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SOFIE HAGEN PLAYS COVENTRY&WARWICKSHIRE WHAT’S OCTOBER ON 2017 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands WARWICK ARTS CENTRE

Coventry & Warwickshire ISSUE 382 OCTOBER 2017 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On warwickshirewhatson.co.uk

inside: PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

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THE WEDDING FAIR inspirational ideas at Stoneleigh Park event WARWICKSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK Contents October Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:06 Page 1 Contents October Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:04 Page 2

October 2017

Contents

Motionhouse: Charge - multimedia show explores the role of energy in our lives - more on page 33

Godiva Rocks Catrin Finch Louise Redknapp the list

Alan Pollock’s new musical joins Armonico Consort for the life is a Cabaret at Your 16-page makes its Belgrade debut saga of Beowulf Malvern Theatre week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 page 17 page 28 page 53 inside:

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

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Entertainment news from around the region

RSC announces its summer season for 2018 Productions of three of Shakespeare’s most popular plays are among the highlights of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2018 summer season. New versions of Macbeth - starring ex-Dr Who Christopher Eccleston - Romeo And Juliet and The Merry Wives Of Windsor all feature in the programme. They are accompanied by Webster’s The Duchess Of Malfi, a revival of a 17th century play by little-known Mary Pix, The Fantastic Follies Of Mrs Rich, and Miss Littlewood, a brand new musical based on the life of theatre revolutionary Joan Littlewood. The Company’s 2016 production of King Lear will join the repertoire for a limited season after an international tour.

Wellbeing in the Midlands Hazel O’ Connor came in third with Will You. the Birmingham Hippodrome Tuesday 15 - The Belgrade launched the survey to tie in Saturday 19 May, is being helmed by the The Wellbeing Festival is returning to with its new musical, Godiva Rocks, which Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster. Birmingham’s NEC next month (3 - 5 shows at the venue from 7 to 21 October. “An Officer And A Gentleman delicately November), with the organisation behind the charts the lives of working class, military folk show, Mind Body Spirit, this year celebrating in America in the early 1980s,” explains its 40th anniversary. Light, sound, poetry and Nikolai. “We’re proud to be working The three-day event offers ‘spiritual seekers’ alongside the film's creator to present this a safe place in which to commune and share nature at Compton Verney beautiful and inspiring story.” their ideas, beliefs and philosophies. For more information, visit curveonline.co.uk Attractions at this month’s show include a workshop programme presenting new ideas on relationships, awakening, inspired living, Bedlam in Birmingham! NLP, yoga, meditation, science and angels. New for this year is the Ceremony Space, an Birmingham Repertory Theatre is hosting a area in which visitors can focus on intimate special showcase of theatrical productions as ceremony-based experiences. For more part of this month’s Bedlam Arts & Mental information, visit mindbodyspirit.co.uk Health Festival. Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park is once The Wellbeing Discovery Day (Sunday 22 again presenting its hugely popular light- October) features a range of performances and-sound display this autumn. (including scratch and rehearsed readings), Light artists Luxmuralis have taken poetry family-friendly activities and a marketplace and nature as their inspiration for a series of where visitors can meet and talk to stunning light projections. The display will organisations working in the mental health see the written word ‘brought to life in a rich field. and colourful palette’ projected onto Tutors from mac Birmingham will be on hand Compton Verney’s Georgian facade, while to offer a number of free participatory flora and fauna will be depicted both on a workshops, including yoga, mindfulness and miniature and an epic scale. The light display photo-montage for wellbeing. takes place on the weekends of 28 & 29 The Bedlam Arts & Mental Health Festival The Specials’ Ghost Town October and 4 & 5 November. takes place at various Birmingham venues is top of Coventry’s pops from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 28 October. Ghost Town by The Specials has been named Mids theatre to host new Coventry’s favourite song. The classic 1981 track was selected by the musical of cult ’80s movie public as their number one sound in A Midlands theatre is set to host the world response to a Belgrade Theatre survey. premiere of a musical based on cult 1980s The Specials also took runner-up spot in the movie An Officer And A Gentleman. survey with A Message To You Rudy. The new show, which opens at the Leicester Curve from Friday 6 April before playing at 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Warwickshire_Worcs October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:00 Page 2

First Word

Warwick Words History Festival makes a return Historical crime fiction and sto- ries of real-life courage feature among the attractions at this year’s Warwick Words History Festival. Highlights of the 2017 event include Birmingham-born bestselling novelist Lindsey Davis talking about her new book, The Third Nero - the fifth in her Flavia Albia series. Veteran TV journalist and presenter Peter Snow and wife Ann MacMillan also contribute, presenting ‘gripping tales of courage, cunning and compassion’ in War Stories. Warwick Words History Festival runs from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 Bite Size theatre productions at Warwick Arts Centre October. For more information, visit warwickwords.co.uk A new take on Ovid’s Minotaur myth and an innovative jukebox musical featuring the songs of John Bon Jovi are among the varied theatre shows on offer in this year’s Bite Size Festival, returning to Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on Saturday 7 October. Shakespeare’s Offering an eclectic day-long showcase of new work by theatre makers across the Midlands, Bite Size features performances from well-established companies and emerging artists. Birthplace hosts Commenting on the festival, Paul Warwick, Co-Director of one of its organisers, China Plate, said: new exhibition “Bite Size promises to be a terrific opportunity to see an exciting snapshot of what the Midlands has to offer. The terrific-value day-pass means you can see the work of 16 artists for less than £30.” Shakespeare’s Birthplace in For more information, visit chinaplatetheatre.com Stratford-upon-Avon is hosting a new exhibition telling the complete story of how an 1847 auction saved the venue. The exhibition explains the New men’s It’s time to get Fierce in the Midlands steps that were taken to secure barbers cuts it One of the UK’s most respected festivals of live art is once again set to the Birthplace’s future after the make its mark in Birmingham. Government of the day refused in Solihull Boasting an international reputation for agenda-setting curation, to purchase the house. A fast-growing chain of Fierce Festival embraces theatre, dance, music, installations, activism, Over 31 million people have barbers has opened a new digital practices and parties, with performances taking place in visited Shakespeare’s Birthplace premises in Solihull- since records began in 1852. theatres, galleries and out-of-the-ordinary spaces across the city. based shopping centre The exhibition shows until Commenting on this year’s event, which takes place from 16 to 22 Mell Square. Friday 29 December. October, Artistic Director Aaron Wright said: “Fierce Festival serves up Everyman Barbers is ‘the a wide snapshot of the hugely varied performance being made around home of the modern the world today, from raucous NYC cabaret to hardcore Mexican body man’, where customers Midlands venue art. “With a world in turmoil, the artists thrive Fiercely in the face of it are offered a beer, the use gets ready for a all, offering us new models of living and the possibility of a queerer, of a PlayStation and the rockin’ Christmas brighter future.” For details of Fierce’s full 2017 line-up, check out opportunity to watch Sky wearefierce.org Rock’n’roll fans can expect to be Sports while they wait. ‘all shook up’ at Birmingham’s With access to a webcam Genting Arena this festive through its website or season, when tributes to Elvis, bespoke app, customers Bill Haley & The Comets, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles and Eddie can also see how busy the Cochran visit the venue. salon is before they visit. Let’s Have A Rock’n’Roll Party is For more information, promising to be ‘the ultimate visit mellsquare- ’50s and ’60s extravaganza’, shopping.com or search The show takes place at the Mell Square on Facebook, Genting on Friday 29 December. Twitter and Instagram. whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Warwickshire_Worcs October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:00 Page 3

First Word

Coventry theatre celebrates 10 years of B2 Coventry Belgrade Theatre recently celebrated 10 years of its B2 auditorium. B2 opened in September 2007, offering a flexible and intimate second space in which to stage risk-taking and innovative work. The auditorium was the vision of Artistic Director Hamish Glen, who insisted on its construction when he arrived in Coventry in 2003.

Wheeler Dealers TV premiere to screen at classic motor show A UK premiere screening of the first episode in the 14th season of hit TV show Wheeler Dealers will take place at next month’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC. The episode, which features show stalwart Mike Brewer with new lead mechanic and co-host Ant Anstead, will be shown to around 200 guests in an after-hours screening. Classic motoring enthusiasts are being given the chance to win two tickets to view the screening. If they book their show tickets before Thursday 26 October, they will automatically be entered into a prize draw. The lucky winners will join Mike, Ant and special guests to watch the first episode of the brand new series. The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show returns to Birmingham’s NEC from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 November. For more information, visit necclassicmotorshow.com

Folk stars to play Halloween horror at Coventry cinema Hollywood fame Coventry Cathedral Coventry’s Albany Picture House is getting into the spooky spirit of beckons for British folk ambassadors Show Halloween this month, courtesy of a special horror film festival. Of Hands are next month The venue is presenting five films in total, culminating in a special Midlands author performing at Coventry screening of FW Murnau’s classic Nosferatu (1922), complete with live A Midlands author’s latest Cathedral. musical accompaniment from the local Orchestra Da Camera. novel is being tipped for The award-winning duo, who Other featured films are The Haunting (1963), The Omen (1976), movie success. blend sharp songwriting with Dracula: Pages From A Virgin’s Diary (2002) and A Girl Walks Home Liam Brown’s Broadcast has unrivalled musicianship, will Alone At Night (2014). The festival runs from 3 to 31 October. been snapped up by a major perform at the venue on Friday For more information about the movies, visit albanytheatre.co.uk Hollywood studio. It tells 10 November. They’re joined for the story of YouTube the gig by Miranda Sykes. sensation David Callow, a Student shopping night makes a return man who agrees to take part To coincide with the start of a new in a revolutionary new academic year, Coventry’s always- online show called popular Student Shopping Night is MindCast. making a welcome return on “I can picture Tom Wednesday 4 October. Hiddleston as the lead,” From 6pm to 10pm, new and returning says Liam, 34, who lives in students will be able to take advantage Birmingham with wife of late-night openings and a host of Simone and their two exclusive discounts, freebies and promotions. children. “The film option is Commenting on the event, Coventry BID manager Trish Willetts said: very exciting. My first two “Now is the time for students to get registering for the event and make novels were well received sure that they’ve secured their wristband, giving access to exclusive but not massive, so I’ve offers and events on the night. It’s simple to do - just visit been a bit overwhelmed by coventrycitycentre.co.uk, where you will be able to sign up for free.” the interest in this one.”

6 whatsonlive.co.uk Pink Sari Revolution DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:14 Page 1 Pink Sari Revolution Pink Sari Revolution is the world première of the true story of Sampat Pal and her fight for freedom in India. Based on the book by journalist Amana Fontanella-Khan, Curve Associate Director Suba Das is bringing Sampat’s story to the stage following an extensive period of research and development both in the UK and India.

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

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so important and urgent to tell. Who have you met so far and who are you to be a woman?’, ‘what does it mean to be a bringing along on this production? protestor?’, ‘what does it mean to say “no”?’, and ‘what does it mean to say ‘this is With two years in development, what has A really important element of developing the enough’?’. Female rights, protests, resistance the process been to create the production show has been working with the Indian – they’re themes that obsess everyone right so far? playwright Purva Naresh, an extraordinary feminist political voice from India. It felt so now. We are all living in the shadow of not One of the starting points for this play was important for this piece to be written by a quite knowing whether our society works for our research and development process in woman who is living through these realities us – that’s not just in India, that’s right here India way back in December 2015. It felt like and who is so passionate and angry and with too. It’s everywhere. What I hope is that this the only way to conceive of making this show so much social work in her own day-to-day story of an amazing woman in India will would be to travel to India. Living with life. Her family are from the biggest city near unlock a wider conversation here in the UK. Sampat Pal and meeting with extraordinary to Sampat Pal, she grew up hearing about her Sampat was leading thousands of women Indian artists gave us a real sense of what and the ‘Gulabi Gang’. and men marching in pink a decade before this story means to the people in India. the Women's Marches in Washington and We are also working with Tim Lutkin who is All we had were ideas; we didn't know what across the world this year. Our hope is this an Olivier award-winning lighting designer, the take up would be for the show. tale of truth and resistance might in some Designer Isla Shaw, and Aakash Odedra (who Artistically, reaching out to communities way empower audiences in the UK and recently won the Amnesty International here in the UK felt so important because it is beyond. Freedom of Expression award) as our a daunting thing to be a young man wanting Movement Director. It’s a world-class, to tell this story about South Asian women. I international team telling a global story. met with book clubs and local Indian women community groups to discuss the story and what it means from their perspectives. This is a very powerful story, what do you Pink Sari Revolution runs at the Belgrade Part of our process is turning all the facts and hope audiences in the UK will take from Theatre Coventry from Wednesday 11 to all the information we have into a story about it? Saturday 21 October a world that probably feels very alien and Pink Sari Revolution is a very specific story remote to so many of us, and turning that about this place and this moment in time in into a really human, exciting, theatrical India, but it’s also universal. The issues that drama. sit at the heart of this are ‘what does it mean First Word Warwickshire_Worcs October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:00 Page 4

whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Godiva Rocks DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:11 Page 1

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by Heather Kincaid Godiva Rocks

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

You’ve heard of Madchester, Merseybeat and Coventry’. Lots of people don’t realise, for “Part of the point of doing this show about the heavy metal movement forged in example, that Funboy Three are basically a Coventry is getting people to be proud of stuff Birmingham, but would you know how to Cov band, that The Primitives and Panjabi we’ve done. I’ve been unofficially involved define the sound of Coventry? MC were from Coventry, as was Frank Ifield, with the City of Culture bid right from the In his latest show, Godiva Rocks, local who had four number one hits before Elvis start, and we talk about this a lot - getting playwright Alan Pollock sets out to do just Presley had even had one! So there’s a lot people to be actively positive about what that. In what may well be the world’s first more than people think. we’ve achieved.” musical based around the songs of a single “There are one or two Specials songs in the And Pollock has certainly been doing his bit city, the One Night In November scribe now show, but I felt like The Specials had already to celebrate Coventry for some years: neither turns his attention to homegrown hits been celebrated elsewhere, so I wanted to get this nor his controversial Coventry Blitz play through the story of a young couple people to look at all the other stuff. One Night In November are his first time searching for the essence of Coventry music. “Nobody’s going to be disappointed - there putting the city centre-stage. “It’s hard to avoid acknowledging that 2-tone will be something for everyone, from young “I’ve always found it fascinating. I grew up really nailed it,” says Pollock. “With the people now right back to the ’60s.” here, and even though I moved away for a exception of a few late-’60s bands, that was So why is it that this hotbed of musical while and lived all over the world, I found the first time that black and white united to invention has gone largely unrecognised myself drawn back to the spirit of the place. make music here. That hadn’t really until now? Well, one reason could be Its history is so rich, and it’s like a kind of happened at all during the ’70s, but when it Coventrians’ own self-perception. Unlike in symbol of the country as a whole, with its came along, it just seemed like such a natural London, Birmingham and powerhouses of industrial background and its ups and expression of who we are in this melting-pot the north, in Cov, we’re quite a reticent bunch downs. When my parents arrived in the early city, which is a big theme in the play.” when it comes to extolling our own virtues. ’60s, it had the highest average wage of any Many locals do feel a sense of ownership over In fact, the biggest Coventry critics are almost town in the country. Then it suffered badly in their ska heritage, so it was no surprise when always those who live here. To paraphrase the ’80s, but now we’re starting to come back the iconic Ghost Town topped a recent public Pollock at the Godiva Rocks launch, it feels from that. So I’ve always seen it as a kind of poll to find our favourite Coventry number as though we always wait for outside place of resilience. Some of that is expressed one. Yet from the electronic experimentation recognition before we’ll acknowledge the in the music, and it’s part of what I’m trying of Delia Derbyshire to launching what has merits of anything made here. to extract and distil in this show. become Britain’s biggest free music festival, Trouble is, since the decline of our once- “I’m extremely confident that we can win there’s so much more to the Coventry music world-famous industry, such external (City of Culture). I think if politics doesn’t get scene than The Specials. affirmation has become increasingly rare. in the way, ours is the strongest bid by a “I didn’t actually have to dig very deep to Nowadays, many people outside the mile.” come up with loads of songs from here,” Midlands would be hard-pressed even to say continues Pollock. “I think if Liverpool and where Coventry is, let alone tell you anything Manchester are at the top in terms of musical about its cultural life, so if we’re to be in with Godiva Rocks plays at the Belgrade output, we’re certainly in the top three or a chance of taking the City of Culture title, it’s Theatre, Coventry, from Saturday 7 to four. But the thing I hear people saying a lot up to us to shout about what makes it Saturday 21 October. in rehearsals is, ‘I didn’t know that was from special. whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Food October Warwicks_Worcs-1.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 16:58 Page 1 Food October Warwicks_Worcs-1.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 16:58 Page 2

