Coventry & Warwickshire Cover

Coventry & Warwickshire Cover MAY 2017 .qxp_Coventry & Warwickshire Cover 24/04/2017 17:24 Page 1

KT TUNSTALL PLAYS Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands WARWICK ARTS CENTRE

COVENTRY&WARWICKSHIRE MAY WHAT’S 2017 ON Coventry & Warwickshire ISSUE 377 MAY 2017 ’

WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onwarwickshirewhatson.co.uk

inside:

Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

RufusMY COUNTRY...Norris takes on Brexit in new touring play PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP

ScottishTWIN quartetATLANTIC bring new album to the Copper Rooms TWITTER:@WHATSONWARWICKS WARWICKSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK

cateringTHE BABY for all your SHOW needs, big and small, at the NEC (IFC) Warks.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 12:32 Page 1 Contents May Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:38 Page 2

May 2017

Contents

All Or Nothing - the story of the Small Faces at the Coventry Belgrade feature on page 29

KT Tunstall Micky Flanagan 2Faced Dance the list

Scottish singer-songwriter plays Comedian brings his new tour to Exploration of the darker side of Your 16-page Warwick Arts Centre the Midlands humanity at Malvern Theatres week-by-week listings guide page 17 page 22 page 35 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 22. Comedy 24 Theatre 36. Film 38. Visual Arts 45. Events

fb.com/whatsonwarwickshire fb.com/whatsonworcestershire @whatsonwarwicks @whatsonworcs Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire What’s On Magazine Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire What’s On Magazine

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Yvonne Kentfield [email protected] 01743 281706 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word May Warwickshire NEW.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:49 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

RSC’s hit show Matilda The Musical set to tour The Royal Shakespeare Company’s award-winning production of Matilda The Musical is heading out on its first ever UK and Ireland tour next year. Adapted from one of Roald Dahl’s best-loved books, the stage musical - complete with music and lyrics by comedian Tim Minchin - has been delighting West End audiences for six years. A staggering 6.5 million people worldwide have so far seen productions of the critically acclaimed show, which has visited more than 50 cities and bagged an impressive 85 international awards. Beginning its tour at Leicester’s Curve Theatre, the production will stop off at Birmingham Hippodrome from 3 July to 8 September 2018. For more information, visit birminghamhippodrome.com

the Company’s ‘creative engine room’, The TV’s Wheeler Dealers Coventry theatre company Other Place, and features a double-bill of launches two-year project new plays alongside a range of events and head for Silverstone works-in-progress. The festival runs from 24 Television’s Wheeler Dealers are putting in May to 17 June. an appearance at this year’s MGLive! show, A second Mischief Festival will be held in the which takes place at the Silverstone circuit autumn. To find out more, visit rsc.org.uk on 17 and 18 June. Series stalwart Mike Brewer, making his third appearance at the event, will be joined by Spandau star in world Wheeler Dealers’ latest recruit, Ant Anstead. record-busting attempt MGLive! brings together more than 3,000 MG cars and features ‘spectacular’ motor racing Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena will this on the GP circuit. Christmas host a festive family show that’s Commenting on the show, Mike said: “As ever bidding to enter the record books. with a live event, the best bit is the people - Award-winning Coventry company Theatre The company behind Peter Pan - Christmas like-minded enthusiasts who share the same Absolute has launched a two-year project In Neverland is hoping the production will be passion for cars. I had a fantastic time in 2016 which will see nine new stageworks being confirmed by Guinness World Records as the and can’t wait for more of the same this commissioned. world’s biggest Christmas show. year.” The new pieces, exploring ‘where we are Starring Bradley Walsh and Spandau Ballet’s For more information and to book tickets, now, telling stories of the personal and the Martin Kemp, the production features numer- visit mglive.com political’, will be presented at the city’s Shop ous ‘stunning’ special effects, including a Front Theatre. lifesize Jolly Roger galleon which will ‘sail’ The project begins this month with May around the arena in front of a 10,000-gallon Utang (Thursday 11 May), written and per- water wall. formed by Filipina-Australian Jules Orcullo. The show also includes a team of BMX stunt The work recounts her experiences during riders, six ‘thrilling’ aerial mermaids, a ‘crazy her time spent living in Coventry, Sydney and collection’ of trapeze and trampoline stunt- the Philippines. men and ‘the biggest, scariest animatronic crocodile you’ve ever seen’. Peter Pan - Christmas In Neverland runs at More mischief-making at the Barclaycard Arena from 20 to 24 Decem- the RSC’s spring festival ber. Tickets are now available from ticketfac- tory.com or by calling 0844 33 88 222. The Royal Shakespeare Company is once again holding its Mischief Festival this month. The popular event is being hosted at 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word May Warwickshire NEW.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:49 Page 2

First Word

Bram Stoker play at Stratford venue A new play exploring the story of Dracula author Bram Stoker is being presented at The Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon this month (15, 16, 17 and 20 May). Written by drama specialist Jefny Ashcroft, Bram And The Guv’nor has been inspired by the Royal Shake- speare Company’s archive of Bram Stoker-related material. The hour-long performances are free, with audience members also able to view some of the archive ma- terials that have inspired the play’s storyline. Tickets are available to re- serve on a first come, first served basis at shakespeare.org.uk. The show is not suitable for under-16s.

All-male Finnish circus troupe promising a Super Sunday An all-male Finnish circus troupe with a reputation for madcap brilliance are this month visiting the Midlands with their latest show. The highly acclaimed Race Horse Company will stop off at Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry with Super Sunday, a show which they describe as ‘big on flying, big on thrills and big on mind-blowing Two BBC shows skills’. The production shows at the venue on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 May. For more infor- for the price of one mation, visit warwickartscentre.co.uk Two of the BBC’s most popular live events are once again taking place at East Asian film Warwick Racecourse’s May Racing Birmingham’s NEC next month - with visitors able to access both fest in Coventry Carnival returns for a second year shows for the price of only one. The fifth edition of the Mid- Warwick’s May Racing Carnival is making a welcome return. The summer edition of the BBC Good Food Show and the annual Garden- lands’ only major East Asian The event links together three meetings, beginning with the Kids' ers’ World Live event provide visitors film festival takes place in Carnival Day on Monday 1 May, an event that features a wide range with the chance to enjoy a weekend Coventry this month. of free entertainment and activities for children of all ages. packed with garden inspiration and East Winds brings together The carnival also includes the Think Pink Warwick Ladies Day (Sat- artisan food and drink. the cream of East Asian pop- urday 13 May) and the Proudly Warwick Celebration Day on Thurs- Both taking place from 15 to 18 June, ular cinema with a host of day 25 May. the shows include appearances by some of television’s best-known gar- international, European and Commenting on the event, Andre Klein, General Manager at War- deners and food experts, including UK premieres. wick Racecourse, said: “The racecourse attracted a record number Joe Wicks (aka The Body Coach), Commenting on the event, of racegoers in 2016 and without doubt the launch of the Warwick Monty Don, Mary Berry, Alan Titch- Co-Director Andreea Das- May Racing Carnival was a contributing factor to this success. marsh and James Martin. calu said: “We’re thrilled to We’ve made sure that these events appeal to a wide range of peo- And if you purchase a ticket for one once again put a spotlight ple, giving everyone an opportunity to sample the brilliant race- of the shows, access to the other is day experience we offer at the racecourse.” absolutely free. on popular East Asian cin- For more information, visit the ema in the UK. To mark our Book tickets at warwickracecourse.co.uk or call 01926 405 560. events’ websites, bbcgoodfood- fifth anniversary, we’re also show.com and bbcgardener- delighted to introduce an in- sworldlive.com teractive element to the festival, making it more accessible to everyone, whether they’re at home or on the go.” East Winds Film Festival takes place at Coventry Uni- versity from 15 to 19 May. For more information, visit eastwindsfilmfest.com whatsonlive.co.uk 5 By the water warwicks_worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:50 Page 1 By the water warwicks_worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:50 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid By the water

What better way to spend the lazy days of a hopefully glorious English summer than by settling back near the water’s edge with an ice-cold beer, soaking up the sunshine and chilling out in tranquil surroundings? Check out our selection of great Warwickshire & Worcestershire venues in which to do those very things...

RSC Rooftop Restaurant Browns At The Quay The Saxon Mill Watch the boats and birds drift along the Browns At The Quay is situated right in the Offering unrivalled views over the River River Avon from up high in the RSC's own heart of Worcester, on the banks of the River Avon and the ruins of the 18th century onsite eatery, or observe the bustling Severn. Located in a converted riverside Guy's Cliffe House, this spacious pub is theatre foyer below. warehouse, the restaurant offers a steeped in history, with the watermill Decorated with a number of past- global menu, complete with fresh fish from which it gets its name still operating production posters, this stylish, modern specials. “Our chefs are very talented,” says onsite. The traditional stone building has restaurant offers lunch and dinner menus venue proprietor Jessica Pinches. “No gadgets; been stylishly refurbished, with cosy packed with creative, contemporary just honest, clean cooking.” corners, an open fire and outdoor seating British dishes. The popular eatery is keen to appeal to a wide right beside the water, and there are Why not pair your meal with a signature range of customers, from patrons who’re beautiful walks through the fields at the cocktail, or attend one of the daily looking for high-quality fine dining to those in back. Enjoy seasonal dishes and sharing cocktail classes to learn how to make your search of afternoon tea or a relaxing drink. platters with a great range of wines, ales own? And if you enjoy the experience so much you’d and lagers. like to stay over, why not check in to one of Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Coventry Road, Guys Cliffe, Warwick, Brown’s luxury boutique hotel rooms? Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6YF CV34 5YN 24 South Quay, Worcester, WR1 2JN

The Greyhound Inn or a show-stopping three-course meal, The Food Pub of the Year Award for their work on Voted Best Pub in Coventry a total of four Red Lion offers fresh, modern British food at The Stag at Offchurch. Located between times, as well as being named Pub of the Year value-for-money prices. Warwick and Leamington, it features outside by the local CAMRA branch, this traditional Main Street, Hunningham, Leamington tables and a modern British menu of hearty canalside venue dates back to the early Spa CV33 9DY pub grub cooked to perfection. 1800s. It features a beautiful kitchen garden Myton Rd, Warwick, Leamington Spa, for the summer months and a quirky, The Old Rectifying House CV31 3NY higgledy-piggledy interior with an open fire One of Worcester’s most popular in winter. All food is freshly prepared daily, destinations, the 'Old Rec' (as it’s known The Frog with changing seasonal menus and a locally) offers riverside dining, views of the Under new management since 2014, this selection of specials updated weekly. bridge, a menu boasting locally sourced family-run pub has been given a new lease of Visit the pub’s Facebook page for the week's produce, and plenty of outside seating in its life since its last refurbishment, benefitting offerings. private courtyard. from a light, fresh atmosphere to Sutton Stop, Coventry, CV6 6DF North Parade, Worcester, WR1 3NN complement its beautiful views of the River Avon. Enjoy coffee and cakes, light bites, The Red Lion The Moorings, Leamington classic pub grub or exquisite evening meals, while taking advantage of the free wifi, Recently revamped with improved design, The Moorings was reopened in 2010 this cosy pub occupies a picture-perfect newspapers, free boat moorings and following a stylish and imaginative occasional live-music experiences. setting, with gorgeous open views of the makeover. The canalside pub-restaurant has 65 High St, Bidford-on-Avon, Alcester, Warwickshire countryside from its al fresco been revitalised by the two young B50 4BG dining area and garden beside the River entrepreneurs who won the best national Leam. Whether you're looking for a light bite whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Rufus Norris DPS.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:49 Page 1

FEATURE My Country...

Rufus Norris takes on Brexit in a new touring play

How does a self-professed ‘national’ arts strong protest vote that was the result.” institution begin to represent a nation Crucially, though, the finished show would bitterly divided? It's a question that's been not simply be a way of “explaining” the rest plaguing National Theatre Artistic Director of the country to regular visitors to the Rufus Norris, who, together with Poet theatre's London Southbank home, but Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, has attempted to would also tour around the UK, holding up a condense a plethora of views and voices on mirror to fragmented communities and the UK's most contentious subject into a polarised opinions wherever it went. It's as single 90-minute play. part of this tour that the production this Almost a year on from the shock results of month comes to Coventry’s Warwick Arts Britain's EU referendum, it feels as though Centre and the Birmingham Repertory everyone - from scientists to celebrities, Theatre. politicians to pollsters and traditional The project began with a group of journalists to Twitterati - is still scrabbling interviewers from a range of theatre and to respond. Unlike most, however, Norris community-based backgrounds heading out has resisted the temptation to air his to harvest opinions on their home turf. A own views on the matter - at least on total of 80 interviews were then hurriedly stage. Rather than analysing or transcribed and cut down into manageable proselytising, his My Country: A chunks ready to be given to the cast. Work In Progress is instead an extended listening project, “We did give the interviewers a list of composed primarily of a series questions to ask, but it was up to the person of interviews conducted with to respond in the way they felt most ordinary people from across pertinent,” Norris explains. “So in Leicester, the UK. immigration was a big theme, whereas in the North East, the fishing industry and “After the referendum, I farming subsidies became prevalent topics. felt very strongly that we In Northern Ireland, we thought Derry needed to have a would be an interesting place to talk about response,” says Norris, borders and nationalism.” “but also that the response should be led Contributors were then selected, with a view by listening to people to what Carol Ann Duffy has described as rather than us saying, “human music”. 'This is what we think’. Already, there was too much “What she meant by that was people talking of a London voice in the with passion from a position of experience. whole build-up to the So the woman in Leicester who talks in what referendum, and the rejection might be described as racist terms is talking of that was reflected in the very from the position of someone who has seen

8 whatsonlive.co.uk Rufus Norris DPS.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:49 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

her community change beyond recognition the material collected, Norris hit on the idea north and south to balance it out. In the in a very short space of time, while the man of a personified Britannia, calling a end, we settled on the North East and South talking about the fishing industry in the conference of her regions in an attempt to West, but if there's a follow-up, it will North East remembers Amble Harbour being solve the complex problems facing them. obviously go to the areas we didn't visit this five boats deep, where now there are hardly Each featured region acts as a mouthpiece time.” any boats at all. for its people, literally voicing their In a sense, the impossibility of reflecting the concerns. Added to the interviews are “When somebody's talking about what entire country in a single show is like a elements of in-character ‘banter’ between they've read on their Facebook news or in microcosm of Norris' job at large - though so the different regions, as well as more poetic their little echo chamber - whether it's the far he's shown no sign of shrinking from the sections penned by Duffy. Guardian or the Daily Mail - it's not that challenge. interesting to listen to. This is human music As Poet Laureate, Duffy was an obvious “We're massively stepping up our because it's based in rich experience.” choice as Norris’s collaborator, finding nationwide work, which is really important herself in a similar position to him as a It's not the first time Norris has used because there are a lot of people who feel, in national representative of her art. But there verbatim interviews in a production - his quite a justified way, that London receives were other considerations, too. critically acclaimed musical, London Road, too much of the national budget in terms of famously employed a similar device back in “She lives in Manchester, so she's not a arts provision. It's really important that 2011. Nevertheless, from a director's London voice, and I knew it needed to be a institutions like this get out and about a lot perspective, creating My Country has been writer who was going to respond to and be more, whether through co-productions or an altogether different experience. very interested in what people had to say. cinema broadcasts. Also, it's a very pressured time when you're “Making London Road was a longer process. “We've also got various productions coming putting a show like this together in a short From the first time (writer) Alecky Blythe up that I feel speak in different ways to the period of time, so it needed somebody with a went into Ipswich to the night we opened issues of the time, and I think we will cool head. We'd worked together before, so I the show was probably about four years. continue to try to participate in the national knew we'd get on very well.” Also, to a degree, that had a story. This isn't debate as much as possible. We’ve got a story; it's a political moment. There can be Not every part of the country gets a look in. another long-term verbatim piece that we're no answers. We can't put something on London may have been a conscious developing, but let's see how it pans out. I'm stage that says, 'And they all lived happily exclusion, but on top of this, time and keeping a close eye on that Scottish ever after,' or 'It's a tragedy,' because we resources made limitations necessary, situation!” don't know. Article 50's only just been meaning that neither the North West (home delivered, so it will be another 10 years to Duffy) nor the West Midlands (Norris before we really have a sense of what this originally hails from Worcestershire and has moment means and whether any of the worked extensively in Birmingham) are My Country; A Work in Progress shows at frustrations people expressed will be featured. Birmingham REP from Tuesday 16 to addressed.” Saturday 20 May and then Warwick Arts “We started with people in England, Centre, Coventry from Thursday 25 to This partly explains the subtitle - it's not just Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Saturday 27 May the country, but also the play itself that after that we looked at how we could could be said to be ‘A Work In Progress’. diversify it. The East Midlands was our first Searching for a structure on which to hang location in England, so we felt we had to go

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Food

Renowned Argentinian steakhouse set to open new Midlands branch Renowned Argentinian steakhouse Gaucho is this month opening a branch in Birmingham. Located in the city’s Colmore District, the 120-cover restaurant - opening its doors on Monday 8 May - will bring all aspects of its brand to the second city, including its famous Electro Brunch menu, wine tasting and beef masterclasses. The décor will be ‘sophisticated and contemporary yet warm and welcoming’, taking its inspiration from rural Argentina and its giant Ombu trees. For more information, visit gauchorestaurants.com

erous portions and quality of honey, sliced banana and salted fresh produce - my starter of the caramel - was decadence on a Mac ’n’ Cheese pot took classic plate and worth the visit to War- comfort food to dizzying new wick alone. heights. Bringing together ched- Special mention too must go to dar, gruyere, emmental, moz- the Dough & Brew’s bespoke zarella, parmesan, cream cheese take on a traditional Tiramisu - a and truffle oil, this superbly rich no-holds-barred marriage of yet infinitely moreish dish set the madeira cake soaked in cognac standard for what was to come. and crème combined with a Oven-cooked to absolute perfec- choice of coffee, blackberry, tion, my partner’s choice of flat- apple or cherry. bread with garlic butter oozed Whether it’s a lazy weekend freshness. lunch with friends and family, a With such a tempting variety of midweek cocktail accompanied REVIEW: Dough & Brew pizza toppings to choose from, by live music or a visit to film the option to ‘mix and match’ club washed down by a few A pizzeria that takes some topping was a welcome one. After much beers, Dough & Brew’s casual soul-searching, I decided to com- ambience, versatile menu and Ideally located just a short walk and drink offer. mit to a one half ‘Brad’ (sour- incredible commitment to qual- from Warwick Castle and the his- Channelling the spirit of a con- dough pizza smothered in a rich ity make this ultra-stylish inde- toric market place, Dough & temporary street food shack, cor- and spicy pepperoni sausage) pendent a long-overdue and Brew is marked out from the av- rugated metal fixtures, exposed and one half ‘Angelina’ (a ‘sweet much-desired addition to the erage high street pizzeria by its beams and low-hung ambient and spicy hot roquito chilli with sleepy Warwick high street. sultry sliced black olives’) - ironi- incredible variety of quirkily off- lighting shot through with bold For affordable dining, full-bod- cally, a marriage made in beat dishes. teal accessories succeed in creat- ied flavour, quality ingredients heaven! A brief scan of the menu reveals ing a highly social yet inherently and highly personalised service - both a generous helping of sig- relaxed atmosphere. With a Meanwhile, on the other side of Dough & Brough really does take nature Italian-American classics soundtrack of upbeat jazz/funk the table, my partner’s choice of some topping! and a more adventurous choice drifting from behind the venue’s ‘Clark’ (a super meaty pizza of Katherine Ewing of hand-made options, including well-stocked bars, plus individ- English ham, maple roasted 13 thrilling variations on the ual dining tables, shared eating bacon & pepperoni) coupled Food: nnnnn venue’s much-loved ‘wood-fire spaces and an al-fresco option with ‘Louis’ (Mediterranean veg- Service: nnnnn sourdough pizza’ - a staple of the for those lazy summer after- etables roasted in aged balsamic Ambience: nnnnn Warwickshire ‘street food’ scene, noons all built into John Martin’s vinegar & truffle oil) was nothing Overall value nnnnn here lovingly reincarnated to suit carefully considered design, it’s short of superb. OVERALL nnnnn every possible palate. hard to think of a more perfect If the American-size portions Add to this an extensive cocktail spot to soak up the sunshine in haven’t left you in need of a Dough & Brew menu, plus a choice of over 40 the company of family and power snooze by this point, then 45 Brook Street, hand-sourced craft beers, ciders friends. I thoroughly recommend sticking Warwick CV34 4BL and spirits, and you have all the Opting for the fixed-price menu around for dessert. My choice of Tel: 01926 401111 makings of a truly unique addi- of three courses for £15 - excep- banoffee waffles - an unctuously tion to Warwick’s thriving food tional value given the over-gen- rich combination of mascarpone,

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12 whatsonlive.co.uk Food May Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:51 Page 4

Food

RSC offers new line in Rome-season cocktails The Royal Shakespeare Company has launched a new range of cocktails inspired by its current season of Rome-related plays. During the course of the year, Stratford is playing host to productions of Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra, Titus An- dronicus and Coriolanus - and theatre- goers can now get themselves in the mood to enjoy each show by sampling the associated cocktail. There’s the Et, Tu Brute?, a ‘punchy, ro- bust’ offering that reflects ‘the bloodthirsty betrayal of Rome’s most famous general’, the Queen Of The Nile, based on Antony & Cleopatra, the Bloody Titus - a ‘bold and bloodthirsty fusion’ inspired by Titus Andronicus - and the Coriolanus-connected Cocktail Of War, Warwickshire restaurant hoping to fill a gap in the market providing ‘a real kick that’s guaranteed The owner of the new 75-seat Bower House restaurant in the market town of Shipston-on-Stour, to get anyone into action’. just 10 miles away from Stratford-upon-Avon, is hoping that the venue will help fill the gap for a For more information, visit rsc.org.uk democratic independent restaurant. “The Cotswolds, and the British countryside in general, have a wonderful surfeit of great gastro pubs and grand country house hotels,” says Andrew Knight, “but very few good, democratic, proper restaurants. It’s a nonsense that it’s only London and the cities who want them - we all want a beautiful, welcoming room to sit in, and to be served good food with warmth and under- stated attention.” The Bower House’s head chef, the Michelin-starred Darren Brown, describes his menu as “modern British with a French twist, with an emphasis on producing good food consistently, using seasonal produce that’s available locally.” Table reservations can be made via the restaurant’s website - thebowerhouseshipston.com - or by calling 01608 663 333.

