tube lining tech- this year, a wood turner, AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RE- GLADIATORS! See ENACTMENT Knights, course menu, and nique to produce your Fri 15 - Mon 18 May, ENACTMENT The Anglo- ancient Viroconium armour, chivalry and canapés on arrival. own ceramic master- Sunnycroft, Wellington, Boer War Staffords re- come back to life as military strategy, Mon 4 Booking essential, piece. Activities vary Shropshire enactment group take courageous Gladiators - Tues 5 May, Red Sat 9 May, Fordhall from day-to-day. Tiles MUSEUMS AT NIGHT Help camp at the house, Sat show you what enter- House Glass Cone, Organic Farm, Nr cost from £5 each and design a spectacular 2 - Sun 3 May, The tained an empire, Sun Stourbridge Market Drayton, North can be fired and sent to image of the Iron Manor House Museum, 3 - Mon 4 May, TILE DECORATING Shropshire you for a small extra Bridge using person- West Bromwich Wroxeter Roman City, WORKSHOP Drop-in tile LUDLOW SPRING charge to cover p&p, alised coloured acrylic SHREWSBURY Nr Shrewsbury decorating workshop. FESTIVAL Featuring two Tues 12 May, Jackfield tiles. Then see the CHILDREN’S BOOKFEST A CHILLI FESTIVAL A Try the tube lining tech- hundred real ales, sixty Tile Museum, image illuminated with whole weekend of unique event celebrat- nique to produce your passionate local food Ironbridge, Shropshire a special light show, treats and stories, Sat 2 ing the different own ceramic master- and drink producers, DRAGONFLY COURSE - ON Sat 16 May, Enginuity - Sun 3 May, Various flavours of all things piece. Activities vary toe-tapping live music, THE WING IN SPRING Museum, Ironbridge, locations around chilli... Cookery theatre, from day-to-day, tiles and over one hundred- This first session will Shropshire Shrewsbury life music, entertain- cost from £5 each and and-eighty classic cars, focus on those species DAWN CHORUS WALK BLISTS HILL IN STEAM ment and a chilli-eating can be fired and sent to Fri 8 - Sun 10 May, of dragonfly and dam- Join a walk at first light Collection of steam competition also fea- you for a small extra Ludlow Castle, South selfly seen early in the with wildlife expert and machines in their full ture, Sun 3 - Mon 4 charge to cover p&p, Shropshire flight season, Tues 12 ornithologist John working splendour, plus May, Eastnor Castle Tues 5 May, Jackfield SPRING WEDDING May, Carding Mill Valley Tucker to find out more visiting miniature Deer Park, Tile Museum, Celebrate a traditional & The Shropshire Hills about the estate’s engines brought by Herefordshire Ironbridge, Shropshire Victorian spring wed- CRAFTPLAY EXPLORERS feathered inhabitants, steam enthusiasts, Sat MAY DAY REVELS NATIONAL DOG SHOW ding with the residents Regular stay-and-play Sat 16 May, Weston 2 - Mon 4 May, Blists Fun and games, with Organised by the of Blists Hill Victorian groups, to discover, Park, Staffordshire Hill, Ironbridge, maypole dancing and Birmingham Dog Show Town, Sat 9 - Sun 10 play and create with ROLLING MILL

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stroll around the his- A PLEASANT SUNDAY your team and race to machine-stitch tech- LISTINGS toric Bournville Village, AFTERNOON Join the the finish as Attingham niques. Suitable for Events Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, Friends of the Black hosts the Shropshire ages sixteen-plus, Cadbury World, Country Living Museum Shuffler's 2015 relays, Booking required, Sat For full listing information on Events, Birmingham in the quaint nineteenth Thurs 21 May, 23 May, Bilston Craft including times and dates, visit WAR ON WHEELS century Providence Attingham Park, Nr Gallery Military-themed week- chapel and celebrate Shrewsbury DISCOVER RAG RUGGING www.whatsonlive.co.uk end with vehicle dis- the work of John WATERLOO: HOW THE Join the craft