Birmingham What's On September 2023

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands

What’sOn

NEXT GENERATION

Ailey 2 showcases new moves at The Hippodrome

RUBY WAX

bares all in new brand new stage show at The Alexandra

HERITAGE WEEK shining the spotlight on the city’s fascinating history...

News from around the region

Pollution pods pop up at Edgbaston Stadium

Birmingham’s Midlands Arts Centre, in collaboration with Edgbaston Stadium, is this month presenting an immersive installation that explores the impact of pollution on the environment and people’s health.

Award-winning artist Michael Pinsky’s Pollution Pods consists of five interconnected geodesic domes that imitate polluted environments in cities across the globe. The installation is available to view at Edgbaston Stadium Piazza from Thursday 14 to Sunday 24 September.

Booking is essential. For more information, visit macbirmingham.co.uk

Richard Herring brings hit podcast to Birmingham

Comedian Richard Herring is bringing his critically acclaimed Leicester Square Theatre Podcast to Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 8 September, with Adil Ray and Joe Lycett lined up as his special guests.

To find out more and check ticket availability, visit bmusic.co.uk

New grime musical to show at the Hippodrome

A leading musical theatre company for young people is returning to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 September to present a brand-new musical.

Performed by British Youth Musical Theatre, a company of 14 to 21-year-olds from across the UK, #50 Days retells the story of the 50day period that led up to the outbreak of the British Civil Wars. With parallels to Brexit, questions about the monarchy and a new grime soundtrack, the contemporary musical ‘brings history back to the current day’.

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

Open Studios are back

An annual initiative which sees some of the city’s artists and crafters display their work from their own homes or studios is making a return this month. Birmingham Open Studios is now in its seventh year and takes place over the weekends of 23 & 24 September and 30 September & 1 October. To find out more, visit birminghamopenstudios.co.uk

More murder and mayhem as Cluedo returns in 2024

The theatrical version of classic boardgame Cluedo proved so popular on a recent UK tour that a follow-up show is set to hit the road in spring/summer 2024. Titled Cluedo 2: The Next Chapter, the comedy-mystery will feature ‘a new story, a new house, new suspects, and lots of new bodies!’ The show stops off at Birmingham theatre The Alexandra from 23 to 27 July.

Birmingham venue to host 2024 basketball finals

Birmingham’s Utilita Arena will host the British Basketball League Men’s & Women’s Trophy Finals in the new year (Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 January).

To book your seat, visit theticketfactory.com

Adrian Lester to unveil First Folio in Birmingham

Birmingham-born actor Adrian Lester is back in the city next month (Saturday 21 October) to unveil the First Folio - the first collected edition of William Shakespeare’s plays - at the Bullring & Grand Central.

The unveiling is the centrepiece of a day of

celebration that also includes, among other attractions, performances by young people with Ex Cathedra and contributions from local theatre company Stan’s Cafe.

Classics in the cathedral

Movie fans can watch some all-time classic films in a truly unusual setting over the next few months...

Birmingham Cathedral has teamed up with experiences marketplace Yuup to present a series of family-friendly flicks across the autumn and early winter season. Kickstarting on Saturday 9 September and running until December, the cathedral will screen a selection of blockbuster films, including Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, Back To The Future, Twilight, Hairspray and The Muppets Christmas Carol. To find out which films are showing when, visit yuup.co/cinema-on-the-square

Birmingham’s oldest pub celebrates its 655th birthday

The oldest pub in Birmingham is celebrating its 655th birthday with a party this month. The Old Crown in Deritend will be offering street food and live music on Saturday 9 September. The free-entry party is happening the day after the launch of a free-to-view historical exhibition about the pub, curated by local author & historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE.

Carl will be giving an illustrated talk about The Old Crown at the Old Library on Friday the 8th (7pm). Tickets for the event are available at designmynight.com

Mean Girls at Millennium Point

If you’re a fan of American teen movie Mean Girls and enjoy a tipple of prosecco (or two, or three...), then this city centre event should be right up your street. For £35 (plus booking fee) you can sit back and watch the 2004 classic on Millennium Point’s giant screen while dining on burger, wedges & coleslaw and enjoying bottomless prosecco (for 90 minutes). For further information and to book tickets, visit millenniumpoint.org.uk

Disney On Ice skates into the city

Feld Entertainment are bringing their hit show Disney On Ice presents 100 Years Of Wonder to Birmingham later in the autumn - and audiences should expect a seriously spectacular production.

Town Hall debut for Damian Lewis

Actor Damian Lewis and his band visit Birmingham Town Hall this month (Friday 15 September) as part of a firstever UK tour.

The tour comes in support of Damian’s critically acclaimed debut album, Mission Creep, which was released in June. To find out more and check ticket availability, visit bmusic.co.uk

Set & costume designers have created approximately 180 props and 250 different costumes for the show, all of which will be transported to Birmingham, alongside the impressive set itself, in a staggering 19 trucks! Featuring Mirabel and the stars of Encanto for the very first time in the UK, the show also includes plenty of well-established on-ice

A joyous journey with Sonia Sabri

Local choreographer Sonia Sabri is taking to the stage in Birmingham

Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio this autumn, to present ‘a beautifully intimate crafting of dance and live music’.

Titled Roshni and being performed at the venue on Thursday 9 November, the production combines Kathak dance with live music and vocals ‘from a global palette of styles’, driven by the bold rhythms of Tabla percussion.

favourites...

There’s Moana and Maui - who’ll be busy trying to save the island of Motunui - the Disney Princesses, Frozen’s Anna, Elsa & Olaf, the Toy Story gang, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia, and Dory, Nemo, Marlin and new pal Hank.

The storyline sees Mickey Mouse being joined by his friends on a journey to discover his favourite memory of all time.

Disney On Ice shows at Resorts World Arena from Tuesday 1 to Sunday 5 November. Tickets are available at resortsworldarena.co.uk

Bach choir on the lookout...

Birmingham Bach Choir is on the lookout for new members. The renowned ensemble, one of the oldest musical groups in the region, currently has vacancies for tenors, basses, altos and sopranos. All singers are welcome, but would-be members should be able to sight-read music.

Interested parties are invited to attend an open rehearsal on either Wednesday 6 or Wednesday 13 September at the choir’s new rehearsal venue in Cotteridge. For further details, visit birmingham.bachchoir.com

Open Days at state-of-theart Steamhouse venue

Creative individuals and organisations looking for a place to work can this month check out the Studio Space facility at Birmingham City University’s state-of-the-art Steamhouse.

Offering dedicated workstations, natural lighting and purpose-built facilities, the space can be viewed on Tuesday 5 & Tuesday 19 September.

Tickets are free but should be pre-booked at steamhouse.org.uk/event

Hit Drag Race show to visit Birmingham arena

Bimini Bon-Boulash will be the only UK queen to appear in RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World when it tours to Utilita Arena Birmingham next month (Thursday 12 October).

Bimini will appear in the show alongside

Jaida Essence Hall, Aquaria, Vanessa Vanjie, Angeria, Bosco, Daya Betty, Kandy Muse and Ginger Minj. To find out more and book tickets, visit WerqTheWorld.com

Arts Council England funding for Digbeth venue

Arts Council England has awarded a £28,000 grant to Birmingham independent community venue Nortons Digbeth. The funding will help the 500-capacity Nortons to increase its support of grassroots music and female musicians in the city’s Irish community.

Family-friendly fun at MAC’s Big Green Weekender

Birmingham’s Midlands Arts Centre is this month hosting a ‘family-friendly festival celebrating creativity and local action for our shared planet’.

Taking place on Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September, The Big Green Weekender features, among other attractions, a fruit and

A singalong with Gareth

Following the success of his 2022 tour, choirmaster & broadcaster Gareth Malone is back with more dates for this autumnincluding a stop-off at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday 18 November.

To find out more and book seats, visit garethmalone.com

Shakespeare improv at Library of Birmingham

Internationally renowned Shakespeare improvisation company The School Of Night has joined forces with talented theatricals Shake it Up to present a ‘Shakespeare takeover improv day’ at the Library of Birmingham on Saturday 2 September. The family-friendly event includes ‘interactive performances and Shakespeare treasures’. Plus, of course, improvisation aplenty! To find out more, visit the website: everythingtoeverybody.bham.ac.uk

Walter the Whale is back!

An inflatable whale named Walter has taken up residence at Moseley Road Baths in Birmingham’s Balsall Heath district.

herb-growing workshop, a new film about Birmingham’s roller-skating community, and two short climate-inspired dance films by Sima Gonsai: And Breathe and Cultivate (pictured).

For further information and the full line-up of attractions, visit macbirmingham.co.uk

Walter has a long association with the area, having been created as a sculpture at the Malvern Street Adventure Playground way back in the 1970s. The inflatable Walter is on display daily (from 10am to 4pm) in the Baths’ iconic Gala Pool.

Craft market at the Ikon

Applications are now open for Birmingham art gallery Ikon’s Winter Craft Market. This year the market takes place on Thursday 7 December, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. Ikon is encouraging local independent makers, crafters and artists to apply for a stall.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 1 October. The successful applicants will be notified by Wednesday 11 October. More information is available at ikon-gallery.org

New e-scooter scheme launched in the city

Micromobility specialist Beryl has launched an e-scooter hire scheme on the streets of Birmingham.

The scheme will see 900 e-scooters made available to hire in the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods by the end of September. The e-scooters cost £1 to unlock, 20p per minute to use, and are available to hire via the Beryl app.

A VERY GREEN LEGACY

The gift that keeps on giving - 150 years on...

production explores how

donation

Women And Theatre’s new show, Not The Last, tells the story of one of Birmingham’s lesser-known historical figures - Louisa Anne Ryland, the woman who gifted the iconic Cannon Hill Park to the city.

Marking the 150th anniversary of Ryland’s donation of the land to the people of Birmingham, Not The Last delves into the past but also brings us into the present day, to remind us of the importance of preserving our green spaces for future generations.

And Women And Theatre Artistic Director Janice Connolly, who performs in the show alongside Adaya Henry, believes the story is one that more Brummies need to sit up and hear.

“It’s 150 years since Louisa Ryland gifted Cannon Hill Park to the people of Birmingham,” she says. “And actually, not a lot of people know that.

“She’s not a well-known historical figure; for some reason her name has fallen off the table. I think that’s firstly because she’s a woman, but also because of her personalityshe didn’t want a lot of fuss made about what she did. So while we know all about the Chamberlains, and there are statues of so many of Birmingham’s historical figures, there is no statue to Louisa Ryland.”

Written by Coventry-based Susie Sillett, the show features two members of a fictional historical society who undertake research to discover more about Louisa for a presentation.

“This isn’t the usual way of working for Women And Theatre,” says Janice. ‘We usually base our shows on talking to people and hearing their stories and their experiences. But Susie and I did lots of research. We went to Sherbourne in Warwickshire, where Louisa Ryland lived, and visited her grave. And there is information online. We found her will, for example.

“But eventually with this kind of research, you do reach a dead end - and that’s where imagination comes in. So you can think about what it would have been like for a woman of her status and her background, and why was it important to do something like this? There was a lot of philanthropy going on at this time. Louisa was Unitarian, so I think religion and morals mattered at

that time, and rich people felt like they wanted to pay back.

“When our lighting designer, Arnim Friess, gave the play a read-through, he said ‘It’s interesting because the millionaires then were wanting to give money to people, and the millionaires now want to go to space.’ When you think about Louisa’s foresightyou only have to visit the park to see how well used it is.”

Not The Last takes Louisa’s gift of a public park to Birmingham and explores not only Cannon Hill but also the importance of urban green spaces in the past, present and future.

“The show looks at women’s relationships to the land, to the past, to legacy. From my point of view, setting it today gives the idea that it’s still a live issue; it’s not historical. She gave the land in perpetuity so it can never go away from being a park; so it’s that ongoing inheritance feel. There’s a lot to say about the relevance now and the impact now.

“A park keeps giving and giving and giving, and it’s about how do we make sure we have these green spaces in our cities? Green areas are so important for us, so one of the things we hope is that people who see the show start thinking about what’s worth protecting. When Louisa gave the park, she said ‘It’s your park now to look after and protect.’ So it’s about how we protect these spaces that we know are good for our wellbeing, and how we make sure they’re not concreted over.

“We’re so lucky in Birmingham to have these beautiful green spaces around every corner, as well as the canal. We mustn’t take them away. So we want to talk about how we play our part in maintaining our legacy.”

Not The Last forms part of Birmingham Heritage Week and has been co-produced with Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), which sits within Cannon Hill Park.

“We’re premiering at MAC because it’s connecting up the arts centre with the park. Art and theatre and performance are as important for our wellbeing as a walk round the park.

“I’m really pleased that the show features new writing, and we have a marvellous creative team. The designs by Imogen Melhuish are really innovative, and Arnim is looking at how he can create a lighting effect which looks like the sky. It’s great to work

with these great artists, and it’s really lovely to bring these elements together.”

Speaking of legacy, 2023 marks 40 years since the foundation of Birmingham-based Women And Theatre. It has also been a milestone year because Janice, who is a founder member and has been artistic director for 20 years, and Executive Director Jess Pearson, announced they are stepping down from the company.

Birmingham poet & actor Adaya Henry, who also appeared in the Women And Theatre production Taking Steps, is taking over as artistic director and Katherine Hewitt as executive director.

Janice is optimistic about the company’s next 40 years. “We’re really happy and confident with the new appointments. Into the future, I really hope that at the heart of Women And Theatre remains the idea of inclusivity and really listening to people’s stories about what matters to them. At the same time, I hope that it goes on to develop, to grow and move with the times. I believe in Women And Theatre and will still be involved. It is one of the leading theatre companies in the area and it’s absolutely brilliant.

“I feel it is a good time for me to leave Women And Theatre because we’ve got Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation funding, so it gives people a really good run-in. I know how hard it is to keep a company going, and it feels like the right time to say you’ve got a good start here.”

Janice is hoping that passing on the management of the company will leave her free to act in a variety of roles - including as her comedy alter-ego, Barbara Nice.

“I’m just going freelance. I will continue with Barbara Nice and doing acting. There’s loads of work coming in, and this gives me more time to do that. I’ve just been in Doctors recently, in Man Like Mobeen and in Joe Lycett’s film, Linda. It will also give me more time to spend with my mother and my granddaughter while still working.”

Not The Last shows at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 September

Birmingham drama company Women And Theatre’s latest

a

from one of the city’s lesser-known historical figures has benefitted generations. What’s On finds out more from Women And Theatre’s artistic director, Janice Connolly...

Food news from across the region...

Duvel in team-up with Peruvian restaurant

Popular Belgian beer brand Duvel is partnering with Peruvian restaurant Chakana for a one-off dining event on Saturday 9 September.

The evening’s menu includes both meat and vegetarian options.

Highlights include: Tuna tiradito with fresh seaweed, miso caramel and asparagus, paired with the crisp Duvel Tripel Hop Citra.

Chicken Fest makes debut in Birmingham

Seasonal Markets is bringing its firstever Chicken Fest to The Bond in Digbeth, Birmingham, on Saturday 2 September.

The event will feature street-food vendors from in and around the city.

Participants include: What The Cluck, Yardbirds, Feed Fried Chicken, Greidy’s Wings & Strips, Filthy Butties, Bad Boy Wings, The Neighbourhood Coop, Only Jerkin, Hope You’re Hungry and Urban Cheesecake.

Live music and kids’ entertainment will also be available. To purchase tickets, visit Design My Night.

Food app launched...

New food app Ingredifind has launched in Birmingham. Available on mobile, the innovative tool means customers can easily filter restaurant menus in Birmingham based on their allergies and dietary preferences.

Additionally, the digital allergy card feature makes it easier to communicate allergies to restaurant staff, in so doing reducing the risk of misunderstandings. All you have to do is sign up for free and upload your menus.

Birmingham Hippodrome has opened a new restaurant space.

The Circle Lounge boasts a brand-new dining concept from West Midlands-based company Tutto Apposto.

Headed up by renowned chef Angelina Adamo, the restaurant’s menu features evening small plates and matinee Afternoon Tea.

Dishes include: pork belly, nduja sauce, red pepper puree and courgette; smoked haddock Scotch egg, dill mayo and cornichons; and

Chinese eatery makes new lunch menu available

Contemporary Chinese restaurant Tattu Birmingham has launched a new weekday lunch offering.

Titled Moon Stand, the specially curated menu features 14 dishes, ranging from light and refreshing to indulgent and decadent. Menu options include: seven spiced seared tuna with truffle aioli, caviar, and citrus ponzu; coconut chicken salad; and Wok Fired Angry Bird - crispy chicken, roasted peppers and sesame honey soy sauce.

The menu is available daily; on Saturdays from 12pm to 2.45pm, and Sunday to Friday from 12pm to 4.30pm. Guests can choose three dishes for £28 per person.

mozzarella & tomato arancini, heirloom tomatoes and basil.

A children’s menu is also available. The Circle Lounge opens 90 minutes before curtain-up. Patrons can then return during the interval to enjoy any pre-ordered drinks or sweet treats.

A dedicated waiter service throughout and private toilet facilities further add to the restaurant’s appeal... To book a table, visit: birminghamhippodrome.com

Birmingham Hippodrome opens new restaurant space

Credit: Simon Hadley

Heritage Week

The return of Birmingham Heritage Week...

Birmingham Heritage Week is back, returning for a ninth year from Friday 8 to Sunday 17 September. Shining a spotlight on the city’s fascinating history, the popular festival will see some of Brum’s most important heritage locations and unique buildings opening their doors to members of the general public. Here are just some of the week’s highlights...

122 Years of The Alexandra Birmingham

The Alexandra Theatre, Suffolk Queensway, B5 4DS

Built in 1901, The Alexandra is one of the most historic theatres in the West Midlands. This behind-the-scenes tour includes the chance to check out the dressing rooms which have housed the stars, and the backstage areas which are the workhouse of theatre life. There’s also an opportunity to step out onto the actual stage itself!

Fri 15 Sept | 11am-12pm, 12pm-1pm, 1pm-2pm and 2pm-3pm.

£10 - including a drink in the Piano Bar.

Poetry-Writing Workshop at the Pen Museum

The Pen Museum, The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick Street, Jewellery Quarter, B1 3HS Join Alyson and Poppy of Creative Writing Events for a one-hour poetry-writing workshop. Entry to the museum is included in the ticket price.

Fri 8 Sept | 11am-12pm. £20.

Digbeth, Public Art & Peaky Film

Start: The Bull Statue, Bullring Shopping Centre.

Author & photographer Jonathan Berg heads this walking tour through Digbeth and Deritend, not only looking at the areas’ public art but also checking out the canals and modern developments along the way. The tour includes the chance to see the HS2 railway line, the set for the forthcoming Peaky Blinders feature film, and the home of TV series Masterchef.

Sat 9 & Sat 16 Sept | 10.30am-12.30pm. £12.

Birmingham Bingo Evening Walking Tour

Start and end at Roundhouse

Birmingham, The Roundhouse, 1 Sheepcote St, B16 8AE

Explore Birmingham at dusk, searching out some of the city’s amazing innovations, music and culture - all while ticking off some brilliant Birmingham Bs on your bingo card as you go...

