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Staffordshire Cover October 2017 .qxp_Staffordshire Cover 22/09/2017 12:45 Page 1

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands JOE MCELDERRY STARS AS JOSEPH AT THE REGENT STAFFORDSHIREWHAT’S OCTOBER ON 2017

Staffordshire ISSUE 382 OCTOBER 2017 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On staffordshirewhatson.co.uk

PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP inside:

Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

colourfulAPHRA life BEHN’Sunveiled at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre TWITTER: @WHATSONSTAFFS

rock’n’rollLOUIS forBERRY the 21st century at The Sugarmill FACEBOOK:@STAFFORDSHIREWHATSON

Pop-up,ROUNDABOUT plug-and-play theatre in the Potteries STAFFORDSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK Contents October Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:24 Page 1

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LT

16+ ANGELOS AND BARRY - ‘THE NEW POWER GENERATION’ "COMEDY PALS’ BARMY BANTER IS A PUERILE DELIGHT" FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER 8.00PM ALL TICKETS £15.50

NED BOULTING’S BIKEOLOGY JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR NED BOULTING IS BACK THIS AUTUMN WITH HIS ACCLAIMED SELL OUT RIDE THROUGH THE WORLD OF BIKEOLOGY THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER, 7.30PM ALL TICKETS £20.50

TOSCA “BY FAR THE BEST COMPANY TO BRING RUSSIAN OPERA TO BRITISH AUDIENCES” STAGE TALK MAGAZINE

FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER, 7.30PM £32.50 ADULTS £30.50 CONCS

WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT A STUNNING CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS OF OUR TIME

SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER, 7.30PM ALL TICKETS £24.50

PG CHRIS RYAN – HOW TO STAY SAFE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD AN EXPERT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, CHRIS RYAN SHOWS YOU HOW TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE MONDAY 23 OCTOBER, 7.30PM ALL TICKETS £14.50

MILKSHAKE! LIVE 2017 THIS BRAND NEW LIVE SHOW IS SURE TO AMAZE AND DELIGHT!

THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER, 12.00PM & 3.30PM TICKETS £15.00 FAMILY TICKET £54.00

16+ RUBY WAX - ‘FRAZZLED’ THE FOLLOW UP TO HER SELL-OUT TOURING SHOW, AND BEST-SELLING BOOK, ‘SANE NEW WORLD’

FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER, 8.00PM ALL TICKETS £20.50

DICK & DOM LIVE *WARNING - YOU MAY GET MESSY*

SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER, 11.00AM & 2.00PM ADULTS £12.50 CHILD £10.50 FAMILY £42.00

View the full listings at www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk Box office 01785 619080 Contents October Shrops.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:23 Page 2

October 2017

Contents

Disney On Ice - grab your passport for one big adventure at Genting Arena - more on page 45

Carrie Hope Fletcher Awful Auntie the list

talks about being part of talks about life, from Little David Walliams’ much-loved Your 16-page ... Britain to Little Me story arrives on stage week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 interview page 19 page 30 page 53 inside:

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

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

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Yvonne Kentfield [email protected] 01743 281706 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 MEDIA GROUP Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox, Lauren Cole, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs September.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:27 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

A taste of Munich as new beer festival takes a bow Munich is coming to the Shropshire town of Shrewsbury this month. Well, sort of. Legendary Munich beer festival Oktoberfest is the inspiration behind a brand new event from Shropshire Festivals. Also using the Oktoberfest name, the event debuts in the town’s Quarry Park from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 October. As well as showcasing more than 150 ales with which to wet your whistle, the event also features process parlours, a gin den and mixology classes to shake things up. There’s music to enjoy too, ranging from oompah bands to the very best local talent, as well as a comedy zone to get you laughing. Lederhosen is optional...

Telly show to premiere at facilities, wifi, touchscreen tables and Heartthrob Nigel back at computer tablets. It will be located on the classic motor event ground floor at the city’s St Mary’s Church. the helm for tour A UK premiere screening of the first episode Former EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman in the 14th season of hit TV show Wheeler will be taking the director’s chair for Shrek Dealers will take place at next month’s The Musical when it visits the Midlands on Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at its nationwide tour. ’s NEC. Nigel made his directorial debut on the first Classic motoring enthusiasts are being given ever tour of the hit show, having previously the chance to win two tickets to view the originated the role of Lord Farquaad in the screening. If they book their show tickets West End, a performance for which he won a before Thursday 26 October, they will coveted Olivier Award. automatically be entered into a prize draw. stops off at the New The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show Wellbeing in the Midlands Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, from returns to Birmingham’s NEC from Friday 10 The Wellbeing Festival is returning to Wednesday 14 to Sunday 25 February. It then to Sunday 12 November. For more Birmingham’s NEC next month (3 - 5 returns to the region three months later for a information, visit necclassicmotorshow.com November), with the organisation behind the run at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent show, Mind Body Spirit, this year celebrating (Wednesday 2 to Sunday 13 May). its 40th anniversary. Tickets can be purchased by calling 0844 871 The three-day event offers ‘spiritual seekers’ 7649 or visiting atgtickets.com a safe place in which to commune and share their ideas, beliefs and philosophies. Attractions at this month’s show include a workshop programme presenting new ideas on relationships, awakening, inspired living, NLP, yoga, meditation, science & angels. New for this year is the Ceremony Space, an area in which visitors can focus on intimate ceremony-based experiences. For more information, visit mindbodyspirit.co.uk

Work now underway on new Lichfield library Work has begun to create a brand new library in Lichfield. The new facility, which is to be modelled on Stafford Library, will include 3D printing 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs September.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:27 Page 2

First Word

Cathedral opener for Lichfield fest The Lichfield Festival Of Folk is this month taking place for a fifth year. A friendly event which has developed a devoted following of discerning music fans, L2F, as it’s otherwise known, is kickstarted by a Lich- field Cathedral performance from Jon Boden of Bellowhead fame. As well as an impressive programme of music across the , the event also fea- tures processions, dance, work- shops and exhibitions. L2F takes place at various ven- ues from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October.

Strictly tour to kick off in the Midlands Joe Pasquale to star as Frank Spencer in Wolverhampton ’s 2018 live tour will kick off at Arena Panto favourite and one-time I’m A Celebrity winner Joe Pasquale makes a welcome return to the Birmingham on 19 January region next spring, to star as the accident-prone Frank Spencer in a stage version of classic 1970s (until the 21st). sitcom Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em. The show stops off at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 15 The stage version of the hit TV to 19 May. The character of Frank Spencer was made famous by Michael Crawford in the popular TV show will be hosted by reigning series, which ran from 1973 to ’78. Sarah Earnshaw portrays Frank’s long-suffering wife, Betty, in the champion new show. For more info, visit grandtheatre.co.uk (pictured), with (who directs for the eighth year) and Bruno Tonioli once again on the judging Midlands panel. writer set for Commenting on the upcoming tour, Ore said: "Winning Strictly Hollywood was the most unforgettable A Midlands author’s experience and a dream come latest novel is being true. This show and its fans will tipped for big movie always hold a special place in success. my . I can't wait to travel Liam Brown’s the UK again and meet the Broadcast has been fantastic audiences that make Strictly the phenomenon we snapped up by a know and love.” major Hollywood studio. It tells the story of YouTube sensation David Callow, a man who agrees to take part in a revolutionary Big town plan to transform Shrewsbury new online show Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID), Shropshire Council and called MindCast. Shrewsbury Town Council have unveiled a plan that would see the majority “I can picture Tom of Shrewsbury town centre pedestrianised. Hiddleston as the The Big Town Plan also features a redevelopment of the riverside, increased lead,” says Liam, cycleways and more green areas. 34, who lives in A special pop-up space, located in the town centre at 80 Wyle Cop, provides Birmingham with the public with the chance to view large-scale artist impressions of how wife Simone and Shrewsbury could be transformed. their two children. People can also visit shrewsburybigtownplan.org to read the outline plan and suggest their own ideas to develop the project further. whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs September.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:27 Page 3

First Word

All-star line-up for A Weekend ‘Victims of terror’ Of Words in South Shropshire memorial set for A Weekend Of Words, Ludlow Assembly Rooms’ Arboretum very own literature festival, makes a welcome return The National Memorial this month (Friday 20 - Sunday 22 October). Arboretum in Staffordshire The 2017 edition of the event features contributions is to house a new memorial from Shappi Khorsandi (pictured), Andy Hamilton, to British victims of Peter Snow & Ann MacMillan and Tony Robinson. terrorism overseas. As well as featuring numerous ticketed events, the The new work, entitled Still festival also offers plenty of free entertainment to Water, will be created by enjoy. Highlights include the screening of films from artist Alison Wilding and Rural Media’s Random Acts project, and children’s sculptor Adam Kershaw. storytelling sessions with Karen Argent. Commenting on the Tickets can be purchased via 01584 878141 or online announcement, Sarah at ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk Montgomery, Managing Director of the National Memorial Arboretum, said: Wolverhampton “This new memorial will aims to show it’s play a valuable role in acknowledging the deaths a fun place to be of innocent British travellers Wolverhampton is this at the hands of terrorists.” month hosting a comedy festival in response to reports Folk stars to play from the Office of National Shrewsbury’s Statistics which suggest that the city is one of the sacred space ‘unhappiest places in the British folk ambassadors UK'. Show Of Hands are this The Funny Things Festival month performing at St runs at various venues from Mary’s Church in 23 October to 5 November. Shrewsbury. Contributors to the 14-day The award-winning duo, laugh-in include Jimmy Carr, Paines Plough’s pop-up plug-and-play who blend sharp Milton Jones, John Bishop, theatre to stop off in Stoke-on-Trent songwriting with unrivalled Tom Stade and Henning musicianship, will perform Wehn. For more information The world’s first ‘pop-up, plug-and-play theatre’ is coming to Stoke-on- at the venue on Thursday 26 about the event, visit funny- Trent. The venue, which is called Roundabout, is visiting the city for a October. They’re joined for things.co.uk third time. It will host a season of new shows presented by nationally the gig by Miranda Sykes. touring company Paines Plough, as well as comedy from Hardeep Singh Kohli. The flatpack theatre pops up outside the newly built No 1 Smithfield in Hanley from 19 to 22 October.

Helping to Reviivean Ayckbourn classic... Highly rated amateur ensemble Shropshire Drama Company (SDC) is next month staging a new version of classic comedy Bedroom Farce - with a little help from Shropshire recycling and resale organisation Reviive. SDC will perform the play in the Walker Theatre at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn (Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 November). The production makes use of three beds - all of which are being supplied by Reviive. “The action requires three contrasting bedrooms in three separate houses to be simultaneously accommodated on the stage,” explains the show’s director, Jonathan Cross. “With the invaluable help and support of Reviive, we hope to achieve a visually interesting set which will provide just the right background for SDC’s presentation of this hilarious play.” For more information, visit theatresevern.co.uk 6 whatsonlive.co.uk Pink Sari Revolution DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:14 Page 1 Pink Sari Revolution Pink Sari Revolution is the world première of the true story of Sampat Pal and her fight for freedom in India. Based on the book by journalist Amana Fontanella-Khan, Curve Associate Director Suba Das is bringing Sampat’s story to the stage following an extensive period of research and development both in the UK and India.

Tell us about your production of Pink Sari you can do when making theatre is in the world’. Revolution. encourage the audience to use their I read Fontanella-Khan’s book several years Pink Sari Revolution is a drama about an imagination. That’s where something affects ago and when I heard about the Arts incredible woman, Sampat Pal, who has you totally and touches you the most. Council’s Reimagine India funding to created one of the world’s greatest feminist In terms of what we’re presenting, we are not encourage cultural work between British and movements. She leads an army of 400,000 shying away from the reality that the piece is Indian organisations, I immediately felt like women in rural India who wear neon pink motored by the very specific case that there was an opportunity to take this story saris and say ‘enough is enough’. Sampat Pal became obsessed with. However, that I've been so excited about and find a way The play is based on a documentary account it’s not going to be a production in which an to make a show. We’ve also received support of her ‘Gulabi Gang’ written by journalist audience will see sexual violence enacted on for this production from the British Council’s Amana Fontanella-Khan. The story is about stage. I’m not interested in confronting UK/IN 2017 programme and English Touring these women who have real strength and are audiences with that or asking actors to delve Theatre. This funding enabled us to go out standing up for their rights but also about the into that in a rehearsal room –I don’t think and spend time with Sampat Pal both in her cost of saying no to the system. we need to show the issue. It’s a very serious, home and out on the campaign trail. I’m real experience. slightly in love with her! She’s a force of nature; the most charismatic, extraordinary, The book focuses on the Gulabi Gang’s fire-cracker of a human being you could ever Why is this story so important to you? 2010 campaign to free falsely imprisoned imagine. teenager Sheelu Nishad after she was Sampat Pal is an incredibly inspirational It’s a real responsibility, when you meet raped by a prominent local politician. woman; an iconic woman who has created somebody, you’re telling a story about a real How are you tackling the difficult issues one of the world's greatest and most vibrant human being. The complexity as a theatre brought up by this? feminist movements. She was married off at maker is then digging into that and knowing the age of 12, taught herself how to read, that we will create a show that does raise As a director, there’s something very write and sew so that she could be questions about whether she has always interesting about the idea of how you present economically independent. From those done the right thing. violence, and certainly sexual violence, on impoverished origins in one of the most Pink Sari Revolution is more than just a show the stage. I don’t believe that theatre is there lawless parts of India, she has achieved about terrible things that happen far away; to be gratuitous; I think theatre is there to extraordinary things and even became one of we know that these things take place all plant images and ideas. The greatest thing The Guardian’s ‘100 most important women around the world and that's why this story is

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Pink Sari Revolution DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:14 Page 2

so important and urgent to tell. Who have you met so far and who are you to be a woman?’, ‘what does it mean to be a bringing along on this production? protestor?’, ‘what does it mean to say “no”?’, and ‘what does it mean to say ‘this is With two years in development, what has A really important element of developing the enough’?’. Female rights, protests, resistance the process been to create the production show has been working with the Indian – they’re themes that obsess everyone right so far? playwright Purva Naresh, an extraordinary feminist political voice from India. It felt so now. We are all living in the shadow of not One of the starting points for this play was important for this piece to be written by a quite knowing whether our society works for our research and development process in woman who is living through these realities us – that’s not just in India, that’s right here India way back in December 2015. It felt like and who is so passionate and angry and with too. It’s everywhere. What I hope is that this the only way to conceive of making this show so much social work in her own day-to-day story of an amazing woman in India will would be to travel to India. Living with life. Her family are from the biggest city near unlock a wider conversation here in the UK. Sampat Pal and meeting with extraordinary to Sampat Pal, she grew up hearing about her Sampat was leading thousands of women Indian artists gave us a real sense of what and the ‘Gulabi Gang’. and men marching in pink a decade before this story means to the people in India. the Women's Marches in Washington and We are also working with Tim Lutkin who is All we had were ideas; we didn't know what across the world this year. Our hope is this an Olivier award-winning lighting designer, the take up would be for the show. tale of truth and resistance might in some Designer Isla Shaw, and Aakash Odedra (who Artistically, reaching out to communities way empower audiences in the UK and recently won the Amnesty International here in the UK felt so important because it is beyond. Freedom of Expression award) as our a daunting thing to be a young man wanting Movement Director. It’s a world-class, to tell this story about South Asian women. I international team telling a global story. met with book clubs and local Indian women community groups to discuss the story and what it means from their perspectives. This is a very powerful story, what do you Pink Sari Revolution runs at the Belgrade Part of our process is turning all the facts and hope audiences in the UK will take from Theatre Coventry from Wednesday 11 to all the information we have into a story about it? Saturday 21 October a world that probably feels very alien and Pink Sari Revolution is a very specific story remote to so many of us, and turning that about this place and this moment in time in into a really human, exciting, theatrical India, but it’s also universal. The issues that drama. sit at the heart of this are ‘what does it mean First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs September.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:27 Page 4 Carrie Hope Fletcher DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:17 Page 1

8 whatsonlive.co.uk Carrie Hope Fletcher DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:17 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid Crazier than You Carrie Hope Fletcher stars as Wednesday in The Addams Family UK tour

With her upbeat, playful and down-to-earth which just sums her up so well: ‘I’m crazier just minus the Spanish accent!” persona, and the warmth, wit and wisdom than you, so get on board or simply move Carrie got her first taste of the show’s music she imparts to her scores of young fans, along.’” much earlier than her co-stars, having origi- multi-talented singer, actor, writer and inter- The version of Wednesday Carrie plays in the nally been invited to sing one of the songs, net sensation Carrie Hope Fletcher has been production is a bit older than previous incar- Pulled, in an Andrew Lippa concert. So en- described as everyone’s favourite big sister. nations - a fully fledged 18-year-old starting amoured was she by the idea of the show Lately, however, she’s been appearing as a to assert her independence. Of course, she’s that she begged to be first in line for audi- big sister of a rather different ilk, starring as never been one to stand for any mollycod- tions if it ever came to the UK. the borderline-psychotic Wednesday Addams dling or pay much heed to rules, but there are “I knew it wouldn’t be exactly the same as in the UK tour of Andrew Lippa’s Addams some lines that you simply don’t cross - and the Broadway version because I’d heard that Family musical. one of them is falling for a boy like Lucas there’d been a few changes, so when I read it Straight black pigtails and scathing, deadpan Beineke. Thankfully, his relative ‘ordinari- I was just so excited to find out what our looks make quite a change from the bright, ness’ doesn’t seem to have rubbed off on story would be. I actually got the script about curly-haired Carrie that we’re used to seeing. Wednesday too much, even if she does get three or four weeks before we started re- But is this really the first time she’s been in overly worked up about how her ‘meet the hearsals, and I was just itching to get to work touch with her dark side? With the show parents’ dinner will play out. straight away - it was everything I expected soon to arrive in Wolverhampton, we asked “The thing about her is that instead of getting and more!” her whether she’d ever ‘gone goth’ before. gooey and lovey-dovey, she gets crazy. You Alongside her demanding role in the show, “I did!” she laughs. “I had a real emo phase know when you see a kitten that’s so cute Carrie’s also found time to promote her latest when I was about 14. I wore lots of Hellbunny that you want to hurt it? That’s Wednesday to novel, All That She Can See, which was pub- clothing, black lace, skulls and crossbones a tee. She loves Lucas so much, she wants to lished in July. Conveniently, she’s been able and stripy purple and black hoodies with cat kill him, almost! to sync up her stage tour with visits to book- ears on the hood. I was really into My Chemi- “But I also think that she’s attracted to the shops near to the venues. cal Romance. In fact, just today, when I was fact that she can look after him. Lucas loves “It’s been going really well. I had just over peeking out of the Addams Family letterbox the darker side of life, but he’s still quite a 200 people turn up to my signing in Manch- before the beginning of Act Two, I spotted a vulnerable, normal boy who is very out of his ester - and what’s really nice is that a lot of girl on the front row wearing a My Chemical depth with her. I think she likes that she gets the people who came had either been to see Romance hoodie. It made me really happy!” to stand in front of him wielding her cross- The Addams Family or were coming to see it, With her angsty teenage years now behind bow, daring anyone to call him a dork. We al- so it’s lovely to be able to talk to them about her, Wednesday Addams is pretty far re- ways joke that she would never become that.” moved from parts that Carrie’s accustomed to Wednesday Beineke, it would always be As if that wasn’t enough, she’s already writ- today. Happily, the Carrie fanbase seems to Lucas becoming an Addams. Over time, I ing something new, though won’t reveal de- have accepted Wednesday in all her wonder- think he’ll definitely become more like them - tails yet... ful weirdness. I don’t think he has any choice!” “You’ll just have to wait and see!” she ex- “They’ve taken to her much more than I ex- Indeed, the process seems already to be un- claims. pected - everyone seems to really love her! I derway in the song Crazier Than You, a turn- think it’s partly because she’s 18, and the ma- ing point both for Wednesday and Lucas and jority of my online audience is between the for Lucas’ overwhelmed parents, Mal and ages of 18 and 24, so they can identify with Alice. But while the characters battle it out to Carrie Hope Fletcher stars in The Addams her. She’s great because she’s such an advo- claim the title on stage, behind the scenes, Family at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre cate for being confident and being who you says Carrie, it’s Cameron Blakely, who plays from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 October. are no matter what anyone says. There’s a her father, Gomez, who’s the craziest. “He’s great line she sings in Crazier Than You basically the same person on and off stage,

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Food

Tom Kerridge headlines Lichfield dining experience A new fine dining experience takes place in 20 November. Tickets cost £150 and are ex- Staffordshire next month. pected to sell out quickly. The main focus of the event - which in- Sauce Supper Club founder Beth Toovey cludes live music and a Champagne recep- commented: “The evening we have planned tion - is a six-course menu designed and at Alrewas Hayes is incredibly special. I delivered by half-a-dozen Michelin-starred don’t actually know of anything similar, chefs and their teams, including the two- where such an amazing offering has been Michelin-starred Tom Kerridge, Richard brought together for a single occasion. We Turner of Turners at 69 and Luke Tipping of wanted to do something really big for our Simpsons in Birmingham. end-of-year event, so we’re really excited to The event is being hosted by Sauce Supper be bringing together such a selection of tal- Club and takes place at Grand Pavilion - ented chefs for this amazing gourmet expe- part of the refurbished Alrewas Hayes - on rience.”

arancini was nicely cooked - samphire. The flavour combina- crispy on the outside and soft tions were a match made in and creamy on the inside. heaven. The salty samphire and The evening had certainly begun mussels, allied with the soft and well! nicely cooked piece of fish, made for yet another highly enjoyable For my starter, I chose the pork dish. belly served with black pudding, a cherry sauce, an apple sauce For the finale we shared the and a pistachio crumb. Beauti- chocolate terrine and the coffee fully presented, the pork belly panna cotta. Served with an or- was tender, full of flavour and ange sauce and Aero-inspired cooked to perfection. The pista- cocoa nibs, the dish was rich, chio crumb added a contrasting flavoursome and downright deli- texture. The cherry and apple cious! The panna cotta, served sauces provided the dish not with pieces of coffee cake and a clotted cream ice cream, show- REVIEW: only with extra flavour but also a Fairlawns Restaurant 178 welcome splash or two of colour. cased a smooth, creamy taste and texture. Walsall venue offers exemplary service, My partner opted for the duck tasty food and relaxed atmosphere liver parfait served with duck If you’re a lover of tastefully pre- ham and, again, cherry sauce sented, contemporary food made and pistachio crumb. Served with high-quality ingredients, Family-owned Walsall hotel The cal British flavours. then Restaurant 178 is well worth Fairlawns has been in operation with some warm toast, the par- Shortly after we’d ordered our fait tasted divine and the presen- a visit. Its commitment to exem- for 30 years. It comprises a four- food, an amuse-bouche arrived. plary service, tasty food and the star hotel & spa, wedding and tation was fantastic. The chefs Comprising a mushroom velouté here really know their stuff. creation of a relaxed atmosphere private party facilities, an adult with coffee syrup and mascar- certainly makes for the kind of As tempting as the health club & gymnasium, nine pone arancini, this unexpected evening you’ll be happy to expe- chateaubriand sharing board acres of landscaped grounds and addition was delivered to our rience time and again. was, for my main course I chose a restaurant that comes complete table with the compliments of Lauren Foster with two AA Rosettes for fine the chef. The warm and creamy the lamb rump and shoulder catering and a five-star rating for served with aubergine, yoghurt mushroom velouté was a little Food: nnnnn food hygiene. and broad beans. The rump, pot of heaven, presented in an Service: nnnnn served medium rare, was simply Restaurant 178’s aim is to create espresso-sized cup and showcas- Ambience: nnnnn stunning - cooked to perfection a relaxed, attentive and comfort- ing a strong, earthy flavour. The Overall value nnnnn and seasoned nicely. The shoul- able service - and that’s certainly coffee syrup added a welcome OVERALL nnnnn what they delivered the night we sweetness and made for a perfect der was tasty, the other elements visited. flavour combination. Whoever serving as delicious accompani- Fairlawns Restaurant 178 would’ve thought that mush- ments. Fairlawns Hotel and Spa Having been shown to our table, 178 Little Aston Road room and coffee would work so My partner chose the fillet of sea we ordered two pints of lager to Walsall WS9 0NU trout with elements of tartar, enjoy whilst perusing a menu well together, but boy, they most Tel: 01922 455122 that was well stacked with typi- certainly do! The mascarpone potato and mussel sauce and

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Food

Lavish new restaurant Fuss-free Greek menu on offer in Shrewsbury & cocktail bar set to A new family-run Shrewsbury restaurant is open in Selfridges store promising to be a real hit with customers, The award-winning San Carlo is this thanks to its menu of fuss-free authentic Greek month opening its new Fumo dishes. restaurant, champagne & cocktail bar Situated close to the town’s Abbey Church, on the fourth floor of Birmingham’s Niko’s Greek Restaurant features traditional Selfridges store. decor, a semi-open kitchen and a menu boast- Affording stunning views of the iconic ing the kind of cuisine that’s much in evidence Bullring, the £1million venue will in less-touristy parts of Greece. feature a uniquely shaped grand Diners at Niko’s can choose from a selection of marble bar. appetising mezze dishes, while main courses Fumo’s all-day menu will serve Italian include grilled lamb chops marinated with small plate dishes to share, using only Greek spices, Keftedes (Greek meatballs), shar- the finest ingredients from the produce ing platters and moussaka. Grilled aubergines with feta cheese, tomato markets of Milan and Sicily. The drinks menu features wines from Romania, sauce, extra virgin olive oil and Greek spices The bar will specialise in cocktails and Lebanon and the US. These sit alongside Greek feature among the vegetarian options. Laurent Perrier Champagne. classics Retsina and Ouzo, and coffee imported A healthy Greek yoghurt with honey and wal- from Greece. nuts, and Halva - a moist cake made from Niko’s currently opens daily from 5pm until Popular cocktail bar semolina flour and cooked in a cinnamon midnight. Bookings can be made online at syrup - are available for dessert. expands with a £1.4m nikosgreek-restaurant.co.uk refurbishment One of Birmingham’s most-loved cocktail bars has recently opened a second room, following a £1.4million refurbishment. Located in Piccadilly Arcade, Be At One can now welcome up to 550 cocktail lovers through its doors. The popular venue has one of the longest lists of cocktails in the industry. Favourites include blended specialities such as the sweet & salty popcorn-topped Popster, the superfood-packed Beetroot Retox and reimagined classic the Gin Re- Fashioned. Commenting on the company, co- founder Steve Locke said: “Be At One is a cocktail institution, providing great service, an unbeatable party atmosphere and, most importantly, a pretension-free attitude.” Top chef unveils new wine collection Wolverhampton restaurant celebrates its 35th anniversary Following a launch event at his One of Wolverhampton’s most popular restau- hampton’s premier Asian restaurant,” said Mo- Birmingham Steakhouse Bar & Grill rants has launched a new menu in celebration hammed Khan, who now runs the business last month, award-winning chef Marco of its 35th birthday. with his father. Pierre White has created a new and Bilash, which was opened by chef Sitab Khan “It has been a very exciting journey, from hav- exclusive wine collection. in 1982, serves authentic dishes infused with a ing a small place with no reputation to now The wines have been created alongside combination of traditional and modern boasting a Michelin rating and being featured celebrated wine-maker Jean-Luc Bangladeshi cuisine. in the AA, Waitrose and Haden’s good food Colombo and are exclusively available “We are very passionate about our local roots guides.” at Marco’s UK restaurants. and the fact that we have grown into Wolver- whatsonlive.co.uk 13 GIGS October Shrops_Staffs_Wolves.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:43 Page 1 Nick Mulvery DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:27 Page 1 Nick Mulvey Following a triumphant Glastonbury performance, British singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey embarks on a new tour in support of his new album Wake Up Now. Lauren Foster recently caught up with Nick to find out more..