specialists plays and period enter- Blackham, who set out HISTORY BECAME to learn the art of rag DEMONSTRATION LIGHT PAINTING Joining tainment, Sat 16 - Sun to lighten and brighten CORRUPTED Lecture by rug, Sat 23 May, Originally used to for the first time, Dudley 17 May, Foxfield worship in the mid- Gareth Glover to uncov- Birmingham Back to amend and resize iron Canal Trust offers the Railway, Staffs 1870s. Limited seating, er the truth about the Backs bars, the Rolling Mill is chance for budding ANTIQUES FAIR Hosted please call to book, allied victory, Fri 22 EVENING SCENIC a typical Black Country photographers to by Number One Sun 17 May, Black May, Shrewsbury SPECIALS A scenic hand rolling mill from experiment with light Events, Sat 16 - Sun 17 Country Living Castle evening ride with the around the 1900s, Sat and shutter speeds. May, Stafford Bingley Museum, Dudley DEMENTIA FRIENDLY DAY added option of tradi- 16 May, Black Country Don’t forget your DSLR, Hall Help mark National tional fish and chip sup- Living Museum, Dudley Sat 16 May, Dudley IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE Dementia Awareness per, Sat 23 May, Severn LINO PRINTING Canal and Limestone Week Commencing WOODS TODAY Make a week by visiting Blist Valley Railway, Nr WORKSHOPS WITH Mine plant pot out of news- MON 18 MAY Hill for this special day, Bewdley AMANDA HILLIER Full- NEWCOMEN IN STEAM paper and plant a seed Fri 22 May, Blists Hill, FAULTY TOWERS EVENING day lino printing course The only full-sized to take home, Sat 16 - TILE DECORATING Ironbridge, Shropshire Enjoy a three-course - includes all materials working replica of the Sun 17 May, Moseley WORKSHOP Drop-in tile THE MAIN EVENT (THAI meal and be enter- and light refreshments. world's first steam Old Hall, Birmingham decorating workshop. BOXING) The UK's tained by Basil, Sybil Suitable for ages 14+, engine can be seen in BLACKSTAR - LIVING Try the tube lining tech- longest-standing and and Manuel, Sat 23 Sat 16 May, Jackfield action. Due to the HISTORY Medieval re- nique to produce your premier Thai Boxing May, National Brewery Tile Museum, unpredictable nature of enactment society cov- own ceramic master- promotion, featuring Centre, Burton-upon- Ironbridge, Shropshire the Newcomen, please ering the historical peri- piece. Activities vary the world's best fighters Trent RED BY NIGHT For one check running details od from 1240 to 1350, from day-to-day. Tiles and global stars in front BLANCPAIN ENDURANCE night only, the museum with the museum prior Sun 17 May, cost from £5 each and of the biggest crowds. SERIES The world's best recreates the industrial to travelling, to avoid Whittington Castle, can be fired and sent to A must-see event on supported GT3 racing might of the region, Sat disappointment. North Shropshire you for a small extra the combat sports cal- series, Sat 23 - Sun 24 16 May, Black Country Sat 16 May, Black GROWING IN THE WALLED charge to cover p&p, endar. Fireworks, May, Silverstone Circuit Living Museum, Dudley Country Living GARDEN: SALAD DAYS Tues 19 May, Jackfield pyrotechnics, lasers & CASTLE QUEST Put your EASY ACCESS TRAIL An Museum, Dudley Find out about the Tile Museum, dancers also feature, problem-solving skills opportunity for wheel- THE EIGHTH ANNUAL range of salad plants Ironbridge, Shropshire Sat 23 May, to the test against the chair users and their DUCK RACES Race a grown, and how to MEET ME @ BANTOCK Barclaycard Arena, castle’s Quest charac- families to join a guided duck along the stream, combine them to best Regular conversation Birmingham ters, Sat 23 - Tues 26 tour of the estate, Sat with local charity effect on the plate, Sun club for people aged YOUNG ARTISTS Learn May, Tamworth Castle 16 May, Himley Hall Stretton Climate Care. 17 May, Attingham fifty and over, offering a new