The 2.5km city-centre walking-tour route takes around two hours to complete and is suitable for participants aged 15-plus. Under18s will need to be accompanied by an adult. Wed 13 & Sat 16 Sept | 6.30pm-8.30pm. £14 / £10 concessions / £8 for people in B16 postcode.

Back-to-Back Drawing & Painting

Birmingham Back to Backs, 55-63 Hurst Street, B5 4TE

With the support of local artist Milan Topalovic, develop your freehand skills and spend time in the unique courtyard of the Back to Backs, working on your own painting. All materials for the session will be provided.

Mon 11 Sept | 2pm-5pm. £37.50.

The Macabre Museum: Stories Of Murder And Mayhem

The West Midlands Police Museum, The Lock-up, 40 Steelhouse Lane, B4 6BJ

The Lock Up has stood on Steelhouse Lane since 1891, in its time housing some of the city’s worst criminals.

For one day only, the West Midlands Police Museum will open its doors, providing visitors with the opportunity to hear dark stories from the Lock Up’s history, as well as see ‘some of the items in the collection that we don’t normally talk about, and the people who go unmentioned’.

Sun 10 Sept | 12pm-8pm. £15.

Victorian Aston Hall: A Museum Of Curiosities

Aston Hall, Trinity Road, Aston, B6 6JD

This guided tour looks at the oft-overlooked history of how Aston Hall was saved from destruction and then opened as a museum in the mid-19th century.

Tour the different rooms of the historic Jacobean mansion and learn about the Victorian ‘museum of curiosities’ which was housed there, complete with almost a thousand specimens of taxidermy animals, including two giraffes, a hippo and a rhino! Sat 9 Sept | 12pm-1.30pm & 2pm-3.30pm. £10 adults, £6 concession, £5 child, under-threes free.

full Birmingham Heritage Week programme can be found at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk

Heritage Open Days

The return of Heritage Open Days...

This month also sees the return of Heritage Open Days, a nationwide festival of history & culture (Friday 8 to Sunday 17 September). The annual event offers people the chance to check out hidden places and sample new experiences - all for free. Here are some Birmingham-based options to enjoy...

Acocks Green Heritage Trail

Aldi, Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, B27 6RH

This walk offers the chance to learn about the earliest history of Acocks Green, local religious history, and especially the street scene, including the buildings, the transport changes, and the creation of The Green in the 1930s. At the end of the walk, there will be an opportunity to visit St Mary’s Church, enjoy refreshments and view the reredos.

Thurs 14 Sept | 10.30am-12pm, pre-booking required

Aston Hall

Aston Hall Museum, Trinity Road, Birmingham, B6 6JD

Take this chance to explore Aston Hall - a magnificent 17th-century mansion situated in a picturesque park - for free.

Discover over 400 years of history, hear incredible stories and explore 30-plus rooms, including King Charles’ Chamber, the elaborate Great Stairs, and the breathtaking Long Gallery - widely considered to be one of Britain’s finest.

Sun 10 Sept | 12pm-4pm, pre-booking preferred

Bournville Model Boat Club

Valley Parkway, Bournville Lane, Birmingham, B30 1QS

Celebrating its centenary year, Bournville Model Yachting Club will be showing visitors its updated boathouse, historical artefact & photographic display. There’s also the chance to get up close to the model boats and even have a go at sailing one yourself!

Sat 9 Sept | 10am-4pm, no booking required

Coffin Works

Birmingham Conservation Trust Ltd, The Coffin Works, 13-15 Fleet Street, Birmingham, B3 1JP

Enjoy a free tour around the Victorian factory, with its working machinery and unusual products left on the shelves and workbenches when the workforce set down their tools and left for the very last time. The Taster Tours involve a look around the Courtyard and Stamp Room.

Sun 17 Sept | Tours starting every half hour from 11am to 3pm (final tour), pre-booking preferred

History Unboxed at the Museum

Collection Centre Open Day

31 Dollman Street, Birmingham, B7 4RP

This is a rare chance to see behind the scenes at Birmingham Museums’ storage facility, where staff take care of 800,000-plus objects. While you’re there, learn about museum collections, curation and conservation. Family-friendly activities also feature.

Sat 16 Sept | 10am-4pm, pre-booking required

Moor Pool Heritage Festival

Moor Pool Hall, 37 The Circle, Birmingham, B17 9DY

A unique opportunity to discover Harborne’s Moor Pool Estate, one of the UK’s last stillintact Garden Suburbs and one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Celebrating the area’s creativity through the ages, the festival features activities and taster sessions to try out, plus dance and music to enjoy.

Sat 10 Sept | 11am-3pm, no booking required

Open Studios at the former TASCOS Co-op Bakery

South Birmingham Works, 29B Mary Vale Road, Birmingham, B30 2DA

The Ten Acres & Stirchley Co-operative Society was once the largest retail business in South Birmingham, with more than 200 shops. Today, the building on Maryvale Road is the home of South Birmingham Works - a shared studio space for creatives. This ‘open studios’ event includes a display of historic photographs, a chance to see how the former bakery is being used today, and an opportunity to share stories with the Birmingham Co-op History Group.

Sun 17 Sept | 11.30am-3.30pm, no booking required

Sarehole Mill

Sarehole Mill Museum, Cole Bank Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 0BD

Sarehole Mill was a significant inspiration for Lord Of The Rings author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby during his childhood years. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this traditional 18th-century water mill at your own pace, learn about the life of a miller, and take part in hands-on demonstrations. The beautiful millpond and woodland realm are also well worth a look.

Sat 16 Sept | 11am-3.30pm, pre-booking preferred

For further information on Heritage Open Days across the region visit: heritageopendays.org.uk

Classical music from across the region...

Classical

Organ Symphony

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 20 September

When Thomas Trotter became Birmingham City Organist, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, Roger Moore was James Bond and Aston Villa had only recently handed over the title of Champions of Europe. The year was 1983, and Thomas was only the fifth organist since 1842 to hold the coveted post. Forty years later, he still is!... This special anniversary event features a programme of French music ‘at its sweetest and most spectacular’.

Kazuki Yamada & the CBSO: Verdi Requiem

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 14 September

The exceptionally gifted Sheku KannehMason makes a welcome return to Symphony Hall to perform Shostakovich’s gripping First Cello Concerto.

Twenty-four-year-old Sheku came to prominence back in 2016 when he was named BBC Young Musician, becoming the

Manchester Collective: Different Trains

Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Thurs 14 September

Equally at home performing in warehouses, nightclubs and concert halls, the four-piece Manchester Collective have garnered an enviable reputation for experimental programming and daring collaborations. Their visit to the Midlands sees them presenting works by Cassandra Miller, Samuel Barber and Jasmin Kent Rodgman alongside Steve Reich’s Different Trains. Reich’s critically acclaimed composition was inspired by his memories of childhood train journeys from New York to Los Angeles. The journeys took place during the war years - a time when Jews in Europe (Reich himself was born to a Jewish family) were travelling on very different trains to a very different destiny at the hands of the Nazis...

first Black entrant to win the competition since its launch in 1978... Sheku’s contribution to this City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra concert is sandwiched between Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No1 and Walton’s explosive First Symphony. Kazuki Yamada conducts.

Shostakovich 8

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 28 September

Written at breakneck speed during a time of world conflict in 1943, Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony was more than just “an attempt to reflect the terrible tragedy of war”. Writing in his memoirs, the composer said: “I feel no less pain for those killed on Stalin’s orders... There were millions of them in our country before the war with Hitler began.” Alongside the Eighth, this City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra concert also features pianist Boris Giltburg (pictured) playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini. Michael Seal conducts.

Often described as an opera in all but name, Verdi’s Requiem is the major composition with which the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra get their 2023/24 programme under way.

Kazuki Yamada (pictured) picks up the baton to kickstart his first full season as the orchestra’s chief conductor & artistic advisor.

The concert features the CBSO Chorus, which is celebrating 50 hugely successful years spent performing alongside the orchestra. The past half-century has also seen the Chorus tour the world, sing alongside numerous other prestigious orchestras, make in excess of 50 recordings and pick up four Gramophone awards.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 16 September

HAPPIER THAN EVER

Graham Nash’s contributions to music have seen him reap an exceptional number of rewards, not least two inductions into the Hall Of Fame - firstly with American supergroup Crosby, Stills And Nash, then with The Hollies. The Salford-born icon chats to What’s On ahead of joining a star-studded line-up at this month’s Moseley Folk Festival...

For anybody who doesn’t know, The Hollies were one of the biggest bands of the 1960s, releasing their debut single, Just Like Me, in 1963, and then going on to amass a string of hits, including Just One Look, Here I Go Again, Look Through Any Window, Bus Stop and Jennifer Eccles. At the heart of their sound were the voices of Allan Clarke and Graham Nash, Salford school pals who had been performing together for a number of years prior to the arrival of The Hollies. But frustrated by their musical direction, Nash quit the band in 1968 and relocated to the US, where he formed supergroup Crosby Stills And Nash (later joined by Neil Young). In the years since, the two old school friends have reunited now and again, but this year sees them writing and recording together for the first time in decades (Nash reckons 1983!), with the track Buddy’s Back appearing on both Nash’s new Now album and Clarke’s I’ll Never Forget LP (with Clarke’s record featuring further collaborations).

"Allan had lost his voice many years ago,” recalls Graham, “and couldn't sing The Air That I Breathe, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, and Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress. But he called me about eight months ago and said he’d found his voice, and I said, fantastic - any help I can give?

"He said: 'Yeah, well, I've got a couple of songs I want you to consider. If you like them, put your voice on and send them back.' So I did that. And he loved them. So what does he do? He sends me another two songs - and now I'm on 10 songs on his solo record! And I'm very happy about it.”

Born in 1942 and raised in Salford, Manchester, Nash was part of a young generation of British musicians for whom rock & roll/pop music was suddenly a viable, long-term, career option.

“Me and Allan started out in working men's clubs. We were just two teenagers with a couple of acoustic guitars singing skiffle songs. But the audience loved us. And once we realised that, we were off and running as musicians.

"We were supposed to do what our dads did,

and our grandfathers did. We were supposed to go down the mine and dig coal, or supposed to go in the mill and make cloth. But fortunately, my parents recognised my passion for music and encouraged me, rather than slapping me upside the head and telling me to get a real job... Do what you love.”

Although Crosby Stills Nash, and their various configurations, dominate Graham’s post-Hollies discography, the songwriter has nonetheless enjoyed a successful if sporadic solo career since releasing his debut offering, Songs For Beginners, in 1971. Occasional solo releases have followed, although only three this century. But as he's quick to point out, alongside working towards 2016’s This Path Tonight and this year’s Now, the last decade has seen him involved with a mass of other releases.

“Don't forget that in that time I put out something like 14 CDs. I did the CSNY Stadium tour of 1970 - that was four CDs; I did Stephen [Still]'s box set of four CDs; I did David [Crosby]'s box of three CDs; I did my own box; I did demos of Crosby Nash... in between making solo records.”

He also found time to marry his third wife, photographer Amy Grantham, and relocate to New York: “The city that never sleeps.” Now 81, and despite his concerns for the world and environment, he says he's personally happier than ever: “I used to think that I would never love again.”

A special guest at Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, where he joins a line-up that also includes Squeeze, Wilco, The Proclaimers, Stornoway, The Saw Doctors and The Mary Wallopers, Graham has no plans to slow down. Forthcoming projects include a new collection of previously unheard Crosby Nash live recordings, and the possibility of a new solo album culled from Now and This Path Tonight surplus cuts.

And as an avid photographer for decades, he’s also planning a new photography book. Inspired by his amateur photographer father, Graham began taking photos of his family at the age of 11. “That was the first time I realised that I could see things differently,” he says. Though music became his primary

obsession, he’s never stopped snapping and was quick to embrace the possibilities of digital photography and digital printing.

“I waited for years and years for digital to get to the resolution of film, but it's way past it now, right? I love to be able to work on images, having a cup of tea and using Photoshop to get rid of scratches and stuff like that. I'm always doing something.”

Capturing images of those around him over the years - from bandmates and associates, such as Joni Mitchell, to family and friendsGraham finds inspiration in studying pictures taken by some of the best in the business.

“Diane Arbus is a great photographer; Weegee is a great photographer. I like unusual photographs. I do collect photography - just images that I can’t leave the store without.”

Graham Nash plays Moseley Folk on Friday 1 September. The festival runs at Moseley Park & Pool, Birmingham, until Sun 3 September. For further information, visit: moseleyfolk.co.uk

Shania Twain

Utilita Arena Birmingham, Tues 26 September

One hundred million global album sales, 330 million streams in the UK alone and five Grammy awards speak volumes for the talent and status of Shania Twain, who is not only the best selling female artist in country-music history but also counts among her fans Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne and Harry Styles.

Crossover star Shania was catapulted into the limelight in the 1990s, scoring hit after fabulous hit as she morphed from country singer to pop goddess in the blink of an eye. But then an encounter with a blood-sucking tick threatened to bring her career to an abrupt end. The resultant Lyme Disease left her vocal box needing reconstruction and stopped her from making an album for a staggering 15 years.

Now fully returned to health, she’s certainly been busy in recent times. In the last few years she’s released and toured two albums, taken up a Las Vegas residency, made a couple of movies and featured in a Netflix documentary about her career... She visits Birmingham as part of her Queen Of Me tour.

JP Cooper

Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 26 September

“Being on stage has never been a comfortable place for me,” admits Manchester singersongwriter JP Cooper. “The time, energy and mental preparation it has taken me in the past to get out on tour has sometimes been overwhelming. But coming out of lockdown and getting back out on the road over the last few months has reminded me how special it was to be in a room with you all.

“Seeing people smile, cry and sing along again has really helped to change my perspective on live performance.”

Highly Suspect

O2 Institute, Birmingham, Sat 23 September

One-time underground curiosity Highly Suspect first felt the sun on their faces back in 2015, accumulating accolades and garnering praise for their debut full-length album, Mister Asylum. The Cape Cod band

Seal

The Civic at The Halls, Wolverhampton, Thurs 14 September

Award-winning vocalist & songwriter Seal is certainly a man who knows how to wow a live audience. But although his shows are highly acclaimed for their hugely impressive production values, they could never be so brilliant as to put the London-born superstar’s own spectacular talent in the shade.

He’s visiting Wolverhampton this month as part of a world tour ‘celebrating 30 years of the classic albums Seal I and Seal II’.

Tiny Ruins

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Mon 18 September

If your boat is floated by strange, hypnotic, almost mystical songs and the kind of intimate performance that seems certain to stir your soul, then you’d do well to check out Tiny Ruins when they stop off in Birmingham this month.

The brainchild of Bristol-born, New Zealandraised Holly Fullbrook, the band produces, to excellent effect, a sound that spans delicate folk, lustrous dream pop and ebullient psychedelia. Their Hare & Hounds appearance comes in support of critically acclaimed third album Olympic Girls.

Live music from across the region...

have since established themselves as mouldbreaking trailblazers, generating a sound that brings together gritty guitars, haunting piano, off-kilter synths, hip-hop production, cinematic vision and beautifully possessed vocals... This Birmingham gig sees them promoting their most recent album, The Midnight Demon Club.

Victoria Canal

The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham, Thurs 7 September

Victoria Canal spent much of lockdown writing songs in her parents’ basement. She also began an online series called Mellow Tunes, featuring songs composed in just five minutes. One of these came to the attention of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who was so impressed that he invited the SpanishAmerican singer to record at his studio post-lockdown.

A queer musician who’s also a passionate activist for LGBTQ+ communities and the disabled - she was born with one armVictoria is aiming to reveal her authentic self as her songwriting evolves...

“The pandemic... cracked me open as a songwriter,” she says. “I came to realise that the songs I was scared to show people were the ones that connected with people the most.”

GOING FOR (OLD) GOLD

SHED SEVEN GET READY TO HIT THE ROAD

by Steve Adams

Rejuvenated Britpop stars Shed Seven return to the Midlands next month for a show that will bring back fond memories of one of their favourite venues - as singer Rick Witter reveals...

“We have a soft spot for the Wulfrun - it’s a great little venue. We’ve played it loads of times over the years, and we’ve also done the Civic. We must’ve been big in the ’90s because they broadcast the entire gig live on Radio One!”

Shed Seven singer Rick Witter is on a roll, reminiscing about the band’s previous appearances in Wolverhampton as they prepare to return to the city next month. A quick check on Google reveals that the Radio One gig took place on 28 May 1998but it’s a legendary performance from 10 years earlier that first brought the venue to Rick’s attention; namely, the debut solo show by Smiths singer Morrissey.

“One of the reasons I enjoy the Civic so much is because it’s where Morrissey played his first-ever solo gig. He filmed the Hulmerist video there, and I remember the footage of him getting off his fancy tour bus backstage. I’m a big fan of The Smiths, so I’ve watched that video loads. It’s nice to know I’ve shared the stage with Morrissey, even though it was on different nights!”

The pair’s career trajectories have had a few ups and downs since the heady days of their ’80s and ’90s peaks, but Shed Seven - named after a numbered railway building the band spotted while on a train heading into their hometown of York - are currently enjoying something of an Indian summer. Nearly 30 years since the height of their fame - in 1996 they had more top-40 hit singles than any other act - the five-piece are playing the biggest shows of their career and are arguably a bigger live act now than they were in their heyday.

It’s something that seems to confound and delight the friendly, straight-talking Yorkshireman in equal measure.

“It’s funny because we’ve been going for so long and we were big in the ’90s, but we just seem to be going up again. We were kind of also-rans in the Britpop scene - it was basically Pulp, Blur and Oasis, then lots of also-rans like us, The Bluetones, Cast… lots of Championship teams!

“It’s weird to be back and doing so well, but I’m enjoying the process and long may it continue - I am the pilot of the good ship Shed Seven.”

The ship recently gained a couple of new passengers in the shape of drummer Rob ‘Maxi’ Maxfield and keyboardist/multi-

instrumentalist Tim Willis, who joined Witter and fellow core members Paul Banks (guitar) and Tom Gladwin (bass) following the departure of longstanding members Alan Leach and Joe Johnson. Rick believes the new arrivals have given the band a “big kick up the backside”, an argument borne out by the speed with which they wrote and recorded new album A Matter Of Time. The aptly titled LP is the band’s first new music in six years and came together in a matter of monthsunlike previous album Instant Pleasures, which took three years to write. And even though the songs were all written by Rick and Banks, “everyone brings their own little bit to the party.”

The new members have had a direct and indirect influence on proceedings, according to Rick.

“These two guys came on board and settled in straight away - they fit in so well, they’re great musicians and it just flows. Maybe that’s why the album was so quick to writewe were invigorated enough to think, let’s crack on with this.

“I think me and Paul must’ve also hit some type of purple patch because the ideas were just flowing. You have to kind of embrace that to a point because the tap can turn off at any time. We enjoyed the process a lot, and I think that shines through when you hear the music.”

