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HAIR THE MUSICAL COMES Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands TO THE MIDLANDS WORCESTERSHIREWHAT’S ON APRIL 2019 Worcestershire ISSUE 400 APRIL 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On worcestershirewhatson.co.uk

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DEAR ZOO LIVE! puppetry, music and audience WORCESTERSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK participation at Artrix (IFC) Worcestershire.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 14:19 Page 1 Contents April Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:44 Page 2

April 2019

Contents

The Worst Witch - family-friendly magic and mayhem at the Coventry Belgrade... page 31

Mott The Hoople Motionhouse Birthday Bard the list

Midlander Ian Hunter brings the back out on tour with acclaimed Shakespeare celebrations in Your 16-page Class of ’74 to Leamington multimedia production Charge Stratford-upon-Avon week-by-week listings guide interview page 16 page 35 page 47 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 18. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events

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

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 MEDIA GROUP Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Steve Adams, Lauren Cole, Nanci Davies, Jack Rolfe, Daisy Sparkle, Steve Taylor, Chris Eldon Lee, Patsy Moss, Tom Silverton Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word Warwicks_Worcs April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:18 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Organisers hoping Robot Day will go international The organisers of the recent Robot Day at Coventry Transport Museum are planning to grow the event both locally and internation- ally in the build-up to Coventry’s City of Culture year in 2021. As well as featuring a range of demonstra- tions, Robot Day also provided visitors with the chance to enjoy a series of special per- formances by Imagineer Productions’ 10- metre high Lady Godiva in association with the Urban Astronaut and the Hummingbird drone. Event organiser Stephen Powley said: “Our ambition is to build to an internationally significant celebration of robotics in 2021, when Coventry is UK City of Culture. The quality of the Transport Museum event and the number of people it attracted has shown us the potential for doing that.”

Spend an evening with ment of four volunteer community evalua- 12 May, the main attraction for visitors is un- tors, who will have the task of monitoring the doubtedly the opening weekend’s line-up of Jack The Ripper... progress and impact of the City of Culture entertainment. Highlights include a water year. cure reenactment and family fun day in Pri- Commenting on the award, Spirit Of 2012 ory Park, a donkey parade, musical events Chief Executive Debbie Lye said: “We’re really and a health & wellbeing fair. excited by Coventry’s vision for 2021: an arts For more information, check out visitthe- & culture programme made for and by every- malverns.org/wellandwaterfest. one in the city. Coventry’s drive to represent, include and excite a modern, diverse and youthful Britain chimes with our own fund- New venue for popular ing mission, and we’re delighted to be on board from the start of what promises to be a Worcester Comic Festival thrilling journey.” A day-long event celebrating comics and the people who produce them will take place at Worcester Arts Workshop in the summer. An interactive ‘Jack The Ripper evening’ Malvern hosts Well Organisers of the Worcester Comic Festival takes place at Stratford-upon-Avon museum are promising a day of fun, frivolity and ‘all Tudor World this month (Friday 19 April). Dressing & Water Festival things comics’ on Saturday 17 August. The first of its kind, the event recreates the For more information, visit worcester- Ripper’s crime scenes, re-examines the sus- artsworkshop.org.uk pects & victims and provides its guests with the chance to do some detective work of their own. The evening is the brainchild of Ripper- ologist Steve Mitchell, who runs a similar evening at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. The 2019 edition of Great Malvern’s Well Dressing & Water Festival takes place next Spirit of 2012 awards City month. of Culture £200,000 A celebration of Malvern spring water, an- London 2012 legacy charity Spirit has cient pagan traditions and the Victorian awarded £200,000 to the Coventry City of Water Cure, the event is taking the theme of Culture Trust. Year of Flight and will feature 60 wells The grant will fund four associate-producer dressed by local community groups. roles, as well as the training and develop- Although the festival officially runs from 4 to

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First Word

Giant Knife Angel sculpture on show in Coventry Visitors to Coventry Cathedral between now and Easter week- end will be able to check out a huge sculpture made of 100,000 confiscated knives. The 27-feet-high Knife Angel, commissioned by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, was created by artist Alfie Bradley in response to the grow- ing issue of knife crime in cities across the UK. Commenting on the sculpture, The Reverend Kathryn Fleming of Coventry Cathedral said: “In making something beautiful from the ugliness and violence Talking balls at the Coventry Belgrade Theatre... of the knives, Alfie follows a pattern that is part of the Cathe- Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has teamed up with the Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust dral’s own DNA - using the pain initiative, It Takes Balls To Talk, to highlight the current crisis in men’s mental health. of the past to build something The theatre will this season be presenting a number of shows connected to the issue - in particular brighter and stronger; a peace- Nick Ahad’s Glory (pictured above, 10 - 13 April) - in the hope of educating and informing audiences ful future.” about the problem. Commenting on the news, Alex Cotton, Mental Health Nurse and Founder of It Takes Balls To Talk, said: “It can be difficult to talk about mental health, so we hope that the campaign will help men un- derstand it’s important not to keep their feelings to themselves. It Takes Balls To Talk is about reach- ing out to men, and the people who care about them, to promote positive mental health. We want people to have positive conversations about mental health, inspired by this campaign.”

A trip back to the At the double! Two iconic musicals to ’80s for Nuneaton return to Birmingham Hippodrome Carnival 2019 Tickets will this month go on sale for blockbuster musicals Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You (pictured), both of which will The Mudnificent be visiting Birmingham Hippodrome next year. 7 is back! “The arrival of these two major musical juggernauts in 2020 con- tinues Birmingham Hippodrome’s reputation for bringing the Mud, mud, glorious mud! very best in live entertainment to Midlands audiences,” said ‘Ultimate obstacle race’ The Mudnificent 7 will once again Fiona Allan, the theatre’s artistic director & chief executive. take place at Heart Park in “Both We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia! have enjoyed sell-out Coventry on Saturday 17 August. success here in previous years, and I have no doubt that return- The 7km mud-run is raising ing audience members, or those visiting for the very first time, funds for Bowel & Cancer Re- will be up on their feet at the conclusion of these two blockbuster search and consists of seven productions.” For more information and to book tickets (from themed zones. Organisers of Nuneaton Carni- Tuesday 2 April onwards), visit birminghamhippodrome.com The event has sold out for each val have announced that this of the past five years, so early year’s theme will be ‘back to booking is advised. the 80s’. The town’s biggest annual event will take place on 16 June. Applications are currently open for floats, procession walkers and stalls. For stall applications, email [email protected] For processions, contact mart- [email protected]. whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Warwicks_Worcs April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:18 Page 3

First Word

State-of-the-art marine rescue facility opens at the National Sea Life Centre visitor attraction The National Sea Life Centre in Birming- experience. ham is this month opening a state-of-the- Commenting on the new attraction, Amy art marine rescue facility following Langham, General Manager at the venue, multi-million pound investment and an ex- said: “We’re really proud and passionate tensive remodelling of the popular visitor about the new facility, and the investment attraction. ploughed into the development is testa- Rescued mammals will take up residency ment to the core values of the business. in a newly engineered open-to-the-public With the current global environmental sit- environment which will span two floors of uation, animals now need support more the venue. The new facility has been care- than ever before to protect their welfare, fully designed and constructed to emulate and the opening of our new facility will the natural ocean habitat that mammals allow us to support those in need with ex- are accustomed to. Atmospheric effects in pert care.” the themed area will help in creating a For further information or to book tickets, replica environment to further enhance the visit sealife.co.uk/birmingham

Counting down to Royal Shakespeare Company to stage Riverdance back the Leamington ‘bold new work’ at The Other Place in the Midlands Half Marathon... The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will this summer present the Midlands runners are prepar- stage premiere of ‘a bold new work’ by award-winning playwright and ing for race day as the count- screenwriter Robin French. down to the Leamington Spa Crooked Dances examines music, time and attention in the modern Half Marathon begins. digital age. It will show in the RSC’s Studio Theatre at The Other A reinvention of Riverdance Taking place on Sunday 7 July, Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Thursday 20 June to Saturday 13 described by its producers as the event starts at 8.30am and July. ‘powerful and stirring’ is stop- sees runners tackle a 13.1-mile Commenting on the production, the show’s director, Elizabeth Free- ping off in Birmingham next traffic-free course, beginning stone said: “Nothing you are told in the play is year as part of the Grammy and ending at the town’s Royal quite as straightforward as it seems, and noth- Award-winning show’s 25th an- Pump Room Gardens... To sign ing you see is quite what you expect. It’s a fan- niversary celebration. River- up for the event, visit: leaming- tastic challenge to realise the ideas and images dance - The New 25th tonspahalfmarathon.co.uk Robin is exploring - the power of music, the na- Anniversary Show runs at the ture of time, the fragility of real human connec- Alexandra Theatre from 6 to 9 tion.” April 2020. Tickets are now on Star Wars theme For more information about Crooked Dances sale at atgtickets.com for Malvern fun and to book tickets, visit rsc.org.uk run Now ‘Open’ in Leamington... The Malvern Multicolour Fun Fashioning Peace at Run returns on 4 May with a Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Star Wars theme. Hartlebury Castle Museum ’s biennial Open exhi- Participants can choose be- A temporary exhibition showing bition will show at the venue tween one and four laps up to a how clothing and fashion reflected until the end of next month (27 full 10km (the traffic-free fun- changes brought about by the First May). run course is 2.5km long). World War will show at Worcester- The Open 2019 showcases an Now in its fourth year, the fun shire County Museum at Hartle- eclectic collection of artwork in run takes place in the grounds bury Castle for the remainder of a range of media. of ELIM International College the year. Commenting on the show, 'Cu- in West Malvern. Fashioning Peace: Life And Liberty rator Alice Swatton said: “Open All entrants will be given a race After The Great War is part of the exhibitions have been held at number, certificate and pair of Worcestershire World War One the Art Gallery & Museum since sunglasses prior to the event, Hundred programme. the 1930s. They offer the perfect and a finisher’s medal on com- The exhibition features costumes chance for local artists to show- pletion. taken from the County Museum’s case their work in an exhibi- Tickenhill collection, which con- tion, possibly for the very first tains more than 2,000 items. time.” 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Warwicks_Worcs April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:18 Page 4 Readers' Awards 2019 Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:21 Page 1

Readers’ What’sOn Awards WINNERS announced... With over 60,000 votes cast in the What’seaders’ On AwardsR 2019 - we are delighted to announce your winners...

Best Midlands Large Theatre Best Festive Show Best Midlands Arts/ Cultural Festival WINNER A Christmas Carol - The RSC RUNNER-UP The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - Crescent Theatre Best Pantomime In The Midlands 2018/19 WINNER Peter Pan - Birmingham Hippodrome RUNNER-UP Sleeping Beauty - Wolverhampton Grand WINNER Birmingham Hippodrome RUNNER-UP Wolverhampton Grand Best Amateur Production WINNER Birmingham Comedy Festival WINNER Birmingham & Midland RUNNER-UP Lichfield Arts’ Fuse Festival Best Touring Musical Operatic Society: Chitty Chitty Bang WINNER Matilda Bang Best Exhibition RUNNER-UP Mamma Mia RUNNER-UP Get Your Wigle On: Grease WINNER Dippy The Dinosaur - Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Best Touring Play Best Classical Production RUNNER-UP LEGO: Brick History - WINNER War Horse inc Opera Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery RUNNER-UP Blood Brothers WINNER CBSO Spectacular Classics Best Midlands Live Music Venue RUNNER-UP City Of Birmingham Choir: Best Home-Produced Show Handel’s Messiah In The Midlands Best Orchestra/Choir

WINNER Symphony Hall, Birmingham RUNNER-UP O2 Academy, Birmingham WINNER The Wizard of Oz - Birmingham Repertory Theatre Best Midlands Music Festival RUNNER-UP A Christmas Carol - RSC WINNER Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra WINNER Moseley Folk Festival Best Kids Show RUNNER-UP CBSO RUNNER-UP Download Festival WINNER The Snowman Best Dance Production Best Midlands Chef RUNNER-UP Elf: A Christmas WINNER Birmingham Royal Ballet’s WINNER Glynn Purnell (Purnell’s, Bham) Spectacular The Nutcracker RUNNER-UP Josh Crouch (CSONS, RUNNER-UP Matthew Bourne’s Shrewsbury) Cinderella 8 whatsonlive.co.uk Readers' Awards 2019 Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:21 Page 2

Readers’ Awards

Best Midlands Street Food Vendor Best Midlands Comedy Night Best Market in the Midlands WINNER Comedy Carousel at The Glee Club, Birmingham RUNNER-UP Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Best Midlands Food Festival WINNER Shrewsbury Food Festival WINNER Dick’s Smokehouse RUNNER-UP WINNER Shrewsbury Market Hall RUNNER-UP Urban Cheesecake Ludlow Food RUNNER-UP Bullring Indoor Market, Festival Birmingham and the winners in your region... Warwickshire Best Warwickshire Festival Worcestershire WINNER Godiva Festival Best Arts/Theatre Venue RUNNER-UP Leamington Food Best Arts/Theatre Venue & Drink Festival Best Event in Warwickshire WINNER Festival of Imagineers, Coventry RUNNER-UP Art In The Park, Leamington Spa Best Food Festival/Event

WINNER Belgrade Theatre, Coventry WINNER Artrix, Bromsgrove RUNNER-UP Royal Shakespeare Theatre, RUNNER-UP Malvern Theatres Stratford-upon-Avon Best Live Music Venue Best Live Music Venue WINNER Huntingdon Hall, Worcester WINNER Warwick Arts Centre RUNNER-UP The Queen's Head, RUNNER-UP The Assembly, Bromsgrove Leamington Spa WINNER Coventry Food and Drink Festival Best Visitor Attraction Best Visitor Attraction RUNNER-UP FarGo’s Vegan Festival WINNER Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley RUNNER-UP West Midlands Safari Park, Best Independent Restaurant Bewdley WINNER The Cross, Kenilworth RUNNER-UP Simmer Down Restaurant, Best Music Festival Coventry WINNER Worcester Music Festival RUNNER-UP Bromsgrove Folk Festival Best Gallery Exhibition Venue Best Independent Restaurant WINNER Herbert Museum & Art Gallery RUNNER-UP Coventry Music Museum WINNER The Olive Branch, Worcester RUNNER-UP The Old Rectifying House, WINNER Coventry Transport Museum Worcester RUNNER-UP Warwick Castle

You can find a full list of winners at whatsonlive.co.uk

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flavoursome. The paprika sung through the halloumi (as it did in the mezze) and the subtle dash of lime zest on the chicken wings really brought the marinade to life. Unsure about which pudding to have, we decided on the tapas desserts, which consisted of five mini treats. The chef generally chooses the desserts, but if you have a particular preference, this can be accommodated. We were brought the dulce de leche cheesecake, panna cotta, tarta de santiago, tiramisu, chocolate & hazelnut tart and a scoop of fresh fruit sorbet. It would be dif- ficult to single out any one of these dishes, as they were all rich, indulgent and a complete REVIEW: The Olive Branch Mediterranean Bistro & Wine Bar - delight. The dark chocolate against the impeccably made A great culinary experience in a hidden gem of a restaurant pastry case greatly satisfied my sweet tooth, as did the smooth Concealed behind a gated court- dark, but the venue itself boasts lutely perfect for drinking on a and zingy panna cotta. The sor- yard off Worcester High Street an appropriately Mediterranean sun-drenched Spanish beach! bet, meanwhile, was a deli- and nestled between the en- feel, thanks in the main to its For our starter, we opted for the ciously refreshing palate trance of St Swithun’s Church pastel tones and general décor. Greek meze sharing board, cleanser. and Superdrug, you will find The The staff immediately made us which is suitable for two people There is nothing to dislike about Olive Branch - Worcester’s hid- feel welcome, taking our coats as a first course. This consisted The Olive Branch. It oozes au- den gem. and leading us to our table. of paprika-coated halloumi, thenticity and provides a fantas- The venue is split across three Visiting as we were on a Monday lamb koftas, sundried tomato tic culinary experience. I will floors, with each offering a dif- lunchtime, we expected it to be houmous, tzatziki, flatbreads, a definitely be returning. Jenny Ell ferent experience. The ground fairly quiet, but a good number Greek salad and, star of this par- Food: nnnnn floor houses a small, informal of the tables were taken in the ticular show, a sweet roast pep- Service: nnnnn café area, the cellar provides a upstairs area. These were per chutney. It was a filling Ambience: nnnnn bar for parties and gatherings, smartly dressed with crisp white starter but a thoroughly enjoy- Overall value nnnnn and the first floor is a character- tablecloths and gypsophila in able one. OVERALL nnnnn ful main dining area, complete glass vases. Following this, we chose five with original stained-glass win- During our stay, my partner tried tapas dishes to share as our main dow features. The Olive Branch two draught beers exclusively course: chicken wings, polpette, Mediterranean Bistro & On approach, the gated court- made for the Olive Branch: provolone cheese & serrano ham Wine Bar yard itself appears very welcom- Palido (pale ale) and Matador croquettes (from the specials 6 Church Street ing. it would be a lovely place for (pilsner). Matador was slightly menu), patatas bravas and hal- Worcester a drink beneath the festoon light- sharper than Palido, but both loumi. Beautifully presented, the WR1 2RH Tel: 01905 616669 ing. The entranceway is quite had a session beer taste - abso- portions were generous and

Kidderminster Town Hall to host Rum & Reggae Festival Kidderminster Town Hall has confirmed that it will present a Rum & Reggae Festival on 3 August. Hosted by Reggae Sound System, the event will include a huge selection of rums, traditional Jamaican food and music from ‘some amazing reggae artists’.

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New spring-summer menu launched at award-winning Bromsgrove eatery A new food & cocktail menu has been launched at the award-winning Wildmoor Oak in Bromsgrove. Chef Lorenzo Richards recently held a food-tasting evening to gain feedback on his new dishes prior to the spring- summer menu being released. The food samples included artisan breads with tapenades, jerk ham hock terrine, mixed patties with chilli mayo and West Indian rum cake. The new menu builds on the success of Lorenzo’s popular Caribbean offering by adding dishes with European and Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell to open new oriental influences. restaurant in one of Coventry’s most historic buildings Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell (pictured history, as it gears up to be the UK City of above with Ian Harrabin from Historic Coventry Culture in 2021. Bringing the Purnell’s brand to Trust) has agreed terms to open a fine-dining the city is very exciting, and especially to be restaurant in The Charterhouse, one of doing so on such historic ground. It’s a massive Coventry’s most historic buildings. opportunity to bring a strong food brand into Commenting on news of the opening, which is the city, and hopefully to be the catalyst for an expected to happen in 2021, Glynn said: “I’m explosive new food culture, as I was in thrilled and proud to be part of what is Birmingham in the early 2000s. My award- unquestionably going to be an amazing venue. winning team and I will create a stunning The Charterhouse is a remarkable building of restaurant which will serve adventurous and Leamington’s Fat Pug national importance, and the project to restore ground-breaking dishes in the form of a la carte it is fantastic. It is an honour to be part of one and tasting menus.” pub wins national of the most important times in Coventry’s innovation award The Fat Pug pub in Leamington has won a national innovation accolade at Warwick set to host its first Winter Food Festival this year’s Star Awards. The town of Warwick will host a winter version the finest regional producers. The venue fought off competition from of its popular food festival on 24 November. Highlights will include live music, craft 2,500 other pubs to claim the award, The brand new event will follow the same workshops, gin-tasting sessions and receiving high scores for its hosting of format as its sister festival, bringing together appearances by real reindeer and Father innovative events, catering and online street food, family entertainment and some of Christmas. marketing. Kenilworth’s popular food festival to return this summer Kenilworth Food Festival will make a welcome return on 21 July. Sponsored by Windmill Hill Brewery, the show will feature more than 80 traders showcasing some of the region’s finest food and drink. The festival will also feature a selection of children’s activities, including craft workshops.

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Orchestra Of The Swan Stratford Play House, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tues 30 April The Orchestra of the Swan is here joined by Peter Donohoe as they present a pro- gramme featuring works by Vaughan Williams (Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and Symphony no5) and Mozart (Piano Concerto no25). Widely considered to be one of the fore- most pianists of modern times, the 65- year-old Donohoe has built up an impressive repertoire during the course of a glittering 40-year career, and has long been a much-admired figure on the Mid- lands classical music scene.

European Union Chamber Orchestra Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 26 April Boasting some of Europe’s finest young professional players, the European Union Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1981, since which time it’s toured extensively, both across Europe and further afield. Along the way, the orchestra has performed with a wealth of distin- Piatti String Quartet guished classical artists, including Nicola Benedetti, Julian Lloyd Webber and Emma John- son... This latest Midlands concert sees the EUCO joined by Tasmin Little (pictured) for Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 5 April Mozart’s Fourth Violin Concerto. The programme also features Haydn’s Symphony No44 in These ever-rising stars of the classical E minor (Trauer), Fauré’s Nocturne and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. music scene have caused a significant stir over the last few years, providing passion- ate interpretations of music from across Collegium Vocale The City of the spectrum of quartet writing. München Prize winners in the 2015 London Interna- Birmingham Choir tional String Quartet Competition, the en- Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 25 April; St Chad’s Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey, Sat 6 April semble take their name from 19th century Birmingham, Fri 26 April: St Martin In The cellist Alfredo Piatti, a leading professor Cornmarket, Worcester, Sat 27 April The City of Birmingham Choir return to their favourite out-of-town venue to per- and exponent of quartet playing at the Late Romantic, 20th century and contempo- form the St John Passion, Bach’s moving Royal Academy of Music. rary a cappella choral works are the stock- retelling of Christ’s betrayal and death. Their Bromsgrove stop-off sees them per- in-trade of the Collegium Vocale München. Commenting on the work, the choir’s Mu- forming works by Haydn, Schubert, and The highly regarded German chamber choir sical Director, Adrian Lucas, says: “The Joseph Phibbs. comprises approximately 20 members and elegant sophistication of Bach’s music has performed in numerous English cathe- reached its peak in his two great settings drals during its 25-year history. Under its of the passion - the story of Christ’s be- founder and director, Stefan Ludwig, the trayal, imprisonment and crucifixion. choir has established an international repu- While the St Matthew Passion is of truly tation for its performances of music from massive scale in terms of resources and the Baltic region and the British Isles. sheer length, the St John Passion is more Its Birmingham concert on the 26th is in aid modest in its conception, yet it contains of St Chad's Sanctuary, to generate funds for some of the most beautiful and lyrical the organisation’s ongoing work providing moments of Bach’s entire output.” support for asylum seekers and refugees. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Mott The Hoople.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 16:26 Page 1

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by Stephen Taylor

IAN HUNTER What’s On catches up with the Mott The Hoople frontman ahead of the band’s Birmingham gig

While Shropshire may not be a hotbed of Bowie on hearing that they were planning to was a big hangout for boys from the Priory music, it is the birthplace of one of rock- split up. Boys School, which was just around the cor- ’n’roll’s most distinctive performers - Ian ner from Barker Street.” “Bowie offered us a couple of tunes which Hunter. were okay, but we were writing okay stuff. All As for the inspiration for Irene Wild, the Born in Oswestry but now living in Connecti- The Young Dudes came along and it was like, song’s tale of unrequited love was based on cut, Ian is looking forward to returning to the ‘Good god, why do you want us to do this? Ian’s experiences with a real person: “Yeah, UK this month with Mott The Hoople, the leg- What an incredible song! Why are you giving she was absolutely gorgeous, and I never ac- endary band that left an indelible mark on it away?’ At the time, it saved our lives, but tually got to go out with her. She was going the rock world between 1969 and 1974. unfortunately it was also the beginning of the out with a friend of mine. His family owned a end for us. The band got a little disenchanted fruit & veg company in Shrewsbury, and I While the original Mott line-up has reformed because now we were a pop band. I wouldn’t was the go-between. I would send messages twice in the last decade, this tour will see a say we were glam, because we were too aver- from Pete to her and her to Pete, so I would change in personnel... age-looking, but we were flash, and it took be miserable in vain.” “There were two halves to Mott The Hoople,” off that way. While that experience ultimately proved frus- says Ian. “The first half finished in ’73, and “We lost either way. If we’d carried on as we trating, another connection during Ian’s ’74 to ’75 is the second half. This is with Ariel were, it wouldn’t have gone on much longer. teenage years had a major influence on his Bender [aka Luther Grosvenor] and Morgan But we had the hit, then we had a few more burgeoning musical development. Fisher.” hits after that, so we were suddenly a pop “There was this kid called Tony Wardle, who While Ian isn’t planning to reform Mott on a band. People were upset either way.” worked in an electrical shop and had a har- permanent basis - “We don’t want to run it Following the demise of Mott, Ian’s solo ca- monica band. That’s how I started, on a har- into the ground” - he sees this tour of the UK reer took off, with Once Bitten, Twice Shy be- monica with Tony! Gradually I persuaded and US as a chance to reward the patience of coming a top-20 hit in the UK and Cleveland him that we could do a couple of guitar num- his bandmates from the latter Mott line-up. Rocks earning him the key to the city of bers during our harmonica show!” “In the first two get-togethers, with the origi- Cleveland in 1979. Alongside music, Ian also enjoys football and nal band, Morgan and Luther weren’t in- Forty years on, it appears that his creative is probably Shrewsbury Town Football Club’s volved. They came to the gigs and were great juices are a long way from drying up: “Lyri- most prestigious celebrity fan. When asked sports about it, and I thought, ‘If I ever get a cally, you can only go to the well so many which of his tunes he’d like to hear belting shot, we’ll do Morgan and Luther so that they times, but somehow, right now, I’m coming out before home games at Montgomery Wa- get their shot too. That’s basically why we’re up with stuff, and I’ll keep doing it for as long ters Meadow, the 79-year-old had a light- doing it.” as it keeps coming.” hearted message for the club’s current With Fisher now a resident of Tokyo (Bender manager, Sam Ricketts: “I’d change Cleve- In the 1970s, Ian’s ‘lyrical well’ included lives in Worcester), Ian admits it’s been “a bit land Rocks. Maybe we should do a Shrews- teenage memories of his childhood in Shrop- of a drag when it comes to visas and all that bury Rocks? Ask old Ricketts if he wants me shire, with the song 23a Swan Hill recalling kind of thing,” but he’s nonetheless looking to do a Shrewsbury Rocks!” the address in Shrewsbury where he lived in forward to revisiting the final two Mott al- the first half of the 1950s. Irene Wild, mean- bums with his old muckers: “The Mott The while, referenced the town’s former bus sta- Hoople Live album came out in 1974. Half of it tion. Mott The Hoople appear at Symphony was done in London, the other half in New Hall, Birmingham, on Sunday 21 April. York. It’s a good live album. Also, The Hoople “My father was a policeman, and one of the album was released, but there’ll be a couple good things about policing was you got free The band are also performing a pre-tour of chestnuts in there from before.” housing, so my dad had 23a Swan Hill. warm-up show at The Assembly, Leaming- Barker Street was the bus station, and the ton Spa, on the 17th of this month, for One such chestnut will almost certainly be girls would come in from the Priory Girls which they’re making a limited number of All The Young Dudes, the 1972 single that be- School, which was then outside of town, so it tickets available. came the band’s first hit, donated by David whatsonlive.co.uk 17 GIGS April Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:48 Page 1

Gigs

CC Smugglers Leamington Assembly, Sunday 14 April Frontman Richie Prynne was a busker when he formed CC Smugglers. The six-piece started life as street performers, but their en- gaging live shows and impressive capacity for self-promotion has seen them build up a global fanbase. They visit Wolverhampton in support of debut album How High.

