John Whaite Punson Buns Interview Inside

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JOHN WHAITE PUNSON BUNS INTERVIEW INSIDE... colourful contemporary colourful Midlands... the in dance Father Brown star Brown Father comedy Moliere in inside.... interview VAMPIRE WEEKEND WEEKEND VAMPIRE MANA MARK WILLIAMS MARK Modern Vampires Of Vampires Modern Brum in City The NOVEMBER 2013 ISSUE 335 335 ISSUE sOn ’ .co.uk

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Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry John Whaite talks puns on buns - interview page 6 Mark Williams [email protected] 01743 281717 Moliere classic at The REP Website Development: interview p8 Jim Pallett Contributors: TO GET THE VERY p4 Graham Bostock: Theatre LATEST LISTING News James Cameron-Wilson: Film; Anita Champaneri: INFORMATION, Eating Out; Music p11 Alev Dervish: Music VISIT: Eva Easthope, Kate whatsonlive.co.uk Evans, Jessica Aston, Comedy p20 Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, INCLUDING Jan Watts, Reggie White BOOKING ONLINE Theatre p23 Head Office: 13-14 Abbey Foregate, The Midlands’ most Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE comprehensive p32 Tel: 01743 281777 entertainment website Dance e-mail: [email protected] Follow us on... Film/DVD p47 Winter Skate festive fun in Brum p57 This publication is Visual Arts p51 printed on paper from a sustainable source and is November 2013 produced without the use Birmingham p55 of elemental chlorine. @whatsonbrum Events MTWTFSS We endorse the recycling Warwickshire 123 of our magazine and @whatsonwarwicks p65 would encourage you to Eating Out 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 pass it on to others to Worcestershire read when you have @whatsonworcs 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 finished with it. facebook.com/whatsonlive 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 What’sOn 25 26 27 28 29 30 All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless MAGAZINE GROUP 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 November region one_Layout 1 28/10/2013 16:51 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Royal Shakespeare Company record increase in sales The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is celebrating after its Annual Review revealed that the organisation’s annual turnover grew to more than £62million in 2012/13. The review revealed that box office receipts increased by 75% to £31.6million, revenue fundraising grew by 28% to £4.1million, and trading income went up by nine percent to £4.8million. At the same time, public investment from Arts Council England fell by a further £0.8million to £16.6million. The RSC now generates 73% of its own income. Commenting on the Annual Review, RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran said: “It’s our job to bring the best possible experience of Shakespeare and live theatre to the widest possible audience and inspire a lifelong love of his work. The Annual Review highlights just some of the work we have shared with more than 1.5million people worldwide.”

David Essex to open REP new season Birmingham Repertory Theatre has announced its programme of shows for the first half of 2014. The recently refurbished Centenary Square venue was visited by one hundred-and-seventy thousand people during the month following its 3 September reopening, and is determined to build on its autumn success. Opening the 2014 season in the main auditorium is David Essex starring in the European premiere of The Dishwashers, Canadian writer Morris Panych’s play about the Zen of dishwashing. Other 2014 REP highlights include a revival of Roxana Silbert’s critically acclaimed RSC production, A Life Of Galileo; the premiere of Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s latest play, Khandan; the Spooky tales sought by premiere of Birmingham-born Rachel De-lahay’s Circles, set on the city’s outer-circle bus route; and a revival of Bryony Lavery’s award-winning 1998 play, Frozen. For further information, ring National Trust 0121 236 4455 or visit birmingham-rep.co.uk. The Midlands branch of the National Trust has launched a storywriting competition for children. The Halloween-themed initiative is Of Treasures - described as a reflection on TV success for City Choir contemporary prosperity and abundance - is asking youngsters aged twelve and under to Birmingham’s Town Hall Gospel Choir has the first exhibit in an ongoing Millennium put pen to paper and create a ghoulish tale been crowned winner of a prestigious national Point initiative which aims to place contem- inspired by one of the Trust's West Midlands competition. The Songs Of Praise Gospel porary art at the centre of its public program- venues. The winning entry will then be made Choir of the Year competition, filmed on home ming. Members of the general public will be into an illustrated book. The closing date for turf at Birmingham’s Grade One listed Town able to step inside the pig to watch video entries is 15 November. More information Hall, saw the choir beat off stiff competition footage made by Cao Fei. The exhibit’s 5 to can be found at from five other UK church and community 15 November stay at Millennium Point marks www.nationaltrust.org.uk/spookystories choirs. Commenting on the success, Colin the first time the work has been presented Anderson, Town Hall Gospel Choir Musical outside China. Director, said, “This wonderful achievement has come about thanks to the hard work, passion On the hunt for singing and talent that each choir member brings to both rehearsals and concerts. We look forward teenagers... to celebrating this accolade with family, friends TeenStar - the first and only singing competi- and fans, and to taking the next step forward in tion exclusively for teenagers - is on a UK- what has been an incredible journey so far.” wide search for talent. The competition, The Town Hall Gospel Choir next perform at which is split into three categories, attracted the city’s Black arts venue, The Drum, on 15 over nine thousand entrants last year, and December. it’s hoped that the 2014 event will prove to be even more popular. TeenStar auditions will take place at venues across the UK, Chinese artwork to show at including Birmingham’s NEC, with a £5,000 cash prize being awarded to the overall Millennium Point national winner at a prestigious event at A huge inflatable suckling pig is set to be London’s O2. If you think you’ve got what it installed inside Birmingham Millennium takes, then log on to www.teenstarcompeti- Point’s vast indoor space, as part of a new tion.co.uk to find out more about auditions in arts strategy. Chinese artist Cao Fei’s House your area.

4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News November region one_Layout 1 28/10/2013 16:51 Page 2

Image from the recent Squash & Squeeze exhibition BRB awarded Arts Council at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery England funding Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) has announced that it’s secured £1.85million as part of Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme. The grant will allow the Hippodrome-based company to under- take major improvements to its Thorpe Street rehearsal base. By developing its current site into a multi-purpose building able to accommodate both a large workforce and visiting personnel, BRB believes it will be able to ‘build on the delivery of a wide range of activities expected of a modern and outward-facing world-class ballet company’. It’s antici- pated that the total cost of the refurbish- ment will be £2.7mil- lion, the remainder of which will be raised via funding from private sources, as part

of BRB’s Campaign BRB’s The Nutcracker - For The Future. See page 32

New festival on the Frontier A new city-wide festival celebrating the music of Downtown New York - from John Cage and Philip Glass to post-punk and Rowland Emett exhibition coming to Brum jazz - is to take place in Birmingham next March. Featuring many leading artists from A series of sculptures and artworks by the legendary Rowland Emett will be on show at the US, live performance, exhibitions and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) next year. Well known as the man behind the fly- other events, Frontiers Festival is offering an ing car which appeared in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Emett was also an eminent car- eclectic programme to accommodate the toonist, regularly contributing to Punch magazine. BMAG’s yet-to-be-titled exhibition will be on city’s wide-ranging musical tastes. show from May to September 2014. It follows on from the venue’s hugely successful Squash Commenting on the event, Festival Director & Squeeze - a ticketed exhibition which, at the time of going to print, has been viewed by Ed McKeon said, “The Festival's motto more than twenty thousand visitors. Birmingham Museum Trust also recently announced an might be summed up in the words of Robert impressive footfall for its Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists exhibition. Featuring sets Ashley, one of the visiting artists: ‘American from the Aardman Animation blockbuster, the Thinktank-based exhibition was visited by music is a cowboy movie enacted in vast- 52,000 people between 25 May and 30 September. ness. The lawlessness of America is our charm. Here, everybody carries a gun and Library image from previous writes whatever music they please, unen- IN BRIEF American rider making Arenacross event cumbered by preconceptions’”. More his debut in Brum details will be announced this month. Cinderella top of the festive tree Motorcross star Tyler Villopoto, the younger brother of AMA SX Denise Van Outen to present A recent survey held Champion Ryan, is to make his by WhatsOnStage has UK debut in Birmingham next year new one-woman show revealed Cinderella as when he performs at the Following acclaimed Broadway and West the most performed Arenacross (LG Arena, 25 End performances in Chicago, Legally panto for the 2013/14 January). Tyler’s appearance is Blonde and Tell Me On A Sunday, former festive season. There yet another scoop for the all- Big Breakfast presenter Denise van Outen is will be twenty-two pro- action show, which transforms hitting the road with a new one-woman ductions of the much- some of the UK’s largest indoor show that she’s co-written with Terry loved fairytale taking arenas into purpose-built dirt- Ronald. Some Girl I Used To Know tells the place across the UK, tracks to host three hours of gravi- story of media darling Stephanie Canworth, while nimble Jack will ty-defying Freestyle Motorcross, who, when poked by a former love on be clawing his way up backed by an impressive laser Facebook, takes a trip down memory lane the Beanstalk at no show and soundtrack. and questions whether the life she’s living is fewer than eighteen the one that she really wants. Some Girl I venues. There will also Used To Know shows at Birmingham's New be seventeen produc- Birmingham debut for international Alexandra Theatre from Mon 10 to Wed 12 tions of Aladdin, four- February, and Wolverhampton's Grand teen of both Sleeping theatre company Theatre from 20 to 22 February. Beauty and Snow Acclaimed Yiddish storyteller and third generation survivor White, and ten of Peter Shonaleigh is visiting Birmingham this month to perform alongside Pan. Check out our theatre group Voices, which specialises in using performance to edu- guide on page 35 to cate audiences about the Holocaust. Shonaleigh will present one of find out what pantos her grandmother’s fairytales from Auschwitz, The Fool Of The are coming to a theatre Warsaw Ghetto. Voices, meanwhile, will near you... perform Fragile Fire - the poignant story of Mordechai Anielewicz and the young uprisers, who fought back against the Nazis despite certain death. The two works are being performed at The Paul Zerdin who’ll appear in panto Custard Factory in Digbeth on 14 at Birmingham Hippodrome November.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 John Whaite feature_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:09 Page 1

John Whaite from Great British Bake Off to puns on buns...

With the lovely Mary Berry and artisan baker Paul Hollywood at the forefront, the Great British Bake Off has gripped the nation, spurring a generation to grab their wooden spoons and get baking... As Francis rides high after this year’s win, we meet up with 2012 winner John Whaite, who’ll be bringing his affable charm to the BBC Good Food Show at Birmingham’s NEC late this month.

Why is baking good for the soul? grease and exertion, which in itself can get You weren’t one of the top contenders. It’s a very creative thing. If you’re quite the blood flowing and is very good for the Did it come as a real shock to you that negative or a destructive thinker, then soul. I think the whole process can take you you actually won? baking can turn those things into something out of your own wicked way of thinking. It did. To be honest, I didn’t even think I’d positive. It can result in something get onto the programme, let alone win it! constructive coming out of something very What was your biggest baking challenge You’ve always got to have it in the back of destructive. Also, the process of baking on the Great British Bake Off? your mind that it’s based on a week in, itself is something that requires attention. It Probably the stollen that I made in enriched week out scenario. The only time you look requires care and organisation. If you’re dough week. It just didn’t work. The temp back is if you’re on an even par at the end quite an unruly person, with maybe a fickle was too cold. I had to try and think on my of the final. I went away after the semi-final mind that wanders to and fro, when you’re feet. My bake, that I’d created the night thinking, ‘I almost got kicked out. If Danny in the kitchen, weighing through an before, had frozen in the fridge because it hadn’t screwed up with too much rose ingredient list for the bake, you can’t afford was set too high. It was just one bad thing water, then I wouldn’t still be here!’. So I to be that person. And if you’re baking in a after another, and I was convinced that I was then thought, ‘I’ve been given this traditional manner, with a wooden spoon, going to go. I really was. It was the worst opportunity, I’ve finished my exams and there needs to be quite a bit of elbow week, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. there’s no reason why I shouldn’t knuckle 6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk John Whaite feature_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:09 Page 2

interview...

down and do the best I can’. We had three proud moment for me. Receiving a copy of it, and I want to keep it going for as long as I days to design the cake, so I spent hours the book and having something tangible that can. At the moment, I’m focusing on what and hours in the kitchen and tried my I’d worked on for months was definitely the works, what tastes good and how people hardest. It’s only then that it got competitive best moment of my career so far. can achieve it. for me. Up until that stage, I’d just enjoyed it and hadn’t taken it too seriously. Is there a theme to your second book? So how would you respond to the The first book had a big slant towards comment that you’re ‘the sexiest thing to Did you have a lot of empathy for Ruby? soulfood baking, whereas with this book - happen to baking since Nigella’s slut red I did. I think it’s very hard to do the two John Whaite Bakes At Home - I wanted to raspberries’? things. But also, she was in a very good reset the balance and say ‘this is what Oh my God, I didn’t know about that one! position, because when you’re in the middle homebaking means to me’, and re-establish I’m not in it to be a pin-up. I want people to of your exams and you’re revising, your what homebaking is. It’s not just baking with judge me on what I do, not how I look. mind isn’t on the tent. You’re not sat children, or knocking something up when Anyway, I’ve put on a couple of pounds festering at your desk, in front of your you’re a bit peckish. It’s also about baking since the bake-off, so they might change computer, thinking ‘Oh, I’ve got to go and on a Friday night with your mates, or when their minds. be judged at the weekend’. When you’re in you’re alone - you know, that haunting the tent, you’re so focused on your chelsea loneliness that you sometimes get in the What happens to all the leftover cakes at buns, or whatever it is that you’re making, middle of the night, when you want to go the end of the bake-off? that you’re not thinking about your downstairs and get something to eat. Even The crew have them. They just flock like Intellectual Property exam in two days’ time. though you’re alone and it’s complete vultures. You go off outside for your Doing the bake-off was good for me solitude, that’s still homely for me. interview and when you get back they’re all because it took me away from the mundane gone. Usually, there’s just a few measly task of revision, but at the same time I had How old were you when you first began crumbs. Often you don’t even get a chance to be disciplined and strike a balance baking? to taste your own bakes. between the two. About three or four. It was just one of those things that I used to do on a Sunday with I do wonder how Mary manages to stay Why does baking reign over a career in mum. Have a stir of the bowl and a lick of so slim... law for you? the spoon. I was a washer-upper for quite Well, she’s a one-slice gal. If she likes it, It’s something that I enjoy doing, and I think some time before I made my way up the then she’ll go back for a second, but then I’m good at it. Well, I hope I’m good at it! I ranks to bowl-stirrer. I wish I could say it was she’ll just have a salad for her dinner. She was good at law, but I don’t think I would divine inspiration, but it was just one of works on that figure and she works hard on necessarily have enjoyed it. It was very those things that most British families do. I her career. She’s a hard-working girl, our hierarchical. Not that I’m an anarchist who took a lot of solace from baking when my Mary. She’s lovely! doesn’t like hierarchy. You need it in a parents divorced. It was a process that really business like law - but with baking, there’s a helped me understand that my parents still You’re known for your puns. Are these as lot of variety. It allows me to have a fickle loved me. As a child, when your parents important as your buns when presenting? mind, but at the same time ensures that I’m split, it’s quite a difficult thing, but it was I just think that you go to these shows and thinking on my feet all the time. Law just around that time that I was introduced to the find that so many professional chefs and wasn’t right for me at the time. I think maybe comforting side of baking. food snobs take it all far too seriously. Fair when I grow up a bit, I might go back to it. enough, it’s a serious enterprise. It’s a very That’s if I ever grow up... Can the Bake Off be credited with people serious industry, but why should you be re-finding an interest in creating from serious when you’re putting on a show? Of So why choose law in the first place? scratch? course people want to learn how to do It had a direction. I started at Oxford doing I do think people’s ethos and outlooks have something, but I believe if you show them in Medieval and Italian, and I just didn’t know changed, and that we want to make as a fun, humorous way, they’re more likely to where I could go with that. I hated being much as we can. We want to know what remember what you’re showing them. I’m away from home for a start, and I hated goes into our food these days, especially in not the type of guy who lectures people on Oxford itself. It’s a fantastic institution, but it the light of recent scandals. Also, it’s a how they must do something, because I just didn’t work with my northern, working- tradition that’s entrenched in British society, believe there’s no right or wrong way with class personality. So I trotted back up north and to see it re-emerge is a wonderful thing. food. It’s all nonsense. I like to show how I and I thought, ‘well, law’s good for arguing, I I think we’re a nation of good bakers - do it personally, but more than anything, I was good at philosophy, so I’m good at although I’m not sure the French would think people should enjoy the show. You go looking at two sides of a story and agree. to shows like the BBC Good Food Show, debating’. Law had more of a direction, so I you may have had a few drinks and some went for that. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t We know you can bake, but can you nice bits to eat, and what you don’t want is enjoy the Degree. I did, and I enjoyed the cook? to have to listen to someone harp on about work placements. I think I’d have got used I enjoy cooking as much, if not more, than how there’s only one way to do things. to that way of life, but it would’ve been a baking. I’m a real savoury king. If I’m You’re already half-throttled by all the wine contrived enjoyment, whereas with baking, hungover after a night out, I don’t crave you’ve had - so why not enjoy it even more, it’s organic. It’s something I have a profound cake. It’s always chorizo or a curry. I can eat courtesy of some lighthearted banter from love for. a curry at eight o’clock in the morning if I’ve the presenter... been out drinking the night before. I really Baking can allow you to be quite love to cook, and if I get the chance of a You’ve moved to London since the win. flamboyant. Would you say you have third book, then I’d like to do it as more of a How’s that panning out? quite a flamboyant personality? wholesome cookbook. I love baking, don’t It’s good. My publisher is here, my agent is I have, yeah. Let’s just say that if I was in the get me wrong, but if I can do both... We all here, and London is a great place to court, then I’d probably be wearing purple need a bit of savoury as well as sweet. network in this industry. We’ve just bought velvet suits. With baking, it allows me to an apartment and we’re loving it. Obviously I dress normally but have a flamboyant You’ve become quite a pin-up since your miss my family, and I can’t wait to get back output. win. How do you deal with the attention? up north to see them all, but they’re only a Pin-up or dartboard? It’s just good fun. I’m phone call away. So what would you class as the highlight just thinking ‘when’s the bubble gonna of your career since winning the bake-off? burst?’. Surely it’s got to at some stage, but So you’re enjoying the high life? I think it has to be receiving the copy of my in the meantime I’m just concentrating on I would be if I wasn’t working so hard. book. Taking it out of the packaging and my career and trying to make sure that it seeing my name on the spine was doesn’t escape me. I’ve worked hard up John Whaite will be at the BBC Good Food wonderful. It was all my own writing, my own until now, and I want to continue to do so to full-stops and exclamation marks, and so keep it going. I love this job. It’s hard work, Show Winter, at the NEC, Birmingham, from reading everything that I’d written was a very bloody hard work, but at least I really enjoy 27 November to 1 December

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Mark Williams feature Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 16:50 Page 1

the way that the family are very aware of the “ imposter Tartuffe, who settles himself like a cuckoo, sort of suits Birmingham.”

Mark Williams back in the city to perform in Moliere classic...

8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Mark Williams feature Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 16:50 Page 2

feature...

To a generation of television viewers, Bromsgrove-born actor Mark Williams will always be best known for his input into 1980s comedy creation The Fast Show, a part of his career which Mark often refers to as being a double-edged sword. Roles in Shakespeare In Love, A Room With A View, 101 Dalmations, Stardust and, more recently, Father Brown have cemented his reputation as a truly versatile actor. This month sees Mark return to the Midlands to perform in Roxana Silbert’s staging of Moliere’s comedy, Tartuffe. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...

You’re back in Brum, Mark, so what do Did that connection inspire you to want to You’ve also appeared in quite a lot of you think of the changes around perform? fantasy-themed productions. Do you have Centenary Square? I’d like to say yes - but no! The theatre is a a liking for this particular genre? It’s incredibly exciting. It’s extraordinary. The place that you go to. It’s very similar to I don’t necessarily think it’s been my choice. shows that are here at The REP are going to the match. Without people in it, a A lot of great English literature, like Lewis amazing, and it seems that the theatre has stadium or a theatre is just a shell. There’s Carroll, JK Rowling, Tolkien and Neil just hit the ground running. I’ve been talking nothing happening there. For me, it’s that Gaiman, makes for great film. That’s one of to the Twelve Angry Men company, Jeff thing about coming together at a particular our extraordinarily popular and productive Fahey and Nick Moran, and they say it’s time - whether it’s curtain-up or kick-off. It’s types of story. It’s like we’ve taken the great, it’s really buzzy. Birmingham really not like putting the telly on, which doesn’t fairytale and moved it on a step. The other does seem to be on fire at the moment. I care whether you’re watching it or not. one, of course, is detective stories. Both us liken what’s happening in the city at the That’s what I find properly exciting, like and the Americans love a good detective moment to what Sherlock Holmes said to Dr when the bell goes for five minutes to story, and I’ve been very happy, and feel Watson about Board Schools when they curtain-up and you’re all sitting there in incredibly lucky, to have been associated were going on the train into Victoria. He anticipation of what’s to come. I was always with some of those. said, “Beacons, Watson, beacons are drawn to that as a child, and it’s always enlightenment”. I like the fact that, come quite a miraculous thing that everyone You’ve also played some dark, comedic November, when the nights are drawing in, manages to be in their seat on time. children’s roles, like with 101 Dalmations. the lights are going to go on in the Library Well, we all love a baddy... and The REP and it’s going to be like, Was becoming an actor something to “yeah, let’s get in there!”. which you’d always aspired? You’ve had quite a lot of practice too, It wasn’t an aspiration as such. It was more although in many cases you’re a bit of a You’re in the city to perform in Roxana that I suddenly realised it was the only thing bumbling baddy... Silbert’s new staging of Moliere’s Tartuffe. that I was really any good at! I remember my And, of course, Tartuffe’s a baddy. I think What can audiences expect? first time on stage. I felt both scared and what you’re talking about is a weak baddy - Well, it’s been brought up to date and it’s excited, but the whole experience didn’t a baddy with faults... very funny. As we know, Moliere was a overwhelm me. Again, using a bit of a sport French playwright, and his breakthrough - analogy, I felt I was well prepared, and that I Do these performances score you points and no one had done this before in proper could just relax and enjoy it at the level with your kids? theatres - was to make people laugh out which I needed to. Yeah, I think so. When they were little, they loud. And that’s what’s going to happen with might say, “Why did that man just say hello this production. It’s set in modern-day One of your most notable roles is as to you?”, and then, when they got older, Birmingham, but that’s not going to be Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter. This saw they began to enjoy the films and own a bit pushed down audiences’ throats. It’s got a you paired opposite fellow Midlands of what I did. feel of Birmingham culturally, but it’s not like actress Julie Walters. How was that we’re placing everything in the Bullring. It’s experience? Stardust was a lovely film which again very subtle, and the way that the family are It was fun. Julie was cast before me, and saw you perform opposite some great very aware of the imposter Tartuffe, who then, when I was cast, she was like, “Oh, actors... settles himself like a cuckoo, sort of suits damn! If I’d known it was going to be you, Yeah, they offered me various parts in it. Birmingham. we could’ve had a tiny edge of the Midlands Well, three actually. One of them was a goat in it”, by which she meant the Midlands that turned into Michelle Pfeiffer’s husband. It’s a bit of a home-grown production, as could’ve been where the Weasleys came It was a bit of a no-brainer to take that role! we’ll see you performing alongside Janice from. That would’ve been really good, Connolly... because they were slightly wacky - You’ve often described your time in The Yeah, Mrs Barbara Nice. Janice plays the outsiders, really - but unfortunately we didn’t Fast Show as being a double-edged grandmother, the matriarch of the family. get a chance to do that. It was still a great sword. Can you expand on that? experience, though. It was good at the time, but people do go on Is it correct that your relationship with about it. It was a long time ago now - people The REP goes back to your childhood? And a great pairing... need to get out a bit more! My father, when he was a student, was a Yeah, we used to hail each other “Hello, stagehand at The REP. I was recently talking mummy!”, “Hello, Daddy!” across the set. With an extensive repertoire under your to Martin Shaw about the Old Rep, and he And, of course, watching the kids grow up belt, do you have a set criteria for was reminiscing about how, at one stage, he was marvellous. accepting roles? saw every single show at the Station Street Yeah, I read it and if I think, “wow, that’s venue. The Old Rep was such a Playing a man of the cloth is something brilliant”, then I accept it. But then I’ve also revolutionary building, with the idea that that’s featured quite a bit in your recent read loads and loads of stuff which I thought there weren’t circles for people in evening repertoire... I’d really love to do but then I didn’t get. dress and stalls for everyone else. It was just Yeah, and again, another heavy Midlands a single auditorium with all seats rising from association. This time it’s with Father Brown. Have you ever turned down a role and stage level, and it’s exactly the same here at We just finished filming a second series, later regretted it? The REP. Every seat is superb. which will be screened next year. No, there’s been a couple of occasions where I couldn’t do stuff and afterwards I’ve Did you spend a lot of time at the Old Rep So what’s the appeal of playing a priest- thought, “Oh, that would’ve been fun to do”, when you were growing up? come-detective? but I’ve never regretted it. I don’t think you No, not really, because my father worked in He’s interested in everything. He’s a bit like can afford to. It’s very counter-productive. the evening, but I do remember him talking me, really, he’s so nosey. You may become about it. It’s always been there in my tired spending so much time filming a lead theatrical sensibility. character, but I have to say I never get Tartuffe shows at The REP, Birmingham, bored. from Fri 1 to Sat 16 November

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Alice In Chains O2 Academy, Birmingham, Wed 13 November With over twenty-five million albums sold worldwide, Alice In Chains were one of the 1990s’ most successful music acts. Blending the grunge music for which they’re best known with heavy metal and acoustic elements, they were one of numerous Seattle bands to rise to stardom at the beginning of the ’90s, sharing the limelight with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Taking a three-year break in 2002, they reunited in ’05 with new lead vocalist William DuVall, scoring a hit four years later with fourth studio album Black Gives Way To Blue. The band released their fifth studio album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, in Spring 2013.

Vampire Weekend National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Tues 12 November KT Tunstall New York City rockers Vampire Weekend dabble with all sorts of genres, including indie Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 13 November rock, alternative rock, indie pop, baroque pop and worldbeat. They hit the big-time back in 2008 with their eponymous debut album, following up a couple of years later with Con- KT Tunstall is hardly recognisable from Eye To The tra. Their third studio album, Modern Vampires Of The City, was released in 2013 and de- Telescope. Changing both personally and musi- buted at number one in the US album charts. In 2012, the band featured alongside Jay-Z, cally, she endured a ‘seismic shift’ last summer fol- John Legend and Alicia Keys on a shortlist of musical artists from whom President lowing the death of her father and the breakdown Barack Obama sought support for his re-election campaign. of her marriage. Insisting that the more reflective, sombre lyrics of new two-part album Invisible Em- pire // Crescent Moon were written prior to those Billy Joel aforementioned events, she also says that the LG Arena, Birmingham, Fri 8 November album “affirms life”. Say bye-bye to stompy blues and hello to a gentler, stripped-back sound. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (and they should know!), Billy Joel is - at the time of writing - the sixth-best-selling recording artist and the third- best-selling solo artist in the United States. And if such impressive achievements aren’t Palma Violets quite enough to convince you of the man’s status, the fact that he’s been inducted into Kasbah, Coventry, Fri 29 November the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006) surely will! Scoring a 1973 hit with Piano Man, Following in the footsteps of the Libertines, Vac- Joel has since sold over one hundred-and-fifty million records worldwide, and visits the cines and Bloc Party with their youth, indie sound Midlands as part of his first UK tour in seven years. and penchant for retro, Palma Violets were formed around the campfire at Reading Festival in 2011. Spending 2012 writing tracks and performing for friends in their London art space, they caught the attention of Rough Trade and were quickly signed up. Propelling indie guitar music back into the charts, they made the Sound of 2013 longlist, whilst Best Of Friends was voted NME’s track of the year. Hear debut album 180 on their biggest tour to date.

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Music PREVIEWS

Blue October The Institute, Birmingham, Sun 17 November Platinum-selling alternative-rock band Blue October have just released Sway, their seventh studio album. Written by singer Justin Furstenfeld, it took two years to complete and is the first album to be written sober. Boasting a positive energy and outlook, it’s a depar- ture from their dark material of old. Influenced by the honesty of rappers such as Jay-Z and Eminem, the musical change of direction has won the Texan band a legion of fans. They play just three UK dates on this European tour.

Thirty Seconds To Mars National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Fri 15 November Maintaining both a successful acting and singing career, Jared Leto has proven himself to be a credible musician. Boasting a cabinet’s-worth of awards from the NME, Kerrang! and MTV, he’s not only Thirty Seconds To Mars’ lead singer but also their main songwriter. Quite how he finds the time to star in big budget and independent movies as well is anybody’s guess! The band, who’re well known as committed environmentalists, stop off in Birmingham as part Mallory Knox of a tour which sees them perform nine arena shows. You Me At Six provide support. The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 20 November; Kasbah, Coventry, Thurs 21 November Eddi Reader The Virginmarys Heading out on a massive nineteen-date tour, The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sun 3 November The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Wed 20 Nov Cambridge alternative rock band Mallory With numerous BRIT Awards decorating her Knox played Reading and Leeds this year, as mantelpiece, Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi HMV Next Big Thing headliners for 2012, well as SummerJam, Burn Out Festival, Reader is well remembered for her associa- Macclesfield trio and longtime buddies The Chaos and Coventry’s Godiva. The band tion with Fairground Attraction, with whom Virginmarys have supported Ash, The View have just released a deluxe edition of their she scored a UK number one, Perfect, in and Slash, toured extensively, and played nu- album, Signals, with the number-thirty-three- 1988. The band’s star shone brightly but merous festivals, including Download. Im- charting CD featuring B-sides, acoustic briefly, with differences during the production pressive achievements indeed - particularly tracks and live recordings from the album re- of a second album precipitating a parting of considering the fact that, before this year, lease show. Missing out to Lower Than At- the ways. they hadn’t released a single album during lantis at the Kerrang! Awards 2013 for Best Reader’s solo career has encountered no seven long years together! When their debut British Newcomer certainly hasn’t held them such difficulties, however, with highlights in- album, King Of Conflict, finally arrived in Feb- back. Blitz Kids and Crooks support. cluding her 2003 album of material by Scot- ruary, it caused an immediate stir, and was land’s ‘bard’ Robert Burns, which she nominated as Best New Album at the 2013 performed alongside the Royal Scottish Na- Classic Rock Awards. tional Orchestra. The subsequent international resurgence of interest in Burns’ work saw Reader awarded an MBE in 2006 for her outstanding contribution to the arts.

