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Birmingham Cover Online.qxp_Birmingham Cover 28/11/2016 09:33 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 372 DECEMBER 2016 Birmingham ’ KATHERINE JENKINS CELEBRATES WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On birminghamwhatson.co.uk CHRISTMAS AT SYMPHONY HALL inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide The Bear A magical and vibrant adaptation of Raymond Brigg’s classic story see feature inside... O2 Acacemy (FP- December 16).qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 13:03 Page 1 Contents December Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 10:45 Page 2 December 2016 Contents Magic Lantern Festival - illuminate your Christmas at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens page 49 The Bear Mrs Barbara Nice Marvel Live the list Raymond Briggs’ much-loved talks about her Christmas Superheroes assemble for live Your 16-page tale set to delight youngsters Cracker of a show... Barclaycard Arena show week-by-week listings guide Feature page 8 Interview page 18 page 45 page 53 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 42. Visual Arts 45. Events @whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonbirmingham Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, David Vincent, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD December B'ham.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 13:10 Page 1 First Word Enter Shikari announced as Slam Dunk headline act British rock band Enter Shikari will headline the 2017 Slam Dunk Festival in Birmingham. The talented four-piece, who are this year celebrating their 10th anniversary, made their first appearance at the festival in 2015 and will be performing ‘a very special exclusive UK festival set’. "Slam Dunk is a festival that we’ve been attending from the very start,” says band member Rou Reynolds. “It's grown into one of the most important festivals in alterna- tive music, and it will be an absolute honour to headline it in 2017. We’re going to be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of our debut album, Take To The Skies, which feels totally mental in and of itself. The fact that we get to reminisce and relive tracks we recorded so long ago, and which are still held dear by so many, is something I could never have anticipated back then, and it fills me with appreciation for everyone who’s supported the band over the years.” Slam Dunk Festival Midlands takes place at the Genting Arena and NEC on 27 May. For tickets, visit theticketfacto- ry.com or call 0844 33 88 222. Get jogging to spread Monster alert! Dippy the Celebrating 25 years of some Christmas cheer Dinosaur heads for Brum Sound Investment... The UK’s most famous dinosaur is heading A concert celebrating for the Midlands. the 25th anniversary of The Natural History Museum’s (NHM) plas- Birmingham ter-of-Paris model of a Diplodocus will spend Contemporary Music four months at Birmingham Museum & Art Group’s (BCMG) Sound Gallery (BMAG) as part of a nationwide tour. Investment crowdfund- The model, affectionately referred to as ing scheme takes place Dippy, has been delighting visitors to the this month. NHM since 1905 and has never before been The Thomas Adès-con- exhibited outside London. ducted event at the Charity fundraisers can stretch their legs and Thomas Ades The full skeleton in its displayed pose is an city’s CBSO Centre, on get into the spirit of Christmas over the first impressive 21.3 metres long, 4.3 metres wide Saturday 10 December, will feature several weekend of December, courtesy of two fes- and 4.25 metres high. Sound Investment pieces and the world pre- tive-themed ‘fun runs’ taking place in Commenting on the exhibit, which arrives at miere of a new work by Francisco Coll. Birmingham. BMAG on 17 May 2018, Dr Ellen McAdam, Commenting on the celebrations, BCMG’s Acorns Children’s Hospice is hoping to raise Director of Birmingham Museums Trust, artistic director, Stephan Meier, said: “Sound much-needed funds when they host a Santa said: “I remember encountering Dippy on my Investors share with BCMG a mercurial Run around Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park first visit to London at the age of 11, when I enjoyment in seeing a new work develop and on Saturday 3 December. was fascinated equally by fossils and mum- an inherent sense of adventure. The bril- Participants will be given their very own mies. I’m thrilled that we’re now able to liance of Sound Investment lies in its sim- fancy-dress Santa suits and can then enjoy a bring the most famous dinosaur cast in plicity. In creating Sound Investment, my 5km Santa Run or a 2km Santa Stroll. Britain to Birmingham.” predecessors, Simon Clugston and Stephen To sign up, visit acorns.org.uk/santa, call Newbould, developed a model for engage- 01564 82 5000 or email ment and creative fundraising that was way [email protected]. ahead of its time, and which has been Meanwhile, Birmingham’s St Mary’s Hospice admired and replicated in various forms is calling on people to take part in its annual worldwide. Most importantly, it has created Jingle Bell Jog around Kings Heath Park on an international BCMG family that extends Sunday 4 December. far beyond the concert platform. Our chal- The registration fee includes a Santa suit lenge is to continue to stay ahead of the and bushy white beard for participants to game, something we are very much looking wear while completing the 2km route. forward to doing.” To find out more, visit careatchristmas.org. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD December B'ham.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 13:10 Page 2 FIRST WORD December B'ham.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2016 13:10 Page 3 First Word Venues announced for A festive first at New Art West Midlands 2017 Birmingham Rep Thirty-one artists from six regional art schools are Birmingham Repertory set to exhibit new work at four leading galleries as Theatre will be getting into part of New Art West Midlands 2017. the Christmas spirit early next A launch vehicle for emerging artists, New Art year when it stages the world West Midlands will next year use Birmingham premiere of Nativity! The Museum & Art Gallery, mac birmingham, Musical. Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Worcester City Art Based on the popular UK film Gallery to display the new work, which includes franchise and running at The painting, installation, sculpture, photography, REP from Friday 20 October video, animation and digital artworks. until Saturday 12 November, The exhibition will show at each of the four ven- the show is written and ues from 18 February to 14 May. For more informa- directed by Debbie Isitt, who tion, visit newartwestmidlands.co.uk also created the movies. “I’ve always believed that Nativity! would make a fan- tastic stage musical,” says Music on the menu at Pizza Express Debbie. “It’s so full of joy, the Disney On Ice children are so sweet and celebrates 100 Pizza Express is this month opening a pop-up live music venue in its funny and the songs so catchy years of magic Brindleyplace branch in Birmingham. that it lends itself to being the The new Pizza Express Jazz Club will host six live music performances perfect Christmas musical. Mickey Mouse and a whole over the first three weekends in December, with BRIT Award winner Now we’ve been able to host of other famous car- Beverley Craven kickstarting the season on the 2nd. assemble our theatrical toon characters take to the Also featuring is Motown Live Revue (3 December), Mari Wilson (9 Dec), dream team, I can’t wait to get ice at Birmingham’s Shakatak (10 Dec), Liane Carroll (16 Dec) and Kiki Dee (17 Dec). started on creating an unfor- Genting Arena next year, to For tickets and more information, visit pizzaexpresslive.com/pizzaex- gettable stage show.” celebrate a century of press-live-birmingham To book tickets for the pro- Walt Disney-inspired duction, ring 0121 236 4455 or entertainment. visit Birmingham-rep.co.uk Disney On Ice: 100 Years Of Magic will feature over 50 Snow White first edition a star attraction at characters from the compa- Antiques For Everyone’s winter show ny’s long and illustrious Local sponsor A rare first-edition book, recounting the popular fairytale of Snow White history, including Aladdin, for St Patrick’s And The Seven Dwarfs, looks set to be the star attraction at this month’s Beauty And The Beast, Antiques For Everyone Winter Fair in Birmingham.