Staffordshire Cover Online.qxp_cover 23/09/2015 11:37 Page 1 THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE STAFFORDSHIRE ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 358 OCTOBER 2015 GARY LUCY GOES THE FULL MONTY more inside... THE SNOW DRAGON Tall Stories at the Gatehouse STOMP & HOLLER ‘big, bold blues band’ provide a taste of New Orleans The INSIDE: FILM COMEDY THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VISUAL ARTS EVENTS Drifters FOOD & DRINK ‘high energy show’ comes to Staffs & MUCH MORE! Belgrade (FP) OCT 2015.qxp_Layout 1 21/09/2015 20:59 Page 1 Contents October Region 2 .qxp_Layout 1 21/09/2015 21:50 Page 1 October 2015 The Full Monty Simon Beaufoy’s comedy arrives in Stoke, page 27 Strictly Grand Designs Meera Syal Craig Revel Horwood dresses for Kevin McCloud back at the NEC talks about Anita And Me Annie interview, page 42 page 67 interview, page 6 INSIDE: 4. News 11. Music 24. Comedy 27. Theatre 44. Dance 51. Film 63. Visual Arts 67. Days Out 81. Food @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Birmingham What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Publishing + Online Editor: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Editorial: Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Chris Eldon Lee, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Helen Stallard Offices: Wynner House, Managing Director: Paul Oliver Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Chris Atherton Bromsgrove St, Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 Birmingham B5 6RG This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. and We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. News October Region TWO.qxp_Layout 1 21/09/2015 19:05 Page 1 News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Whitby Jet amongst highlights at Winter Fair This popular event, which makes a welcome return to the venue next month for its Winter Fair, is famed for its pottery, porcelain and glass. The recent addition of twentieth centu- ry and contemporary specialists has encour- aged a more diverse range of buyers and designers. Among the Winter Fair highlights is a Whitby Jet exhibition. The display tells the story of the world’s largest fashioned and rough Jet specimen collection of over two hundred pieces, most of which are being shown in public for the first time. Antiques For Everyone’s Winter Fair takes place at the NEC from 19 to 22 November. 25 Years of Costume showcased in Brum As part of its twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations, Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) is exhibit- ing a selection of costumes worn by its dancers during its quarter-century residency in the city. The intimate exhibition has been designed to provide members of the general public with the New venue for gaming event chance to find out how the costumes are made, from initial sketches through to finished product. The UK’s biggest gaming festival is relocat- Commenting on the exhibition, BRB’s Head of Costume, Elaine Garlick, said; “This is an ing to Birmingham’s NEC, having outgrown extraordinary opportunity to display the time, effort and craftsmanship that goes into each its current home at the Ricoh Arena in and every costume that we put on stage.” Coventry. Insomnia Gaming Festival is a Birmingham Royal Ballet: 25 Years Of Costume runs at House of Fraser, Birmingham, until 11 twenty-four-hour event ‘combining all the October. Admission is free. best bits of video-gaming’. It takes its NEC bow in December. Commenting on the relocation, the founder New sporting event aims Housman - author of A Shropshire Lad - will and CEO of Multiplay, Craig Fletcher, said: also be set to music and performed by the “The Insomnia Gaming Festival has enjoyed to inspire youngsters highly rated ensemble. an incredible journey in recent years. Ticket The Sports Show, taking place at the NEC BCMG kicked-off their season at the end of sales have soared in the last three years and from 24 to 26 June, has been created to last month with a performance of new piece we’re expecting to welcome a total of over inspire youngsters ‘to play sport, love sport Requiem To Let at Birmingham Weekender, one hundred thousand visitors through our and live sport’. The event will bring together the city’s free arts festival. doors in 2015.” a wide range of sports activities under one Insomnia Gaming Festival takes place at the roof, with a number of former and current NEC from 11 to 14 December. sports stars also on hand to offer their New members sought for advice and expertise. Commenting on the new event, Sports Show South Shropshire choir Neil Simon Director Ed Rusling said: “The show is going A recently established Ludlow-based singing to be a playground of fun for kids across the group is on the lookout for new members. comedy country. We’ll be taking over most of the The group meets every Thursday between launches rep NEC and plan to pack every inch with as 10am and 11.30am at the Loudwater Studio many different sports as we can.” on Burway Trading Estate. “The group has a theatre’s first feelgood factor about it and everyone’s here season to have fun,” says Loudwater’s Business Development Manager, Nikki Hook. “Singing The first professional World premieres feature in is an amazing way of getting rid of the repertory theatre season to take place in stresses of everyday life. We already have Shrewsbury for sixty years is set to open this new concert season six members but it would be great to see the month. A work of classical music based on Samuel group grow. The first session is free, so Marches Theatre Company is performing hit Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem, The Rime Of there’s nothing to lose.” To find out more Neil Simon comedy The Last Of The Red Hot The Ancient Mariner, is one of no fewer than about singing at Loudwater, contact Sarah Lovers at the town’s Wightman Theatre from thirteen world premieres being presented by on 07801 225883 or call Loudwater Studio 14 to 24 October. Birmingham Contemporary Music Group in on (01584) 877272. To book tickets, ring 0800 292 2116 or visit its 2015/16 season. www.Marchestheatre.co.uk/redhotbookings. The verses of Shakespeare and AE 4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News October Region TWO.qxp_Layout 1 21/09/2015 19:05 Page 2 Museum ready for Big Bang... The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is next month hosting an event designed to encourage youngsters to consider future careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Big Bang is the UK’s largest science and engineering event for young people aged between seven and nineteen. The show offers visiting students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning outside the classroom in a fun, interactive and innova- tive way. Commenting on the show, event organiser James Silcox said: “This is a unique event aiming to inspire the next generation of young scientists and engineers with the STEM careers and opportunities available in the Armed Forces and Emergency Services.” Big Bang STEM 4 Heroes takes place at RAF Cosford on 5 November. Grand Theatre announces new season Midlands theatregoers will have plenty of reason to visit the Wolverhampton Grand next spring, with the venue having lined up a succession of sure-to-be-popular shows. Nikolai Foster’s brand new production of Annie, starring Birds Of A Feather’s Lesley Joseph as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan, shows at the theatre from 4 to 8 April. It’s swiftly followed by the visit of psychological illusionist Derren Brown (from the 11th to the 16th). Strictly Come Dancing 2014 winner Pasha Kovalev stops off at the theatre on the 17th, while Flog It! in Wolverhampton Priscilla Queen Of The Desert parks its delightfully battered old bus in the city from 2 to 7 Wolverhampton Art Gallery is set to host a May. Flog It valuation day. Now in its fifteenth As spring gives way to summer, West Bromwich Operatic Society (WBOS) make a welcome series, the BBC daytime television show is return to the venue with Made In Dagenham - The Musical. inviting members of the public to bring Tickets for all the above shows can be purchased from 9 October. WBOS tickets are already along up to three antiques and collectables available. they might be interested in selling. Once The venue has also announced plans for a major refurbishment next summer. The refurb is valued, the owner and a team of experts designed to massively improve the front-of-house areas, enhance the visitor experience and decide whether an object should go for- increase the city centre night-time economy. ward for auction.