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Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands KOJO ANIM INTERVIEW INSIDE... SHROPSHIREWHAT’S JANUARYON 2020 Shropshire ISSUE 409 JANUARY 2020 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On shropshirewhatson.co.uk

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Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

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GLORIOUS FOOD check out some of our favourite eateries in 2020 SHROPSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK Salop Music Centre FP.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:13 Page 1 Contents January Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 16:18 Page 2

January 2020

Contents

Go, go, go, Joe! - Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat visits the Wolves Grand - page 32

Welsh Wonder Kojo Anim Circus Of Horrors the list

Cerys Matthews headlines comedian shares stories of life, celebrating 25 years with ‘an Your 16-page Wolves Literary Festival parenthood and family... amazing amalgamation of acts’ week-by-week listings guide page 4 page 22 page 32 page 53 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 17. Gigs 24. Comedy 30. Theatre 43. Film 46. Visual Arts 49. Events

@whatsonwolverhampton @staffordshirewhatson @whatsonshropshire Wolverhampton What’s On Staffordshire What’s On Shropshire What’s On

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Lauren Cole [email protected] 01743 281733 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Nanci Davies, Patsy Moss Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717

This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 16:50 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Fab-u-lous! Strictly Ballroom to visit two Midlands venues The fab-u-lous Craig Revel Horwood is to direct a 2020/21 UK and Ireland tour of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit musical, Strictly Ballroom. The all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza stops off at two Midlands venues during the tour and comes complete with a selection of hit songs, including Love Is In The Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time. The show foxtrots into the region at the Wolverhampton Grand from 5 to 10 October, and then next year at Birming- ham Hippodrome, from 10 to 15 May.

Voulez Vous - Abba dinner Welsh wonder headlines fidence Man. Forest Live is a major outdoor live music series, held every year by Forestry party at the Garrick Wolves Literary Festival England, which has been attended by 1.9 Mamma Mia! Now here’s an event no self- million people across the last 19 years. respecting Abba fan will want to miss... For more information and to book tickets, The Lichfield Garrick Theatre is this month visit forestryengland.uk hosting Voulez Vous - The Dinner Party (Fri- day 24 & Saturday 25 January), a two-hour Canadian comedian Tom musical theatre show, accompanied by a three-course meal, which sees talented West to headline gala show End singers performing the Swedish super- Canadian iconoclast Tom Stade will headline group’s greatest hits. For more information, this year’s Shrewsbury International Comedy visit lichfieldgarrick.com Festival Gala Show, which will bring down the curtain on a weekend of laughter-making on Sunday 19 July. Wacky Races named best “We’re thrilled to be able to announce Tom,” new event in the UK Catatonia founder Cerys Matthews is the star says Festival Director Kevin Bland. “He’s a Shrewsbury’s first Wacky Races get-together, attraction at this month’s Wolverhampton world-class act who sells out huge venues which took place in the town’s Quarry Park Literature Festival, where she will be talking across the country and has always enjoyed last summer, has won the FIA Formula E about her new book, Where The Wild Cooks tremendous support in Shrewsbury. He’s Championship’s ‘best new event in the UK’ Go. worth the price of admission alone, but award. Now in its fourth year, the festival takes place there’s more to come, and we’ll be announc- Featuring unique homemade creations in the from Friday 31 January to Sunday 2 February ing further top-quality acts during the com- form of soapboxes racing down a hill, Wacky and also features comedy, storytelling ing months.” Races attracted around 17,000 people and sessions, poetry events, and the chance to raised over £20,000 for charity. The event have afternoon tea with popular characters returns to Quarry Park on Sunday 24 May. from Jane Austen novels. For more information and to buy tickets, visit wolvesliteraturefestival.co.uk. Noel’s High Flying Birds set to sing in the forest... Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will appear at this summer’s Forest Live show in Cannock Chase Forest on Friday 19 June. The band will be joined by Australian outfit Con-

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First Word

Stoke stadium date for Robbie Robbie Williams will this summer perform a special show at Port Vale Football Club's Vale Park Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent. Local lad and Vale supporter Robbie will take to the stage on 20 June for a concert in aid of three charities - the Donna Louise Hospice for Children & Young People, Unicef UK and The Hubb Foundation.

Jack Savoretti to play Telford Town Park this summer Jack Savoretti will play Telford’s QEII Arena this summer (Saturday 27 June). Fast-rising singer-songwriter Jack, who last month released his third consecutive UK gold-certified album, Singing To Strangers, will be joined for the gig by Imelda May, who recently performed alongside the legendary Ronnie Wood. To purchase tickets for the show, visit gigantic.com Racecourse Rick One-time teen idol Rick Astley Cyber sculpture will perform a live set at The Shropshire artist best Uttoxeter Racecourse on known for creating a Knife Saturday 16 May. Angel sculpture - as a sym- The ’80s legend, best known bol of the campaign against for number-one single Never knife crime - has turned his Gonna Give You Up, is the star attention to cyber crime. attraction at the end of a full Alfie Bradley’s new sculp- day of racing action. ture, Trojan, is an iron- Tickets for the Live After Rac- worked horse representing ing event are available at tick- the Trojan horses prevalent etmaster.co.uk in cyber crime. The horses are a way of disguising mal- ware in order to mislead internet users as to its intent. Alfie unveiled the new artwork on a piece of land near his studio on the edge Walliams magic at Alton Towers Resort of Oswestry. "I’ve chosen a A unique collaboration between Alton Towers Resort and David dilapidated location, as it Walliams will see a number of the bestselling author’s most-loved represents the current de- creations being brought to life across the venue. caying internet landscape. Commenting on the news, David said: “It’s a huge thrill for some of Like these battered build- my favourite characters to be getting their own attractions at Alton ings, the internet is getting Towers. I can’t wait to experience them for myself - and judging by ravaged by Trojan horses all the work that’s gone into it, I think people are going to love it. and cyber crime.” All will be revealed in the spring.” whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 16:50 Page 3

First Word

Theatre extends dementia services Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has announced plans to extend services for those living in the local community and surrounding areas who are affected by dementia. Although it’s already providing entertainment specifically for people living with dementia and their carers at monthly dementia-friendly Memory Cafes, the Grand wants to do more, so will be increasing provision throughout 2020. This will include the first dementia-friendly performance in the West Midlands - the mati- nee showing of Million Dollar Quartet on Thursday 2 July. Bat Out Of Hell flying into the Midlands in the autumn New name for Hit stage show Bat Out Of Hell-The Musical will hits, the show takes its inspiration from the leg- Walsall venue stop off at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre from endary album of the same name, which has sold Forest Arts Centre has been 29 September to 10 October as part of a UK tour. more than 50 million copies worldwide. renamed the Walsall Arena & Featuring Jim Steinman and Meatloaf’s greatest For more info, visit BatOutOfHellMusical.com Arts Centre. The change is partly due to the increasing popularity of the Sea Life Centre to become venue's state-of-the-art A3 Arena, which in a few short home to rare Alaskan otters years has gained an impressive In a UK first, two Alaskan sea otters will soon reputation both with artists become residents at Birmingham’s National Sea and audiences. Life Centre. The otters will travel more than 5,000 miles by land and air to reach the Centre, where they will set up Folk icon homage home in a new multi-million pound marine mam- An evening of mal rescue facility. music by the The facility is part of a pioneering education & late Midlands conservation project in partnership with the Sea folk icon Nick Line-up announced for Life Trust and Alaska Wildlife. Drake features award-winning folk festival in Lichfield Arts’ January Globally acclaimed Galician piper Carlos Núñez programme of will headline the 2020 Shrewsbury Folk Festival. entertainment. Núñez is one of several acts already confirmed for Drake, who hailed from Tan- the four-day West Mid Showground event, this year worth-in-Arden in Warwick- taking place from 28 to 31 August. shire, made three albums of He will be joined at the festival by eight visionary fragile, melodic songs before musicians performing The Lost Words: Spell Songs. taking his own life in 1974 at The work is a musical companion piece to The Lost the tragically young age of 26. Words: A Spell Book, which responds to the re- Singer and guitarist Keith moval of everyday nature vocabulary from a widely James (pictured) pays homage used children’s dictionary. to his music on Sunday the Welsh supergroup Pendevig also feature on the bill, 19th. To check out the whole as do Calan (pictured), Truckstop Honeymoon and January line-up of shows, visit Blackie And The Rodeo Kings, among many others. lichfieldarts.org.uk For more information about the 2020 event, visit shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk 6 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 16:50 Page 4 The History Boys.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 17:45 Page 1

Alan Bennett’s classroom comedy-drama visits WolverhamptonHISTORY Grand Theatre LESSONS next month...

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by Lauren Cole

A brand new production of Alan Bennett’s “We also have this desperate focus on As he’s got older, Bennett has become more classic classroom comedy-drama, The History achievement; who’s got a better car, a nicer political, particularly when it comes to the Boys, visits the Wolverhampton Grand phone, whatever. The History Boys is about arts. I suppose everything is political in the Theatre early next month. that, and it’s also about being human and the end, but The History Boys is certainly more power of language.” overtly so. It’s the 1980s, and an unruly bunch of bright and funny sixth-form boys are in pursuit of The play also delves into the subject of male “And it’s so funny too. The humour and wit in sex, sporting achievement and a place at relationships... it is so funny; “History is just one f***ing university… thing after another”! It’s truly brilliant. I can’t “A few of the characters, both the boys and think of any other playwright who does the Widely acknowledged to be one of the UK’s the teachers, are homosexual or are pretty combination of politics, comedy and human finest modern-day playwrights, Alan Bennett open when it comes to what they’re willing to relationships so well. I’d say he does it in a is perhaps best known for the frank yet com- try. Putting aside sex, what Alan Bennett very understated English way. There’s a gen- passionate way in which he unveils his char- discusses is male love of all kinds - a sense of tleness and a sardonic humour around his acters’ many layers, exposing both their caring for another male. There are all these work. He’s the most extraordinary writer.” shortcomings and triumphs for his audience pressures about what a man should be, how to see. His plays are jam-packed with sharp to be an alpha male and what masculinity Lee Comley, taking on the role of Hector’s wit, devastating moments of raw emotion and means. Women obviously have their own rival, Irwin, and Victoria Carling, playing the incomparable humanity. pressures, but in the 1980s, men weren’t sup- only female teacher, Mrs Lintott, also have The History Boys is no exception. posed to hug, touch and be caring towards plenty of praise for Bennett and The History one another in the same way as women were. Boys. “It’s all about considering what the point of It’s also about adolescence and how to navi- education is,” says Ian Redford, who stars in “This is a play that everyone can relate to,” gate that. It’s about the value of teachers as the new production. “What are schools for? Is says Lee. “That feeling of moving from being guides - and not just academically either; not school about passing examinations or is it a late teen into an adult is a strange time for just to get you through the exam and be done about actually learning stuff? And then is that all of us. I think everyone will leave at the end with you.” learning focused on how to be a human of the show having had a great time, but also being, or finding out about how the world Ian plays the character of old-school history holding onto those really important parts of around you works - or both? Education is teacher Hector. the play. What I like the most, though, is that always on people’s minds and everyone has the boys are very open to their sexuality being “Hector is married and described as a latent an opinion about it. I think the further away fluid. To have that viewpoint in the ’80s is homosexual. He’s a teacher who’s been an individual gets from having been in educa- quite unusual. I think what’s so striking around a long time and is getting to the latter tion, the more strident their opinions become. about Bennett is how he just lays everything stage of his career. He survives through I was reading an article years ago about par- out there, just as it is.” humour, definitely knows the limits of his ents running around in Starbucks bragging influence - as most teachers do - but has a Victoria is equally complimentary about The about their children’s material possessions burning passion which has kept him going History Boys: “After I’d read the script, I tried and arbitrary achievements. But it’s not about throughout his years in teaching. The beauty to describe to my husband what sort of hu- that. It’s about whether kids are growing up of language is particularly important for Hec- mour Bennett injected into his plays, but it’s into happy human beings, not just being tor. He has a beautiful relationship with all of really hard to do that. It’s almost like it’s so raised to achieve certain things, like fulfilling the boys, in the sense that he’s a sort of subtle that you don’t quite know why you’ve a school’s desired number of pupils going to parental figure, but also knows when to give laughed, but you do anyway. The comedy in Oxford and Cambridge, which is certainly them a cuffing. Hector is forced to share a his plays is so clever, but certainly not in an part of the story in The History Boys. Educa- class with Irwin - a younger teacher who’s inaccessible way. Bennett is nothing to be tion is the nub of the way society works and come in to shake things up. Irwin’s idea is not afraid of! can become a topic in which people explore to teach the subject as it is, but to embellish what it means to be human, but almost by “The History Boys never struck me as a play I and subvert it in a way that makes it more accident.” ever wanted to see, but now having read it, appealing to the students. It’s almost as if he’s my thinking has been completely altered. It’s So what was Ian’s own education like? flogging stuff! So Hector and Irwin’s relation- moving, funny and thought-provoking. I ship is certainly a little confrontational.” “I had a particularly extraordinary teacher at would compare it to a heartfelt chamber school. I wasn’t academic and was pretty lazy How does Ian think The History Boys piece. It’s not a great, showy symphony - all too. I really wasn’t interested in school, but I compares to Bennett’s other plays? fire and bangs - but it’s something you will was in plays, theatre and acting. This wonder- keep thinking about afterwards.” “In a way I think this play is his most politi- ful teacher - who was a History teacher, fun- cal, although he doesn’t really come up with a nily enough - taught me how to live through specific leaning towards one side or the other. my passions. Reading a book or seeing a play The History Boys shows at He just throws up into the air all the questions is like going on a magic-carpet ride where you Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from for the audience to consider for themselves. go into this whole different world. Friday 7 to Saturday 22 February.

whatsonlive.co.uk 9 Top six restaurants Wolves Shrops Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:18 Page 1 Top six restaurants Wolves Shrops Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:18 Page 2

Dine out in 2020 Enjoy great food? Here’s a selection of some of our favourite eateries for you to try out in 2020. Don’t forget, you can read all of our restaurant reviews in full at whatsonlive.co.uk

The Coach House - ★★★★★ Five Rivers À La Carte - ★★★★★ The Quarter - ★★★★★ Nestled in the Upper Only Valley between This award-winning restaurant boasts a The Quarter is a cafe by day and a bistro the Stiperstones ridge and the Long Mynd - sumptuous fine dining menu created by Head with a quirky home-style menu by night. an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Chef & founder Rashpal Sunner, a man who Situated just yards from the Regent that’s hugely popular with walkers, has prepared banquets for the likes of former Theatre, it provides a wide and cyclists, mountain-bikers and President of the United States Bill Clinton and mouthwatering variety of food & drink photographers - The Coach House has been ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair. options, regular themed evenings, and providing travellers with hospitality, Pricing - ££££ function facilities for special events. warmth and comfort since the early 1700s. 11 Vicarage Place, Walsall, WS1 3NA Pricing - £££ Pricing - ££££ The Quarter, 65 Piccadilly, Stoke-on- Trent, ST1 1HR The Coach House, Norbury, Bishops Castle, SY9 5DX

Il Michelangelo - ★★★★ Blanc NRI - ★★★★★ The Clive Arms - ★★★★ Il Michelangelo has been trading for eight Brought to Staffordshire’s ever-expanding This popular venue boasts fresh, new years and, alongside its extensive a la carte culinary scene by the owner of the award- open-plan dining and bar areas, an menu, produces daily menus designed to winning James Dahl restaurant in The additional three bedrooms and an create a truly seasonal dining experience. Arcadian, Birmingham, Blanc NRI is located impressive outdoor eating terrace. The restaurant uses local produce wherever on the A34 and specialises in serving kebabs The new layout includes a main 40-cover possible, imports the finest seasonal and curries originating in the north west, restaurant, with further dining Italian ingredients, and employs chefs south and Awadh region of India and on the opportunities offered in the who’re expert in creating modern takes on streets of Delhi. extended bar area, snug and lounge. classic Italian recipes. Pricing - ££££ Pricing - ££££ Pricing - £££ Blanc NRI, A34 Stone Road, Stoke-on- The Clive Arms, Bromfield Road, Il Michelangelo, Brierley Hill High Trent, ST15 0QT Ludlow, SY8 2JR Street, Brockmoor, DY5 3JA

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Food

and flavour, and definitely one of glided through the meat as if it my highlights of the evening. were butter, the emulsion added The Creedy Carver chicken ter- a sense of freshness to the dish, rine that was presented to us and the mash was worlds apart next was my partner’s Larder from any I'd previously tasted. highlight. The dish featured a The portions were of an impres- precisely formed, soft and succu- sive size for a tasting menu, too. lent chicken terrine, alongside a The first of two desserts was piece of salty chicken skin, cep Larder’s take on a crumble - the powder, a pickled cep mushroom most luxurious crumble you’re and a strong-flavoured green tar- ever likely to try, in fact! It com- ragon emulsion. The classic prised compressed apple, sharp chicken & mushroom flavour pickled blackberries, a sweet combination is commonplace for blackberry puree and a verbena a reason - because it’s downright shortbread crumb, all enclosed REVIEW: Larder delicious - and Larder’s take on it in a light and airy apple foam. It was exceptional. was a concept I’d never come All flavour, no pomp at Lichfield gem I thoroughly enjoy a scallop and across in a restaurant before, but “All flavour, no pomp. Pomp - reports about the venue prior to find myself being drawn to them one that I’d definitely be drawn overbearing, pretentious and my visit, so my partner and I if they’re on a menu. My partner, towards again. self-important” is the leading thought it best to opt for the however, is usually left disap- The finale of chocolate crémeux line on Larder’s website. seven-course tasting menu, to pointed by them. Not at Larder, served with Baileys ice cream, Located on the bustling Bore ensure we sampled as much of though! Hand dived scallop with candid hazelnuts and salted Street, less than 10 minutes’ Larder’s delectable cuisine as compressed apple, crispy caramel was as rich and naughty walk away from some of the possible. parsnip, pickled shallots and as it sounds. The caramel sauce city’s most popular locations - First up was the best bread curry oil was the next dish we was the nicest I’ve ever tasted, the Cathedral, Garrick Theatre course that has ever touched my tried. The scallop, large in size, and the candid hazelnuts and the Guildhall, to name but lips - a black truffle crumpet with was absolute perfection. Sealed boasted an almost sweet popcorn three - Larder offers a relaxed, cultured butter. Due to the way nicely on the outside yet soft on taste and texture. It was the per- honest and ingredient-led fine in which it’s made, cultured but- the inside, the meaty delight was fect end to a perfect evening. dining experience in the heart of ter is the more sophisticated and accompanied by a combination The food at Larder was the equal Lichfield. deeper-flavoured version of your of sweet flavours from the com- of any I’ve tasted in a Michelin- The restaurant has just cele- average butter, boasting a tang- pressed apple and pickled shal- star restaurant. The flavours brated its first birthday and has ier taste. A generous helping of lots. The curry oil helped bring were exceptional and every become well known for its com- that, spread all over (and melt- the dish together without being course showcased a mitment to local ingredients and ing into) a warm, doughy, black overpowering, while the crispy combination of culinary preci- bold flavours. Diners can enjoy truffle crumpet is one of the most parsnip added another dimen- sion and excellent technical abil- two courses for £30, three for comforting food experiences you sion to the experience with its ity. Everything here is faultless - £40 or a five or a seven-course could possibly have. crunchy texture. Simply divine. service and atmosphere included tasting menu. Vegetarian options From the word go, we were Next up was a meaty and per- - and now that I’ve paid this gem are also available. beyond impressed! fectly cooked piece of monkfish, of a restaurant a visit, I can Larder’s welcoming and attentive Next up was the first dish on the presented on a bed of salty indeed confirm the accuracy of manager, Alec, made us feel tasting menu - torched mackerel. chorizo jam and accompanied by that opening line on its website: right at home from the moment As well as being aesthetically a creamy sweetcorn sauce and a ‘All flavour [and then some!] no we walked through the door. We stunning, it was the nicest-tast- buttery piece of baby gem. A pomp’ sums up Larder nicely. perused the menu options in the ing mackerel I’ve ever had the colourful dish, it married to- Lauren Foster bar area whilst admiring the pleasure of eating. Beautifully gether contrasting and comple- mentary flavours in a way that modern and contemporary fresh and incredibly soft, its skin Food: nnnnn was nothing short of delicious. decor. Exposed brick, dark wood, was torched to perfection. The Service: nnnnn Another highlight. and grey, teal, navy and mustard fish was complemented by a wel- Ambience: nnnnn notes run throughout the build- come crunch from a sesame seed The main meat course of the Overall value nnnnn ing. As well as its bar area and cracker, bursts of Japanese-in- evening came in the form of a OVERALL nnnnn main restaurant, Larder also spired flavours from a soy & gin- high quality and beautifully boasts a chef’s table, located ger gel, and yet more freshness cooked fillet of beef, served atop Larder next to the kitchen, which can from the little cubes of com- the most exquisite truffle mash, 17 Bore Street accommodate up to 10 people. pressed kohlrabi (German a tasty little ox cheek croquette, Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 6LZ I had heard nothing but glowing turnip). It was the most vibrant an ale shallot, beef jus and wa- of dishes in both presentation tercress emulsion. The knife Tel: 01543 471342 whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Asking For It Warwicks Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 17:23 Page 1

ASKING FOR IT The subject of sexual consent takes centre stage at Birmingham Repertory Theatre when an acclaimed stage adaptation of Louise O'Neill's devastating novel, Asking For It, receives its UK premiere this month. A young woman’s life is left in tatters as 21st century morals and the traditions of a small, fictional town in County Cork collide...