Your new album, Wake Up Now, is out the guitar mics and guitar mics on the vocal speaking, it was kind of flamenco, although now. Can you tell us a little bit about it? mics. It means you can’t be such a control my Italian friend that I worked with on this Sure! It’s an album I wrote in parallel with freak because you can’t edit afterwards as song, Frederico Bruno, said that the my wife’s pregnancy and the birth of our first much. You can’t take out that instrument or sequence reminded him of Southern Italy - so kid. We recorded it last October in Real World rejig that structure. You have to commit to the it’s kind of Mediterranean, and that was studios, which is ’s studio out in structure and you have to go for the take. All important. We recognised that we couldn’t Wiltshire. The songs look at the role of self- of that was enormously helpful for me as an write our own words about it because what enquiry in our understanding of our artist. It gave me a lot of confidence just to be experience do we have, so we decided to do predicament. I was ready as a writer to start like ‘fuck it, let’s do it like this’. It was a lot of some research and do it properly. We were having a bit more of an outward perspective. fun; it freed me up just to play music and inspired by Peter Gabriel’s song, Biko, which My first record was insular, and I think I was made it a really exciting journey. is about Steve Biko and apartheid in South ready as a writer to look outwards. That Africa in 1980, and which takes a more journalistic approach. We looked at online feeling was amplified by becoming a dad and What’s the meaning behind the title? having that natural thing where you have a archives of refugees’ accounts of their own The album is fundamentally about waking sense of responsibility for your small part of journeys, and the song started to flow from up to the mystery of life and celebrating the world. Also, it was a product of the fact of that. We were fictionalising these characters. being alive, and I don’t mean just being alive writing an album in 2016 - it felt impossible For example, there’s a 10-year-old boy called in the sense that we normally mean. I think not to talk about some of the big issues going Deogratius from Nigera, and when they we’ve constantly overlooked the mystery of on that are so prevalent right now. If you’ve asked him why he’d gone to Italy, he said our own being, and that has a key role in our grown up in the horn of Africa, or you were he’d rather die once in the sea than die every over-consumption, which is driving the made homeless because there’s not enough day staying at home. From a 10-year-old kid planet to the edge . Therefore a greater sense support for people at a certain level in that was just devastating to read, and that of the mystery of absolutely every moment of housing, then issues have been screamingly became the song. It was something I felt like I every day has a role to play in our sense of loud for a long time, but the difference is that wanted to write. It’s not perfect - people have knowing that we are already enough - and now, they allow for all of us. It’s an told me that the ‘I am your neighbour’ bit at that’s a joyful thing. That sense of joy and increasingly exhausting act to be in denial the end is a bit wordy, but the thing is, it’s wonder is hard to feel if you live in debt or about what’s going on in the world. I couldn’t not saying a song is going to change the live with chronic pain, for example. It’s hard do it. This album is a response to that. world. I don’t think a song could change the to walk around going ‘oh every day is world. People could change the world, but wonderful’. that’s why songs matter, because our Does it differ much from your debut attitudes and actions are all shaped by the album, First Mind? The track Myela was born out of the things we absorb, so I wanted to write The songs being more outward-looking is refugee crisis. Can you elaborate on this? something that mattered. reflected a bit in the recording process as It was something I felt very strongly about, as well, which is a difference between the two. I was the cynicism of much of the British Last year saw the birth of your son, Inka. realised I needed to record in a very live way, media. I was confused by that and wanted to How’s fatherhood treating you? with a group of musicians all in the same write about it. I had this chord sequence that room. That way, you have sonic spillage over It’s amazing! It’s a wonder. We live in a barn was brewing for many months. Loosely the microphone, so that there are symbols on where there are no stairs, but at the moment,

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Nick Mulvery DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:27 Page 2

whilst I’m releasing the album, we’ve all Portishead and hip-hop, De Le Soul and stuff 7pm, Meet Me There, and about eight people moved to , and there are stairs in this like that. She fed me a lot of hip-hop and turned up. It was brilliant, and our mate house and he just can’t believe it! We just go drum and bass and jungle - a lot of stuff I came down and we filmed it. We never up and down, up and down, up and down, went on to love. explained it, we just put the film up the next and I’m happy because he’s going to tire You’re well known on the festival circuit. day. A week later, we did a different location himself out and have a good sleep. That was Do you have a favourite festival? somewhere else in Central London and 30 me from 6.45am until about 8.30am, just up people came. A month later, it was 100. I always love Green Man Festival. The and down the stairs - it was joyful. It’s curation, they always nail it there, and it’s a hardcore as well. I’ve been very busy this beautiful site. I love Womad - always a You’re playing Birmingham’s O2 Institute summer and it’s really stretched me to the winner. I love Glastonbury as well. in October. What can audiences expect edge. Being a parent brings up all your shit, from your show? you know - you realise where you’re at, not where you think you’re at. It’s an amazing You opened Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage It’s new level for me. This band is freer and test, and I’m failing and having a wonderful in 2014. What an achievement… we have a deeper connection than I’ve ever had before with musicians. I’m really, really time, if you know what I mean. Yeah, it was awesome. It was the beginning excited about this UK tour. We’re going to of something, I feel. I still feel that on the make a lot of people happy and we’re happy second record. I feel like I have something to What’s your dream collaboration? doing it. I can’t wait for them to meet the prove on this record and I’m excited to see I would love to collaborate with PJ Harvey. I band. To my left on stage, so to their right, is where it goes. think she’s amazing. I love and admire the Frederico Bruno, and he is amazing. He’s a way that she dedicates her art to speaking really special character and he’s having a about things that matter, I’m really inspired You run a series of Meet Me There events ball. He’s very free and he’s playing a lot of by that right now. throughout the country. Can you tell us a different instruments. Then, on my right, little bit about those? stage left, is FIfi. These are really old, dear friends of mine, and I can’t believe we’re all What’s your first musical memory? It came from when we were releasing singles from my last album. We’d just got home, I in a band together. She’s a secret weapon - There was a lot of music in the house. My dad was chatting to fans on the internet and my she’s amazing. People are going to enjoy it. would always crank the music up and really wife said, ‘What do you think would happen enjoy it. Stuff like ZZ Top in the car. When if we put a postcode and a time?’ I have a you’re five years old, that’s massive. It song called Meet Me There, which was the completely blows your mind and is a really single that was on the radio at that time, so powerful experience. A little bit later, my we just thought, let’s try it. We put the name Nick Mulvey performs at O2 Institute, sister used to feed me a lot of music, the of a park around the corner from our house, Birmingham on Monday 9th October cooler stuff like Massive Attack and GIGS October Shrops_Staffs_Wolves.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:43 Page 2

Gigs

Placebo Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sat 21 October Comprising androgynous two-piece Brian Molko (pictured) and Stefan Olsdal, alterna- tive rock band Placebo head to Wolverhamp- ton this month as part of a world tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their plat- inum-selling self-titled debut album. With best-known songs including Pure Morn- ing and Every You, Every Me - and a cult fan- base that’s stood by them throughout - their career has seen them delve into the genres of glam rock, goth rock, grunge and .

Amber Run played some of the biggest festivals in Eu- rope, including Pink Pop in the Netherlands The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Tues 10 October and Hurricane and Southside in Germany. With a growing reputation as makers of Since releasing second album For A Mo- beautifully emotive music, the band stop off ment, I Was Lost, at the start of the year, in Wolverhampton this month as part of a Nottingham four-piece Amber Run have 12-date autumn tour. Megson The Hive, Shrewsbury, Fri 6 October Since releasing first album On The Side in Blair Dunlop Louis Berry 2004, husband-and-wife team Stu and Debbie Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Sun 29 Oc- The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Hanna have developed an enviable reputa- tober; Stafford Gatehouse, Mon 30 October Wed 25 October tion on the English folk music circuit. Blair Dunlop’s skills as a singer, guitarist Specialising in standout melodies and hard- The duo have been hailed as fresh and inno- and songwriter were much in evidence on hitting lyrics, Louis Berry delivers rock’n’roll vative - a description that’s hardly surprising his debut album, Blight And Blossom, and for the 21st century. given that Debbie is classically trained and its well-received follow-ups, House Of Jacks “I want to be the biggest male artist on the Stu’s a former punk! (2014) and Gilded (2016). The award-win- planet,” says Louis. “You name me one song Specialising in self-composed melodies ning singer, songwriter and guitarist is part in the charts right now that says anything which bring together intimate harmony of a famous musical dynasty. His father, about your life or my life. I can’t name one! singing and multi-instrumental acoustic play- Ashley Hutchings, is the famed co-founder Chart music now is just candy - it doesn’t ing, the pair visit the Midlands this month as of Fairport Convention. feed your soul. An hour later you’re hungry part of their 2017 autumn tour. again.” The Young’uns Louis brings his UK tour to the Midlands fol- lowing triumphant performances at Reading Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 7 October; & this summer. mac, Birmingham, Sat 21 October Having won the Best Group gong at the BBC Radio Two Folk Awards in both 2015 and ’16, The Young’uns have successfully cemented their position at the forefront of the English folk scene. The talented Teesside trio return this month with an extensive UK tour and an eagerly anticipated new album, Strangers. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Godiva Rocks DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:19 Page 1 Godiva Rocks DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:19 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid Godiva Rocks

A brand new show is this month celebrating the musical heritage of Coventry. What’s On chats to the man behind Godiva Rocks, local playwright Alan Pollock...

You’ve heard of Madchester, Merseybeat and Coventry’. Lots of people don’t realise, for “Part of the point of doing this show about the heavy metal movement forged in example, that Funboy Three are basically a Coventry is getting people to be proud of stuff Birmingham, but would you know how to Cov band, that The Primitives and Panjabi we’ve done. I’ve been unofficially involved define the sound of Coventry? MC were from Coventry, as was Frank Ifield, with the City of Culture bid right from the In his latest show, Godiva Rocks, local who had four number one hits before Elvis start, and we talk about this a lot - getting playwright Alan Pollock sets out to do just Presley had even had one! So there’s a lot people to be actively positive about what that. In what may well be the world’s first more than people think. we’ve achieved.” musical based around the songs of a single “There are one or two Specials songs in the And Pollock has certainly been doing his bit city, the One Night In November scribe now show, but I felt like The Specials had already to celebrate Coventry for some years: neither turns his attention to homegrown hits been celebrated elsewhere, so I wanted to get this nor his controversial Coventry Blitz play through the story of a young couple people to look at all the other stuff. One Night In November are his first time searching for the essence of Coventry music. “Nobody’s going to be disappointed - there putting the city centre-stage. “It’s hard to avoid acknowledging that 2-tone will be something for everyone, from young “I’ve always found it fascinating. I grew up really nailed it,” says Pollock. “With the people now right back to the ’60s.” here, and even though I moved away for a exception of a few late-’60s bands, that was So why is it that this hotbed of musical while and lived all over the world, I found the first time that black and white united to invention has gone largely unrecognised myself drawn back to the spirit of the place. make music here. That hadn’t really until now? Well, one reason could be Its history is so rich, and it’s like a kind of happened at all during the ’70s, but when it Coventrians’ own self-perception. Unlike in symbol of the country as a whole, with its came along, it just seemed like such a natural London, Birmingham and powerhouses of industrial background and its ups and expression of who we are in this melting-pot the north, in Cov, we’re quite a reticent bunch downs. When my parents arrived in the early city, which is a big theme in the play.” when it comes to extolling our own virtues. ’60s, it had the highest average wage of any Many locals do feel a sense of ownership over In fact, the biggest Coventry critics are almost town in the country. Then it suffered badly in their ska heritage, so it was no surprise when always those who live here. To paraphrase the ’80s, but now we’re starting to come back the iconic Ghost Town topped a recent public Pollock at the Godiva Rocks launch, it feels from that. So I’ve always seen it as a kind of poll to find our favourite Coventry number as though we always wait for outside place of resilience. Some of that is expressed one. Yet from the electronic experimentation recognition before we’ll acknowledge the in the music, and it’s part of what I’m trying of Delia Derbyshire to launching what has merits of anything made here. to extract and distil in this show. become Britain’s biggest free music festival, Trouble is, since the decline of our once- “I’m extremely confident that we can win there’s so much more to the Coventry music world-famous industry, such external (City of Culture). I think if politics doesn’t get scene than The Specials. affirmation has become increasingly rare. in the way, ours is the strongest bid by a “I didn’t actually have to dig very deep to Nowadays, many people outside the mile.” come up with loads of songs from here,” Midlands would be hard-pressed even to say continues Pollock. “I think if and where Coventry is, let alone tell you anything are at the top in terms of musical about its cultural life, so if we’re to be in with Godiva Rocks plays at the Belgrade output, we’re certainly in the top three or a chance of taking the City of Culture title, it’s Theatre, Coventry, from Saturday 7 to four. But the thing I hear people saying a lot up to us to shout about what makes it Saturday 21 October. in rehearsals is, ‘I didn’t know that was from special. Classical October Wolves_Staffs_Shrops -2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:19 Page 1 Classical October Wolves_Staffs_Shrops -2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:19 Page 2

Classical

Ex Cathedra Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 14 October Ex Cathedra have long enjoyed an inter- national reputation as one of the UK’s leading choral and Early Music ensem- bles. They return to Symphony Hall to present a performance of Johann Sebas- tian Bach’s Magnificat - a composition widely recognised as a Baroque-era great. Ex Cathedra founder and conductor Jef- frey Skidmore is the man at the helm for a concert that also features the City of Birm- ingham Symphony Orchestra. The programme is completed by two of Bach’s famous cantatas and his resplen- dent Orchestral Suite No3.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 13 October A trio of well-loved Beethoven compositions, performed alongside one of the masterpieces of British music, is the mouthwatering prospect awaiting classical music lovers attending this season-opening concert. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is in town to perform Beethoven’s Emperor and Overture to Fidelio, while the world-renowned Simon Trp eski (pictured) makes a wel- come return to the venue to tackle the composer’s 5th Piano Concerto.č London Mozart Players The programme is completed by Elgar’s magnificent Enigma Variations. Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry, Comprising 14 variations on an original theme, the piece features musical sketches of some Sat 28 October of the composer’s closest acquaintances, as well as of himself and his wife. A fresh new talent teams up with a well- “The sketches are not ‘portraits’,” explained Elgar in a concert programme note, “but each established orchestra for this Shropshire variation contains a distinct idea founded on some particular personality or perhaps on Music Trust concert. some incident known only to two people. This is the basis of the composition, but the work South Korean violinist Joo Yeon Sir (pic- may be listened to as a ‘piece of music’ apart from any extraneous consideration.” tured), a fast-rising star whose stunning The concert is conducted by Vassily Sinaisky, a man schooled in the tradition of Musin and talent has seen her bag a dazzling array of Kondrashin and a former music director of Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. awards, here performs alongside Britain’s longest-established chamber orchestra, the London Mozart Players. Armonico Consort Basel Symphony The evening’s programme features Grieg’s The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Orchestra Holberg Suite Op40, Mendelssohn’s Violin Shropshire, Tues 10 October Concerto No1 in D minor, Rossini’s Sonata Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 10 October Founded by organist and conductor Christo- No1 in G and Dvorak’s Serenade for Celebrated cellist Sol Gabetta here joins pher Monks in 2001, Armonico are one of the Strings Op22. forces with the Basel Symphony Orchestra largest organisations of their kind in the UK. (BSO) to present a programme culminating Using authentic period instruments, the in Beethoven’s hugely intoxicating Sev- baroque consort regularly perform with some enth. of the best solo musicians in the world. British maestro Ivor Bolton is the man with This Oakengates concert sees them putting to the baton, having become the orchestra’s music the saga of Beowulf, as recounted in conductor in 2016, the year during which the oldest-surviving poem in Old English. the BSO celebrated its 140th anniversary. The new piece boasts strong folk-pop influ- The concert also features performances of ences, a fact that should make it an engaging Ferruccio Busoni’s Lustspiel Overture and experience for the whole family to enjoy. Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto. Armonico are joined by harpist Catrin Finch. whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Comedy October Staffs/Wolves/Shrops New 2017.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 16:50 Page 1

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Comedy

Birmingham Comedy Festival exclusive interview Matt Lucas From Little Britain to Little Me: My Life From A-Z

Little Me is your first autobiography. What mind. Chris Morris. And I think I would love made you decide to write it, and what in- to appear onstage with Nathan Lane and spired the A-Z format? Patti Lupone. Well, I decided it was time to upload some You did your time on the comedy circuit things out of my head and free up some before success with Shooting Stars and space! I didn’t want to write a conventional Little Britain. Do you have any advice for autobiography because I knew I wanted to young comedians starting out? steer clear of some things and obsess over others. This format allowed me to do that. Yes, record every gig on your phone and lis- ten to it on the way home. It’s never as bad You talk very honestly and openly about (or as good) as you thought. going bald at the tender age of six, and about the lack of bald men in the public Little Britain was such a defining moment how often do you get to play a hybrid of eye when you were growing up. Who were in British comedy. Are there any charac- alien, robot and human? He’s a one-off. your role models as a child and how im- ters you regret, or ones you’d love to And I’ve loved all the Doctors. I doubt Nar- portant were they to you? recreate and work on again? dole has any interest in the concept of love. Duncan Goodhew, because he was hairless There are some I like more than others, cer- There are worlds to save. and a winner. And Kojak, because he could tainly some I wouldn’t do now, but few I re- What’s next...? gret. It was a show of its time. I would love to always get hold of a lollipop. Cuppa tea. play Marjorie again, but I think things are dif- You talk about your time at Haberdashers’ ferent now, and it would be considered fat- What’s the best thing that ever happened Aske’s Boys School in the book. How im- shaming. You have to move with . to you in Birmingham? portant were your schooldays in encour- Once got a room at the Crowne Plaza for £25 a aging your love of theatre, and what’s You’ve created and played so many leg- night. Tiny it was, mind. your happiest memory from school? endary characters. Do you have a favourite? The school plays were my escape - and also in school holidays my mum and grandma Probably Marjorie, Andy Pipkin, maybe Taaj would take me to the West End to see shows. from Come Fly With Me. I used to enjoy play- Little Me: My Life From A-Z by Matt Lucas There was thrilling than when ing Gary Barlow. My favourite is Pompidou. is published on 3 October by Canongate the lights went down and the overture began. and priced at £20 hardback. You’ve found success on stage, screen, and in the movies with roles in Les Mis, Who are your comedy heroes? Matt talks about the book at Birmingham Bridesmaids, Alice In Wonderland and Laurel & Hardy and Reeves & Mortimer. Per- Town Hall on Saturday 14 October, at 2pm. more. Do you have a favourite medium? fect chemistry. Like brothers. Destined to be For tickets, visit thsh.co.uk together. Actually my favourite thing to do is write, more than perform. And write music at that. We love your ‘clangs’ every time a famous Birmingham Comedy Festival is a person you’ve met and worked with is 10-day extravaganza, with more than mentioned. Is there anyone you’ve never You’re much loved by Doctor Who fans. 60 events taking place at various loca- had the chance to work with but would What do you like about Nardole, and does tions from 6 to 15 October. love to? he love the new female Doctor Who? For more info, visit bhamcomfest.co.uk Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows spring to I liked playing Nardole because, let’s face it,

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Comedy

Jo D’Arcy mac, Birmingham, Thurs 12 October A one-time teacher who knew that she faced a whole career being called ‘the D’Arcehole’ by her students, Jo D’Arcy de- cided to opt for a different kind of poten- tial embarrassment and became a standup comedian. In a show that got full marks at the Festival, Jo uses a ‘basic’ powerpoint presentation to recall her days in a Stoke-on-Trent classroom, delivering the kind of lesson that would definitely have seen her sacked in her old job... Expect inappropriate jokes, a good amount of swearing, some Rik Mayall- style craziness and maybe even the odd technical glitch.

Impractical Jokers Arena Birmingham, Thurs 12 October High school buddies Joseph Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn and Salvatore Vulcano stepped into the world of comedy at the end of the 20th century, forming live-improv troupe The Tenderloins. Over a decade later, the boys became the stars of TV’s Impractical Jokers, a reality series in which they coerce one another into doing public pranks while being filmed by hidden cameras. With six series of the show having aired since 2015 and a seventh on the way, the fellas have plenty of material around which to develop a successful live offering. But don’t expect any- thing too sophisticated from the quartet. Pulling pranks on stage in the confines of a venue really isn’t an option, so instead they play clips, tell jokes and revel in a friendship which has seen them grow a loyal and devoted cult following.

Jenny Eclair Henning Wehn Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington, 8 October; Stratford-upon-Avon, 8 October Birmingham Town Hall, 13 & 14 October; Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, 27 October; As Jenny Eclair has matured, she’s Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 12 November developed an appreciation of her womanhood which has cleverly The self-appointed German comedy informed her comedy routine. ambassador’s style of humour has been “I think women get dirtier as they described as Teutonic jolliness at its best. get older,” she says. “The more We reckon that's such a good way of your body lets you down, the putting it, we have nothing further to add more you have to find it funny. It - except, that is, for the following Hen- produces more emissions, farts ning gags: “With standup in Britain, what and little noises, and bibbly-bob- you have to do is bloody swearing. In bly bits that appear and disap- Germany, we don’t have to pear. And then there’s giving swear. Reason being, birth. As soon as you do that, you things work,” and have to lose all respect for your “World War Two was a body. Maybe it’s a cheap device, painful time for my but it does make me laugh. I just family. My grandfather think bumholes and fannies are died in a concentration hilarious. The first joke my father camp. He got drunk told me was a fart joke, and I still one night and fell find it funny.” out of his Jenny visits Stratford with her guard show, How To Be A Middle-Aged tower...” Woman (Without Going Insane).

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Ed Gamble Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Thurs 26 October “I’m essentially a great guy delivering hu- mour through your classic microphone/ speaker combo,” says a tongue-in-cheek Ed Gamble in describing himself. “As well as being a standup comedian, I’m an actor and a writer - although to be honest, I very rarely act, and ‘writing’ is a very lofty term for the absolute filth I’ve committed to paper in the past.” Best known for his work with Ray Peacock on The Peacock And Gamble Podcast, Ed here presents Mammoth - a gig which the London-born comedian describes as “a brand new, lumbering beast of a comedy show”.

Sofie Hagen have gender-neutral and disabled toilets. Her current show is Dead Baby Frog. This Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 14 October month being presented in the Midlands as “My gigs are anxiety-safe,” says Danish femi- part of Sofie’s post-Edinburgh tour, the show nist comedian and one-time self-harming is a contemplation on the subject of anger - Westlife fan Sofie Hagen. “If you have anxiety and the funeral of her psychopathic grandfa- over attending the show, you can email me at ther, who’s not even dead yet... Andrew Lawrence [email protected] and let me know what Examples of Sofie’s humour include the fol- I can do to help. Maybe you want to reserve a lowing: “I have the confidence to text a man The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, specific seat? Maybe you want to ask a ques- first. And second. And third. And fourth. And 22 October tion? Either way, let's talk.” fifth. And sixth. And seventh. Basically, until He's not a particularly well known or much- As well as wanting to ensure that her gigs are he answers," and, “The question you always lauded comedian, but it’s fair to say Andrew safe spaces for anxiety sufferers, Sofie also have to ask yourself is: ‘Is my depression Lawrence’s profile has been raised a bit by insists that all venues in which she performs back or am I just hungry?’” his involvement in various social media controversies. On Facebook a while back, he accused tele- vision panel shows of indulging in “liberal Robin Ince back-slapping”, claiming they featured “ageing, balding, fat men, ethnic comedians Comedy Junction, The Station Pub, Sutton Coldfield, Fri 13 October and women posing as comedians” who Co-presenter of irreverent BBC Radio Four science show The Infinite Monkey Cage, Robin Ince spent their time making jokes at the ex- is here making a return to the world of standup after taking a long break to spend more time pense of UKIP and Nigel Farage. with his family. He’s also hit the headlines for posting a When quitting the circuit back in 2015, he was also honest enough to admit that professional tweet about feminists and suicide that paranoia had played a significant role in his decision. “I saw the work of [fellow comedians] protesters claimed incited others to take Daniel Kitson or Bridget Christie or John Kearns and faced my limitations. I walked off satisfac- their own lives. tory gigs with disappointment in my airways because I kept imagining I might have been capa- "Currently being dogpiled by feminazis,” ble of something that, in truth, I was not. Lawrence tweeted in response. “I think I “I think I was starting to go mad. I didn’t have some Hancockian black dog hovering above me, like it...” more a facetious little grey dog yapping.” Jokes include: “Most of us have a skeleton in Robin’s new show, Pragmatic Insanity, is described as ‘90 minutes fizzing with ideas about the cupboard. David Beckham takes his out creativity in science and art, as well as asking why we believe we see what we see and why we in public.” believe what we believe’. whatsonlive.co.uk 21 DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:33 Page 1

SIMON DAY

in character and on tour... Simon Day DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:33 Page 2

Comedian, writer and actor Simon Day cut his teeth on the alternative comedy circuit of the early 90s. Under the guise of Music Hall raconteur Tommy Cockles, he teamed up with fellow travellers before hitting the mainstream with seminal sketch series The Fast Show, and a raft of new characters, such as Competitive Dad and Dave Angel. He’s since appeared in a variety of TV shows, including ’s recent comic drama Loaded, the BBC’s one-off revival of ‘Till Death Do Us Part, ’s Nurse, Bellamy’s People, and The Life Of Rock With Brian Pern. Heading out on tour, Simon Day: In Character sees him revisiting four of his most popular creations – reformed criminal Tony Beckton, struggling Yorkshire poet Geoffrey Allerton, the Fast Show’s well-meaning but utterly annoying pub bore Billy Bleach, and prog’ rockin’ Thotch frontman, Brian Pern. “The theme of the show is loosely how the characters are coping with life now,” he says.