The Urban Folk Quartet kinds of sounds, from funk grooves and Middle Eastern melodies to afrobeat and Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 19 April north Indian rhythms. They tug their collec- The Urban Folk Quartet are like no other tive forelock in the direction of more tradi- folk band. With Birmingham’s vibrant and tional folk too, describing their music as diverse music scene having a significant in- ‘fiddle-led’ and drawing heavily on celtic fluence on their work, they dabble in all dance forms and traditional song. Martin Turner Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Sat 6 April Wishbone Ash’s founding lead vocalist and The Leylines Bill Laurance + key creative force, Martin Turner here per- The Marr’s Bar, Worcestershire, Sat 27 April James Heather forms some of the band’s best-loved works The Leylines are a firm favourite on the UK Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 27 April with the assistance of his current line-up. Formed in 1969, Wishbone Ash were long ad- festival circuit, drawing comparisons with Bill Laurance is a world-renowned multi-in- mired for their unique blend of blues, jazz the likes of The Levellers, Mad Dog Mcrea strumentalist, composer and producer. and English folk - but it was the way the gui- and Ferocious Dog. Founder of Grammy-winning collective tars played melodic leads together that be- With a genre-defying sound that ranges Snarky Puppy, Bill visits Coventry this came their trademark, inspiring bands such from traditional folk to full-blown festival month in support of his eagerly awaited new as Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden. rock, Hannah Johns (violin), Steve Mitchell album, Cables, which consists of eight Classic album releases including Argus, Pil- (vocals/guitar), Dan Thompson (electric gui- brand new genre-defying compositions. grimage, There’s The Rub, New England and tar), Dave Burbidge (drums) and Sean Booth The opening set comes from ‘post-classical’ Live Dates defined the band’s sound and (bass) have just released second studio artist James Heather, who is signed to Cold- have touched the hearts of several genera- album Recover Reveal - ‘a collection of sin- cut’s label, Ahead Of Our Time. cere straight-from-the-heart performances tions of music fans. constructed with care and played with pas- sion’. Daryl Hall & John Oates Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Wed 24 April Daryl Hall & John Oates have sold more al- bums than any other duo in music history and are among the world’s most sampled artists. With their impact evident in everything from boy band harmonies to neo-soul and rap- rock fusion, they’re visiting Birmingham for the first time in five years and are supported by KT Tunstall.

18 whatsonlive.co.uk GIGS April Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:48 Page 2 Sean McLoughlin Online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2019 08:48 Page 1 Sean McLoughlin Online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2019 08:48 Page 2

by Dave Freak

Sean McLoughlin The comedian chats about podcasts, the Bible, touring with Ricky Gervais and losing a job to a YouTuber with the same name... After more than a decade of writing well-re- I talk a fair bit about all of those things, as Bible in a hotel room about a year ago and ceived shows, Sean McLoughlin's latest, Hail well as broader subjects like technology and was reminded of what an objectively weird Mary, sees the comedian on the verge of a religion. I was raised pretty Catholic and talk and cool book it is. I knew I wanted to keep breakthrough. a bit about that as well. working with Eliot, so I suggested we try and take the book and turn it into a comedy pod- Sean recently opened for Ricky Gervais on How was supporting Ricky Gervais on his cast, with one of the positives being that the tour, makes a cameo in Gervais's hit Netflix Humanity tour? show, by its nature, would have a clear end- series, After Life, and has picked up unilat- I had a blast. I got to travel around Europe point. The main thing we try to stress is that eral rave reviews for Hail Mary. His podcast, playing ludicrously large venues and staying it’s not a show about religion at all, it’s more Sean And Eliot Read The Bible, with Eliot J in significantly less shit hotels than I was like a review show that only ever covers the Fallows, continues to attract more listeners used to. Ultimately, I got to play to the same same book. The podcast has actually had than its Chortle Award-nominated predeces- brilliant crowds as Ricky without the hassle much higher numbers than the last one, sor, Heal Your Wounds. of actually becoming successful. Isn’t that the which is surprising because I assumed fans The only blip in Sean’s ascent seems to be dream? of the Bible would likely be put off by all the getting booked to appear in a new teenage toilet humour, and fans of the last podcast Any backstage gossip you can share from comedy movie, only to have his appearance would be put off by the fact that we’re read- that tour? cancelled just days before he was due to start ing the ******* Bible! I guess we’re catering filming. The cancellation came after the I can tell you that Ricky usually has two types to the strange cross-section of society that’s movie's producers realised that they'd acci- of peanuts in his dressing room. interested in both. dentally booked ‘rising comedian Sean You replaced your Heal Your Wounds pod- Is there much humour in the Bible? McLoughlin’ rather than ‘YouTube superstar cast with Sean And Eliot Read The Bible It really differs from book to book, but in gen- with 22 million subscribers Sean McLough- last year. Had Heal Your Wounds run its lin’, aka JackSepticEye. eral the high death count and the amount of course? incest that’s taking place usually means there As Sean (the comedian, not the YouTuber) Yeah, I think it had. Heal Your Wounds was a are a few things to bounce off. says prior to appearing at the Glee Club in great little podcast, but it was a slog having Birmingham, that was “a remarkable kick in to organise guests, let alone actually hosting Do you have a favourite book in the Bible? the balls”. and making an episode. It was also, surpris- The Book of Job. It’s the story of a rich man ingly, a hard show for some acts to get their having his fortune and his family taken away Great story about the JackSepticEye confu- heads around. A few comedians didn’t under- by God as a test, and the existential despair sion. Was there any fallout/sackings? stand that it wasn’t an interview show, it was this throws him into. The vast majority of the Yeah, it was what we in the entertainment in- sort of a high-concept conversation led by a story is just a transcript of a conversation Job dustry call ‘a massive f*** up’. To my knowl- man who didn’t want to do a podcast. Maybe has with his friends about his faith, the futil- edge there were no sackings or fallout - apart I found it so exhausting because the idea was ity of existence and the pain of being a from my poor bank account - but it did too complicated, but I still think the 25 human. It’s a really haunting and powerful emerge that the other/real Sean McLoughlin’s episodes we did were really funny. Strangely piece of writing which absolutely makes up agent used to be mine! The whole thing felt enough, the show got nominated for a Chor- for a lot of the plodding crap that surrounds like an episode of The Twilight Zone. tle Award about two months after packing the it. You’re currently on tour with your sixth whole thing in, so after that it probably show, Hail Mary. Can you tell us a bit would’ve all felt a bit easier. However, by this Sean McLoughlin’s Hail Mary visits the about it? point, myself and Eliot (my 84-year-old co- Glee Club, Birmingham, on Tuesday 9 host) had moved on and started an even more April. For tickets and more information, It’s a standup show with me telling a bunch ridiculous endeavour…. visit glee.co.uk of jokes about all the things that have hap- pened in my life recently. As I was writing it, I Which leads us directly to Sean And Eliot Sean And Eliot Read The Bible is available turned 30, fell in love and got repeatedly mis- Read The Bible. How did that come about? via all major platforms now, including taken for a YouTube gamer with my name! So The short answer is, I re-read parts of the Spotify, iTunes and AudioBoom. For details, visit twitter.com/biblepod Comedy April copy.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:51 Page 1

Comedy

Demetri Martin Stewart Francis The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Oakengates Theatre@The Place, Telford, Wed 17 April Fri 12 April American comedian Demetri Martin has an Appearances on TV shows like The Comedy interesting way of delivering his deadpan Store, Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats one-liners; he likes to accompany them with have ensured that Canadian funnyman music, reaching for all manner of instru- Stewart Francis has become one of the most ments (including the harmonica, glocken- recognisable faces on the UK comedy cir- spiel, toy bells, ukulele and tambourine) as cuit. When he's not behind the microphone he pumps out gag after glorious gag. casting his comic pearls of wisdom, he's Heavily influenced by Steven Wright, another likely to be found pursuing one of his other master of the deadpan delivery, Demetri is careers as an actor and writer. nowadays looking to connect with his audi- Oh, and he’s not to be confused with Stu ence in a different way: “I love one-liners, Francis, who used to present Crackerjack but I’d also like to be able to talk about how I and wasn't very funny. feel. I’ve gotta dig deeper to be able to do that kind of below-the-neck stuff, though, be- cause I find it hard to get comedy out of it.” Jokes include: “When you have a fat friend, Tommy Tiernan there are no see-saws, only catapults,” and “I Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 9 April got some new pyjamas with pockets in them, With sold-out shows which is great because, before that, I used to across the world, it’s have to hold stuff when I slept.” fair to say Tommy Tier- nan is a hugely success- ful Irish export - albeit an often controversial Jess Robinson Ladies Of Laughter one. Most notably he Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 13 April; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 8 April once found himself in Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 26 April “We’re still in a country where white men hot water for comments dominate many industries,” says BBC he made about the Holocaust, Jews and the Asian Network’s Noreen Khan, who hosts death of Christ. And he’s not always been this touring show, “so it’s very important the comedian of choice with parents of chil- to have visible, diverse role models to help dren with Down Syndrome either... inspire others and to reflect the world we With his gag-bag also including jokes which live in.” Ladies Of Laughter certainly does take as their subject matter a methadone that, providing a showcase for three user, eastern European immigrant accents hugely talented female comedians in Es- and a film idea about gay traveller space- ther Manito (pictured), Glenda Jaxson and men seeking a cure for homosexuality, an Sukhb Ojla. The show lineup has been evening in his company certainly has the known to change at the last minute, but potential to be a bit challenging. whoever turns up, an evening of high- That said, Tiernan’s not one of Ireland’s top quality comedy is pretty much a guaran- comedians without very good reason... As one of the voices behind Dead Ringers, tee. Spitting Image and Horrible Histories, as well as numerous radio and TV ads, Jess Robinson has secured herself a fine reputa- Angela Barnes tion as a brilliant impressionist. The Brewhouse Arts Centre, But there’s a professional downside to Burton-upon-Trent, Fri 5 April being so successful: “Sometimes I wish I When Angela Barnes’s inspirational father wasn’t an impressionist, as I’ve often had died, it proved to be the catalyst for her fi- difficulty getting seen for sitcoms and nally to follow his advice and hurl herself things like that because everybody thinks into the rough, tough world of standup com- that I just do impressions. That said, there’s edy. And if her early-career success is any- a real joy in having the versatility to be able thing to go by, she’s certainly made the right to do all of those shows and commercials. decision. A BBC New Comedy Awards win- “Every day is different, even if some of ner, Angela is a self-confessed ‘Radio Four those days are spent sitting on the sofa nerd’ whose star is most definitely in the as- waiting for the phone to ring!” cendant. Check her out...

20 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy April copy.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:51 Page 2

Lou Sanders Shappi Khorsandi Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 6 April; Sat 13 April Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 5 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 9 June ‘Stabby stepmothers, alcohol issues and an unusual sexual encounter in Los Angeles’ Iranian-born comedian Shappi found herself all feature in Lou Sanders’ latest show, being moved to the UK some 40-plus years Shame Pig. A huge and regular success at ago, after her father - the poet and satirist the Edinburgh Fringe, Lou has appeared on Hadi Khorsandi - wrote a poem that was per- all manner of television comedy series, co- ceived as being critical of Iran’s revolution- hosts the improvised podcast, Why Is Your ary regime. “Obviously there's free speech in Bottom So Dirty?, and was recently con- Iran,” says Shappi, “but little freedom after firmed as a contestant on series eight of the you've spoken.” Greg Davies/Alex Horne-presented panel A regular contributor to radio and television game, Taskmaster. programmes, with credits including Loose Jokes include: “I waited an hour for my Ends, Just A Minute and Have I Got News For starter, so I complained: ‘It’s not rocket You, Shappi describes herself as a ‘spit and salad,’” and “I was the prettiest, cleverest sawdust’ standup, happily pulling on her girl in my class. I was home-schooled.” wellies and trudging through muddy fields to perform at any and every music festival that boasts a comedy tent. Away from the microphone, she’s the author of the bestselling A Beginners Guide To Act- ing English and coming-of-age novel Nina Is Not OK. She’s also paid her dues eating in- sects in the jungle on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!. Shappi visits Birmingham this month with new show Skittish Warrior…Confessions Of A Club Comic.

Bilal Zafar Stuart Goldsmith Micky P Kerr Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 5 April; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Thurs 4 Fri 12 April; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 19 April Wed 24 April April; Glee Club, Birmingham, Wed 10 April “Whether cheering up a distressed child, A word of warning if you’re in a couple and The number of selfies helping prevent a riot, or genuinely saving intending to catch up with Bilal Zafar this Micky P Kerr finds another human's actual life, I’m excellent in month: do not, under any circumstances, himself doing has a crisis,” says Stuart Goldsmith. “When the loudly explain or discuss between your- rocketed since last chips aren't down, however, it's a very differ- selves what he’s talking about during the year, when he ent story.” show, as it really pisses him off. As do peo- reached the final of The host of the hugely successful Comedians ple who don’t wait for everyone to get off a Britain’s Got Talent. Comedian podcast - in which he interviews train before they get on themselves. And And that’s not the fellow comics about the craft of writing and people who, in a social situation, find out only change he’s noticed as a result of his performing standup - Stuart describes his lat- he’s a comedian and then expect him to tell success on the hit ITV1 talent show: “Being est show, End Of, as being “intelligent them a joke. on BGT really got my name out there,” says standup comedy for everybody, but of partic- Not that Bilal’s a particularly cranky guy - Micky. “All of a sudden, I’m getting better ular interest to people over 30 who've lost although he does confess to being some- gigs and headlining shows, which is ab- touch with all their old friends and can't eat what insecure and rather weird: “So it was solutely fantastic.” just one pain au chocolat...” great when I found Micky’s new-found success is a far cry out that pretty much from his worst ever gig: “Early on in my ca- every other comic reer, I did this five-minute set in front of a feels exactly the crowd of over-60s and didn’t get a single same as I do!” laugh because I hadn’t developed any ma- Bilal visits the Mid- terial for older people. It was a huge wake- lands with his latest up call for me, but in the long run it made critically acclaimed me a better comedian.” show, Lovebots.

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Hair.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:53 Page 1

We’re still fighting “racism. We’re still fighting for gay rights. We’re still fighting against wars. Everything is still so relevant ”

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Hair.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:53 Page 2

by Lauren Cole Age of Aquarius The 50th anniversary production of legendary rock musical Hair stops off in the Midlands this month… What’s On spoke to its stars, Jake Quickenden, Daisy Woods-Davis and Marcus Collins, to find out more…

Hair heads out on its UK tour straight off the of act one. So how does Jake’s co-star and for- your hair out. There are still too many rules. back of a sell-out run in London. Although mer Hollyoaks actress, Daisy Woods-Davis People need to be more understanding about it’s set in New York in 1967, the show (who plays university student and political what other people choose.” nonetheless explores a number of subjects activist Sheila), feel about nakedness on For Jake Quickenden, the chance to play that remain relevant in the 21st century. stage? Berger is a dream come true: “He’s mental, Inspired by the late-1960s sexual revolution, “As an actor, something like this is going to which is perfect for me! He’s the one they all very much a product of the hippie counter- happen, whether it’s a naked scene on stage expect will play up the most and be the most culture of the time, and unfolding against the or a sex scene in a TV show. With theatre, it’s rebellious, so I get to be a bit of a loose can- backdrop of the Vietnam War and a really intimate, respectful space. I think it’s non. Everyone thinks that I’m in character widespread anti-war protests, the show fol- also important from a body-confidence point the whole time, but I’m just being myself!” lows a group of rebellious youngsters as they of view. We’re all just real people. It’s kind of Hair marks Jake’s musical theatre debut, and chase their dreams of living a bohemian exis- crazy that we’re all confined to this view that it’s one he’s been looking forward to im- tence and avoiding conscription. bodies shouldn’t be seen. I hope it’s a liberat- mensely: “The world is run by technology. ing experience.” The show’s Grammy Award-winning score Everybody’s on their phones or watching Net- features numerous songs that became an- X Factor finalist Marcus Collins also takes a flix, so it’s great to see actual talent perform thems of the anti-Vietnam War peace move- leading role in the show, playing the charac- live on stage in a production where everyone ment, not least among which is opening ter of Hud. Marcus was particularly drawn to is working hard. It’s a fantastic excuse to get number Aquarius. the musical’s engagement with the problem dressed up, have a few glasses of prosecco, of racism in late-1960s America: “One of the come watch an amazing show and get lost in Premiering off-Broadway in autumn ’67, Hair main points that touched me was the era in theatre. Also, not everyone can afford to get immediately caused controversy. Its nude which it’s set. Civil rights had just come in, to London. Not everyone can afford to stop scene, use of profanity, depiction of illegal but racism was still so heavy. In this show, I over in a hotel there. It’s massively important drug use, lack of respect for the American use words that I wouldn’t even use to refer to to give each city a chance to see amazing pro- flag and deployment of a racially integrated my worst enemy; words that have been used ductions.” cast marked it out as a show that was seem- to me and which made me cry my eyes out ingly sticking up two fingers to the conserva- While Jake’s enthusiastically looking to the when I was young. As I’ve grown up into the tive establishment. future and his tour with Hair, he’s not averse black man I am today, I’ve taken ownership Not surprisingly, the conservative establish- to reflecting on the past - and in particular of those words and I understand them. Those ment was less than impressed. his appearances on three of television’s most words are not to be ignored and pushed popular reality shows: “I appreciate The X “We play a group of hippies who love getting aside. The ‘N’ word was the last word that so Factor because it landed me where I am now, high and don’t want to go to war,” explains many people heard before they were hanged, but I just wish I’d done a better job there be- former X Factor star Jake Quickenden, who before they died, before they lost their lives cause I don’t feel that I did myself justice. stars as ringleader Berger in the new touring due to the fact that they were born black. I’m Then there was Dancing On Ice, which is version of the show. “The Vietnam War is rag- mixed race and I still find it difficult to hear much harder than people think. I trained for ing and we’re all rebelling against that. The that word. It’s going to be fascinating to eight hours a day on that show. It was tough show is full of important messages about free watch the dynamics of that, and how differ- but it paid off. And I’m A Celebrity was just love and things we’re still fighting for today. ent audiences react.” fun. Seriously, I’ve been on worse holidays. I We’re still fighting for everything that they Marcus also believes that many of Hair’s just chilled in a hammock and ate rice and were fighting for back then. We’re still fight- themes continue to resonate today: “Nothing beans. I felt like Bear Grylls!” ing racism. We’re still fighting for gay rights. has changed. Presidents throughout time We’re still fighting against wars. Everything is have gone to war. People are still being forced still so relevant. Conformity is a massive part into not being who they really are because of of the show, too. People don’t always want to the status quo. You’re not seen as enough if Hair The Musical shows at The Alexandra conform. I think it’s really important to be in- you don’t have a full-time job. You’re not Theatre, Birmingham, from Monday 29 dividual.” enough unless you have the flashy car, the April to Saturday 4 May and Fifty-plus years after its debut, Hair remains wife and children. You can’t be sexually fluid, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from best known for its brief nude scene at the end you can’t be gender fluid, and you can’t grow Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 July.

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Les Misérables historical backdrop of unparalleled scale. For all the show’s drama, though, it’s the majestic music composed Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 2 April - Sat 11 May by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil for which Les Mis is Les Misérables is lavish, magnificent and awesome in its power, an best known and most loved. Blockbuster musical numbers include I epic saga that grips from start to finish as it presents a heartrending Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, On My Own and One Day More. story of struggle and survival. Seen by more than 120 million people worldwide in 45 countries and Based on Victor Hugo’s classic 1862 novel, the show focuses on the 22 languages, Les Misérables is returning to Birmingham for the first character of fugitive Jean Valjean as he’s pitted against the tenacious time in 10 years. Inspector Javert in a lifelong struggle to evade capture. Their high- The production comes complete with brand new staging and the stakes conflict is a deeply personal one, brought to vivid life against a promise to be ‘a Les Mis for the 21st century’.

Jekyll & Hyde Dirty Dancing Rita, Sue & Bob Too The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 18 - Sat 27 April Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Lichfield Garrick, Tues 2 - Sat 6 April Mon 1 - Sat 6 April By the time Seen by millions across the globe, Eleanor Andrea Dunbar Bergstein's smash-hit musical tells the clas- was 20, she had sic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely in- written two criti- dependent young spirits from different cally acclaimed worlds who come together for what will plays - The prove to be the most challenging and tri- Arbor, at the age umphant summer of their lives. Hit numbers of 15, and the include Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby, Do You Love wickedly funny Rita, Sue And Bob Too, four Me? and I’ve Had The Time Of My Life. years later. Hailed a genius straight from the slums, Dunbar spent time in a Women's Aid refuge, had three children by three men, de- veloped a serious addiction to alcohol and Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic novella died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 29. takes a twisted turn or two, as Harriet Jekyll, Both of her plays, but particularly Rita..., are investigating her husband’s mysterious shining examples of an extraordinary talent death, finds herself entering a dark and dan- that burned brightly for all too short a time... gerous world of warped science and When best friends Rita and Sue are given a unashamed misogyny... This clever reimag- lift home by married-man Bob after they’ve ining of a classic story has been written by spent the evening babysitting his kids, they the award-winning Evan Placey and is here find themselves embarking on a sexual ad- presented by the Young Rep. venture that swiftly spirals out of control...

