Midlands Cover - June_24-7 Cover 21/05/2012 17:18 Page 1 MIDLANDS WHAT’S MIDLANDS ON WHAT’S THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE ISSUE 318 JUNE 2012 www.whatsonlive.co.uk £1.80 ISSUE 318 JUNE 2012 ELTON JOHN THE ROCKET MAN INSIDE BACK IN THE MIDLANDS Paterson Joseph from Peep Show to Shakespeare interview inside The Voyage launching the Olympics... Birmingham Pride celebrating diversity... THE DEFINITIVE LISTINGS GUIDE PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS GROUP MAGAZINE ON WHAT’S MIDLANDS OF PART PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS GROUP MAGAZINE ON WHAT’S MIDLANDS OF PART What’sOn MAGAZINE GROUP Pink Friday rapper in town... ISSN 1462-7035 Grand (OBC)_Layout 1 21/05/2012 18:06 Page 1 Great Theatre at the Grand! FRI 8 JUNE SAT 9 JUNE MON 11 - SAT 16 JUNE TUES 19 - SAT 23 JUNE Arlene Phillips & Adam Spiegel present JOE Pasquale Robert Powell THE STARS OF STRICTLY COME DANCING IN THE THEATRICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace in An incredible theatre experience not to be missed. “STRICTLY SENSATIONAL! VINCENTAND FLAVIAARE UTTERLY visit the official website at www.easytheatres.com SPECTACULAR– SEXY, SULTRY AND BRILLIANT” Written by Richard Gordon and Ted Willis Directed by Ian Talbot Southern Daily Echo TUES 26 - SAT 30 JUNE TUES 3 - SAT 7 JULY TUES 10 - SAT 14 JULY starring Chris Ellison and Tony Adams TUES 17 - SAT 21 JULY ALSO BOOKING MON 23 - SAT 28 JULY SUNDAY 15 JULY FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER THE ELVIS YEARS SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER THE CANNON & BALL SHOW Starring MONDAY 17 & TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER LIZA CO-OPERA COMPANY GODDARD SUSAN DON GIOVANNI PENHALIGON THE MAGIC FLUTE GARETH HALE FRIDAY 21 - SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER NORMAN ENGLISH YOUTH BALLET PACE SWAN LAKE SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER SALLY MORGAN MONDAY 26 NOV - SATURDAY 1 DEC GREASE SAT 8 DEC - SUN 20 JAN JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Starring Colin Baker and Peter Amory STARRING SHERRIE HEWSON AND KEITH HARRIS Follow us on @WolvesGrand Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand Box Office 01902 42 92 12 BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk Contents June_Layout 1 21/05/2012 17:06 Page 1 June 2012 Editor: FEATURES: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 Porgy And Bess Editorial Assistant: Lauren Wright in Birmingham p27 [email protected] 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Jon Cartwright [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Admin/Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Managing Director: Paul Oliver [email protected] Paterson Joseph 01743 281711 interview inside p6 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710 P.A. to the CEO: Jo Mercer [email protected] 01743 281701 Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell The Voyage - Olympic celebrations in the Midlands, pg 41 Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry [email protected] News p4 01743 281717 Website Development: p13 Jim Pallett Music Jonathan Harvey Contributors: TO GET THE VERY interview inside p11 Graham Bostock: Theatre p24 Alev Dervish: Music LATEST LISTING Comedy James Cameron-Wilson: INFORMATION, Janice Connolly Film Theatre p27 Jessica Matthews: VISIT: interview inside p8 Features whatsonlive.co.uk Head Office: Dance p41 4/5 Dogpole, Shrewsbury, INCLUDING Shropshire. SY1 1EN BOOKING ONLINE Tel: 01743 281777 Film/DVD p45 Fax: 01743 281744 The Midlands’ most e-mail: [email protected] comprehensive entertainment website Visual Arts p53 Festivals p57 This publication is Follow What’s On on printed on paper from a sustainable source and is Events p62 produced without the use of elemental chlorine. twitter.com/whatsonlive June 2012 We endorse the recycling Clubbing/Gay p77 of our magazine and MTWTFSS would encourage you to Become a fan 1 2 3 pass it on to others to p78 read when you have Books/TV 45678 9 10 finished with it. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 facebook.com/whatsonlive Eating Out p79 ’ 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 WhatsOn 25 26 27 28 29 30 MAGAZINE GROUP 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. News May_Layout 1 21/05/2012 11:34 Page 1 News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Bhangra legend gets his star Birmingham’s King of Bhangra Malkit Singh has been honoured with a star on the city’s Broad Street Walk of Stars. A recent event at the city centre’s Gatecrasher also saw the best-selling Bhangra artist presented with a plaque by the city’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Anita Ward (pictured), in recognition of his global contribution to Bhangra music. The plaque and star are the latest in a long line of accolades