The album wears its heart, if not its influences, on its sleeve. Rick reveals that during the writing, the duo went back to their early years and the music that inspired them as teenagers.

“Before the first Stone Roses album came out, Paul and I would listen to Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Duran Duran. Paul was hugely into Simple Minds, and I loved U2 around the Joshua Tree period. Almost without discussing it, I think we’ve kinda gone back to our youth.”

The resulting album - due out next Januaryis full of the catchy, jangly guitar anthems that made the band famous. “It’s very Shed Seven,” says Rick, “but it sounds fresh and new.” It also adds a few new colours to the palette, not least in the form of guest turns from the likes of Happy Mondays’ Rowetta, Laura McClure (Reverend & The Makers) and Peter Doherty. The latter connection was forged when Shed Seven opened for The Libertines at the Bingley Weekender festival

in Yorkshire last summer.

“As we played, I noticed Peter stood at the side of the stage watching our gig and singing along. I thought, alright, so you’re a bit of a fan, are you? We got chatting afterwards and he was telling us how he listened to Shed Seven in the ’90s. That opened the doors to me saying: If you like us that much, why don’t you come and sing on one of our songs!”

That track (Throwaways) is an anthem for “people who don’t fit”, according to Rick, and closes the album in suitably epic fashion. Earlier tunes, such as opener Let’s Go and current single Kissing California, are natural successors to the band’s best-known hits, such as Going For Gold and Chasing Rainbows.

“‘Kissing California is Shed Seven’s summer anthem. It’s essentially a celebration of being alive, and grabbing the opportunity to paint the town red with someone special and have the best of times.”

And these are very definitely the best of times for the band, he believes - even though he’s loathe to reel out one particular cliché.

“I really don’t like it when I read interviews with bands and they’ve got a new album out and they tell you it’s the best thing they’ve ever done. But I’m just gonna have to be in that camp because I really do think it. And that’s after 30-odd years of doing this. It’s taken us that long to get to a point where I can feel like we’ve achieved something.” That satisfaction also comes from seeing younger audiences and generations of families at Shed Seven’s live shows, which Rick believes means that the band can go on forever (“we are the new Rolling Stones”) - an ambition he’s determined to follow through on.

“This is basically all I’ve ever wanted to do. When I was nine, I used to sing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush and shake me hips, so I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do it as a career. This is my life, so I’ll do it till I’m dead.”

Shed Seven play Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent, on Monday 23 October and Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, on Tuesday 24 October

Suzi Ruffell

Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 16 September; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 19 October

Gay, quirky and delightfully selfdeprecating, Suzi Ruffell is now well established in the challenging world of standup comedy.

Presenting an unquestionably likeable persona, she imbues her act with an impressive dynamism.

As well as being a comedian, Suzi’s also a writer, contributing to TV shows including 8 Out Of 10 Cats and The Last Leg. She’s also scored big hits with her podcasts, Like Minded Friends and Out.

Away from comedy, she lists her ‘likes’ as ‘cooking’ and ‘those cats with no hair’. Suzi visits Birmingham this month with latest touring show Snappy, in which she talks about settling down, becoming a mother and ‘still worrying about everything’.

Ricky Gervais

Utilita Arena Birmingham, Mon 4 September

Ricky Gervais has been called the most influential British comedian since Charlie Chaplin...

In fact, he’s been called all sorts of things, some of them far less complimentary. A comic who very much divides opinionhe’s clever and talented but often criticised for peddling ‘unacceptable’ material - there’s certainly no questioning the worldwide impact of the Reading-born 62-year-old.

Ruby Wax

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Sat 23 September; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Fri 13 October

American comedian Ruby Wax here follows up her critically acclaimed show, How To Be Human, with what’s being described as her rawest, darkest and funniest offering yet. “The original idea behind this show [titled I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was] was based on the extreme journeys that I wanted to take in order to find an antidote to living a frazzled life,” says Ruby. “Along the way, I wanted to find meaning, peace, happiness - the stuff we’re all chasing. However, after some transcendent experiences, I ended up in a mental institution... Obviously, I didn’t find what I was looking for...”

After shooting to fame as David Brent in television’s The Office - the BBC mockumentary he co-wrote with Stephen Merchant back in the early noughties - he’s established himself as a star-name funnyman on both sides of the Atlantic, picking up his fair share of glittering awards, critical acclaim and severe reproaches along the way. This latest stand-up offering - titled Armageddon but not particularly focusing on ‘the end of everything’ - follows on from six previous touring shows.

Bridget Christie

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 21 September; Stratford Playhouse, Stratfordupon-Avon, Sat 30 September; Old Rep, Birmingham, Sun 1 October; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 10 November

It’s been a highprofile few months for Bridget Christie. Having enjoyed positive reviews for her Channel Four comedy drama series, The Change, she’s been back in the media spotlight this summer after it was announced that her 17-year marriage to fellow standup Stewart Lee had come to an end.

She tours to the region this autumn with the critically acclaimed Who Am I?, a show described in its publicity as ‘a menopause laugh-a-minute with a confused, furious, sweaty lady who is annoyed by everything’.

Fiona Allen

Stourbridge Town Hall, Sat 23 September With Emmys and kids under her belt, Fiona Allen spent some time

wondering what to do next...

...And coming to the conclusion she had nowhere left to turn, she decided to hit the road with her debut standup show!

Fiona is pretty long in the tooth when it comes to the business of creating comedy, rising to stardom in the dying days of the last millennium when she appeared as a regular in Channel Four sketch show Smack The Pony. Her acting CV, meanwhile, includes Skins, Waterloo Road and six months spent in Albert Square playing EastEnders character Michaela Turnbull. She visits Stourbridge with On The Run, ‘a show about family, marriage, and things that truly annoy her’.

It’s an evening for everyone, she says, “even those passive-aggressive school mums…”

Comedy previews from across the region...

Comedy

Simon Brodkin

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Wed 13 September; Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 14 September; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 11 November

Former medical doctor Simon Brodkin is perhaps best known as the creator of comedy character Lee Nelson, a blingwearing Stella-swigging South London geezer.

Simon has also hit the headlines for his unwavering commitment to the business of being a top-quality prankster: In 2017 he famously handed Prime Minister Theresa May her P45 at the Tory Party Conference... This latest tour, entitled Screwed Up, sees him ripping into celebrity culture, social media, the police, Putin, Prince Andrew and Jesus.

Kae Kurd

Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 23 September

British-Kurdish standup Kae Kurd didn’t have the easiest start in life. Even before he was one year old, he had become a refugee, as his parents fled Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime.

In Iraq, Kae observes, ‘activism’ means risking death; in sharp contrast (he further notes), here in the UK all you have to do to be an activist is tweet with the right hashtag!

This wry comment and plenty more in the same vein formed the basis of Kae’s firstever full-length standup show back in 2018.

Three years later, he made a significant splash with debut solo tour The Spoken Kurd.

His Town Hall show this month sees him performing another 90 minutes of brandnew material, presented under the title Kurd Immunity.

Rhys James

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 15 September; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 30 September; Old Rep, Birmingham, Thurs 12 October; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 26 October

The gags come thick and fast when Rhys James is in town. The Mock

The Week comedian is visiting the Midlands this month with fifth touring show Spilt Milk, in which he takes a look at life now that he’s in his 30s, and shares a number of ‘home truths’. These include the fact that nobody is self-aware enough to write their own New Year resolutions; that every vote for the Green Party is an unfortunate waste of paper; and that until you’re wearing a plaster, you don’t realise just how frequently that particular part of your body gets wet. Oh, and the 32-year-old comic has also discovered that mindfulness is a scam, comprising little more than a collection of empty mantras, intentionally freezing showers and glorified PE...

Everyone may be fighting their own mental battle, says Rhys, but the problem is, they’re doing it wrong...

Geoff Norcott

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Wed 6 September; Old Rep, Birmingham, Fri 15 September; The Core Theatre, Solihull, Fri 16 February; The Roses, Tewkesbury, Thurs 29 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 15 March; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Fri 22 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 23 March; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Sat 13 April

One of the sharpest tools in the comedy shed, Geoff Norcott is visiting the Midlands this autumn and beyond with Basic Bloke, ‘a kindly and funny stock-take of both himself and his fellow man’.

Geoff will be taking a deep-dive into the business of being a fella, to try and find out what makes them tick. After all, there’s got to be more to being a man than watching football, enjoying sheds, reading sporting autobiographies, wearing socks at all times and strategically burying your feelings whenever necessary. Hasn’t there?...

Russell Brand

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Thurs 28 September

Blending a memorable look with a penchant for courting controversy, it’s fair to say that Russell Brand has very much ploughed his own furrow in the world of light entertainment.

In recent times he’s developed a reputation as a public activist and campaigner, with climate change and corporate capitalism among the issues he’s tackled. He’s also been described as a freethinking contrarian, using his hugely popular podcasts and YouTube channel to espouse theories around topics including the Covid vaccine and Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Russell is stopping off in Wolverhampton with brand-new show Bipolarisation, during which he aims to investigate the subjects of rules, rule-breaking, democracy and freedom, by “polling the live audience”.

THE CIRCUS IS COMING!

Staffordshire theatre The New Vic is once again honouring Philip Astley - the founder of the modern circus - by staging its hit show, Astley’s Astounding Adventures. A spectacle to behold, the production is filled with fast-paced action and breathtaking circus skills. Here, lead actor Nicholas Richardson tells What’s On what it’s like to be playing a local hero...

The premiere of Astley’s Astounding Adventures at the New Vic in 2018 captivated and thrilled audiences of all ages with its fast-paced action and laugh-out-loud humour. The story is based on the life of Philip Astley, the Newcastle-under-Lymeborn impresario who invented circus, and incorporates gripping drama and breathtaking circus performance.

Five years later, the exciting production is returning to the venue and promises to be just as impressive.

This latest outing of Astley’s Astounding Adventures features added thrills and surprises. It also sees original cast member Nicholas Richardson once again playing Philip Astley. So how does he feel about being back in the title role?

“It’s a mixture of emotions,” Nicholas admits. “I’m excited and curious - and if I think too much on it, nervous! But only in terms of doing it justice. We’re telling a real story about a very significant local figure, and we have to live as close to that as possible. The story is already so magnificent and always bigger than the individuals acting it out, so we have a high standard to reach!”

Thinking back to 2018, where audiences were thrown into an ‘adrenaline-fuelled true story’, Nicholas recalls his favourite memory happening on a particular night midway through the first act…

“There was one amazing moment - a really moving moment, actually. It was where Dani (Danielle Bird, who plays Patty Jones) did this silk routine that happens mid-show - not at the end or anything - and there was a standing ovation. We just had to stand and wait on stage for the audience to stop applauding. I have never had an experience like that before or since - a standing ovation

mid-show! To make people feel that way again would be incredible.”

Combining drama and circus is no mean feat, and actors undergo an intensive training process before they are ready to perform. Nicholas doesn’t have a circus background to draw on, so what’s it been like for him?

“The training is easy! Super easy! No, just kidding! It’s actually very hard work. You can do as much training as you possibly can before coming into a play like this, but you just can’t prepare for something like silks without doing silks. It’s the height factor, the bruising, the stretching... We’re three days in and I’m having a bath every night; let’s put it that way. It’s a very intense process, but a rewarding one. After a while you start to feel excited as the story is wrapped around physicality.

“My favourite skill that I’ve learnt is probably juggling. I’ve never used it since, but at least I know I can do it! The escapology is really interesting, too. Learning how that works was a frustrating process but a really fascinating skill - it’s like learning a magic trick.”

Nicholas has also had to familiarise himself with the character he portrays. Philip Astley invented the modern circus in 1768 and was at the heart of many early performances.

“Astley was an incredibly tenacious and determined individual who never gave up on his dreams. He’s a very inspirational character. One thing that struck me about him is just how competitive he had to be and his desire to prove to the world what is possible. He was a genius of his time.”

This latest staging of Astley’s Astounding Adventures is in celebration of the 850th anniversary of Newcastle-under-Lyme

receiving its charter to become a borough.

“It’s incredibly special to be celebrating the life of Philip Astley during a monumental year in his native-town’s history,” says Nicholas. “It’s also wonderful to celebrate the work, skillset and talent of circus performers. Watching these artists perform on silks and trapeze is remarkable, and to dedicate your life to learning a craft like that deserves some celebration because it’s a brave thing to do.”

It is hoped that the show may inspire the next generation of circus artists.

“I think it will inspire people to do something different and challenge themselves and be reminded that it’s okay to not always succeed. It’s an important lesson - not just for circus performers or actors or Philip Astley but for everyone in life. A story of failure and redemption and getting back up again - it’s an inspiring narrative. And circus in general is such a great fitness skill - it’s so accessible. I would encourage anyone interested to explore it.”

So how would Nicholas sum up Astley’s Astounding Adventures?

“It’s energetic and inspiring, moving and compelling. It’s a rollercoaster. I don’t know what it’s like to watch - I wish I did - but I know it’s like a heart-acceleration experience that will leave a longlasting impression on audiences. And the best part about it is that it’s all true - it’s a real-life extraordinary story about a local hero.”

Astley’s Astounding Adventures shows at The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-underLyme, from Saturday 23 September until Saturday 21 October

Theatre

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane

Regent Theatre, Tues 12 - Sat 16 September; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 26 - Sat 30 September

Neil Gaiman’s critically acclaimed novel is here given the National Theatre stage treatment. Described as a thrilling adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship, the story takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.

“There are moments of utter theatrical magic,” says Neil, in talking about the stage adaptation, “but the things that demolish me emotionally are the moments of forgiveness, or a hug between two characters. The internet phrase for it is ‘all the feels’, and really it is the emotion that I hope people will take away. I’d love it if you took away what it was like to be a kid and to have less power...

“And of course there’s the astonishing puppetry and magic. I had always dreamed of stage magic being used for seamless illusion. This is always in service of the story, but you’re going to see miracles.” When a man returns to the home in which he grew up and the pond where he used to play, he finds himself transported back to his 12th birthday. There, his remarkable friend, Lettie, claims that the pond is in fact an ocean - a place where everything is possible. But as they plunge into a magical world, they find themselves confronting ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them...

The Woman In Black

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wed 6Sat 9 September; Malvern Theatres, Tues 7 - Sat 11 November; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 6 - Sat 10 February; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Tues 23 - Sat 27 April

The Woman In Black, adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the same-named gothic horror novel by Dame Susan Hill, is a classic ghost story first performed in 1989. It has since become one of the West End’s most successful plays.

Solicitor Arthur Kipp believes that his family has somehow been cursed by a mysterious woman in black. In an attempt to tell his story, and to exorcise the evil by which he feels threatened, he hires a young actor to assist him in recounting his experiences...

Brown Boys Swim

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 26Sat 30 September; The Rep, Birmingham, Tues 31 October - Sat 4 November

Exploring the pressures faced by young Muslim men, Karim Khan’s play focuses on best friends Mohsen and Kash as they ready themselves for a seriously important event: Jess Denver’s pool party. But the two pals are ill-prepared for what’s to come, as neither of them can swim...

Tackling cramped cubicles and cold showers, Mohsen and Kash throw themselves in at the deep end, in a desperate attempt to be at one with the water...

Theatre previews from around the region

The Book Thief

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 11 - Sat 16 September

Published in 2006, Markus Zusak’s international bestseller, The Book Thief, has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide and been made into a well-received film starring Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson.

The Long Road

Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 8 September; Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge, Sat 9 & Sun 10 September; Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 12 September; Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 14 September

Shelagh Stephenson’s play - stopping off at four of the region’s venues with the aim of raising money for charities battling against knife crime - focuses on the impact which the senseless stabbing-to-death of 18-year-old Danny has on his family...

A cast of professional actors from across the Midlands is here joined by local singersongwriter Andy Jenkins. Andy will be performing a number of original songs during the show, some of which have been specially written for The Long Road.

The novel tells the story of an illiterate orphan girl who, after stealing an abandoned book in 1930s Nazi Germany, goes on to learn about the power of words from a Jewish man who her foster parents hide in their basement...

Despite some of the darker content, the Belgrade’s musical adaptation of The Book

Astley’s Astounding Adventures

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Sat 23 September - Sat 21 October

Astley’s Astounding Adventures first delighted audiences five years ago, to mark the 250th anniversary of the circus. It returns in 2023 to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Newcastle-under-Lyme - the location of the New Vic Theatre and the home town of Philip Astley, the international impresario who invented the circus.

This bold, colourful and critically acclaimed show is co-helmed by expert circus choreographer Vicki Dela Amedume and the New Vic’s artistic director, Theresa Heskins.

Thief is very much a family show - not least because the two main characters, Liesel and Rudy, are children.

“We see a lot of the story through their eyes,” says the show’s director, Lotte Wakeham, “so we’ve thought a lot about how to tell it in a sensitive way that will also be suitable for children who’re watching.”

Faith Healer

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tues 5 - Sat 9 September; Malvern Theatres, Tues 19 - Sat 23 September; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 24 October; Lichfield Garrick, Fri 27 & Sat 28 October

London Classic Theatre are the talented ensemble behind this new adaptation of Brian Friel’s 1979 play.

Telling the story of a mercurial showman who travels with his wife to remote corners of Scotland and Wales, allegedly healing the sick, suffering and desperate as he goes, Faith Healer was named one of the hundred most significant plays of the 20th century in a poll conducted by the Royal National Theatre. The Independent newspaper, meanwhile, went one better, hailing it one of the 40 greatest plays of all time.

Theatre previews from around the region

Theatre

Theatre previews from around the region

Sister Act

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 25 - Sat 30 September; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 9 - Sat 14 October

After seeing her gangster boyfriend kill an employee, Reno lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier is placed on a witness protection programme and hidden in a convent, where she proceeds to take over the rehearsals of the inhouse choir of nuns. Thanks to her musical expertise, the choir becomes a huge success and church attendances go through the roof. But in giving the church a new lease of life, Deloris may inadvertently have jeopardised her own safety...

Based on the hit Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same name, this fun-filled spectacular of a show boasts a real feelgood factor and stars Lesley Joseph.

Heathers The Musical

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 19 - Sat 23 September

Although far from being an unqualified success with the critics, Heathers The Musical did great business in the West End and is proving popular on its first-ever UK tour. Based on the cult 1989 movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, the show follows the character of Veronica Sawyer, a high school student who’s tired of being part of a feared and popular clique with three girls named Heather. Eager to opt out, she finds herself drawn to new student Jason ‘JD’ Dean, a rebellious young man with murder in mind...

Disney’s The Lion King

Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sat 16 September

Julie Taymor’s stage adaptation of the Oscarwinning animated film of the same name brings together a huge cast of actors, singers and dancers. Seen by a staggering 110 million people worldwide since premiering on Broadway in 1997 - and featuring hundreds of masks & puppets - the show tells the compelling story of Simba, a young lion cub, as he journeys through life and struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood...

The production’s rich tapestry of songs and compositions - the most famous among which is the iconic Circle Of Lifeincludes contributions from Elton John and Hans Zimmer.

Age guidance for the two-and-a-half hour show is six-plus.

