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News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Director named for new Museums Trust The newly-formed body responsible for the running of Thinktank and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has announced the appointment of its first director. Professor Ann Sumner, who's currently the Director at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, will assume the role on a full-time basis in May, and brings to the new post a wealth of experience, having previously worked at London’s National Portrait Gallery, Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery and Dulwich Picture Gallery. Of her appointment, Professor Sumner said: “I'm enormously honoured to have been appointed to this exciting new role. The high quality and the diversity of the collec- tions which will be managed by the new Trust are outstanding, and hugely popular with the people of Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond." Professor Ann Sumner Big Apple praise for England’s Open day for new library building Second City... A new sixty million pound addition to the Worcester skyline gets its first full public airing this A recent article in The New York Times has month, when The Hive opens its doors for a one-day preview on 24 March. declared Birmingham to be “big-shouldered, With its gold-clad roof and modern design, The Hive is undoubtedly a striking building, but it’s friendly and fun.” The article, entitled Thirty-six what lies within its walls that's of real significance. Hours In Birmingham, provides a whistle-stop The Hive is Europe’s first fully integrated Public and University Library, and will house more tour of the city’s heritage, and praises its less- than twenty-six thousand records of historic sites and buildings, twelve miles of original docu- er-known hidden gems, sprawling suburbs and ments, a children’s library and creative space, performance areas, conferencing facilities and cultural attractions. The city’s restaurant scene informal meeting places. The shared space will also provide a first point of contact for council also gets the thumbs-up, with local talents services across Worcestershire, and is seen as an important element of the regeneration of the Aktar Islam of Lasan Restaurant and Michelin- city centre. The late-March 'taster day' features music, promenade performances, exhibitions starred chefs Glyn Purnell, Richard Turner and and films. And if you're up for some illuminated evening entertainment, catch the son et Luke Tipping all receiving praise for their culi- lumiere performance under the city’s Croft Road railway arches. Read more on page 48. nary flair. In a previous New York Times article, Birmingham was named Birmingham Opera Company No name, but big voices! number nineteen in a announce world premiere A choir for Birmingham’s homeless men and Forty-five Places To Go Twenty-five years of producing innovative women this month joins forces with their In 2012 shortlist - the London counterparts to present an evening only English city other opera productions is celebrated by Birmingham Opera Company this month, as of Olympic-themed music. The two choirs - than London to be men- both named Choir With No Name - perform tioned. Graham Vick joins the ensemble to premiere a brand new production at the Argyle Works as part of the BBC’s Music Nation - a nation- in Digbeth on 21 March. Commissioned from al initiative that acts as a countdown event Severn Valley Railway leading British composer Jonathan Dove and for the forthcoming London 2012 Festival. writer Alasdair Middleton, Life Is A Dream The performance takes place at Carrs Lane welcomes BBC crews features an international cast that includes Church Centre, Birmingham, on 3 March. The Severn Valley Railway Kidderminster-to- American baritone Eric Green. The opera Bridgnorth line has been chosen for location tells the story of royal son Segismund, who’s Big Brother winner on her filming for the second time in as many years. imprisoned from The 2011 box office hit Sherlock Holmes: A birth by his way to Brum Game Of Shadows was part-filmed at the father, King Basil, Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre has Midlands attraction, and now the heritage after the king announced that Celebrity Big Brother winner line has been selected for a new Steven prophesizes that Denise Welch is to appear in a new produc- Poliakoff drama to be screened on BBC Two one day his son tion of Steel Magnolias, showing at the later this year. Dancing On The Edge - a will kill him and venue from 21 to 26 May. Denise, whose drama that follows a group of black jazz wreak havoc on previous acting credits include Coronation musicians as they seek fame and fortune in his kingdom. For Street, Holby City, The Bill and, more recent- the higher echelons of London society - will further informa- ly, Waterloo Road, is joined in Robert see Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster tion, visit Harling’s bitter-sweet comedy by a host of Town terminus double as Folkstone during www.birming- other well-known faces, including Kacey the 1930s. hamopera.org.uk Eric Green Ainsworth, Isla Blair and Cherie Lunghi. 4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:57 Page 2

Birmingham’s latest hotel set to open its doors This month sees the opening of a new-con- cept four-star hotel in the heart of Birmingham, the first of five to be rolled out across the UK in the next five years. The one hundred-and-seventy-four bedroomed Hotel La Tour offers contemporary and affordable accommodation, as well as dedi- cated conferencing facilities. The hotel will also house the stylish Aalto Restaurant, which, inspired by Michelin-starred Chef Marcus Wareing, will offer a menu that brings a modern twist to English classics. For further information, visit www.hotel- latour.co.uk/

Voyage to set sail in the city A major cultural project which is set to play a significant part in Birmingham’s celebrations for the London 2012 Festival has been unveiled. During July and August, people from all over the The Prince’s Trust announces world will descend on London in pursuit of achieving their sporting goals - and in recognition of the journeys they’ll be making, an enormous passenger liner is to be constructed in new route for popular event Victoria Square, providing a base for four evenings of unique artistic celebration from 21 to 24 An annual fundraising event which attracts June. Produced by Birmingham Hippodrome, and created by Motionhouse Dance in collabo- thousands of people has been given a sec- ration with the innovative Australian theatre company Legs On The Wall, The Voyage will see ond route for 2012. Every year, three thou- the passenger liner transformed into a live set, where one hundred-and-seventy cast mem- sand cyclists embark on a forty-five mile bers will showcase aerial acrobatics, massive projections, and plenty of song and dance. cycle ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust. Now organisers have come up with a second route that will take partici- IN BRIEF Ironbridge Gorge Museum awarded major pants through the beautiful Warwickshire Arts Council funding countryside. Starting off and finishing at Jay Z and Kanye There's plenty of reason for celebration at a Shropshire World Warwick Castle, the forty-five mile route will announce Heritage Site, after it secured a major share of a £20million Major take cyclists through numerous picturesque Birmingham date Grants funding stream from Arts Council England. Warwickshire villages, passing another of The Ironbridge Museum Trust is one of sixteen leading museums the region’s main attractions - Kenilworth Following hot on the and museum consortia across England to be granted funds as Castle - along the way. heels of their success part of the Arts Council’s Renaissance programme for leading All money raised from the event will help at the recent Grammy regional museums. disadvantaged children across the West Awards - where they The news provides a significant boost for the Trust’s charitable Midlands. To find out more, visit, scooped the Best Rap vision. It’s hoped that www.princes-trust.org.uk Performance for their track Otis - Jay Z and the grant will help Kanye West bring their secure an increase in Celebrating Michael Jackson Watch The Throne tour the number of visitors to the Midlands as part to the ten Ironbridge at the O2 Arena of a European tour. museums, build new A new show celebrating the spirt and pas- The long-time friends cultural partnerships, sion of Michael Jackson has been produced have often supported and further develop by the internationally acclaimed Cirque du each other on stage in the award-winning Soleil. Written and directed by Jamie King, the past, but this is the work which is already Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour first time the duo have being undertaken. Blists Hill Victoria Town, Ironbridge features sixty-four dancers, musicians and collaborated for a full- acrobats in a production that underpins the blown show. artist’s global messages of love, peace and Jay Z and Kanye stop Professional Association of Alexander Teachers unity. off at Birmingham’s LG Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour Arena on 13 June. performs at London’s O2 Arena on 12 Recreational Course in the Alexander Technique October. Starting Early May 2012 If you have had lessons in the Alexander Technique for about a year or attended an Introductory Evening Class, or a module in the Alexander Technique at a university or equivalent then you are eligible to join the PAAT Recreational Course. The Recreational Course will offer guidance in deepening your understanding, knowledge and application of the Technique – and you get to do it in company. The 12-week course is held in Birmingham. For an application form, please contact the PAAT Secretary on 01743 236195 or email [email protected]

www.paat.org.uk

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Chris Addison online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:31 Page 1

Chris‘Thinking man’s comic’ Addison back in the Midlands...

Mock The Week had a reputation amongst comics as being a bit of a bear pit, and I “ thought “Oh, I don’t want to do that!” 06 www.whatsonlive.co.uk ” . Chris Addison online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:31 Page 2

interview...

Whether via his stand-up, his acting or his writing, Chris Addison - the fresh-faced comedian from Manchester - never fails to entertain. A regular face on Mock The Week, and having received much acclaim for his roles in The Thick Of It and Skins, Chris this month returns to the Midlands as part of his current stand-up tour. What’s On recently caught up with the man who never seems to be too far away from our TV screens.

What’s your starting point when writing I think my shows have always been before, but most comedies or dramas tend new material? personal, but they were never very open. to shoot about five, maybe six, pages of Panic! ‘Panic’ is my start and end point, Now I’m much more prepared to be open script a day, because they’re fiddling with then, somewhere in the middle, I achieve about my fears and failings, and I’ve done setting up and re-lighting and various other ‘pure panic’. I really wish I was the kind of that a lot in my last two shows, whereas I things. But with The Thick Of It, it’s just two person who could sit down and be would never have done anything like that cameras and the lighting is all completely organised, and write things many months in beforehand. universal, so we shoot upwards of twenty advance. But I don’t. A couple of months Being a parent has changed me in different pages a day from what are very long scripts. before I tour, I sit down and have a quick ways. I don’t really care what people think of The first cut of an episode is about an hour panic attack, then I breathe into a bag, then me now, but that’s just one of the things that long. I get a piece of paper, then I breathe into a happens when you become a parent. bag again. There’s a lot of breathing in the There’s a weird self-validation that allows Did appearing in In The Loop whet your bag! What I should do, I guess, is take a you not to be so concerned about the views appetite for more film work in the future? pen and notepad with me when I’m out and of rest of the world, for good or bad. Well, it was funny, because it just felt like about; then, when hilarious things occur - to making a really long episode of The Thick me, or another - I should write them down. How did your foray into acting and the TV Of It, and most of it was done over here. It But that would be bloody weird, wouldn’t it? series The Thick Of It come about? was only right at the end of the process, Like most of my career, by accident. The when Tom Hollander and I were in So was it easier when your gigs had a short version of a very long story is that Washington shooting down Constitution theme? Armando Iannucci saw me do some stand- Avenue in a limo, with police outriders, that Yeah, definitely. Loads easier. If you choose up at a political comedy night in which I was we actually felt like we were in a film. But it not to have a theme, then anything’s up for playing in character. It was the first and only was great fun and I’d really love to do more grabs and that’s a nightmare. It’s always time I’d done character in stand-up on of it... better to have less choice really, most of the stage, but it was also the first time that time. If you’ve scored off some lines around Armando had seen me in comedy, and so Apart from Skins, did your role in The the edge of the paper, then that definitely, he thought that was what I did. Then, about Thick Of It see an influx of offers from definitely helps. It’s a bit like I imagine a eighteen months later. we appeared on The other directors? woman’s brain plays tricks on them after News Quiz together in Portsmouth, and that Well, I turned down The Artist. No, not really. they’ve given birth. It’s such an unpleasant evening he talked about doing an updated, process writing a stand-up show that we more modern version of what he considered Long-term, what will take priority - acting don’t allow you to think about what has just to be the best British sitcom ever, Yes, Prime or stand-up? happened, in the hope that you’ll manage to Minister. He said I should get in touch to talk I don’t know, I’ve never had a big game do it again some time in the future. I do find about being part of it. Then, some months plan. I think the reason I’ve ended up doing myself going “aargh!”, and my partner later, I had a call asking me to go along and such varied stuff is that I’ve never had this responds with “it’s always like this!” do a casting, and then got a call saying that one thing that I was going towards, so I I was in. It was a very odd process - more guess it depends. I can’t do the acting thing You gained the title of being ‘the thinking like a series of odd coincidences. unless somebody asks me to do it. However, man’s comic’ with your earlier material. Is what I really love about acting is that it’s this a title that you’re still worthy of? You’re talked about as being a really nice great to do something in a gang, as comedy I dunno - that’s a proper double-edged guy, but are there any similarities can be a very solitary existence. So we’ll sword, that. It’s my own fault, frankly, between you and your not-so-nice have to wait and see... because what I did was to write some shows character, Oliver Reeder ? that were just big comedy shows, but I Yeah! My first day in rehearsals with Stand-up, acting, commercials - you’re on made it look like they were about evolution Armando, Chris Langham and Peter Capaldi the box all the time. Do you ever worry and so on, and that’s all that people see. I - three men I’d admired for years - was that people will tire of you? sort of painted myself into a corner a bit with pretty daunting. And at the end of maybe I hadn’t before, but maybe I will now. it, but what’s so depressing with being given the first or second day, I was really titles like this is that it implies there are panicking and didn’t think that I’d be able to Is there a downside to so much audiences out there who are too dumb to do it. Later, when I got a lift home with my exposure? cope with a particular type of comedy, which wife, I was explaining this panic that I’d had, I don’t get hassled but I do get people is nonsense, absolute nonsense! Bill and she said, “well, what’s Oliver like?” and I coming up to me on the street, which never Bailey’s a perfect example, right? He does started explaining that he was a bit happened before. It all started to happen super-smart comedy, with proper highbrow bumptious; he thinks he’s a bit of a player, around the last series of The Thick Of It, and references and that kind of thing, which I but he isn’t really; he thinks that he’s a big now that I’m a regular on Mock The Week, I don’t necessarily have, but, because he fish in a little pond, when he isn’t; and he’s a get approached a lot more. I don’t mind it so doesn’t draw attention to the fact, nobody’s bit of a prick who puts his foot in this mouth much when I’m on my own, but when I’m ever noticed. It’s properly smart covered in a lot. The more I went on, the more I with my family it can be a bit much. The utter daftness, and that’s my favourite type thought, aargh! the little bastard. So thing to remember is that, mostly, people are of comedy. A principle that I always try to essentially, Ollie is me... very lovely, and they’re excited, and they stick to is that most people are far smarter tend to come up to you because they like than the media ever, ever gives them credit Is it true that you’re about to start what you do. You don’t get people coming for. shooting a new series this month? up to you saying, “Oy, you’re in that thing, Yes, we start rehearsals this month, and I and I think you’re shit!”. Well, not so far. How much has your comedy changed think it’ll be on our screens some time later What you have to do is be respectful about since you’ve become a parent? this year. it, and not be an arsehole. I try not to bring parenting into my comedy, because I think it’s very boring for members How long does it take you to shoot a Some people would see being so openly of the audience who aren’t parents. I think it series? involved in TV advertising as ‘selling out’. can really split a room, but I’d love to do a Not long, actually. The Thick Of It works at What are your views on this? show that was for parents about parenting, an extraordinary pace. I didn’t realise, I’ve never considered it in those terms. I and maybe I will. because I’d never done anything like it think the phrase ‘selling out’ is a

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 07 Chris Addison online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:32 Page 3 Chris Addison online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:32 Page 4

meaningless phrase, with no back-end to it. initially? Later, in the Green Room, Meryl gave me a All my life I’ve enjoyed watching comics in Yeah, I said no for years. I wasn’t sceptical - huge hug and wished me the best of luck adverts, so I’ve never got this argument - it that makes it sound as though I thought it with the birth. I think that’s the moment always seems a bit silly to me. When I was a was an awful show. It was more a personal when I’ve been the most star-struck. I really kid, I loved it when Fry & Laurie turned up in fear. Mock The Week had a reputation like it when you come across big people and the Alliance & Leicester ads, and the Rowan amongst comics as being a bit of a bear pit, they’re so utterly lovely! Atkinson and Jack Dee adverts. I was and I thought “Oh, I don’t want to do that!”. always obsessed with comedy, but we didn’t Then, finally, I bit the bullet, and it was So what else is in the pipeline for 2012? get to see too many comedians - we didn’t amazingly good fun, and they had me back There’s more Mock The Week and The Thick have YouTube in those days - so the ads again. Then eventually they gave me a Of It, then I’m going to have a nice sit down provided a little bonus for me. I think if regular slot. The whole experience is for as long as I can. I’m hopefully going to they’re good adverts, then it’s okay. They’re thoroughly enjoyable. keep the summer free, if I can, but things certainly great fun to do. I did it essentially usually crop up. Then, next year, I think I’d because I wanted to work with Alexander What’s been your biggest star-struck like to add more dates to the tour. Armstrong, Graham Linehan and Amelia moment? Bullmore, but it’s grown from there, and it’s A few years ago I was on The Jonathan brilliant fun... Ross Show and Meryl Streep was on at the Chris Addison appears at New Alexandra same time. We were expecting our first child Theatre, Birmingham Thurs 15 March & Is it true that you were a little sceptical at the time (my wife and I, not Meryl!), and Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Sun 18 about appearing on Mock The Week Jonathan had talked about this in the show. March Roxana Silbert feature_Layout 1 27/02/2012 11:37 Page 1

Roxana Silbert talks about the World Shakespeare Festival...

08 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Roxana Silbert feature_Layout 1 27/02/2012 11:37 Page 2

interview...

Currently Associate Director with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Roxana Silbert has an impressive repertoire of productions under her belt. This month sees the opening of the company’s Nations At War series, with Roxana at the helm for two of the three plays. What’s On caught up with her to find out more...

You're currently working on Richard III, What plans have you got in place for your How did you get started in directing? which opens at the RSC next month. What new role? I started life as a community arts worker and can audiences expect from this new The building doesn’t re-open until decided that I really wanted to do more production? September 2013, but The Rep’s centenary is professional work, so I did a postgraduate It’s a brilliant play, so really I’m just trying to in February of that year, so we’re going to directing course. The woman who was my tell the story as best I can. It’s a open with a programme of three plays in movement tutor on that course took over contemporary production that’s still set in a February at the Old Rep to celebrate in Paines Plough as Artistic Director the year medieval period, so it’s a world where there advance of opening the new theatre. The that I left, so I went to be her assistant. are sword fights and not mobile phones. I really exciting thing about taking The Rep on suppose I wanted to bring the action close at the moment is that it keeps its eight If you weren’t a director, what would you to the audience in order to bring out what is hundred-seater auditorium and The Door, be? still resonant and contemporary about it, but we’ll also have the addition of this Oh, I don’t know - I’d probably run a without reducing it by saying, “Oh, it's a play wonderful three hundred-seater to play with, bookshop. I dream about running a little about a particular person”, because it’s got which is a brilliant size for new work. shop along a country lane somewhere, but I a sort of timeless quality and it’s that which think it’s just a pipe dream. makes it so extraordinary. You’re talking about the space that's part of the new Birmingham Library? If you could direct anything, what would You’re also directing A Soldier In Every That’s right, and, of course, it’s this you choose? Son, which will show in June. Has that incredible shared public space. The Rep has You want to direct everything! I mean, as production been cast yet? an extraordinary reputation for contemporary soon as you direct a tragedy, you want to Well, it’s the same. We’ve got twenty actors work, and for having an audience for new direct a comedy; and when you’ve finished a who are doing three shows. They’re doing work, which is quite unusual in national comedy, you want to get your hands on Richard III, King John and A Soldier In Every theatres. The three hundred-seater space is something really dark. When you’ve done Son. going to allow us to do a lot more new work, two Shakespeares in a row, you become A Soldier... is a co-production with The and more participative work, in the public desperate to do a new play. You always National Theatre of Mexico, so six actors spaces. want to keep moving forward. from there, who have a very similar set-up to the RSC, are coming to join the company on What do you think that The Rep’s You’re held in high regard for that production. connection to Shakespeare should be in championing new talent... the future? One of the great things about Paines Plough Why was A Soldier In Every Son chosen Well, it’s ongoing. Stratford is very near to was the ability to launch playwrights. I left to be part of The World Shakespeare Birmingham, so there’s an argument that it’s Paines Plough in 2009, and a lot of the Festival? difficult to do straight Shakespeare at The people who came through the young writers' The brief of The World Shakespeare Festival Rep because that audience would go to initiative are now writing for main stages was to include international artists inspired Stratford. But I do think that there are a lot of around the country, and that’s a very by Shakespeare. And Luis Mario Moncada, companies who are approaching satisfying feeling. Certainly one of the main who's written the play, is a writer who has a Shakespeare in very innovative and things that I want to do at Birmingham is to great passion for Shakespeare, and who contemporary ways, like Filter and Told By work to create stepping stones for genuine really wanted to do for Mexico what The An Idiot, who are doing a fantastic version of local talent, so that emerging talent has a Histories had done for the UK, which was to King Lear. Basically, my mission for The Rep voice and a pathway through to give a popular, general knowledge of the is to facilitate new work, but also classical professional. country's history. There isn’t anything in work through the eyes of contemporary Mexico in playwriting that tells the story of artists. Your new role at The Rep sounds as Mexico before colonisation. Even in schools, though it’s going to be very community- people don’t start learning about the history Do you think people's tastes have based. How do you propose to provide a of Mexico until the Spanish arrived. So he changed in terms of theatre? platform for emerging talent? was very interested to write a play, inspired My background is new plays, and when I We’re talking about setting up a series of by the Shakespeare Histories, which tackles began working in that field there was a initiatives. There are strands of programmes the history of his own country and its first minority interest. The Royal Court, where I that are about open access for anybody who empire to be established, which was the started my career, closed for six months a wants to join in, but we’re also trying to Aztec empire. year at one point because they had neither create programmes of work which are for the funding nor the audience to open, and people who don’t just want to participate for What are you personally most looking most regional theatres and national fun, but who want to become professional. forward to in The World Shakespeare institutions didn’t do new plays. Now new There’s an incredibly active learning and Festival programme? plays are part and parcel of the repertoire. participation unit already in place, with lots It’s going to be a really exciting time, and for So I think that’s changed a lot, and it means of projects, so I think it’s now about finding me it’ll be about seeing all the international that now there’s a dialogue between new the route into theatre. perspectives. King John is being directed by work and classical work that didn’t really a Swedish director, Maria Aberg, who’s done exist before. I also think that there’s a huge And how do you think Birmingham will a fairly radical version of the play, and then hunger for quite theatrical pieces that use compare to other cities in which you’ve there’s The Wooster Group’s Troilus And the language of theatre rather than work worked? Cressida, and a fantastic Brazilian Circus that’s more audio. Birmingham, to me, is a proper diverse city, troupe. I think in the UK we have a strong which is very different to somewhere like sense of Shakespeare, its tradition and its So are people nowadays more prepared Stratford, where there’s a particular performance history. So to work with to take risks with what they choose to demography. It’s the second city, it’s very international artists who have a much freer see? active and it’s very lively. It’s full of cultural attitude towards Shakespeare, and seeing They had been, but I think that the recession potential, which is extremely exciting. what they can produce as a result of that, is has put a stop to it. Audiences were going to be really exciting. becoming much more risk-tasking, but Roxana Silbert directs Richard III which shows finance means that they need to be sure that at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, You’re taking over the role of Artistic it’s worth their investment. from Thurs 22 March to Sat 15 December. Director at the Birmingham Rep in July. www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 09 Patrick Robinson online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:29 Page 1

Patrick Robinson on Waiting For Godot...

10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Patrick Robinson online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:29 Page 2

interview...

British actor Patrick Robinson has worked extensively in theatre, film, radio and television. Having most recently appeared in War Horse in the West End, Patrick this month visits Birmingham to star in a new production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot. What’s On caught up with him to find out more... Waiting For Godot is often described as a of TV to name me five Black actors who are established. I didn’t want to go straight into play in which nothing happens. Is this British - not just to reference them as the TV. I think when you’ve done the classics, fair? Black guy who was in this, or the character you’re looked upon differently. So it’s not a Obviously there are lots of opinions about it, who was in that, but to give me their names. case of me selling me, it’s more a case of and I don’t think that any opinion is wrong. I guarantee that they can’t do it. If you can’t the work that I’ve done selling me. So by Initially, that was my opinion too, but not do that in this country, what does that tell having been cast in so many Shakespeare now, having gone through the play in detail you in 2012? productions, people will see me as an and realised that there's so much going on accomplished actor. There are a lot of actors with the human condition. We do spend a Do you feel that you can be proactive in in EastEnders and the various soaps who lot of our time just waiting - whether it be for moving forward with this in any way? don’t know how to do the eight shows a someone to turn up, for a child to be born, It’s a sort of chicken-and-egg scenario, and week, but I’ve done my foundation, as it for Christmas to come. There are a whole at the end of the day you need to make a were. For me, it’s always been about the raft of scenarios where we're just waiting, living. Ultimately, if part of your earning craft, and it’s a vocation. It’s never been and what do you do while you're waiting? potential has been curtailed by an executive about wanting to be famous, and I’ve Well, that’s the human condition. who doesn’t like you because you’ve made certainly never been interested in the a comment in the press, they can use their celebrity side of the profession. Why do you think the play has continued power to make things difficult, and that’s to be so widely performed, given its what’s occurred. So ultimately, you don’t Is it a different discipline working in quirky nature? have enough of a voice to balance it out and classical rather than contemporary I don’t know that it’s that popular, but my make a point about stuff. And, of course, theatre? view on it is that there are so many different we’re still in the process where, as I call To a certain extent. I believe that there’s a lot things that you can find within it - there are them, the brothers in this country, are still more work that you have to do with the so many areas to delve into. And, of course, trying to get their own thing going, rather classical stuff - you have to do a lot more Samuel Beckett's point of view, when asked than trying to get something collective. In homework too. In one way, it’s swings and what it was all about, said, “I don’t know, it’s the US there’s definitely more of a collective roundabouts, depending on what the piece up to you”. To me, that’s fantastic, because thing happening. And let’s face it, that’s is. With Waiting For Godot, which is a he meant for everyone to have their very where a lot of ‘the brothers’ then end up modern classic, there are so many own opinion about it. going, because they can’t fight the system references to so many worldly things which over here - it’s all very subtle. In the States, Samuel Beckett has written in that you kind This is a landmark production because they have positive discrimination, where they of go ‘wow, he’s got everything in there’. So it’s the first time it’s been produced with have their quota of Asian, Hispanic and the research, in terms of making sure that an all-Black British cast. Beyond that Black actors in various dramas. In one way, you’ve got all the references, that we know straightforward fact, in what way is this that’s how they’ve got over it, and that’s them and we’re in tune with them, is significant? accepted to a certain extent. Over here they important. So yeah, it depends on the play I think because we are doing it as actors. It’s pretend that there’s no quota, but as far as that you’re doing. just a classic piece that we're doing. If you I’m concerned, and from what I’ve seen, try to sell it too much on an all-Black cast, there’s always a quota but it’s not spoken Which do you prefer and why - theatre or people may have greater expectations. But I about. And as the new breed of producers television? do think that it’s an interesting way of and executive producers come through the Definitely theatre. I like the journey - the looking at it, and it’s a play that can be ranks, they want to make their mark and beginning and the end. Of course, I know transposed in terms of different people don’t want to upset things. that as I get older, doing eight shows a week doing it. It’s interesting that they didn’t want will take its toll. I don’t relish being in the an all-female production of this, and they You started life as an actor working at the West End doing eight to ten months on a wouldn’t sanction that. In one way, I think it’s RSC - what did that teach you? play, as I did with War Horse recently. I don’t great that it’s seen as a landmark I went straight from drama school to the particularly like the West End. It’s full of production, but the one thing that I’ve RSC and was there for four years; it was an people and madness. People think it’s always maintained is that first and foremost opportunity for me to be nurtured. I saw how glamorous, but you try working in the middle I’m an actor. I may be West Indian, I may egos can come into play, and I realised that of the West End for ten months when you have dark skin, but I’m an actor! one of the things I considered a lead-in to can’t park your car if you want to go becoming a good actor was to do the anywhere. But in terms of the theatre, I love Do you feel that there are enough classics. Shakespeare is one of those everything about it. I think that the only other opportunities and openings for Black playwrights that most actors want to say that way you can get the theatrical experience is actors in the UK? they’ve 'done’, and for me that was certainly to work on a film. Yeah, maybe working on a I’ve been criticised for being outspoken the key. I always wanted to become film for three to eight months, if you’re lucky about the lack of Black actors. It’s got better, accomplished in doing the classics, and enough to be involved substantially on a but it’s still not good enough. It’s no surprise working for the Royal Shakespeare particular movie, gives you your beginning, to me that a lot of my contemporaries - Company - well, you can’t get any better your middle and your end. actors in their mid-to-late forties, black than that. So starting off that way was great, British actors, have gone to the US. When and even now, when I get the opportunity to So is this something that you’d like to do you ever see a leading actor who’s Black work for the RSC, I will. pursue further? on ITV? You know, that’s where I’m from - That’s pretty much where I’d like to go. I’ve seeing who the pioneers are. You look up to Do you think that doing the classics first already written a couple of things and I’ve those people and think “wow, they’ve done is a better route into the profession, as directed my own short film. It’s not just it, so it’s possible for me”. What you don’t opposed to the other way round? about me being in it either - I don’t need to really see is that there’s still that very same Yeah, for me definitely. I wanted to get good be the star! The whole process of being glass ceiling there, which has invariably grounding in theatre, and everything can involved was fantastic, and I’d certainly like been there for all of my twenty-five years in stem from your foundation of being a more of that. the profession. It’s a very tricky game, and classical actor. You can then go on to do the it’s no surprise to me that they all go to the modern stuff, because you’re living in the You mentioned artists moving to the US, to a bigger industry where there’s modern time and it’s easier to get into a States. Is this something that you feel substantially more work for actors who are character. So doing the classics - knowing you’ll inevitably have to do in the future? Black. The one way that I always measure the language, which can be very intense - Yeah. Initially I went over there in 2001 and this is to ask a lay person who watches a lot was the way in which I wanted to become met a couple of agents and managers. I was

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 11 Patrick Robinson online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:29 Page 3 Patrick Robinson online_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:29 Page 4

told that I could probably get work in some there are a lot more opportunities in America real. very good hour-long dramas, and that I for a classical actor to get a substantial gig. should sort out a green card. I was over The business over here is dwindling You did six-and-a-half years on the show. there for a month but they said that I’d need drastically. They’re paying less and less Was it a difficult decision to leave? to be there for at least six months to a year across the board and you’re getting to see a No, I was ready to leave after three series, for something to happen. My children at the lot of what I’d call classy, established actors but personal circumstances dictated time were very young and they were my in things where you think “gosh! I wouldn’t otherwise. priority, so It wasn’t a good time. Now that expect to see them in that”. I certainly don’t they’re twenty and eighteen, and are stable know where the next gig is coming from You're a keen footballer and you're a enough in their own being, I feel that my when I finish this tour, and I know I have to cousin of ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright. Was time has come. If I go back over there and make contingency plans for that. becoming a professional footballer ever get offered something, then that’s all well on the cards? and good. There’s definitely a lot more work You mentioned earlier that you weren’t I was semi-pro when I was nineteen and I over there. interested in celebrity, but isn’t this played for Welling, who were in what’s now something that would come hand-in-hand called the Vauxhall Conference League, but So is this something that you’d like to with being an actor in the States? prior to that, at about the age of fifteen, I was pursue further? It is to a certain degree, but over there, it’s invited to train with the apprentices at That’s pretty much where I’d like to go. I’ve business - that's the way they see it. You’ve Southampton. I was going to go along, but it already written a couple of things and I’ve got to have something under your belt fell on the same day as my drama group, so directed my own short film. It’s not just about before you can be seen as some sort of I said I couldn’t make it. I didn’t really know me being in it either - I don’t need to be the celebrity in the States, as opposed to over what I wanted to do long-term at that stage, star! The whole process of being involved here, where someone can get celebrity but I did know that I didn’t want to miss my was fantastic, and I’d certainly like more of status for sleeping with a footballer and then drama, and I was always aware that a career that. get offered a Reality TV show. in football would be over by the age of about thirty-five. Do you worry about the insecurity of the To many, you’re best recognised for profession? playing Ash in Casualty - is it true that What single piece of advice would you I’ve been very lucky. During the twenty-five you hate hospitals? give someone wanting a career on the years I’ve been an actor, I think the longest Oh yeah, there’s a lot of sick people in stage? period I’ve been out of work is about six or hospitals and I certainly don’t relish being in I say to people, “I don’t like drama, I love it!”. seven months. I’ve worked every year, so I them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ill at the So if you have the passion, go for it. If you pat myself on the back for that, but given the sight of blood or anything, but I am don’t have the passion, forget it choice there’s obviously stuff that I’d have squeamish about seeing procedures being preferred not to do. There's an insecurity, done. Some people love it, don’t they? They and you don’t know when the next job is love the hospital dramas and all the gore coming. I was planning to go to America this when the surgeons get the scalpels out. I Patrick Robinson appears in Waiting For January if nothing had happened before can’t stand that, and I can’t really watch it. If Godot at the Old Rep, Birmingham, from Christmas, because I couldn’t see any scope I have to play a character, then I’ll do it, I’ll Tues 13 to Sat 17 March. for doing what I wanted to do, and I feel that apply myself, obviously knowing that it’s not

Patrick Robinson with Jeffery Kissoon Maverick Sabre interview_Layout 1 27/02/2012 11:39 Page 1

Music's about unity, positivity, love. That's what I want my music to be “ about. I want it to break down boxes, walls. I want my shows to have people of different races, different ages.”

Maverick Sabre Lonely Are The Brave in the Midlands...

12 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Maverick Sabre interview_Layout 1 27/02/2012 11:39 Page 2

interview...

With debut album Lonely Are The Brave having hit top spot on the iTunes chart, and with a second-place finish to his name in the Critics' Choice category at the recent Brit Awards, Maverick Sabre’s star is very much in the ascendant. Having previously toured with Plan B and Cee Lo Green, Maverick’s about to embark on his first headlining tour, stopping off in Birmingham along the way...

What have you been up to lately, hop was the directness. There was no dilly- the way I sing it. So I made sure to stay up Maverick? dallying about. You got it in one line. You felt all night writing all the lyrics out so they I've been doing promo for the album. I that straight away. If someone wanted to say could put them in the booklet. Now people started promoting it in Ireland and then something, they said it. You felt that. know what I'm saying and can connect with came over here. Basically, any newspaper or me as a person, we can all be on a level. I'm radio show that'll take me, I'm happy to talk You're from Stoke Newington in London looking forward to finding out what people about the album. and grew up in Ireland. Do you think like, what songs and lyrics, the different either affected you and your music? vibes. Then I can take it on into the next People are really interested in this album. Definitely. When I was four or five, we moved record. You must be happy with that? over to Ireland. I moved back to London by Definitely. Firstly I make music to express myself when I was about seventeen. Then You're doing summer festivals like myself, but secondly to connect with people. again properly when I was about nineteen. It Benicassim. How do you plan to develop So the more people that write about it, the kept me open-minded. That moulded my the live show for the bigger gigs? more people that hear it, the more people music. Being influenced by traditional Irish Yeah, I'm doing Snowbombing as well. That connect with it. That's the aim of my music. music, the blues, the soul from my dad. is a heavy, heavy festival! We did a tour in October, the London date was at Koko. I've Lonely Are The Brave is a really Do you think the variety in where you’ve got a five piece band - we're pretty much accomplished album. You can tell that a lived and the different cultures have given keeping it the same for this tour, maybe lot of work has gone into it, it’s a very you a wider outlook? adding a backing vocalist or two. I'm pretty polished, strong production. Did it take Yeah, you can tell people who've lived in happy with the set up - we've all gelled you a long time to get there? different places because they have that together so well musically. I feel comfortable Yeah, some of it took a long time. There's a universal outlook, they can talk on different with them behind me. I try and keep it as song on there called Sometimes that I levels, adapt in conversations. Well, most simple as possible. I make simple music. I'm recorded back in Ireland when I was people can - you do meet people who've not coming on in a massive hat or anything. seventeen. There's a one-string violin on travelled who are pr*cks! Sometimes I get into it so much I forget to there that I grabbed from upstairs. It was my sing! There's a song of mine called I Can granddad's violin that he never re-stringed. Have you worked with a lot of those Never Be, and when my guitarist does his Then there are other tracks on there that are Hackney hip hop guys? solo, I sometimes go into my own world and more recent that have full bands and full Yeah, I've worked with Pro Green; forget to start singing again. strings on them. There's a lot of years that it Klashnikov's a big influence on me. took to make the album - you can see the Skinnyman, Taskforce - UK hip hop is a big You seem to achieve a real connection growth on there. I feel like it kind of influence on me. Almost more so [than with the emotion of the crowd. represents a large part of my life. It's the first American hip-hop]. They were talking in Music's about unity, positivity, love. That's time you put yourself out there properly, the English accents about places I'd been - what I want my music to be about. I want it first time people get to bring a piece of you Finsbury Park, Hackney, Stoke Newington. to break down boxes, walls. I want my home. So it's the first time you get a chance They were talking about things I could shows to have people of different races, to explain yourself and say 'Look, this is who connect with. different ages. Everybody's there - enjoying I am - so you're gonna be a fan of the music it. Like with Bob Marley - everyone in the or not'. They're big stars now. Do you think world can listen to him. I've never heard there's an appetite for this kind of music, anyone say 'Bob Marley's sh*t.' And that, for There's a lot of depth in the samples and with people like Plan B, Wretch 32, Pro me, is what music's all about. I was doing different instruments you’ve used. Green all doing so well right now? the dishes the other night - feeling a bit There's a lot of different genres in there, and I feel like hopefully it'll expand even more. down. I put on No Woman No Cry and it a lot of different topics, and a lot of different UK hip hop was trying to be American, but made me feel better. influences. I'm influenced by music in then people started to accept British accents general. I didn't want anyone to listen to it much more, like Mike Skinner – that Songs bring people together don't they? and go 'I can't listen to it.' Music's so combination of the Birmingham accent and That's why I did Wonderwall on the Chris segregated now - people feel that you have the South London accent. He made hip hop Moyles show. People loved it! Chris Moyles to be a certain age or be from a certain almost like folk hip hop, to appeal to a wide and Mistajam were singing it. They were background to listen to certain types of audience. singing Wonderwall with me. Music's about music. I look like the kind of lad that can sit bringing people together. That was actually in the corner of your pub on a Saturday, but Any plans to tour in the US soon? inspired by when I saw Oasis play at Slain in I sing soul music. I love hip hop. Actually yes. It's just getting confirmed, but Ireland, and everyone was singing along to I'm touring to SXSW in Austin. Big Festival. I Wonderwall, everyone on a level. I'd lost my You mention influences - who are the did it about two years ago and met my shirt, someone gave me a can. I was pissed. people that influenced the album and American ex-girlfriend there, actually. But it was that moment as the sun was influenced you? American women are lovely! So hopefully going down. Everyone on a level. Each song is influenced by different people. we’ll have a little show in New York before Overall my Dad was a big influence - he we go down there. The track I Need got Finally, what's next for Maverick Sabre? loved music. He did it himself for years, just played on a show on VH1 recently. My friend More music, more shows. Pushing my for love. Acts like Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, called me the other day and he said, 'Mick, I music. So as many people as possible John Lennon, Tupac, Johnny Cash, they did Need is on the jukebox in this little bar in before the day that I die can hear my music. it for love. People like Lauren Hill, Erykah Pennsylvania'. My ex rang me the other day And that's it. I do as much as I can everyday. Badu, Bon Iver influenced me. Reggae in and said she heard it playing in a For me, music's about being timeless. I want general, soul in general and hip hop: Pete department store in Chicago. my music to be timeless. Rock. What are your hopes for the album? Do Hip hop draws on so many influences you just want to go and play it live? itself, right? I get the immediate reaction of people when Maverick Sabre performs at the HMV Yeah that's what it does - jazz, soul. It's a I play it live, you know? Not everyone can Institute, Birmingham Tues 6 March melting pot. But what really drew me into hip hear exactly every word I sing because of

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 13 paul merton feature_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:27 Page 1

Paul Merton brings his Out Of My Head tour to the Midlands paul merton feature_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:28 Page 2

interview...

It's been a while, but we're all delighted to see him back. Paul Merton is returning to stand-up for the first time this century. With a little help from his friends. One of the best-loved comedians in the country, Paul is taking Out Of My Head – his first new written show since 1998 - on a fifty-date tour of the UK this spring, in the company of his highly talented pals Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster.

The new show will give us an Comedy Store Players and Paul Merton's spell Paul spent in hospital after falling ill unprecedented insight into the wondrous Impro Chums. "It's great to have no from anti-malaria tablets. workings of Paul's mind. Coming out from rehearsals, lighting design or costume The overriding theme of the show, though, is behind the Have I Got News For You desk, fittings. And, of course, it's fantastic not to imagination. Paul recollects: "I went to a where he's been sitting for the past twenty- have to learn any lines! We go to Edinburgh Catholic school. When I was ten, I wrote an two years, the comedian will also prove that every year with no preparation apart from essay which the nun who was teaching me he's actually got legs! turning up sober! Sometimes we have to really didn't like because it was imaginative. In Out Of My Head, we can look forward to a borrow a pen and paper from the barman to She didn't like imagination. It was one of hugely entertaining evening of stand-up, write down the order of the impro games." those things which you know, as the child, is interspersed with sketches, music, magic, However, Out Of My Head is a great desperately unfair, but you can't do anything variety and dancing girls (although two of opportunity to refine brilliant material. "With about it because you're only ten. them aren't, in fact, girls!). All in all, it this show," Paul continues, "we get to repeat "According to her, if you wrote something promises to be a rattling good night out. moments we really enjoy. In impro, you can't untrue, then it was a problem. At the time, it I'm meeting Paul at a central London theatre go back and do it again, but here you can felt very humiliating to stand up in front of during rehearsals for Out Of My Head. say, 'What if I delay my entrance tonight by the class and have to explain why I wrote Sipping coffee in the stalls, he discusses his five seconds to build up the tension? Will that. delight about the forthcoming show: "We’re that make it funnier?' "For years I hated that nun, but now I realise having such a great time," beams the "Here, you get the chance to create a show that the experience was very good for me. I comedian. "It's about taking the plunge and over a sustained period of rehearsal - and had never bought into the Catholic Church devising a show that's fully scripted. It has that's wonderful! This is about the art of that much. But because that nun was so stand-up, sketches, interaction with the creation over a good while, rather than against imagination and I was so into it - I audience, and a few things that will startle merely saying the first thing that comes into was already reading Spike Milligan - I just people. Working on a tour that starts off as a your head. In Out Of My Head, we have the knew she was wrong. So I began thinking, mere jotting on the back of a fag packet and opportunity and the time to fit together all 'A nun who is wrong about something so develops into a spectacular show is a sheer the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, and to throw fundamental might well be wrong about joy!" out lines that will never be said again." other stuff, too...'. Imagination has built my Having been a key member of the country's What Paul has adored above all is the entire career. Out Of My Head is a most famous improvisational troupe, The collaboration that Out Of My Head celebration of imagination. Comedy Store Players, since its formation in encourages. "Having spent so many years "I know that doing this show every night is 1985, Paul is a wonderfully charismatic working with other people, when I did a going to be great fun. The rehearsal process performer. He particularly relishes his stand-up tour on my own in 1998, I really is stressful at the beginning, but if and when connection with the audience. "I get such a didn't enjoy sitting on my own in the you pull it off, there's a deeper degree of buzz from performing live, it's just the best dressing room during the interval. I used to satisfaction because you've worked on it for rush in the world, better than anything else beg Lee to come along as the director, and six months. The idea of honing something till you can think of! If you're trying to convince he would say, 'No, I've been along far more you're really happy with it is very, very a TV producer that something is funny, it can than any other director. I'm not coming to rewarding. I just can't wait to get out there take ages. But if you have a good idea with Newcastle again!' and start doing the show!" The Comedy Store Players, you can just say "Everything I do is team stuff. It's much more it there and then. You don't have to take it to fun if you're not twiddling your thumbs on Paul Merton performs at New Alexandra a commissioning editor, or get a budget and your own. All the same, I'm sure I’ll be sitting Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 7 April; Grand have the comedy kicked out of it by a there on this tour thinking, 'Why did I bring n,Theatre, S Wolverhampton, Sun 6 May; committee. And you immediately know those guys along?'" Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 18 May, whether it's funny because you'll hear the Out Of My Head will cover a variety of Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sun 20 May sound of laughter - or not! themes, including the class system and the "It's so inspiring. You just ride the wave of laughter, and then you might come up with something equally funny. Ralph Richardson used to talk about pushing a huge ball up a hill to the point where it suddenly gains momentum and starts rolling down the other side. That's what live comedy is like. The only snag is, you have to do it while trying to look completely relaxed!" The comedian stays 'in the zone' by performing every week with The Comedy Store Players. "That feeds into everything else I do," reflects Paul, who's also had enormous success with his Impro Chums show. "When Have I Got News For You comes around, I don't think, 'Oh no, I'm a bit rusty". Doing The Comedy Store Players every Sunday, you’re match-fit all the time. It's a performance muscle. If it's not getting flexed, it gets flabby. That's why people who haven't been on stage for a while struggle when they go back to the theatre, because it's a completely different discipline." Paul and the team have revelled in the rehearsal process for Out Of My Head. "We all love impro," enthuses Paul, who works with Lee, Richard and Suki in both the Kurt Hentschlager interview_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:30 Page 1

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The most comprehensive what’s on listings website for Birmingham and the West Midlands Kurt Hentschlager interview_Layout 1 28/02/2012 16:30 Page 2

interview...