24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 2 Captain Corelli.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 11:34 Page 1

Love in a time of war Captain Corelli.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 11:34 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Rollercoaster love story Captain Corelli’s Mandolin arrives in Birmingham next month… What’s On spoke to distinguished Scottish playwright Rona Munro, who has adapted Louis de Bernières’ popular novel for the stage…

The stage production of Captain Corelli’s So how does Rona feel the climate for UK cause I’ve been around for a number of years Mandolin begins its UK tour this month, 25 playwrights has changed during the course of now, I’m lucky enough to be able to pick and years after the publication of the Louis de her extensive career? choose the stuff I’ll really enjoy. I think the Bernières novel on which the show is based. reason I’ve worked with so many different “I’m a Scottish playwright, and I would actu- Set on Cephalonia during the German/Italian genres is simply because I enjoy so many dif- ally say that the climate for playwrights is dif- World War Two occupation of the picturesque ferent things, so sci-fi is definitely up there ferent north and south of the border. North of Greek island, the book tells the story of local with doing something like The James Plays. I the border, what’s been really interesting is woman Pelagia and her lover - the Italian love a diverse range of theatre!” the upsurge in new writing by Scottish play- captain, Antonio Corelli. wrights; writing that’s found an audience on So what’s been the highlight of her career up “I think it’s a wonderful love story, and peo- a large scale. I think this new situation is also to this point? ple always love a good love story,” says Rona quite fragile, though, and I think there’s a Munro, who’s adapted the novel for the stage. “The James Plays, for sure. They were com- danger that it will evaporate again. “The book really evokes the landscape and missioned by the National Theatre of Scot- culture of Greece, so I think that, particularly “Elsewhere in the UK, I think the industry land and ended up being a co-production for people in the rest of Europe who love has become increasingly risk-averse to new with Edinburgh International Festival and going to Greece, it encapsulates everything work on a large scale. For example, some- the National Theatre of Great Britain. They that we love about the country. But it’s also thing like an adaptation of a very famous were a trilogy of history plays about the three telling quite a difficult and potentially tragic novel, which is obviously a wonderful project Stewart Kings, James I, James II and James story about some of the events of World War to work on, is a safe option with an existing III. They were rehearsed and produced at the Two. Ultimately, though, the story comes out market, whereas a new play, by whoever, is same time, which we discovered no one had in a place of hope, without being too senti- less of a safe bet. I think the route to the actually ever done before. People have done mental. I think that’s why it’s appealed to so larger venues for contemporary playwrights trilogies where they do one, then the next the many people for so long.” with their original work is quite difficult, year after and so on, but we were just plonk- which I think is a shame because theatre is ing them all out there at the same time, work- Rona was thrilled to be approached by pro- one of the most exciting artforms around.’ ing with one ensemble of actors from March ducer Neil Laidlaw and director Melly Still to to October. It was just huge and seemingly adapt the novel: “The opportunity to work Rona’s extensive CV includes working with impossible to do, yet we managed it. I think with Melly was a huge draw, as I’d worked Ian Rankin to put Rebus: Long Shadows on the scale of the project and working with that with her on an adaptation of Watership Down stage. The show premiered at the Birming- amazing group of people was just the best ex- a few years ag ham Repertory Theatre, and the venue has o. Then I read Captain Corelli perience I’ve ever had. properly and really absorbed it. The scale of also co-produced Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. “I’m trying to get another James Play out the book really caught me. “While working with them repeatedly has not there at the moment. Then I’m doing a wee “The elements of the story that are so diffi- been decided by me, I think The REP was bit of telly and film and a couple more theatre cult to adapt for stage, which are perhaps the very much on the front foot with Rebus and projects. I’m doing more authored pieces for more violent parts, was part of the appeal of so was very happy to be involved when ap- the stage, rather than adaptations, which is taking on the challenge. Melly is a director proached about Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, actually quite exciting - it’s really nice to shift who does the most extraordinary things with which is wonderful. I think what’s great from one to the other. They work different actors, movement and music. We’ve just got about Birmingham Rep over the last few sets of writing muscles!” the most wonderful music from composer years is that they’ve built up an amazingly di- Harry Blake as well. All I have to do is put in verse programme of theatre. Rebus and Rona is confident that Captain Corelli’s Man- a very simple stage direction like, ‘At this Corelli are quite different! Looking at the dolin will be a terrific production, and has point, 40 German Panzers appear over the work they’ve initiated themselves, both on some final summarising words to encourage ridge and obliterate the Greek army’, and the big stage and the smaller stage, I think Birmingham theatre-goers to get along to the then that goes over to Melly. She always does one of the things they’ve done is produce a show: “What audiences are going to see is 15 something incredible that allows the audi- really exciting programme, so there’s always actors creating the most amazing, exciting, ence to experience scenes that many would room for a bit of everything in it.” terrifying, heart-wrenching spectacle that think couldn’t be done justice to on stage.” they could possibly imagine. I’ve been in the Alongside theatre adaptations like Corelli rehearsal room, and they really are doing the Rona believes the story still has resonances and her own plays, Rona has also written for most extraordinary things. You will definitely today: ‘I think the themes of Captain Corelli’s Doctor Who, both the 20th century series and have the most incredible emotional experi- Mandolin definitely apply to the concerns of the 21st century reboot. She has some inter- ence if you get a ticket!” 2019. A peaceful, idyllic community, albeit esting theories as to why her writing reper- with its flaws, is exposed to the very worst of toire includes so many different genres: “I human nature. This community is also ex- think it’s partly because of the typical posed to the very, very best of human nature. writer’s terror that if I don’t say yes to every- Captain Corelli’s Mandolin shows at It’s the interplay between the best and the thing, I’ll probably starve! Anytime anyone Birmingham Repertory Theatre from worst that humans are capable of which I comes to me with a project, I’m not going to Wednesday 29 May to Saturday 15 June. think is so relevant to this point in history.” say no - I’ve got bills to pay! But mainly be- Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

American Idiot The Alexandra Theatre, Tues 9 - Sat 13 April While Green Day may not be the most obvious choice of band to inspire a musical, there’s little doubting American Idiot’s popularity following its success on Broadway. The show’s coming-of-age story concerns three dissatisfied friends whose lives take very different courses in post-9/11 America. While central character Johnny heads to the city and becomes high on love and drugs before his addiction turns sour, Tunny enrols in the army, only to lose a leg. Will, meanwhile, remains trapped in suburbia, raising a young family and sinking into alcoholism. As you’d expect, the show is packed to the rafters with Green Day hits - a real treat for their fans - and visits Birmingham to mark the 10th anniversary of its premiere and the 15th anniversary of the Grammy Award-winning original album.

Prison Game on the tragic demise of 13-year-old Annie, for When four menopausal women meet in a de- whom the opportunity to play the disturbed partment store, conversation quickly turns to The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 27 April character of Amy in a late-night television the one thing they all have in common - the Marcus Hercules stars in this one-man show drama proves to be anything but the chance menopause. Cue innumerable one-liners on that takes its audience on a journey from a of a lifetime. subjects including forgetfulness, mood young boy’s school years through to his The play’s title was inspired by the EastEn- swings, wrinkles, night sweats and uncon- adulthood. Presented from a semi-autobio- ders advert in which Bobby Beale was about trollable chocolate binges... graphical standpoint, the performance sees to kill his mother - an example, Attwell Ger- Marcus exploring the social and psychologi- hards felt, of a violent child being used to tit- cal problems experienced by the collection of illate audiences without the actual causes of characters he creates. In the process he ex- the child’s violence ever being explored. amines the ways in which the experience of prison can define a man. Prison Game visits Birmingham five years Revealed after debuting at Talawa Firsts, a festival ded- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 19 April icated to the development and showcasing of work by Black British writers. Red Earth Collective and Rites of Passage Productions’ new show is the first to be pre- sented under the banner of Menologues, a series of events that explores the emotional We Need To Talk About world of Black men and how they express Bobby (Off EastEnders) their feelings through thought-provoking drama and other artistic media forms. Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, The Trials Of Oscar Wilde Tues 9 - Thurs 11 April Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 12 & Sat 13 April; Theatre Severn, Menopause The Musical Shrewsbury, Sat 11 May Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Three months can be a long time. For Oscar Tues 23 & Wed 24 April; William Aston Hall, Wrexham, Sun 5 May; Malvern Theatres, Wed Wilde, it was the difference between basking 15 May; Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock, in the glory of the triumphant opening night Tues 28 May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, of The Importance Of Being Earnest, and Mon 3 & Tues 4 June; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 10 - Wed 12 June finding himself in court, charged with ‘un- natural acts’ with other men... Female TV stars ‘of a certain age’ are much in Written with the assistance of Merlin Hol- evidence in this well-reviewed show, with land, Wilde's grandson and the author of The Maureen Nolan, EastEnders’ Cheryl Fergison, Taking a look at the bizarre, challenging and Real Trial Of Oscar Wilde, the play is based Casualty’s Rebecca Wheatley and Copy Cats’ stressful world of the child actor, George At- on the original words spoken in court, and is Hilary O’Neil taking top billing. twell Gerhards’ hard-hitting drama focuses here performed by European Arts Company.

26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 4 Rotterdam.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 11:40 Page 1 Rotterdam.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 11:40 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

out and proud Olivier Award-winning play Rotterdam is coming to the Midlands this month. What’s On caught up with returning cast member Ellie Morris to find out more about the show…

Engaging with a multitude of issues relevant Alice is quite stuck in her ways and isn’t ‘out’ Ellie hopes audiences up and down the coun- to the LGBTQ+ community, Jon Brittain’s to her family. Alice is hiding a lot of herself, try take in Rotterdam’s messages and learn heartwarming comedy features a majority and Lelani is this fresh, young thing who something about the LGBTQ+ community: cast of non-binary, transgender and queer ac- comes in and breaks her open. Lelani just “When I began my journey with the show, I tors. shows Alice a different way of living as a gay thought I knew a fair bit about what trans woman, and then ends up getting a little bit ‘Rotterdam is a fantastic comedy with lots of was and meant, but since then I’ve definitely too attached to Alice…” heart,” says cast member Ellie Morris, who learnt much, much more. I really hope that when people come to see the show, as well as plays out-and-proud Dutch party-girl Lelani. Ellie is returning to the role of Lelani, having enjoying it, their watching of it helps to nor- “It’s about a lesbian couple - Alice and Fiona previously played her during Rotterdam’s run malise for them trans issues and experiences. - who live in Rotterdam, and Fiona comes out at the Arts Centre in London. as tra What happens in Rotterdam isn’t some taboo nsgender at the start of the play. The re- “I honestly just adore this play. I think I’ve subject. I think it’s so important that every- mainder of the play follows his journey from maybe performed it, like, 100 times, and being Fiona to becoming Adrian, and looks at body be educated on something they may not every single time it’s just as good as the last. how that affects his relationship with Alice, personall It’s just beautiful writing. The part I play is so y have encountered, so that the re- his own identity and the people around him.” interesting, and the play as a whole is just alities for trans people aren’t viewed as Ellie believes Rotterdam’s narrative is an im- such a fantastic project - and one that really strange or uncommon. The more stories there portant one to present in 2019. matters. It’s a very important story to tell for are like Rotterdam getting out into the public the LGBTQ+ community, especially now that domain and making it into popular culture, “Since this play was written, I think there’s it’s being made all the more poignant by the the better. It’s the best possible way to tackle actually been a massive amount of progres- fact that a lot of the parts are played by trans taboos and, perhaps, prejudices surrounding sion - certainly in the last five years. I feel like or non-binary performers.” the LGBTQ+ community. a lot more people know a lot more about the “I would encourage anyone and everyone to trans community and about what it means to Ellie is far from alone in adoring Rotterdam. come along and see Rotterdam. There’s s be trans. But I do think there’s still a lot fur- Theatre critics and audiences alike have been o ther to go with that. I think telling these sto- equally enthusiastic about the play: ‘I think much in the show. It’s every bit as funny as it ries, and just making people aware that being in the writing of Rotterdam there’s a really is dramatic, and there are lots of light mo- transgender is normal, is really important. carefully told human story, and all the char- ments alongside the more serious ones. If you Other than that, I think it’s just simply a re- acters are so well-rounded yet flawed. They want fireworks, balloons and a seriously ally entertaining story. all have such valid experiences, and the audi- good soundtrack, then this is the play for ences really get invested in their journey. you!” “My character, Lelani, is kind of the odd one That’s what’s really engaging about the story. out, in the sense that she doesn’t interact There’s honestly so with all the other characters; she only really mething in there for every- one to relate to, from the breakdown of a rela- Rotterdam shows at Wolverhampton talks to Alice. Lelani is a 21-year-old Dutch Grand Theatre from Monday 22 to girl who’s recently moved to Rotterdam, and tionship after being with someone for a long time, to the first heartbreak that Lelani goes Wednesday 24 April and Birmingham she really opens up Alice in a way that Alice Repertory Theatre from Monday 20 to has never been opened up before. I think through. Also, I have to add, Rotterdam has such a great soundtrack!” Wednesday 22 May. Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Wise Children Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 2 - Sat 6 April Showbusiness, sex, scandal and family drama lie at the heart of Wise Children, a new play based on the late Angela Carter’s final novel, which closely follows the trials, tribulations and triumphs of theatrical twins Nora and Dora Chance. “They’re not completely identical twins,” explains the show’s director, Emma Rice. “Dora has got secrets in her past and is much more guarded and sharp than Nora, while Nora is very emotional. With the Chance twins, we really go through their history in its entirety - their loves, their losses and the abuses that they suf- fer. Yet throughout, they’re such good fun and are never victims. They’re always joyful, irreverent and, actually, very sexy. We initially meet them when they’re 75, and they’re still sexy and full of sauciness!”

Fame The Musical once said that making love to her was like ture Club, Bucks Fizz and Depeche Mode, as ‘kissing Hitler’. The woman who began life as well as a supporting cast including Dinner- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Norma Jeane Mortenson courted controversy ladies’ Kate Robbins, Wicked star Emily Tier- Mon 15 - Sat 20 April; Malvern Theatres, Mon 8 - Sat 13 July throughout her Hollywood career, her ney and former Sugababe Amelle Berrabah. troubled life coming to an end at the tragically young age of 36. Breakthrough Theatre’s new production aims The Taming Of The Shrew to take a peek behind the glitz and glamour Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- of the Marilyn phenomenon, presenting the Avon, until Sat 31 August Some Like It Hot star as she sits alone in her “I didn’t want to make a Shrew in the way it’s dressing room ‘stripped back and bare - just been done many times before,” explains di- an ordinary girl telling her story’. rector Justin Audibert in talking about his new production. “I’m really interested in see- ing what happens when you get female ac- Intemperance tors to play traditionally powerful male roles, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and vice versa. So for example, the role of Fri 5 - Sat 20 April The original mega-hit film and its spin-off TV Petruchio, which we’ve renamed Petruchia, series are now both so old that the once-nim- Intemperance was premiered in 2007, takes is being played by a woman in a woman’s ble dancers who appeared in them might place in 1854, and tells the moving story of costume, but with the same character moti- soon be reaching for zimmer frames! Millie, a woman with a new Norwegian hus- vations and social status as Petruchio in any By contrast, Fame The Musical continues to band, another child on the way and a desper- other production. Likewise Katherine is being get up a sweat on a regular basis. And as ate desire to escape the cellar-slums in which played by a male actor as a man and wearing high-octane, choreographed-to-the-rafters they live. a man’s costume, but will have the same so- stage musicals go, it hits the Midlands this Dark, moralistic and likened in style to the cial restrictions that a woman in 1590s Eng- month with a reputation second to none. works of Henrik Ibsen, the play was written land would’ve had. The actors are playing Set in New York’s High School for the Per- by Liverpudlian ‘Renaissance woman’ Lizzie their own gender, but we’ve flipped which forming Arts, the show focuses on the highs Nunnery and is set to a backdrop of evocative gender holds power.” and lows of the students who’re desperately Irish music. seeking success, in the process providing a dazzling evening of foot-tapping music and breathtaking dance. Keith Jack, Mica Paris Club Tropicana and Jorgie Porter star. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 29 April - Sat 4 May; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 7 - Sat 11 May Marilyn X-Factor winner Joe McElderry tops the bill in this ‘ultimate holiday musical’ celebrating Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 5 & Sat 6 April the chart-topping hits of the 1980s. Expect Marilyn Monroe was widely considered to be the much-loved sounds of ABC, Cyndi Lau- the sexiest female movie star of the 20th per, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, A-Ha, Cul- century - except maybe by Tony Curtis, who 28 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 6 Theatre April Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:25 Page 7

Theatre

The Wonderful World Of Disney On Ice Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Wed 3 - Sunday 7 April Get your skates on for the return of Disney’s ever-popular ice spectacular, complete with high-energy music, glittering sets and dra- matic choreography. This particular theatrical extravaganza fea- tures a host of the Mouse House’s most popu- lar stars, including: Frozen’s Anna, Elsa and Olaf; Disney/Pixar favourites from Finding Dory; Toy Story’s Buzz & Woody; Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; and Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie of the Lamp. Mickey and Minnie Mouse also take a spin or several on the ice, in a show that pays homage to a century’s-worth of magical storytelling.

Dear Zoo Live! topus all play their part in creating a 50- Elmer The minute show that promises to keep young- The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, sters aged five and older well and truly Patchwork Elephant Thurs 11 - Sun 14 April; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 28 & Mon 29 April entertained. Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 25 April First published in 1982, Rod Campbell’s lift- This lively stage version of David McKee’s the-flap book has delighted generations of much-loved creation tells the story of a youngsters and accumulated in excess of patchwork elephant who determines to hide eight million sales worldwide. his ‘true colours’ in an effort to blend in, only This highly acclaimed 55-minute stage ver- to find that he feels happiest when he’s sim- sion of the story features child-friendly pup- ply being himself. pets, plenty of music and lots of audience participation. The show is suitable for chil- dren aged two and older. Exciting Science Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 6 April Designed to enlighten, educate and entertain children aged four and older, Exciting Sci- There Was An Old Lady ence promises plenty of ‘wiz, bang, pop and Who Swallowed A Fly splurt’, as the show’s scientists carry out all manner of fun and fact-filled live experi- The Core, Solihull, Tues 23 April; Theatre Sev- ern, Shrewsbury, Sat 25 May; Stourport Civic, ments. So if you think your kids would enjoy Tues 28 May seeing some boffins create a volcanic erup- The People’s tion, turn a vacuum cleaner into a missile Theatre Company - launcher and take aim with a smoke blaster, the highly rated then this is definitely the show to check out. creators of the fab- The Boy And ulous Don't Drib- The Mermaid ble On The Dragon - bring one of the Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, world’s best-loved Mon 15 April nursery rhymes to life, complete with colour- Original songs and traditional sea shanties ful animal characters and singalong songs in- enliven this well-reviewed nautical story that cluding If You're Happy And You Know It and finds a trio of fishermen weaving a whale of a Incy Wincy Spider... tale about ‘musical merfolk, menacing mon- People’s Theatre Co advise that their show is sters and spectacularly bad town planning’. suitable for audience members aged two to Live music, puppetry, and even a rapping oc- 102!

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Theatre for younger audiences...

The Worst Witch Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 24 - Sat 27 April; Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 22 - Sun 26 May Step aside, Harry Potter, Mildred Hubble is visiting town - and she’s ready to unleash some family-friendly magic and mayhem! Many a year before Harry’s Hogwarts hocus- pocus took the world by storm, Jill Murphy wrote a series of books about ordinary-girl Mildred and her adventures at a school for witches. The Worst Witch, first published in 1974, spawned seven sequels, a movie and a television series, with worldwide book sales reaching the five million mark. This brand new show is directed by Theresa Heskins and comes complete with original songs, music, magic and a healthy dose of Mildred-created pandemonium.

Aliens Love Underpants the adventures of fairy princess Holly and her Zog is at Madam Dragon’s school, and is de- best pal Ben, a wingless elf who flies on the termined to win himself a gold star. He’s so The Old Rep, Birmingham, determined, in fact, that he tries a little bit Fri 19 & Sat 20 April; Oakengates Theatre back of Gaston the Ladybird. In this particu- @ThePlace, Telford, Shropshire, Thurs 30 May lar show, the two chums help Gaston clean too hard and finds himself bumping, burning and roaring his way through years one, two Given its title, it’s perhaps not surprising that up his messy cave, go on a trip into The Big and three. the producers of Aliens In Underpants are World with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum, and plan selling the show as one that’s so funny ‘you’ll a surprise birthday party for King Thistle. laugh your pants off’. And they may well be Expect plenty of games, songs and laughter... Madagascar The Musical right about that. Based on the bestselling children’s book by Claire Freedman and Ben Malvern Theatres, Tues 2 - Sat 6 April; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 7 - Cort, the production features ‘stunning ef- Sat 11 May fects, madcap action and original music’. The smell of the greasepaint and roar of the And if that little lot isn’t enough to tempt you, crowd has tempted the furry cast of Madagas- the promise of a close encounter with ‘lots of car the movie to forsake New York's Central aliens’ surely is... Park Zoo in favour of treading the boards on a UK tour. The blockbuster DreamWorks film comes to life in Birmingham when Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Glo- Zog ria the hip hip Hippo stampede into summer with a great big jungle roar. Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 19 - Mon 22 April; Imaginative sets and costumes are very much Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 8 & Thurs 9 May; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 24 - present and correct, in a show that the pro- Sun 26 May; Malvern Theatres, Wed 5 & Thurs ducers are confident will send your kids 6 June home positively wild (which may or may not With previous be a good thing!). Matt Terry stars. Ben & Holly’s shows including Tiddler And Other Little Kingdom Terrific Tales and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Fri 19 & Sat 20 Tabby McTat, it’s April; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 25 & Wed 26 June; The Alexandra Theatre, fair to say that Birmingham, Wed 10 & Thurs 11 July Freckle Productions The team behind Peppa Pig here present a know a thing or two stage version of another of their splendid cre- about presenting ations. Originally a BAFTA Award-winning stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson & Axel television animation, the show focuses on Scheffler stories... whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Kuene and the king Online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2019 08:47 Page 1 Kuene and the king Online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2019 08:47 Page 2 Kunene And The King What’s on chats to John Kani and Sir Antony Sher, who appear in Kani’s new play...