Michelin-starred chef to open premises in Birmingham A twice Michelin-starred chef will open his own restaurant in Birmingham premier lifestyle and shopping destination The Mailbox later this year. Atul Kochhar is renowned for his ability to combine his Indian heritage with his love of British ingredients. His new restaurant Whisky festival to make will span over 5,000sq ft and showcase high-quality but affordable spiced dishes that draw inspiration from countries across autumn return to city the world. The second Midlands Whisky Festival Speaking about his new restaurant, the talented chef said: “I’m of 2017 will be held in the autumn. very excited to be opening my new concept in Birmingham, a The popular event, which took place in city which I’ve long admired for its diversity and food culture. its Stourbridge birthplace for an 11th There’s a complex plethora of Indian cuisine that has developed year back in March, makes a welcome outside of India, and each of my dishes tells a beautiful story - return on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 stories that I’m keen to share with Birmingham. The Mailbox is a September, this time in Birmingham. modern, sophisticated development in the heart of the city, and The event will be held at thestudio- one that boasts premium-quality space, occupiers and customer birmingham on Cannon Street. base. It’s the perfect location for my new restaurant, and we For more information or to purchase a can’t wait to open later this year.”For more information about ticket, visit whiskyfest.co.uk the new eatery, NRI By Atul Kochhar, visit nrirestaurant.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Glynn Purnell DPS.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 09:58 Page 1

FEATURE Glynn Purnell DPS.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 09:58 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

Glynn Purnell The Yummy Brummie on living his childhood dream

Ten thousand pounds prize money, 30 block of butter, there's an extent to which “I think Birmingham's always had a diverse episodes, 16 competing couples, two judges it’s always a safe bet. No matter how much food culture, with things like the Balti and just one Yummy Brummie – it's a recipe of it might fill their screens, people seem to Triangle, but it was never really one that that 7wonder is hoping will impress when it love looking at amazing food. people would travel to experience. Twenty serves up a second helping of My Kitchen years ago, for us to be twinned with Lyon, “Food is just everything, isn't it? Whether Rules UK on Channel 4. which is the home of gastronomy in France, you're eating a sandwich or dining out in a it was quite striking. When I opened Jessica's Last year’s debut season saw the Aussie Michelin-star restaurant, it's something in 2003, almost all the restaurants were import led by chefs Prue Leith and Michael that's always on the agenda. It's connected chains. I like to think I've contributed quite Caines, but with the brand new Bake-Off to every occasion - weddings, birthdays, heavily to the fact that it's become a food piling plenty on Prue's plate, the company even funerals. It's subjective as well, so what destination.” seized the chance to shake things up by you like and what other people like are handing over to Dublin's Rachel Allen and completely different, and I think that makes Amazingly, it's been almost 10 years since Birmingham's own inimitable Glynn Purnell. for good television. And whenever you see Purnell left behind what he’d built up at As filming for the series prepares to start people making food, it makes you hungry - Jessica's to set up on his own. Now, with his here in the city, we spoke to the local legend especially nowadays with the big screens in name above the door of two highly about life in the limelight and claiming HD, where you can see every drop of juice.” successful restaurants and emblazoned on Birmingham's place on the culinary map. the uniforms of ranks of staff, he's living his With two restaurants to run as well as three childhood dream. There's not much left to “I've met Rachel a few times at the Good young kids at home, adding TV to the mix check off the list - though he jokes he might Food Show,” says Glynn, “and she's been to isn't always easy, but the chef is careful not consider running for West Midlands Mayor - my Bistro for a few cocktails before - to bite off more than he can chew. but with two major anniversaries this year - probably a few too many, as you do - but “It's all about having a balance of doing for the Bistro on 7 September and Purnell's we've never worked together before. We just enough to keep people interested, and on 7 July - there are certainly some had a training session yesterday and making time to stay focused on the celebrations to look forward to. apparently we work really well on screen restaurant. I’ve been able to set up shoots on together. She's lovely - obviously the better “This year the Bistro is five years old, and I my days off, and a lot of the show is filmed looking of the duo!” think the average independent restaurant in Birmingham, which is fantastic, because lasts for three to four years, so to have kept it For the benefit of those who've yet to sample it's obviously the centre of the universe. But going this long is very positive. We'll its delights, My Kitchen Rules is a kind of I probably turn down more TV than I do. It probably have a bit of a party there with marriage of MasterChef and Come Dine With seems like I do a lot, but I think that's just some regulars, and maybe a special menu Me. Taking part in pairs, contestants are because I'm loud and people remember me running for the week. For Purnell's, I've got given fixed budgets and time constraints more - and maybe partly because I drone on something really fun planned, but all I can within which to plan their meals and prep in a Brummie accent!” say at the moment is that whether you're their homes for visitors. Recurring and guest It’s largely thanks to Purnell’s influence that Mrs Jones living in a one-bedroom judges are then served home-cooked meals the Birmingham food scene has undergone maisonette or whether you're a lord or lady, as if eating in a restaurant. In addition to the such a radical shift in recent years. With six you'll have just as much chance of coming to quality of the food, couples are also judged Michelin-star restaurants - more than any eat here on the anniversary night!” on presentation, service and décor - which other UK city outside London - as well as Purnell says should be even more thriving indie coffee shops and street food, “glamorous” and “spectacular” this year. My Kitchen Rules UK airs on Channel 4 it’s certainly a far cry from the ‘culinary later this year and is still looking for con- While developing a cooking show might desert’ that national papers were describing testants. To apply, visit 7wonder.co.uk seem like entering a market as saturated as a when he started out. Gigs - Warwicks_Worcs MAY.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:55 Page 1 Gigs - Warwicks_Worcs MAY.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:55 Page 2

Gigs

Lisbee Stainton Marr’s Bar, Worcester, Tues 30 May Twenty-eight-year-old Lisbee Stainton was the first unsigned singer-songwriter to play London’s O2 Arena, performing two shows to 30,000 people. Since graduating from the University of London’s Goldsmiths College with a degree in popular music, she’s released five albums, the most recent of which - Then Up - was entirely self-produced.

KT Tunstall gongs as well as earning Grammy and Mer- cury Prize nominations. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 27 May Best known for singles Black Horse And The Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See, Tunstall caused a significant stir with her 2004 debut brings her unmistakable folk rock sound to album, Eye To The Telescope, soon after- the Midlands following the release of her wards winning both BRIT and Ivor Novello fifth album, KIN. Iron Maiden Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sun 21 May Pioneers of the new wave of British heavy The Specials Twin Atlantic metal, Iron Maiden achieved initial success NEC, Birmingham, Fri 26 May The Copper Rooms, Coventry, Sat 20 May during the early 1980s. Fusing ska music with a punk rock attitude, Influenced by fellow Scottish rockers Biffy Thirty-eight albums later - comprising 16 these pioneers of the two-tone movement Clyro, the quartet of Sam, Barry, Ross and studio albums, 11 live albums, four EPs and are best known for classic hits such as Too Craig made the decision to pursue music, seven compilations - the band are still con- Much Too Young, Ghost Town and Message practised like crazy - and soon found them- tinuing to impress their loyal fan base and To You Rudy. selves fired from their jobs. selling out arena tours. They’re joined for this outdoor concert by Seven years later their sound really took off, “The whole band is really enjoying this legendary reggae originators Toots And The with their single, Free, being used as the of- tour,” says founder and bass player Steve Maytals, whose 1968 song, Monkey Man, ficial soundtrack to Felix Baumgartner’s Harris, “and although we love playing festi- The Specials covered on their 1979 debut record-breaking jump from space. vals and stadiums, it’s terrific to return to album. Bedouin Soundclash also perform. The band heads out on tour in support of the intimacy and atmosphere of arenas. The their well-received 2016 album, GLA. songs from The Book Of Souls album and the new Maya-themed Eddies and stage sets Alabama 3 have gone down really well, and fan reac- The Assembly, Leamington Spa, Fri 12 May tion has been amazing. And we know our Blending country, blues, rock and acid fans appreciate us playing a lot of the older house, Alabama 3 were founded in London songs too, which we will continue to do.” in 1995. Every member of the group has an alias, the band's founding members adopting the per- sonas Larry Love (Rob Spragg) and The Very Reverend Dr D Wayne Love (Jake Black). The group achieved success when the producers of hit TV series The Sopranos chose the track Woke Up This Morning for the show's opening credits.

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Classical

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 24 May Pianist and former BBC Young Musician of the Year Freddy Kempf (pictured) lends his talents to the Moscow Philharmonic for this colourful concert of glorious Russ- ian music. The evening’s programme features Shostakovich’s Festive Overture - a work that’s been described as ‘the musical equivalent of a double-shot of vodka, downed in one’. The concert also includes Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition and Rachmaninoff’s sweeping Third Piano Concerto, which is where the Croy- don-born Kampf comes in. Academia Musica Choir Great Malvern Priory, Sat 13 May “More and more people are realising the power that music has to bring people and communities together,” says Julian Lloyd Webber in talking about Academia Musica Choir, “so it’s wonderful that Hereford has such a facility on its doorstep.” Originally created as an ambitious scholarship training programme for maintained-sector sixth-form students, the choir is nowadays thriving as a semi-professional ensemble, presenting a unique choral programme in cathedrals and concert halls throughout the UK. Its Malvern Priory concert features celebrated choral music from numerous widely admired composers, including Stanford, Howells and Parry. Blake Dante String Quartet Guangzhou Symphony Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 20 May Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Orchestra: The Firebird Comprising Ollie Baines, Humphrey Tues 2 May Berney and Stephen Bowman, Blake are Symphony Hall, Birmingham, credited for bringing classical music to the Held in high regard for their imaginative pro- Tues 16 May gramming, Dante are the resident quartet at masses - an achievement that was em- King’s College, Cambridge. They’re also the team phatically acknowledged when their behind the esteemed Dante Summer Festival, debut offering won Album of the Year at which takes place in the Tamar Valley every July. the Classical Brit Awards in 2008. Comprising Yuko Inoue (viola), Richard Jenkin- The crossover trio stop off in the Midlands son (cello), Krysia Osostowicz and Oscar Perks this month to showcase their harmonic (both violins), the quartet this month return to virtuosity in a repertoire comprising songs the Midlands to present a programme featuring from stage and screen. The show includes Beethoven, Schubert and Franck. renditions of, among other well-known numbers, You'll Never Walk Alone, Mem- ory, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Music Of The Night and Maria.

Music director Long Yu here conducts the Guangzhou, one of China’s most widely acclaimed orchestras. Stravin- sky’s Firebird, complete with its demons, princesses and magical beasts, provides the finale to an innovative programme that also features film composer Zhao Lin’s atmospheric Duo.

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Enter Shikari Lauren Foster talks to lead vocalist Rou Reynolds ahead of the band’s anniversary gig at Slam Dunk Festival

Your performing at Slamdunk as part of you’d be headlining the UK’s biggest I think it’s mainly just become more your tenth anniversary tour. What can punk rock festival? diverse. It started off as much more of a audiences expect? narrow, ‘underground scene’-orientated Absolutely not. Back then, it was just on following. But it’s since blossomed to For the first time in our lives and for a band our bucket list to play shows outside, to include people from all walks of life, all that relentlessly looks forward, we’ll be simply be on at a festival. After playing ages and backgrounds. I think this pausing for breath, celebrating our history every small, sweaty and dark venue on the basically follows or shadows the and looking at how we got to where we are UK circuit, playing outside felt like such a progression of our music as it’s become today. We’re allowing ourselves a few luxury. I remember that being our only more diverse, with wider influences. months of nostalgia as we revisit our first ambition - a somewhat quaint one, in release, Take To The Skies. We’ll be playing retrospect. Now, though, it feels right. Last year, Enter Shikari embarked on every track from the album, which means a We’re more than ready. We’re insatiable. their biggest headline tour to date, few songs will be getting their first ever playing numerous arena-style venues. airing live! In more recent years, you’ve worked Do you prefer performing bigger shows closely alongside Hospital Records in Take To The Skies reached number four or smaller, more intimate gigs? releasing drum & bass remixes. How did in the UK album chart, selling almost this come about? My preference is always to play outside, in 30,000 copies in its first week. Were you and often against the elements. It feels Hospital Records has been my favourite surprised that the album was so well more primitive and raw that way. But really, drum & bass label since I was about 16, received? I get asked this question all the time and buying records and getting into DJing for I’m honestly not fussy. I enjoy playing We’d been feeling a slow and steady surge the first time. We’d worked with a few anywhere; the environment isn’t important of support for a while, as more and more artists on their label who’d done remixes of as long as it provides a backdrop for human people began to take notice of us, but I our tracks here and there. And it felt like connection. Give me a mic, toss me down a can’t say we anticipated the album with The Mindsweep we had the perfect well and I’ll sing my heart out if anyone’s charting. The chart was such a foreign album - in all its diversity - to be reworked down there to join me. Give me a stage in concept to us anyway, coming from such a and remixed in its entirety. It turned out a the middle of a swamp and I’ll wrestle an DIY punk background, so it really blew us few of the producers on the label were fans alligator for their enjoyment. away. I remember it really feeling like an of ours as well, so it felt like a really natural incursion on pop music by the and worthwhile project to do. underground. It felt like a success for the whole scene. With that in mind, how do you think Enter Shikari play Slam Dunk Festival your fan base has evolved over the at the NEC, Birmingham on Saturday Similarly, could you have ever imagined, years? 27 May when you started out back in 2003, that

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Festivals

Mello Festival a chilled and welcoming atmosphere that Staffs Fest will appeal to audiences of all ages. Throckmorton Airfield, Worcestershire, This year sees the event expand across three Lower Drayton Farm, Staffordshire, Fri 26 - Sun 28 May Fri 26 - Sun 28 May stages, with an improved range of food Following a successful launch in 2016, Mello stalls including veggie options. Beginning as a small-scale blues festival in Festival returns to Throckmorton Airfield Stafford, this great-value-for-money event with an eclectic mix of indie, folk, jazz and 2017 line-up includes: Hawkwind, Lucy has expanded year on year to encompass an dance music. Spraggan, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Dreadzone, exciting array of rock, reggae, soul and Spotting a gap in the market for a large- Bez (Happy Mondays), Space, Republica, Al- blues acts. In addition to enjoying live, loud scale festival championing ‘real’ music in tered Images, Johnny Hates Jazz, The Alarm, and local music, visitors can take a stroll Worcestershire, the organisers aim to create Electric Swing Circus (pictured). through the nearby woods, enjoy a guided tour of the farm on Farmer Ray's tractor trailer, or vote for the winner of the Star Of Staffs competition, open to budding musicians aged 14 to 18. All tickets include free onsite camping, but rooms are also available in the farmhouse B&B for those who prefer their indoor comforts. 2017 line-up includes: The Bad Rats, The Shine, Bloke, Rockdogs, Barrelhouse Jukes, Black Rose Cadillac, Used Blues, Cold Flame, Slyder, Ged Wilson, Chelsea Cole- man, Voodoo Stone, Gabbidon Band, Judy Emeline, Rainbreakers and Bobby KP Woods

Bearded Theory Slam Dunk Festival Let’s Rock Catton Park, South Derbyshire, Genting Arena, Birmingham, Sat 27 May Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Sat 27 May Thurs 25 - Sun 28 May Take a trip back in time with some of the Taking place in the grounds of Catton Hall in biggest acts of the ’80s. Leading the way for the heart of the National Forest, the nine- quality, family-friendly festivals since 2009, year-old Bearded Theory has been rapidly this blast from the past is suitable for all gaining a reputation as one of the UK's best ages, whether you're looking to relive your independent festivals. Ever expanding to youth or hearing old pop classics for the first meet demand, the multi-award-winning time. event features fantastic acts spread across 2017 line-up includes: Billy Ocean, ABC, six stages, including a dance tent, a cinema, Tony Hadley (pictured), Heaven 17, Nick and a comedy and cabaret area, as well as a Heyward, Nik Kershaw, T'Pau, The Real superb Children's Village, top-notch facili- Thing, Altered Images, Brother Beyond and ties and an award-winning bar with afford- Jaki Graham ably priced drinks. 2017 line-up includes: Skunk Anansie (pic- Showcasing the best in contemporary emo, tured) & Slaves, New Model Army, Madness, punk and ska, this three-stop touring festi- Glasvegas, The Selecter, Cast, Foy Vance, val last year moved its Midlands date from The Fall, Reverend & the Makers, Kissmet Wolverhampton to the NEC, allowing for and Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman easy access from across the country. Linked to the Leeds-based club nights and indie record label of the same name, Slam Dunk takes place over the May bank holiday weekend and boasts more than 40 acts across multiple stages, as well as DJ sets, ex- clusive signings and a riotous afterparty to round things off. 2017 line-up includes: Enter Shikari, Don Broco, Bowling For Soup (pictured), Neck- deep, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Deaf Havana, Beartooth, Tonight Alive and We Are The Ocean

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Richard Herring Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 13 May Richard Herring has developed a reputation as one of the UK’s most inventive and original comedians, cleverly using his real-life trials and tribulations to inform his high-quality line in comic patter. And he’s certainly not a man to shirk big, controversial or risque subjects when it comes to his comedy shows. Previous tours have seen him ponder religion (Christ On A Bike), politics (Hitler Mous- tache) and penises (Talking Cock). This latest offering is a compilation of, as he himself puts it, "the least worst stuff" from his previous one-man shows. For newcomers to his work, it offers a great opportunity to enjoy a whistlestop tour of 20-plus years of laughter-making; for seasoned admirers, it’s a not-to-be- missed chance to get reacquainted with some 24-carat comedy gold.

Micky Flanagan: An’ Another Fing Pam Ann Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Thurs 18 - Sat 20 May, Thurs 1 - Sat 3 June Birmingham Town Hall, Wed 31 May An ever-rising star on the UK comedy circuit, Micky Flanagan has made all the usual stop- Camp, kitsch and oh so rude, air hostess offs for TV-friendly funnymen, lending his talents to telly favourites including Mock The Pam Ann has been flying her comedy flag Week and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow. - courtesy of Australian comedienne Caro- His latest tour, kickstarting this very month, is one of two major undertakings in 2017. The line Reid - since the 1990s, storming to other sees him returning to television with new series The Micky Flanagan Detours, a show global success on a level that's seen her in which he ‘declutters his mind of the big questions that keep people up at night’. tour with Cher, crew private jets for Sir Gags include: “I've worked out what an ambience is - it's a night out without poor people,” Elton John and win the approval of no and “I went to Prague last year with the wife. She said after two days, ‘Are you enjoying less a legend than Madonna. yourself?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve just paid £15 for two coffees’.” She flies in to the Midlands this month with a touring show to celebrate her 20th anniversary. Jokes include: “EasyJet are Hilarity Charity Gala like minicab drivers. ‘How much to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thurs 18 May Prague?’ ‘I’ll do it for a tenner.’” This returning Central Youth Theatre (CYT) fundraiser is once again compèred by Daniel Kitson. The show also features Romesh Ranganathan and Josh Widdicombe. Other comedians will be added to the line-up in the days leading up to the show. This is the fourth event of its kind to be organised by CYT, Wolverhampton’s leading youth theatre since 1983.

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Comedy

The Noise Next Door The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Fri 5 May Praised for presenting their audiences with ‘a superior kind of chaos’, The Noise Next Door is a quartet - previously a quintet - of improvising comedians who’ve been garnering critical praise for a good few years now. Previous on-stage endeavours have in- cluded a mini-musical embracing the un- comfortable bedfellows of pantomime, folk music and death-metal, and a surreal adventure in which the Magic Roundabout’s Zebedee leads the forces of good against Darth Vader, who’s holed up in Worcester Cathedral. Check ’em out.

Bourgeois & Maurice duo are promising a Hippodrome debut awash with ‘glorious’ costumes, impressive Birmingham Hippodrome, Sat 27 May visuals, songs including the classic Musical satirists Bourgeois & Maurice (aka Everybody’s At A Chemsex Party Except Me, cabaret performers Liv Morris and George and ‘some things’ that will hopefully light Heyworth) reckon their latest show is, in up! common with a Kanye gig, a ‘feast for the An utterly scathing and joyfully cynical take eyes’ - but with a smaller budget and bigger on ‘our post-modern, post-gender, post- egos. After smashing the Edinburgh Fringe Brexit world’, this is a show that’s witty, last summer, the London-based dynamic topical and definitely worth a look.

Jon Richardson: The Old Man Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 4 May; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 5 - Sat 6 May; The Place, Oakengates, Telford, Wed 10 May He's been referred to as an OCD-afflicted, grumpy young Omid Djalili man, a description which will certainly strike chords with anybody who's ever caught Jon Richardson's hugely enter- Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 5 May; taining act. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 13 May Having become both a husband and a father since his last Award-winning funnyman Omid Djalili is tour - his wife is fellow comedian Lucy Beaumont - probably one of the most subversive come- Richardson has plenty of fresh subject matter with which to dians on the UK comedy circuit. make merry. But although the show draws on his new cir- This latest touring show sees him adopting cumstances, it remains at heart a set about life's idiosyn- his usual - and highly successful - scatter- crasies. gun approach to the business of being Richardson’s very much an established talent nowadays funny. Gags about Donald Trump, tried-and- and offers an evening of genuinely funny comedy. Indeed, tested impressions of Godzilla and admis- seasoned professional and one-time Bullseye host Jim sions about some of his biggest ever Bowen has even threatened to “smack his arse if he gets foot-in-mouth clangers feature among the any funnier”. highlights. Jon can't say he hasn't been warned... whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre May - New Layout.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:08 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Funny Girl The show made a global star of Barbra Streisand and boasts iconic songs People and Don’t Rain On My Parade. Birmingham Hippodrome, Mon 8 - Sat 13 May; Barnes, who originally understudied Smith to great critical acclaim Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 24 - Sat 29 July when the production was playing the Menier Chocolate Factory last This massively successful touring version of the hit musical sees the year, has described the show as “a bit relentless - like rapid machine Olivier Award-winning Sheridan Smith and Natasha J Barnes sharing gun fire in the form of musical theatre”. the lead role. Smith stars at the Hippodrome this month, Barnes top- One-time Popstar To Operastar winner Darius Campbell takes the bills at the Grand in July. main supporting role of Fanny’s con-artist second husband, Nick Arn- Telling the story of Broadway star and comedian Fanny Brice, Funny stein, when the show visits the Grand in the summer. The part is Girl was written over 50 years ago and debuted on Broadway in 1963. played by Chris Peluso at the Birmingham Hippodrome this month.

Daniel Bye: Going Viral “I juggle with comedy and tragedy, rough- following the death of their daughter, secu- ness and polish, truth and lies,” explains rity guard Morris and his long-suffering wife, mac, Birmingham, Sat 20 May Daniel. “I wrestle down big ideas about the Jean, win £2million on the lottery. But in- world until they're small enough for us all to stead of transforming their lives for the bet- swallow. ter, the money drives yet another wedge “I want you to laugh, cry, gasp and change between the bickering couple... the world - because we’re all part of history, and that means we can all change it.” A Womb Of One’s Own The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Lucky Sods Wed 10 May Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, This thought-provoking reflection on the sub- Tues 9 - Sat 13 May ject of unwanted pregnancy sees all four of John Godber’s talent for taking big themes its performers playing the lead role. and presenting them in an accessible, down- Eighteen-year-old student Babygirl is deter- Daniel Bye blends storytelling, comedy and to-earth manner has seen him become one of mined to cast off the strait-jacketing effect of performance lecture to examine the ways in the UK’s most successful playwrights over a strict Catholic upbringing. But when she which the modern-day, high-definition world the last two decades. This mid-1990s offering finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, it soon has made everybody ‘more connected, more is a perfect example of a creative force oper- becomes apparent that there’s more to being vulnerable and more human - but not equally ating at the very peak of his powers. independent than just having fun... so’... With their marriage resembling a war zone

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m¡longa The power and beauty of Argentinean tango.

Tue 16 - Fri 26 & Sat 20 May Tue 23 May Sat 27 May From £17 From £18 From £15

Half-Term Treat Mon 29 May Thu 1 & Bourgeois & Maurice: How to save Sat 27 May - S at 3 Jun Smother Fri 2 Jun the world without really trying £17 From £15 201 Dance Company £15

PerformanceRelaxed Tue 6 - Tue 13 - Mon 3 - Mon 3 Jul Sat 10 Jun Sat 17 Jun Sat 8 Jul From £17 From £16 From £20

Everyone’s Welcome 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. 5% transaction charge applies excluding cash sales in person. Theatre May - New Layout.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 18:26 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

The Wedding Singer New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 23 - Sat 27 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 12 - Sat 16 September; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 3 - Sat 7 October Based on the 1998 Adam Sandler/Drew Bar- rymore movie of the same name, this musical homage to the 1980s sees wedding singer Robbie Hart plunged into the depths of de- spair after his girlfriend dumps him at the altar. Enter his pal, Julia, whose support seems to be Robbie’s only lifeline in an otherwise miserable existence. But will he realise that his sweet-natured friend is actually the love of his life?... Well-known television faces Ray Quinn, Cassie Compton, Roxanne Pallett and Ruth Madoc star alongside musical-theatre favourite Jon Robyns.

