Shropshire Cover Online.qxp_cover 05/08/2015 10:12 Page 1 THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

SHROPSHIRE ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 356 AUGUST 2015 THE ONE AND ONLY AT HENRY TUDOR HOUSE

ROBERT POWELL gets regal playing King Charles III at The Rep interview inside...

TOM KERRIDGE celebrity chef cooks up a treat at Flower Show

INSIDE: FILM COMEDY THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VISUAL ARTS DICKENSIAN FUN EVENTS FOOD & DRINK join the Artful Dodger and his gang at Blists Hill & MUCH MORE! Style Birmingham (FP-August).qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2015 11:06 Page 1 Contents August Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 16:56 Page 1

August 2015

Editor: INSIDE: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: Step back in time Brian O’Faolain at Drayton Manor p59 [email protected] 01743 281701 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Jamie Ryan [email protected] 01743 281720

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Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Robert Powell talks about playing King Charles III. Interview page 8 Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] TO GET THE VERY 01743 281717 News p4 Contributors: LATEST LISTING James Cameron-Wilson: INFORMATION, Film; Graham Bostock, Music p13 Chris Eldon Lee, Heather VISIT: Time travellers Kincaid, Jessica Aston, whatsonlive.co.uk in Ironbridge p57 Katherine Ewing, Helen Comedyp19 Stallard, Steve Adams INCLUDING Head Office: BOOKING ONLINE 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Theatre p21 Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE The Midlands’ most Tel: 01743 281777 comprehensive p35 e-mail: [email protected] entertainment website Film/DVD

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News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Theatre seeks young local talent Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn is on the look- out for talented young girls aged between eight and fifteen to be part of its Juvenile Ensemble, performing in Dick Whittington over the festive period. Auditions will take place at Priory School, Shrewsbury, on Tuesday 8 September at 3.45pm. Successful applicants will be required to give total commitment to the pantomime for the rehearsal period and the full run of the production, from 21 November to 10 January.

Looking to the future in Southwater ’s recently opened Southwater development is hosting an internationally renowned Sophie Ward to star in Aldous work of art over the August bank holiday weekend. A spaceship-like installation sited on the grass area outside Wildwood and Mimosa will house Huxley’s Brave New World the Mirazozo luminarium. The luminarium has been created by Nottingham-based company Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre has Architects Of Air, who describe the artwork as ‘a dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring announced that Land Girls actress Sophie domes where Islamic architecture, Archimedean solids and Gothic cathedrals meld into an Ward is to star as Margaret Mond in a brand inspiring monument to the beauty of light and colour’. new stage adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s The futuristic, inflatable and interactive walk-in sculptures are part of a wider group of works seminal novel, Brave New World. created by Architects Of Air and designed by Alan Parkinson. First published in 1932 and considered to be Since 1992, the company’s creations have been viewed and experienced by more than two one of the finest dystopian novels of the million people in forty countries across five continents. twentieth century, Brave New World is set six hundred years into the future, when human life has been almost entirely industrialised. include a flypast from the Battle of Britain The stage adaptation has been written by Memorial Flight Spitfire, live music, wartime Mark Wright to host award-winning playwright Dawn King. games, re-enactments and storytelling ses- Style Birmingham Brave New World shows at Wolverhampton sions... For further information, visit, rafmuse- Essex celebrity and TV presenter Mark Grand Theatre from 3 to 7 November. um.org.uk Wright has announced he's to appear at this year's Style Birmingham Live. The Only Way Is Essex star will host all eight Celebrating the past and catwalk shows at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery's Gas Hall on Saturday 26 and present and future at BMAG Sunday 27 September. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) A platform on which to showcase the latest has announced a series of celebratory autumn/winter styles and collections from events for the venue’s one hundred-and-thir- the city's high street retailers and shopping tieth anniversary in November. centres, Style Birmingham also offers tips The BMAG team will share a different pre- and fashion advice from experts. cious object on Facebook and Twitter for Commenting on his participation in the one hundred-and-thirty days leading up to event, Mark said: “I’m a big fan of the main event. A request has also been Birmingham, and the people have always launched for visitors to tweet photographs of been so welcoming. It’s changing so much Make a date to mark themselves next to their favourite items, and I can’t wait to be there to host Style Britain’s ‘finest hour’ using hashtag #BMAG130. Birmingham Live and see the The programme of celebrations for the latest looks from the city’s Details of the RAF’s plan to commemorate museum’s birthday on 28 November so far the seventy-fifth anniversary of Britain’s amazing line-up of shops.” includes live music, a raffle, entertainment Tickets to Style Birmingham ‘finest hour’ have been revealed. for all ages and the chance to sample a slice Considered the most important event in the are now on sale and include of birthday cake in the Edwardian Tearoom. entry to the show, a drink on history of the Royal Air Force, the Battle of A time capsule for future museum-goers to Britain will be marked at the Cosford site by arrival and exclusive goody explore will also be assembled during the bag, and access to retailer a nostalgic weekend of themed events and course of the day. activities (12 and 13 September). Highlights offers and activities.

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Programme announced for Birmingham Weekender

Organisers behind the biggest free outdoor event ever to grace the streets of Birmingham have announced its programme of entertainment. Birmingham Weekender (25 to 27 September) will see the city become a hub of creative activity, hosting pop-up perform- ances, a musical picnic, participative events, workshops and much more. Highlights include: Compagnie Transe Express' Maudits Sonnants - an orchestra of baroque bell-ringers playing from a musical chandelier suspended above Centenary Square; physical theatre from Motionhouse; circus theatre from RoguePlay Theatre; and interactive performances from Vamos' octo- genarian campaigners, the Crimplene Crusaders. New commissions will be presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre in associa- tion with Mem Morrison Company, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Birmingham Opera Company, Corey Baker Dance, Sampad Arts with poet Amerah Saleh, and Barbara Nice in association with Women & Theatre. The weekend will also see the transforma- Exciting season of dance announced tion of Centenary Square and Victoria A double bill of ‘emotive and spiritual works’ from Birmingham’s ACE Dance and Music is to Square. While Centenary Square hosts a launch DanceXchange’s new season of productions at the Patrick Centre on 1 October. Mexican day-of-the-dead block party, Directed by Gail Parmel, Mana: The Power Within comprises A Thousand Shepherds - chore- Victoria Square will present a music ‘festival ographed by Jose Agudo - and Vincent Mantsoe’s Mana - a piece rooted in the Sangoma within a festival’. tradition of ‘evoking the spirit and earthy ambience of African dance and Shamanic beliefs’. Other DanceXchange season highlights include Scottish Dance Theatre’s critically acclaimed YAMA (pictured above) and James Cousins Company’s Without Stars/There We Have Been. The line-up also includes the world premiere performance of Gary Clarke Company’s COAL - a show which takes a nostalgic look at the realities of life at the coal face. The performance ties in with the thirtieth anniversary of the miners’ strike. Arthur Pita’s acclaimed production of The Little Match Girl makes a welcome return too (on 14 November), following sell-out performances last year. For further information on upcoming productions, visit, whatsonlive.co.uk.

WIN!!! New festival for Wolverhampton Irish comedian Kielty goes It’s twenty-five years since Midlands rockers Ned’s Atomic back to his stand-up roots Overnight stay at Dustbin shot to number one in the Indie singles chart with Kill Warwick Castle Your Television. Now the band plan to celebrate the anniversary Irish funnyman Patrick Kielty has with an inaugural KYTV festival in Wolverhampton on 19 announced he’s going back to his stand-up What’s On December. comedy roots with a brand new tour in the Magazines has The festival will see all five original band members - Jonn Penny, autumn. teamed up with Alex Griffin, Dan Worton, Gareth ‘Rat’ Pring and Matt Cheslin - Presenting material trialled at this year’s Warwick Castle to take to the stage at the Civic Hall. The Civic was the scene of Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Patrick will take offer readers the many of their end-of-year home- to the road with Help - a show where he chance to experi- coming shows, which were attempts to re-write the modern rule book ence a sleepover in attended by fans from across for love, life and happiness - with a little one of the venue’s the globe. guidance from the audience. ready-to-sleep The boys will share the show Patrick’s Midlands fans can catch him at Mediaeval Warwick with numerous other as-yet- Birmingham’s Glee Club on 25 October. Tents, worth £200 unannounced bands who also per night. played a big part in the popular- Find out more and ity of the 1990s indie scene. Merrythought joins the how to enter at what- Further information can be sonlive.co.uk/com- found at wolvescivic.co.uk celebrations in Ironbridge petitions Shropshire handmade teddy bear company Merrythought will next month unveil its new- Building for a Guinness World Record look shop as part of the wider Ironbridge The world’s largest LEGO brick caravan will be unveiled at this Gorge World Heritage Festival. year’s Motorhome & Caravan Show, which runs at Birmingham’s The shop relaunch coincides with NEC from 13 to 18 October. Merrythought’s eighty-fifth anniversary. To Attempting to win the Guinness World Record for the largest ever mark the occasion, the company will be touring caravan made entirely of LEGO bricks, a team of eight offering visitors the chance to purchase an professional LEGO brick builders will use more than one hun- exclusive, limited edition teddy bear. dred-and-fifty thousand individual interlocking bricks to build the The shop will also showcase a display of model. A yet-to-be-announced special guest will lay the final handcrafted teddy bears dating from the brick on the morning of 13 October. The model will be based on 1930s through to the present day. a modern T@B 320 RS ‘teardrop’ caravan, including a fully work- Numerous competitions and free teddy ing interior. Visit motorhomeandcaravanshow.co.uk for further bear-themed cupcakes further add to the information and to purchase tickets. relaunch event’s appeal. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Adrian Jackson interview (LW).qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:02 Page 1

interview Full circle... Grand Theatre’s new chief exec returns to where it all began Adrian Jackson first visited the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in 1978. Thirty-seven years later he’s returned to the venue as its new Chief Executive. In the intervening time he’s developed a successful career as a leading conductor, both here in the UK and further afield. Enthused with ideas, Adrian recently took time out from his busy schedule to talk to What’s On about the exciting plans he has for one of the Midlands’ top theatres, including a new front of house and bar area.

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It could be said that you’ve hit the ground unsure they’ll enjoy. You have to tempt them Operatic Society’s production of The Music running with the Grand’s new, redesigned to diversify a bit. Being a musician, I think live Man. My grandparents were members of the front-of-house areas, Adrian. What other music is extremely important, and I’d like to society and there was a part going for a kid developments do you have planned? bring a little bit more of that to could act a bit, sing a bit and play the I want audiences to get excited the moment programme. The acoustic in the main trumpet a bit. I auditioned for the part and got they step over the threshold. The experience auditorium is lovely, so why not get an it. I knew I wanted to perform at that point but has got to start there. I remember when I orchestra in and put on a classical concert? I didn’t want to be an actor and I didn’t want came for my interview, I sat in the foyer and I I’d like to look at the possibilities of perhaps to be a singer. It was clear that I should could see exactly what I wanted to do with introducing something a little bit different become a musician within theatre. the theatre. I could see people sitting having whilst also maintaining that core requirement, a drink and there being a little bit of things that people love about the theatre. What else do you play apart from the entertainment going on - live music in the trumpet? background. When I was lucky enough to get Do you see yourself ever performing at the I play the piano but my main interest is the job, I thought to myself, you know what, Grand? musical direction and conducting. I have my with the wind in the right direction, we could In the fullness of time, yes, but my role is as own orchestra, the City Concert Orchestra, actually achieve something this year that Chief Executive and there’s a very important that started back in 1994. We play all over the would make an impact. and busy job to do here. At some point when place, and I’ve freelance-conducted for I set up quite a lot of meetings rather quickly the time’s right I may well venture on to the several years. and we decided to make the most of the stage. long, dark period the theatre has over the What’s top of your list in the Grand’s summer. Everything has just seemed to fit, How would you like to see the theatre autumn season? and the staff have really bought into it. develop within the wider cultural and There are loads of things that I’m excited Without their support we wouldn’t be able to entertainment scene in Wolverhampton? about. I’m a great lover of big bands and the make it happen. We set up a little design I put a great deal of importance on education swing era, so I’m really looking forward to group so that everybody could have an input. and community. We have a really good seeing The Glenn Miller Story. I’m also a fan One of our front-of-house staff has a degree education department and I feel it offers more of Jersey Boys - in fact, Steven Ashfield, who in design, so he’s had a major input on the than just performances. It offers people the was in the original cast in , left my look of the redesign. It’s very much been a chance to learn, to create new skills and to panto in Lichfield to join the cast of the team effort. develop confidence. One of the things I’m London production. I’m really looking forward currently looking at is introducing a to seeing that - and, of course, we’ve got That’s your short-term goal. What are your volunteers scheme to complement this; to Shrek coming, which is always a good one. medium and long-term goals for the bring in people to work with staff and to theatre? potentially get access to employment. I Do you have a personal favourite that The industry is changing. There are a lot of introduced this at the Lichfield Garrick and it you’d like to bring to the stage? new producers on the scene. The Grand has was a phenomenal success. I love old musicals. There are two shows that a wonderful tradition of putting on great Theatre is a pivotal and very important part of I particularly adore - The Sound Of Music and theatre and clearly we’ll carry on doing that. any community. We’re wanting to develop Hello Dolly. There are lots of others too, but My artistic vision is to carry on doing the that and penetrate the community even those two shows are just fabulous. They have things that people love, but also develop, deeper. every single ingredient I think a musical diversify and change the experience. The The new performance space that we’re going should have and are very much on my radar. stalls revamp is the beginning of a number of to create will enable us to reach out to a Another show that I’m really excited about is phases. Creating the new bar area and a little different line of people. I’m thinking of Gypsy. I saw it at the Savoy recently. I was so performance space will enable us to do lunchtime cookery demos where we get in excited that I phoned the producer straight things that we couldn’t do before. We can local and nationally known chefs to do away and asked him whether they were have a comedian, a musician, an actor or something intimate, with maybe one hundred touring the show because I wanted to open it maybe even a small drama company people in attendance. Something that will in Wolverhampton. Apparently a tour is perform. It will be something that’s very appeal to a different part of the community. I something they’re mulling over at the intimate - a performance where the audience want the bar to be there for the people of moment. is there with them, rather than there existing a Wolverhampton who’ve maybe just left the barrier between the audience and the stage. office. I’d like them to choose to come to the Reflecting on your career to date, what’s The core work of the theatre will continue Grand and have a drink because there might given you the greatest pleasure? because the programming is successful, but be some live music on, or there might be a Making a difference to people is what I get there’s no reason why we can’t do more comedian doing a set. Something happening the most enjoyment from. I remember doing intimate productions as well. And if the idea that would excite them. These might be a production with music and fireworks at an takes off, my vision will probably go beyond people who don’t usually visit the theatre, outdoor Prom concert where there were ten that. and this might be what’s needed to whet their thousand people. Turning around towards appetite to explore that world. the end of the night, with everyone singing Can you foresee the theatre moving Land Of Hope And Glory, all I could see was towards becoming a producing house on a What was your first theatrical experience? a sea of Union Jacks and lots of happy faces. small scale? It was here at the Grand. It was 1978 and I That’s always an incredibly uplifting Definitely. That’s where it started. The Grand was performing in the West Bromwich experience. theatre has a history of producing and I’d love for us to be doing that again. There’s no Adrian with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg reason why we can’t put our own at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall productions on the main stage, and there’s no reason why the Grand couldn’t put a production together and take it on tour. There are a whole host of possibilities.

As a practising musician, how do you see your personal preferences influencing the theatre’s programming? What I like and don’t like shouldn’t influence what happens on stage. You’ve got that genre that fits into the popular category, things that people want to go and see. It’s something that always sells well and people want it. But you’ve always got to remind yourself that you have to give people the opportunity to see things that perhaps they’re www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Robert Powell (LW).qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2015 11:57 Page 1

interview

From King of the Jews to King of Robert Powell Robert

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Best known for playing the King of the Jews, Robert Powell is now set to play the King of England. Powell shot to international stardom in the 1970s when he portrayed Christ in Franco Zeffirelli’s internationally acclaimed television series Jesus Of Nazareth. Next month he’ll be opening the Birmingham Rep’s autumn season, taking on the role of our very own Prince of in the award-winning play, King Charles III. What’s On caught up with Robert to ask about this latest theatrical endeavour, the challenge of playing the Son of God - and what it’s like to make a cult TV comedy series with the one and only Jasper Carrott!

Does playing a famous person who's still Kate. I think the youngsters who come to see me, tell him to come to the theatre, or go to alive - as you’re doing here, Robert - bring it will be thrilled, and there are certain the cinema if he wants to find out whether I with it a particular set of challenges for an elements that will be so recognisable to them can act’. This is the arrogance that success actor? in terms of their relationships with their can bring you and I own up to that. It’s why I suppose it faintly does but I don’t think I’ve parents. one wants to be successful. Not for the played someone who’s still alive before. I’m money and not for the fame thing but purely not allowed to do an impersonation of Prince You always seem to be in work and it goes and simply because it does give you the right Charles - which is unfortunate, as I do a without saying you’re a talented actor. But to get better parts. rather good one. As an actor, I’ll be playing what’s been the secret of your long-term A message came through asking if I’d screen Charles entirely subjectively, leaving it for the and ongoing success? test for it. I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that. At least audience to make up their own minds. I work very hard. I really do. I put in a huge that gives me a chance to show him what I amount of effort when I’m working. I don’t can do’. So I pitched up to a screen test Have you ever met Prince Charles? know whether that makes a huge amount of where they put a blonde wig and beard on We’re not friends but we’ve certainly met difference, but all I can say is that I’ve been me. I remember phoning my agent from a each other many times. We’re members of doing this for fifty-plus years... phone box down the very same corridor at the same club. He doesn’t pitch up to that When we were doing Holby City, we started Elstree Studios where, years and years later, I very often, probably every couple of years, filming at eight in the morning and finished at used to walk when doing Holby. I rang my but we’re aware of each other and I like him seven, with an hour for lunch. We filmed in agent and said, ‘I think we can forget that, it enormously. I’m an ambassador of the Elstree and I used to be able to get home by was disastrous’. About two weeks later they Prince’s Trust, so I also have other about quarter to eight, at which time I’d pour phoned again and said that Franco wanted to connections. a large glass of wine and then spend the next come over from to meet me and test hour going through the script for the me himself. Halfway through that test I knew Does knowing Charles, and the thought following day. Most of an actor’s life is he was going to ask me to do it. Then, when that you’re likely to come across each dealing in the currency of banality. The secret they did ask me, I decided not to say yes for other in social circles, make a difference of being successful is to become the about a week. There was no revenge to how you portray him on stage? alchemist and turn dross - which, to be involved. I just didn’t want to do it, but it was I joke that the next time I see him he might honest with you, most stuff is. Okay, one of those things where you know in your not be quite so affable, but I see the world occasionally you’ll get a Shaw, a heart of hearts that, having been asked, you through my eyes and I assume that other Shakespeare, a Stoppard or an Alan Bennett, have to say yes. people have a similar way of looking at and it’s thrilling, but most of the time you’re things. The play is quite brilliant and is in dealing with banality, particularly in television. Did you ruffle any religious feathers? blank verse. It has a Shakespearean element There are two ways of dealing with it. You can To be honest, we didn’t. While we were which brings a tremendous gravitas to it just say it, or you can bring something to it shooting it, which was a nine-month process, without being too colloquial. Without that arrests people. Something that’s we had a Rabbi on set all of the time. We also sounding pompous, the blank verse element different. In other words, you give it a life had a representative from the Catholic of it brings a degree of weight to the play. which is beyond the actual word itself. That’s Church in Rome and a representative from The audience are probably not that aware of what I spend my time doing - finding the General Motors, who were the sponsor. So it - just as you’re probably not aware if you’ve layers. I know it sounds awfully pompous in we were very, very careful not to ruffle never read Shakespeare that it’s written as principle, but you asked me why I’ve been feathers. verse. reasonably successful. I’m not saying that We actually threw away the first two weeks’ other actors don’t work hard too - they do - filming. Franco and I watched the rushes and Do you know if Charles has seen the play? but the ones who think they can get away I said it didn’t work. Our ambition was to I don’t think he has. If it were me, I wouldn’t with taking it easy get found out very quickly. show the humanity - the human side, if you be offended by it; I’d be flattered. I think it like - of the divine Christ. Unfortunately, shows him in a very good light - but, again, Most people will first and foremost though, all that happened was that he I’m talking subjectively because I’m about to associate you with the role of Christ, became too human and you lost the other play him. What people will judge him by are which you famously played in 1977 in part of him. So we decided between us that I the elements that they already know. It’s very Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus Of Nazareth. How wouldn’t do anything. I would leave it all up much about his relationship with his children, did your role in such a high-profile to the audience. I would offer up a blank and wanting to make his mark having waited international television series come canvas. I would offer up the look, the voice, all his life for this moment. He doesn’t want to about? the eyes, the presence, but I wouldn’t waste it and so picks something you’d never I knew they were casting but didn’t give it a perform it. That resulted in five hundred expect him to pick to make his mark. second thought, simply because I’d been to thousand people saying, ‘That’s my Christ’. The play’s about the battle against everybody see Franco for two films in the late ’60s/early I’d allowed them to see their Christ in me. I’d else as Charles tries to keep his integrity, ’70s. I didn’t get to read on either occasion. I love to turn around and say it was deliberate because he’s very conscious of his own just walked in and sat in front of his desk, but it wasn’t. I couldn’t find any other way of conscience. He’s a very conscience-driven talked for a couple of minutes and Franco doing it at the time, but the net result was man, and all the better for that. I’m said, ‘Thank you, thank you’ and that was it. little short of remarkable - well, from the completely biased because I think he’s So when I got the call from Franco’s letters I received anyway. utterly delightful. representatives saying he wanted to see me for Jesus Of Nazareth, I turned him down. I Moving forward in time, the 1990s saw you Do you foresee King Charles III appealing actually said no because at that time I was on team up with one the Midlands’ finest to a mixed-age audience? stage playing a lead role in Tom Stoppard’s comedians, Jasper Carrott. How did you Very much so. Even though Charles is the Travesties for the Royal Shakespeare find that experience? pivotal character, the sons are equally Company. I said to my agent, ‘I’m not going It was purely accidental. Jasper was a friend interesting and exciting characters, as is to go and humiliate myself. If he wants to see and he was doing Canned Carrott at the time.

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His writers, who were very, very clever, had written these four-minute-long sketches to go into his show about these two idiotic policeman. They were wondering who they could get to play the other one and Jasper suggested me. They just laughed and said, ‘Don’t be so bloody stupid, he won’t do it!’. Jasper phoned me and asked if I’d be interested. If he’d asked me to play a straight man to his comic man then he would’ve got very short shrift - there was no way I was going to do that - but he sent me the script and I laughed out loud because both of the characters were very funny, in different ways. I asked him which one he wanted me to play and he said I could do either, so I opted for Briggs. During the course of the five television series we did, the programme evolved into a cult show that was so silly and which kids loved.

It must have been great fun to film... It was very difficult to film. Say the working day was a nine-hour shoot, they had to factor in an extra hour a day where there would be no filming done because everyone would be laughing. We once had to cover the camera operator with a sheet because we could see Robert Powell Robert his shoulders moving as he laughed. And we ruined so many takes from snorting.

Will you be meeting up with Jasper while you’re in the Midlands? Definitely. He’s got a birthday party the day before I start teching in Birmingham, so I’ll have to behave myself.

Your career spans TV, film and stage. Which do you favour? Television. I love it. It’s a fabulous medium. Twenty years ago I was banging on about young actors’ desire to do movies. Television is so much better. You get a bigger audience and a longer time to tell a story. I now read trade papers which say that television is the new movies and I’m really quite proud to have spotted it. I’ve been banging on about this for years.

So TV wins over stage, then? The only reason that stage loses is that it’s unbelievably hard work.

Was acting always on your radar? It was what I did as a kid and something I did as a teenager. Being on stage always made me happy. To me, it was more real than reality. I was a shy person as a boy, very shy, and I didn’t know who I was. When I went on stage I threw off all of that and became somebody else.

