Birmingham Cover February 2018.Qxp Birmingham Cover 22/01/2018 17:16 Page 1

Home , Dominic North, Frank Skinner, Guy Barker

Birmingham Cover February 2018.qxp_Birmingham Cover 22/01/2018 17:16 Page 1

HOLLIE COOK PLAYS Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands THE O2 ACADEMY BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON FEBRUARY 2018 Birmingham ISSUE 386 FEBRUARY 2018 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onbirminghamwhatson.co.uk

PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP inside:

Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

SHREK family-friendly musical visits New Alexandra Theatre WTE:@WHATSONBRUMTWITTER:

MAGICAL MOMENTS Birmingham Hippodrome presents fairytales in dance FACEBOOK:@WHATSONBIRMINGHAM

milkingTIM VINE it with wordplay feature inside... BIRMINGHAMWHATSON.CO.UK BRB F/P February.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2018 17:12 Page 1 Contents February Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:12 Page 2

February 2018

Contents

Cinderella - Matthew Bourne’s evocative reworking shows at Birmingham Hippodrome feature on page 32

David Baddiel The Winslow Boy Macbeth the list

talks family, Frank Skinner Terence Rattigan’s classic family Mark Bruce reimagines one of Your 16-page and fantasy football... drama shows at The REP Shakespeare’s bloodiest tales... week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 page 24 feature page 36 page 53 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 42. Visual Arts 44. Events

@whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonbirmingham Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham 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 WhatsOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Lauren Cole, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts, Daisy Sparkle, Carol Lovatt 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 Birmingham February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:57 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

City arts venue appoints local architects to lead proposed development Birmingham’s Symphony Hall has announced the appointment of Page\Park Architects as Multi-Disciplinary Design Team lead for a proposed £12million foyer development. The work will open the building onto a regen- erated Centenary Square. Commenting on the news, Nick Reed, Chief Ex- ecutive Officer for Symphony Hall, said: “This project will finally give the venue the foyers and public spaces to match its world-class au- ditorium. “Boasting a much-improved audience experience and a dedicated entrance, this permeable space will be energised with new artistic adventures, creating a sustainable future for Symphony Hall, and developing an audience that looks like the city it serves: young, diverse and creative. Page\Park have presented some inspiring ideas on how the building can help achieve our objectives, and we look forward to working with them to develop the design.”

Fame The Musical turns Birmingham to get its first Plans for a £183million 30 and visits Birmingham zero waste supermarket Birmingham skyscraper A 2018/19 30th anniversary tour of Fame The Birmingham is set to get its first zero waste approved by city council Musical will stop off at Birmingham’s New shop. Birmingham City Council has given the green Alexandra Theatre. The aim of The Clean Kilo will be to limit the light to plans for a 42-storey skyscraper in the The award-winning show visits the venue amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean - city centre. The construction will house 481 later this year, from 19 to 24 November. waste which threatens marine life and, ulti- apartments and cost an estimated £183mil- Commenting on the tour, David Hutchinson, mately, human health. lion. Executive Creative Director of Selladoor, the All products in the new supermarket will The Broad Street-located Moda Living project company presenting the show, said: “This come without packaging. is expected to open in 2021. new tour celebrates the 30 years since the The project is being premiere of the production and will very supported by a much have its roots in the style and nostalgia crowdfunding initia- Rag’n’Bone Man to play of the original musical. tive which has raised exclusive Birmingham gig “Selladoor are dedicated to bringing large- more than its target scale theatre to as broad an audience as pos- amount of £14,607. The biggest UK breakout star of 2017 will this sible across the UK and internationally, and month perform an exclusive live gig for Ab- we’re delighted to add another classic musi- solute Radio competition winners at Birming- cal to our ever-growing portfolio.” ham’s Town Hall (Wednesday 7 February). Beatles anniversary Rag’n’Bone Man festival in Birmingham (aka Rory Gra- A 55th anniversary celebration of the time ham) last year The Beatles’ brought their Cavern Club show enjoyed a world- to Birmingham’s Kings Heath suburb is being wide hit with held this month. debut album The special event, which takes place on Sun- Human. He also day 11 February, is headlined by the club’s performed at current resident band, Beatles tribute act festivals includ- Made In Liverpool. It will also feature a selec- ing Glastonbury, tion of local musicians performing their Bestival and Isle favourite songs by the legendary Fab Four. Of Wight. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:58 Page 2

First Word

John Lennon’s Monkey-Trail bike up for auction A motorcycle that once be- longed to John Lennon is up for auction at the National Motorcy- cle Museum in Solihull on Sun- day 4 March. Lennon used the Monkey-Trail bike XUC 91H as a fun way of getting around his Tittenhurst Park estate in Surrey, where he lived from 1969 to 1971. It’s estimated that the bike will sell for more than £30,000.

George Ezra to play at Forest Live George Ezra will appear at two Midlands venues this year as part of Forest Live, the summer concert series organised by the Forestry Commission. One of the biggest-selling male Joint ticket initiative offers Culture Feast for arts lovers artists of the decade, Ezra will Birmingham’s leading contemporary arts organisations have joined forces to create the second Cul- perform at Westonbirt Arbore- ture Feast menu - a joint ticket that gives access to seven theatre, dance, music, film and art events tum, near Tetbury, Gloucester- shire, on Sunday 17 June and for a total of £30. then in Cannock Chase Forest, With a single purchase, arts fans get tickets for an exclusive launch event at Grand Union, with a near Rugeley, Staffordshire, on guided tour of Digbeth First Friday, two dance events from Birmingham Hippodrome and DanceX- Sunday 1 July. For more informa- change, four world premieres from Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, new theatre at The REP, tion, visit forestry.gov.uk/music tickets to the launch of the Flatpack Festival and a guided tour of Ikon Gallery. Tickets are available from culturefeast.org. Dance with Dame Darcy in Stratford Man Engine Enjoy a Valentine’s Day five-course meal Dame Darcy Bussell is coming to heading for the at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery the Midlands. The Strictly Come Midlands Dancing judge will visit Strat- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is hosting a five-course meal for ford-upon-Avon next month to The largest mechanical Valentine’s Day at a special after-hours event. teach her full body aerobic puppet ever constructed The choice of available dishes includes rump of lamb with dauphi- workout, DDMIX (Diverse Dance in Britain is visiting the noise potatoes, honey parsnip puree and mint jus, and pan-fried cod Mix). Midlands this spring with smoked haddock and celeriac mash and watercress sauce. The event takes place on Thurs- (Blists Hill Victorian The five-course meal costs £47.50 per head, with tables available from day 15 March in the Levi Fox Town at Ironbridge Gorge 7pm to 9pm on Valentine’s Day. Interested parties can check out the Hall at the town’s King Edwards School. on 14 April). full menu at birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/edwardian- Tickets for the class are £15 per The Man Engine crawls at tearooms-late-valentine-dinner person and can be booked by 4m high and ‘transforms’ contacting 07743101255. to stand at 11.2m high, powered by Volvo’s L220 wheeled-loader. The team behind the Man Engine are creating a be- spoke visual, theatrical and aural experience for the Blists Hill visit, high- lighting the area’s status as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Birmingham February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:58 Page 3

First Word

Conservatoire charity concert A Legally Blonde The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is hosting a canine star? charity concert on 1 March to raise money for So- The producers of Legally phie’s Silver Lining Fund (sslf.org.uk), a charity Blonde The Musical are on which helps struggling young actors and singers the hunt for a canine star - a with the considerable costs of professional train- British Bulldog - to appear in ing. the show when it visits Birm- Commenting on the concert, fundraiser and Con- ingham’s New Alexandra servatoire classical guitar student Georgina Dadson Theatre from Monday 21 to said: “In 2016, I performed with my guitar quartet Saturday 26 May. from the Conservatoire and immediately fell in love The dog needs to have a re- with the charity. I’ve since made it my mission to laxed temperament, be re- raise more money for Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund, sponsive to commands and and to facilitate a relationship between the charity ideally have some form of and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, to give stage experience. more students performance opportunities.” Auditions will be held at the New Alex on Sunday 4 Febru- ary between 10am and midday. Interested parties Human rights West End winner Jersey Boys smashes should email legallyblonde- campaigner talks Birmingham theatre’s box office record [email protected] for more information and an ap- about ‘Britain’s West End musical Jersey Boys has become the New Alexandra The- plication form. shame’ at Ikon atre’s biggest-selling show ever. The recent run of the hit production - a tribute to Frankie Valli And Veteran human rights cam- The Four Seasons - smashed all box office records at the Birmingham paigner Peter Tatchell visits theatre, with a 95 percent occupancy at the venue over the period from Brum ‘snapper’ Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery at 16 December 2017 to 6 January. the end of the month to give a wins photo comp The first ever stage version of ITV comedy series Benidorm will be the talk on how the asylum sys- Alex’s Christmas Show this year. A passionate photographer tem is rigged against genuine and performance artist from refugees. Birmingham has been un- Refugee Detention: Britain’s veiled as one of three na- Shame sees Tatchell dis- tional winners of Huawei and cussing the asylum process in Dazed’s Reveal The Real You detail, from initial application community-led photography through to incarceration, legal competition. aid, tribunal hearings and de- Beating off the challenge of portations. thousands of other talented The event takes place on young photographers to win Wednesday 28 February. the inaugural contest, An- Booking is essential. thony Shintai Amao’s stunning imagery highlighted Birmingham’s underground breakdancing scene and the work of Break Mission, an organisation which sets up local street dancing events to raise awareness of homeless- ness in the region.

New year celebrations, Chinese style! If you just can’t get enough of new year celebrations, check out the Chinese variety in Birmingham’s China Town on Sunday 18 February. The annual event this year features Chinese street food and music, performances of cultural dances and a host of activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy, including face painting and hands-on workshops for the kids. 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 14:58 Page 4 David Baddiel Rewritten version.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:42 Page 1

8 whatsonlive.co.uk David Baddiel Rewritten version.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:42 Page 2

by Jenny Ell

DAVIDtalks family, Frank Skinner, andBADDIEL fantasy football...

David Baddiel can turn his hand to virtually just liked the fame part,” he explains. scored a massive TV hit with their Fantasy anything. As well as being a much-loved Football League show. They even recorded a My Family: Not The Sitcom was incredibly comedian, he’s had great success as a chart-topping song called Three Lions - the successful at the Menier Chocolate Factory novelist, screenwriter and TV presenter. official ‘anthem’ of the England football team and in the West End back in 2016, earning He’s now going back to stand-up, to take his during the Euro 96 championships. David an Olivier Award nomination. If you Olivier Award-nominated one-man show - My were fortunate enough to have caught the So after all these years, are they still close Family: Not The Sitcom - on tour around the show in London, you’d be forgiven for friends? “Frank lives in my road!” laughs UK. assuming that you’d already seen everything David. “He lives 10 doors down from me. He’s As its title suggests, the show is a comedy it has to offer. Not so, however. The show has always doing that! It’s a very expensive form based on stories about his family - or, more evolved significantly over the last couple of of stalking!” specifically, about his parents - and his own years, not least because David has gleaned Given the success the pair enjoyed in the experiences of growing up in the 1970s. more information about his parents - some past, would they ever contemplate teaming “My mum was mental,” says David, “an from people who’ve been to see him perform. up again? “We talked about doing Fantasy extreme personality - obsessive, sexual and “Even the niece of the person my mum had Football at the last World Cup but decided very interested in golf because she had a an affair with has come to see the show,” he against it in the end. It turned out to be the long-term, fantastical, crazy, ‘in the moment’ says. “Three times!” right decision because England played so affair with a golfing memorabilia salesman. On a more serious note, David hopes that badly. Not ideal for a comedy show whereby She died in 2014, and at her funeral a lot of anybody attending the show who, like you pin the response of the audience on how people were telling me that my mother was himself, has a close relative with dementia, well England are going to do!” wonderful. That gave me a sense that no one will feel more comfortable talking about the really knew her - it’s just something people David may have many a string to his bow in a illness afterwards. “I want people to know say at funerals. My mum was wonderful, but professional sense, but he struggles to decide it’s alright to talk about it, and it’s alright to not in that way!” which of them he enjoys the most. “I think laugh about it.” I’m just one thing, really, and that’s a David’s dad suffers from dementia. “He’s a David hasn’t been on tour since 2013, when storyteller. Everything I do is storytelling in complete nutcase and a very sweary and he travelled the length and breadth of the different forms. And I’m weirdly happy with cantankerous man!” country with his show Fame: Not The Musical everything I’ve done. My aim when I’m on Despite such brutally honest assessments of (there’s a definite theme in evidence in the stage is to be as much like I actually am as his parents, the New York-born comedian titles of his stand-up gigs!). Although he possible. It’s not much different to coming clearly retains an enormous fondness for enjoys touring, he admits to finding it quite a round to my house for a chat!” both of them. Even so, the more he reveals, lonely experience nowadays. “In the very old the more evident it becomes that home life days, I used to tour with Rob Newman and do was a far from ideal experience for him and shows with Frank Skinner - that would be David Baddiel brings My Family: Not The his brothers. His parents certainly didn’t stop more of a laugh!” Sitcom to New Alexandra Theatre, living their own lives once they had children - And speaking of Frank Skinner... It’s via his Birmingham, on Wednesday 28 February; and when David became well known, television work with the West Bromwich-born Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, on although his mum attended his every gig, she funnyman that David achieved real celebrity. Wednesday 28 March; and Dudley Town didn’t really engage with the material. “She Back in the ‘lad era’ of the 1990s, the pair Hall on Thursday 19 April.

whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Food February Birmingham .qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 17:25 Page 1

10 whatsonlive.co.uk Food February Birmingham .qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 17:25 Page 2

Food

ajwain and Kashmiri chilli batter, thing to shout out about. I urge with Devonshire crab cake, any carnivore that visits Lasan to tomato chutney and sour mango. try this dish - it was the most de- A selection of pakoras also fea- licious thing we devoured that tured. evening. My partner and I opted for the To accompany our main courses, sharing platter, which comprised we ordered sides of Karela Bain- a heavenly cornucopia of gan - fresh baby aubergine chicken sheek kebab, succulent braised with pickled bitter gourd lamb cutlets, tender, slow- - and Nilgiri Paneer, soft tandoori braised venison samosas and paneer with slow-cooked roasted salmon, served with spinach and fenugreek nilgiri tamarind and mint chutneys. korma sauce and a garlic & co- It was stunning! The samosas riander naan. It came as no sur- were light and tasty, while the prise to discover that the side salmon fell apart at just a touch dishes were just as tasty as the and was seasoned nicely. My mains, with the paneer dish favourite element, the chicken being one of the nicest I’ve ever sheek kebab, was succulent - soft had the pleasure of eating. to the bite and packed full of For dessert, we shared the Beet- flavour. The chutneys paired per- root Halva - slow-cooked beet- fectly with the meat and fish, re- root with caramelised nuts, sulting in nothing less than a apple crisps and dreamy pista- thoroughly enjoyable starter. chio ice cream - and the Choco- Being a huge fan of Indian cui- late Mousse - devilishly rich, sine, and of just about every dish dark chocolate mousse with going, choosing what to have is caramel puffed rice and sweet always quite the deliberation. marinated orange. They were Every main course from Lasan’s both absolutely gorgeous. The menu sounded exquisite, but I beetroot offering was unique and eventually opted for the ever so sweet. The caramel Samundari Biryani. The dish fea- puffed rice provided a welcome tured succulent prawns, nicely crunch and the mousse was just REVIEW: Lasan cooked mussels, white fish and divine. Top marks from us! squid and an aromatic basmati Our first Lasan experience could- Exceptional flavours are order of the rice, topped with crispy onions. n’t have gone any better. The day at Jewellery Quarter celebrity haunt A fresh coconut milk, curry leaf food was exemplary, the flavours and tamarind sauce came sepa- exceptional and the presentation Since its launch by celebrity chef watering new menu, Lasan was a rately, allowing me to pour on as second to none. The service was Aktar Islam and Jabbar Khan in restaurant I was greatly looking desired. The seafood was cooked fantastic, the staff knowledgable 2002, Jewellery Quarter-based forward to visiting. beautifully - and there was and friendly. I can’t wait to re- Lasan has firmly established it- On arrival, we were politely plenty of it - the crispy onions turn, to sample some more of the self as one of the UK’s finest In- shown to our table, where we pe- provided another welcome tex- outstanding cuisine that this dian restaurants. rused the menu over a cold lager ture, and the sauce helped bring first-class restaurant has to offer. The success of this multi-award- and some poppadoms. It was ap- the whole dish together, accom- Lauren Foster winning celebrity haunt - it’s im- parent from the word go that panying the main element per- pressed the likes of Gary Barlow, Lasan was a cut above the rest - fectly. It was truly fantastic and Food: nnnnn Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby, I’d never before tasted such a de- one of the nicest Indian dishes Service: nnnnn to name but a few - has been licious array of dips and chut- I've enjoyed in a long while. Ambience: nnnnn built on and sustained by the neys! My partner chose the Hyderabadi Overall value nnnnn owners’ unswerving passion for The starters menu featured Nav Biryani. Comprising layers of OVERALL nnnnn creation and reinvention, their Ratan Lamb - a lightly spiced, tender slow-stewed goat and sincere love of authentic Indian creamy curry, a treasure trove of lightly spiced basmati rice Lasan food and the immense pride they tender, free-range marinated cooked dum-style, it was served 3-4 Dakota Buildings James Street take in its presentation. lamb cutlet, with a soft gilouti with a side of sweet and creamy St Paul's Square Having recently undergone a pattie and fresh green chutney. pineapple raita. The flavour combination of the raita and the soft, Birmingham major refurbishment, which in- Then there was Konkan Kekada - B3 1SD perfectly cooked goat was some- cluded new decor and a mouth- fresh soft-shell crab in a crispy Tel: 0121 212 3664 whatsonlive.co.uk 11 Food February Birmingham .qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 17:25 Page 3

12 whatsonlive.co.uk Food February Birmingham .qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 17:25 Page 4

Food

Brum’s Turners At 69 closes its doors Birmingham restaurant Turners At 69 has announced its closure with immediate effect. The popular eatery held a Michelin star from 2009 to 2017, but lost it last year when head chef Richard Turner changed his approach, replacing elaborate £80 to £90 tasting menus with a more casual style of food. In a statement, Richard said: "The restaurant has enjoyed many wonderful years on the Birmingham dining scene. I would like to apologise to anyone who’ll be disappointed by the closure and extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Turners At 69 over the years."

Digbeth Dining Thai restaurant Sabai Sabai opens in Birmingham city centre Club now open The award-winning Sabai Sabai has opened its “We’d been looking to open in the city centre for a three days a week fourth Thai restaurant, its third in Birmingham. long time, but the right venue hadn’t come up,” The new eatery is housed in a city centre-located explains Torquil of the new eatery. “We thought Birmingham's favourite street Grade II listed building that was formerly the this beautiful building was perfect. In terms of food event, Digbeth Dining home of Legal & General Assurance Society atmosphere, decor and size, it’s very much a Club, is now taking place every Limited. mixture of the two other city restaurants. Thursday, Friday and Saturday Founded 14 years ago by Jureerat Dykins and her “We wanted the new place to have its own identity, from 4pm. partner, Torquil Chidwick, the first Sabai Sabai so it’s very different in decor and tableware. The Expect hand-picked traders restaurant opened in Moseley, with Jureerat’s Thai only thing we’ve kept the same is the food and from around the country, mum as the head chef. cocktails. The bar area is bigger than in our other collaborations with popular This was followed in 2011 by a second eatery, in restaurants - we really want people to see Sabai Birmingham brands, live music Harborne, and then a third in Stratford-upon-Avon Sabai as somewhere they can pop into for a nights and, of course, delicious in 2016. cocktail or two.” street food. Original Patty Men eatery set to expand its Digbeth premises Pieminister create Birmingham burger restaurant first vegan pie Original Patty Men has been given the After nearly a year of mixing, go-ahead to expand its Digbeth rolling and baking, pie-making premises. company Pieminister have cre- The company applied to change the ated their first vegan pie. use of two units alongside its Shaw’s ‘Kevin’ is made with British Passage eatery last September. chestnut mushrooms, tomato The first of the new spaces will and red wine with baby onions, comprise a main entrance leading to a red quinoa and thyme. shipping container which will provide The pie, which is registered with seating. Behind this will be storage the Vegan Society and carries space and a mezzanine with a bakery. their trusted trademark, is avail- The second unit will be converted into able for Midlands vegans to try a bar, with a particular focus on craft out in Pieminister’s Birmingham beer. and Nottingham restaurants. The expansion is expected to create four new jobs.

whatsonlive.co.uk 13 GIGS February Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:44 Page 1 mica paris Lauren Foster talks to singing sensation Mica Paris ahead of her tribute to Ella Fitzgerald...

You’re bringing your Mica Paris Sings Ella What’s your favourite Ella song? into this big, glamorous world where money Fitzgerald tour to Birmingham’s Jam House My favourite isn’t well known, actually. It’s was no object. Everything was dinner, every- this month. How did the tour come about? called You’re My Thrill. A lot of people have body took you out for dinner all the time. I It wasn’t really planned. Guy Barker and I covered that song - a lot of jazz musicians. got thrust into this music business world of went in his studio with his 70-piece orchestra When she sings that song, it’s just unbeliev- just really posh, upmarket dinners, big living, and we decided to record two songs for the able. limousines, bodyguards - it was a heavy Ella centennial. Then everyone went bloody thing. mental. The next minute we end up doing all Vocally, have you had to put into practice any these shows - Royal Albert Hall, Love new or different techniques? Did you enjoy all of that? Supreme. It was a little side thing and it’s No, I’ve never been trained. They found out I I loved it! It was what I was supposed to do - blown up into this. Now we’re making an could sing when I was six years old. I was it wasn’t even a shock. A lot of the time I was album of Mica Paris Sings Ella Fitzgerald singing Rupert The Bear. I went in for my first nervous about stuff, but I used to pretend I with Guy’s orchestra. competition when I was 10 and won. Then I could do it because my dad would always started winning all the competitions and be- say, ‘Don’t let people see that you’re terrified, Have you always been a fan of Ella’s? came this little prodigy, and that’s where it just always act like you know what you’re Yes! I grew up in a church and lived with my kind of all started. Jazz is so exposed - you doing.’ Thank god I had him as a teacher. I grandparents, but my dad and my mother can’t go in there singing it willy nilly. I don’t know if I could’ve got through all of it would take us at weekends. My dad would al- wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t good at it - not that had he not given me those pointers. ways play Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and I’m trying to blow smoke up my bum, but jazz people like that in the car. When I heard Ella, is something you can’t cheat at. You have to You’ve worked with numerous respected I kind of lost it. I’d seen her on TV - she had be bloody good at it. artists, from Prince to Jools Holland to David this advert, and back then there weren’t Gilmore. Who’s been your favourite? many black people on TV, so it was like, What’s the highlight of your career so far? I really loved working with Prince! When I ‘Wow, there’s a black person on television, The fact that I’m still here - 30 years this year, was 15, I had to hide his records under my and she’s singing and she breaks the glass.’ I and I’m still here. That’s a bit of a shock. bed because if my grandparents had seen remember seeing her and thinking, “I wanna Jesus Christ, I’m still making a living out of them, I would’ve been finished. I was 18 smash that glass.’ I was only about seven. My this. I’ve never had a job - this is the only job when he called me up on stage at one of his dad started to tell me about how amazing she I’ve ever had. I’m really grateful that people private concerts. I almost passed out, I could- was, so I really got into her. still find me remotely interesting. It’s quite n’t even breathe. He said, ‘I think we have nice. Mica Paris here, but she’s not from France,’ and it was like, ‘Oh my god, he knows my You released your debut platinum-selling name.’ The last place I saw him was the first album, So Good, when you were just 19 years place we met. I knew he was thin. Prince was old… really fit, he was always very muscular. He I got signed at 17, it took us a year to make looked really gaunt and he didn’t say much, it and we released it when I was 18. By but I still didn’t think he was going to die! the time it hit number one, I was 19. It Bobby Womack was another great one who I takes time when you release a record. worked with too. He was a great friend of When you had a hit record back mine for many years. I lost him a year ago too then, that shit was on the radio for - that was really sad. a good six months to a year. That’s how it used to be - it was long. And finally, what does the future hold for Mica Paris? How did you cope with it all? My second book will be finished in summer, I quit college and I got roasted and I’m going to be making another record of by my grandparents. Jesus! new songs. I’m still doing Radio Two - I’ve got I was doing my A-Level Art a show on there. The new show I’m doing is & Design, but I was also about women in music. The book is about making £1,000 a week women in music as well. Everything I’m doing backing vocals. doing now is about women and how we’ve It was very strange survived the industry. having the first massive cheque written to you, and coming Mica Paris Sings Ella Fitzgerald takes from the hood and place at The Jam House, Birmingham, on suddenly being thrust Thursday 15 February.