Kunene And The King follows the story of 2009?” It was a long gestation that turned out then, in the opposite way, you’ve got this Jack Morris (Antony Sher), a terminally ill 65- very well! man who’s a carer, and he’s got to look after year-old white actor living a relatively com- someone who’s politically quite reactionary. John: I sent the script to Tony, just to help me fortable life in the suburbs of Johannesburg, So there’s a conflict there, and also in the understand whether I had weaved the story and Lunga Kunene (John Kani), a 69-year-old way that the two men have to negotiate their of King Lear within the story of Lunga and black retired male nurse. Having suffered in- true feelings and their professional relation- Jack (the characters in Kunene And The numerable losses during apartheid, Lunga ship. King). And to my shock, I got this email from must learn to deal with the tension that more Tony saying he was excited by it and had Turning to your own lives, what was your than 50 years of that policy has created, given it to Gregory Doran, the RSC’s artistic first encounter with Shakespeare growing whilst Jack’s health deteriorates at an unsus- director! By that point, Tony was already say- up under apartheid, and how did your tainable rate. ing, “I think this would work well with Jan- early experiences of his work differ? The idea for this play first came about in ice,” (Janice Honeyman, director of Kunene J: Mine was very simple. It was through my 2009 - could you tell us a little more about And The King) to which I was saying, “Tony, secondary school education in 1959. My where the inspiration came from, and I’m not at that point yet!” The idea was to cel- teacher walked in very proud and said we how the play has developed over the last ebrate our democracy and to test this ‘non- were doing a new book: William Shake- 10 years? racial’ South Africa. speare’s Julius Caesar. It was incredible. He Antony: Maybe you don’t remember this, Can you tell us a little bit more about the made us stand up to read. He didn’t lecture John, but when we were doing The Tempest relationship between the play’s charac- about the play, you just read one or two lines in 2009, we had coffee together one day and ters, Jack Morris and Lunga Kunene? and then it would go to the next student, who you did mention that you were thinking of a would also read. The teacher would stand be- A: I think what’s really terrific in the writing play. I don’t remember any details, apart from hind you and say, “Speak with volume, speak is that John has created these conflicts. that you were thinking of a two-hander for with power, speak with love, speak with You’ve got this old white man, who we find you and me. And yes, of course I wanted to pain.” out is quite reactionary in his political views - do that with you. he has some problems relating to a black per- A: For me, my journey to becoming a classi- John: As a writer, I have these little stories in son, particularly one who’s going to be living cal actor at the RSC was a very, very huge my mind, but each one of them is pushed out in his house. journey because I really didn’t grow up by the one that seems most urgent. And I re- taught or inspired by Shakespeare. We were J: You don’t think of Jack as a white racist, member putting Kunene And The King aside taught Shakespeare at our school - Seapoint though - you think of him as someone who to do so many other things - I did three Boys’ High - just as something they had to grew up normally in this country but in an- movies and four plays, travelled the world teach. There was no spark to it, and so like a other area. It’s almost like there are two types and came back. It was only recently that I lot of boys I found it boring and difficult. In a of South Africa, that know of each other but had time to sit down, and suddenly the story lot of British schools, it’s simply not taught don’t know about each other. The play was a began to make sense. And I thought that well - which is why the RSC encourages kind of exercise where I wanted to push how there was a friend of mine - Antony - who, at schools to take young people to actually see a happy, reconciled and accepting Lunga is of that particular time, was doing King Lear, production before reading it for the first time. the new democratic order. To live with a which is integral to my play. One of our set books was Henry V, and my white man is an incredible, brand new expe- only real memory was, like John, that we had Antony: It was so interesting because we rience for him. to read around the class. I read the speech spoke about it in 2009 and then not a word A: The terrific conflict is that Jack is very ill, that involved saying ‘the Earl of Warwick’, until, as you say, very recently. Suddenly you and Lunga is a nurse - a carer. So as much as and instead of pronouncing it War-rick, I said email me and say, “Would you like to have a Jack has these racial enmities, he needs the War-wick. The whole class laughed at me, so look at the script?” And I thought, “Good man. And I think that’s very interesting. And my memory is of humiliation. God, is that the same thing you mentioned in Kuene and the king Online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2019 08:47 Page 3

John, you won a Tony for your work on the threat to the system. But there was absolutely dad came to see Swizu Banzi Is Dead at the St double bill of The Island and Sizwe Banzi support for the work we were doing. It almost Stephen’s Church - 300 chairs, 750 people - Is Dead, but this also led to your arrest on gave everyone a sense, a visual, of what was and afterwards he said to me, “I’ll never see your return to South Africa. How did these happening in South Africa. I remember Oliver that rubbish you do. That was not a play - plays change the way South Africa was Tambo, the then-president of the ANC, say- that was a political meeting. I don’t know perceived by the wider world? ing, “You explained to the British the evil of why you don’t find a job.” apartheid. Something we’ve been trying to do J: No one knows what’s going to be the im- A: The challenges for me were a bit different. in speeches for 20 to 30 years, you just did in pact of a complete project. It was nice to do a From a young age, I had the impression that I one night.” play about a man who is tossed out because was good, having won awards at the City past laws have restricted the movement of A: There are so many people who see politi- Hall, where kids did little speeches. But black people in South Africa (Sizwe Banzi Is cal theatre as a weak form because it’s when I moved to London and tried to get into Dead), and also a play that paid tribute to preaching to the converted, but as you’ve just the two top drama schools at the time, I those men and women in the Maximum Se- demonstrated by that story, you were preach- didn’t manage to. Central turned me down curity Prison, Robben Island (The Island). ing to the unconverted. In that sense, it flat, and RADA sent a letter saying, “Not only wasn’t preachy at all. have you failed the audition, and not only do A: Those two plays were funny and sad and we not want you to try again, we really urge passionate. It was remarkable. I can’t think of Can you tell us a little more about your you to think about a different career.” But other plays in theatre history that might have routes into acting, and some of the obsta- luckily I had a very ambitious Jewish mother done what those two plays did politically. cles you faced when starting out in your and she bullied me through it. Thank god for careers? J: We were amazed by the reactions of peo- her. ple, especially in England. People were ask- J: When you grow up in the township, you go How was it as a black South African tour- ing, “What the hell is this? How did you write to the cinema and you watch these movies ing South Africa under apartheid? this? Where did it come from? What school with 10,000 Red Indians charging at 10 peo- did you go to? What philosophy is behind it?” ple and John Wayne - and John Wayne kills J: We couldn’t tour. We moved from township Ah, man, it was just a play about a guy with them all. But we used to root for the Indians - to township instead. In our theatre, we used the wrong passbook! It’s got nothing to do they were the stories we wanted to tell. There to do one-night performances and move on to with any of the things you’re saying. I think were plays done in the township, of course, the next place - and move and move and other people made much, much more about but they focused on things like the country move. Many times, the play would be it. Even political exiles called it the most bumpkin going to the big city to buy drugs stopped. Many times, some of us would be powerful statement for the liberation of and prostitutes, becoming a thug and dying. detained. I remember when we did The Ter- South Africa. So even that was discouraging because you rorists, I was immediately detained because Still, when we arrived back in South Africa, felt that if you went to the big city you were we changed the assassination of the Duke to we got arrested - and you know, it’s fine, be- going to become a criminal and die. the President of the Party of South Africa, cause it made us more popular, and it also And then of course there were our parents, which made the entire script political. By the made us relevant for the liberation struggle. who didn’t want us leaving their nest. There time we got to plays like Swizu Banzu Is We were not naïve - we knew we were tram- were 11 of us at home, and our father wished Dead, the police knew exactly where to get pling on the toes of the system and were a at least one of us would be successful. My us. Sometimes they didn’t even stop the play, Kuene and the king Online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2019 08:47 Page 4

they just put police in front of the door and Antony, you famously returned to the audiences. I’m used to the interfering town- people stopped coming because they could South African stage in 1994 - months after ship audience, but in England the thunder- see they’d be arrested. the first elections - in Gregory Doran’s ous appreciation comes at the end and you When we came to England in 1973, it was the Titus Andronicus. Can you talk more think, “My god, they were listening, they first time I’d ever performed and not thought, about the decision to set the play in con- wanted every word.” “How do I keep out of backstage to avoid se- temporary South Africa, and its relevance Do you still relish the challenge of a two- curity?” The problem came with some En- at that moment in time? hander, and, as actors, do you ever stop glish critics reviewing the play as extremely A: It was born out of the National Theatre learning from one another? political, because what they wrote became Studio’s cultural visit to the Market Theatre. evidence for when the police interrogated us J: You can’t come from South Africa and not We did several weeks of workshops, and one back in South Africa. The worst for me was know about Antony Sher. The Tempest in thing which Greg and I were investigating after we won the Tony Award. I said thank 2009 was a brilliant production, and ever was what Shakespeare sounded like in differ- you and Winston Ntshona (who appeared in since testing the ground in the intense rela- ent South African accents, rather than in RP. the play with me) said thank you and we tionship between Caliban and Prospero, I’ve So out of that came the idea of doing Titus walked out. Jesus, all the papers in America always wondered what else I could do with Andronicus with a South African cast and said that that was the most political state- Tony. And when he said he’d play Jack in South African accents. Greg chose Titus pre- ment made on behalf of all those who aren’t Kunene And The King, my wish was fulfilled. cisely because of the violence in the play, and even recognised as human beings. We kept because we’d be doing it in a country with on saying that the play is not about that, it’s A: Yes. I have to say, because John was in- such phenomenal violence, which, to a just the opinion of the person who’s writing volved in those famous two-handers with British audience, might have seemed exces- it. Winston, I did feel a special little shiver up sive. These things were not as extraordinary the spine when the two-hander started. Of John, you made history playing Othello in South Africa, and that’s how the concept course, I’m not comparing myself with Win- opposite a white actress in the Market was born and how it became a co-production ston Ntshona - I just have a special thrill from Theatre in 1987 at the height of apartheid. with the National Theatre. that sense of now being John’s acting partner. What do you remember about the play’s We played at the Market, took it back to the reception at the time - and what made you National, and did a little tour to the West J: We need each other to tell this story, and take on the role knowing the risks in- Yorkshire Playhouse. And that, of course, fortunately we’ve known each other all our volved? was a really rich experience - although we lives. It’s also great to be working with direc- did get a bit slapped for it in South Africa, as tor Janice Honeyman again - this is the fourth J: I’d just done a play at the Market Theatre they wanted Shakespeare to be grand and production I’ve been in directed by Janice. when Janet Suzman came to me and said she posh rather than in South African accents. It’s difficult when it’s a two-hander, as there felt it was time to do Othello, to which I said, are no other people entertaining the audi- “Oh no! I carry 11 stab wounds on my body, There’s a school of thought that says ence. It’s just the two of us. And Tony’s a have been detained and have to be careful Shakespeare shouldn’t be taught in South bloody good actor. I’m 75! I’ve really got to even walking the street because everybody African schools and universities. How work hard - this guy is good. wants me dead. So thank you, but I am not would you respond to those trying to de- going to do that play.” colonise the curriculum in this way? This year marks the 25th anniversary of But then I went home and thought about it, the first post-apartheid vote in South A: The arts are our spiritual health as human and then told Janet I’d do it, but that I had Africa. Looking back at a quarter-century beings. If you’re going to cut away Shake- one condition. I said I would only do it if I of change in your home nation, what are speare, it’s like you’re cutting away penicillin was the only black actor. And then we started your hopes for the future of the country? or the most important factor within our own rehearsals. spiritual health. Shakespeare is obviously the J: As we celebrate 25 years of democracy, we It was after I was cast that the police came to greatest, and any society who removes it is need to actually sit down and analyse what my house. They wanted to know whose idea just committing a bit of a spiritual suicide. we did do, didn’t do and what still needs to it was to do the play because Othello kisses, be done. We didn’t know the state of the na- on stage, Desdemona, who, in this case, was J: Shakespeare deals with right versus wrong, tion in 1994. The majority of black people a white woman. So I just said, “Well, the Mar- dark versus light, emotions, love and evil. were so far removed from the reality of the ket Theatre wanted me to play Othello. I’m There is nothing we have written after the 37 economy or management or the legal system. just an actor.” plays of Shakespeare that we could claim is All we knew was running and fighting. And The police would go through the play with brand new thought. Shakespeare has been in 1994, we were suddenly in the ruling party me - “this woman comes in and you hold her here since the learning of the settlers of this with no experience whatsoever, to the point hand and you kiss her. And on page 16, it country. So how can you extract it, sort of that I remember one guy saying, “How can says that just before you leave, you kiss her. like a rotten tooth, out of African culture? It is Mandela run a country? He’s never even run And then, in the part where you arrive in the impossible. a shop! What does he know about it?” Which other place, you kiss her for more than 14 was true. Whilst we made incredible strides As seasoned actors with over 50 years’ ex- seconds. And we can see your tongue moving ahead, we also tripped on our own shoelaces. perience on stage and screen, what draws in her mouth - that’s not in the play.” So I’m It’s been 25 years, and yes, we have a country you back to the intimate atmosphere of just sitting there thinking, “Oh my god, the and a government. We have institutions, and the Swan Theatre? policeman has read the play!” And then I we have all the pillars that hold us together, said, “You know, sir, when Sir Laurence A: The Swan is the best theatre in the world but inside that crowd there are a lot of things Olivier played the role, he put a lot of black for audiences and actors. It’s a brilliantly de- we still need to do. And I think we realise it stuff and polish all over the face, and each signed theatre. I absolutely can’t wait to get now more than ever. time Desdemona tried to kiss him, she left a back into it. black smudge on the beautiful white makeup J: When you stand on the stage of the Swan, - I don’t have the problem.” And he said to Kuene And The King plays at The Swan you think, “This is why I wanted to be an me “Shut up!” and went to the next page. Theatre, Stratfor-upon-Avon until Tuesday actor.” What daunted me the most when I 23rd April first came to England was the silence of the B Side Festival.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 14:21 Page 1

Popping. Locking. Bopping+ Breaking.

32 whatsonlive.co.uk B Side Festival.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 14:22 Page 2

B-Side is back in Brum...

Dance battles, high-energy workshops, live ternational and national artists alongside the beth, a part of Birmingham famous for its music and DJ sets from legendary names in amazing talents we have in the city. street art. hip-hop will all feature in the 2019 B-Side “We’ve expanded both the length of the festi- Elsewhere, a special screening of Bombin’ Hip-Hop Festival. val, from five to 10 days, and the number of takes place at The Mocking Bird as part of Curated by Birmingham Hippodrome, the 10- locations for our events, as we stretch our- Flatpack Festival. Taking a behind-the-scenes day get-together is a highlight on the city’s selves from Southside to Bullring, Grand Cen- look at UK hip-hop and graffiti culture, the calendar of annual dance events. tral and, for the first time, into Digbeth. documentary features some recognisable lo- cations in Birmingham. The 2019 edition of the show features - along- “Each of our festival partners brings a differ- side some of the city’s finest homegrown tal- ent energy and take on what contemporary The festival culminates in Southside on Sun- ent - international artists Karl ‘Dyzee’ Alba hip-hop culture is, enabling us to offer a truly day 12 May with the B-SIDE and Break Mis- (Canada), Roxy (UK), ChryBaby (New York) diverse festival and attract a wider audience sion International Dance Championship, an and Youth Olympic Bronze medal winner B- year on year. We’re really hyped about this epic clash featuring talented dancers from Boy Shigekix (Japan). year’s programme and are already planning across the world. the party for our fifth anniversary next year Dance Hub Birmingham has commissioned in 2020, so don’t miss it!” several new pieces for the festival, including Break Mission’s Dance Of Death. Zoo Nation As stated by Graham, in addition to a pro- B-Side Festival takes place at Birmingham Youth Company Birmingham - one of the Hip- gramme of events at the Hippodrome, B-Side Hippodrome and other city centre loca- podrome’s Young Companies - will showcase this year extends into the Bullring and Grand tions from Fri 3 to Sun 12 May. a piece of contemporary hip-hop theatre. Central, with DJs, dance and rap battles, live performances and a hip-hop-inspired party Commenting on the festival, Graham Callis- For further information and to keep up to for kids and parents all featuring among the ter, Associate Director of Community Engage- festival’s highlights. date with what’s happening at B-Side, visit ment & Festivals at Birmingham birminghamhippodrome.com/bside Hippodrome, said: “B-Side is fast becoming On Sunday 5 May, High-Vis Festival will lead the UK’s number one hip-hop festival for in- a graffiti trail from the Hippodrome to Dig-

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Dance

Motionhouse: Charge Malvern Theatres, Tues 9 April; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 8 & Thurs 9 May Leamington-based Motionhouse’s multimedia show about en- ergy is the third element of Artistic Director Kevin Finnan’s Earth Trilogy, developing on themes explored in Scattered (2009) and Broken (2013) about man’s relationship with water and the earth. Making use of digital projections to create an on-stage world in which dancers and images interact seamlessly, the show fea- tures six performers using dance and acrobatics to explore the human body, ‘tracing the incredible story of energy in our lives’. “Charge is an amazing collaboration between artists and scien- tists,” explains Motionhouse co-founder Finnan. “I find the sci- ence behind the show fascinating, and I want to use my inspiration from this to create a presentation for audiences to enjoy - but which also makes them think about the role energy plays in our lives.”

Swan Lake Silent Lines Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock, Tues 2 DanceXchange, The Patrick Studio, Birmingham April; Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs Hippodrome, Tues 9 April 25 April; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 28 April; The Core, Solihull, Fri 31 May Having last month world premiered The Thread - his much-publicised collaboration The highly regarded Ballet Theatre visits with Oscar-winning composer Vangelis - at the Midlands with its production of this London’s Sadlers Wells, Russell Maliphant timeless favourite, set to Tchaikovsky’s now sends the eagerly awaited Silent Lines out mesmerising score. on tour. Swan Lake tells the story of Odette, a beau- Citing Rodin and Nijinsky among his major in- tiful princess who, caught under the spell fluences, Maliphant has garnered an impres- of the evil Von Rothbart, must spend the sive reputation since bursting onto the scene daytime hours as a swan, returning to in the 1990s, producing choreography that human form only when night falls... A seeks to investigate the changing forms of tra- sumptuous visual feast, the production of- ditional and contemporary dance. fers an evening of ballet which is ideal for With Silent Lines, he uses a clever mix of pro- the first-time trier as well as the more sea- jection and lighting ‘to celebrate the range of soned dance-goer. poetic possibilities in movement’, in so doing making full use of his studies and explorations Burn The Floor not only in dance but also anatomy. The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Sun 21 April; Regent Theatre, Stoke- on-Trent, Mon 29 April; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 12 May “Burn The Floor is the show that ig- nited a spark in me and changed me forever as a performer,” says Kevin Clifton, who’s starring in the produc- tion with ‘new Italian heartthrob’ Graziano Di Prima. “Through Broad- way, West End and touring all over the world, this show has ripped apart the rule book, revolutionised our genre and inspired and shaped me as the dancer I am today. In 2019 I’m delighted to say I’m coming ‘home’ to Burn The Floor.”

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Film

Avengers: Endgame CERT tbc Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Pratt, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson and loads more big stars... Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (USA) In the UK, Avengers: Infinity War was the highest grossing film of 2018. And it was only really half a movie. Now comes the second bit, the finale, or in Marvel-speak, the endgame. Following the mega-massacre at the end of Infinity War, the few remaining Avengers must re-assemble to combat the awful Thanos (Josh Brolin) and save the multi-verse. What drama. And for those who care, this is the 22nd entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Available in IMAX and 3D. Released Thurs 25 April

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in April...

Pet Sematary CERT tbc Holy Lands CERT 15 (100 mins) The Keeper CERT 15 (120 mins) Starring Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Starring James Caan, Tom Hollander, Starring David Kross, Freya Mavor, John Lithgow, Jeté Laurence Directed by Kevin Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Efrat Dor, Rosanna Henshaw, Dervla Kirwan, Dave Johns, Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer (USA) Arquette, Patrick Bruel Directed by Amanda Gary Lewis Directed by Marcus H Rosenmüller Sthers (France/Belgium) (Germany/UK) James Caan plays Harry Rosenmerck, an Ashkenazi Jewish American, who leaves his job as a successful cardiologist to pur- sue a new life as a pig farmer in Israel. From the director of the 2017 French farce Madame. Released Fri 5 April

Bert Trautmann was the goalkeeper for Based on the novel by Stephen King, this Manchester City (1949 to 1964), but before misspelt horror film focuses on an eerie then he was a Nazi. This is the remarkable burial-ground in the woods that contains a true story of a German PoW whose life is terrible secret. Let’s hope it’s better than the transformed by the love of an English 1989 version, which King scripted himself. woman. Expect mutilated moggies. Released Thurs 4 April Released Fri 5 April whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 17:23 Page 3

Film

deranged Jersey tour guide in the award-win- Missing Link CERT PG (95 mins) Hellboy CERT tbc (84 mins) ning Beast (2017). Here, she portrays a With the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Starring David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian Mc- Glaswegian ex-con who puts her dreams of Timothy Olyphant, Emma Thompson, Zach Shane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim, Thomas Galifianakis, Matt Lucas Haden Church becoming a Nashville country singer above Directed by Chris Butler (USA/Canada) Directed by Neil Marshall (USA) her maternal responsibilities. The word is From the company that brought us Coraline, A reboot of the Hellboy franchise originally good. ParaNorman and Kubo And The Two Strings, created by Guillermo del Toro, itself based on Released Fri 12 April this stop-motion animated comedy follows the graphic novel, the new film was origi- the adventures of Sir Lionel Frost (Jackman), nally meant to be a sequel to Hellboy II: The an investigator of myths and monsters. Deter- Golden Army (2008). But things change. Greta CERT 15 (98 mins) mined to prove his credentials, he sets off for Here, our devilish superhero (Harbour) puts the Pacific Northwest to discover mankind’s his best cloven foot forward to fight the an- Starring Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe, Colm Feore, Stephen Rea, missing relative, Link. cient sorcerer Nimue, the Queen of Blood Zawe Ashton Released Fri 5 April (Jovovich). As they say, even demons have Directed by Neil Jordan (USA/Ireland) their demons. Beware the inscrutable piano teacher. And Released Thurs 11 April nobody can play inscrutable piano teachers like Isabelle Huppert. Here, she is befriended by an American waitress (Moretz) after the latter finds her handbag on the New York subway… Big mistake. A psychological thriller from the director of Mona Lisa and The Crying Game. Released Fri 19 April

Shazam! CERT 12a (132 mins) Starring Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou Directed by David F. Sandberg (USA) The seventh instalment in the DC Extended Little CERT tbc Universe, Shazam! is not unlike a superhero Starring Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, version of Tom Hanks’ Big (1988). Billy Bat- Justin Hartley Directed by Tina Gordon (USA) son (Angel) is a 14-year-old orphan who, In direct contrast to Shazam! (q.v.), Tina Gor- when he utters the eponymous acronym (of don’s Little tells of a stressed-out tech mogul six immortal elders: Solomon, Hercules, (Regina Hall) who is transformed into her Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury), is trans- younger self (Marsai Martin), when she was, formed into an adult superhero. er, little. The film was the inspiration of Mar- Head Full Of Honey Released Fri 5 April tin when she was just 10 years old and, now CERT tbc (139 mins) 14, her credit here as executive producer Starring Nick Nolte, Matt Dillon, Emily Mor- makes her the youngest person to hold that timer, Sophia Lane Nolte, Jacqueline Bisset, title on a major Hollywood film. Eric Roberts Directed by Til Schweiger (Germany/USA) Released Fri 12 April Following Still Alice (2014) and What They Had (2018), we now have another drama about Alzheimer's, this time with Nick Nolte as an old widower taken on a road trip by his granddaughter (played by Nolte’s real-life Wonder Park CERT PG (85 mins) daughter, Sophia Lane). Based on the Ger- With the voices of Jennifer Garner, Matthew man film Honig im Kopf (2014), also directed Broderick, John Oliver, Mila Kunis, Brianna by Til Schweiger. Denski, Tom Baker Released Fri 19 April The park, hidden deep in the woods, is full of fantastical rides and engaging animals, but is under threat when its creator, the 10-year-old June (Denski), starts to grow up. From Wild Rose CERT 15 (100 mins) Paramount Animation, the company that Starring Jessie Buckley, Julie Walters, Sophie brought us Sherlock Gnomes. Incidentally, Okonedo, Jamie Sives, Craig Parkinson the director Dylan Brown was fired from the Directed by Tom Harper (UK) production (and had his credit removed) after Jessie Buckley is the Next Big Thing, and de- accusations of inappropriate behaviour. servedly so. She has played a variety of roles, Released Mon 8 April notably Marya in TV’s War And Peace and the 38 whatsonlive.co.uk Film April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 17:23 Page 4

Film highlights released in April...

Loro CERT 18 Starring Toni Servillo, Elena Sofia Ricci, Riccardo Scamarcio Directed by Paolo Sorrentino (Italy/France) A two-part drama, Loro focuses on the politi- cians and businessmen (the ‘loro’ of the title) who surround the media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi (Servillo). From the director of such masterpieces as The Consequences Of Love, This Must Be The Place and the Oscar- winning The Great Beauty. Released Fri 19 April

CRITIC’S CHOICE

The Sisters Brothers film is a Western with a dark comic twist, which one might expect from the brilliant CERT 15 (122 mins) French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, whose Starring John C Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, first English-language film this is. And Read Joan CERT 12a (101 mins) Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Rutger Hauer, there aren’t many Westerns directed by Starring Sophie Cookson, Stephen Campbell Rebecca Root, Allison Tolman, Carol Kane Moore, Tom Hughes, Judi Dench Directed by Jacques Audiard (USA/France) Frenchmen. Audiard and his regular col- Directed by Trevor Nunn (UK) John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix play Eli laborator Thomas Bidegain forged their This biography of Joan Stanley, inspired by and Charlie Sisters, siblings who make a screenplay from the 2011 novel by Patrick the life of the KGB spy Melita Norwood, fol- living killing. But when they are hired to deWitt and the film won Audiard the Silver lows her early days at Cambridge, right up to eliminate the gold prospector Hermann Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, her fight with dementia in her 80s. Kermit Warm (Riz Ahmed), Eli starts to suf- along with glowing reviews. Released Fri 19 April fer a crisis of conscience. Set in 1850, the Released Fri 5 April

Bel Canto CERT 15 (100 mins) Starring Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabe, Se- CERT 15 (93 mins) bastian Koch, Christopher Lambert, Ryo Kase, Eighth Grade The World Is Yours Olek Krupa, Elsa Zylberstein Starring Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily CERT 15 (96 mins) Directed by Paul Weitz (USA) Robinson, Jake Ryan Directed by Bo Burnham (USA) Starring Gabby Rose, Karim Leklou, Vincent When a world-class soprano (Julianne Cassel, Isabelle Adjani, François Damiens Directed by Romain Gavras (France) Moore) agrees to perform for a Japanese in- dustrialist (Ken Watanabe) in South Africa, A drug dealer is desperate to change his life, she finds herself in the middle of a hostage so his next job, he swears, will be his last. crisis. Paul Weitz directs his own adaptation And we’ve all heard that before. The French of the novel by Ann Patchett. comedy was shot in France and in Benidorm in Spain. Released Fri 26 April Released Fri 26 April

As her transition to high school approaches, eighth-grader Kayla Day (Fisher) struggles with issues of social anxiety. Even so, she posts motivational videos on YouTube, which is a bit rich. The comedy-drama, the first from Bo Burnham, received raves and numer- ous prizes in the US. Released Fri 26 April

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

Freya Dooley: Somewhere In The Crowd There’s You Eastside Projects, Birmingham, until Sat 27 April “I work with writing, moving image, sound and performance,” explains Gloucestershire- born artist Freya Dooley. “In my work, I create fragmented monologues, dialogues, sound- tracks and auto/biographical semi-fictions, often by combining literary and pop-culture references.” The most obvious pop-culture reference in Freya’s latest solo project is the title itself, a lyric from the 1980 Abba song, Super Trouper. A multi-channel sound installation, the show layers collected vocals, earworm hooks, choral fragments and field recordings, oscil- lating between synchronisation and discord. Freya’s aim is to explore both the potential and the limitations of the live and recorded voice, in order to investigate the shared expe- rience of listening and the effort required to listen.