If this wonderful career hadn’t panned out, what do you think you’d be doing now? God only knows. If Hugh Hunt, who was the head of drama at University, hadn’t come to see me in a play I was doing for the university’s stage society, I would I’m not allowed to impersonate probably have been a lawyer of some kind. But he did come to see it. He came around to the little stage door and said, ‘Why are you Prince Charles - which is unfortunate bothering with law, why don’t you come and “ read drama with me?’ To me, this was the most wonderful thing I’d ever heard. I went as I do a rather good one home and told my parents. They were shocked but very supportive. I then resigned from the law faculty and applied to courses to drama. A month later I got a letter back from the board saying ” I hadn’t qualified - ironically because I didn’t 10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Robert Powell (LW).qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 16:12 Page 4

have English Literature at either O Level or A one of the happiest times of my life. My son my address book, there’s only a relatively Level. I hadn’t taken it. I’d chosen Latin, had just been born and I was doing this film few contacts who’re actors. There are many Greek and Ancient History. They said they where I was just having so much fun. It didn’t great sportsmen because I got involved via would hold the place for a year. I immediately cost very much money and I wasn’t paid very various charities with cricket, football and found the English Lit set book, picked up a much but it was so enjoyable. I’ve had so golf. I’ve made great friends in the sporting copy of The History Of Mr Polly by HG Wells many people, including Dominic West, world. I’m still addicted to all kinds of sport, and had a look at it, once. I then walked into who’ve come up and said it’s one of their though not to play. the drama department at Manchester, favourite films. I was so thrilled because I The other reason I didn’t go to the States in collared a bloke who was a drama lecturer didn’t know Dominic. I do now because he’s the early ’80s was because, at that time, no and said, ‘Have you got any ideas of what I become my new best friend. Those things other British actors - apart from Michael can do for you?’ are so meaningful. Caine, Sean Connery and possibly Roger You talk about serendipity, you talk about Moore - were really making a career in going through life and you talk about luck. Have you ever turned down a role and Hollywood. The actors who were there were There is luck, but I think you make your own. then later regretted it? playing villains or gays. They were playing I had gone in and asked the right bloke. I famously turned down Whose Line Is It the parts that the American actors didn’t want Some people wouldn’t even have gone in. Anyway?, which went on to be a huge, huge to play. Obviously, thirty, forty years later, They would’ve sat on their arses for a year or hit in the West End. I did turn down things have changed radically. Now the got a job on the local council, but I didn’t something in America, although I’m unsure if British actors are doing frightfully well. This want to do that. So I talked to this lecturer it was ever made. In the late ’70s, /early ’80s, certainly wasn’t the case when I was a young and he said he had contacts at three they asked me if I’d do a television series in actor. Nowadays nearly all of them are either theatres, Leatherhead, Colchester and Stoke. California of The Man Who Fell To Earth. That Irish or Scottish, which is interesting. I wrote letters, went to see all of them, and seemed thrilling, so we talked terms and the Franco Zeffirelli reckoned if he had his choice got offered a job at Stoke-on-Trent’s theatre deal was that I’d have to sign for five years. I he would always use British actors. He loves in the round. It turned out that the man I had said to my agent that there was no way I their work ethic. spoken to was Stephen Joseph, who’d could sign for five years. I was in the prime of invented theatre in the round and formed the my life and I didn’t want to do that. I wanted Finally, what advice would you give to Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough with to be able to move around and do other somebody who’s starting out in the my great and very close friend, Alan things. I didn’t want to be tied to something. profession? Ayckbourn. I had just picked, out of nowhere, Always do more than people expect. Never the right man to ask and ended up in the Did you ever consider upping sticks and do enough, always do more and go the extra totally right theatre. They offered me a job for moving over to the States? mile. Always learn your lines. I do see it a lot six weeks - three weeks rehearsal and three Yes, just after Jesus Of Nazareth. The reason in television, where the younger actors think weeks playing a spear carrier in King Lear. that we shot The Thirty Nine Steps when we they can learn them just before we shoot, in The director there then offered me a place in did, in mid-winter in Scotland, was because I make-up or whatever. Always know your the acting company and as an Assistant had to get out of the country before April lines because it is utterly insulting to other Stage Manager as well. Theatre in the round because Babs and I were moving to LA. But actors when you forget them. Always do is the perfect place to be because it’s we didn’t. Something came up which meant more than people expect. There’s so much essential. It has one five-letter word, which is it was preferable to stay here. Babs and I young talent around and I think it’s utterly truth, and if you’re not true then it doesn’t went to LA a few years ago and we spent thrilling. I’m the vice president of arts work. If you try to cheat, you’re just so quite a lot of time driving around. I turned to educational school. I go to see their end-of- exposed. Babs and said, “Thank God we didn’t move term shows and they take my breath away. here’. She said, ‘I’m so glad you said that, I On Holby we had such a high turnover of Looking back on your extensive and thought it was just me’. talent. Spotting it was great fun because I varied career, what would you say is your I don’t mind visiting, but I find the place was never wrong. Russell Tovey is a perfect best highlight? utterly oppressive. I don’t know what it is - . I spotted his talent when working That’s very, very difficult. I won the Best Actor maybe it’s the topography - but I don’t like with him on an early episode around award at Venice Film Festival thirty odd years Los Angeles. 2004/05. Look where he is now. He’s ago. It was one of the proudest moments of I’m terribly English and I love the country I become a very fine actor my life. The competition was tremendous. live in. I love all the things about it. I love . The Thirty Nine Steps will always be, for me, pubs and I’m very fond of cricket. If I look at The Thirty Nine Steps will always be, for me, one of the happiest times of my life.

Poirot (2014) Jesus Of Nazareth (1977) Holby City (2005 onwards)

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Bangla Beats Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Wed 26 August Offering lovers of Bangladeshi music the opportu- nity to check out some of the country’s most tal- ented musical artists, this is the biggest indoor bangla concert ever to be held in the UK. High-profile performers include Habib Wahid, whose music fuses a traditional Bengali folk sound with contemporary techno and urban beats, and Nazmun Munir Nancy, a singer well known in her native country for her TV jingles and contributions to numerous film scores.

Habib Wahid

Funeral For A Friend The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Sat 1 August Funeral For A Friend are a five-piece post-hardcore Tom Jones Betley Court Farm, Cheshire, Fri 14 August band from Wales. They’ve released six studio al- Tom maybe doesn't get quite as many pairs of ladies' knickers tossed in his general direc- bums, including Casually Dressed & Deep In Con- tion nowadays, but one thing that definitely hasn't changed is the depth, quality and reso- versation (2003) and Tales Don’t Tell Themselves nance of his truly incredible vocal. Jones here gives another no doubt powerhouse (2007). Their latest offering, Chapter And Verse - performance that's certain to be awash with greatest hits, from Swinging ’60s numbers released earlier this year - has been described by such as It's Not Unusual and What's New Pussycat? through to post-reinvention crackers promoters as ‘a raw and energetic effort that pro- like Sex Bomb. pels the band to a whole new level, whilst simulta- neously raising the bar for everyone else’. The Fratellis O2 Academy, Birmingham, Thurs 20 August Named after the criminal family in cult film The Goonies, The Fratellis have been on some- thing of a journey. After the release of their first two - Costello Music in 2006 and Here We Stand in 2008 - the band went their separate ways for a three-year period, dur- ing which time Jon and Mince tried out various group and solo projects and Barry joined Brummie boys The Twang. In 2013 the rock trio re-formed and released third We Need Medicine, which peaked at number twenty-six in the UK album charts - significantly lower than their previous two albums. The boys are now on the road again with a tour in support of new album Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied, released on the twenty-first of this month.

Chesney Hawkes Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Sun 9 - Mon 10 August Born into a musical family, Chesney Hawkes’ career began at nineteen, when he appeared as the title char- acter in the film Buddy's Song, alongside Roger Daltrey. In March 1991, he released his biggest single, The One And Only. The song has since become part of the soundtrack of a generation, still regularly featuring on radio playlists and compilations, and in DJ sets all over the world.

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sat 1 august 7pm dan page ...... fri 7 august 7pm heidi browne ...... sat 8 august 7pm michaela wylde ...... fri 14 august 7pm heidi browne ...... sat 15 august 8.30pm joe seagER ...... fri 21 august 7pm michaela wylde ......

Sat 22 august 7pm Amelia caesar ...... fri 28 august 7pm heidi & tom ...... sun 29 august 7pm dan page ......

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Music PREVIEWS Atif Aslam Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 29 August Multi-talented Bollywood singer, dancer and actor Atif Aslam has been making some big changes in his life of late, taking a break from his career, getting married and becoming a father. Perhaps most interestingly, he’s also felt compelled to leave his native Pakistan. He now lives in Dubai. “We have a lot of problems in Pakistan,” he recently told the country’s News On Sunday magazine. “We’re preachy, all of us, including myself. We have religion issues, we have po- litical issues - so we don’t know who we are. It was becoming very difficult because life isn’t easy here in Pakistan and I needed to remove myself from this cycle of negativity. I don’t want to add to the depression. I want to reduce it.” The Electric Swing Circus Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Sat 1 August The Electric Swing Circus are a talented six-piece fusing electro beats and 1920s swing. With an explosive sound that reverberates back through time, they hotfoot their way through every- thing from breakbeat and house to reggae and dubstep - and all in their own unique style. Their eponymous debut album was released in 2013 and was followed by a big year of festi- vals and international touring. A new album is in the pipeline for 2015. Catch them in Birming- ham as part of the regular Hot Club de Swing night. They perform alongside C@ in the H@, Screamin’ Miss Jackson & The Slap Ya’ Mama Big Band and Billy Chill Fingers.

The Stray Birds Levellers Stafford Gatehouse, Fri 21 August The Assembly, Leamington Spa, Wed 19 August Coco And The Butterfields Their website describes their sound as hav- Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 1 August ing been ‘drawn from the richness of Ameri- With numerous top-ten albums and singles CoCo And The Butterfields are a fip fok band can folk music traditions, spun with a stirring (not to mention plenty of sell-out concerts (a genre combining folk, pop and hip-hop) subtlety and grace’. No Depression maga- across Europe) to their name, the Levellers who formed in 2011. The Canterbury five- zine, meanwhile, reckons they’re ‘a band continue to hit all the right chords for a phe- piece, who’ve been described as ‘a colourful, destined for global success’, while Whisper- nomenal cross-section of people, from energetic and crowd-stomping group’, have ing Bob Harris expects them to be ‘elevated 'crusties' to students through anarcho punks earned plenty of critical acclaim for their per- into a kind of folk/bluegrass superstardom’. and hippies. This Warwickshire date finds the formances at Glastonbury, Isle Of Wight and The Stray Birds - well, two of them at least - Brighton-based folk-punk band airing songs Camp Bestival. came together in Pennsylvania in early 2010 from their most recent albums as well as rab- Expect a seriously entertaining evening. when a snowy winter offered plenty of oppor- ble-rousing favourites from the mists of time. tunity for Maya de Vitry and Oliver Craven to pool their creativity. Charles Muench came on board later and a full-length album fol- lowed, as did plenty of positive feedback.

Less Than Jake Kasbah, Coventry, Sat 1 August With a career spanning over twenty years, have secured their status as one of the most popular and loveable ska punk bands around. Their 1995 debut album, The Tubes Pezcore, was followed by Losing Streak The Robin, Bilston, Thurs 13 August (1996) and Hello Rockview (1998), both of When The Tubes toured the UK way back in The Stranglers which significantly increased the band’s ex- the 1970s, the risque nature of their show The Copper Rooms, Warwick University, posure. The boys have since released a fur- saw many of the gigs being cancelled by Coventry, Sat 15 August ther five albums, with 2003’s Anthem being local councils. their most commercially successful to date. It was all grist to the mill for the San Fran- Formed forty years ago, The Stranglers were cisco-based rockers, though, and generated major players in the instigation of the UK a level of publicity they might otherwise never scene, although later-career en- have achieved. deavours have seen them explore a variety of The band released their self-titled debut musical styles, including new wave, , album in 1975 and quickly established a rep- gothic rock and pop. utation as arch satirists. Vocalist Fee Way- Mainstream success came their way courtesy bill’s antics were the stand-out feature of their of 1982 single Golden Brown, with other no- live shows. A former roadie, Waybill adopted table hits including No More Heroes, a variety of personae from behind the micro- Peaches, Always The Sun and Skin Deep. phone, drug-addled British ‘glam rock’ star With twenty-plus UK top-forty singles and Quay Lewd being one of the most popular. seventeen top-forty albums to their name, Best remembered for 1983 single She’s A there’s plenty of great music to enjoy at any Beauty, they’re appearing in the Midlands as show they play. part of their fortieth anniversary tour.

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ham MusicGIG REVIEWS LISTINGS MICHAELA WYLDE Ha- Music vana Republic, Shrews- bury For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk For full listing information on gigs, SUN 9 AUG including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk CENTRAL ENGLAND CON- Rufus Wainwright CERT BAND Tamworth Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Academy, Birmingham Castle, Staffordshire Stratford-upon-Avon SAT 1 AUG TIM ERIKSEN As- THE SANDY DENNY SONG- sembly Rooms, Shrop- BOOK Kitchen Garden When it comes to the art of songwrit- QUILL The Robin, Bil- shire Cafe, Birmingham ing, Rufus Wainwright is quite the ston TREMBLING BELLS CHESNEY HAWKES Henry Renaissance man, taking on genres MATTHEW LONG The Pri- Kitchen Garden Cafe, Tudor House, Shrews- ory Theatre, Kenilworth bury as divergent as contemporary pop, Birmingham PHOENIX CALLING O2 THE WEDDING CRASHERS DERMOT HEGARTY Irish musical theatre, classical composition Academy, Birmingham The Jam House, Birm- Centre, Birmingham and opera in a recording career span- FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND ingham ning nearly thirty years. The Slade Rooms, SCOUT KILLERS, FILTHY MON 10 AUG Wolverhampton PALMS, BLAME FATE & Armed with only piano, acoustic gui- CHESNEY HAWKES Henry COCO AND THE BUTTER- BLITZKRIEG CITY The tar and the rich, mellifluous tones of a Tudor House, Shrews- FIELDS Artrix, Broms- Rainbow Venues, Birm- seasoned tenor voice, the ever-the- bury grove ingham atrical Canadian presented a set punctuated in equal parts by mo- EXTREME NOISE TERROR THE AVENGERS The Insti- ments of near-transcendent beauty (the brooding and wistful ballads The Asylum, B’ham tute, Birmingham THU 6 AUG DON BROCO This Love Affair and The Art Teacher being notable highlights) and REAL NIRVANA The The Sug- KATE VOEGELE AND armill, Stoke-on-Trent unadulterated whimsy - cue a cameo from Rufus’ half-sister Lucy Roadhouse, B’ham FRED ZEPPELIN The TYLER HILTON O2 Acad- Wainwright Roche as a bedraggled Liza Minnelli pursued by an irate Marr's Bar, Worcester emy, Birmingham TUE 11 AUG Judy Garland in drag! THE CHRISTIANS The RATTLESNAKE JAKE The BEUJERIA The Asylum, Jam House, B’ham Beginning the gig by launching headlong into a solo rendition of 1998 River Rooms, Stour- Birmingham hit Beauty Mark, Rufus truly mesmerised his audience as, one by one, bridge SNUFF The Assembly, familiar classics from his back-catalogue took on a renewed majesty JOHN ALTMAN & FRIENDS Leamington Spa HAILU MERGIA WITH WED 12 AUG all their own. He moved fluidly across some of his most confessional Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, B’ham PAWEŁ SZPURA & MIKE THE MIDDLE ONES, T- material, from Want - a homage to his own mum and dad (the great LESS THAN JAKE Kas- MAJKOWSKI The Tin SHIRT WEATHER & OKI- Loudon Wainwright the Third) - to cheerily upbeat classics like Out Of bah, Coventry Music & Arts, Coventry NAWA PICTURE SHOW Ort The Game and April Fools. RATTLESNAKE JAKE Katie GOODNIGHT LENIN Hare Cafe, Birmingham In a set by no means short of theatrical flourishes, notable highlights Fitzgerald's, Stour- & Hounds, Birmingham GOSPEL CENTRAL The included a richly sensuous rendition of the final aria from Rufus’ bridge Jam House, Birming- GROUPER The Jam FRI 7 AUG ham opera, Prima Donna, a mischievous outing of the chirpy Liza And Me House, Birmingham DON BROCO The Insti- MILLICENT STEPHENSON - a tongue-in-cheek nod to his album, Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie HOTWIRED Irish Centre, tute, Birmingham (SAXOPHONIST) WITH Hall - and a heartfelt rendition of the quietly self-reflective Montauk. Birmingham SKY CHILDREN The Sun- LIVE BAND. NOT JUST LEON The Rainbow Ven- flower Lounge, Birming- The pinnacle of the evening, however, came in the form of a special JAZZ II Crescent The- guest appearance from RSC Head of Music Bruce O’Neil and his or- ues, Birmingham ham THE ELECTRIC SWING atre, Birmingham chestra. They joined Rufus on stage to perform an exquisite arrange- GALLUS COOPER & CIRCUS Hare & Hounds, THU 13 AUG ment of Sonnet Number 29, part of Wainwright’s five-movement Birmingham SCOPYONS The Robin, sonnet suite set to music. MARCIA CARR & BRUCE Q Bilston THE TUBES The Robin, Hare & Hounds, Birm- GENERATIONS The Sug- Bilston Special mention too must go to Lucy Wainwright Roche, whose quirk- armill, Stoke-on-Trent ily offbeat charm was matched in equal parts by her soft Celtic vocal. ingham O2 DAN PAGE HAPPY MONDAZE The Academy, Birmingham Her and Rufus’ rendition of ’s Hallelujah was worth the Havana Re- public, Shrewsbury Roadhouse, B’ham TWIN HEART The Road- price of the ticket alone. Keeping it in the family has never sounded DEFINITELY MIGHTBE AND house, Birmingham so good. This was truly a virtuoso night of music. SUN 2 AUG ADORED The River DR FEELGOOD The Jam Rooms, Stourbridge Katherine Ewing nnnn House, Birmingham FIVE STAR SWING: THE DETROIT SOUL The Jam BREAK EVEN, LAND- BIG BAND Artrix, Broms- House, Birmingham SCAPES & ENDLESS grove THE BOOTLEG SIXTIES HEIGHTS The Institute, LIQUID BRASS Tamworth Festival Drayton Centre, Birmingham Castle, Staffordshire TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET Idina Menzel PAT JORDAN & FINIANS FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- The Slade Rooms, RAINBOW Irish Centre, tre, Birmingham Wolverhampton Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham TODDLA T Hare & JEDWARD Kasbah, Elphaba, Maureen Johnson, Queen STEVE HARRIS - BRITISH Hounds, Birmingham Coventry SLUM VILLAGE Hare & Elsa, Shelby Corcoran... Idina Menzel LION The Rainbow Ven- ues, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham FRI 14 AUG is many things to many people. And HARLEQUIN’S KISS, KO- HEIDI BROWNE Havana this could not be more apparent last MODO & ELLIE LEECH Republic, Shrewsbury DEFINITELY MIGHT BE night, performing to a packed crowd The Roadhouse, Birm- The Sugarmill, Stoke- of cheering, crying, singing musical- ingham SAT 8 AUG on-Trent TOM JONES Betley Court theatre-obsessed fans at the Sym- MON 3 AUG DETROIT SOUL The Jam Farm, Cheshire phony Hall in Birmingham. Opening House, Birmingham SOUL JUNCTION The with a rendition of show-stopping “De- TREMBLING BELLS The -2 The Robin, Bilston Robin, Bilston fying Gravity”, Idina waltzed onto Tin Music And Arts, KICK UP THE 80'S The ROMANS The Sunflower stage wearing a strapless, black boho dress and some high wedges Coventry Roadhouse, B’ham Lounge, Birmingham THE WEEKEND ANTHEMS which she soon kicked off as things warmed up. Talking about her in- DEFINITELY MIGHTBE The TUE 4 AUG The River Rooms, Sugarmill, Stoke-on- credible career, the people who have made a difference to her work- Stourbridge Trent ing and personal life, she paid tribute to her own idols – Ethel DEATH ANGEL The Slade PAT BRESLIN Irish Cen- SKABUCKS The Road- Merman, Johnathan Larson, her music teacher at college, her little Rooms, Wolverhamp- tre, Birmingham house, Birmingham ton boy, and we, her adoring fans. Although the rumours circulating REVOLVER & THE PURPLE THE GUNS N' ROSES EX- THE TERRORSAURS, DEAD SHADES The Rainbow about her voice being shot after years of belting out Wicked songs PERIENCE The River FLOWERS & THE UNDER- Venues, Birmingham Rooms, Stourbridge appeared to be true – she struggled with a few of those top, iconic TAKERS The Rainbow SULK, BLACK HONEY & HANNAH BROWN & KATE notes that she is so famous for hitting, it quite simply did not matter. Venues, Birmingham TABLE SCRAPS Hare & WILKINS Ort Cafe, Birm- Her humour, warmth and wit won over the crowd in an instant. “Take WILLIE WATSON Hare & Hounds, Birmingham ingham Hounds, Birmingham Me Or Leave Me” made it’s way into the crowd, with several ballsy THE DESTROYERS Hare & SOLID SOUL The Jam members of the audience singing alongside her, and by the time we’d Hounds, Birmingham House, Birmingham WED 5 AUG UNDERGROUND OCEAN SEEKING DAYLIGHT O2 all sung “No Day But Today”, the finale “Let It Go” and the encore O2 Academy, Birming- Academy, Birmingham track which she had written for her son, her voice had warmed into MORDRED The Asylum, ham ILL PHIL, X5 DUBS & the effortless, staggering heights where it belongs. A truly stunning, Birmingham TRIP Katie Fitzgerald’s, DONKIE PUNCH The But- inspirational, and talented woman. BAD RELIGION The Insti- Stourbridge termarket, Shrewsbury tute, Birmingham Jessica Aston MY NU LENG The Rain- MILESTONE EXPRESS nnnn HOLLYWOOD ENDING O2 bow Venues, Birming- 16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Music August Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 16:58 Page 6

