thelist

VISUAL ARTS IN THE MIDLANDS Gigs

Midlands Arts Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham

BEDLAM: THE EXHIBITION Group show featuring compelling artworks and short films created by people in Birmingham and Solihull during their personal journeys with mental health, until Sun 18 June

GRAYSON’S ART CLUB: THE EXHIBITION III Major exhibition featuring over 100 artworks selected by Grayson Perry, his wife Philippa, and guest celebrities during season three of the popular TV series, Grayson’s Art Club, until Sun 25 June

New Art Gallery, Walsall

WALSALL CREATIVE FACTORY

Celebrating the richness and creativity of a range of groups and individuals who benefit from the use of a safe and supportive workshop environment, until Sun 18 June

JOHN BECK AND MATTHEW CORNFORD

Exhibition offering an opportunity to reflect on the changing nature of art education and the value of creativity... until Sun 2 July

KARLA BLACK Major solo exhibition from the critically acclaimed Scottish artist, featuring previously unseen sculptures, until Sun 29 October

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

BLACK COUNTRY LANDSCAPES A selection of art and objects from Wolverhampton’s collections, exploring relationships between the Black Country’s industries and landscapes, until Sun 3 Sept

POP PARADE Showcasing the gallery’s most iconic pop artworks by leading British and American artists, until Sun 31 December

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DOLLS

Family-friendly exhibition inspired by Jules Verne’s adventure novel and exploring the museum’s extensive doll collection, until Sun 27 August

DRESSING THE ROYALS Costumes from film and TV, spanning over 400 years of royal fashion, until Sun 3 September

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery

MONUMENT TO THE VANQUISHED Artist

Leah Gordon and researcher

Annabel Edwards explore the social history of land enclosure in England and Wales, until Sun 25 June

ON THE LAND AN OAK WILL GROW

Photography exhibition showcasing the award-winning work of Henry Woide and Vanessa Fairfax-Woods, until Fri 30 June

Elsewhere:

BORDERLAND VISUAL ARTS & OPEN

STUDIOS This annual event provides a great opportunity for the public to explore usually private studios and workplaces, see works-in-progress, learn about different creative processes and buy unique pieces, until Sat 24 June, Willow Gallery, Oswestry, North Shropshire

I GREW UP 80S Travel through the cultural landscape of 1980s Britain via the eyes of a child, revisiting the vibrancy, quirkiness and innovation that defined the decade, until Sat 1 July, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

THE CHANGE IN FASHION FROM 1066 TO 1980 Exhibition taking visitors on a journey from Anglo Saxon style and Elizabethan ruffs to post-war fashion and 1980s couture, until Sun 2 July, Bantock House & Museum, Wolverhampton

LIBRARY AND LEGACY The story of Lichfield Cathedral Library and the Seymour Family, until Sun 3 September, Lichfield Cathedral

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 September, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

NATURE AND ARTIFICE: DUTCH AND FLEMISH LANDSCAPE PRINTS Display exploring the subject of landscape in etchings and engravings made in the Netherlands during the first half of the 17th century, until Sun 23 July, The Barber Institute, University of Birmingham

STORYTELLING: A LIFE OF CHRIST ON PAPER Featuring Italian prints and drawings from the 15th to the 17th century, until Sun 24 September, The Barber Institute, University of Birmingham

CARNIVAL GLASS SOCIETY 40TH

ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION Showcase of work exploring the history and inspirations of carnival glass manufacture, until Sun 5 November, Stourbridge Glass Museum

(AFTERMATH) POST GRADUATE SHOW

2023 Works from a diverse group of artists brought together by shared university experiences in a postElizabeth II, post-Brexit, post-pandemic era, Fri 2 - Fri 23 June, The Asylum Art Gallery, Wolverhampton

OPEN ART EXHIBITION Annual exhibition - this year’s theme is New Beginnings, Mon 5 June - Sat 22 July, Qube Gallery, Oswestry, North Shropshire