drawing, painting TOP FIVE OF THE ‘50 and Park, Dudley There are prizes for Park, Shrewsbury chance to relax and and sculpture skills, Sat THINGS TO DO’ See how SAILING TASTER DAY Join every race, Sat 16 May, DRAGON BOAT RACING enjoy a chat about the 23 May, many of the ‘50 things one of the qualified Carding Mill Valley & DAY An all-action event topic of the month, Wolverhampton Art to do before you are 11 coaches for a sailing The Shropshire Hills where teams battle it Tues 19 May, Bantock Gallery and 3/4’ you can tick taster day, Sat 16 May, HERITAGE WEEKEND out on the Great Pool, House & Park, EXPRESSIVE THREADS off, Sat 23 - Wed 27 Himley Hall and Park, Listen to informative Sun 17 May, Himley Wolverhampton Learn a range of deco- May, Moseley Old Hall, Dudley talks about the Cadbury Hall and Park, Dudley ATTINGHAM RELAYS Grab rative hand-stitch and Wolverhampton MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: family before taking a

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from both sides, Mon 25 May, The Events LISTINGS Staffordshire Regiment Museum For full listing information on Events, WHITSUN HOLIDAY including times and dates, visit FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Head out on a mystery www.whatsonlive.co.uk tour around the gar- dens, Mon 25 May, QUEEN VICTORIA'S chance to discover Dudmaston Estate, Nr BIRTHDAY Celebrate some interesting things Bridgnorth Queen Victoria’s birth- you may not know BANK HOLIDAY ANIMAL day, Sat 23 - Sun 31 about West Midlands RACING Fun and frolics May, Blists Hill, Safari Park, Sat 23 - as the animals line up Ironbridge, Shropshire Sun 31 May, West for a day of racing, Mon MAGNETIC MAY Midland Safari and 25 May, Shugborough WORKSHOPS Discover Leisure Park, Bewdley Historic Working Estate Dragonboat Festival - Brindleyplace, Birmingham more about all things MEDIEVAL LIVING LADIES' DAY A day dedi- magnetic. Sort materi- HISTORY EVENT Travel cated to the celebration COLOURFUL GAMES OF Birmingham EVENING SCENIC als, find your way using back in time to the of the role of women in THE WORLD Make a VALUATION DAYS Fine SPECIALS A scenic a compass, or generate medieval period and the glass industry, Mon colourful game inspired art, antiques and gener- evening ride with the electricity, Sat 23 - Sun learn about costumes, 25 May, Broadfield by a map of the world. al items such as ceram- added option of tradi- 31 May, Enginuity cooking methods and House Glass Museum Booking required, Tues ics, jewellery, clocks etc tional fish and chip sup- Museum, Ironbridge, how the people of the PAPER BAG BUG PROJ- 26 May, will be valued by per, Sat 30 May, Severn Shropshire day kept themselves ECTS Make a creepy Wolverhampton Art Fieldings Auctioneers, Valley Railway, Bewdley HALF TERM FAMILY entertained, crawly hand puppet in Gallery Thurs 28 May, Bantock GIN TASTING WITH ENTERTAINMENT Join a Sun 24 - Mon 25 May, this drop-in craft ses- DOODLE BONANZA Three House & Park, SIPSMITH Hear about host of children's enter- Harvington Hall, sion, Tues 26 - Thurs 28 days full of doodles, Wolverhampton the history of gin in tainers as they spread Kidderminster May, Potteries Museum with competitions, CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY London, from its che- chocolatey joy through- & Art Gallery, Stoke-on- activities and displays, EVENT Thurs 28 May, quered past of Mother's out Cadbury World, Sat Week Commencing Trent Tues 26 - Thurs 28 May, Ford Green Hall, Stoke- Ruin & Dutch Courage 23 - Sun 31 May, HALF-TERM CRAFT ACTIV- Broadfield House Glass on-Trent to the cocktail heyday Cadbury World, MON 25 MAY ITY Make a 3D collage Museum PHILIP WEB: MORRIS’S at the Savoy - and how Birmingham inspired by the amazing HALF-TERM FUN DAY ARCHITECT William Sipsmith fits into the LET'S GET SPORTY! SPRING FOOD & CRAFT bottle ovens, Tue 26 Facepainting, balloon Morris’s lifelong friend picture, Sat 30 May, Old Outdoor games guar- FAYRE Featuring over May, Gladstone Pottery modelling and magic talks about his life, Joint Stock Theatre, anteed to get the heart sixty stalls ranging from Museum, Stoke-on- shows, with free muse- work and link with Birmingham racing, with costumed local produce to hand- Trent um admission, Wed 27 Wolverhampton, Thurs DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL demonstrators on hand made crafts, art & gifts, ATTINGHAM May, Gladstone Pottery 28 May, Wightwick The Brindleyplace to help you have some Mon 25 May, Weston ADVENTURES: MUD AND Museum, Stoke-on- Manor and Gardens, Dragonboat Festival is old-fashioned fun, Sat Park, Staffordshire MESS Go on a barefoot Trent Wolverhampton one of the best known 23 - Sun 31 May, Black DISCOVERY DAY: THE walk to feel different SPORTY WEDNESDAYS LITTLE PEOPLE'S and most-established Country Living, Dudley SOLIDERS OF WATERLOO textures between your Activities for the whole SENSORY PLAY AND annual corporate LOVE YOUR SAFARI PARK Commemorate the two toes. Dam a stream family to try, Wed 27 STORIES Creative play fundraising events in WEEK A week full of hundredth anniversary and make some wild art May, Attingham Park sessions for babies and Birmingham, Sat 30 family fun, facts and of the battle of Waterloo in the mud, Tues 26 WHITSUN HOLIDAY toddlers. Booking May, Brindleyplace, crafts, as well as the by meeting soliders May, Attingham Park FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS required, Thurs 28 May, Birmingham Crafts and Spring activi- Wolverhampton Art HEMP BUILDING ties. Head out on a Gallery WORKSHOP Learn about mystery tour around the FUNKY FELT WRISTBAND building with gardens, Wed 27 May, Make and decorate a hempcrete, Sat 30 May, Dudmaston Estate, Nr felt wristband using tex- Fordhall Organic Farm, Bridgnorth, Shropshire tiles, paint and other Market Drayton, North BUILDING A WILDLIFE materials. Booking Shropshire HOTEL Help the rangers required, Thurs 28 May YOUNG ARTISTS Learn build a wildlife stack Bilston Craft Gallery new drawing, painting using materials found CREATIVE CRAFTS and sculpture skills, Sat around the park, Wed Creative craft workshop 30 May, 27 May, Severn Valley for children, inspired by Wolverhampton Art Country Park, Bantock House and Gallery Shropshire Gardens. Booking MAKING YOUR MARK SCAVENGER HUNT Find required, Thurs 28 May, Engraving and hot natural items in the Bantock House & Park, glass demonstrations, park, Wed 27 May, Wolverhampton Sat 30 May, Broadfield Himley Hall and Park, BEE AMAZED Lots of House Glass Museum, Dudley bee-themed activities, Stourbridge SUPER ME IN SPACE Thurs 28 - Fri 29 May, CANAL BOAT GATHERING Make a dancing space- Haden Hill House AND MILL IN STEAM Sat suit at this special work- Museum, Dudley 30 - Sun 31 May, Etruria shop. Booking INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Industrial Museum, required, Wed 27 May, OF GLASS There’s glass Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton Art galore on offer during UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: Gallery this four-day festival, BEHIND THE SCENES PLAYFUL PATCHWORK with events, exhibitions TOUR Revealing what Make a cool patchwork and artists, Thurs 28 - goes on behind the bag or a textile picture Sun 31 May, Ruskin scenes of a stately for your wall. Booking Glass Centre, home, Sun 31 May, required, Wed 27 May Stourbridge Weston Park, Staffs Bilston Craft Gallery SCAVENGER HUNT TENNIS IN THE PARK Give THE ENCHANTED WOOD- Explore the park and tennis a try. Lots of dif- LAND The Story Players see if you can find all ferent activities for all present an interactive the items on the scav- the family, Sun 31 May, drama story session, enger