March / April 2020
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What’s on this Easter in & around Boldmere
Live events on the big screen at Empire Cinema Win Empire Cinema Tickets
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A Guide to Bordeaux
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WALK FOR PARKINSON’S Take strides in Sutton Park for a Parkinson's cure Join us for a walk in beautiful Sutton Park on Sunday 7th June Start time 11.00am Sign-up fee: £12 for adults and £6 for under 16s
Our walks take place across the UK - in beautiful parks, across sensational countryside and through historic towns and cities. And with shorter and longer distances to sho choose from, whether you're up for a challenging walk or a gentle stroll, your vital support will help us find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's.
#WalkforParkinsons
We are Parkinson's UK. Powered by people. Funded by you. Together we'll find a cure.
Contact: fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk 0800 138 6593
To sign up visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkbirmingham
Well, hello you!
Welcome page
Editor’s Letter
Welcome to the March/April issue of the Boldmere Pages. It has been a while since I wrote one of these, that’s because we took February off. The reason for doing so was to help reset the issue pattern and get it on to a more seasonal layout, so we will now have a July/August issue for example, and a November/December issue. This new pattern will ensure that stories and adverts will be perfect for the season meaning they are great for you to enjoy and make the most of. In this issue, we’re looking at a bit of cinema history with our local Empire Cinema and how it’s taking full advantage of its Art Deco architecture to help enhance the experience of watching live events such as ballet, opera and theatre on the big screen. We’re also looking the beautiful French city of Bordeaux in Matt’s travel column and you can catch up with the latest news on what’s going on in the Neighbourhood Forum pages. It’s hard to believe we’re already a quarter of the way through 2020, I just wish the weather would perk up soon! Have a great Easter!
Robin
Robin Gray Editor
boldmerepages@grayjonesmedia.com
Nick Moreton Designer
nick.moreton@me.com
Links www.boldmerepages.co.uk Facebook.com/theboldmerepages Twitter.com/boldmerepages Instagram.com/boldmerepages Issuu.com/boldmerepages boldmerepages@grayjonesmedia.com
In this issue... Live at Empire Cinema... p.4-5 Travel Expert on Tour... p.6 What’s On... p.10-11 Films to see... p.12 Neighbourhood Forum News... p.20-21
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Win Empire Cinema Tickets
Live at Empire Cinema
Sutton Coldfield’s Empire Cinema opened as an Odeon cinema on 18th April 1936, making it nearly 85 years old! Its sleek Art Deco architecture led it to be considered to be one of the best designed Odeon cinemas. In 1998, the then Odeon Cinema was designated a Grade II Listed building. In 2006, the cinema was taken over by Empire Cinemas. The main auditorium has been subdivided up over the years, but Screen 4 still retains many of the original Art Deco décor and it’s this screen which hosts Empire’s live theatre screenings, its impressive surroundings adding to the authentic experience.
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Badged as Empire Extra, you can enjoy big stage productions and events from the comfort of the local theatre screen. Whether it’s ballet from London’s Royal Opera House, opera from New York’s Met Opera, musicals from London’s West End, or theatre from the Royal Shakespeare Company, there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone.
Because we are an Art Deco cinema, we still have a theatre feel to us and we try and deliver that as part of the experience. We acknowledge the profile of customers wishing to watch such live events and we try to ensure their visit is effortless. I think customers who choose us do so as they feel like they are attending a theatre rather than a cinema. We have ushers handing out programs and have drinks & ice cream sales preshow and in intervals. One other thing that is enjoyable to our customers is that most live performance have preshow interaction or interviews with the cast as well as some behind the scenes stuff like looking at the costumes the actors will be wearing.
This Spring there is Swan Lake from the Royal Opera House, 42nd Street The Musical from the West End, King John from the RSC, VE Day 75 Live from the Royal Albert Hall, and so much more! I had a quick chat with Des Christie, General Manager of Sutton Coldfield Empire Cinema, about the live events.
Do you have a say personally in what live events you pick to screen?
Robin: Hi Des, how long have you at Empire Cinema in Sutton Coldfield?
We play to our strengths and our film booking team have a fantastic relationship with the broadcasters of live performances. We get great content from ROH, The RSC and NTLive. But it’s not just performances from theatres we show, we also show music concerts such as Take That Live and Andre Rieu’s Maastricht concerts, they are always a favourite at Empire.