Food

bine with a delightful waterfront tion, my partner’s choice of terrace to create an atmosphere morue gratinée - baked fillet of of relaxed sophistication, chan- cod with a lemon, herb and gar- nelling the authentic spirit of lic crust, sautéed green beans, provincial French dining but sun-blushed tomatoes and basil - with a distinctly contemporary was a perfect alternative. Full- twist. flavoured, baked to just the right Opting for an appetiser of pan texture and injected with just the sans gluten (lightly toasted right amount of sharpness from gluten-free bread served with the lemon and herb crust, the Lescure butter) and saucisson - quality of ingredients - again - sourced from the Beaujolais re- spoke for itself. gion and served with a side ac- A brief glance over the dessert companiment of cornichons (a menu revealed plenty to tempt cucumber-like French gherkin) - me back for a second sitting, it was clear from the first course from classic dishes like crème that every possible effort had brulee, chocolate torte, frangi- been made to ensure an authen- pane and sorbet to the less famil- tic taste of France was present in iar bavarois et compôte de fruits every bite. From the intensely rouges - a tantalising marriage of REVIEW: Bistrot Pierre, Kidderminster flavoured Label Rouge saucisson buttermilk pudding and berry to the characteristically rich Les- compote not unlike the Italian Sophisticated new restaurant adding a cure butter, the little touches pannacotta. real touch of glamour to the waterfront made a big difference, and the Adding a splash of Parisian chic attention to regional produce re- to Kidderminster’s newly revi- Located just a short walk from ing. ally showed! talised restaurant quarter, Bistro the town centre and overlooking Optional packages include - to I chose from the Fin de Weekend Pierre is exactly the kind of high- the river Stour, this delightful ad- name but three - a la carte, prix menu - a perfect pairing of two street chain that the town needs dition to Kidderminster’s thriv- fixe lunch (priced at £11.95 for courses and a carafe of white, to be encouraging. It really does ing Riverside development - a £3 two courses and £13.95 for three) red or rosé Cuvée 94 for £21.50 bring a healthy injection of glam- million leisure & retail complex - and diner et vin (two courses for per person. My gluten-free starter our to the waterfront. prides itself on its ‘great-value £22.95 and three for £27.95 with of salade de truite fumée Whether stopping off for post- cooking and seasonal menus’ specially chosen wine). (smoked trout, beetroot and fen- work drinks, celebrating a spe- combined with ‘beautiful This is a restaurant chain that nel salad with horseradish crème cial occasion or enjoying a light French-style interiors’ and a re- knows its audience down to a T, fraiche) was the perfect marriage lunch with friends or business laxed, friendly atmosphere. combining great value with a of seasonal produce and fresh colleagues, the bistro’s afford- A brief glance at the restaurant’s carefully thought-out range of flavour combinations. Perfectly able yet sophisticated ethos, extensive menu reveals both an ready-to-go dining options for cooked with a light flake, the commitment to seasonality and inviting and varied choice of any occasion, whether that be an smokiness of the trout partnered respect for artisan produce speak bistro-inspired dishes, including after-work dinner, pre-theatre exquisitely with the sweetness of volumes. Add to this a carefully the much-loved duck leg confit meal or all-out celebration. the beetroot, whilst the peppery chosen and well-thought-out with Provençal vegetables, beef For the ultimate Bistro Pierre ex- bite of the fennel salad was com- menu of stand-alone vegetarian, bourguignon maison and the perience, look out for their plemented beautifully by the vegan and gluten-free options, classic steak frites - in this case, Soirée Gastronomique evenings, creaminess of the crème fraiche. plus a generously researched 21-day matured, served with a taking place on the second and Perfection on a plate! and well-stocked wine menu, choice of roasted garlic butter, fourth Tuesday of every month For our main course, my choice and you have a surefire recipe for green peppercorn or brandy and consisting of a six-course set of porc sauce béarnaise served success! Katherine Ewing sauce. dinner priced at an incredible with crispy bacon and seasonal Alongside this is a similarly di- £22.95 per person - c’est mag- vegetables didn’t disappoint. Food: nnnnn verse offering of seasonal spe- nifique! Generously portioned, tender to Service: nnnnn cialities, from the Alsace classic In keeping with the restaurant’s the taste and enhanced by the Ambience: nnnnn tarte flambé, served with a bistro-inspired ethos, the interior rich saltiness of the bacon top- Overall value nnnnn choice of fresh, seasonal top- design and decor boasts hard- ping, this was hearty French cui- OVERALL nnnnn pings, right through to the Mo- wood floors, circular booths ac- sine as I remember it. Add to this roccan-inspired epaule d’agneau cented with shades of yellow and a side order of French beans with Bistrot Pierre Riverside - slow-cooked shoulder of lamb duck-egg blue, Parisian-inspired toasted almond flakes at £3.25, Exchange Street served with pearl cous cous, café tables and early 20th cen- and you have all the makings of Kidderminster harissa, toasted pine nuts, dried tury poster prints of varying a French-bistro classic. DY10 1BY apricots and mint yogurt dress- colours and styles. These com- For those seeking a lighter op- Tel: 01562 733610

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Food

Lavish new restaurant RSC’s Rooftop Restaurant launches a new vegan menu & cocktail bar set to The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has in- open in Selfridges troduced a new three-course vegan pre-theatre and dinner menu at the Rooftop Restaurant in its The award-winning San Carlo is this main Stratford-upon-Avon theatre. month opening its new Fumo Starters include warm marinated vine tomatoes, restaurant, champagne & cocktail bar roasted baby beets, basil puree and rocket, or on the fourth floor of Birmingham’s giant couscous with red quinoa, fig, toasted al- Selfridges store. mond and red onion salad and pomegranate Affording stunning views of the molasses. iconic Bullring, the £1million venue Mains feature Turkish aubergine and chick pea will feature a uniquely shaped grand stew with freekeh pilaf, herb salsa and pine marble bar. nuts, or fusilli with butternut squash, red onion, Fumo’s all-day menu will serve chestnut mushrooms, fried sage and creamy Italian small plate dishes to share, walnut sauce. using only the finest ingredients from The meal can be rounded off with either sloe the produce markets of Milan and gin-poached pear served with blackcurrant sor- utive Chef Simon Malin said: “As with our Sicily. bet, or autumn fruit compote with calvados cus- shows, we’re always looking to make our food The bar will specialise in cocktails tard. offer as accessible to as many people as possi- and Laurent Perrier Champagne. Rooftop Restaurant diners can now also enjoy a ble, which is why I’m excited to introduce our vegan-style traditional afternoon tea, including brand new vegan offer, to open up more of the Top chef unveils new scones, sandwiches and a range of desserts. RSC to people looking to have a great shared wine collection Commenting on the new vegan menu, RSC Exec- culinary experience.” Following a launch event at his Birm- ingham Steakhouse Bar and Grill last month, award-winning chef Marco Pierre White has created a new and exclusive wine collection. Created alongside celebrated wine maker Jean-Luc Colombo, the wines, which include the Jean-Luc Colombo Marco Pierre White Rosé and the Jean-Luc Colombo Marco Pierre White Rouge are exclusively available at Marco’s UK restaurants. Renowned bar opens its doors in Coventry Renowned bar the Slug & Lettuce has opened in Coventry’s Old County Hall, opposite the cathedral ruins, following a £500,000 investment. The venue’s interior has been mod- ernised and decorated in the signa- ture Slug & Lettuce style, with minimal yet elegant decor. Commenting on the new arrival in the city, the bar’s General Manager, Top cocktail bar expands with £1.4million refurbishment Claire Turner, said: “We’re really ex- One of the Midlands’ most-loved cocktail bars include blended specialities such as the sweet & cited to bring Slug & Lettuce to has recently opened a second room, following a salty popcorn-topped Popster, the superfood- Coventry, especially within a building £1.4million refurbishment. packed Beetroot Retox that has such great history. and reimagined classic Located in Birmingham’s Piccadilly Arcade, Be e-Fashioned. Commenting on the “The new bar looks fantastic, we the Gin R At One can now welcome up to 550 cocktail company, co-founder Steve Locke said: “Be At have such a brilliant team, and with lovers through its doors. One is a cocktail institution, providing great our enviable food & drink menu, we The popular venue has one of the longest lists of service, an unbeatable party atmosphere and, certainly won’t disappoint.” available cocktails in the industry. Favourites most importantly, a pretension-free attitude.”

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Gigs

The Skints The Assembly, Leamington Spa, Tues 3 October “Reggae music is the sound that makes all four of us geek out,” says Skints vocalist and guitarist Josh Waters Rudge, “so it’s always going to be where our greatest strength lies. The music has so much history, so it’s impor- tant to be respectful at the same time as try- ing to create something new.” A ska and reggae band hailing from East Lon- don, The Skints quickly established a formi- dable reputation as live performers. They also scored a significant hit with their first two al- bums - Live. Breathe. Build. Believe. and Part & Parcel. The latter was hailed a modern-day dub, reggae and hip-hop-inspired classic. Third album FM proved to be even more suc- cessful. Expect to hear songs from all three when they visit Leamington this month. Sundara Karma hailed as the bright future of alt-rock. Following a busy summer of festival per- The Empire, Coventry, Wed 4 October formances - Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Led by the charismatic Oscar Pollock, Sun- Blissfields and Y Not all included - the four- dara Karma released their acclaimed debut piece have now embarked on their biggest album in January and are already being UK tour to date.

Public Service Martin Turner Broadcasting Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Sat 21 October Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wishbone Ash’s founding lead vocalist and Fri 20 October key creative force here performs some of the Fusing electronic sound and spectacular vi- band’s best-loved works with the assistance Roving Crows suals with samples from public information of his current line-up. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 13 October films, Public Service Broadcasting visit Formed in 1969, Wishbone Ash were long Coventry in support of latest album Every Roving Crows are a Celtic folk fusion band admired for their unique blend of blues, jazz Valley. The trio play instrumental music be- based in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. and English folk - but it was the way their cause, as J Willgoose Esq notes: "Singing is Since forming in 2009, they’ve released four guitars played melodic leads together that never going to work. I'm not going to be full-length albums, including Deliberate Dis- became their trademark, inspiring bands comfortable playing it to other people." tractions (2013) and latest offering Bury Me such as Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden. Naked (2017). They’ve also won numerous Classic album releases including Argus, Pil- awards along the way, including Best Folk grimage, There’s The Rub, New England and Act at Exposure Awards 2011 and Band Of The Louis Berry Live Dates have defined the band’s sound, Year in the Fatea Music Awards 2014. The Copper Rooms, Coventry, Fri 20 October touching the hearts of generations of music Expect a fast-paced, high-energy perform- Specialising in standout melodies and hard- fans. ance from this talented four-piece. hitting lyrics, Louis Berry delivers rock’n’roll for the 21st century. “I want to be the biggest male artist on the planet,” says Louis. “You name me one song in the charts right now that says anything about your life or my life. I can’t name one! Chart music now is just candy - it doesn’t feed your soul. An hour later you’re hungry again.” Louis brings his UK tour to the Midlands fol- lowing triumphant performances at Reading & Leeds this summer. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Nick Mulvery DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:27 Page 1 Nick Mulvey Following a triumphant Glastonbury performance, British singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey embarks on a new tour in support of his new album Wake Up Now. Lauren Foster recently caught up with Nick to find out more..

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

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

whilst I’m releasing the album, we’ve all Portishead and hip-hop, De Le Soul and stuff 7pm, Meet Me There, and about eight people moved to London, and there are stairs in this like that. She fed me a lot of hip-hop and turned up. It was brilliant, and our mate house and he just can’t believe it! We just go drum and bass and jungle - a lot of stuff I came down and we filmed it. We never up and down, up and down, up and down, went on to love. explained it, we just put the film up the next and I’m happy because he’s going to tire You’re well known on the festival circuit. day. A week later, we did a different location himself out and have a good sleep. That was Do you have a favourite festival? somewhere else in Central London and 30 me from 6.45am until about 8.30am, just up people came. A month later, it was 100. I always love Green Man Festival. The and down the stairs - it was joyful. It’s curation, they always nail it there, and it’s a hardcore as well. I’ve been very busy this beautiful site. I love Womad - always a You’re playing Birmingham’s O2 Institute summer and it’s really stretched me to the winner. I love Glastonbury as well. in October. What can audiences expect edge. Being a parent brings up all your shit, from your show? you know - you realise where you’re at, not where you think you’re at. It’s an amazing You opened Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage It’s new level for me. This band is freer and test, and I’m failing and having a wonderful in 2014. What an achievement… we have a deeper connection than I’ve ever had before with musicians. I’m really, really time, if you know what I mean. Yeah, it was awesome. It was the beginning excited about this UK tour. We’re going to of something, I feel. I still feel that on the make a lot of people happy and we’re happy second record. I feel like I have something to What’s your dream collaboration? doing it. I can’t wait for them to meet the prove on this record and I’m excited to see I would love to collaborate with PJ Harvey. I band. To my left on stage, so to their right, is where it goes. think she’s amazing. I love and admire the Frederico Bruno, and he is amazing. He’s a way that she dedicates her art to speaking really special character and he’s having a about things that matter, I’m really inspired You run a series of Meet Me There events ball. He’s very free and he’s playing a lot of by that right now. throughout the country. Can you tell us a different instruments. Then, on my right, little bit about those? stage left, is FIfi. These are really old, dear friends of mine, and I can’t believe we’re all What’s your first musical memory? It came from when we were releasing singles from my last album. We’d just got home, I in a band together. She’s a secret weapon - There was a lot of music in the house. My dad was chatting to fans on the internet and my she’s amazing. People are going to enjoy it. would always crank the music up and really wife said, ‘What do you think would happen enjoy it. Stuff like ZZ Top in the car. When if we put a postcode and a time?’ I have a you’re five years old, that’s massive. It song called Meet Me There, which was the completely blows your mind and is a really single that was on the radio at that time, so powerful experience. A little bit later, my we just thought, let’s try it. We put the name Nick Mulvey performs at O2 Institute, sister used to feed me a lot of music, the of a park around the corner from our house, Birmingham on Monday 9th October cooler stuff like Massive Attack and Classical (LISA).qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 16:11 Page 1

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Classical

Armonico Consort Julian Bliss Bushell Hall, Solihull, Wed 11 October; Plays Weber Worcester Cathedral, Thurs 12 October; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Stratford Artshouse, Tues 3 October Fri 13 October Stratford’s Orchestra Of The Swan team Founded by organist and conductor up with celebrated clarinettist Julian Bliss Christopher Monks in 2001, Armonico for this hometown performance. are one of the largest organisations of Widely considered to be one of the UK’s their kind in the UK. Using authentic most talented young soloists, Bliss here period instruments, the baroque con- performs Weber’s virtuoso showpiece for sort regularly perform with some of the clarinet. best solo musicians in the world. The programme also features the overture These Midlands concerts see them to Rossini’s Barber Of Seville and putting to music the saga of Beowulf, as Beethoven’s eighth symphony, widely recounted in the oldest-surviving poem thought to be one of his finest. in Old English. The new piece, written by Armonico composer-in-residence Toby Young, boasts strong folk-pop influences, a fact St Petersburg that should make it an engaging experi- Symphony Orchestra ence for the whole family to enjoy. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Beowulf sees Armonico being joined by Sun 15 October Catrin Finch (pictured), one of the most Founded in 1931 and, famously, the only accomplished harpists of her generation orchestra to stay and perform in the be- and a regular collaborator with some of sieged city of Leningrad during the Sec- the world’s top orchestras. ond World War, the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (originally the Leningrad Radio Orchestra) are widely considered to be one of the finest in Eu- rope. And this month’s Coventry concert Navarra String Quartet certainly provides an excellent opportu- nity for them to demonstrate exactly why Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Fri 6 October they’re held in such high regard... The Navarra String Quartet appear in Leamington for Artistic Director Alexander Dmitriev con- the first time since 2008, presenting a programme ducts a programme that features two featuring works by Haydn, Shostakovich and Schu- much-loved works: Rimsky-Korsakov’s bert. musical tales of the beautiful Playing together since 2002 and boasting a reputa- Scheherazade and Mussorgsky’s Hal- tion as one of the most dynamic and poetic string loween shocker, Night On A Bare Moun- quartets of the 21st century, Navarra visit the Mid- tain. The orchestra is joined by British lands following recent performances at three hugely piano virtuoso Peter Donohoe for a perfor- prestigious venues: Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival mance of Rachmaninov’s brilliant Fourth Hall and Sydney Opera House. Concerto.

Florian Kitt & Carlos City Of Birmingham Rivera-Aguilar Symphony Orchestra Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 20 October Malvern Theatre, Fri 6 October This latest entry in the Bromsgrove Concerts Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla takes charge of the season sees distinguished Austrian cellist City of Birminghamė Symphony Orchestra Florian Kitt present a programme of work that for what will be one of her first touring en- features ‘the drama of Beethoven and the ro- gagements as the CBSO’s music director. mantic sweep of Prokofiev’s melodies’. The concert programme includes Weber’s Florian also performs Takemitsu’s Orion, a Overture to Der Freischütz and Brahms’ work of great contemplative stillness written Symphony No 1. especially for him. Clarinettist Jorg Widmann joins the or- He’s joined for the concert by pianist Carlos chestra for a performance of Mozart’s au- Rivera-Aguilar. tumnal Clarinet Concerto. whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Warwick Arts F/P October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:09 Page 1 Comedy October Birmingham New 2017.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 13:20 Page 2

Comedy

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

Little Me is your first autobiography. What mind. Chris Morris. And I think I would love made you decide to write it, and what in- to appear onstage with Nathan Lane and spired the A-Z format? Patti Lupone. Well, I decided it was time to upload some You did your time on the comedy circuit things out of my head and free up some before success with Shooting Stars and space! I didn’t want to write a conventional Little Britain. Do you have any advice for autobiography because I knew I wanted to young comedians starting out? steer clear of some things and obsess over others. This format allowed me to do that. Yes, record every gig on your phone and lis- ten to it on the way home. It’s never as bad You talk very honestly and openly about (or as good) as you thought. going bald at the tender age of six, and about the lack of bald men in the public Little Britain was such a defining moment how often do you get to play a hybrid of eye when you were growing up. Who were in British comedy. Are there any charac- alien, robot and human? He’s a one-off. your role models as a child and how im- ters you regret, or ones you’d love to And I’ve loved all the Doctors. I doubt Nar- portant were they to you? recreate and work on again? dole has any interest in the concept of love. Duncan Goodhew, because he was hairless There are some I like more than others, cer- There are worlds to save. and a winner. And Kojak, because he could tainly some I wouldn’t do now, but few I re- What’s next...? gret. It was a show of its time. I would love to always get hold of a lollipop. Cuppa tea. play Marjorie again, but I think things are dif- You talk about your time at Haberdashers’ ferent now, and it would be considered fat- What’s the best thing that ever happened Aske’s Boys School in the book. How im- shaming. You have to move with the times. to you in Birmingham? portant were your schooldays in encour- Once got a room at the Crowne Plaza for £25 a aging your love of theatre, and what’s You’ve created and played so many leg- night. Tiny it was, mind. your happiest memory from school? endary characters. Do you have a favourite? The school plays were my escape - and also in school holidays my mum and grandma Probably Marjorie, Andy Pipkin, maybe Taaj would take me to the West End to see shows. from Come Fly With Me. I used to enjoy play- Little Me: My Life From A-Z by Matt Lucas There was nothing more thrilling than when ing Gary Barlow. My favourite is Pompidou. is published on 3 October by Canongate the lights went down and the overture began. and priced at £20 hardback. You’ve found success on stage, screen, and in the movies with roles in Les Mis, Who are your comedy heroes? Matt talks about the book at Birmingham Bridesmaids, Alice In Wonderland and Laurel & Hardy and Reeves & Mortimer. Per- Town Hall on Saturday 14 October, at 2pm. more. Do you have a favourite medium? fect chemistry. Like brothers. Destined to be For tickets, visit thsh.co.uk together. Actually my favourite thing to do is write, more than perform. And write music at that. We love your ‘clangs’ every time a famous Birmingham Comedy Festival is a person you’ve met and worked with is 10-day extravaganza, with more than mentioned. Is there anyone you’ve never You’re much loved by Doctor Who fans. 60 events taking place at various loca- had the chance to work with but would What do you like about Nardole, and does tions from 6 to 15 October. love to? he love the new female Doctor Who? For more info, visit bhamcomfest.co.uk Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows spring to I liked playing Nardole because, let’s face it,

whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Comedy October Birmingham New 2017.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 13:20 Page 3

Comedy

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

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

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

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

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

SIMON DAY

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

Comedian, writer and actor Simon Day cut his teeth on the alternative comedy circuit of the early 90s. Under the guise of Music Hall raconteur Tommy Cockles, he teamed up with fellow travellers Vic and Bob before hitting the mainstream with seminal sketch series The Fast Show, and a raft of new characters, such as Competitive Dad and Dave Angel. He’s since appeared in a variety of TV shows, including Channel 4’s recent comic drama Loaded, the BBC’s one-off revival of ‘Till Death Do Us Part, Paul Whitehouse’s Nurse, Bellamy’s People, and The Life Of Rock With Brian Pern. Heading out on tour, Simon Day: In Character sees him revisiting four of his most popular creations – reformed criminal Tony Beckton, struggling Yorkshire poet Geoffrey Allerton, the Fast Show’s well-meaning but utterly annoying pub bore Billy Bleach, and prog’ rockin’ Thotch frontman, Brian Pern. “The theme of the show is loosely how the characters are coping with life now,” he says.

