Coventry & Warwickshire Cover September 2019.qxp_Coventry & Warwickshire Cover 21/08/2019 14:35 Page 1

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands SHANE RICHIE - THETHE ENTERTAINERENTERTAINER COVENTRY&WARWICKSHIRE WHAT’S ONSEPTEMBER 2019

Coventry & Warwickshire ISSUE 405 SEPTEMBERR 20192019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On warwickshirewhatson.co.ukson.co.uk

inside: PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

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BRIDGET CHRISTIE joins comedy’s finest in Stratford-upon-Avon.... FACEBOOK:@WHATSONWARWICKSHIRE

LET’S RIDE! British cycling event returns to the streets of Coventry WARWICKSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK IFC Warwickshire.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:59 Page 1 Contents September Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 14:12 Page 2

September 2019

Contents

Stardust - Phizzical explore same-sex marriage in new play at the Coventry Belgrade... page 26

Autumn Albany Live@The RSC The Bridge the list

a new season of shows at two weekends of top-quality Festival of Imagineers’ latest Your 16-page Coventry’s Albany Theatre comedy in Stratford-upon-Avon project unveiled in Coventry week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 page 21 page 49 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 17. Gigs 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 45. Events

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Entertainment news from around the region

Magnificent Magnum on display in new Compton Verney exhibition Compton Verney Art Gallery is this autumn hosting an exhibition featuring some of the most significant and enduring images from the world famous Magnum Photos agency. Magnum Manifesto focuses on the history of the second half of the 20th century, as seen through the lenses of 75 leading photog- raphers. Commenting on the show, Compton Verney Director Julie Finch said: “We are the only UK destination for this unmissable exhibi- tion. It provides a snapshot of society, politics, cultures and changing economies crossing time and continents, a reference point in our turbulent times, a discussion piece and a mirror to the world - all captured through photography. “This exhibition is a newsreel of images bridging the 20th and the 21st century, with something for everyone.” Magnum Manifesto shows at Compton Verney from 12 October to 15 December.

Family fun day celebrates Euro sports event paves (BAME) backgrounds. Its aim is to bring female-driven stories and authentic voices of British Science Festival way for more of the same colour to the stage. The University of Warwick is holding a Fam- The success of the European Corporate To book tickets for the show, call the box ily Day on Saturday 14 September to celebrate Games could lead to more international office on 024 7655 3055 or visit its hosting of this year’s British Science events being staged in Coventry & Warwick- belgrade.co.uk, where prices are cheaper. Festival. shire, according to the Games’ Director, Doug Organisers promise that the day will be White. ‘packed full of discovery and exploration’, Around 2,700 people representing companies with events and activities taking place across and organisations from across Europe took the campus. All events are free to attend but part in the Games, which included more than some require booking in advance. For more 20 sports and mainly took place at the information, visit warwick.ac.uk/about/com- University of Warwick’s new Sports & Well- munity/warwickfamilydays ness Hub. “The feedback from competing teams in this year’s Games has been fantastic,” said Mr Stratford gig for Robbie’s White. “The facilities across Coventry & writing partner Guy Warwickshire are among the best we’ve ever used. The hub hosted hundreds of Games Songwriter, musician participants across the weekend in bad- and producer Guy minton, squash, volleyball, netball and Chambers - best Birmingham arenas soccer-fives, and I’m sure it will host many known for his work launch Ask For Clive more major sporting events in the future.” with Robbie Williams - anti-homophobia will play a one-off concert at the Swan campaign Theatre, Stratford- Midlands writer debuts Arena Birmingham and Resorts World Arena upon-Avon, on Sunday 27 October. drama at Coventry theatre have become the first venues in the second As Robbie’s writing partner, Guy has city to launch anti-homophobia campaign A Midlands writer is this month premiering produced seven number one albums, sold Ask For Clive. her ‘gripping new drama’ at Coventry’s millions of records around the world, and is The campaign encourages entertainment Belgrade Theatre. responsible for some of the biggest singles of establishments to show solidarity in the fight Joan Carty’s Holding The Centre opens the the last 25 years, including Angels, Let Me against homophobia and transphobia. venue’s B2 season of Love And Belonging Entertain You, Strong, No Regrets, Millen- Posters on display let customers know that if and runs from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 nium, Rock DJ and Feel. they see any discrimination or abuse of September. The concert sees Guy performing tracks from LGBTQ people, they can discreetly report it to The show is being presented by Women his new album, Go Gentle Into The Light - a staff by ‘asking for Clive’. They will then be Writes, a company offering support to female collection of piano instrumental versions of taken to a safe space while the incident is playwrights from Black & Minority Ethnic some of his best-known songs. investigated and appropriate action taken.

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First Word

From one UK City of Culture to another... An artistic duo who con- tributed to Hull’s year as UK City of Culture are currently exhibiting their work in Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Davy and Kristin McGuire’s silent digital projections are inspired by film noir and focus on subjects that juxta- pose adulthood and child- hood. With Coventry taking on the City of Culture title in 2021, the artists’ exhibition is likely to be of significant interest to Warwickshire residents. Imagine a better future at a new festival of Change A new not-for-profit arts event which celebrates festival will gather performers, speakers and au- the future through the telling of stories about diences from the West Midlands and beyond to hope and possibility is launching at Coventry’s imagine, play and explore. Warwick Arts Centre next month. “Whether you’re into theatre, comedy, spoken Organisers of Change Festival describe their new word, family shows or talks, we’ll have both fa- event as ‘championing the power of people to miliar faces and new performances to enjoy.” On the trail of art thrive if given the opportunity to imagine and Change takes place from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 in Nuneaton dream’. A spokesperson for the event said: “The October. Nuneaton’s Open Arts Trail is back for a fifth year this month. Crusaders at Midlands mental health festival returns Encompassing not only Warwick Words to celebrate the arts and wellbeing Nuneaton town centre but Historian and broadcaster The fourth edition of Birmingham’s Bedlam Arts & Mental Health also Atherstone, Bermuda Dan Jones visits Warwick Festival takes place next month (Tuesday 1 - Saturday 12 October). Park, Bedworth and Fillong- this month to talk about Created with the aim of using the arts to increase awareness of ley, the event sees a range of his latest book, Crusaders. mental health & wellbeing issues, the event showcases a selection venues - including church The book focuses on the of new and creative works performed across the city. halls, libraries, allotments sequence of religious wars Included in the line-up are new commissions, a world premiere, and shopping centres - which were fought from works in progress, a half-day Symposium, and events featuring display a selection of usually- the late 11th century to the spoken word, dance, theatre, film, visual art and hip-hop... Further for-sale artwork produced by late medieval period, as information and tickets are available at macbirmingham.co.uk and a number of talented local armies from European birmingham-rep.co.uk artists. The trail takes place Christian states tried to on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 wrest control of the Holy September. Land from Islamic rule. Dan’s Sunday 8 September appearance at Warwick School’s Bridge House Theatre is followed later in the month by Warwick Words History Festival, which runs from Monday 30 September to Sunday 6 October.

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First Word

Wizard Express Final Five for back for half term Irish four There’ll be ghostly goings-on Long-in-the-tooth ‘boyband’ Boy- and wizarding workshops zone will play Resorts World Arena aplenty at the Severn Valley next month (15 October) as part of Railway (SVR) this October half the finale to their farewell tour. term, when the railway The Birmingham venue is one of welcomes back two hugely five at which they’ll perform to say popular services - its Ghost farewell to their fans following the Trains and Wizard Express. sell-out success of their Thank You Commenting on the news, & Goodnight tour. Lewis Maddox, SVR’s events “It’s a bitter-sweet time for us as co-ordinator, said: “We’ve got a we announce our final ever really action-packed October shows,” said the band. “The shows half term in store and are give us all one last chance to make preparing ourselves to some more special memories to- welcome an influx of ghosts, gether. We can’t wait to go out on ghouls, witches and wizards, the ultimate high as we take our who will be joining us to enjoy final bow with The Final Five.” an unforgettable experience along the line.” For more information, visit New Escape Room svr.co.uk Dates for Solihull Summer game in Worcester Fest 2020 announced A new Escape Room game has Malvern dates for After another highly successful year, Solihull Summer Fest will opened in Worcester. return on Saturday 25 & 26 Sunday July 2020. Located at Top Barn on the out- Woman In Black Loyalty tickets are now on sale for the event, and festival-goers skirts of the city, The Dentist is the who book in advance will receive a discounted rate. To bag creation of the company Top your ticket, visit tkt.to/solihullsummerfest Escape Rooms and features ‘mild horror themes’. “The idea is simple,” explains a spokesperson from the company. Award-winning Korean quartet open “We put you in the room and you new Leamington Music Winter Season have one hour to escape. There’s a The 14th Leamington Music Winter Season will be launched in the series of puzzles and codes hidden Susan Hill’s chiller thriller, The town’s Royal Pump Rooms next month (Friday 4 October) by the throughout the room which will Woman In Black, is making a Esmé String Quartet from Korea. help you achieve that ultimate welcome return to the Mid- The winners of the 2018 London International String Quartet goal. Games Masters will also be lands next year as part of a UK Competition, Esmé are stopping off in Leamington as part of their on hand to guide you through your tour. first major UK tour. quest - so it’s time to see if you can With the London production To check the whole Leamington Music Winter Season line-up, visit rise to the challenge!” having just celebrated 30 years royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk in the West End, the touring version of the show stops off at Big Picture festival Malvern Theatres from Monday opens in Warwick 11 to Saturday 16 May. Commenting on the announce- A new film festival is being ment, the show’s producer, launched at Warwick School’s Peter Wilson, said: “In celebra- Bridge House Theatre this autumn. tion of The Woman In Black’s Taking place on Saturday 23 & incredible 30 years in the West Sunday 24 November, The Big End, I’m thrilled that this Picture Festival will present main- iconic production is to tour the stream, independent, family and UK once again. This show is set classic movies. to thrill and scare audiences Other activities will also feature like never before, and I can’t across the weekend, with street think of a better way to mark food available for filmgoers who our birthday!” work up an appetite.

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Love at the Albany... Albany Theatre is a relatively new addition to The theatre’s auditorium, box office and bar Caterpillar and I Believe In Unicorns by Coventry’s burgeoning arts scene. The space have been tastefully refurbished and a Michael Morpurgo. There are other family- theatre’s main house, however, already had a curved roof added to achieve better acoustics friendly productions throughout the season long history prior to the Albany’s opening in in the main performance space. Albany too, including Dear Zoo Live and Ballet 2013. Theatre also features a new studio space - Theatre UK’s version of The Wizard Of Oz, a perfect for more intimate or cabaret-style show for which the Albany is letting in one Earlsdon Place - the magnificent art deco- performances. child free for every adult ticket purchased. style building that houses the Albany - was It’s hoped that the offer will encourage built in 1935 as a technical college on the There remains work to be done. With no Arts youngsters to engage with ballet. corner of Albany Street and The Butts. Council funding and only a small amount Albany Theatre’s main house was the site of coming from the city council, the Albany For adult audiences, there are theatrical the college’s main lecture theatre but started relies solely on its sales profit and the hard productions ranging from an adaptation of to be used for theatre, music and arts graft of its volunteers and staff. They aim to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre to risqué adults- performances during World War Two. raise enough money to convert the remaining only panto Jack (Off) And The Beanstalk. space into more studios, which will hopefully The building is now divided up into various Music nights at the venue see some of the house some of the groups that are springing businesses, one of which is Albany Theatre. country’s best tribute acts taking to the stage, up on Coventry’s fast-emerging dance scene. Reopening the space as a dedicated arts including The Mersey Beatles and Waterloo - centre was made possible by the creation of a Despite the Albany’s funding challenges, the The Best Of Abba. There’s a blast from the charitable trust. The trust remains active and theatre continues to grow in reputation, past, too, when Kiki Dee hits town, while the is supported by dedicated volunteers who thanks in no small measure to some theatre’s Studio Sounds series provides a make the day-to-day running of the theatre imaginative programming. The upcoming high-profile showcase for the best in possible. This community spirit is also in autumn season provides an excellent upcoming music talent. evidence in the venue’s apprenticeship example of this... To view the full autumn programme at the programmes, harking back to its days as an October half term sees two kids’ shows venue, visit albanytheatre.co.uk. institute of education. taking place at the venue: The Very Hungry

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By Lauren Cole

Check out these highlights in Albany Theatre’s Autumn/Winter season...

BEYOND THERAPY COME DANCE WITH ME GEORGE ELIOT BICENTENARY Mon 16 - Wed 18 Sept Wed 25 Sept various dates in October This quick-witted and touching comedy Whenever life gets rough, everyone goes Shows celebrating the bicentenary of takes a look at modern-day relationships dancing! A darkly funny family drama full Coventry resident George Eliot include: and poses the question: Are we all ‘beyond of spectacular routines, Come Dance With Photography Exhibition: Coventry therapy?’ Me tells the true tale of two girls’ hopes and Photographic Society look at the local The storyline focuses on the characters of dreams - and their extraordinary battle for places that inspired Eliot’s famous novels. Prudence and Bruce, who meet through an survival through the tumultuous post-war From George To George: Margaret online ad with the help of their years of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Eddershaw’s compelling verse-drama is psychiatrists. But their date doesn’t go The show is choreographed by Richard based on Eliot’s relationship with the love quite according to plan... Marcel - the man who puts Strictly couples of her life, George Lewes. Silas Marner: Matt Lapinskas and Tracy Shaw star. through their paces. Adapted from Eliot’s story about a reclusive weaver and his redemptive relationship with a young orphan girl.

VOLGOGRAD/COVENTRY SNOW QUEEN THIS IS ME Sun 27 Oct Mon 9 - Sat 28 Dec Thurs 27 Feb A performance of traditional Russian Ceridwen Theatre Company make a Strictly Come Dancing favourite Giovanni dance, music and song to celebrate 75 welcome return to the Albany to present Pernice premieres his fourth year of years of the world’s very first twin cities. their brand new adaptation of this iconic touring at the Albany. Bringing together Performances include Russian folk and story - an inventive take on a classic tale of his natural Italian charm and infectious ballet from children’s dance company bravery, friendship, epic adventure and good humour with beautiful choreography Volzhanochka. They’ll be joined by local spellbinding magic. and a memorable soundtrack, This Is Me schools, composer/pianist Derek Nisbet, Combining music, thrills and humour, pays homage to the music and dances violinist Albert Zhmaev, pianist/conductor Snow Queen comes complete with a which have inspired Giovanni on his Yuri Ilinov and acclaimed soprano Yana friendly talking Yeti, who’ll be helping the career journey - from being a competition Besyadynskaya. audience as they head off on their journey dancer to one of the biggest stars on to a land of ice, snow and danger... Strictly.

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Food

it ended up being one of the Full of fresh, contemporary highlights of the meal. flavours, the tasting menu came The next offering was the second in at £75 per person, with a wine fish dish of the evening - the pairing available at an additional turbot. Regarded as the best of £50, and I cannot recommend it the flatfish - with great flavour enough. Every dish showcased a and firm, white flesh to recom- combination of culinary preci- mend it - it was accompanied by sion and excellent technical salt-baked kohlrabi, grilled leek ability. Hats off to both the chef and an incredibly moreish crab and the polite and attentive staff, sauce. Kohlrabi translates as who explained every dish as it ‘turnip cabbage’, and its mild, arrived and helped to ensure that sweet flavour is somewhere our debut dining experience at between a turnip and a waterch- Mallory Court was a memorable estnut - a taste which worked one. nicely with the meaty fish and After a relaxing and uninter- the ever-so-flavoursome crab rupted sleep - the bed was with- REVIEW: Mallory Court Hotel & Spa sauce. out doubt one of the most A truly outstanding Warwickshire gem As soon as I saw a lamb dish was comfortable I’ve ever slept in - included on the tasting menu, I we headed down to the Elan Spa area before breakfast. Although Mallory Court is a historic hotel the kitchen use plenty of organi- was sold. It’s one of my favourite we didn't have time to enjoy one & spa located between Warwick cally grown produce from their meats, and Mallory Court’s offer- of the fantastic treatments on and Leamington. Providing the own gardens, including soft ing provided me with a truly offer - think massages, facials, perfect mix of traditional country fruits, figs, herbs, salads and fantastic experience. The dish rhassoul experiences, hand and house charm and contemporary root vegetables. featured loin and belly of spring Cotsworld lamb accompanied by feet treatments and more - we style, the venue features 43 bed- We decided to select from the roast shallot pieces, a ewe’s curd did make use of the hydro pool, rooms, a three-AA Rosette restau- tasting menu, which featured six filled shallot, garden courgette the outdoor vitality pool - which rant, a two-AA Rosette art deco mouthwatering dishes (an à la and lamb jus. The lamb loin was overlooks the tennis courts and brasserie and a heavenly Elan carte menu is available too). cooked to absolute perfection part of the perfectly maintained Spa. Mallory Court welcomes both and the belly literally melted in grounds - and the sauna & A member of Relais & Châteaux, hotel guests and non-guests to the mouth. The courgette gave a steamroom. the beautifully grand Lutyens- dine with them seven days a sense of freshness, the creamy Choosing from a wide selection style main house is set in 10 week. Afternoon tea and Sunday ewe’s curd was another welcome of breakfast options that acres of lush green grounds and lunch are also available. flavour and the jus helped to included kippers and smoked is the epitome of a quintessen- Five minutes into our bottle of bring the dish together. My part- salmon & scrambled egg, we tially English country house pinot noir, the first of our six ner went as far as to say that it both opted for the Full English, hotel. dishes arrived. Pollock. Featur- was his favourite-ever lamb dish, every element of which was, On arrival at the venue, my part- ing lovage-cured fresh, raw and I was very much of the same unsurprisingly, both tasty and of ner and I were politely greeted pollock pieces, sharp pickled opinion. a high quality. and shown to our room. Situated apple, chilled tomato essence The next dish was the first of two It was the perfect end to a perfect on the first floor of the manor and lovage, the dish was desserts and acted as a palate stay at a truly outstanding house, it featured a kingsize bed, presented in a small teacup-like cleanser. Featuring lime ice- Warwickshire gem. Lauren Foster stunning en-suite, traditional receptacle and boasted some cream, pineapple jelly and a mint decor and beautiful views of the beautiful flavours. sherbet, it was the perfect mix gardens and herb gardens. Food: nnnnn Next up was the aesthetically between sharp and sweet and a Service: nnnnn After we’d finished admiring our pleasing and delightfully sweet dish I'd definitely order again. Ambience: nnnnn overnight surroundings, we Mallory Garden Salad. Featuring The finale featured a light and Overall value nnnnn made our way down to the carefully placed pieces of home- fluffy meringue filled with straw- OVERALL nnnnn outdoor terrace to peruse the grown young garden vegetables, berry pieces, lime curd and menu while enjoying a glass of a crunchy seed granola and a tarragon ice-cream topped with Mallory Court Hotel & Spa Champagne and some perfectly sweet Fosse Way honey reduc- strawberry sorbet and aerated Harbury Lane executed canapés - beetroot & tion, it was positively bursting Royal Leamington Spa white chocolate shards. It was cod emulsion, pig cheek & with bright pinks, oranges, Warwickshire absolutely delicious! With each avocado emulsion and a gruyere yellows and greens and was CV33 9QB bite came a phenomenal flavour bon bon. almost too pretty to eat. On Tel: 01926 330214 explosion - I urge you to try the paper, it was the dish I was least Food at Mallory Court is firmly combination if you’re yet to do looking forward to, but in reality based around the seasons, and so!

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Food

Dog dinners on menu at award-winning pub Award-winning Leamington pub The Newbold Comyn Arms is now offering dog dinners as part of its menu. Local franchise Oscar Pet Foods has created two recipes for their Dogs Dinner range - and they’ve gone down extremely well with dogs visiting the pub. The meals on offer are gluten-free chicken & rice with added joint supplements and grain-free hypoallergenic fish & potato.

Real ale fans, rejoice! The one-day mobile Real Ale Festival is making a welcome return this month (Saturday 14 September). The popular event will be visiting eight real-ale pubs and one microbrewery, all of which are located in the Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley areas of the region. And as if such splendid news for real- ale lovers isn’t enough, there’s also no need to take the car, as there will be shuttle buses in circuit all day long! Popular food festival returns for a 12th mouthwatering year Stourport brothers The hugely popular Leamington Food & Drink produce, wines, cakes and chocolates. Festival returns to the town’s Royal Pump Also featuring in the 2019 edition of the show is launch local taproom Room Gardens on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 live music, demonstrations in the cookery Two brothers from Stourport have September. theatre, a free kids’ cookery school and a ‘home launched their own taproom. Now in its 12th year, the free-to-attend event cook of the year’ competition, for which the Alex and Seb Vale converted a local features 130 exhibitors serving up the very best festival has teamed up with Aubrey Allen. 200-year-old unit after deciding it was local food & drink, including meats, organic high time they turned their hobby into a business. The brothers, who have already created 50 craft beer recipes, serve their own A taste of Thailand comes to Leamington shopping centre cask ales alongside guest beers and Thai restaurant chain Giggling other alcoholic and soft drink options. Squid is opening a new They also provide BBQ street food at premises in Leamington Spa’s weekends. Priors Shopping Centre this For more information about Alex and autumn. Seb’s Brothers Of Ale initiative, visit The eatery’s menu features facebook.com/brothersofale dishes celebrating ‘exciting and exotic ingredients found across Thailand’. These include bestselling salt & pepper squid, creamy massaman curry, pork dumplings, giant butterfly king prawn pad Thai and banana leaf grilled sea bass. For kids, the restaurant offers a ‘little tapas for little people’ range as well as pizza and chips. whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Bradley Wiggins online.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:55 Page 1

BRADLEY WIGGINS TheThe five-timefive-time OOlympiclympic ggoldold medalmedal winnerwinner cyclescycles intointo BBrum...rum... Bradley Wiggins online.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:55 Page 2

The most decorated Olympic athlete in British sporting history and the first Brit ever to win the Tour de France, Sir Bradley Wiggins is heading out on an altogether different kind of tour this month. Neill Barston caught up with the five-time Olympic gold medal winner ahead of his visit to Birmingham, where he’ll be talking about his life and career in his show, Bradley Wiggins: An Evening With...

