As we celebrate mac at 50 we are trying to be a sensible and sustainable business to ensure artists and audiences continue to enjoy mac birmingham for at least another 50 years. You could help us make a difference by letting us know how you want to receive your information about our programme and events. We really want to tell you about what’s going and if you chose to receive that information by email, or online, rather than receiving a posted brochure you could help us save up to 65p per copy on this publication and also save a little bit of tree. To update your preferences please talk to our Sales and Information team on 0121 446 3232 or use your account at www.macarts.co.uk
@mac_birmingham
/mac Birmingham Registered company no: 718349 Registered charity no: 528979 Cannon Hill Park | Birmingham | B12 9QH
In, around, about and throughout mac birmingham
Barbara Nice Summer Special Eliza Carthy & Jim Moray Grand Union Orchestra Oddsocks: A Comedy of Errors One Beat Saturday Outdoor Film Screenings Pif Paf: Something to Hold Pirates of Cannon Hill Scarabeus Aerial Theatre The Spooky Men’s Chorale The Festival Players: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Food and Craft Markets
And much more...
Sales & Information 0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk
mac at fifty
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Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Diary
Artist
Event / Exhibition
Date
Pg
Jane Packman Company
A Thousand Shards of Glass
Tue 16 - Sat 20 Apr
22
Andy Zaltzman
Wed 17 Apr
6
Making Tracks
Johanna Juhola
Fri 19 Apr
14
Greg Lucas
The Blog Papers
Sat 20 Apr - Sun 23 Jun
28
Dan Longley
C Stomp Taster
Sun 21 Apr
7
Afro Mio
Sat 27 Apr
14
Food Market
Sun 28 Apr
38
Jazzlines:
Marius Neset
Wed 1 May
15
Earthfall
Chelsea Hotel
Fri 3 May
7
Michaelangelo
Drawing Blood
Thu 9 May
33
Adverse Camber
The Old Woman, The Buffalo and the Lion of Manding
Sat 11 May
23
The Gramophones
End to End
Tue 14 May
24
Neil Innes
Another Chance to Get It Right
Fri 17 May
34
Anne Guest and Ann Wilkinson
A Sign of the Times
Sat 18 May - Sun 7 July
28
Idle Motion
That Is All You Need to Know
Thu 23 May
24
Thu 23 - Fri 24 May
34
The Good Enough Mums Club Ridiculusmus
Total Football
Fri 24 - Sat 25 May
25
The Bone Ensemble
Caravania
Sat 25 - Sun 26 May
8
Moira Lovell
We Still Stand
Sat 25 May - Sun 14 Jul
29
Food Market
Sun 26 May
38
Sun 26 May
9
The Laughing Sole Comedy Club for Kids Goody and Storey
Star
Tue 28 May + Workshop
9
The Wrong Crowd
The Girl with the Iron Claws
Thu 30 May
10
Jazzlines
Nikki Iles and The Printmakers
Fri 31 May
15
Fummi Olawumi Greg Lucas Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham
Sat 8 Jun
35
The Blog Paper’s Exposé
Thu 13 Jun
28
Pirates of Cannon Hill Park
Fri 14 - Sun 16 Jun
10
Refugee Week Launch Event
Sat 15 Jun
23
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Diary
3
Artist
Event / Exhibition
Date
Pg
The Festival Players
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sat 22 Jun
26
Ballet Theatre UK feat Original Movements Dance Crew
Breakin' Pointe
Thu 27 Jun
35
Bert Hackett
The Gemini Years
Sat 29 Jun - Sun 1 Sep
29
The Open Project
Sat 29 Jun - Sun 8 Sep
30
Trading Roots
Sat 29 Jun
16
Food Market
Sun 30 Jun
38
Craft Fair
Sun 7 Jul
32
Oddsocks
A Comedy of Errors
Thu 11 Jul + 12 Jul
26
Scarabeus Aerial Theatre
La Tempesta
Sun 14 Jul
11
Unfinished Business
Only Wolves and Lions
Mon 15 - Fri 19 Jul
25
Fri 19 Jul
17
Sat 20 Jul
18
Sat 20 Jul - Sun 8 Sep
32
Fri 26 Jul
6
Something to Hold
Sun 28 Jul
27
Food Market
Sun 28 Jul
38
Craft Fair
Sun 4 Aug
32
The Wayward Tour
Thu 22 Aug
20
Food Market
Sun 25 Aug
38
Craft Fair
Sun 1 Sep
32
Food Market
Sun 29 Sep
38
Sounding the River
Thu 3 - Sun 6 Oct
19
Craft Fairs
Sat 16 & Sun 17 Nov, Sat 30 Nov & Sun 1 Dec
32
Tall Stories
The Snow Dragon
Tue 26 Nov - Sun 8 Dec
12
NIE Theatre
Hansel and Gretel
Tue 3 - Sat 14 Dec
13
Grand Union Orchestra
Spooky Men's Chorale One Beat Saturday Jan J Klos
Have You Seen the Green?
Barbara Nice Summer Special Pif Paf
Eliza Carthy & Jim Moray
Coming Soon
Theatre
Family and Young People
Oddsocks: A Comedy of Errors
Pirates of Cannon Hill Park
Pif Paf: Something to Hold
Scarabeus Aerial Theatre: La Tempesta
The Festival Players: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Famil y Pirate and You n s Scara of Canno g People b n e u s La Te Aeria Hill m l Thea One pesta tre: Beat Saturd ay
Outdoor events go ahead come rain or come shine, so bring your sun block, wellies and blankets.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Events
Join us as we continue our 50th year celebrations by throwing open the doors to our outdoor Arena for an exciting mix of arts under the sky including:
Movies and Mirth
Music
Barbara Nice Summer Special
Grand Union Orchestra
Outdoor Film Screenings
The Spooky Men’s Chorale One Beat Saturday Eliza Carthy & Jim Moray
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Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Comedy
Andy Zaltzman
Barbara Nice Summer Special
Wed 17 Apr, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) Theatre
Fri 26 Jul, 7.30pm | £12 (£10) Outdoor Arena
Andy Zaltzman delivers his clued-up political comedy with surreal similes and often punch lines of pure silliness. Star of The Bugle podcast and Radio 4’s Political Animal, his credits include: writing and hosting BBC Radio 5 Live’s Yes! It’s The Ashes; appearing on The Now Show, Armando Iannucci’s Charm Offensive, The News Quiz and Zaltzman’s History of the Third Millennium (all BBC Radio 4) and The Late Edition (BBC 4); as well as writing for Channel 4’s Bremner Bird and Fortune. With John Oliver, Andy co-writes and hosts The Bugle; an ongoing series of satirical news podcasts and has recently written for and performed on John’s one hour Comedy Central stand up special Terrifying Times. Andy is also the author of ‘Does Anything Eat Bankers?’ a satirical take on the credit crunch.