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

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

by Heather Kincaid

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

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

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Carrie Hope Fletcher DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:21 Page 1 Carrie Hope Fletcher DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:21 Page 2

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

With her upbeat, playful and down-to-earth which just sums her up so well: ‘I’m crazier just minus the Spanish accent!” persona, and the warmth, wit and wisdom than you, so get on board or simply move Carrie got her first taste of the show’s music she imparts to her scores of young fans, along.’” much earlier than her co-stars, having origi- multi-talented singer, actor, writer and inter- The version of Wednesday Carrie plays in the nally been invited to sing one of the songs, net sensation Carrie Hope Fletcher has been production is a bit older than previous incar- Pulled, in an Andrew Lippa concert. So en- described as everyone’s favourite big sister. nations - a fully fledged 18-year-old starting amoured was she by the idea of the show Lately, however, she’s been appearing as a to assert her independence. Of course, she’s that she begged to be first in line for audi- big sister of a rather different ilk, starring as never been one to stand for any mollycod- tions if it ever came to the UK. the borderline-psychotic Wednesday Addams dling or pay much heed to rules, but there are “I knew it wouldn’t be exactly the same as in the UK tour of Andrew Lippa’s Addams some lines that you simply don’t cross - and the Broadway version because I’d heard that Family musical. one of them is falling for a boy like Lucas there’d been a few changes, so when I read it Straight black pigtails and scathing, deadpan Beineke. Thankfully, his relative ‘ordinari- I was just so excited to find out what our looks make quite a change from the bright, ness’ doesn’t seem to have rubbed off on story would be. I actually got the script about curly-haired Carrie that we’re used to seeing. Wednesday too much, even if she does get three or four weeks before we started re- But is this really the first time she’s been in overly worked up about how her ‘meet the hearsals, and I was just itching to get to work touch with her dark side? With the show parents’ dinner will play out. straight away - it was everything I expected soon to arrive in Wolverhampton, we asked “The thing about her is that instead of getting and more!” her whether she’d ever ‘gone goth’ before. gooey and lovey-dovey, she gets crazy. You Alongside her demanding role in the show, “I did!” she laughs. “I had a real emo phase know when you see a kitten that’s so cute Carrie’s also found time to promote her latest when I was about 14. I wore lots of Hellbunny that you want to hurt it? That’s Wednesday to novel, All That She Can See, which was pub- clothing, black lace, skulls and crossbones a tee. She loves Lucas so much, she wants to lished in July. Conveniently, she’s been able and stripy purple and black hoodies with cat kill him, almost! to sync up her stage tour with visits to book- ears on the hood. I was really into My Chemi- “But I also think that she’s attracted to the shops near to the venues. cal Romance. In fact, just today, when I was fact that she can look after him. Lucas loves “It’s been going really well. I had just over peeking out of the Addams Family letterbox the darker side of life, but he’s still quite a 200 people turn up to my signing in Manch- before the beginning of Act Two, I spotted a vulnerable, normal boy who is very out of his ester - and what’s really nice is that a lot of girl on the front row wearing a My Chemical depth with her. I think she likes that she gets the people who came had either been to see Romance hoodie. It made me really happy!” to stand in front of him wielding her cross- The Addams Family or were coming to see it, With her angsty teenage years now behind bow, daring anyone to call him a dork. We al- so it’s lovely to be able to talk to them about her, Wednesday Addams is pretty far re- ways joke that she would never become that.” moved from parts that Carrie’s accustomed to Wednesday Beineke, it would always be As if that wasn’t enough, she’s already writ- today. Happily, the Carrie fanbase seems to Lucas becoming an Addams. Over time, I ing something new, though won’t reveal de- have accepted Wednesday in all her wonder- think he’ll definitely become more like them - tails yet... ful weirdness. I don’t think he has any choice!” “You’ll just have to wait and see!” she ex- “They’ve taken to her much more than I ex- Indeed, the process seems already to be un- claims. pected - everyone seems to really love her! I derway in the song Crazier Than You, a turn- think it’s partly because she’s 18, and the ma- ing point both for Wednesday and Lucas and jority of my online audience is between the for Lucas’ overwhelmed parents, Mal and ages of 18 and 24, so they can identify with Alice. But while the characters battle it out to Carrie Hope Fletcher stars in The Addams her. She’s great because she’s such an advo- claim the title on stage, behind the scenes, Family at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre cate for being confident and being who you says Carrie, it’s Cameron Blakely, who plays from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 October. are no matter what anyone says. There’s a her father, Gomez, who’s the craziest. “He’s great line she sings in Crazier Than You basically the same person on and off stage, Theatre October New-2.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:52 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

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

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

Unforgettable performances, powered by you 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. Where applicable, a 5% transaction charge may apply excluding cash sales in person.

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Tales of Birbal Sun 15 Oct Sun 15 Oct Wed 18 - £40 Timeless fables from the £10 Sat 21 Oct Indian sub-continent From £12

Aditi Mangaldas Bouncing Cats and Dance Company: Boom Boom Pups Inter_rupted

Mon 23 Oct Tue 24 - Fri 27 & Sat £15 Sat 28 Oct 28 Oct From £17 £10

THE BROADWAY AND WEST END SMASH HIT MUSICAL

Khovanshchina Musorgsky

Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II ^

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

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

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

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

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

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

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

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

Theatre Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region

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

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

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

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

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

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Motionhouse DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:38 Page 2

that it all comes down to a simple thing – “This whole opening up of humanity in position where the company is nearly 30 ultimately thought is an electrical process. If beginning to grasp that we are electrical is years old and what is really exciting for both your brain wasn’t able to pass electrical fascinating. There’s a moment of of us is that, as we approach 30 years, we are signals around then there would be no love, comprehension of us being electrified beings more successful than we have ever been. We there would be no memory, there would be and then something more once are more followed and more people come to no empathy. And that is so fundamental. consciousness is present. That had to be part our shows than ever happened in the past. When you turn on a light bulb you don’t of the story – how we understand we are “It’s a massively significant milestone for the think ‘without energy I couldn’t love electric beings but then how we kind of forget company to be achieving 30 years and to be someone’ but it’s true. that.” touring and growing and developing is “So I began to delve into a story where energy Founded in 1988 and based in Leamington incredible really. A lot of this is down to the is the movement of our lives. A city is a hive Spa in Warwickshire, Motionhouse has built hard work of everyone in the company. of energy and moves things around by energy up a reputation for strongly physical and “We seem to have expanded on three fronts – and we are familiar with that but we also dynamic work, which blends dance, we’ve just been in Denmark working on a have an internal energy hive in which energy spectacle, circus and often digital projection. massive aerial piece working with aeroplanes moves from cell to cell. And so I began to Kevin was keen for Charge to include these and skydivers - so something really huge overlap things. If you look at a map of a city elements. scale, then we’re making Charge and we’ve at night or the planet from outer space and “I’m very interested in working with film as a already got two tours booked and our you see it all lighting up, well you have the digital element both on the environment and previous works are still touring and then our same process with the human brain. When on the body. How you interact with the film is outdoor work has gone from strength to the brain is imaged, it’s a massive fluctuation really important,” he says. “Film can take strength.” of light. you to places quickly and I really love film in Motionhouse is supported using public “It’s also fascinating that with various theatre but it is two-dimensional, so for us funding by the National Lottery through Arts mental conditions, things like Alzheimer’s, it’s all about ‘how do we stretch that into a Council England. Charge is supported by when they scan people’s brains it’s like a city three-dimensional sense of space?’ It’s about Warwick Arts Centre, The Rothschild with certain areas blocked out. What how we interact with the imagery and the Foundation, the Ernest Cook Trust and happens is that areas of the brain just go realities that we are able to create. TippingPoint Stories of Change with the dark and the messages that should pass “For a show like Charge where one minute we Official Energy Partner of Charge being First through just don’t go and gradually you’re are in a spinning urban environment and Utility. not making short term memory and you then for the next part of the scene we are And the company’s success has been forget the ones you love. It’s incredibly sad.” inside the human heart and then in supported by Arts Council England which Kevin then looked at how to tell these stories someone’s house and then within someone’s has granted Motionhouse a 38 per cent uplift in a dance piece. brain, that kind of mercurial transmission in funding for 2018-22. Kevin says this is a “From all of this research I could feel the between places is really only possible with a testament to the company’s success. real interaction with digital.” strands of the show coming together. It’s “We have ever-expanding audience figures about how the body is a cauldron of energy Having performed at venues and festivals which is tremendous and the kind of living in a cauldron of energy, which is our both nationally and internationally, physicality that we are exploring in our work society, and then how all the subtlety of our Motionhouse has become one of the leading really chimes with people,” says Kevin. “We lives is all electrical signals in our minds. So I independent dance companies in the UK. want to challenge our audiences, we want to began to make the poem that can be told in Founded by Kevin with his partner Louise engage them, we want to thrill them, we want movement - and dance-circus is the perfect Richards, former performer and now to delight them and we want to share with form for that because the body is energetic.” executive director of the company, Kevin says them. the priority has always been producing top And added into this cauldron are elements of “We are a very audience-centric company quality and innovative work. This has seen humanity’s relationship with scientific and I think that is a large part of why we were them performing alongside diggers and JCBs, discoveries around electricity. awarded the uplift. The testament is the wide using giant sandcastles and taking to the air. “The first animation of tissue with an range of audience who come to our work. We electrical charge was a massive conceptual “With the hubris of the young you think ‘I know a lot of people who see our shows shift in a society which understood, when it want people to see my work’ but you don’t haven’t seen a dance show before and when saw frogs’ legs twitching, that we were really see beyond that when you first start we do our outside work we touch huge electrical beings,” says Kevin. “This was a up,” recalls Kevin. “You really don’t see numbers of people who may never have been massive revelation and there was an beyond the next show – you are just in a theatre.” outbreak of wonder. struggling to build your reputation so you can get the money for the next show and then “And in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, the next show. But you have a passion to it’s not about mad scientists, it’s this idea make your work. And for us, it was always a Motionhouse’s Charge will be showing at that electrical energy is within us. With the passion to express ourselves through our Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry from Wed information they had at the time the idea that work. 4 - Sat 7 October; The Roses, Tewkesbury if biological elements were arranged and on Tues 31 October and Birmingham given energy it could create a life force was “Largely due to Louise guiding and Hippodrome, Tues 13 March, 2018 an interesting concept. developing the company, we are now in a Dance October - New Layout-2.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:50 Page 1 Dance October - New Layout-2.qxp_Layout 1 25/09/2017 19:51 Page 2

Dance previews from around the region Dance

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

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

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

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

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

by Heather Kincaid

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

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

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

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

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whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Birmingham Royal Ballet DPS.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2017 10:14 Page 1

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

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

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Film

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

Film highlights released in October... The Mountain Between Us CERT tbc Starring Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Dermot Mulroney, Beau Bridges Directed by Hany Abu-Assad (USA) Based on the 2011 novel by Charles Mar- tin, this survival romance sees Idris and Kate forced to rely on each other after their plane crashes in the snowy High Uintas Wilderness of Utah. From the director of the Oscar-nominated Palestinian films Paradise Now (2005) and Omar (2013). Released Fri 6 October The Glass Castle Loving Vincent CERT 12a (93 mins) With the voices of Douglas Booth, Jerome CERT 12a (127mins) Flynn, Helen McCrory, Chris O'Dowd, Saoirse Starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Max Ronan, Eleanor Tomlinson Directed by Dorota Greenfield, Sarah Snook, Naomi Watts Kobiela and Hugh Welchman (UK/Poland) Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (USA) Van Gogh would certainly approve. Based on Jeannette Walls’ 2005 memoir, The This is not just a biography of the troubled, Glass Castle tells of the author’s unconven- legendary painter but the first fully painted tional childhood. Leading a largely nomadic animated film. life, Jeannette grew up in abject poverty with Each of the film's 65,000 frames is an actual her eccentric mother (Watts), alcoholic father oil painting on canvas, applying the same (Harrelson) and three siblings. technique that Van Gogh himself used. Released Fri 6 October Released Fri 13 October whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Film October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 11:56 Page 3

Film highlights released in October...

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

CRITIC’S CHOICE

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

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

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

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Film

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

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

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

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

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Visual Arts

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

Events

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

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

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Events previews from around the region

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

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

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

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Spooky previews from around the region Halloween

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

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

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

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

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

Lulu at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry - Wed 18 October

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

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

Simon Amstell at Warwick Arts Cabaret at Malvern Theatres Ellie Taylor at Artrix, International Dirt Bike Show at Centre, Coventry Tues 10 - Sat 14 October Bromsgrove Stoneleigh Park Sat 7 October Thurs 19 October Thurs 26 - Sun 29 October

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List NEW Warwicks/Worcs New Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:02 Page 1

thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October Civic Hall Rooms, Stourbridge THROUGHOUT OCTOBER Gigs THE ESKIES Thurs 5 ESTRONS Fri 6 Oct, The Oct, The Iron Road, Sunflower Lounge, perceptions have been explored by LORDE Sun 1 Oct, O2 Evesham Birmingham Visual Arts artists, until Sun 1 Oct Academy, Birmingham CHANTEL MCGREGOR RHINO AND THE PORTRAIT MINIATURES Over 40 minia- SAINT PHNX Sun 1 Oct, Thurs 5 Oct, Hare & RANTERS Sat 7 Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove ture paintings from the Dumas The Sunflower Hounds, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birm- Egerton Trust Collection, until Sun 17 Lounge, Birmingham THE BIG WOLF BAND ingham SUE HAYDEN: UP CLOSE AND FAR Bewd- Dec ley-based Sue produces work that’s SANDRA GODLEY Sun 1 Thurs 5 Oct, The LIPSTICK ON YOUR COL- NEW THE LOST WORDS Exhibition com- based on the relationship between Oct, Albany Theatre, Roadhouse, B’ham LAR Sat 7 Oct, Number bining the creative talents of texture, shape and light, until Sun 1 Coventry THE PICTUREBOOKS 8 Community Arts writer Robert Macfarlane and artist Centre, Worcestershire Oct TEXAS Sun 1 Oct, Sym- Thurs 5 Oct, The Flap- Jackie Morris, celebrating the rela- NEW 5 CUBED: RETROSPECTIVES FOR phony Hall, B’ham per, Birmingham THY ART IS MURDER Sat tionship between language and the 7 Oct, O2 Academy, THE FUTURE 5 Cubed is a group of GERRY COLVIN Sun 1 THE HOLLIES Thurs 5 living world, and nature’s power to Birmingham four mature, contemporary artists spark the imagination, Sat 21 Oct - Oct, Kitchen Garden Oct, Malvern Theatres, who trained together and exhibit reg- Sun 17 Dec Cafe, Birmingham Malvern GUNS OR ROSES Sat 7 ularly, Wed 4 - Sun 29 Oct Oct, The Marr’s Bar, DENAI MOORE Mon 2 PAPA ROACH Thurs 5 NEW QUENTIN BLAKE: INSIDE STORIES Worcester Exhibition celebrating the work of Oct, The Sunflower Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham Museum & one of the world’s most important Lounge, Birmingham Birmingham SALUTE TO SINATRA AND Art Gallery THE HOOSIERS Sat 7 and best-loved illustrators, offering a RIVRS Mon 2 Oct, Hare JUSTIN HAYWARD Thurs Oct, Kasbah, Coventry I WANT! I WANT!: ART & TECHNOLOGY A unique insight into some of his most & Hounds, B’ham 5 Oct, Birmingham curated selection from the Arts Coun- characteristic and popular creations, Town Hall, B’ham ROSIE CARNEY & HENRY HANNAH JAMES AND cil Collection - with key loans from Sat 21 Oct - Sun 17 Dec JAMISON Sat 7 Oct, Ort GRACE PETRIE Mon 2 STIPE Fri 6 Oct, The other major collections - that pre- Cafe, Birmingham Oct, Kitchen Garden Marr’s Bar, Worcester sents the work of contemporary Forge Mill Needle Museum, Cafe, Birmingham TOM GRENNAN Fri 6 TUBULAR BELLS FOR artists using new technologies, until TWO FEATURING SUP- INSPIRED BY MACHINERY Exhibition by KIP MOORE Mon 2 Oct, Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Sun 1 Oct PORT FROM GYPSYFIN- the Westhope Group - a diverse en- O2 Institute, B’ham ingham MY STORY, OUR JOURNEY: SIKH MIGRA- semble of textile artists who primarily GERS Sat 7 Oct, BELLEVUE DAYS Fri 6 TION INTO BIRMINGHAM AND THE BLACK work with lace techniques, until Sun KING NO-ONE WITH SPE- Birmingham Town Hall CIAL GUESTS Tues 3 Oct, Kasbah, Coventry COUNTRY Exhibition tracing the jour- 22 Oct THE SELECTER & THE ney of the Sikhs from rural Punjab to Oct, Hare & Hounds, JESS MORGAN & DAN NEW HISTORICAL ARTEFACTS OF THE BEAT Sat 7 Oct, The modern-day Britain, exploring how Birmingham WHITEHOUSE Fri 6 Oct, REDDITCH LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY The Assembly, Leamington and why they’ve travelled to, and set- mac, Birmingham Redditch Local History Society has STEVIE PARKER Tues 3 Spa tled in, Birmingham and the Black Oct, The Flapper, collected a wide range of artefacts re- THE LOST WILL & TESTA- 80'S EXPERIENCE Sat 7 Country, until Sun 22 Oct Birmingham lating to the history of the town. MENT OF JAKE THACK- Oct, Nailcote Hall, KNIGHTS OF THE RAJ Exhibition featur- These include an extensive collection LOYLE CARNER Tues 3 RAY Fri 6 Oct, The Berkswell, Warwick- ing rare photographs, unique arte- of original photographs, ledgers, Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Core Theatre, Solihull shire facts, videos, interactive displays and journals, paintings, prints and service ingham SHELLAC Fri 6 Oct, oral histories that tell the fascinating ONE STOP BOOGIE Sat 7 awards, Wed 25 Oct - Sun 26 Nov THE SKINTS Tues 3 Oct, The Asylum, B’ham story of the much-loved British curry, Oct, The River Rooms, The Assembly, Leam- until Sun 7 Jan OAS-IS & BLURD Fri 6 Stourbridge Herbert Art Gallery & ington Spa Oct, The Empire, NEW BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD: FACES SURF'S UP Sat 7 Oct, Museum, Coventry MEGSON Wed 4 Oct, Coventry OF PEACE & WAR Amateur photogra- Huntingdon Hall, PICASSO: LINOCUTS FROM THE BRITISH The Red Lion Folk pher Käthe Buchler photographed SINNERGOD Fri 6 Oct, Worcester MUSEUM Club, Birmingham the German home front during the Exhibition featuring some of The Iron Road, Eve- GUNS OR ROSES Sat 7 First World War. Her black & white Picasso’s most important works in THE STRYPES Wed 4 sham Oct, The Marr's Bar, images feature members of her fam- linocut, presented alongside a selec- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- SQUEEZE WITH SPECIAL Worcester ingham ily, working children and a series tion of ceramics on loan from Leices- GUESTS 9 BELOW ZERO. THINK FLOYD Sat 7 Oct, called ‘women doing men’s jobs’, Fri ter Arts & Museums Service, until Sun EMPIRICAL Wed 4 Oct, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Sym- The Swan Theatre, 20 Oct - Sun 14 Jan 3 Dec Symphony Hall, Birm- phony Hall, B’ham NEW SECRET VALENTINE Worcester ingham FAITH IN BIRMINGHAM, Exploring how An exhibition MARTY STUART Fri 6 THE OVERTONES Sat 7 different faiths have influenced and of works by Li Hui, a Chinese photog- WILLE AND THE BANDITS Oct, Birmingham Town Oct, Bedworth Civic shaped the city, until Sun 3 Feb 2019 rapher based in Beijing who explores Wed 4 Oct, Hare & Hall Hall intimacy in the heavily self-conscious Hounds, Birmingham CHINA CRISIS Fri 6 Oct, BEVERLEY KNIGHT BOM (B’ham Open Media) context of a world obsessed with so- Sun PRETTY VICIOUS Wed 4 Huntingdon Hall, 8 Oct, Symphony Hall, cial media, Fri 6 - Sun 22 Oct Worcester INSTRUCTIONS FOR HUMANS Exhibition NEW CRAFTS OF THE PUNJAB: EXPLORE Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham considering the relationship between Birmingham THE V&A SOUTH ASIAN COLLECTION FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 6 IAN MOSS Sun 8 Oct, humans and machines, and the sys- SUNDARA KARMA & THE Oct, Route 44, B’ham Stratford Artshouse, tems that control them. The show Using the exceptional collections of MAGIC GANG Wed 4 THEATRE OF HATE Fri 6 Stratford-upon-Avon, brings together three artists - Pete the Victoria & Albert Museum, Crafts Oct, The Empire, Oct, The Assembly, Ashton (Birmingham, UK), Kyle Mc- Of The Punjab presents an extensive SKINNY GIRL DIET Sun 8 Coventry Leamington Spa Donald (Los Angeles, USA), Nye range of arts and crafts made across Oct, The Sunflower Thompson (London, UK), until Sat 16 the area from the 2nd to the19th cen- JARROD DICKENSON ARCANE ROOTS Fri 6 Lounge, Birmingham Wed 4 Oct, Hare & Dec tury, Fri 20 Oct - Sun 21 Jan Oct, The Slade EVERY THREAD Sun 8 Hounds, Birmingham Rooms, Wolverhamp- Oct, The Tin Music Leamington Spa Art Gallery & ton Compton Verney Gallery, Museum ROCK 'N' ROLL BACK THE And Arts, Canal Basin, Warwick YEARS Thurs 5 Oct, TURIN BRAKES Fri 6 Coventry THE BENEVOLENT DESPOT: ALDERMAN The Core Theatre, Oct, The Assembly, SEURAT TO RILEY: THE ART OF PERCEP- DANIEL KEMISH Sun 8 ALFRED HOLT (1858 - 1943) AND THE Solihull Leamington Spa TION Exhibition taking you on a fasci- FOUNDATION OF LEAMINGTON ART Oct, The Marr's Bar, FAITH: GEORGE MICHAEL nating and stimulating journey that GALLERY The story of Alderman Alfred BLACK CELEBRATION Fri Worcester Thurs 5 Oct, Bedworth looks at the ways in which our visual Holt's contributions as a ‘public-spir- 6 Oct,The River

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thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October DANIEL SLOSS Sun 8 Oct, Warwick ROMEO & JULIET Nuworks Productions Classical Music Comedy Arts Centre, Coventry give Shakespeare’s classic a contem- BARBARA NICE Sun 8 Oct, The Old porary twist via accompanying music from Pink, Coldplay and Muse, Tues THE CRYSTALLINE HEAVEN Excelsa THE LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY FOR KIDS Rep Theatre, Birmingham 3 Oct, The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford- Voces with Tom McMahon (cello) & Sun 1 Oct, mac, Birmingham upon-Avon Chris Long (keyboards). Programme COMEDY OF BLACK ORIGIN (COBO) SPAMALOT Eric Idle’s award-winning includes music of the Renaissance BRINGS A BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPE- Monty Python musical comedy, Tues from Palestrina & Christobal de CIAL Sun 1 Oct, The Glee Club, Birm- 3 - Sat 7 Oct, New Alexandra Theatre, Morales; and contemporary music by ingham Theatre Morton Lauridsen, Arvo Part, Olivier Birmingham CHRISTIAN REILLY, SALLY-ANNE HAY- Messiaen and others, Sun 1 Oct, The LETTERS TO EMMA New play based on WARD AND STEPHEN BAILEY Mon 2 Oct, DUET FOR ONE Revival of Tom Kempin- Guild Chapel, Stratford-upon-Avon the life of Anna Seward, Tues 3 - Sat Belgrade Theatre, Coventry ski's award-winning play, taking a ANNELIEN VAN WAUWE & AMATIS PIANO look at what happens when unex- 7 Oct, Lichfield Garrick ABANDOMAN Wed 4 Oct, The Glee TRIO Programme comprises Messi- pected events lead you to revaluate THE WEDDING SINGER Ray Quinn, Club, Birmingham aen’s Quartet for the End of Time, your life, until Sat 7 Oct, The REP, Cassie Compton, Roxanne Pallett Mon 2 Oct Stratford Artshouse, Strat- Birmingham and Ruth Madoc star in a new pro- ford-upon-Avon CORIOLANUS Angus Jackson directs duction of the popular musical, AMATIS PIANO TRIO Programme in- Shakespeare’s full-throttle war play, based on the hit film of the same cludes works by Mendelssohn & until Sat 14 Oct, Royal Shakespeare name, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Oct, Wolver- Schubert, Tues 3 Oct Stratford Theatre,Stratford-upon-Avon hampton Grand Theatre Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE Christopher SLEEPING TREES: SCI-FI? A journey into JULIAN BLISS PLAYS WEBER Works by Marlowe's darkly humorous play the deep and infinite unknown... Wed Rossini & Beethoven also feature, about the politics of identity and hap- 4 Oct, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birm- Tues 3 Oct, Stratford Artshouse, piness, until Sat 28 Oct, The Swan ingham Stratford-upon-Avon Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon ANTIGONE Actors Of Dionysus present MOZART'S CLARINET CONCERTO Featur- MIKE GUNN, LOST VOICE GUY & COMEDY I KNEW YOU Highly anticipated second a new adaptation of Sophocles’ ing the City of Birmingham Sym- CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs play from Birmingham-born writer tragedy, reimagined in a dystopian phony Orchestra, Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla 5 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham and performer Steven Camden, aka landscape, Wed 4 Oct, Bridge House (conductor) & Jörg Widmann (clar- MAFF BROWN, DALISO CHAPONDA, GARY Polarbear, taking a look at family dy- Theatre, Warwick inet). Programme to include works by MEIKLE & JIM SMALLMAN Thurs 5 Oct, namics. Featuring Lorna Laidlaw PSYCHIC SALLY: KISSES TO HEAVEN Weber, Mozart, Jörg Widmann & The George Hotel, Lichfield (Doctors), Fri 29 Sept - Sat 7 Oct, The Evening of mediumship, Wed 4 Oct, Brahms, Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Oct, Sym- REP, Birmingham KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY NIGHT Thurs Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon- phony Hall, Birmingham 5 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall THE CRUCIBLE Arthur Miller’s ac- Avon CEMPR Early Music Lecture - recitals: claimed story, inspired by the Salem GREG DAVIES Thurs 5 Oct, Warwick A HAUNTING ‘Nailbiting’ drama com- Early Strings with Miki Takahashi and witchcraft trials, Sat 30 Sept - 7 Oct, Arts Centre, Coventry bining fiercely original writing with a Andrew Kirkham, Thurs 5 Oct, The Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth darkly comic tone, Wed 4 - Thurs 5 ABANDOMAN Fri 6 Oct, Warwick Arts Bramall, Birmingham SKYLIGHT The Crescent Theatre Com- Oct, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Centre, Coventry CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- pany present David Hare’s witty polit- 9 TO 5 Alcester Musical Theatre Com- CHESTRA Featuring Mirga Gražinyt - THE LOST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JAKE ical play, Sat 30 Sept - Sat 7 Oct, pany present an amateur staging of Tyla (conductor) & Jorg Widdmanė THACKRAY Fri 6 Oct, The Core The- Crescent Theatre, Birmingham the Dolly Parton musical, Wed 4 - Sat rogramme includes works atre, Solihull (clarinet). P A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, 7 Oct, Palace Theatre, Redditch by Weber, Mozart & Brahms, Fri 6 JIMMY MCGHIE, MARK SIMMONS & mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian PROMISE AND PROMISCUITY: A NEW Oct, Malvern Theatre TREVOR COOK Fri 6 Oct, Jongleurs ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev MUSICAL Penny Ashton brings a full Comedy Club, Birmingham Pegg & Jess Silk, Sun 1 Oct, Wolver- cast of Austenesque characters to life FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN NERD Fri 6 hampton Grand Theatre with song, dance - and appalling Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALS Whistle- cross-stitching... Thurs 5 Oct, Old BREAKING TALENT AWARD 2017 Fri 6 stop tour of the shows, from the heart Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham of London’s theatreland to the glitz of A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, ROB ROUSE, GERRY K. & MARTI Fri 6 Broadway, Sun 1 Oct, Malvern The- mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian Oct, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge atres ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev ELECTRA Nuworks Productions pre- Pegg & Jess Silk, Thurs 5 Oct, Cres- MIKE GUNN, LOST VOICE GUY, JOE BOR & cent Theatre, Birmingham MARTIN MOR Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, The sent a faithful adaptation of Euripides’ Glee Club, Birmingham Greek tragedy, set to a score inspired LOADED Violent, lyrical and thought- by the style of Nick Cave, Mon 2 Oct, provoking theatre fusing an evocative KEITH FARNAN, ANDRE VINCENT & TWO The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon- original sound score with texts rang- COMICS TBC Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, The Avon ing from ancient literature to modern Comedy Loft, Birmingham THAT'LL BE THE DAY Acclaimed touring science, Thurs 5 - Fri 6 Oct, The Old BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL Fri 6 - show featuring a host of popular hits Rep Theatre, Birmingham NAVARRA STRING QUARTET Programme Sun 15 Oct, various locations, spanning the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s & BUGSY MALONE Phoenix Theatre throughout Birmingham comprises Haydn's Quartet in D ’80s, Mon 2 - Tues 3 Oct, The Roses Group present an amateur staging of minor Op 9 No.4; Shostakovich's SIMON AMSTELL Sat 7 Oct, Warwick Theatre, Tewkesbury Alan Parker’s famous musical, Thurs Quartet No.5 in B flat Op 92 & Schu- Arts Centre, Coventry THE GOLDEN DRAGON Music Theatre 5 - Sat 7 Oct, Evesham Arts Centre, bert's Quartet in G D887, Fri 6 Oct, UPFRONT COMEDY Sat 7 Oct, mac, Wales present a compelling fable of Worcestershire Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa Birmingham modern life, which begins with the ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE Joe Orton’s BE LIVE Sat 7 Oct, Coventry Cathedral JIMMY MCGHIE, MARK SIMMONS & discovery of a decayed tooth found in acclaimed black comedy, featuring BLAKE Sun 8 Oct, The Roses Theatre, TREVOR COOK Sat 7 Oct, Jongleurs a bowl of soup, Tues 3 Oct, The REP, themes of murder, homosexuality, Tewkesbury Comedy Club, Birmingham Birmingham nymphomania and sadism, Thurs 5 - Sat 14 Oct, The Blue Orange Theatre, DINARA KLINTON PIANO CONCERT Sun 8 JAY HANDLEY Sat 7 Oct, mac, B’ham YOU FORGOT THE MINCE Imagine If Theatre present a story of falling in Birmingham Oct, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 7 love and falling apart, Tues 3 Oct, A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove mac, Birmingham mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian

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thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 October ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev ALADDIN Birmingham Royal Ballet AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO Pegg & Jess Silk, Fri 6 Oct, The Rose perform David Bintley’s critically ac- Film POWER Documentary. Starring Al Theatre, Kidderminster claimed adaptation of the famous Gore, Barack Obama. Warwick Arts story, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Oct, Birmingham Centre, Coventry, Sun 8 & Tues 10 THE BASTARD KING Sketch comedy WHITNEY: CAN I BE ME (15) Hippodrome Music /Doc- Oct duo The Awkward Silence present umentary. Starring Whitney Houston, their latest show, Fri 6 Oct, Old Joint CHARGE Motionhouse’s new multime- Bobbi Kristina Brown. Roses Theatre, Stock Theatre, Birmingham dia work, which delves deep into the Tewkesbury, Thurs 28 Sept - Wed 4 NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: WORLD WAR ONE IN SONG: NO PETTI- human body to trace the story of en- Oct ergy in our lives, Wed 4 - Sat 7 Oct, Released from Fri 1 Oct, showing at COATS HERE! Louise Jordan uses VICTORIA & ABDUL (PG) selected cinemas songs to recount the stories of re- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Biography/Drama. Starring Judi BLADE RUNNER 2049 (tbc) markable women of the First World Dench, Adeel Akhtar. mac, Birming- War, Sat 7 Oct, Malvern Theatres ham, Fri 29 Sept - Thurs 5 Oct; War- THE GLASS CASTLE (12a) GODIVA ROCKS Celebration of Coven- wick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 29 THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US (12a) try music from the 1950s to the pre- Talks Sept - Mon 2 Oct, Sun 8 - Tues 10 sent day, Sat 7 - Sat 21 Oct, Belgrade Oct Theatre, Coventry BRIAN REED ON CREATING S-TOWN: A STAR WARS: EPISODE IV (U) Action/Fan- AKSHAYAMBARA Experimental play NEW WAY TO TELL A STORY Spoken- tasy. Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison creating a contemporary narrative word event featuring Brian Reed, the Ford. Outdoor screening. Priory Park, Events that raises questions about female host and co-creator of groundbreak- Malvern, Sun 1 Oct representation and male ownership, ing podcast S-Town, Mon 2 Oct, PATTI CAKE$ (15) Drama/Music. Star- CARTISTS: REIMAGINING THE CAR Four- Sun 8 Oct, mac, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall ring Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Ev- teen artists, one challenge... Trans- form a car into a work of art! until Sun THEATRETRAIN: WEBBER STREET A cele- JEMIMA PARRY-JONES MBE: WHAT IS erett. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, 29 Oct, Herbert Art Gallery & Mu- bration of master of musicals Andrew THAT HAWK IN YOUR GARDEN Special Sun 1 - Wed 4 Oct seum, Coventry Lloyd Webber, Sun 8 Oct, Artrix, talk about local birds of prey, and a DETROIT (15) Crime/History. Starring Bromsgrove display of flying birds, Tues 3 Oct, John Boyega, Anthony Mackie. Malvern Theatre Malvern Theatres, Sun 1, Tues 3 & CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE: SLEEP BETTER - THE Wed 4 Oct SCIENCE AND THE MYTHS Join Graham GOD'S OWN COUNTRY (15) Drama/Ro- Law as he explores the myths that mance. Starring Josh O’Connor, Alec Kids shows surround sleep, Tues 3 Oct, Think- Secareanu. Malvern Theatres, Sun 1 - tank at Millennium Point, Birmingham Wed 4 Oct; Warwick Arts Centre, SNOW WHITE Brand new musical THE GENIUS OF JANE AUSTEN Austen Coventry, Tues 3 - Thurs 5 Oct adaptation which sees the seven expert Dr Paula Byrne looks at the PECKING ORDER (PG) Documentary. JAPSHOW FINALE 2017 The country's dwarfs morph into hip-hop brothers, comic art of Jane Austen, and her in- Starring Doug Bain, Sarah Bunton. quickest cars compete in the FWD Sun 1 Oct, The Bear Pit Theatre, novative approach to her life via ob- Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, Drag Series, Sun 1 Oct, Santa Pod Stratford-upon-Avon jects and places. Advance booking Mon 2 Oct Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants required. Wed 4 Oct, Compton Ver- LIBRARY LION Children’s story featur- MY COUSIN RACHEL (12a) COVENTRY COMIC CON Featuring spe- ney Gallery. Warwickshire Drama/Mys- ing songs, laughter and lots of audi- tery. Starring Rachel Weisz, Sam cial guests, dealer tables, comic- ence participation, Sat 7 Oct, GORDON BUCHANAN: ANIMAL FAMILIES Claflin. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon 2 Oct book artists, Cosplay and more, Sun Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry & ME The BBC TV wildlife presenter THE MARKER (15) 1 Oct, Sports Connexion, Ryton, and cameraman shares stories of the Crime/Thriller. Star- A MOUSE CALLED CHEDDAR GORGE Join Coventry natural world, Wed 4 Oct, Malvern ring John Hannah, Ana Ularu. Fol- in the fun, songs and audience par- HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW Featuring Theatre lowed by director’s Q&A. Electric ticipation in Angela Lanyon’s tale of a Cinema, Birmingham, Tues 3 Oct the most prestigious National Show- mouse with a penchant for chocolate WAR STORIES WITH PETER SNOW & ANN A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT ing and Showjumping Champi- biscuits, Sat 7 Oct, Swan Theatre, MACMILLAN The husband-and-wife (15) Drama/Horror. Starring Sheila onships, International Showjumping Worcester team present a fascinating, illustrated classes and the Dressage Future Elite account of ordinary people swept up Vand, Arash Marandi. Albany The- atre, Coventry, Tues 3 Oct Championship, Wed 4 - Sun 8 Oct, by the horror of war, Thurs 5 Oct, NEC, Birmingham Lichfield Garrick HAMPSTEAD (12a) Comedy/Drama. Starring Brendan Gleeson, Diane FUN PALACES Day of free hands-on MICHAEL ROSEN The event is part of arts-and-science activities for all Dance the University of Worcester Story- Keaton. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 4 & Fri 6 Oct ages, Sat 7 Oct, Shakespeare's Birth- THE MATTER OF THE HATTER Dance telling Festival for Children, Fri 6 Oct, place, Stratford Upon Avon LE DOULOS (12a) Crime/Thriller. Star- show set in the world of Wonderland, The Hive, Worcester ring Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Ev- SCAREFEST Compete with spooks, where you can achieve six impossi- JON SOPEL - IF ONLY THEY DIDN'T SPEAK erett. Foreign language, subtitled. frights, thrills, and remaining open ble things before breakfast, Sun 1 ENGLISH The BBC Political Corre- Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 5 until 9pm, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, Alton Oct, The Core Theatre, Solihull spondent talks about his new book, Oct Towers, Staffordshire 8 MINUTES Choreographer Alexander which offers a portrait of American life BLADE RUNNER 2049 (12a) Sci- GREAT ELECTRIC TRAIN SHOW Featuring Whitley in collaboration with space and politics as seen through British Fi/Thriller. Starring Harrison Ford, more than 25 layouts and over 30 scientists from STFC RAL Space, eyes, Fri 6 Oct, Stratford Artshouse, Ryan Gosling. Mockingbird Cinema, traders, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, British Tues 3 Oct, DanceXchange, The Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham, Fri 6 - Thurs 19 Oct Motor Museum, Gaydon Patrick Centre, B’ham Hippodrome STORIES CROSSING BORDERS: AN AF- WEDDING SHOWCASE Explore this at- TERNOON WITH PREETI SHENOY Join BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (PG) mospheric ruin and each of the cere- one of India’s most celebrated au- Fantasy/Musical. Starring Emma Wat- mony and reception locations, Sun 8 thors as she discusses her latest son, Dan Stevens. Warwick Arts Cen- Oct, Kenilworth Castle book, Sat 7 Oct, The Studio @ The tre, Coventry, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct REP, Birmingham SUFFRAGETTE (12a) Biography/Drama. CHINA REVEALED Learn about Chinese culture, history and art via a variety of BARBARA TAYLOR: THE LAST ASYLUM Starring Carey Mulligan, Meryl talks, tastings and tours related to the Hear about Taylor’s own experience Streep. mac, Birmingham, Sun 8 Oct internationally acclaimed Chinese of mental breakdown and healing, STEP (12a) Documentary. Starring collection, Sun 8 Oct, Compton Ver- Sun 8 Oct, The Door at The REP, Paula Dofat, Blessin Giraldo. mac, ney Gallery, Warwick Birmingham Birmingham, Sun 8 & Tues 10 Oct

whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List NEW Warwicks/Worcs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:15 Page 1

5/10 Rock 'n' Roll Back The Years Music & dance hosted by David ‘Diddy’ Hamilton £21 6/10 Mothership Led Zepplin tribute £15 6/10 The Lost Will & Testament of Jake Thackray Performed in the Studio by John Watterson £12/£10 7/10 Salute to Sinatra and The Swing Legends Performed by top vocalist Matt Ford and his band £18 Mark Anthony 10/10 Mad About the Musicals Starring Michael Courtney and Jai McDowell £22 11/10 Prince Revelation Performed by Mark Anthony as seen on TV £20 Ellie Taylor 14/10 Ellie Taylor- This Guy New Comedy Show £12 19/10 The Electric Strawbs Recapturing those classic songs and more £20 24/10 The Nutcracker Black Country Night Out Two Shows by Ballet Theatre UK £12-£18 26/10 A Black Country Night Out Music & Mirth £20

27/10 Monstersaurus King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys Big family fun for ages 3+ £10 28/10 Wildlife Road Trip BBC presenters £20 (£18) 2/11 The Leginds of American Country Show Country music tribute show £19.50 Barbara Nice 3/11 King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys Popular UK swing band £17 10/11 Barbara Nice: Raffle! Barbara returns with her new show £12 Foster & Allen 14/11 Foster & Allen Part of their 2017 Autumn tour £27 15/11 The Blues Band 38 Years and Back for More Tour £21 The Blues Band

56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks/Worcs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:15 Page 2

thelist Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October Evesham KIM WILDE & MORE... DANCES Featuring Valery Gergiev Gigs LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Thurs Sat 14 Oct, Ricoh Classical (conductor) & Denis Matsuev 12 Oct, The Marr's Bar, Arena, Coventry (piano). Programme includes works by Rimsky-Korsakov's Suite from LADY ANTEBELLUM Mon Worcester HMLTD Sat 14 Oct, Music The Golden Cockeral, 25", 9 Oct, Arena Birming- NEIL DIAMOND Hare & Hounds, Birm- Fri 13 Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.2, 31" ham ingham Oct, Arena Birming- CANADIAN BRASS Featuring Caleb & Rachmaninoff's Symphonic THE XCERTS Mon 9 Oct, ham LEGENDS LIVE Sat 14 Hudson & Chris Coletti (trumpets), Dances Op 45, 35", Thurs 12 Oct, The Flapper, B’ham MIDDAY VARIETY Fri 13 Oct, Genting Arena, Bernhard Scully (horn), Achilles Liar- Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham NICK MULVEY Mon 9 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, makopoulos (trombone) & Chuck ARMONICO CONSORT: BEOWULF Featur- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Coventry DUA LIPA Sat 14 Oct, Daellenbach (tuba), Mon 9 Oct, The ing Armonico Consort & Academy ingham JOLIE HOLLAND AND O2 Academy, B’ham Barber Institute, Birmingham Singers, Elin Manahan Thomas (so- SUPERSUCKERS Mon 9 SAMANTHA PARTON Fri THE MILK MEN Sat 14 THOMAS TROTTER LUNCHTIME ORGAN prano), Catrin Finch (harp), Toby Oct, Hare & Hounds, 13 Oct, The Musician, Oct, The Assembly, CONCERT: BIRDS OF A FEATHER Mon 9 Young (keyboards) & Christopher Birmingham Leicester Leamington Spa Oct, Birmingham Town Hall Monks (conductor). Harry Potter HEG & THE WOLF CHO- BIG GINGER KID Fri 13 GLAM45 & SWEET45 Sat CEMPR Early Music Lecture - recitals: actor Mark Williams narrates, Thurs 12 Oct, Worcester Cathedral RUS Mon 9 Oct, Cres- Oct, The Sunflower 14 Oct, The Road- Natural horn with Anneke Scott, Mon cent Thestre, B’ham Lounge, Birmingham house, Birmingham 9 Oct, The Bramall, Birmingham ARNOLD PIANO QUARTET Lunchtime UNEVEN STRUCTURE HOUSE OF JEALOUS LED HENDRIX Sat 14 EX CATHEDRA: MONTEVERDI Directed concert, Thurs 12 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Tues 10 Oct, The Flap- LOVERS Fri 13 Oct, Oct, Artrix, Broms- by Jeffrey Skidmore with Alexander per, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birm- grove Mason (organ). Programme com- ARMONICO CONSORT: BEOWULF Featur- ingham ZERVAS AND PEPPER THE BRITPOP BOYS Sat prises Monteverdi's In Search of ing Armonico Consort & Academy 1610, Tues 10 Oct, St Mary's Singers, Elin Manahan Thomas (so- Tues 10 Oct, Kitchen BEDWORTH BRASS Fri 14 Oct, The Marr's Bar, Church, Warwick prano), Catrin Finch (harp), Toby Garden Cafe, B’ham 13 Oct, Bedworth Civic Worcester Young (keyboards) & Christopher Hall TOWER OF POWER BASEL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featur- FLYTE Tues 10 Oct, O2 Sat Monks (conductor). Harry Potter THE MUSICAL BOX: THE ing Ivor Bolton (conductor) & Sol Academy, Birmingham 14 Oct, The Empire, actor Mark Williams narrates, Fri 13 BLACK SHOW Fri 13 Coventry Gabetta (cello). Programme com- THE SHEE - CONTINUUM prises Busoni's Lustepiel Overture Oct, Albany Theatre, Coventry Oct, Symphony Hall, THE MERCIAN REGI- Wed 11 Oct, mac, Op 38, 8"; Saint-Saëns Cello Con- BAGATELLES AFTER BEETHOVEN: Birmingham MENT: MILITARY BAND Birmingham certo, 19" & Beethoven's Symphony PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL TOUR Featuring BEASTDOME: FOOT- Sat 14 Oct, Number 8 PRINCE REVELATION No 7, 36", Tues 10 Oct, Birmingham Tim Horton (piano). Programme fea- STEPS Fri 13 Oct, The Community Arts Cen- Wed 11 Oct, The Core Town Hall tures works by Beethoven & a set of Bramall, Birmingham tre, Worcestershire Theatre, Solihull BEOWULF Featuring Armonico Con- newly commissioned Bagatelles, BON GIOVI Fri 13 Oct, BOOTLEG BLONDIE Sat SLEEPMAKESWAVES sort & AC Academy Singers, Elin written to celebrate the thirty-fifth an- The Roadhouse, Birm- 14 Oct, The Iron Road, Wed 11 Oct, The Flap- Manahan Thomas (soprano), Catrin niversary of the Presteigne Festival, ingham Evesham per, Birmingham Finch (harp), Toby Young (key- Fri 13 Oct, The Barber Institute, THE ALARM Fri 13 Oct, BIG COUNTRY Sat 14 Birmingham STEVIE NIMMO BAND boards) and Christopher Monks O2 Academy, B’ham Oct, The Assembly, Wed 11 Oct, The Iron (conductor), Wed 11 Oct, Bushell LONDON CONCERTANTE: BACH VIOLIN Leamington Spa Road, Evesham THE ROVING CROWS Fri School, Solihull CONCERTOS BY CANDLELIGHT Featur- 13 Oct, Artrix, Broms- ELKIE BROOKS Sat 14 ing Ben Norris (violinist), Fri 13 Oct, GARY NUMAN Wed 11 ENGLISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Fea- grove Oct, Albany Theatre, Coventry Cathedral Oct, O2 Academy, turing Kenneth Woods (artistic direc- Coventry Birmingham THE COUNTERFEIT tor) & Raphael Wallfisch (cello). STONES Fri 13 Oct, The THE OVERTONES Sat 14 Programme includes works by THE CHURCHFITTERS Roses Theatre, Oct, Warwick Arts Haydn, Schumann & Mozart, Wed Wed 11 Oct, The Red Tewkesbury Centre, Coventry 11 Oct, Malvern Theatre Lion Folk Club, B’ham THE OFFICIAL RE- NEIL DIAMOND Sun 15 SHOSTAKOVICH’S TWELFTH Featuring BAY CITY ROLLERS CEIVERS Fri 13 Oct, Oct, Genting Arena, Vassily Sinaisky (conductor) & STARRING LES MCKE- The Marr's Bar, Birmingham Simon Trp eski (piano). Programme OWN Wed 11 Oct, The comprises Beethoven's Fidelio: Worcester NELL BRYDEN Sun 15 Assembly, Leamington Overture, 6' & Piano Concerto No.5 LITTLE MIX Fri 13 Oct, Oct, The Rainbow Spa (Emperor), 38' plus Shostakovich's Genting Arena, B’ham Venues, Digbeth DRAGONFORCE Wed 11 Symphony No.12 (The Year 1917), EX CATHEDRA: BACH’S MAGNIFICAT Oct, O2 Academy, DESPERATE JOURNALIST HOT 8 BRASS BAND Sun 39', Wed 11 Oct, Symphony Hall, Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore (conduc- Birmingham Fri 13 Oct, The Tin 15 Oct, The Assembly, Birmingham tor), Elizabeth Adams, Katie Music And Arts, Canal Leamington Spa Trethewey & Amy Wood (sopranos), DWEEZIL ZAPPA: 50 Martha McLorinan (alto), Bradley Basin, Coventry COASTS Sun 15 Oct, YEARS OF FRANK Thurs Smith (tenor) & Greg Skidmore COASTS Fri 13 Oct, The Assembly, Leam- 12 Oct, Birmingham (bass), Sat 14 Oct, Symphony Hall, Kasbah, Coventry ington Spa Town Hall Birmingham LETHAL BIZZLE Fri 13 BACK TO BACHARACH LINDYPOP Wed 12 Oct, DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (MOZART) Full- Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Sun 15 Oct, Artrix, Bridge House Theatre, length German version of Mozart’s ingham Bromsgrove Warwick magic fable. James Levine con- BELINDA CARLISLE DETROIT MAGIC Fri 13 WILD WILLY BARRETT'S ducts, Sat 14 Oct, Malvern Theatre Oct, Huntingdon Hall, FRENCH CONNECTION Thurs 12 Oct, The As- WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHES- Worcester Sun 15 Oct, The Musi- sembly, Leamington COULL QUARTET: CITY OF LIGHT Featur- TRA Sat 14 Oct, All Saints’ Church, cian, Leicester Spa J. COLE Sat 14 Oct, ing Roger Coull, Philip Gallaway, Leamington Spa Arena Birmingham THE PRETENDERS Sun JEFFREY LEWIS & LOS Jonathan Barritt & Nicholas Roberts. BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- 15 Oct, Symphony BOLTS Thurs 12 Oct, STEPBACK! 80'S CON- Programme includes works by TRA - FANTASTIC SYMPHONY Featuring Hall, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birm- CERT FEAT. TONY Haydn. Mendelssohn, Debussy & Michael Lloyd (conductor), Sun 15 ingham HADLEY, PAUL YOUNG, Chausson, Thurs 12 Oct, Warwick Oct, Elgar Concert Hall, Birmingham NIK KERHSAW, GO WEST, Arts Centre, Coventry MAD DOG MCREA Thurs ST PETERSBURG SYMPHONY ORCHES- JASON DONOVAN, T’PAU, 12 Oct, The Iron Road, MARIINSKY ORCHESTRA - SYMPHONIC TRA Featuring Peter Donohoe whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List NEW Warwicks/Worcs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:15 Page 3

thelist Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October (piano) & Alexander Dmitriev (con- MANDY KNIGHT & COMIC TBC Fri 13 - 13 to 18, Tues 10 - Thurs 12 Oct, Ar- Sisters of Gertrude Stein be able to ductor). Programme includes works Sat 14 Oct, The Comedy Loft, B’ham trix, Bromsgrove keep their cool when the Commu- by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov & Rim- ROBIN INCE Sat 14 Oct, Artrix, Broms- WAIT UNTIL DARK Jack Ellis (Bad nists threaten their idyllic town? Wed sky-Korsakov, Sun 15 Oct, Warwick grove Girls/Prime Suspect) & Oliver Mellor 11 - Sun 15 Oct, Old Joint Stock The- Arts Centre, Coventry atre, Birmingham ELLIE TAYLOR Sat 14 Oct, The Core (Coronation Street) star in a new ENGLISH STRING ORCHESTRA Featuring Theatre, Solihull staging of Frederick Knott’s thriller, PINK SARI REVOLUTION True story Simon Desbruslais (trumpet). Pro- Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, Lichfield Garrick based on the book by journalist gramme includes works by Walton & CILLA THE MUSICAL Musical telling the Amana Fontanella Khan. Some Elgar, Sun 15 Oct, Huntingdon Hall, story of the young girl from Liverpool scenes contain references to sexual Worcester whose teenage dreams of stardom and domestic violence, Wed 11 - Sat BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHES- led to her becoming one of Britain’s 21 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry TRA Featuring Michael Lloyd (conduc- best-loved entertainers, Tues 10 - Sat A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, tor) & Michael Webb (clarinet). 14 Oct, New Alexandra Theatre, Birm- mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian Programme includes works by ingham ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev Berlioz & Weber, Sun 15 Oct, The SPAMALOT Amateur production pre- Pegg & Jess Silk, Thurs 12 Oct, Strat- Bramall, Birmingham sented by South Staffs Musical The- ford Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon MATT PRICE, GAVIN WEBSTER, ABIGO- atre Company, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON LIAH SCHAMAUN & GORDON SOUTHERN Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Birmingham School of Acting present Sat 14 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham CABARET Will Young reprises his criti- the British premiere of the Tony JARLATH REGAN, ALLYSON SMITH & cally acclaimed performance as Award-winning Broadway musical - a Comedy JOHN PEARSON Sat 14 Oct, Jongleurs Emcee in Rufus Norris’ production. satirical and irreverent comedy with a Comedy Club, Birmingham Strictly Come Dancing runner-up ‘killer rock’ score, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Oct, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham GREG DAVIES Mon 9 - Tues 10 Oct, ALAN DAVIES, MR DAVID JORDAN, Louise Redknapp stars as Sally Symphony Hall, Birmingham JAVIER JARQUIN, ESHAN AKBARR & Bowles, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, BLITHE SPIRIT The Norbury Players ROB ROUSE Tues 10 Oct, Royal Spa CHRISTIAN LEE Sat 14 Oct, Royal Spa Malvern Theatres present an amateur staging of Noel Centre, Leamington Spa Centre, Leamington Spa PRIVATE PEACEFUL New version of Coward’s classic comedy, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Oct, Norbury Theatre, JOHN HEGLEY Sat 14 Oct, mac, B’ham Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, The Old Rep Theatre, Droitwich COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS Sat 14 Oct, Birmingham INSTRUCTIONS FOR BORDER CROSSING Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER Oliver Gold- Political thriller written and performed MATT LUCAS Sat 14 Oct, Birmingham smith’s much-loved play, featuring by Daniel Bye, Fri 13 Oct, The Patrick Town Hall Mozart’s glorious music, Wed 11 - Fri Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome SIMON AMSTELL Sun 15 Oct, Birming- 13 Oct, The Bear Pit Theatre, Strat- TRES TRES CABARET Evening of ‘saucy ham Town Hall ford-upon-Avon decadence’, Fri 13 Oct, Stafford SIMON DAY Sun 15 Oct, The Glee HOLY DAY Birmingham School of Act- Gatehouse Theatre Club, Birmingham ing present a chilling tale set in the MIDDAY VARIETY Tribute to the Best of Australian outback, Wed 11 - Sat 14 British, Fri 13 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, Oct, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham Coventry THE HORNE SECTION Wed 11 Oct, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa THE LADYKILLERS Presented by Swan BILMANKHWE: THE TEMPEST Urban Theatre Amateur Company, Wed 11 - production of Shakespeare’s last WOODY ALLEN(ISH) Wed 11 Oct, The Theatre Sat 14 Oct, Swan Theatre, Worcester play, featuring contemporary African Glee Club, Birmingham 5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE Will the dance choreography, Sat 14 Oct, LARA A. KING, KAREN BAYLEY, LINDSEY FREEMAN Play inspired by the true SANTORO & MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed story of a black man put on trial in 11 Oct, Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham 19th century New York whose case IMPRACTICAL JOKERS Thurs 12 Oct, was the first in America to use ‘insan- Arena Birmingham ity’ as a defence, Mon 9 - Tues 10 ZOE LYONS, JONNY AWSUM Thurs 12 Oct, The REP, Birmingham Oct, The Bramall, Birmingham HAIRSPRAY Starring Brenda Edwards JOSH PUGH Thurs 12 Oct, mac, B’ham and Norman Pace, Mon 9 - Sat 14 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome JO D'ARCY Thurs 12 Oct, mac, B’ham NOT ABOUT HEROES Award-winning MATT PRICE, THE NOISE NEXT DOOR & play about the unique friendship be- COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- tween celebrated World War One SON Thurs 12 Oct, The Glee Club, poets Wilfred Owen & Siegfried Sas- Birmingham soon, Tues 10 Oct, Bridge House DARREN HARRIOT, TONY COWARDS & Theatre, Warwick CERYS NELMES Thurs 12 Oct, Royal MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALS Whistle- Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- stop tour of the shows, from the heart upon-Avon of London’s theatreland to the glitz of MATT PRICE, GAVIN WEBSTER, ABIGO- Broadway, Tues 10 Oct, The Core LIAH SCHAMAUN & COMIC TBC Fri 13 Theatre, Solihull Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham FACTORY GIRLS Story which follows a JAYDE ADAMS Fri 13 Oct, The Glee young factory girl in Japanese Korea Club, Birmingham and her struggles against sexual and SHIP OF FOOLS Fri 13 Oct, Palace The- class violence during the Korean in- atre, Redditch dustrial boom of the 1930s, Tues 10 & Wed 11 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre PATRICK MONAHAN Fri 13 Oct, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa HYPED Outspoken present a digital, grime performance, on the theme of CARL DONNELLY, PAUL MCCAFFERY, mental health, for young people aged Rosie Kay: 5 Soldiers - The REP, Birmingham

