Music Theatre Comedy Literature & Spoken Word Young People Dance Film Visual Arts Workshops
2016
SPRING
THE UK’S PREMIER INTERCULTURAL ARTS CENTRE www.the-drum.org.uk 0121 333 2444
THE UK’S PREMIER INTERCULTURAL ARTS CENTRE
Welcome to The Drum 2016 Winter/Spring season
Amsterdam Page 4
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After a cold and chilly winter, we’re turning up the heat, so get your laughing gear on and come on down to Upfront Comedy which returns this February. Staying on a comedy tip, we have the 3 Cockneys and Patrick Monhahan to look forward to as well. With all that laughter, the temperature is bound to be red hot, but the air will definitely be blue as the legendary queen of raunchy R&B, Millie Jackson, takes to the stage. This exclusive concert is a real coup for The Drum and one you won’t want to miss. Other music events this season include the UK Legends of Legends celebrating their 10th anniversary and winners of Gospel Choir of the Year (2015), Birmingham Community Gospel Choir making their debut at The Drum with an Easter Gospel extravaganza. A new strand to our music programme is The Drum’s Live Lounge. Live Lounge is a platform for emerging musicians and artists from the West Midlands who want to develop their skills by performing their first live gig. This is definitely one to watch with some amazing artists coming through. Then it promises to get hot, Hot, HOT with Soca Central - Part 2! Our theatre season begins with i know all the secrets in my world - a heart-breaking tale of how a father and son come to terms with their grief. The Diary of a Hounslow Girl depicts a young Muslim girl growing up between two cultures. And, from Jamaica, the Shakespeare Schools Championship commemorates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and features Macbeth with dance hall queens as the three witches!
To celebrate International Women’s Day (8 Mar), we’ve programmed a week of activities including the theatre production Amsterdam, the group exhibition Women in Art, Reel Women - the short film showcase and the film He Named Me Malala featuring 17-year old, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Malala Yousafzai. Also to look forward to this spring is the irrepressible wordsmith Lemn Sissay, Detox by Pagrav Dance, and to top it all off we have Vision Bombing live and unplugged featuring Soweto Kinch and Oxygen. PhD researcher Davinia Gregory recently joined us. Her ESRC funded Doctorate is a collaborative project, co-supervised by the University of Warwick’s Sociology department, its Centre for Cultural Policy Studies, and The Drum. Over the next four years she will be working to produce a thesis that argues the case for national and international policy towards greater cultural equity of participation, representation and careers in the arts. Finally, we’d like to announce Tennexa Young as our artist in residence. Playwright, producer and director Tennexa has enjoyed success with her theatre productions including Babymothers and Bashment Housewives. Tennexa will be working with The Drum over the next eight months on two new productions and will be branching out into filmmaking. Jennie Gentles Interim Head of Marketing & Arts
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
Raising the Roof UPDATE Dear Friend, over the past few years I’ve been keeping you informed with the latest news about our Raising The Roof capital project. As some of you may already be aware, we were informed in October 2015 that our Arts Council England capital application for £2.5m towards Raising the Roof was unsuccessful. From the feedback we received, it’s clear we need to be more robust and ambitious in planning what we require to make us sustainable and resilient for the next 20 years. Obviously we’re disappointed with the Arts Council’s decision but we’re pleased that, despite this setback, the Arts Council will be continuing their support in recognition of the significant role The Drum plays in the West Midlands and nationally. This support is in the shape of an alternative proposal which includes time and financial resources that will allow us to explore possibilities beyond those we originally envisaged. This proposal has been endorsed by Birmingham City Council - our other key partner and approved by our Board. Therefore, we’re currently working with Arts Council and Birmingham City Council to consolidate The Drum’s long term future for the benefit of all who perform, work, study and visit the venue. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made a donation towards Raising the Roof. All monies donated will be invested in our new resilience programme. However, if you would like to have your donation returned, please contact The Drum Box Office on 0121 333 2444 with proof of your original donation. The Drum’s trustees and partners are now working together to develop a shared vision to achieve our renewed objective of what The Drum could look like in 2035. These are exciting times and we will be sharing our ideas and plans with you as they emerge... so watch out for regular updates.
Theatre 4 - 5 Music 6 - 9 Comedy 10 - 11 Diary 12 - 13 Film 14 - 16 Literature & 17 Spoken Word
International Women’s Week To celebrate International Women’s Day on
Young People 18 - 19 Workshops 20
Tuesday 8 March
Dance 20 Visual Arts 21 Events 22 - 23 Partners 23 Map Back Page
The Drum is pleased to be hosting a series of screenings, workshops, performances and exhibitions throughout the week to mark the extraordinary contributions made by women from home and abroad, through arts and culture.
LOOK OUT FOR THE LOGO
Charles E Small, FRSA MBA Chief Executive
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Theatre
Thu 10 Mar / 7.30pm Afrique Performs present
GET THESE 2 SHOWS for £16 (£14)
Thu 25 & Fri 26 Feb / 7.30pm Tiata Fahodzi present
i know all the secrets in my world Tickets: £10.50 (£8.50) i know all the secrets in my world is a heartbreaking play that invites you into the home of a father and son after the bricks come crashing down around them following the loss of their wife and mother. We watch as they move silently through stages of grief, trying to find words for their unspeakable loss.
“… [i know… is an] achingly heart breaking and silent portrayal of grief” Sarah Brigham, Derby Theatre
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Buy tickets for i know and Amsterdam at the same time and save £3.50 (£1.50)
Amsterdam Tickets: £9 (£7) Seduced by the attractions of the city and a charming Surinamese man she met on holiday, Chanje Kunda did what many people dream of but can’t quite bring themselves to do. She left her office, packed her suitcase and set off for a new life in Amsterdam. She has since turned the experience into a captivating play named after the city. The tale is a story of love, lust, risk and liberation. But what will her fate be? Suitable for 16+ Written and performed by Chanje Kunda chanjekunda.com
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
Purbanat Productions present
Bangla Brummies Tickets: £8 (£6) The play begins in the 1970s, with a group of Bangladeshi bachelors living together in a cramped house in Small Heath, Birmingham. We then fast forward to 2010, to visit an extended Asian family, living in a similarly cramped house, in the same area. Lots of things appear to have changed in the lives of Asians in Small Heath in the last forty years. But have they really? Bangla Brummies is a new play full of satire, dreams and fantasies. The production dissects serious issues and uses comedy to look at the lives of Asian immigrants and celebrates their lives in Birmingham. Performed in English Written by Murad Khan
Sat 2 Apr / 6pm
Shakespeare Schools Championship Tickets: £5 (£3), Family tickets £15 The Shakespeare Schools Championship competition which took place in Jamaica last year, was devised by Dr Tony Sewell, former columnist of The Voice newspaper. Several schools took part in the competition and each performed a 30-minute Shakespeare play in a Jamaican context, keeping the original Shakespearian language. The competition was won by Campion College from Kingston and their prize is the opportunity to come to the UK as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Campion College will be touring the UK, performing their winning version of Macbeth (with dancehall queens as the witches!). As part of the tour, Jamaican drama teachers will be working with schools in Birmingham to enhance their cultural awareness through drama. This final performance at The Drum will feature Campion College’s 30-minute version of Macbeth, plus performances from Young Drum and Birmingham based schools in what promises to be a Shakesperian extravaganza, yard style! Up to 4 tickets. Party must include at least one adult and children must be under 12
Tue 17 May / 7.30pm Ambreen Razia with Black Theatre Live present
The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
Theatre
Sun 20 Mar / 7.30pm
Tickets: £9.50 (£7.50) Early Bird £8 (£6) before 17 Apr First there was Bridget Jones’ Diary, then Legally Blonde, and now there is The Diary of a Hounslow Girl. So what is a ‘Hounslow Girl’? ‘Hounslow Girl’ has become a byword for young Muslim women who wear hooped earrings along with their headscarves, tussling with their traditional families while hustling their way in urban West London. Feisty, young women, grappling with traditional values, city life and fashion. A comic story of dreams, aspirations and coming of age, The Diary of a Hounslow Girl is told through the eyes of a 16 year old British Muslim girl growing up in West London. From traditional Pakistani weddings to fights on the night bus, this is a funny, bold, provocative play highlighting the challenges of being brought up in a traditional Muslim family alongside the temptations and influences growing up in and around London.
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Music
Sat 13 Feb / Doors open 7.30pm GL360 present
Faith Child Sun 7 Feb / Doors open 6pm The Drum present
An Intimate Affair with Millie Jackson Tickets: £29, MOTD Join us for this rare and EXCLUSIVE pre-Valentine affair with the legendary Millie Jackson. With a career spanning more than three decades, Miss Jackson is known for her sexually explicit, racy, gritty, rap style fused with soul. The release of her album Caught Up established her as the queen of raunchy R&B. The hit albums kept coming and firm favourites include Still Caught Up, the timeless Feelin’ Bitchy and the controversial Back to the S**t!. Join Millie Jackson, complete with 10-piece band, as she shares with us her unique blend of jaw-dropping humour and outstanding music. Her performance at The Drum will be the only public date on this mini UK tour. We have limited seats available so book yours now because when they’ve gone …they’ve gone! Suitable for 18+
Tickets: £10 (£7.50) Having won Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist at the 2010 Gospel Music Awards and a MOBO for Best Gospel Act in 2015, Faith Child has been on a remarkable journey to become a multi-award winning artist. Following the phenomenal success of his album Airborne, Faith Child promises to deliver a compelling live performance. Faith Child’s artistry can only be described as divine as he uses his faith to positively inspire and empower all who listen, particularly young people – believers and non-believers.
positively inspire & empower all who listen
Faith Child
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
The Drum and Gatecrash Promotions present
UK Legends of Legends Sat 27 Feb Doors open 9pm Prestige Events in association with The Drum present
Spring Masquerade Ball Tickets: £10 in adv, £15 OTD Dust off your masquerade masks and polish up your dancing shoes for the Spring Masquerade Ball. Music will be supplied by the UK’s finest DJs from Birmingham, Leeds and London. They’ll be playing all your favourite tunes from the past to the present day, so prepare yourself for a delightful evening. Dress code for this spectacular is smart. No casual wear allowed. Prizes will be given for the bestdressed male and female and there’ll be lots of other prizes and giveaways throughout the night, so put the date in your diary and start planning your outfit!
