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EDBYRNE INTERVIEWINSIDE... THE GIPSY KINGS GIPSY THE flamenco rumba their bring Wolverhampton to style BIRMINGHAM BALLET ROYAL DENISE VAN OUTEN VAN DENISE town in musical new inside.. interview UK debut of The Prince Of Prince The of debut UK Birmingham in Pagodas The 12 FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2 42 92 92 42 2 grandtheatre.co.uk ISSUE 338 338 ISSUE 0190 sOn ’ TUES 25 FEBRUARY - SAT 1 MARCH 1 SAT - FEBRUARY 25 TUES & BLACK COUNTRY BLACK & Box Office Box BOOK ONLINE AT ONLINE BOOK .co.uk

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www. WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVERHAMPTON What THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE ENTERTAINMENT ESSENTIAL MIDLANDS THE Wolves & B'ctry Cover - Jan_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:50 Page 1 Page 19:50 1 27/01/2014 - Jan_Layout Cover B'ctry & Wolves BLACK COUNTRY WHAT’S ON ISSUE 338 FEBRUARY 2014 PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS @WHATSONWOLVES WWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK BM wedding advert WO_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:30 Page 1 Contents- Region Two - Feb_Layout 1 27/01/2014 18:13 Page 1

February 2014

Editor: Davina Evans INSIDE: [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: Brian O’Faolain [email protected] chats about Swan Lake 01743 281701 interview p8 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Sales & Marketing: Jon Cartwright [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704

Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Seven Brides... Managing Director: classic American musical Paul Oliver [email protected] arrives in the Midlands p29 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry Denise Van Outen talks about Some Girl I Used To Know, interview page 6 [email protected] 01743 281717 Website Development: Jim Pallett TO GET THE VERY Ed Byrne Contributors: p4 talks about the Roaring Graham Bostock: Theatre LATEST LISTING News James Cameron-Wilson: Forties interview p11 Film; Anita Champaneri: INFORMATION, Eating Out; Music p13 Alev Dervish: Music VISIT: Eva Easthope, Kate whatsonlive.co.uk Evans, Jessica Aston, Comedy p22 Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, INCLUDING Jan Watts, Reggie White BOOKING ONLINE Theatre p25 Head Office: 13-14 Abbey Foregate, The Midlands’ most Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE comprehensive p40 Tel: 01743 281777 entertainment website Dance e-mail: [email protected] Follow us on... Film/DVD p43 This publication is Visual Arts p51 printed on paper from a sustainable source and is February 2014 produced without the use Birmingham p55 of elemental chlorine. @whatsonbrum Events MTWTFSS We endorse the recycling Warwickshire 1 2 of our magazine and @whatsonwarwicks p64 would encourage you to Eating Out 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 pass it on to others to Worcester read when you have @whatsonworcs 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 finished with it. facebook.com/whatsonlive 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 What’sOn 24 25 26 27 28 All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless MAGAZINE GROUP otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. News February region two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 18:14 Page 1

News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Casting announced for Private Peaceful A new UK tour of the hit one-man show Private Peaceful is heading for the Midlands. Simon Reade’s highly acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s World War One novel tells the story of a young soldier awaiting a dawn firing squad. The produc- tion, which debuted in 2004 and has since played to sell-out audiences across the country, sees Paul Chequer and Andy Daniel sharing the role of Private Tommo Peaceful. Chequer appeared in the 2012 film version of the story, while Daniel’s theatre credits include Journey’s End, The Railway Children and The History Boys. This latest tour, mark- ing the centenary of the beginning of World War One, shows at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from 17 to 19 April, and at The REP, Birmingham, from 14 to 17 May.

Drayton Manor gearing up for new One of the region’s most popular visitor attractions is getting ready to launch a new family thrill ride. Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth, Staffordshire which already features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides in the UK - Shock-wave, G-Force, Maelstrom, Apocalypse and Splash Canyon - will welcome its new stomach-churning aerial adventure in ELO co-founder honoured time for the summer school holidays. Accommodating twenty-four riders at any one time, Air in home city Race will allow visitors to experience accelerations of almost 4G as they board the acrobatic aeroplane flight. With plenty of banks, loops, dives and weightlessness, Air Race promises to Composer, music producer and Brummie thrill seekers ‘the time of their life’. rock legend Jeff Lynne is to join fellow musi- cians Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Roy Wood on Birmingham’s Walk Of Stars, locat- Applications sought for selection of food and beverages as part of ed along the city’s popular Broad Street. its remit to provide a leisure facility for mem- ELO co-founder Lynne, who’s worked with Birmingham festival bers of the wider local community, whether some of the industry’s biggest names, will Organisers of an independent performing or not they’re intending to see a film. be presented with a duplicate of the arts festival which made its debut in Phil Dove, general manager of The Light Cinemas Birmingham-made commemorative star by Birmingham last year have announced its comedian Jasper Carrott at a ceremony at return for 2014. Designed to ‘celebrate the the Library of Birmingham on 13 March. second city’s venues and arts scene’, Commenting on the newly bestowed honour, Birmingham Fest showcases new works Lynne said: “I’m thrilled to be included on from both the UK and abroad. This year’s the Birmingham Walk of Stars! It’s great to festival takes place at locations across the have my work recognised in my home city from 11 to 27 July. Applications to take town!” part are now being sought from individuals and companies in various theatrical disci- plines, including theatre (adult and children), dance, music, comedy and poetry. For fur- ther information, visit Performing Academy www.birminghamfest.co.uk welcomes two new members Stoke’s Regent Theatre has announced the Light Cinema announced for names of two new practitioners who’ll be Walsall development working within the environs of its successful Academy Of Performing Arts. Both newcom- Work will begin this summer on a new ers will work towards staging new shows at leisure-led development on Walsall’s the venue in July. Emma Hill, whose recent Waterfront. The project’s operator partner is work includes projects with Huddersfield’s Light Cinemas, which is promising to ‘create Laurence Batley Theatre, will look at the a cinema which is unique to Walsall’. The world of ‘selfies’ for the academy’s first pro- company has a strong focus on bringing duction, while Simon Quinn, of Walsall- both movies and events to its venues. At the based company Fired-Up Theatre, will work same time, it will be offering an extensive with students on an as-yet-unnamed piece.

4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News February region two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 18:14 Page 2

Cultural quarter to welcome return of Swingamajig A unique festival which invites Electro Swing lovers and vintage connoisseurs to take to the streets and party in style has announced its return to the heart of Birmingham for a second year. Bringing the ‘sounds and styles of the 1920s up to date with a modern twist’, Swingamajig is the UK’s first one-day festi- val dedicated to Electro Swing, Vintage Sounds and Gypsy Mahem. Dance work- shops facilitated by some of ’s lead- ing professionals are a new offer for 2014, as are a vintage cinema and electric ham- ster racing - interesting! Swingamajig will take place at Boxxed along Digbeth’s Floodgate Street on Sunday 4 May.

Bellowhead Ludlow Arts Festival beginning to take shape Organisers of this year’s two Ludlow festivals have lifted the lid on their 2014 programme of entertainment. Under the umbrella name of the Ludlow Shakespeare And Arts Festival, this year’s event showcases an eclectic mix of artists and performances in a bid to attract a wide- My UK opens it first ranging audience. While the Ludlow Shakespeare Festival presents an outdoor production of As You Like It at the town’s castle from 14 to 22 June, the Ludlow Arts Festival (28 June to 6 Birmingham hub July) sees multi-award-winning crossover folk band Bellowhead in concert beneath the stars. The Birmingham arm of a national company is Comedy performers include veteran laughter-merchant Ken Dodd and female trio Fascinating on the lookout for performers to star in its Aida, the latter of whom will be unveiling a whole new collection of topical songs. Meanwhile, debut presentation later this year. Since its for visitors of a ‘more adventurous’ persuasion, Ray Mears brings a taste of the great out- launch five years ago, Musical Youth UK doors to the town, talking about some of the world’s harshest environments in one of the fes- (MyUK) has taken the nation by storm, with six tival’s many theatre events. regional hubs and performances on the West In addition to the glorious outdoor setting of Ludlow Castle, the eight hundred-seat capacity End stage. As well as providing large-scale Top Theatre makes a welcome return to host ten of the festival’s twelve shows. musical performance opportunities, the com- Speaking about this summer’s highly anticipated event, Ludlow Arts Festival Director Chris pany also teaches vital stagecraft skills for Davis said: “We really do have a perfect mix of outstanding and unmissable entertainment, set would-be professional performers. MyUK against the historic backdrop of the country’s most famous ruined medieval castle.” Birmingham launched in January and is cur- rently seeking youngsters aged eleven to nineteen to perform in its production of Les Miserables at the Crescent Theatre from 18 to IN BRIEF Dudley’s archives open to the public 23 August. Email The first public building to be built by Dudley Council in the past [email protected] to express Celebrations for twenty years is now open. Part-funded by the European Regional your interest. Stafford Theatre Development Fund, the purpose-built Dudley Archive Centre is group one element of an extensive redevelopment of the Castle Hill area of the town. Located on Tipton Road, next to the Black Plenty to laugh about at This month sees a Country Living Museum, the venue has already attracted an Henry Tudor House Stafford-based ama- army of visitors. teur theatre company Two miles of archive material have been transferred into the new A Shrewsbury eatery which has been highly celebrate ninety years centre, which also features Dudley’s first ever exhibition of the praised for its live music gigs is now hosting of producing musical Earl of Dudley estate collection. Spanning eight centuries of local regular comedy nights too. Henry Tudor theatre and stage history, this is the archive’s largest single treasure-trove, and cov- House is one of the town’s finest examples shows. Regular per- ers the social, geographic and economic development of Dudley of period architecture, and is popular with formers at Stafford and the surrounding manors since the twelfth century (including diners who enjoy its extensive menu and Gatehouse Theatre, a papal bill of 1182 granting churches and land to the Prior of laid-back ambience. The venue’s timber- Stafford & District Dudley). The archives are open to the public from 9am to 5pm framed upstairs room provides an intimate Opera Society staged Tuesday to Saturday, but with Thursday’s opening times being setting in which to enjoy some of the cir- its first ever production 9.30am to 7pm. Tours of the building can be arranged by calling cuit’s finest comedians, starting with Rob (of Gilbert & Sullivan’s 01384 815568. Deering on 12 February. Tickets are also on Mikado) at the town’s sale for the 12 March show headlined by Assembly Hall in 1924. Lycett. Joe, whose comedy is often The company is this described as ‘a little of Larry Grayson and a year marking the mile- dash of Julian Clary with a large helping of stone with a staging of Kenneth Williams’, will be joined by Ramesh Shepherd Mead’s satir- Ranganathan as MC. ical tale How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, which shows at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre from 8 to 12 April. Tickets, starting from £9.50, are now on sale.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Denise Van Outen feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:48 Page 1

I’m such a home girl. I like being in the UK and being with “ my friends and family ”

Denise Van Outen talks about Some Girl I Used To Know...

Early morning stints as a presenter on Channel Four’s Big Breakfast made Denise Van Outen a household name in the late-1990s. As an actress, Denise has enjoyed plenty of acclaim, most notably for her West End and Broadway performances as Roxie Hart in the hit musical Chicago. Denise’s latest project is the brand new one-woman musical Some Girl I Used To Know, which she’s co-written with songwriter and music producer Terry Ronald. What’s On recently caught up with her to find out more...

Is Some Girl I Used To Know a nostalgic just reminisce about all the good things you Do you see the play attracting an journey into your own past, Denise? remember happening; you know, past loves audience of a similar age to yourself? It is a little bit, because there are references to and things. I think a lot of people look back I think they’d enjoy it, but the story itself is things which amused me when I was growing on their life - their first love, etc - with rose- timeless. It’s about love, heartache and up. I love talking about the past, and consider tinted glasses. In Some Girl I Used To Know, temptation, and could have been set in any myself to be a bit of a nostalgia queen when the character Stephanie is doing something era. It’s about feelings and emotions, and I’m with my girlfriends. We’re all guilty of a bit that everyone is guilty of - reminiscing about how we hang onto and try to re-create the of this, and I think that, unless you’ve had a her past. The ’80s/’90s are seen as being past. really traumatic experiences when you were quite retro, and I don’t think anyone has ever younger, you forget about all the bad bits and covered that within a play, especially the ’90s. 6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Denise Van Outen feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:48 Page 2

interview...

Is Stephanie, as a character, aware of the Do you see it as a piece that will evolve as If you weren’t a performer, what would you potential damage that going back to the you work through the tour? do? past can cause? Definitely. With the preview shows, we’ll I’ve never thought about it, and I’ve been Definitely. Lots of people today, because of change little things. It’s not until you get it in lucky enough not to have to. I like the charity social networking sites like Friends Reunited, front of an audience that you often see what work which I do, with physical challenges have got back in touch with past loves and does and doesn’t work. People often ask if I like walking the Great Wall of China or old friends. It’s all very accessible. It’s now get bored doing the same thing every night. I climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Maybe being a very easy to track people down and find that don’t, because I change little things that guide on those sort of trips is something I boy you met on holiday when you were maybe the audience won’t notice. If you go could pursue. eighteen. I know people who’ve done that, out and give the same performance every and have ended up revisiting old night, and don’t gauge what mood the Will you be involved in Sports Relief again relationships. Some of them have worked audience is in and whether they are or aren’t in 2014? and others have been disasters, because enjoying it, you’re just being really lazy. You I’ll be involved, but I’m not yet sure what the they had this idea in their head of this person should make a performance slightly different challenge will be. The theme is Swim, Walk, being the cool kid at school. Then they find and go with the vibe of the audience. Cycle, but I don’t know anything other than that, as an adult, he’s a bit of a geek. that. Does the loneliness of touring alone Does the music which features in the bother you? You’ve ticked the boxes for acting, show have a personal link? Not really. My daughter will come with me singing, presenting, dancing and now I wrote a list of songs which I love for the days that she’s not at nursery, so I’ll be writing. What else is on your list? different reasons, and ones which a lot of the really full-on on those days. But you know I don’t know; we’ll see what happens with audience will also be able to relate to. For what? Being a busy mum, going back to the tour. I’ll have a break and a bit of example, a lot of people of my generation your hotel room and reading a book or downtime with Betsy. I might do another run will have a memory linked to Culture Club’s watching a DVD is quite nice. Also, because with this, possibly in the West End. I’ll just go Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? So yeah, all I’m talking and singing all the time in this with the flow, do this and see where it all of the songs featured in the show were on play, I need to rest my voice, so it’s better for leads. my original list, but what Steve and Terry me to go back to my hotel and be a bit quiet. have done is provided a new approach to Also, I’ll probably be feeling quite You had success with Strictly Come them. That’s what they’re really brilliant at. exhausted... Dancing. Would you ever consider taking part in any other Reality TV? Is Some Girl I Used To Know a project You’ve had success with presenting, I don’t know which ones I’d like to do, really, that’s been in the pipeline for some time? singing and, more recently, dancing. Do because I like learning something, which was It’s been in my head for a long time. I’d say you consider acting to be your first love? the draw with Strictly. I guess MasterChef from thought process to getting it to the I like all of it. Everything I do professionally is would be quite an interesting one. stage has taken two years. There were a lot a form of acting. It’s a performance, and I of initial draughts, and then we workshopped love performing. That said, I do love it when Do you think you’d fair well on that show? it, to get it to a place where it flowed and we you’re given a really good character to play, I’m an alright chef but not brilliant. I’d like to were happy with it. something that you can get your teeth into. learn to be better. None of the others really Overall, though, I like the variety of what I do. appeal. I love watching them, but I can’t help What added pressures does being co- I never really get bored. asking, ‘why do people do this?’. It could go writer and sole performer bring? either way. I’d be too nervous to do It’s a different thing walking out on stage and So has co-writing Some Girl I Used To something like, say, Celebrity Big Brother. not having anyone else to blame! Normally, Know given you a taste for writing more in as a performer, if someone says it wasn’t the future? How do you cope with all the press great, you can say, “well, it’s not my script”, Let’s see how this goes first; if it’s well intrusion? or “it’s not my song choices. I’m just an received, I’d like to try and tackle writing a You get used to it, and it’s usually only actor, so I just get up and do it”. Suddenly, sitcom. I’ve got a couple of ideas that I think connected to the work that I do. When I’m at I’ve got the responsibility of both - but I if I could work, but it’d be a whole new ball home in the country, I don’t get any press don’t try it, I’ll never know. And what’s the game for me. You never know, I might get intrusion. And as I’m only known in the UK, I worse thing that could happen? That people some inspiration when I’m out on the road. can travel abroad without any bother. It’s not say it isn’t that good. At least I’ll have given it like I’m some big Hollywood actress. I can a go. I’d rather try something than not. You received much acclaim playing Roxie get away on holiday and relax without Hart in Chicago and Paulette in Legally being pestered, so I have a very nice life What’s been the most difficult hurdle Blonde. Are there any other major roles really. you’ve had to overcome in preparing for you’d like to perform? the show? As I get older, I quite fancy playing Miss You mentioned Hollywood - have you ever To trust it and to trust myself. I think I was Hannigan in . She’s a really outrageous considered moving to the States to work? initially worrying a bit too much about character, and I think she’d be quite fun to I did Chicago on Broadway, then a TV series whether it would be successful. I’m only play. in LA, so I feel I’ve done my time in the going to find out by putting it on States. Obviously, if an opportunity came up and doing it. The majority of people who’ve Did you always aspire to be a performer? to do another show over there, then I would; seen it in the workshops have really liked it. My mum tried out my sister and I at the local but to move your family over there is such a dance club when we were very young. big commitment, and I’m such a home girl. I Having toured with Tell Me On A Sunday, Whereas my sister gave up on it, I loved like being in the UK and being with my you’re no stranger to one-woman shows. every minute and carried on. It went from friends and family. Do you ever find performing on your own there. I guess I always liked showing off. I a daunting experience? still do, really... Finally, what physical preparations have The build-up is scarier than doing it. The you had to make for the tour? weird thing about doing something on your If your daughter Betsy wanted to pursue a Well, I won’t be drinking, so it’s not going to own is that, the moment you get out there, career in acting, what advice would you be a rock’n’roll tour! I’m also going to try and you don’t have time to start freaking yourself give her? eat healthily, and have as much rest as I can out. You just have to throw yourself into the Well, she’s only three at the moment, but I when I’m not performing. I’m hoping it’s character. It’s also quite nice to have that will encourage and support her with going to be a good start to 2014! space and freedom, and to take your whatever choices she makes in life. I won’t time with the dialogue and not have to keep be a pushy mother, making her do dance Denise Van Outen stars in Some Girl I Used To waiting for someone else to deliver a line. and drama lessons if it isn’t something she Know which shows at New Alexandra You can also play around with the text a bit wants to do or doesn’t have a flair for. I just Theatre, Birmingham, from Mon 10 to Wed 12 more and try different things. want her to have a really happy childhood. February; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, from Thurs 20 to Sat 22 February

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7 Matthew Bourne feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:07 Page 1

I remember Cameron Mackintosh, the “ producer, coming up in the interval and saying that he had to do this in the West End ”

Matthew Bourne reflects on the moment he realised Swan Lake was a hit...

8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Matthew Bourne feature_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:07 Page 2

interview...

Director-choreographer Matthew Bourne first premiered his revelatory Swan Lake in 1995, since which time this modern reinterpretation of a ballet-world mainstay has transfixed audiences across the globe. With a new version of Swan Lake about to hit the road, Matthew reflects on a show which has not only become a genuine cultural phenomenon but also transformed the lives of many, not least that of Bourne himself.

When Swan Lake premiered at ’s entrance of Adam Cooper as the Swan. All of How do you think the intervening years Sadler’s Wells Theatre, did you have any a sudden, you felt people thinking, “This isn’t have refocused that aspect of the idea it would go on to achieve such what we were expecting!”. It suddenly went production? success? very quiet, very serious. And then I Well, we have different sorts of royals now. Absolutely not; you couldn’t predict anything remember Cameron Mackintosh, the The young princes seem more well-adjusted like that. I just remember in the rehearsal producer, coming up in the interval and - or shall we say ‘normal’ - so I’m not sure room having to get the thing done. It was a saying that he had to do this in the West we see them in quite the same way as we long piece - the longest by far that I’d done End, and I thought, “this is only the interval, once looked at Charles. On the other hand, I up to that point - so it was about working but - well, Cameron does know; there’s do think there’s still very much a relevance away at just trying to do the best we could something about his instinct!”. It was once here. There’s a lot of protection and do. I wasn’t really thinking beyond that. the second half got going and we were into grooming that still goes on; I mean, Kate the Ball scene that it all became suddenly didn’t just emerge as a fully formed royal. Nonetheless, the venture must have electric. Then, when Adam came on in his You still have to be a certain type of person prompted speculation in the dance world leather trousers as the Black Swan, the show to be part of the royal family, and it’s and beyond? really caught fire. At the end there was this important that our story is set in an It did! There were all sorts of doubts spontaneous roar - which the piece has uncertain, unspecified time period. It’s as expressed by people outside the room, and I received ever since - and that was honestly much about now as it was about then. was well aware that there were two prevailing something I hadn’t expected at all. camps. One group was sure that the piece You went on from Swan Lake to devise was going to be hilarious and a real send-up; It must be infuriating when you hear the numerous pieces, from Edward they were the ones who couldn’t wait! There work described as ‘the all-male Swan Scissorhands to Play Without Words, and were others who kept saying, “You do know Lake’, since there are women prominently from Cinderella to Sleeping Beauty. Does it’s a tragedy and you’re not going to mess featured in the cast, albeit not as the Swan Lake occupy a privileged position, around with it, are you?”. swans. simply because of what it represented for Very much so, and we’ve had some you? What did you think you had in the wonderful women over time, from Fiona I like to think of all those pieces you mention rehearsal room itself? Chadwick and Etta Murfitt onwards. That as children; and, as with any child, you can’t I remember all of us feeling that we liked the misperception you mention is so easy to say, pick a favourite. But of course I’m hugely idea, and that we had something we thought and it makes sense to everyone - but I do grateful to Swan Lake - how could I not be? could work, but I don’t think we were over- have to correct it, obviously. For one thing, I It changed my life and a lot of people’s lives. confident. It was more about a sense of us don’t want people sitting there during the It took us to Broadway and made us an working towards the same thing, and simply scenes with the royals thinking that they’re international company. The fact is, I still love having a confidence in the fact that we liked watching men in drag! thinking about it and working on it, and I still the idea of what we were doing. have a lot to say about it to the dancers. It’s I'm glad you reference the royals, who amazing to think that in eighteen years we’ve Can you recall the actual seedbed for the have to be mentioned, given that they gone from a company of eight to one of idea - the moment when the project itself were in a very different place in 1995 from seventy, and that we’ve done more actually took hold? where they are now. For one thing, performances of our Swan Lake during those The very first idea was the thought of all- Princess Diana was alive at the time. years than the Royal Ballet has done during male swans. That had come to me watching Yes, and she saw it, we believe. It’s funny; its entire existence. the ballet long before I ever had a company the royal aspect is the thing I thought or any possibility of doing Swan Lake at all; it everyone would pick up on, because royal What you’re doing, presumably, with your was just a daydream. I remember being scandal was such a big deal when we company New Adventures is looking intrigued as to what that might do to the plot. opened Swan Lake. All that, I have to say, forward as well as back... It helped, of course, that I’d seen the ballet was quite inspiring in a way. One felt there That’s exactly right. Swan Lake was the itself a lot. So I had this memory of Royal was a story going on in real life, as in Swan trailblazer - so much so that when we cast Ballet dancer Anthony Dowell as the Prince, Lake, in which a prince couldn’t marry the the show nowadays we find men whose wandering around in Act One pretty much person he really loved - in Charles’ case, whole ambition as dancers has been about saying, “No, I will not get married; take her Camilla - and so had to marry a suitable appearing in this piece. By contrast, eighteen away, I want something else!”. So I just young person instead, namely Diana. All that years ago it was hard to get a cast of thought, “Oh, there’s something going on in seemed terribly sad if you looked at it from a fourteen swans together! Now, hundreds this story that’s not being told”. purely human point of view, so I thought come to each audition. But what’s most there was a lot of sympathy to be had for a satisfying is that this hasn’t been our only What was that precisely? prince who couldn’t be what he wanted to successful thing. I wouldn’t feel the same I think it was that feeling of someone who’s be. about Swan Lake if it had been a one-hit yearning for something, which seemed to me wonder. I’m grateful for this show, but also a metaphor for someone who’s possibly gay; Yes, it’s important that the royal aspect of for all the ones that have come since, not or who maybe just wanted a different kind of your production isn’t viewed merely as least in terms of the public following myself woman, or something like that. It definitely facetious, or as a romp. and following the company. felt to me like something that was there in I do think the royal family really liked it, and the ballet itself and not like anything I’d found it very sympathetic; but no one is invented. And if you consider Tchaikovsky’s going to admit to that or say it publicly. I own life, and the turmoil and violence in the found out from Princess Margaret, when she music, that also suggested something much came to see Cinderella, that she had the deeper than a lot of pretty swans in a row. video and, as I say, we’re pretty sure that Diana had been in. What’s intriguing, too, is Do you remember a ‘click’ moment in that we were asked to do it as part of the performance when you sensed a hit on Royal Variety performance, apparently as a your hands? personal request from the Queen - so they Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake shows at Very much so. The bit, I think, that made the certainly didn’t turn against it because of the Birmingham Hippodrome from Wed 5 to Sat audience go completely quiet was the subject matter. 15 February.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Ed Byrne syndicated interview_Layout 1 27/01/2014 18:11 Page 1

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interview...

There are seven billion people on “the planet and I only have the time to be friends with ten of them, so I have to choose carefully.” ”

As a master of observational humour, Ed Byrne has made quite a name for himself on the international comedy scene. A regular on hit TV show Mock The Week, Ed’s also the current presenter of What’s So Funny On BBC Radio 4Extra. This month sees the Irish comedian take to the road with his Roaring Forties tour. Here, he tells What’s On what audiences can expect... Ed Byrne says he's a miserable old git. He “I don't have time for you! If we have to get As he’s about to mark twenty years in the didn't celebrate his fortieth birthday last year into a debate about it, then no,” he says, business, has he noticed any differences in and his new show, Roaring Forties, is partly laughing. his performances over that time? about the many things in life that annoy him. Being the married father of two young sons “One thing that has changed is that I now But in the flesh, he's smart and funny. And as (with his publicist wife, Claire) has given him don't pretend to think something for the sake for being a party pooper... Well, not really - lots of new things to talk about on stage, but of a joke. I mean, there's always comic he's planning a celebration in November do Claire and his family, who often appear in exaggeration and embroidering a story to when his tour reaches , the city his material, ever object? “It's something that make it funnier, but it's more true to my life where his career began twenty years ago most comics experience,” Byrne replies. now. I used to say I hated kids, for example, after he’d studied horticulture at the “People know what you do for a living and and it wasn't true - I've always loved kids and University of Strathclyde. then they complain when you mention them wanted to have them, but that wouldn't have The Irish observational comic, who grew up in the act - and I've certainly had at least one fitted with the style of comic I was earlier in in Swords in Dublin, re-evaluated his life after girlfriend in the past who objected. my career. hitting forty, and came up with the idea for “But my wife and my family are really funny, “I think being truthful makes it more chancy, Roaring Forties. The show comprises his and Claire understands what goes with the but if I take an opinion and try to find a way trademark mix of one-liners and extended job. Actually, she comes off very well, and to make it funny - even if people don't agree anecdotes, and covers a range of subjects - people say our relationship - very sparky, with me - I think it pays off because from fatherhood and friendships to very joshing - comes across. I can't think of a audiences know what's authentic.” vasectomies and driving-awareness courses. time when she's said ‘you can't use this’, but His fanbase is, he says, “pretty broad” - “It's about getting older,” Byrne says, “about if she did, I'd not use it. people of his own age and above, and being at an age where you're not really that “As for the kids, any stuff I do about them I teenagers who know him from his Mock The old but no one thinks you're trendy seriously doubt in years to come they'll hate Week appearances. Some of his audience is anymore.” me for and make me pay for their therapy,” drawn from his TV advertisements and Byrne has embraced middle age and he says with a laugh. “Although I am aware occasional acting roles. reached the conclusion that, on the whole, that there's an age at which you have to be Byrne may do more acting. He has a number people annoy him. “It's like a spring-clean of sensitive to their wishes and not embarrass of ideas bubbling away for a sitcom - one of my life,” says Byrne, “and I've come up with them, but that's some years off.” them, no doubt, about a miserable middle- reasons why you can't be my friend. There Talking of sensitive matters, Byrne finds the aged git. So who knows, we may lose him to are seven billion people on the planet and I funny about having a vasectomy, but he was the small screen. only have the time to be friends with ten of also under the surgeon's knife recently when Catch him live while you can. them, so I have to choose carefully.” he tried to move a compost bin in his garden So what are his rules? “It's the little things and gave himself a hernia. Fans may have Ed Byrne brings his Roaring Forties tour to that annoy me,” he says. “People who don't seen him exposing his midriff on Graham Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 8 indicate on roundabouts, people who use Norton's BBC programme to show off his war February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wed the phrase 'touched a nerve there', or 'I'm just wounds, but they're healed now. “It's all fine, 19 February; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, making conversation'...” and I'm stronger than ever before,” he says. Sat 22 February; Crewe Lyceum, Wed 19 The list runs on. The Irishman is actually super-fit; a keen March; Bedworth Civic Hall, Sat 22 How flexible is he? Could we negotiate if I hillwalker, he recently climbed Mont Blanc March forget to indicate just the once, for instance? and bags Munros in .

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Bonobo The Institute, Birmingham, Thurs 27 February It looks like being another busy year for musician, producer and DJ Simon Green, stage name Bonobo. He’s already confirmed slots at two of the world’s most prestigious music festivals - Coachella and Sonar - and is also undertaking a twenty-date tour of Europe and the UK. All this after releasing his album The North Borders late last year. Still, with over ten years’ experience, count- less mix records and five successful albums - in- cluding Dial M For Monkey and Black Sands - under his belt, he’s a man who’s well used to busy schedules. He’s accompanied at The Institute by a full live band.

Beyoncé LG Arena, Birmingham, Sun 23 - Mon 24 February The Twang Famed for her high-energy performances and spectacular stage shows, Beyoncé The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 26 February Knowles' star continues to be in the ascendant. The former Destiny’s Child singer is now The Twang were signed in 2007 and hailed as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having notched up in excess of seventy- Britain’s best new band by the NME. Hailing from five million album sales worldwide. Not surprisingly given that fact, she’s also bagged her Quinton in Birmingham, Phil Etheridge and Jon fair share (and then some!) of gongs and accolades, including way more Grammy Watkin came together musically after meeting at Awards than she’s got fingers and no small number of MTV Video Music Awards. Kidderminster College. Originally called Neon She visits Birmingham this month with her Mrs Carter Show, which was the highest Twang, the band’s debut album, Love It When I grossing tour by a female artist in 2013. Feel Like This, reached number three in the charts, the boys then following up with second album Jew- ellery Quarter, recorded in a cottage in Anglesey in The Gipsy Kings 2008. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 21 February Presenting music that’s been described as having ‘a rumba flamenca style with pop influ- ences’, The Gypsy Kings hail from Arles and Montpellier in the South of and per- Sam Smith form in Spanish with an Andalusian accent. Formed in 1978, they enjoyed a major The Institute, Birmingham Fri 28 February success with their self-titled debut album, and have since become even more widely To say that the soulful-voiced Sam Smith has had a known as a result of their contributions to the soundtracks of hit movies The Big good start to 2014 would be an understatement. Lebowski and Toy Story 3. From featured vocalist for Disclosure to achieving standout success, Sam is making the industry sit up and take notice. Named Critics’ Choice ahead of this month’s BRIT Awards, he also won the BBC’s Sound Of 2014 award, beating off opposi- tion from Ella Eyre, Banks, Sampha and George Ezra in the process. This Institute gig is one of six special UK dates he’s playing prior to the May re- lease of his debut album, The Lonely Hour.

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Music PREVIEWS

Rachel Sermanni Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Tues 4 February; The Glee Club, Birmingham Fri 7 February Hailing from the village of Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands, Rachel developed the songs for her latest EP, Everything Changes, in her family home and recorded them in a New York recording studio with producer Alex Newport. Having supported Mumford & Sons, KT Tunstall, Elvis Costello and Rumer, Rachel cites Eva Cassidy, and as major influences, and often talks about vivid dreams that slowly transform into songs.

Tom Odell Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sun 9 February Shooting to fame with album The Long Way Down and standout single Another Love, Tom Odell won the BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice gong in 2013. Nominated for two BRITs this year, for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act, Tom shows no sign of slowing down, and will stop off at five UK venues on this tour. Recently revealing his fear of spiders when one crawled across his piano onstage in Tasmania, he’s forecast that fellow artist Sam Nancy Kerr & James Fagan Smith will have ‘a huge year’ in 2014 - as long as he watches out for spiders! St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury, Sun 2 February Nancy and James are two folk musicians from different ends of the Earth. Nancy is the The 1975 Kent DuChaine daughter of London-born singer-songwriter O2 Academy, Birmingham, Wed 12 February The Jam House, Birmingham, Tues 11 Febru- ary; Lichfield Guildhall, Fri 21 February Sandra Kerr and Northumbrian piper Ron El- newcomers The 1975 released liott. James is the son of Sydney-based folk their hotly anticipated debut album last au- American blues singer and guitarist Kent singers Bob and Margaret. Meeting in the tumn, and look like a band with a bright, DuChaine may cite Robert Johnson, Muddy mid-1990s, they fell in love and married, bright future. Their style has left critics at Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, T-Bone Walker and began performing together, and went on to something of a loss, but has been summed Bukka White as his main musical influences, win the BBC Radio Two Folk Award for Best up as 'brooding art rock, crisp electronica, but there’s little question his wild and fero- Duo in both 2003 and 2011. This Shrewsbury dancefloor R&B, helium hip-hop, shimmering cious style is very much his own. Since 1979 gig is their first of 2014 as a duo - and with balladry and '80s gloss pop'. The band them- his instrument of choice has been Nancy’s solo album due for release this year, selves, however, refer to it simply as 'the sum Leadbessie, a beat-up 1934 National Steel and tours scheduled with Melrose Quartet of our combined experiences'. Guitar, with whom it’s roughly estimated he’s and The Full English, it looks like being a travelled over two million miles and played in busy twelve months for the talented pair. excess of eighty tours. Who needs a dog when you’ve got a guitar as reliable as Shooglenifty that?... Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Shropshire, Sat 15 February Molly Hatchet Although they might be associated with Celtic The Robin, Bilston, Sun 9 February music, Shooglenifty’s material flouts conven- tion and is anything but ordinary. One of This metal band is best known for 1979 hit Scotland's most unique musical exports, the Flirting With Disaster, and has racked up an band invented Techno Ceilidh, Hypnofolka- impressive thirteen albums in thirty-nine delia and Acid Croft, a fiery blend of tradi- years. Playing blues metal in the style of tional Celtic music and dance grooves. They Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackfoot, and rock’n’roll describe their sound as ‘hypno-folkadelic am- Lucy Spraggan in the spirit of the South, they’re performing bient trad’. Eight albums (and a collaboration in the Midlands as part of a short UK tour, The Place, Oakengates, Sat 8 February with Afro Celt Sound System) after forming, after which they’ll join , James they’re in demand all over the world. Be pre- From auditioning for 2012’s X Factor to re- Taylor, the Doobie Brothers and Roger Dal- pared to dance at this historic venue. leasing her first studio album, Lucy Spraggan trey on the Rock’n’Roll cruise. Support here has been on a real rollercoaster ride. The first comes from the Black Country’s very own X Factor star to audition for the show with her ’80s-style rockers, Shyyne. own composition - Last Night - Lucy writes all her own songs, many of which are searingly honest tear-jerkers. She signed a major record label deal with Columbia last year, and released her debut album Join The Club in October, describing it as ‘full of storytelling, with a hip-hop influence’.