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks/Worcs 9 - 15 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:15 Page 4

Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October

mac, Birmingham Tewkesbury, Sat 14 - Tues 24 Oct other industry experts... Wed 11 - Sun GOBLIN’S PETER AND THE WOLF Join Talks TOUT EN HAUT DU MONDE (PG) Anima- 15 Oct, NEC, Birmingham Peter on a ‘hilarious’ adventure tion/Action. Malvern Theatres, Sun 15 GROUP LEISURE & TRAVEL SHOW Travel through the fields and forest, Sat 14 Oct ideas for days out, holidays and ser- Oct, Bridge House Theatre, Warwick STORIES CROSSING BORDERS: CHINELO vices, Thurs 12 Oct, NEC, B’ham OKPARANTA IN CONVERSATION Join THE GAME’S A FOOT TRY THE FISH Two Chinelo as she discusses identity, the GIN TASTING Including a talk through intriguing 1930s one-man whodunits the history of gin and a tutored tast- testing of faith and the uncovering of NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: featuring first-time detective Charlie histories through the personal jour- ing of six gins from small, indepen- Montague, Sat 14 Oct, Palace The- neys of her characters, Mon 9 Oct, Released from Fri 13 Oct, showing at dent producers, Sat 14 Oct, Old Joint atre, Redditch The Studio @ The REP, Birmingham selected cinemas Stock Theatre, Birmingham ADVENTURES IN POETRY: BRUM STANZA DOUBLE DATE (tbc) DUNGEONS AFTER DARK Prepare to ex- FESTIVAL SPECIAL Roz Goddard talks HELLRAISER (18) perience the darkest, bloodiest and most frightening times in the castle’s to poet Wayne Holloway-Smith, Tues LOVING VINCENT (15) 10 Oct, Waterstones, Birmingham history, Sat 14 Oct, Warwick Castle THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (tbc) TOLKIEN’S OLD WORCESTERSHIRE AND CHARACTER WEEKEND Pose for pho- THE PARTY (tbc) OXFORD Illustrated talk covering JRR tographs alongside Freddo, Caramel Tolkien’s life, Thurs 12 Oct, Selly THE RITUAL (15) Bunny or friends as they meet and greet visitors, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, Manor, Bournville, Birmingham THE SNOWMAN (tbc) Cadbury World, Birmingham KAMILA SHAMSIE: HOME FIRE Join the TALES OF BIRBAL Using humour, pup- Pakistani author as she talks about THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTORS FAIR Sat petry, music and the occasional fake her new novel, which tells the heart- 14 - Sun 15 Oct, British Motor Mu- beard, Mashi and Bhanji bring to life breaking tale of two British Muslim seum, Gaydon timeless and treasured fables from families with differing ideas about loy- Events MORE TREAT THAN TRICK Prepare for the Indian sub-continent, Sun 15 Oct, alty to the state, Thurs 12 Oct, The some spine-tingling fun, Sat 14 - The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hip- Studio @ The REP, Birmingham Thurs 26 Oct, Drayton Manor Theme VINTAGE TEA AND TOUR Factory tour podrome Park, Tamworth JACKIE MORRIS: THE LOST WORDS Dis- and refreshments, Wed 11 Oct, New- cussion about the lost words of our man Brothers Coffin Works, B’ham SPOOKY SEAS Meet the peaceful childhood and the intoxicating magic clownfish and not-so-scary sharks, GRAND DESIGNS LIVE Award-winning of language, Sat 14 Oct, The Studio Sat 14 - Tues 31 Oct, National Sea show featuring over 400 exhibitors & @ The REP, Birmingham Life Centre, Birmingham Grand Theatre feat. Kevin McCloud & HOLLIE MCNISH Join Holly as she reads from and chats about her new collection, Plum, Sun 15 Oct, Birm- ingham Town Hall

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT - THE MUSICAL Performed by Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society, Sun 15 - Sat 21 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall Film

INDEPENDENT LISTINGS:

DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST (15) Kids shows Drama/History. Starring Tommy Nicks, Cheryl Lynn. Warwick Arts THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK Enter the Centre, Coventry, Tues 10 Oct imaginative world of Alice In Wonder- THE OMEN (15) Horror. Starring Gre- land creator Lewis Carroll in this ultra- gory Peck, Lee Remick. Albany The- modern adaptation of his classic atre, Coventry, Tues 10 Oct poem, Tues 10 Oct, Malvern Theatre GHOSTBUSTERS (PG) Adventure/Com- edy. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd. Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, Tues 10 Oct BELLE DE JOUR (18) Drama. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel. For- eign language, subtitled. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 11 - Thurs 12 Oct MOTHER! (18) Drama/Horror. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 13 - Tues 17 Oct Dance DESPICABLE ME 3 (U) Animation/Ad- venture. With the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig. Roses Theatre, 5 SOLDIERS: THE BODY IS THE FRONT- Tewkesbury, Sat 14 Oct LINE Award-winning portrait of army life by Rosie Kay's dance company, VICTORIA & ABDUL (PG) Fri 13 - Sat 14 Oct, The REP, B’ham Biography/Drama. Starring Judi Dench, Adeel Akhtar. Roses Theatre,

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Warwicks/Worcs 16 - 22 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 16:27 Page 1

thelist Thurs 19 Oct, The HEIDI BROWNE Sat 21 Gigs Core Theatre, Solihull Oct, Evesham Arts Classical Comedy DEBORAH ROSE AND Centre, Worcestershire SHANE FILAN Mon 16 MARI RANDLE Thurs 19 Music TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 16 Oct, Oct, Birmingham Town Oct, Artrix, Broms- The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham Hal grove BRILLIANT BRAHMS - CBSO BENEVO- SIMON DAY Tues 17 Oct, Artrix, PALE WAVES Mon 16 THE WATERBOYS Thurs LENT FUND CONCERT Featuring Alpesh Bromsgrove 19 Oct, Symphony Oct, Hare & Hounds, Chauhan (conductor), Nicola MALCOLM STENT Tues 17 Oct, The Hall, Birmingham Birmingham Benedetti (violin), Leonard Elschen- Core Theatre, Solihull KATE RUSBY Thurs 19 broich (cello). Programme com- THE CORONAS Mon 16 PAUL CHOWDHRY Wed 18 Oct, The Oct, Malvern Theatres prises Brahms' Three Hungarian Oct, Mama Roux's, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Birmingham ANDY FAIRWEATHER PLACEBO Sat 21 Oct, Dances, 12'; Double Concerto, 31" & Symphony No. 3, 37", Wed 18 Oct, BRIAN GITTINS Wed 18 Oct, The Glee MICHAEL KIWANUKA LOW AND THE LOW RID- Civic Hall, Wolver- Symphony Hall, Birmingham Club, Birmingham Mon 16 Oct, Sym- ERS Thurs 19 Oct, hampton JETHRO Wed 18 Oct, Palace Theatre, phony Hall, B’ham Huntingdon Hall, THE YOUNG'UNS Sat 21 BEETHOVEN TRIO Featuring John Worcester Thwaites (piano), Jonathan Martin- Redditch MELLOW GANG, NON- Oct, mac, Birmingham dale (violin), Michael Jenkinson SUCH & CROP CIRCLES ROACHFORD Fri 20 Oct, ELLIE TAYLOR Thurs 19 Oct, Artrix, FASTLOVE: A TRIBUTE TO (viola), Helen Edgar (cello), Oliver Tues 17 Oct, The Sun- O2 Academy, B’ham Bromsgrove GEORGE MICHAEL Sat James (clarinet) & Elspeth Dutch flower Lounge, B’ham LIZA SINGS STREISAND THE NOISE NEXT DOOR Thurs 19 Oct, 21 Oct, The Roses (horn). Programme includes works Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon- THE ESKIES Tues 17 Fri 20 Oct, Stratford Theatre, Tewkesbury by Beethoven & Dohnányi, Thurs 19 Avon Oct, Hare & Hounds, Artshouse, Stratford- DEAD PRETTIES Sat 21 Oct, CBSO Centre, Birmingham Birmingham upon-Avon DAVID TRENT, JOSH PUGH & COMEDY Oct, The Assembly, CBSO: CLASSIC FM SMOOTH CLASSICS BECKY HILL CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON MARC ALMOND: SHAD- Fri 20 Oct, Leamington Spa Featuring the City of Birmingham Thurs 19 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham OWS & REFLECTIONS O2 Institute, B’ham JOHN MAYALL Sat 21 Symphony Orchestra, Michael Seal TOUR Tues 17 Oct, DIZZEE RASCAL Fri 20 Oct, Birmingham Town (conductor) & John Brunning (pre- LUISA OMIELAN Thurs 19 Oct, The Symphony Hall, Birm- Oct, O2 Academy, Hall senter). Programme includes works Comedy Loft, Birmingham ingham Birmingham THE AMERICAN HITMEN by Tchaikovsky, Barber, Debussy, LEE NELSON Fri 20 Oct, Palace The- THE WORLD FAMOUS Sat 21 Oct, The Iron Mendelssohn, Grieg, Bizet, Rach- atre, Redditch ELVIS SHOW Fri 20 - Sat Road, Evesham maninov, Massenet, Elgar, J S Bach MATT REED, DAMIAN CLARK, LEO 21 Oct, The Core The- & Borodin, Fri 20 Oct, Symphony KEARSE & COMIC TBC Fri 20 - Sat 21 FRANKIE ROSE Sat 21 Hall, Birmingham atre, Solihull Oct, Kasbah, Coventry Oct, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: FLORIAN KITT & CARLOS RIVERA- DAVID TRENT, JOSH PUGH, IAN MOORE TRAIN Sat 21 Oct, O2 AGUILAR Programme comprises A TRIBUTE TO THE PO- Academy, Birmingham & BRUCE DEVLIN Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, LICE Fri 20 Oct, Beethoven's Cello Sonata Op 102 The Glee Club, Birmingham Malvern Theatres BUDDY HOLLY AND THE No1; Takemitsu's Orion (1984); Brit- CRICKETERS Sat 21 ten's Cello Sonato Op 65; Cerha's 5 SULLY O'SULLIVAN & NIGE Sat 21 Oct, LOUIS BERRY Fri 20 Oct, Stratford Satze (2013) & Prokofiev's Cello Jongleurs Comedy Club, B’ham Oct, The Copper MILES HUNT & ERICA Artshouse, Stratford- Sonata Op 119, Fri 20 Oct, Artrix, LEE NELSON Sat 21 Oct, Warwick Arts Rooms, Coventry NOCKALLS Tues 17 Oct, upon-Avon Bromsgrove Centre, Coventry The Glee Club, B’ham TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY JOHN ILLSLEY Sat 21 RICHARD JENKINSON & ALEXANDER CASH - KEEP IT CASH Fri THREE STEP MANOEU- Oct, Artrix, Broms- BOYD LUNCHTIME CONCERT Pro- 20 Oct, The Iron Road, VRE Tues 17 Oct, The grove gramme comprises Kodály's Sonata Jam House, B’ham Evesham THE SOUTHMARTINS Sat Op.4 & Rachmaninov's Sonata in G STARSAILOR Tues 17 GEORGIE FAME Fri 20 21 Oct, O2 Academy, minor, Fri 20 Oct, The Barber Insti- Theatre Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- Oct, Royal Spa Centre, Birmingham tute, Birmingham ingham Leamington Spa TIGERCUB Sat 21 Oct, KARL JENKINS - THE ARMED MAN Fea- THE REAL THING Lawrence Fox stars LULU Wed 18 Oct, War- FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 20 The Flapper, B’ham turing the Manchester Concert Or- in Tom Stoppard’s award-winning wick Arts Centre, Oct, The Roadhouse, chestra, Sir Karl Jenkins modern classic, Mon 16 - Sat 21 MARTIN TURNER EX Coventry Birmingham (conductor), Manchester Chorale, Oct, Malvern Theatre WISHBONE ASH Sat 21 Joo Yeon Sir (violin) & Kathryn FAST LOVE Wed 18 Oct, GABRIELLE APLIN Fri 20 FRANKENSHOW A ‘lo-fi monstrosity of Oct, Huntingdon Hall, Rudge (mezzo-soprano), Sat 21 Oct, New Alexandra The- Oct, O2 Academy, epic proportions’, Tues 17 Oct, The Worcester Symphony Hall, Birmingham atre, Birmingham Birmingham Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippo- METRONOMY Sat 21 CBSO: MYTHS AND LEGENDS drome LUCA STRICAGNOLI THE WEST COAST EA- Featuring Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- the City of Birmingham Symphony Wed 18 Oct, Hare & GLES Fri 20 Oct, The PSYCHIC SALLY: KISSES TO HEAVEN ingham Orchestra; Jonathan Bloxham (con- Hounds, Birmingham Marr's Bar, Worcester Evening of mediumship, Tues 17 MARLEY REPRISED Sun ductor) & Tom Redmond (presen- JAMES HICKMAN AND Oct, Palace Theatre, Redditch JUSTIN CURRIE & THE 22 Oct, New Alexandra ter). Programme includes works by DAN CASSIDY Sat 21 PALLBEARERS Wed 18 Theatre, Birmingham John Williams, Wagner, Sibelius, ANTIGONE Actors Of Dionysus pre- Oct, Artrix, Broms- Oct, The Glee Club, Copland, John Williams & Stravin- sent a new adaptation which sees grove KELE OKEREKE Sun 22 Birmingham sky, Sun 22 Oct, Symphony Hall, Sophocles’ tragedy reimagined in a Oct, O2 Institute, Birm- dystopian landscape, Tues 17 Oct, COASTS Wed 18 Oct, Birmingham ingham The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Mama Roux's, B’ham VISHTEN Sun 22 Oct, FROGMAN Supernatural thriller experi- GREG RUSSELL & CIA- The Fleece Inn, Bret- enced in VR headsets, Tues 17 - RAN ALGAR Wed 18 forton, Nr Evesham Thurs 19 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Oct, The Red Lion Folk THE AMERICAN HITMEN Coventry Club, Birmingham Sun 22 Oct, The Iron MADE IN DAGENHAM Presented by STONE FOUNDATION Road, Evesham Worcester Operatic Dramatic Soci- Wed 18 Oct, O2 BANKS Sun 22 Oct, O2 ety, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Oct, Swan The- Academy, Birmingham THE REAL PEOPLE Sat Institute, Birmingham atre, Worcester THE ELECTRIC STRAWBS 21 Oct, The Empire, Coventry RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO Andrea Dun- 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwicks/Worcs 16 - 22 October.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 16:27 Page 2