to be bestowed on the Punjabi artist. Vegetarian shark discovered at Birmingham attraction The National Sealife Centre in Birmingham’s Brindleyplace has announced that one of its prime specimens - a six-foot-long tropical All-star line-up for Jesus Christ Superstar shark - is, in fact, a vegetarian! In an effort to Radio One DJ Chris Moyles, Aussie comedian Tim Minchin and former Spice Girl Mel C are ensure that ‘Florence’ gets the natural pro- confirmed to appear in the forthcoming arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock tein she needs, numerous tactics have been opera Jesus Christ Superstar. The production, which comes to Birmingham’s National Indoor employed, including hiding fish inside celery Arena in October, will see Moyles take on the role of King Herod, while Mel B will star as the sticks, hollowed-out cucumbers and in show’s only female lead, Mary Magdeline. Award-winning Tim Minchin assumes the role of between lettuce leaves. Florence’s vegetari- Judas Iscariot. The search is now on for an actor to play Jesus, and Andrew Lloyd Webber anism was discovered when she underwent and ITV1 have rekindled their relationship to find the country’s most suitable candidate in a an operation to retrieve a fishing hook buried soon-to-be-screened new talent show. Of his role as Herod, Chris Moyles said: “To receive a deep inside her mouth. call from Andrew is very cool, but then when he asks you to be in his musical, that’s pretty amazing too. There’s only one way to respond, and that’s by saying yes! Absolutely! My mum’s gonna be well excited!" Industry accolade awarded Festival in need of street to Birmingham art gallery performers The Birmingham Institute of Fine Arts has Organisers of Lichfield’s Florette Festival been honoured with a prestigious industry Market have issued a plea for local jugglers, award for its recent Court On Canvas exhibi- magicians, storytellers and troubadours to tion. The museum was shortlisted from hun- step forward and showcase their skills at the dreds of entrants at a recent ceremony in 7 July event. The annual market, taking London, during which comedian Sue Perkins place around Lichfield Cathedral Close, fea- presented the Barber team with their well- tures numerous craft stalls and demonstra- deserved gong. tions, as well as plenty of local produce. Queen arrives in Shropshire... Local entertainers already confirmed for the one-day event include the Enigma Brass Two evenings of outdoor musical celebration Band, Watershed Theatre Company and are planned at the Shrewsbury Showground West Bromwich Operatic Society. So if this month. The well-toured Queen II take to you’re an entertainer the stage on 29 June, while on the 30th, the and are interested in Shrewsbury Light Orchestra present a patriotic putting on a show for Last Night Of The Proms concert and firework an expected twenty finale. What’s On has joined with the promoters thousand visitors, of these two concerts to offer readers the give Market co-ordi- chance to win tickets to both events. nater Jennifer Smith Interested? Then visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk a ring on 01543 to find out how to enter... 306275. 4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News May_Layout 1 21/05/2012 11:34 Page 2 Micky Flanagan dates announced... One of Britain’s best-loved comedians has announced that he’s to stop off in the Midlands as part of a brand new UK tour in 2013. Micky Flanagan’s risky brand of East End comedy has proved a real hit with audi- ences, and if previous gigs are anything to go by, this much-anticipated show is sure to be a quick sell. Micky brings his Back In The Game tour to Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, in February, Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena in March and Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall in April. The Saturdays show their Pride Chart-topping female band The Saturdays are headlining this year’s gay and lesbian Birmingham Pride. Taking the theme of It Gets Better, the two-day event gets under way with a colourful Carnival Parade, which will wind its way through the city centre to the main festi- val site of Birmingham’s Gay Village. A dance arena, main stage, cabaret marquee, funfair Casting announced for and community village green also feature. Joining The Saturdays at this year’s Pride are Stooshe, BBC Radio One’s Scott Mills, acclaimed DJ Judge Jules, Freemasons vocalist Phantom Of The Opera Amanda Wilson and the increasingly popular L Project. Wristbands will be required to get The Birmingham Hippodrome has con- into the Pride Entertainment Zone - main stage, dance arena, cabaret marquee and women’s firmed the line-up for the forthcoming pro- area - and are available both on the day and also in advance from duction of Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacu- www.birminghampride.com.