Irish Centre, B’ham ingham JOHNNY 2 BAD & LEGEND Don Broco - The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent & The Institute, Birmingham JAZZIE B Hare & The Robin, Bilston Hounds, Birmingham TUE 18 AUG AMINGTON BAND Tam- PUNK’D Katie Fitzger- worth Castle, Stafford- ald’s, Stourbridge NERVOSA The Asylum, shire WARS, PROLONG THE Birmingham THE CONCESSIONS Birch- AGONY & RISE OF ATHENA meadow Centre, Brose- The Assembly, Leam- WED 19 AUG ley, Shropshire ington Spa TEN STRINGS AND A GOAT HEIDI BROWNE Havana YOUNGBLOOD BRASS SKIN Huntingdon Hall, Republic, Shrewsbury BAND Hare & Hounds, Worcester Birmingham SILVERCHILD The Sug- SAT 15 AUG LEVELLERS The Assem- armill, Stoke-on-Trent bly, Leamington Spa LIZZIE AND THE BAN- SOLID SOUL The Jam THE SPOOKY MEN'S SHEES The Roadhouse, House, Birmingham CHORALE Ludlow As- Birmingham BON GIOVI The Robin, sembly Rooms, Shrop- THE DECADES BAND The Bilston shire River Rooms, Stour- QUILL Artrix, Broms- STEVE AJAO BLUES GI- bridge grove ANTS The Jam House, SMART CASUAL, SHARKS TOTAL ACCESS LIVE Bet- Birmingham VS BEARS, WAIT FOR THE THE STEVE GIBBONS MARCIA GRIFFITHS & ley Court Farm, FALL & NO TOMORROW HUGH CORNWELL Artrix, BAND The Roadhouse, FRIENDS WITH BOB ANDY, Cheshire THU 20 AUG O2 Academy, B’ham Bromsgrove Birmingham JUDY MOWATT, TANYA SWORN TO OATH The MR PRESIDENT Irish Cen- CHICK FLIX The River REMODE The Robin, Bil- GIN ANNIE The River STEPHENS, RICHIE SPICE Sugarmill, Stoke-on- tre, Birmingham Rooms, Stoubridge ston & 809 BAND Trent THE DRIVE, HIVE, FAITH, Rooms, Stourbridge O2 Acdemy, LUKE DANIELS Kitchen SLIM JIM PHANTOM OF TANG THE STRANGLERS The AMONST THE PEOPLE & Ort Cafe, B’ham Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham THE STRAY CATSO2 B'SPOKE The Jam THE THREE BELLES Upton Copper Rooms, Coven- FRINGE The Rainbow LIEFEST featuring; Lob- Academy, Birmingham House, Birmingham House & Gardens, War- try Venues, Birmingham ster, Broken Witt THAT'LL BE THE DAY FLASH BACK FRIDAY WITH wickshire MENTALLICA The Road- THE TELFORDAIRES Mar- Rebels, Dirty Old Folk- Wolverhampton Grand PAUL KELLYIrish Centre, VOICE OF THE HEART - house, Birmingham ket Square, Wellington, ers, Barnsey & Tom Theatre Birmingham KAREN CARPENTER Hunt- U2 360 O2 Academy, Shropshire Forbes The Actress & THE SPOOKY MEN'S DJ MISMATCH Hare & ingdon Hall, Worcester Birmingham STRAIGHT ACES Katie Bishop, B’ham CHORALE mac, Birming- Hounds, Birmingham THE COMMANDMENTS THE NICK ROSS ORCHES- Fitzgerald’s, Stour- DJ HYPE Alfie Bird's, ham HEIDI & TOM Havana Re- The River Rooms, TRA: SOUNDS OF THE bridge Birmingham THE FRATELLIS O2 Acad- public, Shrewsbury Stourbridge GLENN MILLER ERA The SYMPHONY STATEThe RICHY AHMED & PATRICK emy, Birmingham MELLOW PEACHES & Swan Theatre, Worces- Tin Music & Arts, TOPPING The Rainbow JOYCE SIMS The Jam CHRIS CLEVERLEY Ort ter Coventry SAT 29 AUG Venues, Birmingham House, Birmingham ONE STOP BOOGIE - 70S V BASSMAN BIRTHDAY Cafe, Birmingham JONNY CRAIG The Rain- PEGA MONSTRO The Tin B'SPOKE The Jam THE HURLING BOYS Irish 80S The River Rooms, BASS The Institute, bow Venues, B’ham Music & Arts, Coventry House, Birmingham Centre, Birmingham Stoubridge Birmingham ELROW - ROWSHOW SAM- BLACK JACK DAVEY Irish CHRIS TYE The Brew- DAN PAGE Havana Re- BODROMO DO BRASIL Centre, Birmingham FRI 21 AUG SUN 23 AUG house Arts Centre, Bur- public, Shrewsbury The Rainbow Venues, PETE DORLING Hare & ton upon Trent Birmingham THE STRAY BIRDS T.REXTASYThe Robin, Hounds, Birmingham DEERHOOF The Rainbow SUN 30 AUG Stafford Gatehouse Bilston ANDY ISHERWOOD Sym- Venues, Birmingham Theatre GEHTIKA phony Hall, Birmingham FALLEN & WIZARDS OF OZ O2 Academy, THE DOORS ALIVE The WHO'S WHO The Robin, Birmingham 3 IN A BAR JAZZ BAND The Robin, Bilston Robin, Bilston Bilston Market Square, Welling- INTRIGUE IN TANGIERS BAILEY MCCONNELL O2 ton, Shropshire Kitchen Garden Cafe, Academy, Birmingham NOTORIOUS BROTHERS Birmingham BUDAPEST CAFE ORCHES- Katie Fitzgerald’s, JOHN MCNICHOLL Irish Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands TRA Huntingdon Hall, Stourbridge Centre, Birmingham CLIVE HENRY, ALEX Worcester ABBA - SWEDE DREAMZ Birmingham Black Country Staffordshire ARNOUT & EAST END The River Rooms, WED 26 AUG CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON DUBS The Rainbow Ven- 02 ACADEMY FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK Stourbridge 0121 622 8250 0870 320 7000 01538 386112 ues, Birmingham NO DEVOTION The Sug- RANDOM HAND THE ACTRESS & BISHOP FOREST ARTS CENTRE MARK RADFORD & NIGHT- The armill, Stoke-on-Trent LICHFIELD GUILDHALL Marr's Bar, Worcester 0121 236 7426 01922 654555 01543 262223 SHIFT The Rainbow BANGLA BEATS Barclay- ROCKET The Jam ALFIE BIRD’S NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY Venues, Birmingham card Arena, B’ham House, Birmingham 0121 270 6665 01902 572090 STOKE-ON-TRENT SAFONE The Institute, ERIC MARTIN The Insti- THU 27 AUG THE ASYLUM ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01159 454 593 Birmingham 0121 233 1109 01902 401211 TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS RAY HURLEY & CHRIS tute, Birmingham MOTOWN AND SOUL JOHN OTWAY BAND The BARCLAYCARD ARENA SLADE ROOMS 01827 709618 BASS Alfie Bird’s, Birm- WOLVERHAMPTON NIGHT WITH DJ PAUL Robin, Bilston 0121 780 4141 VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY ingham 0870 320 7000 KELLY Irish Centre, DEL CAMINO The Jam BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 0870 060 6649 JOE SEAGAR Havana Re- STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL Birmingham House, Birmingham 0121 780 3333 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE public, Shrewsbury 01384 812812 MATT WOOSEY The Tin MARTYN JOSEPH Katie FLAPPER 01785 619080 0121 236 2421 WULFRUN HALL, Music & Arts, Coventry Fitgerald’s, Stourbridge WOLVERHAMPTON SUN 16 AUG MICHAELA WYLDE Ha- GENTING ARENA 0870 320 7000 Warwickshire 0121 780 4141 CLOUD ATLAS The Robin, vana Republic, Shrews- FRI 28 AUG THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON THE GLEE CLUB 0871 220 0260 Bilston bury Shropshire DEFINITELY MIGHTBE AND 0871 472 0400 LITTLE JIMMY Irish Cen- BIRCHMEADOW, THE KASBAH, COVENTRY ADORED The Robin, Bil- HARE & HOUNDS 01952 882210 024 7655 4473 tre, Birmingham SAT 22 AUG 0121 444 2081 ston THE BUTTERMARKET, NAILCOTE HALL, ROCKET The Jam RYLEY WALKER The THE INSTITUTE SHREWSBURY BERKSWELL MON 17 AUG House, Birmingham Rainbow Venues, Birm- 0121 643 0428 01743 281712 02476 46 6174 THE AND FINALLY BIG ingham IRISH CENTRE THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, STRATFORD CIVIC HALL THE COOL BROTHERS 0121 622 2314 BAND The Swan The- COLD FIELDS The Rain- 01789 207100 Crescent Theatre, Birm- 01952 728911 atre, Worcester bow Venues, B’ham THE JAM HOUSE THE TIN MUSIC & ARTS, 0121 200 3030 HAVANA REPUBLIC COVENTRY THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE SHREWSBURY 024 7623 0699 0121 443 4725 01743 281744 THE OOBLECK HENRY TUDOR HOUSE Worcestershire SHREWSBURY 0121 270 6665 ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE 01743 361666 THE RAINBOW 01527 577330 0121 772 8174 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 01743 234970 HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN RED LION FOLK CLUB THEATRE 01905 611427 0121472 4253 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS 01584 878141 MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER THE ROADHOUSE 01905 613336 0121 246 2273 THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY THE RIVER ROOMS, ROUTE 44 01743 281281 STOURBRIDGE 0121 708 0108 01384 397177 THE PLACE, , THE SUNFLOWER LOUNGE TELFORD 0121 632 6756 01952 382382 SYMPHONY HALL TOWN HALL For additional information 0121 780 3333 01939 232299 and to find out What’s On at these venues. Youngblood Brass Band - Hare & Hounds Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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PREVIEWS The National Youth Wind Classical Music Orchestra Of Great Britain Birmingham Conservatoire, Sat 8 August This summer concert sees the NYWO make its Adrian Boult debut, presenting a varied programme of works by internation- al composers. Under the leadership of Dr Matthew J George, the UK-wide orchestra present Camille Saint-Saens’ Occident And Orient, David Maslanka’s Give Us This Day, Kit Turnbull’s Scene From Childhood, David Stanhope’s The Little Ripper March, Philip Sparke’s A Savannah Symphony and Michael Markowski’s As Midnight On A Moonless Night. With Sir Simon Rattle as its patron, the orchestra brings together young musicians from all walks of life to develop their musi- cal skills in a safe and musically rich envi- ronment. Regular courses facilitated by professional tutors give access to interna- tionally renowned conductors. Working with contemporary composers on new commissions has allowed NYWO to per- form with a host of leading international soloists. Commenting on the orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle said: “The National Youth Wind Orchestra consists of some of the finest young wind players in the country. The Sir Mark Elder & The National Youth Orchestra Of Great Britain future of music lies in the hands of young Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 7 August players such as these. We should all do Chief Conductor with the Halle, Mark Elder this month leads the UK’s largest symphony orches- our best to ensure that everyone con- tra as part of the Birmingham International Concert Season 2014/15. cerned with this tremendous orchestra is The performance opens with Re-greening, a new commission by Tansy Davies which cele- given help and encouragement, financial brates the season of Spring. Written especially for the NYO, it’s performed without a conductor or otherwise, to continue with this reward- and completely from memory. Tansy is one of the UK’s most inventive contemporary com- ing and worthwhile work in music educa- posers, writing music which has been described as having ‘a visual quality that engulfs the tion.” senses’. The winner of the 1996 BBC Young Composers’ Competition, she’s since been com- Following its Birmingham date, the orches- missioned to produce work for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Orchestra of the tra heads to London to perform an after- Swan, the Cheltenham Festival, the BBC, the Aldeburgh Festival, City of London Sinfonia and noon concert at St John’s Smith Square on CBSO Youth Orchestra, to name but a few. 9 August. The evening’s second offering is Mahler’s beautifully uplifting Symphony No.6.

SIR MARK ELDER AND THE David Maslanka, Kit LISTINGS NATIONAL YOUTH Turnbull, David Stan- Classical ORCHESTRA OF GREAT hope, Philip Sparke & BRITAIN Fri 7 Aug, Sym- Michael Markowski, Sat phony Hall, Birmingham 8 Aug, Adrian Boult For full listing information on classical HUW WIGGIN (SAXO- Hall, Birmingham Con- concerts, including times and dates, PHONE) & JAMES SHER- servatoire visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk LOCK (PIANO) Pro- ORGAN PROMS WITH GERT gramme includes works VAN HOEF Sat 15 Aug, HARTWIG BARTE-HANSSEN RETORICA Featuring Har- by Schumann, Piazzol- Victoria Hall, Stoke-on- ORGAN CONCERT Sat 1 riet Mackenzie & Philip- la, Rachmaninov & Trent Aug, St. Mary’s Church, pa Mo (violins). Pro- Bernstein, Fri 7 Aug, Sun 16 Aug, Warwick gramme includes works School, Betley Court Farm, Collabro NATIONAL SCOUT & GUIDE by Telemann, Wieniaws- South Shropshire Cheshire Betley Court Farm, Cheshire, ki, Mozart, Bach, THE NATIONAL YOUTH JONATHAN SCOTT ORGAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sun 16 August 40TH ANNIVERSARY CON- Prokofiev & Handel, arr. WIND ORCHESTRA OF CONCERT Sun 16 Aug, CERT Sat 1 Aug, Adrian Halvorsen, Mon 3 Aug, GREAT BRITAIN Pro- The Buttermarket, Since winning last year’s Britain’s Got Tal- Boult Hall, Birmingham Church Stretton School, gramme includes works Shrewsbury ent, Collabro have earned themselves an Conservatoire South Shropshire by Camille Saint-Saens, PENNY WEEDON’S KEY- impressive following with their musical the- BOARD ORCHESTRA Pro- atre renditions. This outdoor concert fol- gramme includes works by Debussy, Elgar, lows hot on the heels of the group’s thirty- Holst, Wagner, Strauss, two-date tour and the release of their high- Addinsell & Grieg ly successful debut album, Stars. (Piano Concerto), Fri 28 Aug, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester HARRIET AMOS Pro- gramme features works by Debussy, Albeniz, Chopin, Mozart & Scar- latti, Fri 28 Aug, Hunt- ingdon Hall, Worcester ANTHONY HAMMOND ORGAN RECITAL Mon 31 Aug, All Saints’ Church, Leamington Spa

Retorica - Church Stretton School, South Shropshire

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Angie McEvoy Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, Weds 12 August “After three years of studying Performing Arts,” says Angie McEvoy by way of explaining her route into comedy, “I abandoned my original ambition of being Watford’s answer to when I discovered stand-up comedy and realised how much fun being sarcastic to drunk people could be.” Since her epiphany, Angie’s wasted no time in hon- ing that sarcasm - and judging by her widespread popularity, the ‘drunk people’ have very much enjoyed her doing so.

Joe Pasquale The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Shropshire, Sat 8 August; Lichfield Garrick, Sun 9 August Blue Orange Comedy Nights The stand-up equivalent of the Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 10 & Mon 17 August Naked Gun movies - if you don’t Comedy nights are always entertaining. Either you get a good line-up like this joke, there’ll be another of cocky, confident performers who know how to handle their materi- one along in a second - squeaky- al, their audience and any number of hecklers, or you get comedians voiced laughter merchant Joe who end up dying a slow death right before your very eyes... Pasquale here makes a welcome There's not much chance of that happening with the little lot who take return to the Midlands with a show to the stage for these particular comedy gigs, though. that's sure to delight his legion of LouDeemY Soup (pictured) - featuring both new and established acts fans. Joe's been big business since - takes place on the second Monday of the month, and Box Of Frogs he won ITV1's I'm A Celebrity, Get - an evening of improvisational fun - on the third. And what’s more, Me Out Of Here! a few years back, with one evening pay what you can and the other free, you’ve got and has more than once showed good reason to smile even before anyone cracks a joke. his pulling power in the region by putting plenty of bums on seats during a couple of panto runs.

Club, Birmingham ZOE LYONS, ANDY WHITE, Comedy LISTINGS ANDY ROBINSON & ANDREW STANLEY Sat 22 PETER BRUSH, JONNY Featuring new and Aug, The Glee Club, AWSUM, MICKEY D & established acts, Mon Birmingham ERICH MCELROY Sat 1 10 Aug, The Blue Aug, Jongleurs Orange Theatre, Zoe Lyons Comedy Club, B’ham Birmingham TOM DEACON, ANDY ANGIE MCEVOY & ASKINS, STEVE BUGEJA & MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed SIMON BLIGH Sat 1 Aug, 12 Aug, Kitchen The Glee Club, Garden Cafe, Birmingham Birmingham , TOM DEACON, MANDY GARETH RICHARDS, PETE KNIGHT, STEVE GRIBBIN & BECKLEY & DAVE CHRIS MCCAUSLAND Fri WILLIAMS Thurs 6 Aug, 14 - Sat 15 Aug, COMEDY IN THE MET The George Hotel, Jongleurs Comedy Line up tbc, Sat 22 Lichfield Club, Birmingham Aug, Stafford CRAIG MURRAY & ANDY LOL COMEDY CLUB Gatehouse Theatre ROBINSON WITH COMEDY Each show features JUNIOR SIMPSON, CAROUSEL & COMIC TBC three comics & MC ANDREW STANLEY & Thurs 6 Aug, The Glee Damion Larkin, Sat 15 ANDY ROBINSON WITH Club, Birmingham Aug, Regent Theatre, COMEDY CAROUSEL DAVID LONGLEY, TIM Stoke-on-Trent Thurs 27 Aug, The Glee CLARK, PAUL MYREHAUG TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Club, Birmingham & BARRY CASTAGNOLA Mon 17 Aug, The Blue STEFANO PAOLINI, Fri 7 - Sat 8 Aug Orange Theatre, TREVOR COOK, NICK PAGE Jongleurs Comedy Birmingham & BARRY DODDS Club, Birmingham ZOE LYONS, ANDY WHITE Fri 28 - Sat 29 Aug CRAIG MURRAY, BRYAN & ANDY ROBINSON WITH Jongleurs Comedy LACEY, SUSAN MURRAY & COMEDY CAROUSEL Club, Birmingham INDER MANOCHA Fri 7 - Thurs 20 Aug, The Glee JUNIOR SIMPSON, Sat 8 Aug, The Glee Club, Birmingham ANDREW STANLEY, DAN Club, Birmingham ZOE LYONS, ANDY WHITE, EVANS & PAUL JAMES Fri JOE PASQUALE Sat 8 ANDY ROBINSON & 28 - Sat 29 Aug, The Aug, The Place, MAGNUS BETNER Fri 21 Glee Club, B’ham Oakengates Theatre, Aug, The Glee Club, CLINT EDWARDS, MIKE Telford, Shropshire Birmingham BUBBINS, NICK DIXON & JOE PASQUALE Sun 9 GARETH BERLINER, STE SOL BERNSTEIN Sat 29 Aug, Lichfield Garrick PORTER & CRAIG MURRAY Aug, The Glee Club, LOUDEEMY SOUP Fri 21 - Sat 22 Aug Hanley, Stoke-onTrent COMEDY NIGHT Jongleurs Comedy

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a true theatrical spectacle that’s impressively superior to the film “ which inspired it. I urge you to go see for yourself. HHHHH What’s On Magazine, April 2015 ”

The Bodyguard Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 5 August - Sat 5 September Alexandra Burke stars as Rachel Maron in this award-winning musical ship; neither expects to fall in love... based on the blockbusting 1990s Hollywood movie starring Kevin Featuring classic numbers including One Moment In Time, I Wanna Costner and Whitney Houston. Dance With Somebody and the legendary I Will Always Love You, the When ex-Secret Service agent Frank Farmer is hired to protect super- show received mixed reviews from the critics when it opened in 2012 star Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker, sparks soon begin to fly but has proved to be a real hit with its audiences. between the pair. Each expects to hold the whip-hand in the relation- Read the review online at whatsonlive.co.uk

Othello Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Fri 28 August Shakespeare’s tragic tale of lost handkerchiefs, ruined repu- tations and mistreated wives has always been one of the theatre’s most powerful stories. When the malevolent Iago believes himself to have been overlooked for promotion by Othello, his Machiavellian mind turns to thoughts of vengeance. Othello’s willingness to be led by the nose is all grist to Iago’s mill, and fatal conse- quences ensue... Holby City's Hugh Quarshie returns to the RSC to play the title role, with Lucian Msamati as Iago and Joanna Vander- ham as Desdemona.

Valmiki Pratibha mac, Birmingham, Sun 30 August This new production of Rabindranath Tagore's famous opera arrives in the Mid- lands after earning positive reviews in London, Manchester and Liverpool. It was written in the late nineteenth century and tells the story of a blood-thirsty bandit named Ratnakar. Renouncing his life of violence, the bandit transforms into the pious sage Valmiki, the first millennium BC author of Ramayana, an epic poem hailed as one of the greatest ever works of Indian literature.

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Theatre PREVIEWS Dogfight Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 5 - Sun 16 August This amateur show is a musical adaptation of the 1991 film of the same name and finds six young Marines determined to enjoy them- selves before heading off to join the Vietnam war. The Marines engage in a ‘dogfight’, a tradition which sees each of them trying to outmanoeuvre the others by taking along the ugliest girl they can find to a party. But the rules of the game are changed dramatically when Private Eddie Birdlace meets Rose...

Love Me Tender New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 24 - Sat 29 August Award-winning singer and platinum-selling artist Mica takes top billing alongside Shaun Williamson in this brand new homage to the music of . Penned by Tony Award- winning Joe DiPietro, the show is described as ‘a funny and moving tale of hope, second Sparrows In A Hat chances and the healing qualities of rock’n’roll’. The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Needless to say, the soundtrack offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy some ‘Elvis the Pelvis’- Thurs 20 - Sat 22 August style hip-swivelling fun in the aisles, with classic songs such as The Devil In Disguise, Hound Be warned: Steve Farr’s play about ‘two fifty- Dog, Blue Suede Shoes and Heartbreak Hotel all featuring. year-olds desperately seeking real love in a world that seems to have something against them’ features scenes of both a violent and Talking Heads starring Absent Friends sexual nature and includes language which Stephanie Cole Malvern Theatre, Wed 19 - Sat 22 August; some may find offensive. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 3 - Sat 5 Malvern Theatre, Mon 24 - Sat 29 August The show deals with some heavyweight sub- September ject matter too, including abuse, addiction Alan Bennett’s darkly comic monologues Alan Ayckbourn will always be best known and violent assault. brilliantly exemplify the playwright’s ability to for his tales of bedhopping couples, dysfunc- That said, it also features quite a lot of danc- dig deep beneath the surface of his charac- tional marriages and backfiring friendships, ing, Esperanto and a cheese obsession, so ters and unearth their various levels of emo- the most famous among which are 1970s award-winning playwright Farr is confident tional and psychological turmoil. offerings such as Absurd Person Singular, he’s providing something for everyone! This particular evening of Bennett magic Season’s Greetings, Bedroom Farce and The Performed in the round, the production is stars Stephanie Cole and comprises three Norman Conquests. Perhaps slightly less presented by highly rated theatre company hilarious yet heartbreaking pieces, present- well known but very much in the same Second Thoughts. ing portraits of people that are often quirky, mould is this 1974 comedy, which sees sometimes awkward but always quintessen- unfulfilled housewife Diana’s well-intentioned tially English. tea party taking several turns for the worse A Chip In The Sugar finds middle-aged Gra- before ultimately descending into complete ham’s life with his mother threatened by the chaos. appearance of an old flame. A Lady Of Let- ters, meanwhile, focuses on the curtain- twitching Irene, a woman always eager to speak (or rather, write) her mind, while A Cream Cracker Under The Settee beautifully illustrates how an obsession with housework leads to one woman’s downfall.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 8 August; Roses As You Like It Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun 2 August Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sun 23 Accessible language, likeable characters, August; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Tues 25 romantic liaisons, magical creatures and a August series of comical caperings with an ass are 42nd Street This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of here combined to excellent effect in one of Gloucestershire-based touring theatre com- Shakespeare’s most popular works. New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 12 - Sat 15 August pany The Festival Players - and what better Lysander and Demetrius both fancy Hermia, way to celebrate than with one of Shake- Helena’s sitting on the shelf, Titania and Based on the 1933 movie of the same name speare’s most likeable comedies. Oberon are up to no good, and Puck’s got which, in turn, was based on the novel by For those not in the know, As You Like It his finger in more pies than Mr Kipling. Add Bradford Ropes, 42nd Street tells the inspir- revolves around the character of Rosalind, into the mix a group of rude mechanicals ing story of small-town Peggy Sawyer's rise banished by her usurping uncle to the Forest and the recipe for success is pretty much from chorine to Broadway star. Of Arden, where her exiled father is already complete... This particular staging is present- Songs include Lullaby Of Broadway, We're In living. Revelling in the naturalness of their ed by north Worcestershire-based touring The Money, Shuffle Off To Buffalo, Keep surroundings, Rosalind and her companions company Madcap Productions, who spe- Young And Beautiful, I Only Have Eyes For - cousin Celia and Touchstone the fool - find cialise in presenting classical and historically You and, of course, the spectacular title num- a happiness they hadn’t known existed. based theatre to contemporary audiences. ber itself.

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BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, AUGUST LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE 2015

Saturday 1st August Friday 7th August Friday 7th August COCO AND THE MY PET MONSTER ZADIE SMITH BUTTERFIELDS & ME COLOURFUL, ENERGETIC & FAMILY FUN SHOW FROM TALK FROM THE RENOWNED CROWD-STOMPING BLUNDERBUS NOVELIST

Saturday 8th August Saturday 15th August Sunday 30th August A MIDSUMMER QUILL HUGH CORNWELL NIGHT’S DREAM MADCAP’S VERSION OF THE WITH SPECIAL GUEST SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR SHAKESPEARE CLASSIC BEV BEVAN FROM THE STRANGLERS FRONTMAN

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: The Spongebob Movie (U) // Minions (U) // Mr Holmes (PG) Queen & Country (15) // Song Of The Seas (PG) // Spy (15)

FORTHCOMING SCREENINGS: Othello (RSC Live) // The Beaux’ Stratagem (NT Live) Aida (Opera Australia) // Romeo & Juliet (Royal Ballet Live) // Roger Waters’ The Wall - Encore Coriolanus (NT Live) // Le Nozze di Figaro (ROH Live) // Hamlet (NT Live) // Henry V (RSC Live) The Barber Of Seville (ENO Live) Download the Artrix brochure on www.artrix.co.uk www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site

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Theatre PREVIEWS That’ll Be The Day Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 20 August That’ll Be The Day is a musical romp through rock’n’roll history - from its birth in the 1950s, through the vibrant era of the Swinging ’60s and on into the taste-free decade of the 1970s. In the process, the production takes a look at the attendant dance and fashion crazes - and just for good measure throws in some entertaining spoofs on the great fig- ures of the rock era. Pure unashamed fun, the show is here cele- brating its thirtieth anniversary.

Twelfth Night Shrewsbury Castle, Tues 11 August; Ludlow OId Rep, Birmingham, Wed 19 - Thurs 20 August Millennium Green, South Shropshire, Wed 2 Pongo’s Party September Real-life husband-and-wife team Martin Parsons (Playdays Live, Sooty’s Magic Castle) and As with many Shakespearean comedies, Kate Ashmead (Tweenies, Thomas & Friends Live) are the creators and presenters of this Twelfth Night is based on a case of mistaken interactive family show aimed at children between the ages of two and seven. identity, with Viola disguising herself as a boy Bringing together songs, games and the voice of Justin Fletcher (aka CBeebies’ Mr Tumble) and causing all sorts of awkward romantic as Pongo the Pig, the production is set in what Martin describes as ‘a vibrant, colourful and shenanigans. The play is made by the sub- imaginative farmyard that’s home to a whole host of loveable puppet characters’. plot, in which the merciless Sir Toby Belch “We’ve always been committed to producing top quality, live entertainment that can reach as and his foolish companion Sir Andrew wide an audience as possible,” says Martin. “and this show has everything that children could Aguecheek seek to humiliate the pompous ever want at a party.” Malvolio - an aim they achieve with more than a little style... This particular staging is presented by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Founded in 2004, The Tempest Pride And Prejudice they’re named after Shakespeare’s original Severn Valley Country Park, Nr , Attingham Park, Shrewsbury, Fri 14 August; troupe of travelling players. Shropshire, Fri 14 August; Witley Court, Berrington Hall, Leominster, Wed 19 August Worcestershire, Sat 15 August; Stokesay Castle, Nr , South Shropshire, Elegant Georgian settings and wonderful Thurs 27 August; Wenlock Priory, Much Wen- comic characters abound in this stage adap- lock, South Shropshire, Sat 29 August tation of Jane Austen's famous romantic Rain Or Shine Theatre Company are the novel. The foolish and marriage-obsessed troupe behind this outdoor staging of Shake- Mrs Bennet is relentless in her pursuit of suit- speare’s final play. able men for her five daughters to marry, her The Tempest is a tale of love and politics, increasingly desperate quest generating all revolving around the magical figure of Pros- manner of muddle and mayhem in the pero and the characters that inhabit his process... This much-loved and oft-per- enchanted island. They include the supernat- formed story is here presented by young the- ural Ariel - a flighty spirit and faithful servant atre company The Pantalloons who fuse a to Prospero - and Caliban, grotesque slave variety of popular theatre traditions including and native of the mystical island. commedia dell’arte and stand-up comedy to When a royal band of seafarers are ship- bring a sense of play to classical works. Accidental Death wrecked on the island, it isn’t long before Of An Anarchist strange things begin to happen... Tere Mere Nakhry The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Tues 18 - Wed 19 August The Drum, Birmingham, Sun 2 August The Arts Centre Telford (TACT), producers of The topical issues of domestic violence, this latest version of Nobel Prize-winning female harassment, child abuse and discrimi- Dario Fo’s much-loved farce, are advising nation come under the microscope in this audiences that they’ll head for home at the thoughtful and thought-provoking work of end of the evening both ‘enlightened and theatre. Blending humour and drama to amused’ - which won’t be a bad return on a excellent effect, the play looks in on the night at the theatre... world of Mrs Shamim, a widow who’s remar- The play is based on the real-life events sur- ried and lives a traditional Asian life. Mean- rounding the death of Italian railwayman and while, her elder son, Ahsan, has embraced anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli, who, in 1969, the British way of living, rejecting the possi- either fell or was thrown from the fourth floor bility of an arranged marriage in favour of window of a Milan police station. marrying for love...

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TRES TRES CABARET THE MET STUDIO Fri 31 July Très Très Cabaret promises to AUTUMN HIGHLIGHTS bring you the most extravagant variety show to the secluded inti- 2 September, 12.30pm macy of The MET Studio. Featur- ing the hottest performers from Literature at Lunchtime with the international cabaret scene to 18+ Dr Jane – Earnest Hemmingway’s surprise and delight you. Dress to 8pm, £15 The Old Man and the Sea impress and join us for an evening of glitz, glamour and so much more. Get your tickets now for the Tickets: £6 show that is yet again set to be the talk of the town.