Monday 16 - Sunday 22 October

bar’s semi-autobiographical play, Oct, The REP, Birmingham Tues 17 - Sat 21 Oct, Warwick Arts POPE HEAD: THE SECRET LIFE OF FRAN- Centre, Coventry CIS BACON A dark, comedic drama ex- A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, ploring the life, art, sexuality, psyche mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian and philosophies of artist Francis ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev Bacon, Sat 21 Oct, Old Joint Stock Pegg & Jess Silk, Wed 18 Oct, Artrix, Theatre, Birmingham Bromsgrove LORE OF AVERAGES Treefrog Theatre OBAMA AND ME One-woman show that Company take a light-hearted look at explores the meaning of identity, poli- what happens when stories from the tics, power and belonging in the distant past are brought into the pre- post-post-racial 21st century, Wed 18 sent day, Sat 21 Oct, mac, B’ham Oct, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham WONDERWOMAN: THE NAKED TRUTH HEY LI’L MAN A story of family life told Notnow Collective presents a ‘high- through the eyes of a stranger who octane, visually dynamic & entertain- becomes involved when tragedy ing piece’ which probes the ups & strikes, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, The downs of parenthood, Sat 21 Oct, Al- Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon bany Theatre, Coventry MACHINAL Birmingham School of Act- ‘FATE’S THREAD’ Stephen Bean’s ing presents its version of Sophie thriller - ‘a race against time to save a Treadwell’s modern classic, based on soul’, Sat 21 Oct, Talisman Theatre, the true story of American murderer Kenilworth Ruth Snyder, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, MULTIVERSE UK premiere in which Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Louis Vanhaverbeke is a multifunc- The Real Thing NORMA Midland Opera Company pre- tional disc-jockey with a set of odd Malvern Theatre, Mon 16 - Sat 21 October sents its production of Bellini’s mas- props. Forms part of the Fierce Festi- One of the best-known plays by one of Britain’s best-known play- terpiece, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, The val 2017, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, mac, wrights, The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard is a clever, witty and Old Rep, Birmingham Birmingham poignant study of infidelity. When playwright Henry’s affair with BEDLAM - I HAD A BLACK DOG Comic DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join the actress Annie threatens to destroy his marriage to Charlotte, he story of survival, based on the book What’s On Personality Of The Year as of the same name, Thurs 19 Oct, The she sets out to challenge Darwin’s finds himself wondering whether his new-found love is actually REP, Birmingham Theory of Evolution... Sun 22 Oct, ‘the real thing’... Laurence Fox, best known as DS James Hath- BLITHE SPIRIT The Norbury Players Wolverhampton Grand Theatre away in the Inspector Morse spin-off TV series, Lewis, takes top present an amateur staging of Noel DELAYED UK premiere of new musical billing in this new version of the multi-award-winning modern Coward’s classic comedy, Thurs 19 - which starts with two men meeting on classic Sat 21 Oct, Norbury Theatre, a platform... Sun 22 Oct, Artrix, Droitwich Bromsgrove NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL Jars of Clay DISCOVERY DAY: BEDLAM SHOWCASE In- ACOSTA DANZA Featuring new and ex- HIGHER Michele Rizzo explores the Theatre present a heart warming tale, novative local companies showcase isting pieces by Cuban choreogra- cathartic power of dance, as a form Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Oct, Blue Orange groundbreaking work, Sun 22 Oct, phers and newly commissioned work of prayer and celebration of exis- Theatre, Birmingham The REP, Birmingham by international choreographers tak- tence. UK premiere presented as part LITE Multimedia stage production ex- ing inspiration from their native coun- of Fierce Festival, Sat 21 Oct, The ploring the theme of identity through tries, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippo- a young black woman’s eyes, Fri 20 Birmingham Hippodrome drome Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove I RIDE IN COLOUR AND SOFT FOCUS, NO A STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR Kids shows LONGER ANYWHERE Choreography HYDE Adaptation of Robert Louis that prioritises density over going anywhere, noise over silence, now Stevenson’s dark psychological fan- DISNEY ON ICE: PASSPORT TO ADVEN- over yesterday and pleasure over tasy, Fri 20 Oct, The Roses, Tewkes- TURE Journey to the timeless worlds Talks doing it right. Presented as part of bury of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Fierce Festival, Thurs 19 Oct, mac, Peter Pan and Frozen, Wed 18 - Sun HEADZ 20 Stories High offer an insight BEDLAM - MY BEAUTIFUL BLACK DOG Birmingham Poetically wild musical exploring the 29 Oct, Arena Birmingham into the lives of Liverpool’s young PILGRIM A physical journey through people through a series of contempo- beauteous complexity of our fragile TEDDY BEARS PICNIC Interactive musi- the mystical sound scores created by rary urban monologues, Thurs 19 minds, Fri 20 Oct, The REP, B’ham cal adventure for children featuring electronic musician James Holden. Oct, mac, Birmingham NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL Major new singalong songs, join-in dances & Presented as part of Fierce Festival, MEL NICHOLLS: PARALYMPIAN & ADVEN- stage adaptation based on the film of storytelling, Sat 21 Oct, Palace The- Fri 20 Oct, The Patrick Centre, Birm- TURE STORYTELLER the same name, Fri 20 Oct - Sun 12 atre, Redditch Join Mel as she ingham Hippodrome talks about her ambitions for her Nov, The REP, Birmingham DINOSAUR WORLD Interactive new sporting future, her love of adventure show for all the family, Sat 21 - Sun NOTORIOUS The Famous Lauren Barri and her desire to push boundaries, 22 Oct, Malvern Theatre Holstein contemplates representa- Thurs 19 Oct, The Roses, Kiddermin- tions of women, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, ster The REP, Birmingham AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PORTILLO PARTUS Third Angel present a story of Featuring a question-and-answer ses- love, joy, resilience and bravery, Fri sion, Sat 21 Oct, Palace Theatre, 20 - Sat 21 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Dance Redditch Coventry AN EVENING WITH AGGERS & BUMBLE BEDLAM: HEARING THINGS Provocative A POSITIVE LIFE An immersive theatre Cricket commentators Jonathan drama exploring the dilemmas of experience featuring dance, physical Agnew and David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd psychiatry from the points of view of theatre and spoken word, Tues 17 team up, Sun 22 Oct, Symphony patients, relatives and staff, Sat 21 Oct, mac, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham

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FRI 17 NOV , 8pm AUSTENTATIOUS – THE IMPROVISED JANE AUSTEN NOVEL Austentatious is an improvised comedy play starring a cast of the country’s quickest comic performers. Every single show the cast conjure up a brand new ‘lost’ Jane Austen novel based on nothing more than a title suggested by the audience. Performed in pe- riod costume with live musical accompaniment.

FRI 24 NOV , 7.30pm THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE A thrilling adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark psychological fantasy, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde immerses you in the myth and mystery of 19th century London’s fog-bound streets where love, betrayal and murder lurk at every chilling twist and turn. Gripping, stylish and thought-provoking, this is unmissable theatre. Go on…treat your dark side!

WED 29 NOV, 7pm MORGAN & WEST: A (SORT OF) CHRISTMAS CAROL MAGIC SHOW! The world’s most distinguished duo of time-travel- ling magicians Morgan & West present Charles Dick- ens’ timeless classic A Christmas Carol. There is only one problem -they haven’t read it. Well not just one problem, there are also only two of them to play all the parts. Oh, and Mr West is rather insistent on doing a magic show at the same time. How hard can it be? MYTON ROAD, WARWICK. CV34 6PP / BOX OFFICE: 01926 776438 www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk OCTOBER 2017

Tuesday 17 October Wednesday 18 October Thursday 19 October SIMON DAY A BLACK COUNTRY DEBORAH ROSE & IN CHARACTER INCLUDING NIGHT OUT MARI RANDLE BRIAN PERN WITH DANDY & IAN SLUDGE HARMONY & HAUNTING LEES MELODY

Saturday 21 October Thursday 26 October Saturday 28 October JOHN ILLSLEY JIMEOIN CHRIS & PUI OF DIRE STRAITS & HIS ARTRIX FAVOURITE IS FROM CBEEBIES’ SHOW ME BAND RIDICULOUS SHOW ME

COMING SOON: Vienna Festival Ballet, Barnstormers Comedy, Roving Crows Robin Ince, Led Hendrix, Back To Bacharach, Simon Day, Ellie Taylor, Hairy Maclary Hickman & Cassidy, Think Floyd, Rocky Horror Show, Anjali Dance, Dominic Kirwan Carpenters Gold, Half Moon, Raymond Froggatt, Tom Stade, Tenors Unlimited Lady Maisery, Luke Jermay, Sofie Hagen, Phill Jupitus, Paul Sinha...

Join our Mailing List and receive our weekly e-flyer @artrixarts with up-to-date information about upcoming shows or download our latest brochure @artrix arts centre www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1GN Free parking on-site

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thelist Monday 16 - Sunday 22 October HAPPY DEATH DAY (tbc) Featuring a huge line-up of races, Fri Oct, Kenilworth Castle JUNGLE (15) 20 - Sun 22 Oct, Donington Park Rac- FAMILY FUN DAY - HALLOWEEN Spooky Film ing Circuit, Derby MARSHALL (15) outdoor trail with take-home activi- SCAREFEST Complete with spooks, ties, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, Packwood INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: MY LITTLE PONY, THE MOVIE (tbc) frights, thrills, and remaining open House, Solihull VICEROY'S HOUSE (PG) THE DEATH OF STALIN (15) until 9pm, Fri 20 - Tues 31 Oct, Alton BATTY ABOUT BATS Discover the rare Biography/Drama. Starring Gillian An- Towers and wonderful world of bats, Sat 21 - derson, Michael Gambon, Hugh Bon- EDWARDIAN TEAROOM LATE: FIERCE Sun 29 Oct, Witley Court, Great Wit- neville. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon FESTIVAL TAKEOVER! Fierce and Free ley, Worcestershire 16 Oct Radical collide activism and art in OCTOBER HALF TERM FAMILY FUN Fea- THE HAUNTING (12) Horror. Starring Events grand surroundings, Sat 21 Oct, turing art-based workshops and a Julie Harris, Claire Bloom. Albany Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery brand new, interactive trail, Sat 21 - Theatre, Coventry, Tues 17 Oct A TASTE OF LEAMINGTON Three-course DIVE 2017 The UK's biggest event for Sun 29 Oct, British Motor Museum, EARTH (15) Drama/War. Starring Aamir dinner, with each course taken at a scuba divers, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, Gaydon Khan, Nandita Das. Warwick Arts different restaurant in the centre of NEC, Birmingham Centre, Coventry, Wed 18 Oct Leamington Spa, Tues 17 Oct, Leam- VINTAGE IN THE VILLAGE The popular TOM OF FINLAND (18) ington Vintage Market returns, Sat 21 - Sun Biography/Drama. Starring Jakob Of- THE MOTORHOME AND CARAVAN SHOW 22 Oct, FarGo Village, Coventry tebro, Werner Daehn. Warwick Arts Snap up the most up-to-date acces- VICTORIAN HALLOWEEN The residents Centre, Coventry, Wed 18 - Thurs 19 sories and gadgets, Tues 17 - Sun 22 of Blists Hill Victorian Town celebrate Oct Oct, NEC, Birmingham Halloween in traditional style, Sat 21 - CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL Featuring music, Sun 29 Oct, Blists Hill, Ironbridge entertainment, and food stalls selling HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Help a range of indulgent and unusual NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Witchy Woo Woo and Wolfman beat WELLBEING DISCOVERY DAY Featuring treats, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Oct, Brindley- cheating villain Franky Frankenstein, place, Birmingham scratch and rehearsed readings, free Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct, Cadbury World, wellbeing workshops and a market- OKTOBERFEST Released from Fri 20 Oct, showing at Prepare to be enter- Birmingham place where you can meet and talk to selected cinemas tained Bavarian style, Fri 20 - Sat 21 TERRIBLE TUDORS Get hands-on with organisations working in the mental EARTH: ONE AMAZING DAY (U) Oct, Worcester Racecourse creepy crafts and spectacularly health field, Sun 22 Oct, The REP, GEOSTORM (12a) THUNDERSPORT GB MOTORCYCLE RACES spooky activities, Sat 21 - Sun 29 Birmingham

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thelist Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October ington Spa bly, Leamington Spa SONATAS Dame Mitsuko Uchida plays Gigs FOZZY Fri 27 Oct, O2 BROKEN WITT REBELS Classical Music the piano sonatas of Schubert includ- Academy, Birmingham Sat 28 Oct, Kasbah, ing Sontata in B major D 575, 25'; Sonata in A minor D845, 30" & IRIT Mon 23 Oct, The Coventry LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH THE PIGEON DETECTIVES Sonata in D major D 850, 39", Mon 30 Glee Club, Birmingham THOMAS TROTTER Programme in- Fri 27 Oct, O2 Institute, WESLEY GONZALEZ Sat Oct, Birmingham Town Hall LONDON GRAMMAR Mon Birmingham 28 Oct, The Sunflower cludes works by J S Bach, Dowland, HALLOWEEN SILENT MOVIE SPECIAL 23 Oct, O2 Academy, Lounge, Birmingham Francaix & Reubke, Mon 23 Oct, THE RAT PACK WITH SPE- Nigel Ogden performs a double-bill Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham CIAL GUEST ANITA HAR- ERIC BENÉT Sat 28 Oct, of classics on the organ comprising QUATUOR VAN KUIJK The French String MARMOZETS Mon 23 RIS Fri 27 Oct, Royal O2 Institute, B’ham the score from Frankenstein & Nos- Quartet present works by Haydn, Oct, O2 Academy, Spa Centre, Leaming- THE ELVIS EXPERIENCE feratu, Tues 31 Oct, Birmingham Janácek, Édith Canat de Chizy & Birmingham ton Spa Sat 28 Oct, The Swan Town Hall Ravel, Mon 23 Oct, Birmingham Town VINNY PECULIAR Fri 27 Theatre, Worcester CHARLOTTE CARPENTER Hall WITH AUTUMN EVANS Oct, The Marr's Bar, DIRE STRAITS UK Sat 28 CBSO: VERDI’S REQUIEM Featuring the Mon 23 Oct, The Sun- Worcester Oct, Huntingdon Hall, City of Birmingham Symphony Or- flower Lounge, B’ham THINK FLOYD Fri 27 Oct, Worcester chestra, Edward Gardner (Conduc- Artrix, Bromsgrove RALPH MCTELL Tues 24 ALEXANDER O'NEAL Sat tor), Tamara Wilson (Soprano), Karen Comedy Oct, Birmingham Town BRANDY CLARK Fri 27 28 Oct, Malvern The- Cargill (Mezzo Soprano), Gwyn Hall Oct, Birmingham Town atres Hughes Jones (Tenor), Brindley Sher- JOE LYCETT, DALISO CHAPONDA, JEN Hall MANCHESTER ORCHES- DECLAN MCKENNA Sat ratt (Bass) & the CBSO Chorus, Wed BRISTER & ANDY ROBINSON Wed 25 TRA Tues 24 Oct, O2 In- WEEZER Fri 27 Oct, O2 28 Oct, O2 Institute, 25 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham stitute, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham Birmingham ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN Featuring RICH HALL Wed 25 Oct, Malvern The- THE HORRORS Tues 24 THE REBEL MASSIVE Fri THE SOAP GIRLS Sat 28 David Curtis (conductor) & Julian atres, Malvern Oct, O2 Academy, 27 Oct, Route 44, Birm- Oct, The Iron Road, Bliss (clarinet). Programme includes LARRY DEAN, NIGEL NG & COMEDY Birmingham ingham Evesham Rossini's The Barber Of Seville (Over- ture), Weber's Clarinet Concerto No 2 CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs MATTHEW E. WHITE Tues TIMMY TRUMPET Fri 27 ROXY MUSIQUE Sun 29 in E-flat major & Beethoven's Sym- 26 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham 24 Oct, The Assembly, Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham Oct, Stratford phony No.8 in F Major, Wed 25 Oct, DAMIAN CLARK, DAVID WARD Fri 27 Leamington Spa Artshouse, Stratford- OUTLINE IN COLOR Fri 27 Birmingham Town Hall Oct, Jongleurs Comedy Club, B’ham THE LITTLE MIX EXPERI- Oct, The Iron Road, upon-Avon, DORIC STRING QUARTET Featuring Alex HAL CRUTTENDEN, PIERRE NOVELLIE, ENCE Wed 25 Oct, The Evesham METALLICA Mon 30 Oct, Swan Theatre, Worces- Redington & Jonathan Stone (vio- JUNIOR SIMPSON & KIRI PRITCHARD THE IRON MAIDENS Fri 27 Genting Arena, B’ham ter lins), Hélène Clément (viola) & John MCLEAN Fri 27 Oct, Albany Theatre, Oct, The Assembly, BROKEN WITT REBELS Myerscough (cello), Programme in- Coventry EMELI SANDÉ Wed 25 Leamington Spa Mon 30 Oct, O2 cludes works by Thomas Adès, Oct, Genting Arena, ADAM BLOOM, IAN BOLDSWORTH, AN- LIGHTYEAR Fri 27 Oct, Academy, Birmingham Haydn & Mendelssohn, Thurs 26 Oct, Birmingham DREW RYAN & COMIC TBC Fri 27 - Sat The Assembly, Leam- AKON WITH KONVICT Malvern Theatre 28 Oct, The Comedy Loft, B’ham WILLE AND THE BANDITS ington Spa KARTEL Mon 30 Oct, O2 THE SIXTEEN: THE CHORAL PILGRIMAGE Wed 25 Oct, The Iron ANDY ROBINSON, LARRY DEAN, MICHAEL FOZZY Fri 27 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham 2017 Programme includes works by Road, Evesham LEGGE & GORDON SOUTHERN Fri 27 - Academy, Birmingham STEVEN PAGE Mon 30 Poulenc & Palestrina, Fri 27 Oct, Sat 28 Oct, The Glee Club, B’ham JOEY BADA$$ Wed 25 Oct, Hare & Hounds, Coventry Cathedral THE PIGEON DETECTIVES DANNY BHOY Sat 28 Oct, Warwick Arts Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham Birmingham Fri 27 Oct, O2 Institute, EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Centre, Coventry KIOKO Thurs 26 Oct, O2 Birmingham KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD Featuring soloists from the orchestra Academy, Birmingham and guest harpsichordist, Steven ALI COOK Sat 28 Oct, mac, B’ham THE RAT PACK WITH SPE- Mon 30 Oct, The As- Devine. Programme includes Han- DAMIAN CLARK, DAVID WARD Sat 28 SLEAFORD MODS Thurs CIAL GUEST ANITA HAR- sembly, Leamington del's Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No.7; Oct, Jongleurs Comedy Club, B’ham 26 Oct, O2 Institute, RIS Fri 27 Oct, Royal Spa Haydn's Concerto for violin with Birmingham Spa Centre, Leaming- PULVIS ET UMBRA Tues MILTON JONES Sat 28 Oct, Warwick Harpsichord; Mozart's Divertimento in ton Spa 31 Oct, The Asylum, Arts Centre, Coventry SKINNY MOLLY Thurs 26 F; JS Bach's Harpsichord concerto in Birmingham PATRICK MONAHAN, PRINCE ABDI, KAE Oct, The Iron Road, VINNY PECULIAR Fri 27 D minor & Telemann's Polish Con- KURD & THAT INDIAN GUY Sun 29 Oct, Evesham Oct, The Marr's Bar, JASON ISBELL AND THE certo, Sat 28 Oct, The Barber Insti- The Glee Club, Birmingham ULRICH SCHNAUSS Thurs Worcester 400 UNIT Tues 31 Oct, tute, Birmingham Symphony Hall, B’ham 26 Oct, Mama Roux's, THINK FLOYD Fri 27 Oct, ELGAR CHORALE OF WORCESTER: AU- Birmingham Artrix, Bromsgrove GHOSTPOET Tues 31 TUMN SERENADE Sat 28 Oct, St CC SMUGGLERS Thurs ROXY MUSIQUE Sat 28 Oct, Mama Roux's, Georges RC Church Hall, Worcester Birmingham 26 Oct, The Assembly, Oct, The Empire, RAPHAEL WALLFISCH PLAYS BACH Pro- Theatre Leamington Spa Coventry DJ FORMAT & ABDOMI- gramme comprises The Six Cello BRANDY CLARK Fri 27 NAL Tues 31 Oct, Hare Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach, THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN ALL IN Atresbandes Theatre Com- Oct, Birmingham Town & Hounds, Birmingham Sat 28 Oct, St Mary's Church, War- Sat 28 Oct, The Assem- pany’s darkly playful exploration of Hall wick the millennial condition, Mon 23 Oct, WEEZERFri 27 Oct, O2 CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA: SPANISH FI- mac, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham ESTA Featuring Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla EDITH IN THE DARK Haunting glimpse (Conductor) & the City of Birming- TIMMY TRUMPET Fri 27 into the nightmarish world of an au- ham Symphony Orchestra. Pro- Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham thor whose reputation for cosy child- gramme includes works by Debussy, hood innocence is only half the story, OUTLINE IN COLOR Fri 27 Bizet & Falla, Sun 29 Oct, Symphony Oct, The Iron Road, Hall, Birmingham Mon 23 - Sat 28 Oct, Priory Theatre, Evesham Kenilworth ALDWYN VOICES: MUSIC INSPIRED BY BIRMINGHAM IMPROV FESTIVAL THE IRON MAIDENS Fri 27 POETRY Featuring Adrian Lucas (con- Featur- Oct, The Assembly, ductor), Fenella Humphreys (violin) & ing completely improvised plays, mu- Leamington Spa Nicola Eimer (piano), Sun 29 Oct, sicals, sketches, songs, drama, cabaret and workshops, Mon 23 - LIGHTYEAR Fri 27 Oct, Malvern Theatre Sun 29 Oct, The Blue Orange The- The Assembly, Leam- Jason Isbell - Symphony Hall, Birmingham DAME MITSUKO UCHIDA: SCHUBERT