How was it starting out? How did You also said that you missed out a lot of The Brian Pern series' for BBC Four and audiences take to your Tommy Cockles stories - any plans for a Part 2? BBC Two featured some great cameos - Sir character? People say there’s no money in books, so I , Monty Don, Christopher With Tommy I used to die quite a bit, then Vic went off and did Brian Pern instead as I Eccleston, even Peter Gabriel. How did and Bob took me on tour, and we did a tour might as well write and perform than just you get them? Did you approach them? Or in 1990. I’d some out and the audience would write. And it was a bit grim, writing the book. did they approach you? boo, or talk over everything. I never had a But so many people have said that it’s one of It was a mix. (Co-writer/ director) Rhys plan-B with him, if he was being attacked I’d the best … for what it is, it’s one of the best. (Thomas) was very charming. He does like just say ‘that’s not nice … I shall go off if this You can still get it on , and if you prog rock and Genesis and a lot of those continues …’. But when he went down well, look at the reviews, it’s got 40 five-star people just don’t get asked to do much. Some he went down really well. I remember reviews – people get it! I think the publisher were reluctant, but then they saw the show playing The Glee Club on a Saturday night, thought they’d got another Russell Brand on BBC Two and they got back to us – their and it was straight down the line, full of 40- book, but by comparison, it was a flop. No agent’s probably had a word with them. The fags-a-night people … that was hard. But one reviewed it at the time, and it’s very hard Zombies asked to be in it, and they were usually he went down fine. There was only to move between the two (writing and TV/ turned down because they were not me and John Shuttleworth then, doing that comedy) … ‘he’s not a writer!’ It needed recognisable enough – (I said) 'you’re turning quite gentle, quiet character comedy. someone like Will Self to review it. I’ve read a down The Zombies? You can’t do that!' Rod lot of those books and some of them are so Stewart? He said ‘no, I’ll leave it to the abysmal, so untrue, and there are so many of actors,’ and he was quite right, but we got Was there much of a circuit back then? them – there’s a cricketer one week, a couple and he was really good. The thing There were plenty of gigs – pubs, comedy of boxers the next, several war journalists, was that we didn’t take the mickey, we were clubs, there was enough of it to keep you another footballer … the celebrity book affectionate, we didn’t push them out of their busy, places like Malcolm Hardee’s up The market is so crowded. But I’m proud of it, I’m comfort zones. Creek, in Greenwich. proud I did it. You know, Graham Linehan (Father Ted, The Can we expect to see any more of Brian Did you consider what you were doing to IT Crowd, Count Arthur Strong) phoned me and Thotch on TV in the future? be ‘alternative comedy’? up the other day and said ‘your book is There are no plans for more Brian Pern at the brilliant!’ Great! Let’s make it into a series! I did, although I didn’t come from that left- moment. The BBC said ‘we’re fine now for the ‘No!’ That’s showbiz for you. (laughs) wing, moment, thanks.’ (laughs) smash-down-the-walls-of-Bernard-Manning- and-kick-him-to-the-ground thing that some The Fast Show is one of those few How was it doing Alf Garnett / Till Death acts came from. I read Stewart Lee’s programmes that helped define a Do Us Part for the BBC's Lost Sitcoms autobiography – How I Escaped My Certain generation and changed comedy. You series? Fate… - and I can see where he was coming were rock star comedians, playing arenas! from. But me, Jim () and Bob How do you feel about those days now? I didn’t want to do it to be really honest, but I (Mortimer), we just wanted to have a laugh – couldn’t afford not to. They found one The Fast Show was so so long ago now. It was we weren’t overly political. episode that wasn’t racist and wasn’t sexist. I a big show and I’m recognised as much now thought that if I was going to do it, I wanted for that as anything I’ve ever done. We only to do it as it was – and this isn’t what the When your autobiography Comedy and did three series and it’s locked in that time show was about. He was just a bit rude in it. Error: They Really Were Marvellous now, when there were only four channels. It’s But it was so good to be in. Times, came out back in 2011/2012, you there. You can’t touch it. It didn’t go stale. discussed the possibility of turning it into People grew up with it, were watching it at a TV project ... university, and oversees I get a lot about it – Did you watch it back in the day? We did write it! But we were told no-one was lots of expats, especially miserable ex-pats in I saw bits of it (growing up), but it was an interested in the 1980s … and then lots of South Africa, Australia, they remember it. odd one. I was more into watching Porridge, shows about the 1980s come on. Ha-ha! It’s Well they would wouldn’t they? Being , Dad’s Army. very hard to go from comedy to drama, but miserable (laughs). In many ways it was the I’d like to have a go at doing it, even if it’s just perfect show. When I look back I see that it in a play. I want to do it. was good. Should I have done a Dave Angel Simon Day: In Character is at The Glee sitcom? Maybe I should have, but at the time Club, Birmingham, on Sunday 15 October I was just enjoying it / not enjoying it. 2017, as part of Birmingham Comedy Festival. Crazy For You DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:54 Page 1

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Crazy For You DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:54 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

StrictlyShall winners Caroline we Flack & Tom dance?Chambers star in Crazy For You

funny thing was that they were actually looking for an American actor, and they'd obviously decided that because Fred Astaire was American, I must be too!” Meanwhile, theatre-trained makes her professional stage debut in Crazy For You, following a 15-year career as a TV presenter. “When I was a kid I sometimes performed at the local village hall, and we also used to go and see shows in Norwich and in the West End,” says Flack. “When I was about 10, I can What’s a would-be Broadway hoofer to do remember asking my mum if people really “Initially they did ask me to read for Polly, when his dreams of dancing with the Follies did that as a job, and deciding that was what but when I looked at the script, I just are dashed by a bungled audition? I wanted to do. So it’s been in me since a thought, ‘That’s not me. I haven’t got that really young age. I was really driven - I In multi-award-winning Gershwin Brothers classic musical voice - my singing style’s a bit enrolled in loads of different classes and got musical Crazy For You, starry-eyed Bobby more jazzy and soulful, which is perfect for myself a scholarship, but then when I left Child is burdened with thwarted ambitions, Irene. Getting the right first part was really college I got snapped up by a TV agent.” as well as a boring day job in his family’s crucial for me, because it’s all such a banking business and the attentions of a Now an experienced stage performer, learning curve.” girlfriend he doesn’t love. Chambers has built up something of a For Chambers, meanwhile, playing Bobby is reputation as a go-to lead for Golden Age Sent by his mother on a mission to close the pretty much a dream come true. shows, thanks to sensational stints in the failing Gaiety Theatre out in Nevada, Bobby “Crazy For You is probably my favourite likes of Top Hat and Private Lives. Yet seizes the opportunity to get away from musical of all time. It’s one of the first ones I although the class and glamour of the era home, but soon ends up taking on more than ever saw, when I was about 15 or 16. Although clearly comes naturally to him, he’s happy to he bargained for when he falls for the its still Golden Era, the part is more classic own that, without his winning run on Strictly proprietor’s daughter, Polly. Before long, he’s Gene Kelly than Fred Astaire. Where Top Hat Come Dancing, it’s unlikely he’d have got to decided to save their theatre by putting on a was very dapper and sophisticated and where he is now. For fellow Strictly winner show of his own... clipped, this is a bit more relaxed. And the Flack, the show also marked a major turning script is just so funny! It’s got all the key Joining the cast as Bobby and his frustrated point. fiancée, Irene, and Caroline ingredients for me.” “It wasn’t until I did Strictly that my training Flack both know a thing or two themselves “The other thing about this production is that all came back to me, and Pasha, my partner, about big dreams and how life often gets in it’s being done in a way in which the show said to me, ‘This is what you should be doing the way of them. A few years back, almost at has never been done before. Instead of - this is what you love. It opened a new door his wits’ end with unsuccessful agents and having the orchestra in the pit, we’ve got to me because suddenly all these auditions, Chambers was just about ready to music being played by the cast live on stage. and shows were like, ‘Come and work for give up on acting when he finally got the call So instead of a triple threat, it’s like a us!’” from , off the back of a Fred Astaire quadruple threat - singing, acting dancing routine that he’d recreated and sent out on Joining an experienced team as a newcomer and playing instruments. can be daunting, but Flack has been warmly spec. “When I first stepped into rehearsals, some received both by audiences across the UK “It was only when my agent fired me for not of the cast had already been there a week, and by her fellow cast members. doing Bob The Builder: The Arena Tour that I practising the music. I was just blown away decided to try this one last thing before I “Caroline is an absolute gem. She’s like a when I heard them. I can’t stress to you how jacked it all in,” says Chambers. “So I left little dynamo!” gushes Tom. “She’s got a talented they are. I’ve never met a group of London and went back to live with my great energy about her - a bit sassy and people like it!” parents, where I spent seven months cheeky, which is perfect for the part. Of watching this old VHS and trying to recreate course, we know that her dancing is , it frame by frame. I sent out 1,000 copies, but I can also say that her acting and Crazy For You shows at Birmingham from which I got two replies. I'd actually gone character work are sublime.” Hippodrome from Tuesday 24 to Saturday into a fire station and got my papers to sign Part of this success is no doubt due to the 28 October. up to be a fireman when the phone rang to care she took in choosing her debut part. say I'd got an audition for Holby City. The

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Hairspray The Musical ’60s-style dance music and 'downtown' rhythm & blues. At its heart is the story of chubby teenager Tracy Turnblad, who enjoys an overnight Birmingham Hippodrome, Mon 9 - Sat 14 October & Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 26 February - Sat 3 March 2018 rise to stardom when she earns the chance to appear on a local TV dance show. ‘Bigger, brighter and beautifuller!’ is how star Brenda Ed- One-time X Factor contestant Brenda takes the role of Motormouth wards describes this latest incarnation of the hit musical. “Audiences Maybelle... “I think Motormouth’s record shop is the central hub, can expect energy, a lot of laughs and some fantastic songs played by where all the kids in the neighbourhood can come and hang out,” a phenomenal band.” says Brenda. “And the songs she sings are just fabulous! She has a big Set in 1962, the Tony Award-winning show boasts a jukebox-worth of personality, just like me, so I think it’s a perfect role.”

Notorious Pink Sari Revolution Joseph And The Amazing The REP, Birmingham, Fri 20 - Sat 21 October Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Technicolor Dreamcoat Wed 11 - Sat 21 October An evening in the company of The Famous Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Lauren Barri Holstein has the potential to be This stage adaptation of a true story is based Tues 24 - Sat 28 October a bit of a challenge for the faint-hearted. on the book by internationally renowned Joseph was Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Web- Her previous performance work has seen her journalist Amana Fontanella-Khan. It’s being ber’s first foray into the world of musical the- engage in activities such as inserting a knife presented as part of UK/India 2017, a year- atre, paving the way for later offerings Jesus handle into her vagina and urinating on long celebration marking India’s 70 years of Christ Superstar and Evita. Fabulously fun stage (although not at the same time, we has- independence and showcasing British and and frothy, the ten to add - that would be just plain wrong!). Indian creativity. show offers great The Famous, as Fusing together drama, music and move- entertainment for she’s known, de- ment, the production focuses on the pink- anybody who fan- scribes this latest sari-wearing Gulabi Gang, a movement of cies the kind of show as a search over 400,000 women fighting for their rights night out that lets for her real self - in the ‘Badlands’ of Uttar Pradesh, where vio- you leave your “for the pure me, lence against females can be traced back into brain at home... behind this soiled Indian mythology. X Factor winner shroud of promis- The show has been produced by the Belgrade Joe McElderry cuity”. in collaboration with Curve Theatre Leicester stars as Joseph. and West Yorkshire Playhouse. 24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:52 Page 2

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Jinkx Monsoon From the House^ of Tue 31 Oct - Tue 7 - Sun 19 Nov the Dead Janácek and Major Scales: Sat 4 Nov Sat 11 Nov £16.50 Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky From £18 From £18 The Vaudevillians Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:52 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Cilla The Musical New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 10 - Sat 14 October; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 14 - Sat 18 November From Swinging ’60s pop star to 21st century national treasure, enjoyed more than 50 glorious years in the showbiz limelight. This brand new celebratory musical takes a look back at the life and times of the Liverpool lass who was Chris- tened Pricilla White, and whose career was kickstarted by John Lennon’s decision to introduce her to music mogul Brian Epstein. Featuring all of Cilla’s best-known hits, including Any- one Who Had A Heart, Alfie, Something Tells Me and Step Inside Love, the show stars newcomer Kara Lily Hayworth in the title role. “When I was 11, I was shop- ping with my mum, bumped into Cilla and asked for her autograph,” recalls Kara. “I told her I wanted to be an actress - she laughed and said, ‘It’s a tough industry, but if you really work hard and go for it, you’ll be just fine.’ “She was a huge inspiration to me as a child; I grew up watching her on Blind Date every Saturday night with my nan. To be chosen to play her is such an honour, and I’m so excited to be taking on the role.”

Duet For One of Romantic poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge Coriolanus and William Wordsworth, and on the story of The REP, Birmingham, until Sat 7 October how their groundbreaking composition, Lyri- Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- Avon, until Sat 14 October Belinda Lang - a late replacement for Jemma cal Ballads, came into being. “About A Bird Redgrave - and Oliver Cotton star in this new breathes a manic new life into history,” say By comparison with many of his works, version of Tom Kempinski’s critically ac- Reset. “It tells a story about a temperamental Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political claimed two-hander. partnership and the nature of creativity. Our manipulation and revenge is rarely per- Premiered in 1980 and adapted for the cin- works are sometimes inspired by history and formed - although Ralph Fiennes’ 2011 film ema six years later, the play is based on the classics but are always tailored to the world version did help the play raise its head above story of Jacqueline du Pré, the legendary cel- around us.” the parapet a little. list whose life and career were tragically cut Telling the story of the eponymous hero-sol- short by multiple sclerosis. dier and his fractious and bloody relation- Rita, Sue And Bob Too ship with the people of Rome, Coriolanus is Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, here presented in a future world, and is the Tues 17 - Sat 21 October final entry in the RSC’s Rome season. By the time Andrea Dunbar was 20, she had Sope Dirisu (pictured) takes the title role. written two critically acclaimed plays - The Arbor, at the age of 15, and the wickedly funny Rita, Sue And Bob Too, four years later. Hailed a genius straight from the slums, Dun- bar spent time in a Women's Aid refuge, had three children by three different fathers, de- veloped a serious addiction to alcohol and died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 29. Both of her plays, but particularly Rita, are About A Bird shining examples of an extraordinary talent mac, Birmingham, Sat 28 October that burned brightly for all too short a time... “Our works are accompanied by a commit- When best friends Rita and Sue are given a ment to consistent improvisation,” explain lift home by married Bob after they’ve spent Reset Theatre, the West Midlands company the evening babysitting his kids, they find behind this one-act farce. “After all, improv is themselves embarking on a sexual adventure perpetually relevant and immediate, as well that swiftly spirals out of control... as a little bit of fun.” The play’s original director, Max Stafford- Reset’s autumn offering is based on the lives Clark, co-helms this major new production.

26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:52 Page 4 Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:52 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Austentatious Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 28 October; Bridge House Theatre, Warwick, Fri 17 November Austentatious returns to the Midlands having garnered plenty of praise on its previous visits to the region. Lighthearted and delightfully throwaway, it sees the performers using audience suggestions to develop a play that not only pays homage to Jane Austen but also generates plenty of laughter along the way. The company’s previous 'lost' Austen masterpieces have in- cluded Sixth Sense & Sensibility, Double O Darcy and Mansfield Shark, with no two performances ever the same. "We’re thrilled to be travelling the length and breadth of the country, rediscovering the lost classics Austen wrote and promptly forgot about,” say Austentatious’s cast of quick-witted comic performers. “We love and admire Jane's works, and the public deserve an intimate acquaintance with them, particularly the very prescient ones about Donald Trump!”

Wait Until Dark zling costumes and some of the most iconic The Masks Of Aphra Behn songs in ’ - including Money Lichfield Garrick, Tues 10 - Sat 14 October; (makes the world go around) and, of course, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 20 October Malvern Theatre, Tues 24 - Sat 28 October the famous title In the late 1660s, in the midst of the Second With the arrival in her life of conmen search- number - the show Anglo-Dutch War, a young woman returned ing for a heroin-packed doll, blind housewife is helmed by Na- home to from a stint as a spy in Susy Hendrix finds herself fighting to sur- tional Theatre Artis- Antwerp, only to be denied payment for her vive... Written by Dial M For Murder play- tic Director Rufus work by King Charles II... wright Frederick Knott and set in socially Norris. Olivier The details of Aphra Behn's colourful life are turbulent 1960s’ London, Wait Until Dark is Award-winning sketchy, but it was around this time, crippled best known from its 1967 movie incarnation Javier de Frutos is by debt and seeking a new source of income, starring Audrey Hepburn. This latest stage re- the choreographer. that she began to write plays. vival stars Prime Suspect’s Jack Ellis and Behn would go on to become the country's favourite Oliver Mellor. first professional female playwright, achiev- ing commercial success in the 1670s with her Obama And Me carnival comedy, The Rover. The play was Old joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, last year revived to great critical acclaim by Wed 18 October the Royal Shakespeare Company. Black Brit Sylvia Arthur’s one-woman show Claire Louise Amias stars as Aphra in this contemplates the political landscape of 2017, well-reviewed one-woman show. exploring the meaning of identity, politics, power and belonging ‘in the post-post-racial 21st century’. Now living and working in Brussels, Sylvia champions the benefits of a borderless EU. But just as America’s first Black president, Barack Obama, faced resistance to his agenda, so too has Sylvia found her own Cabaret dream crumbling beneath a European tidal Malvern Theatre, Tues 10 - Sat 14 October wave of nativism, authoritarianism, misog- When a show visits the region which, be- yny and racism. tween its stage and screen versions, boasts “I belong wherever I decide to belong,” ex- multiple Oscars, BAFTAs and Tony Awards, it plains Sylvia in an interview with The Fem, makes sense to get along and check it out... “but whether or not I’m accepted there, or Will Young here reprises the role of Emcee, feel welcome, has a definite impact on one’s with (pictured) stepping sense of belonging. into the lead part of the legendary Sally “It’s this space between belonging and ac- Bowles, a nightly performer at the infamous ceptance, between the internal and the exter- Kit Kat Klub in early-1930s Berlin. nal, that I try to explore and excavate in my Featuring ‘show-stopping choreography, daz- writing.” 28 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:53 Page 6 Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:53 Page 7

Theatre Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region

Awful Auntie Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 4 - Sat 7 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 18 - Sat 21 October; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 22 - Sun 26 November Frights, fights and friendships are the order of the day in this world premiere of David Walliams’ much-loved story. At the centre of the tale is a young girl named Stella. The sole heir to Saxby Hall, she finds herself in danger of losing both her inheri- tance and her life when she comes up against her thoroughly unpleasant Aunt Alberta... Produced by the team behind the hugely suc- cessful stage adaptation of Walliams’ Gangsta Granny, the show comes complete with a very old car, a very large owl, a very small ghost and plenty of opportunity to enjoy a jolly good chuckle.

The New Adventures Of cluding Georgina the Giraffe, Nelson the Ele- Monstersaurus phant, Molly the Hippopotamus, Giggles & Puss In Boots The Roses, Tewkesbury, Wed 25 October; Tickles and, of course, the star of the show, The Core, Solihull, Fri 27 October Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, seven-year-old Lucy. Mon 23 October Having created a whole world of whacky in- ventions and incredible monsters, young in- If your kids are ‘feline’ in the mood for a sin- ventor Monty doesn’t know what to do with galong show boasting plenty of audience par- The Girl And The Giraffe them all... ticipation and no shortage of music, magic mac, Birmingham, Tues 24 - Thurs 26 October The creators of Aliens Love Underpants make and mayhem, then this brand new offering This thought-provoking Half Moon a return with this ‘monster-ously good show’, should leave them purring like the cat that Theatre/Floods Of Ink production finds a girl which comes complete with original music got the cream. making friends with a giraffe who really isn’t and plenty of audience participation. Telling the terrific tale of a marvellous moggy very well. And not even bandages, a cup of who helps make his master the top, er, dog, tea and a magnificent cake make him feel the show stars Grand Theatre pantomime any better. The giraffe’s problems go deeper, dame Ian Adams and Cats star Julie Paton. and it’s an altogether different kind of help that he needs... Told from a child’s perspective, The Girl And The Giraffe combines ‘charming’ puppetry, an ‘enchanting’ soundscape and ‘beautiful’ storytelling to carefully and sensitively ex- plore themes around the subject of depres- sion. The production is suitable for children aged between three and six. Doris The Dragon Stourbridge Town Hall, Tues 24 October Doris’s new home for down-and-out dragons 64 Zoo Lane - a dingy old castle whose owners have moved away - is proving to be a big hit with Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, the dragon population. But when the mem- Wed 25 - Sun 29 October bers of her brand new fire-breathing family Branding itself as ‘a perfect introduction to take turns looking after an unhatched baby theatre’ for children aged three and older, dragon egg, it isn’t long before all manner of this brand new family-friendly musical is mischief ensues... Boasting ‘giddy games, based on the award-winning British-French panto-style slapstick and lots of audience in- children's television series of the same name. teraction’, this 100-minute show - suitable for Coming complete with catchy songs, puppets children aged 10 and younger - has been writ- and ‘loads of fun’, the show features all the ten by Jonathan Blazer, a former producer of telly programme’s favourite characters, in- Sooty and Rainbow theatre tours.

30 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:53 Page 8 Dance October - New Layout-2.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:50 Page 1 Motionhouse DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:38 Page 1

fully charged Motionhouse Artistic Director talks about the company’s new multimedia show which makes its debut in Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre this month...

Motionhouse’s new production will be “I wanted to make a show about energy and I but its actual form and the commitment to aiming to spark our interest as it explores the wanted to tell it through the human body,” making it started about three years ago. power of electricity in our lives, loves and Kevin says. “I became really interested in the That’s when I started a general period of logic. idea of the human body as an electrical research and it started coming together.” Charge explores the energy in our bodies and system and its relationship to the world we Kevin’s research saw him working with its relationship to the world around us in a live in. It’s all a flow and exchange of energy. professors at the as he dynamic combination of dance-circus and “We tend to think of energy as something sought to understand more of the mechanics digital technology. external to us rather than something we are of energy and of how humanity has Forming the third part of a trilogy inspired by part of. But as soon as you start to look at it discovered and comprehended electricity in the earth and created by Motionhouse there’s a sense of wonder at how the body human beings and in the world around us. founder and artistic director Kevin Finnan, operates as energy. “I was looking for a poetic narrative that Charge follows the phenomenal success of “The idea of making a show about energy has would tell the story of our relationship to Scattered and Broken. been in my mind for a very, very long time energy,” he says. “And what I discovered was

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that it all comes down to a simple thing – “This whole opening up of humanity in position where the company is nearly 30 ultimately thought is an electrical process. If beginning to grasp that we are electrical is years old and what is really exciting for both your brain wasn’t able to pass electrical fascinating. There’s a moment of of us is that, as we approach 30 years, we are signals around then there would be no love, comprehension of us being electrified beings more successful than we have ever been. We there would be no memory, there would be and then something more once are more followed and more people come to no empathy. And that is so fundamental. consciousness is present. That had to be part our shows than ever happened in the past. When you turn on a light bulb you don’t of the story – how we understand we are “It’s a massively significant milestone for the think ‘without energy I couldn’t love electric beings but then how we kind of forget company to be achieving 30 years and to be someone’ but it’s true. that.” touring and growing and developing is “So I began to delve into a story where energy Founded in 1988 and based in Leamington incredible really. A lot of this is down to the is the movement of our lives. A city is a hive Spa in Warwickshire, Motionhouse has built hard work of everyone in the company. of energy and moves things around by energy up a reputation for strongly physical and “We seem to have expanded on three fronts – and we are familiar with that but we also dynamic work, which blends dance, we’ve just been in Denmark working on a have an internal energy hive in which energy spectacle, circus and often digital projection. massive aerial piece working with aeroplanes moves from cell to cell. And so I began to Kevin was keen for Charge to include these and skydivers - so something really huge overlap things. If you look at a map of a city elements. scale, then we’re making Charge and we’ve at night or the planet from outer space and “I’m very interested in working with film as a already got two tours booked and our you see it all lighting up, well you have the digital element both on the environment and previous works are still touring and then our same process with the human brain. When on the body. How you interact with the film is outdoor work has gone from strength to the brain is imaged, it’s a massive fluctuation really important,” he says. “Film can take strength.” of light. you to places quickly and I really love film in Motionhouse is supported using public “It’s also fascinating that with various theatre but it is two-dimensional, so for us funding by the National Lottery through Arts mental conditions, things like Alzheimer’s, it’s all about ‘how do we stretch that into a Council England. Charge is supported by when they scan people’s brains it’s like a city three-dimensional sense of space?’ It’s about Warwick Arts Centre, The Rothschild with certain areas blocked out. What how we interact with the imagery and the Foundation, the Ernest Cook Trust and happens is that areas of the brain just go realities that we are able to create. TippingPoint Stories of Change with the dark and the messages that should pass “For a show like Charge where one minute we Official Energy Partner of Charge being First through just don’t go and gradually you’re are in a spinning urban environment and Utility. not making short term memory and you then for the next part of the scene we are And the company’s success has been forget the ones you love. It’s incredibly sad.” inside the human heart and then in supported by Arts Council England which Kevin then looked at how to tell these stories someone’s house and then within someone’s has granted Motionhouse a 38 per cent uplift in a dance piece. brain, that kind of mercurial transmission in funding for 2018-22. Kevin says this is a “From all of this research I could feel the between places is really only possible with a testament to the company’s success. real interaction with digital.” strands of the show coming together. It’s “We have ever-expanding audience figures about how the body is a cauldron of energy Having performed at venues and festivals which is tremendous and the kind of living in a cauldron of energy, which is our both nationally and internationally, physicality that we are exploring in our work society, and then how all the subtlety of our Motionhouse has become one of the leading really chimes with people,” says Kevin. “We lives is all electrical signals in our minds. So I independent dance companies in the UK. want to challenge our audiences, we want to began to make the poem that can be told in Founded by Kevin with his partner Louise engage them, we want to thrill them, we want movement - and dance-circus is the perfect Richards, former performer and now to delight them and we want to share with form for that because the body is energetic.” executive director of the company, Kevin says them. the priority has always been producing top And added into this cauldron are elements of “We are a very audience-centric company quality and innovative work. This has seen humanity’s relationship with scientific and I think that is a large part of why we were them performing alongside diggers and JCBs, discoveries around electricity. awarded the uplift. The testament is the wide using giant sandcastles and taking to the air. “The first animation of tissue with an range of audience who come to our work. We electrical charge was a massive conceptual “With the hubris of the young you think ‘I know a lot of people who see our shows shift in a society which understood, when it want people to see my work’ but you don’t haven’t seen a dance show before and when saw frogs’ legs twitching, that we were really see beyond that when you first start we do our outside work we touch huge electrical beings,” says Kevin. “This was a up,” recalls Kevin. “You really don’t see numbers of people who may never have been massive revelation and there was an beyond the next show – you are just in a theatre.” outbreak of wonder. struggling to build your reputation so you can get the money for the next show and then “And in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, the next show. But you have a passion to it’s not about mad scientists, it’s this idea make your work. And for us, it was always a Motionhouse’s Charge will be showing at that electrical energy is within us. With the passion to express ourselves through our Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry from Wed information they had at the time the idea that work. 4 - Sat 7 October; The Roses, Tewkesbury if biological elements were arranged and on Tues 31 October and Birmingham given energy it could create a life force was “Largely due to Louise guiding and Hippodrome, Tues 13 March, 2018 an interesting concept. developing the company, we are now in a Dance October - New Layout-2.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:51 Page 2

Dance previews from around the region Dance

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Aladdin Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 3 - Sat 7 October As great introductions to ballet go, David Bint- ley’s Aladdin is right up there with the best of them. Recipient of widespread critical acclaim when first mounted a handful of years ago, the show is a fantastic way to get your kids in the mood for the soon-to-be-upon-them magic of Christ- mas. Bintley’s choreography, the dancers’ excep- tional performances, the stunning set designs of Dick Bird and a magnificent score by the Bafta Award-winning Carl Davis are beautifully com- bined to create a truly breathtaking production. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine how the show could be any more magical even if the genie of the lamp himself had conjured it up.