Tickets: £25, MOTD The long awaited annual UK Legends of Legends returns to The Drum with another spectacular line up of legendary UK Lovers Rock artists. Live PAs on the night include Wendy Walker (Gone She Gone), Winston Reedy (Dim The Light), AJ Franklin (Chosen Few, Everybody Plays The Fool), Robbie Levi (Nubian Woman), Arema (In Love), Ossie Gad (Picture On The Wall), Donna Rhoden (It’s True), Janet Lee-Davis (Baby I’ve Been Missing You), Dennis Bovell (After Tonight), Tradition (Breezin), Lorna G (Got To Find A Way), Mike Anthony (Walk Away) and Leesha Mac (Not Saying A Word), plus special guests! Warming up the party and keeping you dancing throughout the night are amazing DJs, including Gatecrash, G6T9, Mikey Bups, Trevor Tee and GT! To make sure the sound is crisp and befitting the Legends, we’ve called in the mega booming Fatal Attraction Sound System. All this makes for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of sweet reggae sounds. Last year we sold out well in advance, so make sure you come dressed to impress and get your tickets before they’re gone!
Music
Sat 12 Mar / Doors open 10pm
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Music Sat 26 Mar Doors open 9pm The Drum in association with Krassroad Entertainment present
Sat 26 Mar / 7.30pm The Drum present
Birmingham Community Gospel Choir Easter Concert Tickets: £7 (£5) in adv, £9 OTD Family Tickets £21.50 Join us for this special concert featuring winners of Gospel Choir of the Year 2015, Birmingham Community Gospel Choir. Led by singer-songwriter Maxine Brooks, the choir will be performing gospel and inspirational music for this Easter extravaganza. Up to 4 tickets. Party must include at least one adult and children must be under 12
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Soca Central Part 2 Ticket: £8 in adv, MOTD Soca Central is back at The Drum. Last year, “All A We Fete” was a huge success, so to carry on the trend of reverberating Soca beats, we return with a star studded line-up of the nation’s top Soca DJs playing the latest carnival anthems from Trinidad, Antigua, Grenada, Dominique, St Kitts & Nevis, mixing and blending flavours from all the islands. Come one, come all to The Drum, the new home of Soca music. It’s bound to be a full house, so book your tickets now and don’t forget your flags, horns and whistles for Soca Central - Part 2. Tickets available from The Jus-Us Crew and Drum Box Office
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
GL360 in association with The Drum present
GL LIVE X Ticket: £10 (£7.50) in adv, MOTD It’s back! GL360’s flagship Urban Gospel event is being held, exclusively, at the The Drum. Urban acts from the USA will be performing with some of the West Midlands’, and UK’s finest acts, to create a showcase of great national and international music. This event is an opportunity for young people of the Midlands to share their production skills (behind the scenes) and artistry (on the stage), not only for their hometown but now for the world!
Sat 23 Apr / Doors open 7.30pm
Vision Bombing Unplugged featuring Soweto Kinch & Oxygen Tickets: £10 (£8)
Vision Bombing Unplugged, hosted by the true master of ceremonies MadFlow with music and visuals mixed live by DJ Psykhomantus and Mr Dex. Guests on the night include Birmingham’s very own Soweto Kinch and from the USA, Oxygen. This will be a night of music and discussion with some of the leading exponents of hip-hop. A night not to be missed!
Music
Sat 16 Apr / Doors open 7pm
Sun 17 Apr & Sun 15 May Doors open 7pm The Drum present
Live Lounge Tickets: £3, MOTD Once a month Live Lounge will showcase an unsigned act to make their live debut. So if you are a musician or fan of live music, The Drum’s Live Lounge is for you! There’s no better way to end your weekend. If you are a local musician, band or artist looking to get your first gig at Live Lounge, please submit your details to: g.carter@the-drum.org.uk
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Comedy
Fri 4 Mar / Doors open 7pm
Upfront March Madness Tickets: £13.50 (£11.50), MOTD
Fri 5 Feb / Doors open 7pm
Upfront Winter Warmer Tickets: £13.50 (£11.50), MOTD
MAUREEN YOUNGER
BBC hotshot Aurie Styla introduces comedy’s alpha male Kane Brown, East End London wise-guy Les Blair and the force of comedy nature that is Maureen Younger for some energetic, clever and filthy laughs to start the comedy season.
Comedian turned Teletubbie John Simmit introduces Real McCoy legend LEO Muhammad for distinctive edutainment and his own brand of laughs with substance. Also joining them on the night is Marlon Davis, winner of FHM Magazine’s national Stand Up Hero competition, as seen on Comedy Central’s Comedy Store, and Manchester’s Trevor Dwyer-Lynch, formerly taxi driver Patrick in Coronation Street.