Outdoor Fun in the Sun with a comedy hamper jam-packed with laughter! Join local superstar housewife Barbara “as-in-Streisand, Nice-as-in-the-Biscuit” in her very first Summer Special for some tip top comedy plus special guests. Expect a friendly, inclusive atmosphere with home truths, great timing and unique comic insights into the human condition. We can’t wait to see her revelling in the splendour of our outdoor arena! Mrs Barbara Nice is the comic creation of Janice Connolly – who4 played the cult character ‘Holy Mary’ in Peter Kay’s acclaimed C4 TV series ‘Phoenix Nights’. “warm and spontaneous, brings out the hidden joy in us all *****” The Independent
The Laughing Sole: Comedy for Kids Sun 26 May, 2pm | Tickets £6 | Foyle Studio See page 9 for more details of this exciting new regular club for children and their families.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Dance
Dan Longley: CStomp!
Earthfall: Chelsea Hotel
Sun 21 Apr, 12 noon - 3pm | Free Event Foyer Space and Terrace
Fri 3 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) Age 15+ | Theatre
Created by Dan Longley, dance caller for Birmingham’s The Burdock Band, CStomp! is an afternoon of folk dancing for the public to participate in. Using dances drawn from the ceilidh and barn dance traditions, the aim is to explore the social and health benefits of folk dancing.
Earthfall return to mac birmingham after their beautiful sell-out show, At Swim Two Boys.
The DJ/caller will introduce the dances and show everybody the moves. Using upbeat dance tracks from eclectic sources and genres, the dances are especially designed for non-dancers to get fit without the usual pain of a cardiovascular workout. Families are particularly welcome at this event and Midlands Face Painting will be on hand to help people get in the mood.
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Earthfall reveal the poetry and tragicomic events from this iconic hotel and its place in contemporary culture. A voyeuristic discovery of its inhabitants’ lives, loves and longings. Continuing on their New York journey the multi-award winning Earthfall blaze a trail from Warhol to Kerouac and Dylan Thomas to Patti Smith, where several stories, true and false, interplay through radical dance, live music and film, capturing significant moments in the history of this rebel artist mecca. ‘Check in’ to Chelsea Hotel, where every room has a story to tell.
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Family
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
The Bone Ensemble: Caravania Sat 25 & Sun 26 May, Various Times | Tickets £3 | Performance age 5+, awning activities suitable for all ages Welcome to a real-life caravan, otherwise known as Caravania! Come into the awning for a variety of fun art activities for all the family, or take part in the show inside the caravan, where the loos are chemical and make everything turn blue! You become part of the show too, as we go on a caravan adventure together, finding secrets behind the curtains and underneath the cushions‌ A unique and magical participatory experience for family audiences.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
The Laughing Sole: Comedy for Kids
Family
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Goody and Storey and mac birmingham present
Star
Sun 26 May, 2pm | Tickets £6 | Foyle Studio
Tue 28 May| 11am, 1pm and 3pm Tickets £7 | Age 2-5yrs| Foyle Studio
Recommended age 5+ but younger siblings are welcome.
Returning triumphantly as part of a national tour, Goody and Storey were first commissioned by mac birmingham to devise and premier this piece in November 2011. Join the green-fingered Gardener and the tidy Tailor who live at opposite ends of the world.
An exciting new regular club where the laughs are loud and shared across all ages! The tiddler of the established comedy club The Laughing Sole is coming to mac birmingham. This is the launch show for our comedy club specifically for children and their families, bringing together some of the best acts on the circuit performing family friendly material. Compered by Mrs Barbara Nice our opening show features the master of mayhem, physical comedian Wes Zaharuk. With support from Hannah Silvester.
All they share is a bright star glittering in the sky above them. When it disappears they search high and low for the star but find something even more amazing... Free public space workshop Mon 27 May, 12pm – 3pm | Free Led by tutor Katy Pegg, families have the opportunity to turn recycled materials into art inspired by the show.
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Family
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
house presents
The Wrong Crowd: The Girl with the Iron Claws Thu 30 May, 2.30pm | Tickets £8 | Age 8+ Theatre TOTAL THEATRE AWARD NOMINATED, 2011 Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you’re in love with a bear. Following a sell-out success at Edinburgh 2011 and a critically-acclaimed tour of the UK and Ireland during 2012, comes this dark fairy-tale about a wayward girl who dares to follow her longing. Stunning puppetry, enchanting music and deft humour combine in this fierce coming-of-age story. “...a show with claws that proves Kneehigh hasn’t cornered the market in putting wonder back into fairytales ****’’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
The Pirates of Cannon Hill Fri 14 Jun,1pm & 7pm, Sat 15 Jun, 7pm, Sun 16 Jun, 1pm | Tickets £5 | Age 4+ Outdoor Arena
The Pirates of Cannon Hill brings a theatrical experience for the whole family. A large ensemble company delivers a new piece of work through storytelling, poetry, song, dance and physical theatre. Devised and performed by BA Applied Performance (Community and Education) Year 1 students. Devised and Directed by Hannah Phillips Composition and Singing support Nik Haley Movement support by Ruth Jacombs Artwork by Sugarytea – www.sugarytea.co.uk
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Family
In association with Little Angel Theatre
Scarabeus Aerial Theatre: La Tempesta Sun 14 Jul, 11am and 2.30pm | Tickets £8 | Age 3+ | Outdoor Arena An immersive performance for 3 to 7 years old and their families combining stylish puppetry with thrilling aerial skills. Their house has been swept away by a flood have collected few treasured possessions and they are gliding towards a new beginning. A bed suspended above the audience’s heads, a gothic house full of puppets, puppets magically transforming into aerialists… Let go, allow yourself to be swept by the tempest, take the plunge in this sea of delight! “An immensely stylish piece of puppet theatre…a must-see for kids.****” The Sunday Times on The Snow Queen
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Family
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Early Bird Prices for our Family Christmas Shows We’ve two fabulous family shows this Christmas. And with our special early bird booking prices (*valid until the end of July 2013) there’s every reason to book for both! NB Family tickets available after the early bird booking period.