La Strada Vice Versa (or The Decline And Fall Of La Cage Aux Folles The REP, Birmingham, Mon 8 - Sat 13 May General Braggadocio Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 16 - Sat 20 A brand new stage adaptation of Federico At The Hands Of His May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues Fellini’s 1954 movie masterpiece, this Coven- Canny Servant Dexter 27 June - Sat 1 July try Belgrade Theatre touring version of La And Terence The Jean Poiret’s hugely popular farce has Strada follows the journey of Gelsomina, a Monkey). Two other been delighting audiences across the young woman who’s effectively sold by her plays by Porter (pic- world for over 40 years. Set in a Saint- mother to a brutal and hard-drinking street tured) have previously been presented at the Tropez nightclub, it tells the story of the performer. When the ill-matched pair come RSC - A Mad World My Masters in 2013 and venue’s gay manager, Georges, his ro- across an itinerant circus, Gelsomina finds 2014’s highly acclaimed The Christmas Truce, mantic partner, Albin, and the problems herself faced with a stark choice that will de- performed to mark the centenary of World that ensue when Georges' son brings cide the course of her future... War One. home his fiancée's ultra-conservative par- Olivier Award nominee Sally Cookson directs. ents... Ventoux West End leading lady Marti Webb joins former EastEnder John Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Partridge and TJ Hooker Tues 18 - Fri 19 May; Lichfield Garrick, Sat 20 May star Adrian Zmed in this new produc- ‘Breathtaking’ video accompaniment pro- tion of the Broad- vides the backdrop to this dramatic story of a way and West End memorable race up Ventoux, the most fear- award some mountain encountered on the Tour de winner. France. The protagonists are Lance Arm- strong and Marco Pantani, whose drug-fu- elled race there in the year 2000 was one of the greatest the sport of cycling had ever Vice Versa seen. A well-reviewed show, this, so expect a Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tour de France tour de force... Thurs 11 May - Sat 9 September With productions of Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra, Titus Andronicus and Coriolanus comprising the RSC’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre season, it’s perhaps not surprising to find that the Company’s adjacent Swan The- atre is also getting in on the Rome-related act. Phil Porter’s new play has been inspired by the comedies of Plautus and bears a full title that very handily explains its basic plot:

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FEATURE

wild thing Michael Morpurgo's Running Wild is let loose at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

It was one of the worst natural disasters in time before a story ever starts, often in a The gender-swap isn't the only major change recorded history: in December 2004, writer's childhood,” he says, describing his the show has undergone since its inception: somewhere between 230,000 and 280,000 love of stories like The Elephant's Child and it's first outing was actually as a promenade people perished as waves of up to 100ft high The Jungle Book when he was growing up. performance by Chichester Festival Theatre in engulfed the shores of South East Asia during “Good writers have a way of blocking the way the Cass Sculpture Park. Bringing the show the infamous Boxing Day tsunami. Yet for other writers to follow, and I felt like (The indoors has resulted in a whole new design, amazingly, some survived – among them, a Jungle Book) had blocked the story of a boy's as well changes to the action for various girl called Amber Owen who had been riding adventures in the jungle, which everyone practical and aesthetic reasons. an elephant along the beach whilst wants to write. But when I discovered this “In Chichester we didn't have a set at all holidaying in Thailand with her family. piece in the news, I thought, 'Stuff you, because the actual environment was our set, Unnerved by the strange activity in the water, Kipling – I'm going to write this story!'” and one of the things that really excited me the elephant pulled away from the shoreline In the months following, details were slowly when I arrived was this enormous steel whale and ran away before the tidal wave hit, saving forgotten and changed: Morpurgo's novel in the background of where we chose to do Amber's life in the process. actually follows the story of a boy called Will, the tsunami scene,” explains the show's It was this real-life story that provided the who finds himself being carried into the original director Dale Rooks. “When we go inspiration for Michael Morpurgo's Running depths of the Indonesian jungle. It wasn't indoors, we'll have to be inventive with that Wild, first published in 2009 and now coming until an earlier version of the show began to again and find a way to make it work.” to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in the form be publicised that the real-life Amber Owen “(At Regent's Park) we had these huge of a spectacular stage adaptation. But as realised her story had inspired a book and got bamboos on three revolves, but we were Morpurgo himself explains, the seeds of the in contact with the theatre. In a nod to this worried that an elephant on a revolve in an idea were actually sown much earlier. revelation, the new production visiting indoor theatre might look like a circus Wolverhampton this year will instead feature “The beginning of a story happens a long elephant, so we've completely changed it,” a girl called Lilly. Running Wild DPS.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 10:00 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

says current director Timothy Sheader. “The design now is the detritus of the tsunami which will be a constant reminder that this girl is not just having fun running through the jungle – she has survived one of the worst tragedies in our lifetime, and is looking for her family. So we'll be creating the canopy of the jungle with doors and wheels and bits of car, and using lamposts that light up green and bits of electric cable for the jungle vines.” “What's been hugely gratifying and very exciting is that the project keeps reinventing itself. We've had to keep thinking of new ways to tell the story,” adds playwright Samuel Adamson. But the biggest visual feast and the real stars of the show will come in the form of the incredible animals populating the jungle landscape, brought to life through the puppetry magic of War Horse's Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié. “I was a self-confessed elephant nut as a kid,” recalls Olié. “My bed was half-covered in elephant cuddly toys, so being asked to do a show about an elephant was fantastically exciting!” Scale was one of the biggest challenges faced by the designers: the puppet needed to be puppet and directing you to do the same.” ecological effects of the poorly regulated palm both visually impressive and practical, strong oil industry, with high demand for the It's the strength of the connection that this enough to bear the weight of a child but light versatile product as an ingredient in breathtaking attention to detail fosters enough not to put undue strain on the household goods having put many species, between the audience and the animals that puppeteers over multiple performances. On including orangutans, at risk. But while got Virginia McKenna interested in the tour, they've also had to be creative with her concerns about the environment and human project. An actor best known for her starring entrances – in some theatres, there's no room and animal welfare all play a part in the story, role in the film adaptation of Joy Adamson's for Oona to be squeezed in backstage, so she viewers shouldn't expect a dry lecture. Born Free, McKenna is also a prominent has to make her way in through the wildlife campaigner and co-founder of the “The message isn't nearly as important to me auditorium instead! Born Free Foundation, a charity that works to as the story,” says Morpurgo. “I hope that While Running Wild is a very different sort of draw attention to the plight of animals in certain things come through, but I do not sit show to War Horse, fans of the production captivity, as well as those mistreated or down to write something in order to promote and of Handspring Puppet Company's work hunted by people in the wild. a particular message. What you want for certainly won't be disappointed – Oona is just children is for them to work things out for “It actually all started because of an elephant as startlingly lifelike as her equine cousin, themselves, and in this particular case, I hope and not a lion as many people think. It was and she also shares the limelight with a that they will go away asking questions about the death of an elephant at London Zoo in family of friendly orangutans as well as a what's happening in the rainforest, about 1968 that was the catalyst,” she says. terrifying tiger prowling the forest floor. In planting palm trees and about what's “(Running Wild) is such a wonderful story order to achieve the realism for which happening to elephants. But it's not being because it turns on what animals feel and Handspring's work has become famous, thrust down your throat.” think. So many of us today have this 'us and puppeteers are carefully trained to move them' attitude towards animals, but we are “It's got a message, but it's also a rollicking together as one organism, as well as being animals too. Through this young girl who adventure,” Adamson agrees. taught how to imbue their puppets with goes off into the forest, we get to see all the distinct characters and feelings. things we have missed and been insensitive “Breath is key – it's the main emotional to, and also how much there's still time for us indicator,” says Olié, explaining how it can be to learn.” Running Wild shows at used to show whether an animal is excited, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from On tour, the production will be working with frightened or calm. “Focus is also important – Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 June, and is rec- the charity to help promote its message of what is the character interested in? There's ommended for children aged six-plus better treatment for animals worldwide. The also the issue of where the puppeteers' own (and grown-ups story also calls attention to the devastating focus is. They should always be looking at the Theatre May - New Layout.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:09 Page 5 Theatre May - New Layout.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:09 Page 6

Theatre previews from around the region Theatre

Million Dollar Quartet Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 30 May - Sat 3 June Jason Donovan stars in a Tony Award-winning West End musical that’s set to leave Midlands audiences ‘all shook up’ when it visits Shrewsbury this month. Inspired by real events, Million Dollar Quar- tet tells the story of how Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley were brought together for an impromptu jam session in Memphis in 1956. The show includes more than 20 legendary rock’n’roll hits, including Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, I Walk The Line and Great Balls Of Fire.

All Or Nothing Anna Of The Five Towns Relatively Speaking Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 4 - Sat 6 New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 30 Fri 26 May - Sat 17 June Tues 16 - Sat 20 May May - Sat 3 June; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thurs 22- Sat 24 June The 150th anniversary of the birth of Stoke- Mention Alan Ayckbourn and a list of bril- on-Trent author Arnold Bennett is here cele- liant observational comedies springs readily brated with a new adaptation of one of his to mind - a fact which makes this particular best-loved stories. Set against the backdrop work of special interest; it was with Rela- of the Potteries, his 1902 novel tells the story tively Speaking that the playwright’s excep- of a young woman’s battle for independence, tional qualities first became evident to a in violation of the constraints imposed upon wider audience. A major West End hit in the her by the strictly controlling Methodist early 1970s, the play follows the high-farce Church and her dictatorial father. involvements of Ginny and Philip, her mar- ried lover, his wife, and Ginny’s new love, Greg. Not surprisingly, confusion abounds! This new show follows in the footsteps of other recent ’60s jukebox musicals about The Beatles and The Kinks. It tells the story of Romeo & Juliet mod favourites the Small Faces from the per- Lichfield Garrick, Wed 17 - Thurs 18 May; spective of a middle-aged and beer-swilling Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 20 - Steve Marriott, the band’s original singer. Thurs 22 June; The Place, Oakengates, Although surviving in their original incarna- Telford, Thurs 29 June; mac, Birmingham, Sat 15 - Sun 16 July tion for only four years, the Small Faces made a significant splash on the music Shakespeare’s ‘fifth tragedy’, as it’s often scene, enjoying chart hits including Whatcha called, is a classic tale of love, loss and re- Gonna Do About It, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Hopeless Romantics demption. Here Comes The Nice, Itchycoo Park and the In a city torn apart by civil war, two young Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wed 31 May show’s title track. When Marriott left, they people are destined to find the kind of love The highly regarded Reform Theatre once replaced him with Rod Stewart and dropped about which most others can only dream... again collaborate with Nick Lane, having pre- the word Small from their name, but it’s the Not that the finer points of Romeo & Juliet are viously presented well-reviewed productions musical output from those early years which likely to be overly important in this particular of his comedies My Favourite Summer and has secured the band their iconic status. production, given the fact that it’s zany fun- Me & Me Dad. This latest offering focuses on sters Oddsocks who’re at the helm! ‘non-elective celibate’ Alan, a man whose Expect plenty of mad- love life is very much dead-on-arrival. When cap mayhem and his judgmental parents invite him and his ro- laughter in a produc- mantically successful sisters to an anniver- tion that gives the sary dinner, Alan decides to take drastic world’s most famous action to avoid looking like a loser, asking love story an imagina- work-experience girl Zoe to pose as his girl- tive mods & rockers- friend for the night... inspired overhaul.

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Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region Theatre

Horrible Histories: The Best Of Barmy Britain The Place, Oakengates, Shropshire, Wed 3 May; Lichfield Garrick, Mon 15 - Tues 16 May If you love the Horrible Histories series - and why the heck wouldn’t you?! - then The Best Of Barmy Britain is a show that’s definitely well worth catching. Alongside providing answers to such searching questions as ‘what would happen if a Viking moved in next door?’ and ‘would you stand and deliver to dastardly Dick Turpin?’, the show also invites its audience to escape the clutches of Burke and Hare, move to the groove with the partying Queen Victoria and prepare to do battle in the First World War. In short, and as its publicity says, it’s ‘a truly horrible history of Britain - with all the nasty bits left in!’

The Very Hungry The Elves And The Big Howard’s Caterpillar Shoemaker LOL-tastic Yukfest Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Mon 22 May; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 21 May mac, Birmingham, Sat 27 May Malvern Theatre, Wed 24 - Thurs 25 May; Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 27 May Full House Theatre is the company behind Howard Read (aka Big Howard) last appeared this lively show for children aged four and at mac with his animated CBBC pal Little Eric Carle’s 1969 book, The Very Hungry older. Howard, who was busily attempting to avoid Caterpillar, has been translated into more Lovable retired shoemaker Geoff is getting on being tragically rubbed out by ‘the pencil of than 60 languages, selling in excess of 52 mil- a bit and struggling to remember the high- death’. lion copies. lights of his many years spent working in the Big H has now hit the road with another This stage version of Carle’s much-loved tale shoe shop. But when a visit to the bottom of hour’s-worth of mirth. Suitable for young- is presented alongside three other popular his garden brings him into contact with two sters aged five-plus, the show brings together children’s stories by the same author - The magical friends, he starts to recall his life. He stand-up comedy, interactiv Artist Who Painted A Blue Horse, Mister Sea- e digital anima- also realises that he can finally give his wife horse and The Very Lonely Firefly. The show tion, sound effects and jokes. the only thing she’s ever wanted - and just in features no fewer than 75 ‘lovable’ puppets. And - we’re warned - it may also contain the time for her 90th birthday, too. word ‘elk’. Best brace yourself!... Ulla’s Odyssey Don’t Dribble On Dough! mac, Birmingham, Sun 7 May The Dragon Warwick Arts Centre, Homer’s Odyssey provides the inspiration for Coventry, Sun 28 May The Core, Solihull, Sat 27 May this family-friendly nautical adventure from An exploration of the The late Paul Daniels was the high-profile OperaUpClose. The talented ensemble, who way in which ‘life can prestidigitator behind the marvellous mo- burst onto the scene in 2009, bagged the 2011 be filled with colour ments of magic contained in this production, Olivier Award for Best Opera and have since and beauty when we a brand new stage adaptation of the book by been garnering plaudits like they’re going step outside the beige Steven Lee. out of fashion. Premiering in 2015, Ulla’s world we know’, Dough! tells the story of a Taking as its theme the importance of family, Odyssey follows the attempts of a 14-year-old girl named Franky. While making a delivery the show is a musical adventure about a tod- girl to become the to an unfamiliar place, she encounters a dler named Tom who, as well as having an youngest person to sail baker who shows her how ‘fantastic things older brother, has a secret dragon and a drib- the world single-hand- can be done with ordinary stuff’. bling problem. edly. Her spectacular “And what could be more ordinary than the When the young chap’s endless drooling ambition is made all the dough that makes our everyday staples?” drives a slobbery wedge between him and his trickier by her en-route asks Olivia Furber, the creator of this dy- sibling, it’s up to the dragon to try and re- encounters with danger- namic show for children aged three-plus. solve the problem - with a little help from ous sea creatures and “Familiar to all cultures, dough creates the some of that aforementioned magic, of robotic customs offi- loaves, naan bread, croissants, dumplings course... cials. Suitable for chil- and chapattis that remind us of home.” dren aged seven-plus. whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Matilda DPS.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:14 Page 1

FEATURE

Being Outrageous! Photo credit: Manuel Harlan credit: Photo

Matilda: The Musical comes to the Birmingham Hippodrome

32 whatsonlive.co.uk Matilda DPS.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:14 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

Almost seven years after its celebrated debut For all this emphasis on his collaborator's “As a director, Matthew seems to be obsessed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Matilda: work, Kelly's own contributions have been with putting a piece of theatrical magic in The Musical has evolved into an international equally as vital, from creating brand new every scene,” says Ptaszynski, “whether it's phenomenon, holding the joint record for the characters like Mrs Wormwood's ballroom the dummy falling from the roof or the swings most Olivier Awards ever won by a single pro- dancing partner Rodolpho (a favourite with or the school gates.” duction. Yet remarkably, despite multiple per- Roald Dahl's widow, Felicity), to a whole new “One of the parts I really love is Bruce formances overseas, the show has never plot strand based around a story that Matilda Bogtrotter's burp,” adds Kelly, “because it's toured its home country - until now. tells to the librarian, Mrs Phelps. just pure theatre. It's basically just a light In the West End, the show continues to draw “In the West End,” says Ptaszynski, “there are moving around the stage, but people are en- excited crowds of kids and grown-ups alike, just piles of dead musicals with great scores thralled. In Stratford, we had discussions but next year, families and Roald Dahl fans that have failed because of the script, yet this about things like a balloon blowing up or across the country will have the chance to ex- guy who claims to know nothing about musi- those guys that blow smoke into bubbles, but perience its magic for the very first time. cals comes in and realises immediately that it in the end, we couldn't do any of that crazy Ahead of its arrival at Birmingham Hippo- needed more than just the linear narrative of stuff because of the thrust stage. An illusion drome in July 2018, we asked playwright Den- the book to turn Matilda into the show it is.” relies on everyone looking the same way, and nis Kelly and executive producer André Of course, it helped to be taking cues from an if you can see round the back, it's not gonna Ptaszynski to explain why Matilda has been undisputed master storyteller... work. In the end, I think that gave it a slightly such a roaring success. homemade feel, which fits in well with the “I never really had to think about what Dahl's Dahl story. Even though we could have done “We all love things that are dark and funny voice was or anything like that because it's so more in the West End, I like that the original and which really make you feel something, ingrained in you as a kid,” says Kelly. “At the RSC show is still running through the produc- and Matilda has all of those things,” says time, I didn't really know Matilda. I'd read tion even now.” Ptaszynski. “I think Dahl, Tim (Minchin, com- other Dahl books, but I'm a bit older than the poser & lyricist) and Dennis all come from a generation that grew up with Matilda, so it very similar comic-dramatic world. There's a wasn't until I was already working on the Matilda: The Musical shows at darkness and a sharpness to the material that script in a café one day that I realised how Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday we all recognise.” much it means to people. I remember the 3 July – Saturday 8 September 2018 “For me,” says Kelly, “I think it's mostly the waiter asked me what I was writing, and music. The songs are consistently brilliant when I told him, he just went mental! He throughout. Way back in the mists of time, started quoting from it and telling me how it before Tim was on board, they asked me was his favourite book and how it had in- whether I'd be interested in writing lyrics. I spired him. In that moment, I suddenly thought I'd give it a go, but if they were rub- thought, 'Why did I agree to this?!' But you bish, I didn't want to do it because I really can't write with too much of a sense of re- wanted this show to work. So when he came sponsibility because that's not what Dahl's along, initially I still had this residual feeling doing. He's writing with relish about burps that I might have been able to do it, but as and mud and all of that, which to me feels soon as I saw what he was writing, I knew it very free, so I didn't want to be a slave to it.” was way better than anything I could have Completing the creative trio at the heart of the done!” show's success is director Matthew Warchus.

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DOUBLE CELEBRATION OF HIP-HOP IN BRUM

There can be little doubt that the 2010s have This year’s programme kicks off with a free established art forms, offering a mix of ushered in a golden age of hip-hop. Where Welcome Jam & Launch Party exploring professional development, youth and much of mainstream music now seems Birmingham’s contributions to global hip- education projects in addition to its world- toothless in the face of rising global unrest hop culture. Hosted by Juice Aleem and DJ renowned events. and division, this is a genre that continues to Silence, the event will feature leading This year's show is headlined by South respond dynamically to the contemporary speakers and performers, including Prit, Africa's Soweto Skeleton Movers, Korean political climate. Nucleo, T-Kid, Boogie Frantik, PoeOne, Link, bboys Just Dance Productions and Canadian- But it's not just the high-profile stars IMD, Bubbles and Sic-Nis. Swedish dance duo Tentacle Tribe. breaking the charts and scooping up Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy a Inspired by the action of jumping on and off prestigious accolades who are making waves. mix of free and paid-for workshops on moving trains, commuters in Johannesburg's On a grassroots level, there's a wealth of graffiti, dance, poetry and more, as well as Soweto township developed a dance style talent reconnecting with the genre's learning all about the genre in a range of known as ‘isparapara’ in the 1950s, later countercultural origins, expanding its reach talks. transformed into the famed Pantsula style by through dance, visual art, film and theatre B-Side 2017 also boasts the first ever FluxCon, adding elements of tap. Uniting seven of alongside the more familiar mix of music and a mini convention celebrating the best of Korea's finest bboys, Just Dance have won spoken word. comics, indie games, animation and sci-fi multiple competitions, touring their From its birthplace on the streets of NYC, hip- concerning the black experience. distinctive blend of Korean culture with hop has evolved into an international Performances include The Holiday, a genre- contemporary choreography all around the phenomenon, with diverse performers blending commission by internationally world. breaking ground around the world, including acclaimed artist Benji Reid. Live street art Finally, Montreal-based duo Tentacle Tribe a burgeoning crop right here in the West will fill the Hippodrome foyer and create unique works by combining Midlands. It's fitting, then, that Britain's surrounding streets in the brand new Graff conceptual hip-hop with influences from a second city is set for its biggest ever Jam, headed by New York’s legendary T-Kid range of earthly creatures. Since 2005, celebration of hip-hop this summer, with the with Graffitiartist.com. There’ll also be top- they've collaborated with numerous return of Birmingham Hippodrome’s B-Side quality DJ and MC sets from Lady Sanity, acclaimed companies, ranging from Cirque Festival and the arrival of Jonzi D’s Breakin' Quartz, Strange U, DJ Latifah, DJ Nucleo and du Soleil to Bboyizm. Convention at Birmingham REP. more. These exciting acts are joined by local groups After attracting 5,000 visitors, 70 performers Those looking to show their skills will have Jigsaw Collective, Rhythm Junkiez, Street and 150 street dance competitors to plenty of opportunities to do so, with Dance Academy, Broken Silence, Marshons Southside last year, B-Side is back for its explosive rap and dance contests running all and Nuvo Origin. second outing from 19 to 21 May. Produced in weekend. partnership with leading lights of the local Stopping off in Birmingham on 2 & 3 June, B-Side Festival is at Birmingham scene, Break Mission, Juice Aleem, Mickael touring festival Breakin’ Convention is the Hippodrome from Friday 19 to ‘Marso’ Riviere and GraffitiArtist.com, this brainchild of pioneering dancer, director and Sunday 21 May. exciting addition to Birmingham’s cultural poet Jonzi D. Uniting top international acts Breakin’ Convention runs at Birmingham calendar focuses on celebrating and with local talent in various locations, it aims Repertory Theatre on Friday developing homegrown talent. to put hip-hop on an equal footing with more 2 & Saturday 3 June

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Dance previews from around the region Dance

Ballet Black DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 25 - Fri 26 May Ballet Black comprises British and international dancers of black and Asian descent, and takes an impressively daring approach to its work. Under the guidance of highly rated artistic director Cassa Pancho, the company here presents a winning blend of classical and contemporary dance. The programme begins with Captured, a four-hander set to a Shostakovich string quartet... The second piece, featuring the music of Debussy, is an abstract work by celebrated British choreographer Michael Corder... The bill is completed by the award-winning Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s alternative version of Little Red Riding Hood.