14 whatsonlive.co.uk GIGS February Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:44 Page 2

Gigs

Morrissey Genting Arena, Birmingham, Tues 27 February Revered by many, reviled by some, Morrissey has been performing and recording as a solo artist since The Smiths broke up in 1987. His sensitive, melancholic persona and poetic, literate lyrics spoke directly to a generation of disaffected young people in the 1980s, elevating him to the status of icon and guar- anteeing a solid fan base in the decades which have followed. He stops off in Birmingham on his first full UK tour since 2015, giving fans the chance to hear tracks from recently released album Low In High School.

Hollie Cook Cook, she released her debut album in 2011. With third album Vessel Of Love, she’s set to O2 Academy, Birmingham, Wed 7 February take her solo career to a whole new level, Singer Hollie was once part of the last line- and firmly cement her place at the top of the Seal up of all-female punk/reggae band The Slits. ‘tropical pop’ world. The daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 21 February British soul legend Seal returns to Symphony Hall with his new album, Standards. “This is the album I’ve always wanted to YolanDa Brown Imagine Dragons make,” he says. “I grew up listening to music Pizza Express Live, Birmingham, Genting Arena, Birmingham, from the Rat Pack era, so recording these Fri 23 February Sat 24 February timeless tunes was a lifelong dream. It was a Regarded as the premier female saxophonist US chart phenomenon Imagine Dragons true honour to collaborate with the same mu- in the UK, YolanDa’s debut album - April first exploded onto the global scene with sicians who performed with Frank Sinatra Showers, May Flowers - reached number huge hit Radioactive, following it up with and so many of my favourite artists, in the one on the iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts. It’s Time, Demons and Top Of The World. In very same studios where the magic was first As well as performing across the world in the process they sold over 22 million singles made. It was one of the greatest days of my her own right, YolanDa has also toured in worldwide and four million copies of debut recording career.” support of The Temptations and Errol album Night Visions. Brown, collaborated with artists including The multi-platinum Grammy Award winners Julian Marley and Soweto Kinch, and ap- bring their EVOLVE tour to the Midlands in peared as part of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & celebration of their third album. Blues Orchestra.

Alien Ant Farm O2 Institute, Birmingham, Mon 12 February Following on from their hugely successful 2016 tour, where they performed debut album Anthology in full, American rock band Alien Ant Farm make a welcome return to the Midlands. Expect to hear hits Smooth Criminal and Movies, as well as material from across their back catalogue.

whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Classical February Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:10 Page 1 Classical February Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:10 Page 2

Classical

CBSO: Opera Gala Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 9 February Arias and duets abound in this Stephen Bell-conducted City of Birmingham Sym- phony Orchestra concert featuring an all- star operatic cast. Promising an evening of ‘glorious tunes, unbeatable voices and endless emotion’ (patrons are advised to take along a hanky!), the concert’s programme features works by, among others, Saint- Saens, Puccini, Bizet and Verdi. Stephen Bell conducts, while vocals come courtesy of Noah Stewart (pictured), Madeleine Shaw, Natalya Romaniw and Simon Thorpe.

Czech Philharmonic: Dvorak’s New World Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 14 February The Czech Philharmonic make their first visit to Symphony Hall since the death of their celebrated conductor Ji í B lohlávek, a man whose numerous exhilarating performances at the venue have becomeř ěthe stuff of legend. The orchestra are best known for playing the music of Antonín Dvorák, and on occasion in their early days were even conducted by the man himself. The composer’s New World piece, his ninth and final symphony, is most definitely in the safest of hands, with Tomáš Netopil directing and Alisa Weilerstein (pictured) on cello.

London Handel Players Sinfonia Of Birmingham Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, The Bramall, Birmingham, Sun 11 February Birmingham Bach Fri 16 February Choir: Come And Sing “From the smallest forces, duos, trios and quartets,” explain the London Handel Play- Selly Oak Methodist Church, Birmingham, Sat 10 February ers, “our ensemble expands to flute and recorder with strings and harpsichord to One of the city's oldest and most distin- present a vast repertoire of gems from the guished musical groups here gets its col- 17th and 18th centuries.” lective teeth into choruses from Mozart's Regular collaborators with renowned Requiem - and is inviting members of the singers including Dame Emma Kirkby, general public to join them in an after- Daniel Taylor, Charles Daniels and Peter noon of musicmaking. Harvey, the Players also present ground- The choir’s Come And Sing event, offering breaking choreographies with celebrated just what it says on the tin, has proved baroque dancers Mary Collins and Steven enormously popular over the last few Player. They perform at the Conservatoire years - not least on account of the oppor- The associate conductor of the City of Birm- tunity it provides to sample homemade as part of the Birmingham International ingham Symphony Orchestra, Mike Seal, is Recorder & Early Music Festival. cakes and the near-legendary Birming- the man at the helm for this concert, a show ham Bach Choir teas! that’s being described as ‘a transatlantic journey of delights’. The programme features snappy Copland masterpiece Appalachian Spring and Earl Wild’s joyful and witty Doo-Dah Variations, here featuring internationally acclaimed pi- anist Ben Dawson. Vaughan Williams’ four- movement London Symphony - first performed in 1914 - completes the bill. whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Tim Vine DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:59 Page 1

18 whatsonlive.co.uk Tim Vine DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:59 Page 2

TIM VINE one of the UK’s top punmakers talks about milking it with wordplay

With Sunset Milk Idiot, the name of his new are probably best the first time or couple of wrong about it. Sometimes there are jokes pun-packed touring show, Tim Vine has done times you hear them.” that I’ve done one way round and it turns out something a bit different. The former star of One thing Tim is most unlikely to do prior to they work better in reverse.” BBC sitcom Not Going Out and a Guinness his tour is pop into his nearest comedy club Tim admits he’d like to do a bit more acting at World Record holder for most jokes told in an and check out the latest offerings of similar some point. As well as Not Going Out and hour, Tim is confident that, try as you might, wordplaying stand-ups. “Me and Milton Tim Vine Travels In Time, he made a brief you won’t be able to find a clever bit of Jones have chats about this sort of thing cameo appearance in Neighbours back in wordplay anywhere in that title. because we hone similar areas, but there’s a 2009. “I was at the Melbourne Comedy “Lots of comedy acts have no puns in their slight wariness about seeing each other’s Festival at the time - I didn’t take the trip all shows but a pun in their title, while I quite show because sometimes it can be a bit the way over there just for one line!” enjoy the fact that I have loads of puns in this uncomfortable waiting to hear a joke that you For now, though, he’s preparing to get in show but none in the title,” says the man might also have. Having said that, I did see amongst his UK fans and make them laugh whose previous shows have had puntabulous his show recently and there weren’t any (albeit with the occasional groan thrown in). names such as Punslinger, The Joke-Amotive moments when I screamed, ‘No! I’m going to Touring, of course, has its ups and downs. and the amusingly elaborate Tim Timinee have to chop that!’” “The upside is that I tour with my gang - John Tim Timinee Tim Tim To You. As with most comedians, when a tour Archer and my tour manager, Andrew “The title of the new show is just describing approaches, there’s a distinct need to put Jobbins - and the three of us have a great what’s on the poster: there’s a bit of a sunset other projects to one side and get on with time. If you’re driving around and staying in colour, and there’s an idiot with some milk writing the new live show. Just before Tim hit hotels, it does help when you’re all very good bottles on his head. The title made us laugh the nation’s roads, the BBC broadcast the friends. If you didn’t like those people, it because the photographer, my tour manager latest instalment of his Tim Vine Travels In wouldn’t be very nice. Generally, when you’re and myself had spent so much time thinking Time comedy, the filming of which took up a on tour, audiences come along because they of a pun for it.” solid period towards the end of 2017. Once already know the kind of thing you do and that programme was in the bag, it gave him While much of contemporary comedy they like it - so when you walk on, you’re the chance to put the hours in on concocting features some sort of autobiographical already in credit a bit. Still, that always some quality gags. element, top punmakers such as Tim are amazes me. I look through a crack in the quite simply on a perpetual hunt for the “Most days I will think of a joke, but I’ll not curtain, see people coming in and I think, finest jokes they can dream up. But once you wake up every morning and immediately ‘Who are these people and why have they have a full hour-plus of gags, there are other start comfort-rocking and yelling out come to see me!?’ The downside of touring is challenges to putting a show together, such different words at the wall. Things will just that it’s very tiring, but I head that off at the as the order you tell those jokes in. occur to me as I’m pottering around, but pass nowadays by having Sundays and “There’s a vague science to this, but you when I’m getting ready for a tour, I have to Mondays off. One of the catchphrases that I certainly make sure there are good ones at make a more concerted effort. So when I see chuck out there in the van is ‘I could live like the beginning and at the end. I finish with a the first dates of a tour looming, suddenly I this’. But, you know, it’s not a bad life.” song, so rather than bringing the house get into a frame of mind where I’m looking down, I try to bring the floor up. My support for things, or I’ll book a room and just write act, John Archer, will do the first half, then all day. And then I try them out on an I’ll do an hour or so, and then maybe the audience. If a joke isn’t going down as well as Tim Vine performs Sunset Milk Idiot at audience will want me to do some jokes I’ve you’d hoped, you try and tinker with it, but Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 16 and done before. I’m happy to do that, but jokes eventually you just have to admit that you’re Saturday 17 February.

whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Comedy February 2018.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:55 Page 1

Comedy

Tom Wrigglesworth The Bramall, University of Birmingham, Thurs 15 February Whimsical storytelling and twisted logic, stylishly wrapped in some elegant flourishes of language, are the lifeblood of Chortle Award-winner Tom Wrigglesworth’s highly rated act. Yorkshire-born Tom scored a big hit in Edinburgh a couple of years back, since which time he’s been ploughing all the usual comedy furrows, particularly those available on BBC Radio Four. Likened by the Guardian to Mark Thomas in the way he crusades for social justice, ‘albeit in a more homely fashion’, Tom is here joined by Andy Askins and Freddy Quinne for The Bramall’s latest comedy night.

Stephen Bailey Stafford Gatehouse, Sat 9 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 17 February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Sat 3 March; Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Thurs 8 March Bobby Mair Potty-mouthed comedian Stephen Bailey may not be a household name but he’s cer- Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 9 February; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 17 February; Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Thurs 1 March; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Fri tainly coming up fast on the tracks. 9 March; Stafford Gatehouse, Sat 10 March; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 17 March Having supported Katherine Ryan and Jenny “He's either going to be a huge international comedy star,” says Jimmy Carr of Canadian co- Éclair on sell-out UK tours, he’s now hitting median Bobby Mair, “or the funniest homeless man ever.” the road with his own show, Can’t Think Right about now the safe money’s on Mair becoming massive. A third cousin of Justin Straight. Describing himself as a ‘working- Bieber, Bobby bagged the best newcomer gong at the Canadian Comedy Awards and is class, ginger, gay, northern comic’, Stephen nowadays a familiar face on all manner of UK TV comedy shows. has a black belt in Tae Kwon-Do. He also “I'm like a sober finger in the ass,” says Bobby in describing his comedy style, “a little un- freely admits to loving a conspiracy theory - comfortable at first, but after a while you'll get into it. I’m on the dark side, but I don’t class preferably one involving a celebrity and a myself as a dark comedian - I’m just somebody who loves jokes.” cucumber... Read the interview with Stephen online at whatsonlive.co.uk Mark Steel New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mon 19 February “I started doing stand-up in 1982, around the circuit of bizarre gigs,” recalls highly regarded writer and comedian Mark Steel. “I’d go on after jugglers and escapologists and people that banged nails into their ear. “Since then, I’ve spoken at lots of demonstrations, union meetings, protests and benefits - and yet capitalism still seems to rule the world. Maybe I’m a jinx!” A well-established performer on the UK comedy circuit, Mark’s CV includes the BAFTA- nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC Two, BBC One’s Have I Got News For You and Radio Four’s News Quiz. He visits the Potteries with his latest touring show, Every Little Thing’s Gonna Be Alright.

20 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy February 2018.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:55 Page 2

Phil Wang Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 21 February; The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Thurs 22 February; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 24 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 4 March Phil Wang’s first ever five minutes behind the mic as a standup comedian were spent telling other people’s gags. “I thought standup was like karaoke with jokes,” he recalls. “Most of the material I used was stolen, but I learned fast and immediately started writing my own material.” Inspired to become a comedian by his desire to avoid having to get up in the mornings, Phil describes his style of humour as smart, cheeky but always changing.

Lefty Scum Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 16 February; MAC, Birmingham, Tues 27 February “We welcome people of all political persua- ferred to by comedian pal Nish Kumar as ‘the sions,” say Lefty Scum, “but we will probably David Bowie of standup’. Nish used the de- take the piss out of you if you’re a Tory!” scription on account of the 35-year-old Coming together for an evening of music, hu- comic’s impressive capacity for reinventing mour and revolutionary socialism are British herself. Comedy Award nominees Jonny & The Bap- Josie’s jokes include: “When I was a kid, I Stewart Lee tists and acclaimed protest musician Grace asked my mum what a couple was and she Stratford Arts House, Tues 20 February; Petrie. They’re joined by Edinburgh Comedy said, ‘Oh, two or three”. And she wonders Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Weds 21 Award nominee Josie Long, a woman once re- why her marriage didn’t work out...” February Shropshire-born Stewart Lee makes a welcome return to the Midlands with critically acclaimed touring show Content Provider. Sean Lock Stewart first shot to fame courtesy of his partnership with Richard Herring, and then Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 27 February later scored a massive international hit with the musical, Jerry Springer The Opera. Although Sean Lock is best known from the Chan- His style of comedy won't make for the most nel Four panel game 8 Out Of 10 Cats, on which he comfortable ride, but he's thought-provok- appeared as a team captain for 10 years, he's also ing, funny and memorable, so suffering the picked up the odd gong or two for his stand-up, so a odd moment that makes you feel awkward night in his company is always a surefire bet for a is a small price to pay for a great night out. big barrel of laughs. He’s visiting Birmingham this month with his latest touring show, Keep It Light. Jokes include: “So what if Jesus turned water into wine? I turned a whole student loan into Vodka once. Your move, Jesus...” and “I’m in therapy at the moment. I don’t need it, obviously, but I got all these psychiatrist gift vouchers for Christmas which my family clubbed together for. What I wanted was a cross- bow...”

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Stephen Bailey.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 15:00 Page 1

Stephen Bailey

Potty-mouthed comedian Stephen Bailey Is there a place and time where you’re societal sphere that we don’t feel equal. Gay may not be a household name, but he’s cer- most creative? people still feel on the fringes and not fully tainly coming up fast on the tracks. Having Every time when I want my brain to shut off! accepted. We still don’t feel comfortable supported Katherine Ryan and Jenny Éclair Last year, I wrote my Edinburgh Fringe show holding hands with our partner in the street. on sell-out UK tours, he’s now hitting the whilst I was on holiday in July, and I was per- I may have a white straight man telling me road with his own show, Can’t Think Straight. forming it in August. It was very last minute, it’s fine to be gay now - thank you for that in- Describing himself as ‘a working-class, gin- but it was brilliant. It’s this tour show I’m sight, Richard Hammond - but it won’t be ger, gay, northern comic’, Stephen has a doing now. I find that when I’m supposed to until someone feels safe to hold their part- black belt in Tae Kwon-Do. He also freely ad- be switched off is when I’m actually at my ner’s hand in the street, without actually mits to loving a conspiracy theory - prefer- best - everywhere that you don’t have a thinking about it, that people will be able to ably one involving a celebrity and a notepad or your phone to make notes - like stop marching and talking about it. I’ve tried cucumber... when I’m on the toilet, or in the shower, or to write articles for the Guardian or the Metro when I’m in the pool on holiday. You can and they just won’t take them. But if the articles were about race or feminism, they abso- When did you decide you were funny? guarantee that the minute my phone dies, I’ll come up with about 10 brilliant ideas, and I’ll lutely would. Once again it’s straight people Well, I still don’t know if I’ve figured that out, have to recite them in my head until I get a telling us that everything’s fine for us now to be honest. I was quite a shy person, but phone charger. and we don’t need to feel that way. when I moved to London, I decided I had to come out of my shell because I didn’t know anyone there at the time. So I joined a cre- You’re heading out on your first solo tour. What makes you ‘everyone’s gay best ative writing course. Someone there said that What excites you the most about this, and friend’? I should do stand-up comedy because they what are your concerns? I don’t know! That was a quote about me in a thought I was quite funny when one-to-one. Let me tell you, my bowels haven’t been the review. When I’m on stage I’m very sassy and So that’s how that happened. same since I agreed to this tour. I’m very ex- very roasty. I’m surprised people leave my cited because the show went really well at shows even wanting to be my best friend. I think sometimes, especially with girls and When and where was your first ever com- the Edinburgh Fringe and when I supported gays, I go after straight men so much that I edy gig? Katherine Ryan. I keep thinking that it’s going to be great, but I’m concerned about think maybe people like the flip of power or It was in 2011 in a room above a pub in Le- whether anybody is going to come. something. For someone who can’t think icester Square. It only had 20 people in, but it straight, I can talk straight. I’m very straight- was so small that 20 people meant it had sold talking. I hate doing the things that people out. I just did a lot of material comparing my The tour is called Can’t Think Straight. think a gay best friend loves. I don’t want to housemate’s vagina to a Sunday roast. It Why can’t you? sit and do your makeup, I don’t want to go went really well. Because I don’t know what straight people shopping. I certainly don’t want to talk about are thinking nowadays. Let’s look at politics, your troubles. I want to talk about mine, and Who was the funniest person you knew for example. Straight people are in charge I don’t want to be your sidekick. growing up? and it’s not working out for me. I think behind every straight person, there’s a brilliant Oh, it still is my mum. She’s ridiculous. She What’s been your most memorable gig? gay best friend and they make great deci- comes out with lots of ‘mum-isms’. The stuff sions. So I think they need to run the world if Well, the best gig I’ve done, being a Manch- about her in my show, I don’t have to edit it. I they’re ever given the opportunity to. ester boy, was when I opened for Katherine just say it as it is. Ryan at The Lowry in Salford. I was able to do proper local material about growing up in the Your comedy provides a platform from Who’s been your biggest inspiration? area. It was brilliant because there were so which you can talk about LGBT rights. If many people. The reaction was great because That’s a tough question! When I was growing you could influence any one piece of LGBT it made me feel like I could do it forever. That up, I watched Popstars: The Rivals and saw legislation, which would it be? was a nice feeling. But the opposite was my Girls Aloud go from little chubby chavs to Oh my god, that’s a tough question! Do you fourth ever gig, where I was really nervous. pop princesses. I wanted that to happen to know what I’d like? My friend said this to me I’d drunk three bottles of wine before I went me. So yeah, Girls Aloud. the other day. With a lot of things in the law, on stage, thinking it would calm my nerves. It we’ve pretty much got equality. It’s just in the was at this prestigious venue in London, the Stephen Bailey.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 15:00 Page 2

Comedy Café. I walked on stage and fell into If you weren’t a comedian, what would the microphone, which fell into the audience. you be? By the time I’d reset the stage, I had, like, a Well, I worked at Sainsbury’s for six years, so minute left of my set! I’d probably still be there. I really loved it there. How important is celebrity and fame? I always joke about being famous, but I just Finally, what wise piece of advice would want to be successful. Last year I managed to you offer to someone hoping to follow a book two holidays thanks to being a come- similar career path to yourself? dian. That was brilliant; it meant I was living Don’t do it - there’s more money in finance. I a normal life from doing my dream job. I would say that, one, you have to really, really want to have a mortgage, so that means I love it. When you’re sat on a train station have to save up through my job, but comedy platform by yourself, it’s not fun. And is so expensive to do. I don’t need to be fa- two, buy a decent travel pillow. mous per se, but the TV stuff I do helps me You’re always on trains, so top up my bank account. I absolutely have no make it as comfortable as dream to be a celebrity, but I enjoy doing a possible! mix of it all, just because it means one day I can have that mortgage. Stephen Bailey visits the Gatehouse, What’s your guilty pleasure? Stafford, on Friday 9 Soaps. I love Coronation Street, EastEnders February; Guildhall, and Emmerdale when I know there’s going to Derby, on Saturday 10 be a good storyline. I think it’s real life some- February; Warwick times. For instance, someone got shot in Arts Centre, Coven- Coronation Street the other week and died. try, on Saturday 17 They’d kept it so secret that you weren’t pre- February; The Brew- pared for it, and I was like, “Holy fuck balls!” dog, Leicester, on I couldn’t sleep that night because I was Friday 23 February; thinking how he must’ve felt, because he did- Slade Rooms, n’t die straight away. They set the car on fire, Wolverhampton, so he died from that. How awful! on Thursday 8 March and Glee Club, Birming- What’s been your worst ever heckle? ham, on Friday I’m really lucky, I don’t really get heckled. I 30 March. think because I get so mouthy, people get scared. The two I have had were both a bit weird. I was in Edinburgh, and whenever I do a comedy club, I like to see who’s in my audience so that I can figure out how far I can go. When I asked, “Where’s my gays?” some voice from the back of the room shouted, “Dead! Like they should be!” I just didn’t know what to say. The other time was in Birmingham when I’d just walked on stage. Before I’d even had the chance to open my mouth, someone shouted, “Gay as fuck!” How gay is fuck?... But yeah, I don’t normally get heckled. Vamos Theatre.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:58 Page 1 Putting On A Brave Face

The artistic director of Vamos Theatre, Rachael Savage, talks about the company’s latest production

