Shropshire Cover January 2019.qxp_Shropshire Cover 14/12/2018 11:22 Page 1 GARY DELANEY APPEARS AT Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE SHROPSHIRE WHAT’S ON JANUARY 2019 ON JANUARY WHAT’S SHROPSHIRE Shropshire ISSUE 397 JANUARY 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On shropshirewhatson.co.uk PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP GROUP MEDIA ON WHAT’S OF PART inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide FAME THE MUSICAL anniversary touring production stops off in Shrewsbury TWITTER: @WHATSONSHROPS TWITTER: SWAN LAKE Matthew Bourne’s legendary ballet returns... FACEBOOK: @WHATSONSHROPSHIRE STRICTLY COME DANCING LIVE! waltzes back into the Midlands SHROPSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK Henry Tudor House F/P January 2019.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2018 14:07 Page 1 Contents January Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2018 10:00 Page 2 January 2019 Contents Talking to the animals - Doctor Dolittle and his menagerie of exotic friends visit Wolverhampton... page 8 Martin Barre Band Mandy Muden Kinky Boots the list present an evening of Jethro Tull combines comedy and magic at hit West End musical arrives in Your 16-page hits at The Robin... Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn The Potteries week-by-week listings guide page 13 page 25 page 30 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 13. Music 24. Comedy 26. Theatre 37. Film 42. Visual Arts 49. Events @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine 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 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 MEDIA GROUP Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Steve Adams, Lauren Cole, Nanci Davies, Jack Rolfe, Daisy Sparkle, Steve Taylor, Chris Eldon Lee, 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 Wolverhampton January.qxp_Layout 1 14/12/2018 17:20 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region A Wolverhampton stop-off for Dick and Rita... Even as Sleeping Beauty continues to catch some panto-season shut-eye at the Wolver- hampton Grand Theatre, the venue has an- nounced its pantomime production for next Christmas. The Grand is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2019 (see item at the top of the page) and will bring the year to a close with a sure-to-be- star-studded version of Dick Whittington. Running at the theatre from Saturday 7 Decem- ber to Sunday 12 January 2020, the show is one of the highlights of a year-long programme that also sees productions of Nativity! The Mu- sical, Educating Rita, Cabaret and Hair stop- ping off at the Grand. Enginuity to host pop-up port Convention’s Ashley Hutchings and the Peaky Blinders-themed Midlands’ very own Ricky Cool & The In- planetarium for half term Crowd (pictured) and King Pleasure & The bar opens in the Black A pop-up planetarium at Ironbridge Gorge’s Biscuit Boys. For more information and to Country Enginuity museum will next month provide book tickets, visit lichfieldarts.org.uk. A bar inspired by Birmingham-based BBC half-term visitors with the chance to discover drama Peaky Blinders has opened in the more about the solar system, distant stars Black Country. and outer space. The Garrison Saloon Bar at The Waterfront, Budding astronomers can also join in with an near Merry Hill, features 1920s decor and evening of sky-gazing, as well as designing serves locally sourced real ales, gin and rum, and making their own space-themed model as well as a selection of on-tap beers. from craft materials. The Garrison is the brainchild of Jason Mont- Enginuity’s Planets And Space events take gomery and Spida Prince, who both come place from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 Febru- from Brierley Hill. They hope to open three ary. For more information about what’s on at similar outlets in the wider Black Country re- the venue, visit ironbridge.org.uk. gion in the not-too-distant future. Wolves’ Molineux to host £8.1million events space Fortnite tournament to benefit Mids economy A new EStars Fortnite grassroots esports tournament will take place at Wolverhamp- The National Memorial Arboretum’s new ton Wanderers Football Club’s Molineux sta- £8.1million events building, Aspects, is ex- dium next month. The event is being held at pected to generate £21.4million across the the venue from 22 to 24 February and is open West Midlands region over a 10-year period. to anyone aged 12 and older. The building provides up to seven separate Commenting on the tournament, EStars’ event spaces and offers ‘stunning and inspi- Maeve Finnegan said:"We are delighted to Lichfield Arts announces rational views across the Arboretum’s land- bring the most popular game in the world to scape’. life across the UK and Ireland. EStars featur- new season of shows “The opening of Aspects is another landmark ing Fortnite is for fans Productions recalling and celebrating the moment for the Arboretum,” says Sarah Oak- of Fortnite to play to- sounds of Ricky Nelson, Joni Mitchell and den, the Staffordshire venue’s head of mar- gether. It promises to The Eagles are among the highlights of Lich- keting. “Aspects blends the latest technology be an engrossing ex- field Arts’ wide-ranging programme of incorporated in the building with access to travaganza that will spring-season entertainment. the living memorials within the Arboretum’s provide a spectacular The tribute shows take their place in a line- 150-acre grounds, providing a unique experi- experience for the up that also includes appearances by Fair- ence for event attendees.” gamers.” 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolverhampton January.qxp_Layout 1 14/12/2018 17:20 Page 2 First Word Shropshire festival launches stand-up comedy course Organisers of the Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival are running a special course for wannabe stand-up comedi- ans who fancy learning the tricks of the trade - and then performing at the festival! The course, which will be taught by professional come- dian James Cook, will be two full days in length and take place on the two weekends prior to the comedy festival, which this year runs from 18 to 21 July. If you would like to take part in the course, contact laugh- [email protected] and you’ll Scouting For Girls to headline Shrewsbury Flower Show be put on the list. There are 12 English pop-rock band Scouting For Girls will be among the performers at this year’s Shrewsbury places available, which will be Flower Show. Taking place in the town’s Quarry Park on Friday 9 & Saturday 10 August, the 2019 edi- allocated on a first come, first tion of the show will be the 132nd in the event’s long and distinguished history. Regular features in- served basis. clude guest appearances by celebrity chefs and gardeners, arena acts, competitions, numerous workshops, a children’s area and a host of impressive floral displays. Both days are brought to a close by a magnificent fireworks display. Ben Elton hits the road with a new comedy tour Midlands kids go First headliners announced for Blackadder and Upstart Crow back in time... award-winning Shropshire folk festival writer Ben Elton is this year The first headliners for the 2019 Shrewsbury Folk Festival have been making a long-overdue return announced. to the world of stand-up com- The four-day event, taking place at the West Mid Showground from edy, heading out on an au- 23 to 26 August, will see Kate Rusby (pictured) and Martyn Joseph tumn tour that sees him topping the bill, with other acts so far confirmed to appear including visiting various Midlands Oysterband, Scottish folk rockers venues. Skerryvore and female supergroup Commenting on the news, Ben Daphne’s Flight. said: "The last time I toured, I A group of local children The festival features four main was still smarter than my will sample a taste of fame music stages, a dance tent, children phone. Things have definitely when they appear in a new and youth festivals, workshops, taken a funny turn.” To find BBC TV series to be aired crafts, a food village and real ale, out where he’s appearing in this month. cocktail and gin bars. Weekend and the region and to book tickets Back In Time For School will day tickets are now available and for the show, visit Ticketmas- feature 15 teenagers from can be booked at shrewsburyfolk- ter.co.uk Birmingham and the sur- festival.co.uk/booktickets.