Coventry & Warwickshire Cover December 2019.qxp_Coventry & Warwickshire Cover 22/11/2019 15:51 Page 1 THETHE BOYBOY ININ THETHE DRESSDRESS MAKESMAKES Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands HISHIS DEBUTDEBUT ATAT THETHE RSCRSC COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE WHAT’S ON DECEMBER 2019 2019 DECEMBER ON WHAT’S WARWICKSHIRE & COVENTRY Coventry & Warwickshire ISSUE 408 DECEMBER 2019019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On warwickshirewhatson.co.uk inside: PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP GROUP MEDIA ON WHAT’S OF PART Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide CAT’S WHISKERS Puss In Boots feline fine at the Belgrade this Christmas! TWITTER: @WHATSONWARWICKS TWITTER: @WHATSONWARWICKS THE NUTCRACKER Birmingham Royal Ballet’s festive family favourite returns FACEBOOK: @WHATSONWARWICKSHIRE SKATING AROUND... festive fun at Warwick Castle’s latest Christmas attraction WARWICKSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK IFC Warwickshire.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2019 08:54 Page 1 Contents December Warwicks/Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 16:25 Page 2 December 2019 Contents The Boy In The Dress - world premiere of David Walliams’ story at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre - page 30 Club 2B Ex Cathedra Enchanted Witley the list leave reality behind at the perform festive favourites at explore an illuminated Your 16-page Belgrade this Christmas Coventry Cathedral wonderland this festive season week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 page 15 page 49 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 17. Gigs 19. Comedy 24. Theatre 34. Film 36. Visual Arts 41. Events fb.com/whatsonwarwickshire fb.com/whatsonworcestershire @whatsonwarwicks @whatsonworcs Warwickshire What’s On Worcestershire What’s On Warwickshire What’s On Worcestershire What’s On Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 What’sOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Lauren Cole [email protected] 01743 281733 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Nanci Davies, Patsy Moss Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word December_Worc Davina November.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 14:42 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region Hit West Ender heading to the Midlands region next summer A hit West End and Broadway show is visiting War- wickshire and Worcestershire next year as part of its first ever UK tour. Based on the cult 2007 Irish indie movie of the same name, Once tells the uplifting story of two lost souls - a Dublin street busker and a Czech mu- sician - who unexpectedly fall in love. Featuring the Oscar-winning song, Falling Slowly, the production has also won a Grammy, eight Tonys and an Olivier Award. It stops off at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March, and then visits Malvern Theatres from Monday 23 to Saturday 28 March... Festive Shakespeare... £3million Lottery boost for prize value of £1,000. The winner will receive career advice from a leading literary agent, Visitors to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in City of Culture Trust publicity through the Stratford Literary Stratford-upon-Avon will be transported back Festival, and may even be lucky enough to be in time to 1615 this Christmas, as costumed published by Salariya’s Scribblers imprint. actors bring to life the characters of Anne The final date for entries is 31 January and and her brother, Bartholomew. the winner will be announced in late The living-history performances take place February... For details about how to submit, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday visit stratlitfest.co.uk/bookcompetition throughout December (between 12pm and 4pm), giving an insight into the relationship between Anne and her elder brother. Getaway with George... Visitors will also be able to try traditional Tudor food as they help the siblings decide An enterprising Warwickshire couple have who should host Christmas Day. opened a new holiday lodge on the site of their previous business. Jo Carroll and Steve Taylor have converted part of their former baby day nursery into George’s Getaway, the fourth lodge at Plans to ensure that Coventry’s year as UK Winchcombe Farm, their boutique luxury City of Culture in 2021 leaves a lasting and glamping retreat in Upper Tysoe. positive legacy have been given a £3million Nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural boost by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Beauty on a private estate in the The funding, awarded to the Coventry City of Warwickshire countryside, the destination Culture Trust, will support plans to invest in has become a huge hit with holidaymakers initiatives that will protect and develop the since it opened 18 months ago. city’s natural environment and promote For more information and to make a health & wellbeing. These will include an reservation, visit winchcombefarm.co.uk ambitious programme of events and activities Leamington’s ‘creative in Coventry’s green spaces, urban sites, quarter’ gets green light heritage locations and on its waterways. As part of the phased delivery of a ‘creative quarter’ in Leamington Spa, Warwick District Children’s Picture Book Council has given the go-ahead for a regener- Prize taking submissions ation of the town’s Spencer Yard, a space which provides a home for creative busi- The Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival nesses and pop-up & community events. and the Salariya Book Company are now The regeneration is taking place ahead of taking submissions for their Children’s Leamington hosting the lawn bowls and Para Picture Book Prize. bowls during the Birmingham 2022 Common- The competition, launched in 2017 and open wealth Games. to unpublished writers and illustrators, has a 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word December_Worc Davina November.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 14:42 Page 2 First Word Book explores city’s milestones A new book uncovering the immense impact Worcester has had on shaping England’s sovereignty and society is published this month. Worcester Moments: River, Religion And Royalty is the first book of its kind to chart both Worcester’s famous and lesser-known milestones over a 2000-year period. The book is published by History West Midlands on 3 December and retails at £20. For more information, visit historywm.com Walking In The Air at Coventry A Question Of Sport celebrates its 50th with a live tour Cathedral The BBC’s A Question Of Sport - the world's The new live version of the show features host longest-running TV sports quiz - is celebrating Sue Barker, resident team captains Matt Dawson its 50th anniversary in 2020 with a live tour. and Phil Tufnell, and a number of big-name Since debuting on television in January 1970, guests from across the sporting world. more than 1,000 episodes of the programme The tour stops off at Birmingham’s Symphony have been broadcast, with over 2,000 of the Hall on Monday 27 April. biggest names in British and international sport Tickets are now available and can be purchased having appeared as panellists. by visiting ticketmaster.co.uk TEDx returns Winter weekender at Bromsgrove’s Artrix to Coventry In a break from the tradition of the last few years, Bromsgrove’s Christmas Coventry is to host its festivities will this month be taking place in the warmth of the town’s very own TEDx event Artrix venue. Festive family events, live music, food and ‘good cheer’ are for the second year promised across the weekend of Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 December. Fans of festive family running. Highlights include screenings of popular seasonal movies - one of which is favourite The Snowman have TEDxCoventry Revive the new Wham!-inspired rom-com, Last Christmas (pictured) - and live the chance to go Walking In aims to bring ‘new performances by Cara Dillon and popular Midlands folk collective Quill... The Air once again this approaches and For full details and the most up-to-date listings, visit artrix.co.uk Christmas. forward-thinking A screening of the much- ideas to a community loved animated version of that has thrived on its Raymond Briggs’ story is innovative and taking place this month at the dynamic spirit’. cathedrals of Coventry and Talks throughout the Lichfield - and in both cases day will touch on a will be accompanied by a live variety of subjects, orchestra. including technology, The event, which also features innovation and youth new animated film A foundations. Donkey’s Tale, takes place at The event takes place Coventry Cathedral on at the city’s Belgrade Saturday 7 December, and Theatre on Saturday then at Lichfield Cathedral on 29 February. Friday 27 December. whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word December_Worc Davina November.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 14:42 Page 3 First Word The magic of Christmas comes to Touchwood Visitors to Solihull’s Touchwood centre should have no trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this festive season, with the shopping destination’s yuletide attractions including the chance to say a big hello to Santa in his grotto.