list, Fri 29 May, Attingham Park, Wed 27 May, Haden Hill Severn Valley Country Shrewsbury House Museum, Park, Shropshire PAPERWEIGHT DAY Dudley FAMILY FUN DAY Demonstrations of STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY Featuring animal dis- paperweight making, SHOW Wed 27 - Thurs plays, a fire engine, sto- Sun 31 May, Broadfield 28 May, Staffordshire rytelling, donkey rides House Glass Museum County Show Ground and more, Fri 29 May, BEACON’S BIRTHDAY FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: Broadfield House Glass Celebrating one hun- MAY MADNESS Make a Museum, Stourbridge dred-and-forty years of jester's stick to take INSECT HOTEL MAKING sight-loss charity home, and follow the Make an insect hotel Beacon with a free fam- trail to find out about and hunt for the bugs ily-fun day, Sun 31 May, celebrations in Tudor that like to live inside, Himley Hall and Park, times, Thurs 28 May, Sat 30 May, Sunnycroft, Dudley Blakesley Hall, Wellington, Shropshire

64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out May region two.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 22:13 Page 1 Eating Out Townhouse opens The Walled Garden Oswestry’s trendy Townhouse has recently announced the launch of an outside drinking and dining space. Set to be home to many a summer BBQ and garden party, The Walled Garden is offi- cially launched on Sat 2 May with an event that features live music, free-flowing booze and, of course, the illustrious Kamado Joe BBQ. Also on offer this summer is the new Afternoon Tea menu. For more information or to book your Garden Party ticket, visit townhouseoswestry.com or call 01691 659499.

Ludlow hotel maintains three AA Rosettes The Ludlow boutique hotel Fishmore Hall has maintained the award of three AA Rosettes. The hotel’s restaurant, Forelles, has a new head chef, Appe-Thai-sing food in Broseley... Andrew Birch, and has long had a reputation for Listening to the seemingly lived up to its reputation high-quality fine dining. With the introduction of a REVIEW continuous chorus of oohs and was a beautiful end to six and nine-course tasting menu, bucketloads of and aahs coming from a fantastic meal. award-winning Michelin-star experience and a other tables as their food The front-of-house team hard-working team, it appears Fishmore Hall is The King & Thai is a came out nicely built the were delightful from start still the people’s choice when it comes to hotels restaurant my family and I anticipation for our main to finish. in Ludlow. have visited on numerous occasions since it opened, course: Monkfish, clam To try and balance my each time returning home and king prawn green gushing review (at least a with a full belly, a fresh curry in coconut milk; and little!), I’m trying to find taste in our mouths and a slow-cooked fillet of mas- something negative to say smile on our faces. saman curry, with coconut - but all I can come up And this time was no dif- milk, nutmeg, peanuts and with is that the pavement ferent. Boasting a new crushed coriander, with a outside was slightly too front-of-house manager, side of jasmine rice. ‘characterful’ for my high new waiting staff and a The portions were gener- heels! new specials menu that ous, the dishes were fra- So, in a nutshell, The King leaves you deliberating for grant and the tastes were & Thai remains my longer than your stomach the harmonious combina- favourite Thai restaurant. Photo credit: www.leisuremarketingltd.co.uk would normally allow, it tion of hot and sour, sweet Anywhere. Ever. remains my number one and spicy, subtle and Jessica Aston go-to for Thai food in strong that you look for in Eat Street Shrewsbury Shropshire. a great Thai meal. It was Food: n n n n n Celebrity chef, Marcus Bean - the The man who To begin, we had the shar- absolutely