Wolverhampton & Black Country Cover

Wolverhampton & Black Country Cover July 2019.qxp_Wolverhampton & Black Country Cover 21/06/2019 10:55 Page 1

JACK SAVORETTI IN Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands THE FOREST WOLVERHAMPTON & BLACK COUNTRY WHAT’S ON JULY 2019

Wolverhampton & Black Country ISSUE 403 JULY 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On wolverhamptonwhatson.co.uk

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PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

JIMMY CARR Black Country double for deadpan comedian TWITTER:@WHATSONWOLVES

WHAT A FIESTA... Wolverhampton’s favourite funfair returns to the city AEOK @WHATSONWOLVERHAMPTONFACEBOOK:

SUMMER FUN... step back in time at Dudley’s WOLVERHAMPTONWHATSON.CO.UK Black Country Living Museum Worcester Racecourse Full July 2019 .qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 15:10 Page 1 Contents July Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 08:41 Page 2

July 2019

Contents

Hair The Musical - Fiftieth anniversary production visits Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre - page 26

KT Tunstall Abandoman 1940s Weekend the list

music festival favourite plays improv duo at Shrewsbury popular event returns to the Your 16-page Lichfield Cathedral International Comedy Festival Black Country Living Museum week-by-week listings guide page 17 page 23 page 39 page 53 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 17. Gigs 22. Comedy 24. Theatre 33. Film 36. Visual Arts 39. Events

@whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Staffordshire What’s On Shropshire What’s On

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 MEDIA GROUP Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Steve Adams, Lauren Cole, Nanci Davies, Jack Rolfe, Daisy Sparkle, Steve Taylor, Chris Eldon Lee, Patsy Moss, Tom Silverton Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717

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Entertainment news from around the region

Rock out to Queen tribute at Shrewsbury Flower Show Queen tribute band Gary Mullen & The Works are set to ‘rock you’ next month when they take the Friday night headline slot at the Shrewsbury Flower Show. One of the country’s premier horticultural festivals, the two-day event delivers a diverse programme of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Highlights of the 2019 show (9 & 10 August) include guest appearances by celebrity chefs and garden- ers, arena acts, competitions, numerous workshops, a children’s area, impressive floral displays, a Saturday night performance by acclaimed pop band Scouting For Girls and a sky-lighting fire- works display on both evenings. For more information about the event, visit shrews- buryflowershow.org.uk

Glass Biennale returns ments: “Over the past four years, we have be- Celebrating creativity at come a summer staple for so many families Next month’s International Festival of Glass in the city, and as a Black Country born-and- Lichfield Garrick will once again feature the British Glass Bien- bred business, it’s great to see the commu- Lichfield Garrick Theatre is next month host- nale at The Glasshouse in Stourbridge. nity come together for a weekend of fun. This ing a week of drama, poetry, song, music and Running from 23 August to 28 September, the will always be an event close to our hearts, dance for creative artists interested in ‘devel- flagship exhibition of contemporary glass and we can’t wait to welcome everyone for oping their performance toolkit’. features brand new work by 74 artists and another fabulous Fiesta!” Presented by Emily Summers, the project is includes large installations, interactive focused around the idea of reimagining fairy- artworks, films and ‘exquisite’ vessels. tales, ‘twisting well-known stories beyond Curator Matt Durran offers two collectors recognition and bringing them into a whole tours, complete with a chance to meet some new light’. The event runs from Monday 19 to of the artists and discuss their work. Friday 23 August and is suitable for children Visitors can also vote for their favourite piece aged between eight and 16. in the People’s Prize, whilst children have a chance to win a bespoke artwork to start their own collection. Flicks at the Cathedral... Four-day masterclass sessions with a world- Fancy watching your favourite films while class artist are available prior to the festival, ‘sitting on the moon’? Well, Lichfield Cathe- taking place from 19 to 22 August. Nigel Planer to star as dral is offering visitors the chance to do just Grandpa in stage version that when they attend its film festival. Taking place on selected dates next month, of David Walliams classic the festival features screenings of much- Nigel Planer will take the lead role in the first loved movies including First Man, Apollo 13, ever stage adaptation of David Walliams’ Jurassic Park and a sing-along version of The children’s book, Grandpa’s Great Escape, Greatest Showman. when it visits Birmingham Arena this Christ- For more information, including dates and mas. times, visit lichfield-cathedral.org Best known for starring as hippie Neil in the cult 1980s sitcom The Young Ones, Nigel commented: “It’s a great honour to be asked Fiesta of fun on offer in to play Grandpa in the live version of this the Black Country amazing and cockle-warming story by David Wolverhampton Fiesta funfair is back for a Walliams. It’s set to be such an amazing spec- fourth year running, taking place at West tacular, and I can’t wait to drive a tank and Park on Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 July. fly a lifesize Spitfire over audiences around Previously known as the City Show, the event the country!” is being organised by Harry Jones, who com- The production shows in Birmingham on 23, 24 & 26 December. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Shrops_Staffs_Wolves July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 14:06 Page 2

First Word

John Partridge to star in Cabaret at the Grand Theatre Former EastEnders favourite John Partridge will take on the role of Emcee when hit musical Cabaret visits the Wolver- hampton Grand Theatre in the autumn. The show, which features iconic songs including Money Makes The World Go Round, Maybe This Time and the title track itself, is helmed by the National Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rufus Norris, and visits the Grand from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 September. Tickets for the production are now on sale and can be bought online at grandtheatre.co.uk or by calling 01902 429212.

Wolverhampton Grand announces its spring 2020 shows Productions of The History Boys and The Kite Runner feature among the highlights of Wolverhamp- ton Grand Theatre’s spring/summer 2020 line-up of entertainment. Other shows to watch out for include Broadway comedy Boeing-Boeing, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and the Gloria Estefan musical, On Your Feet. Great British Bake Off presenter Sandi Toksvig brings her one-woman comedy production to the venue and Derren Brown is a summertime visitor with his brand new show. To check out the whole season and book tickets, visit grandtheatre.co.uk or call 01902 429212.

Birmingham arts DisOrder on the menu Outdoor fun at Stafford Castle venue gets a at new arts festival There’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy entertainment in the major boost A group of international artists work- great outdoors at Stafford Castle this month. As well as the Stafford Shakespeare production of The A £4.5million Arts Council ing collectively to support live art Merchant Of Venice, showing in the grounds until investment of National Lottery practice through the production of Saturday 13 July, the castle is also hosting the Swingtime money is set to finance a events and exhibitions are visiting Big Band on Thursday the 18th, a beneath-the-stars transformation of Birming- Wolverhampton this month. screening of Jurassic Park on Friday the 19th and Charles ham’s Symphony Hall. Taking place at multiple venues, the Court Opera performing HMS Pinafore on Saturday the The cash will be used to artists’ Disorder Live Art Festival is 20th... update the venue’s foyers, presenting a programme of perfor- For more information, visit staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk create new learning & partici- mances, installations and community pation spaces and enhance workshops across the long weekend the experience for visitors of of Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July. all ages. The event gets under way with a talk Alongside flexible spaces that by Nigel Rolfe, a pioneer in the field of can host workshops, pre- performance. This is followed by a show talks and corporate presentation of live works made in the guests, opportunities will also moment by Masters graduates from be made available for artists the Royal College of Art. with limited mobility, sensory For more information, visit disorder- and cognitive disabilities. liveart.com whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Shrops_Staffs_Wolves July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 14:06 Page 3

First Word

£10 Tuesdays at Top comedy line-up Shugborough in Wolverhampton If you’re looking for an enjoy- EastEnders and Dancing On Ice able and relatively cheap day star Richard Blackwood joins Birm- out this summer, Shugbor- ingham funny ladies Barbara Nice ough Estate in Staffordshire and Shazia Mirza for an evening of could well be the place to comedy at Wolverhampton’s head for - with adult tickets to Diamond Suite this month (Satur- the National Trust property day 6 July). costing just £10 every Tuesday Laugh Out Louder also features, until 27 August (kids tickets among others, Britain’s Got Talent are £5, with under-fives going Golden Buzzer winner Kojo and free). The Real McCoy’s Curtis Walker. Commenting on the offer, Gogglebox star Sandra is the host Hayley Mival, Shugborough’s for the evening. General Manager, said: “This is a great opportunity to try something new with your New family show for Shrewsbury New space-themed week. There’s so much to do Shropshire residents are getting a brand new event to enjoy this maze marks moon here at Shugborough, you will summer. landing anniversary be able to spend the whole Presenting a ‘packed programme’ throughout the day, Shrewsbury The National Forest Adventure day here with your friends Live will take place at the Greenhous West Mid Showground on Farm in Tatenhill is hosting a and family.” Sunday 4 August. Attractions include a full main-ring programme, space-themed maze, made com- a funfair, trade stalls, musicians and food & drink vendors. pletely from maize plants, to mark Commenting on the event, Ian Bebbington, Chief Executive of the the 50th anniversary of the historic Shrewsbury & West Midlands Agricultural Society, which is organ- moon landing. ising the show, said: “Monster trucks are making a return to the Opening on 13 July (until 2 Septem- showground after a hugely successful appearance during last ber), the new attraction offers fam- year’s Shropshire County Show. Other main-ring entertainment in- ilies the chance to find and solve cludes the Guido Louis Equestrian Stunt Team and the Extreme space-themed puzzles and assist a Mountain Bike Show.” lunar crew in fixing their space- David Baddiel vs craft in order to return safely to internet trolls... Designers commissioned to develop Earth. The maze is accompanied by brand for historic Shropshire building brand new indoor family activity Multi-disciplinary designers HemingwayDesign have been com- Space Rangers: Alien Rescue, an missioned to develop a new brand for Shrewsbury Flaxmill Malt- interactive experience that sees ings in Shropshire - one of the most important buildings in children train to become Space England’s industrial past. Rangers and help save aliens. The Flaxmill embodies over two centuries of setting new standards To find out more, including infor- in engineering, construction and industry, and is gradually being mation about when you can see brought back to life through a careful restoration and refurbish- Crumpet the Cow fly into space(!), ment programme. visit adventurefarm.co.uk HemingwayDesign has been commissioned to create a visionary brand that reflects the revolutionary spirit of the site and its history Comedian David Baddiel is of groundbreaking innovation. Folklore festival at returning to the Midlands Acton Scott Farm next year with a new show A new one-day festival celebrating based around his battles with Shropshire’s legacy of folklore, internet trolls. music and traditions is being Trolls: Not The Dolls follows launched at Acton Scott Historic on from his previous and most Working Farm this month. recent touring show, My Fam- Folk At The Farm takes place on ily: Not The Sitcom, which Saturday 20 July and features po- was nominated for an Olivier etry & song, talks & tall tales, art & Award. A list of venues and craft demonstrations, activities for dates for Trolls, including its youngsters, numerous workshops, numerous Midlands stop-offs, locally made products and plenty is available at uktw.co.uk of food and beer. 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Shrops_Staffs_Wolves July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 14:06 Page 4 Marcus Bean _ The Furnace.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 15:32 Page 1

COOKING UP

AChef Marcus TREAT Bean talks about his latest venture working with the Ironbridge Museums Trust on its soon-to-open eatery...

8 whatsonlive.co.uk Marcus Bean _ The Furnace.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 15:32 Page 2

by Lauren Foster

Visitors to Coalbrookdale Museums at the lot less gas, and we also have a dishwasher four or five-day period. They’re held in Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site will that cycles back its steam so it can regenerate Belfast, London, the Tower Of London, Birm- soon be able to make even more of their visit its heat. There are a lot of clever things we’ve ingham NEC, and I do a lot of catering events by dropping into a brand new café restaurant. done within that space to design it, so it’s too. There’s lots going on, put it that way!” very high-end in terms of its technology. The Furnace, operating under the expert eye Despite now rubbing shoulders with the UK’s of executive chef Marcus Bean, will be open “But although we’ve got all that high-end top chefs, Marcus reveals that becoming a during the daytime for museum visitors and technology, we wanted to understand the chef himself hadn’t been on the cards when passers-by, as well as on selected evenings. history of where we are. One of the key things he was a young boy: “I lived in pubs from the that myself and the Trust wanted to do was to age of five. My mum is a chef, but she never “It’s going to be an all-day dining affair,” create something that matches the site and taught me to cook because we didn’t have our explains Marcus. “It’ll be open museum the history of it. There’s a lot of open brick- own kitchen as such - we’d just have a com- hours - 10am to 4pm, seven days a week. work, exposed concrete and wood. We’ve mercial kitchen downstairs and we’d live in a From a visitor point of view, it’ll be a really used tiles from the tile centre and Jackfield flat above. If my mum asked what I wanted nice mix. We’ll be doing some evening trad- Tile Museum. We’ve tied in local tradesman for dinner, it was like, ‘There’s a menu, ing as well, starting slowly and building our and have translated that into the menu too. there’s the specials board, tell me what you way up, so that the venue is open as a desti- It’s been an exciting project to work on - I've want and put an order in’. She was busy cook- nation and not just for visitors to the site. loved it! I’ve been working with them a day a ing seven days a week. At that point, I never There’s not a great deal in Telford town centre week over the last year, and I’ll be overseeing wanted to be in the kitchen and never needed in terms of destination dining.” it as executive chef when it opens.” to be. I ate exceptionally well, as you can The 50-seater venue, which also features an imagine, but it was only when my wife and I Although playing a huge part in both the outdoor area seating an extra 30 people, is took on our first pub that I learnt to cook. I creation and the running of The Furnace built within one of the historic former ware- employed a chef and we had a bit of a night- Eatery, Brompton Cookery School and Farm- houses of the world famous Coalbrookdale mare, so one of us had to learn to cook.” house Bed & Breakfast will remain Marcus’ Company and will serve an exciting mix of full-time focus. So who are Marcus’ biggest influences and modern British cuisine and European clas- where does he like to eat? sics, all hand-made in the eatery’s state-of- “I decided to go on a programme called Iron the-art kitchen by a hand-picked team of Chef on Channel Four and ended up beating a “I used to love watching Rick Stein on TV and chefs. two-Michelin-star chef. Things developed for I’ve always been a big fan of Tom Kerridge. I me from that, really. It naturally progressed used to live down in Oxfordshire, so I used to “Daytime options on the menu will include into teaching, and I taught at Brompton Cook- go to the Hand And Flowers before it had any barista-made coffee, home-made cakes and ery School. I decided to purchase the school Michelin stars. It was always a lovely place to tasty light bites such as salads, sandwiches in 2010, and my wife and I have been running eat. It’s still one of my favourite restaurants. and slow-cooked dishes, making the best of it ever since. We do a selection of three differ- It’s a two-Michelin-star pub and high end, but local and national produce. The Furnace also ent courses per week and teach everything at the same time you’re still sitting in a pub! It has an on-site pizza oven, so we’ll be serving from Asian, Indian, Italian and French to has pub twists. fresh, oven-roasted pizzas and a great selec- butchery, curing and baking; basically, we do tion of other dishes to suit all dietary require- “I get inspiration from everywhere, whether everything. Over the years, I worked out that ments. We’ll have a kids menu, too - we are I’m travelling on holiday, eating food off a I’ve taught something like 16,000 people. going to be family-orientated. food trader or sitting down and trying a dish We’ve got a B&B on-site and grow a lot of our in a fine-dining restaurant. I’m always think- “The Ironbridge Trust is always looking fur- own produce. ing about food. It’s an incredible industry to ther forward to how we can be more energy- “I also do about six shows a year for the BBC be in. Food is very exciting! If you love to eat, efficient and how we can reduce waste. I’ve Good Food Show. I go around the country and you can’t really go wrong.” been working with them to make the func- do all their Big Kitchens and Super Theatres, tionality of the kitchen very efficient. We’ve hosting and working with Michel Roux Jr, got induction cookers in there, as well as the Paul Hollywood, Tom Kerridge, Mary Berry new pizza oven. There’s higher-rating refriger- and more. We can be in theatres of up to 2,500 The Furnace is set to open this summer at ation units too, which, of course, produce a people and do five or six shows a day over a Coalbrookdale Museums, Ironbridge

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Food

cream and cheddar, was equally was pure delight. delicious and flavoursome. The Although suitably full, we could- cheddar, an unusual offering in n’t leave without sampling Indian cuisine, added a subtle dessert. The hot gulab jamun - taste and married perfectly with an exotic, soft, fried milk the creamy pepper flavours. Both dumpling soaked in rose- were served alongside a mango flavoured syrup - was stunning. sauce, a chilli sauce, a relish of And the Husn-E Ara was even onion, coriander & tomato and better! Featuring crispy fried some colourful edible flowers, all bread (mouthwatering enough of which not only added a sense on its own!) stuffed with Kesari of freshness to the dishes but pineapple compote and topped also ensured both plates of food with nutty rabri (a sweet were elegantly presented. condensed milk which boasts a The owner explained that all the rice pudding texture and dishes he recommended we flavour), it was unquestionably ordered - the two starters and the the nicest dessert I've been lucky two mains that were to follow - enough to experience in an were created by a Michelin- Indian restaurant. Definitely not trained chef. This was certainly one to order if you’re counting apparent in the complexity of the the calories, though… flavour combinations, the choice Blanc NRI is a unique and of ingredients and the presenta- relaxed dining experience that tion. Every dish presented to us REVIEW: stimulates the senses courtesy of Blanc NRI was, quite simply, a work of art. some utterly beautiful food. The A unique and relaxed Indian dining Even the heavenly dal. owner's desire for perfection and To say our main courses of subsequent meticulous attention experience to stimulate the senses Lobster Moilee and Railway to detail has resulted in a truly Brought to Staffordshire’s ever- We tucked into popadoms and Lamb Curry had a lot to live up to outstanding restaurant - one that expanding culinary scene by the pickles. The mango chutney - would be an understatement, I’d happily recommend to owner of the award-winning which was served alongside a but Blanc NRI successfully rose anyone and everyone. James Dahl restaurant in The mint sauce and a spicy sweet to the challenge. I can’t help but feel, however, Arcadian, Birmingham, new kid chilli sauce - was infused with The eagerly awaited lobster dish that the bizarre location could on the block Blanc NRI is located pineapple; a nice change from featured perfectly cooked, juicy prove to be a problem. This on the A34 and specialises in the usual offering. Minor touches meat in a rich ginger-infused restaurant needs to be in a serving kebabs and curries like this certainly help set the coconut sauce, served in the bustling town or city, not set originating in the north west, venue out from the crowd. shell. Sat on a bed of smooth and back off an A road. south and Awadh region of India It was apparent from the word go silky molgapodi mash, and That said, my partner and I and on the streets of Delhi. that Blanc NRI was going to be boasting a strong yet not too visited midweek and it wasn’t On arrival at the venue, we were impressive. overpowering coconut flavour, it empty. I wish the owner all the was simply wonderful. immediately made to feel On recommendation from the best in his venture here, and I welcome by the friendly staff. restaurant owner, we opted for The lamb option, which stuck truly hope that Blanc NRI gains Perusing the menu, over a cold the Tiger Prawn Malabar Style closer to contemporary Indian both the recognition and Cobra, my partner and I discov- and the Kali Mirch Tikka to start. cuisine, was another perfectly popularity that it deserves. ered that Blanc NRI was more of The prawn dish, which featured executed dish. Hotter than our It really is something special. a fine dining Indian restaurant two beautifully meaty tiger other selections and packed full Lauren Foster than a regular balti house. prawns fried in a Yercaud pepper of aromatic flavours, it featured a delectable 37 in-house spice mix Varied yet not too extensive, the masala, was simply stunning. Food: nnnnn and a generous helping of melt- menu featured such mouthwater- The tiger prawns were larger Service: nnnnn in-the-mouth lamb. ing options as: monkfish fillets than any I’d ever eaten before; Ambience: nnnnn in a spicy coconut sauce the Yercaud pepper masala To accompany the main courses, Overall value nnnnn flavoured with ginger and batter was soft and flavoursome we ordered an incredibly tasty OVERALL nnnnn molgapodi mash; venison fillet without being overpowering. chilli & cheese naan, a pulao rice in almond, yoghurt sauce and The Kali Mirch Tikka, which and the most outstanding dal Blanc NRI Awadhi spices; and lamb shank featured cubes of soft and succu- I've ever tasted. Boasting soft A34 Stone Road Stoke-On-Trent in lamb stock, yoghurt and potli lent boneless chicken cooked in and creamy pigeon peas ST15 0QT masala. a marinade of black pepper, tempered with a rich blend of garlic and chilli, every mouthful Tel: 01782 372 866 whatsonlive.co.uk 11 Food July Wolves_Shrops_Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 10:00 Page 3 Food July Wolves_Shrops_Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 10:00 Page 4

Food

Cosford Food Festival aiming to fly high at RAF Museum More than 100 local producers take centre stage at this year’s Cosford Food Festival. Held in the grounds of the RAF Mu- seum Cosford on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 July, the event features an impressive selection of cuisine, numerous cooking demonstrations, kids cookery classes, face painting, circus skills and (new for 2019) gin flight masterclass sessions on the VC10.

