Whats On Staffordshire May 2015

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STAFFORDSHIRE WHAT’S ON ISSUE 353 MAY 2015

THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE STAFFORDSHIRE

www.whatsonlive.co.uk

ISSUE 353

MAY 2015

MARK BENTON IN

TERVIEW INSIDE

INSIDE PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS

Northern Ballet Pippa Moore talks about a life in dance interview inside

Museums At Night what’s on where...

@WHATSONSTAFFS WWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK

Ruby Wax comedian talks about a Sane New World interview inside

INSIDE: FILM COMEDY THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VISUAL ARTS EVENTS FOOD & DRINK & MUCH MORE!

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Contents May Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:22 Page 1

May

2015

INSIDE:

Editor: Davina Evans davina@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281708

The Bodyguard

Editorial Assistants: Brian O’Faolain

Five star musical continues in the Midlands p25

brian@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281701

Lauren Foster lauren@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281707

Adrian Parker adrian.parker@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281714

Jamie Ryan jamie@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281720

Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse lei@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281703

Chris Horton chris@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281704

Northern Ballet

Subscriptions: Adrian Parker

Pippa Moore talks about a life in dance interview p10

adrian.parker@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281714

Managing Director: Paul Oliver paul@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281711

Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan martin@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281710

Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell Chris Atherton

Ruby Wax talks about her Sane New World - interview page 8

Accounts Administrator Julia Perry julia@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281717

Contributors: Graham Bostock: Theatre James Cameron-Wilson: Film; Eva Easthope, Jessica Aston, Patsy Moss, Jack Rolfe, Jan Watts, Simon Carter Head Office: 13-14 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE

Tel: 01743 281777 e-mail: info@whatsonlive.co.uk

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News p4 Music p13 Comedy p24 Theatre p27 Dance p40 Film/DVD p43 Festivals p47 Visual Arts p51 Events p55 Eating Out p65

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News

A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Festival calls upon local artists Telford & Wrekin Council’s free Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival will take place on Saturday 19 September. In addition to featuring a ‘high quality’ craft and food market, live street entertainment and family activities, this year’s festival also challenges local artists to create a piece of artwork depicting the world famous Ironbridge and its surroundings.

The artwork must be completed on-site during the five hours of the festival and be ready for judging on the day. The winner will receive £200, with their work of art then being exhibited at Telford & Wrekin Council’s main office until the end of the year.

Further information about the competition can be obtained from Barbara Taylor on 01952 435900 or by emailing barbara.taylor@ironbridge.org.uk

Diverse new season at The REP Comedy line-up announced for V Festival Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle and Essex funnyman Russell Kane will headline The Glee Club Comedy Tent at this year’s V Festival, which takes place at Weston Park on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border on 22 & 23 August.

Commenting on the gig, Russell Kane said: “I can’t believe I’m headlining the V Festival Glee Club Comedy Tent! I’ll celebrate afterwards by heading straight to the dance tent and throwing myself around to techno music like a tribal chief beating a drum.”

Fellow comedians Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi, Nick Helm and Gary Delaney also feature in the Comedy Tent line-up.

Black Country Baby...

A Midlands actress who recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts has joined the cast of Eleanor Bergstein’s record-breaking touring version of Dirty Dancing.

Black Country-born Jessie Hart is currently playing the lead role of Baby Houseman in the show, which runs at the Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 23 May. “Birmingham Hippodrome was where I saw the first show I can remember,” reveals Jess.

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Mike Bartlett’s Olivier Award-winning King Charles III opens Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s autumn/winter season. Co-produced by The REP and the Almeida Theatre and directed by Rupert Goold, the production ‘explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family’. King Charles III shows from 4 to 19 September and kick-starts a season of diverse theatre at The REP. Kneehigh Theatre’s Dead Dog In A Suitcase (And Other Love Songs) (29 September to 3 October) and Meera Syal’s Anita And Me (9 to 24 October) are other early-autumn shows being presented at the venue. Maxine Peake’s critically acclaimed Beryl, meanwhile, celebrates the life of unsung sporting ‘legend’ Beryl Burton, who cycled her way into the record books. The production runs from 24 to 28 November. Other highlights include William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies (3 to 7 November) and the return of The REP’s acclaimed version of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men (4 to 13 February), directed by Roxana Silbert. The venue’s Christmas show is the timeless tale of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (19 November to 16 January).

For details on all new season shows, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk.

“I saw Miss Saigon there with all my family when I was about eleven. It was my favourite ever show and I’ll never forget it. It’s crazy to think my run of the tour, playing the leading role of Baby, opens on that same stage.”

Jessie stars opposite Lewis Kirk, who plays Johnny Castle.

Monkeying Around in Telford A week-long circus skills summer school is visiting Telford’s Oakengates Theatre this July. Monkeying Around introduces local children and young people to a selection of both aerial and ground-based disciplines, including static trapeze and acrobatics.

The course has been designed for young people aged between eight and eighteen and is being run by circus theatre company

RougePlay Theatre.

Monkeying Around runs at The Place, Oakengates Theatre, from Monday 20 to Friday 24 July. The cost of the course is £110 (and £90 for a second child). No previous experience is required.

Indie band announce Shrewsbury gig A north London indie guitar band who were once regular performers at Shrewsbury’s The Fridge are to perform their first gig in the town for twenty-five years. BOB play the Lion Hotel on 22 May as a warm-up for their performance at the Gigantic Indie All Dayer in Manchester twenty-four hours later. The gig coincides with the release of the band’s Singles And EPs album, due for release on 18 May.

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Nashville legends in Brum The legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers are this month appearing at Birmingham Town Hall (23 and 24 May), the only UK dates on their current tour. The Singers were originally formed in 1866 from a group of ex-slave music students at the Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The 24 May concert sees the ensemble joined on stage by Black Voices, the UK’s leading female a cappella quintet, to perform a song especially written for the occasion by composer Ken Burton.

Hello Kitty goes live The popular Japanese bobtail cat will take to the stage in Fashion & Friends, an interactive presentation that’s been designed to appeal to fans of all ages.

The show will feature a soundtrack including Charli XCX, Bruno Mars, Kylie Minogue, Echosmith, Clean Bandit and Flo Rida.

Commenting on the production, Steve Homer, promoter for the show’s co-producers, Live Nation Entertainment, said: “We’re delighted to have Hello Kitty Live - Fashion & Friends on our roster. She’s a natural addition to a line-up of global superstars we work with that includes Madonna, Rihanna and Beyonce.” Hello Kitty Live - Fashion & Friends visits the Regent Theatre, Stoke-onTrent, on 20 October and the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton on 26 October.

BCMG up for prestigious award Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) is celebrating after its recent nomination for a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Music Award.

The ensemble has been nominated for its mass-participation performance, Crowd Out, which was presented in the glass atrium at Millennium Point last summer by one thousand Birmingham residents.

The performance, which featured people singing, yelling, talking, shouting and whispering, was composed by Pulitzer Prizewinning American composer David Lang.

BCMG produced the show, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Simon Halsey directing.

This year’s RPS Music Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday 5 May. A special programme about the Awards will then be broadcast on BBC Radio Three on Monday 11 May at 7.30pm.

Mica Paris to star in new musical Award-winning singer and platinum-selling artist Mica Paris is to star as Sylvia in the UK and Ireland tour of Love Me Tender - a new musical inspired by and featuring the music of Elvis Presley.

Penned by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, of Memphis The Musical fame, the show is described as ‘a funny and moving tale of hope, second chances and the healing qualities of rock’n’roll’. Further casting is yet to be announced.

Love Me Tender shows at Stoke’s Regent Theatre from 29 June to 24 July and Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre from 24 to 29 August.

IN BRIEF Buccaneers and buried gold at The Old Rep Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) has announced Treasure Island as its first Christmas offering at the city’s Old Rep Theatre. The classic tale of Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins shows at the venue from 20 November to 3 January. The production will be directed and produced by Scott Ritchie, who will also be directing Malvern Festival Theatre’s Christmas production of Peter Pan. Tickets for Treasure Island are now available from the Old Rep box office on 0121 359 9444

Forgotten history showcased through dance An event exploring Stoke-on-Trent’s involvement in reconstructing the Czech village of Lidice, following a Second World War Nazi massacre, takes place in the Potteries next month.

The Lidice Shall Live Campaign was set up by Stoke doctor Sir Barnett Stross to help the Czech government construct a new model village. This became a forgotten piece of history until local couple Alan and Cheryl Gerrard came across the story back in 2010.

Lidice Shall Live (Victoria Hall, Hanley, 8, 11 and 18 June) features contemporary dance groups from across the region performing adaptations of the story. Audience members will be invited to stand with characters, listen to the words of the survivors and weave between the venue’s corridors to encounter soundscapes.

Tickets are available from the Regent Theatre box office on 0844 871 7649 or by visiting www.atgtickets.com/stoke

Doodle-tastic in Stourbridge Doodles by award-winning actress Emma Thompson, the Midlands’ own Lenny Henry and music legends Frankie Valli and Tony Hadley are to be immortalised in glass and displayed at this month’s International Glass Festival in Stourbridge.

Each celebrity was asked to create an original drawing on an acrylic sheet. The drawing was then translated into a piece of glass art, with the method and style used being decided by the artist working on the project.

The first to be completed, by Broadfield House artist Allister Malcolm, is Franki Valli’s doodle of three brightly coloured kites.

The International Glass Festival takes place from 28 to 31 May. For further information on exhibitions, events and workshops, visit www.ifg.org.uk www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5

Northern Ballet interview CA.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:50 Page 1

Northern Ballet

interview

ballerina Pippa Moore talks about a life in dance...

Leeds-based Northern Ballet has developed a reputation for producing work which is as much about storytelling as it is about dancing. The highly rated company are touring to the Midlands next month with Madame Butterfly, which features Liverpool-born premier dancer Pippa Moore in the lead role. What’s On sat down with Pippa to find out more...

What does being a premier dancer for the Northern Ballet involve?

I joined the company in 1996 and worked my way through the ranks, starting at corps de ballet level. The roles are given to you as you prove your competence and also as you mature, especially with a part like Madame Butterfly. It’s a very complex character, around the age that I am now, so I feel I can deliver the performance with all the relevant layers of emotion. So this is the kind of role a premier dancer performs - and the same in lots of other ballets, like The Great Gatsby and Romeo And Juliet.

which I call decoration - so dancers who’re there to fill the stage. Unfortunately - and I’ve done it myself, and it’s important and interesting at the time - it can become a souldestroying experience. Here at Northern Ballet, each dancer is made to feel that their contribution is one hundred percent important. The research we do at the start of the production, the workshops, the reading out scripts and the role-playing, all serves to make everybody feel hugely important to the production. I felt that I was a principal dancer from the minute I joined, even though I was just a mere corp de ballet!

How many hours do you train?

We have company class every morning, regardless of whether you’re rehearsing or if you have two shows that day. So the hourand-a-quarter class is a given every single day - we say it’s like brushing your teeth.

On Thursday and Saturday there’s always a matinee as well as an evening show.

Wednesday and Friday we’re rehearsing for the next ballet. Next week, for example, we’re doing Wuthering Heights in Southampton, so that ballet has to be rehearsed this week to keep it in top shape for next week. So it’s ongoing, I’m afraid.

Would a premier dancer have a similar position within the children’s ballet, or do they remain more involved with the complex roles?

Due to the logistics of the children’s ballet, which is on tour with the main company now, the premier dancers aren’t involved in the Elves And The Shoe Maker. We can’t be in two places at once, and it’s easier for the choreographers to work with the younger dancers of the company, as they’re more available.

Who or what inspired you to become a ballet dancer?

The thing that got me into dancing wasn’t ballet at all. I’d not been exposed to ballet as a child; I was brought up on Grease and Fame - anything that seemed like fun! I went off to dance school to do tap and modern and everything else. I was inspired then, and all through ballet school I worked hard. Then I joined a company and found out, for the first time, what it was like to be on stage.

Watching the older dancers carry big roles is inspiring, particularly when you’re living and breathing it all with them. That’s what I found totally inspiring. It isn’t always the same when you watch it at home on video. There are disconnections. It’s not real; it’s just like watching television. Actually being in the company, I was more blown away by what people were doing.

Is it quite hard to change characters and movement each day?

Yes, very much so. And you’re often rehearsing a ballet on a different set, which can be confusing. We’ll be rehearsing Wuthering Heights this week on the Great Gatsby set!

What would you say is the toughest aspect of being a performer?

I think when you’re a younger dancer, you may be given a solo, or you may be given five minutes of material to dance in a trio or a quartet. So you have a burst of adrenaline, go out there, perform - and then you’re done. With a role like Madame Butterfly, it’s a whole evening of building the character and taking the audience on a journey. You have to be fully committed from start to finish. You can’t check in and out. There’s very little time I’m actually off stage in the second act. So to answer your question, I think the toughest aspect is probably mental concentration and the sense of logic you have to bring to the role in order for the audience to be on board with the story.

A lot of people assume the hardest thing is the actual dancing. They forget the acting side of the performance. Is that more what Northern Ballet’s about?

That’s why I’ve stayed here for so long.

There’s always something new for us to work on. We’re always taking on interesting narrative work, and I’ve never felt anybody is not important on stage. A lot of other companies do narrative work, and there will be a corp of dancers who’re carrying the evening. But there will also be a lot of work

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What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your footsteps and become a ballet dancer?

Looking after your body and working hard is the norm for a dancer, but what people are not sufficiently focused on is looking after themselves mentally. This is important, because you will have setbacks. You have to find the determination to keep going.

Anybody can get up and do one show.

What’s difficult is getting up and doing seven shows in a different city each week, which is what we do. The travel in between is hard, and it’s important to keep yourself sane doing that. So if you want to go into a ballet company like Northern, you have to be ready for the full experience, for encompassing everything that the job entails. You need to stay mentally strong. That determination has got me through on many occasions, especially when I felt my body was going to let me down.

Northern Ballet has a great reputation outside of London. How has this been developed?

We’re one of the few companies that tour the whole of Great Britain, literally bringing ballet to the doorsteps of different people in different regions. The children’s ballets in particular have done a wonderful job of presenting dance and ballet to people who wouldn’t normally be able to travel or have the resources to see it. The children’s ballet has totally changed the face of our tour, bringing the company to Wolverhampton and other cities. We’re always trying to reach out to as many places and people as we can.

Have approaches to ballet changed during the course of your career?

Dance has kind of become cool again, hasn’t it? Everybody has something to say about it or has seen something. It’s far more accessible, thanks to television in particular.

Darcey Bussell being on the Strictly Come Dancing panel has done a lot for ballet.

Has the chance to watch live screenings and, in terms of the company, the fact that The Elves And The Shoe Maker has been on Cbeebies, pushed the ballet boundaries?

Absolutely! It’s showing people there’s nothing to be afraid of. We do stories that are easily accessible to people. Northern Ballet is trying to take the fear factor out of ballet.

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The tour that’s coming to the Midlands features very different works - Madame Butterfly, Perpetuum Mobile and The Elves And The Shoe Maker. What’s most important when dancing to a younger audience?

All the children’s ballets are under an hour, and there are moments when you absolutely know that they’ll laugh. It caters for them. In Elves, there’s a section of dance on a trampoline - the kids love that. Visually there are lots of things that happen, so it’s not just one person they have to keep their focus on.

Scenes change quite quickly.

What’s your all-time favourite ballet?

That’s tricky! I love all the shows I’m in, but I’ll give you two contrasting ones. Madame Butterfly I love because of the emotional journey. It’s a tragedy, and I’m a sucker for a tragedy. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I found a comedic side to me that I didn’t know I could bring to the stage. To hear the audience laugh at me and with me was fantastic, and simply for that reason it was a memorable ballet. Those two ballets are really contrasting, and that’s why they’re my favourites.

As a dancer, is there a different approach to dancing in pointe shoes and on trampolines?

It’s different, so obviously you have to have a different thought process too. But I love all the differences between the roles. I wouldn’t want to play Madame Butterfly for ten years because it’s emotionally draining. Everybody needs the release of doing something lighthearted and fun. When we do A Christmas Carol, we have children in the show. It’s a very different aspect of Northern Ballet, and that’s why I’ve been here for so long. You’re never stuck in one corner. We keep moving forward and trying different things.

Northern Ballet perform at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tues 2 to Wed 3 June and Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 16 to Wed 17 June.

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Ruby Wax LW.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:52 Page 1

interview

“

I’m trying to do what my hero Bill Bryson does, which is take something that I think is so fascinating and then spin it into comedy.

”

Ruby Wax Comedian opens up to a Sane New World

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Ruby Wax LW.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:52 Page 2

Loud-mouthed, brassy and unapologetically ‘in your face’, American comedian Ruby Wax needs no introduction, having made a splash during the 1980s as part of the UK’s alternative comedy scene. More recently she’s studied Psychotherapy and gained a Master’s degree in Mindfulnessbased Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Oxford University. Now she’s bringing together comedy and psychotherapy in her touring show, Sane New World. What’s On caught up with her...

How would you define your brand of comedy in 2015, Ruby?

Eclectic. I’m trying to do what my hero Bill Bryson does, which is take something that I think is so fascinating and then spin it into comedy. At least I have a niche, as nobody else is doing anything like this.

So why Sane New World?

This is a show for everybody and anybody who says things like, ‘how can I have these critical thoughts, I shouldn’t have them’ or ‘I’m a fraud, I can’t write these articles’. And things like, ‘How come we’re so busy even when we’re not?’ and ‘Is it too shaming to say that I do nothing?’

People can’t sleep at night for worrying. I’m even answering spam, I can’t stop emailing.

These are just some of the questions that I put to the audience - and because I got to go to Oxford and learn about how the mind works, I can discuss why this is happening.

It’s not just that I’m bitching about the weather. I’m saying ‘Okay, there’s a reason for this - like every cell in your body only cares about your survival and couldn’t give a shit about your happiness’.

So what would be your top technique for achieving and successfully remaining in a state of mindfulness?

I talk about learning to fool your brain and just keep your ear to the ground to understand. When am I burning out? What’s my tipping point? Why am I competing with the next guy? I talk about people blindly deciding they’re gonna go on X Factor without realising they have the talent of a toothpick. We think we can be all of these things but you need to have a field.

I say in the show, ‘There was a time when we were all peasants and then there was a change. We didn’t care. We bred, we died, shit happens. Now everybody wants to be king. Where did they get this idea? People like Sarah Palin, thinking they can run a country? What happened that gives these people this entitlement? Everybody in the audience understands that this isn’t mental illness, this is our world.

You describe yourself as a poster girl for mental illness. With the election happening this month, what do you think can be done to improve understanding of these issues in the UK? To understand that it’s one in four. That it’s physical. That everything that happens that’s wrong in this country, including drug use, crime, child abuse, cutting, diabetes two, infertility, they all come from your brain - and yet there’s no money in brain research. Can you figure that one out? It’s unbelievable.

Then they use words like happiness. What is that - a greeting card? They say that by 2020 it’s going to be stress that kills us, and already a hundred billion a year is lost in business due to absenteeism. The National Health Service is drained from these kind of illnesses, so could they not just address the issue? Nobody knows where to go. I do a show where the audience are tearing their

hair out. What does the government think is going to happen? Forget about Syria, fix your own first.

You’ve obviously got very strong opinions on this issue. What can you personally do to help change things?

Me? I go to Parliament. I’ve spoken in Downing Street and I don’t aim to shut up.

You’ve been quite candid about your upbringing - and in particular your relationship with your parents. Has comedy acted as a form of catharsis in dealing with this?

No. Jennifer Saunders had great parents and she’s a genius, so you can’t always say.

You started out as a straight actress. How did the transition to comedy come about?

When I was on stage with the RSC, Alan Rickman and a few other people said I should stop acting because I wasn’t good.

They threw notes at me saying, ‘Get off the stage, you’re terrible’. I decided that I should do something else, and Alan Rickman said, ‘Write a play, because you’re so funny’. So I did, and he directed it. I hadn’t thought of writing before that time, but it was apparent that I couldn’t act, so it was the better option.

For many, that would’ve been a terrible blow to the confidence, but you obviously bounced back...

It wasn’t like they said ‘don’t do anything’.

They said ‘you can write comedy’. It was the right decision because there was a career waiting for me.

Did you find it tough making your mark as a female comedian?

I was there at a time when people were so excited that there was a female being funny about being a female that I couldn’t help but be successful. It was completely the right time. All the female comics before that were either fat and self-deprecating or Joan Rivers, saying what a dog she was. When we did Girls On Top they’d never seen attractive women being funnier than men are about women. That’s why we got the attention.

Do you think it’s easier or harder for female comics these days?

Do you see a lot of female comics? No. It don’t think there are a lot of female comics.

Maybe it’s improving but it’s still bad.

too nervous, and when I’m too nervous I get flustered.

Looking back over the past thirty-plus years, what would you say was the highlight?

Doing TED talks has been a highlight, but I guess most people won’t know what they are (they’re a global set of conferences taking place under the umbrella slogan ‘ideas worth spreading’ - Ed). Another highlight would be being in the RSC. Then this is a highlight, doing this show.

You’ve got a new book out called Wake The F**K Up - A Mindful Guide For The Frazzled, which is due for publication in January. How’s that coming along?