Tall Stories: The Snow Dragon Tue 26 Nov - Sun 8 Dec, various times| Tickets £8* | Age 3+ Foyle Studio Running Time: 60 mins Storytelling, comedy and songs create a magical, mysterious world for everyone aged 3 and up, from the company that brought you Mr Benn, The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom. The night of the Snow Dragon approaches…Billy has everything a young goat could need and more besides. On New Year’s Eve, Billy’s parents tell him about the legendary Snow Dragon, who will bring him even more goodies during the night. But when Billy bumps into some wolves in the woods, New Year’s Day seems a long way off. Find out how Billy escapes and whether the Snow Dragon will bring him a present. Has Billy been naughty or nice? “If you are a kid, if you have kids, if you ever were a kid, go and see The Snow Dragon. ***** Three Weeks
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk NIE: Hansel and Gretel
Family
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Tue 3 - Sat 14 Dec, various times| Tickets £12.50 (£9)* | Age 5+ Theatre Running Time: 1hr 55 mins (incl interval) An award-winning European ensemble brings the Brothers Grimm story to life through enchanting storytelling, multiple languages and live music. In the middle of a snow-covered forest sits a tiny cottage unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, but what’s inside? This Christmas follow Hansel and Gretel into the frozen forest… and find out. Following sell-out runs in Bristol, Cambridge and Peterborough, international theatre company New International Encounter (NIE) present an enchanting show transforming the theatre into a magical winter woodland. Adapting the classic fairytale with their blend of live music, clowning and storytelling, NIE bring you a beautiful show for all the family to enjoy “Everyone is held in the spell of this..genuinely enchanting show...deliciously dark, layered and full of playfulness.****” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian (Original Co-production with The Junction, Cambridge) Tobacco Factory Theatre
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Music
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Making Tracks: Johanna Juhola
Afro Mio
Thu 19 Apr, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£9) Theatre
Sat 27 Apr, 7.30pm | Tickets £8 (£6) Hexagon Theatre
Eccentric, eclectic and very cheeky: Accordion Finnish style! Charismatic and playful accordionista Johanna Juhola conjures a magical world that blends Buenos Aires tango halls with forest-dark Finnish landscapes.
Afro Mio is a harmonious blend of rich vocals borne on a wave of rhythmic conga and melodious African guitar. Singing in five languages, the group’s music draws on their heritage in Angola and Congo and their experiences travelling across the world.
Laced with both melancholic nostalgia and uplifting exuberance, Johanna’s music is an original blend of contemporary tango and inventive use of electronica. A well-known face on Finland’s music scene, her opening performance at the 2007 Eurovision song contest was watched by tens of millions around the world.
Charming, engaging and beautiful, this is music to enrich the soul.
Johanna’s innovative performances with her Reaktori quartet captivate with their musical wizardry and cheeky theatricality, a buttonsand-bellows charm attack Finnish-style. “humour, surprises, sensitivity, originality… Johanna’s music is golden-rimmed and sunny.” Trad Mag
Featuring: Ben Pathy and Fidele Bisengo Ndombasi (vocals), Jean-Pierre Elema (guitar) and Alpha Elema (conga).
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Music
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Jazzlines and mac birmingham present
Jazzlines and mac birmingham present
Wed 1 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) Theatre
Fri 31 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) Theatre
Emerging as a major new voice in jazz in 2012, Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset combines the delicacy of sound of fellow Norwegian Jan Garbarek and the energy of Michael Brecker. His quartet’s first album Golden Xplosion on Edition Records was a major success being awarded 5 Stars by Telegraph music critic Ivan Hewitt who describes Marius as ‘a marvel... makes his saxophone dance like a gazelle and soar like an eagle’.
The Printmakers cross the boundaries that traditionally separate jazz, folk and the contemporary music world. The repertoire has the distinctive air of English song, including originals by band members, and the poetry of Rupert Brooke.
Marius Neset
His quartet’s second album Birds was released in March this year. The quartet on the album and on the tour is Ivo Neame, (piano), Petter Eldh (bass) and Anton Eger (drums).
Nikki Iles and The Printmakers
A new ensemble, they are headed by Norma Winstone, and feature some of the most in demand players on the British jazz scene. Highly respected pianist and composer Nikki Iles and guitarist Mike Walker’s almost telepathic empathy and energy will be familiar to many. Completing the line up are saxophonist Mark Lockheart, (Loose Tubes and Polar Bear); bass player Steve Watts, a regular with artists such as Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Kirk Lightsey; and drummer James Maddren , one of the most in demand, young players around today, working with the likes of Gwilym Simcock and Kit Downes.
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Music
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Grand Union Orchestra – Trading Roots Sat 29 Jun, 7.30pm | Tickets £12 (£10) | Outdoor Arena Grand Union Orchestra brings a glittering programme to our Arena, combining internationally-renowned musicians and jazz soloists from India, Bangladesh, China, Eastern Europe, South and West Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the UK, joined for this performance by local guest artists. Trading Roots features a 12-strong band in an extraordinary blend of musical styles: sinuous Indian ragas combine with Latin American salsa, Chinese melodies acquire rich jazz harmonies, Bengali songs sport reggae bass-lines, soca and township music meet West African drumming and chant, while bhangra and samba go head to head with wild jazz improvisation!