Des: I’ve been General Manager of Empire for 5 years now. What’s the benefit of seeing live theatre and events in a cinema in general? Our live events enable us to bring fantastic shows to the big screen and gives the customer a chance to see one of their favourite plays or concerts which they would have missed or not been able to attend. Shows such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Romeo & Juliet are historically fantastic plays which people love to watch, by playing these live events, fans get to see their favourite shows in the comfort of their local cinema, within a budget they can afford and a lot more convenient to travel to and from.
What are you most excited about that’s coming up? We have some great variety coming up at Sutton Coldfield including VE Day 75 Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Riverdance 25th Anniversary from Dublin, Michael Ball & Alfie Boe from London’s O2 Arena.
Explore what’s coming up at www.empirecinemas.co.uk
Why do you think seeing live theatre and live events is so special at this cinema in particular? 5
New Spring Collections arriving daily from Casamia Mudflower Jessica Graf Saloos Robell Anna Montana plus many more
Action-packed childcare this
School Holiday We accept childcare vouchers
10% OFF
WITH CODE BOLDMERE20 Offer expires at 5pm on Friday 8th May
Open from 8am-6pm
Ofsted
registered VC373154
Sutton Coldfield Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
Easter Holiday 6th - 17th April May Half Term 26th - 29th May See website for full schedule
For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1082
What’s on FOLIO Sutton Coldfield Local Authors Book Festival 14th March, 11.30am-4.30pm, Sutton Coldfield Library
Highbury Players present Deep Cut
Come and find out about all the amazing authors (fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more) who live in or write about Sutton Coldfield. Browse book stalls, listen to panel discussions about our authors’ work and learn how Sutton Coldfield has a long history of being an inspiration for writers. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/ events/741521339682030/
Cheryl James died at Deepcut Barracks in 1995. In fact, there were four deaths of young soldiers at Deepcut, all of which were treated as suicides by the army. This docu-drama tells the story of how Cheryl’s parents Des and Doreen struggle to uncover the truth. To book: www.highburytheatre.co.uk
17th-28th March, Highbury Theatre
St Patrick’s Festival
Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club Curry and Quiz Night
15th March, Digbeth
The Birmingham St Patrick’s Parade, which traditionally takes place on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, goes back to 1952 and was the first in Britain. The Festival still draws in crowds from far and wide, welcoming over 100,000 people from around the world to Digbeth, celebrating what it is now the third largest St Patrick’s Parade in the world. Free entry to all.
20th March, 7pm, Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club
Prizes, raffle and curry… what more could anyone want?! £10 per person to enter, curry included! For more: www.facebook.com/ events/480700005942360/
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best e h t f ck o i p nd a r u n i O o to d s g n re . i e th m d l d Bo a ro u n
Sleep Easy Challenge – YMCA Sutton Coldfield
27th March, 7pm, Gracechurch Centre On Friday 27th March 2020, YMCA Sutton Coldfield will be sleeping out overnight at the Gracechurch Centre in Sutton Coldfield from 7pm - 7am to raise awareness and money to prevent youth homelessness. Get a group together; grab your friends, family or colleagues and take up the challenge of a night in a cardboard box! For more info and to book: www.facebook.com/ events/874646389563986/
Sutton Coldfield Vintage Fair 19th April, 11am-4.30pm, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
The Second City’s Biggest and Best Vintage Fair returns to Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall in 2020! Over 70 stalls of the highest quality, live vintage entertainment throughout plus refreshments all day! All for just £1 entry! Don’t miss it! For more info: www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com/ sutton-vintage-fair-april-2020/
Brewery Experience
25th April, 11am, Brewhouse & Kitchen
Accessible Community Games 17th April, 12-4pm, BMet College Sutton Coldfield
The team that brings you the Sutton Games is now bringing you the second Accessible Community Games designed specifically to help people with physical or learning disabilities discover new activities and have great fun at the same time. For more info: www.facebook.com/ events/794371394396981/
Spend the day brewing beer with the Brewhouse head brewer! There’s nothing quite like rolling up your sleeves and getting involved when it comes to learning about the magic behind brewing a beer… The day lasts approximately 7 hours and includes breakfast, lunch and a chance to sample 8 different beers – including all of the beers brewed on-site in the microbrewery! For more info and tickets: www.brewhouseandkitchen. com/academy
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SUBMIT YOUR LISTING HERE FOR FREE! For consideration, please send info to boldmerepages@grayjonesmedia.com
Five Films You Need To See Sponsored by Empire Cinemas
Military Wives
Trolls World Tour
With their partners away serving in Afghanistan, a group of women on the home front form a choir and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media sensation and global movement. Released 6th March
In an adventure that will take them well beyond what they’ve known before, Poppy and Branch discover that they are but one of six different Troll tribes scattered over six different lands and devoted to six different kinds of music. Their world is about to get a lot bigger and a whole lot louder. Released 13th April
Onward
In Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new original feature film set in a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on a quest to discover if there is still magic out there. Released 6th March
42nd Street – The Musical
Telling the story of Peggy Sawyer, a talented young performer with stars in her eyes who gets her big break on Broadway, this is the largest ever staging of the Tony Award-winning musical filmed live at the Theatre Royal in London’s West End Released 28th April
No Time To Die
James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Released 2nd April
For more information about Empire Sutton Coldfield visit www.empirecinemas.co.uk
COMPETITION
Win a group ticket (4 people of any age) to a film of your choice at Empire Sutton Coldfield visit www.boldmerepages.co.uk/competitions and enter by Thursday 30th April, 2020.
