thelist

TAPPED Heart-warming comedy that explores the importance of connection, fulfilment and (lack of) hope, Tues 9 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

ROCK OF AGES Farewell tour of the smash-hit musical, Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

THE BODYGUARD Melody Thornton stars as Rachel Marron alongside Ayden Callaghan as her bodyguard, Frank Farmer, Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

WISH YOU WERE DEAD Clive Mantle, George Rainsford and Katie McGlynn star in the world premiere stage adaptation of Peter James’ crime story, Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

A MONTH OF SUNDAYS Stafford Players present a comedy about the challenges of growing old, Tues 9Sat 13 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE Ridiculusmus present a play about ageing, dying and death... Wed 10 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

THE MP, AUNTY MANDY & ME A bittersweet tale that explores consent, coercion and grooming within the gay male community, Wed 10 May, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

SENSE & SENSIBILITY Hotbuckle

Productions present a new version of Jane Austen’s romantic classic, Wed 10 - Thurs 11 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

FUR COAT AND NO KNICKERS Mow Cop

Players present an amateur version of Mike Harding’s play about the wedding of Deirdre and Mark... Thurs 11 - Sat 13 May, Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent

THE POLAR BEAR (IS DEAD) A show ‘about loss and being alone that’s ultimately full of hope’. Note that the production engages with themes of death and bereavement, Fri 12 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham

MAKE-UP A poignant story about what happens when drag becomes a drag - and the life-changing decision to walk away from your alter-ego... Fri 12 May, Lichfield Garrick

TWICE NIGHTLY Brand-new musical comedy featuring original songs and celebrating theatre’s golden years, Fri 12 May, Theatre on the Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

WONDERLAND DREAMS Stoke Amateur Theatre Society presents a new musical based on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, Fri 12 - Sat 13 May, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-onTrent

GODSPELL Amateur version presented by Aldridge Musical Comedy Society, Fri 12 - Sat 13 May, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock

SHERLOCK’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

James Barry’s comedy, inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character, Sat 13 May, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

Kids Theatre

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE Fun-filled family show complete with puppetry, enchanting music and a very special visit from the amazing flying Pinky Ponk, Mon 8 - Wed 10 May, Birmingham Hippodrome

MILKSHAKE! LIVE Join your favourite Milkshake! characters in a family show packed with songs, dances, laughter and audience interaction, Sat 13 May, Lichfield Garrick

Dance

STRICTLY COME DANCING: THE PROFESSIONALS Featuring stars from the popular BBC show, including: Dianne Buswell; Vito Coppola; Carlos Gu; Karen Hauer; Neil Jones; Nikita Kuzmin; Gorka Marquez; Luba Mushtuk; Jowita Przystal; and Nancy Xu, Sat 13 - Sun 14 May, Birmingham Hippodrome

Light Entertainment

A NIGHT OF STARS Jasper Carrott hosts an evening of famous faces, music & comedy in celebration of local news anchorman Bob Warman’s 50 years in TV, Tues 9 May, The Rep, B’ham WHEN YOU’RE SMILING Afternoon of musical memories from Neil Sands and his West End cast, Tues 9 May, Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shropshire

SCOTTISH FALSETTO SOCKS: EUROVISION Earth’s funniest footwear are back with their latest comedy hour, Fri 12 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

TRACY BORMAN - HOW TO BE A GOOD MONARCH An ‘entertaining and informative’ audio-visual tour of 1,000 years of twists and turns in the story of the British monarchy - from William the Conqueror to Charles III, Fri 12 May, Lichfield Garrick

AN EVENING OF MAGIC WITH RICHARD JONES An evening with the first-ever magician to win Britain’s Got Talent, Fri 12 May, Tamworth Assembly

Rooms

THE NOISE NEXT DOOR: MYSTERIOUS MANSIONS OF MYSTERY Anarchic entertainment that promises to be ‘a little bit spooky, a little bit stupid and a whole lot funny’, Sat 13 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham

THE NOISE NEXT DOOR: HOMETOWN

HEROES Evening of off-the-cuff songs, scenes and characters, Sat 13 May, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham

THE D-DAY DARLING’S KING’S CORONATION TOUR 2023 A song & dance extravaganza featuring The DDay Juniors alongside special guest Colin Thackery, Sun 14 May, Tamworth Assembly Rooms

Events

THE KING CHARLES III CORONATION AFTERNOON TEA A coronation-themed afternoon tea in the Dining Room and Drawing room, Mon 8 May, Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton CORONATION FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY

Have a go at making a nature-crown and colour-in a flag, Mon 8 May, Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton ABBEY CORONATION CELEBRATION A huge tea party and picnic in and around the Abbey to celebrate the King’s coronation, Mon 8 May, Shrewsbury Abbey

RAF STEM TAKEOVER DAY Series of interactive workshops exploring different elements of Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths, Wed 10 May, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

NATURAL CRAFTING WORKSHOP Find out how to use natural materials found along the canal to create surface patterns, explore textures and learn crafts, Thurs 11 May, The Hive, Shrewsbury

DIVORCED, BEHEAD, DIED: AN AUDIENCE WITH KING HENRY VIII The public are invited to question and ‘petition’ their Monarch, Fri 12 May, The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent

WORCESTER BALLOON FESTIVAL

Worcester’s first-ever balloon festival, Fri 12 - Sat 13 May, Worcester Racecourse

LUDLOW SPRING FESTIVAL A packed line-up of music, comedy, talks and activities for all the family, Fri 12 - Sun 14 May, Ludlow Rugby Club, Shropshire

THE BABY SHOW With over 300 leading baby brands in attendance, the show has everything from buggies and bouncers to cribs and car seats, Fri 12 - Sun 14 May, NEC, Birmingham

THE VAPER EXPO UK The world’s leading vape companies, all under one roof, Fri 12 - Sun 14 May, NEC, Birmingham

PEAKY BLINDERS - FACT OR FICTION?

Discover what’s fact and what’s fiction in hit TV series Peaky Blinders, Sat 13 May, Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent

KING’S CORONATION PARTY Family show with comedy, slapstick, audience interaction and games, Sat 13 May, The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent

BIRMINGHAM BRICK FESTIVAL Lego fan event dedicated to all things brick, Sat 13 May, The Bond Company, Birmingham

MEET THE EXPERT: HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE YOUTH ORGANISATION Meet an ambassador from the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organisation during Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month, Sat 13 May, Thinktank

Birmingham Science Museum

MAKERS CENTRAL Featuring crafters, inventors, hobbyists and artists, Sat 13 - Sun 14 May, NEC, Birmingham

HEAVY HORSE WEEKEND The resident shire horses are joined by other heavy horses across the weekend, Sat 13 - Sun 14 May, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

GREEN MAN CELEBRATION A celebration of spring with performances, music, dancing and entertainment, Sun 14 May, Oak House, West Bromwich