What’sOn

HARD KNOCK LIFE

Craig Revel Horwood stars as Miss Hannigan in Annie

ALL SHOOK UP

Elvis meets Evil Dead 2 at the Old Joint Stock Theatre prestigious squash tournament returns to Birmingham

BRITISH OPEN...

News from around the region

Acclaimed ghost story set for Midlands return

Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story, The Woman In Black, is making a welcome return to the Midlands.

Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation, which is now celebrating three decades in the West End, will kick-start an autumn tour with four days at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (Wednesday 6 - Saturday 9 September). It then returns to the region in 2024, visiting Birmingham’s The Alexandra from Monday 5 to Saturday 10 February.

For more information and to book tickets, visit thewomaninblack.com

Ru Paul’s Werq The World to visit Birmingham venue

The largest drag show in the world is heading to Birmingham with an all-new production this autumn.

Featuring fan favourite drag queens from the US, RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq The World Tour 2023 will stop off at the city’s Utilita Arena on Thursday 12 October.

For further information and to book tickets, visit cuffeandtaylor.com

Back with a Big Bang...

The Big Bang Fair - the UK’s largest celebration of STEM (science, technology, engineering & maths) for young people - will return to Birmingham’s NEC this summer. Taking place at the venue from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 June, the popular event provides visitors with the opportunity to meet engineers and scientists, get involved in hands-on activities, and check out live shows and career panels. For more information and to book tickets, visit thebigbang.org.uk/fair

One-day festival set for Digbeth summer debut

A one-day multi-room festival featuring live music, sound workshops, industry talks and food stalls will make its debut in Birmingham this summer.

Shrek set to leave the swamp and hit the road

Shrek The Musical will visit two Midlands theatres as part of a new UK tour. The hit show, which is based on the Oscarwinning Dreamworks film made in 2001, features a selection of much-loved songs, including the classic Monkees track, I’m A Believer.

The cast includes Strictly Come Dancing star Joanne Clifton, who will take the role of Princess Fiona.

Shrek The Musical visits the Coventry Belgrade from 30 January to 4 February 2024 and then returns to the region in the spring, stopping off at Birmingham’s The Alexandra from 9 to 14 April 2024. For more information and to book tickets, visit shrekuktour.com

Taking place at The Mill in Digbeth on Saturday 22 July, InterMission explores sounds from the UK’s leading jazz, afro, global, electronica and hip-hop scenes. The live-music line-up includes jazz/hip-hop collective Steam Down. To find out more and book tickets, visit intermissionfestival.com

New dance-theatre work Drowntown at MAC

Choreographer Rhiannon Faith is bringing a new work of dance theatre to Birmingham’s Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) early next month.

Drowntown follows the struggle of six strangers who, having arrived in a coastal land, find themselves stuck between the remains of a broken community and the vast bleakness of the sea.

The production shows at MAC on Wednesday 3 May. For more information and to book tickets, visit macbirmingham.co.uk

Opera returns for first time since 17th century

A 345-year-old opera is being performed at Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre this month (Wednesday 12, Friday 14 & Saturday 15 April), marking the first time that the piece has been staged since the 17th century. Alessandro Stradella’s 1678 opera, The Power Of Paternal Love (La Forza dell’amor paterno), is being presented by Barber Opera and performed by an ensemble cast accompanied by baroque specialists The Musical & Amicable Society Orchestra. For more information and to book tickets, visit barber.org.uk/stradella

First Word

Eric Bibb Ridin’ into the Town Hall

Eric Bibb is heading to Birmingham.

The American blues legend will play the Town Hall on 5 May as part of a UK tour to promote his brand-new album, Ridin’.

For further information and to book tickets for the gig, visit bmusic.co.uk

Carrie Hope Fletcher going solo in Brum

West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher will make a stop-off at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall next month (Monday 29 May) as part of her first-ever UK tour.

Carrie will be performing songs from a variety of hit shows, including Heathers, Les Misérables and The Addams Family.

Tickets are on sale now at cuffeandtaylor.com

Hit West End musical The Drifters Girl heading to Brum

Smash-hit West End musical The Drifters Girl will stop off at Birmingham Hippodrome in April 2024 for a week-long run.

Telling the story of The Drifters - one of the most successful vocal groups of all time - and Faye Treadwell, the woman who played a big part in their success, the show features a series of hit songs, including Saturday Night At The Movies,

Páirc Festival reveals its line-up for 2023 edition

Van Morrison (pictured), The Waterboys, Mary Black and Nathan Carter will headline the Páirc Festival at Birmingham’s New Irish Centre in Kings Heath this summer.

One of the biggest celebrations of Irish music & culture in the UK, the event takes place over the August bank holiday weekend (the 26th & 27th).

Commenting on the forthcoming festivities, Ian Rogers, part of the event’s organising team, said: “Last year proved Páirc is the best opportunity to come together and celebrate Birmingham and Irish music & culture.

