Alan Ayckbourn

JADE EWEN IN BEN ELTON MUSICAL INTERVIEW INSIDE... brings the Sound Of Sound the brings Institute The to 2014 celebrates Southside Year... New Chinese UK debut of The Prince The of debut UK Brum in Pagodas The Of SAM SMITH SAM HORSE THE OF YEAR BIRMINGHAM BALLET ROYAL FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE 338 338 ISSUE sOn ’ .co.uk

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www. BIRMINGHAM What THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE ENTERTAINMENT ESSENTIAL MIDLANDS THE Birmingham Cover - Feb SITR_Mids Cover - August 27/01/2014 18:53 Page 1 Page 18:53 27/01/2014 - August Cover SITR_Mids - Feb Cover Birmingham BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON ISSUE 338 FEBRUARY 2014 PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS @WHATSONBRUM WWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK B'ham Pride Ball (FP-Feb) 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 18:21 Page 1

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February 2014

Editor: Davina Evans INSIDE: [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: Matthew Bourne Brian O’Faolain [email protected] chats about Swan Lake 01743 281701 interview p8 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Sales & Marketing: Jon Cartwright [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704

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Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry Ex-Sugababe Jade Ewen talks about her role in Ben Elton’s musical, [email protected] Tonight’s The Night - interview page 6 01743 281717 Website Development: Jim Pallett TO GET THE VERY Alan Ayckbourn Contributors: p4 talks about his latest play Graham Bostock: Theatre LATEST LISTING News James Cameron-Wilson: interview p10 Film; Anita Champaneri: INFORMATION, Eating Out; Music p13 Alev Dervish: Music VISIT: Eva Easthope, Kate whatsonlive.co.uk Evans, Jessica Aston, Comedy p22 Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, INCLUDING Jan Watts, Reggie White BOOKING ONLINE Theatre p25 Head Office: 13-14 Abbey Foregate, The Midlands’ most Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE comprehensive p40 Tel: 01743 281777 entertainment website Dance e-mail: [email protected] Follow us on... Film/DVD p43 This publication is Visual Arts p51 printed on paper from a sustainable source and is February 2014 produced without the use Birmingham p55 of elemental chlorine. @whatsonbrum Events MTWTFSS We endorse the recycling Warwickshire 1 2 of our magazine and @whatsonwarwicks p64 would encourage you to Eating Out 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 pass it on to others to Worcester read when you have @whatsonworcs 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 finished with it. facebook.com/whatsonlive 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 What’sOn 24 25 26 27 28 All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless MAGAZINE GROUP otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. News February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:47 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Private Peaceful heading for the Midlands A new UK tour of the hit one-man show Private Peaceful is heading for the Midlands. Simon Reade’s highly acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s World War One novel tells the story of a young soldier awaiting a dawn firing squad. The production, which debuted in 2004 and has since played to sell-out audiences across the country, sees Paul Chequer and Andy Daniel sharing the role of Private Tommo Peaceful. Chequer appeared in the 2012 film version of the story, while Daniel’s theatre credits include Journey’s End, The Railway Children and The History Boys. This latest tour, marking the centenary of the beginning of World War One, shows at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from 17 to 19 April, and at The REP, Birmingham, from 14 to 17 May.

Drayton Manor gearing up for new attraction One of the region’s most popular visitor attractions is getting ready to launch a new family thrill ride. Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth, Staffordshire, which already features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides in the UK - Shock-wave, G-Force, Maelstrom, ELO co-founder honoured Apocalypse and Splash Canyon - will welcome new stomach-churning aerial adventure Air in home city Race in time for the summer school holidays. Accommodating twenty-four riders at any one time, Air Race will feature banks, loops, dives and weightlessness, and will allow visitors to Composer, music producer and Brummie experience accelerations of almost 4G. Little wonder, then, that Drayton Manor is promising rock legend Jeff Lynne is to join fellow musi- the new ride will give thrill-seekers ‘the time of their life’. cians Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Roy Wood on Birmingham’s Walk Of Stars, located along the city’s popular Broad Street. Businesses invited to raise from both the UK and abroad. This year’s ELO co-founder Lynne, who’s worked with festival takes place at locations across the some of the industry’s biggest names, will their rackets for charity city from 11 to 27 July. Applications to take be presented with a duplicate of the A ‘shuttlecock showdown’ at Birmingham’s part are now being sought from individuals Birmingham-made commemorative star by National Indoor Arena (NIA) is inviting local and companies in various theatrical disci- comedian Jasper Carrott at a ceremony at businesses to showcase their racket skills for plines, including theatre (adult and children), the Library of Birmingham on 13 March. charity. The 21 February event sees teams of dance, music, comedy and poetry. For fur- Commenting on the newly bestowed honour, four battle it out on court, with the participat- ther information, visit Lynne said: “I’m thrilled to be included on ing players being drawn from Birmingham’s www.birminghamfest.co.uk the Birmingham Walk of Stars! It’s great to business community. All monies raised will have my work recognised in my home go to Badminton England’s chosen charity, town!” The Anders Foundation, an organisation My UK opens it first which encourages young people of all abili- Birmingham hub ties to achieve their sporting goals. The Birmingham Business Shuttlecock The Birmingham arm of a national company is Showdown is followed at the NIA a couple of on the lookout for performers to star in its weeks later by the Yonex All England debut presentation later this year. Since its Badminton Championships, taking place launch five years ago, Musical Youth UK from 4 to 9 March. (MyUK) has taken the nation by storm, with six regional hubs and performances on the West End stage. As well as providing large-scale Applications sought for musical performance opportunities, the company also teaches vital stagecraft skills for would- Birmingham festival be professional performers. MyUK Birmingham Organisers of an independent performing launched in January and is currently seeking arts festival which made its debut in youngsters aged eleven to nineteen to perform Birmingham last year have announced its in its production of Les Miserables at the return for 2014. Designed to ‘celebrate the Crescent Theatre from 18 to 23 August. Email second city’s venues and arts scene’, [email protected] to express your Birmingham Fest showcases new works interest.

4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:47 Page 2

Flatpack announces archive image of Birmingham Opera company headline events A festival which started out ten years ago as a monthly night in a Digbeth pub has announced its 2014 headliners. The eleven- day Flatpack Film Festival is described as holding a ‘unique place in the UK’s film scene’. Organisers are promising the 2014 event will offer ‘an eye-popping line-up of new features, shorts and special guests, as well as providing an alternative route-map to Birmingham via walking tours, installations and pop-up screenings across the city.’ This year’s highlights include The World Made Itself - an immersive piece of myth-making from LA-based artist and performer Miwa Matryek - the UK premiere of The Great Flood, which provides a portrait of the dev- astation caused by the Mississippi floods of 1927, Birmingham On Sea - a tale of a land- locked city’s love affair with water - and an immersive and horizontal screening of 1972 sci-fi movie Silent Burning. Flatpack Festival runs from 20 to 30 March. For further information, visit www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

Secret location for Russian political drama Birmingham Opera Company is using a ‘secret venue’ to present a brand new production of Musorgsky’s The Khovansky Files: A National Enquiry (‘Khovanshchina’) in April. The power- ful political drama, which centres on rebellion and revolution, will be performed as part of the city’s Russia Year of Culture 2014 celebrations, the opening performance of which takes place at Birmingham’s Town Hall this month. The opera company’s founder and artistic director, Graham Vick, is the man at the helm of the new translation by Max Hoehn. Graham was one of the first international directors to be invited behind the Iron Curtain, helming a version of Prokofiev’s War And Peace at the Kirov in 1991. For this latest production, he will lead a cast of international soloists, the City of Cultural quarter to welcome Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus and over two hundred volunteers from Birmingham. Featured soloists include Paul return of Swingamajig Nilon, Eric Greene, Stephanie Corley, Joseph Guyton, Claudia Huckle, Keel Watson, Jeff A unique festival which invites Electro Swing Lloyd Roberts and Robert Winslade Anderson. This latest production follows Birmingham lovers and vintage connoisseurs to take to Opera Company’s groundbreaking and award-winning presentation of Stockhausen’s the streets and party in style is returning to Mittwoch Aus Licht in 2012. Birmingham for a second year. Bringing the ‘sounds and styles of the 1920s up to date with a modern twist’, Swingamajig is the IN BRIEF Kaiser Chiefs to kick UK’s first one-day festival dedicated to off Silverstone Electro Swing, Vintage Sounds and Gypsy Fundraisers to Mayhem. New for 2014 are a vintage cine- scale new heights British Grand Prix Indie rock band and three-time ma, dance workshops facilitated by some of Fundraisers at Brit Award-winners the Kaiser Europe’s leading professionals and, er, a Birmingham’s Acorns Chiefs are to ensure that the spot of electric hamster racing! Children’s Hospice are country’s most prestigious motor- Swingamajig takes place at Boxxed, along on the lookout for ing event gets off to a full-throttle start this summer. The Kaisers will Digbeth’s Floodgate Street in Birmingham's adventurous types who be performing at Silverstone on the eve (3 July) of the Formula One Cultural Quarter, on Sunday 4 May. fancy abseiling down Santander British Grand Prix (4 to 6 July). The performance is the first one of the city centre’s of five UK summer dates for the band. most famous buildings. A one hundred-and- twenty-foot descend Library to host exhibition of graphic scores from the roof of Birmingham’s House Examples of visual music, musical graphics and eye music from of Fraser store is numerous well-respected international composers are to be planned for Sunday 13 exhibited at the new Library of Birmingham. The works, by com- April, offering daredevil posers including, Janet Boulton, Pauline Oliveros, Elliot Sharp adventurers an exciting and Carl Bergstrom Nielsen, will be shown as part of the city’s way to raise vital funds new festival, Frontiers: Extraordinary Music From Downtown New for Acorns. The event York & Birmingham. The exhibition is entitled Score: Trace That is open to people of all Sound, and explores how Ancient China comes ages and abilities, with composers, musicians full training by profes- and artists have reimag- to Birmingham sionals provided on ined the way in which A production which has received plenty of the day. There’s a £15 music can be represented international acclaim for ‘bringing the won- entry fee, with all par- through notation and text. ders of ancient China culture to millions ticipants required to A number of graphic across the globe’, is making its way to raise a minimum of scores, which exist as Birmingham this spring. Shen Yun visits the £75. To find out more, works of art in their own city’s ICC on 14 and 15 April as part of a visit right, will be featured. For European tour which also includes a Dublin www.acorns.org.uk/ further information on stop-off (19 & 20 April). For further informa- charity-abseil Frontiers, visit www.fron- tion, visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org tiersmusic.org Janet Boulton - Eye Music

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Jade Ewen feature 1_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:05 Page 1

Jade Ewen Ex-Sugababe out on the road in Ben Elton musical...

Jade Ewen’s vocal talents first came to the nation’s attention in 2009, when she achieved fifth place in the Eurovision Song Contest. The same year she confirmed herself as a bonafide pop artist by joining one of the UK’s most successful girl bands, replacing Keisha Buchanan in The Sugababes. Years before her big break, and having trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, Jade made her West End debut in Disney’s The Lion King, at the tender age of twelve. With musical theatre being her first love, she’s delighted to be making a return to the stage to play Dee Dee in Ben Elton’s Rod Stewart - The Musical. What’s On caught up with her to find out more...

Tell us about your character in Tonight’s certain vulnerability. I don’t want to give too that I’ve seen, and I take inspiration from a The Night, Jade... much away, but by the end of the show few characters that I’ve seen in film and on Dee Dee is a really aggressive, fiery things have certainly changed around for TV, but then there’s always the worry that character who’s full of zest. There’s a bit of her. you might be playing it too big. In theatre, a love interest going on, but Rocky, the there’s always that compromise of making it character she’s in love with, doesn’t love Is playing a feisty character something natural while at the same time making it big her. So there’s a bit in the show where she that comes quite easily? enough on stage to convince the audience. expresses how she feels and reveals a Yes and no. I like to copy and mimic things

6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Jade Ewen feature 1_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:06 Page 2

interview...

Do you get a lot of artistic freedom to With the West End, is there a particular want is to be on stage, and you get to do play around with the character? role that’s up there on your list? that almost every night of the week when Our director obviously has ideas, but she Elphaba would be amazing. Wicked is a you’re in a musical. If you’re in a band, you tries to encourage us to go with our great show. I love the songs, and everybody get to do it, but it’s more seasoned. You instincts. We try and tune in and go with likes to fly... may be recording for however many that, but, generally speaking, it’s a months, then there may be a couple of balanced, fifty/fifty relationship. What about an Andrew Lloyd Webber months of live performances, and then it’s musical... back to the studio or promoting. I think, as And what iconic Rod Stewart songs do I would love to, definitely. I’ve never asked an artist, the thing you crave most is to be you get to sing? or hinted, because I think it might be a little up there performing on a stage. What Am I Going To Do and First Cut Is The bit awkward. We’ll have to see - maybe I’ll Deepest, which is the favourite. That comes invite him along to the show... Do you foresee The Sugababes ever at the moment when Dee Dee is at her most getting back together in the future? vulnerable. Are you still in touch? There are no definite plans to get back He’s not the easiest person to keep in touch together. That said, I can’t say it’s over. At Were you a fan of Rod’s music prior to with because he doesn’t have a mobile the moment we’re all busy doing our own being involved in Tonight’s The Night? phone. You have to kind of physically bump individual projects. I had no idea how much Rod Stewart music into Andrew; you can’t just call him on his I actually knew. Obviously, a lot of it was mobile or send him a text. You’ve mentioned working on your debut before my time, so it wasn’t as if I album. How would you describe this? consciously grew up listening to it, but You’re touring with Tonight’s The Night It’s very soulful and sometimes quite being involved in this, I’ve realised that it’s until April. What’s in the diary after that? emotional. Putting it together has been a everywhere. It’s in adverts, in the There are a few things in the pipeline, but I sort of healing process, because there have background of things, on the radio or have to await confirmation before I can tell. been a lot of emotional things that I’ve gone whatever. I now realise I knew most of the One of those will hopefully be theatre. Also, through. I’ve discovered things about words to these songs, I just didn’t realise I’ll carry on recording solo material for my myself, and I’ve grown as a person. I guess they were Rod’s. What’s really interesting is debut album. I’m doing bits for that at the I’d summarise it as a soulful and healing that everyone, it doesn’t matter which moment, but it’s proving to be a little chapter of my life. This has been the first generation you’re from, kind of knows a difficult juggling different hats - switching time I’ve been able to express myself Rod Stewart song. A real Rod favourite of from writing to recording to theatre - and without having all the pressure and mine - which I don’t sing in the show - is also finding time to sleep! restrictions which have gone before. It’s This Old Heart Of Mine. It’s a really lovely been a reminder of why I came into the song. Are you quite disciplined in terms of how music business in the first place. you allocate your time? Tonight’s The Night has been described I’m finding this tour a really good As a singer, who inspires you most? as ‘sexy’. Can you expand on that? experience for me, because it’s the first time I’ve got a few, but I really love Stevie Because it’s meant to have a rock’n’roll/gig I’ve really had to organise myself and take Wonder. His storytelling is amazing, and the feel, I guess there’s a natural bit of sex and care of my own accommodation and all that fact that he’s blind, and my dad’s blind, grit that comes through. There are a few sort of stuff. All of that’s normally dealt with means it feels like there’s a real connection. love interests, but I wouldn’t say it’s overly by your management. At times it’s been a raunchy. It’s not like you need a certificate bit overwhelming, but I’m finding now that Finally, what’s your ultimate goal as a to come and watch it. I’ve got a system in place which I’ll apply to performer? every aspect of my life in future. It’s I definitely want to do more theatre, and I’d Are there any similarities between this definitely about finding a balance and, love to go over to America and see what’s and We Will Rock You? luckily for me, it’s only in theatre. When I’m out there. They seem to love the Brits, and I guess the only similarity is that it’s well- recording, it’s just a case of turning up. The I’d certainly like to investigate new known songs incorporated into a musical. rest is for somebody else to juggle. territories. I guess, basically, I’d like to As far as the storyline goes, it’s definitely achieve world domination... very different. Also, as a cast, I’d hope that What’s been the biggest learning-curve we come at this completely differently. for you in going on tour with this show? Some of the group haven’t seen We Will For some reason I’m always thrown in at the Rock You, so have been able to come at deep end. It happened with Eurovision, this fresh and uninfluenced. I like to think performing live in front of one hundred-and- that we bring our own identity and put our twenty-two million people. That whole own mark on it. experience was very intense. Then it happened again joining the band. The Most people will know you as one third Sugababes were obviously a massive band of the Sugababes, as well as for your before I was in the group, and then it was Eurovision entry, but is it true that dealing with press, learning eight albums- theatre’s your first love? worth of songs and going out on tour - Absolutely! I did theatre before anything again very intense. With Splash, I couldn’t else. I went to Sylvia’s (Sylvia Young swim, so I literally had to dive in at the deep Theatre School) and I’ve always been as end. I think I have a habit in life of just equally focused on acting and dancing as I getting stuck in and then worrying about the have singing. Singing was the avenue that rest once I’m in. If I worried too much about got me out there, but a big part of me, as a things and questioned my ability, I’d never performer, has come from theatre. do anything. Once I’ve agreed to do something, I often look back and think, “oh, So is theatre where you see your future? what have I done?”, by which time it’s too I think so. I don’t want it to be just one or late and I’ve just got to get on with it. the other, because I love music, I love performing and I love being on stage. I want Ex Sugababe bandmate Heidi Range is my future to involve both recording and, also out on tour, with the stage version of hopefully, performing on the West End Happy Days. Are you supportive of each stage. And one day on Broadway too - that other’s post-band solo projects? Tonight’s The Night: The Rod Stewart Musical would be amazing. Definitely! I’m glad that Heidi’s experiencing shows at New Alexandra Theatre, it as well. I know she’s a massive fan of Birmingham, from Mon 24 February to Sat 1 theatre, but she’s never had the opportunity March, and Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent to do it before. If you’re a performer, all you from Mon 24 to Sat 29 March

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Matthew Bourne feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:07 Page 1

I remember Cameron Mackintosh, the “ producer, coming up in the interval and saying that he had to do this in the West End ”

Matthew Bourne reflects on the moment he realised Swan Lake was a hit...

8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Matthew Bourne feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:07 Page 2

interview...

Director-choreographer Matthew Bourne first premiered his revelatory Swan Lake in 1995, since which time this modern reinterpretation of a ballet-world mainstay has transfixed audiences across the globe. With a new version of Swan Lake about to hit the road, Matthew reflects on a show which has not only become a genuine cultural phenomenon but also transformed the lives of many, not least that of Bourne himself.

When Swan Lake premiered at London’s entrance of Adam Cooper as the Swan. All of How do you think the intervening years Sadler’s Wells Theatre, did you have any a sudden, you felt people thinking, “This isn’t have refocused that aspect of the idea it would go on to achieve such what we were expecting!”. It suddenly went production? success? very quiet, very serious. And then I Well, we have different sorts of royals now. Absolutely not; you couldn’t predict anything remember Cameron Mackintosh, the The young princes seem more well-adjusted like that. I just remember in the rehearsal producer, coming up in the interval and - or shall we say ‘normal’ - so I’m not sure room having to get the thing done. It was a saying that he had to do this in the West we see them in quite the same way as we long piece - the longest by far that I’d done End, and I thought, “this is only the interval, once looked at Charles. On the other hand, I up to that point - so it was about working but - well, Cameron does know; there’s do think there’s still very much a relevance away at just trying to do the best we could something about his instinct!”. It was once here. There’s a lot of protection and do. I wasn’t really thinking beyond that. the second half got going and we were into grooming that still goes on; I mean, Kate the Ball scene that it all became suddenly didn’t just emerge as a fully formed royal. Nonetheless, the venture must have electric. Then, when Adam came on in his You still have to be a certain type of person prompted speculation in the dance world leather trousers as the Black Swan, the show to be part of the royal family, and it’s and beyond? really caught fire. At the end there was this important that our story is set in an It did! There were all sorts of doubts spontaneous roar - which the piece has uncertain, unspecified time period. It’s as expressed by people outside the room, and I received ever since - and that was honestly much about now as it was about then. was well aware that there were two prevailing something I hadn’t expected at all. camps. One group was sure that the piece You went on from Swan Lake to devise was going to be hilarious and a real send-up; It must be infuriating when you hear the numerous pieces, from Edward they were the ones who couldn’t wait! There work described as ‘the all-male Swan Scissorhands to Play Without Words, and were others who kept saying, “You do know Lake’, since there are women prominently from Cinderella to Sleeping Beauty. Does it’s a tragedy and you’re not going to mess featured in the cast, albeit not as the Swan Lake occupy a privileged position, around with it, are you?”. swans. simply because of what it represented for Very much so, and we’ve had some you? What did you think you had in the wonderful women over time, from Fiona I like to think of all those pieces you mention rehearsal room itself? Chadwick and Etta Murfitt onwards. That as children; and, as with any child, you can’t I remember all of us feeling that we liked the misperception you mention is so easy to say, pick a favourite. But of course I’m hugely idea, and that we had something we thought and it makes sense to everyone - but I do grateful to Swan Lake - how could I not be? could work, but I don’t think we were over- have to correct it, obviously. For one thing, I It changed my life and a lot of people’s lives. confident. It was more about a sense of us don’t want people sitting there during the It took us to Broadway and made us an working towards the same thing, and simply scenes with the royals thinking that they’re international company. The fact is, I still love having a confidence in the fact that we liked watching men in drag! thinking about it and working on it, and I still the idea of what we were doing. have a lot to say about it to the dancers. It’s I'm glad you reference the royals, who amazing to think that in eighteen years we’ve Can you recall the actual seedbed for the have to be mentioned, given that they gone from a company of eight to one of idea - the moment when the project itself were in a very different place in 1995 from seventy, and that we’ve done more actually took hold? where they are now. For one thing, performances of our Swan Lake during those The very first idea was the thought of all- Princess Diana was alive at the time. years than the Royal Ballet has done during male swans. That had come to me watching Yes, and she saw it, we believe. It’s funny; its entire existence. the ballet long before I ever had a company the royal aspect is the thing I thought or any possibility of doing Swan Lake at all; it everyone would pick up on, because royal What you’re doing, presumably, with your was just a daydream. I remember being scandal was such a big deal when we company New Adventures is looking intrigued as to what that might do to the plot. opened Swan Lake. All that, I have to say, forward as well as back... It helped, of course, that I’d seen the ballet was quite inspiring in a way. One felt there That’s exactly right. Swan Lake was the itself a lot. So I had this memory of Royal was a story going on in real life, as in Swan trailblazer - so much so that when we cast Ballet dancer Anthony Dowell as the Prince, Lake, in which a prince couldn’t marry the the show nowadays we find men whose wandering around in Act One pretty much person he really loved - in Charles’ case, whole ambition as dancers has been about saying, “No, I will not get married; take her Camilla - and so had to marry a suitable appearing in this piece. By contrast, eighteen away, I want something else!”. So I just young person instead, namely Diana. All that years ago it was hard to get a cast of thought, “Oh, there’s something going on in seemed terribly sad if you looked at it from a fourteen swans together! Now, hundreds this story that’s not being told”. purely human point of view, so I thought come to each audition. But what’s most there was a lot of sympathy to be had for a satisfying is that this hasn’t been our only What was that precisely? prince who couldn’t be what he wanted to successful thing. I wouldn’t feel the same I think it was that feeling of someone who’s be. about Swan Lake if it had been a one-hit yearning for something, which seemed to me wonder. I’m grateful for this show, but also a metaphor for someone who’s possibly gay; Yes, it’s important that the royal aspect of for all the ones that have come since, not or who maybe just wanted a different kind of your production isn’t viewed merely as least in terms of the public following myself woman, or something like that. It definitely facetious, or as a romp. and following the company. felt to me like something that was there in I do think the royal family really liked it, and the ballet itself and not like anything I’d found it very sympathetic; but no one is invented. And if you consider Tchaikovsky’s going to admit to that or say it publicly. I own life, and the turmoil and violence in the found out from Princess Margaret, when she music, that also suggested something much came to see Cinderella, that she had the deeper than a lot of pretty swans in a row. video and, as I say, we’re pretty sure that Diana had been in. What’s intriguing, too, is Do you remember a ‘click’ moment in that we were asked to do it as part of the performance when you sensed a hit on Royal Variety performance, apparently as a your hands? personal request from the Queen - so they Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake shows at Very much so. The bit, I think, that made the certainly didn’t turn against it because of the Birmingham Hippodrome from Wed 5 to Sat audience go completely quiet was the subject matter. 15 February.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Alan Ayckbourn feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:07 Page 1

The good people are the “ hardest to make interesting. Villains are easy and generally more fun!” Alan Ayckbourn talks about his latest play, Arrivals And Departures...

Time Of My Life Arrivals And Departures

Arrivals And Departures

10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Alan Ayckbourn feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:07 Page 2

interview...

With seventy-eight plays under his belt, more than forty of which have been performed in the West End, Alan Ayckbourn is one of the world’s most prolific and successful playwrights. The Tony and Olivier Award-winner’s latest work - Arrivals And Departures - is this month being performed at Warwick Arts Centre alongside two of his other plays, Time Of My Life and Farcicals. What’s On recently caught up with Alan to talk about his career, his inspirations, and the very particular challenges of writing for the stage...

What can you tell us about your new play, ‘precise information’ playwriting; writing a Did starting out as an actor influence your Arrivals And Departures, Alan? scene of less than a page which gives you writing? It’s a memory play, in short. It’s got a cast of four or five pages of information. This is also It’s not uncommon for playwrights to start thirty speaking parts shared between eleven challenging because brevity is no guarantee out as actors. From Shakespeare onwards, actors plus two children. But while it’s a big of interest - brevity, mercifully, just doesn’t it’s been very important; a sort of play in scale, it’s not a big play in terms of take very long! apprenticeship, really. There’s nothing like the characters. It centres around a single, actually doing it for learning the craft. It’s a central relationship and is essentially all The play also has an unusual setting... bit like learning an instrument before about two people, Barry and Ez. Against this One of the most notable things about embarking on composition. background, there’s also a side-plot running Arrivals And Departures is that there isn’t a which is to do with an ambush to catch a single domestic scene in the play. They’re all Who’s inspired you most as a writer, and terrorist. So it’s a play on several levels. set on railway stations or in bus stations - all why? Hopefully it will not confuse but amuse! to do with transportation. Even the I was ‘born’ as a writer at an interesting time flashbacks always happen in airports, multi- for British theatre. At the end of the old order You describe it as a memory play. What storey car parks and so on; anywhere - from Coward, Rattigan etc backwards - and does that mean? except a domestic sitting room. This is, I on the threshold of the new order - Pinter, Two strangers meet and the audience learn think, not unrelated to the title of the play, Osborne and company onwards. So at the about their back-stories through their which also refers to other arrivals and start, practically everyone influenced me. memories. So at the end of the play, the departures in life, such as births and deaths. Plus a whole load of black-and-white - as characters themselves know precious little well as silent - films. more about each other than they did when What can you tell us about the main they started out. It was interesting for me to characters - Ez and Barry? What do you consider the essential write. Normally, as the characters get to Ez is a young female soldier who’s lost her components of a great play? know each other, so do the audience. But faith in human nature. Barry is a traffic Good narrative, absorbing and shifting here, only the audience gets to know the warden from Harrogate. He’s a fascinating characters, and preferably an intriguing back-stories, and only they realise how close character and not a million miles away from angle. A great play is one that keeps you in these characters could be, but for the fact Douglas Beechey in my play Man Of The your seat, filled with expectation and that they’re strangers. Moment, who’s also had a troubled subtext anticipation till the very end. of a life. Everything has fallen in on Barry, Was there anything which particularly but he’s the sort of person who keeps the Do you always follow the same format inspired you to write the play? smile in place because his philosophy is, if when writing? Not really. It sort of evolved from this idea of you smile every day, you spread a little bit of Never. I try always to start with a clean sheet. telling a story through memories. Form happiness and you make the world a slightly Obviously, ingrained technique and technical always fascinates me. Arrivals And happier place. But the consequence of that know-how will govern me to some extent, but Departures has an interesting structure. is you don’t let anyone in. So there’s a whenever possible, at my stage of life, I like Having written so many plays, many of fortress about him, and the smile excludes to break all the rules. which have straight narratives, I think that anyone taking him at more than skin-deep nowadays one of the interests for me is to level. We get the privilege of moving in quite Have you ever given up on a play? surprise and intrigue the audience through close and seeing beneath the smile. Yes, once every few years. Hopefully before the way the story is told, just as much as they’re even produced! through the story itself. There aren’t that Arrivals And Departures is playing in many new stories to tell, if indeed any; it’s repertory with Time Of My Life. Are there Who’s been the most difficult character to only in the way they’re narrated that the any similarities between the plays? develop? story becomes new. I think my audience has Both plays are to do with time, which is The good people are the hardest to make got used now to saying, “how’s this going to interesting. But the way time is used in interesting. Villains are easy and generally start?”. It’s also not just a matter of looking Arrivals And Departures is nowhere near as more fun! for new ways to tell a story, but of keeping complicated as how time is used in Time Of me fresh as well. My Life. I’m still looking at the old prompt script of Time Of My Life to see how we How do you write a story told primarily originally did it! through memories? Cinema has always been a prime influence Did you have a desire to tell stories from on me, much more so than stage work. The an early age? grammar of cinema is something Yes. Storytelling was a big part of my immediately adaptable to the sort of theatre I upbringing - probably the result, during my work in, which is normally free of big set early years, of having a mother as a writer changes. I’m free to use cinematic who spent most of her time writing in order techniques, such as the flashbacks in to feed our single-parent family of two! What Arrivals And Departures. There’s a whole choice did I have? series of memories for Ez and Barry which, in their minds, probably seem far longer Strong-minded women feature heavily in than they actually are. How often do we get your work. Why’s this? a flash of memory and you’ve apparently The result of the above. My mother had been back in time for about twenty minutes gone right off men at that particular time and but only a second has passed in real time? preferred the company of other women. Farcicals You can’t have twenty-minute scenes on They chatted away for hours and usually stage and then say to the audience, only a never noticed little six-year-old me, playing The Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble, featuring second has passed in real time. So you in the corner. But I heard them. Arrivals And Departures, Time Of My Life and have to try and condense the information in Farcicals, shows at Warwick Arts Centre, these memory scenes. It’s an exercise in Coventry, from Tues 11 to Sat 15 February.

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Sam Smith The Institute, Birmingham, Fri 28 February To say that the soulful-voiced Sam Smith has had a good start to 2014 would be an understatement. From featured vocalist for Disclosure to achieving standout success, Sam is making the industry sit up and take notice. Named Critics’ Choice ahead of this month’s BRIT Awards, he also won the BBC’s Sound Of 2014 award, beating off opposi- tion from Ella Eyre, Banks, Sampha and George Ezra in the process. This Institute gig is one of six special UK dates he’s playing prior to the May release of his debut album, The Lonely Hour.

Tom Odell Beyoncé Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sun 9 February LG Arena, Birmingham, Sun 23 - Mon 24 February Shooting to fame with album The Long Way Down Famed for her high-energy performances and spectacular stage shows, Beyoncé and standout single Another Love, Tom Odell won Knowles' star continues to be in the ascendant. The former Destiny’s Child singer is now the BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice gong in 2013. one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having notched up in excess of seventy- Nominated for two BRITs this year, for Best British five million album sales worldwide. Not surprisingly given that fact, she’s also bagged her Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act, Tom fair share (and then some!) of gongs and accolades, including way more Grammy shows no sign of slowing down, and will stop off at Awards than she’s got fingers and no small number of MTV Video Music Awards. five UK venues on this tour. Recently revealing his She visits Birmingham this month with her Mrs Carter Show, which was the highest fear of spiders when one crawled across his piano grossing tour by a female artist in 2013. onstage in Tasmania, he’s forecast that fellow artist Sam Smith will have ‘a huge year’ in 2014 - as long as he watches out for spiders! London Grammar O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sun 16 February Mr Scruff Debut album If You Wait not only earned London Grammar Number Two spots in both The Assembly, Leamington Spa, the UK and Australian album charts, it also bagged them a BRIT Award nomination in the Thurs 13 February; Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, British Breakthrough Act category. The trio’s music has been described as ‘a blend of Fri 14 - Sat 15 March ambient, ethereal and classical sounds’, with Hannah Reid’s voice being compared to This DJ, producer, cartoonist and self-professed that of Florence Welch. The band have certainly been quick off the mark in terms of gain- tea drinker is named after his scruffy beard and ing global fame, with this year’s fourteen-date UK headline tour and a further nineteen love of loose line drawings. Renowned for all-night- dates in America and Canada seeming certain to raise their profile even further. long, across-the-board DJ sets, Mr Scruff presents Electro duo Bondax support. a vinyl melting-pot of jazz, soul, hip-hop, funk, disco, deep house, reggae, dubstep, afrobeat, latin and gems that defy categorisation. A talented illustrator - he draws the covers to his albums and singles - he’s best known for tracks such as Get A Move On. His Midlands gigs are among a handful of shows he’s presenting across the UK and Europe this month.

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Classical and Contemporary Chamber music

Fri 7 February, 8pm CRAIG OGDEN Giuliani: Grand Overture Dowland: Lachrimae Pavane Dowland: Fantasia No. 7 Britten: Nocturnal op 70 Poulenc: Sarabande Turina: Sonata for Guitar op 61 Bach: Lute Suite No 4 BWV 1006a Walton: 5 Bagatelles

Fri 28 February, 8pm TIPPETT QUARTET Mozart: String Quartet in G K387 Robert Simpson: String Quartet No 11 (1984) Beethoven: String Quartet in C op 59 - 3

Fri 21 March, 8pm CAVALERI QUARTET WITH TIMOTHY ORPEN Janacek: String Quartet No 2 'Intimate Letters' Ian Venables: Canzonetta for clarinet and string quartet (ist performance - Joint Bromsgrove Concerts/Droitwich Concert Club Commission) Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A K581

Artrix Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1PQ Box Office - [email protected] 01527 577330 www.artrix.co.uk www.bromsgrove-concerts.org.uk

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Music PREVIEWS

The Gipsy Kings Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 21 February Presenting music that’s been described as having ‘a rumba flamenca style with pop influences’, The Gypsy Kings hail from Arles and Montpellier in the South of France and perform in Spanish with an Andalusian ac- cent. Formed in 1978, they enjoyed a major success with their self-titled debut album, and have since become even more widely known as a result of their contributions to the sound- tracks of hit movies The Big Lebowski and Toy Story 3.

