Shropshire Cover November 2019.qxp_Shropshire Cover 22/11/2019 15:53 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands JIM JEFFERIES OUT ON TOUR... SHROPSHIRE WHAT’S ON DECEMBER 2019 ON DECEMBER WHAT’S SHROPSHIRE Shropshire ISSUE 408 DECEMBER 2019 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On shropshirewhatson.co.uk PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP GROUP MEDIA ON WHAT’S OF PART inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide THE NUTCRACKER Birmingham Royal Ballet’s festive family favourite returns TWITTER: @WHATSONSHROPS TWITTER: HANDEL’S MESSIAH ever-popular Christmas concert at Shrewsbury’s Abbey Church FACEBOOK: @WHATSONSHROPSHIRE STEP BACK IN TIME a Victorian-style Christmas at Ironbridge Gorge’s Blists Hill SHROPSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK IFC Shropshire.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2019 14:29 Page 1 Contents December Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 14:38 Page 2 December 2019 Contents Hi-Dick-Hi! Su Pollard and Jeffrey Holland reunite in Dick Whittington at the Wolverhampton Grand... page 26 Ex Cathedra The King And I Enchanted Weston the list perform festive favourites from West End musical dances into explore an illuminated Your 16-page around the globe... the Midlands for Christmas wonderland this festive season week-by-week listings guide page 16 page 20 page 47 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 12. Food 17. Gigs 19. Comedy 24. Theatre 34. Film 36. Visual Arts 41. Events @whatsonwolverhampton @staffordshirewhatson @whatsonshropshire Wolverhampton What’s On Staffordshire What’s On Shropshire What’s On 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 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Lauren Cole [email protected] 01743 281733 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Subscriptions: Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Nanci Davies, Patsy Moss 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 Wolves_Shrops_Staffs December copy.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 16:01 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region An illuminating Christmas show Lichfield Cathedral’s award-win- ning Christmas light-and-sound show is making a welcome re- turn for 2019. Once again facilitated by artistic collaboration Luxmuralis, the show is entitled The Beginning and features artwork produced in collaboration with thousands of local school children. Christmas visitors to the cathe- dral can enjoy the lights from 16 to 21 December. Tickets are sold in 15-minute time slots. Entry to the Cathedral Close will be at the allotted ticket time. Opera production looking The award will enable the venue to start a month. major fundraising & project plan that will see Waltzing its way into Arena Birmingham for the pawfect pooch... the most significant investment in the the- from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 January, the Has your dog got star quality? atre’s main auditorium for over 30 years. sequin-filled show features TV judges Shirley If so, there’s a chance they could appear in The work is set to improve customer experi- Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno the Ellen Kent production of Puccini’s fa- ence, increase accessibility and enable more Tonioli. Taking to the dancefloor with their mous opera, La Boheme, when it visits the people to engage with the New Vic’s shows, professional dance partners are celebrities Wolverhampton Grand on 26 January. education and community work. Karim Zeroual, Kelvin Fletcher, Saffron To audition your pooch, send a photograph Barker, Mike Bushell, Alex Scott, Emma to [email protected]. Include in the Barton and Catherine Tyldesley. email your contact number and address, as If you’re a fan of the hit BBC TV show, this is well as the breed, height, weight, age and definitely an evening out not to be missed... name of your canine companion. Be sure to state that you wish your dog to be considered for inclusion in the Wolverhamp- ton Grand performance of the production. If your audition is successful, the Ellen Kent company will contact you a week before the show. A tale of young love for Stafford Shakespeare 30th Stafford Shakespeare Festival has announced that it will be celebrating its 30th anniversary year in 2020 by presenting a production of Cinema showings mark Romeo & Juliet. Friends’ 25th anniversary The show will be performed outdoors at The Showcase cinemas in Dudley and Stafford Castle from 25 June to 11 July. Walsall are this month hosting three special For more information and to book tickets, screenings to celebrate the 25th anniversary visit staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk Staffordshire theatre wins of hit US comedy series Friends. funding for refurb project The cinemas will be showing 12 remastered- Strictly - live and on tour... in-4K fan-favourite episodes across three The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under- With 2018 winner Stacey Dooley taking on nights - Sunday 8, Wednesday 11 and Sunday Lyme has been awarded £353,225 by Arts the presenting role, the Strictly Come 15 December. Council England to help upgrade its famous Dancing Live tour is back with a bang next To book tickets, visit showcasecinemas.co.uk theatre-in-the-round. 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs December copy.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 16:01 Page 2 First Word Walking In The Chris Ramsey bringing Air at Lichfield new show to the Midlands Cathedral Midlands-based lovers of quality comedy get Fans of festive family plenty of opportunity to indulge their interest favourite The Snowman have next year when Chris Ramsey heads out on a the chance to go Walking In UK tour. The Air once again this As well as being a highly rated stand-up on the Christmas. UK circuit, Geordie boy Chris has also devel- A screening of the much- oped an impressive TV career, appearing on loved animated version of shows including 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Celebrity Raymond Briggs’ story is Juice, South Shields-set sitcom Hebburn and taking place this month at the the 2019 series of Strictly Come Dancing. cathedrals of Coventry and The critically acclaimed comedian is stopping Lichfield - and in both cases off at a number of venues in the region, includ- will be accompanied by a live ing Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn on 4 April. orchestra. The event, which To check out all of Chris’ Midlands gigs, visit also features new animated his website: chrisramseycomedy.com film A Donkey’s Tale, takes place at Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 7 December and Warm your cockles in then at Lichfield Cathedral on Friday 27 December. a festive tipi! Telford Christmas Market is now open (until Mon- day 23 December) and features some brand new ad- ditions, including a Santa’s Grotto - he’s there on selected dates - and a double hat tipi, designed to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in which visitors and shoppers can sit back and enjoy a favourite tipple at Jukes Bar. The market also fea- tures its usual selection of unique artisan stalls and food outlets. Lionel Richie to A Question Of Shrewsbury named one of the tour Hello show Sport turns 50 UK’s top 10 Christmas towns West Midlands fans of inter- Shrewsbury is one of the top 10 UK towns in which national superstar Lionel to spend Christmas, according to a list compiled by Richie can enjoy an evening holiday-cottages booking site Snaptrip. in the singer’s company next Describing the town as offering ‘an enchanting summer by making a beeline Christmas in a historical setting’, Snaptrip said: for North Wales. “Christmas in Shrewsbury is a special time indeed. Lionel will be taking his Hello The cobblestone streets of this medieval town come touring show to Wrexham alive with fairy lights, lantern parades and groups Racecourse on Thursday 4 of carol singers. As well as a jam-packed schedule June. For tickets, visit Ticket- of Christmas events, the town is also brimming with master.co.uk The BBC’s A Question Of Sport - the world's cosy cafes, traditional pubs and plenty of lovely longest-running TV sports quiz - is celebrat- shops - the perfect setting for a lazy winter’s after- ing its 50th anniversary in 2020 with a live noon.” tour. The show will feature host Sue Barker and resident team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell, along with big-name guests from across the sporting world. The tour stops off at Birmingham’s Sym- phony Hall on Monday 27 April. Tickets are now available and can be pur- chased at ticketmaster.co.uk whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs December copy.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2019 16:02 Page 3 First Word Give a little this Up close and festive season personal with Sex Acorns Children’s Hospice is Pistols frontman appealing for donations to Sex Pistols and Public Image ensure its network of shops is Ltd star John Lydon is visiting fully stocked in the run-up to the Midlands next autumn with Christmas.