TREVOR DWYER-LYNCH KANE BROWN
AURIE STYLA
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444 Sat 23 Apr / Doors open 7pm
Tickets: £12 (£10) in adv, MOTD The family’s favourite funnyman (and occasional disco dancer) is on tour across the UK with his brand new stand-up show The Disco Years! Charged by Patrick’s memories and reminiscences of being an immigrant to Great Britain, this is a laugh out loud show that is both thoughtful and smart as well as brilliantly silly! Patrick was the winner of the 2011 ITV1 series Show Me The Funny which led to the release of his debut DVD Patrick Monahan Live. The Disco Years is a show not to be missed for lovers of comedy, so get online, get clicking and order your tickets now!
Fri 1 Apr / Doors open 7pm
3 Cockneys, 1 Stage and a Mic Tickets: £13.50 (£11.50), MOTD
REM CONWAY
The Drum is proud to announce the first in its series of belly busting comedy nights. We kick off with 3 Cockneys, 1 Stage and a Mic featuring three of London’s princes of comedy. The line-up includes Mr Cee - one of comedies soothsayers. Next up we have Toju, a man of many voices and a comedian of many styles, he’s bound to have the audience rolling with laughter. And finally, to round off this cockney trio is Slim. As the heavyweight defender of UK comedy for many years, tonight, he’ll be bringing to the stage his fire-branded humour, drawing inspiration from life, news, and current affairs. This event is bound to tickle everybody’s fancy so get your tickets early to avoid disappointment. This event will be hosted by Birmingham’s very own young gun of comedy Rem Conway.
Comedy
Patrick Monahan – The Disco Years
MR CEE
TOJU SLIM
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Diary Theatre 4 - 5 Music 6 - 9 Comedy 10 - 11 Film 14 - 16 Literature & Spoken Word 17 Young People 18 - 19 Workshops 20 Dance 20 Visual Arts 21 Events 22 - 23 International Women’s Week For information on our latest ticket offers, competitions and give-aways check our Facebook and Twitter pages on a regular basis or call The Drum Box Office. TheDrumBirmingham @The_Drum
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JANUARY Every Wed / 7pm Kizomba Workshop Thu 14 Jan – Thu 25 Feb Becuz She Can Thu 14 Jan – Thu 25 Feb Roots & Culture Thu 21 Jan / 7pm NCCCS Times shown are doors opening times
FEBRUARY Fri 5 Feb / 7pm Upfront Winter Warmer Sun 7 Feb / 6pm An Intimate Affair with Millie Jackson Thu 11 Feb / 7pm Dear White People Sat 13 Feb / 7pm Faith Child Thu 18 Feb / 7pm The Abominable Crime Sat 20 Feb / 2pm NCCCS Conference Thu 25 & Fri 26 Feb / 7pm i know all the secrets in my world Sat 27 Feb / 9pm Spring Masquerade Ball
MARCH Thu 3 Mar / 7pm 3½ Minutes / Ten Bullets Fri 4 Mar / 7pm Upfront March Madness Tue 8 Mar / 7pm Reel Women Wed 9 Mar / 7pm He Named Me Malala Thu 10 – Wed 31 Women in Art Launch Tue 8 Mar / 10am Arts Café Thu 10 Mar / 7pm Amsterdam Sat 12 Mar / 10pm UK Legends of Legends Thu 17 Mar / 7pm Black Skin, White Mask Fri 18 Mar / 7pm A beg yuh try out yuh lef foot Sat 19 Mar / 12pm Quintessential @ Quinborne Community Centre Sun 20 Mar / 7pm Bangla Brummies Thu 24 Mar / 7pm The Black Panthers Sat 26 Mar / 7pm Birmingham Community Gospel Choir Sat 26 Mar / 9pm Soca Central - Part 2
www.the-drum.org.uk www.the-drum.org.uk| | 0121 333 2444 Fri 1 Apr / 7pm 3 Cockneys, 1 Stage and a Mic Sat 2 Apr / 5.30pm Shakespeare Schools Championship Thu 7 Apr / 6pm Launch of Herbert Walters Exhibition Thu 14 Apr / 7pm Lemn Sissay Sat 16 Apr / 6:30pm GL LIVE X Sun 17 Apr / 7pm Live Lounge Thu 21 Apr / 7pm NCCCS Sat 23 Apr / 2pm Stretch & Bobbito Sat 23 Apr / 7pm Patrick Monahan – The Disco Years Sat 23 Apr / 7.30pm Vision Bombing Unplugged Wed 27 Apr / 7pm Grime versus Hip-Hop
MAY Thu 5 May / 7pm Detox Tue 17 May / 7pm The Diary of a Hounslow Girl Thu 26 May / 7pm NCCCS
Please note you may be asked for identification or proof of We have lots of exciting offers your circumstances, please and discounts at The Drum. call our Box Office prior to We offer concessionary rates on a performance to check most performances; you can find discounts available. these in brackets following our standard ticket price.