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Visual Arts

Hew Locke: Here’s The Thing Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, until Sun 2 June This exploration of the languages of colonial and post-colonial power, and the symbols through which different cultures assume and as- sert identity, marks the most comprehensive ex- hibition to date of work by Hew Locke. The Edinburgh-born sculptor and contemporary visual artist uses a range of media including painting, drawing, photography and installation to fuse historical source material with his keen interest in current affairs. “I hope that the viewer will initially be visually attracted to a piece,” explains Hew, “but that they will then become aware that complex histo- ries have been woven into the work; histories that are there for them to unpick.”

Brave: The Girls Of South Sudan Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, until Sun 19 May Global children’s charity Plan International UK is the organisation behind this thought- provoking exhibition by photojournalist Kate Holt, who travelled to war-torn South Sudan to document the experiences of some of the country’s teenage girls. “I was married in January last year when I was 14,” says Akujang, one of the girls featured in the exhibition. “My husband is 18 years old. I’m his first wife. I’m the eldest girl, so it was my job to cook and work in the garden, so I never went to school. I was married off - I did not have a choice. When I was pregnant, there were some days I had no food. It was difficult being pregnant with no food. Now I’m breast-feeding, but sometimes I have no milk and it is hard because my baby cries... If I eat enough, I have milk for a day, but if I don’t eat, there isn’t enough...” Apollo 50 The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, until Sun 3 November Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 2 June The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition makes a welcome return to the Herbert this month in the form of 100 stunning images. The on-show pics were selected by expert judges and drawn from a staggering 45,000-plus entries, the images being rated for their creativity, originality and technical excellence. A half-century ago this July the 21st, Neil Arm- Open both to professional and amateur strong took one small step for (a) man, one giant snappers, the competition celebrates leap for mankind when he became the first per- biodiversity, promotes conservation and son ever to set foot on the surface of the moon. champions ethical photography. In the This special exhibition commemorates that his- process, it also provides visitors with the toric occasion, bringing together 50 models and opportunity to view dramatic landscapes memorabilia in a multimedia display which re- and endangered habitats, as well as to counts the epic story of the Apollo programme. come face-to-face with some of the The show also traces the history of rocketry, as world’s most bizarre species. well as featuring a selection of models of sci- ence-fiction spacecraft.

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Eggcellent events from around the region Easter

The Great Easter Dragon Egg Hunt Ludlow Castle, Sat 13 - Sun 28 April The chance to explore medieval ruins while hunting for dragon’s eggs is the Easter holiday family day out on offer at Ludlow Castle this month. Youngsters are urged to get on the hunt asap before the eggs hatch and the town finds it- self overrun with baby dragons. There are small prizes up for grabs too, so make sure your egg-finding antennae is up and running in readiness for the challenge!

Easter Adventure Quest Egg-Citing Easter Celebrations Kenilworth Castle and Witley Court Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 13 - Sun 28 April & Gardens, Sat 13 - Sun 28 April Experience the weird and wonderful Easter The museum’s holiday-entertainment line-up Join a sure-to-be-fun hunt for practices of years gone by at the Black Country also features a reenactment of a springtime dragon eggs at two of the Midands’ Living Museum this Easter. Take part in tradi- wedding and the not-so-romantic antics of most popular visitor attractions tional street games, including egg dancing and numerous costumed characters performing this Easter holiday. egg tapping, or get hands-on with ‘crafty’ activi- street theatre! Crack the clues as you and your ties such as egg painting and card writing. family follow the trail around the grounds of either Kenilworth Cas- tle or Witley Court (or both!). Intrepid adventurers who track Great Easter offer! Enjoy Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre down the dragon eggs will not only be given a certificate to mark their and Legoland Discovery Centre with a fabulous combi ticket! achievement but will also receive a Midlands families can enjoy two of Birmingham delicious chocolate treat! city centre’s top visitor attractions for only £25 per person this Easter. National Sea Life Centre Birmingham and Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham are offer- ing a fantastic combined experience courtesy of a special combi ticket offer. The National Sea Life Centre is home to more than 2,000 creatures (including a colony of gen- too penguins, black-tip reef sharks and a giant green sea turtle), many of which have been res- cued or successfully bred as part of the global Easter Family Craft Sea Life breeding initiative... Activities Having opened in summer 2018, Legoland Dis- Coventry Transport Museum, covery Centre is the ultimate indoor Lego play- Sat 13 - Sat 27 April ground - a world of colour, creativity and fun for Coventry Transport Museum is children of all ages. The popular attraction fea- running some ‘eggs’tra-special tures a Lego creative workshop, two rides, a 4D craft activities this month, offering cinema, a Lego Friends building zone, a Lego families the opportunity to let their City soft play area and plenty more... imaginations run wild as they set The combi ticket is valid for 90 days - meaning about the challenge of inventing that you don’t need to visit both attractions on some eggstremely marvellous egg- the same day! - and can be purchased by visiting related machines. either: visitsealife.com/birmingham or birming- Sounds like a, er, cracking day out ham.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk to us... whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 16:55 Page 3

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Eggcellent events from around the region Easter

St George At Easter The Commandery, Worcester, Mon 22 April This family-friendly Easter Mon- day celebration of England’s pa- tron saint features a range of entertainment to enjoy, including storytelling sessions, perform- ances by reenactors, mummers play and plenty of craft activities for kids of all ages and abilities.

Easter at Birmingham of its current exhibitions - Leonardo da Vinci: A Animal Easter Trail Life In Drawing and Too Cute! Sweet Is About RAF Museum, Cosford, Museums To Get Sinister... Sat 13 - Sun 28 April Visit birminghammuseums.org.uk for specific Celebrate National Tea Day on Sunday the 21st New for 2019, the RAF Museum is dates, times and costs of individual events in the splendid surroundings of Aston Hall, as hosting this suitable-for-all-ages Birmingham Museums is providing a whole the Grade I listed Jacobean house transforms animal Easter trail around its host of fun ways in which families can enjoy into ‘Aston in Wonderland’. Youngsters can hangars. The Easter Bunny is themselves this Easter holiday... meet their favourite Lewis Carroll characters looking for his animal friends and At Thinktank science museum - as well as the over a nice cup of tea or two, with the Mad Hat- wants visitors to help him find opening of its brand new 4K Planetarium, the ter, the ever-so-grumpy Queen of Hearts and them. Provide him with some only one in the West Midlands - there’s also Alice herself among those in attendance... much-needed assistance, com- Smethwick Engine Steaming Day taking place The Trust’s other sites of Blakesley Hall, the plete the trail and pick up a much- on Wednesday the 17th, an event that allows Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Soho House, deserved chocolatey prize! visitors to see first hand the power of the Weoley Castle and Sarehole Mill are also get- world’s oldest working steam engine... ting into the Easter spirit by holding a variety Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is present- of craft activities and workshops across the Easter ing numerous Easter activities inspired by two holiday period. Eggstravaganza Cadbbury World, Bournville, Fri 19 - Mon 22 April What better place to start your Easter Crafts at Ironbridge Easter celebrations than at the Gorge Museums home of one of the world’s biggest chocolate brands! Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Fri 12 - Fri 26 April, Coalport China Cadbury World has once again Museum, Ironbridge, Sat 13 - Sun 28 April cracked out the fun with its an- Young artists can enjoy some spring-in- nual Easter Eggstravaganza event, spired ‘crafty’ fun in Ironbridge this Easter. this time featuring an exclusive The Jackfield Tile Museum is hosting drop- stage show starring Mr Cadbury’s in tile-decorating workshops, where young- parrot. sters can try their hand at producing An Easter egg trail and an Easter floral-themed designs using the Victorian bonnet competition also feature in tube lining technique. the line-up of entertainment. Over at Coalport China Museum, mean- while, there are daily sessions in which children can use quick-drying paint to dec- orate a money box, fridge magnet or paper plate with spring flowers including daf- fodils, tulips and bluebells.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations Stratford-upon-Avon, Sat 27 April If living so long were possible, William Shakespeare would’ve been 455 this month - and his hometown of Stratford-upon- Avon is set to celebrate the occa- sion! Highlights of the day include a colourful parade through the town centre - com- plete with an appearance by the man himself! - a Knights & Nymphs children’s garden party and a mass-movement dance piece performed by local and re- Kidtropolis Pinkfong and his best friend get dancing - and gional community groups. appearances by TV royalty Sam and Mark, who’ll NEC, Birmingham, Sat 13 - Mon 15 April be hosting their very own live show on the Satur- Not sure where to take the kids during the Easter day and Sunday. holiday? Fear not, for popular children’s event Also announced for this year is a 200ft-long in- Kidtropolis is returning to Birmingham’s NEC for flatable assault course that allows children to a second year. venture through a number of different and imagi- Attractions at the 2019 edition of the event in- native zones, including the Arctic and a jungle. clude a Baby Shark live mini show - in which

Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom creatures) a woolly mammoth, sabre toothed tiger, woolly rhinoceros, giant sloth and short- Birmingham Botanical Gardens, faced bear. Sat 6 - Sun 28 April The first outdoor experience of its kind in the Now here’s a brand new attraction designed to UK, the show takes families on a walkthrough leave your youngsters well and truly journey that sees the Ice Age cleverly recreated awestruck... with scenery and props. Featuring more than 40 impressive installations The attraction also features a mini cinema, of animated life-sized beasts, Ice Age: The Lost street food & drink stalls, a fossil excavation pit Kingdom provides visitors with the chance to and a merchandise shop from which to pur- Into The Wild come face to face with (among other impressive chase an Ice Age memento to take home. Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Sat 13 - Sat 27 April Children visiting Herbert Art Gallery this Easter can get cre- ative through a wide range of wildlife-themed activities. Drop-in sessions during the first week, exploring the theme of ‘under the sea’, feature sea-scene printing workshops, the chance to make whale-inspired sun catchers and the opportunity to create tropical fish out of clay. The second week’s workshops - taking the theme of ‘wild beasts’ - provide youngsters with the chance to marble paint their own tiger, build a wild clay creature and design a roaring rag lion.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Kapow! West Mid Showground, Shrews- bury, Sat 27 April Raising funds for local charity Severn Hospice, Kapow! sees West Mid Showground turned into a giant inflatable obstacle course for the day. As the name of the event would suggest (well, at least to anyone who remembers the kitsch and classic Batman TV series from the 1960s), ‘superheroes’ is very much a theme of the event. Participants are encouraged to grab a cape, make a cowl or wear a magic bracelet to help channel their inner Superman or Wonder Woman.

St George’s Day armour, and trying out some traditional games in the company of the castle’s very own Lady Fre- Celebrations ville. Tamworth Castle, Sat 20 April Out in the grounds, families can sample the Tamworth Castle is holding a truly medieval ex- pleasures of archery, enjoy watching a spectacu- perience for this month’s St George’s Day. lar medieval joust, walk around a medieval en- Visitors can get hands-on with the castle’s living- campment, chat to numerous street entertainers history experiences by having a go at doing the and steer the kids in the direction of a host of laundry, learning about medieval weaponry & children’s activities. Explorasaurus Mini Madness Evening Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Fri 12 April Sat 6 - Sun 28 April Dudley goes dino-crazy for a day British Motor Museum is kickstarting Mini’s 60th this month. birthday celebrations with a host of themed fam- Visiting families can get involved ily activities taking place throughout the month. in dinosaur-themed craft activi- Visitors can enjoy informative family tours with ties, head out on a treasure hunt a Mini-mad mechanic character, follow a Mini to complete a special ‘dino direc- Trail and make their very own Mini using air dry tory’, grab a pith helmet for a clay. photo opportunity and have a go Over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, kids can at excavating fossils like a real enjoy a traditional Easter Egg hunt but wi th a palaeontologist. special Mini twist, collecting eggs around the And if you think you’re the biggest museum to claim their Mini Egg reward. dinosaur fan around, there’s a not-to-be-missed Triassic trivia Motorfest quiz to test your knowledge of all Chetwynd Deer Park, Newport, things big & prehistoric. Sun 21 & Mon 22 April Up to 1,000 classic cars from the 1930s to the 1990s will be in evidence at this two-day motor show, which is being held at Chetwynd Deer Park for the first time. Other event attractions include more than 30 local car clubs, trader & autojumble stalls, live arena parades, live music, face painting, a disco and plenty of party games.

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Your week- by-week listings guide April 2019 thelist

Le Gateau Chocolat: Icons at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry - Friday 26 April

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

What’s On Mon 1 to Sun 7 April Mon 8 to Sun 14 April Mon 15 to Sun 21 April Mon 22 to Tues 30 April

Conrad Anker at Emily Atack at Solardo play at Remi Harris at Malvern Theatres Albany Theatre, Coventry Kasbah, Coventry Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Thurs 4 April Fri 12 April Sun 21 April Sat 27 April

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thelist THROUGHOUT APRIL

of schools and colleges in Rugby Visual Arts with objects from the museum’s so- Artrix, Bromsgrove cial history collection, until Sat 27 Apr NEW HILL & DOLPHIN: VIEWS ON The Herbert Art Gallery & Mu- COLOUR Collaborative exhibition by seum Bromsgrove artists Lorna Hill and Dave Dolphin, Tues 2 Apr - Sun 2 WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR June Exhibition from the Natural History Museum featuring breathtaking ani- Birmingham Museum & mal portraits, dramatic landscapes, Art Gallery bizarre species and endangered habitats, until Sun 2 June WITHIN AND WITHOUT: BODY IMAGE AND NEW COVENTRY ART SOCIETIES EXHIBI- THE SELF Exhibition examining how TION Exhibition featuring a wide range social, historical and cultural factors of subject matter, from wild animals, affect body image, and how this is ex- landscapes and flowers to cars, pressed through objects and art- steam trains and portraits, Thurs 18 works, until Sun 5 May Apr - Sun 19 May Kate Rusby - Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN DRAWING To mark the 500th anniversary of the Worcester City Museum & Art Music and Arts, Canal THE LOUNGE KITTENS Fri death of Leonardo da Vinci, 12 of the Gallery Basin, Warwickshire 5 Apr, Kasbah, Coven- Renaissance master's drawings from Gigs BENJAMIN FRANCIS try the Royal Collection are displayed as MATISSE Two exhibitions combine to WARD THOMAS Mon 1 LEFTWICH Thurs 4 Apr, MARTIN TURNER EX part of 12 simultaneous exhibitions provide a spectacular, colourful Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- The Assembly, Leam- WISHBONE ASH Sat 6 across the UK, until Mon 6 May show: Matisse: Drawing With Scis- sors - a Hayward Gallery Touring ex- ingham ington Spa Apr, Huntingdon Hall, TOO CUTE!: SWEET IS ABOUT TO GET hibition from the Southbank Centre, DENNIS BOVELL Mon 1 BOYZ II MEN Fri 5 Apr, Worcester SINISTER A range of artworks that London - and Diaghilev's Ballet Apr, Hare & Hounds, O2 Academy, B’ham MAX & HARVEY Sat 6 show different takes on cuteness, Russes; a unique collection of cos- Birmingham Apr, O2 Academy, from contemporary-based issues to GLAMOUR OF THE KILL tume and ephemera telling the story Birmingham 19th century oil paintings, until Sun GIORGIO MORODER Mon Fri 5 Apr, O2 Institute, of the spectacular and sometimes 12 May 1 Apr, Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE AC/DC EXPERIENCE scandalous 20th century ballet com- Birmingham Sat 6 Apr, O2 COLLECTING BIRMINGHAM: WHO IS BRYAN CORBETT BAND pany, until Sat 27 Apr Academy, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM? Discover new collec- APRE Tues 2 Apr, Hare Fri 5 Apr, Symphony FIFTY OBJECTS; FIFTY STORIES EXHIBI- tions that reflect the experiences of & Hounds, B’ham Hall, Birmingham DRENGE Sat 6 Apr, O2 TION Curator Garston Phillips shares diverse Birmingham people - from Institute, Birmingham the tales, anecdotes and memories AN EVENING WITH ALFIE THE JERSEYS Fri 5 Apr, working lives to community activists that have helped shape the museum BOE Tues 2 - Wed 3 Palace Theatre, Red- LEFT FOR RED Sat 6 and protest movements, until Sun 27 for five decades, until Sat 9 Nov Apr, Symphony Hall, ditch Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- Oct Birmingham ingham FASHIONING PEACE: LIFE AND LIBERTY SYKED Fri 5 Apr, The AFTER THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION Ex- KEYWEST Wed 3 Apr, Marr’s Bar, Worcester STEVE GUNN Sat 6 Apr, Compton Verney Gallery, O2 Institute, B’ham Hare & Hounds, Birm- Warwick hibition exploring how the changes THE BIG CHRIS BARBER brought about through the Great War LADY BIRD Wed 3 Apr, BAND Fri 5 Apr, The ingham PAINTING CHILDHOOD: FROM HOLBEIN were reflected in clothing and fashion Hare & Hounds, Birm- Roses Theatre, LOLLY PARTON Sat 6 TO FREUD A celebration of children, from 1918 through to the Roaring ingham Tewkesbury Apr, Number 8 Com- childhood and innocence, bringing 20s, until Wed 8 Jan 2020 BOB LOG III Wed 3 Apr, JIM MORAY TRIO munity Arts Centre, together some of the most iconic Fri 5 Hare & Hounds, Birm- Apr, The Other Place, Worcestershire paintings, sketches and sculptures of Other VISUAL ARTS ingham Stratford-Upon-Avon children from the past 500 years, until MARIO BAKUNA AND ED- Sun 16 June HOME SWEET HOME Exhibition reflect- DMA'S Thurs 4 Apr, O2 MUNDO CARNIERO Sat 6 ing themes in the RSC’s production Academy, Birmingham Apr, The Tin Music and CHILDHOOD NOW Exhibition bringing of As You Like It, until Sun 7 Apr, Arts, Canal Basin, War- together the works of three contem- EASY LIFE Thurs 4 Apr, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Strat- wickshire porary figurative painters - Chantal O2 Institute, B’ham ford-upon-Avon THE COUNTERFEIT SEV- Joffe, Mark Fairnington and Matthew FLEECY FOLK: JIMMY ENTIES Sat 6 Apr, Artrix, Krishanu, until Sun 16 June OPEN EXHIBITION An opportunity to ALDRIDGE & SID GOLD- Bromsgrove view and purchase a wide selection SMITH Thurs 4 Apr, The Forge Mill Needle Museum, of works of art, until Mon 27 May, Fleece Inn, Bretforton, ICONS Sat 6 Apr, Redditch Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Mu- Nr Evesham Palace Theatre, Red- seum ditch ODDFELLOWS ARTS Showcasing the COSMIC PSYCHOS Thurs THE PLAY'S THE THING Display of cos- THE GRIND LIVE! Sat 6 talents of nine very different artists 4 Apr, O2 Institute, FEAST OF FIDDLES Fri 5 tumes and props from the archives, Apr, Birmingham Town who’ve joined together to form a Birmingham Apr, Huntingdon Hall, until Tues 31 Dec, Swan Theatre, Hall group that creates work using a vari- Worcester Stratford-upon-Avon FOLK DEVILS Thurs 4 ety of mediums, until Sun 7 Apr MO AMER & GUZ KHAN Apr, Hare & Hounds, KATE RUSBY Fri 5 Apr, NEW EXHIBITION Exhibition featuring Sun 7 Apr, O2 Birmingham Royal Spa Centre, more than 300 postcards from Academy, Birmingham Rugby Art Gallery & Museum Leamington Spa around the world, each bearing a ANGHARAD DAVIES SOLO SOOT FESTIVAL PRE- PETER RABBIT: MISCHIEF & MAYHEM Ex- drawing of a bird and a written mes- AND XHOSA COLE'S BOO HERWERDINE Fri 5 SENTS SOUND: IN hibition telling the story of the cre- sage to represent the theme of mi- GREEK SUITE Thurs 4 Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove ation of Peter Rabbit, including Apr, Midlands Arts BLOOM Sun 7 Apr, The gration, Tues 2 Apr - Wed 1 May, The NOVANA - (A TRIBUTE TO original rarely exhibited artworks and Centre, Birmingham Tin Music and Arts, Hive, Worcester NIRVANA) Fri 5 Apr, The manuscripts, until Sat 27 Apr Canal Basin, Warwick- LAVINIA BLACKWELL Assembly, Leamington shire EDUCATING RUGBY Explore the history Thurs 4 Apr, The Tin Spa 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 1-7 April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:57 Page 2

