Worcestershire Cover August 2017 .qxp_Worcestershire Cover 24/07/2017 18:38 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands MISS SAIGON IN THE MIDLANDS WORCESTERSHIRE WHAT’S ON AUGUST 2017 ON AUGUST WHAT’S WORCESTERSHIRE Worcestershire ISSUE 380 AUGUST 2017 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onworcestershirewhatson.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 TheON Railway TRACK... Children steam into Malvern TWITTER: @WHATSONWORCS @WHATSONWORCS TWITTER: PopSUNSHINE and retro favourites SOPHIE in Upton-upon-Severn FACEBOOK: @WHATSONWORCESTER fusingGO WESTERN! camping and western WORCESTERSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK music at Malvern Showground (IFC) Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2017 18:50 Page 1 Contents August Warwicks_Worcs.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2017 18:15 Page 2 August 2017 Contents Reasons To Be Cheerful - Ian Dury musical at the Belgrade... feature on page 9 Curtis Eller Simon Amstell Art In The Park the list brings his American Circus to talks about his new approach to The Three Graces and circus- Your 16-page Coventry’s Tin Music & Arts stand-up comedy related fun at Jephson Gardens week-by-week listings guide page 15 feature page 25 page 47 page 53 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 24. Comedy 26. Theatre 35. Film 41. Visual Arts 45. Events fb.com/whatsonwarwickshire fb.com/whatsonworcestershire @whatsonwarwicks @whatsonworcs Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire What’s On Magazine Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire 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 WhatsOn Yvonne Kentfield [email protected] 01743 281706 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Elly Yates-Roberts elly@what- sonlive.co.uk 01743 281733 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox 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 Warwickshire_Worcs August.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2017 18:11 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region Solihull’s summer festival makes a welcome return After the success of last year’s inaugural event, Solihull Summer Fest is making a wel- come return this month, complete with a line-up of entertainment that includes per- formances by Peter Andre, Lulu, Gabrielle, Feeder and Toploader. The festival also features a kids’ picnic, a cheese & wine-tasting event and an evening Sundowner session, with Prosecco and nib- bles to enjoy. Taking place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August, the event is raising money for local cancer support charity Help Harry Help Oth- ers. To purchase tickets, visit solihullsummer- fest.co.uk. Former Young One to star musical history and feature a soundtrack of Grammy nominee ‘To The more than 20 classic songs, performed by a in Twelfth Night at the RSC Bone’ at Coventry venue live band. One-time Young Ones actor Adrian Edmond- Four-time Grammy nominee Steven Wilson is The accompanying campaign to name the all- son is set to star as hoodwinked steward to kickstart a new tour at Warwick Arts Cen- time favourite song by a Coventry & Warwick- Malvolio in the Royal Shakespeare Com- tre in Coventry. shire artist runs until Thursday 31 August. pany’s forthcoming production of Twelfth The Porcupine Tree frontman’s spring 2018 Voters choose from a list of 34 top-ten hits Night. show will be in support of fifth album To The and can make their selection online at bel- Adrian will be joined on stage by TV favourite Bone, released this month. Steven performs grade.co.uk/covsong or in person at the Kara Tointon in a show directed by Christo- live at the venue on Thursday 15 March. Coventry Music Museum. pher Luscombe. To book tickets, visit warwickartscentre.co.uk Tickets for Godiva Rocks can be purchased by “The great challenge of Twelfth Night is to calling the Belgrade box office on 024 7655 reconcile its melancholy and joyful ele- 3055 or by visiting the theatre’s website. ments,” says Christopher. “I'm delighted to say that we've found an exceptional cast who, I believe, can do full justice to the play's Kids go free this month at dazzling emotional range. I can't wait to start Coventry Music Museum work with them.” The show runs at the Royal Shakespeare The- Parents and guardians can take their chil- atre from 2 November until 24 February. dren to the Coventry Music Museum free of For more information or to book tickets, visit charge this month. rsc.org.uk The award-winning venue is offering free entry to youngsters - when accompanied by a paying adult - as part of an initiative de- signed to introduce children to the city’s rich musical history. Attractions at the museum this month include Teen Twitter Takeover Choose your top song as Day on the 11th, inviting young peo- Godiva Rocks in Coventry ple to post their own With a new musical featuring songs by tweets from the mu- Coventry artists heading for the Belgrade, the seum’s official Twit- theatre has launched a campaign to name ter account. the city’s number one song. Coventry Music Mu- Godiva Rocks shows at the venue from Satur- seum is open 10am to day 7 to Saturday 21 October. Telling a boy- 4pm, Thursday to meets-girl story set in 1964, the production Sunday. will highlight Coventry’s rich and vibrant 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Warwickshire_Worcs August.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2017 18:11 Page 2 First Word Coventry railway image of previous B2 production museum to close A popular Coventry attraction celebrating its 10th anniversary looks set to close later this year. The Electric Railway Museum on Rowley Road, near to Coventry Airport, has not had its lease re- newed by the council, which has earmarked the site for com- mercial development. The museum’s collection of elec- tric trains represents over a cen- tury of technological progress. It includes examples of commuter trains, battery-electric locomo- tives, underground carriages Belgrade celebrates B2 anniversary with Russian satire and high-speed express units. The Coventry Belgrade Theatre will next month celebrate the 10th birthday of its B2 auditorium by staging the world premiere of a cult Russian satire. Georgi Vladimov’s Faithful Ruslan - The Story Of A Guard Dog is based around the real events that followed the death of Josef Stalin and the closure of the Russian prison camps. The play forms part of a 10th anniversary programme of shows taking place in B2, which opened back in 2007 following an extensive refurbishment of the Belgrade. The auditorium was created as a more-intimate second space in which to host live drama, music, comedy and dance. Faithful Ruslan shows in B2 from Saturday 2 to Saturday 16 September. Tickets are available now by calling the Belgrade box office on 024 7655 3055 or by visiting belgrade.co.uk A summer safari at Enjoy a summer of Fun for all at Worcester’s festival Arley Arboretum outdoor family fun Worcester’s well-established festival returns this month at ven- It’s all happening at Arley Ar- boretum this month. Getting all hot and bothered at ues and locations across the city, offering another fortnight of The popular venue is building the thought of having to keep the activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. its summertime attractions kids entertained for six long hol- The festival programme includes walks, talks, workshops, exhi- around the theme of ‘summer iday weeks? bitions, arts & crafts, markets, treasure trails, live music, tours, safari’ - and there’s certainly no If you are, then chill out - and performances, open days, competitions, classes and a wide shortage of encounters with ani- head for the Oakland Outdoor range of children’s events. mals of all shapes and sizes to Activity Centre in Hanbury, “August is always an exciting time in Worcester, and this August enjoy! Worcestershire, where special will be no exception,” says Festival Director Chris Jaeger. “The There’s a new animal trail, a family fun sessions are available Worcester Festival is a people’s festival. It offers a wide range of woodland creature trail for pre- throughout the school summer eclectic events for all the family to enjoy, and many of those school children and fairy and holidays. events are free. What dinosaur trails for older kids. “We want to offer families an al- could be better at holiday Pony rides and mini zoos fea- ternative to the large, busy time? It’s a great oppor- ture on selected days, while Mr Toad and his pals turn up on theme parks this summer,” says tunity to try an event at a Monday 28 August in a produc- Mark Treverton, who runs Shoot- venue you’ve never been tion of Wind In The Willows.