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Vamos Theatre.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 10:58 Page 2

by Jenny Ell

With a tour of a new production each year, Guardian newspaper, was about a young ex- work absolutely needs to be realistic, telling a Worcestershire-based full mask wordless military man whose parents didn’t know he story in a theatrical way means a few rules theatre company Vamos open A Brave Face at had a problem until they found him in the need to be bent - otherwise the piece the London Mime Festival in February, prior wheelie bin at 3am. It’s stories like this one becomes a documentary. to an extensive UK and European tour. that provide pictures in Savage’s head, The incredible number of venues being causing questions to be raised. “I’m a really The show tackles the emotional subject of visited on the show’s tour is testament to visual person, and as soon as I see a post-traumatic stress and has been over two Vamos’s nationwide following. Savage frightened, terrified young man hiding in a years in the making, in collaboration with particularly enjoys performing close to home: wheelie bin, I know that it would make a British war veterans and their extended “We always sell out at the Worcester Swan good full mask scene.” support networks. Theatre, and it’s wonderful playing to our Vamos held a mask-making residency at Help home crowd.” As artistic director and writer/director of A For Heroes, working with four ex-military Brave Face, Rachael Savage’s CV is certainly She recalls performing at The Torch in people living with PTS. “I was inspired by the impressive. Even prior to her setting up Milford Haven, Wales, for the first time, when men’s work ethic - fast and efficient, listening Vamos over a decade ago, she worked for there were only about 12 people in the hard and taking orders. They worked so Trestle (the world’s leading full mask theatre audience - and one of those was the theatre’s diligently, and then I realised that they were company at the time) as a performer, artistic director! However, they loved the military.” assistant director and director of the Trestle show so much that they pleaded with the Young People’s Theatre, before leaving when Their fragility made Savage want to do more board to allow Vamos to return, even though they stopped doing full mask theatre - her research with them. One man in particular the theatre lost money first time round. The passion since the age of 12. Vamos gave has read through every version of the show, company’s shows there have sold out ever Savage the ability to put into practice helping and supporting Vamos over the last since. everything that she had learned and to year. “I’ve been humbled by his honesty and Last year saw Vamos become a National establish her own company brand, looking generosity in sharing his fears, traumas, Portfolio Organisation, a status that ensures in-depth at social and political subject matter hopes and, ultimately, his journey.” regular funding from the Arts Council. “Now rather than solely playing for laughs. You would’ve thought that writing and that we have this secure footing, over the With her enthusiasm radiating throughout directing a wordless show would bring with it next four years we look forward to building our conversation, Savage clearly loves the additional challenges, but Savage doesn’t see more exciting partnerships with venues and variety that her job provides. “I even enjoy it that way. For her, it’s just exciting. “You get working with new artists.” looking at the management accounts!” she to give a voice to people who don’t have one,” Three Cirque du Soleil clowns worked with gushes. From directing and devising in the she enthuses. the company last year, and Savage is excited rehearsal room, to performing and running Because there’s no dialogue, the show’s about the prospect of more people wanting to training courses for non-art professionals, music is a massively important factor. Having be a part of Vamos. there’s no doubt that Vamos is a ‘passion once auditioned Savage for a job at Trestle project’ for Savage: “I love working with Constantly watching the news, Savage is Theatre Company, composer and script people who relate to the ethos of our work always searching for new production ideas. consultant Janie Armour is now a regular and the way in which we communicate She mentions her interest in the plight of creative within the Vamos family. “I’ve without words.” refugees and the UK’s current small island worked with Janie on every single show in attitude with Brexit going forward. She also She also feels that her time performing as Joy, different companies I’ve been with. It’s the recalls a recent news story about Africa’s a dementia sufferer, in the company’s best gift to receive Janie’s interpretation population being set to double by 2050, and Finding Joy production, has enabled her to musically.” the huge impact such an enormous increase empathise more with the actors. “Getting Having tackled dementia in Finding Joy and will have on the rest of the world. “I’m behind one of those horrible pieces of sweaty now PTS in A Brave Face, Savage feels a huge interested in big global themes such as PTS plastic makes you realise what you can and responsibility when exploring subjects that and dementia but also in the individual can’t do, and makes you an actor’s director.” really impact on people’s lives. “It’s what I stories of people who want a voice.” New production A Brave Face came about feel most anxious about - not letting people when the artistic director of the Mercury down.” Theatre Colchester, Daniel Buckroyd, A series of workshops with invited audiences A Brave Face shows at Warwick Arts approached Vamos about working on a co- lead up to the premiere of a new production. Centre, Coventry, on Wed 22 February; production. Due to Colchester being a For A Brave Face, army veterans and people Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South military garrison town, this gave Savage an with PTS have been invited into the rehearsal Shropshire, Fri 9 March; New Vic Theatre, angle to research. Pretty quickly the topic of room. One veteran in particular has provided Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mon 12 March; post-traumatic stress (PTS) came to the the kind of straight-talking, no-nonsense MAC, Birmingham, Wed 14 March; Arena forefront. “I wasn’t very aware of PTS before, approach that’s essential to ensuring the Theatre, Wolverhampton, 15 & 16 March; and to be honest, it wasn’t something that I material is accurate. “‘Well you wouldn’t do Malvern Theatre, Thurs 29 - Fri 30 March; knew I cared about until I started reading that, that’s stupid!’ has now become a Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 25 & stories about people affected.” regular phrase in the rehearsal room!” smiles Thurs 26 April; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 27 One of the first stories Savage read, in the Savage. She also notes that although the April

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Shrek The Musical it. Pretty much retelling the story of the first movie, it peddles a line in humour that calls to mind both the surrealist Pythons and an evening New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 14 - Sun 25 February of festive-season pantomime fare. The popularity of this family-friendly West Ender hardly comes as a There are plenty of new songs to enjoy too, presented alongside cult surprise. After all, Dreamworks’ animated Shrek movies, inspired by Shrek anthem I’m A Believer, originally a chart-topping hit for The cartoonist William Steig's 1990 book, were absolutely huge. It was Monkees way back in 1966/67. only ever going to be a matter of time before everybody’s favourite All in all, then, a feelgood show that pretty much touches all the swamp-residing ogre made a big splash away from the silver screen. bases for its young target audience, at the same time offering plenty to After a tentative Broadway start, the production was revised for its keep the adults amused. subsequent US tour and West End residency - and is all the better for In other words, bag yourself a ticket now.

Crimes Under The Sun The play is set in the year 1663, with the ac- The Winslow Boy Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 28 February; tion unfolding backstage in a Restoration The REP, Birmingham, Lichfield Garrick, Sat 17 March playhouse. When Charles II allows women on Wed 21 February - Sat 3 March When a scandal-inducing femme fatale mys- stage for the first time, four actresses sud- teriously loses her life at a secluded island denly find themselves becoming household hotel just off the English coast, suspicion in- names. But behind the scenes, as the friend- evitably falls on the other guests - but per- ship between them develops, so too does the haps not everybody on the idyllic island has rivalry... been accounted for... Four actors play multiple characters in this lively new production inspired by the stories of Agatha Christie, the genre of film noir and The actor who played the villainous Rob the movies of Alfred Hitchcock. Presented by Titchener in Radio Four’s The Archers ap- the award-winning New Old Friends. pears in this brand new version of Terence Rattigan’s classic family drama. Timothy Watson hit the headlines when he Playhouse Creatures starred as Rob in The Archers’ controversial New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, storyline about domestic abuse. Fri 2 - Sat 24 February He appears in The Winslow Boy alongside ‘Bawdy comedy, theatrical flair and emo- Tessa Peake-Jones (BBC 1’s Only Fools And tional poignancy’ are the key ingredients of Horses, ITV’s Grantchester) and Aden Gillett this 1993 feminist offering from April De An- (BBC 1’s The House Of Elliot). gelis. 24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 2 Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Mamma Mia! sent and correct in this blockbuster offering. Abba boys Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were both involved in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 6 - Sat 24 February the development of the show, while Anni-Frid Lyngstad - she’s the This legendary show is of course a nicely contrived vehicle for the dark one - contributed in a financial capacity. chart-topping music of 1970s Super Troupers Abba. A 2008 movie version received a thumbs up from many if not most of The Swedish Fab Four scored mega-hit after mega-hit with catchy Mamma Mia!’s adoring fans - despite former James Bond star Pierce numbers like Waterloo, Dancing Queen, The Name Of The Game, The Brosnan having been given, rather unwisely, a Licence to Sing... Winner Takes It All and Take A Chance On Me - all of which are pre-

Kanada The Strange Case Of Brief Encounter The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde The REP, Birmingham, Fri 2 - Sat 17 February Tues 6 - Sat 10 February Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 14 - Fri 16 February Dr Jekyll is not himself! Robert Louis Steven- son’s gothic novella is a dark, twisted tale of love, redemption and the seductive power of evil. A bonafide literary classic, it tells the story of a brilliant but obsessive scientist whose sadistic alter-ego wreaks havoc and Ten years after its 2008 premiere, Kneehigh mayhem on the cobbled streets of Victorian Theatre’s spectacular stage adaptation of London... Blackeyed Theatre are the highly Brief Encounter returns to the venue where it rated company behind this latest incarnation all started. of the famous fog-bound fantasy. Much like the 1945 David Lean film that inspired it - in which the thrill of an illicit trip to the pictures is what kicks off the quiet romance between the separately married Alec and Laura - the production feels like a love letter to the magic of the cinema. “On a really practical level,” says writer and A brand new play telling the story of two Jew- ish prisoners in the Second World War Nazi director Emma Rice, “it used to have an concentration camp of Auschwitz, Kanada is interval but doesn’t now, so it runs more like being presented by the Old Joint Stock in as- a film. I remember rewatching the film after sociation with Lying Lips Theatre Company. I’d made it and thinking there was something The play has been written in honour of the extraordinary about following this journey Holocaust survivors, one of whom, Zigi Ship- from beginning to end without getting off - a per, will be attending the opening night. bit like being on a train.”

26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 4 A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:29 Page 1

THE C WORD Bryony Kimmings’ candid musical shakes up conversations around cancer A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:29 Page 2

Following its 2016 premiere, Bryony Kimmings’ innovative musical, A Pacifist’s Guide To The War On Cancer, hits the road again this year, fully reimagined for a brief UK tour, with Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre its only Midlands date. We spoke to Kimmings about the revamped version of the show and her unusual treatment of its subject matter.

We’ve all heard the story: Character X lives an And she was like, ‘Oh my God, nobody’s will change the on-stage dynamic, making unremarkable life until disaster strikes in the actually asked me that before.’ Everyone had the show, in Kimmings’ own words, much form of a cancer diagnosis. What follows will just been skirting round it until then.” more truthful. Meanwhile, most other stories be either a tragic tale of hopeless struggle were picked out for their broader political Such polite silence around sickness is not and death, designed to milk our tear ducts resonance. unusual. Even when we do address the issue, for all they’re worth, or a life-affirming, it’s often with platitudes that tend to shut “I think people should do cancer however ‘inspirational’ story of unexpected triumph down dialogue and preclude the possibility they want, but that ‘I’m a survivor’ narrative in the face of adversity. Either way, it’s going that things might not be okay - something is something we hear all the time, so I was to be an epic struggle - a sort of good that only becomes more pronounced after the much more interested in people who were (healthy) vs bad (sick) battle to the end - and experience ends. like, ‘Cancer’s s**t, I can’t afford it,’ or one that will come to define the patient at its ‘Cancer’s s**t because in the black heart. “I think that thing of battling and fighting community nobody talks about it.’ There’s and winning or losing doesn’t give space for Despite the prevalence of narratives around also Jenny, whose husband left her during the fact that you change and become a cancer in the media, there’s a kind of shallow her breast cancer treatment, because, of different person. Nobody ever acknowledges homogeneity to most. But Bryony Kimmings course, misogyny doesn’t stop when you get that post-cancer you’re kind of a wreck - like doesn’t think things have to be this way. ill. If anything it gets worse. you lose your breasts or your relationship Having previously developed shows themed breaks down or whatever. People are just “There are so many different representations. around depression, STIs and childhood like, ‘You don’t have cancer anymore, you Middle-class cancer is different to working- sexualisation, she’s no stranger to tearing up can stop talking about it.’ class cancer. People-with-no-friends cancer taboos around tough topics, and this play is is different to cancer for people with family no exception. Today, cancer may be “Obviously you can’t cure cancer with a around them. One of my favourite scenes at everywhere in every sense, but the frankness theatre show, but you can certainly have an the moment is when Gia, this really poor that A Pacifist’s Guide To The War On Cancer honest, open dialogue about it instead of one black woman from Detroit who’s only being promises still feels surprisingly rare and which is like, ‘You’ll be fine.’ That just ends treated because she’s on a trial, walks in on refreshing. the conversation: you’re saying that for you five white women sharing their problems and to feel okay about it, I as the person with “Everything you usually hear about cancer is is like, ‘Let me give you some perspective on cancer just have to be quiet.” like, ‘We must fight it,’ or ‘We must smash it what cancer’s really like.” to bits,’” says Kimmings. “And I just felt like, Around seven different stories from real-life All this might sound a little doom and gloom, well, not only do I not believe in war, I also patients have made it into the show, but in its way, it’s actually oddly uplifting. don’t believe that if you get breast cancer, it’s including that of the producer who inspired Featuring colourful tumours and musical possible for you to just punch yourself in the it. Among them is Lara Veitch - the numbers ranging from slow ballads to disco t**s. It’s your own body and you can’t fight production’s only patient-performer - who floor-fillers, it aims to have audiences yourself, so I started asking where that has the extremely rare condition LFS (Li- laughing and singing along. More language comes from and how it affects Fraumeni Syndrome), meaning she has no importantly, it affords both characters and people. And then what happens when we tumour suppressant genes. Still in her 20s, viewers the freedom to be normal human don’t talk about it like that.” she’s already had six different kinds of beings. As Kimmings’ co-writer, Brian Lobel, cancer, making her one of the most The initial idea for the show came out of a rather brilliantly says in talks to cancer invaluable contributors to the ‘guide’, and is meeting with theatre company Complicite, patients, ‘I hope you’re as mediocre at the jokingly described by Kimmings as ‘Super who had invited her to pitch them some end of this experience as you were at the Cancer Girl’. ideas. Producer Judith Dimant seemed beginning’. disinterested in her proposals - until During the original run, neither Veitch nor Kimmings made the bold move of asking if Kimmings actually featured in the show - one she’d like to make a show about her illness. undergoing another round of cancer treatment, the other looking after her “She had a bald head and was flinching A Pacifist’s Guide To The War On Cancer severely ill son, an intense and terrifying every time I coughed anywhere near her, so shows at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, period during which the two ended up eventually I just said, ‘Do you have cancer?’ from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 bonding. This time, their joint appearance February. Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Jersey Boys Don't Cry, Sherry and December 1963 (Oh, What A Night). This massive jukebox musical tells their story. Taking a documentary- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 6 - Sat 17 February; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 28 August - Sat 8 September style format, the show is structured as four ‘seasons’, each being nar- rated by a different member of the band. Rockin’ and rollin’ New Jersey boys Frankie Valli And The Four Sea- The Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning production is visiting sons scored some truly massive hits during the mid-1960s, with best- the Midlands as part of a UK tour. known numbers including Walk Like A Man, Bye Bye Baby, Big Girls

Great Expectations A Pandemonium Of Poe Black Men Walking Malvern Theatre, Thurs 15 - Sat 17 February Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 10 February Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 7 - Sat 10 February A not-to-be-missed evening of fear-filled fiction for fans of Edgar Allen Poe, Don’t Go Into Black Men Walking is the first nationally The Cellar’s latest touring production has touring play to emerge from the Revolution been garnering plenty of positive reviews on Mix initiative - a three-year movement spear- its travels during the last few months. heading the largest ever countrywide delivery The sinister Dr Trevellyan is the host for an of Black British stories. evening visit to the Sanitorium, where a jour- Produced by Eclipse Theatre - the UK’s fore- ney into the deepest recesses of the human most Black-led national production company psyche awaits... - in collaboration with the Royal Exchange, the show focuses on regular Saturday morning walking companions Thomas, Matthew Translunar Paradise and Richard, three men who, on one particular ramble, ‘find themselves forced to walk Great Expectations is perhaps one of Charles Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Dickens' most popular novels, and is cer- Tues 27 February backwards through two thousand years before they can move forwards’. tainly one of his best known. The award-winning Theatre Ad Infinitum Following an encounter with the terrifying make a welcome return to Warwick Arts Cen- convict Magwitch, a young lad named Pip tre with this poignant and life-affirming tale, finds himself embarking on an adventure told without words. that leads him not only to the big city, but When Rose passes away, her husband also to encounters with the chilling Estella, William finds himself rejecting the reality of the manipulative Jaggers, and the tragic and his grief in favour of fantasy and past memo- mysterious Miss Havisham... ries. As his bereavement weighs him down, Olivier Award-winning actress Nichola Rose returns from beyond the grave to per- McAuliffe stars. form one final act of enduring love...

28 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 6

whatsonlive.co.uk 29 Hairspray.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:28 Page 1 Hairspray.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2018 09:28 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid Bubblegum fun...... but there’s more to Hairspray than meets the eye

It’s 1962 and in Tracy Turnblad’s Baltimore about watching it and wanting to be part of it and encourages her to do the kinds of moves hometown, massive hairdos, dancing the one day!” that get her onto The Corny Collins Show. twist and Corny Collins’ daytime dance show He’s really supportive and helps to give her But there are also more uncomfortable are the hottest tickets in teen culture. In some the confidence to go for it. Also, when he parallels. In the show, Tracy and her mother ways, life for this starry-eyed girl starts out as falls in love with Penny, having a mixed-race are mocked and taunted for their size, while big and bright and breezy as a bubblegum couple becomes a really central part of the in the racially segregated 1960s, black balloon - but there’s trouble bubbling just show. Actually, when you think about it, the dancers like Tracy’s friend Seaweed can only beneath the surface. As Tracy grows up and show is kind of all about me!” perform on certain days, away from their wakes up to the everyday injustices in her white friends and peers. Today, such Yet what makes Hairspray such a delight is neighbourhood, it looks as though her discrimination is illegal, yet even now, actors the fact that, as Rebecca Mendoza puts it, it’s bubble might be set to burst. of colour regularly decry the relative lack of told in such a fun, lighthearted way. There Shimmying and shaking into Wolverhampton opportunities available in some areas of the may be an important message at its core, but Grand this month (and Stoke’s Regent industry. it’s so well wrapped up in a whirlwind of Theatre in the summer), much-loved musical vibrant 1960s colour, witty dialogue, “I kind of got lucky with my first role as a kid, Hairspray arrives against a backdrop of irresistible tunes and spectacular so I haven’t really faced the same struggles online echo chambers and political change choreography, that it never once feels that a lot of people do,” says Layton that make its revelations - as well as its preachy, and is guaranteed to win over even Williams, who plays Seaweed. “But even cheerily optimistic message of strength in those who aren’t already sold. then, I remember people making a big deal unity - seem both more relevant and more about the fact that I was playing Billy Elliot, “I was pretty much the exact opposite of appealing than ever. When Tracy gets the and not really understanding why at the Rebecca before I auditioned,” confesses Matt chance to audition for The Corny Collins time. Generally I feel that, as long as a role Rixon, who plays Tracy’s larger-than-life Show, the harsh realities of prejudice and isn’t specific to a certain sex or race, then mother, Edna. “I was aware of the show, but I discrimination intrude on her rosy, cosy there’s no reason why you can’t have a whole hardly knew anything about it. And it did world, demanding to be confronted. range of different actors playing it.” surprise me. It’s so clever and well-written - As she says herself in a line that might have really concise and comical. Also, structurally Elsewhere, the pressure on girls and women been lifted from one of countless newspaper it’s genius. It’s designed to get you on your to look a certain way has, if anything, only pieces over the last couple of years: “I think feet by the end, and it never fails to do so. I increased. There’s still a profound lack of I’ve kind of been in a bubble… thinking that can start off in a terrible mood, but by the leading roles available to women who don’t fairness was just gonna happen. It’s not. end of the show I always feel much better.” fit a standard mould, particularly in People like me are gonna have to get up off musicals, which can make it hard for actors Above all, the joy of experiencing Hairspray their father’s laps and fight for it.” playing Tracy to progress in their careers. live is sharing in its warm, inclusive spirit: “It’s sad, but I don’t think things have really it’s like arriving at a massive party where “We see so much body shaming all the time changed that much,” says Rebecca Mendoza, everyone’s invited. In the end, it’s just the now,” says Rebecca, “and all the airbrushing who makes her professional stage debut as story of a bunch of kids who want to dance that’s happening on TV or in modelling. So I the show’s plucky young protagonist. “We together - and before too long, you’re going to think it’s really important for young girls might not be doing the same things now as want to join in as well. particularly to see things like this. As long as we were in the ’60s, but we’re still fighting you’re fit and you can keep up and do the “It’s about being allowed to be whoever you the same problems, just in a different form.” moves, there’s no reason why someone who’s are,” says Matt, “whatever body shape or Much like her character, self-avowed a couple of sizes bigger can’t have a starring colour or anything else. We should all be Hairspray megafan Mendoza has had the role in a musical. Also, I think it’s lovely that allowed the freedom to just be ourselves, and chance to live out her dream on this tour by Tracy ends up with the good-looking guy - in Hairspray, for two-and-a-half hours, starring in her favourite show. people need to see that if they like someone, everyone can be.” it’s okay to go for it without belittling or “I knew it inside-out!” she laughs. “I’ve Take note, Hollywood - in Tracy’s own words, trying to change themselves.” followed the show for years and years, and “People who are different, their time is it’s been my dream role since I was tiny. The Luckily, Tracy is more than equal to the coming.” last time I saw it was in Liverpool when I challenge of standing up for what’s right, went for four nights in the run, and willing to risk her reputation and even prison interestingly, it worked out that the first night to support her friends. After all, it’s largely Hairspray shows at Wolverhampton was exactly seven years ago to the day before thanks to them that she was able to get her Grand Theatre from Mon 26 February to our own opening night in Cardiff. We found big break in the first place… Saturday 3 March, and at the Regent out because my sister had a Facebook “Meeting Seaweed is a real turning point for Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Tues 12 - timehop message where I’d been talking Tracy,” says Layton. “He doesn’t judge her Sat 16 June. Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 7

Theatre Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region

Mirror Mirror Teletubbies: Big Hugs Penguins Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Fri 2 Febru- New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, The REP, Birmingham, ary; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 4 February; Wed 7 - Thurs 8 February Thurs 1 - Sat 10 February MAC, Birmingham, Sun 11 February Despite having been around for many a year, Friendship, fun, identity and the ever-chang- The ever-popular Red Earth Theatre here pre- the world famous Teletubbies are here ap- ing meaning of family are among the themes sent a brand new version of the timeless tale pearing in their first ever theatre show cre- being explored in this brand new theatre & of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, com- ated especially for little ones. dance production. plete with ‘beautiful puppets, captivating Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po continue Inspired by a true story reported in the New storytelling and mesmerising sign lan- to enchant and delight pre-school youngsters York Times, the show focuses on two male guage’... A leading company in the develop- a full 20 years after making their television Chinstrap penguins named Roy and Silo. ment of inclusive touring theatre, Red Earth debut on BBC Two. Living alongside other penguin pairs in Cen- regularly take shows to small-scale, rural and Brand new songs and the popular supporting tral Park Zoo, they determine to try and hatch community venues across the country. characters of Tubby Phone, Noo-noo and Sun a rock in place of an egg - a decision that sees Baby also feature. them embarking on a most unexpected adventure... Milkshake Live Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 17 February; The Place, Oakengates, Telford, Wed 21 February; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 22 Febru- ary; Malvern Theatre, Sun 25 February; Prince Of Wales, Cannock, Wed 3 April; Regent The- atre, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 6 April Here taking youngsters on a journey through the world’s favourite fairytales is, among others, Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy, Fireman Sam and Shimmer & Shine. If you’ve watched the TV series and/or been The Gingerbread Man to a previous live production, you’ll already Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, know what to expect. If not, get ready for an Tues 20 - Thurs 22 February The Jungle Book event that promises lots of laughter, bucket- For those not in the know, this terrific tale loads of family fun, bags of audience partici- tells the story of a cheeky gingerbread man Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 17 February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wed 21 February; pation and plenty of singing and dancing. who sets off on the biggest adventure of his The Old Rep, Birmingham, Fri 23 February life. Out of the kitchen, through the town and Made universally popular by the classic Walt across the fields he goes, all the way to the Disney movie, Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book Little Mochi Man river... Fingers crossed he manages to avoid the sly old fox en route! tells the story of a young boy named Mowgli Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, who’s been raised in the jungle by a family of Sat 24 February Hiccup Theatre are confident that they’ve wolves. His friends, Baloo the bear and managed to cook up a real winner of a show Bagheera the panther, are determined to save with this latest production, bringing together him from the evil intentions of Shere Khan ‘delicious’ original live music, ‘tasty’ story- the tiger. But keeping Mowgli safe is no walk telling and ‘dollops’ of fun. in the jungle, as his two pals soon find out... The company’s previous work includes well- reviewed versions of Rumpelstiltskin and The Owl And The Pussycat.