Monday 1 - Sunday 7 April

FRANCO FAGIOLI: VINCI AND HANDEL Classical Music Featuring Il Pomo d'Oro and Franco Fagioli (Countertenor). Programme ANAÏS GAUDEMARD IN RECITAL Featur- includes works by Durante, Vinci, ing Anaïs Gaudemard (harp). Pro- Hasse, Handel and Fiorenza, Sun 7 gramme includes works by Debussy, Apr, Birmingham Town Hall Fauré, Pépin, Prokofiev, Glinka and DOUBLE BASS DAY Featuring master- Smetna, Tues 2 Apr, Birmingham classes with Thomas Martin, Anthony Town Hall Alcock, Damian Rubido Gonzales, DECIBEL PLAY ED BENNETT Featuring Julian Atkinson and Jeremy Watt, Ed Bennett (composer/Artistic Direc- Sun 7 Apr, Royal Birmingham Con- tor/Electronics) & Daniele Rosina servatoire (conductor), Tues 2 Apr, The Lab, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: WINTER RE- MEMBERED Featuring Carmen Flores (viola) & Kenneth Woods (conduc- Comedy tor). Programme includes works by David Matthews, Mahler, Mozart & AFTERMIRTH Wed 3 Apr, The Roses Britten, Tues 2 Apr, Stratford Play- Theatre, Tewkesbury house, Stratford-upon-Avon TEZ ILYAS, ALLAN HAVEY & COMEDY AN EVENING WITH ALFIE BOE Tues 2 - CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs Wed 3 Apr, Symphony Hall, B’ham 4 Apr, The Glee Club, Birmingham CBSO & JOHN WILSON: A PASTORAL KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY NIGHT Thurs SYMPHONY Featuring John Wilson 4 Apr, Stourbridge Town Hall Kunene And The King - The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (conductor), James Ehnes (violin) IVO GRAHAM Fri 5 Apr, The Slade and James Way (tenor). Programme Rooms, Wolverhampton Stratford-upon-Avon val presents an evening of new work includes works by Copland, Barber ANDREW LAWRENCE Fri 5 Apr, The from some of Coventry & Warwick- and Vaughan Williams, Thurs 4 Apr, COLLABORATION The Crescent Theatre Glee Club, Birmingham shire’s best emerging talent, Thurs 4 Symphony Hall, Birmingham Company presents its version of BILAL ZAFAR Fri 5 Apr, Midlands Arts Ronald Harwood’s powerful play, - Fri 5 Apr, Belgrade Theatre, Coven- ALISTAIR MCGOWAN: AN INTRODUCTION Centre, Birmingham which explores the relationship be- try TO CLASSICAL MUSIC Thurs 4 Apr, tween composer Richard Strauss & SIDE EFFECTS Wythall Theatre Com- Bedworth Civic Hall RAW COMEDY Fri 5 Apr, Evesham Arts Centre his librettist, Stephan Zweig, Sat 30 pany present a comedy by the writer ASTARIA STRING QUARTET Programme Mar - Sat 6 Apr, The Crescent The- of Rising Damp’s Bafta-winning cre- includes works by Mendelssohn, TEZ ILYAS, ALLAN HAVEY, TOM WRIG- atre, Birmingham ator, Eric Chappell, Thurs 4 - Sat 6 Greig & Bax, Thurs 4 Apr, Hunting- GLESWORTH & GARY MEIKLE Fri 5 - Sat DIRTY DANCING The classic story of Apr, Palace Theatre, Redditch don Hall, Worcester 6 Apr, The Glee Club, Birmingham Baby & Johnny returns... Mon 1 - Sat THE ODYSSEY The Pantaloons present ALISTAIR BARRIE, JACK GLEADOW, 6 Apr, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre a new verse adaptation of the most BARRY CASTAGNOLA & BARRY DODDS epic journey of all time... Fri 5 Apr, Sat 6 Apr, The Comedy Loft, B’ham WISE CHILDREN Emma Rice stars in and directs a new staging of Angela Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa HARRIET KEMSLEY Sat 6 Apr, Artrix, Carter's celebration of showbusiness, STREETS APART New play by Jackie Bromsgrove family, forgiveness and hope, Tues 2 Lines which explores the struggles of - Sat 6 Apr, Belgrade Theatre, Coven- homelessness, rough sleeping and try the uphill challenge of surviving an- LEGALLY BLONDE Amateur staging pre- other day, Sat 6 - Sun 7 Apr, Stratford sented by Peterbrook Players, Tues 2 Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon Theatre - Sat 6 Apr, The Core, Solihull BEN HUR A cast of four deliver sea PIATTI QUARTET Featuring Nathaniel WAR HORSE Acclaimed West End FROM SHORE TO SHORE Tales of love battles and chariot races as this time- Anderson-Frank & Michael Trainor drama based on the novel by Michael and loss, struggle and survival, in- less tale is condensed for the stage, (violins), Tetsuumi Nagata (violin) & Morpurgo, until Sat 6 Apr, Regent spired by the stories of migrant Chi- Sat 6 - Sat 13 Apr, Rugby Theatre Jessie Ann Richardson (cello). Pro- Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent nese communities living in the UK, THE SOUNDS OF RODGERS & HAMMER- gramme includes works by Haydn, KUNENE AND THE KING World premiere Tues 2 - Sat 6 Apr, The REP, B’ham STEIN Marilyn Hill Smith (Mother Joseph Phibbs & Schubert, Fri 5 Apr, of John Kani's 'moving and funny' LES MISERABLES Cameron Mackin- Abbess in the recent national tour of Artrix, Bromsgrove play, which sees two men from con- tosh's acclaimed Broadway produc- The Sound Of Music) heads the cast THALLEIN ENSEMBLE & THUMB CONTEM- trasting walks of life thrust together to tion of Boublil and Schönberg's as they sing their way through classic PORARY MUSIC ENSEMBLE Featuring reflect on a quarter-century of change legendary musical, Tues 2 Apr - Sat musical theatre shows, Sun 7 Apr, Dan Watson (conductor). Programme in South Africa. Sir Antony Sher stars 11 May, Birmingham Hippodrome Wolverhampton Grand Theatre comprises Stuart Stevens’ Inner Ring alongside Kani; Janice Honeyman di- TIMPSON: THE MUSICAL Gigglemug & All About and to a Female Artist, Fri rects, until Tues 23 Apr, The Swan Theatre’s debut musical, explaining 5 Apr, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Theatre Stratford, Stratford-upon- the origins of the high-street cobbler, Conservatoire Avon Wed 3 - Sat 6 Apr, Old Joint Stock WORCESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR; 20TH AS YOU LIKE IT Kimberley Sykes di- Theatre, Birmingham Cabaret ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Featuring Ed- rects a riotous version of Shake- THE 39 STEPS St John’s Players pre- JINKX MONSOON & MAJOR SCALES: THE ward Seymour & Sheila Davies speare's romantic comedy, until Sat sent an amateur staging of John GINGER SNAPPED Music & mental (soloists) & Christopher Allsop & 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Buchan’s classic story, Wed 3 - Sat 6 health collide in this witty look at the Robin Walker (pianists). Programme Stratford-upon-Avon Apr, Swan Theatre, Worcester dark side of Drag fame, Mon 1 Apr, includes works by Brahms, Sat 6 Apr, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Shake- Stafford Gatehouse Theatre St Martin’s Church, Worcester CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Amateur speare’s comedy of gender and ma- staging based on the famous MGM JINKX MONSOON & MAJOR SCALES: THE THE KIDDERMINSTER FESTIVAL ORCHES- terialism is turned on its head to offer movie, Wed 3 - Sat 6 Apr, Abbey The- GINGER SNAPPED Music & mental TRA Programme includes works by a fresh perspective on his portrayal of atre, Nuneaton health collide in this witty look at the Mozart, Elgar & Bach, Sat 6 Apr, Kid- hierarchy and power, until Sat 31 dark side of Drag fame, Wed 3 Apr, derminster Town Hall Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, PERFORMANCE IN BLOOM Shoot Festi- whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List Warwickshire 1-7 April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:57 Page 3

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thelist Monday 1 - Sunday 7 April Birmingham Town Hall phony Hall, Birmingham eign language, subtitled. The Roses World Arena, Birmingham AN EVENING WITH KATYA ZAMOLOD- BREAKTHROUGH Centre-Pointe Dance Theatre, Tewkesbury, until 2 Apr; OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND Featuring CHIKOVA RuPaul's Drag Race, Miss presents a showcase of its most re- Number 8, Pershore, Thurs 4 & Wed model railways, behind-the-scenes Congeniality and All Stars S2 finalist cent choreography, Sun 7 Apr, Al- 10 Apr tours and a whole host of other at- Katya presents her new standup bany Theatre, Coventry TULIP FEVER (15) Drama/History. Star- tractions up and down the line, Sat 6 show, Help Me I'm Dying, Sun 7 Apr, ring Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan. - Sun 7 Apr, Severn Valley Railway, The New Alexandra Theatre, B’ham Number 8, Pershore, Mon 1 - Tues 2 Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster MUSIC HALL TAVERN Comedy drag Apr WESTON PARK SPRING HORSE TRIALS show featuring Paul Carroll as Mrs T, THE AFTERMATH (15) Drama/War. Star- Featuring dressage, cross country Lee Sanderson as Peggy Lee, and Talks ring Keira Knightley, Alexander Skars- and show jumping, Sat 6 - Sun 7 Apr, the Showcase International Dancers, CONRAD ANKER: HOLD FAST: YOSEMITE gård. The Roses Theatre, Weston Park, Nr Shifnal, Staffs Sun 7 Apr, Crescent Theatre, Birm- TO EVEREST TO MERU One of the Tewkesbury, Mon 1 - Wed 3 Apr MR CADBURY'S PARROT AND THE MISS- ingham world’s greatest climbers talks all ALL IS TRUE (12A) Biography/Drama. ING MINI-EGGS Featuring Cadbury's things mountaineering, including the Starring Kenneth Branagh, Lolita very own loveable parrot, Sat 6 - Sun 1924 Mallory & Irvine Everest expedi- Chakrabarti. Royal Spa Centre, 28 Apr, Cadbury World, Birmingham tion, Thurs 4 Apr, Malvern Theatres Leamington Spa, Wed 3 - Sun 7 Apr 9 TO 5 (15) Drama. Starring Jane Kids Shows Fonda, Lily Tomlin. Number 8, Per- MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL Matt Terry shore, Sat 6 Apr takes the lead in a musical adventure HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HID- based on the smash-hit movie, Tues DEN WORLD (PG) Family/Fantasy. With 2 - Sat 6 Apr, Malvern Theatres the voices of Gerard Butler, Cate THE JESTER AND THE WICKED WITCH Blanchett. The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 6 - Tues 9 Apr SPRING INTO ACTION - FAMILY TRAIL Fun, songs and audience participa- Discover the wonder of nature, Sat 6 tion for two to nine-year-olds, Sat 6 INSTANT FAMILY (12A) Comedy/Drama. - Sun 28 Apr, Croome Park, Worces- Apr, Swan Theatre, Worcester Starring Mark Whalberg, Rose Byrne. ter BING LIVE! Join Bing, Sula, Coco and The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 6 - Tues 9 Apr THE FALCONER'S QUEST Up to 70 birds Pando as they learn how to tell sto- DAVID GOWER: ON THE FRONT DOOR An of prey take to the skies in a display ries by pretending, dressing up and evening with the former England THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART of aerial acrobatics, Sat 6 Apr - Thurs singing songs. A perfect introduction cricket captain, Fri 5 Apr, Midlands (PG) Animation/Adventure. With the 31 Oct, Warwick Castle to theatre for young children, Sat 6 - Arts Centre, Birmingham voices of Chris Pratt, Alison Brie. The Sun 7 Apr, The REP, Birmingham SUNDAY LOCAL HISTORY TALK Talk by Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 6 - local archaeologist Mike Hodder enti- Wed 10 Apr tled ‘Fired clay: pottery, brick and tile manufacture in Birmingham’, Sun 7 NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Apr, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Dance Released from Thurs 4 Apr, showing THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE at selected cinemas Midland Theatre Ballet presents a PET SEMATARY (tbc) choreographed version of CS Lewis’ HOLY LANDS (tbc) fantastical tale, Thurs 4 - Sat 6 Apr, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Film MISSING LINK (PG) INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: DORRIDGE MUSIC SCHOOL: A FUSION OF SHAZAM! (tbc) MUSIC AND DANCE More than 300 per- A PRIVATE WAR (15) Biography/Drama. THE KEEPER (15) Starring Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dor- formers from DMS Heart of England THE SISTERS BROTHERS (15) Music Academy - plus dance nan. The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, schools, choirs and celebrity guests - until 2 Apr present a concert featuring rock, pop CAPERNAUM (15) Drama. Starring Zain OPEN ASTON Wander around the and classical music, Sun 7 Apr, Sym- Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw. For- grand old mansion, Sun 7 Apr, Aston Events Hall, Birmingham SHROPSHIRE SCALE MODEL SHOW An- THE GOBLIN'S REVENGE The Goblin of nual show attracting thousands of Eymore Wood is back to seek his re- modelling fans from across the coun- venge over the Little Folk of Arley try, Sun 7 Apr, RAF Cosford, Nr who live in the woods, until Fri 12 Apr, Wolverhampton Arley Arboretum, Upper Arley, Bewd- ley, Nr Kidderminster EASTER SPRING WREATH CRAFT WORK- SHOP FOR ADULTS Artist Gilly Page THE LEGO MOVIE DAYS Join Emmet, shows visitors how to design and cre- Wyldstyle and the gang with exclu- ate their own spring wreath for sive building activities, out-of-this- Easter, Sun 7 Apr, Blakesley Hall, world character experiences, Birmingham interactive photo opportunities and more, until Sun 28 Apr, Legoland Dis- THE FAST SHOW Featuring huge club covery Centre, Birmingham stand displays, Run What Ya Brung, FWD drag racing, drifting, stunt dis- MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - LIGHT plays, jet car, a trade village, caterers, HOUSES Use a variety of materials and funfair rides and more, Sun 7 Apr, bricks to build things that can direct Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough light or hold light, Wed 3 Apr, Coven- try Transport Museum TUDOR WORLD EASTER 2019 Featuring an Easter quiz and a chocolate egg THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY ON for every child, Sun 7 - Mon 22 Apr, ICE! Enter a dazzling world of adven- Tudor World, Stratford-upon-Avon Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales - Birmingham Town Hall ture! Wed 3 - Sun 7 Apr, Resorts

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April 2019 www.artrix.co.uk

Saturday 6th Apri Wednesday 10th April Thursday 11th April HARRIET KEMSLEY: VAMOS THEATRE THE LINDISFARNE SLUTTY JOAN STORY HARRIET DELVES INTO HER PRESENTS A BRAVE FACE FEATURING BILLY MITCHELL SEXUAL HISTORY AND RAY LAIDLAW

Friday 19th April Saturday 20th April Thursday 25th April THE URBAN FOLK ROBINSON-STONE MORGAN & WEST QUARTET HIGH-ENERGY, GENRE CELTIC FOLK ROOTS WITH 2 UTTERLY SPIFFING DEFYING ACOUSTICS SIBLING HARMONIES SPECTACULAR MAGIC SHOWS

COMING SOON: The Counterfeit Stones,Genesis Connected, Stuart Goldsmith,Chris Gifford, Dan Whitehouse Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, The Sound of Springstein, Frankie’s Guys, Dear Zoo Live, Ken Chang Justin Moorhouse, A Celebration of John Denver, Eclipse – The Pink Floyd Experience, Jason Donovan We Are What We Overcome, Radio Active, The Joni Mitchell Songbook, Jive Talkin’, Albert Lee & Band Small Fakers, The Manfreds: Hits, Jazz & Blues Tour, Jess Robinson, Sourpuss, The Songs of Leonard Cohen Thea Gilmore, Lipstick On Your Collar...

Free parking on-site Join our Mailing List and receive our weekly e-flyer withup-to-date information about upcoming showsor download our latest brochure @artrixarts @artrix arts centre Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1GN Box Office: 01527 577330

Mon 8 & Tues 9 April 2.30pm & 7.30pm Thursday 11 April £22.50 £15/£16 MEMORY LANE OH! WHAT A FEELING Enjoy some of the greatest songs THE MUSIC OF LIONEL RICHIE of the 50s, 60s and 70s & THE COMMODORES

Friday 12 April £22 Tuesday 23 April £12/£10(£40 Family) THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE THERE WAS AN OLD LADY The rocking sounds of Bon Jovi WHO SWALLOWED A FLY presented by John Wilson Music Family fun for young children. 3+

Wed 24 April 2pm & 7pm Fri 26 April £24.50 £15 POP DIVAS LIVE ANDY ABRAHAM'S Two music and dance shows... NAT KING COLE SONGBOOK packed with chart hits! Sublime Nat King Cole songs

56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 8 - 14 April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:06 Page 2

thelist Monday 8 - Sunday 14 April UB40 - 40TH ANNIVER- NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF GREAT SARY Fri 12 Apr, The Classical BRITAIN Featuring Carlos Miguel Pri- Assembly, Leamington eto (conductor) and Xiayin Wang Spa Music (piano). Programme includes works DIANE CLUCK + WES by Carlos Chávez, Gershwin, Cop- SWING Fri 12 Apr, The LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT: TALKING land and Revueltas, Sun 14 Apr, Tin Music and Arts, ITALIAN Programme includes works Symphony Hall, Birmingham Canal Basin, Warwick- by Bach, Frescobaldi, Corelli, shire Morandi, Ponchielli, Yon and Bossi, BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY Fri Mon 8 Apr, Symphony Hall, B’ham 12 - Sat 13 Apr, The LUNCHTIME MUSIC WITH JENNIFER PIKE Roses Theatre, (VIOLIN) & MAHAN ESFAHANI (HARPSI- Comedy Tewkesbury CHORD) Programme includes works MARC MARON Mon 8 Apr, The REP, GENESIS CONNECTED Fri by Bach & Piston, Tues 9 Apr, The Birmingham 12 - Sat 13 Apr, Artrix, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Carrivick Sisters - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester servatoire NOREEN KHAN, ESTHER MANITO, Bromsgrove GLENDA JAXSON & SUKHB OJLA Mon 8 Thurs 11 Apr, Palace SHAKKA Sat 13 Apr, O2 CBSO: SIBELIUS AND NIELSEN Featur- Apr, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Theatre, Redditch Academy, Birmingham ing Michael Seal (conductor) and Gigs Christopher Maltman (baritone). Pro- TOMMY TIERNAN Tues 9 Apr, Birming- HOLY MOLY AND THE THE ORB Sat 13 Apr, gramme includes works by Sibelius, ham Town Hall CHRIS YOUNG Mon 8 CRACKERS Thurs 11 Hare & Hounds, Birm- Mahler and Nielsen, Wed 10 Apr, DAZ BLACK Tues 9 Apr, The Glee Apr, O2 Academy, Apr, O2 Academy, ingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Club, Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham GUNS OR ROSES Sat 13 FRONTIERS SERIES; BIRMINGHAM NEW SEAN MCLOUGHLIN Tues 9 Apr, The THE HUNNA Mon 8 - ALEX REX Thurs 11 Apr, Apr, The Marr’s Bar, MUSIC Concert of new works by Glee Club, Birmingham Tues 9 Apr, O2 Insti- Hare & Hounds, Birm- Worcester Royal Birmingham Conservatoire tute, Birmingham ingham IVO GRAHAM Wed 10 Apr, The Glee ENDORPHINEMACHINE composers, featuring a wide range Club, Birmingham SHAWN MENDES Tues 9 THE LINDISFARNE Sat 13 Apr, Kasbah, of styles utilising the flexible layout of Apr, Arena B’ham STORY Thurs 11 Apr, Coventry the Lab in a creative and inventive MICKY P. KERR Wed 10 Apr, The Glee Club, Birmingham JAMES TW Tues 9 Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove FOYER FOLK: JULIE JULY way, Wed 10 Apr, The Lab. Royal O2 Institute, B’ham THE FUREYS Thurs 11 ACOUSTIC TRIO Sat 13 Birmingham Conservatoire EMILY ATACK Thurs 11 Apr, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham ART SCHOOL GIRL- Apr, The Roses The- Apr, Number 8 Com- BEHN QUARTET & EMANUIL IVANOV FRIEND Tues 9 Apr, atre, Tewkesbury munity Arts Centre, (PIANO) Programme comprises COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Hare & Hounds, Birm- SONG AND STORIES Worcestershire Franck’s Piano Quintet, Wed 10 Apr, SON & COMEDIAN TBC Thurs 11 Apr, ingham FROM THE SMITTEN AND E3UK LIVE Sat 13 Apr, Symphony Hall, Birmingham The Glee Club, Birmingham TVAM Tues 9 Apr, Hare CURIOUS Thurs 11 Apr, Arena Birmingham SCHUBERT’S STRING QUARTET Featur- EMILY ATACK Fri 12 Apr, Albany The- & Hounds, B’ham The Marr’s Bar, DIRE STREETS Sat 13 ing Jonathan Martindale & Jane atre, Coventry Worcester Wright (violins); Michael Jenkinson LONG BEACH DUB ALL- Apr, Evesham Arts (viola) & Kate Setterfield & Catherine STARS CARRIVICK SISTERS Centre Tues 9 Apr, The Ardagh-Walter (cellos). Programme Asylum, Birmingham Thurs 11 Apr, Hunting- HOSTILE Sat 13 Apr, O2 don Hall, Worcester comprises Schubert’s String Quintet ABC: THE LEXICON OF Academy, Birmingham in C, Thurs 11 Apr, CBSO Centre, LOVE Tues 9 Apr, Sym- LEGENDS LIVE Fri 12 ZACK KNIGHT Sat 13 Birmingham phony Hall, B’ham Apr, Resorts World Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- Arena, Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN RECITAL WITH MAVERICK SABRE Wed ingham SIMON GIBSON Thurs 11 Apr, Parish 10 Apr, O2 Institute, THESE SMITHS Fri 12 STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Upton- Birmingham Apr, The Marr’s Bar, LED ZEPPELIN MASTERS on-Severn, Worcestershire Worcester SUNDARA KARMA Wed Sat 13 Apr, Symphony CBSO: CLASSIC FM'S MOVIE CLASSICS 10 Apr, O2 Institute, BILLY LOCKETT Fri 12 Hall, Birmingham Featuring Michael Seal (conductor), Birmingham Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. Andrew Collins (presenter), Oliver ingham MEMORY LANE Wed 10 ESTATE Sat 13 Apr, O2 Janes (clarinet) and Martin James Apr, Palace Theatre, 60S INVASION Fri 12 Institute, Birmingham Bartlett (piano). Programme includes Redditch Apr, The Old Rep, CARIBBEAN ROCKS 2019 works by Strauss, Handel, Mozart, Birmingham Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov STUART GOLDSMITH Fri 12 Apr, Royal THE BOOTLEG BEATLES FT. DEXTA DAPS, and more, Fri 12 Apr, Symphony Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Wed 10 Apr, Malvern TRIBUTE TO EDDIE VED- SHENSEEA, MOTTO, Hall, Birmingham PAUL MCCAFFREY, MIKE WILMOT, Theatres DER Fri 12 Apr, O2 MARZVILLE, DJ NATE Sat Academy, Birmingham 13 Apr, O2 Institute, ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: FRENCH MICKEY SHARMA & SEAN PERCIVAL Fri IRMA VEP Wed 10 Apr, Birmingham MUSIC FOR HARP & ENSEMBLE Featur- 12 - Sat 13 Apr, The Glee Club, Birm- Hare & Hounds, Birm- MERSEY BEATLES Fri 12 ing Eleanor Turner (harp) & David Le ingham ingham Apr, Palace Theatre, WALK RIGHT BACK - THE Redditch STORY OF THE EVERLY Page (violin/director). Programme in- RICH WILSON, JOE SUTHERLAND, AUTHOR + PUNISHER cludes works by Debussy, Saint- GEORGE EGG & FREDDY QUINN Sat 13 FLEECY FOLK: SALT- BROTHERS Sun 14 Apr, Wed 10 Apr, Hare & The Alexandra The- Saens, Ravel & Erik Satie, Fri 12 Apr, Apr, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham HOUSE Fri 12 Apr, The Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Fleece Inn, Bretforton, atre, Birmingham LOU SANDERS Sat 13 Apr, Midlands BOLD AS BRASS Pershore Thurs Nr Evesham TOM WILLIAMS Sun 14 Arts Centre, Birmingham 11 Apr, Shakespeare RESURRECTION + OAS- Apr, O2 Academy, Street Cocktail Bar & Birmingham Nightclub, Stratford- IS Fri 12 Apr, The As- upon-Avon sembly, Leamington JIM JONES AND THE Spa RIGHTEOUS MIND Sun SLEAFORD MODS: ETON THE ZOOTS - SOUNDS OF 14 Apr, Hare & Theatre ALIVE Thurs 11 Apr, Hounds, Birmingham The Assembly, Leam- THE 60S Fri 12 Apr, THE TRICK A magic show about get- ington Spa Huntingdon Hall, CC SMUGGLERS Sun 14 ting older and coming to terms with Worcester Apr, The Assembly, loss, Mon 8 - Tues 9 Apr, The REP, RESPECT TO ARETHA Leamington Spa Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Warwickshire 8 - 14 April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:06 Page 3