Blood Brothers

Lichfield Garrick, Tues 5 - Sat 9 September

Although it’s effectively a class-driven ‘scouse melodrama’, to describe Blood Brothers as such is to greatly underestimate the emotional response it produces within its audience. The show features adult actors playing children, a narrator who wanders through the scenes with warnings of impending doom, a good helping of sharp social awareness to counteract the sticky sentimentality, and a raft of much-loved musical numbers, including Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged Tell Me It’s Not True. One-time X-Factor semifinalist Niki Colwell Evans takes the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone.

By The Waters Of Liverpool

The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Wed 20 & Thurs 21 September; Lichfield Garrick, Tues 3 & Wed 4 October

Helen Forrester’s autobiographical play, from her same-titled bestselling book, is set in the 1930s and finds the teenage Helen fighting a bitter battle with her parents for the right to educate herself and go out to work. Life, however, has a habit of getting in the way of even the best-laid plans - and so it proves for Helen... Following her family’s fall from grace, she finds herself taken from school to work as an ‘unpaid slave’ looking after her siblings. But with Britain on the brink of war, the arrival in her life of a tall, strong seaman provides Helen with the chink of light for which she’s been desperately searching...

A Room Of One’s Own

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tues 19 September

From Tudor queen to shell-shocked soldier, and from Regency heroine to Hollywood icon, Dyad Productions’ Rebecca Vaughan portrays a dazzlingly diverse array of characters in her touring solo shows. With previous theatrical offerings including Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, Austen’s Women and Dalloway, Rebecca here returns to provide a 21st-century take on Virginia Woolf’s late-1920s extended essay - an exploration of the impact of poverty and sexual inequality on intellectual freedom and creativity.

Falkland Sound

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Sat 16 September

If you’ve clocked up a half-century or more on Planet Earth, you’ll remember the Falklands War; the 74-day conflict in Spring 1982 between Argentina and Britain over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic. The British won, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s popularity soared... But what was the conflict like for those who actually had to live in the shadow of the war? Falkland Sound offers a thought-provoking insight.

Inspired by real-life testimonies, Brad Birch’s new play explores a community and way of life turned upside-down following the invasion by Argentine forces.

Macbeth

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 12 - Sat 16 September

Having been spurred into action by the prophesies of supernatural beingsand egged on by his conniving wifeMacbeth’s desire to be king of Scotland sees him

slaughtering those who stand in his way. As the pressure mounts and his grip on sanity weakens, he commits even more atrocities - including the murder of women and children...

Presented by the award-winning Daniel Taylor Productions.

And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel

The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sun 3 September

“I loved the way Olly thought he was smarter than Stan when in fact he was far more stupid,” says Jeffrey Holland. “It always made me laugh.”

Hi-de-Hi favourite Jeffrey is here starring as the legendary Stan Laurel in a one-man show which he’s co-written with award-winning playwright Gail Louw. A loving homage to one of the 20th century’s greatest comedy duos, the production has received plenty of positive reviews since making its debut a

handful of years back.

Set in Olly’s bedroom, it finds Stan visiting his sick friend and recalling their glory days together on the silver screen.

“Stan and Olly became my friendsmetaphorically speaking, of course,” continues the Walsall-born Jeff, recalling his childhood days. “I always looked forward to Laurel & Hardy films. If there wasn’t one, I was bereft!”

Crimes On Centre Court

Malvern Theatres, Fri 29 & Sat 30 September; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 17 & Wed 18 October; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 October; The Roses, Tewkesbury, Tues 31 October

Poised and polished purveyors of mirth The New Old Friends make a welcome return with a show that serves up murder, mystery, mayhem - and tennis!

The chair of the Whombledun International tennis tournament has died, and his son is suspicious. Enter seriously silly sleuths Perry & Penny Pink, who’re hoping to solve the case with all the speed and efficiency of a Novak Djokovic forehand smash...

Highly regarded for their comic songwriting and happy to employ both puppetry and slapstick routines in the name of comedy, The New Old Friends serve another ace with this latest show.

The Merchant Of Venice 1936

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 21 September - Sat 10 February

Undoubtedly one of Shakespeare’s most difficult, complex and controversial works, The Merchant Of Venice follows the fortunes of the antisemitic Antonio, who bets on a venture that fails to repay and finds himself forced to borrow cash from Shylock, a Jewish money-lender whom he detests...

Relocated in time and place, the play is here set against a backdrop of London in 1936, as the threat of fascism grows on a daily basis and Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists plan a march through the Jewish East End. Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who) stars as Shylock, in a production which has garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Diana: The Untold And Untrue Story

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 27 - Fri 29 September

Drag, multimedia, audience interaction and puppetry combine in this unashamedly tasteless offering from writer & performer Linus Karp and ‘harbingers of theatrical chaos’ Awkward Productions. The company’s previous shows have included the well-reviewed How To Live A Jellicle Life: Life Lessons From The 2019 Hit Movie Musical Cats and Awkward Conversations With Animals I’ve F*cked. This latest offering catches up with ‘people’s princess’ Diana in heaven, from where she shares ‘the untold and untrue tale of her extraordinary life’.

Theatre previews from around the region

TO BE PERFECTLY

Frank

Brand-new musical celebrates the life and loves of iconic crooner Frank Sinatra

Image: Matt Doyle who will play Frank Sinatra

by Steve Adams

A brand-new stage show about (and featuring the music of) Frank Sinatra receives its world premiere in Birmingham this month. Tony Award-winning writer Joe DiPietro tells What’s On why he jumped at the chance to work on Sinatra The Musical, a production which is promising to shed new light on the life and loves of the legendary singer...

A brand-new show about legendary crooner Frank Sinatra premieres at The Rep in Birmingham this month.

Titled Sinatra The Musical, the show is already raising plenty of eyebrows across the globe, thanks in no small part to the Tony Award-winning credentials of its key players. Matt Doyle, who took home the 2022 Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (for his performance as Jamie in the Broadway revival of Company), plays Sinatra. Two-time Tony-winning writer Joe DiPietro has penned the script, and three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall will direct.

Frank’s youngest daughter, Tina Sinatra, is one of the producers, ensuring the show offers a unique insight into the life and times of the celebrated singer and actor. Alongside her duties as producer, Tina has shared with writer Joe DiPietro a number of stories about her father which had never really been heard before.

These unique elements give the musical a truly exciting edge, according to New Jerseyborn DiPietro, who says that working with Tina made the experience even more special for him.

“We have a very open dialogue,” he reveals. “She’s very supportive and she loves the show. Just the other night, she said: ‘This is the book that my father never wrote.’ Frank never wrote an autobiography, and there’s so much personal stuff about his life, and his life with his family, that Tina told me that’s never been told anywhere else.

“It’s hard writing a show about your beloved mother and father and his troubles and peccadilloes, but she’s been very open and honest about it. I think it’s gonna surprise people how deeply we explore Frank. It’s not a watered-down version of his life; it’s really about the demons he faced and overcame, and how he put all that into his songs.”

The show will feature more than 25 of Frank’s best-known tunes - likely to include such classics as My Way, Strangers In The Night, Fly Me To The Moon and New York, New York. And with a cast of 20 actors and 17 musicians, Sinatra The Musical is set to be a big event in more ways than one. Which begs the question: Why hold the world premiere in Birmingham? It turns out Joe has history with The Rep, as his last musical, What’s New Pussycat?, premiered there last year.

“It was a big success. I loved Birmingham, I thought the theatre was beautiful, Sean Foley [The Rep’s artistic director] is great, and we had terrific audiences. One of the producers of Sinatra came to see the show and really loved the theatre, so when we were looking for a place that was neither New York nor London to premiere it - a regional theatre with some prominence and the ability to produce a big, splashy musical - Birmingham Rep came up.”

And even though the show is inescapably very American - although the cast is British bar the two leads - Joe is quick to point out that its story has global appeal.

“The interesting thing about Sinatra is that he’s so worldwide. When I started this project, I knew he was huge obviously, but I was amazed about how he crosses cultures and generations. Once we started looking around for where to start the show, there was interest from all over.”

Despite his burgeoning reputation as the goto writer for major musicals - his next project will be a show about the work of songwriter Dianne Warren - Joe thinks his family roots were a major reason he was invited to script Sinatra.

“I got a phone call from a producer I knew, who I think thought ‘Oh, Joe’s an ItalianAmerican, he’ll know about all this!’ What Sinatra meant to the Italian-American community in the 1940s and ’50s was huge; beyond his role as an entertainer. He really was the embodiment of the American dream for Italians.

“When they asked if I’d be interested in meeting Tina and writing a musical, I said absolutely! It was a dream come true - I knew all the songs and I knew a lot about him, but Sinatra had a long life with lots of very different parts to it, so I also learned a lot in the process.

“The first time I met Tina, I told her my Italian grandmother, who lived in a little town in New Jersey, had two pictures hanging up on her kitchen wall - the Pope and Frank Sinatra. They were the real cultural touchstones for me growing up.”

The musical covers a specific - and dramatic10-year period in Sinatra’s life, during which he’d become a teen idol and his career was really taking off but his family life and marriage to wife Nancy were suffering. When

he began an affair with Ava Gardner, his records stopped selling, the press turned against him and he endured a huge fall from grace - setting the scene for one of the greatest comebacks in showbusiness history. Joe knows a dramatic scenario when he sees one (“no conflict, no play - and Frank definitely had conflict in his life”), but admits he’s tinkered with the timeline to ensure the show contains a wide selection of Sinatra’s classic tunes.

“It’s a musical, not a documentary. The show ends in 1952, but I took songs that were recorded after that. I really wanted to use songs from various parts of his life [because] even though he didn’t write them, they were very personal to him and made perfect sense for a lot of the drama that happened during this period of his life.

“He was clearly a complicated, emotional man who had many demons, and he took all of these emotions and feelings and put them into his music. When he sings about being in a bar at 3am, you know this guy didn’t have to do research. He’s experienced it; he’s lived that song.”

Joe also believes the show will appeal to audiences beyond Sinatra’s fans and those already familiar with the iconic singer and his songs, not least because, while he was very much a one-off, his story is universal. “He was a tough guy - what we used to call a ‘man’s man’. He loved women, got into fights, drank too much, but also supported his family and cared about what happened in the world. So there’s a lot in his story for everyone, and even though he wasn’t a rock & roller, he was one of the original rebels of music. He stood his ground - and not to use a cliché, did things his way.

“In many ways he was the precursor to Mick Jagger and all the folks who came after. The word I keep using is swagger - he was vulnerable in many ways and could access that place in his music, but he had swagger when he walked into a room, and I think that makes him a really compelling character for an evening of theatre.”

Sinatra The Musical shows at The Rep, Birmingham, from Saturday 23 September to Saturday 28 October

Light entertainment from around the region

Theatre

An Evening Without Kate Bush

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 16 September; Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Wed 20 September; Stourbridge Town Hall, Thurs 16 November

With Kate Bush less than enthusiastic about performing live (to put it mildly), cabaret stalwart Sarah-Louise Young has stepped into the breach to present this lively stand-in offering - a show that’s surely going to be in the ‘must see’ category for Kate’s legion of Midlands-based fans.

It’s not a tribute show in the conventional sense of the word - Sarah-Louise doesn’t spend the hour impersonating Kate - but it certainly has more than enough for Bush lovers to delight in and thoroughly enjoy, including impressive renditions of their idol’s greatest hits.

Magical Bones: Soulful Magic

The Core Theatre, Solihull, Fri 22 September Magical Bones’ inspiration for his Britain’s Got Talent audition back in 2020 came via the story of Henry Box Brown, a 19thcentury slave who, prior to becoming a magician, had escaped a life in captivity by hiding inside a box and posting himself to a free state...

With a man like Henry as his hero, there’s little wonder the critically acclaimed magician, illusionist & Bboy - real name Richard Essien - is hitting the heights and turning some heads.

A spellbinding evening of sleight-of-hand trickery awaits...

Adam Willis: Joseph

The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 22 September

Adam Willis goes biblical with this new touring show, determined to prove that Nativity plays are only “boring” when presented by untrained children who can’t act! Focusing-in on the character of ‘the Bible’s third-best carpenter’ - that’s Jesus’ on-earth dad, Joseph of Nazareth - the Willis & Vere star looks set to score a major critical success with this latest offering.

Slay Queenz

Birmingham Town Hall, Mon 18 September; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 30 September

Top-class drag is guaranteed when the Slay Queenz sashay into the Midlands this month. The production showcases the talents of the three most recent winners of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: Krystal Versace, Danny Beard and Blu Hydrangea.

The talented trio are promising ‘an exclusive spectacular of side-splitting laughs, jawdropping vocals and eye-popping outfits’.

Most Haunted: The Stage Show

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 14 September; Dudley Town Hall, Thurs 21 September; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 23 October; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Sun 4 February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Thurs 14 March

You’ve seen the television series, now catch the stage production! Yvette Fielding hosts a show that features Most Haunted’s all-time top-10 scares, complete with unseen video footage from haunted castles, hospitals, prisons and manor houses. There’s even the chance for audience members to conduct their very own ghostly investigation!

Captain Sandy Live

The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 22 September After participating in seven seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean, Captain Sandy Yawn has become one of reality television’s most recognisable stars. She ‘sails’ into landlocked Birmingham this month to make waves in a brand-new tell-all offering. Seafaring stories and salacious gossip are on the menu in a show hosted by broadcaster, author & LGBTQ+ advocate Riyadh Khalaf. Musical performances are provided by Leah Rae.

Splash Test Dummies

Stourbridge Town Hall, Sun 10 September

Award-winning Aussie entertainers the Splash Test

Dummies invite you to grab your snorkel and flippers for 60 minutes of ‘catchyour-breath stunt work, dazzling acrobatics, dexterous juggling and sidesplitting, slapstick comedy’. A big hit in Edinburgh - and pretty much everywhere else in the world, for that matterthe Dummies specialise in narrative-driven circus comedy that’s ideal for a family audience.

Theatre for younger audiences...

In The Night Garden Live

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 9 & Sun 10 September

If your little ones are big fans of CBeebies television series In The Night Garden - now available to view on BBCiPlayer - they’re certain to adore this live version as well... And it’s not only the kids who’re in

Tales From Acorn Wood

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Mon 11 - Tues 12 September; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 13 - Sun 17 September; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Tues 21 & Wed 22 November

Stage adaptations of books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler invariably offer theatrical magic aplenty, so this is definitely a show that’s well worth catching.

Presented by the team behind two other hit kids’ productions, Dear Zoo Live and Dear Santa, the show features clever puppetry, toetapping songs, and the chance to join in with Pig and Hen’s game of hide & seek.

love with the stage shows; according to audience surveys and parents’ reviews, nine out of 10 adults consider In The Night Garden Live to be a five-star theatrical experience. This latest show, called Igglepiggle’s Busy Day, features ‘full-size costumes, magical puppets, enchanting music and the amazing flying Pinky Ponk’.

The King Of Nothing

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 23 September; Bilston Town Hall, Sun 15 October; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Wed 1 November

While King Reginald busies himself keeping up to date with all the latest clothes fashions, his kingdom is in meltdown. When two supposed ‘weavers’ bring to court news of a brand-new magical fabric, the foppish king demands a sparkling new outfit for the Big Parade...

But all is not quite as it seems, as His Royal Highness is soon to find out...

Monstro and Little Angel Theatre come together to present this puppet-musical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s muchloved story, The Emperor’s New Clothes.

I Spy With My Little Eye

The Roses, Tewkesbury, Fri 1 September; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 17

September

If you’re familiar with other picture books by Steven Lee - think Don’t Dribble On The Dragon and How The Koala Learnt To Hugyou will surely want to take your little ones to see this delightful stage version of I Spy With My Little Eye.

Presented by The People’s Theatre Company, the story sees Molly and Bingo the Puppy-Dog inviting youngsters and their families to Molly’s sixth birthday party.

The celebration comes complete with ‘a terrific treasure hunt, all your favourite singalong songs and lots of fantastic games to play’.

LATIN FEVER

There’s a new musical visiting the region this month, and it’s causing quite a stir...

by Diane Parkes

A new musical inspired by the life and legacy of rock & roll legend Ritchie Valens has just embarked on its first UK tour. La Bamba follows the journey of 17-year-old Sofia as she looks to fulfill her dream of becoming a huge musical star. The show sees dancer Pasha Kovalev make his musical theatre debut, whilst his Strictly co-star, Graziano Di Prima, is responsible for the choreography. What’s On recently caught up with ‘Italian stallion’ Graziano to find out more...

Strictly Come Dancing professional Graziano Di Prima is turning his hand to choreography with new musical La Bamba!.

Working in a team alongside his wife - Giada Lini - and Erica Da Silva, Graziano has been creating the dance moves for the show, which features music from Latin superstars including Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Camila Cabello. Graziano’s fellow Strictly professional, Pasha Kovalev, and Siva Kaneswaran, from boyband The Wanted, both star.

“This is my first job as a choreographer, and I couldn’t be more happy with it,” he reveals during a break in rehearsals. “I’m very lucky to be doing it, sharing this job with producers, the director and also my wife. We’re often apart through work because I do Strictly and she does Dancing With The Stars in Italy, so this is incredible.”

But, he laughs, the urge to dance can be impossible to resist.

“Sometimes I forget I’m the choreographer, and I start dancing with the guys, and my wife is like ‘You need to step out - you’re the choreographer, remember!’”

La Bamba! tells the story of 17-year-old Sofia, played by Inêz Fernandez, who dreams of becoming a Latin singing superstar. She is inspired by her father’s love for the great Latin singers, including Ritchie Valens, who famously topped the charts with a rock & roll version of Mexican folk song La Bamba. Valens died at the age of 17 in the same airplane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Jiles Perry ‘JP’ Richardson.

Although the story draws on the spirit of Valens, Graziano says it is very much a 21stcentury tale.

“Sofia grew up with the same musical roots as her dad, and in the show she is touring her dream. She does everything to achieve it, and it’s incredible - but then her producers want to change her. They want her to sing a song which is less Latin, and they want to change her surname.

“I’m so in love with the story because it is so relatable for people today. You know, so many of us are influenced by what others think of us. Sometimes we’re led by things like social media, and we see how they can influence a 17-year-old girl. Sofia is facing all these kinds of problems, wondering ‘What is my identity? Should I listen to the people who are commenting on me, or should I trust my family?’

“It’s about the need for people to keep going

forwards and challenging themselves. They can dream about their passion and want to fight for it, but sometimes they are insecure about it. I think each of us has some insecurity, and we live in a world where it’s so easy to judge people and comment on people. Somehow you have to stay true to your roots.”

Sicilian Graziano toured with the dance show Burn The Floor, but choreographing a musical is a new challenge for him.

“The toughest part for a choreographer is that you first of all find the idea, but you always need to be open to a plan B. If I come into the room with an idea and we have 20 minutes to make the choreography, and then I realise it doesn’t fit the dancers who are doing it, I need to change it and find something which will be effective for them.

“I didn’t expect that choreography would be so beautiful and so deep. You have to put your person and your knowledge on the side sometimes. Instead, you need to know the person who is dancing. It’s not just telling them what to do in terms of the steps; you need to understand them.”

