Staffordshire Cover Online.qxp_cover 05/01/2016 11:34 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands Staffordshire ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 361 JANUARY 2016 KEVIN HART LITTLE FOCKERS STAR LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide BLAIR DUNLOP LIVE AT STAFFORD GATEHOUSE Campermart (FP).qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2015 18:25 Page 1 Contents January Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2015 21:24 Page 1 January 2016 Contents The Rocky Horror Show - Frank N Furter back in Brum with a brand new version page 8 Isy Suttie Private Lives Anna Maxwell Martin the list Dobbie at The Slade Rooms Tom Chamber stars in Noel BAFTA winner brings Lady Your 16-page page 24 Coward’s masterpiece in Stoke Macbeth to The REP week-by-week listings guide page 31 page 22 page 51 inside: 4. News 15. Music 24. Comedy 27. Theatre 45. Film 53. Visual Arts 57. Days Out 65. Food @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Birmingham What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Editorial Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Editorial: Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Chris Eldon Lee, Heather Kincaid, Steve Adams, Helen Stallard, Clare Higgins, Tina Freeth. Managing Director: Paul Oliver Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell, Chris Atherton 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 - Jan - Region 2 .qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2015 21:44 Page 1 First Word Grammy Award nomination for Birmingham music group Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) has been nominated for its first ever Grammy Award. The nomination was received for the ensemble’s recording of Gerald Barry’s zany operatic setting of The Importance Of Being Earnest. Commenting on the accolade, BCMG Artistic Director Stephen Newbould said: “What an end to 2015 we had! We’re over the moon at this Grammy nomination. Our con- gratulations extend, of course, to Gerald Barry for his extraordinary score, to Thomas Adés for his masterful con- ducting, and to NMC Recordings for having the foresight to record and release the work for us all to enjoy. For Birmingham Contemporary Music Group to be listed amongst prestigious artists gives genuine recognition to the quality of our work on an international stage.” The Grammy Awards take place on 15 February. Grammy Award nominated Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Literacy initiative invites the Book Award Arnie set to entertain community to join in project launch diners at black-tie event in Shropshire Shrewsbury Children’s Bookfest has launched its Book Award project for a fourth time. The initiative enables all school pupils, whatever their reading ability, to read and vote for their favourite book from a shortlist of six recently published titles selected by panels of children across the county. The Book Award is bigger A new literacy-focused arts project has been launched in than ever this year, with Legendary movie star and one-time Governor the West Midlands. The Big Read aims to encourage litera- more than one thousand of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is head- cy development through creativity. The initiative invites children aged between ing to Birmingham this month, to host an schools and community groups to decorate BookBench nine and eleven in twen- exclusive black-tie dinner event. sculptures, which are benches shaped as open books. ty-eight Shropshire pri- An Experience With Arnold Schwarzenegger The project is being presented by Wild In Art with the mary schools taking part. takes place at the city’s International Schools of King Edward VI and in association with the The voting deadline is 18 Convention Centre on 21 January and fea- National Literacy Trust and Birmingham Children’s March. The winning book tures a live interview with the Hollywood Hospital Charity. The painted BookBenches will furnish and author will be actor. the region’s museums, libraries and cultural hubs, turning announced at a special Other attractions on the night include the city and surrounding regions into a virtual library. awards ceremony at Terminator-themed events, a lifesize The Big Read will be complemented by a programme of Theatre Severn, Schwarzenegger model display, a activities based around the displays. These will include Shrewsbury, on 22 April. Schwarzenegger and Terminator imperson- poetry slams, storytelling sessions, creative writing and ator, a twenty-two-piece orchestra and Rat comic book illustration workshops. If you’d like to register Pack singer, and a charity auction with your school or community group for The Big Read, or if signed, bespoke Schwarzenegger memorabil- your venue is interested in exhibiting BookBenches and ia. supporting The Big Read with literacy-focused activities, visit thebigread.org.uk or email [email protected]. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD - Jan - Region 2 .qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2015 21:05 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region Science festival Dance that line-up announced subverts the Author, broadcaster and anatomist senses Professor Alice Roberts will discuss The history of homosexu- her latest BBC series, The Celts, at ality in twentieth century the fourth University of Birmingham Arts & Science Festival, which Spain is the subject of a takes place in March. brand new show from The festival brings together leading choreographer Carlos scientists, thinkers and artists from Pons Guerra and his the university and wider city for a DeNada Dance Theatre week of free talks, events, exhibi- company. tions and performance. It also includes presentations by leading Showing in Birmingham arts organisations around the city. next month, dance triple These include Ikon Gallery, Vivid bill Ham And Passion is Projects, Grand Union, being promoted as an Birmingham Open Media and mac evening of ‘seductive, Birmingham. provocative and emphati- This year taking the theme of Memory And Forgetting, the festi- cally Spanish contempo- val will explore the idea of memory rary dance theatre that in our culture and of the social sig- will subvert the senses’. nificance of remembrance and The production visits the memorialisation. city’s mac venue on Commenting on the event, Laura Thursday 25 February. Milner, Cultural Partnerships Manager at the University of Birmingham, said: “The festival is a chance for curious minds to delve into new thinking from leading aca- Wolverhampton theatre announces demics and artists. It overlooks the Is That All traditional division between arts There Is?, in Spring season line-up and science: each discipline can inform the other, sparking debate Brum Wolverhampton’s Arena Theatre has announced its line-up for the Spring and new understanding about the DA two-day conference 2016 season. Highlights include the return of 14/48 Wolverhampton, rich world in which we live.” for the arts sector, which sees fourteen new plays written, directed and performed within a The University of Birmingham Arts aimed at encouraging forty-eight-hour timespan. The venue also hosts an evening with Jean & Science Festival takes place at fresh thinking on how Toussaint as part of its jazz season, while Arena newcomers Milk Presents the university and across the city perform JOAN, a show fusing lyrical new writing with drag king cabaret. from 14 to 20 March. to work with young peo- ple with learning dis- Other shows featured in the season’s programme include Actors Of abilities (ypwld), is to Dionysus’ Lysistrata, Guy Masterson’s Under Milk Wood, and Vamos Round The World be held at Birmingham Theatre’s The Best Thing. for comedian Hippodrome in March. Is That All There Is? is organised by Open The Play’s The Thing at the RSC Theatre Company, a A new exhibition is set to reveal the West Midlands-based secrets behind the world’s most organisation with a famous theatre company. long track record of The Royal Shakespeare Company’s working with ypwld. (RSC) The Play’s The Thing opens in Commenting on the Stratford-upon-Avon in June. conference, Richard The new family-friendly visitor attrac- Critically acclaimed comedian Hayhow, Executive tion offers members of the general Russell Howard has announced Director of Open that he’ll be performing in public the chance to discover the secrets and stories behind the mak- Theatre Company, said: Birmingham - but fans will have to ing of the Company’s world famous productions. “This is a timely provo- wait a while to see him, as he There’s also the chance to see some of the RSC’s beautifully crafted won’t be bringing his new show to cation for the arts sector costumes and props, and learn how magical and gory stage and sound the city until March 2017. to reconsider its provi- effects are made. Round The World will be Russell’s sion for young people Commenting on The Play’s The Thing, Geraldine Collinge, RSC biggest global tour to date, and will with learning disabili- see the Bristol-born funnyman Director of Events & Exhibitions, said: “The exhibition will let people ties.” making a return to the live stage discover how our productions have been made over the years and how Is That All There Is? for the first time in three years.