Birmingham Royal Ballet ACE Dance: TEN Triple Bill Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 24 May Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Humanity’s universal stories are placed under the mi- Fri 5 - Sat 6 May croscope by Jose Agudo, whose new work strikes an Birmingham Royal Ballet stops off in overarching tone that’s both epic and poetic. In the Shrewsbury as part of a short tour, present- process, the choreographer brings ‘hints of Flamenco ing a ‘sparkling’ triple bill designed to cele- movement to the contemporary vocabulary under- brate the diversity of classical ballet. pinned by ACE Dance & Music’s inimitable African Kickstarting the programme is Kenneth style’. MacMillan’s Solitaire, set to composer Mal- “Ten will build on the themes of spiritual dedication colm Arnold’s English Dances and explor- and striving,” explains ACE. “Ultimately this piece will ing the imagination of a girl who dreams up be about humanity’s urge to reach for the power of 10 - playmates for herself. the universal symbol of completion.” Hans van Manen’s 5 Tangos, meanwhile, is a Latin-inspired work showcasing the fiery music of Astor Piazzolla. The programme is completed by Pineapple Poll, a Gilbert & Sullivan-inspired affair in 2Faced Dance: Run which a ‘gaggle of girls’ fall in love with the Theatre Hafren, Newtown, Powys, dashing captain of HMS Hot Cross Bun. Thurs 4 May; Malvern Theatre, Tues 9 May As part of the journey towards its stated aim of becoming ‘a worldwide leader in the production of breathtaking, physical and inspirational dance’, Herefordshire-based 2Faced Dance Company here explores ‘the darker side of humanity’. The show features an all-male ensemble of dancers performing a triple bill of works. Choreography is by newcomer Rebecca Evans and the well-established Tamsin Fitzger- ald and Lenka Vagnerová.

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Film

Alien: Covenant CERT tbc CRITIC’S CHOICE Starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Wa- terston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, James Franco, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce Directed by Ridley Scott (USA/UK) Ridley Scott sucks us back into deep space for his third stab at the franchise he created way back in 1979. Actually a sequel to Prometheus, the pre- quel he directed in 2012, the new film follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as it lands on a remote, undiscovered Eden. But there lies the android David (Michael Fassbender, reprising his role from Prometheus), as well as something altogether more alien and terrifying. The film is the second in a proposed tril- ogy preceding the time frame of the first Alien film. Released Fri 12 May

Film highlights released in May...

Jawbone CERT 15 (91 mins) Starring Johnny Harris, Ray Winstone, Michael Smiley, Ian McShane Directed by Thomas Q. Napper (UK) With nowhere else to go, former amateur boxer Jimmy McCabe (Harris) returns to the ring to do what he does best… Harris, best known for his roles in London To Brighton and Monsters: Dark Continent, wrote the screenplay himself - à la Stallone - and was trained for his part by none other than Barry McGuigan. Released Fri 12 May

Colossal CERT 15 (109 mins) Mindhorn CERT 15 (89 mins) Starring Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Starring Julian Barratt, Simon Farnaby, Essie Stevens, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson Davis, Russell Tovey, Andrea Riseborough, Directed by Nacho Vigalondo (Canada/Spain) Steve Coogan Directed by Sean Foley (UK) The monster attacking Seoul in South Korea Richard Thorncroft used to be Mindhorn, the is indeed humongous, but what’s it got to do TV detective who could see the truth with the with Gloria? This is what Gloria (Anne Hath- help of his robotic eye. But Richard is now a away) has to find out, as she tries to get her washed-up actor when the police approach life back on track after losing her job and her him to negotiate with a serial killer who will boyfriend in New York. The comedy is di- only talk to ‘Mindhorn.’ It’s played for rected by Nacho Vigalondo, who’s made his laughs, obviously. reputation with sci-fi and horror. Released Fri 5 May Released Fri 19 May 36 whatsonlive.co.uk Film may.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:12 Page 2

Film highlights released in May...

her fiancé Frantz Hoffmeister, a violinist Frantz CERT 12a (114 mins) Starring Pierre Niney, Paula Bear, Ernst who was killed in the battle of Verdun. She Stötzner, Marie Gruber, Johann von Bülow, is surprised, then, to find red roses placed Cyrielle Clair there by an unknown hand. After making Directed by François Ozon (France/Germany) enquiries, she discovers that the floral If ever a film were pertinent to our times, it donor is a Frenchman, who is staying in is François Ozon's Frantz. Set in Germany town… in the aftermath of the First World War, François Ozon, one of the great auteurs of Ozon’s story of both acceptance and dis- contemporary French cinema, here delivers crimination shows a country bruised, hu- perhaps his finest film to date, a magnifi- miliated and fiercely resentful of its cent period romance that is at once enig- neighbour, France. matic, mischievous and profoundly In the sleepy medieval town of Quedlin- moving. burg, the beautiful Anna visits the grave of Released Fri 12 May

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge CERT 12a tbc Starring Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geof- frey Rush, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scode- lario, Kevin McNally Directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (USA) Jack Sparrow’s old rival, the undead Salazar (Javier Bardem), decides to rid the High Seas of all brigands. Expect ghosts, witches and much supernatural tomfoolery. CRITIC’S CHOICE Released Fri 26 May

Snatched CERT tbc Spark CERT tbc Starring Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Joan Cu- With the voices of Jace Norman, Jessica Biel, sack, Ike Barinholtz, Óscar Jaenada, Wanda Susan Sarandon, Patrick Stewart, Hilary Sykes Directed by Jonathan Levine (USA) Swank Directed by Aaron Woodley (Canada/South Korea/USA) Emily and Linda have little in common, other than the fact Emily is Linda’s daughter. How- Spark is a teenage monkey and he’s not half ever, when Emily’s boyfriend dumps her, she bad at space travel. So he and his friends sees little recourse but to invite her mother head to Planet Bana in the hope of rescuing it on her pre-booked jungle adventure. Expect from the unscrupulous General Zhong. In 3D. embarrassment. Released Mon 29 May Released Fri 19 May

The Other Side Of Hope CERT 12a (100 mins) Starring Sherwan Haji, Sakari Kuosmanen, Kati Outinen, Tommi Korpela Directed by Aki Kaurismäki (Finland/Germany) There’s little hope for Khaled, a refugee from Syria who’s just arrived in Helsinki. Nor for Wikström, who's just opened his first restaurant… It’s important to know that Aki Kauris- mäki, Finland’s most famous director, trades in deadpan humour and a bitter, melancholy wit. Released Fri 26 May

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

Room Here & Now Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 6 May - Sat 24 June mac, Birmingham, until Sun 4 June Comprising works by a number of international women artists, this thought-provok- The art of tapestry weaving is alive and well, ing exhibition reflects the multiple and often concurrent meanings and functions of as this first major curated exhibition of work ‘the room’. The featured installations, sculptures and photographs, all works which for over 20 years ably demonstrates. have been produced between the 1970s and the present day, envisage the room in a A touring show from the National Centre For variety of ways - as an erotically charged or psychological space, and also in terms of Craft & Design, Here & Now showcases the its structural and aesthetic properties. ways in which the narrative heritage of the medium is used to engage with contemporary political, aesthetic and personal issues. In the process, the exhibition aims to em- phasise the artform’s ongoing relevance in the modern world.

Birmingham @WHATSONBRUM Wolverhampton @WHATSONWOLVES Shropshire @WHATSONSHROPS staffordshire @WHATSONSTAFFS Worcestershire @WHATSONWORCS warwickshire @WHATSONWARWICKS

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Visual Arts

Rachel Goodyear Face To Face: Portraits The New Art Gallery, Walsall, Through Time Fri 26 May - Sun 3 September Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Manchester-based Rachel until Sun 4 June Goodyear has developed her repu- This fascinating exhibition brings together tation as an artist via a drawing- works loaned from numerous sources, includ- based practice that hints at the ing the Arts Council Collection and the Na- world of the unconscious mind. tional Portrait Gallery. Indeed, the latter has Using old magazines, books and contributed no fewer than 10 works of art. anonymous photographs as her Featuring snapshots of ordinary people as well inspiration, she creates charac- as portraits of Henry VIII, Marilyn Monroe, ters which she then either locates David Bowie and Princess Diana, Face To Face within claustrophobic spaces or explores the centuries-old fascination with sets against heavy and brooding capturing one’s own image. washes of ink and watercolour... The display comprises paintings, photographs, Rachel has created an immersive sculptures and interactive activities. installation for her Walsall exhibition. Incorporating projected animations and sound, the new work enables the viewer to enter an environment which the artist describes as ‘both alluring and fearful whilst hovering between the familiar and the surreal’. The installation is accompanied by a collection of her drawings.

Last chance to see...

New Art West Midlands Boyle’s three-metre-long metal sculptures. The sculptures are made of indus- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, mac, trial steel strap overlaid with a feminine Birmingham, Worcester City Art Gallery & Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Sun 14 lace print and formed into three-dimen- May sional funnels and circles. Thirty-one artists from six regional art Megan Evans (pictured below - left and schools are currently exhibiting new work right), meanwhile, uses make-up to paint at four leading galleries as part of New her portraits of women undergoing cos- Art West Midlands 2017. metic surgery. A launch vehicle for emerging artists, Many of the works on show take themes New Art West Midlands includes paint- connected to science and biology. Numer- ing, installation, sculpture, photography, ous other pieces focus on the subjects of A Dutch Window video, animation and digital artworks. globalisation, migration and belonging. Image credit (centre): Damian Massey. Grand Union, Birmingham, Highlights of the show include Yazmin Fri 5 May - Sat 22 July Seecum Cheung’s current project, of which this exhibition is the latest installment, explores the rise of right-wing Nationalism within Eu- rope. An award-winning artist working primarily with the moving image, Cheung has conducted a series of interviews to track the political shifts occurring across the continent. In the process, she’s engaged with leading spe- cialists in the field of right-wing radicalism, human rights organisations and activist refugee groups. The ‘chapter’ of her work being presented in Birmingham this month takes as its subject matter this year’s national elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany. whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Places to visit (1).qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:44 Page 1

40 whatsonlive.co.uk Places to visit (1).qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:44 Page 2

whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Places to visit (1).qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:44 Page 3 explore the midlands

The Midlands is home to an abundance of enjoyable and exciting places to visit, catering for people of all ages and from all walks of life. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re sure to find somewhere and something that fits the bill. Our What’s On directory features a selection of some of the best places to visit across the region this summer. Have fun!

Birmingham

You may also like...

• Aston Hall • BBC Birmingham • Birmingham Back To Backs • Birmingham Museum & Birmingham Botanical Gardens National Sea Life Centre Thinktank Science Museum Art Gallery Set over 15 acres of luscious lawns The centre features more than 1,000 Museum attractions include over • Cadbury World and foliage, Birmingham Botanical creatures and 60-plus displays - 200 interactive exhibits on science • Cannon Hill Park Gardens features four glasshouses, including a million-litre underwater and discovery, as well as a • Library of Birmingham gardens, a playground and tearoom. tropical tank and a brand new programme of workshops, shows • Wonderful World of Trains and Planes Westbourne Rd, B15 3TR Octopus Hideout exhibit. and demonstrations. birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Brindleyplace, B1 2HL Curzon St, B4 7XG visitsealife.com/birmingham birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank

Shropshire

You may also like...

• Attingham Park • Dudmaston Estate • Hawkstone Park & Follies • Ludlow Castle • Park Hall Farm Blists Hill Victorian Town British Ironworks Centre Telford Town Park • Shrewsbury Museum & One of 10 award-winning museums This family-run centre boasts a Sitting next to the town’s Southwater Art Gallery that make up the Ironbridge Gorge varied collection of beautifully development, the park offers • Shropshire Hills Museum Trust, Blists Hill offers the decorative metal items, some of multiple play areas, fishing pools, Discovery Centre chance to step back in time to the which are faithful reproductions of bike hire, nature trails and extensive • Weston Park days of Queen Victoria. ironwork no longer seen today. grassed areas. • Wroxeter Roman City Madeley, TF7 5DU Oswestry, SY11 4JH Telford, TF3 4EP ironbridge.org.uk britishironworkcentre.co.uk telfordtownpark.co.uk

Staffordshire

You may also like...

• Alton Towers • Beacon Park • Cannock Chase Forest • Drayton Manor • Lower Drayton Farm Tamworth Castle Gladstone Pottery Museum Lichfield Cathedral • Middleport Pottery Step back in time through 900 years Located in a Victorian pottery Boasting over 1,300 years of history • Samuel Johnson of history at Tamworth Castle. factory, the museum offers a and recently voted third best Birthplace Wander the chambers and hallways fascinating insight into the history of cathedral in the UK, Lichfield • Shugborough Estate and get a real sense of how its Stoke-on-Trent, famous the world Cathedral is currently hosting a • Trentham Gardens previous residents spent their time in over for the quality of its pottery. Turner exhibition. • World of Wedgwood the castle. Stoke-on-Trent ST3 1PQ 19A The Close, WS13 7LD Tamworth B79 7NA stokemuseums.org.uk lichfield-cathedral.org tamworthcastle.co.uk

42 whatsonlive.co.uk Places to visit (1).qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 17:44 Page 4

Warwickshire

You may also like...

• British Motor Museum • Coventry Cathedral • Fargo Village • Hatton Adventure World • Kenilworth Castle Coventry Transport Museum Warwick Castle Compton Verney • National Motorcycle Home to the largest publicly owned Playing host to more than 1,000 One hundred-and-twenty acres of Museum collection of British vehicles in the years of history, magic, myth and stunning parkland and lake • Ragley Hall world. Discover fascinating stories of adventure, the castle this summer surround an award-winning art • Shakespeare’s Birthplace Coventry and its people through the features the brand new War Of The gallery. There’s also an on-site • Stratford Butterfly Farm rise and fall of its biggest industry. Roses Live! attraction. adventure playground for kids. • Stoneleigh Abbey • The MAD Museum Coventry CV1 1JD Warwick, CV34 4QU Warwick, CV35 9HZ transport-museum.com warwick-castle.com comptonverney.org.uk

Wolverhampton & Black Country

You may also like...

• Bantock House • Bilston Craft Gallery • Dudley Canal Trust • Dudley Zoo & Castle • Himley Hall RAF Museum Cosford Wolverhampton Art Gallery Black Country Living Museum • Northycote Farm & Over 70 historic aircraft are here This free-to-visit gallery has over 300 Visitors can explore period shops Country Park displayed in three wartime hangars years of art to explore. The popular and houses and discover what it was • Red House Glass Cone on an active airfield. The collection LEGO exhibition, Brick Wonders, like to live and work in one of the • Walsall Arboretum spans nearly 80 years of aviation features until July. world’s most industrialised • Wightwick Manor • Wolves Museum history. Lichfield St, W’hampton WV1 1DU landscapes. Lyssander Ave, Cosford, TF11 8UP wolverhamptonart.org.uk Tipton Rd, Dudley DY1 4SQ rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford bclm.co.uk

Worcestershire

You may also like...

• Croome Park • Forge Mill Needle Museum • Harvington Hall • Museum of Royal Avoncroft Museum The Commandery Arley Arboretum Worcester Set in 19 acres of Worcestershire A beautiful building that’s most The Arboretum offers plenty to enjoy • Severn Valley Railway countryside, this independent famous for being the Royalist for visitors of all ages. Attractions • West Midlands Safari museum features buildings spanning headquarters during the deciding include an Italian garden with Park a 700-year period. conflict of the English Civil War, the fountain, dinosaur and fairy trails • Worcester City Museum & Art Gallery Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Battle of Worcester in 1651. and a maze. • Witley Court & Gardens B60 4JR Sidbury, Worcester, WR1 2HU Upper Arley, Nr Bewdley, DY12 1SQ avoncroft.org.uk worcestershire.gov.uk/museums arleyarboretum.co.uk

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Events previews from around the region Events

The Baby Show NEC, Birmingham, Fri 19 - Sun 21 May Sleep-deprived new parents would do well to call on their reserves of energy and get along to this popular show. Widely considered to be the UK’s leading pregnancy and parenting event, The Baby Show brings together leading retailers and brands, includes one-to-one demonstrations and provides the opportunity to ‘touch, feel and compare’ items, enabling shop- pers to make an informed decision about their purchases. The show also offers free advice on topics such as sleeping, breastfeeding and weaning, and comes complete with a host of facilities to help you have a hassle-free day. We’re fairly sure that if your baby could talk, they’d advise you to attend...

This Morning Live Ludlow Food NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 18 - Sun 21 May Spring Festival This brand new lifestyle show, inspired Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire, Sat 13 - Sun 14 May by ITV1’s This Morning programme, fea- This annual festival ably illustrates why tures appearances by Phillip Schofield Ludlow is one of the country’s most rep- and Holly Willoughby (pictured), the pre- utable foodie towns. senters of the popular daytime television The two-day event features more than series. 200 beers alongside an array of food The event also boasts numerous lifestyle stalls, with vendors offering delectable elements, including fashion & style, food delights ranging from artisan flours to & drink, home, gardening, pets, beauty, charcuterie, award-winning cakes, gour- and health & wellbeing. met sausage rolls and local cheeses. Commenting on the four-day show, The Marches Transport Festival and a Emma Gormley, ITV Daytime Managing wealth of musical entertainment com- Director, said: “With our fantastic pre- plete the weekend’s programme of at- senting talent and the wonderful mix of tractions. content that we'll be taking on the road, this event promises to delight fans of the show across the country.” Tudor Weekend Blakesley Hall, Birmingham, Sun 28 - Mon 29 May Visitors to Blakesley Hall get the chance to participate in Tudor games and dancing, or try their hand at writing with a quill pen, at this family-friendly event. Tudor reenactors entertain and educate throughout the weekend, presenting Shakespeare's Richard III and battle scenes from Henry V, as well as demon- strating a range of sure-to-be-impressive sword-fighting techniques. Tudor-style cooking is also on the agenda, while a number of Tudor characters will be showing off their textile skills. Sounds like a step back in time that could be well worth taking...

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MEETING POINT: corner of Colmore Row & Waterloo Street, Victoria Square TOUR TIMES: 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm

CONTACT: 0121 427 2555 / 07805 115 998 [email protected]

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

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Events previews from around the region Events

Telford Kite Festival Telford Town Park, Shropshire, Sun 7 May One of the premier groups of its kind in the UK - the Midlands Kite Flyers Association - is coordinating this free-to-attend day of high- flying fun. As well as enjoying colourful kite displays, visitors can also get handy tips and design ideas from experts, to help them build their own kite in a special workshop. READER Kite-making sessions for kids will OFFER! be taking place at Telford Shopping Centre in the run-up to 20% off for What’s On the event. Readers when quoting WHATSON20 Jurassic Kingdom: when booking Wool@J13 Where Dinosaurs Come To Life Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Sat 20 May - Sun 4 June Sat 13 - Sun 14 May

Monstrously good fun is on the cards for As visitors explore the gardens, they’ll dinosaur-loving visitors to this brand new uncover life-sized replica dinosaurs, including touring event. both Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. Featuring more than 30 impressive An education marquee, hosting a number of installations of animated dinosaurs with on-screen dinosaur documentaries, ensures electronic moving parts, the show is being that youngsters can learn as well as enjoy, marketed as ‘a truly awesome educational and while a special excavation scene provides entertaining Jurassic experience’. And there’s children with the chance to dig up dinosaur every reason to imagine it will be exactly bones. To book, visit jurassickingdom.uk that...

Dragon Hunt Color Obstacle Rush Tamworth Castle, Sat 27 May - Fri 2 June Wolverhampton Racecourse, Sat 27 May

Two dragons for the price of one is the spring- This brand new wool and yarn time holiday treat for families visiting Tamworth festival is taking place on a 600- Castle this half term. acre farm just one mile from As well as resident dragon Ruby, the venue is Junction 13 of the M6 - hence the also playing host to Hafgrim, her mischief-mak- event’s name. ing brother, who’s got himself lost somewhere The festival is being organised by within the castle and its grounds. Visitors are Staffordshire-based wool artist invited to help find him, along the way partici- Ingrid Wagner in collaboration pating in a selection of dragon-friendly activi- with Val James, who runs a ties... Best be vigilant, though - the evil ‘dragon successful farm attraction. This multicoloured event became hugely popu- catcher’ is on the prowl and will stop at nothing “We want to offer visitors a great lar across Scandinavia following its Finland to capture Ruby or Hafgrim. What a rotter! experience,” says Ingrid. “Overall, launch in 2014. Expanding into the US and Eu- we’ve had a great response from rope the following year, it combines ‘the fun of exhibitors, so the shopping colour powdered runs, the thrill of an obstacle experience really will be buzzing. course and the atmosphere of a music festival’. We have bagots and baguettes, Obstacles in the 2017 edition of the show in- llamas and lattes, doe-eyed clude inflatables - some with colour stations in- donkeys, a gaggle of geese and side them - a sponge ball ocean, space-hopper even a rescued reptile - and that’s racing and water balloon fights. The event also before we even get to the features 20 music zones, positioned at locations Hebrideans and a Jacob or two!” around the course, and a special chill-out area.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Shropshire Kids Festival The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, Sat 13 - Sun 14 May ‘Education through fun’ lies at the heart of this high-energy weekend, with plenty of arts & crafts events and workshops allowing children to get hands-on while they learn. Other attractions include a 75m water slide, a helter-skelter and a go-kart track, the chance to play a host of sports and take part in jujitsu, karate and yoga sessions. There’s an inflatable obstacle course too, and ‘wacky races’ with water balloons and space hoppers. A circus skills tent, kids cookery classes and a ‘not to be missed’ foam party further add to the fun.