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Lauren Cole

The critically acclaimed stage adaptation of wanted to reflect that sense of claustrophobia with other works because it doesn’t feel like my Irish author Louise O'Neill’s novel, Asking For and lack of anonymity in a place where every- story. It feels like something for everyone. I was It, makes its UK debut in Birmingham this one knows everyone. It felt important to write a away when the previews of the play happened, month. And it’s set to cause quite a stir too, story like this primarily targeted at a young- and I started getting phone calls and messages focusing, as it does, on the experience of sex- adult audience because so many of the young gushing about how amazing the play was. And ual-assault victim Emma O’Donovan, its people who read the book need to hear about on the opening night, I wasn’t disappointed. I fictional main character. stories like this; to have some form of facilitat- was so blown away by the production values, ing difficult conversations. Art really is the per- the incredible set and the talented young cast. “Emma is a very confident, beautiful, popular, fect tool to do that. It’s essential to raise It felt so vibrant, alive and exciting. ambitious young woman,” explains author awareness of consent, sexual violence, rape Louise. “She really has the world at her feet, “Seeing the impact on the audience felt like culture and victim blaming in this age group.” but she can definitely veer from being devas- such a powerful, collective experience. People tatingly vulnerable to monstrously selfish. A Louise’s main focus was to make sure that were openly weeping by the end, which felt lot of the reasons why I wanted to explore the Emma’s story felt as real as possible: “Firstly, like both a grieving process and a catharsis - less pleasant aspects of her personality is that I I’ve been sexually assaulted myself, so I used a like breaking a fever. It’s an extraordinary think it’s really important that we dismantle lot of my own experiences and ways I pro- piece of work, and I feel so humbled by what this myth of the perfect victim. People seem to cessed the feelings of depression, numbness the play has achieved. I always think about have a finite amount of sympathy for survivors and disassociation to create this novel. Also, I what kinds of conversations and stories have of sexual violence, and it’s as if you have to worked closely with the sexual violence centre been, and will continue to be, shared between meet this strict set of criteria: you can’t have in my hometown of Cork to speak to survivors. people who’ve gone to see Asking For It been drinking or wearing a short skirt, and if I read memoirs and first-person fictional narra- together - that’s vital. It broke the box office you’ve had any sexual history with your tives, watched documentaries and really just records at The Everyman in Cork and it was attacker previously, then that will be held fully researched anything I could get my hands great to know that people who wouldn’t usu- against you. I wanted to emphasise that people on. I even spoke to a barrister. I wanted to ally go to the theatre were going to see the we dislike who are sexually assaulted are just make sure that I could not only make Emma’s play.” as deserving of our support.” experiences as authentic as possible, but that Asking For It has also found its way into all the other parts of the story rang as true as So what prompted Louise to write such a schools: “A programme was devised where they possibly could as well. provocative novel, particularly for a ‘young staff went in to discuss the play, the pupils adult’ target audience? “I was nervous when it went to be published then saw it and had further discussions. The because there are so many myths out there reports that came back were genuinely remark- “There was a case in America called the about both the perpetrators and survivors of able. At one girls’ school, they were engaging Steubenville High School rape case. It was in a sexual violence. I was very aware that I could in a lot of victim blaming, and then they were small town where the local school’s football put something out in the world that could able to display a great deal of empathy for team were treated like gods. At a party, a young perpetuate those misconceptions and actually Emma. Another school banded together to woman drank a lot, passed out and was then cause even more harm if I didn’t do it right. I’m write a letter to their Principle asking for better sexually assaulted by multiple members of the incredibly proud of the book and its message, sex education surrounding consent. Then team. Photos and videos were taken and circu- which is why I was so excited by the prospect some boys at another school had some very lated on social media. I was struck by the story, of a stage adaptation. The prospect of this upsetting, misogynistic views surrounding and what I found most disturbing was when a message getting as far and wide as possible is female victims of sexual violence. After seeing CNN reporter said, and I’m paraphrasing, how incredible. Sexual violence is such an epi- the play, they were able to have a very frank sad it was to see a day in court where these demic in our culture, an important and devas- conversation about their own vulnerabilities promising young men were having their tating issue that needs to be addressed and and the pressure they felt to conform to ideals futures taken away from them. She didn’t men- eradicated, and we’re not going to do that un- of masculinity. That’s why people create art: it tion the victim at all! It was then that I really less we face the issue head-on.” forces a sense of empathy by making you live understood the term ‘rape culture’. We are still in another person’s shoes and understand part of a culture that will do anything it can to It was Landmark Productions and The Every- their motives. To think that Asking For It could normalise sexual violence in some degrees man in Cork that approached Louise about the shift attitudes is very overwhelming.” because of its prevalence. I was so angry about prospect of adapting her novel for the stage. that, and I usually end up writing to process “Having had a conversation with them, I really my emotions.” felt that they understood what I was trying to Asking For It makes its UK debut at Louise also drew on her own experiences of get at in the book. It felt like I had passed the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on living in a small town in Ireland: “I wanted to baton on with the play. Even when writing Ask- Wednesday 29 January, continuing its run translate this topic into an Irish context being For It, I quickly realised that I didn’t feel at the venue until Saturday 15 February. cause I grew up in a small town there, and I the same kind of ownership over it as I did

whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Classical January Wolves Shrops.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:19 Page 1

Classical

Innovation Ensemble: Quintets At Dusk The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, Sun 19 January Innovation Ensemble comprises five highly respected chamber musicians drawn from the circle of colleagues and friends of the late Peter Cropper. Repeat- edly hailed for his creativity and musical fearlessness, and often lauded for an undoubted streak of genius, violinist Peter was the leader of the Lindsay Quartet for almost four decades. He died suddenly in late May 2014 at the age of 69. Among the musicians performing this latest concert is his son, Martin. The programme features works by Mozart and Beethoven.

Ex Cathedra: Halle Orchestra: New Year On The Danube Missa Solemnis Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 3 January Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 26 January One of the UK’s top symphonic ensembles, from Budapest to Vienna, with waltzes and It’s hard to imagine a more appropriate the Manchester-based Halle is admired polkas by the family Strauss and some time for Ex Cathedra to team up with the around the world for its extensive orchestral added Hungarian flavour’. Jenö Lisztes City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra repertoire. This Victoria Hall concert sees (cimbalom) and Lajos Sárközy Jr (violin) and perform Ludwig van Beethoven. Gergely Madaras (pictured) taking the helm also contribute to what will surely be an The highly rated choral music ensemble is for ‘a New Year journey along the Danube evening of exceptional musicmaking. celebrating its 50th year and the CBSO its centenary, while 2020 also marks the 25oth anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. British Philharmonic Orchestre National Singer Roderick Williams (pictured) is Concert Orchestra de Lille among the soloists contributing to an event that promises to be every bit as Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, majestic and monumental as the composi- Sun 19 January Tues 28 January tion being performed, a piece to which The 33-piece British Philharmonic Concert Lending their Beethoven devoted four years of his life. Orchestra kickstart 2020 in style with a unmistakable The composer’s diligence and tenacity show that recalls the glories of Johann Gallic style to certainly paid off - Missa Solemnis is Strauss, Franz Lehar and Viennese proceedings, the considered by some to be one of the great- operetta. widely admired est classical works of all time. Featured works include Strauss’ By The Orchestre National Beautiful Blue Danube, The Thunder And de Lille visit Birm- Lightning Polka and the masterful Die ingham with their Fledermaus. Highlights from Lehar’s Merry inspirational Widow also feature, along with a wealth of music director & operetta favourites from, among other conductor, Alexander Bloch (pictured), to works, The Student Prince, The New Moon, perform a programme that features Claude The Gypsy Baron and The White Horse Inn. Debussy’s magnificent seascape, La Mer. The orchestra will also be turning their attention to the works of Maurice Ravel, presenting their interpretation of two of his compositions - the Ma mère l'Oye Suite and La Valse. Award-winning pianist Eric Lu completes the programme with a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No4.

16 whatsonlive.co.uk GIGS January Wolves_Shrops_Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:19 Page 2

Gigs

The Wedding Present Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 10 January Best known for playing fast-paced indie rock - their influences include The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang Of Four - The Wedding Present have had 18 UK top-40 singles since debuting in 1985; not bad for a band who’ve always stubbornly refused to play the record industry’s game. There have been numerous line-up changes down the years, with vocalist, guitarist and original songwriter David Gedge the band's only constant member.

Kaiser Chiefs a big obstacle, it just gets blown away in the wind like a dandelion. We’re still selling out Arena Birmingham, Sat 25 January arenas but under the radar.” Fifteen years into their career, Kaiser Chiefs Seventh album Duck came out in summer are hitting new artistic peaks. “It’s more ex- 2019, and the Leeds lads are celebrating its citing than it’s ever been,” says charismatic release with this new UK tour, supported by Martyn Joseph frontman Ricky Wilson. “Every time there’s Razorlight and Life. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 31 January “Really what I do is try to write songs that The Superskas Chantel McGregor might step up and make some sense of a The Robin, Bilston, Sat 18 January Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thurs 16 January moment in time,” explains modern folk artist The Superskas perform a catalogue of hits Martyn Joseph. “A good song makes you feel from the golden ages of trojan ska and 2- Blues rock musician Chantel McGregor was like you’re not alone in the world.” Tone, covering songs from original pioneers once told by a major label that she had a Often compared to the likes of Bruce Spring- including Toots & The Maytals, Desmond "great voice, but girls don't play guitar like steen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Dekker, The Specials, Madness and The that!" Ignoring their comments, she enrolled Matthews, Martyn is a unique performer Selecter. at the Leeds College of Music and became who’s driven by passion, social awareness Complete with horn section and male & the first student in the college’s history to and an abiding love for his trade. His career female vocalists, the band count among achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 spans 30 years, 32 albums, over half a million their career highlights live collaborations distinctions. record sales and thousands of live perform- with Damon Albarn of Blur, Dave Wakeling, She’s since released two albums, Like No ances. Ranking Roger and The Beat. Other and Lose Control, and is currently writing her third. Slipknot Arena Birmingham, Fri 24 January Slipknot return to Birmingham in support of their album, We Are Not Your Kind. The record was so popular it knocked Ed Sheeran off the top of the charts... As well as favourites from the new offering, expect to hear a selection of hits from the band’s back catalogue, including Duality, Before I Forget, Psychosocial and Wait And Bleed.

whatsonlive.co.uk 17

whatsonlive.co.uk 17 David Baddiel Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 16/12/2019 11:12 Page 1 Taking on the trolls... David Baddiel talks trolls, Twitter and Trump ahead of his new 52-date UK tour David Baddiel Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 16/12/2019 11:12 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

David Baddiel is critically acclaimed in a Breakfasts, and people go barmy about plac- happens in the news, I don’t go, ‘Oh, I’m left number of creative fields. In his time in the ing the beans next to the sausages and what- wing so I should think about this like this’. spotlight, he’s been a comedian, presenter, ever. Even that gets an extreme reaction! So I just try to go off what I think, which doesn’t author, screenwriter and playwright. His pre- social media can be really trivial in that way, mean I won’t end up thinking about things in vious touring comedy show, My Family: Not but also it can be so influential and is really what is traditionally seen as a left or right- The Sitcom, even transferred to the West End changing everything. I predominantly use wing way. It just means that I’m more focused and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Twitter, and I think Twitter is where a lot of on my own identity. The show is actually the battles - particularly political ones - are about that, too. There’s a lot about how one’s “I decided when I came back to performing in happening. Social media has changed the pre-thought-out identity leads to anger. For 2013 that I didn’t just want to do generalised fundamental ideas behind the way humans example, I made this incredibly innocuous banter in that comedian way,” explains think and just are, especially in regard to joke about Nicola Sturgeon, which led to David, who’s visiting the region this month power and the way people interact.” unimaginable rage from Scottish Nationalists. with his latest stage offering, Trolls: Not The But being a Scottish Nationalist had abso- Dolls - a show based around the subject of David’s Twitter interactions with trolls was lutely nothing to do with the joke. I think social media. “I wanted to talk about stuff; one of the inspirations for his show: “When social media is a lot about saying, Here I am, things that are important to me. I’ve watched this really abusive part of social media began and wanting to have an identity in amongst quite a lot of Ted Talks and actually hosted a happening, people started this campaign the sea of people. One way of doing that is to programme on Radio Four about people about not ‘feeding the trolls’. Just ignore turn up the volume and make people notice doing serious talks. I started to wonder about them. I found that really strange as a come- your identity - and the most obvious way to whether there could be a comedy version of dian, because trolls are essentially hecklers - do that is through anger.” really digging into a single subject. So my first they’re people saying ‘you’re s***’ in one way show, Fame: Not The Musical, was about how or another. Generally a comedian’s response So how come David has so many strings to his weird the celebrity world is, and then My to hecklers is to try and put them down fun- bow? Family: Not The Sitcom was about my family. nily. It’s seen as part of the job; to take what “From the word go, I’ve never really acknowl- During both shows I was using social media they’ve said and to disarm them in a way that edged boundaries between different types of to talk about the ways in which the world was makes the rest of the audience laugh. I didn’t storytelling. Take the children’s books as an changing, and particularly the way people see that as any different on Twitter. When I example - my son, who was eight at the time, were getting really angry. Those parts worked had a troll tweet me, I would retweet it with asked me why Harry Potter didn’t just run so well in my previous shows that I realised my own response above and it had the same away from the Dursleys and find better par- there was probably a whole show to be had response from the audience as it would in a ents, which gave me the idea for my first chil- there. live show... people laughed! I can sort of be a dren’s book. In that world, children choose conductor of this great big comedy orchestra “Certainly social media never fails to surprise their own parents. I immediately saw that that too, because others are itching to join in. So me. For example, going back to when it was particular idea was right for a children’s book I’ll start something by responding to a troll first becoming a thing, a journalist called rather than a live show, but what I didn’t do with a joke, and someone else will then add India Knight described it as this website that’s was decide that because I wasn’t a children’s to that with a graphic or whatever. People like a cocktail party where you can mingle author I couldn’t write it. always ask me if what trolls say to and about with others and have a lovely time. I’m sure me hurts me - and the true answer to that is “Then, with my play, God’s Dice, I had an many would’ve been surprised that it’s turned yes. But seconds later I think it’s just immate- idea about a scientist who proves the exis- into mainly people shouting at each other. rial. The window of feeling hurt is definitely tence of God with the help of his student - and Fortunately or unfortunately, social media getting smaller and smaller. One thing that to me that felt like an idea best fitted to a play. does actually influence people a lot. If you Trolls: Not The Dolls tries to do is take this I really don’t feel strapped into one medium. fast-forward just over 10 years on from Twit- terrible, abusive thing and transform it into People always tell me I do so many things in ter’s launch, Donald Trump becomes Presi- something joyful and funny. That’s one way my job, but I don’t feel like that: I’m not a dent of the United States. He is the archetypal of thinking about trolls that takes away any comedian and a plumber! I’m just a storyteller troll - and not just in his presence on Twitter, power they thought they had.” in different forms.” but in his whole dialogue and very loud, angry, extreme discourse with conspiracy the- Trolls: Not The Dolls has been described as ories and all the rest of it. So we’re not talking Baddiel’s most political show yet, an assess- about trolls as something on the fringes of our ment with which he agrees: “But I should Trolls: Not The Dolls visits Huntingdon society here - they’re at the very centre of the stress from the start that it doesn’t come from Hall, Worcester, Thurs 6 February; Royal changes that we see happening in our world. a set political perspective. I certainly was left Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- wing when I was young, but now I’m no wing Avon, Sun 9 February; Royal Spa Centre, "I think people used to dismiss social media whatsoever. I use that phrase rather than Leamington, Sat 14 March; Dudley Town snootily as a place where people try to show ‘centrist’ because I don’t really like that word, Hall, Sat 29 February; Royal Spa Centre, off or talk about what they had for breakfast. and, in fact, it’s something that trolls often Leamington Spa, Sat 14 March; Symphony Incidentally, I do the breakfast thing with my use. What I mean is that I try not to fit any Hall, Brimingham, Thurs 19 March whole series of tweets about Full English prearranged ideological map. If something For further dates, visit davidbaddiel.com p18 Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 16:58 Page 1

18 whatsonlive.co.uk Readers' Awards 2020.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 13:51 Page 1

Get VOTING for your favourite Midlands events, shows and venues in the... What’sOn Readers’ Awards 2020

Some of last year’s winners...

Best Arts/Theatre Venue in Best Kids Show - The Snowman, Best Birmingham Arts/Theatre Venuenue - Wolverhampton & Black Country - Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Best Home Produced Showw - Best Large Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s The Wizard Of Oz Wolverhampton Grand Best Midlands Pantomime - Birmingham Hippodrome whatsonlive.co.uk 19 Readers' Awards 2020.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 13:51 Page 2 Readers' Awards 2020.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 13:51 Page 3

#culturematters #artsmatters

Yes, it’s once again time for you to show just CATEGORIES INCLUDE: how much you appreciate Birmingham & Best Large Theatre the West Midlands’ ever-vibrant arts & Best Regional Theatre entertainment scene. Best Touring Musical Best Home Produced Show Nominate and vote online for your Best Touring Show favourites to help them secure a place in our Best Kids Show What’s On Readers’ Awards Best Panto Dame Top 5 Shortlist. Best Classical Production Best Orchestra The shortlist will be announced in our Best Panto February issue. You will then be able to Best Amateur Theatre Company VOTE for your WINNER in each category. Best Arts Venue So get voting now! Best Large Music Venue Best Regional Music Venue And complete our Readership Survey for the Best Band/Artist chance to WIN £1,000 cash! Best Exhibition VOTE for your NOMINATIONS Best Comedy Night Best Dance Production by Saturday 18 January Best Visitor Attraction WINNERS will be announced in the Spring Best Indoor Event Best Outdoor Event Best Music Festival Best Arts/Cultural Festival Best Food Festival Best Independent Restaurant Best Independent Coffee Shop

Best Midlands and Best Birmingham Arts Best Birmingham Independent Restaurant Best Independent Bar Festival - Birmingham Comedy Festival - Purnell’s Best Market VOTE now at whatsonlive.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Kojo Anim.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 11:57 Page 1

kojo anim The Britain’s Got Talent finalist chats to What’s On as he prepares to hit the road with stories and observations about life, parenthood and family.

22 whatsonlive.co.uk Kojo Anim.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 11:57 Page 2

When did you first realise you were funny? Before Britain’s Got Talent, you were comedians on before me absolute hell that I’d always been entertaining my family and almost better known in America than here day. My plan was to get Amanda Holden’s and friends. I was witty and quick with a in the UK. How was that? David Walliams’ approval. Alesha Dixon had seen me at gigs, so I hoped she’d be on side. response. In school, if I got in trouble, it was I’d met, through friends, Nick Cannon, who at I’d actually written Simon Cowell off, as I always what I’d said, not what I’d done. I had the time was still married to Mariah Carey - knew I only needed three of them to back me. an answer for everything. Comedy happened how crazy is that? - and he was bringing a big It was the very first day of filming, and - to almost by accident. My first love was always improvisation show, Wild N Out, back to add to the madness - Simon had never football, but I had terrible discipline as a foot- American TV and wanted to include some UK pressed his golden buzzer on day one. So baller. I was selected with some of the best talent. I leapt at the chance. I’d watched the when it happened, everyone was so shocked - young players in England for a school of show as a kid, and it was a ridiculous oppor- day one and a comedian! The reaction was so excellence to study and play football, but I tunity to go and work with all these famous gratifying. It told me, ‘I can do this’. I’d had a terrible attitude about being on time etc and amazingly funny people in America. proven myself and removed my doubts about and relied on being very talented. But it didn’t Everyone I grew up with used to watch it, and me. After that, I knew I was good enough. work out. there I was being invited to be the first British I learned a big lesson in hindsight, and it comedian on it. How’s it been since the show? turned out to be a blessing. Missing that Absolutely life-changing. My dad was in opportunity to change my life, the pain I felt So what made you audition for Britain’s Ghana and it came up on the news. I didn’t when it ended, kept me disciplined when I Got Talent? leave the house for four days after the golden- found comedy. I would never, ever let an I’d been going through a bad period both buzzer audition was aired. I had so many opportunity slip through my hands again. I financially and in terms of opportunities. I’d messages on my phone, and everywhere I have so much respect for every opportunity had my son, and that increased the pressure went, people were giving me their love and that comes my way now. I realised I was a on me to decide what I was going to do with support. All the work during those 20 years natural with comedy, but also determined the rest of my life. I was feeling like I’d been had been gearing me up for it, and that’s that I was going to work hard, find solutions placed in the ‘has-been’ box so far as a com- made it all a bit easier to cope with. and make no excuses. edy career was concerned. I was approached It’s crazy and has all happened at the same by Britain’s Got Talent - they’d seen some You were ‘discovered’ on Britain’s Got time as adjusting to life as a first-time dad. videos online - and I was told the producers Talent, but you’d already been working the Roman’s oblivious to it, but we’re capturing it had loved the videos and were dying to get circuit for 20 years. How did you turn that all on our phones and it’s amazing that he’s me on the show, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ natural ability into a career? been on the journey with us. Roman’s also I’d always said it wasn’t for me - I didn’t think been life-changing. He’s allowed me to be I was doing talent shows at university and it was credible. But when I discussed it with selfish, and people told me how much harder had the chance to go to comedy school, so I my fiancée, she said the fact they’d had to I’d want to work after becoming a parent… borrowed £150 from my Aunty Sandra - I’ve find me as an ‘unknown’ meant they didn’t You’re making decisions for your child, not more than paid her back now. After that, I did know me - so I had nothing to lose. a lot of university comedy gigs and built up a just for yourself. What was it like preparing for that first fanbase. From that, I was able to set up Kojo’s How do you feel ahead of the tour? audition? Comedy Fun House, which ran every Sunday Touring nationally is a dream come true; for eight years, with 300 people queueing up I didn’t just plan for the first audition, I we’re working on material at the moment. outside each week, packing it to the rafters planned my acts for every round from the first There’s definitely going to be a look at father- and coming along week after week. I came audition to the final. I had 20 years of mate- hood - looking at what goes through a man’s from a partying background, so would invite rial, so why not? I just had to decide which mind as a new dad, as well as asking some celebrities to the comedy shows - as well as way round to use it, and to get my head serious questions like, ‘Will I end up looking hosting exciting new comedians and DJs - so straight about what was to come. As I gradu- like my parents, will my child end up in the it became somewhere people wanted to be. ally went through each phase, I realised what same situation as me?’ What really made it big, though, was when the opportunity was actually going to mean to I’m looking forward to touring - going to David Chapelle was in town and heard about me. The show’s called Britain’s Got Talent, places I’ve never been to, like Swindon, the club. I called someone who’d seen him but I suddenly realised that the world would Malvern, New Brighton and places in Wales I and got them to put him on the phone. He just be watching online because ‘Got Talent’ is a can’t even spell… came down and performed. ‘Going viral’ global thing. I know people in the comedy I’m now 40. I told my fiancée, Tiff, that I wasn’t even a thing at the time, but that’s industry were saying, ‘Why is he doing it?’, believe the best years of my life will be my 40s kind of what happened. It was the first show but people across the country didn’t know - and it’s definitely looking that way. Let’s he’d done after going away following his big me. I had to be able to look at my son and have it! success, so everyone was talking about it. It know I’d taken the chance, taken that massive was huge on YouTube, and it was a real inter- leap of faith. national moment to see him back on stage. Kojo Anim appears at the Alexandra Simon Cowell famously hates comedians So then people started talking about the Fun Theatre, Birmingham, on Thursday 6 on the show, but he gave you his golden House, and I was hearing from American February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, buzzer. How did that feel? comedians over in the UK who wanted to on Tuesday 25 February; Forum Theatre, come down. I was just a young comedian I was so nervous. The judges genuinely don’t Malvern, on Wednesday 26 February and wanting to express myself there, and all this know what’s coming next as you walk out; it’s Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Monday 9 came from that small place. a conveyor belt of talent. Simon had given two March. whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Comedy January.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 14:37 Page 1

Comedy

Jamali Maddix Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 26 Jan- uary; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Mon 17 February; Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Tues 25 February; Slade Rooms, Wolver- hampton, Fri 28 February Former Chortle ‘student comedian of the year’ Jamali Maddix has been praised both for his frank yet ironic take on everyday racism and for his willingness to tackle the ‘hot potato’ subject of terrorism. With influences ranging from Gandhi to his Uncle Mark, the 28-year-old Londoner describes his new show, Strip Club Einstein, as “a reflection on tales from the front line of social change and uncomfortable home truths”.