Arcane Roots The Asylum, Birmingham, Wed 27 November Alt-rock trio Arcane Roots released first full- length album Blood & Chemistry in May, just before landing one of the most coveted support slots of all, joining Muse on their The 2nd Beady Eye Law World Tour in Europe. Mixing rock, pop, Edwina Hayes Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, math rock and metal, they’re known for their Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Mon 18 November passion-filled live shows, and were the only Sat 30 November Beady Eye guitarist Gem Archer has had a unsigned band asked to contribute to Ker- A regular performer in both London and bad year, first falling down the stairs and suf- rang’s Nevermind Forever cover CD. Empire Nashville, Dublin-born Edwina Hayes bal- fering serious head trauma, then breaking his and Verses support. ances sad songs and a honeyed voice with a leg while recuperating. Gem’s rotten luck bright’n’bubbly personality, and has made a caused the band to cancel their scheduled name for herself not only as a singer but also appearance at V Festival 2013, although at an equally talented songwriter. Debut album least they managed to perform at both Glas- Out On My Own thrust her into the limelight tonbury and Ibiza Rocks, so the summer back in 2005, not least because it featured Dr wasn’t a complete washout for them by any Hook singer Dennis Locorriere on two tracks. means. This Civic Hall show is their only Mid- Its critical success led to her touring exten- lands stop-off on an eight-date November sively as a support act to numerous notable tour. Expect plenty of material from second performers, including Jools Holland, Loudon album BE, which has been called ‘genuinely Wainwright III and Nanci Griffith, the latter of exciting’ by Mojo and ‘a bold leap forward’ by whom has called her ‘the sweetest voice in Uncut. England’.

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BRING YOUR PARTY TO OUR PARTY AT THE NAILCOTE HALL HOTEL

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Birmingham Town Hall MAD DOG MCREA The MusicGIG REVIEWS Music LISTINGS Robin, Bilston BEAR'S DEN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk For full listing information on gigs, STEVE MASON The Insti- including times and dates, tute, Birmingham visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE Jay Z The Jam House, B’ham LANGSTON HUGHES PROJ- LG Arena, Birmingham BRING ME THE HORIZON ECT mac, Birmingham Jay Z reminded everyone just what a world superstar he is when he FRI 1 NOV O2 Academy, B’ham COVER DRIVE O2 Acad- HAYSEED DIXIE The emy, Birmingham brought his Magna Carta Tour to Birmingham’s NIA. This global rap BARBARA DICKSON Slade Rooms, Wolver- Malvern Theatres ENABLERS The Rainbow, legend, who’s one half of the world’s highest-earning celebrity couple, hampton Birmingham delighted the crowd with a ninety-minute concert showcasing the THE FULL ENGLISH mac, YOUNGBLOOD BRASS Birmingham highlights from his decades-spanning career and fifteen albums. BAND Hare & Hounds, THE JOHNNY CASH ROAD- B’ham WED 6 NOV Dressed head-to-toe in black, backwards cap and bling necklace, the SHOW The Swan The- SO CALLED ENEMY & ANE- VNV NATION The Insti- New York icon was full of energy as his unmistakeable voice filled the atre, Worcester SIS The Actress & packed arena. The floor was literally moving under our feet. The set THE HOLLYWOOD BEES tute, Birmingham Bishop, Birmingham GO WEST, HUE AND CRY & was starkly bling-free and simplistic, demonstrating that he doesn’t Huntingdon Hall, RISK - AT YOUR OWN RISK Worcester THE CHRISTIANS IN CON- need any strobe lighting, gimmicks or dancers to be at his best. It was Featuring Arve Henrik- CERT Birmingham Town FLEETWOOD BAC The sen, Melinda Maxwell, all very ‘back to basics’; his vocal was so clear, it was almost acoustic. Robin, Bilston Hall Daniel Pioro, Sam Un- THE BOOMTOWN RATS O2 Jay Z was accompanied by super-producer Timbaland and his band, 36 CRAZYFISTS O2 Acad- derwood, Shiori Usui, who seemed equally delighted to be playing to the Birmingham emy, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham Ilan Volkov & Gail HAWKWIND Wulfrun Hall, crowd. They galloped through numerous big crowd-pleasers, includ- STEVE CRADOCK The In- Brand, Birmingham stitute, Birmingham Wolverhampton ing Holy Grail, Empire State Of Mind and Run This Town, as well as Town Hall FISH The Assembly, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS CATRIN FINCH AND the classic 99 Problems and Big Pimpin' . O2 Academy, B’ham Leamington Spa SECKOU KEITA Artrix, MITCH LADDIE, THE LAU- Jay Z took time out to let Timbaland pump the crowd with Missy El- JOHN FLEMING QUARTET Bromgrove liott's Get Your Freak On and Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River, both Symphony Hall, B’ham RENCE JONES BAND & TOO REX The Road- FEDERAL CHARM The tracks which he produced. GWYNETH HERBERT TRIO house, Birmingham Warwick Arts Centre, Robin, Bilston When the headliner returned for his encore, he spent a lot of time MAXIMUM ZERO The SWEET BABOO Hare & Coventry Flapper, Birmingham pointing out people in the audience and thanking his fans. This part of SLADE AND SWEET War- Hounds, Birmingham FOREVER YOUNG ROCK FOLLOW YOU HOME The the show maybe went on for a bit too long, but at least he was engag- wick Arts Centre, NIGHT The Slade ing with his audience and ensuring it didn’t feel like just another iden- Coventry Institute, Birmingham Rooms, Wolverhampton YOUNG KNIVES O2 Acad- tikit performance. There may be young pretenders to his throne, but MENTALLICA The Road- THE FATHER TEDS Irish house, Birmingham emy, Birmingham fantastic end-of-show renditions of It’s A Hard Knock Life and Young Centre, Birmingham BREABACH The Red Lion AMY WYKE PLUS VIOLET JULIAN SMITH The Nor- Forever reminded us that there’s still only one Jay Z. CITIES Kasbah, Coventry Folk Club, Birmingham bury Theatre, Droitwich BOVINE The Flapper, Anita Champaneri IIII RISK - JAZZ ALLNIGHTER Spa Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham DJ FRESH The Institute, STEVE AJAO Kitchen Gar- INTERPLAY Warwick Arts Birmingham Centre, Coventry den Cafe, Birmingham Laura Marling BLAENAVON The Sun- DEMONS OF METAL The THE IVY LEAGUE AND flower Lounge, B’ham Symphony Hall, Birmingham PAPER LACE Artrix, Roadhouse, B’ham Birmingham’s Symphony Hall is an exquisite venue - grand in scale, Bromsgrove BRING ME THE HORIZON SUN 3 NOV THUR 7 NOV yet nonetheless ‘intimate’. As soon as I saw Brit Award-winner Laura O2 Academy, B’ham Marling was performing there, I knew it was going to be a particularly CASINO The Actress & THE STYLISTICS Civic LISBEE STAINTON WITH memorable evening. Despite having seen Laura a number of times Bishop, Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton SPECIAL GUEST ELEANOR EDDI READER over the years, I’d never before seen her perform in a venue that BLACKBEARD'S TEA PARTY The Glee MCEVOY Artrix, Broms- The Rainbow, B’ham Club, Birmingham grove boasted such fantastic acoustics. BASTILLE O2 Academy, BLUE The Institute, Birm- Laura had the audience eating out of her hand from the moment she JOHN NEWMAN & CHLOE HOWL The Rainbow, Birmingham ingham walked on stage, opening with a ten minute-long version of Take The B’ham FRANCIS DUNNERY The THE DILLINGER ESCAPE Night Off, from fourth album Once I Was An Eagle. The cleverly se- HOPE & CHANCE, TIGER- Robin, Bilston PLAN The Slade Rooms, lected set-list which followed consisted of crowd favourites from both PUNCH, GOODBYE 2 YES- RISK - ARVE HENRIKSEN Wolverhampton AND JAN BANG Birming- SMALL FAKERS the new album and her previous three, Alas I Cannot Swim, I Speak TERDAY The Flapper, Hunting- ham Town Hall don Hall, Worcester Because I Can and A Creature I Don't Know. Whether crooning Birmingham TAKE TWO Irish Centre, RISK - THE NECKS Birm- THE MENTULLS The through gentle folk tracks such as Rambling Man, or tearing through Birmingham ingham Town Hall Roadhouse, B’ham edgier numbers like Master Hunter, Laura brilliantly showcased her UNDER HER SKIN Artrix, WALSALL JAZZ ORCHES- rich and impressive vocal range. Support act Nick Mulvey is no new- Bromsgrove TRA Symphony Hall, LUCIA - SAXOPHONE comer to the music scene, having performed as one of the internation- SAT 2 NOV B’ham QUARTET Kitchen Gar- SON OF DAVE Hare & ally famous Portico Quartet for a number of years. His African-inspired STEVE HARLEY & COCK- den Cafe, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham guitar riffs, stunning vocals and captivating performance really wowed NEY REBEL The Robin, KILLING FIELDS OF ON- LUKE SITAL-SINGH The the Symphony Hall audience. Indeed, I think it's safe to say he's got an Bilston TARIO, WES DANCE, CHRIS Glee Club, Birmingham UK FOO FIGHTERS O2 THOMPSON The Yardbird DEAP VALLY O2 Acad- extremely successful career as a solo artist ahead of him, and is well Academy, Birmingham worth an evening of anyone’s time. Lauren Foster IIII Jazz Club, Birmingham emy, Birmingham THE RED LEMONS The SEAMUS MOORE Irish VEXXEN PLUS SOMEONE Jam House, B’ham Centre, Birmingham SAID FIRE, MOODY REVOLTING WORDS + RE- DEADFEST The Road- BOMBER, LIFE UNWRIT- VOLT #4 The Tin Music house, Birmingham TEN & THEIR SOULS FOR Ellie Goulding and Arts, Coventry Civic Hall, Wolverhampton GOLD O2 Academy, PETER HOOK AND THE MON 4 NOV Birmingham Fans of the Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding were LIGHT O2 Academy, GODSTICKS & KNIFE- treated to a stellar performance by the twenty-six-year-old at Wolver- Birmingham THE TOY DOLLS O2 Acad- WORLD The Rainbow, SKID ROW Wulfrun Hall, hampton’s Civic Hall last month. Appearing as part of her Halcyon emy, Birmingham Birmingham Wolverhampton TURIN BRAKES The Glee Days tour, Goulding kicked off the show in spectacular style with an G2 - DEFINITIVE GENESIS Club, Birmingham FRI 8 NOV upbeat rendition of Figure 8, her distinctive and soulful vocals then en- Huntingdon Hall, ROBBIE BOYD O2 Acad- Worcester ergising the crowd with top-five hit Starry Eyed. Her voice really shone emy, Birmingham THE HOLLIES Symphony MAGIC - A KIND OF QUEEN during her acoustic arrangement of Guns And Horses, leading LIZ LAWRENCE Hare & Hall, Birmingham Bedworth Civic Hall Hounds, Birmingham ABSOLUTE BOWIE O2 through to her haunting cover of Elton John’s Your Song (she re- MARK LANEGAN The In- PETER KNIGHT'S GIGSPAN- Academy, Birmingham minded the audience beforehand that Elton himself is a big fan of her stitute, Birmingham NER Kitchen Garden THE INTENTIONS The Jam UNDER THE RADAR WITH arrangement). It wasn’t until fourteen songs into her set that the at- Cafe, Birmingham House, B’ham LUCY ANN SALE, SONO- mosphere became truly electric, though, courtesy of Anything Could BILLY JOEL LG Arena, MAMA & BARRICADES Happen and I Need Your Love, both of which inspired a frenzied re- Birmingham RISE Warwick Arts Cen- TUE 5 NOV THE SOUNDS OF SIMON sponse from the audience. Returning to the stage for her encore, tre, Coventry The Rose Theatre, Goulding performed a new track, You, My Everything, and her latest INCHES FROM THE GABRIELLE APLIN The In- Tewkesbury number one hit, Burn - a truly outstanding conclusion to an unforget- GROUND stitute, Birmingham The Marr's Bar, VIRGIL AND THE ACCELER- IIII Worcester GOSPEL GOES CHARITY table show. Ryan Humphreys ATORS The Marr's Bar,

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Birmingham trix, Bromsgrove SARA COLMAN Sym- ETTES, NOIR AND JUBLIEE LISTINGS HIGHER ON MAIDEN DAN WALSH & SUHAIL phony Hall, Birmingham COURTS The Actress & Music Marr’s Bar, Worcester YUSEF KHAN Kitchen SKINNY LISTER Hare & Bishop, Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham NIGHTBLADE, AGINCOURT SUN 10 NOV TYLER WARD The Glee TRC The Asylum, B’ham & VICIOUS NATURE The For full listing information on gigs, Club, Birmingham THE JOHN MORRIS TRIO Roadhouse, B’ham including times and dates, GORDON HENDRICKS IS The Yardbird Jazz Club, STRFKR The Sunflower visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk ELVIS Artrix, Broms- TUE 12 NOV Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham grove THE KEITH THOMPSON BRIT FLOYD Symphony BELLOWHEAD Symphony BLUES BAND The Road- Worcester Birmingham FRI 15 NOV Hall, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham house, Birmingham DARKSIDE - PERFORMING HEART & SOUL PARTY WES DANCE Marr’s Bar, DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH SHOWADDYWADDY Bed- THE PINK FLOYD SHOW - Nailcote Hall, Berkswell, Worcester FT. AMON AMARTH O2 worth Civic Hall THE '77 TOUR The Robin, Warwickshire THUR 14 NOV JAKE BUGG O2 Acad- Academy, Birmingham THE UPBEAT BEATLES Bilston ELECTRIK CUSTARD, emy, Birmingham VAMPIRE WEEKEND NIA, BILL WYMAN'S RHYTHM Solihull Arts Complex KODALINE The Institute, DUBCHERRY, ILLUME, BARBARA DICKSON Birm- Birmingham KINGS Symphony Hall, THE SUBTERRANEANS Birmingham LEFT BELOW, FAKE OB- ingham Town Hall BOY GEORGE The Glee Birmingham The Jam House, B’ham NICK SMART'S TROGON SESSION, METHODEMIC, INGESTED, BLACK Club, Birmingham ESCAPE THE FATE, CHIO- URBAN FOLK QUARTET Symphony Hall, B’ham ART.IS.FICTION & KON- TONGUE, WOLVEXHYS, [SPUNGE] The Marr's DOS, THE COLOR MORALE Huntingdon Hall, PERMISSION TO ROCK TRAST O2 Academy, THE DAWN OF OLYMPUS Bar, Worcester O2 Academy, B’ham Worcester The Roadhouse, B’ham Birmingham AND BELOW THE DEPTHS ORPHANED LAND The HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPE- LIVEWIRE The Robin, TALISMAN The Assem- UNDER BLACKENED SKIES The Roadhouse, B’ham Robin, Bilston LIN New Alexandra The- Bilston bly, Leamington Spa O2 Academy, B’ham JOHN LEES’ BARCLAY NATIVES O2 Academy, atre, Birmingham SOUL II SOUL Birming- KODALINE DJ SET O2 THE BLUES BAND Hunt- JAMES HARVEST The Birmingham COCKNEY REJECTS The ham Town Hall Academy, Birmingham ingdon Hall, Worcester Robin, Bilston PUBLIC SERVICE BROAD- Robin, Bilston BARRY GREEN AND THE BOOK CLUB Hare & THE HURLING BOYS Irish HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN CASTING The Institute, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR EMILIA MARTENSSON Hounds, Birmingham Centre, Birmingham Warwck Arts Centre Birmingham Warwick Arts Centre, Symphony Hall, Birm- THE NICS The Actress & LEO SAYER WITH HIS ALL- THE SENSATIONAL 60’S THE OLD DANCE SCHOOL Coventry ingham Bishop, Birmingham STAR AUSTRALIAN BAND EXPERIENCE The Grand The Glee Club, B’ham MONSTER CEILIDH BAND SHOW OF HANDS WITH SOULED OUT 2 FUNK The Robin, Bilston Theatre, W’hampton REED AND REED BASS Hare & Hounds, B’ham MIRANDA SYKES War- Drummonds Bar, THE UNION The Slade HANDGUNS The Slade The Jam House, B’ham MOOD INDIGO The Jam wick Arts Centre, Worcester Rooms, Wolverhampton Rooms, Wolverhampton THE TILLERS Kitchen House, Birmingham Coventry METHODEMIC & FRANTIC MID-DAY MANTRA: KATHRYN ROBERTS & Garden Cafe, B’ham CHASE & STATUS NIA, THE LEGENDS Irish Cen- ACTION The Flapper, GLOBAL FOLK Symphony SEAN LAKEMAN Kitchen BIPOLAR SUNSHINE Hare Birmingham tre, Birmingham Birmingham Hall, Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham & Hounds, Birmingham HAR MAR SUPERSTAR THIRTY SECONDS TO CHRIS QUINN Irish Cen- FUTURE OF THE LEFT The Hare & Hounds, B’ham MARS & YOU ME AT SIX tre, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham REGENESIS - SELLING NIA, B’ham FACE OF A STRANGER The THE SUNSHINE UNDER- WED 13 NOV MON 11 NOV ENGLAND BY THE POUND THE MAGOOS The Marr's Slade Rooms, W’hamp- GROUND Kasbah, ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN The GENESIS TRIBUTE ACT Ar- Bar, Worcester ton Coventry MOTT THE HOOPLE Sym- Grand Theatre, Wolver- trix, Bromsgrove CAPTURE THE CROWN RATPACK 25TH SILVER JU- phony Hall, Birmingham hampton COHEED AND CAMBRIA The Asylum, B’ham BILEE ANNIVERSARY The BLANCMANGE The KT TUNSTALL Symphony Kasbah, Coventry YOUNG KATO The Insti- SAT 9 NOV Institute, Birmingham Robin, Bilston Hall, Birmingham FOSTER AND ALLEN Soli- tute, Birmingham THE KOMMITMENTS The FRIGHTENED RABBIT The GORDON HENDRICKS IS BERNIE MARSDEN The hull Arts Complex ALL YEARS LEAVING WITH Roadhouse, B’ham Institute, Birmingham ELVIS Artrix, Broms- Robin, Bilston MUTYA KEISHA SIOBHAN DUTCH UNCLES Hare & PURPLE STEREO PLUS RID HEART OF A COWARD The grove ALICE IN CHAINS O2 The Institute, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham The Flapper, B’ham Asylum, Birmingham ESOTERIC The Asylum, Academy, Birmingham SKINNY DREAM, SILHOU- TWO MAN TING Warwick ONE DUB The Drum, THE BOOTLEG SIXTIES Ar-

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Arts Centre, Coventry Robin, Bilston QUEENS OF THE STONE Birmingham MARTIN SIMPSON The MATT GOUGH DECTET KNOTSLIP The Road- LUKE CONCANNON (NI- AGE NIA, Birmingham LOOCA AND REASIDE The Red Lion Folk Club, Symphony Hall, B’ham house, Birmingham ZLOPI) AND JIMMY DAVIS SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR Actress & Bishop, Birm- Birmingham THE BAND PERRY The In- JOSH HERRING & THE The Glee Club, B’ham New Alexandra Theatre, ingham ARCANE ROOTS The Asy- stitute, Birmingham STEADY HANDS The Flap- KLASSIDE, 5 DAYS OF NO- Birmingham UNTITLED MUSICAL PROJ- lum, Birmingham MATT HERNANDEZ War- per, Birmingham VEMBER, THE RAINBREAK- RE-GENESIS The Robin, ECT The Sunflower THE SOUNDS OF SIMON A wick Arts Centre, NAUGHTY BOY The Insti- ERS AND THE VIBE The Bilston Lounge, Birmingham Tribute to Simon and Coventry tute, Birmingham Flapper, Birmingham RUE ROYALE The Glee STAR OF THE SEA Irish Garfunkel, Kitchen Gar- PALMA VIOLETS Kasbah, BEN WATT The Glee GENFAN & BARKER Club, Birmingham Centre, Birmingham den Cafe, Birmingham Coventry Club, Birmingham Kitchen Garden Cafe, WILLE AND THE BANDITS ACODA, VERA CRUZ & SARAH GILLESPIE Lich- HANNCOXX Drummonds Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham SUN 24 NOV GRACE THE SKIES Flap- field Guildhall Bar, Worcester FROZEN BREATH The FOY VANCE Hare & per, Birmingham THE LOVED & LOST, HER THE ASSIST, ACTION RE- Roadhouse, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham BILLY BRAGG: TOOTH & THE JOHN MORRIS TRIO DARK EMBRACE, SCRUFFY PLAY, HIGHTOWER, SU- T R DALLAS Irish Centre, HALF MOON RUN The In- NAIL TOUR Symphony The Yardbird, B’ham SOMETHINGS, COCONUT PERFICIALS & STATE OF Birmingham stitute, Birmingham Hall, Birmingham THIS WICKED TONGUE Ac- BACKLASH & THE TOTALI- SUBURBIA O2 Academy, BIG TENT AND THE GYPSY NAZARETH The Robin, tress & Bishop, B’ham TARIANS O2 Academy, Birmingham MON 18 NOV LANTERN Symphony Bilston Birmingham HORSE MEAT DISCO Hare Hall, Birmingham STORNOWAY The Insti- THUR 28 NOV SOUND SYSTEM FRIDAY & Hounds, Birmingham TEXAS Symphony Hall, ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW tute, Birmingham The Drum, Birmingham THE MAINE & WE ARE THE Birmingham AND THE LOW RIDERS Ar- ADRIAN UTLEY'S GUITAR DR. FEELGOOD The Slade LAIDBACK LUKE, OLVER OCEAN The Slade BEADY EYE Civic Hall, trix, Bromsgrove ORCHESTRA Library Of Rooms, Wolverhampton TWIZT, PATRICK HAGE- Rooms, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton MALLORY KNOX Kasbah, Birmingham A NIGHT TO REMEMBER NAAR AND PRO3CT The THE RIFLES The Institute, Coventry CURVED AIR AND THE FEATURING PAPER LACE & Institute, Birmingham SAT 16 NOV Birmingham RAYMOND FROGGATT STRAWBS The Assem- THE IVY LEAGUE Hunting- SLOW CLUB Glee Club, NEDSKI & MOJO Kitchen Prince Of Wales Centre, bly, Leamington Spa don Hall, Worcester B’ham [SPUNGE] O2 Academy, Garden Cafe, B’ham Cannock PENTATONIX The Glee THE FACES STORY The FLARES PARTY BAND Birmingham PAPER AEROPLANES The GO KART MOZART O2 Club, Birmingham Robin, Bilston Route 44, B’ham THE BUSBY BABES The Marr's Bar, Worcester Academy, Birmingham SHAM 69 The Road- 3 DAFT MONKEYS Hare & Public, West Bromwich MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY OH STOCKHOLM, ANDY house, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham SAT 30 NOV REEF The Institute, Birm- O2 Academy, B’ham OLIVERI & HARRY JOHNS AKALA O2 Academy, SARAH BLASKO Warwick ingham PALMA VIOLETS The Wul- Ort Cafe, Birmingham Birmingham Arts Centre, Coventry FREE RADIO LIVE 2013 LG CHARITY 80'S PARTY frun, Wolverhampton SUMMER CAMP Hare & JACK SAVORETTI The In- Arena, Birmingham WITH CAFE 80'S Nailcote FRI 22 NOV Hounds, Birmingham stitute, Birmingham BLACK STAR RIDERS Wul- Hall, Berkswell, War- TUE 19 NOV KIERAN HALPIN Kitchen ELI STONE Warwick Arts frun Hall, W’hampton wickshire THE WEEKND National In- Garden Cafe, B’ham Centre, Coventry CRYSTAL FIGHTERS The MUMBO JUMBO Palace BRYAN FERRY Symphony door Arena, B’ham SHAUN LOUGHREY Irish SHANTER’S BASSOON Institute, Birmingham Theatre, Redditch Hall, Birmingham MUDBALL Marr’s Bar, Centre, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham HOWARD JONES O2 SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR STEREOPHONICS LG Worcester TODD MILLER & THE JOE Academy, Birmingham Malvern Theatres Arena, Birmingham IMAGINE DRAGONS O2 MON 25 NOV LOSS ORCHESTRA Soli- CAPERCAILLIE IN CON- THE STYLISTICS The As- MOTORHEAD FEATURING Academy, Birmingham hull Arts Complex CERT B’ham Town Hall sembly, Leamington SUPPORT FROM SAXON IAN PROWSE AND AMS- GLENN TILBROOK Hunt- THE GAME The Institute, QUILL Irish Centre, Birm- Spa Civic Hall, W’hampton TERDAM The Slade ingdon Hall, Worcester Birmingham ingham THE BEAT The Robin, Bil- EMILY BARKER & THE RED Rooms, Wolverhampton SHELLAC & HELEN MONEY NEVER FOR EVER The EDWINA HAYES Royal ston CLAY HALO The Glee CASSETTE DAYS, DINKY The Rainbow, B’ham Roadhouse, B’ham Spa Centre, Leaming- FRAN THE MAN Irish Cen- Club, Birmingham The Rainbow, B’ham CEREBRAL BALLZY & THE ton Spa tre, Birmingham LAU Royal Spa Centre, ELO AGAIN The Robin, AMAZING SNAKEHEADS THE DAMNED The As- FENECH-SOLER The Insti- Leamington Spa Bilston Hare & Hounds, B’ham FRI 29 NOV sembly, Leamington tute, Birmingham PAUL LAMB & THE DE- HOLYHEAD SCHOOL JAZZ ANDY ALLO The Institute, Spa HUGH MASEKELA & RAYMOND FROGGATT TROIT BREAKDOWN The ENSEMBLE Symphony Birmingham BON GIOVI The Robin, LARRY WILLIS Birming- Solihull Arts Complex Bilston Robin, Bilston Hall, Birmingham SIMPLE MINDS National ham Town Hall SCOUTING FOR GIRLS O2 THE NAKED AND FAMOUS SWEAT 20TH FUNKIN' THE NOTEBENDERS TUE 26 NOV Indoor Arena, B’ham Sym- Academy, Birmingham The Institute, B’ham YEAR PARTY Hare & phony Hall, Birmingham THE TOTAL STONE ROSES GARY NUMAN Wulfrun HUGH CORNWELL Artrix, HACKTIVIST The Slade Hounds, Birmingham ANNIE MAC The Institute The Assembly, Leam- Hall, Wolverhampton Bromsgrove Rooms, Wolverhampton TRU GROOVE The Jam Birmingham ington Spa ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA War- BALLAKE SISSOKO mac, THE FRATELLIS Wulfrun House, Birmingham ALL YEARS LEAVING WITH FIVE Civic Hall, Wolver- wick Arts Centre, Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton THE OLD DANCE SCHOOL DISTOPHIA Hare & hampton Coventry SKABUCKS The Road- THE LUMINEERS O2 Symphony Hall, B’ham Hounds, Birmingham FLEETWOOD BAC The FOSTER AND ALLEN house, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham IVOR & LYNN'S CLASSIC SOULSHAKE The Yard- Roadhouse, B’ham ROCK DISCO Route 44, Prince Of Wales Centre, THE ELO EXPERIENCE JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR bird Jazz Club, B’ham Redditch Prince Of Wales Centre, Birmingham EDITORS O2 Academy, WED 27 NOV PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS BORDERLINE Nailcote EDDY MORTON (THE Cannock KING KING Birmingham Birmingham BUSHBURYS) AND SUN- AUTRE NE VEUT Hare & Hall, Berkswell, War- WINTERSTORM PLUS SIXTIES GOLD THE 50TH Town Hall JAY BRAYNE Kitchen Gar- Hounds, Birmingham ANNIVERSARY TOUR wickshire AWAKE BY DESIGN AND IN MARTYN JOSEPH The HOT RED CHILI PEPPERS den Cafe, Birmingham LTJ BUKEM Hare & Symphony Hall, Birm- DANTES ECLIPSE The Slade Rooms, Wolver- The Roadhouse, B’ham SO SOLID CREW The In- Hounds, Birmingham ingham hampton Slade Rooms, Wolver- NIAMH MCGARVEY PLASTIC FACTORY The stitute, Birmingham Irish DISCLOSURE O2 Acad- PAT BRESLIN Irish Cen- hampton Centre, Birmingham Actress & Bishop, Birm- THE RAILS & SPOOKY emy, Birmingham tre, Birmingham P MONEY The Institute, RUARRI JOSEPH Hare & ingham WAGONS The Actress & REBEL REBEL The Marr's BILLY MITCHELL & RAY WED 20 NOV B’ham Hounds, Birmingham Bishop, Birmingham Bar, Birmingham LAIDLAW Huntingdon TAMWORTH MALE VOICE REGENISES The Assem- PAUL CARRACK Warwick GERRY MCAVOYS BAND Arts Centre, Coventry Hall, Worcester CHOIR Tamworth Assem- bly, Leamington Spa OF FRIENDS The Robin, MY LIFE STORY SAT 23 NOV TIGERTAILZ The Slade O2 Acad- bly Rooms MADELEINE PEYROUX Bilston emy, Birmingham CLAIRE MARTIN Artrix, Birmingham Town Hall THE COMPLETE STONE Rooms, Wolverhampton Bromsgrove THE BLUES BAND The ROSES O2 Academy, MUNTO VALDO mac, Robin, Bilston Birmingham Birmingham ALICE RUSSELL Hare & NED’S ATOMIC DUSTIN O2 BOOTLEG BLONDIE The Hounds, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham Roadhouse, B’ham KARNIVOOL The Institute, A FOREIGNERS JOURNEY BANGALORE DREAMS Birmingham The Roadhouse, B’ham Arena Theatre, Wolver- THE TEMPERANCE MOVE- THE MOTELLAS Nailcote hampton MENT O2 Academy, Hall, Berkswell, War- DEETRON, WILL SAUL AND Birmingham wickshire GUESTS The Rainbow, THE VIRGINMARYS The STEREOSONICS Hunting- Birmingham Slade Rooms, Wolver- don Hall, Worcester ART BRUT Kasbah, hampton THE UPBEAT BEATLES CovenTry MARIE-CLAIRE BERREEN Royal Spa Centre, CEREBRAL BALLZY Kas- & HER HUSBANDS The Leamington Spa bah, Coventry Red Lion Folk Club, THE COUNTERFEIT Birmingham STONES The Robin, Bil- WE HAVE THE TONICS O2 ston SUN 17 NOV Academy, Birmingham THE FAMILY RAIN The In- GLENN TILBROOK War- stitute, Birmingham wick Arts Centre, THUR 21 NOV BUCKCHERRY Kasbah, Coventry Coventry BLUE OCTOBER The Insti- ADRIAN EDMONDSON & THE SCOPYONS Route tute, Birmingham THE BAD SHEPHERDS 44, Birmingham NEW MODEL ARMY The Birmingham Town Hall REDSHIFT O2 Academy,

For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Classical November region one_Layout 1 28/10/2013 14:57 Page 1

Classical Music PREVIEWS Adrian Brendel And Imogen Cooper Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Mon 25 November Two outstanding classical musicians here join forces to perform as part of the Birm- ingham International Concert Season 2013/14. While virtuoso pianist Imogen Cooper is hailed by Gramaphone as 'quite simply one of the finest pianists this country has produced', her partner for the evening, Adrian Brendel (son of Albert), is considered to be one of 'the most versatile and original cellists of his generation'. This Symphony Hall union sees the pair perform JS Bach's Cello Suite No 3 in C, BMV 1009, Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata, Liszt's Two Elegies and Rachmaninov's Sonata for Cello and Piano.