IAN MOSS Thurs 1 June, Hare & Hounds, B’ham

THE JERSEY BEATS Thurs

1 June, Brierley Hill

Civic, Dudley

SHANIA - 25 LIVE Thurs 1 June, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

SOULKINDA WONDERFUL - THE SONGS OF THE DRIFTERS Thurs 1 June, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

HARRIET Thurs 1 June, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shrops

A DIFFERENT THREAD Fri

2 June, Herman Arts, Oswestry, North Shrops

SOCIAL EXPERIMENT +

SYSTEM OF SLAVES +

PICASSO BLOT Fri 2

June, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

DODGY Sat 3 June, O2 Institute, Birmingham

SIMULATION THEORY + MORTIS + CULCHA +

KRYPTIC + EVER Sat 3

June, O2 Institute, Birmingham

HASAN RAHEEM Sat 3

June, O2 Institute, Birmingham

HORACE ANDY Sat 3

June, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham

METAL 2 THE MASSES Sat

3 June, The Underground, Stokeon-Trent

RACHID Sat 3 June, Two Gates Club, Tamworth AND FINALLY - PHIL

COLLINS TRIBUTE Sat 3

June, Lichfield Garrick

THE 4 ROSSIS Fri 2 June, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield

THE BOOTLEG ROCK

SHOW Sat 3 June, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

THOMAS ATLAS Sat 3

June, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

EMPIRE OF LIGHTS + SMOKING ESKIMO Sat 3

June, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

THE BLACK FEATHERS Sat 3 June, Herman Arts, Oswestry, North Shrops

DMA’S Fri 2 June, The Mill, Digbeth, B’ham

MADE IN TENNESSEE Fri 2 June, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

ELLIE JONES & THE GIANTS Fri 2 June, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

DUBLINERS EXPERIENCE

Fri 2 June, Halesowen Town Hall

THE JOHNNY CASH

EXPERIENCE Fri 2 June, The Robin, Bilston

JULIE JULY BAND Fri 2

June, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

SACK SABBATH Fri 2 June, Eleven, Stoke-onTrent

THE MERSEY BEATLES Fri 2 June, The Prince Of Wales Theatre, Cannock

THE BEATLES SOUND Fri 2 June, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield

TALON Fri 2 June, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

MEZZOTONIC + NATIONAL

MILK BAR + ROBBIE

JONES Fri 2 June, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

SECRET ELEPHANT +

BLACK MARKET Fri 2

June, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

THE KING OF REGGAETHE MUSIC OF BOB

MARLEY Fri 2 June,

THE DUBLINERS

EXPERIENCE Sat 3 June, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

SIGNING OFF - UB40

TRIBUTE Sat 3 June, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

LA VIVAS Sat 3 June, 45Live, Kidderminster

VINNY PECULIAR Sat 3

June, West Malvern Social Club

THE WEEKEND ANTHEMS

80S SHOW Sat 3 June, The River Rooms, Stourbridge

ODYSSEY Sat 3 June, The Robin, Bilston

BIG JIM AND THE ALABAMA BOOGIE BOYS

Sat 3 June, Katie

Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

LEFTFIELD Sat 3 June, The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

MARTIN SPEAKE Sat 3

June, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

KIRA MAC Sat 3 June, The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent

TRUE GOLD - THE SPANDAU BALLET

EXPERIENCE Sat 3 June, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

WAVE OF SHEEP + RESTING B!TCH FACE + THE PLATITUDES Sat 3

June, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

SARABETH TUCEK Sun 4

June, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

JAMES WALSH Sun 4

June, The Dark Horse, Moseley

SUN RECORDS, THE CONCERT: 70TH ANNIVERSARY Sun 4 June, Birmingham

Town Hall

GEORGIA CÉCILE Sun 4 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

ATIF ASLAM Sun 4 June, Utilita Arena B’ham

LESSER FORKBEARD

BAND Sun 4 June, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

ERIC BELL TRIO Sun 4 June, The Robin, Bilston

NIC PARKER Sun 4 June, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

Classical Music

BENJAMIIN GROSVENOR AND THE CBSO PLAY CHOPIN Riccardo Minasi conducts. Programme includes works by Schubert, Chopin & Mozart, Thurs 1 June, Symphony Hall, B’ham