The Thinking Drinkers The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 25 January Now here’s an offer that no self-respecting come as a result of Thinking Drinkers Ben lover of quality comedy and the occasional McFarland and Tom Sandham sharing their cheeky tipple could possibly ignore... fascinating facts and absorbing anecdotes Bag yourself a ticket for this show and you about the role the demon drink has played get five - yep, that’s right, five - free drinks! in inspiring some of history’s greatest There’s also every chance that you’ll leave names, from Plato and Picasso to Nelson, the theatre at the end of the night with a Napoleon, and even, we’re reliably in- splendidly enhanced understanding of the formed, Norm from Cheers. significance of alcohol. Enlightenment will

Jimmy Carr Marcus Brigstocke Sandi Toksvig: Live Dudley Town Hall, Fri 31 January; Victoria The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sat 4 January Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 13 February; Mon 27 January; Warwick Arts Centre, Peddling a line in dark, intelligent humour, Coventry, Sat 1 February Jimmy Carr’s com- the award-winning Marcus Brigstocke is one Best known nowa- edy is all about of the most inventive talents on the comedy days as co-host of quickfire, deadpan circuit. Jokes include: “I realised I was The Great British one-liners - and so dyslexic when I went to a toga party dressed many of them, in Bake Off, the ever- as a goat,” and, “If Pac-Man had affected us fact, that he’s not astute Sandi as kids, we'd all be running around in dark sure their content Toksvig is a rooms, munching pills and listening to matters all that woman of many repetitive electronic music.” much: “People talents. As well as Marcus is joined at the Glee by Paul Tonkin- don’t really her presenting son, Joanne McNally and one other yet-to- remember the indi- work on television, be-announced comedian. vidual jokes I tell she’s also written because I tell such a lot; what they do re- children's books, member, though, is how those jokes make bestselling novels and a shedload of news- them feel.” paper and magazine columns, not to men- Jimmy is a comedian for whom no subject is tion kept her hand in as an impressively off limits: “I’ll talk about anything as long adept stand-up comic. as I feel the joke justifies it. It may cause Her new one-woman comedy show sees her controversy, but controversy is an easy combining ‘tall stories’ with ‘fascinatingly story on a slow-news day. And I never apol- funny facts, really silly jokes, a quickfire ogise for jokes. After all, I’m not making a Q&A and a quiz’. She is, however, adamant serious political statement, I’m just trying that tap-dancing, the wearing of leotards to make somebody laugh.” and the performing of a forward roll will not be featuring in the show. 24 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy January.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 14:37 Page 2

Milton Jones Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed 15 January; Dudley Town Hall, Fri 7 February; Warwick Arts Cen- tre, Coventry, Sat 8 February; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 21 February With a style of humour that’s mainly based around puns and one-liners, Milton Jones has established himself as one of Britain’s most in-demand funnymen. “If my comedy’s working well, I put a car- toon in people’s heads that surprises them,” explains Milton. “So you start off and they’re thinking one thing, then you surprise them by changing the ending as you go along. It’s not political or particularly edgy, it’s just daft. Gags include: “Militant feminists - I take my hat off to them. They don't like that,” and, “Recently on a flight to America, all the way across my wife was going, ‘Why don't you get an upgrade, why don't you get an upgrade?’ It took a bit of time, but in the end I Ed Byrne got a better wife.” Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 30 January; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 1 February; The Place, Telford, Thurs 12 March; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 14 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 17 March; Walsall Arena, Tues 24 March If you fancy a good heckle, don't bother laddish material he used in the early days of going to an Ed Byrne show. Ed's style of his stand-up career. delivery is so fast that any attempted witti- “My comedy reflected my life at that time - cisms from the audience get drowned out by single and enjoying myself. Most of it was his barrage of top-quality material. A highly fairly harmless - 'the difference between regarded master of observational comedy, men and women' kind of thing. But some of the Mock The Week star admits to being a lit- the stuff about an ex-girlfriend I can see was tle uncomfortable about some of the more a bit angry, and I wouldn't do it now.”

Ivan Brackenbury Mark Watson Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sun 19 January; The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Sat 15 Trent, Thurs 30 January February; Just The Tonic Comedy Club, Birm- Darren Harriott ingham, Fri 28 February Well established on the UK comedy cir- Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 18 January; Ivan Brackenbury is an inept hospital radio The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, cuit, Mark Watson was born in Bristol to Thurs 23 January Welsh parents and initially delivered his DJ - and he’s also the creation of former XFM radio presenter Tom Binns. Darren Harriott spent his childhood in Old- act with a Welsh accent, claiming he felt A Jongleurs award winner, Binns came up bury and at the age of 13 began carrying a “more comfortable talking in a voice that with the character relatively early in his knife. I didn't quite recognise as my own”. career and has enjoyed great success with Fortunately for the now-30-year-old come- A regular contributor to the Edinburgh him ever since. Brackenbury is here provid- dian, he managed to turn away from a po- Fringe, Mark has the curious distinction ing support to his creator, who will be per- tential life of crime, finding his salvation in of having performed stand-up shows forming on this tour as another of his the business of making people laugh. which have lasted for a period in excess characters, Ian D Montfort, the ‘psychic “I need to get this stuff out,” he explained of 24 hours. “Comedy is certainly a time- comedium’. in a recent interview. “All I’ve really got as a consuming element of my life,” he ad- stand-up is my honesty. I’m okay if audi- mits, “but then while I’m out touring and ences hate me. What I don’t want is pity. on stage, there are people at home doing These stories might sound like tragedy, but I far less glamorous things. There have don’t compute it as tragedy. I’m enjoying certainly been times when I’ve been very this rollercoaster. I just worry that it could happy to say, ‘Of course I’d like to stay all go. This is the most important time in my and help out with that plumbing crisis, career, but my main goal is to have fun.” but Burton awaits!’”

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by Louis Wise All-American Prophets Smash-hit musical comedy The Book Of Mormon visits Birmingham for the very first time this spring. What’s On catches up with one of its creators, Robert Lopez, a man whose CV also includes hit Broadway show Avenue Q and both of Disney’s Frozen movies...

At first glance, not a huge amount would tion aged 13, he still manages to seem politely Somehow, all of this is relayed amid uproari- seem to connect the story of female empower- surprised about the huge success of his shows ous laughter within the first 20 minutes. ment that is Disney’s Frozen with the - not least The Book Of Mormon, which he The real shocker, though, is that by the end, naughty, dirty, sweary phenomenon that is hit co-composed with the dark geniuses behind the show reveals it has a huge heart too. And Broadway show The Book Of Mormon. South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Robert, who, along with Parker and Stone, Sure, they’re both full of great tunes and both has always had a surprising soft spot for Since opening on Broadway in 2011, the show have a sense of humour, but one is definitely Mormonism, wouldn’t have it any other way: has become one of the most successful the- for the kids, the other definitely not. One is all “It’s about what we talked about the very first atre productions of the decade. “The truth is,” about love, magical powers and sisterhood, day we met. People are so quick to laugh at says Robert, “we’d imagined it would be the other showcases shocking AIDS jokes and Mormons - and we wanted, in the end, to be controversial, and we hoped that it would features unseemly things being done with able to turn it around on them, because manage to run maybe a year.” Nine years frogs. Yet a surprising, even slightly scary, although any belief in anything impossible is down the line, it’s clear that theatre-goers’ revelation is that both came from the mind of sort of funny, it’s also very inspiring and love for the show massively outweighs any the same man - songwriter Robert Lopez. empowering.” minor controversies. And as it prepares to “I mean, it is weird,” chuckles the 43-year-old visit continental Europe and the UK, having To understand how Robert came to co-write New Yorker, pondering how the guy who already conquered not only America but also the show, you have to rewind way back to wrote Let It Go also gave us Mormon’s Hasa Australia and Canada, it’s fair to assume that before he even met Parker and Stone in 2003. Diga Eebowai. “I’m still trying to figure it out. it’s about to gain nearly as many new converts You have to go back even beyond him seeing What’s wrong with me?!” as the missionaries it so lovingly sends up. their film, South Park The Movie: Bigger, Longer And Uncut, and being dazzled by its Little is wrong with Lopez - at least from a The Book Of Mormon is a great marker of pace and wit (“I was, like, this is the best showbiz perspective. When you’ve already Robert’s work, combining classic song craft musical of the last 10 years, for sure!”). You’d become, twice, a so-called EGOT - a winner of and a deep love of musicals with a fresh, probably have to go back to when he was first an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony - you can contemporary, often irreverent tone. The story taken to see a musical - A Chorus Line. only be doing things right. Robert’s CV in- follows the journey of two bright-eyed “It was way over my head,” he admits. cludes not only The Book Of Mormon and Mormon teenagers, Elder Price and Elder Frozen (and now, of course, Frozen 2) but also Cunningham, who, as tradition requires, are It clearly had an effect on him, though, his first great hit, Avenue Q, and the beautiful sent out to spread the word as they reach the because he started writing songs on the theme tune to Pixar’s film, Coco, entitled Re- age of 19. When they reach Uganda, though, piano, encouraged by the teacher he was tak- member Me. they are somewhat shocked by the reality of ing classes with at the time. “I wrote a song the situation - The Lion King it ain’t! The called Oy Vey, What A Day for some reason. Sitting in the comfortable Brooklyn studio he Ugandans don’t necessarily need saving in the I’m not Jewish, but I guess growing up in New shares with his wife and fellow tunesmith, Mormon sense of the word - but they could York pushes you in that direction.” Kristen Anderson-Lopez (with whom he definitely do with being saved from the terri- co-wrote the Frozen movies), Robert is gentle The son of a journalist-turned-press officer for fying warlord next door, who is threatening and unassuming. If he’s always believed in NYU and a stay-at-home mother, Robert’s new all the female villagers with FGM... his abilities, ever since he settled on his voca- passion for theatre grew and grew. Watching whatsonlive.co.uk 27 The Book of Mormon 3 pages.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 13:21 Page 3 The Book of Mormon 3 pages.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 13:21 Page 4

West Side Story in 5th Grade is what sealed and just having to read it twice, because I to Africa. And yet, when it came down to ac- the deal. Then, from the age of 13, he started couldn’t really believe what I was reading. tually working on the show, Robert went a bit writing shows every term for an amateur The whole idea of him digging up the golden more Cunningham, the goofy sidekick who’s group. plates, and the lost tribe of Israel, and Jesus in thrall to Price, his hero. “When I was with being here in America. I was fascinated by Matt and Trey, I was definitely following The eureka moment came when he decided, that.” them. I was just so in awe of getting to work as he puts it, “to write a show that was funny with my heroes.” all the way through”. For Robert, who had It must be said that the founding story of the grown up in a raucously funny family, it faith - as with every faith - requires a leap of Truth be told, The Book Of Mormon is nowa- seemed within his reach: “It was an area the imagination. The story of Smith being days quite far away in Robert’s rearview mir- where Broadway had flagged behind in the visited by the Angel Moroni in the early 19th ror. His main preoccupation of late has been culture. The humour in the shows was sort of century, and discovering said Book on said Frozen 2, but in a sense he’s looking forward a moderate chuckle, and I thought to myself, I golden plates, has an outlandish quality to it. to leaving behind the Disney phase of his bet I could do this.” But Robert ultimately wanted to treat career: “I don’t like to have a brand - I don’t Mormonism with affection, as did Parker and like to be one thing.” After Mormon and The result was Avenue Q, co-written with Jeff Stone. Avenue Q, he was happy to leave the scabrous Marx and Jeff Whitty. An immediate smash funny stuff for a bit and do something more hit, it was an absolute game-changer for “We weren’t trying to get protesters. We were emotional; now, having filled up on all those Robert. When Parker and Stone came to trying to make a show that was about the way Disney emotions, he’d like to move on once watch the show one night, they saw a note in we felt about the best parts of religion. We again. the programme in which Robert thanked were writing a show about it that was sort of them for the influence they’d exerted on him, for atheists and believers at the same time, More immediately, though, Robert is looking from the South Park musical onwards. When because it summed up how we felt about it - forward to taking his 13-year-old daughter to the three met for a drink after the show, they that whether or not the stories are true, they see The Book Of Mormon for the first time. discovered a shared fascination for Mor- do something that’s good. Believing in some- “She’s ready,” he shrugs. “She’s already monism. thing impossible makes you do impossible heard the cast album - her friends listen to it. things.” Parker and Stone’s interest in the faith could I think she had a nice, shielded, sheltered be explained by the fact that they grew up Ultimately, The Book Of Mormon is mostly an childhood mostly. And now I think she’s near its heartland of Utah; they were one state unlikely bromance between the mismatched ready to enjoy some adult comedy!” away in Colorado. But Robert? A Filipino- pair of Price and Cunningham. Ask Robert American growing up in Brooklyn? “I was just with which of the two he most associates and a nerd, and a little bit of a class clown, I he smiles. “I was a straight-A student, and guess. I remember reading about Joseph you know, I’ve been accused of being a little The Book Of Mormon shows at Smith (the founding father of Mormonism, too arrogant at times.” This is very Price, the Birmingham Hippodrome from who discovered the original Book of Mormon) all-American kid whose perceptions of the Wednesday 4 to Saturday 28 March. in an American history textbook in 8th Grade world - and of himself - are jolted by his visit whatsonlive.co.uk 29 Theatre january 2019.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 13:58 Page 1

Theatre Theatre from around the region

The Bodyguard Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 21 January - Sat 1 February This blockbusting West End musical is of course based on the simi- Featuring classic numbers including One Moment In Time, I Wanna larly blockbusting 1990s Hollywood movie starring Kevin Costner and Dance With Somebody and the legendary I Will Always Love You, the Whitney Houston. When ex-Secret Service agent Frank Farmer is stage show received mixed reviews from the critics when it opened in hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker, 2012 but has since proved to be a real hit with its audiences. sparks soon begin to fly between the pair. Each expects to hold the Alexandra Burke and Jennlee Shallow share the role of Rachel, with whip-hand in the relationship; neither expects to fall in love... the former appearing in evening performances only.

Beneath The City Blithe Spirit The Gift The REP, Birmingham, Malvern Theatre, Mon 27 January - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 16 - Sat 18 January Sat 1 February Sat 18 - Sat 25 January The critically acclaimed Upstart Theatre are Described as ‘an outrageous play about the talented ensemble behind this thought- imperialism, cross-racial adoption, cultural provoking production... appropriation… and tea’, The Gift tells the When a young woman looking for sanctuary contrasting stories of two Sarahs: one, an in a new city finds herself being put on trial African girl adopted by Queen Victoria and for a crime she denies, the community finds raised in Her Majesty’s circles; the other, a itself wrestling with its commitment to the present-day black middle-class woman stay- people and to power... ing in a Cheshire village with her husband Bringing together music, movement and lyri- One of Noel Coward’s best-loved plays, Blithe and small child. cal writing, Beneath The City has been made Spirit focuses on the character of successful The production is presented by Eclipse, a in Birmingham with a chorus of Young REP author Charles Condomine. prominent Black-led national production and Adult Drama Company members, Charles’ decision to hold a seance at his company committed to delivering diverse refugees and asylum seekers. home has disastrous consequences, as eccen- programming in theatres across the country. tric medium Madam Arcati - here played by Jennifer Saunders no less - accidentally sum- mons the spirit of his deceased first wife, Elvira. Unhappy to see Charles settled with second wife Ruth, Elvira proceeds to do everything she can to sabotage her ex-husband’s happiness - and that includes trying to bump him off...

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Theatre more theatre from around the region

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 28 January - Sat 1 February; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 25 - Sat 29 February Joseph marked Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Web- ber’s first foray into the world of musical theatre, paving the way for later offerings Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Fabulously fun and frothy, the show offers great entertainment for anybody who fancies the kind of night out that lets you leave your brain at home. Joseph sees the future in dreams, and tells his 11 brothers that he’s had a vision in which he’s seen them all bowing down to him. Not surprisingly, the lads are a tad annoyed with him about this - and feel even less enam- oured towards their sibling when their dad gives him a coat of many colours... Mark McMullan stars as Joseph.

Jane Eyre proboscis - is here so, with a bottle of Bollinger in hand, they set presented by ever- out on one final death-defying adventure in Albany Theatre, Coventry, Wed 22 & Thurs 23 zany funsters Odd- Bernard’s Bentley... Vamos have created the January; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 6 - Sat 8 February; Theatre Severn, socks. Expect plenty show in collaboration with palliative care Shrewsbury, Mon 10 - Wed 12 February; of merry music and patients and specialists. Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 13 - Sat 15 February m arv ellous madcap humour. And unlike Pinocchio, we say Circus Of Horrors that without a word Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 10 January; of a lie... Swan Theatre, Worcester, Mon 10 February; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Wed 4 March; The Place, Telford, Thurs 19 March; KKS Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, Fri 20 March Dead Good An off-kilter affair that bears more resem- Swan Theatre, Worcester, Thurs 23 & Fri 24 blance to a freak show than any modern defi- January; Malvern Theatres, Wed 5 February; nition of a circus, the one-time Britain’s Got Bridge House Theatre, Warwick, Thurs 6 Talent finalists here present a world beyond Blackeyed Theatre visit the Midlands with February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 27 February; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, political correctness and taste. With the per- this latest stage version of Charlotte Bronte's Thurs 5 - Fri 6 March formers dressed in a manner reminiscent of classic novel. For those not up to speed with The Rocky Horror Show, there’s no denying the story, it follows the orphaned Jane as the skill of those participating - or indeed the she's sent by her cruel Aunt Reed to the bleak company’s sheer ‘wow’ factor. Lowood School. Later, on securing a position This latest offering sees the ensemble cele- as governess at Thornfield Hall, Jane finds brating 25 years on the road by presenting herself falling for the charms of the enig- ‘an amazing amalgamation of acts driven by matic Edward Rochester, unaware that the a rock’n’roll soundscape’. new object of her affection harbours a dark and terrible secret...

The Adventures Of Worcestershire-based full mask theatre com- Pinocchio pany Vamos here tackle the thorny subject of death - the ultimate shared experience. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 12 January; The Place, Telford, Sat 1 February; Bridge House Witty and wordless, Dead Good focuses on Theatre, Warwick, Sun 2 February the characters of Bob and Bernard, two men The legendary tale of the wooden boy with a who have only a couple of things in common: disappointing propensity for telling porky one, that they’re both dying; and two, that pies - to the detriment of his fast-growing they’re not going down without a fight. And

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more theatre from around the region

The Boy In The Dress Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- Avon, until Sun 8 March David Walliams’ The Boy In The Dress - helmed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran - ticks all the boxes of the feelgood family musical: young protagonists, splendidly choreographed scenes (including football playing and disco dancing), a lightweight but thoroughly engaging storyline, a timely message (about embrac- ing difference) and a fantastically memorable score (by one of the world’s hottest songwriting partnerships - Robbie Williams and Guy Cham- bers). The show is fun, fast, lively, colourful, clever and utterly absorbing, with an energetic and confident cast who’ve evidently got the greatest of faith in their material and more than enough talent to maximise the magic.