Food & drink festival returns to the city for a third year New pizzeria opens in After hugely successful events in 2017 and ’18, Brazil, Naughty Lil’ Tings and Tash N’ Dash. Staffordshire town City Of Wolverhampton Food & Drink Festival is Alongside the food stalls will be a thirst- this month returning for a third year. quenching selection of bars and pop-up cafes, A new independent restaurant & bar The free event, taking place on Wulfruna Street as well as a champagne and prosecco terrace serving Neapolitan-style pizza has on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July, is expected to hosted by Wolverhampton’s own Word Of opened in Stone. attract more than 30,000 visitors. Mouth. 800 Degrees Pizzeria, located on The festival will feature the city’s largest ever The family area features a face-painting par- Newcastle Road, has been launched by husband-and-wife team Chris and selection of independent F&B producers, brew- lour, open-air cinema, theatre performances Caroline Perkins. ers and tastemakers. Street food curators Dig- and a helter skelter, with live music and enter- Each pizza is cooked for just 60 seconds beth Dining Club return with traders including tainment taking place throughout the day. in a 800º oven. Options include Porky Beef On The Block, The Brownie Boss, Grill Pear - double cream, gorgonzola, prosciutto di Parma, scorched pear; Bacon ’N’ Eggs - San Marzano, smoked Popular Ludlow venue reopens after major refurbishment pancetta, Nduja, oregano and garlic oil, The Ludlow venue previously known as The topped with a freshly cracked free Clive Restaurant With Rooms has reopened range egg; and From The Garden - San following an extensive refurbishment. Marzano, baby spinach, bell peppers, Now called The Clive Arms, the venue red onion, garlic oil and artichokes. boasts new open-plan dining & bar areas, an additional three bedrooms for hotel guests and an impressive al fresco eating Burger joint relocates terrace. Popular Shrewsbury burger restaurant The menus feature food which Brooklyn Craft has moved from one predominantly comes from the estate’s own part of town to another - from Castle farms and walled garden. Gates to a larger venue in Shoplatch. The new bedrooms join 14 other rooms, all The venue’s burgers are made from of which have been completely refurbished. 100% Angus beef with no fillers or The Clive Arms is just five minutes from the preservatives. train station and centre of Ludlow. whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Classical July Wolves-Shrops NEW.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 14:20 Page 1 Classical July Wolves-Shrops NEW.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 14:20 Page 2

Classical

Ensemble 360: Music In The Round New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mon 8 July With a well-established reputation for successfully engaging with different audiences and age groups, Ensemble 360 comprise 11 musicians of international standing who share the belief that concerts should be informal, friendly, relaxed and, where possible, performed ‘in the round’. Their early-month New Vic performance sees them presenting Mozart’s Diverti- mento for string trio in E flat K563 and Beethoven’s String Trio Op3. The concert features Benjamin Nabarro (pictured - on violin), Ruth Gibson (viola) & Gemma BBC National Orchestra Of Wales Lichfield Cathedral, Sat 13 July Rosefield (cello). To continue its three-year Lichfield Festival residency, BBC National Orchestra of Wales presents two major works featuring ‘codes’ in music. The theme for Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto no1 is taken from a musical cryptogram of the composer’s initials, while Elgar’s Enigma Variations features Last Night Of The Proms favourite Nimrod. The programme also features a second quintessentially British work by the Worcestershire- born composer - his sumptuous song cycle, Sea Pictures. The orchestra is joined by conductor Ainars Rubikis, cellist Andrei Ioni (BBC New Generation Artist) and 2019 artist-in-residence Polly Leech (mezzo-soprano).ță

National Youth Orchestra Padmore And Lewis: Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 25 July Dichterliebe The Mozartists One hundred-and-sixty-four of the Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 21 July Lichfield Cathedral, Tues 9 July country’s most talented teenage stars are “The most impor- Specialising in the historically informed here brought together under the National tant thing is to performance of music by Mozart, The Youth Orchestra banner. communicate,” Mozartists here explore the composer’s Described by The Times as ‘the most uplift- says tenor Mark travels across Europe via works composed ing orchestra in the world’ and this year Padmore (pic- in London, The Hague, Paris, Munich, marking its 70th anniversary, the NYO is tured) in talking Vienna, Prague and Rome. here performing as part of the Stoke-on- about his concert They are joined by harpist Oliver Wass, Trent Festival 50th Birthday Celebration performances. horn player Gavin Edwards and the 2017 Concert. The event also features a perfor- “To hold an BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competi- mance by Nicola Benedetti (pictured), one engaged and tion winner, soprano Louise Alder of the most sought-after violinists of her interesting (pictured). generation. Mark Wigglesworth conducts. conversation that includes the composer, the performer and the audience.” Mark and pianist Paul Lewis visit Birming- ham on the crest of a seemingly never- breaking wave, having garnered great praise from across the globe and been hailed by the New York Times as the art song ‘dream team’. The duo here turn their attention to Schumann, performing his glorious song cycle, Dichterliebe, alongside music by Brahms and Mahler.

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Gigs

Let’s Rock Shrewsbury Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Sat 13 July Take a trip back in time with some of the biggest acts of the 1980s. Leading the way in terms of quality family- friendly festivals since 2009, this blast from the past is suitable for all ages, whether you're looking to re-live your youth or hear- ing old pop classics for the very first time. The 2019 line-up includes: The Human League, Sister Sledge (pictured), Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Belinda Carlisle, Roland Gift, Kim Appleby, Chesney Hawkes, Betty Boo, Johnny Hates Jazz, Jaki Graham, Captain Sensible, Sonia, Belouis Some, Owen Paul, Jennie ‘Belle Star’ Matthias, Musical Youth, Westworld and Black Lace’s Conga Party.

KT Tunstall revered singer-songwriters. Amongst her many accolades is a Brit Award Lichfield Cathedral, Fri 5 July for ‘best British female solo artist’, the Ivor Since the release of her 2004 debut album, Novello ‘best song’ award for her huge self- Eye To The Telescope - which sold five penned hit, Suddenly I See, and a Q Award million copies worldwide and featured such for ‘track of the year’. hits as Other Side Of The World and Black She performs at Lichfield Festival as part of Horse & The Cherry Tree - Scottish musician a three-piece band. KT Tunstall has been among the UK’s most Jess Glynne Cannock Chase Forest, Staffordshire, Fri 5 July Sugarhill Gang John Newman Jess Glynne rose to prominence in 2014 The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury, Fri 12 July The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 11 July following a guest spot on Clean Bandit’s American hip-hop group Sugarhill Gang are “I’ve really missed being in smaller venues,” smash hit, Rather Be. the collective responsible for 1979’s Rapper's says John Newman. “Real, honest up-close Her powerhouse vocal and fearless delivery Delight - the first rap single to become a top- gigs like the ones I used to play when I first have earned her the record for the most num- 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. started out. Thinking back to those days, I ber one UK singles scored by a British female This month bringing their 40th anniversary decided to strip everything back to the core - solo artist. She’s also had two number one tour to Shrewsbury, they’re accompanied by voice, guitar and songs. albums - I Cry When I Laugh and Always In Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio Furious “The big festival appearances and arena Between. Five. shows are amazing and I love doing them, Jess here plays Cannock Chase Forest as part but there’s something incredible about of Forest Live - a major series of live, outdoor performing in a small room where you can music concerts held every summer by Kiss actually look the audience in the eye and Forestry Commission England in seven Arena Birmingham, Tues 9 July feel that energy. The fans will also get to beautiful wooded locations across the UK. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, who’ve sold hear new songs that I’ve been saving up, as more than 100 million albums worldwide, well as the ones they already know.” are bringing their 45-year career to a close with this current End Of The Road World Tour. Fronted by the iconic Gene Simmons, widely admired for their larger-than-life performances and boasting a back-catalogue including I Was Made For Lovin’ You, Love Gun, Rock And Roll All Nite and Crazy Crazy Nights, the much-loved four-piece have dedicated this ‘last hurrah’ to their millions of fans around the world.

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Festivals

Lichfield Fuse Festival Beacon Park, Lichfield, Fri 12 - Sun 14 July Founded in 2001 and now established as one of the Midlands’ largest free music & arts festivals, Fuse this month returns to Lichfield’s beautiful Beacon Park. The event features a tremendous line-up of music that spans genres as diverse as rock, afrobeat, RnB/soul, ska, pop, folk, jazz and reggae. Other Fuse 2019 attractions include family activities, circus skills, a steampunk ceilidh, Bhangra and salsa dance workshops, a drum circle, children’s storytelling, sporting challenges, poetry readings, arts & crafts, group dance displays, close-up magic, yoga and food & drink. Line-up includes: Agbeko (pictured), The Bethlehem Casuals, Punch The Sky, The Lagan, Y!kes, The Long Game, The Hustle, Martian Social Club, DJ Thumpa, The Lonely Mister Punch Steampunk Ceilidh, Meme De- troit, Letisha Gordon, Global Reggae Band, Ned Dylan and more.

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Upton Blues Festival Solihull Summer Fest Moseley Park, Birmingham, Upton-upon-Severn, Thurs 18 - Sun 21 July Tudor Grange Park, Solihull, Fri 12 - Sun 14 July Sat 27 & Sun 28 July Created by the Midlands masterminds behind Now in its fourth year, Solihull Summer Fest Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, Mostly Jazz is fast becoming one of the most popular Funk & Soul sees world-class artists coming music get-togethers on the Midlands events together with leading lights of the local jazz calendar. community for a laidback family-friendly The festival features more than 10 hours of event designed to celebrate Birmingham's live music across two days, funfair rides, a musical heritage. food village full of street vendors, and a huge Celebrating its 10th year in 2019, the event is variety of bars serving everything from real located in the picturesque surroundings of ale to prosecco. Moseley Park, a stunning woodland glade tucked away behind busy Birmingham streets Line-up includes: The Human League, The - making it the ideal retreat for music-loving Vamps, The Proclaimers, Ms Dynamite city-dwellers. (pictured), Go West, Sugarmill Gang, Bad Manners, Mitchell Brunings, Mercury, Garry Line-up includes: Burt Bacharach, The Jack- Pease As Rod Stewart and JK As Robbie. sons, The Brand New Heavies, Khruangbin, Ibibio Sound Machine (pictured), Brian Jack- Set in the beautiful riverside town of Upton- son, Craig Charles, Smoove & Turrell, Rene- upon-Severn, Upton Blues Festival started in gade Brass Band, James & Black and Boca 45. 2001 as a small event taking place in just a couple of pubs. How times have changed... The festival now boasts two main stages, an acoustic stage, 10 pub venues and more than 130 free performances across three days.

Line-up includes: Kyla Brox, Wille and the Bandits (pictured), Dino Baptiste, Jenny Wren And Her Borrowed Wings, The Rain- breakers, Trevor Babajack Steger, Danny Bryant, Ma Polaines Great Decline and Beaux Gris Gris & the Apocalypse.

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Festivals

Godiva Festival War Memorial Park, Coventry, Fri 5 - Sun 7 July Organisers of Coventry’s Godiva Festival are anticipating another blockbuster year, with the 2019 edition of the event featuring 70 acts across five stages. Veteran performers join emerging artists working across a dazzling array of genres. While the traditional Godiva procession continues to this day, the event has certainly come a long way since its 17th century origins as a celebration of the medieval Countess of Mercia. Due to its popularity, this year’s festival will be ticketed for the first time. Tickets cost £2 per person per day and can be purchased from godivafestival.com Line-up includes: Levellers (pictured), Feeder, Busted, Reef, Robin S, The Twang, The Selecter and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.

Warwick Folk Festival Simmer Down Bromsgrove Folk Festival Warwick School and Warwick town centre, Handsworth Park, Birmingham, Sun 21 July Bowling Green Inn, Bromsgrove, Thurs 25 - Sun 28 July Worcestershire, Thurs 11 - Sun 14 July Celebrating its 40th year in 2019, Warwick Now in its 28th year, Bromsgrove Folk Folk Festival boasts the very best in Festival offers patrons the chance to enjoy contemporary and traditional folk arts from intimate concerts by UK-based folk, roots and the UK and beyond. acoustic performers. As well as an extensive line-up of performers, Taking place at the town's Bowling Green the four-day camping event features ceilidhs, Inn, the festival spreads across two workshops, acoustic concerts, singarounds, marquees, with sessions and singarounds an extended craft fair, a range of real ales, taking place inside the pub. on-site catering and community-led Storytelling, a ukulele workshop and dance recycling. demonstrations all feature in this year’s The organisers also deliver a fringe festival of Free-to-attend Simmer Down has become one line-up of entertainment. events in the town centre, featuring dance of Birmingham’s most popular and diverse Line-up includes: Richard Digance, The displays, street theatre, music sessions and festivals. Churchfitters, The Bad Pennies, Jez Lowe, an evening concert on the Saturday. Featuring music, dance, spoken word, visual Kate Bramley, The Lost Notes, Enda Kenny, arts, commissioned work, workshops & Line-up includes: Billy Bragg (pictured), Patchwork Skies, Silvington, Mike Silver, participation activities and outreach & young Skerryvore, Karen Casey, Calan, Will Pound & Johnny Coppin, Fairfield, Anthony John people’s programmes, the family-friendly Eddy Jay, Breabach, Kabantu, O’Hooley & Clarke, Tosh Ewins, Stitherum. event celebrates the city’s rich cultural Tidow, Nancy Kerr, John Kirkpatrick, Melrose diversity with a line-up of internationally Quartet, Granny’s Attic, Matthew Byrne and acclaimed artists and homegrown talent. Rosie Hood Rooted in North Birmingham, the festival pays tribute to the centrality of reggae and other musical genres that have contributed to Birmingham’s growing reputation as an international city of culture. Line-up includes: Johnny Clarke (pictured), Horace Andy, Pato Banton & Friends, Afro- manding, JK & The Goldmind Band, Amy G, A Doubles, Rock N’ Dhol, Commonwealth Drum Orchestra, Boyz Beatz Ft JBeatz, Dar- shae and Ashley Zeal. whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Comedy July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 11:57 Page 1

Comedy

Michelle Wolf Glee Club, Birmingham, Tues 23 July Incendiary American funnywoman Michelle Wolf is a fast-rising star on the international comedy circuit after enjoying an extremely high-profile 2018. As well as having her very own 10-episode Netflix comedy series and debuting her first ever hour-long standup TV special, she also caused massive controversy when hosting the prestigious White House Correspondents Dinner, telling a series of gags that hacked off both Democrats and Republicans alike and led to President Trump calling her ‘a filthy “ comedian”’. Jokes include: “It’s kind of crazy that the Trump campaign was in contact with Russia when the Hillary campaign wasn’t even in contact with Michigan. It’s a direct flight; Pre-Fringe Comedy Night The REP, Birmingham, Mon 22 July it’s so close.” Just as with Midlands Arts Centre’s Edin- year headlining comedy clubs in the UK brum events (see below), the Birmingham and Europe... Rep is here hosting two comedians who’re High-profile South African standup Loyiso honing their acts in readiness for the Edin- Gola, meanwhile, has featured on shows burgh Festival. including Live At The Apollo and Mock The Australian comedian and tracksuit enthusi- Week. His latest Edinburgh-bound offering ast Daniel Muggleton (pictured above), sees him taking an irreverent look at the whose promotional material includes the way in which years of pop culture has fact that he’s apparently ‘just woke enough shaped people’s lives. to know he's an a*shole’, has spent the last

Troy Hawke & Paul Sinha away. And the comedians in question will no doubt be measuring the audience Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, reaction to their every gag, as they franti- Thurs 25 July cally try to hone their material in prepara- Yep, it’s that time of year again, when all tion for their forthcoming trip to Bonnie good comedians stop off at Midlands Arts Scotland. This particular Edinbrum line-up Centre to try out their new material en route includes Paul Sinha - from ITV’s The Chase Paul Smith to the Edinburgh Festival. - and 1930s throwback comedic investigator Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Sun 21 July The venue’s Thursday night line-up of Troy Hawke. The pair share the billing on Affable Liverpool comedian Paul Smith has mirthful merrymakers should certainly the last Thursday of the month. ensure a chuckle or several is never too far waxed lyrical on all manner of topics in his time, including such peculiar subjects as who he’d most like to be haunted by (Ghandi - Paul reckons he’d do it quite quietly) and which is the largest animal he thinks he could beat in a fight (a goose). He’s also ‘died’ on stage in front of a Babylon 5 actress, who made matters worse for him by shaking her head in pity. Widely regarded as one of the comedy circuit’s most accomplished MCs, Paul is starting to make a real name for himself on a national level, courtesy of online video clips which almost routinely go viral. He visits Birmingham this month with his second national touring show, Following.

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Jimmy Carr Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sat 20 July; Dudley Town Hall, Sat 14 September Jimmy Carr’s comedy is all about quickfire, deadpan one-liners - and so many of them, in fact, that he’s not sure their content matters all that much: “People don’t really remember the individual jokes I tell because I tell such a lot of them; what they do remember is how those jokes make them feel.” Jimmy is a comedian for whom no subject is off limits: “I’ll talk about anything as long as I feel the joke justifies it. It may cause controversy, but my thing on that is that controversy’s an easy story on a slow-news day. And I never apologise for jokes. After all, I’m not making a serious political statement, I’m just trying to make somebody laugh.”

Josh Wolf Glee Club, Birmingham, Fri 19 July Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival Josh kickstarted his career as a standup comedian at the tender age of 15, when he Various venues, Shrewsbury town centre, Thurs 18 - Sun 21 July performed a set based around the subject of Already a hotbed of food, flowers and folk Irish hip-hop improv duo Abandoman. his parents’ flatulence. music, Shrewsbury tossed its hat into the Commenting on the event, its co-producer He’s since carved out a career for himself comedy ring a couple of years ago too, with a and one-time standup comic, Kevin Bland, via countless television shows, multiple number of the town’s venues co-hosting an said: “Shrewsbury has a great tradition of podcasts and a YouTube channel. inaugural weekend of laughter. hosting festivals, including everything from He’s also a big cannabis smoker, as his The event proved so popular that it’s now an street theatre to folk music, food to comics routines make clear... annual attraction. and beer to flowers. So we’re delighted to be “I didn’t smoke much in college, and for a Comedians contributing to the 2019 edition playing our part in further enhancing its while I was a single dad,” Josh told High of the festival include, among others, Lee reputation by bringing some great comedy to Times. “During that time I didn’t smoke Nelson, Kate Mulgrew, Larry Dean, former the town as well.” because I didn’t have a backup or a partner burger van owner Angelos Epithemiou, and just in case shit went down. I didn’t think with me being the only parent that getting high was the right thing to do at that point. Olga Koch But as soon as I got together with my wife, St Mary’s, Lichfield, Sat 6 July she asked me, ‘Do you always smoke so The daughter of a former deputy prime minis- much?’ because I ter of Russia who went on to become a game- was definitely show host, Olga Koch describes herself as the making up for lost Taylor Swift of the comedy scene. time.” She visits Lichfield with a new story about ‘finding love and computer programming’. “The show will teach you how to code,” says Olga, “while at the same time delivering insights into what happens when our expecta- tions of love, happiness and Michael Bublé no longer compute.” whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 09:55 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

The Color Purple black community. Walker’s original novel was published in 1982 and won the coveted Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 16 - Sat 20 July Pulitzer Prize. Three years later, Steven Spielberg brought the story to In an era marked by conversations about abuse of women and female the cinema screen, teasing from Whoopi Goldberg an Oscar-nomi- empowerment, The Color Purple has plenty to say. nated performance and providing Oprah Winfrey with her film debut. Initially a story of male control achieved through rape, domestic A 2005 musical version faired less well with the critics, but later violence and servitude, Alice Walker’s captivating coming-of-age tale productions - while retaining the same jazz, ragtime, gospel and ends on a far more triumphant, celebration-of-feminism kind of note, blues-inspired score - have enjoyed positive reviews and made the along the way taking a provocative look at the cycle of slavery in the show a definite ‘one to catch’.

Boris The Musical 2: Rudy Redfort Annie Brexit Harder Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, Birmingham Hippodrome, Mon 15 - Wed 17 July Tues 23 July - Sun 11 August Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 3 - Sun 7 July West End favourite Jodie Prenger stars as the With Boris Johnson very much back in the far-from-pleasant Miss Hannigan in this news of late, this revised and updated latest version of the oft-touring Broadway hit. version of Blowfish Theatre’s hit show The heart-warming rags-to-riches tale of a couldn’t have come at a better moment. little girl who finds herself transported from At the time of going to print, the blond bomb- a New York orphanage to the luxurious world shell is knocking on the door of Number 10. of millionaire Oliver Warbucks, the show If voting goes his way, Blowfish will soon be features plenty of tasked with a further update of their rude memorable songs, and irreverent show... including It's A Hard Expect lots of songs and plenty of fun. Knock Life and the legendary Tomorrow. Children’s Laureate Lauren Child is the creative force behind this quirky spy thriller featuring codebreaker, secret agent and teenage girl Ruby Redfort. Based on Lauren’s internationally bestselling series of books about Ruby, the show comes complete with ‘hair-raising stunts, terrifying villains and death-defying codes’.