thelist SPARKPLUG Box Of Tricks presents a THE HALF GOD OF RAINFALL Inua El- 'punchy & poetic' exploration of fam- lams' contemporary saga weaves po- ily, race, identity and love, Wed 10 - etry with storytelling in ‘a majestic, Sat 13 Apr, The REP, Birmingham chaotic journey across mythologies MEASURE FOR MEASURE Contempo- that transports audiences from a tiny rary exploration of Shakespeare’s village in Southern Nigeria to the fur- dark comedy, Wed 10 - Sat 13 Apr, ther reaches of our galaxy and be- The Dream Factory, Warwick yond’, Sat 13 - Sat 20 Apr, The REP, Birmingham GLORY New 'painfully funny, sweaty and gutsy story' which takes audi- ences inside the wrestling ring, Wed 10 - Sat 13 Apr, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry LITTLE WOMEN A Second Thoughts Drama Group Production of the clas- sic American story of the March sis- ters, Wed 10 - Sat 13 Apr, The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon TINA T'URNER TEA LADY'S STEAMY BINGO An evening celebrating bingo, HOW SWEET IT IS - THE GREATEST HITS music, tea and laughter, as Tina spins OF MOTOWN Sun 14 Apr, Wolverhamp- her cage of balls to a high-energy ton Grand Theatre ’80s soundtrack, Thurs 11 Apr, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM'S NIGHT OF STARS John Lodge of the Moody Blues and Carl Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer Kids Shows will front an evening of music and DEAR ZOO LIVE! Puppetry and audi- Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 13 April laughter with fellow musical artistes, ence participation feature in a show Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre have been making audi- friends and colleagues in aid of The based on Rod Campbell’s children’s ences laugh their socks off for a good few years now, regularly Birmingham Children's Hospital, book, Thurs 11 - Sun 14 Apr, The Thurs 11 Apr, Symphony Hall, B’ham Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippo- scoring a major success at the Edinburgh Fringe with their rude, OUR TOWN Newman University Drama drome anarchic and routinely trailblazing performances. This latest of- Department present Thornton HANSEL & GRETEL Goody and Storey fering sees ‘Earth’s funniest socks’ presenting a winning blend of Wilder’s play, which questions ‘how & Norwich Puppet Theatre present a ‘songs, sketches, socks and violence’ based around the ever-topi- much we really appreciate what we colourful retelling of the classic Broth- cal subject of superheroes. Expect satirical nonsense aplenty, not have while we still have it’, Thurs 11 - ers Grimm fairytale, Sat 13 Apr, Hunt- to mention homages to legendary superhero-playing actors Adam Fri 12 Apr, Midlands Arts Centre, ingdon Hall, Worcester Birmingham West (Batman), Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) and Christopher TREASURE ISLAND Swashbuckling Reeve (Superman)... THE ADDAMS FAMILY Amateur staging story of the seven seas - suitable for presented by Spa Theatre Juniors, children aged three-plus, Sat 13 Apr, Thurs 11 - Sat 13 Apr, Bridge House The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham Theatre, Warwick MEMORY LANE Rollercoaster journey 13 Apr, The Alexandra Theatre, Birm- through some of the greatest songs ingham MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Shake- speare’s tale of loves lost, found and of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, Mon 8 - CATS Leamington & Warwick Musical confused, Thurs 11 & Sat 13 Apr, The Tues 9 Apr, The Core, Solihull Society present an amateur staging Dance Dream Factory, Warwick THE MOUSETRAP The record-breaking of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, SILENT LINES Russell Maliphant Com- Agatha Christie thriller returns to the Tues 9 - Sat 13 Apr, Royal Spa Cen- FORGET ME NOT: THE ALZHEIMER'S pany presents a groundbreaking new Midlands, Mon 8 - Sat 13 Apr, Bel- tre, Leamington Spa WHODUNNIT Comic, poet and psychi- dance production with video artist atric nurse Rob Gee presents a mur- grade Theatre, Coventry OKLAHOMA Amateur staging pre- Panagiotis Tomaras and a new team der-mystery set on an Alzheimer’s A BUNCH OF AMATEURS Malvern The- sented by Worcester Operatic Dra- of dancers, Tues 9 Apr, The Patrick ward, Fri 12 - Sat 13 Apr, Old Joint atre Players present Ian Hislop & matic Society, Tues 9 - Sat 13 Apr, Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome Stock Theatre, Birmingham Nick Newman’s comedy about a Swan Theatre, Worcester MOTIONHOUSE: CHARGE Chore- HOW SWEET IT IS - THE GREATEST HITS bunch of amateurs trying to save A BRAVE FACE Worcestershire-based ographed multimedia show in which OF MOTOWN Sat 13 Apr, Malvern The- their theatre from developers, Mon 8 - full mask theatre company Vamos ex- six performers fuse dance & acrobat- atres Sat 13 Apr, Malvern Theatres plore the subject of post-traumatic ics to delve deep into the human ELSIE & NORM’S MACBETH The Nonen- stress, Wed 10 Apr, Artrix, Broms- SCOTTISH FALSETTO SOCK PUPPET THE- body, tracing the incredible story of tities present John Christopher- grove ATRE: SUPERHEROES New show of energy in our lives, Tues 9 Apr, Wood’s comedy, Mon 8 - Sat 13 Apr, songs, sketches, socks & violence Malvern Theatres The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster from the award-winning comedy duo, Sat 13 Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BOBBY Darkly comic drama that pulls apart the life DEBRA STEPHENSON: NIGHT OF 100 of a child actor, exploring society’s VOICES Evening of impressions, com- Talks uneasy fascination with violent chil- edy & music, Sat 13 Apr, Palace The- dren, Tues 9 - Thurs 11 Apr, Old Joint atre, Redditch CONRAD AKER - HOLD FAST: YOSEMITE TO EVEREST TO MERU Stock Theatre, Birmingham YOU CHOOSE! Brand new interactive One of the world’s greatest climbers talks all AMERICAN IDIOT Green Day’s explo- family show where a picture book and a series of games are used to things mountaineering, including the sive rock musical returns to mark the 1924 Mallory & Irvine Everest expedi- show’s 10th anniversary and the 15th create a unique storyline for each OUT LOUD Stage production raising performance, Sat 13 Apr, Midlands tion, Thurs 11 Apr, Birmingham Town anniversary of the Grammy Award- Hall winning original album, Tues 9 - Sat awareness of climate change, Wed Arts Centre, Birmingham 10 Apr, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham GIVING BIRTH TO THE TUDORS Lesley 58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 8 - 14 April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 09:06 Page 4

Monday 8 - Sunday 14 April

Smith is back for another after-hours own floral-themed designs at family talk about ‘all things birth during the drop-in tile decorating workshops on Tudor period’, Sat 13 Apr, The Shake- weekdays over the Easter break, Fri speare Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon 12 Apr, Jackfield Tile Museum, Iron- bridge, Shropshire EXPLORASAURUS EVENING Get stuck in to all things dino-tastic, Fri 12 Apr, Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust Film THE VINTAGE NATIONALS Get-together INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: of traditional hot rods and customs, Fri 12 - Sat 13 Apr, Santa Pod Race- WHAT THEY HAD (15) Drama. Starring way, Wellingborough Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon. PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR Traditionally Number 8, Pershore, Mon 8 Apr grown plants for every type of gar- ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (12A) Action/Ad- den, Sat 13 Apr, Sandwell Valley venture. Starring Rosa Salazar, Country Park, West Bromwich Christoph Waltz. The Roses Theatre, CREATE AN EASTER RAG WREATH Em- Tewkesbury, Mon 8 - Wed 10 Apr brace the traditional art of rag rug EVERYBODY KNOWS (15) Crime/Drama. making with an Easter twist on one of Starring Penélope Cruz, Javier Bar- the workshops, Sat 13 Apr, Birming- Easter Adventure Quest - Kenilworth Castle dem. Foreign language, subtitled. ham Back to Backs The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed AUDIO DESCRIPTIVE TOUR - A DAY IN EASTER EGG HUNT Help Ruby the Cas- EASTER HOLIDAY FUN Enjoy a whole 10 Apr THE LIFE OF DANNY THE HORSE Meet tle Dragon find her eggs, Sat 13 - Sun host of activities across Shake- CAPERNAUM (15) Drama. Starring Zain Danny in Carter's Yard and discover 28 Apr, Tamworth Castle speare's family homes, Sat 13 - Sun Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw. For- the contributions of horse transport in EGG-CITING EASTER CELEBRATIONS Find 28 Apr, Shakespeare's Birthplace, eign language, subtitled. Number 8, the 19th century, Sat 13 Apr, Black out about the weird and wonderful Stratford Upon Avon Pershore, Wed 10 Apr Country Living Museum, Dudley practices of the past, from egg danc- EASTER ADVENTURE QUEST Join the DUMBO (U) Family/Fantasy. Starring COVENTRY TRANSPORT MUSEUM BREAK- ing to hot cross buns, Sat 13 - Sun 28 hunt for dragon eggs, Sat 13 - Sun 28 Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. The FAST CLUB An opportunity for vehicle Apr, Black Country Living Museum, Apr, Kenilworth Castle Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri 12 - owners to share stories and exper- Dudley EASTER ADVENTURE QUEST Crack the Sun 14 Apr tise, as well as to see a range of on- BUNNY BOATS Hop on a boat and clues as you and your family follow THE WHITE CROW (12a) display vehicles, Sat 13 Apr, Coventry head into the caverns, the home at the trail around the site, Sat 13 - Sun Biography/Drama. Starring Oleg Transport Museum Easter of the Easter Bunny’s warren. 28 Apr, Witley Court, Great Witley Ivenko, Ralph Fiennes. Midlands Arts EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVI- Keep an eye out for evidence of the TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Explore over Centre, Birmingham, Fri 12 - Thurs 18 TIES - SATURDAY ENGINEERS Can fami- big bunny himself, and spot the giant 500 stalls packed with all kinds of col- Apr lies create a chain of reactions to get coloured eggs he’s been keeping lectable toys, trains and models for THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (15) an ‘egg’ from one point to another? safe, Sat 13 - Sun 28 Apr, Dudley sale, Sun 14 Apr, NEC, Birmingham Sat 13 Apr, Coventry Transport Mu- Canal and Tunnel Trust Drama/Mystery. Starring Maggie Gyl- POHELA BOISHAKH Join members of seum lenhaal, Gael García Bernal. Midlands ANIMAL EASTER TRAIL Help the Easter Birmingham’s Bangladeshi commu- Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 12 - RAF DEFFORD AIRFIELD GUIDED WALK Bunny find all his animal friends, Sat nity in a colourful celebration of Po- Tues 16 Apr Find out about the top-secret airbase 13 - Sun 28 Apr, RAF Cosford, Shifnal hela Boishakh, the Bangla New Year, MASTER AND COMMANDER - THE FAR which was home to airborne radar EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Take along Sun 14 Apr, Birmingham Town Hall testing and development during the SIDE OF THE WORLD (12a) your little eggsplorers and help the MYTHICAL BEASTS & FANTASTIC CREA- Second World War and early years of Adventure/Drama. Starring Russell onsite Easter Bunny follow the trail of TURES Event ‘taking inspiration from the Cold War, Sat 13 Apr, Croome Crowe, Paul Bettany. Highbury The- gigantic Easter eggs around park the mythical beasts and fantastic Park, Worcester atre, Birmingham, Sat 13 Apr and earn a chocolatey treat, Sat 13 - creatures depicted around the grand DESTROYER (15) Crime/Drama. Star- THE BIG ONE FISHING SHOW The Sun 28 Apr, West Midland Safari and old mansion’, Sun 14 Apr, Aston Hall, ring Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell. world’s biggest and best tackle man- Leisure Park, Bewdley, Nr Kiddermin- Birmingham Number 8, Pershore, Sat 13 Apr ufacturers present their new gear for ster 2019, Sat 13 - Sun 14 Apr, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: KIDTROPOLIS Packed with live shows, Released from Mon 8 Apr, showing at children’s characters, popular brands selected cinemas and numerous activities, Sat 13 - Mon WONDER PARK (PG) 15 Apr, NEC, Birmingham HELLBOY (tbc) EASTER EGG HUNT Find all the eggs in the garden to complete the hunt, Sat LITTLE (tbc) 13 - Mon 22 Apr, Blakesley Hall, Birm- WILD ROSE (15) ingham EASTER HOLIDAY FUN Superheroes are heading to the Severn Valley Railway to save the day during the Easter hol- idays, Sat 13 - Fri 26 Apr, Severn Val- Events ley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - TOOL SKILLS Use your skills with hammers, EASTER DINO EGG HUNT The Easter nuts and bolts, screws and screw- Bunny doesn't visit Thinktank, but the drivers to make engineering master- Easter dinosaurs do, and they’ve left pieces, Wed 10 Apr, Coventry large dino eggs hidden around the Transport Museum museum, Sat 13 - Sun 28 Apr, Think- tank Science Museum, Birmingham FLORAL TILE DECORATING Create your Pohela Boishakh - Birmingham Town Hall whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Warwickshire 15 - 21 April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:59 Page 1

thelist STORIES Wed 17 Apr, TET Fri 19 Apr, Artrix, Gigs Symphony Hall, Birm- Bromsgrove Classical Theatre ingham THE TIN TINS REUNION BARNUM Amateur production by SKERRYVORE Mon 15 LOWKEY Wed 17 Apr, Fri 19 Apr, Hare & Wymsical Theatre, Mon 15 - Sat 20 Apr, The Fleece Inn, The Glee Club, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham Music Bretforton, Nr Eve- Apr, Norbury Theatre, Droitwich RUMOURS OF FLEET- THE CUREHEADS Fri 19 COLLABRO Mon 15 Apr, Symphony sham OCTOPUS SOUP Nick Hancock stars in WOOD MAC Wed 17 - Apr, The Assembly, Hall, Birmingham a new comedy described as ‘Fawlty THE DRIFTERS Mon 15 Thurs 18 Apr, Birming- Leamington Spa Apr, The Grand The- Towers meets The Sopranos’, Mon ham Town Hall TWENTY ONE CO-PILOTS atre, Wolverhampton 15 - Sat 20 Apr, Malvern Theatres GEKO Thurs 18 Apr, O2 Sat 20 Apr, Kasbah, WOMAN IN MIND Swan Theatre Ama- INDOOR PETS + GENDER Institute, Birmingham Coventry ROLES Mon 15 Apr, teur Company presents Alan Ayck- MERCURY Thurs 18 CREEDS CROSS: FID- The Flapper, B’ham bourn’s observational comedy, Tues Apr, The Alexandra DLEANJO Sat 20, Eve- 16 - Sat 20 Apr, Swan Theatre, BACK TO THE FUTURE IN Theatre, Birmingham sham Arts Centre Worcester CONCERT Tues 16 Apr, JOE JACKSON Thurs 18 THE KING ELVIS PRES- Symphony Hall, Birm- AN EVENING WITH ERIC AND ERN Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- LEY LIVES ON Sat 20 ingham Homage to British comedy’s best- ingham Apr, The Core Theatre, loved double act, Wed 17 Apr, The NINA NESBITT Tues 16 SEVEN DRUNKEN Solihull LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH Old Rep, Birmingham Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- DAVID HARDIE Mon 15 Apr, Birming- NIGHTS Thurs 18 Apr, THE EXPLOSIVE LIGHT ART GARFUNKEL: AN EVENING OF SONG ingham ham Cathedral Belgrade Theatre, ORCHESTRA Sat 20 AND STORIES Featuring Simon & Gar- ELEANOR MCEVOY Tues Coventry Apr, The Assembly, COLLABRO Tues 16 Apr, Wolverhamp- funkel classics and solo hits, plus ex- 16 Apr, The Marr’s Bar, GIRL POWER Thurs 18 Leamington Spa ton Grand Theatre tracts from Art’s new autobiography, Worcester Apr, Palace Theatre, JOHN LENNON UK Sat RACHEL PODGER & VOCES8: A Wed 17 Apr, Symphony Hall, B’ham SENSATIONAL SIXTIES Redditch 20 Apr, The Marr’s Bar, GUARDIAN ANGEL Programme in- THE LONG WALK BACK The epic story Tues 16 Apr, Belgrade VICTORIES AT SEA Thurs Worcester cludes works by Bach, Monteverdi, of cricketer Chris Lewis' catastrophic Theatre, Coventry 18 Apr, Hare & DAN WHITEHOUSE Sat Dove, Macmillan & Chant, Wed 17 fall from grace... Thurs 18 Apr, The FETTY WAP Tues 16 Hounds, Birmingham 20 Apr, Artrix, Broms- Apr, Malvern Theatre Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham Apr, O2 Academy, YOUNG MARCO Thurs grove CZECH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHES- FIRST AID A Comedy Theatre Group Birmingham 18 Apr, Hare & ROBINSON-STONE Sat TRA: BACK TO THE FUTURE Tues 18 present a ‘fast, farcical, funny and ONE ACEN Tues 16 Apr, Hounds, Birmingham 20 Apr, Artrix, Broms- Apr, Symphony Hall, Birmingham heartwarming’ play from local author O2 Institute, B’ham Laura Liptrot, Thurs 18 - Fri 19 Apr, THE BOHEMIANS Thurs grove PIXAR IN CONCERT A brand-new ver- The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster WALK RIGHT BACK - THE 18 Apr, The Roses PRINCE: A TRIBUTE Sun sion celebrating the most memo- STORY OF THE EVERLY Theatre, Tewkesbury 21 Apr, Hare & rable moments from Pixar films, THE LEGEND OF ROBIN HOOD A home- BROTHERS Wed 17 Apr, Thurs 18 Apr, Symphony Hall, B’ham grown Stratford production written CHRIS DIFFORD Thurs Hounds, Birmingham Belgrade Theatre, for a large cast of young performers, 18 Apr, Artrix, Broms- DROPKICK MURPHYS GOOD FRIDAY ST MATTHEW PASSION Coventry Thurs 18 - Sat 20 Apr, Stratford Play- grove Sun 21 Apr, O2 Featuring Ex Cathedra Choir and SET IT OFF Wed 17 Apr, Baroque Orchestra and Jeffrey Skid- house, Stratford-upon-Avon WALK RIGHT BACK - THE Academy, Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham more (conductor). Programme in- JEKYLL & HYDE Evan Placey's reimag- STORY OF THE EVERLY SOLARDO Sun 21 Apr, cludes by Bach, Fri 19 Apr, ining of Robert Louis Stevenson's STEFFLON DON Wed 17 BROTHERS Fri 19 Apr, Kasbah, Coventry Symphony Hall, Birmingham Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- classic horror, Thurs 18 - Sat 27 Apr, The Roses Theatre, DAN GREENAWAY Sun ingham The REP, Birmingham Tewkesbury 21 Apr, Artrix, Broms- REVEALED: A MENOLOGUES PRODUC- GET THE BLESSING Wed MONSTER TRUCK Fri 19 grove TION New play from The Red Earth 17 Apr, Hare & Apr, O2 Academy, MOTT THE HOOPLE Sun Collective and Rites of Passage Pro- Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham Comedy 21 Apr, Symphony ductions, written by Daniel Anderson TOADALLY FREE COMEDY Mon 15 Apr, MOTT THE HOOPLE Wed MANOWAR Fri 19 - Sat Hall, Birmingham and directed by Jay Crutchley, Fri 19 17 Apr, The Assembly, The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham 20 Apr, O2 Academy, GEORGE MICHAEL - RAN- Apr, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham Leamington Spa Birmingham DEMETRI MARTIN Wed 17 Apr, The DALL BUTLER Sun 21 CONGREGATION Bewdley Town Criers Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ART GARFUNKEL: AN THE URBAN FOLK QUAR- Apr, The River Rooms, present Freddy Just's new play EVENING OF SONG AND Stourbridge SUSIE MCCABE, TOM WARD & COMEDY about bigotry and exploitation in a CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON contemporary church setting, Fri 19 Thurs 18 Apr, The Glee Club, B’ham Apr, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- STUART GOLDSMITH Fri 19 Apr, Artrix, ingham Bromsgrove SING-A-LONG-A THE GREATEST SHOW- SUSIE MCCABE, TOM WARD, BEN NOR- MAN Sat 20 Apr, The Swan Theatre, RIS & RICH WILSON Fri 19 - Sat 20 Worcester Apr, The Glee Club, Birmingham SIDEKICK: A NEW MUSICAL Sat 20 Apr, HAYLEY ELLIS Bridge House Theatre, Warwick (PICTURED), KEITH FARNAN, JENNY COLLIER & TUDUR OWEN Sat 20 Apr, The Comedy Cabaret Loft, Birmingham THAT’LL BE THE DAY Popular rock- BOX OF FROGS COMEDY Sun 21 Apr, ’n’roll variety production featuring The Glee Club, Birmingham comedy sketches & music from the 1950s, ’60s & ’70s, Wed 17 Apr, TOMMY SANDHU, ESHAN AKBAR, HYDE Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa PANASER & WILL E ROBO Sun 21 Apr, The Glee Club, Birmingham TINA T'URNER TEA LADY'S STEAMY BINGO An evening celebrating bingo, Solardo - Kasbah, Coventry music, tea and laughter, as Tina 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 15 - 21 April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:59 Page 2

Monday 15 - Sunday 21 April

spins her cage of balls to a high-en- ball balloon!’, Fri 19 Apr, Artrix, ergy ’80s soundtrack, Thurs 18 Apr, Bromsgrove Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham BEN AND HOLLY'S LITTLE KINGDOM WILDVIXEN’S LEGENDS CHALLENGE EX- ‘Magical musical adventure packed TRAVAGANZA! Celebration of the world full of songs, games & laughter’, Fri of burlesque & cabaret, Sat 20 Apr, 19 - Sat 20 Apr, Wolverhampton The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Grand Theatre ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS Expect madcap action, original music and plenty of laughs, Fri 19 - Sat 20 Apr, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham Kids Shows ZOG Based on Julia Donaldson & Axel THE BOY AND THE MERMAID Join three Schefler’s larger-than-life creation, Fri shanty-singing fishermen as they 19 - Mon 22 Apr, Birmingham Town weave a fishy tale of musical merfolk, Hall menacing monsters and spectacu- PONGO'S PARTY Children's show in larly bad town planning, Mon 15 Apr, which youngsters can take part in Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham ‘the town's biggest game of pass the SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT DI- parcel', Sat 20 Apr, Belgrade Theatre, NOSAURS Interactive show for chil- Coventry dren, featuring Dr Ben Garrod, Tues THE SOOTY SHOW With circus star 16 Apr, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester Michael Jordan and ultraviolet spe- BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Kerry Katona cialists Fantasie de la Nuit, Sat 20 stars as the Atomic Fairy alongside Apr, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Basil Brush, Lauren Platt & Tricia Pen- ANIMALCOLM THE MUSICAL David Bad- rose, Tues 16 Apr, The Roses, diel's new musical comedy for Octopus Soup Tewkesbury younger audiences, fusing physical Malvern Theatres, Mon 15 - Sat 20 April theatre, puppetry & storytelling, Sat 20 - Sun 21 Apr, Midlands Arts Cen- “My Octopus Soup! character, Seymour, is a slightly down-on-his- tre, Birmingham luck insurance broker,” explains Stoke-born and Shrewsbury-based Nick Hancock (pictured), who’s best remembered as the 1990s host of TV shows They Think It’s All Over and Room 101. “The play’s central idea is of being swept up into some sort of white-collar criminal enterprise without really Dance knowing how it happened. Octopus Soup! may not be Bertolt BURN THE FLOOR Combining ‘jaw- Brecht, but I’m hoping that it’s going to be a slick, funny farce and dropping choreography & ground an enjoyable evening of nonsense and fun.” WOW! IT'S NIGHT-TIME Little Angel The- breaking moves’. Strictly winner atre present a show based on Tim Kevin Clifton stars, Sun 21 Apr, The Hopgood's popular children's book, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. The seum, Gaydon Tues 16 - Thurs 18 Apr, Belgrade The- Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed 17 - FAMILY DANCE FESTIVAL Free event for atre, Coventry Fri 19 Apr the Easter holidays, Mon 15 Apr, The CHRISTOPHER’S CATERPILLARS Topsy FROZEN (U) Animation/Adventure. Roses, Tewkesbury Turvy Theatre present a tale of mini- With the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina FLORAL TILE DECORATING Create your beasts and mysteries, Wed 17 Apr, Film Menzel. This is a sing-a-long show- own floral-themed designs at these The Hive, Worcester INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: ing. Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, Thurs family drop-in tile workshops, Mon 15 18 Apr - Fri 19 Apr, Jackfield Tile Museum, STAN & OLLIE (15) Biography/Comedy. THE MULE (15) Crime/Drama. Starring Ironbridge, Shropshire Starring John C. Reilly, Shirley Hen- Bradley Cooper, Clint Eastwood. derson. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVI- Number 8, Pershore, Fri 19 - Sat 20 15 Apr TIES - EASTER MACHINES Make some Apr eggstremely marvellous machines, THE AFTERMATH (15) Drama/War. Star- Mon 15 - Fri 19 Apr, Coventry Trans- ring Keira Knightley, Alexander Skars- port Museum gård. Number 8, Pershore, Mon 15 - NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Tues 16 Apr; Royal Spa Centre, Released from Fri 19 Apr, showing at RAF DEFFORD AIRFIELD GUIDED WALK Leamington Spa, Tues 16 - Tues 23 selected cinemas Find out about the top-secret airbase Apr which was home to airborne radar GRETA (15) testing and development during the SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN Thurs18 Apr, CARS 3 (U) Animation/Adventure. With HEAD FULL OF HONEY (tbc) Second World War and early years of Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton the voices of Owen Wilson, Cristela the Cold War, Tues 16 Apr, Croome Alonzo. Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, LORO (18) THE EASTER BUNNY EXTRAVAGANZA Park, Worcester Join the Easter Bunny and his friends Tues 16 Apr RED JOAN (12a) on an adventure through a magical HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HID- Easter story. The show is followed by DEN WORLD (PG) Family/Fantasy. With a meet-and-greet with the Easter the voices of Gerard Butler, Cate Bunny, and there’s a free take-home Blanchett. Number 8, Pershore, Tues Easter gift too, Thurs 18 Apr, Albany 16 & Thurs 18 Apr Events Theatre, Coventry A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (U) MINI MOTORISTS Activity morning for DIZZY O’DARE’S GIANT BALLOON SHOW Drama. Starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon under-fives, allowing them to dis- Brando. Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, Featuring ‘balloon sculptures, high- cover, through play, the world's Wed 17 Apr energy comic performance and, of largest collection of historic British course, the all-important giant snow- DUMBO (U) Family/Fantasy. Starring cars, Mon 15 Apr, British Motor Mu- whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Warwickshire 15 - 21 April.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 15:59 Page 3