Bonobo The Institute, Birmingham, Thurs 27 February It looks like being another busy year for musician, producer and DJ Simon Green, stage name Bonobo. He’s already confirmed slots at two of the world’s most prestigious music festivals - Coachella and Sonar - and is also undertaking a twenty-date tour of Europe and the UK. All this after releasing his album The North Borders late last year. Still, with over ten years’ experience, countless mix records and five successful albums - including Dial M For Monkey and Black Sands - under his belt, he’s a man who’s well used to busy schedules. He’s ac- Penguin Café companied at The Institute by a full live band. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 19 February Continuing the legacy of the Penguin Café Gerry Cross The Mersey Suzanne Vega Orchestra, created by Simon Jeffes forty Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 15 February Town Hall, Birmingham, Mon 3 February years ago, Penguin Café was formed in 2010 Best known for the hit song Ferry Cross The A sensitive, deeply personal artist, whose by Simon’s son, Arthur, when he realised how Mersey - and for the version of You’ll Never success presaged a wave of singer/songwrit- much he missed his father’s music. Describ- Walk Alone that first inspired Liverpool FC’s ers, Suzanne Vega first reached international ing their sound as ‘cheerfully beautiful supporters to sing the most famous of all attention with the massive single Marlene On chaos’, Arthur mixes original Penguin Cafe football anthems - Gerry Marsden is one of The Wall. Each of her following albums has Orchestra music with new compositions, fus- the UK music industry’s greatest 1960s icons. seen her making plenty of musical develop- ing traditional Englishness with rhythms from This hugely popular show offers his fans the ments, even if the themes have remained other cultures, such as those of South Amer- chance to take a nostalgia-drenched stroll pretty much constant. Although unlikely to re- ica and West Africa. Following last year’s sell- down memory lane, as Gerry presents an gain the levels of success she enjoyed in the out UK tour, Penguin Cafe are this month evening that sees him blending his greatest late-1980s, mainly because there's so much releasing new album The Red Book. hits with plenty of stories, jokes and anec- competition these days, she remains a dotes from his fifty-plus years in the business. thoughtful and rewarding performer. Her 2014 world tour is in celebration of her new album Tales From The Realm Of The Queen The Beards Of Pentacles. The Glee Club, Birmingham, Mon 17 February Singing songs that extol the virtues of having a beard, these four hairy Australians - Johann Beardraven, John Beardman Jr, Nathaniel Beard and Facey McStubblington - are the perfect antidote to the winter blues. Embark- ing on their first ever world tour, they’ve specifically picked First World countries to visit, as “people living in developed countries are more susceptible to shaving - it’s important for our message to reach them”. Hits include If Your Dad Doesn’t Have A Beard Skaters You’ve Got Two Dads. Fairport Convention Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Fri 28 February Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thur 6 Feb; This transatlantic trio comprises LA-based Royal Spa Centre, Warwickshire, Tues 11 singer Michael Cummings and drummer Feb; Town Hall, Birmingham, Tues 4 Mar; Noah Rubin, both of The Dead Trees, and Given that seminal album Liege & Lief is London-based guitarist Joshua Hubbard hailed as having been the inspiration for the from Dirty Pretty Things. Meeting in the mid- electric folk movement, it’s hardly surprising dle, they now call Manhattan their home. A that Fairport Convention are considered to be constant source of inspiration, they’re gear- one of English folk rock’s most important ing up for the release of aptly titled debut groups. Founded in 1967, the band have, at Manhattan, just prior to this King’s Heath various times, featured some of the country’s show. Influenced by skate culture and the most talented musicians, and since 1979 ethos of acceptance, the band’s Birmingham have hosted the Cropredy Festival, the stop-off is one of eight UK shows. largest annual event of its kind in England.

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Sunday 2 February at 11.30am O Duo - Crash! Bang! Wallop! Music by Bach, Philip Glass and Chopin plus audience participation! Family Sunday 2 February at 3.00pm Concert Music by O Duo 7+ Albeniz, Bach, Brubeck, Chopin, Philip Glass, Prokofiev, Siegel and O Duo

Sunday 16 February at 11.30am Family Ensemble 360 Concert Stan and Mabel 3+ New Paul Rissmann Score Sunday 16 February at 3.00pm Ensemble 360 Britten Six Metamorphoses after Ovid Op 49 Charlie Piper With Stolen Fire Britten Sinfonietta Op 1 Martinu Nonet Wagner Siegfried Idyll

Sunday 16 March at 3.00pm Florilegium Telemann Paris Quartet in D CPE Bach Trio Sonata in G Wq144 Leclair Deuxieme recreation de musique d’une execution facile in G minor Op 8 JS Bach Ricercar a 3 and Trio Sonata from The Musical Offering Marais Le Sonnerie de Sainte Genevieve du Mont a Paris Rebel Les caracteres de la Danse Tickets: £16.50 - £12.50. Both Family Concerts: £8 & £6 (Children £3 & £2.50)

Bridge House Theatre 01926 776438 Tickets Online: bridgehousetheatre.co.uk Part of the Leamington Music Winter Season

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Centre, Birmingham Telford ANTHONY MARSDEN CHANCE, TIGER PUNCH & LISTINGS CASH - PAYIN’ RESPECT KRAFTWERK UNCOVERED MAJOR PROJECT BAND LOST AT HOME O2 Acad- Music TO THE MAN IN BLACK O2 Birmingham Town Hall The Yardbird, B’ham emy, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham THE WEEKEND ANTHEMS WILL AND THE PEOPLE DREAM THEATER Civic JOHN OTWAY The As- The River Rooms, Hare & Hounds, B’ham Hall, Wolverhampton For full listing information on gigs, sembly, Leamington Stourbridge JOHN KIRKPATRICK Hunt- GERRY CROSS THE including times and dates, Spa THE HURLING BOYS The ingdon Hall, Worcester MERSEY Artrix, Broms- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE OASIS EXPERIENCE Irish Centre, B’ham KATHRYN ROBERTS & grove The Roadhouse, B’ham BUZZARD LOPE & GILL SEAN LAKEMAN Theatre BAD LUCK & SUPERSTI- THE STAFFORDSHIRE SANDELL Ort Cafe, Birm- Severn, Shrewsbury TION WITH SEVENTH ERA BAND: BRASS PLANET ingham SONS OF CREAM The Route 44, Birmingham SAT 1 FEB MON 3 FEB Forest Arts Centre, Wal- CHAINS, STYLUSBOY & Robin, Bilston FURY, TWISTED SPECIES, sall DAN WILDE The Tin THE SUBS The Jam TEXAS FLOOD & LIGHT- THE RED LEMONS The SUZANNE VEGA Birming- THE STRAITS Birming- Music And Arts, Coven- House, Birmingham FIRE Scruffy Murphys, Jam House, B’ham ham Town Hall ham Town Hall try SPEEDY ORTIZ Hare & Birmingham THAT’LL BE THE DAY Bed- CLUTCHING AT STRAWS HARRIET AMOS Hunting- Hounds, Birmingham LET’S HANG ON Stafford worth Civic Hall Kitchen Garden Cafe, don Hall, Worcester SUN 9 FEB HEATHER PEACE The In- Gatehouse PAUL CARRACK Royal Birmingham ABBAMANIA Crewe stitute, Birmingham FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS Spa Centre THE DUNNETT & BAXTER Lyceum TOM ODELL Civic Hall, RICHARD DIGANCE Soli- The Swan Theatre, SHOWADDYWADDY The BIG BAND The Yardbird RAYMOND FROGGATT The Wolverhampton hull Arts Complex Worcester Robin, Bilston Jazz Club, Birmingham Edge Arts Centre, Much MOLLY HATCHETThe HAGLEY SCHOOL - THE THE COUNTERFEIT T-REXTASY Artrix, Wenlock Robin, Bilston MUSIC OF ABBA Birming- STONES The Robin, Bil- Bromsgrove TUES 4 FEB MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM SLAVES / PUP The Flap- ham Town Hall ston KIRVANA The Slade Hare & Hounds, B’ham per, Birmingham MR SCRUFF The Assem- PETER HOOK AND THE Rooms, W’hampton RX BANDITS Hare & GROUPER The Jam SHAWN CUDDY The Irish bly, Leamington Spa LIGHT The Assembly, KICK UP THE 80S The Hounds, Birmingham House, Birmingham Centre, Birmingham TANKUS THE HENGE, SUN- Leamington Spa River Rooms, Stour- METRO SOUL The Jam KINGS OF LYON The ELEANOR MCEVOY Marr’s DOWN & GRASSROUTES SHADOW DEAMON bridge House, Birmingham Marr’s Bar, Worcester Bar, Worcester The Roadhouse, B’ham VALENTINES BALL FT. DJ FABIO, GROOVERIDER & ANDY BUNTING QUINTET THAT’S LIFE - TAKE THAT ROD AND THE FACEZ The SLY, BASSMAN, TRIGGA, UTAH JAZZ Hare & The Spotted Dog, Birm- & WESTLIFE SHOW Nail- Roadhouse, B’ham FRI 14 FEB NICKY BLACKMARKET Hounds, Birmingham ingham cote Hall, Berkswell LIBERTY LIES, OF BLUE AND MORE The Institute, INCLEMENT QUARTET & NIX, NI, OI FAITHFUL The THE DRIFTERS Royal Spa SKIES AND YOUTH, LIGHT- A DAY TO REMEMBER O2 Birmingham KATY ROSE Ort Cafe, Yardbird, Birmingham Centre, Leamington FIRE Sunflower Lounge, Academy, Birmingham BASIA BULAT Hare & Birmingham Spa Birmingham MONSTER MAGNET Wul- Hounds, Birmingham BLEED FROM WITHIN WED 5 FEB RACHEL SERMANNI The frun Hall, W’hampton CHILDREN OF THE GRAVY Kasbah, Coventry Glee Club, Birmingham MON 10 FEB STEVE AJAO JAZZ QUAR- - BLACK SABBATH TRIB- AND FINALLY - PHIL LANDERMASON The Red BOOTLEG ABBA & QUEEN TET Symphony Hall, UTE The Roadhouse, COLLINS TRIBUTE SHOW Lion Folk Club, Birm- ALIVE Solihull Arts Com- ANNA CALVI The Insti- Birmingham Birmingham The Swan Theatre, ingham plex tute, Birmingham THAT’LL BE THE DAY ZIM ZIM The Actress & Worcester SCHOOL OF ROCK & POP JONATHAN SILK QUINTET EL BORN Kasbah, Crewe Lyceum Bishop, Birmingham THE MIGHTY WRAITH The SHOWCASE O2 Acad- Symphony Hall, B’ham Coventry THE BON JOVI EXPERI- KNOXVILLE HIGHWAY Roadhouse, B’ham emy, Birmingham BIG CITY Route 44, MARTIN CARTHY Kitchen ENCE The River Rooms, Solihull Arts Complex STAYIN ALIVE - THE DE- ALDERBROOK ROCK AND Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham Stourbridge THE BON JOVI EXPERI- FINITIVE BEE GEES TRIB- POP FESTIVAL Solihull LET’S HANG ON Tam- ENCE The River Rooms, UTE Evesham Arts Arts Complex SAT 8 FEB TUES 11 FEB worth Assembly Rooms Stourbridge Centre, Worcester HIP HATCHET Kitchen NINE BELOW ZERO The PAT BRESLIN Irish Cen- Garden Cafe, B’ham RE-COVERED The Irish GROUPER The Jam FOALS O2 Academy, Robin, Bilston tre, Birmingham Centre, B’ham House, Birmingham Birmingham GARY CROSBY’S GROUN- TOMMY HUNT MINI THUR 6 FEB FLUX Symphony Hall, LITTLE COMETS The In- DATION Arena Theatre, NIGHT’ER Wulfrun Hall, Birmingham stitute, Birmingham Wolverhampton SUN 16 FEB Wolverhampton KING PLEASURE & THE EXPLOSIVE LIGHT OR- FAIRPORT CONVENTION THE INTENTIONS The LONDON GRAMMAR O2 THE FOO FIGHTERS TRIB- BISCUIT BOYS The CHESTRA The Road- Royal Spa Centre, Jam House, B’ham Academy, Birmingham UTE The Marr’s Bar, Robin, Bilston house, Birmingham Leamington Spa THE ELECTRO SWING EDENBRIDGE The Robin, Worcester BRILLIANT CORNERS THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE KENT DUCHAINE The BALL The Place, Oaken- Bilston RUBY TURNER Warwick PLAY THELONIOUS MONK Theatre On The Steps, Jam House, B’ham gates, Telford THE STRYPES The Insti- Arts Centre, Coventry The Yardbird, B’ham Bridgnorth, Shropshire KESTON COBBLERS CLUB SHOOTING THE BREEZE tute, Birmingham BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST, DEL AMITRI Civic Hall, THE BIG 4 TRIBUTE BAND Hare & Hounds, B’ham Irish Centre, B’ham THE 45S Hare & CHAPTER, CTRL C & EU- Wolverhampton The Sugarmill, Stoke- ARNIE SOMOGYI’S MIN- HEAVEN 17 Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham PHONY O2 Academy, TALON - THE BEST OF THE on-Trent GUS BIG BAND The Spot- Town Hall CHRIS QUINN The Birmingham EAGLES Huntingdon ROB ORBISON & FRIENDS ted Dog, B’ham BROTHERS GROOVE Dud- Kitchen Garden Cafe, ONLY THE GOOD & TIGER- Hall, Worcester WITH BARRY STEELE Soli- ELEANOR MCEVOY ley Brewhouse Blues Birmingham PUNCH ACOUSTIC / FOLK SHOW- The Actress & hull Arts Complex Kitchen Garden Cafe, Club, Dudley BARB JUNGR: HARD RAIN Bishop, Birmingham CASE The Roadhouse, DEAD PREZ Kasbah, Birmingham KEITH JAMES: THE SONGS Warwick Arts Centre, IVOR AND LYN’S CLASSIC Birmingham Coventry NASHVILLE BLUES, THE OF LEONARD COHEN Ar- Coventry ROCK DISCO Route 44, THE SIMON AND GAR- LESS THAN JAKE & REEL FIDGETS & 120 MINUTES trix, Bromsgrove EZRA FURMAN Hare & Birmingham FUNKEL STORY The BIG FISH & ZEBRAHEAD The Yardbird, B’ham TICH The Institute, Hounds, Birmingham EYE OF SOLITUDE The Swan Theatre, Worces- O2 Academy, B’ham B’ham LITTLE JIMMY The Irish Asylum, Birmingham ter EVERLY BROTHERS TRIB- WED 12 FEB THINK FLOYD The Swan Centre, Birmingham HANK WANGFORD KILLSWITCH ENGAGE AND UTE SHOW Huntingdon Theatre, Worcester TRIVIUM SALVATION, KRITICAL Kitchen Garden Cafe, O2 Academy, Hall, Worcester MARTIN TURNERS WISH- LOVE CLASSICS Sym- Birmingham CHARGE, SKULL FOX & Birmingham ABBA MANIA Bedworth BONE ASH The Robin, phony Hall, B’ham ADAM ISAAC BAND The ROGUE AMBITION The 4OZ OF GROOVE The Civic Hall Bilston MARZY’S VALENTINE Jam House, B’ham Flapper, Birmingham Yardbird, Birmingham THE ZIGGIE PAUL BAND THE 1975 O2 Academy, BURLESQUE SPECIAL The BOAT TO ROW Sym- LOVESPELL The Road- Route 44, Birmingham Birmingham Marr’s Bar, Worcester phony Hall, B’ham house, Birmingham JOSH KEMP QUARTET GOSPEL CENTRAL The MOTOWN LEGENDS SUN 2 FEB WE ARE THE IN CROWD The Hive, Shrewsbury Jam House, B’ham PARTY WITH SOUL LEG- O2 Academy, B’ham MON 17 FEB PROTEST THE HERO O2 GA GA Tamworth As- THE QUIREBOYS The As- END Nailcote Hall, Berk- Academy, Birmingham sembly Rooms sembly, Leamington swell, Warks MOTORHEAD Civic Hall, SEPULTURA The Insti- FRI 7 FEB WHOLE LOTTA LED The Spa QUILL Prince Of Wales Wolverhampton tute, Birmingham Swan Theatre, Worces- THREE STEP MANOEUVRE Centre, Cannock THE BEARDS The Glee THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW CREAM OF CLAPTON The ter FUNKY ORGAN TRIO The BON GIOVI The Road- Club, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall Place, Oakengates URIAH HEEP The Robin, Yardbird, Birmingham house, Birmingham LIANNE KAYE Hare & DEBORAH ROSE Artrix, THINK FLOYD The Robin, Bilston LITE The Flapper, B’ham JACQUI DANKWORTH Hounds, Birmingham Bromsgrove Bilston THE ELVIS YEARS Royal STEVE KNIGHTLEY The Solihull Arts Complex THE DEFILED, BUTCHER MICK FLAVIN The Irish LOEFAH, PALEMAN, Spa Centre, Leaming- Red Lion Folk Club, THE WISE GUYS Fleet BABIES & THE KILLING Centre, Birmingham MICKEY PEARCE & ton Spa Birmingham Street Kitchen, B’ham LIGHTS The Asylum, JAGUAR LAND ROVER CHUNKY The Rainbow THE ATLANTICS AND DJ SHY NATURE Hare & Birmingham BAND IN CONCERT Soli- Venues, Birmingham DREW STANSALL (THE Hounds, Birmingham BROOM BEZZUMS The hull Arts Complex FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE SPECIALS) Hare & JOHN COOPER CLARKE SAT 15 FEB Marr’s Bar, Worcester EMMA MARIE The Ac- Hounds, Birmingham Lichfield Guildhall New Vic Theatre, New- THE INTENTIONS The THE DEMON BARBERS tress & Bishop, B’ham THE DEEP DARK WOODS THE BOXER REBELLION castle-under-Lyme Jam House, B’ham New Vic Theatre, New- ROCK/ALT ALL DAYERThe The Sunflower Lounge, O2 Academy, B’ham SARA COLMAN Sym- castle-under-Lyme Roadhouse, B’ham Birmingham WE ARE UNDERSIGNED phony Hall, B’ham BONFIRE RADICALS & THE TREATMENT The THUR 13 FEB The Yardbird, B’ham UPON DESCENT The TUES 18 FEB KATE DOUBLEDAY BAND Slade Rooms, Wolver- KISS - DRESSED TO KILL KERRANG! TOUR - LIMP Slade Rooms, Wolver- Kitchen Garden Cafe, hampton The River Rooms, BIZKIT, CROSSFAITH & hampton BRYAN CORBETT QUAR- Birmingham LUCY SPRAGGAN The Stourbridge NEKROGOBLIKON O2 HIDDEN SKIES, HOPE AND TET The Jam House, FRAN THE MAN The Irish Place, Oakengates, Academy, Birmingham B’ham For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Music February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:19 Page 7

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Sat 5th THE SPRING APRIL PINK BALL WITH THE 80’s EXPERIENCE IN SUPPORT OF BREAST CANCER CHARITIES AND AFTER SHOW DISCO £49.50 TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 4 COURSE MEAL WE WILL CATER FOR ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS BY PRIOR ARRANGMENT BOOKING HOTLINE 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk Nailcote Hall Hotel, Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire CV7 7DE

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EMPTY HANDS The Asy- The Spotted Dog, Birm- COCOS LOVERS Ort Cafe, THE DANSETTE DAYS LISTINGS lum, Birmingham ingham Birmingham Huntingdon Hall, Music FAT WHITE FAMILY Sun- THE MONOLITH THE WYTCHES Sunflower Worcester flower Lounge, B’ham DEATHCULT The Asylum, Lounge, Birmingham U2UK The Roadhouse, TAKING HAYLEY The Insti- Birmingham RICHARD DIGANCE Artrix, Birmingham For full listing information on gigs, tute, Birmingham DAVID FISHER, HERITAGE Bromsgrove THE DEAR HUNTER & AN- including times and dates, OASIS UK The Swan & LIONEL STREET PLAY- THE DARK EYES, NEVER THONY GREEN O2 Acad- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre, Worcester ERS The Yardbird B’ham BEEN LESS & SISTER emy, Birmingham RIZZLE KICKS O2 Acad- LUCK The Roadhouse, THE SUPERSKAS The emy, Birmingham WED 26 FEB Birmingham Robin, Bilston PETE KENT Cafe, Birmingham The Robin, MAETLOAF The River PAUL PARKER & ALL THE BACK TO BROADWAY The Bilston Rooms, Stourbridge ROOM 94 O2 Academy, RIGHT FRIENDS The Swan Theatre, Worces- TURISAS The Slade FRI 21 FEB M.A.D O2 Academy, Birmingham Robin, Bilston ter Rooms, Wolverhampton Birmingham MARTYN JOSEPH Theatre REVEREND AND THE MAK- NICK HARPER The Tin CHARITY BATTLE OF THE THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN LAUREN SAMUELS Bed- Severn, Shrewsbury ERS O2 Academy, Music And Arts, Coven- BANDS The Roadhouse, New Alexandra Theatre, worth Civic Hall BLUE TOUCH PAPER Ar- B’ham try Birmingham Birmingham RAWK HEADBOOM The trix, Bromsgrove WE CAME AS ROMANS, FRANCIS HILLEN’S JOHN FLEMING QUINTET MIDLAKE Wulfrun Hall, Marr’s Bar, Worcester GAVIN DEGRAW The Insti- CHUNK! NO CAPTAIN ACOUSTIC MUSIC NIGHT The Spotted Dog, Birm- Wolverhampton BOOTLEG ABBA & BEE tute, Birmingham CHUNK, THE COLOR The Spotted Dog, Birm- ingham GERRY GLENNON The GEES FEVER The Robin, THE JOHN STEEDS The MORALE & PALM READER ingham CATE LE BON Hare & Irish Centre, B’ham Bilston Jam House, B’ham O2 Academy, B’ham SAM SMITH The Institute, Hounds, Birmingham CASSIOPEIA The Asylum, BENEATH THE REMAINS NURVAX JAM The Yard- DEL CAMINO The Jam Birmingham ANDY WHITE Kitchen Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham bird, Birmingham House, Birmingham ROCKET The Jam Garden Cafe, B’ham FIRES, LITTLE LIAM & CRACKED ACTORS, EAST- LUKE JACKSON The Red PAPER AEROPLANES Hare House, Birmingham MATT FROBISHER, ALAN LUKE ROUND Sunflower FIELD, ALCOHOL LICKS Lion Folk Club, B’ham & Hounds, Birmingham BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN MASON, THE STRANGLER Lounge, Birmingham Route 44, Birmingham THE GRAVELTONES, THE BONOBO The Institute, Birmingham Town Hall FIGS The Yardbird, Birm- DUMB Hare & Hounds, REVEREND AND THE MAK- CADILLAC THREE & BUF- Birmingham CLASSIC CLAPTON Num- ingham Birmingham ERS Kasbah, Coventry FALO SUMMER The Insti- ANDREW WOODHEAD ber 8 Community Arts DEFINITELY MIGHT BE & STAR OF THE SEA The tute, Birmingham QUINTET The Yardbird, Centre, Worcester WED 19 FEB ADORED The River Irish Centre, B’ham MARRAKESH EXPRESS Birmingham SKATERS Hare & Rooms, Stourbridge INCINERY, DEMONS OF Kitchen Garden Cafe, THOM KIRKPATRICK War- Hounds, Birmingham THE ARISTOCRATS FT. ULTIMATE ELTON & THE OLD METAL, SHEBREW & Birmingham wick Arts Centre, SPANDEX BELLEND The GUTHRIE GOVAN The As- ROCKET BAND The SLAB Scruffy Murphys, LET SPIN The Tin Music Coventry Marr’s Bar, Worcester sembly, Leamington Robin, Worcester Birmingham And Arts, Coventry ABIE’S MIRACLE TONIC WINSTON’S BIG BROTHER Spa BOY JUMPS SHIP The As- HONEYFEET & MENDI Symphony Hall, Birm- The Actress & Bishop, SONS OF ICARUS The sembly, Leamington SINGH Hare & Hounds, THUR 27 FEB ingham Birmingham Asylum, Birmingham Spa Birmingham FIRE IN CAIRO O2 Acad- LONG DISTANCE The Irish TWENTY ONE PILOTS The SUGAR MAMA, SOUND KID DEADFEST WEEKEND The VAULT OF EAGLES, MAN- emy, Birmingham Centre, BIrmingham Institute, Birmingham & NEVER BEEN LESS O2 Roadhouse, B’ham SIZE, ASS PASTY & FOX BUDDY HOLLY ROCK AND THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA Academy, Birmingham THE TWANG Wulfrun TAIL ROCKETS Marr’s Bar, FRI 28 FEB ROLL PARTY Prince Of OF GREAT BRITAIN Sym- PHIL BEER Birch- Hall, Wolverhampton Worcester Wales Centre, Cannock meadow, Broseley, phony Hall, Birmingham LEGENDS OF SOUL LIVE LOVELESS LUCK O2 DIZZY LIZZY Route 44, KATHRYN ROBERTS & Shropshire SUN 23 FEB CONCERT Malvern The- Academy, Birmingham Birmingham SEAN LAKEMAN SUPER 6 & CATHODES Artrix, atres CAPTAIN HORIZON The REALMS Symphony Hall, The Actress & Bishop, Bromsgrove THE RAT PACK IS BACK LUKE SITAL-SINGH, ELIZA Asylum, Birmingham Birmingham THE DANSE SOCIETY Birmingham The The Grand Theatre, AND THE BEAR, THE STONES The Assem- RECOVERED Fleet Street BOGUS BLOOZE Route 44, Robin, Bilston Wolverhampton FAREWELL J.R & ANNIE bly, Leamington Spa Kitchen, Birmingham DUELLER 88 The Jam Birmingham TAKING BACK SUNDAY EVE Hare & Hounds, THE UPBEAT BEATLES GUNS VS ROSES The House, Birmingham Kasbah, Coventry Birmingam Crewe Lyceum RED SHOES The Red Roadhouse, B’ham RECONNECTED O2 Acad- Lion Folk Club, B’ham SHANE FILAN Symphony emy, Birmingham PENGUIN CAFE Warwick Hall, Birmingham CLARE HAMMOND Hunt- Arts Centre, Coventry JOHN BRAMWELL The ingdon Hall, Worcester Music Venues Box Office DRENGE Hare & Hounds, Glee Club, Birmingham DEADFEST WEEKEND The Birmingham MOTOWN’S GREATEST Roadhouse, B’ham 01538 386112 MECHANICAL SMILE The HITS - HOW SWEET IT IS MILLY WINTER & ANNIE Birmingham Black Country Roadhouse, B’ham Theatre Severn, 02 ACADEMY CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON LICHFIELD GUILDHALL DRESSNER Warwick Arts 01543 262223 RED METHOD O2 Acad- Shrewsbury Centre, Coventry 0121 622 8250 0870 320 7000 THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY emy, Birmingham JACKSON LIVE IN CON- JAMES BAY The Yardbird THE ACTRESS & BISHOP DUDLEY CONCERT HALL 01384 815577 STOKE-ON-TRENT SWEET GUM TREE The In- CERT The Swan Theatre, Jazz Club, Birmingham 0121 236 7426 FOREST ARTS CENTRE 01159 454 593 stitute, Birmingham Worcester MORPHEUS RISING The ADRIAN BOULT HALL 0121 331 5901 0845 111 2898 TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE Robin, Bilston NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01827 709618 The Jam House, B’ham NIPSEY HUSSLE The In- THE ASYLUM THUR 20 FEB 0121 233 1109 01902 572090 VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY THE GIPSY KINGS Civic stitute, B’ham ROBIN 2, BILSTON 0870 060 6649 Hall, Wolverhampton THE BARBER INSTITUTE AYNSLEY LISTER BAND BEYONCE LG Arena, 0121 414 7333 01902 401211 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE The Robin, Bilston SONIC BOOM SIX + RAT Birmingham BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL SLADE ROOMS 01785 254653 NEWTON FAULKNER O2 ATTACK The Institute, SEAN WILSON The Irish 0121 780 3333 WOLVERHAMPTON Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Centre, B’ham 0870 320 7000 CBSO CENTRE Warwickshire STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL MARTIN WALKYIER’S THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS 0121 780 3333 THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON VIKING FUNERAL O2 BAND The Marr’s Bar, 01384 812812 MON 24 FEB FLAPPER 0121 236 2421 01926 311311 Academy, Birmingham Worcester WULFRUN HALL, THE GLEE CLUB THE KASBAH, COVENTRY HOUSE OF LEGENDS ZARA MCFARLANE War- WOLVERHAMPTON BEYONCE LG Arena, 0871 472 0400 0870 320 7000 024 7655 4473 wick Arts Centre, Huntingdon Hall, Birmingham HARE & HOUNDS NAILCOTE HALL, Worcester Coventry CHRIS MILLS & THE DIS- 0121 444 2081 Shropshire BERKSWELL THE FORTUNES Prince Of CHIRS MADDOCK QUINTET TANT STARS Hare & INSTITUTE 02476 46 6174 Wales Centre, Cannock BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY The Yardbird, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham 0121 643 0428 01952 882210 STRATFORD CIVIC HALL ORLA GARTLAND The In- TOY The Rainbow Ven- 01789 207100 RADKEY Hare & Hounds, IRISH CENTRE THE BUTTERMARKET, stitute, Birmingham ues, Birmingham Birmingham 0121 622 2314 SHREWSBURY THE TIN MUSIC & ARTS, THE CARL PALMER BAND RIC YARBOROUGH TRIO ROBIN HERON & THE TEA THE JAM HOUSE 01743 355055 COVENTRY Birmingham Town Hall Symphony Hall, B’ham PAD ORCHESTRA Kitchen 0121 200 3030 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, 0247 655 9958 THE PARIS 1940S The STEVE DAY BAND The Garden Cafe, B’ham LG ARENA MUCH WENLOCK Jam House, B’ham Down Inn, Bridgnorth 0844 338 8000 01952 728911 Worcestershire CARRIE TREE & HOUSE OF CORNELL CAMPBELL TUES 25 FEB NIA HENRY TUDOR HOUSE ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE HATS Hare & Hounds, MEETS THE SOOTHSAY- 0844 338 8000 SHREWSBURY 01527 577330 01743 361666 Birmingham ERS The Drum, B’ham ULTIMATE RHYTHM & THE RAINBOW HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN VOIS Warwick Arts Cen- MODS AND SODS Fleet 0121 772 8174 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY THEATRE 01905 611427 BLUES Symphony Hall, 01743 234970 tre, Coventry Street Kitchen, B’ham Birmingham RED LION FOLK CLUB MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER THE ORWELLS 0121472 4253 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS 01905 613336 Hare & RUDIMENTAL Civic Hall, 01584 878141 Hounds, Birmingham THE ROADHOUSE THE RIVER ROOMS, SAT 22 FEB Wolverhampton THEATRE SEVERN, ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW 0121 459 5660 STOURBRIDGE FOXES The Institute, SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 01384 397177 AND THE LOW RIDERS UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE Birmingham ROUTE 44 0121 708 0108 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, Solihull Arts Complex The Jam House, B’ham SOULFLY O2 Academy, TELFORD 01952 382382 EXISTIMMORTAL The CASINO The Actress & Birmingham SYMPHONY HALL 0121 780 3333 WEM TOWN HALL Asylum, Birmingham Bishop, Birmingham ATLAS, CAPITAL SUN, 01939 232299 UNCLE JIM, SWERVE & WARREN JAMES & HIS SURF & DEAF INSPECTOR THE VICTORIA For additional information ANIMA The Actress & SKIFFLE SESSIONS BAND 0121 633 9439 The Actress & Bishop, Staffordshire and to find out What’s On Bishop, Birmingham Huntingdon Hall, Birmingham THE YARDBIRD 0121 212 2524 FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK at these venues. BOINK QUARTET Ort Worcester ROBBIE MOORE QUINTET Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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PREVIEWS Handel’s Theodora Classical Music Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 6 February Widely regarded as a neglected master- piece, Handel’s Theodora is said to have been the German composer’s favourite oratorio, rating higher than his more popular Messiah. This version of the Roman tragedy is brought to Birmingham by the English Consort under the guidance of Artistic Director Harry Bicket. Sung in Eng- lish with English surtitles, the production also features Rosemary Joshua (Theodo- ra), Sarah Connolly (Irene), Tim Mead (Didymus), Andrew Kennedy (Septimus) and Neal Davies (Valens). The Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, New York, sup- ports. Formed by Trevor Pinnock in 1973, the English Consort boasts a fine reputation for its inspiring performances of Baroque and Classical music. The 2013/14 season sees the Consort marking its fortieth anniversary with an extensive tour, performing Theodora at top concert halls both here and in the United States, including London’s Barbican and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Ingrid Fliter: Chopin Birthday Concert Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 22 February One of only a handful of pianists to have received the Gilmore Artist Award, Ingrid Fliter is renowned for her collaborations with some of the world’s most celebrated orchestras. The Argentinian-born musician is held in the highest regard for the ‘eloquence and truth’ that her performances bring to the music of Chopin, with Gramophone magazine describing her recording of the Polish composer’s waltzes as ‘amongst the finest Chopin recordings in recent years’. This Birmingham concert is one of three UK dates for Filter, and sees her performing a programme that comprises Chopin’s Nocturne in D flat, Op 27, No 2; Scherzo No 4 in E; Mazurka in C sharp minor, Op 50, No 3; Waltz in A minor (Op posth), Ballade in F minor, Op 52, No 4 and Twenty-four Preludes.

