Shropshire Cover Online.Qxp Cover 25/06/2015 10:35 Page 1 the MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

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Shropshire Cover Online.qxp_cover 25/06/2015 10:35 Page 1 THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

SHROPSHIRE ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 355 JULY 2015 MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE PLAYS LICHFIELD FESTIVAL

THE BIG ART SHOW the biggest event of its kind...

DARREN EMERSON Underground DJ at The Buttermarket

INSIDE: FILM COMEDY THEATRE. LIVE MUSIC VISUAL ARTS EVENTS FOOD & DRINK & MUCH MORE!

ALANTALKS SHREWSBURY SURTEES FOLK INTERVIEW INSIDE... Wolverhampton Speedway (FP- July 15).qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 16:37 Page 1 Contents July Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 20:40 Page 1

July 2015

Editor: INSIDE: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: Dirty Rotten Brian O’Faolain Scoundrels [email protected] 01743 281701 West End musical Lauren Foster arrives in Stoke p21 [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Jamie Ryan [email protected] 01743 281720

Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703

Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704

Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] Marcus Brigstocke 01743 281714 intelligent comedy at Managing Director: Lichfield Festival Paul Oliver p18 [email protected] 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell From EastEnders to East Is East. Interview with Pauline McLynn, page 6. Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] TO GET THE VERY 01743 281717 News p4 Contributors: LATEST LISTING Graham Bostock: Theatre INFORMATION, James Cameron-Wilson: Music p11 Film; Eva Easthope, VISIT: Jessica Aston, Patsy whatsonlive.co.uk p18 Robert Plant Moss, Jack Rolfe, Jan Comedy plays Cannock Chase Watts, Simon Carter INCLUDING p14 Head Office: BOOKING ONLINE 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Theatre p21 Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE The Midlands’ most Tel: 01743 281777 comprehensive p35 e-mail: [email protected] entertainment website Film/DVD

Follow us on... Festivals p41 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is Visual Arts p51 produced without the use July 2015 of elemental chlorine. Wolverhampton Events p55 We endorse the recycling & Black Country MTWTFSS of our magazine and @whatsonwolves would encourage you to 1 2 3 4 5 Staffordshire p65 pass it on to others to Eating Out 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 read when you have @whatsonstaffs finished with it. Shropshire 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ’ @whatsonshrops 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 WhatsOn 27 28 29 30 31 MAGAZINE GROUP All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. News July Region two.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 20:06 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

A weekend of celebrations across Brum Birmingham is this autumn set to host one of the biggest free events ever to take place in the city. Bringing together major arts organisations, Birmingham Weekender (25 to 27 Sept) is an outdoor event boasting a fusion of music, dance, theatre, art, literature, food and fashion. The weekend marks the opening of the newly transformed New Street Station and the much-anticipated John Lewis store - and also coincides with Style Birmingham Live and the Rugby World Cup. Commenting on the event, Roxana Silbert, Creative Director of Birmingham Weekender and Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre, said: “Birmingham is leading the way with this level of collaboration across the city’s arts and cultural organisations. We have relationships with some of the best national and international companies and artists in the world. Birmingham Weekender is an opportunity to showcase Birmingham as a regen- erated city full of vibrancy and optimism. And for audiences it will be an amazing, sur- Theatre’s refurbishment ready for the off... prising and inspiring couple of days out!” Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has unveiled plans for the first phase of a redevelopment of its Lichfield Street building. Work on the refurbishment starts this summer, with the theatre’s foyer and stalls bar areas the first to be reimagined. The ground floor level will be renamed The Encore Lounge. It will feature a small performance space to facilitate intimate theatre pre- sentations and live comedy and music. The refurbishment will also enable customers to use the new lounge during the daytime and after work. Commenting on the refurb, the theatre’s Chief Executive, Adrian Jackson, said: “I’m delighted that the Grand is going to be able to offer a new experience for our customers to enjoy, and one that will be part of the extended cultural offering within the city centre.”

Pixie Lott to star in Truly scrumptious musical Breakfast At Tiffany’s back in Brum Pixie Lott is to star as Holly Golightly in a A brand new staging of Chitty Chitty Bang RAF secures National Lottery new staging of Breakfast At Tiffany's, which Bang is visiting the Birmingham Hippodrome investment visits Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre in 2016. The West Yorkshire Playhouse pro- The Royal Air Force Museum has in 2016. duction promises ‘sensational sets and stun- announced it’s been awarded £4.89million The production is directed by Nikolai Foster, ning special effects’, presented alongside by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to invest the new artistic director of Leicester's Curve the Sherman brothers’ memorable score. Hit in its 2018 RAF Centenary Programme - The Theatre, which is co-producing the show. standards from the ever-popular musical First 100 Years. As custodians of the RAF Commenting on her involvement, Pixie said: include Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, story, the museum is planning an ambitious “I’m so excited to be playing Holly Golightly Hushabye Mountain and the show’s signa- programme of activities and events for the in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. I absolutely love ture tune, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. summer of 2018. These will include a new Holly’s style and free spirit. She’s always Speaking of his involvement in the produc- digital programme titled My RAF Story which been an icon to me and I can't wait to bring tion, West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic will collect and share the personal stories of my own personality to the role. Alongside Director James Brining said: “Directing such servicemen and women to ensure that music, I've always wanted to be in a play, an iconic show is a great opportunity, a they’re preserved for future generations. and getting the opportunity to be in one of thrilling challenge for any director. Chitty my all-time Chitty Bang Bang is a brilliant adventure favourites and to story, filled with classic songs and scenes play this fabulous that hold so many memories for so many character is a people. I can’t wait to bring the production to dream come Birmingham.” true.” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang shows at Breakfast At Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 7 Tiffany's shows at to Sunday 18 September 2016, with tickets New Alexandra priced from £23.50 to £50 on general sale Theatre, from 10am Monday 6 July. Birmingham, from Mon 18 - Sat 23 April.

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The wonders of the ocean on the big screen The mysterious wonders of the ocean are to be showcased for all to see when the Ocean Film Festival World Tour takes to the road this autumn. Featuring two hours of footage taken above and below the water’s surface, the films are described by the tour’s promoters as documenting ‘the beauty and power of the ocean’ and celebrating ‘the divers, surfers, swimmers and oceanog- raphers who live for the sea’s salt spray, who chase the crests of the waves, and who marvel at the mysteries of the big blue’. Impressive-sounding stuff... The Ocean Film Festival World Tour stops off at: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 2 September; Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, 17 September; Malvern Theatre, 27 October. For further information, visit oceanfilmfestival.co.uk

Arts Council funding for Black Country project Four Black Country local authorities (Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell) are to share a £15,000 Arts Council grant as part of a Books Into Art project. The grant will be used to promote local libraries as places which offer much more than just the opportunity to borrow books. Join the Quest in Ironbridge Commenting on the project, Councillor Ironbridge Museums’ Coalbrookdale site is to be turned into a giant festival venue next Rachel Harris, cabinet member for health month, providing an opportunity for families to get creative and explore how industry has and wellbeing, said: “There will be special changed their lives. events to coincide with the Black Country Time Travellers’ Ironbridge Quest on 22 August is facilitated by national children’s art charity Festival, and the stage at Kingswinford will The House Of Fairy Tales. It forms part of a programme of arts events and installations called be offered to local musicians, artists, theatre Shifting Words, which runs at the Ironbridge venues throughout the summer. The Quest and community groups to use.” invites visitors to participate in a trail of games and take part in artist-led workshops. There The Dudley Books Into Art project is official- will be six different routes to experience, with reward tokens being handed out for each suc- ly launched at Kingswinford Library on cessfully completed trail. Saturday 4 July between 11am and 5pm. The launch event features storytelling, music and artist workshops. IN BRIEF Get the VIP treatment at Thomas Land For further information and to find out Staffordshire’s award-winning Drayton Manor Theme Park has what’s happening when and where, visit Sway to Latin launched a new addition to its popular Thomas Land attraction. dudley.gov.uk/libraries Visitors young and young-at-heart can now take advantage of The beats in Brum Thomas Land VIP Experience, which includes breakfast on arrival Birmingham’s and all-day use of one of the site’s themed suites. The suites can Savour the speed in Arcadian Centre is be exclusively hired for birthday parties and events - or simply as Wolverhampton promising visitors a a place in which to take some time out from the fun of the park. sizzling hot welcome VIPs can also take advantage of an extra hour at the end of the Looking for a summertime spectator sport this month when the day, after the park’s rides have closed, to sit and chill out on their to sample in the Midlands region? How Latin American private balcony. Priced from £250 for about speedway in Wolverhampton? The Festival makes a wel- ten guests through to £500 for twenty city’s team, the Wolverhampton Wolves, come return (on 5 guests, the VIP experience can be race in the Sky Sports Elite League, which July). The one-day further enhanced by meet-and-greet is widely considered to be the toughest in event promises a real experiences with The Fat Controller the world. The Wolves are staging meetings feast for the senses, and his fun-gineers. For further infor- most Monday evenings between this month courtesy of an imagi- mation about Thomas Land VIP and October. Spectators can enjoy the native programme of suites, email action from the terraces, inside one of the music and dance. [email protected], call 0844 bars or from the fully air-conditioned stadi- Cuisine, crafts and 472 1690 or visit draytonmanor.co.uk um restaurant, which comes complete with culture from numer- a panoramic track view. Tempted to try? ous Latin American Find out more online at Wolverhampton- nations also features. Relentless Kerrang! win for Slam Dunk speedway.com. Performers include An event which is regularly presented across three the acclaimed Salsa Wolverhampton venues - Civic Hall, Wulfrun Hall and Civic Bar - Feugo Band (with has been named Best Festival at the Relentless Kerrang! Awards Columbian singer Angelica Lopez), the in London. Slam Dunk beat off stiff competition from Download, Los De La Vega Latin Sonisphere, Leeds & Reading and Bloodstock festivals to claim Band, Carlos Paul the coveted gong. and his band from This year’s Wolverhampton Slam Dunk event took place over the Ecuador, and May Bank Holiday and recorded its best ever attendance figures. Expression Inca The line-up included You Me At Six, Lower Than Atlantis and Dance Group from Pvris. Peru. A multi-venue festival, Slam Dunk also takes place in Hatfield and Leeds.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Pauline McLynn Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 15:01 Page 1

interview Pauline McLynn Takes a break from East Is East rehearsals...

I got off the bus last “ week and a woman came up to me and told me that she didn’t like what I’d done to Dot!”

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A familiar face from television favourites EastEnders, Shameless and cult comedy Father Ted, Pauline McLynn is also an accomplished author - she’s published eight novels - and stage actor, performing in plays by Shakespeare and Brecht. This month she’s in the Midlands playing the role of Ella in Ayub Khan Din’s East Is East.

In a break from rehearsals for East Is East - production. I hadn’t met him but I’d heard he “He’s a proud man,” Pauline points out. “And Ayub Khan Din’s hilarious domestic comedy - was a hot property, which interested me. I he’s also reached the age when your roots, Pauline McLynn breezes into our interview. also think that East Is East is a great show, a where you come from, become more She immediately embarks on the brilliantly well-made play which gives the important to you. Perhaps this is why he conversation, as if we were old mates audience a great night out. There are plenty insists on the family following the traditional meeting for a coffee and a chinwag. The of laughs but there are also moments when customs and agreeing to an arranged warmth of her greeting recalls the first rays of the audience will gasp at what they see. It’s marriage. The children are beginning to leave the sun emerging from the clouds, and we’re very much an emotional rollercoaster for home because of the pressure and Ella is plunged instantly into a chat that rattles along those who come to the show, and they fighting to keep the family together. But she’s like an express train for the next forty-five certainly get plenty of bang for their buck. To pulled in two directions - between her love for minutes. Needless to say, Pauline is not short an extent, the play bamboozles the audience. her husband and her maternal love for her of a witty line. Even if she hadn’t spent most I can’t wait to get the show on the road and in children. Ella eventually decides to make a of her professional life hanging out with front of the public.” stand, an act that has brutal consequences. assorted laughter-makers, she’d still be a Pauline argues that the play deals with issues The play ends with unresolved problems still funny woman. which are as old as human society itself. to be faced.” Her theatre credits include works by such “Everybody who’s grown up in a family will Pauline admires the structure of the play, heavyweight writers as Shakespeare and recognise the rough-and-tumble of home life considering that “the autobiographical Sophocles, Beckett and Brecht, but she’s which East Is East captures so well. It shows element is used brilliantly and you’re carried never far from the comedic, whether on us the tensions that exist whenever a group along in the narrative. One of the reasons stage, on screen or when she’s immersed in of people, families or non-families, are thrown why Ireland has produced so many great her own writing - she’s the author of eight together. You get to see the bad behaviour playwrights is due to the strength of the books. Not that there were too many laughs, which results. Take my two younger brothers. storytelling tradition in Irish culture. In many except of a bitter variety, with her two recent They still treat me as if I were the family eejit ways it’s more of a spoken than a written stints on television - tangling with David and still call me names such as hook-nose culture, and Ayub understands that tradition. Threlfall in Shameless and then menacing and verruca-head. But you can say such He’s a storyteller.” one of the great ladies of EastEnders. terrible, cruel things to your siblings because Pauline first became known to a wider “I got off the bus last week and a woman you’re all part of the same family.” audience due to the success of Father Ted, in came up to me and told me that she didn’t There’s a strong autobiographical element in which she played the unforgettable Mrs like what I’d done to Dot!” the play, so we’re probably correct to assume Doyle, the unhinged housekeeper to a trio of In the first week of rehearsal, Pauline is that there’s a good deal of Ayub Khan Din’s eccentric priests. clutching the East Is East script to her late mother in the character of Ella. “Oddly enough, I seem to be going bosom, as if it were a lucky charm. After a “I haven’t discussed it yet with Ayub but I backwards in time as far as the characters I lengthy absence from the stage, she recently understand that his parents met while Ella play are concerned - from the old crones like appeared at Shakespeare’s Globe in The was working as a conductress on the buses. I Mrs Doyle to Ella, who’s a mere forty-six. I’m Knight Of The Burning Pestle, a bizarre play gather that he wore her down by his aging down to play her, and isn’t that lovely!” that bursts through the fourth wall and most determination to marry her, but there was an What makes Pauline chuckle? other theatrical conventions. She and Phil enormous mutual attraction between them. I “I’ll often laugh at things in a script which Daniels, as her husband, spent much of the can think of one of my friends, who was no nobody else finds funny - and you can never time sitting with the audience. It was an child bride and who married relatively late in tell what will make an audience break up. experience which Pauline relished. life. She felt something similar - that the Sometimes they laugh at what could be “It was really wonderful,” she enthuses. “And I power of the mutual attraction couldn’t be described as ‘an inappropriate moment’ - but was very pleased to be playing a London dismissed.” I say, let them laugh. I don’t think there’s such woman. In the same way, I’m delighted to be The play is set in the early 1970s, an a thing as an inappropriate moment. Look at cast in East Is East, playing a lady from important time for the immigrant community the Russians - they often laugh when they’re Salford - although she’s of Irish extraction, or for a number of reasons. at their most miserable. At the moment I’m so we’ve just decided. I’m getting a chance “I think they must have been one of the few loving W1A, and I couldn’t love the BBC more to show a bit of versatility. I like to play lots of Asian families to settle in Salford,” remarks for commissioning the series in the first different characters and not do the Irish thing Pauline. “Most people arriving from Pakistan place.” all the time, much as I love it.” would’ve made for Yorkshire and towns such Pauline is looking forward to enjoying some The lady from Salford who Pauline mentions as Bradford. Mixed marriages were very downtime on the tour. She intends to use her is Ella, the long-suffering wife and mother in unusual, and I understand that Ayub’s mother moments of leisure to explore the countryside East Is East. suffered a lot of racist and sexist abuse close to wherever East Is East is playing. “I “I hadn’t seen the play on stage - either the because she’d married a Pakistani. People love visiting graveyards,” she reveals. “I love original production or this revival when it would call her a whore as they passed her in to look at the inscriptions on the gravestones. played in the West End. However, I do the street. It’s also the time when multi- Graveyards are places of great calm, and I remember seeing the film. I don’t recall much culturalism was beginning to have an impact love that.” of the detail, other than the very funny scene in Britain, and we’re still exploring the towards the end when everybody behaves consequences of that development today.” very badly.” It was also during this period that Pakistan What drew Pauline to the character? was defeated in a war with the country that’s “It’s such a great part for a woman of a now known as Bangladesh. It had previously Pauline McLynn stars in East Is East at certain age, and there aren’t many of those been part of the state of Pakistan. Pauline Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from about. I think the ratio of male roles to female wonders if the loss made George reassess Mon 20 to Sat 25 July. roles is about seven to one! I also wanted to his life. work with Sam Yates, the director of the www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Brian Conley Interview (July) R2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 11:26 Page 1

interview BRIAN CONLEY talks about bringing the circus to town in Barnum

What are the demands that come with Everyone knows I’m not a professional playing Phineas Taylor Barnum, Brian? It’s renowned for being one of the toughest tightrope walker, so they all sit there musical theatre roles in the business because “ there are so many strands to it - the acting, the singing, the comedy, the circus skills. with their hearts in their mouths. There are many different things that need to be learned to enable you to play the part. And, of course, you’re on stage all the time. But it’s very rewarding to do. Sir Cameron Mackintosh doesn’t do anything by halves.

” How long did it take you to master walking the tightrope? It’s ongoing. It’s one of those things that you think you’ve mastered - and then it rears up and bites you on the bum. I’ve got better as the months have passed, but initially it took six months. I used to go two or three times a week to a circus school in Camden, where I’d start off on a low tightrope about a foot off the ground, which they call the cheese cutter. I ended up breaking my finger on that. Even at a low height you can still hurt yourself - but over time, you progress. The tightrope in the show is seven foot high and ten foot across, and there’s no safety net or wire attached to me.

So not an easy watch for the fainthearted... Too true - and that’s how it should be. Everyone knows I’m not a professional tightrope walker, so they all sit there with their hearts in their mouths. If I fall off, which I do, and then get back up and do it again, it always gets a bigger cheer. First time round it’s a bit ‘Oh yeah, that’s good’, but if I fall off a couple of times, it makes people think I’m doing it on purpose to get the reaction - but I can assure you I always try to get across.

Have you had to up your insurance premium? No, I can’t get fully covered.

Did you have any reservations when Sir Cameron first approached you to play Barnum? I knew it was going to be a tough gig. I’m not getting any younger, so it was something which, if I was going to do it, I had to do now.

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When What’s On recently spoke to Sir What has being part of the Barnum team So you’ll be looking to have something Cameron, he said this was probably your taught you about yourself? named after you? best performance since playing Jolson. That I could learn a new skill at fifty-three! Oh, it would probably be a toilet. Would you agree with that? Prior to this, the most I’ve ever done is walk Yes, I would. It’s in the same league as the dogs. I’ve learned that touring is tough. You’ve been filming a brand new series for Jolson. You’re very much out there all the Being away from home is tough, but it’s a the BBC called TV That Made Me... time. You’re leading the company; you’re wonderful honour to be part of this show, and It will be out very shortly - probably when telling the story of this man. Jolson was a to be headlining a production put on by Sir we’re in Birmingham, or in the next month or showman, an entertainer, and that’s what Cameron. Everyone aspires to work with him, so. Each episode has a celebrity guest and Barnum is too. and you know that the designers, the they tell me about their favourite telly. Things costumes, the orchestra are all at the very top they love watching. Things that inspired And what characteristics, if any, do you level. Everyone wants to have working with them. Things that they watched as a family. share with Barnum? Sir Cameron on their CV. Things that scared them. It’s a bit like Desert I’m very much at ease talking to the Island Discs but for television. For forty-five audience, which Barnum does. I’ve always You’re back at the Hippodrome. A bit of a minutes we get lost in their world, show clips been an entertainer and always been capable homecoming? from what they liked to watch, and I dish out of standing there on my own. You have to Of course. It’s always nice to be back there. It trivia information about that particular show. have a confidence in holding an audience. is, without doubt, one of the greatest theatres Knowing what I now know about Barnum, he in the country. I can absolutely vouch for that. Has it been fun to do? must’ve had a real charm because he duped I’ve always loved performing at the A lot of fun. I got the pilot idea through at banks as well as the public. A lot of the big Hippodrome. And I’m honoured to have Christmas and knew straight away it was adventures he had, he never even put the starred there more something I wanted to be involved in. The money in himself. He managed to persuade times than any other BBC are really pleased with it. We’re all banks to put up the money so that he could artist since the looking forward to it being screened and carry on with his dreams theatre opened - seeing how it’s received. It’s a nostalgic look or so I’m told. at television through the years, and every Was the story of Barnum one that you were guest has a different point of view. familiar with before you were approached to star in the show? What were your favourite shows growing I was very aware that he was the first up? entrepreneur - but playing him and reading I used to love watching Cilla Black. She used about him and the things that he did was a to be on on a Sunday night and I vividly real eye-opener. The reason he came up with remember watching her when I was a tiny the three-ring circus, which was very clever, little kid of about seven. I loved Watch With was that not everyone got to see the show Mother with Andy Pandy, Bill And Ben and the first time. Every little theatre in the world the Flower Pot Men. Then, when I was older, has got Barnum to thank for what he did, I’d love watching Captain Scarlet & The because they were quite seedy places in the Mysterons and, later still, Colditz. early 1800s. His aim was to bring in the masses and family audiences. He made And do you have a guilty them all sorts of palaces. We have pleasure on TV today? Barnum to thank for that. In a way he I watch X Factor every now was the first spin doctor, the way and again because the kids he manipulated the press for his love watching it. I never get own means. into any series because I’m constantly flitting all over the You have some big hitters place, so don’t have a on your CV - Jolson, Fagin regular schedule. and Edna Turnblad included. How does this What are you looking to do compare in terms of after you’ve taken a personal achievements? holiday? I saw it many years ago with Who knows? I’ve never Michael Crawford in the title planned anything. You can’t. role and was blown away by it. You just see how it goes. I’ve got Never did I think that one day I pantomime in Southend, so there’s would play that part. It truly is the toughest something there at the end of the year. I gig I’ll ever have to do. There’s no other guess in between I’ll be a dad for a while, show where the end of the first half sees you which is something I enjoy. I’m looking walking across a tightwire, as well as being forward to spending some time at home just out there all of the time. It’s physically pottering around. demanding and you’re very much steering, the captain of the ship. No plans to go off and join the circus, then? How will you follow up playing a role like No. Been there, done that. Barnum? I don’t know, maybe I never will. I can’t plan it. Nothing’s ever planned. I would never have thought a couple of years ago that I’d be here playing Barnum. The same happened with Hairspray. I went to see the musical and thoroughly enjoyed it but never thought that one day I’d be playing Edna Turnblad. In this game we’re all self- Brian Conley stars as Phineas T Barnum at employed, so you take a job and see where the Birmingham Hippodrome, from Tues 7 it leads you. The only certainty after the July to Sat 1 August Barnum tour finishes is me taking a very long holiday.”

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Modest Mouse The Institute, Birmingham, Sun 5 July When it comes to producing albums, American indie rock band Modest Mouse have been as quiet as a, er, mouse for the better part of a decade. So to say that their recently released offering, Strangers To Ourselves, has been long-anticipated by their many and varied fans is probably a bit of an understatement. This Birmingham gig forms part of a summertime concert schedule that also includes the London Calling and T In The Park festivals.

Mary J Blige Camel Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Fri 3 July Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 23 July Raised on the mean streets of the Bronx and discovered as a teenager singing karaoke in When seminal Canterbury rock band Camel first her local mall, Mary J Blige was subsequently nurtured by Puff Daddy in the days before banged out a tune, Edward Heath was prime min- he became P Diddy. There was no need for Mary to develop the requisite hip-hop ‘atti- ister and the UK was getting to grips with decimali- tude’, though. It was already there, in spades - and to such an extent that it sometimes sation (we’re talking 1971 here). Long in the tooth threatened to all but overshadow her music. and certainly not short on quality, they continue to Still a real talent in a pool of lesser pretenders, her powerful voice demands to be heard. serve up their trademark blend of progressive, This Birmingham performance comes in support of her latest album, The London Ses- symphonic and space rock, albeit with only gui- sions. tarist/vocalist Andy Latimer remaining from the original line-up. Bellowhead Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 17 July Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band This eleven-piece group merge folk, jazz, funk, classical and world music influences with Lichfield Cathedral, Tues 7 July a twist of English music hall. Between them they play more than twenty instruments in a A familiar name on the folk circuit, Eliza Carthy is unique mix, and have picked up numerous coveted awards in recognition of their quality. the daughter of Norma Waterson and Martin This Stoke-on-Trent show isn’t to be confused with their two-part Farewell Tour (yes, after Carthy. An extremely talented singer and multi-in- eleven years the band have decided to call it a day), which takes place November 2015 strumentalist (including fiddle, guitar and man- and April/May 2016. dolin), she's been a big name in folk for a good few years now, and has won numerous BBC Radio Two Folk Awards. Eliza is here joined by the eleven-piece Wayward Band, which brings together musicians from a variety of highly rated en- sembles (including Bellowhead, Mawkin, Blowzabella, Edward II, Emily Portman Trio, Peat- bog Fairies, Dreams Of Tall Buildings and Tyde).

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fri 3 july 7pm hannah & brian ...... sat 4 july 7pm the buskets ...... Sun 5 July 7pm lou whatling ...... fri 10 July 7pm robbie jones ...... sun 11 july 7pm dan page ...... sun 12 july 7pm kim smith ...... Fri 17 July 7pm joe seagER ...... Sat 18 july 7pm michaela wylde ...... sun 19 july 7pm hannah & brian ...... Fri 24 july 7pm heidi brown ...... SAT 25 july 7pm ADam phillips ...... sun 26 july 7pm andy mills ...... fri 31 july 7pm lou whatling

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Music PREVIEWS Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters Cannock Chase, Rugeley, Staffs, Sat 11 July Black Country boy and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant is here joined on stage by his band, The Sensational Space Shifters. Every bit as comfortable performing as he is recording, the legendary sixty-six-year-old still knows how to leave audiences speechless with his impressive stage swagger, and scored a big hit last year with his album, Lull- aby And... The Ceaseless Roar. Expect tracks from the album as well as other solo material and new interpretations of Zeppelin classics.

Darren Emerson The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury, Fri 3 July As global dance music celebrities go, former Underworld star Darren Emerson is a pretty big one. First stamping his mark on dance culture over a quarter of a century ago, he continues to bring his trademark passion to the business of promoting new talent in whichever far-flung corners of the world he happens to find it. Darren is a true pioneer, having collaborated with artists as diverse as Sasha, Depeche Mode, Bjork and The Chemical Brothers. This very special Shrewsbury date is being presented by local promoters Traffic Music, Badly Drawn Boy who’re celebrating their tenth birthday this year. Town Hall, Birmingham, Sat 25 July Damon Gough's debut album, The Hour Of Naomi Namz Elliott We Are Scientists The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 31 July Bewilderbeast, made it clear he was a star in The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 18 July the making, winning him the Mercury Music With a website that includes a section in Prize in the year 2000. Twelve months later Having already scored a success with debut single Rainbow and follow-up offering Es- which the boys offer helpful advice to all he penned the score for Hugh Grant movie manner of desperate correspondents (includ- About A Boy and then followed up with two cape, Neo-Soul artist Naomi Namz Elliott is here launching her first EP, Gold Rush. ing one who’s been single for so long he’s more critically acclaimed albums in Have You started touching himself inappropriately, and Fed The Fish? and One Plus One Is One. Naomi’s been attracting plenty of attention in recent months - so much so, in fact, that The another who can’t work out the difference be- He’s appearing in Birmingham to celebrate tween a muffin and a cupcake), it’s clear to the fifteenth anniversary of The Hour Of Be- Drum is promising an evening that’ll not only be ‘unforgettable’ but also ‘the start of some- see that New York-based indie funsters We wilderbeast and, accompanied by his band, Are Scientists have no desire to be just a thing big’. will be performing the album in its entirety. conventional rock band. “It does seem that a lot of other bands get a Beres Hammond And lot of fun out of being incredibly, vocally serious,” observed guitarist and vocalist Keith Bunny Wailer Murray in an interview with Digital Spy. O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sat 18 July “That's a primary attraction to being a musi- Two reggae giants for the price of one is the cian and getting to posture artistically. To me, mouthwatering deal on offer here. One-time it's like watching ballet - it seems like good Zap Pow lead singer Beres Hammond fun but unfortunately I don't have the muscles scored a massive hit when he released his for it!” debut solo album, Soul Reggae, way back in 1976, going on to bask in the full glare of the limelight some two decades later while con- tracted to Elektra Records. Bunny Wailer, meanwhile, is one of the Ja- Joanne Shaw Taylor maican music scene’s elder statesmen and a The Robin, Bilston, Sat 25 July founding member of The Wailers (along with Brummie-born British blues rock guitarist childhood friends Bob Marley and Peter Joanne Shaw Taylor reckons she’s always Tosh). As with Beres, Bunny released his had a deep voice. And by the time she was debut solo album in 1976, since which time thirteen, she’d started playing the electric he’s cut a further twenty-nine, bagging three guitar. It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that a coveted Grammy Awards in the process. Art Themen few years later she decided to bring together And The Tom Hill Trio her quality vocals and musicianship and go The Hive, Shrewsbury, Sat 11 July professional. This Bilston gig sees Joanne Widely considered to be one of Britain’s very much returning to her roots, as she re- greatest saxophonists, Art Themen has de- cently explained to Blues In Britain. “My fa- veloped his impressive reputation as a musi- ther used to bring me to the Robin to see cian while at the same time holding down a international touring bands,” recalls Joanne. day job as an orthopaedic surgeon! “I saw everyone here - John Hammond, An- His style (of music, not surgery) has been drew Junior Boy Jones and a lot of the au- called ‘engagingly erratic’ and sees him ab- thentic American blues touring artists. So for sorbing and re-shaping a wide variety of influ- me that was great.” ences, from Sonny Rollins to the present day. Joanne’s appearance comes in support of The Midlands-based Tom Hill Trio provide latest album The Dirty Truth. support.