And the reunion with Pasha, who left Strictly in 2019 after eight years and is playing Sofia’s father, Ricardo, in La Bamba!, is also a bonus.

“Pasha and I have been friends for ages now and have done so many jobs together and Strictly together. He’s amazing; he’s the most humble person I have ever met, but he understands the movement. He’s so professional, and because we know each other so well, he knows that everything he says to me I take on board.”

With La Bamba! now out on the road, Graziano can start thinking about the upcoming series of Strictly.

“I’m back this year - this is going to be my sixth season and I can’t believe that already. It’s such a crazy journey every year, and yet they make you feel at home. Every year it’s like you start from zero. You’re meeting a new person, so you need to challenge yourself.”

Graziano has so far partnered television presenter Vick Hope, comedian Judi Love and singer & actress Kym Marsh. He won the 2021 Christmas special, dancing with singersongwriter Anne-Marie.

“I love the competition stuff, and that you can go as far as you can - but for me, the first thing is getting to know people and making a new friend. First of all, you have in front of you a person, and secondly, that person, for

most of the time, is doing something that is completely out of their comfort zone, and they’ve got someone telling them what to do.

“Imagine the person who joins Strictly is already scared about the whole journey and knows that on Saturday, no matter how they look or feel, they’re going to dance in front of 10 million people. It’s scary.

“Everyone is different, and I’m very straight when I need to be, but I want to create a friendship first. So Strictly made me grow up as a dancer and as a person.”

At the time of chatting, the celebrity contestants have yet to be announced.

“It’s too early to know yet, but I don’t have any preference. As long as the person wants to learn and make a dance relationship, I’m there to help them.”

And while his next few months may be taken up on the small screen, Graziano is hoping that La Bamba! will lead to future choreography opportunities.

“I’d really like to do more. Working with the director and finding a purpose in everything is something that fascinates me. It’s about portraying everything in the choreography.

“The dance in La Bamba! is a bit of everything, with the flavour of samba, salsa, and a flourish of tango, so this show is going to be a party for everyone. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve, and I hope the people in the audience feel as much energy as we do and are as much a part of this as we are.”

La Bamba! shows at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, from Tuesday 26 - Saturday 30 September and the Regent Theatre, Stokeon-Trent, from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7

October

Dance previews from across the region

Dance

Black Sabbath: The Ballet Birmingham Hippodrome, Sat 23 - Sat 30 September

Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) turn up the volume with this fulllength, three-act show featuring eight Black Sabbath tracks re-orchestrated for the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

“Black Sabbath is probably Birmingham’s biggest export,” says BRB Director Carlos Acosta, “so I was naturally drawn to the idea of a collaboration between what most people might think are the most unlikely of partners.

“The band’s enthusiasm for the project is a huge endorsement. They are putting their trust in us to deliver something completely new and

Emerald Storm

Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Thurs 21 September; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Sun 8 October; Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Fri 13 October; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sat 14 October

From gentle ballet to fiery salsa, and from Irish dance to modern tap, the critically acclaimed Emerald Storm offers something for dance fans of all persuasions. Along the way it tells a pulsating story of mortals battling against the elements to save the mythical land of the Celtic Otherworld from destruction. The show has been co-written and co-choreographed by Australian tap dancer, Hollywood actor and two-time Olivier Award nominee Adam Garcia. Expect mesmerising moves and lightning footwork aplenty...

original. That’s quite a responsibility, but one that we are beyond excited to take on.”

Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi is similarly enthused about the project.

“I know it’s going to be great because all the people involved are really talented and it’s such an exciting project. And it’s not just our fans who want to come, it’s lots of people who love music.

“You’d never have thought this would happen - a Black Sabbath ballet. I certainly would never have thought it could. I mean, I’ve done some things in my life, but this is so different!”

Chantry Dance: A Matter Of Time

Swan Theatre, Worcester, Wed 27 September

The highly acclaimed Chantry Dance here presents a vibrant triple bill ‘exploring our relationship with time’. The programme features Nicholas Maw’s 1988 suite, Ghost Dances - a work combining contemporary dance with puppetry - Ariadne’s Lament - a dance setting of an extract from Roman poet Catullus’ Carmen 64 - and In Time Of Daffodils - an evocative piece danced to Chanticleer’s musical setting of EE Cummings’ poem of the same name. Nudity, scenes of a sexual nature and violence all feature in the one-hour show, suggested age guidance for which is 13-plus.

NEW MOVES

Ailey 2 returns to the Midlands next month to showcase The Next Generation Of Dance...

Ground-breaking New York dance company Ailey 2 embarks on its largest European tour in more than a decade this autumn, visiting 12 venues across the UK with a programme of hugely popular audience favourites and ambitious contemporary pieces.

About to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Ailey 2 is the second company of the iconic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and offers the exceptional dancers from The Ailey School the chance to perform their first professional roles.

This tour, says Ailey 2 Artistic Director Francesca Harper, is a rare chance for UK audiences to see the next generation of performers.

“What’s so exciting about Ailey 2 is that we are catching the enthusiasm and raw talent of the dancers at the beginning of their careers,” says Francesca.

“There’s such a rich history of the company fostering and nourishing young artists. They are so talented, and Ailey 2 gives them an opportunity for that talent to flourish.”

The programme for 12 dancers features four works - excerpts from Francesca’s Freedom Series and William Forsythe’s Enemy In The Figure, along with Robert Battle’s The Hunt and Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, which is a signature work of all the Ailey companies.

“Revelations is Mr Ailey’s most famous work and it’s a masterpiece,” says Francesca. “It reflects the cultural heritage of the African American community and Mr Ailey’s blood memories. It embodies this reverent grace and spiritual elation.”

Ailey 2 has also adapted The Hunt, which was originally created for six male dancers by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle.

“I asked Robert if we could have women perform in it as well, so we are the first company within the Ailey organisation to have The Hunt performed by an all-female cast. It’s a very athletic work and is set to really powerful music by French percussion band Les Tambours du Bronx. Robert was inspired by modern sports and the rituals of gladiators, so it has this very ominous and threatening energy. For the women to be as ferocious and athletic as the men is really exciting and an important statement.”

Francesca also brings her own stamp to the programme in the shape of William

Forsythe’s Enemy In The Figure. From 1991 to 1999, she was a dancer in Forsythe’s hugely influential Ballett Frankfurt, rising to principal for the final five years.

“I thought it was so important to bring Forsythe’s work into the company because he was one of my mentors when I left New York and it helps the dancers understand who I am as an artist.

“Enemy In The Figure was inspired by Thom Willems’ percussive and electronic score. William had this sense of abstract storytelling, where he would take his personal stories and deconstruct them. It’s a powerful work and will leave the audience on the edge of their seats.”

Francesca’s own work, Freedom Series, was inspired by her taking up the post of Ailey 2 artistic director and her emotional responses to returning to the Alvin Ailey family - she trained at The Ailey School, where her mother, Denise Jefferson, was director.

“This is my home; it has always had that familial feeling,” says Francesca, who has also choreographed for Broadway shows and was the ballet consultant for the film Black Swan. “It grounded me to see all of these people of colour and diverse representation living their dreams, following their passions and feeling empowered. And to see them transform and develop and flourish. Over the years I feel so fortunate to have witnessed that, and for it to have been an integral part of my development. When I’m back here, I feel the power that is in that kind of cyclical journey.

“Freedom Series carries so much weight for me. I have so many memories that live in the building and this organisation. I created a series of vignettes that imagine this hybridity where these memories strive to influence my vision of the future. It examines identity and community and being an African American woman, as well as the diversity that Alvin embraced.”

Francesca is looking forward to sharing the programme with UK audiences. The tour is presented by Dance Consortium, a group of large-scale theatres which aims to bring the best international dance to venues across the UK and Ireland.

The tour also features an extensive community outreach project for young dancers, with workshops, masterclasses and open rehearsals all included. This forms part

of the Ailey Project UK, which was launched in 2021 with Dance Consortium member venues.

“We’ve established this wonderful relationship through the Ailey Project UK. It really falls in alignment with spreading the message of an inclusive voice, so it’s exciting to bring those two worlds together with this tour.

“Our outreach programme is so important to us. It’s sharing and spreading our mission to these young aspiring artists. As a young African American girl, I just didn’t see people like myself doing the things and performing the way that I dreamt of, so for us to reach young people who may have dreams of dancing or being involved in the arts in some other capacity, it’s so important. It can change lives.

“One of the most exciting things is that this tour is launching our anniversary season, as 2024 marks 50 years since Ailey 2 was founded. Audiences on this tour can expect excellence and heart, they can expect innovation, they can expect cutting-edge work, and they can expect these young artists at the height of their expression.”

Ailey 2: The Next Generation of Dance shows at Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 3 & Wednesday 4 October

As the second company of internationally renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey 2 provides a platform for early-career dancers to flourish and learn from the best. What’s On chats to Artistic Director Francesca Harper about the New York-based dance company’s forthcoming show at Birmingham Hippodrome...

Film highlights in September...

A Haunting In Venice CERT 12a

(103 mins)

Starring Kenneth Branagh, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Emma Laird, Tina Fey Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh here dons the twirly tash for a third time to play Hercule Poirot in an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel, Hallowe’en Party.

Shifting the action from the English countryside to postWorld War Two Venice - and replacing the All Hallows’ Eve shindig with a séance - Branagh, who also directs, will no doubt be relieved that his latest outing as the legendary Belgian detective has avoided the difficulties which beset the previous movie in the series, Death On The Nile. Not only was its release delayed on several occasions by the Covid pandemic, one of its stars, Armie Hammer, had allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

“[Death On The Nile’s] theatrical release was challenged for various reasons,” Branagh told the Hollywood Reporter, “but it still did exceptional numbers in the circumstances. And then the streaming performance was really exceptional. So I was very pleased when they came back to us, for sure.”

Released Fri 15 September

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

CERT 12a (91 mins)

Starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Stephanie Nur, Elena Kampouris, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Martin Directed by Nia Vardalos

57 Seconds CERT tbc

Starring Morgan Freeman, Josh Hutcherson, Greg Germann, Lovie Simone, Bevin Bru, Griff Furst Directed by Rusty Cundieff

“Today we have tools at our fingertips that allow us to respond to events at the moment,” says director Rusty Cundieff in talking about his latest film, “short-circuiting our time to be thoughtful and consider the consequences. 57 Seconds examines how emotions influence the innate human desire to solve things quickly via technology, be it a gun, pill or computer.”

Saw X CERT tbc

Starring Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Steve Brand, Synnøve Macody Lund, Michael Beach, Renata Vaca Directed by Kevin Greutert

Everybody loves a wedding - and judging by the fact that the Portokalos family are here returning for a third time, it would seem that big fat Greek ones are particularly popular! Writer and star (and, for this latest film, also director) Nia Vardalos scored a global smashhit 21 years ago with the original movie, telling the story of 30-year-old Toula Portokalos’ ongoing efforts to dodge her family’s relentless matchmaking attempts. Eventually, Toula falls for a fella who isn’t Greek - and although her choice initially causes shockwaves, her relatives eventually accept her choice and throw her a spectacular wedding celebration. This latest adventure sees the Portokalos clan travelling to a family reunion in Greece ‘for a heartwarming and hilarious trip full of love, twists and turns’.

Released Fri 8 September

When tech blogger Franklin Fausti (Josh Hutcherson) interviews visionary entrepreneur Anton Burrell (Morgan Freeman), he stumbles across a mysterious ring which allows him to travel 57 seconds back in time. Driven by revenge, Franklin uses this newfound power to dismantle the pharmaceutical company responsible for his sister’s death. But as he dives deeper into an unfamiliar world of wealth and technology, he finds himself becoming entangled in a high-stakes chain of events that threatens his very survival... Released Fri 29 September

The Saw franchise makes a return with the 10th movie in the series. Both a prequel and a sequel - it‘s set between the events which took place in the first two films - it finds serial killer John Kramer travelling to Mexico in the hope that a risky and experimental medical procedure will provide a miracle cure for his cancer. Discovering that the entire operation is a scam, he decides that the con artists responsible must pay the price for their criminal deceit...

Director Kevin Greutert previously helmed Saw VI and Saw 3D - as well as editing a number of other Saw films - so this latest entry in the series is in a seriously safe pair of hands.

Released Fri 29 September

Visual Arts previews from around the region

Gaia by Luke Jerram

Lichfield Cathedral, Fri 22 September - Sun 5 November

If you stand 211 metres away from Luke Jerram’s touring artwork, Gaia - which features high-resolution NASA imagery of Earth’s surface - you will be able to see the planet as it appears from the moon.

Luke’s artwork - 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earthis certain to draw a crowd during its stay in Lichfield, where it will be suspended inside the cathedral’s nave.

Gaia visits the city a half-century after people were first able to view the Earth in its entirety; the ‘blue marble’, floating in the vast blackness of space.

That opportunity to do so - which came courtesy of an image provided by the crew of NASA’s Apollo 17 mission - changed forever humankind’s perception and understanding of the planet on which we live.

Luke is hopeful that Gaia - just like the 1972 NASA photograph - will make people aware of how isolated and fragile the Earth is.

“I hope visitors to Gaia get to see the planet as if from space,” says the artist. “An incredibly beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem we urgently need to look after; our only home.”

Gaia is accompanied by a 30-minute surround-sound composition by Luke’s regular collaborator, multi-awardwinning composer Dan Jones.

Mali Morris: Calling

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Wed 20 September - Friday 22 December

Visual arenas in which colour moves through space and space moves through colour are a signature aspect of recent work by British artist Mali Morris.

Mali has been exploring the possibilities of abstract painting for more than half a century; she first mounted a solo exhibition at Ikon way back in 1979.

This latest show, featuring paintings produced during the past 25 years, illustrates the way in which she has rethought the role of gesture within abstract painting, using layers of colour to create luminous spaces which, although visually clear, are full of precisely judged ambiguities.

Worlds Away: Art, Nature & Wellbeing

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Sat 2 September - Sun 26 November

The subtitle of this new exhibition nicely sums up its intention; to explore the ways in which artists have been inspired by the natural world - and particularly by its power to stimulate feelings of mental and physical wellbeing.

The art on show displays a range of perspectives. Some works celebrate nature as a therapeutic companion;

William Cobbing Exhibition

Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 23 September - Sunday 5 November

This major exhibition for the British Ceramics Biennial Festival showcases brandnew commissioned artwork by the internationally acclaimed William Cobbing.

William’s practice - which encompasses a diverse range of media, including ceramic sculpture, video and performance - sees him creating surreal, performative pieces that show the protagonists engaging in repetitive cycles of manipulating formless clay surfaces.

The exhibition features works spanning film, sculpture and performance.

others reflect its profile and significance in the contemporary era of ‘climate anxiety’...

A free-to-attend party on Friday the 1st launches not only Worlds Away but also another MAC exhibition related to nature and wellbeing: Madge Gill - The Clouds Will Burst The Sun Will Shine Again (like Worlds Away, it shows from Saturday 2 September to Sunday 26 November). Both exhibitions have been inspired by the 150th anniversary of Cannon Hill Park, the green space in which MAC is located.

This Is Our Love And It Knows No Division

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Sun 10 September

If you enjoy art, love football, but haven’t yet checked out This Is Our Love And It Knows No Division, delay your visit to Wolverhampton Art Gallery no longer - the venue is blowing the full-time whistle on the exhibition in the middle of this month...

Curated by artists and football fans Ewan Johnston and Dion Kitson, the show features contemporary works exploring topical themes such as football culture and its relationship to politics.

Quentin Blake: Birds, Beasts & Explorers

Compton Verney, Warwickshire, until Sun 1 October Still splendidly relevant at the grand old age of 90, Sir Quentin Blake is without question one of the UK’s most-loved artists.

In a career spanning several decades, Quentin has illustrated a staggering 500-plus books, bringing to life a host of treasured literary characters in his unmistakeable style.

He is most readily associated, of course, with the stories of Roald Dahl but has also provided illustrations for numerous other children’s authors, including David Walliams and Michael Rosen...

Compton Verney’s celebration of his art - featuring more than 70 original illustrations - takes its inspiration from birds, fantastical flying creatures and the joy of exploring in nature, all of which are themes often evident in Quentin’s work.

Events previews from around the region Events

LEGO DREAMZzz

Legoland Discovery Centre, Birmingham, until Mon 4 September

The LEGO DREAMZzz television series has taken over the Discovery Centre until the end of the school summer holiday... and there’s a brand-new and exclusive 4D movie - Z-Blob Rescue Rush - showing at the venue’s cinema.

A dream creature hunt, building activities and exclusive giveaways ensure there’s plenty to keep families entertained.

Malvern Autumn Show

Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Fri 22 - Sun 24 September

The UK’s biggest harvest-season celebration is back this month with a jam-packed programme.

Crowd-pleasers such as the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship and the colourful RHS Flower Show will make a welcome return, featuring alongside a number of

A Place In The Sun Live

NEC, Birmingham, Fri 22 - Sun 24 September

If you’re looking to invest in overseas property, A Place In The Sun Live has everything you need to know.

Estate agents will be flying in from around the world to showcase hundreds of overseas properties, while lawyers, currency specialists, tax experts and specialist advisers will be on hand to answer house hunters’ questions. The hit Channel Four TV series’ presenters will be in attendance too, offering show visitors not only their property expertise but also the chance to find out lots of behind-the-scenes secrets.

brand-new features, including the Great Taste Food & Drink Market, Joseph’s Amazing Racing Camels and the Octopus Publishing Takeover. The latter event sees some of the UK’s bestselling food & drink authors sharing ‘snippets and insights from their latest books’.

Pirate Treasure Hunt

National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham, until Mon 4 September

Ahoy there, mateys, it’s time to head off on a swashbuckling treasure hunt at the National SEA LIFE Centre!

Along the way, little ones will have the chance to meet a real pirate and collect pirate trading cards...

And to make the experience even better, there will be some ‘special treasure’ waiting for them at the end of the adventure, too! Opportunities to check out the venue’s underwater residents - including sharks, green sea turtles and clownfish - further add to the fun.

Horrible Histories Up In The Air Adventure

Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford, until Sun 3 September

Visitors can experience the (sometimes gruesome!) history of flight at the RAF Museum’s Horrible Hangar this month. Based on the Horrible Histories publication Up In The Air, this brand-new interactive event brings characters from the book to life, flagging up some of their truly brainless blunders as they pursued their ambition to take to the air!

Legendary aviation pioneers from throughout history will be on hand to steer families around six zones: The Engineer’s Workshop; Barnstorming Braves; Creation Station; Meet The Inventor; Selfie Zone and the Up In The Air Challenge.

Visitors can also pick up a bespoke Horrible Histories activity pack and check out the free Twinkletoes Trail.

Events previews from around the region Events

Insomnia

NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 September

Described as a ‘world of non-stop gaming’, Insomnia has everything from the latest video games to retro classics. Guests will have the chance to meet fellow gamers, attend panels and meet & greets with some of their favourite creators, and compete in tournaments for special prizes. A huge selection of gaming will be on offer, including VR games and esports competitions. Live performances and cosplay competitions also feature, as does the chance to pick up the latest gaming gear in the marketplace.