Motionhouse: Charge tween artists and scientists,” explains Mo- Acosta Danza tionhouse co-founder Finnan. “I find the Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 4 - Sat Birmingham Hippodrome, 7 October; The Roses, Tewkesbury, Tues 31 science behind the show fascinating, and I Wed 18 - Sat 21 October want to use my inspiration from this to cre- October; Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 13 Ballet star Carlos Acosta’s Havana-based com- March, 2018 ate a presentation for audiences to enjoy - pany stops off in Birmingham as part of its first Leamington-based Motionhouse’s new but which also makes them think about the ever UK tour. multimedia show about energy is the third role that energy plays in our lives.” Comprising performers trained in ballet and element of Kevin Finnan’s ‘Earth Trilogy’. contemporary dance styles, the ensemble is It develops on the theme of ‘man’s relation- building its reputation by presenting pro- ship with water and the earth’, as previ- grammes of work which feature both new and ously explored in Scattered (2009) and existing pieces by Cuban choreographers. Broken (2013). The UK show, which sees Acosta himself mak- Making use of digital projections to create ing a guest appearance, includes works by an on-stage world in which dancers and Cuban choreographer Marianela Boán and images interact seamlessly, the show fea- Sadler’s Wells’ Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. tures six performers using dance and acro- batics to explore the human body, ‘tracing the incredible story of energy in our lives’. “Charge is an incredible collaboration be-

Autin Dance Theatre: ken word... Birmingham-based Autin Dance have A Positive Life been performing across the Midlands and mac, Birmingham, Tue 17 October beyond since 2013. Project-based professional company “We draw on contemporary social issues Autin Dance Theatre make a welcome re- and events to make work which is beauti- turn to mac with a show that ‘delivers an fully crafted, accessible and relevant,” uplifting and engaging message on self- says founder Johnny Autin. love, sexual health and sex education’. “The company is gaining a reputation for An immersive theatre experience, in- creating powerful performances, cata- spired by the individual journeys of five pulting audiences into intense dance- characters around the issues of sex, love worlds which we hope will resonate with and relationships, the show brings to- them long after they leave the audito- gether dance, physical theatre and spo- rium.”

whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Nativity DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:17 Page 1

a Christmas Cracker! Birmingham Repertory Theatre is getting into the Christmas spirit this month by staging the world premiere of Nativity! The Musical. Based on the popular UK film franchise, the show is written and directed by Debbie Isitt, who also created the movies... Nativity DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:17 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

In the world of Birmingham-born, Coventry- Is it all starting to feel as crazy as one of the they love the films, and you get the feeling based writer and director Debbie Isitt, the nativities in her stories? that they’re living their dream, which just past 10 years have been a bit like the White “A little bit! And it can only get crazier. A lot lifts the whole rehearsal. It’s fantastic!” Witch’s Narnia in reverse: it’s always of the things we did in the film are more Isitt’s unusual way of working is partly a Christmas and only occasionally winter. But difficult to get working on stage - like the product of her own acting training. As a with three Nativity films now behind her, a flying. But that’s what makes it fun. It’s so directionless 16-year-old, she was “sent to fourth one in the works and a hotly boring just to find your mark and say your Coventry - literally!” to do an acting course, anticipated stage musical version premiering line. In this case, everyone knows the story, based on her mum’s suggestion that she was at the Birmingham REP this month, is the so they can steal lines from the film, but they “quite dramatic”. Though she soon turned to Queen of Britain’s festive-film scene starting can also change them and add new ones. It’s writing and directing with her own company, to tire of Christmas every day? Not likely. been a bit of trial and error in rehearsals, but Snarling Beasties, that grounding is still “I just love it!” she exclaims. “I really they’ll no doubt keep coming out with things manifest in the respect she has for actors, genuinely love Christmas and I always have, that surprise me every night. and in her lack of preciousness about her so doing it all the time is brilliant!” “We’ve got 27 children in total, split up into scripts - for her, it’s more about the subtext And really, you’d have to love it. If you’re the three teams of nine: there’s an Oakmoor anyway. sort of person who wants to tear your own nine, a St Bernadette’s nine and an Yet for all her success since, she’s never felt ears off the second shops start playing carols understudy nine, and they rotate. So there’s the lure of London. On the contrary: from in November, best not to even imagine an awful lot for them to learn, and it’s a big local schools to Coventry Cathedral, she’s writing Christmas songs the whole year challenge to make sure all the teams are proud to be showing the nation what the round. On the other hand, if you’re coming to getting enough attention and aren’t forgetting Midlands has to offer. see Nativity! The Musical this autumn, you’d which school they’re in. But they’ll all be “It’s a brilliant region because it has better be ready for a lot of them, since the virtuoso performers by the time they’re everything I need. In terms of locations, we stage show features all the songs from all the finished with us!” have the most diverse landscape, from big films plus about as many new ones. As if that weren’t enough to keep the crew on cities to beautiful countryside. We also have “It really does change the dynamic. It gives their toes, there are also plans involving live really diverse communities, and I like to work you much more insight into the characters animals. with a lot of non-actors - adults as well as and their backstories. And the emotions are “Obviously if it was left up to me, I’d be children. more intense, like with the love story saying, ‘Yes, bring camels and walk them “At the moment we still don’t really have the between Mr Maddens and Jennifer - it feels through the auditorium!’ Unfortunately, in financial support to keep a lot of our skilled even bigger now because they’re singing theatre, there are lots of health-and-safety people here. But the great thing about duets. rules, which is probably a good thing for the touring this show is that you get to go around “Hollywood Are Coming is the big Act One animals. But there will be something - I won’t the country talking about the Midlands. I song. When Mr Poppy overhears the rumours say what!” think that’s really important. Now, every time and spreads them around town, that grows It’ll be alright on the night, as they say. And I start a new project, people are keen for me into a great big feelgood song. And there’s a even if it’s not, in a story like this, it’s all part to keep working here because they know it’s really sweet song towards the end of the first of the charm, adding to the comedy that’s vital that everyone has a voice and that we act, which is the letter to Santa. So there’s a made the films such a resounding don’t just keep repeating the same kind of lot of variety.” commercial success. messages with the same people.” As in the films, the child cast is made up of “It was a big surprise to me that the first one ordinary children with no professional acting became as well-loved as it did. I think part of training, all of them from around the West Nativity! The Musical is at Birmingham that is the fact that the children get an REP from Friday 20 October to Sunday 12 Midlands. Of course, an all-singing, all- opportunity to see themselves reflected on dancing live show is a more demanding ask November. Debbie Isitt’s adaptation of 101 the big screen, which is so rare! The great Dalmatians also shows at the REP, from of primary school-aged kids than a film that thing about adapting something they already can be cut, re-shot and edited - particularly Thursday 30 November to Saturday 13 know is that they’re so excited to be part of it. January. given Isitt’s improvisational style. They all come in talking about how much Christmas Feature .qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:49 Page 1 Christmas Feature .qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:49 Page 2

Helping you to plan ahead for the festive season... Christmas

Is that the not-too-distant jingling of Christmas bells we can they’ll be celebrating the season of good will in classic Victorian style. hear?... Let it snow! One place where the fluffy white stuff is guaranteed is Yep, that’s right, ‘the season to be jolly’ is once again on its merry SnowDome in Staffordshire. The venue’s Santa’s Winter Wonderland old way, and will no doubt be upon us in the blink of a red-nosed (17 November - 31 December) is always a seasonal hit, com- reindeer’s eye! At the time of going to print, for instance, we’re ing complete with real snow trail, an all-new Santa Show and real just 51 short days away from the opening of the Christmas Mar- reindeer. kets in Birmingham City Centre, and 58 days away from the And with pantos aplenty reporting record early ticket sales this year, launch of the region’s first panto - Cinderella at Coventry’s Bel- now’s the time to book yourself a theatre seat. So if you’re on the look- grade Theatre. out for some on-stage yuletide magic, check out the below list of fes- In short, it’s time to start thinking about how best to celebrate tive shows taking place at venues across the region this Christmas... and enjoy the fabulous festive season. If you’re struggling for ideas, fear not - there are plenty of fun-filled events taking place across the region... Looking for some Christmas gifts inspiration? Then check out next month’s Festive Gift Fair at the NEC (16 - 19 November). With more than 350 stalls bursting with unique and unusual gifts, it’s a one-stop shop to help you get your Christmas shopping wrapped up in plenty of time. Wanting to sample a traditional Christmas? Then head to Blists Hill in Shropshire or the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, where

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Starring Mal- the hits from Frankie Valli & The Four Festive shows across the Midlands... colm Stent, Fri 8 - Sun 31 Dec, The Seasons, Sat 16 Dec - Sat 6 Jan, Core Theatre, Solihull New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham TREASURE ISLAND Classic tale of buc- Dec, mac, Birmingham CRIMES ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS DEAR SANTA Festive tale for younger caneers and buried gold, featuring THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY SIS- Alternative Christmas comedy for audiences from the author of well- live music, humour & puppetry, Sat TERS A rootin’ tootin’ spaghetti west- adults, Fri 8 Dec - Sat 6 Jan, Lichfield loved children’s book Dear Zoo, Sun 18 Nov - Sat 27 Jan, New Vic The- ern where the glass slippers have Garrick 17 - Sun 24 Dec, Stafford Gatehouse atre, Newcastle-under-Lyme spurs, and the bells chime for high JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Starring Theatre ALICE IN WONDERLAND Embark on a noon, Sat 2 - Sat 30 Dec, Belgrade Gareth Gates, Lisa Riley, Doreen Tip- CINDERELLA Starring soul diva Bever- magical adventure through the rabbit Theatre, Coventry ton, Ian Adams, Graham Cole and ley Knight, Strictly star , hole in Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, SLEEPING BEAUTY Sat 2 - Sun 31 Dec, Adam C Booth, Sat 9 Dec - Sun 14 Suzanne Shaw, comedy duo The Tues 20 - Sat 30 Dec, The Old Rep, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Jan, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Grumbleweeds, Hippodrome Birmingham favourite Matt Slack, and Ceri Dupree THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Fun-filled ad- and Phil Randall as the Ugly Sisters, CINDERELLA Featuring Iain Lauchlan Glyn Robbins’ dramatisation of CS venture for younger audiences, fea- Tues 19 Dec - Sun 28 Jan, Birming- as director and Dame, Wed 22 Nov - Lewis’ much-loved fantasy, Sun 3 - turing clumsy sheep, lost birds, ham Hippodrome Sat 13 Jan, Belgrade Theatre, Coven- Sun 16 Dec, The Crescent Theatre, stranded farmers and mayors in a try Birmingham pickle, Tues 12 - Sun 31 Dec, Lich- PETER PAN: CHRISTMAS IN NEVERLAND field Garrick Starring Bradley Walsh as Mr Smee, A CHRISTMAS CAROL Phil Davies, Kara SLEEPING BEAUTY Mon 4 Dec - Sun 7 Martin Kemp as Captain Hook & Matt Tointon and Adrian Edmondson star Jan, Swan Theatre, Worcester THE SNOW DRAGON Tall Stories present in Rachel Kavanaugh’s version of a seasonal show featuring toe-tap- Knight as Peter Pan, Thurs 20 - Sun PETER PAN Swashbuckling pan- Dickens’ famous festive tale of re- ping songs and lots of laughter for 24 Dec, Arena Birmingham tomime adventure starring Bernie demption and compassion, Mon 27 everyone aged three-plus, Thurs 14 - SKELLIG David Almond’s haunting Clifton, Adam Kelly and Charlotte Nov - Sun 4 Feb, Royal Shakespeare Fri 15 Dec, Bridge House Theatre, story of mystery, imagination and Griffiths, Wed 6 - Sun 31 Dec, The Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Warwick childhood... Thurs 20 - Sun 30 Dec, Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS CINDERELLA Featuring Alison Ham- Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham SNOW WHITE Starring Nicole Faraday Featuring Brad Pitt and Eric Smith, mond & Cbeebies’ Paul Hawkyard, THE SNOW DRAGON Tall Stories present and Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai Wed 29 Nov - Sun 7 Jan, Theatre Thurs 14 Dec - Sun 7 Jan, Malvern a seasonal show featuring toe-tap- McDowall, Wed 6 - Sun 31 Dec, Severn, Shrewsbury Theatre ping songs & lots of laughter for ev- Palace Theatre, Redditch ALADDIN Featuring CBeebies presen- ALADDIN Starring Jonathan Wilkes eryone aged three-plus, Thurs 21 SANTA’S MIXED-UP MARTIAN Featuring ter Cat Sandion as Aladdin, Sam and Christian Patterson, Fri 15 Dec - Dec - Sun 7 Jan, The Patrick Centre, Santa, Ellie, Rudolph and a very Rabone as Dame Widow Twankey Sun 7 Jan. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on- Birmingham Hippodrome friendly visitor from outer space, and Ben Thornton as Wishy Washy, Trent SNOW WHITE Fri 22 - Sat 30 Dec, Thurs 30 Nov - Sat 6 Jan, Lichfield Thurs 7 - Sun 24 Dec, Belgrade The- CINDERELLA Presented by All & Prince of Wales Centre, Cannock Garrick atre, Coventry Sundry, Sat 16 - Sat 23 Dec, Artrix, SANTA’S CHRISTMAS WISH Festive mu- WIND IN THE WILLOWS Staging of Ken- THE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMA- Bromsgrove sical adventure for two-to-seven-year- TIONS Debbie Issit’s staging of Dodie neth Grahame’s much-loved riverside A CHRISTMAS CAROL Dickens’ super- olds, Sun 24 Dec, Artrix, Bromsgrove Smith’s delightful tale, Thurs 30 Nov - tale, Thurs 7 Dec - Sat 6 Jan, The Al- natural tale of redemption and the THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN Playful Sat 13 Jan, The REP, Birmingham bany Theatre, Coventry Christmas spirit, Sat 16 - Sat 30 Dec, and inventive take on the well-known ROBIN HOOD Rock’n’roll version of a RAYMOND BRIGGS’ FATHER CHRISTMAS The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham legend. Perfect for ages three-plus, Featuring live music, songs and play- traditional adventure story, Fri 8 Dec - JERSEY BOYS Internationally ac- Wed 27 Dec, Artrix, Bromsgrove ful puppetry, Thurs 30 Nov - Sat 30 Sun 7 Jan, Stafford Gatehouse The- atre claimed jukebox musical featuring all

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whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:56 Page 1

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Film

Blade Runner 2049 CERT tbc Starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Mackenzie Davis, Jared Leto, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Lennie James, Edward James Olmos, Barkhad Abdi, Hiam Abbass Directed by Denis Villeneuve (USA) It’s been a long time coming. Regarded as one of the seminal sci-fi films of all time, Ridley Scott’s original Blade Runner presented a grim but credible view of the year 2019 (from the perspective of 1982). The sequel jumps 30 years on and features Ryan Gosling as a younger blade runner (or android tracker) who discov- ers a frightening secret that could signal the end of mankind. So he searches for his leg- endary predecessor Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for three decades... The new director is none other than Denis Vil- leneuve, who, on the evidence of Incendies, Prisoners, Sicario and especially Arrival, is a worthy successor to Ridley. We don’t know yet what role Mackenzie Davis plays, but she dis- plays more than a passing resemblance to Dar- ryl Hannah, who was Pris in the original. In 3D. Released Thurs 5 October CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in October... The Mountain Between Us CERT tbc Starring Idris Elba, , Dermot Mulroney, Beau Bridges Directed by Hany Abu-Assad (USA) Based on the 2011 novel by Charles Mar- tin, this survival romance sees Idris and Kate forced to rely on each other after their plane crashes in the snowy High Uintas Wilderness of Utah. From the director of the Oscar-nominated Palestinian films Paradise Now (2005) and Omar (2013). Released Fri 6 October The Glass Castle Loving Vincent CERT 12a (93 mins) With the voices of Douglas Booth, Jerome CERT 12a (127mins) Flynn, Helen McCrory, Chris O'Dowd, Saoirse Starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Max Ronan, Eleanor Tomlinson Directed by Dorota Greenfield, Sarah Snook, Naomi Watts Kobiela and Hugh Welchman (UK/Poland) Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (USA) Van Gogh would certainly approve. Based on Jeannette Walls’ 2005 memoir, The This is not just a biography of the troubled, Glass Castle tells of the author’s unconven- legendary painter but the first fully painted tional childhood. Leading a largely nomadic animated film. life, Jeannette grew up in abject poverty with Each of the film's 65,000 frames is an actual her eccentric mother (Watts), alcoholic father oil painting on canvas, applying the same (Harrelson) and three siblings. technique that Van Gogh himself used. Released Fri 6 October Released Fri 13 October whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Birmingham Royal Ballet DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:14 Page 1

AladdinDavid Bintley’s critically acclaimed production ventures into a fantastical world of genies, flying carpets and magic lamps... Birmingham Royal Ballet DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:15 Page 2

Lachlan Monaghan and Yaoqian Shang Alongside Aladdin and the Princess, do There have been some quite heavy crash are dancers with Birmingham Royal you have other roles you need to learn? landings to laugh about. I think it’s really Ballet. Together they will be performing Y: I’m also performing as one of the Princess’ important to have a good sense of humour the lead roles of Aladdin and the Princess attendants (one of her girlfriends), sapphires and to have fun. Badr al-Budur in Aladdin, which tours to and rubies (the jewels that Aladdin finds in Y: It’s true. Also, Lachlan is so clever. I Salford, Birmingham, Plymouth and the cave). It’s not too bad because all my always say that; he just knows exactly where London. After dancing with the ballet other roles are quite short so it’s not like I’m you are. We’ve never really danced together company for six and five years on the go all of the time. before Aladdin but we’ve worked really well respectively, they are starting to break L: I’m finding it difficult with the Djinn, from the start. With partnering you need to into principal roles and discover what it Aladdin and also one of his two friends. find your co-ordination together, and things means to be at the top of their profession. There are a lot of scenes where all of those feel different from one partner to another, but Here, they talk about Aladdin, coping with characters are on stage at the same time. For for us there’s been nothing difficult that long hours of rehearsal and what makes example, there are times where Aladdin and we’ve had to fix. the perfect partnership. the Djinn are in the same scene, both fighting L: Yaoqian is brilliant; she’s just such a the Mahgrib, and the moves are one count natural dancer. There’ve been so many To start, tell us a little about yourselves: after each other. It’s certainly testing my rehearsals where we hadn’t even tried bits YS: My name is Yaoqian Shang, I am Chinese brain, but it’s really fun. before, and decided to just do a section with and I’m a Soloist with Birmingham Royal the music. We’d do it and it would work, so we’d just keep going. We enjoy dancing Ballet. I started dancing properly at Beijing There must be fine balance between together so much that each section just falls Dance Academy when I was 9 years old and relaxing after a long day of rehearsals, into place. That’s what audiences seem to went to the Royal Ballet School when I was and thinking over the work you’ve done remember – the rapport of a partnership, and 16. that day. How do you manage that? the way you look at each other. LM: I’m Lachlan Monaghan, I’m Australian Y: I prefer to just switch off. I like to think and I’m a First Artist with Birmingham Royal about the work before I do it rather than Ballet. I started tap and jazz when I was later. There can be a lot of corrections, and if Finally, if you weren’t a ballet dancer, about 11 because of my sister, and ballet you keep thinking about them you just pile what would you be doing? when I was about 13. I went to the McDonald extra pressure on yourself, and I really don’t Y: I’d quite like to learn some interior design College in Sydney and then to the Royal like that. The next day, before I have because I’ve always liked drawing but I’ve Ballet School when I was 17. rehearsals, I’ll go through corrections then never had time to work on it properly. It’s my Will audiences be familiar with the story and see what I have to work on. dream to build my own house. of Aladdin, or is it quite different from the L: Immediately after rehearsal, I like to L: I’m very interested in photography. I think famous Disney film? reflect a little bit on the positive things. being a dancer teaches us so many skills, and L: It is quite different. In the ballet our There’s always going to be something that’s being a dancer turned photographer is rare. I Director David Bintley goes back to the gone wrong – I don’t think you ever walk also play piano and my dream is to one day original story from the Arabian Nights rather away going ‘well, that was perfect’ – but choreograph my own ballet, and also write than the Disney version. We don’t have a that’s the beauty of performing a character the score. That’s my ultimate goal. monkey or a talking parrot but we do have role because every day can be different. The flying carpets and genies! way we play Aladdin and the Princess in our first show will be different from the way we play it in our second show. That’s what’s Birmingham Royal Ballet present David You’re less than two weeks away from exciting – the growth, and the change, and Bintley’s Aladdin at Birmingham your first performances at The Lowry in responding to each other. I like to switch off Hippodrome from Tuesday 3 to Saturday Salford. How are rehearsals going? as well; watch TV, listen to music, do all 7 October L: It’s quite nerve-wracking to think that we those normal things. It’s good to chill out and will perform our first show in less than two remind yourself that, as brilliant as ballet is, weeks. The first things you attempt to there’s a big world out there. conquer in rehearsal are the pas de deux. As an audience member you might think the pas de deux or the solos are the hardest part, and they do have the most difficult steps, but What do you think makes a good actually it’s all the transitions, interactions partnership, both in rehearsal and on with the other characters and the props that stage? are the difficult things to get a handle on. Y: It’s definitely important to have fun. We’ve They take time to learn, and it’s not really had a lot of laughs. until we get to full cast rehearsals that we see L: There are some quite challenging lifts in it come together. Aladdin where, holding her weight, I’ll have to go down on my knee and drop to the floor. Film October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:56 Page 3

Film highlights released in October...

must do battle with the Hulk, his former Thor: Ragnarok CERT 1tbc The Lego Ninjago Movie Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, ally. It’s complicated, okay? But what a CERT tbc Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, cast: Ms Blanchett as the Norse goddess of With the voices of Dave Franco, Justin Ther- Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, death (a nice role if you can get it), fellow oux, Michael Peña, Kumail Nanjiani, Abbi Ja- Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins as Odin cobson, Jackie Chan Directed by Taika Waititi (USA) and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan (USA/Denmark) The world must be in trouble again. Actu- Strange. The director Taika Waititi previ- ally, it’s the Norse domain of Asgard that’s ously brought us the highly acclaimed New looking doomed, but before the mighty Zealand film Hunt For The Wilderpeople Thor can put things to rights - and battle (2016). In 3D. the loathsome Hela (Cate Blanchett) - he Released Tues 26 October

CRITIC’S CHOICE

The chunky Danish figures that were used to lampoon various superheroes in The Lego Movie (2014) and The Lego Batman Movie (2017) now take a swipe at the martial arts genre. Borrowing from the Lego Ninjago brand, this animated feature tells the story of six high school kids who struggle with their alma mater during the day but as ninja warriors kick major butt at night. In 3D. Released Fri 13 October

The Party CERT tbc The Ritual CERT 15 (94 mins) The Snowman CERT tbc Starring Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Emily Starring Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali Robert James- Starring Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Fergu- Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Collier, Sam Troughton son, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Val Kilmer, JK Sim- Thomas, Timothy Spall Directed by David Bruckner (UK) mons, Toby Jones Directed by Sally Potter (UK) Directed by Tomas Alfredson (UK/USA) A black comedy from the director of Orlando Not to be confused with the Raymond Briggs (1992) and The Tango Lesson (1997), The cartoon, this is actually based on the chilling Party starts with a merry, congratulatory get- 2007 Norwegian novel by Jo Nesbø. together to toast the appointment of the new Michael Fassbender plays Detective Harry health minister (Scott Thomas). But you Hole, who follows up the disappearance of a know what parties are like… woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped The critics loved it. round the neck of a snowman. Tomas Alfred- Released Fri 13 October son previously directed the highly acclaimed 2011 film version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Released Fri 13 October

If you go down to the woods… Here, we have another reunion (cf. Girls Trip, Rough Night), but this time the outcome for a quartet of old college friends is a little more supernatural and sinister… Released Fri 13 October

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Film

The Death Of Stalin signed to mitigate the catastrophic effects of army man and entrepreneur who contracts climate change. But when Hollywood messes polio and fights the disease like a warrior. CERT 15 (107 mins) with science… We can’t wait. In 3D. Based on the inspiring true story of Starring Steve Buscemi, Paddy Considine, Ru- pert Friend, Michael Palin, Andrea Risebor- Released Fri 20 October Cavendish - the film is produced by his son, ough, Jeffrey Tambor Jonathan - the movie is scripted by William Directed by Armando Iannucci (UK/France) Nicholson OBE (Shadowlands, Gladiator, Les Happy Death DayCERT tbc When Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin shuffled Misérables) and marks the directorial debut Starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby off his mortal coil, a power vacuum - and a Modine, Rachel Matthews of . shambles - resulted in the Kremlin's corridors Directed by Christopher B Landon (USA) Released Fri 27 October of power. Having dissected British politics in Think Groundhog Day with a horrific twist: his TV satire The Thick Of It, the writer-direc- poor Tree (Rothe) is forced to re-live the day tor Armando Iannucci now turns his atten- she died at the hands of a sicko in a mask tion to Russia. And while he lays on the gags, and then wakes up to live her whole last day he’s not afraid to confront the horror, either. again. Released Fri 20 October What’s really sad is that it’s her birthday - and each day she is killed in a different way. Released Fri 20 October

Marshall CERT 15 (118 mins) Call Me By Your Name Starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Sterling K Brown, CERT 15 (132 mins) James Cromwell Starring Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Directed by Reginald Hudlin (USA) Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel Directed by Luca Guadagnino Thurgood Marshall (Boseman) was the first (Italy/USA/Brazil/France) African-American justice of the Supreme Based on the novel by André Aciman, this Court of the United States. This is his story. coming-of-age drama is set in north Italy dur- CERT 15 (113 mins) Incidentally, Chadwick Boseman has previ- Jungle ing the summer of 1983. There, the 17-year- Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Alex Russell, Thomas ously played on film the American footballer old Elio Perlman (Chalamet) lives an Kretschmann, Yasmin Kassim, Joel Jackson, Floyd Little, the baseball star Jackie Robin- enchanted life reading and playing classical Jacek Koman Directed by Greg McLean (Aus- son and the singer James Brown. tralia/Colombia) music. Then his world is turned upside down Based on the real-life story of the Israeli back- Released Fri 20 October when he meets the handsome and charming packer Yossi Ghinsberg (Radcliffe), Jungle is American academic Oliver (Hammer), who’s a tale of survival and human endurance from staying at his parents’ villa. the director of Wolf Creek. Hoping for new ex- Released Fri 27 October periences, Yossi tags along with an American photographer (Russell) and a Swiss teacher CERT 18 (109 mins) (Kretschmann) and heads deep into the un- Jigsaw Starring Tobin Bell, Mandela Van Peebles, forgiving heart of the Amazon. Not for weak Laura Vandervoort, Brittany Allen, Callum stomachs. Keith Rennie Directed by The Spierig Brothers (USA) Released Fri 20 October It was all meant to end with Saw 3D: The Earth: One Amazing Day Final Chapter (2010). But you know what stu- CERT U (95 mins) dios are like. Jigsaw is the eighth instalment Narrated by Robert Redford in the Saw franchise and focuses on a series Directed by Richard Dale, Lixin Fan and Peter Webber (UK) of murders that match the modus operandi of the twisted John Kramer (aka Jigsaw). But Utilising previously unavailable technology, hasn’t Kramer been dead for over a decade? this sequel to the BBC’s Earth (2007) chroni- cles Nature in all its over the course Released Fri 27 October of one day. If it’s anywhere near as good as the first film, this is one documentary you should not miss. Geostorm CERT 12a (109 mins) Released Fri 20 October Starring Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Ed Harris, Andy García, Alexandra Maria Lara Directed by Dean Devlin (USA) Breathe CERT 12a (117 mins) Now, when did we last talk about the Starring , Claire Foy, Tom Hol- lander, Hugh Bonneville, Dean-Charles Chap- weather? This sci-fi disaster movie looks into man, Ed Speleers Directed by Andy Serkis (UK) the future when a satellite initiative is de- Andrew Garfield plays Robin Cavendish, an

whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Visual Arts October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:48 Page 1

Visual Arts previews from around the region

Kaleidoscope Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 5 October - Sat 9 December The relationship between colour and form, rationality and irrationality, order and waywardness is the central focus of this celebration of 1960s’ British art. Featuring work by more than 20 artists, Kaleidoscope turns the spotlight on the sense of repetition, sequence and sym- metry that underpinned the style of the time - a style noted for its bold, artifi- cial colours and unpredictable shapes and forms. The show features examples of the mind-bending surfaces so closely asso- ciated with Op Art, the flattened repeti- tion of Pop, the mathematical order of Constructivism and the sequential placement of brightly coloured abstract units found in New Generation sculp- ture.

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Visual Arts

Clive Barker: Pop Art. 1961 - 1981. Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 21 October - Mon 1 January It was while working with chrome-plated and leather car parts on the Vauxhall Motors as- sembly line that Clive Barker found the great- est inspiration for his art. In the high-profile career which has followed, Barker has not only applied chrome finishes to his pieces but also chosen to work primarily in polished cast metals. Widely considered to be the most important sculptor of the British Pop Art movement, Barker has produced work covering themes as diverse as portraiture, conceptual art, classical art and war & conflict. This new exhibition, although celebrating a 20- Pride And Persecution year period in the artist’s career, mainly fo- The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 27 October - Sun 21 January cuses on work produced by Barker throughout The fascinating history of the Barber’s Jan Steen masterpiece, The Wrath Of Ahasuerus, is the 1960s and into the early ’70s. explored in this exhibition. The show also focuses on the 17th century Dutch Golden Age during which the painting was produced, the emerging Dutch nation’s links and associa- tions with the Biblical Israelites and the connections of these paintings with contempo- rary Dutch theatre. The Wrath Of Ahasuerus is one of 70-plus paintings by Steen which narrate scenes from the Bible and classical mythology and history. Despite his impressive output of artwork inspired by these subjects, Steen was better known for his exuberant, humorous and gen- tly moralising scenes of everyday life. Pride And Persecution is complemented by Tales From History (showing from 27 October to 18 February), an exhibition focusing on rarely shown prints and drawings by Steen’s contemporary, Rembrandt, and some of the latter’s pupils. Sofia Hultén: Here’s The Quentin Blake: Inside Stories Answer, What’s The Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 21 October - Sunday 17 December Question? An exhibition featuring the work of one of the world’s best-loved illustrators, Inside Sto- Ikon, Birmingham, until Sun 26 November ries offers a unique insight into some of Quentin Blake’s most popular creations. This selection of sculptures, installations and The show features a huge range of the artist’s drawings, not only from the films - contemplating the nature of the material books with which he’s most closely associated, but also from David Walliams’ The Boy In world and the way people navigate it - consti- The Dress and Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. tutes the most comprehensive exhibition to date of Sofia Hultén’s work. Focusing on the Berlin-based artist’s interest in shuffling the chronological order of things, the show includes highly rated video work Nonse- quences, in which a sequence of events is re- enacted to defy expectations of cause and effect. One example of this features an apple, which, having been polished on jeans, is then dropped into dirt before being disposed of in a plastic bag. This is followed by a sequence in which the apple is placed in the bag before being dropped in dirt. In Hultén’s art, common sense no longer holds sway, as the artist provides the viewer with an- swers to which they must then make up the corresponding questions. whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Events October-2.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 10:18 Page 1

Events

The Horse Of The Year Show NEC, Birmingham, Wed 4 - Sun 8 October Now heading towards its 70th anniversary, the Horse Of The Year Show was launched in 1949 as a way to mark the end of the equestrian season. The event has undergone considerable change since that inaugural show with its 400 entries. Nowadays there are 1,600 horses and ponies taking part, with competitors numbering 1,500 and a staggering 65,000 spectators sam- pling the show’s numerous delights. Highlights this year include two never-before-seen dis- plays from Atkinson Action Horses and The Caspian Horse Society. There’s also a full programme of International Showjumping classes, one of which includes the world-fa- mous Puissance. Other featured attractions are a dressage masterclass from former Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin and the ever-popular Virbac 3D worming Pony Club Mounted Games.