Welsh National Opera Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 12 - Sat 16 November Founded in Cardiff in 1943, Welsh National Opera (WNO) is a regular visitor to the Midlands, performing seasons of work at the Birmingham Hippodrome. The company is committed to producing operas which are extremely accessible for its audiences, whether they be opera- going regulars or people attending a performance for the very first time. This autumn's offering sees the company returning to the Midlands to present Puccini's fast-paced operatic thriller Tosca, alongside three new productions of Donizetti's Tudor season. In Anna Bolena, audiences witness a re-imagining of the last few days of Henry VIII's second wife. Maria Stuarda, meanwhile, explores what might have happened if Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots had ever met face to face. And in what promises to be a thrilling final installment, the WNO perform Roberto Devereux, the story of Queen Elizabeth I's lover, who she strives to save when he's threatened with charges of treason. Imogen Cooper

Imogen Cooper Orchestra Of The Swan Czech National Symphony Stratford Civic Hall, Tues 12 November; Birmingham Town Hall, Wed 13 November Orchestra Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Held in high regard for championing new Sat 16 November music, Stratford-based Orchestra of the Swan Celebrating its twentieth anniversary in received much acclaim for its 2011 collabora- 2013, the Czech National Symphony tion with Indie band James and its 2012 team- Orchestra is internationally recognised for up with Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. its impressive versatility, and is regarded Here presenting a concert that’s very much a as one of Europe's top symphonic ensem- highlight of its current season, the orchestra is bles. With a repertoire which regularly accompanied by Artistic Director and celebrat- encompasses both classical and contem- ed cellist Raphael Wallfsich, and performs a porary, the orchestra this month visits the programme of works by three prolific com- Midlands to present four well-known classi- posers: Le Tombeau de Couperin (Ravel), cal pieces - Smetana's 3 Dances For The Cello Concerto no.1 and The Swan (Saint- Bartered Bride, Bruch's Violin Concerto, Saens) and Symphony no.3, The Paris in D Strauss' Fie Fledermaus Overture and major (Mozart). Beethoven's Symphony No.5. The orchestra is joined by acclaimed vio- linist Chloe Hanslip. Smetana Trio Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 8 November Established in 1934 by Czech pianist Josef Páleníček, the Smetana Trio's current line-up comprises Páleníček's son Jan (on cello), Prague Conservatory graduate Jitka Čechová (piano), and the multi- award-winning Jiří Vodička (violin). With an impressive recording repertoire both nationally and internationally, the trio here present Suk's Piano Trio in C minor op 2, Ravel's Piano Trio in A minor and Smetana's Piano Trio in G minor op 15.

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formed by City of Birm- toire BARDOLINO Tues 26 Thurs 28 Nov, Birming- LISTINGS ingham Choir, Sat 16 BIRMINGHAM BACH Nov, Adrian Boult Hall, ham Cathedral Classical Nov, Symphony Hall, CHOIR Programme Birmingham ENSEMBLE AMARANTHOS: Birmingham includes works by ROYAL PHILHARMONIC A MIDWINTER NIGHT'S For full listing information on classical CZECH NATIONAL SYM- Stravinsky, Elgar & ORCHESTRA Programme DREAM Fri 29 Nov, concerts, including times and dates, PHONY ORCHESTRA Sat Dyson, Sat 23 Nov, includes works by Artrix, Bromsgrove visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 16 Nov, Warwick Arts Adrian Boult Hall, Birm- Delius, Walton & Elgar, BENYOUNES STRING Centre, Coventry ingham Conservatoire Tues 26 Nov, Warwick QUARTET Programme CBSO CLASSICS AT THE Institute, Birmingham GLOUCESTER SYMPHONY EUROPEAN DOCTORS Arts Centre, Coventry includes works by MOVIES Fri 1 Nov, SAINT MICHAEL’S ORCHESTRA Sat 16 Nov, ORCHESTRA: DOCTOR’S ORCHESTRA OF THE Schubert, Britten & Symphony Hall, B’ham SINGERS AUTUMN CON- Tewkesbury Abbey GUIDE TO THE GALAXY SWAN: THE PRAGUE Dvorak, Fri 29 Nov, BBC CHILDREN IN NEED CERT Programme POLISH CHAMBER Programme includes CONNNECTION Pro- Royal Pump Rooms, ORGAN RECITAL Fri 1 includes works by ORCHESTRA Programme works by Bernstien, gramme includes works Leamington Spa Nov, Birmingham Vaughan Williams & includes works by Roth, Gershwin and by Rossini, Mozart, DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC Cathedral Saint-Saens, Sat 9 Nov, Mozart & Tchaikovsky, Holst, Sun 24 Nov, Sylvie Bodorova and POSTGRADUATES CON- NJABULO MADLALA Fri 1 Coventry Cathedral Sun 17 Nov, Symphony Birmingham Town Hall Dvorak, Wed 27 Nov, CERT Fri 29 Nov, The Nov, The Barber Insti- I FLAUTISTI Sat 9 Nov, Hall, Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- Birmingham Town Hall Barber Institute, Birm- tute, B’ham Royal Spa Centre, NATIONAL BARBERSHOP CERT WITH THOMAS LIEDERABEND Pro- ingham ARCADIA STRING QUAR- Leamington Spa QUARTET CONTEST Sun TROTTER Programme gramme includes works UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK TET Fri 1 Nov, Royal LA BOHEME Mon 11 Nov, 17 Nov, Birmingham includes works by Dan by Paul Hindemith, SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Pump Rooms, Leam- The Grand Theatre, Conservatoire Locklair, JS Bach, Wes- Wed 27 Nov, Recital & CHORUS Featuring ington Spa Wolverhampton JOHN WILSON & THE ley, Ad Wammes, Hall, Birmingham Con- Lucy Griffiths & Paul THE MIDLAND CHAMBER LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- JOHN WILSON ORCHES- Errolyn Wallen and servatoire McGrath (conductors), PLAYERS Programme CERT WITH THOMAS TRA Wed 20 Nov, Sym- Ponchielli, Mon 25 Nov, THE EBLANA STRING TRIO Giulla Boggiano (sopra- includes works by TROTTER: TRAVELLER'S phony Hall, B’ham Birmingham Town Hall Programme includes no), Nicholas Lester Mozart & Turina, Fri 1 FARE Mon 11 Nov, COULL QUARTET Pro- ADRIAN BRENDEL AND works by Schubert, (baritone). Programme Nov, Birmingham & Birmingham Town Hall gramme includes works IMOGEN COOPER Mon 25 Finzi & Beethoven, includes works by Midland Institute AIDA Presented by Ellen by Britten, Edward Nov, Birmingham Town Thurs 28 Nov, Adrian Smetana, Tchaikovsky, MANCHESTER CONCERT Kent, Tue 12 Nov, The Cowle & Ravel, Wed 20 Hall Boult Hall, Birmingham Faure & Tippett, Fri 29 ORCHESTRA: THE ARMED Grand Theatre, Wolver- Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- MALCOLM STENT'S Conservatoire Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- MAN Featuring Karl hampton tre, Coventry SONGS OF PRAISE Tue 26 CBSO PLAYERS Pro- tre, Coventry Jenkins (conductor) TOSCA Tue 12 - Sat 16 AIDA Presented by Ellen Nov, Solihull Arts Com- gramme includes works REDDITCH ORCHESTRA and City Of Birming- Nov, Birmingham Hip- Kent and Amphitheatre plex by Faure & Mozart, Featuring soloist Alas- ham Choir, Sat 2 Nov, podrome Productions, Thurs 21 THE SCHUBERT ENSEM- Thurs 28 Nov, CBSO tair Moseley. Pro- Symphony Hall, B’ham ORCHESTRA OF THE Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- BLE Programme Centre, Birmingham gramme includes works BADKE QUARTET Sun 3 SWAN Programme tre, Coventry includes works by Colin MELVYN COOPER AND by Grieg, Shostakovich Nov, Huntingdon Hall, includes works by EX CATHEDRA Conduct- Matthews & Vaughan NILS FRANKE (PIANO) & Dvorak, Sat 30 Nov, Worcester Ravel, Saint-Saens and ed by Jeffrey Skidmore Williams, Tues 26 Nov, Thurs 28 Nov, Warwick Artrix, Bromsgrove CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA Mozart, Tue 12 Nov. & featuring Andrew Adrian Boult Hall, Birm- Arts Centre, Coventry THE MAGIC OF DISNEY Programme includes Stratford Civic Hall Skidmore on cello, ingham FREDDY VELDKAMP AND The Midlands Voices works by Debussy, HANDEL MUSIC FOR VES- Thurs 21 Nov, Malvern CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION HIS MALE VOICE CHOIR accompanied by the Messiaen and Sibelius, PERS Featuring the Uni- Theatres FROM KING'S COLLEGE Thurs 28 Nov, Coventry Midland Voice Orches- Sun 3 Nov, Symphony versity of Warwick CATHEDRAL CHOIR AND CAMBRIDGE Programme Cathedral tra perform a series of Hall, Birmingham Chamber Choir, English ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA includes works by Brit- PARKINSONS UK CAN- well known classics. THE NAYLER PASSION Touring Opera's soloists CONCERT Marcus Huxley ten & Arvo Part, Tue 26 DLELIT CHRISTMAS CON- Sat 30 Nov, Warwick Performed by a choir of & baroque orchestra conducts. Programme Nov, Symphony Hall, CERT Hosted by ITV Arts Centre, Coventry Quakers, with featured The Old Street Band, includes works by Birmingham presenter Lucy Kite, soloist Henry Herford, Tue 12 Nov, St Mary's Faure, Mahler, Thurs 21 Sun 3 Nov, Recital Hall, Church, Warwick Nov, Birmingham B’ham Conservatoire ANNA BOLENA Wed 13 Cathedral 2013 LEAMINGTON MUSIC Nov, Birmingham Hip- K’ANTU ENSEMBLE Thurs PRIZE WINNERS CONCERT podrome 21 Nov, Recital Hall, Tue 5 Nov, The Kings- PAVEL HAAS QUARTET Birmingham Conserva- ley School Hall, Leam- Programme includes toire ington Spa works by Shostakovich, THE JONTY FISHER TRIO CHUEN-AN CHERN Britten & Brahms, Wed Thurs 21 Nov, Warwick (PIANO) Programme 13 Nov, Birmingham Arts Centre, Coventry includes works by Scar- Town Hall BRITTEN 100: CENTENARY latti, Beethoven & Bar- ORCHESTRA OF THE CONCERT Performed by ber, Tues 5 Nov, Adrian SWAN Wed 13 Nov, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Boult Hall, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall Youth Chorus, CBSO CBSO: NELSONS CON- UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK Children's Chorus, DUCTS BRAHMS’ FOURTH WIND ORCHESTRA & Simon Halsey (conduc- Programme includes BRASS BAND Wed 13 tor), David Goode works by Wagner, Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- (organ) and Nicholas Sibelius & Brahms, tre, Coventry Daniel (oboe), Fri 22 Wed 6 Nov, Symphony MARIA STUARDA Thurs Nov, Symphony Hall, Hall, Birmingham 14 Nov, Birmingham Birmingham CBSO CENTRE STAGE Hippodrome THE MIDLAND CHAMBER Featuring Trio Severn, GWYNT TRIO Featuring PLAYERS Programme Zoe Beyers (violin), Josh Hall (oboe), Elin includes works by David Powell (cello) & Roberts (flute) and Will Mozart & Beethoven, Robert Markham Drakett (piano), Thurs Fri 22 Nov, Birmingham (piano), Wed 6 Nov, 14 Nov, Symphony Hall & Midland Institute CBSO Centre, B’ham Bar, Birmingham DI XIAO LUNCHTIME CON- TINE THING HELSETH & SAM PARKER VIOLIN CON- CERT Programme KATHRYN STOTT Pro- CERT Thurs 14 Nov, includes works by gramme includes works Warwick Arts Centre, Schubert, Kris Lennox, by Tveirr, Bull, Enescu, Coventry Grieg & Debussy, Fri 22 Fitkin, Hindemith, REOBERTO DEVEREUX Nov, The Barber Insti- Ravel, Sibelius, Falla, Fri 15 Nov, Birmingham tute, Birmingham Weill, Wed 6 Nov, The Hippodrome THALLEIN ENSEMBLE: Barber Institute, B’ham PHILHARMONIA ORCHES- ICONOCLASTS & MAVER- ENGLISH PIANO TRIO TRA Programme ICKS Programme to PLAYS BEETHOVEN Wed includes Mahler’s Sym- include works by 6 Nov, Warwick Arts phony No.7, Fri 15 Nov, Jonathan Harvey & Centre, Coventry Symphony Hall, B’ham Richard Ayres, Fri 22 CBSO: THE BEST OF BIRMINGHAM CONSERVA- Nov, Adrian Boult Hall, BRAHMS Thurs 7 Nov, TOIRE WIND ORCHESTRA Birmingham Symphony Hall, B’ham Fri 15 Nov, Birmingham THE HARMONIE CONCERT FLIBBERTIJIGGET Thurs 7 Conservatoire BAND Sat 23 Nov, Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- FLORIN ENSEMBLE Pro- Shirley Methodist tre, Coventry gramme includes works Church, Solihull SMETANA TRIO Fri 8 Nov, by J.S Bach arr. Mozart, BIRMINGHAM JUNIOR Artrix, Bromsgrove Francaix & Beethoven, CONSERVATOIRE CHAM- CARLA REES (FLUTE) & Fri 15 Nov, The Barber BER MUSIC CONCERT Sat XENIA PESTOVA (PIANO) Institute, Birmingham 23 Nov, Recital Hall, Fri 8 Nov, The Barber MOZART’S REQUIEM Per- Birmingham Conserva-

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Comedy November region one_Layout 1 28/10/2013 14:59 Page 1 Comedy

Simon Munnery Comedy mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 15 November Box Office Simon Munnery’s quite an unusual fella - well, unless your idea of normal behaviour includes ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM wearing a hat crafted from a kettle, and being 0844 871 3011 referred to on-stage as The League Against ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE Tedium! Much admired for his experimental 01527 577330 stand-up, he effortlessly blends the satirical BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL with the political and the surreal, and even 02476 376707 chucks in a bit of harmonica-playing for good BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 0121 780 3333 measure. Funny lines include, “Beware the THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM smile of a waiter. It means he's pissed in your 0121 333 2444 soup,” and, “In love, as in fighting, the winner DUDLEY CONCERT HALL has an eight-foot pole”. 01384 815 577 GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 0871 4720400 HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM, Carl Donnelly 0844 844 0044 Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 10 November; HUNTINGDON HALL, Hereford Courtyard Theatre, Sat 7 December; WORCESTER, The Met Studio, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, 01905 611427 Sat 8 March FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK, STAFFS Although sometimes known as ‘the anal alba- 01538 386112 tross’, London-born comic Carl Donnelly does- KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, n’t let that somewhat unfortunate nickname BIRMINGHAM hang like an (anal) albatross around his neck. 0121 443 4725 Instead, he gets his head down and engages LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM 0844 338 8000 with the altogether more serious challenge of LUDLOW ASSEMBLY not being serious. Launching himself onto an Russell Brand ROOMS unsuspecting comedy circuit in 2004, he’s Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 28 November; Warwick Arts 01584 878141 Centre, Coventry, Thurs 6 March; De Montfort Hall, Leicester, Thurs since made a name for himself via numerous MAC, BIRMINGHAM 27 March; Birmingham Hippodrome, Sun 6 April 0121 446 3232 festivals - including the Edinburgh Fringe - and Blending a unique look, an eye for the ladies and a penchant for PALACE THEATRE, plenty of ‘appearances’ on radio shows, REDDITCH including BBC Radio Four's 28 Acts In 28 courting controversy, it's fair to say Russell Brand very much 01527 65203 Minutes and Tim Shaw's The Asylum on ploughs his own furrow in the world of light entertainment! Bursting THE PUBLIC, WEST Kerrang! Radio. At his best when portraying onto the scene via Big Brother’s ‘Big Mouth’ spin-off show, Brand BROMWICH has had no trouble finding a spotlight in which to stand over the 0121 533 7161 himself as a bit of a hapless idiot, Carl’s as DRUMMONDS BAR, happy as the proverbial sandboy chatting last few years, his more high-profile moments including an ill- WORCESTER about all manner of subjects, from encounters starred marriage to Katy Perry and an offensive voicemail call to 01905 28190 with intimidating yahoos on a train to the Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. Of late, he’s started making a RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY 0844 873 6565 rather more personal business of accidentally name for himself in the rough, tough world of movie-acting, but here returns to what he knows best - the business of peddling THE ROSES THEATRE soiling himself. TEWKESBURY humour that could well shock your granny. 01684 295074 ROYAL SPA CENTRE, LEAMINGTON SPA Trevor Noah Chris Ramsey 01926 334418 Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, STAFFORD GATEHOUSE Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 26 November; The Glee Club, THEATRE Sat 16 November; Wulfrun Hall, 01785 254653 Birmingham, Wed 27 November; Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 21 Wolverhampton, Sun 22 December SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX November; The Met Studio, 0121 704 6962 White Swiss father, Black South African moth- Stafford Gatehouse, Thurs 23 THE SLADE ROOMS, er, upbringing in a Soweto township - there’s January; Theatre Severn, WOLVERHAMPTON certainly no question that Trevor Noah has Shrewsbury, Fri 7 February; New 0870 320 7000 Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, THE GEORGE HOTEL, plenty of material for his stand-up shows, with Sat 22 February BURSLEM, STAFFS observations about race and ethnicity being 07763301081 As well as being a highly rated leading themes in his comedy. TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY stand-up on the UK comedy cir- A rising star on the international circuit, Noah ROOMS cuit, Chris has also developed 01827 709618 is a warm, upbeat and irreverent performer an impressive telly career, THEATRE SEVERN, who blends sharp wit, intelligent commentary, SHREWSBURY appearing on shows including 8 unmistakable charm and clinical delivery to 01743 281281 Out of 10 Cats, Show And Tell, excellent effect. That said, he’s also been VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY, Comedy Rocks, Russell STOKE-ON-TRENT known to generate the occasional controversy, Howard's Good News, Celebrity 0844 871 7649 with tweets about athletes Caster Semenya Juice, and Richard Bacon's Beer WARWICK ARTS CENTRE and Oscar Pistorius having made him the sub- 02476 524524 And Pizza Club. Gags include: ject of Twitter backlashes. Still, all publicity’s WEST BROMWICH TOWN "My venue for the Edinburgh surely good publicity for a young fella making HALL Festival is a portacabin, it's liter- 0121 596 4429 his way in the dog-eat-dog world of stand-up ally a portacabin! I'm a Geordie, WULFRUN HALL, comedy, and Noah’s got more than enough WOLVERHAMPTON in a Portacabin. I was going to about him to spellbind even the most hard- 0870 320 7000 call the show Auf Wiedersehen ened of critics. Pet Live".

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Tue 12 Nov, Artrix, CRAIG CAMPBELL: LUISA OMIELAN, DANIEL TREVOR NOAH Wed 27 Bromsgrove THRILLING MIC HUNT... TOWNES, RON VAUDRY & Nov, The Glee Club, Comedy LISTINGS TOM STADE Wed 13 Nov, Wed 20 Nov, Wulfrun ALEX BOARDMAN Fri 22 - Birmingham The Glee Club, Hall, Wolverhampton Sat 23 Nov, Jongleurs STEPHEN K AMOS Wed For full listing information on comedy Birmingham BOND! - AN Comedy Club, 27 Nov, Palace Theatre, HAL CRUTTENDEN Wed UNAUTHORISED PARODY Birmingham Redditch gigs including times and dates visit 13 Nov, Artrix, Wed 20 Nov, Artrix, GREG DAVIES: THE BACK JAMES ACASTER Thurs www.whatsonlive.co.uk Bromsgrove Bromsgrove OF MY MUM'S HEAD Sat 28 Nov, The Glee Club, HATTIE HAYRIDGE, PEDALLING FOR LAUGHS! 23 Nov, Civic Hall, Birmingham STEVE SHANYASKI, ADAM Leek, Staffs MERCEDES BENSON, Featuring Barbara Nice, Wolverhampton RUSSELL BRAND Thurs ROWE, BENNY BOOT & MC PAUL MCCAFFREY, DAVE INDIA MCLEOD, ALICE Adam Kay and James ARDAL O'HANLON Sat 23 28 Nov, Civic Hall, DAMION LARKIN Fri 1 FULTON & JIMMY MCGHIE FRICK AND MC MAUREEN Cook, Wed 20 Nov, Nov, Symphony Hall, Wolverhampton Nov, The Slade Rooms, PLUS COMIC TBC Thurs 7 YOUNGER Wed 13 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham ANDREW O'NEILL, LLOYD Wolverhampton Nov, The Glee Club, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham MICKY FLANAGAN Sat 23 LANGFORD, ANDREW GEOFF SCHUMANN WITH Birmingham Birmingham CHRIS RAMSEY Thurs 21 Nov, National Indoor STANLEY & MIKE GUNN TONY 'PALEFACE' MICKY FLANAGAN Thurs LEE NELSON LIVE Thurs Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Arena, Birmingham Thurs 28 - Sat 30 Nov, HENDRIKS & CANADIAN 7 - Sat 9 Nov, National 14 Nov, Stafford Wolverhampton BARNSTORMERS COMEDY The Glee Club, FUNNY MAN JEAN PAUl Indoor Arena, Gatehouse Theatre PATRICK MONAHAN Thurs NIGHT Sat 23 Nov, Birmingham Fri 1 Nov, The Drum, Birmingham JOE LYCETT Thurs 14 21 Nov, Crewe Lyceum Artrix, Bromsgrove THE 'PETER KAY' COMEDY Birmingham ANDY PARSONS Fri 8 Nov, The Slade Rooms, GAVIN WEBSTER, LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY PARTY WITH LEE LARD Fri BRENDAN RILEY, TREVOR Nov, Birmingham Town Wolverhampton ANDREW RYAN, CHRIS CLUB FOR KIDS Sun 24 29 Nov, Nailcote Hall, CROOK, BOBBY MAIR & Hall MARK THOMAS - 100 MCCAUSLAND & ELIS Nov, mac - Midlands Berkswell, Warwickshire SLIM Fri 1 Nov, HENNING WEHN Fri 8 ACTS OF MINOR DISSENT JAMES Thurs 21 - Sat Arts Centre, STAND-UP STAIRS Jongleurs Comedy Nov, Huntingdon Hall, Thurs 14 Nov, Warwick 23 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham COMEDY SHOW Fri 29 Club, Birmingham Worcester Arts Centre, Coventry Birmingham CRAIG CAMPBELL: Nov, Palace Theatre, ANDY ROBINSON, KEVIN PAUL FOOT - WORDS Fri BO BURNHAM - WHAT JIMEOIN Fri 22 Nov, THRILLING MIC HUNT... Redditch MCCARTHY, IAN MOORE & 8 Nov, Warwick Arts Thurs 14 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall Sun 24 Nov, Warwick STAND UP COMEDY TAYLOR GLENN Fri 1 - Sat Centre, Coventry Birmingham Town Hall GREG DAVIES: THE BACK Arts Centre, Coventry SHOWCASE Fri 29 Nov, 2 Nov, The Glee Club, RO CAMPBELL, HAYLEY MICHAEL LEGGE, ROB OF MY MUM'S HEAD Fri ALISTAIR MCGOWAN Sun mac - Midlands Arts Birmingham ELLIS, FOLI AND HOG Fri DEERING PLUS TWO 22 Nov, Warwick Arts 24 Nov, Warwick Arts Centre, Birmingham JEFF INNOCENT, SALLY 8 Nov, Hereford COMICS TBC Thurs 14 Centre, Coventry Centre, Coventry ADAM CROW, MARKUS ANN HAYWARD, MAT Courtyard Theatre Nov, The Glee Club, WV1 COMEDY CLUB TREVOR NOAH Tue 26 BIRDMAN, JONATHAN REED, TONY JAMESON & TONY LAW: NONSENSE Birmingham Featuring Alan Francis, Nov, Warwick Arts MAYOR & DANA HELEN KEELER Fri 1 - Sat OVERDRIVE Fri 8 Nov, SIMON MUNNERY Fri 15 Mandy Muden & Bryan Centre, Coventry ALEXANDER Fri 29 - Sat 2 Nov, Highlight The Glee Club, Nov, mac - Midlands Lacey, Fri 22 Nov, THE BACK TO MAC 30 Nov, Highlight Comedy Club, Birmingham Arts Centre, Molineux Stadium, STAND-UP SHOW Tue 26 Comedy Club, Birmingham PAUL MCCAFFREY, DAVE Birmingham Wolverhampton Nov, mac - Midlands Birmingham GEOFF NORCOTT, KEVIN FULTON, JIMMY MCGHIE PHILL JUPITUS Fri 15 CHARLIE BAKER - Arts Centre, PATRICK MONAHAN, JOHN MCCARTHY, IAN MOORE & & PAUL F TAYLOR Fri 8 - Nov, The Roses BAKER'S DOZEN Fri 22 Birmingham SCOTT, MIKE GUNN & TAYLOR GLENN Sat 2 Sat 9 Nov, The Glee Theatre, Tewkesbury Nov, The Glee Club, BBC RADIO NEW COMEDY CURTIS WALKER Fri 29 - Nov, The Glee Club, Club, Birmingham KANE BROWN, MICKEY Birmingham AWARD Hosted by Sat 30 Nov, Jongleurs Birmingham CURTIS WALKER, TIM SHARMA, STFEANO RICHARD MORTON, JOHN Patrick Kielty, Tue 26 Comedy Club, PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO CLARKE, SIMON CLAYTON PAOLINI & DAVID SCOTT, SAM HARLAND & Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham CHUMS Sat 2 Nov, & TOM WIGGLESWORTH HADINGHAM Fri 15 Nov, HAYLEY ELLIS Fri 22 - Birmingham TONY LAW: NONSENSE Warwick Arts Centre, Fri 8 - Sat 9 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Sat 23 Nov, Highlight ALAN DAVIES Wed 27 OVERDRIVE Sat 30 Nov, Coventry Highlight Comedy Club, Birmingham Comedy Club, Nov, Civic Hall, The Slade Rooms, MATT RICHARDSON Sat 2 Club, Birmingham SEAN COLLINS, MICHAEL Birmingham Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Nov, Palace Theatre, STEVE WILLIAMS, GAR LEGGE, JOHN MOLONEY & Redditch MURRAN, WAYNE DEAKIN, SALLY ANN HAYWARD Fri JAMES MULLINGER Sat 2 RAYMOND & MR 15 - Sat 16 Nov, The Nov, The Rose Theatre, TIMPKINS REVUE Fri 8 - Glee Club, Birmingham Tewkesbury Sat 9 Nov, Jongleurs ANGIE MCEVOY, PAUL THE LAUGHTER CREWE Comedy Club, GARVEY, GEOFF NORCOTT FEATURING WES Birmingham & CHRIS MCCAUSLAND ZAHARUK, ANDY KIND & JIMMY CARR - GAGGING Fri 15 - Sat 16 Nov, TONY VINO Sun 3 Nov, ORDER Sat 9 Nov, Highlight Comedy Crewe Lyceum Symphony Hall, Club, Birmingham JEREMY HARDY Sun 3 Birmingham KANE BROWN, MICKEY Nov, Artrix, Bromsgrove CHRIS RAMSEY Sat 9 SHARMA, STFEANO RETURN OF THE GRUMPY Nov, Hereford PAOLINI, DAVID OLD WOMEN: FIFTY Courtyard Theatre HADINGHAM & COMIC SHADES OF BEIGE LUCY PORTER: NORTHERN TBC Sat 16 Nov, Featuring Jenny Eclair, SOUL Sat 9 Nov, mac - Jongleurs Comedy Susie Blake and Kate Midlands Arts Centre, Club, Birmingham Robbins, Sun 3 Nov, Birmingham PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO Warwick Arts Centre, ROBIN INCE Sat 9 Nov, CHUMS Sat 16 Nov, Coventry Warwick Arts Centre, Crewe Lyceum ANDY PARSONS Sun 3 Coventry LAUGH OUT LOUD Nov, The Edge Arts SEAN HUGHES Sun 10 COMEDY CLUB Sat 16 Centre, Much Wenlock, Nov, Hereford Nov, Regent Theatre, South Shropshire Courtyard Theatre Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ANDY PARSONS Mon 4 CARL DONNELLY Sun 10 JEREMY HARDY Sat 16 Nov, Hereford Nov, Artrix, Bromsgrove Nov, Huntingdon Hall, Courtyard Theatre SEAN LOCK Sun 10 Nov, Worcester MICHAEL WINSLOW Mon Regent Theatre, CHRIS RAMSEY Sat 16 4 Nov, Station Pub, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Nov, Warwick Arts Sutton Coldfield ROUGH WORKS Sun 10 Centre, Coventry MARK THOMAS - 100 Nov, The Glee Club, ALEX HORNE: LIES Sat 16 ACTS OF MINOR DISSENT Birmingham Nov, Hereford Wed 6 Nov, Huntingdon SEVERN JESTERS Courtyard Theatre Hall Monthly comedy night PAUL FOOT - WORDS Sat JACK DEE Wed 6 Nov, Sun 10 Nov, Theatre 16 Nov, The Met Regent Theatre, Severn, Shrewsbury Studio, Stafford Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent CARL DONNELLY Sun 10 MILTON JONES: ON THE KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY Nov, Artrix, Bromsgrove ROAD Sun 17 Nov, NIGHT Thurs 7 Nov, JASON MANFORD Mon Theatre Severn, Stourbridge Town Hall 11 - Tue 12 Nov, Shrewsbury DALISO CHAPONDA & Warwick Arts Centre, STEVE HUGHES Sun 17 ANDREW BIRD Thurs 7 Coventry Nov, Warwick Arts Nov, The George Hotel, ED BYRNE Tue 12 Nov, Centre, Coventry Burslem, Stoke-on- Theatre Severn, PAUL FOOT - WORDS Tue Trent Shrewsbury 19 Nov, Artrix, DALISO CHAPONDA, JIMMY CARR - GAGGING Bromsgrove ANDREW BIRD, BEN ORDER Tue 12 Nov, MILTON JONES: ON THE BRIGGS & COMPERE LOU Bedworth Civic Hall ROAD Wed 20 Nov, The CONRAN Thurs 7 Nov, MARK THOMAS - 100 Place, Oakengates Foxlowe Arts Centre, ACTS OF MINOR DISSENT Theatre, Telford Carl

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Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 12 - Sat 16 November; West Side Story New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 1 - Sat 19 April One of the best known musicals of the twentieth century, West Side and falls in love with Maria, the sister of Sharks leader Barnardo. It’s a Story needs little introduction. For anyone needing the gentlest of gritty enough story, but it’s Bernstein and Sondheim’s incredible reminders about this smash-hit show, it’s set in the New York of the score which really brings the show to life, featuring numbers like 1950s, where racism is rife and the ‘youth of today’ baaad! The Somewhere, Tonight, America, Maria, Gee Officer Krupke!, I Feel Sharks, a street gang of immigrant Puerto Ricans, are invading the Pretty, One Hand and Something’s Coming. This particular produc- territory of their rivals The Jets - an ‘American’ gang (after all, they’ve tion sees Katie Hall as Maria, Djalenga Scott as Anita and Louis been in the good ol’ US of A for a whole generation!). As trouble Maskell as Tony. brews on the streets, Tony - the best friend of Jets leader Riff - meets Read our interview with Katie Hall online at whatsonlive.co.uk The Mousetrap Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 4 - Sat 9 Novem- ber; Lichfield Garrick, Mon 14 - Sat 19 April Not only has everyone heard of The Mousetrap, 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 show, the famous Agatha Christie play has been performed almost twenty-five thousand times. Bruno Langley, Graham Seed and Jemma Walker star.