Kurt Hentschlager brings his latest installation to the Midlands...

Chicago-based Austrian artist Kurt Hentschlager is internationally recognised for his emotive audiovisual performances and installations, which aim to transport viewers to another place. This month sees Core, Kurt's latest work, commissioned as part of Cultural Olympiad 2012, being presented at Shropshire’s World Heritage site in Ironbridge. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more about his work... How would you best describe your art Let’s say a project of this type does not How did the transition come about? form to those not familiar with your work? leave much room for sleep... Architecture seemed stuck back then I think the best term is 'audiovisual compared with the arts, which, in early- installation', a work that has both a visual How would you sell Core as a concept to 1980s Vienna, boasted quite a vibrant component, most often via video someone new to this particular media? scene. Also, my family wanted me to (projection), and also an equally important Media itself means nothing, other than become a serious person, so I had to sound component. Both video and sound realising ideas with it. At the end of the day, counteract that! are designed as one synchronous it’s ideas, concepts and emotive expression audiovisual impression. that make for meaningful experiences. I like Who or what has been your biggest to be immersed and transported to influence? And Core...? somewhere else when looking/listening to Oh, there are many. As far as UK artists go, Is an installation for five groups of 3D art. Core is just such an artwork - at least I love the work of Francis Bacon and Lucian animated human bodies in a zero gravity that's my intention. Freud. Both, in aspects, would work as environment, all of which create sound while contextual references for Core. interacting with each other. In total, one What does it mean to you as an artist to hundred-and-fifty virtual bodies, and thus be commissioned as part of the Cultural What's the biggest accolade you could one hundred-and-fifty sounding voices. Olympiad 2012? ever receive? It’s a fantastic opportunity to be part of this, I don't know. The arts are highly What was the inspiration behind Core? and I'm nothing but thrilled to work with the unpredictable - part of what keeps one on Core is a reflection on the contemporary Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the edge. As an artist, I first of all work for human body, specifically in an era of everybody there. The level of enthusiasm my own pleasure. But a commission like this technological enhancements and our desire and dedication showered on me is one is definitely something to look forward for omnipotence. incredible, so despite the pressure that to. comes with a project like this, it’s been bliss How long did the process take, from to work on! You’ve produced many installations since concept to final product? your first exhibition in 1983. Do you have Too long! I started this body of work in 2004 Is it true that you were an architect before a personal favourite? originally. Core by itself took three years to moving into the world of digital art I have personal favourites indeed, but I can't make. It’s quite a complex amalgam of installations? reveal them. software, the majority of it developed I started as an architect before switching to specifically by and for me for this work. the Arts Academy in Vienna. It’s still a Kurt Hentschlager’s Core exhibits at passion of mine, so my focus and work Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire, How much of yourself have you had to continues to be informed by concepts of from Fri 23 March - Sun 30 September give over to this particular project? space, perception and navigation. Bonnie Langford online_Layout 1 29/02/2012 09:59 Page 1

Bonnie Langford on becoming the Lady Of The Lake... Bonnie Langford online_Layout 1 29/02/2012 09:59 Page 2

interview...

Since she first appeared on our TV screens in Opportunity Knocks in the 1970s, Bonnie Langford has gone on to enjoy a career that's taken in theatre, television, film and radio, both here and in the States. This month sees her making her debut at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre, where she’ll be playing the Lady of the Lake in the highly acclaimed musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot. What’s On caught up with Bonnie to find out more...

How are you enjoying being part of the hopefully my level of commitment will mean What’s been the biggest error of Spamalot team? that producers continue to want to employ judgement that you’ve made in your Fabulous! It’s hysterical - a really great show me. career? with a fab company, and I’m having a really To a generation you’re probably still best There are loads of them, but nothing too great time. remembered as Violet Elizabeth in Just drastic. Just stuff where you think after, “why William. Do you think you were did I do that, it was a load of old nonsense What can audiences expect from your stereotyped as a result of this? and rubbish”. You always hope that it’ll Lady of the Lake? The thing to remember is that I was only a work, but you never know. You can put all Well, she’s short and she’s definitely a kid at the time. I wasn’t that child, I was only the right ingredients into a bowl but the cake ‘Lady’, but she’s also ever so slightly nuts. playing a part. The thing that's always a bit still doesn’t rise. tricky is that when you’re convincing in a Do you find the comedy angle an easy role, people don’t think you’re acting! But Which role has provided the biggest gig? when you’re young, first impressions are challenge? I think comedy always has to come from a very lasting impressions, and they can It was more of a skill than a role, and I think place of truth. The reason the show works sometimes be difficult to overcome. You just it was when I did Dancing On Ice. That was so well is because it’s done with a certain have to keep plugging away. Yeah, there quite a big challenge, mainly because it amount of integrity, as bizarre as that may have been times when I’ve wished people wasn’t on my list of things to do. If I’d known sound. It’s a kind of comedy that’s really had had a different first impression of me, too much about it beforehand, I probably quite sweet and charming, because it's a but it’s my job to change that perception - wouldn’t have done it. So I’m glad that I type of fairytale, albeit dressed up in a and when I do, it’s actually much more didn’t! peculiar fashion. rewarding. You got through to the finals. What did How long are you with the tour? As a parent, what advice would you give you learn from the experience? Until the end of May. someone wishing to push their children I learned that it’s okay to fall over, and that into the limelight? you have to face your fears. It’s very Are you a big Monty Python fan? I don’t think you can push your child into frightening to do something that you know Not as such, but it’s certainly something that anything. I think anyone, even down to a nothing about, but it’s okay to be a I enjoy. It’s part of the British heritage, and I child eating their greens, won’t do anything beginner. certainly love this incarnation of it. It’s got that they don’t really want to do. All you can that wonderful English eccentricity, where do as a parent is encourage your child to do Were you a total beginner? nothing is dragged on too long. It’s a case their best at whatever they feel they enjoy Oh God, one hundred percent! I’d never of, we do what’s there, we do the sketches the most. If they’re enjoying something, then ever put an ice skate on my foot. I wasn’t verbatim, and then we move straight on to they’ll ultimately do it well. allowed. I was a dancer; you don’t ice skate something else. when you’re a dancer. You don’t ice skate What about the negative side of and you don’t ride horses. It’s just not done. Were you familiar with Monty Python’s performing at a young age? Holy Grail when you were younger? Young people have a very different view to Do you still skate? Oh yeah, but I hadn’t seen Spamalot until the one that I had as a youngster. It’s very A little bit, but I haven’t done for ages. I’ve about a week before I joined the cast. I important these days to be very rich and got some skates and I started doing it again accepted the role before I’d seen the show, famous. That doesn’t necessarily go hand- with a couple of tours, but it was really although I’d seen a few clips and thought it in-glove, though, and you really need to be intense and just a bit too hard. I got very was hilarious. able to do something. I think that, today, injured and it took the fun out of it a bit. I’ve many youngsters wishing to enter this line of spent the last couple of years in New York, You made your stage debut at the tender work are sold a package that doesn’t exist. so I took my skates over there and skated age of seven, and have enjoyed an In numerous cases, it’s all a little bit fast- with my daughter a bit, which was lots of extremely varied career. To what do you track, and therefore it’s a fast fall too. You’ve fun. It’s a fabulous form of exercise, and I attribute your continued success? got to have a skill, and that could be the skill think it was important to bring some fun The funny thing is that both Todd Carty and I of doing eight shows a week and hoping back into it. - and, in fact, Steven Pacey, who’s playing that the Monday night is the same as the Arthur - all started as young actors and are Saturday night. You have to do it because You cross the pond quite often. Where do still here. I think it’s basically because we you love the art, not because you want all you prefer to perform, Broadway or the love what we’re doing, and I don’t think any the trappings that you believe to be part and West End? of us have done too much crazy stuff. We’re parcel of the profession. To be honest, for I like both, and I think it’s great to have a all pretty grounded and down-to-earth, and the majority, those trappings don’t exist. combination. It’s a different kind of attitude haven't seen a need to go AWOL at any over there and I really enjoy it, but there are point. Ultimately, I think what keeps you What criteria do you go by when some great people in this country too. I think going is the enjoyment and the interest in choosing a role? it’s really good to get out of the box every the job. If you can keep that going, You’ve got to have a balance - it’s a bit now and again, as it makes you see your remember why you’re doing something and about the role, but it’s also about the money. own place in a different light and it opens still get a buzz out of it, then you kind of It’s great being able to do things that you your eyes a little bit. work through everything else. really want to do, but sometimes you have to do things that you’d perhaps prefer not to Are there different disciplines that you You’re a versatile performer. Does moving because you have a gas bill to pay. I try and have to adopt for each? between TV, films and stage help keep it do stuff that I like to do, but I also have to be Yeah, on Broadway they have a little bit all fresh? able to work it out with my family, which can more confidence and a bit more attack. You Yeah, but ultimately we all have to pay our sometimes be quite difficult because we have to be a bit more positive. bills. I’ve been extremely fortunate to be able can’t leave our daughter home alone. It’s to continue at a certain standard and work just a juggling act, which is what most Bonnie Langford appears in Spamalot at the with great people. That’s been an absolute working parents have to deal with. New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham from blessing and a real joy. I’ve been very, very Mon 26 to Sat 31 March lucky. But I still like to work at my job, and Music March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 18:12 Page 1 Music March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 18:12 Page 2 Music

Enter Shikari Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Tues 20 March Fresh from playing to over twenty-five thousand fans on their self-promoted, sold-out autumn UK tour, Enter Shikari embark on a special six-date tour to coincide with the recent release of third album, A Flash Flood Of Colour. The British band are known for experimenting with a range of heavy metal sounds, including metalcore, alternative metal and electronicore. Their most recent sound could be described as merging drum and bass, dubstep and post-hard- core, and single Arguin- ing With Thermometers has been debuted by Zane Lowe on Radio One. Special guests are UK rock band Young Guns and Tek-One. Spaghetti Western Orchestra Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 1 March; Vic- toria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 3 March; Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 16 March Cunningly named, Spaghetti Western Orchestra is a quintet of musicians who have been performing works from Spaghetti Westerns since 2004. Paying Florence And The Machine particular attention to music from composer Ennio LG Arena, Birmingham, Tues 13 March Morricone and performing with over one hundred Selling over a million copies of latest album Ceremonials in the two weeks before it was instruments, the ensemble has played venues in- released and making it to Number One, Florence & The Machine are back from a hiatus cluding The Studio in Sydney and Edinburgh Festi- with a bigger, stronger and darker sound. Rising to fame in 2009 with debut album Lungs, val. Playing music from classics such as The their songs (including Kiss With A Fist and Dog Days Are Over) were used extensively in Good, The Bad And The Ugly and For A Few Dol- TV shows and commercials such as 90210, Gossip Girl and Glee, making the band a lars More, the show is unmissable for any Clint huge hit on both sides of the pond. English punk act The Horrors support, along with Eastwood fan. Spector, on this sold-out eleven-date tour. The Wanted LG Arena, Birmingham, Thurs 1 March The Wanted are riding high on the crest of a wave at the moment, and stop off in Birming- ham as part of their first ever arena tour. The band burst onto the scene in a blaze of glory, quickly racking up Number Ones, top-fives, award nominations and YouTube hits as though they were going out of fashion. With their star very much in the ascendant, Jay, Max, Nathan, Siva and Tom had no trouble persuading some of the biggest names in the industry to work with them, with Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Ed Drewett all on board for the boys’ second album, the recently released Battleground. Expect this gig to include all the favourites from their still-burgeoning career, including All Time Low, Glad You Laura Marling Came, Heart Vacancy and Gold Forever. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 2 March; Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sun 11 March Multi-award-winning poster girl for nu-folk, Laura Marling has been nominated for a Mercury Music Prize twice and won Best Female Solo Artist at the 2011 Brit Awards. Part of the original line-up of Noah And The Whale, she has collaborated with Mystery Jets and The Rakes and was personally invited to tour with Jamie T before she’d even re- leased an EP. Having once toured the UK’s cathedrals on her When The Bell Tolls tour, the twenty-two- year-old plays eleven UK dates before head- ing off to Europe and beyond for the summer festivals.

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Music PREVIEWS The Osmonds Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 27 March; Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 28 March; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 29 March; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Wed 11 April; Malvern Theatres, Thurs 12 April Yep, that’s right; The Osmonds are coming to town. Well, some of them are, anyway! Back in the day, the band sold more than seventy- five million records, and their concert appear- ances were legendary. They’re a heck of a lot older now, of course, but have lost none of their edge, it seems. It’s a fair bet that the set will include many of their most successful hits, such as Crazy Horses, Love Me For A Reason, One Bad Apple, Down By The Lazy River, Let Me In - and the unforgettable ‘Little Jimmy Osmond’ classic, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.

McFly JLS Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent; Sun 18 March; O2 Academy, Birmingham, LG Arena, Fri 16 & Sat 17 March; Tues 17 April Fri 30 March & Thurs 19 April They may have been beaten by Alexandra Burke in the final of the 2008 series, but there's no Bursting onto the scene a fair few years ago doubting the fact that JLS do indeed have the X Factor! Oritsé, JB, Aston and Marvin give the now, McFly appeared to be the modern impression of being four unassuming guys who're maybe just a little bit taken aback by their (British) equivalent of the Beach Boys. With own success and popularity. With that kind of modesty and an enormous and irrefutable tal- their artfully tousled hair, impish expressions ent in their favour, there’s little wonder the guys continue to make such an enormous splash and the sheer joie de vivre with which they in- in the dog-eat-dog world of the music industry. They appear at the LG as part of their Fourth vested their sunny, catchy pop, they were dif- Dimensions tour, in support of their recently released third album, Jukebox. ficult to dislike... Not really all that much has changed since those heady early days - even if the boys Craze. They were led during this golden pe- Joan Baez riod by vocalist Pauline Black, who’s gone on have maybe developed the odd faint wrinkle Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 13 March here and there (nah, they’re still too young for to forge a considerable reputation for herself that!)! They play the Midlands as part of a Joan Baez made a name for herself through through singing, songwriting and acting. Her twenty-six-date tour, selecting venues that other people’s songs, but in her case, this latest album, the September 2011-released offer them the chance to get ‘more up close was no bad thing. Starting out in the 1960s Made In Britain, featured numbers as diverse and personal’ with their fans. with reinterpretations of songs by the likes of as a cover of Amy Winehouse’s Back To Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie, Black and an anti-racist ska/reggae re-work- her music became increasingly intertwined ing of Woody Guthrie’s All You Fascists Black Stone Cherry with social activism. Singing about freedom Bound To Lose, reinvented as Big In The O2 Academy, Birmingham, Wed 14 March and civil rights, she became the conscience Body-Small In The Mind. Fresh from a headlining US tour, Kentucky of a generation. A dab hand at turning the rock band Black Stone Cherry are heading world’s attention to- over to the UK to complete a fourteen date wards important histor- Lianne La Havas tour in support of third album, Between The ical and social events, The Glee Club, Birmingham, Mon 12 March Devil And The Deep Blue Sea. Released in her eye for the musical Fast becoming one to watch, Lianne La May last year, the album was named one of zeitgeist is as sharp as Havas’s big break came when she performed the most important of 2011 by Classic Rock ever it was. Although on Later With Jools Holland in October last magazine and spawned hits White Trash Mil- essentially a traditional year. Although she’s been signed to Warner lionaire and Blame It On The Boom Boom. folk singer, Joan’s cer- Bros for two years, she’s been busy working Supporting will be American blues-rockers tainly not afraid to mix behind the scenes in Rival Sons. the old with the new to preparation for her ensure her message big break, although reaches as wide an au- did do a stint as dience as possible. backing vocals for Paloma Faith. She's The Selecter been compared to Erykah Badu, Jill The Assembly, Leamington Spa; The Robin, Bilston, Fri 30 March Scott, Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill and Nina Spearheading the 2-tone label alongside The Simone, and prom- Specials, Madness and The Beat., The Se- ises an intimate and lecter made their mark in the early-1980s, soulful evening at courtesy of a string of hits that included the The Glee Club. albums Too Much Pressure and Dance

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LICHFIELD GUILDHALL MARCH

Sat 3rd Mar 8.00pm THE JIVE ACES £14 / £13 concs / £12 members / £10 students

Wed 7th Mar 8.30pm PHILIP CLOUTS QUARTET £12 / £11 concs / £10 members / £6 students

Fri 9th Mar 8.30pm BEVERLEY CRAVEN £17 / £16 concs / £15 members / £9 students

Sun 18th Mar 8.00pm ALY BAIN & PHIL CUNNINGHAM £16 / £15 concs / £14 members / £8 students

Wed 21st Mar 8.30pm LITTLE JOHNNY ENGLAND £12 / £11 concs / £10 members / £6 students

Sun 25th Mar 8.00pm PAUL JONES & DAVE KELLY £16 / £15 concs / £14 members / £8 students

Fri 30th Mar 8.30pm URBAN FOLK QUARTET £12 / £11 concs / £10 members / £6 students

Sat 31st Mar 8.00pm COOPE, BOYES & SIMPSON £12 / £11 concs / £10 members / £6 students

APRIL

Wed 4th Apr 8.30pm MARTIN TAYLOR £15 / £14 concs / £13 members / £8 students

Wed 11th Apr 8.00pm FEAST OF FIDDLES £19 / £18 concs / £17 members / £10 students

Sun 15th Apr 8.00pm SARAH GILLESPIE QUAR- TET £14 / £13 concs / £12 members / £7 students

Sun 22nd Apr PHOENIX RISING £11 / £10 concs / £9 members / £6 students

For a programme or further information contact: Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield. WS13 6LU BOX OFFICE 01543 262223 www.lichfieldarts.org.uk

You can now book on-line www.lichfieldarts.org.uk

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Music PREVIEWS Noah And The Whale Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 29 March Named after a combination of the title and di- rector of one of the band’s favourite films, The Squid And The Whale, Noah & The Whale formed in 2006. Three albums later, the band are playing eleven shows prior to their festival appearances at Parklife, Rock- ness and Apple Cart. Finding success with debut Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, follow-up and break-up album The First Days Of Spring was written after the demise of Charlie Fink and Laura Marling’s relationship. Latest release Last Night On Earth moves away from their nu-folk sound towards a more retro rock’n’roll feel.

The Australian Pink Floyd Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 12 March; National Indoor Arena, Wed 21 March Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Nobody's claiming a tribute act's as good as National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Thurs 1 March the real thing, of course, but if you never Created in 2010 by the former Oasis guitarist, the band includes ex-Oasis session pianist caught the likes of Pink Floyd live, then these Mike Rowe, drummer Jeremy Stacey of The Lemon Trees, The Zutons' bassist Russell kind of acts at least give you the chance to Pritchard and guitarist Tim Smith. Splitting from Oasis in August 2009 following an argument get a 'feel' of what it must have been like to with brother Liam and a statement that he simply ‘could not go on working' with him 'a day be in the presence of greatness. The band longer’, Noel has since had to endure his brother referring to his music as ‘boring’ and hav- has been around for almost a quarter-century ing ‘no attitude’. With his debut album hitting the UK chart at Number One, the follow-up has now, and have played to over three million been compared to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon. fans worldwide. Their latest tour, Exposed In The Light, takes its title from the lyrics of the Floyd classic Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Caro Emerald The X Factor Tour If you love Pink Floyd, you’ll love these hom- Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 15 March LG Arena, Birmingham, Sun 25 March age-paying imposters too. Dutch pop, swing and jazz musician Caroline With yet another series of X Factor proving to Esmeralda van der Leeuw may only have be compulsive viewing for millions of Satur- graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory day night teatime telly-watchers, it's no sur- seven short years ago, but she's nonetheless prise to find the Class of 2011 hitting the road made history by spending a record-breaking for the latest version of what has now be- thirty weeks at Number One in the Dutch come an annual live tour. This year's winner album charts, beating Michael Jackson’s Little Mix is joined by Janet Devlin, Marcus Thriller by one week. Collins, Johnny Robinson, Craig Colton, Vocally influenced by Misha B, The Risk, Kitty Brucknell and come- The Andrew Sisters, Bil- back girl Amelia Lily. lie Holiday and Sarah So if you enjoy the TV show, get yourself Vaughan, Caro blended along to this Live version and find out how 1940s and '50s jazz the contestants fair once they're away from with easy listening and the TV cameras and those nasty judges! Killing Joke orchestral Latin to cre- Wulfrun Hall, Wed 14 March ate a unique sound for her debut single, Back Formed at the end of the ’70s in Notting Hill, It Up. this post-punk band is credited with influenc- ing the development of industrial rock. Inspir- ing bands including Nirvana, Rammstein, Korn and Foo Fighters, to name but a few, The Urban Folk Quartet they were championed by DJ John Peel and Lichfield Guildhall, Fri 30 March became famous for their Hailing from Birmingham, The Urban Folk controversial imagery on Quartet fuses traditional English and Spanish stage and on records. folk music. Playing gigs in the UK, Italy, Bel- The band has just an- gium and Spain in their first three months to- nounced the release of gether, they won the Spanish International their fifteenth album, Folk Competition in Plasencia at only their 2012, said to be inspired fourth concert. Comprising four hugely tal- by end of the world pre- ented musicians, twelve instruments and four dictions and described as voices, the band plays energetic, globally in- ‘an avalanche of sound’. fluenced folk music to take your breath away.

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1st March THE BLUES CLUB - TREVOR BURTON 2nd March INDIE KINGS 3rd March UNDERCOCKS 8th March THE BLUES CLUB - JAY TAMKIN BAND 9th March REWIND 10th March SOULVILLE 15th March QUILL ACOUSTIC 16th March THE SUBTERRANEANS 17th March VIPER LOUNGE 22nd March THE BLUES CLUB - CRISIS BLUES BAND 23rd March THE ESTABLISHMENT 24th March 1215 THE BLUES CLUB - GWYN ASHTONS TWO 29th March MEN BLUES ARMY 30th March KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS 31st March THE MOONSHAKERS 5th April THE BLUES CLUB - STEVE GIBBONS 6th April THE ESTABLISHMENT 7th April JUMPP 12th April ALVIN STARDUST 13th April THE REAL THING 14th April TRAVELLING PILBURYS 19th April THE BLUES CLUB - THE COHEN BROTHERS 20th April THE ESTABLISHMENT DAN SEALEY and ANDY BENNETT 21st April of Ocean Colour Scene THE BLUES CLUB - RICKY COOL & 26th April THE HOOLA HOOLA BOYS

27th April KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS 28th April CoSTARS 3rd May THE BLUES CLUB - TREVOR BURTON 4th May FABULOUS BOOGIE BOYS 5th May MOTHER POPCORN 10th May THE BLUES CLUB - LARRY MILLER 24th May THE MOVE with Bev Bevan & Trevor Burton 31st May THE BLUES CLUB - ZOOT MONEY 21st June THE FOUNDATIONS 5th July THE SEARCHERS 4th October THE ZOMBIES

Welton Road, Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 5PZ Tel: 01926 494600 www.warwickcavern.com facebook.com/warwickcavern

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Guildhall ABEL’S LAST STAND The MusicGIG REVIEWS Music LISTINGS Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Trent For full listing information on gigs, RICHARD LEACH'S 7 STARS For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk including times and dates, visit OF JAZZ Ludlow Assem- www.whatsonlive.co.uk bly Rooms, South Shropshire UK PINK FLOYD EXPERI- Olly Murs THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENCE Lichfield Garrick LG Arena, Birmingham THUR 1 MAR MICHAEL JACKSON TRIB- BOTOWN Bedworth Civic UTE CONCERT Crewe Hall Since coming runner-up on X Factor back in 2009, it's safe to say Lyceum NICK LOWE Birmingham that the ‘cheeky chappy’ from Essex has done exceptionally well for SPAGHETTI WESTERN OR- THE JIVE ACES Solihull Town Hall himself. Olly's first solo single topped the charts, and his second CHESTRA Warwick Arts Arts Complex LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Cox's album, In Case You Didn’t Know, went straight to Number One. His Centre, Coventry THE HUBBARDS & JIYA Yard, Stratford-upon- MARGARET PREECE PRES- The Rainbow, Birming- Avon spell on X Factor saw him categorised as an ‘all-round entertainer’ - ENTS RULE BRITANNIA! An a title of which he's still worthy if this LG Arena gig is anything to go ham DAKOTA BEATS The Slade evening of musical high- TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE Rooms by. Show opener Anywhere Else (from his new album) was met with lights ro celebrate Her Birmingham Town Hall THE PHENOMENAL HAND- piercing screams from the enthusiastic audience, and was immedi- Majesty The Queen's Di- MAWA & THE MELO-D & CLAP BAND Hare & ately followed by a selection of much-loved tracks, including chart amond Jubilee Solihull ETHAN ASH Cox's Yard, Hounds, Birmingham Arts Complex Stratford-upon-Avon ULTRA 90S The River favourites Dance With Me Tonight and Please Don’t Let Me Go. REBECCA FERGUSON There was also a sneak preview of new single Oh, My Goodness, THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL Rooms, Stourbridge Symphony Hall, Birm- Lichfield Garrick THE CAST OF CHEERS & which went down a storm. These were intertwined with some impres- ingham MORAG MCLAREN Lich- THEME PARK HMV Insti- sive covers, including I Need A Dollar, It Must Be Love, and a credi- CARA DILLON The Robin, field Garrick tute, Birmingham ble medley of James Brown classics. The evening was brought to a Bilston THE GET ALONGS The YOUFO The Roadhouse, perfect end with an energetic encore of Heart Skips A Beat, accom- THE ELO EXPERIENCE The Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Birmingham Swan Theatre, Worces- panied by indoor fireworks. With vocals on top form throughout, Trent PARTIKEL The Edge Arts ter NICK LOWE Huntingdon some friendly banter with the audience and some great dance Centre, Much Wenlock, THE SOUTH 02 Academy, Hall, Worcester South Shropshire moves, Olly Murs certainly knows how to give his adoring fans a Birmingham BAND OF SKULLS Wulfrun PASSION, KRYSTAL ROXX, night to remember. Lauren Wright IIIII CLIVE CARROLL Hunting- Hall, Wolverhampton SAMMY SUGAR, DJ K, JAY don Hall, Worcester THE SILVER SEAS 02 LOWE & RANIER HMV In- NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH Academy, Birmingham stitute, Birmingham FLYING BIRDS National ROGER DEAN SINGS THE Alfie Boe Indoor Arena, Birming- JOHNNY CASH STORY SUN 4 MAR Symphony Hall, Birmingham ham New Alexandra Theatre, THE SENSATIONAL 60S EX- Birmingham With his powerful vocals and witty banter - not to mention affable PERIENCE Malvern The- THINK FLOYD The Robin, MEST, THE HUMAN PROJ- charm and good looks - it’s easy to see why tenor Alfie Boe is such a atres Bilston ECT, OUT COLD & MAY- hit with his growing legion of fans. CREAM OF CLAPTON Lich- GUILTY SKIES, YES SUN- COMB The Ballroom, Returning to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall for the second time in a field Garrick SHINE, DEAD ACTORS & Birmingham SIERRA MAESTRAE Birm- SMOKE FEATHERS The month, Alfie was on top form, indulging in plenty of tomfoolery with MOTHERLESS Taylor ingham Town Hall John’s House, Coventry Marr's Bar, Worcester both his band and the audience as he presented a highly entertain- ASHLEY HUTCHINGS AND LAURA MARLING Sym- AN AFTERNOON WITH ing evening of songs which perfectly showcased his versatility. Num- KEN NICOL The Rose phony Hall, Birmingham JESS CONRAD Dove- bers from albums Alfie and Bring Him Home were joined by an array Theatre, Kidderminster THE STONES Palace The- house Theatre, Solihull of popular tunes from the stage and screen - Tell Me It’s Not True, THE WANTED LG Arena, atre, Redditch LOUISE JORDAN Lichfield Birmingham Guildhall Maria, and a medley of Bond Classics - while a poignant cover of COUNTRY ROADS - A CELE- THE JOHNNY CASH STORY BRATION OF JOHN DENVER TIR NA NOG The Robin, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and the much-loved Bring Him Theatre Severn, Shrews- Bilston IIIII The Roses Theatre, Home provided the evening’s highlights. Reggie White bury Tewksbury SEX DEPARTMENT The OFELIADORME Taylor BIRMINGHAM JAZZ EN- Roadhouse, Birming- John’s House, Coventry SEMBLE Symphony Hall, ham KING CHARLES The Sug- Birmingham NORTH SEA GAS Kitchen Music Venues Box Office armill, Stoke-on-Trent REGGAEBABY LOUNGE The Garden Cafe, Birming- PHANTOM LIMB Hare & Drum, Birmingham ham Hounds, Birmingham Birmingham THE GLEE CLUB Staffordshire TO KILL A KING The Slade 0871 472 0400 SAT 3 MAR MON 5 MAR 02 ACADEMY LICHFIELD GUILDHALL Rooms, Wolverhampton 08444 77 2000 THE YARDBIRD 01543 262223 TYLER WARD HMV Insti- 0121 212 2524 ADRIAN BOULT HALL THE SUGAR MILL, HANLEY tute, Birmingham SPAGHETTI WESTERN OR- INTERNATIONAL GUITAR 0121 331 5901 Black Country STOKE-ON-TRENT BEHOLDER, UNDER BLACK- CHESTRA Victoria Hall, NIGHT WITH LULO REIN- THE ASYLUM 01159 454 593 ENED SKIES & ADUST The Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent HARDT, ADRIAN LEGG AND 0121 233 1109 CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS Roadhouse, Birming- 0870 320 7000 CLASSIC CLAPTON Palace BRIAN GORE Artrix, THE BALLROOM, DALE END 01827 709618 ham Theatre, Redditch Bromsgrove 0121 448 0797 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY KIM RICHEY The Glee 01384 815577 KEITH WAITHE & THE MA- MATT CARDLE Symphony THE BARBER INSTITUTE 0844 871 7649 Club, Birmingham NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE CUSI PLAYERS Artrix, Hall 0121 414 7333 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE DAVE SHARPE The Iron- Bromsgrove OVER THE RAINBOW - THE 01902 572090 01785 254653 BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL works, Oswestry, Shrop- BLUES HOUSE PARTY FEA- EVA CASSIDY STORY The- 0121 780 3333 THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH shire 0121 533 7161 TURING MICHAEL ROACH, atre Severn, Shrewsbury CBSO CENTRE Warwickshire ROBIN 2, BILSTON JOHN MILLER, EDDIE MAR- RAE MORRIS The Glee 0121 780 3333 COX’S YARD, STRATFORD 01902 401211 FRI 2 MAR TIN & SONNY BLACK Ar- Club, Birmingham CUSTARD FACTORY, 01789 404600 STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL trix, Bromsgrove TOY HORSES PLUS THE 0121 224 7777 THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON 01384 812812 PAUL CARRACK The RIPPS, THE DIRTY MIN- FLAPPER 0121 236 2421 01926 311311 THE NOTORIOUS BROTH- THE VARSITY, Robin, Bilston UTES, THE MAKING & HARE & HOUNDS THE KASBAH, COVENTRY WOLVERHAMPTON ERS The Roadhouse, PROTEST THE HERO, LONG DALE HANSON The Ball- 0121 444 2081 02476 554473 01902 711166 Birmingham DISTANCE CALLING, room, Birmingham HMV INSTITUTE NAILCOTE HALL, WULFRUN HALL, SHAUN RYDER O2 Acad- BLOOD COMMAND & UN- 0844 248 5037 BERKSWELL 02476 46 6174 WOLVERHAMPTON emy, Birmingham EVEN STRUCTURE 02 ISLAND BAR 0870 320 7000 STRATFORD CIVIC HALL MASTERS IN FRANCE, SOL- Academy, Birmingham TUE 6 MAR 0121 632 5296 01789 207100 DIER, NEW KILLER SHOES, EMMA SCOTT PRESENTS THE JAM HOUSE Shropshire TAYLOR JOHN’S HOUSE, I AM RYAN & JOSEPH PAGE 44 PLUS JESTER, 0121 200 3030 COVENTRY UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, HICKLIN The Ballroom, BREAKING TIES. FAKE OB- LG ARENA 024 7623 0699 The Jam House, Birm- MUCH WENLOCK Birmingham SESSION, REACHBACK 02 0844 338 8000 01952 728911 MELANIE C HMV Institute, ingham Worcestershire Academy, Birmingham ALICE GOLD, THE ROBERT NIA 0844 338 8000 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY Birmingham HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN APART FROM ROD Hunt- LANE BAND & TARA Hare THE RAINBOW 01743 234970 FLEETWOOD BAC The ingdon Hall, Worcester 0121 772 8174 THEATRE 01905 611427 & Hounds, Birmingham THE IRONWORKS, OSWESTRY River Rooms, Stour- MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER NIA LYNN Symphony MONUMENT VALLEY Hare RED LION FOLK CLUB 01691 679123 bridge Hall, Birmingham 0121 441 6941 01905 613336 & Hounds, Birmingham THEATRE SEVERN, SOLID SOUL The Jam THE RIVER ROOMS, ZARA MCFARLANE The THE ROADHOUSE SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 House, Birmingham HOBBIE STUART HMV, 0121 459 5660 STOURBRIDGE Drum, Birmingham Birmingham THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, 01384 397177 GIRLSCHOOL The Assem- THE 'ELVIS' VEGAS SHOW SYMPHONY HALL TELFORD 01952 382382 bly, Leamington Spa MAVERICK SABRE & MS 0121 780 3333 WITH KEVIN PAUL Nail- DYNAMITE HMV Institute, WEM TOWN HALL MAX RAPTOR & HILDAMAY cote Hall, Berkswell Birmingham 01939 232299 Kasbah, Coventry THE JIVE ACES Lichfield

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UNION Wulfrun Hall, LISTINGS Wolverhampton Music THE JAMM The Robin, Bilston For full listing information on gigs GLAMBA Artrix, Broms- including, times and dates, visit grove JOE BROWN Victoria Hall, www.whatsonlive.co.uk Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent PURPLE ZEPPELIN The RICHIE KOTZEN The JANI LANG BAND Ludlow Roadhouse, Birming- Robin, Bilston Assembly Rooms, ham L.A GUNS The Road- South Shropshire THE MASTERS OF THE house, Birmingham THE PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE - HITS FROM THE THE ALBION BAND Royal UNITED STATES OF AMER- WEST END The Roses, Spa Centre, Leaming- ICA Wulfrun Hall, Tewksbury ton Spa Wolverhampton THE SCOTTISH FIDDLE JUSTIN FURSTENFELD 02 CLOCKWORK OWLS The ORCHESTRA Symphony Academy, Birmingham Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Hall, Birmingham Trent ARUN GOSH Symphony WED 7 MAR DAVID REES-WILLIAMS Hall, Birmingham TRIO Symphony Hall TUSSK The Sugarmill, A 60S NIGHT OUT 2012 Stoke-on-Trent RISE TO REMAIN PLUS FEATURING DAVE BERRY, HEARTBREAKER - PAUL BLEED FROM WITHIN AND CHRIS FARLOWE, TONY RODGERS TRIBUTE The Zoe Rahman - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry THE SAFETY FIRE 02 CRANE AND THE NEW Ironworks, Oswestry Academy, Birmingham AMEN CORNEr Hunting- PHILIP CLOUTS QUARTET don Hall, Worcester The Rainbow, Birming- AMY WADGE The Iron- Lichfield Guildhall BOOTS ELECTRIC 02 SUN 11 MAR ham works, Oswestry SAT 17 MAR GRETCHEN PETERS The Academy, Birmingham MAD DOG MCREA Cox's Robin, Bilston SILENT FILTER FT. RE- MORE THAN LIFE PLUS Yard, Stratford-upon- FRI 16 MAR DAVE HOLLAND PRES- BECCA & THE ROSES Avon GUNS 2 ROSES The DAYLIGHT & GUESTS The Roadhouse, Birming- ENTS Recital Hall, Birm- PLUS JUPITER ATE, SCAR- Ballroom, Birmingham FLORENCE AND THE MA- ingham Conservatoire LET AND LOTTIE PHAZEY CHINE LG Arena, Birm- THE GUNS N' ROSES EX- ham LAURA MARLING Victoria EMMA SCOTT PRESENTS FINGERSNAP: DAVID 02 Academy, Birming- ingham PERIENCE Crewe Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- FOLLOW THE FALLEN MCALMONT & GUY ham Lyceum Trent PLUS ARCANE RAGE, DAVIES Artrix, Broms- THE BRYAN ADAMS EXPE- JLS LG Arena, Birming- SLIM CHANCE PERFORM WED 14 MAR EVERYBODY LOOKS FA- grove RIENCE The Assembly, ham THE MUSIC OF RONNIE MOUS AND GRACE THE BRENDAN SHINE Prince Leamington Spa ZICO CHAIN Kasbah, Cov LANE The Robin, Bil- SKIES Of Wales Centre, Can- DETROIT SOUL The Jam MARY COUGHLAN Cox's entry 02 Academy, ston Birmingham nock House, Birmingham MAX RAPTOR & Yard, Stratford-upon- NIGEL JOHN LEADING PORTICO QUARTET Birm- DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY - Avon TRIBUTE TO SIR ELTON THE BOHEMIANS - A HILDAMAY 02 Academy, NIGHT OF QUEEN 02 ingham Town Hall A MUSICAL CELEBRATION Birmingham SUMMER CAMP & FIXERS JOHN Lichfield Garrick FUNERAL SUITS, THE Dovehouse Theatre, The Rainbow, Birming- POP WILL EAT ITSELF The Academy, Birmingham DESTROYERS OF THE JLS LG Arena, Birming- HOLE IN THE HEAD GANG Solihull FAITH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, ham Slade Rooms, Wolver- The Rainbow, Birming- ULTIMATE MADNESS VS THE THREE DEGREES hampton ham TRIPTYKON, ENSLAVED & TOMMY FLEMING: THE ham ULTIMATE SPECIALS The The Jam House, Birm- ROCKET ROCK The Jam JOB FOR A COWBOY HMV VOICE OF IRELAND THE ALBION BAND The River Rooms, Stour- ingham House, Birmingham New Institute, Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, Roses, Tewksbury bridge STUART MCCALLUM Hare THE FELICE BROTHERS & NOW THAT'S 80S The CHIDDY BANG HMV, KILL HANNAH & DEAR SU- CRAIG FINN HMV Insti- River Rooms, Stour- Birmingham & Hounds, Birmingham 4 POOFS AND A PIANO Birmingham PERSTAR HMV Institute, tute, Birmingham bridge LLOYD COLE The Glee Huntingdon Hall, MARTHA TILSTON Birmingham Club, Birmingham WALTER TROUT The SPAGHETTI WESTERN OR- Kitchen Garden Cafe, GYPSY FIRE Lichfield Robin, Bilston CHESTRA Birminghan Worcester FINGERSNAP: DAVID NIGEL JOHN - LEADING Birmingham Garrick MCALMONT & GUY MISSING ANDY 02 Acad- Town Hall THE SPEECH PROJECT emy, Birmingham JOHN KEARNEY & LUCY TRIBUTE TO SIR ELTON DAVIES Cox's Yard, JOHN Theatre Severn, THE SOLID SILVER 60S FARRELL Warwick Arts Lichfield Garrick THU 8 MAR Stratford-upon-Avon THE FLOYD EXPERIENCE Shrewsbury SHOW FEATURING THE Centre, Coventry THE METAL BALL The Ludlow Assembly ELO EXPERIENCE Theatre Roadhouse, Birming- SEARCHERS, MERSEY- BOOTLEG BEATLES Victo- GABRIELLE APLIN & HUD- Severn, Shrewsbury BEATS, WAYNE FONTANA, ria Hall, Hanley, Stoke- Rooms, South Shrop- ham shire SON TAYLOR The Rain- FAIRPORT CONVENTION THE RE-ENTRANTS JOHN WALKER & THE on-Trent bow, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall DAKOTAS New Alexandra JJ WHELLER QUINTET THE SPEECH PROJECT Sat Kitchen Garden Cafe, 17 Mar, mac, Birming- THE ALBION BAND Lich- Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birm- field Garrick BLACK STONE CHERRY 02 ingham ham SHARON JONES & THE SAT 10 MAR Academy, Birmingham CLEO LAINE AND FRIENDS ANDY HAMILTON & THE BLUE NOTES DAP-KINGS HMV Institute MON 12 MAR KILLING JOKE Wulfrun Malvern Theatres Symphony THE SELECTER The As- Hall, Wolverhampton LIMEHOUSE LIZZY The Hall, Birmingham AC/DC TRIBUTE - HELLS JOHNNY 2 BAD The sembly, Leamington BELLS Cox's Yard, Strat- JOHN WILLIAMS & JOHN Place, Oakengates The- Spa MARK LANEGAN BAND & ETHERIDGE Birmingham atre, Telford Robin, Bilston ford-upon-Avon CAMERON PIERRE The CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH DETROIT SOUL The Jam CREATURE WITH THE Town Hall KAST OFF KINKS The The Place, Oakengates ATOM BRAIN HMV Insti- Robin, Bilston Drum, Birmingham House, Birmingham KIT HOLMES TRIO Theatre, Telford tute, Birmingham AMON AMARTH Wulfrun Artrix, J J WHEELER Quintet THU 15 MAR Bromsgrove THE ARISTOCRATS FEA- The Hive, Shrewsbury KASSIDY O2 Academy, Hall, Wolverhampton TURING GUTHRIE GOVAN, Birmingham SEASONS OF THE HEART - ST PATRICKS DAY PARTY EZIO Lichfield Garrick FEAT PARTY CELTICA Sat BRYAN BELLER & MARCO REACH OUT TO MOTOWN 3 DOORS DOWN 02 Acad- TAKE FAT The Robin, Bil- A TRIBUTE TO JOHN DEN- MINNEMANN The Robin, emy, Birmingham VER Huntingdon Hall, 17 Mar, The River ROY G HEMMINGS Tam- ston Rooms, Stourbridge Bilston worth Assembly Rooms THE AUSTRALIAN PINK BAD FOR LAZURAS, SLIP- Worcester POST DESCARTES, THE FLOYD SHOW Victoria SILENT FILTER FT. BLOOM VAIN, STALA & SO & AN- CAVE PAINTING The Rain- STREAM & THE SINFUL CARA HMV Institute, BLACK SHEEP FAMILY, bow, Birmingham Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- DIGITAL The Roadhouse, PLUS BONNYLOU, FARISLE KISSING LIEUTENANT, Trent AND SEARCHING SKY- Birmingham NANCI GRIFFITHS Birm- Birmingham CHIMAIRA The Slade HALLWAY DISTRICT & PY- ingham Town Hall BRENDAN SHINE Solihull CARO EMERALD Sym- LINES 02 Academy, ROTIC The Ballroom, Arts Complex Birmingham Rooms, Wolverhampton MAETLOAF The River phony Hall, Birmingham THE MILK The Sugarmill, Birmingham Rooms, Stourbridge LIANNE LA HAVAS The RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR EMMA SCOTT PRESENTS THE HOLLIES Symphony Glee Club, Birmingham FURY PLUS HURTSEASON Stoke-on-Trent GRAEME CLARK (EX WET Stratford Civic Hall, THE DUBLINERS Birming- Hall, Birmingham WET WET) HMV Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon 02 Academy, Birming- ham ham Town Hall Birmingham ZOE RAHMAN Warwick C'MON EVERYBODY Tam- FRI 9 MAR WHOLE LOTTA LED The TUE 13 MAR Arts Centre, Coventry SPRING OFFENSIVE PLUS THE SCHOLARS The Ball- worth Assembly Rooms Slade Rooms, Wolver- (HED) P.E. The Slade THE FATHER TEDS The hampton Rooms, Wolverhampton room, Birmingham CLUB SMITH PLUS EM- RACHEL HARRINGTON & ROCKSTAR The Road- Public, West Bromwich MANIFEST LIVE FT. JIMMY THE HAMSTERS Cox's KEITH JAMES - THE PIRE, BLOOM & OPEN TO HER ALL-GIRL HONKY- house, Birmingham DAVIS PLUS R.T, IT TAKES Yard, Stratford-upon- SONGS OF LEONARD FIRE The Ballroom, TONK BAND The Robin, CLARE TEAL The Roses, TWO TO TANGO AND Bilston Avon COHEN Theatre Severn, Birmingham QUARRY 02 Academy JOE SUMMERS Sym- Tewksbury SKABUCKS The Road- JOAN BAEZ Symphony JAMES BOURNE O2 Shrewsbury THE STRANGLERS 02 Hall phony Hall, Birmingham house, Birmingham Academy, Birmingham KIT DOWNES & LESLEY Academy, Birmingham GLORY DAYS - BRUCE THE CIVIL WARS HMV In- SHAPES, BLACKLISTERS & CLIVE JOHN AND THE stitute, Birmingham BARNES Birmingham SUN 18 MAR SPRINGSTEEN TRIBUTE SPIRIT BAND Huntingdon Midlands Institute THEM WOLVES The Rain- The Robin, Bilston ITCHYFEET The Jam bow, Birmingham Hall, Worcester House, Birmingham LLOYD, BLUEY ROBINSON BEVERLEY CRAVEN Lich- THE ANSWER & THE HMV, Birmingham O.K CORRAL The Sug- ANDY CUTTING The Hive, field Guildhall THE MEGAPHONIC THRIFT armill, Stoke-on-Trent Shrewsbury

