Birmingham Cover April 2018.qxp_Birmingham Cover 23/03/2018 13:57 Page 1 WICKED RETURNS TO Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON APRIL 2018 APRIL ON WHAT’S BIRMINGHAM Birmingham ISSUE 388 APRIL 2018 ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onbirminghamwhatson.co.uk PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP GROUP MEDIA ON WHAT’S OF PART TWITTER: @WHATSONBRUM TWITTER: @WHATSONBRUM FACEBOOK: @WHATSONBIRMINGHAM FACEBOOK: BIRMINGHAMWHATSON.CO.UK REP F/P April 2018.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2018 17:31 Page 1 Contents April Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/2018 14:03 Page 2 April 2018 Contents The Last Ship - Sting talks about bringing his acclaimed musical to the New Alex interview on page 8 Louise Distras Flatpack Festival Wicked the list punk songstress promotes cinematic invention and audio- hit musical returns to cast its your 16-page Land Of Dope & Glory in Brum visual delights across the city spell over Midlands audiences week-by-week listings guide page 17 feature page 14 feature page 22 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 17. Music 20. Comedy 24. Theatre 35. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events @whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonbirmingham Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham 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 WhatsOn Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ellie Hutchings [email protected] 01743 281706 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Jenny Ell, Lauren Cole, Steve Adams, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts, Daisy Sparkle, Carol Lovatt, Steve Taylor, Chris Eldon Lee 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 Birmingham April.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2018 11:38 Page 1 Entertainment news from around the region Jellyfish invasion at the National Sea Life Centre! A brand new permanent exhibition at Birming- ham’s National Sea Life Centre has opened in time for Easter. Jelly Invaders features five different jellyfish species from across the world - from the bizarre freshwater upside-down jellyfish to the glittering ‘sea nettle’ variety from the Indo-Pa- cific. Commenting on the new attraction, curator Jonny Rudd said: “Jellyfish are actually older than dinosaurs, as it’s believed they first swam in our oceans some 500 million years ago. With more than 350 different species, there’s a lot to uncover!” For further information or to pre-book tickets, visit sealife.co.uk/birmingham. Get your jig on as Digbeth Ride out for Birmingham Liverpool. The company’s Neil Anderson said: “We need festival makes a return Children’s Hospital... to find someone who can truly capture the Street art and performance, visual installa- Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity has essence of what was happening in the city in tions and ‘crazy’ stage sets that revitalise partnered with popular cycling event Mad the 1970s. We want to come up with a book Birmingham’s Digbeth area ‘in unimaginable Summer Hare to raise vital funds for the that takes people straight back to that time ways’ will all feature in next month’s Swinga- 90,000 sick children the hospital treats every and celebrates the legacy of the era that majig (Sunday 6 May). day. spawned heavy metal and so much more.” The sixth edition of the event boasts a line- The Mad Summer Hare sportive, taking place For more information, contact Neil on up of music that includes gypsy swing and on Sunday 2 September, will see participants [email protected] jazz, Balkan beats, dubstep DJs, bass heavy ride 72 miles to the Cotswolds in support of rhythms and traditional and electro swing. the hospital charity. New season announced ‘Burlesque acts, mindbending magicians, Commenting on the partnership, event or- world-class cabaret and circus daredevils’ ganiser Dan Fox said: “We’re thrilled to have for Birmingham theatre also feature in an event that organisers Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity as Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre has promise will be ‘one hell of a party’. our principle charity, and above all, we’re unveiled details of its 2018 line-up of shows. super-excited to see over 1,200 riders raising Motown The Musical, Saturday Night Fever money for the incredible work they do.” and Fame are just three of the hit productions For more information or to find out how you visiting the venue over the coming year. can donate, visit bch.org.uk Also featuring on the programme is Rock Of Ages, a festive run of Benidorm Live, the much-loved classic Dirty Dancing and a brand new production of Madagascar - A Mu- sical Adventure. For more information and to purchase tick- BE Festival weekly ets, visit atgtickets.com/Birmingham or call passes now on sale 0844 871 3011. Organisers of the annual BE Festival, which comprises five days of European performing arts and culture, have launched a special pass for people wishing to immerse them- selves in the event (taking place at Birming- Were you a dirty stop-out? ham Repertory Theatre from 3 to 7 July). A publishing company is on the lookout for The Weekly Pass includes the opportunity to someone to write its forthcoming book about see 20 shows across the festival and enjoy Birmingham’s nightlife, music and fashion dinner on the main stage each night. scene during the 1970s. For more information, visit birmingham- Dirty Stop Outs Ltd has already published rep.co.uk guides to 1970s Coventry, Manchester and 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham April.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2018 11:38 Page 2 First Word Well would you Adam and Elf it! A stage adaptation of Will Fer- rell’s hit festive movie Elf is vis- iting Birmingham in the run-up to Christmas, with pop legend David Essex and Love Actually favourite Martine McCutcheon taking top billing. The original stage version of Elf - A Christmas Spectacular played to record-breaking audi- ences at London’s Dominion Theatre in 2015/16. Commenting on the show, David Essex said: “The big special ef- fects that we have lined up are incredible, including a giant sleigh that will fly across the arena, an indoor snow blizzard and lots of skating, which all adds to this perfect Christmas story.” Elf - A Christmas Spectacular Birmingham theatre stages its first in-house production shows at Birmingham's Genting Birmingham Hippodrome is this month presenting its first in-house co-production. Arena from 20 to 24 December. A Twisted Tale Of Hansel And Gretel sees the Hurst Street-based venue and long-term collaborators For tickets, visit the venue box office or theticketfactory.com Open Theatre Company - one of the region’s leading promoters of Learning Disabled arts - support the emergence of actors and artists from BecauseWeCanCanCan, a learning disabled-led company based in the Midlands. The production, which shows at the Hippodrome’s Patrick Centre from 4 to 8 April before heading out on tour, will bring together live music, physical theatre and innovative design to recreate the clas- sic fairytale. A further three ‘twisted tales’ will be produced over the next three years. For more information, visit birminghamhippodrome.com New Year fun, Birmingham’s B-SIDE festival is back... Dog Jog in Brum Bangla style... Birmingham Hippodrome’s free annual festival celebrating all things hip-hop returns next month. An event encouraging dog own- Now in its third year, B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival takes place from ers to get fit and have fun with Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 May and features outdoor performances, their four-legged friends is com- ing to two Midlands cities this pop-up dance events, interactive talks, live graffiti art and a pro- autumn. gramme of high-energy workshops. Aimed at people of all ages and For more information, visit birminghamhippodrome.com/bside and abilities, the 5K Dog Jog pro- facebook.com/bside2018 motes a friendly, relaxed and fun atmosphere for everyone in- volved, with no time limits or Birmingham Town Hall is pressure. this month hosting a spe- The event takes place in Birm- ingham on 8 September and cial celebration in recog- Coventry on 9 September. nition of Pohela For more information, visit Boishakh, the Bangla dogjog.co.uk New Year. The Sunday 22 April fam- ily event will see the city’s Bangladeshi com- munity come together to enjoy an evening of tradi- tional food and music. For more information, visit thsh.co.uk whatsonlive.co.uk 5 Readers' Awards Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2018 12:03 Page 1 Readers’ What’sOn Awards WINNERS announced..