Cabaret Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 26 - Sat 30 November When a show comes to the region which, between its screen and stage versions, boasts multiple Oscars, BAFTAs and Tonys, it makes sense to check it out. A dark piece of theatre that makes for an evening of thought-provoking entertainment, Cabaret focuses on the character of the legendary Sally Bowles, who performs nightly at the infamous Kit Kat Klub in early-1930s Berlin. But even as she makes her way in a world of decadence, beyond the boundaries of the cabaret, the world stands on the threshold of a terrible war... Will Young takes the lead as Emcee. Read the interview with Will Young online at whatsonlive.co.uk www.whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre November region one_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:13 Page 3 Theatre November region one_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:13 Page 4

Theatre PREVIEWS Betrayal Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 7 Novem- ber; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tues 12 - Sat 16 November; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 26 - Wed 27 November Although widely considered to be one of Harold Pinter’s most accessible, enthralling and provocatively layered offerings, Betrayal has tended to live in the shadows of the real giants in the legendary playwright’s canon of work, namely The Birthday Party, The Home- coming and The Caretaker. The play com- mences at the end of an affair, and traces the romance back to its beginning - a beginning which had happened seven years earlier, when Emma had found herself becoming WIN inappropriately close to her publisher hus- TICKETS band Robert’s literary agent and very best whatsonlive.co.uk friend... Tom’s Midnight Garden to enter Old Rep, Birmingham, Wed 13 November - Sat 25 January Philippa Pearce’s classic time-travel tale finds young Tom wondering whether it’s possible to visit the past. When the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes thirteen times, he discovers that it most definitely is, finding himself transported back to a secret garden and a magical wonderland of fantastic adventures. But as he journeys back and forth through time, strange things begin to happen, leaving him with little choice but to solve the mystery of the midnight garden... This David Wood adaptation is presented by the hugely reliable Birmingham Stage Company.

scaremongers extraordinaire’ Don't Go Into Treasure Island The Cellar, whose slogan, ‘Victorian theatre Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 19 - The Circus Of Horrors with bite’, offers a further clue about what to Wed 20 November; The Place, Oakengates Crewe Lyceum, Tues 12 November; Theatre expect... Theatre, Telford, Wed 27 November; Bridge Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 13 November; House Theatre, Warwick, Thurs 28 - Sat 30 Prince of Wales Centre, Cannock, Wed 20 November November; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sun Guantanamo Boy Oddsocks here fuse their inimitable style with 12 January; Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- The Drum, Birmingham, Trent, Fri 14 March Thurs 28 - Fri 29 November live music to present Robert Louis Steven- son’s classic story, which has not only An off-kilter affair that bears more resem- A fast-moving work of powerful, immersive blance to a freak show than any modern def- delighted generations of readers but also theatre, Guantanamo Boy takes a look at the inspired sufficient stage and film adaptations inition of a circus, Britain’s Got Talent finalists controversial subject of the war on terror. Its The Circus Of Horrors present a world to fill a treasure chest (and a big one, at focal point is the character of Khalid, a joe- that!). When salty old seadog Billy Bones beyond political correctness and taste. With average kinda guy who loves his football, the performers dressed in a manner reminis- brings his papers to the Admiral Benbow Inn, computer games, hip-hop and girls - well, he draws young Jim Hawkins into the adven- cent of The Rocky Horror Show, there’s no one girl in particular. But when he’s snatched denying the skill of those participating - or, ture of a lifetime, one which will see him not in the wee small hours of the morning, Khalid only setting sail in search of buried treasure, indeed, the ensemble’s sheer ‘wow’ factor. soon realises that being a young Muslim in And to their credit, they look like they’re hav- but also spending time in the company of a the aftermath of 9/11 can be a very danger- one-legged pirate with murder in mind... ing a bloody good time both scaring and ous business indeed... Originally commis- confusing their audiences. The company are sioned by Stratford Circus, this Brolly Pro- currently touring with London After Midnight, duction is based on the critically acclaimed ‘a whirlwind journey’ through the plague-rid- novel by Anna Perera. den capital city in the year 1665. Antony And Cleopatra The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 7 - Sat 30 November Politics and passion sit at the very heartland of this captivating and oft-performed Shake- spearian tragedy, which finds two charismat- The Bullet And The Bass ic and powerful leaders embarking on an Trombone unavoidable collision-course with one anoth- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, er. This is a radical, stripped-down new ver- Mon 18 November sion of Shakespeare's famous play, created Bringing together theatre and music, this by former RSC International Playwright-in- well-regarded show finds a lone performer Residence Tarell Alvin McCraney. struggling to make sense of the chaos around him - and there’s certainly plenty of Feast Of Festive Frighteners chaos from which he needs to make sense! Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, An orchestra are trapped in a city during a Thurs 14 - Fri 15 November military coup. As violence erupts, the musi- Malevolent skulls, baleful bedlamites and rail- cians are separated from one another, with way ghouls are all present and correct in a only the composer remaining to tell the show which brings together some of Charles story... This intriguing new presentation has Dickens’ greatest ghost stories. The produc- been described as beautifully crafted yet har- tion - which, it’s promised, is both eerie and rowing, and is suitable for audience mem- atmospheric - is presented by ‘sophisticated bers aged twelve-plus.

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Miller (Death In Para- dise) leads an all-star Theatre LISTINGS cast in Dan Patterson & Colin Swash's political For full listing information on theatre satire, Mon 4 - Sat 9 productions including times and dates Nov, Malvern Theatres visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE MOUSETRAP Mon 4 - Sat 9 Nov, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry From Royal Spa Centre, THE LAST FIVE YEARS A Leamington Spa two-hander musical FRI 1 NOV BIG RED BATH A bath- written by Jason Robert time adventure for very Brown, Tue 5 - Sat 9 SLIGHTLY UNUSUAL Fus- young audiences, Nov, Lichfield Garrick ing Las Vegas-style adapted from the book TOP OF THE WORLD Tue grand illusions with by Julia Jarman & Adri- 5 - Sat 9 Nov, The laugh-out-loud comedy, an Reynolds, Fri 1 Nov, Swan Theatre Worcs Slightly Unusual com- Solihull Arts Complex FIDDLER ON THE ROOF prises Craig, Russ, NICKY THE STORYTELLER Amateur production Anna and Tiffany - a Join Nicky and her pup- presented by St quartet who've received pet friends in a story- Alphege Musical Pro- critical acclaim for their telling event which duction Society, Tue 5 - performances around forms part of the first Sat 9 Nov, Solihull Arts the world, until Fri 1 UK-wide Family Arts Complex Nov, Hall Green Little Festival, Fri 1 Nov, Bel- ROMEO AND JULIET Ama- Theatre, Birmingham grade Theatre, Coven- teur production pre- THE ROCKY HORROR try sented by The Crescent SHOW until Sat 2 Nov, TRUE COLOURS Not Just Theatre Company, Tues The Grand Theatre, Another Theatre Com- 5 - Sat 16 Nov, Cres- Wolverhampton pany present a new cent Theatre, B’ham CATS until Sat 2 Nov, play by award-winning AN EVENING WITH SIR Regent Theatre, Hanley, writer Adam Hughes, ROGER MOORE Wed 6 Stoke-on-Trent Fri 1 - Sat 2 Nov, Cres- Nov, New Alexandra OUR HOUSE until Sat 2 cent Theatre, B’ham Theatre, Birmingham Go Back For Murder - New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Nov, Belgrade Theatre, SNOW WHITE: A PANTO LEO HOUDLING: FROM Coventry Presented by MCS THE AMAZON TO ANTARC- Royal Shakespeare Centre, Birmingham London in 1666, Tue 12 BOEING BOEING The Repertory Theatre TICA Wed 6 Nov, Company co-produc- THE HABIT OF ART Nov, Crewe Lyceum Newcastle Players pres- Company, Fri 1 - Sat 2 Malvern Theatres tion with The Public Screening of the HA HA HOLMES Comedy ent an amateur produc- Nov, Old Rep, B’ham OKLAHOMA Amateur Theater, New York, and National Theatre's 2010 thriller from the Ha Ha tion of Marc Camoletti’s MESS Caroline Horton's production presented GableStage, Miami, production of Alan Ben- Boys. Joe Pasquale French farce, until Sat 2 play about obsession, by Chadsmoor Choral Thurs 7 - Sat 30 Nov, nett's acclaimed play, stars, Tue 12 Nov, Bel- Nov, Stoke Repertory addiction and not want- Society, Wed 6 - Sat 9 The Swan Theatre featuring Richard Grif- grade Theatre, Coven- Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent ing to get out of bed, Nov, Prince Of Wales Stratford fiths, Alex Jennings and try TWELVE ANGRY MEN until Fri 1 - Sat 2 Nov,The Centre, Cannock TALBOT HOUSE - A HOME Frances de la Tour, Sun THE ELEPHANT BRIDES- Sat 2 Nov, Malvern The- REP, Birmingham MISS SAIGON Amateur FROM HOME Peter Gill's 10 Nov, Artrix, Broms- MAID Magical musical atres TARTUFFE Fri 1 - Sat 16 production presented feelgood play that's grove about weddings, wom- BANK ON IT Theatre- Nov, The REP, B’ham by West Bromwich based around a Bel- bats and the loveliest MACBETH Presented by Rites present a site- Operatic Society, Wed gium house which Week Commencing elephant the world has specific, promenade Shakespeare Aloud! 6 - Sat 9 Nov, Lichfield became a refuge for ever known... Tue 12 experience suitable for Sat 2 Nov, Shake- Garrick allied troops during MON 11 NOV Nov, Malvern Theatres children aged five-plus, speare's Birthplace, PUNK ROCK Play from World War II, Fri 8 Nov, PEPPA PIG'S BIG SPLASH until Sat 2 Nov, Coven- Stratford-upon-Avon award-winning writer Palace Theatre, Red- All-singing, all-dancing try City Centre Mystery LAST EMBRACE The Simon Stephens that ditch LA BOHEME Ellen Kent adventure full of songs, Location Shadow Theatre pres- concerns a group of WAR HORSE REMEM- Opera present Puccini's games and muddy pud- WAR HORSE until Sat 9 ent a new folk musical sixth-formers preparing BERED Reading by romantic opera. Sung in dles for children, Tue 12 Nov, Birmingham Hip- set in the ticking bomb to move out into the Michael Morpurgo, Italian with English sur- - Wed 13 Nov, New podrome of Northern Ireland in big, wide world, Wed 6 accompanied by songs titles, Mon 11 Nov, The Alexandra Theatre, JEKYLL AND HYDE Blue 1970, Sat 2 Nov, Artrix, - Sat 9 Nov, The Dream performed by John Grand Theatre, Wolver- Birmingham Orange Theatre present Bromsgrove Factory, Warwick Tams and Barry Coope, hampton WHISTLE DOWN THE a stage adaptation of THE VAGINA MONO- DAD'S ARMY Wythall Fri 8 Nov, Birmingham MIDDAY VARIETY WITH WIND Amateur produc- Robert Louis Steven- LOGUES Based on Eve Theatre Company pres- Hippodrome STU FRANCIS Featuring tion presented by Lich- son's gothic novel, until Ensler's Vagina Inter- ent a stage adaptation DR PHIL HAMMOND A a Remembrance Day field Operatic Society, - Sat 9 Nov, The Blue views and featuring an of David Croft and brand new show which theme. Kirsty Anderson, Tue 12 - Sat 16 Nov, Orange Theatre, B’ham all-star cast, Sat 2 Nov, Jimmy Perry's classic sees Dr Phil turn medi- Maggie O'Hara, Mal- Lichfield Garrick RICHARD II David Ten- Palace Theatre, Red- BBC TV comedy, Wed cine into a succession colm Stent & The Fast WEST SIDE STORY Katie nant returns to Stratford ditch 6 - Sat 9 Nov, Palace of games to play with Lane Orchestra also Hall (Phantom Of The to take the lead in Gre- LA TRAVIATA Opera Loki Theatre, Redditch your doctor, Fri 8 Nov, feature, Mon 11 Nov, Opera) plays Maria in a gory Doran's new ver- & St Nicholas present HA HA HOLMES Comedy The Roses Theatre, Solihull Arts Complex new touring production sion of Shakespeare's Verdi’s tragic opera. thriller from the Ha Ha Tewkesbury TO MEET OSCAR WILDE of one of the most icon- powerful play of nobility Sung in English, Sat 2 Boys. Joe Pasquale ALIENS LOVE UNDER- Norman Holland's fasci- ic musicals of all time, and conflict, until, Sat Nov, Bridge House The- stars, Thurs 7 Nov, New PANTS Fri 8 - Sat 9 Nov, nating play which, using Tue 12 - Sat 16 Nov, 16 Nov, Royal Shake- atre, Warwick Alexandra Theatre, Belgrade Theatre, a series of short Regent Theatre, Stoke- speare Theatre, Strat- HAIRY MACLARY AND Birmingham Coventry scenes, provides an on-Trent ford-upon-Avon FRIENDS Family show BETRAYAL London Clas- SMILE ORANGE Family insight into the life of POSTCARDS FROM THE CHARLIE PEACE: HIS featuring many of the sic Theatre presents the comedy written by Oscar Wilde, Mon 11 - SEASIDE Worcester AMAZING LIFE AND characters from the Harold Pinter classic, Trevor Rhone, Fri 8 - Sat 16 Nov, The Rose Repertory Company ASTOUNDING LEGEND Hairy Maclary stories, Thurs 7 Nov, Roses Sat 9 Nov, The Drum, Theatre present the world pre- until Sat 16 Nov, Bel- Sun 3 - Mon 4 Nov, Theatre, Tewkesbury Birmingham CHIN CHIN Felicity miere of Laurie Horns- grade Theatre, Coven- mac - Midlands Arts MIDDAY VARIETY Featur- THE BOY WHO CRIED Kendal and Simon Cal- by's wartime drama, try Centre, Birmingham ing Matt Ford, Andy WOLF Mike Kenny's tale, low star in Willis Hall's Tue 12 - Sat 16 Nov, SID'S SHOW Join Sid Eastwood and live inspired by the famous stage adaptation of The Swan Theatre from Cbeebies live on Week Commencing music by the Fast Lane Aesop fable, Sat 9 Nov, Francois Billetdoux's Worcester stage in a fun-filled Orchestra. Hosted by The REP, Birmingham romantic comedy, Mon THE WIZARD OF OZ Pre- adventure that promis- MON 4 NOV Malcolm Stent, Thurs 7 TOSCA Live Met Broad- 11 - Sat 16 Nov, sented by North Staffs es to knock your socks Nov, Belgrade Theatre, cast of Puccini's fast- Malvern Theatres Operatic Society, Wed off!, Fri 1 Nov, Palace I’M AN ARISTOCRAT, GET Coventry paced and much-loved AIDA Presented by Ellen 12 - Sat 16 Nov, Stoke Theatre, Redditch ME OUT OF HERE! Fast- DUSK RINGS A BELL The opera Sat 9 Nov, Kent and Amphitheatre Repertory Theatre, AN EVENING OF DIRTY paced comedy from Highbury Players pres- Malvern Theatres Productions, Tue 12 Stoke-on-Trent DANCING A tribute show Gonzo Moose, Mon 4 ent Stephen Belber's DOTTY THE DRAGON Nov, The Grand The- THE FULL MONTY Darkly featuring great songs Nov, Artrix, Bromsgrove intimate tale of lost teen Blunderbus Children's atre, Wolverhampton funny and gritty musical and memorable danc- THAT SHAKESPEARE romance, Thurs 7 - Sat Theatre (the team THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS featuring an adult ing, Fri 1 Nov, Bed- SHOW Everything you 9 Nov, Old Joint Stock behind the popular Owl Following their recent theme and strong lan- worth Civic Hall need to know about Theatre, Birmingham Who Was Afraid Of The performance on guage, Tue 12 - Sat 16 PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS Shakespeare in ninety- THE ANATOMY OF MELAN- Dark) present an Britain's Got Talent, The Nov, Royal Spa Centre, Non-sexual show that minutes, Mon 4 - Wed 6 CHOLY Thurs 7 - Sat 9 enchanting fairytale for Circus of Horrors take Leamington Spa features full-frontal male Nov, Old Joint Stock Nov, The REP, Birming- children aged three to to the road with their BETRAYAL London Clas- nudity. Suitable for Theatre, Birmingham ham seven, Sun 10 Nov, latest show which is set sic Theatre presents the adults only! Fri 1 Nov, THE DUCK HOUSE Ben ANTONY & CLEOPATRA A mac - Midlands Arts in a plague-infested Harold Pinter classic,

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BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, NOVEMBER LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday 7th Nov Sunday 10th Nov Thursday 14th Nov LISBEE STAINTON THE HABIT OF ART – RE-GENESIS SINGER-SONGWRITER NT LIVE TRIBUTE PERFORMING WITH SUPPORT FROM ENCORE SCREENING OF THE SELLING ENGLAND BY THE ELEANOR MCEVOY ALAN BENNETT PLAY POUND

Saturday 16th Nov Tuesday 19th Nov Friday 22nd Nov CLAIRE MARTIN PAUL FOOT HUGH CORNWELL TRIO ‘SURREAL & INCOMPREHENSIBLY FUNNY’ STRANGLERS GUITARIST’S MULTI-AWARD WINNING COMEDIAN ACOUSTIC TOUR JAZZ VOCALIST

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Blue Jasmine (12A) // Le Week-End (15)

The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk For bookings & full details log onto www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site

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Tudor/Elizabethan trilo- THE SOUND OF MUSIC world's top musicals. acclaimed singer and LISTINGS gy, Fri 15 Nov, Birming- Amateur production Performed by the stu- West End actress Clau- Theatre ham Hippodrome presented by The Arca- dents from Ava’s dia Morris, Thurs 28 PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS dians, Tue 19 - Sat 23 Singing Masterclasses Nov, Royal Spa Centre, For full listing information on theatre Non-sexual show that Nov, Crescent Theatre, at mac Birmingham, Leamington Spa productions, including times and features full-frontal male Birmingham Sat 23 Nov, mac - Mid- JOHN COOPER CLARKE dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk nudity. Suitable for NEW JERSEY NIGHTS lands Arts Centre, Birm- An evening with one of adults only!, Fri 15 Nov, International hit show ingham the voices of punk & Palace Theatre, Red- which takes audiences THE G SPOT Ricky youth culture of the late Tue 12 - Sat 16 Nov, THE 3 BILLY PIGS Noisy ditch on a musical journey Rowe's comedy, star- 1970s, Thurs 28 Nov, New Vic Theatre, New- Oyster Company pres- ZHE: (NOUN) UNDEFINED celebrating the greatest ring Ricky as the main Warwick Arts Centre, castle-under-Lyme ent a theatrical experi- A new play created by hits of Frankie Valli and character who gets a Coventry ANNA BOLENA Welsh ence for children, com- London-based interna- the Four Seasons, Tue second chance at love SINGING IN THE FOG OJS National Opera present plete with live music, tional theatre company 19 - Sat 23 Nov, The with his childhood presents its very own Donizetti's touching re- puppetry & storytelling, Collective Artistes, Fri Grand Theatre, sweetheart, Sat 23 - resident Improv Group, imagining of the final Thurs 14 Nov, The 15 - Sat 16 Nov, The W’hampton Sun 24 Nov, The Drum, Thurs 28 Nov, Old Joint days of Henry VIII's Edge Arts Centre, Much REP, Birmingham CIPHERS Dawn King's Birmingham Stock Theatre, Birming- second wife, Wed 13 Wenlock, South Shrop- THE MAGIC OF THE provocative thriller SHINING CITY An ama- ham Nov, Birmingham Hip- shire MOVIES Sat 16 Nov, about spies, double teur production pre- DANIEL BYE: THE PRICE podrome MIRACLE ON 34TH Lichfield Garrick agents and the opaque- sented by The Crescent OF EVERYTHING A per- FASCINATING AIDA Star- STREET Popular Christ- THEO THE MOUSE IN ness of the human Theatre Company, Sat formance lecture about ring Dillie Keane, Liza mas favourite based on MAGICAL MAYHEM! From soul, Tue 19 - Sat 23 23 - Sat 30 Nov, Cres- value, Thurs 28 Nov, Pulman & Adele Ander- the classic movie, the writer of TV Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- cent Theatre, B’ham mac - Midlands Arts son, Wed 13 Nov, Bel- Thurs 14 - Sat 16 Nov, favourites Sooty and tre, Coventry Centre, B’ham grade Theatre, Coven- The Grand Theatre, Basil Brush comes the ON THE COUCH WITH MAX Week Commencing GUANTANAMO BOY Fast- try Wolverhampton UK's cleverest chil- STAFFORD-CLARK Artistic paced drama based on ANDY ROUSE: WILD MARIA STUARDA Welsh dren's character, Theo Director of Ciphers Max MON 25 NOV the critically acclaimed ABOUT ANIMAL A pres- National Opera present the Mouse. Join him for Stafford-Clark talks novel by Anna Perera, entation promising sto- Donizetti’s riveting an interactive show about his long and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Thurs 28 - Fri 29 Nov, ries, musical pieces, work, which transports packed with magic, acclaimed career in An adult fairytale like no The Drum, Birmingham anecdotes and some audiences to a Britain laughter and music, Sat theatre, Wed 20 Nov, other... Mon 25 - Wed TREASURE ISLAND Pre- truly awful jokes..., Wed at war with itself and 16 Nov, The Swan, Warwick Arts Centre, 27 Nov, Warwick Arts sented by Oddsocks, 13 Nov, Stafford Gate- overcome by uncertain- Theatre Worcester Coventry Centre, Coventry Thurs 28 - Sat 30 Nov, house Theatre ty and strife, Thurs 14 SHOWCASE 2013 A local- THE WIZARD OF OZ The GO BACK FOR MURDER Bridge House Theatre, AN EVENING WITH DAN Nov, Birmingham Hip- ly based production Norbury Youth Theatre The Official Agatha Warwick SNOW Dan talks about podrome enabling young dancers present an amateur Christie Theatre Com- VIVA LA DRAG Slick cho- battle castles, railways THE TWIST New musical to showcase their tal- production of L Frank pany present a new reography, enticing har- and his passion for the featuring songs from ents, Sun 17 Nov, Birm- Baum’s classic tale, adaptation of a classic monies and glamorous past... Wed 13 Nov, the 1950s and ’60s, ingham Town Hall Wed 20 - Sat 23 Nov, whodunnit. Liza God- costumes are the order Stratford Civic Hall Thurs 14 Nov, Theatre LUNA Theatre Hulla- The Norbury Theatre, dard, Sophie Ward, of the day in this 'new MILKED Pentabus The- Severn, Shrewsbury baloo & Theatr lolo Droitwich Robert Duncan, Gary sensation', featuring atre present Simon EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP present Miranda Thain's AIDA Presented by Ellen Mavers, Lysette Antho- The Supreme Fab- Longman’s black come- WITH ANDREW DEE Thurs adventure for children, Kent and Amphitheatre ny & Ben Nealon star, ulettes, Fri 29 Nov, dy, which focuses on 14 Nov, Crescent The- Sun 17 Nov, Warwick Productions, Thurs 21 Mon 25 - Sat 30 Nov, Malvern Theatres unemployment and a atre, Birmingham Arts Centre, Coventry Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- New Alexandra Theatre, WOLF RED Physical the- dying cow, Wed 13 Nov, TWO South Staffordshire SCROOGED Illumination tre, Cannock Birmingham atre company Tmesis Wem Town Hall, North College Performing Arts Theatre present their DR PHIL HAMMOND A SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL present a solo show Shropshire Students present the own adaptation of the brand new show which Bromsgrove School exploring the dark side RSC RICHARD II Live Jim Cartwright classic, Christmas Classic, Sun sees Dr Phil turn medi- brings Richard Brinsley of human nature, Fri 29 screening from the Thurs 14 Nov, Lichfield 17 Nov, Artrix, Broms- cine into a succession Sheridan’s Georgian Nov, mac - Midlands Royal Shakespeare Garrick grove of games to play with satire into the twenty- Arts Centre, Birming- Theatre, Stratford-upon- ROYAL FLUSH Rich your doctor, Thurs 21 first century, Tues 26 - ham Avon, of Gregory Seam Theatre Compa- Week Commencing Nov, Huntingdon Hall, Thurs 28 Nov, Artrix, DRACULA Blackeyed Doran's version of ny present Nick Lane's Worcester Bromsgrove Theatre present a stage Shakespeare's play, double-bill, exploring MON 18 NOV JOSEPH K Darkly comic CABARET Tue 26 - Sat adaptation of Bram with David Tennant in how our attitudes to toi- tale based upon 30 Nov, The Grand The- Stoker's timeless gothic the lead role, Wed 13 lets, and the royal flush, WEST SIDE STORY Ama- Kafka’s The Trial, Thurs atre, Wolverhampton adventure, Fri 29 - Sat Nov, mac - Midlands have changed over the teur production pre- 21 - Sat 23 Nov, Old GHOSTS An English 30 Nov, Royal Spa Cen- Arts Centre, Birming- years. Matthew Booth sented by St Augus- Joint Stock Theatre, Touring Theatre & Rose tre, Leamington Spa ham; Wed 13 Nov, War- (Hollyoaks, Emmerdale, tine's Musical Theatre Birmingham Theatre Kingston per- FASCINATING AIDA Star- wick Arts Centre, Shameless) stars, Company, Mon 18 - Sat KISS ME KATE Amateur formance of Henrik ring Dillie Keane, Liza Coventry Thurs 14 Nov, Arena 23 Nov, Solihull Arts show by Young Rogues Ibsen's masterpiece, Pulman & Adele Ander- BURT 'N' JOYCE Reform Theatre, Wolverhamp- Complex and Vagabonds, Thurs Tue 26 - Sat 30 Nov, son, Sat 30 Nov, Inter- Theatre present Burt ton CARNABY STREET Musi- 21 - Sat 23 Nov, Strat- Malvern Theatres national Convention and Joyce, a happy-go- CALL ME DUSTY Thurs cal set against a back- ford Civic Hall THE SNOW DRAGON Tall Centre (ICC), Birming- lucky couple about to 14 Nov, The Swan The- drop of London's West DAISY PULLS IT OFF Stories fuse storytelling, ham have one of the most atre, Worcester End in the 1960s. Verity Denise Deegan’s Olivier comedy and song in a THE SNOW BALL Charity extraordinary days of FEAST OF FESTIVE Rushworth and Aaron Award-winning family magical pre-Christmas party with Manhattan their lives, Wed 13 Nov, FRIGHTENERS Don't Go Sidwell star, Mon 18 - comedy, Thurs 21 - Sat performance for young Cabaret featuring Arena Theatre, Wolver- Into The Cellar Theatre Sat 23 Nov, Malvern 23 Nov, Bridge House children and their fami- songs from the musi- hampton Company present a Theatres Theatre, Warwick lies, Tue 26 Nov - Sun 8 cals followed by ROAD Warwick Universi- stage adaptation of I HAD AN ANGEL Welsh THE NOISE Unlimited Dec, mac - Midlands sounds from the ’60s, ty Drama Society pres- Charles Dickens' great- National Opera present Theatre present a sci- Arts Centre, B’ham ’70s and ’80s, Sat 30 ents Jim Cartwright's est ghost stories, Thurs a brand new live stag- conspiracy thriller LEO HOUDLING: FROM Nov, Nailcote Hall, first play, in which he 14 - Fri 15 Nov, Old ing inspired by the which promises a 'sonic THE AMAZON TO ANTARC- Berkswell, Warwickshire explores the lives of Joint Stock Theatre, company’s work with and visual feast', Thurs TICA Wed 27 Nov, Birm- ENCHANTED BURLESQUE - people in a deprived Birmingham adults with dementia, 21 - Sat 23 Nov, War- ingham Town Hall UNWRAPPED Promise of area of Lancashire STEPTOE & SON Caram- children with complex wick Arts Centre, CALENDAR GIRLS Ama- top-quality burlesque under Margaret Thatch- ba Theatre present an disabilities and the staff Coventry teur production of Tim and variety acts, Sat 30 er's government, Wed adaptation from leg- and families who sup- THE VAGINA MONO- Firth's much-acclaimed Nov, Crescent Theatre, 13 - Sat 16 Nov, War- endary scripts by Ray port them, Mon 18 Nov, LOGUES Based on Eve drama, Wed 27 - Sat 30 B’ham wick Arts Centre, Galton & Alan Simpson, mac - Midlands Arts Ensler's Vagina Inter- Nov, Stratford Civic Hall CABARET OF SONG AND Coventry Thurs 14 - Sat 16 Nov, Centre, Birmingham views and featuring an A CHRISTMAS CAROL DANCE Presented by HAMLET Warwick Stratford Civic Hall THE BULLET AND THE all-star cast, Fri 22 Nov, Bryony Lavery's stage Applause, Sat 30 Nov, School Drama Dept MACBETH Presented by BASS TROMBONE Mon 18 New Alexandra Theatre, adaptation of Charles The Dovehouse The- presents Shake- St Luke’s Dramatic Nov, Warwick Arts Cen- Birmingham Dickens' Victorian atre, Solihull speare’s classic Society, Thurs 14 - Sat tre, Coventry AN AUDIENCE WITH COLIN Christmas classic, Wed ROOM ON THE BROOM tragedy, Wed 13 - Sat 16 Nov, Prince Of THE EVENTS A new play FRY Fri 22 Nov, Hunt- 27 Nov - Sat 4 Jan, The Stage adaptation of 16 Nov, Bridge House Wales Centre, Cannock written by David Greig, ingdon Hall, Worcester REP, Birmingham Julia Donaldson's best- Theatre, Warwick VAMPIRES ROCK Musical Tue 19 - Sat 23 Nov, THE DREAMBOYS The JACK AND THE selling book, Sat 30 TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN comedy, Fri 15 Nov, The REP, Birmingham UK’s top male glamour BEANSTALK Family pan- Nov - Sun 29 Dec, War- Birmingham Stage New Alexandra Theatre, WHISTLE DOWN THE show, Fri 22 Nov, Royal tomime Wed 27 Nov - wick Arts Centre, Company present their Birmingham WIND Amateur produc- Spa Centre, Leaming- Sat 4 Jan, Belgrade Coventry acclaimed version of ROBERTO DEVEREUX tion presented by Red- ton Spa Theatre, Coventry JACK AND THE Philippa Pearce's fanta- Welsh National Opera ditch Operatic Society, MUSICAL MYSTERY TOUR SECRET LOVE A senti- BEANSTALK Sat 30 Nov - sy novel, Wed 13 Nov - present a new produc- Tue 19 - Sat 23 Nov, Whirlwind of Broadway mental journey through Sat 4 Jan, Roses The- Sat 25 Jan, Old Rep, tion of Donizetti's final Palace Theatre, Red- magic featuring songs the life and music of atre, Tewkesbury Birmingham installment in his ditch from some of the Doris Day, featuring