Ehnes Quartet The Midland Sinfonia: The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Wed 5 February A Fine Romance Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 8 February Here appearing at the Barber for the first time, the Ehnes Quartet comprises four international- Founded by Nigel Morley in 1995, Worces- ly renowned string musicians, and is regarded tershire-based orchestra the Midland Sinfo- as ‘one of the most sought-after chamber nia is no stranger to Artrix in Bromsgrove, groups performing today’. Led by the much- where, under the directorship of conductor celebrated Canadian violinist James Ehnes, the Richard Laing, it regularly delights audi- quartet also features Amy Schwartz Moretti on Ensemble 360 ences with its extensive repertoire. violin, Richard O’Neill on viola and Robert Bridge House Theatre, Warwick, Promising an early ‘Valentine’s treat’, A deMaine on cello. Highlighting the musicians’ Sun 16 February Fine Romance sees the orchestra joined versatility and virtuosity, this Birmingham con- With a fast-growing reputation for its ability by Shulah Oliver on violin and Diana Math- cert sees the quartet present two works with to engage with different audiences and ews on viola in a programme of works traditional, folk-influences - Bartok’s String age groups, Ensemble 360 comprises from the late-eighteenth century romantic Quartet No.3, SZ85 and Suk’s Meditation On eleven musicians of international standing period. Beethoven’s Romance in F, The Old Czech Hymn St Wenceslas, Op.35a. who share the belief that concerts should Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and These are performed alongside Beethoven’s be informal, friendly, relaxed and, where Mozart’s Symphony No 40 all feature. Quartet Op.74 in E flat, ‘Harp’, and Ravel’s possible, performed ‘in the round’. String Quartet in F, the latter of which has Celebrating Britain’s industrial heritage Shulah Oliver become the quartet’s signature piece. and the centenary of Benjamin Britten, this Warwick concert sees the ensemble per- James Ehnes form Britten’s Six Metamorphoses After Ovid Op.49 for solo oboe (film by artist Katie Goodwin), Piper’s With Stolen Fire - with archive film footage from the BFI - Britten’s Sinfonietta, Martinu’s Nonet and Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll. This evening performance follows Ensem- ble 360’s family concert Stan And Mabel, staged at Bridge House Theatre earlier on the same day. For further details, visit, www.musicinther- ound.co.uk

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LUNCHTIME ORGAN PARTITA Featuring Karl- TIPPETT QUARTET - Haydn', Fri 28 Feb, LISTINGS RECITAL WITH MARCUS Heinz Steffens (conduc- BROMSGROVE CONCERTS Royal Pump Rooms, Classical HUXLEY Fri 14 Feb, tor) & Renaud Capucon Programme includes Leamington Spa Birmingham Cathedral (violin) Programme works by Mozart & A MUSICAL JOURNEY ON For full listing information on classical LOUISE ALDER (SOPRA- includes works by Robert Simpson, Fri 28 THE ORIENT EXPRESS concerts, including times and dates, NO) & JOSEPH MIDDLE- Mozart, Glazunov and Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Featuring Hannah visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk TON (PIANO) CONCERT Fri Stravinsky, Wed 26 Feb, HALLE ORCHESTRA Pro- Smalley (flute), Lucy 14 Feb, The Barber Symphony Hall, B’ham gramme includes works French (cello) & Joanne CBSO: THE ORGAN SYM- no), Benjamin Hulett Institute, Birmingham CLASSICAL MASTER- by Ravel, Richard Sealey (piano). Pro- PHONY Programme (tenor), Richard Suart ENSEMBLE 360: STAN & PIECES Featuring Strauss & Beethoven, gramme includes works includes works by (baritone), Matthew MABEL Sun 16 Feb Orchestra Of The Swan, Fri 28 Feb, Warwick by Ian Clarke, Widor, Faure, Rachmaninov, Hargreaves (bass), and (3pm), Bridge House David Curtis (conduc- Arts Centre, Coventry Pleyel, Donatoni & Bric- Widor and Saint-Saens, the Birmingham Univer- Theatre, Coventry tor) Diane Clark (flute) EXAUDI Fri 28 Feb, The cialdi, Fri 28 Feb, Sat 1 Feb, Symphony sity Singers, Fri 7 Feb, ENSEMBLE 360 Pro- & Helen Sharp (harp). Barber Institute, B’ham Recital Hall, Birming- Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, B’ham gramme includes works Programme includes LONDON HAYDEN QUAR- ham Conservatoire PIONEERS OF SOUND HARRIET AMOS & by Britten, Piper, Mart- works by Haydn, TET Programme ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA Francois Bayle & Fran- FRIENDS Programme inu & Wagner, Sun 16 Mozart and Schubert, includes works by Fri 28 Feb, Birmingham cis Dhomont perform includes works by Feb, Bridge House The- Wed 26 Feb (2.30pm), Jadin, Beethoven & Cathedral their own compositions, Debussy, Chopin, atre, Warwick Birmingham Town Hall Sat 1 Feb, CBSO Cen- Mozart & Weber, Fri 7 THOMAS TROTTER ORGAN CLASSICAL MASTER- tre, Birmingham Feb, Huntingdon Hall, CONCERT: ALL THE PRESI- PIECES Featuring LUCY PARHAM & ROBERT Worcester DENT’S MEN Mon 17 Orchestra Of The Swan, Classical Box Office GLENISTER - THE LIFE CBSO CENTRE STAGE: Feb, Birmingham Town David Curtis (conduc- ADRIAN BOULT HALL, B’HAM AND LOVES OF CLAUDE BRASS EXPLOSION! Pro- Hall tor) Diane Clark (flute) CBSO CENTRE, DEBUSSY Sat 1 Feb, gramme includes works CBSO: MOZART AND & Helen Sharp (harp). 0121 331 5901 BIRMINGHAM Huntingdon Hall, by Berio, Saint-Saens, ELGAR Featuring Programme includes ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE 0121 780 3333 Worcester Previn & Gershwin, Fri Edward Gardener (con- works by Haydn, Mozart 01527 577330 LICHFIELD GARRICK SUPERSIZE POLYPHONIC 7 Feb, CBSO Centre, ductor) & Steven and Schubert, Wed 26 BARBER INSTITUTE, 01543 412121 2 Featuring Armonico Birmingham Osborne (piano), Wed Feb (7.30pm), Number BIRMINGHAM HUNTINGDON HALL, Consort and Baroque BIRMINGHAM CONSERVA- 19 - Thurs 20 Feb, 8, Pershore, Worcs 0121 414 7333 WORCESTER Players, The English TOIRE LUNCHTIME Symphony Hall, B’ham RICHARD & ADAM: THE BIRMINGHAM 01905 611 427 Cornett and Sackbut RECITAL Fri 7 Feb, Birm- FINZI’S HARDY: ‘EARTH IMPOSSIBLE DREAM CONSERVATOIRE Ensemble. Programme ingham Cathedral AND AIR AND RAIN’ & Thurs 27 Feb, Sympho- ROYAL PUMP ROOMS, includes works by Strig- JENKINSON FRITH DUO FOOTPATH AND STYLE’ ny Hall, Birmingham 0121 331 5901/2 LEAMINGTON SPA gio & Tallis, Sat 1 Feb, Fri 7 Feb, The Barber Featuring Samuel Oram CBSO PLAYERS Pro- BIRMINGHAM & MIDLAND 01926 742700 Malvern Theatres Institute, Birmingham (baritone), Lauren Gre- gramme includes works INSTITUTE ST MARY’S CHURCH, O DUO Eclectic pro- CRAIG OGDEN - FANTASY gory (piano) & The by Beethoven & 0121 236 3591 WARWICK gramme from ‘viva- TO FLAMENCO Pro- Cornwell Quartet, Thurs Mendelssohn, Thurs 27 BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 01926 403940 cious’ percussionists, gramme includes works 20 Feb, Recital Hall, Feb, CBSO Centre, 0121 780 3333 STRATFORD CIVIC HALL Owen Gunnell & Oliver by Giullani, Dowland, B’ham Conservatoire Birmingham BRAMALL CONCERT HALL, 01789 207100 Cox, Sun 2 Feb, Bridge Britten, Poulenc, Turina, COULL QUARTET: THREE CBSO SONGS FOR House Theatre, War- Bach & Walton, Fri 7 AGES OF BEETHOVEN SWINGIN’ ORCHESTRA BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL, wick Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Thurs 20 Feb, Warwick Featuring Richard Bal- 0121 414 3344 BIRMINGHAM RISING STARS: JULIETTE RUSALKA A Metropolitan Arts Centre, Coventry combe (conductor), BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, 0121 780 3333 BAUSOR AND ALISDAIR Opera HD Live produc- BERNADEL QUARTET Fri Catherine Porter (vocal- WARWICK WARWICK ARTS CENTRE BEATSON Programme tion, Sat 8 Feb, The 21 Feb, The Barber ist) and Graham Bickley 01926 776438 02476 524524 includes works by Roses Theatre, Tewkes- Institute, Birmingham (vocalist), Fri 28 Feb, Dutilleux, J S Bach, bury WIND AND BRASS CHAM- Symphony Hall, B’ham Charlie Piper, Messiaen THE MIDLAND SINFONIA - BER CONCERT Featuring & Prokofiev, Sun 2 Feb, ROMANTIC STRINGS Pro- Michael Harris & David Birmingham Town Hall gramme includes works Purser (conductors), Fri O DUO FAMILY CONCERT by Beethoven & Mozart, 21 Feb, Adrian Boult High energy perform- Sat 8 Feb, Artrix, Hall, Birmingham ance for young audi- Bromsgrove MIDLAND SINFONIA Fri ences, featuring music SINGALONG WITH THE 21 Feb, Birmingham & by Bach, Glass & CBSO: CARMINA BURANA Midland Institute Chopin, Sun 2 Feb, Sun 9 Feb, Symphony INGRID FLITER: CHOPIN Bridge House Theatre, Hall, Birmingham BIRTHDAY CONCERT Sat Warwick A CLASSICAL TWIST: 22 Feb, Birmingham PIONEERS OF SOUND Sun ORCHESTRA OF THE Town Hall 2 Feb, CBSO Centre, SWAN Programme GALA OPENING CONCERT Birmingham includes works by OF THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- Haydn & Schubert, Tue YEAR OF THE CULTURAL CERT WITH THOMAS 11 Feb, Stratford Civic EXCHANGE Sat 22 Feb, TROTTER Featuring the Hall Symphony Hall, Birm- Birmingham Conserva- IRVING BERLIN: FROM ingham toire Choir, Mon 3 Feb, RAGS TO RITZES Tues 11 CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA Birmingham Town Hall Feb, Symphony Hall, Featuring Ilan Volkov MONDAY SH0WCASE Fea- Birmingham and Allison Bell. Pro- turing Justyna Zanko ORCHESTRA OF THE gramme includes works (violin) & Robert SWAN: CLASSICAL MAS- by Debussy, Messiaen Markham (piano); TERPIECES Programme and Sibelius, Sun 23 Thomas Caddick includes works by Feb, Symphony Hall, (piano) & The Esseham Haydn, Mozart, Schu- Birmingham Ensemble, Mon 3 Feb, bert, Tues 11 Feb, Strat- BIRMINGHAM PHILHAR- Recital Hall, Birming- ford Civic Hall MONIC ORCHESTRA: ham Conservatoire CBSO MENDELSSOHN IN MAHLER’S THIRD SYM- PHILHARMONIA ORCHES- BIRMINGHAM: HYMN OF PHONY Sun 23 Feb, TRA Programme PRAISE Featuring Birmingham Town Hall includes works by Brit- Edward Gardener (con- UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK ten, Elgar & Vaughan ductor), Sophie Bevan WIND ORCHESTRA: WIND Williams, Tues 4 Feb, & Mary Bevan (sopra- & BELLES Mon 24 Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, nos) and Robert Murray Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry (tenor), Thurs 13 Feb, Coventry CBSO: ULTIMATE VAUGH- Symphony Hall, B’ham CHOIR OF NEW COLLEGE AN WILLIAMS Wed 5 THE FILM ORCHESTRA: OXFORD A Treasury of Feb, Symphony Hall, MOVIE AMORE Thurs 13 Oxford Jewells featur- Birmingham Feb, Swan Theatre, ing works by Tallis, EHNES QUARTET Wed 5 Worcester Byrd, Greene, Boyce, Feb, The Barber Insti- LONDON CONCERT Pergolesi & Allegri, tute, Birmingham ORCHESTRA: LOVE CLAS- Tues 25 Feb, St Mary’s HANDEL’S THEODORA SICS Programme Church, Warwick Thurs 6 Feb, Birming- includes works by PAVEL HAAS QUARTET ham Town Hall Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Programme to include CBSO: GILBERT AND SUL- Bizet, Mascagni, Brahms’ Clarinet Quin- LIVAN GALA Featuring Strauss & Ravel, Fri 14 tet, Tues 25 Feb, Birm- John Wilson (conduc- Feb, Symphony Hall, ingham Town Hall tor), Sarah Fox (sopra- Birmingham CBSO MOZART’S GRAN

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Karen Bayley: Geezer Bird Comedy mac, Birmingham, Sat 15 February Box Office No less a comedy icon than Alan Carr has admitted that Karen Bayley’s had him ‘in stitches’ - positive proof, were any needed, that she’s ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM very much a comedian who’s on top of her 0844 871 3011 game. Birmingham-born Karen has picked up a ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE fair number of awards and accolades on her 01527 577330 climb up the greasy BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL 02476 376707 comedy pole, and BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL after nearly ten 0121 780 3333 years as a profes- THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM sional rib-tickler has 0121 333 2444 become a familiar DUDLEY CONCERT HALL television face on 01384 815 577 GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM shows such as The 0871 4720400 Last Word, Take HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM, The Mike, Sex On 0844 844 0044 The Job and The KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, Fred Macauley BIRMINGHAM 0121 443 4725 Show. MAC, BIRMINGHAM 0121 446 3232 PALACE THEATRE, Festival Of The Spoken Nerd: REDDITCH 01527 65203 Full Frontal Nerdity THE ROSES THEATRE Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 1 February; TEWKESBURY Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 20 February 01684 295074 Unabashed geekiness and science-related ROYAL SPA CENTRE, Russell Kane LEAMINGTON SPA belly-laughs are both much in evidence in this 01926 334418 Royal Shakespeare Theatre (compere only), Stratford-upon-Avon, lighthearted celebration of science that brings STAFFORD GATEHOUSE Sun 2 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 9 February; together humour, song and live experiments. THEATRE Hereford Courtyard Theatre, Sat 15 February; Theatre Severn, 01785 254653 Described as a comedy night for the ‘insatiably Shrewsbury, Fri 28 February; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 1 THE SLADE ROOMS, sci-curious’, the March; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Weds 12 March WOLVERHAMPTON show is hosted by This man's official publicity blurb says it all: "Love. Race. Politics. 0870 320 7000 Physics graduate Class. Strap in for some super-speed sunderings and inconvenient WARWICK ARTS CENTRE and award-winning 02476 524524 sociology in an evening of self-soiling merriment that will leave you WEST BROMWICH TOWN ‘geek songstress’ with rickets". In short, Russell Kane is a very funny man - and it’s HALL Helen Arney, stand- not just his publicist who thinks so. Kane’s been drawing a crowd 0121 596 4429 up mathematician since bursting onto the scene back in 2004, serving up liberal WULFRUN HALL, Matt Parker, and WOLVERHAMPTON doses of humour in an act which features some considerably 0870 320 7000 BBC One science weighty and thought-provoking material. experiments guy Steve Mould.

MIKE Weds 5 Feb, IS MY MIND? Sat 8 Feb, LISTINGS The Jam House, Artrix, Bromsgrove Miles Jupp Comedy Birmingham SPENCER BROWN, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 6 MILES JUPP Thurs 6 SUSAN MURRAY, MATT February; mac, Birmingham, Weds 19 February; Feb, The Roses RUDGE AND DANNY DEE- Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Weds 26 For full listing information on comedy Theatre, Tewkesbury GAN Sat 8 Feb, March gigs including times and dates visit GEOFF NORCOTT, GARY Showcase Cinema, www.whatsonlive.co.uk DELANEY, GUY MANNERS Coventry The Daily Telegraph has described an evening & RHYS MATTHEWSON STEVE SHANYASKI & with Miles Jupp as being 'a little like watching MARK THOMAS Sat 1 MATTHEWSON Sat 1 Thurs 6 Feb, The MICK FERRY Sat 8 Feb, an Evelyn Waugh character narrate his hope- Feb, mac, Birmingham Feb, Showcase George Hotel, Lichfield The Glee Club, B’ham less exploits before your very eyes'. CHRISTIAN REILLY, Cinema, Coventry ANDY ROBINSON, STEVE RUSSELL HOWARD Sat 8 That's patently no bad thing, mind you, as evi- KAREN BAILEY, JARLATH RUSSELL KANE AND SHANYASKI, MICK FERRY - Sun 9 Feb, Theatre REGAN & MATT REES Sat FRIENDS FEATURING & LEE EVANS Thurs 6 - Severn, Shrewsbury denced by Mr Jupp's hugely successful stand- Sat 8 Feb, The Glee RUSSELL KANE Sun 9 up career! 1 Feb, Highlight CHRIS RAMSEY Sun 2 Comedy Club, Feb, Royal Club, Birmingham Feb, Warwick Arts Miles is no stranger to Televisionland either, Birmingham Shakespeare Theatre, RUDI LICKWOOD, GLEN- Centre, Bromsgrove having appeared in, among other shows, The FESTIVAL OF THE Stratford-upon-Avon DA JAXSON, AXEL, JOHN ROUGH WORKS: NEW Thick Of It, Mock SPOKEN NERD - FULL SHOULD I STAY OR SIMMIT Fri 7 Feb, The MATERIAL NIGHT The Week and FRONTAL NERDITY Sat 1 SHOULD I GO Sun 2 Drum, Birmingham Sun 9 Feb, The Glee TIM CLARK, STEFANO Club, Birmingham Have I Got News Feb, Stafford Feb, Drummonds Bar, Gatehouse Theatre Worcester PAOLINI, THE RAYMOND JIMEOIN Tues 11 Feb, For You. DAVE TWENTYMAN, THE BBC'S REAL MCCOY AND MR TIMPKINS Wulfrun Hall, Oh, and he's even JASON JOHN WHITE- WITH MR FRAZIER & REVIEW, STUART Wolverhampton been a movie star, HEAD, PAUL THORNE & FRIENDS, ROBBIE GEE, MITCHELL & JELLYBEAN BARNSTORMERS courtesy of roles in ELLIE TAYLOR Sat 1 Feb, CURTIS WALKER & EDDIE MARTINEZ (FRI ONLY) COMEDY NIGHT Tues 11 Fri 7 Feb - Sat 8 Feb, Feb, Royal Spa Centre, Made In Dagenham The Glee Club, B’ham NESTOR Sun 2 Feb, CHRISTIAN REILLY, PETE The Glee Club, B’ham Highlight Comedy Leamington Spa and Johnny English OTWAY, RAYMOND & MR GARY DELANEY, ANDREW Club, Birmingham FIERCE & FABULOUS Reborn. TIMPKINS AND RHYS BIRD, COMPERE SPIKY JOHN ROBINS - WHERE Weds 12 Feb, The

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Glee Club, Birmingham KAREN BAYLEY Sat 15 Feb, New Alexandra JACK WHITEHALL - WORK Feb, mac, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham IN PROGRESS Weds 12 KEN DODD Sun 16 Feb, ED BYRNE Sat 22 Feb, Feb, Civic Hall, Royal Spa Centre, Civic Hall, W’hampton Wolverhampton Leamington Spa BARNSTORMERS COMEDY ALEX HORNE Wed 12 JIMEOIN Tues 18, Feb, NIGHT LINE UP TBC Sat Feb, Theatre Severn, Artrix, Bromsgrove 22 Feb, Artrix, Shrewsbury JASON MANFORD Tues Bromsgrove SHAZIA MIRZA, CHARMI- 18 - Weds 19 Feb, TIFFANY STEVENSON, AN HUGHES, VG LEE AND Theatre Severn, GEOFF NORCOTT, SY MAUREEN YOUNGER Shrewsbury THOMAS AND GWILLUM Weds 12 Feb, The STEPHEN K AMOS Wed ARGOS Sat 22 Feb, Kitchen Garden Cafe, 19 Feb, Lichfield Showcase Cinema, Birmingham Garrick Coventry PAUL SINHA, Thurs 13 ED BYRNE Wed 19 Feb, SEANN WALSH Sat 22 Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Palace Theatre, Feb, Warwick Arts JOHN GORDILLO, IAN Redditch Centre, Bromsgrove MOORE & ANDY ROBIN- MILES JUPP Wed 19 LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY SON Thurs 13 Feb, The Feb, mac, Birmingham CLUB FOR KIDS Sun 23 Glee Club, Birmingham GARY DELANEY, Thurs 20 Feb, mac, Birmingham JASON MANFORD Thurs Feb, The Slade Rooms, STEPHEN K AMOS Sun 13 - Fri 14 Feb, Stafford Wolverhampton 23 Feb, Warwick Arts Gatehouse Theatre LUCY PORTER Thurs 20 Centre, Bromsgrove SUSAN CALMAN Fri 14 Feb, Warwick Arts TOM WRIGGLESWORTH - Feb, Station Pub, Centre, Coventry UTTERLY AT ODDS WITH Sutton Coldfield ROY CHUBBY BROWN THE UNIVERSE Sun 23 MARK OLVER, QUINCY Thurs 20 Feb, Palace Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove WITH PETER WHITE, WILL Theatre, Redditch PUNT & DENNIS Weds 26 MARS & HARI SRIKANTHA FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN Feb, B’ham Town Hall (FRI ONLY) Fri 14 - Sat NERD - FULL FRONTAL LEE HURST Thurs 27 15 Feb, Highlight NERDITY Thurs 20 Feb, Feb, The Met Studio, Comedy Club, Artrix, Bromsgrove Stafford Birmingham IAN COGNITO, JOE LYCETT, MARLON DAVIS & ANDY JOHN GORDILLO, IAN ANDY ROBINSON Thurs ASKINS & TWO COMICS MOORE, PHIL NICHOL & 20 Feb, The Glee Club, TBC Fri 28 Feb, The ROBIN MORGAN Fri 14 - Birmingham Glee Club, Birmingham Sat 15 Feb, The Glee DAVE JOHNS, GEOFF RICHARD HERRING - Club, Birmingham NORTON, MARK NELSON WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE CHRIS MCCAUSLAND, & ERICH MCELROY Fri 21 Fri 28 Feb, The Slade SILKY, JEN BRISTER AND Feb - Sat 22 Feb, Rooms, W’hampton STEPHEN K AMOS Sat 15 Highlight Comedy ADAM BLOOM, CHRIS Feb, Huntingdon Hall, Club, Birmingham CAIRNS, MAT REED & Worcester IAN COGNITO, JOE LYCETT GARETH BERLINER Fri 28 ALEX HORNE Sat 15 Feb, & PAUL MCCAFFREY Fri Feb - Sat 1 Mar, The Met Studio, 21 - Sat 22 Feb, The Highlight Comedy Stafford Glee Club, Birmingham Club, Birmingham CHRIS RAMSEY Sat 22 COMEDY NIGHT AT THE BRAMALL MUSIC BUILDING

WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 Door 7.30pm/On stage 8pm

LINE UP INCLUDES... The Noise Next Door Daliso Chaponda Matt Richardson Five times sell-out veterans of the Daliso Chaponda is a Malawian Matt will be appearing at our Edinburgh Fringe Festival and one of Comedian and fiction writer who has Comedy Night straight off the back of the country’s most sought after performed all around the world. He has 32 episodes of Xtra Factor, and comedy club headliners, The Noise appeared on Comedy Central Africa, appearances on other shows including Next Door leave audiences everywhere Paramount UK, Loaded TV and Sweat The Small Stuff, Celebrity Juice in awe of their lightning quick wit and Channel 10 Australia. His fiction has and Nevermind The Buzzcocks. totally original comedic talents. appeared in Ellery Queen, Apex Digest, Machine of Death and many more.

TICKETS ADVANCED £7.50 STUDENTS £5.00

Book tickets at www.thsh.co.uk/event/comedy-night-at-the-bramall-music-building or by calling 0121 345Carl Donnelly0492

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Tonight’s The Night: The Rod Stewart Musical New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 24 February - Sat 1 March; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 24 - Sat 29 March Ben Elton’s show, inspired by the music of legendary Scottish rocker win the hand of the girl he loves. Rod Stewart, has earned plenty of plaudits since debuting in the Maggie May, Baby Jane, Hot Legs and Sailing are among the time- West End in 2003. As with all such endeavours, the storyline’s far less less classics that ensure the evening moves along at a brisk ol’ pace. important than the music for which the production offers a vehicle - Former Sugababe and 2009 Eurovision finalist Jade Ewan stars as but, for the record, this one tells the story of a tongue-tied young man Dee Dee. Read the interview with Jade on page 6. who trades his soul for that of Mr Stewart’s in a desperate attempt to

The Perfect Murder Malvern Theatre, Mon 10 - Sat 15 February; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; Mon 24 February - Sat 1 March Based on the international best-selling crime thriller by Peter James, The Perfect Murder finds Victor Smiley in the mood to bring his long and no longer satisfactory marriage to an end in emphatic style. As young detective Roy Grace starts to investigate his very first homicide case, dark forces intervene, and Grace begins to fear that nothing is quite as it seems... Les Dennis heads a cast that reads like a STARRING who’s who of familiar television faces, including Claire Goose, Gray O’Brien, Steven Miller and DAVID Simona Armstrong. ESSEX The Dishwashers The REP, Birmingham, until Sat 15 February Morris Panych’s play hardly carries the most exciting of titles, but it does boast David Essex! Nowadays better known for treading the boards than busting the charts, the one-time pop star takes the role of Dressler, a man who’s been happily dishwashing for over thirty years. Dressler is joined in the business of scraping and scrubbing plates by Emmett - a City high-flyer brought crashing down to earth by the financial crisis - and the decrepit Moss, who’s just about ready for retirement. Between them, they find that the pastime of dishwashing can sometimes go hand-in-hand with a quest for existential meaning! Playwright Panych brings plenty of wit and humour to proceedings in a work which, despite its aforementioned uninspiring title, actually scrubs up pretty darned well. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 25 Theatre February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:22 Page 3 Theatre February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:22 Page 4

Theatre PREVIEWS The Life Of Galileo The REP, Birmingham, Fri 28 February - Sat 8 March Charting the seventeenth century scientist's incredible struggle against the church over his assertion that the earth orbits the sun, A Life Of Galileo is considered by many to be Bertolt Brecht's finest play, presenting, as it does, the key conflict between scientific discovery and religious fundamentalism. Acclaimed actor Ian McDiarmid plays Galileo in this new translation by Roxana Silbert and RSC Writer-In-Residence Mark Ravenhill. The show arrives at The REP following a successful run at The Swan Theatre in Stratford- WIN upon-Avon last year. TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk Black Coffee to enter Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 3 - Sat 8 February; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 17 - Sat 22 February; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 6 - Sat 10 May Take a play by the Queen of Crime, add a company dedicated to producing new versions of her work, and there’s every chance you’ll be left with an evening of high-quality, brain-teasing theatre. This latest version of Black Coffee promises to make for just such an evening. The Official Agatha Christie Theatre Company here make a welcome return with the first play ever written by Ms Christie. When eccentric inventor Sir Claud Amory is murdered and his new formula stolen, it’s time for a legendary Belgian detective with an equally legendary wax moustache to put his ‘little grey cells’ to work and uncover the perpetrator of the dastardly The Husbands crime (we’re talking Hercule Poirot there, by the way!). Robert Powell, Liza Goddard, Gary mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Mavers and Ben Nealon star. Sat 22 February; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 6 March association with a conman and a prostitute - A joint theatrical endeavour between Kali and to set up a series of elaborate scams. But Twelfth Night Pentabus, this brand new play by Sharmila can the man now calling himself Captain Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Chauhan takes place against a backdrop of Face really get away with claiming he can Tues 25 February - Sat 1 March modern rural India. With two husbands turn tin into bankable gold?... As with many Shakespearean comedies, already, Aya is set to marry a third. In the Twelfth Night is based on a case of mistaken society from which she comes, there are rel- identity, with Viola disguising herself as a boy atively few women - so taking more than one Woyzeck and causing all sorts of awkward romantic husband is nothing unusual. But on the very shenanigans. The wooing of the beautiful day that she’s set to marry for a third time, a The Roses, Tewkesbury, Wed 26 February; Bridge House Theatre, Warwick, Lady Olivia by Duke Orsino is soon thrown stranger arrives on the scene - one who Thurs 27 February off the rails. The play is made by the sub- threatens to challenge the belief system by plot, in which the merciless Sir Toby Belch Although ostensibly written by Georg Büchner which Aya and her husbands are leading and his foolish companion Sir Andrew in the mid-nineteenth century, Woyzeck was their lives... Described as ‘an explosive new Aguecheek seek to humiliate the pompous posthumously finished by numerous authors, play about love, jealousy and a woman’s Malvolio, and achieve their aim with more editors and translators, and wasn’t premiered right to choose’, The Husbands promises to than a little style... This ‘explosive new take’ until 1913, seventy-six years after its primary be both an exuberant and challenging work on one of The Bard’s greatest works comes author’s death. The title of the work refers to a of contemporary theatre. courtesy of a collaboration between Filter lowly soldier named Franz Woyzeck, who is and the RSC. stationed in a provincial German town and living with Marie, the mother of his child, who was born out of wedlock and therefore not blessed by the church. To make extra money, Franz agrees to take part in medical experiments, but soon finds his mental health severely compromised as he begins to experience a series of apocalyptic visions...This particular version of the play, presented to coin- cide with the centenary of World War One, is influenced by the styles of playwrights Steven Berkoff and Antoine Artaud, and comes with a free education pack. The Alchemist My Romantic History Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 22 February Sat 1 - Sat 22 February This intriguing piece from DC Jackson is very First performed in 1610, Ben Johnson’s The modern, very funny, and has been very well Alchemist was described by poet Samuel received since making its debut at the 2010 Taylor Coleridge as having one of the three Edinburgh Festival. Tom and Amy are two most perfect plots in literature. It’s also wide- very different people - but after an office ly considered to be Johnson’s finest work. party leads to a one-night stand, it seems When an outbreak of the Plague forces the that opposites might well attract. Until, that gentleman Lovewit to flee London, his butler, is, the spectres of past relationships make an Jeremy, is left in sole charge of the house, appearance and threaten to put a big fat and uses the premises - not to mention his spanner in the works...

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BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, FEBRUARY 2014 LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday 19th Feb Thursday 20th Feb Friday 21st Feb KATHERINE FESTIVAL OF THE CHAMPIONS OF ROBERTS & SEAN SPOKEN NERD MAGIC LAKEMAN BEST DUO - BBC RADIO 2 GEEKY TRIO PRESENT FULL WITH YOUNG & STRANGE AS FOLK AWARDS FRONTAL NERDITY! SEEN ON PENN & TELLER

Sunday 23rd Feb Sunday 23rd Feb Wednesday 26th Feb OLD MACDONALD TOM BLUE TOUCH PAPER HAD A FARM WRIGGLESWORTH FAMILY SHOW BASED ON TOP COMEDIAN IS UTTERLY COLIN TOWNS’ JAZZ-ROCK THE CLASSIC NURSERY AT ODDS WITH THE POWERHOUSE RHYME UNIVERSE

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Nebraska (15) // All Is Lost (12A) // The Wizard Of Oz (U) // The Railway Man (15) // Saving Mr Banks (PG) // Walking With Dinosaurs (U) Mandella - Long Walk To Freedom (12A) // Inside Llewyn Davis (TBC)

The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk For bookings & full details log onto www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site

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Theatre PREVIEWS Frozen The REP, Birmingham, Fri 7 - Sat 15 February Bryony Lavery’s thought-provoking play around the themes of emotional paralysis and forgiveness made its debut at Birming- ham Rep in 1998, and has since accrued its fair share of accolades. The story focuses on the disappearance of ten-year-old Rhona, and follows the trajectories of both her mother and her killer in the years which follow, the two being linked not only by the little girl but also by an American criminal psychologist researching the subject of serial killing. This particular version of Lavery’s play features a cast of four deaf and two hearing actors, and is performed in British Sign Lan- guage and spoken English. WIN TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk to enter Seven Brides For Seven Brothers New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 3 - Sat 8 February The story of seven macho, wild west kinda guys, each huntin’ out a li’l lady fer hisself, is best known, of course, from its 1954 MGM movie incarnation, starring the boom-voiced Howard Keel. And just like the film, the stage version features smash-hit songs such as Wonderful Wonderful Day, Spring Spring Spring, Goin’ Courtin’ and Sobbin’ Women. This brand new touring production features Sam Attwater as Adam and Helena Blackman as Milly.

them feel a whole lot better. Written and pre- friend Banquo, Macbeth begins to lose his sented by the high-energy Aoife Mannix and grip on sanity, deciding that the only course Grisly Tales From Janie Armour, the production stars the huge- of action open to him is to commit even Tumblewater ly engaging characters of monster-hunter more atrocities, including the murder of mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Sun 16 Febru- Saint Georgie and faithful sidekick Squeezy - women and children. ary; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon 17 February; two daredevil adventurers who spring into Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 20 action when earth is threatened by tiny February Scoodlefug aliens... Moon Tiger ‘Rip-roaring’, ‘darkly comic’ and ‘magical’ are At the end of Misunderstood Monsters, the Malvern Theatre, Mon 3 - Sat 8 February just some of the accolades so far garnered audience will be provided with details of how Penelope Lively’s haunting story of loss and by Teasel Theatre’s adaptation of Bruno Vin- to download a free app that allows them to desire is here adapted by Simon Reade. As cent's deliciously dark novel. Grisly Tales tells undertake a series of site-specific challenges seventysomething historian Claudia Hamp- the story of brave orphan Daniel Dorey, and connected with the show. ton plots her greatest work, a history of the the challenges which beset him when he vis- world, she remembers the details of her own its Tumblewater, an unfriendly world con- life, recalling her growing-up years between trolled by twisted landowner Caspian Prye. A Brief History Of the wars and the people who shared both Armed only with his wits and a satchel’s- Helen Of Troy her triumphs and her tragedies... Familiar tel- worth of spinetingling stories, Daniel must do Old Joint Stock Theatre, evision face Jane Asher stars in this subtle his best to stay alive and tell his tales. But Wed 19 - Sat 22 February and eloquent work of theatre. can he bring down Caspian Prye, not to Containing both adult themes and scenes of mention rescue the girl in the distant an adult nature, Mark Schultz’s thought-pro- room?... Edward Jaspers is the ‘one man’ voking work is an unsettling examination of element of this one-man show, a production complacency culture and the politics of beau- that’s been described as ‘Charles Dickens ty. Inspired by Euripides but with its sights meets Roald Dahl via Horrible Histories with firmly set on contemporary America, it focus- laughs, frights and live music’. es on the character of Charlotte, a fifteen- year-old girl who, grieving over the loss of her mother and struggling to make her relationship with her father work, is inexorably drawn

towards a world defined by sex, ambition and Jane Asher beauty products... The play has been deemed unsuitable for audience members under the age of fourteen. Mother Courage And Her Children Macbeth Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Solihull Arts Complex, Thurs 27 February; Wed 12 - Sat 15 February Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham; Thurs 6 - There are those who regard Mother Courage Sat 15 March And Her Children to be the greatest play of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy recounts the the twentieth century, while others have Misunderstood Monster blood-curdling yarn of Macbeth’s meteoric called it the greatest anti-war play of all time. rise to the throne of Scotland. Having been One of nine penned by Bertolt Brecht in an The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, spurred into action by the prophesies of effort to counter the rise of Fascism and Fri 21 - Sun 23 February three supernatural women, Macbeth’s ambi- Nazism, it’s set during the Thirty Years War, If your kids are aged between four and nine tion gets the better of him and, with his good and follows the fortunes of Anna Fierling, a and happen to be scared of fiends, spiders, lady wife egging him on, he embarks on a woman who’s determined to make a living crocodiles and/or aliens, Misunderstood campaign of cold-blooded murder. Slaugh- from the conflict... This staging is presented Monsters might well be the show to make tering first Duncan and then his own best by the Birmingham School of Acting.