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The Barber Institute, Stourbridge BISCUIT BOYS The Jam LISTINGS Birmingham SEA OF BEES The Sun- TUE 7 JUL House, Birmingham Music LUNCHTIME GUITAR CON- flower Lounge, B’ham LADIES ROCK The Place, CERT FEATURING THE BANDICOOTS Market KARYN WHITE The Jam Oakengates Theatre, FRANCES GRIFFIN & LEO Square, Wellington, House, Birmingham Telford, Shropshire For full listing information on gigs, TURNER Birmingham Shropshire CURTIS ELLER'S AMERI- including times and dates, Museum & Art Gallery THE BUSKETS Havana CAN CIRCUS Kitchen FRI 10 JUL visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk HANNAH & BRIAN Ha- Republic, Shrewsbury Garden Cafe, B’ham vana Republic, Shrews- ELIZA CARTHY AND THE PALOMA FAITH Cannock MARY J. BLIGE Barclay- bury SUN 5 JUL WAYWARD BAND Lich- Chase Forest WED 1 JUL card Arena, B’ham field Cathedral ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW DARREN EMERSON The SAT 4 JUL MODEST MOUSE The In- JON BODEN & SACCONI AND THE LOW RIDERS KATHRYN WILLIAMS Buttermarket, Shrews- stitute, Birmingham QUARTET Lichfield Solihull Arts Complex Kitchen Garden Cafe, bury THE BEAT BROTHERS The ROD AND THE FACEZ The Cathedral THE NEXTMEN Hare & Birmingham GOLDIE LOOKIN CHAIN Jam House, B’ham Roadhouse, B’ham FLEETWOOD MAC Hounds, Birmingham MIDNIGHT BONFIRES The Institute, B’ham KICK UP THE 80'S The THE NIC’S, BEAR MAKES Genting Arena, B’ham CASH - JOHNNY CASH PLUS THE SHERPAS Hare PAUL CARRACK The Robin, Bilston NINJA, A BORN DISASTER TRIBUTE The Road- & Hounds, Birmingham Robin, Bilston FLEETWOOD MAC Scruffy Murphys, Birm- WED 8 JUL house, Birmingham JULIE DEXTER The Jam PALOMA FAITH Delamere Genting Arena, B’ham ingham CHOIR WITH NO NAME GOSPEL CENTRAL The House, Birmingham Forest, Cheshire WAKENIING THE HOLLOW, LEON BRIDGES The Insti- BIRMINGHAM'S SUMMER Jam House, B’ham HIDDEN CHARMS The 360 AND FRIENDS Hare & LET VENGANCE RISE, tute, Birmingham SPECTACULAR mac - BIOHAZARD The Slade Sunflower Lounge, Hounds, Birmingham SILENT JACK & WHOA THE WONDER STUFF & Midlands Arts Centre, Rooms, Wolverhampton Birmingham SLOW CLUB & EKKAH The MAMA Scruffy Murphys, THE TWANG Wulfrun Birmingham AREA 11 O2 Academy, BURT BACHARACH LIVE IN Institute, Birmingham Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton ROBBIE JONES Havana Birmingham CONCERT WITH FULL OR- FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- TOM ODELL Delamere THE ELECTRIC SWING CIR- Republic, Shrewsbury DEFEATER & NAPOLEON CHESTRA Symphony tre, Birmingham Forest, Cheshire CUS Ludlow Castle, CHRONIXX & ZINCFENCE The Rainbow Venues, Hall, Birmingham THE CAJUN ROOSTERS THE STONES The Road- South Shropshire REDEMPTION WITH SPE- Birmingham Ludlow Assembly house, Birmingham WILNECOTE ST JOHN'S CIAL GUEST DRE ISLAND NINE DAIS WONDER Lich- THU 2 JUL Rooms, South Shrop- FOLK AT THE CASTLE Lud- BAND Tamworth Castle, The Institute, B’ham field Garrick shire low Castle, Shropshire Staffs CANNIBAL OX The Rain- FRANKIE VALLI AND THE THE ADVENTURES OF NEL- KATY ROSE BENNETT Ort THE JAYS Tamworth Cas- SHILLELAGH Irish Centre, bow Venues, B’ham FOUR SEASONS Genting LIE BLY Lichfield Garrick Cafe, Birmingham tle, Staffordshire Birmingham MILESTONE EXPRESS Arena, Birmingham THE BILLY FURY YEARS RESPUBLICA, RED LIGHT HANNAH ALDRIDGE Irish Centre, B’ham THE THREE DEGREES The Prince Of Wales Centre, ROOM, HARMFOOL, TIDES Kitchen Garden Cafe, THU 9 JUL WEST COAST EAGLES, DEE Jam House, B’ham APART & SEASONS O2 Birmingham D & THE JAMES GANG Cannock BOOKENDS - TRIBUTE TO SHAKATAK The Robin, Academy, Birmingham LOU WHATLING Havana The River Rooms, THE HAIR ROCK EXPERI- SIMON & GARFUNKEL The Bilston REVOLVER, BELLA DIEM, Republic, Shrewsbury Stourbridge ENCE The Roadhouse, Robin, Bilston WHERE I'M BOUND PLUS LOOCA & HOPE STREET THE SUPERSKAS The Birmingham BETTE MIDLER Barclay- SEXTAPES & THIS MEM- The Flapper, B’ham MON 6 JUL Robin, Bilston PURIFY THE HORROR, AB- card Arena, B’ham ORY The Rainbow Ven- THE HURLING BOYS Irish THE ROBBIE WILLIAMS SOLUTION, ASCARIS & KATE BUST DEFORE THE ues, Birmingham Centre, Birmingham THE LONDON KLEZMER EXPERIENCE Theatre BEAUTICIAN Scruffy Mur- DAWN, TRIBUTE ACT The TELSEN, SEMANTICS, QUARTET Lichfield Gar- Severn, Shrewsbury phys, Birmingham River Rooms, Stour- FRI 3 JUL TINNED ASTRONAUT & rick STRANGER IN DEATH, EVIL THE ALBION The Sug- bridge PRETENCE The Rainbow JOSEPH & MAIA Lichfield EMPIRE, RISING STRUG- THE BEAT BROTHERS armill, Stoke-on-Trent CHEMICAL MOJO, ANGER The Venues, Birmingham Garrick GLE & TOMB HAZARD Jam House, B’ham ART THEMEN QUARTET RISING & WHOA MAMA THE SOUL SURVIVORS HARP & A MONKEY Scruffy Murphys, B’ham SHOWADDYWADDY (Birmimgham Interna- The Flapper, B’ham Victo- The River Rooms, Stafford Gatehouse, LISBON, VULPES VULPES, ria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent tional Jazz Festival), Stafford KING PLEASURE & THE

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CONCRETE GARDENS & (BBC RADIO 4'S THE LACH UNDER THE COVERS Irish THE TREMBLING BROKEN OAK DUET, CON- Bilston SHOOTING HEIGHTS The CHRONICLES) The Robin, Centre, Birmingham WILBURYS The Road- STANT WAVES, LUDOVICO THE AMERICAN STAN- Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Bilston JAMES BROUGH, ROBIN- house, Birmingham & FALLS The Flapper, DARD TOUR featuring Trent ANVIL O2 Academy, PLAYSCHORDS & LEG- THE STRAWBS The Birmingham The Fender All-Star BBC BIG BAND Lichfield Birmingham ENDS OF THE WHITNASH Robin, Bilston WILD IRISH Irish Centre, Band The Flapper, Cathedral STATE CIRCUSOrt Cafe, FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- Birmingham B’ham SARAH LENKA (Birming- TUE 14 JUL Birmingham tre, Birmingham ADAM PHILIPS Havana BROTHERS GROOVE The ham International Jazz DURAN: THE TRIBUTE The ADAM BEYER & IDA EN- Republic, Shrewsbury Jam House, B’ham Festival), The Barber In- SONGS FOR A NEW River Rooms, Stour- BERG The Rainbow Ven- INSTITUTES, BREEZE, stitute, Birmingham WORLD Stafford Gate- bridge ues, Birmingham BLOOM, BLOODSUGAR & THU 30 JUL house Theatre (until FINLEY QUAYE Alfie P!NK - MISS UNDER- MIDNIGHT CONVOY The SAT 11 JUL 18th) Bird’s, Birmingham STOOD The River Rainbow Venues, Birm- GUNS 2 ROSES The ALL THINGS CONSIDERED BEST FRIENDS The Sun- Rooms, Stourbridge ingham Robin, Bilston NEIL DIAMOND Genting & CIRCLE ON THE ROAD flower Lounge, B’ham FRONTIER RUCKUS The ICONIC 80'S The River DEL CAMINO The Jam Arena, Birmingham Crescent Theatre, Birm- WITCHSORROW, RELENT- Sunflower Lounge, Rooms, Stourbridge House, Birmingham GUNS VS ROSES The ingham LESS, GEVAUDAN & PELU- Birmingham TUSSK The Sugarmill, LISA MILLS Katie Fitzger- Slade Rooms, Wolver- AFFIEJAM AND DAVID GION Scruffy Murphys, SORANO SANTOS Jaz- Stoke-on-Trent ald's, Stourbridge hampton FREJA Symphony Hall, Birmingham zline free gig, Sym- BADLY DRAWN BOY Birm- ED SHEERAN TRIBUTE - DAN PAGE Havana Re- Birmingham MICHAELA WYLDE Ha- phony Hall, Birmingham ingham Town Hall JACK SHEPHARD The public, Shrewsbury vana Republic, Shrews- HEIDI BROWN Havana River Rooms, Stour- ROBERT PLANT PRESENTS WED 15 JUL bury Republic, Shrewsbury SUN 26 JUL bridge SENSATIONAL SPACE SOULFLY The Sugarmill, SHIFTERS Cannock KEITH JAMES Kitchen THE SPRINGSTEEN SES- Stoke-on-Trent Chase Forest Garden Cafe, Birming- SUN 19 JUL SAT 25 JUL SIONS - BRUCE SPRING- STIPE - R.E.M TRIBUTE ham MORPHEUS RISING + HI- UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE STEEN TRIBUTE The FRI 31 JUL The Roadhouse, B’ham MARY CHAPIN CARPEN- ON MAIDEN The Robin, The Jam House, Birm- Robin, Bilston SHALAMAR FEATURING TER Birmingham Town Bilston ingham HUM KALAAM mac - Mid- SUPREME QUEEN The HOWARD HEWETT, JEF- Hall JUST FLOYD The Robin, OYE SANTANA The Road- lands Arts Centre, Birm- Robin, Bilston FREY DANIEL AND CAR- Bilston house, Birmingham ingham GROUPER The Jam OLYN GRIFFEY The THU 16 JUL THE CITY OF LICHFIELD VOICE OF THE HEART - THE BUS STATION, House, Birmingham Robin, Bilston BAND Tamworth Castle, KAREN CARPENTER LOONIES, HUSBANDS N MOTOWN'S GREATEST BRENDON MANDERS, ASWAD The Jam House, KNIVES & MORE The HITS - HOW SWEET IT IS Birmingham Staffs Wolverhampton Grand PIERRE & MERKAGE O2 FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- Theatre Rainbow Venues, Birm- New Alexandra Theatre, Academy, Birmingham AUSTINN The Asylum, ingham Birmingham Birmingham tre, Birmingham BLOOD YOUTH & TRASH BEBE & THE TROJANS HANNAH & BRIAN Ha- BOAT The Slade Rooms, BLAKE & BRAZIL Irish WE ARE SCIENTISTS The Katie Fitzgerald's, Stour- RED FACES The River Centre, Birmingham Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Rooms, Stourbridge vana Republic, Shrews- Wolverhampton bridge bury JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR & ANDY MILLS Havana Re- Trent CLAY The Oobleck, SOLEY MOURNING The public, Shrewsbury SOLSTAFIR The Institute, Robin, Bilston RENAI VIRGIL & THE ACCELERA- Birmingham MON 20 JUL TORS The Robin, Bilston Birmingham JUNGLE TING FEATURING MON 27 JUL THE REPLICAS The River FRI 17 JUL THE 58'S BLUES BAND BLADERUNNER, COOL NICOLAS MCDONALD The Tamworth Castle, Staffs Rooms, Stourbridge HAND FLEX, TIM RYAN, SOULFLY O2 Academy, FRED ZEPPELIN The Institute, Birmingham SLAUGHTER HORSE, ROB BARRON TRIO Jaz- CAUTIOUS, MC RANSKI, Birmingham Robin, Bilston SIMPLY SOWETO ENCHA VEXXEN, INTHROES, SE- zline free gig, Sym- MARGA MC AND MC PM URBAN INTRO The Jam Old Joint Stock, B’ham CRETS OF MARIANA & phony Hall, Birmingham The Oobleck, B’ham TUE 28 JUL House, Birmingham (until 22nd) SAMSARA O2 Academy, BEACH BABY The Rain- VIVA LA COLDPLAY The SCROOBIUS PIP (DJ SET) BLACK COUNTRY DAY Birmingham THE SONICS The Insti- bow Venues, B’ham Edge Arts Centre, Much & ALTERNATIVE DUBSTEP LIVE MUSIC BASH WITH VOODOO Katie Fitzger- tute, Birmingham THE FIVE HUNDRED, PEL- Wenlock, Shropshire ORCHESTRA Hare & THE EMPTY CAN, ald's, Stourbridge BLITZ KIDS The Rainbow UGION, SOMA DARK & GUY ORNADEL Hare & Hounds, Birmingham CROOKED HOUSE & MANY OFF THE CUFF FEATURING Venues, Birmingham RUSTLUNG Scruffy Mur- Hounds, Birmingham STRANGER IN DEATH, EVIL MORE The Robin, Bil- DINOSAUR PILE-UP, &U&I, phys, Birmingham ART THEMEN AND THE EMPIRE, RISING STRUG- ston TANGLED HAIR, THEM LOU WHATLING Havana TOM HILL TRIO The Hive, WED 29 JUL GLE & TOMB HAZARD MY FAVOURITE RUNNER WOLVES, TIGERCLUB, Republic, Shrewsbury Shrewsbury Scruffy Murphys, Birm- UP, DEBUNK & PACIFIC FRAUDS, SUNSHINE FRIS- THE PRETTY THINGS STAR OF THE SEA Irish ingham VIEW The Rainbow Ven- BEE LASERBEAM, THE PEEPSHOW The Robin, Centre, Birmingham- BELLOWHEAD Victoria ues, Birmingham LOUISE PETIT Ort Cafe, Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham THE SMYTHS The River TUE 21 JUL THE MAD GEESE, HISTORY Rooms, Stourbridge OF SEX & BLANK PARODY THREE STEP MANOEUVRE Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands RINSE & FLESH The Sug- The Rainbow Venues, The Jam House, Birm- armill, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham ingham JOE SEAGER Havana Re- KICK UP THE 80'S The Birmingham ROUTE 44 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE public, Shrewsbury 0121 708 0108 SHREWSBURY River Rooms, Stour- WED 22 JUL 02 ACADEMY SYMPHONY HALL 01743 361666 bridge 0121 622 8250 LIL' JIMMY REED BAND 0121 780 3333 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY EVENTUAL FATE, LIVE BAIT SAT 18 JUL THE ACTRESS & BISHOP The Robin, Bilston THE VICTORIA 01743 234970 & CHOKEHOLD The Sug- 0121 236 7426 THE MEDICINE BOYS Mar- BARS & MELDOY The 0121 633 9439 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS armill, Stoke-on-Trent ADRIAN BOULT HALL 01584 878141 ket Square, Wellington, Slade Rooms, Wolver- COOL & UKE Market 0121 331 5901 Shropshire hampton Black Country THEATRE SEVERN, Square, Wellington, THE ASYLUM SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 THREE BLIND MICE Katie THE PAINS OF BEING PURE 0121 233 1109 CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON Shropshire 0870 320 7000 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, Fitzgerald's, Stour- AT HEART The Rainbow BARCLAYCARD ARENA TELFORD 01952 382382 bridge Venues, Birmingham 0121 780 4141 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL SUN 12 JUL 01384 815577 WEM TOWN HALL URBAN INTRO The Jam MIKE DIGNAM The Rain- BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 01939 232299 TOM ODELL House, Birmingham bow Venues, B’ham 0121 780 3333 FOREST ARTS CENTRE Cannock 0845 111 2898 Chase Forest, Staffs JEAN GENIE - TRIBUTE TO CBSO CENTRE NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE Staffordshire BROLLY & FRIENDS 2015 DAVID BOWIE The Robin, THU 23 JUL 0121 780 3333 01902 572090 FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK IRISH CHARITY NIGHT Bilston FLAPPER THE FOUNDATIONS The ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01538 386112 Symphony Hall, B’ham NEIL DIAMOND Genting 0121 236 2421 Jam House, B’ham 01902 401211 LICHFIELD GUILDHALL RIVAL STATE The Rain- Arena, Birmingham GENTING ARENA JESS SILK Katie Fitzger- SLADE ROOMS 01543 262223 bow Venues, B’ham THE SEARCHERS Ludlow 0121 780 4141 ald's, Stourbridge WOLVERHAMPTON MITCHELL ARTS CENTRE, ROCK OF AGES EXPERI- Assembly Rooms, THE GLEE CLUB 0870 320 7000 CAMEL Wulfrun Hall, 0871 472 0400 STOKE-ON-TRENT ENCE The Robin, Bilston Shropshire STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL Wolverhampton 01782 409307 TAMWORTH WIND BAND THE SMYTHS The Sug- HARE & HOUNDS 01384 812812 FELL OUT BOY The Slade 0121 444 2081 THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY Tamworth Castle, Staffs armill, Stoke-on-Trent WULFRUN HALL, STOKE-ON-TRENT Rooms, Wolverhampton IRENE & TOM Irish Cen- JAKE QUICKENDEN O2 THE INSTITUTE WOLVERHAMPTON 01159 454 593 THE FELICE BROTHERS & 0121 643 0428 0870 320 7000 tre, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS PIERCE BROTHERS The IRISH CENTRE JOE SMITH AND THE HOLY OTIS GIBBS Birch- 01827 709618 Rainbow Venues, Birm- 0121 622 2314 Shropshire ROLLERS Ort Cafe, Birm- meadow Centre, Brose- VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY ingham THE JAM HOUSE ingham ley, Shropshire BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY 0870 060 6649 LARRY MILLER The River 0121 200 3030 01952 882210 KIM SMITH Havana Re- GEHTIKA The Slade STAFFORD GATEHOUSE Rooms, Wolverhampton Rooms, Stourbridge THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE THE BUTTERMARKET, 01785 254653 public, Shrewsbury 0121 443 4725 SHREWSBURY ESSENTIAL HOLLIES Tam- FRI 24 JUL THE RAINBOW 01743 355055 MON 13 JUL worth Assembly Rooms 0121 772 8174 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, BERES HAMMOND & UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE MUCH WENLOCK BOYS OF THE LOUGH New RED LION FOLK CLUB BUNNY WAILER O2 Acad- The Jam House, Birm- 0121472 4253 01952 728911 Vic Theatre, Newcastle- For additional information emy, Birmingham ingham THE ROADHOUSE HAVANA REPUBLIC and to find out What’s On under-Lyme NAOMI NAMZ ELLIOTT THE DRIFTERS Wulfrun 0121 246 2273 SHREWSBURY at these venues. CHRIS BARRON (SPIN 01743 281744 The Drum, Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk DOCTORS) AND LACH www.whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Classical July Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 11:28 Page 1

PREVIEWS Aquarelle Guitar Quartet Classical Music Church Stretton School, South Shropshire, Tues 28 July The dynamic and innovative Aquarelle Gui- tar Quartet are widely considered to be one of Britain’s leading chamber music groups, earning plaudits for their original arrangements from a wide selection of styles, periods and cultures. Their programme for this Church Stretton Arts Festival concert includes Rimsky-Kor- sakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Bach’s Bran- denburg Concerto No 6 and Albeniz’s La Vega.

Phoenix Singers Bramall Music Building, Birmingham, Sat 11 July Comprising over one hundred-and-twenty Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman members, Birmingham choir the Phoenix Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 5 July Singers perform for pleasure while at the Richard Farnes here conducts the orchestra and chorus of Opera North as they present what’s same time raising money for charity. been described as ‘the ultimate Romantic opera’. Sung in German with English surtitles, Wagn- Their latest concert, presented in aid of er’s much-lauded work features a phantom ship, a satanic curse and ‘a love more powerful Alzheimer’s UK, features Fauré’s Requiem, than death itself’. It’s also the piece with which the composer attempted to escape the poverty numerous much-loved choral pieces - into which he’d fallen in his mid-twenties. The initial critical response to the opera was mixed, including Zadok The Priest - and a selec- and Wagner failed to find the will to speak up for his creation. “I was in sufficiently ill humour to tion of popular songs from the shows. remain silent and leave The Flying Dutchman undefended,” said the composer several years later. Note, this concert is being presented without an interval. The Sacconi Quartet Swinfen Hall, Lichfield, Wed 8 July Guy Johnston And Blessing concerts with infectious energy Katya Apekisheva and enthusiasm is the stock-in-trade of the award-winning Sacconi Quartet. Formed at Concord College, Shropshire, Sat 25 July the beginning of the millennium, the four- Guy Johnston and Katya Apekisheva are here some have been widely praised for their performing as part of the Church Stretton Arts imaginative approach. They are currently Festival. the Quartet-in-Association at the Royal Col- A one-time BBC Young Musician of the Year, lege of Music and Associate Artist at the Johnston has been hailed one of the most excit- Bristol Old Vic. ing and versatile British cellists of his generation. This late-night concert sees them perform- Pianist Apekisheva, meanwhile, is in great ing The Juliet Letters, a unique and com- demand internationally as both a soloist and a pelling ‘Shakespearean song-cycle’ for chamber musician. Ex Cathedra: Summer string quartet and singer (in this instance, They perform a concert featuring the following: Jon Boden). The piece was written by Elvis Sonata in Bb (Mendelssohn); Fantasiestücke Music By Candlelight Costello and the Brodsky Quartet. (Schumann); Intermezzo (Schumann); and Lichfield Cathedral, Thurs 9 July Sonata No 2 in F (Brahms). Jeffrey Skidmore once again takes the baton to conduct Birmingham’s highly rated early music ensemble, this time in a concert which promises to transport the audience to ‘an enchanted world’. The programme, presented by candlelight as dusk falls, moves seamlessly from seasonal favourites to ‘rare, rediscovered, contemporary and lighter repertoire, sprin- kled with carefully chosen readings from across the ages’. The concert also features the world premiere of a piece by Lichfield Festival’s composer-in-residence, David Matthews. His new work has been inspired by the Guy Johnston dawn chorus.

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day celebration of LISTINGS music-making, bringing Classical together eight thousand performers from across the UK, Tues 7 - Sat 11 For full listing information on classical July, Birmingham Con- concerts, including times and dates, servatoire visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk MICHAEL PETROV Rising star Michael here per- forms works by Schu- ENO LIVE SCREENING: July, Lichfield Cathedral bert, Sacher, Dutilleax JULIAN LLOYD-WEBBER CARMEN Screening of and Schumann, with ENO’s staging of The renowned cellist is accompaniment from Bizet’s passionate here joined by his wife pianist Alexander Ull- opera, Wed 1 July, mac Jiaxin for a programme man, Wed 8 July, Wade - Midlands Arts Centre, that includes works by Street Church, Lichfield Birmingham Faure, Andrew Lloyd THE SACCONI QUARTET BURT BACHARACH LIVE IN Webber, Rachmaninov, Celebrating the one CONCERT WITH FULL William Lloyd Webber, hundred-and-fiftieth ORCHESTRA Wed 1 July, Philip Glass, Frank anniversary of the births Symphony Hall, Birm- Bridge & JS Bach, Sat of Sibelius and Nielsen, ingham 4 July, Lichfield Cathe- the Sacconi Quartet CBSO SCHOOLS CONCERT: dral here perform their stun- NATIONAL YOUTH HARP BITE-SIZE CLASSICS Pro- ning Scandinavian gramme includes works ORCHESTRA Sat 4 July, repertoire, Wed 8 July, Mirga Gražinté-Tyla - Symphony Hall, Birmingham by Britten, Elgar, Mozart Festival Drayton Centre, Swinfen Hall Hotel, & Holst, Thurs 2 July, Market Drayton, North Lichfield dral 23 July, Symphony PIANO DUETS PRESENTED Symphony Hall, Birm- Shropshire CITY OF BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX SINGERS Pro- Hall, Birmingham BY SUSIE ALLAN & ROS- ingham WAGNER'S THE FLYING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA gramme includes GUY JOHNSTON (CELLO) ALIND JONES RUSSELL WATSON An DUTCHMAN Sun 5 July, Pro- Featuring Lahav Shani Faure’s Requiem & & KATYA APEKISHEVA intimate evening with Symphony Hall, Birm- gramme includes works (conductor) & Jennifer other choral favourites. (PIANO) Sat 25 July, one of the world's most ingham by Mozart, Schubert, Pike (violin), Wed 8 Charity concert in aid of Concord College, Nr prominent tenors, Thurs HARP & A MONKEY - THE Ravel & Debussy, Thurs July, Lichfield Cathedral Alzheimer’s UK, Sat 11 Shrewsbury 2 - Fri 3 July, Theatre GREAT WAR-NEW SONGS 30 July, St Laurence’s AMY HARMAN (BASSOON) July, Bramall Music CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA Severn, Shrewsbury & STORIES Marking the Church, Church Stret- Principal Basoonist of Building, Birmingham ACADEMY Programme CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT centenary of the First ton, South Shropshire the Philharmonic REBECCA NEWMAN Thurs includes works by Mag- CLASSICS: THE ELLA World War, the pro- AURORA WIND ENSEMBLE Orchestra, Thurs 9 July, 16 July, Lichfield Gar- nus Lindberg, Strauss FITZGERALD SONGBOOK gramme includes both WITH JOANNA SMITH Wade Street Church, rick & Brahms, Sun 26 July, (PIANO) Fri 3 July, Symphony original songs and Programme Lichfield CBSO SUMMER CONCERT Birmingham Town Hall Hall, Birmingham reworkings of traditional includes works by AFTERNOON RECITAL Featuring Mirga Gražin- AQUARELLE GUITAR THE MAGIC FLUTE A Lich- songs, Mon 6 July, Poulenc, Mozart, WITH THE SACCONI té-Tyla (conductor). QUARTET Programme field Festival production Stafford Gatehouse Mendelssohn & Percy QUARTET Programme Programme includes includes works by Alb- of one of Mozart's best- Theatre Grainger, Fri 31 July, St includes works by Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping eniz, Rimsky-Korsakov loved operas, Fri 3 July, DANIEL PIORO (VIOLIN) Laurence’s Church, Mozart, David Matthews Beauty; Barber’s & Bach, Tues 28 July, Lichfield Cathedral Young Artist Recital, Church Stretton, South and Beethoven, Thurs 9 Knoxville Summer Of Church Stretton JONATHAN MCGOVERN, Mon 6 July, Wade Shropshire July, St Michael's 1915 & Beethoven’s School, South Shrop- SONGS OF THE NIGHT Street Church, Lichfield Church, Lichfield Symphony No. 7, Thurs shire Baritone Jonathan is MICHAEL MORPURGO: EX CATHEDRA SUMMER joined by pianist James THE MOZART QUESTION MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT CONCERT Baillieu. Programme Featuring Conducted by Jeffery includes works by Brit- Daniel Pioro on violin, Skidmore, Thurs 9 July, ten, Schubert & Mon 6 July, Lichfield Lichfield Cathedral Tchaikovsky, Sat 4 July, Garrick CHATHAMS SCHOOL Part SEPTURA BRASS Wade Street Church, Pro- of the Young Artist Lichfield gramme includes works Series, four talented GIG CARITUS Evening of by Brahms, Handel, students from classical music, choir Lassus and more... Chathams School pres- singing & orchestral Mon 6 July, Lichfield ent a diverse recital performances, present- Cathedral programme, Fri 10 July, LONDON KLEZMER QUAR- ed as part of the Black Wade Street Church, TET Country Festival, Sat 4 Featuring a pro- Lichfield July, St John’s United gramme of soulful Jew- THE SACCONI QUARTET: Reformed Church, ish music, Mon 6 July, HEARTFELT A Sacconi Stourbridge Lichfield Garrick Quartet digital produc- SOH-YON KIM (VIOLIN) CARDUCCI QUARTET Sat tion with sound, light 4 July, Symphony Hall Young Artist Recital, and touch, combining Cafe Bar, Birmingham Tues 7 July, Wade an immersive, interac- GWILYM SIMCOCK with Street Church, Lichfield tive musical perform- NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF Wolfgang Muthspiel & ance with robotics and MUSIC FOR YOUTH Julian Arguelles, Sat 4 Five- audience-responsive lighting, Fri 10 July, Lichfield Garrick ORGAN PROMS WITH ROGER FISHER Sat 11 July, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY Pro- gramme includes works by Mendelssohn & Puc- cini, Sat 11 July, Rud- dock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham YUANFAN YANG Young Artist Recital. Pro- gramme includes works by David Matthews, Schumann, Chopin & Yuafan Yang, Sat 11 Jul, Wade Street Church, Lichfield ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT Pro- gramme includes Vival- di’s Four Seasons & Telemann’s Violin Con- certo ‘The Frogs’, Sat Julian & Jiaxin Webber - Lichfield Cathedral 11 July, Lichfield Cathe-