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LICHFIELD GUILDHALL FEBRUARY Sat 1st Feb, 8pm The Steve Tilston Trio

Tickets: £15.00

Sun 2nd Feb, 8pm The Proof (featuring Paul Cox)

18th - 22nd FEBRUARY 2014 01746 761541 Tickets £15 Adults, £12 Children Tickets: £12.00 Evenings 7.30pm Matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm Fri 7th Feb, 8pm An Ametur Production with kind permission of Samuel French, London Flossie Malavialle plus Enchanté Tickets: £12.00

Fri 21st Feb, 8pm The Jaywalkers

Tickets: £11.00

Sun 23rd Feb, 8pm Kent Duchaine Tickets: £12.00

MARCH

Sat 1st Mar, 8pm Gigspanner

Tickets: £14.00

For a programme or further information : Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield. WS13 6LU BOX OFFICE 01543 262223 www.lichfieldarts.org.uk You can now book on-line www.lichfieldarts.org.uk

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Birmingham Slade Rooms, Wolver- LISTINGS FRI 7 FEB THE TREATMENT The THUR 13 FEB hampton Music Slade Rooms, Wolver- HIDDEN SKIES, HOPE AND CREAM OF CLAPTON The hampton KERRANG! TOUR - LIMP CHANCE, TIGER PUNCH & Place, Oakengates LUCY SPRAGGAN The BIZKIT, CROSSFAITH & LOST AT HOME O2 Acad- For full listing information on gigs, THINK FLOYD The Robin, Place, Oakengates, NEKROGOBLIKON O2 emy, Birmingham including times and dates, Bilston Telford Academy, Birmingham DREAM THEATER Civic visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk LOEFAH, PALEMAN, KRAFTWERK UNCOVERED LITTLE COMETS The Hall, Wolverhampton MICKEY PEARCE & Birmingham Town Hall Sugarmill, Stoke-on- BAD LUCK & SUPERSTI- CHUNKY The Rainbow THE WEEKEND ANTHEMS Trent TION WITH SEVENTH ERA Venues, Birmingham The River Rooms, ANTHONY MARSDEN Route 44, Birmingham SAT 1 FEB EMMA MARIE The Ac- FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE Stourbridge MAJOR PROJECT BAND FURY, TWISTED SPECIES, tress & Bishop, B’ham Lichfield Guildhall THE HURLING BOYS The The Yardbird Jazz Club, TEXAS FLOOD & LIGHT- THE RED LEMONS The ROCK/ALT ALL DAYERThe THE BOXER REBELLION Irish Centre, B’ham Birmingham FIRE Scruffy Murphys, Jam House, B’ham Roadhouse, B’ham O2 Academy, B’ham BUZZARD LOPE & GILL WILL AND THE PEOPLE Birmingham CONSCIOUS KONGO The BONFIRE RADICALS & WE ARE UNDERSIGNED SANDELL Ort Cafe, Birm- Hare & Hounds, B’ham LET’S HANG ON Stafford Buttermarket, Shrews- KATE DOUBLEDAY BAND The Yardbird Jazz Club, ingham KATHRYN ROBERTS & Gatehouse bury Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham SEAN LAKEMAN Theatre FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS THAT’LL BE THE DAY Bed- Birmingham KISS - DRESSED TO KILL SUN 9 FEB Severn, Shrewsbury The Swan Theatre, worth Civic Hall The River Rooms, SONS OF CREAM The Worcester SHOWADDYWADDY The MON 3 FEB Stourbridge TOM ODELL Civic Hall, Robin, Bilston THE COUNTERFEIT Robin, Bilston FRAN THE MAN The Irish Wolverhampton THE SUBS The Jam STONES The Robin, Bil- NO JACKET REQUIRED - SUZANNE VEGA Birming- Centre, Birmingham STATE OF THE UNION House, Birmingham ston THE PHIL COLLINS TRIB- ham Town Hall CASH - PAYIN’ RESPECT Henry Tudor House, SPEEDY ORTIZ Hare & SHADOW DEAMON UTE Crewe Lyceum CLUTCHING AT STRAWS TO THE MAN IN BLACK O2 Shrewsbury Hounds, Birmingham VALENTINES BALL FT. DJ T-REXTASY Artrix, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Academy, Birmingham MOLLY HATCHETThe HEATHER PEACE The In- SLY, BASSMAN, TRIGGA, Bromsgrove Birmingham THE OASIS EXPERIENCE Robin, Bilston stitute, Birmingham ‘ NICKY BLACKMARKET KIRVANA The Slade THE DUNNETT & BAXTER The Roadhouse, B’ham THE STRAITS Lichfield HAGLEY SCHOOL - THE AND MORE The Institute, Rooms, W’hampton BIG BAND The Yardbird THE STAFFORDSHIRE Garrick MUSIC OF ABBA Birming- Birmingham KICK UP THE 80S The Jazz Club, Birmingham BAND: BRASS PLANET GORDIE MACKEEMAN & ham Town Hall BASIA BULAT Hare & River Rooms, Stour- Forest Arts Centre, Wal- HIS RHYTHM BOYS ROMANCE AT THE MUSI- Hounds, Birmingham bridge TUES 4 FEB sall Foxlowe Arts Centre, CALS Forest Arts Cen- CHILDREN OF THE GRAVY FABIO, GROOVERIDER & THE STRAITS Birming- Leek, Staffs tre, Walsall - BLACK SABBATH TRIB- UTAH JAZZ Hare & RX BANDITS Hare & ham Town Hall SLAVES / PUP The Flap- MR SCRUFF The Assem- UTE The Roadhouse, Hounds, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham ABBAMANIA Crewe per, Birmingham bly, Leamington Spa Birmingham HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPE- METRO SOUL The Jam Lyceum SHAWN CUDDY The Irish TANKUS THE HENGE, SUN- ZIM ZIM The Actress & LIN Theatre Severn, House, Birmingham RAYMOND FROGGATT The Centre, Birmingham DOWN & GRASSROUTES Bishop, Birmingham Shrewsbury RACHEL SERMANNI Edge Arts Centre, Much ROD AND THE FACEZ The The Roadhouse, B’ham THE BON JOVI EXPERI- A VISION OF ELVIS The- Henry Tudor House, Wenlock, South Shrop- Roadhouse, B’ham ENCE The River Rooms, atre Severn, Shrews- Shrewsbury shire LIBERTY LIES, OF BLUE FRI 14 FEB Stourbridge bury ANDY BUNTING QUINTET PAPER MOON Wem Town SKIES AND YOUTH, LIGHT- PAT BRESLIN Irish Cen- INCLEMENT QUARTET & The Spotted Dog, Birm- Hall, North Shropshire FIRE Sunflower Lounge, A DAY TO REMEMBER O2 tre, Birmingham KATY ROSE Ort Cafe, ingham MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM Birmingham Academy, Birmingham INSCRIPTIONS, BEHEAD Birmingham NIX, NI, OI FAITHFUL The Hare & Hounds, B’ham MONSTER MAGNET Wul- THE BRIDE, THEATRE OF THE STEVE TILSTON TRIO Yardbird Jazz Club, GROUPER The Jam frun Hall, W’hampton SILENCE & LAID TO REST Lichfield Guildhall Birmingham House, Birmingham MON 10 FEB STEVE AJAO JAZZ QUAR- The Sugarmill, Stoke- BLEED FROM WITHIN THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE TET Symphony Hall, on-Trent ANNA CALVI The Insti- Kasbah, Coventry WED 5 FEB Theatre On The Steps, Birmingham tute, Birmingham AND FINALLY - PHIL Bridgnorth THAT’LL BE THE DAY GERRY AND THE PACE- MARTIN CARTHY Kitchen COLLINS TRIBUTE SHOW THAT’S LIFE - Crewe Lyceum SUN 16 FEB MAKERS Tamworth As- Garden Cafe, B’ham The Swan Theatre, & WESTLIFE SHOW Nail- THE BON JOVI EXPERI- sembly Rooms LONDON GRAMMAR O2 Worcester cote Hall, Berkswell ENCE The River Rooms, LANDERMASON The Red Academy, Birmingham THE MIGHTY WRAITH The RACHEL SERMANNI The Stourbridge Lion Folk Club, B’ham TUES 11 FEB EDENBRIDGE The Robin, Roadhouse, B’ham Glee Club, Birmingham LET’S HANG ON Tam- SCHOOL OF ROCK & POP Bilston RE-COVERED The Irish THE MOTIVES The Sug- FOALS O2 Academy, worth Assembly Rooms SHOWCASE O2 Acad- THE STRYPES The Insti- Centre, Birmingham armill, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham NINE BELOW ZERO The emy, Birmingham tute, Birmingham THE FORTUNES - PAST & JONATHAN SILK QUINTET LITTLE COMETS The In- Robin, Bilston THE TREATMENT THE 45S Hare & The Symphony Hall, B’ham stitute, Birmingham GARY CROSBY’S GROUN- PRESENT Lichfield Gar- Hounds, Birmingham Sugarmill, Stoke-on- BIG CITY Route 44, KENT DUCHAINE The DATION Arena Theatre, rick CHRIS QUINN The Trent Birmingham Jam House, B’ham Wolverhampton TOMMY HUNT MINI Kitchen Garden Cafe, HIP HATCHET Kitchen KESTON COBBLERS CLUB THE INTENTIONS The NIGHT’ER Wulfrun Hall, MOTOWN SOUL SPECTAC Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham SAT 8 FEB Hare & Hounds, B’ham Jam House, B’ham Wolverhampton EZRA FURMAN Hare & BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST, ARNIE SOMOGYI’S MIN- THE ELECTRO SWING GROUPER The Jam Hounds, Birmingham CHAPTER, CTRL C & EU- GUS BIG BAND The Spot- BALL The Place, Oaken- THUR 6 FEB House, Birmingham LITTLE JIMMY The Irish PHONY O2 Academy, ted Dog, Birmingham gates, Telford FLUX Symphony Hall, Centre, Birmingham Birmingham KING PLEASURE & THE ELEANOR MCEVOY SHOOTING THE BREEZE Birmingham SALVATION, KRITICAL ONLY THE GOOD & TIGER- BISCUIT BOYS The Kitchen Garden Cafe, Irish Centre, B’ham EXPLOSIVE LIGHT OR- CHARGE, SKULL FOX & PUNCH The Actress & Robin, Bilston Birmingham HEAVEN 17 Birmingham CHESTRA The Road- ROGUE AMBITION The Bishop, Birmingham BRILLIANT CORNERS NASHVILLE BLUES, THE Town Hall house, Birmingham Flapper, Birmingham IVOR AND LYN’S CLASSIC PLAY THELONIOUS MONK FIDGETS & 120 MINUTES BROTHERS GROOVE Dud- THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE LOVESPELL The Road- ROCK DISCO Route 44, The Yardbird Jazz Club, The Yardbird Jazz Club, ley Brewhouse Blues Theatre On The Steps, house, Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Club, Dudley Bridgnorth EYE OF SOLITUDE The DEL AMITRI Civic Hall, TICH The Institute, Birm- THE BIG 4 TRIBUTE BAND MON 17 FEB Asylum, Birmingham Wolverhampton ingham The Sugarmill, Stoke- WED 12 FEB HANK WANGFORD VERSES & CROOKS The LOVE CLASSICS Sym- on-Trent MOTORHEAD Civic Hall, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Sugarmill, Stoke-on- MARTIN TURNERS WISH- phony Hall, B’ham LESS THAN JAKE & REEL Wolverhampton Birmingham Trent BONE ASH The Robin, QUILL Prince Of Wales BIG FISH & ZEBRAHEAD THE BEARDS The Glee 4OZ OF GROOVE The FIVE STAR SWING: THE Bilston Centre, Cannock O2 Academy, B’ham Club, Birmingham Yardbird Jazz Club, BIG BAND Tamworth As- THE 1975 O2 Academy, BON GIOVI The Road- ABBA MANIA Bedworth BOAT TO ROW Henry Birmingham sembly Rooms Birmingham house, Birmingham Civic Hall Tudor House, Shrews- ACOUSTIC / FOLK SHOW- GOSPEL CENTRAL The JACQUI DANKWORTH THE ZIGGIE PAUL BAND bury CASE The Roadhouse, Jam House, B’ham Solihull Arts Complex SUN 2 FEB Route 44, Birmingham LIANNE KAYE Hare & Birmingham THREE STEP MANOEUVRE TOM GARNETT, EVERY- JOSH KEMP QUARTET Hounds, Birmingham PROTEST THE HERO FAIRPORT CONVENTION FUNKY ORGAN TRIO The MAN, OJ, COURTNEY O2 The Hive, Shrewsbury THE DEFILED, BUTCHER Academy, Birmingham Theatre Severn, Yardbird Jazz Club, LOCEZ, MARK SAMUEL, GA GA Tamworth As- BABIES & THE KILLING SEPULTURA Shrewsbury Birmingham BEYOND AND KRU MEM- The Insti- sembly Rooms LIGHTS The Asylum, tute, Birmingham KILLSWITCH ENGAGE AND LITE The Flapper, Birm- BER The Rainbow Ven- WHOLE LOTTA LED The Birmingham THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW TRIVIUM O2 Academy, ingham ues, Birmingham Swan Theatre, Worces- THE DEMON BARBERS Birmingham STEVE KNIGHTLEY The THE WISE GUYS Fleet Birmingham Town Hall ter New Vic Theatre, New- THE QUIREBOYS ADAM ISAAC BAND The Red Lion Folk Club, Street Kitchen, B’ham The URIAH HEEP The Robin, castle-under-Lyme Jam House, B’ham Birmingham Robin, Bilston Bilston SETH LAKEMAN Lichfield SHY NATURE Hare & NANCY KERR AND JAMES THE ATLANTICS AND DJ Cathedral Hounds, Birmingham SAT 15 FEB TUES 18 FEB FAGAN St Alkmunds DREW STANSALL (THE Church, Shrewsbury BOAT TO ROW Sym- JOHN COOPER CLARKE SPECIALS) Hare & THE INTENTIONS The BRYAN CORBETT QUAR- THE PROOF phony Hall, B’ham New Vic Theatre, New- Lichfield Hounds, Birmingham Jam House, B’ham TET The Jam House, WE ARE THE IN CROWD castle-under-Lyme Guildhall THE DEEP DARK WOODS SARA COLMAN Sym- B’ham MICK FLAVIN O2 Academy, B’ham The Irish The Sunflower Lounge. phony Hall, B’ham PETE KENT The Robin, Centre, Birmingham UPON DESCENT The Bilston For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17 Music February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:52 Page 7

Stratford Civic Hall Stoke Victoria Hall Sunday 2nd March Saturday 31st May 01789 207 100 0844 871 7649 For full details on all shows visit www.ratpack.biz

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GEES FEVER The Robin, THE DARK EYES, NEVER Birmingham LISTINGS Bilston WED 26 FEB BEEN LESS & SISTER THE DEAR HUNTER & AN- Music BENEATH THE REMAINS LUCK The Roadhouse, THONY GREEN O2 Acad- O2 Academy, B’ham ROOM 94 O2 Academy, Birmingham emy, Birmingham CRACKED ACTORS, EAST- Birmingham PAUL PARKER & ALL THE THE SUPERSKAS The For full listing information on gigs, FIELD, ALCOHOL LICKS MARTYN JOSEPH Theatre RIGHT FRIENDS The Robin, Bilston including times and dates, Route 44, Birmingham Severn, Shrewsbury Robin, Bilston FRED ZEPPELIN The River visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk REVEREND AND THE MAK- BLUE TOUCH PAPER Ar- REVEREND AND THE MAK- Rooms, Stourbridge ERS Kasbah, Coventry trix, Bromsgrove ERS O2 Academy, Birm- ASTRUM GUITAR TRIO STAR OF THE SEA The GAVIN DEGRAW The Insti- ingham SpArc Theatre, Bishops TURISAS The Slade Birmingham Irish Centre, B’ham tute, Birmingham WE CAME AS ROMANS, Castle, Shropshire FIRES, LITTLE LIAM & Rooms, Wolverhampton INCINERY, DEMONS OF THE JOHN STEEDS The CHUNK! NO CAPTAIN NICK HARPER The Tin LUKE ROUND CHARITY BATTLE OF THE Sunflower OLD METAL, SHEBREW & Jam House, B’ham CHUNK, THE COLOR Music And Arts, Coven- BANDS The Roadhouse, Lounge, Birmingham SLAB Scruffy Murphys, NURVAX JAM The Yard- MORALE & PALM READER try DUMB Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham bird Jazz Club, B’ham O2 Academy, Birming- FRANCIS HILLEN’S JOHN FLEMING QUINTET Birmingham HONEYFEET & MENDI LUKE JACKSON The Red ham ACOUSTIC MUSIC NIGHT DEFINITELY MIGHT BE & The Spotted Dog, Birm- SINGH Hare & Hounds, Lion Folk Club, B’ham DEL CAMINO The Jam The Spotted Dog, Birm- ADORED The River ingham Birmingham THE GRAVELTONES, THE House, Birmingham ingham CATE LE BON Rooms, Stourbridge Hare & THIS GAME OF GHOSTS CADILLAC THREE & BUF- PAPER AEROPLANES Hare SAM SMITH The Institute, SUGAR MAMA, SOUND KID Hounds, Birmingham The Sugarmill, Stoke- FALO SUMMER The Insti- & Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham ANDY WHITE & NEVER BEEN LESS O2 Kitchen on-Trent tute, Birmingham BONOBO The Institute, ROCKET The Jam Academy, Birmingham Garden Cafe, B’ham DEADFEST WEEKEND The THE TWANG The Sug- Birmingham House, Birmingham PHIL BEER MATT FROBISHER, ALAN Birch- Roadhouse, B’ham armill, Stoke-on-Trent ANDREW WOODHEAD BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN MASON, THE STRANGLER meadow, Broseley THE TWANG Wulfrun MARRAKESH EXPRESS QUINTET The Yardbird Birmingham Town Hall FIGS SUPER 6 & CATHODES The Yardbird Jazz Hall, Wolverhampton Kitchen Garden Cafe, Jazz Club, Birmingham CLASSIC CLAPTON Num- The Actress & Bishop, Club, Birmingham Birmingham THOM KIRKPATRICK War- ber 8 Community Arts Birmingham LET SPIN The Tin Music wick Arts Centre, Centre, Worcester THE JAYWALKERS Lich- SUN 23 FEB WED 19 FEB & Arts, Coventry Coventry SKATERS Hare & field Guildhall THE RAT PACK IS BACK ABIE’S MIRACLE TONIC Hounds, Birmingham BOGUS BLOOZE Route 44, SONS OF ICARUS The The Grand Theatre, Symphony Hall, Birm- SPANDEX BELLEND The Birmingham Asylum, Birmingham Wolverhampton THUR 27 FEB ingham Marr’s Bar, Worcester TWENTY ONE PILOTS The GUNS VS ROSES The BEYOND THE BARRICADE FIRE IN CAIRO O2 Acad- WINSTON’S BIG BROTHER Institute, Birmingham Roadhouse, B’ham Kasbah, Coventry Regent Theatre, Stoke- emy, Birmingham The Actress & Bishop, THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA SHANE FILAN Symphony RECONNECTED O2 Acad- on-Trent Birmingham OF GREAT BRITAIN Sym- Hall, Birmingham emy, Birmingham VAULT OF EAGLES, MAN- LONG DISTANCE The Irish phony Hall, Birmingham JOHN BRAMWELL The NICK ROSS ORCHESTRA: SIZE, ASS PASTY & FOX FRI 28 FEB Centre, BIrmingham THE DANSE SOCIETY The Glee Club, Birmingham SOUNDS OF THE GLENN TAIL ROCKETS Marr’s Bar, BUDDY HOLLY ROCK AND Robin, Bilston MOTOWN’S GREATEST MILLER ERA Lichfiel Gar- LOVELESS LUCK O2 Worcester ROLL PARTY Prince Of DUELLER 88 The Jam HITS - HOW SWEET IT IS rick Academy, Birmingham LUKE SITAL-SINGH, ELIZA Wales Centre, Cannock House, Birmingham Theatre Severn, DEADFEST WEEKEND The CAPTAIN HORIZON The AND THE BEAR, DIZZY LIZZY Route 44, RED SHOES The Red Shrewsbury Roadhouse, B’ham Asylum, Birmingham FAREWELL J.R & ANNIE Birmingham Lion Folk Club, B’ham UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE KENT DUCHAINE Lichfield THE STONES The Assem- EVE Hare & Hounds, REALMS Symphony Hall, DRENGE Hare & Hounds, The Jam House, B’ham Guildhall bly, Leamington Spa Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham THE GIPSY KINGS Civic MILLY WINTER & ANNIE THE UPBEAT BEATLES COCOS LOVERS Ort Cafe, ROCK AROUND THE SIX- MECHANICAL SMILE The Hall, Wolverhampton DRESSNER Warwick Arts Crewe Lyceum Birmingham TIES The Place, Oaken- Roadhouse, B’ham SONIC BOOM SIX + RAT Centre, Coventry THE DANSETTE DAYS THE WYTCHES Sunflower gates, Telford RED METHOD O2 Acad- ATTACK The Institute, JAMES BAY The Yardbird Huntingdon Hall, Lounge, Birmingham RECOVERED Fleet Street emy, Birmingham Birmingham Jazz Club, Birmingham Worcester RICHARD DIGANCE Artrix, Kitchen, Birmingham SWEET GUM TREE The In- THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS MORPHEUS RISING The U2UK The Roadhouse, Bromsgrove stitute, Birmingham BAND The Marr’s Bar, Robin, Bilston Worcester NIPSEY HUSSLE The In- THUR 20 FEB THE FORTUNES Prince Of stitute, Birmingham Wales Centre, Cannock BEYONCE LG Arena, Music Venues Box Office AYNSLEY LISTER BAND TOY The Rainbow Ven- Birmingham The Robin, Bilston ues, Birmingham SEAN WILSON The Irish NEWTON FAULKNER O2 THE PINK FLOYD SHOW Centre, Birmingham Birmingham Black Country Staffordshire Academy, Birmingham Theatre On The Steps, 02 ACADEMY CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK MARTIN WALKYIER’S Bridgnorth MON 24 FEB 0121 622 8250 0870 320 7000 01538 386112 VIKING FUNERAL O2 RIC YARBOROUGH TRIO THE ACTRESS & BISHOP DUDLEY CONCERT HALL LICHFIELD GUILDHALL 0121 236 7426 01384 815577 Academy, Birmingham Symphony Hall, B’ham BEYONCE LG Arena, 01543 262223 FOREST ARTS CENTRE CHIRS MADDOCK QUINTET STEVE DAY BAND The Birmingham ADRIAN BOULT HALL THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY 0121 331 5901 0845 111 2898 The Yardbird Jazz Club, Down Inn, Bridgnorth, CHRIS MILLS & THE DIS- STOKE-ON-TRENT NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01159 454 593 Birmingham Shropshire THE ASYLUM TANT STARS Hare & 0121 233 1109 01902 572090 ORLA GARTLAND The In- CORNELL CAMPBELL Hounds, Birmingham TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS THE BARBER INSTITUTE ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01827 709618 stitute, Birmingham MEETS THE SOOTHSAY- RADKEY Hare & Hounds, 01902 401211 0121 414 7333 VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY THE CARL PALMER BAND ERS The Drum, B’ham Birmingham SLADE ROOMS MODS AND SODS Fleet BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 0870 060 6649 Birmingham Town Hall ROBIN HERON & THE TEA 0121 780 3333 WOLVERHAMPTON THE PARIS 1940S The Street Kitchen, B’ham 0870 320 7000 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE PAD ORCHESTRA Kitchen CBSO CENTRE 01785 254653 Jam House, B’ham Garden Cafe, Birming- 0121 780 3333 STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL CARRIE TREE & HOUSE OF 01384 812812 SAT 22 FEB ham FLAPPER 0121 236 2421 Warwickshire HATS Hare & Hounds, WULFRUN HALL, THE GLEE CLUB Birmingham UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE WOLVERHAMPTON THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON 0871 472 0400 0870 320 7000 01926 311311 MARTY WILDE AND THE The Jam House, B’ham TUES 25 FEB HARE & HOUNDS WILDCATS Lichfield Gar- CASINO The Actress & THE KASBAH, COVENTRY ULTIMATE RHYTHM & 0121 444 2081 Shropshire 024 7655 4473 rick Bishop, Birmingham BLUES Symphony Hall, INSTITUTE BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY THE ORWELLS Hare & EMPTY HANDS The Asy- NAILCOTE HALL, Birmingham 0121 643 0428 01952 882210 BERKSWELL Hounds, Birmingham lum, Birmingham RUDIMENTAL Civic Hall, IRISH CENTRE THE BUTTERMARKET, 02476 46 6174 ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW ST DAVID’S DAY CONCERT Wolverhampton 0121 622 2314 SHREWSBURY STRATFORD CIVIC HALL AND THE LOW RIDERS Theatre Severn, FOXES The Institute, THE JAM HOUSE 01743 355055 01789 207100 Solihull Arts Complex Shrewsbury Birmingham 0121 200 3030 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, THE TIN MUSIC & ARTS, EXISTIMMORTAL The THE PINK FLOYD SHOW MUCH WENLOCK SOULFLY O2 Academy, LG ARENA COVENTRY Asylum, Birmingham Theatre On The Steps, 0844 338 8000 01952 728911 Birmingham 0247 655 9958 UNCLE JIM, SWERVE & Bridgnorth, Shropshire HENRY TUDOR HOUSE ATLAS, CAPITAL SUN, NIA ANIMA The Actress & FAT WHITE FAMILY Sun- 0844 338 8000 SHREWSBURY Worcestershire SURF & DEAF INSPECTOR Bishop, Birmingham flower Lounge, B’ham 01743 361666 The Actress & Bishop, THE RAINBOW ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE BOINK QUARTET Ort TAKING HAYLEY The Insti- 0121 772 8174 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 01527 577330 Birmingham 01743 234970 Cafe, Birmingham tute, Birmingham RED LION FOLK CLUB ROBBIE MOORE QUINTET HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN OASIS UK The Swan 0121472 4253 THE IRONWORKS, OSWESTRY THEATRE 01905 611427 The Spotted Dog, Birm- 01691 679123 Theatre, Worcester THE ROADHOUSE MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER FRI 21 FEB ingham LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS RIZZLE KICKS O2 Acad- 0121 459 5660 01905 613336 THE MONOLITH 01584 878141 THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN emy, Birmingham ROUTE 44 THE RIVER ROOMS, DEATHCULT The Asylum, THEATRE SEVERN, MAETLOAF The River 0121 708 0108 STOURBRIDGE New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 Rooms, Stourbridge SYMPHONY HALL 01384 397177 Birmingham DAVID FISHER, HERITAGE THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, M.A.D O2 Academy, 0121 780 3333 MIDLAKE Wulfrun Hall, & LIONEL STREET PLAY- TELFORD 01952 382382 Wolverhampton Birmingham THE VICTORIA ERS The Yardbird Jazz 0121 633 9439 WEM TOWN HALL For additional information GERRY GLENNON The RAWK HEADBOOM The 01939 232299 Club, Birmingham THE YARDBIRD and to find out What’s On Irish Centre, B’ham Marr’s Bar, Worcester at these venues. BOOTLEG ABBA & BEE 0121 212 2524 CASSIOPEIA The Asylum, Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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Classical Music PREVIEWS Russian State Ballet And Opera House Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 4 & Mon 17 February Presenting ballet and opera at the highest level, the Russian State Ballet And Opera House this month returns to Shropshire with not one but two well-known operas - Bizet’s Carmen (4 February) and Verdi’s La Traviata (17 February). Set to music from a live orchestra and fea- turing six children from the town’s Stage- coach Singing & Dancing Company, Car- men tells the story of Don José, a naïve soldier seduced by a free-spirited femme fatale. Also accompanied by a live orches- tra, Verdi’s La Traviata is an engaging and tragic tale of society and morality.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Orchestra Of Moscow Radio Symphony Hall, Sat 22 February One of only two UK performances marking the start of the Anglo-Russian Year of Cultural Exchange, this gala concert programme features works by both English and Russian com- posers. Under the direction of acclaimed conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev, and with support from Vadim Repin - ‘one of the world’s greatest violinists’ - Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Orchestra Of Moscow Radio here perform Borodin’s Polovstian Dances, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis, and Elgar’s Enigma Variations. The orchestra was established in 1930 as the official Soviet Radio orchestra, and for the ensu- ing decades was a mainstay of Russian music. It was also the official orchestra of the Soviet All- union Radio network, until the collapse of the USSR in 1993.