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An Drea

Jaymi Hensley talks ahead of starring in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at BirminghamWil Hippodrome Do Jaymi Hensley online.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:04 Page 2

by Ellie Hutchings

Union J’s Jaymi Hensley is taking on his terms of stamina. When I wanted to take on that side of me in some form or other. For me, first major musical role as the lead in this role, the producers’ main concern was that was dancing, acting and singing. I was Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor whether I would be able to sing in 10 shows a always putting on shows for my family. I Dreamcoat, which lands in Birmingham in week. I’ve done pantos which are 12 shows a cottoned on from a young age that I could July. What’s On chatted to him ahead of week - although it’s not really the same make people listen to me, and that I could do the show’s Hippodrome run... discipline - and I’ve been in a band for seven something special with what I’d been given. years. I’ve toured and I know how to look So it was important that I made it work for You’re returning to Birmingham after a after my voice. What a lot of people don’t me. successful run as Peter Pan at Christmas. know about me is that I went to stage school. How did that rank amongst the highs in I trained in musical theatre, and for the last Do you have a favourite moment or scene your career? four or five years, I’ve been doing off-Broad- in Joseph? It was one of my greatest highs, that’s for way or off-West End stuff. I’ve done roles for It’s definitely when I’m the prince at the end. sure. I think people give pantos such a hard free, just to get the experience. I don’t think I I get to be someone else in myself. Joseph has time, but I love them! It’s six to eight weeks of would be giving the performance I am now been wronged and now he’s got the upper just sheer fun. Birmingham this year was had I just walked off of X-Factor into this role hand, so he has a bit of a cock-sure ‘look really special. I’m gutted not to be back this because it’s a completely different discipline. where you are, look where I am’ moment. As Christmas. It was such a lovely time working I think when you come out of a reality pop much as that’s not a great thing to portray in with so many amazing people, and the cast world, people are automatically going to give your everyday life, I think everyone’s got the got on like a house on fire. Plus, it’s a huge you a bit of stick or think that you’re not going capacity to enjoy a bit of revenge. stage and a huge theatre; it was a West End- to be good enough. So I wanted to make sure scale production. I loved it - it was one of my that wasn’t an option, and that I was Are there any other roles that you’d like to favourite things in my career. well-trained and did have the stamina. sink your teeth into? I don’t want to say anything because I always Joseph is such a well-known musical - one Away from the stage, how do you like to think I might jinx it in terms of specific roles! that most people have probably seen at wind down? But I really want to do some straight acting; some point. How does it feel to be playing I don’t have any time! I go home, I sleep, I some screen acting. I’ve learnt a lot from this the lead, and where does Joseph stand in work and that’s it. But I think that’s the best experience about my natural acting ability in terms of your favourite musicals? way because you’re constantly on an terms of being able to bring out real emotions. I hadn’t seen it before! Having been in it, it’s adrenaline rush. I went straight out of panto I’d never been able to make myself cry until I really different. I have my favourite musicals into this, and then hopefully I’ll be going did this show, and now in every show I cry at and Joseph is obviously up there now, but for straight into the next job. I think when you the end when I see my dad for the first time in different reasons, because I know first-hand don’t have time, you have to commit to the 25 years. I’ve managed to unlock a part of me as a performer how great the music is and role, whereas if you had weeks off here and that can bring memories and emotions into what a joy it is to sing. It will always have a there, you’d maybe get a bit sloppy and my performance, so I’d be really interested to special place in my heart. I love the show, I wouldn’t feel connected to the role in quite do something that isn’t as camp and over- love the cast, I love the company. Yeah, the same way. the-top as Joseph is; something that’s real Joseph is definitely up there. and gritty and nowadays. But there’s Back to the beginning... Was being on definitely some other musicals that I’ve got What’s the biggest appeal of playing stage something you dreamt about when my eye on at the minute, and I would love to Joseph, and can you relate to the character you were a child? go to the West End. That’s a big bucket-list in any way? Definitely. I don’t know any different. I never item for me - to be on stage in a West End Yeah, I massively relate to this role. Joseph is had a back-up plan. It wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ I theatre. This experience has done wonders for a dreamer, he’s the black sheep of the family, was going to make it, it was always a matter me. I will have done it for a year by the time I and I took that back to my sexuality. I was out of ‘when’. Some people might say that was finish, so I think I’ve proven that I’ve got the and proud at school, I had these dreams of delusional or a bit cocky, but it wasn’t. I just stamina. Now I’m just looking forward to being a popstar, and everything I wanted to had belief that I wanted it enough. I was going out and adding different strings to my do didn’t seem to fit with the norm - so I always taught to work hard and try to be the bow. understand what Joseph goes through in that best, because if you’re the best that you can respect. I know what it’s like to hit rock be, then no one can tell you you’re not giving bottom and still stick by your convictions. I’ve enough. learnt that if you work hard and don’t let Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor anyone deter you from your path, ultimately Were you specifically drawn to musical Dreamcoat runs at Birmingham you come out on top - that’s what the show’s theatre or just performing in general? Hippodrome from Tuesday 2 to Saturday about and that’s where I feel I am in my life Just performing in general. I love the expres- 13 July. For more information and to book now. sion that can come with it. I think that poten- tickets, visit birminghamhippodrome.com tially comes from - like I said - when I was This is your first musical. How did your younger and was a gay child. I remember my previous experiences on stage prepare you first memories of being gay were when I was for the challenge? eight years old. The world wasn’t as accepting I’d say Union J definitely prepared me in back then, so I had to find a way to express Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 09:55 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Hair The Musical Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 23 - Sat 27 July Although it’s set in New York in 1967, Hair The Musical nonetheless explores a number of subjects that remain relevant in the 21st century. Inspired by the late-1960s sexual revolution, very much a product of the hippie counter- culture of the time, and unfolding against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and widespread anti-war protests, Hair follows a group of rebellious youngsters as they chase their dreams of living a bohemian existence and avoiding conscription. The show’s Grammy Award-winning score features numerous songs that became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement, not least among which is opening number Aquarius. Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden, Daisy Wood-Davis (Hollyoaks/Dreamboats & Petticoats) and Marcus Collins (X- Factor/Kinky Boots) star.

Scenes From A into his mystical world of Narnia. love tends to fair less well critically than the The show is the Garrick’s fourth ‘community rest of the playwright’s high-profile works. Brummie lliad musical’ production. Its popularity is nonetheless ensured by its The REP, Birmingham, Fri 19 & Sat 20 July timeless themes and its regular appearance Homer’s epic poem about the war between as a study text on the National Curriculum. the Greeks and the Trojans is here given Joseph And The Amazing This outdoor version is being presented by something of a Brummie makeover. Technicolor Dreamcoat the ever-reliable Heartbreak Productions. RSC and Birmingham Rep actor Roderick Smith is the man behind the show, breathing Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 2 - Sat 13 July Hymns For Robots new life into the classic story of heroes and Joseph was Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd gods whilst at the same time celebrating the Webber’s first foray into the world of Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Thurs 18 July local vernacular. Sounds, er, bostin’! musical theatre, paving the way for their later offerings, Jesus Christ Superstar and The name Delia Derbyshire may not be all Evita. Fabulously fun and frothy, the show that well known, but one of her compositions offers great entertainment for anybody who most certainly is. Derbyshire was an elec- fancies the kind of night out that lets you tronic-music trailblazer who also happened leave your brain at home. to be the unsung talent behind the now Joseph sees the future in dreams, and tells globally famous theme tune to Dr Who. his 11 brothers that he’s had a vision in This clever show from Noctium Theatre is an which he’s seen them all bowing down to imaginative celebration of the Coventry-born him. Not surprisingly, the lads are a tad musician and composer, blending the com- annoyed with him about this - and feel even pany’s unique heightened-performance style less enamoured towards their sibling when with analogue and digital music to create ‘a their dad gives him a coat of many colours... sonic experience your ears won’t believe’. The Lion, The Witch & Union J’s Jaymi Hensley stars as Joseph. The Wardrobe Lichfield Garrick, Tues 23 - Sat 27 July Romeo & Juliet This much-loved tale from the pen of CS Brueton Park, Solihull, Wed 17 July; Walsall Lewis is rightly regarded as an all-time Arboretum, Fri 26 July; Royal Spa Centre, classic of children's literature. It sees the Leamington Spa, Fri 6 September lion-god Aslan coming to the aid of three Widely regarded as Shakespeare’s fifth youngsters who’ve accidentally stumbled tragedy, this story of a forbidden and secret

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A Walk In The Night Garden... Lucy Tobin meets the creators behind In The Night Garden Live... In The Night Garden.qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2019 09:05 Page 2

In The Night Garden is probably the only lul- minds he exists - he’s real - and they’re all so tale of Igglepiggle’s search for his friends, fol- laby-filled children’s TV programme that has excited to see him. lowing their funny sounds until he finds them almost caused a parental riot. Why? Because all. Fans will spot all of their favourites. Zafar “Making shows for two-year-olds is brilliant - when CBeebies once moved the tots’ favourite has spent months working on the design of they're so vocal when you get it right (and - featuring the adventures of Igglepiggle, Upsy the characters “because, to the children in when you get it wrong). My favourite ever clip Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends - from its our audience, In the Night Garden’s charac- that one parent shared on social media after bedtime slot to an earlier one, it prompted ters are like friends that they know really seeing In the Night Garden Live had her two parent petitions, outrage, and a swift u-turn well: they have to look exactly as they do on year old repeating over and over ‘Mummy, it’s from the BBC. their screens at home.” And the show’s amazing. Wow, it’s amazing. It’s amazing.’ I writer, Eastman says her biggest challenge Igglepiggle and co returned to their popular think she says it around fifteen times! As a was “creat[ing] something which will feel evening slot, and they’ve remained there ever theatre producer you can’t really wish for a completely familiar to our young audience, since: In the Night Garden is the BAFTA better review than that.” who know the world of Night Garden and its award-winning series that’s been one of the To guarantee that reaction with the latest characters intimately, but is also fresh and ex- Beeb’s most-watched shows for a whopping 12 show, the producers called in world- citing. All our favourite characters feature in years. Only 100 episodes were ever made - so renowned theatrical experts to create the the story, as do the rituals of the Night Gar- toddlers and their parents around the country show, which is written by Bing Live writer den.” will be elated that, following 2010’s sell-out Helen Eastman, with the puppets’ costumes live touring show, In the Night Garden Live is That sense of responsibility is echoed by Will designed by Tahra Zafar. A costumier, puppet coming to Birmingham Repertory Theatre Tuckett, the Royal Ballet stalwart, Olivier and animatronics expert whose career spans with a brand-new show and a brilliant new award-winner, and one of the Royal Opera the blockbuster Harry Potter and Star Wars story to tell from 31 July – 4 August. House’s top choreographers, who is director films, Zafar even worked with the Queen on of the new In the Night Garden Live stage It’s part of a tour of 40 regional theatres her first (and only) acting role, as she was show. “It’s not just the actual show that we which promises to thrill toddlers and their head of costumes at the 2012 London want to be perfect for our young audience, parents or grandparents: there’s a reason Olympics and Elizabeth II starred in the but the whole theatre experience,” Tuckett ex- celebrities including singers Adele and Rob- Opening Ceremony. Yet ask the creative whiz plains. “We’ve trained all the front-of-house bie Williams, Rio Ferdinand, Billie Piper, what character she’s most proud of working staff to make sure everything runs smoothly - Scott Mills and Amanda Holden are amongst on in her three-decade-long career, and the after all, it’s not every show that sees hun- those who have flocked to see In the Night answer isn’t Hermione or Obi Wan-Kenobe - dreds of buggies arrive! We needed to make it Garden Live. it’s Upsy Daisy. clear that we can’t delay the start as other But it’s the puppets on stage who are the stars The always-happy dolly with red, pink and shows might because of a glitch, for example, of this show. Whilst the average grown-up yellow hair who Zafar helped create for the because parents may have to pick up older might watch In the Night Garden and see a original In the Night Garden TV show is, she kids at a set time. We’re making sure the show strange plot of cuddly characters apparently explains, “just smashing. She’s a girl charac- works for parents as well as their children.” speaking gobbledegook to a soporific back- ter who avoids the usual stereotypes - she Tuckett’s favourite thing about In the Night drop, it’s all sophistically-tailored linguistics isn’t overly bossy, or stuffed with props”. Garden Live is that “its style is perennial - a to captivate pre-schoolers. Andrew Daven- Working on Upsy Daisy was Zafar’s first job make-believe world, all about how friends op- port, the show’s creator, explains: “The char- after maternity leave with her now 14-year-old erate, how small children play, how they acters speak almost entirely in play language, - “so the character is a bit like my other learn about texture, communication - it’s very which is hugely important to language devel- daughter,” she laughs. The designer is pas- relaxing to watch. Parents might initially opment. Children recognise the nursery sionate about the importance of children’s think it all looks a bit weird - but kids abso- rhyme silliness of it, they love the funny lan- theatre under the shadow of cuts to the arts in lutely love it, and parents love watching their guage and characters, and the attention to de- schools. “Straitened budgets and a 1950s- kids love something.” tail that’s within them, and they love the style emphasis only on reading, writing and whole fantasy of the Night Garden world - but Like the rest of the In the Night Garden Live arithmetic means that creativity is being I think, at the end of it, that it’s the comedy crew, Tuckett knows he has “a really precious sucked out of schools,” she believes. “So it’s that draws them in.” audience for Night Garden. For so many this more important for us on In the Night Garden will be their first time in a theatre; we want It might be all about having fun, but the mak- Live, and in children’s arts in general, to the families to go back to see something else, ers of In the Night Garden Live took the remake sure we do our jobs really well. We have for the theatre to feel like a place they all sponsibility of putting on what will be a lot of a responsibility to get everything to right to enjoy going to, to see magical shows. It’s a big the audience’s first trip to a theatre very seri- fill that gap. Children’s theatre is about being responsibility.” ously. As Oliver Seadon, producer of In the together, taking in a shared experience, es- Night Garden Live, puts it: “It’s such a heart- caping everyday worries, being taken some- meltingly brilliant thing to hear the hysteria where different.” In the Night Garden Live is at Birmingham when Igglepiggle first appears on stage in That somewhere different is Igglepiggle’s Repertory Theatre from 31 July – 4 August front of his little fans - there’s a sort of glow of Busy Day, as In the Night Garden Live tells the happiness throughout the theatre. In their Theatre July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 09:55 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Amélie The Musical The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 22 - Sat 27 July; Malvern Theatres, Mon 29 July - Sat 3 August Danny Mac stars in this new stage adaptation of the five-time Oscar-nominated 2001 film of the same title (well, the same title minus ‘the musical’ bit). A young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind, Amélie secretly improvises small but extraordinary acts of kindness that bring happiness to those around her. But when Nino comes into her life, the introverted young woman finds herself unexpectedly contemplating a happiness of her very own... The West End version of this show has garnered plenty of praise, and the production certainly stands out as one of a kind - where else would you find dancing gnomes, giant figs, large dildos and Elton John, for example? It’s not short in length, though, and there are a lot of songs, so be sure that you’re wearing your ‘I love musical theatre’ head on the night that you go along.

Fame The Musical ers and inspired a giant treasure chest’s- folds. Nothing you are told is quite as Malvern Theatres, Mon 8 - Sat 13 July worth of stage and film adaptations. straightforward as it seems, and nothing you When salty old seadog Billy Bones brings his see is quite what you expect.” papers to the Admiral Benbow Inn, he draws young Jim Hawkins into the adventure of a lifetime, one which will see him not only A Midsummer setting sail in search of buried treasure, but Night’s Dream also spending time in the company of a one- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 5 & Sat legged pirate with murder in mind... 6 July; Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Presented by the well-established and highly Sun 7 July; The Place, Telford, Wed 17 July regarded Chapterhouse Theatre Company. Zany funsters Oddsocks celebrate their 30th anniversary with a high-energy production of one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies. The original mega-hit film and its spin-off TV Lysander and Demetrius both fancy Hermia, series are now both so old that their once- Helena’s sitting on the shelf, Titania and nimble dancers might soon be reaching for Oberon are up to no good, and Puck’s got his zimmer frames! By contrast, Fame The finger in more pies than Mr Kipling. Musical continues to get up a sweat on a Add in a group of rude mechanicals and the regular basis. And as high-octane, recipe for success is guaranteed... choreographed-to-the-rafters stage musicals go, it hits the Midlands this month with a reputation second to none. Offstage Set in New York’s legendary High School for Lichfield Garrick, Fri 12 July the Performing Arts, the show focuses on the Crooked Dances International physical theatre company highs and lows of the students who’re Studio Theatre, The Other Place, Stratford- Ephemeral Ensemble combine skilled physi- desperately seeking success, and offers a upon-Avon, until Sat 13 July cality, playful stage craft and original music dazzling evening of foot-tapping music and Award-winning playwright Robin French’s to create original and ambitious works in- breathtaking dance into the bargain. new work finds journalist Katy heading to spired by human stories. Focusing on the Re-envisioned songs include Let’s Play A Paris to interview world famous concert characters of Harley and Pedro, the com- Love Scene and the title hit itself. pianist Silvia de Zingaro. The meetup doesn’t pany’s latest offering takes a look ‘behind the go well, but it soon becomes apparent that curtain to loneliness and depression’ in a Treasure Island Katy might yet get the scoop she’s been look- compassionate exploration of suicide. ing for... Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Wed 10 July; “From reading the first few lines in Robin’s Powis Castle & Garden, Nr Welshpool, Fri 12 July; Haughton Hall Hotel & Leisure Club, play, I was hooked,” says Crooked Dances’ Shropshire, Sun 14 July director, Elizabeth Freestone. “He creates a Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story has funny, vivid and spellbinding atmosphere as delighted generation after generation of read- the extraordinary story of Silvia’s life un-

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Theatre for younger audiences...

In The Night Garden Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 2 & Wed 3 July; The REP, Birmingham, Wed 31 July - Sun 4 August If your little ones are big fans of top-rated CBeebies television series In The Night Garden, they’re certain to enjoy this live version as well. And it’s not only the kids who’re in love with the stage productions... Audience surveys at NightGardenLive.com reveal that, for nine out of 10 adults, it’s a five-out-of-five theatrical experience! This latest production sees Igglepiggle trying to find all his friends in the Night Garden by following the selection of funny sounds that they make.

Horrible Histories the sea - until, that is, a meeting with the Ben, a wingless elf who flies on the back of wise octopus makes him realise that the act Gaston the Ladybird. The two chums live in The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, of sharing brings with it the reward of the tiny land of the Little Kingdom. Wed 3 - Sun 7 July happiness and acceptance. In this particular show, they help Gaston clean up his messy cave, go on a trip into The Big World with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum, and Elmer The Patchwork plan a surprise birthday party for King Elephant Thistle... Expect plenty of games, songs and laughter. The Core Theatre, Solihull, Tues 23 & Wed 24 July Suitable for children aged one-plus, this lively production tells the story of a patchwork elephant who determines to hide his As Horrible Histories’ publicity explains, ‘We ‘true colours’ in an effort to blend in, only to all want to meet people from history - the find that he feels happiest when he’s simply trouble is, everyone’s dead!’ being himself... Based on the classic chil- Which is, of course, where these hugely dren’s book series by David McKee. enjoyable and fabulously popular stage shows come in, with the Horrible Histories team bringing to life all manner of historical Alice In Wonderland figures and events. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Thurs 25 July This particular production takes a look at the Awful Egyptians: ‘from the fascinating A timeless classic telling the magical and Pharaohs to the power of the Pyramids, decidedly topsy-turvy story of a little girl who discover the foul facts of death and decay falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a with the meanest mummies in Egypt’. weird world, Alice's Adventures In Wonder- land first made its way onto the stage during its author Lewis Carroll’s lifetime; in 1886, to The Rainbow Fish be precise. It’s since been adapted for the Ben & Holly’s theatre countless times and in all manner of Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 27 July Little Kingdom ways, including as a ballet, a musical, an Song, storytelling, percussion, interaction opera and a traditional pantomime. The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, and innovative set design utilising recycled Wed 10 & Thurs 11 July With its cast of nonsensical and amusing plastic are here brought together to present a characters, including the White Rabbit, the The team behind Peppa Pig here present a stage version of Swiss author and illustrator Mad Hatter and the March Hare, it invariably stage version of another of their splendid Marcus Pfister’s cautionary tale. makes for a fun family show - and experienc- creations. Originally a BAFTA award-winning The multi-coloured Rainbow Fish doesn’t ing it in the great outdoors should make the television animation, it focuses on the adven- want to share his scales with the other fish in production all the more memorable. tures of fairy princess Holly and her best pal, Presented by Immersion Theatre. whatsonlive.co.uk 29 Grease (1).qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 14:48 Page 1

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The first brand new touring production of Grease The Musical in 25 years comes to Birmingham next month, and it’s bound to be electrifyin’… WhatGreased’s On spoke to cast members Peter Andre,Lightn who stars as Teen Angel, Dan ! Partridge, who takes the lead as Danny Zuko, and Martha Kirby, who plays Sandy. Gritty and glamorous, Grease is one of the the film came out and I went to see it in the So where does Peter get his inspiration for the most iconic shows of the 20th century. cinema at least 15 times,’ explains Peter role: “The Fonz is definitely my rebellious ’50s Producer Colin Ingram insists that this new Andre, who plays Teen Angel. “I loved it! inspiration for this part. The Fonz was a production will refresh and revive the hit Then I had it on VHS. It was such an iconic legend, and he and Danny Zuko brought musical, keeping it ‘fresh, relevant, vibrant film. I always had this dream of going back to about that iconic style of blue jeans, white and young’. What makes this version the 1950s, like when people say if you had a t-shirt and leather jacket. Those rockabilly different is that it’s more in keeping with the time machine and could go back to any era, vibes are definitely something I’ll be thinking original Broadway production written by Jim where would you go. The ’50s would always about during my performance. I remember at Jacobs and Gordon Casey, featuring songs be my answer. I think there’s something school we all loved to dress like that.” never before heard in any staging of Grease in about that era. I loved watching Grease and Peter’s father and children have also the UK. was desperate to be a part of it, so when the influenced him in preparing to play Teen opportunity came up to play Teen Angel, I ‘Growing up in Australia, I remember when Angel: was delighted.”