Autumn Steam Gala

Severn Valley Railway will be hosting a selection of guest locomotives alongside its home steam engine fleet at this month’s Autumn Steam Gala.

Although festivities kickstart on the Thursday with a centenary celebration of the ‘Big Four’ Grouping Act, the main event runs from Friday to Sunday.

Historic Rally Festival

Hatton Grange and Weston Park, Shropshire, Sat 30 September & Sun 1 October

The Historic Rally Festival returns for 2023, with the two-day Motorsport UK-permitted multi-venue event featuring stages at stately home Hatton Grange and dusk stages at Weston Park.

Up to 60 specially selected cars will compete in the rally, starting at Hatton Grange before taking on the famous RAC stages at Weston in the dark. A fireworks finale will bring proceedings to an end with a bang. Sunday visitors will have the opportunity to check out the cars and say hello to the drivers in the meet & greet area.

An intensive timetable will operate each day, with all available engines in service (including overnight running on Friday and Saturday with BR 75069).

The gala’s line-up of entertainment also includes a mini beer festival - taking place at The Engine House - and a Battle of Britain Memorial Flypast with a Spitfire.

Warwick Comic Con and Gaming Festival

NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, Sat 16 September

Making its debut at Stoneleigh this month, Warwick Comic Con & Gaming Festival features a selection of TV & film memorabilia, games, comics, Lego, Harry Potter and Japanese Manga items, all of which are available to purchase throughout the weekend.

Comic-book artists and film & television actors will also be in attendance at the event, providing fans with the chance to take advantage of some not-to-be-missed photo opportunities.

The show’s Gaming Zone, meanwhile, features a selection of virtual reality and retro computer games to check out.

Vikings Festival

Drayton Manor Resort, Staffordshire, Fri 15 September - Sun 1 October

The Vikings will be taking over Drayton Manor this month, for what’s being described as ‘the ultimate family festival’. Event highlights include fire performers, DJs, drummers, beer tents, and the chance to sample some specially themed food. Visitors can also check out the resort’s Vikings-themed Thor and Sleipnir rides and the Walhalla eatery.

Medieval Experience

Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Sat 23 & Sun 24 September

Step back in time to the Middle Ages at Avoncroft Museum this month.

As well as watching demonstration battles, visitors can also learn how to tell a commoner from nobility, find out how to arm a knight, and discover how their ancestors lived. The two-day event is presented by the well-established Beaufort Companye.

Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster, Thurs 14 - Sun 17 September

thelist

VISUAL ARTS IN BIRMINGHAM

The Barber Institute Of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham

PAYING RESPECTS: MONEY AND MORTALITY Compelling exhibition featuring highlights from the Barber’s superlative coin collection, which includes world-class caches of Byzantine, Trapezuntine and Sasanian currency, as well as significant holdings of Roman and medieval coins, until Spring 2024

STORYTELLING: A LIFE OF CHRIST ON PAPER Featuring Italian prints and drawings from the 15th to the 17th century, until Sun 24 Sept

MASTERING THE MARKET: DUTCH AND FLEMISH PAINTINGS FROM WOBURN ABBEY Featuring masterpieces by, among others, Rembrandt van Rijn, Anthony van Dyck and Frans Hals, until Mon 25 Sept

DEAN KELLAND: IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Exhibition featuring a number of Kelland’s new films, prints and sketchbooks that reimagine the psychoanalytic dialogue that has occurred between Pop Art and Prison Art since the 1960s, Wed 20 Sept - Fri 22 Dec, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

Midlands Arts Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham

WATERSHED Group exhibition exploring the relationship between Birmingham and Elan Valley, Walestwo places inextricably linked by water, until Sun 5 Nov

DIGITAL ZINES Exhibition of work created by seven Birmingham secondary schools during summer 2023 as part of Reframe, a new digital-skills project sponsored by Apple, until Sun 7 Jan

MADGE GILL: THE CLOUDS WILL BURST

THE SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN Exhibition featuring drawings, paintings, embroidery and archival material showcasing the beautiful work of self-taught artist Madge Gill (18821961), Sat 2 Sept - Sun 26 Nov

RBSA Gallery, Birmingham

RBSA DRAWING PRIZE 2023 Exhibition of works by Barbara Walker, Kate Mason & Steve Bulcock, Tues 5 Sept - Sun 15 Oct

Elsewhere:

Gigs

THE VELVETS - VELVET UNDERGROUND TRIBUTE

Fri 1 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

FALLOUT + SONDR + THE INSTINCT + UNIT 16 + EVER Fri 1 Sept, O2 Institute

THE INFERNAL SEA + NECRONAUTICAL +

BURIAL + OFNUS Fri 1 Sept, The Flapper

NEVILLE STAPLE BAND Fri 1 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Edgbaston

HAZLEWOOD Fri 1 Sept, The Rainbow, Digbeth

Rainbow, Digbeth

SAY SHE SHE + ECHO

JULIET Sun 3 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

RUNNNER Sun 3 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings

Heath

ARIEL POSEN + JONNY

MORGAN Sun 3 Sept, O2 Academy

WHITNEY K Mon 4 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings

Heath

LIME CORDIALE +

COTERIE Mon 4 Sept, O2 Institute

NINA NASTASIA Tues 5

Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

TAKESHI’S CASHEW Tues

8 Sept, O2 Academy

MELVIN HANCOX BAND Fri

8 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull

STEVE AJAO’S BLUES

GIANTS Fri 8 Sept, Symphony Hall

SIMO LAGNAWI & GNAWA

BLUES ALLSTARS Fri 8

Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Edgbaston

AN EVENING OF CLASSIC REGGAE Fri 8 Sept, The Alexandra, Birmingham

ELO ENCOUNTER Fri 8

Sept, The Crescent, Birmingham

DREAM NAILS + LIBRA

LIBRA + GENDER CRISIS + SULK + SLUTMADE +

DEFINING THE EDGE Exploration of the 17th & 18th-century fashion for depicting frames and borders within the printed image, until Sun 1 Oct

Grand Union, Birmingham

ED WEBB-INGALL: A BEDROOM FOR EVERYONE Newly commissioned animation exploring the role of filmmaking in the UK’s current housing crisis, Fri 15 Sept - Fri 1 Dec

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

MELATI SURYODARMO: PASSIONATE PILGRIM The first UK exhibition by one of Indonesia’s most important living artists, known for her strenuous durational performances that last several hours, until Sun 3 Sept

MARYAM WAHID: DREAMS OF BRUM An exhibition of photographic portraits taken at Handsworth Library during a series of creative community workshops with printmaker Haseebah Ali, until Sun 3 Sept

VANLEY BURKE: A GIFT TO BIRMINGHAM Showcasing portraits of members of Migrant Voice, until Sat 16 Sept

NOEL COWARD: SELECTIONS Featuring images from Coward’s wartime service, his celebrity circle and home life in Jamaica, until Fri 22 Sept, Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham

A PLACE TO CALL HOME Understand diverse experiences through the eyes of people who have lived through them, and find out about the latest social justice research at the University of Birmingham, until Sat 4 Nov, The Vaults, The Exchange, Centenary Square, Birmingham

WHERE WE ONCE GATHERED

Showcase of Herbert Walters’ photographic works, taken on the silent and still streets of Birmingham in the first four weeks of the 2020 Covid lockdown, until Fri 8 Dec, The Bramall, University of Birmingham

MICHAEL PINKSKY: POLLUTION PODS

Five interconnected domes imitating polluted environments in cities around the world, Thurs 14 - Sun 24 Sept, Edgbaston Stadium Piazza. Booking required

THE KILLAZ Fri 1 Sept, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

LIMELIGHT Fri 1 Sept, The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield

FUTURE ISLANDS + R.A.P.

FERREIRA Fri 1 Sept, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

NANNA RADLEYS Fri 1Sat 2 Sept, The Jam House, Jewellery Qtr

BURNER + GRIEF RITUAL Sat 2 Sept, Devil’s Dog

KING Sat 2 Sept, O2 Institute

CAMMY BARNES Sat 2 Sept, O2 Institute

BOYCE AVENUE + RYAN

CABRERA Sat 2 Sept, O2 Academy

SHOVEL DANCE

COLLECTIVE Sat 2 Sept, Jennifer Blackwell

Performance Space, Symphony Hall

CIGARETTE SOCIAL CLUB + TRAMPOLINE + THE MOTIVE + NAKED NEXT

DOOR Sat 2 Sept, The

5 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

DUMBO GETS MAD Tues 5

Sept, The Night Owl

RIZ LA VIE Tues 5 Sept, The Rainbow, Digbeth

EDGAR MACÍAS QUINTET

Wed 6 Sept, The Jam

House, Jewellery Qtr

CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS Wed 6 Sept, Symphony Hall

LUCAS D & THE GROOVE

GHETTO Thurs 7 Sept, The Jam House, Jewellery Qtr

VICTORIA CANAL Thurs 7

Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

THE JERSEYS LIVE! Thurs

7 Sept, The Crescent Theatre

DEMOB HAPPY Thurs 7

Sept, Mama Roux’s

CROCODILES Fri 8 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

BOY BLEACH Fri 8 Sept, The Sunflower Lounge, HOT MULLIGAN + SPANISH LOVE SONGS Fri

LOXZ + TRUST CLUB Fri 8

Sept, The Rainbow, Digbeth

SUPERSONIC QUEEN Fri 8

Sept, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

THE SHADERS Fri 8 Sept, The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield

BALANCING ACT Sat 9 Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

THE BIG SUGARS + THE DEVIL & SAINT JOSEPH Sat 9 Sept, The Night Owl

TOM CLARKE + JOE

DOLMAN Sat 9 Sept, O2 Academy

THE BLINK 182 SHOW + WARNING - GREEN DAY TRIBUTE + JIMMY ATE

WORLD TRIBUTE Sat 9 Sept, The Flapper

BUSTED + HANSON + NEW HOPE CLUB + THE TYNE Sat 9 Sept, Utilita

Arena Birmingham

GRANDSON + SWIM

SCHOOL Sun 10 Sept, O2 Institute

Christine And The Queens - Symphony Hall

Classical Music

LUNCHTIME PIANO RECITAL Featuring Daisy Rentong Zhao & Jake Penlington. Programme includes works by Ravel, Bonis, Poulenc, Liszt, Bach & Granados, Sat 2 Sept, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

UK PROMS IN THE PARK Featuring prom classics and movie score favourites, Sat 2 Sept, Warwick Castle

ORGAN RECITAL WITH CATHY LAMB Tues 5 Sept, Lichfield Cathedral

Comedy

JAMES ACASTER Thurs 31 Aug - Sun 3 Sept, The Alexandra, Birmingham

DAISY EARL, MICHAEL FABBRI, ANDY ROBINSON, ADAM BLOOM & SEETA WRIGHTSON Fri 1 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PAUL SMITH Fri 1 - Sat 2 Sept, O2 Academy, Birmingham

MATT REES, JOSHUA BETHANIA, KATE

LUCAS & RICH WILSON Sat 2 Sept, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham

DAISY EARL, MICHAEL FABBRI, ANDY ROBINSON & ADAM BLOOM Sat 2 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

GEORGIE CARROLL Sun 3 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

RICKY GERVAIS Mon 4 Sept, Utilita Arena Birmingham

JORDAN GRAY Thurs 7 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JARLATH REGAN Thurs 7 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

BRIAN BUTTERFIELD Sun 10 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

HARE OF THE DOG COMEDY Sun 10 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

Theatre

NOISES OFF Matthew Kelly, Liza Goddard and Simon Shepherd star in Michael Frayn’s celebrated ‘play within a play’, until Sat 9 Sept, The Rep, Birmingham

DISNEY’S THE LION KING Acclaimed production telling the story of Simba’s epic journey to fulfil his destiny as King of the Pridelands, until Sat 16 Sept, Birmingham

Hippodrome

FALKLAND SOUND Brad Birch’s lyrical new play turns modern history into a theatrical epic, depicting a community and way of life turned upside-down, until Sat 16 Sept, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

MACBETH Reuben Joseph takes the lead in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, until Sat 14 Oct, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

THE EMPRESS Tanika Gupta’s epic story reveals how socially diverse the Asian presence was in 19th-century Britain, until Sat 18 Nov, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

#50DAYS A state-of-the-nation grime musical with parallels to Brexit, with questions about the monarchy, a little bit of fake news and a new grime soundtrack, Fri 1 - Sun 3 Sept, Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome

AMERICAN IDIOT Obsidian Theatrical Productions present an amateur version of the high-energy rock opera, Tues 5 - Sat 9 Sept, The Dovehouse Theatre, Solihull

BLOOD BROTHERS Niki Colwell Evans stars as Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell’s iconic musical, Tues 5 - Sat 9 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

Kids Theatre

THE ZOO THAT COMES TO YOU Meet an eclectic group of animals as they discuss their life experiences and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world dominated by humans, Thurs 7 Sept, Wednesbury Library

Light Entertainment

LOOSE WOMEN LIVE The popular panel show takes to the road for the first time. Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha, Judi Love and Jane Moore star, Fri 1 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

AUTIN DANCE THEATRE: PARADE - THE GIANT WHEEL Autin Dance Theatre uses its unique blend of contemporary storytelling, striking physicality and innovative large designs to take audiences on a carefully choreographed journey, Sat 2 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

CERI DUPREE: BACK TO THE RHINESTONE

An evening with ‘the country’s greatest female impersonator since Danny La Rue’, Sat 9 Sept, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Talks & Spoken Word

POETRY JAM LIVE! Open-mic night, Thurs 7 Sept, Justham Family Room & Jane How Room, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Events

SUMMER OF SOUND SHOW A drop-in daily show exploring how sounds are made, until Fri 1 Sept, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

FREDDO’S MAGIC SHOW Master magician Freddo takes to the stage in this daily show, until Fri 1 Sept, Cadbury World, Bournville

PAT MONAHAN, JAMES COOK & COMICS

TBC Thurs 7 Sept, Bear Tavern, Birmingham

UPSTAIRS AT CHERRY REDS Fri 8 Sept, Cherry Reds, Birmingham

PAUL SINHA, JOSH PUGH, NATHAN

CATON & WAYNE BEESE Fri 8 Sept, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

RED RICHARDSON, BEN NORRIS, GARETH

WAUGH & ANDREA HUBERT Fri 8 - Sat 9 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PAUL F TAYLOR, BEN BRIGGS, DAN

TIERNAN & ROGER MONKHOUSE Sat 9 Sept, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham

CHRIS MCCAUSLAND, TERRY ALDERTON, LINDSEY SANTORO & WAYNE BEESE Sat 9 Sept, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham

DAN NIGHTINGALE Sun 10 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

THE LONG ROAD Shelagh

Stephenson’s powerful play about a family’s struggle to find meaning and forgiveness after the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Danny, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 Sept, Highbury Theatre, Birmingham

THE WOMAN IN BLACK Susan Hill’s chilling ghost story, Wed 6 - Sat 9 Sept, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Amateur version of the sci-fi musical, presented by Coleshill On Stage, Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull

THE LONG ROAD Shelagh

Stephenson’s powerful play about a family’s struggle to find meaning and forgiveness after the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Danny, Fri 8 Sept, Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham

AN EVENING WITH THE TWO TOMS Join viral star Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq and London cabaret virtuoso Tom Carradine for an evening of singalong fun and musical humour, Sat 2 Sept, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

BAGA CHIPZ: MATERIAL GIRL Join the Drag Race UK star as she hits the road with her first-ever solo theatre show, Mon 4 Sept, Stourbridge Town Hall

RICHARD HERRING’S LEICESTER SQUARE

PODCAST Featuring special guests

Adil Ray and Joe Lycett, Fri 8 Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

THE CHOCOLATE MEN Cabaret show featuring partial nudity and adult themes, Sat 9 Sept, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

SAFE AND SOUND! Learn about how sounds are produced and detected through this interactive gallery activity, until Fri 1 Sept, Thinktank

Birmingham Science Museum

THE FRIENDS™ EXPERIENCE: THE ONE IN BIRMINGHAM Featuring a variety of nostalgia-packed interactive sets, until Sun 3 Sept, NEC, Birmingham

THE BEACH Featuring sand, deckchairs and children’s activities, until Sun 3 Sept, Lichfield Cathedral

MER-TASTIC BEACH Pull up a deckchair as Costa del Solihull returns, until Sun 3 Sept, Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull

SUMMER AT THE FARM ‘From tractors to pizza and everything in between’, learn all about the farm and what they do there, until Sun 3 Sept, Forge Mill Farm, West Bromwich

SUMMER OF SCIENCE Interactive

Autin Dance Theatre - Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)

thelist

exhibits, workshops and more, until Sun 3 Sept, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

VICTORIAN SEASIDE EXPERIENCE

Featuring a traditional carousel and donkey rides, until Sun 3 Sept, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Shropshire

TIME TRAVELLERS CHALLENGE A mischievous time traveller has created a series of historical blunders. Can you help fix them? until Sun 3 Sept, Tamworth Castle

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: UP IN THE AIR ADVENTURE Check out the Horrible Hangar and meet fearless and foolish flyers from the history of flight in this fully interactive experience, until Sun 3 Sept, RAF Museum Midlands, Cosford

Friday 1 - Sunday 10 September

check out the cathedral’s stainedglass windows up close, Sat 2 Sept, Birmingham Cathedral

ASTON ARTS CLUB Make glass

mosaics inspired by Aston Hall and its incredible history, Sat 2 Sept, Aston Hall, Birmingham

THROWING IT BACK 90S/00S BRUNCH A lip-synching, singing & dancing celebration of guilty pleasures, Sat 2 Sept, Birmingham Bierkeller

BIRMINGHAM VINTAGE KILO SALE Grab a bag on your way in and pick & mix your vintage clothing, all for £20 a kilo, Sat 2 Sept, The Custard Factory, Birmingham

GUIDED TOUR OF WEOLEY CASTLE

Explore Weoley Castle with experienced guides, Sat 2 Sept, Weoley Castle, Birmingham

DUDLEY CASTLE GHOST HUNT Learn all about ghost hunting and the techniques used to encourage paranormal activity, Sat 2 Sept, Dudley Zoo & Castle

out more about the Chamberlain family, Mon 4 Sept, Highbury, Moseley

STEAMHOUSE OPEN DAY Take a tour and find out more about the Membership packages available, Tues 5 Sept, Steamhouse, Birmingham

BRIDGNORTH BEER FESTIVAL Up to 50 different beers, ciders and perries will be available, Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Sept, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

INSOMNIA THE GAMING FESTIVAL Immerse yourself in a world of nonstop gaming, with everything from the latest video games to retro classics, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Sept, NEC, Birmingham

PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE: BBG FROM 1832 - TOMORROW Tour through history, exploring unique plants, social discoveries and intriguing facts, Fri 8 Sept, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

normally see on a show night, Sat 9 Sept, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

