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News from around the region

From the Punjab to the Potteries, at the New Vic

Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre is hosting a reading of two new short plays this summer. The plays have been inspired by the journeys of local people whose families began their story in the Punjab region before settling in The Potteries. The readings, presented by actors in the venue’s auditorium, take place on Saturday 12 August. To find out more, visit newvictheatre.org.uk

Ludlow Fringe is back

Dame Judi Dench and comedian Jasper Carrott are the high-profile stars featuring at this month’s Ludlow Fringe Festival.

The popular event runs at various venues from Saturday 17 June to Sunday 2 July.

Other festival highlights include Ludlow Carnival and a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed by Flabbergast Theatre. For more information and to book tickets, visit ludlowfringe.co.uk

More steam services at Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway has fine-tuned its timetabled services to incorporate earlier first departure times and an extra steam service on selected days.

The revised Timetable B will apply on selected dates during the rest of the season (through to early November).

For more information, visit svr.co.uk

‘Father of English ballet & pantomime’ celebrated

The 350th anniversary of the birth of dance master John Weaver will be celebrated in his home town of Shrewsbury this summer, courtesy of a festival of special events. Commenting on the forthcoming celebrations, festival co-ordinator Maggie Love said: “The performances, dance showcases and workshops will be a great opportunity to experience some of the dance gestures, and indeed capture the ambience of the dancing steps, of many years ago, which have been the foundation of both classical ballet and the English pantomime ballet, which John Weaver revived from Roman times.”

Wolverhampton Art Gallery partners with the National Portrait Gallery

Wolverhampton Art Gallery has partnered with London’s National Portrait Gallery to create a new exhibition entitled Citizen UK Wolverhampton: Punjabi Migration Experiences.

Developed in partnership with Wolverhampton Arts & Culture, visual artist Anand Chhabra, Wolverhampton Poet Laureate Dr Kuli Kohli and a team of local ‘citizen researchers’, the exhibition creatively explores stories of the Punjabi community in Wolverhampton through archive material, newly commissioned portraits, oral histories and poetry.

Citizen UK Wolverhampton is available to view at the art gallery until Sunday 9 July.

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Hook or by crook... Boy George to make Midlands panto debut

Boy George will star as Captain Hook this Christmas when a big-budget adaptation of Peter Pan shows at the city’s Resorts World Arena from 22 to 24 December.

Commenting on the news, George said: “I’m really looking forward to playing Captain Hook and showing off my evil side!

“I make my first entrance on a lifesize galleon that sails around the stage in front of an amazing water-wall fountain...

“Although the show has traditional pantomime elements, it is so much more, being a mix of cirque and spectacular event. And I get a chance to fight a giant animatronic crocodile. What’s not to like?”

Art-crazy Shrewsbury...

Shrewsbury is going ‘art crazy’ this summer, with around 590 regional artists participating in 16 exhibitions, eight workshops and five events in venues across the town. Highlights include a bronze sculpture trail featuring works by Salvador Dali and a special exhibition at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery. To find out more about everything that’s happening, visit shropshiremuseums.org.uk

Broadway Baby Melissa Errico at Lichfield Festival

American musical theatre star Melissa Errico visits Lichfield Cathedral next month with her touring show, The Life And Loves Of A Broadway Baby.

Featuring a selection of popular songsincluding ‘a dazzling set of beloved standards, from Rodgers & Hart to Lerner & Lowe’ - the show forms part of the Lichfield Festival and takes place on Tuesday 11 July... For more information and to book tickets, visit lichfieldfestival.org

Proms return to the West Mid...

UK Proms in the Park presents its first concert of 2023 in Shrewsbury this month. Taking place at The West Mid Showground on the evening of Saturday 17 June, the performance features classical favourites from the likes of Mozart, Strauss, Schumann and Bizet, before finishing with standards from Last Night of the Proms and music from the movies.

Samantha Oxborough (mezzo soprano) and Rodney Earl Clarke (baritone) will lead the event which also features local dance duo Rachel Gittins and Ryan Upton alongside a choir of local soloists and a 50 piece orchestra.

For further information and tickets, visit tickettailor.com/events/ ukacproductions.

New festival to mark one-year anniversary of the Games

Birmingham will next month host a special event celebrating the first anniversary of the Commonwealth Games being held in the city. Commissioned and supported by the city council, Birmingham Festival 23 (Friday 28 JulySunday 6 August) will take place in Centenary Square and comprise a programme of free events.

Commenting on the festival, the leader of

World-renowned composer to play Resorts World...

The most-streamed classical artist of all time is coming to Birmingham.

Ludovico Einaudi will visit the city’s Resorts World Arena on Thursday 18 October.