delicious. Service: n n n n n brought us the Brompton Cookery School - is ing platter - a selection of Even though we were Ambience: n n n n n jumping on the trendy street-food bandwagon starters chosen by the stuffed after the main Overall value n n n n n and launching a new venture. Eat Street chef. The platter included course, we’ve always OVERALL n n n n n Shrewsbury aims to ‘bring restaurant-quality food satay chicken, tempura been curious about head The King and Thai to the streets of Shrewsbury, combining some of king prawns, vegetable chef Suree Coates’ The Forester Arms the best street food vendors in the country’. The springs rolls, pork balls, desserts, for which she’s Avenue Road first event takes place on Fri 22 May, with street prawn toast and three dif- renowned. We went with a Broseley vendors Polly’s Parlour, The Beefy Boys, ferent dipping sauces. light option of coconut Shropshire Dogtown London, Pizza Peddlers, Kus Kus Foods With presentation that was panacotta with toasted ice TF12 5DL and Barkworths Seafoods all set to take part. Visit instagram-worthy, the cream, honeycomb and T: 01952 882004 the eatstreetshrewsbury facebook page for more meal was off to an incredi- homemade marshmallow. information. ble start. The dessert very much www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out May region two.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 22:13 Page 2

Restaurant LISTINGS Shropshire AFTAB 25 High St, For full listing information on restau- Ironbridge, TF8 7AD rants, including opening times and 01952 432055 ALBRIGHT HUSSEY type of cuisine, visit: www.whatson- Ellesmere Rd, live.co.uk Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF 01939 290 523 DY9 9PS 01562 883260 BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a Black Country FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, Mardol, Shrewsbury, Smethwick, B67 5BN SY1 1PZ 01743 272586 ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 0121 429 7920 Lichfield Street, Walsall, BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal, FRENCH CONNECTION WS1 1SY 01922 613361 TF11 9BA 01952 3 Coventry St, 460128 BANKS BISTRO Chapel Stourbridge, DY8 1EP CASA NARANJO Barracks Ash, Wolverhampton, 01384 390940 WV1 4EP 01902 238433 Passage, Wyle Cop, FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove Shrewsbury, SY1 01743 BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, Rd, Clent, Stourbridge, 588165 Wolverhampton, 01902 DY9 9PY 01562 883040 427555 CASA RUIZ 45 High GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 BENGAL FUSION 174 High Ablewell St, Walsall, 4DX 01746 218 084 St, Lye, Stourbridge, WS12EQ 01922 640363 CHEZ MAW Best Western DY9 8LN. 01384 891111 THE HUNGRY BISTRO 81 Valley Hotel, Buildwas BILASH 2 Cheapside, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW Wolverhampton, WV1 01952 432247 1TU 01902 427762 1EQ 01902 546336 THE COTTAGE Tern Hill, THE BLUE BRICK LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower Market Drayton, TF9 3PX Old Downton Lodge, Ludlow, South Shropshire Broad Gauge Way, Mill Street, 01630 638984 Wolverhampton, WV1 Kidderminster, DY11 18 Abbey Foregate, THE PLUME OF FEATHERS 01785 253279 1AA 01902 875301 6UU 01562 744976 CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole, Shrewsbury, SY1 1EN Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Harley, Shrewsbury, SY5 ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper MADE IN THAI Darlington 01743 281744 6LP 01743 727360 27 Broad Eye, Stafford, Green, Wolverhampton, St, Wolverhampton, WV1 01743 361440 THE HAYWARDS at The PORTER HOUSE 15 St ST16 2QB 01785 WV6 8QQ 01902 4HW 01902 312512 DA VINCI’S 26 High St, Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, Mary’s St, Shrewsbury, 229988 756052 PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 