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by Lauren Cole

“My father was always there to give me the Grease The Musical has a history of making far! My aspirations are to find fulfillment in best advice when I was starting out in my stars of its actors. John Travolta himself started whatever I do. Obviously there are roles I’d career. When I was offered a recording deal out in the original Broadway production be- love to play and shows I’d love to do, like live on television when I was 16, I was the fore becoming a huge movie star. Grease, but I just want to feel like I’m apply- happiest person alive, but my dad insisted I Taking on the role of Danny Zuko in this latest ing myself creatively in anything that I put my finish school first. I was upset because I version is Dan Partridge: “When you go into mind to. So whether that’s going into teaching thought they might change their mind if they this industry as a performer, especially in for a bit after Grease or going on to do more had to wait for me. But I’m really grateful for times where you don’t have so much success, performing, I just want to do my best in what- that advice now, and it’s something that I to make a living out of this is an absolute ever the next opportunity happens to be.” want to pass onto my kids. My kids ask me dream come true,” says Dan. “In terms of why they have to go to school when I didn’t aspirations, I always want to go higher and get where I did in my career directly from further; to go into film and television. The studying. But I always insist that school is the sky’s the limit. Like Peter Andre says, you’ve Grease The Musical shows at Birmingham basis for everything, for all learning about got to climb that mountain and turn ‘impossi- Hippodrome from Tuesday 13 to Saturday life. I guess that’s also why the role of Teen ble’ into ‘I’m possible’. 24 August, with Peter Andre playing Teen Angel appeals to me so much, because he “What’s so exciting about this new production Angel from 13 to 17 and 21 to 22 August only. appears to Frenchy to encourage her not to is that it has all the iconic songs and every- drop out of school.” thing that audiences love about Grease, alongside the fact that it’s a brand new The new production is blessed with the production. The script has been improved, so creative input of renowned choreographer that we have a bit more of the historical Arlene Phillips. Peter explains what this context in there, which is what makes it means for Teen Angel: “I’ve been told that grittier. There’s unbelievable casting, es- this role is Teen Angel with a twist… and I’m pecially with Peter Andre, even if he just about as much in the dark with that right does make lots of terrible dad-jokes! now as the audiences will be when they Then, on top of that, Arlene Phillips arrive. choreographs it. There really are “Teen Angel is such an iconic part of the some incredible household names on Grease film, but they definitely plan to make board with this new production.” that scene a much bigger and better part of this production. With Arlene Phillips at the Starring alongside Dan is newbie helm, I think everything will be fabulous. Martha Kirby… She’s talking about making the moves more “It’s an honour to be making my contemporary, but also going back and look- professional debut as ing at the original Broadway production and Sandy,” she says. “To ful- the dancing from the ’50s itself. There have fill this dream role at been rumours that I will be suspended in such an early stage some way to fly in, in true Teen Angel style, in my career is but I haven’t told them yet that I’m scared of mental - scary heights! I’m not into sky diving or bungee but also very jumping or anything like that…” exciting. I’m Despite focusing on his extensive music really inter- career, Peter’s love of theatre really shines ested to play through: “I think theatre is the root of all Sandy in my performance. You look at some of the A-list own way and Hollywood actors and they either start out in challenge the stereo- theatre or return to it later on. Theatre is type of what the char- where performance starts and where it ends: acter can be. I think I’m it’s truly the root of it all. I did Thriller in the slightly punchier than the tra- West End for the Prince’s Trust, and there’s ditional Sandy, so I’d like to bring talk of me doing other stage shows as well. some of my own personality and Unfortunately, it’s the commitment and long experience to the role. With this amount of time spent touring that makes new UK tour and production, it theatre difficult for me, but I can do a few bits just seems like the right time to here and there, which is great, and I’m really bring something new.” looking forward to Grease. So what are Martha’s hopes for her “The show is going to be electrifyin’! The career? visuals, lights, costumes, acting, singing and dancing - it’s truly going to dazzle!” “Gosh, I’m just happy I’ve even got this

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Film

Spider-Man: Far From Home CERT 12a (129 mins) Starring Tom Holland, Samuel L Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, JB Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal Directed by Jon Watts (USA)

Having been killed off in Avengers: Infinity War, Spidey swings back into action in this, the ninth solo Spider-Man film. On a school trip to London, Prague and Venice, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is called on by Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) to help combat an organisation operating from an alternative dimension. The director Jon Watts returns from his duties on the last Spidey film, Spider- Man: Homecoming (2017) and Jake Gyllenhaal plays the master of trickery, Quentin Beck - aka Mysterio. Interestingly, Gyllenhaal was due to play Spider-Man himself - in Spider- Man 2 (2004) - when Tobey Maguire was injured while shooting Seabiscuit, but the latter then recovered in time. Available in 3D and IMAX. Released Tues 2 July EDITOR’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in July...

Anna CERT 12a (119 mins) Midsommar CERT tbc (140 mins) Never Look Away Starring Sasha Luss, Luke Evans, Cillian Starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, CERT 15 (189 mins) Murphy, Helen Mirren William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Starring Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Paula Directed by Luc Besson (France) Archie Madekwe, Will Poulter Beer, Saskia Rosendahl, Oliver Masucci Directed by Ari Aster (USA/Sweden) Anna is played by the Russian supermodel Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (Germany) Sasha Luss and is a beauty with a frightening secret. Well, not that secret if you are familiar From the director of the Oscar-winning The with Luc Besson’s other films, Nikita, Lucy, Lives Of Others (2006), this is the story of an and Valerian And The City Of A Thousand artist who has escaped the constraints of Planets. As it happens, Anna is a kick-ass East Germany but is still haunted by his government assassin. childhood there under the GDR regime. Nominated for the 2019 Oscar for best foreign Released Fri 5 July language film - and for best cinematography. Released Fri 5 July

A young couple choose a remote Swedish village in which to holiday, a decision they quickly learn to regret when bizarre local traditions start to surface. From the American filmmaker who made his debut with the critically acclaimed Hereditary (2018). Be afraid. Released Fri 5 July

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Film

Warren and is locked behind sacred glass. Vita & Virginia CERT 12a (110 mins) Kursk: The Last Mission But we all know that Annabelle is no Starring Gemma Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki, dummy… For those who really care, this is CERT tbc (117 mins) Rupert Penry-Jones, Peter Ferdinando, the seventh instalment in the Conjuring Uni- Starring Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, Isabella Rossellini Colin Firth, Peter Simonischek, August Diehl, Directed by Chanya Button (UK/Ireland) verse franchise. Max von Sydow Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (France/Belgium/Luxembourg) Adapted from the Released Wed 10 July play by Eileen Only last year Colin Firth was having trouble Atkins - who coat sea in the yachting drama The Mercy. Now scripts the film with The Dead Don’t Die he plays the Royal Navy commander David its director - this CERT 15 (105 mins) Russell, who attempts to save those aboard biographical Starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda the Russian nuclear-powered submarine romance explores Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Kursk that sank in the Barents Sea in 2000. Danny Glover, Tom Waits Based on Robert Moore’s book A Time To Die the relationship Directed by Jim Jarmusch (USA/Sweden) between Virginia (2003). With Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), cult direc- Woolf (Elizabeth Debicki) and the poet and Released Fri 12 July tor Jim Jarmusch explored the vampire genre novelist Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arter- and cast Tilda Swinton as a centuries-old ton). Bizarrely, the last time Virginia Woolf bloodsucker. Now he’s cast her as a sword- was played on screen was by another wielding undertaker in his starry take on the Stuber CERT tbc Australian actress, Nicole Kidman. zombie comedy. Starring Kumail Nanjiani, Dave Bautista, Iko Released Fri 5 July Uwais, Natalie Morales, Karen Gillen Released Fri 12 July Directed by Michael Dowse (USA) Uber driver Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) really cares Annabelle Comes Home about his star rating. However, when he picks CERT 15 (106 mins) up a reckless detective (Dave Bautista) who Starring Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, involves him in a race to catch a ruthless Katie Sarife, Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga terrorist, things turn decidedly tricky. Directed by Gary Dauberman (USA) Expect some raw language. That wretched doll - last seen in Annabelle: Released Fri 12 July Creation (2017) - is now back in the safekeep- ing of the demonologists Ed and Lorraine

Pavarotti CERT 12a (114 mins) Directed by Ron Howard (USA/UK) Luciano Pavarotti was perhaps the most successful tenor in history, crossing over into popular music, being a part of The Three Tenors and even starring in a Hollywood film. Ron Howard previously directed the documentary The Beatles: Eight Days A Week (2016). Released Mon 15 July

The Queen’s Corgi Whitehall), accidentally bites Donald CERT PG (85 mins) Trump on his state visit and shortly after- With the voices of Jack Whitehall, Julie wards goes missing. You couldn’t make it Walters, Sheridan Smith, Ray Winstone, up. In spite of the British voice cast - and Matt Lucas, Tom Courtenay subject matter - this cartoon actually hails Directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent from Belgium. Kesteloot (Belgium) The Queen’s favourite Corgi, Rex (Jack Released Fri 5 July

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Film highlights released in July...

The Lion King CERT PG With the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones Directed by Jon Favreau (USA) A 'photorealistic' remake of Disney's 1994 cartoon classic builds on the company's growing technical acumen, with Jon Favreau back in the director’s chair following his wizardry with The Jungle Book (2016). Elton John, of Rocketman fame, teams up with Tim Rice and Beyoncé to provide a brand new song, while five tunes from the original will figure, including, of course, Circle Of Life and the Oscar-winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight, the latter being performed by Beyoncé. Since the release of the first film - which was, in part, inspired by Hamlet - The Lion King has been made into a stage musical, becoming the highest-grossing production in Broadway history. A hard act to follow. Released Fri 19 July

CRITIC’S CHOICE

The Chambermaid The Current War The Intruder CERT 15 (102 mins) CERT tbc (102 mins) CERT tbc (105 mins) Starring Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Dennis Starring Gabriela Cartol, Teresa Sánchez Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Quaid, Joseph Sikora, Alvina August Directed by Lila Avilés (Mexico/USA) Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland, Directed by Deon Taylor (USA) Katherine Waterston, Tuppence Middleton People really shouldn’t buy houses in the In the wake of the Oscar-winning Roma, this Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (USA) Mexican drama also focuses on class and movies. There’s always a problem. Here, privilege as it highlights the ritual of a Scott and Annie Howard move into their new conscientious chambermaid working for a home in Napa Valley, but find that the top hotel in Mexico City. It marks the directo- previous owner still wants to keep a very rial debut of the actress Lila Avilés. close eye on it… Released Fri 26 July Released Fri 26 July

Teen Spirit CERT 12a (93 mins) Starring Elle Fanning, Rebecca Hall, Zlatko Buric, Agnieszka Grochowska Directed by Max Minghella (UK/USA) Elle Fanning plays a shy teenager who tries to escape her roots by entering an international That’s ‘current’ as in ‘the flow of electricity’, singing competition. and this is the story of the rivalry between The film, described as a Thomas Edison (Cumberbatch) and George musical drama, marks Westinghouse (Shannon) to power the world the directorial debut of their way. Nicholas Hoult co-stars as another the actor Max Minghella, electrifying inventor, the physicist Nikola son of the acclaimed Tesla. filmmaker Anthony Minghella. Released Fri 26 July Released Fri 26 July whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Visual Arts July -2.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 14:51 Page 1

Visual Arts previews from around the region

Home Of Metal Presents Black Sabbath - 50 Years Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 29 September Home Of Metal, a project devoted to the Heavy Metal music that was born in and around Birmingham, is the initiative behind this sure-to- be-popular exhibition, which seeks to dissect the key ingredients that came together to create Black Sabbath. Focusing on more than just the band and their Birmingham roots, Home Of Metal has also captured more than 3,000 portraits of Black Sabbath fans across the world, in the process illustrating the diversity of the group’s fanbase. The exhibition also includes a recreation of super- fan Stephen Knowles’ living room - a space that he’s turned into his own mini Sabbath museum - and a number of key costumes loaned by the band. Other on-display items include Ozzy’s glasses, Tony Iommi’s home studio and a part of Bill Ward’s drum kit, used in the 1974 Cal Jam, where Sabbath performed in front of 250,000 people.

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Visual Arts

Nick Hynan: Gender Blending Birmingham LGBT Centre, until Mon 26 August This thought-provoking exhibition sees local photographer Nick Hynan chronicling Birmingham’s gender-blending culture. Nick’s aim is to show that drag and cross-dressing is a ‘living and evolving tradition’, and that today’s generation of drag kings and queens have developed a range of styles which allow them to challenge, with increasing confidence, society’s attitudes to gender and sexuality. An ongoing project since 2014, Gender Blending 2019 includes new images being exhibited for the very first time.

A Tea Journey: From The Mountains To The Table Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 6 July - Sun 22 September Compton Verney’s summer exhibition house made of bamboo, which is does exactly what it says on the, er, tea appearing outside Japan for the first time. caddy - telling the story of how Britain’s Also included is an examination of how favourite drink became an everyday tea physically affects the body and can commodity. The exhibition features help in times of shock or grief, and an paintings, poetry, music, a collection of intricate-but-transient wet clay ancient and modern ceramics, a tea installation inspired by tea and created by sensorium and a modern Japanese tea Staffordshire artist Phoebe Cummings.

Drawn Of The Dead: The Comic Art Of Charlie Adlard Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 3 November Opening last month to coincide with work on the Walking Dead comic book. Comics Salopia - Shrewsbury’s new comic The exhibition provides visitors with the A Tale Of Two Empires: Rome book festival - Drawn Of The Dead features chance to take part in a ‘zombie life-draw- a selection of original illustrations by local ing session’, during which they can create And Persia artist Charlie Adlard, best known for his a zombie sketch to take home. Barber Institute, Birmingham, until Sun 15 March 2020 This long-running exhibition is based around the Barber’s extensive Late Roman coin collection and its historically important Sasanian cache (Sasania was the last kingdom of the Persian Empire, nowadays known as Iran). Charting a journey from the third century through to the seventh, the display recounts a story of violence and glory, peace and tolerance, betrayal and revenge. Along the way, it plots the dynamics that existed between the ancient superpowers of Rome and Persia as they ‘spun humiliating defeats and promoted bloody victories on the small pieces of art circulating in the pockets of the masses’. The exhibition also contemplates the artistic themes and devices the two civilisations had in common.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Picture This! Family Drawing Tour Aston Hall, Birmingham, Tues 23 July - Tues 27 August

Families with creative flair should head to Aston Hall this summer, as the venue is holding a series of special interactive drawing tours. Alongside the opportunity to get sketching, the tour also provides visitors with the chance to find out 1940s Weekend military checkpoints and back in time to about some of the people who’ve explore entertainment, food and fashion 1940s- lived in or visited the venue across Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, style. Sat 12 - Sun 14 July the centuries, and to learn some of Vintage vehicles and 1940s civilians and army The Black Country Living Museum is this the secrets hidden in their personnel will be much in evidence, with portraits. month stepping back in time to the 1940s, to attractions across the weekend including live present the sights and sounds of wartime music, wartime variety shows, austerity-bust- Britain. ing make-do-and-mend workshops, fashion Identity cards in hand, visitors step through The Wilder Side Of shows and street performers. Compton Verney Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park, Sun 7 July Art & Antiques For Everyone The Big Picnic NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 18 - Sun 21 July Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sat 20 July Bringing together more than 200 specialist dealers, this show is the largest vetted art, interiors & antiques fair outside of London. The event attracts experts from all levels of the antiques world: from dealers with galleries in Celebrate National Meadows Day London’s West End showing works with prices by immersing yourself in nature up to £100,000, to occasional dealers with a pas- and discovering the wildlife sion for buying and selling all kinds of unusual thriving in Compton Verney’s items, with many exhibits priced at under £20. meadows, woods and parkland. Expert seminars and talks by well-known figures Call in at the Pollination Station to from the art and antiques world also feature. understand the importance of bees and other insects to the environ- The annual Big Picnic celebrations are back this ment, or drop into the venue’s month. Taking place in the gardens of Anne Forest School to create some Hathaway’s Cottage, the popular event sees insect-inspired artwork. families packing a food hamper and enjoying a Visitors can also follow badger day’s entertainment. trails, settle down at the bird hide There’s plenty to keep youngsters entertained, and go pond-dipping for with garden games, face painting, magic tricks creepy-crawlies. and puppet theatre all featuring. And be sure to join Hushwings the Plus, if you’re still feeling a bit peckish after owl, who will take you on a chomping your way through a hamper’s-worth of remarkable flying tour of the park home-prepared tucker, there are some sizzling in a 360° virtual reality video barbecue foods available to enjoy. experience.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Birmingham Bubble Rush Cofton Park, Birmingham, Sat 20 July

Raising funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice, the Birming- ham Bubble Rush is back for 2019. Starting in a sea of bubbles, make your way round the course as the Bubble Commandos fire frothy Destination Space: The Moon milkshake bubbles from their foam cannons. Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham, summer holiday. You'll visit different-coloured Mon 22 July - Fri 30 August Visitors can not only find out about both bubble stations along the route, Blast off! To mark the 50th anniversary of the current and future missions, they can also as you run, jog, walk or dance first moon landing, Thinktank is hosting an discover what it takes to get to the moon and your way to the finish line. action-packed family show throughout the what it’s like to work on the lunar landscape. The event is suitable for all the family, with all ages and abilities welcome to participate. The course is both wheelchair and Camper Jam pushchair-friendly. Weston Park, Staffordshire, Fri 5 - Sun 7 July Camper Jam is celebrating its 12th birthday this Summer Of Spitfire year by promising more family fun than ever RAF Museum, Cosford, before. Attractions include stalls to shop in, bars Mon 1 July - Sun 1 September to cool off in and plenty of live entertainment to RAF Museum Cosford is the place enjoy across the three-day weekend. to head for this summer if you’re a Not only can visitors check out a variety of VW fan of the Spitfire. vehicles, they can also sample entertainment The venue’s line-up of attractions including a tug o’ war, ‘cooking in a camper’ and includes cockpit tours of the a K9 dog show. world’s oldest Spitfire Mk 1, daily The Friday night has a definite rock-tash-tic feel storytelling sessions, and the about it, with performances from Bon Jovi chance to grab a Spitfire selfie Forever and Supreme Queen, while the Saturday with props and costumes. boasts a real ’90s vibe, as The Spice Girlz, Pulp’d New for 2019 is a virtual reality and Blur2 take to the stage. SciFest zone featuring the Spitfire VR University of Wolverhampton, Fri 5 - Sat 6 July Experience, providing visitors with the chance to enjoy the thrill Adults and children of all ages can this month of flying in a Spitfire. get involved in an action-packed day of science, The experience puts you in the technology, engineering and maths (STEM). cockpit and 10,000 feet in the air. The University of Wolverhampton is hosting a Then, once you’re wearing the VR whole range of free workshops, experiments and goggles, you can enjoy a fully games for all the family to enjoy. interactive panoramic view of a Highlights include a pop-up planetarium, real Spitfire flight. robotic coding and a rocket-building workshop.

whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Warwick Castle.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 15:43 Page 1 Wonderful Warwick Discover over 1000 years of history at one of England’s best-loved visitor attractions.

Spectacular shows and attractions, spellbind- grounds, Warwick Castle is the ultimate back- batics, then join the falconer on a quest for ing storytelling and exhilarating experiences drop for spectacular shows. the finest birds in the land. all year round make Warwick Castle one of the Don't miss the UK’s biggest Birds of Prey Plus, enjoy the critically acclaimed Wars Of most exciting historic visitor attractions in Show this Summer, The Falconer’s Quest - The Roses Live jousting show. Experience a Europe. taking place in a stunning riverside location spectacle never before seen in the UK, com- Set in the heart of Shakespeare’s England, with within the grounds of the castle. Search the plete with perilous stunt riders, fearless joust- fascinating architecture and amazing views to skies overhead as free-flying birds of prey ing and state-of-the-art special effects. enjoy in 64 acres of beautifully landscaped take flight in a dynamic display of aerial acro-

and there’s more... No matter what time of year, there’s some- For wannabe princesses, the Princess have been like for Victorian guests by at- thing for everyone at Warwick Castle. Tower is the place to visit. Here, you can tending the venue’s Royal Weekend Party. learn about Guy’s quest to win the hand of In 1898, Frances, Countess of Warwick - who In addition to the seasonal events taking the beautiful Felice before falling foul of an was more affectionately known as Daisy - place at the venue, there’s also a selection of evil sorcerer. Play your part in breaking the hosted a weekend party at which the princi- all-year-round attractions to enjoy. curse and reuniting Felice with her sweet- pal guest was the Prince of Wales, later Ed- These include: heart... ward VII. The party is now reenacted across 12 specially designed rooms, where visitors Ever fancied walking in battle alongside a The world’s first Horrible Histories ® will come across the likes of a young Win- medieval army? With Warwick the King- Maze, featuring fun challenges including a ston Churchill reading a book in the library. chance to survive the trenches, uncover evil maker, you can do just that. Join him and plots and ultimately escape the maze... his soldiers as they prepare for war - and in For more information about events the process experience the sights, sounds at Warwick Castle and to book tickets The Castle Dungeon * which brings to- and smells of medieval England... online, visit warwick-castle.com gether a cast of historic characters, immer- *additional charges apply sive sets, special effects and live shows... Find out what a weekend at the castle would

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Slay the Dragon! action-packed show returns to Warwick Castle...