GALTON VALLEY PUMPING STATION OPEN

DAY Take a walk along the canal and visit the pumping station, Sat 9 Sept, Galton Valley Pumping Station, Smethwick

PAINT, PIZZA AND PROSECCO Spend a relaxing afternoon creating your own artwork whilst sipping Prosecco in the grounds of Sarehole Mill, Sun 10 Sept, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham

ORIGINS OF MIDDLE-EARTH: JRR

TOLKIEN AND SAREHOLE GUIDED WALK

A guided walk introducing the scenery that inspired JRR Tolkien when he lived near Sarehole Mill as a child, Sun 10 Sept, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham

GUIDED TOUR OF WARSTONE LANE

CEMETERY A walking history tour with an experienced guide. Includes the history of Warstone Lane Cemetery, Sun 10 Sept, Vyse Street, B’ham

PIRATE TREASURE HUNT Navigate the high seas with a swashbuckling treasure hunt through the aquarium, until Mon 4 Sept, National SEA LIFE

Centre

Birmingham

LEGO® DREAMZZZ Awaken your imagination with a dream creature hunt. Also featuring build activities and exclusive giveaways, until Mon 4 Sept, Legoland Discovery Centre

Birmingham

SUTTON FOOD FEST Featuring street food, drinks and DJ sets, Fri 1 - Sat 2 Sept, The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield

TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2023 Try to win the big cash prize, Sat 2 Sept, UKIM Sparkbrook Islamic Centre & Masjid

MURDER MYSTERY DINING EXPERIENCE

- AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE Crack the clues, enjoy a four-course dining experience and travel along the Severn Valley Railway, Sat 2 Sept, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

EXPLORE SAREHOLE MILL Enjoy the sights and sounds of a traditional 18th-century water mill, learn about the life of a miller and take part in hands-on demonstrations, Sat 2 Sept, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham

URBAN NATURE DAY Explore grounds around the ruins to find species of plants, animals and insects, Sat 2 Sept, Weoley Castle, Birmingham

PARTY IN THE PARK 2023 Featuring a pop-up beach, live music, street food and more, Sat 2 Sept, Selly Park

Recreational Ground, Birmingham

DIVINE BEAUTY SCAFFOLDING TOURS

Take a trip up the scaffolding to

SANDWELL SCARECROW FESTIVAL A showcase of Sandwell scarecrows made across the summer by families, community groups and businesses, Sat 2 - Sun 3 Sept, Sandwell Valley, West Bromwich

BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE WEEKBOURNVILLE WALKING TOUR Learn about Bournville’s fascinating past with an exclusive peek into Birmingham’s unique ‘factory in a garden’, Fri 8 - Fri 15 Sept, Cadbury World, Bournville

BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE WEEK: OLD YARDLEY WALK Celebrate Birmingham

Heritage Week and Heritage Open Days by joining experts from the Birmingham & Warwickshire

Archaeological Society for a leisurely 2.5-mile stroll around the village of Yardley, Sat 9 Sept, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham

THE MACABRE MUSEUM: STORIES OF MURDER AND MAYHEM Hear some of the darker stories of the lock-up’s history, Sun 10 Sept, West Midlands Police Museum, Birmingham

Festivals in the Midlands

MOSELEY FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL Lineup includes Billy Bragg (pictured), Squeeze, Louie Miles, My Darling Clementine, Fri 1 - Sun 3 Sept, Moseley Park, Birmingham

ORIGINS OF MIDDLE-EARTH: JRR

TOLKIEN AND SAREHOLE GUIDED WALK

A guided walk introducing the scenery that inspired JRR Tolkien when he lived near Sarehole Mill as a child, Sun 3 Sept, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham

33RD ROTARY EXTRAVAGANZA CHARITY

FESTIVAL Event raising funds for charities and featuring entertainment throughout the day, Sun 3 Sept, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND - VITALITY

IT20 2023 Sun 3 Sept, Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham

COLOUR BOX: PETER PAN Hour-long workshop followed by a screening of the 1953 animated film, Sun 3 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

OLD SKOOL FAMILY DISCO Get your Sunday afternoon groove on with this family disco, Sun 3 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM WRITERS’ RETREAT Filled with like-minded creatives working on a whole heap of different and exciting projects, Sun 3 Sept, Alpha Works, Birmingham

HIGHBURY MANSION TOUR Join an hour-long tour of Highbury and find

EXPLORE BLAKESLEY: HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Celebrate Birmingham Heritage Week and Heritage Open Days with a visit to Blakesley Hall, a fine Tudor house and beautiful gardens built in 1590, Sat 9 Sept, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham

BAT EVENING WITH MILL TOUR Evening tour of Sarehole Mill. Learn more about the bats that occupy the area, Sat 9 Sept, Sarehole Mill, B’ham

VICTORIAN ASTON HALL: A MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES Tour the different rooms of the historic Jacobean mansion, Sat 9 Sept, Aston Hall, Birmingham

PROMS SPECTACULAR Proms spectacular featuring music, a Spitfire in full flight and a fireworks finale, Sat 9 Sept, Weston Park, Shropshire

HAVE-A-GO-HISTORY WITH HERITAGE OPEN DAY Hands-on family day featuring a wide range of activities, Sat 9 Sept, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove

LED RIDE TO SAREHOLE MILL Enjoy a gentle cycle to celebrate Birmingham Heritage Week, Sat 9 Sept, Kings Norton Playing Fields, Birmingham

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN HALL

HERITAGE DAY Book a tour of the Town Hall to explore areas you don’t

OFF THE TRACKS FESTIVAL Line-up includes Dreadzone, Noble Jacks, Kissmet, Fri 1 - Sun 3 Sept, Castle

Donington

BROMYARD FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Merry Hell, The Young’uns, Eliza Carthy Trio, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Sept, Bromyard, Herefordshire

whatsonlive.co.uk

thelist

Classical Music

VERDI REQUIEM WITH KAZUKI YAMADA & THE CBSO Featuring Evelina Dobračeva (soprano), Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano), Dmytro Popov (tenor) & Ashley Riches (bass), Thurs 14 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE: DIFFERENT TRAINS Featuring Sara Wolstenholme & Anna Tulchinskaya (violins), Alex Mitchell (viola) & Christian Elliot (cello). Programme includes works by Cassandra Miller, Samuel Barber, Jasmin Kent Rodgman & Steve Reich, Thurs 14 Sept, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Theatre

DISNEY’S THE LION KING Acclaimed production telling the story of Simba’s epic journey to fulfil his destiny as King of the Pridelands, until Sat 16 Sept, Birmingham Hippodrome

FALKLAND SOUND Brad Birch’s lyrical new play turns modern history into a theatrical epic, depicting a community and way of life turned upside-down, until Sat 16 Sept, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

MACBETH Reuben Joseph takes the lead in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, until Sat 14 Oct, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

Gigs

LOUIS CULTURE Mon 11

Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT

LIGHT Mon 11 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings

Heath

BIG BIG TRAIN Mon 11

Sept, Birmingham

Town Hall

ESCUELA GRIND Tues 12

Sept, Devil’s Dog

THE ANNIE KEATING

BAND Tues 12 Sept,

The Kitchen Garden, Kings Heath

VC PINES Wed 13 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings

Heath

SUDDEN IMPACT Wed

13 Sept, The Jam House, Jewellery Qtr

STEPHEN LYNCH Wed 13

Sept, O2 Institute

THOSE PRETTY WRONGS

Wed 13 Sept, The Kitchen Garden, Kings

Heath

REBECCA DOWNES

Thurs 14 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

14 Sept, The Jam House, Jewellery Qtr

DIRTY LACES Thurs 14

Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

RED GUITARS Thurs 14

Sept, O2 Academy

DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’

Thurs 14 Sept, The Alexandra

VON WILDENHAUS Thurs

14 Sept, The Kitchen Garden, King’s Heath

DAN MCKINNON Thurs

14 Sept, Bromsgrove

Folk Club

SEAL Thurs 14 Sept,

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

MARGARITA WITCH CULT

Fri 15 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

THE SWAY + THE INSIDER + RIVA BYRDS + THE ANYWAYS Fri 15

Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

CASKET FEEDER Fri 15

Sept, Devil’s Dog

THE REZILLOS Fri 15

Sept, O2 Institute

THE REAL PEOPLE Fri 15

Sept, O2 Academy

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

Fri 15 Sept, Castle & Falcon

VERMINTHRONE +

DEATHFIEND +

WICKERSHIELD +

BODACH Fri 15 Sept, The Flapper

THE SHIRLEY SMART

DAMIAN LEWIS Fri 15 Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

ANTHEMS OF ROCK Fri

15 Sept, The Crescent

LIONEL: THE MUSIC OF LIONEL RICHIE Fri 15 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull

THE FAZYS Fri 15 Sept, The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield

LEAH WELLER Sat 16 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

CRUUSH + LAST TOURIST + SUNSTINGER + THE YEAR IN PICTURES + UMBILICAL Sat 16 Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

SIGNING OFF - UB40

TRIBUTE Sat 16 Sept, The Night Owl

FAIZED + MAN MADE

MOON + TRISTAN BERRY & THE INNOCENTS + THE RITZ Sat 16 Sept, O2 Institute

DEXYS Sat 16 Sept, The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

DEAD PONY Sun 17 Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

SHEKU KANNEH-MASON, KAZUKI YAMADA & THE CBSO Programme includes works by Beethoven, Shostakovich & Walton, Sat 16 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Comedy

SIMON BRODKIN Thurs 14 Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

ESTHER MANITO Thurs 14 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

THE EMPRESS Tanika Gupta’s epic story reveals how socially diverse the Asian presence was in 19th-century Britain, until Sat 18 Nov, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

THE BOOK THIEF A new musical based on Markus Zusak’s bestselling novel. Adapted for the stage by awardwinning author Jodi Picoult, Mon 11Sat 16 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

SHREK: THE MUSICAL Amateur version presented by Sutton Coldfield

Musical Theatre Company, Tues 12Sat 16 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

WOMEN & THEATRE: NOT THE LAST A new production that shines a light on female land ownership, philanthropy and the vital and varied role of parks and green spaces in the city, Thurs 14 - Sun 17 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

MATILDA JR Amateur version presented by Cosmic Theatre Schools, Fri 15 - Sat 16 Sept, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham

SPRING DAY, MICHAEL RICE, JOE WELLS, NICK DOODY & AARON LEVENE Fri 15 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

ANDREW BIRD Fri 15 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

GEOFF NORCOTT Fri 15 Sept, Old Rep, Birmingham

JOSIE LONG Fri 15 Sept, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

DARIUS DAVIES, BENNY SHAKES, STEVE HARRIS & COMIC TBC Sat 16 Sept, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham

SPRING DAY, MICHAEL RICE, JOE WELLS & NICK DOODY Sat 16 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SUZI RUFFELL Sat 16 Sept, Old Rep, Birmingham

FIONA ALLEN Sat 16 Sept, Stafford

Gatehouse Theatre

ROUGH WORKS: NEW MATERIAL NIGHT

Sun 17 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

DEM BOYZ

Thurs 14

Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

THE SIGNATURES Thurs

TRIO Fri 15 Sept, Jennifer Blackwell

Performance Space, Symphony Hall

LOVEJOY Sun 17 Sept, O2 Academy

TOMMY SANDHU, TEZ ILYAS, KIRAN

DEOL & RICHARD BLACKWOOD Sun 17 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

BLITHE SPIRIT Amateur version of Noel Coward’s famous farce, Sat 16 - Sat 23 Sept, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

Kids Theatre

TALES FROM ACORN WOOD Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s muchloved tales are brought to the stage, Wed 13 - Sun 17 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Light Entertainment

SOLVE-ALONG-A-MURDER-SHE-WROTE Interactive screening of classic Murder She Wrote episode The Corpse Flew First Class, Fri 15 - Sat 16 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

ANDY & THE ODD SOCKS ‘One of the most popular and endearing live

Dexys - The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

music shows in the UK - and every kids essential first gig!’, Sat 16 Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

Talks & Spoken Word

AN EVENING WITH HARRY REDKNAPP

Join the ex-football manager and one-time I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! winner as he recounts stories from his long career and time in the jungle, Sun 17 Sept, The Alexandra, Birmingham

Events

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Take advantage of Heritage Open Week free admission to the house, parkland and RAF museum, Mon 11 - Fri 15 Sept, Croome, Worcester

A WOMAN’S LIFE AT ASTON HALL TOUR

Special event looking at the women of Aston Hall, Wed 13 Sept, Aston Hall, Birmingham

VICTORIAN PRINTERS EXPERIENCE DAY

Experience the life of a Victorian

Monday 11 - Sunday 17 September

printer, Wed 13 Sept, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Shropshire

TOUR OF THE COUNCIL HOUSE Guided tour of the Grade II listed building, Wed 13 - Thurs 14 Sept, Birmingham

Council House

AUTUMN STEAM GALA Severn Valley Railway presents a selection of guest locomotives alongside its home steam engine fleet, Thurs 14 - Sun 17 Sept, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

MOSELEY FOOD FEST Free-to-attend street food event, Fri 15 Sept, The Village, Moseley

A TOUR WITH SIR THOMAS HOLTE The infamous Sir Thomas Holte shows you around his grand 17th-century mansion, Fri 15 Sept, Aston Hall, Birmingham

VIKINGS FESTIVAL Family Viking festival with night rides, live shows and more, Fri 15 Sept - Sun 1 Oct, Drayton Manor Resort, Staffordshire

BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE WEEK: WEOLEY

WALKING TOUR Learn about the archaeology of Weoley Castle, Sat 16 Sept, Weoley Castle, Birmingham

ITALIAN WHEELS Brand-new event celebrating all kinds of Italian

vehicles, Sat 16 Sept, British Motor Museum, Gaydon

MUSEUM COLLECTION CENTRE OPEN

DAY Featuring family-friendly activities, meet-the-expert events, and the chance to explore the artefactpacked warehouse, Sat 16 Sept, Museum Collections Centre, Birmingham

TASKMASTER EDUCATION LIVE Join

Little Alex Horne and the Taskmaster Education team for a day of family fun, Sat 16 Sept, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

FREE FROM FESTIVAL Discover and sample a wide range of products, Sat 16 Sept, The Bond, Birmingham

HERITAGE OPEN DAY Explore a home full of Pre-Raphaelite art and William Morris interiors, Sat 16 - Sun 17 Sept, Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton

HERITAGE OPEN DAY Join the knowledgeable volunteers, who will be giving short introductory talks about the house and collection throughout the day, Sat 16 - Sun 17 Sept, Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire

ORIGINS OF MIDDLE-EARTH: JRR

TOLKIEN AND SAREHOLE GUIDED WALK

A guided walk introducing the

scenery that inspired JRR Tolkien when he lived near Sarehole Mill as a child, Sun 17 Sept, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham

QUIET SESSION Enjoy an all-round quieter experience, with fewer people and no music, Sun 17 Sept, Legoland Discovery Centre

Birmingham

RELAXED SEN SESSION Designed for visitors who prefer a quieter and calmer experience, such as those with autism or SEN needs, Sun 17 Sept, Cadbury World, Bournville

CLASSIC & RETRO CAR SHOW Featuring a large number of static displays and a show arena hosting ‘stunning parades’, Sun 17 Sept, Trentham Estate, Staffordshire

Festivals in the Midlands

LICHFIELD FESTIVAL OF FOLK Line-up includes False Lights, Juan Martin, In The Bellows, Sun 17 Sept - Sat 14 Oct, various venues across Lichfield

thelist

Monday 18 - Sunday 24 September

Comedy

GARETH REYNOLDS Wed 20 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

TOM STADE Wed 20 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, MORGAN REES & ROBERT WHITE Thurs 21 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

KAE KURD Fri 22 Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

ALISTAIR BARRIE, MARIA SHEHATA, MORGAN REES & ROBERT WHITE Fri 22 - Sat 23 Sept, The Glee Club, Bham

PETER RETHINASAMY, IAN SMITH, ROBIN MORGAN & ROGER MONKHOUSE Sat 23

Sept, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham

RUBY WAX Sat 23 Sept, The Alexandra, Birmingham

SOPHIE DUKER Sat 23 Sept, Old Rep, Birmingham

Gigs

TINY RUINS Mon 18

Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

GHOSTKID + MIMI

BARKS + STARVED Mon

18 Sept, The Asylum

DEVON SPROULE Mon

18 Sept, The Kitchen

Garden, Kings Heath

HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE

Tues 19 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

NEMZZZ Tues 19 Sept,

O2 Institute

THE HEAVY Tues 19

Sept, O2 Academy

NEKROGOBLIKON +

AETHER REALM + CAGE

FIGHT Tues 19 Sept, The Asylum

LUTHER VANDROSS

CELEBRATION Tues 19

Sept, The Alexandra

BLACK JOSH + LEE

SCOTT + SONNYJIM

Wed 20 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

MOCK TUDORS Wed 20

Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

BRUM BEATLES Wed 20

Sept, The Jam House, Jewellery Quarter

SOUTH ARCADE Wed 20

Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

GILMORE & ROBERTS

Wed 20 Sept, Red Lion

Folk Club, Bromsgrove

DEACON BLUE Wed 20

Sept, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

BIG SHIP ALLIANCE

Thurs 21 Sept, The

Jam House, B’ham

NAKED LUNGS Thurs 21

Sept, The Sunflower

Lounge

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Thurs 21 Sept,

Birmingham Town Hall

ZOE RAHMAN OCTET

Thurs 21 Sept,

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Edgbaston

JESSIE REID + LAURA

REZNEK + TYGERMILK

Thurs 21 Sept, The Kitchen Garden, Kings

Heath

PHILOMENA BEGLEY +

SHAWN CUDDY +

STEPHEN SMYTH Thurs

21 Sept, The Core

Theatre, Solihull

GET YOUR ROCKS OFF Fri

22 Sept, O2 Institute

UK SUBS + MENACE +

CHELSEA Fri 22 Sept, O2 Academy

DOMINIC FIKE Fri 22

Sept, O2 Academy

KOSHEEN Fri 22 Sept, Castle & Falcon

WSTR Fri 22 Sept, The Flapper, Birmingham

WALSALL JAZZ

ORCHESTRA Fri 22 Sept, Jennifer Blackwell

Performance Space, Symphony Hall

QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

Fri 22 Sept, The Alexandra

THE FRANK & WALTERS

Sat 23 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

FUNDRAISE AGAINST THE MACHINE Sat 23 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings

Heath

NETHERHALL Sat 23

Sept, Devil’s Dog

THE STRANGE DOORSDOORS TRIBUTE Sat 23

Sept, The Night Owl

HIGHLY SUSPECT Sat 23

Sept, O2 Institute

ANGEL DU$T +

POWERPLANT Sat 23

Sept, The Asylum

ASSURANCE + DISSONANTS + A TITAN

A DEITY + VANITAS Sat

23 Sept, The Flapper

PANJABI MC LIVE

ALONGSIDE THE TRUSKOOL LIVE BAND Sat

23 Sept, Symphony Hall

THREE TSURU ORIGAMI

Sat 23 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)