Harry Potter And The Twister, Operation and Mousetrap - enjoy a performance of memorable jukebox hits by a Staffordshire Philosopher's Stone™ local musical theatre group. and roll back the In Concert years with a glass of sparkling Babycham or County Show Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Mon 15 May Blue Nun wine. Staffordshire County Showground, Visitors are encouraged to get into the Swing- Wed 31 May - Thurs 1 June The present-day passion for Potter shows no ing ’60s spirit of things by attending the Staffordshire’s annual two-day county sign of abating, particularly after the stage event in era-appropriate fancy dress. show makes a welcome return, production of The Cursed Child bagged a complete with its usual eclectic mix of record-breaking nine prizes at last month’s attractions and entertainment. Olivier Awards. Red By Night The main-ring programme of events This latest touring attraction for fans of JK features displays from the Bolddog Rowling’s wizarding world features a high- Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Lings Motorcycle Display Team, Sat 20 May definition screening of the very first Potter vintage machinery and livestock movie. It’s accompanied by a live Royal Phil- Flying sparks, clanging hammers and rising parades, show jumping and young harmonic Concert Orchestra performance of smoke are much in evidence at this special farmers floats. Highlights elsewhere at the film’s score, composed by the legendary Black Country Living Museum event. the Showground include falconry, John Williams. The Dudley visitor attraction’s annual Night sheepdog and duck displays, donkey At The Museum celebration this year brings rides, craft and antique fairs and a to life the history of the region via a package cookery theatre & food hall. of entertainment that includes theatre performances, poetry, music and storytelling. There’s also the chance to see the Endurance steam engine in action. Plenty of traditional War Of The food and drink should ensure the sound of Roses Live! rumbling stomachs isn’t added to the mu- Warwick Castle, seum’s cacophony of industrial noises. Sat 27 May - Sun 4 June Branded by Warwick Castle as a heart- pumping, fist-thumping, live-action horseback battle with jaw-dropping special effects, War Of The Roses Live! invites visitors to pledge their Museums At Night: allegiance either to King Henry VI from 1960s Party the House of Lancaster, or to the House Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Sat 20 May of York as it challenges for the English throne. Enginuity’s contribution to this year’s na- The show takes place on selected dates tionwide Museums At Night festival sees the between this month and September. popular Ironbridge Gorge attraction hosting a free-entry 1960s party. The event features the chance to play popular board games of the time - including whatsonlive.co.uk 49 The List Cover May Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 14:39 Page 1 The List Cover May Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:51 Page 2

Your week by week listings guide May 2017 thelist

Miss Meena & The Masala Queens at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry - Tues 16 - Sat 20 May

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

What’s On Mon 1 to Sun 7 May Mon 8 to Sun 14 May Mon 15 to Sun 21 May Mon 22 to Wed 31 May

Antony and Cleopatra at the The Handmade Fair at Playing Up: Live Art For Kids Oak Apple Weekend at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre Ragley Hall, Warwickshire And Adults at The Herbert Commandery in Worcester until Thurs 7 September Fri 12 - Sun 14 May Sat 20 May Sat 27 - Mon 29 May

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List NEW Warwicks 1 - 7 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:48 Page 1

thelist Monday 1 - Sunday 7 May THE REMI HARRIS PROJ- YES PLEASE! Sat 6 May, THROUGHOUT MAY Gigs ECT Thurs 4 May, mac, Huntingdon Hall, Birmingham Worcester The Hive, Worcester STEVE HACKETT Mon 1 ANDREW COMBS Thurs A NIGHT OF MUSIC AND Visual Arts PUBLIC ART STUDENT SHOW An exhibi- May Symphony Hall, 4 May, The Glee Club, COMEDY: PAUL tion of work from second-year stu- Birmingham Birmingham RICHARDS & GRIFF JAMESON Sat 6 May, dents on the Art & Design and Fine THE NIGHT CAFE Mon 1 THE SUNDOWNERS Artrix, Bromsgrove Artrix, Bromsgrove Art courses at the University of May Hare & Hounds, Thurs 4 May, The Sun- NEW BEV RIDDLE & DENISE FUELL: DI- Worcester, Sat 29 Apr - Thurs 4 May Birmingham flower Lounge, B’ham KYLVER Sat 6 May, The VERSITY 2 Texture, colour, mark mak- THE BARRON KNIGHTS Marr's Bar, Worcester ing and composition play a major TALL SHIPS Tues 2 May, Worcester City Museum & Art Thurs 4 May, The Core THE FLOYD EFFECT Sat part in the work of these two artists, Hare & Hounds, Birm- Gallery Theatre, Solihull 6 May, The Core The- Wed 31 May - Sun 18 June ingham atre, Solihull NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS An annual SHORTSTRAW Tues 2 THE PHIL BEER BAND Birmingham Museum & showcase for new contemporary art May, O2 Institute, Thurs 4 May, Artrix, THE COMET IS COMING Art Gallery by fine art or visual arts graduates of Birmingham Bromsgrove Sat 6 May, The Tin the five university art schools in the BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY Music And Arts, War- BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE AND CHANGE IN JOSE JAMES Tues 2 region - Birmingham City, Coventry, Thurs 4 May, Malvern wickshire THE INNER-CITY Birmingham People May, The Glee Club, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton and Theatre THE VERVE EXPERIENCE explores the ways in which ordinary Birmingham Worcester - plus, for the first time this Sat 6 May, O2 Acad- Birmingham people have been repre- RAT BOY Tues 2 May, THE UPBEAT BEATLES year, Hereford College of Arts, until emy, Birmingham sented in art during the 20th and 21st Sun 14 May O2 Institute, B’ham Fri 5 May, Artrix, centuries. Change in the Inner City Bromsgrove MORGAN HERITAGE & DAVID COX AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES focuses on the four inner-city wards ETANA Sat 6 May, O2 Drawing on the gallery's extensive MAXIMO PARK Fri 5 of Ladywood, which include Academy, Birmingham collection of paintings by Birming- May, O2 Institute, Nechells, Soho, Aston and Lady- ham-born artist David Cox and sup- Birmingham UNDEROATH Sat 6 May, wood, until Thurs 31 Aug ported by high-profile British CATTLE & CANE Fri 5 O2 Institute, B’ham I WANT! I WANT!: ART & TECHNOLOGY A Museum loans of works by Consta- May, The Flapper, NOT THE ROLLING curated selection from the Arts Coun- ble and Turner, the exhibition ex- Birmingham STONES Sat 6 May, The cil Collection - with key loans from plores Cox's place within British art, CONNOR MAHER QUAR- Iron Road, Evesham other major collections - that pres- until Sat 3 June TET Fri 5 May, The MY VITRIOL Sat 6 May, ents the work of contemporary artists Marr's Bar, Worcester Kasbah, Coventry using new technologies, until Sun 1 Other VISUAL ARTS MARIANAS TRENCH Oct Tues 2 May, O2 Insti- THE BRAZEN Fri 5 May, RAY HILL Ray's current body of work ture, Birmingham O2 Academy, B’ham is inspired by the natural world. The FAUX PAS & MALLAVORA Compton Verney Gallery, vibrant images explore the relation- VICKY SPEEDBOAT, FULL- Fri 5 May, The Sun- Warwick ship between a real and heightened SHORE & INSOMNIACS Tues 2 May, The Sun- flower Lounge, B’ham CREATING THE COUNTRYSIDE 1600-2017 landscape, until Mon 8 May, Eve- flower Lounge, B’ham RULE NO1 Fri 5 May, A major new exhibition that explores sham Arts Centre Drummonds Bar, our relationship with the countryside, BRITISH THOMSON HOUSTON AND WHIT- CORINNE WEST Tues 2 Worcester until Sun 18 June TLE Exhibition marking 80 years since May, The Roses The- atre, Tewkesbury SKINNY LISTER Fri 5 PORTRAIT MINIATURES Over 40 minia- the invention of the jet engine, until May, Hare & Hounds, ROY ORBISON & THE ture paintings from the Dumas Sat 3 June, Rugby Art Gallery & Mu- LIZA SINGS STREISAND Birmingham TRAVELLING WILBURYS Egerton Trust Collection, until Sun 17 seum Wed 3 May, Belgrade Sat 6 May, Artrix, Dec THE RUGBY COLLECTION Rugby’s na- Theatre, Coventry TAKE THAT Fri 5 - Sat 6 Bromsgrove tionally known collection of 20th cen- JOE GODDARD Wed 3 May, Genting Arena, Forge Mill Needle Museum, tury and contemporary British art will May Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 'LENNON AND MCCART- Redditch be showcased in its annual spring ex- Birmingham STONE FOUNDATION Fri NEY' WITH THE LENNON AND MCCARTNEY EXPE- hibition, until Sat 3 June, Rugby Art LADIES OF THE BLUES 5 May, The Empire, NEW A CELEBRATION OF 150 YEARS OF RIENCE Sat 6 May, Nail- Gallery & Museum Wed 3 May Hare & Coventry PATCHWORK An exhibition by Jane cote Hall, Berkswell and Peterson Cobbett looking at how THE PLAY'S THE THING Family-friendly Hounds, Birmingham RHINO'S REVENGE Fri 5 CLEAN CUT KID Sat 6 quilters from the 1840s through to the RSC exhibition full of treasures from THE GARTH BROOKS May, The Iron Road, May, O2 Institute, 1990s have been influenced by print the archives and the museum collec- STORY Wed 3 May, The Evesham tion, including rarely seen props, Birmingham and fabric design, Thurs 18 May - Core Theatre, Solihull ROY SAINSBURY’S Sun 25 June costumes and original set designs, FIRE RED EMPRESS Sat SHAME Wed 3 May, RHYTHM CHIEFS - FEA- until Sun 10 Sept, The Swan Theatre 6 May, O2 Institute, The Sunflower TURING DAVE NEWTON Stratford Birmingham Herbert Art Gallery & Lounge, Birmingham Fri 5 May, Huntingdon Museum, Coventry DRAW NEW MISCHIEF Exhibition ex- Hall, Worcester DMS FUSION Sun 7 ploring 250 years of Shakespeare SAYWECANFLY Wed 3 FACE TO FACE: PORTRAITS THROUGH SOUL II SOUL Fri 5 May, May, Symphony Hall, and political cartoons, until Fri 15 May, O2 Academy, TIME Explore a centuries-old fascina- The Assembly, Leam- Birmingham Sept, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Birmingham tion with capturing our own image. ington Spa STORM THE PALACE Sun Stratford-Upon-Avon SEAFRET Wed 3 May, Featuring paintings, photographs, THE MAGIC GANG Fri 5 7 May, The Tin Music NEW ROOM An exhibition of installa- O2 Institute, B’ham sculptures and interactive activities, May, O2 Academy, And Arts, Coventry tions, sculptures and photographs by BERKELEY SQUARE Birmingham GOST + NEOSLAVE Sun until Sun 4 June international women artists, which Thurs 4 May, Hunting- 7 May, The Flapper, Leamington Spa Art Gallery & variously explore ideas around archi- don Hall, Worcester WILL JOSEPH COOK Fri 5 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham Museum tecture and the domestic environ- ELIANA CARNELUTTI ment, Sat 6 May - Sat 24 June, Birmingham THE ROBERT CRAY BAND THE OPEN 2017 A biennial exhibition of Thurs 4 May, The Iron Warwick Arts Centre WHITNEY - QUEEN OF Sun 7 May, Birming- work by professional artists based in Road, Evesham THE NIGHT Fri 5 May, ham Town Hall the West Midlands, until Sun 25 June NEW JACKIE CUNLIFFE Jackie spe- ASTROID BOYS Thurs 4 The Core Theatre, LOS CAMPESINOS Sun 7 cialises in watercolours depicting ex- May, The Empire, Solihull May, Hare & Hounds, otic locations, Wed 10 May - Sun 2 Coventry July, Evesham Arts Centre Birmingham 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks 1 - 7 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:48 Page 2

Monday 1 - Sunday 7 May

Featuring Margaret Cookhorn (Con- Classical Music trabassoon), Jane Wright & Katherine Gittings (violins), Christopher Yates (viola), Helen Edgar (Cello) & Julian RODERICK WILLIAMS AND ENSEMBLE Atkinson (Double Bass). Programme 360 Also featuring Benjamin Nabarro includes Hess' Quintet for contrabas- (violin), Ruth Gibson (viola), Gemma soon and strings Op.63 & Dvorak's Rosefield (cello), Naomi Atherton Quintet in G, Op.77, Fri 5 May, CBSO (horn) & Tim Hortin (piano). Mon 1 Centre, Birmingham May, Royal Pump Rooms, Leaming- ton Spa BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE POPS OR- CHESTRA Featuring Christopher KINSKY PIANO TRIO Featuring Lucie Houlding (conductor) & Eric McElroy Sedláková H lová (violin), Martin (piano), Fri 5 May, Birmingham Town Sedlák (cello)ů & Veronika Böhmová Hall (piano). Programme includes works by Haydn, Schubert & Dvorak, Mon 1 SHEKU KANNEH MASON (CELLO) & ISATA May, Royal Pump Rooms, Leaming- KANNEH MASON (PIANO) Programme ton Spa includes works by Beethoven & Shostakovich, Fri 5 May, Recital Hall, FRIKKI WALKER ORGAN RECITAL Mon 1 Birmingham Conservatoire May, All Saints Church, Priory Ter- race, Leamington Spa CITY OF BIRMINGHAM ORCHESTRA Fea- turing Ben Gernon (conductor) & Ali- PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: KONAN son Balsom (trumpet). Programme Antony And Cleopatra - Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon TANAKA Programme includes works includes works by Beethoven, Barker by Mozart, Ravel, Lieberman & & Dvorak, Sat 6 May, Symphony Hall, (Much Ado About Nothing, Othello) Chopin, Tues 2 May, Recital Hall, Hall, Birmingham Birmingham returns to the RSC to direct Shake- Birmingham Conservatoire JON RICHARDSON Fri 5 - Sat 6 May, speare’s tragedy of love and power. THE SONGMEN: MUSIC DEVINE Pro- GILDAS STRING QUARTET Featuring Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Part of the RSC’s Rome season, until gramme includes works by Mon- Jack McNeill (clarinet). Programme ANDY WILKY, KEITH CARTER, ADAM Thurs 7 Sept, Royal Shakespeare teverdi & Thomas Tomkins, Sat 6 includes works by Haydn, Howard, STAUNTON Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon May, Old St Martin’s Church, Worces- Fri 5 May, Katie Fitzger- Schubert & Howells, Tues 2 May, ter ald's, Stourbridge JULIUS CAESAR Shakespeare’s bloody Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa story of conspiracy and murder, WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHES- RAW COMEDY Fri 5 May, Evesham PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: NAFIS Arts Centre noble intentions and ignoble actions. TRA: BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST Sat 6 May, UMERKULOVA Tues 2 May, Recital Hall, Part of the RSC’s Rome season, until Coventry Cathedral THE NOISE NEXT DOOR Fri 5 May, The Birmingham Conservatoire Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton Sat 9 Sep, Royal Shakespeare The- ELGAR CHORALE Programme includes DANTE STRING QUARTET Featuring atre, Stratford-upon-Avon works by Delius, Holst, Britten & DOREEN'S GRAND NIGHT OUT Sat 6 William Howard. Programme includes SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN Dress up as Howells, Sat 6 May, St Stephen’s May, The Swan Theatre, Worcester works by Beethoven, Schubert & your favourite character and experi- Church, Worcester Franck, Tues 2 May, Royal Pump PAUL RICHARDS & GRIFF JAMESON Sat ence Disney’s most popular ani- Rooms, Leamington Spa THE BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC CON- 6 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove mated film in a whole new light, Mon CERTO COMPETITION FINAL Sun 7 May, ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Pro- NICK DIXON, RON VAUDRY, MATT GREEN 1 May, Birmingham Hippodrome Bramall Music Building, University of gramme comprises Wagner's Prelude & COMIC TBC Sat 6 May, The Glee SING-A-LONG-A SOUND OF MUSIC Birmingham to Die Meistersinger, Bruch's Violin Club, Birmingham Screening of the classic Julie An- Concerto No.1 & Rachmaninov's THE GONZAGA BAND Featuring Faye RUDI LICKWOOD, MARK NELSON, LEO drews musical in full-screen techni- Symphony No.2, Wed 3 May, War- Newton (soprano), Jamie Savan (cor- KEARSE & SAM AVERY Sat 6 May, The colour, complete with lyric subtitles wick Arts Centre, Coventry nett) & Steven Devine Comedy Loft, Birmingham so you can sing along, Tues 2 May, (harpsichord/chamber organ). Pro- RUSSELL WATSON & HIS ORCHESTRA ABIGOLIAH SCHAMAUN, BARRY DODDS & Birmingham Hippodrome gramme includes songs & duets from Wed 3 May, Symphony Hall, B’ham BEN BRIGGS Sat 6 May, Jongleurs GREAT EXPECTATIONS Birmingham the age of Monteverdi, Sun 7 May, Comedy Club, Birmingham Ormiston Academy present an ama- SACCONI QUARTET Thurs 4 May, The Old St Martin’s Church, Worcester Bramall, Birmingham ANDY ZALTZMAN Sat 6 May, Warwick teur staging of Dickens’ penultimate Arts Centre, Coventry novel, Tues 2 May, The Old Rep, BERKLEY SQUARE Featuring music Birmingham from the Golden Age of popular GARY DELANEY Sat 6 May, The Old song, including Gershwin, Cole Rep Theatre, Birmingham BEST OF BE FESTIVAL Experience the highlights of the 2016 festival with Porter, Irving Berlin & Noel Coward, Comedy REGINALD D HUNTER Sat 6 May, Royal Thurs 4 May, Huntingdon Hall, three shows from Italy, Germany & Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Switzerland, each lasting 30 minutes, Worcester DAVID TRENT, NICK DIXON & COMEDY JOHN SIMMIT, CURTIS WALKER, THANYIA Tues 2 May, Warwick Arts Centre, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY RICHARDSON CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- MOORE & LATEEF LOVEJOY Sat 6 May, Coventry CHESTRA Featuring Ben Gernon (con- Wed 3 May, The Glee Club, B’ham mac, Birmingham THE VERDICT Powerful bestselling ductor) & Alison Balsom (trumpet). JON RICHARDSON Thurs 4 May, Birm- THE ALL-STAR STAND-UP TOUR Sat 6 courtroom thriller that inspired a Programme includes works by ingham Hippodrome Beethoven, Haydn & Dvorak, Thurs 4 May, Malvern Theatres multi-Academy Award-nominated STEVE HENN Fri 5 May, Palace The- May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham film, Tues 2 - Sat 6 May, Wolverhamp- atre, Redditch ton Grand Theatre THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSIC SERVICES TOM TAYLOR, NICK DIXON, RON VAUDRY TUBA QUARTET Featuring Michael DISCO INFERNO The Arcadians present & MATT GREEN Fri 5 May, The Glee Howley & Lewis Musson (Eupho- the story of ambitious and talented Club, Birmingham Theatre nium), Jonathan Truscott & Jonathan hopeful Jack Flash, a man with a Gawn (tuba), Fri 5 May, The Barber RUDI LICKWOOD, MARK NELSON, LEO 'burning' desire to make it in the TO SIR, WITH LOVE New staging of ER Institute, Birmingham KEARSE & SAM AVERY Fri 5 May, The music business at any cost, Tues 2 - Comedy Loft, Birmingham Braithwaite's powerful story, adapted Sat 6 May, The Crescent Theatre, TELEMANN WITH THE DA CAMERA TRIO for the stage by the writer of East Is Birmingham Fri 5 May, Old St Martin’s Church, ABIGOLIAH SCHAMAUN, BARRY DODDS & East, Ayub Khan-Din, until Sat 6 May, DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS THE MU- Worcester BEN BRIGGS Fri 5 May, Jongleurs The REP, Birmingham Comedy Club, Birmingham SICAL Nostalgic musical featuring HESS' QUINTET FOR CONTRABASSOON ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Iqbal Khan classic tracks from Roy Orbison, The OMID DJALILI Fri 5 May, Symphony whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List NEW Warwicks 1 - 7 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:48 Page 3

thelist Monday 1 - Sunday 7 May Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury, ber’s musical, set in America’s Deep ALL OR NOTHING: THE MOD MUSICAL Fri 5 - Sat 6 May, The Old Joint Stock Chuck Berry and many more, Tues 2 South, Wed 3 - Sat 6 May, Albany Following in the footsteps of other Theatre, Birmingham - Sat 6 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Theatre, Coventry ’60s jukebox musicals about The BRIAN CONLEY: THE GREATEST ENTER- Birmingham JUMPROV DEBUT SHOW Ninety-minute Beatles and The Kinks, All Or Nothing TAINER (IN HIS PRICE RANGE) All-new A JUDGEMENT IN STONE Ruth Rendell show completely made up on the tells the story of mod favourites The show featuring brand new comedy, thriller starring Andrew Lancel, So- spot and featuring classic improv Small Faces, Thurs 4 - Sat 6 May, sketches & songs, Sat 6 May, Eve- phie Ward & Shirley Anne Field, Tues games, Thurs 4 May, Old Joint Stock Belgrade Theatre, Coventry sham Arts Centre, Worcestershire 2 - Sat 6 May, Malvern Theatre Theatre, Birmingham OPERA COCKTAIL OperaUpClose pres- FORGET ME NOT: THE ALZHEIMER’S ARABIAN NIGHTS Presented by Birm- 1984 Birmingham Ormiston Academy ent a series of classics, including WHODUNNIT A one-man comedy po- ingham Ormiston Academy as part of present an amateur staging of Musetta’s aria from La Bohème, Car- etry theatre show about how we treat its Literally Dramatic season, Wed 3 George Orwell’s dystopian novel, men’s sexy Habanera, and the drink- and perceive people with dementia, May, The Old Rep, Birmingham Thurs 4 May, The Old Rep, B’ham ing song from La Traviata, Fri 5 May, Sat 6 May, mac, Birmingham The Roses, Tewkesbury I’M SORRY I’LL READ THAT AGAIN... THE WEDDING Through a blur of wed- DOREEN’S GRAND NIGHT OUT Satirical AGAIN The Offstage Theatre Group ding dresses and contractual obliga- MOBY DICK Birmingham Ormiston stand-up, music & video from the recreate the cult BBC Radio comedy tions, an ‘extraordinary ensemble’ Academy present an amateur staging Queen of the Black Country, Sat 6 show, Wed 3 May, Malvern Theatre guides the audience through the of Herman Melville’s classic tale, Fri 5 May, Swan Theatre, Worcester May, The Old Rep, Birmingham SCORCHED Told from the armchair of a struggle between love and anger, I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE care home and using new writing, creation and destruction, community IN TENTS AND PURPOSES Humorous, Theatre for younger audiences featur- physical theatre, period music, pup- and isolation, Thurs 4 - Sat 6 May, time-hopping story exploring whether ing fun, songs and plenty of audience petry and projection to create a haz- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry our lives are predetermined or participation, Sat 6 May, Swan The- ardous journey of remembrance, shaped by our choices, Fri 5 May, atre, Worcester mac, Birmingham Wed 3 - Thurs 4 May, Bridge House ONE LITTLE WORD ‘A beautiful and Theatre, Warwick SCOTTISH FALSETTO SOCK PUPPET THE- gentle’ story of friendship, power BETWEEN THE TWO Rochi Rampal & ATRE DO SHAKESPEARE Brand new struggles and the rich world of cre- Daniel Tyler's story asks, where do show of ‘songs, sketches, socks and ative play, Sat 6 May, Bridge House we belong when the maps are re- violence’, Fri 5 May, Artrix, Broms- Theatre, Warwick grove drawn?, Wed 3 - Thurs 4 May, The WONDER WOMAN; THE NAKED TRUTH REP, Birmingham QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE A ‘glori- Notnow Collective address family, WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND Amateur ous, uplifting celebration of the ur- parenthood and work-home subjects production of Andrew Lloyd Web- gent necessity to be your true self’, in a challenging, highly visual and im-

May 2017

Friday 12th May Friday 12th May Saturday 13th May 20B THE MARRAKESH THE BILLY JOEL EXPRESS SONGBOOK WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY A TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS WITH ELIO PACE & HIS BAND JANE ENGLISH AND CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG

Mozart & Salieri and Friday A Night in Vienna The opera follows the 19 apocrpyphal legend that May Antonio Salieri poisoned his 7.30pm rival Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Saturday 20th May Sunday 21st May Tuesday 23rd May BLAKE THE ELVES AND THE ALL-STAR Crossings the Saturday THE SHOEMAKER STAND-UP TOUR SONGS FROM STAGE & AN ENCHANTING TALE FOR WITH STEWART FRANCIS, Classics - Braxi SCREEN ALL THE FAMILY JUSTIN MOORHOUSE, JIM Back at the Albany, by popular 20 TAVARE & JARRED CHRISTMAS demand! International music May sensation Braxi. 7.30pm

Bob Brolly and Monday Friends An afternoon with 29 COMING SOON: Phil Beer, Scottish Falsetto Socks, Upbeat Beatles, Paul Richards & Griff Jameson, Big O & The Wilburys, Marc Roberts of beautiful May WYJO, Count Arthur Strong, Alfie Moore, Translucent Dance, Roy G Hemmings, Scott Gibson, Flash, songs not to be missed. 2.30pm Marcel Lucont, Unchained, Fred’s House, Quill, Ben van der Velde, George Zach, Sarah & Duck, BabaJack, Ayesha Hazarika, Totally Tina!...