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CORTLANDT RANGERS, LISTINGS THE FORMULA, ARCADE Inme - Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent Music PARADE The Ballroom, & HMV Institute, Birmingham Birmingham For full listing information on gigs CAROLE WESTWOOD including, times and dates, visit QUARTET Symphony Hall, Birmingham www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE BON JOVI EXPERI- ENCE The Roses, Tewks- ELVIS PRESLEY IN CON- Hounds, Birmingham bury CERT featuring mem- I AM BEYONCE Lichfield BJORN AGAIN Birming- bers of the original TCB Garrick ham Town Hall Band and singers with a HUFFY & MATT PARSONS DAVE SWARBRICK full orchestra, LG Taylor John’s, Warwick Newhampton Arts Cen- Arena, Birmingham SOUNDS OF GUNS & CAPI- tre. Wolverhampton THE MILK & SYLVIA The TAL SUN Hare & DAKESIS The Road- Rainbow, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham house, Birmingham GRETCHEN PETERS The THE CHAKRAS & THE Assembly, Leamington XZTHU 22 MAR VOUCH The Rainbow, Spa Birmingham RAYMOND FROGGATT SWORN TO OATH The The Slade Rooms, MIDGE URE Cox's Yard, Sugarmill, Stoke-on- Wolverhampton Stratford-upon-Avon Trent NERO HMV Institute, THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Birmingham Theatre Severn, SAT 24 MAR MCFLY Victoria Hall, Shrewsbury Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ALEX WINSTON Hare & THE DOLLY PARTON Hounds, Birmingham THE STRANGE DOORS The STORY The Robin, Bil- THE PARIS 1940S The Roadhouse, Birming- ANDY HAMILTON SES- RHYTHM & BLUES Hunt- Of Wales Centre, ston Jam House, Birming- ham SIONS The Drum, Birm- ingdon Hall, Worcester Cannock ALY BAIN & PHIL CUN- ham DISCHARGE WITH ENG- ingham MCFLY 02 Academy, NINGHAM Lichfield INSPIRAL CARPETS The LISH DOGS, POLICE BAS- BJORN AGAIN Regent THU 29 MAR Birmingham Guildhall Assembly, Leamington TARD, SELFLESS Theatre, Hanley, Stoke- COLD STONE PLUS YASHIN PLUS JODY HAS A Spa CRYO-GENICS AND THE on-Trent GREENWOOD PARK, NEW HITLIST, WITH ONE LAST MARTIN TURNER'S WISH- FIEND The Ballroom, LOUISE JORDAN KItchen THE BOOTLEG SIXTIES CHAPTER AND THE NEW BREATH AND TANTRUM BONE ASH The Robin, Birmingham Garden Cafe, Birming- The Place, Oakengates REVOLUTION 02 Acad- TOO BLIND 02 Academy Bilston I FEEL GOOD - THE MAGIC ham Theatre, Telford emy, Birmingham THE MACCABEES Civic THE FOUR TOPS & THE OF SOUL & MOTOWN NOAH AND THE WHALE BOWLING FOR SOUP 02 Hall, Wolverhampton TEMPTATIONS National Crescent Theatre, Birm- MON 26 MAR Civic Hall, Wolverhamp- Academy, Birmingham LEVI FRENCH TRIO Indoor Arena, Birming- ingham ton THE URBAN FOLK QUAR- Kitchen Garden Cafe, ham URBAN INTRO The Jam JACK BRUCE BIG BLUES TET Lichfield Guildhall Birmingham CRAOBH RUA Hunting- House, Birmingham INME The Sugarmill, BAND 02 Academy, O'HOOLEY AND TIDOW BE- don Hall, Worcester MORGAN PERKINS The Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham LINDA Ludlow Assembly MON 19 MAR LIZ GREEN The Glee Basement Restaurant, GEHTIKA The Robin, Bil- THE PRODUCERS The Rooms, South Shrop- Club, Birmingham Leamington Spa ston Robin, Bilston shire SPIRO WITH SUPPORT THE SOUL SURVIVORS KORN 02 Academy, THE CLAPTON EXPERI- JACQUI MCSHEE'S PEN- STIFF LITTLE FINGERS FROM CLIFF STAPLETON The River Rooms, Birmingham ENCE The Roadhouse, TANGLE Huntingdon The Robin, Bilston mac, Birmingham Stourbridge DAVID SYLVIAN Sym- Birmingham Hall, Worcester THE STRANGLERS The SOUNDS OF SIMON - OLD JAGUAR SKILLS HMV In- phony Hall, Birming- DEL CAMINO The Jam MARSEILLE & HANG FIRE Assembly, Leamington FRIENDS DUO TOUR The stitute, Birmingham ham House, Birmingham The Roadhouse, Birm- Spa Ironworks, Oswestry SETH LAKEMAN The As- MUSIC FOR LIFE Crewe ingham THOMAS ADAMS SCHOOL sembly, Leamington TUE 27 MAR Lyceum GYPSY FIRE The Roses, SPRING CONCERT Wem FRI 23 MAR Spa THE SEARCHERS Lichfield Tewksbury Town Hall, North Shrop- THE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS Garrick shire Artrix, Bromsgrove STEEL PANTHER The THE OSMONDS Sym- SAT 31 MAR THE SAFETY FIRE & KAST OFF KINKS Hunt- THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Robin, Bilston phony Hall, Birming- JAMES CLEAVER QUINTET ingdon Hall, Worcester Royal Spa Centre, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS ham O2 Academy, Birming- SILENT FILTER FT. MISS Leamington Spa The Assembly, Leam- IMPERIAL LEISURE, MIKE HELLS BELLS AC/DC TRIB- ham HANNAH O PLUS ASK NAZARETH "BIG DOGZ" ington Spa ONLY (EX-KING BLUES) & UTE The Roadhouse, ALFIE, FOUADSYMPHON- TOUR PLUS THE DEBORAH WILEY HMV Institute, SICK CITY CLUB HMV, Birmingham TUE 20 MAR ICS AND OMP 02 Acad- BONHAM BAND The Birmingham Birmingham THE SUBTERRANEANS emy, Birmingham Robin, Bilston THE OSMONDS Theatre The Jam House, Birm- PIAF - THE SONGS The MY GENERATION The Severn, Shrewsbury FRI 30 MAR ingham TORD GUSTAVSEN EN- Swan Theatre, Worces- Swan Theatre, Worces- THE BOOTLEG SIXTIES COOPE, BOYES & SIMP- SEMBLE The Edge Arts ter ter Crewe Lyceum SON Lichfield Guildhall Centre, Much Wenlock, THE REAL THING The BLACK VEIL BRIDES Civic WE’LL MEET AGAIN Lich- PHIL SAYER The Base- JOE BONAMASSA Na- South Shropshire Robin, Bilston Hall, Wolverhampton field Garrick ment Restaurant, Leam- tional Indoor Arena, ENTER SHIKARI Civic TALON - THE BEST OF THE CHARLIE SIMPSON 02 BULLETS & OCTANE The ington Spa Birmingham Hall, Wolverhampton EAGLES Royal Spa Cen- Academy, Birmingham Ballroom, Birmingham ABBA - THE SHOW Bed- UFO Wulfrun Hall, THOMAS ADAMS SCHOOL tre, Leamington Spa MATT LONSDALE 02 BROOKE WILLIAMS The worth Civic Hall Wolverhampton SPRING CONCERT Wem THE SEARCHERS Palace Academy, Birmingham Roses, Tewksbury SHOWADDYWADDY Tam- MY GREAT AFFLICTION Town Hall, North Shrop- Theatre, Redditch ALL THE YOUNGS The SHARKS, CROWNS & THE worth Assembly Rooms 02 Academy, Birming- shire THE BOOTLEG BEATLES Sugarmill, Stoke-on- CATHARSIS The Rain- KATHLEEN TURNER OVER- ham THE LIBERTINES 02 Malvern Theatres Trent bow, Birmingham DRIVE Cox's Yard, Strat- KING PLEASURE & THE Academy, Birmingham URBAN INTRO The Jam ford-upon-Avon BISCUIT BOYS Prince Of KULVINDER GHIR LIVE! House, Birmingham SUN 25 MAR WED 28 MAR THE SUBTERRANEANS Wales Centre, Cannock Birmingham Town Hall SYLEENA JOHNSON Hare The Jam House, Birm- BON GIOVI The Robin, THE MORNING AFTER The & Hounds, Birmingham ingham Bilston Roadhouse, B’ham TOUCHE AMORE HMV In- PAUL JONES & DAVE WILEY Kasbah, Coven- DIRTY LITTLE LIES The JOHNNY 2 BAD The RACHEL HARRINGTON stitute, Birmingham KELLY Lichfield Guildhall try Slade Rooms, Wolver- Place, Oakengates The- The Ironworks, Os- LIVEWIRE - TRIBUTE TO THE CHARLESTON INME HMV Institute, hampton atre, Telford westry AC/DC The Slade CHASERS The Roses, Birmingham ALKINOOS IOANNIDIS MENTALLICA - A TRIBUTE Rooms, Wolverhampton Tewksbury WALE VICTOR FOLARIN HMV Institute, Birming- TO ROCK The Slade WED 21 MAR ROOM 94 HMV Institute, ALL THE YOUNG 02 Acad- HMV Institute, Birming- ham Rooms, Wolverhampton Birmingham emy, Birmingham ham DEFINITELY MIGHT BE & JIM MORAY The Hive, LABOUR OF LOVE - UB40 PAUL MENEL BAND & ATLUM SCHEMA Taylor ADORED The River Shrewsbury LITTLE JOHNNY ENGLAND TRIBUTE The River MANNING (FULL ELEC- John’s, Coventry Rooms, Stourbridge THE BUSBY BABES CHAR- Lichfield Guildhall Rooms, Stourbridge TRIC) The Robin, Bilston BILL "WATERMELON SLIM" THE SKYNYRD EXPERI- ITY CONCERT The Public, AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR STEVE KING BIG BAND Ar- HOMANS The Robin, Bil- ENCE The Marr's Bar, West Bromwich National Indoor Arena, Theatre Severn, trix, Bromsgrove ston Stourbridge ELKIE BROOKS Tamworth Birmingham Shrewsbury GRAVEYARD The Slade THE OSMONDS Victoria THE SELECTER The Assembly Rooms IAN SIEGAL & HIS BAND MARTIN TURNER'S WISH- Rooms, Wolverhampton Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- Robin, Bilston 4 POOFS AND A PIANO The Robin, Bilston BONE ASH Cox's Yard, GILBERT O'SULLIVAN Trent KIT DOWNES QUINTET Lichfield Garrick D-DAY DARLINGS: THE Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham Town Hall THE MINUTES 02 Acad- Symphony Hall, B’ham SOUMIK DATTA mac, SONGS THAT WON THE WHOLE LOTTA LED The THE X FACTOR LIVE TOUR emy, Birmingham SIXTIES NIGHT OUT 2012 Birmingham WAR Palace Theatre, Ballroom, Birmingham LG Arena, Birmingham OFWGKTA 02 Academy, FEATURING DAVE BERRY, SHERRY COUNSELLORS Redditch ZERO AMIGO PLUS THE THE ABBEY EXPERIENCE Birmingham CHIP HAWKES, AND The Sugarmill, Stoke- SOUND OF GUNS Hare & LIEUTENANTS, THE VAN The Roadhouse, B’ham THE BLUES BAND CHRIS FARLOWE Prince on-Trent

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PREVIEWS St Petersburg Philharmonic Classical Music Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 27 March Founded in 1882, the St Petersburg Phil- harmonic is Russia’s oldest symphonic ensemble and is regarded by many to be one of the best orchestras in the world. Arriving in Birmingham as part of a six-date UK tour, the Philharmonic present an all- Russian programme of works from three of the nation’s most iconic composers. Under the direction of composer Yuri Temirkanov, and accompanied by accomplished Mace- donian pianist Simon Trpceski - one of the most remarkable musicians to have emerged in recent years - the orchestra performs Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2 and Shostakovich’s Symphony No 5.

WIN TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk Welsh National Opera to enter Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 6 - Sat 10 March The ever-popular Welsh National Opera return to their Midlands home of the Birmingham Hip- podrome to present another season of memorable works. On this occasion they're performing three much-loved pieces, beginning with Verdi's La traviata, the story of a nineteenth century Parisian courtesan who dreams of a better life, and the man who may finally make her dreams come true... WNO's second show is the Berlioz classic Beat- rice & Benedict, the composer's final opera, presenting a highly entertaining adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. The third offering is Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro, blending cases of mistaken identity with surprise revelations and unlikely interventions to magi- cal effect.

Doric Quartet City Of Birmingham Choir: Artrix, Bromsgrove, Equinox Cultures In Harmony Fri 30 March Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 17 March Acclaimed as ‘one The cultural diversity of the West Midlands is here celebrated in a of the finest young special concert that brings no fewer than three hundred-and-fifty per- string quartets’ by formers to the Symphony Hall stage. The City of Birmingham Choir no less an authority joins forces with Black Voices, the Town Hall Gospel Choir, World than Gramophone Music Youth Choir, Echo Doliny Polish Choir and Bournville Young Magazine, the Singers to present Equinox - a musical extravaganza with an interna- award-winning and tional feel. The concert is one of the many Cultural Olympiad projects well-travelled Doric taking place in the West Midlands during the forthcoming months. Quartet consists of Equinox also includes contributions from three local percussion Alex Redington, groups, and features the world premiere of a specially commissioned Jonathan Stone piece by composer Christopher Long which includes text in Hindi, and Simon Tandree Mandarin, Chinese, Arabic, Swahili, Polish and Latin. on violins and John BCMG Chamber Players Myersclough on BCMG, Birmingham, Fri 2 March cello. Having previ- ously collaborated This special BCMG concert comprises with an array of chamber music gems from the past thirty well-respected years, and is just one of the attractions on international artists, offer during a weekend of celebratory con- the quartet this certs from the BBC-inspired Music Nation, month return to the an initiative which forms part of the count- Midlands to present down celebrations for London 2012. The Haydn’s Quartet in eleven-work programme includes Oliver D major, op 20 - 4 Knussen’s Upon One Note, an orchestra- Chausson’s Quartet tion that distorts the rhythms and pitches of op 35 and Purcell’s five-part fantasia, and a perform- Beethoven’s Quar- ance of Aldo Clementi’s Berceuse, present- tet in A major op 18 ed as a tribute to the Italian composer, who - 5. died in 2011.

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works by Haydn & Jou- Stravinksky’s Sympho- THE ENESCO QUARTET JUNIOR CONSERVATOIRE LISTINGS bert, Wed 7 Mar, CBSO ny in C, Sun 11 Mar, Programme to feature END OF TERM CONCERT Classical Centre, Birmingham Adrian Boult Hall, Birm- works by Haydn, John Sat 24 Mar, Adrian THE MARRIAGE OF ingham Conservatoire Joubert & Dvorak, Sat Boult Hall, Birmingham For full listing information on classical FIGARO Welsh National ICARUS VOCAL ENSEMBLE 17 Mar, Adrian Boult Conservatoire concerts, including times and dates, Opera perform a new Featuring Naomi Sulli- Hall, Birmingham Con- BIRMINGHAM BACH visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk production of Mozart's van & Daniel Hayward, servatoire CHOIR Featuring Paul best-loved opera. Cast Mon 12 Mar, Recital BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONIC Spicer (conductor), PAULA SIDES (SOPRANO) ham includes David Soar, Hall, Birmingham Con- WINDS Sat 17 Mar, James Longford & & JONATHAN GALE SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLE Elizabeth Watts, Rebec- servatoire CBSO Centre, Birming- Lindy Tennant-Brown (PIANO) Free lunchtime Sun 4 Mar, The Barber ca Evans & Darlo STILE ANTICO: TREAS- ham (piano), Kirsty Stokes concert, Thurs 1 Mar, Institute, Birmingham Solari. Sung in Italian URES OF THE RENAIS- HALESOWEN ORCHESTRA (soprano) & Alistair Warwick Arts Centre, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK with English surtitles, SANCE Tue 13 Mar, St Featuring Adelaide Yue Ollerenshaw (baritone). Coventry SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Thurs 8 - Sat 10 Mar, Mary's Church, Warwick (piano) & Martin Leigh Programme to include BBC PHILHARMONIC: Verdi's Requiem featur- Birmingham Hippo- MOZART'S CLARINET CON- (conductor). Pro- works by Durufle, EAST MEETS WEST Pro- ing Tinuke Olafimihan, drome CERTO WITH EMMA JOHN- gramme to include Chabrier, Faure & gramme to include Gaynor Keeble, Jesus CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SON Featuring the works by Mozart, Brahms, Sat 24 Mar, works by Copland, Leon, Piotr Lempa & SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Orchestra Of The Swan. Beethoven & Brahms, CBSO Centre, Birming- Chopin & Bernstein, Fri Lucy Griffiths, Sun 4 Featuring Andris Nel- Programme to include Sat 17 Mar, Cornbow ham 2 Mar, Victoria Hall, Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- sons (conductor) and works by Mozart & Hall, Halesowen CHANDOS SYMPHONY Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent tre, Coventry Rudolf Buchbinder Tchaikovsky, Tues 13 CALEFAX REED QUINTET ORCHESTRA Programme UNIVERSITY CHAMBER NORTHERN CHAMBER (piano). Programme to Mar, Stratford Civic Hall Featuring Oliver includes works by ORCHESTRA Featuring ORCHESTRA WITH include works by Ravel, MOZART'S CLARINET CON- Boekhoorn (oboe), Ivor Arnold, Barber, Elgar & Sophie Williamson & RAPHAEL WALLFISCH Beethoven & Sibelius, CERTO WITH EMMA JOHN- Berix (clarinet), Raaf Walton, Sun 25 Mar, Jack Lovell (conduc- Sun 4 Mar, St Mary's Thurs 8 Mar, Warwick SON Featuring the Hekkema (saxophone), Malvern Theatres tors). Programme to Church, Shrewsbury Arts Centre, Coventry Orchestra Of The Swan. Jelte Althius (bass clar- THE CORELLI ENSEMBLE include works by Elgar, SHREWSBURY SCHOOL JESSICA KERR (CELLO) & Programme to include inet) and Alban Wesly Sun 25 Mar. Hunting- Beethoven & Haydn, Fri CONCERT Featuring FERGUS KERR (HORN) works by Mozart & (bassoon), Sun 18 Mar, don Hall, Worcester 2 Mar, The Barber Insti- John Moore (conduc- Thurs 8 Mar, Warwick Tchaikovsky, Wed 14 Bridge House Theatre, SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA tute, Birmingham tor). Programme to Arts Centre, Coventry Mar, Birmingham Town Warwick Sun 25 Mar, Stratford VIDA GUITAR QUARTET Fri include works by EX CATHEDRA - BACH: A Hall BIRMINGHAM GAY SYM- Civic Hall 2 Mar, Recital Hall, Brahms, Dvorak & BEAUTIFUL MIND Thurs 8 A LONDON SYMPHONY PHONY ORCHESTRA Sun ST PETERSBURG PHIL- Birmingham Conserva- Parry, Sun 4 Mar, Birm- Mar, Birmingham Town WITH THE HALLE Featur- 18 Mar, Recital Hall, HARMONIC ORCHESTRA toire ingham Town Hall Hall ing Sir Mark Elder & Birmingham Conserva- Featuring Yuri BCMG CHAMBER PLAYERS MIDLAND SINFONIA EUROPEAN UNION CHAM- Andrew Gourley (con- toire Temirkanov - conductor Fri 2 Mar, CBSO Cen- YOUTH SHOWCASE Sun 4 BER ORCHESTRA WITH ductors) & Imogen LUNCHTIME ORGAN CON- & Simon Trpceski - tre, Birmingham Mar, St Laurence JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER Cooper (piano). Pro- CERT WITH THOMAS piano. Programme to PAUL LEWIS: GERMAN Church, Alvechurch, AND CATRIN FINCH Fri 9 gramme includes works TROTTER Presenter include works by DANCES Programme to Worcs Mar, Malvern Theatres by Strauss, Mozart & Jeremy Nicholas fea- Prokofiev, Rachmaninov include works by Schu- THOMAS TROTTER: FOUR CHAMBER CHOIR Featur- Vaughan Williams, Wed tures as narrator, Mon & Shostakovich, Tue 27 bert, Fri 2 Mar, Malvern WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL ing arrangements of 14 Mar, Symphony Hall, 19 Mar, Birmingham Mar, Symphony Hall, Theatres Programme includes songs by Rihanna, Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham JACK MCNEILL CLARINET works by Wagner, Toploader and Queen!, BARBER EVENING CON- THE MERRY WIDOW LEIF OVE ANDSNES PLAYS RECITAL Fri 2 Mar, Birm- Saint-Saens, Guilmant, Fri 9 Mar, St George's CERT WITH DAVID PYATT Opera Della present a CHOPIN & DEBUSSY Pro- ingham Cathedral Grieg & Mendelssohn, Church, Edgbaston Featuring Lucy Gould new production of gramme includes works WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHO- Mon 5 Mar, Birmingham LEIPZIG GEWANDHAUS (violin) & Leon McCaw- Franz Lehar’s classic by Chopin & Debussy, NY ORCHESTRA Pro- Town Hall ORCHESTRA Programme ley (piano). Programme operetta, Mon 19 Mar, Wed 28 Mar, Symphony gramme to include THE NAVIGATOR WITH includes JS Bach’s St to include works by Royal Spa Centre, Hall, Birmingham works by Britten, Dvo- ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT Matthew’s Passion, Fri Beethoven, Liszt, Leamington Spa THE MERRY WIDOW rak, Copland and Bar- FROM STEVE TOVEY Tues 9 Mar, Symphony Hall, Debussy, Schumann & OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY Opera Della Luna pres- ber, Sat 3 Mar, Guy Nel- 6 Mar, Light House Birmingham Brahms, Wed 14 Mar, MUSIC SERVICE SPRING ent a new production of son Hall, Warwick Media Centre, Wolver- BARBER LUNCHTIME CON- The Barber Institute, CONCERT Music for all Franz Lehar’s classic School hampton CERT Featuring Andrew Birmingham that features a perform- operetta, Wed 28 Mar, ACADEMY OF ANCIENT LA TRAVIATA Welsh Kirkham (violin) & David VOLANTE ENSEMBLE Free ance of Oxonia, written Lichfield Garrick MUSIC Sat 3 Mar, Lud- National Opera present Quigley (piano), Fri 9 lunchtime concert, and conducted by John NELSONS CONDUCTS low Assembly Rooms Verdi's tragic opera. Mar, The Barber Insti- Thurs 15 Mar, Warwick Traill, Mon 19 Mar, SIBELIUS Featuring the NELSONS CONDUCTS Joyce El-Khoury & Car- tute, Birmingham Arts Centre, Coventry Symphony Hall, Birm- City of Birmingham TRISTAN & ISOLDE Fea- los Osuna star, Tue 6 - ELIJAH WITH BIRMING- RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR ingham Symphony Orchestra, turing Andris Nelsons Fri 9 Mar, Birmingham HAM CHORAL UNION Sat Thurs 15 Mar, Stratford BARBER LUNCHTIME CON- Andris Nelsons (con- (conductor), the City Of Hippodrome 10 Mar, Adrian Boult Civic Hall CERT Featuring Becky ductor) & Anna Vinnit- Birmingham Symphony CBSO: ANDRIS NELSONS Hall, Birmingham Con- HMS PINAFORE A special Copping (piano) & skaya (piano). Pro- Orchestra & Lioba & JONAS KAUFMANN Pro- servatoire concert performance of Clare Potter (saxo- gramme to include Braun as Isolde, Sat 3 gramme to include NIGEL MORLEY PIANO Gilbert & Sullivan's nau- phone), Fri 23 Mar, The works by Wagner, Mar, Symphony Hall, works by Britten, RECITAL Programme tical comedy. Riccardo Barber Institute, Birm- Beethoven & Sibelius, Birmingham Mahler, Strauss & features works by Simonetti features as ingham Fri 30 Mar, Symphony SINFONIA OF BIRMING- Debussy, Wed 7 Mar, Bach, Schubert & Captain Corcoran, Fri ROSE WIND TRIO Fri 23 Hall, Birmingham HAM Featuring Michael Symphony Hall, Birm- Schumann, Sat 10 Mar, 16 Mar, Symphony Hall, Mar, Berrington Church, DORIC QUARTET Pro- Seal (conductor) & Zoe ingham St. Laurence Church, Birmingham Nr Shrewsbury gramme to include Beyers (violin). Pro- CBSO CENTRE STAGE Alvechurch, Worcs GREG ABRAHAMS ORGAN ANDREW WYATT ORGAN works by Haydn, Britten gramme to include Featuring Zoe Beyers ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE RECITAL Fri 16 Mar, RECITAL Fri 23 Mar, & Beethoven, Fri 30 works by Stravinsky, (violin), David Powell OF ENLIGHTENMENT Fea- Birmingham Cathedral Birmingham Cathedral Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove Prokofiev, Sibelius & (cello) & Robert turing Laurence Cum- JACK ANSCOMB (PIANO) THALLEIN ENSEMBLE MARCUS HUXLEY Fri 30 Nielsen, Sun 4 Mar, Markham (piano). Pro- mings (director) & LAURA HUDSON Programme includes Mar, Birmingham CBSO Centre, Birming- gramme to include Matthew Truscott (vio- (FLUTE) Final year works by Heiner Cathedral lin) & Lisa Beznosiuk recitalists concert, Fri Goebbels, Michael ARMONICO CONSORT & (flute). Programme 16 Mar, The Barber Wolters & Ryan Latimer, ORCHESTRA Featuring Classical Box Office includes J S Bach's Institute, Birmingham Fri 23 Mar, Adrian Boult Nicola Benedetti (violin) Orchestra Suite No 3 in CANOLDIR MALE CHOIR Hall, Birmingham and Elin Manahan ADRIAN BOULT HALL, B’HAM LICHFIELD GARRICK D, Violin Concerto in E, Featuring Grace Farrell MIDLAND CHAMBER Thomas (soprano) Sat 0121 331 5901 01543 412121 Brandenburg Concerto (soprano) & Jody Smith PLAYERS Programme 31 Mar, Malvern The- ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE MALVERN THEATRE No 5 & Orchestral Suite (violin), Fri 16 Mar, Adri- includes works by atres 01527 577330 0845 287 2146 No 4 in D, Sat 10 Mar, an Boult Hall, Birming- Mozart & Arensky, Fri THE FORDANTE ENSEM- Birmingham Town Hall ham BIRMINGHAM STRATFORD CIVIC HALL 23 Mar, Birmingham & BLE Sat 31 Mar, Wem ANGELA HEWITT: BACH AT BARBIROLLI QUARTET CONSERVATOIRE 01789 207100 Midland Institute Town Hall, North Shrop- THE PIANO Programme Programme includes BROMSGROVE SCHOOL shire 0121 331 5901/2 SYMPHONY HALL, includes JS Bach's work by Haydn, Bartok CHORAL SOCIETY & CBSO STRING QUARTET BARBER INSTITUTE, BIRMINGHAM French Suite No1 in D & Verdi, Fri 16 Mar, The REGENCY SINFONIA Pro- Sat 31 Mar, Festival BIRMINGHAM 0121 780 3333 minor, Toccata in D Royal Pump Rooms, gramme includes works Drayton Centre, Market 0121 414 7333 THEATRE SEVERN major BWV 912, French Leamington Spa by Handel, Vivaldi & Drayton, Shropshire BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL SHREWSBURY Suite No 2 in C minor, BARNT GREEN CHORAL - Bach, Sat 24 Mar, Birm- BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL 0121 780 3333 01743 281 281 Fifteen Two-Part Inven- 60TH ANNIVERSARY CON- ingham Town Hall CHORAL SOCIETY Pro- tions and English Suite CERT Sat 17 Mar, Artrix, CBSO CENTRE, VICTORIA HALL WORCESTER SYMPHONY gramme includes works No 2 in A minor, Sun 11 Bromsgrove ORCHESTRA BIRMINGHAM STOKE-ON-TRENT Programme by Ellis Pehkonen, Mar, Birmingham Town CITY OF BIRMINGHAM to include works by Ralph Vaughan 0121 780 3333 0844 871 7649 Hall CHOIR: EQUINOX CUL- Strauss, Bruch & Rach- Williams & Herbert CREWE LYCEUM WARWICK ARTS CENTRE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY TURES IN HARMONY Sat maninoff, Sat 24 Mar, St Howells, Sat 31 Mar, 01270 537333 02476 524524 SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 17 Mar, Symphony Hall, George’s Church, Adrian Boult Hall, Birm- Programme to include Birmingham Worcester ingham

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Kulvinder Ghir Comedy Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Sat 17 March; Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 20 March Box Office A show offering 'Bollywood, Bhangra, side- ALEXANDRA THEATRE, splitting comedy sketches and a memorable BIRMINGHAM evening for all the 0844 871 3011 family' is being prom- ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE ised by Goodness 01527 577330 BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL Gracious Me star 02476 376707 Kulvinder Ghir when BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL he showcases brand 0121 780 3333 new material in his COX’S YARD first ever one-man 01789 404600 comedy show. THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM 0121 333 2444 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL Jimeoin 01384 815 577 GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 8 0871 4720400 March; Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Wed 21 HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM, March; Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 22 0844 844 0044 March HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER, Fancy a straightforward comedy night with a 01905 611427 straight-talking - well, actually, a bit of a ram- THE JAM HOUSE, bling - comedian? If so, then the sublime BIRMINGHAM Jimeoin is the man for you. A gimmick-free 0121 200 3030 KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, one-man comedy machine, Jimeoin's proved BIRMINGHAM he's got what it takes on all manner of top TV 0121 443 4725 shows, including LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM Michael McIntyre’s 0844 338 8000 Comedy Roadshow, LUDLOW ASSEMBLY Jimmy Carr ROOMS Jason Manford’s 01584 878141 Comedy Rocks, Just Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 9 March; The Place, Oakengates, Telford, Sat 10 March, Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 11 March; MAC, BIRMINGHAM For Laughs and Best Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 3 May; Dudley Concert Hall, Fri 18 0121 446 3232 Of Edinburgh May; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 24 August; Warwick Arts PALACE THEATRE, Centre, Coventry, Tues 16 October & Fri 30 November REDDITCH Comedy Festival. 01527 65203 Check him out. While it's generally fair to say that there tends to be no middle ground THE PUBLIC, WEST when it comes to comedians - people either love ’em or hate ’em - BROMWICH this would appear to be particularly true in the case of Jimmy Carr. 0121 533 7161 REGENT THEATRE, STOKE- Steve Hughes That said, judging by his regular presence on all manner of TV come- The Glee Club, Birmingham, Wed 28 March ON-TRENT dy programmes, it would seem there's a considerably greater number 0844 871 7649 Boasting a reputation for hard-edged social of people in the 'for' camp than there are in the 'against' one. Carr is RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY commentary, not to mention a big beard, high-profile enough nowadays to mean that most people will have 0844 873 6565 Aussie funnyman and ex-heavy metal drum- made up their minds about him well in advance of this particular gig, THE ROSE THEATRE, KIDDERMINSTER mer Steve Hughes stops off in the Midlands so if you've got yourself a ticket for the show, it's reasonable to 01562 743745 as part of his debut comedy tour. Steve's built assume you know what you're in for and are going to have one heck ROYAL SPA CENTRE, up a loyal UK following thanks to storming of a good time! LEAMINGTON SPA sets on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy 01926 334418 Roadshow (BBC1), Stand Up For The Week STAFFORD GATEHOUSE THEATRE (Channel 4) and One Night Stand (Dave), and Stewart Lee 01785 254653 promises to offer a thought-provoking and Symphony Hall, Birmingham, SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX decidedly amusing night out. Fri 30 March; Theatre Severn, 0121 704 6962 Shrewsbury, Thurs 26 April; THE SLADE ROOMS, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, WOLVERHAMPTON Thurs 24 May; Malvern Theatre, 0870 320 7000 Sat 26 May SYMPHONY HALL, BIRMINGHAM When you've been voted the forty- 0121 780 3333 first Best Ever Stand-up TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY Comedian, you know you've ROOMS 01827 709618 arrived - well, kind of! Stewart Lee THEATRE SEVERN, shot to fame courtesy of his part- SHREWSBURY nership with Richard Herring, and 01743 281281 has continued to press all the right VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY, STOKE-ON-TRENT buttons as a solo entity too, scor- 0844 871 7649 ing a hit with Jerry Springer The WARWICK ARTS CENTRE Opera. His style of comedy won't 02476 524524 make for the most comfortable WEST BROMWICH TOWN ride, but he's thought-provoking, HALL 0121 596 4429 funny and memorable, so suffering WULFRUN HALL, the odd moment that makes you WOLVERHAMPTON awkward is a small price to pay... 0870 320 7000

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Mar, The Glee Club, NIGHT FEATURING MARK INS, JARRED CHRISTMAS Highlight, Birmingham Birmingham ROUGH, HARRIET DYER, & NOEL JAMES Fri 16 & DAN NIGHTINGALE, GAVIN Comedy LISTINGS PHIL COOL Thurs 8 Mar, RACHEL SAMBROOKS, Sat 17 Mar, The Glee WEBSTER & ROB COLLINS The Swan Theatre, AARON TWITCHEN & Club, Birmingham Thurs 22 & Sat 24 Mar, For full listing information on comedy Worcester CRAIG DEELEY Mon 12 KEN DODD Sat 17 Mar, The Glee Club, NATHAN CATON Thurs 8 Mar, The Crescent Dudley Concert Hall Birmingham gigs including times and dates visit Mar, The Slade Rooms, Theatre, Birmingham KULVINDER GHIR Sat 17 LIAM MULLONE Sat 24 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Wolverhampton BARRY CRYER - Mar, Wulfrun Hall, Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove THE INVISIBLE DOT COM- BUTTERFLY BRAIN Tue 13 Wolverhampton STU WHO?, ADDY VAN SEAN WALSH & JOSH Wolverhampton EDY TOUR Thurs 8 Mar, Mar, Palace Theatre, COMEDY AT THE MET Sat DER BORGH, PAUL TONK- WIDDICOMBE Thurs 1 SIMON CLAYTON, MARK Warwick Arts Centre, Redditch 17 Mar, Stafford INSON & PETE JOHANS- Mar, Wulfrun Hall, NELSON, BARRY DODDS & Coventry DOUG STANHOPE Tue 13 Gatehouse SON Sat 24 Mar, Wolverhampton ADAM CROW Fri 2 - Sat 3 PIERRE HOLLINS, STEVE Mar, Wulfrun Hall, JIM DAVIDSON Sun 18 Comedy Live @ IAN COGNITO, JUNIOR Mar, Comedy Live @ HARRIS & PHIL NICHOL Wolverhampton Mar, The Grand Highlight, Birmingham SIMPSON & MATT REED Highlight, Birmingham Thurs 8 Mar, The Glee BOOTHBY GRAFFOE & Theatre, LEE NELSON'S WELL NEW Thurs 1 - Sat 3 Mar, BILLY CONNOLLY - THE Club, Birmingham NICK PYNN Tues 13 Mar, Wolverhampton TOUR Sat 24 Mar, The Glee Club, MAN LIVE Fri 2 - Sat 3 JIMMY CARR Fri 9 Mar, mac, Birmingham CHRIS ADDISON Sun 18 Theatre Severn, Birmingham Mar, Civic Hall, Royal Spa Centre, KEN DODD Wed 14 Mar, Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury DAN ANTOPOLSKI Fri 2 Wolverhampton Leamington Spa Bedworth Civic Hall Shrewsbury MITCH BENN & THE DIS- Mar, Ludlow Assembly MITCH BENN AND THE JON RICHARDON Fri 9 RICH HALL Wed 14 Mar, KULVINDER GHIR Tue 20 TRACTIONS Sat 24 Mar, Rooms, South DISTRACTIONS Sat 3 Mar, Stafford The Glee Club, Mar, Birmingham Town mac, Birmingham Shropshire Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Gatehouse Birmingham Hall PETE FIRMAN - JIGGERY KILL FOR A SEAT COMEDY Leamington Spa RAYMOND MEARNS, RON LAUGHING COWS COME- JIMEOIN Wed 21 Mar, POKERY Wed 28 Mar, CLUB FEATURING ELIS THE BOY WITH TAPE ON VAUDRY, MARK MAIER & DY FEATURING MAUREEN Wulfrun Hall, The Slade Rooms, JAMES, DANE MITCHELL HIS FACE Sun 4 Mar, ANDY ASKINS Fri 9 & Sat YOUNGER, ROSIE WILBY, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton & SILKY Fri 2 Mar, mac, The Glee Club, 10 Mar, Comedy Live @ IVY DEXTROSE & ISMA DOUG STANHOPE Wed 21 STEVE HUGHES Wed 28 Birmingham Birmingham Highlight, Birmingham ALMAS Wed 14 Mar, Mar, Victoria Hall, Mar, The Glee Club, JOSH WIDDICOMBE Fri 2 RICHARD HERRING Sun 4 PIERRE HOLLINS, STEVE Kitchen Garden Cafe, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent Birmingham Mar, The Glee Club, Mar, Warwick Arts HARRIS, PHIL NICHOL & Birmingham ROBIN INCE Wed 21 Mar, JACK DEE Thurs 29 Mar, Birmingham Centre, Coventry DAN THOMAS Fri 9 & Sat MARK STEEL Thurs 15 mac, Birmingham Stafford Gatehouse SISTERS WID GAGS All- JON RICHARDSON Tue 6 10 Mar, The Glee Club, Mar, Ludlow Assembly ELIS JAMES Thurs 22 DAVE JOHNS, LLOYD female comedy special Mar, Wulfrun Hall, Birmingham Rooms, South Mar, The Slade Rooms, LANGFORD, GAR MURRAN featuring Donna Wolverhampton JIMMY CARR Sat 10 Mar, Shropshire Wolverhampton & DOC BROWN Thurs 29 Spence, Glenda BARNSTORMERS COMEDY The Place, Oakengates CAREY MARX, ANDY ASK- DAVE SPIKEY - WORDS - Sat 31 Mar, The Glee Jaxson, Susan Murray Acts tbc, Tues 6 Mar, Theatre, Telford INS & JARRED CHRIST- DON'T COME EASY Thurs Club, Birmingham & Kayleigh Lewis, Fri 2 Royal Spa Centre, PETE FIRMAN Sat 10 MAS Thurs 15 Mar, The 22 Mar, Royal Spa STEWART LEE Fri 30 Mar, Mar, The Drum, Leamington Spa Mar, Stafford Glee Club, Birmingham Centre, Leamington Symphony Hall, Birmingham SARAH MILLICAN: Gatehouse Theatre CHRIS ADDISON Thurs 15 Spa Birmingham MIKE GUNN & SEAN THOROUGHLY MODERN FASCINATING AIDA Sat 10 Mar, New Alexandra JIMEOIN Thurs 22 Mar, MARTIN MOR, PHIL COLLINS Fri 2 Mar, The MILLICAN Wed 7 Mar, Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham Town Hall WALKER, GEOFF BOYZ & Public, West Bromwich Warwick Arts Centre, Leamington Spa PHIL ELLIS, GARY SIMON MUNNERY Fri 23 THE NOISE NEXT DOOR Fri LAUGH OUT LOUD Coventry NATHAN CATON Sun 11 DELANEY, STEVE HARRIS Mar, The Glee Club, 30 & Sat 31 Mar, COMEDY CLUB FEATURING JIMEOIN Thurs 8 Mar, Mar, Warwick Arts & MARK WALKER Fri 16 Birmingham Comedy Live @ STEVE HALL, BILL Warwick Arts Centre, Centre, Coventry & Sat 17 Mar, Comedy STU WHO?, QUINCY, PAUL Highlight, Birmingham WOOLAND & DAVE Coventry JIMMY CARR Sun 11 Live @ Highlight, TONKINSON & PETE FASCINATING AIDA Sat 31 GIBSON Fri 2 Mar, The HENNING WEHN - NO Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove Birmingham JOHANSON Fri 23 Mar, Mar, Stafford Slade Rooms, SURRENDER Thurs 8 HALF MOON COMEDY CAREY MARX, ANDY ASK- Comedy Live @ Gatehouse

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13 Mar - 1 Apr 3 - 21 Apr Theatre March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 14:24 Page 2 Theatre

Oliver! Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 13 March - Sat 21 April Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Lionel Bart's masterpiece So if you like your musicals big on gruel, grimy street urchins and stars first Neil Morrissey and then Brian Conley in the to-die-for role of magnificently memorable musical numbers - including Food Glorious the morally bankrupt old pickpocket Fagin. Bringing to life the Dick- Food and You've Got To Pick-a-Pocket Or Two - then this is the show ens classic about the boy who dared to ask for more, Bart's brilliant for you. musical celebrated fifty glorious years in 2010, with this particular ver- Oh, and on this occasion, it would definitely be acceptable if you fan- sion having recently completed a hugely successful two-year run at cied a second helping! the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Chicago New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 5 - Sat 10 March Chicago’s debauched glamour makes it a musical with a difference, and its jazz-tinged score and smouldering dance numbers give it a touch of old- Broadway style decadence. It’s an astonishingly accurate satire on the shallow, media-obsessed world of the twenty-first century, so it’s almost impossible to believe it was first conceived over forty years ago. It also has the considerable lure of chore- ography by Broadway legend Bob Fosse, and he’s the reason the show was re-conceived in 1996. Set in the Chicago of the roaring ’20s, the action WIN takes place in a jailhouse, as two ambitious and TICKETS sexy ‘cons battle it out to whatsonlive.co.uk be the most notorious mur- Waiting For Godot to enter derer, guaranteeing them a Old Rep, Birmingham, Tues 13 - Sat 17 March ticket to celebrity when they win their appeals. There are those for whom putting a revolver to their own head would almost seem Supposedly helping them preferable to watching a production of Waiting For Godot. For others, the play is one to do this is slippery lawyer of the twentieth century's greatest masterpieces. Two homeless men, Vladimir and Billy Flynn, who, on this Estragon, wait on a bare road with a single tree. They're waiting for Godot, who never occasion, is played by ex- arrives. While they wait, they argue, get bored, clown around, repeat themselves and Eastender Stefan Booth. contemplate death... Ian Brown directs an all Black cast - Jeffery Kissoon and Patrick Ali Bastian, Tupele Dorgu Robinon - in this brand new production of Samuel Beckett's love-it-or-hate-it offering. and Bernie Nolan also star. Read our interview with Patrick Robinson on page 8

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Theatre PREVIEWS Bette And Joan: The Final Curtain Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 13 - Wed 14 March Movie legends Joan Crawford and Bette Davis hated each other with a passion, even as their careers entered freefall and the age- ing stars were brought together for the clas- sic 1960s movie Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?. Years later, with Crawford long gone, Davis lies on her death bed, confront- ed by visions of a traumatic past - a past comprising not only violent relationships, spiteful children and her battle to retain a fragile stardom, but also her toxic relation- ship with Crawford. And as Davis moves towards her final curtain, the fast-fading star finds her long-time foe a little more in evi- dence than a dead person should be...