Classical Concert Handel’s Theodora Chamber Orchestra Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 6 February Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Widely regarded as a neglected master- Tues 25 February piece, Handel’s Theodora is said to have Originating in the United States, this versatile been the German composer’s favourite ora- twenty-eight-piece ensemble changes its torio, rating higher than his more popular instrumental format to accommodate different- Messiah. This version of the Roman sized venues and musical arrangements. tragedy is brought to Birmingham by the World-renowned violinist Ashot Tigranyan is English Consort under the guidance of the orchestra’s founder, musical director and Artistic Director Harry Bicket. Sung in Eng- principal soloist, and here leads a programme Ensemble 360 lish with English surtitles, the production also features Rosemary Joshua (Theodo- of violin concertos comprising Bach’s Concerto Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury School, for Violin in A minor, BWV1041; Mozart’s Con- Sat 15 February ra), Sarah Connolly (Irene), Tim Mead certo for Violin A major, K.219 and Vivaldi’s The (Didymus), Andrew Kennedy (Septimus) With a fast-growing reputation for its ability and Neal Davies (Valens). The Choir of Trin- Four Seasons (four violin concertos: RV 269, to engage with different audiences and 315, 293, 297). ity Church Wall Street, New York, supports. age groups, Ensemble 360 comprises Formed by Trevor Pinnock in 1973, the eleven musicians of international standing English Consort boasts a fine reputation for who share the belief that concerts should its inspiring performances of Baroque and be informal, friendly, relaxed and, where Classical music. The 2013/14 season sees possible, performed ‘in the round’. the Consort marking its fortieth anniversary Here presenting a programme of German with an extensive chamber music for piano, strings and tour, performing wind, the ensemble performs Mozart’s Theodora at top Oboe Quartet in F KV370, Schoenberg’s concert halls Ein Stelldichein, Beethoven’s Clarinet Trio both here and in Op11 and Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E flat the United K493. States, including This evening performance follows Ensem- London’s Barbi- ble 360’s special children’s show, Igor The can and New Bird Who Couldn’t Sing, staged at Maid- York’s Carnegie ment Hall earlier in the day. Hall. For further details, visit, www.shropshire- musictrust.co.uk

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House present Verdi's PARTITA Featuring Karl- Castle, Shropshire gramme includes works LISTINGS opera in three acts - Heinz Steffens (conduc- EXAUDI Fri 28 Feb, The by Ian Clarke, Widor, Classical performed to a large tor) & Renaud Capucon Barber Institute, B’ham Pleyel, Donatoni & Bric- live orchestra, Mon 17 (violin) Programme A MUSICAL JOURNEY ON cialdi, Fri 28 Feb, For full listing information on classical Feb, Theatre Severn, includes works by THE ORIENT EXPRESS Recital Hall, Birming- concerts, including times and dates, Shrewsbury Mozart, Glazunov and Featuring Hannah ham Conservatoire visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk THOMAS TROTTER ORGAN Stravinsky, Wed 26 Feb, Smalley (flute), Lucy ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA CONCERT: ALL THE PRESI- Symphony Hall, B’ham French (cello) & Joanne Fri 28 Feb, Birmingham CBSO: THE ORGAN SYM- sity Singers, Fri 7 Feb, DENT’S MEN Celebration CLASSICAL MASTER- Sealey (piano). Pro- Cathedral PHONY Featuring Kazuki Symphony Hall, B’ham of the 150th anniversary PIECES Featuring Yamada, Francesco CBSO CENTRE STAGE: of the Royal College of Orchestra Of The Swan, Piemontesi & Stephen BRASS EXPLOSION! Pro- Organists with a pro- David Curtis (conduc- Classical Box Office Farr. Programme gramme includes works gramme of music by tor) Diane Clark (flute) includes works by by Berio, Saint-Saens, past presidents, Mon & Helen Sharp (harp). ADRIAN BOULT HALL, B’HAM THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY Faure, Rachmaninov, Previn & Gershwin, Fri 17 Feb, Birmignham Programme includes 0121 331 5901 01743 234970 Widor and Saint-Saens, 7 Feb, CBSO Centre, Town Hall works by Haydn, ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE MAIDMENT HALL, Sat 1 Feb, Symphony Birmingham CBSO: MOZART AND Mozart and Schubert, 01527 577330 SHREWSBURY SCHOOL Hall, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM CONSERVA- 01743 280810 ELGAR Featuring Wed 26 Feb (2.30pm), BARBER INSTITUTE, PIONEERS OF SOUND TOIRE LUNCHTIME NEW VIC THEATRE, NEW- Edward Gardener (con- Birmingham Town Hall BIRMINGHAM Francois Bayle & Fran- RECITAL Fri 7 Feb, Birm- ductor) & Steven CASTLE-UNDER-LYME RICHARD & ADAM: THE 0121 414 7333 cis Dhomont perform ingham Cathedral Osborne (piano), Wed IMPOSSIBLE DREAM 01782 717962 their own compositions, JENKINSON FRITH DUO BIRMINGHAM 19 - Thurs 20 Feb, Thurs 27 Feb, Sympho- ROYAL PUMP ROOMS, Sat 1 Feb, CBSO Cen- Fri 7 Feb, The Barber CONSERVATOIRE Symphony Hall, B’ham ny Hall, Birmingham LEAMINGTON SPA tre, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham 0121 331 5901/2 FINZI’S HARDY: ‘EARTH CBSO PLAYERS Featuring 01926 742700 RISING STARS: JULIETTE BBC PHILHARMONIC: AND AIR AND RAIN’ & Byron Parish (violin), BIRMINGHAM & MIDLAND ST ALBAN THE MARTYR, BAUSOR AND ALISDAIR ROMANTIC CELLO Featur- FOOTPATH AND STYLE’ Cathy Bower (viola) & INSTITUTE BIRMINGHAM BEATSON Programme ing Vassily Sinaisky Featuring Samuel Oram Eduardo Vassallo 0121 236 3591 includes works by (conductor) & Leonard 0121 440 4605 (baritone), Lauren Gre- (cello). Programme BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL Dutilleux, J S Bach, Elschenbroich (soloist). gory (piano) & The ST CHAD’S CATHEDRAL, includes works by 0121 780 3333 Charlie Piper, Messiaen Programme includes Cornwell Quartet, Thurs Beethoven & BIRMINGHAM & Prokofiev, Sun 2 Feb, works by Strauss, Dvo- 20 Feb, Recital Hall, Mendelssohn, Thurs 27 BRAMALL CONCERT HALL, 0121 236 2251 Birmingham Town Hall rak & Tchaikovsky, Fri 7 BIRMINGHAM B’ham Conservatoire Feb, CBSO Centre, ST MARY’S CHURCH, TOSCA Opera Up Close Feb, Victoria Hall, BERNADEL QUARTET Fri Birmingham 0121 414 3344 present their critically Stoke-on-Trent WARWICK 21 Feb, The Barber CBSO SONGS FOR BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, 01926 403940 acclaimed production SINGALONG WITH THE Institute, Birmingham SWINGIN’ ORCHESTRA WARWICK STRATFORD CIVIC HALL of Puccini’s fast-paced CBSO: CARMINA BURANA WIND AND BRASS CHAM- Featuring Richard Bal- 01926 776438 opera, Sun 2 Feb, The- Sun 9 Feb, Symphony 01789 207100 BER CONCERT Featuring combe (conductor), CBSO CENTRE, atre Severn, Shrews- Hall, Birmingham Michael Harris & David SYMPHONY HALL, Catherine Porter (vocal- BIRMINGHAM bury MONDAY SHOWCASE Fea- Purser (conductors), Fri BIRMINGHAM ist) and Graham Bickley 0121 780 3333 PIONEERS OF SOUND turing Matt Ellis (piano) 21 Feb, Adrian Boult (vocalist), Fri 28 Feb, 0121 780 3333 Closing concert of new performing a pro- THE COURTYARD, Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, B’ham VICTORIA HALL, STOKE-ON- works, Sun 2 Feb, gramme of works by HEREFORD MIDLAND SINFONIA Fea- MANCHESTER CAMERATA TRENT 0844 871 7649 CBSO Centre, B’ham Stravinsky, Poulenc, turing soloist Dinah Fri 28 Feb, Victoria Hall, 01432 34055 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- Gary Schyman & Levine. Programme Stoke-on-Trent LICHFIELD GARRICK 02476 524524 CERT WITH THOMAS Kapustin, plus Ben- includes works by ASTRUM GUITAR DUO 01543 412121 TROTTER Featuring the jamin Pau (piano) per- Mozart & J C Bach, Fri Featuring Martin Bicker- Birmingham Conserva- forming works by 21 Feb, Birmingham & ton & Rory Russell, Fri toire Choir, Mon 3 Feb, Chopin, Mon 10 Feb, Midland Institute 28 Feb, SpArC, Bishops Birmingham Town Hall Recital Hall, Birming- INGRID FLITER: CHOPIN MONDAY SH0WCASE Fea- ham Conservatoire BIRTHDAY CONCERT Sat turing Justyna Zanko IRVING BERLIN: FROM 22 Feb, Birmingham (violin) & Robert RAGS TO RITZES A cele- Town Hall Markham (piano); bration of the life and GALA OPENING CONCERT Thomas Caddick work of the American OF THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN (piano) & The Esseham songwriter, Tues 11 YEAR OF THE CULTURAL Ensemble, Mon 3 Feb, Feb, Symphony Hall, EXCHANGE Featuring the Recital Hall, Birming- Birmingham Tchaikovsky Symphony ham Conservatoire DON GIOVANNI Royal Orchestra of Moscow CARMEN Russian State Opera House live Radio. Programme Ballet & Opera House screening, Wed 12 Feb, includes works by present Bizet’s passion- Wem Town Hall, Shrop- Borodin, Tchaikovsky, ate opera, in which Car- shire Vaughan Williams & men shifts her passion CBSO MENDELSSOHN IN Elgar, Sat 22 Feb, Sym- from one lover to BIRMINGHAM: HYMN OF phony Hall, B’ham another with tragic con- PRAISE Featuring CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA sequences, Tues 4 Feb, Edward Gardener (con- Featuring Ilan Volkov Theatre Severn, ductor), Sophie Bevan and Allison Bell. Pro- Shrewsbury & Mary Bevan (sopra- gramme includes works CBSO: ULTIMATE VAUGH- nos) and Robert Murray by Debussy, Messiaen AN WILLIAMS Featuring (tenor), Thurs 13 Feb, and Sibelius, Sun 23 Andrew Manze (con- Symphony Hall, B’ham Feb, Symphony Hall, ductor) and Laurence LONDON CONCERT Birmingham Jackson (violin), Wed 5 ORCHESTRA: LOVE CLAS- BIRMINGHAM PHILHAR- Feb, Symphony Hall, SICS Programme MONIC ORCHESTRA: Birmingham includes works by MAHLER’S THIRD SYM- EHNES QUARTET Featur- Tchaikovsky, Grieg, PHONY Featuring ing James Ehnes & Bizet, Mascagni, Michael Lloyd (conduc- Amy Schwartz Moretti Strauss & Ravel, Fri 14 tor), Ladies of the City (violins), Richard O’Neill Feb, Symphony Hall, of Birmingham Choir, (viola), Robert deMaine Birmingham Choir of St Peter’s Col- (cello). Programme LUNCHTIME ORGAN legiate Church, Wolver- includes works by RECITAL WITH MARCUS hampton & Hannah Beethoven, Bartok, Suk HUXLEY Fri 14 Feb, Pedley (mezzo-sopra- & Ravel, Wed 5 Feb, Birmingham Cathedral no), Sun 23 Feb, Birm- The Barber Institute, LOUISE ALDER (SOPRA- ingham Town Hall Birmingham NO) & JOSEPH MIDDLE- PAVEL HAAS QUARTET HANDEL’S THEODORA TON (PIANO) CONCERT Fri Programme to include Thurs 6 Feb, Birming- 14 Feb, The Barber Brahms’ Clarinet Quin- ham Town Hall Institute, Birmingham tet, Tues 25 Feb, Birm- CBSO: GILBERT AND SUL- ENSEMBLE 360 - IGOR ingham Town Hall LIVAN GALA Featuring THE BIRD WHO COULDN’T CLASSICAL CONCERT John Wilson (conduc- SING A children’s show CHAMBER ORCHESTRA tor), Sarah Fox (sopra- with music by Luke Programme includes noa), Benjamin Hulett Bedford, Sat 15 Feb, works by J S Bach, (tenor), Richard Suart Maidment Hall, Shrews- Mozart & Vivaldi, Tues (baritone), Matthew bury School 25 Feb, Victoria Hall, Hargreaves (bass), and LA TRAVIATA Russian Stoke-on-Trent the Birmingham Univer- State Ballet and Opera CBSO MOZART’S GRAN

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Alex Horne: Lies Comedy Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Weds 12 February; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 15 February Box Office Alex Horne is a man with a fast-growing reputa- tion, both as a stand-up comedian and a writer. ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM The star and co-creator of BBC Four’s comedy 0844 871 3011 quiz show We Need Answers, the award-win- ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE ning funnyman is a former member of 01527 577330 Cambridge Footlights, and cleverly blends deli- BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL cately crafted material with an unusual style of 02476 376707 BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL delivery. Examples of 0121 780 3333 his humour are, "I THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM used to do a lot of 0121 333 2444 jokes about crash DUDLEY CONCERT HALL mats, but I've moved 01384 815 577 on now. Still, it's GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 0871 4720400 always nice to have HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM, something to fall 0844 844 0044 back on", and "My HUNTINGDON HALL, grandfather was WORCESTER, shrewd. People threw 01905 611427 FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, small mammals at LEEK, STAFFS him till he suffocat- 01538 386112 ed". KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, BIRMINGHAM 0121 443 4725 LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM Rob Deering 0844 338 8000 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Weds 12 ROOMS February; The George Hotel, Lichfield, 01584 878141 Thurs 6 March Russell Kane MAC, BIRMINGHAM Rob Deering has successfully built on the bene- Hereford Courtyard Theatre, Sat 15 February; Theatre Severn, 0121 446 3232 Shrewsbury, Fri 28 February; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 1 PALACE THEATRE, fit of having a face that was made for comedy to REDDITCH turn himself into a rather splendid finished prod- March; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Weds 12 March 01527 65203 uct. He’s been described as a man with ‘clown- This man's official publicity blurb says it all: "Love. Race. Politics. THE PUBLIC, WEST ish physicality’ and Class. Strap in for some super-speed sunderings and inconvenient BROMWICH 0121 533 7161 ‘easy charm’ - and on sociology in an evening of self-soiling merriment that will leave you DRUMMONDS BAR, the back of such with rickets". In short, Russell Kane is a very funny man - and it’s not WORCESTER qualities he’s nur- just his publicist who thinks so. Kane’s been drawing a crowd since 01905 28190 tured a small army of bursting onto the scene back in 2004, serving up liberal doses of RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY hugely dedicated humour in an act which features some considerably weighty and 0844 873 6565 THE ROSES THEATRE fans, all of whom are thought-provoking material. TEWKESBURY addicted to the pleas- 01684 295074 ure of an evening in ROYAL SPA CENTRE, the company of his LEAMINGTON SPA Miles Jupp 01926 334418 razor-sharp wit. mac, Birmingham, Weds 19 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE February; Theatre Severn, THEATRE Shrewsbury, Sun 30 March; 01785 254653 Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX Lee Hurst Mon 31 March 0121 704 6962 The Place, Telford, Thurs 6 February; Stafford THE SLADE ROOMS, Gatehouse Theatre, Thurs 27 February has WOLVERHAMPTON described an evening with 0870 320 7000 Back in the mid-1990s era of lads' mags, Brit Miles Jupp as being 'a little like THE GEORGE HOTEL, Pop and Euro ’96, Lee Hurst was one of the watching an Evelyn Waugh BURSLEM, STAFFS 07763301081 most popular and familiar funnymen on British character narrate his hopeless television. It's strange to think, therefore, that TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY exploits before your very eyes'. ROOMS his later career at one stage (a bloody long That's patently no bad thing, 01827 709618 stage!) included a ten-year gap between one mind you, as evidenced by Mr THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY national tour and the next. Not that his populari- Jupp's hugely successful ty’s really waned that much with those who 01743 281281 stand-up career! VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY, remember him from Miles is no stranger to STOKE-ON-TRENT his They Think It’s All Televisionland either, having 0844 871 7649 Over heyday, or who appeared in, among other WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 02476 524524 fancy being remind- shows, The Thick Of It, Mock ed of their own care- WEST BROMWICH TOWN The Week and Have I Got HALL free younger days, News For You. 0121 596 4429 when Oasis and Blur Oh, and he's even been a WULFRUN HALL, ruled the airwaves WOLVERHAMPTON movie star, courtesy of roles in 0870 320 7000 and Gazza was God. Made In Dagenham and Johnny English Reborn.

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Severn, Shrewsbury Feb, Station Pub, ROY CHUBBY BROWN Centre, Bromsgrove JOHN ROBINS - WHERE IS Sutton Coldfield Thurs 20 Feb, Palace TOM WRIGGLESWORTH - Comedy LISTINGS MY MIND? Sat 8 Feb, MARK OLVER, QUINCY Theatre, Redditch UTTERLY AT ODDS WITH Artrix, Bromsgrove WITH PETER WHITE, WILL FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN THE UNIVERSE Sun 23 For full listing information on comedy RUSSELL KANE Sun 9 MARS & HARI SRIKANTHA NERD - FULL FRONTAL Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Feb, Warwick Arts (FRI ONLY) Fri 14 Feb - NERDITY Thurs 20 Feb, SHAPPI KHORSANDI Sun gigs including times and dates visit Centre, Bromsgrove Sat 15 Feb, Highlight Artrix, Bromsgrove 23 Feb, The Roses www.whatsonlive.co.uk ROUGH WORKS: NEW Comedy Club, IAN COGNITO, JOE LYCETT Theatre, Tewkesbury MATERIAL NIGHT Birmingham PAUL MCCAFFREY & PAUL CHOWDHRY - PC'S MARK THOMAS - 100 MILES JUPP Thurs 6 Sun 9 Feb, The Glee JOHN GORDILLO, IAN COMIC TBC Thurs 20 - WORLD Tues 25 - Wed ACTS OF MINOR DISSENT Feb, The Roses Club, Birmingham MOORE, PHIL NICHOL & Sat 22 Feb, The Glee 26 Feb, The Glee Club, Sat 1 Feb, mac, Theatre, Tewkesbury GYLES BRANDRETH Mon ROBIN MORGAN Fri 14 - Club, Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham ANDY ROBINSON, STEVE 10 Feb, Palace Theatre, Sat 15 Feb, The Glee DAVE JOHNS, GEOFF PUNT & DENNIS Wed 26 CHRISTIAN REILLY, KAREN SHANYASKI, MICK FERRY Redditch Club, Birmingham NORCOTT, MARK NELSON Feb, Birmingham Town BAILEY, & LEE EVANS JIMEOIN Tues 11 Feb, RUSSELL KANE Sat 15 & ERICH MCELROY Fri 21 Hall & MATT REES Sat 1 Feb, Thurs 6 - Sat 8 Feb, Wulfrun Hall, Feb, Hereford - Sat 22 Feb, Highlight LEE HURST Thurs 27 Highlight Comedy The Glee Club, Wolverhampton Courtyard Theatre Comedy Club, Feb, The Met Studio, Club, Birmingham Birmingham BARNSTORMERS COMEDY STEPHEN K AMOS Sat 15 Birmingham Stafford FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN GEOFF NORCOTT, GARY NIGHT Tues 11 Feb, Feb, Huntingdon Hall, LUCY PORTER Fri 21 Feb, MARLON DAVIS, ANDY NERD - FULL FRONTAL DELANEY, GUY MANNERS Royal Spa Centre, Worcester The Edge Arts Centre, ASKINS, MIKE BUBBINS & NERDITY Sat 1 Feb, & COMPERE RHYS Leamington Spa ALEX HORNE: LIES Sat 15 Much Wenlock, LEE EVANS Thurs 27 - Fri Stafford Gatehouse MATTHEWSON Thurs 6 ALEX HORNE: LIES Feb, The Met Studio, Shropshire 28 Feb, The Glee Club, Theatre Feb, The George Hotel, Weds 12 Feb, Theatre Stafford CHRIS RAMSEY Sat 22 Birmingham DAVE TWENTYMAN, Lichfield Severn, Shrewsbury KAREN BAYLEY Sat 15 Feb, New Alexandra MARLON DAVIS, ANDY JASON JOHN WHITEHEAD, CHRIS RAMSEY Fri 7 ROB DEERING, IVO GRA- Feb, mac, Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham ASKINS & TWO COMICS PAUL THORNE & ELLIE Feb, Theatre Severn, HAM, SOL BERNSTEIN & GYLES BRANDRETH Sun ED BYRNE Sat 22 Feb, TO BE ANNOUNCED (STU- TAYLOR Sat 1 Feb, The Shrewsbury MC PAUL MCCAFFREY 16 Feb, Theatre Severn, Civic Hall, DIO ROOM) Fri 28 Feb, Glee Club, Birmingham TIM CLARK, STEFANO Wed 12 Feb, Henry Shrewsbury Wolverhampton The Glee Club, THE BBC'S REAL MCCOY PAOLINI, THE RAYMOND Tudor House, KEN DODD Sun 16 Feb, BARNSTORMERS COMEDY Birmingham WITH MR FRAZIER & AND MR TIMPKINS Shrewsbury Royal Spa Centre, NIGHT Sat 22 Feb, Artrix, RUSSELL KANE Fri 28 FRIENDS, ROBBIE GEE, REVIEW, STUART FIERCE & FABULOUS Leamington Spa Bromsgrove Feb, Theatre Severn, CURTIS WALKER & EDDIE MITCHELL & JELLYBEAN Wed 12 Feb, The Glee JASON MANFORD Tues COMEDY IN THE MET Sat Shrewsbury NESTOR Sun 2 Feb, MARTINEZ (FRI ONLY) Fri Club, Birmingham 18 - Wed 19 Feb, 22 Feb, The Met GYLES BRANDRETH Fri 28 The Glee Club, 7 - Sat 8 Feb, JASON MANFORD Thurs Theatre Severn, Studio, Stafford Feb, Lichfield Garrick Birmingham Highlight Comedy 13 - Fri 14 Feb, Stafford Shrewsbury SEANN WALSH THE LIE-IN RICHARD HERRING - THE LAUGHTER CREWE A Club, Birmingham Gatehouse Theatre STEPHEN K AMOS Weds KING Sat 22 Feb, WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE comedy and curry ROB ROUSE, DANA PAUL SINHA, Thurs 13 19 Feb, Lichfield Warwick Arts Centre, Fri 28 Feb, The Slade night, Sun 2 Feb, ALEXANDER, STEVE N. Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove Garrick Bromsgrove Rooms, Crewe Lyceum ALLEN & ALAN DONEGAN JOHN GORDILLO, IAN MILES JUPP Wed 19 LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY Wolverhampton GARY DELANEY, ANDREW Fri 7 Feb, The George MOORE & ANDY ROBIN- Feb, mac, Birmingham CLUB FOR KIDS Sun 23 ADAM BLOOM, CHRIS BIRD, COMPERE SPIKY Hotel, Burslum SON Thurs 13 Feb, The JIM CORNETTE Wed 19 Feb, mac, Birmingham CAIRNS, MAT REED & MIKE Wed 5 Feb, ED BYRNE Sat 8 Feb, Glee Club, Birmingham Feb, The Glee Club, SEVERN JESTERS Sun 23 GARETH BERLINER Fri 28 The Jam House, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on- ALEX HORNE: LIES. Birmingham Feb, Theatre Severn, Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Birmingham Trent Fri 14 Feb, Evesham GARY DELANEY, Thurs 20 Shrewsbury Highlight Comedy LEE HURST Thurs 6 Feb, RUSSELL HOWARD Sat 8 Arts Centre Feb, The Slade Rooms, STEPHEN K AMOS Sun 23 Club, Birmingham The Place, Telford - Sun 9 Feb, Theatre SUSAN CALMAN Fri 14 Wolverhampton Feb, Warwick Arts

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For more comedy listings, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre February region two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:31 Page 1 Theatre February region two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:31 Page 2 Theatre

Tonight’s The Night: The Rod Stewart Musical New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 24 February - Sat 1 March; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 24 - Sat 29 March Ben Elton’s show, inspired by the music of legendary Scottish rocker win the hand of the girl he loves. Rod Stewart, has earned plenty of plaudits since debuting in the Maggie May, Baby Jane, Hot Legs and Sailing are among the time- West End in 2003. As with all such endeavours, the storyline’s far less less classics that ensure the evening moves along at a brisk ol’ pace. important than the music for which the production offers a vehicle - Former Sugababe and 2009 Eurovision finalist Jade Ewan stars as but, for the record, this one tells the story of a tongue-tied young man Dee Dee. Read the interview with Jade at www.whatsonlive.co.uk who trades his soul for that of Mr Stewart’s in a desperate attempt to

The Dishwashers The REP, Birmingham, until Sat 15 February Morris Panych’s play hardly carries the most exciting of titles, but it does boast David Essex! Nowadays better known for treading the boards than busting the charts, the one-time pop star takes the role of Dressler, a man who’s been happily dishwashing for over thirty years. Dressler is joined in the business of scraping and scrubbing plates by Emmett - a City high-flyer brought crashing down to earth by the financial crisis - and the decrepit Moss, who’s just about ready for retirement. Between them, they find that the pastime of dishwashing can sometimes go hand-in-hand with a quest for existential meaning! Black Coffee Playwright Panych brings plenty of wit and humour Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 3 - Sat 8 February; Regent Theatre, to proceedings in a work which, despite its afore- Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 17 - Sat 22 February mentioned uninspiring title, actually scrubs up pretty Take a play by the Queen of Crime, add a company dedicated to producing new ver- darned well. sions of her work, and there’s every chance you’ll be left with an evening of high-qual- STARRING ity, brain-teasing theatre. This latest version of Black Coffee promises to make for just DAVID such an evening. ESSEX The Official Agatha Christie Theatre Company here make a welcome return with the first play ever written by Ms Christie. When eccentric inventor Sir Claud Amory is mur- dered and his new formula stolen, it’s time for a legendary Belgian detective with an equally legendary wax moustache to put his ‘little grey cells’ to work and uncover the perpetrator of the dastardly crime (we’re talking Hercule Poirot there, by the way!). Robert Powell, Liza Goddard, Gary Mavers and Ben Nealon star.

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Theatre PREVIEWS Of Mice And Men Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 3 - Sun 5 February George and Lennie are drifters who only have each other and their shared search for the American Dream. George is the sharp lit- tle guy who looks out for Lennie. Lennie, meanwhile, is his big-hearted companion who, unaware of his own strength, seems unable to keep out of trouble. Finding work on a ranch in California, they plan to stay long enough to buy a little place of their own - but their arrival triggers a tragic chain of events that threatens to destroy the very dream that unites them... John Steinbeck’s classic novel is widely con- WIN sidered to be one of the twentieth century’s TICKETS greatest works of literature, and is regularly whatsonlive.co.uk adapted for the stage. Eternal Love to enter Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 25 February - Sat 1 March Described by as ‘a play for today in medieval costume’, this lively and thought- provoking work by Howard Brenton, set in the twelfth century, was previously titled In Extrem- is, and tells the story of radical thinker Abelard’s wild affair with his brilliant student Heloise. Life’s hard enough for Abelard even before he embarks on his passionate romance, with the church less than happy about his contentious views. But when Heloise then bears his child out of wedlock, their affair becomes the scandal of the age... This English Touring production- is out on tour having previously enjoyed a triumphant season at Shakespeare’s Globe The- atre.

a Cambridge academic when he discovers an old bone whistle in a graveyard near a The Life Of Galileo 366 Days Of Kindness deserted beach... Veteran actor Jack Shep- The REP, Birmingham, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, herd takes top billing. Fri 28 February - Sat 8 March Wed 19 February Charting the seventeenth century scientist's This intriguing multimedia show by incredible struggle against the church over Bernadette Russell brings together story- his assertion that the earth orbits the sun, A telling, stand-up and live documentary with Life Of Galileo is considered by many to be the experience of a somewhat surreal dinner Bertolt Brecht's finest play, presenting, as it party that boasts the Dalai Lama, Aristotle does, the key conflict between scientific dis- and Princess Diana as guests. Not an aver- covery and religious fundamentalism. age night out at the theatre by any means, Acclaimed actor Ian McDiarmid plays Galileo then! The show tells the story of Bernadette’s in this new translation by Roxana Silbert and response to the August 2011 riots - which RSC Writer-In-Residence Mark Ravenhill. The saw her determining to be kind to a stranger show arrives at The REP following a suc- every single day for the duration of a year - cessful run at The Swan Theatre in Stratford- and ponders whether it’s possible to change upon-Avon last year. the world simply by performing acts of kind- ness. Steve Hewlett: Thinking Inside The Box The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Sat 22 February Britain's Got Talent finalist and ventriloquist Steve Hewlett has hit the road with his col- lection of funny friends and zany characters. If you loved Steve’s numerous turns on the hit ITV1 talent show, during which he intro- duced such characters as Arthur Lager and Little ‘Simon Cowell’, then this is a chance to find out what else the talented performer has got up his sleeve (or should that be impaled Mother Courage And on his arm?). The show also features award- Her Children winning illusionist Richard Griffin. Classic Ghosts Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Lichfield Garrick, Tues 4 - Sat 8 February; Wed 12 - Sat 15 February Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wed 12 - Sat There are those who regard Mother Courage 15 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, And Her Children to be the greatest play of Mon 7 - Wed 9 April the twentieth century, while others have Middle Ground Theatre Company is the called it the greatest anti-war play of all time. ensemble behind this atmospheric double- One of nine penned by Bertolt Brecht in an bill of famous ghost stories. effort to counter the rise of Fascism and Charles Dickens’ The Signalman tells the tale Nazism, it’s set during the Thirty Years War, of a Victorian-age signalman who’s haunted and follows the fortunes of Anna Fierling, a by visions of impending disaster on his iso- woman who’s determined to make a living lated stretch of line. Meanwhile, MR James’ from the conflict... This staging is presented Oh, Whistle And I’ll Come To You, My Lad by the Birmingham School of Acting. focuses on the terrifying ordeal which befalls www.whatsonlive.co.uk 27 Theatre February region two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:31 Page 5 Theatre February region two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:31 Page 6

Theatre PREVIEWS Frozen The REP, Birmingham, Fri 7 - Sat 15 February Bryony Lavery’s thought-provoking play around the themes of emotional paralysis and forgiveness made its debut at Birming- ham Rep in 1998, and has since accrued its fair share of accolades. The story focuses on the disappearance of ten-year-old Rhona, and follows the trajectories of both her moth- er and her killer in the years which follow, the two being linked not only by the little girl but also by an American criminal psychologist researching the subject of serial killing. This particular version of Lavery’s play fea- tures a cast of four deaf and two hearing actors, and is performed in British Sign Lan- guage and spoken English. WIN TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk to enter Seven Brides For Seven Brothers New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 3 - Sat 8 February The story of seven macho, wild west kinda guys, each huntin’ out a li’l lady fer hisself, is best known, of course, from its 1954 MGM movie incarnation, starring the boom-voiced Howard Keel. And just like the film, the stage version features smash-hit songs such as Wonderful Wonderful Day, Spring Spring Spring, Goin’ Courtin’ and Sobbin’ Women. This brand new touring production features Sam Attwater as Adam and Helena Blackman as Milly.

husband is nothing unusual. But on the very Boeing Boeing day that she’s set to marry for a third time, a stranger arrives on the scene - one who Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Thurs 20 - Sat 22 February A Black Country Fairytale... threatens to challenge the belief system by Ay It which Aya and her husbands are leading If Boeing Boeing sounds familiar, chances are you've caught the mid-1960s movie ver- mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Sat 1 February; their lives... Described as ‘an explosive new Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, play about love, jealousy and a woman’s sion starring Tony Curtis. The stage show Thurs 20 - Fri 21 February right to choose’, The Husbands promises to made its debut in 1960, has clocked up more than its fair share of air miles over the Legendary fairytales certainly aren’t in short be both an exuberant and challenging work years, and enjoyed the benefits of a good supply in this new presentation from the of contemporary theatre. freshen-up when it landed in the West End in ever-popular Fizzog Productions. However, 2007. It tells the story of a Paris-based archi- as the title of the piece ably illustrates, the tect who copes with not one but three air- Black Country-based ensemble will be put- hostess fiancees by making the most of the ting their own delightfully local spin on such flight timetables. He also enlists the help of well-loved yarns as Little Red Riding Hood! his long-suffering housekeeper in his cun- Making a welcome return after the success ning games of deception! But when his long- of previous show Kippin Beauty, the compa- lost cousin Robert arrives, things start to get ny are urging anybody who enjoys a laugh turbulent... to get along to this latest offering, as they apparently have it on good authority that the production is ‘so funny it hurts’!

An August Bank Holiday Lark New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Fri 7 February - Sat 11 March Presented by the highly rated Northern Broadsides, Deborah McAndrew’s new play is a beguiling study of country life as Eng- land stands on the brink of war. The summer of 1914 is proving to be an idyllic one in rural Lancashire, with excitement mounting as the annual Rushbearing Festival approaches, The Husbands complete with singing, courting, drinking and Bridgnorth Leisure Centre, South Shropshire dancing. But even as the community pre- Tuesday 18 - Saturday 22 February mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat pares to celebrate, a profound and devastat- Noel Gay’s hit 1930s musical, telling the 22 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 4 March; Arena Theatre, Wolverhamp- ing loss of innocence lurks menacingly on a story of a cockney geezer who learns he’s ton, Wed 5 March; Ludlow Assembly Rooms, not-too-distant horizon... the fourteenth heir to the Earl of Hareford, South Shropshire, Fri 7 March enjoyed a real revival in popularity at the end A joint theatrical endeavour between Kali and of the twentieth century, following a 1980s Pentabus, this brand new play by Sharmila revision by and Mike Ockrent. Chauhan takes place against a backdrop of The show's best-known musical numbers modern rural India. With two husbands include The Sun Has Got His Hat On, Lean- already, Aya is set to marry a third. In the ing On A Lamppost and, most famously, The society from which she comes, there are rel- Lambeth Walk. This amateur production is atively few women - so taking more than one presented by Bridgnorth .

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Sat 22 Feb 8pm Wed 5 Mar 7:30pm MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE ARENA THEATRE BIRMINGHAM WOLVERHAMPTON www.macarts.co.uk www.arenatheatre.info 0121 446 3232 01902 321 321 Tue 25 Feb – Sat 1 Mar 7:45pm Thu 6 Mar 7:30pm LEICESTER CURVE ROSES THEATRE www.curveonline.co.uk TEWKESBURY 0116 242 3595 www.rosestheatre.org 01684 295 074 Tue 4 Mar 7:30pm THEATRE SEVERN Fri 7 Mar 7:30pm SHREWSBURY LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS www.theatresevern.co.uk www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk 01743 281 281 01584 878 141

Sunday 2 February at 11.30am O Duo - Crash! Bang! Wallop! Music by Bach, Philip Glass and Chopin plus audience participation! Family Sunday 2 February at 3.00pm Concert Music by O Duo 7+ Albeniz, Bach, Brubeck, Chopin, Philip Glass, Prokofiev, Siegel and O Duo

Sunday 16 February at 11.30am Family Ensemble 360 Concert Stan and Mabel 3+ New Paul Rissmann Score Sunday 16 February at 3.00pm Ensemble 360 Britten Six Metamorphoses after Ovid Op 49 Charlie Piper With Stolen Fire Britten Sinfonietta Op 1 Martinu Nonet Wagner Siegfried Idyll

Sunday 16 March at 3.00pm Florilegium Telemann Paris Quartet in D CPE Bach Trio Sonata in G Wq144 Leclair Deuxieme recreation de musique d’une execution facile in G minor Op 8 JS Bach Ricercar a 3 and Trio Sonata from The Musical Offering Marais Le Sonnerie de Sainte Genevieve du Mont a Paris Rebel Les caracteres de la Danse Tickets: £16.50 - £12.50. Both Family Concerts: £8 & £6 (Children £3 & £2.50)

Bridge House Theatre 01926 776438 Tickets Online: bridgehousetheatre.co.uk Part of the Leamington Music Winter Season