01952 432250 Shrewsbury, SY1 1UY SY1 1EQ 01743 358870 FOUR SEASONS Swinfen CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253- Mill Street, 01743 353107 Hall, Lichfield, WS14 255 Bilston Road, Kidderminster, DORRINGTON OLD HALL THE POUND AT LEEBOT- HENRY TUDOR HOUSE 9RE 01543 481494 Wolverhampton, WV2 DY11 6UU 01562 60479 PERSIAN CUISINE Main WOOD Leebotwood, Nr THE GREEN ROOM Castle 2JN 01902 458024 THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst Road, Dorrington, Barracks Passage, Church Stretton, SY6 Lane, Tipton, DY4 9AB Shropshire SY5 7JD Shrewsbury, SY1 1XA 6ND 01694 751477 Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 CASA CASITA Upper 01743 361666 6HR 01543 412121 Gornal, Dudley, DY3 0121 557 1402 01743 719100 RENAISSANCE, 29a INDIAN VILLAGE 1UP 01902 676754 RED FORT Fold St, DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St HILL VALLEY HOTEL Princess St, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, WV1 Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ Tarporley Road, SY11LW 01743 354289 8 Lombard St, Lichfield, CATELLANI’S 6 School St, Whitchurch, SY13 4HA WS13 6DR 01543 4LP 01902 424440 01743 344679 ROMOLO Victoria Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV1 0844 879 9049 253415 4LR 01902 428928 RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 THE FEATHERS Brockton, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HH THE INN AT GRINSHILL INDICA Virage Park, CINNAMON COURT Upper Green, Tettenhall, Much Wenlock, TF13 01743 233244 Bentley The High Street, Cannoc, WS11 0HN Mill Way, Walsall, WS2 Wolverhampton WV6 6JR 01746 785202 Grinshill, Shrewsbury, SARACENS Shrewsbury 08712 070417 0BP 0121 568 6664 8QQ 01902 756052 FENNELS 8 Market Place, SY4 3BL 01939 220410 Rd, SY4 4AG 01939 LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford THE COWSHED Clive SAFFRON Wolverhampton Shifna,l TF11 9AZ 210877 KING & THAI Avenue Rd, St, Stone, ST15 8QW Farm Clive Rd, Road, Oldbury, B69 4RR 01952 463020 0121 552 1752 Broseley, Telford, TF12 SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St, 01785 817 985 Pattingham, WV6 7EN THE FOX INN 46 High St, Oswestry, SY11 1AQ SIMON’S 5DL 01952 882004 THE LODGE 24 01902 701888 520 Chester Rd, Much Wenlock, TF13 01691 655444 THE KNIGHTON HOTEL Birmingham Road, THE CROOKED HOUSE Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 6AD 01952 727292 0PU 0121 580 9293 Broad Street, Knighton, SHALIMAR 23 Abbey Shenstone, WS14 0LQ Coppice Hill, Himley, FRANK CAFE BAR 129 Foregate, Shrewsbury, 01543 483334 DY3 4DA 01384 238583 SPICES Hollywell Rd, Powys, LD7 1BL 01547 Wednesbury, WS10 7PA Frankwell, Shrewsbury, 520530 SY2 6AE 01743 366658 MALABAR 1-2 Water THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, SY3 8JX 01743 354422 0121 502 0720 LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop, Street, Stafford, ST16 Walsall, WS1 2EU THE GOLDEN CROSS 14 Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT 2AG 01785 227 500/600 01922 643215 THE SPRINGHILL Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 Warstones Rd, Penn, Princess St, Shrewsbury, 1QU 01743 249126 01743 242321 MARLOES 13 London DON SALVO 25 Darlington Wolverhampton, WV4 SY1 1LP 01743 362507 LA LANTERNA The Old THE SILVERTON the Old Road, Newcastle under Street, Wolverhampton, 4LB 01902 342530 GRANARY BAR & GRILL Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782 WV1 4HW 01902 712819 Vestry, St Julian's Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell, THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 Weston Park, Weston- Church, Shrewsbury Shrewsbury SY3 8JY 661983 DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley Gospel End Rd, Dudley, under-Lizard, Nr Shifnal, SY1 1UH 01743 233552 01743 248000 THE MILL 1 Mill St, Stone, Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU DY3 4AN 01902 676 TF11 8LE 01952 LION & PHEASANT 50 ST15 8BA 01785 01384 877077 TIN TINS Wellington Road, 102 852107 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, Telford, TF2 8AJ 818456 FARADAYS The THORNESCROFT THE GLUTTON CLUB 165- SY1 1XJ 01743 770345 THE NAVIGATION INN Waterfront, Brierley Hill, 01952 608688 Bridgnorth Rd, 167 Frankwell, THE LION QUAYS Newport Road, Gnosall, Dudley, DY5 1UR Moreton, THE WALLS Welsh Walls, Wolverhampton, WV6 Shrewsbury, SY3 8LG Stafford, ST20 0BN 01384 482 882 Oswestry, SY11 3EN Oswestry, SY11 1AW 7EQ 01902 700 253 01743 361672 01691 684300 01785 822327 FIVE RIVERS Vicarage 01691 670970 THE WOODMAN Claverley, HADLEY PARK HOUSE OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St, Place, Walsall, WS1 3NA LOCH FYNE Talbot House, ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40 Wolverhampton, WV5 Hadley Park, Telford, Branston, Burton, DE14 01922 646164 Market Street, High Street, Shrewsbury, 7DG 01746 710 553 TF1 6QJ 01952 677269 Shrewsbury, SY1 1LG 3EX 01283 533222 FOUR STONES Adam’s SY1 1SF 01743 353232 HAVANA REPUBLIC 01743 277140 PASCAL AT THE OLD VIC- Hill, Clint, Stourbridge, LUDLOW KITCHEN ARAGE 2 Main Street, Bromfield, Ludlow, SY2 Staffordshire Branston, Burton-upon- 2JR 01584 856020 Trent 01283 533222 NO 5 Gaol Mews, Stafford, THE MALTHOUSE The PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 Mill ST16 3AN 01785 22 9900 Wharfage, Ironbridge, Street, Stafford, ST16 95 HIGH GREEN Cannock, (EST 86) TF8 7NH 01902 433712 2AJ 01782 263 737 WS11 1BH 01543 THE PEAR TREE Swinfen, THE DINNER CLUB MOMO·NO·KI T19 Abbey 573905 A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY Foregate, Shrewsbury, Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR 1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5 01543 481807 SY2 6AE 01743 281770 Lombard St, Lichfield, MORGANS 1 Bellstone, PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh WS13 6DP 01543 St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1 SINGLE? Shrewsbury, SY1 1HU 257986 1JD 01782 209444 01743 231199 BELLA ITALIA 20 Greengate For the more discerning THE RED ROOM 7 THE MYTTON & MERMAID St, Stafford, ST16 2HS Newcastle Road, unattached person, age 40+ Atcham, Shrewsbury, 01785 211968 SY5 6QG 01743 761220 Congleton, CW12 4HN CHANDLERS Corn 01260 297871 Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie THE OLD ORLETON INN Exchange, Conduit St, THORNBURY HALL, RASOI Holyhead Rd, Wellington, Lichfield, WS13 6JU balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. Lockwood Rd, Kingsley TF1 2HA 01952 255011 01543 416688 Holt, Stafford, ST10 2DH THE OLD RECTORY HOTEL THE CORNER HOUSE 01538 750831 NOT A DATING AGENCY Second Avenue,Burton- & RESTAURANT Lowe Hill WOLSELEY ARMS Road, Wem, Shropshire, On-Trent, DE14 2WF 01283 542321 Wolseley Bridge, 01244 677030 (Day)/01244 548816 (Eve/W-end) SY4 5UA 01939 233233 Stafford, ST17 0XS CURRY KUTEER THE PEACH TREE 21 Abbey 31 01889 883179 Foregate, Shrewsbury, Greengate Street, www.thedinnerclubuk.com SY2 6AE 01743 355055 Stafford, ST16 2HY

66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk p67 (IBC) R2.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 22:09 Page 1 grand_whatson FP May:Layout 1 27/04/2015 10:44 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 13 - SAT 16 MAY MON 18 - SAT 23 MAY TUES 2 - WED 3 JUNE

FRI 5 JUNE SAT 6 JUNE SUN 7 JUNE Nights oN broadway

the bee gees story

‘Spellbinding fusion of acoustic guitar, rhythm, songs, handclapping and ignitable dance’ The Guardian Now, come aNd see their story live oN stage

TUES 9 - SAT 13 JUNE SUN 14 JUNE SAT 20 JUNE

Follow us on @WolvesGrand Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand

Box Office 01902 42 92 12 BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk