Birmingham Cover - Feb SITR_Mids Cover - August 27/01/2014 18:53 Page 1 BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S BIRMINGHAM ON WHAT’S THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE BIRMINGHAM ISSUE 338 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2014 ’ Whatwww.whatsonlive.co.uk sOnISSUE 338 FEBRUARY 2014 JADE EWEN IN BEN ELTON MUSICAL INTERVIEW INSIDE... BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET UK debut of The Prince Of The Pagodas in Brum PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS GROUP MAGAZINE ON WHAT’S MIDLANDS OF PART SAM SMITH brings the Sound Of 2014 to The Institute YEAR OF THE HORSE Southside celebrates Chinese New Year... @WHATSONBRUM WWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK @WHATSONBRUM B'ham Pride Ball (FP-Feb) 2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 18:21 Page 1 Friday 28 March 2014 International Convention Centre Birmingham A glittering night of action-packed entertainment including a special guest star Tickets inclusive of 3 course meal, live entertainment and disco Dress code: Smart lounge suits, black tie, ball gowns and frocks! SAVE £100 PER TABLE WHEN YOU BOOK & PAY BEFORE 28 FEB! BOOK ONLINE NOW AT www.prideball.co.uk or CALL RYAN HUMPHREYS ON 01743 281722 Save or email: [email protected] £££’s This is THE LGBT party of the year! ‘Early Bird’ Tickets & Tables - book your table now! UNTIL 28 FEB! THE UK’S BIGGEST LGBT BALL Contents- Region One - Feb_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:40 Page 1 February 2014 Editor: Davina Evans INSIDE: [email protected] 01743 281708 Editorial Assistants: Matthew Bourne Brian O’Faolain [email protected] chats about Swan Lake 01743 281701 interview p8 Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Sales & Marketing: Jon Cartwright [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Seven Brides... Managing Director: classic American musical Paul Oliver [email protected] arrives in the Midlands p27 01743 281711 Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan [email protected] 01743 281710 Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator Julia Perry Ex-Sugababe Jade Ewen talks about her role in Ben Elton’s musical, [email protected] Tonight’s The Night - interview page 6 01743 281717 Website Development: Jim Pallett TO GET THE VERY Alan Ayckbourn Contributors: p4 talks about his latest play Graham Bostock: Theatre LATEST LISTING News James Cameron-Wilson: interview p10 Film; Anita Champaneri: INFORMATION, Eating Out; Music p13 Alev Dervish: Music VISIT: Eva Easthope, Kate whatsonlive.co.uk Evans, Jessica Aston, Comedy p22 Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, INCLUDING Jan Watts, Reggie White BOOKING ONLINE Theatre p25 Head Office: 13-14 Abbey Foregate, The Midlands’ most Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE comprehensive p40 Tel: 01743 281777 entertainment website Dance e-mail: [email protected] Follow us on... 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News February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:47 Page 1 News A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Private Peaceful heading for the Midlands A new UK tour of the hit one-man show Private Peaceful is heading for the Midlands. Simon Reade’s highly acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s World War One novel tells the story of a young soldier awaiting a dawn firing squad. The produc- tion, which debuted in 2004 and has since played to sell-out audiences across the country, sees Paul Chequer and Andy Daniel sharing the role of Private Tommo Peaceful. Chequer appeared in the 2012 film version of the story, while Daniel’s theatre credits include Journey’s End, The Railway Children and The History Boys. This latest tour, mark- ing the centenary of the beginning of World War One, shows at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from 17 to 19 April, and at The REP, Birmingham, from 14 to 17 May. Drayton Manor gearing up for new attraction One of the region’s most popular visitor attractions is getting ready to launch a new family thrill ride. Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth, Staffordshire, which already features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides in the UK - Shock-wave, G-Force, Maelstrom, ELO co-founder honoured Apocalypse and Splash Canyon - will welcome new stomach-churning aerial adventure Air in home city Race in time for the summer school holidays. Accommodating twenty-four riders at any one time, Air Race will feature banks, loops, dives and weightlessness, and will allow visitors to Composer, music producer and Brummie experience accelerations of almost 4G. Little wonder, then, that Drayton Manor is promising rock legend Jeff Lynne is to join fellow musi- the new ride will give thrill-seekers ‘the time of their life’. cians Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Roy Wood on Birmingham’s Walk Of Stars, locat- ed along the city’s popular Broad Street. Businesses invited to raise from both the UK and abroad. This year’s ELO co-founder Lynne, who’s worked with festival takes place at locations across the some of the industry’s biggest names, will their rackets for charity city from 11 to 27 July. Applications to take be presented with a duplicate of the A ‘shuttlecock showdown’ at Birmingham’s part are now being sought from individuals Birmingham-made commemorative star by National Indoor Arena (NIA) is inviting local and companies in various theatrical disci- comedian Jasper Carrott at a ceremony at businesses to showcase their racket skills for plines, including theatre (adult and children), the Library of Birmingham on 13 March. charity. The 21 February event sees teams of dance, music, comedy and poetry. For fur- Commenting on the newly bestowed honour, four battle it out on court, with the participat- ther information, visit Lynne said: “I’m thrilled to be included on ing players being drawn from Birmingham’s www.birminghamfest.co.uk the Birmingham Walk of Stars! It’s great to business community. All monies raised will have my work recognised in my home go to Badminton England’s chosen charity, town!” The Anders Foundation, an organisation My UK opens it first which encourages young people of all abili- Birmingham hub ties to achieve their sporting goals. The Birmingham Business Shuttlecock The Birmingham arm of a national company is Showdown is followed at the NIA a couple of on the lookout for performers to star in its weeks later by the Yonex All England debut presentation later this year. Since its Badminton Championships, taking place launch five years ago, Musical Youth UK from 4 to 9 March. (MyUK) has taken the nation by storm, with six regional hubs and performances on the West End stage. As well as providing large-scale Applications sought for musical performance opportunities, the compa- ny also teaches vital stagecraft skills for would- Birmingham festival be professional performers. MyUK Birmingham Organisers of an independent performing launched in January and is currently seeking arts festival which made its debut in youngsters aged eleven to nineteen to perform Birmingham last year have announced its in its production of Les Miserables at the return for 2014. Designed to ‘celebrate the Crescent Theatre from 18 to 23 August. Email second city’s venues and arts scene’, [email protected] to express your Birmingham Fest showcases new works interest. 4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk News February region one_Layout 1 27/01/2014 16:47 Page 2 Flatpack announces archive image of Birmingham Opera company headline events A festival which started out ten years ago as a monthly night in a Digbeth pub has announced its 2014 headliners. The eleven- day Flatpack Film Festival is described as holding a ‘unique place in the UK’s film scene’. Organisers are promising the 2014 event will offer ‘an eye-popping line-up of new features, shorts and special guests, as well as providing an alternative route-map to Birmingham via walking tours, installations and pop-up screenings across the city.’ This year’s highlights include The World Made Itself - an immersive piece of myth-making from LA-based artist and performer Miwa Matryek - the UK premiere of The Great Flood, which provides a portrait of the dev- astation caused by the Mississippi floods of 1927, Birmingham On Sea - a tale of a land- locked city’s love affair with water - and an immersive and horizontal screening of 1972 sci-fi movie Silent Burning. Flatpack Festival runs from 20 to 30 March. For further infor- mation, visit www.flatpackfestival.org.uk Secret location for Russian political drama Birmingham Opera Company is using a ‘secret venue’ to present a brand new production of Musorgsky’s The Khovansky Files: A National Enquiry (‘Khovanshchina’) in April. The power- ful political drama, which centres on rebellion and revolution, will be performed as part of the city’s Russia Year of Culture 2014 celebrations, the opening performance of which takes place at Birmingham’s Town Hall this month.