Don’t remind me. I’m writing it at the moment and the pressure’s on. I’m off to Cape Town this evening to concentrate just on this, then I’ll have the summer to complete it.

Why Cape Town?

It’s somewhere where I can concentrate. It’s on the ocean - I’m lucky enough to be able to go there to do this.

You’ve toured Sane New World previously.

So how has this new tour changed?

I’m improving it all the time. I’m constantly writing. It’s the same show in essence because there are films going on behind me and digital effects, so I’m not going that far from it.

Is it scripted or do you play on audience interaction?

It’s purely scripted, and then, after the interval, we have a discussion. The audience then do the talking. Then later I sign books and meet people.

How has your approach to life in general changed since you trained to be a psychotherapist?

I wasn’t going to be a psychotherapist. I was just interested in the subject, and I was really interested in Oxford. I went there to learn this stuff so that I could do shows like this. How’s that changed my life? Well, I now know more about a topic that I’m really interested in. And it’s a niche market - nobody else is doing it.

Ruby Wax performs Sane New World at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Fri 29 May and Birmingham REP on Sun 25 October

You’ve had your own chat show.

What were your best and worse interviewing experiences?

My worst were Madonna and Donald Trump, and my best were Imelda Marcos, Tom Hanks and OJ Simpson.

Why was Madonna amongst your worst?

It was fear-based. I just got it all wrong and when I get scared I get aggressive. It wasn’t two people flirting, which is what I try to do in my interviews. With her, I made her hate me pretty quickly. I was

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Mark Benton interview - R@.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:37 Page 1

interview

Mark Benton takes to solving crime on the French Riviera

Roles in Early Doors, Northern Lights, Waterloo Road and Catterick have ensured that Mark Benton is a familiar face on television. Having donned a dress and heels to play Edna Turnblad in the 2012 tour of Hairspray, Mark is this month returning to the stage in the touring production of West End hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...

Explain the role of Inspector Andre, Mark the character you play in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - and give us an idea of what the show is about...

It’s about a couple of conmen who have a bet to get some money out of this lady. My character is the sidekick of Lawrence, one of the two conmen, and he falls for one of the ladies who he’s trying to con. It’s kind of a comedy love story but that’s all I’m giving away. You’ll have to come and see the show.

The film was a 1988 remake of 1964’s Bedtime Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando. Now the 1988 remake’s been adapted for the stage. Which elements of the story have ensured its popularity with different generations of audience?

It’s such a big, fun piece. There are great songs in it and big numbers, but also the structure’s really funny. I think it really appealed to me because it’s almost like a comedy with songs.

If you weren’t playing Andre, which role would appeal to you the most - Lawrence Jameson or Freddy Benson?

I think Freddy because he’s a slob. He’s a mess, and that would be right up my street.

But I’m happy playing Andre. He’s got so many fun lines. He’s dry and French...

So how’s the French accent going?

It’s kind of a work in progress. I’m trying to get a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Arsene Wenger.

Moving away from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to focus on you; you grew up in Teeside in the mid-1960s - a long way away, I’d imagine, from any showbiz glamour. So what made you decide to become an actor?

My uncle’s an actor, and I wanted to be like him. That inspired me to do as many local plays and as much am-dram as I could get into. I went to technical college to do a drama course, and I guess I always wanted to be either an actor or in a band. I went to drama school when I was eighteen, then applied to RADA when I was twenty and moved to London.

What were your initial expectations of RADA? It was much better than I’d expected. I was worried because I thought there were going

10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk

to be all these posh kids and I’d be the odd one out, and that I wasn’t going to understand what was going on because I was this lad from the sticks. Actually it was nothing like I expected. It was lovely, and our year was a real mix of people from all walks of life. It was a real eye-opener and it changed my life forever. Some of the people who I met then remain my best friends today.

I’ve done quite a lot of weird things throughout my career that I never imagined I’d do, but I’ve ended up doing them nonetheless. I’ve really enjoyed the variety.

You recently faired pretty well on Strictly Come Dancing. Were you game from the word go, or did you have to be persuaded that you’d enjoy the experience?

I wasn’t game. I’d always said I wouldn’t do a reality show. I talked to the guys from Strictly and was adamant that I wasn’t going to do it, but I still decided to meet them. I thought about it again, and the one thing that’s different about Strictly is that you’ve got to learn a skill. It’s not about sitting in a room chatting. And I do enjoy dancing, so I thought ‘what the hell?’ As an actor, you worry about your credibility, but it’s one of the few Reality TV shows that doesn’t harm that, because people see it for what it is. The people who I thought would be the most critical about me doing it turned out to be the least critical.

You made it through to the eleventh show.

Were you surprised by how well you did?

Very surprised. I damaged my knees on week two of the rehearsals and had to see a surgeon, who pumped some steroids into me and said, “You might make a week or two but remain philosophical”. I guess I relied on my acting ability because I couldn’t to certain things due to the knee. I hate to use the ‘journey’ word, but it was a journey for both me and my dance partner, Evetta. She had to choreograph around my limitations. I was in a lot of pain a lot of the time, but I look back on it as a really lovely experience.

You also starred as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. How did you enjoy the experience of performing in drag - was it a more difficult challenge than you’d imagined it would be?

I was doing Waterloo Road at the time and the offer just came out of the blue. I just jumped in because I thought I was getting a little bit stale. I’d been doing Waterloo Road for two years and fancied doing something different - and you can’t get anything more

diverse than Hairspray and Waterloo Road! I really enjoyed the experience. It was great dragging up and a really iconic part. It was brilliant fun and I could’ve carried on doing it.

Your big break came playing Ricky in Career Girls, a 1997 film by Mike Leigh, who’s famously known for using lengthy improvisations - developed over a period of weeks - to build characters and storylines for his films. How did you find the experience of working with him?

Amazing. He’s a genius, and I would jump at the chance to work with him again. The thing I found with Mike is not necessarily that he taught me how to act but more that if you start with the truth of a character, you can go anywhere. I knew my character inside out because of all the months of hard work we’d put in, so I was able to say ‘Ricky wouldn’t do that’ and actually be qualified to say so, because I knew him so well.

And did he give you a lot of freedom to develop Ricky?

He develops it with you. He’ll maybe steer you in a certain direction but it’s very collaborative. I never saw a script but I knew my lines better than when I’ve learned with a script.

Talking of freedom, how much were you given when developing the role of Eddie in Early Doors?

That was great fun. When I initially met Craig and everybody for Early Doors, I was going for the role of the policeman, but it didn’t work out. I knew the director because he’d directed me in The Second Coming. I told him Eddie was my favourite, and he said to come back in and audition for him. So I read for Eddie and this character came out of nowhere. Obviously all of the lines are Craig and Phil’s, but all of Eddie’s moves, the way he uses his hands and everything, just came out of nowhere and continued to develop throughout the series. We all had such a laugh making Early Doors. There’s an episode, the last of Series One, where we all go on the Big Boys Beano. We’re having breakfast and James McAvoy starts choking on his cigar smoke. We’re proper laughing, and so they kept it in. I just love that scene.

What’s your criteria for accepting roles and has it changed over the years?

I think it’s very hard to say what it is. I’ve done jobs in the past where I’ve maybe only done one or two scenes, but there’s been

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something in the character that’s really made me want to do it. I think sometimes it’s not about playing the biggest part but more about wanting to play a part because it’s different from me. It has to be something that will challenge me - and there has to be something in it that I’ve never done before, like with Strictly. I didn’t know whether I could do it but I gave it a go. It was the same when I first took on Hairspray. I was excited because it was a challenge and I didn’t know whether I could do it.

If we were to ask either of your teenage children which of your roles they thought was the ‘coolest’, what do you think they’d say?

They’re just proud of me whatever I do - but if I was to ask my youngest, she’d probably say Hairspray or Hobson’s Choice. My oldest would probably say Catterick, which I did with Vic and Bob. There’s kind of a whole spectrum there, really.

You’ve displayed great versatility throughout your career, playing both dramatic and comedic roles. Which of the two do you find the most challenging and why?

I don’t necessarily think it’s about whether

“

serious drama or comedy is harder. It’s down to the individual part. Sometimes I’ve done a comedy - like Early Doors, Catterick or Northern Lights - where it’s easy because it’s all there in the writing and it just flows. Other times you have to do comedy where it’s not quite right and you really have to work on it.

It’s the same with drama, so I don’t think it’s down to the genre.

If you could choose any one character to revive in the future, who would it be?

I’d love to do Eddie Bell again from Early Doors and Mark from Catterick. I’d also love to do Northern Lights, so that me and Robson could get together again. There’s so many, I couldn’t possibly name them all.

It’s been ten years now since Early Doors, is there a possibility that we might see Eddie again?

I don’t know. We’d love to. I know that James McAvoy and everybody would be up for doing it again. It was one of those programmes where you can’t wait to go to work every day. We were in the pub together all of the time, laughing and joking and learning our script. It was just a very special job. All I can say is that I hope we get to do it again. As the years go by, it kind of gets less

likely - but never say never...

What’s on the cards post-Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?

I’m also doing a film at the moment called The Eagle. It’s about Eddie The Eagle and we’re filming that alongside rehearsals for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I rehearse for a couple of days and then go off and film for a couple of days, so it’s a bit busy at the moment.

Who do you play in the film?

I’m the sidekick to the head of the British Olympic Association. We’re a couple of baddies who try and stop Eddie from competing because we sort of see him as an embarrassment. It’s a great film and real fun to do.

Finally, have you ever questioned your career choice?

I do feel really blessed to have had the career that I’ve had. I’ve worked really hard at trying not to get bitter about the whole business.

Acting is tough, and you’re constantly dealing with rejection, so I feel very blessed that I’ve been able to do so many diverse things. I wouldn’t change any of it.

I’ve done quite a lot of weird things throughout my career that I never imagined I’d do, but I’ve ended up doing them nonetheless.

”

Mark Benton stars in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham from Mon 5 to Sat 16 May and Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 28 July to Sat 1 August

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Music Belle & Sebastian Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 10 May

“Stevie (Jackson, guitarist) wants to be in the Velvet Underground,” explained Belle & Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch in a recent interview with The Guardian. “Bob (Kildea, bass) wants to be in the Rolling Stones, and I want to be in Abba - but we’re probably more like the Grateful frigging Dead.”

The Glasgow indie band celebrate two decades together next year and released their ninth album, Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance, back in January. As with their previous offerings, their trademark blend of electro-glide, baroque balladry and giant-sized Europop hooks is very much in evidence on the new release.

Expect a winning blend of new and more familiar material when they stop off in the Midlands this month as part of an extensive tour.

Dr Hook Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thurs 14 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 20 May

Duets for Django Lichfield Garrick, Staffs, Fri 8 May

Flamenco, classical, latin, blues and gypsy jazz are all present and correct whenever award-winning acoustic guitarists Paul Vernon Chester and Nick Mellor get together. Paying homage to the magnificent musical legacy of Django Reinhardt, the duo’s repertoire of exquisite ballads and high-octane swing ensures no two concerts are ever the same.

American rock band Dr Hook (shortened in 1975 from Dr Hook & The Medicine Show) enjoyed eight glorious years of chart success, with hits including Sylvia's Mother, The Cover Of Rolling Stone, Sharing The Night Together and, most famously, When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman.

They visit these Midlands venues with the actual Dr Hook - Ray 'Eye Patch' Sawyer - and will be playing all the hits.

Paul McCartney Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Wed 27 May

Living legend Paul McCartney’s Out There concert, so far enjoyed by over two million people in twelve different countries, showcases one of the bestloved back-catalogues in popular music.

This Birmingham stop-off, one of nine special shows being performed at venues across Europe, offers fans a chance to enjoy a gold-star selection of McCartney’s output from across the fifty-plus years of his career.

Expect songs from latest studio album New, his solo career, the Wings era and, of course, his Swinging ’60s glory days as a mop-headed member of the Fab Four.

Lucy Ward Stafford Gatehouse, Tues 5 May

Hailing from Derby, Lucy won the Horizon Award in 2012 and was nominated as last year’s BBC Radio Two Folk Singer Of The Year. Possessing a voice that’s been called ‘expressive and powerful’, she names Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading as her inspirations. A talented songwriter, she last year picked up Best Original Song at the Spiral Earth Awards, and has been called one of the UK folk scene’s hottest performers. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 133

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fri 1 may 7pm

michaela wylde .......... sat 2 may 7pm

the buskets .......... sun 3 may 7pm

kim .......... smith fri 8 may 7pm

lou whatling .......... sat 9 may 7pm

robbie jones .......... sun 10 may 7pm

kim .......... smith Fri 15 May 7pm

hannah & brian .......... sat 16 may 7pm

tocha.......... booked sun 17 may 7pm

lou whatling ..........

Fri 22 may 7pm

synergy ..........

Sat 23 May 7pm

dan page

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Music PREVIEWS Kate Rusby Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 21 May

Referred to as ‘the Barnsley nightingale’, ‘the first lady of young folkies’ and ‘a superstar of the British acoustic scene’, Kate Rusby is widely regarded as the hip face of English folk. Her beautiful interpretations of traditional songs and finely crafted self-penned tunes have secured for her not only enormous mainstream success but also a legion of hugely dedicated followers.

Ernie Halter Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Thurs 7 May

The Beach Boys Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Fri 29 May

Having won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, there's no question that The Beach Boys have, in their time, been just about as big as it's possible to get in the music industry.

Expect all the hits in this latest touring show, including Good Vibrations, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, God Only Knows, Surfin’ USA and I Get Around.

Ernie Halter’s admiration for The Beatles, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder and The Go-Go's has inspired him to create a brand of music that’s chimed with a significant (and ever-growing) fanbase. Burial have liked what he’s been doing too, sampling from Halter’s 2007 song Whisper, while Justin Bieber’s produced a cover version of Come Home To Me. “I want to be the record you play while you make breakfast, make dinner, make out,” explains Ernie. “I kept thinking of the songs that made up the soundtrack of my life, and wanted to create songs that would help others form theirs.”

Legends Of Reggae The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 30 May

The cornerstones of reggae music past and present are celebrated in this special show, with its promoters having put together a lineup of talent they’re more than happy to describe as ‘spectacular’. Featured performers include Heptones lead singer Leroy Sibbles, crossover vocalist Ken Boothe, ‘dynamic duo’ Chaka Demus and Pliers, ‘lioness on the rise’ Queen Ifrica, and the uniquely talQueen Ifrica ented Gyptian.

Twenty One Pilots Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Wed 13 May

Nizlopi The Glee Club, Birmingham, Tues 12 May; Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Thurs 14 May

When John Parker met Luke Concannon on a school bus at the age of thirteen, neither of them could’ve imagined that the encounter would lead to them becoming a prime-time television ‘pop’ act, playing the Wembley arena, touring Europe and selling a million records.

Their road to success came via afternoons spent playing and writing songs, and later running their own record label from a spare room. But it was unique father-and-son number The JCB Song that shot them to stardom in 2005.

When the pressure got a bit too much, they took a break, returning in 2013 following a four-year hiatus.

They perform in the Midlands as part of their current Get Radical tour.

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band The Robin, Bilston, Sun 31 May

When it comes to showing commitment to fingerpickin', scrubboard scratchin', drumbucket country blues, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band take some lickin’. The talented trio sold everything they owned in a garage sale, hit the open road and have been playing a staggering two hundred-and-fifty-plus shows a year ever since.

“We’ll play with anyone, really,’ says the Reverend. “We come from the same tradition that Charley Patton and Furry Lewis came from.

They just took off with their instruments and went out into the world to see what would stick. They sang about what they were going through in their time, and we’re doing the same thing in ours. It’s a hard way to go, but I think that in this day and age it’s the way you gotta get your music out to people.”

As they put it on their website, Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph - otherwise known as indie pop band Twenty One Pilots - are currently earning 'widespread applause for their energetic live sets and distinctive fusion of piano-driven schizoid pop and lyrical uplift'. And the boys are pretty clear about their motivation too: “What's our purpose for playing music? We're constantly asking ourselves that question.

The answer can change all the time, but for right now we’re just going to stick with something as simple as ‘we want to make people think’.”

Paul Lamb & The King Snakes Lichfield Guildhall, Staffs, Sat 9 May

Northumberland-born blues harmonica player and bandleader Paul Lamb has clocked up the better part of thirty years and an impressive fourteen albums with The King Snakes. Away from his time with the band, he's also worked with numerous major names in the music industry - including The Who, Rod Stewart and Mark Knopfler. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 15

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Music LISTINGS For full listing information on gigs, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Birmingham BODDIKA, LEVON VINCENT, YOUANDEWAN, SAMUEL DEEP & JANE FITZ The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham FRIG The Courtyard, Hereford

Phil Beer - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

ouse, Birmingham

MON 4 MAY

FRI 1 MAY MICHAELA WYLDE Havana Republic, Shrewsbury MOBB DEEP Plus Rodney P & Daddy Skitz and DJ 279, O2 Academy, Birmingham ICEAGE Hare & Hounds, Birmingham URBAN INTRO The Jam House, Birmingham GOODNIGHT LENIN, JOHN MCCULLAGH & THE ESCORTS The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham DEF CON ONE, ERADIKATOR, KREMATED & ENEMO J Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham PLASTIC FACTORY, THE LATE RUNNERS, STRANGLER FIGS, OTHER DOGS & AFTERNOON IDENTITY O2 Academy, B’ham CLARE MAGUIRE The Glee Club, Birmingham MR SCRUFF Hare & Hounds, Birmingham ARCANE ROOTS The Institute, Birmingham FOUR ACES Irish Centre, Birmingham ALI CLINTON Route 44, Birmingham BON GIOVI The Robin, Bilston HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPELIN Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire JASPER CARROT'S STAND UP AND ROCK Featuring Jasper Carrott, Bev Bevan and guests, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire THE BACHELORS Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, North Shropshire GOD DAMN The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent MAYA JANE COLES NextDoor, Birmingham THE SUPERSKAS, THE GUVNORS & THE STRIKE The Roadhouse, B’ham OCCOEUR, THE ROOZ, BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST, WET LETTUCE AND THE MAGIK BEAN & INEGO The Flapper, B’ham

SAT 2 MAY URBAN INTRO The Jam House, Birmingham JASPER CARROT'S STAND UP AND ROCK Featuring Jasper Carrott, Bev Bevan and guests, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire THE BUSKETS Havana Republic, Shrewsbury HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPELIN Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire FOOD FIGHTERZ The Roadhouse, B’ham DUB FX The Institute, Birmingham JOE MCELDERRY Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

BEHOLDER O2 Academy, Birmingham PENTATONIX O2 Academy, Birmingham FM The Robin, Bilston MOSS KROH, VAILS, DUNE, MAMMOTHWING, BLEAK ZERO & ACID GOAT The Asylum, B’ham BALKANIC ERUPTION CUMBIA SPECIAL Hare & Hounds, Birmingham DEAD SEA SKULLS ALSO PLAYING; SPEAKING IN SHADOWS, EOFE, BROKEN WITT REBELS & POLAR STATES The Institute, Birmingham CIERAN CLIFFORD BAND Irish Centre, B’ham SEMANTICS, SLTP & CHAOS PARADE The Sunflower Lounge, B’ham DEMONS OF OLD METAL, THE DARKHORSE, CHILDREN LOST IN TIME & ROPEWALK Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham REBEL REBEL - DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE Route 44, Birmingham POPPUNKTASTIC FT HIDDEN SKIES The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton I AM PARIAH The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent SAMMY GOULBOURNE, E DOUBLE D & CARRY SHAUN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham JACKMASTER, EATS EVERYTHING, SKREAM & SETH TROXLER The Rainbow Venues, B’ham THE WARLOCKS, BLACK MARKET KARMA & ENEMIES EYES The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham CORINA JANE The Glee Club, Birmingham LAURA CARTER Symphony Hall, Birmingham

SUN 3 MAY BLAZE BAYLEY The Roadhouse, B’ham MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK O2 Academy, Birmingham KIM SMITH Havana Republic, Shrewsbury VALOUS, IN SEARCH OF SUN, EYES OF THE RAVEN, GLASSBULLET & STONEPIT DRIVE The Flapper, Birmingham FARLEY & HELLER Hare & Hounds, Birmingham LITTLE JIMMY Irish Centre, Birmingham THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham THE KENNEDYS Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham THE BOHEMIANS - A NIGHT OF QUEEN Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury THE YOUNG'UNS Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury FUDGESTOCK The Robin, Bilston OG HORSE Hare & Hounds, Birmingham RETURN OF THE RAVE The Rainbow Venues,

16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk

CHARLEY PRIDE Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE LOVELY EGGS The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham UGLY DUCKLING Hare & Hounds, Birmingham WADADA Hare & Hounds, Birmingham DUTCH UNCLES & CAIROBI The Institute, B’ham

TUE 5 MON HAPPYNESS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham CARL SINCLAIR DUO The Jam House, B’ham LUCY WARD Stafford Gatehouse Theatre C.W STONEKING The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham

WED 6 MAY PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING The Institute, Birmingham GEORGIE FAME The Jam House, Birmingham DUSTIN KENSRUE The Glee Club, Birmingham CHRIS KNOWLES & CATRIN O'NEILL / VICKI SWAN & JONNY DYER The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham TIA MCGRAFF The Robin, Bilston PHIL BEER Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury MATT WOOSEY Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham

THU 7 MAY THE FULL ENGLISH Birmingham Town Hall S CLUB 7 Genting Arena, Birmingham THE PRODIGY O2 Academy, Birmingham

The Prodigy

ALTAN mac - Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham CODY SIMPSON The Institute, Birmingham PINKSHINYULTRABLAST The Institute, B’ham MATRIX CLUB MATRIX The Jam House, B’ham REBECCA DOWNES The Robin, Bilston NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA Stafford Gatehouse Theatre MIDGE URE Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury ERNIE HALTER Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury THE SEX PISSED DOLLS The Roadhouse, Birmingham SHIELDS & CARCER CITY

The Oobleck, B’ham

FRI 8 MAY THE VAMPS Genting Arena, Birmingham THE SUBTERRANEANS The Jam House, Birmingham LOU WHATLING Havana Republic, Shrewsbury TWIN ATLANTIC O2 Academy, Birmingham REEDBASS Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE LAST CARNIVAL The Asylum, Birmingham CLARE MAGUIRE The Glee Club, Birmingham DJ VADIUM & FINGATHING Hare & Hounds, B’ham MILESTONE EXPRESS Irish Centre, B’ham THE SCREAMIN’ ABDABZ Route 44, Birmingham THE SMITHS INDEED The Robin, Bilston DUETS FOR DJANGO Lichfield Garrick, Staffs LIVEWIRE - TRIBUTE TO AC/DC Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs HOOBASTANK, P.O.D & ALIEN ANT FARM Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton THE RESCUE BLUES The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton MORAL PANICS & FRANCISCO THE MAN The Sugarmill, Stoke-onTrent PETE BROWN’S NEW GRASSCUTTERS Stafford Gatehouse Theatre MISTY’S BIG ADVENTURE Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SUZI & THE BACKBEATS & VIJAY KISHORE The Rainbow Venues, B’ham BLACK TONGUE MESSIAH, THE INFINITE STRUGGLE, MERCILESS TIDE & COWER HOUNDS Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham CHILDREN OF THE GRAVY - MASTERS OF SABBATH The Roadhouse, Birmingham SID PEACOCK & COREY MWAMBA mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham

SAT 9 MAY THE SUBTERRANEANS The Jam House, Birmingham JAMES HICKMAN & DAN CASSIDY Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley, Shropshire ULTIMATE GENESIS O2 Academy, Birmingham ROBBIE JONES Havana Republic, Shrewsbury THE OASIS EXPERIENCE The Roadhouse, B’ham THE ONCE Alfie Bird's, Birmingham MODERN MINDS O2 Academy, Birmingham MERRYMOUTH mac Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham SET IT OFF The Asylum, Birmingham 360 AND FRIENDS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham NEW CITY KINGS The Institute, Birmingham PAT BRESLIN Irish Centre, Birmingham THEA GILMORE Birmingham Town Hall PAUL LAMB & THE KING SNAKES Lichfield Guildhall, Staffs BEYOND THE BARRICADE Wolverhampton Grand Theatre MAMA GENESIS Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire LYDIA GLANVILLE QUARTET The Hive, Shrewsbury THE PRINTMAKERS Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton OOH LA LA NIGHTS - LITTLE RUMBA Ludlow Brewery, South Shropshire NEW CARNIVAL The Rainbow Venues, B’ham BONSAI The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent BAD//DREAMS The Sunflower Lounge, B’ham THE HAND AND THE FLOWERS, BROTHERS OF CAEDMON & ELISON The Flapper, Birmingham

SUN 10 MAY BELLE & SEBASTIAN Symphony Hall, Birmingham EMMA SWEENEY The Morris Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS O2 Academy, Birmingham CHRIS DIFFORD Henry Tudor House, Shrews bury

Chris Difford

PRETTY VICIOUS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham KIM SMITH Havana Republic, Shrewsbury CHEATAHS & NO JOY Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SHILLEAGH Irish Centre, Birmingham CHRIS KING Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham

MON 11 MAY TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Genting Arena, B’ham TOPS & HONEY MOON Hare & Hounds, B’ham THE MACCABEES The Institute, Birmingham JOHN TAMS & BARRY COOPE Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

TUE 12 MAY TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Genting Arena, B’ham BOYZ II MEN O2 Academy, Birmingham ROSANNA LEFEVRE & GRACE BRADSHAW The Jam House, B’ham SILENCE THE WEAK The Rainbow Venues, Bham NIZLOPI The Glee Club, Birmingham GRYPHON The Robin, Bilston SUN CLUB The Sun-

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flower Lounge, B’ham GEORGIE FAME & THE BLUE FLAMES Lichfield Garrick, Staffs SONS OF BILL The Oobleck, Birmingham

WED 13 MAY MIKE FLETCHER TRIO Birmingham Town Hall CHRIS DE BURGH Symphony Hall, Birmingham GOSPEL CENTRAL The Jam House, B’ham THE YOUNG'UNS The Red Lion Folk Club, B’ham PAPER AEROPLANES The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham ALABAMA SHAKES O2 Academy, Birmingham TWENTY ONE PILOTS Hare & Hounds, B’ham TERRY REID The Robin, Bilston DIETRICH LETTERS Lichfield Garrick, Staffs

THU 14 MAY UK SUBS The Robin, Bilston TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Genting Arena, B’ham DEREK RYAN The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire EWERT AND THE TWO DRAGONS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham NIZLOPI Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury CLIMAX BLUES BAND Stafford Gatehouse Theatre THE WYZE GUYZ The Jam House, Birmingham FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent POLICE DOG HOGAN Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham THE FALL The Institute, Birmingham DAVID FORD The Rainbow Venues, B’ham GUTS FOR GLORY, EVIL EMPIRE, HIDDEN & TOMB HAZARD The Roadhouse, Birmingham DR HOOK Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton ANIHILATED The Asylum, Birmingham WYLES & SIMPSON Alfie Bird’s, Birmingham

FRI 15 MAY TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Genting Arena, B’ham HANNAH & BRIAN Havana Republic, Shrewsbury CLOUDBUSTING - A TRIBUTE TO KATE BUSH O2 Academy, Birmingham THE RED LEMONS The Jam House, B’ham TOM PAXTON Birmingham Town Hall

Tom Paxton

GIN ANNIE BAND The Robin, Bilston

J. COLE Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham SWERVEDRIVER O2 Academy, Birmingham INME The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton CLARE MAGUIRE The Glee Club, Birmingham

Clare Maguire

MOTOWN AND SOUL NIGHT WITH DJ PAUL KELLY Irish Centre, Birmingham BLUE NATION, TELSEN & CATALAN Route 44, Birmingham LAZY HABITS & FJOKRA The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham AS EQUALS The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent TRANSMISSION & SHAMONES The Roadhouse, Birmingham BLKLSTRS, THEM WOLVES, SEXWOLF! & CAL BANDA The Flapper, Birmingham STEVE TROMANS AND PIERA ONACKO mac Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham

SAT 16 MAY TAKE THAT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELLA HENDERSON Genting Arena, B’ham JOE MCELDERRY The Courtyard, Hereford THE RED LEMONS The Jam House, B’ham DON MCLEAN Symphony Hall, Birmingham WILD IRISH Irish Centre, Birmingham ROCK FOR SPON - THE NEW SAINTS & FRIENDS The Robin, Bilston VIC GODARD & SUBWAY SECT The Flapper, Birmingham TOCHA Havana Republic, Shrewsbury DESI ROCKSTARS Barclaycard Arena, B’ham TOO REX - TRIBUTE TO MARC BOLAN & T-REX The Roadhouse, B’ham INTO THE SHADOWS Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury LUCY SPRAGGAN The Institute, Birmingham SON OF DAVE The Rainbow Venues, B’ham ERADIKATOR O2 Academy, Birmingham BILL PATRICK, SAMU.L & ARCHIE HAMILTON NextDoor, Birmingham SIMPLE MINDS TRIBUTE ALIVE & KICKING Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton MARCIA GRIFFITHS & FRIENDS O2 Academy, Birmingham BREABACH mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham CRAZY P Hare & Hounds, Birmingham JUDIE TZUKE Huntingdon Hall, Worcester GOD DAMN & ELEPHANTINE The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

GENERATIONS The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent AWAKE BY DESIGN The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton WARLORD UK, ABSOLUTION, SODOMIZED CADAVER & FIRESTORM Scruffy Murphys, B’ham CLARE TEAL SINGS THE DORIS DAY SONGBOOK Birmingham Town Hall THE BOTS The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham ARCANE ROOTS Kasbah, Coventry

SUN 17 MAY THE GRIMETHORPE COLLIERY BAND Birmingham Town Hall DIETRICH LETTERS Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury LOU WHATLING Havana Republic, Shrewsbury YAMATO DRUMMERS New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham PANIC ROOM The Robin, Bilston TOM BAXTER The Glee Club, Birmingham COCO & THE BUTTERFIELDS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SHAWN CUDDY Irish Centre, Birmingham HANS CHEW Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham

THU 21 MAY KATE RUSBY Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury BROTHER STRUT The Jam House, B’ham CAPSIZE The Oobleck, Birmingham DAR WILLIAMS The Glee Club, Birmingham CIRCLE, HEY COLOSSUS & OPIUM LORD Hare & Hounds, Birmingham KIM RICHEY Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham ROCK OF AGES EXPERIENCE The Robin, Bilston 182 The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton CREEPOID, GLEAM & HOLY The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham

WALK THE MOON The Institute, Birmingham PUMA CREEK The Courtyard, Hereford

FRI 22 MAY ELKIE BROOKS Birmingham Town Hall DR FEELGOOD & EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS The Robin, Bilston UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE The Jam House, B’ham 80S MANIA The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire SYNERGY Havana Republic, Shrewsbury JP COOPER The Institute, Birmingham JAMES ARTHUR The Institute, Birmingham

LIVE & PICKING Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton CAPTAIN HORIZON O2 Academy, Birmingham LONG DISTANCE Irish Centre, Birmingham SLAID CLEAVES Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham KING ROCKER - ELVIS PLAYS ROCK Route 44, Birmingham BOAT TO ROW, ALESSI’S ARK, MY GREY HORSE The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham OCCULT NextDoor, Birmingham EXPLOSIVE LIGHT ORCHESTRA The Roadhouse, Birmingham

MON 18 MAY JACK GARRAT Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SLAVES The Institute, Birmingham

TUE 19 MAY LULU Symphony Hall, Birmingham NEON WALTZ Hare & Hounds, Birmingham DANA FUCHS The Robin, Bilston THURSTON MOORE Hare & Hounds, Birmingham JESSE MALIN O2 Academy, Birmingham SINGLE MOTHERS The Oobleck, Birmingham CHRIS BOWDENS' TOMORROW BAND The Jam House, Birmingham TIR NA NOG Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham RENAI

WED 20 MAY

BRYAN FERRY Symphony Hall, Birmingham CHRIS & KELLIE WHILE The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham PAUL LAMB & THE DETROIT BREAKDOWN The Robin, Bilston OZRIC TENTACLES O2 Academy, Birmingham MAWKIN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham HINDS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham TOM BAXTER Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury AS ELEPHANTS ARE The Sugarmill, Stoke-onTrent DR HOOK Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Lichfield Garrick, Staffs

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Music LISTINGS For full listing information on gigs, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

SAT 23 MAY UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE The Jam House, Birmingham FISK JUBILEE SINGERS Birmingham Town Hall MARK KNOPFLER Genting Arena, B’ham DESI ROCKSTARS Civic Hall, Wolverhampton DAN PAGE Havana Republic, Shrewsbury QUILL Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs

Birmingham THE DROPPERS NECK, TUSSK, OPHEON & VEXXEN Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham CEDAR HOUSE BAND, MIGHTY YOUNGS, VIRALS & SPIT SHAKE SISTERS Hare & Hounds, B’ham JASPER JAMES & DEATH ON THE BALCONY NextDoor, Birmingham ROCK ‘N’ BLUES ALL DAY FESTIVAL The Roadhouse, Birmingham

MON 25 MAY

Quill

A VISION OF ELVIS Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury THE DOORS ALIVE The Sugarmill, Stoke-onTrent IO EARTH Crescent Theatre, Birmingham SOUL'D OUT The Robin, Bilston SHOWADDYWADDY The Courtyard, Hereford RX BANDITS & CIRCA SURVIVE O2 Academy, Birmingham NOVANA O2 Academy, Birmingham SEINABO SEY AND LION BABE The Institute, Birmingham HUNTER HAYES The Institute, Birmingham THE FULL SHABANG Irish Centre, Birmingham NEW BAYS & FOX CHAPEL The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham DUB COMES TO TOWN The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton THE BEST OF PRIEST (JUDAS PRIEST) Route 44, Birmingham MUZIK HERTZ NextDoor, Birmingham ENDORPHINMANCHINE The Roadhouse, B’ham KIMBER’S MEN Stafford Gatehouse Theatre SPECTRASOUL The Oobleck, Birmingham

SUN 24 MAY FISK JUBILEE SINGERS WITH BLACK VOICES Birmingham Town Hall THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND TRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH The Robin, Bilston HEAVEN’S BASEMENT, GLAMOUR OF THE KILL & ASHES The Oobleck, Birmingham TOM PAXTON Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury BOOT-LED-ZEPPELIN O2 Academy, Birmingham MERRYMOUTH mac Midlands Arts Centre,

FICKLE FRIENDS The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham BANTOCK MUSIC LIVE Bantock House & Park, Wolverhampton VICTORY HEIGHTS The Oobleck, Birmingham

gates Theatre, Shropshire ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Symphony Hall, Birmingham LEDDRA CHAPMAN The Robin, Bilston BRANDON FLOWERS O2 Academy, Birmingham ALL TVVINS The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent PSYCHEDELIC WARLORDS The Roadhouse, Birmingham MALEFICE & EXIST IMMORTAL The Flapper, Birmingham HOUGHTON WEAVERS The Courtyard, Hereford

FRI 29 MAY ROCKET The Jam House, Birmingham GYPSY UNIT The Oobleck, Birmingham THE CARPENTERS STORY Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs ELKIE BROOKS Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

TUE 26 MAY DOCTOR WHO SYMPHONIC SPECTACULAR Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham KNIFEWORLD The Oobleck, Birmingham OTIS REDDING III The Glee Club, Birmingham

WED 27 MAY PETE KENT The Robin, Bilston MUDHONEY The Institute, Birmingham

Mudhoney

THE DEMON BARBERS The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire JASPER CARROT'S STAND UP AND ROCK Featuring Jasper Carrott, Bev Bevan and guests, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre PRICE & GENDERS Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham EDDIE ARGOS, SHAUN GAMBOWL WALSH The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham PAUL MCCARTNEY Barclaycard Arena, B’ham

THU 28 MAY JASPER CARROT'S STAND UP AND ROCK Featuring Jasper Carrott, Bev Bevan and guests Stafford Gatehouse Theatre THE SEARCHERS Lichfield Garrick, Staffs DEL CAMINO The Jam House, Birmingham DOMINIC KIRWAN & MARY DUFF The Place, Oaken-

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Elkie Brooks

SUPREME FABULETTES Birmingham Town Hall MONEY FOR NOTHING (DIRE STRAITS TRIBUTE) Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire THE BEACH BOYS Barclaycard Arena, B’ham THE UKRAINIANS The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham CASH - JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE The Robin, Bilston COAL CHAMBER Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton XILLA O2 Academy, Birmingham GYPSY UNIT Alfie Bird’s, Birmingham THE BLUES BROTHERS EXPERIENCE Wolverhampton Grand Theatre MARK MORRISS The Flapper, Birmingham ALEXANDER NUT Hare & Hounds, Birmingham FRAN THE MAN Irish Centre, Birmingham CLIVE GREGSON Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham FRED ZEPPELIN Route 44, Birmingham NINA KRAVIZ, CARL CRAIG, ADAM SHELTON, LEWIS OXLEY, LOPASKI & WALKING WITH WINGS The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham THE UKRAINIANS The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham FLEETWOOD BAC The Roadhouse, B’ham ATTENTION THIEVES & ACODA The Asylum, Birmingham A CELEBRATION OF JOHN DENVER Lichfield Garrick, Staffs

SAT 30 MAY ROCKET The Jam House, Birmingham

Brandon Flowers - O2 Academy, Birmingham

IQ The Robin, Bilston STEVE BROOKSTEIN Lichfield Garrick, Staffs THE KOMMITMENTS The Roadhouse, B’ham BUDDY & THE ILLEGAL CRICKETS Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs ATOMIC BLONDIE Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire THE JOHNNY CASH ROADSHOW Kidderminster Town Hall MALLEN, ONE LAST RUN, DRIVEN APART & PANSPERMIA Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham DENNIS ELLSWORTH Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley, Shropshire TY Hare & Hounds, Birmingham THE FATHER TEDS Irish Centre, Birmingham MIDLANDS METAL CRUSADE 4 The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton LAMB OF GOD Birming-

ham Town Hall BEAR & KITE’S ROCK DISCO Route 44, B’ham INTRODUCING LIVE RECREATE DAFT PUNK’S DISCOVERY Hare & Hounds, Birmingham GODSKITCHEN CLASH OF THE GODS The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham FRANKLY SINATRA Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

SUN 31 MAY MAROON 5 Genting Arena, Birmingham DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, FALLING RED, VICIOUS NATURE, DEVIL RED AND MORE... The Roadhouse, Birmingham BILLY OCEAN Birmingham Town Hall ELVIS COSTELLO Symphony Hall, Birmingham TERRY AND GERRY Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

BOP ENGLISH Hare & Hounds, Birmingham PAT JORDAN & FINIANS RAINBOW Irish Centre, Birmingham MY SWEET PATOOTIE Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham WEAK NERVES & RICHA Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND The Robin, Bilston DOMINIC KIRWAN The Courtyard, Hereford KIERAN GOSS The Hive, Shrewsbury

Kieran Goss

Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands Birmingham 02 ACADEMY 0121 622 8250 THE ACTRESS & BISHOP 0121 236 7426 ADRIAN BOULT HALL 0121 331 5901 THE ASYLUM 0121 233 1109 BARCLAYCARD ARENA 0121 780 4141 BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 0121 780 3333 CBSO CENTRE 0121 780 3333 FLAPPER 0121 236 2421 GENTING ARENA 0121 780 4141 THE GLEE CLUB 0871 472 0400 HARE & HOUNDS 0121 444 2081 THE INSTITUTE 0121 643 0428 IRISH CENTRE 0121 622 2314 THE JAM HOUSE 0121 200 3030 THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE 0121 443 4725 THE RAINBOW 0121 772 8174 RED LION FOLK CLUB 0121472 4253

THE ROADHOUSE 0121 246 2273 ROUTE 44 0121 708 0108 SYMPHONY HALL 0121 780 3333 THE VICTORIA 0121 633 9439

Black Country CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON 0870 320 7000 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL 01384 815577 FOREST ARTS CENTRE 0845 111 2898 NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01902 572090 ROBIN 2, BILSTON 01902 401211 SLADE ROOMS WOLVERHAMPTON

0870 320 7000 STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL 01384 812812 WULFRUN HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON

MUCH WENLOCK 01952 728911 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE SHREWSBURY 01743 361666 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 01743 234970 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS 01584 878141 THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD 01952 382382 WEM TOWN HALL 01939 232299

Staffordshire FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK 01538 386112 LICHFIELD GUILDHALL 01543 262223 THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY STOKE-ON-TRENT 01159 454 593 TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS 01827 709618

0870 320 7000

VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY 0870 060 6649

Shropshire

STAFFORD GATEHOUSE

BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY 01952 882210 THE BUTTERMARKET, SHREWSBURY 01743 355055 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE,

01785 254653 For additional information and to find out What’s On at these venues.

Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

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Classical Music PREVIEWS

Dame Emma Kirby Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, Sun 24 May

“I’m delighted to be coming to Shrewsbury again for Shropshire Music,” says soprano and renowned early music specialist Dame Emma Kirby, who’s joined for this concert by the lute-playing Joel Frediriksen. “And even more pleased that Joel is free to join me. I love to duet with that deep, expressive and flexible voice, but also to hear him play the lute, accompanying himself or others; and then there’s his further world of joyful ensemble music, all the way from mediaeval troubadour pieces, through Dowland and Purcell, to the songs of the late Nick Drake. Alongside a bit of live performance - it's remarkable what two singers can do when one of them plays a lute as well! - Joel and I will each play a few CDs to give an idea of our respective careers and favourite colleagues and influences.”

The Opera Boys Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 30 May

Crossover artists are big business nowadays, so there’s little wonder that The Opera Boys are enjoying such a successful career. They’re significantly assisted along the way by their remarkable talent, their classically trained voices combining in a powerhouse of vocal harmony to deliver a winning blend of opera, pop and everything in between. Expect Nessun Dorma and Time To Say Goodbye along with showstoppers from Les Miserables, Phantom, Jersey Boys and more.