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thelist Monday 15 - Sunday 21 April POTTING SHED SUNFLOWERS CRAFT AC- INSOMNIA64 Weekend of non-stop TIVITY Decorate and make your own gaming including a cosplay masquer- plant pot, fill it with some Blakesley ade, Fri 19 - Mon 22 Apr, NEC, B’ham garden soil and plant a seed in it, EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Featuring Tues 16 Apr, Blakesley Hall, B’ham an exclusive stage show starring Mr ZOO CLUB Tues 16 - Thurs 18 Apr, Cadbury's Parrot, Fri 19 - Mon 22 Apr, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tam- Cadbury World, Birmingham worth THE GREAT EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANA! PANORAMA TOWER OPEN DAY Enjoy Find the Birds of Arley’s eggs, Fri 19 - fantastic panoramic views of Worces- Sun 28 Apr, Arley Arboretum, Upper ter from the top of the tower, Wed 17 Arley, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster Apr, Croome Park, Worcester PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR Traditionally EASTER CROWN CRAFT ACTIVITY AT grown plants for every type of gar- BLAKESLEY HALL Make your own den, Sat 20 Apr, Bodenham Arbore- Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts unique Easter crown covered with tum, Kidderminster Charlocote Park, Warwickshire, Thurs 18 - Tues 23 April; Croome animals, Thurs 18 Apr, Blakesley Hall, ST. GEORGE’S DAY Medieval experi- Birmingham Park, Worcester, Fri 19 - Mon 22 April; Packwood House, Solihull, ence to celebrate the patron saint of Fri 19 - Mon 22 April; Coughton Court, Alcester, Fri 19 - Mon 22 EASTER EGG DECORATION - FAMILY England, Sat 20 Apr, Tamworth Castle April; Greyfriars House & Garden, Worcester, Fri 19 - Mon 22 April; WORKSHOP Traditional Easter crafts, EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVI- Baddesley Clinton, Warwick, Fri 19 - Mon 22 April; Hanbury Hall, including egg-decoration, Thurs 18 TIES - SATURDAY ENGINEERS Make Droitwich, Fri 19 - Mon 22 April Apr, Black Country Living Museum, some eggstremely marvellous ma- Dudley Who better to organise an Easter egg hunt (or several) than those chines, Sat 20 Apr, Coventry Trans- lovely people at Cadbury? The chocolate-making Birmingham NATURE EXPLORERS Explore the great port Museum company are this Easter coordinating more than 250 hunts at Na- outdoors and learn about the natural EASTER EGG HUNT Sun 21 Apr, Birm- world, Fri 19 Apr, Sarehole Mill, Hall ingham Botanical Gardens tional Trust properties across the UK. Green, Birmingham And there’s plenty more for families to enjoy on their fun-filled ASTON IN WONDERLAND: CELEBRATING FESTIVAL OF POWER Action-packed NATIONAL TEA DAY Meet lots of your day out, with many of the venues offering ‘games and craft activi- Easter weekend including drag rac- favourite storybook characters, in- ties galore’. ing, monster trucks, stunt displays cluding Alice, the Mad Hatter and the What’s more, all participants will be rewarded with a sure-to-be- and more, Fri 19 - Sun 21 Apr, Santa angry Queen, Sun 21 Apr, Aston Hall, delicious Cadbury treat at the end of each completed hunt. Pod Raceway, Wellingborough Birmingham

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thelist 27 Apr, O2 Academy, Programme includes Bach, Scriabi Birmingham Classical and Rachmaninoff, Tues 30 Apr, UNDER THE APPLE TREE- Birmingham Town Hall LIVE ON TOUR WITH Music ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN Featuring WILDWOOD KIN Sat 27 Peter Donohoe (piano) & Jason Lai Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- CBSO: MAHLER'S NINTH Featuring Ilan (conductor). Programme includes ingham Volkov (conductor) and CBSO. Pro- works by Vaughan Williams & REMI HARRIS Sat 27 gramme includes works by Klein and Mozart, Tues 30 Apr, Stratford Play- Apr, The Roses The- Mahler, Thurs 25 Apr, Symphony house, Stratford-upon-Avon atre, Tewkesbury Hall, Birmingham COLLEGIUM VOCALE MÜNCHEN LEYLINES Sat 27 Apr, Pro- The Marr’s Bar, gramme of a cappella choral music, Worcester Thurs 25 Apr, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon VIVA SANTANA Sat 27 Comedy Apr, Huntingdon Hall, LUNCHTIME CONCERT Featuring Esther BILAL ZAFAR Wed 24 Apr, Warwick Worcester King-Smith (violin) & Daniel King- Arts Centre, Coventry Smith (piano), Thurs 25 Apr, War- JAWS Sat 27 Apr, O2 wick Arts Centre, Coventry GEOFF NORCOTT, DAVE FULTON & COM- Remi Harris - The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Institute, Birmingham EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON BRUCKNER’S STRING QUINTET Featur- Thurs 25 Apr, The Glee Club, B’ham Thurs 25 Apr, The FRANKIE'S GUYS Sat 27 ing Philip Brett & Charlotte Skinner Gigs Roses Theatre, Apr, Artrix, Broms- (vocals), Christopher Yates & Cather- MORGAN AND WEST’S PARLOUR TRICKS Tewkesbury grove ine Bower (violas) & Eduardo Vas- Thurs 25 Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove RUFUS WAINWRIGHT SIMONE FELICE Thurs METAL 2 THE MASSES sallo (cello). Programme comprises JETHRO Fri 26 Apr, Wolverhampton Mon 22 Apr, Sym- 25 Apr, Hare & Sat 27 Apr, The Em- Bruckner’s String Quintet in F, Thurs Grand Theatre phony Hall, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham pire, Coventry 25 Apr, CBSO Centre, Birmingham KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN Fri 26 Apr, DAVE Mon 22 Apr, O2 THE BOB DYLAN STORY ONE VOICE Sat 27 Apr, EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHES- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Academy, Birmingham Thurs 25 Apr, Leam- The Swan Theatre, TRA Featuring Tasmin Little (violin) & JACK DEE Fri 26 Apr, Evesham Arts Worcester Hans-Peter Hofmann (conductor). CIRCA WAVES Tues 23 ington Assembly, Centre Programme includes works by Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- Leamington Spa THE STEVIE WONDER EX- Haydn, Mozart, Fauré & Tchaikovsky, GEOFF NORCOTT, SUZI RUFFELL, DA- ingham TOM PAXTON & THE PERIENCE Sat 27 Apr, NIAN CLARK & DAVE FULTON Fri 26 - The Assembly, Leam- Fri 26 Apr, Warwick Arts Centre, SPENCER JAMES Tues DONJUANS Thurs 25 Sat 27 Apr, The Glee Club, B’ham ington Spa Coventry 23 Apr, Huntingdon Apr, Birmingham Town CBSO: BEST OF BOND Featuring TROY HAWKE, MANDY KNIGHT, SEAN Hall, Worcester Hall JOHN POWER (CAST) + PERCIVAL & FREDDY QUINNE Sat 27 CHRIS HELME (THE SEA- Stephen Bell (conductor) and Lance CARA DILLON Wed 24 LINDISFARNE Fri 26 Apr, Apr, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham HORSES) Sat 27 Apr, Ellington & Anna-Jane Casey (vocal- Apr, Symphony Hall, Huntingdon Hall, Kasbah, Coventry ists), Fri 26 Apr, Symphony Hall, BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 27 Birmingham Worcester Birmingham Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove ROY ORBISON & BUDDY POP DIVAS LIVE Wed 24 THE SPECIALS Fri 26 HOLLY SHOW Sat 27 COLLEGIUM VOCALE MÜNCHEN Pro- Apr, The Core Theatre, Apr, O2 Academy, Apr, Evesham Arts gramme of a cappella choral music, Solihull Birmingham Centre Fri 26 Apr, St Chad’s Cathedral, DARYL HALL & JOHN NEWTON FAULKNER Fri Birmingham KADIALY KOUYATE BAND OATES Wed 24 Apr, Re- 26 Apr, O2 Institute, Sat 27 Apr, Midlands COLLEGIUM VOCALE MÜNCHEN Pro- Theatre sorts World Arena, Birmingham Arts Centre, B’ham gramme of a cappella choral music, ROTTERDAM Jon Brittain's bittersweet Birmingham THE BLINDERS Fri 26 Sat 27 Apr, St Martin in the Cornmar- KATHERINE JENKINS Sat comedy about gender, sexuality and SAM LEE Wed 24 Apr, Apr, O2 Institute, Birm- ket, Worcester 27 Apr, Symphony being a long way from home, Mon Warwick Arts Centre, ingham Hall, Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT Pro- 22 - Wed 24 Apr, Wolverhampton Coventry THE SOUND OF SPRING- gramme includes works by W. H. Grand Theatre 150 FALL FANS CAN’T BE YUNG FUME Wed 24 STEEN Fri 26 Apr, Artrix, Harris, J. Stanley, O. Messiaen, R. WRONG Sat 27 Apr, STONES IN HIS POCKETS Owen Sharpe Apr, O2 Academy, Bromsgrove Binge and M. Durufle, Mon 29 Apr, The Tin Music and & Kevin Trainor star in Marie Jones’ Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall ELO EXPERIENCE 2019 Arts, Canal Basin, War- rural comedy, Mon 22 - Sat 27 Apr, CHARLIE LANDSBOR- Fri 26 Apr, Palace The- wickshire NICHOLAS MCCARTHY IN RECITAL Fea- Malvern Theatres OUGH: THE FAREWELL atre, Redditch turing Nicholas McCarthy (piano). APE FEVER Sat 27 - Sun WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER ‘The almost TOUR Thurs 25 Apr, ANDY ABRAHAM'S NAT 28 Apr, The Assembly, Royal Spa Centre, KING COLE SONGBOOK Leamington Spa Leamington Spa Fri 26 Apr, The Core FLEECY FOLK: FLOOK ELKIE BROOKS IN CON- Theatre, Solihull Sun 28 Apr, The CERT Thurs 25 Apr, R.E.M.\STIPE Fri 26 Apr, Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Wolverhampton Grand The Marr’s Bar, Nr Evesham Theatre Worcester M HUNCHO Sun 28 Apr, FOLK IN THE FOYER: MICHAEL ENGLISH WITH O2 Institute, B’ham SASKIA GRIFFITHS- SPECIAL GUEST BREN- MOORE Thurs 25 Apr, DAN SHINE Fri 26 Apr, IDLEWILD Sun 28 Apr, Evesham Arts Centre Birmingham Town Hall O2 Institute, B’ham OH! WHAT A FEELING DANNI NICHOLLS Fri 26 PAPA ROACH Mon 29 Thurs 25 Apr, The Apr, Midlands Arts Apr, O2 Academy, Swan Theatre, Centre, Birmingham Birmingham Worcester BILL LAURANCE + KID INK Tues 30 Apr, TOKEN Thurs 25 Apr, JAMES HEATHER Sat 27 O2 Institute, B’ham O2 Academy, B’ham Apr, Warwick Arts Cen- JOSEFIN ÖHRN Tues 30 TOM JONES AND THE tre, Coventry Apr, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SHADES OF THE 60S RICHARD ASHCROFT Sat Rotterdam - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 22 - 30 April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:33 Page 2

Monday 22 - Tuesday 30 April

entirely imagined Bon Jovi musical’, CLUB TROPICANA - THE MUSICAL Joe Tues 23 - Sat 27 Apr, The REP, Birm- McElderry, Neil McDermott, Kate ingham Robbins, Emily Tierney & Amelle JOCK NIGHT Adam Zane’s new play Berrabah star in this ‘ultimate holiday follows five men as they search for musical’ homage to the 1980s, Mon love and friendship in a world of sex 29 Apr - Sat 4 May, Wolverhampton and drugs. An honest look at the Grand Theatre popularity of chemsex, online dating KING CHARLES III Amateur staging of apps and HIV stigma, Wed 24 - Sat Mike Bartlett’s play about a monar- 27 Apr, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- chy in crisis, Mon 29 Apr - Sat 4 May, ingham Talisman Theatre, Coventry IN THE WILLOWS Hip-hop version of SPAMALOT Studley Operatic Society Kenneth Grahame’s riverside tale, present an amateur staging of the starring Olivier Award winner Clive Monty Python musical, Tues 30 Apr - Rowe, deaf street dancer Chris Fon- Sat 4 May, Palace Theatre, Redditch seca (The Greatest Dancer), Seann Miley Moore (X Factor) and Matt Knight (Let It Shine), Wed 24 - Sat 27 Apr, Malvern Theatres MORGAN & WEST: PARLOUR TRICKS Join Kids Shows time-travelling magic duo Morgan & THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWAL- West for an evening ‘chock full of LOWED A FLY People’s Theatre Com- jaw-dropping, brain-bursting, gasp- pany host an afternoon of family eliciting feats of magic’, Thurs 25 Apr, entertainment based on the classic Artrix, Bromsgrove nursery rhyme, Tues 23 Apr, The Le Gateau Chocolat: Icons THIRTEEN THE MUSICAL Wing It Theatre Core, Solihull Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 26 April present a staging of Jason Robert ANIMALCOLM THE MUSICAL David Bad- Brown's coming-of-age musical, diel's new musical comedy for Opera & lycra-loving alternative cabaret sensation Le Gateau Thurs 25 - Sat 27 Apr, Albany The- younger audiences, fusing physical Chocolat walks the tightrope between his public and private per- atre, Coventry theatre, puppetry & storytelling, Tues sonas in latest work Icons - a show in which he explores ‘the peo- LE GATEAU CHOCOLAT: ICONS Walking 23 Apr, Albany Theatre, Coventry the tightrope between his public and ple, the moments, the relationships and the art that have come to TWIRLYWOOS LIVE! Theatre for shape us and the ideals we aspire to’. Accompanied by a live private personas, Le Gateau Choco- younger audiences featuring ‘mis- lat explores ‘the people, the mo- chief, music & inventive puppetry’, band, Gateau unashamedly weaves his way through an eclectic ments, the relationships and the art Tues 23 - Wed 24 Apr, Royal Spa mix of music, investigating his own ‘objects of worship’ via the that have come to shape us and the Centre, Leamington Spa songs of his personal icons. ideals to which we aspire’, Fri 26 Apr, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry GRANDAD'S ISLAND Heartwarming the- atrical adventure based on Benji Sun 28 - Mon 29 Apr, Artrix, Broms- Apr, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry PAINTING CLOUDS Theatre that chal- Davies' award-winning book. Suitable grove lenges perceptions of different cul- for children aged four-plus, Wed 24 - AN EVENING WITH ALAN JOHNSON One tures and questions how fear brings Sat 27 Apr, Belgrade Theatre, Coven- of the most popular politicians of re- out the worst in people, Fri 26 - Sun try cent times, Alan tells his personal 28 Apr, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham story with the help of some of the THE WORST WITCH New stage adapta- music that has soundtracked his life... PRISON GAME One-man physical the- tion featuring original songs, music Dance Fri 26 Apr, The Bear Pit Theatre, Strat- atre performance that shows how and magic, Wed 24 - Sat 27 Apr, Bel- SWAN LAKE Presented by Ballet The- ford-upon-Avon prison can define a man, Sat 27 Apr, grade Theatre, Coventry atre UK, Thurs 25 Apr, The Crescent The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham AN EVENING WITH CHRIS EUBANK Fri 26 MORGAN & WEST’S UTTERLY SPIFFING Apr, Rialto Reborn, Coventry MONOLOGUESLAM MASTERCLASS Work- SPECTACULAR MAGIC SHOW FOR KIDS SHAKE THAT THING: THE GREAT BRITISH shop for anyone considering audi- (AND CHILDISH GROWN-UPS) Family SWING DANCE SHOW Dance show fea- STRICTLY ANN: AN EVENING WITH ANN tioning for MonologueSlam UK, Sat show fusing brain-boggling illusion turing music, song and dance from WIDDECOMBE Margaret Thatcher and 27 Apr, The REP, Birmingham and good old-fashioned tomfoolery, the Roaring ’20s and Fabulous ’30s, Craig Revel Horwood collide as Ann DES O'CONNOR & JIMMY TARBUCK Two Thurs 25 Apr, Artrix, Bromsgrove including the charleston, the lindy- lifts the lid on life in Westminster and hop, the black bottom and more, Sun her time on some of TV’s favourite iconic performers on one stage, Sat PONGO'S PARTY Children's show in 28 Apr, Birmingham Town Hall shows, Fri 26 Apr, The Roses The- 27 Apr, Wolverhampton Grand The- which youngsters can take part in the atre, Tewkesbury atre 'town's biggest game of pass the par- SWAN LAKE Presented by Ballet The- HOW SWEET IT IS - THE GREATEST HITS cel', Thurs 25 Apr, Palace Theatre, atre UK, Sun 28 Apr, Warwick Arts OF MOTOWN Sun 28 Apr, The Alexan- Redditch Centre, Coventry dra Theatre, Birmingham TWIRLYWOOS LIVE! Theatre for OUT OF THE HAT! Long Nose Puppets younger audiences featuring ‘mis- present a new show about friendship chief, music & inventive puppetry’, Fri Film and true magic, Sun 28 Apr, 26 Apr, Swan Theatre, Worcester Talks INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Macready Theatre, Rugby BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Sat 27 Apr, ANT MIDDLETON: MIND OVER MUSCLE DUMBO (U) Family/Fantasy. Starring RIGHT OF ENTITLEMENT Play about fair- Palace Theatre, Redditch Television presenter, adventurer and Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. The ness, class, education and social mo- DUCKIE Reimagining of Hans Chris- former soldier Ant takes his audience Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 22 - bility, Mon 29 Apr, Albany Theatre, tian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, on a motivational journey of self-help Wed 24 Apr Coventry with a message of tolerance and self- and self-discovery, Tues 23 Apr, Sym- THE WIFE (15) Drama. Starring Glenn HAIR Fiftieth anniversary production acceptance at its core, Sat 27 Apr, phony Hall, Birmingham Close, Jonathan Pryce. Number 8, of the legendary rock musical, star- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry AN AUDIENCE WITH JOANNA TROLLOPE Pershore, Tues 23 Apr ring Jake Quickenden, Daisy Wood- DEAR ZOO LIVE! Puppetry and audi- The award-winning author discusses A PRIVATE WAR (15) Biography/Drama. Davis & Marcus Collins, Mon 29 Apr ence participation in a show based her long career and most recent Starring Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dor- - Sat 4 May, The Alexandra Theatre, on Rod Campbell’s children’s book, book, An Unsuitable Match, Thurs 25 nan. Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Warwickshire 22 - 30 April.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2019 15:33 Page 3

thelist Monday 22 - Tuesday 30 April Spa, Tues 23 - Fri 26 Apr Fri 26 Apr, Jackfield Tile Museum, THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART Ironbridge, Shropshire (PG) Animation/Adventure. With the EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVI- voices of Chris Pratt, Alison Brie. TIES - EASTER MACHINES Make some Number 8, Pershore, Tues 23 & Sat eggstremely marvellous machines, 27 Apr Mon 22 - Fri 26 Apr, Coventry Trans- EVERYBODY KNOWS (15) Crime/Drama. port Museum Starring Penélope Cruz, Javier Bar- CREATURE KITES CRAFT ACTIVITY AT dem. Foreign language, subtitled. BLAKESLEY HALL Craft your own fairy The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed and dragon kite, Tues 23 Apr, 24 Blakesley Hall, Birmingham FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS (12A) Com- PETER RABBIT STORY TIME The Birm- edy/Drama. Starring James Purefoy, ingham Botanical Gardens has a very Tuppence Middleton. Number 8, Per- special visitor this Easter... Wed 24 shore, Fri 26 - Sat 27 & Mon 29 Apr; Apr, Birmingham Botanical Gardens The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon YOUNG ARCHAEOLOGISTS' AND CURA- 29 - Tues 30 Apr TORS' CLUB Find out how the cast iron AT ETERNITY'S GATE (15) houses will be dismantled and re- Biography/Drama. Starring Willem built in a different location on the mu- Dafoe, Rupert Friend. Royal Spa Cen- seum site, Wed 24 Apr, Black Country tre, Leamington Spa, Sat 27 - Tues 30 Living Museum, Dudley Apr PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS 2019 The world number one and the current world champion do battle on the oche, Thurs 25 Apr, Arena B’ham NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: MADE IN THE MIDLANDS - GIN EVENING Released from Fri 26 Apr, showing at WITH THE GINTLEMAN The Midlands’ selected cinemas leading Gin Raconteur provides ‘edu- AVENGERS: ENDGAME (tbc) cational and fun’ themed tasting, Fri Stratford Literary Festival BEL CANTO (tbc) 26 Apr, Black Country Living Mu- seum, Dudley various locations in and around Stratford-upon-Avon, EIGHTH GRADE (15) NATURE EXPLORERS Explore the great Sun 28 April - Sat 4 May THE WORLD IS YOURS (15) outdoors and learn about the natural Former ballet dancer and Strictly judge Dame Darcey Bussell (pic- world, Fri 26 Apr, Sarehole Mill, Hall tured), The Great British Bake Off’s Prue Leith, actress Juliet Green, Birmingham Stephenson, screenwriter Andrew Davies and Newsnight anchor MEDIEVAL BANQUET Immersive evening of medieval entertainment, Emily Maitlis are among the celebrities appearing at this year’s Events Sat 27 Apr, Warwick Castle Stratford Literary Festival. Subjects under discussion during the ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON EGG HUNT ZOO CLUB Featuring activities suitable eight-day event include science and ideas, mental health and Help St George track down the for children aged between eight and women’s issues, medicine and the news. dragon's eggs, Mon 22 Apr, Sarehole 14, all themed around animals, “We’re really excited by this year’s lineup,” says Festival Director Mill, Hall Green, Birmingham wildlife, nature and zoos, Sat 27 Apr, Annie Ashworth. “Our growing audiences have shown that they EASTER HALF TERM Featuring an Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tam- love a variety of events to choose from, and this year we’ve in- worth Easter bonnet parade, arts & crafts, a cluded a very wide buffet of choices. I’m especially pleased that bouncy castle and award-winning MONOLOGUESLAM MASTERCLASS Work- clown Bibbledy Bob, Mon 22 - Fri 26 shop open to all those who are audi- the programme includes some lighthearted, late-evening events to Apr, Birmingham Botanical Gardens tioning or considering auditioning for enjoy with a glass of wine - including our Live Lit evening, which FLORAL TILE DECORATING Create your MonologueSlam UK, Sat 27 Apr, The showcases emerging local writers.” own floral-themed designs at these REP, Birmingham drop-in family workshops, Mon 22 - EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVI- TIES - SATURDAY ENGINEERS Make Racing Circuit, Derby some eggstremely marvellous ma- BLAKESLEY HALL PLAY DAY Build your chines, Sat 27 Apr, Coventry Trans- own den and have fun with port Museum parachutes, Sun 28 Apr, Blakesley EDWARDIAN COOKING EXPERIENCE A Hall, Birmingham day of traditional cookery by the ST GEORGE’S DAY Featuring medieval warmth of the range, Sat 27 Apr, reenactment, children’s entertainers, Black Country Living Museum, Dud- face painting, crafts and a walkabout ley with Smoked! the Dragon, Sun 28 SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHDAY: KNIGHTS & Apr, Dudley Zoological Gardens NYMPHS GARDEN PARTY Dress up as a THE VAUXHALL SHOW Featuring Vaux- knight or nymph, get your face hall-only RWYB, club displays, show painted and enjoy family-friendly gar- & shine, jet car, FWD drag series and den games, Sat 27 Apr, Hall's Croft, more, Sun 28 Apr, Santa Pod Race- Stratford-upon-Avon way, Wellingborough SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRA- STRATFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL Offer- TIONS A day of live performances, ing an exciting mix of debate, ideas, crafts and cake, Sat 27 Apr, Stratford celebrity author events, workshops & Town Centre humour, Sun 28 Apr - Sat 4 May, vari- THE KWIK FIT BRITISH TOURING CAR ous locations in and around Strat- CHAMPIONSHIP Triple-header of races, ford-upon-Avon Medieval Banquet - Warwick Castle Sat 27 - Sun 28 Apr, Donington Park 66 whatsonlive.co.uk CONTINENTAL STREET MARKET IN CONJUNCTION WITH COVENTRY BID

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@CovCityCentre CovCityCentre WWW.COVENTRYCITYCENTRE.CO.UK COVENTRY BID BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT / DRIVING COVENTRY’S FUTURE BMAG Sweet F/P April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2019 09:48 Page 1