WIZARD OF OZ 3 September, 8pm GATEHOUSE THEATRE Sam Sweeney’s Fiddle Made in the Great War Wed 5 - Sat 8 Tickets: £15adv, £17otd August Put a smile on everyone's face and join Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Summer School for 25 September, 8pm the magical musical The Wiz- O’Hooley & Tidow ard of Oz. Summat’s Brewin’ Featuring the iconic the songs Micro Tour Over The Rainbow, Munchkin- land (Ding Dong! The Witch Is Tickets: £10 Dead, We're Off To See The 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Wizard (Follow The Yellow Brick £10/£9 concs Road) and many more that the whole family will be singing along to. 2 October, 8pm Chris Ramsey - TREE FU TOM AllSOLD Growed OUTUp GATEHOUSE THEATRE Tickets: £17.50 Fri 21 & Sat 22 August 7 October, 12.30pm The world of Treetopolis comes to Stafford as we invite Literature at Lunchtime with you to do Tree Fu and help Dr Jane – Thomas Hardy’s Tom save the day! This brand Tess of the D’Urbervilles new show, packed with adven- Tickets: £6 ture, fun, music and participa- tion, sees Tom take the stage in his first nationwide tour - be Fri 21 1pm & 3.30pm, Sat 22 part of the magic. 11am. £12.50/£10.50/£42 fam 8 October, 8.00pm Mark Thomas - MET COMEDY Tresspass THE MET STUDIO Tickets: £15, £10 conc Sat 22 August Bringing you the very best in live comedy from around the country, 15 October, 8.00pm The MET Studio has line ups to rival the biggest comedy clubs in Sean Kelly Live! the UK. Offering a combination of 8pm, £10 16+ big names such as Greg Davies, Jon Richardson and up and coming stars such as Patrick Mona- Tickets: £15, £13 conc. han and Paul Chowdhry.

PIVA: MEASURE FOR MEASURE - 21 October, 8pm MUSIC FROM SHAKESPEARE'S TIME King King THE MET STUDIO Fri 11 Sept Tickets: £16 adv, £18 otd Piva has developed a special show where they will be playing late 16th century popular dance and ballad music which would 7.30pm, £10/£8 30 October, 8.00pm have been used in the theatres of the day. As with any Piva show, they bring the period alive with Robert Newman: stories and tales about life in Shakespeare's theatre. The Brain Show Tickets: £15, £10 conc. LUKE JERMAY – SIXTH SENSE THE MET STUDIO Sat 12 Sept

16+ 8pm, £16/£14 concs

Luke Jermay is the most incredible man you’ve probably never heard of. He can read your mind. No really; he can read your mind. He doesn’t use mind games or psychological tricks; there are no smoke and mirrors. 'Jermay’s - Sixth Sense' has gained critical acclaim with 5 Star reviews from Edinburgh to London’s West End. Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1AA Box office: 01283 508100. BOOKONLINE www.brewhouse.co.uk Box Office 01785 619080 www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

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WONDERIA A cast of LISTINGS young people use a Wind In The Willows - Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Theatre variety of circus skills to take audiences on a For full listing information on theatre journey through the productions, including times and dates, ages, Wed 5 - Sun 9 visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Aug, The Dream Facto- ry, Warwick DOGFIGHT MYK Produc- the sexes, Sat 1 Aug, From tions present a staging Mary Arden's Farm, of Pasek and Paul’s SAT 1 AUG Stratford-upon-Avon musical adaptation of A PLOUGHMAN’S TALE A the 1991 film of the BARNUM Brian Conley recital of songs, all by same name which fol- stars as the Greatest composers or with lows six young Marines Showman On Earth in words by poets con- on one final wild night Cameron Mackintosh's temporary to the Great of debauchery before blockbuster musical, War, which tells the tale their deployment to until Sat 1 Aug, Birm- of a ploughboy born in Vietnam, Wed 5 - Sun ingham Hippodrome the late 1800s, Sat 1 16 Aug, Old Joint Stock DIRTY ROTTEN Aug, Blue Orange The- Theatre, Birmingham SCOUNDRELS Michael atre, Birmingham MY PET MONSTER AND A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S Praed, Noel Sullivan, ME Blunderbus fuse DREAM Carley Stenson and Chapterhouse music, puppetry & Mark Benton star in this Theatre present an out- high-energy storytelling Wed 12 - Sat 15 Aug, part of Artrix’s Family Redditch national touring show door staging of Shake- in this monster of a New Alexandra Theatre, Fun Festival, Fri 14 THE TEMPEST Rain Or based on Frank Oz’s speare’s comical and show for young chil- Birmingham Aug, Artrix, Bromsgrove Shine Theatre present 1988 film, until Sat 1 heart-warming play, Sat dren, Fri 7 Aug, Artrix, THE THREE MUSKETEERS THE TEMPEST Rain Or an outdoor staging of Aug, Regent Theatre, 1 Aug, Erddig Hall, Bromsgrove Performed by award- Shine Theatre present The Bard’s final master- Stoke-on-Trent Wrexham ZADIE SMITH: WORDS An winning touring theatre an outdoor staging of piece, Sat 15 Aug, Wit- SHORTS 3 MRS WARREN'S PROFES- The Blue evening with the inter- company Illyria, Fri 14 The Bard’s final master- ley Court, Worcester- SION George Bernard Orange Writers’ presen- nationally acclaimed Aug, Rose Bank Gar- piece, Fri 14 Aug, Sev- shire Shaw’s period drama, tation is back with the author of White Teeth, dens, Worcestershire ern Valley Country presented by Everyman usual eclectic mix of KAPOW! 2Faced Dance Park, Nr Bridgnorth, The Autograph Man, Week Commencing Theatre Cheltenham, ten-minute plays based On Beauty and NW, Fri invite audiences to join Shropshire until Sat 1 Aug, Malvern on any theme, Sun 2 7 Aug, Artrix, Broms- them as three of planet PRIDE AND PREJUDICE MON 17 AUG Theatre Aug, The Blue Orange grove Earth’s greatest super- The Pantaloons present THE THREE LITTLE PIGS Theatre, Birmingham A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S heroes get ready to an Jane Austen’s PIERS PLOWMAN AS TERE MERE NAKHRY He can huff and he can DREAM Madcap Produc- battle it out for the title romantic comedy, Fri NEVER HEARD BEFORE puff until the cows Humour and drama is tions fuse music, of Most Supreme 14 Aug, Attingham Readings by Peter Sut- come home, but will used to elaborate the dance, stage combat & Superhero, Fri 14 Aug, Park, Shrewsbury ton from his new trans- the Big Bad Wolf get issues of domestic vio- physicality in a fast- Artrix, Bromsgrove BEAUTY AND THE BEAST lation of one of the the better of the three lence, female harass- paced staging of CHARLIE AND MATILDA’S The Harlequins present greatest medieval Eng- little superstar piglets in ment, child abuse, dis- Shakespeare’s popular MARVELLOUS MEDICINE an amateur staging of lish poems, Tues 18 this brand new retelling crimination and the play, Sat 8 Aug, Artrix, Out Of The Box fuse a Disney’s award-winning Aug, Vesta Tilley Stu- of the classic story? conflict of identity, Sun Bromsgrove couple of Roald Dahl’s animated feature, Sat dio, Swan Theatre, until Sun 2 Aug, Birm- 2 Aug, The Drum, Birm- GLYNDEBOURNE LIVE: much-loved plays as 15 Aug, Palace Theatre, Worcester ingham Town Hall ingham BRITTEN’S THE RAPE OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S OTHELLO Holby City's LUCRETIA Britten’s DREAM Hugh Quarshie returns Madcap Produc- extraordinarily tense to the RSC to play tions fuse music, and chilling treatment Shakespeare's Othello, dance, stage combat & of this historic tale is while Lucian Msamati physicality in a fast- explored in a brilliant features as Iago and paced staging of production by actress Joanna Vanderham as Shakespeare’s popular Fiona Shaw, best Desdemona, until Fri 28 play, Sun 2 Aug, Victo- known for her roles in Aug, Royal Shake- ria Pleasure Gardens, the Harry Potter films speare Theatre, Strat- Tewkesbury (tickets and the True Blood TV ford-upon-Avon available from Roses series, Sun 9 Aug, mac, THE MERCHANT OF Theatre) Birmingham VENICE Polly Findlay directs Shakespeare's Week Commencing uncompromising play, MON 3 AUG Week Commencing until Wed 2 Sep, Royal MON 10 AUG Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon ANNIE Worcester Oper- THE JEW OF MALTA atic & Dramatic Society TWELFTH NIGHT London Justin Audibert makes Youth Section presents Contemporary Theatre his RSC debut to direct an amateur production present an outdoor pro- Christopher Marlowe's of the much-loved rags- duction of Shake- subversive play, until to-riches musical, Tues speare’s comedy of Tue 8 Sep, The Swan 4 - Sat 8 Aug, Swan mistaken identity, Tues Theatre, Stratford-upon- Theatre, Worcester 11 Aug, Victoria Pleas- Avon LIGHTS, CAMERA... ure Gardens, Tewkes- VOLPONE Former RSC MUSIC! The AC Group bury (tickets available Artistic Director Trevor presents a celebration from Roses Theatre) Nunn returns to direct of some of the most TWELFTH NIGHT Lord Henry Goodman in the iconic music from Chamberlain’s Men title role of Ben Jon- Academy Award-win- present an outdoor son’s comic, satiric, ning films, Wed 5 - Sat staging of Shake- angry and timeless 8 Aug, The Crescent speare’s comedy of play, until Sat 12 Sep, Theatre, Birmingham mistaken identity, Tues The Swan Theatre, THE BODYGUARD Award- 11 Aug, Shrewsbury Stratford-upon-Avon winning musical based Castle AN EVENING OF DIRTY on the blockbuster film. THE WIND IN THE WIL- DANCING: THE TRIBUTE X Factor winner Alexan- LOWS London Contem- SHOW Celebration of dra Burke takes the porary Theatre Compa- the iconic music from lead as Rachel Moran, ny present an outdoor the award-winning Wed 5 Aug - Sat 5 Sep, staging of Kenneth Gra- soundtrack to Dirty Birmingham Hippo- hame’s popular tale, Dancing, Sat 1 Aug, drome Tues 11 Aug, Victoria New Alexandra Theatre, THE WIZARD OF OZ A Pleasure Gardens, Birmingham Stafford Gatehouse Tewkesbury (tickets MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTH- Theatre Summer available from Roses ING Oddsocks present School production, Theatre) a high-octane musical Wed 5 - Sat 8 Aug, 42ND STREET Featuring version of Shake- Stafford Gatehouse spectacular dance speare's witty battle of Theatre scenes and classic hits,

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full screening of the 25 Aug, Lichfield Gar- piece, Tues 29 Aug, LISTINGS Disney sensation, com- Week Commencing rick Wenlock Priory, Much Theatre plete with on-screen MON 24 AUG BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Wenlock, South Shrop- lyrics to help you sing THE SUMMER PAN- shire For full listing information on theatre along with Anna and TALKING HEADS TOMIME Wed 26 - Sat THE CASEBOOK OF SHER- productions, including times and Elsa during the film, Fri Stephanie Cole pres- 29 Aug, Stafford Gate- LOCK HOLMES Chapter- 21 Aug, New Alexandra ents all three of Alan house Theatre house Theatre bring dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre, Birmingham Bennett’s brilliant OTHELLO RSC Live Arthur Conan Doyle’s TREE FU TOM New show observational mono- screening featuring detecting duo to life in DEATH OF AN ACCIDENTAL don Classic Theatre starring the world's logues, including A Holby City's Hugh the search for the most ANARCHIST TACT - The present Alan Ayck- smallest superhero, Cream Cracker Under Quarshie in the lead elusive piece of treas- Arts Centre Telford - bourn's critically direct from the smash- The Settee, A Chip In role. Lucian Msamati ure known to mankind, present Dario Fo’s inter- acclaimed observation hit CBeebies series, Fri The Sugar and A Lady plays Iago, Wed 26 Sat 29 Aug, Erddig nationally recognised of friendship, marriage 21 - Sat 22 Aug, Of Letters, Mon 24 - Sat Aug, Warwick Arts Cen- Hall, Wrexham play, widely regarded and what it means to Stafford Gatehouse 29 Aug, Malvern The- tre THE GINGERBREAD MAN as a classic of twentieth be ultimately happy, Theatre atres, Worcestershire BOUNCERS Swan The- Magic, music and plen- century theatre, Tues Wed 19 - Sat 22 Aug, SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A LOVE ME TENDER Feel- atre Amateur Company ty of audience partici- 18 - Wed 19 Aug, The Malvern Theatre full screening of the good musical featuring present a staging of pation come together in Place, Oakengates The- THAT'LL BE THE DAY Disney sensation, com- Elvis Presley’s greatest John Godber’s award- David Wood’s famous atre, Telford Rock'n'Roll spectacular plete with on-screen hits. Starring the Shaun winning comedy, Tues play, Sat 29 Aug, Swan OLIVER! Malvern The- combining music from lyrics to help you sing Williamson and award- 25 - Sat 29 Aug, Vesta Theatre, Worcester atres Young Company the 50s, 60s & 70s with along with Anna and winning and platinum Tilley Studio, Swan FAME THE MUSICAL Ama- present a staging of wacky comedy rou- Elsa during the film, Sat album-selling singer Theatre, Worcester teur production pre- Lionel Bart’s musical, tines, Thurs 20 Aug, 22 Aug, The Hive, Mica Paris, Mon 24 - A FETE WORSE THAN sented and performed based on Dickens’ well- Wolverhampton Grand Shrewsbury Sat 29 Aug, New DEATH Murder-mystery by TACT - The Arts known novel, Tues 18 - Theatre DRACULA SPECTACULAR Alexandra Theatre, complete with fish & Centre Telford, Sat 29 - Sat 22 Aug, Malvern SPARROWS IN A HAT Ambient Night Produc- Birmingham chips supper, Thurs 27 Sun 30 Aug, The Place, Theatre Second Thoughts tions & The Prince of AS YOU LIKE IT The Fes- Aug, The Commandery, Oakengates Theatre, PONGO’S PARTY Featur- Drama Group present a Wales Theatre present tival Players present an Worcester Telford ing CBeebies’ Justin play which is described a riotous Transylvanian all-male production of JAY RAYNER: MY DINING EMMA Heartbreak Pro- Fletcher and Nicole as ‘more than just a tale, a culmination of The Bard’s pastoral HALL Evening with the ductions present a Davis as the voices of story of two fifty-year- summer workshops at comedy, Tues 25 Aug, award-winning journal- staging of Jane Pongo the Pig and olds desperately seek- the theatre, Sat 22 Aug, Swan Theatre, Worces- ist, writer, broadcaster - Austen’s comedy of Molly-Moo the Cow, ing real love in a world Prince of Wales Centre, ter and restaurant critic, manners, Sun 30 Aug, Wed 19 - Thurs 20 Aug, that seems to have Cannock THE SELFISH GIANT Thurs 27 Aug, Hunting- Hoar Cross Hall Hotel & The Old Rep, B’ham something against PEEK-A-BOO Join the Sealegs Puppet The- don Hall, Worcester Spa, Warwickshire VESTA One-woman them...’ Thurs 20 - Sat Gardener on her mis- atre Company present THE TEMPEST Rain Or VALMIKI PRATIBHA A show about the life and 22 Aug, Bear Pit The- sion to bring the gar- an adaptation of Oscar Shine Theatre present remarkable story of music of Vesta Tillery, atre, Stratford-upon- den buzzing back to Wilde's fairytale, Tues an outdoor staging of how a blood-thirsty regarded as one of the Avon life. An interactive per- 25 Aug, Watson Hall, The Bard’s final master- bandit renounces vio- most remarkable WEST SIDE STORY Ama- formance that explores Tewkesbury (tickets piece, Sun 27 Aug, lence and greed, trans- female entertainers ever teur production pre- children’s responses to available from Roses Stokesay Castle, South forms into the pious to have lived, Thurs 20 sented by Wing It The- their first experience of Theatre) Shropshire sage Valmiki and writes Aug, Vesta Tilley Stu- atre, Thurs 20 - Sat 22 theatre, Sat 22- Mon 31 ANIMAL ALPHABET THE TEMPEST Rain Or the Indian epic dio, Swan Theatre, Aug, Albany Theatre, Aug, Blue Orange The- Richard Digance’s fully Shine Theatre present Ramayana, a dance Worcester Coventry atre, Birmingham interactive show for an outdoor staging of drama in English, Sun ABSENT FRIENDS Lon- SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A young audiences, Tues The Bard’s final master- 30 Aug, mac, B’ham

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Fri 11th & Sat 12th Sept 7.30pm Fri 18 Sept, 7.30pm Tues 22 Sept, 7.30pm Sherrif and Nick Walker Seeta Patel presents OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT

SOMETHING THEN, SOMETHING NOW

Tickets: £10, £8 concs Tickets: £10, £8 concs Tickets: £10, £8 concs Theatre August Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:20 Page 12

Theatre REVIEWS

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Unearthed New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme “Hello, I’m Theresa Heskins and I’m the Director of the New Vic.” Those opening words to Unearthed elicited a spon- taneous and very deserved round of applause for the woman who has taken this theatre to new heights. But it wasn’t actually Theresa who was saying them. It was Bryonie Pritchard, playing her. And every character that followed her on to the stage was another genuine individual portrayed by an actor. I’m all for verbatim theatre. Taking the testimonies of real people, word for word, and compiling them into a play is an excellent way of getting to the The Merchant Of Venice Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon heart of the matter. So Unearthed is the nearest Led by the fabulous Patsy Ferran as an irresistibly witty and commanding Portia, Polly thing to a living, breathing television documentary, Findlay's female-centric Merchant is a refreshing reinvention of a familiar tale. telling - with the aid of some stunning pictures - the Fresh from her run as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, Ferran is the very picture of story of the finding of the Staffordshire Hoard. And Balthasar's description (“so young a body with so old a head”), well-matched by Nadia once Theresa steps away, we, the audience, fill her Albina's chirpy Nerissa. Their energy and optimism is off-set by a Jessica like none shoes... hearing what she heard as she researched you've seen before: in spirit, Scarlett Brookes' melancholy take on the character is a the story. better match for Jamie Ballard's incessantly weeping Antonio than James Corrigan's In a field we meet a bevy of metal detector enthusi- laddish Lorenzo. asts led by David Nellist. He plays Terry Herbert, Unusually, the production downplays racism, skimming over Portia's prejudiced por- the Staffordshire man who had the piece of luck in trayal of her suitors. While some lines on injustice and hypocrisy stand out, Shylock's the first place; drawn to the site, we learn, by typically moving speeches play second fiddle to those delivered by the women. In ‘visions’. Nellist provides a literally down-to-earth contrast to his forced conversion, the young brides undergo gradual processes of portrayal of a gentle farmer, bemused by the enor- growth and self-discovery, experiencing genuine second thoughts about their hasty mity of it all. Short and squat, with detector in hand, marriages. he sort of stumbles after the experts as might you In defiance of Shylock's and Antonio's mutual misery, comedy takes precedence in this or I. But he’s never overawed. And the million quid pacy crowd-pleaser. With lightning-fast timing and bucket-loads of audience interac- will come in handy. tion, Tim Samuels is side-splitting as the clownish servant Gobbo, rivalled only in Elizabeth Elvin’s portrayal of the Stoke Museum’s laugh count by Ken Nwosu's endearing Gratiano and Brian Protheroe's swaggering Cathy Shingler is a treasure in itself. Full of life and Aragon. twice as bubbly, she’s a woman utterly enthused, In this money-mad age, there's something wonderfully cathartic about witnessing piles conjecturing like I’ve never seen an academic con- of cash carelessly swept aside after the climactic trial scene. In light of recent events, jecture before. is it too much to read a little of our new breed of female political leaders into Rina My one niggle regarding Unearthed is the inclusion Mahoney's pragmatic Duke and Portia's crushing defeat of the hot-headed men around of hesitations and broken and overlaid speech in her? Heather Kincaid n n n n the verbatim script. I guess it’s to remind us of the The Merchant Of Venice continues to show at the RST until Wed 2 September authenticity of the dialogue, but it can hinder com- prehension of complex affairs. At the end, ‘Theresa’ is still recording ‘Terry’. “How are you going to end your play?” he asks. “I think it Volpone Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon will be a bit of a cliff hanger”, she replies. And it On paper, Trevor Nunn directing Henry Good- certainly is. Chris Eldon Lee n n n n man in Ben Jonson's classic satire sounds a mouthwatering prospect. The themes of greed and lust are suitably timeless, while the notion of scammers defrauding people and business- es has never been out of fashion. Indeed, it’s probably more relevant in 2015 than it was in the time of Shakespeare’s greatest contempo- rary. For instance, I had three phone calls from people offering to mend my non-existent ‘Win- dows computer’ on the day of the show. Sadly, Volpone doesn’t live up to the billing - a situation almost as frustrating as those phone calls (almost). The outstanding Goodman, whose Volpone was a delightful mix of preening arrogance and cheery wit (and had a real twinkle in his eye), did his best to drive proceedings along, but it was an uphill battle that even he couldn’t win. Annette McLaughlin’s Lady Politic was the only other portrayal to catch the eye, and both would have needed chisels to get something out of the wooden performances of Orion Lee (Mosca) and Matthew Kelly (Corvino). The production itself could have done with a little more time in the workshop too. For all the contemporary references - reality TV, iPads, bearded hermaphrodite Androgyno resembling Eurovision winner Conchita, throwaway lines about vegetarians, global warming, the Budget and the Greek economic crisis - Nunn’s production was, for the most part, very much rooted in the past. Not Jonson's seventeenth century but the 1970s, courtesy of a range of inane (at best) and crass (at worst) sitcom-style gags. Very much out of place in a supposedly biting satire, they made it something of a farce in more ways than one Steve Adams n n . Volpone continues to show at the Swan Theatre until Sat 12 September

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Thurs 3rd September MICHAEL ENGLISH Time: 7.30pm

Sat 19th September SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN Time: 11am, 3pm, 6.30pm

Weds 23rd September JOSH WIDDICOMBE Time: 8.00pm

Sat 26th September LOLO WILLIAMS Time: 7.30pm

Wed 30th September DEREK ACORAH Time: 7.30pm

Thurs 1st October THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Time: 7.30pm

Fri 2nd October BLAKE Time: 7.30pm

Sat 3rd October MAX BOYCE Time: 7.30pm

Thurs 8th October JETHRO Time: 7.30pm

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Theatre WEST END Curtain set to close on Miss Saigon Cameron Mackintosh has announced that Boublil and Schönberg’s Miss Saigon will make its final performance at the Prince Edward Theatre on 27 February 2016. Since opening at the theatre in May 2014, Miss Saigon has broken box office records and garnered numerous accolades, including nine awards at the 2015 Whatsonstage.com Awards. Set against the backdrop of the 1975 US evacuation of the city, Miss Saigon tells the story of an American GI and his love for a young Vietnamese woman. Tickets to see the show can be booked online at miss-saigon.com/box-office.

Political farce debuts at The Menier... The Menier Chocolate Factory is to stage the world premiere of Anthony Horowitz’s Dinner With Saddam in the autumn. Award-winning director Lindsay Posner is at the helm of the produc- tion. Sanjeev Bhaskar (Goodness Gracious Me) stars as Saddam’s host - a man forced to hide the Iraqi dictator during the onset of the 2003 allied bombing campaign. A political farce in which personal issues merge with politics over the dinner table - and where something sinister is being cooked up behind the kitchen door - Dinner With Sad- dam opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 22 September, with bookings currently being taken until 14 November. Nathan Amzi, IIan Goodman and Rebecca Grant join Bhaskar in the production. At the time of going to print, the role of Saddam has yet to be cast. Sanjeev Bhaskar

Zoë Wannamaker in double bill Zoe Wannamaker is to appear alongside John Dalgleish and Ken- neth Branagh in a new production of Terrence Rattigan’s Harle- quinade, which opens at The Garrick Theatre in October. Rattigan’s classic is being brought to the stage by the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company and sees Wannamaker take on a dual role during every evening performance. As well as playing Dame Maud in Harlequinade, she will also perform Rattigan’s dramatic monologue, All On Her Own, prior to the main show. A powerful, atmospheric play written for television by Rattigan in the 1960s, All On Her Own has never previously been seen in the West End. Speaking of having Wannamaker on board, Kenneth Branagh said: “Zoe is a brilliant comedienne and a great tragic actress too. In join- ing us for the Rattigan comedy we seized on the opportunity to let her show us the dramat- ic side of a playwright also known as ‘the English Chekhov’. The rarely seen All On Her Own provides a fabulous woman’s role, and makes for an intriguingly balanced double bill.” Bookings are now being taken for Harle- quinade and All On Her Own, which play in rep at The Garrick Theatre from 17 October to 16 January.

Extended booking for Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon, the award-winning musical which pays homage to The Kinks, has extended its booking at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 16 April 2016. Adapted from Joe Penhall’s book and featuring music, lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, the show celebrates the music of one of the most popular bands to come out of the 1960s. The production has wowed audiences and critics in equal measure since it opened at the venue in October 2014.

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Released from Fri 7 Aug

The Gift CERT 15 (108 mins) Starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edger- ton Directed by Joel Edgerton (USA/Australia) Simon and Robyn (Bateman, Hall) are a happily married couple whose lives are turned around with the arrival of a friend from Simon’s past. The un- wanted visitor (Edgerton) insists on bringing the couple gifts, but their meaning is not entirely wel- come. The actor Joel Edgerton (Exodus: Gods And Kings, Kinky Boots) makes his directorial debut with this thriller - from his own screenplay.

From Thurs 6 Aug

Fantastic Four CERT tbc Starring Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey, Tim Blake Nelson Directed by Josh Trank (USA) The future of our planet is under threat. Again. So Mister Fantastic, the Human Torch, the Invisible Woman and The Thing team up to do battle. We’re talking a reboot of the 2005 film, which grossed $330million worldwide. This one cost $120million, so it better swamp the multiplexes and fight off all comers. The cast here is not so much stellar as Max CERT 12a (111 mins) talented, with Miles Teller (from Whiplash, Divergent) stretching himself in new directions Starring Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham, Thomas as Mister Fantastic, the superhero with biologically elastic capabilities. Haden Church, Dejon LaQuake, Robbie Amell, Jay The director is Josh Trank, who brought us the intelligent, often thrilling ‘found footage’ Hernandez Directed by Boaz Yakin (USA) thriller Chronicle (2012). In 3D. Based on real events, this is the remarkable story of a Belgian Shepherd called Max, trained to assist the US Marines in Afghanistan. When his trainer, Kyle (Amell), is shot, Max is traumatised, and be- cause he will not respond to anybody else, he is to be put down. However, Max turns out to respond to one other human: Justin, Kyle’s brother... Of course, Max is anything but mad.