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OF MICE AND MEN John RumDoxy Theatre pres- LISTINGS Steinbeck's dramatic tale ents a four-hand, all- Theatre of two men with a single female production of dream, Mon 3 - 5 Feb, Shakespeare's comedy, Fri For full listing information on theatre Theatre Severn, Shrews- 7 Feb, Crescent Theatre, productions, including times and dates, bury Birmingham visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk BLACK COFFEE Agatha THE JOKER & THE WHITE Christie classic starring FEATHER A double-bill of Robert Powell, Liza God- works from The Owen years of teenage life, Sat 1 dard, Gary Mavers & Ben Lewis Portable Theatre From Feb, Lichfield Garrick Nealon, Mon 3 - Sat 8 Feb, Company, Fri 7 Feb, Arena THAT'LL BE THE DAY Rock- CALL SAT 1 FEB The Grand Theatre, Theatre, Wolverhampton FESTIVAL OF THE FOR YOUR 'n'Roll spectacular combin- Wolverhampton THE KNICKER LADY The hit BROCHURE ing music from the 50's, SPOKEN NERD TODAY THE HUNDRED AND ONE DAL- SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN show that romps through GATEHOUSE THEATRE 60's & 70's with wacky BROTHERS Starring Sam the history of the humble MATIONS Adapted and comedy routines, Sat 1 Sat 1 Feb directed by Theresa Hes- Attwater & Helena Black- knicker with a tempo and Feb, Bedworth Civic Hall man, Mon 3 - Sat 8 Feb, hilarity that leaves audi- Fresh from the Edinburgh kins, until Sat 1 Feb, New TROUBLE AND THE ENGINE Fringe, the sell-out comedy phe- New Alexandra Theatre, ences, both male and Vic Theatre, Newcastle- BY SIMON ATKINS Children’s nomenon is back on tour with a Birmingham female, spellbound and brand new show for the insa- under-Lyme theatre featuring a toymak- BLITHE SPIRIT Amateur pro- MOON TIGER Jane Asher dying for more, Fri 7 Feb, tiably sci-curious. Whether you er, trainee wizard and King loved or loathed the school sci- stars as historian Claudia Theatre Severn, Shrews- 8pm, £15/£13 concs duction of Noel Coward's Abracadabra, Sat 1 Feb, ence lab, Festival of the Spoken classic comedy romp, until Hampton in Penelope Live- bury Nerd is here to feed your brain, tickle your ribs and light your Bun- Swan Theatre, Worcester ly’s haunting story of loss TIGER LILLIES: LULU - A sen burner. With over a million views on YouTube for their experi- Sat 1 Feb, Hall Green Little EMBRACED BURLESQUE ments, songs and stand-up, this is your chance to see three of & desire, Mon 3 - Sat 8 MURDER BALLAD Opera Theatre, Birmingham Evening of cabaret, music, the UK's best (and nerdiest) performers in an unforgettable night DEALERS CHOICE The Cres- Feb, Malvern Theatre North, West Yorkshire of comedy and curiosity. comedy and burlesque... CARMEN Russian State Bal- Playhouse & Warwick Arts cent Theatre Company Sat 1 Feb, Newhampton present Patrick Marber's let & Opera House present Centre present a staging LET’S HANG ON Arts Centre, Wolverhamp- GATEHOUSE THEATRE modern classic, until Sat 1 Bizet's passionate opera, of Martin Jacques ton in which Carmen shifts her macabre classic, Fri 7 - Sat 15 Feb Feb, Crescent Theatre, A BLACK COUNTRY FAIRY- passion from one lover to Sat 8 Feb, Warwick Arts Birmingham TALE... AY IT Fizzog Produc- Frankie Valli and The Four Sea- PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE another with tragic conse- Centre, Coventry sons’ music was finally brought tions weave together vari- to iconic status with the Broad- DESERT Feel-good interna- quences, Tue 4 Feb, The- THE GLAD CAFE - THE NEVER way hit musical Boys. ous fairytales in one 'spec- atre Severn, Shrewsbury SUCH CANTEEN Somesuch tional musical direct from tacular' production, Sat 1 Let's Hang On has captured the CLASSIC GHOSTS Jack Theatre perform a new magic of Franki Valli and the the West End and Broad- Feb, mac - Midlands Arts way. Jason Donovan stars, Shepherd stars in a new play which presents audi- Four Seasons, not only their 7.30pm, £19.50 Centre, Birmingham double-bill presentation of ences with plenty of food music but also the uniqueness until Sat 1 Feb, The Grand SIDE SHOW Nine Produc- of the group. Not to be missed! Theatre, Wolverhampton spine chilling stories, Tues for thought, Fri 7 - Sun 9 tions present a unique 4 - Sat 8 Feb, Lichfield Feb, mac - Midlands Arts ALEX HORNE BOEING BOEING Presented show based on the lives of by Nonentitties, until Sat 1 Garrick Centre, Birmingham THE MET STUDIO Daisy and Violet Hilton - DOWN TO EARTH: AN CINDERELLA Enchanting Feb, The Rose Theatre, two women joined at the Sat 15 Feb Kidderminster EVENING WITH MONTY DON tale of heroic adventure, The 30 year old multi-Bafta hip whose extra-ordinary Listen to Monty's stories true love, messy mayhem ANTIGONE Warwick Univer- bond brings them fame award-winning stand up and sity Drama Society present about his travels and visits and lots of festive frivolity, platinum-selling R&B artist Alex but denies them love, Sat Horne is back with an hour of Jean Anouilh's tragedy to gardens all over the Fri 7 - Sun 9 Feb, The Bel- observations, impressions and 1 - Sun 2 Feb, Arena The- world, Wed 5 Feb, Malvern frey Theatre, Wellington, inspired by the Greek atre, Wolverhampton lies. Best known for mindblow- 8pm, £12 mythology and play of the Theatre Shropshire ing Powerpoint or live music, CINDERELLA Enchanting JOHN NEWTON: AMAZING FROZEN Bryony Lavery's this show has neither; just Alex, a panda, some jokes and some same name, until Sat 1 tale of heroic adventure, lies. Although one of those may also be a lie. Or a joke. Either Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, GRACE Saltmine Theatre award-winning play which way, it’ll be funny. Honest. true love, messy mayhem presents a dramatic re- sees four people drawn Coventry and lots of festive frivolity, HONOUR Joanna Murray- telling of John Newton’s together by horrific circum- BARNEY THE DINOSAUR LIVE! Sat 1 - Sun 2 Feb, The remarkable life, Wed 5 stances, Fri 7 - Sat 15 Feb, GATEHOUSE THEATRE Smith’s intriguing play Belfrey Theatre, Welling- which explores how things Feb, Roses Theatre, The REP, Birmingham Thurs 20 Feb ton, Shropshire Tewkesbury AN AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY change when love drifts BOUNCERS John Godber's It's always nice to share your from its anchor, until Sat 1 AN EVENING WITH PETER LARK Northern Broadsides toys, but in a rush to share their classic comedy, Sat 1 - Sat ALLISS Thurs 6 Feb, Soli- present Deborah McAn- favourite toys with the audience, Feb, Highbury Theatre 8 Feb, The Blue Orange Barney's friends BJ, Riff and Centre, Sutton Coldfield hull Arts Complex drew’s moving drama Baby Bop accidentally break Theatre, Birmingham 1pm & 3.30pm, £12.50/£10.50 SNOW WHITE AND THE IRVING BERLIN: FROM RAGS poised at the tipping point their toys! Join your favourite THE ALCHEMIST Presented concs/Family £42 SEVEN DWARFS TO RICHES A celebration of between peace and war, dinosaur for an afternoon of Featuring by The Belgrade Theatre song, dance and fun...and when it comes to fun, Barney knows John Partridge, Gok Wan, the one-hundred and Fri 7 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, New that nothing beats imagination...and friends you love! and Riding Lights Theatre twenty-five-years of one of Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Stephanie Beacham, Gary Company, Sat 1 - Sat 22 Wilmot, Paul Zerdin & Matt America’s greatest song- under-Lyme A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Feb, Belgrade Theatre, GATEHOUSE THEATRE Slack, until Sun 2 Feb, writers, Thurs 6 Feb, LIVE MET BROADCAST - Coventry Malvern Theatre RUSALKA Renée Fleming Sat 22 Feb Birmingham Hippodrome TOSCA Opera Up Close THE TELL TALE HEART Little returns to one of her sig- WENDY AND PETER PAN Ella present their critically Come and experience the brand-new spectacular featuring all the Hickson's new version of Earthquake present Edgar nature roles, singing the hits from everyone’s favourite dance movie Dirty Dancing in the acclaimed production of ultimate tribute show. JM Barrie's classic tale of Allan Poe's thrilling tale enchanting Song to the Puccini's fast-paced opera, which guarantees to have Moon in Dvorák’s soulful It’s the sexiest song and dance sensation of 2014, presented by the boy who never grows Sun 2 Feb, Theatre Sev- an all-star cast. up, until Sun 2 March, audiences on the edge of fairy-tale opera. Tenor Piotr ern, Shrewsbury their seats, Thurs 6 Feb, Beczala co-stars as the Royal Shakespeare The- CIRCLES IN THE SAND Half mac - Midlands Arts Cen- Prince, Dolora Zajick is atre, Stratford-upon-Avon Moon present an intimate, BLOOD BROTHERS Willy tre, Birmingham Ježibaba, and dynamic imaginative and captivat- FIRST ENCOUNTER: THE TAM- young maestro Yannick Russell's musical set in his ing play which explores native Liverpool, until Sat 8 ING OF THE SHREW A per- Nézet-Séguin is on the sand in new and exciting fect introduction to Shake- podium, Sat 8 Feb, Feb, Belgrade Theatre, ways, Sun 2 Feb mac - Coventry speare for anyone aged Malvern Theatres & The Midlands Arts Centre, eight and over, Thurs 6 - Roses Theatre, Kiddermin- THE DISHWASHERS David Birmingham Essex stars in Morris Sun 8 Feb, The Courtyard ster; The Edge Arts Cen- 7.30pm, £20.50 / £19.50 concessions Panych's play about the Theatre, Stratford-upon- tre, Much Wenlock, South Zen of dishwashing, until Week Commencing Avon Shropshire SHERLOCK HOLMES Sat 15 Feb, The REP, Birm- THE LAST FIVE YEARS Ama- MACBETH - BLOOD WILL THE LAST ACT ingham MON 3 FEB teur production of Jason HAVE BLOOD Contender THE MET STUDIO Robert Brown's musical Charlie, China Plate and WOLF HALL Mike Poulton's Sat 1 Mar dramatisation of Hilary AN EVENING WITH PETER which follows the five-year Warwick Arts Centre pres- Mantel's Man Booker ALLIS An evening of anec- relationship of two New ent a reworking of Shake- After his earlier success with 'Sherlock Holmes...the Death Prize-winning novel, until dotes and broadcasting Yorkers, Cathy and Jamie speare's macabre play for and Life', this very different play Sat 29 March, The Swan highlights from one of the who fall in and out of love a young audience, Sat 8 sees Roger Llewellyn reutrn in Theatre, Stratford-upon- country's finest golfers, over the course of five Feb, Warwick Arts Centre, another Sherlock Holmes inves- tigation: The world's greatest fic- Avon Mon 3 Feb, Theatre Sev- years, Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Coventry tional detective confronts the BRING UP THE BODIES Mike ern, Shrewsbury Feb, Old Joint Stock The- BANANAS IN PYJAMAS most complex case of all: his own psyche. Poulton's new dramatisa- ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG AT atre, Birmingham Brand new, action packed 7.30pm, £12 tion of Hilary Mantel's Man HEART New play by Sucker LA TRAVIATA OperaUpClose show for children from Booker Prize-winning Punch playwright Roy present Verdi’s tragic tale Milkshake’s ‘top bananas’, novel, until Sat 29 Mar, Williams which examines of searing passion, Fri 7 Sat 8 Feb, Stourbridge The Swan Theatre, Strat- the unrest of summer 2011 Feb, Malvern Theatre Town Hall BOOKONLINE ford-upon-Avon against the backdrop of AN AUDIENCE WITH COLIN MOUTH OPEN, STORY JUMP LIKE A VIRGIN A powerful the 1958 Notting Hill race FRY Fri 7 Feb, Bedworth OUT Polarbear present a riots, Mon 3 - Tue 4 Feb, Civic Hall show about the craft of Box Office 01785 254653 and hilarious romp www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk through the bubble-gum The REP, Birmingham MUCH ADO ABOUT SOM'AT storytelling, Sun 9 Feb,

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12 - Sat 15 Feb, War- ham 50 Shades Of Grey, Lyceum LISTINGS wick Arts Centre, HUMPTY DUMPTY & THE Mon 17 - Wed 19 Feb, 366 DAYS OF KINDNESS Theatre Coventry BIG BOOK OF NURSERY The Grand Theatre, Bernadette Russell's MOTHER COURAGE AND RHYMES Sat 15 Feb, Wolverhampton multi-media perform- For full listing information on theatre HER CHILDREN Birming- Tamworth Assembly THE BIRTHDAY PARTY ance blending story- productions, including times and ham School of Acting Rooms Amateur production of telling, stand-up & live dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk present Bertolt Brecht's MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS one of Harold Pinter's documentary, Wed 19 thought provoking play, Sat 15 - Sun 16 Feb, most frequently per- Feb, Arena Theatre, considered by many to The Place, Oakengates formed plays, Mon 17 - Wolverhampton Warwick Arts Centre, by Stoke Repertory be the greatest play of Theatre, Telford, Shrop- Sat 22 Feb, Hall Green TWEEDY’S LOST PROPER- Coventry Theatre, Tue 11 - Sat 15 the 20th Century, Wed shire Little Theatre, Birming- TY Physical comedy CONSIDER YOURSELF AT Feb, Stoke Repertory 12 - Sat 15 Feb, Cres- ENCHANTED BURLESQUE ham show that follows the HOME WITH RON MOODY Theatre cent Theatre, Birming- Fusion of comedy, BLACK COFFEE Agatha antics of a circus clown, & MARK LESTER Leg- ARRIVALS AND DEPAR- ham glamour and humour, Christie classic starring who gives in to society endary stars of stage & TURES Alan Ayckbourn's CLOUD NINE Birmingham Sat 15 Feb, Old Rep, Robert Powell, Liza and gets a real job, screen, Sun 9 Feb, latest work - a dark School of Acting pres- Birmingham Goddard, Gary Mavers Wed 19 Feb, Roses Swan Theatre, Worces- comedy which, set at a ent Caryl Churchill's CHRIS AND PUI ROAD- & Ben Nealon, Mon 17 Theatre, Tewkesbury ter London rail terminus, landmark play which SHOW Show for pre- - Sat 22 Feb, Regent BLACK ON WHITE TOUR: SWEENEY TODD THE centres around an elab- explores relationships school children from Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent DEMONSTRATION OF DEMON BARBER OF FLEET orate trap to capture a within 19th century the popular CBeebies HANDSWORTH GANG CLAIRVOYANCE Wed 19 STREET Amateur pro- dangerous and elusive Africa and contempo- double act, Sat 15 Feb, SHOW 2014 The ever- Feb, Palace Theatre, duction presented by terrorist, Tue 11 - Sat 15 rary London, Wed 12 - Royal Spa Centre, popular feast of fun Redditch Young Performers The- Feb, Warwick Arts Cen- Sat 15 Feb, Crescent Leamington Spa with the Crescent's SWEENEY TODD THE atre Group, Sun 9 - tre, Coventry Theatre, Birmingham CHILDREN’S THEATRE local Scouts and DEMON BARBER OF FLEET Mon 10 Feb, Theatre AN EVENING WITH JOHN THE NOVICE DETECTIVE A The Norbury Players Guides, Mon 17 - Sat STREET Presented by Severn, Shrewsbury COOPER CLARKE The fusion of theatre, story- present a short play for 22 Feb, Crescent The- Music Theatre Warwick, self-styled ‘Bard of Sal- telling, stand-up and children aged four to atre, Birmingham Wed 19 - Sat 22 Feb, Week Commencing ford’, Wed 12 Feb, New clowning is here used ten, Sat 15 Feb, Nor- ANDY AND MIKE’S TICK Warwick Arts Centre, Vic Theatre, Newcastle- to tell an autobiographi- bury Theatre, Droitwich TOCK TIME MACHINE Coventry MON 10 FEB under-Lyme cal tale that is heart- FARCICALS Two frivolous After discovering a A BRIEF HISTORY OF CIRCUS OF HORRORS: warming, heart-break- little comedies of fun, mysterious machine, HELEN OF TROY Birming- BARD HEADS - FINDING LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT ing, ridiculous … and infidelity, food fights, Andy and Mike begin a ham School of Acting THE WILL Two fifty- From sword swallowers sort of true, Thurs 13 lust and loss of quest to collect things present an 'unsettling minute shows where to daredevil balancing Feb, Wem Town Hall, trousers! Presented by from the past and the examination of compla- one man and one acts, hair hangers to North Shropshire Stephen Joseph The- future, Tues 18 Feb, cency culture and the women take on the demon dwarfs, a pick- STUART MACONIE - THE atre, Scarborough, Sat Palace Theatre, Red- politics of beauty'. Con- characters from Hamlet led person to astound- PEOPLE'S SONGS Spend 15 Feb, Warwick Arts ditch tains adult themes and and The Tempest, Mon ing aerial acts, the cir- an evening in the com- Centre, Coventry LAUREL & HARDY Slap- scenes of an adult 10 Feb, Artrix, Broms- cus that stormed pany of popular and QU LIVE Musical theatre stick re-telling of a leg- nature, Wed 19 - Sat 22 grove Britain’s Got Talent is prolific TV and radio cabaret night showcas- endary partnership, Feb, Old Joint Stock GILES BRANDRETH: LOOK- back with its latest and presenter, journalist, ing new writers and Tues 18 Feb, Roses Theatre, Birmingham ING FOR HAPPINESS Mon biggest show to date, columnist and author performers, Sat 15 Feb, Theatre, Tewkesbury H.M.S PINAFORE Present- 10 Feb, Palace Theatre, Wed 12 Feb, Lichfield Stuart Maconie as he Old Joint Stock The- KARAOKE The Sleepwalk ed by Walsall Gilbert & Redditch Garrick talks about his new atre, Birmingham Collective present the Sullivan Society, Wed OTHELLO Presented by BABYLON The Flanagan book and epic radio GRISLY TALES FROM TUM- UK premiere of a loose- 19 - Sat 22 Feb, Forest Icarus Theatre Collec- Collective present an series, Thurs 13 Feb, BLEWATER Teasel The- ly connected trilogy of Arts Centre, Walsall tive and King's Theatre 'old fashioned folk tale Arena Theatre, Wolver- atre fuse spine-chilling performances about BARNEY THE DINOSAUR Southsea, Mon 10 - Tue about kings, queens hampton stories with laughs, pleasure and boredom LIVE! Interactive show 11 Feb, Theatre Severn, and revolutions, Wed JAY RAYNER: GREEDY frights and live music, in the twenty first centu- for children packed with Shrewsbury 12 Feb, Old Joint Stock MAN IN A HUNGRY Sun 16 Feb, mac - Mid- ry, Tue 18 - Wed 19 song, dance and fun... SOME GIRL I USED TO Theatre, Birmingham WORLD Restaurant critic lands Arts Centre, Birm- Feb, Warwick Arts Cen- Thurs 20 Feb, Stafford KNOW Denise Van ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG and BBC One Show ingham tre, Coventry Gatehouse Theatre Outen stars in a new AT HEART New play by reporter Jay Rayner THE SOOTY SHOW Join HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS one-woman play featur- Sucker Punch play- combines hardnosed Sweep, Soo & Richard BARMY BRITAIN A brand IN SPACE ODDITY A new ing songs from the 80s wright Roy Williams reporting with witty Cadell as they help new show featuring 3D show promising fun for and 90s, Mon 10 - Wed which examines the memoir to take you on Sooty celebrate his Bogglevision effects all the family, Thurs 20 12 Feb, New Alexandra unrest of summer 2011 a journey through the birthday, Sun 16 Feb, which bring historical Feb, Royal Spa Centre, Theatre, Birmingham against the backdrop of world’s edible land- Artrix, Bromsgrove figures and events live Leamington Spa A PERFECT MURDER Les the 1958 Notting Hill scape, Thurs 13 Feb, AN AUDIENCE WITH on stage, Tue 18 - Sat POSTMAN PAT See Pat Dennis and Clare race riots, Wed 12 Feb, Ludlow Assembly DOREEN A riotous con- 22 Feb, Belgrade The- and his friends live on Goose star in a stage Arena Theatre, Wolver- Rooms, South Shrop- coction of affectionate atre, Coventry stage, with an exciting version of Peter James' hampton shire Black Country humour LOOT Amateur produc- new story based best-selling crime HOW TO MAKE A KILLING BOEING BOEING Classic and biting social satire, tion of Joe Orton’s around the forthcoming thriller, Mon 10 - Sat 15 IN BOLLYWOOD The comedy by Marc Sun 16 Feb, Lichfield much acclaimed black feature film, Thurs 20 Feb, Malvern Theatre Regal Theatre Bathgate Camoletti, Thurs 13 - Garrick comedy, Tues 18 - Sat Feb, Theatre Severn, THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY present a new comedy Sat 15 Feb, Lichfield 22 Feb, Highbury The- Shrewsbury VIII Two-man historical about friendship, fame Garrick Week Commencing atre Centre, Sutton THE UNREMARKABLE drama which promises and fortune, Wed 12 RENT 20TH ANNIVERSARY Coldfield DEATH OF MARILYN MON- an ‘ill-researched les- Feb, Royal Spa Centre, CONCERT Fri 14 Feb, MON 17 FEB GOD OF CARNAGE Differ- ROE Dyad Productions son in cross-dressing Leamington Spa New Alexandra Theatre, ent Animal Theatre present a candid Tudor history that audi- HEDDA GABLER Icarus Birmingham GRISLEY TALES Teasel Company present insight into the life of ences will never forget’, Theatre Collective pres- THAT'LL BE THE DAY Theatre fuse spine-chill- Yazmina Reza’s award- the Hollywood legend, Tues 11 Feb, Roses ent Christopher Hamp- Rock'n'Roll spectacular ing stories with laughs, winning comedy of Thurs 20 Feb, The Theatre, Tewkesbury ton’s translation of Hen- combining music from frights and live music, manners, Tues 18 - Sat Swan Theatre, Worces- RETURN TO THE FORBID- rik Ibsen’s classic tale, the 50's, 60's & 70's Mon 17 Feb, Artrix, 22 Feb, Lichfield Gar- ter DEN PLANET WBS Musi- Wed 12 - Thurs 13 Feb, with wacky comedy Bromsgrove rick GRISLY TALES FROM TUM- cal Theatre Company Theatre Severn, routines, Fri 14 Feb, BARNEY THE DINOSAUR JOSEPH AND THE AMAZ- BLEWATER Teasel The- present an amateur Shrewsbury Crewe Lyceum LIVE Interactive show ING TECHNICOLOR atre fuse spine-chilling production of the much A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S THE ELECTRO SWING for children packed with DREAMCOAT Youth stories with laughs, acclaimed musical DREAM Presented by BALL Evening of live song, dance & fun... Group production of frights and live music, described as a 'mash- Propeller, an all-male music, swinging DJs, Mon 17 Feb, Royal Spa Thurs 20 Feb, Arena up of retro sci-fi and Shakespearian ensem- dance class, burlesque, Centre, Leamington and Tim Rice's classic Theatre, W’hampton Shakespeare's The ble with a proven track acrobatics and circus Spa musical, Tue 18 - Sat 22 A BLACK COUNTRY FAIRY- Tempest, Tue 11 - Fri 14 record for high quality performances and a MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS Feb, Regent Theatre, TALE... AY IT Fizzog Pro- Feb, The Edge Arts and contemporary pro- series vintage-themed Mon 17 - Tues 18 Feb, Stoke-on-Trent ductions weave togeth- Centre, Much Wenlock, ductions of The Bard's treats. The Electro Lichfield Garrick ME AND MY GIRL Ama- er various fairytales in South Shropshire work, Wed 12 - Sat 15 Swing Ball feature... Fri JACK AND THE teur production per- one 'spectacular' pro- THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Feb, Belgrade Theatre, 14 Feb, The Place, BEANSTALK Lyngo The- formed by Bridgnorth duction, Thurs 20 - Fri Shakespeare's most far- Coventry Oakengates Theatre, atre, in collaboration Musical Theatre Com- 21 Feb, Newhampton cical comedy presented CLASSIC GHOSTS Pre- Telford, Shropshire with Trestle Theatre, pany, Tues 18 - Sat 22 Arts Centre by the internationally sented by Middle BRAND NEW ANCIENTS present their version of Feb, Bridgnorth Leisure SOME GIRL I USED TO acclaimed all-male the- Ground Theatre Com- Poet and spoken word the classic fairytale, Centre, South Shrop- KNOW Denise Van atre company, Pro- pany, Wed 12 - Sat 15 artist Kate Tempest tells Mon 17 - Tue 18 Feb, shire Outen stars in a new peller, Tue 11 - Sat 15 Feb, The Grand The- an everyday heroic mac - Midlands Arts THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS one-woman play featur- Feb, Belgrade Theatre, atre, Wolverhampton story accompanied by Centre, Birmingham IN A 2014 SPACE ODDITY ing songs from the 80s Coventry TIME OF MY LIFE Revival a live score, Fri 14 - Sat 51 SHADES OF MAGGIE A new show providing and 90s Thurs 20 - Sat THE 39 STEPS Amateur of Alan Ayckbourn's bit- 15 Feb, mac - Midlands Spoof play based on fun for all the family, 22 Feb, The Grand The- production presented tersweet comedy, Wed Arts Centre, Birming- the best-selling trilogy Wed 19 Feb, Crewe atre, Wolverhampton

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Sat 15th - Sun 16th February MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS PRESENTS PARK GORKOGO Sat 15, 7.30pm, Sun 16 2pm & 5pm. Tickets: Band A £23, £20 concs; Band B £19, £17 concs; Band C £14

Sat 22nd February STEVE HEWLETT: THINKING INSIDE THE BOX 7.30pm. Tickets: £17, £16 concs, £10 child

Thurs 27th February COLIN FRY: THE VOICES FROM HEAVEN SHOW 7.30pm. Tickets: £20

Fri 28th February ROCK AROUND THE SIXTIES Featuring The New Honeycombs and Walk Right Back - A Tribute to The Everly Brothers 7.30pm. Tickets: £16, £15 concs

Tues 4th March 16+ 51 SHADES OF MAGGIE BY LEESA HARKER 7.30pm. Tickets: £21, £19 concs

Fri 7th March JOE MCELDERRY 7.30pm. Tickets: £19, £18 concs Family of 4 (min of 2 children) £64

Thu 13th March CIRCUS OF HORRORS: LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT 7.30pm, Tickets: Band A £23, £20 concs; Band B £19, £17 concs; Band C £14

Sat 15th March ARRIVAL UK - THE ULTIMATE ABBA TRIBUTE SHOW 7.30pm. Tickets: £16, £15 concs

Thu 20th March 18+ ROY CHUBBY BROWN: WHO ATE ALL THE PIES? 7.30pm. Tickets: £21, £20 concs

TWC GP 00569

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Sat 1 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Boeing Boeing - showing at Crewe Lyceum and Lichfield Garrick Theatre LISTINGS LOVE & SEX AKA PER- MISSION State of Emer- For full listing information on theatre gency present a brand productions, including times and new, hard-hitting dance dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk show which explores issues of love, sex and consent, Tue 25 Feb, OLIVER! The Viv Kelly mac - Midlands Arts Arena Theatre, Wolver- Children's Theatre Centre, Birmingham hampton Group present a pro- STEVE HEWLETT: THINK- ETERNAL LOVE English duction of Lionel Bart's ING INSIDE THE BOX Touring Theatre pres- acclaimed musical, Britain's Got Talent con- ents the Shakespeare's Thurs 20 - Sat 22 Feb, testant, ventriloquist Globe production of Theatre Severn, Steve Hewlett, takes to Howard Brenton's spell- Shrewsbury the road with award- binding tale, Tue 25 MOON ON A RAINBOW winning illusionist Feb - Sat 1 Mar, The Shawl Tawala Theatre Richard Griffin in a Grand Theatre, Wolver- Company and the brand new show which hampton National Theatre pres- promises to 'delight and LOOT Amateur produc- mac - Midlands Arts MISS SAIGON (SCHOOL'S DOGS DON'T DO BALLET ent Errol John's witty amaze the whole fami- tion of Joe Orton’s Centre, Birmingham EDITION) Presented by Little Angel Theatre play, Thurs 20 - Sat 22 ly,' Sat 22 Feb, The much-acclaimed black MACBETH The Blue SOSage Factory Thurs bring the story of the Feb, The REP, Birming- Place, Oakengates The- comedy, Tues 25 - Sat Orange Theatre present 27 Feb - Sat 1 March, small dog with a big ham atre, Telford, Shropshire 1 Mar, Highbury The- Shakespeare’s murder- Solihull Arts Complex personality and even BOEING BOEING Classic MY ROMANTIC HISTORY atre Centre, Sutton ous tale of greed, witch- NEVER TRY THIS AT HOME bigger dreams to life comedy by Marc Reform Theatre Com- Coldfield craft and madness, Birmingham Repertory through puppetry, ballet Camoletti, Thurs 20 - pany present DC Jack- TWELFTH NIGHT Filter Thurs 27 Feb, Solihull Theatre and Told By An music and comedy, Fri Sun 23 Feb, Crewe son’s award-winning and the RSC present a Arts Complex Idiot present a disturb- 28 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Lyceum romantic drama, Sat 22 new take on the Bard's BEYOND THE BARRICADE ing homage to Saturday Arena Theatre, Wolver- CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC Feb, Artrix, Bromsgrove lyrical tale of romance, Join an award-winning SID’S SHOW Join Sid Recreating original West morning TV, Thurs 27 hampton satire & mistaken identi- End/Broadway musical Feb - Sat 15 March, LITTLE SHOP OF HOR- team of liers, swindlers from Cbeebies live on ty, Tue 25 Feb - Sat 1 hit songs, Thurs 27 Feb, The REP, Birmingham RORS Amateur produc- and cheats for a night stage in a fun-filled Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- Regent Theatre, Stoke- BACK TO BROADWAY Fri tion presented by The of trickery, Fri 21 Feb, adventure that promis- tre, Coventry on-Trent 28 Feb, The Swan The- Vocalize Performing Artrix, Bromsgrove es to knock your socks SPLOSH! A production THE REDUCED SHAKE- atre, Worcester Arts Academy, Fri 28 THE JUST SO STORIES off!, Sat 22 Feb, Prince for early years which SPEARE COMPANY - THE GILES BRANDRETH: LOOK- Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Palace Presented by Red Table Of Wales Centre, Can- fuses dance, music and Theatre, Fri 21 Feb, nock BIBLE: THE COMPLETE ING FOR HAPPINESS Fri Theatre, Redditch puppetry, Wed 26 Feb, WORD OF GOD A fast- 28 Feb, Lichfield Garrick THE LIFE OF GALILEO Solihull Arts Complex BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The Place, Oakengates paced romp from fig WHEN I GROW UP Break- Bertolt Brecht's famous GREAT EXPECTATIONS Multistory weave music, Theatre, Telford, Shrop- leaves to Final Judge- ing The Silence pres- play explores the strug- One-man adaptation of song, puppetry and shire ment, Thurs 27 Feb, ents Raj Jarrett's gle between scientific Charles Dickens' clas- projection in this WOYZECK Brand new Swan Theatre, Worces- drama, which highlights discovery and religious sic tale, Fri 21 Feb, retelling of the much- adaptation based on ter the impact of domestic fundamentalism, Fri 28 Arena Theatre, Wolver- loved children's fairy- the play by Georg AN EVENING WITH PETER violence, Fri 28 Feb, Feb - Sat 8 March, The hampton tale, Sun 23 Feb, War- Buchner, Wed 26 Feb, AN AUDIENCE WITH SALLY wick Arts Centre, ALLIS Thurs 27 Feb, Crescent Theatre, Birm- REP, Birmingham The Roses, Tewkesbury Lichfield Garrick ingham MORGAN Fri 21 Feb, Coventry MAMMALS Warwick Uni- Royal Spa Centre, JACK AND THE versity Drama Students Leamington Spa BEANSTALK Lyngo The- present Amelia Bull- TWEEDY'S LOST PROPER- atre, in collaboration more's darkly humor- TY Physical comedy with Trestle Theatre, ous look at the flip side show that follows the breathe new life into the of home-sweet-home, antics of a circus clown classic fairytale, Sun 23 Wed 26 Feb - Sat 1 who gives in to society Feb, Warwick Arts Cen- Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- and gets a real job, Fri tre, Coventry tre, Coventry 21 Feb, Ludlow Assem- OLD MACDONALD HAD A WAR HORSE National bly Rooms, South FARM Children’s show Theatre Live screening, Shropshire presented by People’s Thurs 27 Feb, Wem HOW TO MAKE A KILLING Theatre Company, Sun Town Hall, North Shrop- IN BOLLYWOOD The 23 Feb, Artrix, Broms- shire; Ludlow Assembly Regal Theatre Bathgate grove Rooms, South Shrop- present a new comedy shire about friendship, fame Week Commencing WE WILL BE FREE! The and fortune, Fri 21 Feb, Tolpuddle Martyrs tale, Lichfield Garrick MON 24 FEB told via storytelling, MISUNDERSTOOD MON- puppetry and anima- STERS Half Moon pres- PENNY DREADFUL: HOW tion, with musical ent a fast-paced ‘out of TO BE IMMORTAL Origi- arrangements from folk this world’ adventure nal new play which artist John Kirkpatrick, for children aged four fuses true tales, live Thurs 27 Feb, Theatre to nine, Fri 21 - Sun 23 music, '50s science and Severn, Shrewsbury Feb, Swan Theatre, nano-puppetry to WOYZECK Brand new Stratford-upon-Avon explore our need to adaptation based on THE TWIST New musical connect to the dead, the play by Georg featuring songs from Mon 24 Feb, New Vic Buchner, Thurs 27 Feb, the ’50s and ’60s, Sat Theatre, Newcastle- Bridge House Theatre, 22 Feb, Solihull Arts under-Lyme Warwick Complex LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN AN AUDIENCE WITH COLIN AN AUDIENCE WITH Presented by Nonenti- FRY Thurs 27 Feb, The JONATHAN MILLER A ties, Mon 24 Feb - Sat 1 Place, Oakengates The- chance to meet Dr March, The Rose The- atre, Telford, Shropshire Jonathan Miller, one of atre, Kidderminster WAR HORSE National Britain’s most intriguing TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT: Theatre Live screening, polymaths, Sat 22 Feb, THE ROD STEWART MUSI- Thurs 27 Feb, Warwick Lichfield Garrick CAL Smash-hit West Arts Centre, Coventry THE CASTLE SMALL The End musical comedy MIDDAY VARIETY Coven- Magical Touring Puppet inspired by the songs try’s finest variety show, Theatre present two of the Maggie May star, with live music and a original stories for Mon 24 Feb - Sat 1 variety line-up, Thurs 27 young children, Sat 22 March, New Alexandra Feb, Belgrade Theatre, Feb, Norbury Theatre, Theatre, Birmingham Coventry Droitwich THE PERFECT MURDER FINDING JOY A comic, THE HUSBANDS Sharmila Les Dennis and Claire anarchic, touching and Chauhan's play about Goose star in a stage heroic full-mask adven- love, jealousy and a version of Peter James' ture from Worcester- woman's right to best-selling crime based theatre company choose, Sat 22 Feb, thriller, Mon 24 Feb - Vamos, Thurs 27 Feb,

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Theatre REVIEWS

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Live National Indoor Arena, Birmingham Strictly fans got to escape the January blues for an evening when the show arrived in Birmingham for the start of its national tour. The three male judges returned to the city and seemed to be loving every minute of it - although they’d toned down their camp and saucy banter by comparison with last year. The 2014 tour was hosted by 2012 competitor Lisa Riley, and featured all three finalists from the last series - Natalie Gumede, and winner . Highlights from the first half included a gorgeous Wendy And Peter Pan American Smooth from rugby player Ben Foden Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon and Russian ‘pocket rocket’ Kristina Rihanoff, a There are some stories that never grow old, stories whose stature seems to grow with dramatic Paso Doble from Susanna Reid and Kevin each new flight of the imagination. In this latest re-imagining of JM Barrie’s timeless Clifton, and an awesome jive from favourites Natal- tale of daring heroics, everlasting childhood, dastardly pirates and lost children, Ella ie Gumede and Artem Chingvitsev. Westlife’s Nicky Hickson takes her characters on a transformative journey beyond the sheltered land- Byrne and partner Karen impressed with a slick, scapes of the Edwardian nursery - a familiar world of pre-received wisdom bathed in sharp and supercool James Bond-inspired Argen- the soft glow of tradition - catapulting them headlong into a Neverland of their own tine , while series winners Abbey Clancey imagining, where shadows lurk around every corner, battles are fought and won, and Aljaz Skorjanec performed a truly beautiful happy thoughts are rediscovered, and heroines (as well as heroes) are made! quick-step. This latest festive offering from the RSC sees an uncharacteristically feisty Wendy take Ben and Kristina fired up the second half with a centre-stage in a story that places ‘loss’ at the heart of her imaginative recovery and, sexy , after which things got even better, cour- by association, her self-discovery. tesy of Natalie and Artem’s sublime Viennese Faced with the crippling loss of her younger brother Tom, and convinced that his Waltz, while Mark Benton and Iveta’s cha cha cha shadow still haunts her window, Wendy’s heroic quest to salvage what remains of her spoofed MC Hammer. parents’ marriage begins when the mercurial figure of Peter Pan arrives in her nursery The fabulous finale was a hot disco salsa by the one night. He’s accompanied by an army of shadows simulating flight, their combined gorgeous Abbey and Aljaz, the latter of whom presence ‘lifting’ Peter to the status of God in his own make-believe reality. raised the roof in his Travolta-style white suit. The Wendy And Peter is, at its heart, a classic swashbuckling family adventure, complete pair topped the leaderboard again, with a fabulous with stunning aerial acrobatic sequences, ferocious fight-scenes, dastardly pirates thirty-out-of-thirty score, but it was Natalie and ships and fantastical sets, all of which lend the piece a wonderfully quirky and, at Artem who won the audience vote and were duly times, genuinely mesmerising charm. Katherine Ewing IIIII crowned the evening’s winners. Anita Champaneri IIIII Theatre Box Office Thriller Live ICC, Birmingham Birmingham GRAND THEATRE, Warwickshire 01902 429212 ALEXANDRA THEATRE BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL Thriller Live, the all-singing, all-dancing theatrical 0844 871 3011 NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 024 7637 6707 01902 572090 homage to Michael Jackson, recently moonwalked BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY into the ICC. 0844 338 5000 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY 024 7655 3055 0121 552 2761 The show opened X Factor-style, with a booming BIRMINGHAM REP BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WARWICK voice listing the King of Pop’s mega-selling singles 0121 236 4455 Shropshire 01926 776438 THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE THE DREAM FACTORY and albums and hailing his influence on today’s THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON 0121 212 2643 01926 419555 crop of pop performers. It was all lights and action 01952 222277 CRESCENT THEATRE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE in the first half, as the show disco-stomped through THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 0121 643 5858 THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON the hits of the Jackson 5 and Jacko’s first solo 01952 728911 DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 0844 800 1110 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY album, Off The Wall, in the process treating us to 0121 706 7139 ROYAL SPA CENTRE 01743 234970 the likes of Blame It On The Boogie, Can You Feel THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY It and Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough. Four singers, WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, COVENTRY HALL GREEN LITTLE THEATRE ROOMS 01584 878141 all trying their best to sound like Jackson, shared 0121 707 1874 02476 524524 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD lead vocals. These included Birmingham-born MAC 0121 446 3232 01952 382382 Cleopatra (Comin Atcha) Higgins and white, long- Worcestershire MIXING BOWL THEATRE THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY haired rocker Jesse Smith, whose rendition of Dirty 0121 224 7545 01743 281281 ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, BROMSGROVE 01527 577330 Diana made it seem like we were reliving the X Fac- OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE WEM TOWN HALL tor Live finals. While some of the vocals and moves 0121 200 0946 01939 232299 THE HIVE were slightly off, the second half of the show went OLD REP 0121 245 4455 01905 822866 SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX Staffordshire HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER bad-ass on the crowd, featuring all the big dance- 01905 611427 floor numbers from the greatest album of the twen- 0121 704 6962 LICHFIELD GARRICK 01543 412121 MALVERN THEATRE tieth century, Thriller. The frisson of excitement was 01684 892277 Black Country NEW VIC 01782 717962 palpable when the dancers cracked some deft NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH ARENA THEATRE PRINCE OF WALES moves to Smooth Criminal. 01905 770154 WOLVERHAMPTON CENTRE, CANNOCK All the classic dance moves were on show, from 01902 321321 01543 578762 PALACE THEATRE REDDITCH 01527 65203 the moonwalk and crotch-grabs to the trilby doffs BLOXWICH THEATRE REGENT THEATRE, STOKE and gravity-defying leans. The Jacko favourites 01922 653183 0870 060 6649 ROSE THEATRE, 01562 743745 were saved for the final act - Beat It, the visually DUDLEY CONCERT HALL RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE 01384 812812 01889 584036 SWAN THEATRE, stunning Thriller and the high-octane anthem BAD. WORCESTER 01905 611427 FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL STAFFORD GATEHOUSE The crowd’s reaction was fantastic. It certainly was 01785 254653 IIII 01922 654555 ‘bad’! Anita Champaneri STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE 01782 209784 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Theatre February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:23 Page 15

COMING SOON TO THEATRE SEVERN

THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2014

Hailed as the origi- nators of British folk-, Fair- port Convention has been among Britain's best-loved bands for over 45 years. FAIRPORT CONVENTION

WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014 ALEX HORNE: LIES The 30 year old multi-Bafta award-winning stand up and platinum-selling R&B artist Alex Horne is back with an hour of observations, impressions and lies.

THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2014

FORTHCOMING POSTMAN PAT ATTRACTIONS 2014 LIVE ON STAGE Box Office: 01527 65203

Premier Stage Productions & Classic Mon 10th Feb, 7.30pm Thurs 13th Feb, 7.30pm Media are delighted to present a brand new, fun-filled, all action show featuring GYLES SINATRA, everyone's favourite postman. BRANDRETH SEQUINS See Pat and his friends live on Looking For Happiness AND SWING stage in an exciting new story – Tickets £17.75* Tickets £20.75 & “IT’S SHOWTIME!” £19.75* (disc)

Fri 14th Feb, 7.30pm Tues 18th Feb, 2.00pm WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2014 MARTY WILDE ANDY AND MIKE’S AND THE TICK TOCK TIME 'The body beautiful meets serious talent.' WILDCATS MACHINE London Evening Standard Tickets £12.75 & Tickets £18.75 & £10.75* (disc) £41* £17.75* (disc) (family ticket)

Wed 19th Feb, 8.00pm Thurs 20th Feb, 7.30pm ED BYRNE ROY Roaring CHUBBY Forties Tour BROWN Tickets £23.25* Tickets £19.75*

Fri 21st Feb, 7.30pm Thurs 6th Mar, 7.30pm JAI VISIT OUR DIRTY WEBSITE TO MCDOWALL DUSTING VIEW MORE Tickets £20.25* Tickets £20.75* SHOWS! & £19.75* (disc)

* Inclusive of 75p booking fee per ticket up to a max of £3 Box Office 01743 281 281 Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, ONLINE BOOKING: Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk SY3 8FT www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

38 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 20:23 Page 16

Theatre WEST END Californication star to play bunny boiler in Trevor Nunn’s Fatal Attraction Californication star Natascha McElhone has announced she’s to play ‘bunny boiler’ Alex Forrest in Trevor Nunn’s stage version of Fatal Attraction, which shows at the Haymar- ket Theatre from 8 March to 21 June. A story of obsession and revenge, Fatal Attraction was originally a hit 1987 movie starring Michael Dou- glas and Glenn Close. Natascha’s previous London credits include Honour, at Wyndham’s Theatre, and Richard III and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Open Theatre in Regent’s Park. Director, Sean Foley New theatre for NT production Phileas Fogg’s latest adventure kicks off at the O2... The National Theatre’s production of The An immersive theatre experience with a dif- The Park tent, Around The World In Eighty Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night- ference is on offer when Sean Foley’s Days shows in London for eleven weeks, Time is to resume its West End run at the Around The World In Eighty Days opens at after which it heads out on a three-year, nine- Gielgud Theatre from 24 June. Performances London’s 02 Pavillion in June. teen-city US tour. of the Olivier Award-winning production were Foley’s stage adaptation of Jules Verne’s lit- The highly rated Foley is the man behind the suspended in December when the ceiling erary classic sees the amazing adventures of award-winning West End comedy The collapsed, mid-performance, during its run at Phileas Fogg unfold in a much-heralded Ladykillers and the critically acclaimed Per- London’s Apollo Theatre. multimedia production, presented in a three fect Nonsense. The latter, starring Stephen Based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning hundred-and-sixty-degree dome the size of Mangan and Matthew Macfadyen, continues novel, the show has been hailed ‘a phenome- ten IMAX screens. The production also fea- to book at Duke of York’s Theatre until 20 nal combination of storytelling and specta- tures a flying hot-air balloon and a twenty- September. cle’. It will show at the Gielgud Theatre prior foot steam-powered elephant. For further information and to book tickets for to its much-anticipated transfer to Broadway Created by Matthew Churchill Productions, Around The World In Eighty Days, visit in October. the team behind the Chichester Theatre In www.80daystheshow.com

WEST END LISTINGS: Mar 2014 May 2014 atre, booking until 18 KNIGHTS OF THE BURN- STOMP Ambassadors HAPPY DAYS Young Vic Oct 2014 ING PESTLE Old Vic The- Theatre, booking until Theatre, booking until 8 DUCK HOUSE Vaudeville atre, booking 20 Feb - MUSICALS Edward Theatre, book- 21 Dec 2014 Mar 2014 Theatre, booking until 30 Mar 2014 ing until 9 March 2014 TELL ME ON A SUNDAY WAR HORSE New Lon- 29 Mar 2014 TWELFTH KNIGHT RE- BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSI- and Piccadilly Theatre, Duchess Theatre, 17 don Theatre, booking JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN IMAGINED Open Air The- CAL Victoria Palace 14 Mar - 25 Oct 2014 Feb - 1 Mar 2014 until 15 Feb 2014 PERFECT NONSENSE atre, Regent’s Park, Theatre, booking until Duke Of York’s Theatre, booking 21 Jun - 12 16 May 2015 LES MISÉRABLES THRILLER LIVE Lyric The- Queen's Theatre, book- atre, booking until 28 booking until 8 Mar July 2014 BODYGUARD Adelphi COMEDY ing until 25 Oct 2014 2014 Theatre, booking until Sept 2014 39 STEPS Criterion The- 30 Aug 2014 LION KING Lyceum The- WE WILL ROCK YOU BOOK OF MORMON atre, booking until 20 Dominion Theatre, Prince Of Wales The- July 2014 booking until 5 Apr atre, booking until 3 MAMMA MIA! Novello 2014 May 2014 Theatre, booking until WICKED Apollo Victoria CHARLIE AND THE 25 Oct 2014 Theatre, booking until 1 CHOCOLATE FACTORY - MATILDA THE MUSICAL Nov 2014. THE MUSICAL Drury Cambridge Theatre, Lane Royal, booking booking until 21 Dec DRAMA until 1 Nov 2014 2014 ANALOG.UE Lyttelton COMMITMENTS Victoria MISS SAIGON Prince National Theatre, 25 Palace Theatre, book- Edward Theatre, from 3 Feb - 20 Mar 2014 ing until 14 Sept 2014 May - 25 Oct 2014 ANTONY & CLEOPATRA DIRTY DANCING ONCE Phoenix Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe booking until 22 Feb booking until 31 May Theatre, From 17 May 2014 2014 2014 DIRTY ROTTEN PAJAMA GAME Shaftes- DOCTOR SCROGGY’S WAR SCOUNDRELS Savoy bury Theatre, 1 May - Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 10 Mar - 29 13 Sep 2014 Theatre, From 12 Sept Nov 2014 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 2014 FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Her Majesty's Theatre, EMIL AND THE DETEC- Shaftesbury Theatre, booking until 25 Oct TIVES Olivier National booking until 26 Apr 2014 Theatre, booking until 2014 PORGY AND BESS 18 Mar 2014 I CAN’T SING! THE Open Air Theatre, FATAL ATTRACTION Hay- X FACTOR MUSICAL Regents Park, 17 July - market Theatre, Royal, London Palladium The- 23 Aug 2014 8 Mar - 21 Jun 2014 atre, 27 Feb 2014 - 25 STEPHEN WARD Aldwych GHOST STORIES Arts Oct 2014 Theatre, booking until 1 Theatre,13 Feb - 24 JERSEY BOYS Prince Happy Days - Young Vic Theatre

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Dance February_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:04 Page 1 Dance

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 5 - Sat 15 February Firmly established as a modern-day classic, Matthew Bourne’s contemporary interpretation of the universally loved Swan Lake has been the recipient of over thirty international theatre awards - including three Tonys for its Broadway production. It’s also the longest running ballet both in the West End and across the Atlantic. Premiering at Sadlers Wells in 1995, Bourne’s provocative version became an instant hit. Its all-male swans, character comedy and use of mime not only challenged more traditional interpretations of the work but also attracted a younger audi- ence to the world of ballet. With four successful tours under its belt, the show this month returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome for its only Midlands date - miss it at your peril! Read the interview with Matthew on page 8. Tap Factory Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 14 - Sat 15 February; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Sun 16 February; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 14 - Tues 15 April; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 3 May Described as ‘Tap Dogs meets Stomp’, this rhythm-based production sees an array of internationally renowned exponents of dance, gymnastics and acrobatics take to the stage to showcase their skills. Blending percussion with dance and comedy, Tap Factory also features a live band on stage. Having delighted audiences across Europe and South America, this much-hyped show embarks on its first UK-wide tour Sun this month, taking in various Midlands venues along the way. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 4 - Wed 5 February Co-commissioned by numerous companies, Sun is presented by Hofesh Shechter, who’s widely regard- ed as one of the UK’s most exciting contemporary artists. The work - which brings together fourteen tal- ented dancers with an eclectic soundtrack featuring original music by Shechter - has certainly garnered its fair share of plaudits. ‘The world is perfect,’ informs its publicity. ‘From the darkness of Shechter’s emotive and often angry world emerges a bright white light dancing out of the smoke and chaos’. Sun hasn’t been to everybody’s liking, mind, with some critics feeling that the material is rather thin and repetitive. Buy a ticket and judge for yourself.

40 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Dance February_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:04 Page 2

cracks and craters in a BRB: The Prince Of The Pagodas LISTINGS world of illusions where Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 25 February - Sat 1 March Dance nothing is quite as it David Bintley’s imaginative reworking of John Cranko’s 1957 produc- seems, Tues 25 Feb For full listing information on dance, Roses Theatre, tion makes its UK debut at the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet this including times and dates, visit Tewkesbury month. Set to Benjamin Britten’s only commissioned ballet score, www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE PRINCE OF THE The Prince Of The Pagodas celebrates the power of love in the fan- PAGODAS Birmingham Royal Ballet presents tastical Chrysanthemum Kingdom, where adventures abound for the AN EVENING OF DIRTY urban, tap dance and Princess Sakura. Having received much critical acclaim at its an imaginative rework- DANCING A tribute show hip-hop - fused with ing of a classic story National Ballet of premiere in 2011, this new addition to the featuring great songs comedy and acrobat- which celebrates the BRB repertoire features imaginative costumes from War Horse and memorable danc- ics, Fri 14 - Sat 15 Feb power of family love, designer Rae Smith. ing, Sat 1 Feb, Solihull Theatre Severn, Tue 25 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, Arts Complex Shrewsbury Birmingham TAP FACTORY BOLSHOI - LOST A variety Hippodrome ILLUSIONS Live HD of dance disciplines - BRENDAN COLE: LICENCE Broadcast from the urban, tap dance and TO THRILL Chance to Bolshoi Theatre, hip-hop - fused with see the Strictly stalwart Moscow, Sun 2 Feb, comedy and acrobat- joined by professional Malvern Theatres ics, Sun 16 Feb, New dancers and a four- SUN A new work from Alexandra Theatre, teen-piece band in a one of the UK's most Birmingham journey across time - THE LOCK IN exciting contemporary Mon 17 complete with a sprin- artists, choreographer Feb, New Vic Theatre, kling of James Bond Hofesh Shechter, Tue 4 Newcastle-under-Lyme magic, Wed 26 Feb, THE LOCK IN - Wed 5 Feb, Warwick Tue 18 Feb, Regent Theatre, Arts Centre, Coventry mac - Midlands Arts Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent MATTHEW BOURNE'S Centre, Birmingham BALLETBOYZ One of the THREE OF A KIND SWAN LAKE Award-win- most cheekily original ning modern interpreta- Birmingham Royal and innovative forces in tion of the classic ballet Ballet presents a triple- modern dance. Led by that sees the traditional bill of works - John former Royal Ballet female corps de ballet Cranko’s Card Game, lead dancers Michael replaced with a menac- George Balanchine’s Nunn and William ing male ensemble, Slaughter On Tenth Trevitt, Wed 26 Feb, Wed 5 - Sat 15 Feb, Avenue and Kenneth Theatre Severn, Birmingham MacMillan’s Elite Shrewsbury Hippodrome Syncopations, Wed 19 BALLETBOYZ Fri 28 Feb, SLEEPING BEAUTY - Sat 22 Feb, Regent Theatre, Starlight School of Birmingham Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Dance presents a cho- Hippodrome Broken reographed version of GISELLE Performed by mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Wed 12 - Thurs 13 the classic fairytale of The Russian State February; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues 25 February good vs evil, Thurs 6 - Ballet & Orchestra of Sat 8 Feb, Palace Siberia, Fri 21 Feb, Weaving athletic dance with digital imagery and original music, Theatre, Redditch Malvern Theatre Broken examines man’s precarious relationship with the earth. Using ANTON DU BEKE New SWAN LAKE Performed two contrasting worlds - the caves of ancient ancestors and modern show featuring ‘daz- by The Russian State apartments of glass and steel - Kevin Finnan’s production takes zling dancing and Ballet & Orchestra Of audiences on a journey which questions man’s ambivalence to the superb singing’, with Siberia, Sat 22 Feb, the sensational Malvern Theatre planet. An adrenaline-fuelled spectacle packed with trickery and illu- Raymond Gubbay Big A NIGHT OF DIRTY sions, this thought-provoking piece has the capacity to leave audi- Band Orchestra under DANCING Brand new Balletboyz ences breathless, as dancers contort their bodies to negotiate the the baton of Richard dancing extravaganza, cracks and craters of a place where all is not as it seems... Balcombe, Sat 8 Feb, presented by an all-star Symphony Hall, cast, including West Dance Birmingham End performers, Sat 22 Feb, Stafford Box Office Anton Du Beke Gatehouse Theatre CLARE HAMMOND ARENA THEATRE, Popular piano works WOLVERHAMPTON framed by two dances, 01902 321321 the Bach-Brahms Chaccone and ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE Ginastera’s Danzes 01527 577330 , Sun 23 BIRMINGHAM Feb, Huntingdon Hall, HIPPODROME Worcester 0844 338 5000 SLEEPING BEAUTY DOVEHOUSE THEATRE Performed by The 0121 706 7139 Russian State Ballet & LICHFIELD GARRICK ANIMATED DANCE Orchestra Of Siberia, 01543 412121 ACADEMY ANNUAL Sun 23 Feb, Malvern LUDLOW ASSEMBLY SHOWCASE Sun 9 Feb, Theatre ROOMS, SHROPSHIRE Solihull Arts Complex 01584 873229 BROKEN Motionhouse Sleeping Beauty MAC, BIRMINGHAM present their latest pro- 0121 446 3232 duction, which sees NEW ALEXANDRA THE- dancers negotiate the ATRE, BIRMINGHAM cracks and craters in a 0121 230 9082 world of illusions where ROYAL SPA CENTRE, nothing is quite as it LEAMINGTON SPA seems, Wed 12 - Thurs 01926 334418 13 Feb, mac - Midlands SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX Arts Centre, 0121 704 6962 Birmingham STAFFORD GATEHOUSE REGENT THEATRE DANCE THEATRE FESTIVAL 2014 01785 254653 Choreographed cele- RICHARDZ ON STAGE THEATRE SEVERN, bration, reflection and 2014 Annual school SHREWSBURY remembrance of those show, Sun 23 Feb, 01743 281281 who fought during the Crescent Theatre, Great War, Wed 12 - Birmingham WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, Sat 15 Feb, Regent BROKEN Motionhouse COVENTRY 02476 524524 Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent present their latest pro- TAP FACTORY A variety duction, which sees of dance disciplines - dancers negotiate the

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 1 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 2

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

From FRI 14 FEB

The Monuments Men CERT 12a (118mins) Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh TOP 5 Bonneville, Cate Blanchett Directed by George Clooney (USA/) George Clooney surrounds himself with another all-star cast for what looks like a fascinating slice of Second FILM BOX OFFICE World War history. Based on the book by Robert M Edsel, this is the true story of a group of art historians and curators who are conscripted to infiltrate Nazi Germany in order to track down invaluable works of art. It transpires that Hitler looted Europe and Russia on an epic scale, seizing an enormous quantity of priceless The Wolf Of paintings, sculpture, furniture and artefacts to store in his hometown of Linz in Austria. And we’re talking 1 Wall Street (18) works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt and Vermeer, many of which are still miss- ing. Clooney himself wrote the screenplay along with his long-time collaborator Grant Heslov. 2 12 Years A Slave (15) The Dallas Buyers Club American Hustle (15) CERT 15 (117mins) 3 Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts Frozen (PG) Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (USA) 4 For his performance as a homophobic rodeo jock who contracts Aids, Devil’s Due (15) Matthew McConaughey did a ‘Christian 5 Bale’ and lost a remarkable fifty pounds. He won a Golden Globe (and an Oscar nomination) for his pains, as did his co-star Jared Leto (songwriter and lead vocalist for the rock band Thirty Seconds To Mars), who plays a transgender woman. For the record, the film - based on a lengthy article in From the Dallas Morning News - is a true FRI 7 story. The director previously brought FEB us the acclaimed films C.R.A.Z.Y., The Young Victoria and Café de Flore. The Wolf Of Wall Street

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 7 Feb

The Invisible Woman CERT 12a (111mins) Starring Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Hollander, Joanna Scanlan, Tom Burke Directed by Ralph Fiennes (UK) Having made his directorial debut with the bold and visually impressive Coriolanus (2011), Ralph Fiennes now turns from Shakespeare to Charles Dickens. Adapted by Abi Morgan from Claire Tomalin’s book, the film focuses on Dickens’ extra-marital relationship with Ellen ‘Nelly’ Ternan (Jones). As actor, Fiennes brings considerable energy to his portrayal of Robocop CERT tbc Mr Peabody& Sherman Dickens, an ebullient and youthful figure, a man Starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, CERT 12a (111mins) embarrassed by his success yet determined to Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley Featuring the voices of Ty Burrell, Max harness it for the greater good. Above all, Directed by José Padilha (USA) Charles, Leslie Mann, Stephen Colbert, though, Fiennes the director communicates his Ariel Winter, Allison Janney, Another franchise comes bursting back to life in passion for Dickens’ literary virtuosity, a talent Directed by Rob Minkoff (USA) what is now the traditional ‘reboot’ practice. that continues to enrich our lives to this day. Rocky and His Friends have a lot to answer Here, the law-enforcing cyborg is played by the for, not least two appalling big-screen spin- Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman, who offs from the 1959-1961 cartoon series, starred in the American remake of the cult namely Boris and Natasha (1992) and The Danish TV series The Killing. And he’s got a Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle (2000). great supporting Now the good people at DreamWorks cast, which should Animation have seen fit to lift this epony- up the ante on the mous segment from the show and blow it up 1987 original (as into a full-scale, 3D computer-animated fea- should the CGI ture. For the record, it concerns a highly effects). Let the intelligent dog (Mr Peabody) and his adopt- killing commence! ed boy, Sherman, who travel back in time in their Wayback Machine.

For full film listings, showings and booking links visit: whatsonlive.co.uk

View the latest trailers on line

44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 4

Released from Fri 14 Feb

Cuban Fury CERT 15 (98mins) Starring Nick Frost, Rashida Jones, Chris O¹Dowd, Ian McShane, Olivia Colman, Alexandra Roach, Rory Kinnear Directed by James Griffiths (UK) With Nick Frost’s growing cinematic profile and the popularity of Strictly Come Dancing, this salsa comedy could break out. Frost plays Bruce, a loser who’s got a crush on his beautiful American boss, Julia (Jones, from TV’s Parks And Recreation). Then he discov- ers she has a secret passion: salsa. And many, many years ago, Bruce was some- thing of a child prodigy of the Latin dance!

From FRI 21 FEB

Her CERT 15 (126mins) Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, time comes up against a young Captain Hook (voiced by Hiddleston, no less). And you can Only Lovers Left Alive Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Portia Doubleday, CERT 15 (123mins) and the voice of Scarlett Johansson see it all in 3D. For diehard fans, Tinkers will be Directed by Spike Jonze (USA) back in Legend Of The NeverBeast, released Starring Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin, As it happens, ‘Her’ (voiced by Scarlett next year. Jeffrey Wright Johansson) is invisible both to us and our Directed by Jim Jarmusch (UK/Germany) protagonist, Theo Twombly (Phoenix). In the Yep, this is yet another vampire movie. But as not-too-distant future, Theo, who is going it’s directed by Jim Jarmusch, this will be dif- through a divorce, downloads a voice-activat- ferent than most. The director describes it as ed operating system. Choosing a female a "crypto-vampire love story" and it stars identity for his new programme, Theo finds Hiddleston as a reclusive, centuries-old rock himself becoming totally reliant on ‘Her’, both star who’s finding it hard to keep up with practically and emotionally. Okay, so what do modern technology. In fact, it’s all getting so you expect from Spike Jonze? The director much that he decides to take his own life! of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, Jonze has never opted for the conventional. Here, he conjures up a futuristic and lyrical The Necessary Death of love story in which the camera seldom leaves Joaquin Phoenix’s face. In spite of the Charlie Countryman CERT TBC The Lego Movie CERT U (100 mins) cinema’s previous explorations of artificial Starring Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, intelligence, ‘Her’ emerges as a highly origi- Featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Mads Mikkelsen, Rupert Grint, Vincent Banks, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, nal work, being both a cerebral black come- D¹Onofrio, Melissa Leo Channing Tatum, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Directed by Fredrik Bond (USA) dy and a thought-provoking contemplation of Charlie Day Directed by Phil Lord and Chris the human condition. Miller (USA/) Nigel Farage might not approve, but Shia As the rest of us attempt to keep up with tech- LaBeouf falls heavily for a young Romanian nology, the world of Lego remains steadfastly woman (Wood). However, the latter, Gabi basic. Maybe that’s the appeal. Having Ibanescu, still seems to be irrevocably involved branched out into parks (there are six of them), with her ex (Mikkelsen), a volatile and extreme- clothes(!), board games and video games, the ly dangerous man. Expect some profoundly Danish brand is now about to conquer your adult material. local multiplex. The computer-animated movie is set in the ‘Lego universe’ and features such ‘mini-figures’ as Batman, Superman and Spaceman Benny. Judging by the trailer, it does look quite witty. In 3D.

Tinkerbell And The Pirate Fairy CERT tbc Featuring the voices of Mae Whitman, Tom Hiddleston, Christina Hendricks, Carlos Ponce, Lucy Liu, Anjelica Huston Directed by Peggy Holmes (USA) Tinkers is back, in her fifth outing in the DisneyToon Studios' Tinker Bell series, and this

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Film February 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:58 Page 5 GET YOUR FREE COPY DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EVERY MONTH

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Released from Fri 21 Feb

A New York Winter’s Tale CERT tbc Starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Eva Marie Saint, Will Smith Directed by Akiva Goldsman (USA) When the burglar Peter Lake (Farrell) breaks into a Manhattan property, an heiress (Brown Findlay) dies in his arms. What follows is a mystical, romantic fantasy that spans almost a century, as Lake attempts to be reunited with the late heiress. The film, based on Mark Helprin’s novel Winter’s Tale, marks the directo- rial debut of the acclaimed scriptwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, The Da Vinci Code, I Am Legend, etc).

From WEDS 26 FEB

Released from Fri 28 Feb The Book Thief CERT 12a (131mins) Starring Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer, the voice of Stalingrad CERT 15 (131mins) Roger Allam Labor Day CERT 12a (111mins) Starring Petr Fedorov, Yanina Studilina, Directed by Brian Percival (USA) Dmitriy Lysenkov, Thomas Kretschmann Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Tobey Like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Markus Directed by Fedor Bondarchuk (Russia) Maguire, Gattlin Griffith, Clark Gregg, Brooke Smith Directed by Jason Reitman (USA) Zusak's 2005 novel The Book Thief is aimed The Soviet filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk at a ‘young adult’ readership. And as with The films of Jason Reitman (Juno, Up In The (1920-1994) made arguably the biggest film John Boyne’s book, the treatment of German Air, Young Adult) tend to be about the jour- ever to come out of Russia, namely Waterloo children in the Second World War presents a neys taken by a single character - usually (1970). Now his son Fedor has taken on the problem in terms of a cinematic adaptation. with a good deal of humour. Labor Day, battle of Stalingrad, the decisive WWII conflict Young adults should be aware of the atroci- adapted from the novel by Joyce Maynard, is between the Germans and the Russians. Not ties, but they’re not quite ready for Saving different in that it’s about a family. One might only is the film in 3D, but it’s the first non- Private Ryan. Brian Percival’s adaptation (he even accuse it of Norman Rockwell-esque American movie to be produced in the IMAX previously directed episodes of Downton aspirations of Americana, but then this is no format. Incidentally, Herr Kretschmann is best Abbey) is a proficient if hardly riveting piece ordinary family. Kate Winslet’s Adele Wheeler known for starring in the 1993 German film of cinema. As Liesel, the illiterate girl who is suffering from a degenerative psychologi- Stalingrad [sic]. develops a love of books under the tutorship cal disorder, her thirteen-year-old son Hank of her foster parents, the extraordinarily pretty (Griffith) is taking on the responsibilities of Sophie Nélisse looks better suited to selling the house, and Mr Wheeler has run off with cosmetics than anti-Nazi propaganda. And for another woman. Then a killer forces his way a film about storytelling, the film is surprising- into their home! Reitman appreciates the ly weak on narrative traction. power of detail and he draws the viewer into his sun-dappled, off-kilter scenario with cine- matic finesse. The humour is there, but it’s Non-Stop CERT tbc the humour that arises out of life, not a fabri- Starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, cated line of dialogue. The production values Michelle Dockery, Nate Parker, Linus Roache, are ace and the central performances of Lupita Nyong'o Winslet and Josh Brolin are pitch perfect: Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (USA/France) Winslet at once confused, fragile and protec- Liam Neeson is back in action, this time as an tive of her son; Brolin strong, warm and vigi- air marshal who’s sent a text announcing that a lant. If the film never entirely sheds its novel- passenger will die every twenty minutes unless istic genesis, it is nonetheless an engrossing, $150million is transferred to gripping and moving tale. a secret bank account. At the very least, it’ll be good Nymphomaniac CERT tbc to see Dockery (Downton Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Abbey) and Oscar nominee Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave) Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman in new roles. Directed by Lars von Trier (Denmark/Germany/France/) Charlotte Gainsbourg is one of the few actress- Welcome To Yesterday CERT tbc es willing to work with Lars von Trier on a Starring Jonny Weston, Sofia Black D'Elia, repeat basis. And, boy, does he put her Amy Landecker through the wringer. In Nymphomaniac, Directed by Dean Israelite (USA) released in two parts - or ‘volumes’, she plays A group of teenagers stumble across plans to the eponymous woman who relays the details build a time machine and manage to construct of her erotic life to a complete stranger one themselves. Shot in the ‘found footage’ for- (Skarsgård). Expect scenes of hardcore sex. mat.