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

54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks 1 - 7 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:48 Page 4

Monday 1 - Sunday 7 May

mersive way, Sat 6 May, Palace The- occasionally, music. This particular edy. Starring Joan Collins, Pauline NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE TRUST atre, Redditch outing features Worcestershire Poet Collins. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, MEMBERS DAY Featuring a variety of BRING ON THE BOLLYWOOD A glitzy the- Laureate Emeritus and past Birming- Tues 2 - Thurs 4 May full-size and miniature traction en- atrical experience inspired by real ham Poet Laureate Giovanni ‘Spoz’ A QUIET PASSION (12a) gines, Mon 1 May, British Motor Mu- stories of love and infused with con- Esposito, Mon 8 May, Artrix, Broms- Biography/Drama. Starring Cynthia seum, Gaydon tributions from the writings of Oliver grove Nixon, Jennifer Ehle. Royal Spa Cen- COSTUMED TOUR OF SOHO HOUSE Ex- Goldsmith and Shakespeare, Sat 6 - tre, Leamington Spa, Tues 2 - Mon 8 plore the elegant Georgian home of Sat 13 May, Belgrade Theatre, May Birmingham's foremost industrialist Coventry STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (12a) Matthew Boulton, Mon 1 May, Soho SLEUTH Amateur staging of Anthony Adventure/Fantasy. Starring Daisy Ri- House, Birmingham Shaffer’s whodunnit, set in an English Film dley, John Boyega. The Mockingbird FOUR CENTURIES BOOK TALK Find out country house owned by a famous INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Cinema, Birmingham, Thurs 4 May why Charlecote has one of the best li- writer, Sat 6 - Sat 13 May, Oldbury NERUDA (12) Biography/Crime. Star- braries in the Trust with this talk, cov- Rep ering four centuries of books from the LOST CITY OF Z (15) Adventure/Biogra- ring Gael García Bernal, Luis SKELLIG Realistic portrayal of family Gnecco. Foreign language, subtitled. Lucy family collection, Wed 3 May, phy. Starring Charlie Hunnam, Robert Charlecote Park, Warwick life adapted from the award-winning Pattinson. Roses Theatre, Tewkes- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs novel by David Almond, Sat 6 - Sat bury, until Wed 3 May 4 May BACKSTAGE TOUR: FAMILY Discover the 13 May, Criterion Theatre, Coventry rarely seen backstage areas of the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (12a) DON'T LOOK BACK (15) THE LARAMIE PROJECT Iconic play, Documentary/Music. Starring Bob theatre, as The REP invites you to be Adventure/Sci-Fi. Starring Chris Pratt, an audience member, set builder, rarely performed in the UK, about the Zoe Saldana. Electric Cinema, Birm- Dylan. mac, Birmingham, Fri 5 - Sat 6 gay hate crime that shocked the May prosthetics maker or assistant stage ingham, until Thurs 4 May manager, Thurs 4 May, The REP, world and led to the US's Matthew DENIAL (12a) Biography/Drama. Star- Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (15) Drama. Birmingham Starring Jim Broadbent, Charlotte ring Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson. Ar- Sat 6 - Sat 20 May, Crescent Theatre, trix, Bromsgrove, Fri 5 - Sat 6 May GUNG-HO! Thrill-seekers will hit Birmingham Rampling. Warwick Arts Centre, speeds of up to 40mph on Europe’s Coventry, until Thurs 4 May THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (U) Anima- tallest inflatable slide, which has been ULLA’S ODYSSEY OperaUpClose pres- tion/Action. With the voices of Will Ar- ent a nautical fantasy fusing puppetry THEIR FINEST (12a) Comedy/Drama. transformed for the world’s biggest Starring Gemma Arterton, Sam nett, Michael Cera. Warwick Arts inflatable obstacle course’s return to and live music, Sun 7 May, mac, Centre, Coventry, Sat 6 May Birmingham Claflin. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, the Midlands, Sat 6 May, Cofton Park, Sat 6 - Thurs 11 May BALLERINA (U) Animation/Adventure. Birmingham SWALLOWS & AMAZONS (PG) Family. With the voices of Elle Fanning, Dane Starring Kelly Macdonald, Andrew DeHaan. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Scott. mac, Birmingham, Mon 1 May Sat 6 May Dance ALL ABOUT EVE (U) Adventure/Biogra- THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (U) phy. Starring Bette Davis, Anne Bax- Comedy/Drama. Starring Catherine ter. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon Deneuve, George Chakiris. Roses ALICE IN WONDERLAND Ballet Theatre Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 6 May UK present a choreographed per- 1 May formance of Lewis Carroll’s classic MAD MAX FURY ROAD (15) THE DEATH OF MR LAZARESCU (12a) children’s tale, Fri 5 May, Swan The- Adventure/Sci-Fi. Starring Tom Hardy, Drama. Starring Ion Fiscuteanu, Lu- atre, Worcester Charlize Theron. The Mockingbird minita Gheorghiu. Foreign language, Cinema, Birmingham, Mon 1 - Tues 2 subtitled. mac, Birmingham, Sun 7 May May BUNCH OF KUNST (18) FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (PG) Ro- Documentary/Biography. Starring An- mance/War. Starring Burt Lancaster, ALTHORP FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL drew Fearn, Sleaford Mods. The Deborah Kerr. Highbury Theatre, Sut- Celebrating the very best independ- Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, ton Coldfield, Sun 7 May ent food and drink produce in Mon 1 - Wed 3 May Northamptonshire and the surround- ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST ing counties, Sat 6 - Sun 7 May, Al- (15) Drama. Starring Jack Nicholson, NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: thorp House, Northants Louise Fletcher. Warwick Arts Centre, SOOTY'S BIRTHDAY BAKE OFF Direct Coventry, Mon 1 & Wed 3 May from the hit CITV series, Sooty, MULHOLLAND DRIVE (15) Released from Fri 5 May, showing at Sweep and Soo bake a chocolate Mystery/Thriller. Starring Justin Ther- selected cinemas cake with a sprinkle of Cadbury oux, Naomi Watts. Stoke Film The- A DOG’S PURPOSE (PG) magic, Sat 6 - Sun 7 May, Cadbury World, Bournville, Birmingham Talks atre, Tues 2 May; mac, Birmingham, HARMONIUM (15) Mon 1 - Thurs 4 May ENDURANCE LEGENDS The UK’s only MINDHORN (15) four-hour classic endurance race, Sat POETRY SLAM 2017 Tues 2 May, THE ELEPHANT MAN (PG) SLEEPLESS (15) 6 - Sun 7 May, Donington Park Rac- Palace Theatre, Redditch Biography/Drama. Starring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt. mac, Birming- UNLOCKED (15) ing Circuit, Derby DEMONS OF THE MIND: MADNESS & ham, Tues 2 May THE CLASSIC LAND ROVER SHOW A two- TEMPTATION IN TUDOR & STUART ENG- WHISKY GALORE! (PG) day show, now in its third year, Sat 6 - LAND Talk by Darren Oldridge, Profes- JACKIE (15) Biography/Drama. Star- Sun 7 May, British Motor Museum, sor of Early Modern History, Wed 3 ring Natalie Portman, Peter Sars- Gaydon May, The Hive, Worcester gaard. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 2 - Wed 3 May RETRO KIDS CARTOONS CELEBRATION AN AUDIENCE WITH MARTIN KEMP An Relive an ’80s childhood with lots of evening of conversation with the THE SALESMAN (12a) Drama/Thriller. Events fun and activities, Sun 7 May, Forge actor, musician and occasional TV Starring Taraneh Alidoosti, Shahab Mill Needle Museum, Redditch presenter, Thurs 4 May, Palace The- Hosseini. Foreign language, subti- TRADITIONAL MAY DAY Celebrate May atre, Redditch tled. Malvern Theatres, Tues 2 & Day with maypole dancing, Morris- TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Explore 550 Thurs 4 May; Roses Theatre, Tewkes- stands filled with all kinds of collecta- LICENCED TO RHYME Monthly spoken- dancing, mummers plays, music and bury, Thurs 4 May bles from the UK’s leading dealers, word event fusing poetry, prose and, merriment, Mon 1 May, Avoncroft Mu- THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (12a) Com- seum, Bromsgrove Sun 7 May, NEC, Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List NEW Warwicks 8 - 14 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:46 Page 1

thelist Monday 8 - Sunday 14 May Gigs Classical Comedy

KING OF POP Mon 8 THOMAS TROTTER LUNCHTIME ORGAN COUNT ARTHUR STRONG Wed 10 May, May, New Alexandra CONCERT Programme includes works Artrix, Bromsgrove Theatre, Birmingham by Vaughan Williams, Wammes, BARBARA NICE, MAUREEN YOUNGER Hollins, Locklair & Widor, Mon 8 May, Wed 10 May, Kitchen Garden Cafe, J HUS Mon 8 May, O2 Birmingham Town Hall Institute, Birmingham Birmingham PATIENCE English Touring Opera pres- THE ALL-STAR STAND-UP TOUR Wed 10 THE PARROTS Mon 8 ents its version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s May, Hare & Hounds, May, Stratford Artshouse, Stratford- Victorian romp, Mon 8 May, Warwick upon-Avon Birmingham Arts Centre, Coventry ASH MAMMAL Mon 8 JOHN HASTINGS, JARLATH REGAN & ULSTER ORCHESTRA Featuring Rafael COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY May, The Sunflower Payare (conductor) & Alina Ibragi- Lounge, Birmingham RICHARDSON Thurs 11 May, The Glee mova (violin). Programme includes Club, Birmingham THE RIFLES Mon 8 May, works by Brahms & Sibelius, Mon 8 The Glee Club, B’ham May, Birmingham Town Hall COUNT ARTHUR STRONG Thurs 11 May, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa C DUNCAN Mon 8 May, BEATRICE RANA PERFORMS BACH’S Hare & Hounds, B’ham GOLDBERG VARIATIONS Tues 9 May, BONFIRE RADICALS Mon Birmingham Town Hall 8 May, Kitchen Garden ALEXAI KISELIOV (PIANO) & ANDREY Cafe, Birmingham IVANOV (PIANO) Programme com- LANKUM Mon 8 May, prises Rachmaninov’s Sonata for mac, Birmingham Cello & Piano in G minor Op.19, Tues 9 May, Lyttleton Lecture Theatre, DAPHNE’S FLIGHT Tues 9 Birmingham & Midland Institute May, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester TOSCA English Touring Opera pres- Jon Boden - Birmingham Town Hall ents its version of Puccini’s ‘most fa- NAPALM DEATH Tues 9 MARK THOMAS Thurs 11 May, Station River Rooms, Stour- DIIO - A TRIBUTE TO RON- mous’ opera, Tues 9 May, Warwick May, O2 Institute, Birm- Arts Centre, Coventry Pub, Sutton Coldfield ingham bridge NIE JAMES DIO Sat 13 JOHN HASTINGS, JARLATH REGAN, DJ FORMAT & ABDOMI- May, Route 44, B’ham CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- THE MARRAKESH EX- LLOYD LANGFORD & CARLY SMALLMAN NAL Fri 12 May, Hare & THE MARLEY EXPERIENCE CHESTRA Featuring John Wilson (con- PRESS Tues 9 May, ductor), Rachel Kelly (Mezzo Fri 12 May, The Glee Club, B’ham Kitchen Garden Cafe, Hounds, Birmingham Sat 13 May, The Road- soprano) & Neal Davies (baritone). RICH WILSON, DAMIAN CLARK, STEVE Birmingham ADAM ANT Fri 12 May, house, Birmingham Programme includes works by BUGEJA & COMIC TBC Fri 12 May, The Symphony Hall, B’ham CKY Sat 13 May, O2 THE REAL THING Thurs Vaughan Williams & Bax, Wed 10 Comedy Loft, Birmingham 11 May, Malvern The- TASHA TAYLOR Fri 12 Academy, Birmingham May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ANDY ZALTZMAN Fri 12 May, The Glee atres, Worcester May, The Iron Road, ELIO PACE PERFORMS ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: JENNIFER Club, Birmingham CHARLOTTE CHURCH'S Evesham THE BILLY JOEL SONG- PIKE PLAYS MOZART Conductor tbc. REGINALD D HUNTER Fri 12 May, New LATE NIGHT POP DUN- RUBIO Fri 12 May, Katie BOOK Sat 13 May, Artrix, Programme includes works by Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham GEON Fri 12 May, O2 In- Fitzgerald's, Stour- Birmingham Haydn/Mozart, Mozart & Schubert, stitute, Birmingham bridge THE MACHINE RAGES ON Wed 10 May, Malvern Theatre TERRY ALDERTON Fri 12 May, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa ELHAE Fri 12 May, O2 CROWS Fri 12 May, The Sat 13 May, The Flap- BRAHMS SEXTET Featuring Caroline Institute, Birmingham Fleece Inn, Evesham per, Birmingham Simon & Gabriel Dyker (violins), HARRIET KEMSLEY & KATE LUCAS Fri 12 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre FAILURE IS AN OPTION Fri WRECKLESS ERIC Fri 12 THREE BLIND MICE Sat Catherine Bower & Amy Thomas (vi- 12 May, O2 Academy, May, The Marr's Bar, 13 May, Katie Fitzger- olas), Eduardo Vassallo & Helen JOHN HASTINGS, JARLATH REGAN, Birmingham Worcester ald's, Stourbridge Edgar (cellos), Programme com- LLOYD LANGFORD & CARLY SMALLMAN THE CRIBS Sat 13 May, prises Brahms' String Sextet in B flat, Sat 13 May, The Glee Club, B’ham IMAGINED ISLE Fri 12 - RED SHOES Fri 12 May, Op.18, Thurs 11 May, CBSO Centre, O2 Institute, B’ham RICH WILSON, DAMIAN CLARK, STEVE Sun 14 May Birming- Palace Theatre, Red- Birmingham ham Town Hall ditch THE JAPANESE HOUSE BUGEJA & COMIC TBC Sat 13 May, The Sat 13 May, O2 Insti- COULL QUARTET: MASTER & PUPIL Pro- Comedy Loft, Birmingham THE STARS FROM THE RAYMOND FROGGATT Fri gramme includes works by Britten, tute, Birmingham JOHN LYNN, JULIET MEYERS & SIMON COMMITMENTS Fri 12 12 May, The Roses Bridge, Haydn & Beethoven, Thurs BLIGH Sat 13 May, Jongleurs Com- May, The Robin, Theatre, Tewkesbury RABSCALLION Sat 13 11 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coven- edy Club, Birmingham Wolverhampton THE FESTIVALS EXPERI- May, Birmingham Town try Hall OMID DJALILI Sat 13 May, Warwick THE MARRAKESH EX- ENCE Sat 13 May, The MICHAEL TSALKA FORTEPIANO Arts Centre, Coventry PRESS Fri 12 May, Ar- River Rooms, Stour- FAIRPORT CONVENTION Lunchtime concert featuring works trix, Bromsgrove bridge Sat 13 May, Birming- by CPE Bach, WF Bach, Mozart, SUSAN CALMAN Sat 13 May, Hunting- ALABAMA 3 Fri 12 May, THE UNDERCOVER HIPPY ham Town Hall Cherubini & Beethoven, Fri 12 May, don Hall, Worcester The Assembly, Leam- Sat 13 May, The Slade MR PUNCH PERFORMS The Barber Institute, Birmingham ALFIE MOORE Sat 13 May, Artrix, ington Spa Rooms, W’hampton MARILLION Sun 14 May, ACADEMIA MUSICA CHOIR A perform- Bromsgrove THE QUO Fri 12 May, BUDDY HOLLY - A LEGEND The Robin, Wolver- ance of celebrated choral music in- ANDY PARSONS Sat 13 May, The Old The Roadhouse, B’ham REBORN Sat 13 May, Al- hampton cluding works by Stanford, Howells & Rep Theatre, Birmingham COME UP & SEE ME Fri bany Theatre, Coventry MANTRA Sun 14 May, Parry, Sat 13 May, Great Malvern Pri- DESI CENTRAL, PRINCE ABID, GUZ KHAN, 12 May, Drummonds SCREAMING QUAYS Sat The Sunflower Lounge, ory SINDHU VEE, ESHANN AKBAR & PATRICK Bar, Worcester 13 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham MONAHAN Sun 14 May, The Glee WHILE SHE SLEEPS Fri Birmingham JON BODEN Sun 14 May, Club, Birmingham 12 May, The Asylum, GENESIS VISIBLE TOUCH Birmingham Town Hall AL MURRAY Sun 14 May, Royal Birmingham Sat 13 May, The As- BOSSK & OHHMS Sun 14 Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- DEFINITELY MIGHTBE & sembly, Leamington May, The Flapper, Birm- upon-Avon ADORED Fri 12 May, The Spa ingham 56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks 8 - 14 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:46 Page 2

Monday 8 - Sunday 14 May

May, The Rep, Birmingham Theatre RENT Brand new production of the award-winning rock musical, telling WOMAN IN WHITE Mon 8 - Sat 13 May, the story of a group of impoverished The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster young artists struggling to survive in New York's East Village in the thriving THE CHERRY ORCHARD Anton days of Bohemian excess, Tues 9 - Chekhov’s play about loss in a soci- Sat 13 May, Belgrade Theatre, ety in transition, Mon 8 - Sat 13 May, Coventry Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth EVITA Emma Hatton (Wicked) stars as LA STRADA Sally Cookson's stage Eva Peron in Tim Rice & Andrew adaptation of Federico Fellini's Oscar- Lloyd Webber’s smash-hit musical, winning movie masterpiece, Mon 8 - Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, Wolverhampton Sat 13 May, The REP, Birmingham Grand Theatre OUT OF ORDER Andrew Hall, Susie FUNNY GIRL Sheridan Smith takes the Amy, Shaun Williamson & Sue Hold- lead in the touring production of the erness star in Ray Cooney’s Olivier much-loved musical, Mon 8 - Sat 13 Award-winning farce, Mon 8 - Sat 13 May, Birmingham Hippodrome May, Malvern Theatre RENT - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry LUCKY SODS John Godber’s candid TRUE BRITS An honest, humorous and black comedy about a couple who classic opera, Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Amateur hopeful play about wanting to love have nothing on a Friday and are mil- The Core, Solihull production of the cult musical, per- and be loved, Tues 9 May, Bridge lionaires on a Saturday, Tues 9 - Sat A WOMB OF ONE’S OWN Ambitious four- formed by MTW, Wed 10 - Sat 13 House Theatre, Warwick 13 May, Blue Orange Theatre, Birm- hander in which four different ac- May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry MEET FRED Hijinx Theatre present ‘an ingham tresses play Babygirl and an absurd MAY UTANG New work written & per- innovative production with an urgent OLIVER! Amateur production pre- cast of characters, Wed 10 May, Old formed by Jules Orcullo, Thurs 11 human story at its heart’. Suitable for sented by the Tudor Musical Comedy Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham May, Shop Front Theatre, Coventry audience members aged 14-plus, Society, Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, Sutton 9 TO 5 Amateur production presented THE OTHER SIDE A play for today, told Tues 9 May, mac, Birmingham Coldfield Town Hall by students of the Wolverhampton by the voices of yesterday, Thurs 11 - I WANT LOVE (PART 1) Hannah Ring- AIDA Solihull Theatre Company pres- Musical Theatre, Wed 10 - Sat 13 Fri 12 May, Birmingham And Midland ham's story of a break up and a ent an amateur staging of Verdi’s May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton Institute search for new love, Tues 9 - Wed 10

whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List NEW Warwicks 8 - 14 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:46 Page 3 The List NEW Warwicks 8 - 14 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:46 Page 4

thelist Monday 8 - Sunday 14 May AM I DEAD YET? A show asking what THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY Hit PROFESSOR BRIAN COX LIVE ‘A daz- money raised will support the chil- happens when we die, how we think West End show using huge projec- zling journey through space and dren of fallen heroes and the Fire about dying and whether some of us tion photos and original film footage time, delving into high science and Service, Fri 12 - Sat 13 May, Sixways might be brought back, Thurs 11 - to celebrate the iconic American duo, freewheeling on the edges of the Stadium, Worcester Sat 13 May, The Rep, Birmingham Sun 14 May, Wolverhampton Grand known cosmos’, Fri 12 May, Barclay- THE HANDMADE FAIR Get making and VICE VERSA ‘Side-splitting’ romp, lov- Theatre card Arena, Birmingham learn from the experts, plus over 150 ingly ripped off from the Roman hand-picked sellers in the Shopping comedies of Plautus, Thurs 11 May - Village, Fri 12 - Sun 14 May, Ragley Sat 9 Sept, The Swan Theatre, Strat- Hall, Warwickshire ford-upon-Avon Film BODYPOWER EXPO 2017 The biggest 20B Brand new drama unearthing the Dance indoor fitness expo in the world, Fri stories of a demolished council es- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: 12 - Sun 14 May, NEC, Birmingham tate in East London, Fri 12 May, Ar- 2FACED DANCE: RUN Triple bill featur- MATCHROOM BOXING - THE HOMECOM- trix, Bromsgrove ing new commissions by Tamsin DENIAL (12a) Mystery/Sci-Fi. Starring ING Kal Yafai makes the first defence FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Hot- Fitzgerald, Lenka Vagnerova and Re- of his WBA World Super-Flyweight becca Evans, Tues 9 May, Malvern Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson. Artrix, buckle Productions Theatre Com- Bromsgrove, Mon 8 - Tues 9 May title, Sat 13 May, Barclaycard Arena, pany present a staging of Thomas Theatre Birmingham DEPARTURES (12a) Drama/Music. Star- Hardy’s literary classic, Fri 12 May REUNION Ana Morales Flamenco Co & NATIONAL MILLS DAY Visit the needle The Swan Theatre, Worcester Flamenco Edition ’17 present an ring Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue. Showing includes short film The Of- museum at a reduced price, Sat 13 SOUL IN THE MACHINE Saltmine The- evening of passionate flamenco, Wed May, Forge Mill Needle Museum, 10 - Thurs 11 May, DanceXchange, fering. Foreign language, subtitled. atre Company present ‘a play for any- mac, Birmingham, Wed 10 May Redditch one who works for a living’, Fri 12 The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hip- podrome MOONLIGHT (15) Drama. Starring Ma- EVENING HOUSE TOURS 2017 See the May, Albany Theatre, Coventry house by night and discover the his- MK ULTRA Rosie Kay Dance Company hershala Ali, Shariff Earp. Albany I AM JOAN One-woman show about Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 11 May tory of the collection, Sat 13 May, trauma, resilience and self-belief, Fri present a supercharged mash-up of Packwood House, Solihull 12 May, mac, Birmingham dance, music and imagery inspired LION (12a) Biography/Drama. Starring by the bizarre realm of pop-culture Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman. Artrix, INDEPENDENT BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL ALL IS WELL New writing exploring the mind-control conspiracies, Thurs 11 - Bromsgrove, Fri 12 May Showcasing the very best of Birming- true cost of nuclear power, Fri 12 - Fri 12 May, Warwick Arts Centre, ham’s independent restaurants, bars, Sat 13 May, mac, Birmingham ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST pubs, street food traders, retailers, Coventry (15) Drama. Starring Jack Nicholson, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS Bear Pit The- artists, designers and producers, Sat Louise Fletcher. mac, Birmingham, 13 May, The Bond Complex, B’ham atre Company present an amateur Fri 12 - Sat 13 May production of Richard Bean's West MAGICAL LANDS Selly Manor is trans- End and Broadway hit, Fri 12 - Sat 20 THE PRINCESS BRIDE (PG) Family/Fan- formed into magical kingdoms from May, The Bear Pit Theatre - The tasy. Starring Cary Elwes, Mandy classic stories and fairytales. Meet United Reformed Church, Stratford- Patinkin. mac, Birmingham, Sat 13 Snow White, Peter Pan, Cinderella upon-Avon May and Jack and his beanstalk. Visit the DON'T DRIBBLE ON THE DRAGON Chil- GHOST IN THE SHELL (12a) School of Wizardry, enjoy storytelling dren’s show based on the new book Crime/Drama. Starring Scarlett Jo- sessions and a ‘magical’ trail, Sat 13 by Steven Lee, with magic designed hansson, Pilou Asbæk. Roses The- May, Selly Manor, Birmingham by the late Paul Daniels, Sat 13 May, atre, Tewkesbury, Sat 13 May NATIONAL MILLS WEEKEND See Avon- The Swan Theatre, Worcester THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (15) Drama. croft’s historic Lister mill in action, BRIAN CONLEY: THE GREATEST ENTER- Starring Jim Broadbent, Charlotte visit the 19th century windmill and TAINER (IN HIS PRICE RANGE) All-new Rampling. Roses Theatre, Tewkes- celebrate the local milling heritage, show featuring brand new comedy, bury, Sun 14 - Thurs 18 May Sat 13 - Sun 14 May, Avoncroft Mu- sketches & songs, Sat 13 May, New seum, Bromsgrove Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ASIAN SPRING 2017 Lively celebration TRUXX FACTOR Family-friendly week- of South Asian dance, Sun 14 May, NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: THE STARSHIP OSIRIS Award-winning end featuring all things trucking, Sat Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, 13 - Sun 14 May, Santa Pod Race- intergalactic comedy farce from Willis Birmingham & Vere, Sat 13 May, Old Joint Stock Released from Fri 12 May, showing at way, Northants Theatre, Birmingham SUMMIT Showcase of youth dance selected cinemas UK SLOT CAR FESTIVAL Showcasing from across Worcestershire, Sun 14 ALIEN: COVENANT (18) the world of Scalextric, Sat 13 - Sun JUST LIKE THAT! ‘All-encapsulating’ May, Artrix, Bromsgrove celebration of Tommy Cooper, Sat 13 FRANTZ (12a) 14 May, British Motor Museum, Gay- don May, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham JAWBONE (15) PUGFEST BIRMINGHAM The UK’s MORBID CURIOSITIES: QUEENS OF VIC- MISS SLOANE (15) TORIAN HORROR Don’t Go Into The biggest pug festival returns to Birm- MANHATTAN (12a) Cellar pay homage to the gothic liter- ingham for a Jurassic Pug charity ature of 19th century female authors, Talks fundraising event, Sun 14 May, Paw- Sat 13 May, Palace Theatre, Redditch Pounders Dog Daycare Centre, Birm- LICENCED TO RHYME Monthly spoken- ingham THE TAP DANCING MERMAID Production word event fusing poetry, prose and, AVONCROFT AIR-COOLED VW SHOW Vin- for younger audiences which fuses occasionally, music. This particular puppetry, original live music & tap Events tage and modern, bugs and vans - outing features Worcestershire Poet celebrate everything Volkswagen at dancing, Sun 14 May, Warwick Arts Laureate Emeritus and past Birming- WWE LIVE WWE stars live in action, this special VW day, Sun 14 May, Centre, Coventry ham Poet Laureate Giovanni ‘Spoz’ Wed 10 May, Genting Arena, B’ham Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove THE DEATH SHOW Lucy Nicholls & An- Esposito, Mon 8 May, Artrix, Broms- tonia Beck invite audiences to cele- grove BAMMA 29 Mixed martial arts promo- DUNSTALL CASTLE OPEN DAY Climb the tion, Fri 12 May, Genting Arena, Birm- steep staircase to the top of the tower brate their own mortality, stick two AN AUDIENCE WITH ALLAN LAMB An fingers up at the Grim Reaper and ingham to get views across the estate to the evening with the ex-Northampton- Rotunda and surrounding country- discover why talking about death is WORLD RECORD RUGBY ATTEMPT AND shire and England cricketer, Thurs 11 side, Sun 14 May, Croome Park, incredibly life-affirming, Sun 14 May, PARTY NIGHT Forty-six players take on May, The Bramall, University of Birm- Worcester mac, Birmingham ingham the ultimate rugby challenge. All