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Music
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The Spooky Men’s Chorale Fri 19 Jul, 7.30pm | Tickets £16 (£13) | Outdoor Arena Wave goodbye to choirs as you know them as this festival favourite rolls into the Arena. This one is a macho juggernaut - zany, black-clad, big as a behemoth and show-stoppingly good. They sound as sacred as a high church choir one minute before veering wickedly off the wall the next. Compellingly comic they may be but make no mistake, this is a class act. Pitch perfect harmonies, theatrical delivery, savvy lyrics, imaginations that run riot and men who really can multi-task! Hits including a hilarious spoof of Queen’s Flash and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Boogie Wonderland and the funniest version of Abba’s Dancing Queen your ears are likely to hear. Plus support from Lucy Wise and Mischa Herman.
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Music
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
mac birmingham and One Beat Records present:
One Beat Saturday Sat 20 Jul, 2-10pm | Tickets £10 | Outdoor Arena
The work we do with young people under the Next Generation banner is really at the heart of us as an organisation. Last summer we handed over the arena to young people to create, curate, perform and promote what became a sell-out event, One Beat Sunday. This year – we’ve just changed the day! The day-long festival will be even bigger with the city’s best bands, DJs and spoken word artists filling mac birmingham’s ampitheatre-style outdoor Arena. Boat to Row headline, bringing their infectious modern folk sound to the festival. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or visit our website for more details as the event evolves.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Music
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Coming soon... Jony Easterby and mac birmingham present
Sounding the River
Thu 3 – Sun 6 October 2013 A spectacular night-time adventure to close a year celebrating 50 years of mac birmingham. Join us for this unique exploration of light, sound and nature as we wind along the River Rea and throughout the moonlit Cannon Hill Park. Help Us With This Celebration Nearly 40 years ago, volunteers from across Europe descended on Cannon Hill Park and by hand, often barefoot and certainly without hard hats, they hand-built our much-loved Outdoor Arena which is still used and still sturdy today. Would you like to volunteer to help us achieve the spectacle that will be Sounding the River? We need people to help build, guide and talk about this amazing project. If you would like to become part of this team please email personnel@macarts.co.uk with a subject line of volunteer. We look forward to working alongside you! Join the conversation #macat50 For updates on Sounding the River and other breaking mac birmingham news visit our website and follow us on Twitter (@mac_birmingham) and Facebook (mac Birmingham).
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Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Music
mac birmingham in association with Moseley Folk present
Eliza Carthy & Jim Moray: The Wayward Tour Thu 22 Aug, 7.30pm | Tickets £19 (£15) | Outdoor Arena Eliza Carthy has been recording and touring for twenty one years. Jim Moray has been recording and touring for ten years. And they want to celebrate. To mark these milestones, the two multi-award winners have mustered an all-star band, featuring many of the leading figures from their careers, for a one-off tour. Eliza and Jim will play career spanning, “Best Of” sets in a spectacular, once in a lifetime show. The Band Sam Sweeney David Delarre Barn Stradling Saul Rose Beth Porter Lucy Farrell Willy Molleson Laurence Hunt Andrew Waite Nick Malcolm Adrien “Yen-Yen” Toulouse
(Bellowhead) – Fiddle (Mawkin) - Guitar (Soe’za, Blowzabella, Kings of Calicutt, Eliza Carthy Band) – Bass (Whapweasel, Waterson:Carthy, Kings of Calicutt, Faustus) - Melodeon (Eliza Carthy Band, Reg Meuross) – Cello (Emily Portman Trio, solo) – Viola (Peatbog Fearies, Eliza Carthy Band, Kith & Kin) – Drums (Dreams of Tall Buildings) – Percussion (Tyde) – Accordion/Keys (Moonlight Saving Time) -Trumpet (Fanfare Gonzo) - Trombone
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Cinema
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The Cinema Spreads... Based on the success of live streaming theatre we are proud to announce more developments to our digital film world... Glyndeborne Festival 2013
Cinema under the Sky
We will be streaming live operas from Glyndebourne live in our cinema offering you the chance to enjoy this work without having to travel to East Sussex! The screenings will go on sale Mon 8 April.
We are now able to screen films in our outdoor Arena. We’re aiming to provide a full experience, so expect fun, surprises and some great classic titles. We’re looking for suggestions and groups who want to work with us, so please get in touch! Email info@macarts.co.uk
Ariadne auf Naxos (Richard Strauss) Tuesday 04 June 2013 | 7pm Falstaff (Giuseppe Verdi) Sunday 23 June 2013 | 2pm Le Nozze di Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Sunday 14 July 2013 | 2pm Hippolyte et Aricie (Jean-Philippe Rameau) Thursday 25 July 2013 | 6.15pm Don Pasquale (Gaetano Donizetti) Tuesday 06 August 2013 | 7.15pm Billy Budd (Benjamin Britten) Sunday 25 August 2013 | 2pm NT Live Othello Thu 26 Sep | 7pm Encore screening dates and other NT Live events will be listed on www.macarts.co.uk Screens for Hire We can offer private screening opportunities in the Cinema, outdoor Arena or Hexagon Theatre. Contact our events team for more details. See page 39 for contact details.
Serious About Cinema If you love film as much as we do then come to our screenings to enjoy films without the background noises of chatter, munching, slurping and texting. All with a member of our team there to ensure the best cinema experience possible. Don’t forget our extremely successful regular cinema strands: • Cinema Bambino – adult cinema screenings for those with babes in arms • Screen Juniors – quality children’s films accompanied by a free animation workshop • Departure Lounge – exciting work from regional film-makers Flickpic Plus – as part of our 50th Birthday celebrations vote for your favourite films from the past 5 decades, with the winner of each decade screened at mac birmingham. Vote on line or using our on-site kiosk.