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Burton And Taylor 15 his doubts about his theo- Fill The Void U psychological thriller A-Z LISTINGS After divorcing in 1982, ry’s effect on society, and Set in the highly orthodox returns to the big screen. Film Richard and Elizabeth had tensions with his devoutly world of the Haredi Deborah Kerr stars as a one final reunion on the Christian wife, Emma. Jewish. Shira is an eight- governess who becomes All films are currently on general release stage when they spent Showing at The Hive, een-year-old girl looking convinced that the chil- unless otherwise stated. For full listing seven months touring with Shrewsbury, Sat 22 Feb forward to marriage when, dren in her care are pos- Noel Coward’s Private out of the blue, her older sessed. Showing at information, including times and dates, Day Of The Flowers 15 Lives in 1983. Public spec- sister dies. So, in keeping Warwick Arts Centre, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk When chalk-and-cheese ulation grew about a with tradition, she is Coventry, Weds 12 - Thurs Scottish sisters Rosa and reunion, but in private, old forced to marry her late 13 Feb Film Theatre, Stoke On Ailie head for Cuba with 12 Years A Slave 15 frictions played out. sister’s husband… Trent, Fri 21 - Sat 22 Feb their recently deceased Inside Llewyn Davis 15 Based on the autobiogra- Helena Bonham Carter Showing at Stoke Film father’s ashes, they sud- Set in Greenwich Village, phy of Soloman Northup, August: Osage County and Dominic West star. Theatre, Stoke On Trent, who was kidnapped and denly find themselves New York in 1961, and 15 Showing at Forest Arts Tues 25 Feb sold into slavery in 1841. embroiled in an eye-open- loosely based on the Adapted from the 2007 Centre, Walsall, Thurs 27 Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and ing adventure...Showing at Frozen PG memoir of folk singer play by Tracy Letts, this is Feb Michael Fassbender. Malvern Theatres, Thurs 6 This animated Disney fea- Dave Van Ronk. Stars a black comedy set in an Showing at The Electric Calamity Jane 12a Feb; Number 8 ture is loosely based on Oscar Isaac and directed Oklahoma household Cinema, Birmingham, Fri The Deadwood Stage is Community Arts Centre, Hans Christian by the Coen brothers. where a crisis reunites the 31 Jan - Thurs 6 Feb; The comin' to town, bringing Pershore, Mon 24 - Tues Andersen’s The Snow Showing at Old Market women in the family. Light House Media Doris Day and Howard 25 Feb Queen, in which the king- Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 14 - Meryl Streep and Julia Centre, Wolverhampton, Keel to fuss, feud and fall dom of Arendelle is Thurs 20 Feb; Warwick Roberts star. Showing at Dirty Dancing 12a Fri 31 - Thurs 6 Feb; in love as Calamity Jane turned into an eternal win- Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri Old Market Hall, ‘Baby’ Houseman is infat- Warwick Arts Centre, Fri and Wild Bill Hickok. ter by the Princess Elsa. 14 - Thurs 20 Feb Shrewsbury, Fri 7 - Thurs uated with her dance 31 Jan - Fri 7 Feb, Sun 9 - Showing at Crescent With the voice of Kristen 13 Feb; Warwick Arts teacher Johnny Castle. Jeune & Joile 18 Tues 11 & 13 Feb; Old Theatre, Birmingham, Bell. Showing at The Centre, Coventry, Fri 14 - But nothing is straight for- That’s ‘Young & Beautiful’ Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Thurs 27 Feb Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 14 Thurs 20 Feb ward in their relationship, in English. Francois Fr1 21 - Thurs 27 Feb - Weds 19 Feb; Old as their different back- Ozon’s drama focuses on Captain Phillips 12a Market Hall, Shrewsbury, grounds make their inter- a year in the life of a sev- Age Of Uprising: The Tom Hanks plays the Sat 15 - Sat 22 Feb; Wem action a struggle. Patrick enteen-year-old French Legend Of Michael eponymous captain, who Town Hall, North Swayze stars. Showing at prostitute. Marine Vacth Kholhass 15 was abducted by Somali Shropshire, Mon 17 - The Courtyard, Hereford, and Charlotte Rampling In the 16th century in the pirates in 2009. Showing Weds 19 Feb; Roses Fri 14 Feb star. Showing at Ludlow Cévennes, a horse at Stourbridge Town Hall, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon dealer by the name of Mon 10 Feb Assembly Rooms, South WATCH Don Jon 18 17 - Thurs 20 Feb; Ludlow Michael Kohlhaas Shropshire, Weds 5 - Jon is a man who has a Assembly Rooms, South leads a happy family Casablanca U Thurs 6 Feb knack for pulling beautiful Shropshire, Weds 19, Fri life. When a lord THE FILM Set in Africa in the and accessible babes. But 21 - Sat 22 Feb Kill Your Darlings 15 treats him unjustly, early days of World he’s never happier than at Daniel Radcliffe plays he raises an army War Two, an The Harry Hill Movie PG home watching pornogra- Allen Ginsberg in a true and puts the country TRAILERS AT American expatriot An all-new comedy in phy. And then he meets crime story that implicates to fire and sword in meets a former lover - which Hill, as Harry Hill, whatsonlive.co.uk two very different him, Jack Kerouac and order to have his rights with unforseen compli- goes on a road trip with women… Joseph William S Burroughs in a restored. Mads Mikkelsen cations. Humphrey Bogart his nan (Julie Walters) to Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett murder. Also stars Dane stars. Showing at Stoke and Ingrid Bergman star. Blackpool. Showing at Johansson star. Showing DeHaan. Showing at The Film Theatre, Stoke On Showing at The Edge Arts The Courtyard, Hereford, at The Courtyard, Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 7 - Trent, Thurs 27 Feb Centre, Much Wenlock, Fri 7 - Tues 13 Feb; Hereford, Fri 14 Feb Thurs 13 Feb; Stoke Film Shropshire Mon 10 Feb Number 8 Community Arts All Is Lost 12a Theatre, Stoke On Trent, Banff Mountain Film The Epic Of Everest U Centre, Pershore, Mon 17 A story of survival, when The Company Of Tues 11 & Thurs 13 Feb; Festival - World Tour This remarkable film is re- - Tues 18 Feb the craft of a lone sailor Wolves 18 Ludlow Assembly Rooms, tbc released to celebrate the takes on water after a col- Young Rosaleen’s grand- The Hobbit: The South Shropshire, Mon 10 From the world’s most 60th anniversary of the lision with a shipping con- mother weaves vivid tales Desolation Of Smaug - Tues 11 Feb prestigious mountain film final conquest of Everest. tainer. Robert Redford of folklore and fantasy with 12a festival comes an evening This is the official record of Le Belle Et La Bête PG stars. Showing at Artrix, warnings of fantastic Bilbo and the dwarfs hike of short films. Follow the the legendary Everest Jean Cocteau's adapta- Bromsgrove, Tues 4 - beasts that lurk within men their way to Erebor, where expeditions of some of expedition of 1924 that tion of Beauty And The Weds 5 Feb; Stoke Film and foretellings of the fate they encounter the drag- today’s adventurers, see sparked an on-going Beast. When a merchant Theatre, Stoke On Trent, of all young girls who stray on Smaug and his treas- footage of adrenaline- debate over whether is told that he must die for Thurs 6 & Sat 8 Feb; from the path... Showing at ure. Ian McKellen and packed action sports and Mallory and Irvine did picking a rose from the Number 8 Community Arts The Courtyard, Hereford, Martin Freeman star. thought-provoking pieces indeed reach the summit. Beast's garden, his coura- Centre, Pershore, Sat 8 & Tues 11 Feb Showing at The Courtyard, shot from the far-flung cor- Showing at Ludlow geous daughter offers to Mon 10 Feb; Roses Hereford, Sat 1 - Weds 5 ners of the globe. The Crash Reel 12a Assembly Rooms, South go back to the Beast in Theatre, Tewkesbury, Feb; Attfield Theatre, Showing at Malvern A documentary telling the Shropshire, Fri 28 Feb her father's place. Weds 12 - Thurs 13 Feb Oswestry, Sat 1, Weds 5, Theatres, Fri 28 Feb story of one unforgettable Showing at Number 8 Fanny PG Sat 8 and Weds 12 Feb; American Hustle 15 athlete, Kevin Pearce; one Community Arts Centre, Big Bad Wolves 18 The second part of Daniel Wem Town Hall, North Christian Bale plays Irving eye-popping sport, snow- Pershore, Thurs 13 Feb; When a suspected child Auteuil’s Marseilles Trilogy Shropshire, Fri 14, Mon 17 Rosenfeld, a 1970s con- boarding; and one explo- Stoke Film Theatre, Stoke murderer is released from revival begins where the -Tues 18 Feb; Roses man coerced into helping sive issue, Traumatic Brain On Trent, Thurs 20 Feb custody following a police last story (Marius) ended, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun the FBI ensnare a cadre Injury. Showing at The blunder, the disgraced concentrating on its titular 16 - Thurs 20 Feb; Ludlow Leviathan 12a of corrupt politicians. Courtyard, Hereford, Sat 1 detective in charge of the heroine’s efforts to survive Assembly Rooms, South A documentary looking Based on real events. - Weds 5 Feb case decides to take mat- back home while her lover Shropshire, Mon 17 - into the dangerous world Showing at The Light ters into his own hands. Creation 12a sails the seven seas. Thurs 20 & Sat 22 Feb of commercial fishing off House Media Centre, Guy Adler and Lior The story of how Charles Showing at Number 8 the New England coast. Wolverhampton, Fri 31 Jan The Innocents 12a Ashkenazi star. Showing Darwin battled to publish Community Arts Centre, Showing at Attfield - Thurs 6 Feb; Warwick Based on the novella The at The Electric Cinema, Origin Of The Species Pershore, Thurs 6 & Weds Theatre, Oswestry, Sat 15 Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri Turn Of The Screw, by Birmingham, Sun 2 & while struggling with per- 12 Feb; Roses Theatre, Feb 21 - Weds 26 Feb; Stoke Henry James, this 1961 Weds 5 Feb sonal and family illness, Tewkesbury, Mon 10 Feb

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Le Weekend12a Shropshire, Weds 26 Feb child, her family force her Pirate Roberts, who just Sunshine On LeithPG up against some seem- A couple take a trip to to live in a convent and might be Westley, her one A musical following the ingly insurmountable bar- Marius12a Paris to rejuvenate their spend her life as a nun. true love. Peter Falk and story of two soldiers from riers.Showing at The Marius works in his marriage. While there, Pauline Etienne and Cary Elwes star.Showing Afghanistan who have to Edge Arts Centre, Much father’s seaside bar and they bump into an old Isabelle Huppert star. at Warwick Arts Centre, adjust to civilian life in Wenlock would join a ship’s crew friend who acts as a cata- Showing at Warwick Arts Coventry, Sat 1 Feb Edinburgh.Showing at to see the world if it Walking With lyst for things to come. Centre, Mon 3 - Tues 4 The Courtyard, Hereford, weren’t for his childhood The Railway Man15 DinosaursU Jim Broadbent and Feb Sat 1 - Weds 5 Feb; The love, who has an offer of Based on the autobiogra- State-of-the-art computer Lindsay Duncan star. Edge Arts Centre, Much marriage from someone Nebraska15 phy of Eric Lomax who, animation and real-life Showing at Malvern Wenlock, Mon 17 Feb else. Daniel Auteuil and A dipsomaniac travels as a POW for the backgrounds are used to Theatres, Tues 4 Feb; Raphaël Personnaz star. from Montana to Japanese, helped build tell the story of three Stourbridge Town Hall, Summer In February15 Showing at Roses Nebraska with his son to the Thai-Burma Railway. dinosaurs from infancy to Mon 17 Feb in this adaptation of Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon supposedly claim some Colin Firth and Nicole Jonathan Swift’s novel, adulthood.Showing at Love (Amour)12a 3 Feb prize money. Bruce Dern Kidman star.Showing at the artist Alfred Munnings The Courtyard, Hereford, Love is the story of and Will Forte star. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 4 and his friend Gilbert Fri 14 - Weds 19 Feb; ; Moonrise Kingdom12a Georges and Anne, a Showing at Artrix, - Weds 5 Feb; Warwick Evans obsess about the Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon The story of two twelve- couple in their eighties Bromsgrove, Sun 2 - Mon Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 1 same woman. Set in the 17 - Thurs 20 Feb year-olds who fall in love, whose life is thrown into 3 Feb; Roses Theatre, 7 - Thurs 13 Feb; Roses Cornish artist community make a secret pact, and What Maisie Knew15 turmoil when Anne suffers Tewkesbury, Fri 7 - Sun 9 Theatre, Tewkesbury, known as the Lamorna run away together into the Seven-year-old Maisie a stroke. Jean-Louis Feb; Ludlow Assembly Weds 19 - Thurs 27; The Group. Dominic Cooper wilderness. As various finds herself used as a Trintignant and Rooms, South Shropshire, Courtyard, Hereford, Sun and Emily Browning star. authorities try to hunt bargaining tool as her par- Emmanuelle Riva star. Fri 14, Sun 16 - Mon 17 23 - Weds 26 Feb; Ludlow Showing at Forest Arts them down, a violent ents part and try to start Showing at The Hive, Feb Assembly Rooms, South Centre, Walsall, Fri 14 Feb; storm is brewing off-shore new lives with new lovers. Shrewsbury, Fri 7 Feb Shropshire, Sun 23 - Norbury Theatre, - and the peaceful island The Patience Stone15 Julianne Moore and Weds 26 Feb Droitwich Spa, Weds 19 community is turned Somewhere in an Alexander Skarsgård star. Mandela: Long Walk To Feb Freedom12a upside-down. Bruce Willis unnamed Middle Eastern Saving Mr BanksPG Showing at The Edge Arts The first film to be based and Edward Norton star. country, a loyal, thirty- A biography of PL VertigoPG Centre, Much Wenlock, on the late Nelson Showing at The Hive, something wife faithfully Travers, author of Mary A retired San Francisco Mon 3 Feb Shrewsbury, Fri 21 Feb sits watch over her vege- Poppins, showing her Mandela’s autobiography. detective suffering from The Wolf Of Wall Street Idris Elba stars.Showing tative husband, who’s all early life in Australia and acrophobia investigates Moshi Monsters The 18 at the Old Market Hall, but been forgotten by his her dealings with Walt the strange activities of an Movie U Over its three-hour running Shrewsbury, Fri 31 Jan - fellow Jihadists. Over Disney. Tom Hanks and old friend's wife, all the Together the Moshi time, there’s so much bad Thurs 6 Feb; Number 8 time, she gathers the Emma Thompson star. while becoming danger- Monsters must stop evil behaviour, so much profan- Community Arts Centre, courage to tell him all of Showing at Warwick Arts ously obsessed with her. Dr. Strangeglove and his ity, so much cocaine and Pershore, Sat 1, Mon 3 - the things she remained Centre, Coventry, Fri 31 James Stewart and Kim incompetent hookers and parties that it’s Tues 4 & Fri 7 Feb; silent about during their Jan - Sun 2 Feb; Ludlow Novak star.Showing at Glumpsidekick Fishlips. like The Hangover that Festival Drayton Centre, ten years of marriage. Assembly Rooms, South Stoke Film Theatre, Stoke Showing at The Courtyard, swallowed Wall Street. Market Drayton, Fri 7 - Sat Showing at Warwick Arts Shropshire, Fri 31 Jan - On Trent, Mon 17 Feb Hereford, Fri 15 - Weds 19 Leonardo DiCaprio stars. 8 and Tues 11 Feb; The Centre, Coventry, Weds 5 Weds 5 Feb; Roses Feb Showing at Malvern Courtyard, Hereford, Fri 7 - Feb; Stoke Film Theatre, Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sat 1 WadjdaU Theatres, until Thurs 6 Thurs 13 Feb; Stoke Film Stoke On Trent, Fri 7 Feb - Sun 9 Feb; Wem Town Wadjda is a ten- year-old The Nun12a Feb; Stoke Film Theatre, Theatre, Stoke On Trent, hall, North Shropshire, girl who dreams of buying The film charts the rebel- The Princess BridePG Stoke On Trent, Fri 28 Feb Sat 15 & Tues 18 Feb; Tues 4 & Thurs 6 Feb; a bicycle. But bike-riding lion and tragic fate of When the lovely Buttercup Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 22 Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 16 is prohibited for women, young aristocrat Suzanne is kidnapped by a gang of - Mon 24th Feb; Wem - Weds 23 Feb and Wadjda finds herself Simonin. After discovering misfits, they find they’re Town Hall, North that she’s an illegitimate pursued by the Dread For full listings visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

DVD NEW RELEASES Austenland 12a How I Live Now 15 An adaptation of the 2007 An American teenager bestseller by Shannon comes to England and Hale. Keri Russell plays stays with cousins in the Jane Hayes, who travels to countryside. But her an English Jane Austen bucolic idyll is confound- theme park to find her own ed by the outbreak of Mr Darcy. Produced by World War Three. Stars Stephenie Meyer, who Saoirse Ronan. penned the Twilight saga. Released 10 February Released 3 February Enough Said 15 Romance can be compli- cated. Actually, it’s always complicated in the movies. Here, a divorced woman finds out that the man she’s pursuing is, in fact, the ex-husband of her new girlfriend. Tricky. Stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. Released 10 February Captain Phillips 12a Tom Hanks plays the eponymous captain, who About Time 12a when her marriage to a rich Ain’t Them Bodies Turbo U was abducted by Somali Tim discovers that he can businessman self-destructs. Saints 15 In this computer-animated pirates in 2009. Based on time-travel and change Cate Blanchett, Alex Set against the backdrop of ‘toon, Theo is a snail who the book by Captain what’s happened in his Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay 1970s Texas Hill Country, dreams of being the Phillips himself, in collabo- life, but he erases the and Sally Hawkins star. the poetically titled Ain’t fastest snail in the world. ration with Stephan Talty. timeline in which he falls Directed by Woody Allen. Them Bodies Saints has And he wants to join the Released 10 February in love with his girlfriend. Released 17 February been commended for its Indy 500. With the voice of Stars Domhnall Gleeson, cinematography. Casey Ryan Reynolds. Rachel McAdams. Affleck plays an outlaw who Released 17 February Released 3 February escapes from prison, hav- Filth 18 ing served four years for a The novelist Irvine Welsh’s murder committed by his 1998 novel Filth is given the Blue Jasmine 12a wife. He now sets out cinematic treatment, with Jasmine is usually white or across them thar hills to be James McAvoy as a bigot- yellow, but the New York reunited with his missus ed, corrupt cop who socialite Jasmine Francis and the daughter he has attempts to manipulate his has got a major case of the yet to meet. way into a promotion. blues. She’s forced to Released 17 February Released 10 February move in with her sister

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Imagesof thepaintingsareontheArtifexwebsiteandcanbepurchasedpriortotheopeningof theexhibition. Basia Roszak ArtifexGallery’sfirstsoloexhibitionof BasiaRoszak’s excitingboldandcolourfuloilpaintings. Thisisarareopportunitytoviewandbuyherwork outsideof ScotlandandLondon. The exhibition runs daily 10am – 5pm throughout February.

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50 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:57 Page 1 Visual Arts

Raw Craft Bilston Craft Gallery, Sat 1 Feb - Sat 29 March A Crafts Council Touring exhibition, Raw Crafts comprises works by seven international design- ers, all of whom endorse a ‘hands-on and crafted’ approach to design and making. In an age of mass production and computer-aided design, these ‘traditional method’ practitioners address modern issues, including furniture for multi-functional living spaces, lack of storage space, and the economic use of resources. Fabien Cappello’s Christmas Tree series is a per- fect example of how the annual forest’s-worth of festive trees can be used to create rustic, quirky yet nonetheless practical pieces. Tomás Alonso, Simon Jones, Max Lamb, Seongyong Lee, Peter Fabien Cappello, Christmas Tree Stool (2010) Image Marigold and Oscar Narud courtesy of the designer. are the other exhibiting New Art West Midlands Photo Nick Moss artists. Grand Union, Birmingham, Fri 14 February - 15 March; The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 14 February - 27 April; Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Fri 14 February - 10 May; Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 14 February - 18 May Artist Rooms: Richard Long A major Turning Point West Midlands initiative, New Art West Midlands provides a show- The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent, case for the work of twenty-four artists, all of whom have graduated from one of the until Sun 2 March region’s undergraduate or post-graduate fine art degree courses within the past three As one of Britain’s leading artists, Richard Long years. Demonstrating the depth of the region’s artistic talent across a variety of media, works with the landscape to create sculptures in works by past students at Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Staffordshire some of the world’s most remote locations, along University and the University of Wolverhampton this month go on show at four of the the way taking photographs to document his region’s most prestigious galleries. work. This Artist Rooms exhibition brings together New Art West Midlands also provides five artist prize-winners with an opportunity to a selection of Long’s sculptures, maps and text undertake exhibitions, residencies or projects at other regional galleries and venues, works from the late 1960s to the present day, in including New Art Gallery Walsall, mac Birmingham, the Library of Birmingham, Airspace so doing demonstrating the breadth of his travels, Gallery in Stoke and A3 Project Space in Digbeth. which have taken him as far afield as Japan and Alaska... Now in its fifth year, Artist Rooms is a public col- lection of international contemporary art which is shared across the UK. This is made possible through the generosity of Anthony d’Offay and other funders, including the Art Fund.

Grayson Perry: The Vanity Of Small Differences Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 14 February - Sun 11 May Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry here takes his inspiration not only from his own 2012 television documentary series All In The Best Possible Taste, but also from William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress - a series of canvases depicting eighteenth century society which the artist produced in the early 1730s. Charting the story of class mobility and examining the influence of social class on aes- thetic taste, the exhibition comprises many of the characters, incidents and objects that Perry encountered while making his BAFTA award-winning documentary series. Using these characters to weave a narrative, the artist has produced a social commentary which focuses on the minutiae of contemporary taste, in so doing paying due homage to Credit: Richard Long, Annegret Gossens/Museum Kurhaus Kleve Hogarth’s collection of eighteenth century paintings.

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Stratford-upon-Avon Sat 5 Apr, VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS SHENAC ROGERSON Wolverhampton Art ARBSA Linoprints featur- Gallery For full listing information on Visual Art ing blocks of colour and MELTING POT CRAFT EXHI- line that create clean BITION Showcasing the Ongoing exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, and spacious composi- diverse and eclectic cul- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk tions with dynamic tural influences present statements of colour, within the British craft Staffordshire Landscapes: AARTIST ROOMS: JOSEPH pieces made during vis- until Sat 8 Mar, RBSA, scene, until Sat 5 Apr, BEUYS Exhibition from its to England, France, Birmingham RBSA, Birmingham A Personal View one of the most influen- Germany and the THE CONTEMPORARY CHRIS CLINTON, DEAD Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, until Sun 9 March tial artists of the late- in the early PORTRAIT: SELF AND OTH- MEDIA Birmingham- twentieth century - the 1970s, until Sun 9 Feb, ERS Exhibition which based artist Chris Staffordshire-based artist Lisa Henderson political activist and Ikon Gallery, explores the different Clinton uses familiar has here used her local surroundings as philosopher Joseph Birmingham artistic ways in which objects and reclaimed inspiration for a series of vibrant, richly tex- Beuys, until Sat 1 Feb, WINTER SHOWCASE Work the human form is materials to create art- tured works that focus on landscape, its for- Worcester City Museum from artist/makers who depicted, until Sun 9 works which refer to & Art Gallery mation and its ever-changing colours. use natural materials - Mar, Shire Hall Gallery, contemporary popular Stafford culture and our disre- Devising on collaged, recycled and pre-pre- STINKING KISSINGER A including bone, wool project about the artist and unrefined clays - as GEORGE GROSZ: THE BIG gard for out-of-date pared papers, Lisa uses methods associated Eileen Bunn’s sister, their medium, until Sat NO Exhibition of works media, until Sun 6 Apr, with printmaking to great effect. These Pauline, and her rela- 15 Feb, Bilston Craft produced by one of the The New Art Gallery, include wiping, scratching and breaking into tionship with epilepsy, Gallery 'greatest satirical artists Walsall the surface to hold colour and enable patina- until Sat 1 Feb, Bilston DEAN KELLAND: NO HID- of the twentieth century', STUDIO PRINTS Exhibition tion. Craft Gallery ING PLACE Fusion of per- until Sun 16 Mar, The featuring the work of BASTION: AN INSTALLA- formance, filmmaking, New Art Gallery, Walsall artists and printmakers This Shire Hall Gallery exhibition also fea- Dorothea Wight and tures a selection of charcoal and chalk draw- TION OF FILM AND MIXED collage and print, PETER WAREING A collec- MEDIA A spectacle exploring cultural identi- tion of new ceramics Marc Balakjian, until ings of Cannock Chase, as well as a series which explores and ties and stereotypical with imagery influenced Tues 15 Apr, New Art of unique collographs. explodes the stereotype representations of mas- by natural forms found Gallery, Walsall of the harmless jester, culinity, until Sat 15 Feb, in South West Scotland, DAVID TREMLETT EXHIBI- until Sat 1 Feb, Wolverhampton Art until Sat 22 Mar, RBSA, TION Large-scale, site- Wolverhampton Art Gallery Birmingham specific wall drawings of Gallery FROM DARKROOM TO DIG- THE BETTER PLACE TO geometric arrange- START Annual event ITAL Exhibition which SHOP: THE STORY OF ments, abstract compo- which provides an traces the rich and influ- BEATTIES Featuring cata- sitions of arcs, circles, opportunity for art ential history of photog- logued material relating trapezoids and line, until enthusiasts to purchase raphy in W’hampton, to Wolverhampton’s Mon 21 April, Ikon original artworks, until from the mid-19th cen- famous department Gallery, Birmingham Sat 1 Feb, RBSA, tury to the present day, store, until Sat 29 Mar, EXPOSED: THE BODY IN Birmingham until Sat 15 Feb, Wolverhampton City ART FORM FROM DURER AND WHEN YOU FINALLY Wolverhampton Art Archives TO FREUD Exhibition DISAPPEAR/WE’LL JUST Gallery PHOTOREALISM: 50 which explores artistic SAY YOU WERE NEVER WHO AM I? ‘Fresh and YEARS OF HYPERREALIS- responses to the human Sarah Taylor Silverwood HERE Cult artists, writers thought-provoking’ exhi- TIC PAINTING The first body, with works by and twins Ayo & Oni bition born from an ini- large-scale retrospective Albrecht Dürer, Dante Exhibition Oshodi here continue tiative to help disadvan- of its kind in Europe, Gabriel Rossetti, their relationship with taged 16-to-19-year-olds until Sun 30 Mar, Barbara Hepworth, New Art Gallery, Walsall, mac Birmingham via a understand their identity Birmingham Museum & Helen Chadwick, Tues 4 February - Sun 20 July series of interventions as British citizens, until Art Gallery Francis Bacon, Gillian which extend across the Sun 16 Feb, Library of Wearing and Lucian A former Jerwood Drawing Prize winner, CHIHARU SHIOTA: DIA- Freud all featured, until Sarah Taylor Silverwood has etched her way building and into Birmingham LOGUES Two new site- Cannon Hill Park, until Mon 21 Apr, Herbert to the acquisition of a formidable reputation. THE HALF Touring exhibi- specific installations and Gallery & Museum, Sun 2 Feb, mac - tion featuring ninety-four Currently Artist-in-Residence at Walsall’s New a selection of drawings Coventry Midlands Arts Centre, prints of actors prepar- and films which aim to Art Gallery, she specialises in weaving histori- Birmingham ing for the stage, until embrace the viewer and DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL cal material with imagery from contemporary 12TH COVENTRY ARTS Wed 19 Feb, The Swan challenge their perspec- Large-scale prints and popular culture, in so doing creating layered, CONSORTIUM EXHIBITION Theatre, Stratford-upon- tive of the immediate reproductions of engravings which cham- intertextual narratives that are rich with refer- Showcase of work by Avon environment, until Sun local artists from 30 Mar, The New Art pion the skill and crafts- ences. TRADE SHOW Ambitious manship of the Victorian Coventry’s four main art cross-sectoral project to Gallery, Walsall Sarah has used the larger-than-life female societies, until Sun 2 trade catalogue explore, commission NIKHIL CHOPRA: SPACE engraver, until Wed 30 characters from the New Art Gallery’s archive Feb, Herbert Art Gallery and implement trading ODDITY Personal histo- as a basis for her latest exhibition, creating & Museum, Coventry Apr, Enginuity, structures used by ries and India's colonial Ironbridge, Shropshire not only a large-scale work for the gallery’s MAKING MOVES: CREAT- artists within everyday- past are explored using collection but also a display in the Long ING FUTURES FOR CRAFT life situations. Curated performance, painting ALL IN A DAY’S WORK Insight into some of the Gallery, to coincide with the fortieth anniver- Exhibition of contempo- by Kathrin Böhm & and photography, until rary craft which show- Gavin Wade, until Sat sary of the Garman Ryan Collection. cases the results of nine 22 Feb, Eastside Sarah graduated from Birmingham School of maker's residencies Projects, Birmingham Art in 2011, and staged her first solo exhibi- across the West THE RIGHTS OF SPRING tion, Living City, at the city’s Barber Institute Midlands, until Sun 2 Featuring Jas Davidson the following year. Feb, mac - Midlands & Tony Meadows, until Arts Centre, Sat 1 Mar, The Willow Birmingham Gallery, Oswestry, North SOLUTIONS IN ART Shropshire Showcase displaying a DOROTHEA WIGHT & diverse range of style & MARC BALAKJIAN content, until Mon 3 Exhibition celebrating Feb, Roses Theatre, the duo’s contribution to Tewkesbury British printmaking, until THE PIRACY PROJECT An Sun 2 March, The New international publishing Art Gallery, Walsall and exhibition project exploring the philosoph- SPRITE SYMPHONY ical, legal and practical Embark on a journey implications of book into a world of magical piracy and creative fairies and sprites, as modes of reproduction, you follow the trail to until Sat 8 Feb, Grand discover the installation Union, Birmingham around the building and find enchanted fairies TIM JOHNSON: THE LUMI- trapped in jam jars, until NESCENT GROUND Sun 2 Mar, PACCAR Featuring installation Room, Royal photography and text Shakespeare Theatre, Chiharu Shiota: Dialogues - New Art Gallery, Walsall 52 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:57 Page 3

Wolverhampton while Gallery VisualArts LISTINGS bringing together works AT PASSION’S EDGE Sid Museums & Art Galleries by local artists from the Turner’s exploration, in museum’s collection, sculpture & imagery, of For full listing information on Visual Art until Wed 31 Dec, Birmingham RED HOUSE GLASS CONE the Latin verb ‘devoid’, 01384 812750 exhibitions, including times and dates, Wolverhampton Art Sat 8 Feb - Sat 8 Mar, ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Gallery 0121 323 3776 WOLVERHAMPTON ART Bilston Craft Gallery GALLERY 01902 552055 ROGER KEELING EXHIBI- BARBER INSTITUTE THE JEWELLERY QUARTER 0121 414 7333 large manufacturing 29 June, Birmingham TION Works in a variety DURING THE FIRST BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & Shropshire companies which once Museum & Art Gallery of media which capture WORLD WAR Exhibition a variety of subject mat- ART GALLERY 0121 303 BEAR STEPS GALLERY, made their home in the THE ROGER PILKINGTON of artefacts, images and 2834 Black Country, until Mon ter, including land- oral histories relating to SHREWSBURY GLASS COLLECTION scapes, figures and still THE BURROWS GALLERY, 01743 344994 5 May, Bantock House Exhibition which shows the recruitment of sol- life, Sat 1 - Fri 28 Feb, THE CUSTARD FACTORY TWENTY TWENTY GALLERY, & Park, Wolverhampton the development of diers from the Jewellery 0121 224 7344 Granary Art Gallery, Quarter, Fri 14 Feb - MUCH WENLOCK CHROMA COLLECTIVE English drinking glasses CASTLE GALLERIES Weston Park, Sun 14 Dec, Museum of 01952 727952 Exhibition featuring from the late-seven- Staffordshire 0121 633 0015 works from four contem- teenth to the late-nine- the Jewellery Quarter, THE WILLOW GALLERY, GRAND UNION OSWESTRY porary jewellers with a teenth century, until Sun MELANIE EZRA EXHIBITION Birmingham 0121 643 9079 01691 657575 shared goal of raising 10 Aug, Broadfield Mon 3 Feb - Mon 10 INSPIRING ART 7 IKON GALLERY awareness of the craft House Glass Museum, Mar, Gallery3, The Showcase of children’s 0121 248 0708 within Birmingham’s Dudley Gateway, Shrewsbury art from local primary & Staffordshire Jewellery Quarter, until BIRMINGHAM TODAY COM- secondary schools, Sat NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & IN STITCHES: A CELEBRA- 0121 643 9099 Sun 4 May, Museum of TION OF RSC COSTUME PETITION A selected 15 Feb - Sun 27 Apr, ART GALLERY 01782 232323 the Jewellery Quarter, exhibition which cele- Potteries Museum & Art RBSA GALLERY SHIRE HALL GALLERY until Mon 1 Sep, Royal 0121 2364353 Birmingham Shakespeare Theatre, brates the second city Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent STAFFORD 01785 278345 THREE WHITE WALLS FAMILY CIRCLES Stratford-upon-Avon in all its aspects, Thurs ART IN NATURE Featuring STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, GALLERY Featuring contributions 6 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, a selection of works SHUGBOROUGH BACK TO FRONT: 40 PER- RBSA, Birmingham 0121 643 0078 01889 881388 from some of the great- MANENT COLLECTION taken from the muse- est masters in miniature PORTRAIT OF A POTTER- um’s permanent art col- GEMS Exhibition which Black Country portraiture, until Mon 26 celebrates the fortieth IES POPSTAR A selection lection, Sat 15 Feb - Warwickshire BANTOCK HOUSE May, The Barber anniversary of the of objects & memorabil- Sun 1 June, The COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY WOLVERHAMPTON Institute, Birmingham gallery’s Garman Ryan ia to celebrate the forti- Potteries Museum, 01926 645500 eth birthday of one of Stoke-on-Trent 01902 552195 A BIG BANG: THE ORIGINS collection, until Sat 16 HERBERT ART GALLERY BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY OF POP ART COLLECTION Nov 2014, New Art the world’s most suc- EXPOSURE Photographic COVENTRY 02476 832386 cessful pop stars, 01902 552507 The first in a two-part Gallery, Walsall exhibition featuring MEAD GALLERY WARWICK display exploring some , Sat 8 artists from across the BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS FAITH AND FORTUNE MUSEUM, DUDLEY 02476 524524 of the biggest names in Feb - Sun 6 Apr, The country, Mon 17 - Mon Exhibition exploring the 01384 812745 ROYAL PUMP ROOMS the Pop Art industry, Potteries Museum, 24 Feb, Roses Theatre, early histories of two of Stoke-on-Trent DUDLEY MUSEUM & ART 01926 742700 until Sat 21 June, the world’s great reli- Tewkesbury Wolverhampton Art JUNCTION 5 Exhibition of GALLERY gions, until Sun 30 Nov, IKON ICONS: JOHN SALT 01384 815575 Worcestershire Gallery The Barber Institute, contemporary art from The first artist ever to LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE FOR THE RECORD Birmingham five local artists with exhibit at Ikon, in 1965, WORCESTER CITY ART varying technique and WOLVERHAMPTON GALLERY 01905 25371 Exploring themes of TRACED Permanent exhi- Wed 19 Feb - Mon 21 01902 716055 preservation and artistic approach, Sat 8 Apr, Ikon Gallery, bition tracing the suc- Feb - Sat 8 Mar, THE NEW ART GALLERY Visit whatsonlive.co.uk recording in the work of cess of art & design in Birmingham female artists, until sun Wolverhampton Art WALSALL 01922 654400 for venue website details

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The Classic Off Road And Road Racing Show Telford International Centre, Shropshire, Sat 22 - Sun 23 February Described as ‘the world’s largest competition motorcycle show’, this Williams joined by Ian Hutchinson, the only man to win five TTs in a is a must-attend event for classic and road racing enthusiasts. week. Both will take to the stage, with Ian promising plenty of intrigue Showcasing more than five hundred road race, trials and grass track, in light of his recent machinery change, which has put his 2014 TT speedway and motorcross machines from the 1930s through to appearance in doubt. 2000, the show also boasts appearances by some of the sport’s Brad Lackey, the first man to win the world motorcross series, will biggest names, who’ll be on hand to sign posters and photos. also be in attendance, after flying in from his home in San Francisco. Gloucester’s multi-British champion Steve Saunders will be promot- Other highlights include Valentino Rossi’s world championship-win- ing his new book, while European trials champion Sammy Miller ning bike of 1997, the Dirty Dozen - a display of early Spanish and brings two multi-cylinder exotic racers to Telford from his world Italian trial bikes - and the Scott trial, which celebrates its centenary famous museum. Sunday’s event sees nine-times TT winner Charlie this year. Holiday Fun At Thomas Land Drayton Manor Park, Staffordshire, Mon 17- Sun 23 February Europe’s only Thomas Land opens its gates for the half-term holiday this month, ahead of its main season opening in March. Promising a fun-packed day for young adventurers, the attraction is based on characters from the ever-popular Thomas & Friends series, and features a plethora of fun rides, including the Troublesome Trucks Coaster, Cranky the Crane Drop Tower, and the latest addition, Winston’s Whistle-stop Tour. Drayton Manor’s fifteen-acre zoo, complete with meerkats, black leopards and a baby Brazilian tapar - is also open for the holiday.

Billy Smart’s Circus Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 17 - Sun 23 February Founded in 1946 by its namesake, Billy Smart’s Circus soon became a household name with its regular TV appearances and tours. Back on the road for 2014, and with Billy’s grandaughter Yasmine at the helm, Billy Smart’s Circus promises a real family spectacle with award-winning artistes from around the world coming together in a fast-moving, two- hours show. Expect great entertainment value from Australia’s The Flying Aces, Russia’s ten-handed Assadulin Troupe, Romanian acrobatic trio The Extreme Brothers, Italian clown Jonny Bogino and France’s foot juggler Germaine Delbosq.