Discounts at The Drum
FIRST SEMESTER Mon 11 Jan – Sat 13 Feb Half Term: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb (activities to be announced) SECOND SEMESTER Mon 22 Feb – Sat 2 Apr Shakespeare Schools Championship Activities: Fri 1 and Sat 2 Apr
Academy Term Time Activity Mondays Music Sessions Tuesdays Spoken Word Sessions Saturday Street/Contemporary Dance, Drama, Visual Art, Multimedia Sat 30 Jan, 27 Feb & 26 Mar Tiny Drum
Contact details:
Concessionary rates These tickets are available to senior citizens, students, registered unemployed, registered disabled and under 18s.
Group Bookings Buy 10 tickets for any theatre event and only pay for 9.
Schools Reduced matinee tickets available for most schools’ performances.
p:ARTicipate Under p:ARTicipate scheme, Edgbaston residents can obtain reduced priced tickets on selected events (see diary for details). Terms and conditions apply, please contact our Box Office on 0121 333 2444 for more details.
Box Office 0121 333 2444 Website www.the-drum.org.uk Address The Drum 144 Potters Lane, Aston Birmingham, B6 4UU
Discounts
APRIL
Please note that all tickets purchased via The Drum Box Office can only be sent Recorded Delivery costing £1.60 (not insured) or Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery at a cost of £6 (thus ensuring your tickets will arrive within twentyfour hours and will be covered against loss or damage). TheDrumBirmingham @The_Drum +thedrumbirmingham
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Films 4REEL is The Drum’s year long programme of film, audience engagement and special events. The programme is supported by the British Film Institute and Film Audience Network. This season’s highlights include: Dear White People, a provocative satire of race relations in the age of Obama; 3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets, a documentary exploring the murder of a black teenager over the volume of music coming from his car and The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, the first feature length documentary that explores the Black Panther Party.
4WardEverFilm Club is a community collective, supporting Campaigns for Justice. 4WardEver UK in collaboration with The Drum present a monthly screening, showcasing independent films to a wider audience. Films are an important vehicle to raise crucial civil society concerns, initiate conversations and dialogue and evolve public discourse around them.
Thu 11 Feb / Doors open 7pm Screening 7.30pm
Dear White People + Q&A Tickets: £4 (£3) Cert 15 Winner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival’s Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent, Dear White People is a sly, provocative satire of race relations in the age of Obama. Writer/ Director Justin Simien follows a group of African American students as they navigate campus life and racial politics at a predominantly white college, in a sharp and funny feature film debut that earned him a spot on Variety’s annual “10 Directors to Watch”. The screening will be followed by a Q&A. To view the trailer visit: www.dearwhitepeoplemovie.co.uk/media.php Duration: 109 mins
Thu 18 Feb Doors open 7pm Screening 7.30pm
The Abominable Crime + Q&A Tickets: £4 (£3) Cert TBC This film was originally screened by The Drum last year. Due to overwhelming feedback we’ve decided to re-screen it. The Abominable Crime is a documentary that explores the culture of homophobia in Jamaica through the eyes of gay Jamaicans who are forced to choose between their homeland and their lives after their sexual orientations are exposed… The screening will be followed by a Q&A. Duration: 40 mins
Thu 3 Mar Doors open 7pm Screening 7.30pm
3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets + Q&A Tickets: £4 (£3) Cert 15 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets explores the murder of black teenager Jordan Davis after he engaged in a verbal dispute with Michael Dunn, a white middleaged man about the volume of the music coming from his car. Michael Dunn fired 10 bullets into the car of the unarmed teenagers and then fled, leaving Jordan Davis dead. In court Michael Dunn claimed he shot in selfdefence, but with no evidence that the teenagers were armed, his story lacked credibility. The film follows Jordan’s parents and friends as they fight for
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
Reel Women Tickets: £3
justice as well as grapple with an unimaginable loss. Although the documentary does not celebrate history or an achievement, it raises awareness of how hidden racial prejudices can too often result in tragedy. It’s beautifully shot and includes footage from police tapes, trial recordings and even Dunn’s own private phone conversations. The screening will be followed by a Q&A. To view the trailer visit: youtu.be/t374HK0hGPY Duration: 98 mins
Reel Women is a programme of short films produced and directed by Birmingham based female filmmakers. The films address a range of different themes from women’s rights and dementia in the Caribbean community, to the role of women in the reggae music industry. This event highlights why the film industry needs more women, particularly from ethnically diverse backgrounds, working in film. There will be a discussion following the screening. The panel will comprise filmmakers including Sima Gonsai, Leonie Smith and Sandra Carter of Body Symphony, plus more to be announced.