Ghost Stories Dead Men’s Eyes Captain Breadbeard’s Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Wed 22 January Bready Brilliant Cookbook Tues 7 - Sat 11 January This is the latest instalment in a series of The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, The Alex has issued a word or several of one-man shows which aim to revive the tradi- Fri 24 - Sat 25 January warning about this production... tion of ‘oral, supernatural storytelling’. And Have you ever taken ‘Ghost Stories,’ it says, ‘contains moments of given that fact, which hair-raising tales could the time to consider extreme shock and tension. The show is un- possibly be more appropriate to recount than the dangers that suitable for anyone under the age of 15. We those of Montague Rhodes James (more com- people with floury strongly advise those of a nervous disposition monly known as MR James), the man widely facial fuzz encounter to think very seriously before attending.’ considered to be the master of the English every day, ask the Written by Andy Nyman & Jeremy Dyson and ghost story... producers of this presenting ‘a fully sensory and electrifying RM Lloyd Parry, the actor here charged with delightfully quirky encounter’, Ghost Stories has become some- the task of making spines tingle, presents family show. If you thing of a global stage phenomenon. two classics from the James canon - A View haven’t, not to worry, It won’t be surpris- From A Hill and The Treasure Of Abbot because Captain Breadbeard is all set to take ing to learn that the Thomas. you on ‘an energetic and shameless pun- show comes com- filled journey of enlightenment’. A salty not- plete with phan- so-old seadog with a beard made of bread, toms, poltergeists Two the Cap’n is joined in this surreal two-handed and things that go New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, comedy sketch show by his ever-faithful side- bump in the Fri 31 January - Sat 22 February kick, Davy Scones (geddit?). night... Jim Cartwright’s sharp and touching slice of English life is set in a northern pub owned by a savagely bickering husband and wife. Dad’s Army Radio Show The Political History Of The play is actually a series of short vignettes that skilfully combine pathos and humour, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Smack And Crack Wed 22 - Sun 26 January with all 14 characters being played by just , The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, two actors. During the course of the evening, You’ve seen the TV show, now listen to the Wed 22 - Sun 26 January assorted customers pass through the pub, radio broadcast! And what a highly The fallout for communities crushed by the including a little boy left behind by his acclaimed one it is, with two talented actors heroin epidemic at the height of Thatcherism father. The young taking up position behind their microphones is the challenging and thought-provoking lad’s plight trig- to play no fewer than 25 characters between subject matter of this one-hour two-hander gers a fragile them. Working from original radio scripts - from playwright Ed Edwards. reconciliation be- many of the TV episodes were remade for Inspired by the writer’s own experience in tween the pub BBC Radio Four with the original cast - the prison and rehab, the play was one of five couple, as their actors will present three much-loved finalists in Theatre503’s 2017 Playwriting own dark tragedy episodes of Jimmy Perry & David Croft’s clas- Award, making the shortlist out of 1,600 is finally sic 1970s’ sitcom, complete with sound entries from 58 countries. revealed... effects and vintage music. 34 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre january 2019.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 13:59 Page 6

Theatre

Peter Pan Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever We’re Going On The REP, Birmingham, until Sun 19 January Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, A Bear Hunt Wed 29 & Thurs 30 January Fly away to Neverland with the boy who Birmingham Town Hall, until Sun 12 January wouldn't grow up, meet a real fairy, marvel- Suitable for children aged three and older, lous mermaids, wonderful Wendy and the this lively adaptation of Michael Rosen and down-on-their-luck lost boys. Oh, and Helen Oxenbury’s popular picture book beware the ever-so-wicked Captain Hook and follows the adventures of a family as they a very hungry crocodile who goes tick-tock head out on an intrepid quest to find a bear. (he swallowed a clock!). Catchy songs and enchanting puppets are This ‘thrillingly reimagined’ version of the JM combined with no shortage of ‘swishy Barrie classic (the show is set in the 21st cen- swashy grass’ and ‘oozy, squelchy mud’ in a tury and located in Birmingham) is helmed show that seems certain to keep youngsters by Liam Steel, who last Christmas directed splendidly entertained. The REP’s acclaimed production of The If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the Wizard Of Oz. previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and enjoyed the experience of watching them having a fantastic time - you’ll already know that this latest production is well worth catching. Peppa Pig is heading out on a road trip with George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig, and there are plenty of adventures waiting to be had - including ones that involve dragons, dinosaurs, ice-creams and muddy puddles...

Pantos and festive shows tricked by an evil fairy and pricks her finger against all odds to win the hand of the beau- on a spinning wheel, causing her to sleep for tiful princess - and being helped in his en- into January 100 years, offers a great story around which deavours by the mystical genie of the lamp... Snow White to build a pantomime production of real quality. Jonathan Wilkes stars. The Regal, Tenbury, until Fri 3 January; Swan Robin Hood: Theatre, Worcester, until Sun 5 January; Royal The Pantomime Adventure Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, until Sun 5 Jan- Dick Whittington uary; Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sun 2 The Core, Solihull, until Sun 5 January February Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, until Sun 12 January A dashing hero, a Santa’s Sack-worth of audi- Everybody knows the story - the nasty old ence participation and more corny gags than queen’s less than keen on her younger and The story of a young man who heads for Lon- don in search of fame and fortune is one of you could fit into an oversized Christmas more beautiful stepdaughter, who takes stocking. What’s not to like?... refuge from her royal evilness by holing up in the most popular in all of pantoland. the deep, dark forest with a household of ver- Ex-Corrie favourite Ryan Thomas and one- tically challenged miners. time Hi-De-Hi! duo Su Pollard and Jeffrey Puss In Boots The Hippodrome version stars Lesley Joseph Holland star. Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, as the Wicked Queen. until Sat 11 January Peter Pan A show which producers Imagine Theatre Cinderella Stafford Gatehouse, until Sun 5 January have referred to as ‘the cat’s whiskers’, Puss Lichfield Garrick, until Sun 5 January; Palace Peter Pan’s producers describe their produc- In Boots tells the tail, sorry, tale, of a fabu- Theatre, Redditch, until Sun 5 January tion as ‘a high-energy localised show packed lous feline who outwits both a king and an With its comical Ugly Sisters, matchmaking with all the ingredients that make pan- ogre to make his master the top, er, dog... fairy godmother, drop-dead-gorgeous Prince tomime such an unforgettable experience for Charming, super-cute mice and fits-one-foot- the entire family”... What more could a The Prince And only glass slipper, Cinderella can justifiably panto-loving theatre-goer possibly want? lay claim to being the most popular of all The Pauper pantomimes. New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until Aladdin Sat 25 January Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sleeping Beauty until Sun 12 January An interesting and imaginative choice for a Christmas show, Mark Twain’s famous story Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Flying carpets at the ready, boys and girls... here features ‘imaginative storytelling, live until Sun 5 January A perfect story for an evening of family enter- music, humour, puppetry and plenty of fes- The tragic tale of a young princess who’s tainment finds street youth Aladdin trying tive magic’.

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Dance previews from around the region Dance

Anton & Erin: Dance Those Magical Movies Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 25 January; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wed 29 January Celebrity dancing duo Anton du Beke and Erin Boeg return to the Midlands this month to present their brand new show. Blending smart choreography and sparkly costumes with much-loved music from some of Holly- wood’s greatest ever movies, Anton and Erin are joined by a 23-piece orchestra, a ‘spectacular’ dance ensemble, guest singer Lance Ellington and conductor Richard Balcombe. The programme of music features hits from musical classics including Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Sin- gin’ In The Rain, Casablanca, The Wizard Of Oz, The Greatest Showman, Titanic and Moulin Rouge. Big Bond blockbusters also feature.

Shen Yun profit organisation dedicated to reviving authentic Chinese culture. And it cer- International Convention Centre, Birming- ham, Tues 31 December - Thurs 2 January tainl y achieves its aim, presenting shows which have been enjoyed by millions of The New York Times described Shen Yun people across the globe. as ‘5,000 years of Chinese music and Expect ethnic and folk dancers, ‘stunning dance in one night’ - which, as evenings costuming, high-tech backdrops, an of theatrical entertainment go, sounds orchestra like no other’ and plenty more like a pretty good deal. besides when the company stops off in Based in New York, Shen Yun is a not-for- Birmingham early this month....

Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour Arena Birmingham, Thurs 16 - Sun 19 January With 2018 winner Stacey Dooley taking on with their professional dance partners are the presenting role, the Strictly Come celebrities Karim Zeroual, Kelvin Fletcher, The Wizard Of Oz Dancing Live tour is back in Brum with a Saffron Barker, Mike Bushell, Alex Scott, bang. Emma Barton and Catherine Tyldesley. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 22 January; Waltzing its way into the city mid-month, If you’re a fan of the hit BBC TV series, this Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Tues 28 January the sequin-saturated show features TV is definitely an evening out not to be A marvellous mix of magic, mayhem and judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood missed... munchkins, this classic story from the pen of L and Bruno Tonioli. Taking to the dancefloor Frank Baum comes complete with some of the 20th century’s best-known children’s characters, including the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the cowardly Lion and, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West. Baum’s story is certainly in safe hands with the ever-excellent Ballet Theatre UK, a 12-year-old company with an impressive history of produc- ing bright and colourful shows designed to pro- mote classical dance as a hugely accessible artform. The Wizard Of Oz is one of two brand new offerings being toured by the ensemble this season - the other is Sense And Sensibility - with a re- vival of the company’s critically acclaimed production of Giselle also featuring.

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Dance previews from around the region Dance

Joseph Toonga: Born To Manifest Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 31 January “I feel a responsibility as a black male,” says Joseph Toonga, “to empower the younger generation as a role model and as an example of how dance can provide a positive, successful route. Mental health, and black men’s experiences of it, is little discussed, which is why I’m so passionate about creating awareness and shifting stigmas.” Toonga’s hour-long presentation is a new hip- hop dance double bill that illuminates the experience of young black British men. The show draws from real-life accounts with the aim of simultaneously championing cultural identity and challenging racial stigmas. Spirit Of The Dance Malvern Theatres, Fri 31 January; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sun 2 February A colourful and lively theatrical event cele- not only of Irish dance but also Scottish, brating dance and music from around the flamenco, Latin, salsa, street, hip-hop, world, Spirit Of The Dance follows in the techno and American Tap. high-kicking traditions of the ever-popular It’s been seen by more than 20 million peo- Riverdance and Lord Of The Dance produc- ple worldwide since debuting in the 1990s tions. and very much retains its reputation as one The show is this year celebrating its 21st of the best and most spectacular dance birthday and boasts the pounding rhythms shows around.

Dance To The Music Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 14 January; The Place, Telford, Shropshire, Sun 26 January One-time X-Factor contestant Jake Quick- res, from the Roaring ’20s with its enden is the man at the helm of this high- Charleston and tap dances, through to energy show, created, directed and modern-day ballroom and Latin. ‘Fabulous’ choreographed by ex-Strictly professional costumes, ‘stunning’ vocals, ‘breathtaking’ Kristina Rihanoff. choreography and an ‘electrifying’ dance Featuring 15 different dances, the produc- troupe are all present and correct in a show tion portrays the evolution of dance that promises to banish the winter blues, at through numerous musical eras and gen- least for an evening.

Moscow State Ballet: The Nutcracker Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 20 - Wed 22 January One of the great ballet staples, Tchaikovsky’s enchanting tale of Clara and her nutcracker doll has been delighting audiences for genera- tions. The fantasy of soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic and mystery this month visits the region courtesy of Moscow State Ballet, a young company which has earned an impressive reputation for its thoughtful and energetic productions.

whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Gino D'Acampo.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:39 Page 1

A TASTE OF ITALY Popular Italian chef Gino D’Acampo talks about his new Birmingham restaurant, his children’s book, his television show, his favourite food and, er, his wife’s apparently ample bosom...

On Halloween, the UK’s favourite Italian chef, oven sits centre restaurant, providing guests “My new restaurant serves real Italian food Gino D’Acampo, opened much-anticipated with the opportunity to watch Gino’s chefs in and has a real Italian look,” explains the Birmingham eatery Gino D’Acampo My action. charismatic chef. “Don’t get me wrong, I have Restaurant. other restaurants in Birmingham - we have The opening of the restaurant marks the com- Piccolino and Bank, which are both great Situated on the bustling Temple Row, it pletion of the first of a two-phase grand plan restaurants, and I do all the menus and all the features 165 covers, a 25 metre cocktail bar at which Gino has for Birmingham - still to come stuff like that - but this is different. Here, which patrons can dine, a deli bar and a pri- is a rooftop sky bar and restaurant with spec- you’ll have real Italian food, fresh ingredients, vate dining area. A 15 metre open kitchen tacular views across the city... the lifestyle. And the look of the restaurant is with a spectacular hand-crafted copper wood

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by Lauren Foster

different, too. We source everything from a table of 10, so it could have been anyone Sometimes there was tension between us Italy. I have a company where we import who’d thrown it.” because we're three very strong characters - ingredients. We bring them here, we store Gordon is the alpha male, Fred is the sensible Birmingham boasts a brilliant and explosive them here, and then we send them to the Frenchman, and I'm the one who doesn't give food scene, with six Michelin-star restau- restaurants. Everything you see, everything a shit - yet we really gelled well together. I can rants, an abundance of high-quality indepen- you touch, has been chosen and looked after tell you that we're going to Morocco and we're dent eateries, one of the UK’s most popular by me.” going to film a Christmas special.” street-food events and plenty of big-chain Alongside an extensive food menu offering restaurants. So what is it about the city that Having already successfully conquered a Italian classics aplenty, Gino D’Acampo My makes it so appealing to restauranteurs and multitude of markets, Gino recently added Restaurant’s wine list boasts one of the diners? another string to his bow - children’s books. biggest selections of prosecco, sparkling wine His first publication, Get Cooking With “Birmingham has always been a great city for and Franciacorta in the country. There are Wiskella, is guaranteed to get your little ones food, because here is where the BBC Good more than 30 varieties to choose from, many excited about food. All Gino’s books, his Food Show is. I remember 20 years ago we of which you won’t find available anywhere recipe books included, can be bought in Gino used to do it. It was Gordon, Ainsley Harriott, else. D’Acampo My Restaurant. Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein, all those people. For If Gino was visiting his new eatery as a diner, us, it's always been a foodie place. Birming- “The inspiration for Get Cooking With which dishes would he order from the menu? ham is getting cooler, I think - it's a cool city Wiskella came from my daughter, Mia. She's now. It was always one of those places which seven years old. She always makes up stories “I would definitely have rigatoni with wild had a lot of negativity - “it's too industrial, it's in her mind as to why she should cook. She boar ragu. I usually have the calamari - we too this, it's too that”. It's a beautiful city and pretends that she's with friends. As I was make it to perfection, with fried courgettes, it's definitely on the up, if not already up watching her, I was thinking, 'I can make this fried peppers and a beautiful lemon mayon- there. For anyone interested in good restau- reality; I can actually come up with a charac- naise. I would rock a pizza, because I’m rants, this is the place to be now.” ter'. The character is a whisk that turns into a greedy. My favourite pizza is the Real Neapoli- little girl. All the characters in the book are tan pizza, with Italian sausage, friarrielli, Originally from Naples, Gino moved to Lon- cooking utensils, and I made them into mozzarella and chilli. We make the best. If I don when he was 19 and worked in both The humans. Wiskella is a girl who loves cooking had enough space in my belly, I would rock in Orchard Restaurant in Hampstead and the and who goes around looking for all the with the slow-roasted pork belly - that is very Cambio Restaurant in Guildford. ingredients that she needs. Eventually she sexy, with the radicchio and the chopped “I moved because of my wife. I met my wife gets all her friends around and they cook roasted hazelnuts on the top; it's very cool. when I was 18. We were in Spain, we were in together. Usually when you read a book with For dessert, I always have a tiramisu. We Puerto Banús. I used to be the chef at the your kids, the experience ends once the book make the traditional tiramisu with the restaurant and she used to be the waiter. I is ended. But at the end of Get Cooking With Savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone, Amaretto had just come from the south of Italy and I fell Wiskella there’s a recipe. So you read the liqueur. Mwah! Fantastico!” in love with her. Blonde, clever, huge knock- book and then, at the end, the idea is that the After Italian, what’s Gino’s favourite cuisine - ers, beautiful eyes. Eyes, brain, hair, knockers children, the parents, grandparents or who- and is there anything he really can’t stand? - we'll put knockers at number four. You can't ever say, 'Hey, why don't we do the recipe?' have them at number one; that would make I've given them a full recipe - a pancake recipe “I always eat Italian food! I like Japanese me very shallow.” - with the method. Wiskella explains exactly food, Chinese too. I’m not a huge fan of how she does it. The interaction doesn't end Indian cuisine; there are too many herbs and Gino rose to fame as a regular chef on long- there - that's what's important to me. It's spices. It's very different from Italian cuisine. running ITV magazine show This Morning. important to get kids interested in food and in We use four or five ingredients to make one He’s since presented cookery programmes cooking from a really young age. And on thing, they use 23 different spices and ingredi- including Let's Do Lunch, There's No Taste every page there is a little cat to find, too. ents. It's just not the way I cook or eat. Like Home and Gino's Italian Escape, and has also taken part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out “My children cook and explore a lot with “I hate cucumber and I don't like coriander - Of Here! - which he won in 2009 - and food. We have a rule in my house that any- it's too overpowering. When you eat some- Celebrity Juice. His most recent TV project is thing I put on the table, they eat. If they don't thing with coriander, the only thing you taste Gordon, Gino And Fred, a second series of like it, that's fine, but at least they've tried it. is coriander. It reminds me of soap. Once, I which he’s just finished filming with Gordon And when I say anything, I mean anything. I was invited somewhere - I can't be too specific Ramsey and First Dates’ Fred Sirieix. once got them to try donkey testicle with but- because it was a royal thing - but ****ing hell, ter, sage, salt & pepper. It was quite good.” do you know what they served me? Cucumber “I cannot tell you a lot about this, but it's out and coriander sandwiches! Cucumber sand- in April. It's four episodes and we went to wiches with a kind of coriander pesto in it. I America. I think it was the best two weeks of pretended to eat one, but I had a napkin on my life - it was awesome! We couldn’t stop Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant can be my leg, so I rolled it into the napkin and having fun. I know at work you shouldn't found at 61-63 Temple Row, Birmingham threw the napkin underneath the table. It was have too much fun, but I absolutely loved it.

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Film

1917 CERT 15 (119 mins) Starring George MacKay, Dean- Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Mays Directed by Sam Mendes (UK/USA)

Partly based on fact - as relayed to the director Sam Mendes by his grandfather - this First World War epic is unfolded in one continuous shot. Two British soldiers are entrusted with the assignment of penetrating enemy lines in order to deliver a warning of an impending ambush by the Germans. Mendes, of course, is the Oscar- winning director of such outstanding movies as American Beauty, Jarhead and the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Released Fri 10 January

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in January...

The Gentlemen CERT 18 (113 mins) Starring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hun- nam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant Directed by Guy Ritchie (UK/USA) After toying with family entertainment and the Arabian Nights, Guy Ritchie returns to fa- miliar territory with this highly adult gangster thriller. When a drug dealer decides to of- fload his criminal empire, he inadvertently triggers a war of unimaginable mayhem. Released Wed 1 January his best to toe the party line and learn to Jojo Rabbit CERT 12a (108 mins) hate the Jews. Jojo Rabbit is a strange mix Starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin in that on the one hand it is very naturalis- McKenzie, Taika Waititi, Rebel Wilson, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson tic - filmed in the picturesque town of Ustek Directed by Taika Waititi (New in the Czech Republic - but also wildly far- Zealand/USA/Czech Republic) cical, at times resembling a sort of Carry On Jojo, a 10-year-old recruit of Hitler’s Youth, Hitler. Sadly, it has neither the confident is nicknamed Rabbit because of his cow- cheek of Mel Brooks’ fictitious musical ardice - his inability even to kill a rabbit for Springtime For Hitler nor the harrowing the Führer. But with the help of his imagi- satire of George Roy Hills’ Slaughterhouse- nary friend - none other than a blustering Five (1972). Adolf Hitler played by the director - he does Released Wed 1 January whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Film January.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:00 Page 3

Film

Seberg CERT tbc (96 mins) Just Mercy CERT 12a (136 mins) The Personal History Of Starring Kristen Stewart, Jack O'Connell, Starring Michael B Jordan, Jamie Foxx, David Copperfield Margaret Qualley, Zazie Beetz, Vince Vaughn, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, CERT PG (119 mins) Anthony Mackie, Yvan Attal Rafe Spall, O'Shea Jackson Jr Directed by Benedict Andrews (USA/UK) Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (USA) Starring Dev Patel, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw, Paul Whitehouse Based on the memoir by Bryan Stevenson, Directed by Armando Iannucci (UK/USA) this is the story of the attorney (Jordan) who fought to clear the name of a wrongly con- victed killer (Foxx). The US reviews have been pretty good so far. Released Fri 17 January

No mere biopic of the 1960s’ icon Jean Seberg, this political drama focuses on the Armando Iannucci, the creative force behind FBI’s targeting of the actress because of her The Thick Of It and The Death Of Stalin, gives involvement with the civil rights activist his own singular spin to Charles Dickens’ Hakim Jamal (Mackie). favourite novel, making it both pertinent and, apparently, hilarious. Released Fri 10 January Released Fri 24 January

Bad Boys For Life CERT tbc Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Plus One CERT 15 (99 mins) The Turning CERT tbc Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Joe Pantoliano, Starring Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Theresa Randle Starring Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Brooklynn Prince, Joely Richardson, Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (USA) Beck Bennett, Rosalind Chao, Perrey Reeves, Ed Begley Jr, Finn Wittrock Mark Huberman Directed by Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer Directed by Floria Sigismondi (USA) (USA) When he is entrusted with the care of his Marriage is in the air. So committed single- niece and nephew, a man hires a governess tons and best friends Ben and Alice agree to to look after them at his spooky mansion. Be- be each other’s ‘plus one’ at every nuptial lieve it or not, this is yet another re-working they’re invited to. Expect comparisons to of Henry James’ 1898 The Turn Of The Screw, When Harry Met Sally. executive-produced by Steven Spielberg. Released Fri 17 January Released Fri 24 January Just as old partners Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowery (Will Smith) are due to retire, they are forced together on one A Beautiful Day In The final assignment when the latter is targeted Neighborhood CERT PG (109 mins) by a Romanian mob boss. Unusually for a big Starring Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Hollywood film, the action-comedy is di- Kelechi Watson, Chris Cooper, Christine Lahti rected by a Belgian filmmaking duo (who are Directed by Marielle Heller (USA) also developing the next Beverly Hills Cop sequel). Released Fri 17 January

A Hidden Life CERT tbc (173 mins) Waves CERT 15 (135 mins) Starring August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Nyqvist, Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr, Lucas Hedges, Jürgen Prochnow, Bruno Ganz Taylor Russell, Alexa Demie, Renée Elise Directed by Terrence Malick (USA/Germany) Goldsberry, Sterling K. Brown Directed by Trey Edward Shults (USA) This is the true story of Franz Jägerstätter Last year we had the documentary Won’t You (Diehl), a devout Catholic farmer who refused Life comes in waves and that is certainly the Be My Neighbor? about Fred Rogers. Here, to collude with the Nazis during the Second case for an African-American family living in Tom Hanks plays the children’s TV presenter, World War. Incidentally, the film proved to be a suburb of Southern Florida. In spite of the who is befriended by a cynical journalist the last for both the late Michael Nyqvist and film’s subject matter, its writer-director is not from Esquire magazine (Rhys), on whose arti- Bruno Ganz. African-American. cle the screenplay is loosely based. Released Fri 17 January Released Fri 17 January Released Fri 31 January 44 whatsonlive.co.uk Film January.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:00 Page 4

Film highlights released in January...