London Mozart Players Featuring Tasmin Little St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Fri 22 May

Bring together one of the country’s bestloved violinists (Tasmin Little OBE) with an outstanding group of musicians (the London Mozart Players) in a delightful eighteenth century church (St Chad’s in Shrewsbury) and you have all but one of the key ingredients for a memorable evening of musicmaking. The missing ingredient is, of course, a programme of exceptional music - but Shropshire Music has got that covered too.

This ‘dazzling musical tour through the seasons of the year around the world’ features Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons Of Buenos Aires and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Roxanna Panufnik’s Tibetan Winter, which completes the programme, was written specially for Tasmin.

The Halle Orchestra Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 15 May

Since its first concert in 1858, the Manchesterbased Halle has been a real force to be reckoned with. The orchestra is renowned for its affinity with English music - particularly the works of Elgar and Delius. The Halle is currently under the charge of acclaimed conductor Sir Mark Elder CBE, an appointment which has brought about a rise in its international profile and led to numerous significant awards.

This Potteries concert sees the orchestra presenting a programme that features Glinka Overture, Ruslan & Ludmilla, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

Jamie Phillips conducts. The soloist is Andrew Tyson.

Manchester Camerata featuring Ingrid Fliter Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 15 May

One of the UK’s leading chamber orchestras, Manchester Camerata enjoys ‘a flourishing residency’ in Stafford, and this month returns to the Gatehouse to deliver a selection of classical favourites. Included in the programme is Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture, K.492, and his Symphony no 41, K.551, Jupiter. Also featured is Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no 2 in B flat major, Op.19 and Jack Sheen’s Études.

Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts, with Ingrid Fliter on piano. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 19

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Classical Music PREVIEWS

Classical LISTINGS For full listing information on classical concerts, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

BCMG: Fantasmagoria CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Sat 9 May

The work of David Sawer is here celebrated by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG), who commissioned the Stockport-born composer’s most well-known work, 2009’s critically acclaimed Rumpelstiltskin. A late addition to BCMG’s 2014/15 programme, Fantasmagoria features three Sawer pieces which are new to the Group.

Cat’s-eye takes its inspiration from a simple device in a Fantascope, a Victorian magic lantern, to look at ideas of illusion and changing perspective.

Between, meanwhile, is described as ‘a short, beautiful solo piece for harp’, while Good Night is ‘a continuous train of musical thoughts that transform when inspected more closely’.

The concert rounds off this current BCMG season.

Hélène Grimaud In Recital Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 14 May

“So often we hear people say, 'Oh, I don’t know anything about classical music',” says French-born Hélène Grimaud in an interview with Examiner.com. “But it’s not about how much you know. It’s about what the music makes you feel, how it affects you on the deepest level. We have to give it a chance.”

For anybody questioning the capacity of classical music to make them ‘feel’ anything, an evening in the company of the ever-dynamic Grimaud should put paid to their uncertainty. The critically acclaimed classical pianist has garnered a reputation for being a real risk taker, reinventing phrasings, playing in the face of conventional pianistic wisdom and bringing living colour to every composition she performs.

This Birmingham concert sees Grimaud taking the themes of water and the inextinguishable power of Hélène Grimaud nature as her starting point.

Ex Cathedra: Rachmaninov’s Vespers Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 3 May

Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil - often translated as simply Vespers - was one of the composer’s two favourite works. Indeed, he loved the composition so much that he requested one of its movements (the fifth) be sung at his funeral. His deep love of the piece, and indeed its brilliance, is all the more remarkable given that it took him less than two weeks to compose.

Jeffrey Skidmore conducts and is joined by mezzo soprano Martha McLorinan and tenor Jeremy Budd for a piece which Ex Cathedra describe as ‘passionate, serene, and rooted in a deep and heartfelt faith’.

Jeffrey Skidmore

CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: CHARLIE CHAPLIN Fri 1 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE BEAUFORT ENSEMBLE: DREAMS OF ILLYRIA Programme includes Guy Woolfenden’s Illyrian Dances & Eric Whitacre’s October, Fri 1 May, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham DANIEL TONES & OWEN UNDERHILL Present an engaging programme of contemporary music, Fri 1 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham PIRATES OF PENZANCE Tinkers Farm Opera present a modern interpretation of Gilbert & Sullivan's operatic masterpiece, Fri 1 - Sat 2 May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham EX CATHEDRA: RACHMANINOFF VESPERS Sun 3 May, Birmingham Town Hall BARBARA HANNIGAN SINGS MOZART AND STRAVINSKY Tues 5 May, Birmingham Town Hall LA VENEXIANA Wed 6 May, Barber Institute, Birmingham CBSO HAYDN IN LONDON Programme includes works by Haydn, Mozart, Prokofiev & Haydn, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE CLAIR-OBSCUR SAXOPHONE QUARTET Thurs 7 May, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham BAIBA SKRIDE IN THE MENDELSSOHN OCTET Featuring Baiba Skride (violin), Moritz Pfister, Caroline Simon & Gabriel Dyker (violins), Catherine Bower & Amy Fawcett (violas) & Eduardo Vassallo & Helen Edgar (cellos), Fri 8 May, CBSO Centre, Birmingham OLIVER SHE Programme includes works by Bach, Vine, Albeniz & Beethoven, Fri 8 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham ORGAN PROMS WITH IAN TRACEY Sat 9 May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent CARDUCCI QUARTET: III JOURNEY TO ENLIGHTENMENT Programme includes works by Puccini, Beethoven & Shostakovich, Sun 10 May, Concord College, Acton Burnell, Shropshire LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT - THOMAS TROTTER: A BACH RECITAL Mon 11 May, Birmingham Town Hall DVORAK'S CELLO CONCERTO WITH RAPHAEL WALLFISCH Programme

includes Mozart’s Symphony No 38 Prague; Dvorak’s Rondo for Cello and Orchestra, Silent Woods & Cello Concerto arr chamber orchestra, Wed 13 May, Birmingham Town Hall HELENE GRIMAUD IN RECITAL Thurs 14 May, Birmingham Town Hall MANCHESTER CAMERATA Featuring Gabor Takacs-Nagy (conductor) & pianist Ingrid Filter. Programme includes works by Mozart & Beethoven, Fri 15 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre MARCUS FARNSWORTH & JOSEPH MIDDLETON Programme includes works by Brahms, Britten & Barber, Fri 15 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham ADRIAN MOORE ORGAN RECITAL Fri 15 May, Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa WARSAW PHILHARMONIC Featuring Jacek Kaspszyk (conductor), Claire Maghnagi (soprano), Hannah Pedley (mezzo), Andrew Rees (tenor), Paul Carey Jones (baritone) & the University of Warwick Chorus.

Programme comprises Schubert's Symphony No.3 & Beethoven's Symphony No.9, Fri 15 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry HALLE ORCHESTRA Programme includes works by Glinka, Beethoven & Tchaikovsky, Fri 15 May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent THE KLEE QUARTET Programme includes works by Mozart & Britten, Fri 15 May, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery BEETHOVEN GROSSE FUGE Featuring Zoe Beyers & Jane Wright (violins), Adam Romer (viola) & Richard Jenkinson (cello), Fri 15 May, CBSO Centre, Birmingham CBSO PARSIFAL Featuring Andre Nelsons (conductor), Burkhard Fritz (Parsifal) & Mihoko Fujimura (Kundry), Sun 17 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham TAKACS QUARTET Programme includes works by Haydn, Debussy & Beethoven, Tues 19 May, Birmingham Town Hall THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE LIVE Live screening of English National Opera's performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's popular comic opera, Tues 19 May, mac Midlands Arts Centre,

Birmingham LONDON MOZART PLAYERS & TASMIN LITTLE: A VIOLIN FOR ALL SEASONS Programme includes works by Astor Piazzolla, Roxanna Panufnik & Vivaldi, Fri 22 May, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury CLIPPER ERICKSON PIANO Programme includes works by Chopin, Dett & Gershwin, Fri 22 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM GAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (BGSO) Programme includes works by Coates, Debussy, Williams, Elgar, Handel, Vivaldi, Parry, Arr. Wood & J. Strauss II, Sat 23 May, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham AN EVENING WITH DAME EMMA KIRKBY Featuring Joel Frederiksen (lute), Sun 24 May, The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury LARA MELDA Programme includes works by Beethoven, Chopin & Albeniz, Tues 26 May, Birmingham Town Hall FLORENTINE ARTS ENSEMBLE Programme includes works by Catoire, Debussy, Syzmanowsky & Debussy, Fri 29 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham RODERICK WILLIAMS (BARITONE) & IAIN BURNSIDE (PIANO) Programme includes works by Vaughan Williams, Robert Saxton & Gerald Finzi, Fri 29 May, St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, South Shropshire OPERA BOYS Sat 30 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury COME AND SING WITH JOHN RUTTER Charity concert in aid of The M.E Trust, Sat 30 May, Birmingham Cathedral ENGLISH VISIONARIES Featuring the Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir & Nicholas Morris (Organ). Paul Spicer conducts. Programme includes works by Stanford, Holst, Finzi, Berkeley & Vaughan Williams, Sat 30 May, St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, South Shropshire Paul Spicer

CLARE MCCALDIN (MEZZO), JOHN MARK AINSLEY (TENOR) & IAIN BURNSIDE (PIANO). Programme includes works by Finzi, John Ireland & Hugh Wood, Sun 31 May, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

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Comedy Joe Lycett

Comedy Box Office

The George Hotel, Lichfield, Thurs 7 May

Joe Lycett may have been described as a fella whose act blends a little of Larry Grayson and a dash of Julian Clary with a large helping of Kenneth Williams, but he’s nonetheless very much his own man. Joe comes from the wellestablished British tradition of camp comedians, and presents a somewhat risque act that ably showcases both his natural charisma and impressive capacity for mischief-making.

Gags include, "What do we want!? More research into a cure for ADHD! When do we want it!? Let's play swingball!".

Jeremy Hardy Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 22 May

“In an ideal world," The Guardian once wrote, "Jeremy Hardy would be extremely famous, but an ideal world would leave him without most of his best material." Hardy has developed a reputation for being one of the most topical comedians on the circuit, blending his concerns about the modern-day world with a humour that makes his sometimes controversial subject matter all the more accessible and thought-provoking.

Matt Richardson The Garrick, Lichfield, Fri 15 May

With his thirtieth birthday still a far-distant milestone on the horizon (he’s only twenty-three!), Matt Richardson is somewhat inevitably a workin-progress. He’s got all the necessary raw materials to make it big in the rough, tough world of comedy, but is still in the process of honing both his material and his delivery. That said, if we didn’t think he was ‘one to watch’ and well worth a gander, we wouldn’t be drawing your attention to him. Confident and engaging, he has the enviable knack of swiftly arriving at the comedy heartland of an anecdote; an admirable talent that ensures the next laugh is never too far away.

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Dylan Moran Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 15 May

Once labelled 'the Oscar Wilde of comedy’, it's fair to say that Dylan Moran is a fella with a style of humour all his own. A star of the films Shaun Of The Dead, Run Fat Boy Run and, more recently, Cavalry, the hugely entertaining Dylan specialises in stand-up rants that are often bizarre and always unpredictable. Jokes include: “I don't do drugs. If I want a rush I just stand up when I'm not expecting it” and “I can't swim. I can't drive either. I was going to learn to drive but then I thought, well, what if I crash into a lake?”

Jarred Christmas Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 13 May

Kiwi comedian Jarred Christmas is delighted with the warm reception he receives from UK audiences.

“I think it’s the charming and ‘sixy’ New Zealand accent that does it,” he jokes. “I think Brits are also great at laughing at themselves, so don’t mind Johnny Foreigner making jokes about British stuff. In fact, they seem to love it.”

A 2010 Chortle Award-winning compere, Jarred has some hard-hitting views about the business of being an MC. “A lot of comperes just don’t get it,” he observes. “They seem to forget that along with keeping the show moving and warming up the audience they still have to be funny. If they’re not funny, then they should get the **** off the stage.”

BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 0121 780 3333 BREWHOUSE ARTS CENTRE, BURTON-UPON-TRENT 01283 508100 CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON 0870 320 7000 THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, MUCH WENLOCK, SOUTH SHROPSHIRE 01952 728911 FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK, STAFFS 01538 386112 THE GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 0871 4720400 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS, SHROPSHIRE 01584 878141 MAC, BIRMINGHAM 0121 446 3232 MANFORD’S COMEDY CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 0121 643 9132 OAKENGATES THEATRE, TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE 01952 382382 THE SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON 0870 320 7000 THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 WULFRUN HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON 0870 320 7000

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Comedy LISTINGS For full listing information on comedy gigs including times and dates visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk TIM VINE Fri 1 May, Lichfield Garrick PHIL BUCKLEY Fri 1 May, mac, Birmingham NEIL MCFARLANE, MARLON DAVIS, RO CAMPBELL & COMIC TBC Fri 1 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham CURTIS WALKER, JUDY THOMAS & SPECIAL P Fri 1 May, The Drum, Birmingham RHODRI RHYS, JOJO SUTHERLAND, STE PORTER & JARLATH REGAN Fri 1 - Sat 2 May, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham JIMMY CARR Sat 2 May, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton BEN NORRIS, FERN BRADY, CHRIS MCCAUSLAND & JASON COOK Sat 2 May, Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham CHRIS CHOPPING, MARLON DAVIS, RO CAMPBELL & COMIC TBC Sat 2 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham ROUGH WORKS - NEW MATERIAL NIGHT Sun 3 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham TOM TOAL Mon 4 May, Old Joint Stock Pub, Birmingham RICHARD HERRING Thurs 7 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury RON VAUDRY, JARLATH REGAN & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, Thurs 7 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham ANDY WHITE, STEVE DAY, PHIL PAGETT, TOM SHORT & LOU CONRAN Thurs 7 May, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs R DAVID, GLEN MANEY WITH COMIC TBC Thurs 7, May, Stourbridge Town Hall JOE LYCETT, STEVE ROYAL, JAY HANDLEY & KEVIN SHEPHERD Thurs 7 May, The George

Hotel, Lichfield KEVIN BRIDGES Fri 8 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre ROBIN MORGAN, JOHN MOLONEY, RON VAUDRY & JARLATH REGAN & Thurs 8 - Fri 9 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham CARL HUTCHINSON, NICK PAGE, TIM FITZHIGHAM & BRAD TASSELL Fri 8 - Sat 9 May, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham ANDY PARSONS Sat 9 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre PAUL FOOT Sat 9 May, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton GARY DELANEY, DAN NIGHTINGALE & IAN MOORE Sat 9 May, Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham CELEBRATION OF COMEDY Mrs Barbra Nice presents ca showcase where comedy course participants try their material, Sat 9 May, mac, Birmingham LOUDEEMY SOUP COMEDY NIGHT Mon 11 May, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham MICHAEL MCINTYRE Tues 12 May, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent JACK DEE, ROMESH RANGANATHAN & KERRY GODLIMAN Wed 13 May The Glee Club, Birmingham JARRED CHRISTMAS, TOM WRIGGLESWORTH & ED LAMPAERT Wed 13 May Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury SUZI RUFFELL, ANNETTE FAGON, LINDSEY SANTORO & MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed 13 May, Kitchen Garden Cafe ALAN CARR Thurs 14 May, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent ROMESH RANGANATHAN & SUZI RUFFELL Thurs 14 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham Henning Wehn - Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

PETER WHITE, STEVE GRIBBIN & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 14 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham JETHRO Fri 15 May, Theatr Hafren, Powys DYLAN MORAN Fri 15 May, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent HENNING WEHN Fri 15 May, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton MATT RICHARDSON, SCOTT BENNETT, BEN VAN DER VELDE & CHRIS PURCHASE Fri 15 May, Lichfield Garrick PETER WHITE, STEVE GRIBBIN, ANDY ROBINSON & MATT REES Fri 15 - Sat 16 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham MATT REED, OWEN O'NEILL, BRENDAN RILEY & STUART MITCHELL Fri 15 - Sat 16 May, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham HENNING WEHN Sat 16 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre LOL COMEDY CLUB WITH MC DAMION LARKIN Sat 16 May, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent BARBARA NICE, CHRIS MARTIN, PAUL MYREHAUG & ANDY ASKINS Sat 16 May, Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham STEWART LEE Sun 17 Mon 18 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 18 May, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham LEE NELSON Tues 19 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury JARRED CHRISTMAS, ALI COOK, ZOE LYONS & JOHN MOLONEY Wed 20 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham MARK OLVER, CAREY MARX & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 21, The Glee Club, Birmingham JEREMY HARDY Fri 22 May, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton KEVIN BRIDGES Sat 23 May, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shrops SUZI RUFFEL, DANNY MCLOUGHLIN, NICK DIXON & TONKS Sat 23 May, Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham MARK OLVER, CAREY MARX, MARK NELSON & ANDREA HUBERT Fri 22 Sat 23 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham GEOFF BOYZ, GORDON SOUTHERN, ANDREW RYAN & CIAMH MCDONNELL Fri 22 - Sat 23 May, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham MICKEY SHARMA, WILL-E, THANYIA MORRE & PRINCE HARRY Sun 24 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham SUSAN CALMAN Thurs 28 May, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent MICHAEL FABBRI, DANIEL

Stewart Lee - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SLOSS & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 28 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham LUCY BEAUMONT Fri 29 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre RUBY WAX Fri 29 May Stafford Gatehouse Theatre KEVIN PRECIOUS, IAN MILLER, ED DE CANTOR, CRAIG MURRY & TONY VINO Fri 29 May, National Brewery Centre, Burton-upon-

Trent MICHAEL FABBRI, DANIEL SLOSS, PETE FIRMAN & ERIC LAMPAERT Fri 29 Sat 30 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham SAM AVERY, STEFANO PAOLINI, STUART MITCHELL & PIERRE HOLLINS Fri 29 - Sat 30 May, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham JIMMY CARR Sat 30 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham DAVE HADINGHAM,

JAMALI MADDIX, STEVE GRIBBIN & DANNY MCLOUGHLIN Sat 30 May, Manford’s Comedy Club, Birmingham AL MURRAY Sat 30 May, Theatr Hafren, Powys DAVID TRENT, ALEXANDER BENNETT, NICK DOODY & DAN NIGHTINGALE Sun 31 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury MILES CRAWFORD Sun 31 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

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Theatre “

One of the most explosive openings in musical theatre brilliantly set the pace for Thea Sharrock’s stunning production

”

The Bodyguard Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, until Sat 2 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 19 - Sat 30 May

Award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film. X Factor winner Alexandra Burke takes the lead as Rachel Moran at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre & Birmingham Hippodrome, while Zoe Birkett (ITV's Pop Idol, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert & Thriller Live) takes top billing at Stoke's Regent Theatre.

This blockbusting West End musical is, of course, based on the similarly blockbusting 1990s Hollywood movie starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.

When ex-Secret Service agent Frank Farmer is hired to protect super-

star Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker, sparks soon begin to fly between the pair. Each expects to hold the whip-hand in the relationship; neither expects to fall in love...

Featuring classic numbers including One Moment In Time, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and the legendary I Will Always Love You, the show received mixed reviews from the critics when it opened in 2012 but has proved to be a real hit with its audiences - so much so, in fact, that productions are now planned for Broadway, Australia, Germany and the Far East to further extend its considerable fanbase.

A Translation Of Shadows Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 22 May

The ever-experimental Stan’s Cafe here present their latest show. The Birmingham-based ensemble last year travelled to Tokyo to make a silent movie about a young couple in love. The film, entitled Shadows, plays a key part in this new production, which focuses on the intriguing figure of the Benshi, a narrator employed during Japan’s silent-movie era to explain to cinema-goers what was happening in the film they were watching.

“The Benshi were the stars,” explains Stan’s Cafe. “They would tell us what every shot and symbol meant, who the actors were, why he loved them, why the director was terrible, when and why we should cry and laugh, what would happen in the end, why he himself was the greatest, most indispensable Benshi in history, and why we should fall in love with him.”

Dirty Dancing Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 30 Apr - Sat 23 May

Seen by millions across the globe, Eleanor Bergstein's worldwide smash-hit musical tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together for what will prove to be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

Hit numbers include Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby, Do You Love Me? and I’ve Had The Time Of My Life. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 25

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Theatre PREVIEWS Blood The REP, Birmingham, Tues 19 to Sat 23 May

Tamasha and the Coventry Belgrade here collaborate to present a twenty-first century love story. When Caneze meets Sully in the college canteen, sparks fly - but neither of them can know the lengths to which her brother will go to keep them apart.

Esther Richardson directs Emteaz Hussain’s stylish and thought-provoking play.

“After the 2011 riots,” recalls Emteaz, “I felt frustrated over the myopic portrayal of working-class young people. It was important to me to write a play which captured the complexity of their lives and the brave, sassy way they negotiate their identity in a wider context.”

WIN TIC

KETS

whatso nlive to ente .co.uk r

Twelve Angry Men Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 18 - Sat 23 May

Births, Deaths And Marriages The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire, Wed 13 May; Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock, Thurs 14 May; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wed 20 May

This is the latest offering from the Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s collaboration with the New Wolsey Theatre, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse. The collaboration sees the theatres working together to create new productions using young theatre makers. This particular show considers the notion that just for a moment after waking up - before recalling either where or who you are - there exists the possibility of becoming someone else for the day...