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Theatre REVIEWS

Here are a few of our favourite theatre productions we reviewed from last month. For further theatre reviews, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Twelve Angry Men The REP, Birmingham It may have been written almost sixty years ago, but Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men is as perti- nent today as it’s ever been. British history is littered with miscarriages of justice - think of the Birmingham Six - and who among us can be certain that we won’t one day find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time - and subse- quently in a Crown Court; fighting for our liberty, War Horse perhaps against the odds? In such a circumstance, Birmingham Hippodrome we’d better hope we have at least one person on the jury like the man played by Martin Shaw in this The story of War Horse takes us from the peace and quiet of Devon to the horror of latest adaptation of Rose’s drama. Shaw stars as the Somme and back again. The journey, though often dark and poignant, transcends the one dissenting juror - the character famously the boundaries which separate not only nations but also species, telling a story of loy- portrayed by Henry Fonda in the memorable 1957 alty and courage, emotional connection and shared experiences. film version. Over a number of hours, the juror When two feuding brothers attempt to outbid each other at an auction for a hunter manages to persuade his fellow ‘good men and foal, Albert’s life is changed forever. When his father’s bid wins, he finds himself true’ that maybe there is, after all, a reasonable charged with taking care of the foal, which he names Joey. Through working together doubt about the defendant’s alleged guilt. on the farmstead and galloping across the Devonshire countryside, Albert and Joey It’s a hot and sticky summer’s day, and being develop what will prove to be a profound attachment. cooped up in a small room with eleven strangers, With the onset of World War One, Joey is sold to the army by Albert’s impoverished, deliberating the life-or-death future of another alcoholic father. Distraught and angry, an underage Albert joins the army himself, hop- stranger, is nobody’s idea of a good time. The ing to be reunited with Joey. He then finds himself sent to the banks of the Somme, other eleven are adamant the defendant’s guilty of where he comes face to face with the true horrors of war... murder, but Shaw’s juror is a persuasive man. The minimal use of sets, a dramatic use of monochromatic lighting and some startling Before too long, it isn’t only the oppressive heat sound effects see this National Theatre version of Michael Morpurgo’s acclaimed tale that’s making the temperature in the jury room transporting its audience to the very centre of the drama. Brilliant performances are slowly rise... given by Lee Armstrong as the determined and loyal Albert, Martin Wenner as the con- There are good performances all round in this flicted German Captain, and the master puppeteers who invest Joey with life and char- intense two-hour drama. As always, Shaw leads acter. With an amazing supporting cast and the evocative, haunting vocals of folk from the front, while former Man From Uncle and singer Bob Fox further recommending it, War Horse is a moving and ultimately uplift- Hustle star Robert Vaughn adds a little Hollywood ing production that tugs at the heartstrings and lives long in the memory. In short, a IIIII glamour to proceedings. theatrical experience well worth catching. Ted Finlay Succeeding with a stage version of a famous and popular film is no mean feat, but the cast of this soon-to-be-West End production have risen to the Theatre Box Office challenge magnificently. This is one show about which the jury most defi- Birmingham GRAND THEATRE, STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE IIII I 01902 429212 01782 209784 nitely isn’t out. Sally Compton ALEXANDRA THEATRE 0844 871 3011 NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01902 572090 BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME Warwickshire To Sir, With Love 0844 338 5000 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL 0121 552 2761 024 7637 6707 Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton BIRMINGHAM REP 0121 236 4455 THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY 0121 533 7161 Former Spitfire pilot Ricky Braithwaite admits he THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE 024 7655 3055 finds teaching rowdy pupils in an East End second- 0121 212 2643 Shropshire BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WARWICK CRESCENT THEATRE 01926 776438 ary school tougher than shooting down German THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON 0121 643 5858 THE DREAM FACTORY Messerschmitts in the war. A Cambridge graduate, 01952 222277 DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 01926 419555 he only took the job because, despite his qualifica- THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 0121 706 7139 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE tions, he couldn't find a post as an electronics engi- 01952 728911 THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON neer in 1948. THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 0844 800 1110 HALL GREEN LITTLE THEATRE 01743 234970 Why? Because he was a black man in post-war 0121 707 1874 ROYAL SPA CENTRE Britain. But gradually he begins to understand the LUDLOW ASSEMBLY LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 MAC 0121 446 3232 ROOMS 01584 878141 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, COVENTRY rebellious teenagers - and they, in turn, learn to MIXING BOWL THEATRE THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD 02476 524524 respect him, in this enjoyable story based on the 0121 224 7545 01952 382382 autobiography of ER Braithwaite, adapted by Ayub OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY Worcestershire Khan-Din. 0121 200 0946 01743 281281 ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, Ansu Kabia is superb as the teacher, working hard- OLD REP 0121 245 4455 WEM TOWN HALL BROMSGROVE 01527 577330 to make a success of the job despite the rascist SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 01939 232299 0121 704 6962 THE HIVE sneers of West, a cynical member of staff. 01905 822866 Staffordshire Matthew Kelly is perfect as progressive headmaster HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER Florian, who understands the problems of children Black Country LICHFIELD GARRICK 01905 611427 ARENA THEATRE 01543 412121 from such difficult backgrounds. There’s also an MALVERN THEATRE WOLVERHAMPTON NEW VIC 01782 717962 impressive performance from Peta Cornish as 01684 892277 01902 321321 PRINCE OF WALES Gillian, the teacher who falls for Ricky but whose NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH BLOXWICH THEATRE CENTRE, CANNOCK 01905 770154 father's opposition ends the relationship. 01922 653183 01543 578762 PALACE THEATRE The volatile kids are excellent too, and there’s an DUDLEY CONCERT HALL REGENT THEATRE, STOKE REDDITCH 01527 65203 emotional ending when Sir is offered a job in his 01384 812812 0870 060 6649 ROSE THEATRE, preferred career by a company in Birmingham. FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE 01889 584036 01562 743745 All in all, this show makes for a great night out at 01922 654555 IIII I STAFFORD GATEHOUSE SWAN THEATRE, the theatre. Paul Marston 01785 254653 WORCESTER 01905 611427

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Theatre WEST END Brian Epstein’s life on stage... The private life of the man behind the world’s biggest pop group is to be laid bare in the West End next summer. Andrew Sherlock’s Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles was met with much acclaim when it showed at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in 2012. A candid two-hander, the play provides an intriguing insight into the tragically short life of legendary music manager and 1960s pop icon Brian Epstein. Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street, The Bill) and newcomer Will Finlanson star in the show, which runs at London’s Leicester Square Theatre from 5 August to 6 September 2014. Downton moves south... A play of manners which garnered plenty of praise at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival earlier this year is to make its way to London in 2014. The Only Way Is Downton sees impres- sionist Luke Kempner portray the characters from Julian Fellows’ multi-award-winning TV drama Downton Abbey. The one-man show sees the Dowager, Lady Mary and Anna New Artistic Director for the National Theatre joined by a host of modern celebrities, who descend on the Rufus Norris is to become the new Artistic full of extraordinary people, and I look for- Abbey in a bid Director of the National Theatre when ward with relish to the task ahead - that to save the Nicholas Hytner steps down from the role being, to fill our theatres with the most excit- country pile next March. Norris, who’s currently receiving ing, accessible and groundbreaking work our from closure. much acclaim for his version of Kander and unique and broad community of artists has The Only Way Is Ebb’s Cabaret The Musical, is currently to offer.” Downton shows Associate Director of the company. David Hare’s adaptation of Katherine Boo’s at Trafalgar Stu- Commenting on his appointment, Norris Behind The Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death dios 2 Theatre said: “I’m thrilled at the prospect and chal- And Hope In A Mumbai Undercity is expect- from 28 January lenge of leading this exceptional organisa- ed to feature in Norris’s repertoire for 2014. to 22 February. tion. The National is an extraordinary place,

WEST END LISTINGS: ONCE Phoenix Theatre, DROWNED MAN: A HOLLY- GHOSTS Almeida The- until 29 Nov 2013 booking until 31 May WOOD FABLE Temple atre, booking until 23 WAR HORSE New Lon- 2014 Studios, booking until Nov 2013 don Theatre, booking I CAN’T SING! THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 31 Dec 2013 HORRIBLE HISTORIES until 15 Feb 2014 Her Majesty's Theatre, MUSICALS X FACTOR MUSICAL EMIL AND THE DETEC- BARMY BRITAIN PART booking until 26 Apr WOMAN IN BLACK For- London Palladium The- TIVES Olivier National TWO Garrick Theatre, AMERICAN PSYCHO 2014 tune Theatre, booking atre, 27 Feb 2014 - 25 Theatre, booking until booking until 5 Jan Almeida Theatre, 3 Dec SCOTTSBRO BOYS Young until 14 Dec 2013 Oct 2014 20 Feb 2014 2014 2013 - 25 Jan 2014 Vic Theatre, booking JERSEY BOYS Prince FROM MORNING TO MID- NUT The Shed National BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSI- until 21 Dec 2013 COMEDY Edward Theatre and NIGHT Lyttelton National Theatre, booking until 5 CAL Victoria Palace STEVEN WARD Aldwych Dec 2014 Piccadilly Theatre, Theatre, 3 Dec 2013 - 1 Theatre, 19 Nov 2013 - 39 STEPS Criterion The- Theatre, booking until PRINCE OF DENMARK booking until 9 Mar Mar 2014 15 Jan 2014 atre, booking until 29 16 May 2015 Ambassadors Theatre, 2014 STOMP Ambassadors GASTRONAUTS Royal BODYGUARD Adelphi booking until 27 Nov Mar 2014 LES MISÉRABLES Theatre, booking until Court Theatre Theatre, booking until 8 2013 BARKING IN ESSEX Wyn- Queen's Theatre, book- 21 Dec 2014 (upstairs), 21 Nov 2013 Mar 2014 ROMEO & JULIET Ambas- dham’s Theatre, booking until 26 Apr 2014 THRILLER LIVE Lyric The- - 21 Dec 2013 BOOK OF MORMON sador Theatre, booking ing until 4 Jan 2014 LET IT BE Savoy The- atre, booking until 28 Prince Of Wales The- atre, booking until 18 Sept 2014 atre, booking until 8 Jan 2014 WE WILL ROCK YOU Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain Pt 2 - Garrick Theatre Mar 2014 LIGHT PRINCESS Dominion Theatre, CHARLIE AND THE booking until 5 Apr Lyttelton, National The- CHOCOLATE FACTORY - 2014 atre, booking until 9 THE MUSICAL Drury WICKED Jan 2014 Apollo Victoria Lane Royal, booking Theatre, booking until 1 until 31 May 2014 LION KING Lyceum The- Nov 2014. CIRCUS OF HORRORS atre, booking until 20 WIND IN THE WILLOWS Lyric Theatre,booking Apr 2014 Duchess Theatre, 11 until 16 Dec 2013 MAMMA MIA! Novello Dec 2013 - 1 Feb 2014 Theatre, booking until 5 COMMITMENTS Victoria Apr 2014 Palace Theatre, book- DRAMA ing until 26 Jan 2014 MATILDA THE MUSICAL Cambridge Theatre, DIRTY DANCING BEAUTY AND THE BEAST booking until 21 Dec Young Vic Theatre, 4 Piccadilly Theatre, 2014 Dec 2013 - 21 Dec booking until 22 Feb 2013 2014 MISS SAIGON CORIOLANUS Donmar FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Prince Edward Theatre, from 3 May 2014 - 25 Warehouse, booking 6 Shaftesbury Theatre, Dec 2013 - 8 Feb 2014 Oct 2014 booking until 26 Apr CURIOUS INCIDENT OF MONTY PYTHONS SPA- 2014 THE DOG IN THE NIGHT- GRUFFALO Lyric Theatre, MALOT Playhouse The- TIME Apollo Theatre, 20 Nov 2013 - 12 Jan atre, booking until 8 booking until 25 Oct 2014 Feb 2014 2014

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The Nutcracker Birmingham Hippodrome, Fri 22 November - Thurs 12 December Sir Peter Wright’s enchanting version of this festive favourite returns to the Hippodrome this month, courtesy of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Created in 1990 as a thank you to Birmingham for its support of the company following its move to the Midlands from London’s Sadler Wells, Wright’s production is seen by many as the finest interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s magnificent and mesmerising score. In true Christmas spirit, the story follows the young Clara as she’s swept up in a fantasy of soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic and mystery, before finally being transformed into a beautiful ballerina. A magical, must-see show for little princesses everywhere...

Out Of The Shadow Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 12 - Wed 13 November This touring production sees the highly rated Nobulus bring together an extraordinary mix of disciplines - break- dance, popping and locking, contemporary dance, acrobatics and ballet - to take audiences on a trip through time. A ten-strong ensemble morph themselves into struc- tures, creatures and machines in order to tell a cautionary tale that begins with the creation of the universe and ends with an imaginary apocalyptic future.

Running On Empty DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham, Thurs 14 - Fri 15 November Fusing dance, text and song to communicate stories, Brighton-based dance theatre company Probe is fronted by award-winning dancer Antonia Grove, a former member of the Rambert Dance Company. The ensemble visits Birmingham this month to perform its latest work as part of an eight-date UK tour. Presenting the story of a man, a woman, and their repeated collisions over time, Running On Empty explores and investigates the subject of Man’s resilience to loss.

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OUT OF THE SHADOW End performers, Sat 16 LISTINGS The Dance Touring Nov, The Place, Dance Partnership fuse break- Oakengates Theatre, dance, popping and Telford For full listing information on dance, locking, contemporary THE NUTCRACKER After including times and dates, visit dance, acrobatics and last year's success, www.whatsonlive.co.uk ballet to tell a caution- Russian State Ballet ary tale about the uni- and Opera House verse, Tue 12 - Wed 13 return to the UK to HOLD EVERYTHING DEAR Nov, Roses Theatre, Nov, Warwick Arts present one of the Tewkesbury Themes of migration Centre, Coventry greatest classical bal- SNOW WHITE Vienna and transience form the MANA An international lets of all time, Sat 16 Festival Ballet presents basis of this relatively double-bill of contem- Nov, Palace Theatre, a brand new produc- new work from Bristol- porary dance, Wed 13 Redditch tion based on the tradi- based choreographer, Nov, Roses Theatre, THE NUTCRACKER tional Brothers Grimm Laïla Diallo, Fri 1 Nov, Tewkesbury Presented by Ballet story, Thurs 7 Nov, DanceXchange (The A NIGHT OF DIRTY Theatre UK, Sat 16 Bedworth Civic Hall Patrick Centre, DANCING Brand new Nov, Theatre Severn, MANA An international Birmingham dancing extravaganza Shrewsbury THE NUTCRACKER double-bill of contem- After presented by an all-star THE NUTCRACKER porary dance, Thurs 7 - last year's success, cast, including West After last year's suc- Fri 8 Nov, mac - Russian State Ballet End performers, Thurs cess, Russian State Midlands Arts Centre, and Opera House 14 Nov, Roses Theatre, Ballet and Opera Birmingham return to the UK to Tewkesbury House return to the UK RECORD OF EVENTS & present one of the SLEEPING BEAUTY to present one of the THRESHOLD Joss Arnott greatest classical bal- Presented by Moscow greatest classical bal- Dance present a dou- lets of all time, Ballet - La Classique, lets of all time, Wed 20 ble-bill which takes Sat 2 Nov, Crewe Thurs 14 - Sat 16 Nov, Nov, Royal Spa Centre, inspiration from classi- Lyceum Belgrade Theatre, Leamington Spa BROKEN cal ballet, commercial Motionhouse Coventry THE NUTCRACKER dance, pop culture, present their latest pro- RUNNING ON EMPTY Birmingham Royal fashion and film, Fri 8 duction, which sees Dance, text and song Ballet return with Sir Nov, Arena Theatre, dancers negotiate the combine in this intrepid Peter Wright's world- Mana - contemporary dance at mac, Birmingham Wolverhampton and Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury cracks and craters in a new work from Probe famous production, KATHAKALI The Kala world of illusions where which addresses man's Fri 22 - Thurs 12 Dec, Chethena Kathakali rary choreographer GOTTA DANCE Presented nothing is quite as it two most primal B’ham Hippodrome Company present the Wayne McGregor by Sundance School of seems, Tue 5 Nov, impulses: fear and SWAN LAKE Moscow classical dance drama which, performed by Dance, Sat 23 - Sun 24 Malvern Theatres pleasure, Thurs 14 - Fri City Ballet present their ESSENCE OF IRELAND of Kerala, Fri 8 Nov, ten dancers, features Nov, Prince Of Wales 15 Nov, DanceXchange interpretation of the Theatre Severn, his unique style, grow- Centre, Cannock Exploration of Irish (The Patrick Centre), world-famous ballet, Shrewsbury ing from the form of the THE PRINCESS AND THE myths through narra- Birmingham Tue 26 - Wed 27 Nov, PUNCH: DESI MOVES atom, Tue 26 Nov, FROG Let’s All Dance tion, Irish music and Hippodrome Regent Theatre, 2013 Six of the hottest Malvern Theatres present a brand new Irish dancing, Wed 6 A NIGHT OF DIRTY Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent dance acts battle it out THE NUTCRACKER ballet with an original Nov, Crewe Lyceum DANCING Brand new RANDOM DANCE - THE NUTCRACKER to claim the title of Best Presented by Moscow score, Sun 24 Nov, dancing extravaganza ATOMOS The newest Desi Mover, Sat 9 Nov, City Ballet, Thurs 28 Crescent Theatre, Presented by the State presented by an all-star full-length work by cut- Ballet Of Minsk, Wed 6 Birmingham Town Hall Nov, Regent Theatre, Birmingham cast, including West ting-edge contempo- Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

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Calls cost from 5p per min, 5% transaction charge applies, plus £1 postage. Christmas Feature November_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:02 Page 2 Get ready for Christmas! Christmas is a-coming - and theatres around the region are busying themselves with preparations for the fast-approaching festive season. And, as always, there’s no shortage of big names winging their way to the Midlands to appear in some of the best pantos in the land... Christmas 2013 looks set to be another bumper season for panto in of Queen Passionella in Sleeping Beauty. Ceri will be joined by come- the Midlands, with many theatres reporting an increase in box office dian and panto favourite Joe Pasquale, as Muddles, and Lucy Evans, ticket sales. With its long-held reputation for hosting the country’s who’ll play Princess Beauty. Moving north of the region, Stoke’s much- biggest panto, the Birmingham Hippodrome this year promises to loved son Jonny Wilkes returns to his home town for the festive sea- deliver a stylish version of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Fashion son, to perform alongside his long-term sidekick Christian Patterson in guru Gok Wan will make his panto debut as The Man In The Mirror, another version of Snow White. If panto’s not your thing, fear not, as appearing as part of a star-studded line-up that also includes John there are plenty of festive alternatives available, including Ghost The Partridge as the Prince, Stephanie Beacham as the Wicked Queen, Musical at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre, Wendy And Peter Gary Wilmot as the Dame and Paul Zerdin as Muddles. Up the motor- Pan at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, and A Christmas Carol at the way in Wolverhampton, the lovely Ceri Dupree will be donning a recently re-opened Birmingham REP. For information about all the plethora of glamorous outfits when he revisits his much-acclaimed role region’s festive events, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Festive show LISTINGS

TOM’S MIDNIGHT Tues 3 Dec - Sat 14 SLEEPING BEAUTY WENDY AND PETER JACK & THE SNOW WHITE AND THE GARDEN Dec, mac, Birmingham, Starring Brad Fitt, Eric PAN Tues 10 Dec - Sun BEANSTALK SEVEN DWARFS Presented by The £10 - £13 Smith and Adam Moss, 2 Mar, Royal Starring Malcolm Stent, Starring John Partridge, Birmingham Stage DICK WHITTINGTON Thurs 5 Dec - Sun 12 Shakespeare Company, Fri 13 Dec - Sun 5 Jan, Gok Wan, Stephanie Company, Wed 13 Nov - & HIS CAT Jan, Theatre Severn, Stratford-upon-Avon £5 Solihull Arts Complex, Beacham, Gary Wilmot, Sat 25 Jan, Old Rep, Tues 3 Dec - Sat 28 Shrewsbury, £10 - - £60 £14 - £17.50 Paul Zerdin and Matt Birmingham, £9 Dec, Bedworth Civic £17.50 THE WIND IN THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Slack, Sun 19 Dec - Sun 2 Feb, The Hippodrome, THE HUNDRED AND Hall, £10.50 - £14.50 SNOW WHITE AND THE WILLOWS Fri 13 Dec - Sat 11 Jan, Birmingham, £14 - £39 ONE DALMATIANS ALADDIN MAGIC MIRROR Presented by Pool Stafford Gatehouse, Sat 23 Nov - Wed 1 Feb, Tues 3 Dec - Sun 5 Jan, Starring Joanne Malin, Hayes Youth Theatre, £13.50 - £17.50 WHAT THE LADYBIRD New Vic Theatre, Swan Theatre, Thurs 5 Dec - Sat 5 Jan, Wed 11 Dec - Sun 15 THE ENCHANTED TALES HEARD Newcastle-under-Lyne, Worcester, £10.75 - Lichfield Garrick, £12.50 Dec, Arena Theatre, - THE SNOW QUEEN, Fri 20 Dec - Fri 10 Jan, £14 - £21 £15.75 - £22.50 Wolverhampton, £5 - RUMPLESTILSKIN AND Birmingham Town Hall, £10 £8.50 - £11.50 A CHRISTMAS CAROL SNOW WHITE AND THE FANTASTIC MR FOX ALI BABA Wed 27 Nov - Sat 4 Jan, SEVEN DWARFS Sat 7 Dec - Sat 21 Dec, DICK WHITTINGTON Sat 14 Dec - Sat 28 ALADDIN The REP, Birmingham, Starring Jonathan The Crescent Theatre, Thurs 12 Dec - Sun 22 Dec, Blue Orange Sun 22 Dec - Mon 30 £7 - £35 Wilkes and Christian Birmingham, £8 - £15 Dec, Forest Arts Centre, Theatre, Birmingham, Dec, Prince Of Wales JACK AND THE Patterson, Tues 3 Dec - OH NO IT ISN’T! Walsall, £6 £8.50 - £10.50 Centre, Cannock, £13.50 BEANSTALK Sun 5 Jan, Regent Sat 7 Dec - Sat 28 Dec, ALADDIN PETER PAN Presented by Image Theatre, £11.40 - £32.40 The Belgrade, Coventry, Starring Asa Elliott, Phil Starring Adam SCROOGE Theatre, Wed 27 Nov - MOTHER GOOSES £8 - £15.50 Butler, Ian Billings, Jade Woodyatt, Smee and Presented by Image Sun 5 Jan, The Belgrade GOLDEN CHRISTMAS ALADDIN Chaston and Barry Starkey, Sat 14 Dec - Musical Theatre, Mon Theatre, £9.75 - £21.50 North, Thurs 12 Dec - Sun 5 Jan, Crewe 23 Dec - Tues 24 Dec, Wed 4 Dec - Sat 7 Dec, Sat 7 Dec - Sat 4 Jan, Sun 5 Jan, The Place, Lyceum, £17.50 - £21 Ludlow Assembly CHICAGO Dudley Little Theatre, £7 Royal Spa Centre, Oakengates, £9 - £16.50 Rooms, £10 Fri 29 Nov - Sat 18 Jan, RENT Leamington, £5 - £14 GHOST The Curve, Leicester, Wed 4 Dec - Sat 14 ALADDIN SNOW WHITE AND THE Starring Dave Stewart SLEEPING BEAUTY £9.75 - £40 and Glen Ballard, Tues Presented by Limelight, Dec, The Old Joint Mon 9 Dec - Sun 5 Jan, SEVERN DWARFS Starring Sue 17 Dec - Sun 5 Jan, Sat 30 Nov - Sat 4 Jan, ROOM ON THE BROOM Stock Theatre, £15 Palace Theatre, Holderness, Chris New Alexandra Theatre, Rose Theatre, A Tall Stories produc- Redditch, £14 - £18.50 MIRACLE ON 34TH Pizzey and Olivia Birmingham, £17.90 - Worcester, £12.50 tion, Sat 30 Nov - Sun STREET SLEEPING BEAUTY Birchenough, Thurs 12 £48.90 29 Dec, Warwick Arts Thurs 5 Dec - Sat 7 Starring Joe Pasquale, Dec - Sun 5 Jan, Centre, £13 Dec, New Alexandra Sat 7 Dec - Sat 18 Jan, THE LION, THE WITCH Visit: Malvern Theatres, & THE WARDROBE whatsonlive.co.uk HANSEL & GRETEL Theatre, Birmingham, The Grand Theatre, Worcester, £8.95 - Tues 17 Dec - Sun 5 Presented by New £28.90 - £38.90 Wolverhampton, £16.50 £22.50 For further information Jan, Playbox Theatre, International Encounter, - £26.50 and to book tickets... £8.50 - £21.50

Room On The Broom Sleeping Beauty Snow White Warwick Arts Centre Theatre Severn, Regent Theatre Coventry Shrewsbury Stoke-on-Trent

Ghost Tom’s Midnight Garden New Alexandra Theatre Aladdin Old Rep, Birmingham Birminghamme The Place, Oakengates,

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Film TO WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Released from Fri 1 Nov

Philomena CERT 12a (98mins) Starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Mare Winningham, Michelle Fairley, Charles Edwards Directed by Stephen Frears (UK) Word has it that, for this, Dame Judi has a seventh Oscar nomination in the bag. She plays Philomena Lee, an elderly woman who decides to search for the son taken from her when she was just a teenager. The script, inspired by a true story, was penned by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, and won the Best Screenplay Award at Venice...

From FRI 8 NOV Gravity CERT 12a (91mins) Starring Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and the voice of Ed Harris Directed by Alfonso Cuarón (USA/UK) Alfonso Cuarón directed Y Tu Mamá También, Children Of Men and the best Harry Potter film, The Prisoner Of Azkaban. So it’s good to see him back behind the camera with this daring thriller set in deep space. Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) is on his last shuttle before Drinking Buddies CERT 15 (90mins) retirement, along with medical engineer Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), on her first mission in space. Then, on a routine spacewalk, their craft is destroyed, leaving them stranded in the Starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston, Jason Sudeikis cosmos. The film has received universal acclaim for every aspect of its production, from the Directed by Joe Swanberg (USA) direction to the visual effects and the use of 3D. And Sandra Bullock is already being talked up for an Oscar nomination. Cuarón co-wrote the screenplay with his son, Jonás, while Kate and Luke work in a small brewery in Clooney took over the male lead when Robert Downey Jr baled out. Chicago. While they both have significant others, they love their time together and are actually rather perfect for each other. Most of CERT 12a (110mins) the action in this romantic comedy was Released from Fri 15 Nov Battle Of The Year improvised, allowing the cast members to Starring Josh Holloway, Laz Alonso, Josh Peck, Caity Lotz, Chris Brown bring their own personal spin to the story. Directed by Benson Lee (USA) According to the American critics, the The Butler CERT 12a (132mins) method reaps dividends... Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, In earlier films it was known as breakdancing John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr, but here they call it ‘b-boying’. And it’s been fif- Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Robin teen years since the Americans won the trophy Closed Circut CERT 15 (96mins) Williams for the so-called ‘Battle Starring Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Ciarán Directed by Lee Daniels (USA) of the Year’. So Dante Hinds, Jim Broadbent, Riz Ahmed, Julia For long an Oscar favourite, The Butler is Graham (Alonso) and Stiles, Anne-Marie Duff loosely based on real events. The Butler in Jason Blake (Holloway) Directed by John Crowley (UK/USA) question works at the White House, and it’s recruit a gang of street The writer Steven Knight is good at infusing through his eyes that we see many of the major dancers to bring glory contemporary themes with human drama, as historical episodes of the twentieth century. As back to the good ol’ his screenplays for Dirty Pretty Things, the presidential servant Cecil Gaines (inspired USofA. In 3D... Eastern Promises and Hummingbird testify. by Eugene Allen), Forest Whitaker has received Here, two lawyers and former lovers (Bana raves in the American press. Director Lee and Hall) find themselves reunited in a terror- Daniels previously brought us the equally criti- ist scenario that tests both their loyalty and cally revered Precious (2009)... TOP 5 survival instincts... FILM BOX OFFICE 1 Captain Phillips (12a) 2 Turbo(U) 3 Prisoners(15) 4 Rush (15) Enough Said(12a) 5 Epic

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FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 15 Nov (cont)

Blue Is The Warmest Colour CERT 18 (180mins) Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux, Jérémie Laheurte, Aurélien Recoing Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche (France) This Palme d'Or winner at Cannes garnered a lot of controversy, largely because a jury presided over by Steven Spielberg wasn’t expected to nominate a three-hour lesbian drama. As it is, the film is getting ecstatic reviews and also won its director and leading actresses top prizes at Cannes. And the Oscar From buzz is hotting up... FRI 15 NOV

Parkland CERT 15 (94mins) Starring Zac Efron, Tom Welling, Billy Bob Thornton Directed by Peter Landesman (USA) Marking this month’s fiftieth anniversary of the John F Kennedy assassination, Parkland tells the story of the chaotic events which took place on 22 November 1963 in the Dallas Parkland Hospital, to which the fatally wounded JFK and his blood-splattered wife were taken in the aftermath of the shooting.

Released from Thurs 21 Nov The Hunger Games: Catching Fire CERT tbc Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Philip Don Jon CERT 18 (90mins) Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson Seymour Hoffman, Donald Sutherland Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett CERT tbc Directed by Francis Lawrence (USA) Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Starring Michael Beckley, Beth Cordingly, Simon Beaufoy won an Oscar for his screen- Glenne Headly, Brie Larson Chris England, Nigel Lindsay play Slumdog Millionaire, and Michael Arndt Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (USA) Directed by Simon Sprackling (UK) won an Oscar for his screenplay Little Miss Joseph Gordon-Levitt has made his name in Based on the lightweight stage play of the Sunshine. Neither film would you associate such movies as (500) Days Of Summer, same title, Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson with the sequel to the phenomenally suc- Inception, 50/50 and The Dark Knight Rises. was written by Chris England, of An Evening cessful The Hunger Games (global gross: Here, he makes his directorial debut and stars With Gary Lineker fame. It revolves around $691 million), but Beaufoy and Arndt are the as a man who has a knack for pulling beautiful members of a rugby club who’re watching credited scripters, nonetheless. Following the and accessible babes. But he’s never happier the TV coverage of the victory of Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) in the than at home watching pornography. And then 2003 World Cup Final first film (adapted from the novel by he meets two very different women... between England and Stephenie Meyer), President Snow Australia. With the club (Sutherland) plans a new, far more deadly under threat from land tournament. developers, and the chairman’s position being challenged by a loudmouthed Australian, there’s little wonder ten- sions are running high...