The Grudge CERT tbc Starring Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho, Betty Gilpin, Lin Shaye, Jacki Weaver Directed by Nicolas Pesce (Canada/USA) This is the second American remake of the 2002 Japanese horror film in which a young female detective investigates a horrific murder in a house that is, frankly, doomed. Released Fri 31 January

The Lighthouse CERT 15 (109 mins) Starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson Directed by Robert Eggers (USA) When two lighthouse keepers are stranded on their island by a storm, they both begin to lose their sanity… Robert Pattinson has said that the experience of making the film has made him renounce Method acting for good. EDITOR’S CHOICE Released Fri 31 January News, the film follows several women as Bombshell CERT 15 (108 mins) they attempt to expose the unbecoming Starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, conduct of the TV executive Roger Ailes, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKin- non, Connie Britton, Malcolm McDowell, played by an unrecognisable John Lithgow. Allison Janney, Mark Duplass, Alice Eve Interesting that the three leads are, respec- Directed by Jay Roach (USA) tively, South African, Australian and Aus- One doesn’t come across a cast like this tralian. From the director of the Austin very often. But in the #MeToo era, true-life Powers and Meet The Fockers films, so dramas like this will be popping up all maybe there will even be some humour. over. Set in the toxic atmosphere of Fox Released Fri 24 January

Queen And Slim CERT 15 (131mins) The Rhythm Section Richard Jewell CERT 15 (129 mins) Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Chloë Sevigny, Flea CERT 15 (110 mins) Starring Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Directed by Melina Matsoukas (USA) Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, Paul Walter Hauser Starring Blake Lively, Jude Law, Sterling K. Directed by Clint Eastwood (USA) Having killed a cop after being pulled over in Brown, Max Casella, Daniel Mays, Geoff Bell their car, a loved-up African-American cou- Directed by Reed Morano (UK/USA) Clint Eastwood, now 89, directs and pro- ple go on the run... The British actress-model duces this true-life drama about a security Jodie Turner-Smith has had rave reviews for guard (Hauser) who saved the lives of thou- her part, even prompting talk of an Oscar sands from a terrorist attack at the 1996 nomination. Olympics in Atlanta. However, the press and media set out to destroy his life… Released Fri 31 January Released Fri 31 January

Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively) was meant to be on a flight that killed her family. Then she discovers that the crash was not an accident… Based on the novel by Mark Burnell and directed by the former cinematographer Reed Morano, so it should look good. Released Fri 31 January

whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Visual Arts January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 13:10 Page 1

Visual Arts previews from around the region

Tim Mara: Not Pop? Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Sun 29 March Although frequently associated with the Pop Art movement, Irish printmaker and one-time Wolverhampton Polytechnic student Tim Mara - who died in 1997 at the age of 48 - found his inspiration elsewhere. “I knew that the Pop thing was going on,” he said. “Screen printing was there, photography was there, the everyday objects were there - but I was much more interested pictorially in Velásquez and Vermeer. Those prints had much more to do with painting.” Mara’s work saw him blending traditional processes with digital printing techniques, but his main consideration was always the subject matter: “In the hierarchy of fine art, printmaking is usually associated with craft skills - with technique. And that gets in the way. My work was always about the ideas more than the medium.”

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Visual Arts

John Walker: New Paintings Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, until Sun 23 February Birmingham artist John Walker left the city of his birth more than 50 years ago and now resides in Maine. The US state is renowned for its rocky coastal landscape, and it’s these stark natural features that have provided Walker with the inspiration for this new exhibition of ‘anti-scenic’ paintings. Recently described as one of the standout abstract painters of the last 50 years, John was the first artist to show at Ikon Gallery when it moved to new premises in the Birmingham Shopping Centre above New Street Station in 1972. His return to the venue, now of course in a different location, has been long awaited, his new paintings being widely acclaimed as works which

reveal an artist at the very peak of his powers. La Patrie, 1916 By Christopher Richard W. Nevinson W. Richard Christopher By 1916 Patrie, La Birmingham Revolutions: Power To The People Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Fri 4 September The Influence Project Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Voting reform, nuclear disarmament, play aims to highlight the different ways in Sat 18 January - Sun 22 March trade unionism, anti-racism and human which people can protest and campaign, A photography exhibition celebrating the impact rights all feature in Power To The People, and also to take a look at specific exam- of leading black musicians on contemporary an exhibition exploring Birmingham’s ples from history - from the Priestley Riots sound and culture, The Influence Project vibrant and varied history of protest and of 1791 all the way through to the LGBTQ+ chronicles pioneering voices from the 20th- activism. campaigns of modern times. century music scene. Along the way, the show In the process of the exploration, the dis- assesses their impact on music, exploring the ways in which they have creatively, socially and politically influenced and inspired modern-day Radical Drawing: Works From Truly Bright And artists. Coventry And The Courtauld Memorable Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry, until Sun 19 January Barber Institute, Birmingham, until Sun 19 January Subtitled Jan de Beer’s Renaissance Altarpieces, this latest in the Barber’s Master- piece In Focus series showcases the venue’s very own double-sided altarpiece, featuring The Nativity and the ‘apocryphal tale of Joseph and the suitors’. The radical and creative potential of drawn marks The altarpiece is one of many and lines is explored in an exhibition featuring not created by 16th century only artwork from the Herbert but also pieces both Flemish artist de Beer, a man from The Courtauld Gallery in London and the whose star shone brightly for University of Warwick. centuries after his death but The display offers viewers the opportunity to whose relevance has been contemplate work by a number of artists who have somewhat downgraded in pushed the boundaries of what it means to draw. recent times. Also on display are objects linked to the The exhibition also brings Courtaulds factory in Coventry and a specially together for the first time all produced film about Courtaulds Ltd. of de Beer’s paintings and The long-established manufacturer of fabric, drawings from public and clothing, artificial fibres and chemicals set up private collections in Britain. shop in the city in 1905.

Image: Laura Mvula, London 2017 C-Type © Alexis Chabala © Alexis C-Type 2017 Image: London Mvula, Laura whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Events January.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 12:02 Page 1

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Events previews from around the region Events

Ice Skate Birmingham Centenary Square, Birmingham, until Sun 12 January Christmas may be over, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to enjoy Ice Skate Birmingham and the Big Wheel this month. While the wheel offers the chance to enjoy fantastic views across the city, the ice rink accommodates up to 300 people per session and is this year weather-proofed thanks to the addition of a roof. Younger or inexperienced skating enthusi- asts can keep upright by using special penguin skating aids. And when skaters have finished their Torvill & Dean routine, they can warm themselves up with some festive fare in the nearby Ice Lounge. Vitality Netball Nations Cup first time since the Netball World Cup. As part of a new four-day three-city interna- Arena Birmingham, Wed 22 January tional series, the Roses face South Africa in a The Vitality Roses, England’s elite netball team, World Cup bronze medal rematch, while play in front of a home crowd this month for the Jamaica lock horns with New Zealand.

Autosport International Hot Wheels NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 9 - Sun 12 January Monster Trucks Live The Arenacross Described as ‘the world’s greatest four-wheel Arena Birmingham, Tour 2020 Fri 31 January - Sun 2 February indoor extravaganza’, Autosport International Resorts World Arena, caters for industry professionals and motorsport Birmingham, Fri 31 January & fans alike. Featuring every level of motor racing - Sat 1 February from karting through to Formula One - the event An absolute must for extreme offers visitors the chance to check out the latest sports fans, the 2020 Arenacross performance road cars, chat to club members tour brings indoors all the spec- and watch precision-driving displays in the Live tacular elements of motorcross Action Arena. The show is this year marking the for a ‘non-stop white-knuckle 70th anniversary of the F1 British Grand Prix. ride’. Set to a pumping sound- track and laser show, the event sees some of the world’s top freestylers hitting the track to present what organisers describe Jumps and stunts and crashing and smashing is as ‘truly awe-inspiring entertain- very much the order of the day when the Hot ment’. Wheels Monster Trucks take to the stage. In addition to the trucks, each show features a range of entertainment that includes world record attempts and performances by stars of the freestyle motocross world. Oh, and there’s the Megasaurus too - a massive car-eating fire- breathing prehistoric robot that loves to chomp on anything with four wheels. Best leave your skateboard at home, we thinks...

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Festivals

When it comes to music, regardless of your preference - be it jazz, indie, folk, classical, world or pop - you’re almost certain to find a festival in the Midlands to suit your taste. And 2020 looks set to be another bumper year for the region’s festival-goers. Get your diary out and get booking!

CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up to End Country Estate, Hanley Castle, nbhdweekender.com APRIL be announced. Tues 5 - Sun 10 May, Worcestershire. More information at BIRMINGHAM PRIDE Line-up to be an- Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham. mellofestival.co.uk More information at nounced. Sat 23 - Sun 24 May, NANTWICH JAZZ, BLUES & MUSIC cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz LECHLADE MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up in- Birmingham Gay Village. FESTIVAL Line-up includes Big cludes The Boomtown Rats (Head- More information at Country, Sari Schorr, Stereo MCs, Ruby FOCUS WALES Line-up includes liner). Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Riverside birminghampride.com Turner, The Blockheads, Jeremiah Flamingods, Catrin Finch & Seckou Park, Lechlade, Gloucestershire. More Ferrari, Suburban Symphony. ROCK AND BOWL Line-up to be an- Keita, Georgia Ruth, John, Gruff Rhys. information at lechladefestival.co.uk Thurs 9 - Mon 13 April, various venues Thurs 7 - Sat 9 May, various venues in nounced. Sat 23 - Mon 25 May, Picnic in Nantwich. More information at Wrexham, Wales. More information at GLASTONBUDGET Line-up Who's Who, Area, Market Drayton. More informa- nantwichjazz.com focuswales.com One Step Behind, The Kommitments, tion at rockandbowlfestival.com The Bootleg Beatles, T.Rextasy, Dolly WONDERLAND 2 Line-up includes DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL Line-up to be SWINGAMAJIG Line-up to be an- Parton Experience, Vicky Jackson as Filta, Rooted and Booted, Totally Tina, announced. Sun 24 May, various nounced. Fri 8 May, Birmingham Pink. Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Turnpost Daft Punk Tribute, Jay Francis as venues in Nottingham. More Botanical Gardens. More information Farm, Leicestershire. More information George Michael, Flash, Gimme Some at swingamajig.co.uk information at dottodotfestival.co.uk Lovin Soul Band, The Blue Print Blues at glastonbudget.org LICHFIELD BLUES AND JAZZ FESTIVAL Brothers featuring Aretha Franklin FORBIDDEN FOREST Line-up to be an- STAFFS FEST Line-up to be announced. nounced. Sat 9 May, The Oaks Forest, Line-up to be announced. Thurs 28 tribute, Erasured - Erasure Tribute – Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Lower Drayton Grimethorpe. More information at May - Sun 31 May, various venues Marquis Drive. Fri 10 - Mon 13 April, Farm, Penkridge, Staffs. More informa- forbidden-forest.co.uk around Lichfield. More information at Chillington Hall, Brewood, Wolver- tion at staffsfest.co.uk lichfield-jazz.co.uk hampton. More information at BEARDED THEORY Line-up includes HOWTHELIGHTGETSIN The world’s dubscollective.com The Flaming Lips, Nova Twins, THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN largest philosophy and music festival. Derange, The Dualers, Ferocious Dog, Line-up includes Lindisfarne, Lucas Line-up includes Nitin Sawhney, Belle The Bar Steward Sons Of Val Dooni- Marks & The Glorious Unknown, Merry MAY and Sebastian, The Correspondents, can, KT Tunstall, The Undertones, The Hell, The Quireboys, Old Town Sailors. Ayanna Witter Johnson. Fri 22 - Mon 25 Kubricks. Thurs 21 - Sun 24 May, Catton Fri 29 May - Sun 31 May, Uttoxeter May, Hay on Wye, Hereford. More in- UPTON UPON SEVERN FOLK FESTIVAL Hall, South Derbyshire. More informa- Racecourse. More information at formation at howthelightgetsin.org Line-up includes Martyn Harvey, Dove- tion at beardedtheory.co.uk acousticfestival.co.uk tail Trio, Worcestershire Levellers, Rod CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up in- BREAKING BANDS Line-up includes Go- WYCHWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up Penlington. Fri 1 - Mon 4 May, various cludes Kimber’s Men, Wet The Tea, rilla Riot, Stellsword, Midnite City, to be announced. Fri 29 May - Sun 31 venues, Upton upon Severn, Worces- Sam Carter, Albireo. Fri 22 - Mon 25 King Creature. Thurs 21 - Mon 25 May, May, Cheltenham Racecourse. tershire. More information at May, Kelsall Village. More information Stoke Prior Sports & Country Club, More information at uptonfolk.org at chesterfolk.org.uk Bromsgrove. More information at wychwoodfestival.com LEAMINGTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up breakingbandsfestival.com NEIGHBOURHOOD WEEKENDER Line-up to be announced. Fri 1 - Tues 5 May, includes Ian Brown, Catfish And The MELLO Line-up includes Odyssey, JUNE Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa. Bottlemen, Shed Seven, The Wombats. Steeleye Span, Craig Charles, Fairport More information at Sat 23 - Sun 24 May, Victoria Park, Convention. Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Seven leamingtonmusic.org Warrington. More information at WIRRAL FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up in-

50 whatsonlive.co.uk Festivals 2020.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 17:06 Page 2

cludes Lindisfarne, Trials Of Cato, Forest. More information and tickets at Bolesworth Castle, Chester. More Buuren. Thurs 27 - Sun 30 Aug, Dares- Merry Hell, The Churchfitters. Thurs 4 timberfestival.org.uk information at carfest.org bury, Halton, Cheshire. More informa- June - Sun 7 June, The Whitby Club, tion at creamfields.com THE ROCK AND BIKE FEST Line-up in- BAREFOOT FESTIVAL Line-up to be Ellesmere Port. More information at cludes Fleetwood Bac, Guns 2 Roses, announced. Fri 31 July - Mon 3 August, BEERMAGEDDON FESTIVAL Line-up to wirralfolkonthecoast.com Green Haze, The Animals & Friends. Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire. More be announced. Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, GATE TO SOUTHWELL Line-up includes Thurs 9 - Sat 11 July, Carnfield Hall, information at barefootfestival.com Stoke Prior Sports & Country Club, Show Of Hands, Madison Violet, Derbyshire. More information at Bromsgrove, Worcester. More informa- Talisk, Track Dogs. Thurs 4 - Sun 7 rockandbikefest.co.uk tion at beermageddon.co.uk June, Southwell Racecourse, Notting- AUGUST 2000TREES FESTIVAL Line-up to be an- SUNSHINE FESTIVAL Line-up includes hamshire. More information at gtsf.uk nounced. Thurs 9 - Sat 11 July, Upcote MADE BIRMINGHAM Line-up to be an- B*Witched, David Essex, Steve Harley DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL Line-up includes Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. nounced. Sat 1 August, Perry Park, & Cockney Rebel. Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Kiss, Iron Maiden, System Of A Down, More information at Birmingham. More information at Fish Meadow, Upton upon Severn, Deftones, Korn, The Offspring. Fri 12 - twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk made-festival.co.uk Worcestershire. More information at Sun 14 June, Donington Park, Derby. uptonfestival.co.uk BROMSGROVE FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up More information at BOARDMASTERS Line-up to be an- includes The Lost Notes, Keith Don- downloadfestival.co.uk nounced. Wed 5 - Sun 9 Aug, Watergate CAMPER CALLING Line-up includes nelly, Union Jill. Thurs 9 - Sun 12 July, Bay, Newquay, Cornwall. More infor- Skunk Anansie, The Fratellis, Ash, The NOCTURNE LIVE AT BLENHEIM PALACE various venues across Bromsgrove. mation at boardmasters.com Feeling. Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Ragley Line-up includes David Gray, Lionel More information at Hall, Warwickshire. More information Richie. Thurs 18 - Sun 21 June, bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR Line-up in- at campercalling.com Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. More cludes Skindred, Paradise Lost, information at nocturnelive.com NOISILY FESTIVAL Line-up to be an- Butcher Babies. Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, THE BIG FEASTIVAL Line-up to be announced. Thurs 9 - Fri 12 July, Coney Catton Hall, Derbyshire. More informa- nounced. Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, King- SONIC ROCK SOLSTICE 2019 Line-up in- Woods at Noseley Hall, Leicestershire. tion at bloodstock.uk.com ham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. cludes Acid Mothers Temple, Atomic More information and tickets at More information at Rooster, Astralasia, Heavy Metal Kids. noisilyfestival.com ROCK THE PARK WREXHAM 2019 Line- thebigfeastival.co.uk Thurs 18 - Sun 21 June, Stoke Prior up includes Vengaboys, K-Klass, Robin Sports and Country Club, Worcester. THE MOSTLY JAZZ FUNK AND SOUL S, DJ Sash. Fri 7 - Sun 9 Aug, Borras SHREWSBURY FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up More information at FESTIVAL Line-up to be Hall Lane, Wrexham. More informa- includes Show Of Hands, Carlos sonicrocksolstice.com announced. Fri 10 - Sun 12 July, tion at rockthepark.co.uk Núñez, The Young’uns, Kabantu. Fri 28 Moseley Park, Birmingham. - Mon 31 Aug, Greenhous West Mid BEARDY FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up in- More information at mostlyjazz.co.uk 110 ABOVE FESTIVAL Line-up to be an- Showground, Shrewsbury. More infor- cludes Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, nounced. Thurs 13 - Sun 16 Aug, Gop- mation at shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk Rura, Gaz Brookfield, Calan, Luke Jack- LICHFIELD ARTS FUSE FESTIVAL Line-up sall Hall Farm, Leicestershire. More son, Midnight Skyracer. Fri 19 - Sun 21 to be announced. Fri 10 - Sun 12 July, information at 110above.com June, Hopton Court, Cleobury Mor- Beacon Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire. LAKEFEST Line-up includes Echo and timer, Shropshire. More information at More information at the Bunnymen, Ash, Starsailor. Thurs beardyfolkfestival.co.uk fuselichfield.org.uk 13 - Sun 16 Aug, Eastnor Castle, Here- UPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up includes LET’S ROCK SHREWSBURY Line-up in- fordshire. More information at Black Cat Jazz Band, 12 Shades Of Jazz, cludes Adam Ant, OMD, ABC, Tony lakefest.co.uk Ben Cummings Gerry Mulligan Quar- Hadley, Go West. Sat 11 July, The FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL Line up to be tet, Keith Nichols Hot Seven. Fri 26 - Quarry, Shrewsbury. More information Sun 28 June. Various venues in Upton- at letsrockshrewsbury.com announced. Fri 14 - Sun 16 Aug, near upon-Severn, Worcestershire. More in- Gatten Farm, Shropshire. More infor- UPTON BLUES FESTIVAL Line-up to be mation at farmerphilsfestival.com formation at uptonjazz.co.uk announced. Thurs 16 - Sun 19 July, var- SEPTEMBER ious venues around Upton upon Sev- THE MOIRA FURNACE FOLK FESTIVAL JULY ern, Worcestershire. More information Line-up includes Steve Tilston & Hugh MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Passenger an- at uptonbluesfestival.com Bradley, Granny’s Attic, Robin Laing, nounced as first headliner. Fri 4 - Sun Kenny Spiers. Fri 21 - Sun 23 Aug, 6 Sept, Moseley Park, Birmingham. NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up to be THE BIRMINGHAM, SOLIHULL & Moira Furnace Museum and Monu- More information at moseleyfolk.co.uk announced. Fri 3 - Sat 4 July, Napton WESTSIDE FESTIVAL Line-up to be ment Site, Derbyshire. More informa- Village Hall Grounds, Napton On The announced. Fri 17 - Sun 26 July, The tion at moirafurnacefolkfestival.co.uk OFF THE TRACKS Line-up to be an- Hill, Warwickshire. More information Crossing + Boxxed + Wilde Building in nounced. Wed 4 - Fri 6 Sept, Castle naptonfestival.co.uk Floodgate Street, Birmingham. More OLD BUSH BLUES FESTIVAL Line-up in- Donington. More information at information at cludes Pot Kettle Black, Trafficker, CAMPERJAM Line-up to be announced. offthetracks.co.uk birminghamjazzfestival.com Wayne Martin. Fri 21 - Sun 23 Aug, The Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, Weston Park, Shrop- Old Bush, Callow End Worcester. More BROMYARD FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up to shire. More information at NOZSTOCK Line-up to be announced. information at oldbushblues.co.uk be announced. Thurs 10 - Sun 13 Sept, camperjam.com Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, Rowden Pad- Bromyard, Herefordshire. More infor- docks, Bromyard, Herefordshire. More THE JUST SO FESTIVAL Line-up to be ALSO FESTIVAL Line-up to be an- mation at bromyardfolkfestival.co.uk information at nozstock.com announced. Fri 21 - Sun 23 Aug, Rode nounced. Fri 3 - Sat 5 July, Park Farm, Hall Parkland, Cheshire. More infor- Warwickshire. More information and WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up to be mation at justsofestival.org.uk tickets at also-festival.com announced. Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, OCTOBER Warwick School and Warwick Town SHAMBALA Line-up to be announced. TIMBER FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Centre. More information at Thurs 27 - Sun 30 Aug. A secret loca- LICHFIELD FESTIVAL OF FOLK Line-up to Unthanks, Sam Lee, Poet Laureate warwickfolkfestival.co.uk tion in Northampton. More informa- be announced. Fri 16 - Sun 18 Oct, Simon Armitage, Dame Evelyn Glen- tion at shambalafestival.org venues around Lichfield, Staffordshire. nie, Gary Stewart’s Graceland. Fri 3 - CARFEST NORTH Line-up to be More information at Sun 5 July, Feanedock, The National announced. Fri 24 - Sun 26 July, CREAMFIELDS Headliner Armin Van lichfieldarts.org.uk whatsonlive.co.uk 51 Subscription Advert New Jan 2020.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 15:00 Page 1 The List Cover January Wolves Shrops Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 17:30 Page 1

