thelist

Visual Arts In The Midlands

Compton Verney, Warwickshire

TUDOR MYSTERY: A MASTER PAINTER

REVEALED The world’s first exhibition devoted to an important, talented and largely forgotten painter known as the Master of the Countess of Warwick, until Mon 8 May

MAKING MISCHIEF: FOLK COSTUME IN BRITAIN A celebration of grassroots traditions that challenge preconceptions about folk customs being fixed and nostalgic, until Sun 11 June

LIVING SYMPHONIES Landscape sound installation that portrays the moment-to-moment activity of a woodland ecosystem, until Sun 6 August

COMPTON VERNEY AND COVENTRY BIENNIAL EXHIBITION AND RESIDENCY

The result of a project in which artists created new work in collaboration with communities in Nuneaton, until Sun 1 October

PORTRAIT MINIATURES: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GRANTCHESTER COLLECTION

Showcasing over 40 miniatures from the 16th, 17th & 18th centuries, many of which are on show in public for the first time, until Sun 31 Dec

SENSING NAPLES Works from the gallery’s Naples Collection, re-hung and reimagined, until Sun 31 December

Herbert Museum & Art Gallery, Coventry

DIPPY IN COVENTRY: THE NATION’S FAVOURITE DINOSAUR Dippy the diplodocus visits Coventry on a three-year loan from the Natural History Museum

COVENTRY OPEN 2023 Showcasing work by West Midlands artists in an array of visual art mediums, until Sun 21 May

Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

THE REASON FOR PAINTING Exhibition of works by young artists, showcasing experiences working with colour, mark and form, to create moments of joy... Thurs 4 May - Sun

25 June

Rugby Art Gallery

DAVID REMFRY RA SELECTS: THE RUGBY COLLECTION Bringing together more than 60 works from Rugby Art Gallery’s own collection, including paintings, photographs and works on paper from some of the most exciting names in modern and contemporary British art, until Sat 3

June

RUGBY’S CORONATIONS A look back at previous coronations that have taken place across the borough, until Sat 23 September

Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum

SILOCON SPA: VIDEO GAMES IN LEAMINGTON Exhibition tracing the history of the gaming industry in Leamington and the surrounding area, until Sun 8 May

Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT? Fun exhibition of hats from the museum’s collection, until Sun 25 June

Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum

WATERMARK EXHIBITION

Contemporary artworks and paintings from the museum’s collections are brought together to explore climate change in terms of flooding - both locally and globally, until Sat 3 June

FROM THE CORNISH COAST TO THE MALVERN HILLS: BRITISH IMPRESSIONISM FROM THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES Featuring works by Stanhope Forbes, Dame Laura Knight and Elizabeth Forbes, until Sat 1 July

Elsewhere:

NATURAL WORLD Printmaker Pauline Meade showcases lino prints and etchings inspired by the natural environment, until Fri 21 May, Wyre Forest Gallery, Bewdley Museum, Worcestershire

ASPIRE Sculptures of winged creatures and beings created by contemporary artist Wayne Warren, until Sun 3 September, The Commandery, Worcester

CRASH - THE PERFECT POP SONG

Exhibition celebrating 35 years of the Primitives’ song, Crash, and the history of the Coventry band. Visitors to the museum will also be able to partake in photo opportunities and Crash karaoke, until December 2023, Coventry Music Museum

THREADS: MY HAPPY PLACE Year-long display by independent textile group Threads, until Mon 8 Jan 2024, Croome Park, Worcestershire

OUR FRAGILE SPACE: PROTECTING THE NEAR - SPACE ENVIRONMENT Unique opportunity to see first-hand the impact of the increasing amount of space debris that crowds the skies, Sat 6 - Sun 21 May, Coventry Cathedral

Gigs

WELSHLY ARMS + MYLE

Mon 1 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

TARREN Mon 1 May, Temperance, Leamington Spa

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS

Mon 1 May, Queens Hall, Nuneaton

HENRY MOODIE Tues 2

May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

DELTA GOODREM Tues 2 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

SARAH MCQUAID Tues 2

May, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury

THE ANDY TAYLOR GROUP

Tues 2 May, Temperance, Leamington Spa

LEGENDS OF AMERICAN COUNTRY SHOW Tues 2

May, Palace Theatre, Redditch

ASTON MERRYGOLD + NATHAN GURD Wed 3 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

