Birmingham Cover Online.qxp_Birmingham Cover 05/01/2016 11:33 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands Birmingham ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 361 JANUARY 2016 KEVIN HART LITTLE FOCKERS STAR LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide LEONALEONA LEWISLEWIS EMPOWERED IN THE MIDLANDS interviewinterview inside...inside... Belgrade (FP) DEC 2015.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2015 20:22 Page 1 Contents December Region 1 (REVAMP).qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2015 21:22 Page 1 January 2016 Contents The Rocky Horror Show - Frank N Furter back in Brum with a brand new version page 28 Nicola Benedetti Kevin Hart Anna Maxwell Martin the list Acclaimed violinist joins the Little Fockers star live in Brum BAFTA winner brings Lady Your 16-page CBSO at Symphony Hall page 24 Macbeth to The REP week-by-week listings guide page 16 page 22 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 14. Music 24. Comedy 28. Theatre 38. Film 42. Visual Arts 44. Events @whatsonbrum @whatsonwarwicks @whatsonworcs Birmingham What’s On Magazine Warwickshire What’s On Magazine Worcestershire What’s On Magazine Editorial Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Editorial: Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Chris Eldon Lee, Heather Kincaid, Steve Adams, Helen Stallard, Clare Higgins, Tina Freeth. Managing Director: Paul Oliver Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell, Chris Atherton 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 Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2015 21:49 Page 1 First Word Grammy Award nomination for Birmingham music group Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) has been nominated for its first ever Grammy Award. The nomination was received for the ensemble’s recording of Gerald Barry’s zany operatic setting of The Importance Of Being Earnest. Commenting on the accolade, BCMG Artistic Director Stephen Newbould said: “What an end to 2015 we had! We’re over the moon at this Grammy nomination. Our con- gratulations extend, of course, to Gerald Barry for his extraordinary score, to Thomas Adés for his masterful con- ducting, and to NMC Recordings for having the foresight to record and release the work for us all to enjoy. For Birmingham Contemporary Music Group to be listed amongst prestigious artists gives genuine recognition to the quality of our work on an international stage.” The Grammy Awards take place on 15 February. Grammy Award nominated Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Literacy initiative invites the Young Voices Arnie set to entertain community to join in ready to sing diners at black-tie event their hearts out... The world’s largest chil- dren’s choir is this month celebrating its twentieth anniversary with five per- formances in Birmingham. In total, Young Voices will be completing twenty arena dates up and down the country. The choir performs all styles of music and is designed to unify children from Legendary movie star and one-time Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is head- A new literacy-focused arts project has been launched in across the region. ing to Birmingham this month, to host an the West Midlands. The Big Read aims to encourage litera- Over the years, Young exclusive black-tie dinner event. cy development through creativity. The initiative invites Voices have performed An Experience With Arnold Schwarzenegger schools and community groups to decorate BookBench with artists such as takes place at the city’s International sculptures, which are benches shaped as open books. Alexandra Burke, Joss Convention Centre on 21 January and fea- The project is being presented by Wild In Art with the Stone and Gary Barlow, tures a live interview with the Hollywood Schools of King Edward VI and in association with the as well as raising over actor. National Literacy Trust and Birmingham Children’s £1million for various chil- Other attractions on the night include Hospital Charity. The painted BookBenches will furnish dren’s charities. Terminator-themed events, a lifesize the region’s museums, libraries and cultural hubs, turning The choir performs at the Schwarzenegger model display, a the city and surrounding regions into a virtual library. NEC, Birmingham, from Schwarzenegger and Terminator imperson- The Big Read will be complemented by a programme of 11 to 15 January. ator, a twenty-two-piece orchestra and Rat activities based around the displays. These will include Pack singer, and a charity auction with poetry slams, storytelling sessions, creative writing and signed, bespoke Schwarzenegger comic book illustration workshops. If you’d like to register memorabilia. your school or community group for The Big Read, or if your venue is interested in exhibiting BookBenches and supporting The Big Read with literacy-focused activities, visit thebigread.org.uk or email [email protected]. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Region 1.qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2015 21:03 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region Science festival Dance that line-up announced subverts the Author, broadcaster and anatomist senses Professor Alice Roberts will discuss The history of homosexu- her latest BBC series, The Celts, at ality in twentieth century the fourth University of Birmingham Arts & Science Festival, which takes Spain is the subject of a place in March. brand new show from The festival brings together leading choreographer Carlos scientists, thinkers and artists from Pons Guerra and his the university and wider city for a DeNada Dance Theatre week of free talks, events, exhibi- company. tions and performance. It also includes presentations by leading Showing in Birmingham arts organisations around the city. next month, dance triple These include Ikon Gallery, Vivid bill Ham And Passion is Projects, Grand Union, Birmingham being promoted as an Open Media and mac Birmingham. evening of ‘seductive, This year taking the theme of provocative and emphati- Memory And Forgetting, the festival will explore the idea of memory in cally Spanish contempo- our culture and of the social signifi- rary dance theatre that cance of remembrance and memori- will subvert the senses’. alisation. The production visits the Commenting on the event, Laura city’s mac venue on Milner, Cultural Partnerships Thursday 25 February. Manager at the University of Birmingham, said: “The festival is a chance for curious minds to delve into new thinking from leading aca- demics and artists. It overlooks the Celebrating 400 years of the Bard traditional division between arts Matt Slack and science: each discipline can returns for With this year marking the four hundredth anniversary of inform the other, sparking debate 2016 panto Shakespeare’s death, the playwright’s home of Stratford-upon-Avon is and new understanding about the currently gearing up to commemorate the occasion. rich world in which we live.” Dick Whittington will The popular town, and venues in the surrounding area, will be cele- The University of Birmingham Arts be hoping the streets of brating his legacy with a range of new exhibitions and events. These & Science Festival takes place at the the Midlands are paved university and across the city from include a new, immersive theatrical experience at the Royal with gold next 14 to 20 March. Shakespeare Company, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s final home, Christmas, with the leg- and the opening - for the first time to the general public - of endary lad having been Shakespeare’s Schoolroom at King Edward VI School. selected by Birmingham Round The World For more information, visit shakespeares-england.co.uk Hippodrome for its for comedian 2016/17 pantomime. Presented, as usual, by The Play’s The Thing at the RSC Qdos Entertainment, the world's biggest pan- A new exhibition is set to reveal the tomime producer, the secrets behind the world’s most show will run at the famous theatre company. Hurst Street venue from The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Monday 19 December (RSC) The Play’s The Thing opens in 2016 to Sunday 29 Stratford-upon-Avon in June. January 2017. The new family-friendly visitor attrac- Critically acclaimed comedian tion offers members of the general Russell Howard has announced that public the chance to discover the he’ll be performing in Birmingham - secrets and stories behind the mak- but fans will have to wait a while to ing of the Company’s world famous productions. see him, as he won’t be bringing his new show to the city until March There’s also the chance to see some of the RSC’s beautifully crafted 2017. costumes and props, and learn how magical and gory stage and sound Round The World will be Russell’s effects are made. biggest global tour to date, and will Commenting on The Play’s The Thing, Geraldine Collinge, RSC see the Bristol-born funnyman mak- Director of Events & Exhibitions, said: “The exhibition will let people ing a return to the live stage for the discover how our productions have been made over the years and how first time in three years.