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Sun 2 Feb mac - Mid- thrilling tale, Thurs 6 lands Arts Centre, Birm- Feb, mac - Midlands Theatre LISTINGS ingham Arts Centre, Birming- ham For full listing information on theatre FIRST ENCOUNTER: THE productions, including times and dates, Week Commencing TAMING OF THE SHREW A visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk MON 3 FEB perfect introduction to Shakespeare for any- AN EVENING WITH PETER one aged eight and Avon over, Thurs 6 - Sun 8 From BRING UP THE BODIES ALLIS An evening of anecdotes and broad- Feb, The Courtyard Mike Poulton's new Theatre, Stratford-upon- SAT 1 FEB dramatisation of Hilary casting highlights from one of the country's Avon Mantel's Man Booker THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE HUNDRED AND ONE Prize-winning novel, finest golfers, Mon 3 DALMATIONS Adapted Feb, Theatre Severn, Amateur production of until Sat 29 Mar, The Jason Robert Brown's and directed by There- Swan Theatre, Strat- Shrewsbury sa Heskins, until Sat 1 ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG musical, which follows ford-upon-Avon the relationship of New Feb, New Vic Theatre, LIKE A VIRGIN A power- AT HEART New play by Newcastle-under-Lyme Sucker Punch play- Yorkers Cathy and ful and hilarious romp Jamie as they fall in BLITHE SPIRIT Amateur through the bubble- wright Roy Williams production of Noel which examines the and out of love over the gum years of teenage course of five years, Coward's classic come- life, until Sat 1 Feb, unrest of summer 2011 dy romp, until Sat 1 against the backdrop of Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Feb, Lichfield Garrick Old Joint Stock The- Feb, Hall Green Little THAT'LL BE THE DAY the 1958 Notting Hill Theatre, Birmingham race riots, Mon 3 - Tue atre, Birmingham Rock'n'Roll spectacular LA TRAVIATA OperaUp- DEALERS CHOICE The combining music from 4 Feb, The REP, Birm- Crescent Theatre Com- ingham Close presents Verdi’s the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s tragic tale of searing pany present Patrick with wacky comedy OF MICE AND MEN John English Touring Theatre’s Eternal Love - passion, Fri 7 Feb, showing at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Marber's modern clas- routines, Sat 1 Feb, Steinbeck's dramatic sic, until Sat 1 Feb, tale of two men with a Malvern Theatre Bedworth Civic Hall at the tipping point grove Crescent Theatre, Birm- single dream, Mon 3 - 5 AN AUDIENCE WITH COLIN TROUBLE AND THE between peace and GILES BRANDRETH: LOOK- ingham Feb, Theatre Severn, FRY Fri 7 Feb, Bedworth ENGINE BY SIMON ATKINS war, Fri 7 Feb - Sat 1 ING FOR HAPPINESS Mon PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE Shrewsbury Civic Hall Children’s theatre fea- Mar, New Vic Theatre, 10 Feb, Palace Theatre, DESERT Feelgood inter- BLACK COFFEE Agatha THE JOKER & THE WHITE turing a toymaker, Newcastle-under-Lyme Redditch national musical direct Christie classic starring FEATHER A double-bill of trainee wizard and King LIVE MET BROADCAST - OTHELLO Presented by from the West End and Robert Powell, Liza works from the Owen Abracadabra, Sat 1 RUSALKA Renée Flem- Icarus Theatre Collec- Broadway. Jason Dono- Goddard, Gary Mavers Lewis Portable Theatre Feb, Swan Theatre, ing returns to one of tive and King's Theatre van stars, until Sat 1 & Ben Nealon, Mon 3 - Company, Fri 7 Feb, Worcester her signature roles, Southsea, Mon 10 - Tue Feb, The Grand The- Sat 8 Feb, The Grand Arena Theatre, Wolver- EMBRACED BURLESQUE singing the enchanting 11 Feb, Theatre Severn, atre, Wolverhampton Theatre, Wolverhamp- hampton Evening of cabaret, Song To The Moon in Shrewsbury BOEING BOEING Present- ton THE KNICKER LADY The music, comedy and Dvorák’s soulful fairy- SOME GIRL I USED TO ed by Nonentities, until SEVEN BRIDES FOR hit show that romps burlesque... Sat 1 Feb, tale opera. Tenor Piotr KNOW Denise Van Sat 1 Feb, The Rose SEVEN BROTHERS Star- through the history of Newhampton Arts Cen- Beczala co-stars as the Outen stars in a new Theatre, Kidderminster ring Sam Attwater & the humble knicker with tre, Wolverhampton Prince, Dolora Zajick is one-woman play featur- ANTIGONE Warwick Uni- Helena Blackman, Mon a tempo and hilarity A BLACK COUNTRY FAIRY- Ježibaba, and dynamic ing songs from the ’80s versity Drama Society 3 - Sat 8 Feb, New that leaves audiences TALE... AY IT Fizzog Pro- young maestro Yannick and ’90s, Mon 10 - Wed present Jean Anouilh's Alexandra Theatre, spellbound and dying ductions weave togeth- Nézet-Séguin is on the 12 Feb, New Alexandra tragedy, inspired by Birmingham for more, Fri 7 Feb, er various fairytales in podium, Sat 8 Feb, Theatre, Birmingham Greek mythology and MOON TIGER Jane Asher Theatre Severn, one 'spectacular' pro- Malvern Theatres & The A PERFECT MURDER Les the play of the same stars as historian Clau- Shrewsbury duction, Sat 1 Feb, mac Roses Theatre, Kidder- Dennis and ClaIre name, until Sat 1 Feb, dia Hampton in Pene- TIGER LILLIES: LULU - A - Midlands Arts Centre, minster; The Edge Arts Goose star in a stage Warwick Arts Centre, lope Lively’s haunting MURDER BALLAD Opera Birmingham Centre, Much Wenlock, version of Peter James' Coventry story of loss & desire, North, West Yorkshire SIDE SHOW Nine Pro- South Shropshire best-selling crime HONOUR Joanna Mur- Mon 3 - Sat 8 Feb, Playhouse & Warwick ductions present a MACBETH - BLOOD WILL thriller, Mon 10 - Sat 15 ray-Smith’s intriguing Malvern Theatre Arts Centre present a unique show based on HAVE BLOOD Contender Feb, Malvern Theatre play, which explores CARMEN Russian State staging of Martin the lives of Daisy and Charlie, China Plate THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY how things change Ballet & Opera House Jacques macabre clas- Violet Hilton - two and Warwick Arts Cen- VIII Two-man historical when love drifts from its present Bizet's leg- sic, Fri 7 - Sat 8 Feb, women joined at the tre present a reworking drama which promises anchor, until Sat 1 Feb, endary opera, in which Warwick Arts Centre, hip whose extraordinary for a young audience of an ‘ill-researched les- Highbury Theatre Cen- Carmen shifts her pas- Coventry bond brings them fame Shakespeare's macabre son in cross-dressing tre, Sutton Coldfield sion from one lover to MUCH ADO ABOUT but denies them love, play, Sat 8 Feb, War- Tudor history that audi- SNOW WHITE AND THE another with tragic con- SOM'AT RumDoxy The- Sat 1 - Sun 2 Feb, wick Arts Centre, ences will never forget’, SEVEN DWARFS Featur- sequences, Tue 4 Feb, atre presents a four- Arena Theatre, Wolver- Coventry Tues 11 Feb, Roses ing John Partridge, Gok Theatre Severn, hand, all-female pro- hampton BANANAS IN PYJAMAS Theatre, Tewkesbury Wan, Stephanie Shrewsbury duction of Shake- CINDERELLA Enchanting Brand new, action- RETURN TO THE FORBID- Beacham, Gary Wilmot, CLASSIC GHOSTS Jack speare's comedy, Fri 7 - tale of heroic adven- packed show for chil- DEN PLANET WBS Musi- Paul Zerdin & Matt Shepherd stars in a Sat 8 Feb, Crescent ture, true love, messy dren from Milkshake’s cal Theatre Company Slack, until Sun 2 Feb, new double-bill presen- Theatre, Birmingham mayhem and lots of ‘top bananas’, Sat 8 present an amateur Birmingham Hippo- tation of spinechilling THE GLAD CAFE - THE festive frivolity, Sat 1 - Feb, Stourbridge Town production of the drome stories, Tues 4 - Sat 8 NEVER SUCH CANTEEN Sun 2 Feb, The Belfrey Hall much-acclaimed musi- WENDY AND PETER PAN Feb, Lichfield Garrick Somesuch Theatre per- Theatre, Wellington, MOUTH OPEN, STORY cal, described as a Ella Hickson's new ver- DOWN TO EARTH: AN form a new play which Shropshire JUMP OUT Polarbear 'mash-up of retro sci-fi sion of JM Barrie's clas- EVENING WITH MONTY presents audiences BOUNCERS John God- present a show about and Shakespeare's The sic tale of the boy who DON Listen to Monty's with plenty of food for ber's classic comedy, the craft of storytelling, Tempest, Tue 11 - Fri 14 never grows up, until stories about his travels thought, Fri 7 - Sun 9 until Sat 8 Feb, The Sun 9 Feb, Warwick Feb, The Edge Arts Sun 2 March, Royal and visits to gardens all Feb, mac - Midlands Blue Orange Theatre, Arts Centre, Coventry Centre, Much Wenlock, Shakespeare Theatre, over the world, Wed 5 Arts Centre, Birming- Birmingham SWEENEY TODD THE South Shropshire Stratford-upon-Avon Feb, Malvern Theatre ham THE ALCHEMIST Present- DEMON BARBER OF FLEET THE COMEDY OF ERRORS BLOOD BROTHERS Willy JOHN NEWTON: AMAZING CINDERELLA Enchanting ed by The Belgrade STREET Amateur pro- Shakespeare's most Russell's musical, set in GRACE Saltmine Theatre tale of heroic adven- Theatre and Riding duction presented by farcical comedy, pre- his native Liverpool, presents a dramatic re- ture, true love, messy Lights Theatre Compa- Young Performers The- sented by the interna- until Sat 8 Feb, Bel- telling of John New- mayhem and lots of ny, Sat 1 - Sat 22 Feb, atre Group, Sun 9 - tionally acclaimed all- grade Theatre, Coven- ton’s remarkable life, festive frivolity, Fri 7 - Belgrade Theatre, Mon 10 Feb, Theatre male theatre company, try Wed 5 Feb, Roses The- Sun 9 Feb, The Belfrey Coventry Severn, Shrewsbury Propeller, Tue 11 - Sat THE DISHWASHERS atre, Tewkesbury Theatre, Wellington, TOSCA Opera Up Close 15 Feb, Belgrade The- David Essex stars in AN EVENING WITH PETER Shropshire present their critically atre, Coventry Morris Panych's play ALLISS Thurs 6 Feb, FROZEN Bryony Lavery's Week Commencing acclaimed production THE 39 STEPS Amateur about the Zen of dish- Solihull Arts Complex award-winning play, of Puccini's fast-paced MON 10 FEB production presented washing, until Sat 15 IRVING BERLIN: FROM which sees four people opera, Sun 2 Feb, The- by Stoke Repertory Feb, The REP, Birming- RAGS TO RITZES A cele- drawn together by hor- atre Severn, Shrews- BARD HEADS - FINDING Theatre, Tue 11 - Sat 15 ham bration of one of Ameri- rific circumstances, Fri bury THE WILL Two fifty- Feb, Stoke Repertory WOLF HALL Mike Poul- ca’s greatest songwrit- 7 - Sat 15 Feb, The CIRCLES IN THE SAND minute shows where Theatre ton's dramatisation of ers, Thurs 6 Feb, REP, Birmingham Half Moon present an one man and one ARRIVALS AND DEPAR- Hilary Mantel's Man Malvern Theatre AN AUGUST BANK HOLI- intimate, imaginative women take on the TURES Alan Ayckbourn's Booker Prize-winning THE TELL TALE HEART Lit- DAY LARK Northern and captivating play characters from Hamlet latest work is a dark novel, until Sat 29 tle Earthquake present Broadsides present which explores sand in Deborah McAndrew’s and The Tempest, Mon comedy which, set at a March, The Swan The- new and exciting ways, Edgar Allan Poe's atre, Stratford-upon- moving drama, poised 10 Feb, Artrix, Broms- London rail terminus,

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Sat 22 Feb 8pm Wed 5 Mar 7:30pm MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE ARENA THEATRE BIRMINGHAM WOLVERHAMPTON www.macarts.co.uk www.arenatheatre.info 0121 446 3232 01902 321 321 Tue 25 Feb – Sat 1 Mar 7:45pm Thu 6 Mar 7:30pm LEICESTER CURVE ROSES THEATRE www.curveonline.co.uk TEWKESBURY 0116 242 3595 www.rosestheatre.org 01684 295 074 Tue 4 Mar 7:30pm THEATRE SEVERN Fri 7 Mar 7:30pm SHREWSBURY LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS www.theatresevern.co.uk www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk 01743 281 281 01584 878 141

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Poet and spoken word artist Kate Tempest tells Theatre LISTINGS an everyday heroic story. Accompanied by For full listing information on theatre a live score, Fri 14 - Sat productions, including times and 15 Feb, mac - Midlands dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Arts Centre, B’ham HUMPTY DUMPTY & THE BIG BOOK OF NURSERY centres around an elab- Coventry RHYMES Sat 15 Feb, orate trap to capture a MOTHER COURAGE AND Tamworth Assembly dangerous and elusive HER CHILDREN Birming- Rooms terrorist, Tue 11 - Sat 15 ham School of Acting MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS Feb, Warwick Arts Cen- present Bertolt Brecht's Sat 15 - Sun 16 Feb, tre, Coventry thought-provoking The Place, Oakengates AN EVENING WITH JOHN work, considered by Theatre, Telford, Shrop- COOPER CLARKE The many to be the greatest shire self-styled ‘Bard of Sal- play of the 20th century, ENCHANTED BURLESQUE ford’, Wed 12 Feb, New Wed 12 - Sat 15 Feb, Fusion of comedy, Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Crescent Theatre, Birm- glamour and humour, under-Lyme ingham Sat 15 Feb, Old Rep, CIRCUS OF HORRORS: CLOUD NINE Birmingham Birmingham LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT School of Acting pres- CHRIS AND PUI ROAD- Some Girl I Used To Know - showing at New Alexandra Theatre, From sword swallowers ent Caryl Churchill's SHOW Show for pre- Birmingham & Wolverhampton Grand Theatre to daredevil balancing landmark play, which school children from acts, hair hangers to explores relationships the popular CBeebies with Trestle Theatre, tion of Joe Orton’s scenes of an adult demon dwarfs, a pick- within 19th century double act, Sat 15 Feb, present their version of much-acclaimed black nature, Wed 19 - Sat 22 led person to astound- Africa and contempo- Royal Spa Centre, the classic fairytale, comedy, Tues 18 - Sat Feb, Old Joint Stock ing aerial acts, the cir- rary London, Wed 12 - Leamington Spa Mon 17 - Tue 18 Feb, 22 Feb, Highbury The- Theatre, Birmingham cus that stormed Sat 15 Feb, Crescent CHILDREN’S THEATRE mac - Midlands Arts atre Centre, Sutton HMS PINAFORE Present- Britain’s Got Talent is Theatre, Birmingham The Norbury Players Centre, Birmingham Coldfield ed by Walsall Gilbert & back with its latest and THE NOVICE DETECTIVE A present a short play for 51 SHADES OF MAGGIE GOD OF CARNAGE Differ- Sullivan Society, Wed biggest show to date, fusion of theatre, story- children aged four to Spoof play based on ent Animal Theatre 19 - Sat 22 Feb, Forest Wed 12 Feb, Lichfield telling, stand-up and ten, Sat 15 Feb, Nor- the best-selling trilogy Company present Arts Centre, Walsall Garrick clowning is here used bury Theatre, Droitwich 50 Shades Of Grey, Yazmina Reza’s award- BARNEY THE DINOSAUR BABYLON The Flanagan to tell an autobiographi- FARCICALS Two frivolous Mon 17 - Wed 19 Feb, winning comedy of LIVE! Interactive show Collective present an cal tale that’s heart- little comedies of fun, The Grand Theatre, manners, Tues 18 - Sat for children packed with 'old-fashioned folk tale warming, heartbreak- infidelity, food fights, Wolverhampton 22 Feb, Lichfield Gar- song, dance and fun... about kings, queens ing, ridiculous - and lust and loss of THE BIRTHDAY PARTY rick Thurs 20 Feb, Stafford and revolutions’, Wed sort of true, Thurs 13 trousers! Presented by Amateur production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZ- Gatehouse Theatre 12 Feb, Old Joint Stock Feb, Wem Town Hall, Stephen Joseph The- one of Harold Pinter's ING TECHNICOLOR THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS Theatre, Birmingham North Shropshire atre, Scarborough, Sat most frequently per- DREAMCOAT Youth IN SPACE ODDITY A new ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG STUART MACONIE - THE 15 Feb, Warwick Arts formed plays, Mon 17 - Group production of show promising fun for AT HEART New play by PEOPLE'S SONGS Spend Centre, Coventry Sat 22 Feb, Hall Green Andrew Lloyd Webber all the family, Thurs 20 Sucker Punch play- an evening in the com- QU LIVE Musical theatre Little Theatre, Birming- and Tim Rice's classic Feb, Royal Spa Centre, wright Roy Williams pany of popular and cabaret night showcas- ham musical, Tue 18 - Sat 22 Leamington Spa which examines the prolific TV and radio ing new writers and BLACK COFFEE Agatha Feb, Regent Theatre, POSTMAN PAT See Pat unrest of summer 2011 presenter, journalist, performers, Sat 15 Feb, Christie classic starring Stoke-on-Trent and his friends live on against the backdrop of columnist and author Old Joint Stock The- Robert Powell, Liza ME AND MY GIRL Ama- stage, with an exciting the 1958 Notting Hill Stuart Maconie as he atre, Birmingham Goddard, Gary Mavers teur production per- new story based race riots, Wed 12 Feb, talks about his new GRISLY TALES FROM TUM- & Ben Nealon, Mon 17 formed by Bridgnorth around the forthcoming Arena Theatre, Wolver- book and epic radio BLEWATER Teasel The- - Sat 22 Feb, Regent Musical Theatre Com- feature film, Thurs 20 hampton series, Thurs 13 Feb, atre fuse spinechilling Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent pany, Tues 18 - Sat 22 Feb, Theatre Severn, ERIC AND LITTLE ERN An Arena Theatre, Wolver- stories with laughs, HANDSWORTH GANG Feb, Bridgnorth Leisure Shrewsbury entertaining homage to hampton frights and live music, SHOW 2014 The ever- Centre, South Shrop- THE UNREMARKABLE the ‘greatest comedy JAY RAYNER: GREEDY Sun 16 Feb, mac - Mid- popular feast of fun, shire DEATH OF MARILYN MON- duo Britain has ever MAN IN A HUNGRY lands Arts Centre, Birm- with the Crescent's THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS ROE Dyad Productions seen...’, Wed 12 Feb, WORLD Restaurant critic ingham local scouts and IN A 2014 SPACE ODITY A present a candid Forest Arts Centre, Wal- and BBC One Show THE SOOTY SHOW Join guides, Mon 17 - Sat 22 new show providing insight into the life of sall reporter Jay Rayner Sweep, Soo & Richard Feb, Crescent Theatre, fun for all the family, the Hollywood legend, HOW TO MAKE A KILLING combines hard-nosed Cadell as they help Birmingham Wed 19 Feb, Crewe Thurs 20 Feb, The IN BOLLYWOOD The reporting with witty Sooty celebrate his ANDY AND MIKE’S TICK Lyceum Swan Theatre, Worces- Regal Theatre Bathgate memoir to take you on birthday, Sun 16 Feb, TOCK TIME MACHINE 366 DAYS OF KINDNESS ter present a new comedy a journey through the Artrix, Bromsgrove After discovering a Bernadette Russell's GRISLY TALES FROM TUM- about friendship, fame world’s edible land- AN AUDIENCE WITH mysterious machine, multimedia perform- BLEWATER Teasel The- and fortune, Wed 12 scape, Thurs 13 Feb, DOREEN A riotous con- Andy and Mike begin a ance, blending story- atre fuse spinechilling Feb, Royal Spa Centre, Ludlow Assembly coction of affectionate quest to collect things telling, stand-up & live stories with laughs, Leamington Spa Rooms, South Shrop- Black Country humour from the past and the documentary, Wed 19 frights and live music, HEDDA GABLER Icarus shire and biting social satire, future, Tues 18 Feb, Feb, Arena Theatre, Thurs 20 Feb, Arena Theatre Collective pres- BOEING BOEING Classic Sun 16 Feb, Lichfield Palace Theatre, Red- Wolverhampton Theatre, Wolverhamp- ent Christopher Hamp- comedy by Marc Garrick ditch TWEEDY’S LOST PROPER- ton ton’s translation of Hen- Camoletti, Thurs 13 - LAUREL & HARDY A TY Physical comedy A BLACK COUNTRY FAIRY- rik Ibsen’s classic tale, Sat 15 Feb, Lichfield heartwarming slapstick show that follows the TALE... AY IT Fizzog Pro- Wed 12 - Thurs 13 Feb, Garrick Week Commencing retelling of a legendary antics of a circus clown ductions weave togeth- Theatre Severn, RENT 20TH ANNIVERSARY MON 17 FEB partnership, Tues 18 who gives in to society er various fairytales in Shrewsbury CONCERT Fri 14 Feb, Feb, Roses Theatre, and gets a real job, one 'spectacular' pro- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S New Alexandra Theatre, GRISLY TALES Teasel Tewkesbury Wed 19 Feb, Roses duction, Thurs 20 - Fri DREAM Presented by Birmingham Theatre here fuse KARAOKE The Sleepwalk Theatre, Tewkesbury 21 Feb, Newhampton Propeller, an all-male THAT'LL BE THE DAY spinechilling stories Collective present the BLACK ON WHITE TOUR: Arts Centre, Wolver- Shakespearian ensem- Rock'n'Roll spectacular with laughs, frights and UK premiere of a loose- DEMONSTRATION OF hampton ble with a proven track combining music from live music, Mon 17 Feb, ly connected trilogy of CLAIRVOYANCE Wed 19 WHEN WE ARE MARRIED record for high quality the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s Artrix, Bromsgrove performances about Feb, Palace Theatre, Carrs Lane Players and contemporary pro- with wacky comedy BARNEY THE DINOSAUR pleasure and boredom Redditch present an amateur ductions of The Bard's routines, Thurs 13 - Fri LIVE Interactive show in the 21st century, Tue SWEENEY TODD THE production of JB Priest- work, Wed 12 - Sat 15 14 Feb, Crewe Lyceum for children, packed 18 - Wed 19 Feb, War- DEMON BARBER OF FLEET ley’s much-performed Feb, Belgrade Theatre, THE ELECTRO SWING with song, dance & fun, wick Arts Centre, STREET Presented by comedy, Thurs 20 - Fri Coventry BALL Evening of live Mon 17 Feb, Royal Spa Coventry Music Theatre Warwick, 21 Feb, Carrs Lane CLASSIC GHOSTS Pre- music, swinging DJs, Centre, Leamington BARMY BRITAIN A brand Wed 19 - Sat 22 Feb, Church, Birmingham sented by Middle dance class, burlesque, Spa new show featuring 3D Warwick Arts Centre, SOME GIRL I USED TO Ground Theatre Com- acrobatics, circus per- MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS Bogglevision effects Coventry KNOW Denise Van pany, Wed 12 - Sat 15 formances and a series Mon 17 - Tues 18 Feb, which bring historical A BRIEF HISTORY OF Outen stars in a new Feb, The Grand The- of vintage-themed Lichfield Garrick figures and events to HELEN OF TROY Birming- one-woman play featur- atre, Wolverhampton treats. The Electro KODO - ONE EARTH TOUR life on stage. Presented ham School of Acting ing songs from the ’80s TIME OF MY LIFE Revival Swing Ball feature... Fri Mon 17 Feb, Symphony by Birmingham Stage present an 'unsettling and ’90s, Thurs 20 - Sat of Alan Ayckbourn's bit- 14 Feb, The Place, Hall, Birmingham Company, Tue 18 - Sat examination of compla- 22 Feb, Wolverhampton tersweet comedy, Wed Oakengates Theatre, JACK AND THE 22 Feb, Belgrade The- cency culture and the Grand Theatre 12 - Sat 15 Feb, War- Telford, Shropshire BEANSTALK Lyngo The- atre, Coventry politics of beauty'. Con- wick Arts Centre, BRAND NEW ANCIENTS atre, in collaboration LOOT Amateur produc- tains adult themes and

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Sat 1 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Boeing Boeing - showing at Crewe Lyceum and Lichfield Garrick Theatre LISTINGS LOVE & SEX AKA PER- MISSION State of Emer- For full listing information on theatre gency present a brand productions, including times and new, hard-hitting dance dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk show which explores issues of love, sex and consent, Tue 25 Feb, OLIVER! The Viv Kelly mac - Midlands Arts Arena Theatre, Wolver- Children's Theatre Centre, Birmingham hampton Group present a pro- STEVE HEWLETT: THINK- ETERNAL LOVE English duction of Lionel Bart's ING INSIDE THE BOX Touring Theatre pres- acclaimed musical, Britain's Got Talent con- ents the Shakespeare's Thurs 20 - Sat 22 Feb, testant, ventriloquist Globe production of Theatre Severn, Steve Hewlett, takes to Howard Brenton's spell- Shrewsbury the road with award- binding tale, Tue 25 MOON ON A RAINBOW winning illusionist Feb - Sat 1 Mar, The Shawl Tawala Theatre Richard Griffin in a Grand Theatre, Wolver- Company and the brand new show which hampton National Theatre pres- promises to 'delight and LOOT Amateur produc- mac - Midlands Arts MISS SAIGON (SCHOOL'S DOGS DON'T DO BALLET ent Errol John's witty amaze the whole fami- tion of Joe Orton’s Centre, Birmingham EDITION) Presented by Little Angel Theatre play, Thurs 20 - Sat 22 ly,' Sat 22 Feb, The much-acclaimed black MACBETH The Blue SOSage Factory Thurs bring the story of the Feb, The REP, Birming- Place, Oakengates The- comedy, Tues 25 - Sat Orange Theatre present 27 Feb - Sat 1 March, small dog with a big ham atre, Telford, Shropshire 1 Mar, Highbury The- Shakespeare’s murder- Solihull Arts Complex personality and even BOEING BOEING Classic MY ROMANTIC HISTORY atre Centre, Sutton ous tale of greed, witch- NEVER TRY THIS AT HOME bigger dreams to life comedy by Marc Reform Theatre Com- Coldfield craft and madness, Birmingham Repertory through puppetry, ballet Camoletti, Thurs 20 - pany present DC Jack- TWELFTH NIGHT Filter Thurs 27 Feb, Solihull Theatre and Told By An music and comedy, Fri Sun 23 Feb, Crewe son’s award-winning and the RSC present a Arts Complex Idiot present a disturb- 28 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Lyceum romantic drama, Sat 22 new take on the Bard's BEYOND THE BARRICADE ing homage to Saturday Arena Theatre, Wolver- CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove lyrical tale of romance, Join an award-winning SID’S SHOW Join Sid Recreating original West morning TV, Thurs 27 hampton satire & mistaken identi- End/Broadway musical Feb - Sat 15 March, LITTLE SHOP OF HOR- team of liers, swindlers from Cbeebies live on ty, Tue 25 Feb - Sat 1 hit songs, Thurs 27 Feb, The REP, Birmingham RORS Amateur produc- and cheats for a night stage in a fun-filled Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- Regent Theatre, Stoke- BACK TO BROADWAY Fri tion presented by The of trickery, Fri 21 Feb, adventure that promis- tre, Coventry on-Trent 28 Feb, The Swan The- Vocalize Performing Artrix, Bromsgrove es to knock your socks SPLOSH! A production THE REDUCED SHAKE- atre, Worcester Arts Academy, Fri 28 THE JUST SO STORIES off!, Sat 22 Feb, Prince for early years which SPEARE COMPANY - THE GILES BRANDRETH: LOOK- Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Palace Presented by Red Table Of Wales Centre, Can- fuses dance, music and Theatre, Fri 21 Feb, nock BIBLE: THE COMPLETE ING FOR HAPPINESS Fri Theatre, Redditch puppetry, Wed 26 Feb, WORD OF GOD A fast- 28 Feb, Lichfield Garrick THE LIFE OF GALILEO Solihull Arts Complex BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The Place, Oakengates paced romp from fig WHEN I GROW UP Break- Bertolt Brecht's famous GREAT EXPECTATIONS Multistory weave music, Theatre, Telford, Shrop- leaves to Final Judge- ing The Silence pres- play explores the strug- One-man adaptation of song, puppetry and shire ment, Thurs 27 Feb, ents Raj Jarrett's gle between scientific Charles Dickens' clas- projection in this WOYZECK Brand new Swan Theatre, Worces- drama, which highlights discovery and religious sic tale, Fri 21 Feb, retelling of the much- adaptation based on ter the impact of domestic fundamentalism, Fri 28 Arena Theatre, Wolver- loved children's fairy- the play by Georg AN EVENING WITH PETER violence, Fri 28 Feb, Feb - Sat 8 March, The hampton tale, Sun 23 Feb, War- Buchner, Wed 26 Feb, AN AUDIENCE WITH SALLY wick Arts Centre, ALLIS Thurs 27 Feb, Crescent Theatre, Birm- REP, Birmingham The Roses, Tewkesbury Lichfield Garrick ingham MORGAN Fri 21 Feb, Coventry MAMMALS Warwick Uni- Royal Spa Centre, JACK AND THE versity Drama Students Leamington Spa BEANSTALK Lyngo The- present Amelia Bull- TWEEDY'S LOST PROPER- atre, in collaboration more's darkly humor- TY Physical comedy with Trestle Theatre, ous look at the flip side show that follows the breathe new life into the of home-sweet-home, antics of a circus clown classic fairytale, Sun 23 Wed 26 Feb - Sat 1 who gives in to society Feb, Warwick Arts Cen- Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- and gets a real job, Fri tre, Coventry tre, Coventry 21 Feb, Ludlow Assem- OLD MACDONALD HAD A WAR HORSE National bly Rooms, South FARM Children’s show Theatre Live screening, Shropshire presented by People’s Thurs 27 Feb, Wem HOW TO MAKE A KILLING Theatre Company, Sun Town Hall, North Shrop- IN BOLLYWOOD The 23 Feb, Artrix, Broms- shire; Ludlow Assembly Regal Theatre Bathgate grove Rooms, South Shrop- present a new comedy shire about friendship, fame Week Commencing WE WILL BE FREE! The and fortune, Fri 21 Feb, Tolpuddle Martyrs tale, Lichfield Garrick MON 24 FEB told via storytelling, MISUNDERSTOOD MON- puppetry and anima- STERS Half Moon pres- PENNY DREADFUL: HOW tion, with musical ent a fast-paced ‘out of TO BE IMMORTAL Origi- arrangements from folk this world’ adventure nal new play which artist John Kirkpatrick, for children aged four fuses true tales, live Thurs 27 Feb, Theatre to nine, Fri 21 - Sun 23 music, '50s science and Severn, Shrewsbury Feb, Swan Theatre, nano-puppetry to WOYZECK Brand new Stratford-upon-Avon explore our need to adaptation based on THE TWIST New musical connect to the dead, the play by Georg featuring songs from Mon 24 Feb, New Vic Buchner, Thurs 27 Feb, the ’50s and ’60s, Sat Theatre, Newcastle- Bridge House Theatre, 22 Feb, Solihull Arts under-Lyme Warwick Complex LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN AN AUDIENCE WITH COLIN AN AUDIENCE WITH Presented by Nonenti- FRY Thurs 27 Feb, The JONATHAN MILLER A ties, Mon 24 Feb - Sat 1 Place, Oakengates The- chance to meet Dr March, The Rose The- atre, Telford, Shropshire Jonathan Miller, one of atre, Kidderminster WAR HORSE National Britain’s most intriguing TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT: Theatre Live screening, polymaths, Sat 22 Feb, THE ROD STEWART MUSI- Thurs 27 Feb, Warwick Lichfield Garrick CAL Smash-hit West Arts Centre, Coventry THE CASTLE SMALL The End musical comedy MIDDAY VARIETY Coven- Magical Touring Puppet inspired by the songs try’s finest variety show, Theatre present two of the Maggie May star, with live music and a original stories for Mon 24 Feb - Sat 1 variety line-up, Thurs 27 young children, Sat 22 March, New Alexandra Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Feb, Norbury Theatre, Theatre, Birmingham Coventry Droitwich THE PERFECT MURDER FINDING JOY A comic, THE HUSBANDS Sharmila Les Dennis and Claire anarchic, touching and Chauhan's play about Goose star in a stage heroic full-mask adven- love, jealousy and a version of Peter James' ture from Worcester- woman's right to best-selling crime based theatre company choose, Sat 22 Feb, thriller, Mon 24 Feb - Vamos, Thurs 27 Feb,

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Theatre REVIEWS

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Strictly Come Dancing Live National Indoor Arena, Birmingham Strictly fans got to escape the January blues for an evening when the show arrived in Birmingham for the start of its national tour. The three male judges returned to the city and seemed to be loving every minute of it - although they’d toned down their camp and saucy banter by comparison with last year. The 2014 tour was hosted by 2012 competitor Lisa Riley, and featured all three finalists from the last series - Natalie Gumede, Susanna Reid and winner Abbey Clancy. Highlights from the first half included a gorgeous Wendy And Peter Pan American Smooth from rugby player Ben Foden Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon and Russian ‘pocket rocket’ Kristina Rihanoff, a There are some stories that never grow old, stories whose stature seems to grow with dramatic Paso Doble from Susanna Reid and Kevin each new flight of the imagination. In this latest re-imagining of JM Barrie’s timeless Clifton, and an awesome jive from favourites Natal- tale of daring heroics, everlasting childhood, dastardly pirates and lost children, Ella ie Gumede and Artem Chingvitsev. Westlife’s Nicky Hickson takes her characters on a transformative journey beyond the sheltered land- Byrne and partner Karen impressed with a slick, scapes of the Edwardian nursery - a familiar world of pre-received wisdom bathed in sharp and supercool James Bond-inspired Argen- the soft glow of tradition - catapulting them headlong into a Neverland of their own tine Tango, while series winners Abbey Clancey imagining, where shadows lurk around every corner, battles are fought and won, and Aljaz Skorjanec performed a truly beautiful happy thoughts are rediscovered, and heroines (as well as heroes) are made! quick-step. This latest festive offering from the RSC sees an uncharacteristically feisty Wendy take Ben and Kristina fired up the second half with a centre-stage in a story that places ‘loss’ at the heart of her imaginative recovery and, sexy salsa, after which things got even better, cour- by association, her self-discovery. tesy of Natalie and Artem’s sublime Viennese Faced with the crippling loss of her younger brother Tom, and convinced that his Waltz, while Mark Benton and Iveta’s cha cha cha shadow still haunts her window, Wendy’s heroic quest to salvage what remains of her spoofed MC Hammer. parents’ marriage begins when the mercurial figure of Peter Pan arrives in her nursery The fabulous finale was a hot disco salsa by the one night. He’s accompanied by an army of shadows simulating flight, their combined gorgeous Abbey and Aljaz, the latter of whom presence ‘lifting’ Peter to the status of God in his own make-believe reality. raised the roof in his Travolta-style white suit. The Wendy And Peter is, at its heart, a classic swashbuckling family adventure, complete pair topped the leaderboard again, with a fabulous with stunning aerial acrobatic sequences, ferocious fight-scenes, dastardly pirates thirty-out-of-thirty score, but it was Natalie and ships and fantastical sets, all of which lend the piece a wonderfully quirky and, at Artem who won the audience vote and were duly times, genuinely mesmerising charm. Katherine Ewing IIIII crowned the evening’s winners. Anita Champaneri IIIII Theatre Box Office Thriller Live ICC, Birmingham Birmingham GRAND THEATRE, Warwickshire 01902 429212 ALEXANDRA THEATRE BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL Thriller Live, the all-singing, all-dancing theatrical 0844 871 3011 NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 024 7637 6707 01902 572090 homage to Michael Jackson, recently moonwalked BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY into the ICC. 0844 338 5000 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY 024 7655 3055 0121 552 2761 The show opened X Factor-style, with a booming BIRMINGHAM REP BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WARWICK voice listing the King of Pop’s mega-selling singles 0121 236 4455 Shropshire 01926 776438 THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE THE DREAM FACTORY and albums and hailing his influence on today’s THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON 0121 212 2643 01926 419555 crop of pop performers. It was all lights and action 01952 222277 CRESCENT THEATRE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE in the first half, as the show disco-stomped through THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 0121 643 5858 THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON the hits of the Jackson 5 and Jacko’s first solo 01952 728911 DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 0844 800 1110 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY album, Off The Wall, in the process treating us to 0121 706 7139 ROYAL SPA CENTRE 01743 234970 the likes of Blame It On The Boogie, Can You Feel THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY It and Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough. Four singers, WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, COVENTRY HALL GREEN LITTLE THEATRE ROOMS 01584 878141 all trying their best to sound like Jackson, shared 0121 707 1874 02476 524524 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD lead vocals. These included Birmingham-born MAC 0121 446 3232 01952 382382 Cleopatra (Comin Atcha) Higgins and white, long- Worcestershire MIXING BOWL THEATRE THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY haired rocker Jesse Smith, whose rendition of Dirty 0121 224 7545 01743 281281 ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, BROMSGROVE 01527 577330 Diana made it seem like we were reliving the X Fac- OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE WEM TOWN HALL tor Live finals. While some of the vocals and moves 0121 200 0946 01939 232299 THE HIVE were slightly off, the second half of the show went OLD REP 0121 245 4455 01905 822866 SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX Staffordshire HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER bad-ass on the crowd, featuring all the big dance- 01905 611427 floor numbers from the greatest album of the twen- 0121 704 6962 LICHFIELD GARRICK 01543 412121 MALVERN THEATRE tieth century, Thriller. The frisson of excitement was 01684 892277 Black Country NEW VIC 01782 717962 palpable when the dancers cracked some deft NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH ARENA THEATRE PRINCE OF WALES moves to Smooth Criminal. 01905 770154 WOLVERHAMPTON CENTRE, CANNOCK All the classic dance moves were on show, from 01902 321321 01543 578762 PALACE THEATRE REDDITCH 01527 65203 the moonwalk and crotch-grabs to the trilby doffs BLOXWICH THEATRE REGENT THEATRE, STOKE and gravity-defying leans. The Jacko favourites 01922 653183 0870 060 6649 ROSE THEATRE, 01562 743745 were saved for the final act - Beat It, the visually DUDLEY CONCERT HALL RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE 01384 812812 01889 584036 SWAN THEATRE, stunning Thriller and the high-octane anthem BAD. WORCESTER 01905 611427 FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL STAFFORD GATEHOUSE The crowd’s reaction was fantastic. It certainly was 01785 254653 IIII 01922 654555 ‘bad’! Anita Champaneri STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE 01782 209784 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Theatre February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:23 Page 15

COMING SOON TO THEATRE SEVERN

THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2014

Hailed as the origi- nators of British folk-rock music, Fair- port Convention has been among Britain's best-loved bands for over 45 years. FAIRPORT CONVENTION

WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014 ALEX HORNE: LIES The 30 year old multi-Bafta award-winning stand up and platinum-selling R&B artist Alex Horne is back with an hour of observations, impressions and lies.

THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2014

FORTHCOMING POSTMAN PAT ATTRACTIONS 2014 LIVE ON STAGE Box Office: 01527 65203

Premier Stage Productions & Classic Mon 10th Feb, 7.30pm Thurs 13th Feb, 7.30pm Media are delighted to present a brand new, fun-filled, all action show featuring GYLES SINATRA, everyone's favourite postman. BRANDRETH SEQUINS See Pat and his friends live on Looking For Happiness AND SWING stage in an exciting new story – Tickets £17.75* Tickets £20.75 & “IT’S SHOWTIME!” £19.75* (disc)

Fri 14th Feb, 7.30pm Tues 18th Feb, 2.00pm WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2014 MARTY WILDE ANDY AND MIKE’S AND THE TICK TOCK TIME 'The body beautiful meets serious talent.' WILDCATS MACHINE London Evening Standard Tickets £12.75 & Tickets £18.75 & £10.75* (disc) £41* £17.75* (disc) (family ticket)

Wed 19th Feb, 8.00pm Thurs 20th Feb, 7.30pm ED BYRNE ROY Roaring CHUBBY Forties Tour BROWN Tickets £23.25* Tickets £19.75*

Fri 21st Feb, 7.30pm Thurs 6th Mar, 7.30pm JAI VISIT OUR DIRTY WEBSITE TO MCDOWALL DUSTING VIEW MORE Tickets £20.25* Tickets £20.75* SHOWS! & £19.75* (disc)

* Inclusive of 75p booking fee per ticket up to a max of £3 Box Office 01743 281 281 Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, ONLINE BOOKING: Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk SY3 8FT www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

38 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:23 Page 16

Theatre WEST END Californication star to play bunny boiler in Trevor Nunn’s Fatal Attraction Californication star Natascha McElhone has announced she’s to play ‘bunny boiler’ Alex Forrest in Trevor Nunn’s stage version of Fatal Attraction, which shows at the Haymar- ket Theatre from 8 March to 21 June. A story of obsession and revenge, Fatal Attraction was originally a hit 1987 movie starring Michael Dou- glas and Glenn Close. Natascha’s previous London credits include Honour, at Wyndham’s Theatre, and Richard III and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Open Theatre in Regent’s Park. Director, Sean Foley New theatre for NT production Phileas Fogg’s latest adventure kicks off at the O2... The National Theatre’s production of The An immersive theatre experience with a dif- The Park tent, Around The World In Eighty Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night- ference is on offer when Sean Foley’s Days shows in London for eleven weeks, Time is to resume its West End run at the Around The World In Eighty Days opens at after which it heads out on a three-year, nine- Gielgud Theatre from 24 June. Performances London’s 02 Pavillion in June. teen-city US tour. of the Olivier Award-winning production were Foley’s stage adaptation of Jules Verne’s lit- The highly rated Foley is the man behind the suspended in December when the ceiling erary classic sees the amazing adventures of award-winning West End comedy The collapsed, mid-performance, during its run at Phileas Fogg unfold in a much-heralded Ladykillers and the critically acclaimed Per- London’s Apollo Theatre. multimedia production, presented in a three fect Nonsense. The latter, starring Stephen Based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning hundred-and-sixty-degree dome the size of Mangan and Matthew Macfadyen, continues novel, the show has been hailed ‘a phenome- ten IMAX screens. The production also fea- to book at Duke of York’s Theatre until 20 nal combination of storytelling and specta- tures a flying hot-air balloon and a twenty- September. cle’. It will show at the Gielgud Theatre prior foot steam-powered elephant. For further information and to book tickets for to its much-anticipated transfer to Broadway Created by Matthew Churchill Productions, Around The World In Eighty Days, visit in October. the team behind the Chichester Theatre In www.80daystheshow.com

WEST END LISTINGS: Mar 2014 May 2014 atre, booking until 18 KNIGHTS OF THE BURN- STOMP Ambassadors HAPPY DAYS Young Vic Oct 2014 ING PESTLE Old Vic The- Theatre, booking until Theatre, booking until 8 DUCK HOUSE Vaudeville atre, booking 20 Feb - MUSICALS Edward Theatre, book- 21 Dec 2014 Mar 2014 Theatre, booking until 30 Mar 2014 ing until 9 March 2014 TELL ME ON A SUNDAY WAR HORSE New Lon- 29 Mar 2014 TWELFTH KNIGHT RE- BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSI- and Piccadilly Theatre, Duchess Theatre, 17 don Theatre, booking JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN IMAGINED Open Air The- CAL Victoria Palace 14 Mar - 25 Oct 2014 Feb - 1 Mar 2014 until 15 Feb 2014 PERFECT NONSENSE atre, Regent’s Park, Theatre, booking until Duke Of York’s Theatre, booking 21 Jun - 12 16 May 2015 LES MISÉRABLES THRILLER LIVE Lyric The- Queen's Theatre, book- atre, booking until 28 booking until 8 Mar July 2014 BODYGUARD Adelphi COMEDY ing until 25 Oct 2014 2014 Theatre, booking until Sept 2014 39 STEPS Criterion The- 30 Aug 2014 LION KING Lyceum The- WE WILL ROCK YOU BOOK OF MORMON atre, booking until 20 Dominion Theatre, Prince Of Wales The- July 2014 booking until 5 Apr atre, booking until 3 MAMMA MIA! Novello 2014 May 2014 Theatre, booking until WICKED Apollo Victoria CHARLIE AND THE 25 Oct 2014 Theatre, booking until 1 CHOCOLATE FACTORY - MATILDA THE MUSICAL Nov 2014. THE MUSICAL Drury Cambridge Theatre, Lane Royal, booking booking until 21 Dec DRAMA until 1 Nov 2014 2014 ANALOG.UE Lyttelton COMMITMENTS Victoria MISS SAIGON Prince National Theatre, 25 Palace Theatre, book- Edward Theatre, from 3 Feb - 20 Mar 2014 ing until 14 Sept 2014 May - 25 Oct 2014 ANTONY & CLEOPATRA DIRTY DANCING ONCE Phoenix Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe booking until 22 Feb booking until 31 May Theatre, From 17 May 2014 2014 2014 DIRTY ROTTEN PAJAMA GAME Shaftes- DOCTOR SCROGGY’S WAR SCOUNDRELS Savoy bury Theatre, 1 May - Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 10 Mar - 29 13 Sep 2014 Theatre, From 12 Sept Nov 2014 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 2014 FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Her Majesty's Theatre, EMIL AND THE DETEC- Shaftesbury Theatre, booking until 25 Oct TIVES Olivier National booking until 26 Apr 2014 Theatre, booking until 2014 PORGY AND BESS 18 Mar 2014 I CAN’T SING! THE Open Air Theatre, FATAL ATTRACTION Hay- X FACTOR MUSICAL Regents Park, 17 July - market Theatre, Royal, London Palladium The- 23 Aug 2014 8 Mar - 21 Jun 2014 atre, 27 Feb 2014 - 25 STEPHEN WARD Aldwych GHOST STORIES Arts Oct 2014 Theatre, booking until 1 Theatre,13 Feb - 24 JERSEY BOYS Prince Happy Days - Young Vic Theatre

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Dance February_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:04 Page 1 Dance

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 5 - Sat 15 February Firmly established as a modern-day classic, Matthew Bourne’s contemporary interpretation of the universally loved Swan Lake has been the recipient of over thirty international theatre awards - including three Tonys for its Broadway production. It’s also the longest running ballet both in the West End and across the Atlantic. Premiering at Sadlers Wells in 1995, Bourne’s provocative version became an instant hit. Its all-male swans, character comedy and use of mime not only challenged more traditional interpretations of the work but also attracted a younger audience to the world of ballet. With four successful tours under its belt, the show this month returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome for its only Midlands date - miss it at your peril! Read the interview with Matthew on page 8. Tap Factory Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 14 - Sat 15 February; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Sun 16 February; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 14 - Tues 15 April; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 3 May Described as ‘Tap Dogs meets Stomp’, this rhythm-based production sees an array of internationally renowned exponents of dance, gymnastics and acrobatics take to the stage to showcase their skills. Blending percussion with dance and comedy, Tap Factory also features a live band on stage. Having delighted audiences across Europe and South America, this much-hyped show embarks on its first UK-wide tour Sun this month, taking in various Midlands venues along the way. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 4 - Wed 5 February Co-commissioned by numerous companies, Sun is presented by Hofesh Shechter, who’s widely regarded as one of the UK’s most exciting contemporary artists. The work - which brings together fourteen talented dancers with an eclectic soundtrack featuring original music by Shechter - has certainly garnered its fair share of plaudits. ‘The world is perfect,’ informs its publicity. ‘From the darkness of Shechter’s emotive and often angry world emerges a bright white light dancing out of the smoke and chaos’. Sun hasn’t been to everybody’s liking, mind, with some critics feeling that the material is rather thin and repetitive. Buy a ticket and judge for yourself.

40 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Dance February_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:04 Page 2

cracks and craters in a BRB: The Prince Of The Pagodas LISTINGS world of illusions where Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 25 February - Sat 1 March Dance nothing is quite as it David Bintley’s imaginative reworking of John Cranko’s 1957 produc- seems, Tues 25 Feb For full listing information on dance, Roses Theatre, tion makes its UK debut at the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet this including times and dates, visit Tewkesbury month. Set to Benjamin Britten’s only commissioned ballet score, www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE PRINCE OF THE The Prince Of The Pagodas celebrates the power of love in the fan- PAGODAS Birmingham Royal Ballet presents tastical Chrysanthemum Kingdom, where adventures abound for the AN EVENING OF DIRTY urban, tap dance and Princess Sakura. Having received much critical acclaim at its an imaginative rework- DANCING A tribute show hip-hop - fused with ing of a classic story National Ballet of Japan premiere in 2011, this new addition to the featuring great songs comedy and acrobat- which celebrates the BRB repertoire features imaginative costumes from War Horse and memorable danc- ics, Fri 14 - Sat 15 Feb power of family love, designer Rae Smith. ing, Sat 1 Feb, Solihull Theatre Severn, Tue 25 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Arts Complex Shrewsbury Birmingham TAP FACTORY BOLSHOI - LOST A variety Hippodrome ILLUSIONS Live HD of dance disciplines - BRENDAN COLE: LICENCE Broadcast from the urban, tap dance and TO THRILL Chance to Bolshoi Theatre, hip-hop - fused with see the Strictly stalwart Moscow, Sun 2 Feb, comedy and acrobat- joined by professional Malvern Theatres ics, Sun 16 Feb, New dancers and a four- SUN A new work from Alexandra Theatre, teen-piece band in a one of the UK's most Birmingham journey across time - THE LOCK IN exciting contemporary Mon 17 complete with a sprin- artists, choreographer Feb, New Vic Theatre, kling of James Bond Hofesh Shechter, Tue 4 Newcastle-under-Lyme magic, Wed 26 Feb, THE LOCK IN - Wed 5 Feb, Warwick Tue 18 Feb, Regent Theatre, Arts Centre, Coventry mac - Midlands Arts Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent MATTHEW BOURNE'S Centre, Birmingham BALLETBOYZ One of the THREE OF A KIND SWAN LAKE Award-win- most cheekily original ning modern interpreta- Birmingham Royal and innovative forces in tion of the classic ballet Ballet presents a triple- modern dance. Led by that sees the traditional bill of works - John former Royal Ballet female corps de ballet Cranko’s Card Game, lead dancers Michael replaced with a menac- George Balanchine’s Nunn and William ing male ensemble, Slaughter On Tenth Trevitt, Wed 26 Feb, Wed 5 - Sat 15 Feb, Avenue and Kenneth Theatre Severn, Birmingham MacMillan’s Elite Shrewsbury Hippodrome Syncopations, Wed 19 BALLETBOYZ Fri 28 Feb, SLEEPING BEAUTY - Sat 22 Feb, Regent Theatre, Starlight School of Birmingham Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Dance presents a cho- Hippodrome Broken reographed version of GISELLE Performed by mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Wed 12 - Thurs 13 the classic fairytale of The Russian State February; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues 25 February good vs evil, Thurs 6 - Ballet & Orchestra of Sat 8 Feb, Palace Siberia, Fri 21 Feb, Weaving athletic dance with digital imagery and original music, Theatre, Redditch Malvern Theatre Broken examines man’s precarious relationship with the earth. Using ANTON DU BEKE New SWAN LAKE Performed two contrasting worlds - the caves of ancient ancestors and modern show featuring ‘daz- by The Russian State apartments of glass and steel - Kevin Finnan’s production takes zling dancing and Ballet & Orchestra Of audiences on a journey which questions man’s ambivalence to the superb singing’, with Siberia, Sat 22 Feb, the sensational Malvern Theatre planet. An adrenaline-fuelled spectacle packed with trickery and illu- Raymond Gubbay Big A NIGHT OF DIRTY sions, this thought-provoking piece has the capacity to leave audi- Band Orchestra under DANCING Brand new Balletboyz ences breathless, as dancers contort their bodies to negotiate the the baton of Richard dancing extravaganza, cracks and craters of a place where all is not as it seems... Balcombe, Sat 8 Feb, presented by an all-star Symphony Hall, cast, including West Dance Birmingham End performers, Sat 22 Feb, Stafford Box Office Anton Du Beke Gatehouse Theatre CLARE HAMMOND ARENA THEATRE, Popular piano works WOLVERHAMPTON framed by two dances, 01902 321321 the Bach-Brahms Chaccone and ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE Ginastera’s Danzes 01527 577330 Argentinas, Sun 23 BIRMINGHAM Feb, Huntingdon Hall, HIPPODROME Worcester 0844 338 5000 SLEEPING BEAUTY DOVEHOUSE THEATRE Performed by The 0121 706 7139 Russian State Ballet & LICHFIELD GARRICK ANIMATED DANCE Orchestra Of Siberia, 01543 412121 ACADEMY ANNUAL Sun 23 Feb, Malvern LUDLOW ASSEMBLY SHOWCASE Sun 9 Feb, Theatre ROOMS, SHROPSHIRE Solihull Arts Complex 01584 873229 BROKEN Motionhouse Sleeping Beauty MAC, BIRMINGHAM present their latest pro- 0121 446 3232 duction, which sees NEW ALEXANDRA THE- dancers negotiate the ATRE, BIRMINGHAM cracks and craters in a 0121 230 9082 world of illusions where ROYAL SPA CENTRE, nothing is quite as it LEAMINGTON SPA seems, Wed 12 - Thurs 01926 334418 13 Feb, mac - Midlands SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX Arts Centre, 0121 704 6962 Birmingham STAFFORD GATEHOUSE REGENT THEATRE DANCE THEATRE FESTIVAL 2014 01785 254653 Choreographed cele- RICHARDZ ON STAGE THEATRE SEVERN, bration, reflection and 2014 Annual school SHREWSBURY remembrance of those show, Sun 23 Feb, 01743 281281 who fought during the Crescent Theatre, Great War, Wed 12 - Birmingham WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, Sat 15 Feb, Regent BROKEN Motionhouse COVENTRY 02476 524524 Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent present their latest pro- TAP FACTORY A variety duction, which sees of dance disciplines - dancers negotiate the

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 1 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 2

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

From FRI 14 FEB

The Monuments Men CERT 12a (118mins) Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh TOP 5 Bonneville, Cate Blanchett Directed by George Clooney (USA/Germany) George Clooney surrounds himself with another all-star cast for what looks like a fascinating slice of Second FILM BOX OFFICE World War history. Based on the book by Robert M Edsel, this is the true story of a group of art historians and curators who are conscripted to infiltrate Nazi Germany in order to track down invaluable works of art. It transpires that Hitler looted Europe and Russia on an epic scale, seizing an enormous quantity of priceless The Wolf Of paintings, sculpture, furniture and artefacts to store in his hometown of Linz in Austria. And we’re talking 1 Wall Street (18) works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt and Vermeer, many of which are still miss- ing. Clooney himself wrote the screenplay along with his long-time collaborator Grant Heslov. 2 12 Years A Slave (15) The Dallas Buyers Club American Hustle (15) CERT 15 (117mins) 3 Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts Frozen (PG) Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (USA) 4 For his performance as a homophobic rodeo jock who contracts Aids, Devil’s Due (15) Matthew McConaughey did a ‘Christian 5 Bale’ and lost a remarkable fifty pounds. He won a Golden Globe (and an Oscar nomination) for his pains, as did his co-star Jared Leto (songwriter and lead vocalist for the rock band Thirty Seconds To Mars), who plays a transgender woman. For the record, the film - based on a lengthy article in From the Dallas Morning News - is a true FRI 7 story. The director previously brought FEB us the acclaimed films C.R.A.Z.Y., The Young Victoria and Café de Flore. The Wolf Of Wall Street

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 7 Feb

The Invisible Woman CERT 12a (111mins) Starring Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Hollander, Joanna Scanlan, Tom Burke Directed by Ralph Fiennes (UK) Having made his directorial debut with the bold and visually impressive Coriolanus (2011), Ralph Fiennes now turns from Shakespeare to Charles Dickens. Adapted by Abi Morgan from Claire Tomalin’s book, the film focuses on Dickens’ extra-marital relationship with Ellen ‘Nelly’ Ternan (Jones). As actor, Fiennes brings considerable energy to his portrayal of Robocop CERT tbc Mr Peabody& Sherman Dickens, an ebullient and youthful figure, a man Starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, CERT 12a (111mins) embarrassed by his success yet determined to Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley Featuring the voices of Ty Burrell, Max harness it for the greater good. Above all, Directed by José Padilha (USA) Charles, Leslie Mann, Stephen Colbert, though, Fiennes the director communicates his Ariel Winter, Allison Janney, Mel Brooks Another franchise comes bursting back to life in passion for Dickens’ literary virtuosity, a talent Directed by Rob Minkoff (USA) what is now the traditional ‘reboot’ practice. that continues to enrich our lives to this day. Rocky and His Friends have a lot to answer Here, the law-enforcing cyborg is played by the for, not least two appalling big-screen spin- Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman, who offs from the 1959-1961 cartoon series, starred in the American remake of the cult namely Boris and Natasha (1992) and The Danish TV series The Killing. And he’s got a Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle (2000). great supporting Now the good people at DreamWorks cast, which should Animation have seen fit to lift this epony- up the ante on the mous segment from the show and blow it up 1987 original (as into a full-scale, 3D computer-animated fea- should the CGI ture. For the record, it concerns a highly effects). Let the intelligent dog (Mr Peabody) and his adopt- killing commence! ed boy, Sherman, who travel back in time in their Wayback Machine.

For full film listings, showings and booking links visit: whatsonlive.co.uk

View the latest trailers on line

44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 4

Released from Fri 14 Feb

Cuban Fury CERT 15 (98mins) Starring Nick Frost, Rashida Jones, Chris O¹Dowd, Ian McShane, Olivia Colman, Alexandra Roach, Rory Kinnear Directed by James Griffiths (UK) With Nick Frost’s growing cinematic profile and the popularity of Strictly Come Dancing, this salsa comedy could break out. Frost plays Bruce, a loser who’s got a crush on his beautiful American boss, Julia (Jones, from TV’s Parks And Recreation). Then he discovers she has a secret passion: salsa. And many, many years ago, Bruce was something of a child prodigy of the Latin dance!

From FRI 21 FEB

Her CERT 15 (126mins) Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, time comes up against a young Captain Hook (voiced by Hiddleston, no less). And you can Only Lovers Left Alive Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Portia Doubleday, CERT 15 (123mins) and the voice of Scarlett Johansson see it all in 3D. For diehard fans, Tinkers will be Directed by Spike Jonze (USA) back in Legend Of The NeverBeast, released Starring Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin, As it happens, ‘Her’ (voiced by Scarlett next year. Jeffrey Wright Johansson) is invisible both to us and our Directed by Jim Jarmusch (UK/Germany) protagonist, Theo Twombly (Phoenix). In the Yep, this is yet another vampire movie. But as not-too-distant future, Theo, who is going it’s directed by Jim Jarmusch, this will be dif- through a divorce, downloads a voice-activat- ferent than most. The director describes it as ed operating system. Choosing a female a "crypto-vampire love story" and it stars identity for his new programme, Theo finds Hiddleston as a reclusive, centuries-old rock himself becoming totally reliant on ‘Her’, both star who’s finding it hard to keep up with practically and emotionally. Okay, so what do modern technology. In fact, it’s all getting so you expect from Spike Jonze? The director much that he decides to take his own life! of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, Jonze has never opted for the conventional. Here, he conjures up a futuristic and lyrical The Necessary Death of love story in which the camera seldom leaves Joaquin Phoenix’s face. In spite of the Charlie Countryman CERT TBC The Lego Movie CERT U (100 mins) cinema’s previous explorations of artificial Starring Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, intelligence, ‘Her’ emerges as a highly origi- Featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Mads Mikkelsen, Rupert Grint, Vincent Banks, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, nal work, being both a cerebral black come- D¹Onofrio, Melissa Leo Channing Tatum, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Directed by Fredrik Bond (USA) dy and a thought-provoking contemplation of Charlie Day Directed by Phil Lord and Chris the human condition. Miller (USA/Australia) Nigel Farage might not approve, but Shia As the rest of us attempt to keep up with tech- LaBeouf falls heavily for a young Romanian nology, the world of Lego remains steadfastly woman (Wood). However, the latter, Gabi basic. Maybe that’s the appeal. Having Ibanescu, still seems to be irrevocably involved branched out into parks (there are six of them), with her ex (Mikkelsen), a volatile and extreme- clothes(!), board games and video games, the ly dangerous man. Expect some profoundly Danish brand is now about to conquer your adult material. local multiplex. The computer-animated movie is set in the ‘Lego universe’ and features such ‘mini-figures’ as Batman, Superman and Spaceman Benny. Judging by the trailer, it does look quite witty. In 3D.

Tinkerbell And The Pirate Fairy CERT tbc Featuring the voices of Mae Whitman, Tom Hiddleston, Christina Hendricks, Carlos Ponce, Lucy Liu, Anjelica Huston Directed by Peggy Holmes (USA) Tinkers is back, in her fifth outing in the DisneyToon Studios' Tinker Bell series, and this

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 5 GET YOUR FREE COPY DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EVERY MONTH

...you just pay for the postage and packing! Yes, we know you’re wondering what the catch is. Well, there isn’t one! We’ve ripped up our subscription rates so that more of you can get the No.1 listings magazine in the Midlands delivered direct to your front door every month. And at just £2 an issue to cover the postage and packing, there’s never been a better time to get it delivered! It’s easy - just call our Subscription Hotline on 01743 281714 Simply pay the postage and packing cost of £2 per issue by debit or credit card!

All you need to do now is choose the regional edition you would like... Midlands What’s On Magazine or Birmingham What’s On; Warwickshire What’s On; Worcestershire What’s On; Black Country What’s On; Staffordshire What’s On; Shropshire What’s On; Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 6

Released from Fri 21 Feb

A New York Winter’s Tale CERT tbc Starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Eva Marie Saint, Will Smith Directed by Akiva Goldsman (USA) When the burglar Peter Lake (Farrell) breaks into a Manhattan property, an heiress (Brown Findlay) dies in his arms. What follows is a mystical, romantic fantasy that spans almost a century, as Lake attempts to be reunited with the late heiress. The film, based on Mark Helprin’s novel Winter’s Tale, marks the directorial debut of the acclaimed scriptwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, The Da Vinci Code, I Am Legend, etc).

From WEDS 26 FEB

Released from Fri 28 Feb The Book Thief CERT 12a (131mins) Starring Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer, the voice of Stalingrad CERT 15 (131mins) Roger Allam Labor Day CERT 12a (111mins) Starring Petr Fedorov, Yanina Studilina, Directed by Brian Percival (USA) Dmitriy Lysenkov, Thomas Kretschmann Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Tobey Like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Markus Directed by Fedor Bondarchuk (Russia) Maguire, Gattlin Griffith, Clark Gregg, Brooke Smith Directed by Jason Reitman (USA) Zusak's 2005 novel The Book Thief is aimed The Soviet filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk at a ‘young adult’ readership. And as with The films of Jason Reitman (Juno, Up In The (1920-1994) made arguably the biggest film John Boyne’s book, the treatment of German Air, Young Adult) tend to be about the jour- ever to come out of Russia, namely Waterloo children in the Second World War presents a neys taken by a single character - usually (1970). Now his son Fedor has taken on the problem in terms of a cinematic adaptation. with a good deal of humour. Labor Day, battle of Stalingrad, the decisive WWII conflict Young adults should be aware of the atroci- adapted from the novel by Joyce Maynard, is between the Germans and the Russians. Not ties, but they’re not quite ready for Saving different in that it’s about a family. One might only is the film in 3D, but it’s the first non- Private Ryan. Brian Percival’s adaptation (he even accuse it of Norman Rockwell-esque American movie to be produced in the IMAX previously directed episodes of Downton aspirations of Americana, but then this is no format. Incidentally, Herr Kretschmann is best Abbey) is a proficient if hardly riveting piece ordinary family. Kate Winslet’s Adele Wheeler known for starring in the 1993 German film of cinema. As Liesel, the illiterate girl who is suffering from a degenerative psychologi- Stalingrad [sic]. develops a love of books under the tutorship cal disorder, her thirteen-year-old son Hank of her foster parents, the extraordinarily pretty (Griffith) is taking on the responsibilities of Sophie Nélisse looks better suited to selling the house, and Mr Wheeler has run off with cosmetics than anti-Nazi propaganda. And for another woman. Then a killer forces his way a film about storytelling, the film is surprising- into their home! Reitman appreciates the ly weak on narrative traction. power of detail and he draws the viewer into his sun-dappled, off-kilter scenario with cinematic finesse. The humour is there, but it’s Non-Stop CERT tbc the humour that arises out of life, not a fabri- Starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, cated line of dialogue. The production values Michelle Dockery, Nate Parker, Linus Roache, are ace and the central performances of Lupita Nyong'o Winslet and Josh Brolin are pitch perfect: Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (USA/France) Winslet at once confused, fragile and protec- Liam Neeson is back in action, this time as an tive of her son; Brolin strong, warm and vigi- air marshal who’s sent a text announcing that a lant. If the film never entirely sheds its novel- passenger will die every twenty minutes unless istic genesis, it is nonetheless an engrossing, $150million is transferred to gripping and moving tale. a secret bank account. At the very least, it’ll be good Nymphomaniac CERT tbc to see Dockery (Downton Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Abbey) and Oscar nominee Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave) Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman in new roles. Directed by Lars von Trier (Denmark/Germany/France/Belgium) Charlotte Gainsbourg is one of the few actress- Welcome To Yesterday CERT tbc es willing to work with Lars von Trier on a Starring Jonny Weston, Sofia Black D'Elia, repeat basis. And, boy, does he put her Amy Landecker through the wringer. In Nymphomaniac, Directed by Dean Israelite (USA) released in two parts - or ‘volumes’, she plays A group of teenagers stumble across plans to the eponymous woman who relays the details build a time machine and manage to construct of her erotic life to a complete stranger one themselves. Shot in the ‘found footage’ for- (Skarsgård). Expect scenes of hardcore sex. mat.

