Staffordshire Cover August 2018.qxp_Staffordshire Cover 23/07/2018 12:47 Page 1 DARA O’BRIAIN TALKS ABOUT Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands THE VOICE OF REASON... STAFFORDSHIRE WHAT’S ON AUGUST 2018 ON AUGUST WHAT’S STAFFORDSHIRE Staffordshire ISSUE 392 AUGUST 2018 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On staffordshirewhatson.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 theMATILDA... RSC’s smash-hit musical continues in the region TWITTER: @WHATSONSTAFFS TWITTER: @WHATSONSTAFFS PULLED APART BY HORSES Indie rock at The Sugarmill FACEBOOK: @STAFFORDSHIREWHATSON FACEBOOK: INSOMNIA63 the UK’s biggest gaming festival returns to the Midlands STAFFORDSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK (IFC) Staffordshire.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2018 18:14 Page 1 Contents August Wolves_Shrops_Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2018 15:13 Page 2 August 2018 Contents The Jersey Boys - award-winning musical makes a welcome return to the Midlands page 28 The Big Feast Ocean Colour Scene Levi Roots the list presents a mouthwatering Midlands four-piece play brings Sunshine Food to Your 16-page programme of outdoor events... Wolverhampton Racecourse Shrewsbury Flower Show week-by-week listings guide Feature page 8 page 15 page 41 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 19. Festivals 26. Theatre 35. Film 38. Visual Arts 43 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 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 MEDIA GROUP Lauren Cole [email protected] Ellie Hutchings [email protected] Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts 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 August.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2018 18:55 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region It’s all happening at Telford’s Big Top An ‘extravaganza of entertainment’ is this month taking place in a big top tent in Telford, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both the town itself and its popular arts venue, Oakengates Theatre@The Place. The line-up of shows being presented in- cludes comedy, music, dance and chil- dren’s theatre, with Russell Watson, Dara O Briain, Collabro (pictured) and Al Mur- ray among the high-profile performers taking part. The action unfolds at QEII Fields In Trust Telford Town Park Arena between 4 & 19 August. For more information, visit telford50.co.uk Imagine peace in our time Shropshire. As well as Ricky’s performance Are you a Jet or a Shark? on the 29th, the festival also features, among at Lichfield Cathedral... many other attractions, a gingerbread and West Bromwich Operatic Society is returning An immersive and interactive exhibition at port-tasting event, a heritage spice trail, a to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this au- Lichfield Cathedral is this month inviting vis- film & curry night and a gingerbread-making tumn with a new production of West Side itors ‘to imagine what peace might feel and masterclass. For full details of what’s hap- Story (Tues 27 November - Sat 1 December). look like in our time’. pening across the four days of the festival, The company is currently on the lookout for Imagine Peace uses objects, artworks, light visit gingerandspicefest.co.uk males aged between 16 and 30 who would and sound to encourage viewers to reflect on like to play members of the story’s two op- the hard-won peace of 1918 - following four posing street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. years of fighting during the First World War - If you fit the bill and are interested in taking and then to turn their attention to the future. part, contact company secretary Hilary on The exhibition shows at the cathedral every 0121 550 3667 or via [email protected]. For evening from 17 to 27 August. more information about the show or to book tickets, visit grandtheatre.co.uk. Canadian comic Stewart heads Into The Punset Canadian comedian Stewart Francis is visit- ing the Midlands during what he says will be New brochure launched his last ever standup tour. as Shropshire celebrates Punchline wizard its famous war poet Francis will be bring- ing his new show, A new brochure listing events taking place in Into The Punset, to Shropshire to mark the centenary of war poet venues in Wolver- Wilfred Owen’s death, and the end of World hampton, Dudley, War One, is now available. Bromsgrove, Malvern, Deacon Blue front man to The brochure has been published by Shrews- Birmingham, Telford, appear at Ginger & Spice bury Heritage on behalf of Shropshire Re- Coventry and Shrews- members, the county’s First World War Deacon Blue lead singer Ricky Ross is the bury. For more infor- partnership. For more information about the headline act at the 2018 Ginger And Spice mation, visit brochure and where to access it, visit shrop- Festival, taking place from Wednesday 26 to stewartfrancis.com Saturday 29 September in Market Drayton, shireremembers.org.uk 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolverhampton August.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2018 18:55 Page 2 First Word Plenty of summer fun at two Black Country venues A series of themed fun days are among the school summer holi- day highlights at two popular Black Country visitor attractions - the Red House Glass Cone and Dudley Museum At The Archives. The special days provide a chance to look around the sites, view key pieces in the venues’ collections and take part in a range of craft activities. And there’s plenty more going on at both destinations through- out the month, too. For more in- formation, visit dudley.gov.uk Bad Girls visit Cannock theatre Girl Power will definitely be the name of the game when Brown- hills Musical Theatre Company Two Coronation Street favourites to reunite as Doctor present their next show at the Dolittle ‘talks to the animals’ in Wolverhampton Prince of Wales Theatre in Can- nock. The highly rated ensem- Two former Coronation Street favourites will be joining Father Brown and Harry Potter star Mark ble perform Bad Girls at the Williams when a new touring production of Doctor Dolittle The Musical arrives in the Midlands next venue from 31 October to 3 year. November. The production is a Brian Capron, who played baddie Richard Hillman in the hit ITV1 soap, and Vicky Entwistle - better musical version of the award- known as the Street’s mouthy-but-lovable resident, Janice Battersby - will appear in the eagerly antic- winning television drama of the ipated stage show when it visits the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 29 January to Sat- same name. urday 9 February. For more information, visit grandtheatre.co.uk Cyclists aiming Anyone for Get flapping at Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park! to raise plenty of ping pong? Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park will next month play host to a world record attempt. Organisers are hoping that the 22 September event will be recorded as the largest- cash for Birmingham ping ever Charleston dance. Midlands Air pong players will The figure to beat is 975, with the attempt being held in aid of Severn Hospice. For this month have a more information, visit revel-in-dance.com Ambulance... new venue in A group of local cyclists are which to enjoy hosting a fun-filled evening for their sport. the benefit of Midlands Air Am- Located on Temple bulance Charity. Row in the city cen- Taking place on Saturday 24 tre, Serve will pro- November at the Copthorne vide 17 tables for Hotel in Brierley Hill, and players to use, a se- hosted by snooker legend and lection of food and commentator Willie Thorne, the drink, music cour- black-tie occasion will feature a tesy of guest DJs, live band, DJ, auction and raffle. and masterclasses To find out how you can support by stars of the ping Midlands Air Ambulance Char- pong world. ity, visit midlandsairambu- The new venue lance.com or follow the opens the first organisation on social media. weekend of August. whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Wolverhampton August.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2018 18:56 Page 3 First Word Kinky Boots to stride out The Light House across the Midlands wins community Hit West Ender Kinky Boots is touring to award... the Midlands. Inspired by true events and featuring songs by pop star Cyndi Lauper, the Olivier Award-winning show takes audi- ences on a journey from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glam- orous catwalks of Milan.