Covering this year’s Tour de France as a com- Sir Bradley is currently focusing on a number bringing. mentator proved to be a highly memorable ex- of projects, including sports broadcasting and “In a weird way, my father is still my hero. I’ve perience for five-time Olympic gold medal his nationwide touring show, Bradley Wig- kept two of his riding jerseys, even though I winner Sir Bradley Wiggins. gins: An Evening With. The show, which visits detested the man as he left us when I was just the Midlands this month, sees him reflecting “Covering the tour made me realise just how a baby. But my mum still glorified him, so if it on his lengthy career and discussing some of much I love it,” says Sir Bradley. “When hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have had my the personal heroes who feature in his latest you’re competing, there’s a lot of emotion career.” book, Icons. taken up actually dealing with the event and As a 12-year-old, Sir Bradley took up cycling getting over the line. It’s hard to get excited at “I’ve been enjoying doing these shows, as I on the same south London circuit his dad had the end of a race, so watching it as a fan, like to break down perceptions. I feel you once ridden. But cycling was never going to without all the pressure, was great. never really know someone until you’ve heard help him fit in with the tough neighbourhood their story properly. “Going back to the tour and seeing some of kids. He even resorted to wearing tracksuits those climbs brought back memories of just “It gives me the chance to meet people, and I over his riding gear for fear that he’d receive a how hard it is. While people can make it look can particularly remember speaking to one barrage of homophobic abuse because of his easy, it really isn’t - especially when you see guy in Nottingham. He said his wife would re- clothing. guys getting taken out of the peloton and ally have loved the show, but she hadn’t made He earned his spurs in the early part of his ca- some of the crashes you witness. It can be it as she’d just died of cancer. So I just told reer as a track specialist before turning to brutal. him that she was right there with him. So with road racing: “I never found the process of this kind of show, people get to see your emo- “But it was a brilliant event. Cycling is all that going to road racing hard at all. I’m someone tions, and I’m certainly looking forward to I’ve ever known, right back to my school days who can be coached, so it came easily to me. getting out there again.” when I was focusing on my riding rather than If it was a question of having to lose weight all the lessons.” Something else which Sir Bradley is focusing for the tour, then it was just something I did.” on is providing support for the next genera- Despite Sir Bradley’s love of the sport, quit- After coming fourth in the 2009 Tour de tion of potential cycling stars: “Cycling is a ting three years ago to fully focus on the chal- France, Sir Bradley started to be taken seri- great and necessary force in my life and lenges of raising a young family with his wife ously as a road-based rider. But it wasn’t until something I’ve been institutionalised in as at their home in Lancashire was not a difficult joining Team Sky in 2010 (recently re-named well as passionate about. If there’s a legacy decision to make. Ineos under new sponsors) that he embarked from what I’ve done it’s in terms of helping on his most impressive era of success. While the celebrity status following his un- young people develop an interest in cycling precedented back-to-back victories at the and getting out there on their bikes. “I know it means a lot to other people that I Tour de France and London Olympics in 2012 won the tour and Olympics in 2012, but I “For many kids there’s a lot that keeps them may not have sat entirely comfortably with wouldn’t be a very good person if those were indoors on their iPads, so one of the great him, the wider effect of ‘Wiggo’s win’ was the things that were the most important to me things about cycling is that it’s something out- clearly tangible. Cycling in the UK enjoyed a in my life.” doors you can do as a family - you can’t go out significant resurgence that’s shown no sign of and play rugby as a family.” subsiding. Sir Bradley was born in Ghent, Belgium, but Bradley Wiggins: An Evening With is The achievement led to his knighthood in his mother moved them to London after his presented at Birmingham’s Symphony 2013. Three years later, at the Rio Olympics, father, who was also a cyclist, parted from the Hall on Friday 20 September. he won a final gold as part of the winning family. He had no involvement in his son’s up- British team pursuit squad. Classical September Warwicks- Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:39 Page 1

Land of Pope & Glory Intimate evenings with Carols by Candlelight ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS Armonico – Handelian ARMONICO CONSORT THE ENGLISH CORNETT & SACKBUT ENSEMBLE Pyrotechnics Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS Organist: ADRIAN LUCAS Narrators: OZ CLARKE (28 Sept ) Narrator: JULIAN GLOVER Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS TIMOTHY WEST (4 Oct) Countertenor: WILLIAM TOWERS 18th December, 7:30pm 28th September, 7:30pm, The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 3rd November, 4:30pm, Collegiate Church of 01926 334418 St Mary, Warwick St Mary’s Church, 01926 334418 Temple Balsall, Solihull 20th December, 7:30pm, Holy Trinity Church, Coventry 01926 334418 4th October, 7:30 pm, 01926 334418 Malvern Theatres 01684 892277

The King’s Singers Messiah THE KING’S SINGERS & AC ACADEMY SINGERS VOICE SQUAD CHOIRS ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE ORCHESTRA Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS Composer: TOBY YOUNG Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS J.S. Bach Mass in B Minor 10th October, 7:00 pm, ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE ORCHESTRA 5th December, 7:30 pm Bushell Hall , Solihull School. 01926 334418 Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 02476 524524 11th October, 7:00 pm, Soprano: ELIN MANAHAN THOMAS 21st December, 7:30 pm, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. 02476 524524 1st February 2020 7:30pm, Malvern Theatres 01684 892277 The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 01926 334418

8th February 2020 7:30pm, Malvern Theatres 01684 892277

14 whatsonlive.co.uk Classical September Warwicks- Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:39 Page 2

Classical

Armonico Consort: Land Of Pope & Glory Collegiate Church Of St Mary, Warwick, Sat 28 September; Malvern Theatres, Fri 4 October Baroque consort Armonico - one of the largest organisations of its kind in the UK - uses authentic period instruments and regularly performs with some of the best solo musicians in the world. Describing this month’s concert as an ‘enchanted journey through the extraordi- nary history of the Papacy’, Armonico is joined in Warwick by wine writer and broadcaster Oz Clarke as narrator. Actor Timothy West takes on the role for Orchestra Of The Swan: The Carnival Of The Animals the Malvern concert next month. Stratford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sun 15 September As well as being much admired for their ing on his third symphony. Despite his love championing of new music - having pre- of the piece, however, he refused to allow sented more than 70 world premieres - the its performance in public until after his Stratford-based Orchestra of the Swan are death - he was concerned that its lightheart- also held in high regard for their perfor- edness might detract from his status as a mances of works by legendary composers. serious composer. And it’s a piece by one such classical-music In the 98 years since he passed away - in icon, Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns, which 1921, at the age of 86 - The Carnival Of The they showcase in this early-season Animals has become one of his best-known concert... and most-loved compositions... Saint-Saëns described his Carnival Of The The Orchestra of the Swan is joined for this CBSO: A Child Of Animals as being ‘such fun’ to create that it performance by narrator Matthew Sharp. Our Time had completely distracted him from work- Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 26 September CBSO Music Director Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla (pictured) kickstarts the orchestra’s ėnew season with a 20th century classic. A strikingly original secular oratorio communicating a strong pacifist message, Michael Tippet’s A Child Of Our Time was composed during the first two years of the Second World War. The composer found his inspiration for the work in Kristallnacht - the Nazi government's pogrom against its Jewish population in 1938. Perhaps best known for its most original feature - the use of African-American spirituals - and using a three-part format The Sixteen: The Choral Pilgrimage based on that of Handel's Messiah, Tip- St Philips Cathedral, Birmingham, Thurs 19 September pet’s oratorio was well received when first performed and retains The Sixteen were formed by conductor their belt and numerous accolades to their its status as a work of Harry Christophers 40 years ago with the name, they return to the Midlands this brilliant originality. aim of providing a fresh insight into month to perform a concert featuring Sir The CBSO concert also Baroque, early classical and more contem- James MacMillan’s O virgo prudentissima. features Benjamin porary music. The piece is presented alongside music by Britten’s Sinfonia da Recognised as one of the world’s greatest Wylkynson, Sheppard, Tavener and Eric Requiem. ensembles, with over 100 recordings under Whitacre. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Ex Cathedra 50 Years-2.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 14:14 Page 1

50 years of Ex Cathedra The 50th anniversary celebrations of the moon landing and the Stonewall Riots have both received plenty of publicity this year, but there’s another half-century being celebrated in 2019 too... Birmingham’s Ex Cathedra is 50 glorious years old and still going strong - as What’s On found out when we caught up with the ensemble’s founder, conductor and artistic director, Jeffrey Skidmore...

Leading UK choir and Early Music ensemble research repertoire, including our particular sary programme, so it’s a piece we have a Ex Cathedra celebrates its 50th anniversary speciality in French Baroque music. So long history with and like to return to. this season with a jam-packed programme of putting all those things together, you get this “Then comes Bach’s St John Passion on Good great classical works. Its founder, Jeffrey special organisation that we have at Ex Friday at Symphony Hall, which was the first Skidmore - awarded an OBE in the 2015 New Cathedra.” of Bach’s Passions we performed. Nowadays Years honours list for his service to choral The ensemble started as a small gathering of we do it with period instruments and a com- music - is both the artistic director and Jeffrey’s friends: “Back when I was a sixth- munity choir, our Academy takes part in the conductor of this extraordinary organisation. former - just before I founded Ex Cathedra - I liturgical reconstruction, and it’s proved very “There are so many reasons why Ex Cathedra was singing in Birmingham Cathedral Choir. popular. We’re always trying to make this is different from other choral and orchestral My great mentor, Roy Massey, didn’t do much great music accessible to everybody, either by groups,” says Jeffrey. “The first thing is that Renaissance music with the choir. I was a taking part in it in some way or by hosting the amount of time we’ve been going and counter-tenor - a male alto - at the time and I discovery workshops to help people get into continued to be popular is quite extraordi- loved Renaissance music, so initially I got a it. nary. We also have a very interesting group of people together just to do that 16th “Our fifth and final concert isn’t in our approach to the classical repertoire. We century repertoire. Ex Cathedra grew out of brochure yet because we’re still in the plan- perform the great, iconic works alongside that: just a few friends from Bournville, ning and funding stages, but it looks as ones that are very old and have been some- where I sang as a chorister and went to though it’s going to happen in July. It’s a what lost, while also regularly commission- school, and a few older people from Birming- classical Indian weekend of music, which is a ing new works. I think our programmes are ham Cathedral. When I went to Oxford for genre we’ve been doing for a while. Alec always quite refreshing in that way. We have university, singers I met there came to Birm- Roth, who’s been our composer-in-residence the most fantastic amateur and professional ingham to join us. So, from there, it’s for the last 12 years, has written us some singers in Ex Cathedra, which is also supple- expanded into the incredible resource we see great pieces. One, called The Traveller, uses mented by top-quality students, and we’ve today. Wanting to do Renaissance music was translated sacred Indian texts and is just launched a graduate scholarship the initial spark, really.” performed by an orchestra, children’s and scheme. So that blend of professional, Ex Cathedra will be celebrating its 50 years community choir. We have the orchestra Brit- amateur and student is probably unique in with a programme of old favourites and new ten Sinfonia coming from Cambridge to play the country in terms of choirs. commissions: “I’ve chosen five pieces that for us, and Mark Padmore, who’s a big name “We’ve always had an education part of Ex are amongst the greatest that exist in the in the singing world, is going to be the tenor, Cathedra. We work in schools, with commu- choral repertoire and which have been partic- so that will be our contribution to the Indian nities, in hospitals and other healthcare facil- ularly important in the 50 years of Ex Cathe- Classical Weekend.” ities, so we’re committed to making classical dra. We open our season with Jeffrey is confident that Ex Cathedra’s music and singing accessible to all. Singing Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, which we recently programme for this season has something for is such an important part of people’s lives performed to a packed audience at Three everyone, from the classical music connois- and is fantastic for their physical and mental Choirs Festival. Secondly, we have Bach Mass seur to those who don’t know their Bach from health. It brings joy to lives. There’s so much in B Minor, which is important to us as it their Beethoven: “I think our 50th anniver- scientific evidence to support the positive launched our period instrument orchestra in sary season is brilliant. We’re focusing on impact it has. Pop music is focused around 1983 - the first one of its kind outside London such important works, both to us and to our singing rather than instrumental; at football and which is still going strong. audiences. But mainly Cathedra’s ability to matches, stadiums full of people sing their “Next, we’ll have Missa Solemnis, which is understand a piece and communicate to our hearts out in support of their team. Singing is probably Beethoven’s greatest piece but audience, to get across the meaning and feel- a basic human need, I think, along with perhaps not that popular because it’s a ing of the piece to those listening, is a really nourishment and socialisation. challenging work for both players and audi- special skill. “Research is also an important part of what ences. However, it’s certainly his greatest “I think if you’re a regular concert-goer you we do. We work with post-graduate students piece as far as I’m concerned. We also did will love what Ex Cathedra have to offer. But at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to Missa Solemnis as part of our 25th anniver- Ex Cathedra 50 Years-2.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 14:14 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

equally, if you’re someone who’s never been to any concerts, then Ex Cathedra is just as great. We get such positive feedback from If people, especially young people, don’t people who’ve never been to a classical concert before but who end up finding our have the opportunity of experiencing this concerts really engaging and then go on to music, then it will be lost forever. become big fans of classical. Ex Cathedra really is the place to start for newcomers Creating an appetite for high-quality willing to give classical music the chance it deserves.” music is always on the agenda Jeffrey is also the artistic director of the Early “ Music programme at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, a role which he continually links back to Ex Cathedra: “The Conserva- toire is really going from strength to strength, particularly in the area that I work in with early music and period instruments, as Julian Lloyd Webber is very keen to develop this area. We have an extraordinary, distin- ” guished team of musicologists at Birming- ham Conservatoire, and next year we’ve attracted the Biennial International Confer- ence on Baroque Music, which previously had been held in Salzburg and Paris and now is coming to Birmingham. The bid we had was so strong because of the interest and expertise in Baroque music based in Birming- ham - Birmingham Baroque seems to have a lovely ring to it! My role, then, is to link what Ex Cathedra are and have been doing to what’s going on at the Conservatoire. For example, we have four Student Scholars from the Conservatoire who sing with Ex Cathedra.” It’s Jeffrey’s strong desire to engage as many people as possible with classical music - particularly the younger generation - that really drives him on: “Getting great classical music across to younger audiences is my mission, really. If people, especially young people, don’t have the opportunity of experi- encing this music, then it will be lost forever. Creating an appetite for high-quality music is always on the agenda.” The poor state of music education in schools is a major concern for Jeffrey: “Funding is one of the biggest challenges for the classical music scene. Music education is really in a terrible fix in state schools, while in private, independent schools it’s blossoming. But music is for everyone, and that sector of education needs some special attention and funding, so that those in state schools don’t miss out.”

For more information on the programme for Ex Cathedra’s 50th anniversary season, visit excathedra.co.uk GIGS September Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:36 Page 1 GIGS September Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:36 Page 2

Gigs

Muse Arena Birmingham, Tues 17 September Comprising Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme, rock band Muse released their eighth studio album, Simula- tion Theory, last year. Its predecessors in- clude Black Holes & Revelations, The 2nd Law, Absolution, The Resistance and Drones, all of which made it to the number-one spot in the official UK charts. Widely recognised as one of the best live bands in the world, Muse have won a clutch of coveted music awards, including two Grammys, two Brits and an impressive 10 NMEs.

Benji Kirkpatrick & rial for his own project - Benji Kirkpatrick & The Excess. The Excess Leading on guitar and both electric and The Tin Music & Arts, Coventry, acoustic bouzoukis, Benji is accompanied Tues 10 September by ex-Header Pete Flood on drums and Pete Best known for being part of big band folk- Thomas (Megan Henwood and Jackie Oates) ers Bellowhead and folk trio Faustus, Benji on bass. Kirkpatrick has been furiously writing mate-

Peter Hook & The Light Keane Chantel McGregor Coventry Empire, Sat 21 September Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 21 September Former Joy Division and New Order bassist Tues 24 September Blues rock musician Chantel McGregor was Peter Hook formed The Light in 2010, kick- Keane return to the forefront of the music starting a new chapter in what has been a once told by a major label that she had a scene with new offering Cause And Effect - "great voice, but girls don't play guitar like busy and significant career. Back in the day, their fifth studio album, to be released on 20 Hook's bass playing instilled the importance that!" Ignoring their comments, she enrolled September. One of Britain’s best-loved at the Leeds College of Music and became of rhythm in punk rock, helping to inspire a bands, their four previous albums have all generation of dance-orientated new wave the first student in the college’s history to entered the UK charts at number one, accu- achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 bands. He also DJed, compiled The Hacienda mulating 13 million-plus worldwide sales Classics and The Hacienda: Acid House distinctions. and 2.6 billion streams. Fronted by Tom She’s since released two albums, Like No Classics, and even wrote a book, How Not To Chaplin, the band achieved mainstream Run A Club. Other and Lose Control, and is currently international success with the release of writing her third. The band here perform New Order’s Tech- debut album Hopes And Fears in 2004. nique and Republic albums, as well as an opening set of Joy Division material. The Len Price 3 The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, Fri 6 September A thunderous set of well-honed melodic nuggets played at breakneck speed, shiny pop hooks and chrome-glazed harmonies. So reads the Len Price 3’s promotional mate- rial. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll also find a rich, lyrical content full to the brim with acid-tongued social observation. Hailing from Medway and much admired for their dazzling live performances, they’re here playing Worcester for the very first time. whatsonlive.co.uk 17 p18.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:28 Page 1

18 whatsonlive.co.uk Festivals September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:22 Page 2

Festivals

Moseley Folk & Arts Festival Moseley Park, Birmingham, Fri 30 August - Sun 1 September Tucked away behind Birmingham’s busy streets, the beautiful Moseley Park is one of the city's hidden gems, transformed each year into an enchanting escape by one of the Midlands' best-loved music festivals. Traditional folk & low-fi acoustic sets blend seamlessly with dreamy electropop, psychedelia and indie favourites against a magical backdrop of bright hippie colours, lush foliage and a beautiful lake. New for 2019 is a rich programme of arts & crafts, comedy & cabaret, poetry & literature and talks & debates. Line-up includes: Don McClean, Jake Bugg, Public Service Broadcasting (pictured), The Zutons, Richard Thompson, Lucy Rose, Edwyn Collins, Daoiri Farrell, Peggy Seeger.

Onboard The Craft Stratford-on-Avon Bromyard Folk Festival Stoke Prior Country Club, Bromsgrove, Music Festival Bromyard, Worcestershire, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 September Thurs 5 - Sun 8 September Stratford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Organised by Sonic Rock Solstice Events and Fri 13 - Sat 21 September Taking place for the 52nd time, Bromyard’s set in the beautiful Worcestershire country- much-loved celebration of folk music is now side, Onboard The Craft returns for an eighth a well-established tradition in and of itself. year to present a programme of space rock, This year’s event promises more than 170 prog & blues. hours of entertainment, with some of the Four days camping is included in the price of finest national and international folk a weekend ticket, while children under 14 musicians headlining a programme that also can attend free of charge when accompanied includes workshops, sing-arounds, ceilidhs, by an adult ticket purchaser. dance displays, children’s entertainment and a traditional craft market. Line-up includes: Evil Blizzard (pictured), Here & Now, Mr Strange, Under Groundhogs, Line-up includes: Kathryn Tickell and The Capt. Roswell & The Lost Alien Tribe, Dr Has- Darkening, Flook, Melrose Quartet, The been, Joshua Burnell Band, Orange Clocks, Daoirí Farrell Trio, Jackie Oates and John Sonic Trip Project, Civilian Zen, Strip Search Spiers, Les Poules à Colin, Edgelarks, Tramp, Sister Sandwich, Second Sunset, Fire- The Stratford-on-Avon Music Festival Granny’s Attic, Will Pound and Eddy Jay, garden, Wood Demons, Spiral Navigators. presents a week of high-quality chamber Kelly Oliver (pictured), The Tweed Project. music aimed at the local community, with a particular focus on young artists. Strong local partnerships with established arts organisations are in place for 2019, not only to reinforce quality community partici- pation but also to emphasise the festival’s importance to the town’s annual cultural offer. Line-up i ncludes: Roderick Williams and Christopher Glynn (pictured), Raphael Wall- fisch Cello Recital, Aquinas Piano Trio and Rebecca Low, Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra, Thibaut Garcia Guitar Recital, Gildas Quartet and Jack McNeill.

whatsonlive.co.uk 19 T Rextasy.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:57 Page 1 T Rextasy.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:57 Page 2

children of the revolution T.Rextasy’s lead vocalist and lead guitarist Danielz chats ahead of their Shrewsbury gig...

Why did you form T.Rextasy? tended soloing and performance. stage and giving the audience a live experi- ence. Fans are coming to have a good time, In 1992 I was an original musician who was Tell us about your band members... and when I see people smiling and doing just promised recording deals from various com- Well, there’s me, Danielz - I take on lead vo- that, it makes it really worthwhile. I also love panies but always let down at the last hurdle. cals and lead guitar - Neil Cross - who plays plugging my Gibson Les Paul into that amp I decided to form T.Rextasy and go out play- rhythm guitar and does backing vocals - Rob and giving it some. There’s nothing like it! ing the music of Marc Bolan - an artist who I’d Butterfield - who plays bass guitar and does always loved while growing up. As Marc died What have been the highlights of your backing vocals - and John Skelton, who plays in 1977, I wanted people to experience the en- career so far? drums and percussion. I’m very fortunate ergy, excitement, the wonderful songs and with my musicians, as they’re skilful, loyal performance he gave - always 100%. It was Playing Wembley Arena. We’ve done that and love playing the music. this that drove me to push the band as far as I three times over the years - and as it was Marc’s biggest gig in the UK, it was a double- could. How do you prepare for a gig? whammy for me to play there too. Did you ever see Marc and T.Rex Live? I try to get to each venue in good time, as I Another highlight was obtaining a major have a sequence of activities that I go record deal with Columbia Records and re- Yes, I saw them four times; twice in Germany, through. On arrival, I go into my dressing leasing a couple of albums in Japan, which, in in 1972 and ’73 - my dad was in the Forces, so room, unpack my clothing and make-up, and turn, enabled us to tour out there twice, on my family was based there for a few years - set it all out in order. I then go out to eat. It the second tour meeting up and chatting with and then twice in England, in 1976 and ’77. takes our roadie about 90 minutes to unload David Bowie. Marc’s concerts were crazy - fans screaming and set up all the equipment, then another 30 Obtaining a publishing deal to write my auto- and dancing, singing and shouting. They minutes for the engineer to mic up, so it give biography was another highlight. I think I most certainly were not a serene affair! I try s us time to chill before sound-check. In the was the first guy in a tribute band to be ap- and recreate at least an atmosphere of those band, we all have our specific sounds that we proached by a publishing company to write times - although at some venues times have require in each stage monitor. After that, we about my life, which I was nicely pleased changed and acting in that way is frowned sort out the out-front sound. With our regular about. The book is called The Spirit Of Marc upon! However, I do try to encourage fans to sound engineer, this normally takes only Bolan (Wymer Publishing). get involved with the gig as much as possible. about 30 minutes, which is great. After Then there was being called up by Marc Al- It is a rock’n’roll gig, after all! My costumes sound-check, it’s backstage to sort out my mond and recording a single with him called are based on Marc’s originals, and as I own band merchandise, and then I normally play Death Of A Dandy, and then having it pro- some of his original clothing, I’ve been able to music on my I-Pod, which relaxes me while duced and mixed by legendary Bolan/Bowie get some things made very close to them. We I’m putting on my make-up and changing into producer Tony Visconti. play, as Marc did, 100% live, raw and raunchy my stage clothing. Then I go to the side of the I think as well just gaining credibility with - just how T.Rex would’ve been back in the stage to check the tuning of all my guitar major original artists, meaning that they’ve day. This is what makes the experience excit- s, and then, believe it or not, it’s showtime! appeared as our guests on stage, or we’ve ing. A few years ago, we even had an original been on the bill with them. So these include member, Dino Dines (Marc’s keyboardist) join What can an audience expect from one of Slade, Roy Wood of Wizzard, Alvin Stardust, the band, until his demise. I think having your concerts? Shakin’ Stevens, Steve Harley, Glen Matlock original members join a tribute band says a of the Sex Pistols, Boy George, Holly Johnson lot for our credibility and for us as a live unit, Excitement, enjoyment and the chance to from Frankie Goes To Hollywood and The not to mention the fact we’ve received en- sing along, boogie, clap and shout. I don’t Sweet. dorsements from Marc’s own family and his mind if fans call out for a song - I usually There are plenty of other highlights too, but record company. oblige them by singing a couple of verses to them if it’s a track that’s not in the actual set. that could well be a book in itself... What’s your favourite T.Rex track? A bit of heckling doesn’t go amiss either, as one-to-one contact with the crowd gives the This differs, as it’s not the same as playing a evening an extra-special kick! favourite track live. My fave track of all time T.Rextasy perform at Theatre Severn, is a song called Metal Guru, but in terms of What do you enjoy most about the Shrewsbury, on Saturday 7 September; playing live, it could be one of many. Let’s say performances? Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 18 Octo- for now that it’s Get It On, as we do an eight- ber; Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Sat 19 October; minute version that encapsulates the single I absolutely love playing the songs of T.Rex. Albany Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 28 and also how Marc played it live, with ex- It’s the actual buzz one gets from going on November; The Robin, Bilston, Tues 31 December Comedy September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:30 Page 1

Comedy

Gary Meikle The Place, Telford, Fri 20 September Rising star Gary Meikle has had a real rags- to-riches life experience. By the age of 16, he’d been kicked out of four schools, involved with gangs, packed off to a children’s home by his mother and was drinking heavily. A one-night-stand led to the birth of his daughter, Ainsley, who now has a daughter of her own - Gracie. The three of them currently live together in Glasgow. In recent times Gary has become enor- mously popular both on the comedy circuit - where he’s even joked about his daughter’s first period - and social media, where his rants about eyebrows, hair extensions and ‘dick pics’ have gone viral. He’s visiting the Midlands this month with his latest show, The iBrow Guy. Mawaan Rizwan Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 12 September In the first year that stand-up comedian and More recently, Mawaan’s brother, Nabhaan, Rob Delaney actor Mawaan Rizwan made videos for bagged the starring role in the highly YouTube, he accumulated one million acclaimed BBC television series Informer - The REP, Birmingham, Mon 16 September views. In the second year, that number sky- and even Mawaan’s dad has found his way rocketed to more than six million... onto the radio! The cause of the stark difference between To his credit, Mawaan has taken it all in his those two totals was his mother, Shahnaz... stride and makes light of the way in which Mawaan made a video with her in which the rest of his family have seemingly the pair bantered back and forth, and it accelerated beyond him on the rocky road proved such a hit that they decided to make to showbiz stardom. more. And then Bollywood came calling - Not that he’s exactly doing too badly him- for Mawaan’s mum! self, mind, having not so long ago starred in Shahnaz went on to become one of the most the emotionally disturbing BBC drama, recognised faces in Asia after starring in a Murdered By My Father. American comic Rob Delaney is best known TV series called Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (This He visits Birmingham this month with his on this side of the Atlantic for co-starring Is Love). well-reviewed touring show, Juice. with Sharon Horgan in four series of hit Channel Four comedy Catastrophe. He was also once voted the funniest person on Twitter. Rob bagged the accolade from Rob Rouse Comedy Central for his clever line in glee- Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, fully juvenile and sometimes overtly sexual Fri 13 September offerings. Boasting a plethora of TV credits, Rob Rouse At this point, we could reproduce his peddles a hyperactive brand of humour rude’n’crude Twitter musing on whether the that’s much in demand. contents of Catwoman’s litter tray acts like “I’m hugely lucky not to have a real job,” an aphrodisiac on Batman - but we won’t. says Rob. “Something that essentially used Somewhat more palatable Twitter fare to get me told off at school now earns me a includes, “As far as I’m concerned, the scari- living. There’s stuff that I wasn’t meant to est thing to come out of the Muslim world is say at school, or things that I wasn’t meant algebra”, and “WiFi at my uncle's funeral is to say at work, that I can now say on stage. I a ****ing joke...” can arse about and say exactly what I want, Rob’s movie credits include Deadpool 2, in regardless of how offensive people may or which he played fan favourite ‘Peter W.’. may not think it is. Without being churlish The newest member of the X-Force team of about it, it feels like a very healthy way for superheroes, he had no powers but “just me to live my life.” responded to the ad”.