South Pacific Regent Theatre, Tues 6 - Sat 10 March Rebecca Thornhill and Alex Ferns star in Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical. The story of two love affairs on a Pacific island during World War Two, the show has no fewer than seven Tony awards - not to mention two sell-out years on Broadway - under its belt. It also boasts a veritable raft of memorable songs, including Younger Than Springtime, There Is Nothing Like A Dame and Some Enchanted Evening.

comic new play about life, love and loss in a courts that the two deaths for which he's Old Herbaceous picture-postcard town. Cutting to the heart of been placed on trial were both accidents, it a family and a community turned upside- becomes obvious that the Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 10 - Sun 11 March down by tragedy, this multi-award-winning only way to ensure justice Old Herbaceous traces the relationship work takes the form of a series of intertwin- is done is to get him to between Head Gardener Herbert Pinnegar ing accounts. confess to his heinous and his employer Mrs Charteris, a relation- crimes. Cue, two 'avengers' ship that was to span nearly seventy years - both hell-bent on ensur- as he tended the garden of her country ing the murderer pays the manor house somewhere in Gloucestershire. price for his callous disre- As Bert potters around his plant pots and gard for human life... gardening tools, he tells plenty of tales of his life as a gardener... Hormonal Housewives Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 2 March; The Father New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 13 Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, March; Malvern Theatre, Wed 28 March; Lich- Sat 31 March - Sat 14 April field Garrick, Tues 17 - Wed 18 April; Regent August Strindberg's highly charged response Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 5 May to Ibsen's A Doll’s House, The Father pres- A sell-out tour in Scotland has seen this Julie ents a similar power struggle between a mar- Coombe comedy heading south to garner ried couple, but one which has a radically even more plaudits. The show is pretty much different outcome. The Captain and his wife, Go And Play Up Your Own End about what it says on the tin, so to speak, Laura, have an uneasy relationship at best, Solihull Arts Complex, Tues 13 - Wed 14 presenting the joys of being a twenty-first but when they disagree over the future of March; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Fri 16 - Sat century girl at a challenging time of life. So if their daughter, Laura sets in motion a chain 17 March; The Swan Theatre, Worcester, you can relate to subjects such as weight Tues 20 March; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 22 - gain, weight loss, mood swings, wine, PMS, of events that will lead to an all-out war. Sat 24 March The Father is being presented at the Bel- men, going to the gym, waxing, stretch grade alongside Nora, Ingmar Bergman’s Local laughter merchants join forces for this marks, chocolate and upper-lip hair, this is adaptation of A Doll’s House, and follows on nostalgic trip down memory lane. Malcolm the show for you! Margi Clarke stars. from the theatre's previous productions of Stent is the fella who's penned this oft-tour- Uncle Vanya and Scenes From A Marriage, ing and always popular show, recalling 'the both of which also examined the timeless way things were' in Birmingham and the theme of 'holy wedlock'. Black Country during the 1950s. Music and lyrics are by another well-known Midlands lad, Harvey Andrews. For Once Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 9 - Sat 10 Haunted March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 14 - Thurs 15 March; Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Crewe Lyceum, Tues 6 - Sat 10 March South Shropshire, Fri 23 - Sat 24 March Taking its audience on a journey through the Inspired by a week which he spent in a mind of a double murderer, Ron Aldridge's Welsh borders market town, Welsh play- supernatural thriller blends comedy with the wright Tim Price here presents a darkly erotic, and is suitable for people aged four teen and older. When a man convinces the

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Tuesday 13th March, 7.30pm Wednesday 14th March at 1.30 & 7.30pm

Saturday 3rd March, 7.30pm ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PARADISE Bette & Joan PREPARE TO ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF ...... The Final Curtain Wednesday 7th March, 7.30pm BRENDAN SHINE Tickets £9 Full Price, £7 Concs All Matinee tickets £5 BECOME PART OF THE SHINE PARTY ...... Friday 9th March, 7.30pm Wednesday 21st March at 7.30pm STARS OF BENIDORM LIVE STARS FROM THE TV SHOW BENIDORM LIVE ON STAGE ...... Thursday 15th - Saturday 17th March, 7.30pm I LOVE YOU. YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE PRESENTED BY BACKSTREET THEATRE COMPANY ...... Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th March, 7.30pm A WICKED SWITCH TO THE WEST The Dumb Waiter PRESENTED BY CHASE HARMONY ...... & The Lover Friday 30th March, 7.30pm SIXTIES NIGHT OUT Tickets £10 Full Price, £8 Concs FEAT. DAVE BERRY, CHIP HAWKINS AND CHRIS FARLOW ...... Saturday 31st March, 8pm Wednesday 28th March at 2pm & 7.30pm KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS MORE THAN A SWING BAND, SIMPLY AN INSTITUTION! ...... Sunday 1st & Monday 2nd April, 7.30pm FREDDIE STARR ...... Saturday 7th April, 2.00pm RUMPLESTILTSKIN ...... Thursday 12th April, 7.30pm SLEEPING BEAUTY I, Bertolt Brecht PRESENTED BY BALLET UK ...... Saturday 14th April, 7.30pm Tickets £12 Full Price, £10 Concs All Matinee tickets £5 GIMME GIMME NIGHT FEVER This season the Arena Theatre welcomes acclaimed ...... Theatre Companies - Foursight Theatre, European Arts Friday 20th April, 7.30pm and Fuscia Films and Media DENNIS LOCORRIERE ...... Tuesday 24th April, 7.30pm STRICTLY COME DANCING Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE FEAT. KATYA VIRSHILAS & PARSHA KOVALEV Box Office 01902 321 321 www.arenatheatre.info

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Theatre PREVIEWS Great Gran’s Great Games Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 3 March Ollie's Great Gran might not seem to serve any useful purpose, what with her complete inability to run, jump and skate (she finds standing up quite tricky too), but the young lad is soon to learn that you should never judge a dusty old book by its dusty old cover. Ollie's Great Gran, y'see, can swim like a fish! Well, used to be able to swim like a fish, to be more accurate - and indeed did, at the London Olympic Games of 1948, in fact... Pied Piper Theatre Company are the ensem- ble behind this splendid yarn from the pen of Mike Kelly.

Birds Of A Feather The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 19 - Sat 24 March; Regent Theatre, Hanley, Stoke- on-Trent, Mon 2 - Sat 7 April; Malvern Theatre, Mon 7 Sat 12 May; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 14 - Sat 19 May A trend over the last couple of years has seen numerous popular TV sitcoms being trans- formed into stage productions. Think Porridge, Dad's Army and Dinnerladies. The notable dif- ference with this latest telly-to-theatre transformation is that it's brought the original main cast members along for the ride! Monty Python’s Spamalot Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph here reunite for a new tour, reprisng their New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, respective roles as sisters Sharon Theodopolopoudos and Tracy Stubbs (Quirke and Robson) Mon 26 March - Sat 31 March and sex-mad neighbour Dorien Green (Joseph). If you fancy checking out whether the old Monty Python’s Tony Award-winning stage chemistry still exists between the three of them, you'd better book your ticket asap - they're all show returns to the region. The brainchild of so busy with other work commitments, this tour will be over in the proverbial blink of an eye! John DuPrez and former Python star Eric Idle, the show blends funny songs with funny Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana are gags and routines, all presented in the also brought magically to life before the sure- Joseph And The Amazing quirky, off-the-wall style you’ve come to to-be-enraptured young audience's very Technicolor Dreamcoat expect from a Monty Python-endorsed prod- eyes. Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, uct. If you love Python, you’ll love this latest Tues 6 - Sat 10 March dose of silly mayhem too. If, on the other hand, the boys have repeatedly failed to float Murder On The Nile Any Dream Will Do finalist Keith Jack makes your boat these last forty-odd years, Spa- Malvern Theatre, Mon 26 - Sat 31 March a welcome return to this ever-popular show. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's classic malot is unlikely to do much to change your An Agatha Christie tale in which the sleuthing musical tells the story of a boy driven into opinion. is done by somebody other than Miss Marple slavery by his calculating brothers, who’re all or Hercule Poirot, Murder On The Nile sees envious of his coat of many colours. holidaying cleric Canon Pennefather being Joseph’s ability to predict the future from his drawn deep into a web of intrigue and deceit, dreams, however, ultimately frees him and as he finds himself on the trail of a ruthless wins him a place among the highest in the murderer... The land... much-admired This long-time hit show is an ensemble tri- Agatha Christie The- umph, with terrific energy put in by all con- atre Company are the cerned. ensemble behind this latest version of the Queen of Crime's famous tale, with the cast including familiar television face Kate Disney On Ice: Princesses O'Mara. And Heroes National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Lady Windermere’s Fan Wed 14 - Sun 18 March The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Get your skates on for the return of Disney's Thurs 1 - Sat 10 March ever-popular ice spectacular, complete with Oscar Wilde's oft-produced work boasts high-energy music, glittering sets and dra- plenty of the playwright's legendary satirical matic choreography! This year's show fea- humour, and explores the way in which mar- tures some of the Mouse House's most riage and social status can mask the dark famous characters, including Prince Philip secrets hidden away in people's past lives. (no, not that prince Phillip!) as he defeats the Wilde's first major move into the genre of evil Maleficent, who magically transforms into comedy writing, Lady Windermere's Fan is a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time here performed by eight actors taking an to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Prince ensemble approach to the challenges of the Eric puts in an appearance too, breaking play, presenting the production in the round Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one and making use of both multi-rolling and true love, while the dreams of Cinderella, mask.

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT March - April 2012

Fri 2nd March, 7.30pm THE WORLD’S GREATEST MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE Tickets from £16.50/17.50 Tue 6th - Sat 10th March, 7.30pm, Sat Mat 2.30pm Ian Dickens Productions presents Ron Aldridge’s Psychological, Supernatural Thriller HAUNTED featuring a Star Cast Tickets from £10.50 C

Tues 13th March, 8pm & Wed 14th March 5pm & 8pm THE MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS presents BABUSHKIN SEKRET Tickets from £14 Fri 16th March, 7.30pm THE GUNS ‘N’ ROSES EXPERIENCE Tickets from £16.50 Tue 27th March, 7.30pm THE BOOTLEG SIXTIES Tickets from £17.50 Sat 31st March, 7.30pm (16+) THE BURLESQUE SHOW Tickets from £18.50 Wed 4th Apr, 7.30pm THE DOLLY PARTON STORY Tickets from £16.50 C Wed 11th Apr, 7.30pm FREDDIE STARR BACK FROM THE JUNGLE TOUR Tickets from £20.00 Sat 14th Apr, 3pm THE KIDZ CONCERT Tickets from £13.00 Tue 17th Apr, 12.00am & 2pm & Wed 18th Apr,10.30am & 12.30pm LITTLE PRINCESS Tickets £12.00, Child £10, £8.50, Fam £36 Sat 21st Apr, 7.30pm THE DRIFTERS IN CONCERT Tickets from £25.00 Tue 24th - Sat 28th Apr, 7.30pm, Sat Mat 2.30pm AN ELIGIBLE MAN Tickets from £12.00 - £18.50

CREWE LYCEUM I HEATH STREET I CREWE I CW1 2DA 01270 686 777 www.lyceumtheatre.net

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Theatre PREVIEWS Avenue Q Regent Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 20 - Sat 24 March Described by no less an authority than The Times as ‘the best musical of the decade’, the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q arrives in Stoke following a hugely successful five-year stint in the West End. Focusing on subjects such as dating, racism, being gay and find- ing your purpose in life, it tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate with a tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty blonde, and a variety of weird and wonderful friends, as he sets out on a jour- ney towards self-discovery.

WINWIN TICKETSTICKETS whatsonlive.co.ukwhatsonlive.co.uk The Comedy Of Errors toto enter enter Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Fri 16 March - Mon 14 May The Comedy Of Errors, Shakespeare’s fore-runner to modern farce, is a superbly crafted cat- alogue of mistaken identity, adulterous liaisons and slapstick humour. Two sets of identical twins are separated during infancy, and when their paths cross again in later life, all manner of confusions occur. Matters are further complicated by an irate courtesan, an insistent jew- eller and a mad exorcist.

@ The Old Rep Theatre

Talawa Theatre Company and West Yorkshire Playhouse

By Samuel Beckett #### The Guardian #### Daily Telegraph

Tue 13 to Sat 17 March Tickets: £10 - £28 Book Online Box Office birmingham-rep.co.uk 0121 236 4455 Registered in England 295910 Charity No.223660

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Brain Yeates Associates Ltd presents Go and Play Up your Own End Starring: Don Maclean, Malcolm Stent, Lizzie wiggin, Dave Sealey & full supporting cast

NOW BOOKING AT Tues 20th March SWAN THEATRE, WORCESTER THE FOLLOWING 01905 611427 Tues 13th & Wed 14th March SOLD OUT Tues 21st March Matinee performance - Sat 24th TOWN HALL, BIRMINGHAM ARTS COMPLEX SOLIHULL 0121 780 3333 0121 704 6962 Thurs 22nd - Sat 24th March Fri 16th & Sat 17th March Matinee performance - Sat 24th PALACE THEATRE, REDDITCH GARRICK THEATRE, 01527 65203 LICHFIELD 01543 412121

Brain Yeates Associates Ltd presents

“ Entertaining and insightful...... a Psychic Show with a difference!”

Sat 24th March Thurs 19th April PALACE THEATRE, REDDITCH SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 01527 65203 01527 65203

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THE OWL WHO WAS LISTINGS AFRAID OF THE DARK Theatre Children’s theatre pro- duction that’s based on For full listing information on theatre Jill Tomlinson’s much- productions including times and loved book of the same dates visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk name, Sat 3 Mar, The Roses Theatre, Tewks- bury hampton MACBETH From The Nonenti- ME AND MY GIRL North ties Youth Theatre pres- WED 1 MAR Bromsgrove High ent an amateur produc- School present an ama- tion of Shakespeare’s teur production of the bloodiest play, Sat 3 SCRUMDIDLYUMPTIOUS A classic rags to riches performance piece for Mar, The Rose Theatre, story, until Fri 2 Mar, Kidderminster children that celebrates Artrix, Bromsgrove the wonderful world of GET THE SACK Children’s SWALLOWS AND AMA- theatre production from Roald Dahl, until Sat 3 ZONS The Children's Mar, Stafford Gate- Angela Lanyon, Sat 3 Touring Partnership Mar, The Swan Theatre, house Theatre present a new musical WRITTEN ON THE HEART Worcester that's based on Arthur ROCK 'N' ROLL PARADISE A new play by David Ransome's tale of Edgar, until Sat 10 Mar, A rock 'n' roll show adventure and youthful The Forest - mac, Birmingham The Swan Theatre, where the music plays imagination, until Sat 3 the leading role, Sat 3 Stratford-upon-Avon Mar, Malvern Theatres THE DIARY OF ANNE create a unique theatri- Mar, The Edge Arts MEASURE FOR MEASURE Mar, Prince Of Wales THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Centre, Cannock FRANK Christopher Tim- cal experience that Centre, Much Wenlock, Roxana Silbert directs Live Broadcast from othy stars as Otto Frank takes place in complete South Shropshire Shakespeare's dark GABRIEL Moira Buffini’s The National Theatre contemporary play that in a brand new stage darkness, Wed 7 - Sat TWELFTH NIGHT David exploration of virtue as that sees Dominic adaptation of the most- 10 Mar, Arena Theatre, Farr directs Shake- a political currency, questions how conflict Cooke direct Shake- and occupation test read memoir to come Wolverhampton speare’s tale of mistak- until Sat 10 Mar, The speare’s furiously from World War II, Tue BEATRICE AND BENEDICT en identity, cross-dress- Swan Theatre, Strat- human survival paced comedy. Lenny instincts, Sat 3 - Sat 10 6 - Sat 10 Mar, The Welsh National Opera ing and unrequited ford-upon-Avon Henry stars, Thurs 1 Grand Theatre, Wolver- present Berlioz's final love, Thurs 8 Mar - THE HERESY OF LOVE Mar, The Crescent The- Mar, Malvern Theatres, atre, Birmingham hampton opera that adapts Tues 15 May, Royal Nancy Meckler directs Worcestershire & War- 7 DAY DRUNK New one- Shakespeare's Much Shakespeare Theatre, a new play by Helen ONE LITTLE WORD M6 wick Arts Centre, Theatre Company pres- woman show that Ado About Nothing into Stratford-upon-Avon Edmundson, until Fri 9 Coventry investigates the histori- a comic opera filled MUMMY MAFIA Comedy Mar, The Swan Theatre, ent a gentle story of HOLMES ALONE A prom- friendship, power strug- cal links between artists with charming music, that centres on parental Stratford-upon-Avon enade performance by and mind-enhancing Wed 7 Mar, Birming- competitiveness. Writ- ALFIE Bill Naughton’s gles and creative play, the 'Don't Go Into The Sun 4 Mar, Warwick drugs, Tue 6 - Wed 7 ham Hippodrome ten and performed by acclaimed play that Cellar' theatre compa- Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- LITE Marlane Theatre Rachael Young, Leah centres around a work- Arts Centre, Coventry ny, Thurs 1 Mar, Ban- CHRIS & PUI Interactive tre, Coventry and Sampad present Chillery and Natalya ing class Don Juan in tock House & Park, THE PIRATES OF PEN- an acclaimed and far- Brown, Fri 9 Mar, The London’s East End, children’s show packed Wolverhampton with songs, games and ZANCE Astwood Bank reaching exploration of Drum, Birmingham until Sat 17 Mar, New DOUBLE ACT A comedy Operatic Society pres- skin lightening, Wed 7 THE CHINESE STATE CIR- Vic Theatre, Newcastle- a few surprises! Sun 4 drama that takes a Mar, Theatre Severn, ent Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mar, mac, Birmingham CUS Fri 9 - Sat 10 Mar, under-Lyme backstage look into the two-part operatic farce THE FOREST Fevered Lichfield Garrick GRAVITY Birmingham Shrewsbury lives of a fictional duo DISCO INFERNO The that concerns senti- Sheep present a the- SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE Repertory Theatre called Douglas & mental pirates, bum- atrical adventure for ON TOUR! London's Company present a Adlib Theatre Company Adams, Thurs 1 Mar, present a foot stomping bling policemen, children over five, Wed world-famous Science contemporary and Theatre Severn, romantic young lovers, 7 - Sun 11 Mar, mac, Museum takes to the dynamic new play musical celebration of Shrewsbury the decade that dewy-eyed daughters Birmingham road to present a brand about provocation, until AN EVENING OF MEDI- and an eccentric Major- SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE new live show that's set Sat 3 Mar, mac - Mid- brought us flared UMSHIP WITH TONY trousers, platform General, Tue 6 - Sat 10 ON TOUR! London's to challenge the brains lands Arts Centre, Birm- STOCKWELL Thurs 1 Mar, Palace Theatre, world-famous Science of children aged seven ingham shoes and more glitter Mar, New Alexandra than Liberace's Redditch Museum takes to the and above, Fri 9 Mar, THE CRUCIBLE The Cres- Theatre, Birmingham SOUTH PACIFIC Lincoln road to present a brand Artrix, Bromsgrove cent Theatre Company wardrobe!, Sun 4 Mar, LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN Lichfield Garrick Center Theater produc- new live show that's set FOR ONCE Darkly comic present Arthur Miller's Oscar Wilde’s tion of Rodgers & Ham- to challenge the brains new play from modern classic, until acclaimed four-act merstein's South Pacif- of children aged seven acclaimed Welsh play- Sat 3 Mar, Crescent comedy, Thurs 1 - Sat Week Commencing ic, directed by Bartlett and above, Thurs 8 wright Tim Price, Fri 9 - Theatre, Birmingham 10 Mar, The Blue MON 5 MAR Sher, Tue 6 - Sat 17 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Sat 10 Mar, Warwick OLEANNA Amateur pro- Orange Theatre, Birm- Mar, Regent Theatre, Leamington Spa Arts Centre, Coventry duction of David ingham Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ROSE COTTAGE Sharon STARS OF BENIDORM LIVE Mamet's play, Sat 3 CELTIC DREAM Fusion of CAROUSEL Knowle JOSEPH AND THE AMAZ- Foster and Next Page An evening of comedy Mar, Highbury Theatre music, song and ING TECHNICOLOR Productions present an and music, combined Centre, Sutton Coldfield Operatic Society pres- dance, Fri 2 Mar, The ent their fiftieth anniver- DREAMCOAT Keith Jack unusual comedy that's with an audience meet- MONTY PYTHON'S SPA- Swan Theatre, Worces- takes the lead in this based in a hospital and-greet. Note - this MALOT Eric Idle and sary year with one of ter Rodgers & Hammer- Bill Kenwright produc- mortuary, Thurs 8 Mar, show contains adult John Du Prez provide HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES tion of the much Artrix, Bromsgrove material, Fri 9 Mar, the musical score to stein's most popular Margi Clarke & Laura musicals, Mon 5 - Sat acclaimed Tim Rice STREET SCENE The Birm- Prince Of Wales Centre, this much-acclaimed Checkley star in Julie and Andrew Lloyd ingham Conservatoire Cannock musical that tells the 10 Mar, Solihull Arts Coombe & John Complex Webber musical, Tue 6 present Elmer Rice’s FASCINATING AIDA Dillie legendary tale of King McIsaac’s acclaimed - Sat 10 Mar, Belgrade ‘American opera’ that Keane, Liza Pulman & Arthur and his knights BLUE REMEMBERED comedy, Fri 2 Mar, The- HILLS Steve Smith Theatre, Coventry charts the love, laugh- Adele Anderson return of the Round Table. atre Severn, Shrews- HAUNTED Ian Dickens ter and loss of a group to the Midlands to pres- Bonnie Langford and directs Dennis Potter’s bury acclaimed play, Mon 5 - Productions present of families living in a ent their unique form of Todd Carty star, until MAD GYMS AND Ron Aldridge’s psycho- New York brownstone entertainment, Fri 9 Sat 3 Mar, Regent The- Sat 10 Mar, Talisman KITCHENS Bobby Baker Theatre, Kenilworth logical, erotic thriller, during the summer Mar, The Place, Oaken- atre, Hanley, Stoke-on- demonstrates how to Tue 6 - Sat 10 Mar, heatwave of 1947, gates Theatre, Telford Trent BLOOD BROTHERS Mau- achieve the ultimate reen Nolan adopts the Crewe Lyceum Thurs 8 - Sat 10 Mar, AN INSTINCT FOR KIND- STAR QUALITY Noel wellbeing factor, Fri 2 ELEPHANT MAN New The Crescent Theatre, NESS A moving, bitter- Coward’s final play role of Mrs Johnstone Mar, The Public, West in Willy Russell’s play by Adrian Jarvis Birmingham sweet tale that’s based which takes us behind Bromwich that places an exciting CALAMITY JANE Amateur on a true story and the scenes of a new acclaimed musical PSYCHIC NIGHT A spiritu- that’s set in his native new slant on the famil- production presented explores the wider ethi- West End production, al adventure in medi- iar story, Wed 7 - Fri 9 by Kidderminster Oper- cal issues of assisted until Sat 3 Mar, Royal Liverpool, Mon 5 - Sat umship, clairvoyance 17 Mar, Malvern The- Mar, Bridge House The- atic and Dramatic Soci- suicide, Sat 10 Mar, Spa Centre, Leaming- and psychic art, Fri 2 atre, Warwick ety, Thurs 8 - Sat 17 Royal Spa Centre, ton Spa atres Mar, Tamworth Assem- CHICAGO Kander and THOSE WERE THE DAYS Mar, The Rose Theatre, Leamington Spa AVENUE Q Tony Award- bly Rooms Celebration of the ‘dia- Kidderminster OLD HERBACEOUS A one- winning musical that Ebb's acclaimed musi- GREAT GRAN'S GREAT cal that's based on real mond years of popular LUNA Pretty Good Girl man show that's adapt- centres on a group of GAMES A play for the entertainment’, Wed 7 Dance Theatre fuse sto- ed from Reginald loveable yet hopeless life events in the 1920s. Cultural Olympiad pre- Stefan Booth, Tupele Mar, Tamworth Assem- rytelling, dance, film Arkell's book, Sat 10 - characters on a down- sented by the Pied bly Rooms and physical theatre to Sun 11 Mar, Artrix, town New York street, Dorgu & Bernie Nolan Piper Theatre Compa- star, Mon 5 - Sat 10 SHEER Extant Theatre explore themes of iden- Bromsgrove until Sat 3 Mar, The ny, Sat 3 Mar, Old Rep, fuse burlesque, horror, tity, belonging and WIFE AFTER DEATH Witty Grand Theatre, Wolver- Mar, New Alexandra Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham comedy and magic to acceptance, Thurs 8 comedy from Rising

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MARCH - MAY HIGHLIGHTS NEW STREET WEST BROMWICH B70 7PG

COMEDY MUSIC

FRIDAY 2 MARCH SATURDAY 7 AND MIKE GUNN & SUNDAY 8 APRIL SEAN COLLINS NOW WE ARE Two stars of Michael McIntyre's WEEKENDER Comedy Roadshow perform on A new independent music festival celebrating a special double bill the thrills, spills and bellyaches of indie-pop ‘n Starts 8pm | £12 (£10 concessions) rock. Over 32 bands feature including Misty's Big Adventure, Art Brut and The Lovely Eggs. £15 weekend pass, £10 day ticket, £5 chil- THEATRE dren under 13, Under 5s free | 1pm - 2am

SATURDAY 24 MARCH DEAFINITELY THEATRE COM- PANY PRESENTS: GOLD DUST Inspired by the lives of deaf people in Birming- ham and the Black Country. A play about a deaf father and his son, who found it difficult to MUSIC communicate. Starts 8.30pm | £10 (£8 concessions) SATURDAY 28 APRIL KINGS OV LEON Kings of Leon tribute act performing hits includ- ing ‘Use Somebody’, ‘Closer’, ‘Bucket’ and the sublime ‘Sex On Fire’. Starts 8.30pm | £8 adv, £10 on the door

DANCE SATURDAY 24 AND SUNDAY 25 MARCH GET ACTIVE AND BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, MARCH DANCE 3 WITH LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE HIGHLIGHTS CULTURAL DANCE THEATRE FEST FRI 2ND - SUN 4TH MARCH WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH FRIDAY 9TH MARCH Help create the ultimate dance fest explosion FRIDAY 11 MAY ACOUSTIC BLUES FINGERSNAP SCIENCE MUSEUM - fusing all types of dance from Street and Bolly- WEEKEND FINGERSNAP IS THE CREATIVE LIVE ON TOUR wood to Hip-Hop. Dance activities and perform- THE FOUNDRY GROUP EUROBLUES PROMOTIONS BLUES COUPLING OF ARTIST DAVID PROPELS YOU ON AN EXPLORATORY ances for the whole family. MCALMONT AND MUSICAL TOUR PRESENTS: WEEKEND WITH JOHN MILLER, THEATRICAL ADVENTURE INTO THE £5 weekend pass, £3 per day |10am - 6pm DE FORCE GUY DAVIES. WONDERFUL WORLD OF SCIENCE. BIG DADDY VS GIANT SONNY BLACK & EDDIE MARTIN COMEDY HAYSTACKS A British heavyweight champion comedy bring- WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL ing back the grunting and grappling life of the famous feuding wrestlers. THE LAUGHING SOLE Starts 7.45pm | £10 (£8 concessions) FEATURING ISY SUTTIE Star of Channel 4's Peep Show, Isy Suttie, headlines a SATURDAY 10TH MARCH THURSDAY 15TH MARCH THURSDAY 23RD FEBRUARY new comedy night. GLAMBA AT SWIM TWO BOYS- GRAVITY - BIRMINGHAM Compered by Barbara Nice. GLAMBA RETURNS TO ARTRIX WITH A EARTHFALL DANCE REPERTORY THEATRE SPECTACULAR SHOW FOR ALL AGES, Starts 8pm | £8.50 adv, EARTHFALL REVIVE THEIR THE SIR BARRY JACKSON TRUST AS PART OF ITS ILLUMINATE TOUR. £9.50 on the door AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION COMMUNITY TOUR GRAVITY BY WITH A UK WIDE TOUR. ARZHANG PEZHMAN MONDAY 2 - SATURDAY 14 APRIL EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES Check out our family friendly creative workshops themed around our Art of Architecture exhibition including, The Creative Construction Zone and Animating Architecture! Visit www.thepublic.com for details

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE LATEST EVENTS Forthcoming Cinema: Hugo (U) // The Descendents (15) // Carnage (15) Martha Marcy May Marlene (15) // Manhattan (12A) // The Muppets (U) // War Horse (12A) VISIT WWW.THEPUBLIC.COM A Monster In Paris (U) // The Artist (PG) // Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (12A) // Coriolanus (15) OR CALL THE PUBLIC BOX OFFICE ON 0121 533 7161 ALL MAJOR CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS NOW ACCEPTED The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk facebook.com/thepublicwestbromwich twitter.com/_the_public For bookings & full details log onto

FUNDED BY www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site

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South Shropshire THE DREAMBOYS FULL Theatre LISTINGS FRONTAL 2012 TOUR Male glamour show, Fri For full listing information on theatre 16 Mar, New Alexandra productions, including times and Theatre, Birmingham dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk SING-A-LONG-A GREASE A brand new sing-a-long version of the classic Damp writer Eric Chap- PRINCESSES & HEROES film starring Olivia New- pell that centres around Ice spectacular that ton-John and John Tra- the funeral of deceased recreates the moments volta, Fri 16 Mar, Soli- comedy star Dave where eight of Disney's hull Arts Complex Thursby, Sat 10 - Sat princesses see their THE COMEDY OF ERRORS 17 Mar, Oldbury Rep - wishes come true dur- Amir Nizar Zuabi directs Barlow Theatre ing an evening hosted a new version of by Tinkerbell, Wed 14 - Shakespeare's joyful Week Commencing Sun 18 Mar, National comedy of mistaken Indoor Arena, Birming- identity, Fri 16 Mar - MON 12 MAR ham mon 14 May, Royal MISSING Gecko present Shakespeare Theatre, a brand new piece of Stratford-upon-Avon AN EVENING WITH ANDY theatre with a twist - the CHILDREN'S THEATRE The Stars In The Morning Sky - Belgrade Theatre KERSHAW Tue 13 Mar, work is unfinished and Norbury Players pres- The Glee Club, Birm- audience members are ent an amateur produc- OWN END Malcolm ANNE BOLEYN English DUETS Peter Quilter's ingham invited to help shape its tion especially for chil- Stent's Brummie tale of Touring Theatre present witty comedy that pays FIDDLER ON THE ROOF future, Wed 14 - Sat 17 dren, Sat 17 Mar, The growing up in Saltley, the Shakespeare's tribute to the strength Walsall Operatic Socie- Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- Norbury Theatre, Tue 20 Mar, The Swan Globe production of the and madness of the ty presents an amateur tre, Coventry Droitwich Theatre, Worcester great English heroine, human heart, Tue 20 - production of the Tony FOR ONCE Darkly comic AESOPS FABLES A ALL OUR YESTERDAYS A Anne Boleyn, Tue 20 - Tue 27 Mar, Lichfield Award-winning musical, new play from mouse, a lion and a tor- musical journey from Sat 24 Mar, New Garrick Tue 13 - Sat 17 Mar, acclaimed Welsh play- toise put their own the good old days of Alexandra Theatre, AVENUE Q Tony Award- Lichfield Garrick wright Tim Price, Wed quirky spin on some of Music Hall, through the Birmingham winning musical that WAITING FOR GODOT 14 - Thurs 15 Mar, The- history’s most famous 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s, THE PIRATES OF PEN- centres on a group of Birmingham Repertory atre Severn, Shrews- tales, Sat 17 Mar, Tue 20 Mar, Dudley ZANCE The Birmingham loveable yet hopeless Theatre present a new bury Stafford Gatehouse Concert Hall Savoyguards present characters on a down- production of Samuel TITANIC: THE MUSICAL FOR ONCE Darkly comic ME, MYSELF & MS. GIBBS one of Gilbert & Sulli- town New York street, Beckett's funny and Shrewsbury Amateur new play from Francesca Millican- van's best known Tue 20 - Sat 24 Mar, poetic masterpiece, Tue Operatic Society pres- acclaimed Welsh play- Slater returns to Birm- operettas, Tue 20 - Sat Regent Theatre, Hanley, 13 - Sat 17 Mar, Old ent their adaptation of wright Tim Price, The ingham to take the 24 Mar, Old Rep, Birm- Stoke-on-Trent Rep, Birmingham one of the greatest Roses, Tewksbury audience on an amus- ingham SWEET CHARITY Crewe MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS maritime disasters of all A MOMENT OF MISHEAR- ing journey as she ME & MY GIRL Amateur Amateur Musical Socie- Tue 13 - Wed 14 Mar, time, Wed 14 - Sat 17 ING Tara Arts present a investigates the history production presented ty present the hit 60’s Crewe Lyceum Mar, Theatre Severn, story of memory, behind a postcard she by the Peterbrook Play- musical, Tue 20 - Sun BARRY CRYER - BUTTER- Shrewsbury chance, music and the found, dated 1910, Tue ers, Tue 20 - Sat 24 25 Mar, Crewe Lyceum FLY BRAIN Tue 13 Mar, RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR A city, Sat 17 Mar, The 20 - Thu 22 Mar, mac, Mar, Solihull Arts Com- HUMBLE BOY Charlotte Palace Theatre, Red- music and dance Drum, Birmingham Birmingham plex Jones' comedy which ditch extravaganza featuring STARS IN THE MORNING THE ETHICS OF the White Russian Cen- SKY Chris Hannan’s PROGRESS Theoretical tral Band, special guest new adaptation of physics are pushed into soloists from The Bol- Alexander Galin’s real life situations to shoi and dancers from Moscow Olympics imagine the world as it The Belarussian Nation- drama, Sat 17 Mar - Sat might be in the not-too- al Folk Dance Acade- 7 Apr, Belgrade The- distant future, Tue 13 my, Thurs 15 Mar, Strat- atre, Coventry Mar, Warwick Arts Cen- ford Civic Hall BOB THE BUILDER: BOB'S tre, Coventry ROSE COTTAGE Sharon BIG THEATRE BUILD Chil- BETTE AND JOAN: THE Foster and Next Page dren’s theatre that sees FINAL CURTAIN Foursight Productions present an the world-famous Theatre present a wry unusual comedy based builder return to the and irreverent look at in a hospital mortuary, stage with a brand new the lives of two of Holly- Thurs 15 Mar, Arena show, Sun 18 Mar, wood's best-known Theatre, Wolverhamp- Regent Theatre, Hanley, bitches, Tue 13 - Wed ton Stoke-on-Trent 14 Mar, Arena Theatre, "I LOVE YOU. YOU’RE PER- AESOP’S FABLES Theatre Wolverhampton FECT, NOW CHANGE” A Na n’Og present a mul- GO AND PLAY UP YOUR musical comedy paying titude of fables involv- OWN END Malcolm tribute to those who ing wily wolves, dopey Stent's Brummie tale of have loved and lost, dogs, haring hares, flat- growing up in Saltley, those who’ve fallen on tering foxes & the odd Tue 13 - Wed 14 Mar, their face at the portal silly human, Sun 18 Solihull Arts Complex of romance, and those Mar, mac, Birmingham OLIVER! Cameron Mack- who’ve dared to ask intosh presents a new “what are you doing production of Lionel tonight?”, Thurs 15 - Week Commencing Bart's smash-hit musi- Sat 17 Mar, Prince Of MON 19 MAR cal that will see both Wales Centre, Cannock Neil Morrissey and A MOMENT OF MISHEAR- Brian Conley take on ING Literature to a beat BIRDS OF A FEATHER The the role of Fagin during by Amit Chaudhuri, Fri Comedy Theatre Com- a six-week run, Tue 13 16 Mar, Arena Theatre, pany present a stage Mar - Sat 21 Apr, Birm- Wolverhampton adaptation of the much- ingham Hippodrome GO AND PLAY UP YOUR loved TV sitcom. HALF A SIXPENCE OWN END Malcolm Pauline Quirke, Linda Wolverhampton Musical Stent's Brummie tale of Robinson and Lesley Comedy Company growing up in Saltley, Joseph star, Mon 19 - present an amateur Fri 16 - Sat 17 Mar, Sat 24 Mar, The Grand performance of the Palace Theatre, Red- Theatre, Wolverhamp- heartwarming rags to ditch ton riches story, Tue 13 - PADDY ASHDOWN - A THE MERRY WIDOW Sat 17 Mar, The Grand FORTUNATE LIFE An Opera della Luna return Theatre, Wolverhamp- evening that will see to the Midlands with a ton the ex-Lib Dem leader new production of HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES talk about his long Lehar’s classic Tue 13 Mar, New career in both the operetta, Mon 19 Mar, Alexandra Theatre, armed forces and poli- Royal Spa Centre, Birmingham tics, Fri 16 Mar, Ludlow Leamington Spa DISNEY ON ICE Assembly Rooms, GO AND PLAY UP YOUR