The 24th Carole Wedding Fair Nash Classic Stoneleigh Park, Warwick- shire, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Motorcycle October Mechanics Show This month’s show features Staffordshire County Showground, wedding experts aplenty, of- Sat 14 - Sun 15 October fering advice on everything Club stands, live action, autumn from flowers and favours to sales, classic off-road machines and cakes and cars. special guest stars from iconic eras Bridal boutiques, florists of motorcycling are all featured in a and catwalk shows are all show which regularly welcomes present and correct too, as more than 30,000 enthusiasts is the Vintage Village, cele- through its doors. brating the ever-evolving Celebrating the growing popularity trend for yesteryear-style of emerging and modern classics weddings. from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, the show features hundreds of traders and dealers, as well as numerous autojumble stands offering a wealth The Motorhome And of parts and spares for every project. Caravan Show NEC, Birmingham, Tues 17 - Sun 22 October Attracting huge crowds and filling numer- ous halls of the NEC, the Motorhome And Caravan Show 2017 is promising to be ‘big- ger and better than ever’. The always-popular event features hun- dreds of UK exhibitors, offering visitors the chance to check out all the new 2018 cara- van, motorhome, holiday home, trailer tent and folding caravan models. The show also provides free help and ad- vice on all aspects of touring - from finance, insurance and security to the best tow cars on the market. A wide range of accessories are available at show-only prices.

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Events previews from around the region

Grand Designs Live NEC, Birmingham, Wed 11 - Sun 15 October The UK’s leading contemporary home show makes its annual visit to Birmingham this month, with design guru Kevin McCloud once again presiding over proceedings. Kevin hosts various events in the show’s Grand Theatre, where guest speakers offer tips and advice on a variety of homebuilding issues. This year’s show also features tons of inspiring ideas, state-of-the-art bathroom products, suggestions for making the most of available kitchen space, and ‘must have’ products for gardens and outdoor spaces. Disney On Ice Presents Passport To Adventure Arena Birmingham, Wed 18 - Sun 29 October Yep, it’s that get-your-skates-on time of year Elsa, mountain-man Kristoff and huggable again, with Disney’s ever-popular line-up of snowman Olaf. children’s favourites once more taking to the ice And for those who like their Disney characters to astound and delight. more ‘long in the tooth’, there are appearances This time out, Midlands families are invited to by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, explore the African Pride Lands with Simba and Goofy and Daisy. friends, voyage to Ariel’s underwater kingdom Oh, and there’s also a pre-show party featuring and fly from London to Neverland with Peter Zootropolis to enjoy, to help get your youngsters Dive 2017 Pan. They also travel to Arendelle, for an ‘ex- in the mood for all the fun to come. NEC, Birmingham, traordinary’ adventure with sisters Anna and Sat 21 - Sun 22 October Boasting hundreds of exhibitors - including manufacturers and re- tailers of diving equipment, and The Birmingham Literature Mad Science Children’s travel agents offering dive holiday Festival 2017 Activities destinations - Dive 2017 also fea- tures an unrivalled programme of Various venues, Sat 7 - Sun 15 October Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, Thurs 26 October guest speakers. A host of top literary talent has been lined up for Special features include two large the 20th Birmingham Literature Festival. in-hall presentation stages, pools, From humble beginnings back in 1998, the event mini-theatres, TekDeck and promi- has developed into one of the city’s most high- nent dive-travel, training and un- profile celebrations of the arts. derwater photography areas. Highlights this year include contributions from India’s best-selling female writer, Preeti Shenoy, debut novelist Chinelo Okparanta and children’s Half-term fun at the writer Christopher Edge. Motor Museum There’s also a showcase of work produced by ‘Education wrapped in entertainment’ is the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, marginalised writers across the UK, a collection name of the game at Mad Science’s hugely popu- Warwickshire, Sat 21 - Sun 29 of pieces by up-and-com- lar interactive learning events. October ing regional authors, per- The science-themed shows offer children the Get your motor running in the di- formances of poetry and chance to thoroughly engage in all manner of rection of this hugely popular visi- numerous debates. imaginative pastimes. These include creating tor attraction this half term. An evening with Birm- foggy dry ice storms, finding out how a foam fac- Activities include numerous art- ingham comedian Joe tory functions, building super-bouncy balls, mak- based workshops, a brand new Lycett and Yardley MP ing magic mud and altering soundwaves. trail for kids to enjoy in the com- Jess Phillips also fea- And if that little lot doesn’t wear out the kids and pany of costumed guides and, re- tures. buy you some much-needed half-term peace and turning by popular demand, the quiet, then nothing will! Black Cat Halloween trail. whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Events October-2.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:37 Page 3

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Halloween Great half-term Halloween Nights The Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, events Wed 25 - Sat 28 October Expect ghoul and ghost and goblin host to be dancing around the Black Country Living Museum this month, as the popular visitor attraction gets into the Halloween ‘spirit’. Treats, tricks and ‘terrifying tales of old’ abound, the venue’s gaslit streets coming alive with all manner of street entertainment. The museum’s mine has been suitably spook- ified for the occasion, and there’s also the chance to win a prize for best-dressed ghoul in a costume parade.

Alton Towers’ Scarefest Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, Ghostly Gaslight Sat 7 - Sun 8, Sat 14 - Sun 15 and Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Fri 20 - Tues 31 October Sat 28 October Alton Towers’ hugely popular Scarefest at- This spine-tingling but family-friendly annual traction makes a welcome return this event sees the amiable characters of Blists Hill month. Victorian Town replaced by ghosts, ghouls and The venue has a great reputation when it creepy-crawlies. comes to putting the heebie jeebies up its When night falls and street lamps cast their October-time visitors - but only in a family- shadows across the cobbled streets, visitors are friendly way, of course! advised to keep their eyes and ears open, as Alongside the theme park’s impressive se- weird apparitions and spooky sounds take over lection of usual rides, the Staffordshire visi- the town’s shops, cottages and work places. tor attraction is hosting four live shows for Anybody who fancies doing some ‘spooking’ of very young children. There’s also a House their own is more than welcome to hit the Of Monsters maze and Freak Show scare- fancy-dress shop beforehand... zone to sample, as well as four terrifying scare mazes for those who consider them- selves the bravest of the brave. Halloween Spooktacular British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry, Shropshire, Friday 27 October We’re reliably informed that ‘staff are readying the fake blood and scream-inducing decorations’ at the British Ironwork Centre, where youngsters who enjoy feeling the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end are set to enjoy some ghoulish fun at the end of the month. Highlights include a whole host of spooks and spectres, the venue’s classic pumpkin hunt, a ‘devilishly delicious’ doughnut challenge and both pumpkin and face-painting opportunities. Visitors who think they’re brave enough can also take on the challenge of the ‘fear boxes’, or head for the ‘scream-extracting’ terror tunnel (over-12s only). Fancy dress is of course encour- aged, with prizes to be won for the ghastliest of outfits.

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Spooky previews from around the region Halloween

Spooky Science Week Haunted Castle Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Mon 23 - Fri 27 October Mon 23 - Fri 27 October There’s no shortage of spellbinding fun to be Take advantage of this long week- had at Thinktank during this month’s half- end of ghostly goings-on at term school holidays. Staffordshire’s spooktacularly An after-hours Spooky Science Night (Sat 28, 6 haunted castle. - 9 pm) includes eerie experiments and a sci- There are Halloween activities ence-of-fright show, not to mention encounters aplenty to sample, including the with creepy crawlers in the company of Think- chance to play ping-pong eyeballs tank’s expert handlers. Arrive attired in fancy with some not-entirely-pleasant dress and you’ll be entered into a ‘fantastic’ hags. Visitors are also advised to prize draw on the night. keep their wits about them More spooktacular fun can be enjoyed over at throughout their stay, to ensure Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on 25 Octo- they remain beyond the clutches of ber, when a Monster Party in the Waterhall the eerie executioner and the ever- Gallery includes music, dancing and plenty of so-spooky St Editha... ghoulish games. And the Halloween fun con- tinues at the venue throughout the week, cour- Ghost Tour tesy of some gruesome object handling New Alexandra Theatre, sessions and a spooky portrait studio. Birmingham, Fri 27 October It’s believed that at least five ghosts haunt the nooks and crannies of the New Alexandra Theatre, and ghastly ghouls this Halloween season. Spooktober this sure-to-be-fun ghost tour of- Spooky storytelling, freaky face-painting and an fers a great opportunity to meet Birmingham Botanical Gardens, opportunity to make some scary arts & crafts are Mon 23 - Fri 27 October them! For super-brave ghost- among the October attractions at the popular busters, there’s even an add-on Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens is promising venue. ‘lock in’ event, offering the chance visitors the chance to get up close and personal There’s even a spot of pond-dipping thrown in to experience the auditorium in the with cackling witches, petrifying pumpkins and for good measure! dark and disconcerting depths of the night. Don’t forget your torch. And your big bag of courage. More Treat Than Trick tery boxes’ challenge. The theme park’s fabulous white-knuckle rides provide the perfect opportu- Drayton Manor Theme Park, Torch-Lit Sat 14 - Sat 26 October nity to add a churning stomach to that Hal- loween-induced tingling spine! Pumpkin Walk Drayton Manor Park is inviting families to dust Bodenham Arboretum, Kiddermin- off their broomsticks and batwings and treat ster, Worcestershire, themselves to some ghoulish Halloween fun this Fri 27 - Sun 29 October month. Apple bobbing, marshmallow Creepy capers to enjoy include the chance to see toasting, spooky storytelling and the ever-popular Thomas Land attraction trans- creepy craftmaking keep the kids formed into the ‘spooktacular’ Island of Sodor. active and amused at this special More-courageous youngsters can face their fear Halloween event. of the unknown by taking part in the ‘five mys- The main attraction, though (as ably evidenced from the event’s title) is the torch-lit pumpkin walk, Halloween Family the-dark Halloween puppets. a fun undertaking that sees fami- The boat trips are ‘spooky’ but not scary, and lies making their way round the big Boat Trips should be suitable for children over three years pool in search of pumpkins with letters carved into them. Unscram- Dudley Canal Trust, Fri 27 - Tues 31 October of age. And the fiendish fun doesn’t end there. On vari- ble the letters to make a Halloween What better way can there be to get into the Hal- ous days of half-term week, families can get cre- word - and when you’re done, grab loween spirit than by exploring Dudley Canal ative with a selection of Halloween-themed craft yourself a bowl of pumpkin soup to Trust’s naturally spooky tunnels and caverns? activities. Children can make a witch or wizard keep the nighttime chills away! The Trust is running special children’s boat trips hat, have a go at creating an animal superpower Visitors are invited to bring along this half-term holiday, during which youngsters potion and add a spooktacular creation to the their very own carved pumpkin - will encounter some truly impressive glow-in- Trust’s gruesomely ghastly ghostly gallery. there’s a prize for the best one... whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Antiques For Everyone October 2017.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:40 Page 1 Blondie DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:15 Page 1 Blondie We spoke to the band’s drummer Clem Burke ahead of their Birmingham show...

Blondie’s 11th album, Pollinator, was so it’s been good. The album has given us the kind of transitioned into a more bohemian, released earlier this year. Can you tell us a impetus to want to continue, so we’re going William Borrows, Andy Warhol, Patty Smith bit about it? to be making another record. Everything’s vibe. It was all kind of coming together at We’re all really happy with it, and I think it’s great within the band, and we’re really that point during the mid-’70s. the record that Blondie fans have been looking forward to the UK tour. waiting for. I mean, I think the chemistry of Why do you think the band remain so the band really comes across. The three other What’s the meaning behind the album’s popular? guys in the band, Tommy, Lee and Matt, have title - Pollinator? The music is the legacy of the band and been with us for quite a while, along with Deb came up with the name, but it has to do obviously Debbie’s image opened the door me, Chris and Debbie. The idea was to go in with the fact that we’re kind of infusing other for the band, and she’s still a lovely, very and record all the basic tracks together and people’s music with our music - and then beautiful woman. Her looks overshadowed really have the sound of the band come along came the bee crisis. A weird twist of her musical ability, her lyrics and everything. across. The last couple of albums that we did, fate - we were supposed to be doing a gig in Musically, to me, she’s more like Bowie or Jim the songs were there but they were done in a London the day after the tragedy in Morrison, not really like the obvious other different method. They were more computer- Manchester, and of course everything blonde singers. Culturally in the mid-’70s generated, and then we found when we went stopped the next day. We weren’t really aware there was a lot of really significant stuff going to do the songs in our show, we would have of the worker bee symbol of Manchester, so on in New York that was only really to rearrange them and make them band that kind of came to light too. And then I was influencing the people who were there. We performances. We kind of felt that people looking at GQ and there was a guy in a Gucci were the sound of New York in a way. We were a lot more receptive to the songs when suit with bees on it. Bees all of a sudden were being influenced by our peers, by they actually heard the band playing them. seem to be kind of trendy - unbeknown to us, certain artists, different areas of the city, the We kind of have a history of doing cover as we were really in our own little bubble whole hip-hop thing. The internet is a big songs, starting with things like Denis and when we came up with that idea. help now. I think we’re the first generation Hanging On The Telephone, which was by a where our whole band life is on the internet band called The Nerves. Tide Is High is by as far as performances and photos go. For The Paragons and was written by John Holt. I You started playing drums for Blondie in younger people, that kind of lets them think we have a knack of taking other 1975. How did that come about? connect the dots on what Blondie was all people’s songs and making them sound like We were all hanging out in New York City in a about and what was going on. You look at a Blondie songs, so that’s what we decided to club called Club 82. It was kind of like a photo of Debbie from 1976 and it looks very do with Pollinator. We’re really, really happy dance club that had glam rock bands on one modern, but you look at a photo of somebody with the way it’s turned out, and I think it’s night a week, whether it be New York Dolls or from Bon Jovi in the ’80s and it doesn’t look definitely one of our best albums. Blondie Teenage Lust or other bands. I had a band very modern. The Velvet Underground and fans are all really happy with it too - we’re called Sweet Revenge and Deb and Chris had Andy Warhol had a lot to do with influencing just trying to get other people to hear it. It a band called The Stilettos, and we were all Blondie. They were an underground was received really well and went in the on that scene. It was kind of like the last phenomenon at the time. I think Blondie’s charts at number four here in the UK. We’re hold-out of glam rock. Everything kind of music stands up. I think The Pollinator having a good time playing a handful of moved South West a block or so. People like record is a great record, and I’m not just songs from Pollinator, along with the Bowie informed British punk rock, so the saying that because it’s the most recent one - expected songs, in the current Blondie show, Bowie, Lou Reed thing was going on and that it’s definitely one of our better albums.

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Blondie DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:15 Page 2

During Blondie’s hiatus, you played reason. It starts there and goes on from there. What’s your first musical memory? drums for numerous musicians, including If I was a kid today, I’m not sure if I would I started playing drums when I was quite Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop and The Ramones. choose the music business as a career, but young. For my generation, The Beatles on Ed Can you tell us a little bit about that, and then who knows? Sullivan in the States was a turning point. I who did you enjoy working with the was too young for Elvis in terms of musical most? How does life on the road now compare to memories. Top 40 radio in the States, you’d The Eurythmics. I met Annie Lennox at a club back in the ’90s, for example? have Frank Sinatra next to the Rolling in Piccadilly called Planets around 1980, Stones. Well, it’s easier now. Something like making when I was living in London. Lemmy was a phone call back in the day was a big deal, there, Michael Jackson was there. He was trying to reach somebody in another country. Blondie are bringing their UK tour to sitting on a chair next to me when Annie Once again, technology has brought everyone Birmingham this winter. What can came over and started talking to me about together. The production’s a lot easier. You audiences expect from your show? the new band that she was starting up with live and learn. I was always into taking care Dave. So I went round to their place and had We’ve been on the road in the States for the of myself. I did this thing, the Clem Burke Sunday lunch, then recorded their first last seven weeks, touring with the band Drumming Project, which I got a doctorate album with them in Germany. I had a great Garbage. Before that, we went to Australia, for a few years ago from Gloucestershire time with them - we became friends. With so the band is very road-worthy. We’re University, and it’s just about having a Iggy, that was a really amazing time. He was playing a handful of songs from Pollinator positive spin on what it means to be a promoting this album party, I went on tour along with the expected hits and some musician. It studies all the mental and with him for six weeks and we opened for the deeper Blondie cuts. A pretty well-rounded physical aspects of being on the road. That’s Rolling Stones. Everything that’s come about show. We’re trying to make people aware of a big part of the study - the endurance etc. It has been as a result of Blondie, whether that the Pollinator album. It’s all go. Everyone is got a bit controversial because my stats were be Debbie’s acting career or Chris’ in a great space and enjoying performing, so lining up with premier footballers half my photography, me working with all these other it’s going to be good. Along with Holland and age. I think we just try to take care of people. It’s good when people go away and Australia, this is where the initial success ourselves more now. I don’t think I went to do that stuff because they then bring it back was with Blondie. The UK has always been a the gym or any of that back in the day into the band. Working with Dylan was second home - we spend a lot of time here. because I was too hungover or whatever. unbelievable - just being in his genius That’s the great thing about playing an presence. At the end of the day, the love of instrument - as time goes on, it just gets music is what really comes through. Whether better and better. it’s Bob Dylan or a kid in a garage banging on Blondie play Arena Birmingham on a guitar, they’re all doing it for the same Monday 13th November The List Cover October Wolves_Shrops_Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:28 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide OctoberOctober 20172017 thelist

Russian State Ballet’s Swan Lake - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 14 October

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

What’s On Sun 1 to Sun 8 October Mon 9 to Sun 15 October Mon 16 to Sun 22 October Mon 23 to Tues 31 October

Stone Food & Drink Festival Katherine Ryan at at West Midlands Vegan Festival at Westbridge Park Dudley Town Hall Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury at Civic Hall, Wolverhampton Fri 6 - Sun 8 October Sat 14 October Sun 22 October Sat 28 - Sun 29 October

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List NEW Wolves/Shrops/Staffs New Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:30 Page 1

thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October Hounds, Birmingham UTE SHOW Fri 6 Oct, THROUGHOUT OCTOBER Gigs PRETTY VICIOUS Wed 4 National Brewery Cen- Oct, O2 Academy, tre, Burton upon Trent renowned Charles H Cecil studios in SOME GUYS HAVE ALL Birmingham ZOE GILBY QUARTET Fri Visual Arts Florence, until Sat 4 Nov, The Willow THE LUCK - THE ROD JARROD DICKENSON 6 Oct, Symphony Hall, Gallery, Oswestry STEWART STORY Sun 1 Wed 4 Oct, Hare & Birmingham Bilston Craft Gallery BRITISH CERAMICS BIENNIAL Featuring Oct, Prince Of Wales Hounds, Birmingham THE ULTIMATE EAGLES Centre, Cannock FOSSIL FUELLED Exhibition featuring work by Neil Brownsword, Juree Kim MARTIN TURNER EX Fri 6 Oct, William objects from many of the town’s in- and Central Saint Martins College LORDE Sun 1 Oct, O2 WISHBONE ASH Wed 4 Aston Hall, Wrexham Ceramic Design students, until Sun 5 dustries, including cut steel jewellery, Academy, Birmingham Oct, The Robin, Bil- FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 6 Nov, World of Wedgwood, Stoke-on- bicycles and the world famous Bil- CRYSTAL PALACE Sun 1 ston Oct, Route 44, B’ham ston Enamels, until Sun 31 Dec Trent Oct, The Robin, Bil- THAT'LL BE THE DAY WHITESNAKE UK Fri 6 ART OF THE COMMUNITY EXHIBITION Ex- ston Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Oct, Oct, Eleven, Stoke on hibition forming part of a celebration New Art Gallery - Walsall HABADEKUK Sun 1 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Trent to mark the Trust’s 50th anniversary, NEW ADAM GRÜNING Adam works with Lichfield Guildhall Theatre until Tues 2 Jan, Coalbrookdale Fri 6 installation, photography and video Gallery, Ironbridge TEXAS Sun 1 Oct, Sym- IAN MOSS Thurs 5 Oct, Oct, The Slade to explore the relationship between phony Hall, B’ham The Robin, Bilston Rooms, W’hampton authentic and inauthentic experience MADE IN THE MIDDLE Recurring touring INHEAVEN Thurs 5 Oct, RHINO AND THE and notions of value and spectacle, exhibition showcasing some of the RIVRS Mon 2 Oct, Hare The Sugarmill, Stoke- RANTERS Sat 7 Oct, Tues 17 Oct - Sun 17 Dec Midlands’ best contemporary craft & Hounds, B’ham on-Trent Hare & Hounds, Birm- and applied art, Sat 30 Sept - Sat 25 DERVISH Mon 2 Oct, ingham Potteries Museum & Art Nov, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, New Vic Theatre, New- CHANTEL MCGREGOR Gallery - Stoke-On-Trent Burton-upon-Trent castle-under-Lyme, Thurs 5 Oct, Hare & KING NO-ONE WITH SPE- NEW PLAY & DISPLAY - PAPER AND Staffs Hounds, Birmingham CIAL GUESTS Sat 7 Oct, HEARTBEAT Installation promoting CARD TOYS EXHIBITION Collection The Sugarmill, Stoke- Warli culture and including more than LUKE JACKSON Mon 2 ELIO PACE PERFORMS demonstrating the popularity and ver- on-Trent 30 Warli paintings alongside film Oct, Stafford Gate- THE BILLY JOEL SONG- satility of paper and card toys, Sun 1 works, sculptural pieces, clay and ce- house Theatre BOOK Thurs 5 Oct, THE YOUNG 'UNS Sat 7 - Fri 13 Oct, Museum of Cannock Theatre Severn, Oct, Theatre Severn, ramic materials, objects and sound KIP MOORE Mon 2 Oct, Chase, Staffordshire Shrewsbury Shrewsbury works. A collaboration between O2 Institute, B’ham artists, artisans and craftspeople from NEW ABSTRACT EDGE EXHIBITION - PAPA ROACH Thurs 5 AFROCARIBFEST 2017 - THE KENTUCKY HEAD- India and the UK, the show is pre- ARTISTS ON THE EDGE OF ABSTRACTION Oct, O2 Academy, XFACTOR INVASION Sat HUNTERS Mon 2 Oct, sented in partnership with the British Showcasing the work of a group of Birmingham 7 Oct, Telford Arena & The Robin, Bilston Ceramics Biennial, until Sun 12 Nov artists who have a shared interest in JUSTIN HAYWARD Thurs Live Lounge, Telford KING NO-ONE WITH SPE- painting in an abstract or semi-ab- 5 Oct, Birmingham INGLORIOUS Sat 7 Oct, CIAL GUESTS Tues 3 Shrewsbury Museum & Art stract way, Tues 3 - Sat 28 Oct, VAN Town Hall The Robin, Bilston Gallery Gallery, Shrewsbury Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham TOM GRENNAN Fri 6 TUBULAR BELLS FOR NEW SAMURAI: WARRIORS OF JAPAN An NEW SUPNAA: DREAMS OF OUR FA- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- TWO FEATURING SUP- JOE LONGTHORNE Tues exhibition that graphically brings to THERS Exhibition inspired by the ingham PORT FROM GYPSYFIN- 3 Oct, Victoria Hall, life the story of the Samurai and their artist’s upbringing in Park Village, GERS Sat 7 Oct, Wolverhampton, in the 1970s and Stoke-on-Trent MEGSON Fri 6 Oct, The fall from power, as Japan opened up Hive, Shrewsbury Birmingham Town Hall early ’80s, Wed 4 Oct, Wolverhamp- LOYLE CARNER Tues 3 to the West, Mon 16 Oct - Sun 21 Jan BOOTLEG BLONDIE Sat 7 ton City Archives Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- JESS MORGAN & DAN Oct, The Roadhouse, ingham WHITEHOUSE Fri 6 Oct, Wolverhampton Art Gallery NEW FUNNY THINGS: CLICKING COMEDI- Birmingham ANS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION Steve mac, Birmingham NEW UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON STARS OF IRISH COUN- Best’s many years on the comedy cir- THE HOOSIERS Fri 6 REBECCA DOWNES Sat 7 MA SHOW Featuring a wide range of TRY SHOW Tues 3 Oct, cuit have allowed him to build trust Oct, The Sugarmill, Oct, The Slade creative work covering a variety of The Place, Oaken- with some of the funniest people on Stoke-on-Trent Rooms, W’hampton practice disciplines such as painting, gates Theatre, Telford earth. This exclusive access has MARTINA EDOFF Sat 7 sculpture, glass, ceramics, installa- MEGSON Wed 4 Oct, U2+1 VS ALIVE & KICK- given him an opportunity to take hun- Oct, Eleven, Stoke on tion, graphics, photography, illustra- The Red Lion Folk ING UK Fri 6 Oct, The dreds of intimate, deeply moving im- Trent tion, audio-visual and multimedia, Sat Club, Birmingham Robin, Bilston ages - from backstage to front of BEVERLEY KNIGHT Sun 14 - Sun 22 Oct THE STRYPES Wed 4 PAUL WALKER & KAREN stage, from very new comedians and 8 Oct, Symphony Hall, NEW YANG FUDONG: THE NIGHTMAN Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- PFEIFFER Fri 6 Oct, seasoned professionals to the down- Birmingham COMETH Yang is one of the leading right famous, Mon 23 Oct - Sun 5 ingham Stafford Gatehouse Theatre TAKE A CHANCE Sun 8 figures in China’s contemporary art Nov, Light House Media Centre, SHANE FILAN Wed 4 Oct, The Robin, Bil- world and independent cinema, Sat Wolverhampton Oct, The Place, Oak- SHELLAC Fri 6 Oct, 14 Oct - Sun 3 Dec ston NEW ARGAZKI MAC - 'NATURAL engates Theatre, The Asylum, B’ham NEW CLIVE BARKER: POP ART. 1961 – STAFFORDSHIRE' Argazki Mac, aka Telford SQUEEZE WITH SPECIAL SKINNY GIRL DIET Sun 8 Oct, The Sunflower 1981. Exhibition which concentrates Neal McIntosh, has produced a AN EVENING WITH GUESTS 9 BELOW ZERO. Lounge, Birmingham on works from the 1960s and early breathtaking portfolio of wildlife pho- FENNE LILY, PAUL Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Sym- 1970s, illustrating Barker’s important tography, with all photos having been THOMAS SAUNDERS, phony Hall, B’ham DRU HILL Sun 8 Oct, contribution to the story of Pop Art, taken in Cannock Chase, Stafford SIVU & SIV JAKOBSEN ALLMAN BROWN & DAN O2 Academy, B’ham Sat 21 Oct - Mon 1 Jan and Hednesford Hills, Mon 23 Oct - Wed 4 Oct, Henry BETTRIDGE Fri 6 Oct, ANDY MCKEE Sun 8 Fri 15 Dec, Museum of Cannock Tudor House, Shrews- Ort Cafe, Birmingham Oct, The Slade Other VISUAL ARTS Chase, Staffordshire bury MARTY STUART Fri 6 Rooms, Wolverhamp- SHROPSHIRE ART SOCIETY EXHIBITION NEW NEW YEAR: NEW BEGINNINGS Exhi- THE BEATLES UN- Oct, Birmingham Town ton Showcasing the work of Angela bition exploring the identity of the PLUGGED Wed 4 Oct, Hall FAUSTUS Sun 8 Oct, Jones and Wen Williamson, until Fri 6 museums service and featuring Theatre On The Step, THE GLORIA GAYNOR EX- Henry Tudor House, Oct, St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury pieces and stories from the collec- Bridgnorth, South PERIENCE Fri 6 Oct, Shrewsbury DANIEL YEOMANS Daniel is an ac- tion, Sat 28 Oct, Red House Glass Shropshire Cone, Wordsley, Stourbridge Victoria Hall, Stoke-on- THERAPY? Sun 8 Oct, claimed portrait artist with a tradi- WILLE AND THE BANDITS Trent The Glee Club, B’ham tional training at the internationally Wed 4 Oct, Hare & BLUES BROTHERS TRIB- 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Wolves/Shrops/Staffs New Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:30 Page 2

thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October Glee Club, Birmingham the life of Anna Seward, Tues 3 - Sat themes of murder, homosexuality, Classical Music KEITH FARNAN, ANDRE VINCENT & TWO 7 Oct, Lichfield Garrick nymphomania and sadism, Thurs 5 - COMICS TBC Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, The THE WEDDING SINGER Ray Quinn, Sat 14 Oct, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham MOZART'S CLARINET CONCERTO Featur- Comedy Loft, Birmingham Cassie Compton, Roxanne Pallett ing the City of Birmingham Sym- BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL Fri 6 - and Ruth Madoc star in a new pro- A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, phony Orchestra, Mirga Gražinyt-Tyla Sun 15 Oct, Various locations, duction of the popular musical, mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian (conductor) & Jörg Widmann (clar- throughout Birmingham based on the hit film of the same ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev inet). Programme to include works by name, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Oct, Wolver- Pegg & Jess Silk, Fri 6 Oct, The Rose JIMMY MCGHIE, MARK SIMMONS & Weber, Mozart, Jörg Widmann & hampton Grand Theatre Theatre, Kidderminster TREVOR COOK Sat 7 Oct, Jongleurs Brahms, Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Oct, Sym- Comedy Club, Birmingham PROMISE AND PROMISCUITY: A NEW phony Hall, Birmingham MUSICAL Penny Ashton brings a full JAY HANDLEY Sat 7 Oct, mac, B’ham CEMPR Early Music Lecture - recitals: cast of Austenesque characters to life Early Strings with Miki Takahashi and ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Sat 7 Oct, The with song, dance - and appalling Andrew Kirkham, Thurs 5 Oct, The Old Post Office, Burton-upon-Trent cross-stitching... Fri 6 Oct, Theatre Bramall, Birmingham COMEDY IN THE MET Sat 7 Oct, Severn, Shrewsbury CBSO CENTRE STAGE: WIDMAN & WEBER Stafford Gatehouse Theatre THE BASTARD KING Sketch comedy Featuring the CBSO musicians & THE SCUMMY MUMMIES SHOW Sat 7 duo The Awkward Silence present Jörg Widmann (clarinet/artist in resi- Oct, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall their latest show, Fri 6 Oct, Old Joint dence), Fri 6 Oct, CBSO Centre, Stock Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham THAT'LL BE THE DAY Acclaimed touring show featuring a host of popular hits spanning the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s & Theatre ’80s, Fri 6 Oct, Theatre Severn, Comedy THE PITMEN PAINTERS Feelgood play Shrewsbury based on the true story of coal min- BURNING BOOKS A powerful and hu- THE LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY FOR KIDS ers who begin evening classes with a morous look at an education system Sun 1 Oct, mac, Birmingham Master of Painting from Kings College buckling under government cuts and COMEDY OF BLACK ORIGIN (COBO) Newcastle, until Sat 7 Oct, New Vic targets - a story of protest and the BRINGS A BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPE- Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme teachers who chose to fight back, Fri CIAL Sun 1 Oct, The Glee Club, Birm- DUET FOR ONE Revival of Tom Kempin- 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Arena Theatre, B’ham ingham ski's award-winning play, taking a PAUL ZERDIN: ALL MOUTH The ac- AKSHAYAMBARA Experimental play JOEL DOMMETT Sun 1 Oct, Theatre look at what happens when unex- claimed ventriloquist is joined by new creating a contemporary narrative Severn, Shrewsbury pected events lead you to revaluate characters and old favourites, Wed 4 that raises questions about female Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury representation and male ownership, ABANDOMAN Wed 4 Oct, The Glee your life, until Sat 7 Oct, The REP, Sun 8 Oct, mac, Birmingham Club, Birmingham Birmingham SNOW WHITE AND ROMEO & JULIET Double bill of work, performed by MIKE GUNN, LOST VOICE GUY & COMEDY DODGER Amateur staging of Terry AN EVENING WITH GERVASE PHINN The Pratchett’s Victorian tale, inspired by The Nuworks Theatre Company, Wed bestselling author shares his anec- CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 4 Oct, Dudley Town Hall 5 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham Charles Dickens’ character, the Artful dotes, Sun 8 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Dodger, Fri 29 Sept - Sat 7 Oct, Hall SLEEPING TREES: SCI-FI? A journey into Theatre MAFF BROWN, DALISO CHAPONDA, GARY Green Little Theatre, Birmingham the deep and infinite unknown... Wed MEIKLE & JIM SMALLMAN Thurs 5 Oct, 4 Oct, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- The George Hotel, Lichfield I KNEW YOU Highly anticipated second play from Birmingham-born writer ingham DAN NIGHTINGALE, RAY BADRAN, SIMON and performer Steven Camden, aka THAT'LL BE THE DAY Acclaimed touring Kids shows LOMAS, JAMIE HUTCHINSON & LOU CON- Polarbear, taking a look at family dy- show featuring a host of popular hits RAN Thurs 5 Oct, Foxlowe Arts Cen- namics. Featuring Lorna Laidlaw spanning the 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s, tre, Leek, Staffordshire SING-A-LONG FROZEN Full screening of (Doctors), Fri 29 Sept - Sat 7 Oct, The Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Oct, Stafford Gate- Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY NIGHT Thurs REP, Birmingham house Theatre to help you sing along during the 5 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall SKYLIGHT The Crescent Theatre Com- PROMISE AND PROMISCUITY: A NEW film, Sun 1 Oct, Regent Theatre, JIMMY MCGHIE, MARK SIMMONS & pany present David Hare’s witty polit- MUSICAL Penny Ashton brings a full Stoke-on-Trent TREVOR COOK Fri 6 Oct, Jongleurs ical play, Sat 30 Sept - Sat 7 Oct, cast of Austenesque characters to life AWFUL AUNTIE New staging of David Comedy Club, Birmingham Crescent Theatre, Birmingham with song, dance - and appalling Walliams’ tale of frights, fights & ANGELOS & BARRY Fri 6 Oct, Stafford A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, cross-stitching... Thurs 5 Oct, Old friendship, Wed 4 - Sat 7 Oct, Regent Gatehouse Theatre mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev SLEEPING TREES: MAFIA? The award- DINOSAUR DETECTIVES Clydebuilt Pup- Pegg & Jess Silk, Sun 1 Oct, Wolver- winning comedy duo deliver their ver- pet Theatre performance, featuring hampton Grand Theatre sion of every gangster film they’ve rod puppets, shadow play and large- THE GOLDEN DRAGON Music Theatre ever seen... Thurs 5 Oct, Theatre scale projections, Thurs 5 Oct, SpArC Wales present a compelling fable of Severn, Shrewsbury Theatre, Bishops Castle, South modern life, which begins with the A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, Shropshire discovery of a decayed tooth found in mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian DINOSAUR DETECTIVES Clydebuilt Pup- a bowl of soup, Tues 3 Oct, The REP, ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev pet Theatre performance, featuring Birmingham Pegg & Jess Silk, Thurs 5 Oct, Cres- rod puppets, shadow play and large- YOU FORGOT THE MINCE Imagine If cent Theatre, Birmingham scale projections, Fri 6 Oct, BREAKING TALENT AWARD 2017 Fri 6 Theatre present a story of falling in LOADED Violent, lyrical and thought- Ellesmere College Arts Centre, North Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham love and falling apart, Tues 3 Oct, provoking theatre fusing an evocative Shropshire ROB ROUSE, GERRY K. & MARTI Fri 6 mac, Birmingham original sound score with texts rang- MISTER MAKER & THE SHAPES Live Oct, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge Eric Idle’s award-winning ing from ancient literature to modern show encourages kids to sing, dance RICH HALL Fri 6 Oct, Burton Town Hall, Monty Python musical comedy, Tues science, Thurs 5 - Fri 6 Oct, The Old and make some noise, Sun 8 Oct, Burton-upon-Trent 3 - Sat 7 Oct, New Alexandra Theatre, Rep Theatre, Birmingham The Place, Oakengates Theatre, MIKE GUNN, LOST VOICE GUY, JOE BOR & Birmingham ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE Joe Orton’s Telford MARTIN MOR Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, The LETTERS TO EMMA New play based on acclaimed black comedy, featuring DINOSAUR DETECTIVES Clydebuilt Pup-

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A HILARIOUS EVENING OF NON STOP COMEDY MURDER, MYSTERY, FAWLTY TOWERS November 11th, 7.00pm

£45 .00 per ticket to include 3-course meal, entertainment and a late night DJ

For tickets please email [email protected] or call 01902 752055 Ext 2

The Mount Hotel Mount Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 8HL

54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Wolves/Shrops/Staffs New Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:30 Page 4

thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October pet Theatre performance, featuring Shrewsbury rod puppets, shadow play and large- STORIES CROSSING BORDERS: AN AF- scale projections, Sun 8 Oct, Meole TERNOON WITH PREETI SHENOY Join Brace Peace Memorial Hall, Shrews- one of India’s most celebrated au- bury thors as she discusses her latest KING ARTHUR Michael Morpurgo’s tale book, Sat 7 Oct, The Studio @ The of magic, heroism, love and betrayal, REP, Birmingham Sun 8 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrews- BARBARA TAYLOR: THE LAST ASYLUM bury Hear about Taylor’s own experience of mental breakdown and healing, Sun 8 Oct, The Door at The REP, Birmingham Dance

ALADDIN Birmingham Royal Ballet perform David Bintley’s critically ac- Film claimed adaptation of the famous story, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome DETROIT (15) Crime/History. Starring John Boyega, Anthony Mackie. Lud- 8 MINUTES Choreographer Alexander low Assembly Rooms, South Shrop- Whitley in collaboration with space shire, Fri 6 & Thurs 12 Oct Fount scientists from STFC RAL Space, Tues 3 Oct, DanceXchange, The SULLY (12a) Biography/Drama. Star- Airspace Project, Stoke-on-Trent, until Sun 5 November ring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart. Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippo- Ceramic artists Elena Gileva and Mark Malarko here present their drome Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Mon 2 Oct proposals for a replacement fountain for the city’s Fountain AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING Fully NATURE OF THE BEAST (PG) Documen- Square. In creating their works, Elena and Mark have paid particu- choreographed celebration of the lar attention to the function, purpose and relevance of contempo- music from the iconic movie, Sat 7 tary. Starring Dennis Skinner. Stoke Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre, Mon 2 Oct rary public fountains. LOGAN LUCKY (tbc) Comedy/Crime. Fount is the fifth AirSpace Gallery exhibition to be held in partner- Starring Channing Tatum, Adam ship with the British Ceramics Biennial. Driver. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Mon 2 - Tues 3 Oct Oct Oct, Himley Hall & Park, Dudley Talks FINAL PORTRAIT (15) Biography/Com- edy. Starring Armie Hammer, Geof- GOD'S OWN COUNTRY (15) Drama/Ro- HARVEST FESTIVAL SERVICE Re-enact- frey Rush. Stoke Film Theatre, Tues 3 mance. Starring Josh O’Connor, Alec ment of a traditional harvest festival DAVID STARKEY: HENRY VIII THE FIRST Oct Secareanu. Old Market Hall, Shrews- service in the 1837 Darby Hand BREXITEER Join David as he draws on bury, Fri 6 - Sun 15 Oct Chapel, Sun 1 Oct, Black Country his unique knowledge of Henry’s I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (12A) Documen- WHO'S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? (15) Doc- Living Museum, Dudley reign to illuminate both the Tudor age tary. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, umentary. Starring Alon, London Gay HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW Wed 4 - and our own, Sun 1 Oct Theatre Sev- James Baldwin. Foxlowe Arts Centre, Men's Chorus Band. Old Market Hall, Sun 8 Oct, NEC, Birmingham ern, Shrewsbury Leek, Staffs, Tues 3 Oct Shrewsbury, Sat 7 Oct BBC FLOG IT! VALUATION DAY Thurs 5 BACK IN TIME Kath Reynolds presents THE EAGLE HUNTRESS (U) Documen- WHILE YOU WEREN’T LOOKING (15) Oct, RAF Cosford, Shifnal a series of talks which reflect a per- tary. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Drama. Starring Camilla Waldman, sonal interest in people and social James Baldwin. Stafford Gatehouse OKTOBERFEST STOKE A traditional Sandi Schultz. Old Market Hall, history, Tues 3 Oct, Middleport Pot- Theatre, Tues 3 Oct Bavarian bash, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Shrewsbury, Sat 7 Oct tery, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITH- Bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent TANGERINE (15) Drama/Comedy. Star- AN EVENING WITH AN IMMIGRANT Inua OUT REALLY TRYING (U) Comedy/Musi- CODSALL BEER FESTIVAL Fri 6 - Sat 7 ring Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Tay- Ellams shares his personal story of cal. Starring Robert Morse, Michele Oct, Codsall Village Hall lor. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Sat immigration, from escaping funda- Lee. Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke, Tues 7 Oct STONE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Com- mentalist Islam to drinking wine with 3 Oct plete with the Festival Farmers' Mar- the HM The Queen, Tues 3 Oct, HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD (15) Doc- THE SUMMER OF SANGAILE Drama. ket on the Saturday, Fri 6 - Sun 8 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton umentary. Starring Bill Darnell, David Starring Julija Steponaityte, Aiste Westbridge Park, Stone Dirziute. Old Market Hall, Shrews- JUST AN ORDINARY LAWYER Tunji Garrick. Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, bury, Sun 8 Oct SHROPSHIRE OKTOBERFEST Over 150 Sowande, the first Black Head of Staffs, Wed 4 Oct real ales, ciders, bubbles and more, Chambers before becoming the first THE DARK TOWER (12A) Action/Adven- SIGNATURE MOVE Drama/Comedy. served alongside live music, street (part-time) judge in Britain, muses on ture. Starring Idris Elba, Matthew Mc- Starring Fawzia Mirza, Shabana food, a farmers’ market, comedy club Imperialism, Colonialism and Black Conaughey. Ludlow Assembly Azmi. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, and masterclasses, Fri 6 - Sun 8 Oct, people’s struggles for freedom, jus- Rooms, South Shropshire, Wed 4 Oct Sun 8 Oct The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury tice and human rights, Thurs 5 Oct, LA LA LAND (15) Comedy/Music. Star- THEO AND HUGO (18) Drama. Starring SCAREFEST Complete with spooks, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton ring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone. Geoffrey Couët, François Nambot. frights, thrills, and remaining open WAR STORIES WITH PETER SNOW & ANN Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- Foreign language, subtitled. Old Mar- until 9pm, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, Alton MACMILLAN The husband-and-wife Trent, Thurs 5 Oct ket Hall, Shrewsbury, Sun 8 Oct Towers, Staffordshire team present a fascinating, illustrated HOTEL SALVATION (PG) SOOTY'S BIRTHDAY BAKE-OFF Sat 7 - account of ordinary people swept up Comedy/Drama. Starring Adil Hus- Sun 8 Oct, Cadbury World, B’ham by the horror of war, Thurs 5 Oct, sain, Lalit Behl. Stoke Film Theatre, Lichfield Garrick NIMROD TOURS Step on board the Thurs 5 Oct Nimrod and learn about its intelli- AN EVENING WITH BRYAN ROBSON The TBORG/MCENROE (U) Events gence-gathering role in the Royal Air former England and Manchester Biography/Drama. Starring Shia Force, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, RAF Cos- United player talks about his life in LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsgård. Old Mar- BRIDAL FAYRE Showcasing everything ford, Shifnal, Shropshire football, Fri 6 Oct, The Buttermarket, ket Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 6 - Thurs 12 needed for your special day, Sun 1

whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:32 Page 1

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

1 OCT

'SILVER SCREEN' WITH ROBERT POWELL & LIZA GODDARD £20.00

3 - 7 OCT

LETTERS TO EMMA £17.50

5 OCT

WAR STORIES WITH PETER SNOW & ANN MACMILLAN £20.00

10 - 14 OCT

WAIT UNTIL DARK £23.50 - £27.50

25 OCT

LET'S TWIST AGAIN £20 - £22

26 & 27 OCT

FINDING JOY £13.50 - £16.50

28 OCT

THAT'S LIFE £21.00

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56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:32 Page 2

thelist Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October JOE FOX Thurs 12 Oct, JAKE & ELWOOD WITH niversary of the Presteigne Festival, Gigs Hare & Hounds, Birm- THE BLACK RHINO BAND Classical Fri 13 Oct, The Barber Institute, ingham Fri 13 Oct, The Robin, Birmingham Bilston LADY ANTEBELLUM Mon MILES HUNT & ERICA Music CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- 9 Oct, Arena Birming- NOCKALLS OF THE WON- YOUNG PILGRIMS Sat CHESTRA Featuring Vassily Sinaisky ham DER STUFF Thurs 12 14 Oct, Arena Theatre, (conductor) & Simon Trp eski Oct, Henry Tudor Wolverhampton CANADIAN BRASS Featuring Caleb (piano). Programme includes works THE BIG MOON PLUS č House, Shrewsbury Hudson & Chris Coletti (trumpets), by Beethoven & Elgar, Fri 13 Oct, SPECIAL GUESTS Mon 9 A FOREIGNERS JOURNEY Bernhard Scully (horn), Achilles Liar- Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Oct, The Sugarmill, MIKE SANCHEZ BAND Sat 14 Oct, Eleven, makopoulos (trombone) & Chuck Stoke-on-Trent Thurs 12 Oct, The Jam Stoke on Trent Daellenbach (tuba), Mon 9 Oct, The ZOE BEYERS: BACH BY CANDLELIGHT House, Birmingham Fri 13 Oct, Methodist Church, GOOD LOVELIES Mon 9 LULU Sat 14 Oct, The- Barber Institute, Birmingham Church Stretton, South Shropshire Oct, Kitchen Garden BROTHER STRUT Thurs atr Hafren, Newtown, THOMAS TROTTER LUNCHTIME ORGAN Cafe, Birmingham 12 Oct, O2 Academy, Powys CONCERT: BIRDS OF A FEATHER Mon 9 EX CATHEDRA: BACH’S MAGNIFICAT Birmingham Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore (conduc- THE XCERTS Mon 9 Oct, J. COLE Sat 14 Oct, Oct, Birmingham Town Hall tor), Elizabeth Adams, Katie The Flapper, B’ham STILL REMAINS Thurs Arena Birmingham CEMPR Early Music Lecture - recitals: 12 Oct, The Flapper, Trethewey & Amy Wood (sopranos), NICK MULVEY Mon 9 HMLTD Sat 14 Oct, Natural horn with Anneke Scott, Mon Birmingham Martha McLorinan (alto), Bradley Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Hare & Hounds, Birm- 9 Oct, The Bramall, Birmingham Smith (tenor) & Greg Skidmore ingham DWEEZIL ZAPPA: 50 ingham BEOWULF Featuring Armonico Con- (bass), Sat 14 Oct, Symphony Hall, YEARS OF FRANK Thurs LEGENDS LIVE Sat 14 sort & AC Academy Singers, Elin Birmingham 12 Oct, Birmingham Oct, Genting Arena, Manahan Thomas (soprano), Catrin Town Hall ORGAN PROMS Sat 14 Oct, Victoria Birmingham Finch (harp), Toby Young (key- Hall, Stoke-on-Trent YAK Thurs 12 Oct, boards) and Christopher Monks DUA LIPA Sat 14 Oct, THE PEOPLE’S ORCHESTRA Performing Newhampton Arts O2 Academy, B’ham (conductor), Tues 10 Oct, The Place, Centre, W’hampton Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire live music from Harry Potter & The THE ROY ORBISON Prisoner of Azkaban, Games of JEFFREY LEWIS & LOS STORY Sat 14 Oct, The RHYDIAN ROBERTS, RICHARD & ADAM Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek BOLTS Thurs 12 Oct, Place, Oakengates Evening of classic arias & contem- and many more... Sat 14 Oct, West Hare & Hounds, Birm- Theatre, Telford porary songs, Tues 10 Oct, Theatre Bromwich Town Hall ingham Severn, Shrewsbury BABY IN VAIN Sat 14 CWMACH MALE CHOIR Sat 14 Oct, ANDY FAIRWEATHER SUPERSUCKERS Mon 9 Oct, The Actress & Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South LOW AND THE LOW RID- Oct, Hare & Hounds, Bishop, Birmingham Shropshire ERS Thurs 12 Oct, The Birmingham Robin, Bilston ORGAN PROMS Sat 14 BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- MARTINA EDOFF Mon 9 Oct, Victoria Hall, TRA - FANTASTIC SYMPHONY Featuring JEHST Thurs 12 Oct, Oct, The Robin, Bil- Stoke-on-Trent Michael Lloyd (conductor), Sun 15 O2 Academy, B’ham ston FILTH + RASCALTON Sat Oct, Elgar Concert Hall, Birmingham NEIL DIAMOND Fri 13 HEG & THE WOLF CHO- 14 Oct, The Sugarmill, BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- Oct, Arena B’ham RUS Mon 9 Oct, Cres- Stoke-on-Trent TRA Featuring Michael Lloyd (con- cent Theatre, B’ham DIIO - A TRIBUTE TO GEM RECITALS - FOLK ductor) & Michael Webb (clarinet). RONNIE JAMES DIO Fri BASEL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featur- Programme includes works by KARIBOW Tues 10 Oct, CONNECTIONS WITH 13 Oct, Eleven, Sandy- ing Ivor Bolton (conductor) & Sol Berlioz & Weber, Sun 15 Oct, The The Robin, Bilston DENNIS TJIOK. Sat 14 ford, Stoke on Trent Oct, The Brewhouse Gabetta (cello). Programme com- Bramall, Birmingham SOUTHERN EMPIRE Tues THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Arts Centre, Burton- prises Busoni's Lustepiel Overture 10 Oct, The Robin, Bil- Fri 13 Oct, Theatre upon-Trent Op 38, 8"; Saint-Saëns Cello Con- ston certo, 19" & Beethoven's Symphony Severn, Shrewsbury THE JAM'D Sat 14 Oct, UNEVEN STRUCTURE No 7, 36", Tues 10 Oct, Birmingham BIG GINGER KID Fri 13 The Robin, Bilston Tues 10 Oct, The Flap- Town Hall Oct The Sunflower ORGAN PROMS Sat 14 Comedy per, Birmingham SHOSTAKOVICH’S TWELFTH Featuring Lounge, Birmingham Oct, Victoria Hall, ZERVAS AND PEPPER Vassily Sinaisky (conductor) & HOUSE OF JEALOUS Stoke-on-Trent BARBARA NICE Sun 8 Oct, The Old Tues 10 Oct, Kitchen Simon Trp eski (piano). Programme LOVERS Fri 13 Oct, Rep Theatre, Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham THE ROY ORBISON comprises Beethoven's Fidelio: Hare & Hounds, Birm- STORY Sat 14 Oct, The LEE NELSON Sun 8 Oct, Theatre Sev- FLYTE Tues 10 Oct, O2 Overture, 6' & Piano Concerto No.5 ingham Place, Oakengates ern, Shrewsbury Academy, Birmingham (Emperor), 38' plus Shostakovich's LETS-HANG-ON Fri 13 Theatre, Telford Symphony No.12 (The Year 1917), GREG DAVIES Mon 9 - Tues 10 Oct, SUPERFOOD Wed 11 Oct, The Place, Oak- NEIL DIAMOND Sun 15 39', Wed 11 Oct, Symphony Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Oct, Mama Roux's, engates Theatre, Oct, Genting Arena, Birmingham WOODY ALLEN(ISH) Wed 11 Oct, The Birmingham Telford Birmingham MARIINSKY ORCHESTRA - SYMPHONIC Glee Club, Birmingham THE KITCHEN COLLEC- THE MUSICAL BOX: THE ANDRÉ KRENGEL & DANCES Featuring Valery Gergiev LARA A. KING, KAREN BAYLEY, LINDSEY TIVE & KHALIQ Wed 11 BLACK SHOW Fri 13 ROLAND KRAUSE Sun (conductor) & Denis Matsuev SANTORO & MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed Oct, The Robin, Bil- Oct, Symphony Hall, 15 Oct, Kitchen Gar- (piano). Programme includes works 11 Oct, Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham ston Birmingham by Rimsky-Korsakov's Suite from den Cafe, Birmingham ANDY PARSONS Wed 11 Oct, The THE SHEE Wed 11 Oct, The Golden Cockeral, 25", BEASTDOME: FOOT- FOCUS FEAT THIJS VAN Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford mac, Birmingham Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.2, 31" STEPS Fri 13 Oct, The LEER Sun 15 Oct, The & Rachmaninoff's Symphonic GARY NUMAN Wed 11 Bramall, Birmingham Robin, Bilston Oct, O2 Academy, Dances Op 45, 35", Thurs 12 Oct, THE ALA RM Fri 13 Oct, THE PRETENDERS Sun Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham 15 Oct, Symphony BAGATELLES AFTER BEETHOVEN: THE CHURCHFITTERS LITTLE MIX Fri 13 Oct, Hall, Birmingham Wed 11 Oct, The Red PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL TOUR Featuring Genting Arena, B’ham JAZZ LUNCH Sun 15 Lion Folk Club, B’ham Tim Horton (piano). Programme fea- LETHAL BIZZLE Fri 13 Oct, The Cliffe at Din- tures works by Beethoven & a set of DRAGONFORCE Wed 11 Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- ham, Ludlow, Shrop- newly commissioned Bagatelles, Oct, O2 Academy, ingham shire written to celebrate the thirty-fifth an- Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:32 Page 3