20 whatsonlive.co.uk Comedy September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:30 Page 2

Tape Face Romesh Ranganathan Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 19 September Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 26 September; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Otherwise known as The Boy With Tape On Saturday 16 November His Face, hailed as a modern-day Buster Keaton and described as 'a mad scientist of With his support slots having included one vaudevillian pranks', there's no doubt that for Ricky Gervais, it’s fair to say former maths Canadian comedian Sam Wills brings some- teacher Romesh Ranganathan has made a thing to the table which is just that little bit significant impact since bursting onto the different. Mime with noise, stand-up with comedy circuit in 2010. no talking, and drama with no acting are It’s all a far cry from his previous career in a among the novelty numbers he peddles in Crawley classroom. "In the early days, I his shows, which have also been known to would be performing to eight people in a pub include magic, puppetry and Motown. Oh, and my sixth formers would turn up,” and references to the films of Patrick Romesh recalls in an interview with Crawley Swayze... Jonny Awsum supports. News. “I couldn't help but think, 'Oh God, this isn't going to end well’. It undermined my authority to tell the students off the next day, because it must’ve been hilarious for them to see me die on stage and think, 'I'm just going to heckle him now'!” Romesh’s latest show, The Cynic’s Mixtape, is a carefully curated selection of all the things he’s found unacceptable since his last tour. These include why trying to save the environment is a scam, why nobody is truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to avoid sleeping with him. Luke Kempner The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 28 September; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs Live At The RSC 3 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 12 October Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 12 - Sat 21 September Proving that comedy at the RSC isn’t con- Rounding off the festival is Adam Kay, about fined to William Shakespeare’s cobwebbed whose act a watching Stephen Fry once collection of 16th century witticisms, this declared, “This made me very, very happy.” two-weekend festival features some of the Numerous sell-out years at the Edinburgh circuit’s most well-respected comics. Fringe and tens of millions of YouTube hits Among the better-known names contributing later, former obstetrician and gynaecologist to proceedings are Bridget Christie & Milton Adam is here presenting his latest touring Jones (pictured), Matt Forde, Suzi Ruffell, show, This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries Of Zoe Lyons and Rory Bremner, while lovers of A Junior Doctor. Expect splendidly silly spoof Puppeteer, dancer, singer, pianist, actor, Edinburgh Fringe phenomenon Showstop- songs and some seriously shocking stories impressionist and stand-up comedian Luke per! can enjoy watching a brand new musical from the NHS frontline... Kempner began his showbusiness career in comedy being created from scratch. musical theatre, playing Marius in the UK touring version of Les Misérables. Comedy-wise he’s since made a name for himself on screen in shows including Murder In Successville and as resident funnyman on Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side. Luke is currently touring House Of Faces, a show about television that has plenty to recommend it but which hasn’t met with universal approval. Critics have felt it contains so many references to TV programmes that all but the most ardent of telly watchers will struggle to keep up. whatsonlive.co.uk 21 The Entertainer.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 11:54 Page 1

LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU Shane Richie brings Archie Rice to life in updated version of iconic play

22 whatsonlive.co.uk The Entertainer.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 11:54 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

John Osborne’s The Entertainer, widely considered to be among the greatest plays of the 20th century, is this autumn touring for the first time ever. West End and EastEnders star Shane Richie talks to What’s On about playing the character of Archie Rice, one of the most iconic roles in British theatre...

Written by John Osborne in the 1950s, The real thrill and an honour.” Jamie is all about diversity and embracing Entertainer tells the story of washed-up music everyone, regardless of differences. Archie is Shane has no worries about the update from hall star Archie Rice. A performer long past the polar opposite. He’s racist, homophobic, the ’50s to the ’80s: “If you’ve never seen the his expiry date, Archie is struggling to negoti- sexist - so far removed from the subject matter original, it won’t matter. This is almost like an ate the changing sociopolitical landscape of of Jamie. I’ve loved having the opportunity to entirely new piece all on its own in terms of the mid-20th century... play both characters this year, as it’s really the setting. Whereas the original is set against exciting for me to do such different projects.” Heading out on tour for the first time ever, the backdrop of the Suez Crisis, this version The Entertainer has been updated somewhat - deals with the Falklands. A lot of people who Playing Archie Rice seems to have brought to the 1980s - and unfolds against the back- were around in the 1980s will remember that Shane’s career full-circle: “I started off as a drop of the Falklands War and Margaret the face of comedy was really changing then. jobbing actor at the age of 15 or 16. I did a Thatcher. The production is directed by Sean We had new, upcoming sitcoms like The couple of seasons in holiday parks, where in O’Connor and stars Shane Richie - best Young Ones and Spitting Image, and comics between acting jobs I had a stand-up act. So known as EastEnders’ Alfie Moon - in the title like Archie Rice just became dinosaurs coming towards my 20s, I was performing in role. overnight. So The Entertainer is basically pubs, clubs and anywhere I could, just to about how Archie can’t seem to cope with that keep my head above water. So that’s where it “The Entertainer really is like nothing you’ve and just loses his s*** really!” started for me. Playing a character like Archie ever seen before,” says Shane. “If you don’t Rice now is really interesting because I’ve have a sense of humour or you’re easily Shane thinks the play really resonates in seen him; as I was starting off my career, the offended, you might not enjoy it! It’s a real 2019: “It seems that every 30 or so years careers of people like Archie were coming to tough piece - a real slice of social realism - there’s great social and political change. I an end.” and deals with sexism, racism, homophobia... think we’re in that place now, just like we all the things that are still around today to were back in the ’80s with Margaret Shane has every intention of going one better some degree. Most of all, though, it’s a thrill Thatcher’s government, the Trades Union than Archie by remaining in-demand: “When to watch because it’ll really get your back up disputes and the Falklands. I feel like The this tour is over, I’ll be doing panto - another and show you how much society has or hasn’t Entertainer allows us to question and explore completely different role. Then next year I’ll changed socially and politically over the last how much we’ve actually moved forward. It be going on tour with Everybody’s Talking 30-odd years. If I wasn’t in it, I’d want to see will be interesting to see if those who come About Jamie, and then I’ll hopefully get to it!” and see it think we’ve progressed that much have a holiday. I know that Tootsies has just or not - so in that way, it’s really exciting. opened on Broadway, and I’d love to be in it if Archie Rice is a role that’s been earmarked for it came over here to the UK. I’d also love to Shane for over a decade: “I was approached “Back in the day, The Entertainer came out as play Sweeney Todd.” by the director, Sean O’Connor, about 12 years a real state-of-the-nation play, off the back of ago. He spoke to me about it when we met John Osborne’s other major work, Look Back For now, though, Shane is concentrating on while I was working on EastEnders. I was too In Anger. Osborne was a real maverick. He The Entertainer - and firmly believes that young at the time, so he told me he’d wait was part of a group of playwrights who made audiences should grab the opportunity to see until I was in my mid-50s because he was sure theatre for and about the actual working the production with both hands: “This show I’d make a great Archie Rice. So I guess I’ve class. He turned that on its head, though, and has never toured the UK before, and there’s a been clock-watching since then! made stark social commentary by putting a reason for that - it really is asking the audi- mirror up to the audience. So the play was ence who we are as a society. In the show, I’m “The characters I’ve played in the past have really relevant back then, and I think we can doing some very different stand-up to what been likeable, whether that be Alfie Moon or still see a bit of ourselves in it now.” I’ve ever been used to, so it’ll be interesting on Benidorm. To play Archie Rice, who’s so both for me and the audience. The Entertainer out of step and such a total opposite, goes Given the wide-ranging nature of his show- really isn’t to be passed up!” against everything I’ve ever learnt as a business career, it’s fair to say that Shane performer. Obviously, when you go out on himself is something of an ‘entertainer’. His stage as a stand-up comic, you want people to CV includes stand-up comedy, straight acting, The Entertainer shows at Malvern like you. Archie Rice doesn’t care whether you and performing in the West End as a drag Theatres from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 like him or not, and he goes against all my queen... September; Wolverhampton Grand principles. I like stretching and challenging “I’ve just finished playing Hugo - also known Theatre from Monday 7 to Saturday 12 myself, pushing how far I can take the charac- as drag queen Loco Channel - in Everybody’s October; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, from ter, so that’s also why I wanted to play Archie. Talking About Jamie. Hugo is a character at Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 October; and I’ll also be following in the footsteps of the the complete opposite end of the spectrum Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, from Monday likes of Laurence Olivier, Robert Lindsay, from Archie Rice. Everybody’s Talking About 18 to Saturday 23 November. Michael Gambon, Kenneth Branagh - it’s a

whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:32 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Cabaret worth stepping into the lead part of the legendary Sally Bowles, a nightly performer at the infamous Kit Kat Klub in early-1930s Berlin. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 3 - Sat 7 September; Featuring ‘show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and some Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 22 - Sat 26 October; of the most iconic songs in musical theatre’ - including, of course, the Malvern Theatres, Tues 19 - Sat 23 November famous title number - Cabaret is helmed by National Theatre Artistic When a show visits the region which, between its stage and screen Director Rufus Norris and choreographed by the Olivier Award-win- versions, boasts multiple Oscars, BAFTAs and Tony Awards, it makes ning Javier de Frutos. sense to get along and check it out. Cabaret is one such show. Veteran song & dance star Anita Harris also features. John Partridge here takes on the role of Emcee, with Kara Lily Hay-

Blood Brothers The Lovely Bones Gaslight Birmingham Hippodrome, The REP, Birmingham, Fri 6 - Sat 21 September Mon 30 September - Sat 12 October The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, This poignant human drama, based on Alice Se- Although it’s effectively a class-driven ‘scouse Mon 30 September - bold’s best-selling novel, concerns a murdered melodrama’, to describe Blood Brothers as such Sat 5 October girl who watches from heaven as her family at- is to greatly underestimate the emotional re- Bella Manningham’s life is a tempts to cope with their devastating loss... sponse it produces within its audience. The fun-free zone. Losing her Featuring adult themes and a soundtrack com- show features adult actors playing children, a mind and feeling trapped in bining 1970s favourites with original music, the narrator who wanders through the scenes with her gloomy home, she sits production makes a welcome return to The REP warnings of impending doom, a good helping of alone each night dreading the after scoring a major hit first time round. sharp social awareness to counteract the sticky sound of footsteps from sentimentality and a raft of much-loved musical locked and empty rooms, numbers, including Bright New Day, Marilyn waiting for the gaslight to Monroe and the emotionally charged Tell Me It’s dim. Not True. It’s also one of only three musicals to When a stranger arrives one have been performed more than 10,000 times in evening with a terrifying tale the London West End. to tell, Bella must work out whether her visitor is really there to help, or whether she herself is about to descend into a pit of madness from which she may never return... Martin Shaw stars in this brand new production of Patrick Hamilton’s classic play.

24 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:32 Page 2 9 to 5 Amber Davies.qxp_Layout 1 22/08/2019 09:56 Page 1

What a way to make a living... Dolly Parton musical heads to Brum 9 to 5 Amber Davies.qxp_Layout 1 22/08/2019 09:56 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

The touring version of Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5 The Musical stops off in the Midlands this month. What’s On caught up with one of its three leading ladies - Amber Davies - to talk about meeting Dolly, the production itself and her 2017 success on hit reality TV series Love Island...

Inspired by the cult 1980 film starring super- the title track itself. What’s so great about herself in the musical theatre world: “Love star Tennessee country singer Dolly Parton - Dolly’s score is that each song has such depth Island definitely helped give me a platform, who’s written the production’s score - feel- to it. For example, Doralee has a number but I’ve also been really keen to prove to good comedy musical 9 To 5 is a show which called Backwards Barbie that really expresses people that I haven’t just got where I am in my Dolly would surely suggest y’all should go see her feelings about the way people view her career because of that. I’m here because I this month, y’hear... based on her appearance.” genuinely deserve to be; I’ve worked incredi- bly hard to get into professional musical “Dolly is very much involved in the show,” Meeting Dolly Parton was a surreal experi- theatre, just like all the other performers says one of the touring production’s lead ence for Amber: “If you’d have told me last have. The reaction I get from the audience is actors, Amber Davies - best known for year that I’d be working with Dolly, I would’ve always so positive. I get a lot of tweets con- winning hit reality TV series Love Island in laughed at you! Dolly is one of the show’s gratulating me and saying that they’d defi- 2017. “9 To 5 is about three very different executive producers, so she’s had so much nitely judged a book by its cover, so couldn’t women whose boss’s awful behaviour to- more involvement than people would ever believe how great I was. It’s just so, so lovely wards them brings them together. Although imagine. If there was even a tiny change in to read.” they work in the same place, the women are the script, it would have to go through her. taking very different paths in life: you’ve got She really wants everyone involved in the Amber hopes the future will prove to be even single mum and recent widow Violet; my show to do well, so the first night when she more exciting for her than the present: “I character, Judy, who’s completely heartbro- came to watch, she was just as nervous as the think at the moment I’m very grateful and ken and turns up having never had a job rest of us. content with where my career is going. I really before because she’s only ever been a house- can’t wait to tour. I don’t have many commit- “When I went out to Nashville to meet her, wife; and Doralee, the character that Dolly ments - no boyfriend, no children - so it really her advice to me was that no one is ever in played, who is judged purely on her appear- is the best time for me to do it. I really do competition with anyone apart from them- ance despite having a heart of gold. It’s very want to continue doing musicals, and Broad- selves, which is so true. You should never much a musical about female empowerment way is a massive goal for me. I would also like compare yourself to anyone else because and is full of surprises and real comic to keep my face on telly, whether that be pre- everyone’s timeline is so different. Consider- moments.” senting or acting. TV work is definitely some- ing how famous and iconic Dolly is, she was thing that I have in my sights. I just need to In the wake of the Me Too movement and the just so down-to-earth and lovely. I’ll certainly make my contacts and wait for the right role gender pay gap revelation, Amber believes 9 be taking her advice forward with me.” to come along. I’m really not one to rush into To 5’s serious side is just as relevant now as it Musical theatre has always been a big part of things - I don’t take the job if I don’t think it’s was when the film was released nearly 40 Amber’s life. Her sister, Jade, has appeared in for me.” years ago: “I think to a certain extent we’ve a whole host of famous stage shows, includ- come a long way, but in other ways we still So which roles in the world of musical theatre ing Les Miserables and Andrew Lloyd Web- have a long way to go. There’s a bit of an would Amber most like to play? ber's Phantom Of The Opera. ironic joke in the show where Violet says that “Just like every other musical theatre student, the sexism these characters deal with proba- “My sister is a role model for me and set the I’d love to play Elphaba [in Wicked]. It’s such bly won’t even be an issue in 10 years’ time - bar when she got offered her first West End a strong role, but I’m maybe a little too young and yet here we are staging 9 To 5 in 2019 and role. She helped me believe that it was possi- for that at the moment, so it’s one for the it’s still relevant today. But I always love the ble. Obviously, it’s extremely difficult to get to future. I love any feelgood musical - like Hair- audience’s reaction at the end of the night - the West End, but you just have to get your spray, for instance. I’d make a great Amber we send them out of the theatre on a real high one break, so I was always hopeful. I had the Von Tussle, which I actually got offered just because this show really illustrates what most amazing year on Love Island, but I just before I went on Love Island. It would be women can achieve when they come together. really, really missed being on stage. Perform- amazing to go full-circle and actually get to We definitely highlight issues of equality, but ing brings me so much joy. play that role. Rumour has it Mean Girls and in a lighthearted way.” “I believe everything happens in life for a rea- Pretty Woman are coming to the West End, And can we expect a country score in 9 To 5? son. I think I was meant to go on Love Island too - both musicals I’d be really interested in when I did, and now I’ve gone full-circle to doing because I know I’d have so much fun!” “Dolly wrote a new song especially for the being back doing what I love. It was scary West End cast called Hey Boss, which defi- accepting the challenge of being in 9 To 5, but nitely has a country twang to it. But there are it’s just a joy to be a part of.” all kinds of different styles and genres in the 9 To 5 The Musical shows at The Alexandra show. I’ve got a great, heartfelt ballad num- While Love Island definitely helped boost Theatre, Birmingham, from Friday 6 to ber, but there are also fun songs in there, like Amber’s profile, she’s fought hard to prove Saturday 14 September. Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:32 Page 3

Theatre Theatre previews from across the region...

Stardust Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 14 - Sat 21 September This is British theatre’s first ever South Asian theatrical production to feature same-sex marriage. Presented by well-established performing arts company Phizzical, Stardust follows British-Asian singer Amar’s struggle to make his mark as a mainstream performer. While on his journey towards what he hopes will be real stardom, he discovers a long-lost star of the 1980s’ Bollywood music scene - and finds that events soon take a rather chill- ing turn... Speaking about the show and its inclusion of same-sex marriage, Stardust’s director, Samir Bhamra, said: “I’m an ally of the LGBTQI+ community and have actively supported some of their campaigns. When I look at the world around us today, reading the results of surveys and talking to people, I am discover- ing that sexuality is becoming more and more fluid, and that people are more open and accepting of their identities. We still have a long way to go to remove the impact of several centuries of colonisation, though.”

Barber Shop Chronicles Jane Eyre possible. And if London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s appraisal of the show is anything to go by - The REP, Birmingham, Malvern Theatres, Tues 24 - Sat 28 September he called it the cultural highlight of the year - Thurs 26 - Sat 28 September Blackeyed Theatre are the company behind then the duo have obviously succeeded in The value and importance of the barber shop this latest stage version of Charlotte Bronte's their intention. Although they do wonder if in the lives of African men is explored in this classic novel. For those not up to speed with maybe the mayor had had a few too many to critically acclaimed play from Inua Ellams. the story, it follows the orphaned Jane as drink on the occasion he shared his opinion! While the main action takes place in a south she's sent by her cruel Aunt Reed to the bleak London barbers, the story also drops in on Lowood School. On securing a position as haircutting premises in Lagos, Johannesburg, governess at Thornfield Hall, Jane finds her- The Fizzogs: Harare, Accra and Kampala. self falling for the charms of enigmatic mas- The play’s series of intertwining vignettes ter Edward Rochester, unaware that the new Back In Our Day cleverly illustrates the way in which the object of her affection harbours a dark and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, barbershop is so many things to so many terrible secret... Mon 9 September people - from a political platform and Black Country laughter merchants The confession box to a preacher-pulpit and Fizzogs make a welcome return with their newsroom... The Olivier Award-winning Bijan The Hound Of The internet sensations The Dancing Grannies, Sheibani directs. Baskervilles presenting a production that charts the elderly trio’s fabulous friendship, from the Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, 1940s right through to the present day. Mon 2 - Sat 14 September “Our shows are riotous, poignant and nostal- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is gic,” say The Fizzogs, “but most of all, one of literature’s most enduring characters, they’re hysterically funny. Even the BBC like The Hound Of The Baskervilles his most us and said that if they had the money you’d famous adventure. Yet no matter how many see us on the telly box.” actors don the deerstalker and solve the mystery of the monstrous moorland beast, the story continues to be rehashed both for stage and screen. This time out, Dr John Watson is Dr Jane Wat- son and the two actors presenting the tale are determined to make it as fun and farcical as 26 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:32 Page 4 Eye of The Storm Amy Wadge.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:56 Page 1

There’s a Storm Coming... Eye of The Storm Amy Wadge.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:56 Page 2

by Nicholas Davies

Eye Of The Storm is a ground-breaking climate change musical about the whirlwind world of a young carer who dreams of becoming a stormchaser in America… The family show is a collaboration between Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge and South Wales theatre company Theatr na nÓg. We spoke to Amy and Theatr na nÓg’s director, Geinor Styles, to find out more about the show...

Although Eye Of The Storm is an award-win- straight away on the musicians we love.” Vortex Engine, which artificially generates ning family musical that confronts weighty is- tornadoes - is being developed to create sus- The choice of a country-style songbook seems sues including young carers, the climate tainable energies and features prominently in somewhat curious for a musical set mainly in emergency and the worrying decline in the Eye Of The Storm. a caravan park in South Wales. number of girls studying science, songwriter “Originally all we wanted was for Emmie to be Amy Wadge is determined to ensure that her “The main character, Emmie, dreams of being a girl with big aspirations who invents some- music makes the show an uplifting experi- in America, chasing tornadoes,” Geinor ex- thing to do with extreme weather systems,” ence for its audiences. plains. “Driving those long distances, with explains Amy. “It was only when Louis that amazing landscape, it only ever seems to You may not know her name, but you will def- Michaud told us that what we’d done was cre- be country you hear on the radio there. The initely have heard Amy’s music. Her long-run- ate a climate change musical that we realised songs can be so poignant and yet really clever ning songwriting partnership with Ed how important that aspect was. Since 2017, and ironic. Country tells a story within a song, Sheeran has yielded numerous worldwide those issues have become a huge priority for so you don’t have to play tricks with the audi- hits - as well as a Grammy award in 2016 for all of us, and so we’ve tweaked a lot of the ence.” Thinking Out Loud. She has since worked things about that. Emmie realises that what with artists including John Legend, Kylie Amy agrees about the choice of genre: “Obvi- she does could change the world.” Minogue, Keith Urban and Camila Cabello. ously country is usually Texas or Tennessee or So does such heavy subject matter impinge on wherever, but there’s something about Wales Amy is excited about creating her first stage the process of creating an entertaining family- that, for me, lends itself to country music musical with South Wales company Theatr na friendly musical? more than anywhere else in Europe. It’s got a nÓg: “You watch Stormzy at Glastonbury, small-town vibe, and our character lives in a “If you’re clever about it, then you make where people are making a really strong point trailer park - albeit in Wales. The story talks something which, firstly, people will like and about something, about certain issues, but about coming from nothing, and about hard- which isn’t too preachy,” says Amy. “It’s not with music it’s drip-fed in a way that feels ex- ship - the same stuff country music does.” too highbrow but it says something. People citing. And I think, emotionally, people accept messages in musicals much more who’re going to the theatre are ready to be Initially Geinor and her team developed Eye these days.” open to these things.” Of The Storm through drama workshops con- ducted with young carers in the Valleys and Amy’s recording studio is adorned with gold Amy and Theatr na nÓg’s director, Geinor facilitated by Barnardo’s: “One of the things discs, numerous awards and framed pho- Styles, have just finished polishing off some they said to me was, ‘Why would you do a tographs showing her hanging out with the new songs for Eye Of The Storm. After a short play about being a young carer? We don’t likes of Stevie Wonder and Elton John. Could run in 2017, the show is returning for a UK want to be labelled as that - you’re not treat- she be tempted away from the recording tour this autumn. Amy is a woman in de- ing us as normal kids’. We then realised we world again to write more musicals? mand, so what did she find attractive about needed to make the show about the aspira- the idea of working on a project with a small, “I hope musical theatre features in my future. tions of someone who just happens to be a subsidised theatre company based in Neath? I’ve had offers, but it’s a different challenge. carer.” In my usual job, I have to write to a strict brief “I knew of Theatr na nÓg and who Geinor The pressing problem of climate change has and a record company will tell me ‘this has to was, but that was it, to be honest,” she ad- presented Geinor and Amy with a new cre- be a hit’ or whatever, so to be given a script mits. “Thinking Out Loud had literally just ative challenge as they prepare to relaunch like Geinor’s and to be able to do what I want come out, so life hadn’t gone completely Eye Of The Storm two years on from its pre- with it…well, it was freeing. It’s been a real crazy yet, and I got an email asking if I miere. It was at that premiere that Louis gift.” wanted to provide some country songs for a Michaud, a Canadian scientist acting as the show Geinor was developing. At that point I show’s consultant, observed the power of the wasn’t going back and forth to Nashville as play’s message. much, so any chance I got to write country, I Eye Of The Storm shows in Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio next month, jumped on it. Geinor and I met and connected Michaud’s own invention - the Atmospheric on Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 October. Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:32 Page 5

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Calendar Girls: The Musical Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 24 - Sat 28 September Based on a true story, Calendar Girls tells the terrific tale of a group of women who spark a global phe- nomenon when they decide to pose nude for a charity calendar. Tim Firth and Gary Barlow’s award- winning stage version of the hit Julie Walters film stars Sarah Jane Buck- ley, Sue Devaney, Julia Hills, Judy Holt, Ruth Madoc, Lisa Maxwell and Rebecca Storm.