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Theatre March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 13:54 Page 13

Music

Sat 31st Mar, 7.30pm Foradante Movie Music Classics CALL FOR YOUR ELKIE BROOKS BROCHURE GATEHOUSE THEATRE TODAY

Sat 10 March Performing some of her classic hits, blues, jazz and songs from her new album ‘Power- less’, an electric Fri 20th Apr, 7.30pm evening with Elkie is Stu Brown Sextet: guaranteed to leave you begging for more. Twisted Toons 7.30pm, £22.00 - £25.00 The Music of Raymond Scott ECHOES OF WAR MANCHESTER CAMERATA

Wed 14 March Manchester Camerata bring you Ravel’s light- hearted Tombeau de Couperin, and Strauss’ beautifully intense and mournful Metamorphosen, separating these Fri 4th May, 8pm two works is Mozart’s An Intimate Evening with Piano Concerto no.2. The Unthanks 7.30pm, £15, £13 conc with support from Jonny Kearney AESOPS FABLES and Lucy Farrell GATEHOUSE THEATRE Sat 17 March A Mouse, a Lion and a Tortoise are thrown together and tell some of the most famous moral tales in history with their own rather quirky spin. Theatr na n’Óg’s production will make you laugh out loud! 1pm, £7.50 - £6.00 conc Theatre MIKE HARDING Fri 18th May, 8pm ME, A GUITAR AND SOME DAFT STUFF (12+) A Second Helping of Fri 30 March He’s been described by Mervyn Stutter Billy Connolly as “the funniest man in England” and widely acknowledged as “the grandfather of alternative comedy”. And now, after 15 years Mike Harding is back on the road. 7.30pm, £16.50, £15 conc National Theatre Live FASCINATING AIDA via satellite CHEAP FLIGHTS TOUR

Sat 31 March Thurs 29th Mar, Continuing their smash-hit. 7pm sell-out 2011 tour, three She Stoops times Olivier Award nominated and now a to Conquer global internet sensation, Fascinating Aïda are still Thurs 14th June, 7pm and Britain's best comedy Fri 13th July, 7pm cabaret trio. Frankenstein Encore 7.30pm, £19.50 Screenings THE LITTLE BIG CLUB Cumberbatch/Miller LIVE IN CONCERT in alternating roles Fri 6 April This production features the world’s leading preschool brand Thomas the Tank Engine™ INFO/TICKETS: as well as favourites Bob The Builder™, 01939 238 279 Fireman Sam™, Barney the Dinosaur ™, Angelina Ballerina™, and Pingu™. 1pm, £12.00, £10 conc

www.wemtownhall.co.uk BOOKONLINE Wem Town Hall, High Street, Wem, SY4 5DG Book Online Box Office 01785 254653 www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

42 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 14:06 Page 14

AYRES Thurs 22 Mar, LISTINGS Malvern Theatres Theatre MURDERED TO DEATH The Once Removed For full listing information on theatre Theatre Company pres- productions, including times and ent an amateur produc- dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk tion of Peter Gordon’s murder-mystery spoof, Thu 22 - Sat 24 Mar, centres on broken Repertory Theatre The Rose Theatre, Kid- vows, failed hopes and Company present a derminster the joys of bee-keep- contemporary and GO AND PLAY UP YOUR ing, Tues 20 - Sat 31 dynamic new play OWN END Malcolm Mar, Highbury Theatre about provocation, Wed Stent's Brummie tale of Centre, Sutton Coldfield 21 Mar, Artrix, Broms- growing up in Saltley, AN EVENING OF CLAIR- grove Thurs 22 - Sat 24 Mar, VOYANCE WITH JACQUI THE DUMB WAITER & THE Lichfield Garrick ROGERS Tue 20 Mar, LOVER European Arts RICHARD III Roxana Sil- The Assembly, Leam- Company present a bert directs a new ver- ington Spa double-bill of Harold sion of Shakespeare’s WEEKEND BREAKS John Pinter's classic black expose of one of histo- Godber's perceptive comedies, Wed 21 Mar, ry’s most infamous Gravity - Artrix, Bromsgrove & Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton comedy about culture Arena Theatre, Wolver- monarchs, Thurs 22 clashes, wine, wit and hampton Mar - Sat 15 Sept, acclaimed Welsh play- Fri 23 Mar, Arena The- Sat 24 Mar, Symphony Whitby, Tue 20 - Sat 31 UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR- Royal Shakespeare wright Tim Price, Fri 23 atre, Wolverhampton Hall, Birmingham Mar, New Vic Theatre, BOARDS Dance show for Theatre, Stratford-upon- - Sat 24 Mar, Ludlow PSYCHIC NIGHT A spiritu- SECRET GARDEN Angel Newcastle-under-Lyme under-fives that takes Avon Assembly Rooms al adventure in medi- Exit present their ver- MUSIC AND DANCE FROM the audience into a CAUCASIAN CHALK CIR- AN EVENING OF CLAIR- umship, clairvoyance sion of Frances Hodg- AROUND THE WORLD strange and magical CLE Shrewsbury Youth VOYANCE WITH TONY and psychic art, Sat 24 son Burnett’s classic Presented by Concord world, Wed 21 Mar, Theatre present their STOCKWELL Fri 23 Mar, Mar, Palace Theatre, family tale, Sat 24 Mar, College, Tue 20 Mar, Malvern Theatres version of the Bertolt The Place, Oakengates Redditch The Roses, Tewksbury Theatre Severn, GRAVITY Birmingham Brecht classic, Fri 23 Theatre, Telford FAGIN’S LAST HOUR GOLD DUST Definitely Shrewsbury Repertory Theatre Theatre present a play Mar, Theatre Severn, MONKEY POET A double- Charles Dickens’ clas- THAT'LL BE THE DAY! Company present a sic tale of crime and that's inspired by the Shrewsbury bill of critically 2012 TOUR Award-win- contemporary and punishment is re-imag- history and lives of deaf RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR A acclaimed shows, ning entertainment dynamic new play ined in a powerful new people in Birmingham music and dance including Welcome To show that offers a about provocation, stage adaptation - told and the Black Country, extravaganza featuring Afghanistan - a play unique mixture of 50s, Thurs 22 Mar, Arena from the point of view Sat 24 Mar, The Public, the White Russian Cen- adapted from Lt. 60s & 70s rock 'n' roll, Theatre, Wolverhamp- of Fagin the Miser, one West Bromwich tral Band, special guest Greenwood's memoir of Wed 21 Mar, Theatre ton hour before his execu- BJORN AGAIN AND soloists from The Bol- 1844, Fri 23 Mar, Royal Severn, Shrewsbury GREAT EXPECTATIONS tion, Sat 24 Mar, Royal STAVROS FLATLEY Sun shoi, and dancers from Spa Centre, Leaming- GO AND PLAY UP YOUR Crescent Youth Theatre Spa Centre, Leaming- 25 Mar, Regent Theatre, The Belarussian Nation- ton Spa OWN END Malcolm present their version of ton Spa Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent al Folk Dance Acade- GOLD DUST Definitely Stent's Brummie tale of the Dickens classic, LISA WILLIAMS: MES- CHRIS & PUI Children’s my, Fri 23 Mar, Theatre Theatre present a play growing up in Saltley, Thurs 22 - Sat 24 Mar, SAGES FROM BEYOND show packed with Severn, Shrewsbury that's inspired by the Wed 21 Mar, Birming- The Crescent Theatre, Medium Lisa Williams songs, games and a FOR ONCE Darkly comic history and lives of deaf ham Town Hall Birmingham presents a three-hour few surprises!, Sun 25 new play from people in Birmingham GRAVITY Birmingham AN AUDIENCE WITH PAM and the Black Country, live reading session, Mar, Lichfield Garrick

Blue Orange Arts presents Treasure Island By Robert Louis Stevenson Directed by Marcus Fernando Thursday 5th to Sunday 15th April

Suitable for all the family from age 8+

Check website for show times

Tel: Box Office THE BLUE 0121 212 2643 ORANGE THEATRE www.blueorangetheatre.co.uk 118 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham B19 6AD

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Theatre March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 13:54 Page 15

COMING SOON TO THEATRE SEVERN

WED 14 - THU 15 MARCH

The award winning Pentabus The- atre in association with Sherman Fri 16th March Cymru present the acclaimed LIMEHOUSE LIZZY presents The Greatest Hits FOR ONCE of Phil Lynott and Thin lizzy by Tim Rice 7.30pm. Tickets £15, £14 concs In a place where everyone knows your name you can’t Fri 23rd March forget who you are. TONY STOCKWELL: SAT 17 MARCH PSYCHIC MEDIUM 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 Keith James in concert with special guest Louise Spencer Thurs 29th March The songs of THE BOOTLEG Leonard Cohen SIXTIES 7.30pm. Tickets £17.50 Keith James gives a concert of this amazing material. Each Wed 18th April song stripped bakc - desolate, Vienna Festival Ballet naked and sensual presents SWAN LAKE THU 22 MARCH 7.00pm. Tickets £19.50, £17.50 concs Get Redy for the Thu 19th April smash hit concert LIKE A VIRGIN show from 7.30pm. Tickets £10, £8 concs the States Authentically recreating Fri 20th April the harmonies, slick moves, stylish looks and RICH HALL legendary musicianship 8.00pm. Tickets £15 that were the making of Mon 23rd April Motown. THE ULTIMATE EAGLES FRI 23 MARCH 7.30pm. Tickets £17, £16 concs A music and dance extrava- ganza featuring one of the Thu 26th April finest musical ensembles in SOLDIER I the world, An evening with an SAS legend The White Russian 7.30pm. Tickets £18, £17.50 concs Central Band with special guest soloists from The Bol- shoi and dancers from Fri 27th April The Belarussian National THE BURLESQUE Folk Dance Academy. SHOW 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW MORE SHOWS!

Frankwell Quay, Box Office 01743 281 281 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk SY3 8FT

44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 13:54 Page 16

A farcical black comedy between worship, myth by Joseph Kesselring, and sexuality, Thurs 29 Theatre LISTINGS Wed 28 - Sat 31 Mar, - Sat 31 Mar, Theatre Palace Theatre, Red- Severn, Shrewsbury For full listing information on theatre ditch YOUTH THEATRE PRESENT productions, including times and SHE STOOPS TO CON- A double-bill, including dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk QUER National Theatre their version of David Live production of Oliv- Copperfield & Molly er Goldsmith's celebra- Davies’ Shooting Truth, Theatre present Steven tion of chaos, courtship Thurs 29 - Sat 31 Mar, Week Commencing Berkoff’s adaptation of and the dysfunctional Talisman Theatre, Kenil- Franz Kafka’s twentieth family, Thurs 29 Mar, worth MON 26 MAR century masterpiece, Warwick Arts Centre, THE BURLESQUE SHOW Tue 27 Mar, Malvern Coventry An evening of sophisti- Theatres TALES FROM A SEA JOUR- cated tease, wonderful MURDER ON THE NILE FOR ONCE Darkly comic NEY A fusion of story- comedy, magic and The Agatha Christie new play from telling, physical theatre music, Fri 30 Mar, Lich- Equus - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Theatre Company pres- acclaimed Welsh play- & live music from the field Garrick ent their latest produc- wright Tim Price, Tues award-winning NIE The- THE THREEPENNY OPERA adaptation of Franz Strindberg’s compelling tion. Kate O’Mara stars, 27 - Thurs 29 Mar, mac, atre Company, Thurs Presented by the Lon- Kafka's twentieth centu- drama, Sat 31 Mar - Sat Mon 26 - Sat 31 Mar, Birmingham 29 Mar, Artrix, Broms- don Academy of Music ry masterpiece, Sat 31 14 Apr, Belgrade The- Malvern Theatres ALICE Foundation Youth grove and Dramatic Art, Fri 30 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, atre, Coventry THE CHINESE STATE CIR- Theatre present their COFFIN UP Critically - Sat 31 Mar, Ludlow Leamington Spa THE BURLESQUE SHOW CUS Mon 26 Mar, version of the Lewis acclaimed mask theatre Assembly Rooms, MIKE HARDING - ME, A An evening of sophisti- Regent Theatre, Han- Carroll classic, Tue 27 - company Village Idiots South Shropshire GUITAR AND SOME DAFT cated tease, wonderful ley, Stoke-on-Trent Wed 28 Mar, Bridge present a fast-paced TIME HAS FALLEN ASLEEP STUFF An evening of comedy, magic and PROOF The Nonentities House Theatre, War- farcical comedy that IN THE AFTERNOON SUN- songs, daft stories and music, Sat 31 Mar, present their version of wick tells the story of a das- SHINE Birmingham monologues, Sat 31 Crewe Lyceum David Auburn’s award- HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES tardly undertaker and Repertory Theatre, Mar, Huntingdon Hall, OH WHAT A NIGHT! The winning play, Mon 26 - Wed 28 Mar, Malvern his attempt to make together with Fierce Worcester Arcadians present an Sat 31 Mar, The Rose Theatres money - whatever the Festival, present the UK LULLABIES OF BROADWAY evening of song from Theatre, Kidderminster THE MERRY WIDOW consequences, Thurs premiere of Mette The Old Joint Stock the musicals, Sat 31 MONTY PYTHON'S SPA- Opera della Luna return 29 Mar, Arena Theatre, Edvardsen's intimate Musical Theatre Com- Mar, The Crescent The- MALOT Eric Idle and to the Midlands with a Wolverhampton scenario that's inspired pany present a collec- atre, Birmingham John Du Prez provide new production of MAN Evening of come- by Ray Bradbury's sci-fi tion of musical high- THE PILLOWMAN The the musical score to a Lehar's classic dy, storytelling, per- novel Fahrenheit 451, lights, including Chess, Crescent Theatre Com- much-acclaimed musi- operetta, Wed 28 Mar, formance and projec- Fri 30 Mar - Sat 7 Apr, Les Miserables, Phan- pany present Martin cal that tells the leg- Lichfield Garrick tion that charts the Birmingham Central tom Of The Opera, Sis- McDonagh’s award- endary tale of King SENSE AND SENSIBILITY story of Dan and Library ter Act, and many winning drama, Sat 31 Arthur and his knights Chapterhouse Theatre Nathan's lives, from THE TEMPEST David Farr more..., Sat 31 Mar - Mar - Sat 7 Apr, Cres- of the Round present a brand new conception to their directs a new version of Sun 1 Apr, Old Joint cent Theatre, Birming- Table.Bonnie Langford adaptation of Jane inevitable demise, Thu the Bard’s final master- Stock Theatre, Birming- ham and Todd Carty star, Austen’s classic family 29 Mar, Old Joint Stock piece, Fri 30 Mar - Sat ham FASCINATING AIDA - THE Mon 26 - Sat 31 Mar, saga, Wed 28 Mar, The Theatre, Birmingham 19 May, The Royal ENCHANTED BURLESQUE CHEAP FLIGHTS TOUR Sat New Alexandra Theatre, Roses Theatre, Tewks- OLD HERBACEOUS A one- Shakespeare Theatre, Sat 31 Mar, Old Rep, 31 Mar, Stafford Gate- Birmingham bury man show that's adapt- Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham house Theatre THE PIRATES OF PEN- SENSUALIZE SMASH ed from Reginald THE TRIAL Blackeyed THE FATHER Brand new ZANCE The GWOS pres- present some of Dr Arkell's book, Thurs 29 Theatre present an version of August ent one of Gilbert & Seuss’s famous charac- - Fri 30 Mar, Solihull Sullivan's best known ters in a musical for all Arts Complex operettas, Tue 27 - Sat ages, Wed 28 - Sat 31 HORRIBLE HISTORIES - 31 Mar, The Swan The- Mar, Dovehouse The- THE TERRIBLE TUDORS & atre, Worcester atre, Solihull VILE VICTORIANS Histori- THOROUGHLY MODERN A TASTE OF HONEY Ama- cal figures come to life MILLIE Leamington & teur production of with two live stage Warwick Musical Socie- Sheila Delaney's power- shows for children, ty present an amateur ful drama the provides Thurs 29 Mar - Sun 1 version of the award- a stark look at working Apr, Regent Theatre, winning musical, Tue class life in 1950s Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent 27 - Sat 31 Mar, Royal Britain, Wed 28 - Sat 31 EQUUS Peter Shaffer’s Spa Centre, Leaming- Mar, Oldbury Rep - Bar- unique psychological ton Spa low Theatre thriller that explores the THE TRIAL Blackfeet ARSENIC AND OLD LACE complex relationships

Theatre Box Office

Birmingham GRAND THEATRE, COVENTRY 024 7655 3055 01902 429212 ALEXANDRA THEATRE BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, 0844 871 3011 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY WARWICK 01926 776438 0121 552 2761 BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THE DREAM FACTORY 0844 338 5000 THE PUBLIC, WEST 01926 419555 BROMWICH 0121 533 7161 BIRMINGHAM REP ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THE- 0121 236 4455 ATRE, STRATFORD-UPON- Shropshire AVON 0844 800 1110 THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE LUDLOW ASSEMBLY 0121 212 2643 ROYAL SPA CENTRE ROOMS 01584 878141 LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 CRESCENT THEATRE THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, 0121 643 5858 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE TELFORD 01952 382382 COVENTRY 02476 524524 DOVEHOUSE THEATRE THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWS- 0121 706 7139 BURY 01743 281281 Worcestershire THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 Staffordshire ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, MAC 0121 446 3232 LICHFIELD GARRICK BROMSGROVE01527 577330 OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE 01543 412121 HUNTINGDON HALL, 0121 200 0946 NEW VIC 01782 717962 WORCESTER 01905 611427 OLD REP 0121 245 4455 PRINCE OF WALES MALVERN THEATRE SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX CENTRE, CANNOCK 01684 892277 0121 704 6962 01543 578762 NORBURY THEATRE, REGENT THEATRE, STOKE DROITWICH Black Country 0870 060 6649 01905 770154 ARENA THEATRE STAFFORD GATEHOUSE PALACE THEATRE WOLVERHAMPTON 01785 254653 REDDITCH 01527 65203 01902 321321 ROSE THEATRE, BLOXWICH THEATRE Warwickshire 01562 743745 01922 653183 BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL SWAN THEATRE, DUDLEY CONCERT HALL 024 7637 6707 WORCESTER 01905 611427 01384 812812 BELGRADE THEATRE,

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45 Theatre March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 13:54 Page 17

Steven Berkoff In Theatre REVIEWS Shakespeare’s Villains Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton Here are a few of the theatre The 'bad boy of theatre' may be a veter- productions we reviewed from last an performer nowadays, clocking up month. For further theatre reviews, visit, his seventy-fifth year, but in Shake- www.whatsonlive.co.uk speare’s Villains Steven Berkoff delight- edly exploits the fact that our fascina- Sister Act tion with evil and its perpetrators is age- less. Shakespeare’s most unpleasant The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton characters are all present-and-correct in There’s always a fear that something significant this ninety minute one-man perform- may be lost in a transition from screen to stage, ance - think Iago and Richard III, for especially with a show as iconic as Sister Act. ‘stiff’ Mother Superior was every bit as heavenly example - and are joined by some per- But I’m pleased to report that this most certain- as Michael Starke's Father O’Hara was saintly. haps less obvious 'baddies' - Hamlet ly wasn’t the case with this reworked version of But the award for comic delivery and value-for- ('the student who becomes a serial Whoopi Goldberg’s West End triumph. In fact, I money entertainment has got to go to Jacque- killer') and the lustful, scheming actually enjoyed it more than the movie. line Clarke, who made the hyperactive Sister Oberon. All are portrayed and dissected A notable absence from the stage show is the Mary Lazarus' comic antics far funnier than they with an unsettling mixture of humour original score, but get over this and you're left were in the film. Hats (or should that be wim- and outrage. While Berkoff’s menacing with a fast-paced, upbeat musical that’s burst- ples?) off also to Gavin Alex, Daniel Stockton presence suppresses any temptation to ing at the seams with holy joy, not to mention and Tyrone Huntley, all of whom were hilarious boo the villain panto-style, his gift for some of the best one-liners ever. as gangsta Curtis’ inept sidekicks. Add to the mimicry and grotesque characterisation As for the cast, it was a case of faultless per- mix some funky choreography, colourful cos- make laughter a constant counterpoint formances throughout. Relative newcomer Cyn- tumes, hand-clapping tunes and a real 'cool to the audience’s discomfort. Throw in thia Eviro was triumphant as high-spirited disco dude’ of a policeman, and you’ve got yourself comic asides about some honoured diva Delores, who, while hiding from mobsters one hell of a show. Praise be the Lord! thespian rivals (not to mention critics), in a convent, gives the tone-deaf sisters a real Davina Evans IIII I the politics of Hollywood villains and sense of soul. Denise Black’s portrayal of the the universal villainy of politicians, and the experience is complete. Not simply a masterclass but also a riotous cele- South Pacific bration of the art of performance, pre- New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham sented by one of theatre's most aston- ishing practitioners. The lush, tropical backdrop to Rodgers and David Barron IIIII Hammerstein’s hit musical South Pacific was a welcome addition to Birmingham’s New Alexan- dra Theatre on a cold February evening. Set on Nora a US naval base within the Polynesian islands Belgrade Theatre, Coventry during World War Two, the much-loved musical focuses on the blossoming but complex rela- You’ve got to applaud the Belgrade tionship between American nurse Nellie For- Theatre in Coventry. Staging Nora, Ing- bush and French plantation owner Emile De mar Bergman’s adaptation of Ibsen’s A Becque, and the rather more ill-fated interaction Doll’s House, is certainly a brave choice Also absent was Womack's fellow former East- of Lieutenant Cable and native islander Liat. in an age of arts cuts. Dealing with a Ender Alex Ferns, due to play loveable rogue The role of small-town girl Nellie was ear- mother’s decision to turn her back on Luther Billis. Understudy Cameron Jack was, marked for Samantha Womack. Having her husband and children, the original however, a joy to watch. become so accustomed to seeing the actress play caused an outcry when it was first This reincarnation of South Pacific remained as EastEnders’ feisty Ronnie Mitchell, I was presented back in 1879. And although faithful to the original (which debuted on Broad- looking forward to Womack’s return to the we may still live in a sexist world, direc- way over half a century ago), impressively stage. But illness saw understudy Carly Ander- tor Patricia Benecke’s decision to showcasing that always-winning combination of son treading the boards instead. While Ander- update the play’s setting to the twenty- powerful voices and talented orchestra. Howev- son delivered a pretty convincing Southern first century seems to diminish the er, with Act One nearly two hours in length, a lit- drawl, she failed to hit the mark when singing power of the piece. Another problem is tle modern-day editing wouldn't have gone big numbers such as I’m Gonna Wash That that Benecke’s version doesn’t feature amiss. Claire Lloyd III II Man Right Outa My Hair. Nora’s children, which makes the impact of deciding to leave them for a new life far less shocking. That said, there's some great acting on Theatre Box Office display, especially from Penny Layden in the title role, and it’s always a pleas- Birmingham Black Country Staffordshire 0844 800 1110 ure to experience such intense drama in B2, the Belgrade’s studio space. So ALEXANDRA THEATRE ARENA THEATRE LICHFIELD GARRICK ROYAL SPA CENTRE 0844 871 3011 WOLVERHAMPTON 01543 412121 LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 although this production doesn’t quite BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME 01902 321321 NEW VIC 01782 717962 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE hit the mark, it most definitely gets an A 0844 338 5000 BLOXWICH THEATRE PRINCE OF WALES COVENTRY 02476 524524 for effort. Jack Rolfe III II BIRMINGHAM REP 01922 653183 CENTRE, CANNOCK 0121 236 4455 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL 01543 578762 Worcestershire ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, BROMS- THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE 01384 812812 REGENT THEATRE, STOKE GROVE01527 577330 0121 212 2643 GRAND THEATRE, 0870 060 6649 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCES- CRESCENT THEATRE 01902 429212 01785 254653 TER 01905 611427 0121 643 5858 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY MALVERN THEATRE DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 0121 552 2761 Warwickshire 01684 892277 0121 706 7139 THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL NORBURY THEATRE, THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 0121 533 7161 024 7637 6707 DROITWICH MAC 0121 446 3232 Shropshire BELGRADE THEATRE, COVEN- 01905 770154 OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE LUDLOW ASSEMBLY TRY 024 7655 3055 PALACE THEATRE 0121 200 0946 ROOMS 01584 878141 BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WAR- REDDITCH 01527 65203 OLD REP 0121 245 4455 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, WICK 01926 776438 ROSE THEATRE, SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX TELFORD 01952 382382 THE DREAM FACTORY 01562 743745 0121 704 6962 THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWS- 01926 419555 SWAN THEATRE, BURY 01743 281281 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THE- WORCESTER 01905 611427 ATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

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Theatre WEST END Anna Chancellor to return to the West End... Best known for her per- formance as Duckface in Four Weddings And A Funeral, and, more recently, as Lix Storm in The Hour, British actress Anna Chancellor has announced that she’s to reprise her role in a Chichester Festival Theatre double-bill when it transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre on 19 April. Anna will star opposite The Iron Lady actor Nicholas Farrell in both David Hare’s South Downs and Terence Rattigan’s The Browning Version - two plays that explore life in a boarding school, with the playwrights' educational experiences providing the back- drop. New musical to celebrate Dickens’ birthday Actor and director Paul Nicholas has con- firmed that he’s to bring a new musical ver- Stars of the West End announced for charity fundraiser sion of the Dickens’ classic A Tale Of Two Cities to the London stage. In a year that cel- Some of the West End’s most talented vocal- carpou, The Night Of 1000 Voices features ebrates the two hundredth anniversary of the ists have signed up to perform at this year’s scenes and tunes from numerous iconic esteemed novelist’s birth, Nicholas will pay The Night Of 1000 Voices - an annual British musicals, including Evita, The Lion homage with a dramatic staging of the clas- fundraising event that aims to raise much- King, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar sic story of love and sacrifice. needed funds for the blood cancer charity and, new for 2012, Miss Saigon. Casting is yet to be announced for the pro- Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Distinguished West End conductors Stuart duction, which features music by David Hosted by former I’m A Celebrity winner Morley and David Firman steer the event, Pomeranz and lyrics by Steven Horwich. Christopher Biggins, and showcasing per- which takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on A Tale Of Two Cities runs at Charing Cross formances from Kerry Ellis, Bonnie Langford, 6 May. Theatre from 5 April to 12 May. Ricardo Afonso, Daniel Boys and Peter Poly-

KINGS SPEECH Wynd- WILD SWANS Young Vic COMEDY OF ERRORS WEST END LISTINGS: DRAMA ham’s Theatre, 22 Mar Theatre, 13 Apr 2012 - Olivier National Theatre, 2012 - 21 July 2012 13 May 2012 booking until 1 Apr AFTER MISS JULIE Young LONG DAY’S JOURNEY WOMAN IN BLACK For- 2012 MIDNIGHT TANGO Ald- Vic Theatre (maria stu- INTO NIGHT Apollo The- tune Theatre, booking HAYFEVER Noel Coward MUSICALS wych Theatre, booking dio), 15 Mar 2012 - 7 atre, 2 Apr 2012 - 18 Aug until 15 Dec 2012 Theatre, booking until 2 until 31 March 2012 Apr 2012 2012 June 2012 BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSI- PHANTOM OF THE OPERA BEING SHAKESPEARE MASTERCLASS Vaudeville CAL Victoria Palace COMEDY JACKIE MASON - FEAR- Her Majesty's Theatre, Trafalgar Studio 1 The- Theatre, booking until 28 LESS Wyndham’s The- Theatre, booking until Apr 2012 15 Dec 2012 booking until 27 Oct atre, 7 Mar 2012 - 31 39 STEPS Criterion The- atre, booking until 17 2012 Mar 2012 MOON ON A RAINBOW Mar 2012 BLOOD BROTHERS atre, booking until 20 ROCK OF AGES SHAWL Cottesloe Nation- Phoenix Theatre book- Shaftes- BELONG Royal Court al Theatre, 7 Mar 2012 - Oct 2012 LADY KILLERS Gielgud ing until 24 Nov 2012 bury Theatre, booking Theatre, 26 Apr 2012 - 27 Mar 2012 ABSENT FRIENDS Harold Theatre, booking until until 20 Oct 2012 14 Apr 2012 CHICAGO Garrick The- 26 May 2012 MOUSETRAP St Martins Pinter Theatre, booking atre booking until 26 SHREK THE MUSICAL BINGO Young Vic The- Theatre, booking until 15 until 14 Apr 2012 NOISES OFF Old Vic The- Jan 2013 Drury Lane, Theatre atre, booking until 31 Dec 2012 ALL NEW PEOPLE Duke atre, booking until 10 Royal, booking until 21 Mar 2012 Of York’s Theatre, book- Mar 2012 CRAZY FOR YOU Novello Oct 2012 PITMAN PAINTERS Theatre booking until CAN WE TALK ABOUT Duchess Theatre, book- ing until 28 Apr 2012 SHE STEPS TO CONQUER SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN ing until 14 Apr 2012 17 March 2012 THIS? Lyttelton National AWKWARD SQUAD Arts Olivier National Theatre, PalaceTheatre, booking RECRUITING OFFICER Don- booking until 29 Mar DREAMBOATS & PETTI- until 29 Sept 2012 Theatre, 9 Mar 2012 - 28 Theatre, 6 Mar 2012 - 7 COATS Playhouse The- Mar 2012 mar Warehouse, book- Apr 2012 2012 atre, booking until 24 STOMP Ambassadors ing until 14 Apr 2012 Nov 2012 Theatre, booking until CHILDREN’S CHILDREN Almeida Theatre, 17 15 Dec 2012 Lady Killers, Geilgud Theatre GHOST THE MUSICAL Pic- May 2012 - 30 June cadilly Theatre, booking SWEENEY TODD - THE 2012 until 13 Oct 2012 DEMON BARBER OF FLEET JERSEY BOYS Prince STREET COLLABORATORS Olivier Edward Theatre, book- Adelphi Theatre, 10 Mar National Theatre, 30 Apr ing until 21 Oct 2012 2012 - 22 Sept 2012 - 30 May 2012 LEGALLY BLONDE THE THRILLER LIVE Lyric The- DUCHESS OF MALFI Old MUSICAL Savoy Theatre, atre, booking until 23 Vic Theatre, 17 Mar booking until 7 April Sept 2012 2012 - 9 June 2012 2012 TOP HAT Aldwych The- FILUMENA Almeida The- LES MISÉRABLES Queen's atre, 19 Apr 2012 - 26 atre, 15 Mar 2012 - 12 Theatre booking until 27 Jan 2013 May 2012 Oct 2012 WE WILL ROCK YOU GOING DARK Young Vic Dominion Theatre, book- LION KING Lyceum The- Theatre, 6 Mar 2012 - 24 atre, booking until 9 Sept ing until 20 Oct 2012 Mar 2012 2012 WICKED Apollo Victoria MAMMA MIA! Prince of Theatre, booking until HENRY V Shakespeare Wales Theatre, booking 27 Apr 2013 Globe Theatre, 7 June 2012 - 26 Aug 2012 until 13 Apr 2013 WIZARD OF OZ London MATILDA THE MUSICAL Palladium Theatre, HORRIBLE HISTORIES - Cambridge Theatre, booking until 28 Oct BARMY BRITAIN Garrick booking until 21 Oct 2012 Theatre, booking until 1 2012 Sept 2012

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Dance March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:45 Page 1 Dance

Blanca Li Dance Company: Elektro Kif Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 6 - Wed 7 March Comprising an all-male cast of eight young dancers, Elektro Kif combines various physical forms to deliver an urban production that explores the hopes and fears, friendships, fights and rivalries that face students during a typical day at college. Fast-paced, colourful and humorous, this often-anarchic piece also features a musical composition from Tao Gutierrez, blending techno with electro house, afrobeat, sampling and classical music to impressive effect.

Lord Of The Dance Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 20 - Sun 25 March 12 Moves: After Dark Since it was first previewed in Dublin back in 1996, Michael Flatley’s choreographed Croft Rd Railway Arches, Worcester, adventure has become an international phenomenon, breaking records worldwide as Sat 24 March the biggest grossing tour in the history of entertainment. Recognised for catapulting Irish A project that's been three years in the making, 12 music into the limelight, Lord Of The Dance presents a tale of good versus evil, and Moves: After Dark is set to light up the Worcester combines precision dancing with state-of-the-art lighting and pyrotechnics. For those skyline this month. The event, which is packed who're interested in the story as well as the dancing, it recounts the journey of the Lord with dance-related activities in which visitors can Of The Dance as he travels through a mythical universe of love, danger and desire to participate, is part of the Cultural Olympiad’s protect his people from the evil powers of Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord. Dancing For The Games initiative, and climaxes with an evening performance by dance develop- ment organisation Dancefest. In partnership with digital artists SDNA, Dancefest will transform the city’s railway arches into a giant cinema screen, upon which they'll project footage of performanc- es by the hundreds of Worcestershire dancers who’ve taken part in workshops and projects over the past three years. During the screening, dancers will pop up in and around the audience, performing to live music from renowned com- poser Mira Calix.

48 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Dance March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:45 Page 2

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance: Midlands Theatre Ballet Dance Dance LISTINGS present their version of Classic Cut the classic fairytale, Box Office Fri 16 - Sat 17 Mar, The mac, Birmingham, Tues 20 March For full listing information on dance, Crescent Theatre, By fusing movements from her South including times and dates, visit Birmingham ALEXANDRA THEATRE, www.whatsonlive.co.uk ANTON & ERIN LET'S DO BIRMINGHAM Asian roots with traditional ballet and other IT Anton du Beke and 0844 871 3011 modern forms of dance, acclaimed chore- SPRING PASSIONS acceptance, Thurs 8 Erin Boag return with a BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL ographer Shobana Jeyasingh devises easi- Birmingham Royal Mar, The Edge Arts sensational new show, 024 7637 6707 ly identifiable contemporary works that are Ballet perform two Centre, Much Wenlock, Sun 18 Mar, Symphony BELGRADE THEATRE, recognised on an international level. This uplifting stories of sur- South Shropshire Hall, Birmingham COVENTRY 024 7655 vival and young love, 3055 Birmingham performance sees her compa- RICHARD ALSTON DANCE CLASSIC CUT New show including Daphnis and COMPANY This year, the from acclaimed chore- BIRMINGHAM ny presenting a double-bill comprising the Chloe, a fantastical tale company’s programme ographer Shobana HIPPODROME troupe's 1989 production Configurations - set on an island para- is danced to music Jeyasingh that revisits 0844 338 5000 a modern British take on classic Indian dise in ancient Greece, spanning four cen- the past and takes a BIRMINGHAM dance - and a new (as yet untitled) piece and Frederick Ashton's turies, from Mozart to bold step into the new, TOWN HALL poignant Parisian idyll featuring newly commissioned music from Benjamin Britten and Tues 20 Mar, mac, 0121 780 3333 The Two Pigeons, until Steve Reich, Tue 13 - Birmingham Indian composer Niraj Chag. GRAND THEATRE, Sat 3 Mar, Birmingham Wed 14 Mar, Malvern LORD OF THE DANCE 01902 429212 Hippodrome Theatres Since its 1996 preview SWAN LAKE Presented MALVERN THEATRE AT SWIM TWO BOYS in Dublin, Michael 01684 892277 by Moscow Ballet La Earthfall revive their Flatley's choreo- Classique, Thurs 1 - award-winning produc- graphed adventure - THE PLACE, TELFORD 01952 382382 Sat 3 Mar, Belgrade tion that’s set entirely based on ancient Irish Theatre in water. Based in folklore - has gone on REGENT THEATRE, STOKE- CELTIC DREAM A breath- Ireland in 1916, the to become the most ON-TRENT taking journey of story follows a develop- successful touring 0870 060 6649 music, song and ing relationship show in entertainment SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX dance, Fri 2 Mar, The between two young history, Tue 20 - Sun 25 0121 704 6962 Swan Theatre, men against a back- Mar, Symphony Hall, THE SWAN THEATRE, Worcester drop of political turmoil, Birmingham WORCESTER SWAN LAKE Presented Thurs 15 Mar, Artrix, GET ACTIVE AND DANCE 3 01905 611427 by Moscow Ballet La Bromsgrove Featuring a fusion of all THEATRE SEVERN, Classique, Thurs 8 Mar, SWAN LAKE Vienna types of dance, from SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn, Festival Ballet present Street dance and 01743 281281 Shrewsbury a lavish production of Bollywood, to Hip-Hop VICTORIA HALL, STOKE- LUNA Pretty Good Girl one of the best known and much more, Sat 24 ON-TRENT Dance Theatre fuse love stories of all time, - Sun 25 Mar, The 0844 871 7649 storytelling, dance, film set to Tchaikovsky's Public, West Bromwich WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, and physical theatre to enchanting score, Fri ACE DANCE AND MUSIC COVENTRY explore themes of iden- 16 Mar, Artrix, EASTER GALA PERFORM- 02476 524524 tity, belonging and Bromsgrove ANCE Sat 31 Mar, The SLEEPING BEAUTY Drum, Birmingham

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

From WED 28 MAR The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists CERT U (88 mins) Featuring the voices of Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Martin Freeman, Lenny Henry, Brendan Gleeson Directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt (UK/USA) While Sony and Aardman’s Arthur Christmas had its share of charm and invention, it lacked the homemade TOP 5 texture of the Wallis and Gromit films. Here, Aardman and Sony Pictures team up on a rollicking adaptation FILM BOX OFFICE of the first two volumes of Gideon Defoe’s pirate quintet aimed squarely at the funny bone. The good news is that the film, while presented in 3D, is handcrafted in the painstaking stop-motion tradition, and is direct- ed by Peter Lord, he who brought us the wonderful Chicken Run. And the trailer promises a very special The Woman In Black treat indeed. 1 (12a) We Bought A Zoo 2 The Muppets (U) CERT PG (124 mins) Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Star Wars: Episode 1 - Church, Patrick Fugit, Colin Ford, 3 Phantom Menace (U) Elle Fanning, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Angus Macfadyen, Peter Riegert, John Michael Higgins The Vow (12a) Directed by Cameron Crowe (USA) 4 Matt Damon is not having much luck with his wives of late (cf. Contagion). Here, he plays a Chronicle (12a) recent widower who decides to 5 take on an abandoned zoo in order to escape his past. Damon plays Benjamin Mee, on whose memoir the film is based, and the subject is something of a depar- ture for the director Cameron From Crowe. Crowe was previously FRI 16 responsible for such cutting-edge

MAR films as Jerry Maguire, Almost The Woman In Black Famous and Vanilla Sky. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 51 Film march_Layout 1 27/02/2012 12:58 Page 3

FilmNEW RELEASES

Released from Fri 2 March

Michael CERT 18 (96 mins) Starring Michael Fuith, David Rauchenberger, Christine Kain Directed by Markus Schleinzer (Austria) After being held captive for eight years, the Viennese teenager Natascha Kampusch escaped her kidnapper on 23 August 2006. Can it really be that long ago? Hollywood came calling but the first film out of the gate is this Austrian production inspired by the Kampusch story. First-time director Schleinzer has changed the victim to a ten- year-old boy but the song remains the same. The film’s reception at Cannes was both hos- tile and adulatory.

Michael

Wanderlust

Hunky Dory CERT 15 (110 mins) Wanderlust CERT 15 (98 mins) Starring Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard, Starring Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin George Mackay, Tom Harries, Kimberly Nixon Theroux, Malin Åkerman, Alan Alda, Ray Directed by Marc Evans (Wales) Liotta Directed by David Wain (USA) Marc Evans is unequivocally the greatest liv- ing director to come out of Wales. Having When a Manhattanite (Rudd) loses his job, dabbled with everything from drama to hor- he and his wife decide to leave the Big City. ror, Evans now turns to something a little On the way to stay with his family in rural more uplifting. Here, he charts the obstacles Georgia, George and Linda decide to move thrown in the path of an idealistic Swansea into a hippie commune. Rudd and Aniston, secondary school teacher (Driver) who both enormously engaging romantic leads, attempts to mount a musical version of The last appeared together in the 1988 romcom Tempest. The Object Of My Affection.

52 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Film march_Layout 1 27/02/2012 14:29 Page 4

Released from Fri 9 March

Cleanskin CERT 15 (108 mins)

Starring Sean Bean, Charlotte Rampling, Abhin Galeya, James Fox, Michelle Ryan Directed by Hadi Hajaig (UK) It may sound like an extended ad for Clearasil but this is actually a terrorist thriller. Sean Bean plays a Secret Service agent assigned to wipe out a terrorist cell, while his prey (Galeya) wrestles with his own moral conscience. Filmed in and around London.

Cleanskin

Trishna CERT 15 (113 mins) Starring Freida Pinto, Riz Ahmed, Roshan Seth, Kalki Koechlin Directed by Michael Winterbottom (UK) Michael Winterbottom, director of A Mighty Heart and The Killer Inside Me, has dabbled Bel Ami with the works of Thomas Hardy on two pre- vious occasions, with Jude and The Claim The Decoy Bride CERT 12a (89 mins) Bel Ami (the latter adapted from The Mayor Of CERT 15 (103 mins) Casterbridge). Now he takes Hardy’s 1891 Starring Kelly Macdonald, David Tennant, novel Tess Of The Alice Eve, Sally Phillips, Dylan Moran Starring Robert Pattinson, Christina Ricci, Directed by Sheree Folkson (UK) D’Urbevilles and Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colm transplants it to Sally Phillips is best known as a comedienne Meaney Directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod (UK/France/Italy) contemporary but changes her spots here to direct this The great unwashed will be clamouring to India, where homegrown romantic comedy. Alice Eve – see this because of Robert Pattinson - but Freida Pinto daughter of Trevor – plays Lara Tyler, a they may be in for a surprise. This is, in (Slumdog world-class movie star who is preparing to fact, a costume drama adapted from the Millionaire) plays marry her fiancé (Tennant) on a remote 1885 French novel by Guy de Maupassant the daughter of an Scottish island. However, to outwit the - and is directed by the co-founders of the auto rickshaw paparazzi, they hire a local girl (Macdonald) Cheek By Jowl theatre company. Still, driver. Trishna to impersonate the star. women will be seduced (at least, on screen). John Carter CERT 12a (132 mins)

Starring Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Samantha Released from Fri 16 March Morton, Mark Strong Directed by Andrew Stanton (USA) Boasting a $250 million budget, this is a truly In Darkness CERT 15 (144 mins) epic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Starring Robert Wieckiewicz, Benno Fürmann, novel A Princess Of Mars (1911), the first of Agnieszka Grochowska, Maria Schrader his eleven-volume Barsoom series. The Directed by Agnieszka Holland (Poland) Canadian actor-model Taylor Kitsch (X-Men Nominated for the Oscar as best foreign lan- Origins: Wolverine) has been cast in the guage feature, this is the true story of a plum role of Carter, a former Confederate The Decoy Bride sewage worker who enters into a contract soldier who ends up on Mars defending its with escaping Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland. inhabitants from various monstrous crea- From the acclaimed director of Europa tures. Naturally, the film will be released in The Raven CERT 15 (111 mins) Europa, Olivier, and The Secret Garden.

