thelist

VISUAL ARTS IN THE MIDLANDS Gigs

The Barber Institute Of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham

PAYING RESPECTS: MONEY AND MOR-

TALITY Compelling exhibition featuring highlights from the Barber’s superlative coin collection, which includes world-class caches of Byzantine, Trapezuntine and Sasanian currency, as well as significant holdings of Roman and medieval coins, until Spring 2024

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

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

HERE&QUEER Exhibition in which members of the LGBTQ+ community take ownership of the gallery’s collections to re-interpret them from a queer perspective, until Sun 28 May

BOYANA ALEKSOVA Residency exhibition in which the artist explores concepts of rewilding, degrowth and detachment from nature, until Sun 28 May

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

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

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

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DOLLS

Family-friendly exhibition inspired by Jules Verne’s adventure novel and exploring the museum’s extensive doll collection, Sat 20 May - Sun 27 August

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

DRAWINGS BY STEVE EVANS The geometrics of the built environment provide the inspiration for the abstract drawings featured in this exhibition by Wolverhampton-based artist Steve Evans, until Mon 1 May

EUGENE PALMER: STANDING STILL

Series of paintings by internationally acclaimed Jamaican-British artist Eugene Palmer, until Mon 8 May

ERIC BIBB Fri 5 May, Birmingham Town Hall

May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

FINE LINES: CONTEMPORARY

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

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE... New exhibition featuring the work of the founder-member artists of the Blk Art Group, an association of young black British artists formed in 1979 to question what black art was, until Sun 9 July

Elsewhere:

FESTIVAL OF CRAFT Featuring ceramics, prints, textiles, mosaics, glass art, works in wood, and paper jewellery, until Thurs 20 May, VAN Gallery, Darwin Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury

MICHELLE COXON SOLO EXHIBITION

Eclectic collection of mixed media sculpture, ceramics, textiles and illustration from the award-winning artist and popular children’s books author and illustrator, until Mon 29 May, Qube Gallery, Oswestry, North Shropshire

ASSOCIATION OF ANIMAL ARTISTS

Collection of animal artworks in an array of mediums and styles, until Wed 31 May, Rose Patterson Art Gallery, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire

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

INTERNATIONAL GARDEN

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR One of the world’s most respected photography competitions and exhibitions, particularly within the genres of garden, plant, flower and botanical photography, Sat 6 MayWed 28 June, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

WELSHLY ARMS + MYLE Mon 1 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

RABBIT RABBIT - CHAS & DAVE TRIBUTE Mon 1 May, The Robin, Bilston

OYSTERBAND Mon 1 May, Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley

THE TOASTERS + SMOKE

LIKE A FISH Mon 1 May, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

HENRY MOODIE Tues 2 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

DELTA GOODREM Tues 2 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE LOTTERY WINNERS + PET NEEDS Tues 2 May, The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent

THE STORY OF THE DUBLINERS Tues 2 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

ASTON MERRYGOLD +

NATHAN GURD Wed 3 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

GIVEON Wed 3 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY +

PLAINRIDE Wed 3 May, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

WAX FUTURES + DVRK

ROMANTICS + COLD

COMFORT Wed 3 May, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

PETER DOHERTY +

TRAMPOLENE Thurs 4 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

OLLY MURS Thurs 4 May, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham

CHANTEL MCGREGOR +

BLUE NATION Thurs 4 May, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

DAVID PRESTON QUARTET Thurs 4 May, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

SLEEPER Thurs 4 May, The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent

ALESUND + MEGAN

DIXON-HOOD Thurs 4 May, The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent

HUGH CORNWELL Fri 5 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

JAMES Fri 5 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

DURAN DURAN Fri 5 May, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

THE FOOZ FIGHTERS Fri 5 May, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

THE BON JOVI

EXPERIENCE Fri 5 May, Walsall Arena & Arts

Centre

MADE IN TENNESSEE Fri 5

May, Brierley Hill Civic, Dudley

MOSHTALGIA Fri 5 May, The River Rooms, Stourbridge

DUB PISTOLS Fri 5 May, The Robin, Bilston

JAMIE LENMAN Fri 5

May, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent

CRYBABY & THE HOOCHIE

COOCHIE BOYS +

GOODFELLAS Fri 5 May, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

TALON Fri 5 May, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

THE GUITAR EXPERIENCE

Fri 5 May, Brewhouse

Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

TAXI FOR JESUS Fri 5 May, Lichfield Guildhall

RUBY BRIDGE Fri 5 May, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

FLASH: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN Fri 5 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

THE RONALDOS Fri 5 May, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

JOHN E VISITIC + GUNS FOR GIRLS Fri 5 May, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

LUTHER VANDROSS - A TRIBUTE Fri 5 May, Telford Theatre

NEW AMEN CORNER Fri 5 May, Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth

DES & DAN Fri 5 May, SpArC Theatre, Bishops

Castle

A VISION OF ELVIS Fri 5Sat 6 May, Lichfield

Garrick

POP EVIL + CALL ME

AMOUR Sat 6 May, O2 Institute, Birmingham

BILLY LOCKETT Sat 6

THE SMYTHS Sat 6 May, O2 Academy, B’ham

ESSENTIAL 80S Sat 6 May, The River Rooms, Stourbridge

THE KILLERZ + THE DRIVE Sat 6 May, The Robin, Bilston

JAMIE LENMAN Sat 6 May, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

DAVID LIVE - BOWIE

TRIBUTE Sat 6 May, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

MATRIX CLUB MATRIX Sat

6 May, The Quarter at Potbank, Stoke-onTrent

21ST CENTURY ABBA Sat

6 May, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

MURPHY’S MARBLES Sat 6 May, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

NICHOLE Sat 6 May, Two Gates Club, Tamworth

THANK ABBA FOR THE MUSIC Sat 6 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

LAURA CORTESE AND FRIENDS Sat 6 May, The Hive, Shrewsbury

MAET LIVE Sat 6 May, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

EMMA LINNEY Sat 6 May, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

CHASING AUGUST +

LITTLE GHOST Sat 6 May, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

CRY FOR MERCY + SECRET ELEPHANT Sat 6 May, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

WHEN CHAI MET TOAST

Sun 7 May, O2 Academy, Birmingham

DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY Sun 7 May, The Asylum, Birmingham

HENRIK FREISCHLADER + THE GAMMER LEACH

EXPERIENCE Sun 7 May, The Robin, Bilston

RAT PACK - SWINGIN’ AT THE SANDS Sun 7 May, Wolverhampton Grand

MONKEY WRENCH Sun 7 May, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

BURNING HEART Sun 7 May, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

Classical Music

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

GEORGE ZACH, JO CAULFIELD, HENRY

MICHAEL & BARRY DODDS Thurs 4 May, Lichfield Sports Club

SCUMMY MUMMIES Thurs 4 May, Lichfield Garrick

LAUGH OUT LICHFIELD! Thurs 4 May, The Bowling Green, Lichfield

KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY NIGHT Thurs 4 May, Stourbridge Town Hall

TIM VINE Thurs 4 May, Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shropshire

PIANO MASTERS SERIES FEATURING

ALIM BEISEMBAYEV Programme includes works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov & Liszt, Thurs 4 May, Stoke Repertory Theatre

BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Featuring Michael Seal (conductor) & Simone Lamsma (soloist). Programme includes works by Bax, Butterworth, Mendelssohn, Elgar & Tippett, Fri 5 May, Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

CALLINO QUARTET Featuring Helena Winkelman & Tom Hankey (violins), Rebecca Jones (viola) & Sarah McMahon (cello). Programme includes works by Daria Kwiatkowska & Ravel, Fri 5 May, Elgar Concert Hall, The Bramall, University of Birmingham

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

LONDON CONCERTANTE: A NIGHT AT THE OPERA Programme includes works by Puccini, Mozart, Verdi & Rossini, Sun 7 May, Lichfield Cathedral

Comedy

RICKY BALSHAW, JOE ZALIAS, LOVDEV BARPAIGA & SOL BERNSTEIN Mon 1 May, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

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 & PADDY YOUNG Thurs 4 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

STEPHEN BAILEY, NIPPER THOMAS, FOXDOG & DAVE TWENTYMAN Thurs 4 May, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek,

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

SCHALK BEZUIDENHOUT Fri 5 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

MORTI-FIED LIVE COMEDY Fri 5 May, Two Gates Club, Tamworth

DALISO CHAPONDA, SARAH CALLAGHAN, DAN TIERNAN & WAYNE BEESE Fri 5 May, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

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

GARY DELANEY Sun 7 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Theatre

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

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

MOTHER GOOSE Jimmy Burton-Iles takes the lead role in this springtime pantomime, Mon 1 May, Halesowen Town Hall

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

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL Musical Theatre Stafford present an amateur version of the hit high-school musical, Wed 3 - Sat 6 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL Crewe

Amateur Musicals Society presents its version of the Tim Firth musical, Wed 3 - Sat 6 May, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

KING LEAR Paul Morel’s one-man show, presented from the point of view of Lear’s long-suffering and ever-loyal fool, Thurs 4 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

FAME JR Amateur version presented by Ludwig Theatre Arts’ Broadway Juniors, Thurs 4, Fri 5 & Sun 7 May, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

Motionhouse: Nobody - Lichfield Garrick

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

Kids Theatre

BLOOM A ‘perfect introduction’ to theatre for babies and very young children, featuring puppetry and stay & play, Sun 7 May, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

Dance

MOTIONHOUSE: NOBODY A dancecircus adventure featuring gravity-defying choreography, digital projections and a shape-shifting set, Tues 2 - Wed 3 May, Lichfield Garrick

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

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