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Performance
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Jane Packman Company: A Thousand Shards of Glass Tue 16 – Sat 20 Apr, 7.30pm (Sat matinee 2pm) | Tickets £10 (£8) | Foyle Studio
An unstoppable action thriller – narrated live and in 3D! In a diminished world of screens and virtual-reality, join our resistance heroine as she sets out on a mission to break some glass and change the world. Inspired by graphic novels and insurrectionist texts, A Thousand Shards of Glass combines an extraordinary solo performance, evocative sound design and a rich rhythmic text, to take you into a fantastical world. Be prepared for time travel, for exotic climates... and to find yourself becoming complicit in a conspiracy. See the trailer on our website, or in our cinema. Commissioned and made at Theatre In The Mill, Bradford. Supported by mac birmingham Funded by Arts Council England
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Performance
Adverse Camber: The Old Woman, The Buffalo and the Lion of Manding
Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham: Refugee Week Launch Event
Sat 11 May, 7.30pm | Tickets £10 (£8) | Age 14+ | Foyle Studio
Sat 15 Jun, 11am – 7pm | FREE
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A conflicted king, a jealous first wife, a disfigured buffalo woman and a child with a destiny. Their lives intertwine to bring us a story of courage and shame, faith and kindness, unexpected generosity and above all strength.
Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham is back at mac birmingham for a third year with a day of live music, children’s entertainment, arts activities, theatre and spoken word to launch Refugee Week in Birmingham. The event is part of the Celebrating Sanctuary World Music Festival and the programme will showcase musicians from across Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe – most of whom have made their homes here in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The Birth of Sundiata Keita, visionary leader of the great Malian empire, is told across West Africa as a story of kingship and battle. Discover the rarely heard story of his mother, her grandmother and the extraordinary circumstances of this legendary leader’s birth.
This event offers the opportunity to find out more about people’s experiences as refugees in our city, as well as bringing together people of all backgrounds to celebrate and share in the music and cultures of their home countries. All events except the cinema will be free of charge.
This inspiring tale reaches across the centuries, from its origins in thirteenth century Africa to the recent conflicts of our own time when its telling was forbidden.
National Refugee Week takes place Mon 17 - Sat 22 Jun
Created and performed by Jan Blake (storyteller), Kouame Sereba (musician), Raymond Sereba (musician).
The Akua Storytelling Project production in association with mac birmingham, supported by The Albany, Deptford. Originally commissioned by Festival at the Edge Storytelling Festival.
Celebrating Sanctuary World Music Festival runs from Sat 8 – Sun 23 Jun www.celebrating-sanctuary.org.uk
Theatre
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Performance
www.macarts.co.uk Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
The Gramophones: End to End
Idle Motion: That Is All You Need To Know
Tue 14 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) | Age 10+ | Theatre
Thu 23 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) | Age 10+ | Theatre
In April 2012 three women made a daring and unusual journey from one end of Great Britain to the other. Trusting only to their resourcefulness and the kindness of strangers, they made an 18-day, 874-mile journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats, completing their unusual expedition on as many varieties of transport as they possibly could.
In this stunning piece of visual theatre Idle Motion will take you back to 1940s England and the secretive worlds of the cold huts of ‘Station X’ at Bletchley Park. Using personal testimony, inventive staging and multimedia projection, That Is All You Need To Know will explore the stories and lives of the remarkable men and women whose quiet work changed the course of our history.
In End to End they tell the heartwarming story of their journey, the trials and tribulations faced along the way and the unexpected acts of kindness they encountered. This is a story about friendship, adventure and momentary connections made on the road.
Developed with The Lowry, Jacksons Lane, Greenwich Theatre and Redbridge Drama Centre.
“Truly sensational…pitched perfectly… brought to life with a real sense of energy and vibrancy” Nominated Best Show and Best New Writing at Buxton Fringe
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Performance
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Ridiculusmus: Total Football
Unfinished Business: Only Wolves and Lions
Fri 24 & Sat 25 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) Age 15+ | Theatre Post show discussion on Fri 24 May.
15, 16, 18 & 19 Jul, 7pm | Tickets £20 | Age 16+ | Painting & Drawing Studio
More Beckett than Beckham. Picking over football systems, political wrangling and changing room banter, Total Football tackles the big questions of life immortality, happiness and why England always lose. From the controversial attempt to create a united UK football team for the 2012 games to one man’s attempts to reproduce when he can’t even explain the offside rule, Ridiculusmus has patched up its metatarsals to examine the melting pot of what it means to be British today. Building on the company’s reputation for making seriously funny, multi-award winning theatre and masterfully inventive comic writing, Total Football is a wickedly clever, mischievously sharp, and acutely observed meditation on our times. Conversations about Comedy Masterclass workshop available suitable for A-Level and H.E. students. To book, contact: learning@macarts.co.uk
“Only wolves and lions eat alone, you should not eat, not even a snack, on your own.” Epicurus A meal. A conversation. A performance provocation. Mixing cooking, performance and a good chat Only Wolves And Lions takes a fresh look at human behaviour in the pursuit of happiness. Drawing on research surrounding community, isolation and the meaning of the word crisis, Leo Kay and Unai Lopez de Armentia invite you to cook, eat and speak together. Bringing you collective action, anecdotal storytelling, and the odd philosophical musing, they host a dinner with a difference! Unfinished Business will provide ‘carbs and condiments’, however in order to enter the event you must bring one raw ingredient to contribute to the meal for 16 people. If you are coming with friends don’t tell them what you’re bringing! “One of the most special evenings of my life” Nick Ahad BBC Radio Leeds
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Performance
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
The Festival Players: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Oddsocks: A Comedy of Errors
Sat 22 Jun, 7.30pm | Tickets £14 (£11) Age 8+ | Outdoor Arena
Thu 11 and Fri 12 Jul, 7.30pm | Tickets £16 (£13) | Outdoor Arena
Shakespeare’s wonderful fantasy comedy has always been a firm favourite for open-air productions. As day turns to night, share in the colour, poetry, and magical mayhem with The Festival Players. As in the Bard’s day, they will be performing with an all-male company of skilled professional actors.