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List NEW Warwicks 15 - 21 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:41 Page 1

thelist Monday 15 - Sunday 21 May May, The Assembly, O2 Institute, B’ham Gigs Leamington Spa PANIC ROOM Fri 19 May, Classical Music Comedy THE BIG WOLF BAND The Robin, W’hampton Thurs 18 May, The GAVIN DEGRAW Mon 15 ALEXANDER O'NEAL Fri RAVI SHANKAR’S SUKANYA Ravi TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 15 May, Roadhouse, B’ham May, O2 Institute, Birm- 19 May, New Alexandra Shankar’s only opera, a mythical love The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham story told through music & dance, ingham ARIANA GRANDE Thurs Theatre, Birmingham MILTON JONES Mon 15 May, The Core 18 May, Genting Arena, Mon 15 May, Symphony Hall, B’ham THE SEARCHERS Mon 15 CROSSING THE CLASSICS Theatre, Solihull Birmingham JENNIFER PIKE PLAYS MOZART May, Belgrade Theatre, - BRAXI Sat 20 May, Al- Pro- NATHAN CATON, SOFIE HAGEN & COM- Coventry JANE WEAVER Thurs 18 bany Theatre, Coventry gramme includes works by Haydn, EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON May, Hare & Hounds, Mozart & Schubert, Tues 16 May, HARRY POTTER AND THE IVORY WAVE & SOCIAL Thurs 18 May, The Glee Club, B’ham Birmingham Stratford Artshouse PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IN STATE Sat 20 May, The PATRICK MONAHAN Thurs 18 May, Ar- MARTYNAS LEVICKIS CONCERT Mon 15 May, MADISON VIOLET Thurs Sunflower Lounge, Tues 16 May, trix, Bromsgrove 18 May, Kitchen Gar- Birmingham Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Barclaycard Arena, MICKY FLANAGAN Thurs 18 - Sat 20 den Cafe, Birmingham GUANGZHOU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Birmingham ‘LOZ GODDARD & ADAM May, Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham ROGER HODGSON Thurs TURNER Sat 20 May, PERFORMS THE FIREBIRD Featuring SKRAECKOEDLAN (SWE) HILARITY CHARITY GALA Thurs 18 May, + PROSPERINA Tues 16 18 May, Symphony Hare & Hounds, B’ham Long Lu (conductor), Jian Wang (cello) & Lei Jia (sheng). Programme Wolverhampton Grand Theatre May, The Iron Road, Hall, Birmingham THE DISTRICTS Sat 20 includes works by Britten, Ye Xiao- NATHAN CATON, ERIC LAMPAERT, CHRIS Evesham KATHRYN TICKELL AND May, O2 Institute, Birm- gang, Zhao Lin & Stravinsky, Tues 16 MCCAUSLAND & CLINT EDWARDS Fri 19 THE SIDE Thurs 18 May, ingham JOHN DOYLE Tues 16 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham May, The Glee Club, Birmingham May, Kitchen Garden mac, Birmingham TOO REX - TRIBUTE TO ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN Featuring ROSS NOBLE, JEFF INNOCENT, VINCE Cafe, Birmingham BUDDY HOLLY AND THE MARC BOLAN & T-REX Jennifer Pike (violin) & Franz Anton ATTA & SCOTT BENNETT Fri 19 May, CRICKETERS Thurs 18 Sat 20 May, The Road- IRVING BERLIN WITH Krager (conductor). Programme in- The Comedy Loft, Birmingham ROBERT HABERMAN Tues May, Malvern Theatres, house, Birmingham cludes Haydn/Mozart's Symphony RICH HALL Fri 19 May, Stourbridge 16 May, The Core The- Worcestershire IVOR & LYN'S CLASSIC No.25/37; Mozart's Violin Concerto Town Hall atre, Solihull DIGITAL SWING Fri 19 ROCK NIGHT Sat 20 May, No. 3 in G K216 & Schubert's Sym- HAWKWIND Tues 16 May, The Copper Route 44, Birmingham phony No.5 in Bb, Tues 16 May, ANDREW LAWRENCE Fri 19 May, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa May, O2 Institute, Birm- Rooms, Coventry GEHTIKA Sat 20 May, O2 Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon- ingham POST WAR GLAMOUR Academy, Birmingham Avon ANDY PARSONS Fri 19 May, Hunting- don Hall, Worcester NATIVES Wed 17 May, GIRLS, MATTERS, ‘THE MEHARIS Sat 20 MARTIN JAMES BARTLETT PIANO CON- O2 Academy, B’ham GHOSTS OF DEAD AIR- May, Katie Fitzgerald's, CERT Programme includes works by J KABARET ANI MRU-MRU Sat 20 May, PLANES & FAUXCHISELS NATALIE IMBRUGLIA Wed Stourbridge S Bach, Enrique Granados The Bramall, Birmingham Fri 19 May, The Sun- Goyescas; Ginastera, Schumann, 17 May, O2 Institute, TWIN ATLANTIC Sat 20 NATHAN CATON, ERIC LAMPAERT, CHRIS flower Lounge, B’ham Vladimir Horowitz & Morton Gould, Birmingham May, The Copper MCCAUSLAND & CLINT EDWARDS Sat ATHLETICO Fri 19 May, Wed 17 May, The Barber Institute, STEVE RODGERS & HIS Rooms, Coventry 20 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham Hare & Hounds, B’ham Birmingham BAND Wed 17 May, The THE 'TAKE THAT' SPEC- DANNY MCLOUGHLIN, JEFF INNOCENT, CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- Iron Road, Evesham ELECTRIC BALLROOM Fri TACULAR WITH VINCE ATTA & SCOTT BENNETT Sat 20 19 May, The Iron Road, CHESTRA: SYMPHONIC DANCES Featur- BRUNCH, MODERN RITU- 'TAKE@THAT' Sat 20 May, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Evesham ing Karina Canellakis (conductor) & May, Nailcote Hall, TROY HAWKE, STEVE SHANYASKI & ALS, COFFEE BREATH & Cedric Tiberghien (piano). Pro- OLLIE HUGHES AS ROBBIE Berkswell, Warwick- RORY O'HANLON LAST LIGHT Wed 17 gramme includes works by Franck, Sat 20 May, Jon- WILLIAMS Fri 19 May, shire gleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham May, The Sunflower Saint-Saens & Rachmaninov, Wed 17 The River Rooms, Lounge, Birmingham SWEDE DREAMZ Sat 20 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham DAVE JOHNS AND GUESTS Sat 20 May, Stourbridge May, The River Rooms, The Core Theatre, Solihull JOE LONGTHORNE Wed THE OPERA BOYS Fri 19 May, The Core STONE FARM Fri 19 May, Stourbridge 17 May, Palace The- Theatre, Solihull JACK ROOKE Sat 20 May, Royal Spa Drummonds Bar, atre, Redditch U2-2 Sat 20 May, The on Spa SUZANNE FISCHER (SOPRANO) & Centre, Leamingt Worcester Robin, Wolverhampton WHEATUS Wed 17 May, PANARETOS KYRIATZIDIS (PIANO) Pro- BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 20 THE VAMPS Fri 19 May, O2 Academy, B’ham SIMPLY MORE RED Sat gramme includes works by Schubert, May, Artrix, Bromsgrove Genting Arena, B’ham 20 May, Palace The- KATHRYN TICKELL AND Hugo Wolf, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, BRIDGET CHRISTIE Sun 21 May, The THE BOSS UK Fri 19 May, atre, Redditch THE SIDE Wed 17 May, Debussy & Walton, Fri 19 May, The REP, Birmingham Huntingdon Hall, The Assembly, Leam- THE FREESTYLERS Sat Barber Institute, Birmingham TEZ ILYAS Sun 21 May, Warwick Arts Worcester ington Spa 20 May, The Assembly, CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: UNDER Centre, Coventry CHRIS CLEVERLEY BAND ROY G HEMMINGS' MO- Leamington Spa THE SITAR WITH CITIZEN KHAN Featur- Wed 17 May, The Red TOWN SHOW Fri 19 May, SIMON GOODALL & THE ing Michael Seal (conductor), Adil Lion Folk Club, B’ham Artrix, Bromsgrove BOURNE AGAIN SHAD- Ray (presenter) & Surinder Sandhu KING KING Thurs 18 LEFTFIELD Fri 19 May, OWS Sat 20 May, Num- (Musical Director), Fri 19 May, Sym- ber 8 Community Arts phony Hall, Birmingham Theatre Centre, Worcester BLAKE Sat 20 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove RIVERSIDE Sun 21 May, CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CHOIR: BELSHAZ- DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER Sara Crowe, The Assembly, Leam- ZAR’S FEAST Featuring Michael Seal Damian Willians & Ben Roddy star in ington Spa (conductor), Sat 20 May, Symphony Marc Camoletti’s comedy of confu- SIMPLE MINDS Sun 21 Hall, Birmingham sion, Mon 15 - Sat 20 May, Malvern May, Symphony Hall, INTRICATE WEB: THE CHAMBER MUSIC Theatre Birmingham OF LIZ JOHNSON Sat 20 May, CBSO STREET CHILD Amateur staging IRON MAIDEN Sun 21 Centre, Birmingham adapted from Berlie Doherty’s May, Barclaycard NATHAN LAUBE IN CONCERT Sat 20 Carnegie Medal-winning book, which Arena, Birmingham May, St Chad’s Cathedral, B’ham highlights the dreadful conditions of Victorian London, Mon 15 - Sat 20 WHISKEY MYERS Sun 21 STRATFORD CONCERT BAND SPRING May, Malvern Theatre May, O2 Institute, Birm- CONCERT Sat 20 May, Stratford ingham MISS MEENA & THE MASALA QUEENS King King - The Assembly, Leamington Spa Artshouse New work inspired by the British 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks 15 - 21 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:41 Page 2

Monday 15 - Sunday 21 May

Asian drag queen community which lyrics by Pete Townshend, Wed 17 - uncovers the untold stories of men Sat 27 May, The Rep, Birmingham who choose a female persona by RICHARD CARPENTER’S CLOSE TO YOU night, Tues 16 - Sat 20 May, Warwick An epic concert of catchy tunes and Arts Centre, Coventry harrowing psychological trauma from LA CAGE AUX FOLLES John Partridge, the smiliest piano player in pop-rock Adrian Zmed and Marti Webb star in history, Thurs 18 May, Old Joint a new touring production of the Stock Theatre, Birmingham smash-hit Broadway musical, Tues 16 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S LONG LOST - Sat 20 May, Birmingham Hippo- FIRST PLAY (ABRIDGED) The Reduced drome Shakespeare Company present a MY COUNTRY: A WORK IN PROGRESS A ‘barnstormingly irreverent celebration National Theatre nationwide listening of our cultural heritage’, Thurs 18 project in which people give their May, Swan Theatre, Worcester views of the country and town they SERIOUSLY DEAD A brand new musical live in, their lives, their futures and the comedy starring Crissy Rock, Frazer EU referendum, Tues 16 - Sat 20 Hines, Leah Bell, Billy Pearce & Paul May, The Rep, Birmingham Dunn, Thurs 18 May, Stratford THE FOOTSIE CLUB Featuring ‘the Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon cream of the UK cabaret scene’. THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY Hit Miss Meena And The Masala Queens - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Hosted by Stage Door Johnny, Wed West End show using huge projec- 17 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, tion photos and original film footage BRASSED OFF Amateur production THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKE- Birmingham to celebrate the iconic American duo, presented by the award-winning Eve- SPEARE Groove to the Othello Rap, in- OH NO! ‘Wonky’ homage to the Thurs 18 May, Palace Theatre, Red- sham Operatic Dramatic Society dulge in Titus Andronicus - The woman damned for destroying The ditch (EODS), Thurs 18 - Sat 20 May, Eve- Cooking Show, and try to keep up Beatles, Wed 17 May, Warwick Arts VENTOUX A restaging of the epic ri- sham Arts Centre with Hamlet backwards, Thurs 18 Centre, Coventry valry between Lance Armstrong & HOME CHAT Noel Coward’s early play May - Sun 11 June, The Attic Theatre, THE DREAMBOYS Male strip show, Wed Marco Pantani on the fearsome Mont about middle-class values and con- Cox’s Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon 17 May, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Ventoux in the 2000 Tour de France, ventional morality, Thurs 18 - Sat 20 A NIGHT OF PURE LOCAL TALENT Pre- TOMMY New staging of the iconic Thurs 18 - Fri 19 May, Warwick Arts, May, The Old Rep, Birmingham sented by the Coventry Jubilee Ro- rock musical, featuring music and Coventry tary Club, Fri 19 May, Belgrade

A musical brew of laugther and witchcraft!

9 July, 6.30pm Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove Tel: 01332 258328 17 - 18 May, 7.30pm Lichfield Garrick Tel: 01543 412121 15 - 16 July, 7.30pm Mac, Birmingham Tel: 01214 463232 20 - 22 June, 7.30pm Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Tel: 02476 553055 21 - 22 July, 7.00pm Nottingham Castle Tel: 01158 077900 29 June, 7.30pm Oakengates Theatre, Telford Tel: 01952 382382 15 - 16 July, 7.30pm Mac, Birmingham Tel: 01214 463232 28 - 29 July, 7.30pm Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford Tel: 01332 258328 28 - 29 July, 7.30pm Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford Tel: 01332 258328 Full tour dates at www.oddsocks.co.uk Full tour dates at www.oddsocks.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List NEW Warwicks 15 - 21 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:41 Page 3

4th May - 7.30pm 17th May - 7.30pm an auDience Joe WiTh longThorne MarTin keMp

Tickets £26* Tickets £22*

18th May - 7.30pm 24th May - 7.30pm The siMon anD The garFunkel Faaaaabulous sTory ceri Dupree shoW Tickets £19* & £18*(disc) Tickets £18.50*

30th May - 12pm & 4pm 2nd June - 7.30pm

Milkshake live! bringing on The Magic back The 60s sTory book Tickets £15.50* £13*(disc) & £54*(family) Tickets £20*

9th & 10 June - 7.30pm 23rd June - 7.30pm roy chubby Toyah Willcox - broWn 80s icon in concerT Tickets £21* (Warning contains adult content! suitable 18+) Tickets £18*

62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Warwicks 15 - 21 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:41 Page 4

Monday 15 - Sunday 21 May

Theatre, Coventry Starring Jenny Seagrove, John Han- TINA T’URNER TEA LADY & AUDREY nah. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South HEARTBURN Join award-winning musi- Shropshire, Mon 15 - Tues 16 May; cal comedian Tracey Collins as she Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 15 - performs a double bill featuring two Thurs 18 May iconic stars, Fri 19 May, Old Joint THEIR FINEST (12a) Comedy/Drama. Stock Theatre, Birmingham Starring Gemma Arterton, Sam 20B Brand new drama unearthing the Claflin. Royal Spa Centre, Leaming- stories of a demolished council es- ton Spa, Tues 15 - Tues 23 May tate in East London, Fri 19 May, The LABYRINTH (U) Family/Fantasy. Star- Core, Solihull ring David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly. SCOTT GIBSON: LIFE AFTER DEATH A Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 16 story about overcoming the odds, May and how comedy can bring you back THE OLIVE TREE (15) Comedy/Drama. to life, Fri 19 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove Starring Anna Castillo, Javier Gutiér- DANIEL BYE: GOING VIRAL Unique sto- rez. Foreign language, subtitled. rytelling, playful comedy and per- Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues 16 - formance lecture come together to Fri 19 May tell ‘a fantastical tale from the front KILL BILL VOL 1 AND 2 (18) Playing Up: Live Art For Kids line of an epidemic’, Sat 20 May, Crime/Thriller. Starring Uma Thur- And Adults mac, Birmingham man, David Carradine. Albany The- Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Sat 20 May THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER Full atre, Coventry, Wed 17 May House Theatre present original THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW “Kids are explorers of the everyday,” says Sibylle Peters, the cre- music, laugh-out-loud characters, (15) Comedy/Musical. Starring Tim ative force behind Playing Up. “For them to light a match can be puppetry & magic in a topsy-turvy Curry, Susan Sarandon. Albany The- something extraordinary that needs focus and time, and creates retelling of the much- loved story, atre, Coventry, Thurs 18 May Sun 21 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove an experience. The same is true for everyone who practises Live LION (12a) Biography/Drama. Starring Art.” WHY ME Blue Mountain theatre pres- Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman. Artrix, ent an inspirational story about three Bromsgrove, Fri 19 May Recommended for children aged six and older, Playing Up ex- powerful Black women who turn their PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CINEMA EXPERI- plores the potential of ‘live art’ to ‘bridge generations and suggest lives around to create the lives they ENCE (U) Animation. With the voices of different ways of looking at the world’. The initiative takes the deserve, Sun 21 May, Alexandra The- Jo Brand and David Mitchell. Artrix, form of a game played by adults and children together, creating atre, Birmingham Bromsgrove, Sat 20 May an evening of ‘absurd and interactive fun’ to celebrate the Muse- SING (PG) Animation/Comedy. With ums At Night event. the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon. Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 20 May family collection, Wed 17 May, ington Park Racing Circuit, Derby Charlecote Park, Warwick Dance LIFE (15) Sci-Fi/Thriller. Starring Jake SPRING UP! A chance to welcome the Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson. LADIES SEASONAL STYLE EVENT Per- arrival of spring colour as the tulips AUDIENCE WITH IAN WAITE & NATALIE Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 20 - sonal stylist Beth Goodrham shares bloom, and to get tips from garden- LOWE Strictly’s favourite couple are Sun 21 May her fashion essentials for the summer ing and composting experts. Plant back with a bang after their first suc- season, Wed 17 May, Birmingham sales and children's activities also METROPOLIS (PG) cessful UK tour, Fri 19 May, Palace Drama/Sci-Fi. Star- Botanical Gardens feature, Sat 20 May, Greyfriars House Theatre, Redditch ring Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel. Albany & Garden, Worcester Theatre, Coventry, Sun 21 May SPRING DIESEL FESTIVAL Featuring vis- PASHA KOVALEV: LET’S DANCE THE iting heritage and modern diesel lo- SPARK YOUNG WRITERS GROUP BRAZIL (15) NIGHT AWAY Fri 19 May, Malvern The- Drama/Sci-Fi. Starring comotives, home-fleet action, Monthly writing group for young peo- atre Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist. Albany evening running and one or two sur- ple interested in creative writing, Sat Theatre, Coventry, Sun 21 May B-SIDE HIP-HOP FESTIVAL Enjoy the prises, Thurs 18 May, Severn Valley 20 May, The Other Place, Stratford- best from national and international Railway, Kidderminster upon-Avon artists, plus Birmingham’s finest hip- THIS MORNING LIVE Join Phillip RACE, ROCK ’N' RIDE Featuring all hop talent, Fri 19 - Sun 21 May, Birm- NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Schofield and Holly Willoughby at an things on two wheels, with motor- ingham Hippodrome event that features all the lifestyle ele- bike-only RWYB, ACU National ments associated with the award-win- Championships, stunt bikes, a Released from Fri 19 May, showing at ning TV show, Thurs 18 - Sun 21 May, wheelie machine, a wall of death, free selected cinemas NEC, Birmingham live music and show bikes, Sat 20 - COLOSSAL (15) THE BABY SHOW The UK's biggest Sun 21 May, Santa Pod Raceway, Northants Film KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD pregnancy and parenting event, pro- (12a) viding a family-friendly shopping ex- 1920S WEEKEND With live music, easy perience and a unique opportunity to Charleston dance taster classes and INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: SNATCHED (tbc) hear from a selection of leading baby the chance to see the new 1920s THE SECRET SCRIPTURE (12a) and childcare experts, Fri 19 - Sun 21 presentation, Sat 20 - Sun 21 May, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (15) Hor- May, NEC, Birmingham Upton House & Gardens, Warwick- ror/Sci-Fi. Starring Gregory Walcott, A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Bring your shire Tom Keene. Albany Theatre, Coven- tent and pack your sleeping bag for a HERITAGE WEEKEND AT CADBURY try, Mon 15 May night under canvas at the museum. WORLD Featuring three guided walks NERUDA (12) Biography/Crime. Star- Events There will be camping adventures as around the village, Sat 20 - Sun 21 ring Gael García Bernal, Luis the sun sets, followed by storytelling May, Cadbury World, Bournville Gnecco. Foreign language, subtitled. FOUR CENTURIES BOOK TALK Find out round the campfire, Sat 20 May, REMEMBERING THE 40S Find out more mac, Birmingham, Mon 15 - Tues 16 why Charlecote has one of the best li- Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove about life during the Second World May braries in the Trust via a talk covering NO LIMITS RACING Featuring a six-hour War, Sun 21 May, Forge Mill Needle ANOTHER MOTHER’S SON (tbc) Drama. four centuries of books from the Lucy contest, Sat 20 - Sun 21 May, Don- Museum, Redditch whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List NEW Warwicks 22- Wed 31 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 15:39 Page 1