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thelist Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October atre, Birmingham Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon tour featuring four separate immer- Birmingham THE CARPENTERS STORY Homage to SINGALONGA ROCKY HORROR PICTURE sive experiences, Tues 31 Oct, Palace HAIRY MACLARY & FRIENDS Family one of the most successful pop duos SHOW The camp cult classic gets the Theatre, Redditch show featuring music, song and char- in history, Tues 24 Oct, New Alexan- sing-along-a treatment it’s been RAZZLE DAZZLE Worcester Musical acters from the much-loved books, dra Theatre, Birmingham screaming for! Sat 28 Oct, Wolver- Theatre Company fundraising perfor- Thurs 26 Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove THE SECRET KEEPER Political fairytale hampton Grand Theatre mance in support of the Motor Neu- DINOSAUR WORLD Interactive new for adults, Tues 24 - Wed 25 Oct, WILDLIFE ROAD TRIP Natural history rone Disease Association, Tues 31 show for all the family, Thurs 26 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry broadcasters, Martin & Iolo have Oct - Sat 4 Nov, Swan Theatre, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Worcester AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Cele- teamed up to perform an amusing THE UGLY DUCKLING Sea Legs Puppet brated production of Jules Verne’s fa- and informative show packed with A PRINCESS UNDONE Harriet Thorpe Theatre presents its version of the mous story, Tues 24 - Thurs 26 Oct, facts and fun. This fascinating jour- (Ab Fab & The Brittas Empire) stars much-loved classic, Thurs 26 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry ney will entertain you about the won- as Princess Margaret in a new play The Hive, Worcester derful world of wildlife and about inspired by real-life events, Tues 31 CRAZY FOR YOU Caroline Flack, Char- presenting television programmes, Oct - Sat 4 Nov, Malvern Theatres JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Lyngo The- lotte Wakefield and Tom Chambers atre present their take on the famous Sat 28 Oct, The Core Theatre, CHARLES DICKENS' GHOST STORIES Fea- star in George Gershwin’s popular Solihull fairytale. Suitable for children aged musical, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Oct, Birm- turing two of Dickens’ most chilling three-plus, Thurs 26 & Fri 27 Oct, ingham Hippodrome LORE OF AVERAGES Treefrog Theatre supernatural tales - The Signalman Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Company take a light-hearted look at and The Haunted Man, Tues 31 Oct - WAIT UNTIL DARK Jack Ellis (Bad what happens when stories from the Sat 11 Nov, The Blue Orange The- MONSTERSAURUS Energetic show with Girls/Prime Suspect) and Oliver Mel- distant past are brought into the pre- atre, Birmingham original music and plenty of audience lor (Coronation Street) star in a new sent day, Sat 28 Oct, Malvern The- participation! Fri 27 Oct, The Core staging of Frederick Knott’s thriller, atres Theatre, Solihull Tues 24 - Sat 28 Oct, Malvern Theatre HELLOWORLD Immersive four-hour BOUNCING CATS & BOOM BOOM PUPS DOREEN: RISE OF THE YAM YAM Join the event, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Oct, Genting Immersive performance for children, What’s On Personality Of The Year as Arena, Birmingham Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Birmingham Hip- she sets out to challenge Darwin’s Kids shows podrome MACBETH The Crescent Theatre Com- Theory of Evolution... Wed 25 Oct, HAIRY MACLARY & FRIENDS Family pany presents its version of Shake- THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN Palace Theatre, Redditch show featuring music, song and char- speare’s famous tragedy, Sat 28 Oct - BOOTS Starring Julie Patton from Cats THIS EVIL THING Inspiring story of the acters from the much-loved books, Sat 4 Nov, Crescent Theatre, B’ham and Grand Theatre panto dame Ian men who said no to war, Wed 25 Oct, Sat 28 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Adams, Mon 23 Oct, Wolverhampton The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon- DIRTY DUSTING Heartwarming comedy Theatre starring Crissy Rock, Dolores Por- Grand Theatre Avon THE CHRIS AND PUI SHOW New stage retta, Leah Bell & Lee Brannigan, Sun DORIS THE DRAGON ‘Fun-packed’ THE WAR OF THE WORLDS Re-imagin- show with toys and characters from 29 Oct, The Roses, Tewkesbury show for children, Tues 24 Oct, Stour- ing of HG Wells’ masterpiece, Wed the hit TV programme, Sat 28 Oct, Ar- bridge Town Hall 25 - Tues 31st Oct, Old Joint Stock 8 MORE CHANCES TO SEE YOU Thought- trix, Bromsgrove Theatre, Birmingham ful and funny exploration of how we YOUR TOYS Take along toys to join in remember, what we remember, and a ‘gigantic adventure’, Tues 24 - Wed A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Music, why, Mon 30 Oct, Warwick Arts Cen- 25 Oct, Warwick Arts Centre, Coven- mirth and merriment with Dandy, Ian tre, Coventry try ‘Sludge’ Lees, The Empty Can, Bev Pegg & Jess Silk, Thurs 26 Oct, The ANYONE’S GUESS HOW WE GOT HERE THE GIRL AND THE GIRAFFE Half Moon Dance Core Theatre, Solihull Barrel Organ present a story of debt, Theatre story about wellbeing and eviction, childhood and the thing friendship, told from a child’s per- THE RED ROOM New take on HG Wells’ INTER_RUPTED Brand new creation by under the floorboards... Mon 30 Oct, spective, Tues 24 - Thurs 26 Oct, classic ghost story, Thurs 26 Oct, The Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company - a Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry mac, Birmingham Rose Theatre, Kidderminster high-octane work based on disinte- LOOK BACK IN ANGER Rumpus Theatre HOOT OWL, MASTER OF DISGUISE Inven- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SCREAM Cele- gration, fragility, vulnerability, age and Company present John Osborne’s tive new show from Proon Produc- bration of the dark and decadent side transience, Mon 23 Oct, Birmingham kitchen-sink drama, Mon 30 Oct - Sat tions, based on the popular picture of burlesque and cabaret, Thurs 26 Hippodrome 4 Nov, The Rose Theatre, Kiddermin- book by Sean Taylor, Wed 25 Oct, Al- Oct, Stratford Artshouse, Stratford- SWAN LAKE The Russian State Ballet ster bany Theatre, Coventry upon-Avon & Opera House presents its version KHOVANSHCHINA Mussorgsky’s epic MONSTERSAURUS Energetic show with WHERE DO ALL THE DEAD PIGEONS GO? of the much-loved story of Odette & opera, addressing themes of politics, original music and plenty of audience A story of friendship, love and loneli- Odile, Mon 23 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, madness and death, Tues 31 Oct, participation! Wed 25 Oct, The ness, set on the dark side of the Coventry Birmingham Hippodrome Roses, Tewkesbury moon, Thurs 26 Oct, mac, B’ham THE NUTCRACKER The Russian State VAMPIRES ROCK - GHOST TRAIN 64 ZOO LANE Family-friendly musical THE LITTLE CREEPERS One-woman Ballet & Opera House presents this Tongue-in-cheek fun presented to a based on the award-winning chil- play about the trials and tribulations seasonal favourite, Tues 24 Oct, Bel- soundtrack of classic rock anthems, dren’s series of the same name, Wed of a teenage schizophrenic, Thurs 26 grade Theatre, Coventry Tues 31 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, 25 - Sun 29 Oct, Old Rep Theatre, Oct, Artrix, Bromsgrove Coventry DELIGHTFUL Exploration of love, grief THE DRILL Consideration of the mod- and how the state of our minds can ern-day anxiety around security and affect how we remember our past, terrorism, Tues 31 Oct, Warwick Arts Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Oct, The REP, Birm- Centre, Coventry ingham NEXUS:WHISPERS Vexed Theatre pre- LUKE JERMAY: SIXTH SENSE Evening of sent an ‘edge-of-your-seat experi- psychological tricks from the man ence’, Tues 31 Oct, The Crescent who can simply ‘read your mind’, Fri Theatre, Birmingham 27 Oct, Stratford Artshouse, Strat- ford-upon-Avon CELEBRATION Emergency Chorus con- template the complex world in which MEET ON THE LEDGE Evening of music we live, Tues 31 Oct, Warwick Arts and drama celebrating 25 years of Centre, Coventry Warwickshire’s ‘favourite’ folk-rock THE PALACE THEATRE HAUNTING Murder group, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, The Bear Jack And The Beanstalk - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry On The Side present an interactive

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thelist Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October ROMEO & JULIET The Russian State voice on human rights shares her Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 31 Oct MAD SCIENCE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES Ballet & Opera House presents its views, Sat 28 Oct, Stratford CITY OF GHOSTS (15) Science-themed shows designed to version of ‘the world’s greatest love Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon Documentary/War. Starring Abu Bakr amaze and entertain, Thurs 26 Oct, story’, Wed 25 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, BLUE - ALL RISE: OUR STORY An inti- Al-Baghdadi, Hamoud, Hassan. War- Ragley Hall, Alcester Coventry mate evening celebrating the publica- wick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 31 FRIGHT NIGHTS Meet spine-tingling THE NUTCRACKER Ballet Theatre UK tion of the band's first book, Sun 29 Oct storytellers and discover tales of presents this seasonal favourite, Tues Oct, Birmingham Town Hall ghostly apparitions, dastardly deeds, 24 Oct, The Core Theatre, Solihull and ghoulish goings-on, Thurs 26 - TAMED: WITH PROFESSOR ALICE NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: THE NUTCRACKER Ballet Theatre UK ROBERTS Find out how the taming of Sat 28 Oct, Kenilworth Castle presents this seasonal favourite, Fri various species has left its mark on DIRT BIKE SHOW 2017 Premier indoor 27 Oct, Stourport Civic Centre, Stour- both them and us, Mon 30 Oct, Released from Tues 24 Oct, showing off-road event, Thurs 26 - Sun 29 Oct, port-on-Severn Malvern Theatres at selected cinemas Stoneleigh Park INFUSION EMPORIUM Boundary-push- THOR: RAGNAROK (tbc) BRICK LIVE Celebrating all things ing displays of bellydancing, Fri 27 BREATHE (12a) Lego, Thurs 26 - Sun 29 Oct, NEC, Oct, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (15) ENCHANTMENT A variety of dance BLACKOUT - LOCK IN Event offering JIGSAW (18) styles, beautifully choreographed, Film after-dark access to all areas - with with colourful costumes and lyrical only a torch to guide you, Fri 27 Oct, music, Thurs 26 - Sun 29 Oct, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Evesham Arts Centre, Worcestershire SHERLOCKED: THE OFFICIAL SHERLOCK THE LIGHT PRINCESS Ballet Cymru’s CONVENTION Featuring cast and cre- new full-length ballet, telling the story HAMPSTEAD (12a) Comedy/Drama. Events ators from the show, with a wide vari- of a princess afflicted by a constant Starring Brendan Gleeson, Diane ety of Sherlock-themed activities and weightlessness, Sat 28 Oct, The Keaton. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 24 OCTOBER HALF-TERM FUN Featuring events, Fri 27 - Sun 29 Oct, Hilton Roses, Tewkesbury Oct crafts, games, nature trails and more, Birmingham Metropole Hotel, B’ham Mon 23 Oct, Birmingham Botanical CHARGE Motionhouse’s new multime- DRACULA: PAGES FROM A VIRGIN’S GCCF SUPREME CAT SHOW Sat 28 Oct, Gardens dia work, which delves deep into the DIARY (12) Comedy/Horror. Starring NEC, Birmingham MONASTIC UNDERCROFT TOURS Visit human body to trace the story of en- Wei-Qiang Zhang, Tara Birtwhistle. Al- HALLOWEEN FIREWORKS FESTIVAL Sat the undercroft, the only remaining ergy in our lives, Tues 31 Oct, The bany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 24 Oct 28 Oct, Ragley Hall, Alcester Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (PG) part of the original monastic house, Bi- FLAME AND THUNDER Action-packed ography/Family. Starring Margot Rob- and view the medieval architecture, Mon 23 Oct, Stoneleigh Abbey day featuring motorsport stunts, drag bie, Domhnall Gleeson. Warwick Arts racing, a fireworks display and bon- HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 2018 Action- Centre, Tues 24 & Thurs 26 Oct fire, Sat 28 Oct, Santa Pod Raceway, packed workshops for young people NEVILLE RUMBLE (PG) Romance/Thriller. Wellingborough, Northants Starring Sam Foster, Gavin Fowler. aged eight to 13, Mon 23 - Tues 24 Talks Oct, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN EVENING Get Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, Wed 25 dressed up in your spookiest cos- LEGENDS & LIGHTS Featuring Hal- Oct tume and enjoy the ghostly goings LEMN SISSAY: SOMETHING DARK Dra- loween-themed craft activities and LOVING VINCENT (15) Animation/Biogra- on around the castle, Sat 28 Oct, matic reading of Lemn Sissay’s ac- spooky storytelling, Mon 23 - Sat 28 phy. With the voices of Douglas Tamworth Castle claimed one-man play, Tues 24 Oct, Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome mac, Birmingham Booth, Chris O'Dowd. Warwick Arts SPELLBOUND Stomp away at the Hal- HALLOWEEN AT THE COMMANDERY Fea- Centre, Coventry, Fri 27 - Sat 28, Mon loween disco and enjoy ‘bone-tin- TAMED: WITH PROFESSOR ALICE turing Terrifying Tours, Victorian 30 - Tues 31 Oct gling refreshments’, Sat 28 Oct, Selly ROBERTS Find out how the taming of Ghost Hunt & Spooky Family Fun, various species has left its mark on THE SNOWMAN (15) Drama/Horror. Star- Manor, Bournville ring Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Tues 24 - Tues 31 Oct, The Com- both them and us, Wed 25 Oct, Birm- madery, Worcestershire HALLOWEEN TOURS Eerie evening tour, ingham Town Hall Ferguson. Warwick Arts Centre, Tues 31 Oct, Kenilworth Castle Coventry, Fri 27 - Tues 31 Oct MURDER BY GASLIGHT A ghoulish audi- HOW DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT THE GHOST SEARCH Ghost walk around the KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (15) ence with two of the most infamous TEMPERATURE IS? Institute Of Science Ac- castle, with vigils conducted in reput- tion/Comedy. Starring Taron Egerton, poisoners in British history - William Public Lecture, Thurs 26 Oct, Hunt- Palmer and Harvey Crippen, Wed 25 edly haunted rooms, Tues 31 Oct, ingdon Hall, Worcester Colin Firth. Roses Theatre, Tewkes- Tamworth Castle bury, Fri 27 - Tues 31 Oct Oct, Lightwoods Park, Birmingham WWI THE QUEENS OWN WORCESTER- SHIRE HUSSARS AT HUJ To accompany BORG/MCENROE (U) Biography/Drama. the exhibition telling the story of the Starring Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skars- last charge by British Cavalry, Stam- gård. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri ford Cartwright will give a talk about 27 - Tues 31 Oct the Charge and the role of the THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Queens Own Worcestershire Hus- (PG) Animation/Fantasy. With the sars, Thurs 26 Oct, Worcester City Art voices of Danny Elfman, Chris Saran- Gallery & Museum don. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, RAY MEARS: BORN TO GO WILD Join Sat 28 Oct Ray as he shares stories about dis- THE CHESS PLAYERS (15) Comedy/His- covering the joys of the wilderness, tory. Starring Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Fri 27 Oct, Malvern Theatres Jaffrey. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, FERGAL KEANE IN CONVERSATION The Sun 29 Oct award-winning BBC Foreign Corre- WINNIE THE POOH (U) Animation. With spondent discusses a family story of the voices of Jim Cummings, Craig murder, blood and betrayal that tore Ferguson. Roses Theatre, Tewkes- a town apart... Sat 28 Oct, Stratford bury, Sun 29 Oct Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon NOSFERATU (12) Fantasy/Horror. Star- IN CONVERSATION WITH BARONESS ring Max Schreck, Greta Schröder. SHAMI CHAKRABARTI The UK’s leading With live orchestral accompaniment. Fright Nights - Kenilworth Castle

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