They’re back! Trundling their wonderous cart of Shakespearean delight into our Arena, come Oddsocks with their irreverent interpretations of the Bard’s classics.
“This was Shakespeare staged with a vital spark - keeping a reverence for the language, while performing the comedy with a real sense of freedom.” The Stage (on The Festival Players’ Twelfth Night)
A servant and master from far off Syracuse arrive in Ephesus in search of their long-lost twin brothers. In no time at all they are trapped in a terrifying chain of chaotic events. Tormented by a wild wife, a moody mistress; challenged by a crazy jeweller and damned by a demonic doctor the terrified twosome run headlong into a climactic happy ending which defies all probability. A summer Turkish delight not to be missed!
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Performance
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Pif Paf: Something to Hold Sun 28 Jul, Various Times | FREE | Cannon Hill Park With storms on every horizon, three exiled souls collide in a no man’s land, all looking for more, one from our world and two from far away. Pushed to keep moving they adventure through cockeyed and transforming landscapes, getting entangled, propelled and lifted to new heights. But what happens when inner demons come out? Will they pull together or will they pull apart, or will they offer each other Something To Hold? A fast paced tale spun on a thrilling new aerial sculpture by Pif-Paf, within a transforming world of action, metal and rope. Created by Kevin Finnan and Pif-Paf Design and Engineering by Pif-Paf Original music by Will Lenton Commissioned by mac New Work Trust for mac at 50 Supported by Arts Council England Lottery Funding Tour supported by Without Walls Consortium
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Visual Arts
Greg Lucas: The Blog Papers Sat 20 Apr – Sun 23 Jun |Arena Gallery Free Admission Opening times as per building
The Blog Papers comprises a selection of posts from the artist’s blog – greg lucas connects - begun in 2009. The exhibition provides an original and unique concept; turning a popular internet activity into a public gallery event. Lucas deploys wry observation, keen insight and sharp wit to demonstrate how photographs describe and determine our daily lives, often in ways that were never intended. Signifying on many levels, straddling different disciplines and artistic genres, The Blog Papers is born out of a sophisticated engagement with the photographic medium: personal, cultural, absurdist and specialist. Linked Event: The Blog Papers’ Exposé Thu 13 Jun, 7.30pm, £8 (£6), Hexagon Theatre Photo-artist Greg Lucas is well known for his hilarious ‘stand-up’ slide-shows. In a way that can only be expressed through a live performance, he exposes photography for what it really is: more interesting than art. Curated by Jane Fletcher. Image credit: Greg Lucas, Headspace from The Blog Papers. 2011.
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Anne Guest and Ann Wilkinson: A Sign of the Times Sat 18 May – Sun 7 July | Terrace Gallery Free Admission Opening times as per building This project is a valediction of Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital, from its origin as a workhouse in the 1870’s until the present where it stands empty following transfer of services into a new hospital. The derelict space has become a metaphor for the physical and psychological nature of the human condition and the images represent transient impressions, shards of memory, and random observations. Weeds growing around and on the building symbolise the earth starting to reclaim the building for the future. This is an artist’s perspective of the institution. It is a perspective developed from research of archives combined with on site photography that has resulted in a collage of imagery placed together to create a new narrative which alludes to its own histories and questions its futures. A Sign of the Times is part of TERRACE SERIES, a mac birmingham programme introducing artists’ work to audiences and reinforcing our commitment to supporting regional talent. Image credit: Anne Guest and Ann Wilkinson, A Sign of the Times. 2013. Courtesy the artists.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Visual Arts
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Moira Lovell: We Still Stand
Bert Hackett: The Gemini Years
Sat 25 May – Sun 14 July | Cinema Gallery Free Admission Opening times as per building
Sat 29 Jun – Sun 1 Sep | Arena Gallery Free Admission Opening times as per building
We Still Stand consists of three discrete photographic series, each made during the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike. Instead of defining moments of strike action and conflict, these photographs demand a different kind of emotional and political response to those taken during the strike. They speak not solely to an individual and specific moment of crisis, but to issues which stand outside that time. Revisiting locations where major political events took place, Lovell’s images remind us of life’s losses; the loss of an industry, the passing of an era and the departure of communities built on coal.
For over forty years Bert Hackett entertained the readers of The Birmingham Post with his incisively observed cartoons and his sharp satirical commentary. Under the assumed name of Gemini, Bert was loved and revered for his very particular take on politics, producing cartoons from 1966 up to 2008. From central government policy announcements to local trade union disputes, his career generated a wealth of material giving a very Birmingham perspective on not only local matters, but issues of regional, national and international significance too. The Gemini Years brings together a collection of cartoons spanning Bert’s time at The Birmingham Post, and celebrates the work of an artist who has made an important contribution to Birmingham journalism.
A mac birmingham touring exhibition, supported by the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Image credit: Moira Lovell, Untitled from the ‘Coal Faces’ series. 2009. Courtesy the artist.
Image credit: Bert Hackett/Gemini, Thatcher Surfs Back. c. 1988. Courtesy the artist.
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Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Visual Arts
THE OPEN PROJECT 29June – 8 September | First Floor Gallery
ARTISTS YOUNG CURATORS EXHIBITIONS THE OPEN PROJECT is mac birmingham’s innovative reworking of the ‘open’ exhibition format. Testing the conventions and authority of the visual art space, THE OPEN PROJECT has been devised in association with artist Trevor Pitt as a platform to explore democratic and collective approaches to exhibition curating. In a series of four exhibitions curated by young people as part of our Next Generation programme, alternative perspectives are offered to that of the institutionalised art curator the authoritarian decision maker, gatekeeper and trend setter. With an aim to support the professional development of emerging arts professionals, THE OPEN PROJECT presents the region’s artists with increased opportunities to be selected for exhibition. All eligible artworks submitted to the project are considered for each of the exhibitions in addition to a guaranteed place in the closing SALON exhibition, between 22 August and 8 September. THE OPEN PROJECT builds upon 2011’s ‘anticurate’ programme, in collaboration with Trevor Pitt, Juneau Projects and Keith Dodds.