My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Tues 26 May

Black Country Touring’s policy of taking professional theatre into community-friendly places such as schools, libraries and art galleries is certainly paying rich dividends, with the company garnering plenty of praise since its formation some eighteen years ago.

This latest BCT offering is a fast-moving comedy drama that takes place at a mixed marriage wedding reception. A cast of four play the bride, groom, father of the bride and mother of the groom - not to mention a whole host of other characters who make an appearance at the wedding.

Jason Merrells here takes the lead in Reginald Rose’s thrilling courtroom drama alongside Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street), Dennis Lill (The Royal), Gareth David Lloyd (Torchwood) and Robert Duncan (Drop The Dead Donkey).

Best known, of course, from the 1957 movie starring Henry Fonda, Twelve Angry Men tells the story of one juror’s battle to save the life of a man on trial for the murder of his father. Initially a lone voice in the wilderness, Juror Eight is faced with the monumental challenge of persuading his eleven fellow jurors to spare the defendant’s life - a task made all the more difficult by the other men’s prejudices and preconceptions about the trial.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 26 May - Sat 6 June

exchange his soul for eternal youth and the fulfilment of his hedonistic desires.

The production features numerous musical highlights, including The Jewel Song and the Soldiers Chorus.

This National Theatre stage adaptation of Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel bagged an impressive seven Olivier Awards in 2013 and has met with almost universal acclaim.

At its centre is the character of fifteen-yearold Christopher, a boy who describes himself as “a mathematician with some behavioural difficulties”. Initially coming under suspicion after discovering the lifeless body of his neighbour’s dog, Christopher decides to investigate the crime - and embarks on a journey that will change his world forever...

Ladies’ Day Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tues 12 - Sat 16 May

The highly rated Stafford Players here present the story of fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda, all of whom are finding life a bit of a slog. But when Linda finds tickets to Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York, the women start to wonder whether their luck is about to change for the better...

Faust Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 22 May

Swansea City Opera is celebrating its tenth anniversary with this touring production of Gounod’s masterpiece. Originally recounted in Goethe’s dramatic poem, the story of Faust is universally known. Weary of life and contemplating suicide, Faust encounters Méphistophélès (the Devil) and agrees to www.whatsonlive.co.uk 27

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Sat 16th May

TREE FU TOM Time: 1.00pm and 3.30pm

Fri 22nd May

80’S MANIA Time: 7.30pm

Fri 5th June

LOUIS HOOVER Time: 7.30pm

Thurs 18th June

TWELFTH NIGHT Time: 7.30pm

Fri 26th June

A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON Time: 7.30pm

Sat 27th June

SEANN WALSH: 28 Time: 8.00pm

Thurs 9th July

LADIES ROCK Time: 7.30pm

Sat 8th August

JOE PASQUALE Time: 7.30pm

Wed 23rd Sept

JOSH WIDDICOMBE Time: 8.00pm

TWC GP 00945

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Theatre PREVIEWS Sex In Suburbia Lichfield Garrick, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May; The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire, Fri 29 May; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sun 31 May

Rave reviews and sell-out performances were the order of the day for this brand new production when it premiered at the Liverpool Royal Court. Described as a show about ‘dating, men and finding Mr Right’, Sex In Suburbia has been hailed for its success in ‘hitting the comedy G-spot’. It stars Claire Sweeney as Britain’s leading 'agony aunt', a woman who’s far happier dishing out relationship advice than taking it.

The show features a soundtrack of hit numbers from across the years, including I’m Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and Somebody Else’s Guy, and is suitable for audience members aged sixteen-plus.

WIN

TICK whatso ETS nlive.co to enter

.uk

The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Fri 15 - Sat 30 May

One-time Corrie stars Chris Gascoyne and Vicky Entwistle here star in Jim Cartwright’s muchloved musical. Featuring songs from some of the world’s most iconic divas, including Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland, this Olivier Award-winning show tells the story of a shy young girl with an incredible talent for vocal impersonations who suddenly finds herself catapulted into the limelight by a local talent scout.

Private Lives New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Wed 6 - Sat 23 May

Written in 1930 with all of his humourous élan, Private Lives is one of Noel Coward’s sharpest comedies. It tells of a divorced couple - Amanda and Elyot - who meet each other again on their second honeymoons in Deauville, and begin to consider dumping their new loves to try and rekindle their relationship. Typically replete with devastating one-liners, Private Lives is a cynical portrayal of married life, infidelity, selfishness and insecurity.

And Then There Were None

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The Grange Theatre, Walsall Wed 13 - Sat 23 May

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 5 Sat 16 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 28 July - Sat 1 August

Now in their sixty-third season, the Grange Players remain as committed as ever to their original remit - to encourage the local community's interest in drama and theatre through a presentation of entertaining productions.

The company’s latest undertaking is a version of Agatha Christie’s 1943 adaptation of her own novel - a book which she admitted had been her most difficult to write.

Having been invited to a privately owned remote island off the coast of Devon, a group of strangers find that their eccentric millionaire host has mysteriously disappeared. It isn’t long before one of the ten strangers meets with an untimely demise...

Mess

Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson and Mark Benton star in this national touring show based upon Frank Oz’s 1988 film starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine - which itself was based on 1964’s Bedtime Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando.

Set in the decadent underworld of the French Riviera, it tells the humorous tale of two seasoned swindlers and their attempts to hoodwink a millionaire soap heiress.

Unlike the movie which inspired it, the stage version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a musical - and one that’s in a very safe pair of hands too, with Kinky Boots, Hairspray and Legally Blonde director Jerry Mitchell the man at the helm.

Read our interview with Mark Benton on page 6.

Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs, Fri 22 May

Our Day Out Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock, Thurs 7 - Fri 8 May

The Devine Theatre Company is the ensemble behind this family-friendly musical comedy. Our Day Out was originally a television play, commissioned by the BBC and written

by Blood Brothers playwright Willy Russell way back in 1977. The play proved an instant hit with viewers - so much so, in fact, that the BBC repeated it within two short months of its original screening. Six years later, Russell transformed it into a full-length stage musical. The story follows Mrs Kay and her class of special needs pupils on a school trip to Conwy Castle in Wales. Needless to say, not everything goes entirely according to plan...

This production bagged the 2012 Stage Award for Best Ensemble and led to its creator, Caroline Horton, being described as a woman ‘perilously close to genius’.

With such accolades to recommend the quality of the piece, all that’s really needed here is to explain its storyline, which sees Josephine being assisted

by Boris and Sistahl in her efforts to put on a play about anorexia... www.whatsonlive.co.uk 29

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Theatre LISTINGS For full listing information on theatre productions, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk From

FRI 1 MAY THE LADYKILLERS A New Vic and Hull Truck Theatre Production of the classic Ealing comedy, until Sat 2 May, New Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme FEED THE BEAST World premiere of Steve Thompson's fiercely funny look at the rocky relations between our press and politicians in a world of spin-doctors and Leveson Inquiries, until Sat 2 May, The REP, Birmingham. Read the review on page 39 THE BODYGUARD Awardwinning musical based on the blockbuster film.

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke takes the lead as Rachel Marron, until Sat 2 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Read the review on page 39 THE TURN OF THE SCREW Blue Orange Arts fuse shadow puppetry and projection to tell Henry James' gothic classic, until Sat 2 May, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham Read the review online at whatsonlive.co.uk REBECCA Kneehigh Theatre present Emma Rice's adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's timeless tale, until Sat 2 May, The REP, B’ham PIRATES OF PENZANCE Tinkers Farm Opera present a modern interpretation of Gilbert & Sullivan's operatic masterpiece, until Sat 2

May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham LITTLE WOMEN Birmingham Ormiston Academy present a staging of Louise May Alcott’s classic tale, until Sat 2 May, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL Mad Cow Productions present an amateur production of the award-winning Broadway musical, until Sat 2 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury NEVILLE'S ISLAND Tim Firth’s comedy, which follows the misadventures of four out-of-condition, out-of-their-depth businessmen on an out-of-control teambuilding exercise, until Sat 9 May, Sutton Arts Theatre, Sutton Coldfield DIRTY DANCING Eleanor Bergstein's smash-hit West End musical that tells the classic love story of Baby and Johnny. This touring production will feature brand new choreography, performed alongside a host of memorable tunes, including the award-winning (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, until Sat 23 May, Birmingham Hippodrome A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Featuring Jonny Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, and introducing Kaylee Cropper and The Ronaldos, Fri 1 May, Tamworth Assembly Rooms IF, BUTS AND BABIES A show which offers alltoo-familiar snapshots

Dirty Dancing - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

of the trials, tribulations, tears & triumphs of parenthood, Fri 1 May, Lichfield Garrick FIVE KINDS OF SILENCE Shelagh Stephenson's tension-filled drama portraying a cycle of family violence and abuse, Fri 1 - Sat 2 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham OPEN HOUSE First Stages present an interactive experience featuring performance, music, puppetry and other surprises, Sat 2 May, The REP, B’ham SCHUBERT THE WANDERER Original one-man show exploring the last few days of Franz Schubert’s short life, Sat 2 May, Lichfield Garrick CREATING REBECCA Kneehigh Theatre Company discuss their creative process and the making of Rebecca, Sat 2 May, The REP, Birmingham COLLIDOSCOPE Freshold Theatre's patchwork of poetry and live music, telling the story of an ordinary girl on an extraordinary journey, Sat 2 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton EMBRACED BURLESQUE Featuring a Burlesque striptease, live music and comedy, Sat 2 May Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton JOYCE... AT REST Sitespecific performance which remembers the stories of the Newman Brothers’ factory in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, Sat 2 - Sun 3 May, The Coffin Works, Birmingham

Week Commencing

MON 4 MAY DERREN BROWN The award-winning master of psychological illusion returns to the Midlands with a brand new show, Mon 4 - Sat 9 May, Regent Theatre, Stokeon-Trent OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR Joan Littlewood’s legendary musical, revived to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of World War One, Tue 5 - Sat 9 May, The REP, Birmingham SISTER ACT The Arcadians present an amateur staging of the comic musical concerning disco diva-come-nun Deloris Van Cartier, Tue 5 - Sat 9 May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham SISTER ACT Amateur production presented

by Brownhills Musical Theatre Company, Tues 5 - Sat 9 May, Lichfield Garrick DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Based on the classic comedy film starring Sir Michael Caine & Steve Martin, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is set in the South of

Oh What A Lovely War, The REP, Birmingham

France, where two seasoned swindlers try to hoodwink a millionaire heiress, Tue 5 - Sat 16 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham A NIGHT AT THE MUSIC HALL Hosted by Duggie Chapman & featuring The Bachelors with John Stokes, Chas McDevitt, Marilyn HillSmith, Adam Daye, The Simmons Brothers & Safire, Wed 6 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Youth On Stage present an amateur production of the high-octane American musical, Wed 6 - Sat 9 May, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham PRIVATE LIVES A New Vic and Octagon Theatre Bolton production of Noel Coward’s sparkling comedy, Wed 6 - Sat 23 May, New Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme (H)EXPERIMENT: PANDEMIC LIVE! Join award-winning comedians James Cook and Paul Savage in a unique sketch show based on the popular Z-man board game, Thurs 7 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham OUR DAY OUT Ambient Productions present Willy Russell’s touching tale, which explores the challenges of growing up, Thurs 7 - Fri 8 May, Prince of Wales Centre, Cannock AN EVENING WITH GERVASE PHINN Stories, anecdotes, poems and readings from the comic writer, author and raconteur, Fri 8 May, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire PERSUASION Hotbuckle bring Jane Austen’s most personal novel to the stage, Fri 8 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury DIRTY DUSTING Heart-

warming comedy starring Crissy Rock, Dolores Porretta, Leah Bell & Jason Jones, Fri 8 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO CHUMS Join Paul Merton and his renowned Impro Chums, Mike McShane, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster, as they create a new and unique comedy show, based entirely on suggestions from the audience, Sat 9 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury FASHIONABLY LATE Ginny Davis’ witty tale concerning the celebration of family, love and all that matters. Ginny Davis & James Goldsworthy star, Sat 9 May, Lichfield Garrick BEYOND THE BARRICADE Songs from the world’s greatest musicals in concert, Sat 9 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (H) EXPERIMENT: SLOT TOGETHER Birminghambased Stan’s Cafe host eight brand new shows, each using the same twelve props, each twenty minutes long and each playing by the same rules, Sat 9 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham A DOLL’S HOUSE Amateur staging of Henrik Ibsen’s emotional thriller, Sat 9 - Sat 16 May, Oldbury Rep THE LONG ROAD The Crescent Theatre Company present Shelagh Stephenson's thoughtprovoking play, which delves into the murky world of teenage violence, Sat 9 - Sat 16 May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham NO REGRETS: THE LIFE STORY AND SONGS OF EDITH PIAF A salute to the iconic French singer Edith Piaf, this ‘bio-show’ is a fascinat-

ing journey through the life of a legend still idolised the world over, fifty years after her death, Sun 10 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Week Commencing

MON 11 MAY BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES New work where four young theatre makers decide to change the course of their lives forever by exchanging the parts of their personalities they’ve never much liked for the alternative traits they’ve always wanted, Mon 11 May, The REP, Birmingham JACKIE Porthill Players present the Jackie Trent story, Mon 11 - Sat 16 May, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent PYGMALION The Nonentities present an amateur version of George Bernard Shaw’s most popular play, Mon 11 Sat 16 May, Rose Theatre, Kidderminster PLASTIC FIGURINES Box Of Tricks present Ella Carmen Greenhill’s ‘funny & moving’ new play, which explores the relationship between siblings with very different views of the world, Tues 12 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury SPRING AWAKENING University of Wolverhampton Drama Department presents its version of the Tony Award-winning musical, which celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood, Tues 12 Wed 13 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton KISS ME, KATE Bournville Musical Theatre Company present Cole Porter's musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew, Tues 12 - Sat 16 May,

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MANCHESTER CAMERATA: FINALE, FILTER AND FIGARO GATEHOUSE THEATRE Fri 15 May Exceptional pianist, Ingrid Fliter, will appear in Stafford for the season finale to perform Beethoven's dramatic Piano Concerto No.2. Showcasing some of the greatest pieces of chamber orchestra repertoire, Manchester Camerata will open with Mozart's world7.30pm, £16/£14 concs famous Marriage of Figaro Overture, followed by a surprise première.

MAY 6 May, 12pm Literature Talk & Film with Dr Jane – Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Tickets: £6 incl. Screening 12 - 16 May, 7.30pm Mellow Dramatics presents

GERVASE PHINN

Bad Girls

GATEHOUSE THEATRE

Tickets: £12

Thurs 21 May Gervase Phinn has been touring theatres across the country for over 10 years as a hilarious raconteur. The best-selling and award winning author, Radio and TV personality, really is at his best and most exciting in front of a live audience. An Evening with Gervase Phinn 7.30pm, £17.50 will have you on the edges of your seats, as he shares his hilarious and sometimes poignant tales of life

Fri 22 May, 7.30pm Caroline Horton & China Plate

Mess

23 May, 7.30pm

Absolution Tickets: £12

KIMBERS MEN THE MET STUDIO

Sat 23 May

26 May, 7.30pm

Probably the finest and funniest perveyors of sea shanties in Europe, they never fail to entertain. Expect to laugh, sing and be generally entertained.

Remember, nothing beats hearing singers of this quality live.

The Picture of Dorain Gray

Tickets: £10

Thurs 28 May, 8.00pm

8pm, £12.50

Susan Calman Lady Like

LUCY BEAUMONT

Tickets: £14

THE MET STUDIO

Fri 29 May Foster’s Best Newcomer nominee 2014. Winner of The BBC New comedy award, Chortle Best Newcomer and star of BBC 3's Live at the Electric.

Lucy Beaumont presents her hugely anticipated debut show.

Spend an hour in Lucy's universe on the North-East coast with her unique blend of surreal, offbeat humour and big belly laughs.

30 May, 8.00pm The Madhouse

Paul Liddle

Tickets: £10 8pm, £12

3 June, 12pm Literature Talk & Film with Dr Jane – Nevil Shute’s

RUBY WAX GATEHOUSE THEATRE

On The Beach

Tickets: £6 incl. Screen-

Fri 29 May Ruby Wax new show is based on her critically acclaimed book ‘Sane New World’ which helps us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking. This show is your passport to saner living.

She might not be sane herself but she does a pretty good imitation.

JUNE

7.30pm, £17.50/£15.50

JUICE COMEDY THE MET STUDIO

Sat 6 June Stafford’s longest-running comedy club returns! Bringing the best in alternative comedy to the MET Studio with five acts from across the comedy circuit!

7.30pm, £12

BOOKONLINE Box Office 01785 619080 www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

32 www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1AA

Box office: 01283 508100. www.brewhouse.co.uk

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Theatre LISTINGS For full listing information on theatre productions, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Crescent Theatre, Birmingham LADIES' DAY Stafford Players present a humorous story about four women who ditch their drab day job to go to Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot, Tue 12 - Sat 16 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre BAD GIRLS MUSICAL Great Barr Musical Theatre Company present the story of new idealistic Wing Governor Helen Stewart and her battles with the entrenched old guard of Officer Jim Fenner and his sidekick Sylvia Hollamby, Tue 12 - Sat 16 May, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES New work where four young theatre makers decide to change the course of their lives forever by exchanging the parts of their personalities they’ve never much liked for the alternative traits they’ve always wanted, Wed 13 May, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY European Arts present their adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic play, using a cast of five versatile actors, Wed 13 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury GHOST THE MUSICAL West Bromwich Operatic Society present an amateur staging based on the 1990 blockbuster movie, Wed 13 Sat 16 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER Dudley Little The-

atre present Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy of manners, Wed 13 - Sat 16 May, Netherton Arts Centre, Dudley SISTER ACT Presented

by Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society, Wed 13 - Sat 16 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury (H) EXPERIMENT: QUIZSHOWREOKE Interactive game show where audience members are invited to become contestants and be in with the chance of winning prizes... Thurs 14 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES New work where four young theatre makers decide to change the course of their lives forever by exchanging the parts of their personalities they’ve never much liked for the alternative traits they’ve always wanted, Thurs 14 May, The Prince Of Wales, Cannock, Staffs CARDBOARD CITIZENS: BENEFIT Three interwoven stories unlock the frustrations and passions of characters struggling with their bank balances, their histories and their own sense of self, Thurs 14 Fri 15 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham CHEWING THE FAT Rep Foundry member Selina Thompson invites audiences to join her for her own version of a midnight feast: somewhere between the confessions made over coffee at Weight Watch-

ers and the sloppy, drunken storytelling that accompanies that 3am kebab, Thurs 14 Sat 16 May, The REP, Birmingham THE FOOTSIE CLUB Bask in the secluded decadence of the elegant venue for an exclusive evening of the most delectable femme fatales, quirky comedy, and extraordinary performances, Thurs 14 Wed 20 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham BIRMINGHAM CABARET FESTIVAL Brand new event promising some of the best cabaret acts in the UK, Thurs 14 Sat 30 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham SOMETHING ELSE Deafinitely Theatre present a story about a small creature who lives his life always trying to fit in, Fri 15 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton BORIS & SERGEY'S VAUDEVILLIAN ADVENTURE An improvised crossover cabaret featuring tabletop puppetry and character comedy for discerningly twisted adult audiences, Fri 15 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham NOAH: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE Saltmine Theatre present a ‘funfilled’ family musical based on the biblical story, Fri 15 May, Bedworth Civic Hall PARDON ME PRIME MINISTER Edward Taylor & John Graham’s farce, which sees a Prime Minister’s former indiscretion come back to haunt him, Fri 15 - Sat 23 May, Hall Green Little Theatre, Birmingham THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company & West Yorkshire Playhouse present Jim Cartwright's

The Picture Of Dorian Gray - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury & Brewhouse Art Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs

The Judy Garland Songbook - New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

award-winning comedy, Fri 15 - Sat 30 May, The REP, Birmingham SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A full screening of the Disney sensation, complete with on-screen lyrics to help you sing along with Anna and Elsa during the film, Sat 16 May, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent TREE FU TOM New show starring the world's smallest superhero, direct from the smashhit CBeebies series, Sat 16 May, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire (H) EXPERIMENT: SLOT TOGETHER Birminghambased Stan’s Cafe host eight brand new shows, each using the same twelve props, each twenty minutes long and each playing by the same rules, Sat 16 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham MATT RICARDO: SHOWMAN Big laughs, serious skills, slapstick & breathtaking spectacle from the 'UK's most successful juggler', Sat 16 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Sweeney stars in a comedy about dating, men and finding Mr Right, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, Lichfield Garrick YAMATO DRUMMERS The ancient art of taiko drumming is brought bang up to date in an exhilarating display of expertise and athleticism which has thrilled audiences worldwide..., Sun 17 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Week Commencing

MON 18 MAY TWELVE ANGRY MEN Jason Merrells, Andrew Lancel, Dennis Lill & Gareth David Lloyd star in a new production of Reginald Rose's gripping courtroom thriller,

Mon 18 - Sat 23 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre SOMEWHERE TO TOP GIRLS Caryl Churchill’s 1982 play, exploring contemporary issues of women in the workplace, Tues 19 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham MURDER IN PLAY An amateur production of Simon Brett’s comedy thriller which centres around the backstabbing & sexual politics of an inept theatre company, Tues 19 May, Lichfield Garrick STORIES FROM THE PUNJAB & BEYOND Lively tales for all the family from Indian storyteller Peter Chand, Tues 19 May, West Bromwich Central Library THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Live screening of English National Opera's performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's popular comic opera, Tue 19 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Amateur production presented by Rockhopper Productions, Tues 19 - Sat 23 May, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent BLOOD Emteaz Hussain's twenty-first century love story, Tue 19 Sat 23 May, The REP, Birmingham THE BODYGUARD Awardwinning musical based on the blockbuster film.