Wed 9 Mar / Doors open 7pm Screening 7.30pm
He Named Me Malala + Q&A Tickets: £4 (£3) Cert 15
Films
Tues 8 Mar Doors open 7pm Screening 7.30pm
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at 17 and probably one of the most famous teenagers in the world, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for championing girls’ education in Pakistan. He Named Me Malala is an extraordinary and compelling documentary by director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, 2006; Waiting for Superman, 2010). He records intimate moments with her family and in her new school. Behind the image of the activist and campaigner, we discover a warm and playful individual. The screening will be followed by a Q&A. Duration: 88 mins
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THE UK’S PREMIER INTERCULTURAL ARTS CENTRE
Films
Sat 23 Apr / Doors open 2pm Screening 2.30pm
Stretch & Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives Tickets: £4 (£3) Cert TBC
Thu 24 Mar / Doors open 7pm Screening 7.30pm
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution + Q&A Tickets £4 (£3) Cert 15
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The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution is the first feature length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party. It provides an essential chronicle of this pivotal movement that birthed a new revolutionary culture in America. It explores the party’s cultural and political awakening, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails. The screening will be followed by a Q&A. To view the trailer visit: youtu.be/XUv-4Fzji0I Duration: 113 mins
During the 1990s, Stretch & Bobbito introduced the world to the unsigned Nas, Biggie, Wu-Tang, and Big Pun, as well as the unknown Jay Z, Eminem, and the Fugees. The total record sales for all the artists that premiered on their show exceed 300 million. The late night programme had a cult following in the art and fashion worlds as well as the prison population. All would loyally tune in for the offbeat humour as much as for the exclusive tunes. Stretch and Bobbito brought a unique audience together and created a platform that changed music forever. This film charts the rise of the best rap radio of all time! To view the trailer visit: stretchandbobbito.com/film Duration: 94 mins
Literature & Spoken Word Fri 18 Mar / Doors open 7pm
Thu 14 Apr / Doors open 7pm
Jamfolk in association with The Drum present
The Drum present
“A beg yuh try out yuh lef foot” Tickets: £10 (£8) “A beg u try out yuh lef foot” produced by Jamfolk Performing Company, features Jamaican folk music, song, dance, and comedy. As the title suggests, when the sweet music hits the audience they will have no choice but to get up and dance, shaking the right foot and then trying out the left. The evening will be reminiscent of old time Mento rhythms, Anansi stories, folk songs and comedy. Music backed by New Wave Roots & Reggae Band This event will be a visual and sensory journey back to the island of Jamaica, using backdrops and props as the team magically re-creates the island in the sun.
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
Lemn Sissay Tickets: £9 (£7) An award-winning playwright and popular broadcaster, as well as the author of five poetry books, Lemn Sissay has a way with words. Sissay is perhaps best known for his work with the BBC, which shines a spotlight on his upbringing as a foster child in the UK. In 1995, he shared his story in the BBC documentary Internal Flight and his BBC radio documentary Child of the State was nominated for a 2010 Sony Award. Much of his work is influenced by his quest to find his parents. After a long search, he located his birth mother in Gambia and has since come to know the rest of his family. Sissay is Associate Artist at the Southbank Centre, patron of The Letterbox Club and The Reader Organisation, Ambassador for The Children’s Reading Fund, Trustee of Forward Arts Foundation, an Inaugural Trustee of World Book Night and an honorary Doctor of Letters. He has been a writer from birth and foremost a poet. Join Lemn Sissay for an evening of captivating spoken word and poetry. “He’s a lyrical genius that’s causing a storm across the country.” The Voice
Nubian Readers’ Book Club Last Friday of the month 7:30pm Tickets: £2 If you’re a fan of books written by African, African Caribbean and African-American authors then join the Nubian Readers’ Book Club. The lively group meets on the last Friday of every month.
Book List: 29 Jan A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James 26 Feb The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela 1 Apr The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma 29 Apr In Love and War by Lesley Lokko
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younggiftedbrum @GiftedBrum #YoungDrum
Young Drum Academy In partnership with LACES
The Drum is committed to investing in the future generation of creators, performers and leaders. Young Drum is a programme specifically dedicated to providing arts based opportunities for people aged under 25. There are a range of creative workshops, events and projects for you to feast on here at The Drum. This is a chance to build upon your skills in the creative industries whilst working with some of the most experienced and innovative practitioners in the West Midlands.
Let your creative journey begin, join Young Drum today. To book contact our Box Office on 0121 333 2444 or online www.the-drum.org.uk For more information and advice contact the Young Drum Team: younggiftedbrum@gmail.com or Young Drum Coordinator t.buckley@the-drum.org.uk 0121 333 2431
Suitable for people aged 7-25 years FIRST SEMESTER
SECOND SEMESTER
Mon 11 Jan – Sat 13 Feb
Mon 22 Feb – Sat 2 Apr
Half Term: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb (activities to be announced)
Shakespeare Schools Championship Activities: Fri 1 and Sat 2 Apr
For just £3 per week or £30 per term you or your child can enjoy as many or as few of the creative sessions on offer as part of Young Drum Academy. A one-off £10 membership fee does apply for each child. There is a weekly programme during term time that is jam-packed with creative workshops in music, spoken word poetry, visual arts, dance, drama, multimedia, Arts Award and new this term, our producer’s hub. We are happy to announce that this year we will be hosting a range of activities during the February half term too, activities to be announced so watch this space! This term Young Drum Academy will creatively explore all things Shakespeare to mark the 400th anniversary of his death and celebrate the legacy that continues to influence the creative industries a quartercentenary on. There will be an explosive two days of workshops and performances on 1 and 2 April. All groups will contribute to the Shakespeare Schools Championship performance on 2 Apr at 6pm.