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Events PREVIEWS Sarah Robinson helps a young visitor at Coalport China Museum The Spring Caravan And Camping Show NEC, Birmingham, Tues 18 - Sun 23 February A regular on the NEC’s calendar, the Spring Caravan And Camping Show is a perfect starting-point for planning your holiday. As well as showcasing the latest models in cara- vaning, motorhomes, camping and acces- sories, the six-day event features a variety of free activities and attractions - including the rock-face challenge and cliff drop, dog agili- ty, mountain bike track and challenge, camp- site cooking and motorhome manoeuvring lessons. The show is always a draw for celebrity guests, and 2014 is no exception. TV presenter, double world record-holder and all-round daredevil Helen Skelton is on hand on the Thursday to answer questions about her extreme outdoor adventures, while actress, chef and author Lisa Faulkner prom- ises to share recipes for delicious and easy- Holiday Activities At Ironbridge Gorge to-prepare meals during Friday’s show. Other Jackfield Tile Museum, Blists Hill Victorian Town & Enginuity, Fri 15 - Sat 22 February; celebrities taking part are Josh Sutton - the Coalport China Museum, Mon 17 - Fri 22 February author of Guyrope Gourmet - wild food Ironbridge Gorge’s popular museums are providing plenty of activities and events to keep expert Mark Lloyd, TV explorer and zoologist visitors occupied during this month’s school holidays. For those wishing to demonstrate their Andy Torbet, and TV personality Julia artistic flair, Jackfield Tile Museum is offering Art Nouveau-themed tile decorating workshops, Bradbury. during which participants can use the traditional ‘tube lining’ method to create their very own tile. Meanwhile, Chinese New Year is the theme at the Coalport China Museum, where visi- tors are invited to have a go at making a pagoda, a dragon or a lotus blossom flower from clay. Over at Enginuity, the ever-popular Flight Workshops make a welcome return. All of the above are being offered alongside the respective museums’ regular attractions. Oh, and if you fancy a spot of time travel, check out Blists Hill Victorian Town and find out how life was lived over one hundred years ago. Visitors can even take part in a range of period-themed activities while they’re there.

regarding how to paint your model Spitfire, Birmingham sessions take place next to the venue’s Botanical Gardens famous 1:1scale model Spitfire, as built by Edgbaston, Birmingham, Sun 16 February James May for BBC TV’s Toy Stories series. While various other horticultural venues are keeping their doors firmly closed until the Shrewsbury Darwin Festival arrival of spring, Birmingham’s Botanical Various locations around Shrewsbury, Gardens is providing visitors with an oppor- Sat 8 - Sun 23 February tunity to discover its seasonal delights free of Organised by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, charge, for one day only! Providing plenty of this now-annual event aims ‘to inspire people inspiration for green-fingered enthusiasts, the with curiosity about the natural world and landscaped gardens feature an abundance awaken understanding of the marvellous of hellabores, snowdrops and cyclamen, as wildlife with which we share our world’. well as the spidery flowers of the hamamelis Organisers hope their stated mission can be mollis - all of which bring a touch of colour to achieved via a packed programme of events a rather drab time of year. that includes lectures, demonstrations, guid- A Good Old Spring Clean ed tours, workshops and film screenings. Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, For full festival listings, visit www.discover- Sat 15 - Sun 23 February darwin.co.uk A Living History event for the school holi- days, A Good Old Spring Clean takes visitors Sainsbury’s Indoor back to a time when clothes were washed and laundry games played in the streets of Grand Prix Dudley. Find out how the museum’s resi- National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, dents clean their windows without the aid of Sun 16 February modern products, and get crafty by making Widely considered to be one of the world’s a peg doll to take home. Other hands-on best indoor meets, this popular annual event family activities are also on offer. sees some of the country’s biggest track- and-field stars heading for Birmingham, with Model Making Double Olympic Champion Mo Farah a regu- RAF Cosford, nr Wolverhampton, lar participant. Mon 17 - Fri 21 February At the time of archive image from previous meet This family-friendly event is sure to evoke a going to print, sense of nostalgia for a certain generation of athletes expect- dads, with the RAF Museum inviting visitors ed to be in to take part in building an Airfix 1:72 Sopwith attendance at Pup or an Airfix 1:72 Albatross. Models will this month’s be built alongside a full-sized aircraft, and meet were still modelling skills are not required in order to to be take part, as staff will be on hand to provide announced... assistance. If you need a little inspiration

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fect your pastry skills ICELAND, DEFROSTED THE ADVENTURES OF pany of popular and LISTINGS with sweet & savoury Author event with Ed ANDY KERSHAW Enjoy prolific TV and radio Events classics, Tues 4 - Wed Hancox, Fri 7 Feb an evening of chat and presenter, journalist, 5 Feb, Weston Park, (7pm), Bridgnorth reminiscence with columnist and author For full listing information on Events, Staffordshire Library, Shropshire national treasure, leg- Stuart Maconie as he including times and dates, visit BANFF FILM FESTIVAL WINTER GUIDED TOUR endary broadcaster talks about his new www.whatsonlive.co.uk Following sold-out Limited places. and foreign correspon- book and epic radio shows across the UK in Booking essential, Fri 7 dent Andy Kershaw. series, Thurs 13 Feb, 2012, the world's most Feb, Sarehole Mill, Sun 9 Feb, Kitchen Arena Theatre, Birmingham prestigious mountain Birmingham Wolverhampton from RUN WHAT YA BRUNG Garden Cafe, Kings film festival returns to ICELAND, DEFROSTED Heath, Birmingham SYMPHONY HALL TOUR The chance to take SAT 1 FEB the Midlands with a Author event with Ed CHINESE NEW YEAR OF Chance to explore one your car or motorcycle brand new selection of Hancox, Fri 7 Feb THE HORSE Celebrate of the finest concert out on the famous extraordinary short (2.30pm), Shrewsbury the Chinese New Year halls in the world, Thurs WILD WINTER SAFARI quarter-mile dragstrip films from the world's Library with traditional music, 13 Feb, Symphony until Sun 9 Feb, West and test its perform- leading adventure film- PIRATE WEEKEND dance and crafts, a lion Hall, Birmingham Midland Safari Park, ance limits in a safe makers, Wed 5 Feb, Featuring an abun- dancing display, a THE SPICER FAMILY: 3 Bewdley and legal environment, Theatre Severn, dance of themed activi- Cantonese opera, GENERATIONS OF TAXI- SPRITE SYMPHONY Sun 2 Feb, Santa Pod Shrewsbury ties, Fri 7 - Sat 8 Feb, origami and Chinese DERMIST See examples Embark on a journey Raceway, Northampton ARTFORUM GOLD Range Alton Towers, of Victorian & into a world of magical SHUGBOROUGH BRIDAL painting workshops, of art activities using Staffordshire Sun 9 Feb, The Edwardian natural his- fairies and sprites as FAYRE Demonstrations different materials and CANDLELIT TOUR Join Potteries Museum & Art tory, Thurs 13 Feb, you follow the trail to and entertainment to methods, using the the knowledgeable Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Warwickshire Museum discover the installation help you plan your ‘per- gallery as your inspira- guides as they take vis- VALENTINE SPECIAL VALENTINES GHOST TOUR around the building fect day’, Sun 2 Feb, tion, Wed 5 Feb, itors on a walk through Workshop where visi- Kenilworth is one of and find enchanted Shugborough Estate, Wolverhampton Art history, Fri 7 - Sat 8 tors can make a hand- England's most roman- fairies trapped in jam Staffordshire Gallery Feb, Birmingham Back tic ruined castles, but jars, until Sun 2 Mar, THE 15TH CLASSIC & made gift for that spe- THE SEA IN BIRMINGHAM to Backs not all lovers who lived Royal Shakespeare MODERN JAPANESE & cial someone, Sun 9 An anthology of stories MANSION WINTER TOURS there had a happy exis- Theatre, Stratford-upon- EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE Feb, Shire Hall Gallery, celebrating thirty years Discover the stories Stafford tence. Learn about their Avon SHOW Sun 2 Feb, of the influential Tindal which shaped the VOLUNTEER OPEN DAY lives and deaths on an BIG TIME AMERICAN Donington Park Street Fiction Group, Regency mansion, Fri 7 eerie evening tour WRESTLING All Star CHINESE NEW YEAR CEL- Drop in between 12 - Wed 5 Feb, Library of - Sat 23 Feb, Attingham 2pm and find out about around the castle and Superslam wrestling EBRATIONS Welcome the Birmingham Park, Shrewsbury volunteering at one of gatehouse, Fri 14 Feb, starts the new year with Year of the Horse with WHAT IS IT? Expert SCULPTING THE BODY the heritage sites, Sun Kenilworth Castle, an explosive evening of lion dancing, Chinese- advice on the identifica- Guided by artist Tanya 9 Feb, Soho House, Warwickshire top live action for all the themed activities & fire- tion and care of ceram- Kozin, participants can Birmingham SEX, DRUGS & POETRY - family to enjoy, Sat 1 works, Sun 2 Feb, ics, art and local and produce their own THE SCANDALOUS LOVES Feb, Victoria Hall, Arcadian Centre, natural history, Wed 5 small human figure OF THE PRE-RAPHAELITES Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Southside, Birmingham Week Commencing Feb, The Potteries sculpture in the first A tongue-in-cheek ARTY PARTY Fortnightly THE LAUGHTER CREWE A Museum & Art Gallery, workshop, then focus MON 10 FEB evening tour with a def- art club for 8-14-year- comedy and curry night Stoke-on-Trent on the detail of hand inite adult slant, Fri 14 olds, Sat 1 Feb, The Sun 2 Feb Crewe WINTER GUIDED TOUR sculpture in the second Feb, Wightwick Manor Potteries Museum & Art Lyceum Visit Aston during the workshop, Sat 8 Feb, PRECIOUS PAINTINGS: & Gardens, Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent MILITARIA Europe’s pre- close season for a tour Herbert Art Gallery & COUNTRY HOUSE CON- Wolverhampton LANDSCAPE - DEVELOP- mier indoor show, fea- & refreshments, Wed 5 Museum, Coventry SERVATION STUDY DAY GEORGIAN VALENTINES ING A PERSONAL turing a wide range of Feb, Aston Hall, YOUNG ARTISTS Tues 11 Feb, Weston SUPPER Fri 14 Feb, RESPONSE Lisa items from Britain, Birmingham Workshop offering par- Park, Staffordshire Warwick Castle Henderson talks about America, Germany & DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG ticipants a chance to LUNCHTIME TALKS: BIRM- MASQUERADE TO MUR- different approaches to Russia, Sun 2 Feb, Chance to practise learn new drawing, INGHAM & ITS PEOPLE DER: MURDER MYSTERY painting the landscape, Stoneleigh Park, drifting in safe and painting and sculpture Advance booking DINNER Pre-booking Sat 1 Feb, Shire Hall Warwickshire legal conditions on skills, Sat 8 Feb, advisable, Tues 11 Feb, essential! Fri 14 Feb, Gallery, Stafford WELLY WALKS Guided some of the Pod's thirty Wolverhampton Art Library of Birmingham Shugborough Estate, BOOK TRINKET BOX tour of the parkland as acres of open tarmac, Gallery TUESDAY TOUR: FEAST Staffordshire WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS it begins to reawaken where there are begin- PORTRAIT DRAWING AND FAMINE - THE LIFE VINTAGE TEA PARTY With Nick Wells, Sat 1 for spring, Sun 2 - Sun ners, intermediate and WITH DAVID GLEESON AND TIMES OF A Enjoy high tea in the Feb, Walsall Leather 23 Feb, Hanbury Hall & advanced tracks open Take along a photo of a JACOBEAN HEIRESS Tues setting of Bantock Museum Gardens, Worcester GALLERY TOUR Informal at the same time each family member or friend 11 Feb, Blakesley Hall, House. Pre-booking tour to find out about DWYB day, Wed 5 Feb, and have a go at creat- Birmingham required, Fri 14 Feb, Wolverhampton’s world Week Commencing Santa Pod Raceway, ing your own black- GRUESOME AND GHOSTLY Bantock House, renowned collections MON 3 FEB Northampton and-white drawing in TOURS Promising an Wolverhampton and the history of the GRUESOME AND GHOSTLY charcoal & chalk or evening to make your THE ORIGINS OF MIDDLE gallery, Sat 1 Feb, TOURS Promising an graphite & pencils, Sat blood curdle and spine EARTH Discover the evening to make your 8 Feb, Shire Hall childhood playground Wolverhampton Art LAUGHING FOR A tingle, Tues 11 Feb, blood curdle and spine Gallery, Stafford of JRR Tolkien, Fri 14 Gallery CHANGE: COMMUNITY Lichfield City Centre tingle, Wed 5 Feb, NATIONAL LIBRARIES DAY DINOSAUR ZOO Tue 11 - Feb, Sarehole Mill, WALK AROUND THE COMEDY COURSE Course Lichfield City Centre Join National Wed 12 Feb, The Place, Birmingham GALLERIES... Explore dif- open to all adults, NEWCOMEN SOCIETY Storytelling Laureate Oakengates Theatre, THE ELECTRO SWING ferent approaches to Mon 3 Feb, Light LECTURE Professor Katrice Horsley for a Telford BALL Evening of live landscape with a guid- House Media Centre, David Williams talks day of celebration and music, swinging DJs, ed tour, featuring the Wolverhampton about early military discovery... Sat 8 Feb, dance class, burlesque, Richard Long exhibition IRONBRIDGE ARCHAEOLO- Following their perform- gunmaking in Library of Birmingham acrobatics, circus per- and the museum's dis- GY SEMINAR SERIES ance on Britain's Got Birmingham, Wed 5 FRIENDS OF WOLVER- Talent, the Circus of formances and a series plays, Sat 1 Feb, The Third in a new series of Feb, Thinktank, HAMPTON CITY ARCHIVES Horrors troupe take to of vintage-themed Potteries Museum & Art archaeology-related Birmingham MEETING A talk about the road with their lat- treats. The Electro Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent talks and walks, Tues 4 HISTORY TALK ON SPICER ‘Wightwick Manor - The est show, which is set Swing Ball feature... Fri FABULOUS Feb, The Long TAXIDERMY COLLECTION romantic philanthropist in a plague-infested 14 Feb, The Place, Guided tour of some of Warehouse, Thurs 6 Feb, Market and his Tory cousin’ by London in 1666, Wed Oakengates Theatre, the unique garden Coalbrookdale, Hall Museum, Warwick Pat Jones & Caroline 12 Feb, Lichfield Telford monuments on the Ironbridge, Shropshire PAPER MOON SWING Pugh, Sat 8 Feb, WINTER GUIDED TOUR Fri south side of the TUESDAY TOUR: FOLK- Garrick DANCE WORKSHOP For Wolverhampton City WINTER GUIDED TOURS 14 Feb, Sarehole Mill, estate, Sat 1 Feb, LORE & CUSTOM Slides adults & young people Archives Visit Aston during the Birmingham Shugborough Estate, & tour looking at folk- aged twelve and over, LIFE DRAWING WITH A close season for a tour VALENTINE LANTERN Staffordshire lore & custom, Tues 4 Fri 7 Feb, Wem Town DIFFERENCE Sat 8 Feb, & refreshments, Wed WALK Enjoy a candlelit BOWMAN ANTIQUE FAIR Feb, Blakesley Hall, Hall, North Shropshire Herbert Art Gallery & 12 Feb, Aston Hall, stroll around the gar- Featuring up to four Birmingham BLACK COUNTRY Museum, Coventry dens, Fri 14 Feb, hundred stands selling LUNCHTIME TALK: Birmingham DIALECTS “NETHERTON IS AZTEC WEEKEND Explore LGBT HISTORY MONTH: Biddulph Grange antiques, curios, vin- WOLVERHAMPTON AT WHAT I THINK WITH” the origins of the cocoa VOICES IN HISTORY As Garden, Stoke-on-Trent tage, retro & collecta- WORK A talk by Michelle Dave Reeves, poet-in- bean and take part in part of LGBT History CANDLELIT TOUR Join bles, Sat 1 - Sun 2 Feb, Hallard about historic residence at the Black numerous themed Month, this session the knowledgeable Stafford Bingley Hall murders in the city of Country Museum, takes crafts inspired by the takes a look at history guides as they take vis- TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Wolverhampton, Tues 4 audiences on a journey Aztec tribe, Sat 8 - Sun using archive material, itors on a walk through Watch some of the Feb, Bantock House into the culture and 9 Feb, Cadbury World, Wed 12 Feb, history, Fri 14 - Sat 15 world’s top wrestling Museum, dialect of the Black Birmingham Wolverhampton Art Feb, Birmingham Back stars battle it out live in Wolverhampton Country, Fri 7 Feb, SHREWSBURY DARWIN to Backs the ring, as TNA GUY DAY’S HINTS & TIPS: Gallery Savoy Centre, FESTIVAL Sat 8 - Sun 23 STUART MACONIE - THE THE BRITISH SHOOTING Wrestling arrives in the PASTRY Head chef Guy Netherton, Feb, various locations PEOPLE'S SONGS Spend SHOW Premier show- region, Sun 2 Feb, Day shows how to per- National Indoor Arena, Wolverhampton around Shrewsbury an evening in the com- case for major interna-

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Visit the website for a full programme. Tel 01384 815571 to book.

BRIERLEY HILL FREE SPRING TRAIL PILKINGTON GLASS SOCIETY OF 15 - 23 FEB at both sites COLLECTION ARTISTS @ CONE UNTIL 10 AUGUST 2014 YOUTH CRAFTS – LOVE BUGS UNTIL 8 MARCH SAT 8 FEB, 10.30am-12.30pm This private collection, has just Annual exhibition in a Make your own love bug. gone on display for the first time. range of media. Featuring - booking essential 8+ £5.50 With drinking glasses of all poirtraits, still lifes and STICKY SATURDAY – shapes, sizes and descriptions FREE many local scenes. All PAPERCRAFTS plus glass candlesticks, pieces for sale. PLUS chil- SAT 15 FEB, 1.30pm-3.30pm Venetian soda glass from 1600 - Drop In dren’s art activities during and a rare Jacobite Amen glass the half-term break HOLIDAY SCHOOL MON 17 FEB,9.30am-3.30pm Drop your child with us for a day’s crafting. 8+ £22 FROZEN FUSED GLASS TILE MADE @ THE STICK IT! FAMILY DAY FRI 21 FEBRUARY, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 3.30pm CONE CRAFT THURS 20 FEB,10.30am-3pm Crafts and a trail - Drop In £2.25 Inspired by the film and the wintery weather have CLASSES a go at making your own frozen fused glass tile, @ BROADFIELD full of icy sparkle UNTIL END OF FEB Join our studio artists for GLASS PAINTING SUN 9 FEB, 1.30pm-3.30pm Paint a glass - Drop In fused glass taster sessions, £2.25 glass bead making, EXHIBITALES WED 19 FEB, £2.25 pottery for beginners, 12.30pm,1.30pm & 2.30pm soft furnishing, Interactive story, trail and craft - booking essential glass engraving £3.90 and oil painting. BOOKING ESSENTIAL BOOKING ESSENTIAL

60 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Events February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:46 Page 8

HALF-TERM TRAILS Find take home during SHOPS Celebrate the why she was one of the LISTINGS the clues to win a prize. National Nest Box Year Of The Horse with most popular female Events Different theme every Week. This event also fun drop-in activities saints during the day... Sat 15 - Sun 23 offers a bird trail with where you can use on- Middle Ages, Tue 18 For full listing information on Events, Feb, Attingham Park, quiz and guided nest glaze paints to deco- Feb, Herbert Art Gallery including times and dates, visit Shrewsbury tour, Sun 16 Feb, rate your own themed & Museum, Coventry www.whatsonlive.co.uk WELLY WANDER TRAIL Dorothy Clive Garden, design made out of CONVERSATIONS Tue 18 Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, Market Drayton, clay, Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb, Herbert Art Gallery tional gun manufactur- Estate, Nr Bridgnorth, Tittesworth Water, Shropshire Feb, Coalport China & Museum, Coventry ers, gun retailers and Shropshire Meerbrook, Nr Leek, FRIENDS BOOK SALE Sun Museum, Ironbridge BIRMINGHAM’S ROLE IN shooting accessory MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS Staffs 16 Feb, Birmingham HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES THE ABOLITION OF THE suppliers, Fri 14 - Sun Sat 15 - Sun 16 Feb, HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES Botanical Gardens Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb, SLAVE TRADE Gallery 16 Feb, Stoneleigh The Place, Oakengates Take a trip to Blists Hill RAF Museum, Cosford, talk with History Park, Warwickshire Theatre, Telford Museum and have fun Week Commencing Nr Wolverhampton Curator Henrietta LOVE THE WORKERS THE SPRING ANTIQUES with the many drop-in FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Lockhart, Tues 18 Feb, Range of themed activi- CERAMIC FAIR Sat 15 - activities on offer, Sat MON 17 FEB Follow the trail around Birmingham Museum & ties in support of the Sun 16 Feb, Museum 15 - Sun 23 Feb, Blists the gardens and win a Art Gallery museum’s current pho- of Royal Worcester Hill Victorian Museum, prize. Craft activities MONKEY BUSINESS CHIL- tographic exhibition, Fri VALENTINE’S WEEKEND Ironbridge, Shropshire SALLY MORGAN: PSYCHIC also available, Mon 17 - DREN’S WORKSHOP Go 14 - Sun 23 Feb, Sat 15 - Sun 16 Feb, FREEMASONRY PAST AND SALLY ON THE ROAD Mon Fri 21 Feb, Hanbury ape with art worker Jim Museum of Royal Cadbury World, PRESENT Exhibition & 17 Feb, New Alexandra Hall & Gardens, Morris, Tues 18 Feb, Worcester Birmingham children’s activities, Sat Theatre, Birmingham Worcestershire Walsall Leather MCM MIDLANDS COMIC LOVE WORCESTER LIVING 15 - Sun 23 Feb, WWI DISCOVERY DAY DROP-IN ARTS Hands-on Museum CON Promising a fun HISTORY Watch as re- Museum of Opportunity to handle sessions making crafts CRAFTY DROP-IN Make a day out for all sci-fi enactors take over the Freemasonry, weapons, try on uni- to take home, Mon 17 - pair of Tinkerbell fairy fans, gamers, movie venue to demonstrate Worcester forms and explore the Fri 21 Feb, Birmingham wings or a Peter Pan buffs, comic collectors two thousand years of FEBRUARY HALF-TERM museum’s fascinating Museum & Art Gallery hat as part of the RSC’s and cosplayers, Sat 15 history, right up to TRAIL Search around collections, Mon 17 SAFARI BACKPACK & Wendy & Peter Pan- Feb, Telford WWII, Sat 15 - Sun 16 the castle grounds to Feb, Staffordshire TRAIL Grab yourself a themed holiday activi- International Centre, Feb, The Commandery, find clues and claim Regimental Museum, backpack filled with ties, Tues 18 Feb, Royal Shropshire Worcester your tasty treat, Sat 15 - Lichfield equipment to help you Shakespeare Theatre, LEATHER BAG WORKSHOP MUD PIE COOK-OFF COM- Sun 23 Feb, Beeston BIRD BONANZA Learn all explore the cathedral, Stratford-upon-Avon Try your hand at PETITION Get cooking in Castle, Cheshire about our feathered Mon 17 - Sat 22 Feb, ANIMAL MANIA leatherworking, stitch- Moseley’s mud pie FLIGHT WORKSHOPS friends & have a go at Worcester Cathedral Blakesley’s favourite ing and construction kitchen, Sat 15 - Wed Find out about the sci- making your very own BILLY SMARTS CIRCUS mobile zoo returns with techniques to design 19 Feb, Moseley Old ence of flight via a nest box, Mon 17 Feb, All-human spectacular, its cute and furry and create a bag that Hall, Wolverhampton series of interactive Westport Lake Rd, Mon 17 - Sun 23 Feb, friends, Tues 18 Feb, reflects your personal LOVE WORCESTER: THE activities, Sat 15 - Sun Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent Trentham Gardens, Blakesley Hall, style, Sat 15 Feb, CITY IN MINIATURE 23 Feb, Enginuity, MESSY JESSIE A new Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham Bilston Craft Gallery Children’s activities, Sat Ironbridge, Shropshire sensory performance MONKEY BUSINESS - MOVEMENT WORKSHOP ARTWORK OF THE MONTH 15 - Sat 22 Feb, FEBRUARY HALF-TERM for the under-fives, writ- CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP Work with an actor and TALK WITH SAM MACE Worcester City Art TRAIL Search around ten by Jan Watts, Mon WITH JIM MORRIS Tue explore some of the Sat 15 Feb, The New Gallery & Museum the castle grounds to 17 Feb, Library of 18 Feb, Walsall Leather physical moments from Art Gallery, Walsall FAMILY FUN DAYS Take find clues and claim Birmingham Museum Wendy & Peter Pan. SECRETS OF THE OLD along your wellies and your tasty treat Sat 15 - WONDERFUL WINTER WENDY & PETER PAN Suitable for ages eight- TOWN Explore the old- try out the playful jour- Sun 23 Feb, Goodrich TRAIL Mon 17 Feb, ACTIVE STORYTELLING plus, Tues 18 - Wed 19 est parts of the city neys on the estate - fol- Castle, Hereford Hanbury Hall, Suitable for ages four Feb, Swan Theatre, centre with a costumed low the horseshoes to HALF-TERM FAMILY AT Worcestershire to eight, Tues 18 Feb, Stratford-upon-Avon guide, Sat 15 Feb, tour the labyrinth, clamber CADBURY WORLD CRAFTY DROP-IN Colour Royal Shakespeare THE WONDERFUL WIZARD starts at Worcester over logs, and pause in Featuring entertainers a map of Neverland or Theatre, Stratford-upon- OF OZ Join Avoncroft’s Guildhall and finishes at the rest-a-while shelter, and live family shows in design a treasure map Avon munchkins to celebrate The Cardinal’s Hat Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, the marquee, in addi- to your own magical GREAT HALL MEDIAEVAL the seventy-fifth ARTY PARTY Fortnightly Baddesley Clinton, tion to the regular land as part of the BANQUET Tue 18 Feb, anniversary of the film art club for 8-14-year- Warwickshire Cadbury World attrac- RSC’s Wendy & Peter Warwick Castle classic, Tues 18 - Thurs olds, Sat 15 Feb, The AUTO SCIENCE LIVE Half- tions, Sat 15 - Sun 23 Pan-themed holiday PAINT, PAPER & PLASTER- 20 Feb, Avoncroft Potteries Museum & Art term family fun featur- Feb, Cadbury World, activities, Mon 17 Feb, WORK: THE DECORATION Museum, Bromsgrove Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent ing a range of free fami- Birmingham Royal Shakespeare OF THE ENGLISH COUN- HALF-TERM CRAFT BRITISH ATHLETICS ly-friendly activities, FEBRUARY HALF TERM Theatre, Stratford-upon- TRY HOUSE Study day ACTIVITY: FROG HATS INDOOR GRAND PRIX Sat bringing to life automo- TRAIL Search around Avon exploring the ‘interior ‘Frog hat’-making work- 15 Feb, National Indoor tive engineering and the castle grounds to SEA SHANTY SINGING design legacies that shop, Tue 18 - Fri 21 Arena, Birmingham the science behind it, find clues and claim WORKSHOP Learn songs have made Weston the Feb, The Potteries DRAWING THE BODY Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, your tasty treat, Sat 15 - of the sea and dance a stunning house that it is Museum & Art Gallery, Guided by visual artist Heritage Motor Centre, Sun 23 Feb, Kenilworth pirate jig, Mon 17 Feb, today’, Tues 18 Feb, Stoke-on-Trent Frieda Van de Poll, Gaydon, Warwickshire Castle Royal Shakespeare Weston Park, HALF TERM ACTIVITY - develop your drawing HALF TERM POTTERY DONNA FALLON An Theatre, Stratford-upon- Staffordshire SPARKLE BUGS Drop-in technique and experi- PAINTING Paint a piece evening with the Avon WONDERFUL WINTER event where visitors ment with mixed media. of pottery to take home ‘International Psychic DISCOVERING MODERN FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS can make a creepy Working from a life with you. Choose from Medium to the Stars’, MASTERPIECES Mon 17 - Themed trails and crawly minibeast out of model inspired by the animals, bottle ovens, Sun 16 Feb, Crewe Fri 21 Feb, Herbert Art make-and-take activi- clay before decorating Exposed exhibition, flowers and much Lyceum Gallery & Museum, ties, Tues 18 Feb, it with sequins to make each workshop will more... Sat 15 - Sun 23 MODEL TRACTOR, PLANT Coventry Hanbury Hall, it sparkle, Tue 18 - Fri offer new and challeng- Feb, Gladstone Pottery & CONSTRUCTION SHOW HALF-TERM FUN Worcester 21 Feb, Gladstone ing poses, Sat 15 Feb, Museum, Stoke-on- Sun 16 Feb, Wellington walks, wild TRUSTY’S TUESDAY CLUB Pottery Museum, Herbert Art Gallery & Trent Warwickshire Exhibition art work, den building Holiday sessions featur- Stoke-on-Trent Museum, Coventry SELF-LED BIRD TRAIL Centre, Nr Leamington and orienteering, Mon ing everything from out- CELEBRATIONS Craft LOVE WORCESTER LIVING Follow the clues on the Spa, Warwick 17 - Fri 21 Feb, door adventures to craft activity days exploring HISTORY FAYRE trail map to find the HERMITS AND HIDDEN Wightwick Manor & & wildlife activities, celebrations & festivals Featuring local history many different birds GEMS WALK Fully Gardens, Tues 18 Feb, Attingham from around the world, societies & re-enact- building nests around escorted walk around Wolverhampton Park, Shrewsbury Tues 18 - Fri 21 Feb, ment groups, Sat 15 the park, Sat 15 - Sun Haywood Cliffs, taking HALF-TERM TILE DECO- MEET ME AT BANTOCK Worcestershire County Feb, Worcester 23 Feb, Severn Valley in views and learning RATING WORKSHOPS Regular conversation Museum Cathedral Country Park, Alveley, about the flora and Drop-in sessions where club for people aged AMERICAN SUPERSLAM LOVE WORCESTER Bridgnorth fauna, Sun 16 Feb, participants use the fifty & over, Tues 18 WRESTLING Wed 19 THEMED STREET MARKET MOSHI MONSTER MAD- Shugborough Estate, technique known as Feb, Bantock House Feb, Bedworth Civic Sat 15 Feb, Worcester NESS Themed activities Staffordshire tube lining to decorate Museum, Hall City Centre for half-term, Sat 15 - DONINGTON 4X4 SHOW their very own tile to Wolverhampton POP-UP STORYTELLING TRIBUTE TO LUVLY: AN Sun 23 Feb, Alton Featuring 4x4-related take home, Mon 17 - Fri ANIMAL ORIGAMI Create WITH GRAHAM LANGLEY EVENING WITH JAYNE Towers, Staffordshire trade stands offering 21 Feb, Jackfield Tile your very own paper & CATH EDWARDS Free CARPENTER, JIM FAMILY FUN DAYS Don parts, accessories and Museum, Ironbridge, menagerie. Children of drop-in session, Wed HAWKINS & FRIENDS A your wellies and head services for all makes Shropshire all ages welcome, Tyes 19 Feb, Library of Shropshire Cat Rescue to the woods to build a of 4x4, whatever your KITE CHAOS! Make your 18 Feb, Smestow Birmingham event, Sat 15 Feb, The den, play hoopla, chosen use, Sun 16 very own kite to fly on Valley, Wolverhampton MEET THE ROMANS LIVE! Hive, Shrewsbury splash in the puddles Feb, Donington Park the hill, Mon 17 - Fri 21 HERBERT ILLUMINATION: Find out what life was SNOWDROP WALKS Blow and have your very BUILD A BROOD A HOME Feb, Carding Mill THE MEDIAEVAL like in Roman away the winter blues own family adventure, Workshop where visi- Valley, South MAGDALEN A talk from Warwickshire, Wed 19 with a walk through the Sat 15 - Sun 23 Feb, tors can make their Shropshire Leah Mellors exploring Feb, Market Hall dingle, Sat 15 - Sun 16 Packwood House, own nest box and CHINESE NEW YEAR the mediaeval ideal of Museum, Warwick Feb, Dudmaston Warwickshire apple bird-feeder to DROP-IN CERAMIC WORK- Mary Magdalen, and LGBT HISTORY MONTH: www.whatsonlive.co.uk 61 Events February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:46 Page 9

LIVE RECORDING OF BBC RADIO 4 ANY QUESTIONS? FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2014, 7.15pm REFRESHMENTS AT 6PM ADMISSION BY TICKET ONLY

WHO? WHY? WHAT? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Central Hall Methodist Church, Ablewell Street, Walsall, WS1 2EQ to apply for tickets call 01922 721643 / 01922 745654

THE EASY WAY TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE

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The most comprehensive what’s on listings website for Birmingham and the West Midlands

62 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Events February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 19:46 Page 10