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Alfie Moore Comedy Stourbridge Town Hall, Thurs 2 July Box Office Staunch Sheffield socialist Alfie Moore is a master raconteur and a very funny man. He was CIVIC HALL, also a serving police officer in Humberside for WOLVERHAMPTON eighteen years. Indeed, referencing his two 0870 320 7000 careers, his website advises that ‘if you would THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM 0121 333 2444 like to see Alfie live’, your options are either to STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL ‘catch him at one of his gigs’ or ‘drive to 01384 812812 Scunthorpe and park THE GEORGE HOTEL, on a double yellow LICHFIELD 07816 778 709 line’... Alfie made it to THE GLEE CLUB, week five of ITV’s Show BIRMINGHAM Me The Funny back in 0871 4720400 2011, and is a much-in- THE GLEE CLUB, HANLEY demand after-dinner 0871 4720400 speaker. Jokes include: JONGLEURS COMEDY "I'm in a same-sex mar- CLUB, BIRMINGHAM riage... the sex is 08700 111 960 always the same." KATIE FITZGERALD’S, STOURBRIDGE 01384 374410 LICHFIELD GARRICK 01543 412 121 Terry Christian MAC, BIRMINGHAM 0121 446 3232 Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 11 July MANFORD’S COMEDY Best known as the presenter of hit 1990s CLUB, BIRMINGHAM Channel Four series The Word, Terry Christian 0121 643 9132 MITCHELL ARTS CENTRE originally intended his one-man stand-up show 01782 409307 to last just forty-five minutes. As it’s turned out, NATIONAL BREWERY he instead stays on stage for the length of an Marcus Brigstocke CENTRE, BURTON-UPON- entire football match. The Naked Confessions Lichfield Garrick, Sat 11 July TRENT 01283 532 880 Of A Recovering Catholic has proved to be a Peddling a line in dark, intelligent comedy, Time Out Comedy Award- REGENT THEATRE, cathartic experience for the Manchester-born winner Marcus Brigstocke is a major comic talent. The star of BBC's STOKE-ON-TRENT funnyman, who uses the show to talk about The Late Edition and The Now Show is one of the most inventive tal- 0844 871 7649 sex, violence, priests, STAFFORD GATEHOUSE ents on the comedy circuit, boasting a style all his own. Occasionally THEATRE nuns and God. “I just venturing into acting, Marcus’ credits to date include performances in 01785 619 080 talk about how messed the touring production of Monty Python’s Spamalot, Adam Savage in THEATRE SEVERN, up I am,” Terry recently BBC One sitcom The Savages and a leading role in BBC Three’s SHREWSBURY 01743 281 281 told the Liverpool Echo. Vacant Possession. WEDNESBURY TOWN HALL “I’m not an evil person - He appears at the Lichfield Garrick as part of the Lichfield Festival 0121 556 4914 but if people think I am, programme. Visit lichfieldfestival.org for further details. I just tell them it’s not my fault and blame it on God!” Josh Howie The Glee Club, Hanley, Sat 25 July Josh Howie readily acknowledges that his Patrick Monahan comedy is never going to make everyone Mitchell Arts Centre, Hanley, Fri 10 July happy. In a recent interview with the Jewish Half-Iranian, half-Irish stand-up comic Patrick Chronicle, the London-born funnyman admit- Monahan is no slouch when it comes to bring- ted that he can often cause offence in his ing up the subject of his own ethnicity on stage quest to be funny: “What I love doing is pick- - after all, he’s got a quality opening gag about ing on people a bit. I’m not one of those spending all of his holidays in customs, and shock comedians who’s shocking for the he’s not afraid to use it! "Iran has been in the sake of it.” Howie may not be a shock news pretty much constantly since I was a kid," comedian but he’s certainly a funny one. says Monahan. “I “Sometimes,” he recently revealed, “I guess I like to think write a joke that's so good I have to that maybe I’m genuinely alter my position on a breaking down subject in order to allow myself to stereotypes about tell it.” Gags include: “My wife Iranians. I’ve lost came home with a vibrator, started count of the number waving it about and screamed, ‘I of people who’ve don't need you now! I don't come up to me after need you now!’... Guess who a show and said that had to put the batteries in...” they didn’t expect Iranians to be funny.”

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Birmingham TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, Comedy LISTINGS ROB DEERING, JOSH Comedy PREVIEW HOWIE & BOBBY MAIR Fri For full listing information on comedy 17 - Sat 18 July, The gigs including times and dates visit Glee Club, Birmingham LOL COMEDY CLUB www.whatsonlive.co.uk WITH MC DAMION LARKIN Sat 18 July, Regent LUCY PORTER & HAL Centre, Birmingham Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent CRUTTENDEN TOM STADE, JAMES Thurs 2 TOM STADE, GARY DOWDESWELL & COMEDY July, mac - Midlands DELANEY, ARCHIE KELLY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY Arts Centre, & ANDY ROBINSON Birmingham ROBINSON Thurs 9, The Sun 19 July, ALFIE MOORE, JAY Glee Club, Birmingham Wednesbury Town Hall HANDLEY & MARSHALL LUISA OMIELAN Fri 10 STEPHEN CARLIN & ANDERSON Thurs 2 July, July, The Glee Club, GEORGE EGG Thurs 23 Stourbridge Town Hall Birmingham July, mac - Midlands PHIL WANG, COMEDY PAUL MONAHAN Fri 10 Arts Centre, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY July, Mitchell Arts Birmingham ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Centre, Hanley PAUL TONKINSON, TOM STADE, JAMES Thurs 2 July, The Glee JARRED CHRISTMAS & DOWDESWELL, EDDY Club, Birmingham COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, BRIMSON & ALLYSON ANDY ROBINSON Thurs GORDON SOUTHERN SMITH Fri 10 - Sat 11 23 July, The Glee Club, MARVYN DICKSON & July, The Glee Club, Birmingham KAREN BAYLEY Birmingham Thurs 2 PAUL TONKINSON, RUDI LICKWOOD, ERIC July, The George Hotel, JARRED CHRISTMAS, LAMPAERT, SALLY-ANNE Lichfield LAURA LEXX & PAUL F PATRICK MONAHAN Thurs HAYWARD & NICK DOODY TAYLOR Fri 24 July, 2 July, Katie Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, The Glee Club, Fitzgerald’s, Jongleurs Comedy Birmingham Club, Birmingham Stourbridge JUNIOR SIMPSON, ROGER D, MR CEE TERRY CHRISTIAN Sat 11 GEORGE RIGDEN, NIK FEATURING JAMALI July, Theatre Severn, COPPIN, PAUL REVILL & MADDIX Fri 3 July, The Shrewsbury Alex Horne CHRIS PURCHASE Fri 24 Drum, Birmingham MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE July, Lichfield Garrick Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham, Fri 19 - Sat 20 June MIKE WILKINSON, Sat 11 July, Lichfield ANDREW BIRD KAI CHRISTIAN REILLY, WILL Garrick Alex Horne is a man with a fast-growing reputation, both as a stand- HUMPHRIES, PETE MARS & ABIGOLIAH DUNCAN OAKLEY, PHIL up and a writer. The star and co-creator of BBC Four’s comedy quiz JOHANSSON & PHIL SCHAMAUN Fri 3 - Sat 4 PAGETT, NICK PAGE & show We Need Answers, the award-winning funnyman is a former WALKER Fri 24 - Sat 25 July, Jongleurs DAN NIGHTINGALE Sun July, Jongleurs member of Cambridge Footlights, and cleverly blends delicately Comedy Club, 12 July, Theatre Comedy Club, crafted material with an unusual style of delivery. Examples of his Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury Birmingham ALEX BOARDMAN, JAVIER GEIN'S FAMILY GIFT SHOP, style are, "I used to do a lot of jokes about crash mats, but I've KEVIN BRIDGES Sat 25 JARQUIN, ANDREW RYAN MICHAEL J DOLAN & moved on now. Still, it's always nice to have something to fall back July, Civic Hall, & COMIC TBC Fri 3 July, HARRIET DYER Tues 14 on", and "My grandfather was shrewd. People threw small mammals Wolverhampton July, Rose Villa Tavern, The Glee Club, JOSH HOWIE, DAVE at him till he suffocated". Birmingham Birmingham TWENTYMAN, ANDY ALEX BOARDMAN, JAVIER LUISA OMIELAN Thurs 16 ASKINS & BOBBY MAIR JARQUIN, ANDREW RYAN July, The Glee Club, Sat 25 July, The Glee & MARK SIMMONS Sat 4 Birmingham Club, Hanley ALFIE MOORE & GAVIN July, The Glee Club, MARK OLVER, ADAM Birmingham WEBSTER Thurs 16 July, ROWE & COMIC TBC Sat ROUGH WORKS - NEW mac - Midlands Arts 25 July, Manford’s MATERIAL NIGHT Sun 5 Centre, Birmingham Comedy Club, July, The Glee Club, TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, Birmingham ROB DEERING & COMEDY Birmingham JARRED CHRISTMAS, PHIL NICHOL & STELLA CAROUSEL WITH ANDY LAURA LEXX, PAUL F GRAHAM ROBINSON Thurs 16 Tues 7 July, TAYLOR & COMIC TBC The Dark Horse Pub, July, The Glee Club, Sat 25 July, The Glee Birmingham Birmingham Club, Birmingham MARK WATSON ALEX HORNE Fri 17 July, Tues 7 COMEDY IN THE MET July, Lichfield Garrick Stafford Gatehouse LINE UP TBC Sat 25 July, TOM STADE & MICK Theatre Stafford Gatehouse FERRY Thurs 9 July, The JOJO SMITH, BENNY Theatre BOOT, NICK PAGE & NICK Glee Club, Birmingham THE LAUGHING SOLE - NICK DOODY & ANDREW WILTY Fri 17 - Sat 18 COMEDY CLUB FOR KIDS WATTS Thurs 9 July, July, Jongleurs Sun 26 July, mac - mac - Midlands Arts Comedy Club, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham PATRICK MONAHAN & JONNY AWSUM Thurs 30 July, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham ALUN COCHRAND, HAL CRUTTENDEN Thurs 30 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham PETER BRUSH, JONNY AWSUM, MICKEY D & ERICH MCELROY Fri 31 July, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham TOM DEACON, ANDY ASKINS, STEVE BUGEJA & SIMON BLIGH Fri 31 July, The Glee Club, Birmingham GEOFF BOYZ, DAVID TSONOS, JAMIE GOSNEY, TACO & CARLY SMALLMAN Fri 31 July, The National Brewery Centre, Burton upon Junior Simpson - Lichfield Garrick Trent

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 28 July - Sat 1 August Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson and Mark Benton star Unlike the movie which inspired it, the stage version of Dirty Rotten in this national touring show. It’s based on Frank Oz’s 1988 film star- Scoundrels is a musical - and one that’s in a very safe pair of hands ring Steve Martin and Michael Caine - which itself was based on too, with Kinky Boots, Hairspray and Legally Blonde director Jerry 1964’s Bedtime Story, with David Niven and Marlon Brando. Mitchell the man at the helm. Set in the decadent underworld of the French Riviera, it tells the Read our review of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, online at www.whatson- humorous tale of two seasoned swindlers and their attempts to hood- live.co.uk wink a millionaire soap heiress.

The Hundred Years War Lichfield Garrick, Tues 7 July; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 9 July Poetry and theatre are here combined to create a show that’s being described by its promoters as ‘a distinctive and deeply moving portrayal of life under fire’. Comprising thirty-five war poems written between 1914 and 2013, The Hundred Years’ War is a new production featuring three performers, live music and striking imagery. It’s being presented by Being Human, Midlands Creative Projects in association with Bloodaxe Books and the Bel- grade Theatre, and is appropriate for audience members aged fourteen-plus.

Moscow State Circus Brierley Hill, Dudley, 8 - 12 July The Moscow State Circus is very possibly the best-known circus in the world, based on over two hundred years of tradition. When animals became an unpopular aspect of circuses, this flexible family favourite adapted to survive by moving the emphasis to astonishing displays of human skill and endurance, many of which are evident in its latest production, Zhelaniy. Based on a popular Russian folklore story, the show transports its audience to ‘a wondrous and mysterious enchanted garden’. The garden is a place where wishes are grant- ed to the beautiful Zhenya, who finds herself surrounded by ‘a multitude of flying, back-flipping, juggling, wire-walking and roller-skating performers’.

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Theatre PREVIEWS The Mousetrap Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, until Sat 4 July Not only has everyone heard of The Mouse- trap, everyone's seen it too - haven't they? Okay, maybe not, but as the show recently celebrated its sixtieth year in the West End, it's fair to say its capacity to put bums on seats is absolutely beyond question. The world's longest-running production, the famous Agatha Christie play has been performed over twenty-five thousand times.

Aliens Love Underpants Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 12 July; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton; Wed 22 - Fri 24 July Given the title, it’s perhaps not surprising that producers Big Wooden Horse and Nick Brooke Limited are selling this show as one that’s so funny ‘you’ll laugh your pants off’. And they may well be right about that. Based on the bestselling children’s book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, the production features ‘stunning effects, madcap action and original music’. And if Me At The Zoo that little lot isn’t enough to tempt you, the promise of a close encounter with ‘lots of aliens’ The REP, Birmingham, Tues 7 - Wed 8 July surely is... This first full-length play by Young REP graduate Grace Barrington focuses on the char- more than a little style. acter of seventeen-year-old Charlie Bottle. This particular production, which forms part Cyrano de Bergerac Unhappy with the impact that social media is of the Lichfield Festival, is brought to the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 4 - Sat 11 having on best friend Amy, Charlie deter- stage by Shoreditch-based Shakespeare July; Saint Nicholas Place, Birmingham, Wed 15 - Thurs 16 July; Castle Bromwich Hall mines to do something about it - courtesy of company The Malachites. Gardens, Birmingham, Sat 18 - Sun 19 July; a video camera, a fake competition and a Selly Manor, Birmingham, Tues 21 - Wed 22 brilliant plan... The publicity for Me At The July; Harvington Hall, Kidderminster, Sat 25 - Zoo describes the production as ‘a hilarious, The Importance Of Sun 26 July fast-paced and thrilling exploration into the Edmond Rostand’s famous 1897 play tells light and dark sides of social media’. So if Being Earnest the tale of the poet and soldier of the title, you fancy checking out fresh young writing The Grange Playhouse, Walsall, Cyrano de Bergerac, who’s desperate to win Wed 15 - Sat 25 July talent and are willing to run the risk that you the love of the beautiful Lady Roxane. may never again think about Facebook and This famous Oscar Wilde work is a rightly- His efforts to do so, however, are somewhat Twitter in quite the same way, this is definitely adored slice of farce that’s very much stood complicated by the fact he’s got a proboscis the show for you. the test of time. The story revolves around that's almost as big as the Eiffel Tower (that’s the attempts of Jack to marry his true love an exaggeration for effect, obviously, but you Gwendolen - despite the fact that Algernon is get the idea). masquerading as his wayward brother, Earnest, in order to see his exquisite ward, Cecily. Add the ingredient of the redoubtable Gold Lady Bracknell and there’s little wonder that disaster looms large on Jack’s horizon... New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Wed 15 - Sat 25 July This amateur production is brought to the stage by The Grange Players. Being presented as part of a festival of plays inspired by the Staffordshire Hoard, Gold takes ‘a sideways look at the metal that can- Mr Merrick, not be destroyed’. The show is performed by Francesca Millican-Slater, who describes the The Elephant Man production as ‘a one-woman show using sto- The Blue Boar, Ludlow, South Shropshire, rytelling, PowerPoint, lyricism and possibly Sat 4 July some classic gold tracks’ to look at the way The Victorian-era Elephant Man came to real perspectives about gold have changed prominence when film director David Lynch ‘since five kilos were buried in a Staffordshire Twelfth Night made a movie about him way back in 1980. field one thousand years ago’... Lichfield Garrick, Fri 10 July The tale of Joseph Merrick is certainly one of great courage and fortitude. Merrick was a As with many Shakespearean comedies, badly disfigured man who, shunned by soci- Twelfth Night is based on a case of mistaken ety, eked out a living for himself by making identity, with Viola disguising herself as a boy appearances as a ‘fairground freak’. and causing all sorts of awkward romantic This well-reviewed production from the huge- shenanigans. The play is made by the sub- ly popular Lucky Dog uses new research to plot, in which the merciless Sir Toby Belch reassess the profoundly moving story of Mer- and his foolish companion, Sir Andrew rick, with the company claiming that its ver- Aguecheek, seek to humiliate the pompous sion of events is ‘the most accurate account Malvolio - and achieve their ambition with ever presented’.

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Thurs 1 Oct, 1pm & 7.30pm Fri 23 Oct, 1pm & 7.30pm Mon 23 & Tue 24 Nov, 7.30pm Fri 2 Oct, 1pm Wed 25 Nov, 1pm & 7.30pm IMPULSE COLECTIVE present Blackeyed Theatre Fittings Multimedia Arts THE Edmund the CANTERBURY Learned Pig TALES

Cell

Tickets: £10/£8 concs, £5 mat Tickets: £10/£8 concs, £5 mat Tickets: £10/£8 concs, £5 mat

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Theatre PREVIEWS East Is East Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 20 - Sun 25 July Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless and EastEnders) stars as Ella in Ayub Khan Din's semi-autobiographical account of British Asian life in the 1970s. Pakistani chip-shop owner George may be determined to give his children a strict Muslim upbringing, but the kids themselves have other ideas. Born and brought up in Britain, they increasingly see themselves as British, their rejection of Pak- istani customs leading to plenty of household tensions and no shortage of comic moments. Read the interview with Pauline on page 6.

WIN TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk to enter Barnum Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 7 July - Sat 1 August Room On The Broom This Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre revival has done great business Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, since debuting in 2013. And for long-in-the-tooth theatre-goers it will recall pleasant memories Tues 7 - Wed 8 July of thirty-plus years ago, when the show was the talk of the town. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the cre- Telling the story of ‘America's Greatest Showman’, Phineas T Barnum, the musical premiered ators of The Gruffalo and We’re Going On A on Broadway in 1980, with one-time Carry On cast member Jim Dale taking the title role. Bear Hunt, are the team behind this 'spell- The West End version opened the following year, and established Some Mothers Do ’ave ’em binding' tale of a witch who makes the mis- star Michael Crawford as one of the UK’s brightest theatrical talents. Featuring hit numbers take of thinking she can fit a daft dog, a Come Follow The Band, The Colours Of My Life and There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute, this beautiful bird and a friendly frog - as well as touring production stars Midlands favourite Brian Conley. her own cat - on her broomstick without it Read our interview with Brian on page 8. snapping in two. And when a hungry dragon appears, things really start to hot up... Much Ado About Nothing Inala Stafford Castle, until Sat 11 July New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 27 - Wed 29 July Stafford Festival Shakespeare celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary with this ever-popular When a group of talented musicians find tale of love and deceit. their way into the public consciousness Much Ado About Nothing is the story of two through a baked beans advert, it says a lot pairs of lovers. The first, Beatrice and about the state of the world and the power of Benedick, conduct their courtship through advertising. sarcasm and verbal sparring. The second Such was the case with South African and much younger couple are Claudio and singers Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Hero. The course of their love is cruelly inter- Still, don’t be fooled - Ladysmith had been rupted by the villainous Don John, who false- around a long time before they provided that ly accuses Hero of infidelity and wantoness, memorable Heinz soundtrack, having record- In The Night Garden timing his accusation to coincide with their ed over forty albums and sold over six million wedding day. When Hero collapses and records worldwide. They’re also much in evi- Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, dence on Paul Simon’s Graceland album, Sat 11 - Sat 25 July appears to be dead, the pressure is on to clear her name and reunite the young lovers. using their Zulu harmonies and unique If your little ones are big fans of the top-rated One of Shakespeare’s most popular come- sound to provide some unusual and interest- CBeebies television series, they’re certain to dies, Much Ado About Nothing’s profile was ing additions to his music. be delighted by this live version. And it’s not raised by the joyful Kenneth Branagh film This latest presentation sees them collaborat- only the kids who’re in love with the produc- version back in the 1990s. ing with award-winning choreographer Mark tion. Audience surveys and parents' reviews Baldwin and nine world-class dancers - on NightGardenLive.com reveal that, for nine including talent from the Royal Ballet - to out of ten adults, it’s a five-out-of-five theatri- present a live storytelling experience that cal experience! Honk! The Musical embraces an exhilarating fusion of South Taking place in an all-weather, purpose-built Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, African and Western cultures. inflatable showdome featuring numerous Wed 8 - Sat 11 July family-friendly facilities, the show uses full- At the time of writing, Stiles & Drewe’s hit size cos- musical has been performed in excess of tumes and eight thousand times, at venues across the magical world. It's based on Hans Christian Ander- puppets to sen's The Ugly Duckling and tells the story of bring to life an odd-looking baby duck and his quest to Igglepiggle, find his mother. While en route to doing so, Upsy Daisy, he encounters a beautiful swan tangled in a Makka fishing line and subsequently falls in love. Pakka and What a quacker of a well-hatched tale! friends.

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STAFFORD FESTIVAL SHAKESPEARE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING STAFFORD CASTLE Thurs 25 June - Thurs 9th July Sat 11 July Stafford Festival Shakespeare LADIES ROCK returns for its 25th anniversary year with Much Ado About Time: 7.30pm Nothing, one of Shakespeare’s wittiest comedies. Stafford Tickets from £12 Festival Shakespeare is one of Europe's largest open air Shakespeare productions. Much Ado About Nothing will be performed under the stars against the striking background of Stafford Castle, in fully covered grandstand seating. To complete the festival feel you can treat yourself to a Sat 8th August picnic for two, some delicious ‘grab and go’ food or even a three JOE PASQUALE course meal, all witha fully licensed bar. NT LIVE: MAN AND SUPERMAN Time: 7.30pm GATEHOUSE THEATRE Fri 3 July Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, Schindler’s List; Oedi- Sat 5th September pus at the National Theatre) plays Jack Tanner in this exhil- THE KAST OFF KINKS arating reinvention of Shaw’s witty, provocative classic. A 7pm, £12.50/£10 Students Time: 7.30pm romantic comedy, an epic fairy- tale, a fiery philosophical debate, Man and Superman asks funda- mental questions about how we live.

NT LIVE: EVERYMAN Wed 9th September GATEHOUSE THEATRE AN AUDIENCE WITH Thurs 16 July BAFTA winner and Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel CHRIS RYAN Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) takes Time: 7.30pm the title role in this dynamic new production of one of Eng- lish drama’s oldest plays, 7pm, £12.50 / £10 students directed by the National The- atre’s new Director Rufus Norris (Broken, London Road). Sat 19th September ALEX HORNE SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN GATEHOUSE THEATRE Time: 11am, 3pm, 6.30pm Fri 17 July Remember that board game Mousetrap? In this unprece- dented comedy experience, you can watch award win- Tues 22nd September ning comedian (and three time Countdown champion) 8pm, £15.50 Alex Horne attempt some- THE SIMON AND thing similar in just 60 minutes. Stupidly ambitious, logistically problematic, potentially dangerous, GARFUNKEL STORY this is the show Alex has wanted to make for a decade. Finally he will be Monsieur Butterfly. One flap of his delicate wings and Time: 7.30pm mayhem will prevail. ANDRE RIEU’S 2015 MAASTRICHT CONCERT Weds 23rd September GATEHOUSE THEATRE JOSH WIDDICOMBE Sat 18 July Be prepared for emotions to Time: 8.00pm soar during one of the most extraordinary concerts of the year as the maestro puts on a magnificent spectacle during this very special annual event. As always, André is joined by 7.30pm, £18.50/£16.50 his famous Johann Strauss Thurs 24th September Orchestra, his sopranos, tenors and some very special guests and 2015 is shaping up to be his biggest and most spectacular LET’S HANG ON concert ever to be screened in cinemas! Time: 7.30pm TRES TRES CABARET THE MET STUDIO

Fri 31 July Très Très Cabaret promises to Fri 25th September bring you the most extravagant variety show to the secluded inti- macy of The MET Studio. Featur- FLEETWOOD BAC ing the hottest performers from the international cabaret scene to 18+ Time: 7.30pm surprise and delight you. Dress to impress and join us for an 8pm, £15 evening of glitz, glamour and so much more. Get your tickets now for the show that is yet again set to be the talk of the town.