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444
In partnership with LACES
Academy Term Time Activity Mondays 6pm - 7.30pm Music Sessions Song-writing and learning musical instruments Tuesdays 6pm - 7.30pm
Spoken Word Sessions Poetry, performance, creative writing and storytelling Saturday 11am - 4.30pm
Street Dance, Contemporary Dance, Drama, Visual Art, Multimedia 11 - 12pm - Choose from: Visual Art or Introduction to Contemporary Dance (suitable for all abilities) 12pm -1.15pm - Choose from: Beginner’s Street Dance, Advanced Drama or Visual Art 1.15pm - 2.30pm - Choose from: Advanced Street Dance, Beginner’s Drama or Multimedia 2.30pm - 3pm Break 3pm - 4.30pm - Choose from: Elite Dance, Producers Hub or Arts Award (dependant on age)
Suitable for people aged 6 months - 6 years Sat 30 Jan, 27 Feb & 26 Mar 11am till 12pm Tickets: £3 per child( (accompanying adults are free)
These monthly sessions are specially designed for children (accompanied by their parents/ guardians) to interact with, learn and grow together through the arts. This is great preparation for children who might engage in the wider Young Drum programme in the future.
Young People
Tiny Drum
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THE UK’S PREMIER INTERCULTURAL ARTS CENTRE
Workshops
Every Wed / 7pm
Kizomba Tickets: £6 for 1 class (£5 for students) £8 for 2 classes (£7 for students) £2 only for social dance Kiz’xpression was born out of Kizomba lovers that wanted to show a new side of Kizomba in Birmingham; they wanted to share their way of Kizomba expression. Come down to The Drum and try our classes for beginners and improvers (at the same time with different teachers), plus Semba for beginners. Or just come and join us for a social dance.
“Or just come and join us for a social dance.” 20
Dance
Tue 8 Mar 10am - 12pm
Arts Café Free admission Come and take part in our Arts Cafe. Pick and mix from our menu which includes a cup of tea, a writing session, a slice of cake oh and of course, making some art! This session is particularly aimed at women and or female carers of young children. Arts Café is about having fun, making art and meeting other people.
Thu 5 May / 7.30pm Pagrave Dance present
Detox Tickets: £9.50 (£7.50) Early Bird £7.50 (£5.50) before 5 Apr Intense, energetic and thought-provoking, Detox is the latest production by Pagrav Dance Company. Under the artistic direction of choreographer Urja Desai, the company’s emotion-driven story-telling creates distinctive dance works which originate in contemporary and Kathak idioms. Detox investigates the phenomenon of detoxification and the conflict between our desire for and rejection of toxicity. Here is a work for our time, yet detoxification is as old as civilization. Desai brings together a cast of five dancers and an imaginative design concept to deconstruct notions of excess and consumption and to explore how cleansing can ignite self-discovery and reveal true potential.
Visual Arts Thu 14 Jan – Thu 25 Feb
Becuz She Can Mon – Fri: 10am – 6pm Free admission Famina B creates intricate hand-drawn patterns that start from a central focal point and become bigger and more complex as they expand. Her idea of communities and societies coming together is reflected in her work with different elements of line and pattern integrating to form a greater and beautiful existence. She hand draws onto different surfaces to create installations that push the boundaries of light, shadow and perception, all wanting the audience’s intimate attention to engage with her art.
www.the-drum.org.uk | 0121 333 2444 Thu 10 – 31 Mar
Mon 2 Apr – Mon 2 May
Women in Artt
Herbert Walters
Launch: Thu 10 Mar 6pm – 7pm
Launch: Thu 7 Apr 6pm – 7pm Mon – Fri: 10am – 6pm Free admission
Mon – Fri 10am – 6pm Free Admission In celebration of International Women’s Week, The Drum is pleased to host a selection of works by female visual artists from the West Midlands. The exhibition includes photography, abstraction and craft.
Herbert ‘H’ Walters has been taking photos for a long time, but only took it up seriously in the last 15 years. His work ranges from street photography and documentary to portraiture. This exhibition exemplifies his interest in issues of social justice within the communities of Birmingham. Through photography he captures the rawness and emotion of marchers during demonstrations supporting the Mikey Powell campaign amongst others.
Thu 14 Jan – Thu 25 Feb
Roots & Culture Mon – Fri: 10am – 6pm Free admission Jeune’s art is inspired by his interest in religious iconography, which adorns the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. His art also alludes to Rastafari and Pan-Africanism, utilising symbolism, colours and characters depicted in his paintings.