thelist PAUL CHOWDHRY Thurs 12 Oct, Dud- ley Town Hall Theatre IMPRACTICAL JOKERS Thurs 12 Oct, Arena Birmingham A TALE OF TWO CHIPPIES Little Earth- ELLIE TAYLOR Thurs 12 Oct, The Edge quake draw upon real-life stories of Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South integration and isolation, harmony & Shropshire hostility, to explore what it means for ZOE LYONS, JONNY AWSUM Thurs 12 Eastern Europeans to make a home Oct, The Bramall, Birmingham in ‘the wild West Midlands’, Mon 9 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton JOSH PUGH Thurs 12 Oct, mac, Birm- ingham FREEMAN Play inspired by the true story of a black man put on trial in JO D'ARCY Thurs 12 Oct, mac, Birm- 19th century New York whose case ingham was the first in America to use ‘insan- MATT PRICE, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR & ity’ as a defence, Mon 9 - Tues 10 COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Oct, The REP, Birmingham SON Thurs 12 Oct, The Glee Club, HAIRSPRAY Starring Brenda Edwards Birmingham and Norman Pace, Mon 9 - Sat 14 ROBIN INCE Fri 13 Oct, Station Pub, Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome Son Of A Preacher Man - Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Sutton Coldfield BAD GIRLS THE MUSICAL Original Oct, Prince of Wales Centre, Can- going brought a new breed of boater GLENN WOOL, HARRIET DYER, JOSH British musical based on characters nock to the canal, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Oct, Old- PUGH & CHRIS PURCHASE Fri 13 Oct, from the award-winning and hugely bury Rep Lichfield Garrick popular television drama, Tues 10 - HOLY DAY Birmingham School of Act- ing present a chilling tale set in the BILMANKHWE: THE TEMPEST Urban MATT PRICE, GAVIN WEBSTER, ABIGO- Wed 11 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrews- bury Australian outback, Wed 11 - Sat 14 production of Shakespeare’s last LIAH SCHAMAUN & COMIC TBC Fri 13 Oct, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham play, featuring contemporary African Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham SON OF A PREACHER MAN Diane Vick- 5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE Will the dance choreography, Sat 14 Oct, CARL DONNELLY, PAUL MCCAFFERY, ers, Debra Stephenson & Ian Red- mac, Birmingham dington star in a new musical Sisters of Gertrude Stein be able to MANDY KNIGHT & COMIC TBC Fri 13 - keep their cool when the Commu- JANE EYRE - AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY One- Sat 14 Oct, The Comedy Loft, B’ham featuring the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield, Man Tues 10 - Sat 14 nists threaten their idyllic town? Wed woman show, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, JAYDE ADAMS Fri 13 Oct, The Glee Oct, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent 11 - Sun 15 Oct, Old Joint Stock The- Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Club, Birmingham atre, Birmingham WAIT UNTIL DARK Jack Ellis (Bad TALES OF BIRBAL Using humour, pup- BEST OF BRUM COMEDY SHOWCASE # 2 Girls/Prime Suspect) & Oliver Mellor DIRTY LAUNDRY Claybody Theatre petry, music and the occasional fake FEATURING STU WOODINGS, GARETH (Coronation Street) star in a new present Deborah McAndrew’s envi- beard, Mashi and Bhanji bring to life BERLINER, DANNY CLIVES, MASAI GRA- staging of Frederick Knott’s thriller, ronmentally-conscious play, set in a timeless and treasured fables from HAM, EMILY BROOKS & JOSHUA JACK- Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, Lichfield Garrick potter’s house in 1950s Stoke-on- the Indian sub-continent, Sun 15 Oct, SON Fri 13 Oct, Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar, Trent, Wed 11 - Sat 21 Oct, Spode The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hip- Birmingham CILLA THE MUSICAL Musical telling the Works Visitor Centre, Stoke-on-Trent podrome story of the young girl from Liverpool ANDREW LAWRENCE Fri 13 Oct, Wem whose teenage dreams of stardom LET'S TWIST AGAIN Nostalgia show re- PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT - THE Town Hall, North Shropshire led to her becoming one of Britain’s living the fun, laughter and music of MUSICAL Performed by Stourbridge MATT PRICE, GAVIN WEBSTER, ABIGO- best-loved entertainers, Tues 10 - Sat the rock’n’roll era, Thurs 12 Oct, The- Amateur Operatic Society, Sun 15 - LIAH SCHAMAUN & GORDON SOUTHERN 14 Oct, New Alexandra Theatre, Birm- atre Severn, Shrewsbury Sat 21 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall Sat 14 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham ingham BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON JARLATH REGAN, ALLYSON SMITH & SPAMALOT Amateur production pre- Birmingham School of Acting present JOHN PEARSON Sat 14 Oct, Jongleurs sented by South Staffs Musical The- the British premiere of the Tony Comedy Club, Birmingham atre Company, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, Award-winning Broadway musical - a satirical and irreverent comedy with a JOHN HEGLEY Sat 14 Oct, mac, Birm- Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Dance ‘killer rock’ score, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 ingham PRIVATE PEACEFUL New version of Oct, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham ZERO Humanhood merge surround ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale, Tues Sat 14 Oct, The sound/music, intricate lights, original 10 - Sat 14 Oct, The Old Rep Theatre, A BRIEF HISTORY OF WOMEN World pre- Old Post Office, Burton-upon-Trent costume, textured set design and Birmingham miere of Alan Ayckbourn’s romantic MATT LUCAS Sat 14 Oct, Birmingham comedy, Thurs 12 - Sat 28 Oct, New mesmerising movement, Tues 10 Town Hall TAKING STEPS Alan Ayckbourn farce Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton about a tongue-tied solicitor sent to SIMON AMSTELL Sun 15 Oct, Birming- SKIN 201 Dance Company use hip- oversee the sale of a large and crum- A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, ham Town Hall hop to explore a boy’s journey bling house, reputedly a haunted for- mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian through gender transition, Wed 11 SIMON DAY Sun 15 Oct, The Glee mer brothel..., Tues 10 - Sat 28 Oct, ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton Club, Birmingham New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under- Pegg & Jess Silk, Fri 13 Oct, Prince Lyme Of Wales Centre, Cannock MI FLAMENCO: INCOGNITO A show with ‘the spirit of authentic, pulsating fla- THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII Living INSTRUCTIONS FOR BORDER CROSSING- menco’, Thurs 12 Oct, Theatre Sev- Spit present an ill-researched lesson Political thriller written and performed ern, Shrewsbury in Tudor history... Wed 11 Oct, The by Daniel Bye, Fri 13 Oct, The Patrick Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch, North Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome THE HEAD WRAP DIARIES Uchenna Shropshire TRES TRES CABARET Evening of ‘saucy Dance present an interactive show CAT WEATHERILL - THE KING OF DEN- decadence’, Fri 13 Oct, Stafford about people and their ongoing rela- tionship with hair, Thurs 12 Oct, MARK'S SON & OTHER TALES Story- Gatehouse Theatre SpArC, Bishops Castle, South Shrop- telling nights for grown-ups, Wed 11 IDLE WOMEN OF THE WARTIME WATER- shire Oct, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Bur- WAYS Alarum Theatre present a dou- ton-upon-Trent ble bill of theatre, poetry and music, TWO FOLD Contact Dance Company explore themes of connection and FRANKENSTEIN Ambient Night Produc- whisking audiences back to the days separation,, Fri 13 Oct, Arena The- tions presents its version of the clas- of World War II, when a shortage of atre, Wolverhampton sic Gothic tale, Wed 11 - Thurs 12 crews to keep the working boats 58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:32 Page 4

Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October

THE HEAD WRAP DIARIES Uchenna cussion about the lost words of our Dance present an interactive show childhood and the intoxicating magic about people and their ongoing rela- of language, Sat 14 Oct, The Studio tionship with hair, Fri 13 Oct, @ The REP, Birmingham Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolver- HOLLIE MCNISH Join Holly as she hampton reads from and chats about her new 5 SOLDIERS: THE BODY IS THE FRONT- collection, Plum, Sun 15 Oct, Birm- LINE Award-winning portrait of army ingham Town Hall life by Rosie Kay's dance company, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Oct, The REP, B’ham SWAN LAKE The Russian State Ballet & Opera House presents its version of the much-loved story of Odette & Film Odile, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: ROMEO & JULIET The Russian State Ballet & Opera House presents its version of ‘the world’s greatest love JACKIE (15) Biography/Drama. Star- story’, Sun 15 Oct, Theatre Severn, ring Natalie Portman, Peter Sars- Shrewsbury gaard. Edge Arts Centre, Much TAP FACTORY Rhythm-based produc- Wenlock, South Shropshire, Mon 9 tion described as ‘Tap Dogs meets Oct Stomp’, Sun 15 Oct, Regent Theatre, INSYRIATED (15) Drama. Starring Hiam Stoke-on-Trent Abbass, Diamand Bou Abboud. For- eign language, subtitled. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Mon 9 & Thurs 12 Oct; Stoke Film Theatre, Tues 10 Oct Legacies: JMW Turner And Talks THE HANDMAIDEN (18) Crime/Mystery. Starring Min-hee Kim, Jung-woo Ha. Contemporary Art Practice Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tues 10 The New Art Gallery, Walsall, until Sun 14 January GORDON BUCHANAN: ANIMAL FAMILIES Oct & ME The BBC TV wildlife presenter This major new exhibition - reflecting the ongoing legacy of JMW and cameraman shares stories of the A MAN CALLED OVE (12a) Turner through the lens of contemporary art - features oil paint- natural world, Mon 9 Oct, Theatre Comedy/Drama. Starring Rolf Lass- ings, sketchbooks and watercolours from the Turner Bequest. Severn, Shrewsbury gård, Bahar Parsk. Foreign language, subtitled. Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, These are presented alongside pieces by significant 21st century STORIES CROSSING BORDERS: CHINELO Staffs, Tues 10 Oct practitioners - artists whose work has either been inspired by OKPARANTA IN CONVERSATION Join Turner or which explores themes and subjects connected to his Chinelo as she discusses identity, the GOD'S OWN COUNTRY (15) Drama/Ro- testing of faith and the uncovering of mance. Starring Josh O’Connor, Alec output. histories through the personal jour- Secareanu. Stoke Film Theatre, The show includes Turner’s first exhibited oil, Fisherman At Sea neys of her characters, Mon 9 Oct, Thurs 12 Oct (1796). The Studio @ The REP, Birmingham DETROIT (15) Crime/History. Starring MARK RADCLIFFE - SHOULD YOU BE IN- John Boyega, Anthony Mackie. Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Oct TERESTED Songs and stories of mid- ATTINGHAM HARVEST: DEER RUT WALKS dle-aged angst, Tues 10 Oct, Stafford GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (PG) Bi- Learn about the fallow deer herd and Gatehouse Theatre ography/Family. Starring Margot Rob- Events watch the rut in progress as the deer ADVENTURES IN POETRY: BRUM STANZA bie, Domhnall Gleeson. Old Market look for mates, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, GRAND DESIGNS LIVE Wed 11 - Sun 15 FESTIVAL SPECIAL Roz Goddard talks Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 13 - Thurs 26 Attingham Park, Shrewsbury Oct Oct, NEC, Birmingham to poet Wayne Holloway-Smith, Tues HISTORIC LIGHTING WEEKEND Learn 10 Oct, Waterstones, Birmingham VICTORIA & ABDUL (PG) PHOTOGRAPHY WALK Spend the morn- about how we moved from candle- ing familiarising yourself with the ba- TOLKIEN’S OLD WORCESTERSHIRE AND Biography/Drama. Starring Judi light to electric lamps, Sat 14 - Sun sics of photography, Thurs 12 Oct, OXFORD Illustrated talk covering JRR Dench, Adeel Akhtar. Ludlow Assem- 15 Oct, Black Country Living Mu- Shugborough Historic Working Es- Tolkien’s life, Thurs 12 Oct, Selly bly Rooms, South Shropshire, Fri 13, seum, Dudley Mon 16 - Wed 19 Oct tate, Stafford Manor, Bournville, Birmingham CHARACTER WEEKEND Pose for pho- BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS Sat 14 Oct, KAMILA SHAMSIE: HOME FIRE Join the tographs alongside Freddo, Caramel Birmingham Hippodrome Pakistani author as she talks about NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Bunny or friends as they meet and her new novel, which tells the heart- DIWALI Discover the story of Diwali via greet visitors, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, breaking tale of two British Muslim traditional music, dance and craft ac- Cadbury World, Birmingham Released from Fri 13 Oct, showing at families with differing ideas about loy- tivities, Sat 14 Oct, The Potteries Mu- MORE TREAT THAN TRICK Prepare for selected cinemas alty to the state, Thurs 12 Oct, The seum & Art Gallery, Hanley some spine-tingling fun, Sat 14 - Studio @ The REP, Birmingham DOUBLE DATE (tbc) CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Sat 14 Oct, Thurs 26 Oct, Drayton Manor Theme WOMEN ARTISTS OF THE PRE- HELLRAISER (18) Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton Park, Tamworth RAPHAELITES Join the House Steward LOVING VINCENT (15) SPOOKLEY PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Family- TUNNEL TEDS Bring along your furry for a relaxed talk followed by a walk- friendly alternative to Halloween, Sat friend for a day of bear-themed fun THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (tbc) ing tour of the collection, featuring 14 - Sun 15 Oct, Apley Farm Shop, on and around the canal, Sun 15 Oct, work by such artists as Evelyn De THE PARTY (tbc) Norton Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust Morgan, Lizzie Siddal and Lucy THE RITUAL (15) SCAREFEST Compete with spooks, WEDDING OPEN DAY View the venue, Madox Brown, Sat 14 Oct, Wightwick THE SNOWMAN (tbc) frights, thrills, and remaining open speak to catering managers and chat Manor, Wolverhampton until 9pm, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, Alton to the registrars, Sun 15 Oct, Himley JACKIE MORRIS: THE LOST WORDS Dis- Towers, Staffordshire Hall & Park, Dudley

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 16 - 22 October.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:41 Page 1

COMING SOON...

29th Sept, 8pm Apple Of My Eye

Tickets: £10 adv, £12 otd

30th Sept - 25 Nov Made In The Middle Exhibition FREE

6th Oct, 8pm At Burton Town Hall Rich Hall’s Hoedown

Tickets: £17

11th Oct, 7pm Cat Weatherill The King of Denmark’s Son & other tales Tickets: £8, £6 adv

14th Oct, 12pm GEM Recitals English Folk Songs

Tickets: £5

19th Oct, 8pm Phill Jupitus: Juplicity

Tickets: £15

26th Oct, 4pm Pangottic Circus Theatre: Pang On!

Tickets:TicTickets:kets: ££12,1 £6,2, ££10 £2010 S(familySatat MMat ofa 4)t

7th Nov, 7.30pm Actors of Dionysus: Antigone

Tickets: £12, £10 conc, £5 student

8th Nov, 7pm Liz Weir: Across the Water Tales from Ireland and Beyond

Tickets: £6 adv, £8 otd

Box office: 01283 508100 BOOK ONLINE AT www.brewhouse.co.uk Brewhouse Arts Centre Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent Staffordshire DE14 1AA

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 16 - 22 October.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:41 Page 2

thelist Monday 16 - Sunday 22 October 19 Oct, The Sugarmill, Civic Hall, W’hampton LUISA OMIELAN Thurs 19 Oct, The Gigs Stoke-on-Trent THE YOUNG'UNS Sat 21 Classical Comedy Loft, Birmingham THE WATERBOYS Thurs Oct, mac, Birmingham MATT REED, DAMIAN CLARK, LEO SHANE FILAN Mon 16 19 Oct, Symphony THE VERY BEST OF Music KEARSE & COMIC TBC Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham BRITISH CONCERT Sat Oct, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Hall 21 Oct, The Robin, Bil- BRILLIANT BRAHMS - CBSO BENEVO- DAVID TRENT, JOSH PUGH, IAN MOORE PALE WAVES Mon 16 ston LENT FUND CONCERT Featuring Alpesh & BRUCE DEVLIN Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, Oct, Hare & Hounds, JOHN MAYALL Sat 21 Chauhan (Conductor), Nicola The Glee Club, Birmingham Birmingham Oct, Birmingham Town Benedetti (Violin), Leonard Elschen- SULLY O'SULLIVAN & NIGE Sat 21 Oct, KING OF POP – THE LEG- Hall broich (Cello). Programme com- Jongleurs Comedy Club, B’ham END CONTINUES… Mon RAINBOW RISING Sat 21 prises Brahms' Three Hungarian ROB ROUSE, MARK SMITH, TOM WARD 16 Oct, Victoria Hall, Oct, Eleven, Stoke on Dances, 12'; Double Concerto, 31" & & DAMION LARKIN Sat 21 Oct, Regent Stoke-on-Trent Trent Symphony No. 3, 37", Wed 18 Oct, Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Hall, Birmingham MICHAEL KIWANUKA THE KAR-PETS Sat 21 Mon 16 Oct, Sym- Oct, Foxlowe Arts BEETHOVEN TRIO Featuring John phony Hall, B’ham THE NIGHTINGALES, Centre, Leek, Staffs Thwaites (Piano), Jonathan Martin- dale (violin), Michael Jenkinson MELLOW GANG, NON- FUZZBOX & TED CHIP- ABBA MANIA Sat 21 (viola), Helen Edgar (cello), Oliver SUCH & CROP CIRCLES PINGTON Thurs 19 Oct, Oct, Victoria Hall, James (clarinet) & Elspeth Dutch Tues 17 Oct, The Sun- Hare & Hounds, Birm- Stoke-on-Trent (horn). Programme includes works flower Lounge, B’ham ingham TRAIN Sat 21 Oct, O2 by Beethoven & Dohnányi, Thurs 19 THE ESKIES Tues 17 O'HOOLEY AND TIDOW Academy, Birmingham Oct, CBSO Centre, Birmingham Oct, Hare & Hounds, Thurs 19 Oct, Kitchen TOO MANY T'S Sat 21 CBSO: CLASSIC FM SMOOTH CLASSICS Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham Oct, The Sunflower Featuring the City of Birmingham HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI Sat 21 Oct, MARC ALMOND Tues 17 MAD DOG MCREA Thurs Lounge, Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Michael Seal Roundabout, Stoke-on-Trent Oct, Symphony Hall, 19 Oct, The Robin, Bil- HUGH CORNWELL Sat (conductor) & John Brunning (pre- SEANN WALSH, PATRICK MONAHAN, Birmingham ston 21 Oct, Wulfrun Hall, senter). Programme includes works VINCE ATTA, JAKE LAMBERT & WAYNE MILES HUNT & ERICA COLLIE BUDDZ Thurs 19 Wolverhampton by Tchaikovsky, Barber, Debussy, BEESE Sat 21 Oct, Brierley Hill Civic NOCKALLS Tues 17 Oct, Oct, O2 Academy, Mendelssohn, Grieg, Bizet, Rach- Hall, Dudley The Glee Club, B’ham Birmingham maninov, Massenet, Elgar, J S Bach ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Sat 21 Oct, The & Borodin, Fri 20 Oct, Symphony WALTER TROUT Tues 17 ROACHFORD Fri 20 Oct, Old Post Office, Burton-upon-Trent Hall, Birmingham Oct, The Robin, Bil- O2 Academy, B’ham ANDREW LAWRENCE Sun 22 Oct, The RICHARD JENKINSON & ALEXANDER ston BECKY HILL Fri 20 Oct, Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton BOYD LUNCHTIME CONCERT Pro- STARSAILOR Tues 17 O2 Institute, B’ham gramme comprises Kodály's Sonata Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- DIZZEE RASCAL Fri 20 Op.4 & Rachmaninov's Sonata in G ingham Oct, O2 Academy, minor, Fri 20 Oct, The Barber Insti- Birminghan tute, Birmingham LED INTO ZEPPLIN Fri 20 KARL JENKINS - THE ARMED MAN Fea- Theatre Oct, Eleven, Stoke-on- turing the Manchester Concert Or- Trent chestra, Sir Karl Jenkins DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join THE VOICES OF ABBA Fri THE SOUTHMARTINS Sat (conductor), Manchester Chorale, the What’s On Personality Of The 20 Oct, National Brew- 21 Oct, O2 Academy, Joo Yeon Sir (violin) & Kathryn Year as she sets out to challenge ery Centre, Burton- Birmingham Rudge (mezzo-soprano), Sat 21 Oct, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution... Mon 16 Oct, Prince of Wales Centre, Can- upon-Trent TIGERCUB Sat 21 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham nock TIM AMMAN X-TET Fri 20 The Flapper, B’ham CBSO: MYTHS AND LEGENDS Featuring FRANKENSHOW A ‘lo-fi monstrosity of Oct, Symphony Hall, METRONOMY Sat 21 the City of Birmingham Symphony epic proportions’, Tues 17 Oct, The LUCA STRICAGNOLI Birmingham Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Orchestra; Jonathan Bloxham (con- Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippo- Wed 18 Oct, Hare & SOUL'D OUT Fri 20 Oct, ingham ductor) & Tom Redmond (presen- Hounds, Birmingham ter). Programme includes works by drome The Robin, Bilston WHITNEY - QUEEN OF John Williams, Wagner, Sibelius, SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CRIMSON JUSTIN CURRIE & THE AC/DC UK Fri 20 Oct, THE NIGHT Sun 22 Oct, Copland, John Williams & Stravin- COBBLES Quirky show in which PALLBEARERS Wed 18 The River Rooms, Stafford Gatehouse sky, Sun 22 Oct, Symphony Hall, Holmes stalks Jack the Ripper, Tues Oct, The Glee Club, Stourbridge Theatre Birmingham Birmingham 17 Oct, Tamworth Arts Centre, Staffs W.A.S.P Fri 20 Oct, MARLEY REPRISED Sun OUR HOUSE A Sutton Coldfield Musi- SEETHER Wed 18 Oct, Wulfrun Hall, Wolver- 22 Oct, New Alexandra cal Theatre Company production, O2 Institute, B’ham hampton, Theatre, Birmingham Tues 17 - Sat 21 Oct, Lichfield Gar- MATTHEW E. WHITE GABRIELLE APLIN Fri 20 CLEAN CUT KID Sun 22 rick Wed 18 Oct, Oct, O2 Academy, Oct, Newhampton Arts Comedy SISTER ACT Amateur staging by Musi- Newhampton Arts Birmingham Centre, W’hampton Centre, W’hampton cal Theatre Stafford Tues 17 - Sat 21 THE CLONE ROSES Fri THE SOUTH: EX THE TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 16 Oct, Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre GREG RUSSELL & CIA- 20 Oct, The Sugarmill, BEAUTIFUL SOUTH Sun The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham RAN ALGAR Wed 18 KICK IN THE BAUBLES Get set for a Stoke-on-Trent 22 Oct, The Robin, Bil- DANNY BHOY TUES 17 Oct, Stafford Oct, The Red Lion Folk car-crash Christmas, Tues 17 - Sat THE BLUES BAND Fri 20 ston Gatehouse Theatre Club, Birmingham 21 Oct, Lichfield Garrick Oct, Prince Of Wales BANKS Sun 22 Oct, O2 BRIAN GITTINS Wed 18 Oct, The Glee STONE FOUNDATION THE ADDAMS FAMILY Samantha Wom- Theatre, Cannock Institute, Birmingham Club, Birmingham Wed 18 Oct, O2 ack, Les Dennis and Carrie Hope MAGIC Fri 20 - Sat 21 MEAT LOUD Sun 22 Oct, Academy, Birmingham JAN RAVENS Thurs 19 Oct, Henry Fletcher star in this stage version of Oct, Theatre On The Lichfield Guildhall Tudor House, Shrewsbury the cult TV series, Tues 17 - Sat 21 JOHN MAYALL Thurs 19 Steps, Bridgnorth, T-REXTASY Sun 22 Oct, Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Oct, Victoria Hall, DAVID TRENT, JOSH PUGH & COMEDY South Shropshire Prince Of Wales The- Stoke-on-Trent CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON OBAMA AND ME One-woman show PLACEBO Sat 21 Oct, atre, Cannock Thurs 19 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham that explores the meaning of identity, CLEAN CUT KID Thurs whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 16 - 22 October.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:41 Page 3

thelist politics, power and belonging in the WHODUNNIT One-man show from dancing, chocolate cake and an epic Presented as part of Fierce Festival, post-post-racial 21st century, Wed 18 comic, poet & psychiatric nurse Rob car chase! For ages seven-plus. Sat Fri 20 Oct, The Patrick Centre, Birm- Oct, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham Gee, Fri 20 Oct, Clungunford Parish 21 - Sun 22 Oct, Roundabout, Han- ingham Hippodrome MURDER BY GASLIGHT Don't Go Into Hall, Nr Craven Arms, South Shrop- ley, Stoke-on-Trent HIGHER Michele Rizzo explores the The Cellar Theatre Company present shire MULTIVERSE UK premiere in which cathartic power of dance, as a form a ghoulish evening with two infamous FRANKENSTEIN 1899 Don’t Go Into The Louis Vanhaverbeke is a multifunc- of prayer and celebration of exis- poisoners, Wed 18 Oct, Wightwick Cellar present a unique reimagining tional disc-jockey with a set of odd tence. UK premiere presented as part Manor, Wolverhampton of the classic Gothic horror, Fri 20 props. Forms part of the Fierce Festi- of Fierce Festival, Sat 21 Oct, The OKLAHOMA! Presented by Telford & Oct, The Potteries Museum & Art val 2017, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, mac, Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippo- District Light Operatic Players (TAD- Gallery, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham drome LOP), Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, The OUT OF LOVE A tale of friendship, love Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford and rivalry over 30 years, Sun 22 Oct, PRESENT LAUGHTER Mad Cow Produc- Roundabout, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent tions present an amateur staging of DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join the Noel Coward’s farce, Wed 18 - Sat 21 What’s On Personality Of The Year as Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury she sets out to challenge Darwin’s MACHINAL Birmingham School of Act- Theory of Evolution... Sun 22 Oct, ing presents its version of Sophie Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Treadwell’s modern classic, based on DISCOVERY DAY: BEDLAM SHOWCASE In- the true story of American murderer NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL Major new novative local companies showcase Ruth Snyder, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, stage adaptation based on the film of groundbreaking work, Sun 22 Oct, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham the same name, Fri 20 Oct - Sun 12 The REP, Birmingham NORMA Midland Opera Company pre- Nov, The REP, Birmingham Talks sents its production of Bellini’s mas- NOTORIOUS The Famous Lauren Barri FRIENDS' TALK: LORD BYRON IN LONDON terpiece, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, The Holstein contemplates representa- Old Rep, Birmingham tions of women, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, Wed 18 Oct, Coalbrookdale Museum BEDLAM - I HAD A BLACK DOG Comic The REP, Birmingham Kids shows of Iron, Ironbridge, Shropshire HEADZ story of survival, based on the book BEDLAM: HEARING THINGS Provocative 20 Stories High offer an insight of the same name, Thurs 19 Oct, The drama exploring the dilemmas of AWFUL AUNTIE Staging of David Wal- into the lives of Liverpool’s young REP, Birmingham psychiatry from the points of view of liams’ tale of frights, fights and friend- people through a series of contempo- QUARTER LIFE CRISIS Movement 89 patients, relatives and staff, Sat 21 ship, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, Theatre rary urban monologues, Thurs 19 Productions explore what it means to Oct, The REP, Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury Oct, mac, Birmingham be an adult, Thurs 19 Oct, Arena The- POPE HEAD: THE SECRET LIFE OF FRAN- DISNEY ON ICE: PASSPORT TO ADVEN- MEL NICHOLLS: PARALYMPIAN & ADVEN- TURE STORYTELLER atre, Wolverhampton CIS BACON A dark, comedic drama ex- TURE Journey to the timeless worlds Join Mel as she HENCEFORWARD Amateur staging of ploring the life, art, sexuality, psyche of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, talks about her ambitions for her Alan Ayckbourn’s classic comedy, and philosophies of artist Francis Peter Pan and Frozen, Wed 18 - Sun sporting future, her love of adventure Thurs 19 Oct, The Belfrey Theatre, Bacon, Sat 21 Oct, Old Joint Stock 29 Oct, Arena Birmingham and her desire to push boundaries, Thurs 19 Oct, The Roses, Kiddermin- Wellington, Shropshire Theatre, Birmingham THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Box Tale ster BLACK MOUNTAIN Tense psychological CLAPPER BOX Quirky adaptations of Soup present a new version of Ken- THE LIFE OF MAY MORRIS thriller about betrayal and forgive- favourite movies using puppetry and neth Grahame’s much-loved classic, Join the ness... Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Oct, Round- the imagination, Sat 21 Oct, Ludlow Fri 20 Oct, Wem Town Hall, North House Steward for a relaxed talk fol- about, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire Shropshire lowed by a walking tour of the collec- tion, Sat 21 Oct, Wightwick Manor, THE RAMSHACKLE HOUSE Upswing LORE OF AVERAGES Treefrog Theatre Wolverhampton Aerial Theatre Company present a Company take a light-hearted look at AN EVENING WITH AGGERS & BUMBLE physical comedy about a family tum- what happens when stories from the bling, balancing and flying as they try distant past are brought into the pre- Cricket commentators Jonathan to hold their home together, Thurs 19 sent day, Sat 21 Oct, mac, B’ham Dance Agnew and David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd team up, Sun 22 Oct, Symphony - Sat 21 Oct, Forest Arts Centre, Wal- FORGET ME NOT - THE ALZHEIMER’S sall Hall, Birmingham WHODUNNIT One-man show from A POSITIVE LIFE An immersive theatre ARLENE! THE GLITZ. THE GLAMOUR. THE HI-DE-HI Amateur adaptation of the comic, poet and psychiatric nurse experience featuring dance, physical GOSSIP Join Arlene Phillips as she popular TV series, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Rob Gee, Sat 21 Oct, Chelmarsh Vil- theatre and spoken word, Tues 17 talks about her lifetime in dance, Sun Oct, Forest Arts Centre, Walsall lage Hall, Nr Bridgnorth, South Oct, mac, Birmingham 22 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL Jars of Clay Shropshire ACOSTA DANZA Featuring new and ex- Theatre present a heart warming tale, isting pieces by Cuban choreogra- Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Oct, Blue Orange phers and newly commissioned work Theatre, Birmingham by international choreographers tak- THE MASKS OF APHRA BEHN Thought- ing inspiration from their native coun- Film provoking one-woman show which tries, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, brings to life one of theatre’s most Birmingham Hippodrome brilliant raconteurs, Fri 20 Oct, I RIDE IN COLOUR AND SOFT FOCUS, NO INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Stafford Gatehouse Theatre LONGER ANYWHERE Choreography that prioritises density over going OUT OF LOVE Paines Plough present a VICEROY'S HOUSE (PG) anywhere, noise over silence, now tale of friendship, love and rivalry, Fri Biography/Drama. Starring Gillian An- over yesterday and pleasure over 20 Oct, Roundabout, Hanley, Stoke- derson, Michael Gambon, Hugh Bon- TEECHERS Starcross Youth Theatre doing it right. Presented as part of on-Trent neville. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon present an amateur staging of John Fierce Festival, Thurs 19 Oct, mac, BEDLAM - MY BEAUTIFUL BLACK DOG 16 Oct Godber’s comedy, Sat 21 Oct, Arena Birmingham Poetically wild musical exploring the Theatre, Wolverhampton 20TH CENTURY WOMEN (15) PILGRIM A physical journey through beauteous complexity of our fragile Comedy/Drama. Starring Annette HOW TO BE A KID Join Molly, Joe and the mystical sound scores created by minds, Fri 20 Oct, The REP, B’ham Bening, Elle Fanning. Edge Arts Cen- her nan for a larger-than-life story of electronic musician James Holden. FORGET ME NOT - THE ALZHEIMER’S family, friends and fitting in. Contains tre, Much Wenlock, South Shrop- 62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 16 - 22 October.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:41 Page 4