SEB LOWE Sat 23 Sept, The Rainbow, Digbeth

SI CRANSTOUN Sat 23

Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull

DAVID RODIGAN Sun 24

Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE Sun

24 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

POLSKA NOC LATINO

Sun 24 Sept, Castle & Falcon

THE ANALOGUES Sun 24

Sept, Symphony Hall

80S LIVE Sun 24 Sept, The Alexandra THE BLACKHEART

ORCHESTRA Sun 24

Sept, The Kitchen Garden, Kings Heath

BIG DEAL COMEDY Sat 23 Sept, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

FIONA ALLEN Sat 23 Sept, Stourbridge Town Hall

ROBERT WHITE Sun 24 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Black comedy rock musical based on the cult 1988 film, Tues 19 - Sat 23 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL New version of Helen Forrester’s period drama, Wed 20 - Thurs 21 Sept, The Albany Theatre, Coventry

CHARLIE & THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR

The Upstagers neurodiverse cast present an immersive, inclusive and ‘scrumdidlyumptious’ staging of Roald Dahl’s book, Thurs 21 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

CHRISTINE BOVILL PIAF TO POP A new celebration of the Golden Age of French song and how it evolved during the Swinging 60s, Thurs 21 Sept, The Hub @ St Marys, Lichfield

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Tracy-Ann Oberman stars in a powerful reimagining of Shakespeare’s play, set in 1936 London, Thurs 21 SeptSat 10 Feb, Swan Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

SINATRA THE MUSICAL Brand-new production exploring the life of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, Sat 23 Sep - Sat 28 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

SOPHIE MCCARTNEY Sun 24 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

Theatre

MACBETH Reuben Joseph takes the lead in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, until Sat 14 Oct, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

THE EMPRESS Tanika Gupta’s epic story reveals how socially diverse the Asian presence was in 19th-century Britain, until Sat 18 Nov, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

PRIDE & PREJUDICE

The Crescent Theatre Company presents an amateur version of Jane Austen’s classic novel, Sat 23 - Sat 30 Sept, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

Kids Theatre

TOSCANA STRINGS: WIND IN THE WILLOWS AND FERDINAND THE BULLSTORIES SET TO MUSIC Two family favourites, brought to life through music and dance - with a little help from the audience, Sun 24 Sept, Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Dance

BLACK SABBATH: THE BALLET

Birmingham Royal Ballet combine theatrical dance and a new Black Sabbath soundtrack, Sat 23 - Sat 30 Sept, Birmingham Hippodrome

Naked Lungs - The Sunflower Lounge Sophie

thelist

Light Entertainment

SLAY QUEENZ Join the latest three winners of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK for a show featuring ‘side-splitting laughs, jaw-dropping vocals and eyepopping outfits’. Krystal Versace, Danny Beard and Blu Hydrangea star, Mon 18 Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

MIRIAM MARGOLYES: OH MIRIAM! LIVE

An ‘unforgettable adventure’ through the extraordinary life and strong opinions of Miriam Margolyes - actor, author, broadcaster and voice of Cadbury’s Caramel Rabbit, Mon 18 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Events

STEAMHOUSE OPEN DAY Take a tour and find out more about the membership packages available, Tues 19 Sept, Steamhouse, B’ham

VICTORIAN PRINTERS EXPERIENCE DAY

Experience the life of a Victorian printer, Wed 20 Sept, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

VICTORIAN BLACKSMITH EXPERIENCE

DAY Pull on some gloves, pick up a hammer and feel the heat of the furnace, Wed 20 - Thurs 21 Sept, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

AN EVENING WITH BOSH! Hear about the personal story behind the BOSH! mega brand. Get tips on tasty recipes and how to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, Thurs 21 Sept, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

REEL & MEAL: JURASSIC PARK - 30TH

ANNIVERSARY Enjoy the famous movie alongside a three-course Jurassic Park-inspired meal, Fri 22 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

JOURNEY THROUGH CREATION

Featuring mini-installations celebrating the Earth and the stages of its creation according to the Bible, Fri 22 Sept - Sun 5 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral

WILDING YOUR GARDEN Practical workshop exploring how to create wild(er) gardens or green spaces, Sat 23 Sept, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham

BACKSTAGE THEATRE TOURS Find out what it’s like to be involved in the world of theatre, Sat 23 Sept, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

UKG BINGO BIRMINGHAM SPECIAL Celebrating all things UK garage, Sat 23 Sept, Sector 57, Birmingham

THE BIRMINGHAM VINTAGE KILO SALE

Featuring sustainable, vintage, retro and branded fashion, Sat 23 Sept, Millennium Point, Birmingham

BRUNCH UK GARAGE Featuring the biggest names in UKG, Bass, Speed Garage, UKG 90s and more, Sat 23 Sept, Birmingham Bierkeller

party, old-time dancing and more, Sat 23 Sept, St Mary’s Church, Hall Hobs Moat, Solihull

BIRMINGHAM OPEN STUDIOS Art & crafts trail featuring dozens of creators, Sat 23 - Sun 24 Sept, various venues across Birmingham

MEDIEVAL EXPERIENCE WEEKEND

Presented by the Beaufort Companye, Sat 23 - Sun 24 Sept, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove

ORIGINS OF MIDDLE-EARTH: JRR

TOLKIEN AND SAREHOLE GUIDED WALK

A guided walk introducing the scenery that inspired JRR Tolkien when he lived near Sarehole Mill as a child, Sun 24 Sept, Sarehole Mill, Birmingham

DR1VR SHOW Featuring a host of modified cars, Sun 24 Sept, British Motor Museum, Gaydon

BIRMINGHAM’S CRAFT & FLEA Featuring independent makers, collectors, designers and creatives, Sun 24 Sept, The Custard Factory, Birmingham

LOOKING FOR ME FRIEND: THE MUSIC OF VICTORIA WOOD This acclaimed show takes audiences on a whistle-stop tour of 21 of Victoria’s best-loved songs, including the hilarious Ballad Of Barry & Freda and the classic It Would Never Have Worked, Tues 19 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

AUNTY DONNA: THE MAGICAL DEAD CAT TOUR Featuring all-new sketches alongside fan favourites. Expect ‘funny voices, incredible costumes and silly songs’, Wed 20 - Thurs 21 Sept, The Alexandra, Birmingham

ADULT NIGHT Enjoy a child-free Lego experience, Fri 22 Sept, Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham

ON-TRAIN VINTAGE AFTERNOON TEA ‘Get ready for a very British culinary journey...’, Sat 23 Sept, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

MEAN GIRLS BOTTOMLESS PROSECCO

BRUNCH Enjoy a bottomless brunch and a screening of American teen comedy Mean Girls, Sat 23 Sept, Millennium Point, Birmingham

VINTAGE, RETRO & CRAFT FAIRS

SOLIHULL Community event with live music, craft stalls, an afternoon tea

Festivals in the Midlands

WOODSHROP Line-up includes Not the Rolling Stones, ABBA Revival, Guns or Roses, Fri 22 - Sun 24 Sept, West Mid Showground, Shropshire

PEAKY BLINDERS NIGHTS Grab your flatcap and don your finest threads for a night of fun and revelry as you step into the smoky underworld of the 1920s, Fri 22 - Sat 23 Sept, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

FASHION THROUGH THE AGES

Exploration of the history of fashion from 1750 to 1970, Fri 22 - Sat 23 Sept, Enginuity, Ironbridge

ADAM WILLIS: JOSEPH Brand-new oneman show retelling the Nativity story and putting the spotlight on the Bible’s third-best carpenter, Joseph of Nazareth, Fri 22 Sept, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

CAPTAIN SANDY LIVE Join the reality-TV star to find out more about life at the helm. The evening is hosted by broadcaster, author & LGBTQ+ advocate Riyadh Khalaf, with musical performances from Leah Rae, Fri 22 Sept, Old Rep, Birmingham

MAGICAL BONES - SOULFUL MAGIC

‘Awe-inspiring and high-energy magic from the Britain’s Got Talent finalist’, Fri 22 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull

A PLACE IN THE SUN LIVE Featuring seminars, Q&As and panel talks across the weekend, Fri 22 - Sun 24 Sept, NEC, Birmingham

MALVERN AUTUMN SHOW The UK’s biggest harvest-season celebration, Fri 22 - Sun 24 Sept, Three Counties

Showground, Malvern

THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW

Discover ‘breathtaking’ wedding dresses, explore ‘captivating’ stationery designs, and check out ‘enchanting’ top-tier entertainment, Fri 22 - Sun 24 Sept, NEC, B’ham

GAIA BY LUKE JERRAM Featuring highresolution NASA imagery of Earth’s surface - an opportunity to see the planet floating and rotating in three dimensions, Fri 22 Sept - Sun 5 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral

Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood - Lichfield Garrick

thelist

Monday 25 - Saturday 30 September

Classical Music

LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH THOMAS TROTTER Plus special guest Roger Owens. Programme includes works by D Bédard, Franck, Chopin & Gershwin, Mon 25 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

HSUAN WU: PERCUSSION RECITAL Also featuring MengHua Lin (percussion) & Gigi Kuo (piano). Programme includes works by Andrew Thomas, John Psathas, Mark Applebaum, Emmanuel Séjorné & Taiwanese Folk Song (arr. Yi-Chih Lu), Mon 25 Sept, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

SHOSTAKOVICH 8 WITH THE CBSO Featuring Michael Seal (conductor) & Boris Giltburg (piano). Programme includes works by Rachmaninoff & Shostakovich, Thurs 28 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Gigs

GIRLBAND Mon 25

Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

JUNODREAM Mon 25

Sept, Dead Wax, Digbeth

GOGO PENGUIN Mon 25

Sept, The Mill, Digbeth

GENGAHR Tues 26 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

JP COOPER Tues 26

Sept, Birmingham

Town Hall

SHANIA TWAIN Tues 26

Sept, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

WEIRD ON PURPOSE + ROSIE TEE + MANZONI

GARDENS + MELOTONE

Wed 27 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

RUEL Wed 27 Sept, O2 Institute

ROVING CROWS Wed 27

Sept, Red Lion Folk Club

LUCA STRICAGNOLI

Thurs 28 Sept, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

FIRST TIME FLYERS

Thurs 28 Sept, The Sunflower Lounge

PRINCESS GOES Thurs 28 Sept, O2 Institute

LEE COLLINSON Thurs 28 Sept, Bromsgrove Folk Club

LORD OF THE LOST +

ESOTERICA Thurs 28

Sept, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

LOVELESS Fri 29 Sept, O2 Institute

BLÜ EYES Fri 29 Sept, O2 Institute

FIZZ Fri 29 Sept, O2 Institute

SAM OFFENDER + THE COURTBETWEENERS Fri 29 Sept, O2 Academy

HOME FREE Fri 29 Sept, O2 Academy

DREADZONE Fri 29 Sept, Castle & Falcon

DOEGIE & THE BAND Fri 29 Sept, The Victoria

AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ

ORCHESTRA Fri 29 Sept, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

THE ELTON JOHN SHOW

Fri 29 Sept, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

SAME PAGE BAND Fri 29

Sept, The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield

UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE

Fri 29 - Sun 30 Sept, The Jam House, Jewellery Quarter

KEVIN DEVINE Sat 30

Sept, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

OASIS MAYBE? Sat 30

Sept, The Dark Horse, Moseley

NIK KERSHAW Sat 30

Sept, O2 Institute

GYPSY JACK + PARIAH STATE + MISTAKES

WORTH MAKING +

KRYPTIC + MONETOPIA

Sat 30 Sept, O2 Institute

GRACIE ABRAMS +

SEAROWS Sat 30 Sept, O2 Academy

POWER METAL QUEST

FEST 2023 Sat 30 Sept, The Asylum

PAERISH Sat 30 Sept, The Asylum

THE MANFREDS Sat 30

Sept, Birmingham Town Hall

AMMY VIRK Sat 30

Sept, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

MAX COOPER Sat 30

Sept, The Mill, Digbeth

ANTIQUITY Sat 30 Sept, The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield

JUAN MARTIN Sat 30

Sept, Lichfield Guildhall

THE SIXTEEN: THE CHORAL PILGRIMAGE 2023 Programme includes works by Byrd, van Wilder, de Monte, Dobrinka Tabakova & Clemens Non Papa, Thurs 28 Sept, St Mary’s Church, Warwick

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, MATT RICHARDSON & ROBYN PERKINS Thurs 28 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

RUSSELL BRAND Thurs 28 Sept, The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

PIERRE NOVELLIE Thurs 28 - Fri 29 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

IVO GRAHAM Fri 29 Sept, Old Rep, Birmingham

CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES WITH THE CBSO Featuring Stephen Bell (conductor) & Máire Flavin (soprano). Programme includes works by Mozart, Elgar, Sibelius, Offenbach & Puccini, Fri 29 Sept, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ENSEMBLE Programme includes works by Milhaud, Stravinsky & Bernstein, Fri 29 Sept, Bromsgrove School

PHILHARMONIC CHILDREN’S CHOIR DRESDEN & NATIONAL CHILDREN’S

CHOIR OF GREAT BRITAIN Featuring Dan Ludford-Thomas & Gunter Berger (conductors) & Philip Mitchell & Iris Geissler (pianos), Sat 30 Sept, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham

Comedy

MARK NORMAND Tues 26 Sept, O2 Academy, Birmingham

DURK & SKI Wed 27 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

THE ALTER COMEDY CLUB Wed 27 Sept, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

STEVE BUGEJA, MARY FLANIGAN & JAMES COOK Fri 29 Sept, The Station, King’s Heath, Birmingham

LIAM FARRELLY, ERIC RUSHTON, ROBYN PERKINS & COMIC TBC Fri 29 - Sat 30 Sept, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JOHN ROBERTSON, EMMANUEL SONUBI, ANDREW ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Sat 30 Sept, Rosies Nightclub, B’ham

SOPHIE MCCARTNEY Sat 30 Sept, Old Rep, Birmingham

BUTCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Sat 30 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

TOMMY SANDHU, DINESH NATHAN, KANE BROWN & TEZ ELYAS Sat 30 Sept, The Core Theatre, Solihull

Theatre

MACBETH Reuben Joseph takes the lead in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, until Sat 14 Oct, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

THE EMPRESS Tanika Gupta’s epic story reveals how socially diverse the Asian presence was in 19th-century Britain, until Sat 18 Nov, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE Fantasy and myth combine in a story that takes audiences on a journey to a childhood once forgotten - and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it... Tues 26 - Sat 30 Sept,

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

BROWN BOYS SWIM Karim Khan examines the pressures faced by young Muslim men in an ‘exhilarating’ new play about fitting in and striking out, Tues 26 - Sat 30

Sept, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

WEST SIDE STORY Amateur version presented by Brownhills Musical Theatre Company, Tues 26 - Sat 30

Sept, Lichfield Garrick

84 CHARING CROSS ROAD Amateur version presented by the Lichfield

GoGo Penguin - The Mill, Digbeth

Dreadzone - Castle & Falcon

thelist

Players, Tues 26 - Sat 30 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

LA BAMBA! The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran and Strictly star Pasha Kovalev star in a brand-new musical concerning a young girl with a big voice, big dreams and an even bigger heart, Tues 26 - Sat 30 Sept, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Street, Birmingham

RAT PACK: SWINGIN’ AT THE SANDS Fully choreographed show featuring a host of well-known songs, Sat 30 Sept, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

Talks & Spoken Word

AN EVENING WITH NICK BANKS Pulp drummer Nick discusses his memoir, So It Started There, Wed 27 Sept, Waterstones, Birmingham

BLACK COUNTRY DIALECT ACROSS TIME AND SPACE Esther Asprey explores how the dialect of the area has developed, Wed 27 Sept, Bilston Town Hall

SUDHA BHUCHAR: EVENING

CONVERSATIONS Join the middle-class, middle-aged, multicultural mother of millennial sons as she investigates her sense of ‘home and place in the world’, Thurs 28 Sept, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

THE WITCHING HOUR Described as the ghost story experience of the year, this spinetingling play ‘transcends time and place until all those who enter are left scrambling for a way out.’... Fri 29 Sept - Sat 21 Oct, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham

UNUSUAL SHORTS The Flying Ducks Theatre Company present an evening of ‘comedy sketches, quirky characters, audio-visual treats and vintage live music’, Sat 30 Sept, Highbury Theatre, Birmingham

Dance

BLACK SABBATH: THE BALLET

Birmingham Royal Ballet combine theatrical dance and a new Black Sabbath soundtrack, until Sat 30 Sept, Birmingham Hippodrome

Light Entertainment

DIANA: THE UNTOLD AND UNTRUE STORY Drag, multimedia, audience interaction, puppetry ‘and a lot of queer joy’ feature in ‘a unique celebration of the people’s princess’, Wed 27 - Fri 29 Sept, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

WOLVES ICONS - THE 70S Join John Richards, Kenny Hibbitt and Steve Daley as they share stories from their Molineux careers, Thurs 28 Sept, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock

AN EVENING WITH MADAM MISFIT An evening of ‘chaos, comedy and nerdyness’, Fri 29 Sept, Tilt, Union

PRE-RAPHAELITE REVOLUTIONARIES AND THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS The third annual Gore lecture on public theology, presented by The Reverend Dr Ayla Lepine, Thurs 28 Sept, Birmingham Cathedral

Events

TAYLOR SWIFT VS HARRY STYLES PARTY

NIGHT ‘Expect to hear all the anthems, extended songs, artists’ versions and those special album tracks’, Thurs 28 Sept, Circo Student Bar, Birmingham

AUTUMN DIESEL BASH - THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Featuring seven former Western Region dieselhydraulics led locomotives, Thurs 28 Sept - Sun 1 Oct, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

BIG FISH LITTLE FISH WOLVERHAMPTON

END OF SUMMER FAMILY RAVE Dance the afternoon away with the whole family, Sat 30 Sept, Popworld, Wolverhampton

THE MURDER OF FLORENCE CAMPBELL

An after-hours murder-mystery evening in the Victorian lock-up, Sat 30 Sept, West Midlands Police Museum, Birmingham

SUMMER SOUL PARTY Featuring the best of 1980s, ’90s and noughties soul, Sat 30 Sept, North Street Social, Wolverhampton

R&B BRUNCH Featuring ‘everything great in R&B, from the past few decades to the present day’, Sat 30 Sept, Birmingham Bierkeller

YOUNG DRIVER LESSONS An opportunity for kids and young people aged 10 to 17 to have fun and learn new skills, Sat 30 Sept, British Motor Museum, Gaydon

HISTORIC RALLY FESTIVAL Featuring up to 60 specially selected cars, Sat 30 Sept - Sun 1 Oct, Weston Park, Shropshire

BIRMINGHAM OPEN STUDIOS Art & crafts trail featuring dozens of creators, Sat 30 Sept - Sun 1 Oct,

various venues across Birmingham

BRICK OR TREAT: MONSTER PARTY Get into the Halloween spirit early with some fang-tastic activities, Sat 30 Sept - Tues 31 October, Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham

Brick or Treat: Monster Party - Legoland Discovery Centre