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide JanuaryJanuary 20202020 thelist

Ellen Kent’s La Boheme at Wolverhampton Grand - Sun 26 January

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

What’s On Wed 1 to Sun 5 January Mon 6 to Sun 12 January Mon 13 to Sun 19 January Mon 20 to Fri 31 January

Nearly Dan The Wedding Present at Miloš Karadaglic in concert at Tim Baker at Henry Tudor at The Robin, Bilston Newhampton Arts Centre Stoke Repertory Theatre House, Shrewsbury Fri 3 January Fri 10 January Sat 18 January Fri 24 January

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thelist THROUGHOUT JANUARY Gigs

Nefelibata Photography -four photo- GUNS 2 ROSES Thurs 2 Visual Arts graphic artists based in Anglesey - Jan, The Robin, Bilston Shropshire Guild of Contemporary SONS OF ANGER AND RE- New Art Gallery - Walsall Craft and Borderland Visual Arts, until DEMPTION PRESENT KEN WALSALL SOCIETY OF ARTISTS - 70TH Sat 11 Jan BONSALL AND DAN ANNUAL EXHIBITION Range of work by NEW NEW YEAR OPEN 2020 Sat 18 Jan - BOOTH Thurs 2 Jan - local artists, including portraits, still Sat 7 Mar Fri 3 Jan, Katie Fitzger- lifes and urban & rural scenes, until ald’s, Stourbridge Sun 5 Jan NEARLY DAN IN CONCERT AMALIA PICA Major solo exhibition ex- Wolverhampton Art Gallery Fri 3 Jan, The Robin, ploring the material culture of bureau- REFRAMING THE WILD: HUMANS, ANI- Bilston cracy, until Sun 2 Feb MALS AND ART 1750-1950 Exhibition SHOP FRONT HEROES Fri exploring the relationships between 3 Jan, Albert’s Shed, humans, animals and artworks Southwater, Telford from 1750 to 1950, until Sun 5 Jan SLEEPY HEADS + HOT- Nearly Dan - The Robin, Bilston ARTS AWARD EXHIBITION Exhibition by PLATE + GLASS CEIL- students from Wolverhampton INGS + THE COMMON JEAN GENIE Sat 4 Jan, OND HAND GENES + Schools showcasing artwork created Fri 3 Jan, The Sun- The Robin, Bilston HONEY FACTORY Sat 4 by utilising recycled materials pro- flower Lounge, B’ham Jan, The Sunflower vided by SCARF, until Sun 19 Jan ESSENTIAL 80S Sat 4 ROD STEWART & THE Jan, The River Rooms, Lounge, Birmingham THE BLOOMSBURY EFFECT Visitors to FACEZ Fri 3 Jan, The Stourbridge THE FREDDIE & QUEEN the Wolverhampton Society of Artists River Rooms, Stour- EXPERIENCE Sat 4 Jan, TOO RICH A SOIL Exhibition by three GEMIMA AND THE EX- Centenary Exhibition can also enjoy a bridge Eleven, Sandyford, photographers presenting new work display of three prestigious early TRAORDINARY GENTLE- ION MAIDEN Stoke-on-Trent focused around portraiture, culture 20th century British paintings on Fri 3 Jan, MEN Sat 4 Jan, Albert’s Route 44, Birmingham and female identity, until Sun 19 Apr loan from the Courtauld Gallery, Lon- Shed, Southwater, BAD GIRLFRIEND + FEED Telford ME MILK + SIMPLE SARAH TAYLOR SILVERWOOD - KATHLEEN don, until Sun 16 Feb DAN BUDD AS ROBBIE TRIXX + SPIT Sun 5 AND SALLY SERIES Body of drawings WOLVERHAMPTON SOCIETY OF ARTISTS WILLIAMS Fri 3 Jan, BOWIE NIGHT 2020 Sat 4 Eleven, Sandyford, Jan, The Sunflower based on text and images abstracted CENTENARY EXHIBITION Exhibition doc- Jan, Night Owl, B’ham Stoke-on-Trent Lounge, Birmingham from photographs, letters, and docu- umenting the story of the Society, DEAF BALLOONS + SEC- ments relating to the two creators featuring a selection of works by and donors of the Garman Ryan Col- WSA’s alumni, until Sun 16 Feb lection, Kathleen Epstein (née Gar- 50 YEARS ON: THE NORTHERN IRELAND until Sat 4 Jan, The Alexandra The- man) and Sally Ryan, until Sun 7 COLLECTION REVISITED Exhibition fea- atre, Birmingham June Classical turing new acquisition Rocket Man, by Northern Irish artist Gerry Glea- THE JOHANN STRAUSS GALA Featuring Himley Hall & Park, Dudley son, and also including items from the Johann Strauss Orchestra, John the gallery’s nationally important col- Rigby (conductor) and Lizzie NEW ANDREW SARGEN EXHIBITION Sat lection of art relating to the Troubles, Holmes (soprano), Wed 1 Jan, Sym- 18 Jan - Sun 5 Apr until Sun 29 Mar phony Hall, Birmingham HALLE ORCHESTRA Featuring Gergely Newcastle Borough Museum Other VISUAL ARTS Madaras (conductor) & Jenö Lisztes & Art Gallery (cimbalom) & Lajos Sárközy Jr (vio- RURAL SURREALISM AND WINTER EXHI- B(U)Y ME FOR CHRISTMAS! Exhibition lin). Programme includes works by BITION Exhibition exploring the use of where visitors can buy exclusive J. Strauss, Lehár, Brahms, Liszt & J. dream imagery, folklore and fantasy hand-made gifts and featuring work Strauss II, Fri 3 Jan, Victoria Hall, THE GIN CHRONICLES CHRISTMAS in the traditions of painting, sculpture by 30 artists, until Sun 5 Jan Stoke-on-Trent SHOW The Misfits of London present and print, until Sun 26 Jan, Twenty a festive evening of ‘fast-paced, vin- PAINTING WITH STITCH - LYN LEECH STOURBRIDGE CHOIR & ORCHESTRA: Twenty Gallery, Ludlow tage comedy’, until Sun 5 Jan, The With hand embroidery and a sewing VIENNESE GALA Sat 4 Jan, Stour- CHANGING TIMES: HUMOUR AND SATIRE Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham machine, Lyn creates landscapes bridge Town Hall Exhibition exploring the prints and that have both depth and realism, CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- PETER PAN New version of JM Bar- objects that poked fun at new tech- until Sun 12 Jan CHESTRA: VIENNESE NEW YEAR GALA rie's swashbuckling creation... until nology such as steam power and the Featuring Thomas Rösner (conduc- Sun 19 Jan, The REP, Birmingham possibilities it held, until Fri 28 Feb, tor) & Sarah-Jane Brandon (so- Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge A MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD A story of Potteries Museum & Art prano). Programme includes works Gallery - Stoke-On-Trent treasured history, desperate choices NEW QUBE CREATIVE GROUPS Display by Nicolai & J.Strauss II, Sun 5 Jan, and the remarkable Gertrude Bell, NEW ARRIVALS: 2018 Display of flora of recent works by members of Qube Symphony Hall, Birmingham until Sat 25 Jan, The Swan Theatre, and fauna never before seen in the art classes, Mon 6 Jan - Tues 4 Feb, Stratford-upon-Avon county, until Wed 1 Jan Qube Gallery, Oswestry THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER The STAFFORDSHIRE HOSPITALITY: CERAM- NEW EAST SIDE ARTS COMPETITION classic tale told with ‘imaginative ICS THAT CATER TO THE WORLD Exhibi- Showcase of the annual competition Theatre storytelling, live music, humour, tion exploring the 300-year history of entries, Sat 11 - Sat 25 Jan, The CHRISTMAS CAROL CASEBOOK: AWAY puppetry and plenty of festive North Staffordshire ceramics created Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- IN A DANGER Festive farce featuring magic’, until Sat 25 Jan, New Vic for the hospitality industry, until Sun Trent ‘murder, mayhem & more Christmas Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, 19 Jan NEW ODDFELLOWS ARTS 'ECLECTICA' EX- puns than you can wave your con- Staffordshire HIBITION Collaboration of work in a ductor’s baton at’, until Sat 4 Jan, THE BOY IN THE DRESS World pre- The Willow Art Gallery, range of media by nine artists from Lichfield Garrick miere based on David Walliams' the West Midlands, Mon 13 - Tues 28 Oswestry THE KING & I Tony Award-winning bestselling book and featuring Jan, Museum of Cannock Chase, songs by Robbie Williams and Guy ART & CRAFT 2019 Including works by Staffordshire Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, 54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 1 - 5 January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 15:40 Page 2

Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 January

Chambers, until Sun 8 Mar, Royal MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE, PAUL TONKIN- Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- SON, JOANNE MCNALLY & COMIC TBC Fri upon-Avon 3 - Sat 4 Jan, The Glee Club, B’ham KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely performed tale of a nation in turmoil, until Sat 21 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Dance SHEN YUN Epic production fusing classical Chinese dance, sceno- Pantomime graphical effects and original orchestral works, Tues 31 Dec - Thurs 2 Jan, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Starring International Convention Centre Coronation Street actor Oliver Mellor (ICC), Birmingham as Fleshcreep & comedy star Carl Dutfield as Jack, until Sun 5 Jan, The Place, Telford CINDERELLA Festive family favourite starring Rebecca Keatley (CBeebies) Film and Sam Rabone, until Sun 5 Jan, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Lichfield Garrick A CHRISTMAS CAROL (U) Drama/Fam- SLEEPING BEAUTY Starring Potteries ily. Starring George C. Scott, Frank panto royalty Jonathan Wilkes & Finlay. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Christian Patterson, until Sun 5 Jan, until Tues 24 Dec Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Dick Whittington - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre PETER PAN Starring Coronation (12a) Action/Adventure. Starring Street’s Ian Reddington as Captain Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver. Light Market Drayton, North Shrops, Sun Hook & Corey Jones as Peter Pan, House Media Centre, Wolverhamp- 22 Dec ton, Wed 18 - Mon 23 Dec Events until Sun 5 Jan, Stafford Gatehouse MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG) Theatre LOVING VINCENT (12) Animation/Biog- Adventure/Fantasy. Starring Angelina PAW PATROL PUPS SAVE CHRISTMAS DICK WHITTINGTON Starring Su Pol- raphy. Starring Douglas Booth, Jolie, Elle Fanning. Festival Drayton TRAIL Featuring 21 characters and lard, Ryan Thomas, Jeffrey Holland, Jerome Flynn. The Hive, Shrewsbury, Centre, Market Drayton, North buildings from the hit Nick Jr show, Aaron James & Ian Adams, until Sun Fri 20 Dec Shrops, Fri 27 Dec all built by BRICKLIVE from brightly coloured toy bricks and placed 12 Jan, Wolverhampton Grand The- LOVE, ACTUALLY (15) Romance/Drama. TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT (PG) Adven- atre Starring Hugh Grant, Martine Mc- around the city centre, until Fri 3 Jan, ture/Comedy. Starring Maggie Smith, Birmingham City Centre SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS Cutcheon. Wellington Orbit, Telford, Alec McCowen. Festival Drayton Featuring Lesley Joseph, Matt Slack, Shropshire, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Dec Centre, Market Drayton, North CONTINENTAL CIRCUS BERLIN Brand Joe McElderry, Faye Brookes, Flaw- LAST CHRISTMAS (12a) Shrops, Fri 27 Dec new show for the festive season, until Sat 4 Jan, NEC, Birmingham less, Doreen Tipton & Andrew Ryan, Comedy/Drama. Starring Emilia CABARET (15) Musical/Drama. Starring until Sun 2 Feb, Birmingham Hippo- Clarke, Henry Golding. Old Market Liza Minnelli, Michael York. Welling- drome Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 20 - Tues 24 ton Orbit, Telford, Shropshire, Sat 28 Dec, Fri 27 - Tues 31 Dec; Festival Dec Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, STARDOG & TURBOCAT (U) North Shrops, Mon 23 Dec; Lichfield Animation/Comedy. With the voice of Garrick, Fri 27 Dec Kids Shows Luke Evans, Nick Frost. Lichfield Gar- FROZEN 2 (PG) Animation/Adventure. rick, Mon 30 Dec WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT ‘Catchy With the voices of Idina Menzel, Kris- CABARET (15) Musical/Drama. Starring songs, interactive scenes and plenty ten Bell. Light House Media Centre, Liza Minnelli, Michael York. Welling- of hands-on adventure’ combine in Wolverhampton, Thurs 19 - Mon 23 ton Orbit, Telford, Shropshire, Thurs 2 this adaptation of Michael Rosen & Dec; Wem Town Hall, North Shrops, Jan Helen Oxenbury's much-loved picture Fri 20 - Tues 24 Dec; Old Market Hall, book, until Sun 12 Jan, Birmingham Shrewsbury, Fri 20 - Tues 24 Dec, Fri AFTER THE WEDDING (12a) Drama. THE SNOW HOUSE BAR Snow House Town Hall 27 Dec - Sun 5 Jan; Festival Drayton Starring Billy Crudup, Michelle Bar makes a welcome return, com- Centre, Market Drayton, North Williams. Old Market Hall, Shrews- plete with super-popular VIP igloos, Shrops, Fri 27 Dec bury, Thurs 2 - Thurs 9 Jan until Sun 5 Jan, The Bullring Shop- ping Centre, Birmingham OLIVER! (U) Drama/Musical. Starring THE ADDAMS FAMILY (PG) Comedy Oliver Reed, Mark Lester. Light Animation/Comedy. With the voices ICE SKATE BIRMINGHAM Ice Skate GRAEME MATHEWS, PAUL SINHA (PIC- House Media Centre, Wolverhamp- of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron. Fes- Birmingham and the Big Wheel make TURED), EAMON GOODFELLOW & ton, Sat 21 Dec tival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, a welcome return to Centenary Square, until Sun 12 Jan, Centenary THOMAS GREEN Thurs 2 Jan, The A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGED- North Shrops, Fri 3 Jan Square, Birmingham George Hotel, Lichfield DON (U) Animation/Family. With the HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSO- voices of Justin Fletcher, John PHER’S STONE (PG) Adventure/Fantasy. NEW YEAR CRAFT: CREATE YOUR OWN Sparkes. Festival Drayton Centre, Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert CALENDAR Use a variety of craft mate- Market Drayton, North Shrops, Sat 21 Grint. Mitchell Arts Centre, Burton- rials to design and create a unique Dec upon-Trent, Staffs, Sun 5 Jan calendar for 2020, Thurs 2 Jan, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (U) Drama/Family. Starring James Stew- NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: JOG OFF YOUR JUMPER ‘Fun run’ to art, Donna Reed. Ludlow Assembly burn off those extra Christmas calo- Released from Wed 1Jan, showing at Rooms, South Shropshire, Sat 21 ries, Sat 4 Jan, Attingham Park, selected cinemas Dec Shrewsbury JOJO RABBIT (12a) ABOMINABLE (U) Animation/Adventure. NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Featuring a vari- With the voices of Chloe Bennet, Al- THE GENTLEMEN (18) ety of activities and stalls, Sun 5 Jan, bert Tsai. Festival Drayton Centre, Soho House, Birmingham

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music music music

COUNTRY SUPERSTARS SOME GUYS HAVE HELLO AGAIN...THE STORY EXPERIENCE ALL THE LUCK OF NEIL DIAMOND Fri 7 Feb @ 7.30pm Sat 8 Feb @ 7.30pm Thurs 13 Feb @ 7.30pm

music music comedy

THE MUSIC OF JUDY SHOWADDYWADDY DOM JOLY'S GARLAND STARRING DENISE NOLAN LETS ROCK N ROLL HOLIDAY SNAPS Fri 14 Feb @ 7.30pm Sat 15 Feb @ 7.30pm Tues 18 Feb @ 7.30pm

music music family

WOMAN LIKE ME - GENESIS CONNECTED MILKSHAKE! LIVE CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF GENESIS MILKSHAKE MONKEY’S MUSICAL TWC GP 01459 THE LITTLE MIX SHOW Thu 20 Feb @ 7.00pm Fri 21 Feb @ 7.30pm Sat 22 Feb @ 12.00pm & 3.00pm

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thelist Monday 6 - Sunday 12 January Classical Theatre PETER PAN New version of JM Bar- Music rie's swashbuckling creation... until LUNCHTIME MUSIC Featuring Phoebe Sun 19 Jan, The REP, Birmingham Cheng (double bass) performing a A MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD A story of programme of works by Bottensini. treasured history, desperate choices Also Charlotte Sleet (mezzo-so- and the remarkable Gertrude Bell, prano) & Jonathan French (piano). until Sat 25 Jan, The Swan Theatre, Programme includes works by Vi- Stratford-upon-Avon valdi & Ravel, Mon 6 Jan, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conserva- toire ELISABETH BRAUSS PIANO CONCERT Programme includes works by Schubert and Beethoven, Tues 7 Jan, Royal Birmingham Conserva- toire EDWARD LEUNG PIANO RECITAL Pro- gramme includes works by JS Bach, Haydn, Chopin, Ives & Stravinsky, Wed 8 Jan, Recital Hall, Royal Birm- The Wedding Present - Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton ingham Conservatoire THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER The classic tale told with ‘imaginative story- CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- CATAPULT CLUB FT. THE Trent telling, live music, humour, puppetry CHESTRA: A VISION OF THE FUTURE REPTARS Fri 10 Jan, O2 and plenty of festive magic’, until Sat Gigs FROM THE JAM Fri 10 Featuring Jaume Santonja Espinós Academy, Birmingham 25 Jan, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Jan, The Mill, Digbeth, (conductor) & Vesselin Gellev (vio- THE BUTTERS ALIENS + under-Lyme, Staffordshire NEW MODEL ARMY Fri Birmingham lin). Programme includes works by CORNFLAKE’S AT 10 Jan, O2 Institute, ULTIMATE COLDPLAY Fri Shostakovich, Arturo Marquez, De- THE BOY IN THE DRESS World pre- KELLY’S + IN OUR LIVES Birmingham 10 Jan, The River bussy, Anna Meredith, Piazzolla, miere based on David Walliams' + HONEY I SHOT THE KEITH DONNELLY Fri 10 Rooms, Stourbridge Gershwin & Mason Bates, Thurs 9 bestselling book and featuring PRESIDENT Mon 6 Jan, songs by Robbie Williams and Guy Jan, Lichfield Guildhall A VISION OF ELVIS Fri Jan, Symphony Hall, Birmingham The Sunflower Chambers, until Sun 8 Mar, Royal PAPER BUOYS + THE 10 Jan - Sat 11 Jan, BRAHMS’ HORN TRIO Fri 10 Jan, Lounge, Birmingham Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- GOOD WATER + HEAD- Lichfield Garrick CBSO Centre, Birmingham THE NU + FUTURE FIRES upon-Avon SHRINKERS + BERMUDA + AKANDE + THE FLOW MARK MORTON Sat 11 Fri 10 Jan, The Sun- KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely per- Tues 7 Jan, The Sun- Jan, O2 Academy, flower Lounge, Birm- formed tale of a nation in turmoil, flower Lounge, B’ham Birmingham ingham Comedy until Sat 21 Mar, The Swan Theatre, DINO BAPTISTE Wed 8 BLACK ELVIS Sat 11 Stratford-upon-Avon BACK TO THE 80’S Fri 10 Jan, Night Owl, B’ham ESTHER MANITO (PICTURED), CHRIS Jan, The Jam House, THE ACID TEST Written by award-win- Jan, The Robin, Bil- WASHINGTON & COMEDY CAROUSEL Birmingham TRUE STRAYS Sat 11 ning and critically acclaimed play- ston WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 9 Jan, COSMOTHEKA Wed 8 Jan, Lichfield Guildhall wright Anya Reiss, Wed 8 - Sat 11 CIVIL WRONGS Fri 10 The Glee Club, Birmingham Jan, The Red Lion Jan, The Blue Orange Theatre, Jan - Sat 11 Jan, The ABBA - SWEDE DREAMZ Folk Club, B’ham Birmingham Jam House, B’ham Sat 11 Jan, The River OUTLINE + CRYMSON + Rooms, Stourbridge ALICE IN PANTOLAND Birmingham BACKSTREET THUNDER EASY COMPANY + THE Youth Theatre present a new and Fri 10 Jan, Eleven, THE ASSIST + KARKOSA BRACKET Wed 8 Jan, original take on one of Britain’s Sandyford, Stoke-on- + ROMA COVE + THE The Sunflower favourite tales, Thurs 9 - Sat 11 Jan, Trent NEW CONSISTENT Sat Lounge, Birmingham 11 Jan, The Sunflower The Old Rep, Birmingham SINGLE BY SUNDAY Fri PAUL SMITH: FOLLOW- Lounge, Birmingham PETER PANTIES! The Market Theatre 10 Jan, The Asylum, ING Thurs 9 Jan, O2 Company return to corrupt another Birmingham LINK N PARK Sat 11 Academy, Birmingham Jan, Eleven, Sandy- traditional pantomime classic be- ALL MOD CONS Fri 10 ASOMVEL PLUS SUP- ford, Stoke-on-Trent yond all recognition. Not suitable for Jan, Night Owl, B’ham under-16s, Fri 10 Jan, Prince Of PORT, THE MIGHTY CLAUDE BOURBON Sat Wales Centre, Cannock WRAITH AND SEVERN BROKEN MINDS, WAX ON 11 Jan, Birchmeadow Thurs 9 Jan, The & THE SOURCE PRE- Centre, Broseley, CIRCUS OF HORRORS Immersive cele- Robin, Bilston SENTS: A TRIBUTE TO Shropshire bration set to a rock’n’roll sound- TANGO Fri 10 Jan, Hare scape & featuring bizarre and LADY SANITY + ED BRAVADO - TRIBUTE TO & Hounds, B’ham beautiful acts, Fri 10 Jan, Victoria GEATER + A$TROBOY$ RUSH Sun 12 Jan, The Hall, Stoke-on-Trent + STELLA Thurs 9 Jan, PJ MORTON Fri 10 Jan, Robin, Bilston The Sunflower O2 Institute, B’ham BEYOND THE BARRICADE Featuring BLACK DYKE IN CON- PHIL WALKER, ADAM BEARDSMORE, Lounge, Birmingham THE BUSINESS Fri 10 best-loved songs from Broadway CERT Sun 12 Jan, Sym- JOSH PUGH & DAN SMITH Thurs 9 Jan, Jan, Hare & Hounds, and the West End, Sat 11 Jan, Re- KINGS HEATH & MOSE- phony Hall, B’ham Stourbridge Town Hall LEY NEIGHBOURHOOD Birmingham gent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent DAMIAN WILSON & ESTHER MANITO (PICTURED), CHRIS Thurs 9 Jan, Hare & THE WEDDING PRESENT ADAM WAKEMAN Sun WASHINGTON, DOMINIC FRISBY & BEN Hounds, Birmingham Fri 10 Jan, Newhamp- 12 Jan, Stafford Gate- NORRIS Fri 10 - Sat 11 Jan, The Glee ton Arts Centre, THE PASADENA ROOF house Theatre Club, B’ham ORCHESTRA Thurs 9 Wolverhampton RISCAS + FLARES + 11 ALISTAIR BARRIE, BRENNAN REECE, Pantomime Jan, New Vic Theatre, SHOWADDYWADDY Fri 57 + SOUKI Sun 12 JOHN GAVIN & DANNY MCLOUGHLIN Sat DICK WHITTINGTON Starring Su Pol- Newcastle-under- 10 Jan, The Regent Jan, The Sunflower 11 Jan, The Comedy Loft, B’ham lard, Ryan Thomas, Jeffrey Holland, Lyme, Staffordshire Theatre, Stoke-on- Lounge, Birmingham Aaron James & Ian Adams, until Sun whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 6 - 12 January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 15:44 Page 3