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Burton And Taylor 15 his doubts about his theo- Fill The Void U psychological thriller A-Z LISTINGS After divorcing in 1982, ry’s effect on society, and Set in the highly orthodox returns to the big screen. Film Richard and Elizabeth had tensions with his devoutly world of the Haredi Deborah Kerr stars as a one final reunion on the Christian wife, Emma. Jewish. Shira is an eight- governess who becomes All films are currently on general release stage when they spent Showing at The Hive, een-year-old girl looking convinced that the chil- unless otherwise stated. For full listing seven months touring with Shrewsbury, Sat 22 Feb forward to marriage when, dren in her care are pos- Noel Coward’s Private out of the blue, her older sessed. Showing at information, including times and dates, Day Of The Flowers 15 Lives in 1983. Public spec- sister dies. So, in keeping Warwick Arts Centre, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk When chalk-and-cheese ulation grew about a with tradition, she is Coventry, Weds 12 - Thurs Scottish sisters Rosa and reunion, but in private, old forced to marry her late 13 Feb Film Theatre, Stoke On Ailie head for Cuba with 12 Years A Slave 15 frictions played out. sister’s husband… Trent, Fri 21 - Sat 22 Feb their recently deceased Inside Llewyn Davis 15 Based on the autobiogra- Helena Bonham Carter Showing at Stoke Film father’s ashes, they sud- Set in Greenwich Village, phy of Soloman Northup, August: Osage County and Dominic West star. Theatre, Stoke On Trent, who was kidnapped and denly find themselves New York in 1961, and 15 Showing at Forest Arts Tues 25 Feb sold into slavery in 1841. embroiled in an eye-open- loosely based on the Adapted from the 2007 Centre, Walsall, Thurs 27 Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and ing adventure...Showing at Frozen PG memoir of folk singer play by Tracy Letts, this is Feb Michael Fassbender. Malvern Theatres, Thurs 6 This animated Disney fea- Dave Van Ronk. Stars a black comedy set in an Showing at The Electric Calamity Jane 12a Feb; Number 8 ture is loosely based on Oscar Isaac and directed Oklahoma household Cinema, Birmingham, Fri The Deadwood Stage is Community Arts Centre, Hans Christian by the Coen brothers. where a crisis reunites the 31 Jan - Thurs 6 Feb; The comin' to town, bringing Pershore, Mon 24 - Tues Andersen’s The Snow Showing at Old Market women in the family. Light House Media Doris Day and Howard 25 Feb Queen, in which the king- Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 14 - Meryl Streep and Julia Centre, Wolverhampton, Keel to fuss, feud and fall dom of Arendelle is Thurs 20 Feb; Warwick Roberts star. Showing at Dirty Dancing 12a Fri 31 - Thurs 6 Feb; in love as Calamity Jane turned into an eternal win- Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri Old Market Hall, ‘Baby’ Houseman is infat- Warwick Arts Centre, Fri and Wild Bill Hickok. ter by the Princess Elsa. 14 - Thurs 20 Feb Shrewsbury, Fri 7 - Thurs uated with her dance 31 Jan - Fri 7 Feb, Sun 9 - Showing at Crescent With the voice of Kristen 13 Feb; Warwick Arts teacher Johnny Castle. Jeune & Joile 18 Tues 11 & 13 Feb; Old Theatre, Birmingham, Bell. Showing at The Centre, Coventry, Fri 14 - But nothing is straight for- That’s ‘Young & Beautiful’ Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Thurs 27 Feb Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 14 Thurs 20 Feb ward in their relationship, in English. Francois Fr1 21 - Thurs 27 Feb - Weds 19 Feb; Old as their different back- Ozon’s drama focuses on Captain Phillips 12a Market Hall, Shrewsbury, grounds make their inter- a year in the life of a sev- Age Of Uprising: The Tom Hanks plays the Sat 15 - Sat 22 Feb; Wem action a struggle. Patrick enteen-year-old French Legend Of Michael eponymous captain, who Town Hall, North Swayze stars. Showing at prostitute. Marine Vacth Kholhass 15 was abducted by Somali Shropshire, Mon 17 - The Courtyard, Hereford, and Charlotte Rampling In the 16th century in the pirates in 2009. Showing Weds 19 Feb; Roses Fri 14 Feb star. Showing at Ludlow Cévennes, a horse at Stourbridge Town Hall, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon dealer by the name of Mon 10 Feb Assembly Rooms, South WATCH Don Jon 18 17 - Thurs 20 Feb; Ludlow Michael Kohlhaas Shropshire, Weds 5 - Jon is a man who has a Assembly Rooms, South leads a happy family Casablanca U Thurs 6 Feb knack for pulling beautiful Shropshire, Weds 19, Fri life. When a lord THE FILM Set in Africa in the and accessible babes. But 21 - Sat 22 Feb Kill Your Darlings 15 treats him unjustly, early days of World he’s never happier than at Daniel Radcliffe plays he raises an army War Two, an The Harry Hill Movie PG home watching pornogra- Allen Ginsberg in a true and puts the country TRAILERS AT American expatriot An all-new comedy in phy. And then he meets crime story that implicates to fire and sword in meets a former lover - which Hill, as Harry Hill, whatsonlive.co.uk two very different him, Jack Kerouac and order to have his rights with unforseen compli- goes on a road trip with women… Joseph William S Burroughs in a restored. Mads Mikkelsen cations. Humphrey Bogart his nan (Julie Walters) to Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett murder. Also stars Dane stars. Showing at Stoke and Ingrid Bergman star. Blackpool. Showing at Johansson star. Showing DeHaan. Showing at The Film Theatre, Stoke On Showing at The Edge Arts The Courtyard, Hereford, at The Courtyard, Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 7 - Trent, Thurs 27 Feb Centre, Much Wenlock, Fri 7 - Tues 13 Feb; Hereford, Fri 14 Feb Thurs 13 Feb; Stoke Film Shropshire Mon 10 Feb Number 8 Community Arts All Is Lost 12a Theatre, Stoke On Trent, Banff Mountain Film The Epic Of Everest U Centre, Pershore, Mon 17 A story of survival, when The Company Of Tues 11 & Thurs 13 Feb; Festival - World Tour This remarkable film is re- - Tues 18 Feb the craft of a lone sailor Wolves 18 Ludlow Assembly Rooms, tbc released to celebrate the takes on water after a col- Young Rosaleen’s grand- The Hobbit: The South Shropshire, Mon 10 From the world’s most 60th anniversary of the lision with a shipping con- mother weaves vivid tales Desolation Of Smaug - Tues 11 Feb prestigious mountain film final conquest of Everest. tainer. Robert Redford of folklore and fantasy with 12a festival comes an evening This is the official record of Le Belle Et La Bête PG stars. Showing at Artrix, warnings of fantastic Bilbo and the dwarfs hike of short films. Follow the the legendary Everest Jean Cocteau's adapta- Bromsgrove, Tues 4 - beasts that lurk within men their way to Erebor, where expeditions of some of expedition of 1924 that tion of Beauty And The Weds 5 Feb; Stoke Film and foretellings of the fate they encounter the drag- today’s adventurers, see sparked an on-going Beast. When a merchant Theatre, Stoke On Trent, of all young girls who stray on Smaug and his treas- footage of adrenaline- debate over whether is told that he must die for Thurs 6 & Sat 8 Feb; from the path... Showing at ure. Ian McKellen and packed action sports and Mallory and Irvine did picking a rose from the Number 8 Community Arts The Courtyard, Hereford, Martin Freeman star. thought-provoking pieces indeed reach the summit. Beast's garden, his coura- Centre, Pershore, Sat 8 & Tues 11 Feb Showing at The Courtyard, shot from the far-flung cor- Showing at Ludlow geous daughter offers to Mon 10 Feb; Roses Hereford, Sat 1 - Weds 5 ners of the globe. The Crash Reel 12a Assembly Rooms, South go back to the Beast in Theatre, Tewkesbury, Feb; Attfield Theatre, Showing at Malvern A documentary telling the Shropshire, Fri 28 Feb her father's place. Weds 12 - Thurs 13 Feb Oswestry, Sat 1, Weds 5, Theatres, Fri 28 Feb story of one unforgettable Showing at Number 8 Fanny PG Sat 8 and Weds 12 Feb; American Hustle 15 athlete, Kevin Pearce; one Community Arts Centre, Big Bad Wolves 18 The second part of Daniel Wem Town Hall, North Christian Bale plays Irving eye-popping sport, snow- Pershore, Thurs 13 Feb; When a suspected child Auteuil’s Marseilles Trilogy Shropshire, Fri 14, Mon 17 Rosenfeld, a 1970s con- boarding; and one explo- Stoke Film Theatre, Stoke murderer is released from revival begins where the -Tues 18 Feb; Roses man coerced into helping sive issue, Traumatic Brain On Trent, Thurs 20 Feb custody following a police last story (Marius) ended, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun the FBI ensnare a cadre Injury. Showing at The blunder, the disgraced concentrating on its titular 16 - Thurs 20 Feb; Ludlow Leviathan 12a of corrupt politicians. Courtyard, Hereford, Sat 1 detective in charge of the heroine’s efforts to survive Assembly Rooms, South A documentary looking Based on real events. - Weds 5 Feb case decides to take mat- back home while her lover Shropshire, Mon 17 - into the dangerous world Showing at The Light ters into his own hands. Creation 12a sails the seven seas. Thurs 20 & Sat 22 Feb of commercial fishing off House Media Centre, Guy Adler and Lior The story of how Charles Showing at Number 8 the New England coast. Wolverhampton, Fri 31 Jan The Innocents 12a Ashkenazi star. Showing Darwin battled to publish Community Arts Centre, Showing at Attfield - Thurs 6 Feb; Warwick Based on the novella The at The Electric Cinema, Origin Of The Species Pershore, Thurs 6 & Weds Theatre, Oswestry, Sat 15 Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri Turn Of The Screw, by Birmingham, Sun 2 & while struggling with per- 12 Feb; Roses Theatre, Feb 21 - Weds 26 Feb; Stoke Henry James, this 1961 Weds 5 Feb sonal and family illness, Tewkesbury, Mon 10 Feb

WALSALL 01922 645 555 ODEON TELFORD ODEON TAMWORTH Worcestershire 0871 224 4007 0871 224 4007 CINEMA Box Office ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE Shropshire OMH SHREWSBURY 01527 577330 01743 281281 Warwickshire Birmingham SHOWCASE 0871 220 1000 CINEWORLD, SHREWSBURY MALVERN THEATRE VUE CINEMA Star City 08712 0871 200 2000 WEM TOWN HALL ODEON COVENTRY 0845 287 2146 CINEWORLD Broad St, B’ham 01939 232299 0871 224 4007 240 240 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, THE NORBURY THEATRE, 0871 200 2000 MUCH WENLOCK Staffordshire ODEON NUNEATON DROITWICH SPA CINEWORLD Solihull Black Country 01952 728 911 0871 224 4007 08444 777 1000 0871 200 2000 CINEWORLD W’HAMPTON CINEWORLD, BURTON-UPON- SHOWCASE, COVENTRY FESTIVAL DRAYTON CENTRE, TRENT 0871 200 2000 WAREHOUSE, ELECTRIC, B’ham 0871 200 2000 MARKET DRAYTON 0871 220 1000 KIDDERMINSTER THE STAFFORD CINEMA, 0121 643 7879 LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CEN- 01630 654 444 VUE, LEAMINGTON SPA 01562 747773 STAFFORD EMPIRE 0871 471 4714 TRE, W’HAMPTON 01902 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 08712 240 240 VUE, WORCESTER 0207 438 9580 MILLENNIUM POINT 716055 01743 234 970 PICTURE HOUSE, 0871 224 0240 0121 202 2222 ODEON MERRY HILL, LUDLOW ASSEMBLEY FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON THE ROSE’S THEATRE, DUDLEY 0871 22 44007 LEEK 01538 386 112 MAC 0121 446 3232 ROOMS 0871 902 5741 TEWKESBURY STOKE FILM THEATRE, 01782 ODEON 0871 224 4007 SHOWCASE, DUDLEY 01584 878 141 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 01684 295 074 0871 220 1000 411188 COVENTRY 02476 524524 REEL Quinton 0121 421 5316 MAJESTIC, BRIDGNORTH FOREST ARTS CENTRE, 01746 761815

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Le Weekend12a Shropshire, Weds 26 Feb child, her family force her Pirate Roberts, who just Sunshine On LeithPG up against some seem- A couple take a trip to to live in a convent and might be Westley, her one A musical following the ingly insurmountable bar- Marius12a Paris to rejuvenate their spend her life as a nun. true love. Peter Falk and story of two soldiers from riers.Showing at The Marius works in his marriage. While there, Pauline Etienne and Cary Elwes star.Showing Afghanistan who have to Edge Arts Centre, Much father’s seaside bar and they bump into an old Isabelle Huppert star. at Warwick Arts Centre, adjust to civilian life in Wenlock would join a ship’s crew friend who acts as a cata- Showing at Warwick Arts Coventry, Sat 1 Feb Edinburgh.Showing at to see the world if it Walking With lyst for things to come. Centre, Mon 3 - Tues 4 The Courtyard, Hereford, weren’t for his childhood The Railway Man15 DinosaursU Jim Broadbent and Feb Sat 1 - Weds 5 Feb; The love, who has an offer of Based on the autobiogra- State-of-the-art computer Lindsay Duncan star. Edge Arts Centre, Much marriage from someone Nebraska15 phy of Eric Lomax who, animation and real-life Showing at Malvern Wenlock, Mon 17 Feb else. Daniel Auteuil and A dipsomaniac travels as a POW for the backgrounds are used to Theatres, Tues 4 Feb; Raphaël Personnaz star. from Montana to Japanese, helped build tell the story of three Stourbridge Town Hall, Summer In February15 Showing at Roses Nebraska with his son to the Thai-Burma Railway. dinosaurs from infancy to Mon 17 Feb in this adaptation of Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon supposedly claim some Colin Firth and Nicole Jonathan Swift’s novel, adulthood.Showing at Love (Amour)12a 3 Feb prize money. Bruce Dern Kidman star.Showing at the artist Alfred Munnings The Courtyard, Hereford, Love is the story of and Will Forte star. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 4 and his friend Gilbert Fri 14 - Weds 19 Feb; ; Moonrise Kingdom12a Georges and Anne, a Showing at Artrix, - Weds 5 Feb; Warwick Evans obsess about the Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon The story of two twelve- couple in their eighties Bromsgrove, Sun 2 - Mon Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 1 same woman. Set in the 17 - Thurs 20 Feb year-olds who fall in love, whose life is thrown into 3 Feb; Roses Theatre, 7 - Thurs 13 Feb; Roses Cornish artist community make a secret pact, and What Maisie Knew15 turmoil when Anne suffers Tewkesbury, Fri 7 - Sun 9 Theatre, Tewkesbury, known as the Lamorna run away together into the Seven-year-old Maisie a stroke. Jean-Louis Feb; Ludlow Assembly Weds 19 - Thurs 27; The Group. Dominic Cooper wilderness. As various finds herself used as a Trintignant and Rooms, South Shropshire, Courtyard, Hereford, Sun and Emily Browning star. authorities try to hunt bargaining tool as her par- Emmanuelle Riva star. Fri 14, Sun 16 - Mon 17 23 - Weds 26 Feb; Ludlow Showing at Forest Arts them down, a violent ents part and try to start Showing at The Hive, Feb Assembly Rooms, South Centre, Walsall, Fri 14 Feb; storm is brewing off-shore new lives with new lovers. Shrewsbury, Fri 7 Feb Shropshire, Sun 23 - Norbury Theatre, - and the peaceful island The Patience Stone15 Julianne Moore and Weds 26 Feb Droitwich Spa, Weds 19 community is turned Somewhere in an Alexander Skarsgård star. Mandela: Long Walk To Feb Freedom12a upside-down. Bruce Willis unnamed Middle Eastern Saving Mr BanksPG Showing at The Edge Arts The first film to be based and Edward Norton star. country, a loyal, thirty- A biography of PL VertigoPG Centre, Much Wenlock, on the late Nelson Showing at The Hive, something wife faithfully Travers, author of Mary A retired San Francisco Mon 3 Feb Shrewsbury, Fri 21 Feb sits watch over her vege- Poppins, showing her Mandela’s autobiography. detective suffering from The Wolf Of Wall Street Idris Elba stars.Showing tative husband, who’s all early life in Australia and acrophobia investigates Moshi Monsters The 18 at the Old Market Hall, but been forgotten by his her dealings with Walt the strange activities of an Movie U Over its three-hour running Shrewsbury, Fri 31 Jan - fellow Jihadists. Over Disney. Tom Hanks and old friend's wife, all the Together the Moshi time, there’s so much bad Thurs 6 Feb; Number 8 time, she gathers the Emma Thompson star. while becoming danger- Monsters must stop evil behaviour, so much profan- Community Arts Centre, courage to tell him all of Showing at Warwick Arts ously obsessed with her. Dr. Strangeglove and his ity, so much cocaine and Pershore, Sat 1, Mon 3 - the things she remained Centre, Coventry, Fri 31 James Stewart and Kim incompetent hookers and parties that it’s Tues 4 & Fri 7 Feb; silent about during their Jan - Sun 2 Feb; Ludlow Novak star.Showing at Glumpsidekick Fishlips. like The Hangover that Festival Drayton Centre, ten years of marriage. Assembly Rooms, South Stoke Film Theatre, Stoke Showing at The Courtyard, swallowed Wall Street. Market Drayton, Fri 7 - Sat Showing at Warwick Arts Shropshire, Fri 31 Jan - On Trent, Mon 17 Feb Hereford, Fri 15 - Weds 19 Leonardo DiCaprio stars. 8 and Tues 11 Feb; The Centre, Coventry, Weds 5 Weds 5 Feb; Roses Feb Showing at Malvern Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 7 - Feb; Stoke Film Theatre, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 1 WadjdaU Theatres, until Thurs 6 Thurs 13 Feb; Stoke Film Stoke On Trent, Fri 7 Feb - Sun 9 Feb; Wem Town Wadjda is a ten- year-old The Nun12a Feb; Stoke Film Theatre, Theatre, Stoke On Trent, hall, North Shropshire, girl who dreams of buying The film charts the rebel- The Princess BridePG Stoke On Trent, Fri 28 Feb Sat 15 & Tues 18 Feb; Tues 4 & Thurs 6 Feb; a bicycle. But bike-riding lion and tragic fate of When the lovely Buttercup Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 22 Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 16 is prohibited for women, young aristocrat Suzanne is kidnapped by a gang of - Mon 24th Feb; Wem - Weds 23 Feb and Wadjda finds herself Simonin. After discovering misfits, they find they’re Town Hall, North that she’s an illegitimate pursued by the Dread For full listings visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

DVD NEW RELEASES Austenland 12a How I Live Now 15 An adaptation of the 2007 An American teenager bestseller by Shannon comes to England and Hale. Keri Russell plays stays with cousins in the Jane Hayes, who travels to countryside. But her an English Jane Austen bucolic idyll is confound- theme park to find her own ed by the outbreak of Mr Darcy. Produced by World War Three. Stars Stephenie Meyer, who Saoirse Ronan. penned the Twilight saga. Released 10 February Released 3 February Enough Said 15 Romance can be complicated. Actually, it’s always complicated in the movies. Here, a divorced woman finds out that the man she’s pursuing is, in fact, the ex-husband of her new girlfriend. Tricky. Stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. Released 10 February Captain Phillips 12a Tom Hanks plays the eponymous captain, who About Time 12a when her marriage to a rich Ain’t Them Bodies Turbo U was abducted by Somali Tim discovers that he can businessman self-destructs. Saints 15 In this computer-animated pirates in 2009. Based on time-travel and change Cate Blanchett, Alex Set against the backdrop of ‘toon, Theo is a snail who the book by Captain what’s happened in his Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay 1970s Texas Hill Country, dreams of being the Phillips himself, in collabo- life, but he erases the and Sally Hawkins star. the poetically titled Ain’t fastest snail in the world. ration with Stephan Talty. timeline in which he falls Directed by Woody Allen. Them Bodies Saints has And he wants to join the Released 10 February in love with his girlfriend. Released 17 February been commended for its Indy 500. With the voice of Stars Domhnall Gleeson, cinematography. Casey Ryan Reynolds. Rachel McAdams. Affleck plays an outlaw who Released 17 February Released 3 February escapes from prison, hav- Filth 18 ing served four years for a The novelist Irvine Welsh’s murder committed by his 1998 novel Filth is given the Blue Jasmine 12a wife. He now sets out cinematic treatment, with Jasmine is usually white or across them thar hills to be James McAvoy as a bigot- yellow, but the New York reunited with his missus ed, corrupt cop who socialite Jasmine Francis and the daughter he has attempts to manipulate his has got a major case of the yet to meet. way into a promotion. blues. She’s forced to Released 17 February Released 10 February move in with her sister

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Visual Arts February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:21 Page 1

Imagesof thepaintingsareontheArtifexwebsiteandcanbepurchasedpriortotheopeningof theexhibition. Basia Roszak ArtifexGallery’sfirstsoloexhibitionof BasiaRoszak’s excitingboldandcolourfuloilpaintings. Thisisarareopportunitytoviewandbuyherwork outsideof ScotlandandLondon. The exhibition runs daily 10am – 5pm throughout February.

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50 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:21 Page 2 Visual Arts

Jamal Penjweny: Saddam Is Here Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Wed 19 February - Mon 21 April Comprising twelve images of Iraqi people holding a lifesize picture of Saddam Hussain in front of their own, Jamal Penjweny’s Saddam Is Here rein- forces the belief that the late dictator’s ‘shadow is still following Iraqi society everywhere’. This latest work from Penjweny, who started his artistic career as a sculptor and painter before moving into photography, became the subject of international attention when it was included in Welcome To Iraq, in the Iraqi pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, curated by Ikon Director Jonathan Watkins. This Birmingham presentation is Penjweny’s first solo exhibition.

New Art West Midlands Grand Union, Birmingham, Fri 14 February - 15 March; The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 14 February - 27 April; Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Fri 14 February - 10 May; Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 14 February - 18 May A major Turning Point West Midlands initiative, New Art West Midlands provides a showcase for the work of twenty-four artists, all of whom have graduated from one of the region’s undergraduate or post-graduate fine art degree courses within the past three years. Demonstrating the depth of the region’s artistic talent across a variety of media, works by past students at Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Staffordshire University and the University of Wolverhampton this month go on show at four of the Walls With Wounds region’s most prestigious galleries. Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, New Art West Midlands also provides five artist prize-winners with an opportunity to Sat 15 February - Sun 18 May undertake exhibitions, residencies or projects at other regional galleries and venues, Documenting Dale N Marshall’s journey from including New Art Gallery Walsall, mac Birmingham, the Library of Birmingham, Airspace rebellion to rehabilitation, Walls With Wounds con- Gallery in Stoke and A3 Project Space in Digbeth. sists of vibrant abstract and layered multimedia works which reference the artist’s life. The first reference is his time spent sectioned in Cornwall’s St Lawrence’s Hospital, one of Britain’s oldest asylums. The second is his experience as a graffiti artist, when he demonstrated his artistic ability for the first ever time by spray-painting the walls of Bristol. As well as these two experiences, Marshall also draws inspiration from his studio - a former Victorian workhouse in North Wales, the inscribed and decaying walls of which bear testament to the children who inhabited the building over one hundred years ago. Described as both ‘raw’ and ‘emotive’, Marshall’s works have been praised for the way in which they demonstrate that ‘hope and redemption are possible, whatever darkness may lie beneath our scars’.

Grayson Perry: The Vanity Of Small Differences Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 14 February - Sun 11 May Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry here takes his inspiration not only from his own 2012 television documentary series All In The Best Possible Taste, but also from William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress - a series of canvases depicting eighteenth century society which the artist produced in the early 1730s. Charting the story of class mobility and examining the influence of social class on aes- thetic taste, the exhibition comprises many of the characters, incidents and objects that Perry encountered while making his BAFTA award-winning documentary series. Using these characters to weave a narrative, the artist has produced a social commentary which focuses on the minutiae of contemporary taste, in so doing paying due homage to Hogarth’s collection of eighteenth century paintings. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 51 Visual Arts February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:21 Page 3

Sun 2 Mar, PACCAR cultural influences pres- PREVIEWS LISTINGS Room, Royal ent within the British VisualArts VisualArts Shakespeare Theatre, craft scene, until Sat 5 Stratford-upon-Avon Apr, RBSA, Birmingham For full listing information on Visual Art UNCOMMON GROUND CHRIS CLINTON, DEAD Ongoing exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, Regarded as the most MEDIA Birmingham- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk comprehensive exhibi- based artist Chris tion of British Land Art Clinton uses familiar Ruby’s Room ARTIST ROOMS: JOSEPH photography and text to date, until Sat 8 Mar, objects and reclaimed The Mead Gallery, The Barber institute, Birmingham, BEUYS Exhibition from pieces made during vis- materials to create art- Warwick Arts Centre, Fri 21 February - Mon 26 May one of the most influen- its to England, France, works which refer to tial artists of the late- Germany and the Coventry contemporary popular An unusual genre of portraiture fashionable twentieth century - the Netherlands in the early SHENAC ROGERSON culture and our disre- two hundred years ago provides the inspira- political activist and 1970s, until Sun 9 Feb, ARBSA Linoprints featur- gard for out-of-date tion for this exhibition of photographic minia- philosopher Joseph Ikon Gallery, ing blocks of colour and media, until Sun 6 Apr, Beuys, until Sat 1 Feb, Birmingham line that create clean The New Art Gallery, tures by contemporary photographer Bettina Walsall von Zwehl. Paintings of single eyes of family Worcester City Museum WINTER SHOWCASE Work and spacious composi- & Art Gallery tions with dynamic STUDIO PRINTS members were particularly popular in the from artist/makers who STINKING KISSINGER A use natural materials - statements of colour, Exhibition featuring the early nineteenth century, and Bettina has project about the artist including bone, wool until Sat 8 Mar, RBSA, work of artists and print- captured eye portraits of her husband and Eileen Bunn’s sister, and unrefined clays - as Birmingham makers Dorothea Wight her daughter Ruby. These have subsequently Pauline, and her rela- their medium, until Sat THE CONTEMPORARY and Marc Balakjian, been mounted in jewellery by designer tionship with epilepsy, 15 Feb, Bilston Craft PORTRAIT: SELF AND OTH- until Tues 15 Apr, New Art Gallery, Walsall Laurie Lee. Previously seen at Bath’s until Sat 1 Feb, Bilston Gallery ERS Exhibition which Craft Gallery explores the different DAVID TREMLETT EXHIBI- Holbourne Museum, Ruby’s Room also fea- DEAN KELLAND: NO HID- artistic ways in which TION Large-scale, site- tures photographic eye portraits of children BASTION: AN INSTALLA- ING PLACE Fusion of per- TION OF FILM AND MIXED formance, filmmaking, the human form is specific wall drawings from Ruby’s primary school, and portraits of MEDIA A spectacle collage and print, depicted, until Sun 9 of geometric arrange- Bettina, Ruby and which explores and exploring cultural identi- Mar, Shire Hall Gallery, ments, abstract compo- young girls and explodes the stereotype ties and stereotypical Stafford sitions of arcs, circles, of the harmless jester, representations of mas- STAFFORDSHIRE LAND- trapezoids and line, women, all of until Mon 21 April, Ikon which have been until Sat 1 Feb, culinity, until Sat 15 SCAPE Exhibition by Wolverhampton Art Feb, Wolverhampton Art Lisa Henderson which Gallery, Birmingham inspired by minia- Gallery Gallery explores the landforms EXPOSED: THE BODY IN tures within a col- START Annual event FROM DARKROOM TO DIG- of the County of ART FORM FROM DURER lection at which provides an ITAL Exhibition which Staffordshire through TO FREUD Exhibition London’s V&A opportunity for art traces the rich and influ- rich colours, textures which explores artistic Museum. enthusiasts to purchase ential history of photog- and patterns, until Sun responses to the original artworks, until raphy in W’hampton, 9 Mar, Shire Hall human body, with Sat 1 Feb, RBSA, from the mid-19th cen- Gallery, Stafford works by Albrecht Birmingham tury to the present day, GEORGE GROSZ: THE BIG Dürer, Dante Gabriel until Sat 15 Feb, NO Exhibition of works Rossetti, Barbara Moore Rodin AND WHEN YOU FINALLY Hepworth, Helen DISAPPEAR/WE’LL JUST Wolverhampton Art produced by one of the Compton Verney Gallery, Warwickshire, Gallery 'greatest satirical artists Chadwick, Francis SAY YOU WERE NEVER Bacon, Gillian Wearing Sat 15 February - Sun 31 August HERE Cult artists, writers WHO AM I? ‘Fresh and of the twentieth century', until Sun 16 Mar, and Lucian Freud all Works from two major players in the world of and twins Ayo & Oni thought-provoking’ exhi- featured, until Mon 21 Oshodi here continue bition born from an ini- The New Art Gallery, modern sculpture feature in this exhibition, Walsall Apr, Herbert Gallery & which celebrates Compton Verney’s tenth their relationship with tiative to help disadvan- Museum, Coventry mac Birmingham via a taged 16-to-19-year- PETER WAREING A col- anniversary. While pieces by Henry Moore series of interventions olds understand their lection of new ceramics DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL and Auguste Rodin stand proud in the which extend across identity as British citi- with imagery influenced Large-scale prints and Capability Brown-landscaped gardens, draw- the building and into zens, until Sun 16 Feb, by natural forms found reproductions of engravings which ings by both artists - and a set of photo- Cannon Hill Park, until Library of Birmingham in South West Scotland, Sun 2 Feb, mac - until Sat 22 Mar, RBSA, champion the skill and graphs taken by Moore of his cast of Rodin’s THE HALF Touring exhibi- craftsmanship of the Midlands Arts Centre, tion featuring ninety- Birmingham Walking Man - are on show in the venue’s Birmingham Victorian trade cata- four prints of actors THE BETTER PLACE TO logue engraver, until galleries. Loans from Musee Rodin in Paris, 12TH COVENTRY ARTS preparing for the stage, SHOP: THE STORY OF the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire, Wed 30 Apr, Enginuity, CONSORTIUM EXHIBITION until Wed 19 Feb, The BEATTIES Featuring cata- Ironbridge, Shropshire and public collections from throughout the Showcase of work by Swan Theatre, logued material relating UK all feature. local artists from Stratford-upon-Avon to Wolverhampton’s ALL IN A DAY’S WORK Insight into some of the Coventry’s four main art TRADE SHOW Ambitious famous department societies, until Sun 2 store, until Sat 29 Mar, large manufacturing cross-sectoral project to companies which once Feb, Herbert Art Gallery explore, commission Wolverhampton City & Museum, Coventry Archives made their home in the Basia Roszak Exhibition and implement trading Black Country, until Artifex Gallery, Sutton Coldfield, MAKING MOVES: CREAT- structures used by PHOTOREALISM: 50 Mon 5 May, Bantock Sat 1 - Fri 28 February ING FUTURES FOR CRAFT artists within everyday- YEARS OF HYPERREALIS- House & Park, Exhibition of contempo- life situations. Curated TIC PAINTING The first Wolverhampton Having contributed to collections exhibited in rary craft which show- by Kathrin Böhm & large-scale retrospec- locations as far-flung as Canada, Saudi cases the results of nine Gavin Wade, until Sat tive of its kind in CHROMA COLLECTIVE Arabia, France and Australia, Polish-born maker's residencies 22 Feb, Eastside Europe, until Sun 30 Exhibition featuring works from four con- artist Basia Roszak fuses traditional and new across the West Projects, Birmingham Mar, Birmingham Midlands, until Sun 2 Museum & Art Gallery temporary jewellers with media to create works which reflect ‘the ordi- DOROTHEA WIGHT & a shared goal of raising Feb, mac - Midlands MARC BALAKJIAN CHIHARU SHIOTA: DIA- nary imagery of life in an extraordinary way’. Arts Centre, awareness of the craft Exhibition celebrating LOGUES Two new site- within Birmingham’s Forging a growing reputation for her compo- Birmingham the duo’s contribution specific installations sition and characteristic use of strong colour, Jewellery Quarter, until SOLUTIONS IN ART to British printmaking, and a selection of draw- Sun 4 May, Museum of Roszak presents figurative art that captures Showcase displaying a until Sun 2 March, The ings and films which the Jewellery Quarter, her subjects as diverse range of style & New Art Gallery, Walsall aim to embrace the Birmingham they go about content, until Mon 3 viewer and challenge Feb, Roses Theatre, ARTIST ROOMS: RICHARD their perspective of the FAMILY CIRCLES their everyday Tewkesbury LONG Sculptures, maps immediate environment, Featuring contributions business. and text works inspired from some of the great- THE PIRACY PROJECT An until Sun 30 Mar, The This is the first by Long’s time spent New Art Gallery, Walsall est masters in miniature international publishing walking in the land- portraiture, until Mon 26 solo exhibition and exhibition project scape, until Sun 2 Mar, NIKHIL CHOPRA: SPACE May, The Barber of the artist’s exploring the philo- Potteries Museum & Art ODDITY Personal histo- Institute, Birmingham sophical, legal and ries and India's colonial colourful oil Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent A BIG BANG: THE ORIGINS paintings, and practical implications of past are explored using book piracy and cre- SPRITE SYMPHONY performance, painting OF POP ART COLLECTION offers a rare ative modes of repro- Embark on a journey and photography, until The first in a two-part opportunity out- duction, until Sat 8 Feb, into a world of magical Sat 5 Apr, display exploring some side of Scotland Grand Union, fairies and sprites, as Wolverhampton Art of the biggest names in Birmingham you follow the trail to Gallery the Pop Art industry, and London to discover the installation until Sat 21 June, view and pur- TIM JOHNSON: THE LUMI- around the building and MELTING POT CRAFT Wolverhampton Art chase her work. NESCENT GROUND find enchanted fairies EXHIBITION Showcasing Gallery Basia Roszak’s The Broken Strap Featuring installation trapped in jam jars, until the diverse and eclectic

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craftsmen and women, Turner’s exploration, in Sat 1 Feb - Fri 1 Aug, sculpture & imagery, of Museums & Art Galleries VisualArts LISTINGS The Museum of Royal the Latin verb ‘devoid’, Worcester Sat 8 Feb - Sat 8 Mar, For full listing information on Visual Art Birmingham RED HOUSE GLASS CONE MELANIE EZRA EXHIBI- Bilston Craft Gallery 01384 812750 exhibitions, including times and dates, TION Mon 3 Feb - Mon SEEING AND MAPPING ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield 0121 323 3776 WOLVERHAMPTON ART visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 10 Mar, Gallery3, The OUR WORLD Exhibition GALLERY 01902 552055 Gateway, Shrewsbury of photographs of rare BARBER INSTITUTE 0121 414 7333 & antiquarian maps FOR THE RECORD Birmingham ARTISTS’ STUDIO: SARAH BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & Shropshire Exploring themes of TAYLOR SILVERWOOD from the Cathedral TRACED Permanent exhi- Library in the Dean’s ART GALLERY 0121 303 BEAR STEPS GALLERY, preservation and Exhibition from 2834 bition tracing the suc- Chapel, Mon 10 - Fri 28 SHREWSBURY recording in the work of cess of art & design in Birmingham-based THE BURROWS GALLERY, 01743 344994 female artists, until Sun artist Sarah Taylor Feb, Worcester Wolverhampton while Cathedral THE CUSTARD FACTORY TWENTY TWENTY GALLERY, 29 June, Birmingham bringing together works Silverwood, whose 0121 224 7344 Museum & Art Gallery practice is grounded in THE JEWELLERY QUARTER MUCH WENLOCK by local artists from the CASTLE GALLERIES 01952 727952 THE ROGER PILKINGTON museum’s collection, drawing, narrative and DURING THE FIRST 0121 633 0015 landscape, Tues 4 Feb - WORLD WAR Exhibition THE WILLOW GALLERY, GLASS COLLECTION until Wed 31 Dec, GRAND UNION Sun 20 July, New Art of artefacts, images and OSWESTRY Exhibition which shows Wolverhampton Art 0121 643 9079 Gallery, Walsall oral histories relating to 01691 657575 the development of Gallery IKON GALLERY English drinking glass- BIRMINGHAM TODAY the recruitment of sol- ROGER KEELING EXHIBI- diers from the Jewellery 0121 248 0708 Staffordshire es from the late-seven- TION Works in a variety COMPETITION A selected teenth to the late-nine- exhibition which cele- Quarter, Fri 14 Feb - NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & of media which capture 0121 643 9099 teenth century, until Sun brates the second city Sun 14 Dec, Museum of ART GALLERY 01782 232323 a variety of subject mat- the Jewellery Quarter, RBSA GALLERY 10 Aug, Broadfield ter, including land- in all its aspects, Thurs SHIRE HALL GALLERY House Glass Museum, 6 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Birmingham 0121 2364353 STAFFORD 01785 278345 scapes, figures and still THREE WHITE WALLS Dudley life, Sat 1 - Fri 28 Feb, RBSA, Birmingham EXPOSURE Photographic STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, GALLERY SHUGBOROUGH IN STITCHES: A CELEBRA- Granary Art Gallery, exhibition featuring PORTRAIT OF A POTTER- 0121 643 0078 01889 881388 TION OF RSC COSTUME Weston Park, IES POPSTAR A selection artists from across the until Mon 1 Sep, Royal Staffordshire of objects & memorabil- country, Mon 17 - Mon 24 Feb, Roses Theatre, Black Country Shakespeare Theatre, RAW CRAFT: FINE THINK- ia to celebrate the forti- Warwickshire Tewkesbury BANTOCK HOUSE Stratford-upon-Avon eth birthday of one of COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY ING IN CONTEMPORARY WOLVERHAMPTON the world’s most suc- IKON ICONS: JOHN SALT 01926 645500 BACK TO FRONT: 40 PER- FURNITURE Showcase of 01902 552195 MANENT COLLECTION imaginative contempo- cessful pop stars, The first artist ever to HERBERT ART GALLERY Robbie Williams, Sat 8 exhibit at Ikon, in 1965, BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY GEMS Exhibition which rary furniture by seven 01902 552507 COVENTRY 02476 832386 celebrates the fortieth designers that’s charac- Feb - Sun 6 Apr, The Wed 19 Feb - Mon 21 BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS MEAD GALLERY WARWICK anniversary of the terised by careful use of Potteries Museum, Apr, Ikon Gallery, 02476 524524 Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham MUSEUM, DUDLEY gallery’s Garman Ryan materials and a prob- 01384 812745 ROYAL PUMP ROOMS collection, until Sat 16 lem-solving approach to JUNCTION 5 Exhibition of MARGARET FAIRHEAD DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART 01926 742700 Nov 2014, New Art making, Sat 1 Feb - Sat contemporary art from RBSA A series of stiched GALLERY Gallery, Walsall 29 Mar, Bilston Craft five local artists with pieces inspired by 01384 815575 Worcestershire FAITH AND FORTUNE Gallery varying technique and observations of flowers LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE WORCESTER CITY ART Exhibition exploring the WE WORKED AT THE artistic approach, Sat 8 from her garden, Mon Feb - Sat 8 Mar, 24 Feb - Sat 5 Apr, WOLVERHAMPTON GALLERY 01905 25371 early histories of two of PORCELAIN 01902 716055 the world’s great reli- Photographic exhibition Wolverhampton Art RBSA Gallery, Gallery Birmingham THE NEW ART GALLERY Visit whatsonlive.co.uk gions, until Sun 30 Nov, focusing on some of WALSALL 01922 654400 for venue website details The Barber Institute, Royal Worcester’s many AT PASSION’S EDGE Sid

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For more visual arts listings, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk 53 Events February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:37 Page 1 Events February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:37 Page 2 Events

Chinese New Year Celebrations Southside (including Birmingham Hippodrome), Sun 2 February Birmingham’s Southside district once again plays host to the region’s forming its Stageside Bar & Restaurant into a 1920s-style Shanghai biggest Chinese New Year celebrations. Dragon dances, acrobatic tea house, where visitors can sample various types of Chinese tea, displays and martial art demonstrations are just a few of the attrac- observe performances of Chinese magic and have a go at creating tions on offer on the main stage, with traditional craft stalls and an souvenirs to take home. They can also participate in a chopstick abundance of delicious Chinese fare available along Hurst Street. masterclass, with those who display the most skill and speed then Festivities culminate in what promises to be a spectacular firework being invited to take part in a special ‘chopstick challenge’, courtesy display. Organised by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee of the Yum Tum Club. (BCFC), the 2014 event also sees Birmingham Hippodrome trans- Race Retro Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire Fri 21 - Sun 23 February This month sees Race Retro celebrate its tenth anniversary with an array of features that further endorse its standing as a great day out for motoring enthusiasts. Recognising fifty years of the iconic Maclaren, the event this year showcases some of the legendary cars involved in the manufacturer’s most high-profile victories, including the McLaren M23 F1 car driven by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974. Racing legend Sir Stirling Moss makes a welcome return to the show this year, with other highlights including Silverstone Auctions, live rally action, historic kart demonstrations, show halls and hundreds of trade stands.