Manglehorn CERT 12a (97 mins) Starring Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Harmony Korine, Chris Messina Directed by David Gordon Green (USA) Al Pacino got terrific reviews for this drama, in which he plays an eccentric, small-town locksmith in Texas still mourning an unresolved relationship of twenty years ago. The director, Green, received raves for his earlier films George Washington, Prince Avalanche and Joe. From Wed 12 Aug

Man From U.N.C.L.E. CERT 12a (126 mins) Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, Hugh Grant Directed by Guy Ritchie (USA) Most cinemagoers will be too young to remember Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, but they were jolly cool secret agents back in the 1960s. Guy Ritchie’s large-screen adaptation returns to the Cold War of the Swinging ’60s and has attracted a very sexy cast. Here, Solo and Kuryakin team up to stop a criminal organisation from swamping the globe with nuclear weapons. It may be a Holly- wood movie, but the subject is as English as James Bond. And, incidentally, U.N.C.L.E. stands for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. We knew you’d want to know. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Film - Aug.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:32 Page 2

FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 14 Aug

Absolutely Anything CERT 12a (86 mins) Starring Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale, San- jeev Bhaskar, Rob Riggle, Eddie Izzard, and the voice of Robin Williams Directed by Terry Jones (UK/USA) As an off-the-wall experiment, a gaggle of unorthodox aliens decides to confer a disen- chanted, human school teacher (Pegg) with the ability to do absolutely anything. With Terry Jones behind the camera, the film has a strong whiff of Monty Python, with vocal cameos from Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin.

From Wed 12 Aug

sports doctor (Hader) whom she happens to be writing about - and starts to take a sec- Pixels CERT 12a (106 mins) ond look at the notion of monogamy. Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, The director previously brought us The 40 Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Brian Cox Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Directed by Chris Columbus (USA) Mistress America CERT 15 (84 mins) You’re not going to believe this, but the Starring Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke, Heather world is under attack. This time the Lind, Cindy Cheung aliens have taken exception to a time Directed by Noah Baumbach (USA) capsule sent into outer space by NASA, Having co-written France Ha (2013) together, in particular video-feeds of classic ar- real-life couple Noah Baumbach and Greta cade games, which they interpret as a Gerwig now embark on this screwball com- declaration of war. So, in keeping with edy set in New York. Gerwig plays Brooke, a the games, the aliens launch models for human firecracker who juggles a frenetic life their various assaults based on Pac-Man, of aerobics, interior design and social Space Invaders and their ilk. So, in order media. And her new stepsister, Tracy (Kirke), to fight back, President Will Cooper didn’t even see her coming... The American (James) enlists the help of his childhood critics loved it. friends, all of whom were rather good at saving the earth at their local video game arcade...

Paper Towns CERT 12a (109 mins) Released from Fri 21 Aug Starring Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Justice Smith, Austin Abrams, Halston Sage Directed by Jake Schreier (USA) John Green wrote the 2012 novel The Fault The Bad Education Movie CERT tbc In Our Stars, which was turned into a hugely Starring Jack Whitehall, Harry Enfield, successful film last year. His Paper Towns Mathew Horne, Sarah Solemani, Jeremy Irvine, Iain Glen was published in 2008 and concerns the Directed by Elliot Hegarty (UK) search for Quentin’s next-door neighbour and first love Margot, who loved mysteries The Marlborough-educated comedian Jack so much that she became one. The London- Whitehall actually wrote the screenplay to born supermodel Cara Delevingne plays her. this spin-off of his TV series Bad Education. He reprises his role of Alfie Wickers, the worst teacher to Trainwreck CERT 15 (125 mins) grace the British Starring Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Tilda Swin- educational es- ton, John Cena, Brie Larson tablishment, Directed by Judd Apatow (USA) who decides to You may not have heard of Amy Schumer, take his class on but she’s big news in the US. She is the star a school trip to of Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer Cornwall after sketch show and now has her first starring they’ve finished movie vehicle with this, which she wrote her- their GCSEs. In- self. She plays Amy, a magazine writer who evitably, may- is used to putting herself about. She then hem ensues. starts to have ‘feelings’ for a successful

36 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film - Aug.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:32 Page 3

Vacation CERT 15 (99 mins) Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Beverly D'Angelo, Chevy Chase Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (USA) Older viewers may recall the madcap es- capades of the Griswold family in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) - and maybe even their four sequels. Now Clark Griswold’s little boy Rusty is all grown up and takes his own family cross-country to visit the wonders of the theme park Walley World, before it finally closes. Rusty is now played by Ed Helms, best known as Stuart Price in The Hangover tril- ogy. Expect some naughty bits.

Good People CERT 15 (88 mins) Starring James Franco, Kate Hudson, Tom Wilkinson, Omar Sy, Anna Friel, Sam Spruell Directed by Henrik Ruben Genz (USA) N.B. If you stumble across a large cache of somebody else’s money and don’t tell any- body, the likelihood is that you will invite more trouble into your life than you can han- dle. At least, in the movies. And that’s what Released from Fri 28 Aug Strange Magic CERT U (99 mins) happens to Tom and Anna Wright (James Featuring the voices of Alan Cumming, Evan Franco, Kate Hudson), an American couple Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya living in London up to their ears in debt. Rudolph, Alfred Molina, Elijah Kelley 45 Years CERT 15 (95 mins) Directed by Gary Rydstrom (USA) Starring Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James, Dolly Wells More fantastic chicanery from the imagi- Directed by Andrew Haigh (UK) nation of George Lucas, this animated fantasy is, in his words, aimed at “twelve- Kate and Geoff Mercer are planning their year-old girls.” However, unlike Star Wars, forty-fifth wedding anniversary when an un- Strange Magic is also a musical and is expected discovery threatens to torpedo the set in the opposing worlds of fairies and celebration, not to mention the couple’s mar- bog creatures. Inspired by A Midsummer riage... Both Ms Rampling and Mr Courtenay Night’s Dream, the film was a critical and won best acting gongs at this year’s commercial disaster in the US. Film Festival.

American Ultra CERT tbc Starring , , To- Gemma Bovery CERT 15 (99 mins) pher Grace, , John Leguizamo, Starring Fabrice Luchini, Gemma Arterton, Bill Pullman Jason Flemyng, Mel Raido, Isabelle Cande- Directed by Nima Nourizadeh (USA) lier, Elsa Zylberstein, Pip Torrens Directed by Anne Fontaine (France/UK) Mike Howell (Eisenberg) is a drug-addled government ‘sleeper’ agent who has be- Having taken the title role of Posy Sim- come a liability. But when the powers-that-be monds' cartoon heroine Tamara Drewe decide to terminate him, he proves to be too (loosely based on Far From The Madding well-trained to eliminate. Pot luck may have Crowd), Gemma Arterton now segues into something to do with it. the title role of Simmonds' other famous liter- ary distortion. She plays Gemma who, with her husband Charles Bovery (Flemyng), Hitman: Agent 47 CERT tbc moves to a small farm in Normandy. A local Starring Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary baker and Quinto, Ciarán Hinds, Thomas Kretschmann Flaubert fan Directed by Aleksander Bach (USA/Germany) (Luchini) is in- Fresh off his success as Peter Quinn in trigued by the Homeland, Rupert Friend replaces Timothy couple’s simi- Olyphant as the immaculately attired assas- larity to the ficti- sin of the video game fame. Here, he teams tious Charles up with a woman (Hannah Ware - from TV’s and Emma Bo- Boss and sister of the singer Jessie Ware) to vary. And he help her track down her father. The late Paul knows the story Walker was originally due to star as the doesn’t have a eponymous agent in this reboot. happy ending... www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film A-Z Aug.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:33 Page 1

don’t let us spoil the plot tures of Minnie Goetze, a Shrewsbury, Shropshire, the Masrani Global Cor- for you. Let’s just say punchy teen growing up Mon 3 - Wed 5 Aug poration decides to create FilmA-Z LISTINGS there are long work hours, fast in the countercultural a hybrid dinosaur, the In- really horrible step-sisters haze of 1970s San Fran- Frankenweenie PG dominus Rex. Of course, All films are currently on general release and a rather dashing cisco. Stars Bel Powley, The story of a young sci- it’s all a terrible mistake... unless otherwise stated. For full listing prince. This version actu- Alexander Skarsgård and entist called Victor Stars Chris Pratt and Frankenstein (Tahan, from information, including times and dates, ally adheres more to Dis- Kristen Wiig. Showing at Bryce Dallas Howard. ney’s classic 1950 Warwick Arts Centre, I Am Legend), who brings Showing at Ludlow As- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk cartoon version than Coventry, Mon 24 Aug, his pet bull terrier, Sparky, sembly Rooms, South Charles Perrault’s original Tues 25 & Thurs 27 Aug; back to life, the film is ac- Shropshire, Tues 4 - Thurs Aliens 15 The Burning 15 folk story. Starring Cate mac, Birmingham, Sat 22 - tually a feature-length ver- 6 Aug & Sat 8 Aug In this sequel the planet A mysterious man Blanchett and Lily James. Thurs 27 Aug sion of a short Burton from Alien (1979) has emerges from the Argen- Showing at Warwick Arts made back in 1984. Fea- The Legend Of Barney been colonised, but con- tinean rainforest only to Centre, Coventry, Sat 8 - Eden 15 turing the voices of Char- Thomson 15 tact is lost. This time, the witness a poor farmer Sun 9 Aug The latest film from ac- lie Tahan and Frank Unlike Sweeney Todd, the rescue team has impres- being killed by mercenar- claimed French filmmaker Welker. Showing at mac, Demon Barber of Fleet sive firepower, but will it be ies sent to requisition his Clouds Of Sils Maria 15 Mia Hansen-Løve (The Birmingham, Sat 8 Aug Street, Glaswegian barber enough? Starring Sigour- land. Taking the dead Twenty years ago, the ac- Father Of My Children, Barney Thomson stum- The Gone Girl 18 ney Weaver and Michael man’s daughter with tress Maria Enders (Juli- Goodbye First Love) stud- bles into serial murder by Nick Dunne, on his fifth Biehn. This is an outdoor them, they retreat back ette Binoche) made her ies a young Parisian DJ accident. Stars Emma wedding anniversary, re- event. Showing at mac, into the jungle. Using his name playing a young caught up in the explod- Thompson and Robert ports the disappearance Birmingham, Sat 22 Aug innate knowledge of the woman who drives her fe- ing dance music scene of Carlyle. Showing at mac, of his wife. Then, as a forest, the mysterious male boss to suicide. the 1990s. Stars Félix de Birmingham, Fri 7 - Thurs media frenzy builds Amy 15 man heads off in pursuit. Here she’s agreed to star Givry and Pauline Etienne. 13 Aug around the gone girl, sus- Bafta-winning documen- Showing at mac, Birming- in a revival of the play, this Showing at mac, Birming- picion starts to fall on Nick Looking For Love 15 tary maker Asif Kapadia ham, Tues 4 - Thurs 6 time portraying the older ham, Sat 8 Aug, Mon 10 - himself... Stars Ben Affleck This new documentary focuses his attention on Aug; Warwick Arts Centre, woman, with her original Thurs 13 Aug and Rosamund Pike. from filmmaker Menelik the career, life and death Coventry, Wed 5 - Thurs 6 part played by a Holly- Eden Reborn 18 Showing at Forest Arts Shabazz (The Story Of of Amy Winehouse, the Aug wood star with a predis- London-born singer-song- position for scandal. Not for the easily queasy, Centre, Walsall, Fri 7 Aug Lovers Rock, Burning An writer. Again, the reviews The Butler 12a this eco-feminist reimagin- Illusion) combines music Interestingly, the latter is Inside Out U have been exemplary - al- The Butler is loosely ing of the Myth of Eden in and performances with in- embodied by Kristen Largely set inside the though Amy’s family are based on real events. The response to Ted Hughes’ timate interviews explor- Stewart. Showing at The brain of an eleven-year- none too happy with the Butler in question works Theology has been de- ing relationships within Old Market Hall, Shrews- old girl, Inside Out’s five film. Showing at Warwick at the White House and scribed as a cannibalistic the UK’s black British bury, Sat 8 - Mon 10 Aug protagonists are the emo- Arts Centre, Coventry, until it’s through his eyes that sex metaphor and likened community. Showing at tions that dominate her Thurs 6 Aug; Festival Dray- we see many of the major Cobain: Montage Of to the work of Angela mac, Birmingham, Fri 21 - actions: Joy, Fear, Anger, ton Centre, Market Dray- historical episodes of the Heck 15 Carter. Showing at mac, Tues 25 Aug Disgust and Sadness, ton, Shropshire, Fri 14 twentieth century. Starring The first ever, fully autho- Birmingham, Sun 23 Aug each given its own voice. Love & Mercy 12a Aug; Ludlow Assembly Forest Whitaker and rised documentary tracks Far From The Madding But there’s more to this Brian Wilson was the co- Rooms, South Shropshire, Oprah Winfrey. Showing Kurt Cobain from his earli- Crowd 12a set-up than meets the founder of The Beach Mon 17 Aug at Forest Arts Centre, Wal- est years through the The last time Thomas mind, as Joy and Sad- Boys and this is his story. sall, Thurs 27 Aug height of his fame with Ant-Man 12a never-before-seen home Hardy’s immortal 1874 ness get lost! Showing at His younger self is played Ready for a new fran- movies, animation and novel was adapted for the Malvern Theatres, until by Paul Dano, his older chise? Here comes Ant- revelatory interviews from screen was courtesy of Thurs 6 Aug; The Old Mar- persona by John Cusack. Man - aka Scott Lang his family and closest the modern-day, thinly ket Hall, Shrewsbury, It was not an easy life. (Paul Rudd). Scott Lang is WATCH confidantes. Showing at disguised Tamara Drewe Shropshire, until Fri 14 - Showing at Warwick Arts actually a conman who Warwick Arts Centre, (2010), with Gemma Arter- Thurs 27 Aug; The Court- Centre, Coventry, Fri 7 - comes by a suit that en- THE FILM Coventry, Mon 10 - Tues ton. Thomas Vinterberg’s yard, Hereford, from Sat Thurs 13 Aug; Festival ables him to shrink yet 11 Aug version is strictly of the 29 Aug Drayton Centre, Market become incredibly costumed variety, set in Drayton, Shropshire, Fri 21 Iris 12a strong. With the new TRAILERS AT Danny Collins 15 Victorian England. Carey & Mon 24 Aug The last film by Albert technology at his pincer Danny Collins (Al Pacino) Mulligan, as the fêted whatsonlive.co.uk Maysles (Grey Gardens, Magic Mike XXL 15 tips he decides to reform is an ageing rocker and Bathsheba Everdene, has Gimme Shelter) is a won- The former male stripper his ways and join up with still lives the part. Then he received rave reviews for derful portrait of nonage- ‘Magic Mike’ is back, this the entomologist Hank comes across a letter writ- her performance. Matthias narian style icon Iris Apfel. time to compete in a strip- Pym (Michael Douglas) to ten to him by John Schoenaerts, Michael One of the most recognis- ping convention in Myrtle save the world. Showing Lennon forty years previ- Sheen also star. Showing able characters amongst Beach, South Carolina - at The Courtyard, Here- The Choir PG ously and decides to at mac, Birmingham, Sun New York's fashion elite, his last hurrah. Expect six ford, from Fri 21 - Fri 28 A troublesome eleven- change his ways... In- 16 - Tues 18 Aug Iris is a singular woman packs galore. Stars Chan- Aug year-old orphan ends up spired by a true story. Also at the National Boychoir stars Annette Bening and The Forgotten Kingdom whose enthusiasm for ning Tatum and Matt Back To The Future Part Academy. However, even Jennifer Garner. Showing tbc fashion, art and people Bomer. Showing at The II PG though he can sing well, at The Roses Theatre, Atang leaves the slums of shows no sign of slowing Courtyard, Hereford, from Marty McFly has only just he rebels against his privi- Tewkesbury, Tues 4 - Fri 14 Johannesburg for his an- down. Showing at mac, Fri 28 Aug gotten back from the past, leged classmates and the cestral land of Lesotho, to Birmingham, Fri 28 Aug Aug; The Old Market Hall, Manglehorn 12a when he is once again school’s exacting choir bury his estranged father. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Jurassic World 12a Al Pacino plays a lonely picked up by Dr Emmett master. Stars Dustin Hoff- Stirred by memories of his Fri 7 - Thurs 13 Aug The continuing story of locksmith whose life is Brown and sent through man and Kathy Bates. youth, he falls in love with the Costa Rica theme transformed by a new ro- time to the future. Marty's Showing at Light House The Diary Of A Teenage his childhood friend and park, a somewhat differ- mance in this magical job in the future is to pose Media Centre, Wolver- Girl 18 discovers the mystical ent place than it was love story from acclaimed as his own son, to prevent hampton, until Thurs 6 Based on Phoebe beauty and hardships of twenty-two years ago. director David Gordon him from being thrown in Aug; Ludlow Assembly Gloeckner's graphic the people, before facing However, in spite of every- Green (Joe, All The Real prison. Stars Michael J Rooms, South Shropshire, novel, adapted for the his own bittersweet reck- thing now running Girls). Also stars Holly Fox and Christopher Tues 18 & Thurs 20 Aug screen and directed by oning. Stars Zenzo smoothly, visitor rates Hunter. Showing at mac, Lloyd. This is an outdoor Marielle Heller, The Diary Ngqobe and Nozipho have declined. So, in an Birmingham, Fri 21 - Thurs event. Showing at mac, Cinderella PU Of A Teenage Girl charts Nkelemba. Showing at effort to sex the place up, 27 Aug; Warwick Arts Cen- Birmingham, Sat 1 Aug Once upon a time… Oh, the coming-of-age adven- The Old Market Hall,

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

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tre, Coventry, Fri 28 - Mon Mr HolmesPG Shropshire, Mon 3 - Weds Self/Less12a Rooms, South Shropshire, Theebtbc 31 Aug; The Old Market Just when you think 5 Aug; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Damian is a healthy Thurs 13 & Sat 15 Aug Set in western Arabia in Hall, Shrewsbury, Shrop- they’ve tried every angle Thurs 6 - Tues 11 Aug; young man who, thanks 1916, using mostly non- Song Of The SeaPG shire, from Fri 28 Aug on Sherlock Holmes, The Old Market Hall, to pioneering medical sci- professional Bedouins, An Irish youth discovers along comes a new inter- Shrewsbury, Shropshire, ence, has the conscious- Theeb (meaning ‘wolf’) Marshland15 that his mute sister pretation. In this version, Fri 14 - Thurs 20 Aug; War- ness of a wealthy dying tells the story of two broth- Like a Spanish True De- Saoirse is a selkie who Holmes is retired and suf- wick Arts Centre, Coven- aristocrat transferred into ers from a family of pilgrim tective, this period cop must find her voice and fering from dementia but try, Sat 15 Aug, Mon 17 - his body. Inevitably, guides who live a tradi- thriller from writer/director free supernatural crea- still resolved to solve a Tues 18 Aug though, there is a clash of tional Bedouin life during Alberto Rodriguez follows tures from the spell of a fifty-year-old case. Starring interests... Stars Ryan a time of radical industrial two ideologically opposed Ruth And Alex12a Celtic goddess. Featuring Ian McKellen.Showing at Reynolds and Ben Kings- change.Showing at mac, detectives in the moody When Ruth and Alex first the voices of Brendan The Old Market Hall, ley.Showing at The Court- Birmingham, Sun 30 - Andalaz swamplands, moved to Brooklyn, it was Gleeson and Lisa Hanni- Shrewsbury, Shropshire, yard, Hereford, Fri 21 & Mon 31 Aug forced to come together the 1970s - years before gan. Showing at Artrix, until Thurs 6 Aug; Festival Thurs 27 Aug to find the perpetrator of a gentrification, and years Bromsgrove, Tues 11 - Drayton Centre, Market The Third ManPG series of brutal attacks on before they would realise Thurs 13 Aug; Ludlow As- Drayton, Shropshire, Sat 1 Shaun The SheepU Writer Holly Martins trav- two local teenage sisters. that they won't always be sembly Rooms, South Aug; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Shaun, the sheep, first ap- els to Vienna looking for Stars Javier Gutiérrez and able to climb several Shropshire, Mon 17 - Tues Tues 4 - Wed 5 Aug; The peared in Aardman Ani- his friend Harry Lime. Raúl Arévalo.Showing at flights of stairs to get 18 Aug & Fri 21 Aug; The Roses Theatre, Tewkes- mations' stop-motion Upon his arrival, Holly mac, Birmingham, Fri 14 - home. So the couple opt Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 14 bury, Fri 7 - Tues 11 Aug; Wallace and Gromit car- learns that Harry is dead. Thurs 20 Aug to put their apartment on - Thurs 20 Aug; Warwick Ludlow Assembly Rooms, toons and then landed his Soon, Holly finds that the market and over one own series on CBBC. Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat there’s more to Harry’s MinionsPG South Shropshire, Mon 10 weekend, they discover Now he makes it to the 22 - Sun 23 Aug; The Old unfortunate demise than Having destroyed all the - Wed 12 Aug that finding a new apart- big screen and leads his Market Hall, Shrewsbury, what lies on the surface. masters that they’d previ- Paddington15 ment is starting a whole flock astray when he and Shropshire, from Fri 28 Like all film-noir, no one is ously served, the minions A film about the loveable new adventure! Stars his woolly cohorts end up Aug who they appear to be, set off to find someone bear with a penchant for Diane Keaton and Mor- in the Big City.Showing at not even the dilapidated equally evil to assist. So Spy 15 marmalade. Starring gan Freeman.Showing at Forest Arts Centre, Walsall, city itself. Starring Joseph they attend a villain’s con- Director Paul Feig made a Hugh Bonneville and mac, Birmingham, Fri 14 - Thurs 27 Aug Cotten and Orson Welles. vention and latch on to star of Melissa McCarthy Sally Hawkins.Showing at Sat 15 Aug & Tues 18 Aug Showing at Warwick Arts Scarlet Overkill (Sandra in Bridesmaids and The Forest Arts Centre, Walsall, Slow West15 Centre, Coventry, Fri 7 - Bullock), who’s planning Samba15 Heat and now casts her Tues 25 Aug This pocket-size Western Sat 8 Aug to take over the world. Samba is a charismatic with a poetic heart sees as CIA analyst Susan Showing at The Old Mar- Queen And Country15 Senegalese dishwasher Kodi Smit-McPhee play- Cooper. When two of Timbuktu12a ket Hall, Shrewsbury, Celebrated British director who has been living ille- ing Jay Cavendish, a love- Susan’s colleagues are in Nominated for an Oscar Shropshire, until Thurs 13 John Boorman brings us gally in France for ten struck Scottish teenager trouble she volunteers to for best foreign language Aug; The Courtyard, Here- a sequel to his 1987 years. When the authori- who, in 1870, travels to go undercover so as to film, Timbuktu is the story ford, Sat 1 Aug; Artrix, drama Hope And Glory. ties catch up with him, a Colorado in search of his avert global catastrophe. of a simple cattle herder Bromsgrove, Tues 4 - Here, it’s ten years after fragile immigration volun- true love, Rose. Along the Good ol’ Susan. Also and his wife and what Thurs 6 Aug; Festival Dray- the events of the first film teer takes on his case and way he hooks up with stars Jason Statham and happens to them when ton Centre, Market Dray- and Bill Rohan is called an unexpected romance Silas, a bounty hunter Jude Law.Showing at the Malian city of the title ton, Shropshire, Tues 4 & up for National Service in begins. Starring Omar Sy who’s both a blessing and Ludlow Assembly Rooms, is occupied by Islamic Ji- Thurs 6 Aug; Ludlow As- the shadow of the Korean & a curse. Also stars South Shropshire, Sat 1 hadists. Set in 2012. Star- sembly Rooms, South War. Stars Callum Turner. Showing at The Roses Michael Fassbender. Aug; Artrix, Bromsgrove, ring Abel Jafri and Shropshire, Fri 7, Mon 10 - Showing at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues Showing at Light House Weds 12 - Thurs 13 Aug; Hichem Yacoubi.Showing Thurs 13 Aug Theatre, Tewkesbury, until 4 Aug Media Centre, Wolver- The Courtyard, Hereford, at The Old Market Hall, Mon 3 Aug; Ludlow As- hampton, until Thurs 6 Fri 14 - Thurs 20 Aug Shrewsbury, Tues 11 - sembly Rooms, South Aug; Ludlow Assembly Thurs 13 Aug

DVD NEW RELEASES Hot Tub Time Machine Insurgent 12a 2 15 In this, the second install- This comedy sequel sees ment of the Divergent tril- the gang this time trans- ogy, Tris Prior continues ported into the future, in her fight against the total- their trusty magic hot itarian state that governs tub, to save the past. a dystopian Chicago of Starring Rob Corddry, the future. Starring Shai- Craig Robinson and lene Woodley. Clark Duke. Released 3 Aug Released 3 Aug The Water Diviner 15 In this historical drama Russell Crowe plays the father of three boys who went missing during the Battle of Gallipoli and who subsequently travels to Turkey to find them. Released 10 Aug

The SpongeBob Movie U Woman In Gold 12a Leo Demidov, a dis- Far From The Madding The Good Lie 12a graced intelligence agent Here, the jolly yellow sea Based on a true story Crowd 12a Based on true events, this in the Stalin-era Soviet sponge joins forces with of a Jewish octoge- The last time Thomas is the story of a brassy Union who takes it upon his adversary, Plankton, narian (Helen Mirren) Hardy’s immortal 1874 American woman who as- himself to investigate the to help retrieve his pre- who, with the help of novel was adapted for the sists in the relocation of killings. Based on the cious ‘Krabby Patty’ for- an American lawyer screen was courtesy of four young Sudanese 2008 novel by Tom Rob mula. The villain of the (Ryan Reynolds), the modern-day, thinly refugees. Starring Reese Smith. Also stars Gary piece - a pirate named takes on the Austrian disguised Tamara Drewe Witherspoon. Get Hard 15 Oldman. Burger-Beard - is played government in order (2010), with Gemma Arter- Released 31 Aug by Antonio Banderas. When millionaire busi- to reclaim a portrait Released 24 Aug ton. Thomas Vinterberg’s Released 3 Aug nessman James King stolen from her family version is strictly of the (Will Ferrell) is sent down by the Nazis. costumed variety, set in for ten years for tax eva- Released 3 Aug Victorian England. Carey sion, he’s not sure he’s Mulligan, as the fêted ready for prison. So he Child 44 15 Bathsheba Everdene, has hires Darnell Lewis received rave reviews for Filmed in the Czech Re- (Kevin Hart) to help pre- her performance. Matthias public, this hard-hitting pare him for a life behind Schoenaerts, Michael thriller takes as its sub- bars. Released 10 Aug Sheen also star. ject a spate of child mur- Released 31 Aug ders. Tom Hardy plays

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Lichfield Fake Festival Beacon Park, Lichfield, Sat 15 August The UK’s only touring tribute festival stops off in Lichfield this month. The hugely popular Fake Fes- tival concerts take place across the country, with each show featuring three top UK tribute bands. This Beacon Park gig sees Jamiroquai tribute Space Cowboy, Kazabian and Bon Jovi Experi- ence all taking to the stage. Local support bands are invited to perform before the professionals take over. A kids’ entertainment zone, food traders and a li- censed bar also feature.

