What’sOn

News from around the region

Plenty of talking at Warwick Arts Centre

Adventurer Ben Fogle (5 May) and actor Richard E Grant (11 May) are among the wellknown names taking to the stage at Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre this month. The venue is also hosting talks by clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith (9 May), menopause expert Dr Louise Newson (11 May), lexicographer Susie Dent (21 May) and Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer-Jones (25 May).

For more information and to book tickets, visit warwickartscentre.co.uk

Into The Woods with the Orchestra of the Swan

Stratford-upon-Avon’s highly regarded Orchestra of the Swan is taking a trip Into The Woods this month, to present a familyfriendly concert featuring two much-loved tales ‘wickedly retold’ by Roald Dahl: Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs. Featuring a score by Paul Patterson and with Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes (pictured) narrating, the suitable-for-all-ages performance takes place at Warwick Hall on Saturday 13 May.

Triple bill celebrates Korean dance in Coventry

Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre is hosting a vibrant triple bill of Korean dance early this month.

Forming part of the Festival Of Korean Dance 2023 and supported by Korean Cultural Centre UK, K:Dance (Wednesday 3 May) includes works by choreographer Howool Baek and Company Siga. For more information and to book tickets, visit warwickartscentre.co.uk

The Festival On The Close back in Rugby next month

The Festival On The Close will make a welcome return to the Warwickshire town of Rugby next month.

Local choirs in team-up with The King’s Singers

School choirs from Nuneaton and Bedworth recently enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform with the legendary King’s Singers.

The choirs sang alongside the world-famous a cappella group in a concert at the Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick. The concert was the culmination of a free course delivered by local choir Armonico Consort in partnership with Warwickshire Music. The course creates new school choirs and nurtures existing ones, as well as training and mentoring teachers as choir leaders, ‘to leave a legacy of singing in each school’.

A celebration of arts, outreach & education - taking place at Rugby School from Sunday 25 to Thursday 29 Junethe event features, among other highlights, a Night At The Musicals celebration with the BBC Concert Orchestra and a Cancer Research UK Comedy Night headlined by Seann Walsh (pictured). For more information and to book tickets, visit thefestivalontheclose.co.uk

Aztec Adventure opens two new attractions

Aztec Adventure has opened an outdoor golf course and a high-rope aerial course at The Valley in Evesham.

The 18-hole golf course challenges players to manoeuvre around the Lost Valley Aztec temple, a wooden bridge, water features, a crashed plane and an abandoned Land Rover. The new high-ropes aerial course, meanwhile, requires participants to navigate 15 elements four metres above the ground, including a cargo net, various wobbly bridges, swinging & see-saw steps and a 70-metre zip wire descent. For more information and to book tickets, head to aztecadventure.co.uk/activities

Worcestershire’s hidden gem opens to the public

One of Worcestershire’s hidden gems will be open to the public over the weekend of Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 May.

As part of the national Open Mills Weekend, the mill at Shelsley Walsh - the only working water-powered corn mill in the county - will be welcoming visitors free of charge. An additional attraction across the weekend will be a display of period vehicles. The mill will be open between 10am and 4pm on both days.

Live At The RSC returns

Comedy & music festival Live At The RSC returns to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon late this month.

Running from Wednesday 31 May to Sunday 4 June in association with Orchestra of the Swan and Underbelly, the event features Red Sky At Sunrise - a celebration of Cider With Rosie author Laurie Lee - and award-winning comedy Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel.

Three comedy nights also feature, with the line-up of talent including, among others, Nina Conti, Mark Watson and Ivo Graham. Find out more and book tickets at rsc.org.uk

Jonathan Pie to visit the Midlands

Fictional political correspondent Jonathan Pie is heading to two Midlands venues as part of a 30-date tour in early 2024.

The satirical charactercreation of actor, writer & comedian Tom Walker, Pie will stop off at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Friday 2 February. He then visits Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre on Sunday 18 February. For further information and to book tickets, visit the website jonathanpie.com

Top BBC shows back at the NEC

Two hugely popular shows are returning to Birmingham’s NEC next month.

The summer edition of the BBC Good Food Show will take place alongside BBC Gardeners’ World Live from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 June. A ticket for either show provides access to the other...

For further details, visit bbcgoodfoodshow.com and bbcgardenersworldlive.com

Gary Numan goes acoustic at the Town Hall

Electronic music pioneer Gary Numan will perform in Birmingham in the autumn as part of a short acoustic tour. Numan, who shot to stardom in the late 1970s with his eradefining hit, Cars, will perform at the Town Hall on 10 October. For more information and to book tickets, visit gigsandtours.com