Monday 16 - Sunday 22 October

shire, Mon 16 Oct DIVE 2017 The UK's biggest event for NIMROD TOURS Step on board the LOVING (12A) Biography/Drama. Star- Events scuba divers, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, Nimrod and learn about its intelli- ring Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton. NEC, Birmingham gence-gathering role in the Royal Air Force, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, RAF Cos- Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, THE MOTORHOME AND CARAVAN SHOW VICTORIAN HALLOWEEN The residents ford, Shifnal Tues 17 Oct Snap up the most up-to-date acces- of Blists Hill Victorian Town celebrate EARTH: ONE AMAZING DAY (U) Docu- sories and gadgets, Tues 17 - Sun 22 Halloween in traditional style, Sat 21 - OCTOBER HALF-TERM Explore the es- mentary. Old Market Hall, Shrews- Oct, NEC, Birmingham Sun 29 Oct, Blists Hill, Ironbridge tate on the pumpkin trails and sample a seasonal recipe in one of the tea bury, Fri 20 Oct GIN JAMBOREE Craft distillers and ex- rooms, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, Shugbor- pert bartenders mix amongst the BRIMSTONE (18) Thriller/Western. Star- ough Historic Working Estate, crowds, offering samples and ex- ring Carice van Houten, Kit Haring- Staffordshire ton. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri plaining why their gin or mix is so 20 - Thurs 26 Oct special, Fri 20 Oct, Shrewsbury SPOOKY TALES AND CRAFT Frightening School fun, have-a-go crafts and spooky sto- ries, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, Stokesay CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL Featuring music, Castle, Nr Craven Arms, South entertainment, and food stalls selling Shropshire NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: a range of indulgent and unusual Released from Fri 20 Oct, showing at treats, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, Brindley- FOUL FOODS - HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES selected cinemas place, Birmingham Become a Victorian food detective SPOOKLEY PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Family- and help separate foul foods from EARTH: ONE AMAZING DAY (U) A WEEKEND OF WORDS Featuring an friendly alternative to Halloween, Sat tasty treats, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, eclectic array of authors, musicians, GEOSTORM (12a) 21 - Sun 29 Oct, Apley Farm Shop, Black Country Living Museum, Dud- actors & comedians - including Norton, Nr Shifnal, Shropshire ley HAPPY DEATH DAY (tbc) Shappi Khorsandi, Julian Glover, SPOOKY CREATURES OF ATTINGHAM JUNGLE (15) Peter Snow and Andy Hamilton, Fri WOOD TRAIL Explore the grounds via 20 - Sun 22 Oct, Ludlow Assembly MARSHALL (15) a spooky family trail, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Rooms, South Shropshire MY LITTLE PONY, THE MOVIE (tbc) Oct, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury SCAREFEST Complete with spooks, HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Help THE DEATH OF STALIN (15) frights, thrills, and remaining open Witchy Woo Woo and Wolfman beat until 9pm, Fri 20 - Tues 31 Oct, Alton cheating villain Franky Frankenstein, Towers, Staffs Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, Cadbury World, MURDER-MYSTERY EVENING Sat 21 Birmingham Oct, The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury

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thelist Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October Prince Of Wales The- Y&T Sat 28 Oct, The del's Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No.7; Gigs atre, Cannock Robin, Bilston Classical Music Haydn's Concerto for violin with KIOKO Thurs 26 Oct, O2 DR HOOK FEATURING Harpsichord; Mozart's Divertimento in F; JS Bach's Harpsichord concerto in STRANGE BONES Mon 23 Academy, Birmingham DENNIS LOCORRIERE Sat LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH D minor & Telemann's Polish Con- Oct, The Sugarmill, 28 Oct, Victoria Hall, THOMAS TROTTER Programme in- ROXY MAGIC Thurs 26 certo, Sat 28 Oct, The Barber Insti- Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent cludes works by J S Bach, Dowland, Oct, The Robin, Wolver- tute, Birmingham IRIT Mon 23 Oct, The hampton ERIC BENÉT Sat 28 Oct, Francaix & Reubke, Mon 23 Oct, CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA: SPANISH FI- Glee Club, Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham Symphony Hall, Birmingham SHOW OF HANDS: THE ESTA Featuring Mirga Gražinyt-Tyla QUATUOR VAN KUIJK The French String LONDON GRAMMAR Mon CATHEDRALS TOUR Thurs SAX IN THE CITY Sat 28 (conductor) & the City of Birmingham Quartet present works by Haydn, 23 Oct, O2 Academy, 26 Oct, St Mary's Oct, Symphony Hall, Symphony Orchestra. Programme in- Janácek, Édith Canat de Chizy & Birmingham Church, Shrewsbury Birmingham cludes works by Debussy, Bizet & Ravel, Mon 23 Oct, Birmingham Town FAIRPORT CONVENTION JEAN GENIE - TRIBUTE TO Falla, Sun 29 Oct, Symphony Hall, MARMOZETS Mon 23 Hall Oct, O2 Academy, Thurs 26 Oct, Ludlow DAVID BOWIE Sat 28 Birmingham Birmingham Assembly Rooms, Lud- Oct, The Roadhouse, DAME MITSUKO UCHIDA: SCHUBERT low, South Shropshire Birmingham SKINNY MOLLY Mon 23 SONATAS Dame Mitsuko Uchida plays Oct, The Robin, Bilston SLEAFORD MODS Thurs O'HOOLEY AND TIDOW the piano sonatas of Schubert includ- 26 Oct, O2 Institute, Sat 28 Oct, Birch- ing Sontata in B major D 575, 25'; CHARLOTTE CARPENTER Birmingham meadow Centre, Brose- Sonata in A minor D845, 30" & WITH AUTUMN EVANS ley, Shropshire Sonata in D major D 850, 39", Mon 30 Mon 23 Oct, The Sun- ULRICH SCHNAUSS Thurs Oct, Birmingham Town Hall flower Lounge, B’ham 26 Oct, Mama Roux's, BUGZY MALONE Sat 28 Birmingham Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham HALLOWEEN SILENT MOVIE SPECIAL RALPH MCTELL Tues 24 Nigel Ogden performs a double-bill Oct, Birmingham Town ROXY MAGIC Thurs 26 DECLAN MCKENNA Sat of classics on the organ comprising Hall Oct,The Robin, Bilston 28 Oct, O2 Institute, CBSO: VERDI’S REQUIEM Featuring the the score from Frankenstein & Nos- POWER QUEST Fri 27 Birmingham RAYMOND FROGGATT City of Birmingham Symphony Or- feratu, Tues 31 Oct, Birmingham Oct, The Slade Rooms, LULU Sun 29 Oct, Tues 24, Prince Of chestra, Edward Gardner (conduc- Town Hall Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Grand Wales Theatre, Can- tor), Tamara Wilson (soprano), Karen Theatre nock BRANDY CLARK Fri 27 Cargill (mezzo soprano), Gwyn LULU Wed 25 Oct, The- Oct, Birmingham Town BLAIR DUNLOP & SPECIAL Hughes Jones (tenor), Brindley Sher- atre Severn, Shrews- Hall GUEST BROOKE SHARKEY ratt (bass) & the CBSO Chorus, Wed Comedy bury WEEZER Fri 27 Oct, O2 Sun 29 Oct, Henry 25 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Tudor House, Shrews- THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Academy, Birmingham ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN Featuring bury JOE LYCETT, DALISO CHAPONDA, JEN Wed 25 Oct, Stafford THE ELO EXPERIENCE Fri David Curtis (conductor) & Julian BRISTER & ANDY ROBINSON Wed 25 JUDIE TZUKE Sun 29 Gatehouse Theatre 27 Oct, Theatre Severn, Bliss (clarinet). Programme includes Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham Shrewsbury Oct, The Robin, Bilston Rossini's The Barber Of Seville (Over- EMELI SANDÉ Wed 25 ED GAMBLE Thurs 26 Oct, Henry Tudor SKINNY MOLLY Sun 29 ture), Weber's Clarinet Concerto No 2 Oct, Genting Arena, TIMMY TRUMPET Fri 27 House, Shrewsbury Birmingham Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Oct, Lichfield Guildhall in E-flat major & Beethoven's Sym- phony No.8 in F Major, Wed 25 Oct, TOM STADE THURS 26 Oct, Wulfrun LOUIS BERRY ingham JOSE JAMES Mon 30 Wed 25 Birmingham Town Hall Hall, Wolverhampton Oct, The Sugarmill, THE UPBEAT BEATLES Fri Oct, The Glee Club, LONDON MOZART PLAYERS MARC JENNINGS, THOMAS RACKHAM & Stoke-on-Trent 27 Oct, The Place, Oak- Birmingham Featuring Joo Yeon Sir (violin). Programme in- ABIGOLIAH SCHAMAUN Thurs 26 Oct, KAZ HAWKINS BAND (BH) engates Theatre, METALLICA Mon 30 Oct, cludes works by Grieg, Mendelssohn, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Wed 25 Oct, The Robin, Telford Genting Arena, B’ham Rossini & Dvorak, Sat 28 Oct, Holy LARRY DEAN, NIGEL NG & COMEDY Bilston FOZZY Fri 27 Oct, O2 BLAIR DUNLOP & SPECIAL Trinity Church, Oswestry, North CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs Academy, Birmingham GUEST BROOKE SHARKEY THE KAZ HAWKINS BAND Shropshire 26 Oct The Glee Club, Birmingham Wed 25 Oct, The Robin, THE PIGEON DETECTIVES Mon 30 Oct, Stafford RUBY WAX Fri 27 Oct, Stafford Gate- Bilston Fri 27 Oct, O2 Institute, Gatehouse Theatre house Theatre THE SENSATIONAL 60S Birmingham PP ARNOLD Mon 30 Oct, DAMIAN CLARK, DAVID WARD Fri 27 EXPERIENCE Thurs 26 BACK:N:BLACK Fri 27 New Vic Theatre, New- Oct, Jongleurs Comedy Club, B’ham Oct, Theatre Severn, Oct, The Robin, Bilston castle-under-Lyme, Shrewsbury Staffordshire ADAM BLOOM, IAN BOLDSWORTH, AN- LULU Sat 28 Oct, DREW RYAN & COMIC TBC Fri 27 - Sat LIAM FRAY Thurs 26 William Aston Hall, AILBHE REDDY Mon 30 28 Oct, The Comedy Loft, B’ham Oct, The Slade Rooms, Wrexham Oct, Henry Tudor Wolverhampton House, Shrewsbury ANDY ROBINSON, LARRY DEAN, MICHAEL BELLA HARDY Sat 28 LEGGE & GORDON SOUTHERN Fri 27 - LES MCKEOWNS BAY CITY Oct, The Hive, Shrews- AKON WITH KONVICT Sat 28 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham ROLLERS Thurs 26 Oct, bury KARTEL Mon 30 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham ALI COOK Sat 28 Oct, mac, B’ham ELECTUS Mon 30 Oct, DAMIAN CLARK, DAVID WARD Sat 28 The Robin, Bilston Oct, Jongleurs Comedy Club, B’ham JASON ISBELL AND THE ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Sat 28 Oct, The 400 UNIT Tues 31 Oct, Old Post Office, Burton-upon-Trent Symphony Hall, B’ham COMEDY IN THE MET Sat 28 Oct, GHOSTPOET Tues 31 Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Oct, Mama Roux's, PATRICK MONAHAN, PRINCE ABDI, KAE Birmingham KURD & THAT INDIAN GUY Sun 29 Oct, HARRY MANX Tues 31 The Glee Club, Birmingham Oct, The Robin, Bilston BRIGHT CLUB Mon 30 Oct, Arena The- DJ FORMAT & ABDOMI- EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA atre, Wolverhampton NAL Tues 31 Oct, Hare Featuring soloists from the orchestra & Hounds, Birmingham and guest harpsichordist, Steven Bella Hardy - The Hive, Shrewsbury Devine. Programme includes Han- 64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 23 - 31 October.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 17:16 Page 2

thelist Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October classic ghost story, Thurs 26 Oct, The Theatre Rose Theatre, Kidderminster PANGOTTIC CIRCUS THEATRE: PANG ON! MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALS Whistle- Featuring comedy, audience partici- stop tour of the shows, from the heart pation and improvisation, Thurs 26 of London’s theatreland to the glitz of Oct, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton- Broadway, Mon 23 Oct, Lichfield Gar- upon-Trent rick DOUBLE DICKENS... Featuring The Trial THE MAGIC FLUTE OperaUpClose per- Of Pickwick - from The Pickwick Pa- form a brand new take on Mozart’s pers - and Doctor Marigold’s Pre- classic, Mon 23 Oct, Theatre Severn, scriptions - a colourful Dickens tale, Shrewsbury Thurs 26 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolver- hampton THERE AND BACK AGAIN - AN ODYSSEY Patrick Lynch launches Ulysses and WHERE DO ALL THE DEAD PIGEONS GO? his companions on a fantastic voy- A story of friendship, love and loneli- age, Mon 23 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse ness, set on the dark side of the Theatre moon, Thurs 26 Oct, mac, B’ham ALL IN Atresbandes Theatre Com- FINDING JOY Masked theatrical com- pany’s darkly playful exploration of pany Vamos explore the subject of the millennial condition, Mon 23 Oct, dementia ‘through humour and hu- mac, Birmingham manity’, Thurs 26 - Fri 27 Oct, Lich- Double Dickens With Ian Pearce field Garrick BIRMINGHAM IMPROV FESTIVAL Featur- And Tim Knight ing completely improvised plays, mu- OH WHAT A NIGHT Market Drayton Am- sicals, sketches, songs, drama, drams present a tribute to the Ameri- Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 26 October cabaret and workshops, Mon 23 - can jukebox, Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Oct, Sun 29 Oct, The Blue Orange The- Festival Drayton Centre, Market Dray- Dickens at the double is the name of the game at the Arena this atre, Birmingham ton, North Shropshire month, courtesy of two well-reviewed presentations. The Trial Of DIRTY DUSTING Heartwarming comedy DELIGHTFUL Exploration of love, grief Pickwick sees Tim Knight retelling one of the most memorable starring Crissy Rock, Dolores Por- and how the state of our minds can episodes from The Pickwick Papers. Doctor Marigold's Prescrip- retta, Leah Bell & Lee Brannigan, affect how we remember our past, tions, meanwhile, visits the Midlands after wowing audiences at Tues 24 Oct, Lichfield Garrick Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Oct, The REP, Birm- ingham the Edinburgh Fringe. Ian Pearce is the talented performer bring- THE CARPENTERS STORY Homage to ing to life one of Dickens’ most heartwarming and colourful tales. one of the most successful pop duos DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join the in history, Tues 24 Oct, New Alexan- What’s On Personality Of The Year as A truly engaging and profoundly touching piece. dra Theatre, Birmingham she sets out to challenge Darwin’s Theory of Evolution... Fri 27 Oct, For- FINDING JOY Masked theatrical com- est Arts Centre, Walsall MACBETH The Crescent Theatre Com- Theatre, Birmingham pany Vamos explore the subject of pany presents its version of Shake- 5 A DAY - MOMENTS OF LOVE AND DEATH dementia ‘through humour and hu- speare’s famous tragedy, Sat 28 Oct Play about our search for ‘a good manity’, Tues 24 - Wed 25 Oct, Arena - Sat 4 Nov, Crescent Theatre, B’ham Theatre, Wolverhampton death’ - an end without pain, loneli- ness or fear, Fri 27 Oct, The Hive, WUTHERING HEIGHTS Hotbuckle pre- JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNI- Shrewsbury sent Emily Bronte’s Gothic classic, Kids shows COLOR DREAMCOAT X Factor winner Sun 29 - Mon 30 Oct, Theatre Sev- STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL & MR Joe McElderry dons the coveted coat ern, Shrewsbury in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Web- HYDE Robert Louis Stevenson's clas- THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN ber's sparkling family musical, Tues sic tale, brought to life in a one-man LOOK BACK IN ANGER Rumpus Theatre BOOTS Starring Julie Patton from Cats 24 - Sat 28 Oct, Regent Theatre, show, Fri 27 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Company present John Osborne’s and Grand Theatre panto dame Ian Stoke-on-Trent Theatre kitchen-sink drama, Mon 30 Oct - Sat Adams, Mon 23 Oct, Wolverhampton 4 Nov, The Rose Theatre, Kiddermin- SINGALONGA ROCKY HORROR PICTURE Grand Theatre CRAZY FOR YOU Caroline Flack, Char- ster lotte Wakefield and Tom Chambers SHOW The camp cult classic gets the DICK AND DOM LIVE The BAFTA-win- star in George Gershwin’s popular sing-along-a treatment it’s been KHOVANSHCHINA Mussorgsky’s epic ning stars, live on stage, Mon 23 Oct, musical, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Oct, Birm- screaming for! Sat 28 Oct, Wolver- opera, addressing themes of politics, Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock madness and death, Tues 31 Oct, ingham Hippodrome hampton Grand Theatre DORIS THE DRAGON ‘Fun-packed’ Birmingham Hippodrome LET'S TWIST AGAIN Nostalgia show re- 14/48 FOR LAUGHS Four short comic show for children, Tues 24 Oct, Stour- living the fun, laughter and music of plays, written, rehearsed and staged WE ARE THE LIONS, MR MANAGER! The bridge Town Hall remarkable story of Jayaben Desai, the rock’n’roll era, Wed 25 Oct, Lich- in just 24 hours, Sat 28 Oct, Arena THE GIRL AND THE GIRAFFE Half Moon the inspirational leader of the 1976-78 field Garrick Theatre, Wolverhampton Theatre story about wellbeing and Grunwick Strike, Tues 31 Oct, The- DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join the friendship, told from a child’s per- 5 A DAY - MOMENTS OF LOVE AND DEATH atre Severn, Shrewsbury Play about our search for ‘a good What’s On Personality Of The Year as spective, Tues 24 - Thurs 26 Oct, death’ - an end without pain, loneli- she sets out to challenge Darwin’s NEXUS:WHISPERS Vexed Theatre pre- mac, Birmingham sent an ‘edge-of-your-seat experi- ness or fear, Wed 25 Oct, SpArC, Theory of Evolution... Sat 28 Oct, The 64 ZOO LANE Family-friendly musical ence’, Tues 31 Oct, The Crescent Bishops Castle, South Shropshire Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, based on the award-winning chil- Theatre, Birmingham DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join the AUSTENTATIOUS Improvised comedy dren’s series of the same name, Wed What’s On Personality Of The Year as play, Sat 28 Oct, Theatre Severn, THE ELVIS DEAD Cult classic horror 25 - Sun 29 Oct, Old Rep Theatre, she sets out to challenge Darwin’s Shrewsbury movie Evil Dead 2, reinterpreted Birmingham through the songs of Elvis, Tues 31 Theory of Evolution... Wed 25 Oct, THAT'S LIFE - THE FRANK SINATRA THE CHRIS AND PUI SHOW New stage Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton Palace Theatre, Redditch STORY Celebrating the life and music show with toys and characters from THE WAR OF THE WORLDS Re-imagin- of Ol’ Blue Eyes, Sat 28 Oct, Lichfield CHARLES DICKENS' GHOST STORIES the hit TV programme, Thurs 26 Oct, ing of HG Wells’ masterpiece, Wed Garrick Featuring two of Dickens’ most chill- The Place, Oakengates Theatre, ing supernatural tales - The Signal- Telford 25 - Tues 31st Oct, Old Joint Stock HELLOWORLD Immersive four-hour man and The Haunted Man, Tues 31 Theatre, Birmingham event, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Oct, Genting SIGNOR BAFFO Interactive children’s Oct - Sat 11 Nov, The Blue Orange THE RED ROOM New take on HG Wells’ Arena, Birmingham show, Thurs 26 Oct, Newhampton whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List NEW Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 23 - 31 October.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 17:16 Page 3

thelist Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October Arts Centre, Wolverhampton son, Dan Stevens. Forest Arts Centre, CHILLS AND THRILLS Visit the Deadly only a torch to guide you, Fri 27 Oct, BOUNCING CATS & BOOM BOOM PUPS Walsall, Thurs 26 Oct Dungeon for some half-term Hal- New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Immersive performance for children, THE NUT JOB 2 (U) Animation/Adven- loween fun, including fierce face HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Fri 27 Oct, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Birmingham Hip- ture. With the voices of Will Arnett, painting, freaky fancy dress, grue- The British Ironwork Centre, Os- podrome Katherine Heigl. Ludlow Assembly some games and a creepy colouring westry, North Shropshire competition, Mon 23 - Sun 29 Oct, HAIRY MACLARY & FRIENDS Family Rooms, South Shropshire, Tues 24 - PARANORMAL EVENING Featuring a his- Wed 25 Oct; Festival Drayton Centre, Trentham Monkey Forest, Stoke-on- show featuring music, song and char- Trent tory/ghost tour, vigils, use of paranor- acters from the much-loved books, Market Drayton, South Shropshire, mal equipment and more, Fri 27 - Sat Sat 28 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Thurs 26 Oct HALLOWEEN HUNT The ghouls and 28 Oct, Dudley Zoological Gardens Theatre VICEROY'S HOUSE (PG) ghosts of Himley Hall have escaped onto the park. Find them all and HALLOWEEN ADULT ONLY GHOST TOURS DICK AND DOM LIVE The BAFTA-win- Biography/Drama. Starring Gillian An- Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, National Brewery derson, Michael Gambon, Hugh Bon- claim your spooky certificate, Tues 24 ning stars, live on stage, Sun 29 Oct, Oct, Himley Hall & Park, Dudley Centre, Burton-upon-Trent Stafford Gatehouse Theatre neville. Forest Arts Centre, Walsall, Thurs 26 Oct PUMPKIN CARVING Try your hand at THE MURDEROUS MANSION Meet the making a traditional Halloween deco- master of the mansion, hear his MY LIFE AS A COURGETTE (PG) Anima- spooky tale and take on his tricky tion/Comedy. With the voices of Gas- ration, Tues 24 - Wed 25 Oct, Atting- ham Park, Shrewsbury task, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Attingham pard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat. Foxlowe Park, Shrewsbury Dance Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Thurs 26 BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE GRAND Oct Wed 25 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN Enjoy special Theatre children’s boat trips through Dudley’s INTER_RUPTED Brand new creation by DETROIT (15) Crime/History. Starring fantastic underground caverns, Fri 27 Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company - a John Boyega, Anthony Mackie. Old MURDER BY GASLIGHT A ghoulish audi- - Sun 29 Oct, Dudley Canal and Tun- high-octane work based on disinte- Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 27 - Tues ence with two of the most infamous nel Trust 31 Oct poisoners in British history - William gration, fragility, vulnerability, age and SKY-FI FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR A transience, Mon 23 Oct, Birmingham THE GLASS CASTLE (12a) Palmer and Harvey Crippen, Wed 25 Oct, Lightwoods Park, Birmingham ‘galactic gathering’ which sees fire- Hippodrome Biography/Drama. Starring Brie Lar- works set to music from popular clas- THE NUTCRACKER Seasonal favourite son, Woody Harrelson. Old Market THE GHOST WALK Explore the ghostly sics, including Doctor Who, Star Trek, featuring the music of Tchaikovsky, Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 27 - Tues 31 Oct avenues and alleyways of ancient Star Wars and Guardians Of The Wed 25 Oct, The Place, Oakengates BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (PG) Bridgnorth, where lurking in the shad- Galaxy and many more, Fri 27 - Sun Theatre, Telford Fantasy/Musical. Starring Emma Wat- ows are 10 ghosts who met grisly 29 Oct, Drayton Manor Theme Park, ends, Wed 25 - Thurs 26 Oct, Various INFUSION EMPORIUM Boundary-push- son, Dan Stevens. Edge Arts Centre, Tamworth locations in Bridgnorth, South Shrop- ing displays of bellydancing, Fri 27 Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, shire GCCF SUPREME CAT SHOW Sat 28 Oct, Oct, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Mon 30 Oct NEC, Birmingham HALLOWEEN NIGHTS Trick-or-treat DENIAL (12A) Biography/Drama. Star- CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN EVENING Get ring , Tom Wilkinson. along the gaslit cobbled streets and enjoy street entertainment from cir- dressed up in your spookiest cos- Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, tume and enjoy the ghostly goings Tues 31 Oct cus performers, fire-jugglers and ma- gicians, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Oct, Black on around the castle, Sat 28 Oct, Film A MAN CALLED OVE (12a) Country Living Museum, Dudley Tamworth Castle Comedy/Drama. Starring Rolf Lass- HALLOWEEN HOCUS POCUS Visit the HORRIBLE WILLENHALL HISTORIES Fea- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: gård, Bahar Parsk. Foreign language, turing a spooky trail and family- subtitled. Stafford Gatehouse The- candlelit pumpkin patch, enjoy creepy crafts & colouring, take a friendly ghost stories, Sat 28 Oct, THE JUNGLE BUNCH (tbc) atre, Tues 31 Oct spooky selfie with Lou the Bat and Black Country Living Museum, Dud- Animation/Adventure. With the voices enjoy Dippy’s Halloween show & ley of Paul Borne, Philippe Bozo. Ludlow disco, Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Oct, Dudley WEST MIDLANDS VEGAN FESTIVAL Sat Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Zoological Gardens 28 - Sun 29 Oct, Civic Hall, Wolver- Mon 23 - Tues 24 Oct; Old Market hampton Hall, Shrewsbury, Mon 23 - Sat 28 Released from Tues 24 Oct, showing BRICK LIVE Celebrating all things Oct at selected cinemas Lego, Thurs 26 - Sun 29 Oct, NEC, GHOST SEARCH Ghost walk around the Birmingham castle, with vigils conducted in reput- THE EMOJI MOVIE (U) Animation/Ad- THOR: RAGNAROK (tbc) edly haunted rooms, Tues 31 Oct, venture. With the voices of T.J. Miller, BLACKOUT - LOCK IN Event offering BREATHE (12a) Tamworth Castle James Corden. Festival Drayton Cen- after-dark access to all areas - with tre, Market Drayton, South Shrop- CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (15) shire, Tues 24 Oct JIGSAW (18) LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD (PG) Docu- mentary. Starring Ammar Haj Ahmad, Adam Astill. Foxlowe Arts Centre, CENTRAL HALL Leek, Staffs, Tues 24 Oct PRESENTS THE BOSS BABY (U) Animation/Com- Events edy. With the voices of Alec Baldwin, Saturday 7th October 2017 , 7.30pm Steve Buscemi. Forest Arts Centre, MAD SCIENCE Hands-on indoor Hal- Walsall, Tues 24 Oct loween-themed experiments involv- A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (12A) Documen- ing vampire blood and Frankenstein with Billy Spakemon (Black Country Radio) tary. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, snot, Mon 23 - Wed 25 Oct, Trentham l Songs l Poetry l Story Telling Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent James Baldwin. Stafford Gatehouse l Comedy Sketches Theatre, Tues 24 Oct AIRFLIX MAKE AND TAKE Suitable for SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (U) Anima- seasoned model makers or those tion/Comedy. With the voices of Demi new to Airfix, Mon 23 - Fri 27 Oct, Lovato, Rainn Wilson. Forest Arts RAF Cosford, Shifnal Centre, Walsall, Wed 25 Oct HAUNTED CASTLE Encounter a series BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (PG) of spooky characters and activities as Central Hall Methodist Church, Ablewell Street, Fantasy/Musical. Starring Emma Wat- you tour the castle, Mon 23 - Fri 27 Oct, Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire Walsall WS1 2EQ. Registered Charity Number:1132418 01922 721643

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