The Family CERT 15 (111mins) Starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron, John D'Leo Directed by Luc Besson (France/USA) In 1988 Michelle Pfeiffer played the widow of a Dom Hemingway CERT tbc gangster in Jonathan Demme’s Married To The Starring Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demián Mob, and now she’s back in the thick of the Bichir, Emilia Clarke, Kerry Condon Directed Mafiosi. She and Robert De Niro play Family by Richard Shepard (UK) members who are relocated to Normandy, Dom Hemingway is a safecracker who’s just France, in the witness protection programme. Released from Fri 29 Nov spent the last twelve years in prison. Now he’s However, their old notorious ways don’t really out and wants his reward for keeping his mouth mesh with their new environment... shut. So he travels to Saint-Tropez to Jeune & Jolie CERT 18 (94mins) confront his boss, Starring Marine Vacth, Charlotte Rampling, the criminal big Géraldine Pailhas, Frédéric Pierrot, Nathalie shot Mr Fontaine Richard Directed by François Ozon (France) (Bichir). For his That’s ‘Young & Beautiful’ in English, and part, Jude Law Ozon’s drama focuses on a year in the life of a gained almost thir- seventeen-year-old French prostitute. Critically, teen kilograms - the film has received some pretty upbeat apparently by reviews, in particular praising the performance drinking ten Coca- of newcomer Mlle Vacth. The songs are provid- Colas a day... ed by Françoise Hardy...

48 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film Nov (PO)_Layout 1 28/10/2013 16:14 Page 4

Saving Mr BanksCERT PG (125mins) Starring Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, Rachel Griffiths Directed by John Lee Hancock (USA/UK/Australia) Everybody’s raving about Emma Thompson’s performance in this biog of PL Travers, the author of Mary Poppins. The film is divided between Travers’ early years in Australia and the later negotiations with Disney to make a film of her popular children’s novel. Tom Hanks plays Walt Disney.

The Counsellor CERT 18 (117mins) From Starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, Dean Norris, Rosie Perez, Bruno Ganz Directed by Ridley Scott FRI 15 (USA/UK/India) NOV The Best Man HolidayCERT tbc Get this cast. Following his role as an android in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, Starring Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Michael Fassbender now takes the lead in Scott’s very adult adaptation of Cormac Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia McCarthy’s screenplay. He plays the counsellor of the title, a lawyer whose greed leads him Long Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (USA) into deep water when he teams up with a drug trafficker (Bardem) and attempts to smuggle Fourteen years ago the romantic comedy $20million-worth of cocaine across the Mexican border. Word has it that Angelina Jolie was The Best Man struck a chord with young very keen to play Bardem’s highly-sexed Argentinean girlfriend, but the part finally went to black audiences. Now comes the sequel, in Cameron Diaz and a bottle of hair dye. The film is dedicated to the memory of Ridley’s which the characters meet over Christmas for brother Tony, who died during production. a festive reunion. As old rivalries are reignit- ed - and new relationships formed - one wonders how much they’ve all changed in the interim... Carrie CERT 15 (100mins) Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Julianne Moore Directed by Kimberly Peirce (USA) If you don’t know who Carrie is, then you must be very young. First, there was the Stephen King novel, then the hugely successful (and iconic) film version directed by Brian De Palma, then the Broadway musical, then the sequel (The Rage: Carrie 2), then the TV re-make and then the stage spoof. Now comes the third film version about the tormented teenager with a very strong case of telekinesis.

Day Of The FlowersCERT tbc Starring Eva Birthistle, Charity Wakefield, Free Birds CERT U (91mins) Carlos Acosta, Bryan Dick, Christopher Featuring the voices of Owen Wilson, Woody Simpson Directed by John Roberts (UK) Harrelson, Amy Poehler, Keith David, Colm Meaney, Dan Fogler Directed by Jimmy Hayward A humorous tale of cultural clashes, Day Of (USA) Flowers met with a generally lukewarm reception when it was screened at last year’s When most Americans think of turkey they think Edinburgh Film Festival, and provides anoth- of Thanksgiving. So the intrepid game birds er example of director John Roberts not Reggie (Wilson) and Jake (Harrelson) put aside quite managing to find a style to best show their differences and hijack a time machine to off his undoubted talents. When chalk-and- travel back to the first Thanksgiving - to change cheese Scottish sisters Rosa and Ailie head the course of history. From the co-director of for Cuba with their recently deceased father’s Horton Hears A Who! In 3D (naturally).. ashes, they suddenly find themselves embroiled in an eye-opening adventure... DVD NEW RELEASES in November

The Great Gatsby 12a The Wolverine 12a Nick Carraway, Yale gradu- Here the Clawed One is fol- ate and World War 1 vetern, lowed to present-day leaves the Midwest and Japan. There, the mutant heads to New York where Logan, played by Hugh he lands next door to mys- Jackman, encounters an terious millionaire Jay old enemy from his past Gatsby. He is soon irre- and becomes embroilled in sistibly drawn into the world a conflict that soon forces of the rich with their illusions him to confront his own and deceits. demons. Directed by Released 11 November James Mangold. Released 18 November www.whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Film Nov_Layout 1 29/10/2013 10:56 Page 7

Peace And Conflict PG Europe. He seizes a Hannah Arendt 12a Justin And The Knights FilmA-Z LISTINGS A feature-length drama- chance to escape, and A biopic off the influential Of Valour PG documentary which goes on the run in German-Jewish philoso- As Justin embarks on a explores the way in which Poland... Showing at The pher and political theorist All films are currently on general release quest to become a knight, Britten’s pacifist beliefs Hive, shrewsbury, Sat 23 who coined the phrase he must first learn all unless otherwise stated. For full listing developed. Starring John Nov ‘the banality of evil’. about honour and Hurt. Showing at The Showing at mac, information, including times and dates, Eroica U courage to become a Edge Arts Centre, Mon 25 Birmingham, Weds 6 - man. With the voices of visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk A BBC dramatisation of Nov Thurs 7 Nov; Ludlow Freddie Highmore and the first performance of Assemblly Rooms, Tues Saoirse Ronan. Showing 360 15 5 Nov; Wem Town Hall, Blue Jasmine 12a Beethoven’s third sym- 19 - Weds 20 Nov at The Courtyard, Weds 20 - Thurs 21 Nov New York socialite Jasmine phony, the Eroica. Taking A dramatic thriller weaving Hereford, until Fri 1 Nov; Francis has got a major place in June 1804 the Heaven’s Gate 15 together the stories of Barbara 12a The Old Market Hall, people from disparate case of the blues. She is Viennese palace of The story of a sheriff who A story of love and Shrewsbury, Fri 1 - Sat 2 social backgrounds also forced to move in with Beethoven’s patron. Stars strives to protect small intrigue in 1980s East Nov; The Roses Theatre, through their intersecting her sister when her mar- Peter Hanson, Jack homesteaders from ruth- Germany in this tale of Tewkesbury, Sat 9 Nov relationships. Stars Jude riage to a rich businessman Davenport. Showing at less cattle barons. Stars two doctors slowly worm- Law and Rachel Weisz. self-destructs. Stars Alec Warwick Arts Centre, Kris Kristofferson. Killing Them Softly 18 ing their way into each Showing at Stoke Film Baldwin and Cate Thurs 14 Nov Showing at Ludlow Two small-time criminals other's hearts and minds. Blanchett. Showing at Assembly Rooms, Thurs Theatre, Fri 2 - Sat 3 Nov Frances Ha 15 are recruited to rob a high Showing at Stoke Film Artrix, Bromsgrove, from 14 Nov Frances, a 27 year old stakes, Mob-protected About Time 12a Theatre, Thurs 8 Nov Fri 15 Nov The Roses would-be dancer finds poker game causing the Domhnall Gleeson plays Theatre, Tewkesbury, Hitchcock 12a Beasts Of the Southern herself on the street and local criminal economy to a time traveller who goes Weds 20 - Sat 23 Nov; Anthony Hopkins portrays Wilds 12a looking for a new place in collapse. Stars Brad Pitt and erases the timeline in The Courtyard, Hereford, the master of suspense in In a forgotten but defiant the world as well as a new and Ray Liotta. Showing which he fell in love. Weds 20 - Thurs 21 Nov; Sacha Geraiss account of bayou community a six- apartment when her best at Stoke Film Theatre, Showing at Festival Ludlow Assembly Rooms, the personal partnership year-old girl exists on the friend Sophie moves out. Thurs 22 Nov Drayton Centre, Fri 1 & from Thurs 28 Nov between the director and Mon 4 Nov; Ludlow brink of orphanhood. This Showing at Foxlowe Arts his wife - played by Helen Le Week-end 15 tiny hero must learn to Centre, Leek, Tues 12 Assembly Rooms, Sat 2 - Captain Phillips 12a Mirren. Showing at The Comedy-drama about a survive unstoppable Nov Weds 6 Nov Tom Hanks plays the Edge Arts Centre, Mon 11 couple who attempt to catastrophes of epic pro- eponymous Captain From Up On Poppy Hill Nov rejuvenate their marriage portions. Stars Richard Phillips, who was U by visiting Paris. Once in Quvenzhane Wallis. abducted by Somali House Of Tolerance 18 An animated tale of two the French capital, they Showing at Stoke Film pirates in 2009. It’s a tale The story of the last days teenagers working to save bump into an old friend, Theatre, Fri 30 Nov ripped straight from the of a French brothel at the their school clubhouse who acts as a catalyst for WATCH headlines, based on the dawn of the 1900s. In a Becoming Jane from demolition in the run things to come. Stars Jeff book by Captain Phillips closed world, where PG up to the Tokyo Olympics. Goldblum and Jim himself. Showing at mac, some men fall in love and THE FILM Young Jane Austen Showing at The Roses Broadbent. Showing at Birmingham, Fri 8 - Thurs others turn vicious, the lives a dull life scrib- Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 2 The Roses Theatre, 14 Nov girls form a strong bond. bling stories and Nov Tewkesbury, Mon 11 - Fri TRAILERS AT reading them to her Showing at Stoke Film Diana 12a 15 Nov; Artrix, family. But when the The Gatekeepers 15 Theatre, Tues 6 Nov whatsonlive.co.uk Recounting the last two Bromsgrove, from Fri 22 rakish Tom arrives in 15 years of the princess life. For the first time ever six How I Live Now Nov; The Courtyard, the village Jane becomes American teenager Stars Naomi Watts. former heads of Israel's Hereford, from Fri 29 Nov embroiled in a passionate comes to stay with Showing at Ludlow homeland security organi- Looper 15 love affair that inspires her cousins in the English Argo 15 Assembly Rooms, Mon 25 zation, Shin Bet, talk A group of time travelling career. Starring Anne countryside. But her Ben Affleck directs a politi- - Weds 27 Nov openly about the bomb- killers help sort out the Hathaway, James bucolic idyll is confound- cal thriller set around the ings and assassinations dirty business of a crime McAvoy. Showing at The ed by the outbreak of rescue of six American Don’t Look Now 15 they have ordered, and syndicate. Stars Bruce Courtyard, Hereford, Sun World War Three. Stars diplomats during the 1979 Recounting the last two about their long war of Willis and Emily Blunt. 10 - Mon 11 Nov Saoirse Ronan. Showing hostage crisis in Iran. years of the princess life. attrition with Israel’s foes. Showing at Stoke Film at mac, Birmingham, Fri 1 Showing at Forest Arts Stars Naomi Watts. Showing at The Hive, Theatre, Fri 16 - Sat 17 - Tues 5 Nov Centre, Walsall, Fri 15 Nov Showing at Ludlow Shrewsbury, Sat 30 Nov Nov Assembly Rooms, Mon 25 Before Midnight 15 Gone With the Wind PG The Imposter 15 The Artist And The - Weds 27 Nov Monster House PG The final part of director A manipulative Southern Model 12a A thirteen-year-old boy Three kids must do battle Richard Linklater’s roman- belle carries on a turbu- An aging artist is inspired Elysium 15 disappears from his home with a mysterious home tic trilogy starring Ethan lent affair with a blockade to paint and sculpt again When factory worker Max in Texas. Three and a half that is determined to eat Hawke and Julie Delpy. runner during the when a refugee from the DeCosta contracts an years later, he is found every trick or treater in Showing at Foxlowe Arts American Civil War. Stars Spanish civil war agrees industrial cancer, he alive in Spain. Disoriented sight on Halloween. Centre, Leek, Tues 19 Clark Gable and Vivian to model for him. attempts to escape the and quivering with fear, he Showing at The Courtyard, Nov Leigh. Showing at The Old Showing at Ludlow planet and infiltrate the divulges his shocking Hereford, Sat 9 Nov Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Assembly Rooms, Tues 12 Behind The Candelabra orbiting city of Elysium, a story of kidnap and tor- Fri 29 - Sat 30 Nov Nov 15 domain of the stinking rich ture. Showing at Stoke Much Ado About Film Theatre, Thurs 1 Nov Nothing 12a The film follows Liberace’s that is free of disease and The Great Beauty 15 Austenland 12a Shot entirely in his own six-year relationship with crime. Stars Matt Damon. The story of an aging In A Better World 15 A young woman travels to house, with a cast of the considerably younger Showing at The Roses playboy living in modern an english Jane Austen A gripping drama switch- friends from previous proj- Scott Thorson, and is Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat Rome and writing a news- theme park to find her ing between war-torn ects, Joss Whedon based on the latter’s auto- 16 Nov paper society column. own Mr Darcy. Stars Keri refugee camps in Africa directs a classy modern biography. Stars Michael Showing at The Roses Russell. Showing at The Essential Killing 15 and small-town life in adaptation of Douglas, Matt Damon. Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon Courtyard, Hereford, Sun A Middle Eastern insur- Denmark. When the lives Shakespeare’s comedy of Showing at Foxlowe Arts 4 Nov of two families cross a 3 - Weds 6 Nov; The centre, Leek, Tues 26 Nov gent is captured in mistaken identity, deliv- Roses Theatre, Afghanistan and trans- risky friendship develops. ered in the original verse. Tewkesbury, Mon 4 - Tues Benjamin Britten: ported to a secret deten- Showing at The Hive, Alexis Denisof and Amy tion centre somewhere in Shrewsbury, Fri 22 Nov

Shropshire OMH SHREWSBURY Warwickshire Worcestershire 01743 281281 CINEMA Box Office CINEWORLD, SHREWSBURY ODEON, COVENTRY ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE 0871 200 2000 WEM TOWN HALL 0871 224 4007 01527 577330 01939 232299 Birmingham SHOWCASE 0871 220 1000 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, ODEON, NUNEATON MALVERN THEATRE CINEWORLD Broad St, B’ham VUE CINEMA Star City 08712 MUCH WENLOCK 0871 224 4007 0845 287 2146 240 240 01952 728 911 Staffordshire CINEWORLD Solihull SHOWCASE, COVENTRY THE NORBURY THEATRE, CINEWORLD, BURTON-UPON- 0871 200 20000871 200 FESTIVAL DRAYTON CEN- 0871 220 1000 DROITWICH SPA Black Country TRE, MARKET DRAYTON TRENT 0871 200 2000 2000 APOLLO 4, LEAMINGTON 08444 777 1000 CINEWORLD W’HAMPTON 01630 654 444 APOLLO, STAFFORD ELECTRIC, B’ham SPA 01926 427 448 WAREHOUSE, 0871 200 2000 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 0871 220 6000 0121 643 7879 PICTURE HOUSE, KIDDERMINSTER 01743 234 970 FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, EMPIRE 0871 471 4714 LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CEN- STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 01562 747773 TRE, W’HAMPTON 01902 LUDLOW ASSEMBLEY LEEK 01538 386 112 0871 902 5741 VUE, WORCESTER THE GIANT SCREEN AT MIL- 716055 ROOMS STOKE FILM THEATRE, 01782 0871 224 0240 LENNIUM POINT ODEON MERRY HILL, 01584 878 141 411188 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 0121 202 2222 COVENTRY 02476 524524 THE ROSE’S THEATRE, DUDLEY 0871 22 44007 MAJESTIC, BRIDGNORTH ODEON TAMWORTH MAC 0121 446 3232 SHOWCASE, DUDLEY 01746 761815 0871 224 4007 TEWKESBURY ODEON 0871 224 4007 0871 220 1000 ODEON TELFORD 01684 295 074 0871 224 4007 REEL Quinton 0121 421 FOREST ARTS CENTRE, For full venue and listing information, including times 5316 WALSALL 01922 645 555 and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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Acker star. Showing at The Warwick Arts Centre, Sun Town Hall, Thurs 14 Nov Shaun Of The Dead 15 Drayton Centre, Fri 15, Tess 12 Edge Arts Centre, Mon 4 17 Nov When flesh-eating zom- Thomas Hardy’s classic Romeo And Juliet PG Tues 19 & Weds 20 Nov; Nov; The Old Market Hall, bies overrun London, tale of the doomed Tess Prisoners 15 This is a traditional ver- The Roses Theatre, Shrewsbury, Tues 26 - loser Shaun is forced to of the D’Urbervilles, A man takes the law into sion, filmed in fair Verona, Tewkesbury, Thurs 21 - Sat Thurs 28 Nov take responsibility for the whose beauty is her for- his own hands when his with an American as Juliet 21 Nov; The Courtyard, survival of his corner of tune and her undoing. Museum Hours 12a daughter and her friend Capulet (Oscar nominee Hereford, Tues 28 - Thurs humanity. Stars Simon Stars Nastassja Kinski. On a visit to Austria Ann are kidnapped, but the Hailee Steinfeld). Romeo 28 Nov; Wem Town Hall, Pegg, Kate Ashfield Showing at The Hive, meets an amiable elderly police aren’t impressed. is portrayed by the Weds 27 - Thurs 28 Nov Showing at The Courtyard, Shrewsbury, Fri 8 Nov security guard at the Stars Hugh Jackman and London- born Douglas Take This Waltz 15 Hereford, Fri 15 Nov Kunsthistorisches Art Jake Gyllenhaal. Showing Booth. Showing at The During a hot Toronto sum- Waltz With Bashir 18 Museum and a tender at Ludlow Assembly Old Market Hall, Silent Souls 15 mer Margot struggles to Based on a true story, this friendship develops. Rooms, Fri 15 & Mon 18 Shrewsbury, Fri 1 - Thurs 7 Aist helps his friend Miron choose between two visually dazzling and Showing at The Roses Nov Nov; mac, Birmingham, Fri say goodbye to his types of love and finds a remarkably original full- Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun 29 - Sat 30 Nov recently departed wife side to herself she never length animation recre- Private Peaceful 12a 12 Nov; mac, according to the rituals of knew existed. Stars ates the 1982 Lebanon An uplifting and emotional Rush 15 Birmingham, Weds 20 - the Merja culture and as is Michelle Williams and war, uncovering the long- rites of passage story of This film shows the rivalry Thurs 21 Nov custom memories of his Seth Rogan. Showing at suppressed secrets of the two brothers from a poor between Formula One conjugal life. But at the Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 9 - past. Showing at The On The Road 15 Devonshire family. As the racers James Hunt and sacred lake where they Sat 10 Nov Hive, Shrewsbury, Sat 16 young men face the hor- Niki Lauda as they com- Director Walter Salles' will forever part with the Nov rors and folly of the First pete for the 1976 World Upstream Colour 12a adaptation of Jack body, he realizes he was- World War, their brotherly Championship. Stars Director Shane Carruth’s Kerouac's great American n't the only one in love War Horse 12 bond is subjected to the Chris Hemsworth and follow-up to his 2004 novel that defined a gen- with her. Showing at War Horse tells of the ultimate test. Showing at Daniel Brühl. Showing at debut Primer, is a critically- eration. Starring Sam Stoke Film Theatre, Tues remarkable friendship Warwick Arts Centre, Sat Wem Town Hall, Fri 1 - Sat acclaimed portrait of a Riley and Garrett 20 Nov between a horse named Hedlund. Showing at 16 Nov; Stoke Film 2 Nov; The Courtyard, man and woman drawn Joey and a young man Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 24 Theatre, Thurs 29 Nov Hereford, Fri 1 - Weds 6 Song For Marion 12a together by a parasite and called Albert, who tames Nov; Attfield Theatre, Comedy stars Vanessa a thief. Stars Amy and trains him. Showing - Sat 25 Nov & Tues 27 The Railrodder U Oswestry, Sat 9 Nov; Redgrave as Marion, a Seimetz, Frank Mosley. at Forest Arts Centre, Nov After literally walking to Festival Drayton Centre, Fri woman dying of cancer. Showing at Attfield Walsall, Thurs 28 Nov Planes U Canada from England, 8 - Mon 11 Nov; Ludlow Her husband, curmudg- Theatre, Oswestry, Sat 16 Dusty is a crop-dusting Buster takes a cross- Assembly Rooms, Fri 8 - eon that he is, agrees to Nov The Wicker Man 15 plane who dreams of country trip across Mon 11 Nov; The Old join her senior singing Devout Catholic copper, competing in a famous Canada on a railcar. Stars Untouchable 15 Market Hall, Fri 22- Mon group because he knows Sgt. Howie, travels to a aerial race. The only prob- Buster Keaton Showing at The film tells the story of 25 Nov how happy it makes her. remote Scottish island in lem is that he’s hopelessly Warwick Arts Centre, Sun an unlikely friendship Showing at Norbury search of a young girl but afraid of heights! Showing 17 Nov The Selfish Giant 15 between a disabled mil- Theatre, Weds 17 Nov soon realises that the at The Courtyard, This story about friend- lionaire and his street locals have rejected Renoir 12a Hereford, until Sat 2 Nov ship, greed and exploita- Sunshine On Leith PG smart ex-con caretaker Christianity for a sensual Some films need be no tion follows two young ruf- who find a camaraderie This musical film follows paganism. Stars Edward The Plank U more than a flavour. This fians, Arbor and Swifty, as rooted in honesty and the story of two soldiers Woodward, Christopher This classic British word- one is of a summer in they get in ever deeper humour. Stars Francois from Afghanistan who Lee, Britt Ekland. Showing less comedy follows two 1915 when a young with a cantankerous, Cluzet and Omar Sy. have to adjust to civilian at The Light House Media workmen delivering woman entered the lives potentially dangerous Showing at Stoke Film life in Edinburgh. Stars Centre, Tues 5 Nov; The planks to a building site. of the ageing painter scrap merchant. Showing Theatre, Tues 13 & Thurs Peter Mullan. Showing at Courtyard, Hereford, Tues Stars Tommy Cooper, Eric Auguste Renoir and his at mac, Birmingham, Fri 15 Nov mac, Birmingahm, Fri 1 - 12 Nov Sykes. Showing at son. Showing at Wem 22 - Mon 25 Nov Weds 6 Nov; Festival

DVD NEW RELEASES Trap For Cinderella 15 Pacific Rim 12a A girl wakes up in hospital As gargantuan monsters fafter reconstructive surgery emerge from the depths and she’s completely lost of the Pacific ocean, sol- her memory. Slowly, she diers manoeuvre giant comes to learn she was a robots to combat this model and that her friend threat, but even these was killed in the same fire huge automatons seem that disfigured her. Stars helpless in the face of the Tuppence Middleton. new enemy. Stars Charlie Hunnam. Released 4 November Released 11 November Easy Money 15 This Swedish film, starring Joel Kinnaman, is the first part of a trilogy that here follows the downhill trajec- tory of an enterprising student who believes he’s found a lucrative way of scoring ‘easy money’: selling cocaine. This Is The End 15 Released 11 November It’s another dystopian sce- Logan, played by Hugh nario in which a group of The Great Gatsby 12a The Wall 12a The World’s End 15 Jackman, encounters an friends attempts to find the Nick Carraway leaves the A woman goes to stay with Having failed a pub crawl old enemy from his past meaning of life as the world Midwest and heads to friends for a weekend in the twenty years’ previously, and becomes embroilled in self-destructs around them. New York where he Austrian Alps and finds her- five friends meet up to a conflict that soon forces James Franco plays him- lands next door to mys- self cut off from them and retry. But soon they realise him to confront his own self. For laughs. Also stars terious millionaire Jay the life that she has known. the earth has been invad- demons. Directed by Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen. Gatsby. He is soon As the hours turn into days ed by aliens. Stars Simon James Mangold. Released 4 November drawn into the world of and the days into weeks, Pegg. the rich with their illu- Released 18 November she is forced to fend for Released 25 November sions and deceits. herself, with only the cou- Stuck In Love 15 Released 11 ple’s dog for company. In A successful novelist is November the event, she’s left with just obsessed by his ex-wife her ingenuity and instincts and it’s affecting his work. The Wolverine 12a for survival to subsist in an Then his nineteen-year-old Not a sequel to X-Men unforgiving landscape. daughter gets a novel pub- Origins: Wolverine as such, Starring Martina Gedeck, lished, although she, her- but a film in its own right, directed by Julian Roman self, wants nothing to do The Wolverine follows the Pölsler. with love… Clawed One to present-day Released 25 November Released 18 November Japan. There, the mutant

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Exposed: The Body In Art From Dürer to Freud Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Fri 22 November - Mon 21 April, 2014 Exploring artistic responses to the human body, this new Herbert partnership with Birmingham Museum features at its heart Burne-Jones’ pre- raphaelite Pygmalion series, presenting ideals of love and aspiration. Via works by Albrecht Dürer, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Barbara Hepworth, Helen Chadwick, Francis Bacon, Gillian Wearing and Lucian Freud, Exposed reinforces Jones’ five themes: the body as focus for the artist’s observa- tion; the creation of the ‘ideal’ body; the mutation of the body; art as a means of preserving and memorialising the body; and the body as a vehicle for the artist’s imagination and fantasy.

Photorealism: 50 Years Of Hyperrealistic Painting Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery, Sat 30 November - Sun 30 March, 2014 The first large-scale retrospective of its kind in Europe, this new exhibition at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is devoted entirely to the art of photorealism - a Pop Art-derived artform depicting everyday objects and scenes, including American cars, highways, storefronts and diners. Using photography as its starting point, Photorealism was met with intense criticism when it first made an appearance in the United States in the late-1960s - but forty-plus years later, the movement is still going strong. The exhibition showcases works by all the major photorealists, including Chuck Close, Raphaella Spence, Peter Maier and the Birmingham-born John Salt. John Monks: Painting In Layers The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 15 November - Sun 26 January, 2014 Influenced as much by historical art and the interiors of galleries as he is by the work of contemporary artists, John Monks throws a new light on the familiar and the common- place. Using a variety of painting processes (pouring paint, glazing the surface in layers and scraping with a pallete knife), Monks brings a certain atmosphere to inanimate and immutable objects and scenes - as evidenced by the set of large paintings on canvas which he’s created for this Barber Institute exhibition.

Nina Könnerman: Bann Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, until Sun 10 November Using photography, film and animation to great effect, German artist Nina Könnermann docu- ments human behaviour via works which are both candid and direct. In this, her latest video, Könnermann addresses the social impact of the recent European ban on smoking in public places. In so doing, she focuses her lens on the smartly dressed men and women of the City of London, as they lurk in the shadows of the mar- ble-lined alcoves of their office blocks, or in nearby alleyways, in order to satisfy their cravings.