thelist Monday 22 - Wed 31 May PET SHOP BOYS TRIBUTE TRINITY 2 Sat 27 May, Thurs 25 May, The Glee Club, B’ham Gigs Fri 26 May, Huntingdon The Assembly, Leam- Classical Music Hall, Worcester ington Spa WES ZAHARUK, BETHANY BLACK, MARC LUCERO & GEORGE ZACH Fri 26 May, HER’S Fri 26 May, The CHRONIXX Sat 27 May, GABRIELLA COHEN & LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton Tin Music And Arts, O2 Academy, B’ham THOMAS TROTTER Programme in- BYRON HARE Mon 22 ALLYSON SMITH, MIKE WILMOT, JULIAN Coventry cludes works by Buxtenhude, Elgar, May, The Sunflower UNDERGROUND EMPIRE, DEANE & BETHANY BLACK Fri 26 May, Messiaen, L. Anderson & Lounge, Birmingham KAMIKAZE TEST PILOTS NAKED SUNDAY & BLUE- The Glee Club, Birmingham Fri 26 May, The Iron PRINTS Sat 27 May, Mendelssohn, Mon 22 May, Birming- IMELDA MAY Mon 22 Road, Evesham Route 44, Birmingham ham Town Hall DALISO CHAPONDA, BARRY DODDS, May, Symphony Hall, STEPHEN BAILEY & ROGER MONKHOUSE EDGAR MOREAU IN RECITAL Also featur- Birmingham PHILLIP HENRY AND HAN- UNCHAINED: THE BEST OF Fri 26 May, The Comedy Loft, B’ham NAH MARTIN Fri 26 May, JOE COCKER LIVE Sat 27 ing Pierre-Yves Hodique (piano). Pro- RON SEXSMITH BAND The Fleece Inn, May, Artrix, Birmingham gramme includes works by JOE BROMEHEAD, DAVID WHITNEY, Mon 22 May, The Beethoven, Poulenc, Schumann, Eric ROBERT WHITE Fri 26 May, Jongleurs Worcester SOMEONE LIKE YOU - THE Robin, Wolverhampton Tanguy & Schnittke, Mon 22 May, Comedy Club, Birmingham ALL FOLK'D UP Fri 26 ADELE SONGBOOK Sat 27 AVIV GEFFEN Tues 23 Birmingham Town Hall May, The Core Theatre, May, Palace Theatre, MARCEL LUCONT'S WHINE LIST Fri 26 May, O2 Institute, Birm- Solihull Redditch, Worcester- JENNIFER PIKE PLAYS MOZART Featur- May, Artrix, Bromsgrove ingham ing Franz Anton Krager (conductor). THE VINYL REPRISAL shire DARREN HARRIOTT & BEC HILL Fri 26 MIRANDA SYKES Tues Programme includes works by Fri 26 May, The Sun- ANNETTE GREGORY May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 23 May, The Roses Mozart, Haydn//Mozart & Schubert, flower Lounge, B’ham SINGS & CELEBRATES ALLYSON SMITH, MIKE WILMOT, JULIAN Theatre, Tewkesbury Wed 24 May, Birmingham Town Hall MALA Fri 26 May, Hare ELLA FITZGERALD 100 DEANE & BETHANY BLACK Sat 27 May, TOM CHAPLIN Tues 23 BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE PRES- & Hounds, Birmingham YEARS Sat 27 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham ENTS SIR JAMES & LADY JEANNE GAL- May, Symphony Hall, Palace Theatre, Red- DALISO CHAPONDA, BARRY DODDS, FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO WAY Programme comprises Birmingham ditch, Worcestershire STEPHEN BAILEY & ROGER MONKHOUSE QUEEN Fri 26 May, Ar- Briccialdi’s The Carnival of Venice & DAPHNE'S FLIGHT Tues KICK UP THE 80'S Sat 27 Sat 27 May, The Comedy Loft, B’ham trix, Birmingham Borne’s Carmen Fantasy, Wed 24 23 May, mac, B’ham May, The River Rooms, JOE BROMEHEAD, DAVID WHITNEY & SHAKIN' STEVENS Fri 26 May, Birmingham Town Hall LADY MAISERY Tues 23 Stourbridge ROBERT WHITE Sat 27 May, Jongleurs May, Birmingham Town MOSCOW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA May, mac, Birmingham SLADE CONVENTION Sun Comedy Club, Birmingham Hall Featuring Yuri Simonov (conductor) SHUGGIE OTIS Wed 24 28 May, The Robin, THE SPECIALS AND & former BBC Young Musician of the ZOE LYONS Sat 27 May, Evesham Arts May, Hare & Hounds, Wolverhampton TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS Year, Freddy Kempf, Wed 24 May, Centre Birmingham Fri 26 May, NEC, B’ham CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry SALLY BARKER & BROOKS SOUL SHOW Sun 28 THE FIDGETS Fri 26 CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- WILLIAMS Wed 24 May, May, Hare & Hounds, May, Blue Piano CHESTRA: DVORAK’S CELLO CONCERTO The Core Theatre, Soli- Birmingham Restaurant And Bar, Featuring Gustavo Gimeno (conduc- hul Birmingham THE SUPERSKAS Sun 28 tor) & Daniel Müller-Schott (cello). THE GROWLERS Wed 24 May, The Iron Road, Programme includes works by SOUL AND MOTOWN May, O2 Academy, Evesham Mozart, Dvörak & Schumann, Wed PARTY WITH DAYTON Birmingham 24 - Thurs 25 May, Symphony Hall, GREY Sat 27 May, Nail- ANASTACIA Sun 28 May, Birmingham TWO PIANOS Wed 24 cote Hall, Berkswell, Symphony Hall, B’ham May, Huntingdon Hall, Warwickshire DREAMS OF FLEETWOOD BBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Worcester Sakari Oramo (conductor), Steven THE FEELGOOD BAND Sat MAC Sun 28 May, The STUART GOLDSMITH Sat 27 May, War- Osborne (piano) & Cynthia Millar DECLAN MCKENNA Wed 27 May, The Musician, River Rooms, Stour- wick Arts Centre, Coventry (ondes martenot). Programme com- 24 May, O2 Institute, Leicester bridge prises Messiaen’s L’Ascension & Tu- STAND UP FOR REFUGEES THE LINE UP Birmingham KISS Sun 28 May, Bar- IZZIE Sat 27 May, The rangalïla-symphonie, Fri 26 May, INCLUDES: JOE LYCETT, NISH KUMAR, claycard Arena, B’ham CHRIS MAPP'S GONI- Tin Music And Arts, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ROBIN INCE, JO ENRIGHT, MRS BARBARA MOBLAST SPECIAL GUEST Coventry BARS AND MELODY & NICE HOSTED BY TIERNAN DOUIEB. Wed THE MARIO LANZA OPERA PRIZE Adjudi- ANNIE MAHTANI Wed 24 JOHNNY ORLANDO Wed 31 May, The REP, Birmingham JNTHN STEIN Sat 27 cated by Sir Thomas Allen, Sat 27 May, mac, Birmingham 31 May, O2 Academy, May, Kasbah, Coventry May, Recital Hall, Birmingham Con- PAM ANN Wed 31 May, Birmingham JUDAS Thurs 25 May, Birmingham Town Hall TIM "RIPPER" OWENS servatoire The Sunflower Lounge, COASTS Wed 31 May, (U.S.A) Sat 27 May, The THE BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham Iron Road, Evesham STRING ORCHESTRA Featuring Julian BRENT COBB Thurs 25 GURDAS MAAN Sat 27 HALEY REINHART Wed Lloyd Webber & Mike Seal (conduc- May, Hare & Hounds, May, Barclaycard 31 May, The Glee Club, tors), Yue Yu (viola), Henry Fairs Birmingham Arena, Birmingham Birmingham (organ) & Nick Bailey (host). Pro- Theatre BY GEORGE! MICHAEL gramme includes works by Widor, THE OASIS EXPERIENCE THE PHIL BEER BAND LUNTS - PIANO RECITAL Bruch, Howells, Elgar, Jackson, THE WOMAN IN BLACK Stephen Malla- Sat 27 May, The Road- Wed 31 May, The Thurs 25 May, Wolver- Vaughan Wilson, Saint-Saens & Arne, tratt's stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s house, Birmingham Roses Theatre, Tewkes- hampton Grand The- bury Sun 28 May, Birmingham Town Hall acclaimed ghost story, Mon 22 - Sat atre 27 May, Wolverhampton Grand The- MURRAY KINSLEY & atre WICKED GRIN (CANADA) THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY Hit Thurs 25 May, The Iron West End show using huge projec- Road, Evesham Comedy tion photos and original film footage STEVE PLEDGER Thurs to celebrate the iconic American duo, 25 May, Evesham Arts AL MURRAY Mon 22 May, The REP, Tues 23 May, Birmingham Hippo- Centre, Evesham Birmingham drome ARTHUR & THE INVINCI- THE ALL-STAR STAND-UP TOUR Tues 23 SUPER SUNDAY New show from ac- BLES Fri 26 May, The May, Artrix, Bromsgrove claimed all-male Finnish circus Assembly, Leamington troupe Race Horse Company, Tues ALLYSON SMITH, MIKE WILMOT & COM- 23 - Wed 24 May, Warwick Arts Cen- Spa Kiss - Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON tre, Coventry

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Monday 22 - Wed 31 May

TANK Breach Theatre explore the vio- SPAMALOT Coventry Musical Theatre DIRTY DANCING The classic story of NIGHT AWAY Fri 25 May, The Roses, lence of language, the power of cul- Society present an amateur staging Baby and Johnny, two fiercely inde- Tewkesbury ture - and what happens when you of Monty Python's spoof on the leg- pendent young spirits from different TRIPLE BILL FT. RED RIDING HOOD Ballet inject a cetacean with LSD, Tues 23 - end of King Arthur, Thurs 25 - Sat 27 worlds, who come together to experi- Black show blending the classical Thurs 25 May, The Rep, Birmingham May, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry ence the most challenging and tri- and the contemporary, Thurs 25 - Fri THE WEDDING SINGER Musical based LEGALLY BLONDE Amateur production umphant summer of their lives, Mon 26 May, DanceXchange, The Patrick on the 1998 film of the same name presented by Birmingham Youth On 29 May - Sat 3 June, New Alexandra Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham and starring former X Factor finalists Stage, Thurs 25 - Sat 27 May, The MILONGA Celebrated choreographer Ray Quinn and Cassie Compton, Em- Old Rep, Birmingham Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and a cast of Ar- merdale's Roxanne Pallet, comedy SERIOUSLY DEAD Brand new musical gentinian tango dancers, contempo- veteran Ruth Madoc and musical the- comedy starring Crissy Rock, Frazer rary dancers and live musicians atre favourite Jon Robyns, Tues 23 - Hines, Leah Bell, Billy Pearce & Paul present a ‘fascinating’ exploration of Sat 27 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Dunn, Fri 26 May, Palace Theatre, tango, Fri 26 - Sat 27 May, Birming- Birmingham Redditch ham Hippodrome THE FAAAAAABULOUS CERI DUPREE LA POULE PLOMBÉE: JE REGRETTE! The CINDERELLA Presented by Vienna Fes- SHOW A glamorous evening of com- story of La Poule Plombée, a French tival Ballet, Sun 28 May, The Roses, edy, vocal impersonations and jaw- singer tortured by jealousy and unre- Tewkesbury dropping, eye-popping costumes, quited love. Performed as part of the HANDBAGGED Amateur staging of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS Nar- Wed 24 May, Palace Theatre, Red- venue’s Cabaret Festival, Fri 26 May, ditch Moira Buffini’s playful comedy, Mon rative ballet company Northern Ballet Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham 29 May - Sat 3 June, Priory Theatre, present this heartbreaking story THE LITTLE PRINCE A work in progress Kenilworth through dance, Tues 30 - Wed 31 from Luca Silverstrini’s Protein, Fri 26 GREASE Tom Parker from boyband May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry The Wanted makes his theatrical GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS JOAN An earthy story of ‘courage, debut as Danny in this half-term stag- Northern Ballet present a brand new conviction and hope’, this is Joan of ing of the classic high-school musi- ballet for younger audiences, Wed 31 Arc - possibly the world's first drag cal. Over The Rainbow winner May Wolverhampton Grand Theatre king... Fri 26 - Sat 27 May, The Rep, Danielle Hope stars as Sandy, Mon Birmingham 29 May - Sat 3 June Birmingham Hip- DID WE MENTION THE JAM TARTS? podrome HOW EVA VON SCHNIPPISCH WON WWII Sketches and songs from a variety of MILKSHAKE LIVE! Brand new show fea- ‘A joyful night of hilarious anti-fascist British comedy writers, Fri 26 - Sat 27 turing Bob the Builder, The Little Talks feminist propaganda’, performed as May, The Bear Pitt Theatre, Stratford- Princess, Noddy, Fireman Sam, part of the venue’s Cabaret Festival, upon-Avon Shimmer & Shine, plus many more... DAVID STARKEY - HENRY VIII Talk illumi- Wed 24 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, DON'T DRIBBLE ON THE DRAGON Chil- Tues 30 May, Palace Theatre, Red- nating both the Tudor age and our Birmingham dren’s show based on the new book ditch own, Thurs 25 May, Huntingdon Hall, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR Chil- by Steven Lee, with magic designed DOGS DON’T DO BALLET Blunderbus Worcester dren’s show featuring a menagerie of by the late Paul Daniels, Sat 27 May, present a feelgood show for children, 75 puppets and bringing Eric Carle’s The Core, Solihull based on Anna Kemp and Sara storybooks to life, Wed 24 - Thurs 25 THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR Chil- Ogilvie’s bestselling book, Tues 30 May, Malvern Theatres dren’s show featuring a menagerie of May, mac, Birmingham FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Tinker’s Farm 75 puppets and bringing to life Eric THE CHRIS & PUI SHOW Songs, com- Film Opera present an amateur staging of Carle’s storybooks Sat 27 May, Birm- edy sketches, a dash of magic and the award-winning musical, Wed 24 - ingham Town Hall heaps of audience participation, Tues INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Sat 27 May, Stourbridge Town Hall BIG HOWARD’S LOL-TASTIC YUKFEST 30 May, The Core, Solihull INTO THE WOODS Stratford Musical Featuring stand-up, interactive digital THREE MUSKETEERS Fresh from Theatre Company present an innova- animation, sound effects, jokes and Justin’s House and Spot Bots, the AQUARIUS (15) Drama. Starring Sonia tive re-imagining of Stephen Sond- ‘lots and lots and lots of clever non- CBeebies favourites present a new Braga, Maeve Jinkings. Foreign lan- heim’s hit musical, Wed 24 - Sat 27 sense’. Suitable for children aged 5 slapstick adventure of ‘chivalry, guage, subtitled. Roses Theatre, May, Stratford Artshouse plus, Sat 27 May, mac, Birmingham swordplay and suddenly falling over’, Tewkesbury, Mon 22 May MISCHIEF FESTIVAL A double bill of DUSTY LIMITS: GRIN Performance re- Tues 30 May, The Roses, Tewkesbury LION (12a) Biography/Drama. Starring new plays - The Earthworks & Myth - sulting from over a decade of collab- WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Adapta- Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman. Artrix, feature alongside a range of events oration between two of the UK's most tion of Michael Rosen and Helen Ox- Bromsgrove, Mon 22 & Thurs 25 May and ‘works in progress’, Wed 24 May celebrated cabaret artists, Dusty Lim- enbury’s popular picture book, Tues GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 2 (12a) - Sat 17 June, The Other Place, Strat- its and Michael Roulston, Sat 27 May, 30 May - Sat 3 June, Belgrade The- Adventure/Sci-Fi. Starring Karen ford-upon-Avon Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham atre, Coventry Gillan, Chris Pratt. Roses Theatre, JULIE MADLY DEEPLY Charming yet THE WITCHES New version of Roald WAITING FOR GOD Michael Aitkens Tewkesbury, Fri 26 May - Thurs 1 Jun cheeky cabaret taking a look at ‘fame Dahl’s classic story, Sat 27 May - Sat comedy based on the BBC series of PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CINEMA EXPERI- and famedom’. Fascinating Aida’s 3 June, Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham the same name. Nichola McAuliffe & ENCE (U) Animation. With the voices of Sarah-Louise Young stars, Thurs 25 OLIVER! THE MUSICAL Presented by Jeffrey Holland star, Tues 30 May - Jo Brand and David Mitchell. Artrix, May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham the Crescent Theatre Company, Sat Sat 3 June, Malvern Theatre Bromsgrove, Sat 27 May MISSY MALONE & FRIENDS’ BURLESQUE 27 May - Sat 3 June, The Crescent THE HIPPOPOTAMUS (15) Comedy. REVUE Evening of tassels, tease, Theatre, Birmingham Starring Roger Allam, Matthew Mo- comedy and cabaret, Thurs 25 May, DOUGH! Children’s show exploring dine. mac, Birmingham, Sun 28 May; The Swan Theatre, Worcester how life can be filled with colour and Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun MY COUNTRY: A WORK IN PROGRESS A beauty when we step outside the Dance 28 May National Theatre nationwide listening beige world we know, Sun 28 May, POTICHE (15) Comedy. Starring project in which people give their Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry PASHA KOVALEV: LET’S DANCE THE Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depar- views of the country and town they REAL TIME: POTICHE Amateur produc- NIGHT AWAY Tues 23 - Wed 24 May, dieu. Foreign language, subtitled. live in, their lives, their futures and the tion based on the 1977 French play, The Core Theatre, Solihull Malvern Theatres, Sun 28 May EU referendum, Thurs 25 - Sat 27 The Trophy Wife, Sun 28 May, THE SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (U) An- May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry PASHA KOVALEV: LET’S DANCE THE Malvern Theatre imation/Adventure. With the voices of whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List NEW Warwicks 22- Wed 31 May.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 18:29 Page 3

thelist Monday 22 - Wed 31 May Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson. Roses themed activities, workshops and Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 29 May - demos, Sat 27 May - Sun 4 June, Thurs 1 June Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Shrop- INSIDE OUT (U) Animation/Adventure. shire With the voices of Amy Poehler, Bill PIRATE WEEK Grab your crew and Hader. Albany Theatre, Coventry, jump aboard for a swashbuckling ad- Tues 30 May venture, Sat 27 May - Sun 4 June, FENCES (12a) Animation. Starring Den- National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham zel Washington and Viola Davis. Ar- trix, Bromsgrove, Tues 30 May - Thurs 1 June THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE (PG) Biogra- phy/Drama. Starring Jessica Chas- tain, Johan Heldenbergh. Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tues 30 May - Wed 3 June BIG (12a) Comedy/Drama. Starring Oak Apple Weekend Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins. Al- WARS OF THE ROSES LIVE! Epic live-ac- bany Theatre, Coventry, Wed 31 May tion show, Sat 27 May - Sun 4 June, The Commandery, Worcester, Sat 27 - Mon 29 May Warwick Castle Maypole and Morris dancing, a living history camp with the Worces- GAYDON FESTIVAL OF TRANSPORT Sun ter Militia and Restoration period children's games all feature in an NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: 28 May, British Motor Museum, Gay- event that recalls a 350-year-old tradition. Originated in 1660 as a don public holiday to celebrate the return to the throne of Charles II after ELIZABETH: THE PAGEANT A journey Released from Fri 26 May, showing at back in time to the Golden Age of the English Civil War - Oak Apple Day is a little-known tradition selected cinemas Queen Elizabeth I, Sun 28 - Mon 29 which was celebrated for 200 years up until the Victorian era. Other DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LONG HAUL May, Kenilworth Castle event highlights include a 17th century football match and the chance (tbc) ELIZABETHAN LIVING HISTORY EVENT to meet some curious characters in the old-fashioned coffee shop. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: SALAZAR’S Reenactors and historians transport REVENGE (tbc) you back in time to the Tudor Age, THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE (12a) Sun 28 - Mon 29 May, Harvington Hall, Kidderminster SPARK (tbc) VINTAGE EASTNOR Nostalgic family-fun day featuring steam engines, a tea tent, giant garden games, model steam engine rides, a vintage carousel and chair swing, Sun 28 - Events Mon 29 May, Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire EDIE LIVE & UTILITY WEEK 2017 The CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW Featuring up to UK’s destination event for energy, 600 vintage and classic cars, Ameri- sustainability and resource-efficiency can, kit & custom, motorcycles and professionals, Tues 23 - Wed 24 May, commercial vehicles plus club NEC, Birmingham stands, trade and autojumble stands, 1920S MUSIC HALL EVENING Fri 26 May, Sun 28 - Mon 29 May, Ragley Hall, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire Warwickshire MOTUL FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPI- COSTUMED TOUR OF SOHO HOUSE Ex- ONSHIP The world's best superbike plore the elegant Georgian home of racers do battle at Donington, Fri 26 - Birmingham's foremost industrialist, Sun 28 May, Donington Park Racing Matthew Boulton, Mon 29 May, Soho Circuit, Derby House, Birmingham FIA/FIM MAIN EVENT 2017 Santa Pod’s FAMOUS FIVE GO TO AVONCROFT Pack a flagship drag racing event features picnic and bring your most trusted over 250 of Europe’s finest teams, friends for a week of old-fashioned plus jet cars, monster trucks, stunt adventures, Mon 29 May - Fri 2 June, shows, static displays, air displays, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove traders and more, Fri 26 - Mon 29 KNIGHTS & PRINCESSES Budding May, Santa Pod Raceway, Northants courtiers can transform themselves DAPPERS AND FLAPPERS! FAMILY JAZZ into a Lord or Lady, with tips available DANCING Dance teachers explain how on everything from curtsies to com- to do some real 1920s-style dancing bat, Tues 30 May - Fri 2 June, Kenil- Sat 27 May, Upton House & Gardens, worth Castle Warwickshire RED FAIRY BOOK TRAIL AND CRAFT Fol- TAMWORTH CASTLE DRAGON HUNT Help low the trail around the mill grounds Ruby, Tamworth Castle’s resident to find all the fairy doors, Tues 30 - dragon, find her mischievous brother, Wed 31 May, Sarehole Mill, B’ham Hafgrim, Sat 27 May - Fri 2 June, PICTURE THIS - FAMILY DRAWING TOUR Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire Tap into your inner artist with this in- SUPERHEROES, SUPERPOWERS & SUPER teractive drawing exploration of Aston DAYS OUT A week of superhero- Hall, Wed 31 May, Aston Hall, B’ham

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