Entertainment of the highest calibre is al- his nemesis, the fire-breathing dragon. For those wishing to experience even more ways assured at Warwick Castle, but next medieval merriment, the venue also offers a Unique to the Midlands, Dragon Slayer’s month the venue ups the ante once again hog roast or period-themed banquet to finale features a projection canvas measuring with the return of its popular Dragon accompany the show. 31 metres by 80 metres and lit with 150,000 Slayer evening shows. lumens of light - the equivalent to more than Show-only tickets start from £20 per person Back for 2019 following a hugely popular run 500 house lightbulbs. and include car parking. last year, the show is guaranteed to delight For 2019, the action in the castle’s main court- All bookings must be made online in advance visitors of all ages. Performances feature dis- yard combines further fiery elements with - and bear in mind that shows, particularly on plays of fearless horseback fire-jousting, per- even more light projection, pyrotechnics and Saturday evenings, tend to sell out fast. ilous stunt riding and a ‘dazzling’ live performance to create ‘the ultimate confrontation between Guy - a heroic figure thrilling finale’. likened to Robin Hood and Saint George - and

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FEATURE SUMMER OF FUN

With the school holidays once again upon us, parents across the Midlands will no doubt be looking for places to visit and things to do with their kids during the long summer break. We’ve taken a look at what’s happening where and have come up with a few suggestions to get you started...

Have a (pre)fab time at Avoncroft Museum Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4JR Spread over 19 acres of Worcestershire countryside, England’s first open-air museum covers in excess of 700 years of Midlands history. The site includes a wildflower meadow, period gardens and a traditional cider & perry orchard, as well as a collection of 20-plus historic buildings, ranging in date from Worcester Cathedral’s 14th century Guesten Hall roof to a post-Second World War Birmingham prefab. And if checking out all of the aforementioned attractions works up an appetite, the museum also boasts an award-winning tearoom, Get creative at Thinktank in a child-sized city complete with a selection of cakes or light Thinktank Science Museum, Millennium Point, Birmingham, B4 7XG lunches made with fresh, local produce, some A new mini-city space where children are in MiniBrum has a number of different play of which comes from the museum’s very own charge has opened at Thinktank Science zones, including a home area where period gardens. Museum. children can build their own dens, a burrow For further information, visit MiniBrum is an interactive child-sized world in which to search for hidden animals, a avoncroft.org.uk that allows youngsters to explore and race track inspired by Birmingham’s question their understanding of the STEM upcoming Commonwealth Games, a (science, technology, engineering & construction zone, post office and salon. Go behind the scenes at mathematics) world around them. Through There are also specially designed sensory BBC Birmingham play, children can gain the confidence to zones for babies. BBC Birmingham, The Mailbox, B1 1RF think like scientists in real-life scenarios, For further information, visit testing their ideas, solving problems and birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank Step inside BBC Birmingham for a special getting creative. behind-the-scenes tour of the TV & radio studios, providing you with the not-to-be- missed opportunity to find out more about some of the Beeb’s best-known output, Brick-tastic fun at Builder, special party rooms for birthdays including Midlands Today, BBC WM, Asian and other celebrations, a 4D cinema and Network and The Archers (subject to studio Legoland Discovery the popular Miniland area, which can be availability). Centre Birmingham found in every Legoland Discovery Centre Find out what it takes to put together a TV and theme park. news bulletin, learn about working in radio Arena Birmingham, King Edwards Rd, This summer the popular visitor and discover how BBC radio drama is made. Birmingham, B1 2AA attraction is hosting a Lego City: Report You can also try making your very own radio Since its highly anticipated opening last For Duty event, where kids are invited to play, which will then be sent to you as a summer, Legoland Discovery Centre complete building challenges and become memento of your visit. Birmingham has become a firm favourite a Lego City hero. BBC Birmingham tours run on Tuesdays, with families. Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10.30am and Highlight: ‘Big kids’ can take advantage Aimed at children aged three to 10, the 1pm. of adults-only nights on Wed 10 July, Wed centre offers plenty of highly interactive Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. 14 Aug and Wed 11 Sept and educational fun. Attractions include a For further information, visit For further information, visit range of Lego play areas, interactive rides, bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/ legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk masterclasses from the Lego Master Model birmingham

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SUMMER OF FUN

Birmingham in bloom at the Botanical Gardens Birmingham Botanical Gardens, B15 3TR Set in 15 acres of landscaped greenery, Birmingham Botanical Gardens was established in 1829, since which time it’s been one of the city’s top attractions. With four stunning glasshouses - tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid - there are plenty of unusual and amazing-looking plants to discover. The site also has its very own playground, tearoom and garden gift shop, all of which are surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK. Plus, every Sunday afternoon until the end of September, musical performances will be taking place in the Victorian bandstand (from 2pm to 4pm). Highlights: Outdoor theatre performances in July and open-air cinema in August For further information, visit their ABCs backwards in an authentic Old-school fun at Black birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Edwardian school lesson and watch some Country Living Museum ‘loff out loud’ vintage cartoons in a 1920s Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ. cinema. The museum is also hosting, for a third Get stuck into some old-school fun at the year, its hugely popular Summer Lates. Black Country Living Museum this For just a fiver, visitors entering after 5pm summer. The award-winning venue can enjoy family-friendly entertainment boasts more than 30 period shops and until 8pm every Friday during August. houses to explore and features a host of This year sees each evening themed famous characters to help bring the Black around a different decade, from the Country’s fascinating history to life. Roaring ’20s to the Swinging ’60s. Visitors can also challenge themselves to some deceptively simple old-school street Highlights: 1940s Weekend, 13-14 July games outside the back-to-backs, learn For further information, visit bclm.com Gear up for a visit to the British Motor Museum Banbury Rd, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 OBJ Featuring the world’s largest collection of historic British cars, this family-friendly museum offers a colourful insight into the UK’s motor industry. From the popular Time Road to the Under The Skin interactive zone, adults and children alike will find displays and exhibits to surprise and enlighten. The museum tells the story of the birth, decline and rebirth of the motor industry and the cars it produced, as well as celebrating the calmer time checking out a host of exotic Enjoy a summer of thrills skills and creativity of the people who animals, the popular visitor attraction can designed and built them. at Drayton Manor Park certainly meet your summertime needs. This summer sees the venue hosting new Oh, and adrenaline junkies will also be Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3TW exhibition The Car. The Future. Me, which pleased to know that the park’s high-rope Home to Europe’s first and only Thomas takes a look back at the inventors of the first adventure course, VertiGo, is reopening on Land, Drayton Manor Theme Park is automobiles and assesses their visions for the Saturday 20 July. offering visitors a summer of fun. future. Special offer: Four tickets for £95 when The venue has more than 100 rides and Highlights: Summer Science Shows every you prebook online attractions across its site, as well as a 15- Wednesday 25 July - 29 August; Daily family For further information, visit acre zoo. So whether you fancy some activities 20 July - 2 September draytonmanor.co.uk white-knuckle rides, including Shockwave For further information, visit and Apocalypse, or would rather have a britishmotormuseum.co.uk

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SUMMER OF FUN

Time travel at Coventry Delve into the deep Gentoo penguin named Flash, who hatched last month. Transport Museum waters of National Sea Following a multi-million pound Millennium Place, Hales Street, Life Centre investment, the popular visitor attraction Coventry, CV1 1JD The Water’s Edge, Brindleyplace, is now also home to a world-class rescue This popular museum not only houses the Birmingham, B1 2HL facility. Visitors can check out a pair of its largest publicly owned collection of British residents, Miley and Boo, two seals who The National Sea Life Centre is home to vehicles on the planet, it also tells the story of each have medical conditions which more than 2,000 creatures (including a a city which changed the world through mean that they wouldn’t survive in the colony of gentoo penguins, black-tip reef transport. wild. sharks and a giant green sea turtle), There are 14 fully accessible galleries to enjoy, Highlights: Pirates And Mermaids, many of which have been rescued or featuring, among other attractions, pioneering until Sun 8 September successfully bred as part of the global Sea bicycles, transport champions, innovative, For further information, visit Life breeding initiative. memorable and luxurious vehicles from the visitsealife.com/birmingham The venue’s latest addition is a baby last 200 years and, last but certainly not least, the world’s fastest vehicle. Visitors can also walk through The Blitz experience or check out one of three 4D simulator rides. This summer the museum is hosting This Makes That With These, new sessions providing families with the chance to create their very own inventions using challenge kits that include mini cycles and gearboxes. For further information about the venue, visit transport-museum.com

Step into the world of shaped the world. Highlights: There’s live theatre from William Shakespeare resident actors at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, various contemporary sculptures and landscaped locations in Stratford-upon-Avon gardens to enjoy at Shakespeare’s New Experience what life was like for the Place, nine acres of gardens and orchards world’s most famous playwright as he grew to explore at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the up in Stratford-upon-Avon. chance to experience a real working Tudor From the home where Shakespeare was farm at Mary Arden’s Farm, and the born, to the cottage where he courted his opportunity to learn about medicinal Compton Verney is future bride and the site where he raised practices of the Jacobean era at Hall’s Croft. everyone’s cup of tea his family, visitors can walk in the footsteps For further information, visit Compton Verney, Warwickshire, CV35 9HZ of the bard to discover how his work has shakespeare.org.uk Discover the unique delights of Compton Verney this summer, including an award- winning art gallery and family-friendly cafe & gift shop surrounded by 120 acres of stunning parkland and lake. Visitors can wander through the historic ‘Capability’ Brown landscape, marvel at world-class art exhibitions or have fun in the outdoor adventure playground. Drop in any day during the summer holiday and take part in a range of creative and multisensory activities inspired by the gallery’s latest exhibition, A Tea Journey. Participants can explore a variety of teas through their sense of smell and design their very own tea ware. visit comptonverney.org.uk

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SUMMER OF FUN

Experience 900 years of Visit the birthplace of your science knowledge at Enginuity, or try some tile painting at the Jackfield Tile history at Tamworth Castle the Industrial Revolution Museum. Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, B79 7NA Various locations in and around Ironbridge, Other sites include the Coalport China Shropshire Museum and Coalbrookdale Museum of A World Heritage Site and the beating Iron - not forgetting the magnificent Iron heart of the Industrial Revolution, Bridge itself; the world’s first-ever cast- Ironbridge Gorge is home to 10 award- iron bridge. winning attractions that make for a great Pick up an Annual Passport and make day out. great savings on visits to all sites. Discover what life was like more than 100 For further information, visit years ago by visiting the recreated ironbridge.org.uk Victorian town of Blists Hill, swot up on

Step back in time through 900 years of history at Tamworth Castle. Wander the chambers and hallways and get a real sense of how the Saxons, Normans, Tudors and Victorians spent their time. There are more than 15 fully furnished rooms to discover - and if the weather’s on your side, why not venture up the castle’s tower to enjoy 360° views of the surrounding grounds and the town of Tamworth. Highlights: Castle Storytelling 23-25 July, WW2 In The Castle 30 July - 1 August, Saxons At The Castle 6-8 and 13 -15 August For further information, visit tamworthcastle.co.uk

A summertime adventure to remember at JCA Condover Hall Activity Centre, Shropshire, SY5 7AU Have a truly roarsome time at the safari park West Midland Safari Park. Bewdley, Worcs, DY12 1LF Get ‘up close and personal’ with animals from around the world on West Midland Safari Park’s four-mile drive-through experience. Considered to be one of the most outstanding Not only are there giraffes and lions, Elizabethan manor houses in England, the elephants and ostriches to encounter Grade I listed Condover Hall near Shrewsbury at the popular visitor attraction, combines the charm of rural Britain with the there’s also a discovery trail that’s latest technology to provide visitors of all ages home to a number of species, and the with ‘an adventure to remember’. chance to enjoy a variety of talks and Boasting a range of facilities and innovative shows. activity stations, JCA’s attractions include a Away from the animals, the safari park brand new high aerial trek, an on-site lake and features the UK’s largest animatronic wildlife lake, an indoor sports hall & dinosaur attraction, an Ice Age swimming pool, high & low rope courses, all- experience and Boj’s Giggly Park. weather sports courts and an indoor laser The venue is next month bringing back maze. its Summer Nights late openings (from See advert on page 40 for details on how to 1 August to 1 September) and will be get 10% off bookings on summer dates staying open until 7.30pm For further information, visit For further information, visit jca-adventure.co.uk wmsp.co.uk 50 whatsonlive.co.uk p51 Woles.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 16:29 Page 1

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List Cover July Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 13:17 Page 1

52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Cover July Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 13:17 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide JulyJuly 22019019 thelist

Mr Stink at Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 29 - Wed 31 July

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

What’s On Mon 1 to Sun 7 July Mon 8 to Sun 14 July Mon 15 to Sun 21 July Mon 22 to Wed 31 July

Jack Savoretti at Whaddya Know... We’re In Love! Cosford Food Festival at Rosalie Cunningham at the Cannock Chase Forest at St Mary’s Church, Lichfield RAF Cosford Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton Sun 7 July Thurs 11 July Sat 20 - Sun 21 July Wed 31 July

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thelist THROUGHOUT JULY

Qube Gallery, Oswestry Visual Arts NEW SOMETIMES DOING NOTHING New Art Gallery - Walsall LEADS TO SOMETHING... Alec Shepley KATHLEEN RYAN Installations feature a exhibition of drawings, gesso and variety of materials, from cast iron embroidered works, Wed 3 - Wed 31 and precious stones to found ob- July jects, including bowling balls, until Sun 22 Sept The Willow Art Gallery, JACOB EPSTEIN - JACOB AND THE ANGEL Oswestry To mark the 60th anniversary of the NEW OPEN 2019 - EARTH, AIR, FIRE & death of Jacob Epstein, this iconic WATER Exhibition aiming to raise Epstein masterpiece from the Tate awareness of environmental issues collection shows in Walsall for the and the damage that consumer cul- first time, until Sun 29 Sept ture is causing to the natural world, Sat 6 July - Sat 24 Aug SCULPTURE IN FOCUS The trail posi- tions a key piece of contemporary sculpture from the Permanent Collec- Wolverhampton Art Gallery tion within each of the 10 themed col- PICK OF THE POPS New exhibition in- lection rooms, until Sun 22 Dec cludes works by famous Pop artists such as Pauline Boty and Andy Jack Savoretti - Cannock Chase Forest, Rugeley, Staffs Himley Hall & Park, Dudley Warhol, alongside a selection of rarely-seen pieces, until Sun 1 Sept, THE SEX PISTOLS EXPE- JESS GLYNNE Fri 5 July, HIMLEY HALL & DUDLEY CASTLE EXHIBI- Wolverhampton Art Gallery TION New exhibition about Dudley RIENCE Fri 5 July, Cannock Chase For- WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Gigs Castle & Himley Hall from 1066 to the Eleven, Sandyford, est, Staffordshire Annual exhibition, developed & pro- present day, until Sun 6 Oct KELLY JONES Mon 1 Stoke-on-Trent A NIGHT OF SLIPKNOT duced by the Natural History Mu- July, Symphony Hall, THE CHICAGO BLUES Fri 5 July, Mama seum, which is visiting Birmingham BROTHERS Fri 5 July, Roux’s, Birmingham Wolverhampton as part of a world- Newcastle Borough Museum Regent Theatre, Stoke- wide tour and for the first time show- THE LOVE BAND FT. THE ELVIS YEARS Sat 6 & Art Gallery on-Trent casing the full collection of 100 JOHNNY ECHOLS Tues 2 July, Lichfield Garrick NEW OUT OF THIS WORLD- SPACE RACE images and 45 digital shots, Sat 29 July, Hare & Hounds, CATAPULT CLUB FT. TOYS Touring exhibition looking at SOUNDS OF THE FOR- June - Sun 1 Sept Birmingham AFTER MIDNIGHT Fri 5 toys from the ’60s and ’70s which TUNES Sat 6 July, The- NATHAN GRISDALE July, O2 Academy, were influenced by the space race, Tues atre On The Steps, 2 July, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Sat 20 July - Sun 1 Sept Other VISUAL ARTS Bridgnorth, Shropshire Birmingham VAN SUMMER EXHIBITION Selected THE SMYTHS Fri 5 July, PAUL WELLER Sat 6 work from members of VAN, until THE MELVIN HANCOX The Sugarmill, Stoke- July, Cannock Chase Potteries Museum & Art Tues 10 Sept, University Centre, BAND Wed 3 July, The on-Trent Forest, Staffordshire Gallery - Stoke-On-Trent Robin, Bilston Shrewsbury BROKEN 3 WAYS AND DUPPY DARNCE Sat 6 QUEEN VICTORIA: 200TH ANNIVERSARY BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER SOMEONE LIKE YOU: THE THE SKALINSKIS Fri 5 July, Mama Roux’s OF HER BIRTH A celebration of Queen AWARDS EXHIBITION Featuring the ADELE SONGBOOK July, Albert’s Shed, Birmingham Victoria and her 63-year reign as Thurs 4 July. Theatre Shrewsbury 2018 Awards’ winners and com- MUSIC UNDER THE monarch, with every aspect of her life mended entries, until Tues 10 Sept, Severn, Shrewsbury VOODOO ROOM: A NIGHT documented in ceramics, until Sun 1 STARS Sat 6 July, Tam- Jackfield Tile Museum, Telford MINISTRY OF HENDRIX, CLAPTON & Sept Thurs 4 July, worth Assembly THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD Exhibi- O2 Institute, B’ham CREAM Fri 5 July, Lich- Rooms SUGAR, SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE.... field Garrick tion exploring the lives of children SHAKATAK Exhibition featuring a display of tof- Thurs 4 July, LOVEHUNTER (WHITES- past and present, Sat 29 June - Sun The Jam House, Birm- THE BON JOVI EXPERI- fee, sweets and chocolate packaging NAKE TRIBUTE) Sat 6 18 Aug, Museum of Cannock Chase, ingham ENCE Fri 5 July, The July, Eleven, Sandy- from the last century, until Sun 8 Sept Staffordshire River Rooms, Stour- EVE SELIS ford, Stoke-on-Trent SETTLING; EXPLORING HUMAN MIGRA- Thurs 4 July, bridge NEW DISORDER LIVE ART FESTIVAL Fea- The Robin, Bilston A COUNTRY NIGHT IN TION Exhibition showcasing the pic- turing work by DisORDER Live Art - a CASH - PAYIN' RESPECT DOJA CAT Thurs 4 July, NASHVILLE Sat 6 July, tures and stories of those who have group of international artists working TO THE MAN IN BLACK moved to the city from around the O2 Institute, B’ham Theatre Severn, in response to the foreseeable diffi- Fri 5 July, The Robin, Shrewsbury world, from the recent past to the culties in sustaining a live art practice STEVE IGNORANTS Bilston present day, until Sun 22 Sept Thurs 4 July, Katie ONEMAN Sat 6 July, in the current funding climate, Fri 5 - JAMES OWSTON QUAR- Fitzgerald's, Stour- Hare & Hounds, Birm- APOLLO 50: COMMEMORATING THE 50TH Sun 7 July, Various venues across TET Fri 5 July, Sym- bridge ingham ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MANNED Wolverhampton phony Hall, B’ham THE MODFATHERS LUNAR LANDING Multimedia exhibition NEW COAST & COUNTRY Landscapes Sat 6 July, The Robin, Bil- featuring models and memorabilia and seascapes by contemporary ston telling the epic story of the Apollo British artists from Dorset to the Shet- programme, until Sun 3 Nov land Islands, Fri 19 July - Sat 10 Aug, MAETLIVE Sat 6 July, NEW ARRIVALS: 2018 Display of flora Twenty Twenty Gallery, Ludlow The River Rooms, and fauna never before seen in the NEW THREE COUNTIES OPEN ART 2019 Stourbridge county, until Wed 1 Jan EXHIBITION Range of artwork by JACK SAVORETTI Sun 7 NEW BRITISH PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS artists from Staffordshire, Cheshire July, Cannock Chase ASSOCIATION - ASSIGNMENTS Exhibi- and Shropshire, Sat 27 July - Thurs Forest, Rugeley tion of work by British newspaper 29 Aug, Burslem School of Art, SELLING LAMB BY THE photographers, as chosen by the Stoke-on-Trent POUND Sun 7 July, The British Press Photographers Associa- Eve Selis - The Robin, Bilston Robin, Bilston tion, Sat 13 July - Sun 25 Aug 54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 1-7 July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 12:12 Page 2