Dear Zoo When little Mochi Man decides to run away after being bullied because of his small size, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 8 & Fri 9 February; The Core, Solihull, Mon 19 & Tues he finds himself embroiled in an adventure 20 February; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, 21 - that will take him from the snowy mountains 22 February; Lichfield Garrick, Wed 4 April; of Hokkaido to the hustle and bustle of Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Fri 6 - Sat 7 April Tokyo... First published in 1982, Rod Campbell’s lift- The traditions of Shogatsu - Japanese New the-flap book has delighted generations of Year celebrations - along with ‘origami’ pup- children and accumulated in excess of eight pets, animation and music provide the inspi- million sales worldwide. ration for this lively show, a production This first-ever stage version of the story fea- which is being publicised as ‘the perfect in- tures child-friendly puppets, music and lots troduction to Japan for young children’. of audience participation.

30 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February-2-3.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:29 Page 8

whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Fairytales in Dance.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:28 Page 1

32 whatsonlive.co.uk Fairytales in Dance.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:28 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

Magical Moments Birmingham Hippodrome presents fairy tales in dance

With the new year now in full swing, the But while traditional fairytale interpretations round Sound by Paul Groothius. panto season has come to an end - but at like Petipa’s have lost none of their power Having kicked off its tour at Sadler’s Wells in Birmingham Hippodrome, the fairytale magic and popularity over the years, the stories are December, the show concludes the 30th an- lives on, courtesy of a series of enchanting also a source of fascination for high-profile niversary celebrations of Bourne’s New Ad- dance shows. contemporary choreographers such as ventures company, 20 years after it premiered Ever since the 19th century, fairytales have Matthew Bourne. Following the huge success in the West End. of his production of The Red Shoes in Birm- been a staple source of subject matter for Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella shows at ingham last year, Bourne this month brings dance shows; the fascination with folk tales Birmingham Hippodrome from 6 to 10 his beloved take on Cinderella back to Brum. and fantasy that swept the worlds of art and February. literature was very much mirrored in the bal- Heading to the Hippodrome as part of a let of the time. Today, more than a century wider UK tour, the hugely popular and hotly Finally, looking further ahead to April, the after they were first performed, classics like anticipated Birmingham run will see Red award-winning Metro-Boulet-Dodo will be Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty continue to Shoes stars Cordelia Braithwaite and Ashley joining forces with Open Theatre Company delight audiences around the world, remain- Shaw again sharing the lead role. In this for an imaginative reworking of Hansel And ing a vital part of any ballet company’s reper- thrillingly evocative reworking, the action of Gretel. In this lively and original production, toire. the story is relocated to a London torn apart a flustered storyteller is joined by a mis- This is certainly the case for Birmingham by World War Two. For Cinderella and her chievous mocking bird as he follows the title Royal Ballet. A company with an outstanding dashing RAF pilot Harry (Will Bozier, Andrew characters deep into the forest, encountering reputation for visual storytelling, BRB this Monaghan and Dominic North), a chance the Wicked Witch and her eccentric chefs month revives the opulence of the Imperial meeting results in a magical few hours to- along the way. But as characters interrupt his Russian Ballet in its ‘matchless’ production gether - just long enough for the young cou- narrative to tell their own version of this pe- of Sleeping Beauty. ple to fall in love before being parted by the culiar adventure, we soon discover that all is horrors of the Blitz. not exactly as it seems... Live music, mes- In this spectacular show, Tchaikovsky’s merising design and a quirky sense of hu- sparkling score is performed live by the ac- “Cinderella is one of my most heartfelt works mour combine to make this an ideal treat for claimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia, while Marius and a personal favourite amongst my re- all the family. Petipa’s original choreography is reinter- imagined classic stories,” says Matthew preted by virtuoso dancers. Dazzling specta- Bourne of the production. “I’m delighted to This exciting new show, produced by Birm- cle is combined with the timeless tale of a have brought together this cast of current star ingham Hippodrome, features performers sleeping princess, a fairy curse and an adven- performers, experienced New Adventures vet- drawn from Because We Can Can Can, the turing prince in what’s been described as a erans and exciting young talent. I’m thrilled venue’s disabled arts company that works version with ‘no equal in the ballet world to see another generation of Company with Open Theatre Co to support emerging today’. A great introduction to ballet, it’s an dancers take on this beloved production.” performers with learning disabilities, some of ideal choice for a family outing. Featuring sumptuous Olivier Award-winning whom appear in the production. Produced by Peter Wright and designed sets by Lez Brotherston and lighting by Neil The Twisted Tale Of Hansel And Gretel by Philip Prowse, Sleeping Beauty shows Austin, this lavish retelling is performed to a shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from at Birmingham Hippodrome from 13 to 24 specially commissioned recording of 4 to 8 April, with relaxed performances on February, with a relaxed performance on Prokofiev’s magnificent score, played by a Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th. Tuesday the 20th. 60-piece orchestra and presented in Sur-

whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Dance February 2018-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:27 Page 1

34 whatsonlive.co.uk Dance February 2018-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:27 Page 2

Dance previews from around the region Dance

#JeSuis The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 15 & Fri 16 February Birmingham-born choreographer Aakash Odedra’s latest work is a reflection on the feelings of those who perform it, a group of Turkish dancers frustrated by the media’s ongoing misinterpretations of their motherland. Engaging with the hugely pertinent issues of displacement, refuge and political and geographical instability, the work portrays the experience of living in a homeland ‘that doesn’t know the meaning of “home” anymore’, and where safety, peace and freedom can no longer be taken for granted... A rising star of contemporary British dance, Odedra has previously worked with some of the most high-profile choreographers in the business, including Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi and Russel Maliphant.

Richard Alston This month sees his highly rated company Joss Arnott Triple Bill return to the region with a triple-bill featur- Dance Company ing a brand new work performed to Schu- MAC, Birmingham, Wed 7 February Malvern Theatre, Tues 27 & Wed 28 February mann’s Carnaval and a new piece by Martin Highly charged and visually stunning, Joss A choreographer who’s very much at the Lawrance. Completing the bill is Gypsy Mix- Arnott’s shows present dance that explodes forefront of contemporary dance in the UK, ture, a popular work from the Alston reper- with power and technical brilliance. And Richard Alston takes inspiration directly toire, performed to the infectious music of this current production in no way lets the from the music he uses. Romanian and Macedonian gypsy bands. side down... A triple bill created in collaboration with some of the industry’s finest dancers, com- Sonia Sabri Company: posers and designers, the show features two brand new dance works - A Movement Virago In 3 and RUSH. The Old Rep, Birmingham, The company’s award-winning V completes Thurs 15 February the programme. A solo work exploring the “We’ve always tried to create something rare and contorted beauty of the human which is groundbreaking and pioneering,” body, the piece here features live music for says Sonia Sabri. “I feel proud to say that the very first time. we’ve presented something that’s very new and very different. We’ve been at the forefront of creating new ideas, and that’s exactly what we intend to continue doing.” Sabri’s belief in the need to push the boundaries of dance is reflected in this groundbreaking dance-digital solo production, an exploration of the perceptions and misconceptions surrounding the subject of female body image. The dancer’s unique ‘urban Kathak’ language is here brought together with mo- tion-triggered digital art and a sound score combining spoken word and music, creating a show which Sabri describes as “un- compromising, thought-provoking and humorous”. whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Macbeth DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:25 Page 1

The vicious pursuit “ of power to fill a void will always be relevant - the Macbeths are everywhere in every age, because they are a part of us

36 whatsonlive.co.uk ” Macbeth DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 11:25 Page 2

Double, double toil and trouble Following on from acclaimed productions of Dracula and The Odyssey, Mark Bruce Company this month brings its haunting re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to DanceXchange. We caught up with Mark to find out more...

Why Shakespeare’s Macbeth? the right time in their careers to pursue this bearing on whether I pursue it or not - Macbeth hits you fast, cuts through to the vocabulary. I feel that there’s a time when whether it’s an established narrative or bone and, for me, is the least ambiguous of you’re ready to do a production, and you something I’ve written myself. With Macbeth, Shakespeare's plays. Its darkness opens our can’t really contrive that. I had a combination of dancers I already nightmares; we recognise fundamental traits knew and some new ones. I held an audition, How have you approached the text? inside ourselves and the consequences of for which we had over 650 applicants. From acting upon them. The vicious pursuit of The Macbeths are mere playthings of the evil that, I took three dancers. They needed to be power to fill a void will always be relevant - they set free, and in the madness and strong dramatically and in contemporary and the Macbeths are everywhere in every age, emptiness that ensues, they become but classical technique. because they are a part of us. walking shadows - or, as in my adaptation, simply clowns of sound and fury. Your music choice for Macbeth is classical When did you first discover Macbeth? My approach has been quite simple, so that I and doesn't involve any of your own composition, unlike many of your other I first read it as a teenager. Returning to it can really explore the text, get deeply into the productions... now, the images, the atmosphere it evokes, characters and the world in which it’s set. haven’t changed. Its power lies in a relentless The music of Arvo Pärt was a fundamental Are you influenced by other artists? tale of supernatural horror told with a beauty decision in realising a through-line for and symbolism that reaches to the tragic Influences always begin subconsciously, and Macbeth. I was instantly drawn to how it state of the ‘other’. often it’s only in retrospect that I identify captures something deep inside us. It can be The supernatural is always present in them. I don’t expect to completely sparse, refined - and for me, Macbeth is a Macbeth, bending our own thoughts and understand why an influence has imposed refined play. Like Arvo Pärt’s music, there’s perceptions as well as those of the itself. I do think I've been affected by the so much going on with every line, every protagonists. It infects us, always one step films of David Cronenberg for this suggestion. This enables our imagination to ahead, and Macbeth’s decisions are made in production: pace, economic shot selection, transcend to the state of what’s inside the the world of a nightmare, as if there’s no his film Eastern Promises especially. The protagonists, what they’re missing, the state separation between thought and action. brooding atmosphere, the colour, the of their souls. I felt the combination of the Murder is done and descent is rapid. darkness seem to marry with the world I saw subject matter and this music created Macbeth taking place in. Compared to a something beautiful and tragic. And these Why now? production like The Odyssey, in which there two elements were the basis of my It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I had was a myriad of influences, Macbeth is far interpretation of Macbeth. a vision of Macbeth’s world and some of the leaner. It’s written for the stage. cast in mind. It was the same with Dracula Mark Bruce Company performs Macbeth How do you choose your dancers? and The Odyssey. The choreographic at DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, language of Macbeth is very specific and Sometimes I’ll have particular dancers in Birmingham Hippodrome, on Thurs 8 & detailed, and I felt I had the right dancers at mind for a production, and this will have a Fri 9 February.

whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film February - DOWNSAVE.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:14 Page 1

38 whatsonlive.co.uk Film February - DOWNSAVE.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:14 Page 2

Film

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Black Panther CERT tbc Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis Directed by Ryan Googler (USA)

It’s all so melodramatic. Anything that happens in the Marvel Uni- agent Everett K Ross (Martin Freeman), and special forces within his verse is always catastrophic or dystopian or cataclysmic - or all three. own country, to avert catastrophe. While not strictly endowed with This edition - the 18th Marvel spectacular - sees T'Challa (Chadwick superhero powers, T'Challa does possess a formidable intellect as Boseman) return to his African nation on the death of his father, the well as some pretty good martial arts skills, which should help. The King of Wakanda. However, as T'Challa - aka Black Panther - takes his director, Ryan Googler, previously brought us the critically acclaimed rightful seat on his father’s throne, factions in his country rise up to Fruitvale Station (2013) and Creed (2015). depose him. So, in order to prevent a world war, T'Challa calls on CIA Released Tues 13 February

Film highlights released in February...

Journey’s End CERT 12a (108 mins) Phantom Thread Starring Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield, Toby CERT 15 (130 mins) Jones, Tom Sturridge, Stephen Graham, Paul Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Bettany Directed by Saul Dibb (UK) Vicky Krieps, Camilla Rutherford, Gina McKee In light of the explicit nature of more recent Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (USA) war films, it is refreshing to encounter the Daniel Day-Lewis is Reynolds Woodcock, an mental mutilation of war rather than the obsessive, controlling couturier in 1950s’ physical. Saul Dibb is a competent if some- London, and the actor commands the screen times journeyman director, but he has se- with his customary presence. It’s a painstak- cured some first-rate acting from his cast, ingly crafted drama, reflecting the attention particularly Paul Bettany. Based on the 1928 Lies We Tell CERT 15 (110 mins) to detail which Woodcock lavishes on his cre- play by RC Sherriff, the drama is set in the Starring Gabriel Byrne, Sibylla Deen, Mark ations for the rich and famous. However, it is trenches of the First World War. Addy, Jan Uddin, Harvey Keitel a film that one tends to admire rather than Directed by Mitu Misra (UK) Released Fri 2 February engage with, but one cannot deny its noble Gabriel Byrne plays the chauffeur for an power and originality. American gangster (Keitel) who has to Released Fri 2 February eradicate all trace of his employer’s mis- tress (Sibylla Deen), both the cousin and ex-wife of a notable Muslim gangster. Unfortunately, Byrne is woefully miscast as the lowly, long-suffering dogsbody, while the Muslims are drawn as stereotypes. Nothing rings remotely true. Released Fri 2 February

whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Film February - DOWNSAVE.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:14 Page 3

Film highlights released in February...

The Shape Of Water lishment figure who looks down on anybody or anything that doesn’t fit in with his narrow CERT 15 (123 mins) view of what is all-American. As played by Starring Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Michael Shannon, he is a suitably despicable Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael figure, constantly crunching on cheap candy Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer (when he’s not swigging on the hard stuff). Directed by Guillermo del Toro (USA/Canada) But none of the stereotypes here stick to the It’s not every day that you come across a ro- expected norm. It’s hard not to supress a gig- mantic sci-fi fantasy steeped in nostalgia and gle when a thick-set Russian thug, chowing menace. Perhaps the most original film we down on a slice of butter cake, asks for a are likely to see all year, this nonetheless re- glass of milk to go with it. But what is The calls a number of unique classics, from Shape Of Water? It’s a hopelessly romantic Amélie to Beauty And The Beast via The adult fairytale which reminds us not to fear Creature From The Black Lagoon and Splash. what we don’t understand. It’s a timely piece, The first shock is to see the Dulwich-born too, albeit set in Maryland in the early 1960s, Sally Hawkins surrounded by a slew of when Mister Ed was on television and racism heavyweight American character actors, all was still a way of life. Yet, no sooner do we of whom play to their strengths. think we’ve got the film clocked, than the di- In the opening voice-over, the benign, con- rector, Guillermo del Toro, throws us a curve- sidered tones of Richard Jenkins tell us of ball. It’s sweet and funny, yes, but it’s got “the princess without voice” and “the mon- extremely sharp teeth. ster who tries to destroy it all.” The monster Released Wed 14 February is Colonel Strickland, a cold-blooded estab- CRITIC’S CHOICE

Roman J Israel, Esq Fifty Shades Freed The Mercy CERT 12a (102 mins) CERT 12a (122 mins) CERT tbc Starring Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger, Arielle Kebbel, Luke Grimes, Rita Ora Directed by James Foley (USA) Just when Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey have finally tied the knot, ghosts from the couple’s past emerge to darken their domestic bliss. At last, the final chapter in the Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy. Released Fri 9 February Starring Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz, David Thewlis, Ken Stott, Jonathan Bailey Directed by James Marsh (UK) Starring Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Colin Firth plays Donald Crowhurst, the ama- Carmen Ejogo, Amari Cheatom Directed by Dan Gilroy (USA) teur sailor who competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in 1968. However, An idealistic defence attorney in the cut- Crowhurst was not entirely honest about his throat criminal court system of Los Angeles, attempt to navigate his way around the Roman finds himself at a dramatic cross- world’s oceans. roads in his career. For his part, Denzel received his ninth Golden Globe nomination. Released Fri 9 February Released Fri 2 February The 15:17 To Paris Winchester CERT tbc CERT 15 (94 mins) Starring Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Starring Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Snook, Angus Sampson Directed by The Spencer Stone, Judy Greer, Jenna Fischer Spierig Brothers (Australia/USA) Directed by Clint Eastwood (USA) Dame Helen stars as the heiress of the Sadler, Skarlatos and Stone play themselves Winchester Repeating Arms Company who in this re-telling of the terrorist attack on the believes she is being haunted by the gunshot Thalys train to Paris in August of 2015. Clint victims of the rifle. From the siblings who Eastwood, now 87, directs the real-life brought us Jigsaw (2018). thriller. Released Fri 2 February Released Fri 9 February 40 whatsonlive.co.uk Film February - DOWNSAVE.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:14 Page 4

Film

Tad The Lost Explorer And The Secret Of King Midas CERT U (85 mins) With the voices of Kerry Shale, Ariel Winter, Bruce Mackinnon, Cheech Marin Directed by Enrique Gato and David Alonso (Spain) An animated spoof of Indiana Jones from Spain, this is actually a sequel, in which the awkward archaeologist Tad Jones must rescue his would-be girlfriend from the clutches of a greedy millionaire. In 3D. Released Fri 9 February

Lady Bird CERT 15 (94 mins) grim portrayal of a disintegrating marriage Loveless CERT 15 (122 mins) Starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy and the domestic unit as battlefield. On the Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Starring Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, radio, there’s talk of Armageddon, and later Beanie Feldstein Matvey Novikov, Marina Vasilyeva, Andris Directed by Greta Gerwig (USA) Keišs Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia) the horrors of the Ukrainian conflict. His protagonists, when not trading insults, are glued As character studies goes, this nuanced por- Andrey Zvyagintsev's last film, Leviathan to their mobile phones. trait of a young woman learning to walk in an (2014), was powerful, pervasive, poetic and Zvyagintsev would seem to be trading in his adult world is as truthful, funny and moving shocking. With Loveless, the director still ex- country’s propensity for gloom, and bran- as any we’ve seen. As an actress, Greta Ger- erts a mastery of his form and wallows in the dishing it with nationalistic pride. You have wig can tend towards the mannered, but her bleak wintry landscape of Moscow and its en- been warned. skill as a writer and debutant director is com- virons. He’s also lured starkly naturalistic pletely free of artifice. Her film is one we will performances from his cast in order to paint a Released Fri 9 February want to re-visit, if only to savour its discreet period milieu (2002), understated humour and marvellous performances. I, Tonya CERT 15 (119 mins) Released Wed 14 February Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Alli- son Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Can- navale, Mckenna Grace Directed by Craig Gillespie (USA) Father FiguresCERT 15 (113 mins) The Tonya in question is the figure skater Starring Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, JK Simmons, Tonya Harding, who was famously involved June Squibb, Christopher Walken, Glenn Close Directed by Lawrence Sher (USA) in an attack on her rival and Olympic team- mate Nancy Kerrigan. Twin brothers Owen Wilson and Ed Helms hit For her role as Tonya, Margot Robbie was the road on a quest to find their father, after nominated for a Golden Globe. discovering that he is still alive. The Ameri- can critics were not amused. Released Tues 20 February Released Wed 14 February Finding Your Feet CERT 12a (111 mins) Starring Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie, David Hayman, John Sessions, Joanna Lumley Directed by Richard Loncraine (UK/Canada/Australia/USA) Sandra (Staunton) moves in with her estranged sister Bif (Imrie) when she discovers that her husband has been cheating on her. But Bif, darling, is so not her and lives on an inner-city council estate. Needs must… Released Fri 23 February

whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Visual Arts February 2018-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:00 Page 1

Visual Arts previews from around the region

New Art West Midlands Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 16 February - Sun 6 May; Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 23 February - Sat 31 March; Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Sat 24 February - Sun 13 May Recent graduates from the region’s six art schools have the chance to see their work professionally exhibited this month when New Art West Midlands (NAWM) returns with its annual showcase. Now in its sixth year, the exhibition forms part of the NAWM organisation’s wider mission to develop new talent and promote engagement with visual arts. “The idea is that this is a multi-site exhibition rather than a tour,” says Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery curator Lisa Beauchamp, “so there will be different artists presenting work at each of the galleries. Each venue curates their own exhibition, so they will all be communicating different themes and ideas through the work of the artists they show. “Part of that will be based on what we feel is going to resonate with and appeal to our audiences, which are quite different in each location. For example, Airspace is a dedicated contemporary art space that only has one exhibition at a time, whereas in Birmingham, we’ve got lots of things going on at once and all sorts of different visitors, from families to art students and from people who are already really engaged with art to people who may never have come into a gallery Image credit: Olivia Peake before. So all of that contributes to the choices we make.”

42 whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts February 2018-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:00 Page 2

Visual Arts

Clangers, Bagpuss & Co. Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 10 February - Sun 29 April This new exhibition is set to bring back nostal- gic childhood memories for fans of TV favourites Pogles’ Wood, Noggin The Nog and Ivor The Engine. Clangers, Bagpuss & Co, a touring show from the V&A Museum of Childhood, pays homage to the creations of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, who started collaborating on children’s television programmes back in the 1950s.

The Dekkan Trap MAC, Birmingham, Sat 17 February - Sun 22 April Mumbai-based artist Sahej Rahal works across performance, video, installation and sculpture to develop complex narrative-based installations. Taking influences from subjects as diverse as philosophy and science fiction, Sahej this month brings his latest sculptural and film work Photo credit: The Dunara Castle at Iona by FCB Cadell (1871 - 1935) courtesy of the © Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation to Birmingham, and will continue to evolve the exhibition during its MAC residency. The Rhythm Of Light: Scottish Colourists From The Fleming Collection Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 16 February - Sun 13 May Comprising works on loan from the prestigious Fleming Collection, The Rhythm Of Light features paintings produced by a quartet of artists collectively known as the Scottish Colourists. SJ Peploe, JD Fergusson, FCB Cadell and Leslie Hunter each responded to the revolutionary impact of modern French art - from Manet to Matisse - to produce vibrant images of cityscapes, still lifes and

landscapes, all of which reveal a shared Photo courtesy of the artist and Chatterjee & Lai, Mumbai preoccupation with light, rhythm and Photo credit: The Feathered Hat, c.1915 by FCB Cadell (1871 - colour. 1935) courtesy of the © Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation Sacred Things Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 11 February LEGO: Brick History tic construction pieces is here celebrated This thought-provoking exhibition has been cre- via an exhibition that brings history to life ated with the intention of introducing recently Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 9 February - Sun 15 April at a relatable, human level. arrived Syrians to the people of Coventry. Lego models on show include representa- Showcasing the work of photographer and an- Although for the majority of people Lego tions of key figures from Mozart to Martin thropologist Liz Hingley, Sacred Things ques- bricks are simply a toy with which to keep Luther King, presentations of scientific dis- tions the importance and impact of ownership, small children entertained, for some coveries from the Big Bang to DNA, and personal experience and cultural concepts of they’re a challenging and enjoyable mod- constructions acknowledging major beauty. The Syrians featured in Hingley’s dis- elling medium. achievements, from the creation of mobile play have come to Coventry as part of a unique The potential of these hugely popular plas- phones to man landing on the moon. United Nations programme. whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 1

44 whatsonlive.co.uk Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 2

Events previews from around the region Events

Race Retro Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Fri 23 - Sun 25 February Now in its 16th year, Race Retro showcases every motorsport discipline, including formula and circuit racing, rallying, hill climbs, touring cars, motorcy- cling, sports and GT cars. The show also offers visitors the chance to purchase parts, spares, helmets and clothing, not to mention new racing or rally cars in a special auction. Highlight of the 2018 event is a 40th-anniversary celebration of the ground-effects era, the centrepiece of which is the Lotus 79 that took Mario Andretti to the world championships. The car was the first to take on the ground-effects technology (way back in 1978), and is featured at the show alongside numerous other iconic cars of the same era. Among them is the Williams FW07, which saw Alan Jones win the cham- pionship in 1980, and the Ralt 3 in which Martin Brundle raced against Ayrton Senna in British F3.