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conciousness of people Sun 1 Dec, Red House PREVIEWS LISTINGS living in the time the Glass Cone, VisualArts VisualArts artist calls ‘magical Stourbridge metropolises’, until Sat For full listing information on Visual Art CLOSER Solo exhibition 16 Nov, Eastside from former soldier Ongoing exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, Projects, Birmingham Stuart Griffiths, featuring visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk DEAR LYNDA An interna- socially excluded veter- tional touring exhibition ans, until Sun 8 Dec, Matt Watkins: A PINT IN THE MUSEUM Art Gallery which considers the mac - Midlands Arts Exhibition which maverick British curator, Centre, Birmingham CREATING CONVERSA- writer, art historian and The Birds Of America explores Worcester’s TIONS OUTSIDE IN: CENTRAL Exhibition based patron Lynda Morris, Library of Birmingham, history through its pubs, on the award-winning Regional arm of a until Sat 16 Nov, until Sun 22 December publicans and regulars, Meet Me@WAG, which national art programme Eastside Projects, until Sun 2 Nov, combats loneliness by focusing on margin- Having received much acclaim for his part in Birmingham Worcester City Museum bringing together older alised and outsider art, animated concept band Gorillaz, Birmingham & Art Gallery people for in-depth con- ECHOES Interactive exhi- until Sun 15 Dec, artist and animator Matt Watkins here pres- BEAUTY IS THE FIRST versations around col- bition celebrating the Compton Verney, ents his animated interpretation of TEST: CONTEMPORARY lection objects, until Sat lives of people in Warwickshire Birmingham’s most valuable artefact, a rare CRAFT AND MATHEMATICS 9 Nov, Wolverhampton Birmingham’s Digbeth CURIOUS BEASTS: ANIMAL book entitled The Birds Of America. Part of Featuring works by Art Gallery and Highgate areas, PRINTS FROM THE many leading makers, THIRTY YEARS OF THE until Sat 16 Nov, The BRITISH MUSEUM the Library of Birmingham’s Fine Print including Ann Sutton, Edge, Cheapside, Exhibition which Collection, the book contains intricate paint- WOLVERHAMPTON Michael Brennand- EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD Birmingham explores man’s endur- ings by artist and naturalist John James Wood and Peter Exhibition of machine & SIKH FORTRESS TURBAN: ing curiosity with the Audubon. Randall, until Sat 2 Nov, hand-embroidered tex- A BRITISH MUSEUM TOUR animal world. Work by Watkins’ com- Bilston Craft Gallery tile art, until Sat 9 Nov, Exhibition which unrav- Albrecht Dürer, Francisco de Goya and RON MUECK: ARTIST Bilston Art Gallery els the stories of the missioned work George Stubbs fea- ROOMS Much-anticipat- Sikh turban, until Sun is being present- HURVIN ANDERSON: tures, until Sun 15 Dec, ed exhibition featuring 17 Nov, Herbert ed as part of the REPORTING BACK The Compton Verney, numerous works from Museum & Art Gallery, library’s most comprehensive Warwickshire the museum’s Artist exhibition to date of Coventry Discovery Rooms collection, as Hurvin Anderson’s VERAD LAHAV: THE GAR- CIRCUS EXHIBITION Season. well as pieces from pri- paintings, including DEN The latest chapter Exhibition which brings vate collections rarely works produced shortly in a body of work which together objects from seen in the UK, until Sat after he graduated from explores conflicting across the permanent Kevin Pearsh: Ganga 21 2 Nov, Wolverhampton the Royal College of Art issues around gender, collections, to tell the Art Gallery in 1998, until Sun 10 identity, relationships story of ‘the greatest Waterhall, Birmingham Museum & Art Nov, Ikon Gallery, and migration, until Sun show on earth’, until Gallery, Tues 5 - Monday 18 November A SQUASH AND A Sun 15 Dec, The SQUEEZE Exhibition Birmingham 17 Nov, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Potteries Museum & Art A ‘deep love of India and fascination with which brings Julia AWARD Prestigious Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent water’ provided the inspiration for this unique Donaldson's much- award exhibition show- Birmingham loved children's stories casing works from DAMIEN HIRST: HE TRIED MARX-LAMBERT COLLEC- exhibition by Australian artist Kevin Pearsh. In TION REDISPLAY 2006, Pearsh set out on a two thousand, five to life, until Sun 3 Nov, some of the UK’s best TO INTERNALISE EVERY- Birmingham Museum & contemporary ceramic THING 1992 - 1994 until Exhibition of works by hundred-kilometre journey along India’s Art Gallery artists, until Sun 10 Nov, Sat 23 Nov, The New Art one of Britain’s foremost Ganges river, photographing scenes and designers, until Sun 15 FROM MORDOR TO THE The Potteries Museum Gallery, Walsall producing watercolour sketches on a daily & Art Gallery Dec, Compton Verney, MISTY MOUNTAINS FUNCTION IV Showcase Warwickshire basis in order to capture the diversity of the Featuring selected pho- SONIC VISIONS Three of of works from photogra- landscape and its religious significance. tographic works by the Barber Institute’s phy students at A FANTASTICAL ANIMAL John Cockshaw, until best-loved paintings - as Birmingham Institute of ALPHABET Exhibition Once home, Pearsh selected twenty-one which draws inspiration pieces from his collection to develop into Sun 3 Nov, Sarehole you’ve never seen them Art and Design, Mill, Birmingham before... until Sun 10 Birmingham City from Enid Marx’s Animal Alphabet, a collection of canvases. This Waterhall Gallery exhibition is Nov, The Barber University, until Sun 24 QUENTIN BLAKE: AS linocuts originally print- the only UK showing of Pearsh’s colourful Institute, Birmingham Nov, The Barber LARGE AS LIFE Featuring ed in 1979, until Sun 15 observations of life and religion along India’s Institute, Birmingham fifty works produced by PAULINE BOTY: POP Dec, Compton Verney most sacred river, which is considered by Blake for hospitals and ARTIST & WOMAN A CASTLE HIGH ART Gallery, Warwickshire many to be the ‘mother’ of Hinduism. health centres here and vibrant display of paint- Exhibition showcasing REFERENCE WORKS The abroad, until Sun 3 Nov, ings, collages and examples of work by largest and most impor- Herbert Art Gallery & ephemera which pro- both young and mature tant photography com- Museum, Coventry vides an overview of students from Castle mission ever undertak- HANDSWORTH CULTURE Boty's career and her High School, until Sat en in Birmingham. SWAP WITH VANLEY position at the forefront 30 Nov, Dudley Photos of Michael BURKE A series of of British Pop Art, until Museum & Art Gallery Collins, Brian Griffin, Sat 16 Nov, intense portraits which MADE AT THE CONE Andrew Lacon and Wolverhampton Art bear testament to the Showcase of work from Stuart Whipps all fea- Gallery hugely diverse cultural the Cone’s resident ture, until Sun 29 Dec, identities of the area, HAZE AND FOG Film makers, featuring The Library of until Sun 3 Nov, installation which demonstrations and Birmingham Birmingham Museum & explores the collective interactive displays, until

ART GALLERY 01782 232323 Museums & Art Galleries SHIRE HALL GALLERY STAFFORD 01785 278345 Birmingham THREE WHITE WALLS WALSALL 01922 654400 STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, SHUGBOROUGH GALLERY RED HOUSE GLASS CONE This Green And ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield 0121 643 0078 01889 881388 0121 323 3776 01384 812750 Pleasant Land BARBER INSTITUTE WOLVERHAMPTON ART 0121 414 7333 Black Country GALLERY 01902 552055 Warwickshire Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, BANTOCK HOUSE COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY until Sun 12 Jan, 2014 BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 0121 303 2834 WOLVERHAMPTON Shropshire 01926 645500 01902 552195 HERBERT ART GALLERY Two hundred years of rural life in the district THE BURROWS GALLERY, BEAR STEPS GALLERY, of Warwick is here explored via a wide range THE CUSTARD FACTORY BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY COVENTRY 02476 832386 01902 552507 SHREWSBURY of agricultural items from the museum’s col- 0121 224 7344 01743 344994 MEAD GALLERY WARWICK CASTLE GALLERIES BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS 02476 524524 lection, together with objects from the local MUSEUM, DUDLEY TWENTY TWENTY GALLERY, 0121 633 0015 ROYAL PUMP ROOMS rural community. Also featured is a series of 01384 812745 MUCH WENLOCK IKON GALLERY 01952 727952 01926 742700 contemporary images of local villages, along 0121 248 0708 DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART with images taken by the Leamington Spa GALLERY THE WILLOW GALLERY, NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY 01384 815575 OSWESTRY Worcestershire Photographic Society of scenes inspired by 0121 643 9099 01691 657575 LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE WORCESTER CITY ART PURPLE GALLERY nineteenth and early-twentieth century paint- WOLVERHAMPTON GALLERY 01905 25371 ings in the venue’s fine art collection. The 0121 459 0941 01902 716055 Staffordshire Visit whatsonlive.co.uk for paintings highlight the changes which have RBSA GALLERY THE NEW ART GALLERY THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & venue website details taken place over the years. 0121 2364353

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Birmingham engravings which cham- Wilkinson and Anne explored using perform- LISTINGS MILLET TO MANET pion the skill and crafts- Guest, Sat 16 Nov - Sat ance, painting and pho- VisualArts French prints from the manship of the Victorian 14 Dec, Wolverhampton tography, Sat 16 Nov - trade catalogue Art Gallery Sat 5 Apr, For full listing information on Visual Art late-nineteenth century, until Sun 12 Jan, The engraver, until Wed 30 BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY Wolverhampton Art exhibitions, including times and dates, Barber Institute, Apr, Enginuity, AWARD FOR TECHNICAL Gallery visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Birmingham Ironbridge, Shropshire EXCELLENCE Graduates DOROTHEA WIGHT & RURAL LIFE A peek at FOUR FATHERS EXHIBI- from the Birmingham MARC BALAKJIAN SENSING SCULPTURE contribution made by life in the rural commu- TION Featuring docu- School of Jewellery Exhibition celebrating Featuring new commis- the British motor indus- nities of Warwick from ments and records in showcase their work, the duo’s contribution to sions and previously try, until Sun 5 Jan, 1800 to the present day, film and photography, Sat 16 Nov - Sat 14 British printmaking, Sat un-displayed works Coventry Transport until Sun 12 Jan, and online experiences Dec, Bilston Craft Galler 16 Nov - Sun 2 March, from the Art Gallery’s Museum Leamington Spa Art of South Asian grandfa- JANE WILSON EXHIBITION The New Art Gallery, collection, until Tues 31 GED QUINN Major solo Gallery thers, fathers and sons Sculptural wall panels Walsall in Birmingham, Mon 4 - Dec, Wolverhampton exhibition comprising FIRST IMPRESSIONS made from reclaimed BACK TO FRONT: 40 PER- Thurs 28 Nov, The Art Gallery landscapes, portraits & Exhibition which focus- materials - the majority MANENT COLLECTION Drum, Birmingham BORN TO WORK An exhi- still lives, until Sun 5 es on The Barber's col- of which come from the GEMS Exhibition which bition of Nick Hedges’ Jan, New Art Gallery, lection of works on THE LIBRARY OF LOST actions of discarded celebrates the fortieth photographic observa- Walsall paper, showcasing BOOKS Celebrating the upright pianos, Sat 16 anniversary of the tion of working life at KEEPING UP APPEAR- pieces by Dürer, magic and beauty of art Nov - Sat 18 Jan, Wem gallery’s Garman Ryan Bilston Steelworks, ANCES: FASHION Piranesi, Rembrandt, through books, Wed 6 - Town Hall, North collection, Sat 16 Nov Villiers, Unigate Dairy THROUGH TWO WORLD Claude, Turner, Goya, Sat 23 Nov, The Shropshire 2013 - Sat 16 Nov 2014, and other companies WARS Exhibition which Whistler and other mas- Pavillion, Library of FROM DARKROOM TO DIG- New Art Gallery, Walsall between 1976 and charts the story of ters, until Sun 19 Jan, Birmingham ITAL Exhibition which EXHIBITION OF SOLIHULL 1978, until Tues 31 Dec, women’s history from The Barber Institute, CRAFTED FOR YOU traces the rich and influ- AMATEUR WATERCOLOUR Wolverhampton City 1900 through to the Birmingham Showcase of work from ential history of photog- ARTISTS Mon 18 - Sat 23 Archives 1950s, until Sun 5 Jan, IN STITCHES: A CELEBRA- 'some of the best craft- raphy in Nov, Solihull Arts 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF Herbert Museum & Art TION OF RSC COSTUME makers in the Midlands', Wolverhampton, from Complex WOLVERHAMPTON TROL- Gallery, Coventry Exhibition which draws Sat 9 Nov - Wed 15 Jan, the mid-19th century to IN THE LANDSCAPE LEYBUSES Display of his- LINES, SPACE AND on the RSC's rich her- Worcester City Museum the present day, Sat 16 Embroiders by Solihull tory and memorabilia ANGLES A joint exhibi- itage in creating spe- & Art Gallery Nov - Sat 15 Feb, Embroiderers Guild, by the West Midlands tion of contemporary cialist costumes for the PAINTING, ART & LEISURE Wolverhampton Art Mon 25 Nov - Sat 30 Transport Circle, until photography & draw- stage, until Mon 31 Mar, SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION Gallery Nov, Solihull Arts Tues 31 Dec, ing, until Fri 10 Jan, The Royal Shakespeare Mon 11 Nov - Sat 16 DEAN KELLAND: NO HID- Complex Wolverhampton City Bond Cafe Gallery, Theatre, Stratford-upon- Nov, Solihull Arts ING PLACE Fusion of per- Archives Avon CRAFTSPACE CURATES An Birmingham Complex formance, film-making, exploration of migration CRAFTSENSE Exhibition REGENERATED The story WOLVERHAMPTON SOCIE- WINTER SHOWCASE Work collage and print, to Birmingham in collab- featuring over one hun- of the Jewellery TY OF ARTISTS from artist/makers who exploring cultural identi- oration with artists Jivan dred of the world- Quarter’s Smith & Comprising work by use natural materials - ties and stereotypical Astfalck, the Shelanu renowned Bilston Pepper jewellery facto- artists in a variety of including bone, wool representations of mas- women’s craft collective enamels, until Tue 31 ry, featuring unique media, until Sat 25 Jan, and unrefined clays - as culinity, Sat 16 Nov - Sat and MA students from Dec, Bilston Craft works by Cathy Miles, Wolverhampton Art their medium, Tues 12 15 Feb, Wolverhampton the School of Jewellery, Gallery Rajesh Gogna and Gallery Nov - Sat 15 Feb, Art Gallery Tues 26 Nov - Sun 1 WAR EFFORT Major new Miranda Sharpe, until DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL Bilston Craft Gallery SHAKTI: NIKHIL CHOPRA Dec, The Pavillion, exhibition which focus- Sat 11 Jan, Museum of Collection of rare nine- SHAD.OW An exhibition Personal histories and Library of Birmingham es on the massive WWII the Jewellery Quarter, teenth century wood of work by Ann India's colonial past are

For more visual arts listings, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk 53 Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:59 Page 1 Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:59 Page 2 Events

Classic Motor Show NEC, Birmingham, Fri 15 - Sun 17 November A must-attend show for all classic car enthusiasts, the Lancaster Restoration Theatre hosts a team of mechanics as they show visitors Insurance Classic Motor Show, showcases some of the most impres- how to restore a cherished classic car, while three hundred-plus trade sive car displays in the UK. Vehicles range from pre-war through to stands ensure there’s plenty of opportunity to purchase parts, spares, retro classics, American muscle cars to Japanese performance, and tools and memorabilia. European elegance to Great British sports cars. And if that’s not enough, visitors can also enjoy a trip around the The Meguiars Club Showcase promises to be a highlight for 2013, Classic Motorbike Show, which comes complete with special guests, while the Wheeler Dealer Live Stage welcomes the return of TV bike club displays, Pride of Ownership concours and Vintage Wall of Motoring Show presenters Mike Brewer and Ed China. An impressive Death. Aston Hall By Candlelight International Crafts Aston Hall, Birmingham, Fri 1 - Sun 3, Thurs 7 - Fri 8 & Sun 10 November And Hobby Fair NEC, Birmingham, Popular evenings on the Aston Hall calendar, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 November these pre-Christmas events allow visitors the chance to see one of the region’s finest A perfect get-together for crafting enthusiasts Jacobean houses bathed in ‘a festive glow of at all levels, the International Crafts And candlelight’ (courtesy of hundreds of candles Hobby Fair brings together three distinct and two roaring fires!). Indoors, visitors can shows under one roof - Crafts For Christmas, enjoy watching the servants preparing for the Hobbycrafts and Art Materials Live. Offering festive-season homecoming of the Holte fami- plenty of inspiration for a creative Christmas, ly. Outside, a vintage craft fare features some the shows feature a huge array of craft mate- unusual gifts for November-time Christmas rials and handmade gifts from hundreds of shoppers - not to mention plenty of tempting exhibitors. Other attractions at the four-day seasonal treats! craft extravaganza include demonstrations in the Prima Magazine Craft Theatre, numerous hands-on activities and plenty of workshops. New for 2013 is a festive installation of Victorian carol singers sculpted out of white paper by Lincolnshire artist Martin Pidgen. Martin’s sculpture is the highlight of an exhibition which showcases images of his other creations. Meanwhile, Cake International, the world’s largest sugarcraft, cake decorating and baking show, is also open to NEC visitors from 8 to 10 November, and can be enjoyed for a separate entry fee. For further information on all four events, visit, www.ichf.co.uk. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 55 Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:59 Page 3 Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:59 Page 4

Events PREVIEWS Birmingham International Tattoo National indoor Arena, Birmingham, Sat 30 November - Sun 2 December Bringing together bands from across the world for a weekend promising ‘spectacular pageantry’ and ‘thrilling displays’, the Birmingham International Tattoo is this year marking its twenty-fifth anniversary. The event sees British tenor Tim Pitman and singing sensation Rebecca Robinson join forces with the show’s massed bands in a rousing grand finale that features the traditional Land Of Hope And Glory, the Evening Hymn and the Lone Piper. The Royal Air Force Cosford Queen’s Colour, an Inter- Service Field Gun Competition, the Birmingham Tattoo Town Crier and United Kingdom Disco Display Team also contribute to the weekend’s entertainment. Winter Skate Centenary Square, Birmingham, Sat 16 November - Sunday 5 January A brand new attraction for Birmingham, Winter Skate provides a perfect opportunity for wannabe Torvill and Deans to try out their skating skills on an Olympic-sized outdoor ice rink - after which they can warm themselves up with some festive fare in the nearby Ice Cafe! Perfect for the lead-up to Christmas, Winter Skate is an ideal accompaniment to Birmingham’s well-established Frankfurt Market. Commenting on the new attraction, Winter Skate’s Event Manager Olivia Vaughan says: “We can’t wait until the ice rink is fully installed in Birmingham! It’s going to provide festive fun for people of all ages across the region - and with Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect way to embrace some seasonal cheer.”

chase from hundreds of exhibiting stallhold- Victorian Christmas Craft Fair Centrepiece ers. The list of celebrity chefs participating in Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, this prestigious event seems to get longer Sat 30 November - Sun 1 December Wed 20 November - Mon 23 December with every passing show, and this 2013 win- Traditional to the core, this annual event Making its annual pilgrimage to ter version is no exception. In addition to offers a perfect opportunity to pick up unique Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, this six-week regulars James Martin, Gregg Wallace, John Christmas gifts while enjoying some early selling exhibition features a beautiful array of Torode and Birmingham’s very own celebrity festive fun. Adults can savour the mulled pieces from some of the region’s finest jew- chef Glynn Purnell, this latest event also wine and roast chestnuts while watching the ellers. The facade of the newly opened includes contributions from Paul Rankin, Phil Victorian entertain- Library of Birmingham has provided inspira- Vickery, Rachel Allen and former Masterchef ment, while for young- tion for many of the items showcased at this winner Shelina Permalloo (to name but a sters, a visit to Santa’s year’s event. Kate Thorley’s structured hand- few!). The finalists from this year’s Great Grotto is sure to prove made chain contrasts stirling silver with British Bake Off also make an appearance. popular, as are the eighteen-carat gold rings to great effect, numerous children’s while the distinct sweeping lines in Ria crafts on offer. Poynton, Alice Gow and Rita Patel’s work reflects the two-tone lace effect of the library building. In vogue with 2014 London cat- walks and also on sale at Centrepiece is Christmas Campers Katherine Campbell-Legge’s delicate filigree Coventry Transport Museum, Sun 24 November flowers (pictured) and Glen Returning to Coventry’s Millennium Point for Campbell’s bud a third year, the Christmas Campers event pendant. With forms part of the city-wide Christmas lights prices ranging festive afternoon, and features performances from £30 to from the West Midlands Police Brass Band £3,000, and Una May with the Worldsong Choir. Centrepiece offers Camper van and scooter owners from across something to suit Supreme Cat Show the region are invited to transform their vehi- most tastes and cles with lights and decorations, and then to budgets. NEC, Birmingham, make their way to the museum, where prizes Thurs 21 - Sun 24 November will be awarded to the most festively-decked Now here's a purr-fect opportunity to get 'up vehicle. close and purr-sonal' with marvellous mog- BBC Good Food Show gies aplenty! The Supreme Cat Show brings NEC, Birmingham, together pussies and kittens of all shapes, Wed 27 November - Sun 1 December sizes, breeds and pedigrees, and features breeders talks, a ‘best decorated pen’ com- A long-time favourite on the culinary calen- petition, both pedigree and non-pedigree dar, the BBC Good Food Show comes cats in competition, and lots of trade stands packed with inspiration and entertainment. selling everything a cat and its owner could Features of the five-day show include the possibly need. So if you love your common- Supertheatre, Saturday Kitchen Live, Great or-garden moggy and are 'feline' in the mood British Bake Off Village, Producers Village, for what should be a great day out, then this M&S Christmas Theatre, live TV shows, and is the show for you! an abundance of gourmet delights to pur- www.whatsonlive.co.uk 57 Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:59 Page 5

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radio, film, TV and com- gothic cinema and a fun and exciting experi- advice and much LISTINGS munity arts in the West midnight ghost tour, Sat ence for people of all more... Sat 9 - Sun 10 Events Midlands, Fri 1 Nov, 2 Nov, The Dream ages, Fri 8 - Sun 10 Nov, Stoneleigh Park, Arena Theatre, Factory, Warwick Nov, West Park, Warwickshire For full listing information on Events, Wolverhampton DRAYTON MANOR FIRE- Staffordshire including times and dates, visit FIREWORKS FRENZY An WORKS Light extrava- FIREWORK SPECTACULAR Week Commencing evening of family enter- ganza to bring the Fri 8 - Sun 10 Nov, www.whatsonlive.co.uk tainment with Jet Car, park’s 2013 season to Alton Towers, MON 11 NOV monster truck and a close, Sat 2 - Sun 3 Staffordshire Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent stunts, topped off with Nov, Drayton Manor CANAL ART FOR BEGIN- from TILE DECORATING a huge bonfire and fire- Theme Park, Tamworth, NERS: ROSES & CASTLES SPECIALIST GLASS FAIR WORKSHOPS Drop-in tile FRI 1 NOV work display, Sat 2 Nov, Staffs One-day course where Offering a wide choice decoration workshops Santa Pod Raceway, 40TH WELLINGTON participants can learn of glassware, from 18th where visitors can use Northampton DRAMA FESTIVAL Yearly about the traditions of century drinking glass- HALLOWEEN HAUNTED the tube lining tech- THE STAFFORD ROUND- drama festival aimed at folk canal art, with lead- es through to contem- HOUSE until Fri 1 Nov, nique to produce a TABLE BONFIRE AND encouraging amateur ing artist Julie Tonkin, porary studio glass, Tamworth Castle, Staffs 6x6inch tile featuring FIREWORKS DISPLAY Sat drama in Shropshire, Sat 9 Nov, Black Sun 10 Nov, National SPOOKY HALLOWEEN their own design and 2 Nov, Shugborough, Sat 2 - Sat 9 Nov, The Country Living Motorcycle Museum, TRAIL Find the creepy choice of colours, Fri 1 Staffordshire Belfrey Theatre Museum, Dudley Solihull clues hidden around Nov, Jackfield Tile WEAVING WITH FELT CLOCK & WATCH FAIR DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG REMEMBRANCE DAY the grounds and solve Museum, Ironbridge, WORKSHOP Join artist Sun 3 Nov, National Learn or practise drift- SERVICE Join with the the challenge to win a Shropshire Kathy Schicker for fun Motorcycle Museum, ing in safe and legal staff and passengers of terrible treat! until Sun UNDERSTANDING ART with weaving tech- Solihull conditions on some of the Severn Valley 3 Nov, Kenilworth TALKS: CURIOSITY, COL- niques. Suitable for five THE LAUGHTER CREWE A the Pod’s thirty acres of Railway and remember Castle LECTING AND ANIMAL to twelve-year-olds, Sat comedy and curry night open tarmac. There are those who gave their all GORE AND GRIME: HALF PRINT CULTURE With 2 Nov, Bilston Craft featuring comedians beginners, intermediate in wartime, Sun 10 Nov, TERM ACTIVITIES Alison Wright from the Gallery Wes Zaharuk, Andy and advanced tracks Severn Valley Railway, Featuring fun family Department of Prints FIREWORKS Kind and Tony Vino, open at the same time Kidderminster activities & hands-on and Drawings at the EXTRAVAGANZA Sun 3 Nov, Crewe each DWYB day, Sat 9 ALL-STAR SUPERSTAR heritage, until Sun 3 British Museum, Fri 1 Featuring firewalk char- Lyceum Nov Santa Pod WRESTLING SUPERSLAM Nov, Black Country Nov, Compton Verney, acters, food stalls, fami- GREAT BRITISH WALKS: Raceway Wrestling Live Events Living Museum, Dudley Warwickshire ly activities & a fair, cul- ATTINGHAM AUTUMN BEGINNERS WILLOW BAS- make their first appear- WICKED WINGS Design THE BIG DRAW: POCKETS minating in a twenty- COLOUR Enjoy the glori- KET WEAVING COURSE ance at the Lyceum & build your very own OF PLENTY Drop-in minute pyrotechnic ous colours of the sea- Full-day course, with after a massive sell-out spooky creature to flap event inspired by the spectacular set to son on a woodland expert tuition and all national tour, Sun 10 & frighten your friends Big Draw and Quentin music, Sat 2 Nov, walk, Sun 3 Nov, materials provided, Sat Nov, Crewe Lyceum and family, until Sun 3 Blake's imaginative Tamworth Castle Attingham Park, 9 Nov, Black Country WARTIME SUNDAYS Nov, Enginuity, book, Angelica CRAFT FAIR Sale of pot- Shrewsbury Living Museum, Dudley Learn about the Ironbridge, Shropshire Sprocket. Please note tery, jewellery & fabrics WESTON PARK BONFIRE & JEWELLERY MAKING Second World War MACBETH TRAIL until that children must be from local makers, Sat FIREWORKS Sun 3 Nov, WORKSHOP Learn how through object handling Sun 3 Nov, Anne accompanied by an 2 Nov, Bantock House Weston Park, Weston- to create your very own and craft, Sun 10 Nov Hathaway's Cottage, adult at all times, Fri 1 Museum, under-Lizard, pieces using threading Herbert Art Gallery & Stratford-upon-Avon Nov, Herbert Art Gallery Wolverhampton Staffordshire and wire wrapping Museum, Coventry ALL HALLOWS & Museum, Coventry MALVERN FIREWORKS ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS techniques, Sat 9 Nov, CONSERVATION CENTRE Halloween-themed BLACK COUNTRY FAMILY Featuring funfair, fames, FAIR Sun 3 Nov, Three Ragley Hall, OPEN WEEK Exclusive activities as part of the ARTS FESTIVAL Free, activities and Counties Showground, Warwickshire behind-the-scenes October half-term pro- drop-in family activities, Superhero-themed Malvern WWE LIVE A chance to access to aircraft con- gramme, until Sun 3 Fri 1 Nov, fancy dress, Sat 2 Nov, see all your favourite servation work, and a Nov, Mary Arden Wolverhampton Art Three Counties Week Commencing Superstars and Divas chance to view the House, Stratford-upon- Gallery Showground, Malvern live in action, WWE Live progress being made Avon HALLOWEEN CERAMIC MON 4 NOV FIREWORKS NIGHT See features Sheamus and on many of the muse- BEAR WHERE ART THOU? WORKSHOP Create your the streets illuminated World Heavyweight um's current restoration Follow a spooky own colourful ceramic by gaslight as the town Champion Dolph projects, Sun 10 - Sat Shakespeare quote to monster or super-scary opens out-of-hours for FUNGI, FORAGE AND Ziggler. Sat 9 Nov, LG 16 Nov, RAF Cosford, find a Halloween bear, ghoul during this drop- its annual family fire- NATURE WALKS Mon 4 Arena, Birmingham Wolverhampton until Sun 3 Nov, Nash's in clay modelling work- works extravaganza, Nov, Witley Court, LIGHT UP LEAMINGTON CELEBRATION WEEK A House & New Place, shop, Fri 1 Nov, Sat 2 Nov, Blists Hill, Worcestershire Lantern Parade, Sat 9 chance to take a look Stratford-upon-Avon Coalport China Ironbridge, Shropshire TRADITIONAL BONFIRE Nov, Royal Spa Centre, back at some of the O TREACHEROUS Museum DINOSAUR ZOO Sat 2 NIGHT A family orientat- Leamington Spa activities on offer at The VILLAINS Follow clues to THE BIG DRAW Fri 1 Nov, Nov, Malvern Theatres ed celebration with tra- MURDER MYSTERY DIN- Public over the past find famous speeches Blists Hill, Ironbridge, BONFIRE & FIREWORKS ditional entertainment, NER Pre-booking essen- four years. The week- and see Shakespeare Shropshire EXTRAVAGANZA Sat 2 hot roast chestnuts and tial! Sat 9 Nov, long celebrations culmi- Aloud! perform them, MONSTER ROCK HAL- Nov, Ragley Hall, a fairground in full Shugborough, nate with a perform- until Sun 3 Nov, LOWEEN FANCY DRESS Warwickshire swing, Tue 5 Nov, Black Staffordshire ance from West Shakespeare's Fri 1 Nov, The National MADE IN SHROPSHIRE Country Living BEHIND THE FASHION Bromwich cover band Birthplace, Stratford- Brewery Centre, FAIR Monthly craft fair, Museum, Dudley Enjoy a detailed look at The Busby Babes on upon-Avon Burton-on-Trent Sat 2 Nov, Castle LUNCHTIME TALK: A TRIB- some of the objects in Saturday 16 November, INTERNATIONAL DIRT HALF-TERM CRAFT Square, Ludlow, UTE TO AGATHA CHRISTIE the Herbert's costume Mon 11 - Sat 16 Nov, BIKE SHOW Europe’s ACTIVITY - SPOOKY Shropshire Gale Goddard talks collection, and hear The Public, West largest dedicated off- SPIDERS Make a LIGHT UP LEAMINGTON about the famous mys- about the reality of Bromwich road show, until Sun 3 spooky, fluffy spider LANTERN PARADE Free tery writer and her col- women's lives between KNIT-NIGHT AT Nov, Stoneleigh Park, that can bounce on its lantern-making work- lection of Christie mem- 1900 and 1960, Sat 9 LOCKWORKS Evening of Warwickshire web-string or lurk in shops with all materials orabilia, which is on Nov, Herbert Art Gallery knitting, crochet & chat, HALF-TERM SPOOKY your pocket! Fri 1 Nov, supplied. Just take display at the museum, & Museum, Coventry Tue 12 Nov, Light POTTERY PAINTING Paint Gladstone Pottery along some clothes Tues 5 Nov, Bantock TEXTILE FAIR Featuring House Media Centre, a piece of Halloween- Museum, Stoke-on- suitable to wear when House Museum, specialist textiles, one- Wolverhampton themed pottery to take Trent making, and enjoy! Sat Wolverhampton off clothing and unique AN EVENING WITH DAN home, until Sun 3 Nov, DINOSAUR ZOO Fri 1 2 Nov, Royal Spa NO BANGS BONFIRE Christmas gifts, Sat 9 SNOW Wed 13 Nov, Gladstone Pottery Nov, Warwick Arts Centre, Leamington NIGHT Tue 5 Nov Nov, Compton Verney Stratford Civic Hall Museum, Stoke-on- Centre, Coventry Spa Avoncroft Museum, Gallery, Warwickshire THE SKILLS SHOW Thur Trent FRIDAY FRIGHT NIGHT A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS A Bromsgrove WWII WEEKEND A week- 14 - Sat 16 Nov, NEC, ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE Join the creepy farm- Diwali celebration fea- MALVERN LIONS: IT’S A end of demonstrations Birmingham until Sun 3 Nov, NEC, hand and meet the turing South Asian KNOCKOUT Wed 6 Nov, and training activities TRADITIONAL EUROPEAN Birmingham ghosts of times gone dance, music and song Three Counties from WWII military re- FOOD & CRAFT FAIR ANGLO-SAXON KINGDOM by. Evening includes from regional artists, Showground, Malvern enactment group, Thurs 14 - Sat 16 Nov, OF MERCIA EXHIBITION hot soup, bread and presented by Sampad BEHIND THE SCENES MECO, Sat 9 - Sun 10 Market Square, Stafford Travel back to the Dark mulled wine, Fri 1 Nov, South Asian Arts & TOUR Chance to Nov, Black Country FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS Ages with this atmos- Mary Arden House, Arena Theatre, Sat 2 explore parts of the Living Museum, Dudley MARKETS Thurs 14 Nov pheric new display of Stratford-upon-Avon Nov, Arena Theatre, court seldom open to BRITISH CERAMICS BIEN- - Sun 22 Dec, taking an Anglo-Saxon mead CLAY ANIMAL WORKSHOP Wolverhampton visitors, Fri 8 Nov, NIAL FAMILY WEEKENDER place across hall. In addition to WITH WILLIE CARTER Fri BOOK SIGNING WITH Witley Court, Free, drop-in, creative Birmingham’s New around fifty stunning 1 Nov, The Willow JOHN CHALLIS Sat 2 Worcestershire family fun, Sat 9 - Sun Street, Centenary items from the Gallery, Oswestry, Nov, Burway Books, MUSEOMIX Three-day 10 Nov, Original Spode Square & Victoria Staffordshire Hoard, North Shropshire Church Stretton, South community event, Fri 8 Site, Stoke-on-Trent Square other fascinating arte- THEATRE CUPPA An infor- Shropshire - Sun 10 Nov, Enginuity, YOUR HORSE LIVE LDN WRESTLING A fami- facts explore life and mal opportunity to HALLOWEEN BALL Ironbridge, Shropshire Featuring celebrity and ly-friendly entertainment death in the Dark Ages, catch up with people Featuring live music, a SEGWAY RALLY Brand expert demonstrations, show featuring some of until Tue 31 Dec, The working in theatre, Potteries Museum & Art bloodcurdling buffet, new event offering a extensive shopping, top the exuberant stars of