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THE UK’S PREMIER INTERCULTURAL ARTS CENTRE 22
Events
Thu 21 Jan, Thu 21 Apr & Thu 26 May / 7pm
New Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies - Symposium Free admission The New Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies aims to create an open and inclusive space for debate, discussion and political engagement within and between the various communities of Birmingham. It embraces the ethos of Stuart Hall’s directorship of the original Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham and seeks to analyse the problems facing Birmingham’s communities through forging a working relationship with those very citizens. but must be booked in advance online or by calling The Drum Box Office
Sat 20 Feb / 2 - 5pm
Sat 19 Mar / 12 - 3pm
Stuart Hall Conference: Legacies and Futures
Quintessential
Tickets: £10 The New Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies, set up in 2014, embraces the ethos of Professor Stuart Hall’s directorship of the original Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies and aims to create an open space for discussion and political engagement in Birmingham. We are holding a conference addressing the work and legacy of Stuart Hall, looking at both at the influence of his work and the ways in which it has been taken forward by a new generation of scholars. For more info please visit: ncccs.wordpress.com email newcentreatthedrum@gmail.com
Free admission As part of our Arts Champions Scheme, The Drum is pleased to host an arts showcase, Quintessential, which will take place at Quinborne Community Centre. In the lead up to the event in March, Quintessential is seeking local artists to perform and showcase local talent in music, dance and other performing arts. This is an opportunity for the talent of Edgbaston, Quinton, Harborne and Bartley Green to contribute to our first showcase event. So if you are aged 19 to 75 years old, sing, dance, rap, recite poetry, have a band or other such talent we want to hear from you! Please note that this event will take place on 19 March 2016 at 12pm at Quinborne Community Centre, Quinton, B32 2TW
Partners Wed 27 Apr / Doors open 7pm
Grime versus Hip-Hop – The Debate Tickets: £3, £5 OTD Is contemporary grime groundbreaking? Has it had more impact on British youth than classic hip-hop? Vintage hip-hop artists have spawned many radical movements, fighting for a just cause and defending the safety of their race. Compare this to more angst ridden grime lyrics which often promote defending your ‘ends’ by any means necessary, it poses a question: which genre truly defends truth, justice, civil liberties and empowerment? Grime versus Hip-Hop is aimed at helping us to identify the similarities and differences between the two genres and to explore when and why the UK decided to change the emphasis of rapping. The audience are invited to pose questions to our panel of experts representing each genre. Do you believe hip-hop is superior to grime? Do you think grime ‘keeps it real’ and is the voice of the youth? Whatever your views join us for what is bound to be a lively debate. This event will feature live performances from grime and hip-hop artists.
We have developed excellent and successful partnerships over the years to deliver a range of eclectic performing and digital arts programmes and plan to continue and develop this tradition. We are proud to count the following organisations and individuals as our partners:
Board Members: Sharon Palmer MBE (Chair) Dr Rita McLean (Vice Chair) Amerah Saleh Andrew Donaldson Councillor Paulette Hamilton Joel Graham-Blake Khembe Clarke Leslie Fairclough Margaret Wellington Prof Mick Durman Shaun Cope Sukhi Saini Prof Upkar S Pardesi OBE Interested in becoming a partner or advertising with The Drum? Call us now on
0121 333 2444
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A34 HIGH ST
SELSTON RD
How to Find Us The Drum is located on the A34, just ten minutes outside Birmingham city centre on the site of the former Aston Hippodrome, next to the Bartons Arms. By Bus From the City Centre take the number 33 or 51 bus from Lower Bull Street (next to Poundland), or the number 7, which leaves from Livery Street. Alight at Newtown Swimming Baths / Bartons Arms.
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By Train The Drum is a short distance from local Birmingham stations including New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill.
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BARTONS ARMS R TE POT
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NEWTOWN SWIMMING BATHS
A34 HIGH ST
ALMA ST
NEWBURY RD
By Car From the M6: Leave at Junction 6, onto
BURLINGTON ST
The Drum 144 Potters Lane Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU THE UK’S PREMIER INTERCULTURAL ARTS CENTRE www.the-drum.org.uk 0121 333 2444 TheDrumBirmingham
@The_Drum
+thedrumbirmingham
The information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of going to press. It maybe subject to change, please contact us to check performance details. The Drum is a non-smoking venue.
the A38(M) a short way along the A38(M), take the exit sign posted Aston / Waterlinks. The roundabout at the top exit is Park Circus. Take the second exit onto Victoria Road. Turn left onto Upper Sutton Street and then right at the bottom onto Park Lane. Before you approach the crossroads /next set of lights there is a slip road to turn left. This is Potters Lane The Drum’s car park is on your left directly as you turn left. From Birmingham City Centre: Take the A38 towards Aston (under the tunnels/underpass towards the M6). Go over the Aston Expressway and merge left, off the A38 and onto the ring road towards Dartmouth Circus roundabout. Keep in the left-hand lane and go straight over the roundabout. As you exit off the roundabout the overhead sign is marked Thomas Street - go straight up Thomas Street and turn left at the top of the road on to Park Lane (you will see East End Foods on your right). Just before the traffic lights, take the slip road on the left, this is Potters Lane. The Drum’s car park is on your left directly as you turn left. Free parking outside, Disabled spaces are also available.