Monday 1 - Sunday 7 July

Rachel Marron in this much-ac- OLIVER! Presented by the Brit Youth ing Tudors, Wed 3 - Sat 6 July, The Classical Music claimed romantic thriller based on Theatre Sutton Coldfield, Thurs 4 - Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham the film of the same name, until Sat 6 Sat 6 July, The Crescent Theatre, HORRIBLE HISTORIES - AWFUL EGYP- BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR: SPIRITUALS July, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Birmingham TIANS From the fascinating Pharaohs TO WARM THE HEART Featuring Paul THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Shake- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Odd- to the power of the Pyramids, dis- Spicer (conductor) & Martyn Rawles speare's controversial masterpiece is socks’ 30th anniversary production, cover foul facts about death and (pianist). Programme includes works transported to 1950s New York, a city Fri 5 - Sat 6 July, Midlands Arts Cen- decay with the meanest mummies in by Moses Hogan, Rutter, Tippett, Will where communities are divided by tre, Birmingham Egypt, Wed 3 - Sun 7 July, The Todd & Paul Spicer, Sat 6 July, wealth and religion, until Sat 13 July, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham CBSO Centre, Birmingham STARCROSS SUMMER SHOWCASE Fri 5 - Stafford Castle Sat 6 July, Arena Theatre, Wolver- THE DIVINE BEAUTY CONCERT Pre- THE STRANGE UNDOING OF PRUDENCIA hampton sented by Birmingham Cathedral HART ‘Delicious play filled with wit, Choir. Featuring David Hardie (con- FOLLIES FESTIVAL Three days of spellbinding music and devilish en- ductor) & Ashley Wagner (organist), music, comedy and storytelling, set counters’, until Sat 13 July, New Vic Sat 6 July, Birmingham Cathedral against a woodland landscape of Dance Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme caves, crags & cliffs, Fri 5 - Sun 7 HALESOWEN CHORAL SOCIETY: TANGOMOTION Fast-paced production MEASURE FOR MEASURE Greg Doran July, Hawkstone Park & Follies, FAVOURITE OPERA CHORUSES & SOLOS featuring new dances created by directs a new version of Shake- Shrewsbury Featuring Katie Leaver (guest tango experts, Wed 3 July, New Vic speare’s ‘problem play’, until Thurs soloist), Stephen Davis (conductor) & LET'S CELEBRATE SUMMER Showcase Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme 29 Aug, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Sarah Marshall (accompanist), Sat 6 from Telford Academy of Performing Stratford-upon-Avon ROMEO & JULIET Ballet Cymru pre- July, Hasbury Methodist Church, Arts, Sat 6 July, Oakengates Theatre sents its version of the Shake- Hasbury, Halesowen & Rowley Regis, AS YOU LIKE IT Riotous version of at The Place, Telford speare’s iconic love story, Sat 6 July, B63 Shakespeare's romantic comedy, MUSICAL THEATRE YOUTH SUMMER Abbots Bromley School, Lichfield until Sat 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare JONATHAN RADFORD IN CONCERT Pro- SHOWCASE Birmingham Hippo- Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon gramme includes music by Fauré, drome’s Musical Theatre Youth Com- Milhaud, Maurice, De Falla & Albeniz, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Shake- pany celebrate the theatre’s 120th Sat 6 July, St Mary’s Church, Lich- speare's comedy of gender and ma- birthday, Sat 6 July, The Patrick Stu- Cabaret field terialism is turned on its head, until dio, Birmingham Hippodrome THE DREAMBOYS ‘The UK’s most Sat 31 Aug, Royal Shakespeare The- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Pre- ALBION STRING QUARTET: VOICES IN DI- famous girls night out’, Fri 5 July, atre, Stratford-upon-Avon sented by the Crescent Theatre Com- ALOGUE Programme includes works Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury by J.S Bach, Haydn, Schumann & THE PROVOKED WIFE Outspoken pany, Sat 6 - Sun 7 July, Blakesley Walton, Sat 6 July, Lichfield Festival Restoration romp, until Sat 7 Sept, Hall, Birmingham TRES TRES CABARET Stafford's first and The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon- only burlesque and variety show, Sat CBSO: SO VOCAL SUMMER CONCERT THIS HAPPY BREED The Crescent The- Avon 6 July, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Featuring Ula Webber (conductor), atre Company present its version of Sun 7 July, CBSO Centre, B’ham VENICE PRESERVED Fast-paced version Noel Coward's famous play, Sat 6 - of Thomas Otway's restoration Sat 13 July, Crescent Theatre, Birm- ATEA QUINTET Programme includes tragedy, until Sat 7 Sept, The Swan ingham works by Briccialdi, Bozza, Nielsen, Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Thea Musgrave & Doreen Carwithen, SWEENEY TODD Amateur staging of Talks Sun 7 July, St Mary’s Church, Lich- SISTER ACT Presented by Wolver- the story of London’s most infamous ONCE UPON A WEDNESDAY: LIZ WEIR field hampton Girls High School, Tues 2 - barber, Sat 6 - Sat 13 July, Oldbury MBE Join one of the Brewhouse’s Wed 3 July, Arena Theatre, Wolver- Rep favourite storytellers as she delivers a MICHAEL PETROV IN CONCERT Join the mix of anecdotes, personal tales & hampton DANCING IN THE AIR Music & dance award-winning cellist as he performs yarns... Wed 3 July, The Brewhouse JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNI- extravaganza transporting audiences works by J.S Bach & H. Dutilleux, Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent Sun 7 July, Lichfield Cathedral COLOR DREAMCOAT Tim Rice & An- to the ballroom and featuring the RAF drew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family Massed Voluntary Bands, Sun 7 July, HIT THE ODE Performance poetry night musical, Tues 2 - Sat 13 July, Birm- Symphony Hall, Birmingham featuring Chiedu Oraka, Jodi Ann Bickley & Bibi June, Fri 5 July, The ingham Hippodrome HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 Presented by Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippo- Comedy BORIS THE MUSICAL 2: BREXIT HARDER Stage It! Academy Tweens & Seniors, drome Blowfish Theatre's revised and up- Sun 7 July, Tamworth Assembly JOHN HASTINGS, DANNY MCLOUGHLIN & dated musical about Boris Johnson Rooms WHY MUMMY DOESN'T GIVE A ****! COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Join Gill Sims as she is interviewed and Brexit, Wed 3 - Sun 7 July, Old AS YOU LIKE IT Presented by Rain Or SON Thurs 4 July, The Glee Club, about her blog, books, character and Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Shine Theatre Company, Sun 7 July, Birmingham more! Sat 6 July, Stafford Gatehouse PRIDE & PREJUDICE Chapterhouse Kinlet Hall, Bewdley, Nr Kiddermin- ROB ROUSE, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, Theatre Theatre Company present an out- ster DAVE TWENTYMAN & COMIC TBC Thurs EDDIE THE EAGLE Eddie talks through door staging of Jane Austen’s time- HMS PINAFORE Charles Court Opera 4 July, The George Hotel, Lichfield his incredible life-journey, Sun 7 July, less classic, Thurs 4 July, Mitton presents its version of Gilbert & Sulli- FITZ FEST Thurs 4 - Sun 7 July, Katie Lichfield Garrick Manor, Staffordshire van’s celebrated collaboration, Sun 7 Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge SENSE AND SENSIBILITY The Pan- July, Lichfield Guildhall AN EVENING WITH SIMON WESTON Falk- GARY DELANEY Fri 5 July, Theatre Sev- taloons fuse live music, audience in- lands hero Simon tells his inspira- ern, Shrewsbury teraction, romance and heartbreak in tional story, Sun 7 July, Theatre SCOTT BENNETT, JOHN HASTINGS, a fast-paced outdoor staging of Jane Severn, Shrewsbury HENRY PARKER & RUDI LICKWOOD Fri 5 Austen’s classic novel, Thurs 4 July, Kids Shows - Sat 6 July, The Glee Club, B’ham Attingham Park, Shrewsbury IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE Igglepiggle, LOST VOICE GUY, FREDDY QUINNE, GOR- FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL Amateur Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends DON SOUTHERN & COMIC TBC Sat 6 staging by SAOS Youth Theatre, Film are back in their brand new live show, July, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Thurs 4 - Sat 6 July, Stourbridge INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Igglepiggle’s Busy Day! Tues 2 - Wed Town Hall ALADDIN (U) Adventure/Comedy. Star- 3 July, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on- ring Will Smith, Naomi Scott. Old BOOGIE NIGHTS Kidderminster Oper- Trent atic & Dramatic Youth Section pre- Market Hall, Shrewsbury, until Thurs Theatre sents its version of the ’70s musical, HORRIBLE HISTORIES - TERRIBLE TU- 4 July; Wem Town Hall, North Shrop- Thurs 4 - Sat 6 July, Rose Theatre, DORS From the horrible Henries to the shire, Fri 5 - Sat 6 July THE BODYGUARD Alexandra Burke & end of evil Elizabeth, hear the leg- Kidderminster ROCKETMAN (15) Biography/Drama. Jennilee Shallow share the role of ends (and the lies!) about the tortur- whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 1-7 July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 12:13 Page 3

COMING SOON

FRI 5 JULY

Until 27 July Brewhouse Open brewhouse.co.uk

FREE Exhibition Showcase

VOODOO ROOM 3rd July, 7.30pm Once Upon A Wednesday: Liz Weir MBE SAT 6 JULY

Tickets: £7 adv, £8 otd

From 22 July School Holiday Workshops

Various times and prices, see Brewhouse.co.uk for details THE ELVIS YEARS 26th July, 7.30pm SUN 7 JULY Made In Motor City

Tickets: £16

30th August, 7.30pm. 14+ Justin Moorhouse: Northern Joker

EDDIE THE EAGLE Tickets: £14/ £5 unwaged NOW BOOOKING... TUES 9 JULY 4th - 6th October, 11am & 1.30pm We're Going On A Bear Hunt LIVE RECORDING Tickets: £10

18th October, 7.30pm EVERYBODY'S TALKING Derek Acorah ABOUT JAMIE ‘The Eternal Life’ Tour

Tickets: £21 FRI 12 JULY

25 October, 7pm Vienna Festival Ballet - Snow White

Tickets: £18.50 / £16.50 conc.

30th October, 1.30pm OFFSTAGE Marty Macdonald’s Toy Machine TUES 23 - SAT 27 JULY Tickets: £8.50 Adult / £7.50 Child Box ofﬁce: 01283 508100 BOOK ONLINE AT THE LION, THE WITCH www.brewhouse.co.uk & THE WARDROBE Brewhouse Arts Centre BOX OFFICE: 01543 412 121 Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent www.lichfieldgarrick.com Staffordshire DE14 1AA LICHFIELD GARRICK, CASTLE DYKE, LICHFIELD, STAFFS, WS13 6HR 56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 1-7 July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 12:13 Page 4

thelist Monday 1 - Sunday 7 July Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell. LAVENDER MONTH AT BLAKESLEY HALL Wem Town Hall, North Shropshire, Lavender-themed activities in Tues 2 & Thurs 4 July Blakesley's gardens, Tues 2 - Wed 31 A PRIVATE WAR (15) Biography/Drama. July, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Starring Rosamund Pike, Jamie DUDLEY CASTLE TOUR Back by popular Doran. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon 1 demand, Wed 3 July, Dudley Castle July STORE STORIES: A BEHIND THE SCENES MAMMA MIA HERE WE GO AGAIN (PG) TOUR Check out the hidden treasures Comedy/Musical. Starring Lily James, in the collection stores at Attingham, Amanda Seyfried. Wem Town Hall, Thurs 4 July, Attingham Park, North Shropshire, Mon 1 July Shrewsbury AMAZING GRACE (U) Documentary. HOME OF METAL LATE Late-night ac- Starring Aretha Franklin. Festival cess to the Home Of Metal Presents: Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, Black Sabbath - 50 Years exhibition, North Shropshire, Mon 1 July Thurs 4 July, Birmingham Museum FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS (12a) Com- And Art Gallery edy/Drama. Starring James Purefoy, MESSY PLAY Creative workshop. Ma- Daniel Mays. Festival Drayton Centre, terials included. Under 5s, Fri 5 July, Timber Festival, The National Forest, Staffordshire Market Drayton, North Shropshire, The Hive, Shrewsbury BEST OF HANDSWORTH Debut event 7 July, Wulfruna Street, W’hampton Tues 2 July EXPLORASAURUS EVENING Have a go aiming to promote the area’s rich cul- THE HEIRESSES (12) Drama. Starring at some dinosaur-themed craft activi- ture and history by giving people the ZaiAna Brun, Margarita Irun. Foreign ties, Fri 5 July, Dudley Canal and Tun- opportunity to experience the tastes, Festivals language, subtitles. The Hive, nel Trust sounds, artists, products and people Shrewsbury, Fri 5 July NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up in- INFLATABLE 5K Featuring up to 15 of Handsworth, Sun 7 July, Soho cludes Kazabian, ABBA Chique, CAPERNAUM (15) Drama. Starring Zain mega-sized obstacles, making it the House, Birmingham Clemency, Fri 5 - Sat 6 July, Napton Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw. For- biggest Inflatable 5k obstacle event on the Hill, Warwickshire eign language, subtitles. Ludlow As- ever created, Sat 6 July, Wolver- sembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Fri hampton Racecourse ALSO FESTIVAL ALSO is the renowned 5 - Sat 6 July ideas, music and experiential festival MANDAEAN DAY Featuring music, talks Food & Drink from Salon London, Fri 5 - Sun 7 July, ALL IS TRUE (12a) Biography/Drama. and films exploring the Mandaean LONGTON BEER FESTIVAL Enjoy a wide Park Farm, Compton Verney, War- Starring Kenneth Branagh, Lolita Faith, Sat 6 July, Birmingham Mu- selection of beers and ciders in the wickshire Chakrabarti. Ludlow Assembly seum And Art Gallery cobbled courtyard, Fri 5 - Sat 6 July, TIMBER FESTIVAL Line-up includes Rooms, South Shropshire, Fri 5 - Sat SATH CHARITY FUN DAY Featuring live Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke- 6 July Hannah Peel & Will Burns, Sophia music from the Ronaldos, disco bub- on-Trent Thankur and Hinako Omori, Fri 5 - YESTERDAY (PG) Comedy/Fantasy. ble, Go Karting, Nerf gun arena, Ex- COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL The Mid- Sun 7 July, Feanedock, The National Starring Himesh Patel, Lily James. otic Zoo & 202 Field Hospital, Sat 6 lands’ biggest free-to-enter food & Forest, Staffordshire Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 5 - July, Shropshire Conference Centre drink festival, Fri 5 - Sat 6 July, Victo- Thurs 11 July (SECC), Royal Shrewsbury Hospital CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL Featuring ria Square, Birmingham major world premieres, world-leading SMALLFOOT (PG) Animation/Adven- JEWELLERY QUARTER HERITAGE WALK A TOM KERRIDGE PRESENTS PUB IN THE ensembles & much-loved regulars, ture. With the voices of Channing guided walk looking at the people, PARK Laid-back celebration of ‘the Fri 5 - Sun 7 July, various locations in Tatum, James Corden. Ludlow As- places and themes that have helped very best food, drink and music the and around Cheltenham sembly Rooms, South Shropshire, to shape the district, Sat 6 July, Mu- country has to offer’, Fri 5 - Sun 7 Sun 7 July seum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birm- NOISILY FESTIVAL Line-up includes Ex- July, St Nicholas Park, Warwick trawelt Live, Opiuo, Captain Hook THE APARTMENT (PG) ingham Comedy/Drama. RAIL ALE TRAIL The Churnet Valley and Alex Stein, Fri 5 - Sun 7 July, Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley STEP BACK TO THE 1940S Spend a Railway’s Rail Ale Trail features bars Coney Woods, Noseley Hall, Leices- MacLaine. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, weekend in wartime Britain, Sat 6 - at each of the three stations and a ter South Shropshire, Sun 7 July Sun 7 July, Severn Valley Railway, pub at each station, Fri 5 - Sun 7 July, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster GODIVA FESTIVAL 2019 Line-up in- Churnet Valley Railway, Froghall cludes Levellers, Busted, Feeder, NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: SHROPSHIRE FAMILY VINTAGE SHOW WOLVERHAMPTON FESTIVAL OF FOOD & Reef, The Twang, The Selecter, Get Featuring vintage vehicles of every DRINK Featuring the city’s largest ever Cape. Wear Cape. Fly & Robin S, Fri Released from Tues 2 July, showing kind, Sat 6 - Sun 7 July, West Midland at selected cinemas selection of independent producers, 5 - Sun 7 July, War Memorial Park, Showground, Shrewsbury brewers and tastemakers, Sat 6 - Sun Coventry SPIDERMAN: FAR FROM HOME (tbc) LARGE MODEL AIR SHOW Scale models ANNA (15) of iconic aircraft take to the skies, Sat MIDSOMMAR (tbc) 6 - Sun 7 July, RAF Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton THE QUEEN'S CORGI (PG) NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME OPEN DAY VITA AND VIRGINIA (12a) Enjoy the gardens and treat yourself to afternoon tea, Sun 7 July, Mitton Manor, Staffordshire FOLLIES FEST STORYTELLING & TROLL Events HUNT Fun family event featuring story- LEGO CITY Explore what the city of the telling sessions, Troll Hunt, messy future would look like and build awe- play & more... Sun 7 July, Hawkstone some creations, until Sun 1 Sept, Park & Follies, Weston-under-Red- Legoland Discovery Centre, B’ham castle, North Shropshire PIRATES AND MERMAIDS Join ‘the ulti- THE ORDINARY VICTORIANS Celebration mate underwater adventure’ this of the common Victorian worker as summer, until Sun 8 Sept, National Sarehole Mill’s 19th century heyday Sea Life Centre, Birmingham is recreated, Sun 7 July, Hall Green, Birmingham Large Model Air Show - RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton

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family music music

A Midsummer Nights Dream the johnny cash roadshow mary duff Wed 17 July @ 7.30pm Fri 19 July @ 7.30pm Sat 20 July @ 7.30pm

music music family 16+

the tiger who came to tea Gary Meikle: The iBrow Guy Go Now! the music of the moody blues Sat 10 & Sun 11Aug @ Fri 20 Sept @ 8.00pm Sat 21 Sept @ 7.30pm 11.30am and 2.30pm

music dance music

stars of irish country dreamboys the quo experience

TWC GP 01453 Wed 25 Sept @ 7.30pm Thurs 26 Sept @ 7.30pm Fri 27 Sept @ 7.30pm

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 8-14 July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 12:08 Page 2

thelist Monday 8 - Sunday 14 July drei Ionita (BBC New Generation Classical Artist) & Polly Leach (Mezzo So- prano). Programme includes works by Shostakovich & Elgar, Sat 13 Music July, Lichfield Cathedral LAURA ZHANG PIANO CONCERT Pro- TELFORD ORCHESTRA SUMMER CON- gramme includes works by CERT Programme includes works by Beethoven, Brahms & Chopin, Mon Johann Strauss, Eric Coates, 8 July, St Michael’s Church, Lichfield Humperdinck & Arthur Sullivan, Sat THE MESSIAH - COME & SING! Featur- 13 July, St Michael’s Church, Made- ing international soloists Rebecca ley, Telford, Shropshire Bottone (soprano) & Polly Leach KALEIDOSCOPE CHOIR Featuring Ru- (mezzo), plus Robert Murray (tenor) pert Feld (conductor), Sat 13 July, & David Ireland (bass), Mon 8 July, Alrewas Methodist Church, Alrewas, Lichfield Cathedral Staffordshire DANIEL LEBHARDT PIANO CONCERT Programme includes works by J.S Bach, Bartok & Liszt, Tues 9 July, Wade St Church, Lichfield Comedy THE MOZARTISTS Featuring Louise CARL DONNELLY & JO CAULFIELD Thurs Kabantu - Swinfen Hall, Lichfield Alder (soprano), Oliver Wass 11 July, Midlands Arts Centre, Birm- (harpist) & Gavin Edwards (horn), ingham Thurs 11 July, The River Rooms, Stour- Tues 9 July, Lichfield Cathedral TOM STADE, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR & Gigs Robin, Bilston bridge MATHILDE MILWIDSKY VIOLIN CONCERT COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- BOWIE EXPERIENCE Fri THE DRIFTERS Fri 12 Also featuring John Reid on piano. SON Thurs 11 July, The Glee Club, KABANTU Mon 8 July, 12 July, The Alexandra July, Lichfield Garrick Programme includes works by Szy- Birmingham Swinfen Hall, Lichfield Theatre, B’ham BLACK VOICES: CELE- manowski, H. Wieniawski & Chopin GEIN'S FAMILY GIFT SHOP, BENEIDICT KISS Tues 9 July, THE SUGARHILL GANG / BRATING NINA Fri 12 arr. Milstein, Wed 10 July, Wade St POPE, HANNAH PLATT & JACK TOPHER Arena Birmingham GRANDMASTER MELLE July, Lichfield Cathe- Church, Lichfield Fri 12 July, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, ALL SEEING EYES Tues MEL & SCORPIO (FURI- dral CBSO: CELLOS HEAD NORTH Pro- Birmingham 9 July, Hare & OUS 5) Fri 12 July, The BC ALLSKAS Fri 12 July, gramme includes works by Saari- TOM STADE, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, Hounds, Birmingham Buttermarket, Shrews- Albert’s Shed, Shrews- aho, Pärt, Sibelius, Nielsen & Grieg, PHIL JERROD & COMIC TBC Fri 12 - Sat THE STEVIE AND RAY bury bury Thurs 11 July, CBSO Centre, B’ham 13 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham SHOW Wed 10 July, THE NEWCRANES Fri 12 CLASSIC IBIZA Sat 13 CHLOÉ PIANO TRIO Programme in- GEOFF BOYZ, MIKE COX, JOHN LYNN & The Robin, Bilston July, Katie Fitzgerald's, July, Weston Park, Nr cludes works by Schumann & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 13 July, The Com- KATHRYN TICKELL & THE Stourbridge Shifnal, Shropshire Mendelssohn, Thurs 11 July, Wade edy Loft, Birmingham DARKENING Wed 10 St Church, Lichfield FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO ALCOHOL LICKS Sat 13 ANDREW MAXWELL Sat 13 July, St July, Lichfield Cathe- QUEEN Fri 12 July, The July, Katie Fitzgerald's, WILLIAM FOX ORGAN RECITAL Pro- Mary’s Church, Lichfield dral Robin, Bilston Stourbridge gramme includes works by J.S CLEVELAND WATKISS Bach, Mozart, Saint-Saëns & Elgar, BOLLYWOOD BRASS IN OUR LIVES & HEAD- SINGS NAT KING COLE Thurs 11 July, Lichfield Cathedral BAND Fri 12 July, Mid- SHRINKERS Sat 13 July, Wed 10 July, St Mary’s lands Arts Centre, The Slade Rooms, VOCES8 British vocal ensemble who Church, Lichfield Theatre Birmingham Wolverhampton perform an extensive repertoire both ANDY BLACK Thurs 11 in a cappella concerts and in collab- EDUCATING RITA Stephen Tompkinson FREEDOM OF MOVE- THE COMMANDMENTS July, O2 Institute, oration with leading orchestras, and Jessica Johnson star in Willy MENT Fri 12 July, Hare Sat 13 July, The River Birmingham & Hounds, B’ham Thurs 11 July, Lichfield Cathedral Russell’s comedy classic, Mon 8 - Rooms, Stourbridge Sat 13 July, Wolverhampton Grand MADELEINE PEYROUX SIRIUS CHAU FLUTE RECITAL Also fea- BON GIOVI Fri 12 July, 5 O’CLOCK HERO Sat 13 Theatre WITH EMILY BARKER turing Kumi Matsuo on piano. Pro- Eleven, Sandyford, July, Albert’s Shed, Thurs 11 Symphony gramme includes works by Poulenc, DEATH SHOW Join Lucy Nicholls & Stoke on Trent Shrewsbury Hall, Birmingham Fauré, Dutilleux, Chaminade & Antonia Beck for an evening of dis- PULL UP TOUR FT. BIG JUST FLOYD Sat 13 Jonathan Dove, Fri 12 July, St Mary’s covery, contemplation & courage to WATERMARK LIVE Thurs DOG YOGO, MDR TILLA, July, Eleven, Sandy- Church, Lichfield celebrate your own mortality, Tues 9 11 July, Hare & SOX, RTKAL, KY ORION & ford, Stoke on Trent July, St Mary’s Church, Lichfield Hounds, Birmingham JAY Fri 12 July, The CBSO NOTELETS Featuring Jane BLOC PARTY - SILENT Wright (presenter) & the CBSO 'mini- AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Pre- JOHN NEWMAN Thurs Slade Rooms, Wolver- ALARM Sat 13 July, O2 orchestra', Fri 12 - Sat 13 July, sented by Blue Orange Devising & 11 July, The Sugarmill, hampton Academy, Birmingham CBSO Centre, Birmingham Performance Class, Tues 9 - Wed 10 Stoke-on-Trent PURE WHITNEY HOUS- VENOM Sat 13 July, O2 MILOS MILIVOJEVIC: ACCORD FOR LIFE July, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS TON Fri 12 July, The Institute, Birmingham The award-winning Serbian-born ingham THE JOKERS Sat 13 classical artist presents a pro- GODSPELL Amateur staging per- July, The Sugarmill, gramme featuring works from his formed by Musical Youth Theatre Stoke-on-Trent debut solo CD Accord For Life, Sat Stafford, Wed 10 - Sat 13 July, 13 July, Wade St Church, Lichfield Stafford Gatehouse Theatre SUSPICIOUSLY ELVIS Sat 13 July, The Robin, Bil- 90TH GALA CELEBRATION CONCERT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELIZA GREY ston Featuring Ian Clarke (conductor). Thought-provoking play about what Programme includes works by Rut- makes people invisible and whether THE SEX PISSED DOLLS ter, Haydn & Lionel Bart, Sat 13 July, it’s possible to change, Thurs 11 Sun 14 July, The Wolverhampton Grammar School July, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall Robin, Bilston EMILY SUN VIOLIN RECITAL Sat 13 July, WHADDYA KNOW... WE’RE IN LOVE! The ENGLISH JONES BAND Wade Street Church, Lichfield Foundry Group return with a new Sun 14 July, Tamworth BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES foot-tapping family show featuring Assembly Rooms live music, new songs & Radio 4 The Jokers - The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent Featuring Ainars Rubikis (cellist), An- whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 8-14 July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 12:08 Page 3 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 8-14 July.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 12:08 Page 4