EXHIBITION 1 Thu 25 – Sun 28 July Open daily, 12 – 8pm
EXHIBITION 2 Thu 1 – Sun 4 Aug Open daily, 12 – 8pm
EXHIBITION 3 Thu 8 – Sun 11 Aug Open daily, 12 – 8pm
EXHIBITION 4 Thu 15 – Sun 18 Aug Open daily, 12 – 8pm
CLOSING SALON EXHIBITION Thu 22 Aug – Sun 8 Sept Open daily, 12 – 8pm
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Visual Arts
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The Open Project
Saturday 29 June, 11am – 6pm For your opportunity to exhibit at mac birmingham, submit your artwork to THE OPEN PROJECT during our open day on Saturday 29 June between 11am and 6pm and you’ll be guaranteed a place in one of 5 exhibitions at mac birmingham this summer. A voluntary donation of £5 per artwork submitted will support our work with young curators through our Next Generation programme.
Qualifying artists should be living and practiing in the West Midlands. Only one entry per artist. Work should be created in the past 12 months. For full terms and conditions and submission details please visit www.macarts.co.uk/ event/the-open-project or email theopenproject@macarts.co.uk Can’t make 29 June? You can also submit artwork directly to our staff between 5pm and 8pm from Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 August at mac birmingham.
Jan J. Klos: Have You Seen the Green? Sat 20 Jul – Sun 8 Sep | Cinema Gallery Free Admission Opening times as per building
Have You Seen The Green? is a new photograpic series by emerging artist Jan J. Klos. Exploring the relationship between man and nature, the exhibition is a striking collection of images that examine the natural world ripped-up, displaced and existing in man-made spaces. Have You Seen The Green? exposes the complexities of our relationship with the natural world and finds that it is just as much rooted in life and nurture as it is in death and destruction. Curated by Franco La Russa and supported by CUEB Gallery, London. Image credit: Jan J. Klos, Untitled from the series ‘Have you Seen the Green?’ Courtesy the artist. Image credit: Jan J. Klos, Untitled from the series ‘Have you Seen the Green?’ Courtesy the artist.
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Marketplace Craft Fairs With a huge history of successful Christmas
SalesCraft & Information 0121 446 | www.macarts.co.uk Fairs here at3232 mac birmingham and
a phenomenal number of local designer makers, we thought the the time was right for more! Throughout the summer we’ll be hosting three craft fairs and we can also announce dates for this year’s Christmas Fairs. If you are interested in having a stand please email marketplace@macarts.co.uk
Summer Craft Fairs Sun 7 Jul Sun 4 Aug Sun 1 Sep Winter Craft Fairs Sat 16 & Sun 17 Nov Sat 30 Nov & Sun 1 Dec
ge: Amanda Anderson
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Visual Arts
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Guest Performances
Guest Performances
Michelangelo: Drawing Blood
mac birmingham has been connecting audiences and artists for 50 years. A popular hub for nurturing emerging artists and celebrating more established performers, all of our spaces are available for artists to promote themselves.
Thu 9 May, 8pm | £14 (£10) | Ages 15+ contains male nudity | Theatre
If you are interested in joining the long-line up of artists performing at mac birmingham, get in touch to find out how you can make the space your own, and how we can help. Contact our events team by calling Damien and Clare on 0121 446 3250, email hires@ macarts.co.uk or visit our website www.macarts.co.uk/hires
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Inspired by Michelangelo’s sketchbooks, sonnets and figure studies, this integrated work of music, physical theatre, film and photography uses as a starting point Michelangelo’s own concept of “releasing” a sculpture, and explores the process of creativity and creation, revealing some of the artist’s most beautiful works. Scored for period ensemble, the music explores compositional forms and processes employed by Renaissance musicians, uniting these with modern compositional procedures. Employing two male performers, the choreography draws on and reflects figure studies from Michelangelo’s sketches made in preparation for the fresco ‘The Battle of Cascina’. Workshop available. Please contact Maja Palser (maja.palser@soundaffairs.co.uk) for an education pack, more details or to book a workshop.
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Guest Performances
Neil Innes Another Chance to Get It Right Fri 17 May, 7.30pm | £14 (£12) | Theatre Neil performs a wry, poignant, humorous and topical one-man show, spiced with anecdotes of his life and times in the worlds of media and show business. Neil is best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Rutles while his TV shows for BBC2, The Innes Book of Records have become cult classics. Neil’s solo shows tickle the emotions with a potent mix of fine musicianship and enlightened lyricism, packed with sharp observations celebrating the absurdities of modern existence. When life gets a bit like lipstick on a pig and you really don’t want to get all grubby again going down that horrid escape tunnel you’ve been clawing away at ever since you could crawl - why not come and share in the fun of a fairly new Neil Innes show?
Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
The Good Enough Mums Club Thu 23 & Fri 24 May, 2pm & 7.30pm | £9.50 | Foyle Studio
The Good Enough Mums Club is a poignant and hilarious toddle through the highs, lows and sleep deprivation of mummyhood. From peeing on sticks to drooping tits we share the love and dispel the myths with enough wipes on hand to mop the tears and clean away the snotty laughter. Five women, thrown together by motherhood, overcome their isolation, loneliness, judgment and desire for perfection to discover that they’re stronger as a group than as individuals, and that sometimes, being good enough, is best. This hysterical, heartbreaking and honest new musical, written by actresses and exhausted mothers, Emily Beecher & Sally Samad, with music composed by Chris Passey and Amy Carroll, is capturing the attention of critics, parents and non-parents alike throughout the country. The Good Enough Mums Club is not appropriate for children, although we happily accept ‘babes in arms’ (under one year old) for the matinee performances.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Guest Performances
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Joyful Noise presents: Funmi Olawumi
Original Movements Dance Crew Breakin’ Pointe
Sat 8 Jun, 7.30pm | £12.50 (£9.50) | Theatre
Thu 27Jun, 7.30pm | £15 (£12) | Theatre
Nigerian singer Funmi Olawumi, the founder of the Yoruba Women Choir, arrives at mac birmingham with her 12-piece big band featuring the four part harmonies of Naija Soul Sisters and a cracking 8-piece band. Together they mix afrobeat, juju, highlife and fuji to create a big sound that is faaji music. Faaji is a Yoruba word for having a good time and with the rich eloquence of the talking drums driving the music expect explosive rhythms from one the great names of Nigerian music.
