Birmingham Cover Online.qxp_Birmingham Cover 28/06/2016 09:10 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 367 JULY 2016 Birmingham ’ MAMMA MIA COMES TO THE MIDLANDS WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On birminghamwhatson.co.uk inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide FOOTLOOSE gareth gates at th new alex Snow White (Barclaycard) F/P July.qxp_Layout 1 16/06/2016 16:12 Page 1 Contents July Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 17:50 Page 1 July 2016 Contents On The Edge - World Festival Of Theatre For Younger Audiences arrives in Brum page 6 and 33 Ruthie Henshall Bunny Wailer East End Cabaret the list interview with one of musical Roots Renaissance tour at the risque songs and character Your 16-page theatre’s greatest stars O2 Academy comedy at mac week-by-week listings guide page 8 page 15 page 26 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 26. Comedy 28. Theatre 37. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events @whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonbirmingham Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham 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 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 MAGAZINE GROUP Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Adam Jaremko, Kathryn Ewing, David Vincent 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 July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 18:08 Page 1 First Word Time to book those panto tickets? Oh yes it is... One of the Midlands’ favourite panto stars is making a wel- come return to the region this Christmas. Former Dr Who actor John Barrowman will take the title role in Birmingham Hippodrome’s lavish production of Dick Whittington. John will be joined in the show by com- edy duo The Krankies, popular funnyman Matt Slack and EastEnders badboy Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell in the long-running BBC One soap. Commenting on this year’s panto, the Hippodrome’s artis- tic director and chief executive, Fiona Allen, said: “It’s never too early to be planning Christmas fun. Sales are already set to break records, and this year’s pantomime promises plenty of laughs, outrageous costumes and spe- cial effects to amaze all the family.” Dick Whittington runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 19 December until Sunday 29 January. Tickets can be booked on 0844 338 5000 or from birminghamhippo- drome.com Pioneer filmmaker Making a Commitment captured on canvas after Corrie An award-winning disabled artist will this month paint a portrait of pioneering film- maker John Akomfrah at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (Saturday 16 July), as part of a project celebrating the diversity of common humanity. Tanya Raabe-Webber’s live sitting, fusing digital and traditional drawing and painting Brum Bikeathon for techniques, will see the artist in conversation with Akomfrah, exploring his life and work Bloodwise and contemplating the relevance of the artis- A team of University of Birmingham blood tic process to cultural diversity and contem- cancer researchers will this month join 1,000 porary society. cyclists for a charity ride around the city. Commenting on the live portrait sitting, The Birmingham Bikeathon takes place on Tanya said: “As a disabled artist, the notion Coronation Street’s one-time resident Curly 10 July and raises funds for blood cancer of my own diversity drives my interest in Watts is set to star in critically acclaimed charity Bloodwise. With the full support of people, the exploration of the human condi- musical The Commitments when it visits the Birmingham City Council, riders can choose tion and the belief that everyone has the Midlands early next year. to cycle one of three routes on offer - 26 potential to be creative if given the opportu- Actor Kevin Kennedy, who played Curly in miles, 52 miles or 100 miles - starting and nity. I am well known as a painter of people; the ITV1 soap for 20 years, will take the role finishing at the city’s Cannon Hill Park. however, I’ve wanted to develop a way to of Jimmy’s Da in the stage version of Roddy Commenting on the event, Matt Lawley, engage audiences more fully in the subject Doyle’s bestselling novel. Head of Sport at Bloodwise, said: “We’re matter of my work and also within its physi- Commenting on the news, Kevin said: “After delighted that the Birmingham Bikeathon is cality. I’ve developed this project to enable working abroad, I’m delighted to be return- returning for a third year. A lot of research creativity to be as accessible as possible.” ing to such an iconic musical as The takes place in the city - from understanding Commitments. It will be a pleasure to travel basic principles around how blood cancer around the country playing to enthusiastic works and affects patients, to our ground- audiences who love this show.” breaking clinical trials programme - so much The Commitments shows at the New of the money raised from this ride will be Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, from 13 to invested in projects within the city.” 18 March. To book tickets, visit To sign up to the event, visit atgtickets.com/birmingham bloodwise.org.uk/birminghambikeathon 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD July.qxp_Layout 1 22/06/2016 18:08 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region Win! A foodie feast Local circus show causes across the city a right old Hullabaloo With more than 30 food stalls, A ‘colourful and explosively vibrant world of fren- cookery demonstrations and live zied circus mania’ is touring to three Birmingham performances, this year’s Colmore locations this month. Food Festival is serving a mouth- watering menu of food, music, Hullabaloo is a two-hour show incorporating per- paintings and theatre. formance and circus workshops that follow the To celebrate the return of the annu- theme of England’s ‘glorious weather’. It’s present- al event - taking place in Victoria ed by CircusMASH, a company specialising in the Square on Friday 8 & Saturday 9 development of circus in the West Midlands July - What’s On is offering one region. lucky reader the chance to win a meal for two at five participating Participants can enter the a participatory element restaurants, to be enjoyed between of Hullabaloo by taking a ‘game card’ in which July and September. they will be lead on a circus journey to achieve The offer includes lunch for two at skills and become part of the mayhem. Metro, afternoon tea for two at the The show visits the following venues: CoCoMAD in Edwardian Tea Rooms, dinner for Cotteridge Park (2 July); Birmingham Botanical two at Asha’s, cocktail making for two at The Bureau and theatre tick- Gardens (11 July); Sandbach Community Centre (17 ets for two at the Old Joint Stock. July); Jewellery Quarter Festival in the Golden The competition closes on Monday Square (23 July); and All Saints Square in Kings 11 July. To enter, visit Heath (30 July). For more information, visit circus- whatsonlive.co.uk mash.co.uk Young theatre Big Art at Millennium Point tackling big An exhibition presenting five proposals by five artists for ‘the most issues ambitious public art commission in Birmingham’s long history’ has opened at the city’s Millennium Point. The Birmingham Big Art Project has hired artist-run art organisa- tion and gallery Eastside Projects as the initiative’s commissioning agents. The process will create a £2million permanent public artwork to Impressive line-up the east of the city centre, at a site that will become a busy arrival for debut festival point following the construc- tion of Birmingham’s High- Birmingham band UB40 will next Forty young people are set Speed Railway Station (HS2). month headline a live music festi- to perform a challenging The exhibition shows until 31 val in Solihull to raise money for and uplifting play about a local cancer charity Help Harry August, with visitors being Help Others. girl with autism who is encouraged to share their The Midlands favourites will con- diagnosed with terminal opinions on all five proposals. clude their European festival tour cancer. The winning proposal will be at the Solihull Summer Fest, which Local theatre ensemble chosen in January. takes place in Tudor Grange Park Stage2 present Lee Hall’s on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 award-winning Spoonface August. Other artists taking part include Steinberg at Kevin Simm (winner of The Voice Birmingham’s Crescent Run away to the circus in Brum UK 2016), Scouting For Girls, The Theatre from Wednesday Birmingham is this month hosting its first ever aerial and physical Hoosiers, The Wonder Stuff, Five, 13 to Saturday 16 July.