BOOKONLINE TWC GP 01035 Box Office 01785 619080 www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

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- Midlands Arts Centre, Treves, Sat 4 July, The Tue 7 July, Lichfield Birmingham Blue Boar, Ludlow, Garrick Arts FESTIVALS ELMHURST SCHOOL OF South Shropshire MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS DANCE Showcase of JACK THE RIPPER: FACTS, Wed 8 - Sun 12 July, works from Elmhurst's NO FICTION Philip Merry Hill Centre, Dud- Birmingham Fest students aged eleven Hutchinson presents a ley to nineteen. Pro- one-man show which HONK! THE MUSICAL various venues across Birmingham, gramme includes spe- brings more than a Musical Youth Theatre 17 July - 2 August cially commissioned sprinkling of humour to Stafford present an Providing an opportunity for UK works by Birmingham- the story of Victorian amateur production of artists and companies to showcase based contemporary London’s most infa- Stiles & Drewe's choreographer/director mous killer, Sat 4 July, acclaimed musical their work, Birmingham Fest contin- Corey Baker, Carlos The Blue Boar, Ludlow, that's based on Hans ues to grow as an independent, fund- Pons Guerra and Birm- South Shropshire Christian Andersen's ing-free event. ingham Royal Ballet's THE SECOND BEST BED classic children's tale, The two-and-a-bit-week festival, which Ruth Brill, Thurs 2 - Sat Liz Grand stars as Anne Wed 8 - Sat 11 July, takes place at AE Harris, the Blue 4 July, The REP, Birm- Hathaway on the night Stafford Gatehouse ingham Orange Theatre, the Crescent and the of Shakespeare's funer- Theatre MACBETH Ludlow's very al in a one-woman play A GREEK CHORUS LINE Old Joint Stock, features theatre, own Old Dic Theatre which has received Presented by BOA Year dance, music, comedy, poetry, Company present great critical acclaim 10 Acting, Wed 8 - rehearsed readings, workshops and Shakespeare's classic since its premiere at the Thurs 9 July, The Old seminars. Offering a taster of what’s Simply Soweto Encha tale, Thurs 2 July, Swan Theatre, Worces- Rep, Birmingham coming up, a workshop hosted by The Blue Boar, Ludlow, ter, in 2012, Sat 4 July, AN EVENING WITH ANN South Shropshire Lichfield Garrick WIDDECOMBE Dynamic Tracey Street on 18 July explores the skills needed to unlock creativi- VOLPONE Former RSC BACK TO THE MUSICAL A words, opinions and ty and imagination as an actor. Other highlights include One Year Off Artistic Director Trevor musical theatre anecdotes from a real by FRED Theatre - ‘a surreal comic dystopia told through the eyes of Nunn returns to direct odyssey which promis- tour de force, Wed 8 four people defined by football’ - and the return of Simply Soweto Henry Goodman in the es to transport audi- July, Theatre Severn, Encha (20 - 22 July), who last year won the event’s Show Of The title role of Jonson’s ences from the 1920s Shrewsbury comic play, Fri 3 July - to the modern day, Sat A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S Festival award. Hailing from South Africa, the highly rated ensemble Sat 12 Sept, The Swan 4 July, mac - Midlands DREAM Chapterhouse fuse ‘infectious’ dance with both old and new school cappella Theatre, Stratford-upon- Arts Centre, Birming- Theatre present an out- arrangements. They are here presenting a brand new show. Avon ham door staging of Shake- For full listings of what’s happening where throughout the festival, THE THRONE/LARKSONG LANDSCAPES Mimika speare’s heartwarming visit birminghamfest.co.uk. Main-stage double-bill Theatre's white dome is play, Wed 8 July, Birm- featuring Frazer the setting for a magi- ingham Botanical Gar- Flintham's warmhearted cal and intimate show dens comedy (The Throne) visiting four realised THE ADVENTURES OF Eller, Ashley Day as and Chris Bush's pow- landscapes, Sun 5 - NELLIE BLY A one- LISTINGS Curly and Nic Green- erful tale of friendship Mon 6 July, The woman show about a Theatre shields as Jud Fry, until and fate (Larksong), Fri George Hotel, Lichfield highly original woman, Sat 4 July, 3 - Sat 25 July, New Vic THE PICTURE OF DOREEN reporter Nellie Bly. Told For full listing information on theatre Birmingham Hippo- Theatre, Newcastle- GRAY Lipservice Theatre with songs and piano productions, including times and dates, drome under-Lyme presents a twist on accompaniment, Wed 8 visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE THRILL OF LOVE Sec- HONK! Amateur produc- Oscar Wilde’s classic July, Lichfield Garrick ond Thoughts Drama tion of Stiles & Drewe's play, Sun 5 July, OLD TIME MUSIC HALL ownership, asking: Group present the story acclaimed musical Lichfield Garrick Sketches, songs and From ‘what's important to of Ruth Ellis, Wed 1 - that's based on Hans laughter providing an Week Commencing WED 1 JULY you?’, until Sat 25 July, Sat 4 July, The Bear Pit Christian Andersen's evening of classic New Vic Theatre, New- Theatre, Stratford-upon- classic children's tale, MON 6 JULY British entertainment, castle-under-Lyme Avon, South Shropshire Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, The Thurs 9 - Fri 17 July, THE JEW OF MALTA MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTH- OCTONAUTS AND THE Belfrey Theatre, Hall Green Little The- Justin Audibert makes ING Stafford Festival DEEP SEA VOLCANO Wellington, Shropshire BARNUM Brian Conley atre, Acocks Green, his RSC debut to direct Shakespeare cele- ADVENTURE Stage show MACBETH Ludlow's very stars in the Greatest Birmingham Christopher Marlowe's brates its twenty-fifth based on the popular own Old Dic Theatre Show On Earth in ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMO- subversive play, until anniversary with this CBeebies TV series, Company present Cameron Mackintosh's DATION AND ANORAK OF Tue 8 Sept, The Swan popular tale of love and Wed 1 - Thurs 2 July, Shakespeare's classic blockbuster musical, FIRE Two one-act plays Theatre, Stratford-upon- deceit, until Sat 11 July, Lichfield Garrick tale, Fri 3 - Sat 4 July, Tue 7 July - Sat 1 Aug, performed by Intimate Avon Stafford Castle OPPOSITION Presented Chang Thai Bar, Lud- Birmingham Hippo- Theatre as part of the THE MERCHANT OF THE TEMPEST Rooftop by BOA Year 10 Dance low, South Shropshire drome Lichfield Festival, Thurs VENICE Polly Findlay Theatre Company pres- Pathway, this showcase HALFWAY TO PARADISE - ME AT THE ZOO First full- 9 - Fri 10 July, The directs Shakespeare's ent a staging of Shake- explores a range of THE BILLY FURY STORY length play by Young George Hotel, Lichfield uncompromising play, speare’s mystical play dance style pieces and Musical which charts REP graduate Grace THE HUNDRED YEARS' until Wed 2 Sept, Royal as part of the Ludlow choreographic tasks the rise to fame of a Barrington, Tue 7 - Wed WAR: THE SOMME TO Shakespeare Theatre, Fringe Festival, until that the students have shy young boy from 8 July, The REP, Birm- AFGHANISTAN Midlands Stratford-upon-Avon Tue 7 July, Ludlow explored, Wed 1 - Liverpool who became ingham Creative Projects in OTHELLO Holby City's Assembly Rooms, Thurs 2 July, The Old one of Britain's best- ROOM ON THE BROOM association with Blood- Hugh Quarshie returns TRANKLEMENTS ‘Funny Rep, Birmingham loved rock stars, Fri 3 Stage adaptation of axe Books and the Bel- to the RSC to play and inspiring' solo per- CARMEN LIVE Screening July, Prince Of Wales Julia Donaldson's best- grade Theatre present Shakespeare's Othello. formance about under- of ENO’s staging of Centre, Cannock selling book that's sure live music, poetry and Lucian Msamati fea- dogs, written and per- Bizet’s passionate THE SITCOM TRIALS to provide a magical, striking images, Thurs 9 tures as Iago and Joan- formed by Caroline opera, Wed 1 July, Short extracts of new musical treat for chil- July, Theatre Severn, na Vanderham as Des- Horton, until Sat 4 July, mac - Midlands Arts sitcoms performed for dren and families alike, Shrewsbury demona, until Fri 28 New Vic Theatre, New- Centre, Birmingham you, the audience, to Tue 7 - Wed 8 July, HEAR MY VOICE, THE Aug, Royal Shake- castle-under-Lyme EMMA Heartbreak Pro- decide who’s crowned Regent Theatre, Stoke- FINAL SHOUT Students speare Theatre, Strat- DEAD SIMPLE Stage ductions present a the Sitcom Champion on-Trent from across the West ford-upon-Avon adaptation of Peter staging of Jane 2015, Fri 3 July, Old DAVID STARKEY The UK's Midlands come togeth- UNEARTHED/ THE GIFT James' most famous Austen’s comedy of Joint Stock Theatre, constitutional historian, er for the end of the Main stage double bill and popular novel, until manners, Wed 1 July, Birmingham known for his forthright three-year Hear My featuring Theresa Hes- Sat 4 July, New Alexan- Shugborough Historic MORGAN AND WEST A views, talks about the Voice project, with a kins' archaeological dra Theatre, Birming- Working Estate, magic show for all the thirteenth century performance of their whodunnit (Unearthed) ham Staffordshire family, Fri 3 July, agreement that limited own compositions and and Jemma Kennedy's THE MOUSETRAP Touring JANE EYRE Chapter- Lichfield Garrick the power of the choreography, Thurs 9 epic of romance and production of Agatha house Touring Theatre CYRANO DE BERGERAC monarch for the first July, LIchfield Cathedral adventure, until Sat 25 Christie's famous thriller Company present a Presented by the Cres- time, Tue 7 July, The- TANGO STORIES July, New Vic Theatre, - the longest running staging of Charlotte cent Theatre Company, atre Severn, Shrews- Accordianist Ksenija Newcastle-under-Lyme show in the history of Bronte’s classic tale, Sat 4 - Sat 11 July, bury Sidorova & Rambert A THING WORTH KEEPING British theatre, until Sat Wed 1 July, Birming- Crescent Theatre, Birm- THE HUNDRED YEARS' dancer/choreographer An audio journey for 4 July, Wolverhampton ham Botanical Gardens ingham WAR: THE SOMME TO Kirill Burlov present the two people at a time Grand Theatre DON'T LEAVE ME NOW BY MR MERRICK, THE ELE- AFGHANISTAN Midlands first of only two UK per- that takes audiences OKLAHOMA! New touring BRIAN DANIEL Two PHANT MAN Lucky Dog Creative Projects in formances, Thurs 9 outside and around the production of Rodgers rehearsed play read- Theatre Productions association with Blood- July, Lichfield Garrick New Vic Theatre. Over & Hammerstein's ings of Brian Daniel’s explore John Merrick’s axe Books and the Bel- HONK! Amateur produc- the course of thirty min- Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which explores final years in hospital grade Theatre presents tion of Stiles & Drewe's utes this interactive the- musical, starring Gary the impact of early- and his complicated live music, poetry and acclaimed musical atre experience consid- Wilmot as Ali Hakim, onset dementia on fam- relationship with his striking images in The that's based on Hans ers value, worth and Belinda Lang as Aunt ily life, Wed 1 July, mac doctor, Frederick Hundred Years' War, Christian Andersen's

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ONE YEAR OFF A surreal Much Ado About Nothing - mac, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham LISTINGS comic dystopia told Theatre through the eyes of four people defined by foot- For full listing information on theatre ball, Thurs 16 - Sat 18 July, Old Joint Stock productions, including times and Theatre, Birmingham dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk FISH IN THE SEA Ran- dom Improbability's classic children's tale, Sun 12 July, Theatre comedy about love, sex Fri 10 - Sun 12 July, Severn, Shrewsbury and the terror of being The Belfrey Theatre, VERA'S TEA DANCE A left on the shelf, Fri 17 - Wellington, Shropshire swinging 40s & 50s Sun 19 July, Blue GREYWING HOUSE party with The Three Orange Theatre, Birm- Award-winning per- Belles and The Bevin ingham (Part of Birm- former Mary Beth Boys, Sun 12 July, inghamFest) Morossa returns with Drayton Manor Theme FLEXUS DANCE COLLEC- her second solo show, Park, Tamworth, Staffs TIVE: LIMITS Choreo- in which she intertwines graphed performance dark storytelling, poetry, Week Commencing investigating psycho- cabaret and theatrical logical and social barri- performance, Fri 10 - MON 13 JULY ers, Fri 17 July, mac - Sat 11 July, Old Joint Midlands Arts Centre, Stock Theatre, Birming- SONGS FOR A NEW Birmingham ham AN EVENING OF DIRTY OUR DAY OUT Company WORLD Somewhere between a musical and DANCING Choreo- Theatre School present graphed, highly interac- their version of Willy a song cycle, Songs well-known and tradi- BirminghamFest) Fri 24 July, Blue For A New World tive celebration of Russell’s celebration of music from the iconic tional contemporary THE DOOR Damn Cheek Orange Theatre, Birm- the joys and agonies of explores defining dance pieces, re-imag- present a play in which ingham (Part of Birm- moments across histo- movie, Fri 17 July, growing up and being Regent Theatre, Stoke- ined into more-modern two strangers realise inghamFest) footloose, fourteen and ry, Tue 14 - Sat 18 July, dance works. A Birm- they’re not strangers at WAITING FOR GARBO The Stafford Gatehouse on-Trent free from school, Fri 10 THE LONE PINE CLUB inghamfest event, Sun all, Tues 21; Thurs 23 Company Of Legendary July, The Crescent The- ENTERTAINING ANGELS 19 July, The Crescent July, Blue Orange The- Children present James Lichfield Players pres- by Alice Birch. A new atre, Birmingham play about four young Theatre, Birmingham atre, Birmingham (Part Piercy’s drama, set in SLEEPING THROUGH THE ent an amateur staging HERITAGE Rogueplay of BirminghamFest) New York City in 1990, of Richard Everett's adventurers, Sat 18 - ALARM Belgrade Senior Sun 26 July, Carding Theatre’s Young CYRANO DE BERGERAC where three teenagers Youth Theatre in associ- thought-provoking Rogues present a ‘blis- Presented by the Cres- sit in wait for a glimpse comedy, Tue 14 - Sat Mill Valley & The Shrop- ation with Frantic shire Hills tering black comedy cent Theatre Company, of reclusive movie star Assembly present a 18 July, Lichfield Gar- with music that Tue 21 - Wed 22 July, Greta Garbo. A Birm- rick CYRANO DE BERGERAC play about the pressure Presented by the Cres- explores the darker Selly Manor, Birming- inghamfest production, of choices that affect GOLD One-woman show side of nationalism’. A ham Thurs 23 July, The exploring the hold that cent Theatre Company, the rest of your life, Fri Sat 18 - Sun 19 July, Birminghamfest pro- A POSITIVE LIFE Autin Crescent Theatre, Birm- 10, Belgrade Theatre, the precious metal has duction, Sun 19 July, Dance Theatre present ingham over us. Francesca Mil- Castle Bromwich Hall Coventry (Part of July Gardens, Birmingham Crescent Theatre, Birm- a brand new work of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S Festival) lican-Slater uses story- ingham dance & physical the- DREAM Forge Produc- telling, PowerPoint, lyri- DIARY OF A NOBODY The FISH IN THE SEA Ran- classic literary tale of AMALGAMATION RDC atre, inspired by the tion House Ltd present dom Improbability's cism and possibly Youth & ACE Youth join thirtieth anniversary of a fast-paced version of some classic gold social climber Charles comedy about love, sex Pooter, presented in the forces to present a the discovery of the HIV Shakespeare’s classic and the terror of being tracks to get her point showcase of their latest virus. A Birminghamfest comedy, Thurs 23 July, across, Wed 15 - Sat 25 modern day, Sat 18 left on the shelf, Fri 10 July, Old Joint Stock work. A Birminghamfest event, Tues 21 July, The The Crescent Theatre, July, Artrix, Broms- July, New Vic Theatre, production, Sun 19 Crescent Theatre, Birm- Birmingham Newcastle-under-Lyme, Theatre, Birmingham grove; (Part of Birming- TWELFTH NIGHT Odd- July, The Crescent The- ingham MEDEA Oakley Flanagan hamFest) Staffs atre, Birmingham THE GRANDMOTHER Irrita- presents a company of THE PHANTOM OF THE socks bring their own TWELFTH NIGHT The inimitable style to ble Monkey present young actors who bring Malachites - starring OPERA Get Your Wigle Nicholas Tuck’s tragi- Shakespeare’s comedy Week Commencing a new version of Euripi- BAFTA-nominated John On present an amateur comedy, which exam- des’ classic tale of love youth production of of mistaken identity, McEnery - present transformation and MON 20 JULY ines the idea of uncon- and revenge to the Shakespeare’s comedy Andrew Lloyd Webber's ditional love and how stage, Fri 24 July, Blue hit musical, Wed 15 - deception, Sat 18 July, of mistaken identity, Mac Arena, B’ham EAST IS EAST Pauline quickly it can be ripped Orange Theatre, Birm- transformation and Sat 18 July, Theatre McLynn (Father Ted, apart. A Birmingham- ingham (Part of Birm- Severn, Shrewsbury MUSICALS DISCOVERED deception, Fri 10 July, Night Project Theatre in Shameless and EastEn- fest event, Tues 21 July, inghamFest) Lichfield Garrick THE THIEVING MAGPIE ders) stars as Ella in Crescent Theatre, Birm- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S Midland Opera pres- association with Blue CTRL-ALT-DELETE A play Orange Theatre present Ayub Khan Din's semi- ingham DREAM Madcap Theatre exploring the power ents a Rossini classic. autobiographical TWELFTH NIGHT Odd- combine comedy, Sung in English, Wed an evening of songs and fragility of the from smash-hit musi- account of British Asian socks bring their own music, dance, stage mind, Fri 10 July, Bel- 15 - Sat 18 July, Cres- life in the 1970s, Mon inimitable style to combat and physicality cent Theatre, Birming- cals, as well as new grade Theatre, Coven- writings, Sat 18 July, 20 - Sat 25 July, Regent Shakespeare’s comedy to present Shake- try (Part of July Festival) ham Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent of mistaken identity, speare's classic come- GIRLS LIKE THAT Evan Blue Orange Theatre, IN THE NIGHT GARDEN Birmingham (Part of THE SPEECH Damn transformation and dy, Fri 24 July, mac - LIVE Showdome Placey’s urgent and Cheek present a deception, Tue 21 July, Midlands Arts Centre, explosive new play BirminghamFest) musical theatre experi- EMMA Heartbreak Pro- though-provoking play Whitbourne Hall, Birm- Birmingham ence for the whole fam- explores both gender exploring the territory ingham THE STAR DOOR & MUSIC equality and the devas- ductions present a ily, presented within a staging of Jane between truth and spin, ALIENS LOVE UNDER- TO BREAK UP TO Jigsaw purpose-built touring tating impact of bully- Mon 20 & Wed 22 July, PANTS Theatrical experi- Collective present a ing, Wed 15 - Sat 18 Austen’s comedy of space. Made up of two manners, Sat 18 July, Blue Orange Theatre, ence for youngsters double bill of works state-of-the-art show July, The Crescent The- Birmingham (Part of based on the best sell- exploring a child’s per- atre, Birmingham Hanbury Hall, B’ham domes, the setting MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTH- BirminghamFest) ing children's book, spective of death in a recreates the magical CYRANO DE BERGERAC A WALK ON THE WILD Wed 22 - Fri 24 July, family and the trials & Presented by the Cres- ING Oddsocks present world of the popular a high-octane musical SIDE On The Floor The- Wolverhampton Grand woes of going through BBC children's show, cent Theatre Company, atre Company present Theatre a break up. A Birming- Wed 15 - Thurs 16 July, version of Shake- Sat 11 - Sat 25 July, speare's witty battle of a unique and unusual NORMADS Far From The hamfest event, Fri 24 Cannon Hill Park, Birm- Saint Nicholas' Place, production where ani- Norm transport audi- July, The Crescent The- Kings Norton, B’ham the sexes, Sun 19 July , ingham mac - Midlands Arts mal transformations ences into the future of atre, Birmingham WELCOME TO THE JUN- AN EVENING OF MUSICAL give way to interestingly hip hop theatre. A Birm- FLICK & JULIE: POP UP THEATRE The Arts Cen- Centre, Birmingham GLE Telford Academy of YPTG THROUGH THE associated mono- inghamfest event, Wed PENNY PINCHERS Performing Arts present tre Telford present an logues. A Birmingham- 22 July, The Crescent Evening of comedy amateur production of YEARS Showcase featur- a showcase of street ing hits from past fest production, Mon 20 Theatre, Birmingham sketches & songs, Fri dance, ballet, tap, various well-loved musi- - Tues 21 July, The THE HIDEOUT Haste The- 24 July, Old Joint Stock cal moments, Wed 15 & shows - including musical theatre and Seussical, Camp Rock Crescent Theatre, Birm- atre present a riotous Theatre, Birmingham more, Sat 11 July, The Thurs 16 July, The ingham collision of Greek CYRANO DE BERGERAC Place, Oakengates The- and Footloose - and Place, Oakengates The- new numbers from 2 UP, 2 DOWN, 1 BACK mythology and the Kit Presented by the Cres- atre, Telford, Shropshire atre, Shropshire Five teenagers wake up Kat club, Thurs 23 & Fri cent Theatre Company, TEMPEST presented by Matilda, Annie and ALIENS LOVE UNDER- Legally Blonde, Sun 19 in a void and are forced 24 July, Old Joint Stock Sat 25 & Sun 26 July, PANTS Theatrical experi- Rain Or Shine Theatre to play a deadly game Theatre, Birmingham Harvington Hall, Kidder- Company, Wed 15 July, July, Theatre Severn, ence for youngsters Shrewsbury to escape, Mon 20 July, EXTREME Big Script minster based on the best- Birmingham Botanical Blue Orange Theatre, presents an evening of D SE DANCE Bollywood Gardens UNFOLD RE-WORKS Pro- selling children's book, fessional dance from Birmingham (Part of short plays, Thurs 23 - Dreams Dance Compa-

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knowing what hap- thought-provoking Austen’s comedy of lesque and cabaret pened the night reworking of the origi- manners, Thurs 30 July, night. Strictly over-eigh- Theatre LISTINGS before... A new comedy nal play by award-win- Warley Woods, Birm- teens only, Fri 31 July, from the writer of Head ning playwright Frank ingham Stafford Gatehouse For full listing information on theatre Girl, from last year’s Bramwell and using the THE ENGAGEMENT Forti- Theatre Birmingham Fest, Mon words of William tude Theatre presents a GRIMM UP NORTH Origi- productions, including times and 27 - Wed 29 July, Blue Shakespeare, Wed 29 tale of love and despair, nal comedy sketch dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Orange Theatre, Birm- & Fri 31 July, Old Joint Thurs 30 July, Blue show featuring songs, ingham Stock Theatre, Birming- Orange Theatre, Birm- video, audience partici- ny marks its tenth July, Old Joint Stock THE THREE LITTLE PIGS A ham ingham (Part of Birm- pation - and a spot of anniversary with a Theatre, Birmingham very curly musical tale EMMA Heartbreak Pro- inghamFest) bingo!, Fri 31 July, Old showcase of Bollywood SHAAM-E-TARANNUM starring Simon Webbe, ductions present a TRES TRES CABARET Joint Stock Theatre, magic, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Semi-classical indian Tues 28 July - Sun 2 staging of Jane Stafford's very own bur- Birmingham July, Crescent Theatre, music and dance, Aug,Town Hall, Birming- Birmingham including folk, bolly- ham RHYTHM OF THE DANCE wood, qawalli, sufi and DIRTY ROTTEN Internationally more. Directed by Dr SCOUNDRELS Michael acclaimed Irish step Ranjita Awasthi, Sat 25 Praed, Noel Sullivan, Theatre Box Office dance show, Sat 25 July, mac - Midlands Carley Stenson and July, Lichfield Garrick Arts Centre, Birming- Mark Benton star in this THE JUNGLE BOOK Chap- ham Birmingham LUDLOW ASSEMBLY national touring show, Black Country ROOMS 01584 878141 terhouse Theatre Com- SONIA SABRI COMPANY: based on Frank Oz’s ALEXANDRA THEATRE pany present an out- LOK VIRSA A rare 0844 871 3011 ARENA THEATRE THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, 1988 film, Tue 28 July - TELFORD 01952 382382 door production of chance to experience Sat 1 Aug, Regent The- BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME WOLVERHAMPTON Rudyard Kipling’s regional song, poetry, atre, Stoke-on-Trent 0844 338 5000 01902 321321 THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY enchanting tale, Sat 25 visual arts, calligraphy, LEAR ALONE Theatre- BIRMINGHAM REP BLOXWICH THEATRE 01743 281281 July, Fort Dunlop, Birm- music & dance from dif- OfTheQuarter present a 0121 236 4455 01922 653183 ingham ferent parts of Pakistan, thought-provoking THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE DUDLEY CONCERT HALL AN AUDIENCE WITH GOR- Sun 26 July, mac - Mid- reworking of the origi- 0121 212 2643 01384 812812 Staffordshire GEOUS GEORGE Alex lands Arts Centre, Birm- nal play by award-win- CRESCENT THEATRE FOREST ARTS CENTRE, LICHFIELD GARRICK Brockie Productions ingham 01543 412121 ning playwright Frank 0121 643 5858 WALSALL present a new bio-play Bramwell and using the 01922 654555 NEW VIC, NEWCASTLE- about gender-bending DOVEHOUSE THEATRE UNDER-LYME 01782 717962 Week Commencing words of William 0121 706 7139 GRAND THEATRE, persona and outra- Shakespeare, Tues 28 01902 429212 PRINCE OF WALES geous behaviour, Sat MON 27 JULY THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 & Thurs 30 July, St NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE CENTRE, CANNOCK 25 July, Blue Orange HALL GREEN LITTLE 01543 578762 Paul’s Church, Jew- 01902 572090 Theatre, Birmingham IN THE HEIGHTS Lin- ellery Quarter, Birming- THEATRE REGENT THEATRE, STOKE (Part of Birmingham- Manuel Miranda’s new 0121 707 1874 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY 0870 060 6649 ham 0121 552 2761 Fest) hip-hop musical, which THE ENDURING ROMANCE MAC 0121 446 3232 RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE BEOWULF tells the story of three Atomic Force OF CATHY AND HEATH- OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE Shropshire 01889 584036 & Barely Human Pup- days in the life of Wash- CLIFF An unconvention- 0121 200 0946 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON pets present a contem- ington Heights, Mon 27 al reimagining of the 01785 619080 - Thurs 30 July, The OLD REP 0121 359 9444 01952 222277 porary version of the classic romance, Tues STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE Anglo-Saxon epic, com- Crescent Theatre, Birm- SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 28 July, Old Joint Stock 0121 704 6962 01782 209784 bining table-top and ingham Theatre, Birmingham 01952 728911 shadow puppetry, live THE MORNING AFTER LEAR ALONE Theatre- SUTTON ARTS THEATRE, THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY SUTTON COLDFIELD music & poetry, Sat 25 Sam wakes up not OfTheQuarter present a 01743 234970 0121 355 5355

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Theatre REVIEWS CONT...