V Festival Weston Park, Shropshire, Sat 22 - Sun 23 August Taking place simultaneously in Essex and Stafford- shire, continues to be one of the most popular events on the pop festival circuit. Boasting an extensive music line-up across four main stages over two days, the festival annually features some of the biggest names in the music industry. World-renowned US DJ takes the limelight at this year’s event, appearing on the Vir- gin Media stage on the Saturday evening, whilst English rock group headline the Sunday night. The 2015 line-up also features Olly Murs, Stereo- phonics, Sam Smith, The Script, Hozier, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Tom Jones, , Annie Mac, The Kooks, Paloma Faith, Nero, Jessie Ware and Example.

Calvin Harris Shrewsbury Folk Festival West Midland Showground, Shrewsbury, Fri 28 - Mon 31 August Having grown considerably in both reputation and stature since its debut at the town’s Quarry Park in 2006, Shrewsbury Folk Festival is now undoubtedly one of the coun- try’s top events of its kind - a status endorsed by Bellowhead’s Jon Boden, who rated it in the Sunday Telegraph as one of his five favourite festivals. Offering a lot more than just great music, its relaxed atmosphere provides a perfect environment in which to meet like-minded people. And with dozens of workshops to enjoy, there’s plenty to keep people of all ages entertained. For the more energetic, the dance tent provides the perfect place in which to participate in ceilidhs and to watch dance displays. The children’s festival and circus tent, meanwhile, are certain to keep youngsters amused, while young folkies are invited to get involved in Re- folkus, the festival’s very own youth festival. Headliners this year include singer-songwriter Kate Rusby (pictured), Quebec-based group La Bottine Souriante, Richard Thompson OBE and Sharon Shannon, an Irish musician best known for her work with the accordion and for her fiddle technique. An Oysterband ‘special performance’ is also on the bill, as well as Steve Knightley, O’Hooley & Tidow, Amadou Diagne, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, Dawes, Spooky Men’s Chorale, False Lights and Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

The Dawes Richard Thompson Sharon Shannon Bridgnorth Music And Photo credit: Ron Sleznak Arts Festival Various venues around Bridgnorth, Fri 28 August - Sun 6 September Now in its tenth year, this ten-day event is the biggest free festival of its kind in Shropshire. Music, comedy, art, dance, film and poetry all fea- ture, with events taking place at various locations throughout the town. Delta Rhythm, Minerva, Voodoo Sioux, Defy All Reason, Martyr de Mona, The Troy Redfern and Bufferfly Stone all feature amongst this year’s line- up.

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Armin Van Buuren & Billy Bragg - Lakefest, Croft Farm Waterpark Fusion Festival The Chemical Brothers, Cofton Park, Birmingham, Fri 28 - Sun 30 August Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Following the success of the previous two festivals, Fusion is this Daresbury, Cheshire BEERMAGEDDON Line-up month back at Cofton Park for a third outing. Run in association with includes Rannoch, Capital FM and in support of the Prince’s Trust, the 2015 incarnation Mpire Of Evil, Tyson certainly boasts a poptastic line-up. Dog & Heavenwood, Fri Teenage heartthrob Justin Bieber headlines the Friday evening, dance 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Stoke act take the Saturday top slot and McFly and Busted fu- Prior Country Club, Bromsgrove sion McBusted close festivities on the Sunday night. The Vamps, FUSION FESTIVAL Line- Clean Bandit, , Labrinth and also feature in up includes Justin the line-up. Bieber, McBusted, Rudi- mental & Tinie Tempah, Rudimental Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Cofton Park, Birming- ham Belle & Sebastian, cludes The , SHREWSBURY FOLK FES- James & Metronomy, Son of Man, Dr Has- TIVAL Line-up includes Thurs 3 - Sun 6 Sept, been & Glow People, Richard Thompson, La Portmeirion Fri 11 - Sat 12 Sept, Bottine Souriante, Kate MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Stoke Prior Sports & Rusby & Sharon Shan- Line-up includes The Country Club, Broms- non, Fri 28 - Mon 31 Monkees, Spiritualized, grove Aug, West Midland Idlewild & Anna Calvi, WHITWELL FESTIVAL OF Showground, Shrews- Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept, MUSIC Line-up includes bury Moseley Park, Birming- Eddie & The Hot Rods, GREENBELT FESTIVAL ham Seven Little Sisters, Line-up includes Duke WELFEST ON THE Maelor Hughes & Black Special, Pascuala Il- MEADOW Line-up in- Thorn, Fri 11 - Sun 13 abaca, King Porter cludes The Loose Cov- Sept, various locations Stomp & Worry Dolls, ers, The Vooz, Souled around Banbury Fri 28 Aug - Mon 31 Out 2 Funk & Matt BROMYARD FOLK FESTI- Aug, Boughton House, Eaves, Sat 5 Sept, Syn- VAL Line-up includes Northamptonshire der Meadow, Warwick- Breabach, Gerry Colvin Shropshire shire Band, John Doyle & BELBROUGHTON BEER BETLEY CONCERTS Line- SEPTEMBER Sharon Shannon, Fri 11 AND MUSIC FESTIVAL Festivals Listings up includes Tom Jones, - Sun 13 Sept, Brom- Total Access Live & Col- Line-up includes yard Clutching At Straws, WORCESTER MUSIC FES- For full listing information on festivals, labro, Fri 14 - Sun 16 THE KENILWORTH FESTI- Leatherat, Mitchell Jinks TIVAL Line-up includes including dates and line-up, visit Jul, Betley Court Farm, VAL Line-up tba, Thurs & The Busby Babes, Benjamin Dallow, Bleak Cheshire 3 - Sun 6 Sept, various www.whatsonlive.co.uk Thurs 10 - Sat 12 Sept, Zero, The Barefoot Ban- THE NORTH SHROPSHIRE venues around Kenil- Hartle Lane, Worcester- dit & Constructor, Fri 18 CAJUN AND ZYDECO BIG worth Aug, Croft Farm Water- shire - Sun 20 Sept, various WEEKEND Line-up in- FESTIVAL NO.6 Line-up AUGUST park, Tewkesbury ONBOARD THE CRAFT venues in Worcester REWIND NORTH cludes Jimmy Breaux, includes Grace Jones, Line-up FESTIVAL Line-up in- includes Soul II Soul, Randy Vidrine, Rough Chowder & The Hotfoot BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR , Specials, Fri 14 - Sun Line-up includes Within The Boomtown Rats & 16 Aug, Welshampton, Temptation, Trivium, Kim Wilde, Fri 7 - Sun 9 North Shropshire Rob Zombie & Black Aug, Capesthorne Hall, LICHFIELD FAKE FESTIVAL Label Society, Thurs 6 - Cheshire Line-up includes Bon Sun 9 Aug, Catton Hall, STRAWBERRY FIELDS Jovi Experience, Kaz- Derbyshire FESTIVAL Line-up in- abian & Space Cowboy, BULLDOG BASH Line-up cludes Bombay Bicycle Sat 15 Aug, Beacon includes Permageddon, Club (DJ Set), Mista- Park, Lichfield Easydread, TBone & jam, Mark Knight & THE GREEN MAN FESTI- Sky Valley Mistress, Jaguar Skills, Fri 7 - Sat VAL Line-up includes St Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, 8 Aug, Cattow Farm, Vincent, Super Furry Shakespeare County Leicester Animals, & Raceway, Stratford- FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL Slowdrive, Thurs 20 - upon-Avon Line-up includes Dr Sun 23 Aug, Glanusk LAKEFEST Line-up in- Feelgood, Ferocious Park, Brecon Beacons cludes Embrace, Ash, Dog, 3 Daft Monkeys & THE JUST SO FESTIVAL Billy Bragg & The Magic Talisman, Fri 14 - Sun Line-up includes Seas Numbers, Fri 7 - Sat 9 16 Aug, Gatten Farm, Of Mirth, Formidable Vegetable Sound Sys- St Vincent - , Glanusk Park tem, Patch and The Giant & Backyard Burn- ers, Fri 21 - Sun 23 Aug, Rode Hall Park- land, Cheshire PERSHORE JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up includes Kevin Grenfell’s Jazz Giants, John Hallam and Remi Jazz, Gypsy Fire, Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, Fri 21 - Sun 23 Aug, Pershore College, Warwickshire V FESTIVAL Line-up in- cludes Calvin Harris, Kasabian, Stereophon- ics & Sam Smith, Sat 22 - Sun 23 Aug, Weston Park, Staffordshire PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL Line-up includes Fenella Humphreys, Matthew Taylor, Navarra Quartet & Nova Music Opera, Thurs 27 Aug - Tues 1 Sept, Powys CREAMFIELDS Line-up includes , Tiesto,

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 A Great Day Out - Coventry Transport.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:01 Page 1 A Great Day Out - Coventry Transport.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 14:01 Page 2 A Great Day Out Coventry TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Several years in the planning, the relaunch of Coventry Transport Museum has proved to be well worth the wait, mixing exciting new elements with the best of the old to create a fully immersive experience. A journey through the museum begins with a look at the transport industry’s history. The story starts in the nineteenth century, when a slump in the previously booming weaving industry led entrepreneurs to seek new business. Upon entry to the museum, visitors are greeted by steampunk and Monty Python-inspired animations of Coventry innovators like James Starley, all waiting to tell their tales. By the early twentieth century, Coventry was a world bike-making capi- tal, and interest in the budding motor industry soon followed. It’s said that the first Rover car was built in the canteen of the compa- ny’s cycle factory. Fascinating facts like these nestle among the vin- tage photos and lavish artwork adorning the walls, printed in period styles to suit their surroundings. The historical section ends with a Coventry-made black taxi - which you can hop inside to enjoy a video tour of the city today - and the We Love Coventry wall, a work-in-progress to be completed by visitors. Passing by work and leisure vehicles, including unique items like a Sky Blues tour bus and a restored 1916 Maudslay lorry, you’ll discover the Innovation & Future area, where highlights include glimpses of modern car construction, a state-of-the-art driverless model, and proj- ects by local university students. There’s also a glittering Jaguar room, the bright lights and sparkling floors of which complement the gleam- ing surfaces of the new F-Type and C-X75. Finally, there’s the Supersonic section - complete with sleek metal walls listing record-breaking speeds. Here you'll find the Thrust cars from the original museum, now joined by a huge K-Nex model of their successor, Bloodhound SSC, which aims to reach 1000mph. Choose from three simulations, including a revamped 4D version of Thrust’s journey, and an animated look inside Bloodhound. Interactive elements throughout reveal the industry’s broader impact, Try on turn-of-the-century clothes, from the Rational Dress Society's fight for practical clothing for female cyclists, through to mass immigration, factory closures and environ- test your skills as a World War Two mental concerns. Try on turn-of-the-century clothes, test your skills as a World War Two fighter pilot, cast your vote on the Ryton Plant clo- fighter pilot, cast your vote on the sure and design your own supersonic car. Brilliantly conceived, the relaunch brings Coventry’s past, present and Ryton Plant closure and design future vividly to life, showing a new side of the city to visitors and resi- dents alike. your own supersonic car.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 A Great Day Out - Blists Hill.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 13:58 Page 1 A Great Day Out - Blists Hill.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2015 13:58 Page 2 A Great Day Out Blists Hill VICTORIAN TOWN

One of ten award-winning museums that make up the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Blists Hill: Victorian Town offers visitors the chance to step back in time to the days of Queen Victo- ria. Set over fifty-two acres, the museum has plenty to offer and is very much an interactive experience. The town has all you would ever need - if you were Victorian, that is.

There are general drapers, blacksmiths, a pharmacy (also home to a particularly gruesome dentist room) and the bank, where you can exchange your new money for old and try to manage with pounds, shillings and pence. Don’t worry, though - these Victorians can man- age our modern monies, but unsurprisingly they don’t have any cash machines. Wherever you shop or visit there are costumed demonstrators and town characters, all of whom are ready to take the time to chat and tell you their character’s story. It’s living history and very engaging. If you’re curious about something in particular, just ask; the players are very knowledgable about their particular roles and the circumstances their characters lived in. You’ll always hear an interesting story or some gossip about another resident of the town. And very often you’ll get to have a good laugh too - Victorians weren’t all stuffy! Thankfully they also liked food and drink just as much as we do - so if you’re feeling peckish, pay a visit to the fried fish dealer and enjoy tra- ditionally cooked fish and chips (they’re delicious!). Alternatively, pop into the New Inn - not only do they serve a fine ale, they also have a tearoom upstairs with some healthier eating options! And if you fancy something sweet, pop to the bakers - alongside the fresh baked bread there are tasty buns and biscuits to enjoy - or head to the sweet shop, where you can grab a bag of traditional favourites. Give yourself plenty of time to stroll through Blists Hill as there’s so much to take your attention, including the shire horses (horse-and-cart rides), blast furnaces, the cottage gardens and the doctor’s room. Be sure to stop off and see the winding engine - an amazing example of Industrial Revolution ingenuity - and pay a visit to the photographer’s, where you can don Victorian clothes and have an old-style photo taken. There’s also a funfair to enjoy - complete with carousel, chair-o-planes and game stalls - the funicular train and the clay mine ride. Blists Hill is a great experience that makes for a fun day out for all ages. And with so much to do, including a full programme of daily events, you’ll more than likely find yourself wanting to go back for more. No two visits are the same, and you can even get a yearly pass which allows you not only to visit Blists Hill as often as you like but also to check out the other museums managed by the trust. For more information, visit ironbridge.org.uk.

A great experience that makes for a fun day out for all ages.

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feature Celebrating the arts in the great outdoors. Enjoy...

SUN SAT 29 & 30 AUG

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Birmingham’s Southside district once again plays host to a selection of free outdoor theatre this month. Dance, circus and music performances are programmed during the bank holiday weekend (Sat and Sun only).

Artists confirmed to appear include Australian Dolly is a made-to-scale interactive puppet company Ployglot. Their show, Tangle, sees who loves to munch leaves, nibble hats and them engaging children and their families in have a good old poo! Presented by VIP the activity of creating a giant weaving Puppets, this walkabout act offers plenty of playspace from coloured elastic. interactive fun for all the family.

Other show highlights include acrobatic Commenting on the event, Birmingham action from Mimbre, a street theatre Hippodrome’s Director of Creative company whose latest comedy-packed Programmes, Graham Callister, said: “This production, Bench, explores ‘the dance of year’s Summer In Southside offers audiences life’. a packed programme of fun as the streets around Birmingham Hippodrome are taken Broadcasting live on 69.9FM, meanwhile, is over by a mix of live street theatre, comedy, Bramble FM’s rock roadshow, featuring in- dance, puppetry, visual arts and music. We’re the-moment improvisation and a soundtrack looking forward to welcoming back the of world-class music presented by two thousands of visitors who attended last ‘architects of idiocy’ - Maureen Clarke and year’s event in Birmingham’s most vibrant Lesley Beauchamp. and diverse district.”

Fresh from Glastonbury is Dolly the Giraffe. For a full programme of events and artist information, visit birminghamhippodrome.com.

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Lowry And Berry: Observers Of Urban Life Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 10 January 2016 LS Lowry and his Stoke-on-Trent-born fellow artist Arthur Berry had much in common. Both working class and hailing from the north of England, they were passionate about urban life, portraying the world around them in a fundamentally unpreten- tious way. This new exhibition provides an oppor- tunity to compare and contrast the work of two artists whose paintings sought to celebrate the beauty and humour of everyday life. Tickets to the exhibition cost £5, with concessions available at £3.

Hiroshige’s Japan: 53 Stations Of The Tokaido Road Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 1 August - Sat 21 November Fifty-three Stages Of The T kaid Road is the most famous series of paintings to be pro- duced by ground-breaking ōartist ōUtagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), one of the great mas- ters of the Japanese landscape print. The series, first published in 1833, depicts views along Japan's major highway, charting the journey between the cities of Edo and Kyoto. High-profile Western artists such as Monet, van Gogh and Whistler are known to have been influenced by Hiroshige's artwork, which typically boasts unusual compositions, strong outlines and flat expanses of bold colour. The exhibition also includes items from the gallery's extensive collection of Japanese artefacts, including carved ivory figures and Samurai swords.

Stewart Easton: The Next Verse Shire Hall Gallery, until Sun 6 September An interactive work designed to widen the bound- aries of narrative-based embroidery, The Next Verse presents individual drawings by Stewart Easton which have been collaged together digital- ly. The drawings have then been digitally printed on to fabric and finished with hand embroidery. Alongside the exhibition, Stewart will be working in the gallery on a large wall painting.

Re-making The Past Bilston Craft Gallery, Sat 8 August - Sat 31 October A touring exhibition from the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Re-making The Past brings together exciting new contemporary craft which explores the art and archaeology of our ancient past. The six featured artists - Mary Butcher, Susan Kinley, Helen Marston, Syann van Niftrik and Wright & Teague - have each carried out extensive research into the lives and creativity of our Neolithic ancestors and created new work in textiles, clay, metal, glass and more. A Summer Garden Party at the gallery on 12 August celebrates the opening of the exhibition and features workshops where visitors can have-a-go at creat- ing a Bronze Age brooch or paper sailing boat inspired by ancient sea journeys.

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bringing together signif- enclosures, until Sat 19 icant and iconic works Sept, Wolverhampton VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS by both artists, includ- Art Gallery ing some rarely seen For full listing information on Visual Art SUMMER OPEN pieces, until Sun 6 EXHIBITION An open Further exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, Sept, Birmingham exhibition of contempo- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Museum & Art Gallery rary artwork and hand- FROM ‘RED’ ELLEN TO made crafts, until Sat OSWALD MOSLEY 19 Sept, Willow Gallery, LANDSCAPES AND cards and postcards Portraits of inter-war , Shropshire Sound System Culture ABSTRACTS Exhibition of and how the sending of politicians by Edmund OF TIME AND THE RAIL- The Drum, Birmingham, work by Hugh Cutler, cards became rooted in Knapp, until Sun 6 WAY Robert Davies’ film Thurs 6 August - Fri 7 September until Sat 1 Aug, VAN our culture, until Sun Sept, The Barber about the railway line Gallery, Shrewsbury This exhibition forms part of a national tour 16 Aug, Museum of Institute, Birmingham between Birmingham & Cannock Chase celebrating reggae sound systems in key GHOSTS - PHOTOGRAPHY OUR STOUR An exhibi- Aberystwyth, until Sun cities throughout the UK. Featuring photo- BY SID TURNER Local PORTRAIT PRIZE EXHIBI- tion of photographs by 20 Sept, mac - artist Sid Turner shows TION This biennial event graphs, audio recordings, archive film Graham Beckley, until Midlands Arts Centre, photographs spanning sees RBSA team up Sun 6 Sept, Himley Hall Birmingham footage and a variety of other memorabilia, fifty years in the Black with the charity & Park, Dudley THE ENGLISH SHIRES - A the presentation also provides visitors with Country and beyond, Changing Faces. Part CANNON HILL ART DIFFERENT LOOK Using a until Sat 1 Aug, Bilston the opportunity to interact with Heritage HiFi, of the exhibition shows SCHOOL SUMMER SHOW variety of medium, this Craft Gallery a vintage-style sound system which has how portraiture can Showcase of end-of- multi-artist exhibition been custom-built for the project. SUMMER OPEN reveal the richness and year work by Cannon takes a look at life with- EXHIBITION Open exhibi- of faces, until Hill Art School stu- in the Shires through tion featuring work from Sat 22 Aug, RBSA dents, until Sun 6 Sept, different eyes, until Sun 17 local artists, until Sat Gallery, Birmingham mac - Midlands Arts 20 Sept, Newcastle 1 Aug, Bishop's Castle MARTIN PARR: BLACK Centre, Birmingham Borough Museum and COUNTRY STORIES Town Hall, Shropshire SMALL WORLDS The Art Gallery LOUISA SIMPSON Photographic portrait & urban environment and THE MODERNIST FACE: EXHIBITION Solo exhibi- archive about life in the social and economic SMITH, DOBSON & tion of still life paint- Black Country, until Sat change form the focus BRITISH PORTRAITURE ings, until Sun 2 Aug, 22 Aug, Wolverhampton for this multi-artist exhi- 1920-60 A snapshot Weston Park, Art Gallery bition, until Sun 6 Sept, through the lens of Staffordshire ST IVES ARTISTS An in- The New Art Gallery, Modernism, this latest SIGNALLING AND focus exhibition from Walsall Barber exhibition ELECTRICS IN MINES The Clive Beardsmore THE STOURBRIDGE explores the work of New collection of Gift which looks at a PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY two under-appreciated objects relating to con- body of work by artists EXHIBITION An array of British artists, until Sun trolling the safety risks associated with the work by the Stourbridge 27 Sept, The Barber underground, until Sun Cornish harbour town Photographic Society, Institute, Birmingham At Home With Vanley Burke 2 Aug, The Potteries of St Ives, until Sun 23 from flamenco dancers ANIMAL ALPHABET Have Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Museum & Art Gallery Aug, The New Art to a misty dawn across fun working your way Gallery, Walsall until Sun 27 September MITRA SABOURY: IN RESI- a vineyard, until Sun 6 through the alphabet ‘The Godfather of Black British photography’ DENCE Exhibition show- GREEN FINGERED Solo Sept, Himley Hall & with animals from the exhibition by Gemma Park, Dudley museum’s collections has had the entire contents of his Nechells casing how the artist uses her body as a Marmalade, until Sat 29 in this family-friendly flat transported to Ikon for his latest exhibi- JEWELLERY EXHIBITION ‘sensual and sentient’ Aug, BOM (Birmingham Showcase of contem- show, until Sun 27 tion. tool to explore architec- Open Media), Dudley porary jewellery from Sept, The Potteries The distinctive interior of Vanley Burke’s flat ture and the built envi- Street, Birmingham School of Jewellery Museum & Art Gallery, is an embodiment of his compulsive acquisi- ronment, until Mon 3 PHILIP POTTER ARBSA Artists in Residence, Stoke-on-Trent tiveness. Displaying a vast collection of print- Aug, Grand Union, Drawing inspiration and staff members, JACQUES NIMKI: ed material, clothes, records, ornaments and Birmingham from natural and syn- until Thurs 10 Sept, SEEN/UNSEEN A new FAY NICOLSON: OVER AND thetic forms, Philip Pure Bar, Birmingham permanent installation countless other items, it provides an invalu- explores relationships featuring more than able insight into Britain’s African Caribbean OVER PURE FORM Solo TO CHECK THE TIDE OF exhibition showcasing to culture, landscape PREJUDICE Exhibition of three hundred barely communities. how the artist plays and body in this display lithographs, original visible works referenc- Commenting on the project, Vanley with the physicality of of sculptures, until Sat sketches and wash ing plant drawings, until explained: “This flat is many things. It’s an images and possibilities 29 Aug, RBSA Gallery, drawings of the con- Sun 27 Sept, Ikon Birmingham archive, it’s a gallery, it’s my home, it’s where for formal and material struction of the London Gallery, Birmingham I collect a part of our history. History is part transformation through MADE AT MAC: CERAMICS & Birmingham Railway AT HOME WITH VANLEY repetition, until Sat 8 An exhibition of course BURKE of a lived experience. It’s those objects in the 1830s, until Exhibition show- Aug, Grand Union, participants’ work, until Thurs 10 Sept, casing the entire con- which might look so insignificant, so kitsch, Birmingham Mon 31 Aug, mac - Coalbrookdale Gallery, tents of the artist’s flat but to a lot of people they contain so much GEORGIAN ENAMELS: A Midlands Arts Centre, Ironbridge, Shropshire in Nechells, north-east information about how their parents lived.” NEW NARRATIVE Birmingham LOVE, LIFE & LAND- Birmingham, until Sun Featuring new and ARCHAEOPTERYX - THE SCAPES Featuring 27 Sept, Ikon Gallery, imagined stories and MISSING LINK BETWEEN German romantic prints Birmingham new enamels created DINOSAURS AND BIRDS & drawings from the TAKEHISA KOSUGI: by local craftsman John Examining the history Barber’s collection, SPACINGS Exhibition fea- Grayson, until Sun 9 of the discovery of the until Sun 13 Sept, The turing three of the Aug, Bantock House famous Archaeopteryx Barber Institute, artist’s sound installa- Museum, specimens, from the Birmingham tions, involving every- Wolverhampton first one in 1861 right TOVE JANSSON: TALES day materials and radio JAS DAVIDSON & DAVID up to the present day, FROM THE NORDIC electronics, until Sun SNELL EXHIBITION until Mon 31 Aug, ARCHIPELAGO Original 27 Sept, Ikon, Retrospetive work in Shrewsbury Museum & unseen photographs Birmingham bronze by artist Jas Art Gallery and material relating to JULIE BROOK: PIGMENT A Davidson together with SUMMER SHOWCASE A the life and work of compelling video work photographs by David selection of craft, cho- Moomins creator Tove shot in a cave in Snell, until Mon 10 Aug, sen with a summery Jansson, until Sun 13 Namibia in 2013, and Gallery3, The Gateway, theme in mind, until Sept, The Potteries featuring three himba Shrewsbury Sun 6 Sept, Shire Hall Museum & Art Gallery, women extracting red ROB LECKEY ARBSA A Gallery, Stafford Stoke-on-Trent pigment, until Sun 27 display of harbours, TILLEKE SCHWARZ LOUISA SIMPSON Sept, Ikon, Birmingham boats, cities and land- EMBROIDERY Solo exhi- EXHIBITION Solo exhibi- HIDDEN STORIES An art scapes using acrylic bition of framed tion of still life paint- installation created by paint and inks, collage embroideries from the ings, until Sun 2 Aug, local artist Matt Reeves and mixed media, until Netherlands-based tex- Weston Park, and Ignite (Thinktank's Sat 15 Aug, RBSA, tile artist, until Sun 6 Staffordshire Young People's Forum), Birmingham Sept, Shire Hall Gallery, ANIMAL ARCHITECTURE until Wed 30 Sept, LITTLE WORKS OF ART: Stafford BY ADAM KOSSOFF Thinktank at Millennium 100 YEARS OF GREETING LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY Exhibition exploring the Point, Birmingham CARDS Exploring the WARHOL AND WILLIAM restoration of Dudley 9 EVENINGS: REDUX history of greeting MORRIS Exhibition Zoo's famous animal Fresh look at Billy