Ballet Theatre UK, join forces with the infamous urban dance crew Original Movements, in a fantastic fusion of urban Hip Hop and classical ballet styles.
Tonight she will play from her new CD “Funmi Ti De” (JNR) described as: “An upbeat album that even sounds better heard live” The Guardian
Breakin’ Pointe is a powerful blend of high energy dance styles set against a ‘mash up’ sound track of your favorite ballet tunes and current pop beats. This is a unique opportunity to see some of the country’s most talented classical and urban dancers from these elite dance companies, as they perform exciting and dynamic choreography way beyond their pre-conceived limitations. Ballet Theatre UK and Original Movements promise to make you want to pop and pirouett in the aisles with this fantastic celebration of dance and music.
It costs over
£ 3.1 million During 2013, all donations to mac will be matched by Arts Council England. And if you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim back the tax you’ve paid too – so every £1 becomes £2.25.
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Learning & Participation
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Our vast array of courses and workshops are as popular as ever. Don’t forget, that whilst some courses run over a whole term, there are also short run, weekends and day-long opportunities. More information can be found online or from mac birmingham itself. Here are some more important 2013 dates for your diary. *On sale now. • • • •
Summer Half Term (Tue 28 – Fri 31 May)* Summer Term (Term dates Mon 15 Apr – Sun 14 Jul)* Summer Holiday Programme (Wed 24 Jul – Fri 30 Aug)* Autumn Term – on sale June 2013 (Term dates Mon 16 Sep – Sun 15 Dec)
Summer Half Term More information available at www.macarts.co.uk or directly from mac birmingham. Young Children (ages 2 – 5) Art Play: Tue 28 – Wed 30 May Children (ages 6 – 11) mac Explorers: Tue 29 – Fri 31 May Families (Ages 6 – 11 with parent/guardian) Family Textiles: Tue 28 May Family Pottery: Wed 29 May Young People (Ages 12 – 17) One Day Film Challenge: Wed 29 May Digital Music Production: Thu 30 May Animation: Fri 31 May
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Summer 13 Sales & Information 0121 446 3232
Offer
2-for-1 Pizza Fancy a slice? Whether you’re planning to visit for a show, exhibition visit, film or course here’s a great reason to extend your visit. Between 6 and 8pm every evening we’re offering buy-one-get-one-free* on our delicious range of Italian thin crust pizzas. Choose from a variety of toppings and then choose with whom you share your pizza! *Free second pizza to be same or lower price than the first pizza. Choose from: Margherita (tomato, mozzarella and basil) £6.95 Pepperoni Feast (tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni) £7.50 Rustica (tomato, mozzarella, goats cheese, roasted peppers and rocket) £7.50 Farmhouse (tomato, mozzarella, ham and mushroom) £7.50 Also available** Garlic flat Bread pizza £4.50 or £5.00 with cheese ** These items are excluded from the 2-for-1 deal.
Eat at mac
Monthly Food Markets
Our ever-popular café continues to sell a popular menu of hot meals, snacks and cakes. So make time during your next visit to indulge in fresh and locally-sourced food. There’s also real ale served on draft in our bar and a range of high quality teas and coffees on offer. With notice, we can arrange private catering for all tastes, dietary needs and pockets! New menu for Summer 2013.
Last Sunday of the month, 10.30am – 3.30pm mac birmingham celebrates the art of food with our monthly food markets. Since we started our first market last year, their popularity has soared. The markets boast an ever-growing variety of stalls from local small businesses and social enterprises based locally.
Shop at mac By now visitors to mac birmingham should have noticed some of the gift cards, children’s books and activity packs and toys available from the centre. In addition to this we sell work connected to our exhibitions programme including souvenir exhibition guides and the artworks themselves – often under the Own Art scheme where payments can be spread, interest free, over a 10 month period.
The products vary from homemade cakes, speciality teas and coffee beans, artisan bakery goods, fresh vegetables and herbs, traditional sweets, fine cheeses, rare-breed meats and local honey. To find out what stalls are at each market please visit: www.macarts.co.uk/event/mac-foodmarket
Summer 13 www.macarts.co.uk
Hires
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More Than A Venue Perform at mac
Contact Us
If you want to showcase your work or hire a space why not choose a venue with state of the art facilities and amazing spaces all housed in a thriving arts centre. We can help with technical resources, marketing, opening parties and more!
So if you want to know more contact our Events team on 0121 446 3250 or email hires@macarts.co.uk
Meet at mac
“The event was great in a superb venue with first class support – thank you” Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands
With free WiFi offered throughout the building, mac birmingham is the perfect place to work if you enjoy the creative bustle of our public spaces. We have a wide range of meeting rooms and excellent conference spaces which can be hired at very competitive rates. Work at mac Did you know we offer hotdesks in our main office? For a very reasonable rate, we offer the perfect solution for people who work independently and need to find somewhere flexible to base themselves – whether it’s for a day, a week, or even longer. We can provide many business services such as telephones, photocopier, fax, scanner, kitchen use, meeting rooms and reception services.
What other people say...
“...a great success. Your collegues in catering and IT were very helpful indeed. I will certainly be recommending the facilities to my colleagues.” Pinsent Masons