Star Cars British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Sat 10 - Sun 25 February “We have an exciting two weeks of interactive family-friendly activities planned,” says British Motor Museum’s Emma Rawl- inson, in talking about the venue’s Star Car event. “There’ll be plenty to keep everyone entertained, whatever the weather!” Highlights include the opportunity to meet Thunderbirds’ Parker or Lady Penelope on a special family tour, and the chance to make a Star Car to take home - creative kids can choose from templates of FAB1, Tomb Raider or Shaun the Sheep's Land Rover. Large Lego bricks are available for under-fives to enjoy, along with a self-guided trail designed to enable visitors of all ages to explore the Star Cars as a family.

Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show NEC, Birmingham, Tues 20 - Sun 25 February Attracting huge crowds and promising to be bigger and better than ever, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show features hundreds of exhibitors. As well as showcasing all the latest products, the show also offers buying tips, holiday advice and a packed programme of events and entertainment. New for 2018 is the Holiday Park Experience, complete with climbing wall, play area and bushcraft classes. Other features include a top dog arena, the Discovery Theatre - offering a programme of contributions by inspirational and in- formative speakers, including Birmingham’s very own celebrity chef, Rustie Lee - live cookery demonstrations and taster towing & motorhome manoeuvring tuition. The show is being opened by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who’ll be sharing stories of his worldwide adventures as well as highlight- ing the benefits of spending time in the great outdoors in terms of overall health and wellbeing. whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 3

46 whatsonlive.co.uk Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 4

Events previews from around the region Events

Pirate and Princess The National Takeover Wedding Show Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, NEC, Birmingham, Sat 10 - Sun 25 February Fri 23 - Sun 25 February Well shiver those timbers and Promising a one-stop shop for all a straighten that tiara - Alton Towers Re- bride and groom’s wedding needs, sort is certainly the place to take your The National Wedding Show pro- little pirates and princesses this half- vides a platform for retailers to term holiday! showcase both the trendy and the The popular visitor attraction is hosting traditional, and features an unri- a range of family-focused themed activ- valled selection of wedding ities this month, including a disco, a dresses. treasure hunt, meet-and-greets with The 2018 show includes the chance CBeebies Land characters and the to get creative with free DIY wed- chance to learn some essential pirate ding workshops at the Inspiration skills (we’re confident this won’t in- Lab, top tips on fashion, health clude making people walk the plank!). and beauty on the Style Stage, ad- Away from the princess & pirate theme, vice from industry experts on the visitors can check out Sharkbait Reef to Hitched Wedding Planning Plat- see a variety of amazing fish, splash form, and an opportunity to check around in the tropical surroundings of out a selection of ‘delectable cre- the Alton Towers Waterpark, and enjoy ations’ from top cakemakers at the a round of what’s being termed ‘ex- Inspired Bakes Gallery. traordinary’ golf.

British Athletics Indoor Championships 2018 Arena Birmingham, Sat 17 & Sun 18 February With the prestigious honour of being crowned British champion up for grabs, not to mention the need to impress ahead of next month’s IAAF World Indoor Championships (1 - 4 March, also at the Arena), this is certainly a high-stakes weekend for the compet- ing athletes. The event is this year debuting in Birming- ham, having previously been held in Sheffield. The British Dragon Hunt Shooting Show Tamworth Castle, Sun 18 - Sat 24 February NEC, Birmingham, Fri 16 - Sun 18 February As half-term activities go, Tamworth Castle’s is a The jewel in the crown of the shoot- pretty unusual one. Dragon-finding! ing-show calendar, this two-day The castle’s resident fire-breather, Ruby, invited get-together offers visitors the her mischievous brother Hafgrim to stay with her. chance to check out a vast range of Problem is, Hafgrim thought it’d be a jolly good guns, ammunition, reloading laugh to hide from his sister, and now seems to equipment and shooting associa- have gotten himself well and truly lost. Hence the tions and schools. need for some serious dragon-finding activity! Highlights include a historical Participants need to stay on their guard, mind, as arms collection, gunsmith & en- the ne’er-do-well dragoncatcher is up to his old graving demonstrations and nu- tricks again, beguiling visitors into helping cap- merous arena displays. ture Ruby and Hafgrim. You have been warned... whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 5

48 whatsonlive.co.uk Events February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:02 Page 6

Events previews from around the region Events

Augmented Reality Thomas & Friends Drayton Manor Theme Park, Dinosaur World Staffordshire, Sat 10 - Sun 25 February Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Mon 19 - Fri 23 February Thomas the Tank Engine fans are Ironbridge Gorge’s Enginuity venue is certainly well catered for at Dray- going dino-crazy this half-term. ton Manor Park this half-term. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, visi- The Staffordshire visitor attraction tors can immerse themselves in an Aug- is home to Europe’s only Thomas mented Reality world in which they will Land and will be running numer- magically appear on a big screen, seem- ous rides during the holiday pe- ingly surrounded by dinosaurs! riod, including Harold Helicopter Other dinosaur-related half-term attrac- Tours, Bertie Bus and Cranky tions include workshops in which young- Crane. sters can learn how to make Pterodactyl Among the venue’s other half-term Fliers using brightly coloured craft materi- highlights are selected family als. favourite rides around the park A Dig Up A Dinosaur sand-pit, meanwhile, (not including the thrill rides), live provides budding archaeologists with the shows with the Fat Controller and chance to search for hidden artefacts. friends, and the chance to check out the 15-acre zoo, complete with recently arrived Red Pandas Tika and Pema. Behind The Scenes Coventry Transport Museum, Sat 17 - Fri 23 February Half-term at the Science and the arts combine at Royal Shakespeare Coventry Transport Museum this Company half-term when visitors to the Various RSC venues, Stratford- venue’s Learning Centre get the upon-Avon, Mon 19 - Fri 23 February chance to make spectroscopes, thermometers and bugs. Other holiday-week attractions include a chance to experiment with different types of fluids, use different materials to make a car collage and learn some ingenious engineering in order to make boxes with just a single piece of The Royal Shakespeare Company paper. (RSC) is offering so much by way of activities to enjoy this half-term holiday that it might make sense to spend the whole week in Stratford! Shropshire Kids Festival Highlights of the RSC’s family- Telford International Centre, friendly programme include the Sat 24 & Sun 25 February chance for children of different “We're celebrating our first year in Telford in ages to create their very own short- style,” say the organisers of this action-packed ened version of Macbeth. There’s event for youngsters of all ages. “We're going also a special workshop in which to make the International Centre into one huge kids can learn how to use their play park for children to enjoy, with so much voices, and a behind-the-scenes going on that your kids will have an amazing look at how theatrical bruises, cuts day filled with fun activities and giggles while and scars are created. at the same time discovering new talents. Our The line-up also features a story- Shropshire Kidsfest really is a great day out for telling session and a day of free the whole family. We have something to suit all craft activities. the little ones, and great food and drink for the If ever a legendary theatre com- adults to enjoy, not to mention live music pany had all the half-term bases throughout both days.” covered... whatsonlive.co.uk 49 New Readers Awards.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 20:45 Page 1

Award FINALISTS in each category announced! VOTE for your WINNER! Readers’ What’sOn Awards

Yes, you VOTED in your thousands in the first round of nominations in the What’s On Readers’ Awards - over 10,000 votes across the West Midlands region!Now it’s time for you to VOTE once more to choose your ultimate WINNER in each category! Here are the award shortlist finalists:

THEATRE: Midlands Large Theatre l Rosie K Dance THEATRE: Best Festive Show l Birmingham Hippodrome l Vamos Theatre l 101 Dalmatians - l New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham The REP, Birmingham l Regent Theatre, Hanley l A Christmas Carol - THEATRE: Best Home-Produced Show l Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford The RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon In The Midlands l The REP, Birmingham l Alice In Wonderland - l 101 Dalmatians - l Wolverhampton Grand Theatre The Old Rep, Birmingham The REP, Birmingham l Stick Man - Birmingham Town Hall l Alice In Wonderland - The Old Rep THEATRE: Midlands Arts Centre l The Lion, The Witch And The l Brassed Off - Grand Theatre l Foxlowe Arts Centre, Stoke Wardrobe - Crescent Theatre, l The Dreaming - Lichfield Garrick l MAC, Birmingham Birmingham l The Nativity - The REP, Birmingham & Newhampton Arts Centre, l Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Wolverhampton THEATRE: Best Kids Show l The Hive, Shrewsbury l Disney On Ice: Passport To Adventure l Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry THEATRE: Best Pantomime In l Gangsta Granny The Midlands 2017/18 l Stick Man Aladdin - Lichfield Garrick THEATRE: Best Touring Musical l l The Snowman l Cinderella - Birmingham Hippodrome l Billy Elliot l We're Going On A Bear Hunt l Jack And The Beanstalk - l Hairspray Wolverhampton Grand Theatre THEATRE: Best Amateur l Miss Saigon l Sleeping Beauty - The Addams Family Dramatic/Operatic Group l Swan Theatre, Worcester l The Jersey Boys l Birmingham & Midland Operatic l Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs - Society (BMOS) Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury l Get Your Wigle On, Shrewsbury THEATRE: Best Touring Play l Mad Cows Productions, Shrewsbury l Curious Incident Of The Dog THEATRE: Best Panto Dame l Old Joint Stock Musical In The Nighttime l Ben Humphrey - Sleeping Beauty at Theatre Company l Finding Joy - Vamos Theatre Swan Theatre, Worcester l West Bromwich Operatic Society l Jane Eyre (National Theatre) l Brad Fitt - Snow White 1And The (WBOS) l Shirley Valentine Seven Dwarfs at Theatre Severn, l The Play That Goes Wrong Shrewsbury THEATRE: Best Amateur Production Ceri Dupree & David Dale - Cinderella l l BMOS: Miracle On 34th Street - at Birmingham Hippodrome New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham THEATRE: Best Touring Company Ian Adams - Jack And The Beanstalk l l Bilston Operatic Company: l Fizzogs at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre A Christmas Carol - l Highly Sprung l Sam Rabone - Aladdin at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Lichfield Garrick l Motionhouse l Get Your Wigle On: Hairspray - l Pentabus Theatre Severn VOTE today atwhatsonlive.co.uk

50 whatsonlive.co.uk New Readers Awards.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 20:45 Page 2

#readersawards2018

l Mad Cow Productions: Present Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Best Midlands Musician Laughter - Theatre Severn, l New Art West Midlands - l Dan Owen Shrewsbury various venues l Laura Mvula l OJS Company - Bonnie & Clyde l Quentin Blake: Inside Stories - l Jack Blackman Compton Verney, Warwickshire l Scott Matthews l Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 DANCE: Best Production l Soweto Kinch - Wolverhampton Art Gallery l Balletboyz: Fourteen Days l Birmingham Royal Ballet: Aladdin Best Midlands Live Band l Birmingham Royal Ballet: Best Independent Cinema l Black Sabbath The Nutcracker l Artrix - Bromsgrove l Ocean Colour Scene l Breakin’ Convention - The REP l Electric Cinema - Birmingham l The Ronaldos l Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes l Light House Media Centre - l The Specials Wolverhampton l UB40 l Old Market Hall - Shrewsbury CLASSICAL (inc Opera): l Red Carpet Cinema - Burton Best Midlands Chef Best Production l Adam Stokes (Adams, Birmingham)) l BCMG@30 - COMEDY: Best Midlands l Andrea Birch (New Inn, Baschurch, CBSO Centre,Birmingham Comedian North Shropshire) l Birmingham Bach Choir: Handel's l Glynn Purnell (Purnell’s, Birmingham) Messiah - Wolverhampton Grand l Barbara Nice Greg Davies l Josh Crouch (CSONS, Shrewsbury) l CBSO Spectacular Classics - l l Luke Tipping (Simpsons, Birmingham) Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Joe Lycett Jonny Cole l Eugene Onegin - Welsh National l Opera @ Birmingham Hippodrome l The Fizzogs Best Midlands Food Festival l Ex Cathedra: Summer Music By l Colmore Food Festival - Birmingham Candlelight - Birmingham Cathedral COMEDY: Best Midlands l Foodies Festival Birmingham l The Sixteen: Glory To The Christ Child Comedy Night l Lichfield Food Festival Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Blue Giraffe Wolverhampton l Ludlow Food Festival l Comedy Carousel at l Shrewsbury Food Festival CLASSICAL: The Glee Club - Birmingham Best Orchestra/Choir l Comedy at Henry Tudor House, Best Midlands Street Food Vendor Shrewsbury l Birmingham Cathedral Choir l Bournville Waffle Co Comedy 42 - Lichfield Garrick l Birmingham Contemporary l l Buddha Belly Music Group l Fitz of Laughter (Stourbridge) l Vegan Grindhouse Funhouse Comedy - Birmingham & l Birmingham Gay Symphony l l Victorian Creperie Orchestra West Midlands l The Meat Shack l Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra l CBSO Best Midlands Music Venue Best Midlands Retail (Large: 1000+ capacity) Shopping Centre ARTS: Best Midlands Arts/ l Arena Birmingham l Bullring - Birmingham Cultural Festival l Civic Hall, Wolverhampton l Grand Central - Birmingham Genting Arena, Birmingham l Artsfest Wolverhampton l l intu Merry Hill - Brierley Hill O2 Academy, Birmingham l Birmingham Comedy Festival l l Telford Shopping Centre Symphony Hall, Birmingham l Birmingham Weekender l l Touchwood - Solihull l Lichfield Arts' Fuse Festival l Worcester Festival Best Midlands Music Festival Midlands Entertainment Personal- l Godiva Festival l Birmingham Pride ity of the Year Award l Lichfield Festival l Beverley Knight ARTS: Best Exhibition l Moseley Folk Festival l Doreen Tipton l Brick Wonders - l Shrewsbury Folk Festival l Frank Skinner Wolverhampton Art Gallery l Swingamajig, Birmingham l Joe Lycett l I Want! I Want! - l Julie Walters and choose your WINNER!

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 New Readers Awards.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 20:45 Page 3

What’sOn FINALISTS in each REGION

BIRMINGHAM BLACK COUNTRY WARWICKSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE STAFFORDSHIRE SHROPSHIRE

Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Best Arts/Theatre Venue Venue Venue Venue Venue Venue l Theatre On The Steps l MAC Birmingham l Arena Theatre l Belgrade Theatre, l Artrix, Bromsgrove l Lichfield Garrick l Theatre Severn l New Alexandra l Forest Arts Centre Coventry l Huntingdon Hall, l New Vic Theatre, l The Hive, Shrewsbury l Old Joint Stock l Grand Theatre l Bear Pitt Theatre, Worcester Newcastle-under-Lyme The Place, Telford l The Old Rep l Light House Media Stratford-upon-Avon l Malvern Theatres l Prince of Wales, l Swan Theatre, The Wightman, l The REP Centre l Royal Shakespeare l Cannock l Worcester l Stourbridge Town Hall Theatre, Stratford l Regent Theatre, Shrewsbury Royal Spa Centre, l The Rose Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Best Music Venue l Best Music Venue Best Music Venue Leamington Spa Kidderminster l Stafford Gatehouse l The Glee Club l Warwick Arts Centre l Palace Theatre, Red- Theatre l Albert's Shed, l Brierley Civic Hall Hare & Hounds ditch Shrewsbury l Newhampton Arts l Best Music Venue l Henry Tudor House, l MAC, Birmingham Centre Best Music Venue l The Jam House Best Music Venue l Lichfield Guildhall Shrewsbury l The Robin l Shakespeare Street, l The Sunflower l Huntingdon Hall, l Eleven, l The Buttermarket, l The Slade Rooms Stratford-Upon-Avon Lounge Worcester Stoke-on-Trent Shrewsbury l Wolverhampton Civic l The Assembly, l The Sugarmill, Stoke l The Hive, Shrewsbury l O2 Academy Hall Leamington Spa l The Boar's Head, Kidderminster l Victoria Hall, Hanley l The Wightman, l The Big Comfy The Hop Pole Inn, Best Festival Best Visitor Bookshop, Coventry l Best Festival Shrewsbury Tin Music & Arts, Bromsgrove Birmingham Comedy Attraction l l Lichfield Arts' Fuse Best Festival l Coventry l The Marr's Bar, l Birmingham l Black Country Living Worcester Festival l Farmer Phil’s Festival l Warwick Arts Centre Weekender Museum l The Queen's Head, l Lichfield Festival l Ludlow Food Festival Lichfield Food Festival l Moseley Folk l Dudley Canal & Best Festival Bromsgrove l l Shrewsbury Tamworth Arts Festival l Mostly Jazz, Funk & Tunnel Trust l The Iron Road, Eve- l Chocolate Festival l Godiva Festival l V Festival Soul l Dudley Zoo sham l Shrewsbury Folk l Leamington Food and l RAF Cosford Museum l SHOUT Festival Drink Festival Festival l Wightwick Manor Best Festival Best Visitor Stratford-upon-Avon l Shrewsbury Food l l Droitwich Spa Attraction Best Visitor Best Event Music Festival Food Festival Festival l Alton Towers Attraction l Stratford River Festival l Malvern Food Festival l 1940s Evening - Black l Cannock Chase Best Visitor l Warwick Folk Festival l Worcester Festival l Birmingham Back to Country Living Visitor Centre l Worcester Music Fest Attraction Backs Museum Best Visitor l Drayton Manor l Upton Upon Severn l Attingham Park l Birmingham Botanical l Artsfest W’hampton Theme Park Attraction Jazz Festival l British Ironworks Gardens l Black Country l Lichfield Cathedral l Charlecote Park l Asparafest, Evesham Centre, Oswestry l Birmingham Museum Boating Festival l National Memorial l Compton Verney l Dana Prison Tours & Art Gallery l Cosford Air Show Arboretum l Coventry Transport Best Visitor l Ironbridge Museums l Cadbury World l Dudley Beer Festival l Tamworth Castle Museum l Severn Valley Railway, l Thinktank Shakespeare’s Attraction Best Gallery/ l Avoncroft,Bromsgrove Best Event Bridgnorth Birthplace Trust l Exhibition Venue Hanbury Hall l Bonfire & Fireworks Warwick Castle l Best Outdoor l and Gardens at Trentham Estate Best Event l Bilston Craft Gallery l 1940s Evening at Event Dudley Museum Best Event l Severn Valley Railway, l Lichfield Proms at l Blists Hill & Art Gallery Bewdley Beacon Park l Birmingham Frankfurt l 1960s Vintage Day at l West Mid Safari Park l Scarefest at l The Big Busk l Light House Christmas Market Compton Verney Witley Court l Oktoberfest Media Centre l Alton Towers l Birmingham Pride l Art In The Park l Arley Arboretum l St. George's Day at l Ludlow Food Festival l New Art Gallery, British Showjumping l Christmas at l l Eastnor Castle Tamworth Castle l Shrewsbury Flower Walsall Championships Birmingham Botanical l The Cathedral Show l Wolverhampton Gardens l Godiva Festival Best Independent Illuminated - Lichfield Museum & Art Gallery Best Gallery/ l Digbeth Dining Club l War of the Roses Live Cathedral at Warwick Castle Restaurant l Summer in Southside Exhibition Venue Best Independent Ostlers at No.1, l Best Independent Bear Steps Art Best Gallery/ Worcester l Restaurant Gallery, Shrewsbury Best Indoor Event l The Old Rectifying Café Bella Restaurant, Exhibition Venue l House, Worcester l 15 On The Corner, l Coalbrookdale l BBC Good Food Wolverhampton l Compton Verney Gallery, Ironbridge l The Olive Branch, Lichfield Il Michaelangelo, l Coventry Music Show l Worcester l Little Green Frog l Shrewsbury Museum l Birmingham Cocktail Brierley Hill Museum l The Orangery, Cafe, Lichfield & Art Gallery l Herbert Art Gallery Weekend l Indigo Restaurant, Redditch l Snug Coffee and Tea l Twenty Twenty Wolverhampton l Leamington Spa Art l Harry Potter and the l Venture In, Ombersley Emporium, Rugeley Gallery, Much Wenlock Mad O'Rourkes Pie Gallery & Museum Philosopher's Stone l l The Royal Oak, l The Apple Tree, l Van, The Market Hall, l Mead Gallery In Concert Factory, Dudley Evesham Barton Marina Shrewsbury l MCM Birmingham l The Bilash, l The Lounge of Comic Con Wolverhampton Best Independent Best Independent Lichfield Best Independent l Strictly Come Restaurant Café Café Dancing Live Best Independent l Coffee No.1, Pershore Best Independent l Edward Moon, l The Bird’s Nest Cafe, Cafe Stratford-Upon-Avon l G&Tea, Worcester Restaurant Lorita's Bakehouse, l Mackenzies, Lichfield Shrewsbury Best Gallery/ l Cozy Coffee, Dudley l Fleur De Lys, l Bromsgrove l 1709, The Brasserie l Ginger & Co, l Gluttons For Henley-in-Arden Exhibition Venue Mac & Jac's Cafe-Deli, Shrewsbury Nourishment l La Coppola, l l Olive Tree Restaurant l The Barber Institute Worcester l Netherstowe House l The Winding House l Madame Clarkes, Leamington Spa The Shambles Cafe, Tea Rooms, B-north l Birmingham Museum Wolverhampton l Lambs Restaurant, l l Christopher’s British & Art Gallery Bewdley Bistro, Tamworth l Liar, Liar, Oswestry l The Old School Tea Stratford-Upon-Avon l Word Of Mouth, l Crystals Cupcakes, l MAC Birmingham Rooms, W’hampton l Vintner, IKON Gallery Evesham Telford l l Zuri, Wolverhampton Stratford-Upon-Avon l Thinktank Museum

52 whatsonlive.co.uk Penguins.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 17:10 Page 1 GETTING IN A FLAP!