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Bruno is a perfectly normal nine-year-old boy who’s more interested in spending his time in playful fan- tasy than in the boring and restricted world of the adults around him. Set during World War Two, the story starts in Berlin, where Bruno lives with his father, mother and sister. But Bruno’s family are no ordinary lot. His father has been personally chosen by Adolf Hitler to carry out what everyone refers to as ‘a very important job’. So the family pack up and move away, leaving Bruno very unhappy at having to leave his grandmother and friends behind in Berlin. It’s lonely and boring for him in his new home. The adults frequently refrain that life isn’t fair The King Dances And Carmina Burana Birmingham Hippodrome and that Bruno should accept his fate. He doesn’t. It’s not only a significant time in the history of Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB), which is Determined to fulfill his ambition and become an marking its twenty-fifth anniversary, but also in the career of David Bintley, who’s been explorer, Bruno sneaks from the confines of the the company’s artistic director for twenty years. This celebratory season offers the birth house and heads towards the rows and rows of of a new ballet by Bintley, one which coincidentally explores the birth of ballet itself. drab huts where all the people wear striped pyja- The King Dances is loosely based on the night in 1653 when King Louis XIV famously mas. His journey ends at a razor-wire fence, where created the Le Ballet De La Nuit. Dancing the role of Apollo, many say Louis was the he meets and befriends Shmuel. The boys try to creator of western ballet. An original production which lasted a long twelve hours, its meet every day. In doing so, their relationship essence is here captured by Bintley in just thirty-five minutes, divided into the four develops beautifully as they find common ground... watches from the original work. Given the weight of the subjects tackled in this pro- Bintley’s choreography is interesting. Representative of court dancing, it nonetheless duction, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas feels light features extremely complex and rapid footwork that comes with a distinctly modern - buoyed, as it is, by Bruno’s innocence and sincer- edge. The staging is quite simplistic, the linear formations basic but extremely strong. ity. The background horror is never directly pre- For some, Stephen Montague’s score will be too much. It’s not Tchaikovsky, that’s for sented and the boys’ ultimate fate is left to the sure, but it is beautifully engulfing - immersive for both dancer and audience. Rich and imagination. John Boyne’s best-selling novel has lavish crescendos oppose the minimal and peaceful breaks. here been brought to the stage by the Children’s It may appear that this ballet isn’t as celebratory as some in the BRB repertoire - it isn’t Touring Partnership. The performance is suitable for a ballet in the sense most people imagine. For me, though, it is rather wonderful - con- adults and older children. stantly pushing at the boundaries of the art form. And I did most definitely sense a hint Ted Finlay n n n n of what Bintley and BRB’s future works may look like. Carmina Burana was the first ballet created for the company by David Bintley as artistic director. Symbolic of the modern edge Bintley brings to BRB, it’s rich in both pas- The Deranged Marriage sion and drive. Telling the story of three seminarians’ departure from faith, the production boasts exciting and imaginative choreography and design. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry There’s absolutely no sign of this work dating. Instead, it matures and comes back Ten years after its original outing, Rifco Arts' The stronger each time it’s performed.. Jamie Ryan n n n n Deranged Marriage more than proves its continued relevance. A colourful collision of Restoration comedy, Bollywood movies and contemporary drama, it Absent Friends Belgrade Theatre, Coventry tells the story of Sona who, thwarted in her own dreams, finally gives in to her family's wishes and This is prime Alan Ayckbourn territory. We’re in the suburban ’70s and six deeply unlov- consents to an arranged marriage. able and badly dressed characters are spending an enforced afternoon together in a A familiar Shakespearean structure makes up the desperate, old-friends attempt to cheer up poor Colin, whose perfect fiancé has recent- show’s backbone, with multiple romances, buried ly drowned at sea. Judging by his chronically and relentlessly pious cheerfulness, it histories and a generation clash drawn out through may have been suicide. Sona's big fat wedding celebrations. Subplots Five of the characters are definitely glass-half-empty types, and Colin’s glass is decid- seemingly unconnected to the less-than-promising edly three quarters full. Nevertheless, all the depressives have to do to help while away central wedding echo Much Ado, while a beautiful his Saturday afternoon is not to mention death, drowning, the sea or relationships. balcony, warm-colour palette and secret engage- They fail miserably of course; enough to make you squirm. ment self-consciously recall Romeo And Juliet. Director Michael Cabot pushes Ayckbourn’s ‘types’ to the nervy edge of pantomime. Fortunately, in this story, the older generation (with There’s just enough realism to recognise them amongst one’s own social circle, and the exception of hilariously manipulative matriarch enough exaggeration for them to be safely beyond it. Aunty Lata) come to their senses before their chil- Ashley Cook’s Colin is played as such a nerdy ‘pain’ it’s no wonder no one has seen dren doom themselves to misery. him for years. But he’s known them all a long time, which is dangerous stuff; for Colin Along with the classic love versus duty conflict, the has whole tins of beans to spill and tables are bound to be turned. play deals with hot topics like sexual orientation Kathryn Ritchie’s taciturn Evelyn is a woman reduced to a monosyllabic shell, and and the struggle to start a career. The inclusion of Catherine Harvey’s hostess, Diane - in her unflatteringly shapeless, shifting, chiffon, love interest Tony's deaf friend feels a little con- floor-length dress - is such a confessionalist no priest would want to sit next to her. trived - his only real function is to provide a few But the best-invented character in this London Classic Theatre touring production is extra jokes before disappearing altogether - but John Dorney’s ‘John’. In orange cords and kipper tie, he’s a hopelessly uncomfortable otherwise things gel together well. nervous wreck who’s constantly on the move. What really makes this show, however, is Pravesh The show gets off to a surprisingly pedestrian start and Mr Ayckbourn might wince at Kumar's sharp wit and some clever audience the occasional lost opportunity. Not all his knives are pushed firmly home. It also takes engagement, both perfectly delivered by an all- time for the rhythm to settle, but the audience was biddable and generous. round excellent cast. Dialogue falls down a little in I suspect, overall, the author would be more than content to sit back and watch yet more serious moments, but there's never long to another highly entertained audience enjoy a classic from his rich catalogue of remark- wait for the next great gag to lift things up again. ably well-observed plays. Heather Kincaid n n n n ChrisAbsent Eldon Friends Lee shows n n n at n Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, from 3 to 5 September.

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Theatre WEST END Long-running comedy to close in West End The team behind The 39 Steps has announced that the production is to close on 5 September. The comic adaptation of John Buchanan’s classic thriller started out at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005, spending a short period at the Tricycle Theatre before moving to The Criterion in September 2006. Probably best known from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie adaptation, The 39 Steps follows handsome hero Richard Hannay as he battles to retain his stiff upper lip in the face of dastardly murders and life- threatening encounters with double-crossing secret agents. There are some beautiful and mysterious women involved in the storyline too, so it's not all bad news for our intrepid hero! Four fear- less actors play no fewer than one hundred-and-thirty- nine roles in this real gem of a show. To date, more than three million people have seen The 39 Steps worldwide - so if you want to catch it before its final curtain, you have only until early September to do so.

Beverley Knight to star as Grizabella Wolverhampton-born Beverley Knight has announced she’s to play Grizabella in the record-breaking Cats The Musical. Knight, who’ll be following in the footsteps of Nicole Scherzinger and Kerry Ellis, will take on the role for a ten-week run at the London Pal- ladium (from 23 October 2015 until 2 January 2016). “To be asked to join the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s historic show was so exciting and totally unexpected,” said Beverley. “Vocally I’m so different to the many incredible women who’ve sung the classic Memory over the years. To follow in their footsteps is something to truly relish! I’m really looking forward to transforming into Grizabel- la, with her fabulous costume and amazing make-up, and to playing the role at the London Palladium. Working with Andrew will be a real privilege.” Based on TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats, Cats The Musical returned to the West End in December last year, reuniting the original creative team of Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show is based around one special night of the year when all Jel- licle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball. Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life. One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, Cats received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it then played for twenty-one record-breaking years.

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From Fri 3 July

Amy CERT 15 (128 mins) Directed by Asif Kapadia (UK) Asif Kapadia won ecstatic reviews for his Bafta-winning documentary Senna (about the Formula One numero uno Ayrton Senna). Now he focuses his attention on the career, life and death of Amy Wine- house, the London-born singer-songwriter. Again, the reviews have been exemplary - although Amy’s family are none too happy with the film.

From Fri 24 July

Inside Out CERT U (102 mins) Featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan Directed by Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Car- men (USA) Following the disappointing reception of Cars 2 and the lack of a feature in 2014, Pixar Magic Mike XXL CERT 15 (115 mins) has bounced back with this highly original cartoon. Largely set inside the brain of an Starring Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Man- eleven-year-old girl, the film’s five protagonists are the emotions that dominate her ac- ganiello, Andie MacDowell, Amber Heard, Elizabeth tions: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness, each given its own voice. But there’s more Banks, Jada Pinkett Smith to this set-up than meets the mind, as Joy and Sadness get lost! On the review gatherer Directed by Gregory Jacobs (USA) website Rotten Tomatoes, the film was given a one hundred percent rating. In 3D. The former male stripper ‘Magic Mike’ (Tatum) is back, this time to compete in a stripping conven- tion in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - his last hur- rah. Incidentally, Steven Soderbergh, who directed the original film, returns here as cinematographer. Expect six packs galore.

Terminator Genisys CERT 12a (126 mins) Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Lee Byung- hun, Matt Smith, JK Simmons Directed by Alan Taylor (USA) The Governor of California is back. At least, Arnie, as T-800, is back in cybernetic mode. This time John Connor is played by Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes) and finds himself fighting the Machines on two temporal fronts: from both the past and the future. The London-born Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of Thrones) plays Sarah Connor. In case you’re guessing, this is the fifth instalment of the franchise started by James Cameron back in 1984. In 3D. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Film - July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:24 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 10 July

The Choir CERT PG (103 mins) Starring Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Debra Winger, Garrett Wareing, Eddie Izzard, Josh Lucas Directed by François Girard (USA) A troublesome eleven-year-old orphan (Wareing) ends up at the National Boychoir Academy. However, even though he can sing well, he rebels against his privileged classmates and the school’s exacting choir master (Hoffman). The Canadian director François Girard previously directed the music-orientated films Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould and The Red Violin. For- merly known as Boychoir.

From Fri 10 July

Ted 2 CERT tbc Love & Mercy CERT 12a (121 mins) Released from Fri 17 July Starring Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Liam Nee- Banks, Paul Giamatti, Jake Abel son, Morgan Freeman Directed by Bill Pohlad (USA) Ant-Man CERT tbc Directed by Seth MacFarlane (USA) Brian Wilson was the co-founder of The Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Seth MacFarlane’s Ted (2012) was ar- Beach Boys and this is his story. His Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Michael Douglas, Hayley Atwell guably the most successful comedy to fea- younger self is played by Dano, his older Directed by Peyton Reed (USA) ture a teddy bear - ever (international persona by Cusack. It was not an easy life. Ready for a new franchise? Here comes Ant- gross: $550million). In this follow-up, Ted Man - aka Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) - the latest marries Tami-Lynn (Barth) and they decide superhero to scurry out of the Marvel to have a baby. But Ted, being just a Comics catalogue. Scott Lang is actually a stuffed toy, needs human spermatozoa to conman who comes by a suit that enables impregnate her. Enter John Bennett him to shrink yet become incredibly strong. (Wahlberg), so to speak. With the new technology at his pincer tips he decides to reform his ways and join up with CERT tbc the entomologist Hank Pym (Michael Dou- Self/Less glas) to save the world. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley, Matthew Goode, Michelle Dockery, Natalie Martinez Directed by Tarsem Singh (USA) Damian (Ryan Reynolds) is a healthy young man who, thanks to pioneering medical sci- The Reunion CERT 15 tbc ence, has the consciousness of a wealthy dying aristocratic transferred into his body. Starring Anna Odell, Anders Berg, David Nordström Directed by Anna Odell (Sweden) Inevitably, though, there is a clash of inter- ests… Bizarrely, Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake The school reunion in question is a twenty- Lively also played somebody trapped in a year anniversary and Anna Odell, the class younger body in this year’s The Age Of Ada- loser, had decided to air her grievances... line. One would like to think that the writer-director-actress Anna Odell got a real kick out of making The Reunion. Unsuspecting filmgo- ers may be drawn to the Swedish film’s pre- The Gallows CERT tbc carious fourth-wall playfulness, furrowing Starring Cassidy Gifford, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan their brows in patient expectation. But, alas, Shoos Directed by Travis Cluff and the end result is at best little more than a Chris Lofing (USA) parlour game, a soufflé-light experiment - at ‘The Gallows’ is the name of a school play worst a self-indulgent whinge. One prays for that, twenty years a third act that ago, ended in will resolve tragedy. To com- this personal memorate the exploration of calamity, the show is school bully- CERT 15 (99 mins) mounted in an an- True Story ing, but in- niversary produc- Starring Jonah Hill, James Franco, Felicity stead the plot Jones, Gretchen Mol, Connor Kikot tion. Not a good just (literally) Directed by Rupert Goold (USA) idea… Another floats away. ‘found footage’ hor- Jonah Hill plays Michael Finkel, a journalist ror film. for The New York Times who is fired for fabri- 37 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film - July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:24 Page 4

cating a front-page story. He then discovers that a murderer, Christian Longo (James Franco), has adopted his identity and is now in prison. Unable to get work, Finkel decides to meet up with Longo, who agrees to tell his story in return for writing lessons. Apparently, this is a true story. The man at the helm is the highly-acclaimed, London- born stage director Rupert Goold, making his film debut.

Released from Fri 17 July

The Legend Of Barney Thomson CERT tbc Starring Emma Thompson, Robert Carlyle, Ray Winstone, Tom Courtenay, Ashley Jensen, Martin Compston Directed by Robert Carlyle (UK/Canada) From Thurs 30 July Unlike Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Glaswegian barber Barney Southpaw CERT 15 (124 mins) Mission: Impossible Thomson stumbles into serial murder by ac- Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rogue Nation CERT tbc cident. Following a somewhat low profile on Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris, Victor the big screen in recent years, Robert Car- Ortiz, Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, Tyrese Gib- Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon lyle (the star of The Full Monty) comes back son Directed by Antoine Fuqua (USA) Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, with a bang, making his directorial debut to Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin With the Weinstein Company's Harvey Wein- Directed by Christopher McQuarrie (USA) boot. stein already predicting Oscar glory for Jake Christopher McQuarrie directed Tom Cruise Gyllenhaal, Southpaw should have some in the smart and thrilling Jack Reacher, so thespian punch. Gyllenhaal plays Billy Hope, let’s hope he repeats the trick for the fifth in- a boxer at the height of his career - but his stalment in the Mission: Impossible fran- wife (McAdams) pleads for him to quit... chise. Of course, it’s the team’s most Incidentally, the American Academy does impossible mission yet - to eliminate a like to hand out Oscars to actors playing rogue organisation every bit as efficient as boxers: think Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank they are themselves. and Christian Bale. Filmed in Vienna, London, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Southampton.

Beyond The Reach CERT 12a (91 mins) Starring Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irvine, Ronny Cox, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence Maggie CERT 15 (95 mins) Directed by Jean-Baptiste Léonetti (USA) Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Michael Douglas plays John Madec, a cor- Breslin, Joely Richardson, Douglas M. Griffin, porate shark who goes hunting in the Mo- JD Evermore Directed by Henry Hobson (USA/Switzerland) jave Desert. But when he accidentally shoots a desert hobo, his reparation takes an unex- Maggie is played by Abigail Breslin, the child pected and dangerous turn… Based on the star who brightened up such movies as Little 1972 novel Deathwatch by Robb White, the Miss Sunshine and My Sister's Keeper. But film was not reviewed kindly in the States. Breslin is now nineteen and plays a teenager infected by the Necroambulist virus, which Released from Fri 17 July turns good folk into zombies. However, Mag- gie’s father (Arnie) stays by her. Mr Schwarzenegger also co-produced. Hot Pursuit CERT 12a (87 mins) Starring Reese Witherspoon, Sofía Vergara, Matthew Del Negro, Michael Mosley, John Carroll Lynch, Richard T. Jones, Vincent Laresca Directed by Anne Fletcher (USA) Reese Witherspoon may be small (5' 1½") but as San Antonio cop Rose Cooper she packs a large piece. And she has to use it when she’s assigned to protect a cartel in- formant (Laresca) and his wife (Vergara) across the back roads of Texas. Wither- spoon, who’s recently made a name for herself in tough dramas, returns to comedy here but, sadly, to critical disdain.

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interview SHREWSBURY FOLK AN INSIGHT INTO ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS

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Seventeen years ago, husband-and-wife team Alan and Sandra Surtees decided to put their love of folk music to good use and create ‘the sort of festival that we would want to go to ourselves’. In fact, it was music which had brought the couple together in the first place. Alan and Sandra met at Bromyard Festival some twenty-odd years ago - and, as Alan pointed out, it was ‘love at first hear’. Starting life in Bridgnorth in 1997, Alan and Sandra’s folk music event moved to Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park nine years later and became the Shrewsbury Folk Festival. The move saw an immediate increase in its attendance by an impressive sixty percent. The following year saw the festival move again, this time to its current home at the West Mid Showground. What’s On recently met up with Festival Director Alan over a cup of coffee to discuss the festival’s past, present and future...

To what do you attribute the festival’s as well. We’ll have all of these wonderful had to swap him into Sunday and persuade continued success, Alan? artists getting together to rehearse side two Callan to come on Monday. So the logistics I think it’s the diversity. I’ve had a lot of stick of Abbey Road. It’s going to be great. can be a nightmare. from the ‘old school’ who say ‘It’s not folk music’ or ‘It’s all got too big’. I think people Purely personal choice - which artists Away from the music, what’s your favourite want to ‘discover’ at festivals. They want to would you choose to headline a Friday, aspect of the festival? say to their mates, ‘Did you see the Carolina Saturday and Sunday night. I think the parade has really got me over the Chocolate Drops? Weren’t they bloody I’d bring Blackie And The Rodeo Kings back. years. The biggest buzz I get out of it is brilliant!’ It’s almost one-upmanship. Then there’s a marvellous band called watching people watching what we put on. Recently, a bloke in a pub near to where I live Tedeschi Trucks from America. They’re a came up to me and said, “You’re Alan husband-and-wife team. They’ve got a horn Have you ever been starstruck? Surtees, aren’t you? I bring all my mates who section, two drummers and are absolutely Yes. Richard Thompson. I can’t talk to him hate folk music to your festival and they go fabulous. I also want to get Daryl Scott, because, to me, he’s God. I’ll make sure I home loving it’. That’s what I want to do to another American, but I’d like to get him with chat to him this year, though. people. I’m like a folk evangelist! Tim O’Brien. Together they’re just magic. Do you play an instrument? Personal artistic preferences will always You’re feeding your hunger for American Not very well. I would say yes, my wife would play a part in programming a festival, but music there then, Alan... say no. I play a little bit of melodeon and a bit how easy or difficult is it to strike a Yeah, I’m thinking of doing an American Day of guitar. I know the rudiments but I’m not balance between those personal for 2016, to get it out of my system. I was very good. I wouldn’t dare play in public. It’s preferences and ensuring the event has looking at a fantastic player yesterday, Texas playing-in-my-bedroom stuff. I sing a bit of commercial appeal? Martha And The House Of Twang. They’re choral and I’m not too bad. Even John Jones It’s not difficult because very often the two great. turned round to me when I was on stage with meet. Commercial appeal appeals to me, so him and said, “You’ve got a pretty good that comes together. The great thing about a Where does your research for artists take voice, Surtees”. festival when you’ve got four days is that you you? can present all the traditional artists who’re in We go to Folk Alliance in the States every If you’d had the talent, would you have demand, you can put new and quirky things other year, and we went to the East Coast liked to be a musician? in, and you can still bring in bands like Music Awards last year. That’s where we met Oh my God, yeah. I was talking to another Bellowhead and Show Of Hands who draw The Barra MacNeils and Ten Strings And A promoter a couple of weeks ago who said, big crowds. I don’t feel I’ve ever Goat Skin, who’re coming this year. I’ve seen “You know why we do this, don’t you? It’s compromised the word ‘folk’. I may have put La Bottine Souriante quite a few times and because we want to be them”. And that’s a rock’n’roll band on, but as far as I’m they’re just terrific. Sometimes we book them exactly right. I want to be that star on stage, concerned rock’n’roll is folk music. It’s more there and other times we just give them our but I haven’t got the talent to do it. about quality than genre. We had Molotov card. Jukebox on last year. Nothing to do with folk - What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever there were some acoustics there - but they’re Who have you persistently tried to get to made? punchy and we knew they’d get the party the festival without succeeding? We had no communication radios the first started. We try to build up to a crescendo There are a few. Not many at the moment. year, so we had to run everywhere. Sandra each night, where it gets more vibrant and There are a number of American acts that I’d lost half a stone in a weekend. We were probably a little bit louder. like to get. We’re working on it. There are dashing everywhere, but I learned a good three hundred folk festivals in the UK and, lesson. When people run up to you and say, The end of Bellowhead leaves a big gap in apart from Cambridge, I think we’re the only ‘We’ve got a problem’, take your time getting the festival market. Is there an upcoming folk festival that spends money flying people there because by the time you do, someone band you’d like to champion who you think over from America. You double up your costs else will have sorted it. I still do that - and might fill that void? if you fly someone like Blackie... over. They then if they don’t sort it, I will. There’s a I want to see Jon Boden and Sam Sweeney were a nightmare. They all came from fortnight of problem-solving leading up to the bring something together. I can understand a different airports. festival. I’m there a week before for the build- thirteen-piece band is going to be hard to up and it’s great fun. You’ve got loads of keep together. They’re working on several Were they your most expensive booking? stewards on site and we have sessions in the things. Jon always has so many irons in the No. Probably Afro Celts, and for several bar. They’re all your mates because they’ve fire. Sam’s a pal, so we keep in touch. Things reasons. The fee is high, and then you have been working with you for years. I think the will evolve, I’m sure. Lots of things will come to bring in a new sound desk for them. They comradeship of the build-up washes into the to the fore. Looking ahead, I’d like to get want their own side of stage monitors. They festival. We’ve got lots of lovely, smiley more involved in world music, and we are this want side fills, which gives them a feel for the stewards because they enjoy being there year. We’re bringing artists over from India, auditorium. If you have a band like that, with us. Canada and Africa, so it really will be a multi- everything gets expensive. national affair. Finally, what’s your long-term vision for How about the logistics of programming? the festival? Which artist are you most looking forward You can’t imagine how complicated the Not to grow it an awful lot because I think to catching at this year’s festival? programming is, especially when I cock we’re maxed out on the showground site. But Dawes from Los Angeles. They’ve got that things up. We’ve got Gordie McKeeman and I’ll continue doing it until I drop. While I’m still lovely Laurel Canyon sound. Great music, his Rhythm Boys coming this year. They’re a loving it, I’ll carry on doing it. My mission is to very thoughtful words and they suit me down Canadian bluegrass group. He’s an East make the festival as good as I can make it. to the ground. I’m also looking forward to the Coast Canadian who dances. He’s like this Folk Slam on the Monday afternoon. It’s a pet man with rubber legs and he’s absolutely Shrewsbury Folk Festival takes place from project of mine and I’ve actually persuaded brilliant. Anyway, I booked him in on the Fri 28 to Mon 31 August Richard Thompson to stay over and play in it Saturday and he’s in Belgium Saturday. So I www.whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 1 Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 2 Festivals

Kathryn Tickell & The Side

Another focus of this year’s festival is the city of Paris. “From the Cheltenham Festival Montmartre of Satie to Claire Martin’s cabaret programme,” explains Various venues around Cheltenham, Tues 30 June - Sat 11 July Meurig, “and from a Joan of Arc silent film to wartime Messiaen.” “In Cheltenham seventy years ago, there was no greater act of look- Music’s close links with film are also explored. “Medieval music, ing to a post-war future than the establishment of a music festival,” Bernard Herrmann and Chopin are live accompaniments to three says Meurig Bowen, the current festival director. “In this anniversary wonderfully different films,” continues the director. year of both the end of World War Two and the start of this festival, we And there’s plenty more besides, including blockbuster symphonies take a look at the kind of music that was being written during the war by Mahler and Rachmaninov, Mendelssohn on period instruments, and at its close - pieces by Britten, Copland, Messiaen, Poulenc, and in excess of twenty world premieres. Meurig is rightly proud of Shostakovich and Strauss that are as strikingly different as they are the festival’s diversity, and hopes visitors will find the 2015 line-up indisputably great.” every bit as enticing as he himself does.

Coventry Godiva Festival War Memorial Park, Coventry, Fri 3 - Sun 5 July Maintaining its status as one of the biggest free, ticketless festivals in the country, Godiva this year hosts a diverse and impressive programme, with ska/reggae bands The Skints and Dreadzone performing on the Saturday night as well as urban acts, Big Narstie and Lady Leshurr. Indie rock Liverpudlians The Wombats take top billing on the Saturday evening, while Embrace round off the festival with a selection of their crowdpleasing hits on the Sunday. As well as its plethora of well-known names - Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Don Broco, The Beat and We Are The Ocean included - Godiva Festival also provides a platform on which local London Klezmer Quartet artists and bands can showcase their skills. The event this year will also bring a Ceilidh Dance for the first time and also offers com- Lichfield Festival edy acts, vintage markets, a silent disco, family field entertainment, licensed bars and Various venues in Lichfield City Centre, food stalls. Fri 3 - Sun 12 July Lichfield Festival brings the best national and international artists and performers to the West Mid- lands each year for a summer celebration of classical music, dance, drama, film, jazz, literature, poetry, visual arts and world music. Following the success of the pig parade in 2011, this year’s event kicks off with an elephant parade - a procession of painted elephants and their keep- ers. London Klezmer Quartet (Mon 6), Soh-Yon Kim (Tues 7) and BBC Big Band (Fri 10) all feature in the festival’s music line-up. Dance and theatre performances come from Tango Stories (Thurs 9), with Mark Watson (Tues 7) featuring on the comedy bill. For the full line-up and more information, visit lichfieldfestival.org The Wombats

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Festival PREVIEWS Simmer Down Festival Handsworth Park, Birmingham, Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Sun 19 July Moseley Park, Birmingham, The fastest growing and most diverse Sat 10 - Sun 12 July festival in Birmingham, Simmer Down last year attracted more than twelve This hugely popular open-air festival returns thousand people to the beautiful sur- to Moseley Park with another three days of roundings of Handsworth Park. The contemporary jazz, funk and soul music. event is now in its sixth year and firmly Headliners include Grammy Award-winning established on the city's summer festi- singer-songwriter Gregory Porter - who’ll be vals calendar. closing festivities on the Sunday night - and Solidly rooted in North Birmingham, musical legends The Sugarhill Gang - best Simmer Down is a free family fun day known for 1979 hit Rappers Delight, the first which celebrates the city's rich musical rap single to reach the top forty on the Bill- diversity. This year’s get-together is board Hot 100. American composer and vi- headlined by international reggae su- braphone player Roy Ayers takes the perstar Maxi Priest. Saturday headline slot. The festival’s attractions include live per- Craig Charles, The Pharcyde, Hackey Col- formances and numerous arts participa- liery Band, The James Hunter Six and The tion activities, taking place across Mouse Outfit feat. Dr Syntax & Sparkz also several stages and marquees. There’s feature in this year’s extensive line-up. also an increasing number of fun activi- But it doesn’t stop there... For those wanting ties for all the family to enjoy, including to party into the early hours, the nearby Hare arts and education workshops, face & Hounds pub is hosting after-parties on the painting, small rides and a community Friday and Saturday evenings. For more in- cricket match. A number of food stalls formation, visit mostlyjazz.co.uk. provide the opportunity to enjoy the wide selection of cuisine that’s readily available in Birmingham.

Maxi Priest

Festival At The Edge Stokes Barn, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, Fri 17 - Sun 19 July The beautiful setting of Wenlock Edge provides a perfect backdrop for this annual get-together, which features artists from across the globe. Recognised as one of the oldest events of its kind in England, Festival At The Edge launches major new storytelling endeavours and features performances from some of folk’s finest. Artists confirmed to appear in 2015 include Gregory Porter British storytellers Hugh Lupton and Ruth Kirkpatrick and folk artists Steve Ashley and O’Hoo- ley & Tidow. The Hut People, Pete Morton, Ange Hardy and Wilcox:Hulse also feature on the bill. Both day and weekend tickets are available, with an additional fee for camping. For more information, visit festivalattheedge.org. Blues At The Fold The Fold, Worcester, Sat 4 July This Worcester-based community blues festival boasts a stellar line-up that features, among others, acoustic roots artist Jack Blackman, good-time blues band The King Biscuit Boys, Swampcandy, Slack Alice and Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde Band.