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LIGHT UP LEAMINGTON DRIVE IN CLASSIC CAR & TOURS Fri 29 - Sat 30 national bands, massed LISTINGS LANTERN PARADE Sat 23 BIKE AUTOJUMBLE Sun Nov, Birmingham Back parade of standard and Events Nov, Royal Spa Centre, 24 Nov, Three Counties to Backs exciting displays, plus a Leamington Spa Showground, Malvern TUDOR CHRISTMAS BAN- spectacular grand For full listing information on Events, CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR CHRISTMAS CAMPERS QUETS Fri 29 - Sat 30 finale. Sat 30 Nov - Sun including times and dates, visit Providing a great Part of Coventry city Nov, Tamworth Castle, 1 Dec National Indoor www.whatsonlive.co.uk opportunity to purchase centre’s Christmas Staffordshire Arena some unique Christmas lights festive afternoon, CRAFT CLUB Forum for CHRISTMAS CRAFT gifts in the beautiful set- Sun 24 Nov, Coventry anyone interested in MARKET Featuring the British wrestling NATIONAL MILITARY CON- ting of the Tudor manor Transport Museum making things together, exhibitors selling a wide scene, Fri 15 Nov, The VENTION Sun 17 Nov, and medieval hall, Sat Sat 30 Nov, variety of Christmas Swan Theatre, Three Counties 23 Nov, Selly Manor, Wolverhampton Art crafts, Sat 30 Nov - Sun Worcester Showground, Malvern Week Commencing Bournville, Birmingham 1 Dec Red House CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW Gallery VINTAGE TEA PARTY Pre- MON 25 NOV CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Glass Cone, Fri 15 - Sun 17 Nov Week Commencing booking required, Sat Festive fun with glass- Stourbridge NEC, Birmingham 23 Nov, Bantock House VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS SCIENCE FICTION TIME MON 18 NOV making demonstra- Museum, JINGLE ALL THE WAY tions, open studios, CRAFT FAIR A variety of TRAVELLING DAY Family Wolverhampton Flower arranging with a puzzles, trails and craft food and craft stalls fun day to celebrate the CONTEMPORARY JEW- seasonal twist, Wed 27 activities for children, and Victorian musicians fiftieth anniversary of SUTTON FINE FOOD AND ELLERY EXHIBITION One- Nov, Prince Of Wales Sat 30 Nov - Sun 1 Dec provide a festive atmos- Doctor Who, Sat 16 FESTIVE BAZAAR Get the day event showcasing Centre, Cannock Broadfield House Glass phere, Sat 30 Nov - Nov, Avoncroft, festive season started the cream of contem- TEXTILE GROUP Excellent Museum, Stourbridge Sun 1 Dec, Forge Mill Bromsgrove with a sprinkle of porary jewellery talent opportunity to meet SANTA HUNTS A fun- Needle Museum, CHRISTMAS CERAMICS Christmas magic, a visit in the UK, Sat 23 Nov, like-minded people in a filled search for Santa, Redditch WORKSHOP Chance to from Father Christmas The Waterhall Gallery, creative environment, where costumed THE SHUGBOROUGH make your very own and live music, Mon 18 Birmingham Museum & Wed 27 Nov, Bilston guides and Christmas CHRISTMAS FAIR Sat 30 Christmas masterpiece, Nov, Sutton Coldfield Art Gallery Craft Gallery clues point the way to Nov- Sun 1 Dec, Sat 16 Nov, Coalport Town Hall CHRISTMAS FAIR NITRO CIRCUS LIVE Santa's workshop. This Shugborough Historic China Museum, THE 24TH ERASMUS Featuring a wide range Adrenalin-packed live is a pre-book event,Sat Working Estate, Ironbridge DARWIN MEMORIAL of gifts, a traditional show that provides two- 30 Nov - Sun 1 Dec, Stafford DR WHO DAY Sat 16 LECTURE 2013 Professor fare, craft workshops & and-a-half hours of fully Black Country Living WINTER CRAFT FAIR Nov, Avoncroft Anthony J Ryan OBE family entertainment, choreographed action Museum, Dudley Featuring a huge array Museum, Bromsgrove talks about the solar Sat 23 Nov, Ancient sports, Thurs 28 Nov, THE FLYING SHOW A of works from local CHRISTMAS SHOPPING & economy, Tue 19 Nov, High House, Stafford National Indoor Arena, show for recreational designer-makers, Sat CRAFT EVENT Featuring Lichfield Garrick CHRISTMAS SWITCH ON Birmingham flying enthusiasts fea- 30 Nov - Sun 1 Dec, plenty of demonstra- HERBERT ILLUMINATION: & SANTA PARADE Sat 23 IT’S MURDER Step back turing light aircraft, mac - Midlands Arts tions and hands-on THREE GREAT CONFLICTS Nov, Stafford Town to the 1940s for an microlights, gyro- Centre, Birmingham taster activities, Sat 16 OF THE ROMAN STATE Centre evening of suspense, copters, gliders, mod- FESTIVE FALCONRY Join Nov, Bilston Craft Dominic Russell lays ENAMELLING: CHRISTMAS mystery & murder, Fri els & trade stands Raphael Historic Gallery bare the stories of the DECORATIONS Day 29 Nov, Emma showing and selling air- Falconry as they recre- BLITZ PARTY Sat 16 Nov Roman army, Tue 19 course where partici- Bridgewater, Stoke-on- craft, Sat 30 Nov - Sun ate the role of royal fal- Nettle Hill, Coventry Nov, Herbert Art Gallery pants can create their Trent 1 Dec, NEC, coners and hawkers at STAINED GLASS TASTER & Museum, Coventry very own Christmas SHIFNAL CHRISTMAS Birmingham Christmas-time in SESSION WITH JENNY DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG decorations using cop- MARKETS & LIGHTS THE 2013 BIRMINGHAM England, Sat 30 Nov - NEWALL Sat 16 Nov, Chance to learn or per and foil, Sat 23 SWITCH ON Fri 29 Nov - INTERNATIONAL TATTOO Sun 1 Dec, Kenilworth The Willow Gallery, practise drifting in safe Nov, Black Country Sat 30 Nov, Shifnal Experience the Castle, Warwickshire Oswestry and legal conditions on Living Museum, Dudley town centre, Telford pageantry and specta- GLASS FUSION: DAY some of the Pod’s thirty MCM BIRMINGHAM CANDLE-LIT CHRISTMAS cle of the massed inter- COURSE Workshop acres of open tarmac. COMIC CON AND MEMO- where participants can There are beginners, RABILIA Britain’s biggest make glass Christmas intermediate and festival of popular cul- tree decorations and advanced tracks open ture, Sat 23 - Sun 24 unique gifts, Sat 16 at the same time each ! Nov, NEC, Birmingham Nov, Black Country DWYB day, Wed 20 SANTA HUNTS A fun- Living Museum, Dudley Nov, Santa Pod filled search for Santa, WINTER CRAFT FAIR Raceway, Northampton where costumed Featuring a huge array MURDER MYSTERY guides and Christmas of works from local EVENING Dress the part! clues point the way to designer-makers, Sat The clue to the year is Santa's workshop. This 16 - Sun 17 Nov, mac - in the admission price is a pre-book event, Sat Midlands Arts Centre, of £19.35. Booking 23 Nov - Sun 24 Nov, Birmingham required, Thurs 21 Nov, Black Country Living GORGEOUS CHRISTMAS Bantock House Museum, Dudley CRAFT FAIR Sat 16 - Sun Museum, ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS 3 SHOWS FOR THE PRICE OF 1! 17 Nov, Enginuity, Wolverhampton FAIR Sat 23 - Sun 24 Ironbridge, Shropshire VALUATION DAY: FINE Nov, Uttoxeter CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR ARTS & ANTIQUES Racecourse, )412 4./5&-#&1 Showcase of crafts Hosted by Fieldings Staffordshire from some of Auctioneers, Thurs 21 WARLEY NATIONAL *1-*.()"- Warwickshire’s most Nov, Bantock House MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBI- creative people, Sat 16 Museum, Open 9am - 5.30pm (5pm Sun) TION The UKs premier - Sun 17 Nov, Coventry Wolverhampton model railway show, Transport Museum FESTIVE GIFT FAIR Thurs Sat 23 - Sun 24 Nov, THE NATIONAL POULTRY 21 - Sun 24 Nov, NEC, NEC, Birmingham SHOW Sat 16 - Sun 17 Birmingham SANTA HUNT SNOWBALLS Nov, Stoneleigh Park, WOLVERHAMPTON Sat 23 - Tue 24 Dec Warwickshire THROUGH THE LENS Join Black Country Living WELSHPOOL ANTIQUES & historian Chris Upton Museum, Dudley COLLECTORS FAIR Sun as he explores the his- DOLL & TEDDY FAIR 17 Nov, The Flash tory of Wolverhampton, &23*5& Featuring up to ninety //% Leisure Centre, from Victorian times to quality stands full of 1*.+ Welshpool the present day, Fri 22 antique, new, artist and Buy tickets on-line WARTIME SUNDAYS Nov, Wolverhampton collectable dolls and Learn about the Art Gallery www.ichfevents.co.uk teddies, plus restorers, Second World War WINTER FAYRE Sat 23 supplies and acces- Ticket Hotline 01425 277988 through object handling Nov, Maws Craft sories, Sun 24 Nov, and craft, Sun 17 Nov, Centre, Jackfield, Tickets: Adults £10 in advance, £12 on the door National Motorcycle EACH ADULT AND SENIOR TICKET Herbert Art Gallery & Ironbridge Seniors £9 in advance, £11 on the door Museum, Solihull ORDERED BY 5PM MON 4 NOV Museum, Coventry THE MAD CAP: VINTAGE *Children under 16 FREE if acc by parent CHARITY CHRISTMAS WEDDING SHOW SEWING WORKSHOP CRAFT FAIR Sun 24 Nov, Featuring a host of Create your own fash- Green Wood Station, experienced wedding ion statement piece in Coalbrookdale, )&6/1,%92,"1(&234("1$1"'3"+&&$/1"3*.("+*.()/6 suppliers, covering all the style of Elsa Shropshire 1* 4./5&-#&1 &0"1"3&&.317'&& your needs for the Big Schiaparelli's mad cap. TOY COLLECTORS FAIR 0&.1*%"7 "- 0- *$+&32 Day, Sun 17 Nov, Booking essential! Sat %4,328*."%5".$& Sun 24 Nov, Three "341%"7"- 0- Ragley Hall, 23 Nov, Herbert Art 8 /.3)&%//1 Counties Showground, 4.%"7"- 0- &.*/128*."%5".$& Warwickshire Gallery & Museum, 8 /.3)&%//1 Malvern 666$"+&*.3&1."3*/.",$/4+ GREAT MALVERN INTER- Coventry THE 13TH MALVERN

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 61 Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 18:59 Page 9

WEEKENDS ADVENTURE

7 days-a-week Meals & Parties

Wouldn’t you love to be invited to join a thriving club of 3000 friends in the West Midlands (and What Our Members are up to in November 2013

15,000 nationally!) who really know how to Friday 1 November H Pub Games Night Monday 11 November enjoy themselves? H Tamworth and Lichfield Pub H Cheddar Gorge and Night H Badminton For Fun - Mendips Walking Weekend Worcester H Wellness Evening with Well here’s your chance. We’re a friendly, H Cinema Night - Rubery Herbalife H Learn to Snowboard Course local action, adventure and social group H Jekyll and Hyde at the Blue H Ski Lesson - Beginners Orange Thursday 7 November H Tubing Session offering a wide variety of opportunities for our H New Members Relaxed H Erasmus Darwin Evening members to have fun together. Walking Weekend and Cellar Tour Tuesday 12 November H Night of Terror at H Halesowen and Quinton H Indoor Climbing at Redpoint Woodchester Mansion There’s literally something for everyone; Pub Night H Solihull Pub Night H Leamington Torchlit Ramble be it the latest adrenaline pumping outdoor Saturday 2 November + Supper Wednesday 13 November activities... weekends & holidays… H Canadian Canoe Adventure H Unihoc (Mixed Indoor Hockey) H Badminton For Fun - sports nights… workshops on fascinating H Halloween Sleepover Party Coventry H subjects… or social nights including Stourbridge and Guy Friday 8 November H Badminton at NIA Fawkes Walk H Kababish Dinner Shuffle theatre, parties and ‘behind the scenes’ H Western Style Rifle Shooting H Ballachulish Bargain Break H Afternoon Pamper Evening at Shear visits to all sorts of unusual places you’ve H Barn Dance and Supper Salon and Spa always wanted to go. H Certificate in Outdoor First H Sutton Pub Night Sunday 3 November Aid (level 5) Weekend Events take place at locations across the H Firework Spectacular at H Winter Warmer Bonfire Thursday 14 November Tutbury Weekend West Midlands. Lots of our members are single H H Curry and Quiz - Gordon Giltrap in Concert Saturday 9 November Wolverhampton and come along on their own, but we also H Hawks, Owls, Tudors and H welcome couples and groups of friends. Battles H Girls Roller Skating Lesson Abseiling for the Terrified H H H Pudding Party at a Country Hockley Heath + Lapworth Brandon Brinklow Round House There’s no hidden agenda – we’re just one Easy Ramble Moderate Ramble H happy family of friends. Members are all ages H Neen Savage and Malpass Five Rivers Contemporary Friday 15 November Indian Dinner Shuffle (18–80!) and from all walks of life. Wood Ramble H Quad Bike Intro + H Ladybower Come and Try H Center Parcs Longleat Woodland Trek Mountain Biking Weekend The one unifying factor of anyone joining Spice H National Memorial H Dancing with Mr.Darcy Arboretum and Lunch is that they want to live life to the full. Monday 4 November H Prague City Break H Rally Driving Lesson H H Sidmouth and Devon Coast Badminton For Fun - H Snorkelling with Sharks Walking Weekend Worcester H Membership is equivalent to the cost of just a pint Tennis Weekend for H Singapore Dining Experience H Beginners in Northants Snooker Night and Buffet H of beer a week. H Spice Hits Town at the Jam Spice Book Club House Sunday 10 November In fact, our money back promise means that Tuesday 5 November H Birmingham at War Saturday 16 November satisfaction is guaranteed. H Ballet For Fun Afternoon Walk H Caving for the Terrified H H Cinema Night Preview Evening (Arden H Hotel) H Forest Segway on Cannock Cosford Restoration + Get your FREE comprehensive Behind The Scenes Day H Chase Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway H information pack today call: Plaza) H Go Ape in Cannock Hanbury Hall Ramble and Lunch H Hoola Hooping Wednesday 6 November H Malvern's North and H Stow On The Wold Ramble Worcester Way Ramble H Tennis Weekend with ¤ H 0121 353 6161 (24 hours) An Evening With Roger H Peak District Mountain Coaching Moore Biking Day email [email protected] H Badminton For Fun - H Staunton Harold Hall Sunday 17 November Coventry Autumnal Easy Ramble H Bird Handling Course or visit www.spicebham.com H Badminton at NIA

“It’s an opportunity to get to do lots of things you wouldn’t otherwise do... and meet lots of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet”. Jamie, Spice member Events November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 19:00 Page 10

WEEKENDS ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS LEISURE SOCIAL

Outdoor Pursuits Flying Walking

What Our Members are up to in November 2013

H Haughmond Hill Ramble H Scottish Borders Mountain H Indoor Bowls Taster Session H Helicopter Lesson Bike Weekend with Coaching T H Nordic Walking Taster H Shropshire Easy Walking (Sutton Park) Weekend Wednesday 27 November H H Shrewsbury Ghost Walk Welsh Cottage Walking Break H Badminton For Fun - H Spa Experience with Retail H Whitby Moors and Coastal Coventry Therapy! Walking Weekend H Badminton at NIA H Ten Things Everyone Should H Saturday 23 November Family History Evening with Know About DIY the Mormons H Auto Stunt School T H Ice Skating Fun Night Monday 18 November H Build A Home For Local H Magic for Beginners H Badminton For Fun - Otters H Pamper Evening at Shear Motor Sports Worcester H Caving at Burrington Coombe Salon and Spa H Bromsgrove Pub Night H Draycot Water Moderate H Quiz Ramble Tuesday 19 November H Kingsbury Water Park Easy Thursday 28 November Ramble H H Cafe Ceramica Experience Assay Office Tour H Latin American Taster Dinner H H Kings Heath Pub Night Italian Dinner Shuffle at Shuffle Fellinis H Wednesday 20 November Makeover or Boudoir Photography Session Friday 29 November H Anne Boleyn at Tutbury H Off Road Karting H Castle H R.A.I.D - Rapid Action Bristol/Bath Christmas Markets Social Weekend H Badminton For Fun - Initiated Defence H Coventry H Symonds Yat Adventure Cinema Night - Rubery H H Badminton at NIA Mission Karaoke and Casserole H H Fencing for Beginners H Walk with Wolves - Bedford Lyndhurst + New Forest Walking Weekend H Stylistics at the Jam House Water Sports H H Trampolining Evening with Sunday 24 November Winter Pod Camping and Coaching Walking Weekend H Dog Walk in Sutton Park H Thursday 21 November Early Morning at Dudley Zoo Saturday 30 November H Fire Eating Workshop H H BBC Birmingham Behind H Ballroom Dance Masterclass Kenilworth to Wroxall - Argentine Tango! the Scenes Moderate Ramble H Dogs Home Visit H Blacksmithing Evening H Prodrive V.I.P. Visit H H Gloucester Local Meet Ramble, Scramble and Dangle H New Members Mix and Monday 25 November Mingle H Trentham and Hanchurch H Badminton For Fun - Moderate Ramble H Unihoc (Mixed Indoor Worcester Hockey) H Preview Evening (MAC) H Warwick and Leamington Pub Night Tuesday 26 November

Friday 22 November H Christmas Card Making Workshop H Fine Dining Experience at H Indoor Bouldering Taster Drayton Park Session & Wacky Wild QUOTE visit: www.spicebham.com ‘WHATS ON’ AND GET A FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP What will you be doing tomorrow? Eating Out November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:03 Page 1 Eating Out November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:03 Page 2 Eating Out Great British Bake Off finalist in Birmingham If the final of this year’s Great British Bake Off has left you wanting to see more of Francis Quinn’s artistic creations, then this month provides the perfect opportunity. As winner of this year’s Bake Off, Francis will be making an appearance at the BBC Good Food Show, which takes place at the NEC from 27 November to 1 December. This year’s event hosts a real Bake Off reunion, with Frances being joined by fellow finalists Ruby and Kimberley and contestants Glenn Cosby, Howard Middleton and Beca Pirkis. Last year’s winner - John Whaite - also appears at the event. Check out our interview with John on page 6 to find out what happens to all those leftover cakes...

City restaurant features in the UK top one hundred Birmingham’s Loves Restaurant has once again Bistro back on form... rated highly in the National Restaurant Awards. The Browning Street establishment, run by hus- not to look at the cocktail (£15.95). A classic ‘fine band-and-wife team Steve and Claire Love, came REVIEW menu - and there was no dining’ dish, perfectly exe- sixty-seventh in the list of the nation’s top one shortage of great concoc- cuted. hundred restaurants. The prestigious award A year after it first opened, tions (with equally great Desserts were a pretty recognises and celebrates the best places to eat Purnell’s Bistro is no names!) on offer. Cockney white chocolate & crème in the UK. Loves’ appearance in the list is anoth- longer the new kid on the Rhyming Sling made with fraîche torte raspberry with er scoop for the culinary duo, who recently won block and is starting to feel Absolut pear vodka was a basil sorbet (£5.95). two awards for their wines. Big congratulations to at home on Newhall Street. tasty delight, and made my Although large in size, it the restaurant’s talented team. Having rebranded after its usual mango bellini seem was polished off quite first incarnation as The rather unremarkable by quickly. Asquith, the place offers comparison. Purnell’s Bistro is a fantas- Spicy adventure on the menu at ‘rustic home cooking with For starters, hubby had the tic choice for lunch, ideal an eclectic twist’. ham hock terrine with for the business-district Worcestershire restaurant It may have slipped your homemade piccalilli crowd and a great place Fine dining restaurant The Wood Norton is offer- mind, but this is Glynn (£6.50). Lovely to look at, for after-work cocktails. I ing visitors a taste of the Indian subcontinent this Purnell’s second restaurant the lightness of the meat shall definitely return for month, with ‘two of the greatest spice chefs in in the city. While Purnell’s was terrific. My starter was dinner, and next time be a modern-day cooking’ presenting a special spice Michelin-starred success a sliver of salmon - equally bit bolder in my choices, event at the venue on 9 November. Food writer has given it national light and fresh, and burst- as there are so many and cook Ivor Peter, aka ‘the Urban Rajah’, and acclaim, its little sister ing with colour. gems on the menu. the award-winning Indunil Sanchi will be prepar- restaurant is working hard My main was the slow- Anita Champaneri ing delicately spiced chicken from Ceylon, tangy to catch up in the ‘excel- braised shoulder of lamb prawns from Kerala, tender lamb from Sindh and lence’ stakes. with Moroccan spiced Food: IIII I a selection of dishes from the Punjab and Purnell’s Bistro still houses couscous and red pepper Service: IIII I Rajasthan. The Ginger’s Bar, which offers purée (£18.25). This was a Ambience: IIII I evening forms a menu of sophisticated real stand-out dish - the Overall value IIII I part of the Great cocktails and has an exten- lamb had a nice kick to it, OVERALL IIII I Indian Food sive list of hard-to-find and and I could’ve eaten it all Feast. For further unknown spirits, world over again! Purnell’s Bistro and information on the beers and curious local Hubby had the black trea- Ginger’s Bar, event and to book ales. cle glazed pork belly 11 Newhall Street, tickets, visit It may have been a apple, complete with the Birmingham, www.greatindian- lunchtime when we visited, tastiest creamed cabbage B3 3NY foodfeast.co.uk. but it would’ve been rude and pomme purée 0121 200 1588

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out November Region One_Layout 1 28/10/2013 15:03 Page 3

Mailbox, 128-130 Place, birmingham B1 NICOLINIS 14 The Parade, THE CHASE INN Chase Rd, Wharfside St, B1 1RQ 2HL 0121 643 765 Leamington Spa, CV32 Upper Colwall, Malvern. Restaurant LISTINGS 0121 633 9988 4DW 01926 421620 WR13 6DQ 01684 PENNY BLACKS Warwickshire ONE ELM 1 Guild St, 540276 For full listing information on The Mailbox, 132-134 Stratford-Upon-Avon, CHESTERS 51 New St, restaurants, including opening times Wharfside St, B1 1XL 7 SQUARE 7 Old Square, CV37 6QZ 01789 404919 Worcester, WR1 2DL and type of cuisine, visit: 0121 632 1460 Warwick CV34 4RA PREZZO 1-3 High St, 01905 611638 PICCOLINO 01926 411 755 Warwick CV34 4AP CROWN & SANDYS www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Brindleyplace B1 2HS NO. 9 CHURCH STREET 01926 475867 Main Rd, Ombersley, 0121 634 3055 Stratford upon Avon, RESTAURANT 23 WR9 0EW 01905 620252 The Bullring. B5 4BE PITCHER & PIANO Warwickshire CV37 6HB 34 Hamilton Terrace, Holly THE FIG TREE 99 Church Brindleyplace, B1 2HP Birmingham 0121 643 1400 01789 415522 Walk Leamington Spa, Street, Gt Malvern, WR14 0121 643 0214 EDMUNDS 6 Brindley THE ALMANAK Abbey End CV32 4LY 01926 422422 2AE 01684 569909 AIR RESTAURANT LG POPPY RED Arcadian place, B1 2JB 0121 633 North, Kenilworth, CV8 ROOFTOP RESTAURANT FUSION BRASSERIE Arena, Bickenhill Rd, 4944 Centre, Birmingham B5 0844 338 0333 1QJ 01926 353 637 @ The RST, Waterside, Hawbridge, Stoulton, ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 4TD 0121 687 1200 Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester WR7 4RJ BANK 4 Brindleyplace, AUBERGINE 32 Smith St, 1JL 0121 212 3383 PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall CV37 6BB 01789 403449 01905 840647 B1 2JB 0121 633 4466 Warwick CV34 4HS JAMIE’S ITALIAN Middle St, B3 2DH 0121 212 SAFFRON GOLD Market St, THE INN AT STONEHALL BAR ESTILO 10-114 01926 400 086 Mall, Bullring Shopping 9799 Westgate House, Wharfside St, The THE ALMANACK Abbey Stonehall Common, Centre, B5 4BE THE RECTORY 50-54 St Warwick CV34 4DE Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121 End North, Kenilworth Worcester, WR5 3QG 0121 270 3610 Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS 01926 402061 01905820462 643 3443 0121 605 1001 CV8 1QJ 01926 353637 JIMMY SPICES Regency THE SAXON MILL KING CHARLES II King BERLIOZ Burlington Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS RED PEPPERS 117 BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St, Arcade, New St, B2 4JQ Coventry, CV1 3BA 024 Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe, Charles House, New St, 0121 643 2111 Wharfside St, B1 1RF Warwick CV34 5YN 0121 633 1737 7622 9274 Worcester WR1 2D LAS IGUANAS Arcadian 0121 643 4202 01926 492 255 01905 22449 BLUE PIANO RESTAURANT BROWNS Earl St, Coventry Centre, Hurst St, B5 4TD SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, SIGNATURES @ The L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51 AND BAR 24-26 Harborne 0121 622 4466 B2 5BN 0121 633 0251 CV1 5RU 0247 622 1100 Rd, B15 3AA 0121 454 Belgrade Theatre, Graham Rd, Malvern. THE LOFT LOUNGE SHIMLA PINKS 215 Broad CARLUCCIOS 13 Waterside, 6877 Coventry, CV1 1GS WR14 2HU 01684 143 Bromsgrove St, St, B15 1AY 0121 633 Stratford-Upon-Avon 02476 846762 572427 BUONISSIMO 1 Albany B5 6RG 0121 622 2444 0366 CV37 6BA Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX 01789 267424 TAILORS 22 Market Place, LANGTREYS 89a High St, THE LOST & FOUND SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield Warwick CV34 4SL Bromsgrove. B61 8AQ 0121 426 2444 CATALAN 6 Jury St , 8 Bennetts Hill, B2 5RS Rd, Edgbaston B13 3DU 01926 410590 01527 878242 CAFE OPUS 1 Oozells 0121 643 9293 0121 454 3434 Warwick CV34 4EW Square, Brindleyplace, 01926 498 930 THE TREVELYAN Warwick LITTLE VENICE 1 - 3 St LOVES The Glasshouse, THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, B1 2HS 0121 248 3226 THE CHURCH STREET Nicholas St, Worcester Browning St, B16 8FL Brindley Place, CV37 ONR WR1 1UW 01905 CARLUCCIO’S The Water’s 0121 454 5151 Birmingham B1 2HL TOWNHOUSE 16 Church Edge, Brindleyplace 01789 295252 726126 MECHU 47 - 59 Summer 0121 633 3049 Street, Stratford-upon- B1 2HP 0121 633 9262 Avon CV37 6HB 01789 THE VINE INN 86 - 88 West MASSALLA LOUNGE 35 Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212 STRADA 109-111 St, Warwick CV34 6AW Broad St, Worcester CHUNG YING GARDEN 17 1661 Wharfside St, The 262222 Thorpe St, B5 4AT 07873 219005 WR1 3NH 01905 METRO BAR & GRILL 73 Mailbox B1 1XL THE ENCORE 0121 666 6622 ZIZZI 85-87 Regent 729955 Cornwall St B3 2DF 0121 643 7279 Bridge Street Stratford Square House, Parade, MUG HOUSE Claines CIELO 6 Oozells Square, 0121 200 1911 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, upon Avon CV37 6AB Brindleyplace, B1 2JB 01789 269462 Leamington Spa CV 32 Lane, Worcester WR3 MOUNT FUJI The Bullring, B1 2HL 0121 643 3993 0121 632 6882 4NL 01926 432532 7RN 01905 456649 B5 4BH 0121 633 9853 THE VAULTS Newhall FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd, COTE Henley in Arden. B95 PORTOFINO, 6 Worcester The Mailbox, OPUS 54 Cornwall St, Place, Newhall Hill, 01926 852980 Rd, Droitwich. WR9 8AD B1 1RX 0121 631 1587 B3 2DE 0121 200 2323 B1 3JH 0121 212 9837 5QR 01564 793783 Worcestershire 01905 794799 DEL VILLAGGIO THE ORIENTAL The WAGAMAMA Brindley FIVE RIVERS 20-22 Victoria Unit 528, Middle Mall, Terrace, ANAKARI 47 The Tythings, PORTWAY ITALIAN, Leamington Spa, CV31 Worcester. WR1 1JT Alcester Rd, Redditch. 3AB 01926 431999 01905 21412 B48 7HT 01564 824794 GEORGETOWN 23 Sheep ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St, PUCCINI'S, 12 Friar St, St, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Worcester WR1 3QT Worcester WR12LZ CV37 6EF 01789 204445 01905 731131 01905 27770 HELP OUT MILL Heather ANUPAM 85 Church RAJDOOT Cutnall Green, Rd, Shakerstone, Street, Malvern. WR14 Droitwich. WR9 0PW One of 50 Top Restaurants Nuneaton. CV13 0BT 2AE 01684 573814 01299 851000 for service in the UK 01530 260666 BACCHUS 44 Worcester ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Rd, as voted by Toptable DIners HORTONS 165 High Street, Road, Bromsgrove B61 Aston Fields, Solihull B91 3ST 0121 709 0TA 01527 877557 Bromsgrove. B60 2DZ 3177 BENEDICTOS 34 Sidbury, 01527 889948 JIMMY SPICES 64-66 Worcester WR1 2HZ SAFFRON BISTRO 15 New Station Rd, Solihull, B91 01905 21444 St, Worcester WR1 2DP 3RX 0121 709 2111 BRAMBLINGS Hither Green 01905 610505 LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans Lane, Redditch, B98 9BE THAI LOTUS 147 Nest, Bridgford, Stratford 01527 406600 Worcester Rd, upon Avon. CV37 7LT BROWNS 24 Quay St, Bromsgrove. B61 7HN 01789 264804 Worcester WR1 2JJ 01527 882606 MATRICARDIS 97 High St, 01905 26263 Henley in Arden. B95 5AT 01564 792735 MERCHANTS Swan Street, For full Restaurant listings A La Carte Lunchtime Menu Early Dining Menu Warwick CV34 4BJ 01926 403833 visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk now is a good time to book your christmas party FESTIVE LUNCH FROM £15.95 • FESTIVE DINNER FROM £19.95 thE dINNEr cLub (ESt 86) a rEcIpE for fINE food aNd Good compaNy

SINGLE? For the more discerning unattached person, age 30-45 or 45+ Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie balls, theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad.

Not a datING aGENcy

01244 677030(day)/01244 548816(Eve/W-end) www.thedinnerclubuk.com

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