Handbagged the unfortunate Antonio, who bets on a ven- Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope ture that fails to repay and finds himself New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, forced to borrow money from Shylock, a The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 6 - Sat 28 September Thurs 5 - Sat 7 September man he detests... This 90-minute produc- As you’d expect from an Olivier Award nomi- tion (specially created for children aged This one-man show debuted to rave reviews nee, Handbagged made a significant splash seven to 13) is brought to the stage by 22 ac- at the Edinburgh Festival and depicts the when it debuted in the West End. It specu- tors from the RSC’s Next Generation Com- legendary Quentin Crisp in two distinct lates about the relationship between Her pany. phases of his extraordinary life: firstly in the Majesty The Queen and Prime Minister Mar- late 1960s in his filthy Chelsea flat, where he garet Thatcher, two powerful and iconic surveys a lifetime of degradation and rejec- women who were born in the same year. But tion; and then in New York in the 1990s, what did the pair really talk about behind where, finally embraced by society, he re- closed palace doors? gales the audience with his hard-earned phi- The play was written by Moira Buffini in 2010 losophy on how to make the most of one’s and was originally a one-act show. Buffini ex- time on earth. “Life will be more difficult if panded it in 2013, since which time it’s gar- you try to become yourself,” he advises. nered plenty of praise from theatre critics “But avoiding this difficulty renders life and audiences alike. This new version is di- meaningless. So discover who you are. And rected by the playwright’s sister, Fiona. be it. Like mad!” The production is written and performed by Mark Farrelly, whose next solo show will ex- Dangerous Obsession Peeling plore the life of controversial gay filmmaker Derek Jarman. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 9 - Wed 11 September Sat 28 September NJ Crisp's classic thriller finds Sally Driscoll Alfa, Beaty and Coral are fierce, intelligent being watched by a man through the win- female performers who, it seems, are always dow - a man who, while not a total stranger the chorus and never the lead. Why should to her, is more likely to be remembered by that be? Perhaps because they’re deaf and her husband. Before too long, it becomes disabled performers - participants in a the- chillingly evident that the mysterious atrical endeavour only because it allows the stranger has something more on his mind box of inclusivity to be ticked (even though than simply making a social call... the dressing rooms are inaccessible!)... Kaite O’Reilly’s acclaimed play, first per- formed in 2002, shines a spotlight on the The Merchant Of Venice issue of inclusivity, questioning who are the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, real beneficiaries of the policy and vigor- Mon 30 September - Sat 5 October ously challenging societal expectations of Undoubtedly one of Shakespeare’s most dif- deaf and disabled women. ficult, complex and controversial works, The Presented by the always-compelling Taking Merchant Of Venice follows the fortunes of Flight theatre company.

28 whatsonlive.co.uk Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:32 Page 6

whatsonlive.co.uk 29 Stardust for What's On.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:56 Page 1

Bollywood at The Belgrade Stardust for What's On.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:56 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

South Asian performing arts company Phizzical are premiering their LGBTQ Bollywood musical thriller, Stardust, in the Midlands this month... What’s On spoke to director Samir Bhamra about the ground-breaking production and the importance of representing same-sex Asian relationships on stage...

South Asian performing arts company came on board in 2017, which we felt was director and co-writer, I originally Phizzical is 15 years old in 2019 - and to important because Stardust relies heavily on commissioned this idea because I felt that we celebrate, it’s launching a ‘thriller musical’ design.” needed progressive stories on the British entitled Stardust. The show is a first for the stage to reflect the Asian identity and the Stardust follows British-Asian singer Amar’s British stage, as it’s the only South Asian Bollywood experience. There have been some struggle to make his mark as a mainstream theatre production to feature same-sex incredible plays reflecting Asian same-sex performer. Amar discovers a long-lost star of marriage. relationships, such as Hijra by Ash Kotak and the 1980s’ Bollywood music industry, a My Beautiful Laundrette by Hanif Qureshi. Stardust was sparked by the marriage of woman called Amor. His journey takes a However, we want to take our stories to the director Samir Bhamra’s brother - and by chilling turn when he discovers that Amor widest audiences in the deepest parts of the listening to the music of singer-songwriter was silenced for uncovering an explosive country - to inspire people, to move them and Robby Khela. secret involving Cyrus, her music producer to thrill them until they leave hand in hand and husband... “About 20 years ago, I adopted a young man and happy.” as a younger brother,” explains Samir. “After “We want audiences to immerse themselves So why the Belgrade for the premiere? gay marriage was legalised in the UK, he and in a pop, R&B and Bollywood thriller. his partner wanted to marry. Unfortunately Stardust is set in the music industry and “The Belgrade and Coventry has been our his parents didn’t know that he was gay. I features a mix of love, reincarnation and second home since we brought a Bollywood played a small part in supporting him and his revenge.” version of William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline parents, and it was a magical wedding; a to the city and theatre in 2013. And after the A musical thriller is an interesting angle to meeting of two cultures. Literally a few weeks incredible success of Bring On The take on a Bollywood-inspired production. later, singer-songwriter Robby Khela shared a Bollywood in 2016, we literally moved in. Samir explains the choice: “When someone song with me. It reminded me of every With the eyes of the world on Coventry as the says the word Bollywood, you automatically emotion that I’d witnessed during my City of Culture 2021, and with the Belgrade assume kitsch dances, melodramatic scenes brother’s wedding, and I immediately felt this autumn presenting a season of and colourful costumes. Unfortunately this is that we needed to make a musical about productions about love and belonging, I a terrible stereotype for a film industry that aacceptancecceptance andand llove.” ove.” couldn’t imagine opening the show anywhere produces musical films in every genre. The else.” TThehe iinfluencenfluence ofof BollywoodBollywood iiss hhugelyuge evident kind of cinema and music produced changes iinn SStardusttardust - aandnd wwasas aalsolso a factorfactor iin Samir’s with each decade. The films and songs reflect Stardust reflects some of the issues facing the aarrivalrrival iinn thethe world:world: ““MyMy mmotherother wwasa a big global politics. So we’ve pretty much set our British-Asian community right now. IIndianndian ccinemainema ffan.an. WWhenhen sshehe wwasas ppregnant minds to change the outdated perception of “Let’s just look at what’s happening in wwithith mme,e, hherer wwatersaters bbrokeroke atat thethe cinemacin Bollywood in the UK.” Birmingham, or search for the hidden stories wwhilehile sshehe wwasas watchingwatching a BBollyollywowoodo film. Stardust also pays tribute to Bollywood’s of marriages of convenience, of gay men Shhee nnamedamed mmee aafterfter thethe charactercharacter wwho was reincarnation genre... marrying women hoping for a cure, or worse, tthehe hheroero ooff tthehe ffilm!”ilm!” murdering them when the secret is “The reincarnation story has been told AAss wwellell aass wwritingriting tthehe songs,songs, RobbyRobby Khela discovered. And that’s just skimming the several times in some of the best Bollywood alsoalso takestakes thethe leadlead rolerole inin thethe show,show playing surface.” films. The first reincarnation thriller, Mahal thethe charactercharacter ofof Amar.Amar. ButBut SamirSamir andan Robby (which translates as ‘Palace’), was made by Samir believes it’s vitally important for South weren’tweren’t thethe onlyonly creativescreatives involvedinvolved in the legendary director Kamal Amrohi in 1949. Asian theatre companies to represent the project:project: “Stardust“Stardust hashas beenbeen inin thethe makingm for Then came possibly the best reincarnation LGBTQ+ community: “It should be almostalmost a decade.decade. RobbyRobby hashas writtenwritten and romances - Madhumati, Neel Kamal, Kudrat, compulsory. I have always worked with the producedproduced a wealthwealth ofof songssongs independentlyindepe Karz, Karan Arjun, Om Shanti Om etc. Whilst widest and most diverse creatives and actors, sincesince 2008.2008. WeWe officiallyofficially beganbegan worworking on we wanted to pay a tribute, our approach to and have directed work that touches on the thisthis inin 20120133,, ccollaboratingollaborating withwith anan incrediblei the genre had to be very different, so we set LGBTQI+ community - be it Pulitzer Prize- writer.writer. UnfortunatelyUnfortunately thethe worldworld waswas not ready about watching these films intensely to work nominated play A Perfect Ganesh by Terrence forfor thatthat story,story, soso wewe mademade itit intointo a shorts out how we could be different. One of the McNally, The Maids by Jean Genet or Omar musicalmusical film,film, whichwhich wewe releasedreleased earlierea this things we found was that the films presented Khan’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth year.year. It’sIt’s beenbeen winningwinning severalseveral awardsawa at film the notion that the soul has a gender. So the Night, titled What You Fancy. It’s about festivalsfestivals globally.globally. male characters are reborn as male and representation and inclusion.” “Then,“Then, twotwo yearsyears ago,ago, wewe decideddecided tot take a female characters as female. A lot of mystics differentdifferent approach.approach. We’dWe’d justjust finishedfinish our and ancient South Asian poets contradict previousprevious show,show, BringBring OnOn TheThe Bollywood,Bollyw and this notion and believe the spirit has no Stardust shows at the Belgrade Theatre, everyevery venuevenue wantedwanted sometsomethinghing similar,sim so we gender and is equal.” Coventry, from Saturday 14 to Saturday setset abboutout cchanginghanging tthehe sstorytory aandnd iintroducedn 21 September. Samir has high hopes for Stardust when it a BBollywoodollywood aanglengle wwithith emergingemerging writerw premieres this month: “Aside from being the SShahidhahid IIqbalqbal KKhan.han. SSetet ddesigneresigner RRichi Evans The Exorcist online.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:58 Page 1 The Exorcist iconic horror takes to the stage... The Exorcist online.qxp_Layout 1 30/08/2019 13:58 Page 2

The Oscar-winning 1973 film version of William Peter Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist, was one of the 20th century’s most celebrated and successful movies. Now, a theatrical version that premiered in Birmingham and created a significant stir in the West End is returning to the Midlands as part of a national tour. What’s On caught up with the man who wrote the stage show, John Pielmeier...

Inspired by a true story, The Exorcist was a supposedly possessed by the devil. But it’s re- those recordings. I was watching Ian McK- successful novel and Oscar-winning film. ally about struggles of faith; the struggles that ellen doing all this amazing stuff. That was Now, a new stage production is coming to the her mother has with her own lack of faith, terrific.” Midlands direct from the West End. and those of the priest who’s trying to help John is thrilled that The Exorcist will be tour- her. I think all of us have gone through situa- The show has been written by the award-win- ing the UK: “I think it’s so important to take tions where we’ve changed our beliefs in ning John Pielmeier, who finds it surprising productions on tour around a country, to some way; times when we’ve lost faith or that no one had considered making The Exor- make these stories accessible to people both gained faith in something.” cist into a stage production before: “The story financially and in terms of proximity. I think is incredibly theatrical. It essentially takes John is particularly excited by the visual as- so many stories, and especially The Exorcist, place inside a house, mostly inside one room, pects of the production, which help bring the have something important to say. with a small number of characters. It’s very story to life on stage: “It was incredibly excit- “I hope audiences will be excited by The Ex- contained physically, but it’s absolutely ing seeing it for the first time. Ben Hart, who’s orcist and a little scared by it at times. They boundless in an emotional and intellectual the illusions designer on the show, is abso- might get a few of those chilling moments. way. lutely brilliant. I’d say, ‘Ben, this is what I was But I hope they will come away with a feeling thinking’ and he’d have an even better idea “Being in the same room in which it’s all hap- that it’s not just a horror story; there’s so because he knows so much more about it pening is a very different, wonderful experi- much more to it than that.” than I do.” ence to seeing a movie. Being in front of Having enjoyed an extensive, successful ca- living people reenacting something right be- Taking an interest in exploring the supernatu- reer writing plays, screenplays and novels - fore your eyes in a very present, tense way is ral through his work with The Exorcist has winning numerous awards into the bargain - an incredible experience.” helped John explore the concept of faith: “I is there anything John feels he has left to probably don’t believe in the devil in the way John has known about the story since the achieve? that he’s characterised in the play, but I think early 1970s, when William Peter Blatty’s origi- symbolically it’s a very powerful thing. I’ve al- “I try not to think of things in terms of nal novel was published. But it was the sec- ways been fascinated by asking questions achievement. What I want to achieve is to ond time he delved into the book, decades about the supernatural and not so much keep working and creating. Having my cre- later, that it had a profound effect on him: about finding the answers. A lot of these ations take form in a way that’s beyond what I “The novel was very interesting, scary and things we can’t know the answers to - that’s ever could’ve imagined from the words on my moving, but it didn’t affect me as much the why faith is about taking something without computer is the best I can hope for.” first time I read it as it did when I re-read it for proof.” this project. I took on the stage adaptation be- cause I found so much of it related to my own The demon in The Exorcist will be voiced by The Exorcist shows at the Regent Theatre, inner life. It spoke to me as a person, and it Sir Ian McKellen. Stoke-on-Trent, from Tuesday 1 to was also something I felt I could comment on. Saturday 5 October, and at the Alexandra “What was so exciting about that, for me per- Theatre, Birmingham, from Tuesday 15 to “Yes, it’s a story about a 12-year-old girl who’s sonally, was to be in the studio when he made Saturday 19 October. Theatre New .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:33 Page 7

Theatre Theatre & Dance previews from across the region...

Madagascar The Musical Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 25 - Sun 29 September The smell of the greasepaint and roar of the crowd has tempted the furry cast of Madagascar the movie to forsake New York's Central Park Zoo in favour of treading the boards on a UK tour. The blockbuster DreamWorks film comes to life in The Potteries as Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the hip hip Hippo stampede their way into Stoke- on-Trent at the end of this month. Imaginative sets and costumes are all present and correct in a show that producers promise will send your kids home positively wild. X Factor-winner Matt Terry stars.

Stick Man point them in the direction of this brand new children aged between two and five. show to find out the answers. This time round they’re taking their audience The Place, Telford, Shropshire, Sat 28 & Sun on an ‘amazing romp’ through the universe. 29 September; The Swan Theatre, Worcester, Presented by Goblin Theatre Company, the Tues 1 - Wed 2 October production brings together puppetry and Starting with ‘putting the stars in the sky’, “Freckle Productions send shivers down my music in a 50-minute entertainment created then creating life and spine,” reveals Julia Donaldson, the co- for children aged three and older. discovering fire, they creator (along with Alex Scheffler) of the finally arrive at the one- hugely popular children’s book on which this world tree, ‘where we show is based. “They’re so lively and celebrate the new home innovative. I love their production of Stick that we made all Man, and so do the audiences.” together’. Julia’s not wrong - audiences most definitely do love the show, as a smash-hit season in the London West End ably demonstrated. Safari Adventure Featuring a trio of talented performers, the The Old Rep, Birmingham, Sun 15 September production brings together puppetry, songs, A blend of action, songs, live music and audi- live music and ‘funky moves’ to tell the story ence participation should ensure this high- of Stick Man’s desperate attempts to get back Dear Zoo Live! energy production is a real, er, roaring to the family tree... The show is suitable for Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, success of a show. The McDougalls - other- children aged three and older. Sun 8 - Tues 10 September; Artrix, Broms- grove, Sun 22 & Mon 23 September; Malvern wise known as award-winning performers Theatres, Tues 8 - Wed 9 October; Stafford Ryan Moir and Ruairidh Forde - are off on sa- Gatehouse Theatre, Mon 21 - Tues 22 October; fari to find some colourful creatures and crit- Albany Theatre, Coventry, Wed 13 - Thurs 14 November ters. And find them they most certainly do, with laughing giraffes and monkeys who go First published in 1982, Rod Campbell’s lift- bananas among the many and varied animals the-flap book has delighted generations of adding to the musical magic and mayhem. children and accumulated in excess of eight Young audience members (and older ones, million sales worldwide. for that matter!) are encouraged to come This first-ever stage version of the story fea- along dressed as their favourite animal. tures child-friendly puppets, original music and lots of audience participation. Hey Diddle Diddle Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sun 29 September; Sparc Arts Centre, Thur 10 First Stages: What A October, Bishops Castle, South Shropshire Wonderful World If your youngsters have ever asked you how The REP, Birmingham, Sat 14 September the cow jumped over the moon or why the dish ran away with the spoon in classic nurs- The ever-impressive Lyngo Theatre make a ery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle, you can now welcome return with a show created for

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whatsonlive.co.uk 31 Romeo and Juliet Matthew Bourne.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:05 Page 1

IMAGINE A TIME WHEN LOVE IS FORBIDDEN...

32 whatsonlive.co.uk Romeo and Juliet Matthew Bourne.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:05 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Sir Matthew Bourne brings a contemporary dance reimagining of Romeo And Juliet to the Midlands this month. What’s On talks to him about his dystopian interpretation of Shakespeare’s famous tale of forbidden love - the first new production from his New Adventures company in three long years...

There aren’t many, if any, more distinguished young girl gets very excited by a kiss on the At each venue on the Romeo And Juliet tour, figures in the dance community than Sir cheek. Young people today, if they’re into six up-and-coming dancers - three male, Matthew Bourne, whose choreography has each other, are kissing until their mouths are three female - will work with New Adven- featured in musicals, theatre productions and sore. I have tried to capture that intensity.” tures: “They’re an integral part of the show, movies for more than 30 years. His own com- not just token appearances. They’re part of Matthew’s desire to stage Romeo And Juliet in pany, New Adventures, brings a new produc- the main company. Our success stories from a new and thought-provoking way led to him tion of Romeo And Juliet to Birmingham this Lord Of The Flies have gone through several setting his production in a dystopian world month. Shakespeare’s classic tale of star- programmes that we run to nurture young where love is forbidden… crossed lovers appears to be the perfect fit for British-trained dancers. We’re very proud of the passionate and expressive art form of “It’s set a little way into the future, but it’s not those young guys, and we hope that this time dance. quite futuristic. It’s a time when society is we will bring into the fray some women who frowning on young people having the excess we’ve nurtured. We hope that will mean that Combining Bourne’s choreographic expertise, of feeling and emotion which sends them off even more people who started in Lord Of The an adaptation of Prokofiev’s famous score on wrong tracks as far as that society is Flies or Romeo And Juliet will come back into and a story by the world’s greatest-ever concerned. I got the idea from Arthur the company.” dramatist, the production promises to be a Laurents, the co-creator of West Side Story, show-stopping interpretation of one of litera- New Adventures have certainly had a stellar who was asked why the young people in it are ture’s most famous tragedies. year so far, putting on four major produc- violent and act the way they do. He said that tions, including company favourite Swan “I avoided doing Romeo And Juliet for years,” they have too much feeling and need to find a Lake. And Matthew himself has also enjoyed explains Matthew. “I think it was something way to release it. I thought that was an inter- major success, being recognised at the Olivier everyone expected me to do, and it had been esting way into the story and very true. It Awards for his services to dance. done in so many different ways in so many made me go in the direction I went in.” different mediums. I thought it would be hard “It’s been amazing. Swan Lake coming back is Matthew’s vision even meant that Prokofiev’s to find a new way into it, which is something I always a thrill because it introduces so many magnificent score had to be tweaked for the always search for. The thing that really made more people to dance and to our company. It production: “While it’s wonderful and lush me want to do it was the opportunity to work always has an incredible effect on audiences for big opera-house productions, I wanted with young people. It’s a story about them, around the country, and our casts are so something a bit more earthy and a bit more and about young love. I got even more excited devoted to it. Then, getting the Olivier Special quirky. We nervously went to the Prokofiev when it was suggested we cast it with young Award right in the middle of creating a new Estate and asked them if we could do a new people and work with young creative associ- show was rather good because the award can arrangement. It’s very faithful to Prokofiev’s ates in all the different departments of the feel a bit like it’s the end of your career and and it’s only 15 musicians who multi-task and show, alongside my usual world-class team. people are saying, ‘Thank you, please stop’. play lots of different instruments. It’s quite It’s all about nurturing young talent and So it felt great to be in the middle of a new rare for us to take an orchestra out on tour telling the story.” creation like Romeo And Juliet. This year has with us, but it’s sounding wonderful and I been about the past and the future at the The intense tale of love at first sight, family hope the Prokofiev Estate is happy. It’s a very same time.” feuds and death is one that works well as a recognisable score and that is really the script dance piece: “The medium is very good at that we work with.” Despite his early misgivings about staging extreme emotions, and Romeo And Juliet as a Romeo And Juliet, Matthew is very positive This world premiere tour of Romeo And Juliet story is certainly full of those. It has passion, about his vision for the production: “What follows a similar model to Matthew’s Lord Of love against the odds, and several extremes of started out as quite a scary project involving The Flies tour, in which the production was murder and violence. It’s all those big so much untested talent and so many used to support emerging dancers by having emotions. Shakespeare captured it very well. unknown young people has ended up being them perform alongside New Adventures’ rather an exciting new show.” “Young people are very hot-headed and react professionals. Three of the young men from very quickly to things. One thing I’ve tried to Lord Of The Flies have been cast in Romeo bring out is that when young people first fall And Juliet, while others in the new produc- Romeo And Juliet shows at Birmingham in love and feel that passion, they really go tion formed part of Matthew’s 2019 Swan Lake Hippodrome from Tuesday 10 to Saturday overboard in many ways. I often think about company. 14 September. how classical ballet handles this, and how the

whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Dance September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:32 Page 1

Dance previews from around the region

Birmingham Royal Ballet Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 September & Wed 25 - Sat 28 September Hippodrome-going dance lovers get not one but two chances to enjoy productions by the ever- exceptional Birmingham Royal Ballet this month. BRB first take to the stage with a triple bill showcas- ing their collaboration with award-winning ensemble Ballet Black, a company dedicated to increasing diversity in the genre. The bill opens with the fourth Ballet Now commis- sion, A Brief Nostalgia, choreographed by young Queensland Ballet dancer Jack Lister and composed by Tom Harrold. The evening also features performances of Cathy Marston’s The Suit (pictured left) - an award-winning work about a broken marriage - and Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs... BRB then return four days later with David Bintley and Galina Samsova’s highly acclaimed production of Giselle, a ballet which, along with Coppélia and Swan Lake, is one of the most celebrated of the 19th century.

34 whatsonlive.co.uk Dance September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:32 Page 2

Dance

James Wilton Dance: The Storm Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Wed 25 September The award-winning James Wilton’s choreog- raphy is always distinctive, his productions powered by an energy the audience can almost reach out and touch. Wilton’s in-demand company previously scored a massive hit with Leviathan - a retelling of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick which was widely considered to be the ensemble’s best and most finely tuned work to date. Wilton here makes a welcome return with The Storm, a show that combines acrobatics, breakdancing and martial arts with a sound- track of thundering electro-rock.

Rosie Kay’s Diversity: Born Ready Fantasia Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, 21 September; The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Patrick Studio, Birmingham Fri 1 - Sun 3 November Hippodrome, Wed 25 & Thurs 26 September Rosie Kay’s Midlands-based company here present a work that perfectly illustrates why they are so highly regarded on the UK dance scene. Featuring three female dancers and a soundtrack comprising works by Vivaldi, Purcell, Beethoven and Bach, Fantasia fine-tunes choreography with neurological research to explore the With eight sell-out tours under their belt and relationship between dance, music more than half a million tickets sold, it’s fair to and emotion. say dance troupe Diversity have made the most of their 2009 success on Britain’s Got Talent. The boys are this autumn visiting the region with 10th anniversary tour Born Ready. It’s a BalletBoyz: Them/Us show which creator and choreographer Ashley Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Banjo says “will not only look back at some of Sat 14 September the iconic Diversity moments of the past 10 The ever-inventive BalletBoyz this years, but will also look forward to the future, month return to the Midlands with two at how Diversity continues to evolve and how high-energy and impressively we plan to pass on what we’ve created to the innovative works. next generation. Contemplating the question of where “Be prepared for dance, illusions, mind-blow- individuals see themselves in relation ing stunts and inspiring stories in a show that to the ‘other’, the all-male company will hopefully leave people amazed!” present their own creation, Them, alongside a second work called Us. The latter, choreographed by the award- winning Christopher Wheeldon, has been inspired by the critically acclaimed duet which he created for the company’s highly acclaimed 2017 production, Fourteen Days.

whatsonlive.co.uk 35 BalletBoyz.qxp_Layout 1 22/08/2019 10:04 Page 1 BalletBoyz All-male troupe bring innovative double-bill to Theatre Severn BalletBoyz.qxp_Layout 1 22/08/2019 10:04 Page 2

by Lauren Cole

Award-winning dance ensemble BalletBoyz bring their production, Them/Us, to the Midlands this month. What’s On caught up with long-serving dancer Harry Price to talk about the show and the company’s approach to classical dance...