SENIOR CITIZENS ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Thurs 1 June, Walsall Arena

KELL WIND TRIO Music for flute, clarinet & bassoon featuring Alastair Roberts, Geoffrey Smith and Ian Harvey, Fri 2 June, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury

ALEX MASON ORGAN CONCERT Sat 3 June, Shrewsbury Abbey

CBSO FAMILY CONCERT: PETER AND THE WOLF Featuring Julian Wilkins (conductor), Jane Wright (presenter), the CBSO Youth Chorus, CBSO Children’s Chorus & Sarah Butt (BSL Interpreter). Programme includes Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, 25 & Patterson’s Little Red Riding Hood, 27, Sun 4 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

THE MARCHES CHOIR: CORONATION REJOICING! Featuring Handel’s coronation anthems & Mozart’s Regina Coeli, Sun 4 June, Walcott Hall, Lydbury North, Shropshire

Comedy

TIM VINE Thurs 1 June, The Alexandra, Birmingham

SEAN HEYDON, SULLY O’SULLIVAN, ORLANDO GIBBS & TONY COWARDS

Thurs 1 June, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

STEVE ROYLE, JOSH PUGH, ANNA

THOMAS & ANDREW WHITE Thurs 1 June, Lichfield Sports Club

BILL WOOLLAND, PAUL JENNINGS, ASHLEY FRIEZE & DAN SMITH Thurs 1 June, Dudley Town Hall

CHLOE PETTS Fri 2 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PETER KAY Fri 2 June, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

RICH HALL Fri 2 June, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

TIM VINE Sat 3 June, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Theatre

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

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

THE KING AND I West End performer Annalene Beechey stars alongside Darren Lee in a new version of Bartlett Sher’s iconic musical, Tues 30 May - Sat 3 June, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

MATILDA JR Amateur version presented by Stage Productions, Tues 30 May - Sat 3 June, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent STARS - AN AFROFUTURIST SPACE

ODYSSEY A new play about an old lady who goes into outer space in search of her own orgasm, Thurs 1Sat 3 June, Old Rep, Birmingham

MRS KAPOOR’S DAUGHTER’S WEDDING 2

MAURITIUS British Asian ‘laugh-outloud’ theatre production promising comedy, singing, dancing and dhol, Sun 4 June, The Alexandra, B’ham

SPINSTER OF THE PARISH Theatre(ish) present a new show about life in the West Midlands during the previous century, Sat 3 June, Stourbridge Town Hall

Kids Theatre

DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS A ‘fantastical’ family show where audiences are invited into a magical world of myths & legends, Wed 31 May - Fri 2 June, The Rep, B’ham MINISTRY OF SCIENCE LIVE Educating and entertaining show for younger audiences. Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornadoes, hydrogen bottle rockets, ignited methane and even a self-built hovercraft!, Thurs 1 June, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE

Amateur version of the popular family musical, presented by Get Your Wigle On, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Dance

FLEXUS DANCE COLLECTIVE

Showcasing and celebrating youth dance from across the Midlands, Sat 3 June, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Light Entertainment

THAT’LL BE THE DAY Featuring comedy sketches, impersonations and a packed programme of nostalgic music from the 1950s through to the 1980s, Wed 31 May - Thurs 1 June, Lichfield Garrick

RICHARD JONES: AN EVENING OF MAGIC

Cutting-edge magic, mind-reading and psychological illusion, Thurs 1

June, Stourbridge Town Hall

FUN & SLUTTY WITH JONATHAN VAN NESS ‘Queer joy and side-splitting comedy’, Fri 2 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

HIGH JINX Fast-paced family show featuring magic, illusion and circus acts, Fri 2 June, Tamworth Assembly Rooms