3D. Starring John Cusack, Alice Eve, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Luke Evans, Kevin McNally, Pam Ferris Directed by James McTeigue (USA/Hungary/Spain) The macabre writer Edgar Allan Poe will always be associated with his 1845 narrative poem The Raven. Here, John Cusack (already five years older than Poe at the time of his death) plays the American poet on the trail of a serial killer who is re-enacting scenes from the author’s work. The director previously brought us V For Vendetta. John Carter In Darkness

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Wrath Of The Titans CERT tbc Starring Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Édgar Ramírez, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson Directed by Jonathan Liebesman (USA) For those who lapped up the digitally con- structed histrionics of Clash Of The Titans and Immortals, there’s plenty more where that came from. Here, Perseus (Mr Worthington) finds himself in the company of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon and all kinds of colossal beasties. But it’s Rosamund Pike as the warrior queen Andromeda who should cut the most striking figure. We think.

Wrath Of The Titans

From FRI 23 MAR Wild Bill CERT 15 (98 mins) The Hunger Games Starring Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter, Sammy Williams, Leo Gregory, Liz White, Andy Serkis Directed by Dexter Fletcher (UK ) CERT tbc After eight years in prison, Bill Hayward has The Hunger Games Contraband CERT 15 (110 mins) put his wilder days behind him. But when he Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, J.K. Simmons, returns home to East London, he finds his Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Lukas Haas Directed by Baltasar Kormákur wife gone and his two sons, aged eleven and Sutherland Directed by Gary Ross (USA) (USA/UK/France) fifteen, fending for themselves. And they are Translated into twenty-six different lan- Mark Wahlberg plays a former smuggler who none too happy to see him… Dexter guages and the inspiration for a number of is forced to return to his old ways when his Fletcher, who played 'Soap’ in Lock, Stock parodies, Suzanne Collins' sci-fi novel is family is threatened by an implacable gang- And Two Smoking Barrels, has chosen a something of a publishing phenomenon. ster (Ribisi). A remake of the 2008 Icelandic familiar milieu for his directorial debut. Yet Set in a post-apocalyptic future in a land thriller Reykjavík-Rotterdam, Contraband is he's given it a freshness, charm and heart called Panem - where North America used directed by the former film’s star Kormákur, that is at once surprising and completely to be - the story follows the travails of who is equally proficient on both sides of the engaging. And, being an actor, he's elicited a Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) as she com- camera. Filmed in New Orleans and Panama. raft of outstanding performances, particularly petes in a game to the death on live TV. from the younger members of his cast. Will Three sequels are already in pre-produc- Poulter, from Son Of Rambow and The tion. Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, is especially a revelation as an embittered teenager now employed as a construction worker on the 21 Jump Street CERT 15 (109 mins) Olympic Stadium. All round, then, this is an Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie accomplished and gripping, funny film. Larson, Ice Cube, Johnny Depp Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (USA) CERT tbc The 1987 to 1991 TV police series 21 Jump Gone Street launched the careers of Johnny Depp Starring Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Jennifer Carpenter, Wes Bentley and Richard Grieco, one of whom went on to Directed by Heitor Dhalia (USA) become a very big star indeed. Oscar nomi- nee Jonah Hill (Moneyball) takes on the Filmed in and around Portland, Oregon, this movie adaptation as co-writer, executive pro- Contraband thriller stars Amanda Seyfried as a woman ducer and star, playing an undercover cop still recovering from the trauma of being kid- who infiltrates a high school in order to napped by a serial killer. And then her sister expose a synthetic drug ring. Johnny Depp Released from Fri 30 March goes missing… Definitely one for Amanda recreates his original role in a cameo. Seyfried completists.

Streetdance 2 CERT tbc Starring Falk Hentschel, Sofia Boutella, George Sampson, Flawless, Tom Conti Directed by Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini (UK) The streets of London can no longer contain the moves of Eddie (George Sampson), and so he and his new best friend Ash (Falk Hentschel) travel round Europe looking for new dancers to compete against the awe- some dance crew Invincible. Locations include Paris, Berlin, Rome and Trafalgar Square, and there’s a Latin twist thrown in for 21 Jump Street good measure. Gone

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Birmingham Midland novel by Jonathan and a gigantic white shoe shiner who takes Institute, Thurs 15 Mar Safran Foer. Showing at stallion with magical pity on an African boy FilmA-Z LISTINGS Light House Media powers. Showing at who arrives in the city Blood In The Mobile 12a Centre, Wolverhampton, Warwick Arts Centre, by cargo ship. Showing All films are currently on general release Frank Poulsen’s disturb- Fri 16 - Thurs 22 Mar; Coventry, Sat 17 Mar at mac, Birmingham as unless otherwise stated. For full listing ing documentary that mac, Birmingham, Fri 30 part of the city’s explores the link The Iron Lady 12a information, including times and dates, Mar - Thurs 5 Apr Flatpack Festival, Thurs between the production Meryl Streep stars as 15 Mar visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk of mobile phones and Gone tbc Margaret Thatcher in the Congo’s brutal civil See Preview Page 55 Abi Morgan’s com- Hunky Dory 15 story of seminal pop war. Showing at Library pelling story that paints See Preview Page 52 21 Jump Street 15 The Girl With The See Preview Page 55 misfits Pulp, from their Theatre, Birmingham, an intimate portrait of Sheffield roots, through Tues 6 Mar Dragon Tattoo 18 Britain’s first-ever female Like Crazy PG A Dangerous Method 15 to their place at the fore- Adaptation of the first Prime Minister. Showing Independent American Michael Fassbender front of the Britpop Carnage 15 novel in Stieg Larsson’s at OMH, Shrewsbury, Fri romance that’s based and Keira Knightley star movement. Showing at Jodie Foster and Kate literary blockbuster, The 2 - Thurs 8 Mar; Wem on the director Drake in David Cronenberg’s mac, Birmingham, Thurs Winslet star alongside Millennium Trilogy. Town Hall, North Doremus’ experiences drama that’s based on 29 Mar John C. Reilly and Daniel Craig and Shropshire, Thurs 8 when his girlfriend was the turbulent relation- Christopher Waltz in Christopher Plummer Mar; Stoke Film Theatre, forbidden from entering ship between Carl Jung Bel Ami 15 Roman Polanski’s adap- star. Showing at OMH, Fri 16 - Sat 17 Mar the US because of visa and Sigmund Freud. See Preview Page 53 tation of Yasmina Reza’s Shrewsbury, Fri 2 - problems. Showing at Showing at Electric play The God Of Thurs 8 Mar; Stoke Film J Edgar 15 mac, Birmingham, Mon Cinema, Birmingham, Carnage. Showing at Theatre, Fri 9 - Sat 10 Leonardo Di Caprio & 12 - Thurs 15 Mar Thurs 1 Mar; Warwick Light House Media Mar Naomi Watts star in Arts Centre, Coventry, Centre, Wolverhampton, Clint Eastwood’s explo- Los Bastardys 18 Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Mar; Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Mar; Hail The Conquering ration of the public and Crime thriller that fol- Light House Media WATCH Artrix, Bromsgrove, Hero U private life of one of the lows twenty-four hours Centre, Sun 18 - Tues 20 Preston Sturges’ 1944 most powerful, contro- in the lives of Fausto Wolverhampton, Fri THE FILM Mar comedy that stars Eddie versial and enigmatic and Jesus, two undocu- 2 - Thurs 8 Mar; Bracken as a man dis- figures of the twentieth mented Mexican day- mac, Birmingham, Cleanskin 15 charged from the century. Showing at labourers in L.A. Fri 9 - Thurs 15 Mar TRAILERS AT See Preview Page marines due to chronic Warwick Arts Centre, Showing at Birmingham 53 hay fever. Showing at Coventry, Fri 30 Mar - Library Theatre, Tues 27 The Age Of Stupid whatsonlive.co.uk Stoke Film Theatre, Mon Sun 1 Apr Mar 12a Colossal Youth 15 5 Mar A drama-documentary- Pedro Costa’s epic final John Carter tbc Manhattan 12a animation hybrid star- film that’s set in a slum Hell And Back Again 15 See Preview Page 53 Woody Allen’s ring Pete Postlethwaite district of Lisbon. Danfung Dennis’ unique acclaimed 1979 roman- as a man living in the Showing at Library action documentary that Junkhearts 15 tic comedy that stars devastated world of The Best Exotic Theatre, Birmingham, questions the effects of A multi-stranded psy- Diane Keaton, Meryl 2055, watching archive Marigold Hotel 12a Tues 6 Mar the war in Afghanistan chological thriller that’s Streep and Mariel footage to try and Judi Dench, Maggie on soldiers on the front- set in inner city London Hemingway. Showing at Smith, Penelope Wilton Contraband 15 line. Showing at and follows the story of Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat understand why See Preview Page 55 humankind failed to & Celia Imrie star as a Birmingham Library a vulnerable ex-soldier 31 Mar group of retired Brits Theatre, Tues 20 Mar suffering from post-trau- address climate change. Coriolanus 15 Margin Call 15 Showing at mac, who descend on a hotel Ralph Fiennes’ contem- matic stress disorder. in Udaipur, only to find House Of Tolerance 18 Showing at Library Kevin Spacey stars Birmingham, Sun 11 Mar porary adaptation of Bertrand Bonello’s alongside Demi Moore, that it’s not at all as Shakespeare’s play of Theatre, Birmingham, PG drama that follows the Jeremy Irons and The Artist they’d been led to political power and Tues 20 Mar Multi-Oscar-winning believe. Showing at day-to-day existence of Stanley Tucci in a thriller intrigue. Gerard Butler a group of prostitutes in The Lady tbc that’s set in an invest- romantic drama that Electric Cinema, stars. Showing at The pays homage to Birmingham, until Thurs early twentieth century Luc Beeson presents ment bank during the Royal, Leamington Spa, Paris. Showing at the extraordinary story early stages of the eco- Hollywood’s golden 8 Mar; OMH, Fri 2 - Thurs 8 Mar; age. Showing at The Shrewsbury, Fri 9 - Thurs Warwick Arts Centre, of pro-democracy nomic downtown - aka OMH, Shrewsbury, Fri Coventry, Tues 27 - Wed activist and Nobel the Great Recession. Royal, Leamington Spa, 29 Mar; mac, 23 - Thurs 29 Mar Thurs 1 Mar; Warwick Birmingham, Fri 16 - 28 Mar Peace Prize-winner Showing at Warwick Arts Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri Thurs 22 Mar; Warwick The Descendants 15 Aung San Suu Kyi, who Centre, Coventry, Mon 5 Hugo U has spent more than a - Thurs 8 Mar 2 - Sun 4 Mar & Fri 23 Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri George Clooney stars in Martin Scorsese’s Mar - Thurs 19 Apr; 16 - Wed 28 Mar Alexander Payne’s decade under house acclaimed family drama arrest. Showing at Martha Macy May Stoke Film Theatre, Tues acclaimed drama that that features an all-star Marlene 15 6 - Thurs 8 Mar & Fri 23 Bill Cunningham New blends comedy and Warwick Arts Centre, York 12a cast, including Ben Coventry, Fri 30 Mar - Elizabeth Olsen stars in - Sat 24 Mar; mac, tragedy while exploring Kingsley, Sacha Baron a psychological thriller Birmingham, until Thurs Richard Press’ a father’s journey to re- Mon 2 Apr acclaimed documentary Cohen, Ray Winstone, about a young woman 8 Mar examine his past and Jude Law, Christopher Lawrence Of Belgravia who struggles to re-con- that provides an insight embrace his future. PG Lee & Johnny Depp. Affectionate documen- nect with her family, and L’Atalante into the life of the leg- Showing at Stoke Film Jean Vigo’s timeless endary photographer Showing at Artrix, tary portrait of Lawrence life, after her escape Theatre, Fri 2 - Sat 3 Bromsgrove, Sun 4 - (Felt, Denim), the from the confines of a romantic masterpiece who has inventively Mar; The Royal, that’s regarded by many chronicled fashion Tues 6 Mar Birmingham-born pop cult-like farming com- Leamington Spa, Sat 10 mastermind who never munity. Showing at Light as one of the greatest trends for decades. - Thurs 15 Mar; Artrix, The Hunger Games tbc films ever made. Showing at mac, quite hit the big time. House Media Centre, Bromsgrove, Mon 12 - See Preview Page 55 Showing at mac, Wolverhampton, Thurs 1 Showing at mac, Birmingham, Wed 28 - Wed 14 Mar Birmingham, Fri 9 - Sun Fri 30 Mar In Darkness 15 Birmingham as part of Mar; Warwick Arts 11 Mar Extremely Loud And See Preview Page 53 the city’s Flatpack Centre, Coventry, Sat 10 Blank City 12a Incredibly Close 12a Festival, Fri 16 Mar - Thurs 15 Mar; mac, The Beat Is The Law - Celine Danhier’s docu- Into The West PG Birmingham, Mon 19 - Tom Hanks & Sandra Le Havre Fanfare For The mentary that paints a Bullock star in Stephen Mike Newell’s family Thurs 22 Mar; Artrix, Common People unique portrait of New adventure that concerns Deadpan tale that’s set Bromsgrove, Fri 23 - Daldry’s drama that’s in the French city port Eve Wood’s documen- York in the mid-70s and based on the 2005 a Traveller grandfather, Mon 26 Mar tary that follows the 1980s. Showing at his two grandchildren and follows an ageing

TRE, WOLVERHAMPTON 0871 224 4007 Warwickshire Worcestershire CINEMA Box Office 01902 716055 OAKENGATES PICTURE ODEON, COVENTRY ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE ODEON MERRY HILL, HOUSE 0871 224 4007 01527 577330 DUDLEY 0871 22 44007 01952 615607 Birmingham LIBRARY THEATRE ODEON, NUNEATON MALVERN THEATRE 0121 303 2868 SHOWCASE, DUDLEY WEM TOWN HALL AMC Broadway Plaza, Five 0871 224 4007 0845 287 2146 0871 220 1000 01939 232299 Ways 0121 450 6800 MAC 0121 446 3232 SHOWCASE, WALSALL SHOWCASE, COVENTRY WAREHOUSE, ODEON 0871 224 4007 CINEWORLD Broad St, B’ham 0871 220 1000 Staffordshire 0871 220 1000 KIDDERMINSTER 0871 200 2000 REEL Quinton 0121 421 01562 747773 APOLLO, STAFFORD APOLLO 4, LEAMINGTON CINEWORLD Solihull 5316 Shropshire 0871 220 6000 SPA 01926 427 448 VUE, WORCESTER 0871 200 2000 SHOWCASE 0871 220 1000 OMH SHREWSBURY CINEWORLD, BURTON- ROYAL, LEAMINGTON SPA 0871 224 0240 ELECTRIC, B’ham VUE CINEMA Star City 08712 01743 281281 UPON-TRENT 0871 200 2000 01926 334418 Visit whatsonlive.co.uk 0121 643 7879 240 240 CINEWORLD, SHREWSBURY STOKE FILM THEATRE, WARWICK ARTS CENTRE for venue website EMPIRE 0871 471 4714 0871 200 2000 01782 411188 Black Country COVENTRY 02476 524524 details THE GIANT SCREEN AT MAJESTIC, BRIDGNORTH ODEON TAMWORTH MILLENNIUM POINT CINEWORLD WOLVERHAMP- 01746 761815 0871 224 4007 0121 202 2222 TON 0871 200 2000 ODEON TELFORD For full listing information, including times and dates, LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CEN- visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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Michael18 Pray The Devil Back To have mysteriously van- Firth, John Hurt and Thurs 8 Mar; Wem Town Light House Media See Preview Page 52 Hell E ished. Michael Sheen Mark Strong star. Hall, North Shropshire, Centre, Wolverhampton, A remarkable story that and Andrea Showing at The Edge Thurs 22 Mar Fri 9 - Thurs 15 Mar; Midnight In Paris12a tells of how Christian, Riseborough star. Arts Centre, Much mac, Birmingham, Fri 23 W.E 15 Woody Allen sitcom that Muslim and other Showing at OMH, Wenlock, South - Thurs 27 Mar; OMH, Madonna’s acclaimed sees Owen Wilson cut- women of Liberia joined Shrewsbury, Mon 5 - Shropshire, Mon 19 Mar Shrewsbury, Fri 30 Mar - drama that concerns ting it up with Carla forces in a peace move- Thurs 8 Mar Thurs 5 Apr Trishna15 Wally Winthrop, a Bruni on the boulevards ments to protest and Romeo & Juliet Live See Preview Page 53 woman in 1998 of the city of lights. end the country’s sav- The Woman In The From The Royal Ballet Manhattan who 15 Showing at The Edge age civil war. Showing at Fifth Featuring Sergei Turbulencetbc becomes obsessed with Ethan Hawke, Kristin Arts Centre, Much Light House Media Polunin as Romeo and Birmingham-based the love story between Scott Thomas & Joanna Wenlock, South Centre, Wolverhampton, Lauren Cuthbertson as comedy that follows six King Edward VIII and Kulig star in Pawel Shropshire, Mon 12 Mar Thurs 8 Mar Juliet. Showing at The young, gifted and clue- Wallis Simpson. Pawlikowski’s thriller. Orphee Putting It Together Giant Screen, less twenty-somethings Showing at Warwick Arts Showing at Light House struggling with the reali- Jean Cocteau’s magical A tribute to Millennium Point, Centre, Coventry, Fri 9 - Media Centre, ties of adult life. retelling of the Orpheus composer/songwriter Birmingham, Thurs 22 Sun 11 Mar; Light Wolverhampton, Fri 16 - Showing at mac, myth. Showing at mac, Stephen Sondheim that Mar House Media Centre, Thurs 22 Mar; Warwick Birmingham, Thurs 22 Birmingham, as part of features songs from his Wolverhampton, Fri 23 - Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri Steven Sondheim’s Mar the city’s Flatpack Broadway productions. Thurs 29 Mar 23 - Mon 26 Mar; mac, Companytbc Festival, Sun 18 Mar Showing at OMH, Birmingham, Mon 26 - Screening of the Tony Two Years At Sea Wild Bill15 Shrewsbury, Sun 25 Mar Thurs 29 Mar The Pirates! In An award-winning musical Debut feature from a ris- See Preview Page 55 ing UK cinema talent, Adventure With Rampart15 that follows the bitter- Wrath Of The Titans who beautifully explores We Bought A ZooPG Scientiststbc Woody Harrelson, Ben sweet story of Robert - a tbc the world of a man living See Preview Page 51 See Preview Page 51 Foster and Sigourney single man unable to See Preview Page 51 a self-sufficient exis- Weaver star in Oren commit fully to a steady Post Mortem15 tence in the wilds of We Need To Talk About 15 Moverman’s directorial relationship. Showing at Wuthering Heights Drama set in Chile in Scotland. Showing at Kevin15 A stripped-down tale of debut that explores the OMH, Shrewsbury, Sun 1973 that concerns an mac, Birmingham, as Emotional thriller star- youthful passion. dirty underbelly of the 18 Mar employee at a Morgue’s part of the city’s ring Tilda Swinton as a Showing at The Edge Los Angeles Police recording office who StreetDance 2tbc Flatpack Festival, Sat 17 mother trying to deal Arts Centre, Much Department. Showing at falls for a burlesque See Preview Page 55 Mar with her grief after her Wenlock, South Electric Cinema, dancer who subse- teenage son commits Shropshire, Mon 5 Mar quently disappears. Birmingham, Fri 2 - This Is Not A Film Wanderlust15 an unforgiveable crime. Showing at Library Thurs 8 Mar; mac, A compelling self-por- See Preview Page 52 Showing at The Edge Young Adult15 Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham, Fri 23 - Sun trait made by Iranian Arts Centre, Much Charlize Theron stars as 25 Mar director Jafar Panahi War HorsePG Wenlock, South a successful writer of Potiche15 while under house Emily Watson, Jeremy Shropshire, Mon 26 Mar teen literature who The Raven15 French/Belgian comedy arrest in his apartment. Irvine, Peter Mullan & returns to her home- See Preview Page 53 starring Catherine Showing at mac, Benedict Cumberbatch The Woman In Black12a town with a very specific star in Steve Spielberg’s Acclaimed thriller that Deneuve and Gerard ResistancePG Birmingham, Sat 17 Mar agenda. Showing at blockbuster tale of loyal- sees Daniel Radcliffe Depardieu that tells of a Amit Gupta’s drama Light House Media Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, ty, hope & tenacity, set star as a young lawyer submissive wife who thriller that’s set in an Centre, Wolverhampton, Spy 15 during the First World who travels to a remote gets to run her hus- isolated Welsh village Fri 9 - Thurs 15 Mar; Award-winning adapta- War. Showing at village to settle the band’s umbrella factory where a group of Warwick Arts Centre, tion of John Le Carre’s Warwick Arts Centre, affairs of the recently when the workers revolt. women wake to find Coventry, Fri 9 - Thurs Cold War spy classic. Coventry, Thurs 1 Mar; deceased Alice Showing at Wem Town that their husbands 15 Mar Hall, North Shropshire Gary Oldman, Colin mac, Birmingham, until Drablow. Showing at

DVD NEW RELEASES

The Ides Of March 15 My Week With Marilyn George Clooney stars tbc and directs in a story Michelle Williams stars that focuses on an ide- as Marilyn Monroe in an alistic press secretary acclaimed drama that who’s forced to take a follows the sex symbol’s crash course in corrup- sojourn to Britain to film tion in order to serve his The Prince And The boss. Showgirl opposite Released 5 March Laurence Olivier. Released 12 March Jane Eyre PG Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender star in a contemporary take on the Charlotte Bronte classic. Released 12 March

The Rum Diary 15 Johnny Depp stars as American journalist Paul Kemp in an adap- tation of Hunter S Thompson’s 1961 novel. The Twilight Saga: The Adventures Of Tin The Thing Hugo U Released 5 March Breaking Dawn 12a Tin: The Secret Of The Sci-fi horror prequel Martin Scorsese’s Two-part romantic Unicorn PG that’s set three days acclaimed family drama Anonymous 12a The Help 12a fantasy that’s based Daniel Craig and Simon before the action of that features an all-star Rafe Spall, son of Award-winning drama on Stephenie Meyer’s Pegg lend their voices John Carpenter’s 1982 cast, including Ben Timothy, plays the Bard that’s set against the novel of the same to this much-hyped film cult classic of the same Kingsley, Sacha Baron in a drama that focuses backdrop of the 1960s name. Robert that’s based on stories name. Cohen, Ray Winstone, on the life and times of American civil rights Pattinson and Kristen from three of Herge’s Released 26 March Jude Law, Christopher William Shakespeare. movement. Stewart star. original comic books. Lee & Johnny Depp. Released 5 March Released 12 March Released 12 March Released 19 March 50/50 15 Released 26 March A comedy drama that’s Moneyball 12a inspired by a true story Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill Machine Gun Preacher and focuses on a twen- and Philip Seymour Gerard Butler stars in ty-seven-year-old diag- Hoffman star in a sport- an action biopic of the nosed with cancer and ing drama that’s based one-time drug-dealing his battle to beat the on a true story. LA biker Sam Childers. disease. Released 19 March Released 19 March Released 26 March

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museums Exhibitions exhibitions & events 2012 in dudley There is a Place..... Until 14 April 2012 Zarina Bhimji Broadfield House Glass Museum Yellow Patch Until 14 April 2012 Compton Drive, Kingswinford, DY6 9NS Tel: 01384 812745 Blue skies, nothing but blue skies..... BLOOD AND BONES Until 12 May 2012 3 March - 5 August TAKE A LOOK Martin Parr Solo exhibition by Patricia Niemann featuring work in AROUND OUR Black Country Stories precious metals, glass, textiles and drawings, inspired GIFT SHOP Until 7 April 2012 by the human body, archaeology and wild landscapes. Looking for beautiful and unusual gifts? The Garman Ryan Collection museum's gift shop is now stocking new ranges and Exhibitions of handmade glass gifts and jewellery as well as Garman Ryan Collection cards and books. on display all year round Epstein’s Rima: ‘A Travesty of Nature’ Red House Glass Cone Until 2 June 2012 High Street, Wordsley, DY8 4AZ Tel: 01384 812750 Make Room2 Interventions into the Garman Ryan Collection Until 22 September 2012 BRIERLEY HILL Craft studios open Monday, SOCIETY OF ARTISTS Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Gift shop and tearoom Free Regular Events Until 1 April open daily An exhibition by local artists working in a Glass making demonstrations Art Start range of media including Wednesday 7 March, 11am-12noon watercolours, oils, pastels and acrylics. weekends Sessions for pre-school children 1 year old upwards with their carer. Baby Palace Friday 30 March 2012 Easter Workshops with 10.30-11.30am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm Events All sessions must be booked in advance on 01384 815571 Young People’s Days: BROADFIELD HOUSE What is a Gallery? Saturday 3 March, 11am-4pm Story & Craft £1.90 per child Audio Described Tour 4 April, 1.30-2.30pm, 2.45-3.45pm Saturday 3 March, 2pm Join us for a free audio described talk on the artworks Kiln Fused featured in the There is a Place ... exhibition Glass Pendant £3.75 per pendant In Conversation 11 April, 12-3pm Saturday 17 March, 2pm Join Helen Jones and artist Graham Chorlton for an informal Kiln Fused Tile or tour of the There is a Place...exhibition. Wall Hanging £5.25 per tile There is Another Place ... 11 April, 12-3pm Saturday 17 March, 2pm-5pm Peregrine Watch RED HOUSE GLASS CONE Friday 30 March, 10am-3pm All At Sea £3.75 per child 4 & 5 April: 10.30am – 12.30pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm Free Adult workshops Creative Writing Funky Farm Critters £3.75 per child Saturday 10 March, 1-4pm 10 & 11 April: 10.30am – 12.30pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm This is an opportunity to work with a creative writer and artist.

We also offer a great programme of activities for adults at Broadfield House Glass Museum and Red House Glass Cone, including craft classes, tea and talk sessions and kiln fused glass workshops. For more information please call 01384 815571 or visit the website.

ADMISSION FREE For more information about the museums visit www.dudley.gov.uk/museums

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Epstein’s Rima: ‘A Travesty Of Nature’ New Art Gallery, Walsall, until Sat 2 June This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore some of Jacob Epstein’s creative preparatory drawings, produced ahead of the creation of his memorial sculpture of writer WH Hudson in 1925. The sculpture, which is housed in London’s Hyde Park, is recognised as Epstein’s most controver- sial work, and became the subject of heated debate at the time. The designs and drawings featured in Epstein’s Rima have, until recently, remained virtually unknown to the wider public, but offer a fascinat- ing insight into the imagination of one of the twen- tieth century’s most pioneering artists.

CORE - A Digital Art Installation Reggie’s Roller Palace Enginuity, Ironbridge, Fri 23 March - Sun 30 September Shirehall Gallery, Stafford, Sat 31 March - Sun 13 May Designed by prestigious international artist Kurt Hentschlager and premiering at the museum’s Engine Shop, this digital installation uses a series of windows to provide an Described as her biggest installation to date, insight into a weightless world of ‘virtual aquariums’, each containing computer-generat- Olivia Brown’s Reggie’s Roller Palace features ed humanoid figures that motion in a choreographed style. The exhibition forms part of over one hundred-and-twenty handmade sculp- the nationwide Cultural Olympiad project, and features a number of ever-changing, inter- tures, specially commissioned neon lighting and a linked projections and multi-channel sounds. It joins the museum’s other Olympiad- music collaboration with Andrew Lawes. The related exhibition, My Sporting Life, The Science Of Sport. Read the interview with Kurt Manchester University graduate has become Hentschlager online at www.whatsonlive.co.uk renowned in the art world for her ceramic sculp- tures of dogs and animals - including Elvis The Whippet, who’ll assume the role of celebrity judge The Royal at the Grand Finale of the annual Canine Roller Dance, hosted by Reggie. Photographic Society 154th Exhibition Children’s Lives Wolverhampton Art Gallery & The Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Wolverhampton University, Sat 24 March - Sun 10 April Sat 17 March - Sat 19 May A highlight in the Royal Materials and artefacts held by Birmingham Photographic Society’s calendar, Archives & Heritage, BMAG and the Media the International Print Exhibition Archive of Central England form the centrepiece (IPE) provides a platform for some of this major new project that focuses on chil- of the world’s most talented and dren’s experiences from the eighteenth century to emerging photographers to show- the present day. All aspects case their works. Established in of childhood are explored, 1853, the IPE offers visitors the from children’s relation- chance to enjoy innovative, cut- ships with their families, ting-edge works positioned along- peers and teachers through side more traditional prints. to experiences with various A selection from the 2011 exhibi- welfare institutions. tion features in displays at both Children’s Lives also the Wolverhampton Art Gallery includes input from stu- and Wolverhampton University, dents at two Birmingham including the Gold Award-winning secondary schools, entry Nell, by Justyna Neryng (pic- responding to children’s tured). experiences in the past.

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showcases the extraor- brothers and sisters in dinary scope of the the UK and Europe VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS artist’s interests, until who are over the age Sun 25 March, of ninety, until Sat 14 For full listing information on Visual Art Birmingham Museum & April, Wolverhampton Ongoing exhibitions exhibitions, including times and dates, Art Gallery Art Gallery visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk DAN WRIGHT EXHIBITION MARTIN PARR: BLACK This exhibition by COUNTRY STORIES Postcards From Japan: CHANGING TIMES the 1960s to now and Staffordshire maker Produced by A Message From Tohoku Artists Machines and gadgets explores why abstrac- Dan Wright features an Multistory, a communi- that have been used tion remains a source of array of handmade ty arts organisation Ikon Gallery, until Sun 22 April through the ages to inspiration for artists, earthenware alongside based in West Marking the anniversary of the devastating write, send messages, until Sat 10 Mar, The original line drawings, Bromwich, Black on show for the very Country Stories pres- earthquake that hit north east Japan last play music and make Mead Gallery, Warwick recordings are the sub- Arts Centre, Coventry first time, until Sun 25 ents the results so far year, this collection of A5 artwork postcards ject of this intriguing March, Shire Hall of renowned Magnun provides an insight into the resilience of the GEORGE SHAW: I WOZ ERE Gallery, Stafford ‘snapper’ Martin Parr’s and educational perma- Turner Prize nominee Japanese spirit in the aftermath of the natu- nent exhibition, VERSATILITY Selling photographic journey George Shaw returns to across the region, until ral disaster. After the earthquake struck, Thinktank, Birmingham the Midlands to show- exhibition by The Ironbridge Society of Sat 14 Apr, The New usual means of electronic communication PER FORMS Exhibition case his first major exhi- Art Gallery, Walsall became obsolete, forcing survivors to adopt from artist, architect and bition in his hometown Artists that showcases their talents in a variety ZARINA BHIMJI: YELLOW more traditional methods - including the street-jazz dancer of Coventry, until Sun 11 March, Herbert Art of media, until Sat 31 PATCH World premiere sending of postcards - to inform loved ones Saranjit Birdi that fea- tures videos, photogra- Gallery & Museum, March, The Place, of Zarina Bhimji's latest of their safety. Works from twenty-two phy and action paint- Coventry Oakengates, Telford film that - while shot on location in Mumbai, Japanese artists feature in Postcards From ings to explore issues of THE NORTHERN IRELAND THE WORKS OF RITA Japan, just one of many international exhibi- freedom, territoriality GABROWSKA Exhibition Kutch and Gujarat - COLLECTION Powerful provides an evocative tions curated by Kate Thomson and Hironori and stereotypes, until display of work that that explores the Fri 2 March, The Drum, artist’s fascination for exploration of space, Katagiri in support of the ongoing recovery addresses the political until Sat 14 April, The Birmingham situation and history of geometric and organic of the country’s Tohoku region. abstract forms, and New Art Gallery, A LIFE IN PRINTS: THE conflict in Northern Walsall TESSA SIDLEY BEQUEST Ireland, taken from the their relationship to Featuring works from only collection of its each other, until Sat 31 ARTISTS AND PRINTMAK- Josef Albers, Patrick kind in the UK, until Sat Mar, Kenilworth Wines ERS Exhibition featur- Caulfield, Richard Long 17 March, W’hampton TOM HUNTER EXHIBITION ing works from a group and Gilbert Spencer, Art Gallery Acclaimed artist Tom of artists known as the until Sun 4 March, Hunter presents a new Senefelder Group, WHEELS & WAVES A spe- active from 1910 to Birmingham Museum & cially designed seaside series of photographs Art Gallery inspired by 1930, until Sun 15 set - complete with surf April, The Potteries GAY BIRMINGHAM shack and sand dunes - Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Museum & Art Gallery, REMEMBERED Exhibition provides the backdrop Stoke-on-Trent that illustrates the polit- for this new exhibition Dream and the paint- ical, social and cultural that celebrates the ings of the Romantic ME, YOU AND EVERY- heritage of the lesbian, ever-popular sport of artist Henry Fuseli, until THING ELSE A photo- gay and bisexual com- surfing, until Sun 18 Sun 1 Apr, Royal graphic project that munity, and the experi- March, Coventry Shakespeare Theatre, looks at life in Castle ences of local people Transport Museum Stratford-upon-Avon Vale as it is lived today, until Sun 15 April, Into The Light: French And contributing to and liv- WORCESTERSHIRE CINE- VICTORIAN ENTERTAIN- ing through times of MENTS An exhibition of Birmingham Museum MA THROUGH THE AGES & Art Gallery British Painting great change, until Sun Worcester’s cinematic entertainments posters 4 March, Artrix, history is here explored reproduced from the MADE IN THE MIDDLE: Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Bromsgrove collections at CONTEMPORARY CRAFT Sat 31 March - Sun 10 June through a collection of LANDSCAPE BY GERRY historic artefacts and Shropshire Archives, FROM ACROSS THE MID- Paintings by Boudin, Cezanne, Monet, MAHONY Exhibition by contemporary images until Sat 7 Apr, Theatre LANDS Touring exhibi- Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley and Walter Sickert Irish-born artist Gerry from local photogra- Severn, Shrewsbury tion featuring works are featured in this new exhibition at Mahoney that features phers, until Sat 24 WE ENGLISH Portfolio of from thirty-five of the best contemporary Warwickshire's Compton Verney Gallery. Into paintings of places that March, Worcester City large-format, tableaux he’s travelled to and Art Gallery & Museum craft makers from the The Light explores how paintings were pro- photographs of the worked in over the last English at leisure, until East and West duced on both sides of the English Channel ARCHITECTURE Midlands, until Sun 15 few years, until Sat 10 Contemporary artists Fri 13 Apr, Light House during the early part of the twentieth century Mar, Wolverhampton Art Media Centre, April, mac, influenced by buildings Birmingham - an innovative period in the history of mod- Gallery and various elements Wolverhampton ern European art that saw artists adopt new CRAFT SHOP NEW YEAR of architecture feature THERE IS A PLACE Our HENRY MOORE IN THE methods to represent and interpret light. SHOWCASE Featuring an in this exhibition. psychic connectivity to ARTS COUNCIL COLLEC- array of beautiful hand- Works include paint- landscape is explored TION This Arts Council made craft, including ings by Mark Lippett, in this exhibition of touring exhibition works by Nick Ozanne, Rob Pointon and David drawings, paintings focuses on the works Alys Power and Rowan Jones, until Sun 25 and prints, until Sat 14 of one of Britain’s most Bailey, until Sat 10 Mar, Mar, Shire Hall Gallery, April, The New Art celebrated modern Bilston Craft Gallery Stafford Gallery, Walsall artists, until Sun 15 Apr, Leamington Spa THE INDISCIPLINE OF TEN DRAWINGS BY THE SUPER VIVERE BY Art Gallery & Museum PAINTING This exhibition LEONARDO DA VINCI: A SUSIE REA A series of features works from DIAMOND JUBILEE CELE- photographic portraits THE JOY OF MAKING A forty-nine artists from BRATION Exhibition that that explore the lives of display that celebrates

01384 812745 STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, Museums & Art Galleries DUDLEY MUSEUM SHUGBOROUGH & ART GALLERY 01889 881388 Birmingham NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY 01384 815575 Warwickshire 0121 643 9099 LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY WOLVERHAMPTON Andy Day: Parkour Photography 0121 323 3776 RBSA GALLERY 0121236 01926 645500 4353 01902 716055 The Public, West Bromwich, BARBER INSTITUTE HERBERT ART GALLERY THREE WHITE WALLS THE NEW ART GALLERY until Sun 20 May 0121 414 7333 COVENTRY 02476 832386 GALLERY WALSALL 01922 654400 BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & MEAD GALLERY WARWICK For the past ten years, British photographer 0121 643 0078 RED HOUSE GLASS CONE ART GALLERY 0121 303 02476 524524 Andy Day has documented the steady rise of 2834 01384 812750 ROYAL PUMP ROOMS Black Country WOLVERHAMPTON ART parkour - a non-competitive sport of moving THE BURROWS GALLERY, 01926 742700 through urban landscapes - via its communi- THE CUSTARD FACTORY BANTOCK HOUSE GALLERY 01902 552055 ties in London, France, Nicaragua and India. 0121 224 7344 WOLVERHAMPTON Worcestershire 01902 552195 Staffordshire This, Day’s first solo work, is just one in a CASTLE GALLERIES WORCESTER CITY ART 0121 633 0015 BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & series of six exhibitions being shown at The GALLERY 01905 25371 IKON GALLERY 01902 552507 ART GALLERY 01782 232323 Public under the umbrella title of The Art Of 0121 248 0708 BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS SHIREHALL GALLERY Visit whatsonlive.co.uk Architecture. MUSEUM, DUDLEY STAFFORD 01785 278345 for venue website details

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and explores traditional a selection of posters Potteries Museum & Albrecht Durer, togeth- until Sun 9 Sept, time, Mon 19 Mar - Sun hand making process- designed by a variety Art Gallery, Stoke-on- er with two stained- Enginuity, Ironbridge, 4 Nov, Nash’s House & es in the art of craft, of Pop artists, includ- Trent glass designs by 16th Shropshire New Place, Stratford- until Tues 15 Apr, ing David Hockney, BLUE SKIES, NOTHING century German artists, ALLOTMENT An innova- upon-Avon Wolverhampton Art Allen Jones and Tom BUT BLUE SKIES... A Hans Holbein and Abel tive programme that CATHERINE DE BARNES Gallery Weyermann, until Sat wide range of media Stimmer, until Thurs 21 sees mac's Arena ART SOCIETY EXHIBITION LOCALITY A collection 28 April, W’hampton and styles are here June, The Barber Gallery divided into Exhibition of paintings of works from three of Art Gallery used to depict the Institute, Birmingham plots and tended by and pottery in a variety Birmingham's foremost KITCHEN GARDEN power of the sky. All THE AGE OF LEONARDO A independent curators of media by amateur realist painters, until Themed exhibition fea- exhibits form part of special collection dis- and artists, until Sun 9 and semi-professional Sat 21 April, Solihull turing an array of Walsall's collections, play that features ten Sep, mac, Birmingham artists, Tues 20 - Sat 24 Arts Complex crafts, from sleek and until Sat 12 May, The works from some of BETH FLETCHER EXHIBI- Mar, Solihull Arts SARAH BROWN EXHIBI- functional to rustic and New Arts Gallery, the greatest 16th cen- TION Selling exhibition Complex TION First solo exhibi- decorative, until Sat 28 Walsall tury Italian print-mak- featuring dramatic sea ANTHEA SIDWELL EXHIBI- tion from Dublin-born April, Bilston Craft WILL ALSOP - A BOX OF ers, until Thurs 21 and landscape paint- TION A display of nudes, artist Sarah Brown, Gallery DELIGHTS The Stirling June, The Barber ings, Thurs 1 - Fri 30 landscapes, animals whose artistic practice GEORGE CHAKRAVARTHI: Prize-winning architect Institute, Birmingham Mar, The Granary Art and still life in a wide explores forms of non- THIRTEEN Newly com- creates an environ- WONDERFUL WATER- Gallery, Weston Park, variety of media. Fri 30 market exchange with- missioned photograph- ment designed to COLOURS: VIEWS OF Staffs Mar - Fri 11 May, in communities, until ic installation that fea- make us think about COVENTRY & WARWICK- NICHOLAS ST JOHN Ludlow Assembly Sun 22 Apr, Ikon tures thirteen of architecture and how it SHIRE Showcase of ROSSE - EXHIBITION OF Room, Ludow, South Gallery, Birmingham Shakespeare's tragic makes us feel, until some of the gallery’s ORIGINAL PAINTINGS Shropshire UNSEEN: TREASURES characters, all of whom Sun 20 May, The watercolour collection - Thurs 1 - Sat 31 Mar, GAINSBOROUGH’S LAND- FROM THE RESERVE COL- meet their ends Public, West Bromwich including works by Artifex Gallery, Sutton SCAPES: THEMES & VARI- LECTION An exhibition through suicide, until JOHN WOOD AND PAUL Paul Sandby, David Coldfield ATIONS This, the first featuring some of the Sun 29 April, 2012, HARRISON A series of Cox & Thomas Girtin, exhibition solely devot- Royal Shakespeare until Sun 22 July, 16 COWRIES - ERINDIN- Barber's 'forgotten' twenty-six short films LOGUN Showcase of ed to the landscapes of paintings, until Sun 22 Theatre, Stratford- that explore rhythm Herbert Art Gallery & Thomas Gainsborough, upon-Avon Museum, Coventry work from the award- April, The Barber and synergy within dif- winning Nigerian artist brings together paint- Institute, Birmingham IF WARDS COULD TALK A ferent surroundings, CRAFTSENSE Exhibition Taiwo Abiodun ings and drawings from HAMISH FULTON EXHIBI- people's history display until Sun 20 May, The that celebrates the Adediran that features both public and private TION This major collab- that features the stories Public, West Bromwich links between eigh- sixteen vibrantly paint- collections that span the oration between Ikon of former patients, cur- CONTEMPORARY COLLEC- teenth century industry ed batik textiles, Mon 5 artist's career, Sat 31 and Turner rent and retired nurses, TION An insight into the and modern craft prac- Mar - Sat 5 May, The Mar - Sun 10 June, Contemporary, doctors and support artworks that feature in tices, until Sat 1 Sep, Drum, Birmingham Compton Verney Margate, features wall workers, until Mon 7 Wolverhampton's con- Bilston Craft Gallery Gallery, Warwickshire May, The Potteries THE DIG! Exhibition drawings with text to temporary collections, OUR SPORTING LIFE: THE showcasing the archae- STYLE AFRICA Exhibition expose a range of non- Museum & Art Gallery, until Sat 9 June, SCIENCE OF SPORT EXHI- that explores the chang- Stoke-on-Trent ological finds uncovered art issues that preoc- Wolverhampton Art BITION Exhibition that so far, Fri 16 March - ing traditions of woven, cupy the artist, until PICTURING THE POTTER- Gallery focuses on the rela- Mon 31 Dec, Nash’s embroidered, printed Sun 22 Apr, Ikon IES An evocative exhi- PUGIN, DURER AND THE tionship between sci- House & New Place, and dyed clothing and Gallery, Birmingham bition that explores GOTHIC Display that ence & sport, in partic- Stratford-upon-Avon textiles, from the early how artists and pho- ular how technological 20th century through to OLYMPIC POP showcases eight prints MUSCLES, BALLS & Celebrating the run-up tographers have creat- and a single drawing advancements have 2011, Sat 31 Mar - Sun ed striking images of shaped achievements BOWLS Exhibition that 2 Sept, Birmingham to the 2012 Olympics, by the well-known explores the history of this exhibition features the local area, until Renaissance artist and performance in the Museum & Art Gallery Mon 7 May, The elite sporting world, sport in Shakespeare’s

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WIN TICKETS whatsonlive.co.uk to enter The National Wedding Show NEC, Birmingham, Fri 16 - Sun 18 March Promising a one-stop shop for all your wedding needs, The National addition to the usual show attractions - including the catwalk fashion Wedding Show provides a platform for the industry’s best to show- show, the How To Look Good Show - hosted by regulars Caryn Frank case the latest trends alongside the more traditional. New for 2012 - and Jane Galpin - Bridal Coaching sessions from Britain’s Next Top and in keeping with the current hunger for anything vintage - is a Model judge Michelle Paradise, and live seminars from cult bridal dedicated area featuring a handpicked selection of vintage and vin- bloggers Rock My Wedding. tage-inspired designers and brands, as well as an English tearoom- And when you’re done with all the perusing, why not take a trip to the style cafe for refreshments. This sure-to-be-popular section will be in Chambord and Champagne Bar for some well-deserved relaxation...