Zoe Birkett (ITV's Pop Idol, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert & Thriller Live) takes top billing as Rachel Marron, Tue 19 - Sat 30 May, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Read the review on page 39 BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES New work where four young theatre makers decide to change the course of their lives forever by exchanging the parts of their personalities they’ve never much liked for the alternative traits they’ve always

wanted, Wed 20 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton VOCA PEOPLE International phenomenon featuring more than eighty all-time favourite musical hits, from Madonna to Michael Jackson via Mozart, Wed 20 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Featuring Jonny Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, and introducing Kaylee Cropper and The Ronaldos, Thurs 21 May, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham LILI LA SCALA: SIREN ‘Stunning' new cabaret show fusing Lili's classical roots with dark eclectic songs in a bewitching theatrical voyage, Thurs 21 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham AN EVENING WITH GERVASE PHINN Stories, anecdotes, poems and readings from the comic writer, author and raconteur, Thurs 21 May, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre JUDY: THE JUDY GARLAND STORY A journey through the life and music of Judy Garland, featuring timeless classic songs performed by award-winning singers & dancers, Thurs 21 Sat 23 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT Featuring Jonny Cole, Dandy, Peter Lee, and introducing Kaylee Cropper and The Ronaldos, Fri 22 May, Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire A TRANSLATION OF SHADOWS World premiere of Stan's Cafe's latest work, Fri 22 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton FAUST Swansea City Opera present Gounod’s Gothic tale, Fri 22 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

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Wed 20 May, 7.30pm The New Wolsey Theatre & Young Theatre Makers

Wed 22 May, 7.30pm Stan’s Cafe

Fri 29 & Sat 30 May, 7.30pm Black Country Touring

A Translation Of Shadows

Occasionally We Skype

Cell Births, Deaths and Marriages Four young theatre-makers have decided that they’ve got just enough time left to change the course of their lives forever – so they’re going to exchange the parts of their personalities they’ve never much liked for the alternative traits they’ve always wanted.

So come and see how they’re doing, whether they’ve made it and how long they’ve got left.

Tickets: £5

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When silent film first arrived in Japan a narrator, called a Benshi, was employed to explain the movie and you would fall in love with them.

They were the stars and they guided you through their interpretation of the screen images. Though once mighty and numerous, the dominance of the Benshi was short-lived.

'The talkies' eventually killed them off.

Tickets: £10/£8 concs

Occasionally We Skype explores what it means to exist in a digitally connected, globalized world.

Using Kathak dance, live music, spoken word, iphones, digital projection and theatre, Occasionally We Skype brings together the combined talents of the Sonia Sabri Company and Black Country Touring, with the able support of Sampad and The Arena Theatre, in a unique and compelling new show.

Part of Southbank Centre’s Alchemy Black Country

Tickets: £10/£8 concs

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MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer brings his ongoing quest to reconnect hip-hop with manners and the Queen’s English to Birmingham!, Fri 22 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham MESS Caroline Horton's play of obsession, addiction & not wanting to get out of bed, Fri 22 May, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-uponTrent, Staffs THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD AND LOEB STORY Stephen Dolginoff's award-winning musical, Fri 22 - Sat 23 May, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Blue Orange Arts presents Roald Dahl's classic tale, Sat 23 May, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham BOYS TALK Women & Theatre present an engaging celebration of male communication with movement, performance and spoken word, Sat 23 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham NELL GWYNN’S HISTORY LAID BARE Join Burlesque performer Ginger Blush as she takes her audience on a whirlwind tour through the life & times of Nell Gwyn, Sat 23 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham PARADE The Crescent Theatre Company present Jason Robert Brown's musical, which tells the tale of the trial of Leo Frank, accused and condemned to death for murder, Sat 23 - Sat 30 May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham BASHMENT GRANNY 3 BASHY DEAD Keith Shebada Ramsey returns as ‘Bad Boy Trevor’ in this action-packed comedy sequel that promises to grip from start to curtain call, Sun 24 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham THE BOY WHO BIT PICASSO Interactive family show featuring storytelling, music & a chance for audience members to make their own art, Sun 24 May, All Stretton Village Hall, Church Stretton, South Shropshire

Week Commencing

MON 25 MAY SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A full screening of the Disney sensation, complete with on-screen lyrics to help you sing along with Anna and Elsa during the film, Mon 25 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre SING-A-LONG-A GREASE Singalong version of the classic film starring

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, Mon 25 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST David Suchet dons a dress to star as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s muchloved masterpiece.

Emily Barber, Michael Benz, Philip Cumbus, Imogen Doel, Michelle Dotrice & Richard O’Callaghan also star, Mon 25 - Sat 30 May, Malvern Theatre WE'LL MEET AGAIN - HITS FROM THE BLITZ Brand new Wartime Cavalcade show celebrating seventy years since the end of WWII, Tue 26 May, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham TREE FU TOM New show starring the world's smallest superhero, direct from the smashhit CBeebies series, Tue 26 May, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa MY BIG FAT COWPAT WEDDING Black Country Touring, Kali Theatre & Arts Alive present a fast-moving comedy where the audience become the guests at the wedding reception of an intercultural marriage between a country girl & an Indian lad from the city, Tue 26 May, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton PITSCHI - THE KITTEN WITH DREAMS Storytelling, physical theatre, music & song are here woven together in a classic Swiss story for children which tells of a kitten who learns to be happy by being exactly what she is, Tue 26 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, B’ham THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY European Arts present their adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic play, using a cast of five versatile actors, Tues 26 May, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-uponTrent, Staffs TINA TURNER: TEA LADY A parody, not affiliated with Tina Turner, Tue 26 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GROOVY GREEKS From savage Sparta to angry Athens, discover the truth about growing up in Greece, Tue 26 - Sat 30 May, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry THE PYRAMID TEXTS James Cosmo (Trainspotting, Braveheart & Game Of Thrones) delivers a personal & haunting monologue from BAFTA Award-winning writer Geoff Thompson, Tue 26 - Sat 30 May, The REP, Birmingham THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Highly acclaimed National Theatre production based on Mark Had-

don's award-winning novel, Tue 26 May - Sat 6 June, Birmingham Hippodrome Read the interview with Joshua Jenkins on page 10 THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, FEATURING GERMAINE GREER Australian academic & journalist Germaine Greer explores forty years of feminism, Wed 27 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton RAPUNZEL Tutti Frutti Productions uses its inventive & physical style in a re-telling of the popular fairytale which explores the curiosity and joys of growing up, risk taking & discovering who you are, Wed 27 May mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham THE WEATHERMAN Critically acclaimed clown Kiki Lovechild uses physical comedy, puppetry, mime and illusion in a show that brings together modern clowning with a collection of forgotten vaudeville art forms, including the routines that have made Kiki a firm favourite on the UK cabaret scene, Wed 27 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS Starring Julie Paton from Cats as Puss In Boots & Lichfield’s favourite Dame, Ian Adams, as Queen Catrovia, Wed 27 May, Lichfield Garrick MASTERPIECES Warwick University Drama Society presents Sarah Daniels’ fiery & uncompromising play about our cultural attitude towards pornography, Wed 27 - Sat 30 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry HORRIBLE HISTORIES: INCREDIBLE INVADERS Brand new show from the Horrible Histories team. This time round it's the ruthless ways of the Romans which come under scrutiny, Wed 27 - Sat 30 May, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry KING LEAR Northern Broadsides present a production for a new generation of Shakespeare fans, Wed 27 May - Sat 13 June, New Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme DIRTY DUSTING Heartwarming comedy starring Crissy Rock, Dolores Porretta, Leah Bell & Jason Jones, Thurs 28 May, Bedworth Civic Hall STORIES FROM THE PUNJAB & BEYOND Lively tales for all the family from Indian storyteller Peter Chand, Thurs 28 May, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton NIRBHAYA Southbank Centre, Oldham Coliseum, Cast & Black

A Black Country Night Out - Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs; Old REP, Birmingham; Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Country Touring present a dramatic performance based on a true incident and the life events of the performers, Thurs 28 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF COMEDY - ABRIDGED The Reduced Shakespeare Company embark on a ninetyminute rollercoaster ride, deconstructing the entire history of comedy, Thurs 28 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW Britain's most loveable fox is back on the road, along with his TV chum Mr Stephen (aka Chris Pizzey). Together they take audiences on a journey of laughs, storytelling & song in a brand new stage show, Thurs 28 May, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury STORIES FROM THE PUNJAB AND BEYOND Fun, interactive and very lively tales for the family from Indian storyteller Peter Chand, Thurs 28 May, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton FOGHORN IMPROV: FOGHORN FOLLIES An intimate comedic cabaret experience for a discerning comedic clientele, Thurs 28 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham SWEET CHARITY Amateur production presented by the Viv Kelly Youth Theatre, Thurs 28 - Sat 30 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury INTO THE WOODS Backstreet Theatre Company present Stephen Sondheim’s modern classic, which intertwines the plots of an array of Brothers Grimm fairytales, Thurs 28 - Sat 30 May, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock MILKSHAKE PARTY PARTY LIVE! Brand new musical spectacular for children featuring new songs alongside old

favourites, funky dance routines and plenty of laughter, Fri 29 May, Palace Theatre, Redditch PETER PAN Presented by Blue Orange Theatre, Fri 29 May, Solihull Arts Complex OCCASIONALLY WE SKYPE Black Country Touring fuses Kathak dance, live music, spoken word, iPhones, digital projection & theatre to explore what it means to be digitally connected, Fri 29 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Sweeney stars in a new brand comedy about dating, men and finding Mr Right, Fri 29 May, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF COMEDY - ABRIDGED The Reduced Shakespeare Company embark on a ninetyminute rollercoaster ride, deconstructing the entire history of comedy, Fri 29 May, Swan Theatre, Worcester EASTEND CABARET: PERVERTS Award-winning cult comedy duo EastEnd Cabaret present their raucous and risqué musical comedy, headlining the first ever Birmingham Cabaret Festival, Fri 29 - Sat 30 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS Children's tale based on the bestselling book, Fri 29 Sun 31 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry ALEXEI SAYLE: LISTEN WITH ALEXEI The bestselling author, comedian & actor gives a preview of the second volume of his ‘hilarious and thought-provoking’ memoirs with a reading from Thatcher Stole My Trousers, Sat 30 May, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham STATIK First Stages present a show about

breaking the mould that features energetic clowning and a vibrant soundtrack, Sat 30 May, The REP, Birmingham STORIES FROM THE PUNJAB & BEYOND Lively tales for all the family from Indian storyteller Peter Chand, Sat 30 May, Bleakhouse Library, Oldbury MINISTRY OF SCIENCE LIVE! From the creators of Brainiac Live comes a brand new show which takes an anarchic approach to science communication, Sat 30 May, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa BACK TO BROADWAY Allsinging, all-dancing theatrical extravaganza, Sat 30 May, Palace Theatre, Redditch EMBRACED BURLESQUE Featuring a Burlesque striptease, live music and comedy, Sat 30 May, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton POSTCARDS FROM THE SEASIDE New musical celebrating the Home Front at the time of the Dunkirk Evacuation, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove WHY THE WHALES CAME The Roses Youth Theatre presents Michael Morpurgo’s tale of friendship, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May, Roses Theatre.

Tewkesbury THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW Sun 31 May, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare Sweeney stars in a new brand comedy about dating, men and finding Mr Right, Sun 31 May, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre ALONG THE RIVERBANK Bamboozle present a ‘magical production’ inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s Wind In The Willows, Sun 31 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

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Arts FESTIVALS Birmingham Cabaret Festival Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 14 - Sat 30 May

This is Birmingham’s first ever cabaret festival, taking place as a response to the growing popularity of the art form. “Cabaret has undeniably undergone a renaissance in the past couple of decades,” explain the festival’s organisers. “Music, comedy, circus, drag and burlesque acts, to name but a few branches, frequently dominate the headlines at festivals and venues across the world, and cabaret is often the place to discover the newest and most daring cross-disciplinary theatre. London has been enjoying the flourishing, thriving and multi-faceted scene for many years, and it’s something we're delighted to be bringing to the second city.”

Award-winning 'musical mischief-makers' EastEnd Cabaret headline the festival, which also features a cabaret-themed exhibition.

First Bite Festival mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 2 May

This returning event - a celebration of theatre-making in the Midlands - showcases unfinished extracts and new ideas from some of the region's most highly rated creatives.

All of the work on show is shaped by audience feedback. Two of the pieces will be selected for commission and will then be presented in First Bite’s sister festival, Bite Size, later in the year.

Both festivals are organised by independent theatre studio China Plate, working in collaboration with mac birmingham and Warwick Arts Centre.

Alchemy Festival various venues across the West Midlands, Tues 19 - Sat 30 May

Alchemy 2015 is the result of a new partnership between Southbank Centre and Black Country Touring (BCT). The event sees ‘the best in South Asian arts’ visiting the region. Highlights include Knives, Forks & Fingers, a new comedy show created especially for the festival by comedian, broadcaster, journalist and chef Hardeep Singh Koli.

Internationally acclaimed theatre production Nirbhaya is another stand-out attraction, as is Occasionally We Skype, a major new dance, music and theatre co-production by Sonia Sabri Company and Black Country Touring.

“We’re very excited to be bringing Alchemy to the region,” says Frances Land, Co-Artistic Director at BCT. “As a small yet dynamic arts organisation, we’re really looking forward to this unique partnership with the festival.”

For further details visit alchemy.bctouring.co.uk

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Theatre REVIEWS CONT...

Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month.

For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Blood Brothers Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Have you heard the tale of the Johnstone twins?

For the benefit of those who haven’t - Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is a show that’s achieved iconic status in the world of musical theatre. Nicknamed ‘the standing ovation musical’, it’s a gold-star classic that keeps on giving - and the audiences keep on rolling in, too.

Combining humour and heartache in equal measure, it tells the story of Eddie Lyons and Mickey Johnstone. Twins separated at birth, the boys are raised at different ends of the ‘class’ spectrum, only to be brought together by fate at various stages of their lives before meeting their destiny in a tragic finale.

Top billing this Theatre Severn production was show stalwart Maureen Nolan, who gave a solid performance as the matriarch of the Johnstone clan.

Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow showcased his raspy tones to full effect as the Narrator, lurking Grim Reaper-like in the shadows and doorways to remind us that it’ll all end in tears - which, of course, it does.

No matter how many times you see Blood Brothers, you can never properly prepare yourself for that final scene. But there are plenty of laughs to enjoy in the show too, many of which are provided by the young Mickey, Eddie and Linda - wonderfully played

by Sean Jones, Joel Benedict and Danielle Corlass respectively.

The show is perfectly cast throughout. Full credit goes to Graham Martin for his instant transformation from posh school master to harassed state school teacher, and to Kate Jarman for her powerful portrayal of the neurotic Mrs Lyons.

Pasty Moss n n n n

Rosie Kay: 5 Soldiers The REP, Birmingham

Creating a production around a subject about which most people know relatively little is always a difficult task, yet Rosie Kay manages to present the world of the British military in a very insightful way.

5 Soliders explores the life of British soldiers - the existence inside the barracks, the training programme and, of course, the experience of war.

Having spent several months conducting field research in various military bases, Kay’s knowledge is clearly both current and accurate. Her dancers also spent time with soliders, learning various drills and weapon handling - although Kay decided against using actual weapons in the production.

The piece as a whole is strong and the dancers are a credit to the choreographer. They manage to portray a discipline usually achieved after years of military training, while at the same time bringing a beautiful, contemporary quality and a real sense of movement to the material. The repetitive structure of quick marches and drills is hypnotising, the dancers moving in a machine-like unit.

There are moments of comedy, seduction and pure emotion. Kay has successfully captured a sense of a somewhat secret world - one in which outsiders aren’t welcome.

This is a beautiful, engaging and touching piece.

Jamie Ryan n n n

The Bodyguard Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

One of the most explosive openings in musical theatre brilliantly set the pace for Thea Sharrock’s stunning production of The Bodyguard.

There were gunshots, a scuffle - and then we got to meet the dashing Frank Farmer, wonderfully played by Stuart Reid.

It was then full pelt into the opening scene where, resplendent in gold, Alexandra Burke showcased why she’s the perfect choice to play Rachel Marron - a role made famous by the late Whitney Houston. Accompanied by an ensemble of ripped dancers in the first of the show’s spectacularly choreographed routines, Burke’s vocals were sublime.

As pyrotechnics intermittently burst from the stage, I found myself hoping that none of the front-row audience members had gone overboard with the hairspray.

Burke displayed a real versatility throughout; her acting was every bit as impressive as her singing. There was neither a note off key nor a foot out of step the whole evening.

Delivering her lines with conviction, she shone like the star she is. Very much at ease in the role, her soft American tones didn’t falter once.

Melissa James, as Rachel’s sister Nicki, deserved equal credit. Possessing the voice of a nightingale, her powerful solos and harmonies with Burke gave me goosebumps, while cute-as-a-button Jhayheim Davis, as Marron’s son Fletcher, displayed all the qualities of a star in the making.

Striking lighting design by Mark Henderson ensured Mike Denman’s portrayal of Marron’s stalker was menacing and creepy in equal measure.

This stunning production was further enhanced by an effectively designed set, an abundance of spectacular costume changes from Tim Hatley, orchestration by Chris Egan, superb video effects by Duncan McLean and first-class performances from each and every one of the supporting cast. As entertainment goes, The Bodyguard is Grade A quality, a true theatrical spectacle that’s impressively superior to the film which inspired it. I urge you to go see for yourself. Patsy Moss n n n n n The Bodyguard shows at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Sat 2 May, returning to play Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tues 19 to Sat 30 May, and Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 5 to Sat 29 August.

Feed The Beast The REP, Birmingham Michael Goodlad is the kind of Prime Minister I would love to vote for; a true, principled statesman. Swept unexpectedly into No 10, he sets out to build a new, fair and square nation. He’s ideal - but dangerously idealistic. He also intends to ignore the press. In other words, he refuses to Feed The Beast. The question is, how will The Beast bite back? Preparing for the power struggle, the PM hires a straining-at-the-leash Red Top Rottweiler as his press officer. Let battle commence…

This is an amazingly perceptive and timely play. Dr Who writer Steve Thompson takes us only slightly into the future - into a world where the public really are sick of the same old stories and vote for something new; and where Internet forums rule supreme.

Sadly, probably the day after tomorrow.

This is a play fizzing with topical traumas. The writing is exceptionally exciting and energetic, and a thunderingly good cast pick up Thompson’s jubilant jokes and lancing lines and slice their way through the evening. Gerald Kyd is outstandingly dynamic as the bright-new-dawn PM. Shaun Mason is terrifyingly super-real as his raunchy, goget-’em press advisor. But this is far from a two-way fight. Director Peter Rowe has assembled six hugely talented and versatile ensemble actors. He seems to just wind them up and let them go, each character a star turn in their own right. Meanwhile, the family scenes are a delicately observed haven from the hellfire. Badria Timimi and Aimee Powell tenderly infuse the antidote of love and affection into the lifeblood of their man at No 10... and he protects them from the press with all his sacrificial might.

As you might imagine, it all starts to go wrong. Even ideal men are only human.

Steve Thompson’s message is fearfully clear. We are doomed. He presents a sharply focused picture of a world in which elected democracy is terminally undermined by the clicking classes.

It’s a remarkable evening and, I fancy, a landmark production in the history of political theatre. Robin Day would love it. Chris Eldon Lee n n n n n www.whatsonlive.co.uk 39

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Dance

Tigress Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May Tamworth Castle here provides a stunning backdrop to new work from innovative dance company Motionhouse.

Tigress makes up the dance element of I Am Tamworth, a twelvemonth celebration of the arts which has been organised by Tamworth Borough Council.

The production follows the story of the formidable Aethelred, Lady of the Mercians - the daughter of Alfred the Great - as she commands her army at the time of the Viking invasion.

Combining elements of dance, acrobatics, music and drumming -

and featuring over one hundred Tamworth choir members, two hundred local schoolchildren and twenty-two semi-professional dancers the project aims to make impressive use of the Tamworth Castle environment.

Not only an original production, Tigress also features an original score - specifically created for the project - and provides audience members with the chance to play a significant part in making the story of the Mercians come to life.

Birmingham Royal Ballet Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May

Embarking on a celebration of twenty years with David Bintley as artistic director, Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) here present three works designed to show off the range of the company’s repertoire.