Steve Ball talks to What’s On about Penguins, a new LGBT-friendly show about two ‘gay’ penguins that’s coming to the Birmingham Rep this month... Penguins.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2018 17:10 Page 2

Why Penguins, Steve? choreographed by Carlos Pons Guerra, relate to. As they grow up, children will I’ve always been fascinated by the true founder of DeNada Dance Theatre, who’s meet, work and live alongside people story of Roy and Silo, two chinstrap created lots of cutting-edge dance, who’re different to them, and as they watch penguins at New York City’s Central Park much of which has explored LGBT themes. Penguins they’ll be transported to a world Zoo, who bonded as a couple and tried to where difference isn’t questioned; it just is. hatch a rock as if it were an egg. On No one questions the two male penguins Who’s the show for? noticing this, the zookeeper gave them a who fall in love, and no one questions their spare egg from another couple that It’s for everyone, but it’s been made with desire to have a child. It’s very timely subsequently hatched. The baby penguin, young children aged from three to seven in because the government has confirmed Tango, and her two dads achieved celebrity mind. It’s a family show, though, so will that from September 2019, all schools in status when the story was told in the New appeal to adult s too. England will be required by law to teach York Times in May 2004. It caught my Relationship & Sex Education which must include reference to same-sex imagination as being a story that could be Why is the show important? brought to life on stage. relationships. First of all, it’s gong to be a great piece of dance theatre that will entertain and Who’s making the show? captivate audiences. But it’s also a When is Penguins on and how do we get tickets to see it? It’s an international collaboration. We have celebration of different types of families a director from Northern Ireland, a French and provides a safe space to explore and Catch it at The REP from 1 to 10 February. designer and a Spanish choreographer. celebrate family relationships and diversity. For tickets, call The REP’s box office on Penguins is directed by Paul Bosco There are very few examples of theatre for 0121 236 4 455 or book online at McEneaney, founder and artistic director of children that offer these opportunities in a birmingham-rep.co.uk Belfast children's theatre company Cahoots way that’s child-friendly in its simplicity and focus on story. Ultimately, this NI, who’ve gained an inte rnational Steve Ball is Associate Director at the production is about love within a family, reputation for creating magical theatrical Birmingham Repertory Theatre and which is something all children should experiences for young audiences. It’s Birmingham Hippodrome The List Cover February Birmingham .qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:34 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide Februaryebruary 22018018 thelist

Franz Ferdinand at O2 Academy, Birmingham - Tuesday 20 February

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

What’s On Thurs 1 to Sun 4 February Mon 5 to Sun 11 February Mon 12 to Sun 18 February Mon 19 to Wed 28 February

Beautiful: The Carole King Kendrick Lamar, Rebecca Ferguson at Barbara Nice: Raffle! at Musical at the Hippodrome Genting Arena, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall The REP, Birmingham until Sat 3 February Fri 9 February Tues 13 February Fri 23 February

whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List Birmingham Fri 1 - Sun 4 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:32 Page 1

thelist THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY

lection of artwork created as part of a Visual Arts collaborative project with Sense - a national charity that supports people who have complex communication Birmingham Museum & needs, Wed 14 - Sat 24 Feb Art Gallery COMING OUT: SEXUALITY, GENDER AND The Barber Institute IDENTITY Ground-breaking exhibition TALES FROM HISTORY History subjects marking the 50th anniversary of the from the Bible, and classical mythol- partial decriminalisation of male ho- ogy in Dutch prints and drawings, mosexual acts in England and Wales. until Sun 18 Feb Featuring over 80 modern and contemporary artworks by internationally GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE IN BYZAN- renowned artists who explore themes TIUM Discover Byzantium - the once- of gender, sexuality and identity in great empire whose glittering capital art, until Sun 15 Apr was the city of Constantinople (today’s Istanbul) - through this in- THE PAST IS NOW: BIRMINGHAM AND triguing exploration of its coinage THE BRITISH EMPIRE Exhibition chal- and economy, until Sun 18 Mar lenging the typical colonial narrative used to present the history of the THE ARTIST IN ART Portraits of artists British Empire, until Sun 24 June by themselves or others. Featuring works that span three centuries and FAITH IN BIRMINGHAM, Exploring how including prints by Rembrandt, Maleek Berry - O2 Academy, Birmingham different faiths have influenced and Cézanne and van Dyck, alongside shaped the city, until Sun 3 Feb 2019 SHADOW CITY Birmingham subjects such as Picasso and Rodin, SOUNDSYSTEM & until Sun 13 May Gigs DANIEL CAESAR Sat 3 Ikon Gallery SALARY BOY Fri 2 Feb, Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- NEW THE RHYTHM OF LIGHT Works by Hare & Hounds, Birm- SLEEPTALKING Thurs 1 ingham EDMUND CLARK Edmund Clark has the four artists known collectively as ingham Feb, The Sunflower been Ikon’s artist-in-residence (2014- the Scottish Colourists - SJ Peploe, ANDY BROWN Sat 3 Lounge, Birmingham MODERN DAY DELILAHS 17) at Britain’s only therapeutic JD Fergusson, FCB Cadell and Leslie Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- Fri 2 Feb, Hare & prison, HMP Grendon in Bucking- Hunter, Fri 16 Feb - Sun 13 May FUNK 'N' SOUL NIGHT ingham Hounds, Birmingham hamshire. This exhibition showcases OUT PRESENTS ... OMAR LUKE RAINSFORD Sat 3 the body of work he’s developed in Other VISUAL ARTS Thurs 1 Feb, The Jam THE DEAD BOYS Fri 2 Feb, The Asylum, response to the prison, until Sun 11 House, Birmingham Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- Birmingham Mar BLUE POWER Solo exhibition by Birm- ingham ingham-based Trinidadian artist BITE THE BUFFALO Thurs ROCKET Sat 3 Feb, The THOMAS BOCK Exhibition of work by THE LEN PRICE 3 + THE Karen McLean. The installation ex- 1 Feb, Hare & Hounds, Jam House, B’ham the Birmingham-born artist who, in DEEP SIX Fri 2 Feb, presses the precarious nature of exis- Birmingham 1823, was sentenced to transporta- The Flapper, B’ham THE SENSATIONAL 60'S tence and the struggle for survival, LADY GAGA Thurs 1 tion for 14 years. Bock’s paintings in- EXPERIENCE Sat 3 Feb, until Sat 3 Mar, Ort Gallery, Balsall Feb, Genting Arena, THE COUNTERFEIT clude portraits of Tasmanian Wolverhampton Grand Heath, Birmingham Birmingham STONES Fri 2 - Sat 3 Theatre Aborigines, fellow criminals and free Feb, Artrix, Broms- NEW ROMERO BRITTO Exhibition of THE DAMNED Thurs 1 settlers in Hobart Town, until Sun 11 grove THE SYKKO DOLLZ & Mar work by renowned pop artist Romero Feb, O2 Academy, DEAD RENEGADES Sat 3 Britto, until Sun 4 Mar, Castle Gal- Birmingham ROCKET Fri 2 Feb, The Feb, Route 44, B’ham leries, Birmingham Mailbox Jam House, B’ham MAC, Birmingham THE AMAZONS Thurs 1 PAUL CARRACK Sat 3 THE PEOPLE OF PARTITION IN BIRMING- RODNEY BRANIGAN Fri 2 NEW HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- Feb, Symphony Hall, HAM New Sampad exhibition explor- ingham Feb, Lichfield Guildhall Exhibition of commissioned artworks, Birmingham ing how different generations living in documentary photography and film POLICE DOG HOGAN MOTORKILL Fri 2 Feb, GAZ BROOKFIELD AND Birmingham understand the 1947 of the work created throughout the Thurs 1 Feb, MAC, Route 44, Birmingham THE COMPANY OF Partition of India today, until Sun 29 project, Sat 3 Feb - Sun 15 Apr Birmingham DEFINITELY MIGHTBE & THIEVES Sat 3 Feb, O2 Apr, Soho House, Birmingham MOTÖRHEADACHE Thurs ADORED Fri 2 Feb, The Institute, Birmingham IGERS BIRMINGHAM: BEST OF BIRMING- RBSA Gallery 1 Feb, The Robin, Bil- River Rooms, Stour- MUSED (MUSE TRIBUTE) HAM EXHIBITION Featuring the winners ston bridge Sat 3 Feb, O2 NEW MARGARET FAIRHEAD RBSA Travel- of the photographic competition held LET'S HANG ON Fri 2 - Academy, Birmingham ling regularly between Birmingham earlier in the year, until Sat 2 June, HIGHLY SUSPECT Fri 2 Sat 3 Feb, The Core New Street and Tywyn has offered Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Feb, O2 Institute, Birm- SWEDE DREAMZ Sat 3 Theatre, Solihull Margaret the opportunity to study Birmingham ingham Feb, The River Rooms, and appreciate both urban and rural THE JERSEYS Fri 2 Feb, ODD SOUL Sat 3 Feb, Stourbridge views from the comfort of the Arriva NEW MELANIE JACKSON, DEEPER IN THE Crescent Theatre, The Sunflower MACKA B AND THE Train service, Mon 12 Feb - Sat 17 PYRAMID Expansive new body of Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham ROOTS RAGGA BAND Sat Mar work comprising animation, sculpture, a filmed performance and a THE STYLE COUNCIL- ANTHONY STRONG Sat 3 3 Feb, The Robin, Bil- NEW NATALIE SEYMOUR NWA Natalie publication in a graphic novel format, LORS, Fri 2 Feb, The Feb, Pizza Express ston uses digital technology to combine written in collaboration with Esther Robin, Bilston Live, The Waters Edge, NATHAN CARTER Sun 4 and alter photographs of derelict Leslie, Fri 2 Feb - Sat 21 Apr, Grand Birmingham Feb, New Alexandra buildings, Mon 12 Feb - Sat 24 Mar SCOTT ALAN Fri 2 Feb, Union, Fazeley Street, Birmingham Pizza Express Live, MALEEK BERRY Sat 3 Theatre, Birmingham NEW ROBERT PAGE RBSA A selection of NEW GROUND CONTROL Solo exhibition The Waters Edge, Feb, O2 Academy, SHAKE THE CHAINS Sun striking and intriguing heads in by Bucharest-based artist duo Anca Birmingham Birmingham 4 Feb, Birmingham bronze and bronze resin, Mon 12 Feb Benera and Arnold Estefan, featuring CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. ALLISTER WHITEHEAD, Town Hall, Birmingham - Sat 14 Apr a series of installations made since ROOKIE Fri 2 Feb, O2 JON DASILVA, TOMISLAV MELVYN HANCOX Sun 4 NEW RBSA AND SENSE: CONNECTING 2012, Sat 3 Feb - Sat 31 Mar, Cen- Academy, Birmingham & PHIL GIFFORD Sat 3 Feb, Katie Fitzgerald's, CREATIVELY Exhibition including a se- trala Gallery & Cafe, Birmingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, Stourbridge 54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham Fri 1 - Sun 4 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:32 Page 2

Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 February

JUNIOR SIMPSON, ALLYSON JUNE Classical Music SMITH, JARLETH REGAN & PETE OTWAY Sat 3 Feb, The Comedy Loft, B’ham RACHMANINOV'S SECOND Featuring DESIREE BURCH, EDDIE BRYANT & Kazuki Yamada (conductor) & Dejan SPUDDZ Sat 3 Feb, MAC, Birmingham Lazi (piano). Programme includes worksć by Glinka, Beethoven & Rach- maninov, Thurs 1 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham CELEBRITY RECITAL: PETER DONOHOE Theatre (PIANO) Programme comprises five Mozart Sonatas, Thurs 1 Feb, Con- LET THE RIGHT ONE IN The Crescent cert Hall, Royal Birmingham Conser- Theatre Company present an ama- vatoire teur production based on John Ajvide Lindqvist's Swedish vampire fiction CBSO PRE-CONCERT SHOWCASE FEAT. novel of the same name, Sat 27 Jan - ROMAN KOSYAKOV, DEJAN LAZI & XI- Sat 3 Feb, Crescent Theatre, B’ham AOFEN SONG (PIANOS) Programmeć includes works by Haydn, THE LATE MARILYN MONROE Biographi- Rachmaninov, Glinka, Beethoven, cal drama based on the final day of Gershwin/Earl Wild & Fazil Say, Thurs one of the most iconic movie stars of 1 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham all time, Tues 30 Jan - Sat 3 Feb, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham ALEC FRANK-GEMMIL (HORN) & DANIEL GRIMWOOD (PIANO) Programme in- THE LADYKILLERS The Lichfield Play- cludes works by Mozart, Punto & ers present an amateur staging of Beethoven, Fri 2 Feb, The Barber In- Graham Lineham’s classic black stitute, Birmingham comedy, Wed 31 Jan - Sat 3 Feb, Lichfield Garrick The Bhangra Showdown - Genting Arena, Birmingham ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE THE PERFECT MURDER Peter James PROJECTS ORCHESTRA Featuring ON WINGS Two-hander fusing comedy DARKEST HOUR (PG) comedy that puts the sex into Sussex Daniele Rosina (conductor). Pro- with a love story. Written by and star- Biography/Drama. Starring Gary Old- and fun into murder, until Sat 3 Feb, gramme includes works by Schu- ring Jacob Lovick & Vita Fox, Fri 2 man, Lily James. MAC, Birmingham, Sutton Arts Centre, Sutton Coldfield mann, Ibert & Korngold, Fri 2 Feb, Feb, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham until Thurs 1 Feb Concert Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- HAYFEVER Noel Coward’s celebrated BRIEF ENCOUNTER Emma Rice's stag- LOVING VINCENT (12a) Animation/Biog- servatoire comedy, until Sat 3 Feb, Hall Green ing of Noel Coward's haunting love raphy. With the voices of Douglas Little Theatre, Birmingham EX CATHEDRA: MOZART’S WOMEN Fea- story, Fri 2 - Sat 17 Feb, The REP, Booth, Jerome Flynn. Artrix, Broms- turing Jeffrey Skidmore (conductor) BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Birmingham grove, Fri 2 & Mon 5 Feb & Carolyn Sampson, Elizabeth The inspiring story of Carole King’s THE M.M.O.R.P.G SHOW Return of the PHANTOM THREAD (15) Drama/Ro- Cragg, Elizabeth Adams & Katie remarkable rise to stardom, until Sat much-acclaimed show, combining mance. Starring Vicky Krieps, Daniel Trethewey (sopranos), Sun 4 Feb, 3 Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome improvised comedy with tabletop Day-Lewis. Electric Cinema, Birming- Symphony Hall, Birmingham A CHRISTMAS CAROL David Edgar’s gaming, Sat 3 - Sun 4 Feb, Old Joint ham, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Feb CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & EARLY MODERN adaptation of Charles Dickens’ festive Stock Theatre, Birmingham THE POST (12a) Biography/Drama. ENSEMBLE Featuring Andrew Kirkman classic. Phil Daniels stars, until Sun 4 MIRROR MIRROR Red Earth Theatre Starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks. (conductor) & Amy Brosius (EMVE Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, fuse puppetry, storytelling and sign MAC, Birmingham, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Director) Sun 4 Feb, Elgar Concert Stratford-upon-Avon language in a mischievous take on Feb Hall, The Bramall, Universiry of Birm- IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART 1 the ever-popular tale of Snow White, ingham AMÉLIE (15) Comedy/Romance. Star- CONSPIRATOR Mike Poulton turns his Sun 4 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove ring Mathieu Kassovitz, Audrey pen to the thrilling world of power Tautou. Foreign language, subtitled. politics in the ancient Rome of Robert The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. ham, Sat 3 Feb Gregory Doran directs, until Sat 10 Comedy Feb, The Swan Theatre, Stratford- BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY (PG) l upon-Avon Film Comedy/Sci-Fi. Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd. The Mocking- GEOFF NORCOTT, PAUL MCCAFFERY & IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART II bird Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 4 Feb COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- DICTATOR Mike Poulton turns his pen THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, SON Thurs 1 Feb, The Glee Club, to the thrilling world of power politics MISSOURI (15) Crime/Drama. Starring Birmingham in the ancient Rome of Robert Harris’ Frances McDormand, Woody Harrel- STEVE HALL, NATHAN CATON, DEMITRIS best-selling Cicero trilogy. Gregory son. MAC, Birmingham, Fri 2 - Thurs DEECH & SULLY O'SULLIVAN Thurs 1 Doran directs, until Sat 10 Feb, The 8 Feb; The Mockingbird Cinema, Feb, The George Hotel, Lichfield Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham Events KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY NIGHT Thurs TWELFTH NIGHT Ade Edmundson & DOWNSIZING (15) Comedy/Sci-Fi. Star- SUNDAY TALK: 'THE GREAT BIRMINGHAM 1 Feb, Stourbridge Town Hall Kara Tointon star in Shakespeare’s ring Matt Damon, Kirsten Wiig. Elec- tale of unrequited love, until Sat 24 tric Cinema, Birmingham, until Thurs SQUABBLE' Fascinating glimpse into JIM DAVIDSON Thurs 1 Feb Wolver- Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, 1 Feb the history of Tudor and Stuart Birm- hampton Grand Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon THE FLORIDA PROJECT (15) Drama. ingham and Yardley, Sun 4 Feb, KATHERINE RYAN Fri 2 Feb, Symphony Blakesley Hall, Birmingham MALCOLM STENT’S SONGS OF PRAISE Starring Brooklynn Prince, Bria Hall, Birmingham Hymns & songs with a comedy Vinaite. The Mockingbird Cinema, DIGITAL ENGINEERING FOR KIDS & FAMI- SCOTT CAPURRO Fri 2 Feb, The Glee sparkle, Thurs 1 Feb, The Core, Soli- Birmingham, until Thurs 1 Feb LIES Learn more about coding with Club, Birmingham hull BATTLE OF THE SEXES (12a) Biogra- your kids at these brand new workshops, Sun 4 Feb, Enginuity Mu- SUZI RUFFELL, GEOFF NORCOTT, ANDY PENGUINS phy/Comedy. Starring Emma Stone, Unique and engaging seum. Ironbridge, Shropshire ROBINSON & PAUL MCCAFFERY Fri 2 - show for children about friendship, Steve Carell. The Mockingbird Cin- Sat 3 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham fun, identity and the ever-changing ema, Birmingham, until Thurs 1 Feb; SPRING FAIR The UK’s definitive desti- SAMANTHA BAINES Sat 3 Feb, Artrix, meaning of family, Thurs 1 - Sat 10 Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 6 & Fri 9 nation for the home & gift industry, Bromsgrove Feb, The REP, Birmingham Feb Sun 4 - Thurs 8 Feb, NEC, B’ham whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Birmingham 5 - 11 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:31 Page 1

thelist Thurs 8 Feb, Hare & Pizza Express Live, Feb, The Barber Institute, B’ham Gigs Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham Classical LEON MCCAWLEY PIANO CONCERT Pro- BYE BYE BABY Fri 9 Feb, KRYWALD & FARRER Sat gramme includes works by Haydn, NATALIE IMBRUGLIA Lichfield Garrick 10 Feb, Hare & Music Hans Gal, Beethoven & Schubert, Fri Mon 5 Feb, Birming- ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE Hounds, Birmingham 9 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove ham Town Hall Fri 9 Feb, The Robin, PARTYNEXTDOOR: INFIN- MIDDAY MUSIC Featuring Richard BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR - COME AND SEAN WEBSTER BAND Bilston ITY TOUR, Sat 10 Feb, Ward (trumpet), Joanne Sealey & SING! MOZART’S REQUIEM Sat 10 Feb, Mon 5 Feb, The Robin, SNAKE DAVIS BAND Fri 9 O2 Academy, B’ham Zlyin Llang (pianos). Programme in- Selly Oak Methodist Church, B’ham Bilston Feb, Pizza Express VUUR Sat 10 Feb, The cludes works by Ketting, Gershwin KAIA KATER Mon 5 Feb, Live, Birmingham Asylum, Birmingham arr, Thomas Pilsbury, Debussy & Kitchen Garden Cafe, REGGAE TAKEOVER Fri 9 JEZ LOWE Sat 10 Feb, Rachmaninov, Mon 5 Feb, Recital Birmingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, Lichfield Guildhall Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire RED TAIL RING Tues 6 Birmingham SOLID SOUL Sat 10 ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTEN- Feb, Kitchen Garden CATAPULT CLUB FEAT. Feb, The Jam House, MENT Featuring Marin Alsop (conduc- Cafe, Birmingham THE WHITE NOISE Fri 9 Birmingham tor) & Nicola Benedetti (violin), Tues 6 Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham JOSH SMITH BAND Tues Feb, O2 Academy, THE COUNTERFEIT 6 Feb, The Jam Birmingham STONES Sat 10 Feb, GARNIER ORGAN RECITAL Featuring House, Birmingham COLOSSUS YETI Fri 9 The Robin, Bilston Henry Fairs & Daniel Moult, Tues 6 Feb, Elgar Concert Hall, The Bramall, MICHALE GRAVES (EX- Feb, O2 Institute, BARS AND MELODY Sat University of Birmingham MISFITS) Tues 6 Feb, Birmingham 10 Feb, O2 Academy, SINFONIA OF BIRMINGHAM Featuring The Asylum, B’ham KENDRICK LAMAR Fri 9 Birmingham MIDDAY MUSIC WITH FU-MIN TSENG Michael Seal (conductor) & Ben (PIANO) Programme includes works Dawson (piano). Programme in- WHILE SHE SLEEPS Feb, Genting Arena, KEYWEST Sat 10 Feb, by Brahms, Carl Vine & Liszt, Tues 6 cludes works by Copland & Vaughan Tues 6 Feb, O2 Insti- Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham Feb, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Williams, Sun 11 Feb, Elgar Concert tute, Birmingham SOLID SOUL Fri 9 Feb, VICTORIES AT SEA, MAT- Conservatoire Hall, The Bramall, University of Birm- ZARA MCFARLANE Wed The Jam House, Birm- TERS, OUTLANDER, MYS- CBSO: PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION Fea- ingham 7 Feb, Hare & ingham TERON AND MORE Sat turing Constantinos Carydis (conduc- Hounds, Birmingham NICK HARPER Fri 9 Feb, 10 Feb, Hare & tor- pictured) & Javier Perianes HOLLIE COOK Wed 7 Kitchen Garden Cafe, Hounds, Birmingham (piano). Programme includes works Feb, O2 Academy, Birmingham TRANSATLANTIC SES- by Skalkotttas, Falla & Mussorgsky, Birmingham KENT DUCHAINE Fri 9 SIONS Sat 10 Feb, Wed 7 Feb, Symphony Hall, B’ham FAIRPORT CONVENTION Feb, Katie Fitzgerald's, Symphony Hall, Birm- Comedy Wed 7 Feb, Lichfield Stourbridge ingham Garrick BEE GEES FEVER Fri 9 KM VOCALS SHOWCASE: DARREN HARRIOTT, LOVEDEV BARPAGA, KATE MCCABE, CHE BURNLEY & PAUL ESPRIT D'AIR Wed 7 Feb, The River Rooms, TAKE IT TO THE STAGE SAVAGE Tues 6 Feb, The Rose Villa Feb, Mama Roux's, Stourbridge 2018 Sun 11 Feb, Lich- Tavern, Birmingham Birmingham FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 9 field Garrick RICHARD HERRING Wed 7 Feb, Station THE WORD ALIVE + Feb, Route 44, B’ham BRIC–A-BRAC Sun 11 Pub, Sutton Coldfield CONTINENTS Wed 7 LOST SOCIETY Fri 9 Feb, Feb, Kitchen Garden AHIR SHAH Feb, The Flapper, Hare & Hounds, Birm- Cafe, Birmingham Thurs 8 Feb, The REP, Birmingham ingham WALK OF FAME (BEAT- Birmingham KNOXVILLE HIGHWAY THEM HEAVY PEOPLE - LES FEST 2018) Sun 11 PATRICK MONAHAN Fri 9 Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham Wed 7 Feb, The Jam KATE BUSH TRIBUTE Fri Feb, Kitchen Garden COMMUTER CONCERT: COUPERIN 350 - Cafe, Birmingham House, Birmingham 9 - Sat 10 Feb, Lich- AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Cu- JOE LYCETT (PICTURED), TOM PARRY, MARK NEVIN & BAND field Garrick MADE IN LIVERPOOL rated by Graham Sadler & featuring MIKE BUBBINS, RACHEL PARRIS, DANNY CLIVES Thurs 8 Feb, Kitchen THE BOB DYLAN STORY Sun 11 Feb, Hare & Lilly Allen-Dodd & Holly Teague (so- Fri 9 Feb, MAC, Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham Sat 10 Feb, Lichfield Hounds, Birminghamt pranos), William Peart (baritone), AIRWAYS + RISCAS Garrick GOLDEN VOID + DOM- Kate Alsopp (recorder), Gareth James baroque (flute), Róza Bene Thurs 8 Feb, The Sun- THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE MENGANG Sun 11 Feb, (harpsichord & organ), Claire Ho- flower Lounge, B’ham Sat 10 Feb, New The Flapper, B’ham racek (viola de gamba), Silvana Scar- Alexandra Theatre, ERASURE Sun 11 Feb, PETER BERNSTEIN Thurs inci (theorbo), Samuel Bristow Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham 8 Feb, Pizza Express (organ), Thurs 8 Feb, Organ Studio, Live, Birmingham SUPREME QUEEN Sat 10 THE LIQUOR AND POKER Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Feb, The River Rooms, BAND Sun 11 Feb, JHENÉ AIKO Thurs 8 CBSO OPERA GALA Featuring Stephen Stourbridge Katie Fitzgerald's, Feb, O2 Institute, Bell (conductor), Natalya Romaniw Stourbridge Birmingham PEYTON Sat 10 Feb, (soprano), Madeleine Shaw (mezzo TDE PROMOTIONS: BIG soprano), Noah Stewart (tenor) & SATAN: TIM BERNE, Simon Thorpe (bass). Programme in- MARC DUCRET AND TOM cludes works by Saint-Saens, Puc- GARRETT MILLERICK, ANDRE VINCENT, RAINEY Thurs 8 Feb, cini, Donizetti, Rossini, Ponchielli, STEVE HARRIS & JAKE LAMBERT Sat 10 MAC Bizet, Wagner, Gounod & Verdi, Fri 9 Feb, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham , Birmingham Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 10 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove THE MAVERICKS Thurs THE SIXTEEN: VIVALDI GLORIA Fri 9 Feb, 8 Feb, Symphony Hall, Worcester Cathedral MILTON JONES Sun 11 Feb, New Birmingham SIGLO DE ORO Programme weaves to- Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham JAMES SAYER BAND gether a musical history from the Re- JOSH PUGH & JO D'ARCY Sun 11 Feb, Thurs 8 Feb, The Jam formation and Counter-reformation The Glee Club, Birmingham House, Birmingham with works by Josquin, Tye, Shep- VENUS VS MARS Sun 11 Feb, The pard, Byrd, Palestrina & Victoria, Fri 9 NIGHTMARES ON WAX Kendrick Lamar - Genting Arena, Birmingham Glee Club, Birmingham 56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 5 - 11 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:31 Page 2

