Wolverhampton Cover Online.qxp_Wolverhampton Cover 30/01/2017 16:30 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 374 FEBRUARY 2017 SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR Wolverhampton ON TOUR ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On wolverhamptonwhatson.co.uk inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide (IFC) Staffordshire.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2017 16:29 Page 1 Friday 10th February at 7.30pm Saturday 11th February at 7.30pm Thursday 16th February at 1.30pm and 7.30pm ACT Presents SHE Outer Circle Arts IN THE MOTHERHOOD ACT Presents DANCING ABOUT ARCHITECTURE Tickets: £10 / £8 Conc. Tickets: £10 / £8 Conc. Tickets: £10 / £8 Conc. / Matinee £5 Contents February Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2017 15:58 Page 2 February 2017 Contents Sister Act - Alexandra Burke stars in truly divine comedy at Wolverhampton Grand page 24 Paul Carrack Justin Moorhouse New Art West Mids the list talks fame, collaborations and adult-themed entertainment at showcasing emerging artists Your 16-page keeping it in the family Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn from across the region week-by-week listings guide Interview page 18 page 21 page 40 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 20. Comedy 22. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 45. Events @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, David Vincent, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD February shropshire.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2017 15:59 Page 1 First Word Darwin’s legacy explored in Magnum Photos’ new Shrewsbury exhibition Shrewsbury’s most famous son, the 19th century natu- ralist and geologist Charles Darwin, is the inspiration behind a special exhibition being presented on the streets of the Shropshire town this month. Evolution Explored has been curated by world-famous photography agency Magnum Photos, an international co-operative owned by its photographer members. Magnum has approximately one million photographs in both print and transparency in a physical library, with more than 500,000 images available online. Commenting on Evolution Explored, the agency’s Emily Graham said: “We’re delighted to be collaborat- ing on this outdoor exhibition, looking at Magnum's archive through the prism of evolution. As Magnum moves into its 70th year, the exhibition will display powerful historic and contemporary photographs exploring Darwin's legacy in modern society.” The new exhibition is launched on 9 February to coin- cide with Darwin Day, and will be available to view at St Mary’s Church and in The Square until 23 April. Photo credit: LON2153 Tiananmen Square, Beijing, CHINA. 1989.© Stuart Franklin/Magnum Photos The Fizzogs go Stateside Tamworth gets jamming and meet-and-greet sessions. Standard tickets start at £39.95 (+£2.56 fee) to help youngsters and include the opportunity to watch A free project Mayweather's interview live on stage, Vegas- designed to help themed entertainment and the use of on-site young musicians bars. develop their song- writing, musician- ship, performance Valentine’s Day magic and promoting skills comes to The Potteries has been launched in Britain’s Got Talent star Jamie Raven is set to Tamworth. make Valentine’s Day a ‘magic’ experience Tamworth Jam is aimed at 12 to 19-year-olds for audiences at Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent who love to ‘jam’ but aren’t sure how to Theatre on Tuesday 14 February. make the leap from their bedrooms into the The popular magician, whose online videos limelight. have been viewed over 100 million times, vis- The six-month initiative comprises a series of its the Potteries as part of a UK tour that’s weekly workshops presented by a team of Black Country comedy act The Fizzogs are been extended ‘by popular demand’. highly experienced and professional men- hoping to take America by storm this sum- To book tickets, visit atgtickets.com tors. Participants will then be able to put mer. their new skills to the test by performing at The popular trio of Sue Hawkins, Deb locations throughout Tamworth town centre Nicholls and Jacky Fellows will head to New and in a variety of unusual spaces. York with their Dancing Grannies routine, which has been seen by more than 300 mil- lion people on social media. Speaking to the Stourbridge News, Deb said: Boxing legend Floyd “We aim to flash mob in New York this sum- Mayweather at the ICC mer, as the Americans keep asking when we’re coming over. It'll cost an arm and a leg Five-division world champion boxer Floyd to get there, so we’re looking for sponsor- Mayweather is the main attraction at a Las ship.” Vegas-themed ball at Birmingham’s ICC on The Fizzogs are currently touring their latest Saturday 4 March. show, Suck It And See, to venues across the Widely considered to be one of the greatest Midlands. For tickets and more information, boxers of all time and undefeated as a pro- visit thefizzogs.com. fessional, Mayweather will take part in Q&A 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD February shropshire.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2017 15:59 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region Timbersports Natasha J Barnes to star in are go... new version of Funny Girl An elite lumberjack sports competi- A critically acclaimed new version of hit musical tion is next month hosting a ‘taster Funny Girl is visiting the Regent Theatre in weekend’ at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University (Saturday 18 and Stoke-on-Trent next month. Sunday 19 March). Telling the story of Broadway star and comedian STIHL Timbersports is looking for Fanny Brice, the show features West End leading people who might have the neces- lady Natasha J Barnes and recording artist sary skill to take part in a British Darius Campbell. Championship event. Funny Girl was written over 50 years ago and After completing an initial assess- ment, each taster-weekend attendee debuted on Broadway in 1963. The show made a will receive expert training from the global star of Barbra Streisand and boasts the current British professional team in iconic songs People and Don’t Rain On My three rookie disciplines: Stock Saw, Parade. Single Buck and Underhand Chop. The touring production visits the Regent from The most promising participants Tuesday 28 March to Saturday 1 April. It returns will then be invited to receive fur- ther training. to the Midlands in the summer, stopping off at Anyone wishing to take part in the the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Monday taster weekend must submit an 24 to Saturday 29 July. entry form, which is available online at stihl.co.uk/newcomers. For more information, visit stihl.co.uk/timber- sports. Applications will be accepted until 5 February. Places are limited Moomins at Shrewsbury arts venue and no entries or spectators will be permitted on the day. Shrewsbury venue The Hive is hosting a must-attend event for all fans of the Moomins on Friday 10 March. The popular arts centre will host two screenings of the 2014 ani- mated feature film, Moomins On The Riviera. After each screening there will be a Q&A session with the movie’s director, Leslie Stewart, and co-director and producer Hanna Hemilä. The first screening and Q&A, at 1.30pm, is aimed at film profes- sionals and students; the second, at 4.30pm, is for families and Moomins fans. Tickets can be purchased from hiveonline.org.uk New Vic in Young Director scheme Independent art RSC invites theatre groups to The New Vic Theatre has launched a scheme which will allow eight aspir- gallery makes perform in the great outdoors ing directors to engage with the funds appeal The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is offering amateur and venue’s shows through workshops, professional theatre groups, schools and colleges the opportu- work shadowing and mentoring. Wolverhampton’s inde- The Newcastle-under-Lyme theatre pendent Asylum Art Gallery nity to put on a play in its open-air performance space this has joined forces with the country’s has launched an appeal to summer. leading training scheme for aspiring raise £6,000 towards its Located on the banks of the River Avon in Stratford, The Dell is directors - the Regional Theatre a ‘venue’ in which groups can either perform an established Young Director Scheme (RTYDS) - to costs.