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Nov, Blakesley Hall, MENTAL SPACES An Birmingham ongoing project con- Museums & Art Galleries BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE taining work produced AND CHANGE IN THE by local artists affiliated Birmingham RED HOUSE GLASS CONE INNER-CITY Display to The Asylum Art 01384 812750 Gallery, until Sat 2 Apr ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield exploring the way in 0121 323 3776 WOLVERHAMPTON ART which ordinary 2016, Light House GALLERY 01902 552055 Media Centre, BARBER INSTITUTE Birmingham people 0121 414 7333 have been represented Wolverhampton BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & Shropshire in art during the twenti- WENDY RAMSHAW’S ART GALLERY BEAR STEPS GALLERY, eth and twenty-first cen- ROOM OF DREAMS An 0121 303 2834 turies, until Thurs 31 installation made up of SHREWSBURY CASTLE GALLERIES 01743 344994 Dec, Birmingham many parts, from small 0121 248 8484 Museum & Art Gallery jewels in frames to SHREWSBURY MUSEUM & large, freestanding fur- GRAND UNION ART GALLERY 20TH CENTURY BRITISH 0121 643 9079 01743 258885 STUDIO CERAMICS A dis- niture, until Sun 22 May IKON GALLERY TWENTY TWENTY GALLERY, play of seventy-eight 2016, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 0121 248 0708 MUCH WENLOCK pieces of studio ceram- 01952 727952 ics made by twenty- THE GREAT WAR The NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY 0121 643 9099 nine potters working in exhibition uses dramat- THE WILLOW GALLERY, OSWESTRY England and Wales ic displays to bring to RBSA GALLERY 01691 657575 during the twentieth life the period between 0121 2364353 century, until Thurs 31 1914 and 1918, until STRYX GALLERY, DIGBETH VAN GALLERY, MARKET HALL, Dec, Birmingham Sun 11 Nov 2018, [email protected] SHREWSBURY 01743 355079 Museum & Art Gallery Dudley Museum & Art THREE WHITE WALLS Archaeopteryx - Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery Gallery GALLERY QUBE, OSWESTRY INHERITING ROME 0121 200 3328 01691 656882 Exhibition which uses BLOOMING SHROPSHIRE Kluver’s seminal 1966 during two World Wars money to explore and 2015 - OPEN ART art, performance & and the subsequent question our deep-seat- EXHIBITION Exhibition Black Country Staffordshire technology pro- peace, until Sat 31 Oct, ed familiarity with the on the theme of flow- BANTOCK HOUSE AIRSPACE GALLERY gramme, until Sat 17 RAF Cosford, Nr Roman Empire’s ers, Tue 4 Aug - Sat 5 WOLVERHAMPTON 01782 261221 01902 552195 Oct, Vivid Projects, Wolverhampton imagery, until Sun 24 Sept, VAN Gallery, NEWCASTLE BOROUGH Digbeth, Birmingham MY LITTLE COLLECTION Jan 2016, The Barber Shrewsbury BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 01902 552507 01782 232323 PILOTS OF THE The largest exhibition of Institute, Birmingham MATT SAYERS: BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & CARIBBEAN - My Little Pony ever pre- THE CLIVE BEARDSMORE REMEMBER THIS A trip VOLUNTEERS OF AFRICAN sented in the UK, until MUSEUM, DUDLEY ART GALLERY, STOKE-ON- GIFT The 2015 interven- back in time, depicting 01384 812745 TRENT 01782 232323 HERITAGE IN THE RAF A Sat 31 Oct, Dudley tions into the Garman Cannock Chase’s thriv- new exhibition curated Museum & Art Gallery DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART SHIRE HALL GALLERY Ryan Collection is a ing mining industry, GALLERY STAFFORD 01785 278345 in partnership with STILL WITH US: THE selection from a sub- local surroundings and 01384 815575 STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, Black Cultural Archives. STORY OF YARDLEY stantial gift of artworks the people who built LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE SHUGBOROUGH It tells the inspirational PEOPLE IN WORLD WAR donated to the gallery and shaped this strong WOLVERHAMPTON 01889 881388 story of African-heritage ONE An exhibition that by a private collector, community, Sat 22 Aug 01902 716055 volunteers, commemo- celebrates the lives of Clive Beardsmore, until - Fri 16 Oct, Museum of rating and celebrating some of the people in Sun 24 Jan 2016, The Cannock Chase THE NEW ART GALLERY WALSALL 01922 654400 their vital contribution Yardley during World New Art Gallery, Walsall to the defence of Britain War One, until Sun 1

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Tom Kerridge

Shrewsbury Flower Show The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Fri 14 - Sat 15 August Midlands-based fans of The Proclaimers won’t need to walk Five Of The Damned - who’ll be performing medieval jousting displays in Hundred Miles to see the talented Scottish duo in concert this month the main arena - and classical crossover vocal harmony quartet - they can simply make a beeline for Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park Ancora... Further attractions in a packed programme of activities instead, where the bespectacled twins are the headline act on the include showjumping, Dingle Fingle’s comedy car act, a redtail fal- second day of the Shrewsbury Flower Show. conry display and a dedicated children’s area. Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge and gardening expert Pippa Greenwood As usual, both days’ proceedings culminate in a massed bands are also contributing to the always-popular event, as are the Knights arena finale and a spectacular firework display.

Family Night Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 15 August An evening of old-fashioned fun is on offer at the Black Country Living Museum this month as Family Night returns. Featuring a jam-packed line-up of activities, the sixth incarnation of this annual event brings games, pantomime, Punch & Judy, story- tellings, face painting and singalong songs to the museum’s cobbled streets. There’s also the chance to enjoy a falconry show, go face-to- face with a variety of creepy crawlies and enjoy local theatre company Fizzog’s pantomime version of Alice In Wonderland. The panto is being presented as part of the museum’s one hun- dred-and-fiftieth anniversary celebration of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s much-loved children’s classic.

Oliver Twist Weekend Blists Hill, Nr Ironbridge, Fri 28 - Mon 31 August Visitors to Ironbridge’s award-winning Victorian museum are in for a treat over the bank holiday weekend when characters from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist come to life in a special themed event. Sundial Theatre Company are on hand to re-enact scenes from the novel, while children are invited to take part in street games and activities with the Artful Dodger and his gang. Visitors are encouraged to attend dressed ‘in character’, to see if they can win the museum’s ‘best dressed’ competition. Winners receive an on-the-spot prize.

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Events PREVIEWS

Kidderminster Art Festival Kidderminster Town Centre, Sat 8 - Sun 23 August Kidderminster Arts Festival is this month bringing the streets of the town centre alive with a rich mix of contemporary arts for peo- ple of all ages. Celebrating the city’s regeneration work, the festival’s theme is transformation. Highlights include animated origami birds appearing to fly, Comberton Hill Subway redecorated with photographs of local architectural features, and numerous local tattoo artists and knife throwers plying their respective trades in the town hall. The full line-up is available to view at kidderminsterartsfestival.org.uk.

The Time Traveller’s Ironbridge Quest Coalbrookdale, Nr Ironbridge, Sat 22 August National children’s art charity The Houses Of Fairy Tales is the organisation behind this free family festival. The Time Traveller’s Ironbridge Quest is part of Shifting Worlds, a new pro- gramme of contemporary arts events and installations running throughout the summer and autumn. The event, which sees Coalbrookdale transformed into a giant festival venue featuring story- tellers, artists and performers, offers families the chance to get creative by following a trail of The Festival Of Quilts games, clues, tasks and challenges. NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 6 - Sun 9 August Bringing together a unique blend of exhibitors, galleries, practical workshops and Sandwell Show The Color Run in-depth lectures, the Festival Of Quilts is Sandwell Valley Showground, NEC, Birmingham, Sat 15 August Sun 30 - Mon 31 August Europe’s largest celebration of patchwork Organisers of the Color Run are promising and quilting. Catering for everyone from the A popular event on the Sandwell calendar, participants it will be the most enjoyable five complete beginner to the professional maker, this bank holiday show regularly attracts kilometres they’ve travelled in a very long the event hosts over one hundred-and-forty thousands of visitors with its packed pro- time. Less about speed and more about ‘quick & easy workshops’, master classes in gramme of family-friendly activities. ‘enjoying a colour-crazy day with your the Quilt Academy and lectures from some A quad bike display team, a high-wire show, friends and family’, the event sees its partici- of the best-known names in quilting. a heavy horse logging demonstration and a pants doused in coloured powder at every Commenting on the show, Jonathan Burton, falconry display all feature in the main arena. kilometre, ensuring they’re all the colours of Portfolio Director, said: “The Festival Of Further attractions include a funfair, a coun- the rainbow by the time they cross the finish- Quilts offers a truly inspirational showcase of tryside pursuits paddock, a sports paddock, ing line. quilt-making, with the finest skills on display. a craft fair, an early-years marquee for chil- If you fancy giving it a go, be sure to wear a It’s a place for beginners through to profes- dren aged five and under, the Midland Dune white shirt for the event - it’s obligatory! sionals to share ideas, learn new skills and Buggy Club, giant bouncy castles and inflat- meet with others who’re equally passionate ables, and a real ale festival and market. about the world of patchwork and quilting.” Classic Car And Transport Show Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire, Sun 9 August This year’s Classic Car And Transport Show boasts more than one thousand vehicles dat- ing back to the 1920s, including vintage and classic cars, American, kit and custom cars. The event also offers visitors plenty of arena attractions, an autojumble and both club and Full Beam Film Festival trade stands. Younger attendees can enjoy Green Street, Kidderminster, the children’s inflatable area. Onsite catering Fri 21 - Sat 22 August Georgian Living History is also provided. Full Beam Film Festival is bringing the expe- Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, rience of drive-in cinema to the heart of Tues 11 - Thurs 13 August Kidderminster, screening four movies across two nights on a giant screen. Audience In Georgian times Tamworth Castle was members tune into a special radio frequency owned by the Townshend family. George in order to listen to the films through their Townshend, a prominent figure in Georgian own car stereo. Friday night movies are society, inherited the castle through his wife. Woody Allen’s Annie Hall and the Coen This special event brings these affluent resi- Brothers’ The Big Lebowski, with Dirty dents back to life, their daily routines being Dancing and Night Of The Living Dead re-enacted by costumed characters. showing on the Saturday. Fancy dress is optional but very much encouraged!

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Events PREVIEWS British Showjumping National Championships Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Tues 11 - Sun 16 August The British Showjumping National Championships this month come to Warwickshire for the first time. The event is one of the summer highlights on the British showjumping calendar and features the prestigious International Stairway League final (Sunday 16 August), at the end of which the British Showjumping National Champion will be crowned. A new addition to the calendar, the Stoneleigh Horse Show, is running in con- The Three Belles junction with the championships and is set to make a big impression. The event offers plenty of competitions, Summer Of Fun indoor performances, hospitality and shop- Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire, until September ping opportunities for visitors to enjoy. Visit Drayton Manor Theme Park this month and you’ll find yourself stepping back in time. To And just to make the day even more celebrate its sixty-fifth anniversary in style, the park is taking a trip back to its 1950s roots via a appealing, entry to the show is free. programme of live shows, music and tea dances. For more information, visit Rory the Lion makes a welcome return to the park - entertaining the family with daily shows - bsnationalchampionships.co.uk while the sounds of the ’50s rule the airwaves courtesy of legends including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Elvis. The highlight event of the summer season is Vera’s Tea Dance. The event is named after the park’s co-founder, Mrs Vera Byran, and features vintage singing trio The Three Belles and dance band The Bevin Boys. Participants get the chance to perfect their best jive, twist, jitter- bug and cha-cha moves, with finger sandwiches, cakes, scones and tea all available to provide some much-needed sustenance between dances! As well as the anniversary celebrations, the park’s regular rides are open too, including a new Yogi Bear 4D cinema experience. Commenting on Drayton Manor’s August line-up, Managing Director William Bryan said: “Being family owned, offering a fun day out which the whole family can enjoy is at the heart of every- thing we do.”

Wolverhampton TOP FIVE OF THE '50 Events LISTINGS THINGS TO DO' Family fun outdoors, Sat 1 - For full listing information on Events, Mon 31 Aug, Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton including times and dates, visit THE GREAT JOUST The www.whatsonlive.co.uk jousting knights return, Sat 1 - Mon 31 Aug, The past is brought from Warwick Castle back to life with food LIGHTS, CAMERA, and music, Sat 1 - Sun WED 1 JULY ACTION! An action- 2 Aug, Moseley Old packed summer of Hall, Wolverhampton magic, movie sets and THE COUNTRY FAIR Join EVENING SCENIC more! Bring your pic- the town’s residents on SPECIALS A scenic tures to life with thau- the Green at this new evening ride with the motropes and watch as event based on a added option of tradi- the images appear to Victorian country fair, tional fish and chip move, Sat 1 Aug - Wed Sat 1 - Sun 2 Aug, supper, Sat 1 Aug, 2 Sept, Black Country Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Severn Valley Railway, Living Museum, Dudley Shropshire Bewdley, Nr SUMMER HOLIDAY EXCAVATE! SUMMER OF Aerial Extreme - Staffordshire Kidderminster FAMILY FUN Join the ARCHAEOLOGY A chance FAMILY SATURDAYS Free summer of fun at Sept, Coalport China SUMMER HOLIDAY AT Square, Birmingham to get involved in the family activities, Sat 1 Cadbury World, Sat 1 Museum, Ironbridge, MAD A chance to A THOUSAND FANCIES - archaeological digs tak- Aug, Ikon Gallery, Aug - Wed 2 Sept, Shropshire design a part of the TAKING THE AIR WITH ing place over the sum- Birmingham Cadbury World, HORRIBLE HISTORIES: MAD Marbles Wall, Sat JANE A summer collec- mer, with a special PLANT HUNTERS FAIR Sat Birmingham WICKED WARWICK New 1 Aug - Mon 7 Sept, tion of costumes from opportunity to help with 1 Aug, National SUMMER CERAMIC DROP- for 2015, the Horrible The MAD Museum, romantic televised dra- the digging at the Memorial Aboretum, IN WORKSHOPS Histories bring Wicked Stratford-upon-Avon mas, Sat 1 Aug - Sat 31 weekends, Sat 1 - Sun Staffordshire Personalise a ceramic Warwick back to life, BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ Oct, Berrington Hall, 9 Aug, Brockhampton NEWCOMEN IN STEAM mug with brightly Sat 1 Aug - Sun 6 Sept, TOURS A chance to see Leominster Estate, Herefordshire The only full-sized coloured designs using Warwick Castle Birmingham in all its CAR RALLIES AT TUDOR THREADS AND working replica of the on-glaze painting, or SUMMER OF FUN glory, a look at its histo- COSFORD Sat 1 Aug - STUART SEWING Sat 1 - world's first steam create your own crea- Featuring the return of ry, iconic landmarks Thurs 31 Dec, RAF Sun 30 Aug, Moseley engine can be seen in ture out of clay. The the Rory The Lion and beautiful architec- Cosford, Nr Old Hall, action. Due to the summer holiday work- Show, a bigger and ture, starting and end- Wolverhampton Wolverhampton unpredictable nature of shops at Coalport better Thomas Land ing in Victoria Square, RARE PLANTS FAIR Sun 2 LEGO CITY DEEP SEA the Newcomen and to China Museum are held and all the usual rides, Tours run every Aug, Castle Bromwich EXPLORER Get hands-on avoid disappointment, from 11am until 1pm Sat 1 Aug - Sun 6 Sept, Saturday and Sunday Hall Gardens, and build a Lego sea please check running and 2pm until 4pm. A Drayton Manor Theme to the end of Birmingham creature this summer, details with the muse- museum admission Park, Tamworth, Staffs September - excluding NATIONAL CAR RACES Sat 1 - Mon 31 Aug, um prior to travelling, ticket is required to PLAY LIKE AN the first Sunday of the The British Automobile National Sea Life Sat 1 - Sun 2 Aug, take part in the work- EDWARDIAN Play month, when a special Racing Club (BARC) is Centre, Birmingham Black Country Living shops. Workshops are Edwardian and wartime Museum Heritage Bus one of Britain’s leading AUGUST ACTIVITIES Sat 1 Museum, Dudley an additional £4 per fete games, Sat 1 Aug - tour will operate, Sat 1 organising clubs and - Mon 31 Aug, RAF 17TH CENTURY WEEKEND item, Sat 1 Aug - Wed 2 Sun 6 Sept, Croft Aug - Sun 27 Sept, brings two days of rac- Cosford, Nr Castle, Leominster departs Victoria ing to the circuit, Sun 2

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Donington Classic Fashion Week - Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire LISTINGS Motorcycle Festival, Sat Events 8 - Sun 9 Aug, Donington Park Racing For full listing information on Events, Circuit including times and dates, visit MILITARY SKILLS Sat 8 - Sun 9 Aug, Moseley www.whatsonlive.co.uk Old Hall, Nr Wolverhampton Aug, Donington Park the-spot prizes for the KIDDERMINSTER ARTS Racing Circuit best outfits, Tues 4 - FESTIVAL The town cen- GUIDED WALK OF HIMLEY Sun 9 Aug, Blists Hill, tre and parks around it HALL Sun 2 Aug, Ironbridge, Shropshire come to life with music, Himley Hall & Park, HONDA RON HASLAM theatre, street perform- Dudley RACE SCHOOL The Ron ance, film, urban art, EXTRAORDINARY THINGS Haslam Race School workshops, exhibitions ABOUT TREES Sun 2 offers the experience of and installations, Sat 8 Aug, Priory Park, riding on an internation- - Sun 23 Aug, Dudley al racing circuit, Wed 5 Kidderminster Town BUDDING BAKERS Easy Aug, Donington Park Centre Peasy Cookery will be Racing Circuit MONSTER TRUCK on hand for baking and BURWARTON SHOW NATIONALS The battle to decorating workshops, Annual agriculture find the ultimate Sun 2 - Thurs 6 Aug, show featuring live Monster Truck National Eastnor Castle Deer arena events, displays, Champion. Racing and Park, Herefordshire livestock and heavy freestyle mayhem, as horses, exhibitors and seen on TV, plus a host competitions, Thurs 6 of Mega Machines and Aug, The Showground, Week Commencing horsepower for all Cleobury North, South ages, Sun 9 Aug, Santa MON 3 AUG Shropshire Pod Raceway, RECYCLED JEWELLERY Northampton WOLVERHAMPTON Join artist Lisa CLASSIC CAR AND Behind-the-scenes tour bands arena finale and Birmingham SPEEDWAY Monday Broughton and make TRANSPORT SHOW of the Conservation a spectacular firework FAMILY NIGHT night is race night... your own jewellery out Featuring over one Studio, Tues 11 Aug, display, Fri 14 - Sat 15 Celebrating the one check out all the action of unused materials, hundred vehicles dat- Birmingham Museum Aug, The Quarry Park, hundred-and-fiftieth from the track, Mon 3 Thurs 6 Aug, Museum ing back to the 1920s, And Art Gallery Shrewsbury anniversary of Lewis Aug, Ladbroke of the Jewellery arena attractions, the BLISTS HILL AT PLAY WESTERN MOTORHOME Carroll’s Alice in Stadium, Quarter, Birmingham popular autojumble and Victorian leisure time SHOW A large exhibition Wonderland, the muse- Wolverhampton SHIVER ME TIMBERS! a trade area, Sun 9 on the Green, Tues 11 - area showcases new um comes alive with WW1 DISCOVERY DAY Pirate-themed family Aug, Shugborough Sun 16 Aug, Blists Hill, and pre-owned themed entertainment Join uniformed officers fun, Thurs 6 - Fri 7 Aug, Historic Working Estate, Ironbridge, Shropshire motorhomes. and characters, Sat 15 on a detailed tour of the Wightwick Manor, Stafford HONDA RON HASLAM Accessory stands and Aug, Black Country museum’s WWI trench Wolverhampton WW1 DAY AND RACE SCHOOL The Ron three halls of country Living Museum, Dudley system, Mon 3 Aug, THE FESTIVAL OF QUILTS EDWARDIAN FETE AND Haslam Race School music entertainment for JEWELLERY QUARTER The Staffordshire Bringing together a FAIR Step back in time offers the experience of campers also features, HERITAGE WALK Sat 15 Regiment Museum unique blend of to the early 1900s, Sun riding on an internation- booking in advance is Aug, Museum of the TRIAL & PUNISHMENT A exhibitors, galleries, 9 Aug, The al racing circuit, Wed recommended, Fri 14 - Jewellery Quarter, look at the medieval practical workshops Staffordshire Regiment 12 Aug, Donington Park Sun 16 Aug, The Three Birmingham justice system, Mon 3 - and detailed lectures to Museum Racing Circuit Counties Showground, BRITISH RACING & Tues 4 Aug, Goodrich create the biggest cele- EXOTIC ANIMALS Talks RECYCLED BUNTING Join Malvern SPORTS CAR CLUB The Castle, Herefordshire bration of patchwork and displays of creepy designer Gilly Page to SOUNDS OF THE 60S Mighty Mini ACTIVE AFTERNOONS and quilting in Europe, crawlies, Sun 9 - Thurs make your own bunting Head back to the 1960s Championships is one Craft and outdoor activ- Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, 13 Aug, Eastnor Castle out of recycled fabric, - the decade it all start- of the most popular ities, Mon 3 - Tues 4 NEC, Birmingham Deer Park, Thurs 13 Aug, Museum ed for the Severn Valley club events in motor- Aug, Moseley Old Hall, JUST DESSERTS Cooking Herefordshire of the Jewellery Railway. Featuring sport, Sat 15 - Sun 16 Wolverhampton tips for an Edwardian Quarter, Birmingham Friday & Saturday night Aug, Silverstone Circuit, MEDIEVAL TOYS AND feast, Fri 7 Aug, Croft Week Commencing SUMMER HOLIDAY WORK- concerts with big head- Northampton GAMES Discover all the Castle, Herefordshire SHOPS Fun creative liners, Italian Job Minis CHAMPIONSHIP games and toys which VW CAMPER AND BUS MON 10 AUG workshops to help at the Engine House, a CHALLENGE Second visit kept children in SHOW Family activities explore the exhibitions, fashion show and of the season from medieval times enter- for VW bus enthusiasts, CIRCUS IN THE GARDENS Thurs 13 Aug, Ikon stalls, guest DJs at Avon Tyres/TTC Group, tained, Mon 3 - Fri 7 Fri 7 - Sun 9 Aug, Featuring plate spin- Gallery, Birmingham Kidderminster and a Sat 15 - Sun 16 Aug, Aug, Kenilworth Castle, Eastnor Castle Deer ning, juggling and all SHIVER ME TIMBERS! 1960s mini-bar, Sat 15 Shelsley Walsh, Warwickshire Park, Herefordshire the fun of the circus, Pirate-themed family Aug, Severn Valley Worcestershire TREE SPIRITS An explo- DONINGTON CLASSIC Mon 10 Aug, fun, Thurs 13 - Fri 14 Railway, Bewdley, Nr IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE ration of the Onny MOTORCYCLE FESTIVAL Birmingham Botanical Aug, Wightwick Manor, Kidderminster WOODS TODAY Fun Meadows with craft One of the biggest Gardens Wolverhampton THE COLOR RUN Run the woodland activities for activities, Mon 3 - Fri 7 classic racing events in FAMILY FUN DAY All- SHREWSBURY FLOWER colourful 5K course all the family, Sat 15 - Aug, Shropshire Hills Europe with five hun- weather afternoon rac- SHOW As usual both solo - or even better, Sun 16 Aug, Moseley Discovery Centre dred racing machines ing, Mon 10 Aug, days’ proceedings cul- take your friends along, Old Hall, Nr FESTIVAL OF IMAGINEERS expected on track over Wolverhampton minate in a massed Sat 15 Aug, NEC, Wolverhampton Imagineer Productions the weekend, Fri 7 - Racecourse is working in partner- Sun 9 Aug, Donington ACTIVE AFTERNOONS ship with Culture Park Racing Circuit Craft and outdoor activ- Coventry to create the EVENING SCENIC ities, Mon 10 - Tues 11 second annual Festival SPECIALS Scenic Aug, Moseley Old Hall, of Imagineers, taking evening ride with the Wolverhampton place in locations added option of tradi- TERRIFIC TUDORS The across the city centre, tional fish and chip castle is brought back Mon 3 - Sat 8 Aug, supper, Sat 8 Aug, to life as a Tudor Coventry City Centre Severn Valley Railway, palace, Mon 10 - Fri 14 SPORTING FUN AT PRIORY Bewdley, Nr Aug, Kenilworth Castle, PARK Multi-sports fun, Kidderminster Warwickshire Tues 4 Aug, Priory AN EVENING WITH STEVE PLAY ON THE PARK A Park, Dudley PARISH AND FRIENDS range of activities for all FASHION WEEK The former motorcycle the family to enjoy, Mon Comparing the extrava- racer discusses his 10 - Fri 14 Aug, Aston gant outfits worn by career in racing, Sat 8 Hall, Birmingham wealthy Victorians to Aug, Donington Park SCIENCE WITH A BANG those of the common Racing Circuit Featuring slime making townsfolk, craft workers ST. THOMAS' CHURCH and mini rockets, Mon and street paupers. CHOIR IN THE SINGING 10 - Fri 14 Aug, Guests are invited to CAVERN Sat 8 Aug, Shropshire Hills dress up for the occa- Dudley Canal Tunnel Discovery Centre, sion and enter the daily and Limestone Mines South Shropshire Fashions Of The 1900s VJMC CLASSIC CLUBS STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD competition, with on- SHOWS Part of the & CONSERVATION TOUR