Holiday Fun At Thomas Land Drayton Manor Park, Staffordshire, Sat 15 - Sun 23 February Europe’s only Thomas Land opens its gates for the half-term holiday this month, ahead of its main season opening in March. Promising a fun-packed day for young adventurers, the attraction is based on characters from the ever-popular Thomas & Friends series, and features a plethora of fun rides, including the Troublesome Trucks Coaster, Cranky the Crane Drop Tower, and the latest addition, Winston’s Whistle-stop Tour. Drayton Manor’s fifteen- acre zoo, complete with meerkats, black leopards and a baby Brazilian tapar - is also open for the holiday. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 55 Events February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:37 Page 3

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Events PREVIEWS Half Term Trail Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire Sat 15 - Sun 23 February Warwickshire’s Kenilworth Castle is regarded as one of England’s most romantic ruined castles and is a great place to enjoy a fairytale adventure. So what better way to explore the castle’s nine hundred years of history than via an organised trail around its ram- parts? Explore where kings and queens once dined - and learn how a gift of tennis balls in the Great Hall may have led to the battle of Agincourt...

Love Worcester Various venues throughout Worcestershire, Fri 14 - Sun 23 February Ten days of events and activities celebrating Worcester’s rich history, heritage and architec- ture take place across the city during this month’s half-term school holidays. Launching with a two-day Living History In Worcester event at The Commandery, Love Worcester aims to encourage more tourists and shoppers to visit the historic city. Included in a wide-ranging programme of events are cryptic puzzles for children at the Elgar Birthplace Trust, craft activities at Worcester Art Gallery & Museum, a Living History Fayre at Birmingham Botanical Worcester Cathedral, and a love-themed market along the High Street. Gardens For historians, the festival offers two themed tours - Secrets Of The Ale House Trail and Secrets Of The OId Town Trail. Facilitated by local historic interpreters Discover History, the Edgbaston, Birmingham, Sun 16 February trails finish at Worcester’s oldest pub, The Cardinal’s Hat. While various other horticultural venues are The event is brought to a close by Museums Worcester and Imagineer Productions’ keeping their doors firmly closed until the Magnificent Moths Parade, taking to the streets at midday on Sunday 23 February. arrival of spring, Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens is providing visitors with an opportunity to discover its seasonal delights free of charge. Providing plenty of inspiration for The Spring Caravan Auto Science Live green-fingered enthusiasts, the landscaped Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, And Camping Show Warwickshire, Sat 15 - Sun 23 February gardens feature an abundance of hellabores, NEC, Birmingham, Tues 18 - Sun 23 February snowdrops and cyclamen, as well as the spi- A regular on the venue’s calendar, Auto A regular on the NEC’s calendar, the Spring dery flowers of the hamamelis mollis - all of Science Live offers a range of ‘inspiring’ fam- Caravan And Camping Show is a perfect which bring a touch of colour to a rather ily-friendly activities for the first school holi- starting-point for planning your holiday. As drab time of year. days of 2014. A Mad Auto Science Show well as showcasing the latest models in cara- Other events at the venue this month include packed with interactive demonstrations and vaning, motorhomes, camping and acces- the annual Friends Book Sale (also on the hands-on activities kicks off the week’s pro- sories, the six-day event features a variety of 16th) and a Wedding Fair on the 23rd. ceedings. This is followed by Lego-themed free activities and attractions - including the activities on Tuesday and Wednesday, during rock-face challenge and cliff drop, dog agili- which visitors can try their hand at building ty, mountain bike track and challenge, camp- and testing their own machines. site cooking and motorhome manoeuvring Auto Crafty Thursday, meanwhile, offers chil- lessons. The show is always a draw for dren the chance to make their own crafty sci- celebrity guests, and 2014 is no exception. ence autos, while Mighty Fast Friday show- TV presenter, double world record-holder cases a fun-sized and all-round daredevil Helen Skelton is on Scalextric racetrack hand on the Thursday to answer questions on which to test lap about her extreme outdoor adventures, while times. actress, chef and author Lisa Faulkner prom- An interactive Auto ises to share recipes for delicious and easy- Science Trail runs to-prepare meals during Friday’s show. Other throughout the week celebrities taking part are Josh Sutton - the in support of each of author of Guyrope Gourmet - wild food the daily events. expert Mark Lloyd, TV explorer and zoologist Andy Torbet, and TV personality Julia The Singular Exploits Of Bradbury. Sherlock Holmes Sainsbury’s Indoor Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Grand Prix Thurs 27 February National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, This month making a welcome return to Sat 15 February Avoncroft, Jonathan Goodwin’s one-man Widely considered to be one of the world’s show explores the life and times of the great best indoor meets, this popular annual event Sherlock Holmes, along the way recounting sees some of the country’s biggest track- numerous highlights from the legendary and-field stars heading for Birmingham, with sleuth’s illustrious crimebusting career. An Double Olympic Champion Mo Farah a regu- ardent fan of Holmes from an early age, lar participant. At the time of going to print, Jonathan will be taking part in a question- athletes expected to be in attendance at this and-answer session at the end of the show. month’s meet were still to be announced...

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fect your pastry skills ICELAND, DEFROSTED THE ADVENTURES OF pany of popular and LISTINGS with sweet & savoury Author event with Ed ANDY KERSHAW Enjoy prolific TV and radio Events classics, Tues 4 - Wed Hancox, Fri 7 Feb an evening of chat and presenter, journalist, 5 Feb, Weston Park, (7pm), Bridgnorth reminiscence with columnist and author For full listing information on Events, Staffordshire Library, Shropshire national treasure, leg- Stuart Maconie as he including times and dates, visit BANFF FILM FESTIVAL WINTER GUIDED TOUR endary broadcaster talks about his new www.whatsonlive.co.uk Following sold-out Limited places. and foreign correspon- book and epic radio shows across the UK in Booking essential, Fri 7 dent Andy Kershaw. series, Thurs 13 Feb, 2012, the world's most Feb, Sarehole Mill, Sun 9 Feb, Kitchen Arena Theatre, Birmingham prestigious mountain Birmingham Wolverhampton from RUN WHAT YA BRUNG Garden Cafe, Kings film festival returns to ICELAND, DEFROSTED Heath, Birmingham SYMPHONY HALL TOUR The chance to take SAT 1 FEB the Midlands with a Author event with Ed CHINESE NEW YEAR OF Chance to explore one your car or motorcycle brand new selection of Hancox, Fri 7 Feb THE HORSE Celebrate of the finest concert out on the famous extraordinary short (2.30pm), Shrewsbury the Chinese New Year halls in the world, Thurs WILD WINTER SAFARI quarter-mile dragstrip films from the world's Library with traditional music, 13 Feb, Symphony until Sun 9 Feb, West and test its perform- leading adventure film- PIRATE WEEKEND dance and crafts, a lion Hall, Birmingham Midland Safari Park, ance limits in a safe makers, Wed 5 Feb, Featuring an abun- dancing display, a THE SPICER FAMILY: 3 Bewdley and legal environment, Theatre Severn, dance of themed activi- Cantonese opera, GENERATIONS OF TAXI- SPRITE SYMPHONY Sun 2 Feb, Santa Pod Shrewsbury ties, Fri 7 - Sat 8 Feb, origami and Chinese DERMIST See examples Embark on a journey Raceway, Northampton ARTFORUM GOLD Range Alton Towers, of Victorian & into a world of magical SHUGBOROUGH BRIDAL painting workshops, of art activities using Staffordshire Sun 9 Feb, The Edwardian natural his- fairies and sprites as FAYRE Demonstrations different materials and CANDLELIT TOUR Join Potteries Museum & Art tory, Thurs 13 Feb, you follow the trail to and entertainment to methods, using the the knowledgeable Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Warwickshire Museum discover the installation help you plan your ‘per- gallery as your inspira- guides as they take vis- VALENTINE SPECIAL VALENTINES GHOST TOUR around the building fect day’, Sun 2 Feb, tion, Wed 5 Feb, itors on a walk through Workshop where visi- Kenilworth is one of and find enchanted Shugborough Estate, Wolverhampton Art history, Fri 7 - Sat 8 tors can make a hand- England's most roman- fairies trapped in jam Staffordshire Gallery Feb, Birmingham Back tic ruined castles, but jars, until Sun 2 Mar, THE 15TH CLASSIC & made gift for that spe- THE SEA IN BIRMINGHAM to Backs not all lovers who lived Royal Shakespeare MODERN JAPANESE & cial someone, Sun 9 An anthology of stories MANSION WINTER TOURS there had a happy exis- Theatre, Stratford-upon- EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE Feb, Shire Hall Gallery, celebrating thirty years Discover the stories Stafford tence. Learn about their Avon SHOW Sun 2 Feb, of the influential Tindal which shaped the VOLUNTEER OPEN DAY lives and deaths on an BIG TIME AMERICAN Donington Park Street Fiction Group, Regency mansion, Fri 7 eerie evening tour WRESTLING All Star CHINESE NEW YEAR CEL- Drop in between 12 - Wed 5 Feb, Library of - Sat 23 Feb, Attingham 2pm and find out about around the castle and Superslam wrestling EBRATIONS Welcome the Birmingham Park, Shrewsbury volunteering at one of gatehouse, Fri 14 Feb, starts the new year with Year of the Horse with WHAT IS IT? Expert SCULPTING THE BODY the heritage sites, Sun Kenilworth Castle, an explosive evening of lion dancing, Chinese- advice on the identifica- Guided by artist Tanya 9 Feb, Soho House, Warwickshire top live action for all the themed activities & fire- tion and care of ceram- Kozin, participants can Birmingham SEX, DRUGS & POETRY - family to enjoy, Sat 1 works, Sun 2 Feb, ics, art and local and produce their own THE SCANDALOUS LOVES Feb, Victoria Hall, Arcadian Centre, natural history, Wed 5 small human figure OF THE PRE-RAPHAELITES Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Southside, Birmingham Week Commencing Feb, The Potteries sculpture in the first A tongue-in-cheek ARTY PARTY Fortnightly THE LAUGHTER CREWE A Museum & Art Gallery, workshop, then focus MON 10 FEB evening tour with a def- art club for 8-14-year- comedy and curry night Stoke-on-Trent on the detail of hand inite adult slant, Fri 14 olds, Sat 1 Feb, The Sun 2 Feb Crewe WINTER GUIDED TOUR sculpture in the second Feb, Wightwick Manor Potteries Museum & Art Lyceum Visit Aston during the workshop, Sat 8 Feb, PRECIOUS PAINTINGS: & Gardens, Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent MILITARIA Europe’s pre- close season for a tour Herbert Art Gallery & COUNTRY HOUSE CON- Wolverhampton LANDSCAPE - DEVELOP- mier indoor show, fea- & refreshments, Wed 5 Museum, Coventry SERVATION STUDY DAY GEORGIAN VALENTINES ING A PERSONAL turing a wide range of Feb, Aston Hall, YOUNG ARTISTS Tues 11 Feb, Weston SUPPER Fri 14 Feb, RESPONSE Lisa items from Britain, Birmingham Workshop offering par- Park, Staffordshire Warwick Castle Henderson talks about America, Germany & DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG ticipants a chance to LUNCHTIME TALKS: BIRM- MASQUERADE TO MUR- different approaches to Russia, Sun 2 Feb, Chance to practise learn new drawing, INGHAM & ITS PEOPLE DER: MURDER MYSTERY painting the landscape, Stoneleigh Park, drifting in safe and painting and sculpture Advance booking DINNER Pre-booking Sat 1 Feb, Shire Hall Warwickshire legal conditions on skills, Sat 8 Feb, advisable, Tues 11 Feb, essential! Fri 14 Feb, Gallery, Stafford WELLY WALKS Guided some of the Pod's thirty Wolverhampton Art Library of Birmingham Shugborough Estate, BOOK TRINKET BOX tour of the parkland as acres of open tarmac, Gallery TUESDAY TOUR: FEAST Staffordshire WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS it begins to reawaken where there are begin- PORTRAIT DRAWING AND FAMINE - THE LIFE VINTAGE TEA PARTY With Nick Wells, Sat 1 for spring, Sun 2 - Sun ners, intermediate and WITH DAVID GLEESON AND TIMES OF A Enjoy high tea in the Feb, Walsall Leather 23 Feb, Hanbury Hall & advanced tracks open Take along a photo of a JACOBEAN HEIRESS Tues setting of Bantock Museum Gardens, Worcester GALLERY TOUR Informal at the same time each family member or friend 11 Feb, Blakesley Hall, House. Pre-booking tour to find out about DWYB day, Wed 5 Feb, and have a go at creat- Birmingham required, Fri 14 Feb, Wolverhampton’s world Week Commencing Santa Pod Raceway, ing your own black- GRUESOME AND GHOSTLY Bantock House, renowned collections MON 3 FEB Northampton and-white drawing in TOURS Promising an Wolverhampton and the history of the GRUESOME AND GHOSTLY charcoal & chalk or evening to make your THE ORIGINS OF MIDDLE gallery, Sat 1 Feb, TOURS Promising an graphite & pencils, Sat blood curdle and spine EARTH Discover the evening to make your 8 Feb, Shire Hall childhood playground Wolverhampton Art LAUGHING FOR A tingle, Tues 11 Feb, blood curdle and spine Gallery, Stafford of JRR Tolkien, Fri 14 Gallery CHANGE: COMMUNITY Lichfield City Centre tingle, Wed 5 Feb, NATIONAL LIBRARIES DAY DINOSAUR ZOO Tue 11 - Feb, Sarehole Mill, WALK AROUND THE COMEDY COURSE Course Lichfield City Centre Join National Wed 12 Feb, The Place, Birmingham GALLERIES... Explore dif- open to all adults, NEWCOMEN SOCIETY Storytelling Laureate Oakengates Theatre, THE ELECTRO SWING ferent approaches to Mon 3 Feb, Light LECTURE Professor Katrice Horsley for a Telford BALL Evening of live landscape with a guid- House Media Centre, David Williams talks day of celebration and THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS music, swinging DJs, ed tour, featuring the Wolverhampton about early military discovery... Sat 8 Feb, dance class, burlesque, Richard Long exhibition IRONBRIDGE ARCHAEOLO- Following their perform- gunmaking in Library of Birmingham acrobatics, circus per- and the museum's dis- GY SEMINAR SERIES ance on Britain's Got Birmingham, Wed 5 FRIENDS OF WOLVER- Talent, the Circus of formances and a series plays, Sat 1 Feb, The Third in a new series of Feb, Thinktank, HAMPTON CITY ARCHIVES Horrors troupe take to of vintage-themed Potteries Museum & Art archaeology-related Birmingham MEETING A talk about the road with their lat- treats. The Electro Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent talks and walks, Tues 4 HISTORY TALK ON SPICER ‘Wightwick Manor - The est show, which is set Swing Ball feature... Fri FABULOUS FOLLIES Feb, The Long TAXIDERMY COLLECTION romantic philanthropist in a plague-infested 14 Feb, The Place, Guided tour of some of Warehouse, Thurs 6 Feb, Market and his Tory cousin’ by London in 1666, Wed Oakengates Theatre, the unique garden Coalbrookdale, Hall Museum, Warwick Pat Jones & Caroline 12 Feb, Lichfield Telford monuments on the Ironbridge, Shropshire PAPER MOON SWING Pugh, Sat 8 Feb, WINTER GUIDED TOUR Fri south side of the TUESDAY TOUR: FOLK- Garrick DANCE WORKSHOP For Wolverhampton City WINTER GUIDED TOURS 14 Feb, Sarehole Mill, estate, Sat 1 Feb, LORE & CUSTOM Slides adults & young people Archives Visit Aston during the Birmingham Shugborough Estate, & tour looking at folk- aged twelve and over, LIFE DRAWING WITH A close season for a tour VALENTINE LANTERN Staffordshire lore & custom, Tues 4 Fri 7 Feb, Wem Town DIFFERENCE Sat 8 Feb, & refreshments, Wed WALK Enjoy a candlelit BOWMAN ANTIQUE FAIR Feb, Blakesley Hall, Hall, North Shropshire Herbert Art Gallery & 12 Feb, Aston Hall, stroll around the gar- Featuring up to four Birmingham BLACK COUNTRY Museum, Coventry dens, Fri 14 Feb, hundred stands selling LUNCHTIME TALK: Birmingham DIALECTS “NETHERTON IS AZTEC WEEKEND Explore LGBT HISTORY MONTH: Biddulph Grange antiques, curios, vin- WOLVERHAMPTON AT WHAT I THINK WITH” the origins of the cocoa VOICES IN HISTORY As Garden, Stoke-on-Trent tage, retro & collecta- WORK A talk by Michelle Dave Reeves, poet-in- bean and take part in part of LGBT History CANDLELIT TOUR Join bles, Sat 1 - Sun 2 Feb, Hallard about historic residence at the Black numerous themed Month, this session the knowledgeable Stafford Bingley Hall murders in the city of Country Museum, takes crafts inspired by the takes a look at history guides as they take vis- TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Wolverhampton, Tues 4 audiences on a journey Aztec tribe, Sat 8 - Sun using archive material, itors on a walk through Watch some of the Feb, Bantock House into the culture and 9 Feb, Cadbury World, Wed 12 Feb, history, Fri 14 - Sat 15 world’s top wrestling Museum, dialect of the Black Birmingham Wolverhampton Art Feb, Birmingham Back stars battle it out live in Wolverhampton Country, Fri 7 Feb, SHREWSBURY DARWIN to Backs the ring, as TNA GUY DAY’S HINTS & TIPS: Gallery Savoy Centre, FESTIVAL Sat 8 - Sun 23 STUART MACONIE - THE THE BRITISH SHOOTING Wrestling arrives in the PASTRY Head chef Guy Netherton, Feb, various locations PEOPLE'S SONGS Spend SHOW Premier show- region, Sun 2 Feb, Day shows how to per- National Indoor Arena, Wolverhampton around Shrewsbury an evening in the com- case for major interna-

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Packwood House, own nest box and CHINESE NEW YEAR the mediaeval ideal of LISTINGS Warwickshire apple bird-feeder to DROP-IN CERAMIC WORK- Mary Magdalen, and Events HALF-TERM TRAILS Find take home during SHOPS Celebrate the why she was one of the the clues to win a prize. National Nest Box Year Of The Horse with most popular female For full listing information on Events, Different theme every Week. This event also fun drop-in activities saints during the including times and dates, visit day... Sat 15 - Sun 23 offers a bird trail with where you can use on- Middle Ages, Tue 18 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Feb, Attingham Park, quiz and guided nest glaze paints to deco- Feb, Herbert Art Gallery Shrewsbury tour, Sun 16 Feb, rate your own themed & Museum, Coventry tional gun manufactur- Feb, Dudmaston WELLY WANDER TRAIL Dorothy Clive Garden, design made out of CONVERSATIONS Tue 18 ers, gun retailers and Estate, Nr Bridgnorth, Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, Market Drayton, clay, Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb, Herbert Art Gallery shooting accessory Shropshire Tittesworth Water, Shropshire Feb, Coalport China & Museum, Coventry suppliers, Fri 14 - Sun MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS Meerbrook, Nr Leek, FRIENDS BOOK SALE Sun Museum, Ironbridge BIRMINGHAM’S ROLE IN 16 Feb, Stoneleigh Sat 15 - Sun 16 Feb, Staffs 16 Feb, Birmingham HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES THE ABOLITION OF THE Park, Warwickshire The Place, Oakengates HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES Botanical Gardens Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb, SLAVE TRADE Gallery LOVE THE WORKERS Theatre, Telford Take a trip to Blists Hill RAF Museum, Cosford, talk with History Range of themed activi- THE SPRING ANTIQUES Museum and have fun Week Commencing Nr Wolverhampton Curator Henrietta ties in support of the CERAMIC FAIR Sat 15 - with the many drop-in MON 17 FEB FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Lockhart, Tues 18 Feb, museum’s current pho- Sun 16 Feb, Museum activities on offer, Sat Follow the trail around Birmingham Museum & tographic exhibition, Fri of Royal Worcester 15 - Sun 23 Feb, Blists the gardens and win a Art Gallery 14 - Sun 23 Feb, VALENTINE’S WEEKEND Hill Victorian Museum, prize. Craft activities MONKEY BUSINESS CHIL- Museum of Royal Sat 15 - Sun 16 Feb, Ironbridge, Shropshire SALLY MORGAN: PSYCHIC also available, Mon 17 - DREN’S WORKSHOP Go Worcester Cadbury World, FREEMASONRY PAST AND SALLY ON THE ROAD Mon Fri 21 Feb, Hanbury ape with art worker Jim MCM MIDLANDS COMIC Birmingham PRESENT Exhibition & 17 Feb, New Alexandra Hall & Gardens, Morris, Tues 18 Feb, CON Promising a fun LOVE WORCESTER LIVING children’s activities, Sat Theatre, Birmingham Worcestershire Walsall Leather day out for all sci-fi HISTORY Watch as re- 15 - Sun 23 Feb, WWI DISCOVERY DAY DROP-IN ARTS Hands-on Museum fans, gamers, movie enactors take over the Museum of Opportunity to handle sessions making crafts CRAFTY DROP-IN Make a buffs, comic collectors venue to demonstrate Freemasonry, weapons, try on uni- to take home, Mon 17 - pair of Tinkerbell fairy and cosplayers, Sat 15 two thousand years of Worcester forms and explore the Fri 21 Feb, Birmingham wings or a Peter Pan Feb, Telford history, right up to FEBRUARY HALF-TERM museum’s fascinating Museum & Art Gallery hat as part of the RSC’s International Centre, WWII, Sat 15 - Sun 16 TRAIL Search around collections, Mon 17 SAFARI BACKPACK & Wendy & Peter Pan- Shropshire Feb, The Commandery, the castle grounds to Feb, Staffordshire TRAIL Grab yourself a themed holiday activi- LEATHER BAG WORKSHOP Worcester find clues and claim Regimental Museum, backpack filled with ties, Tues 18 Feb, Royal Try your hand at MUD PIE COOK-OFF COM- your tasty treat, Sat 15 - Lichfield equipment to help you Shakespeare Theatre, leatherworking, stitch- PETITION Get cooking in Sun 23 Feb, Beeston BIRD BONANZA Learn all explore the cathedral, Stratford-upon-Avon ing and construction Moseley’s mud pie Castle, Cheshire about our feathered Mon 17 - Sat 22 Feb, ANIMAL MANIA techniques to design kitchen, Sat 15 - Wed FLIGHT WORKSHOPS friends & have a go at Worcester Cathedral Blakesley’s favourite and create a bag that 19 Feb, Moseley Old Find out about the sci- making your very own BILLY SMARTS CIRCUS mobile zoo returns with reflects your personal Hall, Wolverhampton ence of flight via a nest box, Mon 17 Feb, All-human spectacular, its cute and furry style, Sat 15 Feb, LOVE WORCESTER: THE series of interactive Westport Lake Rd, Mon 17 - Sun 23 Feb, friends, Tues 18 Feb, Bilston Craft Gallery CITY IN MINIATURE activities, Sat 15 - Sun Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent Trentham Gardens, Blakesley Hall, ARTWORK OF THE MONTH Children’s activities, Sat 23 Feb, Enginuity, MESSY JESSIE A new Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham TALK WITH SAM MACE 15 - Sat 22 Feb, Ironbridge, Shropshire sensory performance MONKEY BUSINESS - MOVEMENT WORKSHOP Sat 15 Feb, The New Worcester City Art FEBRUARY HALF-TERM for the under-fives, writ- CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP Work with an actor and Art Gallery, Walsall Gallery & Museum TRAIL Search around ten by Jan Watts, Mon WITH JIM MORRIS Tue explore some of the SECRETS OF THE OLD FAMILY FUN DAYS Take the castle grounds to 17 Feb, Library of 18 Feb, Walsall Leather physical moments from TOWN Explore the old- along your wellies and find clues and claim Birmingham Museum Wendy & Peter Pan. est parts of the city try out the playful jour- your tasty treat Sat 15 - WONDERFUL WINTER WENDY & PETER PAN Suitable for ages eight- centre with a costumed neys on the estate - fol- Sun 23 Feb, Goodrich TRAIL Mon 17 Feb, ACTIVE STORYTELLING plus, Tues 18 - Wed 19 guide, Sat 15 Feb, tour low the horseshoes to Castle, Hereford Hanbury Hall, Suitable for ages four Feb, Swan Theatre, starts at Worcester the labyrinth, clamber HALF-TERM FAMILY AT Worcestershire to eight, Tues 18 Feb, Stratford-upon-Avon Guildhall and finishes at over logs, and pause in CADBURY WORLD CRAFTY DROP-IN Colour Royal Shakespeare THE WONDERFUL WIZARD The Cardinal’s Hat the rest-a-while shelter, Featuring entertainers a map of Neverland or Theatre, Stratford-upon- OF OZ Join Avoncroft’s ARTY PARTY Fortnightly Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, and live family shows in design a treasure map Avon munchkins to celebrate art club for 8-14-year- Baddesley Clinton, the marquee, in addi- to your own magical GREAT HALL MEDIAEVAL the seventy-fifth olds, Sat 15 Feb, The Warwickshire tion to the regular land as part of the BANQUET Tue 18 Feb, anniversary of the film Potteries Museum & Art AUTO SCIENCE LIVE Half- Cadbury World attrac- RSC’s Wendy & Peter Warwick Castle classic, Tues 18 - Thurs Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent term family fun featur- tions, Sat 15 - Sun 23 Pan-themed holiday PAINT, PAPER & PLASTER- 20 Feb, Avoncroft BRITISH ATHLETICS ing a range of free fami- Feb, Cadbury World, activities, Mon 17 Feb, WORK: THE DECORATION Museum, Bromsgrove INDOOR GRAND PRIX Sat ly-friendly activities, Birmingham Royal Shakespeare OF THE ENGLISH COUN- HALF-TERM CRAFT 15 Feb, National Indoor bringing to life automo- FEBRUARY HALF TERM Theatre, Stratford-upon- TRY HOUSE Study day ACTIVITY: FROG HATS Arena, Birmingham tive engineering and TRAIL Search around Avon exploring the ‘interior ‘Frog hat’-making work- DRAWING THE BODY the science behind it, the castle grounds to SEA SHANTY SINGING design legacies that shop, Tue 18 - Fri 21 Guided by visual artist Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, find clues and claim WORKSHOP Learn songs have made Weston the Feb, The Potteries Frieda Van de Poll, Heritage Motor Centre, your tasty treat, Sat 15 - of the sea and dance a stunning house that it is Museum & Art Gallery, develop your drawing Gaydon, Warwickshire Sun 23 Feb, Kenilworth pirate jig, Mon 17 Feb, today’, Tues 18 Feb, Stoke-on-Trent technique and experi- HALF TERM POTTERY Castle Royal Shakespeare Weston Park, HALF TERM ACTIVITY - ment with mixed media. PAINTING Paint a piece DONNA FALLON An Theatre, Stratford-upon- Staffordshire SPARKLE BUGS Drop-in Working from a life of pottery to take home evening with the Avon WONDERFUL WINTER event where visitors model inspired by the with you. Choose from ‘International Psychic DISCOVERING MODERN FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS can make a creepy Exposed exhibition, animals, bottle ovens, Medium to the Stars’, MASTERPIECES Mon 17 - Themed trails and crawly minibeast out of each workshop will flowers and much Sun 16 Feb, Crewe Fri 21 Feb, Herbert Art make-and-take activi- clay before decorating offer new and challeng- more... Sat 15 - Sun 23 Lyceum Gallery & Museum, ties, Tues 18 Feb, it with sequins to make ing poses, Sat 15 Feb, Feb, Gladstone Pottery MODEL TRACTOR, PLANT Coventry Hanbury Hall, it sparkle, Tue 18 - Fri Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Stoke-on- & CONSTRUCTION SHOW HALF-TERM FUN Worcester 21 Feb, Gladstone Museum, Coventry Trent Sun 16 Feb, Wellington walks, wild TRUSTY’S TUESDAY CLUB Pottery Museum, LOVE WORCESTER LIVING SELF-LED BIRD TRAIL Warwickshire Exhibition art work, den building Holiday sessions featur- Stoke-on-Trent HISTORY FAYRE Follow the clues on the Centre, Nr Leamington and orienteering, Mon ing everything from out- CELEBRATIONS Craft Featuring local history trail map to find the Spa, Warwick 17 - Fri 21 Feb, door adventures to craft activity days exploring societies & re-enact- many different birds HERMITS AND HIDDEN Wightwick Manor & & wildlife activities, celebrations & festivals ment groups, Sat 15 building nests around GEMS WALK Fully Gardens, Tues 18 Feb, Attingham from around the world, Feb, Worcester the park, Sat 15 - Sun escorted walk around Wolverhampton Park, Shrewsbury Tues 18 - Fri 21 Feb, Cathedral 23 Feb, Severn Valley Haywood Cliffs, taking HALF-TERM TILE DECO- MEET ME AT BANTOCK Worcestershire County LOVE WORCESTER Country Park, Alveley, in views and learning RATING WORKSHOPS Regular conversation Museum THEMED STREET MARKET Bridgnorth about the flora and Drop-in sessions where club for people aged AMERICAN SUPERSLAM Sat 15 Feb, Worcester MOSHI MONSTER MAD- fauna, Sun 16 Feb, participants use the fifty & over, Tues 18 WRESTLING Wed 19 City Centre NESS Themed activities Shugborough Estate, technique known as Feb, Bantock House Feb, Bedworth Civic TRIBUTE TO LUVLY: AN for half-term, Sat 15 - Staffordshire tube lining to decorate Museum, Hall EVENING WITH JAYNE Sun 23 Feb, Alton DONINGTON 4X4 SHOW their very own tile to Wolverhampton POP-UP STORYTELLING CARPENTER, JIM Towers, Staffordshire Featuring 4x4-related take home, Mon 17 - Fri ANIMAL ORIGAMI Create WITH GRAHAM LANGLEY HAWKINS & FRIENDS A FAMILY FUN DAYS Don trade stands offering 21 Feb, Jackfield Tile your very own paper & CATH EDWARDS Free Shropshire Cat Rescue your wellies and head parts, accessories and Museum, Ironbridge, menagerie. Children of drop-in session, Wed event, Sat 15 Feb, The to the woods to build a services for all makes Shropshire all ages welcome, Tyes 19 Feb, Library of Hive, Shrewsbury den, play hoopla, of 4x4, whatever your KITE CHAOS! Make your 18 Feb, Smestow Birmingham SNOWDROP WALKS Blow splash in the puddles chosen use, Sun 16 very own kite to fly on Valley, Wolverhampton MEET THE ROMANS LIVE! away the winter blues and have your very Feb, Donington Park the hill, Mon 17 - Fri 21 HERBERT ILLUMINATION: Find out what life was with a walk through the own family adventure, BUILD A BROOD A HOME Feb, Carding Mill THE MEDIAEVAL like in Roman dingle, Sat 15 - Sun 16 Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, Workshop where visi- Valley, South MAGDALEN A talk from Warwickshire, Wed 19 tors can make their Shropshire Leah Mellors exploring Feb, Market Hall