thelist Monday 8 - Sunday 14 July regular David Mounfield (Count BEN AND HOLLY'S LITTLE KINGDOM Arthur Strong), Thurs 11 July, St Magical musical adventure for Mary’s Church, Lichfield younger audiences, Wed 10 - Thurs SNOWFALL IN JULY Starbuck Theatre 11 July, The Alexandra Theatre, Birm- Company present an original acous- ingham tic musical which follows young gui- tarist Jack as he learns that you can't run from your problems and who you are, Thurs 11 - Sat 13 July, Old Joint Cabaret Stock Theatre, Birmingham THE DREAMBOYS ‘The UK’s most OFFSTAGE Ephemeral Ensemble pre- famous girls night out’, Sat 13 July, sent a compassionate exploration of The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham suicide, Fri 12 July, Lichfield Garrick MACBETH The Malachites present a new version of Shakespeare’s bloodi- est play, Fri 12 July, Lichfield Guild- Film hall INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: BRAZEN Lorna Meehan’s autobio- THE OLD MAN & THE GUN (12a) Biogra- graphical spoken-word journey, ex- phy/Comedy. Starring Robert Red- ploring coming of age, the nature of ford, Casey Affleck. Edge Arts Summer In Southside - various locations in and around Birmingham Hippodrome hero worship and the difficulty of just Centre, Much Wenlock, North Shrop- LUNA CINEMA Relax in the beautiful Ar- dances with the Blists Hill Morris being yourself, Fri 12 July, A.E Harris, shire, Mon 8 July Birmingham boretum grounds and enjoy a cinema Gang, Sun 14 July, Blists Hill Victo- THE APARTMENT (PG) Comedy/Drama. experience with a difference, Fri 12 - rian Town, Ironbridge FEAR AND MISERY OF THE THIRD REICH Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley Sat 13 July, National Memorial Ar- SUMMER FETE Featuring a bouncy Young Rep 18 - 25s present a new MacLaine. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, boretum, Staffordshire production of Bertholt Brecht's clas- castle and inflatable slide, face paint- South Shropshire, Tues 9 July; NEWPORT SHOW Featuring ‘the best of ing, a Punch & Judy show, games sic play, Fri 12 - Sat 13 July, The REP, Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham the region's food, entertainment and and activity stalls, Sun 14 July, Tues 9 July agricultural excellence’, Sat 13 July, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham SUMMER IN SOUTHSIDE This year the ALADDIN (U) Adventure/Comedy. Star- Chetwynd Park, Newport TRANSPORT RALLY 2019 Featuring live popular free family festival goes inter- ring Will Smith, Naomi Scott. Wem galactic, exploring the spectacle and ADULT JEWELLERY WORKSHOP: SILVER music, the famous midday caval- Town Hall, North Shropshire, Tues 9 PENDANT Learn a variety of jewellery- cade, and numerous activities for wonders of outer space. Expect an & Thurs 11 July abundance of family fun, extraterres- making techniques from contempo- children, Sun 14 July, The British trial antics, street performance, food ROCKETMAN (15) Biography/Drama. rary jeweller Grace Page, Sat 13 July, Ironwork Centre, Oswestry, North stalls & more..., Sat 13 - Sun 14 July, Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell. Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Shropshire Southside, Birmingham Festival Drayton Centre, Market Dray- Birmingham ton, North Shropshire, Fri 12 July SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK Cele- PETER RABBIT’S MUSICAL ADVENTURES brating the life and career of Rod THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS (12a) Music & storytelling experience for Stewart, Sun 14 July, The Alexandra Documentary/Biography. Starring children & families are here brought Food & Drink Robert Shafran, Michael Domnitz. Theatre, Birmingham to life by a narrator & classical string THE RUM TRAIN An event for the seri- Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South quartet, Sat 13 July, St Mary’s ous rum connoisseur, Sat 13 July, VICTORIA’S DIARIES Preview perfor- Shropshire, Fri 12 July Church, Lichfield mance of Tell Tale’s new play mark- Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley GREEN BOOK (12a) Biography/Comedy. ing 200 years since the birth of ACOUSTIC VOICES CONCERT Enjoy an EDWARDIAN TEAROOMS LATE: BIRMING- Starring Viggo Mortenson, Maher- Queen Victoria, Sun 14 July, The Blue instrument-free concert in the Singing HAM COCKTAIL WEEKEND The museum shala Ali. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Orange Theatre, Birmingham Cavern, where the acoustics are per- once again joins forces with Birming- South Shropshire, Fri 12 - Sun 14 fect for a pure vocal blend, Sat 13 ham Cocktail Weekend, Sat 13 July, July July, Dudley Canal and Tunnel Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery KINGS BROMLEY SHOW Celebrating its Kids Shows 100th year, the show features more than 100 craft & trade stalls, a com- TREASURE ISLAND Chapterhouse The- Events petitive marquee with exhibits, chil- Festivals atre Company present a brand new BUZZY BEATS ‘Joyous sound and dren's races, equestrian events, 2000TREES adaptation of Robert Louis Steven- song’ using bodies, percussion in- music, animals, vintage vehicles, Line-up includes You Me son’s swashbuckling tale, Wed 10 struments and voices, Fri 12 July, The food, drink and plenty more, Sat 13 At Six, Frank Turner & The Sleeping July, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Hive, Shrewsbury July, Kings Bromley Showfield, Bur- Souls and While She Sleeps, Thurs ton-upon-Trent 11 - Sat 13 July, Upcote Farm, Chel- tenham 1940S EVENING Dress up and jitterbug and jive your way through a night of LICHFIELD ARTS’ FUSE FESTIVAL 2019 1940s-style entertainment, Sat 13 Line-up includes A Different Thread, July, Black Country Living Museum, YIKES and CityLightz, Fri 12 - Sun 14 Dudley July, Beacon Park, Lichfield 1940S WEEKEND Spend the weekend THE MOSTLY JAZZ FUNK AND SOUL FES- in wartime Britain, Sat 13 - Sun 14 TIVAL Line-up includes Burt July, Black Country Living Museum, Bacharach, The Jacksons, The Brand Dudley New Heavies, Fri 12 - Sun 14 July, Moseley Park, Birmingham SUMMER OF FUN Enjoy live shows with the Fat Controller in Thomas Land or BLACK COUNTRY MUSICOM FESTIVAL join Rory as he travels across numer- Live music from top tribute bands, ous continents, Sat 13 July - Sun 1 chillout zone with DJ set, comedy Sept, Drayton Manor Them Park, acts, dancing & much more... Sun 14 Staffordshire July, Himley Hall, Dudley Whaddya Know... We’re In Love! - St Mary’s Church, Lichfield 'MORRIS GANG' DANCING Traditional

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thelist Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Classical Music PAUL SMITH Sun 21 July, The Alexan- dra Theatre, Birmingham THOMAS TALLIS: SPEM IN ALIUM Featur- ing Gabriel Crouch (conductor), Fri VIKKI STONE Sun 21 July, Old Market 19 July, St Laurence’s Church, Lud- Hall, Shrewsbury low, South Shropshire ROB BRODERICK AKA ABANDOMAN Sun PETER DYKE ORGAN RECITAL Sat 20 21 July, Henry Tudor House, Shrews- July, St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, bury South Shropshire SHREWSBURY INTERNATIONAL COMEDY PADMORE & LEWIS: SCHUMANN’S FESTIVAL GALA Featuring Lee Nelson DICHTERLIEBE Featuring Mark Pad- (MC), Katie Mulgrew, Larry Dean, An- more (tenor) & Paul Lewis (piano). gelos Epithemiou, Abandoman, Loy- Programme includes works by iso Gola & David Doherty, Sun 21 Brahms, Mahler & Schumann, Sun July, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury 21 July, Birmingham Town Hall ROB ROUSE Sun 21 July, Old Market NATIONAL SCHOOLS SYMPHONY OR- Hall, Shrewsbury Living Colour - The Mill, Digbeth, Birmingham CHESTRA 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT GLEE FAMILY COMEDY SHOW, JARRED JOHNNY CASH ROAD- The Place, Telford, Sun 21 July, Symphony Hall, B’ham CHRISTMAS & HOBBIT Sun 21 July, The Gigs SHOW Fri 19 July, Oak- Shropshire Glee Club, Birmingham engates Theatre at CUSTARD CONNECTION BURSTERS Tues 16 The Place, Telford, Sat 20 July, Albert’s July, The Mill, Digbeth, Shropshire Shed, Shrewsbury Comedy Birmingham SUPREME QUEEN Fri 19 THE LONG RYDERS Sat SCOTT BENNETT, MRS BARBARA NICE, Theatre VIVA NEIL DIAMOND July, Wolverhampton 20 July, Hare & DAN NIGHTINGALE Thurs 18 July, The- RUBY REDFORT Lauren Child’s super- Wed 17 July, Theatre Grand Theatre Hounds, Birmingham atre Severn, Shrewsbury spy lands on the Old Rep stage for Severn, Shrewsbury NEUROSIS WITH SPE- FOO FIGHTERS GB & UN- STEVE WILLIAMS, LARRY DEAN, COMEDY her biggest adventure ever!, Mon 15 - LIVING COLOUR Wed 17 CIAL GUEST GODFLESH REALBLOOD Sat 20 July, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs Wed 17 July, The Old Rep Theatre, July, The Mill, Digbeth, Fri 19 July, Birming- Theatre On The Steps, 18 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham ham Town Hall Birmingham Bridgnorth, South JIMMY CARR Fri 19 July, William Aston UPDOWNSIZING Ginny Davis' one- NECRONMODICOL Wed CHASING AUGUST Fri 19 Shropshire Hall, Wrexham woman play, which 'captures the July, Albert’s Shed, essence of middle class family life', 17 July, Hare & JAMIE TILLER Sat 20 DAN NIGHTINGALE Fri 19 July (7pm), Shrewsbury Tues 16 July, The Blue Orange The- Hounds, Birmingham July, Hare & Hounds, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury THE MEMBRANES + Birmingham atre, Birmingham BOYZBAND Thurs 18 TONY LAW Fri 19 July (8.15pm), Henry HEADSTICKS + HIGH VIZ THE COLOR PURPLE Inspiring musical July, Oakengates The- JOHN COGHLAN’S QUO Tudor House, Shrewsbury atre at The Place, JACKIT THEORY Fri 19 Sat 20 July, Eleven, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Telford, Shropshire July, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent LATE & LIVELY Fri 19 July, Havana Re- novel by Alice Walker and the classic Stoke-on-Trent public, Shrewsbury movie of the same name, Tues 16 - EASY STAR ALL-STARS JEAN GENIE - TRIBUTE Sat 20 July, Birmingham Hippodrome Thurs 18 July, O2 Insti- WHITE TYGER Fri 19 TO DAVID BOWIE Sat 20 DANNY MCLOUGHLIN Fri 19 July, The tute, Birmingham July, The River Rooms, July, The Robin, Bil- Old Post Office, Shrewsbury ORDINARY DAYS/EDGES Off-Broadway Stourbridge double bill presented by Theatre 1, SWINGTIME BIG BAND ston JOSH WOLF Fri 19 July, The Glee Club, Tues 16 - Sat 20 July, Stafford Gate- Thurs 18 July, Stafford DAVID LIVE - THE DAVID GURDAS MAAN Sat 20 Birmingham house Theatre Castle BOWIE TRIBUTE SHOW July, Arena B’ham STEVE WILLIAMS, LARRY DEAN, SOL Fri 19 July, Eleven, THE NIGHTINGALES 1950s-set comedy JONATHAN WILSON THE KILLAZ UK Sun 21 BERNSTEIN & EVELYN MOK Fri 19 - Sat Sandyford, Stoke-on- presented by the Lichfield Players, Thurs 18 July, Hare & July, The Robin, Bil- 20 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham Trent Tues 16 - Sat 20 July, Lichfield Gar- Hounds, Birmingham ston JIMMY CARR Sat 20 July, Wolver- THE SUPERSKAS Fri 19 rick YR HERITAGE #4: KER- IAN PARKER BAND + hampton Grand Theatre July, The Robin, Bil- LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE Mark Mor- MES / DANGER OF LOVE BUZZING HORNETS Sun BOBBY MAIR Sat 20 July, Henry Tudor ston aghan (Coronation Street) & Lucy + SUPPORT Thurs 18 21 July, Katie Fitzger- House, Shrewsbury July, Hare & Hounds, MANCHESTER SPECIAL O'Byrne (Evita) star in a brand new ald's, Stourbridge JAMES COOK Sat 20 July, Havana Re- Birmingham Fri 19 July, Hare & staging of the award-winning com- Hounds, Birmingham EVERLY BROTHERS & public, Shrewsbury edy, Tues 16 - Sat 20 July, The DR FEELGOOD Thurs 18 FRIENDS Sun 21July, TROY HAWKE Sat 20 July, Old Market Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham July, The Jam House, MARY DUFF Sat 20 July, Prince Of Wales Cen- Hall, Shrewsbury A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Odd- Birmingham Oakengates Theatre at tre, Cannock PHIL NICHOL Sat 20 July, The Old Post socks’ 30th anniversary production, Office, Shrewsbury Wed 17 July, Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, Telford, Shropshire DALISO CHAPONDA Sat 20 July, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury PRIDE & PREJUDICE Chapterhouse Theatre Company present an out- LLOYD GRIFFITH Sat 20 July, The Old door staging of Jane Austen’s time- Post Office, Shrewsbury less classic, Wed 17 July, LATE & LIVELY TOO Sat 20 July, The Birmingham Botanical Gardens Old Post Office, Shrewsbury HE’D MURDER ME Baby Grace Theatre RUDI LICKWOOD, JOE ROWNTREE, STE- Company present a Yorkshire-style FANO PAOLINI & BARRY DODDS Sat 20 coming-of-age story, Wed 17 - Thurs July, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham 18 July, The Blue Orange Theatre, JOSH PUGH, CAREY MARX, ROGER Birmingham MONKHOUSE & COMIC TBC Sat 20 July, ALICE IN WONDERLAND Stage 2 pre- The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton sent a reworked version of Lewis Car- CAREY MARX, STEFFAN ALUN, PIERRE roll's timeless classic, Wed 17 - Sat Easy Star All Stars - O2 Institute, Birmingham HOLLINS & DAMION LARKIN Sat 20 July, 20 July, Crescent Theatre, B’ham