Day Out With Thomas Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster, Sat 31 March - Sun 1 April Children’s favourite Thomas The Tank Engine is chugging into Kidderminster this month, much to the delight of the region’s young- sters. A series of themed activities is planned for the day-long event, including a photo opportunity with the Fat Controller Sir Topham Hatt. Visitors can also take a trip on a fifteen-ton replica of Thomas to the Severn Valley Imagination Station, where some of Thomas’ friends will reside. Once there, chil- dren will be able to enjoy the adventure play area, watch a magic show and visit the Day Out With Thomas Cinema.

The Harlem Globetrotters LG Arena, Birmingham, Tues 27 March The Harlem Globetrotters have been playing tricks, aerial displays and incredible basket- exhibition basketball games, combining ath- ball skills from both veteran and new team leticism and comedy, for the best part of a members (including Britain’s Paul ‘Tiny’ century, and have earned themselves some Sturgess, who, at 7’8” is the tallest high-profile fans along the way, including US Globetrotter ever!). President Barack Obama. So if you fancy some slam-dunkin’ magic This month sees the boys returning to the courtesy of the world’s most famous basket- Midlands as part of a nine-date UK tour, pre- ball team, this is the gig for you! Generic Severn Valley Railway pic senting a brand new family show that blends

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Events PREVIEWS Tractor World Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, Sat 3 - Sun 4 March A series of special displays are promised during this two-day event that marks one hundred years of the International tractor and fifty years of the iconic Massey-Ferguson 35X. The event also sees the arrival of a new attraction - the Old Sodbury Sortout. Described as a giant treasure hunt, it offers enthusiasts the chance to turn unwanted clutter into cash, whilst buyers get to rum- mage among various tractor bits and other agricultural bygones. Tractor World also offers numerous practical demonstrations, a Build-a-Fergie challenge, and an auction and road run. The National Homebuilding And Renovating Show NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 29 March - Sun 1 April Described as the UK’s number one self-build and renovation event, the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show provides an ideal setting in which to garner creative ideas for building a new home or renovating a current dwelling. This year, the show cele- brates its twenty-first birthday, and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. In addition to the four hundred-and-fifty specialist companies who’ll be on hand to offer advice, the show also boasts new attractions - feature areas with practical demonstrations; an Eco Home Theatre, which focuses on the best sustainable energy suited to your needs; and a Construction Systems Showcase, to demonstrate the very latest structural features on offer.

tea will be served against a backdrop of British Alpaca Futurity 2012 authentic music played by a Gramophone Oswestry Literary Festival NEC, Birmingham, Fri 16 - Sat 17 March DJ, all in true vintage style... Various locations in and around Oswestry, All things alpaca are celebrated at this North Shropshire, Sat 10 - Tues 20 March unique two-day event, which brings together Welsh Poet Laureate Gillian Clarke headlines some of the country’s top breeders, alpaca an impressive line-up of writers, performance crafters and manufacturers. artists and poets at this, the third Oswestry More than three hundred animals will be in Festival of the Word - an event which promis- attendance, while the international fleece es to offer something of interest for every- show, presentations, trade stands, work- one, courtesy of a diverse programme of shops and seminars are sure to be of inter- readings and performances. Other writers est to enthusiasts. A Fibre Arts Village is a booked to appear include Suzannah Dunn - new feature for 2012, enabling spinners, author of the celebrated The Confessions Of weavers, knitters and crochet artists to dis- Katherine Howard - American novelist play and sell their products. Vanessa Diffenbaugh, crime fiction writer Peter James and Reginald Perrin creator David Nobbs. For further information on Surfing Safari Weekend what’s taking place at the ten-day festival, Coventry Transport Museum, visit www.oswestrylitfest.co.uk Sat 24 - Sun 25 March Working in conjunction with the Wheels & Waves exhibition - a display of vehicles and memorabilia relating to British surfers from the 1950s onwards - the Coventry Transport Museum has devised an array of events to keep visitors entertained throughout the holi- day period. After exploring the exhibition, and taking part in the museum’s Surfing Safari activity trail, visitors will be able to cre- Handmade And Vintage ate their very own surfboard collage to take Wedding Fair home. This weekend also sees the museum host its annual Spring Craft Fair, showcasing Gillian Clarke Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 31 March some of the region’s finest talents. This new one-day event caters for all those wishing to host a bespoke vintage wedding. American Civil War Including Andy Warhol Pop Art and exhibits from the museum’s collections, the show Sharpshooters Training features makers and services from across Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, the UK who’ll be promoting various vintage Sat 31 March - Sun 1 April products, including jewellery, millinery, sta- The Company E 1st Regiment US tionary and decorations. Sharpshooters descend on Avoncroft for a A fashion show provides a focus throughout weekend of basic training, allowing visitors the day, as does a vintage hair salon in to the living history site to witness the which brides-to-be can get tips on how to group's fire-arms skills. Living as soldiers achieve the right look. And when you’re would have done during the American Civil ready to rest those weary feet, why not take War, the troops will spend a night under can- a trip to the museum’s cafe, where afternoon vas along a street of twelve tents.

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Events PREVIEWS Sewing For Pleasure NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 22 - Sun 25 March Recognised as Britain’s biggest and best event of its kind, this four-day attraction brings three distinct shows - Sewing For Pleasure, Hobbycrafts, and Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch - together under one roof, with more than one hundred-and-fifty exhibitors on hand to showcase the latest trends and offer expert advice. This year’s show sees the introduction of a Sewing Hub, which, based on the growing trend to ‘make do and mend’, sees profes- sionals facilitate demonstrations on how to tackle textile restoration. Other attractions include the Sewing Machine Clinic, Stitch Diva’s Den, the Dressmaker’s Pattern Bar and the Knitting Lounge, while an exhibition of pop culture-inspired amateur embroidery from around the world is hosted by Kirstie’s Handmade Britain star Jamie Chalmers, aka Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships Mr X Stitch. National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Tues 6 - Sun 11 March The Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships is recognised as being the most prestigious event in the worldwide badminton calendar, and showcases some of the sport’s finest international talent. The six-day championship allows fans to witness performances from Olympic hopefuls - and current World and Olympic Champion Lin Dan - ahead of London 2012 in the summer. Olympic silver medalist Nathan Robertson says of the event, “I look forward to the All England every year, as it holds fond memories for me. We don’t often get a chance to play in front of the English public, so I always try to make the most of it.”

area where fans can meet and purchase autographs from some of TV’s most iconic Spring In The Gardens stars, including Julian Glover, Kevin Sorbo, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Val Lehman, Robin Askwith, Louis Jameson Birmingham, throughout March and Pamela Salem. March is always a beautiful time to visit Birmingham’s prestigious Botanical Gardens St Patrick’s Day Celebrations and Glasshouses, as the first green shoots The Public, West Bromwich, Sat 17 March appear amongst the shrubs. As part of nationwide celebrations to mark St The hidden oasis, with its fifteen acres of Patrick’s Day, Sandwell’s Irish community landscaped gardens and four glasshouses, has organised a day-long programme of provides an ideal location for families to take family events. a relaxing break, while horticulture enthusi- A variety of Irish craft and music workshops, asts can indulge their passion throughout face-painting, Irish badge-making and food- the year, courtesy of numerous specialist tasting are available throughout the day, events. The children’s playground is always while performers from local schools, commu- a pull for families, as is the Growing Schools nity groups and clubs showcase their danc- Garden. As Sunday 17 March is Mothering ing and singing skills. Celebrations culminate Sunday, kids are being invited to take their in an evening performance at The Public Tile Decorating Workshops mums along, with the mothers being admit- from contemporary Irish pop and rock band ted free alongside paying children. What a Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, The Father Teds. The latter is a ticketed Shropshire, Tues 6, 13, 20 & 27 March treat! event, and further information can be obtained by visiting www.thepublic.com These creative sessions are ideal for adults and children alike, and are a great way to while away a couple of hours during the school holidays - with the added bonus being that you end up with a beautiful 6x6inch tile to take home! Visitors to these informal sessions can either create their own design, or select one from the on-site stock of pictures. The process of tube lining is used to incorporate the select- ed image onto a tile. It’s easy to do and it’s fun - oh, and there’s plenty of help at hand, should you feel that you need it! Crufts NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 8 - Sun 11 March Memorabilia A real highlight for dog lovers everywhere, Crufts offers an opportunity to partake in the NEC, Birmingham, Sat 31 March - Sun 1 April world’s greatest canine event. With more This, the longest-running memorabilia collec- than twenty-two thousand dogs competing tors’ show in the UK, boasts hundreds of for the Best In Show title, a packed pro- costume characters, plenty of celebrity and gramme of arena events, and over four hun- sports guests, and all manner of collectibles, dred trade stands around which to browse, featuring everything from Doctor Who to Star this is an event that the whole family can Wars. Show features include a comic village, enjoy. In fact, it's fair to say that dog lovers corporate stand, robot wars, and a guest would have to be barking mad not to attend!

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Sat 3 Mar, Coventry YONEX ALL ENGLAND day-long series of talks 10 - Sun 11 Mar, LISTINGS Transport Museum OPEN BADMINTON by guest speakers, as Cadbury World, Events 2012 POKEMON VIDEO CHAMPIONSHIPS Tue 6 - well as discussions and Birmingham GAMES NATIONAL CHAM- Sun 11 Mar, National live music that provides OSWESTRY FESTIVAL OF For full listing information on Events PIONSHIPS Sat 3 Mar, Indoor Arena, a deeper insight into THE WORD Featuring including times and dates visit, NEC, Birmingham Birmingham the mind of the great well-known authors, SHUGBOROUGH GAME DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG composer, Sat 10 Mar, poets and performers. www.whatsonlive.co.uk FAIR Family event fea- Chance to learn or Birmingham Town Hall Sat 10 - Fri 30 Mar, vari- turing an abundance of practise drifting in a ADULT LEATHER CARVING ous locations in and with Jenny Newall, Sat country sports and safe & legal environ- WORKSHOP A rare around Oswestry, North 3 Mar, Shire Hall From exhibits, Sat 3 - Sun 4 ment, Wed 7 Mar, opportunity to learn the Shropshire Gallery, Stafford Mar, Shugborough Hall, Santa Pod Raceway, intricate skills involved WENLOCK OLYMPIAN LIVE THUR 1 MAR GALLERY TOUR Sat 3 Staffordshire Northampton with leather carving, ARTS DANCE FESTIVAL Mar, Wolverhampton FAMILY WILDLIFE FUN CONSERVATION TOUR OF Sat 10 Mar, Walsall Sun 11 Mar, The Edge TITANIC TRAIL Follow the Art Gallery Wildlife games and THE STAFFORDSHIRE Leather Museum Arts Centre, Much Titanic trail around the DRUM & BASS AWARDS activities for all the fam- HOARD Led by the MURDER MYSTERY DIN- Wenlock, South museum and discover 2012 Arenas include an ily, Sun 4 Mar, The museum’s experts, NER EXPERIENCE An Shropshire the city's links with the outdoor Marquee area Stiperstones National Wed 7 Mar, evening of tongue-in- MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT doomed ocean liner, plus outdoor food & Trust Reserve, South Birmingham Museum & cheek suspense & MAKING Sun 11 Mar, until Mon 31 Dec, The merchandise stalls. For Shropshire Art Gallery drama, accompanied Croome Park, Potteries Museum & Art full line-up visit WINTER GUIDED TOUR by a three-course din- Warwickshire Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent www.drumandbas- Wed 7 Mar, Aston Hall, ner & glass of wine, Sat ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS TEA AND TALK: IVORY sawards.co.uk4, Sat 3 Week Commencing Birmingham 10 Mar, Shugborough FAIR Sat 11 Mar, Three PUZZLE BALL Chance to Mar, The Ballroom, MON 5 MAR CRUFTS 2012 A celebra- Estate, Staffordshire Counties Showground, explore some of the Birmingham tion of dogs from all SANDWELL YOUNG Malvern gallery’s diverse collec- NO HOLDS BARD! TOUR LUNCHTIME TALK WITH over the world, Thurs 8 PEOPLES LIFESTYLE & TUDOR ALCHEMIST As tions in the museum’s WITH WILLIAM SHAKE- BANKS'S BREWERY Learn - Sun 11 Mar, NEC, CREATIVITY SHOW part of National cafe area, Thurs 1 Mar, SPEARE Sat 3 Mar, The about one hundred- Birmingham Featuring fashion, hair Science Week, discover Wolverhampton Art Falstaff Experience, and-forty years of brew- TODDLER THURSDAY and beauty, performing the latest scientific Gallery Stratford-upon-Avon ing at the region’s Opportunity for young- arts, singing, health advances and theories WINTER GARDEN WALK BIRMINGHAM VINTAGE, Banks's Brewery, Tue 6 sters to make their very and wellbeing work- from the 17th century, Fri 2 Mar, Ragley Hall, PRE-LOVED & CRAFTS Mar, Bantock House & own 'crafty' creation shops, together with a Sun 11 Mar, Ford Warwickshire EXTRAVAGANZA Park, Wolverhampton and enjoy story time, job fair zone and talent Green Hall, Stoke-on- CLUB EXPO Advice and Opportunity to pur- LUDLOW LECTURES Thurs 8 Mar, Gladstone show, Sat 10 Mar, The Trent tips for motoring enthu- chase vintage clothing Series of six lectures on Pottery Museum, Public, West Bromwich RUN WHAT YA BRUNG siasts, Sat 3 Mar, and handmade crafts, the history and land- Stoke-on-Trent DISCOVERIES AND PUBLIC TRACK DAY Heritage Motor Centre, listen to The Rockettes scape of Ludlow and EASTERN EUROPEAN INVENTIONS Find out Chance to take your Warwickshire live on stage and the Marches, Tue 6 Mar, MUSIC WORKSHOP An about the history of car or motorcycle out STAFFORDSHIRE ON FILM indulge in some Ludlow Assembly introduction to this style inventions from Pre- on the famous quarter- Ray Johnson MBE refreshments in a retro Rooms, South of music with the Jani Roman times through mile dragstrip and test presents footage from vintage coffee bar, Sat Shropshire Lang Band, Fri 9 Mar, to the Victorian era, Sat its performance limits in the Staffordshire Film 3 Mar, Aston University TILE DECORATING Ludlow Assembly 10 Mar, Gladstone a safe and legal envi- Archive, Sat 3 Mar, Guild Of Students, WORKSHOP Fun, hands- Rooms, Ludlow, South Pottery Museum, ronment, Sun 11 Mar, Shire Hall Gallery, Birmingham on activities for children Shropshire Stoke-on-Trent Santa Pod Raceway, Stafford BBC FLOG IT! Valuation and adults alike, Tue 6 WINTER GARDEN WALKS EXPLORING LEONARDO: Northampton A TOUCH OF GLASS A day from the team Mar, Jackfield Tile Fri 9 Mar, Ragley Hall, STUDY DAY Sat 10 Mar, whistle-stop introduc- behind the popular Museum, Ironbridge, Warwickshire Birmingham Museum tion to stained glass BBC2 antiques series, Shropshire BACH DISCOVERY DAY A HERITAGE WEEKEND Sat

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‘...the perfect place for poetry’ Carol Ann Duffy

Wenlock Poetry Festival

13th - 15th April 2012 Nick Drake Pauline Prior-Pitt

Carol Ann Duffy Sarah Gillespie An exciting mix of poetry readings, performances and workshops for adults and children with some of the very best poets writing today

www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org

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afternoon tea, Sun 18 Mar, historic landscape, Sat 24 Avoncroft Museum, Mar, The Potteries Museum What’s On in Walsall Events LISTINGS Bromsgrove & Art Gallery, Stoke-on- MOTHERING SUNDAY SPE- Trent For full listing information on Events CIAL Treat your mum this NO HOLDS BARD! TOUR WITH including times and dates visit, Mother’s Day with all WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Sat mums admitted free of 24 Mar, The Falstaff Walsall www.whatsonlive.co.uk charge with every paying Experience, Stratford- child, Sun 18 Mar, upon-Avon exciting Irish and contem- Leather Birmingham Botanical AMERICAN SUPERSLAM Week Commencing porary music, singing and Gardens WRESTLING Two hours of dancing, as well as craft STRAITLINERS Bike only non-stop action from the MON 12 MAR and music workshops, Museum Ride What Ya Brung that best of British & American food tasting, face painting includes Round One of the wrestling stars, Sat 24 Mar, MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS Tue displays and much more... straightliners Bedworth Civic Hall 13 - Wed 14 Mar, Crewe Sat 17 Mar, The Public, Championships, Sun 18 JIMMY MULLEN 5-A-SIDE Lyceum West Bromwich Mar, Santa Pod, FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT Sat THE MAYOR'S BIG CHARITY TILE DECORATING Northampton 24 Mar, Aldersley Leisure SHOW WORKSHOP Fun, hands-on Featuring both TABLETOP SALE Hassle-free Village, Wolverhampton activities for children and established and emerging way to sell surplus items LEATHER BABY SHOE adults alike, Tue 13 Mar, local talent - from comedi- and unwanted gifts, Sun WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS Sat Jackfield Tile Museum, ans and singers, to Black 18 Mar, Ludlow Assembly 24 Mar, Walsall Leather Ironbridge, Shropshire Country poets, Sat 17 Mar, Rooms, Ludlow, South Museum APF EXHIBITION 2012 The The Public, West Shropshire BAMMA 9 Leading martial UK's largest exhibition for Bromwich arts event, Sat 24 Mar, MINIATURA - THE woodland, forestry, arbori- National Indoor Arena, INTERNATIONAL DOLL'S Week Commencing culture and fencing, Tue 13 Birmingham - Thu 15 Mar, Ragley Hall, HOUSE SHOW Featuring MON 19 MAR FRENCH PROPERTY EXHIBI- Warwickshire over two hundred-and-fifty TION Sat 24 Mar, National 'IT'S GOOD TO TALK... selected exhibitors, Sat 17 Motorcycle Museum, Conversation Club led by - Sun 18 Mar, NEC, TILE DECORATING Birmingham Sue Vaughan, Wed 14 Mar, Birmingham WORKSHOP Fun, hands-on RUN WHAT YA BRUNG PUBLIC BIG TIME AMERICAN A WORKING MUSEUM Walsall Leather Museum activities for children and TRACK DAY Chance to take WRESTLING WENLOCK OLYMPIAN SOCIE- Featuring a adults alike, Tue 20 Mar, your car or motorcycle out DEMONSTRATIONS TY LIVE ARTS FESTIVAL Wed brand new line-up for Jackfield Tile Museum, on the famous quarter-mile ATTRACTIVE GARDENS 14 - Sat 17 Mar. The Edge 2012, Sat 17 Mar, Victoria Ironbridge, Shropshire dragstrip and test its per- & PICNIC AREA Arts Centre, Much Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- CHILDREN’S POETRY EVENT formance limits in a safe SADDLE ROOM CAFÉ Wenlock, South Shropshire Trent Children from the city’s and legal environment, Sat KANTHA STITCHES LEATHERGOODS SHOP THE BIG BANG: UK YOUNG Young Writers’ Groups 24 Mar, Santa Pod EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS A entertain visitors with their Raceway, Northampton FAIR The UK's biggest sin- chance to learn the ancient work, Wed 21 Mar, Central GET ACTIVE AND DANCE 3 COMING SOON gle celebration of science skill of Kantha, Sat 17 Mar, Children’s Library, WITH CULTURAL DANCE FEST ...... and engineering for young Wolverhampton Art Gallery Wolverhampton Experience the ultimate CHARITY ABSEILING people - a show that aims In aid of WINTER GUIDED TOUR Wed dance fest explosion that 24 March to inspire through engag- Midlands Air Ambulance, 21 Mar, Aston Hall, fuses all types of dance, 10.30am - 3.30pm ing and interactive activi- Sat 17 Mar, RAF Cosford, Birmingham from Street Dance and Leather Baby ties, workshops and Shropshire MEET THE BUILDERS A guid- Bollywood to Hip-Hop, and MAGICAL GHOST CRUISES shows, Thurs 15 - Sat 17 ed tour of Wroxeter Roman much more... Sat 24 - Sun Shoes Worksop Mar, NEC, Birmingham Take a gentle trip along the Town House with two of 25 Mar, The Public, West WEST BROMWICH WRITER'S River Avon and listen to the builders - Tim the plas- Bromwich for Adults GROUP Regular meeting chilling stories along the terer and Ben the labourer, THE YOUNG TUDORS LIVING £17.50 (including materials), Booking essential that covers all aspects of way, Sat 17 Mar, Bancroft Thurs 22 Mar, Wroxter HISTORY WEEKEND Enjoy creative writing, supporting Cruisers, Holiday Inn, Roman Village, Shropshire interactive demonstrations local creative writers in and Stratford-upon-Avon SEWING FOR and living history in the 3 April NO HOLDS BARD! TOUR WITH around Sandwell, Thurs 15 PLEASURE/FASHION & Merchant's House with 10.30am-12.30pm 5-7s WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Mar, The Public, West Sat EMBROIDERY Featuring cat pupils from King Edward's (must be accompanied) Bromwich 17 Mar, The Falstaff walk shows, dressmakers’ School, Sat 24 - Sun 25 1.30pm-3.30pm 8-12s WINTER GUIDED TOUR Thurs Experience, Stratford- workshops, media hub, Mar, Avoncroft Museum, Woogie 15 Mar, Soho House, upon-Avon quilting displays, textile Bromsgrove Birmingham DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG artists, sewing experts, PAVILLIONS ASIAN WEDDING Wonderland AN AUDIENCE WITH NICK Chance to learn or practise pattern bar and free work- FAIR Specialist event fea- drifting in a safe & legal Create your own textile crea- BAKER Join Nick as he shops, Thurs 22 - Sun 25 turing everything from ture shares stories about dis- environment, Sat 17 Mar, Mar, NEC, Birmingham make-up and Mehndi to £1.50 Booking essential. covering, meeting and film- Santa Pod Raceway, BEAR GRYLLS: MUD, SWEAT food and favours, Sat 24 - ing some of his favourite Northampton AND TEARS TOUR The star of Sun 25 Mar, The Pavillions 9 April ADULT WORKSHOP: DECORA- weird creatures, Fri 16 Mar, Man vs Wild, one of the Shopping Centre, TIVE ENAMELS 10.30am-3.30pm Tamworth Assembly Sat 17 Mar, most watched TV shows Birmingham Rooms Bilston Craft Gallery across the world, arrives in SURFING SAFARI WEEKEND Easter Family LAMBING TIME AT HOO FARM TUDOR GAME PREPARATION Birmingham to host what Two-days of craft activities Fun Day A workshop that provides With the onset of spring, promises to be an inspira- themed around the muse- Top quality free family enter- an insight into the use of watch lambs being born tional evening packed full um’s Wheels & Waves tainment game in the Tudor period, every day - you may even of exhilarating stories suit- exhibition, Sat 24 - Sun 25 together with a brief intro- get a chance to bottle-feed able for the whole family, Mar, Coventry Transport duction to Tudor cookery, them! Sat 17 Mar - Sun 15 Fri 23 Mar, National Indoor Museum 11 April Fri 16 Mar, Kenilworth Apr, Hoo Farm Animal Arena, Birmingham SPRING CRAFT FAIR 10.30am-12.30pm 5-7s Kingdom, Telford, Castle, Warwickshire AUTHOR DEBATE English Featuring one-off jewellery (must be accompanied) WINTER GARDEN WALKS Fri Shropshire Heritage teams up with the pieces, toys, paintings, 1.30pm-3.30pm 8-12s TITANIC SCIENCE 16 Mar, Ragley Hall, Explore Historical Writers photographs, artisan food Warwickshire the science behind the Association to offer a products and cards from Pirate Puppets THE NATIONAL WEDDING sinking of the Titanic, Sat unique opportunity to meet some of the region’s finest Create your own pirate puppet SHOW Hints, tips and ideas 17 Mar, The Potteries the author, Fri 23 Mar, crafters, Sat 24 - Sun 25 £1.50 Booking essential. galore for that ‘Big Day’, Museum & Art Gallery, Kenilworth Castle, Mar, Coventry Transport Fri 16 - Sun 18 Mar, NEC, Stoke-on-Trent Warwickshire Museum Birmingham CLASSIC & COMMERCIAL 'STEAM RAILWAY MAGAZINE' CAPTAIN SMITH'S FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS SHOW AND FREE ENTRY BRITISH ALPACA FUTURITY SPRING GALA Annual gala TRAVELLERS A talk by Gary AUCTION 2012 A celebration of all Sat 17 - Sun 18 event, Fri 23 - Sun 25 Mar, Cooper, author of 'Titanic things alpaca, Fri 16 - Sat Mar, Three Counties Severn Valley Railway, Captain: The Life of Tel: 01922 721153 17 Mar, NEC, Birmingham Showground, Malvern Bewdley, Kidderminster Edward John Smith', Sun www.whatsonwalsall.co.uk EDIBLE GARDEN SHOW Two- MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND A WINTER GARDEN WALK Fri 25 Mar, Gladstone Pottery Open Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm day event that becomes a range of themed events 23 Mar, Ragley Hall, Museum, Stoke-on-Trent temporary home to celebri- aimed at treating that very Warwickshire BRITISH SHOW PONIES Walsall Leather Museum special person... Sat 17 - ty gardeners, chefs and A JOURNEY THROUGH THE SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS Sat Littleton Street West, Walsall various associated experts, Sun 18 Mar, Cadbury POTTERIES In conjunction 25 Mar, Three Counties Fri 16 - Sun 18 Mar, World, Birmingham with 'Picturing the Potteries' Showground, Malvern MOTHERS' DAY AFTERNOON Stoneleigh Park, exhibition, local historian ORCHID SHOW A showcase TEA Warwickshire Enjoy a visit around Andrew Dobraszczyc will of exotic blooms from ST PATRICK'S DAY the museum before treat- take his audience on a around the world, Sun 25 CELEBRATIONS Five hours of ing your mum to a special journey through Stoke's Mar, Birmingham Botanical

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72 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Events March PO_Layout 1 27/02/2012 18:20 Page 12

and around out the elusive clues to Farm Animal Kingdom, Mar - Sun 15 Apr, Birmingham. For further get to the finish and Telford, Shropshire Enginuity, Ironbridge, Events LISTINGS info, visit, www.weare- claim your chocolate EASTER EGG AND BUNNY Telford fierce.org egg prize, Sat 31 Mar - HUNT Follow the clues THE MEMORABILIA SHOW For full listing information on Events WINTER GARDEN WALK Sun 15 Apr, Avoncroft to search out the eggs Sat 31 Mar - Sun 1 Apr, including times and dates visit, Fri 30 Mar, Ragley Hall, Museum, Bromsgrove and bunnies. Craft NEC, Birmingham Warwickshire 'RECORD BREAKING activities also available, GOING DIGITAL A one- www.whatsonlive.co.uk RAG RUG WORKSHOP EASTER' Eggciting fun Sat 31 Mar - Sun 15 day photography work- Learn about the history where you can make Apr, Red House Glass shop to help you make Gardens Mar, Jackfield Tile of the craft with special- and race your own egg Cone, Stourbridge; the most of your digital MILITARIA Sun 25 Mar, Museum, Ironbridge, ist Jessie Lindon, Fri 30 car, as well as take part Broadfield House Glass SLR or compact cam- Three Counties Shropshire Mar, The Back to in quizzes and other Museum, Dudley & era, Sat 31 Mar, Etruria Showground, Malvern AGRICULTURAL Backs, Birmingham crafts and activities, Sat Dudley Museum & Art Industrial Museum, STAFFORD SCHOOL AND BUILDINGS SHOW 2012 BERLIN LOVE TOUR A 31 Mar - Sun 15 Apr, Gallery Stoke-on-Trent FAMILY FUN RUN A one- Tue 27 Mar, Stoneleigh guided tour of Berlin on Heritage Motor Centre, EASTER RUN WHAT YA BRUNG mile run that starts off Park, Warwickshire the streets of Gaydon, Warwickshire EGGSTRAVAGANZA Sat PUBLIC TRACK DAY Sat at Stafford's Market THE LUDLOW PUDDING Birmingham that fea- DAY OUT WITH THOMAS 31 Mar - Sun 15 Apr, 31 Mar, Santa Pod Square and takes par- EXPERIENCE Wed 28 tures stories of tragedy Sat 31 Mar - Sun 1 Apr, Cadbury World, Raceway, Northampton ticipants around the Mar, Ludlow Assembly and lost love. Severn Valley Railway, Birmingham MIND BODY SPIRIT EVENT town centre, Sun 25 Rooms, Ludlow, South Presented by Bewdley, Kidderminster FLOAT A BOAT Design Featuring stage act & Mar, Stafford Town Shropshire Birmingham Repertory THE FAMOUS SHEEP and make a sailing workshops, Sat 31 Mar Centre ORIGINS OF MIDDLE Theatre and Fierce STEEPLECHASE Sat 31 boat then test it on the - Sun 1 Apr, Nantwich WRAP UP AND RUN 10K EARTH Wed 28 Mar, Festival, Fri 30 Mar - Mar - Sun 2 Sep, Hoo Enginuity pool, Sat 31 Civic Hall, Cheshire Fundraising event in Sarehole Mill, Sun 8 Apr, Birmingham aid of Age UK’s Spread Birmingham City Centre The Warmth campaign, SUPER VIVERE EXHIBI- HANDMADE & VINTAGE Sun 25 Mar, War TION TOUR Wed 28 Mar, WEDDING FAIR Sat 31 Memorial Park, Wolverhampton Art Mar, Wolverhampton Coventry Gallery Art Gallery THE FAST SHOW Season WINTER GUIDED TOUR AMERICAN CIVIL WAR opening show for all Wed 28 Mar, Aston SHARPSHOOTERS performance & modi- Hall, Birmingham TRAINING Sat 31 Mar - fied car enthusiasts, THE NATIONAL Sun 1 Apr, Avoncroft Sun 25 Mar, Santa Pod HOMEBUILDING & Museum, Bromsgrove Raceway, Northampton RENOVATION SHOW BLOSSOM TRAIL Take a Thurs 29 Mar - Sun 1 walk around the muse- Apr, NEC, Birmingham Week Commencing um grounds and dis- VALUATION DAY: FINE ART cover over twenty dif- MON 26 MAR & ANTIQUES Facilitated ferent varieties of blos- by Fieldings soming shrubs and Auctioneers, Thurs 29 trees, Sat 31 Mar - Sat HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Mar, Bantock House & 14 Apr, Avoncroft Tue 27 Mar, LG Arena, Park, Wolverhampton Museum, Bromsgrove Birmingham FIERCE FESTIVAL HUMPTY DUMPTY EASTER TILE DECORATING Birmingham’s interna- EGG HUNT Follow the WORKSHOP Fun, hands- tional festival of live art, egg-citing trail round on activities for children Thurs 29 Mar - Sun 8 the museum and work and adults alike, Tue 27 Apr, various locations in

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 73 Events March PO_Layout 1 27/02/2012 18:20 Page 13

Variety is the Life Of Spice..

Come out to play with a huge network of new friends. A warm welcome awaits you!

Wouldn’t you love to be invited to places you’ve always wanted to go. Get your FREE comprehensive join a thriving club of 3000 friends Events take place at locations information pack today call: in the West Midlands (and 15,000 across the West Midlands. Lots of our members are single and come 0121 353 6161 (24 hours) nationally!) who really know how along on there own, but we also email [email protected] to enjoy themselves? welcome couples and groups of or visit www.spicebham.com friends. There’s no hidden agenda Well here’s your chance. We’re a – we’re just one happy family of friendly, local action, adventure and friends. Members are all ages social group offering a wide variety (18–80!) and from all walks of life. of opportunities for our members to have fun together. The one unifying factor of anyone joining Spice is that they want to live There’s literally something for life to the full. everyone; be it the latest adrenaline pumping outdoor activities… Membership is equivalent to the weekends & holidays… sports nights… workshops on fascinating cost of just a pint of beer a week. subjects… or social nights including In fact, our money back promise So what will theatre, parties and ‘behind the means that satisfaction is you be doing scenes’ visits to all sorts of unusual guaranteed. tomorrow?

“It’s an opportunity to get to do lots of things you wouldn’t otherwise do Events March PO_Layout 1 27/02/2012 18:20 Page 14

What our members are up to in March 2012 Thursday 1st March Sunday 11th March Thursday 22nd March

I Dinner at Genting Casino I Abseiling for the Terrified I Boxercise Session I Halesowen and Quinton Pub Night I Advanced Poker Skills Workshop I Quiz - Sound + Vision Quiz in Lichfield I Istanbul Experience I Beginners Horse Trek I Spaghetti Western Orchestra I Bewdley + Arley Moderate Ramble Friday 23rd March I Clay Pigeon Shooting Friday 2nd March I Hindu Temple Visit I Indoor Shooting I St Patricks Parade Breakfast I Malham Walking and Social Weekend .. I Cotswold's Walking Weekend I New Members Easy Walking Weekend I Hathersage YHA Weekend Monday 12th March I Spice Hits Town at the Jam House I Lady Windermere's Fan I I Skills for the Hills (Navigation Spice Book Club Saturday 24th March Awards) Tuesday 13th March I Ballroom Dance Masterclass - Saturday 3rd March I Quickstep! Badminton at NIA I I Corvedale Valley Ramble I Barn Dance and Supper Preview Evening (Sutton) I I Flirting for Fun (at Lea Marston Hotel) I Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' Dance Solihull Pub Night I I Westfield Cars Visit Museum Curators Challenge Workshop I Rally Driving Lesson I Chatsworth Estate Ramble I Symonds Yat Adventure Mission I Meeting your True Soul Mate Wednesday 14th March I Night in the Trenches I Curry and Quiz - Harborne Sunday 25th March I UK Pink Floyd Show I Sutton Pub Night I Western Style Rifle Shooting Afternoon I The 3 Degrees at the Jam House I Adventure Trekking Day I Indian Head Massage Workshop Sunday 4th March Thursday 15th March (Arden Hotel) I Monsall Trail Adventure Ride I Birmingham City Afternoon Walk I I Prokart Indoor Superprix Afternoon I Boathouse at Bracebridge Birmingham Museum Building - Tea I Oliver I Sheep Dog Experience and Tour I I Stafford Town Walk I Stafford Pub Night Chadwick End Easy Ramble I Warwick / Leamington Pub Night I Wooton Wawen Easy Ramble I Fire Fighter for a Day I Fun Run Preview Walk Friday 16th March Monday 26th March I Glass Art Workshop I Bideford and North Devon Walking I Astronomy Evening Monday 5th March Weekend I Inspirational Weekend - Your Personal Tuesday 27th March I Spice Book Club Inner Discovery I Irish Party Night I Tuesday 6th March Badminton at NIA I Tennis Evening (Indoor) I Spamalot I Wine Tasting - The Classic Grape I Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway Plaza) Saturday 17th March Varieties Wednesday 7th March I Cannock Chase Mountain Biking Wednesday 28th March I Flirting Safari (Morning or Afternoon) I Badminton For Fun - Coventry I Hay Bluff Challenge Walk I Harborne Pub Treasure Trail I Badminton For Fun - Wolverhampton I Lamborghini Thrill I Quiz I Drumming Experience for Beginners I Saxophone for Beginners I Tamworth and Lichfield Pub Night I StageSide Dinner Shuffle I Windsor Experience Day by Coach Thursday 29th March Thursday 8th March I Sunday 18th March Syriana Syrian/ Lebanese Dinner Shuffle I Indoor Climbing at Redpoint I Knowle Beer,Skittles and Curry Night I Balloon Flight -Shugborough Friday 30th March I Birmingham Museum - Analyse Friday 9th March Paintings Tour I Big Kidz Night I Cannock Chase Easy Ramble I Friday Fish and Chips Race Night I Blues Jam Factory! I SWAT Training Mission I Outdoor Digital Photography Weekend I Cairngorms Winter Skills Training I Thornton Reservoir Ramble Weekend I White Knight and Good Fairy Fortnight Saturday 31st March I Cairngorms Winter Wonderland Walking Weekend Monday 19th March I Adventure Activities Camping Weekend I Howgills and Dales Walking Weekend I BBC Birmingham Behind the Scenes I Mid Wales Hill Walking Weekend I Badminton at NIA I Carriage Driving Experience I Bromsgrove Pub Night I Chaddesley Corbett Easy Ramble Saturday 10th March I Fine Art Encounters - British Tuesday 20th March Watercolours I Aston Villa VIP and Match Experience I Kayak River Adventure Day Day I Kings Heath Pub Night I Lightning Cockpit Experience I Canadian Canoe Adventure I Lasan Indian Banquet I Quad Bike Trekking at Garlands I Caving for the Terrified I Unihoc (Mixed Indoor Hockey) I Sutton Park Discovery Walk I Pole Dancing with Pure Joy I Polesworth Easy Ramble Wednesday 21st March I Stanton Moor Moderate Ramble I I Stratford as you've never seen it before Fencing for Beginners I I What to Wear Workshop Ghost Hunting and Supper For future listings visit: I www.spicebham.com I Wildlife Walk in the Malverns Humble Boy

...and meet lots of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet”. Jamie, Spice member Classifieds - March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:43 Page 1

To advertise on the classifieds Classified page Call: Chris Horton on 01743 281704 [email protected]

or: Jon Cartwright on 01743 281703 j.cartwright @whatsonlive.co.uk It’s probably less than you think!