“We can’t wait for Páirc 2023 this summer - it will be a celebration like no other.”

For more information about the festival, visit paircfestival.com

Stand By Me, Under The Boardwalk and Save

The Last Dance For Me.

The Drifters Girl played to packed houses in London and will head out on tour this September. It stops off at the Hippodrome from 16 to 20 April 2024. The cast is yet to be announced. For more information and to book tickets, visit birminghamhippodrome.com

Vanley’s sound installation opens in Handsworth Park

Celebrated British Jamaican photographer & artist Vanley Burke will launch his first-ever outdoor sound installation in Birmingham’s Handsworth Park on Sunday 2 April.

Created in collaboration with artist Gary Stewart and community interest company Museum X, Reactivating Sounds Of Blackness takes people on a sonic trail ‘through a fusion of layered sounds and conversations exploring Black culture and intangible heritage in Britain’. To find out more about the installation, visit themuseumx.com

News from around the region

Running festival in support of Dementia UK

Specialist dementia nursing charity Dementia UK has been chosen as ‘charity partner of the year’ for the Birmingham Running Festival.

The unique event, which is taking place on Sunday 21 May in Sutton Park, will offer participants the chance to take on 5k, 10k and half-marathon routes.

Dementia UK is inviting people in the region to take part in the event and help support families affected by the neurological disease. To find out more and sign up for the Birmingham Running Festival, check out dementiauk.org/birmingham-runningfestival

Piano icon Lang Lang to return to Symphony Hall

Chinese pianist Lang Lang will visit Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in the autumn (27 October) to perform Bach’s The Goldberg Variations.

Commenting on the news, the star of Channel Four’s The Piano said: “I’ve been studying this work for more than 20 years, and recording it has been a lifelong dream. I’ve never spent so much time on one piece. I’ve moved into new terrain with The Goldberg Variations and really immersed myself fully in the project.”

The Potting Podcaster at Shrewsbury Flower Show

Birmingham-based gardening enthusiast Adam Kirtland will bring his View From The Potting Bench podcast to this year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show.

Describing himself as someone who ‘eats, sleeps and breathes plants’, Adam will share his passion for all things gardening at the popular event, which takes place in Quarry Park on Friday 11 & Saturday 12 August. Organisers have also revealed that ABBA tribute Watch That Scene will take to the main stage on the Friday evening to perform a medley of the Swedish super troupers’ greatest hits. For tickets and further announcements, visit shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk.

New Adventures for Edward Scissorhands in Brum

Sir Matthew Bourne’s dance company, New Adventures, will next year bring the critically acclaimed choreographer’s hit show, Edward Scissorhands, back to the Midlands as part of a brand-new UK tour.

Stopping off at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 February, the much-loved production is based on the same-named film by director Tim Burton and premiered back in 2005. Commenting on news of the tour, Sir

Strictly’s Janette to host special Disney concert

A show which is visiting UK arenas to celebrate 100 years of Walt Disney will stop off in Birmingham in the summer.

Hosted by Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara, Disney100: The Concert is a multimedia experience featuring famous film scenes on a giant screen and ‘magical musical moments’ brought to life by the Hollywood Sound Orchestra.

The touring show stops off at Birmingham Resorts World Arena on 6 June.

Summertime Supercross set to score at Villa Park

More than 6,500 tonnes of dirt will transform Villa Park this summer, as the famous football venue hosts the opening round of the 2023 FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX).

Taking place on Saturday 1 July, the prestigious event will see Britain’s supercross stars, Max Anstie (England) and Dean Wilson (Scotland), taking on some of the world’s best riders. Tickets are now on sale at: wsxchampionship.com

Matthew said: “I’ve always been attracted by ‘outsider’ stories in my work, and Edward Scissorhands is the ultimate ‘outsider’ story. Its tale of how we treat people who we perceive as being ‘different’ in our communities has never been more timely, so I’m delighted to be bringing it back after an absence of nine years to theatres throughout the UK.”

To find out more about the show and book tickets, visit birminghamhippodrome.com

UB40 Homecoming gig at Moseley Park & Pool

Iconic reggae band UB40 will celebrate their 45th anniversary with a special outdoor concert in Birmingham on Sunday 27 August.

Entitled The Homecoming and taking place at Moseley Park & Pool, the show will see the globetrotting superstars being joined by British soul/R&B pioneers Soul II Soul, Manchester’s The Mouse Outfit, DJ Don Letts, Caribbean ensemble Freetown Collective and Birmingham’s own Friendly Fire Band and Young Culture Band. The Homecoming also features a rare screening of the 1984 UB40 film, Labour Of Love, along with artist Q&As hosted by broadcaster/actor Adil Ray.

For more information and to book tickets, check out ub40.global/thehomecoming