Co-founded by ex-Royal Ballet dancers it seems to have all of our different personali- very creative stance. It’s always a risk, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, BalletBoyz ties shining through in there. Charlotte Hard- though, because in-company creations have a burst onto the UK dance scene in the year ing, who created our accompanying score, history of not working so well. But I think this 2000. The male-only group has since played was actually in the studio with us while we one’s worked out!” an important role in revolutionising classical were choreographing, so it was a really BalletBoyz prides itself on its mix of dancers: dance by focusing much more on its fusion collaborative process. And I think that’s very “We’re all so different, with such different with the contemporary. evident in terms of how well the movement of personalities and backgrounds. Some of us the dance and the music marry. We’re also Their contribution hasn’t gone unnoticed are trained in classical dance, others more in wearing lovely shiny ’90s tracksuits, which is either, with numerous coveted awards contemporary, and some didn’t start dancing fun to see! coming their way, including the National until much later in life than you might expect Dance Award for Best Independent Company “The second half, Us, is by Chris Wheeldon. of a professional dancer. It’s for those reasons in 2013. He’s predominantly known as a classical that we all have such different visions, ballet choreographer, so there’s a real making the company so successful and the “I’d dreamed of being in BalletBoyz ever since contrast in style. Our half is a lot more creation of Them sometimes a little problem- I was in training,” says Harry Price, a dancer contemporary and Chris’s is a lot more tradi- atic. But we’re all very close and incredibly approaching his fifth season of working with tional, with more classical elements, but proud of how the piece turned out.” the ensemble. “It’s a company I always obviously still with that contemporary edge aspired to be a part of, so I was thrilled when Even when working with renowned choreog- BalletBoyz is known for. The Us piece I got the job. Since then, BalletBoyz has raphers such as Christopher Wheeldon, Javier concludes with a duet that was chore- continued to captivate me because we’re de Frutos and Craig Revel Horwood, the ographed for us by Chris back in 2017. So for constantly evolving and changing. We create BalletBoyz dancers are able to get creative: this production, we extended the duet into a a lot of original work, collaborate with differ- “Working with Christopher was like a dream full-group piece. It’s been really nice to return ent musicians and artists, and work with new come true. I was trained classically so was to and revitalise something we’d already choreographers. We have such a wide span very aware of his work. That’s another thing I done.” across the arts industry, meaning that as love about BalletBoyz - our approach to work- dancers we’re given amazing opportunities. Them/Us is about relationships forming and ing with big-name choreographers is very This year we even performed at Glastonbury! breaking on stage, particularly between collaborative. I’ve never worked with a Plus, we’ve done the West End and Edinburgh groups and the individual. choreographer at BalletBoyz who’s had no Fringe.” room for movement; it’s always a conversa- “Like with all our shows, the story is very tion, with free rein to put ourselves into the Harry believes it’s the ability of BalletBoyz to much open to audience interpretation. The piece.” evolve that’s the key to the company’s show is just as much for them as it is for us. success: “We’re constantly pushing the A BalletBoyz production is really about what Harry hopes that contemporary ballet compa- boundaries and aiming to take a fresh each individual takes away from it. I guess nies such as BalletBoyz are able to encourage approach to contemporary ballet. BalletBoyz the title of Them/Us alludes to the contrast of more people to attend ballet performances: is always committed to doing something new the two pieces, and the fact that they’re “BalletBoyz prides itself on being very and is constantly adapting to do so. In that choreographed by different creatives. A lot of accessible. We’ve had people who’ve never way, I think we’re keeping ballet very people have said that, in Us in particular, seen ballet before give very positive feedback relevant. Regular audience members say that there’s this idea of the outsider character, and after our shows - even those who were sure they always know our show will be great, but of exploring what it means to be part of a they wouldn’t like it. One of the company’s they never know quite what to expect. It’s a group or to be excluded from it. That’s main goals is to create dance that’s for every- good thing that we’re consistently surprising definitely a theme that runs through both one, so we definitely banish those miscon- audiences and expanding our horizons.” pieces.” ceptions of ballet being stuffy. So I would encourage anyone who’s worried about not BalletBoyz’s latest production is a double-bill Harry believes Artistic Directors Michael liking traditional ballet to push that from entitled Them/Us. Nunn and William Trevitt have had an their minds and come to see BalletBoyz!” in-company piece in their sights for a number “The first half, Them, was actually created by of years: “I think it was just a case of waiting us, the dancers - we worked together to come for the right timing and the right group of up with the piece. We’ve got a real sense of dancers. They obviously thought it was a ownership of it, which is really lovely. It’s a great time to go for it. They’ve seen that when Them/Us shows at Theatre Severn, really fun piece, and because we’ve created it, we do work with choreographers we take a Shrewsbury, on Saturday 14 September Film September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:08 Page 1 Film September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:08 Page 2

Film

The Goldfinch CERT 15 (149 mins) Starring Ansel Elgort, Oakes Fegley, Aneurin Barnard, Finn Wolfhard, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Nicole Kidman Directed byy John Crowleyy ((USA)) Adapted from Donna Tartt’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this drama follows the odyssey of a 13- year-old boy, Theo (Oakes Fegley, and later Ansel Elgort), whose mother is killed in a terrorist bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Out of the wreckage, Theo finds a painting of the eponymous bird that becomes a source of hope for him through his spiralling feelings of grief and then guilt. Nicole Kidman is already being tipped for an Oscar nomination in the category of best supporting actress. John Crowley’s last film as director was the Bafta- winning Brooklyn (2015). Released Fri 27 September CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in September...

It: Chapter Two CERT 15 (169 mins) The Shiny Shrimps Honeyland CERT 12a (87 mins) Starring James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, CERT 15 (103 mins) Directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Bill Skarsgård Stefanov (Republic of Macedonia) Directed by Andy Muschietti (USA) Starring Nicolas Gob, Alban Lenoir, Michaël Abiteboul, Geoffrey Couët A fly-on-the-wall documentary filmed in When the second version of Stephen King’s It Directed by Maxime Govare and Cédric Le Macedonia, Honeyland is a unique contem- Gallo (France) opened two years ago, it became the highest- plation of the fragile balance of nature. Its grossing horror film of all time, eclipsing central character is a solitary woman who even The Sixth Sense and The Exorcist. lives in harmony with her surroundings, A sequel, then, was inevitable. The new harvesting wild honey and caring for the bees movie is set 27 years after the first, with the which she finds in a symbiotic relationship. young losers from the original now all grown Then she is invaded by new neighbours who up and ready to face the evil clown Penny- want in on her act… wise all over again… But, be warned, the film Released Fri 13 September is 169 minutes long. Released Fri 6 September

When an Olympic swimmer makes a homophobic comment on TV, he is disci- plined by the national swimming body and forced to coach an up-and-coming and flamboyantly gay water polo team. It sounds loopy enough to be true, but is actually a fictitious comedy and a huge success in its native France. Released Fri 6 September whatsonlive.co.uk 37 Film September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:08 Page 3

Film

Hustlers CERT tbc (107 mins) Phoenix CERT 15 Rambo: Last Blood CERT tbc Starring Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Starring Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin, Maria Bonnevie, Starring Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B Sverrir Gudnason, Casper Falck-Løvås Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Adriana Barraza, Directed by Lorene Scafaria (USA) Directed by Camilla Strøm Henriksen (Norway) Yvette Monreal Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (USA) At just 13, Jill (newcomer Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin) has taken on the role of sole carer for Now 73, John J Rambo heads to Mexico to her close-knit family, including her younger save a friend’s daughter from the clutches of brother and unstable mother. a local drug trafficking cartel... This is the Threading in elements of fantasy, Phoenix fifth chapter in the Rambo franchise which has received glowing reviews for its debu- kicked off with First Blood in 1982. tante director, the Norwegian actress Camilla Released Thurs 19 September Strøm Henriksen. Released Fri 13 September

Based on an article in New York magazine, Hustlers focuses on a group of strippers that struggles to find new ways to support them- selves when the sex industry is hit by the financial crisis. But where there’s a will… CERT PG (100 mins) Released Fri 13 September The Farewell Starring Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong Directed by Lulu Wang (USA) Actress and rapper Awkwafina has been a scene-stealer in such films as Ocean's Eight and Crazy Rich Asians and now has the lead in this comedy-drama filmed in Changchun, China. She plays Billi, a Chinese-American writer who discovers that her beloved grand- mother has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. So she heads home for a planned goodbye celebration, while her grandma is kept in the dark about her immi- nent demise. Released Fri 20 September

The Kitchen CERT 15 (89 mins) Starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, Domhnall Gleeson, James Badge Dale, Margo Martindale Directed by Andrea Berloff (USA) With their husbands no longer in the picture, the wives of certain gangsters take the law into their own hands in the Manhattan neigh- bourhood of Hell’s Kitchen. And Hell hath no fury… In spite of the presence of Melissa McCarthy, this is no laughing matter. status quo of earth’s place in the cosmos. Released Fri 20 September Ad Astra CERT tbc Starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, For his sci-fi mystery, the director James Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, Donald Sutherland, Gray went to huge pains to present the Kimberly Elise most realistic look at space travel yet Directed by James Gray (USA) committed to screen. Incidentally, the title When Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) sets off to is Latin for ‘to the stars.’ the outer edges of the solar system to find Released Wed 18 September his father, he inadvertently threatens the

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Film highlights released in September...

Hotel Mumbai CERT 15 (123 mins) Starring Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs Directed by Anthony Maras (USA/India/Australia) A dramatic reworking of the documentary Surviving Mumbai (2009) which covered the 2008 terrorist attack at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. Dev Patel plays a waiter who risks his own life to save the patrons he serves. Released Fri 27 September

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Downtown Abbey TV series. Here, the Yorkshire country estate is graced with a visit by HRH King CERT PG (122 mins) The Last Tree CERT 15 (98 mins) George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary Starring Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Starring Tai Golding, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, (Geraldine James), which will undoubtedly Nicholas Pinnock, Denise Black, Sam Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Penelope cause much excitement and a crash-course Adewunmi, Jammal Ibrahim Wilton, Matthew Goode, Tuppence Middle- in regal etiquette for all concerned. Directed by Shola Amoo (UK) ton Directed by Michael Engler (UK) Imelda Staunton joins the cast as Lady Although of Nigerian heritage, young Femi Scripted by Julian Fellowes and with most Bagshaw, which will be nice for her (Golding) suffers major culture shock when of the original cast returning, this Up- husband, Jim Carter, who reprises his role he moves from the Lincolnshire countryside stairs/Downstairs soap should guarantee a as the head butler, Mr Carson. to inner-city London to be with his mother. huge audience of devoted followers of the Released Fri 13 September He is now faced with some major life choices. Released Fri 27 September

Ready Or Not CERT 18 (95 mins) Skin CERT 15 (120 mins) CERT 12a (113 mins) Poms Starring Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark Starring Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald, Starring Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, O'Brien, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell Daniel Henshall, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga Pam Grier, Celia Weston, Alisha Boe, Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Directed by Guy Nattiv (USA)) Phyllis Somerville Gillett (USA) Directed by Zara Hayes (UK/USA) In a remarkable transformation, Jamie Bell plays the heavily tattooed skinhead and Aimed squarely at the grey pound, this white supremacist Bryon 'Pitbull' Widner comedy-drama is about a gaggle of women at whose path of destruction is stalled when he a retirement home who form their own cheer- meets the love of his life. Inspired by the 2011 leading squad. The title refers to the brightly documentary Erasing Hate (2011). coloured pom-poms used by cheerleaders. Released Fri 27 September Released Fri 27 September

On her wedding night, a young bride discov- ers that her new in-laws are off their respec- tive trolleys as they involve her in a perilous game of hide-and-seek. Expect some pretty explicit violence. Released Fri 27 September whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Visual Arts September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:07 Page 1

Visual Arts previews from around the region

British Ceramics Biennial Various venues in Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 7 September - Sun 13 October An expanded programme of exhibitions, installations and events featuring more than 300 contemporary artists should ensure that the 10th anniversary of this hugely popular free festival is celebrated in fine style. Taking place across six venues, the event has as its centrepiece the vast China Hall, located in the former Spode Factory. The Hall features 13 exhibitions and hosts not only a number of workshops but also the festival’s two flagship shows. The first, entitled Award, features new work by 10 leading ceramic artists, all of whom are vying for prize money of £10,000. The second, Fresh, showcases a selection of pieces by some of the UK’s most promising ceramics graduates. Work by celebrated artists from other ceramic biennials around the world is also available to view. British Ceramics Biennial in the China Hall of the original Spode Factory site. Photography: Joel Fildes

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Visual Arts

Barry Flanagan Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Wed 18 September - Sun 24 November Welsh artist Barry Flanagan was best known for his bronze sculptures of animals; in particular, hares, but also cougars, elephants and horses. For many art critics, these iconic creations seem to be at odds with Flanagan’s earlier pieces, which saw him using materials including rope, sand, cloth and stone. This latest exhibition of his work seeks to chal- lenge this popular viewpoint, demonstrating that his later output does not in fact display any sort of marked shift in his approach. Instead, it repre- sents the distillation of what was a decades-long fascination for him - with ontology, with move- ment and with the physicality of the various ma- terials in which he worked.

Thoughts On Portraiture Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Mon 18 November Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s of those who are depicted. autumn exhibition provides visitors with a Many of the artworks on view are receiving rare chance to view an impressive range of their first public outing, taking up expressionistic artworks from the city’s positions alongside a number of favourites collection. not seen for some time. Exuding a palpable psychological The exhibition includes artwork by, intensity, the pieces explore the among others, Pablo Picasso, Ana Maria experiences, beliefs, fears and passions Pacheco, Frank Auerbach and the either of the people who created them or Birmingham-born David Bomberg.

Amalia Pica New Art Gallery, Walsall, Fri 20 September - Sun 19 January British/Argentinean artist Amalia Pica is best known for producing installations and sculptural works which explore forms of communication and realms of civic participation. Her latest presentation, a major solo exhibition, aims to explore the material culture of bureau- cracy, as exemplified by shredded paper and items of office stationery. Pica uses her personal experience of obtaining British citizenship - and the wider context sur- rounding the UK’s exit from the European Union - to provide a unifying conceptual framework for her show. Jim Holyoak & Matt Shane: The Hills Are Shadows “Every now and then, there is a moment when Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 21 September - Sun 24 November things fall together and events string into narra- tives,” says Amalia in explaining her art. “In such This is the 20th collaboration between Jim an artwork at Midlands Arts Centre this a moment, things appear to make sense - but, like Holyoak and Matt Shane, Canada-based month and next. The pair will be on site any moment, it’s temporary. It’s that sense of time artists best known for presenting large- for the first five weeks of their show, creat- as something lived and fleeting that I try to cap- scale dream-like pieces which expand ing a new drawing that will grow from the ture in my work. My art comes together to exist, to across entire walls during the course of other exhibition pieces and weave its way make sense of something or of itself, and then to their exhibitions... across 12 metres of gallery space. fall apart.” And Jim and Matt are producing just such whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Birmingham Weekender 10 things.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:39 Page 1 Birmingham weekender IS BACK! Birmingham Weekender is back - and for the 2019 edition, the festival has set up home in Digbeth, the city’s creative quarter. Featuring a FREE programme of dance, music, art and performance - presented by some of Birmingham’s leading artists and arts organisations - the three-day event takes place from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 October. Check out a few of this year’s highlights below... Photo credit: Verity Milligan Photo credit: Verity

Dance O’Driscoll and Marius Mates... Performance Symoné’s Fierce Flow And get a flavour of some of There’s a competitive edge to Dance Hub Birmingham the best professional dance performance at this year’s presents work from dance currently being made in the Weekender. Birmingham artists across a range of city by checking out Hippodrome present DJ disciplines, each responding Birmingham Dance Network’s Pyskhomantus’ VisionBombing to the unique Digbeth Introducing. Game Show, which sees the city’s location. Jamaal Birkmar, Carlos Pons hip-hop artists compete in a Dance meets projection in Guerra and Birmingham Royal number of game formats - think Sonia Sabri Company & Cirque Ballet also make contributions hip-hop meets A Question Of Sport Bijou’s Kindred, bringing not to be missed. nature and technology with a bit of The Krypton Factor together... Join Altered Skin for thrown in for good measure! It’s Your Round, combining Weekender visitors also get to dance with a pint and a chat at decide the Grand Prize winner of The Old Crown... Experience internationally celebrated two b-boys colliding at the performance artist Symoné’s Fierce Custard Factory in a Flow, which brings New York’s ’80s voguing culture to Digbeth. collaboration from Jamaal Sonia Sabri Company

42 whatsonlive.co.uk Birmingham Weekender 10 things.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:39 Page 2

Music unique South Asian sound of Kefaya, performing alongside Birmingham Weekender In percussionist Bernhard Digbeth features concerts, pop- Schimpelsberger. up performances and musical And if you fancy a blues workshops. adventure, Big Bear Music’s Join master drummer Leaving Mississippi Ansoumana ‘Vieux’ Bakayoko Birmingham Bound is the show for an African drumming to catch. Tracing the history of workshop, or check out the the blues, from the cotton Royal Birmingham fields of Mississippi, through The Glue Collective Conservatoire’s classical Memphis, New Orleans and concert, directed by one of the Chicago, to rock, heavy metal potions and mud pies. For children world’s most celebrated and Birmingham’s Black Birmingham Repertory violinists, Dmitry Stikovetsky. Families are warmly welcomed Sabbath, the production is Theatre, meanwhile, invites World music pops up too, as to Birmingham Weekender In presented over the three nights youngsters to explore the Sampad and Eastside Projects Digbeth (see the website for of Weekender. classic story of Peter Pan join forces to present the any specified age guidance). through an action-packed Some events are designed workshop of games and drama. Big Bear Music specifically with children and Other attractions for families to young people in mind. enjoy include Think Tank’s Highlights include Science Garden, which can be experimenting and exploring visited for free throughout the with The Glue Collective in weekend, and a Digbeth-based their yurt, which offers a quiet, workshop hosted by the Barber safe space where children and Institute of Fine Arts. adults of all ages can make

Street Arts outside, and an open skate Eastside Projects tournament. Break Mission present a A street sports showcase weekend of hip-hop events includes some crazy BMX stunt featuring dance, music, street riders and Parkour free sports and art. There’s an runners. international dance Throughout the weekend Live competition too, DJ and rap Graffiti will add to Digbeth’s battles both indoors and much-loved graffiti walls.

Art & Studios, Vivid Projects or Centrala. Digbeth is the spiritual home of You can also roll up your the city’s thriving sleeves and Play With Clay with contemporary art scene. For Sundragon Pottery, add your Birmingham Weekender In welcome to Redhawk Digbeth, galleries are opening Logistica’s A Million Welcomes, their doors to present special and check out the latest exhibitions and performances - gaming innovations at so why not dare to try Birmingham Open Media’s something new at Eastside Hacked! exhibition. Projects, Grand Union Gallery Break Mission

Discover Digbeth Discover Digbeth for yourself by joining professional West Midlands writers BOLDtext on a sometimes giddy, often unhygienic theatrical Digbeth is fast developing a reputation as the coolest place to be. walking tour aimed at uncovering the area’s hidden history. Expect In this post-industrial area - just a short walk from Bullring and to be guided through childhood memories and ushered past Moor Street Station - contemporary art galleries, music venues, passionate exchanges on a one-hour stroll. artists’ studios, street food vendors, cafes, restaurants and even an Alternatively, drop by on Friday night as Birmingham Weekender independent cinema rub shoulders with small industrial businesses, joins up with the popular Digbeth First Friday for an evening of late- universities and colleges. night openings and free performances.

You can find full listings and programme information at birminghamweekender.com

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Events previews from around the region Events

HSBC Let’s Ride Coventry city centre, Sun 8 September Following the success of last year’s event, British Cycling and HSBC make a welcome return to Coventry this month, providing thousands of locals with the opportunity to explore their city from the saddle. The event aims to build excitement in the run-up to the UCI World Championships and ties in closely with local cultural attractions.

Peaky Blinders Festival Artists confirmed for the festival include Scottish rock band Primal Scream, Mercury Prize-nomi- Digbeth, Birmingham, Sat 14 & Sun 15 September nee Anna Calvi, Slaves and Nadine Shah. The first official Peaky Blinders-themed festival There’s also a BBC Introducing stage and a host takes place this month, allowing the show’s of music performances reflecting one of the creators, stars and fans to come together in the sharpest soundtracks on television. series’ home city and create what promises to be The festival has been co-curated by the show’s an imaginative immersive event. creator, Steven Knight, and also features a live Attractions across the weekend include live Q&A with the man himself and some of the recreations of Peaky Blinders scenes, fashion series’ stars. shows and five different music stages. Midland Game Fair Weston Park, Staffordshire, Science Of The Circus Sat 14 & Sun 15 September British Science Festival Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham, As the premier event of its kind in Various venues throughout Coventry, Sat 14 September the country, the well-established Tues 10 - Fri 13 September Midland Game Fair offers a In partnership with the University of War- rewarding weekend for those with wick, the British Science Association brings a passion for traditional country an imaginative programme of science & pursuits. culture events to various venues around The event showcases a wide range Coventry this month. of rural attractions, including clay The event is Europe’s longest-established shooting, gundog competitions, science festival, celebrating world-leading falconry displays and ferret research in areas including energy, transport, racing. healthcare and digital innovation. There’s plenty of musical enter- Highlights include a workshop on the art of tainment to enjoy as well, with Persian dance and numerous talks exploring folk, jazz & blues, Celtic and the politics of scientific issues. Roll up, roll up, the circus is coming to Think- country stages all featuring. tank! Combining the wonder of performance with the underlying science that helps create the magic of the circus, this unique event sees the ever-brilliant CircusMASH taking over Thinktank for the day. Visitors can learn how science makes tricks eas- ier to master, enjoy CircusMASH’s brand new space-themed show, marvel at talented local performers and have a go at circus tricks while busying themselves exploring the museum.

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Events previews from around the region Events

The Trampoline & Tumbling Championships Arena Birmingham, Sat 28 & Sun 29 September With the Tokyo Olympics less than a year away, the gymnasts participating in this ever-popular event will certainly be looking to impress. Olympic medal-winning tram- polinist Bryony Page takes on stiff competition from Kat Driscoll and Laura Gallagher, while Nathan Bailey and Luke Strong go head- to-head for the men’s trampoline crown. Other attractions include the very best of Britain’s DMT gymnasts, who’ll be executing A Place In The Sun Live locations including Spain, France, Portugal, Italy plenty of high-flying stunts to and Florida to showcase a wide range of proper- take your breath away. NEC, Birmingham, Fri 20 - Sun 22 September ties and answer potential punters’ purchasing The official exhibition of Channel Four’s popular questions. series, A Place In The Sun Live is the perfect The stars of the TV show will be on hand to share event at which to negotiate the process of finding top tips for overseas property hunting, while a a property abroad. panel of experts will take visitors through the ins More than 150 exhibitors will be flying in from and outs of buying a home abroad.

Retro Truck Show British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, Sat 7 & Sun 8 September This always-popular show is now in its ninth year and features up to 400 of the best trucks produced between 1970 and 2000. A celebration of top truck manu- facturers including Volvo, Scania, DAF and Foden, the event also features an indoor model show, live entertainment, a licensed bar and a Saturday night disco.

The Cycle Show Main-stage attractions include industry talks, interviews with professionals and the chance to NEC, Birmingham, Fri 13 - Sun 15 September pick up plenty of hints and tips about cycling - The UK’s biggest cycling event, The Cycle Show from how to get started to safety for families. features the very latest bikes and accessories and Visitors to the 2019 edition of the show also have gives enthusiasts the opportunity to discover all the chance to be among the first to test-ride some that’s new in the industry. of the latest models.