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seldom open to visitors, STUNTFEST Half-term breadmaking in the Toll Roberts, Wed 26 Feb, LISTINGS Fri 21 Feb, Witley family fun. Action- House, Sat 22 - Sun 23 Thinktank, Birmingham Events Court, Worcestershire packed day of daredev- Feb, Avoncroft, DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG THE PEARLIAD BY ROSIE il stunts, monster truck Bromsgrove Chance to practise For full listing information on Events, PUG BOOK LAUNCH Fri 21 mayhem, flame-throw- SNOWDROP WALKS Blow drifting in safe and including times and dates, visit Feb, Library of ing jet vehicles, dis- away the winter blues legal conditions on www.whatsonlive.co.uk Birmingham plays and fireworks! with a walk through the some of the Pod's thirty ‘SPAKE PRAPPER’ A Sat 22 Feb, Santa Pod dingle, Sat 22 - Sun 23 acres of open tarmac, Museum, Warwick Feb, Swan Theatre, BLACK COUNTRY TALK Raceway, Northampton Feb, Dudmaston where there are begin- LGBT HISTORY MONTH: Stratford-upon-Avon SHOW Hosted by Dave LOVE WORCESTER, LOVE Estate, Nr Bridgnorth, ners, intermediate and POLARI Learn the lost CERAMIC WORKSHOPS Reeves, Fri 21 Feb, PETS Half-term make- Shropshire advanced tracks open gay language in a fun & Join artist Lorraine Savoy Centre, and-take workshop CLASSIC & ROAD RACING at the same time each interactive session Bates to learn how to Netherton, where participants can SHOW Sat 22 - Sun 23 DWYB day, Wed 26 exploring language, work with ceramics, Wolverhampton make their very own Feb, Telford Feb, Santa Pod Wed 19 Feb, Wed 19 - Thurs 20 Feb, WOODLAND TREASURE cuddly magnetic pet, International Centre, Raceway, Northampton Wolverhampton Art Birmingham Museum & TRAIL Follow the clues Sat 22 Feb, Tudor Shropshire BONHAM’S VALUATION Gallery Art Gallery to discover parts of House Heritage Centre, MUD PIE COOK-OFF COM- DAY Take along your VICTORIAN SERVANT’S CODEBREAKING FAMILY Cannock Chase, and Worcester PETITION Get cooking in items to be valued by a DAY Family fun day with ACTIVITIES Wed 19 - learn about the country DUNGEONS AFTER DARK Moseley’s mud pie panel of experts from craft activities, re-enac- Thurs 20 Feb, Elgar’s park and its inhabitants An evening of ghoulish kitchen, Sat 22 - Sun the international auc- tors, dressing up, han- Birthplace Museum, along the way, Fri 21 entertainment that's not 23 Feb, Moseley Old tioneers, Wed 26 Feb, dling & more... Wed 19 Worcester Feb, Cannock Chase for the faint-hearted, Hall, Wolverhampton Avoncroft, Bromsgrove Feb, Aston Hall, CHILDREN’S SCHOOL Country Park, Staffs Sat 22 Feb, Warwick WINTER STEAM GALA Sat MEET ME @ WAG Birmingham HOLIDAY ACTIVITY SES- FEBRUARY FUN DAY Castle 22 - Sun 23 Feb, Regular conversation KINGDOM OF MERCIA SIONS An ideal opportu- Featuring children's SECRETS OF THE OLD Churnet Valley Railway, club for people aged Meet characters from nity for aspiring young entertainment, face- TOWN Explore the old- Froghall, Staffs fifty and over, Wed 26 the Anglo-Saxon world, potters to work with painting and balloon est parts of the city RUN WHAT YA BRUNG Feb, Wolverhampton including an ambassa- professional, ceramic modelling, Fri 21 Feb, centre with a costumed The chance to take Art Gallery dor from Kent visiting artists, Wed 19 - Thurs Gladstone Pottery guide, Sat 22 Feb, tour your car or motorcycle LGBT HISTORY GROUP: King Penda, a shaman 20 Feb, Eastnor Pottery, Museum, Stoke-on- starts at Worcester out on the famous KEEPING SECURE who’s a practitioner of Ledbury Trent Guildhall and finishes at quarter-mile dragstrip Session which provides an ancient religion, and BOOKMARK PEOPLE WENDY & PETER PAN The Cardinal’s Hat and test its perform- a personal safety two artisan workers. Drop-in with Ruth ACTIVE STORYTELLING HALF-TERM CRAFT SES- ance limits in a safe guide, Wed 26 Feb, This event also offers a Radcliffe, Thurs 20 Feb, Suitable for ages four SION Workshop where and legal environment, Wolverhampton Art chance to see a range Walsall Leather to eight, Fri 21 Feb, visitors can have a go Sun 23 Feb, Santa Pod Gallery of birds of prey in the Museum Royal Shakespeare at making a birdbath Raceway, Northampton EDUCATE & CELEBRATE: museum's Anglo Saxon FUNKY BANDS & Theatre, Stratford-upon- out of plant pots, bird WEDDING FAIR Sun 23 LGBT HISTORY MONTH Falconry and Folklore BRACELETS WORKSHOP Avon puppets out of lollipop Feb, Birmingham CONCERT Booking presentation, Wed 19 Drop-in sessions for WINTER GUIDED TOUR sticks, and paper plate Botanical Gardens essential! Wed 26 Feb, Feb, The Potteries children, Thurs 20 Feb, Learn about the history birds’ nests, Sat 22 Library of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Walsall Museum of the mill and milling, Feb, Severn Valley Week Commencing ROMAN COOKERY Stoke-on-Trent CRAFT DAY Half-term and see what repair & Country Park, Alveley, MON 24 FEB WORKSHOP Find out BIRD BOX MAKING As day of fun, making maintenance is taking Nr Bridgnorth more about authentic part of National Nest crafts to take home, place, Fri 21 Feb, LOVE YOUR CREATIVITY cooking techniques, Box Week, Wed 19 Thurs 20 Feb, Soho Sarehole Mill, Children’s activity with ingredients and recipes Feb, Cannock Chase House, Birmingham Birmingham cold porcelain, Sat 22 AN EVENING WITH TONY of the times, and help Visitor Centre, Staffs TRAVELLING THE CRAFTY DROP-IN Get in Feb, Museum of Royal STOCKWELL Mon 24 to create your own MOSSES FOR NOVICES TIMELINE Workshop the fancy dress mood Worcester Feb, Tamworth Roman dishes, Wed 26 An introduction to iden- where children aged with all things pirate as MOSAIC WORKSHOP Assembly Rooms Feb - Wed 19 Mar, tifying local mosses six-plus can have a go part of the RSC’s Learn how to create SALLY MORGAN: PSYCHIC Wroxeter Roman City, and liverworts with at making plaster fos- Wendy & Peter Pan- your very own beautiful SALLY ON THE ROAD Mon Shropshire Martin Godfrey, sils, fizzing volcanoes themed holiday activi- panel under the guid- 24 Feb, Stafford EARLY YEARS PLAY DAYS Staffordshire County and model dinosaurs. ties, Fri 21 Feb, Royal ance of environmental Gatehouse Theatre Play Days give children Recorder for Bryohytes. Please note that chil- Shakespeare Theatre, sculptor and mosaic SPRING CLEANING TOURS aged one to three an Pre-booking essential, dren under eight must Stratford-upon-Avon artist Victoria Harrison Take a tour with the opportunity to explore Wed 19 Feb, The be accompanied by an CREATE BADGES WORK- Sat 22 Feb, Ludlow conservation team as and investigate through Potteries Museum & Art adult, Thurs 20 Feb, SHOP Design & make Assembly Rooms, spring-cleaning gets sensory play, Thurs 27 - Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Ludlow Assembly your very own pin South Shropshire underway, and explore Fri 28 Feb, Herbert Art HALF-TERM FUN! SCAV- Rooms, South badge using the muse- WOLVERHAMPTON LOCAL parts of the house not Gallery & Museum, ENGER HUNT Booking Shropshire um’s special badge- HISTORY SYMPOSIUM normally open to the Coventry essential! Wed 19 Feb, WONDERFUL WINTER making machine, Fri 21 Eighth annual event public, Tues 25 Feb, WINTER GUIDED TOUR Fri Severn Valley Country FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Feb, Museum of the showcasing new and Greyfriars, 28 Feb, Sarehole Mill, Park, Alveley, Themed trails & make- Jewellery, Birmingham significant research into Worcestershire Birmingham Bridgnorth and-take activities, WOODLAND SPRITES local history, Sat 22 TUESDAY TOUR: HOUSE- THE NATIONAL WEDDING LOVE WORCESTER’S PAST Thurs 20 Feb, Hanbury FAMILY CRAFT WORK- Feb, Bantock House KEEPING THE HALL Tues SHOW Hints, tips and Children’s crafts, Wed Hall, Worcester SHOP Fri 21 Feb, Museum, 25 Feb, Blakesley Hall, ideas galore for The 19 Feb, The Hive, PIRATE SWORD STAGE Weoley Castle, Wolverhampton Birmingham Big Day, Fri 28 Feb - Worcester FIGHTING Workshop Birmingham VINTAGE WEDDING FAIR CRAFTPLAY EXPLORERS Sun 2 Mar, NEC, ARTFORUM GOLD Range which teaches how to MUSICAL MADNESS Sat 22 Feb, Worcester Regular play & stay Birmingham of art activities using cross swords safely Discover your musical Guildhall sessions to discover, INTERNATIONAL FASHION different materials and and make swashbuck- talents & have a go at FAMILY BADGE-MAKING play and create with WEEK Fri 28 Feb - Sat 1 methods, using the ling look real, Thurs 20 making your own musi- WORKSHOP Make a your child, Tues 25 Mar, The Council gallery as your inspira- Feb, Clore Learning cal instruments, Fri 21 badge inspired by the Feb, Bilston Craft House, Birmingham tion, Wed 19 Feb, Centre, Waterside, Feb, Market Hall Library of Cultures exhi- Gallery OSWESTRY YOUTH MUSIC Wolverhampton Art Stratford-upon-Avon Museum, Warwick bition, Sat 22 Feb, TEXTILE GROUP An FESTIVAL Featuring Gallery SEA SHANTY SINGING WONDERFUL WINTER Library of Birmingham opportunity to meet more than two hun- LOVE WORCESTER, LOVE WORKSHOP Learn songs TRAIL Fri 21 Feb, YOUNG ARTISTS likeminded people in a dred-and-fifty young PETS Half-term make- of the sea and dance a Hanbury Hall, Workshop offering par- creative environment musicians, Fri 28 Feb - and-take workshop pirate jig, Fri 21 Feb, Worcestershire ticipants a chance to and swap knowledge & Mon 3 Mar, Oswestry where participants can Royal Shakespeare BUILD A BOOK FAMILY learn new drawing, skills, Wed 26 Feb, Methodist Church, make their very own Theatre, Stratford-upon- WORKSHOP In associa- painting and sculpture Bilston Craft Gallery North Shropshire cuddly magnetic pet, Avon tion with Lifeworlds skills, Sat 22 Feb, WINTER GUIDED TOUR BORDERLINES FILM FES- Wed 19 Feb, Tudor ART SPEAKING Audio- Learning. Pre-booking Wolverhampton Art Tour & refreshments TIVAL Featuring more House Heritage Centre, described tours of exhi- advisable, Fri 21 Feb, Gallery with the site’s expert than two hundred film Worcester bitions for people with Library of Birmingham PHOTOREALISM EXHIBI- guides, Wed 26 Feb, screenings at various FOREVER FRIENDS Story visual impairment, Fri CRAFT DAY Half-term TION TALK BY JOHN SALT Aston Hall, Birmingham venues across four & craft sessions for 21 Feb, Wolverhampton day of fun, making Birmingham-born pho- THE PLANET IN OUR counties, including the children aged five-plus, Art Gallery crafts to take home, Fri tographer John Salt HANDS: RESPONDING TO Marches, Wed 19 Feb, Central LOVE LOCAL WILDLIFE 21 Feb, Sarehole Mill, discusses his paintings, CLIMATE CHANGE Talk Herefordshire, Children’s Library, Discover what’s going Birmingham Sat 22 Feb, facilitated by Chief Shropshire & Wolverhampton on locally and make SNOWDROP EVENING Birmingham Museum & Scientific Advisor to the Worcestershire, Fri 28 FAMILY WORKSHOP: your own bird feeder to WALKS Discover Art Gallery UK Government, Sir Feb - Sun 16 Mar. For SHADOW PLAY Have a take home, Fri 21 Feb, Attingham’s carpet of WAKING THE WINDMILL Mark Walport, and further info, visit go at telling the story of Greyfriars, Worcester snowdrops in a differ- See the museum as it’s Professor of Public www.borderlinesfilmfes- Wendy & Peter Pan BEHIND-THE-SCENES ent light on an evening sailed for the first time Engagement with tival.org playing with shadows & TOUR Opportunity to walk, Fri 21 - Sun 23 by the museum’s team Science at the light, Wed 19 - Thurs 20 see parts of the court Feb, Attingham Park, of volunteers. This University of Shrewsbury event also features Birmingham, Alice

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 63 Eating Out February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:42 Page 1 Eating Out Zodiac inspires new cocktail list Chung Ying Central in Birmingham’s Colmore Row Business District has launched a new cocktail list based on the twelve signs of the zodiac. The venue’s head bartender, Matt Wilkinson, has been busy researching and creating a new cocktail for each of the dozen astrological signs, the first of which is based on a Moscow Mule recipe to mark the Year Of The Horse, which signifies unexpected adventure and romantic spirit. The delicious cocktails feature alongside a host of other delights on offer at Chung Ying Cental, including an express Dim Sum menu to satisfy the hunger pangs of Colmore’s business residents.

Only Fools star John Challis to launch restaurant’s AGA venture Indian powerhouse in the city... Only Fools And Horses star John Challis is set to REVIEW one. With a nice, spicy another one by the lovely help launch a new cooking concept at a Midlands paste smothered onto the waiter. restaurant. The Shropshire-located Ye Olde Punch large pieces of paneer, Following a curry with a Bowl Inn is currently installing an AGA Total Rajdoot is a long-estab- this and the chicken heavy dessert is always Control cooker, after recently announcing a part- lished Indian restaurant starter were wolfed down dangerous, but I couldn’t nership with the Telford-based company that man- which is well known on in no time. resist the gulab jaman, ufactures the iconic cookers. The AGA will be the the Birmingham curry cir- For mains, I opted for one which hit my sugar spot centrepiece of the venue’s award-winning carvery. cuit. With a number of of the ‘Chef’s Specialities’ perfectly. My friend For further information about the Punch Bowl, and new kids on the block, I - Monkfish Tawa Masala - enjoyed the kulfi. to book at table, visit www.punchbowlinn.com, or found myself wondering and Lamb Gosht; a typical Rajdoot certainly offers a call 01746 763304. whether this Jewellery Indian dish of spicy lamb. real Indian experience Quarter stalwart still had My friend chose Paneer from the moment you the power to tantalise and Makhani and Bhindi enter the door. The atten- Pop-up restaurant pops up again! amaze its patrons’ taste- Mushroom (Okra). A tive staff, plush interiors buds? Following success with a launch event last year, coriander naan, a garlic and well thought-out On arrival, Rajdoot is a naan and pilau rice menu offer plenty of rea- two Midlands chefs have announced that their warm and inviting oasis. pop-up restaurant will be ‘popping up’ a couple accompanied our medley son to visit this restaurant. From the lighting to the of spice dishes. Even as new dining estab- more times in the weeks ahead. Nathan Eades soft furnishings, the from Bromsgrove and Grant Hill from Having never tried monk- lishments crop up in and Rajasthani-influenced fish at an Indian restaurant around the city, this Indian Kidderminster share a passion for fine foods and decor helps set the stage foraging, and will re-open their Epi restaurant on before, I was impressed powerhouse is showing for an evening of Indian by how well this meaty that it still knows how to 25 February and 31 March at the Kitchen Garden dining. Cafe in King’s Heath, Birmingham. As well as pre- fish absorbed the masala. pack a significant punch I was accompanied on my The paneer was delicious or two. Parv Gandham senting a menu for £32.50 (excluding drinks), the visit by a vegetarian, who duo hope that the temporary business will show off too - perfectly balanced in relished the wide variety of Food: IIII I their skills to a new set of diners. During the flavour. As lovers of chilli, dishes on the menu. After IIIII course of the evening, Nathan and Grant will be both my friend and I felt Service: taking our seats, we IIII I happy to answer patrons’ questions about the the Bhindi needed more of Ambience: enjoyed poppadoms and a kick, yet the chef had Overall value IIII I dishes on offer and their cooking methods. a selection of accompani- cooked it to crunch per- OVERALL IIII I ments, including a tangy fection. Our only disap- onion relish and a yogurt- pointment was the corian- Rajdoot Tandoori based dip. der naan, which came out 78 - 79 George Street, Our choice of Chicken cold and slightly over- Birmingham, Hariyali and Paneer Tikka cooked around the edges. B3 1PY (Indian cottage cheese) We were, however, given 0121 236 1116 for starters was a good

64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:42 Page 2

Restaurant REVIEWS Restaurant LISTINGS For full listing information on restaurants, including opening times and type of cuisine, visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk Centre, Hurst St, B5 THE VAULTS Newhall Birmingham 4TD 0121 622 4466 Place, Newhall Hill, LASAN 3-4 Dakota B1 3JH 0121 212 9837 AALTO RESTAURANT Buildings, James St, St WAGAMAMA Brindley Hotel La Tour, Albert Paul’s Square, B3 1SD Place, birmingham B1 Street, Birmingham B5 0121 212 3664 5JT 0121 718 8000 THE LOFT LOUNGE 2HL 0121 643 765 AIR RESTAURANT LG 143 Bromsgrove St, Black Country Arena, Bickenhill Rd, B5 6RG 0121 622 0844 338 0333 2444 ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 BANK 4 Brindleyplace, THE LOST & FOUND Lichfield Street, Walsall B1 2JB 0121 633 4466 8 Bennetts Hill, B2 5RS WS1 1SY 01922 BAR ESTILO 10-114 0121 643 9293 613361 BANKS BISTRO Wharfside St, The LOVES The Glasshouse, Chapel Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121 Browning St, B16 8FL Ash, Wolverhampton 643 3443 0121 454 5151 WV1 4EP 01902 238433 BARAJEE 265 Broad MECHU 47 - 59 Summer BELLA Street, B1 2DS 0121 Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212 82 Chapel Ash, 643 6699 1661 Wolverhampton. 01902 427555 BELLA ITALIA 102 New METRO BAR & GRILL 73 BELLAGIO Street, B2 4HQ 0121 Cornwall St B3 2DF Castlegate 643 1548 0121 200 1911 Park, Dudley, DY1 4TA 01384 455661 BERLIOZ Burlington MINT Yew Tree Retail BENGAL FUSION Arcade, New St, B2 Park, Stoney Lane 174 4JQ 0121 633 1737 Yardley, B25 8YP High St, Lye, BLUE MANGO Regency 0121 789 8908 Stourbridge DY9 8LN. 01384 891111 Wharf, Broad St, B1 MOUNT FUJI The BILASH Taste of America coasts into Brum 2DS 0121 633 4422 Bullring, B5 4BH 0121 2 Cheapside, BLUE PIANO RESTAURANT 633 9853 Wolverhampton, WV1 Coast-to-Coast is the new - pulled pork, blue cheese, 1TU 01902 427762 AND BAR 24-26 NUVO BAR 11 Brindley American-themed restaurant & bacon. My friend’s fajita was BLAKEY’S EASTERN Harborne Rd, B15 3AA Place, B1 2LP 0121 PROMISE bar on Birmingham’s Broad passable; seasoned chicken 0121 454 6877 631 1600 19 High Street, Stourbridge, Street, part of a nationwide chain breast served on a sizzling stone BUONISSIMO 1 Albany OPUS 54 Cornwall St, DY9 8LB 01384 893322 owned by the company which with softened onions and pep- Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX B3 2DE 0121 200 THE BLUE BRICK 0121 426 2444 2323 also owns Frankie & Benny’s and pers, with separate tortillas and Broad Gauge Way, CAFE OPUS 1 Oozells Garfunkel’s. toppings to roll your own. A sim- THE ORIENTAL The Wolverhampton WV1 Square, Brindleyplace, Mailbox, 128-130 1AA 01902 875301 The place is huge - ‘three hun- ple dish, not worth £15.75. B1 2HS 0121 248 Wharfside St, B1 1RQ BRAVACCIOUS dred-and-sixty covers’ huge - By this point we’d both worked 3226 0121 633 9988 4 Upper Green, Wolverhampton CARLUCCIO’S The with twenty chefs on the books. our way through too much fried PEACHYKEENS 1741 WV6 8QQ 01902 Water’s Edge, Fresh from a multi-million pound carbohydrate to cope with Coventry Road, B26 756052 Brindleyplace 1DS 0121 764 5519 fit-out, the interiors are great fun; desserts, which included cheese- CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253- B1 2HP 0121 633 PENNY BLACKS they’ve captured that ‘American cake, brownies and ice-cream. 9262 255 Bilston Road, The Mailbox, 132-134 Wolverhampton WV2 bar’ feeling brilliantly. The food is Coast-to-Coast offers the kind of CENTENARY BAR & Wharfside St, B1 1XL 2JN 01902 458024 easy-to-please food you’d expect BRASSERIE Broad 0121 632 1460 what you’d expect - pizza, pasta, CASA CASITA Upper grills, Tex-mex; a lot of meat and on a family menu; something for Street, B1 2EP 0121 PICCOLINO 245 2080 Gornal, Dudley. DY3 carbs, not too many vegetables. everyone. The downside is the 9 Brindleyplace B1 1UP 01902 676754 CHI BAR & GRILL 61 2HS 0121 634 3055 There are interesting beers to prices - a simple two-course din- Newhall Street, B3 3RB CAFE MASALA 45 Mill PITCHER & PIANO Street, Kidderminster, enjoy, and they pride themselves ner for two (no booze) cost 0121 233 3150 Brindleyplace, B1 2HP DY11 6XB 01562 on cocktails, something that upwards of £50 - acceptable if CHUNG YING 0121 643 0214 744600 16-18 Wrottersley should go down well with Broad you’re getting good cooking, not POPPY RED Arcadian CATELLANI’S 6 School Street’s Saturday night partygo- so great for what was essentially Street, B5 4RT 0121 Centre, Birmingham B5 St, Wolverhampton, 622 5669 4TD 0121 687 1200 ers.In restaurant chains run by burger and chips. WV1 4LR 01902 CHUNG YING GARDEN 17 PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall men in suits rather than chefs, Vegetarians get a bad deal, with 428928 Thorpe St, B5 4AT St, B3 2DH 0121 212 CHIQUITO Castlegate the food often gets forgotten in very little variety - and there’s no 0121 666 6622 9799 Park, Dudley, DY1 4TA favour of the theme, the service information on either the menu or CIELO 6 Oozells Square, PURNELL’SBISTOR & GIN- 01384 215130 and the upselling. So while we the website about where the Brindleyplace, B1 2JB GER’S BAR 11 Newhall CINNAMON COURT 0121 632 6882 had a lovely, friendly hostess, seafood, meat and poultry are Street, B3 3NY, 0121 Bentley Mill Way, COAST TO COAST 9 2000 1588 and were treated to a swish sourced. I can only assume that Walsall WS2 0BP 0121 Brindleyplace, Broad THE RECTORY 50-54 St 568 6664 leather booth of our own, the it’s bought in as cheaply as pos- Street, B1 2HJ Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS THE COWSHED Clive experience could quite easily sible, making the prices even COTE The Mailbox, 0121 605 1001 Farm Clive Rd, have been improved by putting more outrageous. I suppose that B1 1RX 0121 631 1587 RED PEPPERS 117 Pattingham, WV6 7EN fresh (rather than tinned) tomato recent refit’s got to be paid for CUCINA RUSTICA 24 Wharfside St, B1 1RF 01902 701888 0121 643 4202 in the salsa, by offering vegetari- somehow. Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX THE CROOKED HOUSE 0121 233 2277 SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, Coppice Hill, Himley ans something other than goats’ Coast-to-Coast is a fun place, DEL VILLAGGIO B2 5BN 0121 633 DY3 4DA 01384 cheese, and by providing a bet- good for evenings out with Unit 528, Middle Mall, 0251 238583 ter standard of cooking in gener- friends and family. Just make The Bullring. B5 4BE SHIMLA PINKS 215 THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, al. Starters were fine, and gener- sure that someone else is pay- 0121 643 1400 Broad St, B15 1AY Walsall, WS1 2EU 01922 643215 ously sized. Five beer-battered ing. Helen Stallard EDMUNDS 6 Brindley 0121 633 0366 place, B1 2JB 0121 SIMPSONS, DON SALVO 25 prawns (£7.95) arrived crisp and 20 Highfield III II 633 4944 Rd, Edgbaston B13 Darlington Street, ale-flavoured, accompanied by Food: 3DU 0121 454 3434 Wolverhampton WV1 IIII I FLEET STREET KITCHEN Cajun mayonnaise. The spicy Service: Fleet Street, Islington THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, 4HW 01902 712819 calarmari (£6.75) was well Ambience: IIII I Gates, B3 1JH 0121 Brindley Place, DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley judged, neither too raw nor too Overall value II III 236 0100 Birmingham B1 2HL Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU 0121 633 3049 01384 877077 rubberlike. III II ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 OVERALL 1JL 0121 212 3383 STRADA 109-111 THE FAIRLAWNS AT My main of three sliders with fries JAMIE’S ITALIAN Middle Wharfside St, The ALDRIDGE 178 Little and slaw (£13.95) was fine, nei- Coast to Coast Mall, Bullring Shopping Mailbox B1 1XL Aston Road, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 0NU ther memorably good nor terribly Broad Street Centre, B5 4BE 0121 643 7279 0121 270 3610 TGI FRIDAYS 180 Hagley 01922 455122 bad. The patties lacked that Birmingham FARADAYS The savoury unctuousness found in a JIMMY SPICES Regency Road, Edgbaston, B16 CV8 1QJ Wharf, Broad St, B1 9NY 0121 454 1930 Waterfront, Brierley Hill, Dudley, DY5 1UR great burger, but were well pre- Tel: 01926 353637 2DS 0121 643 2111 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, 01384 482 882 sented with a variety of toppings LAS IGUANAS Arcadian B1 2HL 0121 643 3993 FIVE RIVERS Vicarage www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out February Region One_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:42 Page 3

Restaurant LISTINGS For full listing information on restaurants, including opening times and type of cuisine, visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Place, Walsall WS1 3NA THE VINE LANE Vine Lane, 01922 646164 Stourbridge, DY9 9PH FOUR STONES Adam’s 01562 882491 Hill,Clint, Stourbridge, THE WOODMAN Claverley, DY9 9PS 01562 883260 Wolverhampton WV5 FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, 7DG 01746 710 553 Smethwick, B67 5BN WR9 8LU 0121 429 7920 Warwickshire FRENCH CONNECTION 3 Coventry St, 7 SQUARE 7 Old Square, Stourbridge DY8 1EP Warwick CV34 4RA 01384 390940 01926 411 755 FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove NO. 9 CHURCH STREET Rd, Clent, Stourbridge DY9 9PY 01562 883040 Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6HB GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 01789 415522 Ablewell St, Walsall WS1 2EQ 01922 640363 AGRA PLACE 12 Abbey KARMA 2F High Street, Green, Nuneaton, CV11 Stourbridge, DY8 4NH 5DR 024 7635 0515 01384 375919 THE ALMANAK Abbey End LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower North, Kenilworth, CV8 Mill Street, 1QJ 01926 353 637 Kidderminster. DY11 AUBERGINE 32 Smith St, 6UU 01562 744976 Warwick CV34 4HS Buonissimo, Harborne, Birmingham MADE IN THAI Darlington 01926 400 086 St, Wolverhampton WV1 THE ALMANACK Abbey upon Avon CV37 6AB 01564 792735 ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St, Worcester WR1 2D 01789 269462 01905 22449 4HW 01902 312512 End North, Kenilworth MERCHANTS Swan Street, Worcester WR1 3QT THE MANGO TREE Chester CV8 1QJ 01926 353637 FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd, Warwick CV34 4BJ 01926 01905 731131 L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51 Road, Walsall, WS9 9HJ, Henley in Arden. B95 403833 ANUPAM Graham Rd, Malvern. BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St, 85 Church 01922 457 344 5QR 01564 793783 Street, Malvern. WR14 WR14 2HU 01684 Coventry, CV1 3BA 024 NICOLINIS 14 The Parade, 2AE 01684 573814 572427 PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower 7622 9274 FIVE RIVERS 20-22 Victoria Leamington Spa, CV32 Mill Street, Kidderminster Terrace, 4DW 01926 421620 BACCHUS 44 Worcester LANGTREYS 89a High St, BROWNS Earl St, Coventry DY11 6UU 01562 60479 Leamington Spa, CV31 Road, Bromsgrove B61 Bromsgrove. B61 8AQ CV1 5RU 0247 622 1100 ONE ELM 1 Guild St, THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst 3AB 01926 431999 Stratford-Upon-Avon, 0TA 01527 877557 01527 878242 CARLUCCIOS 13 Waterside, Lane, Tipton DY4 9AB GEORGETOWN 23 Sheep CV37 6QZ 01789 404919 BENEDICTOS LITTLE VENICE 1 - 3 St Stratford-Upon-Avon 34 Sidbury, 0121 557 1402 St, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Nicholas St, Worcester CV37 6BA PREZZO 1-3 High St, Worcester WR1 2HZ RED FORT Fold St, CV37 6EF 01789 204445 Warwick CV34 4AP 01905 21444 WR1 1UW 01905 Wolverhampton, WV1 01789 267424 GRANTS OF SHEEP ST 21- 01926 475867 BINDLES BAR & BRASSERIE 726126 4LP 01902 424440 CASTLES 6 Castle Street, 23 Sheep Street, CV34 4QU 01926 495421 RESTAURANT 23 55 Sidbury, WR1 2HU LOTUS HOUSE 33 RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 Stratford-upon-Avon, 34 Hamilton Terrace, Holly 01905 611120 Ombersley St East, Upper Green, Tettenhall, CATALAN 6 Jury St , CV37 6EF 01789 290 008 Walk Leamington Spa, Droitwich, WR9 8QX Wolverhampton WV6 Warwick CV34 4EW BRAMBLINGS Hither Green HIGH PAVEMENT BAR & DIN- CV32 4LY 01926 422422 01905 770079 8QQ 01902 756052 01926 498 930 Lane, Redditch, B98 9BE ING 3 High Street, CV34 01527 406600 MAEKONG THAI 12 SAFFRON Wolverhampton THE CHURCH STREET RISTORANTE DA VINCI 50 4AP 01926 494725 Worcester Road, Road, Oldbury B69 4RR TOWNHOUSE 16 Church Earlsdon Street, Coventry, BRIDGE INN Plough Road, HELP OUT MILL Heather Bromsgrove B61 7AE 0121 552 1752 Street, Stratford-upon- CV5 6EJ 024 7671 3554 Droitwich WR9 7NQ Rd, Shakerstone, ROBBIE’S RESTAURANT 74 01905 345874 01527 578888 SIMON’S 520 Chester Rd, Avon CV37 6HB 01789 Nuneaton. CV13 0BT Smith Street, CV34 4HU BROWNS 24 Quay St, MASSALLA LOUNGE 35 Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 262222 01530 260666 0PU 0121 580 9293 COOMBE ABBEY Brinklow 01926 400470 Worcester WR1 2JJ Broad St, Worcester INDIA RED 25 Abbey Road, Coventry, CV3 2AB ROOFTOP RESTAURANT 01905 26263 WR1 3NH 01905 SPICES Hollywell Rd, Street, Nuneaton, CV11 Wednesbury. WS10 7PA 024 7645 0450 @ The RST, Waterside, CHADDESLEY RESTAURANT 729955 5BX 024 7634 2090 0121 502 0720 CROSSED KHUKRIS GURKHA Stratford-upon-Avon, Brockencote Hall Hotel, MUG HOUSE Claines JIMMY SPICES 64-66 THE SPRINGHILL 115 Abbey Street, CV37 6BB 01789 403449 Kidderminster DY10 4PY Lane, Worcester WR3 Station Rd, Solihull, B91 Warstones Rd, Penn, Nuneaton, CV11 5BX 024 SAFFRON GOLD Market St, 01562 777876 7RN 01905 456649 3RX 0121 709 2111 Wolverhampton WV4 7634 4488 Westgate House, THE CHASE INN Chase Rd, ON THE ROCKS 44 4LB 01902 342530 EDWARD MOON 9 Chapel LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans Warwick CV34 4DE Upper Colwall, Malvern. Worcester Road, THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 Street, Stratford-upon- Nest, Bridgford, Stratford 01926 402061 WR13 6DQ 01684 Bromsgrove, B61 7AE Gospel End Rd, Dudley Avon, CV37 6EP 01789 upon Avon. CV37 7LT THE SAXON MILL 540276 01527 882412 01789 264804 DY3 4AN 01902 676 267069 Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe, CHESTERS 51 New St, PORTOFINO, 6 Worcester MALLORY COURT 102 EGO 29 The Square, Harbury Warwick CV34 5YN Worcester, WR1 2DL Rd, Droitwich. WR9 8AD Lane, Leamington Spa, THORNESCROFT Kenilworth, CV8 1EF 01926 492 255 01905 611638 01905 794799 CV33 9QB, 01926 330214 Bridgnorth Rd, 01926 864463 SIGNATURES @ The CROWN & SANDYS PORTWAY ITALIAN, Wolverhampton, WV6 MATRICARDIS 97 High St, THE ENCORE Belgrade Theatre, Main Rd, Ombersley, Alcester Rd, Redditch. 7EQ 01902 700 253 Henley in Arden. B95 5AT Bridge Street Stratford Coventry, CV1 1GS WR9 0EW 01905 62025 B48 7HT 01564 824794 02476 846762 EWE AND LAMB Hanbury PUCCINI'S, 12 Friar St, TAILORS 22 Market Place, Road, Bromsgrove B60 Worcester WR12LZ Warwick CV34 4SL 4DN 01527 871 929 01905 27770 01926 410590 RAJDOOT Cutnall Green, (ESt 86) THE FIG TREE 99 Church thE dINNEr cLub THE TREVELYAN Warwick Street, Gt Malvern, WR14 Droitwich. WR9 0PW a rEcIpE for fINE food aNd Good compaNy Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, 2AE 01684 569909 01299 851000 CV37 ONR FOUR SEASONS 61 ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Rd, 01789 295252 Lowesmoor, Worcester Aston Fields, SINGLE? THE VINE INN 86 - 88 West WR1 2RS 01905 27026 Bromsgrove. B60 2DZ St, Warwick CV34 6AW FUSION BRASSERIE 01527 889948 For the more discerning 07873 219005 Hawbridge, Stoulton, SAFFRON BISTRO 15 New WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith Worcester WR7 4RJ St, Worcester WR1 2DP unattached person, age 40+ Street, CV34 4HS 01926 01905 840647 01905 610505 491736 THE INN AT STONEHALL THAI LOTUS 147 Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie balls, ZIZZI 85-87 Regent Stonehall Common, Worcester Rd, theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. Square House, Parade, Worcester, WR5 3QG Bromsgrove. B61 7HN Leamington Spa CV 32 01905820462 01527 882606 Not a datING aGENcy 4NL 01926 432532 KING CHARLES II King Not a datING aGENcy Charles House, New St, 01244 677030(day)/01244 548816(Eve/W-end) Worcestershire ANAKARI 47 The Tythings, Worcester. WR1 1JT For full Restaurant listings www.thedinnerclubuk.com 01905 21412 visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk (IBC) R1_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:32 Page 1

ValentinesPlanning Weekend Your LOOKING FOR A Starts Here! RESTAURANT ON YOUR DOORSTEP? Friday 14th February Motown & Soul Tribute 3 course meal & Disco £29.95 per person

VISIT Saturday 15th February Abba Tribute 3 course meal & Disco whatsonlive.co.uk £29.95 per person

WHY NOT MAKE A NIGHT OF IT The most comprehensive CHAMPAGNE PACKAGE £149.00 per couple inc. 2 places for the tribute with 3 course meal, overnight accommodation, Midlands listings website for bottle of Champagne, Strawberries, Chocolates and full English breakfast. Birmingham and the West Midlands Great Barr Hotel, Pear Tree Drive, Great Barr. B43 6HS Tel: 0121 357 1141 grand_whatson FP Feb_Layout 1 27/01/2014 17:47 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 12 - SAT 15 FEBRUARY MON 17 - WED 19 FEBRUARY THU 20 - SAT 22 FEBRUARY

Robert C Kelly and Martin Lynch present The Outrageous New Comedy!

Written By Leesa Harker BBC “hilarious” ...the joy is in the outrageous script...

TUES 25 FEB - SAT 1 MARCH TUES 11 - SAT 15 MARCH MON 17 - TUES 18 MARCH

PAUL BUNYAN BRITTEN THE MAGIC FLUTE MOZART

“AS GOOD AND MAD AS OPERA GETS.” OBSERVER

SUN 23 - TUES 25 MARCH ALSO BOOKING WED 26 - SAT 29 MARCH SUN 23 FEBRUARY ##### THE RAT PACK IS BACK ...... ‘AN EVENING OF RARE, RAW POWER’ SUN 2 MARCH THE ELVIS YEARS THE INDEPENDENT ...... MON 3 - SAT 8 MARCH FAME ...... THU 20 - FRI 21 MARCH ZEPPELIN DREAMS ...... SAT 22 MARCH LESLEY JOSEPH HOT FLUSH ...... SUN 30 MARCH THE SOLID SILVER 60s SHOW ...... MON 31 - SAT 5 APRIL SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS ...... SUN 6 APRIL THE FAAABULOUS CERI DUPREE SHOW

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