GRAFFITI CLASSICS - THE COMEDY STRING QUARTET A classical concert, gypsy folk romp, opera, stand-up comedy and dance show all rolled into one, Fri 2 June, Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, South Shropshire

SATURDAY CABARET Featuring vocalist Champagne Shirley and ‘Tamworth’s premier hostess’, Miss Trisha Birmingham, Sat 3 June, Tamworth Assembly Rooms

FUNNY GIRLS ON TOUR STARRING BETTY

LEGS DIAMOND Evening of glamour, feathers and top hats, Sat 3 June, Mitchell Arts Centre, Hanley, Stokeon-Trent

JEZO - COMEDY MAGIC Interactive show featuring magic, music, illusions & comedy, Sun 4 June, Theatre on the Steps, Bridgnorth

Events

1940S WEEK Explore life in the 1940s via workshops, displays and activities, until Thurs 1 June, RAF Museum Midlands, Cosford

STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW A twoday agricultural show with competitions for livestock & horses, until Thurs 1 June, Staffordshire County Showground

PEPPA PIG AT SEA LIFE Meet Peppa as she dives into a new adventure, making friends with thousands of sea creatures, until Fri 2 June, National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham

HALF-TERM ACTIVITY - BACKYARD

SURVIVAL Find out about surviving outdoors. Filter water, pick ‘spring greens’ to taste, make a one-minute fire and build a den, until Fri 2 June, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms

FREDDO’S MAGIC SHOW Freddo hosts his very own magic show, until Fri 2 June, Cadbury World, Bournville, Birmingham

MAYBEES TRAIL Create a buzz as you follow this self-led 10-point nature trail around Powis Castle’s colourful garden, until Sun 4 June, Powis Castle, Welshpool

BRICKLIVE BRICKOSAURS Get ready for a ‘roar-some display on a T-Rex scale’, until Sun 4 June, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

SHARKLIFE Learn the truth about sharks, until Sun 4 June, National

SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham

DINO WEEK Open the gates to the new Raptor Ranch, where the T-Rex, velociraptor, triceratops and spinosaurus are waiting to meet you, until Sun 4 June, National Forest Adventure Farm, Burton upon Trent LEGO CITY Join the Lego City Minifigure team - Ricky Rocket Racer, Mech-Max, Go-To Gary and Fearless Fi - as they set epic missions for you to complete, until Sat 9 July, Legoland Discovery Centre

Birmingham

VANLIFE FESTIVAL For free spirits who enjoy vanlife and the great outdoors, Fri 2 June, West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM - A LEGO WORKSHOP Get creative with Lego and make your own ‘night in the museum’ scene, Fri 2 June, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery

UK GAMES EXPO All aspects of the tabletop gaming hobby are represented under one roof, Fri 2Sun 4 June, NEC, Birmingham

HOME FRONT CRAFTS Brush up on your needlework or felting skills, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June, RAF Museum

Midlands, Cosford

REGGAE IN THE SCULPTURE PARK A full day of reggae, dancehall, world music and hip-hop, Sat 3 June, British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry, North Shropshire

VOLKSWAGEN MEET A Volkswagen owners meet-up, Sat 3 June, British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry, North Shropshire

WORLD DINOSAUR WEEKEND WITH NIGEL MARVEN Including Q&A sessions with Nigel, Sat 3 - Sun 4 June, Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World, Telford

ANTIQUES FAIR Dozens of traders descend on Bantock to offer everything from costume jewellery to ceramics and furniture, Sun 4 June, Bantock House, Wolverhampton

Festivals in the Midlands

FORBIDDEN FOREST Line-up includes Andy C, Camelphat, High Contrast, Marco Carola, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June, Belvoir Castle, Nottinghamshire

WYCHWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up includes Happy Mondays, Travis, Sam Ryder, The Proclaimers, Fri 2Sun 4 June, Cheltenham Racecourse

LICHFIELD BLUES & JAZZ Line-up includes Catfish, Remi Harris Trio, Fred T Baker, Funky Velvet, Sun 4Sun 11 June, various locations across Lichfield