Commenting on the news, he said: “While I enjoy the period of contemplation, learning, inspiration and hard work that goes into the composing and recording process, it is in the live arena, in communion with the audience, that my work really comes alive.”

For more information about Ludovico’s visit, check out resortsworldarena.co.uk

Disney takes to the ice...

Disney On Ice is making a welcome return to the Midlands this autumn, skating into Resorts World Arena in Birmingham from 1 to 5 November with a show that celebrates the company’s 100th anniversary. For more information about the production and to book your seat, check out resortsworldarena.co.uk

Birmingham City Council, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “In addition to 11 days of world-class sport, the Commonwealth Games were a huge celebration of our city's fantastic culture and creativity - and we promised 2022 would be just the start. This year’s festival will once again shine a spotlight on the youth and diversity that make Birmingham such an amazing city.” To find out more, visit birmingham.gov.uk

Friends to be celebrated at the NEC

A celebration of hit US TV comedy series Friends is coming to Birmingham’s NEC next month.

Making its UK debut at the venue on Saturday 8 July, The Friends Experience offers fans the chance to explore set recreationsincluding Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, and Central Perk coffee shop - and to check out a selection of props and costumes from the show. To find out more and book tickets, visit birmingham.friendstheexperience.com

News from around the region

History of cathedral library collection explored

Lichfield Cathedral is currently hosting an exhibition exploring the story of its own library collection.

Library & Legacy takes visitors on a journey through the history of the library, providing insights into a wide variety of subjects featured in some of its books, from maps and architecture, to classical literature and swordsmanship. The exhibition is available to view until Sunday 3 September.

More information about the library can be found at lichfield-cathedral.org/library

Lichfield Garrick to stage in-house summer show

Lichfield Garrick Theatre will next month present a ‘home-grown’ Community Musical version of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind In The Willows.

The production follows on from the success of last year’s Community Musical production of Robin Hood and shows at the venue from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 July.

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

More than flora & fauna at Shrewsbury Flower Show

Alongside its usual impressive displays of flora and fauna, Shrewsbury Flower Show this year features a number of ‘more unusual’ attractions, including a penny farthing biplane - which looks like a plane but flies like, well, a bicycle! - and a mountain-bike aerial display team. Visitors to the popular event should also keep an eye out for giant sloths riding around on tricycles and stopping to take ‘slothies’ with sure-to-be-bewildered passers-by!

Shrewsbury Flower Show takes place in the town’s Quarry Park on Friday 11 & Saturday 12 August. For information about the event’s full line-up of entertainment and to book tickets, shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk

BRB’s new company to perform in Wolverhampton

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s brand-new company for top-class new dancers will make the short journey to Wolverhampton late this month to present a gala celebration of classical ballet. Launched earlier this year, BRB2 aims to

Medieval celebrations in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Brampton Park & Museum in Newcastleunder-Lyme is hosting a medieval-themed family fun day on Saturday 3 June. Celebrate Newcastle features ‘magical storytelling adventures, dressing up, activities, knights, jesters and dancing’. To find out more about the event, visit appetite.org.uk/whats-on

Bubble Rush fun returns

Acorns Children’s Hospice is holding its biggest-ever Bubble Rush fun run at Walsall Arboretum next month (Sunday 23 July). The hospice is promising that the charity fundraiser will feature ‘more fun, more foam, and even more entertainment than ever before’.

For further information about Acorns and its Bubble Rush event, visit acorns.org.uk

It’s all going Pete Tong!

DJ, broadcaster & global dance music legend Pete Tong makes a return to Birmingham later in the year with his critically acclaimed Ibiza Classics show. Taking place at the city’s Utilita Arena on Thursday 30 develop the ballet stars of the future. The company presents Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection at the Grand Theatre on Saturday 24 June. For more information and to book tickets, visit grandtheatre.co.uk

November, the production features Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra. For tickets, visit either gigsandtours.com or ticketmaster.co.uk

Cole comedy in Bilston

Black Country comedian Jonny Cole is bringing a brand-new show to Bilston Town Hall on Saturday 10 June.

Described by Jasper Carrott as ‘the funniest act to come out of the Black Country since Frank Skinner’, Jonny is promising an hour of songs, stories and home-grown hilarity. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bilstonth.co.uk

Shakespeare in the park

Lichfield’s Shakespeare In The Park event is this year celebrating its 40th anniversary by re-creating its first-ever production: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The much-loved comedy will be presented in the Italian Gardens at Maple Hayes from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 June.

To find out more about the production and book your seat, check out ticketsource.co.uk/shakespeare-in-the-parklichfield

by Diane Parkes