thelist

girl, and a theatre in need of salvation, Tues 16 - Sat 20 May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

VANILLA A ‘fresh, honest and awkwardly funny’ look into the workings of an isolated relationship, Wed 17 - Thurs 18 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

Talks & Spoken Word

MEGAN MCCUBBIN: ON THE BRINK + Q&A Megan McCubbin discusses her new book, An Atlas Of Endangered Species, Sat 20 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

SUSIE DENT PRESENTS THE SECRET LIFE OF WORDS Join the Queen of Dictionary Corner as she explores the surreal origins of words we use everyday, Sun 21 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

SUMMER HOLIDAY Youth Onstage present an amateur version of the 1960s musical, Thurs 18 - Sat 20 May, The Old Rep, Birmingham

THE CARD Claybody Theatre present a new version of Arnold Bennett’s classic comic novel, Sat 20 May - Sat 10 June, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Dance

WASTELAND Gary Clarke fuses physical dance language with archive film footage and live music to explore how two generations coped in an era of radical upheaval, Thurs 18 - Fri 19 May, The Rep, Birmingham

LEGACY Mixed bill presented by Elmhurst Ballet Company as part of an ongoing partnership with Studio Wayne McGregor,Fri 19 - Sat 20May, Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham

Light Entertainment

MUSIC & COMEDY WITH KEITH SLATER AND CHRISTOPHER GEE Matinee performance showcasing music from the 1960s onwards, Tues 16 May, The Core Theatre, Solihull

KENDAL MOUNTAIN TOUR An evening celebrating adventure in some of the most spectacular places on earth, presented by the team behind Kendal Mountain Festival, Thurs 18 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham

SK SHLOMO: BREATHE Join the international beatboxing star as he presents ‘a rollercoaster love-letter to the lifesaving power of beats, bass and breathing’, Fri 19 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

SHELL SUIT CHER: BELIEVE IN BINGO! Laugh, dance and play to win as Shell Suit Cher (aka Tina T’urner Tea Lady) ‘unzips her wild journey from Vegas to Mecca and beyond’, Sat 20 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

Events

FLATPACK FESTIVAL The 17th edition of the film festival, featuring a full programme of screenings, Tues 16Sun 21 May, Venues across Birmingham

PLANETARIUM LATES: THE ORIGIN OF GIN Join Dan Upton, with a gin made for the evening, as he gives ‘a very broad history condensed into an hour of limited rambling’, Thurs 18 May, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

SPRING DIESEL FESTIVAL Featuring locomotives of all classes from 60 years of diesel traction, Thurs 18Sun 21 May, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster CIRCUS EXTREME Combining worldfamous circus artists, clown escapades and extreme stunts, Fri 19 May - Sun 4 June, NEC, Birmingham

ARTISAN, CRAFT AND GIFT MARKET

Featuring talented makers, creators and enterprises from across the region, Sat 20 - Sun 21 May, Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton

MARDI GRAS Carnival-inspired takeover featuring an explosion of colours, sensational flavours, high- energy music and much more, Sat 20 May - Sun 18 June, Alton Towers, Staffordshire

BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR Guided tour of Aston Hall, with the opportunity to see some sections of the building not usually open to the public, Sun 21 May, Aston Hall, Birmingham

FARGO DOG FEST Family-friendly dog social, raising funds for Broken Souls Rescue, Sat 20 May, FarGo Village, Coventry

UK SLOT CAR FESTIVAL Featuring all major slot car manufacturers, Sat 20Sun 21 May, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire

LAND ROVER MONTHLY LIVE Unique Land Rover event, with on-site camping, a beer tent with entertainment, Land Rover clubs, trade stands and autojumble, Sat 20Sun 21 May, Three Counties Showground, Malvern

THE BIG BARK Featuring canine olympics, dog shows and agility challenges, Sat 20 - Sun 21 May, Trentham Estate, Staffordshire