MADE Birmingham The Digbeth Triangle, Birmingham Sat 25 - Sun 26 July The Metropolitan, Arts & Dance Event (MADE) features a world-class electronic musical line-up and combines it with some of Birmingham's best visual and street artists, designers, set builders, creatives and musicians. This year’s line-up includes Beardy- man, Claude VonStroke, David Rodigan & O’Hooley & Tidow Julio Bashmore and many more. An additional day has been added to the programme this year and offers ‘a celebration of Warwick Folk Billy Bragg food, beverage and artistic talent from the Midlands and beyond’. Digbeth Dining Club, In and around Warwick School, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July the award-winning street food event which has revolutionised the foodie scene in Birm- Now in its thirty-sixth year, this hugely popular ingham, returns to host the food program- festival continues to attract the creme de la ming on the day. A number of independent creme of the folk world, with Billy Bragg, Lil’ breweries and distilleries will also be repre- Jimmy Reed Band, The Demon Barbers XL sented. and Nancy Kerr & The Sweet Visitor Band all Other attractions include street art from Dig- headlining in 2015. In addition to four days’- beth's City Of Colours, live music, spoken worth of extensive music on its main stages, word and retro gaming. Tickets and more in- the event also features a programme of formation can be found at ceilidhs, workshops, talks, a family festival and madebirmingham.com impromptu acoustic sessions.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Festivals July.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2015 09:22 Page 5

ALIVE AT DELAPRE PARK Listings Line-up includes Jessie Festivals J, Alfie Boe & Mc- Busted, Fri 17 - Sun 19 For full listing information on festivals, Jul, Delapre Park, Northampton including dates and line-up, visit FESTIVAL AT THE EDGE www.whatsonlive.co.uk Line-up includes O’Hooley & Tidow, TIVAL Line-up includes Steve Ashley, The Hut Artisan, Colum Sands, People & Pete Morton, JULY Hat Fitz and Cara & An- Fri 17 - Sun 19 Jul, thony John Clarke, Stokes Barn, Much Thurs 9 - Sun 12 July, Wenlock, Shropshire CAMPER JAM Line-up to The Bowling Green, FESTIVAL 8 Line-up in- be announced, Fri 3 - Bromsgrove cludes Alternative Dub- Sun 5 July, Weston NOISILY FESTIVAL Line- step Orchestra, Seas Of Park, Staffordshire up includes Stephan Mirth, Hallouminati & GODIVA FESTIVAL Line- Bodzin, Grouch, Boris Rick Emsley, Fri 17 - up includes The Wom- Brejcha & Parasense, Sun 19 Jul, Cabourne bats, Fun Lovin’ Thurs 9 - Sun 12 Jul, Parva, Lincolnshire Criminals, Embrace & Coney Woods, Leices- BUG JAM Line-up in- The Beat, Fri 3 - Sun 5 ter cludes Neumonics, The July, War Memorial NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Cheeky Keys, Jump MADE Birmingham Park, Coventry Line-up includes Jelly- The Gunn & White- BLUES AT THE FOLD Line- heads, The Session, room, Fri 17 - Sun 19 Park, Brecon Beacons Bieber, McBusted, Rudi- THE JUST SO FESTIVAL up includes Jack Black- Abba Chique & Vendet- Jul, Santa Pod Race- AUGUST mental & Tinie Tempah, man, The King Biscuit tas, Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, way, Northamptonshire Line-up includes Seas Sat 29 - Sun 30 Aug, Boys, Swampcandy & Napton on the Hill, War- L FEST Line-up includes Of Mirth, Formidable Cofton Park, Birming- Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde wickshire Lucy Spraggan, O’Hoo- Vegetable Sound Sys- ham Band, Sat 4 July, The SOUNDS IN THE GROUNDS ley & Tidow, The Tuts & BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR tem, Patch and The Fold, Worcester Line-up includes Kaiser Holloway, Fri 17 - Mon Line-up includes Within Giant & Backyard Burn- SEPTEMBER LEAMINGTON SPA Chiefs, Professor 20 July, Uttoxeter Race- Temptation, Trivium, ers, Fri 21 - Sun 23 UKULELE FESTIVAL Line- Green, Ella Eyre, Royal course, Staffordshire Rob Zombie & Black Aug, Rode Hall Park- up includes Lynda Philharmonic Concert SPLENDOUR Line-up in- Label Society, Thurs 6 - land, Cheshire Styne & Red Hot Duo, Orchestra & Lucy cludes The Specials, Sun 9 Aug, Catton Hall, WILDWOOD FESTIVAL MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Chonkinfeckle, Bitter O’Byrne, Fri 10 - Sat 11 James, Jess Glynne & Derbyshire Line-up includes Albany Line-up includes The Jug Stompers & July, Warwick Castle Lawson, Sat 18 July, BULLDOG BASH Line-up Down, The Band From Monkees, Spiritualized, Gabriela, Sat 4 July, THE MOSTLY JAZZ, FUNK Wollaton Park, Notting- includes Permageddon, County Hell, Big Boy Idlewild & Anna Calvi, Newbold Comyn Arms, & SOUL FESTIVAL Line- hamshire Easydread, TBone & Bloater and The Limits Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept, Warwickshire up includes Roy Ayers, SIMMER DOWN Line-up Sky Valley Mistress, & Chantel McGregor, Fri Moseley Park, Birming- BIRMINGHAM ROCKS FES- Gregory Porter, Craig to be announced, Sun Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, 21 - Sun 23 Aug, ham TIVAL Line-up includes Charles & Hackney Col- 19 Jul, Handsworth Shakespeare County Tupholme Abbey FESTIVAL NO.6 Line-up The Bad Flowers, liery Band, Fri 10 - Sun Park, Birmingham Raceway, Stratford- Fields, Lincolnshire includes Grace Jones, Glassbullet, Wet Let- 12 July, Moseley Park, WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL upon-Avon PERSHORE JAZZ FESTIVAL Belle & Sebastian, DJ tuce And The Magik Birmingham Line-up includes Billy STRAWBERRY FIELDS Line-up includes Kevin Harvey & The 2 Bears, Bean & The Shanklins, PUNKS AGAINST CANCER Bragg, Lil’ Jimmy Reed FESTIVAL Line-up in- Grenfell’s Jazz Giants, Fri 4 - Mon 7 Sept, Port- Sat 4 - Sun 5 Jul, Line-up to be an- Band, The Demon Bar- cludes Bombay Bicycle John Hallam and Remi meirion O’Neills, Birmingham nounced, Fri 10 - Sun bers XL & Nancy Kerr, Club (DJ Set), Mista- Jazz, Gypsy Fire, Digby WELFEST ON THE LLANGOLLEN INTERNA- 12 Jul, The Hairy Dog, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, jam, Mark Knight & Fairweather’s Half MEADOW Line-up in- TIONAL MUSICAL Derbyshire various venues around Jaguar Skills, Fri 7 - Sat Dozen, Fri 21 - Sun 23 cludes The Loose Cov- EISTEDDFOD Line-up in- CORNBURY MUSIC FESTI- Warwick 8 Aug, Cattow Farm, Aug, Pershore College, ers, The Vooz, Souled cludes Rufus Wain- VAL Line-up includes DEERSTOCK Line-up in- Leicester Warwickshire Out 2 Funk & Matt wright, Alfie Boe, Tom Jones, Razorlight, cludes Ferocious Dog, LAKEFEST Line-up to be V FESTIVAL Line-up in- Eaves, Sat 5 Sept, Syn- UB40’s Ali Campbell, Roger Hodgson & The Big Boy Bloater, announced, Fri 7 - Sat 9 cludes Calvin Harris, der Meadow, Warwick- Astro and Mickey Virtue Fratellis, Fri 10 - Sun 12 Doggen All Star Band & Aug, Croft Farm Water- Kasabian, Stereophon- shire & Gareth Malone and Jul, Great Tew Estate, Funke and the Two park, Tewkesbury ics & Sam Smith, Sat 22 BELBROUGHTON BEER his Voices choir, Mon 6 Oxfordshire Tone Baby, Fri 24 - Sun REWIND NORTH Line-up - Sun 23 Aug, Weston AND MUSIC FESTIVAL - Sun 12 July, Royal In- BUXTON FESTIVAL Line- 26 Jul, Newton, Notting- includes Soul II Soul, Park, Staffordshire Line-up to be an- ternational Pavillion up includes English hamshire The Human League, PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL nounced, Thurs 10 - Sat BUXTON FESTIVAL FRINGE Chamber Orchestra, INDIETRACKS MUSIC FES- The Boomtown Rats & Line-up includes 12 Sept, Hartle Lane, Line-up includes Albion, The Schubert Ensem- TIVAL Line-up includes Kim Wilde, Fri 7 - Sun 9 Fenella Humphreys, Worcestershire City Of Manchester Or- ble, The Fitzwilliam The Go! Team, Cin- Aug, Capesthorne Hall, Matthew Taylor, Navarra ONBOARD THE CRAFT chestra, Basin Street String Quartet & Maria erama, Martha & Tiger- Cheshire Quartet & Nova Music FESTIVAL Line-up in- Jazz and Blues & Dale Camahort Quintet, Fri cats, Fri 24 - Sun 26 Jul, FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL Opera Thurs 27 Aug - cludes The Hawklords, Storr, Wed 8 - Sun 26 10 - Sun 26 Jul, various Butterley Station, near Line-up includes Dr Tues 1 Sept, Powys Son of Man, Dr Has- Jul, various venues venues in Buxton, Ripley, Derbyshire Feelgood, Ferocious CREAMFIELDS Line-up been & Glow People, around Buxton Derby NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL Dog, 3 Daft Monkeys & includes Avicii, Tiesto, Fri 11 - Sat 12 Sept, 2000 TREES FESTIVAL THE BURTON REAL ALE Line-up includes The Talisman, Fri 14 - Sun Armin Van Buuren & Stoke Prior Sports & Line-up includes Deaf AND JAZZ FESTIVAL A Wu Tang Clan, Martha 16 Aug, Gatten Farm, The Chemical Brothers, Country Club, Broms- Havana, Idlewild, We weekend of jazz music Reeves and The Van- Shropshire Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, grove Are The Ocean & The and a range of beers, dellas, Beardyman & BETLEY CONCERTS Line- Daresbury, Cheshire WHITWELL FESTIVAL OF Subways, Thurs 9 - Sat ales, cider and food London Elektricity, Fri up includes Tom Jones, BEERMAGEDDON Line-up MUSIC Line-up includes 11 Jul, Upcote Farm, stalls, Fri 17 - Sat 18 24 - Sun 26 July, Brom- Total Access Live & Col- includes Rannoch, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Cheltenham Jul, National Brewery yard, Hereford labro, Fri 14 - Sun 16 Mpire Of Evil, Tyson Seven Little Sisters, BROMSGROVE FOLK FES- Centre, Burton MADE BIRMINGHAM Line- Jul, Betley Court Farm, Dog & Heavenwood, Fri Maelor Hughes & Black up includes Beardy- Cheshire 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Stoke Thorn, Fri 11 - Sun 13 man, Claude Von LICHFIELD FAKE FESTIVAL Prior Country Club, Sept, various locations Stroke, David Rodigan Line-up includes Bon Bromsgrove around Banbury & Julio Bashmore, Sat Jovi Experience, Kaz- SHREWSBURY FOLK FES- SHREWSBURY FIELDS 25 July, The Digbeth Tri- abian & Space Cowboy, TIVAL Line-up includes FOREVER FESTIVAL Line- angle, Birmingham Sat 15 Aug, Beacon Richard Thompson, La up to be announced, Fri Y-NOT FESTIVAL Line-up Park, Lichfield Bottine Souriante, Kate 11 - Sun 13 Sept, loca- includes Snoop Dogg, THE NORTH SHROPSHIRE Rusby & Sharon Shan- tion tbc, Shropshire Primal Scream, Base- CAJUN AND ZYDECO BIG non, Fri 28 - Mon 31 BROMYARD FOLK FESTI- ment Jaxx & Ocean WEEKEND Line-up in- Aug, West Midland VAL Line-up includes Colour Scene, Fri 31 Jul cludes Jimmy Breaux, Showground, Shrews- Breabach, Gerry Colvin - Sun 2 Aug, Randy Vidrine, Rough bury Band, John Doyle & Mouldridge Lane, Der- Chowder & The Hotfoot GREENBELT FESTIVAL Sharon Shannon, Fri 11 byshire Specials, Fri 14 - Sun Line-up includes Duke - Sun 13 Sept, Brom- CARFEST NORTH Line-up 16 Aug, Welshampton, Special, Pascuala Il- yard includes Billy Ocean, North Shropshire abaca, King Porter WORCESTER MUSIC FES- Seasick Steve, Paul THE GREEN MAN FESTI- Stomp & Worry Dolls, TIVAL Line-up to be an- Heaton and Jacqui Ab- VAL Line-up includes St Fri 28 Aug - Mon 31 nounced, Fri 18 - Sun bott & Sophie Ellis-Bex- Vincent, Super Furry Aug, Boughton House, 20 Sept, various venues tor, Fri 31 Jul - Sun 2 Animals, Hot Chip & Northamptonshire in Worcester Rufus Wainwright - Aug, Oulton Park Race Slowdrive, Thurs 20 - FUSION FESTIVAL Line- Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Circuit, Cheshire Sun 23 Aug, Glanusk up includes Justin

44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk A Great Day Out.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 16:31 Page 1 A Great Day Out Aston Hall HERITAGE TOURS

Unicorns, secret doors, cannon balls and maybe a ghost or two - these are just a few things to look out for on Aston Hall's new Heritage Tours. New this year, the Birmingham Museums Trust’s Heritage Tours offer fresh, in-depth insights into the city’s historical treasures. Meanwhile, shorter Heritage Highlights Tours provide an interactive, family-friendly alternative to traditional talks, with a fun, informal approach allowing kids of all ages to get up close and personal with the past. Built between 1618 and 1635, Aston Hall was originally home to Thomas Holte, a wealthy nobleman with a reputation for his terrible temper. Bringing the Jacobean world to life with fascinating facts and stories, the stunning mansion’s expert ambassadors take visitors on a journey that reveals the stark contrast between lavish family rooms and cramped servant quarters. Objects to touch and smell paint vivid pictures of seventeenth-century life, from everyday cooking and hygiene to Civil War sieges. Learn how Renaissance people cleaned their teeth, or how different rooms smelled depending on which candles were used. Marvel at a magnificent table spread, including a lively-looking peacock pie, and sit yourself on the guests’ velvet-covered toilet. While listening to tales of Thomas Holte’s cruelty, keep an eye out for the ghosts of unfortunate former inhabitants. Towards the end, there's also a chance to discover the amazing inven- tions of James Watt Jr, Aston Hall’s last resident owner (from 1817- 1848). Other Birmingham Museums Trust venues introducing Heritage Tours include the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, the Tudor-era Blakesley Hall, Matthew Boulton's Soho House, and Sarehole Mill - a childhood haunt of JRR Tolkien. For further information, visit, birminghammuseums.org.uk

“The tours will make every trip to our heritage sites extra special, and really bring a slice of the past to life” Robert Hayes, Birmingham Museums Trust’s Commercial Director

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Drayton Manor Page.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:13 Page 1 Drayton Manor Page.qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:13 Page 2 A Great Day Out Drayton Manor Park THOMAS LAND

Since launching at Drayton Manor Park in 2008, the much-loved Thomas Land has become one of the Midlands’ - and indeed the UK’s - most visited tourist attractions. And now, with a £2.5million expansion bringing about a forty percent then douse fires with their very own hose. increase in its size, there’s even more fun in store for families. Of course, the older rides remain hugely popular. The charming Win- Noticeably bigger and easier to navigate than before, Thomas Land is ston’s Whistle Stop Tour takes you across Thomas Land with a bird’s a fantastic experience, with more than enough excitement to fill an eye view of the park. entire day. And with everything from a gentle carousel to a thrilling rollercoaster, there’s definitely something for all ages. Harold The Helicopter still delights as he takes children soaring into the sky, as does the newly sited Jeremy’s Jet Flying Academy. For devoted Thomas fans, the park is surely the most magical place on earth. And even those not so familiar with the famous blue engine Toddlers will adore driving Sodor’s classic cars, while for more thrill- couldn’t fail to enjoy themselves in this Thomas & Friends-themed seeking children there’s the Troublesome Trucks rollercoaster and world, brought to life by friendly and enthusiastic staff. Cranky The Crane’s terrifying drop. Along with long-standing favourites such as Harold The Helicopter, But the star of the show will always be Thomas himself. His ‘really use- Bertie Bus and Cranky The Crane, there are three brand new rides for ful’ journeys transport guests from Knapford Station across the park to youngsters to enjoy, all situated outside an equally brand new Sodor Farmer McColl’s Farm, where another raft of activities awaits. These Airport. include Terence’s Driving School, Spencer’s Play Area and a Thomas & Friends exhibition featuring a delightful model railway. Captain’s Sea Adventure allows children to climb aboard the yellow rescue boat and set off on a journey of adventure across the waves. The Fat Controller, otherwise known as Sir Topham Hat, also pops up Each boat is armed with water guns which can not only be used by the regularly throughout the day with a host of specially created interactive kids to soak one another but also to drench bystanders who’re daring songs. enough to stand in the Splash Zone. With so much to do, it’s best to arrive early and take advantage of Toby’s Tram Express, meanwhile, allows youngsters to board the long- everything Thomas Land has to offer. There’s little doubt that children suffering character for the ride of a lifetime into the sky. will want to return to the venue again and again. The third new ride is Flynn’s Fire & Rescue, which sees children elevat- ed aboard a platform on the loveable red engine, from where they can

For devoted Thomas fans, the park is surely the most magical place on earth.

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interview

VanleyI CAPTURING Burke HISTORY ON FILM...

Photographer Vanley Burke has spent almost fifty years documenting the stories of the Windrush Generation and their children - the Caribbean migrants who arrived in the UK in 1948 aboard the Empire Windrush. An avid collector of items relating to the African Caribbean community, Vanley is this month exhibiting the entire contents of his Nechells flat at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery. What’s On recently caught up with the man often referred to as ‘the Godfather of Black British photography’...

48 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Vanley Burke Interview (July).qxp_Layout 1 24/06/2015 17:34 Page 2

What inspired you to hand over the entire years old and it arrived in one of the many You recently worked with SAMPAD South contents of your Birmingham flat to the parcels she would send from England to Asian Arts on their exhibition trail along Ikon, Vanley? family for Christmas, birthdays or any other the Stratford Road... I was asked to put on an exhibition and, as special occasion. In this particular parcel was Yeah, I’m the photographer for that. I’ve also I’m an artist, I therefore felt the need to a Kodak Box Brownie 127. I was delighted. I just come back from Canada, where I was respond. As well as being where I live, my flat became fascinated by the whole idea of the involved in the Scotiabank Contact is a place where I keep stuff that I’ve image and how it’s recorded. Photography Festival. It’s one of the world’s collected. I have my art from Africa as well as largest photo festivals, if not the largest. work that I’ve produced. I guess it’s pretty You’ve captured individuals and There were over two hundred exhibitions different from most other places where communities in many other cities and featured, but ours was deemed the most people reside. I’ve worked with Ikon before. towns across the UK and overseas. Why is significant, so we’re quite pleased with that. My first exhibition there was in 1983. It was Birmingham so appealing to you as a My work’s also in the British photographic titled Handsworth From Inside and featured photographer? exhibition that’s showing in China at the photographs taken in Handsworth, so I didn’t I’ve always lived in Birmingham. I left Jamaica moment. I’ve also worked in South Africa. I hesitate when asked to do this. for Birmingham, and when I decided that I photographed Nelson Mandela’s release was going to document the lives and from prison. I spent six weeks there in 1990, What’s in the collection? experiences of African Caribbean people as six months in 1996, and returned again in I’ve been taking photographs for nearly fifty they struggled to establish themselves here, I 2002. Last year I was invited to put on an years now and have also been collecting thought the appearance of people in exhibition at the university of Johannesburg items relating to the African Caribbean Birmingham was quite similar to those in relating to migration and settlement. community for a considerable period of that Bristol or Leeds or London or anywhere else. time. My archive in the Birmingham Central So I didn’t really feel the need to move to During your time as a resident of Library features material that’s quite similar to those cities to document as well. I thought I Birmingham you’ll have seen a lot of what I have here. I have a lot of vinyl records, would do a better job if I stuck to a change. What’s been the most significant? a lot of CDs, videos, books, pamphlets and geographical area. Over the years I’ve I think the most significant perhaps would be leaflets. The collection also includes three- photographed various things in London, New Street Station. But for me as a people dimensional objects such as wall plaques, Leeds and Bristol, but I’ve mainly watcher - a watcher of migration and hangings and trinkets - things that the concentrated on Birmingham and its settlement - I’m particularly intrigued by how working class seem to decorate their front community. I’ve photographed aspects of the migrants use areas like Handsworth. Prior to rooms with. Asian community, Sikhs, Muslims and so on. us, the African Caribbeans, there were others I’ve captured some of the Vietnamese who came in. There was a Polish population Which of the possessions in the collection communities and Gambian communities and and a Polish club in Handsworth when we are you most attached to? I’m particularly interested in migration and arrived there, and then the Sikh community Each piece is important. Each one is equally settlement. moved in shortly after us. Now we have a lot as vital. You never know if, in the future, of people from eastern Europe and various someone is going to read the dissertation As an artist you’re renowned for capturing other places. That’s the sort of cosmopolitan that looks at blackness in Britain and be your subjects at ease, whether in their own nature of people in Handsworth. It’s just inspired to do something great from that. Or environment, at work, at play or in the wonderful. maybe even pick up a little leaflet about community. What tip would you give to someone who’s done a talk or something anyone wanting to follow in your In what way would you further like to build which might inspire them. footsteps? on your legacy to Birmingham’s black Get a good pair of shoes! I doubt anyone community? Has anyone ever fed back to you how you would want to follow in my footsteps, to be My interest is just collecting material that or your work has inspired them to go on honest, because it hasn’t been easy. makes art. By that I mean the hats - the sort and do something great? Dedicating your life to documenting a group that women wear to church - and clothes. All of the while. A woman said to me in the of people brings few rewards in terms of One thing I’m very much interested in at the park, ‘I would like to thank you very much for making a living. It’s pretty tough. In terms of moment is dissertations. I’m interested in the work that you’ve been doing because taking photographs, I’d tell them to set dissertations with black people as the without it I wouldn’t be able to tell my story to themselves a goal and stick to it. I think the subject. It doesn’t have to be written by a my children’. A lot of people visit the archives advice I’d give would depend on the black person, they just need to be the and use the material for dissertations. We individual. It’s hard to say ‘follow in my subject. So they’re one of the things I would have many, many visits. In fact, when I was footsteps’ because I wouldn’t wish that on like to concentrate on. Collecting books and selecting some material for the show at Ikon, anyone. magazines as well - perhaps some I saw a pile of posters that some reader had backdated magazines that might be out of requested. For me, that justifies everything I It may not be that rewarding from a print. do. People are using the archive. I’m told it’s financial viewpoint, but surely it must’ve one of the most popular archives in the city, given you great satisfaction? And how will the collection end? and I also receive requests from all over It’s extremely rewarding, but reaching a point I don’t know because it’s so important, is England and abroad, as well publications, where you’re satisfied requires you to crawl being used so widely and is respected within television - you name it. through a few minefields first. I feel history is the community. I’ve had one or two a by-product of life. Whether we write it or academics who’ve said it’s a very valuable You’ve been documenting the Windrush not, history is going to be there. If we don’t resource, so I feel the need to continue. The Generation since the 1960s. Which of the write our own history, then it will be written for idea of taking it slightly more academic is, for many momentous occasions that you’ve us - and we’ve never really trusted the me, an interesting one, not least because recorded has had the biggest impact on traditional writers of history because they dissertations will probably occupy less space you personally? were the very people who enslaved us. How than some of the other objects I’ve collected. I’m not sure which one, but I’m tempted to can you have someone who was previously say the next one. Photographically, the one enslaving you writing your history? I felt What’s the difference between a hoarder that’s stood the test of time, I suppose, would sacrifices had to be made. I knew I’d have to and a collector? be African Liberation Day in Handsworth Park give up something and do it properly, setting With a collector you can see the corners of in 1977. It was a particularly large event and it a foundation for the whole idea of the room, with a hoarder you can’t. was one of the first ones that I covered quite documenting our history as it unfolded here extensively. in England. That was my intention and, to a large extent, it still is. Back to the very beginning... How did you At Home With Vanley Burke shows at first get into photography? Ikon Gallery, from Wed 22 July to I was still living in Jamaica when I was given Sun 27 September a camera by my mother. I was about ten

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50 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts Region 2 July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 12:05 Page 1 Visual Arts

My Little Collection Dudley Museum & Art Gallery, Sat 11 July - Sat 31 October This is the largest exhibition of My Little Pony ever presented in the UK. In total there are two thousand, five hundred ponies on display - from the smallest at less than an inch tall to the largest at a height of three foot. Rare mail-order ponies, prototypes and collectors’ editions also feature, as does a range of associated merchandise. This exhibition is the result of one woman’s collecting over many years, first as a child in the 1980s and then as an adult in the twenty-first century.

Coming from the Mill 1917 - 18, pastel © The Lowry Collection, Salford Lowry And Berry: Observers Of Urban Life Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Sat 25 July - Sun 10 January 2016 LS Lowry and his Stoke-on-Trent-born fellow artist Arthur Berry had much in common. Archaeopteryx Both working class and hailing from the north of England, they were passionate about Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, urban life, portraying the world around them in a fundamentally unpretentious way. This Mon 27 July - Sun 30 August new exhibition provides an opportunity to compare and contrast the work of two artists This fascinating exhibition from the National whose paintings sought to celebrate the beauty and humour of everyday life. Museum of Wales focuses on Archaeopteryx, an Tickets to the exhibition cost £5, with concessions available at £3. animal which has long been called the ‘missing link’ between dinosaurs and birds. The presentation examines the history of the famous Archaeopteryx specimens (of which there are eleven) - from the discovery of the first one in 1861 right up to the present day. The specimens are represented by five resin casts and six life- sized high-resolution images. They all come from a number of quarries near the Bavarian town of Solnhofen in southern Germany. The exhibition is accompanied by a number of additional real and replica Solnhofen specimens.

Tilleke Schwarz Embroidery Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, Sat 11 July - Sun 6 September Netherlands-based textile artist Tilleke Schwarz here presents a solo exhibition of some of her framed embroideries, a collection of works which blend contemporary influences, graffiti, icons, texts and traditional images. Stitching ‘maps of modern life’ that she intends to be understood as ‘a kind of visual poetry’, Tilleke cites her major sources of inspiration as “daily life, mass media, traditional samplers”... and cats.