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Events previews from around the region Events

Autumn Steam Gala Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster, Thurs 19 - Sat 22 September Check out an array of home-fleet and visiting steam locomotives at Severn Valley Railway’s ever-popu- lar Autumn Steam Gala. Attractions include: overnight run- ning on the Friday and Saturday; an early-morning express from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth on the Friday and from Bewdley to Bridgnorth on the Saturday and Sunday; Eardington Halt open visits; and the chance to enjoy Paddock Railway & Coalyard Miniature Railway in steam. Imagineers: Bridge a programme of bridge building and artistic activity. Coventry City Centre, Crafted by engineers and turned into an audi- Thurs 26 - Sat 28 September ence-pleasing spectacle by artists and perform- Bridge is the latest large-scale project from the ers, the project features numerous pop-up team behind the Festival Of Imagineers, Coven- events throughout its three days. try’s week-long annual celebration of art and It climaxes on the Saturday evening with a engineering. The festival has collaborated with show comprising theatre, comedy, circus acro- artists and civil engineers Arup to create the batics and live music. project, which sees its host cities taking part in

The Glamping Show Malvern Autumn Show Step Back In Time Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 September Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Sat 28 & Sun 29 September Sat 28 & Sun 29 September Glamping - a more luxurious form of camping - has become increas- A weekend of home-grown family fun is in ingly popular during the last few store at the Malvern Autumn Show this month. years and is now a prominent part For green-fingered visitors, there’s not only the of the leisure industry. chance to stock up on plants and bulbs for This annual show presents a wide winter, but also an opportunity to glean some selection of pop-up, temporary useful know-how from the gardening and and pre-pitched accommodation floral experts in attendance - including solutions, including yurts, tipis Gardener’s World presenters Alys Fowler and and safari tents. Joe Swift. The show also offers a diverse Other show highlights include the Giant range of seminars, presented by Vegetables Championship, numerous floral experts and suited not only to displays, family fun & games such as mini-golf Travel back in time to 1459 and learn all about the complete beginners but also those and giant Jenga, and a jam-packed dog show. Battle of Bewdley Bridge, as Avoncroft Museum who’re looking to grow and diver- New for 2019 is the Malvern Gin Show, featur- transforms into a medieval village for the week- sify their business. ing gin producers from across the three coun- end. Visitors can enjoy watching skilled re-enac- ties and beyond. tors, talk to knights, ladies and squires, and witness archery competitions and weapon drills. Highlight of the weekend is the jousting tourna- ment, where skilled riders and their highly trained horses take part in one-to-one combat to win favour with the audience. The weekend also offers plenty of opportunity to explore Avoncroft’s 19-acre grounds and enjoy its collection of 30 rescued and restored buildings.

whatsonlive.co.uk 49 Place In The Sun Full July 2019 .qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:19 Page 1 The List Cover September Warwick/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 09:35 Page 2

YourYour wweek-eek- bby-weeky-week llistingsistings gguideuide Septemberptember 22019019 thelist

Russell Howard at Resorts World Arena, Birmingham - Wed 18 & Sun 22 September

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

What’s On Sun 1 to Sun 8 September Mon 9 to Sun 15 September Mon 16 to Sun 22 September Mon 23 to Mon 30 September

Miranda Sykes at Heritage Open Day at Friendsical at Mini Museum Engineers at Artrix, Bromsgrove Worcester Cathedral Malvern Theatres Coventry Transport Museum Fri 6 September Sat 14 September Mon 16 - Sat 21 September Wed 25 September

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List Warwickshire 1 - 8 September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 17:09 Page 1

thelist THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER

exhibition are drawn from the Artist Visual Arts Rooms collection, jointly owned by Tate and National Galleries of Scot- land, Fri 20 Sept - Sun 1 Dec Artrix, Bromsgrove NEW VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE Col- laborative exhibition by Lickey Hills Rugby Art Gallery & Museum Art Society, Mon 2 - Mon 30 Sept RUGBY COLLECTION 2019 This year’s annual exhibition celebrates texture, pattern and colour, until Sat 7 Sept Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery NEW CYNTHIA CHANDLER Floor one ex- hibition, Sun 1 - Fri 13 Sept WITHIN AND WITHOUT: BODY IMAGE AND NEW EMMA BARFORD Floor one exhibi- THE SELF Exhibition examining how tion, Sun 15 - Fri 27 Sept social, historical and cultural factors affect body image, and how this is ex- NEW CALENDAR COMPETITION Floor pressed through objects and art- one exhibition, Sun 29 Sept - Thurs works, until Sun 1 Sept 10 Oct BIRMINGHAM IN THE 1980S: FILMS BY YUGESH AND SUNANDAN WALIA A tril- The Herbert Art Gallery & Mu- ogy of films which explored specific seum Koan Sound - O2 Institute, Birmingham cultural moments and experiences WONDER - WHERE REALITY AND IMAGI- for black and Asian communities in NARY COLLIDE Exhibition featuring grove Sat 7 Sept, The Em- Birmingham: Mirror Mirror, 1980, until urban landscapes, reimagined car- pire, Coventry 8th Sept; Sweet Chariot 1981, 9 Sept Gigs MIRANDA SYKES Fri 6 toon characters, a light pavilion, and - 13 Oct; African Oasis, 1982, 14 Oct Sept, Artrix, Broms- WATERLOO - BEST OF creatures brought to life by aug- DANNY JONES Mon 2 ABBA - 18 Nov grove Sat 7 Sept, Al- Sept, O2 Institute, mented reality, until Sun 15 Sept MARTY WILDE Fri 6 bany Theatre, Coven- HOME OF METAL PRESENTS BLACK SAB- Birmingham try BATH - 50 YEARS Exhibition celebrating Sept, The Palace The- FÖLLAKZOID Mon 2 MEATLOUD AGAIN the impact and cultural legacy of Worcester City Museum & Art atre, Redditch Sat 7 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Sept, Evesham Arts Black Sabbath, until Sun 29 Sept Gallery BLACK CELEBRATION - Birmingham Centre COLLECTING BIRMINGHAM: WHO IS NEW LIVING RUINS Artworks from 18c DEPECHE MODE TRIBUTE STAND UP & ROCK Wed Fri 6 Sept, The River FOR THE LOVE OF BRIAN BIRMINGHAM? Discover new collec- to the contemporary, Thurs 26 Sept - 4 Sept, Bedworth Civic Rooms, Stourbridge FT. SUSAN CADOGAN, tions that reflect the experiences of Sat 30 Nov Hall WINSTON REEDY & diverse Birmingham people - from THE ELO EXPERIENCE Fri MORE... Sat 7 Sept, working lives to community activists SANDRO PERRI + SING 6 - Sat 7 Sept, The Other VISUAL ARTS Hare & Hounds, Birm- and protest movements, until Sun 27 LEAF Wed 4 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull WILDLIFE OF THE SEVERN PHOTOGRA- Tin Music And Arts, ingham Oct K-TRAP Sat 7 Sept, O2 Canal Basin, Coventry PHY EXHIBITION A selection of pho- Institute, Birmingham TALON - THE BEST OF tographs curated by professional JOHN BLEK THE EAGLES Sun 8 Compton Verney Gallery, Thurs 5 THE FEELGOOD BAND wildlife photographer Iain Green, who Sept, Artrix, Broms- Sept, The Roses The- Warwick has been leading workshops for vol- Sat 7 Sept, The Marr’s atre, Tewkesbury grove Bar, Worcester A TEA JOURNEY: FROM THE MOUNTAINS unteers of all ages to reveal the CHRIS BANNISTER - THE BRASS BAND GALA 2019 TO THE TABLE Exhibition telling the amazing array of wildlife along the THE S.L.P. Sat 7 Sept, MUSIC OF JOHN DENVER Sun 8 Sept, Symphony story of how Britain’s favourite drink River Severn, until Sun 1 Sept, The O2 Institute, B’ham Thurs 5 Sept, The Hall, Birmingham became an everyday commodity, Hive, Worcester Palace Theatre, Red- LABOUR OF LOVE - UB40 CV FOLK SECOND SUN- until Sun 22 Sept SCULPTURES IN THE GARDENS Exhibi- ditch TRIBUTE Sat 7 Sept, DAY Sun 8 Sept, Al- ART IN THE PARK - GREEN DWELLING In- tion of sculptures from the Oxford The River Rooms, THE BUTTERS ALIENS + bany Theatre, stallation by Dutch artist Krijn de Kon- Sculptors Group, displayed through- Stourbridge THE UNDERCLASS + THE Coventry ing consisting of a collection of out the Gardens. All sculptures are EARNEST SPEARS + DIRE STREETS Sat 7 JASPER MALONE Sun 8 differently sized green blocks ranged available for sale, until Sun 8 Sept, SPACETOAST + THE Sept, The Palace The- Sept, The Marr’s Bar, across the Old Town Meadow, until Spetchley Park Gardens LIGHTWEIGHTS Thurs 5 atre, Redditch Worcester Sun 15 Dec DIGITAL DIORAMA Imagine a day in the Sept, The Sunflower ITS JUST ROCK N ROLL life of a young William Shakespeare. Lounge, Birmingham Explore his experience through aug- Forge Mill Needle Museum, KOAN SOUND Fri 6 Sept, mented realities and see Shake- Redditch O2 Institute, B’ham speare’s world through a new lens, SANCTUARY Exhibition by Hilary Beat- until Sun 8 Sept, Royal Shakespeare FLARES + EASY COM- tie, Fri 30 Aug - Sun 27 Oct Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon PANY Fri 6 Sept, The Tin Music And Arts, THE PLAY'S THE THING Display of cos- Canal Basin, Coventry Leamington Spa Art Gallery & tumes and props from the archives, Museum until Tues 31 Dec, Swan Theatre, UN:KNWN Fri 6 Sept, Stratford-upon-Avon The Mill, Digbeth, AN ENTERTAINMENT Exhibition show- Birmingham casing the many entertainments on FASHIONING PEACE: LIFE AND LIBERTY offer in Leamington over the past two AFTER THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION Ex- THE LEN PRICE 3 + THE centuries, until Sun 8 Sept hibition exploring how the changes HUMDRUM EXPRESS Fri brought about through the Great War 6 Sept, The Marr’s Bar, NEW ARTIST ROOMS: DIANE ARBUS were reflected in clothing and fashion Worcester Diane Arbus (1923-1971) is consid- from 1918 through to the Roaring ered one of the great figures of Amer- COUNTRY CHIX Fri 6 20s, until Mon 12 Oct 2020, Hartle- ican photography. The works in this Sept, Artrix, Broms- Miranda Sykes - Artrix, Bromsgrove bury Castle, Kidderminster 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 1 - 8 September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 17:09 Page 2

Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 September

ROMEO & JULIET Outdoor presentation that sees Heartbreak Productions Comedy bringing Shakespeare's star-crossed COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- lovers into the 21st century, Wed 4 SON & COMIC TBC Thurs 5 Sept, The Sept, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Glee Club, Birmingham Spa MIKE WILMOT & COMIC TBC Fri 6 Sept, THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD Presented The Glee Club, Birmingham by the National Gilbert & Sullivan MARLON DAVIS, JAKE LAMBERT, STEVE Opera Company, Wed 4 Sept, SHANYASKI & FREDDY QUINNE Sat 7 Malvern Theatres Sept, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham STAND UP AND ROCK Evening of com- edy & music featuring Jasper Carrott, the Bev Bevan Band & Geoff Turton from the Rockin’ Berries. Wed 4 Sept, Bedworth Civic Hall Theatre HOLDING THE CENTRE New play from HOLES Tom Basden’s apocalyptic Birmingham writer Joan Carty explor- comedy, in which four survivors of a ing themes of shadism, implicit bias, Gangsta Granny plane crash realise they may be all violence & deception, Wed 4 - Sat 7 that’s left of the human race, Sat 31 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 7 September Aug - Sat 7 Sept, Criterion Theatre, PRIVATE LIVES Heartbreak Produc- The ever-popular Heartbreak Productions make a welcome return Coventry tions present an outdoor staging of with their brand new open-air adaptation of David Walliams’ Noel Coward's celebrated comedy, THE PROVOKED WIFE Outspoken best-selling book. Restoration romp that shocked 17th Thurs 5 Sept, Royal Spa Centre, century society, until Sat 7 Sept, The Leamington Spa Ben’s no lover of Friday nights - and why would he be? After all, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon THE GONDOLIERS Presented by the Friday nights mean having to stay at Granny’s house, where he’s VENICE PRESERVED Fast-paced version National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera not only bored senseless but also has to eat an unholy trinity of of Thomas Otway's Restoration Company, Thurs 5 - Sat 6 Sept, cabbage dishes - cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake. tragedy, until Sat 7 Sept, The Swan Malvern Theatres But experiences can sometimes be deceptive, and Ben soon finds Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE Mark Far- out that there’s way more to his boring old Granny than meets the FUN & GAMES Collection of original relly’s acclaimed solo play, Thurs 5 - eye... short plays, Mon 2 - Wed 4 Sept, The Sat 7 Sept, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Studio, The Dream Factory, Warwick Birmingham THE VICAR OF DIBLEY Amateur staging WUTHERING HEIGHTS Heartbreak Pro- ONE NIGHT ONLY South Staffs Musical DAN JONES CRUSADERS: AN EPIC HIS- based on the TV sitcom, Mon 2 - Sat ductions present an outdoor staging Theatre Company present a concert TORY OF THE WARS OF THE HOLY LANDS 7 Sept, Talisman Theatre & Arts Cen- of Emily Bronte's haunting tale, Fri 6 compilation of show tunes, drama, Part of Warwick Words 2019, Sun 8 tre, Kenilworth Sept, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington dance and comedy, Sun 8 Sept, Sept, Bridge House Theatre, Warwick Spa Wolverhampton Grand Theatre THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES In- ventive two-man staging of Arthur 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL New production Conan Doyle’s acclaimed Sherlock of Dolly Parton's rip-roaring musical Cabaret Holmes mystery, Mon 2 - Sat 14 comedy, Fri 6 - Sat 14 Sept, The Sept, Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Kids Shows BIANCA DEL RIO Thurs 5 Sept, Arena THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Presented THE LOVELY BONES Alice Sebold's Birmingham by the National Gilbert & Sullivan coming-of-age tale returns to The GANGSTA GRANNY Heartbreak Produc- Opera Company, Tues 3 - Wed 4 REP following its well-received debut tions present an outdoor staging of Sept, Malvern Theatres run last year, Fri 6 - Sat 21 Sept, The David Walliams' bestselling tale, Sat 7 REP, Birmingham Sept, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington ON YOUR FEET! Smash-hit musical in- Spa spired by the true love story of Emilio THE MIKADO Presented by the Na- and Gloria Estefan, Tues 3 - Sat 7 tional Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Com- DEAR ZOO LIVE Rod Campbell’s chil- Sept, Birmingham Hippodrome pany, Sat 7 Sept, Malvern Theatres dren’s classic, live on stage... Sun 8 - Mon 9 Sept, Royal Spa Centre, HANCOCK & CO James Hurn’s celebra- CABARET John Partridge stars as Leamington Spa Emcee in a new staging of the fa- tion of radio comedy classic Han- mous musical, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Sept, cock’s Half Hour, Sat 7 Sept, Bear Pit Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Talks HAZEL FINDLAY: THE CLIMB WITHIN Join Film Hazel as she talks about her passion INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: for climbing... Tues 3 - Wed 4 Sept, MAKING NOISE QUIETLY (15) Drama. Malvern Theatres Starring Meg Coombs, Deborah MALORIE BLACKMAN: NOUGHTS & Findlay. Malvern Theatres, Sun 1, CROSSES Malorie Blackman talks Tues 3 & Thurs 5 Sept about Crossfire, the latest novel in VITA & VIRGINIA (12a) her bestselling series, Noughts & Biography/Drama. Starring Gemma Crosses, Sat 7 Sept, Birmingham Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki. Artrix, Town Hall Bromsgrove, Mon 2 Sept; Number 8, HAZEL FINDLAY: THE CLIMB WITHIN Join Pershore, Mon 2 - Tues 3 Sept Hazel as she talks about her passion BALLOON (12a) History/Thriller. Star- for climbing... Sat 7 Sept, Royal Spa ring Friedrich Mücke, Karoline Dear Zoo Live - Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Centre, Leamington Spa Schuch. Foreign language, subtitled.

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54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 1 - 8 September.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 17:09 Page 4

thelist Sunday 1 - Sunday 8 September Number 8, Pershore, Thurs 5 Sept Birmingham THE CURRENT WAR (12a) RETURN TO THE FAIRY BALL Trail & Biography/Drama. Starring Benedict scavenger hunt in preparation for the Cumberbatch, Tom Holland. Artrix, Arboretum's annual fairy ball, until Bromsgrove, Fri 6 & Mon 9 Sept; Sun 8 Sept, Arley Arboretum, Bewd- Number 8, Pershore, Fri 6 - Mon 9 ley, Nr Kidderminster Sept THE FALCONER'S QUEST Up to 70 birds MRS LOWRY & SON (PG) of prey take to the sky in a display of Biography/Drama. Starring Vanessa aerial acrobatics, until Thurs 31 Oct, Redgrave, Timothy Spall. Malvern Warwick Castle Theatres, Fri 6 - Thurs 12 Sept THE FORD MOTOR SHOW Featuring a THE LION KING (U) Animation/Adven- range of vehicles, Sun 1 Sept, British ture. With the voices of Jason Motor Museum, Gaydon Sudeikis, Bill Hader. Artrix, Broms- KNIGHT SCHOOL AT BLAKESLEY HALL grove, Sat 7 Sept Learn the code of chivalry and the PHOTOGRAPH (15) Drama. Starring ways of combat with swordfighter Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malho- Mark Vance, Sun 1 Sept, Blakesley tra. Foreign language, subtitled. Hall, Birmingham Malvern Theatres, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Sept SPITFIRE 10K AND SPITFIRE FAMILY RUN COSFORD 2019 Event raising money NEW FILMS ON GENERAL for charity, Sun 1 Sept, RAF Cosford, RELEASE: Nr Wolverhampton The Ford Motor Show - British Motor Museum Gaydon Released from Fri 6 Sept, showing at ON THE BUSES Featuring more than 25 street culture, from street art to street ONBOARD THE CRAFT Line-up includes selected cinemas beautifully preserved vintage and food, graffiti to graphic novels, skate- Evil Blizzard, Here & Now, Mr modern buses, Sun 1 Sept, Severn boarding to breakdancing, Sat 7 Strange, Under Groundhogs & IT: CHAPTER TWO (tbc) Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidder- Sept, Digbeth, Birmingham more... Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Sept, Stoke RAPID RESPONSE (12a) minster SCHOOL OF ROCK - PRESENTED BY COL- Prior Country Club, Bromsgrove MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - MARBLE MORE CINEMA CLUB & BMAG To cele- BROMYARD FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up in- RUNS Become a marble run specialist brate the venue’s Home Of Metal cludes Kathryn Tickell & The Darken- in a session where you can play with exhibition, Colmore Cinema Club ing, Flook, The Daoiri Farrell Trio, giant ball runs and small marble runs, screens the Jack Black movie, Rosier & more... Thurs 5 - Sun 8 Events Wed 4 Sept, Coventry Transport Mu- School Of Rock, Sat 7 Sept, Birming- Sept, around the town, Bromyard, LEGO CITY Featuring character ap- seum ham Museum And Art Gallery Herefordshire pearances, new building activities GUIDED TOUR: HERITAGE AND HISTORY JEWELLERY QUARTER HERITAGE WALK ILLUSIVE FESTIVAL Line-up includes and the chance to explore what a city OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS Guided walk looking at the people, Shy FX, Beardyman Vs JFB, The Up- of the future would look like, until Sun Learn about how the Gardens were places and themes that have helped beats, Critical Sound Takeover & 1 Sept, Legoland Discovery Centre, designed and have evolved over to shape the district, Sat 7 Sept, Mu- more... Fri 6 - Sun 8 Sept, Deene Birmingham time, Wed 4 Sept, Birmingham seum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birm- Park, Corby, Northamptonshire FREDDO'S TREASURE TROVE Cadbury’s Botanical Gardens ingham Freddo dons his captain’s hat to BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE WEEK: SOHO 750 MOTOR CLUB CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS teach little ones about what it takes to ROOFTOP TOURS Enjoy panoramic Featuring a mix of saloon and sports become a pirate, until Sun 1 Sept, views from the roof of Soho House, cars, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Sept, Donington Food & Drink Cadbury World, Bournville, B’ham Wed 4 - Thurs 19 Sept, Soho House, Park CAMRA BEER FESTIVAL Bridgnorth-sta- Birmingham KAPOW: THE SUMMER OF COMIC ART RETRO TRUCK SHOW Featuring up to tion event featuring 60-plus real ales, Take inspiration from the Comic Art IN:SITE FESTIVAL Graduates transform 400 modern and classic trucks, Sat 7 ciders and perries, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 exhibition and join in comic-themed the outdoor space around the cathe- - Sun 8 Sept, British Motor Museum, Sept, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, workshops, until Sun 1 Sept, Enginu- dral by creating unusual craft inter- Gaydon, Warwickshire Nr Kidderminster ity Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire ventions, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Sept, PANORAMA TOWER OPEN DAY Enjoy ALE & CIDER FESTIVAL Sat 7 Sept, Birmingham Cathedral Grounds SUMMER ACTIVITIES AT BLISTS HILL panoramic views of Worcester from Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Travel back to the Victorian era and FIA/FIM EURO FINALS Drag racing at its the top of the tower, Sun 8 Sept, enjoy an action-packed day, until Sun best and featuring 250-plus entrants, Croome Park, Worcester 1 Sept, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Thurs 5 - Sun 8 Sept, Santa Pod HSBC UK LET’S RIDE COVENTRY Free Ironbridge, Shropshire Raceway, Wellingborough family cycling event, Sun 8 Sept, GET HANDS ON WITH HISTORY Young- PEAKY BLINDERS NIGHT Step back in Coventry City Centre sters can learn to sword fight, shoot time to the Roaring 20s and discover with a bow & arrow or be transformed the murky underground world of the into a little lord or lady, until Sun 1 Peaky Blinders, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Sept, Sept, Kenilworth Castle Black Country Living Museum, Dud- GREAT SUMMER ADVENTURE Family fun ley Festivals including laser combat, foam parties, I SEE THE FUTURE Innovative artistic MOSELEY FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL Fea- and tractor safaris, until Sun 1 Sept, project exploring the experiences and turing Don McLean, Jake Bugg, Pub- Hatton Adventure World perspectives of Stratford residents, TAMWORTH FOOD GUSTO FESTIVAL Fea- lic Service Broadcasting, The Zutons, turing live music, cooking demonstra- 'THE MINISTRY OF WILD THINGS’ NEEDS Fri 6 - Sun 8 Sept, Various locations Richard Thompson, Edwyn Collins & tions, children’s activities & more... YOU - SUMMER FAMILY TRAIL Become in Stratford-upon-Avon more... Fri 30 Aug - Sun 1 Sept, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Sept, Tamworth Castle an agent for the Ministry of Wild FIREWORK CHAMPIONS Three of the Moseley Park, Birmingham Pleasure Grounds, Staffs Things and help track & map UK’s biggest firework companies bat- BACK TO THE 80'S AND 90'S FESTIVAL Croome’s landscape, until Sun 1 tle it out for the title of Firework LEAMINGTON FOOD FESTIVAL Hugely 2019 Line-up includes Tony Hadley, Sept, Croome Park, Worcester Champion, Sat 7 Sept, Ragley Hall, popular FREE event featuring around Nik Kershaw, East 17, S Club Party, 130 exhibitors, cookery theatre, live PIRATES AND MERMAIDS Enjoy ‘the ulti- Alcester Jive Bunny & more... Fri 30 Aug - Sun music & more... Sat 7 - Sun 8 Sept, mate underwater adventure’, until HIGH VIS STREET CULTURE FESTIVAL 1 Sept, Cattows Farm, Heather, Le- Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa Sun 8 Sept, National Sea Life Centre, Day-long celebration of all things icestershire

whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List Warwickshire 9 - 15 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:59 Page 1

Sun 15 Sept. £17 Tues 17 Sept. £12 BARNHART & HUXLEY HOT FIVE KEITH SLATER'S Jazz and Jokes IV back and better than SINATRA CELEBRATION ever! Hosted by Malcolm Stent. 2.30pm An afternoon of classic Sinatra. 2pm

Tue 24 & Wed 25 Sept. £16/£15 Fri 4 Oct. £20 MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT From Timeless Theatre - book early for The comedy and music of the Black matinee shows. 2.30pm & 7.30pm Country returns! 7.30pm

Sat 5 Oct. £18.50/£17.50 conc. Wed 9 Oct. £33 PATSY CLINE AND FRIENDS JOE BROWN Tribute Concert to Patsy Cline, Hank 60th Anniversary Tour for the Rock 'n' Roll Williams and Jim Reeves. 7.30pm legend. 7.30pm