76 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Clubbing Gay March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 12:53 Page 1 Clubbing

BIRMINGHAM AIR Heath Mill Lane, Digbeth, B9 4AL. Tel: 0121 766 6646 BAMBU Kottwall House, Wrottesley Street, B5 4BN Tel: 0121 6224124 BUSHWACKERS 103 Edmund St, B3 2HZ Tel: 0121 236 4994 FLARES NIGHTCLUB 55 Broad St, B15 1AY Tel: 0121 252 3100 GATECRASHER 183 Broad St, B15 1DA Tel: 0121 525 1300 02 ACADEMY 16-18 Horsefair, Bristol St, B1 1DB Tel: 0121 622 8250 OCEANA BIRMINGHAM Hurst St, B4 4EH Tel: 0845 4025390 REFLEX 36-37 Broad St, B1 2DY Tel: 0121 643 0444 SNOBS NIGHTCLUB 29 Paradise Circus, Queensway, B1 2BJ Tel: 0121 643 5551 BLACK COUNTRY INSOMNIA NIGHTCLUB 2 Bradford Place, Walsall WS1 1PL Tel: 01922 614300 OCEANA WOLVERHAMPTON Bilston Rd, Wolverhampton Tel: 0845 402 5290 Exciting line-up for Birmingham’s latest clubbing venue SHROPSHIRE LAB11, Digbeth, Birmingham C:21 NIGHTCLUB 21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 271821 Some of the biggest names in house and techno will take to the decks when a new club venue EDEN LOUNGE 13 Castle Foregate, opens in Birmingham’s Digbeth district on 31 March. Lab11 is the brainchild of TRMNL, the team Shrewsbury SY1 2DJ Tel: 01743 359020 behind the short-lived TRMNL Club, which was closed down by Birmingham City Council in 2008. FEVER 19 - 21 Hills Lane, Shrewsbury The new one thousand-capacity club, which will open till 6am, is initially scheduling acts for SY1 1QU Tel: 01743 247508 Saturday evenings only, but it’s hoped that programming will expand to include other weekend THE OFFICE 27a Market Street, evenings in the near future. The official public opening will feature sets from Radio Slave and Mark Oakengates TF2 6EN Tel:01952 616536 Henning, while a line-up of other underground acts are booked for subsequent nights during the ONYX & BLU Raven Meadows, eight-week launch season. By hosting 'the ultimate entertainment experience', it’s hoped that Lab11 Shrewsbury SY1 1PL. Tel: 01743 289063 will spearhead the regeneration of the Digbeth area. PUSSYCATS NIGHT CLUB 17 Tan Bank, Wellington, TF2 6EJ Tel: 01952 224260 SPIRIT NIGHTCLUB 18 Abbey Foregate, GAY NIGHTCLUBS Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 355055 SCENE Gay BIRMINGHAM STAFFORDSHIRE I HOST (FORMERLEY DV8) Essex St, COURTURE & NOIRE ET BLANC 139 Stars set to dazzle at Birmingham’s B5 6SN Tel: 0121 666 6366 Newport Rd, Stafford, ST16 2EZ Tel: 01785 CLUB CHIC 28 Horsefair, B1 1DD. 244755 annual Pride Ball... Tel: 0121 666 6808 LIQUID Brunswick St, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 THE CORE Sherlock Street, B5 6NB Organisers of Birmingham Pride Ball have announced that Tel: 0121 622 2797 1DR Tel: 01782 284333 the L Project will perform their LGBT anti-bullying charity sin- THE NIGHTINGALE Kent St, B5 6RD REFLEX 3-5 Brockley Square, Stoke-on- gle It Does Get Better at this year’s event. The L Project is the Tel: 0121 622 1718 Trent ST1 5LY Tel: 01782 206170 latest name to be added to an already impressive line-up THE VILLAGE INN & UNDERGROUND TRINITY NIGHTCLUB Spinning School which includes ’80s pop sensation Sinitta, I’m A Celebrity 152 Hurst St, B5 6RY Tel: 0121 622 4742 Lane, Tamworth,ST1 1DR Tel: 01827 58772 winner Stacey Solomon, boyband BLACK COUNTRY WARWICKSHIRE FTW and pop THE LION Birchills St, Walsall, WS2 8NG CAREYS NIGHTCLUB Hereford Place, chameleon Vicky Tel: 01922 610977 Coventry CV1 3JZ Tel: 02476 227 397 Jackson. The Pride GORGEOUS Salop St Wolverhampton, WV3 0SR Tel: 0844 357 8570 EVOLVE NIGHTCLUB 2 Spencer Street, Ball, which raises Leamington Spa, Coventry CV31 3NF Tel: funds for various SHROPSHIRE 01926 435310 LGBT charities (pre- C21 18-21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. JJ’S Skydome Leisure Park, Croft Rd, vious beneficiaries SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 271821 (MON ONLY) Coventry CV1 3AZ. Tel: 02476 555913 include the Terrence SPIRIT 22 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, LIQUID & ENVY Leicester Road, Higgins Trust, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 355055 (MON ONLY) Nuneaton CV11 4B. Tel: 02476 344216 Freshwinds and THREE FURNACES 30 Bridgnorth Road, Madeley TF7 4JB Tel: 01952 588521 REFLEX Church St, Nuneaton, CV11 4BW ABplus), takes Tel: 02476 344216 place at STAFFORDSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE Birmingham’s THE FACTORY Bryan St, Hanley, Stoke- International On-Trent, ST1 2AA Tel: 01782 478799 BUSHWACKERS Trinity St, Worcester WR1 2PW Tel: 01905 26878 Convention Centre WARWICKSHIRE on Friday 23 TRAMPS Angel Place, Worcester WR1 RAINBOWS Short St, Coventry CV1. 3QN Tel: 019905 26936 March. For further Tel: 02476 551738 information or to VELVET LOUNGE Angel Place, Worcester WORCESTERSHIRE WR1 3QN. Tel: 019905 619966 book tickets, visit VELVET CLUB Angel Row, Worcester, prideball.co.uk Stacey Solomon WR1 3QN Tel: 01905 20218

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 77 Books-TV March_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:38 Page 1 Books TV

David Essex: Over The Moon By David Essex Musician, actor, producer and director David Essex has certainly spent his fair share of time in the spotlight during his forty-year career, most recently as a result of playing Eddie Moon in EastEnders. His acting debut, as Jesus in the smash-hit musical Godspell in 1971, marked the launch of a professional journey that's seen him perform an array of top musi- cal roles, enter the Top Thirty sin- gles charts more than twenty times, direct his own productions and make numerous film and TV appearances, all of which has Great Expectations actress to take lead in earned him an army of devoted female followers along the way. new BBC thriller Now, for the first time, fans of the ‘cockney charmer’ can gain a candid This month sees filming commence in Belfast on a new five-part insight into his life and career, as he shares his memories of an East End psychological thriller by Murphy’s Law and Prime Suspect writer childhood and a stellar career as one of the UK's brightest and best-loved Allan Cubitt. Great Expectations and X Files star Gillian performers. Anderson takes the lead role as DSI Gibson in The Fall, a story of two hunters - one a serial killer who stalks his victims at ran- dom in and around Belfast; the other a Detective Charles Dickens And The Superintendent, on secondment from the MET, who's been Great Theatre Of The World brought in to catch him. Further casting is yet to be announced for the series, which is By Simon Callow scheduled to screen on BBC Two later in 2012. In a year that celebrates the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth, one of Britain’s most forthright classical actors has fittingly Filming on new army drama announced penned an entertaining biography explor- ITV has announced the commissioning of a yet-to-be-written six- ing the novelist's life. Considered by many part drama based around the wives and girlfriends of soldiers to be the greatest storyteller in the English serving in Afghanistan. Currently referred to as SWAGS (work- language, Dickens was obsessed with the ing title) and with casting still to be announced, the series will stage from an early age, when he was a focus on four ‘real’ women - Debbie, Gemma, Louise and Claire child performer in Portsmouth. His subse- - whose lives living in army quarters are far from easy. quent readings and performances in Britain Promising to be 'compelling viewing', SWAGS follows the four- and America attracted thousands of fans, some as they cope with not only the trials and tribulations of and led to him being hailed as the original ‘celebrity’ author. In Charles motherhood, but issues of infidelity, insecurity, bereavement Dickens And The Great Theatre Of The World, Simon Callow, an authority and bureaucracy. Filming begins in Manchester in May. on Dickens, uses his inimitable wit and style to reveal a life driven by a compulsion to perform. Amanda Lamb to front new property makeover show for Channel 4 Merckx: Half Man, Half Bike A Place In The Sun presenter Amanda Lamb this month returns By William Fotheringham TOP 5 to our TV screens with a brand new makeover show. Channel Four's You Deserve This This, the first ever English language biog- BOOKS House promises to raphy of the greatest cyclist of all time, is deliver a combination of a definitive story of a man whose fear of Steve Jobs: The spectacular transforma- failure drove him to the peak of his profes- Exclusive Biography tions, emotional back- sion but ultimately destroyed him. 1 Walter Isaacson stories and useful Belgian-born Edouard Louis Joseph makeover advice. Each Baron Merckx, better known as Eddy, Before I Go To Sleep episode features a dif- amassed an astonishing four hundred- 2 S J Watson ferent project, with a and-forty-five victories during his career, team - including people winning the equivalent of a race a week Death Comes To Pemberley that the homeowners for six years. However, behind the glory 3 P D James have helped over the lay tales of drug-busts, horrific injury and years - having just forty- death... William Fotheringham is recog- Inheritance eight hours to renovate nised as Britain’s leading cycling writer, Christopher Paolini 4 the chosen house. You and in Half Man, Half Bike, he attempts to Deserve This House will answer the often-asked question: “What Daughters-in-law screen on Mondays made Eddy Merckx so invincible?". Joanna Trollope 5 from 5 March.

78 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out March Davina_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:47 Page 1 Eating Out New tapas bar planned for Brum... The San Carlo group has announced its plans for a new Venetian tapas bar, scheduled to open on Birmingham’s Waterloo Street in April. The new venue will be called Fumo, and will feature a large bar serving wines, beers and innovative cocktails, with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Fumo is the next stage of the group’s international expansion plan, which last year saw the opening of a second restaurant in Kuwait and a new venue in Beirut.

Unique dining experience on offer at Worcester’s latest restaurant Bindles Brasserie and Bar, situated in the heart of Worcester, is this month hosting a charity Comfortable chic in the evening in aid of Sight Concern Worcestershire - a charity supporting blind and partially sighted people. The event, to be held on 8 March, fea- tures a drinks reception followed by a three- heart of Birmingham... course meal, during which guests will experience their main and dessert courses while blindfolded, REVIEW We weren’t short of choice light; indeed, it was with leaving them needing to use their senses of taste on the ‘paste’ (ranging mixed emotions that I and smell to work out what they’re eating. Tickets from £7.20 to £13.95 for tucked into the indulgent Located a stone’s throw to the black tie event cost £45 and are available the sea food-based dishes) chocolate fondant, con- from St. Paul’s Square in by calling 01684 892666. and ‘secondi patti’ scious that I was tearing the Jewellery Quarter, (upwards of £14) menus, apart the chef’s masterly Cucina Rustica proved to in addition to the specials presentation. be well worth a ten minute Glyn Purnell to host kitchen and pizzas which were Unlike many a new city trudge from Birmingham challenge for charity also on offer. I finally opted restaurant which has been City Centre on a snowy for one of the risottos, interior-designed to within Michelin-starred chef Glyn Purnell this month Saturday night. which happily included not an inch of its life, the smart makes his first appearance as patron of the Contrary to the restaurant’s just mushroom (all too interiors possessed a com- Midlands-based charity Cure Leukaemia. Glyn name, there was nothing often the case in many a fortable charm (and some will direct a live cooking event at Warwickshire rustic about the quality restaurant), but asparagus eccentric artwork to boot) - County Cricket Club’s Edgbaston stadium on 5 Italian food with which we and artichoke. My dining but it was the food and the March. He'll be joined by Edgbaston head chef were presented. partner chose the restau- service which were the real Dave Hill, along with Warwickshire’s Director of After scouring the numer- rant’s most popular (and treat. Claire Lloyd Cricket Ashley Giles, captain Jim Troughton and ous Italian reds and whites expensive) dish: the fillet BBC WM Radio DJ Phil Upton. For further infor- on the wine list, we were steak on a crouton base, Food: IIII I mation, or to book tickets, contact Ruth Bishop served with a generous topped with paté and Service: IIIII on 0121 371 4367. helping of complimentary served with vegetables Ambience: IIII I bread and olives, followed (£22.95). While his medi- Overall value IIII I swiftly by our starters. This um-rare steak could have IIII I efficient pace was consis- OVERALL done with thirty seconds tent between courses. longer, and the wine sauce Indeed, the only slight criti- Cusina Rustica could have packed a little cism of the otherwise Saint Paul’s Square more punch, it was attentive and helpful serv- 24 Ludgate Hill nonetheless among the ice was that we were wait- Birmingham finest pieces of meat he’d ed upon by several differ- B3 1DX been served in a Midlands ent members of staff Tel: 0121 233 2277 restaurant. throughout the night. Glyn Purnell & Dave Hill Dessert was a further high-

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 79 Eating Out March Davina_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:47 Page 2

Restaurant REVIEWS Restaurant LISTINGS For full listing information on restau- Puddings to die for at rants, including opening times and type of cuisine, visit: Wolverhampton bistro... www.whatsonlive.co.uk On a cold Valentine's night, my partner and I ventured into the lovely Chapel Ash (just off 632 6688 Birmingham CHUNG YING 17 the Wolverhampton City Centre ring road) to Thorpe St, B5 4RT sample the cuisine of Bank’s Bistro - and AL FRASH 186 0121 622 5669 what a lovely night we had! Ladypool Road, CITY CAFE The restaurant was decorated with twinkly Sparkbrook, B12 8JS RESTAURANT 0121 753 3120 Mint Hotel, 1 Brunswick fairy lights, candles and gorgeous red flow- Square, Brindleyplace, THE ASQUITH 11 B1 2HW 0121 633 6300 ers in honour of Valentine's Day - it looked Newhall Street, and felt so cosy I could have sat there all Birmingham, B3 3NY CIELO 6 Oozells 0121 200 1588 Square, Brindleyplace, night. My partner chose the Irish cream cheese- B1 2JB 0121 632 6882 To start, I went for the lobster, crab and ASHA’S 12-22 Newhall cake with a strawberry compot, quite easily Street, B3 3LX 0121 200 COTE The Mailbox, B1 sweetcorn chowder with crusty bread, which the lightest cheesecake he'd ever tasted. 2767 1RX 0121 631 1587 was simply divine. My partner opted for Bank’s Bistro is currently doing some fantas- AZZARI TOO 204 CUIZENE 17 Thorp Lightwoods Rd, B67 5AZ Street, B5 4AT seared beef and watercress salad with a stil- tic offers, including a three-course Sunday 0121 622 5573 ton dressing - a very tasty dish to start the 0121 429 6621 lunch for £9.95, the menu for which makes BANK 4 Brindleyplace, CUCINA RUSTICA 24 meal, and the stilton sauce wasn’t too over- your mouth water. They also do a fantastic B1 2JB 0121 633 7766 Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX powering. lunch/early evening Bistro menu, with two BAR EPERNAY 171- 0121 233 2277 My main of fillet of seabass with mussels 172 Wharfside Street, DEOLALI BAR courses costing £12.95. An a la Carte menu RESTAURANT and tiger prawns with wilted spinach, herby The Mailbox. 0121 632 is available from Wednesday to Saturday. 1430 23A St Mary's Row, potatoes and a saffron cream sauce was Moseley B13 8HW Vicky Price BAR ESTILO 10-114 0121 442 2222 very nice, although the prawns and mussels Wharfside St, The were slightly overcooked. Mailbox, B11RF DEL VILLAGGIO Food: IIII I Unit 528, Middle Mall My partner’s pan roast rack of lamb could 0121 643 3443 Service: IIII I BARNT GREEN INN The Bullring B5 4BE have been slightly pinker but was still very 0121 643 1400 Ambience: IIIII Kendal End Rd, Rednal good, accompanied by delicious dauphi- B45 8PZ 0121 445 4949 DUET CUISINE Overall value IIII I Unit 1, Fort Dunlop BARTONS ARMS noise potatoes with a medley of market veg- IIII I B24 9FD. 0121 748 OVERALL 144 High Street, Aston, 1234 etables and a honey and rosemary jus. B6 5UP 0121 333 5988 For pudding I went for the warm chocolate EDMUNDS 6 Brindley Bank’s Bistro BARAJEE 265 Broad place, B1 2 JB 0121 fondant with vanilla ice cream. Naturally, St, B1 2DS 633 4944 there was a fifteen minute wait to allow the Chapel Ash 0121 643 6700 Wolverhampton GREEN ROOM Hurst fondant to cook, but boy, was it worth it! The BELLA ITALIA 102 New St, B5 4DT 0121 605 WV1 4EP St, B2 4HQ chocolate positively oozed out of the soft 4343 Tel: 01902 238433 0121 6431548 sponge pudding! HA HA BAR & GRILL THE BERLOIZ 178-180 Wharfside St, Burlington Arcade, The Mailbox, B1 New St, B2 4JQ 0121 632 1250 0121 633 1737 HARJEES SPICES Powys restaurant gets top BLUE MANGO 5 Broad 512 Stratford Road, St, B1 2DS Sparkhill, Birmingham, 0121 633 4422 B11 4AH marks across the board... BLUE GINGER 32 0121 773 6130 Poplar Road, Kings THE HOUSE Bennetts The Knighton Hotel boasts an imposing Heath, B14 7AD Hill, B2 5RS 0121 643 stone frontage and a beautiful galleried stair- 0121 444 0999 2220 case rising high into the atrium, resplendent BLUU Fleet St, Summer ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, Row, B3 1JH B3 1JL 0121 212 3383 with its original timbers. It also boasts the 0121 236 9013 JAMIES ITALIAN recently refurbished King Offa's Restaurant. BUONISSIMO 1 Albany Middle Mall It's hard not to be impressed by this tall, spa- Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX Bullring Shopping 0121 426 2444 cious and very elegant room. Simply and Centre, B5 4BE BRANDED BULL 0121 270 3610 tastefully decorated, there’s an air of under- STEAKHOUSE THE JUNCTION stated sophistication here. The service 175 Broad Street, B15 212 High Street, throughout the meal was attentive without 1DT. 0121 643 5968 Harborne, B17 9PT BYZANTIUM 11 York 0121 428 2635 being intrusive - an ideal blend. Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. Road, Kings Heath, B14 To start, my wife ordered the wasabi and JUJU’S With eyes considerably bigger than bellies, 7SA 0121 444 5444 Canal Square, B16 8BZ goat's cheese bon bons, whilst I 'went crazy' we ploughed straight into dessert. My sticky CAFE IKON 1 Oozells 0121 456 3384 and opted for the soup. The bon bons were toffee pudding was one of the finest I’d ever Square, Brindleyplace, JIMMY SPICES B1 2HS 0121 248 3226 simply delicious, complemented perfectly by tasted. My wife ordered melting chocolate Regency Wharf, Broad CAFE ROUGE St, B1 2DS 0121643 the Tempranillo Rioja which we’d chosen to tart with vanilla crumble, whch proved to be Brindleyplace, Broad 2111 accompany it. My vegetable soup was sim- sweet and sumptuous. Street, B1 2HJ 0121 643 JIMMY SPICES 64-66 ple and tasty, with a nice hint of garlic and Our trip to The Knighton was a revelation. 6556 Station Rd, Solihull, well matched with a glass of Pinot Gris. CAFE SOYA 70 Hurst B91 3RX 0121 709 The food was superb, matched only by the St, The Arcadian 2111 Already impressed, we sipped our way lovely venue and helpful staff. And good Centre, B5 4TD 0121 KINNAREE THAI onward towards main courses. My wife value too - the most expensive main on the à 683 8350 22 Waterfront Walk, B1 opted for the contra-cut sirloin, which was la carte menu was under £15. A return trip is CARLUCCIO’S 1SN. 0121 665 6568 The Water’s Edge cooked to absolute perfection. Coming with an absolute must. Matthew Morris LA BASTILLE 220 Brindleyplace B1 2HP Corporation St, B4 6QB homemade chunky chips, mushrooms and 0121 633 9262 0121 236 1171 IIIII tomatoes, this was a hearty yet simple dish, Food: CELEBRITY INDIAN LAHORE KARAHI the locally sourced sirloin providing a juicy Service: IIIII 44 Broad St, B1 2HP HALAL CHINESE AND 0121 643 8969 centrepiece attraction. A glass of Riesling IIIII BALTI 309 Highgate Ambience: THE CHAMELEON Road, B12 8DN was the perfect partner. Meanwhile, I was Overall value IIIII 1 Victoria Square, B1 0121773 7575 tempted by the intriguingly titled Blade of OVERALL IIIII 1BD LASAN 3-4 Dakota Beef - slow cooked, with horseradish mash 0121 643 2233 Buildings James St, St and roasted parsnip & red onion marmalade. The Knighton Hotel CHEZ JULES 5a Ethel Paul’s Square, B3 1SD St, B2 4BG 0121 633 0121 212 3664 A signature dish of the chef, the slow- Broad Street, Knighton 4664 LAS IGUANAS cooked beef was beautifully tender and fell Powys, LD7 1BL CHI 61 Newhall St, B3 Arcadian Centre, Hurst apart in my mouth, from where it was happi- Tel: 01547 520530 3RB 0121 233 3150 St, B5 4TD 0121 622 ly washed down with a cheeky little CHINA RED 193-194 4466 Broad St, B15 1AY 0121 80 www.whatsonlive.co.uk Eating Out March Davina_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:48 Page 3

LA TASCA Regency SHAH’S Unit 16, 1160 Wharf, B1 2DS 0121 Warwick Road, Acocks 643 9888 Green B27 6BP. 0121 LOCH FYNE Mere 707 8297 Green Road, Sutton SHIMLA PINKS Coldfield. B75 5BL 215 Broad St, B15 1AY 0121 308 9410 0121 633 0366 THE LOFT LOUNGE SHOGUN 143 Bromsgrove St, TEPPANYAKI The B5 6RG 0121 622 2444 Mailbox,113-115 LOVES The Wharfside St, B1 1RD Glasshouse, Browning 0121 632 1253 St, B16 8FL 0121 454 SHOGUN TEPPANYA- 5151 KI The Waters Edge, MANIC ORGANIC Brindleyplace, B1 2HL 46 Poplar Road, B14 0121 643 1856 7AG 0121 441 3802 SIMPSONS, 20 MAHARAJA 23/25 Highfield Rd, Hurst St, B5 4AS Edgbaston B13 3DU 0121 622 2641 0121 454 3434 MECHU 59 Summer SPICE EXCHANGE, Row, B3 1JJ 0121 710 1845 Pershore Rd 4233 Kings Norton, B30 3DJ 0121 451 1007 METRO 73 Cornwall St, B3 0121200 1911 STRADA 109-111 Wharfside St, The LA BASTILLE 220 Mailbox B1 1XL Corporation St, B4 6QB 0121 643 7279 0121 236 1171 SYRIANA MINT Yew Tree Retail 1 Constitution Hill, B19 Park, Stoney Lane 3LG 0121 2369444 Yardley, B25 8YP Wine Republic, Birmingham Tel: 0121 789 8908 THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, B1 2HL 0121 643 MIRAGE FUSION 3993 Broadway Casino, CATELLANI’S 6 School RISTORANTE 01952 460600 THE MEADOW INN Broadway Plaza TIN TIN CANTONESE, St, Wolverhampton, WV1 ROMAGNA 4 Upper DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s Buildwas Road, Ladywood Middleway, The Waters Edge, 4LR 01902 428928 Green, Tettenhall, St Shrewsbury, SY1 Ironbridge TF8 7BJ B16 8LP. 0121 456 5557 Brindleyplace, B1 2HL THE COWSHED Wolverhampton WV6 1DZ 01743 344679 01952 433193 0121 633 0888 8QQ 01902 756052 MOUNT FUJI The Clive Farm Clive Rd, FENNELS 8 Market MINH’S CHINESE Bullring, B5 4QL THE VAULTS Newhall Pattingham, WV6 7EN THE SPRINGHILL Place, Shifnall TF11 20 Bradford St, Shifnal 0121 633 9853 Place, Newhall Hill, B1 01902 701888 Warstones Rd, Penn, 9AZ 01952 463020 TF11 8AU 01952 3JH 0121 212 9837 CINNAMON COURT Wolverhampton WV4 463323 OPUS 54 Cornwall St, 4LB 01902 342530 THE FEATHERS B3 2DA 0121 200 2323 VMF - ASTON VILLA Bentley Mill Way, Walsall Brockton, Much MR UNDERHILLS FOOTBALL CLUB Villa WS2 0BP SIMON’S 520 Chester Dinham Weir, Ludlow OLD JOINTSTOCK Wenlock TF13 6JR Park, Trinity Rd, B6 0121 568 6664 Rd, Aldridge, Walsall, 01746 785202 Shropshire SY8 1EH PUB 4 Temple Row, B2 6HE 0121 326 1570 WS9 0121 580 9293 01584 874431 5NY 0121 200 1892 THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, THE FOX INN 46 High ULYSSES 42a Bristol Walsall, WS1 2EU 01922 THE SUMMERHOUSE St, Much Wenlock TF13 MORGANS THE ORIENTAL The Street, B5 7AA 0121 643215 92 Gospel End Rd, 1 Bellstone, Mailbox, 128-130 6AD 01952 727292 622 3159 FARADAYS The Dudley DY3 4AN 01902 Shrewsbury Wharfside St, B1 1RQ 676 102 FRANK CAFE BAR SY1 1HU 01743 239114 0121 633 9988 THE WAREHOUSE Waterfront, Brierley Hill, 165-167 Frankwell, CAFE 54-57 Allison Dudley, DY5 1UR THORNESCROFT Shrewsbury SY3 8LG THE MYTTON & PASTA DE PIAZZA 11 Street, Digbeth, B5 01384 482 882 Bridgnorth Rd, MERMAID Brook Street, St Paul’s 01743 354422 5TH THE FAIRLAWNS AT Wolverhampton, WV6 Atcham, Shrewsbury, Square, B3 1SA 0121 633 0261 7EQ 01902 700 253 THE GOLDEN CROSS SY5 6QG 01743 0121 236 5858 ALDRIDGE 178 Little 14 Princess St, WINE REPUBLIC Aston Road, Aldridge, THE WOODMAN 761220 PEACHY KEENS 1741 Shrewsbury, SY1 1LP Centenary Square, B1 Walsall WS9 0NU 01922 Claverley, Staffordshire, 01743 362507 OAK TREE Burrington, Coventry Road, Yardley 2EP 0121 644 6464 455122 Wolverhampton WV5 Ludlow, SY8 2HT B26 1DS. 0121 764 7DG 01746 710 553 THE GOLDEN 01568 770033 5519 WING WAH 278 FOUR STONES MOMENTS 50 Broad Thimblemill Lane, B7 Adam’s Hill,Clint, St, Ludlow SY8 1NH THE OLD ORLETON PENNY BLACKS The 5HD 0121 327 7879 Stourbridge, DY9 9PS INN Holyhead Rd, Mailbox,132-134 Tel:01584 878488 WOKTASTIC Paradise 01562 883260 Shropshire Wellington, TF1 2HA Wharfside St, B1 1XL GRANARY BAR & 01952 255011 0121 632 1460 Place, B3 3HJ 0121 FRANZIS 151 Milcote GRILL Weston Park, 236 3130 Rd, Smethwick, B67 AFTAB 25 High St, Weston-under-Lizard, THE OLD RECTORY PEPPERS 5a Broad St, 0121 429 7920 HOTEL & B15 0121 633 4411 WONGS 5-11 Fleet St, Ironbridge TF8 7AD Nr Shifnal, TF11 8LE B3 1JP 0121 212 1888 FRENCH 01952 432055 01952 852107 RESTAURANT Lowe PICCOLINO 9 Hill Road, Wem, YO! SUSHI Bullring, CONNECTION ALBRIGHT HUSSEY HADLEY PARK Brindleyplace, B1 2HS 3 Coventry St, Shropshire 01939 0121 634 3055 Birmingham B5 4BP. Ellesmere Rd, HOUSE Hadley Park, 233233 0121 600 6712 Stourbridge DY8 1EP Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF Telford TF1 6QJ PONTE DI LEGNO 44- 01384 390940 01939 290 523 01952 677269 ODYSSEY TAVERNA 44a Woodbridge Rd, ZIZZI 183 High St, Cheapside, Shifnal Harborne B17 9QE FRENCH HEN BUTLERS Park St, THE INN AT Moseley, B13 8EJ Bromsgrove Rd, Clent, TF11 8BN 01952 0121 449 8064 0121 428 4228 also at Shifnal, TF11 01952 GRINSHILL The High 461660 The Mailbox B1 1RL Stourbridge DY9 9PY 460662 Street, Grinshill, PUNJABI HAVELI 1558 0121 632 1333. 01562 883040 Shrewsbury, SY4 3BL PARKWAY 76 Corve St, Stratford Rd, Hall CASA NARANJO Ludlow SY8 2PG 01584 10 Poplar Rd, Solihull, GARAM MASALA Barracks Passage, 01939 220410 Green, B28 9HA B91 3AB 0121 704 205 High St, Lye, 873 130 0121 745 3636 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury THE HAYWARDS at 5030 Stourbridge DY9 8JZ SY1 01743 588165 The Lion Hotel, Wyle THE PEACH TREE 21 PURNELL’S 55 01384 424 240 Abbey Foregate, CASA RUIZ 45 High Cop, Shrewsbury SY1 Cornwall St, B3 2DH. GOLDEN MOMENTS 1UY Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE 0121 212 9799 Street, Bridgnorth, 01743 355055 Black Country 2-3 Ablewell St, Walsall WV16 4DX 01746 218 01743 353107 PUSHKAR 245 Broad WS1 2EQ 01922 084 KING & THAI Avenue THE POUND AT LEE- St, B1 2HQ. 0121 643 640363 Rd, Broseley, Telford BOTWOOD 7978 ALEX’S 5 Bridgnorth Rd, CHEZ MAW Valley Leebotwood, Nr Church Wolverhampton, WV6 KAMRAN BALTI’S 34 Hotel, Buildwas Rd, TF12 5DL 01952 THE RECTORY 50-54 High Street, Lye, Stour- 882004 Stretton SY6 6ND 8AB 01902 759274 Ironbridge, TF8 7DW 01694 751477 St Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS bridge DY9 8LF 01952 432247 LA BÉCASSE 17 Corve 0121 605 1001 ARBOR LIGHTS 127 01384 893030 RENAISSANCE, 29a Lichfield St, Walsall, WS1 CORNHOUSE 59a St, Ludlow, SY8 1DA RED 4 Temple St, B2 MADE IN THAI 01584 872 325 Princess 1SY 01922 613361 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, St,Shrewsbury, SY11LW 5BN 0121 643 0194 Darlington St, SY1 1XY 01743 LA DOLCE VITA 35 BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton WV1 01743 354289 RED PEPPERS 117 Wolverhampton, 01902 231991 Hills Lane, Shrewsbury Wharfside St, B1 1RF 4HW 01902 312512 SY1 1QU 01743 249126 ROMOLO Victoria 427555 CROMWELLS 11 Avenue, shrewsbury 0121 643 4202 MALABAR 7 Anchor Dogpole, Shrewsbury LA LANTERNA BILASH 2 Cheapside, Rd, Walsall WS9 8PT SY1 1HH 01743 233244 ROSE MURREE 94 -96 Wolverhampton, 01902 SY1 1EN The Old Vestry, St Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, 01922 944 482 01743 361440 Julian's Church, ROYAL BENGAL 427762 TANDOORI 32-34 The B16 8LU 0121 456 THE MANGO TREE THE COTTAGE Tern Shrewsbury SY1 1UH 4500 THE BLUE BRICK Chester Rd, Stonnall, 01743 233552 Broadway, Shifnal TF11 Low Level Station, Sun Hill, Markey Drayton 8AZ 01952 460522 SABAI SABAI 25 WS9 9HJ 01922 TF9 3PX 01630 638984 LION & PHEASANT St, Wolverhampton 457344 SARACENS Woodbridge Rd, WV10 0DG 0870 850 COUNTESS ARMS 50 Wyle Cop Moseley, B13 8EH PARLOUR 10 The Shrewsbury SY1 1XJ Shrewsbury Rd, SY4 6376 Weston Heath, 4AG 01939 210877 0121 4494498 Arcade, Walsall, WS1 Shropshire TF11 8RY 01743 770345 CAFE CHAI 29-33 New 1SY 01922 613407 SEBASTIANS 45 SAFFRON 909 Street, Dudley DY1 1LT 01952 691123 MAD JACKS 15 St Wolverhampton Road, THE PIE FACTORY 50 Mary’s St, Shrewsbury, Willow St, Oswestry 01384 456847 DA VINCI’S 26 High St, SY11 1AQ 01691 Oldbury B69 4RR Hurst Lane, Tipton DY4 Ironbridge, TF8 7AD SY1 1EQ 01743 358870 0121 552 1752 CAFE CHAMPAGNE 9AB 0121 557 1402 655444 253-255 Bilston Road, 01952 432250 THE MALTHOUSE SAN CARLO 4 Temple RED FORT Fold St, The Wharfage, TIN TINS Wellington Wolverhampton WV2 D’ARCEYS Broadway, Road, Telford TF2 8AJ St, B2 5BN 0121 633 2JN 01902 458024 Wolverhampton, WV1 Shifnal TF11 8AZ Ironbridge TF8 7NH. 0251 4LP 01902 424440 01902 433712 01952 608688 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 81 Eating Out March Davina_Layout 1 27/02/2012 10:48 Page 4

Waterside, Stratford- Upon-Avon CV37 6BA Albright Hussey, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Restaurant LISTINGS 01789 267424 CASTLE BALTI 11-13 TRAITORS GATE OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St. Johns, Warwick Castle St, Water Lane, St, Branston, Burton, CV34 4NE 01926 ShrewsburySY1 2BX DE14 3EX 493007 01743 249152 01283 533222 CATALAN 6 Jury St , THE WALLS Welsh PASTICHE BISTRO Warwick CV34 4EW Walls, Oswestry SY11 12 Percy Street, Hanley, 01926 498 930 1AW 01691 670970 ST1 1NE 01782 263 737 THE CELLAR 5 The THE PEARL18 Market Knibbs, Smith St, St, Kidsgrove, ST7 4AB Warwick,CV34 4UW Staffordshire 01782 788887 01926 400809 THE PEAR TREE EGO 29 The Square, Swinfen, Nr. Lichfield, Kenilworth, CV8 1EF NO 5 Gaol Mews, WS14 9QR 01543 01926 864463 Stafford ST16 3AN 481807 FIVE RIVERS 20-22 01785 22 9900 Victoria Terrace, BELLA ITALIA 20 PORTOFINO 38-40 Leamington Spa, Greengate St, Marsh St Stoke-On- CV31 3AB 01926 Stafford,ST16 2HS Trent, ST1 1JD 431999 Tel: 01782 209444 01785 211968 GEORGETOWN CURRY KUTEER THE RED ROOM 23 Sheep St, Stratford- 31 Greengate Street, 7 Newcastle Road, Upon-Avon, CV37 6EF Stafford ST16 2HY Congleton CW12 4HN 01789 204445 01785 253279 01260 297871 THE GRANVILLE SHIMLA PALACE RAFFLES 57 Warwick Sidbury, Worcester WR1 THE OLD RECTORY CHANDLERS 52, Wellesbourne Rd, Rd, Kenilworth, CV8 2HZ 01905 21444 Ipsley, Redditch, B98 6 Conduit St, Lichfield, Wolsely Bridge Stafford Barford, CV35 8DS 1HN 01926 864 300 THE BEAR AND 0AP 01527 517003 WS13 01543 416688 ST170XS 01889 881025 01926 624236 THE SWAN HOTEL THE RED LION Station RAGGED STAFF Station PEPPER & OZ 23 THE CORNER HOUSE LANE’S 6 Castle St, Rd, Warwick CV35 Rd, Worcester WR6 5JH Second Avenue, 46 Greengate Street, Abbey Rd, Gt Malvern Warwick CV34 4BP 8PE 01886 833399 WR14 3ES 01684 Burton-On-Trent DE14 Stafford ST16 2JA 01926 403030 2WF 01785 258142 01926 842291 BRAMBLINGS Hither 562676 01283 542321 THE LORD LEYCES- RESTAURANT 23 Green Lane, Redditch, THE PRIORY VIEW THORNBURY HALL, TER 17-19 Jury St, ESSENCE OF THE RASOI Lockwood Rd, 23 Dromer Place, B98 9BE 0871 2079595 Abbey Rd, Gt Malvern Warwick, CV34 4EJ Leamington Spa, CV32 BROWNS 24 Quay St, WR14 3ET ORIENT 27 Broad Eye, Kingsley Holt, Stafford 01926 491481 Stafford ST16 2QB ST10 2DH 01538 5AA 01926 422422 Worcester WR1 2JJ 0845 084 8923 01785 229988 750831 MALBEC ROBBIES 74 Smith St, 01905 26263 PUCCINI'S, 12 Friar St, 6 Union St, Stratford- FOUR SEASONS WOLSELEY ARMS Warwick CV34 4HU CHESTERS 51 New St, Worcester WR12LZ Swinfen Hall Lichfield, Upon-Avon, CV37 6QT 01926 400470 Worcester, WR1 2DP 01905 27770 Wolseley Bridge, 01789 269106 WS14 9RE 0844 567 Stafford ST17 0XS ROSE & CROWN 30 01905 611638 THE QUAY Worcester 2407 01889 883179 MERCHANTS Swan Market Place, Warwick CROWN & SANDYS WR1 2JN 01905745 THE GREEN ROOM Street, Warwick CV34 CV34 4SH 01926 Main Rd, Ombersley, 792 Castle Dyke, Lichfield 4BJ 01926 403833 411117 WR9 0EW 01905 THE QUEENS HEAD WS13 6HR 01543 Warwickshire NAILCOTE HALL ROOFTOP 620252 Sugarbrook Lane, 412121 Nailcote Lane, RESTAURANT FARTHINGS Bransford, Bromsgrove, B30 3AU JASMINE PEKING Berkswell, Coventry, Royal Shakespeare Gt Malvern WR6 5JD 01527 877777 21 High St, Eccleshall, BLUE CV7 7DE 02476 Theatre, Waterside, 01886 833551 RED ROOMS Church Stafford ST21 6BW 21 Spon St, Coventry, 466174 Stratford-upon-Avon, THE FIG TREE 99 St, Worcester WR1 01785 851200 CV1 3BA 024 7622 NICOLINIS 14 The CV37 6BB Church Street, Gt 2RH LA DOLCE VITA 19 9274 Parade, Leamington 01789 403449 Malvern WR14 2AE 01905 28228 Stafford St, Stone ST15 7 SQUARE 7 Old Spa, CV32 4DW 01926 SAFFRON Market St, 01684 569909 RILEY’S The 8QW 01785 817 985 Square, Warwick CV34 421620 Westgate House, FOUR SEASONS 61 Quadrant, Redditch LODGE BALTI 4RA 01926 411 755 QUEANS RESTAU- Warwick CV34 4DE Lowesmoor, Worcester B98 8AE 01527 60544 Shenstone, Wood End, 01926 402061 NO. 9 CHURCH RANT 15 Dormer WR1 2RS 01905 2702 ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Lichfield WS14 (01543) STREET Place, Leamington Spa THE SAXON MILL FUSION BRASSERIE 483334 Rd, Aston Fields, Stratford upon Avon, CV32 5AA Coventry Rd, Guys Hawbridge, Stoulton, Bromsgrove. B60 2DZ MALABAR 1 Water Warwickshire CV37 01926 315522 Cliffe, Warwick CV34 Worcester WR7 4RJ 01527 889948 Street, Stafford, ST16 6HB 01789 415522 THE ONE ELM 1 Guild 5YN 01926 492 255 01905 840647 2AG 01785 227 500/600 ROSEANNAS St. ART KITCHEN 7 Swan St, Stratford-Upon- SIGNATURES AT THE GLASSHOUSE 55 Andrews Drive, THE MEETING ROOM St, Warwick CV34 4BJ Avon, CV37 6QZ BELGRADE Sidbury, Worcester Droitwich, WR9 8AL 41 Piccadilly, Hanley, 01926 494303 01789 404919 Belgrade Theatre, WR1 2HU 01905 01905 779677 Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1EN AUBERGINE 42 Smith OSCARS 39 Chandos Belgrade Square, 611120 01782 205554 SAFFRONS 15 New St, Warwick CV34 4HS St, Leamington Spa, Coventry, CV1 1GS THE HADLEY 02476 846762 St, Worcester WR1 MARLOES 13 London 01926 400 086 CV324RL 01926 BOWLING GREEN 2DP 01905 610505 Road, Newcastle, ST5 452807 TAILORS 22 Market Hadley Heath, Hadley, 1LQ 01782 661983 THE ALMANACK SINGAPORE 29 Friar Abbey End North, OYSTER LOUNGE 12- Place, Warwick CV34 WR9 0AR 01905 THE MILL Mill St, 4SL 01926 410590 620294 St, Worcester WR1 Kenilworth CV8 1QJ 14 Jury St, Warwick, 2NA 01905 613005 Stone, ST15 8BA 01785 01926 353637 CV34 4EW 01926 THAI ELEPHANT THE INN AT STONE- 818456 495491 8-10 Theatre St, HALL Stonehall SPICE CUISINE 39-41 THE BLUEBELL 93 Bromyard Terrace, MINT LEAF George St, High Street, Henley-in- PEEL’S Hampton Warwick CV34 4DP Common, Worcester, Burton. DE14 1DP 01926 410688 WR5 3QG 01905 Worcester WR2 5BW Arden, Warwickshire, Manor, Hampton-in- 01905 429786 01283 563468 B95 5AT 01564 793049 Arden, Solihull, B92 THE TREVELYAN 820462 SPICE FUSION St THE NAVIGATION INN BROWNS Earl St, 0EN 01675 446080 Warwick Rd, Stratford- KING CHARLES II Newport Road, Gnosall, upon-Avon, CV37 ONR King Charles House, Andrews St, Droitwich, Coventry CV1 5RU PREZZO 1-3 High St, WR9 8DY 0871 961 Stafford ST20 0BN 0247 622 1100 Warwick CV34 4AP 01789 295252 New St, Worcester WR1 01785 822327 2D 01905 22449 7008 CARLUCCIOS 13 01926 475867 WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith St, Warwick LITTLE VENICE 1 St THAI GALLERY 26-32 CV34 4HS 01926 Nicholas St, Worcester Friar St, Worcester Valentino’s Restaurant, Worcester 491736 WR1 1UW 01905 WR1 2LZ 01905 25451 THE VINE INN West 726126 VALENTINO’S 43 St, Warwick CV34 6AW MASSALLA LOUNGE Foregate St, Worcester 01926 490744 35 Broad St, Worcester WR1 1EE 01905 WR1 3NH 01905 617773 ZIZZI 29 The Square, 729955 Kenilworth, CV8 1EF VENTURE INN 01926 852980 MONSOON 35 Ombersley, Droitwich, Foregate St, Worcester, WR9 0EW 01905 WR1 1EE 01905 620552 Worcestershire 726333 THE WILDMOOR OAK MUG HOUSE Claines Top Road, Wildmoor, Lane, Worcester WR3 Bromsgrove B61 0RB ANAKARI 47 The 7RN 01905 456649 0121 453 2696 Tythings, Worcester. 01905 21412 OLD RECTIFYING WYCH WAY INN HOUSE North Parade, Worcester Rd, ANGEL CHEF Angel St, Worcester WR1 3NN Wychbold, WR9 7PA Worcester WR1 3QT 01905 619622 01527 860130 01905 731131 ASHLEYS 11 The Tything, Worcester WR1 1HD 01905 611747 To get your restaurant listed here BACCHUS 44 e: [email protected] Worcester Rd Bromsgrove B61 7AE or call Jon Cartwright 01527 877557 on 01743 281703 BENEDICTOS 34

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Cucina Rustica Saint Paul's Square, 24 Ludgate Hill Birmingham, B3 1DX Tel: 0121 233 2277 Email: [email protected] web: www.cucinarustica.co.uk

I For lovers of finest food and THE DINNER CLUB (Est 86) attentive service SINGLE? I An explosion of flavour of true For the more discerning unattached Italian food person, age 30-45 or 45+ I The restaurant believes in traditional Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie balls, and authenticity on classic recipes theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. with a modern twist NOT A DATING AGENCY I Deciding where to go to add that special 01244 677030 (Day) / 01244 548816 (Eve/W-end) touch to family events, business meetings or social parties will no longer be a difficult www.thedinnerclubuk.com decision. Antiques For Everyone (FP-Mar)_Layout 1 27/02/2012 11:13 Page 1