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Stoke-on-Trent SMALL WORLDS The VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS DAVID GEORGE RBSA A urban environment and selection of oils and social and economic For full listing information on Visual Art watercolours of the arti- change form the focus ist’s recent travels to for this multi-artist exhi- Further exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, Cornwall, France, bition, until Sun 6 Sept, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Cuba, Portugal, Ibiza The New Art Gallery, and Wales, until Sat 8 Walsall Aug, RBSA Gallery, THE STOURBRIDGE THE FIRST CASUALTY OF THE LIBERATED QUILT: Birmingham PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Anne Frank And You WAR IS TRUTH Exhibition NEW WORK FROM FAY NICOLSON: OVER AND EXHIBITION An array of Millennium Point, Birmingham, featuring work by con- THROUGH OUR HANDS work by the until Wed 15 July temporary art group Showcase of work from OVER PURE FORM Solo exhibition showcasing Stourbridge re:collect, Wed 1 July, international artists Photographic Society, “We’re honoured to have been chosen by Shrewsbury Museum & working with mainly how the artist plays with the physicality of from flamenco dancers the Anne Frank Trust as the venue for this Art Gallery stitched textile tech- to a misty dawn across flagship exhibition,” says Neil Anderson, niques, until Sat 25 images and possibilities ANNA LORENZ NWA for formal and material a vineyard, until Sun 6 director of marketing, events and communi- Sculptural and wall- July, Bilston Craft Sept, Himley Hall & Gallery transformation through cations at Millennium Point. “We’re all famil- based explorations repetition, until Sat 8 Park, Dudley iar with the story of Anne, but this exhibition developed from the EARLY SUMMER Aug, Grand Union, TO CHECK THE TIDE OF Next Wave exhibition, EXHIBITION Featuring Birmingham PREJUDICE Exhibition of tells it in a very different and contemporary held at the RBSA new landscapes by way - not only in the way it presents the GEORGIAN ENAMELS: A lithographs, original Gallery in May 2014 to Andrew Lansley and sketches and wash story physically, but also via the compar- support emerging selected Redfern NEW NARRATIVE A new permanent drawings of the con- isons it makes with current issues.” artists, until Sat 4 July, Gallery artists, until Sat struction of the London RBSA Gallery, 25 July, Twenty Twenty installation featuring As well as exploring Anne Frank’s story more than three hun- & Birmingham Railway Birmingham Gallery, Much Wenlock, in the 1830s, until through use of photographs, videos and Shropshire dred barely visible diary extracts, the exhibition features a life- TREVOR APPLESON: works referencing plant Thurs 10 Sept, BIRMINGHAM Exhibition SOLDIERS’ STORIES: drawings, until Sun 9 Coalbrookdale Gallery, size replica of her bedroom in the secret exploring self-represen- BIRMINGHAM AND THE Ironbridge, Shropshire annexe and a range of interactive panels Aug, Bantock House & tation as a counterpoint ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE Park, Wolverhampton NAUTICAL CRAFT EXHIBI- which explore the impact of prejudice in to the conventions of REGIMENT 1914 - 1918 TION Works by contem- the traditional photo- Exhibition which com- ROB LECKEY ARBSA A modern-day society. display of harbours, porary designer/makers “Millennium Point is a venue which is all graphic portrait, until memorates the cente- created in response to Sun 5 July, mac - nary of the First World boats, cities and land- about learning and creative thinking,” contin- scapes using acrylic the sea and coast, until Midlands Arts Centre, War and recounts the Sat 12 Sept, RBSA ues Neil. “I’ve no doubt this compelling and Birmingham experiences of paint and inks, collage and mixed media, until Gallery, Birmingham thought-provoking exhibition will capture the STAFFORDSHIRE OPEN Birmingham men who served in the regiment Sat 15 Aug, RBSA, LOVE, LIFE & LAND- interest and curiosity of our visitors.” ART Featuring paintings, Birmingham drawings, prints, pho- between 1914 and SCAPES Featuring tography, film & anima- 1918, using personal LITTLE WORKS OF ART: German romantic prints tion and sculpture, until objects, medals and 100 YEARS OF GREETING & drawings from the Sun 5 July, Shire Hall memorabilia, until Sun CARDS Exploring the Barber’s collection, Gallery, Stafford 26 July, Birmingham history of greeting until Sun 13 Sept, The Museum & Art Gallery cards and postcards, Barber Institute, SAMARA SCOTT: SILKS and how the sending of Birmingham New body of work NÁSTIO MOSQUITO A selection of the artist’s cards became rooted in ANIMAL ARCHITECTURE drawing on the phe- our culture, until Sun nomenon of post-inter- work at the fifty-sixth BY ADAM KOSSOFF Biennale di Venezia, 16 Aug, Museum of Exhibition that explores net art, until Sat 11 Cannock Chase July, Eastside Projects, until Sun 26 July, Ikon the restoration of Birmingham Gallery, Birmingham MARTIN PARR: BLACK Dudley Zoo's famous SIÂN MACFARLANE - WE COUNTRY STORIES animal enclosures, until YOU AND ME HERE WE Photographic portrait Sat 19 Sept, ARE Exhibition of origi- ARE ILLUMINATED Featuring a multi-lay- archive about life in the Wolverhampton Art nal material including Black Country, until Sat Gallery the artist’s film, The ered film, which inter- weaves past and pres- 22 Aug, Wolverhampton THE MODERNIST FACE: Pop In Space: We Choose Most Smallest Heath In Art Gallery The Spaghetti Junction, ent and explores the SMITH, DOBSON & To Go To The Moon until Sat 11 July, synchronicites of ST IVES ARTISTS An in- BRITISH PORTRAITURE leisure pastimes Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Sat 18 July Eastside Projects, focus exhibition from 1920-60 A snapshot Birmingham throughout the ages, The Clive Beardsmore through the lens of Artists’ responses to the Cold War-era Space until Sun 26 July, The Gift which looks at a Modernism, this latest FRIENDS’ EXHIBITION Race are presented and explored in this fas- New Art Gallery, Walsall body of work by artists Barber exhibition Showcase of jewellery, associated with the explores the work of cinating exhibition, which highlights the ceramics, textiles, JAMAICAN HIDDEN HIS- TORIES Exhibition show- Cornish harbour town two under-appreciated impact of creatives such as Eduardo drawing, paintings & of St Ives, until Sun 23 British artists, until Sun Paolozzi, Gerald Laing, David Lamelas and printmaking, until Sat casing historical, cultural & economic links Aug, The New Art 27 Sept, The Barber Kiki Kogelnik. By employing space imagery 11 July, RBSA Gallery, Gallery, Walsall Institute, Birmingham Birmingham between Jamaica and to reflect the glamour and power of infinite Britain, until Thurs 30 GREEN FINGERED Solo JACQUES NIMKI: exploration, these and other artists created JOHNNY WHITE'S July, The Drum, exhibition by Gemma SEEN/UNSEEN A new BEASTLY MACHINES Birmingham Marmalade, until Sat 29 permanent installation striking space-age imagery during the 1950s A selection of quirky and ’60s. LORD HILL, WATERLOO, Aug, BOM (Birmingham featuring more than artworks including a Open Media), Dudley three hundred barely The exhibition also explores the tensions moving dog with ken- WESTON & SHROPSHIRE: GEORGE RICHMOND'S Street, Birmingham visible works referenc- which arose from the technological and ide- nel, two gnus in a ing plant drawings, until canoe, a whale and PORTRAIT OF LORD HILL MADE AT MAC: CERAMICS ological rivalry between the US and the A small exhibition about An exhibition of course Sun 27 Sept, Ikon more, until Sun 12 July, Gallery, Birmingham Soviet Union, both of whom were focused on Shrewsbury Museum & Rowland Hill, 1st participants’ work, until outmanoeuvring the other in the field of Art Gallery Viscount Hill of Mon 31 Aug, mac - ANIMAL ALPHABET Have space exploration. Hawkstone and Midlands Arts Centre, fun working your way PAVEL BÜCHLER Almarez, until Sat 1 Birmingham through the alphabet Exhibition of work utilis- Aug, Weston Park, with animals from the ing a wide range of LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY Staffordshire WARHOL AND WILLIAM museum’s collections media. This is the in this family-friendly artist’s most compre- HISTORIC PORTRAITS MORRIS Exhibition Seven outstanding his- bringing together signif- show, until Sun 27 hensive UK exhibition Sept, The Potteries to date, until Sun 12 torical portraits on loan icant and iconic works from a private collec- by both artists, includ- Museum & Art Gallery, July, Ikon Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham tion, until Sat 1 Aug, ing some rarely seen Weston Park, pieces, until Sun 6 HIDDEN STORIES An art GAME OVER BY TRAN- Staffordshire Sept, Birmingham installation created by SIENT-ART A fascinating SIGNALLING AND Museum & Art Gallery local artist Matt Reeves exhibition which pres- and Ignite (Thinktank's ents new artwork ELECTRICS IN MINES FROM ‘RED’ ELLEN TO New collection of OSWALD MOSLEY Young People's Forum) inspired by the visit of until Wed 30 Sept, artists and designers to objects relating to con- Portraits of inter-war trolling safety risks politicians by Edmund Thinktank at Millennium The Coffin Works, until Point, Birmingham Fri 24 July, Newman underground, until Sun Knapp, until Sun 6 Brothers Coffin Works, 2 Aug, The Potteries Sept, The Barber 9 EVENINGS: REDUX Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Institute, Birmingham Fresh look at Billy

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Wendy Ramshaw’s Room Of Dreams - ics made by twenty- explores relationships Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery nine potters working in to culture, landscape Museums & Art Galleries England and Wales and body in this display during the twentieth of sculptures, Mon 6 Birmingham RED HOUSE GLASS CONE century, until Thurs 31 July - Sat 29 Aug, 01384 812750 Dec, Birmingham RBSA Gallery, ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield Museum & Art Gallery Birmingham 0121 323 3776 WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY 01902 552055 INHERITING ROME PORTRAIT PRIZE EXHIBI- BARBER INSTITUTE 0121 414 7333 Exhibition which uses TION This biennial event money to explore and see RBSA team up with BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & Shropshire ART GALLERY question our deep-seat- the charity Changing BEAR STEPS GALLERY, 0121 303 2834 ed familiarity with the Faces. Part of the exhi- SHREWSBURY Roman Empire’s bition shows how por- CASTLE GALLERIES 01743 344994 0121 248 8484 imagery, until Sun 24 traiture can reveal the SHREWSBURY MUSEUM & Jan 2016, The Barber richness and diversity GRAND UNION ART GALLERY Institute, Birmingham of faces, Thurs 16 July - 0121 643 9079 01743 258885 Kluver’s seminal 1966 Nov, Blakesley Hall, WENDY RAMSHAW’S Sat 22 Aug, RBSA IKON GALLERY TWENTY TWENTY GALLERY, art, performance & Birmingham ROOM OF DREAMS An Gallery, Birmingham 0121 248 0708 MUCH WENLOCK 01952 727952 technology pro- THE CLIVE BEARDSMORE installation made up of CANNON HILL ART NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY gramme, until Sat 17 GIFT The 2015 interven- many parts, from small SCHOOL SUMMER SHOW 0121 643 9099 THE WILLOW GALLERY, Oct, Vivid Projects, tions into the Garman jewels in frames to Showcase of end-of- RBSA GALLERY OSWESTRY Digbeth, Birmingham Ryan Collection is a large, freestanding fur- year work by Cannon 0121 2364353 01691 657575 PILOTS OF THE selection from a sub- niture, until Sun 22 May Hill Art School STRYX GALLERY, DIGBETH VAN GALLERY, MARKET HALL, CARIBBEAN - stantial gift of artworks 2016, Birmingham Students, Sat 18 July - [email protected] SHREWSBURY VOLUNTEERS OF AFRICAN donated to The New Art Museum & Art Gallery Sun 6 Sept, mac - THREE WHITE WALLS 01743 355079 HERITAGE IN THE RAF Gallery Walsall by a pri- BEORMA (II) An explo- Midlands Arts Centre, GALLERY QUBE, OSWESTRY A new exhibition curat- vate collector, Clive ration of the Birmingham 0121 200 3328 01691 656882 ed in partnership with Beardsmore, until Wed Birmingham art scene’s AT HOME WITH VANLEY Black Cultural Archives. 30 Dec, The New Art archives regarding the BURKE Exhibition show- Black Country Staffordshire It tells the inspirational Gallery, Walsall subject of gender, Fri 3 casing the entire con- BANTOCK HOUSE AIRSPACE GALLERY story of these volun- BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE - Sat 25 July, Stryx, tents of the artist’s flat WOLVERHAMPTON 01782 261221 teers, commemorating AND CHANGE IN THE Birmingham in Nechells, north-east 01902 552195 and celebrating their NEWCASTLE BOROUGH INNER-CITY Display ESTONIAN STREET ART Birmingham, Wed 22 BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY vital contribution to the exploring the way in July - Sun 27 Sept, 01902 552507 01782 232323 defence of Britain dur- Group show, Fri 3 - which ordinary Ikon Gallery, BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & ing two World Wars and Wed 29 July, Centrala Birmingham people Gallery & Cafe, Birmingham MUSEUM, DUDLEY ART GALLERY, STOKE-ON- the subsequent peace, have been represented 01384 812745 TRENT 01782 232323 until Sat 31 Oct, RAF Birmingham TAKEHISA KOSUGI in art during the twenti- DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART SHIRE HALL GALLERY Cosford, Shifnal PORTRAIT SALON Exhibition featuring eth and twenty-first cen- three of the artist’s GALLERY STAFFORD 01785 278345 STILL WITH US: THE turies, until Thurs 31 Exhibition of photo- 01384 815575 graphs, Mon 6 - Fri 31 sound installations, STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, STORY OF YARDLEY Dec, Birmingham involving everyday LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE SHUGBOROUGH PEOPLE IN WORLD WAR Museum & Art Gallery July, The Parkside 01889 881388 Gallery, Birmingham materials and radio WOLVERHAMPTON ONE An exhibition cele- 20TH CENTURY BRITISH electronics, Wed 22 01902 716055 brating the lives of STUDIO CERAMICS A dis- PHILIP POTTER ARBSA July - Sun 27 Sept, THE NEW ART GALLERY some of the people in play of seventy-eight Drawing inspiration Ikon, Birmingham WALSALL 01922 654400 Yardley during World pieces of studio ceram- from natural and syn- War One, until Sun 1 thetic forms, Philip here

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Staffordshire Bike Show Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, Sun 19 July Bike fanatic? Then get your motor running, get out on the highway exhibitors and traders, live music and plenty of arena action also fea- and head for the Britannia Stadium on the third Sunday of this ture. month. The Staffordshire Bike Show this year features an appearance There’s a ‘most Triumph motorcycles in a parade’ world record from four-times world champion and one-time ‘king of the jungle’ Carl attempt taking place too. Competent riders interested in participating Fogarty. Other big names who’ll be on site include extreme motorcy- should take their Triumph to the stadium and be able to show a full cle stunt rider Kevin Carmichael and three-times British Solo Trials licence. The attempt will start at around 9am. Participants must have Champion Steve Colley. Have-a-go archery sessions, eighty registered and signed in by 8.45am. Blists Hill Country Fair Blists Hill Victorian Town, Nr Ironbridge, Shropshire, Mon 27 July - Sun 2 August The atmosphere of a traditional Victorian country fair is this month being recreated at Blists Hill. Attractions include traditional games on the green with the town’s residents, the chance to be entertained by the Prince Albert Players, working-horse demonstrations and a whole host of games, including apple bobbing, musical chairs, sack races and a tug-of-war. Demonstrations of country crafts, from rag rug making to wood- work skills, are also included.

Great British Food Festival Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire, Sat 11 - Sun 12 July A must for the region’s foodies, this two-day event features over eighty local producers, celebrity and local chef demos, cookery lessons, talks and live music. For those wishing to show off their baking skills, the festival hosts a Cake Off competition with three distinct categories - Victoria Sponge, Chocolate Delicious and Signature Bake. Free admission to the festival is available for all entrants, and there’s a ‘fantastic foodie prize’ for the winner. For those feeling brave enough, the event offers various Men V Food challenges for both men and women throughout the weekend. So if you think you can sink a foot of chilli sausage, beef it up with half-pound burgers, keep your cool with suicide sauce or down a pint of cider, then pop along and have a go. You never know, a Men V Food Champion t-shirt could be yours... www.whatsonlive.co.uk 55 Events July Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:01 Page 3

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Events PREVIEWS Fun activities at Eastnor Ledbury, Herefordshire, Open Daily from 11am If Eastnor Castle’s never been on your radar when it comes to planning fun family days out, this is the month to put that right. July events include a day with Tractor Ted (on the 5th), the opportunity to get creative with Eastnor pottery (the 12th) and a teddy bears’ picnic (on the 19th). And the award-winning Herefordshire tourist attraction boasts plenty more besides. An adventure playground, a junior assault course, a knight’s maze, a mini zip-wire and Land Rover Little Off Roaders all ensure there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained. There’s also the impressive castle itself and its picturesque grounds to enjoy, not to mention Valley Lawn - a spacious area ideal for Antiques For Everyone high-energy children and perfect for picnics. NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 23 - Sat 26 July Antiques For Everyone offers the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts and collectors to browse, purchase and obtain information on a vast array of furniture and collectables. Items for sale include Georgian and Victorian furniture, British and European works of art, and highly collectable pottery, porcelain and jewellery from the past three hundred years, with prices ranging from £10 to £100,000. This particular show also features a superb collection of Derbyshire Blue John, a form of flu- orite which has a translucent appearance. Colours range from dark purple and violet to light brown and honey yellow. The collection is the core of a unique sale on loan from Fellows Auctioneers prior to its auction in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter in October. It features exceptional ornaments and items of jewellery, many of which were made in Birmingham by Matthew Boulton in the late eighteenth century.

The Big Art Show The festival’s line-up of entertainment would-be visitors that the event will be ‘great includes comedy from The Fizzogs, period value for money’. West Midland Showground, Shrewsbury, Fri 3 - Sun 5 July theatrical reenactments, a funfair and a And judging by the line-up, they’re probably chance to enjoy a variety of circus skills. right. Well-established attractions include the Head Showcasing work from some of the ever-popular monster trucks and a motorcy- best art and craft artists in Britain, aiming to cle display team. New additions to the bill make it the biggest art event of its kind in the are quad bike daredevil the Kangaroo Kid, West Midlands. Glass smiths, ceramicists, the Stampede Stunt Company performing a furniture designers, textile artists, sculptors, selection of stunts on horses, and a sheep- painters, metalworkers and jewellers will be dog display. A funfair, puppet shows, a among the 120 exhibitor line-up for 2015. As miniature steam railway and a BMX track well as over 100 short animation films, also feature. Shropshire Photographic Society is holding its summer exhibition at The Big Art Show. Large Model Aircraft Rally RAF Cosford Museum, Sat 18 - Sun 19 July This year’s rally is joining in the celebrations Family Festival to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle Of Britain, with hundreds of scale Walford and North Shropshire College, North Shropshire, Sun 12 July models of iconic aircraft taking to the skies (they look like the real thing when they’re up North Shropshire College’s first ever family there!). A wide selection of models - from festival is being promoted as an action- biplanes to modern-day jets - will be on packed event with all the ingredients for a show, all designed, built and flown by mem- great day out. bers of the Large Model Association (LMA). Highlights include a Shropshire FA football Commenting on the event, the LMA’s chair- tournament, a birds of prey presentation, live man, Dave Johnson, said: “This year we’ve music from local bands, Olympic weightlift- put together a fantastic flying display of large ing, a tai chi and yoga demonstration, The Women models with participants from across archery, rugby, air rifle shooting, mini tennis, Europe, and we hope that, with a little help Chainmakers’ Festival a three-legged race and welly wanging. from the weather, it will be the best we’ve Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 11 July seen at Cosford for several years.” Cradley Heath high street will be closed off City Of Wolverhampton for this Black Country Festival event, which celebrates the achievements of eight hun- Show dred women chainmakers who, via a ten- Wolverhampton Racecourse, week strike at the beginning of the twentieth Sat 11 - Sun 12 July century, fought to establish a minimum wage The City Of Wolverhampton Show’s move for their labour. from West Park to the racecourse has not The strike was led by trade unionist Mary been without controversy. Organisers have Macarthur, who founded the National had to defend a substantial percentage price Federation of Women Workers and later rise and the introduction of a £3 parking stood for Parliament as a Labour candidate. charge. They’ve done so by reassuring

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Events PREVIEWS Silverstone Classics Silverstone Circuit, Northampton, Fri 25 - Sun 26 July Billed as ‘the world’s biggest classic motor-racing festival’, the Silverstone Classic is a real mecca for car enthusiasts, at the same time offering top-notch entertainment for families. Renowned for attracting some of the biggest names in the industry, this year sees the event celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Highlights include more than twenty races, a performance from Status Quo, a display of over ten thousand classic cars, a giant wheel and vintage funfair, a huge shopping village and numerous ‘dynamic’ demonstrations.

1940s Weekend Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 18 - Sun 19 July This is the Black Country Living Museum’s largest ever 1940s weekend. The event offers visitors the chance to stroll through vintage memorabilia markets, meet 1940s characters and prepare for an evacuee lesson in St James’ school. Other attractions include wartime variety shows, austerity-busting ‘make do and mend’ workshops, fashion shows and street performers. There’s also the chance to experience air-raid scenarios and listen to some of Churchill’s most stirring speeches, performed live by a re-enactor.

Priory Park, Dudley Chase. Meet at Birches Waterloo, Sat 4 July, SUMMER VINTAGE FAIR LISTINGS FRIDAY TWILIGHT - Valley Forest Centre, Potteries Museum and Sat 4 July, New Events AFTERNOON TEA WITH Sat 4 July, Cannock Art Gallery, Stoke-on- National Destiny THE GEORGIAN BUTLER Chase Forest, Staffs Trent Centre, Dudley For full listing information on Events, Watch a demonstration LICHFIELD FESTIVAL: ROLLS ROYCE STAFFORDSHIRE CYCLING including times and dates, visit of how to set the dinner FLORETTE FESTIVAL COLLECTORS CAR SHOW FESTIVAL The second table, and learn about MARKET Arts, crafts, A day full of vintage day of two-wheeled fun, www.whatsonlive.co.uk the etiquette associated games, facepainting, fun! Sat 4 July, incorporating a mass- with dining in 1815, Fri street entertainment Brockhampton Estate, participation cycle ride back to life to grind from 3 July, Potteries and food & drink from Nr Bromyard, in the daytime, cycling wheat into flour, and Museum and Art across the region, Sat 4 Herefordshire activities for the family learn how the mill's WED 1 JULY Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent July, LIchfield Cathedral AN INTRODUCTION TO and a professional machinery works, until COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL STAR-SPANGLED RAG BEEKEEPING Join Colin cycle race in the Sun 19 July, Sarehole WWI MILITARY HOSPITAL Showcasing the food RUGGING Create an and Ian from Bournville evening, Sat 4 July, Mill, Birmingham Wed 1 July, Stokesay and drink available in American-inspired rag Beekeepers, Sat 4 July, Shugborough Historic HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Castle, Shropshire Birmingham’s commer- rug for your home. Selly Manor, Working Estate, WICKED WARWICK New DISCOVER & EXPLORE- cial quarter, Fri 3 - Sat 4 Perfect for beginners to Birmingham Staffordshire for 2015, the Horrible SPRING ART CART Family July, Victoria Square, this traditional tech- BLACKSMITH EXPERIENCE MAKING WAVES - THE Histories bring Wicked 'drop in' workshops Birmingham nique, Sat 4 July, DAY A taster session WELSH WATERWAY FES- Warwick back to life, suitable for families with CAMPER JAM Highlights Birmingham Back to providing an introduc- TIVAL A contingent of until Sun 6 Sept, children aged five and include live bands, food Backs tion to the forge, the Wilderness boats will Warwick Castle over, until Sun 5 July, village, children's activi- WATERLOO 200TH basic tools and how to be accompanied by THE BODENGNOME Shire Hall Gallery, ties and the ever-popu- ANNIVERSARY Events to use them, Sat 4 July, steam, electric and GNOME HUNT Join in the Stafford lar 'cooking in a celebrate the bicente- Black Country Living model boats, while fun and hunt the LUDLOW FRINGE camper' competition, nary of the Battle of Museum, Dudley entertainers and gnomes, until Sun 30 FESTIVAL Now in its Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, Aug, Bodenham third year, the Ludlow Weston Park, Arboretum, Fringe Festival is an Staffordshire Kidderminster independent arts, com- THE BIG ART SHOW LEGO CITY DEEP SEA munity and culture fes- Showcasing work from EXPLORERS Get hands- tival that takes over some of the best art & on and build a Lego Ludlow’s street and craft artists in Britain, sea creature. Take part venues, until Sun 5 Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, West in other activities to July, various locations Midland Showground, become a real-life Lego around Ludlow, South Shrewsbury City Deep Sea Explorer, Shropshire 2015 FORMULA 1 BRITISH until Mon 31 Aug, WIMBLEDON LIVE! GRAND PRIX Fri 3 - Sun National Sea Life Watch the on-court 5 July, Silverstone Centre, Birmingham action while out and Circuit, Northampton BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ about in Brindleyplace, BOWBROOK HAVE-A-GO TOURS A chance to see courtesy of a large out- ARCHERY All ages and Birmingham in all its door screen in Central abilities welcome, Sat 4 glory, until Sun 27 Sept, Square, until Mon 6 July, Chirk Castle, Victoria Square, July, Brindleyplace, Shropshire Birmingham Birmingham 4X4 IN THE FOREST Join BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT MILLING SUNDAYS See the rangers in your 4x4 Join the count in the the mill as it’s brought to explore Cannock park, Thurs 2 July, Camper Jam - Weston Park, Staffordshire

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teen-plus, Sat 11 July, No Fit State Circus, performers at City of Wolverhampton Show LISTINGS Jackfield Tile Museum, Events Ironbridge, Shropshire AN INTRODUCTION TO For full listing information on Events, BAROQUE ART Curator including times and dates, visit Helen Hillyard gives a special lecture on www.whatsonlive.co.uk Baroque Art, Sat 11 July, Birmingham exhibitors take over the BEYOND THE LOOP: Museum And Art canalside, Sat 4 - Sun 5 ATTINGHAM TO Gallery July, Welshpool, Powys IRONBRIDGE SILVER PENDANT STEP BACK TO THE 1940S Archaeologist Dr Nigel JEWELLERY WORKSHOP Popular event taking a Baker takes a journey Join designer maker lighthearted journey down to the river, dis- Louise Mary Muttitt and back to wartime Britain. covering all the local learn the skills and Attractions include cos- history, Sun 5 July, techniques of a silver- tumed re-enactments, a Attingham Park, smith in a creative one- 1940s Blackout Fair, Shrewsbury day workshop, Sat 11 displays of historic civil- July, Museum of the ian & military vehicles, Week Commencing Jewellery Quarter, a wartime operations Birmingham room and period mem- MON 6 JULY CHARACTER WEEKEND orabilia stands Sat 4 - Get snapped with some Sun 5 July, Severn TILE DECORATING of Cadbury's most Valley Railway, WORKSHOP Drop-in ses- colourful characters, Kidderminster sions where visitors can including Caramel HERITAGE WEEKEND use the tube lining Bunny, Freddo, Creme Listen to informative technique to produce of the Black Country STEWART EASTON Egg and Mr Cadbury's Week Commencing talks about the their own ceramic mas- Living Museum host Design and stitch a Parrot, Sat 11 - Sun 12 Cadbury family before terpiece. Activities vary activities as part of MON 13 JULY pocket square using July, Cadbury World, taking a stroll around from day to day. Tiles Black Country Day cel- simple hand embroi- Birmingham ebrations with the dery stitches. Suitable the historic Bournville cost from £5 each and HONDA RON HASLAM BLACK COUNTRY Dudley Council of for adults and children Village, Sat 4 - Sun 5 can be fired and sent to RACE SCHOOL The Ron WEEKEND Embark on a Churches, Sun 12 July, aged seven-plus, Sat July, Cadbury World, you for a small extra Haslam Race School discovery trail and Black Country Living 18 July, Shire Hall Birmingham charge to cover p&p, offers the experience of uncover the proud Museum, Dudley Gallery, Stafford MASTERS FESTIVAL A Tues 7 July, Jackfield riding on an internation- industrial heritage of SUNDAY SCENES TOUR FAMILY CRAFT Sat 18 - two day celebration of Tile Museum, al racing circuit, Mon the region, or relax with Take a walk with a Wed 29 July, Red the history of motor- Ironbridge, Shropshire 13 July, Donington Park a local real ale and a member of the House Glass Cone, sport, Sat 4 - Sun 5 LOCAL HISTORY TALK - A Racing Circuit bag BCLM’s famous Trentham team and dis- Dudley July, Donington Park TALE OF THREE TOWNS A BRINDLEYPLACE FILM traditional fish and cover the story behind FAMILY TRAIL Sat 18 - Racing Circuit talk by former FESTIVAL Free outdoor chips, Sat 11 - Sun 12 the restoration of Wed 29 July, Dudley JAPSHOW The first Wolverhampton City event, Mon 13 - Sun 19 July, Black Country Trentham Gardens, Sun Museum and Art major event for Archaeologist Mike July, Brindleyplace, Living Museum, Dudley 12 July, Trentham Gallery, Dudley Japanese car fans, fea- Shaw, Wed 8 July, Birmingham THE GREAT BRITISH FOOD Gardens, Staffordshire FASHION IN THE turing RWYB competi- Wolverhampton City TILE DECORATING FESTIVAL Sat 11 - Sun RACE FOR LIFE A 5km SIXTEENTH CENTURY tion, Jap Drag Series, Archives WORKSHOP Drop-in tile 12 July, Shugborough run around Himley Park Julia Lowe talks about FWD Drag Series, club GARDEN FLORISTRY decorating workshop Historic Working Estate, in aid of Cancer the varying details of displays, drifting, drag WORKSHOP The garden where visitors can try Staffordshire Research UK, Sun 12 sixteenth century fash- demos, Show’n’Shine team give a hands-on the tube lining tech- CITY OF July, Himley Hall, ion, Sat 18 July, Selly and more, Sun 5 July, seasonal workshop, nique to produce their WOLVERHAMPTON SHOW Dudley Manor, Birmingham Santa Pod Raceway, Thurs 9 July, own ceramic master- Including a trio of new BIRMINGHAM MUSIC BUS LARGE MODEL AIRCRAFT Northampton Cholmondeley Castle, piece. Activities vary attractions alongside TOUR Explore RALLY An air show in TRACTOR TED Bouncy Shropshire from day to day. Tiles favourites Big Pete Birmingham’s contribu- miniature - a must for fun with the Giant DRAGSTALGIA A week- cost from £5 each and Monster Truck and tion to the music scene, any aviation enthusiast, Tractor Ted inflatable, end event dedicated to can be fired and sent to Bolddog Lings from Black Sabbath, Sat 18 - Sun 19 July, Sun 5 July, Eastnor race cars, bikes and you for a small extra Motorcycle Display UB40 and Musical RAF Cosford, Nr Castle Deer Park, hot rods from a bygone charge to cover p&p, Team, Sat 11 - Sun 12 Youth to Laura Mvula Wolverhampton Herefordshire era, Fri 10 - Sun 12 Tues 14 July, Jackfield July, Wolverhampton and many more, Sun VINTAGE AT THE MANOR VINTAGE AND PVT The July, Santa Pod Tile Museum, Racecourse 12 July, Victoria A selection of hand- annual MAC Vintage Raceway, Northampton Ironbridge, Shropshire BLACK COUNTRY DAY Square, Birmingham made and vintage meeting in association EVENING SCENIC BAT WALK A chance to CELEBRATIONS Sat 11 - SOUTH STAFFS BONSAI stalls, live entertain- with the Vintage Sports SPECIALS A scenic meet the population of Sun 12 July, Red SHOW Sun 12 July, ment, makeovers and a Car Club, Sun 5 July, evening ride with the bats living at the castle, House Glass Cone, Birmingham Botanical tea room, Sat 18 - Sun Shelsley Walsh, added option of tradi- Tues 14 July, Chirk Dudley Gardens 19 July, Manor House Worcester tional fish and chip Castle, Shropshire NATIONAL CAR RACES FLYING POTTER Creative Museum, Wednesbury CAMERA FAIR The UK's supper, Sat 11 July, LOCAL HISTORY TALK - THE BRITISH AUTOMOBILE workshops with Eastnor 1940S WEEKEND A nos- largest independent Severn Valley Railway, NINETEENTH CENTURY Two days of racing, Sat Pottery, Sun 12 July, talgic journey back to camera fair, featuring Kidderminster ACCIDENTS A talk by 11 - Sun 12 July, Eastnor Castle Deer the sights and sounds over one hundred ROLLING MILL local historian Jane Donington Park Racing Park, Herefordshire of wartime Britain, Sat stands, Sun 5 July, DEMONSTRATION A typi- Smith, Fri 17 July, Circuit BREAKFAST CLUB 18 - Sun 19 July, Black Wolverhampton cal Black Country hand Wolverhampton Art WW2 WEEKEND A selec- Monthly social gather- Country Living Racecourse rolling mill from around Gallery tion of stalls, music, ing open to all, Sun 12 Museum, Dudley TUDOR DAY Step back in the 1900s, Sat 11 July, THE BURTON REAL ALE fashion, food and other July, Shelsley Walsh, IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE time for a taste of Tudor Black Country Living AND JAZZ FESTIVAL A delights, Sat 11 - Sun Worcestershire WOODS TODAY... Fun life, Sun 5 July, Ford Museum, Dudley weekend of jazz music, 12 July, Staffordshire ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE woodland activities for Green Hall, Stoke-on- COVENTRY TRANSPORT beer and food, Fri 17 - Regiment Museum FAIR Sun 12 July, Maws all the family, Sat 18 - Trent MUSEUM CLASSIC CAR Sat 18 July, National DISCOVER & EXPLORE - Craft Centre, nr Sun 19 July, Moseley TREE TRAIL Sun 5 July, BREAKFAST CLUB A Brewery Centre, SUMMER ART CART Ironbridge, Shropshire Old Hall, Nr Himley Hall, Dudley chance to show off Burton-upon-Trent, Family 'drop in' and STEAM CREAM LAND Wolverhampton KNOTTY TRAIN DAY A your classic car and/or Staffs workshop sessions, CRUISE TRAIN Enjoy SUMMER STEAM GALA chance to travel on motorcycle, Sat 11 July, PEEP BEHIND THE suitable for families with cream tea whilst travel- Featuring visiting loco- what’s said to be one Coventry Transport SCENES A unique children aged five and ling by steam train motive Wissington, Sat of the oldest trains in Museum insight into what goes older, Sat 11 July - Sun through the country- 18 - Sun 19 July, the country, Sun 5 July, MORGANS THRILL ON THE on behind the scenes 6 Sept, Shire Hall side, Sun 12 July, Foxfield Railway, Foxfield Railway, HILL Featuring hun- to keep Severn Valley Gallery, Stafford Foxfield Railway, Stafford Staffordshire dreds of Morgan Cars, Railway running, Sat 18 UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: Staffordshire KITE FESTIVAL Take your HOT HOT HOT! LATIN live music, trade stands July, Severn Valley BEHIND THE SCENES WALLED GARDEN IN own kite, or purchase AMERICAN FESTIVAL and much more, Sat 11 Railway, Kidderminster TOUR Revealing what BLOOM: FRUIT FEST one on the day, to fly Featuring music, dance July, Shelsley Walsh, ADULT WORKSHOP: goes on behind the Discover all about the around the grounds, and workshops, Sun 5 Worcestershire CONTEMPORARY scenes of a stately fruit in the walled gar- Sat 18 - Sun 19 July, July, The Arcadian LINO PRINTING SCREENPRINTING Create home, Sun 12 July, den, Sun 12 July, Berrington Hall, Nr Centre, Birmingham WORKSHOPS WITH designs and prints with Weston Park, Attingham Park, Nr Leominster WHITE ADMIRAL WALK A AMANDA HILLIER Full- artist Karoline Rerrie, Shropshire Shrewsbury FAMILY TRAIL Sat 18 - summer walk through day lino printing course Sat 18 July, FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES Wed 29 July, Broadfield the woods, Sun 5 July, - includes all materials Birmingham Museum & Enjoy festival activities House Glass Museum, Dudmaston Estate, and light refreshments. Art Gallery in the Providence Kingswinford Shropshire Suitable for ages four- 'TAKE CAUTION!' WITH Chapel as the Friends SUMMER HOLIDAY