56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 9 - 15 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:59 Page 2

thelist Monday 9 - Sunday 15 September HENN NIGHTS Fri 13 Sept, Palace The- Classical atre, Redditch RAW COMEDY Fri 13 Sept, Evesham Music Arts Centre, Evesham PHIL NICHOL & THANYIA MOORE, CARL A CELEBRATION OF OPERA Celebrate HUTCHINSON & ADAM HESS Fri 13 - the wonder of opera in the company Sat 14 Sept, The Glee Club, B’ham of Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Of- fenbach, Gilbert & Sullivan and MILTON JONES, MATT FORDE, SUZI RUF- more... Wed 11 Sept, Wolverhamp- FELL, ALUN COCHRANE & FLO AND JOAN ton Grand Theatre Sat 14 Sept, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon CZECH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHES- TRA: HARRY POTTER & THE PHILOSO- JARLATH REGAN, MORGAN REES, PHER’S STONE John Williams’ QUINCY & BARRY CASTAGNOLA Sat 14 unforgettable score live, Wed 11 Sept, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham RODERICK WILLIAMS (BARITONE) & CHRISTOPHER GLYNN (PIANO) Pro- gramme comprises Schubert’s Win- Theatre ter Journey, Fri 13 Sept, Stratford THE FIZZOGS: BACK IN OUR DAY Com- Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon edy charting the friendship of three LAST NIGHT OF THE ROTARY PROMS Black Country women who met through their shared love of dance, Hozier - Symphony Hall, Birmingham 2019 Featuring City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Treorchy Male Mon 9 Sept, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Sept, O2 Academy, Albany Theatre, Choir and Anthony Inglis (conduc- Birmingham Coventry tor), Sat 14 Sept, Symphony Hall, DRACULA THE BLOODY TRUTH Fast- Gigs Birmingham paced and faithful(-ish) adaptation of SIMON AND GARFUNKEL FOYER FOLK : Bram Stoker’s Gothic novel, Mon 9 - ALICE CHATER Tues 10 THROUGH THE YEARS Fri DAMPIER’S ROUND Sat CHANDOS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Fea- Sat 14 Sept, Priory Theatre, Kenil- Sept, O2 Institute, 13 Sept, Albany The- 14 Sept, Number 8 turing Paul Hoskins (conductor). worth Birmingham atre, Coventry Community Arts Cen- Programme includes works by Sibelius, Tubin & Dvorak, Sun 15 THE ENTERTAINER Shane Richie, BENJI KIRKPATRICK & GO NOW! THE MUSIC OF tre, Worcester Sept, Malvern Theatres Diana Vickers and Sara Crowe star THE EXCESS Tues 10 MOODY BLUES Fri 13 ULTIMATE COLDPLAY Sat in a new staging of John Osborne’s Sept, The Tin Music Sept, The Palace The- 14 Sept, Kasbah, ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: CARNIVAL classic play, Mon 9 - Sat 14 Sept, And Arts, Canal Basin, atre, Redditch Coventry OF THE ANIMALS Featuring Saint Coventry Saens’ pieces of classical music for Malvern Theatres NORTHERN SOUL LIVE FLEECEY FOLK: DUNCAN children with narration by Matthew THE HAUNTING The Nonentities pre- SHARON SHANNON & Fri 13 Sept, Belgrade CHISHOLM Sat 14 Sept, Sharp, Sun 15 Sept, Stratford Play- sent an amateur staging based on BAND WITH SPECIAL Theatre, Coventry The Fleece Inn, Bret- house, Stratford-upon-Avon GUEST SECKOU KEITA original ghost stories by Charles VOODOO ROOM Fri 13 forton, Nr Evesham Wed 11 Sept, Hare & Dickens, Mon 9 - Sat 14 Sept, The Sept, Huntingdon Hall, ANDY FAIRWEATHER Hounds, Birmingham Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Worcester LOW & THE LOW RIDERS FROTH Wed 11 Sept, LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT An AMY LOUISE ELLIS Fri Sat 14 Sept, Artrix, Comedy Hare & Hounds, Birm- evening of all things horror with 13 Sept, The Sun- Bromsgrove ingham JACK DEE Wed 11 Sept, The Roses hosts Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks and flower Lounge, B’ham COMPLETE MADNESS Theatre, Tewkesbury Henry Zebrowski, Wed 11 Sept, THE SOUND OF SPRING- PETER BRUNTNELL Fri Sat 14 Sept, Belgrade Birmingham Town Hall STEEN Wed 11 Sept, 13 Sept, The Tin Music Theatre, Coventry Belgrade Theatre, JEKYLL & HYDE ‘Chilling’ adaptation And Arts, Canal Basin, DEATH OF GUITAR POP Coventry of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Coventry Sat 14 Sept, The Em- tale of good & evil, Wed 11 - Sat 14 TALON - GREATEST HITS WORCESTER MUSIC FES- pire, Coventry Sept, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham TOUR Wed 11 - Thurs TIVAL DAY 1 Fri 13, The ARIANA GRANDE Sat 14 12 Sept, Swan The- NEVILLE’S ISLAND Sudden Impulse Marr’s Bar, Worcester - Sun 15 Sept, Arena atre, Worcester Theatre present Tim Firth’s comedy THE ROY ORBISON Birmingham concerning four out-of-condition TRASH BOAT Thurs 12 STORY Fri 13 - Sat 14 BROKEN MINDS PRE- middle-aged businessmen on a Sept, O2 Institute, Sept, The Core The- SENTS: LOVE MUSIC, team-building exercise in the Lake Birmingham atre, Solihull HATE RACISM Sat 14 - District, Wed 11 - Sat 14 Sept, THE MANFREDS Thurs Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton WORCESTER MUSIC FES- Sun 15 Sept, Hare & 12 Sept, The Core TIVAL DAY 2 Sat 14, Hounds, Birmingham DILLIE KEANE: SONGS OF LOVE AND Theatre, Solihull The Marr’s Bar, THE WORLD OF WHIT- OTHER BAD IDEAS Sat 14 Sept, Hunt- KING KHAN’S LOUDER Worcester FIELD CRANE Sun 15 ingdon Hall, Worcester MAWAAN RIZWAN THAN DEATH Thurs 12 Thurs 12 Sept, SOUL STRIPPER Sat 14 Sept, O2 Academy, STARDUST Romantic pop, R&B and Sept, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Hippodrome Sept, The Marr’s Bar, Birmingham Bollywood ‘musical thriller’ from the Birmingham BRIDGET CHRISTIE, FIN TAYLOR, RHYS Worcester HOZIER Sun 15 Sept, makers of Bring On The Bollywood, THE KING IS BACK - BEN NICHOLSON, SARAH KEYWORTH & CARL Sat 14 - Sat 21 Sept, Belgrade The- SOUL LEGENDS Sat 14 Symphony Hall, Birm- PORTSMOUTH IS ELVIS DONNELLY Thurs 12 Sept, Royal atre, Coventry Sept, The Palace The- ingham Thurs 12 Sept, Bel- Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford- atre, Redditch HAINBACH + MODULAR upon-Avon NELL GWYNN ‘Bawdy, joyful and irrev- grade Theatre, Coven- erent account’ of the rise to fame of AND FINALLY - PHIL MEET Sun 15 Sept, The try PHIL NICHOL & THANYIA MOORE PLUS a most unlikely heroine, Sat 14 - Sat COLLINS Sat 14 Sept, Tin Music And Arts, THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- 21 Sept, The Crescent Theatre, Swan Theatre, Canal Basin, Coventry Thurs 12 - Fri 13 Sept, SON Thurs 12 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham Worcester BARNHART & HUXLEY The Roses Theatre, Birmingham HOT FIVE Sun 15 Sept, RUBY WAX: HOW TO BE HUMAN Ruby is FIREBIRDS’ FLOOR- JIMMY CARR Fri 13 Sept, Bedworth Tewkesbury The Core Theatre, joined by Buddhist monk Gelong FILLERS Sat 14 Sept, Civic Hall FLEETWOOD BAC Fri 13 Solihull Thubten & neuroscientist Ash Ran- whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Warwickshire 9 - 15 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:59 Page 3 The List Warwickshire 9 - 15 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 10:59 Page 4

thelist Monday 9 - Sunday 15 September pura in a show ‘to help you upgrade Thurs 26 Sept tours of the museum stores, Fri 13 - British GT Championship’s 2019 sea- your mind as much as you've up- KURSK: THE LAST MISSION (12a) Sat 14 Sept, Herbert Art Gallery & son finale, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Sept, Don- graded your iPhone.' Sun 15 Sept, Drama/History. Starring Matthias Museum, Coventry ington Park, Castle Donington The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux. Number NSRA HOT ROD DRAGS The 31st show THE LEGITIMATE PEAKY BLINDERS FESTI- 8, Pershore, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Sept of its kind, Fri 13 - Sun 15 Sept, Santa VAL Official celebration of the hit TV ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOOD Pod Raceway, Wellingborough series, co-curated by its creator, Kids Shows (18) Comedy/Drama. Starring GUIDED TOURS OF THE ALBANY THEATRE Steven Knight, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Sept, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt. Royal Taking place as part of Heritage Digbeth, Birmingham THE FAMILY FOLK SHOW Award-winning Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 13 - Open Days, Fri 13 - Sun 15 Sept, Al- HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Visit Aston Hall folk duo Megson present a concert Wed 18 Sept bany Theatre, Coventry for free as part of Birmingham Her- for younger children, Sat 14 Sept, HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE MOVIE - ROT- THE CYCLE SHOW The UK's biggest itage Week and Heritage Open Days, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham TEN ROMANS (PG) Comedy/Family. event for cycling enthusiasts, Fri 13 - Sat 14 - Sun 15 Sept, Aston Hall, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Lyngo Starring Sebastian Croft, Emilia Sun 15 Sept, NEC, Birmingham Birmingham Theatre presents a show for children Jones. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 14 TOURS OF THE LEAMINGTON SPA ART VICTORIAN LIVING HISTORY Step back aged between two and six, Sat 14 Sept GALLERY AND MUSEUM Free guided in time and join the Victorian gov- Sept, The REP, Birmingham BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (12a) tour, including behind-the-scenes ac- erness, housekeeper and servants as SAFARI ADVENTURE Roaring musical Comedy/Drama. Starring Viveik cess, Fri 13 - Sun 22 Sept, Leaming- they go about their daily tasks, Sat 14 adventure packed with action songs, Kalra, Hayley Atwell. Artrix, Broms- ton Spa Art Gallery & Museum - Sun 15 Sept, Tamworth Castle live music and audience participa- grove, Sun 15 - Mon 16 Sept RAF DEFFORD AIRFIELD GUIDED WALK FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS Family day out, tion, Sun 15 Sept, The Old Rep The- Take a tour of the top-secret airbase, with displays, demonstrations, and atre, Birmingham stalls showing the ‘craftier’ side of NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: which was home to airborne radar testing & development during the Coventry & Warwickshire, Sat 14 - Released from Fri 13 Sept, showing Second World War and early years of Sun 15 Sept, Coombe Abbey, Binley, at selected cinemas the Cold War, Sat 14 Sept, Croome Coventry Dance DOWNTON ABBEY (PG) Park, Worcester HERITAGE OPEN DAYS AT BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME Series of events cele- MATTHEW BOURNE'S ROMEO & JULIET HUSTLERS (tbc) DRAWING THE BIRTHPLACE Workshop brating the theatre’s 120th birthday, Contemporary re-imagining of Shake- with drawing and watercolour artist PHOENIX (15) Sat 14 - Sat 21 Sept, Birmingham speare’s famous love story, told in Ed Isaacs, Sat 14 Sept, Shake- HONEYLAND (tbc) Hippodrome classic Matthew Bourne style, Tues speare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon- 10 - Sat 14 Sept, Birmingham Hippo- Avon TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Explore over drome HERITAGE OPEN DAYS - OLD YARDLEY 500 stalls packed with all kinds of col- WALK Join experts from the Birming- lectable toys, trains and models for Events ham & Warwickshire Archaeological sale, Sun 15 Sept, NEC, Birmingham Society for a stroll around the village, HARVEST HOME Join the harvest festi- BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL The British Sat 14 Sept, Blakesley Hall, B’ham val and celebrate the bounties of the Talks Science Association presents a full HERITAGE OPEN DAY Free costumed season with the resident Tudors, Sun programme of science and culture, OPEN DOOR: TEAR & SHARE Writing guided tours of the Smith & Pepper 15 Sept, Mary Arden's Farm, Strat- Tues 10 - Fri 13 Sept, various venues night inviting writers/audiences to jewellery factory, Sat 14 Sept, Mu- ford-upon-Avon In Coventry create/respond to new work in a live seum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birm- HERITAGE OPEN DAY Explore the setting, Tues 10 Sept, The REP, Birm- MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - ROALD ingham Botanical Gardens, take a picnic and ingham DAHL DAY SPECIAL Chance to find out HERITAGE OPEN DAYS AT MUSEUM OF enjoy the beautiful scenery, Sun 15 about some of Roald Dahl’s amazing AN EVENING WITH GILL SIMS Author of THE JEWELLERY QUARTER Free entry Sept, Birmingham Botanical Gardens inventions, crazy concoctions and the popular Why Mummy? series, and tour of the popular visitor attrac- HERITAGE OPEN DAY Walk in the foot- fantastic creations, Wed 11 Sept, Wed 11 Sept, The Core, Solihull tion, Sat 14 Sept, Museum of the steps of some of Birmingham's great- Coventry Transport Museum THE LIFE AND RHYMES OF BENJAMIN Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham est industrialists, learn about the OPEN-AIR CINEMA Featuring screen- ZEPHANIAH Benjamin shares a selec- SCIENCE OF THE CIRCUS Learn new Boulton family and life in the 18th ings of A Star Is Born, Pulp Fiction tion of his favourite stories & poems, skills and see how science can make century, and find out about the ser- and Rocketman, Wed 11 - Fri 13 Fri 13 Sept, Malvern Theatres each trick easier to master, Sat 14 vants who worked at Soho House, Sept, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Sept, Thinktank Science Museum, Sun 15 Sept, Soho House, B’ham A SERVANT’S LIFE GUIDED TOUR Special Birmingham MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL Celebration of guided tour focusing on the life of the HERITAGE OPEN DAY AT WORCESTER Chinese culture featuring traditional servants at Aston Hall, Thurs 12 Sept, CATHEDRAL Learn all about the cathe- dances, face-changing magic & mu- Aston Hall, Birmingham Film dral’s history, Sat 14 Sept, Worcester sical performances, Sun 15 Sept, The INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Take part in free Cathedral Birmingham Conference & Events costumed tours, Fri 13 Sept, Sare- Centre ONLY YOU (U) Drama/Romance. Star- FAMILY DAY: EXPLORE, DISCOVER, EX- hole Mill, Hall Green, Birmingham ring Isabelle Barth, Tam Dean Burn. PERIMENT Featuring dozens of stalls, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, ARTY PARTY 2: INTEGRATE One event workshops, talks and performances, Mon 9 - Wed 11 Sept over 2 venues - featuring visual art, Sat 14 Sept, The University of War- Festivals WEST SIDE STORY (PG) Drama/Musical. digital projections, spoken word, live wick performances, workshops & DJ set, Starring Natalie Wood, George HERITAGE OPEN DAY Free entry and STAR SHAPED FESTIVAL 2019 Line-up Fri 13 Sept, West Indian Centre & Chakiris. Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, costumed guided tours, Sat 14 - Sun includes Cast, Dodgy, Space, Basement of Holyhead Studios, Tues 10 Sept 15 Sept, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Geneva, Salad, Mark Morris & Chris Coventry Helme, Sat 14 Sept, O2 Institute, PHOTOGRAPH (15) Drama. Starring HERITAGE OPEN DAYS - FREE ADMISSION FARGO VILLAGE TAKE OVER Featuring Birmingham Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malho- Enjoy free admission to the museum everything ‘from holograms to com- tra. Foreign language, subtitled. as part of the Heritage Open Days edy and mind-reading technology to Malvern Theatres, Tues 10 & Thurs 12 celebration of Coventry’s contribution an adult mud kitchen’, Fri 13 Sept, Sept; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 13 Sept to the transport industry, Sat 14 - Sun FarGo Village, Coventry DOWNTON ABBEY (PG) Drama. Starring 15 Sept, Coventry Transport Museum Food & Drink Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith. HERITAGE OPEN DAYS AT HERBERT ART BRITISH GT & BRITISH F3 CHAMPI- BRINDLEYPLACE FOOD FESTIVAL Debut Electric Cinema, Birmingham, from GALLERY & MUSEUM Join one of the ONSHIPS Donington Park’s full Grand event, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Sept, Brindley- Fri 13 Sept; Malvern Theatres, Fri 13 - Herbert’s free behind-the-scenes Prix circuit sets the scene for the place, Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Warwickshire 16 - 22 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:16 Page 1

September 2019 NEW SEASON ON SALE

12 September 18 Septemebr 21 September NT LIVE: FLEABAG THE CARPENTERS CHANTEL EXPERIENCE MCGREGOR See the hilarious, award-winning, The amazing voice of Maggie Oh boy, can that girl play guitar! one-woman show Nestor and eight top-class musicians

22 & 23 September 25 September 28 September DEAR ZOO LIVE! FOREVER ELTON JOHN-LUKE & BAND ROBERTS A must see show with engaging A homage to the music of The critically acclaimed idiot puppets, music and lots of Sir Elton John & Bernie Taupin audience interaction

COMING SOON: Vita & Virginia, John Blek, Country Chix, Miranda Sykes, Photograph, Blinded by the Light Andy Fairweather Low & the Low Riders, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Paul Foot: Image Conscious The Strawbs 50th Anniversary Concert, Brainstormers Comedy, Theo’s Comedy Skool, Pain & Glory The Counterfeit Sixties, Luke Daniels, National Theatre Live: One Man, Two Guvnors, Encore, Ralph McTell Gordon Hendricks as Elvis, Playmobile: The Movie - Saturday Matinee, Luke Kempner: House Of Faces Graham Wilson - Living The Dream, Duotone, Daliso Chaponda: Blah Blah Blacklist...

Join our Mailing List and receive our weekly e-flyer withup-to-date information about upcoming showsor download our latest brochure www.artrix.co.uk @artrix arts centre Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1GN Box Office: 01527 577330

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Warwickshire 16 - 22 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:16 Page 2

thelist Monday 16 - Sunday 22 September phers (conductor). Programme in- Classical Music cludes works by Plainsong, Sir John Tavener, John Sheppard, Eric ALBION STRING QUARTET Featuring Whitacre, Robert Wylkynson, Robert Tamsin Waley-Cohen & Emma Parker Fayrfax, Gabriel Jackson & Sir James (violins), Ann Beilby (viola) & Natha- MacMillan, Thurs 19 Sept, St Philips nial Boyd (cello). Programme in- Cathedral, Birmingham cludes works by Mozart & Schubert, GILDAS QUARTET WITH KATHERINE Mon 16 Sept, Stratford Playhouse, SPENCER (CLARINET) Programme in- Stratford-upon-Avon cludes works by Mozart, Janacek, PIANO RECITAL BY MARIAM BATSASHVILI Shaw & Weber, Thurs 19 Sept, Strat- Programme includes works by Bach, ford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon Liszt & Chopin, Mon 16 Sept, Strat- AQUINAS PIANO TRIO PLUS REBECCA ford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon LOW (VIOLA) Programme includes BRITTEN-SHOSTAKOVICH FESTIVAL OR- works by Mozart & Schumann, Fri 20 CHESTRA Featuring Jan Latham-König Sept, Stratford Playhouse, Stratford- (conductor) and Pavel Kolesnikov upon-Avon (piano). Programme includes works INKBERROW SINFONIA Programme in- by Britten, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, cludes works by Mendelssohn, Schu- Pixies - O2 Academy, Birmingham Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky, Tues mann & Beethoven, Sat 21 Sept, St 17 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham 21 Sept, Malvern The- Peter’s Show, Inkberrow, Worcester- Gigs THE CHESTERFIELDS atres GILDAS QUARTET & JACK MCNEILL shire Thurs 19 Sept, Hare & PETER HOOK & THE (CLARINET) Programme includes PIXIES Mon 16 Sept, Hounds, Birmingham LIGHT Sat 21 Sept, The works by Haydn, Britten & Brahms, O2 Academy, B’ham Tues 17 Sept, Stratford Playhouse, NO HOT ASHES Thurs Empire, Coventry Stratford-upon-Avon FERRIS & SYLVESTER 19 Sept, The Sun- THE BEACH BOYZ Sat 21 Comedy Mon 16 Sept, Hare & flower Lounge, B’ham Sept, The Core The- THIBAUT GARCIA GUITAR RECITAL Pro- Hounds, Birmingham gramme includes works by Agustin ROB DELANEY Mon 16 Sept, The REP, JOE BROWN AND HIS atre, Solihull Barrios Mangore, Alexandre Tans- Birmingham THE SNUTS Mon 16 FRIENDS Fri 20 Sept, BLADE BROWN Sat 21 man, J.S Bach, Isaac Albeniz & Astor Sept, O2 Institute, Swan Theatre, Sept, O2 Institute, BEN ELTON Tues 17 Sept, Huntingdon Piazzolla, Tues 17 Sept, Stratford Birmingham Worcester Birmingham Hall, Worcester Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon NEON GLOW RAVE Mon THEON CROSS Fri 20 SPIELBERGS, YR PO- LIZA TREYGOR Tues 17 Sept, The Glee A HUM ABOUT MINE EARS Musical 16 Sept, The Empire, Sept, Hare & Hounds ETRY, WOOD & NAILS, Club, Birmingham retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tem- Coventry Birmingham MUTT Sat 21 Sept, The pest - featuring twenty 9 to 12 year SINDHU VEE Tues 17 Sept, Palace Flapper, Birmingham MUSE Tues 17 Sept, REP MY FLAG Fri 20 olds, an adult community choir, pro- Theatre, Redditch Arena Birmingham Sept, The Empire, THE BEST OF WHAM! Sat fessional players from Orchestra of EDDIE IZZARD Tues 17 - Sat 21 Sept, KEITH SLATER’S SINATRA Coventry 21 Sept, Swan The- the Swan, Clara Sanabras (soloist) & the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham atre, Worcester CELEBRATION Tues 17 TALON - GREATEST HITS Harvey Brough (conductor), Wed 18 RUSSELL HOWARD Wed 18 Sept, Re- Sept, The Core The- TOUR Fri 20 Sept, Bed- KHALID Sat 21 Sept, Sept, Stratford Playhouse, Stratford- sorts World Arena, Birmingham atre, Solihull worth Civic Hall Resorts World Arena, upon-Avon ED BYRNE Thurs 19 Sept, Huntingdon Birmingham BIG HEATH Tues 17 80’S MANIA Fri 20 Sept, RAPHAEL WALLFISCH CELLO RECITAL Hall, Worcester Sept, Hare & Hounds, The Roses Theatre, CHANTEL MCGREGOR Programme includes works by Bach HAL CRUTTENDEN, NINA CONTI, PHIL Birmingham Tewkesbury Sat 21 Sept, Artrix, & Weinberg, Thurs 19 Sept, Stratford WANG, ZOE LYONS & IVO GRAHAM Thurs Bromsgrove Town Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon STEPHEN MALKMUS COVTEMBER Fri 20 19 Sept, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Tues 17 Sept, Hare & Sept, The Tin Music 80’S MANIA Sat 21 THE SIXTEEN Featuring Harry Christo- Stratford-upon-Avon Hounds, Birmingham And Arts, Canal Basin, Sept, Wolverhampton THE CARPENTERS EXPE- Coventry Grand Theatre RIENCE Wed 18 Sept, PAINKILLER Fri 20 Sept, FETTY WAP Sun 22 Artrix, Bromsgrove Scruffy Murphys, Birm- Sept, O2 Institute, ROCK FOR HEROES Wed ingham Birmingham 18 Sept, The Palace THE GT’S Fri 20 Sept, SON OF JOHN & JOHN Theatre, Redditch The Marr’s Bar, PARKER Sun 22 Sept, AITCH Wed 18 Sept, Worcester The Marr’s Bar, O2 Institute, B’ham ODETTE ALBUM TOUR Worcester THE DELEGATES Wed 18 Fri 20 Sept, Albany GOW NOW! THE MUSIC Sept, Hare & Hounds, Theatre, Coventry OF THE MOODY BLUES Birmingham THE STRAWBS 50TH AN- Sun 22 Sept, The Roses Theatre, THE BEACH BOYS TRIB- NIVERSARY CONCERT Fri Tewkesbury UTE SHOW Thurs 19 20 Sept, Artrix, Broms- Sept, Albany Theatre, grove PAUL SIMON’S GRACE- Coventry FIREBALL Sat 21 Sept, LAND PERFORMED BY THE LONDON AFRICAN LUTHER VANDROSS CEL- O2 Academy, B’ham GOSPEL CHOIR Sun 22 EBRATION Thurs 19 THE HARA Sat 21 Sept, Sept, Birmingham Sept, Bedworth Civic The Asylum, B’ham Town Hall Hall THE JONESES - THE DIZRAELI Sun 22 Sept, SUPREME QUEEN Thurs SMITHS TRIBUTE Sat 21 Hare & Hounds, Birm- 19 Sept, The Core Sept, The Flapper, ingham Theatre, Solihull Birmingham BEN PORTSMOUTH IS SPEAR OF DESTINY FREEDOM! GEORGE ELVIS Sun 22 Sept, Thurs 19 Sept, Hare & Russell Howard - Resorts World Arena, Birmingham MICHAEL TRIBUTE Sat Arena Birmingham whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Warwickshire 16 - 22 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:16 Page 3

thelist Sept, Artrix, Bromsgrove Coventry RUSSELL HOWARD Sun 22 Sept, Re- CHICAGO Intimate version of the ac- sorts World Arena, Birmingham claimed musical, Tues 17 - Sun 22 DESI CENTRAL COMEDY SHOW Sun 22 Sept, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham A BUNCH OF AMATEURS Kidderminster IMPROV COMEDY WITH BOX OF FROGS Operatic & Dramatic Society present Sun 22 Sept, The Glee Club, B’ham an amateur staging of Ian Hislop & Nick Newman’s comedy, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Sept, The Rose Theatre, Kid- derminster Theatre THE BLACK SNOW ROADSHOW Film, songs and stories about mining life, HOT FLUSH Hit show about ‘the friend- Thurs 19 Sept, Criterion Theatre, ships, secrets, tears, laughter and Coventry ups and downs of four ordinary women - and one man - living ex- REBEL MUSIC Robin French's new traordinary lives’, Mon 16 Sept, The play, celebrating Midlands’ diverse Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham music legacy, Thurs 19 Sept - Sat 5 Oct, The REP, Birmingham Saturday Night Fever - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry BEYOND THERAPY Modern-day look at relationships starring Tracey Shaw, KING JOHN Shakespeare’s rarely per- TAPE FACE Thurs 19 Sept, Birmingham PAUL F TAYLOR & MAFF BROWN Fri 20 - formed tale of a nation in turmoil, Town Hall Sat 21 Sept, The Glee Club, B’ham Sam Lupton & Matt Lapinskas, Mon 16 - Wed 18 Sept, Albany Theatre, Thurs 19 Sept - Sat 21 Mar, The Swan PAUL MCCAFFREY PLUS COMEDY ADAM KAY Sat 21 Sept, Royal Shake- Coventry Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON & speare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon FRIENDSICAL Parody musical about JOHN FINNEMORE’S FLYING VISIT The COMIC TBC Thurs 19 Sept, The Glee DAVE JOHNS Sat 21 Sept, Midlands writer and star of the hit BBC radio Club, Birmingham friends, Mon 16 - Sat 21 Sept, Arts Centre, Birmingham Malvern Theatres programme presents his new live DARREN HARRIOTT, DESIREE BURCH, TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, MARK SIM- show, Fri 20 Sept, Malvern Theatres RHYS JAMES, RORY BREMNER & FELIC- SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Hit musical MONS, ROGER MONKHOUSE & DAISY based on the legendary 1970s movie SHAKUNTALA Epic tale of love, loss ITY WARD Fri 20 Sept, Royal Shake- EARL Sat 21 Sept, The Comedy Loft, and redemption, told in Hindi with speare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon starring John Travolta. Casualty star Birmingham Richard Windsor takes the lead, Tues English surtitles, Sat 21 Sept, The Al- MICKY OVERMAN, PAUL MCCAFFERY, BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHT Sat 21 17 - Sat 21 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, bany Theatre, Coventry