GIVEON Wed 3 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham

DALLAHAN Wed 3 May, Temperance, Leamington Spa

MARTI PELLOW Wed 3

May, Palace Theatre, Redditch

PETER DOHERTY +

TRAMPOLENE Thurs 4

May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

RACHEL CHINOURIRI

Thurs 4 May, O2

THE LEYLINES + GAVIN OSBORN AND THE COMMENT SECTION Fri 5 May, Marrs Bar, Worcester

DEAN FRIEDMAN Fri 5 May, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

THE DOLLY SHOW Fri 5 May, Swan Theatre, Worcester

THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Fri 5 May, Palace Theatre, Redditch

CHARLIE DORE WITH JULIAN LITTMAN Fri 5 May, Malvern Cube

POP EVIL + CALL ME

AMOUR Sat 6 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

BILLY LOCKETT Sat 6 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

Academy, Birmingham

OLLY MURS Thurs 4 May, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham

TALON Thurs 4 May, The Core Theatre, Solihull

REG MEUROSS Thurs 4

May, Temperance, Leamington Spa

ABDOUJAPAROV +

SKEWWHIFF + JESS SILK

Thurs 4 May, Marrs Bar, Worcester

BETTY LEGS DIAMOND

Thurs 4 May, Swan Theatre, Worcester

SWING FROM PARIS

Thurs 4 May, 45Live, Kidderminster

HUGH CORNWELL Fri 5 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

ERIC BIBB Fri 5 May, Birmingham Town Hall

JAMES Fri 5 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

DURAN DURAN Fri 5 May, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

THE SHAKEDOWN BROTHERS Fri 5 May, The Core Theatre, Solihull

TRUE FOXES Fri 5 May, Temperance, Leamington Spa

WE LOVE THE 80S Fri 5 May, The Rialto, Coventry

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS Fri 5 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

FOSSIL FUEL Fri 5 May, The Valkyrie Bar, Evesham

THE SMYTHS Sat 6 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SIMPLY DYLAN Sat 6 May, Temperance, Leamington Spa

NYA KING AS WHITNEY

HOUSTON Sat 6 May, The Rialto, Coventry

UK FOO FIGHTERS Sat 6 May, hmv Empire, Coventry

ALL FLOYD - PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE Sat 6 May, The Henrician, Evesham

SATELLITE DOWN Sat 6 May, The Valkyrie Bar, Evesham

FAUX FIGHTERS + SUNDAY AFTERNOON Sat 6 May, Marrs Bar, Worcester

TRIGGER - THE STADIUM ROCK EXPERIENCE Sat 6 May, Palace Theatre, Redditch

DEAD KENNEDYS + PISS

BATH Sun 7 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham

WHEN CHAI MET TOAST Sun 7 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham

THE UNRESOLVED + THE GASOLINE SUPREMES + KHARMA + MASSASUGA Sun 7 May, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry

FLEECE CEILIDH BAND

Sun 7 May, The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Nr Evesham

ARROW VALLEY + THESE FOUNDATIONS + LAST AGONY Sun 7 May, 45Live, Kidderminster

Classical Music

MARTIN BAKER ORGAN RECITAL

Programme includes works by Lemmens, Byrd, Robin Holloway, JS Bach, Reger, Whitlock, Jongen, Walton & Martin Baker, Mon 1 May, All Saints Church, Leamington Spa

GREENWICH PIANO TRIO Featuring Lana Trotovšek (violin), Heather Tuach (cello) & Simon Callaghan (piano). Programme includes works by Mozart & Rachmaninov, Mon 1 May, Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa

PADDY YOUNG Thurs 4 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, RAJ POOJARA, CRAIG HILL & JAKE DONALDSON Fri 5 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SCHALK BEZUIDENHOUT Fri 5 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JONNY AWSUM Fri 5 May, Saint Andrews Rugby Club, Rugby

TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, RAJ POOJARA, CRAIG HILL & COMIC TBC Sat 6 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

FAMILY COMEDY SHOW WITH PATRICK

MONAHAN, JONNY AWSUM & BARBARA

NICE Sun 7 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

FARHAN SOLO, AATIF NAWAZ, PRINCE ABDI & TEZ ILYAS Sun 7 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

MARIA MINCU șI BANCIU Sun 7 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

3 - Sat 13 May, The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL Presented by Spa Theatre Company Juniors, Thurs