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val showing Dirty Estate, Bridgnorth, MotorGP Paddock is MULTI-PERIOD LIVING LISTINGS Dancing and Night Of Shropshire back at Silverstone, Fri HISTORY WEEKEND Sun Events The Living Dead, Sat 22 LET'S GO FLY A KITE Take 28 - Sun 30 Aug, 30 - Mon 31 Aug, Aug, Green Street, your own, buy or make Silverstone Circuit, Harvington Hall, For full listing information on Events, Kidderminster a kite to fly, Wed 26 Northampton Kidderminster including times and dates, visit THE TIME TRAVELLERS' Aug, Powis Castle and EVENING SCENIC SIEGE! The castle is www.whatsonlive.co.uk IRONBRIDGE QUEST An Garden, Powys, Mid SPECIALS A scenic under siege as the interactive adventure Wales evening ride with the forces of Simon de taking over Enginuity BEETLEMANIA BROOCHES added option of tradi- Montfort fend off the BONSAI DEMONSTRATION al racing circuit, Wed and the Museum of Make collage prints tional fish and chip sup- attack of Prince Edward As well as the bonsai 19 Aug, Donington Park Iron, Sat 22 Aug, inspired by insects with per, Sat 29 Aug, Severn in the Civil War, Sun 30 display, experts will be Racing Circuit Coalbrookdale Museum Adrienne Craddock, Valley Railway, - Mon 31 Aug, on hand to answer ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY of Iron, Ironbridge, Thurs 27 Aug, Museum Bewdley, Nr Kenilworth Castle, questions, Sun 16 Aug, LECTURE Thurs 20 Aug, Shropshire of the Jewellery Kidderminster Warwickshire Birmingham Botanical Birmingham Botanical 750 MOTOR CLUB 750 Quarter, Birmingham SUMMER IN SOUTHSIDE ALICE IN WONDERLAND Gardens Gardens Motor Club champi- CHILDREN'S FACE Birmingham’s WEEKEND Celebrating BMW CC NATIONAL FAMILY FUN DAY Thurs onship car races, Sat PAINTING A chance for Southside district once one hundred-and-fifty FESTIVAL Featuring old 20 Aug, Castle 22 - Sun 23 Aug, youngsters to learn the again plays host to a years of Alice In and new, classic and Bromwich Hall Silverstone Circuit, art of face painting, selection of free out- Wonderland with a modern, and the Gardens, Birmingham Northampton Thurs 27 Aug, Selly door theatre. Dance, treasure hunt around biggest collection in DECORATIVE SCOPE FESTIVAL OF Manor, Birmingham circus and music per- the castle and grounds, Europe, Sun 16 Aug, DREAMCATCHERS Artist SHOW JUMPING Sat 22 - THURSDAY LATES formances are pro- Sun 30 - Mon 31 Aug, Heritage Motor Centre Louise Mary leads this Sat 29 Aug, A stroll around the gar- grammed over the Eastnor Castle Deer Gaydon, Warwickshire family craft session on Staffordshire County dens with live music bank holiday weekend. Park, Herefordshire SUNDAY BRASS AND making dreamcatchers, Showground and local performers, For a full programme of CHURCH FETE Featuring Thurs 20 Aug, Museum MECCANO EVENT See Thurs 27 Aug, Erddig events and artist infor- a brass band and of the Jewellery Week Commencing some amazing working Hall, Wrexham mation, visit birming- church-style fete, Sun Quarter, Birmingham Meccano models and SUMMER HOLIDAY WORK- hamhippodrome.com, MON 31 AUG 16 Aug, Eastnor Castle SPACE ALIENS find out more about the SHOPS Fun, creative Sat 29 - Sun 30 Aug, Deer Park, CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP versatile building sys- workshops to help Southside, Birmingham ROLLING MILL Herefordshire A chance to get cre- tem with the Telford explore the exhibitions, THE SEIGE OF DEMONSTRATION ative with recycled Meccano Society, Sat Thurs 27 Aug, Ikon BROCKHAMPTON The Sir Originally used to materials to make Week Commencing 22 - Sun 23 Aug, Blists Gallery, Birmingham John Savile Household amend and resize iron aliens and space rock- Hill, Ironbridge, SHIVER ME TIMBERS! perform the seige of bars, the Rolling Mill is MON 17 AUG ets, Thurs 20 Aug, Selly Shropshire Pirate-themed family Brockhampton at the a typical Black Country Manor, Birmingham PEAK PERFORMANCE fun, Thurs 27 - Fri 28 moated manor house, hand rolling mill from WOLVERHAMPTON SUMMER HOLIDAY WORK- TEST & TUNE DAY RWYB Aug, Wightwick Manor, Sat 29 - Mon 31 Aug, around the 1900s, Mon SPEEDWAY Monday SHOPS Fun, creative with maximum track Wolverhampton Brockhampton Estate, 31 Aug, Black Country night is race night... workshops to help time for serious enthu- SUMMER BARBEQUE Herefordshire Living Museum, Dudley check out all the action, explore the exhibitions, siasts. Car clubs, per- PARTY Enjoy a glass of OLIVER TWIST WEEKEND WOLVERHAMPTON Mon 17 Aug, Ladbroke Thurs 20 Aug, Ikon formance specialists PImms punch and a Characters from SPEEDWAY Monday Stadium, Gallery, Birmingham and individuals all wel- night of rhythm & Charles Dickens’ Oliver night is race night... Wolverhampton SHIVER ME TIMBERS! come, Sun 23 Aug, blues, Fri 28 Aug, Park Twist come to life in a check out all the action, WW1 DISCOVERY DAY Pirate-themed family Santa Pod Raceway, House Hotel, , special themed event, Mon 31 Aug, Ladbroke Join uniformed officers fun, Thurs 20 - Fri 21 Northampton Shropshire Sat 29 - Mon 31 Aug, Stadium, on a detailed tour of the Aug, Wightwick Manor, MAD SCIENCE Crazy and OCTO BRITISH GRAND Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Wolverhampton museum’s WWI trench Wolverhampton fun experiments by the PRIX MOTORGP The Shropshire system, Mon 17 Aug, KNIGHTS & PRINCESSES Mad Scientist, Sun 23 - The Staffordshire ACADEMY Hands-on Thurs 27 Aug, Eastnor Regiment Museum medieval activities in Castle Deer Park, BOUNCE AND BOING the academy for bud- Herefordshire Inflatable obstacle ding knights and course and bouncy princesses, Thurs 20 - castle, Mon 17 - Thurs Fri 21 Aug, Stokesay Week Commencing 20 Aug, Eastnor Castle Castle, Craven Arms, MON 24 AUG Deer Park, South Shropshire Herefordshire LITERATURE Poetry KNIGHTS & PRINCESSES BLACK COUNTRY evening with Vanley ACADEMY Hands-on VOYAGES Mon 17 - Burke, Fri 21 August, medieval activities in Thurs 20 Aug, The Red Ikon Galley, the academy for bud- House Glass Cone, Birmingham ding knights and Stourbridge FULL BEAM FILM princesses, Mon 24 - ARTIST TALK: ROBERT FESTIVAL A drive-in festi- Fri 28 Aug, Kenilworth DAVIES Join artist val showing Annie Hall Castle, Warwickshire Robert Davies for fur- and The Big Lebowski, CREATE A CASTLE ther insight into his film, Fri 21 Aug, Green CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP Of Time And The Street, Kidderminster Get creative by making Railway, a piece of VW ACTION All things your own castles and work that was eighty-six VW with racing, RWYB, crowns, Tues 25 Aug, days in the making, show’n’shine and much Selly Manor, Tues 18 Aug, mac, more, Fri 21 - Sun 23 Birmingham Birmingham Aug, Santa Pod BUG HOTEL MAKING AND PIRATES CHILDREN'S Raceway, Northampton HUNT Make a bug hotel WORKSHOP Featuring a EVENING SCENIC and hunt for butterflies, treasure hunt and the SPECIALS A scenic Tues 25 Aug, chance to make your evening ride with the Brockhampton Estate, own cutlass, eye patch added option of tradi- Herefordshire and hat, Tues 18 Aug, tional fish and chip sup- JUNIOR DRAG RACING Selly Manor, per, Sat 22 Aug, Severn FUN DAY A fun day for Birmingham Valley Railway, all junior racers aged A VICTORIAN CHILDHOOD Bewdley, Nr eight to seventeen. A brand new event for Kidderminster Featuring junior drag 2015. Meet on the vil- KIDS DISCOVER RAG bikes, junior dragsters lage Green to learn RUGGING Join the crafty and junior funny cars, about a Victorian child- folk to learn how to Wed 26 Aug, hood, Tues 18 - Sun 23 make a mini rag rug, Santa Pod Raceway, Aug, Blists Hill, Sat 22 Aug, Northampton Ironbridge, Shropshire Birmingham Back to TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC & PEPPA PIG Peppa Pig Backs PIRATE FETE Take along and George in the gar- FUNCUP CAR ENDURANCE your teddy bear for a dens, Wed 19 Aug, RACES The Fun Cup picnic, treasure hunt Birmingham Botanical offers excellent value, and fun and games, Gardens packed grids and excit- Wed 26 Aug, HONDA RON HASLAM ing racing, Sat 22 Aug, Birmingham Botanical RACE SCHOOL The Ron Donington Park Racing Gardens Haslam Race School Circuit MAGICAL MUSIC Play the offers the experience of FULL BEAM FILM lion a tune, Wed 26 riding on an internation- FESTIVAL A drive-in festi- Aug, Dudmaston

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 63 Events August Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2015 16:11 Page 11 Eating Out August region two.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2015 12:28 Page 1 Eating Out A family gem in Shrewsbury Having taken over iconic tudor cafe Poppy’s, the Crouch brothers are making their new restaurant, CSONS, a real family venture. Between them, sib- lings Adam, Ben, Reuben and Josh bring a wealth of experience to the Shrewsbury lunch scene (one of them has cheffed in some of the country’s top Michelin-star restaurants, another at London’s renowned Pavilion Cafe). The brothers have kept the features of the beauti- ful tudor building, modernising it with zingy pops of colour and some industrial-style furniture and fittings. The atmosphere is laid back and trendy (without being pretentious), with plenty of room in the back for mums and dads with pushchairs. Front of House manager Adam informs us that the menu - presenting a healthy array of breakfast and lunch options, tapas, puddings and a few kids’ classics - changes on a daily basis, negating the need for a specials board. So far, lots of boxes are ticked. My gingerella ‘soft fizz’ was delicious, and the taste of the coffee ‘brew of the day’ sublime - although a little cold by the time it was delivered. Our lunches arrived: Smoked salmon salad with capers, mustard yogurt, potato and pickled cucumber; and steak soba noodles with broad beans, chilli, sesame and lime. The ingredients were very fresh. The salmon slices were thick and generous in portion; the pickle was the ultimate complement to the dish. Although the potatoes were a little too al dente for my taste and the sea- A big wow! for Wildwood... soning a little on the weak side in the noodles (again, subject to personal taste), we felt nicely full REVIEW high chairs too). that was refreshing and - but without suffering the lethargic feeling that We washed down our comforting at the same nobody wants at lunchtime! Mediterranean antipasti time. We were two very Of course, we had to go and ruin it by scoffing The redevelopment of and calamari with some happy individuals. down the most evil chocolate brownie I’ve ever Southwater, which had large Moretti beers and Bear in mind Wildwood is eaten, along with an elderflower, lemon and previously been a lake wondered how we would a chain of nine restau- almond cake. CSONS is worth the trip for its cake and park land, has provid- manage to squeeze in rants, so it comes with and coffee alone - absolutely delicious! ed Telford with some another two courses! that stereotypical feeling My overall feeling about CSONS is one of excite- much-needed kudos - an Our mains arrived - a very of a ‘pizza/pasta/from the ment. You get the feeling the Crouch brothers enormous children’s park, palatable Surf’n’Turf: gor- grill’-type establishment. have plenty more in their locker - as we’ll no doubt a huge library, an eleven- geous medium-rare ribeye You don’t go to a find out when they open their evening restaurant screen IMAX cinema, love- steak with six huge king Wildwood Kitchen for a later in the year. Jessica Aston ly views and a plethora of prawns and an addictive fine-dining experience, but high street eateries from mustard mayo; and a its hearty, tasty and value- Food: CSONS n n n n n which to choose. It really sausage ragu penne with for-money nosh definitely Service: 8 Milk Street n n n n n is a fantastic boost for the gorgonzola cheese. The gets a massive thumbs-up Ambience: Shrewsbury n n n n n town. sausage meat had a pep- from me. It was, without Overall value SY1 1SZ n n n n n Wildwood Kitchen, one of pery kick - with a lovely question, the best chain- Tel: 01743 272709 OVERALL n n n n n its venues, benefits from fennel aftertaste - and just restaurant experience I’ve the best views in the enough gorgonzola to ever had. Jessica Aston house, stunning interior make it gooey and deli- design and uber-cool and cious. Food: n n n n n friendly staff. It also boasts More Moretti beers, some Service: n n n n n a cracking menu which banter with fabulous wait- Ambience: n n n n n has Adam and Samuel er Tom, a quick scout Overall value n n n n n Kaye written all over it. around the trendy loos, OVERALL n n n n n Their olives and and we were ready for mozzarella garlic bread is dessert! Unfortunately Wildwood Kitchen instantly recognisable. they had none of the high- 2 Southwater Way There’s a huge selection ly coveted profiteroles Park Avenue of food available, catering (needless to say, I was Southwater for meat-eaters, veggies devastated), so we went Telford and kids (there’s plenty of for the berry waffle with TF3 4BF room for pushchairs and ice cream to share - a dish Tel: 01952 797429

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out August region two.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2015 12:28 Page 2

THE WOODMAN Claverley, LISTINGS Wolverhampton, WV5 Restaurant 7DG 01746 710 553 For full listing information on restau- rants, including opening times and Shropshire type of cuisine, visit: www.whatson- AFTAB 25 High St, live.co.uk Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 01952 432055 Place, Walsall, WS1 3NA ALBRIGHT HUSSEY Black Country 01922 646164 Ellesmere Rd, FOUR STONES Adam’s Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 Hill, Clint, Stourbridge, 01939 290 523 Lichfield Street, Walsall, DY9 9PS 01562 883260 BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a WS1 1SY 01922 613361 FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, Mardol, Shrewsbury, BANK BAR & LOUNGE 21 - Smethwick, B67 5BN SY1 1PZ 01743 272586 23 Wolverhampton 0121 429 7920 BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal, Road, Cannock, WS11 FRENCH CONNECTION TF11 9BA 01952 1AP 01543 509251 3 Coventry St, 460128 BANKS BISTRO Chapel Stourbridge, DY8 1EP CASA NARANJO Barracks Ash, Wolverhampton, 01384 390940 Passage, Wyle Cop, WV1 4EP 01902 238433 FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove Shrewsbury, SY1 01743 BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, Rd, Clent, Stourbridge, 588165 Wolverhampton, 01902 DY9 9PY 01562 883040 CASA RUIZ 45 High 427555 GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 BENGAL FUSION 174 High Ablewell St, Walsall, 4DX 01746 218 084 St, Lye, Stourbridge, WS12EQ 01922 640363 CHEZ MAW Best Western The Foundry, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury DY9 8LN. 01384 891111 THE HUNGRY BISTRO 81 Valley Hotel, Buildwas BILASH 2 Cheapside, Lichfield Street, Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Foregate, Shrewsbury, Stafford, ST16 2HY Wolverhampton, WV1 Wolverhampton, WV1 01952 432247 SY2 6AE 01743 355055 01785 253279 1TU 01902 427762 1EQ 01902 546336 01743 281744 THE COTTAGE Tern Hill, THE HAYWARDS ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT THE BLUE BRICK at The THE PLUME OF FEATHERS LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower Market Drayton, TF9 3PX 27 Broad Eye, Stafford, Broad Gauge Way, Mill Street, Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, Harley, Shrewsbury, SY5 01630 638984 ST16 2QB 01785 Wolverhampton, WV1 Kidderminster, DY11 Shrewsbury, SY1 1UY 6LP 01743 727360 CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole, 229988 1AA 01902 875301 6UU 01562 744976 01743 353107 PORTER HOUSE 15 St Shrewsbury, SY1 1EN FOUR SEASONS Swinfen BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper MADE IN THAI Darlington HENRY TUDOR HOUSE Mary’s St, Shrewsbury, 01743 361440 Hall, Lichfield, WS14 Green, Wolverhampton, St, Wolverhampton, WV1 Barracks Passage, SY1 1EQ 01743 358870 DA VINCI’S 26 High St, 9RE 01543 481494 4HW 01902 312512 Shrewsbury, SY1 1XA THE POUND AT LEEBOT- WV6 8QQ 01902 Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 756052 PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower 01743 361666 WOOD Leebotwood, Nr THE GREEN ROOM Castle 01952 432250 Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253- Mill Street, HILL VALLEY HOTEL Church Stretton, SY6 DORRINGTON OLD HALL 6HR 01543 412121 255 Bilston Road, Kidderminster, Tarporley Road, 6ND 01694 751477 PERSIAN CUISINE Main INDIAN VILLAGE Wolverhampton, WV2 DY11 6UU 01562 60479 Whitchurch, SY13 4HA RENAISSANCE, 29a Road, Dorrington, 0844 879 9049 8 Lombard St, Lichfield, 2JN 01902 458024 THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst Princess St, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 7JD WS13 6DR 01543 CASA CASITA Upper Lane, Tipton, DY4 9AB HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN SY11LW 01743 354289 0121 557 1402 01743 719100 18 Butcher Row, 253415 Gornal, Dudley, DY3 ROMOLO Victoria Avenue, RED FORT DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St Shrewsbury, SY1 1UW INDICA Virage Park, 1UP 01902 676754 Fold St, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HH Wolverhampton, WV1 Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ 01743 588040 Cannoc, WS11 0HN CATELLANI’S 6 School St, 01743 233244 4LP 01902 424440 01743 344679 THE INN AT GRINSHILL 08712 070417 Wolverhampton, WV1 SARACENS Shrewsbury 4LR 01902 428928 RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 THE FEATHERS Brockton, The High Street, LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford Much Wenlock, TF13 Rd, SY4 4AG 01939 St, Stone, ST15 8QW CINNAMON COURT Bentley Upper Green, Tettenhall, Grinshill, Shrewsbury, 6JR 01746 785202 210877 01785 817 985 Mill Way, Walsall, WS2 Wolverhampton WV6 SY4 3BL 01939 220410 SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St, 0BP 0121 568 6664 8QQ 01902 756052 FENNELS 8 Market Place, KING & THAI Avenue Rd, THE LODGE 24 SAFFRON Shifna,l TF11 9AZ Oswestry, SY11 1AQ Birmingham Road, THE COWSHED Clive Wolverhampton Broseley, Telford, TF12 Road, Oldbury, B69 4RR 01952 463020 01691 655444 Shenstone, WS14 0LQ Farm Clive Rd, 5DL 01952 882004 0121 552 1752 01543 483334 Pattingham, WV6 7EN THE FOX INN 46 High St, THE KNIGHTON HOTEL SHALIMAR 23 Abbey 01902 701888 SIMON’S 520 Chester Rd, Much Wenlock, TF13 Broad Street, Knighton, Foregate, Shrewsbury, MALABAR 1-2 Water Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 Street, Stafford, ST16 THE CROOKED HOUSE 6AD 01952 727292 Powys, LD7 1BL 01547 SY2 6AE 01743 366658 0PU 0121 580 9293 2AG 01785 227 500/600 Coppice Hill, Himley, FRANK CAFE BAR 129 520530 SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop, DY3 4DA 01384 238583 SPICES Hollywell Rd, Frankwell, Shrewsbury, LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT MARLOES 13 London Wednesbury, WS10 7PA Road, Newcastle under THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, SY3 8JX 01743 354422 Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 01743 242321 0121 502 0720 Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782 Walsall, WS1 2EU THE GOLDEN CROSS 14 1QU 01743 249126 THE SILVERTON the Old 661983 01922 643215 THE SPRINGHILL Princess St, Shrewsbury, LA LANTERNA The Old Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell, Warstones Rd, Penn, THE MILL 1 Mill St, Stone, DON SALVO 25 Darlington SY1 1LP 01743 362507 Vestry, St Julian's Shrewsbury SY3 8JY Wolverhampton, WV4 ST15 8BA 01785 Street, Wolverhampton, GRANARY BAR & GRILL Church, Shrewsbury 01743 248000 4LB 01902 342530 818456 WV1 4HW 01902 712819 Weston Park, Weston- SY1 1UH 01743 233552 TIN TINS Wellington Road, THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 under-Lizard, Nr Shifnal, LION & PHEASANT 50 Telford, TF2 8AJ THE NAVIGATION INN DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley Gospel End Rd, Dudley, Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU TF11 8LE 01952 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, 01952 608688 Newport Road, Gnosall, DY3 4AN 01902 676 Stafford, ST20 0BN 01384 877077 852107 SY1 1XJ 01743 770345 THE WALLS 102 Welsh Walls, 01785 822327 FARADAYS The HADLEY PARK HOUSE THE LION QUAYS Moreton, Oswestry, SY11 1AW THORNESCROFT Oswestry, SY11 3EN OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St, Waterfront, Brierley Hill, Bridgnorth Rd, Hadley Park, Telford, 01691 670970 Dudley, DY5 1UR TF1 6QJ 01952 677269 01691 684300 Branston, Burton, DE14 Wolverhampton, WV6 ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40 3EX 01283 533222 01384 482 882 7EQ 01902 700 253 HAVANA REPUBLIC LOCH FYNE Talbot House, High Street, Shrewsbury, PASCAL AT THE OLD VIC- FIVE RIVERS Vicarage 18 Abbey Foregate, Market Street, SY1 1SF 01743 353232 Shrewsbury, SY1 1LG ARAGE 2 Main Street, 01743 277140 Branston, Burton-upon- LUDLOW KITCHEN Staffordshire Trent 01283 533222 Bromfield, Ludlow, SY2 PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 Mill 2JR 01584 856020 NO 5 Gaol Mews, Stafford, Street, Stafford, ST16 ST16 3AN 01785 22 9900 (EST 86) THE MALTHOUSE The 2AJ 01782 263 737 95 HIGH GREEN Cannock, THEA RECIPE DINNER FOR FINE FOOD ANDCLUB GOOD COMPANY Wharfage, Ironbridge, THE PEAR TREE Swinfen, TF8 7NH 01902 433712 WS11 1BH 01543 Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR 573905 MOMO·NO·KI T19 Abbey 01543 481807 1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5 Foregate, Shrewsbury, PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh Lombard St, Lichfield, SINGLE? SY2 6AE 01743 281770 St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1 WS13 6DP 01543 1JD 01782 209444 MORGANS 1 Bellstone, For the more discerning 257986 THE RED ROOM 7 Shrewsbury, SY1 1HU BELLA ITALIA 20 Greengate unattached person, age 40+ 01743 231199 Newcastle Road, St, Stafford, ST16 2HS Congleton, CW12 4HN THE MYTTON & MERMAID 01785 211968 01260 297871 Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie Atcham, Shrewsbury, CHANDLERS Corn THORNBURY HALL, RASOI SY5 6QG 01743 761220 balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. Exchange, Conduit St, Lockwood Rd, Kingsley THE OLD ORLETON INN Lichfield, WS13 6JU Holt, Stafford, ST10 2DH NOT A DATING AGENCY Holyhead Rd, Wellington, 01543 416688 01538 750831 TF1 2HA 01952 255011 THE CORNER HOUSE WOLSELEY ARMS THE OLD RECTORY HOTEL Second Avenue,Burton- (Day) (Eve/W-end) Wolseley Bridge, 01244 677030 /01244 548816 & RESTAURANT Lowe Hill On-Trent, DE14 2WF Stafford, ST17 0XS Road, Wem, Shropshire, 01283 542321 01889 883179 SY4 5UA 01939 233233 CURRY KUTEER 31 www.thedinnerclubuk.com THE PEACH TREE 21 Abbey Greengate Street,

66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk p67 (IBC) R2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:26 Page 1 grand_whatson FP Aug:Layout 1 24/07/2015 12:11 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

THU 3 SEPT FRI 4 - SAT 5 SEPT TUES 8 - SAT 12 SEPT

West Bromwich Operatic Society are extremely proud to present

Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER Book & Lyrics by DON BLACK & CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON Based on the film by BILLY WILDER

An amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd

SUN 13 SEPT SAT 26 SEPT WED 30 SEPT - SUN 11 OCT

TUES 13 OCT WED 14 OCT THURS 15 OCT CERI DUPREE EYEcons

Follow us on @WolvesGrand Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand

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