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Monday 16 - Sunday 22 September

BRAVERY TO THE BELL Evening of fam- ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOOD ily entertainment while raising funds (18) Comedy/Drama. Starring for Children With Cancer UK charity. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt. Artrix, Performers include Fleur East, Joe Bromsgrove, Fri 20 - Mon 23 Sept McElderry and Flawless, Sun 22 ASTRO KID (PG) Animation/Adventure. Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham With the voices of Landen Beattie & Jason Anthony. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 21 Sept Kids Shows DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (PG) Adventure/Family. Starring Isabela DEAR ZOO LIVE Rod Campbell’s chil- Moner, Eugenio Derbez. Artrix, dren’s classic, live on stage... Sun 22 Bromsgrove, Sat 21 Sept - Mon 23 Sept, Artrix, Bromsgrove NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: Released from Wed 18 Sept, showing Dance at selected cinemas AD ASTRA (tbc) BRB MIXED PROGRAMME Birmingham Royal Ballet collaboration with Ballet RAMBO: LAST BLOOD (tbc) Black, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Sept, Birm- THE LAST TREE (15) ingham Hippodrome THE KITCHEN (15) THE FAREWELL (PG) Kenilworth Arts Festival Talks various locations, Thurs 19 - Sat 28 September BRADLEY WIGGINS: AN EVENING WITH... Britain’s most decorated Olympian Events As in its three previous years, the Kenilworth Arts Festival takes over open spaces, theatres, churches, bookshops and streets tells his story, Fri 20 Sept, Symphony MINI MOTORISTS Activity morning for Hall, Birmingham the under-fives, Mon 16 Sept, British to present 10 days’-worth of arts, music and spoken-word perfor- Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwick- mances. shire The festival is opened by New Zealand’s critically acclaimed RAF DEFFORD AIRFIELD GUIDED WALK singer-songwriter Nadia Reid. Multi-award-winning pianist Isata Take a walk around the top-secret air- Kanneh-Masonn (pictured) also appears at the event, performing base, which was home to airborne pieces from her debut album, Romance, as well as a selection of radar testing & development during Brahms compositions. the Second World War and early years of the Cold War, Tues 17 Sept, Croome Park, Worcester HERITAGE OPEN DAY TOURS AT BEL- Coventry Transport Museum MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - CODE Intro- GRADE THEATRE Go behind the scenes FAMILY SATURDAY: THIS MAKES THAT duction to STEM concepts (Science, at one of the Midlands biggest the- WITH THESE - CODE AND DOODLE Doo- Technology, Engineering & Maths) atres, Fri 20 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, dle with code via a variety of experi- MY NAME IS WHY: IN CONVERSATION Coventry WITH LEMN SISSAY The poet, play- through play with a range of toys and ments and resources, Sat 21 Sept, wright & broadcaster reads from his tools, Wed 18 Sept, Coventry Trans- GUIDED TOURS OF THE ALBANY THEATRE Coventry Transport Museum new memoir and reflects on his child- port Museum A Heritage Open Days activity, Fri 20 MSVR GT SPORTS CAR WEEKEND Head- hood in care, self-expressionism and SECOND CITY EXECUTIONS Experience Sept, Albany Theatre, Coventry lined by the GT Cup Championship, Britishness... Fri 20 Sept, Midlands a ‘gruesome’ evening at the Back to A PLACE IN THE SUN LIVE Official exhi- featuring a grid of supercars, Sat 21 - Arts Centre, Birmingham Backs, exploring the dark side of bition of the Channel Four TV show, Sun 22 Sept, Donington Park, Castle Birmingham's history, Wed 18 Sept, Fri 20 - Sun 22 Sept, NEC, B’ham Donnington Birmingham Back to Backs PROFESSOR BRIAN COX Brian talks STP NATIONAL FINALS National Drag GUIDED TOUR: HERITAGE AND HISTORY about the origin and evolution of the Racing Championship Finals, head- OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS solar system and universe, Sat 21 lined by the 200mph Pro Mod Film Learn more about how the Gardens Sept, Arena Birmingham doorslammers, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Sept, INDEPENDENT LISTINGS were designed and have evolved Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough over time, Wed 18 - Thurs 19 Sept, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (12a) MINECRAFT CASTLE BUILDING Castle Birmingham Botanical Gardens Comedy/Drama. Starring Viveik building workshops curated by ex- Kalra, Hayley Atwell. Number 8, Per- THE GLAMPING SHOW Featuring suppli- perts at Blockbuilders, Sat 21 - Sun shore, Mon 16 - Tues 17 Sept ers from across the glamping indus- 22 Sept, Kenilworth Castle try, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Sept, PHOTOGRAPH (15) Drama. Starring GUIDED TOURS OF THE ALBANY THEATRE Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malho- Part of Heritage Open Days, Sun 22 tra. Foreign language, subtitled. AUTUMN STEAM GALA Flagship gala Sept, Albany Theatre, Coventry Number 8, Pershore, Thurs 19 Sept featuring all-night running, an array of visiting locomotives and an intensive MRS LOWRY & SON (PG) timetable, Thurs 19 - Sun 22 Sept, Biography/Drama. Starring Vanessa Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Redgrave, Timothy Spall. Number 8, Festivals Kidderminster Pershore, Fri 20 Sept COVENTRY TRANSPORT MUSEUM BREAK- DUBS COLLECTIVE PARTY IN THE PARK KENILWORTH ARTS FESTIVAL Featuring TRANSIT (12a) Drama. Starring Franz FAST CLUB Opportunity for vehicle Line-up includes works by Toyah, The events, workshops, exhibitions, writ- Rogowski, Paula Beer. Foreign lan- owners to share stories and exper- Lambrettas, The Neville Staple Band, ers, musicians and visual artists, guage, subtitled. Royal Spa Centre, tise, while visitors can check out a Curiousity Killed The Cat, The Chris- Thurs 19 - Sat 28 Sept, various loca- Leamington Spa, Fri 20 - Mon 23 range of vehicles and chat to the tians & more... Fri 20 - Sun 22 Sept, tions, Kenilworth Sept people who own them, Sat 21 Sept, Himley Hall, Dudley

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thelist Monday 23 - Monday 30 September GEORGE EGG Fri 27 Sept, Bridge House Classical Theatre, Warwick NOEL JAMES, GARETH RICHARDS, MAR- FRITH PIANO QUARTET Featuring Ben- TIN MOR & SARAH KEYWORTH Fri 27 jamin Frith (piano), David Le Page (vi- Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham olin), Robin Ireland (viola), Richard Jenkinson (cello) & John Tattersdill PATRICK MONAHAN Fri 27 Sept, Old (double bass). Programme includes Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham works by Farrenc, Fauré & Schubert, GUZ KAHN, MICKY P KERR, JAMIE Thurs 26 Sept, Malvern Theatres HUTCHINSON & HAYLEY ELLIS Sat 28 CENTRE STAGE: PURCELL & TCHAIKOVSKY Sept, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham Featuring Kate Suthers & Charlotte JOHN-LUKE ROBERTS Sat 28 Sept, Ar- Skinner (violins), Christopher Yates & trix, Bromsgrove Amy Thomas (violas), Helen Edgar & GEOFF NORCOTT Sun 29 Sept, The Glee Catherine Ardagh-Walter (cellos), Club, Birmingham Thurs 26 Sept, CBSO Centre, Birm- ingham GreenMatthews - Swan Theatre, Worcester ISATA KANNEH-MASON SOLO RECITAL Programme includes works by Theatre SAM CARTER PLUS LES MCKEOWN’S BAY Brahms & Schumann, Thurs 26 Sept, CLAIRE BOSWELL Wed CITY ROLLERS Fri 27 FIRST AID Midlands playwright Laura Gigs St John’s Church, Kenilworth 25 Sept, Red Lion Folk Sept, The Palace The- Liptrot takes a look at what happens LUKE JONES PIANO CONCERT BIG ZUU Mon 23 Sept, Club, Birmingham atre, Redditch Pro- when a group of people are thrown to- gramme includes works by Debussy, O2 Academy, B’ham RICHARD STRANGE PER- BALAAM AND THE ANGEL gether on a first-aid course, Mon 23 - Ravel, Schumann & Prokofiev, Fri 27 FORMS THE SONGS OF Sat 28 Sept, O2 Wed 25 Sept, The Blue Orange The- PAUL GILBERT Mon 23 Sept, Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School atre, Birmingham Sept, The Mill, Dig- LOU REED Thurs 26 Academy, Birmingham ARMONICO CONSORT: LAND OF POPE & beth, Birmingham Sept, O2 Academy, RALPH MCTELL Sat 28 MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS Timeless GLORY Featuring Christopher Monks Birmingham Sept, Artrix, Broms- Theatre take audiences on a fast- CAMP COPE Mon 23 (director) & Oz Clarke (narrator). Pro- THE LEISURE SOCIETY grove paced journey through the music of Sept, Hare & Hounds, gramme includes works by Gabrieli, Thurs 26 Sept, Hare & the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s, Tues 24 - Wed Birmingham BUDDY HOLLY AND THE Monteverdi & Palestrina, Sat 28 Sept, Hounds, Birmingham 25 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull ROAM + WITH CONFI- CRICKETERS Sat 28 St Mary’s Church, Warwick STARS OF IRISH COUN- Sept, Royal Spa Cen- CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL Tim Firth DENCE Mon 23 Sept, CBSO: SHEKU PLAYS ELGAR Featuring TRY Thurs 26 Sept, tre, Leamington Spa & Gary Barlow’s award-winning pro- O2 Institute, B’ham Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla (conductor) & The Core Theatre, duction, starring Sarah Jane Buckley, PALE WAVES JOE / BRANDY & DRU Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello). Pro- Tues 24 Solihull Sue Devaney, Julia Hills, Judy Holt, Sept, O2 Academy, HILL Sat 28 Sept, O2 gramme includes works by Purcell Ruth Madoc, Lisa Maxwell and Re- Birmingham THE NIGHT CAFE Thurs Academy, Birmingham (arr. Stucky), Elgar, George Benjamin becca Storm, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Sept, 26 Sept, O2 Institute, & Vaughan Williams, Sat 28 Sept, KEANE Tues 24 Sept, INTO CLIFF & THE SHAD- Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birm- OWS Sat 28 Sept, Eve- THE TEMPEST Amateur staging pre- ingham KOYO + GUESTS Thurs sham Arts Centre LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH sented by Worcester Repertory Com- 26 Sept, Hare & THOMAS TROTTER Programme includes GREENMATTHEWS PRE- EARTHGANG Sat 28 pany, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Sept, Hounds, Birmingham works by Parry, Hurford, J.S Bach, SENTS WITTY DITTIES Sept, O2 Institute, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester Howells & Elgar, Mon 30 Sept, Birm- Tues 24 Sept, Swan SIMPLY RERED Thurs 26 Birmingham THE LADY VANISHES Juliet Mills & ingham Town Hall Theatre, Worcester Sept, Huntingdon Hall, FAUX FIGHTERS Sat 28 Maxwell Caulfield star in a stage ver- Worcester JEFFREY LEWIS & THE Sept, The Marr’s Bar, sion of Alfred Hitchcock's classic VOLTAGE Tues 24 Sept, BARRY STEELE - THE Worcester thriller, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Sept, Bel- The Tin Music And ROY ORBISON STORY DETROIT MAGIC Sat 28 Comedy grade Theatre, Coventry Arts, Canal Basin, Thurs 26 Sept, Albany JANE EYRE Blackeyed Theatre present Sept, Swan Theatre, TEZ ILYAS, HYDE PANSER, KIRAN MOR- Coventry Theatre, Coventry Worcester Charlotte Bronte’s Gothic master- JARIA & KANE BROWN Mon 23 Sept, MEMORIES ARE MADE piece, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Sept, Malvern THE HOWL & THE HUM BRIGHOUSE AND RAS- Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Tues 24 Sept, Hare & OF THIS Thurs 26 Sept, TRICK BRASS BAND Theatres Sat ROB BECKETT Tues 24 Sept, Palace Hounds, Birmingham The Palace Theatre, 28 Sept, Albany The- COME DANCE WITH ME Epic family Redditch Theatre, Redditch MEMORIES ARE MADE atre, Coventry dance drama, Wed 25 Sept, Albany MARTIN MOR PLUS COMEDY CAROUSEL OF THIS Tues 24 - Wed THE BOHEMIANS Thurs Theatre. Coventry NEW RULES Sun 29 WITH ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC TBC 25 Sept, The Core 26 Sept, Bedworth Sept, O2 Academy, THAT’LL BE THE DAY Nostalgic variety Thurs 26 Sept, The Glee Club, B’ham Theatre, Solihull Civic Hall Birmingham show featuring hits from the ’50s to PAUL FOOT Fri 27 Sept, Artrix, Broms- THE DUST CODA Wed 25 TINY MOVING PARTS Fri RORY MCLEOD the ’80s, Wed 25 Sept, Royal Spa Sun 29 grove Sept, O2 Academy, 27 Sept, O2 Institute, Sept, The Fleece Inn, Centre, Leamington Spa Birmingham Birmingham Bretforton, Nr Eve- AVERAGE WHITE BAND OYE SANTANA Fri 27 sham Wed 25 Sept, Birming- Sept, Swan Theatre, NEW HOPE CLUB Sun 29 ham Town Hall Worcester Sept, O2 Institute, TOBY WALKER Wed 25 THE COUNTERFEIT SIX- Birmingham Sept, The Tin Music TIES Fri 27 Sept, Artrix, VOLBEAT Mon 30 Sept, And Arts, Canal Basin, Bromsgrove O2 Academy, B’ham Coventry LOST FRESHERS FESTI- ZEBRAHEAD Mon 30 FOREVER ELTON Wed 25 VAL Fri 27 Sept, The Sept, O2 Institute, Sept, Artrix, Broms- Mill, Digbeth, B’ham Birmingham grove SYKED - TRIBUTE TO RODRIGO Y GABRIELA THE DRIFTERS Wed 25 JOHN SYKES Fri 27 Mon 30 Sept, O2 Insti- Sept, The Palace The- Sept, The Marr’s Bar, tute, Birmingham Worcester atre, Redditch The Lady Vanishes - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry whatsonlive.co.uk 65 The List Warwickshire 23 - 30 September.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 11:01 Page 3

thelist Monday 23 - Monday 30 September OUT OF ORDER Amateur production of Sept - Sat 12 Oct, Birmingham Hip- Ray Cooney’s farce, presented by the podrome Abbey Players, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Sept, FIRST ENCOUNTERS: THE MERCHANT OF Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton VENICE Shakespeare’s story of justice BELIEVE Poignant tale of love and be- and mercy is brought to life in a pro- lief, which follows the trials and tribu- duction created specially for seven to lations of an angel with an impossible 13-year-olds, Mon 30 Sept - Sat 5 task, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Sept, The Bear Oct, The Swan Theatre, Stratford- Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon upon-Avon ALICE - WONDERLAND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Chantry Dance fuse dance with puppetry and acrobatics in an innovative staging of Lewis Car- Kids Shows roll’s classic tale, Thurs 26 Sept, Mini Museum Engineers - Coventry Transport Museum Swan Theatre, Worcester GULP! The Bone Ensemble present a comedy, theatre and live music, all in- MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS Timeless story about water for younger audi- Film spired by local people’s stories, Theatre take audiences on a fast- ences, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Sept, Mid- Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Sept, Coventry City paced journey through the music of lands Arts Centre, Birmingham INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Centre the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s, Thurs 26 Sept, HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE Goblin Theatre MRS LOWRY & SON (PG) THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW Featur- Palace Theatre, Redditch Company fuse music and puppetry in Biography/Drama. Starring Vanessa ing 200-plus wedding specialists, BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES New com- an adventure story for younger audi- Redgrave, Timothy Spall. Number 8, thousands of dresses from leading edy that leaps from a barber shop in ences, Sun 29 Sept, Midlands Arts Pershore, Mon 23 - Tues 24 Sept designers and a show-stopping cat- Centre, Birmingham Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, WEST SIDE STORY (PG) Drama/Musical. walk, Fri 27 - Sun 29 Sept, NEC, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the Starring Natalie Wood, George Birmingham course of a single day, Thurs 26 - Sat Chakiris. Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, MEDIEVAL BANQUET Immersive 28 Sept, The REP, Birmingham Tues 24 Sept evening of medieval entertainment STRANGE ENCOUNTERS OF A SOCIAL Dance PHOTOGRAPH (15) Drama. Starring and hearty food & drink, Sat 28 Sept, KIND Comedy drama exploring what Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malho- Warwick Castle happens when a bunch of strangers JAMES WILTON DANCE: THE STORM tra. Foreign language, subtitled. LIVING WITH A CLASSIC CAR - AUTUMN are brought together and have to High-energy show blending acrobat- Number 8, Pershore, Wed 25 Sept WORKSHOP Practical workshop for deal with a tricky situation, Thurs 26 - ics, breakdancing, martial arts and TOP DOG FILM FESTIVAL A collection of classic-car owners looking to develop Sat 28 Sept, The Blue Orange The- ‘edge-of-the-seat contact work’, Wed their maintenance and restoration atre, Birmingham 25 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham heartwarming short films about dogs and their people. Royal Spa Centre, skills, Sat 28 Sept, British Motor Mu- MUSHY - LYRICALLY SPEAKING Rifco ROSIE KAY'S FANTASIA Three female Leamington Spa, Fri 27 Sept seum, Gaydon, Warwickshire Theatre present an uplifting tale in- dancers ‘discover love, loss, emotion THE 2019 TRAMPOLINE, TUMBLING & spired by the true story of Musharaf and joy’ to a soundtrack of Vivaldi, ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOOD (18) Comedy/Drama. Starring DMT BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS Gym- Asghar (from the TV series Educating Purcell, Beethoven and Bach, Wed nasts soar through the air as they bid Yorkshire), Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Sept, 25 - Thurs 26 Sept, The Patrick Stu- Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt. Num- ber 8, Pershore, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Sept to become British champion, Sat 28 - The REP, Birmingham dio, Birmingham Hippodrome Sun 29 Sept, Arena Birmingham NO MAN’S LAND London Classic The- BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET: GISELLE PAIN AND GLORY (15) Drama. Starring Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz. MALVERN AUTUMN SHOW Weekend of atre present Harold Pinter’s beguiling David Bintley & Galina Samsova's home-grown family fun, Sat 28 - Sun play, Fri 27 Sept, The Roses, Tewkes- production of one of the most cele- Foreign language, subtitled. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 27 - Mon 30 Sept 29 Sept, Three Counties Show- bury brated ballets of the 19th century, ground, Malvern Wed 25 - Sat 28 Sept, Birmingham THE SOUVENIR (15) Drama/Mystery. GIFTED 37 Dance, music and spoken MEDIEVAL JOUST WEEKEND Travel back word combine in a celebration of Hippodrome Starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke. Midlands Arts Centre, Royal in time to 1459 as Avoncroft trans- Birmingham’s creative future, Sat 28 forms into a medieval village, Sat 28 - Sept, Birmingham Hippodrome Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 27 – Mon 30 Sept Sun 29 Sept, Avoncroft Museum, ANNA MUDEKA: KURE KURE (FARAWAY) Bromsgrove Anna takes audiences on a thought- Talks MSVR CLUB CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS Mo- provoking journey to ancient and NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: RICHARD DAWKINS Join ethologist torSport Vision Racing return for the modern-day Zimbabwe, Sat 28 Sept, Richard Dawkins as he attempts to Released from Fri 27 Sept, showing second of two back-to-back race Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham rethink the ‘big questions’, Mon 23 at selected cinemas meetings, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Sept, Don- THAT’LL BE THE DAY ington Park, Castle Donnington Nostalgic variety Sept, Birmingham Town Hall THE GOLDFINCH (15) show featuring hits from the ’50s to ANT MIDDLETON - MIND OVER MUSCLE THE AVENGER WEEKENDER The the ’80s, Sat 28 Sept, Bedworth Civic HOTEL MUMBAI (15) Brand new show in which Ant talks Avenger Triathlon returns to Ragley Hall THE HUNT (tbc) about the mental strength it took to Hall and features a range of activities, NIGEL SLATER’S TOAST An evocative complete his recent SAS series and POMS (12a) from trail runs and open water swims tale of love, loss and... toast - direct huge Everest challenge, Fri 27 Sept, READY OR NOT (18) to middle, classic and sprint from the West End, Mon 30 Sept - Sat Symphony Hall, Birmingham triathlons, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Sept, Ra- 5 Oct, Malvern Theatres 21 BRIDGES (tbc) gley Hall, Alcester GASLIGHT New staging of Patrick THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW (tbc) MINECRAFT CASTLE BUILDING Castle Hamilton’s psychological thriller, Mon building workshops curated by ex- 30 Sept - Sat 5 Oct, The Alexandra perts at Blockbuilders, Sat 28 - Sun Theatre, Birmingham 29 Sept, Kenilworth Castle A BUNCH OF AMATEURS Malvern The- Events WARWICK WORDS HISTORY FESTIVAL atre Players present an amateur stag- The local history project, taking the MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS - FUN WITH ing of Ian Hislop & Nick Newman’s GIOVANNA FLETCHER: HAPPY MUM, theme of In And Around Warwick, MAGNETS See what you can build with comedy, Mon 30 Sept - Sat 5 Oct, HAPPY BABY The author, podcaster, joins forces with Unlocking Warwick different types of magnets and other Malvern Theatres presenter, YouTuber and mother for a reconstruction of a 19th century materials, Wed 25 Sept, Coventry shares her personal account of moth- trial, Mon 30 Sept - Sun 6 Oct, Vari- BLOOD BROTHERS Willy Russell’s Transport Museum award-winning musical makes a wel- erhood, Sun 29 Sept, Birmingham ous venues around Warwick come return to the region, Mon 30 Town Hall BRIDGE Circus acrobatics, dance, 66 whatsonlive.co.uk IBC Blank.qxp_Layout 1 21/08/2019 16:06 Page 1 Peaky Blinders Festival Full September 2019.qxp_Layout 1 20/08/2019 10:00 Page 1