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Adult Classes
Sutton Stage School
Contemporary Conditioning Class
Classes at Bishop Walsh School on Saturday mornings, Tap, Modern Jazz, Theatre Craft, Gymnastic Dance. Shows, exams and festivals.
Class on Thursdays at Wylde Green United Reformed Church 6.40 until 7.20.
Ballet Classes Ball
Beat the blues every Monday morning, 10am at Wylde Green United Reformed Church
Tap Classes
Boldmere Ballet School Catering for children of all ages plus gymnastic dance on Fridays for the younger student.
Toe-tapping fun on Saturday afternoons, 1pm at Bishop Walsh School. Call now to reserve your space!
Confetti Choreography Wedding dances with a difference Need a great first dance but don’t want to commit to a programme of ballroom lessons? Confetti Choreography is a wedding dance service creating special first dances tailor made for you and your partner.
Contact: Jane Cooke: 07932 065 949 | jane@theatredance.co.uk janecooke_sssbbs@hotmail.com | www.theatredance.co.uk
Boldmere Neighbourhood Forum News Forum AGM 2020 This year the Boldmere Neighbourhood Forum AGM will be held at The Carpenters Arm’s on Tuesday 21st April 2020. The meeting will start at 19.30 hours and it will be your chance to have your say, vote for the forthcoming year’s committee or even volunteer to become a committee member. We will, of course, be inviting both our town councillors and city councillors along with members of our local neighbourhood police team.
Lock it or lose it It may be March but we could still be affected by ice and possibly snow. With this in mind we are happy to repeat the message from West Midlands police. LOCK it or lose it - that’s the message from police as drivers are warned to take care of their vehicles during frosty mornings.
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Pedestrian Crossings Suggestions have been made that we should lobby for more pedestrian crossings along Monmouth Drive at the following locations. One would be for access to Boldmere Gate, one at the Banners Gate end to encourage pedestrians to the playground and one at the junction with Somerville Rd, where there is no pedestrian space in the traffic light cycle and therefore no safe way of crossing. It appears that Birmingham City Council would like to install some of these but have in sufficient funds available. Should our Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council assist with funding for these crossings in the interest of safety?
Erdington Operatic Looking for New Members Erdington Operatic Society presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. This very popular show is being presented next Autumn at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall and the Society needs new members of all voices to join them. The Society meets each Wednesday evening at Blackwood Road Methodist Church in Streetly. They do not hold auditions. All they ask for is commitment and enthusiasm. If you are interested in having a good sing and being involved in a first-rate production, telephone 0121 355 2542 or visit their website www.erdington-operatic.co.uk for further information.
Sutton Coldfield Model Railway Society Come and join fellow enthusiasts at this fun-filled family event. There will be a feast for the eyes with many model layouts, trade stands and our own club stand selling a variety of model railway goods. To keep you going there will also be light refreshments. Bishop Walsh School on 25th & 26th April 2020 Sat 10 - 5pm, Sun 10 - 4pm. Admission Adults £5, Seniors £4 and accompanied children (under 16) free. For more details visit www.scrs.club
The Boldmere Neighbourhood Forum column is made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund
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Boldmere Business Breakfast Connect with likeminded business people at our monthly free breakfast networking event and help celebrate Boldmere's thriving business scene. Every second Thursday of the month, 8am at The Deli Ticket info on the Boldmere Pages Facebook page
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