58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 6 - 12 January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 15:44 Page 4

thelist Monday 6 - Sunday 12 January 12 Jan, Wolverhampton Grand The- RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER (PG) Starring Matthew Goode, Elizabeth cliffe, Rupert Grint. Mitchell Arts Cen- atre Comedy/Crime. Starring Peter Sell- McGovern. Shropshire Hills Discov- tre, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs, Sun 12 SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS ers, Christopher Plummer. Mitchell ery Centre, Fri 10 Jan Jan Featuring Lesley Joseph, Matt Slack, Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, LITTLE WOMEN (U) Drama/Romance. Joe McElderry, Faye Brookes, Flaw- Staffs, Tues 7 Jan Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Wat- less, Doreen Tipton & Andrew Ryan, THE AERONAUTS (PG) Action/Biogra- son. Light House Media Centre, until Sun 2 Feb, Birmingham Hippo- phy. Starring Felicity Jones, Eddie Wolverhampton, Fri 10 - Thurs 16 Jan Events drome Redmayne. Stoke Film Theatre, Tues 1917 (12a) Drama/War. Starring An- DICK WHITTINGTON Sun 12 Jan, Prince 7 & Thurs 9 Jan drew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch. ICE SKATE BIRMINGHAM Ice Skate Of Wales Centre, Cannock DUMBO (PG) Family/Fantasy. Starring Light House Media Centre, Wolver- Birmingham and the Big Wheel make Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton. Mitchell hampton, Fri 10 - Thurs 23 Jan; Old a welcome return to Centenary Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 10 - Square, until Sun 12 Jan, Centenary Staffs, Wed 8 Jan Thurs 30 Jan Square, Birmingham AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL Kids Shows LE MANS ‘66 (12a) Action/Biography. CATS (12a) Comedy/Drama. Starring Must-at- Starring Matt Damon, Christian Bale. Idris Elba, Taylor Swift. Old Market tend event for motorsport fans and WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT ‘Catchy industry professionals featuring ‘an songs, interactive scenes and plenty Market Drayton, North Shrops, Fri 10 Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 10 - Thurs 23 Jan Jan unmissable combination of cars, of hands-on adventure’ combine in stars and action’, Sat 11 - Sun 12 this adaptation of Michael Rosen & GREASE (PG) Drama/Musical. Starring KNIVES OUT (12a) Comedy/Crime. Jan, NEC, Birmingham Helen Oxenbury's much-loved picture John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John. Starring Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Cur- book, until Sun 12 Jan, Birmingham Light House Media Centre, Wolver- tis. Stoke Film Theatre, Sat 11 Jan Town Hall hampton, Fri 10 Jan BUGSY MALONE (U) Comedy/Crime. BURNING (15) Drama/Mystery. Starring Starring Jodie Foster, Scott Baio. Ah-in Yoo, Steven Yeun. Foreign lan- Light House Media Centre, Wolver- guage, subtitled. The Hive, Shrews- hampton, Sun 12 Jan Film bury, Fri 10 Jan SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (U) Musical/Ro- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS MY LIFE AS A COURGETTE (PG) Anima- mance. Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie LATE NIGHT (15) Comedy/Drama. Star- tion/Comedy. With the voices of Gas- Reynolds. Light House Media Cen- ring Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling. pard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat. tre, Wolverhampton, Sun 12 Jan The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wen- Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley, HARRY POTTER AND THE AND THE lock, South Shrops, Mon 6 Jan South Shrops, Fri 10 Jan CHAMBER OF SECRETS (PG) Adven- DOWNTON ABBEY (U) Drama/Romance. ture/Fantasy. Starring Daniel Rad-

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thelist 18 Jan, The Glee Club, Birmingham Classical ALLYSON SMITH, MATT RICHARDSON, EMMANUAL SONUBI & DANNY CLIVES Music Sat 18 Jan, The Comedy Loft, B’ham JAMES DOWDESWELL, CATHERINE BO- THOMAS TROTTER LUNCHTIME ORGAN HART, JOHN SCOTT & DAMION LARKIN CONCERT Mon 13 Jan, Birmingham Sat 18 Jan, Regent Theatre, Stoke- Town Hall on-Trent LUNCHTIME MUSIC Featuring Brigitta TOM BINNS Sun 19 Jan, Stafford Sveda (piano), Helena Townsend Gatehouse Theatre (mezzo-soprano) & Johnny Budd (piano). Programme includes works by Bernstein, Larsen, Chanier, Bar- ber, Duke & Hundley, Mon 13 Jan, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- Theatre servatoire PETER PAN New version of JM Bar- Toyah - The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton SIR SIMON RATTLE & LONDON SYM- rie's swashbuckling creation... until PHONY ORCHESTRA Also featuring Sun 19 Jan, The REP, Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, & Hounds, B’ham Dorothea Röschmann (soprano). A MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD A story of Birmingham Gigs THE SUPERSKAS Sat 18 Programme includes the works of treasured history, desperate choices FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 17 Jan, The Robin, Bil- DELTA AUTUMN + ROSIE Berg and Beethoven, Tues 14 Jan, and the remarkable Gertrude Bell, Jan, Eleven, Sandy- ston TEE + GABY KETTLE + Symphony Hall, Birmingham until Sat 25 Jan, The Swan Theatre, ford, Stoke-on-Trent CARISS AUBURN Mon XHOSA COLE QUARTET MILOŠ KARADAGLIC IN CONCERT Pro- Stratford-upon-Avon 13 Jan, The Sunflower SOULIN’ LIVE FUNK AND Sat 18 Jan, The Hive, gramme includes works by Bach, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER The clas- Lounge, Birmingham PERCUSSION NIGHT Fri Shrewsbury Granados, Albeniz, Villa Lobos, Bea- sic tale told with ‘imaginative story- 17 Jan, The Night Owl, tles & Duplessy, Sat 18 Jan, Stoke SUE + PRETTY VILE + YOU WIN AGAIN - CELE- telling, live music, humour, puppetry Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent TWELVE TWELVE + THE BRATING THE MUSIC OF and plenty of festive magic’, until Sat WOLF WITHIN Tues 14 CHASE RICE: THE PINT THE BEE GEES Sat 18 25 Jan, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle- Jan, The Sunflower OF ANYTHING TOUR Fri Jan, The Place, Telford under-Lyme, Staffordshire Lounge, Birmingham 17 Jan, O2 Institute, PURE QUEEN Sat 18 THE BOY IN THE DRESS World pre- Birmingham MCCARTNEY - THE Jan, Newhampton Arts miere based on David Walliams' SONGBOOK Wed 15 A COUNTRY NIGHT IN Centre, Wolverhamp- bestselling book and featuring Jan, Lichfield Garrick NASHVILLE Fri 17 Jan, ton songs by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, until Sun 8 Mar, Royal The Alexandra The- WINTER CARNIVAL FT. THE SIMON & GAR- Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- atre, Birmingham SHENSEEA Sat 18 Jan, FUNKEL STORY Wed 15 upon-Avon Jan, The Alexandra SIMPLY RERED Fri 17 O2 Institute, B’ham KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely per- Theatre, Birmingham Jan, The Robin, Bil- HELLBENT FOREVER Sat BRITISH PHILARMONIC CONCERT OR- formed tale of a nation in turmoil, ston 18 Jan, Eleven, KIOKO + THE PAGANS CHESTRA: VIENNESE STRAUSS GALA until Sat 21 Mar, The Swan Theatre, SOME GUYS HAVE ALL Sandyford, Stoke-on- S.O.H + SKETCH + Sun 19 Jan, Wolverhampton Grand Stratford-upon-Avon STRESS RELEASE Wed THE LUCK: ROD STEW- Trent Theatre I’M SORRY I HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE BBC 15 Jan, The Sunflower ART TRIBUTE Fri 17 Jan, TOYAH Sat 18 Jan, The CBSO: MAHLER'S SYMPHONY OF A Radio’s award-winning antidote to Lounge, Birmingham Stafford Gatehouse Slade Rooms, Wolver- THOUSAND Featuring Mirga panel games, hosted by Jack Dee & Theatre hampton WENDY KIRKLAND Gražinyt -Tyla (conductor), Erin Wall featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Tony AC/DC UK Fri 17 Jan, QUARTET Wed 15 Jan, TOM JONES - MY MY MY and Natalyaė Romaniw (sopranos). Hawks, Miles Jupp, Rory Bremner & The River Rooms, Cathedral Hotel, Lich- DELILAH Sat 18 Jan, Programme comprises Mahler's Colin Sell, Mon 13 Jan, The Alexan- Stourbridge field Lichfield Garrick Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a dra Theatre, Birmingham THE SIMON & GAR- Thousand), 85’, Sat 18 - Sun 19 Jan, WAGE WAR Thurs 16 MORE THAN 30 YEARS GHOST THE MUSICAL Based on the hit FUNKEL STORY Fri 17 Symphony Hall, Birmingham Jan, O2 Institute, Birm- OF BLUES ROCK AND 1990 film of the same name and pre- Jan, The Regent The- ingham SOUL - POPA CHUBBY INNOVATION ENSEMBLE: QUINTETS AT sented by The Mellow Dramatics, atre, Stoke-on-Trent VIOLET+ RAI KAH MER- Sun 19 Jan, The DUSK Featuring Ben Nabarro & Mar- Tues 14 - Sat 18 Jan, The Brew- CURY + WISHBONE + SIDHU MOOSE WALA Sat Robin, Bilston tin Cropper (violins), Robin Ireland house Arts Centre, Burton-upon- & Sarah-Jane Bradley (violas) & THE SPACE Thurs 16 18 Jan, O2 Academy, SCOTT HAMILTON Sun Trent Richard Jenkinson (cello). Pro- Jan, The Sunflower Birmingham 19 Jan, Newhampton gramme includes works by Mozart & BENEATH THE CITY The critically ac- Lounge, Birmingham UB40 - LABOUR OF LOVE Arts Centre, Wolver- Beethoven, Sun 19 Jan, The Lion claimed Upstart Theatre combine Sat 18 Jan, The River hampton LOST IN MUSIC - ONE Hotel, Shrewsbury music, lyrical writing & movement to NIGHT AT THE DISCO Rooms, Stourbridge NAMIWA JAZZ + RUTH tell a tale about how the decisions Thurs 16 Jan, Wolver- JUDY COLLINS Sat 18 KOKUMO + FERGUS we make go on to haunt us, Thurs hampton Grand The- Jan, Birmingham Town CHANNELL + DEMELZA 16 - Sat 18 Jan, The REP, B’ham atre Hall Sun 19 Jan, The Sun- Comedy VAMPIRES ROCK - GHOST TRAIN Musi- 80S MANIA Thurs 16 JOE BROWN Sat 18 Jan, flower Lounge, B’ham cal sensation featuring ‘some of the MARLON DAVIS, JARLATH REGAN & Jan - Fri 17 Jan, Lich- Wolverhampton Grand KEITH JAMES - THE greatest classic rock anthems of all COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- field Garrick Theatre SONGS OF NICK DRAKE time’, Fri 17 Jan, The Place, Telford SON Sun 19 Jan, Lichfield Thurs 16 Jan, The Glee Club, CHANTEL MCGREGOR ALEX OHM + JACK CAT- Birmingham Thurs 16 Jan, Stafford TELL + MATT MILLARD Guildhall JIM DAVIDSON Fri 17 Jan, Wolver- Gatehouse Theatre + COTTER Sat 18 Jan, VICARAGE X SEMPER hampton Grand Theatre INSOMNIUM Fri 17 Jan, The Sunflower VERA TOUR Sun 19 Pantomime O2 Academy, B’ham Lounge, Birmingham Jan, Hare & Hounds, LOL COMEDY CLUB Fri 17 Jan, SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolver- RETROFORWARD & Birmingham Featuring Lesley Joseph, Matt Slack, SPILT MILK SOCIETY + hampton ODD SOUL + CHERRY WEIRD WAX PRESENT THE NICK ROSS ORCHES- Joe McElderry, Faye Brookes, Flaw- CHERRY + AMY LOUISE PARANOID LONDON (DJ TRA Sun 19 Jan, Lich- MARLON DAVIS, JARLATH REGAN, LEE less & Doreen Tipton, until Sun 2 ELLIS Fri 17 Jan, The SET) Sat 18 Jan, Hare field Garrick MALONE & KELLY CONVEY Fri 17 - Sat Feb, Birmingham Hippodrome 60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 13 - 19 January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 15:50 Page 2

Monday 13 - Sunday 19 January

ALADDIN Featuring local performers Alex Farrell (Dame Widow Twankey) Film and Terry Batham (Abanazar), Sat 18 - Sun 26 Jan, Tamworth Assembly INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Rooms, Tamworth, Staffs GLORIA BELL (15) Comedy/Drama. Starring Julianne Moore, John Tur- turro. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shrops, Mon 13 Jan Dance WILD ROSE (15) Music/Drama. Starring STRICTLY COME DANCING LIVE TOUR Jessie Buckley, Matt Costello. Hosted by Stacey Dooley & featuring Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tues 14 TV judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Jan Horwood & Bruno Tonioli, Thurs 16 - DOGMAN (15) Crime/Drama. Starring Sun 19 Jan, Arena Birmingham Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce. For- SWAN LAKE Presented by Moscow eign language, subtitled. The Hive, City Ballet, Fri 17 Jan, Symphony Shrewsbury, Wed 15 Jan Mansion Winter Tours - Attingham Park, Shrewsbury Hall, Birmingham LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (PG) Hor- Damon Herriman. Stoke Film The- ror/Musical. Starring Rick Moranis, atre, Fri 17 Jan Steve Martin. Light House Media Events Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 17 Jan JOJO RABBIT (12a) Comedy/Drama. Starring Roman Griffin Davis, MANSION WINTER TOURS Out-of-sea- THE GOOD LIAR (15) Crime/Drama. Thomasin McKenzie. Light House son chance to see inside the man- Starring Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen. Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 17 sion, Fri 17 - Sun 19 Jan, Attingham Festival Drayton Centre, Market Dray- - Thurs 23 Jan Park, Shrewsbury ton, North Shrops, Fri 17 Jan MOULIN ROUGE (12a) Drama/Musical. GHOST TOURS Exclusive opportunity to KNIVES OUT (12a) Comedy/Crime. Starring Nicole Kidman, Ewan Mc- venture into the Hall at night - pre- Starring Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Cur- Gregor. Light House Media Centre, pare for a scare! Sat 18 Jan, Aston tis. Stoke Film Theatre, Tues 14 & Wolverhampton, Sat 18 Jan Hall, Birmingham Thurs 16 Jan; Lichfield Garrick, Fri 17 ADULT JEWELLERY WORKSHOP: SILVER - Sat 18 Jan THE TWO POPES (12a) Biography/Com- edy. Starring Jonathan Pryce, An- HANDMADE CHAIN One-day jewellery- JUDY & PUNCH (15) Animation/Adven- thony Hopkins. Stoke Film Theatre, making event, Sat 18 Jan, Museum of ture. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Sat 18 Jan the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