Monday 5 - Sunday 11 February

language in a mischievous take on Theatre the ever-popular tale of Snow White, Sun 11 Feb, MAC, Birmingham KODO: EVOLUTION The famous Japanese drumming ensemble present a show fusing new repertoire with timeless pieces from their archive, Mon 5 Feb, Symphony Hall, Dance Birmingham THE SOUND OF MUSIC Lucy O’Bryrne CINDERELLA New Adventures present (The Voice) takes the lead as Maria in Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of a lavish staging of one of the greatest the classic fairytale, hailed as one of musicals of all time, Tues 6 - Sat 10 the company’s most popular and Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry beloved productions, Tues 6 - Sat 10 Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome KANADA Brand new play telling the story of two Jewish prisoners in the JOSS ARNOTT DANCE: TRIPLE BILL Fea- Second World War concentration turing two brand new dance works - camp of Auschwitz, Tues 6 - Sat 10 A Movement In 3 and RUSH - along- Feb, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham side the company's internationally award-winning solo, V, which features JERSEY BOYS The story of Frankie Valli Kodo: Evolution - Symphony Hall, Birmingham live music for the very first time, Wed & The Four Seasons, Tues 6 - Sat 17 7 Feb, MAC, Birmingham ham, Sat 10 Feb House, Solihull Feb, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent MACBETH The award-winning Mark WALK WITH ME (PG) Documentary. VICTORIAN VALENTINE WEEKEND See MAMMA MIA! The sensational feel- Bruce Company present a striking Starring Thich Nhát Hanh, Brother the townsfolk at Blists Hill Victorian good musical returns to the Mid- dance theatre adaptation of Shake- Pháp De. MAC, Birmingham, Sat 10 Town preparing for the romantic day lands, Tues 6 - Sat 24 Feb, speare’s famous tragedy, Thurs 8 - & Mon 12 Feb in their cottages, demonstrating Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Fri 9 Feb, The Patrick Centre, Birm- BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (PG) Com- crafts such as decoupage and card- BLACK MEN WALKING Eclipse Theatre ingham Hippodrome edy/Drama. Starring Audrey Hep- making, Sat 10 - Sun 11 Feb, Blists Company present an innovative new Read the feature on page 36 burn, George Peppard. MAC, Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire play which tells the story of three Birmingham, Sun 11 Feb STAR CARS - FEBRUARY HALF TERM middle-aged men who find them- Meet Parker or Lady Penelope and selves travelling further than any of discover some of the stories behind them expected when they set out for NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: the museum's collection of Star Cars. a walk in the Peak District, Wed 7 - Released from Fri 9 Feb, showing at Get creative with crafts and complete Sat 10 Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Coven- selected cinemas the Star Car Trail, Sat 10 - Sun 25 try FIFTY SHADES FREED (18) Feb, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, AUSTEN THE MUSICAL Rob Winslow's Warwickshire LOVELESS (15) full version of his new musical, which THOMAS & FRIENDS Meet Thomas and explores the transition of Jane Austen TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SE- all his friends at Europe's only from country parson's daughter to CRET OF KING MIDAS (U) Thomas Land, Sat 10 - Sun 25 Feb, one of the most widely read writers in THE 15:17 TO PARIS (15) Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tam- English literature, Thurs 8 Feb, Artrix, THE MERCY (12a) worth Bromsgrove SLEEPING BEAUTY GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE Travel through time as this traditional pantomime is given an unusual twist, Fri 9 - Sat 10 Feb, The Core, Solihull Events NOTHING Series of interwoven mono- PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 logues dealing with issues including Every Monday in February enjoy a customer service, crap television, cup Film delicious breakfast followed by an ex- cakes, sex, buses and stalking, Sat clusive tour of the house and attic 10 - Sat 17 Feb, Crescent Theatre, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash Birmingham THE MERCY (12a) Biography/Drama. intended his guests to view them, Starring Rachel Weisz, Colin Firth. Mon 5 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- PIRATE AND PRINCESS WEEK Featuring Electric Cinema, Birmingham, from hull a treasure hunt, meet-and-greets with Fri 9 Feb CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO CBeebies Land characters, an essen- THE FINAL YEAR (tbc) Documentary. BACKS Fri 9 Feb, Birmingham Back to tial pirate skills school and a disco Kids Shows Starring John Kerry, Barack Obama. Backs with fancy dress parade, Sat 10 - Sun MAC, Birmingham, Fri 9 - Tues 13 100 COCKPITS AND CABS Rare chance 25 Feb, Alton Towers, Staffordshire TELETUBBIES LIVE The iconic, Teletub- Feb to get a closer look inside 100 cock- bies star in their first ever theatre FAMILY MAGIC Featuring live shows DOWNSIZING (15) Comedy/Sci-Fi. Star- pits and vehicles from the collection, show, Wed 7 - Thurs 8 Feb, New from Cadbury World’s resident magi- ring Matt Damon, Kirsten Wiig. MAC, Fri 9 Feb, RAF Cosford, Shifnal Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham cians, ventriloquists and more... Sat Birmingham, Fri 9 - Thurs 15 Feb RAG RUG VALENTINES HEART Have a go 10 - Sun 25 Feb, Cadbury World, ROBBIE'S SUPERSONIC ROCKET - THE THE POST (12a) Biography/Drama. at crafting a traditional handmade Bourneville, Birmingham MUSICAL! Timeless musical based on Starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks. decoration with a romantic twist, Sat Hazel & Andy Hiles’ newly published DIGITAL ENGINEERING FOR KIDS & FAMI- The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- 10 Feb, Birmingham Back to Backs picture storybook. Suitable for chil- LIES Learn more about coding with ham, Fri 9 - Thurs 15 Feb dren aged between one and 11, Sat NORDIC WALKING COURSE Nordic walk- your kids at these brand new work- 10 Feb, Crescent Theatre, B’ham MEAN GIRLS (18) Comedy. Starring ing is a complete body workout that shops, Sun 11 Feb, Enginuity Mu- Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett. can be enjoyed by anyone of any fit- seum, Ironbridge, Shropshire MIRROR MIRROR Red Earth Theatre The Mockingbird Cinema, Birming- ness level, Sat 10 Feb, Packwood fuse puppetry, storytelling and sign whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Birmingham 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:38 Page 1

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:39 Page 2

thelist Monday 12 - Sunday 18 February Hare & Hounds, Birm- THE BLINDERS Fri 16 vatore Sciarrino & Michael Zev Gor- Gigs ingham Feb, The Sunflower Classical don, Fri 16 Feb, The Barber Institute, GOSPEL CENTRAL Wed Lounge, Birmingham Birmingham BRIDGES Mon 12 Feb, 14 Feb, The Jam LABOUR OF LOVE - UB40 Music WARWICKSHIRE YOUTH WAITS & WAR- The Sunflower House, Birmingham TRIBUTE Sat 17 Feb, WICKSHIRE COUNTY VIOL CONSORT Lounge, Birmingham TANNAHILL WEAVERS The River Rooms, ‘GUTTED!’ Sat 17 Feb, Royal Birming- Stourbridge GAMELAN ENSEMBLE Dr Andy Chan- ham Conservatoire DESPISED ICON Mon 12 Wed 14 Feb, The Red ning directs a lunchtime concert fea- Feb, Mama Roux's, Lion Folk Club, B’ham THE REAL COOL Sat 17 turing traditional music from MUSICAL & AMICABLE SOCIETY: BACH & Birmingham INDOOR PETS Thurs 15 Feb, The Sunflower Indonesia, Mon 12 Feb, The Dome, VIVALDI CONCERTOS Featuring Ro a Lounge, Birmingham Bene, Robin Bigwood, Steven ź AN EVENING WITH SAM Feb, The Sunflower The Bramall, University of B’ham Devine & Martin Perks (harpsi- BAKER Mon 12 Feb, Lounge, Birmingham MAGIC VOICES IN CON- CZECH PHILHARMONIC - DVORÁK’S NEW chords), Sat 17 Feb, Concert Hall, Kitchen Garden Cafe, CERT Sat 17 Feb, The HOPE IN HIGH WATER WORLD SYMPHONY Featuring the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Birmingham Thurs 15 Feb, Kitchen Core Theatre, Solihull Czech Philharmonic, Tomáš Netopil ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE MAX & HARVEY Mon 12 Garden Cafe, B’ham TROPICAL SOUNDCLASH (conductor) & Alisa Weilerstein EARLY MUSIC DEPARTMENT CONCERT Feb, O2 Academy, Sat 17 Feb, Hare & (cello). Programme includes works MICA PARIS SINGS ELLA Sun 18 Feb, Recital Hall, Royal Birm- Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham by Mozart & Dvo ák, Wed 14 Feb, FITZGERALD LIVE! ingham Conservatoire Symphony Hall, Birminghamř NICK HAKIM Mon 12 Thurs 15 Feb, The HRH METAL: WEEKEND WALTER BERGMANN THIRTIETH AN- Feb, Hare & Hounds, Jam House, B’ham TICKET Sat 17 Feb, O2 RODERICK WILLIAMS AND ENGLISH NIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONCERT Birmingham COL3TRANE Thurs 15 Academy, Birmingham SONG Featuring Orchestra Of The Swan & Patrycja Pieczara (conduc- Sun 18 Feb, Royal Birmingham Con- ALIEN ANT FARM Mon Feb, Hare & Hounds, $UICIDEBOY$ Sat 17 tor). Programme includes works by servatoire 12 Feb, O2 Institute, Birmingham Feb, O2 Institute, Vaughan Williams, Finzi & Ireland, Birmingham Birmingham DERMOT KENNEDY Wed 14 Feb, Birmingham Town Hall CARL SINCLAIR BAND Thurs 15 Feb, O2 Insti- THE ATARIS Sat 17 Feb, CBSO: GRIEG’S PIANO CONCERTO Fea- Tues 13 Feb, The Jam tute, Birmingham The Asylum, B’ham turing the City Of Birmingham Sym- House, Birmingham Comedy DON BROCO Thurs 15 THE COUNTERFEIT phony Orchestra, Michael Seal IRON & WINE Tues 13 Feb, O2 Academy, STONES Sat 17 Feb, (conductor) & Freddy Kempf (piano). MANDY MUDEN, MAUREEN YOUNGER Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Lichfield Garrick Programme includes works by Bax, Wed 14 Feb, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham WILLE AND THE BANDITS TRU GROOVE Sat 17 Grieg & Elgar, Thurs 15 Feb, Sym- Birmingham LUTHER Tues 13 Feb, Thurs 15 Feb, The Feb, The Jam House, phony Hall, Birmingham TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, ANDY ASKINS & The Robin, Bilston Robin, Bilston Birmingham THE GONZAGA BAND: VENICE 1629 Fea- FREDDY QUINNE Thurs 15 Feb, The THE SCRIPT Thurs 15 THE WHITNEY HOUSTON turing Faye Newton (soprano), LINDSAY LOU & THE Bramall, Birmingham FLATBELLYS Tues 13 Feb, Genting Arena, LIVE EXPERIENCE Sat 17 Jamie Savan & Helen Robert (cor- Feb, Kitchen Garden Birmingham - Sun 18 Feb, Artrix, nett), Oliver Webber & Theresa Cau- LOU CONRAN Thurs 15 Feb, MAC, Birmingham Cafe, Birmingham NATHAN GRISDALE & Bromsgrove dle (violins) & Steven Devine (organ & harpsichord), Thurs 15 Feb, MADI SASKIA Tues 13 FRIENDS Fri 16 Feb, KIKI DEE & CARMELO ADAM HESS & GLENN MOORE Fri 16 Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Feb, Hare & Hounds, Pizza Express Live, LUGGERI 'AN ACOUSTIC Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham servatoire Birmingham Birmingham JOURNEY' Sat 17 Feb, STEVE WILLIAMS, TOM LUCY, JOHN Pizza Express Live, BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL WILLY MASON Tues 13 CHANGING MAN VS. THE FOTHERGILL & KAE KURD Fri 16 Feb, Birmingham RECORDER & EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL Feb, Hare & Hounds, POLICE FORCE Fri 16 The Glee Club, Birmingham Thurs 15 - Sun 18 Feb, Royal Birm- Birmingham Feb, The River Rooms, THE BAD FLOWERS Sat TOM LUCY, STEVE WILLIAMS, JOHN Stourbridge 17 Feb, The Asylum, ingham Conservatoire HIGHER POWER Tues 13 FOTHERGILL & KAE KURD Sat 17 Feb, Birmingham ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: Feb, The Asylum, JEN CLOHER Fri 16 Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham SYMPHONIC ROCK Fri 16 Feb, Sym- Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birm- THE ORIELLES Sun 18 ANDREW O'NEILL Sun 18 Feb, MAC, ingham Feb, Hare & Hounds, phony Hall, Birmingham BLACK MOTH Tues 13 Birmingham Birmingham DAN LAURIN (RECORDER) & ANNA PAR- Feb, Mama Roux's, KING 810 Fri 16 Feb, ADISO (HARPSICHORD) Fri 16 Feb, Birmingham The Asylum, B’ham THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION Sun 18 Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- REBECCA FERGUSON TRU GROOVE Fri 16 Feb, Lichfield Guildhall servatoire Tues 13 Feb, Birming- Feb, The Jam House, LONDON HANDEL PLAYERS: BAROQUE ham Town Hall Birmingham DISC SELECTA Sun 18 Theatre Feb, Kitchen Garden REBELLION Featuring Mary Collins & BOWLING FOR SOUP CASH (PAYIN' RESPECT Cafe, Birmingham Steven Player (baroque dancers), Fri METAMORPHOSIS Splendid Produc- Tues 13 Feb, O2 TO THE MAN IN BLACK) 16 Feb, Recital Hall, Birmingham tions present Franz Kafka's chilling Academy, Birmingham Fri 16 Feb, O2 THE BLACKHEART OR- Conservatoire Academy, Birmingham CHESTRA Sun 18 Feb, story of dislocation, mutation and 47SOUL Wed 14 Feb, Kitchen Garden Cafe, NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE Featuring isolation, Mon 12 Feb, MAC, B’ham Birmingham Daniele Rosina (director) & Lydia Haynes (voice), Sat 17 Feb, The Bar- TRIP Sun 18 Feb, Katie ber Institute, Birmingham Fitzgerald's, Stour- bridge CBSO: CARMINA BURANA Featuring Michael Seal (conductor), Freddy ANDREW O'NEILL'S HIS- Kempf (piano), Fflur Wyn (soprano), TORY OF HEAVY METAL Oliver Johnston (tenor), Leigh Mel- Sun 18 Feb, MAC, rose (baritone), the CBSO Chorus & Birmingham CBSO Children's Chorus. Pro- PAUL CARRACK Sun 18 gramme includes works by Bax, SON OF A PREACHER MAN Debra Feb, Symphony Hall, Grieg & Orff, Sat 17 Feb, Symphony Stephenson and Alice Barlow star in Birmingham Hall, Birmingham Craig Revel Horwood’s touching PUBLIC ACCESS T.V Sun CAROLIN WIDMANN VIOLIN CONCERT new musical featuring the greatest 18 Feb, Hare & Programme includes works by Pas- hits of Dusty Springfield, Tues 13 - Hounds, Birmingham cal Dusapin, Hans Abrahamsen, Sal- Sat 17 Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Rebecca Ferguson - Birmingham Town Hall Coventry whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Birmingham 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:39 Page 3

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 12 - 18 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:39 Page 4

thelist Monday 12 - Sunday 18 February A PACIFIST’S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON #JESUIS A company of Turkish CANCER Bryony Kimmings’ ‘funny and dancers explore the media’s presen- moving’ show, which looks behind tation of their country, Thurs 15 - Fri the poster campaigns and pink rib- 16 Feb, The Patrick Centre, Birming- bons and into the reality of cancer, ham Hippodrome Wed 14 - Sat 17 Feb, Belgrade The- VIRAGO Sonia Sabri Company present atre, Coventry a dance-digital solo production exploring light vs dark and real vs fairytale versions of female existence, Thurs 15 Feb, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham

Film

THE LAST FIVE YEARS An emotionally INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: powered and intimate musical about the five-year relationship of two New BATTLE OF THE SEXES (12a) Yorkers, Cathy and Jamie, who fall in Biogra- phy/Comedy. Starring Emma Stone, and out of love over the course of five Ghost Tours - Aston Hall, Birmingham years, Wed 14 - Sun 18 Feb, Old Steve Carell. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham 12 & Thurs 15 Feb NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: can be enjoyed by anyone of any fit- ness level, Sat 17 Feb, Packwood IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (PG) Drama/Ro- Released from Tues 13 Feb, showing SHREK THE MUSICAL Join Shrek and House, Solihull Donkey as they embark on a quest to mance. Starring Tony Chiu-Wai at selected cinemas Leung, Maggie Cheung. Foreign lan- STUNT FEST Featuring some of the rescue Princess Fiona from a fire- BLACK PANTHER (tbc) breathing, love-sick dragon, Wed 14 - guage, subtitled. MAC, Birmingham, UK’s top stunt drivers and riders, Sat THE SHAPE OF WATER (15) Sun 25 Feb, New Alexandra Theatre, Tues 13 Feb 17 Feb, Santa Pod Raceway, Birmingham THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE (18) FATHER FIGURES (15) Northampton ELEPHANT Highly anticipated return of Drama. Starring Beryl Reid, Susan- LADY BIRD (15) CREATE ANOTHER WORLD AT BLISTS Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's work, which nah York. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 13 HILL Try your hand at Intaglio print- centres on family relationships and Feb ing, Sat 17 - Sun 25 Feb, Blists Hill, lies... Thurs 15 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, The JUPITER'S MOON (15) Drama/Sci-Fi. Ironbridge, Shropshire REP, Birmingham Starring Merab Ninidze, Zsombor ENCHANTING FAIRY TRAIL Discover FIRST STEPS, A CHILD'S SLEEPING Jéger. Foreign language, subtitled. Events beautiful, enchanted, miniature BEAUTY Hour-long interactive show for MAC, Birmingham, Tues 13 & Thurs houses created from Bodenham’s 15 Feb children aged three-plus, performed FAMILY MAGIC Featuring live shows own wood, Sat 17 Feb - Sun 25 Mar, by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Fri 16 AMÉLIE (15) Comedy/Romance. Star- from Cadbury World’s resident magi- Bodenham Arboretum, Kidderminster Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome ring Mathieu Kassovitz, Audrey cians, ventriloquists and more... Sat CREATE ANOTHER WORLD AT ENGINUITY WICKED WIZARD OF FIZZOG Black Tautou. Foreign language, subtitled. 10 - Sun 25 Feb, Cadbury World, Immerse yourself in an Augmented Country theatre favourites Fizzog pre- MAC, Birmingham, Weds 14 Feb Bourneville, Birmingham Reality world, where dinosaurs 'roam' sent their version of The Wizard Of BRIEF ENCOUNTER (PG) Drama. Star- TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Over 500 stalls around Enginuity, Sat 17 - Sun 25 Oz, Fri 16 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove ring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard. packed with all kinds of collectable Feb, Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire BRAVE NEW WORLD IV Showcase of Artrix, Bromsgrove, Weds 14 Feb toys, trains and models for sale, Sun new written works, dramatic scripts, WALK WITH ME (PG) Documentary. 11 Feb, NEC, Birmingham FEBRUARY HALF-TERM AT PACKWOOD funny plays and exciting excerpts, Fri Starring Thich Nhát Hanh, Brother PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 Build a den, play hoop-la, splash in 16 - Sat 17 Feb, Hall Green Little The- Pháp De. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 16 Every Monday in February enjoy a the puddles and have your own fam- atre, Birmingham Feb delicious breakfast followed by an ex- ily adventure, Sat 17 - Sun 25 Feb, Packwood House, Solihull THE SHAPE OF WATER (15) Drama/Fan- clusive tour of the house and attic tasy. Starring Sally Hawkins, Octavia spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash BEYOND THE PETTICOAT Marking the Spencer. Electric Cinema, Birming- intended his guests to view them, 100th anniversary of women getting ham, from Fri 16 Feb Mon 12 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- their first voting rights, with hands-on hull activities and powerful characters Dance EARLY MAN (PG) Animation/Adventure. bringing women’s history to life, Sat With the voices of Tom Hiddleston, CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO 17 - Sun 25 Feb, Black Country Living Eddie Redmayne. MAC, Birmingham, BACKS Wed 14 Feb, Birmingham BRB: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Birming- Museum, Dudley Fri 16 - Sat 24 Feb Back to Backs ham Royal Ballet version of the CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018 Free perfor- FARGO (12) Crime/Thriller. Starring THE NATIONAL FRANCHISE EXHIBITION Tchaikovsky classic, Tues 13 - Sat 24 mances, market stalls, fairground William H. Macy, Frances McDor- Showcasing a huge range of national Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome rides and Asian street food, Sun 18 mand. The Highbury Theatre, Birm- franchise opportunities for anyone Feb, Arcadian Centre, Birmingham ingham, Sat 17 Feb looking to run their own business, Fri 16 - Sat 17 Feb, NEC, Birmingham CHSI STITCHES Europe’s largest and FERDINAND (PG) Animation/Adventure. most influential dedicated trade show With the voices of Kate McKinnon, BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW The UK’s for the art, craft, needlecraft and David Tennant. Artrix, Bromsgrove, flagship shooting event, featuring hobby sector, Sun 18 - Tues 20 Feb, Sat 17 Feb leading manufacturers, distributors, retailers and shooting organisations, NEC, Birmingham LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (12) Ad- Fri 16 - Sun 18 Feb, NEC, B’ham TAMWORTH CASTLE DRAGON HUNT Can venture/Drama. Starring Elijah Wood, you help find a rather mischievous Ian McKellen. The Mockingbird Cin- GHOST TOURS Sat 17 Feb, Aston Hall, dragon who’s gotten a bit lost?, Sun ema, Birmingham, Sun 18 Feb Birmingham 18 - Sat 24 Feb, Tamworth Castle, NORDIC WALKING COURSE Nordic walk- Staffs ing is a complete body workout that

whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Birmingham 19 - 25 February Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:54 Page 1

