Worcestershire Cover January 2017.qxp_Worcestershire Cover 16/12/2016 12:10 Page 1

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 373 JANUARY 2017 WORCESTERSHIREWHAT’S JANUARYON 2017 Worcestershire ’

WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On worcestershirewhatson.co.uk JACK WHITEHALL OUT ON TOUR

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Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

PARTOF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS GASLIGHT stars in Victorian-era mystery-thriller

JUNGLE BOOK Mowgli, Bagheera and Baloo at Bromsgrove’s Artrix TWITTER:@WHATSONWORCS WORCESTERSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK

BBL CUP FINAL Europe’s finest slam dunkers go head-to-head Moscow State Circus-January '17.qxp_Layout 1 16/12/2016 11:41 Page 1 Contents January Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 16/12/2016 13:05 Page 2

January 2017

Contents

The Play That Goes Wrong - West End award winner tours to the region page 30

Kaiser Chiefs Reginald D Hunter Autosport show the list

talk about bringing their Stay back on the road with a brand the world’s greatest four-wheel Your 16-page Together tour to the Midlands new show for 2017 indoor extravaganza at the NEC week-by-week listings guide Interview page 14 Interview page 22 page 49 page 51

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4. First Word 11. Food 13. Music 24. Comedy 28. Theatre 41. Film 44. Visual Arts 47. Events

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Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, David Vincent, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD January Warwickshire.qxp_Layout 1 16/12/2016 13:04 Page 1

First Word

Local motorsport show celebrates young talent An annual historic motorsport show taking place in Warwickshire is this year looking to the future by celebrating the talents of three teenage racers. Race Retro, which is being held at Stoneleigh Park from 24 to 26 February, will see 16-year- olds James Clarke and Ed Thurston and 17-year- old Benn Tilley showing off their driving skills. Commenting on the show’s brand new Teenage Kicks feature, Daniel Nwaokolo, Race Retro’s event director, said: “At a time in their lives when other boys their age are looking to learn to drive or buy their first moped, these youngsters are up there going tyre to tyre in a seriously competitive arena. They are dedicated to a future in motorsport, and historic motorsport in particular. We want to celebrate that commit- ment and give them a platform where they can encourage support from the industry to help them in their careers.” For more information, visit raceretro.com

Genting Arena to host its Midlands actress Julie across the Midlands. The pilots, flying doc- tors and paramedics all do an incredible and first outdoor concert becomes ambassador for amazing job, literally saving lives every day. I Birmingham’s Genting Arena is to host its air ambulance charity fully support the lifesaving work of this bril- first ever outdoor concert in the spring. liant charity across the entire Midlands area, Taking place at the NEC venue’s lakeside on and would encourage the public to make a Friday 26 May - the eve of the Slam Dunk difference by making a donation so that they Festival - the gig will feature performances can continue with their brilliant work saving from The Specials and Toots And The lives for another 25 years.” Maytals. Commenting on the event, NEC Group Arenas Sales Executive Charlotte Smith said: Warwick theatre company “We’re yet again pushing the boundaries of is California dreamin’ what can be done at our venues, in conjunc- tion with the Slam Dunk Festival and NEC A Warwick theatre company will this year teams. This will be the first time ever that tour its Christmas 2016 show to California. we’ve held a full outdoor concert on the Playbox Theatre will perform Alice’s lakeside adjacent to the Genting Arena and Adventures In Wonderland at the Santa NEC, and we’re pleased that such iconic Birmingham-born actress Julie Walters has Monica Playhouse in the autumn. British bands will be the first to try it. If suc- become an ambassador for the Midlands Air Commenting on the news, Playbox’s artistic cessful, we hope to add many more outdoor Ambulance Charity, on the occasion of its director, Emily events of this nature to the NEC Group 25th anniversary. Jane Quash, said: Arenas’ growing event portfolio.” Since its inception in 1991, the air ambulance “It will be superb has airlifted and helped save over 46,000 to restage the lives. The charity covers a population in show for audi- excess of six million, across the counties of ences in Santa Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Monica later this Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the West year. Our cast are Midlands. incredibly inven- Commenting on her new role, Julie said: “I tive and was astonished to learn that the charity has approach Lewis to raise £7million each and every year, Carroll’s story receives no funding from either the with a wild and Government or the National Lottery and zany enthusi- relies solely on the generosity of people asm!”

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Entertainment news from around the region

Leamington Music hits the ground running in 2017

Leamington Music is start- ing 2017 with a programme of 10 concerts in a period of just two months. The organisa- tion, which cel- ebrated its 10th anniversary last October, will then present the annu- al Leamington Music Festival from 28 April to 1 May. The four-day event this year features singers Dame Felicity Lott and Roderick Williams (pictured), cellist Raphael Wallfisch, clarinettists Michael Collins and Jack McNeill, and pianist William Howard. Shakespeare-inspired cartoons on show in Stratford The Leonore and Kinsky Piano Trios and the Doric, Jubilee, Gildas and A free exhibition celebrating more than two centuries of political cartoons inspired by Dante String Quartets also con- Shakespeare opens at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon next month. tribute. Leamington composer Presented to coincide with the RSC’s forthcoming season of Rome-based plays, Draw New Howard Skempton, who turns 70 Mischief will include historical works from key political moments in time. later this year, will write a new piece Featured contemporary cartoons include Peter Schrank