Wolverhampton & Black Country Cover January 2018 .qxp_Wolverhampton & Black Country Cover 15/12/2017 13:25 Page 1 WOLVERHAMPTON & BLACK COUNTRY WHAT’S ON JANUARY 2018 2018 JANUARY ON WHAT’S COUNTRY BLACK & WOLVERHAMPTON WILL SELF AT WOLVERHAMPTON Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands LITERATURE FESTIVAL Wolverhampton & Black Country ISSUE 385 JANUARY 2018 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On wolverhamptonwhatson.co.uk inside: PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP GROUP MEDIA ON WHAT’S OF PART Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide HEDDA GABLER hotly anticipated touring show stops off in Wolverhampton TWITTER: @WHATSONWOLVES @WHATSONWOLVES TWITTER: TORVILL AND DEAN talk Dancing On Ice interview inside... FACEBOOK: @WHATSONWOLVERHAMPTON FACEBOOK: @WHATSONWOLVERHAMPTON FIRE RED EMPRESS stoner rock riffs and soaring WOLVERHAMPTONWHATSON.CO.UK anthems at The Slade Rooms (IFC) Wolverhampton.qxp_Layout 1 15/12/2017 12:59 Page 1 Contents January Wolves_Shrops_Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 15/12/2017 15:11 Page 2 January 2018 Contents Hedda Gabler - Patrick Marber’s new version of the Ibsen classic visits Wolverhampton feature on page 8 Nine Below Zero Brendan Cole Midlands Makers the list keep it up close and personal at brings his critically acclaimed showcasing the region’s hottest Your 16-page Henry Tudor House solo show to the Regent Theatre new artistic talent week-by-week listings guide feature page 14 page 39 feature page 46 page 55 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 13. Music 26. Comedy 30. Theatre 43. Film 48. Visual Arts 51. 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 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Lauren Cole, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts, Daisy Sparkle, Carol Lovatt 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 15/12/2017 15:13 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region Buddy Holly concert marks 60th Wolves anniversary Tribute band Buddy Holly And The Cricketers play the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on 7 March - 60 years to the very day after the real Buddy and the Crickets made their one and only appearance in the city. As part of a 25-venue tour of England, the leg- endary American singer headlined a variety bill at the Wolverhampton Gaumont on 7 March 1958, with none other than Des O’Con- nor hosting the show. One of rock'n'roll's earliest and brightest stars, Buddy was killed in a plane crash just 10 short months after playing Wolverhampton, but left behind him a back catalogue of songs that have certainly stood the test of time. For more information, visit grandtheatre.co.uk Burma veterans exhibition showcase the extraordinary artform in its an- Produced by the Original Theatre Company niversary year’. and starring Gwen Taylor as Lady Bracknell at National Arboretum Commenting on the project, New Vic Artistic and Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism, the Director Theresa Heskins said: “Circus trav- show stops off at the Courtyard Theatre, erses boundaries, crossing languages, conti- Hereford, from Monday 5 to Saturday 10 Feb- nents and even the centuries to appeal to ruary. It then visits the Lichfield Garrick The- audiences of all ages. This year offers us the atre from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 March. chance to celebrate it as an artform and to shine a spotlight on Newcastle-under-Lyme, the place where Philip Astley, its creator, was born. We can’t wait to share our work with audiences.” New play pays tribute to A new photographic exhibition paying trib- Holocaust survivors ute to the World War Two British and Allied A brand new play telling the story of two Jew- forces who fought in Burma has been un- ish prisoners in the Second World War Nazi veiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in concentration camp of Auschwitz is being Staffordshire. staged at Birmingham’s Old Joint Stock The- Burma Veterans: Unforgettable features im- atre next month. ages taken by photographer Wendy Aldiss, Presented in association with Lying Lips The- whose father fought in Burma (now Myan- atre Company, Kanada has been written in mar) with the British Army’s 2nd Infantry Di- honour of the Holocaust survivors, one of vision... The exhibition is on display until 25 whom, Zigi Shipper, will be attending the February. opening night. The production shows from Tuesday 6 to Sat- urday 10 February. On your marks for the New Vic leads the way in Shrewsbury Half Marathon! celebrating the circus Hit Oscar Wilde comedy Registration for the Shrewsbury Half The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under- Marathon is now open. Taking place on Sun- Lyme is this year leading a celebration of 250 heads for the Midlands day 17 June, the event is ideal for runners of years of circus. A brand new production of classic Oscar all abilities and starts and finishes at the Circus Past, Present And Future is a pro- Wilde comedy The Importance Of Being Shropshire County Show Ground. gramme of events, taking place in the town, Earnest is visiting two Midlands venues this For information about how to register, visit which has been designed to ‘spectacularly spring as part of a UK tour. shrewsburyhalf.co.uk 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolverhampton January.qxp_Layout 1 15/12/2017 15:13 Page 2 First Word Get booking! Pantos announced for Xmas 2018/19 If you just can’t get enough of panto, you’ll be delighted to learn that three of the region’s major theatres are already making preparations for their 2018/19 festive offerings. The Wolverhampton Grand has announced that Sleeping Beauty will be catching some shut-eye at the venue from 8 December to 13 January, while Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent The- atre will be offering Robin Hood the chance to take a yuletide break from life in the depths of Sherwood Forest (14 December - 6 January). Meanwhile, at Theatre Severn Award-winning festival reveals initial line-up for 2018 event in Shrewsbury, the ever-egg- cellent Brad Fitt will once Folk legends Steeleye Span, American singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters, Irish supergroup Usher’s again be donning the drag to Island, festival favourites Show Of Hands and former Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden with his band play the Dame, on this occa- The Remnant Kings (pictured above) are among the acts who’ll be headlining this year’s Shrewsbury sion Mother Goose (28 Novem- Folk Festival. They will be joined by, among many others, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner Big Band, BBC ber - 6 January). Folk Award winner Daoirí Farrell and Scottish folk rockers Skerryvore. Commenting on the 2018 edition of the award-winning event, Festival Director Sandra Surtees said: “The line-up is shaping up to be as eclectic as ever, with something for everyone. We pride ourselves A new plan for on catering for a wide range of musical tastes, from traditional folk music to more contemporary per- formers, and with a selection of world music bringing a global element to the festival. Himley Hall “There will be bands from all four corners of the UK - showcasing some of the best acts in today’s Plans to maximise the poten- folk and acoustic scene - with some of the North American flavour for which the event is renowned.” tial of the historic Himley Hall The festival takes place at the West Mid Showground from 24 to 27 August. & Park have been given the green light as part of a Dudley Council review of council The write stuff? buildings and land. Spring into spring at Birmingham theatre The council will now look at Staffordshire author Mor- Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella (pictured), spectacular Bollywood musi- new ways of using the Grade II ton Morelli is this month cal Taj Express and West End phenomenon The Play That Goes Wrong listed building to generate in- taking time out from writ- are among the shows visiting Birmingham Hippodrome this year. come for the authority. Himley ing his second novel to Commenting on the venue’s recently announced spring season, Hip- Hall is already a popular host a series of exclusive podrome Artistic Director & Chief Executive Fiona Allan said: “Many of venue for weddings and con- masterclasses for people the stories you’ll see on our stage this year feature strong female char- ferences. wanting to learn how to acters. From Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked, to Puccini’s tragic Tosca, The Himley estate was once put pen to paper.