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62 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Events July Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:02 Page 10

WALK WITH THE LISTINGS GARDENERS The head Events gardener gives a seasonal tour, Wed 22 July, For full listing information on Events, Chirk Castle, including times and dates, visit Shropshire HONDA RON HASLAM www.whatsonlive.co.uk RACE SCHOOL The Ron Haslam Race School FAMILY FUN Join the BROCKHAMPTON Making offers the experience of summer of fun at up part of the Festival riding on an internation- Cadbury World with a of British Archaeology, al racing circuit, Wed whole host of entertain- this event offers the 22 July, Donington Park ers, Sat 18 July - Wed 2 opportunity to see the Racing Circuit Sept, Cadbury World, first trenches being dug TEDDY BEARS PICNIC Birmingham and a chance to meet Thurs 23 July, LIGHTS, CAMERA, the archaeologists, Sun Broadfield Glass ACTION! An action- 19 July, Brockhampton House, Kingswinford packed summer of Estate, Nr Bromyard, THE SECRET LIFE OF A magic, movie sets and Herefordshire MONK Thurs 23 July, more, Mon 20 July - TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC Priory Park, Dudley Wed 2 Sept, Black Take along your LOVE IS ENOUGH: DIGITAL Country Living favourite teddies for a POP Make your own Museum, Dudley picnic, with stories, fun photo portraits, Fri 24 TERRIFIC TEXTILES and games from enter- July, Birmingham WORKSHOPS Discover tainer Jem, Sun 19 July, Museum And Art more about fantastic Eastnor Castle Deer Gallery Summer Holiday Candle Dipping - Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire creations made from a Park, Herefordshire 22ND MOPAR EURO variety of textiles, Sat STAFFORDSHIRE BIKE 1940S WEEKEND Sat 25 - this is an annual gather- THE COUNTRY FAIR NATIONALS The Ultimate Join 18 July - Sun 6 Sept, SHOW A major event for Sun 26 July, Red ing of cars, motorcycles American Muscle Car the town’s residents on Enginuity Museum, bikers featuring leading House Glass Cone, and commercial vehi- show with RWYB, a the green at this new Ironbridge, Shropshire manufacturers, attrac- Dudley cles, all built in the burnout competition, jet event. See country craft SUMMER HOLIDAY tions, accessories and FIGHTING KNIGHTS Black Country, Sun 26 car and live evening demonstrations, work- CANDLE DIPPING Join much more, including Watch the brave July, Black Country entertainment, Fri 24 - ing horses and have a fun drop-in workshops lots of family fun, Sun knights prepare for Living Museum, Dudley Sun 26 July, Santa Pod go at horse driving, to make your own fabu- 19 July, Britannia combat, Sat 25 - Sun GARDEN DESIGN Raceway, Northampton Mon 27 July - Sun 2 lously coloured candle, Stadium, Stoke-on- WORKSHOP A one-day SILVERSTONE CLASSIC 26 July, Stokesay Aug, Blists Hill Victorian Sat 18 July - Sun 6 Trent Castle, Shropshire workshop, with award- Billed as ‘the world’s Town, Ironbridge, Sept, Blists Hill, LUDLOW ROTARY CLUB BRITISH TRUCK winning garden design- biggest classic motor- Shropshire Ironbridge, Shropshire FUN DOG DAY A family CHAMPIONSHIP & er Clive Mollart, on how HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACK racing festival’, Fri 24 - SUMMER OF fun day centred around SUPPORT RACES Sat 25 - to make the most of TO BACKS Sun 26 July, Silverstone The Back To ARCHAEOLOGY - INDIANA dogs in the grounds of Sun 26 July, Donington your garden, Sun 26 Circuit, Northampton Backs mice are playing BONES TRAIL Explore the the court, Sun 19 July, July, Trentham EVENING SCENIC Park Racing Circuit hide and seek - find Summer of Stokesay Court, AUDAX DIAMOND JUBILEE Gardens, Stoke-on- SPECIALS A scenic them all to win a prize, Archaeology excava- Shropshire RALLY A weekend rally Trent evening ride with the Tues 28 - Fri 31 July, tions on the estate, Sat EXCAVATE! SUMMER OF with camping - cele- DROITWICH SPA MODEL added option of tradi- Birmingham Back to 18 July - Sun 6 Sep ARCHAEOLOGY A chance brating cars from the BOAT CLUB Sun 26 July, tional fish and chip sup- Backs Brockhampton Estate, to get involved in the Rootes stable, Sat 25 - Bodenham Arboretum, FAMILY ART WORKSHOP: per, Sat 25 July, Severn Bromyard, Nr Hereford archaeological digs tak- Sun 26 July, Heritage Crossways, POPTASTIC PRINTING Valley Railway, PLAY LIKE AN EDWAR- ing place over the sum- Motor Centre, Gaydon, Kidderminster Bewdley, Nr Inspired by Andy DIAN Test your skill with mer, Sun 19 July - Sun Warwickshire BIG EDWARDIAN SUMMER Kidderminster Warhol, the learning an array of Edwardian 9 Aug, Brockhampton LACE WARS - JACOBITE BASH An Edwardian KIDS DISCOVER RAG officers are on hand to and wartime fete Estate, Nr Bromyard REBELLION RE-ENACT- summer celebration of RUGGING Join the crafty help you make your games, Sat 18 July - MENT Skirmish re-enact- outdoor play and folk to learn how to very own vibrant and Sun 6 Sept, Croft ments, drills and living games, Sun 26 July, Week Commencing make a mini rag rug, colourful prints, Wed 29 Castle, Nr Leominster history camp, Sat 25 - Croft Castle, Nr Sat 25 July, July, Birmingham CERAMIC TEXTURES MON 20 JULY Sun 26 July, Avoncroft Leominster Birmingham Back to Museum And Art Discover how to add Museum, Bromsgrove LOK VIRSA - BEYOND Backs Gallery texture to clay models, MONKEYING AROUND - WEEKEND BORDERS A one-day arts ANIMATION WORKSHOP LADIES DAY Sat 25 July, or how to paint a CIRCUS SKILLS Fun ARCHAEOLOGISTS A festival celebrating the Severn Valley Railway, Produce your own money box, china week-long circus sum- chance to join in with rich cultural heritage of Bewdley, Nr colourful characters flower or fridge magnet. mer school, aimed at the volunteers and Pakistan, Sun 26 July, Kidderminster and sets with Chris From Tuesday to young people aged mac, Birmingham GLENN MILLER OPEN AIR community members in Vandyke, Wed 29 July, Thursday, visitors will between eight and archeological activities ARTS AND CRAFTS Join CONCERT Sat 25 July, The Hive, Shrewsbury, be given the chance to eighteen, Mon 20 - Fri including pot washing, in Carnival Arts crafty Maws Craft Centre, Nr Shropshire design and make their 24 July, The Place, sieving soil and gener- workshops, Sun 26 - HONDA RON HASLAM Ironbridge, Shropshire own clay model to take Oakengates Theatre, Thurs 30 July, BRITISH WOODCARVING ating theories about RACE SCHOOL The Ron home, Mon 20 July - Telford Eastnor Castle Deer ASSOCIATION EXHIBITION excavations, Sat 25 - Haslam Race School Wed 2 Sept, Coalport SUMMER HOLIDAY TILE Sun 26 July, Park, Herefordshire A display of work bylo- offers the experience of China Museum, DECORATING WORKSHOP Brockhampton Estate, TUDOR THREADS AND cal amateur carvers, riding on an internation- Ironbridge, Shropshire Try your hand at the Nr Bromyard STUART SEWING Sun 26 Sat 25 July - Sun 9 al racing circuit, Wed HORRIBLE HISTORIES: tube lining technique to ‘50 THINGS’ WOODLAND July, Moseley Old Hall, Aug, Chirk Castle, 29 July, Donington Park MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM Sat produce a tile featuring CAMP Bushcraft expert Wolverhampton Shropshire Racing Circuit 18 July - Sun 6 Sept your own design and THE RILEY MOTOR CLUB - Mick Cowles and the BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES Sept, Warwick Castle choice of colours. 90TH ANNIVERSARY rangers lead a week- Week Commencing FAMILY DAY Thurs 30 SEVEN SECRET DOORS Activities vary from day- end of wild camping, To celebrate this mile- July, Dudley Museum Discover the seven to day, Mon 20 - Fri 24 Sat 25 - Sun 26 July, MON 27 JULY stone, the club are and Art Gallery, Dudley doors and what secrets July, Jackfield Tile Dudmaston Estate, TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC bringing thirty classic lay behind them, Sat 18 Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire AN EVENING WITH Rileys to Millennium Treat your favourite July - Mon 7 Sept, Shropshire MULTI-PERIOD LIVING BOYCOTT & AGGERS - THE Place, Sat 25 July, teddy to some fun & Shugborough Historic HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACK HISTORY WEEKEND Sat SECOND INNINGS Mon 27 Coventry Transport games, Thurs 30 July, Working Estate, TO BACKS The Back To 25 - Sun 26 July, July, Symphony Hall, Museum Ford Green Hall, Stoke- Staffordshire Backs mice are playing Birmingham CIVIL WAR FIREARMS Whittington Castle, on-Trent SUMMER FUN Featuring hide and seek - find Shropshire SUMMER HOLIDAY TILE LOVE IS ENOUGH: FAMILY WEEKEND Brian the Maize Maze, Sat 18 them all to win a prize, CLASSIC VEHICLE DAY DECORATING FRIDAY Goodwin from Leeds Family-friendly July - Sun 27 Sept, Tues 21 - Sun 26 July, Featuring a selection of WORKSHOPS Join a Armoury inspects the tour of the new exhibi- Park Hall Farm, Birmingham Back to pre-war cars at summer-themed drop- castle’s collection, Sat tion, with craft activities Shropshire Backs Kidderminster station in tile decorating work- 25 - Sun 26 July, Chirk too, Fri 31 July, TOUR OF THE GARDENS HOLIDAY POTTERS An and a display of Ford shop and try the tube Castle, Shropshire Birmingham Museum Weston’s roses and hour of messy creativity lining technique to pro- COSFORD FOOD FESTIVAL cars of all ages at the And Art Gallery seasonal bedding will with Stephanie Kelly, Visitor Centre at duce a tile featuring ULTIMATE STREET CAR Featuring cooking be in full flower as Tues 21 July, The Hive, Highley, Sun 26 July, your own design and demonstrations, food The fastest, hottest, Martin Gee takes you Shrewsbury Severn Valley Railway, choice of colours. and drink giveaways largest and loudest on a guided tour of the THE THREAD OF LIFE Bewdley, Nr Activities vary from day and entertainment modified car festival in gardens, Sun 19 July, Adults’ cross-stitch Kidderminster to day, Mon 27 - Fri 31 across the weekend, Europe, Fri 31 July - Weston Park, workshop, Wed 22 July, FESTIVAL OF BLACK July, Jackfield Tile Sat 25 - Sun 26 July, Sun 2 Aug, Santa Pod Staffordshire Bilston Craft Centre, COUNTRY VEHICLES Now Museum, ironbridge, RAF Cosford, Nr Raceway, Northampton DIGGING UP Wolverhampton in its thirteenth year, Shropshire Wolverhampton

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 63 Events July Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:02 Page 11 Eating Out July region two.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:25 Page 1 Eating Out Celebrity chef brings the tastes and smells of Italy to Wolverhampton Gino D’Acampo is bringing his inimitable charm, wit and culinary skill to Wolverhampton Civic Hall in November. Gino’s Italian Escape Live On Stage delivers the tastes and smells of Mediterranean cuisine to Midlands audiences, with selected fans being invited to join him on stage. Tickets priced £26.95 are now on sale for the 3 November event.

Beautiful views of The River Severn from The Foundry

New venture for Shrewsbury brothers An enticing pre-theatre menu Four brothers have taken over one of Shrewsbury’s oldest cafes to create a lunchtime experience based on globally inspired, locally at a very reasonable price... sourced produce. The tudor tea room Poppy’s has just a hint of lavender cuits. The chocolate been transformed into CSONS by the Crouch REVIEW (enough to make it inter- ganache was a very rich brothers - Reuben, Josh, Ben and Adam. The sib- esting), while the and naughty treat, while lings have over fifty years of relevant experience crubeens (battered and the crème brulee was light between them, ranging from cheffing in top A restaurant in deep-fried pork belly) went and delicious. Diners can London establishments to working with nationally Shrewsbury’s Theatre down a storm with my car- come back for pudding in renowned baristas and suppliers of award-winning Severn, you say? I didn’t nivorous husband! the theatre show’s interval, artisan meats, cheeses and craft lagers. The venue know there was a restau- For our main courses, we should they feel a little caters for roughly sixty covers and is open for rant in Shrewsbury’s opted for the pan seared rushed beforehand. breakfast, lunch and coffees. The brothers plan to Theatre Severn! But mackerel with rosemary The Foundry really is a expand into the evening market later this year. To indeed there is, tucked roasted new potatoes, her- hidden jewel that more book a table, call 01743 272709. away on the second floor. The Foundry is a petite itage tomato, olive and theatre-goers should take eatery that dishes up sea- caper salad, and the vege- advantage of. It offers a sonal specials and an tarian option of spinach very relaxed dining experi- extremely enticing pre-the- pancakes with roasted ence. And with owner and atre menu at a very rea- Mediterranean vegetables experienced chef Matthew sonable price. and Shropshire Blue Periam at the helm of the It also offers impressive sauce. The mackerel was daily specials board, both views of the River Severn an incredibly tasty, whole- the front-of-house and the and the town’s Welsh some dish, made with kitchen teams have got it Bridge. On the evening quality ingredients. The sussed! Jessica Aston we dined there, the doors pancakes were unusual. were flung open to the Despite being a vegetarian Food: n n n n n balcony and the breeze dish, the generous smoth- Service: n n n n n was drifting in. Our friendly ering of Shropshire Blue Ambience: n n n n n waitress, Kayleigh, read sauce felt wholly indul- Overall value n n n n n out the specials. We opted gent. We mopped up with OVERALL n n n n n for the pork belly a side of hand-cut chips. crubeens - with apple With half an hour left The Foundry puree and cider-pickled before our show was due Theatre Severn Want us to review your vegetables - and the spe- to start, we squeezed in a Shrewsbury cial: goats cheese and pudding of chocolate Shropshire restaurant?, then contact lavender pannacotta with ganache with dulche de SY3 8FT [email protected] or call toasted sourdough. Both leche, toasted hazelnuts Tel: 01743 281281 were superb starters. The and ice cream, and crème 01743 281703 pannacotta was light, with brulee with shortbread bis-

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out July region two.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:25 Page 2

Restaurant LISTINGS Shropshire AFTAB 25 High St, For full listing information on restau- Ironbridge, TF8 7AD rants, including opening times and 01952 432055 ALBRIGHT HUSSEY type of cuisine, visit: www.whatson- Ellesmere Rd, live.co.uk Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF 01939 290 523 DY9 9PS 01562 883260 BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a Black Country FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, Mardol, Shrewsbury, Smethwick, B67 5BN SY1 1PZ 01743 272586 ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 0121 429 7920 Lichfield Street, Walsall, BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal, FRENCH CONNECTION WS1 1SY 01922 613361 TF11 9BA 01952 3 Coventry St, 460128 BANKS BISTRO Chapel Stourbridge, DY8 1EP CASA NARANJO Barracks Ash, Wolverhampton, 01384 390940 WV1 4EP 01902 238433 Passage, Wyle Cop, FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove Shrewsbury, SY1 01743 BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, Rd, Clent, Stourbridge, 588165 Wolverhampton, 01902 DY9 9PY 01562 883040 427555 CASA RUIZ 45 High GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 BENGAL FUSION 174 High Ablewell St, Walsall, 4DX 01746 218 084 St, Lye, Stourbridge, WS12EQ 01922 640363 CHEZ MAW Best Western DY9 8LN. 01384 891111 THE HUNGRY BISTRO 81 Valley Hotel, Buildwas BILASH 2 Cheapside, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW Wolverhampton, WV1 01952 432247 1TU 01902 427762 1EQ 01902 546336 THE COTTAGE Tern Hill, THE BLUE BRICK LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower Market Drayton, TF9 3PX Fishmore Hall - Ludlow, South Shropshire Broad Gauge Way, Mill Street, 01630 638984 Wolverhampton, WV1 Kidderminster, DY11 18 Abbey Foregate, THE PLUME OF FEATHERS 01785 253279 1AA 01902 875301 6UU 01562 744976 CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole, Shrewsbury, SY1 1EN Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Harley, Shrewsbury, SY5 ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper MADE IN THAI Darlington 01743 281744 6LP 01743 727360 27 Broad Eye, Stafford, Green, Wolverhampton, St, Wolverhampton, WV1 01743 361440 THE HAYWARDS at The PORTER HOUSE 15 St ST16 2QB 01785 WV6 8QQ 01902 4HW 01902 312512 DA VINCI’S 26 High St, Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, Mary’s St, Shrewsbury, 229988 756052 PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 01952 432250 Shrewsbury, SY1 1UY SY1 1EQ 01743 358870 FOUR SEASONS Swinfen CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253- Mill Street, 01743 353107 Hall, Lichfield, WS14 255 Bilston Road, Kidderminster, DORRINGTON OLD HALL THE POUND AT LEEBOT- HENRY TUDOR HOUSE 9RE 01543 481494 Wolverhampton, WV2 DY11 6UU 01562 60479 PERSIAN CUISINE Main WOOD Leebotwood, Nr THE GREEN ROOM Castle 2JN 01902 458024 THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst Road, Dorrington, Barracks Passage, Church Stretton, SY6 Lane, Tipton, DY4 9AB Shropshire SY5 7JD Shrewsbury, SY1 1XA 6ND 01694 751477 Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 CASA CASITA Upper 01743 361666 6HR 01543 412121 Gornal, Dudley, DY3 0121 557 1402 01743 719100 RENAISSANCE, 29a INDIAN VILLAGE 1UP 01902 676754 RED FORT Fold St, DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St HILL VALLEY HOTEL Princess St, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, WV1 Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ Tarporley Road, SY11LW 01743 354289 8 Lombard St, Lichfield, CATELLANI’S 6 School St, Whitchurch, SY13 4HA WS13 6DR 01543 4LP 01902 424440 01743 344679 ROMOLO Victoria Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV1 0844 879 9049 253415 4LR 01902 428928 RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 THE FEATHERS Brockton, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HH THE INN AT GRINSHILL INDICA Virage Park, CINNAMON COURT Upper Green, Tettenhall, Much Wenlock, TF13 01743 233244 Bentley The High Street, Cannoc, WS11 0HN Mill Way, Walsall, WS2 Wolverhampton WV6 6JR 01746 785202 Grinshill, Shrewsbury, SARACENS Shrewsbury 08712 070417 0BP 0121 568 6664 8QQ 01902 756052 FENNELS 8 Market Place, SY4 3BL 01939 220410 Rd, SY4 4AG 01939 LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford THE COWSHED Clive SAFFRON Wolverhampton Shifna,l TF11 9AZ 210877 KING & THAI Avenue Rd, St, Stone, ST15 8QW Farm Clive Rd, Road, Oldbury, B69 4RR 01952 463020 0121 552 1752 Broseley, Telford, TF12 SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St, 01785 817 985 Pattingham, WV6 7EN THE FOX INN 46 High St, Oswestry, SY11 1AQ SIMON’S 5DL 01952 882004 THE LODGE 24 01902 701888 520 Chester Rd, Much Wenlock, TF13 01691 655444 THE KNIGHTON HOTEL Birmingham Road, THE CROOKED HOUSE Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 6AD 01952 727292 0PU 0121 580 9293 Broad Street, Knighton, SHALIMAR 23 Abbey Shenstone, WS14 0LQ Coppice Hill, Himley, FRANK CAFE BAR 129 Foregate, Shrewsbury, 01543 483334 DY3 4DA 01384 238583 SPICES Hollywell Rd, Powys, LD7 1BL 01547 Wednesbury, WS10 7PA Frankwell, Shrewsbury, 520530 SY2 6AE 01743 366658 MALABAR 1-2 Water THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, SY3 8JX 01743 354422 0121 502 0720 LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop, Street, Stafford, ST16 Walsall, WS1 2EU THE GOLDEN CROSS 14 Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT 2AG 01785 227 500/600 01922 643215 THE SPRINGHILL Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 Warstones Rd, Penn, Princess St, Shrewsbury, 1QU 01743 249126 01743 242321 MARLOES 13 London DON SALVO 25 Darlington Wolverhampton, WV4 SY1 1LP 01743 362507 LA LANTERNA The Old THE SILVERTON the Old Road, Newcastle under Street, Wolverhampton, 4LB 01902 342530 GRANARY BAR & GRILL Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782 WV1 4HW 01902 712819 Vestry, St Julian's Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell, THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 Weston Park, Weston- Church, Shrewsbury Shrewsbury SY3 8JY 661983 DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley Gospel End Rd, Dudley, under-Lizard, Nr Shifnal, SY1 1UH 01743 233552 01743 248000 THE MILL 1 Mill St, Stone, Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU DY3 4AN 01902 676 TF11 8LE 01952 LION & PHEASANT 50 ST15 8BA 01785 01384 877077 TIN TINS Wellington Road, 102 852107 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, Telford, TF2 8AJ 818456 FARADAYS The THORNESCROFT THE GLUTTON CLUB 165- SY1 1XJ 01743 770345 THE NAVIGATION INN Waterfront, Brierley Hill, 01952 608688 Bridgnorth Rd, 167 Frankwell, THE LION QUAYS Newport Road, Gnosall, Dudley, DY5 1UR Moreton, THE WALLS Welsh Walls, Wolverhampton, WV6 Shrewsbury, SY3 8LG Stafford, ST20 0BN 01384 482 882 Oswestry, SY11 3EN Oswestry, SY11 1AW 7EQ 01902 700 253 01743 361672 01691 684300 01785 822327 FIVE RIVERS Vicarage 01691 670970 THE WOODMAN Claverley, HADLEY PARK HOUSE OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St, Place, Walsall, WS1 3NA LOCH FYNE Talbot House, ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40 Wolverhampton, WV5 Hadley Park, Telford, Branston, Burton, DE14 01922 646164 Market Street, High Street, Shrewsbury, 7DG 01746 710 553 TF1 6QJ 01952 677269 Shrewsbury, SY1 1LG 3EX 01283 533222 FOUR STONES Adam’s SY1 1SF 01743 353232 HAVANA REPUBLIC 01743 277140 PASCAL AT THE OLD VIC- Hill, Clint, Stourbridge, LUDLOW KITCHEN ARAGE 2 Main Street, Bromfield, Ludlow, SY2 Staffordshire Branston, Burton-upon- 2JR 01584 856020 Trent 01283 533222 NO 5 Gaol Mews, Stafford, THE MALTHOUSE The PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 Mill ST16 3AN 01785 22 9900 Wharfage, Ironbridge, Street, Stafford, ST16 95 HIGH GREEN Cannock, (EST 86) TF8 7NH 01902 433712 2AJ 01782 263 737 WS11 1BH 01543 THE PEAR TREE Swinfen, THE DINNER CLUB MOMO·NO·KI T19 Abbey 573905 A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY Foregate, Shrewsbury, Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR 1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5 01543 481807 SY2 6AE 01743 281770 Lombard St, Lichfield, MORGANS 1 Bellstone, PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh WS13 6DP 01543 St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1 SINGLE? Shrewsbury, SY1 1HU 257986 1JD 01782 209444 01743 231199 BELLA ITALIA 20 Greengate For the more discerning THE RED ROOM 7 THE MYTTON & MERMAID St, Stafford, ST16 2HS Newcastle Road, unattached person, age 40+ Atcham, Shrewsbury, 01785 211968 SY5 6QG 01743 761220 Congleton, CW12 4HN CHANDLERS Corn 01260 297871 Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie THE OLD ORLETON INN Exchange, Conduit St, THORNBURY HALL, RASOI Holyhead Rd, Wellington, Lichfield, WS13 6JU balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. Lockwood Rd, Kingsley TF1 2HA 01952 255011 01543 416688 Holt, Stafford, ST10 2DH THE OLD RECTORY HOTEL THE CORNER HOUSE 01538 750831 NOT A DATING AGENCY Second Avenue,Burton- & RESTAURANT Lowe Hill WOLSELEY ARMS Road, Wem, Shropshire, On-Trent, DE14 2WF 01283 542321 Wolseley Bridge, 01244 677030 (Day)/01244 548816 (Eve/W-end) SY4 5UA 01939 233233 Stafford, ST17 0XS CURRY KUTEER THE PEACH TREE 21 Abbey 31 01889 883179 Foregate, Shrewsbury, Greengate Street, www.thedinnerclubuk.com SY2 6AE 01743 355055 Stafford, ST16 2HY

66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk p67 (IBC) R2.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2015 18:26 Page 1 grand_whatson FP July:Layout 1 22/06/2015 11:52 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 22 - FRI 24 JULY SAT 25 JULY THU 20 AUG

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

West Bromwich Operatic Society are extremely proud to present

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

An amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd

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

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