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the list Sun 8 Mar, Royal Shakespeare The- Gigs Classical Music atre, Stratford-upon-Avon KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely per- MILOŠ KARADAGLIC IN CONCERT Pro- LUCY MAY WALKER + formed tale of a nation in turmoil, gramme includes works by Bach, MIDGE + ELLIE POOLE until Sat 21 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Granados, Albeniz, Villa Lobos, Beat- + LUCY SHAW Mon 20 Stratford-upon-Avon Jan, The Sunflower les & Duplessy, Tues 21 Jan, Birm- I’M SORRY I HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE BBC Lounge, Birmingham ingham Town Hall Radio’s award-winning antidote to CONSONE QUARTET Programme in- TRIBUTE TO: THE FYING panel games, hosted by Jack Dee & cludes works by Mendelssohn and BURRITO BROTHERS featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Tony Schumann, Tues 21 Jan, Royal Birm- Tues 21 Jan, The Hawks, Miles Jupp, Rory Bremner & ingham Conservatoire Robin, Bilston Colin Sell, Mon 20 Jan, Wolverhamp- MARK BRZEZICKI’S CBSO: YAMADA: BRAHMS AND SCHU- ton Grand Theatre MANN Featuring Kazuki Yamada (con- DRUM CLINIC Tues 21 EMILIA An all-female cast from Birm- ductor), Francesco Piemontesi Jan, Stafford Gate- ingham Ormiston Academy present a (piano) and the City of Birmingham house Theatre play set against a turbulent backdrop Symphony Orchestra. Programme in- of Elizabethan England, Mon 20 - Y!KES + FREE GALAXY Tim Baker - Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury cludes the works of Brahms and + BADDREAMS + Tues 21 Jan, The Old Rep, B’ham Arena Birmingham LAUNCH PARTY Sat 25 Schumann, Wed 22 Jan, Symphony BLEACH Tues 21 Jan, Hall, Birmingham THE BODYGUARD Alexandra Burke The Sunflower TALON Fri 24 Jan, Jan, Night Owl, B’ham stars as Rachel Marron in the much- RBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: STRAUSS Lounge, Birmingham Grand Theatre, SING-A-LONG A BO- acclaimed romantic musical, Tues 21 OBOE CONCERTO Featuring Jaume Wolverhampton HEMIAN RHAPSODY Sat Jan - Sat 1 Feb, The Alexandra, Birm- HEATHER FINDLAY LIVE Santonja (conductor) & Jonathan IN CONCERT Wed 22 THE UK MONSTERS OF 25 Jan, Grand The- ingham atre, Wolverhampton Kelly (oboe), Fri 24 Jan, The Brad- Jan, The Robin, Bil- ROCK SHOW shaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- ston Fri 24 Jan, Forest Arts THE GEORGE MICHAEL servatoire Centre, Walsall LEGACY - FEATURING DEAD MOB + BORN EX CATHEDRA: BEETHOVEN, MISSA ZERO + INSURGENT + LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Fri 24 WAYNE DILKS Sat 25 Jan, The Place, Telford SOLEMNIS Featuring the City of Birm- CHLORINE Wed 22 Jan, Jan, Foxlowe Arts ingham Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey The Sunflower Centre, Staffordshire THE SMITHS LTD Sat 25 Skidmore (conductor), Carolyn Lounge, Birmingham THE NEW RIGHTEOUS Jan, Eleven, Sandy- Sampson (soprano), Sophie Rennert CANNABIS CORPSE MOOD + LA DHARMA + ford, Stoke-on-Trent (Mezzo Soprano), Andrew Tortoise Wed 22 Jan, The Asy- FAT CAT + CELLAR BURNS NIGHT CELEBRA- (tenor) & Roderick Williams (bass), lum, Birmingham DOOR Fri 24 Jan, The TION Sat 25 Jan, Lich- Sun 26 Jan, Symphony Hall, B’ham INDIGO & BAND Wed 22 Sunflower Lounge, field Guildhall KALEIDOSCOPE SAXOPHONE QUARTET Jan, The Jam House, Birmingham SONS OF ANGER AND Programme includes works by Birmingham THE ROCKET MAN - A REDEMPTION PRESENT Rameau, J.S Bach, Schumann, De- JOHN WARD TRIO Wed TRIBUTE TO SIR ELTON SCOTT DOONICAN Sat bussy & Dvorak, Sun 26 Jan, Festival 22 Jan, The Red Lion JOHN Fri 24 Jan, Victo- 25 Jan, Katie Fitzger- Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, Folk Club, B’ham ria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent ald’s, Stourbridge North Shropshire EXTRAORDINARY WALL (OF SILENCE) Ad GENUINE PANAMA + RESURRECTION + OAS- BOOTLEG ABBA + BEE Infinitum combine physical story- MELOTONE + SRIRACHA IS - CO HEADLINE TOUR GEES FEVER Sat 25 telling with British sign language as PEOPLE + TRADIN’ 2020 Fri 24 Jan, The Jan, The Robin, Bil- Comedy they unveil three coming-of-age sto- FIVES Thurs 23 Jan, Mill, Digbeth, B’ham ston ries, Wed 22 - Thurs 23 Jan, Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome The Sunflower DOWN FOR THE COUNT KAISER CHIEFS Sat 25 DARREN HARRIOTT Thurs 23 Jan, The Lounge, Birmingham “SWING THAT MUSIC” Jan, Arena Birming- Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton PORRIDGE New production bringing THANK YOU FOR THE Fri 24 Jan, Sutton ham ALLYSON SMITH, RAY BRADSHAW & together three classic episodes from the 1970s’ TV series, Wed 22 - Sat 25 MUSIC - ABBA TRIBUTE Coldfield Town Hall GEMIMA AND THE EX- COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- Jan, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Thurs 23 Jan, Wolver- ULTRA 90S Fri 24 Jan - TRAORDINARY GENTLE- SON Thurs 23 Jan, The Glee Club, hampton Grand The- Sat 25 Jan, The River MEN Sat 25 Jan, Birmingham DAD’S ARMY RADIO SHOW Two actors, atre Rooms, Stourbridge Albert’s Shed, Shrews- ALLYSON SMITH, RAY BRADSHAW, THE two microphones, over 25 characters and lots of sound effects, as Perry & JOHNNY 2 BAD Fri 24 INTO THE SHADOWS Fri bury NOISE NEXT DOOR & ANNE EDMONDS Fri Croft’s classic BBC sitcom is brought Jan, The Robin, Bil- 24 Jan - Sat 25 Jan, THE FIRST PROG SUN- 24 - Sat 25 Jan, The Glee Club, Birm- to life, Wed 22 - Sun 26 Jan, The Old ston Lichfield Garrick DAY ALL-DAYER Sun 26 ingham Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham T. REXTASY Fri 24 Jan, SHAKATAK Fri 24 Jan - Jan, The Robin, Bil- ANDREW BIRD, KAE KURD, PIERRE EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON Birmingham Stafford Gatehouse Sat 25 Jan, Pizza Ex- ston HOLLINS & DAVE LONGLEY Sat 25 Jan, Ormiston Academy Year 13 students Theatre press Live, B’ham GLENN MILLER ORCHES- The Comedy Loft, Birmingham present their version of Mike TRA Sun 26 Jan, The- THE MILK CARTON KIDS KREPT & KONAN Sat 25 COMEDY IN THE MET Sat 25 Jan, Bartlett’s contemporary play, Thurs atre Severn, Fri 24 Jan, Birming- Jan, O2 Academy, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre 23 - Fri 24 Jan, The Old Rep, B’ham ham Town Hall Birmingham Shrewsbury CAPTAIN BREADBEARD’S BREADY BRIL- GEORGE PANNELL + HI ON MAIDEN Fri 24 SHAI BRIDES + THE LIANT COMEDY COOKBOOK Fast-paced ROBERT CRAIG OULTON Jan, Eleven, Sandy- RESERVOIR CATS + THE pun-filled comedy sketch show about + THE PINES + LAUREN ford, Stoke-on-Trent SILVER LINES + BOATS Theatre a sailor with a beard made of bread... HOYLE Sun 26 Jan, The POTENTIAL VICTIMS ON THE OCEAN Sat 25 A MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD A story of Fri 24 Jan, Blue Orange Theatre, Sunflower Lounge, YEAR ZERO CODE 46 Fri Jan, The Sunflower treasured history, desperate choices Birmingham Lounge, Birmingham Birmingham 24 Jan, Route 44, and the remarkable Gertrude Bell, VOULEZ VOUZ - THE DINNER PARTY Two- SIMPLY DYLAN Sun 26 Birmingham THE GUNS N’ROSES EX- until Sat 25 Jan, The Swan Theatre, hour musical theatre show and one- Jan, The Glee Club, TIM BAKER Fri 24 Jan, PERIENCE, WRONG JOVI Stratford-upon-Avon of-a-kind dinner party experience, Fri Birmingham Henry Tudor House, Sat 25 Jan, The Slade THE BOY IN THE DRESS World premiere 24 - Sat 25 Jan, Lichfield Garrick Rooms, Wolverhamp- ROZI PLAIN PLUS SUP- Shrewsbury based on David Walliams' bestselling THE VICAR OF DIBLEY Stage show ton PORT Sun 26 Jan, Hare SLIPKNOT Fri 24 Jan, book and featuring songs by Robbie based on Richard Curtis’ iconic TV THE DEEP SIX : EP & Hounds, B’ham Williams and Guy Chambers, until 62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 20 - 26 January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 15:58 Page 2

Monday 20 - Sunday 26 January series, Sat 25 Jan - Sat 1 Feb, Cres- ring Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Din- cent Theatre, Birmingham nage. Foreign language, subtitled. LA BOHEME Ellen Kent’s brand new The Hive, Shrewsbury, Fri 24 Jan production of Puccini’s romantic THE REPORT (15) Biography/Drama. opera. Sung in Italian with English Starring Adam Driver, Annette Ben- surtitles, Sun 26 Jan, Wolverhampton ing. Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 24 - Sat Grand Theatre 25 Jan THE GENTLEMEN (18) Action/Crime. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Michelle Dockery. Light House Media Pantomime Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 24 - SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS Thurs 30 Jan Featuring Lesley Joseph, Matt Slack, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COP- Joe McElderry, Faye Brookes, Flaw- PERFIELD (PG) Drama. Starring Dev less, Doreen Tipton & Andrew Ryan, Patel, Tilda Swinton. Light House until Sun 2 Feb, Birmingham Hippo- Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 24 drome - Fri 31 Jan LES MISERABLES (12a) History/Musical. Starring Anne Hathaway, Russell Kids Theatre Crowe. Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Sun 26 Jan THE GOOSE WHO FLEW Storytelling, playful puppetry and an assortment of quirky characters combine in an NEW FILMS ON GENERAL age-appropriate exploration of the is- RELEASE: sues facing people who seek safety Released from Fri 24 Jan, showing at in a new land, Fri 24 Jan, The Brew- selected cinemas house Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF EXCITING SCIENCE SHOW Featuring DAVID COPPERFIELD (PG) silly, fun, factual science experiments, THE TURNING (tbc) Sat 25 Jan, Theatre Severn, Shrews- bury La Boheme - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Events VITALITY NETBALL NATIONS CUP 2020 Dance England’s elite netball team features ANTON & ERIN: DANCE THOSE MAGICAL in a new international series, Wed 22 MOVIES ‘The nation’s favourite ball- Jan, Arena Birmingham room couple’ return with a brand new CHINESE NEW YEAR 2020 Featuring show, Sat 25 Jan, Symphony Hall, performances, crafts & family-friendly Birmingham activities, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 Jan, various locations in Southside, B’ham MANSION WINTER TOURS Out-of-sea- Film son chance to see inside the mansion, Fri 24 - Sun 26 Jan, Attingham INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Park, Shrewsbury THE FLOOD (15) Comedy/Drama. Star- PUBLIC THEATRE TOUR Go behind the ring Lena Headey, Amira Ghazalla. scenes and learn about the theatre’s The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wen- history, Sat 25 Jan, Wolverhampton lock, South Shrops, Mon 20 Jan Grand Theatre CATS (12a) Comedy/Drama. Starring WOMEN'S WORK IN THE JEWELLERY Idris Elba, Taylor Swift. Wem Town QUARTER Tour explaining the work un- Hall. North Shrops, Mon 20 - Thurs dertaken by women in the jewellery 23 Jan industry from the late 1800s to the THE TWO POPES (12a) Biography/Com- 1980s, Sat 25 Jan, Museum of the edy. Starring Jonathan Pryce, An- Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham thony Hopkins. Stoke Film Theatre, SING-A-LONG-A BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Tues 21 Jan Immersive presentation of the smash- WEST SIDE STORY (PG) Drama/Musical. hit film, Sat 25 Jan, Wolverhampton Starring Natalie Wood, George Grand Theatre Chakiris. Light House Media Centre, SING-A-LONG-A THE GREATEST SHOW- Wolverhampton, Tues 21 Jan MAN Immersive presentation of the HONEY BOY (15) Drama. Starring Shia smash-hit film, Sat 25 Jan, Wolver- LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges. Stoke Film hampton Grand Theatre Theatre, Thurs 23 Jan THE NATIONAL RUNNING SHOW Featur- JUMANJI THE NEXT LEVEL (PG) Ac- ing 250-plus leading brands, Sat 25 - tion/Adventure. Starring Dwayne Sun 26 Jan, NEC, Birmingham Johnson, Jack Black. Festival Dray- BBL CUP FINAL 2020 Featuring show- ton Centre, Market Drayton, North piece games and the 2020 BBL Dunk Shrops, Fri 24 - Sat 25 Jan Contest, Sun 26 Jan, Arena B’ham THE GUILTY (15) Crime/Drama. Star- whatsonlive.co.uk 63 BRB Swan Lake Full December 2019.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2019 08:52 Page 1 The List Wolves/Shrops/Staffs 27 - 31 January.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 16:16 Page 2

thelist Monday 27 - Friday 31 January Gigs Classical Theatre WATERPARKS Mon 27 THOMAS TROTTER LUNCHTIME ORGAN THE BOY IN THE DRESS World premiere Jan, O2 Institute, Birm- CONCERT Mon 27 Jan, Birmingham based on David Walliams' bestselling ingham Town Hall book and featuring songs by Robbie THE CLASSIC ROCK ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE LILLE Featur- Williams and Guy Chambers, until SHOW Mon 27 Jan, ing Alexandre Bloch (conductor) and Sun 8 Mar, Royal Shakespeare The- Theatre Severn, Eric Lu (piano). Programme includes atre, Stratford-upon-Avon Shrewsbury works by Ravel, Debussy and KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely per- Beethoven, Tues 28 Jan, Symphony GEORGIE + JEN NORTH formed tale of a nation in turmoil, until Hall, Birmingham Mon 27 Jan, The Sun- Sat 21 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Strat- flower Lounge, B’ham YCAT AT THE CONSERVATOIRE Featuring ford-upon-Avon Jonian Kadesha (violin) & Fillippo THE INTERRUPTERS AVENUE Q Amateur staging presented Tues 28 Jan, O2 Insti- Gorini (piano). Programme includes by Curtain Call Theatre Company, tute, Birmingham works by Enescu, Beethoven, Skalkot- Mon 27 - Tue 28 Jan, Theatre Severn, tas & Brahms, Wed 29 Jan, Royal Shrewsbury PETE WAY BAND + SPE- Birmingham Conservatoire CIAL GUESTS BURNT CHASE ME UP FARNDALE AVENUE French NOA WILDSCHUT IN RECITAL Also featur- OUT WRECK Tues 28 farce presented by The Nonentities, Jan, The Robin, Bil- ing Elisabeth Brauß (piano). Pro- Mon 27 Jan - Sat 1 Feb, The Rose ston gramme includes works by Schubert, Theatre, Kidderminster Joey Roukens and Tchaikovsky, Wed DEATH OF A SALESMAN Birmingham THE ROY ORBISON 29 Jan, Symphony Hall, Birmingham STORY Tues 28 Jan, Ormiston Academy Year 13 Acting Wolverhampton Grand CBSO: MIRGA'S BEETHOVEN Featuring students present an amateur staging Theatre Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla (conductor) and of Arthur Miller’s iconic play, Tues 28 - City of Birminghamė Symphony Or- Wed 29 Jan, The Old Rep, B’ham THE TESKY BROTHERS chestra. Programme includes works HOUSE GUEST Lichfield Players present Tues 28 Jan, O2 Insti- by Beethoven, Unsuk Chin and Brit- an amateur staging of Francis Dur- tute, Birmingham ten, Wed 29 - Thurs 30 Jan, Sym- bridge’s ‘exciting thriller’, Tues 28 Jan PEANESS Tues 28 Jan, Clare Teal - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury phony Hall, Birmingham - Sat 1 Feb, Lichfield Garrick Hare & Hounds, Birm- Live, Birmingham Newhampton Arts MARTIN JAMES BARTLETT PIANO RECITAL PSYCHIC SALLY - 10 YEARS AND COUNT- ingham Centre, W’hampton Programme includes works by Bach, SAM FENDER Thurs 30 ING, Wed 29 Jan, Stafford Gatehouse SCHOOLBOY Q WITH Mozart, Liszt, Schumann, Granados, Jan, O2 Academy, PRINCE TRIBUTE: EN- Theatre SPECIAL GUEST JAY Birmingham DORPHINMACHINE Fri Wagner & Scriabin, Thurs 30 Jan, THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF SMACK AND ROCK Wed 29 Jan, O2 31 Jan, The Place, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on- CLARE TEAL TRIO Thurs CRACK Institute, Birmingham Telford Trent An ‘angry, funny, love-song to a 30 Jan, Theatre Sev- lost generation, inspired by the play- ASWAD Wed 29 Jan, SCHUBERT’S PIANO TRIO Featuring ern, Shrewsbury NATHAN CARTER 2020 wright’s own experience of jail and The Jam House, Birm- Jonathan Martindale (violin), David BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB Fri 31 Jan, Prince Of rehab’, Wed 29 Jan - Sat 1 Feb, The ingham Powell (cello) & Robert Markham Fri 31 Jan, O2 Wales Centre, Can- REP, Birmingham JONAS BROTHERS Wed nock (piano). Programme comprises Schu- Academy, Birmingham ASKING FOR IT UK stage premiere of 29 Jan, Arena Birming- bert’s Piano Trio No.2 in E flat, Thurs THE ART IS MURDER Fri LOS PACAMINOS FEA- Louise O’Neill’s devasting novel about ham 30 Jan, CBSO Centre, Birmingham 31 Jan, O2 Institute, TURING PAUL YOUNG Fri sexual consent, Wed 29 Jan - Sat 15 DANIEL LEBHARDT PIANO RECITAL Pro- KEITH JAMES - THE Birmingham 31 Jan, The River Feb, The REP, Birmingham SONGS OF LEONARD Rooms, Stourbridge gramme includes works by U2+1 VS ALIVE & KICK- Beethoven, Liszt & Bartok, Fri 31 Jan, THAT’LL BE THE DAY Nostalgic cabaret COHEN Wed 29 Jan, THE CLASSIC ROCK ING UK Fri 31 Jan, The Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Con- show featuring smash hits from the The Robin, Bilston SHOW 2020 Fri 31 Jan, Robin, Bilston servatoire ’50s, ’60s, ’70s & ’80s, Thurs 30 Jan, WIRE Wed 29 Jan, Birmingham Town Hall A FESTIVAL, A PARADE + Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent Hare & Hounds, Birm- SPECIAL GUESTS Fri 31 80’S LIVE Fri 31 Jan, AN EVENING WITH GEOFF HURST Thurs ingham Jan, The Actress & Stafford Gatehouse 30 Jan, Prince Of Wales Centre, Can- IVW 20 - WARM- Bishop, Birmingham Theatre Comedy nock DUSCHER + SPECIAL THE CHRIS BEVINGTON SAD CAFÉ: 40TH AN- ANNIE Amateur staging presented by GUESTS Wed 29 Jan, SANDI TOKSVIG Mon 27 Jan, Wolver- ORGANISATION + SUP- NIVERSARY TOUR Fri 31 Walsall Youth Theatre, Thurs 30 Jan - The Sugarmill, Stoke- hampton Grand Theatre PORT Fri 31 Jan, Jan, Sutton Coldfield Sat 1 Feb, Walsall Arena on-Trent Town Hall Eleven, Sandyford, VAMPIRES ROCK - GHOST TRAIN Musical DENO Thurs 30 Jan, O2 Stoke-on-Trent THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Fri sensation featuring ‘some of the Institute, Birmingham NED’S ACOUSTIC DUST- 31 Jan, Victoria Hall, greatest classic rock anthems of all AUBREY LOGAN Thurs BIN Fri 31 Jan, Stoke-on-Trent time’, Fri 31 Jan, Theatre Severn, 30 Jan, Pizza Express Shrewsbury THE LITTLE PRINCE Protein’s award- winning mix of dance, humour & spo- ken word combine to tell a story about friendship and the complexity of love, MARK WATSON Thurs 30 Jan, The Fri 31 Jan, SpArC Theatre, Bishops Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon- Castle, South Shropshire Trent TWO Jim Cartwright’s poignant two- ELEANOR TIERNAN, ADAM HESS & COM- hander, set during the course of one EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON night in a working- Thurs 30 Jan, The Glee Club, B’ham class pub, Fri 31 Jan ELEANOR TIERNAN, ADAM HESS, ROSIE - Sat 22 Feb, New JONES & COMIC TBC Fri 31 Jan, The Vic Theatre, New- Los Pacaminos feat Paul Young - The River Rooms, Stourbridge Glee Club, Birmingham castle-under-Lyme

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thelist Monday 27 - Friday 31 January COPPELIA Pre- language, subtitled. Stafford Gate- NEW FILMS ON GENERAL Pantomime sented by the house Theatre, Tues 28 Jan RELEASE: Russian State STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Released from Fri 31 Jan, showing at SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS Ballet of (12a) Action/Adventure. Starring selected cinemas Featuring Lesley Joseph, Matt Slack, Siberia, Thurs Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver. Wem A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOR- Joe McElderry, Faye Brookes, Flaw- 30 Jan, Wolver- Town Hall, North Shrops, Tues 28 & HOOD (PG) less, Doreen Tipton & Andrew Ryan, hampton Thurs 30 Jan; Festival Drayton Cen- until Sun 2 Feb, Birmingham Hippo- Grand Theatre tre, Market Drayton, North Shrops, Fri THE GRUDGE (tbc) drome JOSEPH TOONGA: BORN TO MANIFEST 31 Jan THE LIGHTHOUSE (15) Dance double bill illuminating the ex- DONBASS (15) Drama. Starring Tamara QUEEN AND SLIM (tbc) perience of young black British men, Yatsenko, Irina Zayarmiuk. Foreign RHYTHM SECTION (tbc) Kids Theatre Fri 31 Jan, Midlands Arts Centre, language, subtitled. The Hive, Birmingham Shrewsbury, Wed 29 Jan RICHARD JEWELL (tbc) PEPPA PIG'S BEST DAY EVER Brand new SLEEPING BEAUTY Presented by the FIRST A GIRL (U) Comedy/Musical. show for younger audiences, packed Russian State Ballet of Siberia, Fri 31 Starring Jessie Matthews, Sonnie full of songs, games & laughter, Wed Jan, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Hale. Stoke Film Theatre, Thurs 30 29 - Thurs 30 Jan, Theatre Severn, Jan Events Shrewsbury LITTLE WOMEN (U) Drama/Romance. THE ARENACROSS TOUR 2020 ‘Stunning Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Wat- winter showdown from Europe’s Film son. Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 31 Jan; leading action-sports show’, Fri 31 INDEPENDENT LISTINGS Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 31 Jan - Sat 1 Feb, Resorts World Arena, Dance Birmingham YESTERDAY (12a) Comedy/Music. Star- Jan THE WIZARD OF OZ Join Ballet Theatre ring Himesh Patel, Lily James. The HARRIET (12a) Biography/Drama. Star- HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE UK as they venture along the Yellow Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, ring Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. Combining Hot Wheels’ iconic jumps Brick Road, Tues 28 Jan, Tamworth North Shrops, Mon 27 Jan Light House Media Centre, Wolver- and stunts with ‘epic crashing and Assembly Rooms, Tamworth, Staffs smashing’, Fri 31 Jan - Sun 2 Feb, SYSTEM CRASHER (tbc) Drama. Star- hampton, from Fri 31 Jan ANTON & ERIN: DANCE THOSE MAGICAL Arena Birmingham ring Helena Zengel, Albrecht Schuch. THE NIGHTINGALE (12a) Drama/Thriller. MOVIES ‘The nation’s favourite ball- Foreign language, subtitled. Stoke Starring Aisling Franciosi, Sam MANSION WINTER TOURS Out-of-sea- room couple’ return with a brand new Film Theatre, Tues 28 Jan Claflin. Light House Media Centre, son chance to see inside the man- show, Wed 29 Jan, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton, from Fri 31 Jan sion, Fri 31 Jan - Sun 2 Feb, Grand Theatre RAFIKI (12a) Drama. Starring Saman- Attingham Park, Shrewsbury tha Mugatsia, Neville Misati. Foreign

66 whatsonlive.co.uk Ice skate Birmingham Full January 2020.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 10:01 Page 1 Live Nation Full October 2019.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2019 08:43 Page 1