Dance

RHIANNON FAITH COMPANY:

SACCONI QUARTET & BEN

GOLDSCHEIDER (HORN) Also featuring Ben Hancox and Hannah Dawson (violins), Robin Ashwell (viola) & Cara Berridge (cello). Programme includes works by Robin Holloway, Mozart, Rachmaninov & Schubert, Mon 1 May, Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa

CBSO AND KAZUKI YAMADA Also featuring Daishin Kashimoto (violin), Programme comprises Brahms’ Violin Concerto, 40 and RimskyKorsakov’s Scheherazade, 45, Wed 4 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

SHELDON SINGERS IN CONCERT Led by musical director Julie De’Ath Lancaster. Programme includes works by Vivaldi & Rutter, Thurs 4 May, Great Malvern Priory

ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: ROCOCO Programme includes works by Jessie Montgomery, Warlock, Tchaikovsky arr. Le Page, Martinu arr. Le Page & Tchaikovsky, Fri 5 May, Number 8, Pershore

CBSO & THE ORCHESTRAL QAWWALI

PROJECT Featuring Ben Palmer (conductor), Rushil Ranjan (composer / music director / harmonium / piano / guitar), Abi Sampa (lead vocalist / harmonium), Amrit Dhuffler (tabla), Lydia Alonso (solo cello), Vidya Patel (dancer artist / choreographer), Sat 6 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Comedy

RECKLESS COMEDY Mon 1 May, The Royal Pug, Leamington Spa

JOE PERA Wed 3 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PHIL WANG Thurs 4 May, Birmingham Town Hall

TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, ANDY

ROBINSON, CRAIG HILL, DON BISWAS &

Theatre

BIG AUNTY Corey Campbell’s darkly comic family drama reflects on challenging times and how we can find a path to resolution, until Sat 6 May, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE Told By An Idiot presents a new version of Frank Marcus’ 1960s cult classic, until Sat 13 May, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

CYMBELINE Gregory Doran directs Shakespeare’s ‘rare late romance’ in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s First Folio, until Sat 27 May, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

HAMNET Stage adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, pulling back the curtain on the imagined life of William Shakespeare, until Sat 17 June, Swan Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon

WNO: THE MAGIC FLUTE Welsh National Opera give Mozart’s enchanting fairytale a makeover, Wed 3 - Fri 5 May, Birmingham Hippodrome

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Amateur version presented by Coventry Youth Operetta Group, Wed 3 - Sat 6 May, The Albany Theatre, Coventry

BACK STREETS Jackie Lines’ hardhitting new play tells the stories of some of the people who live homeless on UK streets and whose voices are very rarely heard. This production will support the homeless and vulnerable in Stratford-uponAvon, Wed 3 - Sat 6 May, Bear Pitt Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

A QUARTER TO THREE A night comedy by Nick Wilkes, Wed 3 - Sat 6 May, The Coach House, Malvern Theatres

CONSENT Nina Raine’s ‘powerful, painful and funny’ play see barristers and friends Ed and Tim take opposing briefs in a rape case, Wed

4 - Sun 7 May, Bridge House Theatre, Warwick

FAUN Cardboard Citizens present a celebration of queer community, full of heart, youth and pan pipes, Fri 5 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

WNO: BLAZE OF GLORY! Welsh National Opera present a brand-new production celebrating the power of community spirit, Sat 6 May, Birmingham Hippodrome

DROWNTOWN Gritty dance theatre combined with autobiographical testimonials and text, Wed 3 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

K:DANCE - TRIPLE BILL Celebrating new Korean Dance from choreographer Howool Baek and Company Siga, Wed 3 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

BALLET BLACK: PIONEERS Double-bill featuring new and original work by award-winning choreographers Will Tuckett & Mthuthuzeli November, Wed 3 - Thurs 4 May, The Rep, Birmingham

LA BOHEME Ellen Kent Opera present Puccini’s classic tale of Parisian love and loss. Sung in Italian with English surtitles, Sun 7 May, Malvern

Theatres

TOP SECRET: THE MAGIC OF SCIENCE

Fast-moving science show packed with ‘mystery, suspense and heaps of mess’, Sun 7 May, The Albany Theatre, Coventry

JOHANNES RADEBE: FREEDOM

UNLEASHED Join the Strictly favourite in a show described as a ‘melting pot of South African rhythms and huge party anthems’, Thurs 4 May, Malvern Theatres