Staffordshire Cover October 2017 .qxp_Staffordshire Cover 22/09/2017 12:45 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands JOE MCELDERRY STARS AS JOSEPH AT THE REGENT STAFFORDSHIRE WHAT’S ON OCTOBER 2017 ON OCTOBER WHAT’S STAFFORDSHIRE Staffordshire ISSUE 382 OCTOBER 2017 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On staffordshirewhatson.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 colourfulAPHRA life BEHN’Sunveiled at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre TWITTER: @WHATSONSTAFFS @WHATSONSTAFFS rock’n’rollLOUIS forBERRY the 21st century at The Sugarmill FACEBOOK: @STAFFORDSHIREWHATSON FACEBOOK: Pop-up,ROUNDABOUT plug-and-play theatre in the Potteries STAFFORDSHIREWHATSON.CO.UK Contents October Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:24 Page 1 Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LT 16+ ANGELOS AND BARRY - ‘THE NEW POWER GENERATION’ "COMEDY PALS’ BARMY BANTER IS A PUERILE DELIGHT" THE GUARDIAN FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER 8.00PM ALL TICKETS £15.50 NED BOULTING’S BIKEOLOGY JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR NED BOULTING IS BACK THIS AUTUMN WITH HIS ACCLAIMED SELL OUT RIDE THROUGH THE WORLD OF BIKEOLOGY THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER, 7.30PM ALL TICKETS £20.50 TOSCA “BY FAR THE BEST COMPANY TO BRING RUSSIAN OPERA TO BRITISH AUDIENCES” STAGE TALK MAGAZINE FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER, 7.30PM £32.50 ADULTS £30.50 CONCS WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT A STUNNING CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS OF OUR TIME SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER, 7.30PM ALL TICKETS £24.50 PG CHRIS RYAN – HOW TO STAY SAFE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD AN EXPERT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, CHRIS RYAN SHOWS YOU HOW TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE MONDAY 23 OCTOBER, 7.30PM ALL TICKETS £14.50 MILKSHAKE! LIVE 2017 THIS BRAND NEW LIVE SHOW IS SURE TO AMAZE AND DELIGHT! THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER, 12.00PM & 3.30PM TICKETS £15.00 FAMILY TICKET £54.00 16+ RUBY WAX - ‘FRAZZLED’ THE FOLLOW UP TO HER SELL-OUT TOURING SHOW, AND BEST-SELLING BOOK, ‘SANE NEW WORLD’ FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER, 8.00PM ALL TICKETS £20.50 DICK & DOM LIVE *WARNING - YOU MAY GET MESSY* SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER, 11.00AM & 2.00PM ADULTS £12.50 CHILD £10.50 FAMILY £42.00 View the full listings at www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk Box office 01785 619080 Contents October Shrops.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:23 Page 2 October 2017 Contents Disney On Ice - grab your passport for one big adventure at Genting Arena - more on page 45 Carrie Hope Fletcher Matt Lucas Awful Auntie the list talks about being part of talks about life, from Little David Walliams’ much-loved Your 16-page The Addams Family... Britain to Little Me story arrives on stage week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 interview page 19 page 30 page 53 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 39. Film 42. Visual Arts 44. 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 Yvonne Kentfield [email protected] 01743 281706 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 MEDIA GROUP Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox, Lauren Cole, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts 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 September.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:27 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region A taste of Munich as new beer festival takes a bow Munich is coming to the Shropshire town of Shrewsbury this month. Well, sort of. Legendary Munich beer festival Oktoberfest is the inspiration behind a brand new event from Shropshire Festivals. Also using the Oktoberfest name, the event debuts in the town’s Quarry Park from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 October. As well as showcasing more than 150 ales with which to wet your whistle, the event also features process parlours, a gin den and mixology classes to shake things up. There’s music to enjoy too, ranging from oompah bands to the very best local talent, as well as a comedy zone to get you laughing. Lederhosen is optional... Telly show to premiere at facilities, wifi, touchscreen tables and Heartthrob Nigel back at computer tablets. It will be located on the classic motor event ground floor at the city’s St Mary’s Church. the helm for Shrek tour A UK premiere screening of the first episode Former EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman in the 14th season of hit TV show Wheeler will be taking the director’s chair for Shrek Dealers will take place at next month’s The Musical when it visits the Midlands on Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at its nationwide tour. Birmingham’s NEC. Nigel made his directorial debut on the first Classic motoring enthusiasts are being given ever tour of the hit show, having previously the chance to win two tickets to view the originated the role of Lord Farquaad in the screening. If they book their show tickets West End, a performance for which he won a before Thursday 26 October, they will coveted Olivier Award. automatically be entered into a prize draw. Shrek The Musical stops off at the New The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show Wellbeing in the Midlands Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, from returns to Birmingham’s NEC from Friday 10 The Wellbeing Festival is returning to Wednesday 14 to Sunday 25 February. It then to Sunday 12 November. For more Birmingham’s NEC next month (3 - 5 returns to the region three months later for a information, visit necclassicmotorshow.com November), with the organisation behind the run at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent show, Mind Body Spirit, this year celebrating (Wednesday 2 to Sunday 13 May). its 40th anniversary. Tickets can be purchased by calling 0844 871 The three-day event offers ‘spiritual seekers’ 7649 or visiting atgtickets.com a safe place in which to commune and share their ideas, beliefs and philosophies. Attractions at this month’s show include a workshop programme presenting new ideas on relationships, awakening, inspired living, NLP, yoga, meditation, science & angels. New for this year is the Ceremony Space, an area in which visitors can focus on intimate ceremony-based experiences. For more information, visit mindbodyspirit.co.uk Work now underway on new Lichfield library Work has begun to create a brand new library in Lichfield. The new facility, which is to be modelled on Stafford Library, will include 3D printing 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Wolves_Shrops_Staffs September.qxp_Layout 1 22/09/2017 12:27 Page 2 First Word Cathedral opener for Lichfield fest The Lichfield Festival Of Folk is this month taking place for a fifth year. A friendly event which has developed a devoted following of discerning music fans, L2F, as it’s otherwise known, is kickstarted by a Lich- field Cathedral performance from Jon Boden of Bellowhead fame. As well as an impressive programme of music across the weekend, the event also fea- tures processions, dance, work- shops and exhibitions. L2F takes place at various ven- ues from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October. Strictly tour to kick off in the Midlands Joe Pasquale to star as Frank Spencer in Wolverhampton Strictly Come Dancing’s 2018 live tour will kick off at Arena Panto favourite and one-time I’m A Celebrity winner Joe Pasquale makes a welcome return to the Birmingham on 19 January region next spring, to star as the accident-prone Frank Spencer in a stage version of classic 1970s (until the 21st). sitcom Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em. The show stops off at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 15 The stage version of the hit TV to 19 May. The character of Frank Spencer was made famous by Michael Crawford in the popular TV show will be hosted by reigning series, which ran from 1973 to ’78. Sarah Earnshaw portrays Frank’s long-suffering wife, Betty, in the champion Ore Oduba new show. For more info, visit grandtheatre.co.uk (pictured), with Craig Revel Horwood (who directs for the eighth year) and Bruno Tonioli once again on the judging Midlands panel. writer set for Commenting on the upcoming tour, Ore said: "Winning Strictly Hollywood was the most unforgettable A Midlands author’s experience and a dream come latest novel is being true. This show and its fans will tipped for big movie always hold a special place in success. my heart. I can't wait to travel Liam Brown’s the UK again and meet the Broadcast has been fantastic audiences that make Strictly the phenomenon we snapped up by a know and love.” major Hollywood studio.