Court, Worcestershire packed day of daredev- Feb, Avoncroft, DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG LISTINGS THE PEARLIAD BY ROSIE il stunts, monster truck Bromsgrove Chance to practise Events PUG BOOK LAUNCH Fri 21 mayhem, flame-throw- SNOWDROP WALKS Blow drifting in safe and Feb, Library of ing jet vehicles, dis- away the winter blues legal conditions on For full listing information on Events, Birmingham plays and fireworks! with a walk through the some of the Pod's thirty including times and dates, visit ‘SPAKE PRAPPER’ A Sat 22 Feb, Santa Pod dingle, Sat 22 - Sun 23 acres of open tarmac, www.whatsonlive.co.uk BLACK COUNTRY TALK Raceway, Northampton Feb, Dudmaston where there are begin- SHOW Hosted by Dave LOVE WORCESTER, LOVE Estate, Nr Bridgnorth, ners, intermediate and Reeves, Fri 21 Feb, PETS Half-term make- Shropshire advanced tracks open POLARI Learn the lost CERAMIC WORKSHOPS Savoy Centre, and-take workshop CLASSIC & ROAD RACING at the same time each gay language in a fun & Join artist Lorraine Netherton, where participants can SHOW Sat 22 - Sun 23 DWYB day, Wed 26 interactive session Bates to learn how to Wolverhampton make their very own Feb, Telford Feb, Santa Pod exploring language, work with ceramics, WOODLAND TREASURE cuddly magnetic pet, International Centre, Raceway, Northampton Wed 19 Feb, Wed 19 - Thurs 20 Feb, TRAIL Follow the clues Sat 22 Feb, Tudor Shropshire BONHAM’S VALUATION Wolverhampton Art Birmingham Museum & to discover parts of House Heritage Centre, MUD PIE COOK-OFF COM- DAY Take along your Gallery Art Gallery Cannock Chase, and Worcester PETITION Get cooking in items to be valued by a VICTORIAN SERVANT’S CODEBREAKING FAMILY learn about the country DUNGEONS AFTER DARK Moseley’s mud pie panel of experts from DAY Family fun day with ACTIVITIES Wed 19 - park and its inhabitants An evening of ghoulish kitchen, Sat 22 - Sun the international auc- craft activities, re-enac- Thurs 20 Feb, Elgar’s along the way, Fri 21 entertainment that's not 23 Feb, Moseley Old tioneers, Wed 26 Feb, tors, dressing up, han- Birthplace Museum, Feb, Cannock Chase for the faint-hearted, Hall, Wolverhampton Avoncroft, Bromsgrove dling & more... Wed 19 Worcester Country Park, Staffs Sat 22 Feb, Warwick WINTER STEAM GALA Sat MEET ME @ WAG Feb, Aston Hall, CHILDREN’S SCHOOL FEBRUARY FUN DAY Castle 22 - Sun 23 Feb, Regular conversation Birmingham HOLIDAY ACTIVITY SES- Featuring children's SECRETS OF THE OLD Churnet Valley Railway, club for people aged KINGDOM OF MERCIA SIONS An ideal opportu- entertainment, face- TOWN Explore the old- Froghall, Staffs fifty and over, Wed 26 Meet characters from nity for aspiring young painting and balloon est parts of the city RUN WHAT YA BRUNG Feb, Wolverhampton the Anglo-Saxon world, potters to work with modelling, Fri 21 Feb, centre with a costumed The chance to take Art Gallery including an ambassa- professional, ceramic Gladstone Pottery guide, Sat 22 Feb, tour your car or motorcycle LGBT HISTORY GROUP: dor from Kent visiting artists, Wed 19 - Thurs Museum, Stoke-on- starts at Worcester out on the famous KEEPING SECURE King Penda, a shaman 20 Feb, Eastnor Pottery, Trent Guildhall and finishes at quarter-mile dragstrip Session which provides who’s a practitioner of Ledbury WENDY & PETER PAN The Cardinal’s Hat and test its perform- a personal safety an ancient religion, and BOOKMARK PEOPLE ACTIVE STORYTELLING HALF-TERM CRAFT SES- ance limits in a safe guide, Wed 26 Feb, two artisan workers. Drop-in with Ruth Suitable for ages four SION Workshop where and legal environment, Wolverhampton Art This event also offers a Radcliffe, Thurs 20 Feb, to eight, Fri 21 Feb, visitors can have a go Sun 23 Feb, Santa Pod Gallery chance to see a range Walsall Leather Royal Shakespeare at making a birdbath Raceway, Northampton EDUCATE & CELEBRATE: of birds of prey in the Museum Theatre, Stratford-upon- out of plant pots, bird WEDDING FAIR Sun 23 LGBT HISTORY MONTH museum's Anglo Saxon FUNKY BANDS & Avon puppets out of lollipop Feb, Birmingham CONCERT Booking Falconry and Folklore BRACELETS WORKSHOP WINTER GUIDED TOUR sticks, and paper plate Botanical Gardens essential! Wed 26 Feb, presentation, Wed 19 Drop-in sessions for Learn about the history birds’ nests, Sat 22 Library of Birmingham Feb, The Potteries children, Thurs 20 Feb, of the mill and milling, Feb, Severn Valley Week Commencing ROMAN COOKERY Museum & Art Gallery, Walsall Museum and see what repair & Country Park, Alveley, WORKSHOP Find out Stoke-on-Trent CRAFT DAY Half-term maintenance is taking Nr Bridgnorth MON 24 FEB more about authentic BIRD BOX MAKING As day of fun, making place, Fri 21 Feb, LOVE YOUR CREATIVITY cooking techniques, part of National Nest crafts to take home, Sarehole Mill, Children’s activity with ingredients and recipes Box Week, Wed 19 Thurs 20 Feb, Soho Birmingham cold porcelain, Sat 22 AN EVENING WITH TONY of , and help Feb, Cannock Chase House, Birmingham CRAFTY DROP-IN Get in Feb, Museum of Royal STOCKWELL Mon 24 to create your own Visitor Centre, Staffs TRAVELLING THE the fancy dress mood Worcester Feb, Tamworth Roman dishes, Wed 26 MOSSES FOR NOVICES TIMELINE Workshop with all things pirate as MOSAIC WORKSHOP Assembly Rooms Feb - Wed 19 Mar, An introduction to iden- where children aged part of the RSC’s Learn how to create SALLY MORGAN: PSYCHIC Wroxeter Roman City, tifying local mosses six-plus can have a go Wendy & Peter Pan- your very own beautiful SALLY ON THE ROAD Mon Shropshire and liverworts with at making plaster fos- themed holiday activi- panel under the guid- 24 Feb, Stafford EARLY YEARS PLAY DAYS Martin Godfrey, sils, fizzing volcanoes ties, Fri 21 Feb, Royal ance of environmental Gatehouse Theatre Play Days give children Staffordshire County and model dinosaurs. Shakespeare Theatre, sculptor and mosaic SPRING CLEANING TOURS aged one to three an Recorder for Bryohytes. Please note that chil- Stratford-upon-Avon artist Victoria Harrison Take a tour with the opportunity to explore Pre-booking essential, dren under eight must CREATE BADGES WORK- Sat 22 Feb, Ludlow conservation team as and investigate through Wed 19 Feb, The be accompanied by an SHOP Design & make Assembly Rooms, spring-cleaning gets sensory play, Thurs 27 - Potteries Museum & Art adult, Thurs 20 Feb, your very own pin South Shropshire underway, and explore Fri 28 Feb, Herbert Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent Ludlow Assembly badge using the muse- WOLVERHAMPTON LOCAL parts of the house not Gallery & Museum, HALF-TERM FUN! SCAV- Rooms, South um’s special badge- HISTORY SYMPOSIUM normally open to the Coventry ENGER HUNT Booking Shropshire making machine, Fri 21 Eighth annual event public, Tues 25 Feb, WINTER GUIDED TOUR Fri essential! Wed 19 Feb, WONDERFUL WINTER Feb, Museum of the showcasing new and Greyfriars, 28 Feb, Sarehole Mill, Severn Valley Country FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Jewellery, Birmingham significant research into Worcestershire Birmingham Park, Alveley, Themed trails & make- WOODLAND SPRITES local history, Sat 22 TUESDAY TOUR: HOUSE- THE NATIONAL WEDDING Bridgnorth and-take activities, FAMILY CRAFT WORK- Feb, Bantock House KEEPING THE HALL Tues SHOW Hints, tips and LOVE WORCESTER’S PAST Thurs 20 Feb, Hanbury SHOP Fri 21 Feb, Museum, 25 Feb, Blakesley Hall, ideas galore for The Children’s crafts, Wed Hall, Worcester Weoley Castle, Wolverhampton Birmingham Big Day, Fri 28 Feb - 19 Feb, The Hive, PIRATE SWORD STAGE Birmingham VINTAGE WEDDING FAIR CRAFTPLAY EXPLORERS Sun 2 Mar, NEC, Worcester FIGHTING Workshop MUSICAL MADNESS Sat 22 Feb, Worcester Regular play & stay Birmingham ARTFORUM GOLD Range which teaches how to Discover your musical Guildhall sessions to discover, INTERNATIONAL FASHION of art activities using cross swords safely talents & have a go at FAMILY BADGE-MAKING play and create with WEEK See the latest different materials and and make swashbuck- making your own musi- WORKSHOP Make a your child, Tues 25 Autumn/Winter 2014 methods, using the ling look real, Thurs 20 cal instruments, Fri 21 badge inspired by the Feb, Bilston Craft collections before they gallery as your inspira- Feb, Clore Learning Feb, Market Hall Library of Cultures exhi- Gallery hit the designer show- tion, Wed 19 Feb, Centre, Waterside, Museum, Warwick bition, Sat 22 Feb, TEXTILE GROUP An rooms, Fri 28 Feb - Sat Wolverhampton Art Stratford-upon-Avon WONDERFUL WINTER Library of Birmingham opportunity to meet 1 Mar, The Council Gallery SEA SHANTY SINGING TRAIL Fri 21 Feb, YOUNG ARTISTS likeminded people in a House, Birmingham LOVE WORCESTER, LOVE WORKSHOP Learn songs Hanbury Hall, Workshop offering par- creative environment OSWESTRY YOUTH MUSIC PETS Half-term make- of the sea and dance a Worcestershire ticipants a chance to and swap knowledge & FESTIVAL Featuring and-take workshop pirate jig, Fri 21 Feb, BUILD A BOOK FAMILY learn new drawing, skills, Wed 26 Feb, more than two hun- where participants can Royal Shakespeare WORKSHOP In associa- painting and sculpture Bilston Craft Gallery dred-and-fifty young make their very own Theatre, Stratford-upon- tion with Lifeworlds skills, Sat 22 Feb, WINTER GUIDED TOUR musicians, Fri 28 Feb - cuddly magnetic pet, Avon Learning. Pre-booking Wolverhampton Art Tour & refreshments Mon 3 Mar, Oswestry Wed 19 Feb, Tudor ART SPEAKING Audio- advisable, Fri 21 Feb, Gallery with the site’s expert Methodist Church, House Heritage Centre, described tours of exhi- Library of Birmingham PHOTOREALISM EXHIBI- guides, Wed 26 Feb, North Shropshire Worcester bitions for people with CRAFT DAY Half-term TION TALK BY JOHN SALT Aston Hall, Birmingham BORDERLINES FILM FES- FOREVER FRIENDS Story visual impairment, Fri day of fun, making Birmingham-born pho- THE PLANET IN OUR TIVAL Featuring more & craft sessions for 21 Feb, Wolverhampton crafts to take home, Fri tographer John Salt HANDS: RESPONDING TO than two hundred film children aged five-plus, Art Gallery 21 Feb, Sarehole Mill, discusses his paintings, CLIMATE CHANGE Talk screenings at various Wed 19 Feb, Central LOVE LOCAL WILDLIFE Birmingham Sat 22 Feb, facilitated by Chief venues across four Children’s Library, Discover what’s going SNOWDROP EVENING Birmingham Museum & Scientific Advisor to the counties, including the Wolverhampton on locally and make WALKS Discover Art Gallery UK Government, Sir Marches, FAMILY WORKSHOP: your own bird feeder to Attingham’s carpet of WAKING THE WINDMILL Mark Walport, and Herefordshire, SHADOW PLAY Have a take home, Fri 21 Feb, snowdrops in a differ- See the museum as it’s Professor of Public Shropshire & go at telling the story of Greyfriars, Worcester ent light on an evening sailed for the first time Engagement with Worcestershire, Fri 28 Wendy & Peter Pan BEHIND-THE-SCENES walk, Fri 21 - Sun 23 by the museum’s team Science at the Feb - Sun 16 Mar. For playing with shadows & TOUR Opportunity to Feb, Attingham Park, of volunteers. This University of further info, visit light, Wed 19 - Thurs 20 see parts of the court Shrewsbury event also features Birmingham, Alice www.borderlinesfilmfes- Feb, Swan Theatre, seldom open to visitors, STUNTFEST Half-term breadmaking in the Toll Roberts, Wed 26 Feb, tival.org Stratford-upon-Avon Fri 21 Feb, Witley family fun. Action- House, Sat 22 - Sun 23 Thinktank, Birmingham

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 63 Eating Out February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:49 Page 1 Eating Out Zodiac inspires new cocktail list Chung Ying Central in Birmingham’s Colmore Row Business District has launched a new cocktail list based on the twelve signs of the zodiac. The venue’s head bartender, Matt Wilkinson, has been busy researching and creating a new cocktail for each of the dozen astrological signs, the first of which is based on a Moscow Mule recipe to mark the Year Of The Horse, which signifies unexpected adventure and romantic spirit. The delicious cock- tails feature alongside a host of other delights on offer at Chung Ying Central, including an express Dim Sum menu to satisfy the hunger pangs of Colmore’s business residents. A jewel in Burton’s dining crown tomers and attract new and twelve-hour slow- REVIEW blood. roasted pork belly were Sitting in the sumptuous our sumptuous main Few restaurants truly suc- lounge, deliberating over course choices, but we ceed in delivering fusion the varied and delicious could have chosen any Brothers Richard, James & William Wong at Chung Ching Central food, especially outside of menu, we were soon pre- one of six or seven mag- the big cities, and even sented with a tray contain- nificent dishes. All food fewer manage to balance ing canapés (smoked was presented with care Only Fools star John Challis to traditional and modern salmon and horseradish) and flair, and attention launch restaurant’s AGA venture cuisine. But Pascal at the and olives. Delighted by was given to every flavour, Old Vicarage in Branston, this, we ordered wine, every morsel. Only Fools And Horses star John Challis is set to just outside Burton-on- which was promptly If the night had one down- help launch a new cooking concept at a Midlands Trent, produces the goods brought to us in mini side, it was that the restaurant. The Shropshire-located Ye Olde Punch in the shape of platefuls of carafes. We were sold. desserts of bread-and but- Bowl Inn is currently installing an AGA Total Control English cuisine with a The one minor quibble is ter pudding and peanut cooker, after recently announcing a partnership French twist. that it seemed to take a butter parfait didn’t live up with the Telford-based company that manufactures Long heralded as one of long time for our order to to the rest of the meal - the iconic cookers. The AGA will be the centre- the East Midlands’ top be taken, and then for us but with the standard set piece of the venue’s award-winning carvery. For fur- eateries, and winner of to be led to the restaurant. so high by the first two ther information about the Punch Bowl, and to Staffordshire Restaurant of That said, it was the same courses, this was perhaps book at table, visit www.punchbowlinn.com, or call the year in 2007, the Old for everybody - and judg- inevitable. 01746 763304. Vicarage is somewhere ing by the hubbub of con- The whole meal cost just that courts high expecta- versation among the twen- £25.95 per person (with Pop-up restaurant pops up again! tions, and it’s impossible ty or so other guests, supplements for certain not to enter the venue nobody seemed to mind. courses), and this is more Following success with a launch event last year, without a frisson of excite- And once you’re in the than value for money. two Midlands chefs have announced that their pop- ment. With said high restaurant, it’s not long Pascal at The Old up restaurant will be ‘popping up’ a couple more expectations in mind, before that wait is justified. Vicarage comes highly times in the weeks ahead. Nathan Eades from you’re met by a friendly, Nobody minds waiting if recommended, and looks Bromsgrove and Grant Hill from Kidderminster welcoming host who there’s something worth set to keep its place as share a passion for fine foods and foraging, and whisks away your coat waiting for, and within min- the jewel in Burton’s din- will re-open their Epi restaurant on 25 February and and leads you into the utes of sitting down in the ing-out crown. 31 March at the Kitchen Garden Cafe in King’s lounge. cosy but not cramped Simon Carter Heath, Birmingham. As well as presenting a menu This old-school charm dining area, our much- for £32.50 (excluding drinks), the duo hope that the sets the tone for the anticipated starters Food: IIII I temporary business will show off their skills to a evening. The restaurant arrived. Though a surpris- Service: IIII I new set of diners. During the course of the business has changed ing inclusion on a Ambience: IIII I evening, Nathan and Grant will be happy to answer almost beyond recognition French/English menu, the Overall value IIIII patrons’ questions about the dishes on offer and since Pascal and Karen sweet pepper and chorizo OVERALL IIII I their cooking methods. took control of the Old linguini was excellent and Vicarage in 1999, but by well balanced, but the star Pascal At The Old keeping the best of the was undoubtedly the scal- Vicarage old world and cleverly lops and chicken wings - 2 Main Street combining it with the new, so soft and beautiful it Branston they’ve managed to create could make you want to Burton upon Trent something that will both cry! Staffs retain longstanding cus- 01283 533222 Kitchen Garden Cafe The perfectly pink venison

64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:49 Page 2

Hungry Bistro gets the thumbs up... Restaurant LISTINGS roundings. The minimalistic easily rivalled mum’s best! REVIEW décor and refreshingly fuss- Aside from perhaps expand- For full listing information on free menu both added to the ing their range of dessert restaurants, including opening Located within five minutes atmosphere of sophisticated options, there’s very little to times and type of cuisine, visit: walking distance of comfort and calm. find fault with here. Plus, www.whatsonlive.co.uk Wolverhampton Railway Opting for one of the Bistro’s when your cup- Station and within easy reach impressive range of alcoholic cake is as good as the one I Birmingham B5 6RG 0121 622 of the Grand Theatre and ginger beers, I sat down to a sampled, you do wonder 2444 Lighthouse Media Centre, AALTO RESTAURANT THE LOST & FOUND hearty starter of carrot and why anyone would be Hotel La Tour, Albert 8 Bennetts Hill, B2 this tasty and intriguing new coriander soup and fresh inclined to order anything Street, Birmingham B5 5RS 0121 643 9293 addition to the city’s restau- bread. Packed with full-bod- else. The frosting was just 5JT 0121 718 8000 LOVES The rant scene is fast becoming ied textures and infused with the right side of sweet; the AIR RESTAURANT LG Glasshouse, Browning the number one hotspot for a warming hint of spice, this sponge, beautifully moist. Arena, Bickenhill Rd, St, B16 8FL 0121 454 0844 338 0333 5151 fresh, affordable lunches and was a soup that delivered The addition, too, of a straw- BANK 4 Brindleyplace, MECHU 47 - 59 light bites, in the process exactly what it said on the tin berry jam filling (homemade, B1 2JB 0121 633 Summer Row, B3 1JJ showcasing the very best in (or not, in this case!) - sim- of course) was a particularly 4466 0121 212 1661 locally sourced ingredients. plicity and freshness, with an pleasing touch. BAR ESTILO 10-114 METRO BAR & GRILL 73 The brainchild of authenticity of flavour that For its enterprising approach Wharfside St, The Cornwall St B3 2DF Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121 0121 200 1911 Wolverhampton entrepreneur to healthy, flavour-packed rivalled the best in hearty, 643 3443 MINT Yew Tree Retail and self-confessed foodie home-cooked cuisine. food, its championing of BERLIOZ Burlington Park, Stoney Lane Richard Brown, this small but Moving onto the main local suppliers and its Arcade, New St, B2 Yardley, B25 8YP mighty champion of healthy, course, I opted for some- exquisitely prepared menu, 4JQ 0121 633 1737 0121 789 8908 flavour-packed food in an thing refreshingly different; covering everything from BLUE MANGO Regency MOUNT FUJI The Wharf, Broad St, B1 Bullring, B5 4BH 0121 ever-expanding market of pan-fried mackerel in a hearty lunchtime classics to 2DS 0121 633 4422 633 9853 high street chains prides spinach oil dressing with the all-too-often-overlooked BLUE PIANO RESTAU- OPUS 54 Cornwall St, itself on its passionate, no- roast potatoes and cous- vegetarian and vegan-friend- RANT AND BAR 24-26 B3 2DE 0121 200 nonsense attitude to menu cous, accompanied by a ly alternative, The Hungry Harborne Rd, B15 3AA 2323 and produce. chilled glass of house white Bistro gets a resounding 0121 454 6877 THE ORIENTAL The Mailbox, 128-130 Specialising in a short but wine (again, painstakingly thumbs-up. At the heart of BUONISSIMO 1 Albany Rd, Harborne, B17 Wharfside St, B1 1RQ exceptionally sweet selection sourced from local suppli- this bold new enterprise lies 9JX 0121 426 2444 0121 633 9988 of British and travel-inspired ers). It was clear from the a genuine appreciation for CAFE OPUS 1 Oozells PENNY BLACKS seasonal dishes, rotated on a first mouthful just how much quality ingredients - and it Square, Brindleyplace, The Mailbox, 132-134 regular basis, ‘House’ spe- care and attention had gone shows! Refreshingly forward- B1 2HS 0121 248 Wharfside St, B1 1XL 3226 0121 632 1460 cialities include the Bistro’s into this dish. The subtle thinking in its attitude to sea- CARLUCCIO’S The PICCOLINO much-praised Malaysian flavours of the spinach oil sonality, this is a restaurant Water’s Edge, 9 Brindleyplace B1 Coconut Fish Curry, infusion offered the perfect that knows exactly what it Brindleyplace 2HS 0121 634 3055 Caribbean-inspired Jerk complement to the full-bod- wants and where it’s going - B1 2HP 0121 633 PITCHER & PIANO Chicken Burger with sweet ied taste of the mackerel, and I, for one, can’t wait to 9262 Brindleyplace, B1 2HP 0121 643 0214 potato wedges, and - a firm see it blossom. CENTENARY BAR & which was cooked to perfec- BRASSERIE Broad POPPY RED Arcadian favourite with locals - a tion by our chef. The cous- Katherine Ewing Street, B1 2EP 0121 Centre, Birmingham revamped ‘Hungry B’ hom- cous was perhaps the best 245 2080 B5 4TD 0121 687 1200 age to the humble ‘fishfinger I’ve ever tasted - soft and Food: IIII I CHUNG YING PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall butty’, complete with beer- pleasingly light, with the Service: IIII I 16-18 Wrottersley St, B3 2DH 0121 212 9799 batter and home-cooked zesty undertones of a lemon Ambience: IIII I Street, B5 4RT 0121 622 5669 PURNELL’SBISTOR & potato chips. IIII I mayonnaise adding another Overall value CHUNG YING GARDEN 17 GINGER’S BAR 11 Stepping off the high street layer of subtle flavour to each OVERALL IIII I Thorpe St, B5 4AT Newhall Street, B3 into the cool, cream interior mouthful. The veg, too, was 0121 666 6622 3NY, 0121 2000 1588 of the Bistro, with its clean- hard to fault, with a carrot Hungry Bistro CIELO 6 Oozells THE RECTORY 50-54 St lined design, calming soft- and cucumber side-salad Square, Brindleyplace, Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS 81 Lichfield Street B1 2JB 0121 632 6882 0121 605 1001 oak finish and ambient jazz offering the perfect cooling Wolverhampton COAST TO COAST 9 RED PEPPERS 117 playing in the background, I accompaniment to the fish WV1 1EQ Brindleyplace, Broad Wharfside St, B1 1RF was immediately struck by and roast potatoes, which Tel: 01902 546336 Street, B1 2HJ 0121 643 4202 the tranquillity of my sur- COTE The Mailbox, SAN CARLO 4 Temple B1 1RX 0121 631 St, B2 5BN 0121 633 1587 0251 DEL VILLAGGIO SHIMLA PINKS 215 Unit 528, Middle Mall, Broad St, B15 1AY The Bullring. B5 4BE 0121 633 0366 0121 643 1400 SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield EDMUNDS 6 Brindley Rd, Edgbaston B13 place, B1 2JB 0121 3DU 0121 454 3434 633 4944 THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 Brindley Place, 1JL 0121 212 3383 Birmingham B1 2HL JAMIE’S ITALIAN Middle 0121 633 3049 Mall, Bullring STRADA 109-111 Shopping Centre, B5 Wharfside St, The 4BE 0121 270 3610 Mailbox B1 1XL JIMMY SPICES Regency 0121 643 7279 Wharf, Broad St, B1 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells 2DS 0121 643 2111 Sq, B1 2HL 0121 643 LAS IGUANAS Arcadian 3993 Centre, Hurst St, B5 THE VAULTS Newhall 4TD 0121 622 4466 Place, Newhall Hill, LASAN 3-4 Dakota B1 3JH 0121 212 Buildings, James St, 9837 St Paul’s Square, B3 WAGAMAMA Brindley 1SD 0121 212 3664 Place, birmingham B1 THE LOFT LOUNGE 2HL 0121 643 765 143 Bromsgrove St,

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65 Eating Out February Region Two_Layout 1 27/01/2014 15:49 Page 3

Restaurant LISTINGS For full listing information on restaurants, including opening times and type of cuisine, visit: www.what- sonlive.co.uk

PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster Black Country DY11 6UU 01562 60479 ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst Lichfield Street, Walsall Lane, Tipton DY4 9AB WS1 1SY 01922 613361 0121 557 1402 BANKS BISTRO Chapel RED FORT Fold St, Ash, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton, WV1 WV1 4EP 01902 238433 4LP 01902 424440 BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 Wolverhampton. 01902 Upper Green, Tettenhall, 427555 Wolverhampton WV6 8QQ 01902 756052 BENGAL FUSION 174 High SAFFRON Wolverhampton St, Lye, Stourbridge DY9 Road, Oldbury B69 4RR 8LN. 01384 891111 0121 552 1752 BILASH 2 Cheapside, SIMON’S 520 Chester Rd, Wolverhampton, WV1 Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 1TU 01902 427762 0PU 0121 580 9293 THE BLUE BRICK SPICES Hollywell Rd, Broad Gauge Way, Wednesbury. WS10 7PA Wolverhampton WV1 0121 502 0720 1AA 01902 875301 THE SPRINGHILL BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper Warstones Rd, Penn, Green, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton WV4 WV6 8QQ 01902 4LB 01902 342530 756052 THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 The Mytton & Mermaid, Atcham, Shrewsbury CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253- Gospel End Rd, Dudley 255 Bilston Road, DY3 4AN 01902 676 Shifnall TF11 9AZ 01691 684300 THE SILVERTON the Old 253415 Wolverhampton WV2 102 01952 463020 LOCH FYNE Talbot House, Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell, INDICA Virage Park, 2JN 01902 458024 THORNESCROFT THE FOX INN 46 High St, Market Street, Shrewsbury SY3 8JY Cannock. WS11 0HN CASA CASITA Upper Bridgnorth Rd, Much Wenlock TF13 Shrewsbury SY1 1LG 01743 248000 08712 070417 Gornal, Dudley. DY3 Wolverhampton, WV6 6AD 01952 727292 01743 277140 TIN TINS Wellington Road, JASMINE PEKING 21 High 1UP 01902 676754 7EQ 01902 700 253 FRANK CAFE BAR 129 LUDLOW KITCHEN Telford TF2 8AJ St, Eccleshall, Stafford CATELLANI’S 6 School St, THE WOODMAN Claverley, Frankwell, Shrewsbury Bromfield, Ludlow, SY2 01952 608688 ST21 6BW 01785 Wolverhampton, WV1 Wolverhampton WV5 SY3 8JX 01743 354422 2JR 01584 856020 TRAITORS GATE 851200 4LR 01902 428928 Castle St, 7DG 01746 710 553 THE GOLDEN CROSS 14 THE MALTHOUSE The Water Lane, Shrewsbury LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford CINNAMON COURT Bentley Princess St, Shrewsbury, Wharfage, Ironbridge SY1 2BX 01743 249152 St, Stone ST15 8QW Mill Way, Walsall WS2 SY1 1LP 01743 362507 TF8 7NH 01902 433712 01785 817 985 0BP 0121 568 6664 Shropshire THE WALLS Welsh Walls, GRANARY BAR & GRILL MORGANS Oswestry SY11 1AW THE LODGE 24 THE COWSHED Clive 1 Bellstone, AFTAB 25 High St, Birmingham Road, Farm Clive Rd, Weston Park, Weston- Shrewsbury SY1 1HU 01691 670970 Ironbridge TF8 7AD Shenstone. WS14 0LQ Pattingham, WV6 7EN under-Lizard, Nr Shifnal, 01743 239114 ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40 01952 432055 01543 483334 01902 701888 TF11 8LE 01952 MR UNDERHILLS Dinham High Street, Shrewsbury ALBRIGHT HUSSEY 852107 MALABAR 1-2 Water THE CROOKED HOUSE Weir, Ludlow Shropshire SY1 1SF 01743 353232 Ellesmere Rd, Street, Stafford, ST16 Coppice Hill, Himley DY3 THE GLUTTON CLUB 165- SY8 1EH 01584 874431 Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF 2AG 01785 227 500/600 4DA 01384 238583 167 Frankwell, THE MYTTON & MERMAID 01939 290 523 Shrewsbury SY3 8LG Staffordshire MARLOES 13 London THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, Atcham, Shrewsbury, BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a 01743 361672 Road, Newcastle under Walsall, WS1 2EU SY5 6QG 01743 761220 NO 5 Gaol Mews, Stafford Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782 Mardol, Shrewsbury SY1 HADLEY PARK HOUSE 01922 643215 THE OLD ORLETON INN ST16 3AN 01785 22 9900 661983 1PZ 01743 272586 Hadley Park, Telford TF1 DON SALVO 25 Darlington Holyhead Rd, Wellington, 95 HIGH GREEN Cannock. BUFFALO STEAK HOUSE THE MILL 1 Mill St, Stone, Street, Wolverhampton 6QJ 01952 677269 TF1 2HA 01952 255011 WS11 1BH 01543 125 Frankwell, ST15 8BA 01785 WV1 4HW 01902 712819 THE HAYWARDS at The 573905 Shrewsbury SY3 8JX THE OLD RECTORY HOTEL & 818456 DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, 01743 537523 RESTAURANT Lowe Hill 1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5 THE NAVIGATION INN Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU Shrewsbury SY1 1UY Road, Wem, Shropshire Lombard St, Lichfield. BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal, 01743 353107 Newport Road, Gnosall, 01384 877077 SY4 5UA 01939 233233 WS13 6DP 01543 Stafford ST20 0BN TF11 9BA 01952 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE THE FAIRLAWNS AT THE PEACH TREE 21 Abbey 257986 01785 822327 460662 Barracks Passage ALDRIDGE 178 Little Foregate, BELLA ITALIA 20 Greengate CASA NARANJO Barracks Shrewsbury SY1 1XA OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St, Aston Road, Aldridge, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE St, Stafford, ST16 2HS Branston, Burton, DE14 Walsall WS9 0NU 01922 Passage, Wyle Cop, 01743 361666 01785 211968 Shrewsbury SY1 01743 01743 355055 3EX 01283 533222 455122 HILL VALLEY HOTEL CHANDLERS Corn 588165 THE PLUME OF FEATHERS PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 Mill FARADAYS The Tarporley Road, Exchange, Conduit St, CASA RUIZ 45 High Whitchurch SY13 4HA Harley, Shrewsbury SY5 Street, Stafford, ST16 Waterfront, Brierley Hill, 6LP 01743 727360 Lichfield, WS13 6JU 2AJ 01782 263 737 Dudley, DY5 1UR Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 0844 879 9049 01543 416688 01384 482 882 4DX 01746 218 084 THE INN AT GRINSHILL PORTER HOUSE 15 St THE PEARL18 Market St, Mary’s St, Shrewsbury, THE CORNER HOUSE Kidsgrove, ST7 4AB FIVE RIVERS Vicarage CHEZ MAW Best Western The High Street, SY1 1EQ 01743 358870 Second Avenue,Burton- 01782 788887 Place, Walsall WS1 3NA Valley Hotel, Buildwas Grinshill, Shrewsbury, On-Trent DE14 2WF 01922 646164 Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW SY4 3BL 01939 220410 THE POUND AT LEEBOT- 01283 542321 THE PEAR TREE Swinfen, Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR FOUR STONES Adam’s 01952 432247 KING & THAI Avenue Rd, WOOD Leebotwood, Nr CURRY KUTEER 31 01543 481807 Hill,Clint, Stourbridge, THE COTTAGE Tern Hill, Broseley, Telford TF12 Church Stretton SY6 6ND Greengate Street, Stafford DY9 9PS 01562 883260 Market Drayton TF9 3PX 5DL 01952 882004 01694 751477 ST16 2HY PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, 01630 638984 THE KNIGHTON HOTEL RENAISSANCE, 29a 01785 253279 St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1 1JD 01782 209444 Smethwick, B67 5BN CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole, Broad Street, Knighton, Princess St, Shrewsbury, ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT 0121 429 7920 Shrewsbury SY1 1EN Powys LD7 1BL 01547 SY11LW 01743 354289 27 Broad Eye, Stafford THE RED ROOM 7 FRENCH CONNECTION 01743 361440 520530 ROMOLO Victoria Avenue, ST16 2QB 01785 Newcastle Road, 3 Coventry St, DA VINCI’S 26 High St, LA BÉCASSE 17 Corve St, shrewsbury SY1 1HH 229988 Congleton CW12 4HN 01260 297871 Stourbridge DY8 1EP Ironbridge, TF8 7AD Ludlow, SY8 1DA 01584 01743 233244 FOUR SEASONS Swinfen 01384 390940 01952 432250 872 325 SARACENS Shrewsbury Hall Lichfield, WS14 THORNBURY HALL, RASOI FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove DORRINGTON OLD HALL LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills Rd, SY4 4AG 01939 9RE 01543 481494 Lockwood Rd, Kingsley Rd, Clent, Stourbridge PERSIAN CUISINE Main Lane, Shrewsbury SY1 210877 THE GREEN ROOM Castle Holt, Stafford ST10 2DH DY9 9PY 01562 883040 01538 750831 Road, Dorrington, 1QU 01743 249126 SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St, Dyke, Lichfield WS13 WOLSELEY ARMS GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 Shropshire SY5 7JD LA LANTERNA The Old Oswestry SY11 1AQ 6HR 01543 412121 Wolseley Bridge, Stafford Ablewell St, Walsall WS1 01743 719100 Vestry, St Julian's 01691 655444 INDIAN VILLAGE 2EQ 01922 640363 ST17 0XS DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St Church, Shrewsbury SHALIMAR 23 Abbey 8 Lombard St, Lichfield. LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ SY1 1UH 01743 233552 WS13 6DR 01543 01889 883179 Mill Street, Foregate, Shrewsbury 01743 344679 LION & PHEASANT 50 SY2 6AE 01743 366658 Kidderminster. DY11 THE FEATHERS Brockton, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury 6UU 01562 744976 SY1 1XJ 01743 770345 SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop, Much Wenlock TF13 Shrewsbury SY1 1UT For full Restaurant listings MADE IN THAI Darlington 6JR 01746 785202 THE LION QUAYS Moreton, 01743 242321 St, Wolverhampton WV1 Oswestry SY11 3EN visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk 4HW 01902 312512 FENNELS 8 Market Place,

66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Valentines Poster 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 12:15 Page 1

FRIDAY 14TH & SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2014

y y 2 COURSE MENU 3 COURSE MENU

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL - AND .50 A NON-REFUNDABLE £10 PER .50 £22 PERSON DEPOSIT TO CONFIRM £27 PER PERSON YOUR RESERVATION IS REQUIRED PER PERSON

Reserve your table online at www.thepeachtree.co.uk Call us on 01743 355055 Or pop in and see us! 18-21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE DM grand_whatson FP Feb_Layout 1 27/01/2014 17:47 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 12 - SAT 15 FEBRUARY MON 17 - WED 19 FEBRUARY THU 20 - SAT 22 FEBRUARY

Robert C Kelly and Martin Lynch present The Outrageous New Comedy!

Written By Leesa Harker BBC “hilarious” ...the joy is in the outrageous script...

TUES 25 FEB - SAT 1 MARCH TUES 11 - SAT 15 MARCH MON 17 - TUES 18 MARCH

PAUL BUNYAN BRITTEN THE MAGIC FLUTE MOZART

“AS GOOD AND MAD AS OPERA GETS.” OBSERVER

SUN 23 - TUES 25 MARCH ALSO BOOKING WED 26 - SAT 29 MARCH SUN 23 FEBRUARY ##### THE RAT PACK IS BACK ...... ‘AN EVENING OF RARE, RAW POWER’ SUN 2 MARCH THE ELVIS YEARS THE INDEPENDENT ...... MON 3 - SAT 8 MARCH FAME ...... THU 20 - FRI 21 MARCH ZEPPELIN DREAMS ...... SAT 22 MARCH LESLEY JOSEPH HOT FLUSH ...... SUN 30 MARCH THE SOLID SILVER 60s SHOW ...... MON 31 - SAT 5 APRIL SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS ...... SUN 6 APRIL THE FAAABULOUS CERI DUPREE SHOW

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