Birmingham @WHATSONBRUM Wolverhampton @WHATSONWOLVES Shropshire @WHATSONSHROPS staffordshire @WHATSONSTAFFS Worcestershire @WHATSONWORCS warwickshire @WHATSONWARWICKS

62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 19 - 25 February Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:54 Page 2

thelist Monday 19 - Sunday 25 February Feb, Mama Roux's, THE LIONEL RICHIE Gigs Birmingham SONGBOOK Sat 24 Feb, Classical Comedy LATINMOTION PRESENTS The Core Theatre, Solihull IRIT Mon 19 Feb, The DEL CAMINO Thurs 22 Music PAUL CHOWDHRY Mon 19 Feb, Sym- Glee Club, B’ham Feb, The Jam House, ATTAN + CONJURER Sat phony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham 24 Feb, The Flapper, HELL IS FOR HEROES MIDDAY MUSIC FEAT KATARZYNA DEJA Birmingham Mon 19 Feb, O2 Insti- HUSKY LOOPS Thurs 22 Programme comprises Beethoven’s tute, Birmingham Feb, The Flapper, THE BIG BIRMINGHAM Sonata Op.10, No.3, Mon 19 Feb, Birmingham SOUL NIGHT Sat 24 FRANZ FERDINAND Tues Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Feb, The Night Owl, 20 Feb, O2 Academy, WILEY Thurs 22 Feb, servatoire Birmingham Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham UNIVERSITY OF CAMERATA Featuring SOUNDWAVES MUSIC FREE THROW + DRY- WILSON AND WAKEMAN David Rice, Peter Gortner & Au- COMPETITION - BIRM- JACKET Tues 20 Feb, Thurs 22 Feb, The gustina Kapoti, Tues 20 Feb, The INGHAM FINAL Sat 24 The Sunflower Core Theatre, Solihull Dome, The Bramall, Birmingham Feb, O2 Academy, Lounge, Birmingham HUW WATKINS AND CLARE HAMMOND KEVIN DEMPSEY AND Birmingham BRIAN FALLON & THE JOE BROUGHTON Thurs An evening of British contemporary CHEMIKILL Sat 24 Feb, HOWLING WEATHER 22 Feb, Kitchen Gar- piano music as part of the Univer- TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 19 Feb, O2 Academy, B’ham Tues 20 Feb, O2 Insti- den Cafe, Birmingham sity's CrossCurrents new music festi- The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham tute, Birmingham JESSARAE Thurs 22 MR BEN Sat 24 Feb, val. Programme includes works by DAN NIGHTINGALE, GLENN WOOL & The Jam House, Birm- acclaimed composers Alexander LAURA MISCH Tues 20 Feb, O2 Academy, COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- ingham Goehr, Robin Holloway and Michael Feb, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SON Thurs 22 Feb, The Glee Club, Berkeley, Wed 21 Feb, The Barber Birmingham CATHOLIC ACTION Thurs WINTER CARNIVAL TOUR Birmingham FT. DJ NATE Sat 24 Feb, Institute, Birmingham DELANO MILLS NOT 22 Feb, The Sunflower PAUL CHOWDHRY Fri 23 Feb, Dudley O2 Institute, B’ham CBSO: ROMEO AND JULIET Featuring STRICTLY JAZZ QUARTET Lounge, Birmingham Town Hall Leo McFall (conductor) & Paul Lewis Tues 20 Feb, The Jam IMAGINE DRAGONS Sat DESERT MOUNTAIN (piano). Programme includes works BARBARA NICE: RAFFLE! Fri 23 Feb, House, Birmingham TRIBES Fri 23 Feb, The 24 Feb, Genting The REP, Birmingham Arena, Birmingham by Brahms & Prokofiev, Thurs 22 FARA Tues 20 Feb, Sunflower Lounge, Feb, Symphony Hall, Birmingham TEZ IIYAS, JOE BOR & CHRIS PURCHASE Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham RONI SIZE - NEW FORMS LA VIE PARISIENNE Royal Birmingham Fri 23 Feb, Wolverhampton Grand Birmingham KITTY MACFARLANE Fri LIVE Sat 24 Feb, O2 In- Theatre stitute, Birmingham Conservatoire Vocal Department THE BIG Q FISH Wed 21 23 Feb, Artrix, Broms- presents a semi-staged version of LLOYD GRIFFITH Fri 23 Feb, The Glee Feb, The Jam House, grove RAY PRINCE GOSPEL Offenbach’s champagne cork oper- Club, Birmingham Birmingham ICONS OF THE 80S Fri BAND AND SURGE OR- atta. Michael Seal conducts, Thurs CHESTRA Sat 24 Feb, GLENN WOOL, DAN NIGHTINGALE, ALIS- THE TEMPERANCE 23 Feb, Symphony 22 Feb, Concert Hall, Royal Birming- Birmingham TAIR BARRIE & ELEANOR TIERNAN Fri MOVEMENT Hall, Birmingham ham Conservatoire 23 Feb, The Glee Club, Birmingham WITH NAKED SIX Wed THE OFFICIAL RE- SYNTHETIC RECIPE Fri LIGETI QUARTET Featuring Mandhira PHIL WANG Sat 24 Feb, Artrix, Broms- 21 Feb, O2 Institute, CEIVERS Sat 24 Feb, 23 Feb, The Slade De Saram & Patrick Dawkins (vio- grove Birmingham Rooms, Wolverhamp- Artrix, Bromsgrove lins), Richard Jones (viola) & Val PAUL PIRIE, SEAN MEO, NIGE & KANE BROOKE BENTHAM + ton PUMA BLUE Sat 24 Welbanks (cello). Programme in- BROWN Sat 24 Feb, The Comedy JESSIE REID + OLIVER Feb, The Sunflower cludes works by John Zorn & Schnit- THE SKA45'S Fri 23 Feb, Loft, Birmingham RUDGE Wed 21 Feb, The River Rooms, Lounge, Birmingham tke, Fri 23 Feb, The Barber Institute, The Sunflower Stourbridge PERMAGEDDON Sat 24 Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham ITCH (THE KING BLUES Feb, The River Rooms, SEAL: THE STANDARDS UNPLUGGED) Fri 23 Stourbridge TOUR Wed 21 Feb, Feb, The Asylum, SPEAKING IN SHADOWS Theatre Symphony Hall, Birm- Birmingham Sat 24 Feb, The Asy- ingham lum, Birmingham THE GODFATHERS Fri 23 HANDSWORTH GANG SHOW 2018 Gang THE TRUCK-STOP TRIX- Feb, Hare & Hounds, JAMIE LENMAN Sun 25 Show by Tame Valley Scout District IES Wed 21 Feb, The Birmingham Feb, O2 Institute, and Perry Barr Guide Division, Tues Red Lion Folk Club, MR BEN Fri 23 Feb, The Birmingham 20 - Sat 24 Feb, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Jam House, B’ham FAIRPORT CONVENTION Birmingham THE WANDERING BUTCHER BABIES Fri 23 WINTER TOUR 2018 Sun THE WIZARD OF OZ Oddsocks Produc- HEARTS Wed 21 Feb, Feb, The Asylum, 25 Feb, Artrix, Broms- tions bring another classic adventure Hare & Hounds, Birm- Birmingham grove to life, complete with a hearty dollop ingham THE BLOCKHEADS Fri 23 INDIA ELECTRIC COM- of their trademark comedy, Wed 21 - DUKE SPECIAL Wed 21 Feb, The Robin, Bil- PANY Sun 25 Feb, Thurs 22 Feb, MAC, Birmingham Feb, The Glee Club, ston Kitchen Garden Cafe, MENTAL Moving and personal story Birmingham Birmingham about one son's relationship with his YOLANDA BROWN Fri THE MIDLAND CHAMBER PLAYERS LIVE NEON WALTZ Wed 21 mother and her mental health, Wed 23 Feb Pizza Express THE X FACTOR LIVE AT LUNCHTIME Programme includes Feb, Hare & Hounds, 21 - Fri 23 Feb, Old Joint Stock The- Live, Birmingham TOUR 2018 Sun 25 Feb, works by Mendelssohn & Mozart, Fri Birmingham Genting Arena, B’ham atre, Birmingham DAVE SHARP Fri 23 Feb, 23 Feb, The Midlands Institute, Birm- DAPPY Wed 21 Feb, Katie Fitzgerald's, THE STRAIGHT ACES ingham THE WINSLOW BOY Tessa Peake- O2 Academy, B’ham Jones and Aden Gillett star in a Stourbridge Sun 25 Feb, Katie CATHEDRAL GROUPS CHOIRS FESTIVAL major revival of Terence Rattigan's AUSTINN Wed 21 Feb, Fitzgerald's, Stour- PERFORMANCE Sat 24 Feb, Sym- THE MAN UPSTAIRS Sat compelling tale of honesty and hon- O2 Academy, B’ham bridge phony Hall, Birmingham 24 Feb, Kitchen Gar- our, Wed 21 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, The PAUL YOUNG Wed 21 DAN REED & DANNY den Cafe, Birmingham CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA: MAHLER’S REP, Birmingham Feb, Mama Roux's, VAUGHN, SNAKE OIL & SIXTH Featuring Jac van Steen (con- GARETH GATES, Sat 24 HAMLET Shakespeare's tragedy, told Birmingham HARMONY TOUR, Sun ductor), Sun 25 Feb, Symphony Feb, Pizza Express 25 Feb, The Robin, Bil- through the eyes of those who came HIGH TYDE Thurs 22 Hall, Birmingham Live, Birmingham ston after him, Thurs 22 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Birmingham 19 - 25 February Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:54 Page 3

thelist The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham LEAPING FROG Natural history adven- CROONERS Big band swing and ture for children following the journey crooner classics from the likes of of a jaunty wood frog who unsuspect- Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy ingly leaps from Little Pond into Big Davis Jr, Matt Monro, Tony Bennett Pond, Thurs 22 Feb, The Old Rep and Nat King Cole, Sat 24 Feb, Lich- Theatre, Birmingham field Garrick MONSTERSAURUS! Energetic show full of ‘thrills, spills, magic and mayhem’, with original music and plenty of audience participation, Thurs 22 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Kids Show CARTOON CIRCUS LIVE Children’s show featuring some of Britain’s funniest DEAR ZOO Puppetry and audience par- clowns, slapstick comedy, magic, illu- ticipation are the order of the day in sions, puppets, prizes and surprises, this new staging for children, based Fri 23 Feb, Cornbow Hall, Halesowen on the book of the same name, Mon THE JUNGLE BOOK Immersion Theatre 19 - Tues 20 Feb, The Core, Solihull brings its trademark style and energy HORRIBLE HISTORIES - MORE BEST OF to what they're describing as their Morgan And West’s - More Magic For Kids - MAC, Birmingham BARMY BRITAIN History with the nasty 'wildest show yet’. There's even a bits left in, Wed 21 Feb, Lichfield Gar- chance to meet the characters after- Vaudeville-esque show using song, rick wards, Fri 23 Feb, The Old Rep The- storytelling and a multitude of 'inter- Dance LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD Little Angel atre, Birmingham galactic time detective expressions', Theatre put a new spin on the much- LITTLE MOCHI MAN Join Little Mochi Sat 24 - Sun 25 Feb, Old Joint Stock U. DANCE WM 2018 Show combining loved fairytale, Wed 21 - Sun 25 Feb, Man as he embarks on an adventure Theatre, Birmingham dance genres and themes to cele- MAC, Birmingham across the snowy mountains of MORGAN & WEST'S - MORE MAGIC FOR brate some of the West Midlands’ Hokkaido, Sat 24 Feb, The Patrick MILKSHAKE LIVE! All-singing, all-danc- KIDS Morgan & West mix brain-bust- best young performers, Sun 25 Feb, Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome ing celebration of the world’s ing illusion with old-fashioned tom- The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hip- favourite fairytales, Thurs 22 Feb. THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN OF THE foolery, Sun 25 Feb, MAC, B‘ham podrome Lichfield Garrick LOST WAVES - HIDDEN GEMS

64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 19 - 25 February Davina.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 12:54 Page 4

Monday 19 - Sunday 25 February

arts and crafts, Mon 19 Feb, Birming- Film ham Botanical Gardens CREATE ANOTHER WORLD AT JACKFIELD Have a go at tubelining a ceramic tile INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: with your own design, Mon 19 - Fri 23 FERDINAND (PG) Animation/Adventure. Feb, Jackfield Tile Museum, Iron- With the voices of Kate McKinnon, bridge, Shropshire David Tennant. Artrix, Bromsgrove, DIY DRIVE-IN CINEMA Flatpack Ensem- Mon 19 & Wed 21 Feb ble present a family-friendly event WALK WITH ME (PG) Documentary. aimed at toddlers and their carers. Starring Thich Nhát Hanh, Brother Help build cars using scrap and craft Pháp De. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 20 materials before settling down and Feb watching an array of animations from MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (12a) Flatpack's Colour Box Touring Shots Crime/Drama. Starring Kenneth Programme, Tues 20 Feb, MAC, Branagh, Penélope Cruz. Artrix, Birmingham Bromsgrove, Wed 21 Feb CREATE THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG) Biogra- SKYLINE Use a variety of craft materi- phy/Drama. Starring Rebecca Fergu- als to create and decorate your own son, Hugh Jackman. Artrix, 17th century London buildings. Add Bromsgrove, Wed 21, Fri 23 & Mon some flames and some final touches, 26 Feb then add them to the large collage of the London skyline that’s displayed THE WARRIORS (15) Action/Thriller. on the windows of the visitor centre, Starring Michael Beck, James Remar. Tues 20 Feb, Blakesley Hall, B’ham Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, from Fri 23 Feb LITTLE SKIPPERS - WONDERFUL WATER School holiday activities and boat LADY BIRD (15) Comedy/Drama. Star- trip, Tues 20 - Fri 23 Feb, Dudley ring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf. Canal and Tunnel Trust Electric Cinema, Birmingham, from Fri 23 Feb CARAVAN, CAMPING AND MOTORHOME SHOW 2018 The biggest indoor dis- LOVELESS (PG) Drama. Starring play of motorhomes, campervans, Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin. For- caravans, caravan holiday homes & eign language, subtitled. MAC, Birm- lodges, trailer tents & tents in the UK, ingham, Fri 23 - Weds 28 Feb Tues 20 - Sun 25 Feb, NEC, B’ham FUNNY GIRL (U) Biography/Comedy. Little Red Riding Hood FROM PUDDING LANE TO PIE CORNER MAC, Birmingham, Wed 21 - Sun 25 February Starring Barbra Streisand, Omar Lighthearted family-friendly short Sharif. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 24 Feb drama. Samuel Pepys visits Little Angel Theatre have garnered a fantastic reputation for pre- Blakesley Hall and recounts his expe- senting clever, unique and insightful stories - and with this new NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: rience of London ablaze, Wed 21 adaptation of the ever-popular fairytale, they’re very much at it Feb, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Released from Tues 20 Feb, showing again. The highly rated company here turn on its head the terrific at selected cinemas CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE RAF IN tale of the little girl and the big bad wolf by taking a look at the AIRFIX Free talk focusing on recent I, TONYA (15) and yet-to-be-announced Airfix tool- narrative from the point of view of the wolf - a wolf, by the way, DARK RIVER (tbc) ing, Wed 21 Feb, RAF Cosford, Shif- who in this particular version of the story is neither big nor bad, FINDING YOUR FEET (12a) nal and certainly has no interest in gobbling up little girls and their el- CREATE THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON derly grandmothers... The show is suitable for children aged seven- SKYLINE Use a variety of craft materi- plus. als to create and decorate your own 17th century London buildings. Add Events some flames and some final touches, crawlies and more!, Fri 23 Feb, ing is a complete body workout that then add them to the large collage of Blakesley Hall, Birmingham can be enjoyed by anyone of any fit- the London skyline that’s displayed ness level, Sat 24 Feb, Packwood CRAFTY'S CREEPY CASTLE Join the sin- THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW Try, buy, on the windows of the visitor centre, House, Solihull galong adventure to find Crafty’s hid- book and hire everything you need Thurs 22 Feb, Blakesley Hall, B’ham den treasure, Mon 19 Feb, The Old for your special day at the UK’s CARS THROUGH THE LENS Get to know Rep Theatre, Birmingham FAMILY FUN DAY Family-friendly biggest & best wedding event. With your camera - and build your confi- guided tour of the Smith & Pepper hundreds of wedding specialists, dence to move away from 'auto' set- PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 jewellery factory, followed by a craft from bridal boutiques and florists to tings - while taking pictures of the Every Monday in February enjoy a activity in the Education Space, Thurs jewellers and photographers, this is museum’s cars, Sat 24 Feb, British delicious breakfast followed by an ex- 22 Feb, Museum of the Jewellery the ultimate wedding shopping expe- Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwick- clusive tour of the house and attic Quarter, Birmingham rience, Fri 23 - Sun 25 Feb, NEC, shire spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash Birmingham intended his guests to view them, 999 EMERGENCY DAY Does your little LIGHTS, CAMERA, CARS Photography Mon 19 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- one love playing pretend police? Are THE DESTINATION WEDDING & HONEY- workshop to help you develop light- hull they a fan of Fireman Sam? Emer- MOON SHOW The essential event to ing skills, in order to achieve the per- gency vehicles will be on display out- plan your perfect wedding and hon- fect photo of your car, Sat 24 Feb, MINI MOTORISTS Under-fives activity side the museum, with hands-on eymoon abroad, Fri 23 - Sun 25 Feb, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, War- morning - discover through play the activities taking place all day, Thurs NEC, Birmingham wickshire world's largest collection of historic 22 Feb, Soho House, Birmingham British cars, Mon 19 Feb, British CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO WHODUNNIT? A FAMILY-FRIENDLY MUR- Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwick- ANIMAL MANIA Mobile zoo featuring BACKS Sat 24 Feb, Birmingham Back DER MYSTERY TRAIL Sat 24 - Sun 25 shire lizards, snakes, chinchillas, hedge- to Backs Feb, Aston Hall, Birmingham hogs, giant bunnies, tortoises, creepy FEBRUARY HALF TERM FUN Including NORDIC WALKING COURSE Nordic walk- whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Birmingham 26 - 28 February.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2018 13:36 Page 1

thelist Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 February Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Comedy gothic thriller, Tues 27 Feb - Sat 3 Mar, Malvern Theatres LEFTY SCUM Tues 27 Feb, MAC, DAVID BADDIEL - MY FAMILY: NOT THE Birmingham SITCOM Show about memory, age- ing, infidelity, dysfunctional relatives, NOREEN KHAN (PICTURED BELOW), JUDI moral policing on social media, golf LOVE, SINDHU VEE & SUKH KAUR OJLA and gay cats... Wed 28 Feb, New Wed 28 Feb, The Glee Club, B’ham Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham AN ACT OF KINDNESS Award-winning play exploring gender pressure and its impact on our identity Wed 28 Feb - Thurs 1 Mar, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

The Front Bottoms - O2 Institute, Birmingham SIONS Tues 27 Feb, House, Birmingham Dance Gigs The Jam House, Birm- K2 Wed 28 Feb, O2 In- ingham stitute, Birmingham DANCE TO THE MUSIC Starring Strictly THE LYNNES Mon 26 FIZZY BLOOD Tues 27 JD MCPHERSON Wed 28 stars Kristina Rihanoff & Oskana Feb, Kitchen Garden Feb, The Sunflower Feb, Hare & Hounds, Platero, Tues 27 Feb, Dudley Town Cafe, Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham Birmingham Hall RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY PLAYBOI CARTI Mon 26 LITTLE CAESER Tues 27 HAK BAKER Wed 28 Feb, O2 Academy, Feb, The Robin, Bil- Feb, Hare & Hounds, Programme includes a new work set Birmingham ston Birmingham to Schumann’s Carnavel and a new piece by Martin Lawrance. Alston MIKE DAWES JUSTIN WIGGAN Tues Mon 26 PETE KENT Wed 28 favourite Gypsy Mixture also fea- 27 Feb, MAC, B’ham Feb, The Glee Club, Feb, The Robin, Bil- tures, Tues 27 - Wed 28 Feb, Birmingham MORRISSEY Tues 27 ston Theatre Malvern Theatres THE FRONT BOTTOMS Feb, Genting Arena, THE ROVING CROWS Mon 26 Feb, O2 Insti- Birmingham Wed 28 Feb, Kitchen HAIRSPRAY Brenda Edwards stars as tute, Birmingham THE ENNIS SISTERS & Garden Cafe, B’ham Motormouth Maybelle in the smash- NORTH SEA GAS Tues DAVE GUNNING Wed 28 THE JIGANTICS Wed 28 hit musical comedy, Mon 26 Feb - 26 Feb, Kitchen Gar- Feb, MAC, B’ham Feb, The Red Lion Sat 3 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Events den Cafe, Birmingham HOT CHOCOLATE Wed Folk Club, Birmingham Theatre MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT Eric THE ACOUSTIC SES- 28 Feb, The Jam PACKWOOD BREAKFAST TOURS 2018 Idle’s riotous comedy full of misfit Every Monday in February enjoy a knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns delicious breakfast followed by an and ferocious Frenchmen, Tues 27 exclusive tour of the house and attic Feb - Sat 3 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, spaces, displayed just as Baron Ash Coventry intended his guests to view them, DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE Phil Daniels Mon 26 Feb, Packwood House, Soli- takes the lead in a new version of hull

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Malvern Theatre, Tues 27 February - Sat 3 March; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 1 - Sat 5 May Productions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novella are all the rage at the moment, and there’s every reason to suppose this Tamás Pálfalvi - Birmingham Town Hall Touring Consortium Theatre Company/Rose Theatre Kingston collaboration will be one of the best of them. Adapted by David ham Town Hall Tues 27 Feb, Elgar Edgar, whose imaginative version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Classical HARMONIA BAND Fea- Concert Hall, The Bra- turing Daniele Rosina mall, University of proved a major hit for the RSC (conductor). Pro- Birmingham over Christmas, the production Music gramme comprises CBSO: TCHAIKOVSKY’S stars former EastEnder and Mozart’s Serenade FIRST PIANO CONCERTO one-time Quadrophenia star TAMÁS PÁLFALVI IN No.10 in B-flat, K361, Featuring Joana Mall- Phil Daniels. The action, for RECITAL Also featuring Mon 26 Feb, The witz (conductor) & Marcell Szabò (piano). Dome, The Bramall, Gabriela Montero anybody who doesn’t know, Programme includes University of Birming- (piano). Programme centres around Dr Henry Jekyll, works by Eino Tam- ham includes works by a man whose willingness to berg, Dmitri GARNIER ORGAN Kodály, Tchaikovsky & dabble in the dark recesses of Shostakovich, George Mendelssohn, Wed 28 Enescu, Péter Eötvös RECITA L 2 Featuring tal- the scientific world lead him ented organ scholars Feb, Symphony Hall, & Pablo de Sarasate, Birmingham down a murderous path of utter Mon 26 Feb, Birming- from the Royal Birm- self-destruction. ingham Conservatoire, 66 whatsonlive.co.uk Belgrade (FP) - February.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2018 10:59 Page 1 Birminghan Conservatoire F/P February.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2018 10:54 Page 1