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Monday 15 - Sunday 21 July

FRANKENSTEIN Blue Orange Arts fuse sembly Rooms, Shropshire, Fri 19 & Sat 20 July, Birmingham Cathedral fast-paced storytelling and physical Dance Sun 21 July FREDDO'S TREASURE TROVE Cadbury’s theatre in a 'faithful' hour-long telling VITA & VIRGINIA (12a) Freddo dons his captain’s hat to of Mary Shelly's classic novel, Wed LIÉ PAR L’HISTOIRE Flexus Touring Biography/Drama. Starring Gemma teach little ones what it takes to be- 17 - Sat 20 July, The Blue Orange Company present a ‘dark & eccentric Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki. Old Mar- come a pirate on the seven seas, Sat Theatre, Birmingham visualisation of tales and folklore from ket Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 19 - Thurs 20 July - Sun 1 Sept, Cadbury World, HYMNS FOR ROBOTS Production that 19th century Brittany’, Sat 13 July, 25 July Birmingham Forest Arts Centre, Walsall fuses Noctium’s unique, heightened ON THE BASIS OF SEX (12a) Biogra- HISTORIC HEROES Uncover inspiring performance style with analogue and HERE COME THE BOYS Starring Strictly phy/Drama. Starring Felicity Jones, stories and follow in the footsteps of digital music, Thurs 18 July, Midlands Come Dancing professional dancers Armie Hammer. Ludlow Assembly Black Country heroes, Sat 20 July - Arts Centre, Birmingham Aljaž Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice Rooms, South Shropshire, Sat 20 Sun 1 Sept, Black Country Living Mu- KEVIN, KING OF EGYPT New show from and Gorka Marquez, Tues 16 July, July seum, Dudley Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent comic, poet & psychiatric nurse Rob FIRST MAN (12a) Biography/Drama. GET HANDS ON WITH HISTORY Uncover Gee, Thurs 18 - Fri 19 July, Old Joint MADHEAD National Youth Dance Com- Starring Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy. England's myths and legends, take Stock Theatre, Birmingham pany fuse contemporary dance, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South part in hero sword school and junior SCENES FROM A BRUMMIE ILIAD Actor physical theatre and hip-hop, Wed 17 Shropshire, Sat 20 July jousting, Sat 20 July - Sun 1 Sept, Roderick Smith breathes new life into July, The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Stokesay Castle, Nr Craven Arms, the classic story of heroes and gods Hippodrome South Shropshire whilst celebrating the local vernacu- HERE COME THE BOYS Starring Strictly RIVER DAY WITH THE SEVERN RIVERS lar, Fri 19 - Sat 20 July, The REP, Come Dancing professional dancers Events TRUST Find out what lives in the river Birmingham Aljaž Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice at Attingham, Sun 21 July, Attingham BRINDLEY FILM FESTIVAL HMS PINAFORE Fresh take on the G&S and Gorka Marquez, Sat 20 July, Musical Park, Shrewsbury Symphony Hall, Birmingham blockbusters on the big screen, Mon favourite, Sat 20 July, Stafford Castle THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WARDROBE - BEING SEEN Presented by Contact 15 - Sun 21 July, Brindleyplace, Birm- MUSICAL THEATRE OPEN MIC NIGHT ingham FABRICS AND FASHIONS IN A FUTURIS- Local companies and singers show- Dance Company and featuring a cast TIC WORLD To celebrate the 50th an- BMAG BABIES case their talents, Sat 20 July, Old of disabled and non-disabled Creative, interactive and niversary of the Apollo moon landing, Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham dancers, Sat 20 July, Theatre Severn, sensory play with colours, textures costume historian Lucy Adlington Shrewsbury and sounds, Wed 17 July, Birming- and writer Angela Clare investigate GO JAPESH*T Thespianage Produc- ham Museum And Art Gallery tions present a short, improvised how we interpret the past and visu- RDA FUN RIDE comedy in which the audience has Saddle up and ride the alise the future, Sun 21 July, The Pot- the power to throw the performers a Talks five-mile course around 1,000 acres teries Museum & Art Gallery, Hanley, curveball, Sat 20 July, The Blue Or- of stunning parkland, Thurs 18 July, Stoke-on-Trent ange Theatre, Birmingham EXPEDITION WITH STEVE BACKSHALL Weston Park, Nr Shifnal ART & ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE ELECTRICITY PQA Shrewsbury present Behind-the-scenes stories and film The a high school musical filled with clas- clips from Steve‘s new 10-part TV se- largest vetted fair outside London sic tunes from the ’80s, Sun 21 July, ries, Wed 17 July, Birmingham Town featuring a wide range of antiques, Food & Drink Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Hall art and decorative interior pieces, Thurs 18 - Sun 21 July, NEC, B’ham WHISKY & TWILIGHT TOURS The popu- PRIDE & PREJUDICE Chapterhouse BUZZY BEATS lar twilight guided tour returns with a Theatre Company present an out- ‘Joyous sound and song’ using bodies, percussion in- whisky twist, Fri 19 July, Museum of door staging of Jane Austen’s time- Film the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham less classic, Sun 21 July, Hawkstone struments and voices, Fri 19 July, The THE GREAT BRITISH SUMMER TASTING Park & Follies, Weston-under-Red- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Hive, Shrewsbury WITH CHASE castle, North Shropshire SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER (12a) Com- MOON LANDING PARTY Special party to Enjoy a taste of summer edy/Drama. Starring Bill Nighy, Alice celebrate the 50th anniversary of the by sampling a range of exotic gins Lowe. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon 15 first Apollo moon landing, Sat 20 July, and vodka with the Herefordshire- July Thinktank Science Museum, B’ham based Chase Distillery, Fri 19 July, Black Country Living Museum, Dud- Kids Shows THE FAVOURITE (15) Biography/Drama. HELP MAKE A CARTOON CARICATURE ley Starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone. Help cartoonist Malcolm Whittall cre- THE PAPER MOON Gentle first theatre COSFORD FOOD FESTIVAL Featuring a experience for babies and very Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, ate some wild and wacky family por- South Shropshire, Mon 15 July traits inspired by the exhibition Faces tasty line-up of 100 local producers, young children, Wed 17 July, Mid- Sat 20 - Sun 21 July, RAF Cosford, Nr lands Arts Centre, Birmingham WOMAN AT WAR (12a) Adventure/Com- Of Change: Nature's Champions, Sat 20 July, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury Wolverhampton SEUSSICAL A 'fantastical, magical, mu- edy. Starring Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, sical extravaganza' performed by Jóhann Sigurðarson. Foreign lan- BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Costumed Stagedright Stafford, Thurs 18 - Sat guage, subtitled. Wem Town Hall, evening tour of Attingham, Sat 20 20 July, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre North Shropshire, Tues 16 & Thurs 18 July, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury July Festivals NOT JUST WILLIAM Tell Tale’s family PEAKY NIGHT AT THE ENGINE HOUSE SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL show pays tribute to Shakespeare X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (12a) Action/Ad- Travel by train from Kidderminster to Line-up in- and some of the folk tales that in- venture. Starring James McAvoy, Highley for a night of live music and cludes: Neurosis, The Body and spired his most famous plays, Sun 21 Michael Fassbender. Festival Drayton dancing, Roaring 20s-style! Sat 20 Jerusalem In My Heart, Fri 19 - Sun July, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- Centre, Market Drayton, North Shrop- July, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, 21 July, Various locations throughout ingham shire, Fri 19 July Nr Kidderminster Birmingham TWINKLE & TEDDY'S GRAND ADVENTURE JURASSIC PARK (PG) Adventure/Sci-Fi. APOLLO A MOON ODYSSEY Andrew BIRMINGHAM, SANDWELL & WESTSIDE JAZZ FESTIVAL Presented by babyballet Halesowen Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern. Lound tells the story of the Apollo Line-up includes Swing & Stourbridge Central, Sun 21 July, Stafford Castle, Fri 19 July project, Sat 20 July, The Potteries Cafe, The Hot Club, and The Great Stourbridge Town Hall SUMMER HOURS (12) Drama. Starring Museum & Art Gallery, Hanley Birmingham Trombone Company, Fri Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling. For- INTERSTELLAR: MOON LANDING 50th 19 - Sun 28 July, various locations RASTAMOUSE & DA EASY CREW Join throughout Birmingham Rastamouse & Da Easy Crew for ‘a eign language, subtitles. The Hive, Anniversary of the 1969 Apollo 11 CHARMINA FESTIVAL boombastic 25-minute set filled with Shrewsbury, Fri 19 July moon landing. Music includes tracks Line-up includes reggae riddims and lots of fun, fol- THE WHITE CROW (12a) from David Bowie, Coldplay, Muse, Kazabian, Freddie Mercury Tribute lowed by a meet-and-greet’, Sun 21 Biography/Drama. Starring Oleg ELO, Pink Floyd, Emersson Lake & and The Halcyon Band, Sat 20 July, July, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall Ivenko, Ralph Fiennes. Ludlow As- Palmer, Jamiroquai, Kraftwerk, Daft Clive, Shropshire Punk, Elton John and many more, whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 22-31 July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 12:31 Page 1

thelist Company, Wed 24 July, Birmingham Classical Music Botanical Gardens A MATTER OF LAW Two Jens & Me NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF GREAT Theatre Company present a court- BRITAIN Thurs 25 July, Victoria Hall, room drama centred around male Stoke-on-Trent domestic abuse, Thurs 25 - Sat 27 CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA ACADEMY July, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- Featuring Michael Seal (conductor), ingham Jamal Aliyev (cello) & the CBSO ROMEO & JULIET Presented by Heart- Youth Orchestra Academy. Pro- break Productions, Fri 26 July, Wal- gramme includes works by Weber, sall Arboretum Shostakovich & Dvorak, Sun 28 July, Birmingham Town Hall AN EVENING WITHOUT KATE BUSH Cabaret evening in which Sarah- Louise Young explores the music and mythology of one of the most influen- Comedy tial voices of British music, Fri 26 - Sat 27 July, Old Joint Stock Theatre, DANIEL MUGGLETON & LOYISO GOLA Birmingham Mon 22 July, The REP, Birmingham THE RAT PACK The UK's official number MICHELLE WOLF Tues 23 July, The one Rat Pack tribute act, Fri 26 July, Glee Club, Birmingham The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham GLENN WOOL Wed 24 July, The Patrick GREASE Amateur production pre- King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys - Sutton Coldfield Town Hall Kavanagh, Moseley, Birmingham sented by Seasons Theatre Com- pany, Fri 26 - Sat 27 July, Prince Of 25 July, Theatre Sev- TABLE SCRAPS Fri 26 TROY HAWKE & PAUL SINHA Thurs 25 Wales Centre, Cannock ern, Shrewsbury July, Hare & Hounds, July, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham Gigs HANCOCK & CO James Hurn's popular BIT OF A BLUR Thurs 25 Birmingham GLENN WOOL, FERN BRADY & COMEDY ‘one man many voices’ celebration of SHONEN KNIFE Wed 24 July, The Robin, Bil- CHEMIKILL, THE UNRE- CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs Hancock's Half Hour, Sat 27 July, The July, Hare & Hounds, ston SOLVED, GHOST OF MA- 25 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham WHITESNAKE UK Fri 26 CHINES Sat 27 July, O2 COMEDY IN THE MET Fri 26 July, THE WINTER’S TALE REVISITED One- PETE KENT Wed 24 July, The Slade Academy, Birmingham Stafford Gatehouse Theatre hour adaptation of one of Shake- July, The Robin, Bil- Rooms, W’hampton ROCK N ROLL PARADISE GLENN WOOL, FERN BRADY, KAI speare’s later plays, Sun 28 July, The ston Sat 27 July, Ludlow HUMPHRIES & TOM HOUGHTON Fri 26 - AC/DC UK Fri 26 July, Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham MICHAEL MESSER'S The River Rooms, Assembly Rooms, Sat 27 July, The Glee Club, B’ham WE’LL BE IN TOUCH Joanna Gay’s play MITRA Thurs 25 July, Stourbridge South Shropshire ALFRED KAINGA, NELSON GOMBAKOMBA exploring lasting friendships, Sun 28 Stafford Gatehouse FOR THE LOVE OF BRIAN JNR 11, MISSMOREAL AND MRLORRAINE CATAPULT CLUB FT. LAST July, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- Theatre Sat 27 July, Hare & Sat 27 July, The Bramall, Birmingham AGONY Fri 26 July, O2 ingham KING PLEASURE AND Academy, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham CHRISTIAN REILLY, NAOMI COOPER, TOM THE BISCUIT BOYS HI-ON MAIDEN Fri 26 ANTARTIC MONKEYS Sat HOUGHTON & CRAIG MURRAY Sat 27 Thurs 25 July, Sutton July, Eleven, Sandy- 27 July, Eleven, Stoke- July, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Coldfield Town Hall ford, Stoke on Trent on-Trent Kids Shows CROBOT Thurs 25 July, WHITE TYGER Sat 27 #DXP19 DRAG EXPLO- MISTER MAGNOLIA Folksy Theatre fuse O2 Institute, B’ham July, The Robin, Bil- SION Fri 26 July, O2 In- live music, puppetry & audience in- ston Theatre KRISTIAN CHAMBERS stitute, Birmingham teraction in an outdoor adaptation of Thurs 25 July, Katie THE TINA TURNER EXPE- KD LANG Sat 27 July, SUNDOWN Taking Chances present a Quentin Blake’s wacky adventure, Fitzgerald's, Stour- RIENCE Fri 26 July, The Symphony Hall, Birm- moving drama about two seemingly Tues 23 July, Martineau Gardens, bridge Robin, Bilston ingham very different people who have more Birmingham in common than they think, Mon 22 - THE GOOD LIFE Thurs STEVIE WONDER: THE A VOLATILE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY In- Wed 24 July, The Blue Orange The- HITS Performed live by teractive time-travelling adventure atre, Birmingham 16-piece orchestra, through the history of chemistry, Wed Sat 27 July, Birming- AMÉLIE Danny Mac & Audrey Brisson 24 July, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre ham Town Hall star in a new musical based on the MISTER MAGNOLIA Folksy Theatre fuse much-loved film of the same name, FRANCK CARDUCCI live music, puppetry & audience in- Mon 22 - Sat 27 July, The Alexandra BAND’S ROCK N ROLL teraction in an outdoor adaptation of Theatre, Birmingham CIRCUS Sun 28 July, Quentin Blake’s wacky adventure, The Robin, Bilston HAIR Jake Quickenden, Daisy Wood- Thurs 25 July, Wightwick Manor, ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM Davis & Marcus Collins star in the Wolverhampton 50th anniversary production of the BAND Tues 30 July, MR STINK Chickenshed Theatre Com- iconic musical, Tues 23 - Sat 27 July, Eleven, Sandyford, pany present a staging of David Wal- Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Stoke on Trent liams’ children’s story, Mon 29 - Wed LIME CORDIALE Wed 31 THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE 31 July, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury July, O2 Academy, A Lichfield Garrick Community Musi- Birmingham cal production, Tues 23 - Sat 27 July, Lichfield Garrick ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM BAND Wed 31 July, The ANNIE Jodie Prenger stars as Miss Slade Rooms, Wolver- Hannigan in a new version of the hampton much-loved rags-to-riches tale, Tues 23 July - Sun 11 Aug, Birmingham PORCELAIN HILL Wed Hippodrome 31 July, The Robin, Bil- ston A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Pre- Rosalie Cunningham - Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent & sented by Chapterhouse Theatre The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton 64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 22-31 July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 12:31 Page 2

Monday 22 - Wednesday 31 July

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE Igglepiggle, Starring Aretha Franklin. Old Market Chance to view the Smethwick En- PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR Traditionally Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends Hall, Shrewsbury, Sun 28 - Mon 29 gine, the oldest working steam en- grown plants for every type of gar- are back in their brand new live show, July gine in the world, Wed 24 July, den, Sat 27 July, National Memorial Igglepiggle’s Busy Day! Wed 31 July THE IRON GIANT (PG) Animation/Action. Thinktank Science Museum, B’ham Arboretum, Staffordshire - Sun 4 Aug, The REP, Birmingham With the voices of Eli Marienthal, LITTLE SKIPPERS: CANAL LIFE Boat trip WOMEN'S WORK IN THE JEWELLERY Harry Connick Jr. Ludlow Assembly followed by a ‘make & do’ session in- QUARTER Find out about the work un- Rooms, South Shropshire, Tues 30 spired by activities associated with dertaken by women from the late July the canal, Wed 24 - Thurs 25 July, 1800s through to the 1980s, Sat 27 Cabaret DIEGO MARADONA (12a) Documen- Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust July, Museum of the Jewellery Quar- TINA T'URNER TEA LADY'S STEAMY tary/Sport. Starring Diego Armando ADULT POTTERY - SOAP DISHES Make ter, Birmingham BINGO Laugh, dance and play to win Maradona. Old Market Hall, Shrews- and glaze a beautiful soap dish, CANDYLAND Enter the world of the as Tina spins her cage of balls to a bury, Tues 30 July Thurs 25 July, The Hive, Shrewsbury Chocolate Factory with a show in- high-energy ’80s soundtrack, Thurs SUMMER POTTERS 'GARDEN SEAGULLS' spired by the story of Willy Wonka, 25 July, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Sat 27 July, The Potteries Museum & Birmingham NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Create a seagull to display in the garden, Thurs 25 July, The Hive, Shrews- Art Gallery, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Released from Fri 26 May, showing at bury BRITISH DRIFT CHAMPIONSHIP The selected cinemas JUNGLE WALKIE TALKIES ACTIVITY Make ‘premier UK competitive drift series’, THE CHAMBERMAID (tbc) yourself a jungle walkie talkie, Thurs Sat 27 - Sun 28 July, NEC, B’ham Film THE CURRENT WAR (tbc) 25 July, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR Traditionally INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: TEEN SPIRIT (tbc) KIDS JEWELLERY WORKSHOP Design grown plants for every type of gar- THE GREAT DICTATOR (U) Comedy/Bi- and create either a bracelet or pen- den, Sun 28 July, The British Iron- ography. Starring Charles Chaplin, dant, Thurs 25 July, Museum of the work Centre, Oswestry, North Paulette Goddard. Arena Theatre, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham Shropshire Wolverhampton, Mon 22 July Talks TALL TALES: SLEEPING BEAUTY Interac- MEDIEVAL OPEN DAY Celebrate all DETECTIVE PIKACHU (PG) Action/Ad- tive telling of Sleeping Beauty, Fri 26 things medieval, Sun 28 July, Weoley venture. Starring Ryan Reynolds, FRIDAY TWILIGHT - IMAGES OF WAR AND July, Aston Hall, Birmingham Castle Ruins, Birmingham CONFLICT Justice Smith. Festival Drayton Cen- Illustrated talk covering the THE BUREAU OF UNTOLD STORIES Help HELP MAKE A CARTOON CARICATURE tre, Market Drayton, North Shrop- experiences, stories and reporting of the inspectors of the Bureau of Un- Help cartoonist Malcolm Whittall cre- shire, Mon 22 July conflict within war-torn countries, Fri told Stories find all the lost stories, Fri ate some wild and wacky family por- THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 (U) Anima- 26 July, The Potteries Museum & Art 26 July, The Potteries Museum & Art traits inspired by the exhibition Faces tion/Comedy. With the voices of Pat- Gallery, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Gallery, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Of Change: Nature's Champions, Sun ton Oswalt, Kevin Hart. Wem Town Hall. North Shropshire, Mon 22 - Wed 24 July Events WALL-E (U) Animation/Adventure. Star- ring Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight. Ludlow NIMROD TOURS Step on board the Library, South Shropshire, Tues 23 Nimrod XV249 and learn about its in- July telligence-gathering role in the Royal THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING (PG) Ac- Air Force, Mon 22 - Wed 31 July, RAF tion/Adventure. Starring Louis Ash- Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton bourne Serkis, Denise Gough. DESTINATION SPACE THE MOON Family Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke, Wed 24 show explaining the Apollo pro- July gramme, what it takes to get to the A PRIVATE WAR (15) Biography/Drama. moon and what life is like working on Starring Rosamund Pike, Jamie the lunar landscape, Mon 22 July - Fri Doran. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 30 Aug, Thinktank Science Museum, South Shropshire, Fri 26 July Birmingham ANIMAL MASK CRAFT ACTIVITY AT DUMBO (PG) Adventure/Family. Star- BLAKESLEY HALL ring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. Create your own ani- Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, mal mask, Tues 23 July, Blakesley Craven Arms, South Shropshire, Fri Hall, Birmingham 26 July DEER PARK SAFARI Find out about At- TOY STORY 4 (U) Animation/Adventure. tingham's deer and take a seat on a With the voices of Keanu Reeves, tractor & trailer safari ride to see if Christina Hendricks. Wem Town Hall, you can spot them, Tues 23 July, At- North Shropshire, Fri 26 - Tues 30 tingham Park, Shrewsbury July STORYTELLING Help the storyteller find SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER (12a) Com- his lost stories and listen to their edy/Drama. Starring Bill Nighy, Alice telling, Tues 23 - Thurs 25 July, Tam- Lowe. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, worth Castle Fri 26 - Wed 31 July PICTURE THIS! FAMILY DRAWING TOUR Tap into your inner artist via this inter- 4 Oct 19 SOLIHULL The Core 0121 704 6962 A DOG'S WAY HOME (PG) 15 Oct 19 DUDLEY Town Hall (matinee) 01384 815577 Adventure/Drama. Starring Ashley active drawing exploration of Aston Hall, Tues 23 July - Tues 27 Aug, 16 Oct 19 BRIDGNORTH 01746 766477 Judd, Jonah Hauer-King. Ludlow As- Theatre On The Steps sembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Aston Hall, Birmingham 23/24 Oct 19 KIDDERMINSTER Rose Theatre 01562 743745 Sun 28 July FAIRY DOOR CRAFT Welcome fairies 27 Nov 19 REDDITCH Palace Theatre 01527 65203 into your garden by creating your HANNAH (12a) Drama. Starring Char- 12 Mar 20 TAMWORTH Assembly Rooms 01827 709618 lotte Rampling, André Wilms. Ludlow very own fairy door to take home, 13 Mar 20 WORCESTER The Swan 01905 611427 Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Wed 24 July, Sarehole Mill, Hall 2 Apr 20 LICHFIELD Garrick 01543 412121 Sun 28 July Green, Birmingham SMETHWICK ENGINE STEAMING DAY www.yeatesentertainment.com AMAZING GRACE (U) Documentary. whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 22-31 July.qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 12:31 Page 3

thelist Monday 22 - Wednesday 31 July 28 July, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury in hands-on science inspired by the SUMMER TILE DECORATING WORKSHOPS experiments of James Watt and his Create your own ceramic master- Lunar Society friends, Wed 31 July, piece, Mon 29 July - Fri 2 Aug, Jack- Soho House, Birmingham field Tile Museum, Telford, Shropshire MONSTER MASKS CRAFT Scare your friends and family by making your own ‘mythical monster’ mask, Wed 31 July, Sarehole Mill, Hall Green, Birmingham FAMILY WILDLIFE DAY Family day based around the popular Wildlife school programme, Wed 31 July, At- tingham Park, Shrewsbury FALCONRY DAY Get up close and personal with falcons, owls, hawks and eagles, Wed 31 July, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Deer Park Safari - Attingham Park, Shrewsbury DEER PARK SAFARI Find out all about The Orielles, Tracyanne & Danny and C, Chase & Status and Sub Focus Attingham Park's deer and take a Kero Kero Bonito, Fri 26 - Sun 28 b2b Dimension, Sat 27 July, Perry seat on a tractor & trailer safari ride to July, Butterley Station, Ripley, Der- Park, Birmingham see if you can spot them, Tues 30 Festivals byshire July, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up in- SOLIHULL SUMMER FEST Line-up includes Billy Bragg, Skerryvore and CARFEST NORTH Line-up includes Bev- cludes The Human League, The WW2 IN THE CASTLE Commemorating erley Knight, All Saints and Clean Vamps, and The Proclaimers, Sat 27 - the 75th anniversary of the D Day Karan Casey, Thurs 25 - Sun 28 July, Warwick School Bandit, Fri 26 - Sun 28 July, Sun 28 July, Tudor Grange Park, Soli- landings. Try your hand at firefighting, Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall hull learn about wartime communications, BAREFOOT FESTIVAL Line-up includes have a go at decoding secret mes- Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, DEERSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 Un- INNER CITY LIVE Line-up includes sages and meet the billeting officer, Moscow Drug Club, Josephine and known Era, Def Goldblum and Pretty Doves, Johnny Marr, The Coral & The Tues 30 July - Thurs 1 Aug, Tamworth The Artizans, Fri 26 - Sun 28 July, Babs, Fri 26 - Sun 28 July, Newton Twang, Sun 28 July, Perry Park, Birm- Castle Prestwold Hall, Loughborough Cross Country Course, Nottingham ingham WATT 2019: CRAZY SCIENCE Take part INDIE TRACKS 2019 Line-up includes MADE FESTIVAL Line-up includes Andy

66 whatsonlive.co.uk BE Festival Full June 2019 .qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 08:49 Page 1 Place In The Sun Full July 2019 .qxp_Layout 1 21/06/2019 15:14 Page 1