Les Rendezvous by Sir Frederick Ashton is an exercise in pure technique and boasts a lighthearted and flirtatious quality, while Kin, from former BRB dancer Alexander Whitley, is an athletic, abstract piece celebrating the kinetics of dance through group ensembles, delicate solos and tender duets.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, meanwhile, is described as flash, jazzy and laugh-out-loud funny.

The BRB orchestra accompanies the dancers live on stage.

Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 22 - Tues 26 May

Michael Flatley’s ever-popular Lord Of The Dance looks set to attain new heights. Dangerous Games comes complete with world champion acrobats, groundbreaking technology - including holographs and dancing robots and, as always, some of the greatest Irish Dancers in the world. There’s also a new score to enjoy, composed by the hugely talented Gerard Fahy.

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Dance LISTINGS For full listing information on dance, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

The Spalding Suite The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May

Inspired by the UK’s basketball scene, Fuel’s The Spalding Suite presents a new type of physical theatre. A combination of live beatboxing, music, hip-hop moves and poetry, the show celebrates the elegance of the sport. Writer Inua Ellams and award-winning director Benji Reid explore the highs and lows of the game through the experience of five young men who play it. The show has been commissioned by Southbank Centre and Contact.

Cadiz DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham, Wed 6 - Thurs 7 May

A real taste of Spanish culture hits Birmingham this month in the form of Jesús Fernández’s Cádiz, an exploration of the award-winning dancer’s Andalucian roots. The piece sees choreographer and director Fernández take his audience on a nostalgic journey through his home town its history, beaches, walls, sense of mystery and music providing his inspiration.

Fernandez is joined on stage by four outstanding musicians, all from Cádiz, who recreate original flamenco music.

PASHA: LIFE THROUGH DANCE Sat 2 May, Lichfield Garrick; Fri 8 May, Malvern Theatre; Tues 5 - Wed 6 May, Palace Theatre; Redditch; Tues 12 May, The Roses, Tewkesbury CADIZ Wed 6 - Thurs 7 May, DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham FOLLOWING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD: DANCING THE LYRICS OF BERNIE TAUPIN Presented by University of Wolverhampton Dance Department, Thurs 7 May, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton BRIDGING THE VOID Film, dance and music interlace to create a dance film production, Sat 9 May, Artrix. Bromsgrove TIGRESS Motionhouse Sat 9 - Sun 10 May Tamworth Castle, Staffs JALEO FLAMENCO Mon 11 May, New Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme THE SPALDING SUITE Presented by Fuel, Thurs 14 - Sat 16 May, DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre,

Birmingham ALADDIN Ballet Theatre UK re-tell the classic tale of the lonely orphan whose life is destined for greater things, Fri 15 May Palace Theatre, Redditch EDGE15 London Contemporary Dance School post graduate company present a triple bill, Fri 15 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove CINDERELLA Ballet Cymru present a new work based on the eternal fairytale, Wed 20 May, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme LAST MAN STANDING James Wilton Dance explore the fragility of human existence, Thurs 21 May, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury LORD OF THE DANCE DANGEROUS GAMES Fri 22 - Tues 26 May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham INTOTO DANCE 2015 London Studio Centre presents work by upand-coming talents, Fri 22 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET A showcase of greats, featuring works

by Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan and a new piece by Alexander Whitley, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury ALADDIN Ballet Theatre UK re-tell the classic tale of the lonely orphan whose life is destined for greater things, Wed 27 May Solihull Arts Complex BROMANCE Crying Out Loud & Barely Methodical Troupe celebrate all things blokey through a series of risktaking physical feats, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry VARIETY IS THE SPICE: THE BEST OF BRITISH ASIAN MUSIC & DANCE Oldham Coliseum, Black Country Touring, Cast and Southbank Centre present an evening of music, dance and comedy, Wed 27 May Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Sat 30 May, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham

Bromance Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 26 - Wed 27 May

Celebrating all things blokey, all-male acrobatic trio Barely Methodical Troupe won a Total Theatre Award at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival. They visit Coventry with an award-winning show that’s both playful and touching, exploring the limits of male companionship via a series of risk-taking physical feats.

Sun 2 May, 2.30pm & 7.30pm The Little Theatre, Leicester  01527 577330 Thurs 21 - Sat 23 May, 7.30pm Garrick Theatre, Lichfield  01543 412121 Sat 30 May, 7.30pm Old Rep, Birmingham  0121 359 9444

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Film

TO WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

FROM

FRI 1 MAY 5

Mad Max: Fury Road CERT tbc Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Hugh Keays-Byrne Directed by George Miller (Australia/USA)

Two rebels - a man and a woman - join forces to circumnavigate the desert in a post-apocalyptic universe gone mad… Thirty years after the last Mad Max film (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, 1985), and twenty-five years in ‘development hell,’ Fury Road arrives with a budget of $150million. Mel Gibson, now fifty-nine, is obviously a tad too long in the tooth to play the road warrior, and is replaced by Tom Hardy. Hardy should certainly do the franchise justice and is paired by three of the sexiest women in the cinema firmament: Charlize Theron, Zoë Kravitz and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Can the series retain its Fury? Is it another dystopian future too many? Its thespian heft should certainly play in its favour.

TOP 5 FILM BOX OFFICE

From

FRI 22 MAY

1 Fast & Furious 7 (12a) 2 Cinderella (U) 3 Home (U) 4 The DUFF (12a) 5 SpongeBob Movie (U)

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond CERT tbc Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Judy Greer Directed by Brad Bird (USA)

It’s a Wonderful World. Or, in this case, a place in time and space that changes due to our very actions (much like real life, but more so). George Clooney stars as a jaded inventor whose disillusionment with his own world is transformed by the scientific curiosity and optimism of a teenager. So, together, they travel to Tomorrowland. Like Pirates Of The Caribbean and the Eddie Murphy comedy The Haunted Mansion, Tomorrowland is based on a Disney theme park attraction, which is really weird. The director, Brad Bird, previously brought us The Incredibles and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

Fast & Furious 7

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43

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Film NEW RELEASES Released from Fri 1 May

Far From The Madding Crowd CERT 12a (119 mins)

Starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge, Juno Temple, Jessica Barden Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (UK/USA)

The last time Thomas Hardy’s immortal 1874 novel was adapted for the screen was courtesy of the modern-day, thinly disguised Tamara Drewe (2010), with Gemma Arterton.

Thomas Vinterberg’s version is strictly of the costumed variety, set in Victorian England.

Carey Mulligan, as the fêted Bathsheba Everdene, is already getting rave reviews.

From

FRI 8 MAY

Samba CERT 15 (119 mins) Starring Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Tahar Rahim, Izïa Higelin, Hélène Vincent Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano (France)

Unfriended CERT 15 (83 mins)

Big Game

Starring Shelley Hennig, Renee Olstead, Courtney Halverson, Jacob Wysocki Directed by Levan Gabriadze (USA)

Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Onni Tommila, Ray Stevenson, Victor Garber, Ted Levine, Felicity Huffman, Jim Broadbent Directed by Jalmari Helander (Finland/Germany/UK)

In The Ring it was that wretched VHS. Here, it’s a girl talking on Skype - and she’s not very nice. We’re talking horror here and another low-budget “found footage” thing. But, hey - it got some pretty good reviews in the States.

In light of the headlines devoted to immigration in this country, this story of a Senegalese dish washer in Paris should shed a refreshing perspective on the other side.

Omar Sy, incidentally, previously starred in the accomplished and irresistible Untouchable (2011), for which he won the French Oscar.

CERT 12a (90 mins)

The most expensive Finnish film in history, Big Game would seem to be an unlikely Scandinavian export. Samuel L. Jackson plays the US president whose plane is shot down by terrorists, landing him in the middle of a Finnish forest. It would seem that only a thirteen-year-old boy (Tommila) - out hunting for deer - is around to help him...

MI5 head of counter-terrorism Harry Pearce (Firth). And with an impending terrorist attack on London, the timing could not be worse.

Released from Fri 8 May

The Age Of Adaline

CERT 12a tbc

Starring Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn Directed by Lee Toland Krieger (USA)

Two By Two: Oops...

The Ark Has Gone CERT U (87 mins) Directed by Toby Genkel and Sean McCormack (Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg/Ireland)

Some accidents come at a price. The reclusive Adaline Bowman (Lively), following an accident, is rendered ageless, for all intents and purposes remaining twenty-nine for almost eight decades. She then meets a man with whom she might just share her secret…

It’s the end of the world again but this time we’re in pre-history. But while Noah guides all the animals of the earth onto his ark, he has embargoed the admission of all Nestrians (who wouldn't?). So the Nestrian Dave and his son Finny have to resort to all their wiles to get on board. An animated adventure for all the family. Obviously.

Spooks: The Greater Good CERT 15 (104 mins)

Starring Peter Firth, Kit Harington, Jennifer Ehle, Elyes Gabel, Lara Pulver Directed by Bharat Nalluri (UK)

A spin-off of the BBC series Spooks, this topical thriller details the disappearance of 44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Top Five CERT 15 (102 mins) Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shepherd, JB Smoove Directed by Chris Rock (USA)

Stand-up comic-cum-movie star Chris Rock plays Andre Allen, a stand-up comic-cummovie star in this romantic-comedy written and directed by Chris Rock.

Like Michael Keaton’s Riggan Thomson in Birdman, Andre Allen now wants to be taken seriously as an actor, but then agrees to have his upcoming wedding broadcast as a Reality TV special.

The reviews in America were actually very good.

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Released from Fri 15 May

Clouds Of Sils Maria CERT 15 (124 mins)

Starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hanns Zischler Directed by Olivier Assayas (France/Switzerland/Germany/USA/Belgium)

Twenty years ago, the actress Maria Enders (Binoche) made her name playing a young woman who drives her female boss to suicide. Now she has agreed to star in a revival of the play, this time portraying the older woman, with her original part to be played by a Hollywood star with a predisposition for scandal. Interestingly, the latter is embodied

by Kristen Stewart.

From

FRI 22 MAY

Released from Fri 22 May

Danny Collins CERT 15 (106 mins) Pitch Perfect 2 CERT 12a (115 mins) Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam Devine, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks Directed by Elizabeth Banks (USA)

The a cappella group calling themselves the Barden Bellas are back, this time to compete in an international event. And to stack the odds, an American group has never won before.

Starring Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer Directed by Dan Fogelman (USA)

Danny Collins (Pacino) is an ageing rocker and still lives the part. Then he comes across a letter written to him by John Lennon forty years previously and decides to change his ways...

Inspired by a true story.

Poltergeist CERT tbc

The Cobbler CERT 12a tbc Starring Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, Method Man, Ellen Barkin, Steve Buscemi, Melonie Diaz, Dan Stevens Directed by Thomas McCarthy (USA)

When New York cobbler Max Simkin (Sandler) discovers a magic heirloom, he finds that he can literally step into other people’s shoes... Thomas McCarthy, incidentally, previously directed the critically idolised The Station Agent and The Visitor.

Timbuktu CERT 12a (96 mins) Starring Abel Jafri, Hichem Yacoubi Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako (France/Mauritania)

Nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film, Timbuktu is the story of a simple cattle herder and his wife and what happens to them when the Malian city of the title is occupied by Islamic Jihadists. Set in 2012.

Starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jared Harris, Jane Adams Directed by Gil Kenan (USA)

A Royal Night Out

CERT 12a (97 mins)

Starring Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Bel Powley, Rupert Everett, Jack Reynor, Roger Allam Directed by Julian Jarrold (UK)

Following the original Poltergeist (1982), its two sequels and the TV series, now comes the reboot. Once again an ideal American family finds its suburban home invaded by indignant spirits - but this time it’s in 3D.

Quite what the Queen will make of this fictionalisation of the first flutters of her heart is anybody’s guess. Anyway, it’s VE Day and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are allowed to mingle with the commoners to celebrate.

Think Roman Holiday set in London.

San Andreas CERT tbc Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kylie Minogue, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti, Ioan Gruffudd Directed by Brad Peyton (USA)

Released from Fri 29 May

Welcome back to the Disaster Movie. After California is devastated by an earthquake, a muscly pilot and his ex-wife attempt to leave Los Angeles to find their estranged daughter in San Francisco.

Man Up CERT 15 (88 mins) Starring Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Olivia Williams, Rory Kinnear, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sharon Horgan Directed by Ben Palmer (UK/France)

Don’t you hate it when you’re mistaken for someone’s blind date? Such a thing happens to Nancy (Bell), leading to unforeseen romantic circumstances… www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45

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Festivals Wychwood Festival Cheltenham Racecourse, Fri 29 - Sun 31 May

Regularly nominated in the Best Family Festival category of the UK Festival Awards, the annual Wychwood Festival features over one hundred bands on four stages, more than one hundred workshops, a kids’ literature festival and a real ale festival.

This year’s line-up features UB40, The Proclaimers, Boney M, The Undertones, Ghostpoet, comedians Mitch Benn and Tiernan Douieb and CBeebies favourite Justin Fletcher.

You Me At Six The Proclaimers

Swingamajig The Custard Factory, Birmingham, Sun 3 May

Returning to Birmingham for the third year, Swingamajig is a unique festival which invites Electro Swing lovers and vintage connoisseurs to take to the streets and party in style. Bringing the ‘sounds and styles of the 1920s up to date with a modern twist’, this year’s event features festival creators and organisers Electric Swing Circus and headliners Chinese Man, Dutty Moonshine and The Correspondents.

Slam Dunk In and around the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Mon 25 May

The UK’s biggest independent touring festival, Slam Dunk returns to the Midlands this month to celebrate the best of pop-punk, ska and emo.

Headlining the seven-stage event are British rockers You Me At Six, who have a very special place in Slam Dunk history, having played the festival regularly on their road to stardom. They also released their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, through the festival’s very own Slam Dunk label. Fans can expect to hear hits from Cavalier Youth - the band’s first UK number one album.

Taking Back Sunday, Don Broco and Lower Than Atlantis also feature in the Main Stage line-up. Metalcore seven-piece Architects headline the Monster Energy Stage, while the Desperados Stage plays host to acts including Reel Big Fish, Millencolin and Mariachi El Bronx.

Birmingham Pride

Jess Glynne

Gay Village, Birmingham, Sat 23 - Sun 24 May

Asparafest Ashdown Farm, Evesham, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May

Described as Worcestershire’s ‘Aspara-tastic music and food festival’, this two-day family event features two music stages, family crafts and workshops, falconry displays, numerous vintage vehicles, a cookery kitchen with local and celebrity chefs, a funfair, and food, real ale and cider stalls.

As well as an asparagus-eating competition and appearances from the ‘world famous’ asparamancer, the festival boasts a music line-up that includes The Wurzels, The Moulettes, Blackbeard’s Tea Party & Bayou Seco. Katy Ashcroft from CBeebies’ I Can Cook and Junkfish are on hand to keep youngsters entertained.

Bayou Seco

Celebrating the city’s diverse LGBT community, Birmingham Pride is the largest two-day festival of its kind in the UK. The annual event, which takes place in the heart of the city’s Gay Village, attracts visitors from a cross-section of communities.

Festivities begin with a colourful Carnival Parade which sets off from the city’s Victoria Square at midday on the Saturday, winding its way to the main festival area where a host of attractions await.

High-profile performers Example, Jess Glynne, Fuse ODG, Union J, Jimmy Somerville and Heather Small feature on the Pride Main Stage, while numerous popular acts from across the UK share the limelight on the Village Cabaret Stage.

Pride 2015 also features a community village green, a Women’s Arena, funfair and Dance Arena.

Visit www.birminghampride.com for further details.

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 47

Birmingham Pride 2015 FP MAY_Layout 1 27/04/2015 21:14 Page 1

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Festivals May.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2015 20:28 Page 4

Festivals Listings For full listing information on festivals, including dates and line-up, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

MAY CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up includes Caro Emerald, Laura Mvula, Wilko Johnson & Gregory Porter, Wed 29 Apr - Mon 4 May, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham HANDMADE FESTIVAL Line-up includes Bo Ningen, Eagulls, Toy & Slaves, Fri 1 - Sun 3 May, Old Town Quarter, Leicester UPTON FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Sunjay, Hilary Ward, Andrew McKay and Carole Edwards & Jim Mageean and Graeme Knights, Fri 1 - Mon 4 May, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire TROYFEST Line-up includes Mr. Scruff, Gilles Peterson, Molotov Jukebox & By The Rivers, Fri 1 - Sun 3 May, Baskerville Hall, Hay-on-Wye LEAMINGTON MUSIC FESTIVAL WEEKEND Line-up includes Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Roderick Williams, Anna Tilbrook & Ensemble 360, Fri 1 May - Tues 5 May, Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa CLUN GREEN MAN FESTIVAL Line-up includes Whalebone, The Johnny Cash Tribute, Les Amis D’onno & The Endings, Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, various venues throughout Clun, South Shropshire SWINGAMAJIG Line-up includes Chinese Man, Electric Swing Circus, The Correspondents & Ed Solo, Sun 3 May, The Custard Factory, Birmingham FUDGESTOCK Line-up includes AKA Skaface, Bethan and The Mor-

gans, Hot Rocks & special guest tba, Sun 3 May, The Robin, Bilston FULL ON Line-up includes Ferry Corston, Ben Gold, Menno De Jong & Angry Man, Sat 9 May, Boxxed Warehouse, Birmingham STOURBRIDGE BLUES FESTIVAL Line-up includes Tom Walker Trio, Big Wolf Band, The Mentulls & Rebecca Downes Band, Sat 16 May, Old Halesonians RFC, Stourbridge BEARDED THEORY Lineup includes New Model Army, James, Afro Celt Sound System & The Mission, Thurs 21 - Sun 24 May, Catton Hall, Derbyshire HOWTHELIGHTGETSIN FESTIVAL Line-up includes Lianne La Havas, Sam & The Womp, Rae Morris & Luke Sital-Singh, Thurs 21 - Sun 31 May, Hay On Wye, Powys STOURBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Lucy Ward, Ranagri, The New Bushberry Mountain Daredevils & Flat Stanley, Wed 20 Sun 24 May, Katy Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Young’uns, Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, John Kirkpatrick & Barluath, Fri 22 - Mon 25 May, Kelsall Village, Cheshire BREAKING BANDS FESTIVAL Line-up includes Monument, Voodoo Vegas, Breed 77 & Death Valley Knights, Fri 22 - Sun 24 May, Stoke Prior County Club, Bromsgrove THE COLOUR FESTIVAL Line-up includes DJ Fresh, Shift K3y, Tough Love & Just Kiddin, Sat 23 May, The Rainbow Arena, Birmingham

Swingamajig - The Custard Factory, Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM PRIDE FESTIVAL Line-up includes Jess Glynne, Example, Fuse ODG & Jimmy Somerville, Sat 23 - Sun 24 May, Gay Village, Southside, Birmingham OUTBREAK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Sven Vath, Armand Van Helden, Jamie Jones & Shadow Child, Sat 23 Sun 24 May, Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL Line-up includes Saint Raymond, Rae Morris, Swim Deep & Hudson Taylor, Sun 24 May, various locations around Nottingham SLAM DUNK Line-up includes You Me At Six, Taking Back Sunday, Architects & Don Broco, Mon 25 May, various venues and locations around the city centre, Wolverhampton WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL Line-up includes UB40, The Proclaimers, Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Ghostpoet, Fri 29 Sun 31 May, Cheltenham Racecourse ASPARAFEST Line-up includes The Wurzels, The Moulettes, Thrill Collins & Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May, Ashdown Farm, Evesham

JUNE ENGLISH HAYDN FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Sacconi String Quartet, The Chistophe Coin Trio, The Salomon String Quartet & The English Haydn Orchestra, Wed 3 - Sun 7 June, various locations in Bridgnorth, Shropshire THE GATE TO SOUTHWELL FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Billy Bragg, Clannad, The Urban Folk Quartet & Chris Wood, Thurs 4 - Sun 7 June, Southwell, Nottinghamshire WIRRAL FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Fairport Convention, Cara Dillon Band, Richard Digance & The Houghton Weavers, Thurs 4 - Sun 7 June, Whitby Sports & Social Club, Cheshire LUNAR FESTIVAL Line-up includes Tinariwen, Wilko Johnson, Public Service Broadcasting & Sun Ra Arkestra, Fri 5 Sun 7 June, Umberslade Farm Park, Warwickshire VALEFEST Line-up to be announced, Sat 6 June, The Vale, Birmingham DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL Line-up includes Muse, Slipknot, Kiss & Faith No More, Fri 12 - Sun 14 June, Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derby HOLI ONE FESTIVAL BIRMINGHAM Line-up to be announced, Sat 13 June, The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham

THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN Line-up includes Paul Carrack, Big Country, Show Of Hands & From The Jam, Fri 19 - Sun 21 June, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire LINTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up includes Snakechamer, Wilko Johnson, Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders & The Hoax, Fri 19 - Sun 21 June, The Alma Inn, Herefordshire ALCESTER FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Lynne Heraud, Pat Turner, Derek Gifford & Les Sullivan, Fri 19 - Sun 21 June, Holly-Bush, Warwickshire 100 ABOVE (LAINFEST) Line-up includes Lucy Rose, Bipolar Sunshine, Amber Run & To Kill A King, Fri 19 - Sun 21 June, Gopsall Hall Farm, Warwickshire KINETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up includes Hot Tubes, The Folly Brothers, Neighbourhood Cotch & The Harvesters, Sat 20 June, Kineton Sports and Social Club, Warwickshire LICHFIELD BLUES AND JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Blues Band, Jay Phelps Quartet, Tommaso Starace Quartet & Steve Ajao & Climax Blues Band, Wed 24 - Sun 28 June, various venues around Lichfield UPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up includes Alan Barnes, Old Hat Jazz Band, Chris Pearce Quartet & Gypsy Fire, Thurs 25 - Sun 28 June, The Riverside, Uptonupon-Severn

JULY CAMPER JAM Line-up to be announced, Fri 3 Sun 5 July, Weston Park, Staffordshire GODIVA FESTIVAL Lineup includes The Wombats, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Embrace & The Beat, Fri 3 - Sun 5 July, War Memorial Park, Coventry BLUES AT THE FOLD Lineup includes Jack Blackman, The King Biscuit Boys, Swampcandy & Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde Band, Sat 4 July, The Fold, Worcester LEAMINGTON SPA UKULELE FESTIVAL Lineup includes Lynda Styne & Red Hot Duo, Chonkinfeckle, Bitter Jug Stompers & Gabriela, Sat 4 July, Newbold Comyn Arms, Warwickshire LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL EISTEDDFOD Line-up includes Rufus Wainwright, Alfie Boe, UB40’s Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue & Gareth Malone and his Voices choir, Mon 6 - Sun 12 July, Royal In-

ternational Pavillion BROMSGROVE FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Artisan, Colum Sands, Hat Fitz and Cara & Anthony John Clarke, Thurs 9 - Sun 12 July, The Bowling Green, Bromsgrove NAPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL Jellyheads, The Session, Abba Chique & Vendettas, Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, Napton on the Hill, Warwickshire SOUNDS IN THE GROUNDS Line-up includes Kaiser Chiefs, Professor Green, Ella Eyre, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra & Lucy O’Byrne, Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, Warwick Castle THE MOSTLY JAZZ, FUNK & SOUL FESTIVAL Lineup includes Roy Ayers, Gregory Porter, Craig Charles & Hackney Colliery Band, Fri 10 - Sun 12 July, Moseley Park, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM FEST Lineup to be announced, Fri 17 July - Sun 2 Aug, various locations throughout Birmingham L FEST Line-up includes Lucy Spraggan, O’Hooley & Tidow, The Tuts & Holloway, Fri 17 - Mon 20 July, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire SPLENDOUR Line-up includes The Specials, James, Jess Glynne & Lawson, Sat 18 July, Wollaton Park, Nottinghamshire WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Billy Bragg, Lil’ Jimmy Reed Band, The Demon Barbers XL & Nancy Kerr, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 July, various venues around Warwick NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Wu Tang Clan, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Beardyman & London Elektricity, Fri 24 - Sun 26 July, Bromyard, Hereford MADE BIRMINGHAM Lineup includes Beardyman, Claude VonStroke, David Rodigan & Julio Bashmore, Sat 25 July, The Digbeth Triangle, Birmingham

AUGUST BULLDOG BASH Line-up includes Permageddon, Easydread, TBone & Sky Valley Mistress, Thurs 6 - Sun 9 Aug, Shakespeare County Raceway, Stratfordupon-Avon FARMER PHIL’S FESTIVAL Line-up includes Dr Feelgood, Ferocious Dog, 3 Daft Monkeys & Talisman, Fri 14 - Sun 16 Aug, Gatten Farm, Shropshire BETLEY CONCERTS Lineup includes Tom Jones, Total Access Live & Collabro, Fri 14 - Sun 16 Jul, Betley Court Farm, Cheshire

LICHFIELD FAKE FESTIVAL Line-up includes Bon Jovi Experience, Kazabian & Space Cowboy, Sat 15 Aug, Beacon Park, Lichfield PERSHORE JAZZ FESTIVAL Line-up includes Kevin Grenfell’s Jazz Giants, John Hallam and Remi Jazz, Gypsy Fire, Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, Fri 21 - Sun 23 Aug, Pershore College, Warwickshire V FESTIVAL Line-up includes Calvin Harris, Kasabian, Stereophonics & Sam Smith, Sat 22 - Sun 23 Aug, Weston Park, Staffordshire PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL Line-up includes Fenella Humphreys, Matthew Taylor, Navarra Quartet & Nova Music Opera Thurs 27 Aug Tues 1 Sept, Powys BEERMAGEDDON Line-up includes Rannoch, Mpire Of Evil, Tyson Dog & Heavenwood, Fri 28 - Sun 30 Aug, Stoke Prior Country Club, Bromsgrove SHREWSBURY FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Richard Thompson, La Bottine Souriante, Kate Rusby & Sharon Shannon, Fri 28 - Mon 31 Aug, West Midland Showground, Shrewsbury FUSION FESTIVAL Lineup includes Justin Bieber, McBusted, Rudimental & Tinie Tempah, Sat 29 - Sun 30 Aug, Cofton Park, Birmingham

SEPTEMBER MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Monkees, Spiritualized, Idlewild & Anna Calvi, Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept, Moseley Park, Birmingham WELFEST ON THE MEADOW Line-up includes The Loose Covers, The Vooz, Souled Out 2 Funk & Matt Eaves, Sat 5 Sept, Synder Meadow, Warwickshire ONBOARD THE CRAFT FESTIVAL Line-up includes The Hawklords, Son of Man, Dr Hasbeen & Glow People, Fri 11 - Sat 12 Sept, Stoke Prior Sports & Country Club, Bromsgrove SHREWSBURY FIELDS FOREVER FESTIVAL Lineup to be announced, Fri 11 - Sun 13 Sept, location tbc, Shropshire BROMYARD FOLK FESTIVAL Line-up includes Breabach, Gerry Colvin Band, John Doyle & Sharon Shannon, Fri 11 - Sun 13 Sept, Bromyard WORCESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up to be announced, Fri 18 - Sun 20 Sept, various venues in Worcester

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Visual Arts Martin Parr: Black Country Stories Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 23 May - Sat 22 August

Martin Parr’s photographic exhibition is here presented as part of Black Country Stories, a project which invites critically acclaimed photographers, filmmakers and authors to work with local people ‘to tell amazing stories that celebrate everyday life’. Much admired for his close-up and intensely colourful work, Martin embraced the challenge of documenting Black Country life back in 2010, initially focusing on the borough of Sandwell before moving on to examine Walsall, Wolverhampton and Dudley. The project has seen him visit factories, foundries, pubs, working men’s clubs, shops, markets, temples, mosques and churches. He’s also documented St George’s Day celebrations, Royal Wedding street parties, horticultural shows and dog training classes. “The one thing that binds all these photographs together is humour,” says Martin, “the diversity and the single-minded quality of the Black Country folk.

This is a celebration of their community.”

To Check The Tide Of Prejudice Coalbrookdale Gallery, Ironbridge, Shropshire, until Thurs 10 September

Featuring lithographs, original sketches and wash drawings, this fascinating exhibition explores how John Cooke Bourne’s art presented the railway in a picturesque fashion for the very first time.

Bourne’s idyllic images had a strong political undertone to them. As with the construction of HS2 today, the building of the railway back in the 1830s was a highly controversial issue. A significant body of land owners, farmers and social commentators were extremely concerned about the level of impact it would have on the English countryside.

Bourne’s works were widely used to address criticism of the construction of the London & Birmingham Railway.

The items on show have been drawn from the collections of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the National Railway Museum.

British Glass Biennale 2015 The Glasshouse Arts Centre at Ruskin Glass Centre, Thurs 28 May - Sun 28 June

This is the UK’s major selling exhibition of contemporary glass. Showcasing in excess of one hundred pieces, the Biennale offers a rare opportunity to see a huge variety of work in a selling exhibition - from finely crafted vessels to bold sculptural works and installations.

The exhibition has formed part of all six International Festival of Glass events, its remit being to show ‘the pulse of recent achievement in contemporary British glass, and to display this wide range of creativity’. Since the inaugural 2004 exhibition, almost five hundred glass works have been showcased by the Biennale to thousands of festival visitors.

The Liberated Quilt Bilston Craft Gallery, Sat 16 May - Sat 25 July

Work by twenty-four of the world’s top textile artists is featured in this vibrant new exhibition. Strong narratives, bold visions and raw emotional responses are key features of the works on show. The artists have used the exhibition to expand the boundaries of textile art and challenge preconceived ideas of what a quilt can be. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 51

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VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS Further exhibitions

Mental Spaces Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, until Sat 2 April 2016

Graffiti artist Steve ‘Graffolarge’ Edwards and graphic artist Rachel Emery are among the creatives displaying work in this rolling exhibition, located in the venue’s Lock Works Café Bar. An ongoing project, Mental Spaces features work produced by local artists who’re affiliated to The Asylum Art Gallery. The gallery is located in the Chapel Ash district of Wolverhampton, a creative quarter of the city which is home to a number of art-related businesses and numerous creative industries and professionals.

For full listing information on Visual Art exhibitions, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk THE POETIC IMPOSSIBILITY TO MANAGE THE INFINITE Exhibition which documents our quest to penetrate the astrophysical reality of the universe in order to better understand time, space & matter, until Sat 2 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery DISRUPTED Curated by Noemi Lakmaier, this exhibition invites visitors to encounter the ‘other’ - that which is different and unfamiliar, until Sun 3 May, mac, Birmingham FOUND Bringing together seven contemporary artists who work with found images, until Sun 3 May, New Art Gallery, Walsall ROBERT GROVES: GOLDEN YEARS Constellation of small golden paintings (c.1965) which reflect the artist’s strong interest in Middle Eastern & South Asian culture, until Mon 4 May, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham ENJOY ART EXHIBITION Showcasing works from some of the region’s finest talents, until Mon 4 May, Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire

Staffordshire Open Art Exhibition Shire Hall Gallery, Staffs, Sat 16 May - Sun 5 July

A significant event in the Shire Hall gallery’s calendar, the Staffordshire Open Art exhibition provides an opportunity for the region’s newly emerging artists to display their work often for the very first time. The exhibition is open to any artist who lives, works, studies or was born in the county, and features paintings, drawings, prints, photography, film, animation and sculpture.

Most of the work is for sale. According to organisers, the exhibition usually features something to suit ‘all tastes and pockets’.

Indefinable Cities Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, until Sat 16 May

AirSpace Gallery has teamed up with Japanese organisation Tsukiyo To Syonen to realise this ambitious project. The exhibition takes a look at the ways in which artists are responding to and documenting cities in flux, and how they’re impacting on their environments and the regeneration of those cities.

“The project provides an opportunity to form a dialogue around this area of practice,” explains AirSpace Gallery. “In so doing, it creates a space for international conversations around the role that artists may have in contributing to the development of healthy, happy cities.”

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JOHN RATTIGAN - PEOPLE PRIZE WINNER 2014 Exhibition showcasing examples of circular artwork together with paintings that explore formats such as unusually tall, thin or elongated canvases, until Mon 4 May, Newcastle Borough Museum & Art Gallery, Staffs ARTISTS FOR IKON Featuring works from some of the most important contemporary artists, all of whom have previously exhibited at the gallery, until Mon 4 May, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham MADE AT MAC: TEXTILES Featuring work from mac’s From Paper To Fabric course, until Sun 10 May, mac, Birmingham ON THE RIGHT TRACKS Exhibition exploring Wolverhampton’s involvement in the growth of the railways, until Sun 10 May, Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton RPS INTERNATIONAL PRINT 157 Featuring one hundred images selected by a panel of professionals, until Sun 10 May, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

STONES & BONES EXHIBITION Discover more about the early history of the Midlands and how that history was uncovered, recorded and told by prominent local geologists and scientists, until Sun 17 May, Library of Birmingham NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS Showcase of work by thirty of the region’s best emerging artists, until Sun 17 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham & Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery INDEFINABLE CITIES Group exhibition presenting works by six UK & Japanese artists, curated by Amanda Francis (UK) & Koh Yoshida (Japan), until Sat 23 May, AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent ASCENTIS PROGRAMME LIFE SKILLS E1 Exhibition of the work completed by Entry One students at the City of Wolverhampton College, until Sat 23 May, Bilston Craft Gallery SPRING OPEN Featuring a wide range of subject matter & media, until Sat 23 May, Willow Gallery, Oswestry, Shropshire GODS AND HEROES Seeking to uncover the methods and motives behind the representation of the superhuman and supernatural in art.

Subjects drawn from both ancient mythology and the Judo-Christian tradition feature, until Mon 25 May, The Barber Institute, Birmingham HI STYLE JEWELLERY & BODY ADORNMENT An exciting new style of exhibition featuring the highly sought-after work of invited Shropshire jewellery & accessory designer makers, until Sat 30 May, VAN Gallery, Market Hall, Shrewsbury HELEN GARRETT: THE SECRET JOY Exhibition featuring a collection of paintings inspired by the Shropshire landscape, until Sat 30 May, Twenty Twenty Gallery, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire AHEAD OF THE CURVE: NEW CHINA FROM CHINA Unique exhibition showcasing contemporary ceramics & glass from emerging and established Chinese artists, until Sun 31 May, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-

Trent OPEN ART AND CRAFT EXHIBITION Open to all artists, makers & photographers who live, work or study in Staffordshire, until Sun 31 May, Newcastle Borough Museum, Staffordshire THE CURRENT SITUATION A selection of five artworks by artist Yara ElSherbini which, although diverse, feature a common theme, until Sat 27 Jun, Wolverhampton Art Gallery THE JEWELLERY QUARTER DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR Exhibition of artefacts, images and oral histories relating to the recruitment of soldiers from the Jewellery Quarter, until Sat 27 June, The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham FACE TO FACE Portrait exhibition where visitors can come face to face with artists, academics, everyday folk - and even a countess, until Sat 27 June, Dudley Museum & Art Gallery TOVE JANSSON: TALES FROM THE NORDIC ARCHIPELAGO Presenting originally unseen photographs & materials relating to the life & work of Moomins creator Tove Jansson, until Sat 27 June, Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery POP IN SPACE: WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON Exploring artists’ responses to the Space Race during the Cold War, until Sat 18 July, Wolverhampton Art Gallery LOVE IS ENOUGH: ANDY WARHOL AND WILLIAM MORRIS Exhibition bringing together significant and iconic works by both artists, including some rarely seen pieces, until Sun 6 Sept, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE AND CHANGE IN THE INNER-CITY Display exploring the way in which ordinary Birmingham people have been represented in art during the twentieth & twenty-first centuries, until Thurs 31 Dec, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery INHERITING ROME Exhibition which uses money to explore and question our deep-seated familiarity with the Roman Empire’s imagery, until Sun 24 Jan 2016, The Barber Institute, Birmingham MENTAL SPACES Ongoing project containing work produced by local artists affiliated with The Asylum Art Gallery, Light House Media Centre,

Wolverhampton, until Sat 2 Apr, 2016 SIAN MACFARLANE: WE ARE ILLUMINATED Siân presents a multi-layered film which interweaves past and present and explores the synchronicities of leisure pastimes throughout the ages, Fri 1 May - Sun 26 July, New Art Gallery, Walsall FROM ‘RED’ ELLEN TO OSWALD MOSLEY Portraits of inter-war politicians by Edmund Knapp, Fri 1 May - Sun 6 Sept, The Barber Institute, Birmingham TREVOR APPLESON: BIRMINGHAM Exhibition exploring self-representation as a counterpoint to the conventions of the traditional photographic portrait, Sat 2 May - Sun 5 July, mac Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham GRAHAM LEONARD KING RBSA Featuring a selection of small & large atmospheric landscapes using acrylics on wooden panel and paper, Mon 4 May - Sat 27 June, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham ANNA LORENZ NWA Sculptural and wallbased explorations developed from the Next Wave exhibition, held at the RBSA Gallery in May 2014 to support emerging artists, Mon 4 May - Sat 4 July, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham LOUIS WAIN A touring exhibition from Bethlem Hospital featuring the works of Louis Wain an English artist best known for his drawings of cats and kittens, Fri 8 May - Mon 15 June, Qube Gallery, Oswestry, North Shropshire CUTTING EDGE: HUNGARIAN CONTEMPORARY GLASS Showcasing the work of seventeen studio artists from Hungary, Sat 9 - Sun 31 May, Broadfield House Glass Museum, Dudley FROM ART TO STITCH Featuring textile work from the Breakway Textile Artists Group, with each piece inspired by well-known artists, including Andy Warhol, David Hockney & Rennie Mackintosh, Sat 9 May - Sun 28 June, Newcastle Borough Museum, Staffs WISH YOU WERE HERE? Selected from Jeremy Cooper's major artists' postcards collection, Wish You Were Here? presents works by some of today's most famous artists, Sat 9 May - Sun 28 June, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham NAUTICAL CRAFT EXHIBI-

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TION Works by contemporary designer/makers created in response to the sea and coast, Mon 11 May - Sat 12 Sept, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham JACQUES NIMKI: SEEN/UNSEEN A new permanent installation featuring more than three hundred barely visible works referencing plant drawings, Wed 13 May - Sun 12 July, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham GEORGIAN ENAMELS: A NEW NARRATIVE Featuring imagined stories and new enamels, created by local craftsman John Grayson, Thurs 14 May - Sun 9 Aug, Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton STAFFORDSHIRE OPEN ART Sat 16 May - Sun 5 July, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford THE LIBERATED QUILT: NEW WORK FROM THROUGH OUR HANDS Showcase for twentythree international artists working with mainly stitched textile techniques, Sat 16 May - Sat 25 July, Wolverhampton Art Gallery JOHNNY WHITE’S BEASTLY MACHINES Display of quirky artworks cleverly sculpted from recycled

materials, Mon 18 May - Sun 12 July, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery MARTIN PARR: BLACK COUNTRY STORIES Photographic portrait & archive about life in the Black Country, Sat 23 May - Sat 22 Aug, Wolverhampton Art Gallery WILLIAM SMITH, FATHER OF GEOLOGY Exploring the first scientific map of the British Isles, Sat 23 May - Sat 19 Sept, Dudley Museum & Art Gallery ANIMAL ALPHABET Have fun working your way through the alphabet with animals from the museum’s collections in this family-friendly show, Sat 23 May - Sun 27 Sept, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Staffs

STUDENT EXHIBITION Works in glass, wood, textiles, metal & more by the students of Glasshouse College, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May, Ruskin Glass Centre, Stourbridge NEW BEGINNINGS A look back at the life of “To leave is to enter” the glass mirrored gates, created by artist Robyn Smith for the British Glass Biennale 2012, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May, St John’s Church, Stourbridge 21ST CENTURY ENGRAVED GLASS A selected exhibition of work by members of the Guild of Glass Engravers, Thurs 28 Sun 31 May, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge

A TRIO OF ARTISTS Exhibition featuring the work of Anne Hackett, Chris Tarplee & Claire Sherwin, Sun 24 May Mon 3 Aug, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge

GRAVUR ON TOUR: MODERN EUROPEAN GLASS ENGRAVING Small touring exhibition of thirtyone pieces of engraved art by thirty-one EU artists, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge

BRUNTNELL ASTLEY CONTEMPORARY GLASS EXHIBITION Featuring some of the finest names in contemporary glass art, Mon 25 - Sun 31 May, Wordsley Methodist Church, Kingswinford

SHADOWS & DUST An audiovisual installation exploring ‘spirit of place’ of dormant buildings, Thurs 28 Sun 31 May, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge

GLASSHOUSE COLLEGE

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Events

International Festival Of Glass Stourbridge Glass Quarter, Thurs 28 - Sun 31 May The Stourbridge Glass Quarter sees the return of the International Festival of Glass this month, complete with a range of attractions for artists, glass enthusiasts and visitors to enjoy.

The festival offers a diverse and jam-packed programme featuring have-a-go sessions, family activities, evening events and live demonstrations.

Exhibitions include the British Glass Biennale, the UK’s top contemporary glass showcase, and a wall of one hundred-and-fifty glass postcards created by members of the Contemporary Glass Society.

Prior to the four-day festival, renowned glass artists Dante Marioni and Penny Rakov are holding a series of glassmaking masterclasses.

Glass artists wishing to improve their technique can attend lessons in glass blowing, furnace building, beadmaking, hot glass casting and

Open Cockpits Evening Royal Airforce Museum, Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton, Fri 15 - Sat 16 May

Visitors are here given the rare opportunity to take a glimpse inside the cockpits of a range of spectacular aircraft, including jet fighters and research airframes. The exclusive evening offers enthusiasts the chance to get a feel for what it would be like to actually fly the aircraft.

It also provides them with after-hours access to the Royal Airforce Museum.

glass painting.

Visitors with a penchant for history, meanwhile, can take guided heritage walks along the Stourbridge canals to the churches frequented by glass-making dynasties, visiting the graves of famous glassmakers along the way.

The Glass Festival offers plenty to keep youngsters happily engaged as well, including art & craft activities, puppetry workshops, donkey rides, falconry displays and storytelling sessions.

Retail stores, street entertainment and a range of refreshments offer further opportunities for visitors to enjoy themselves.

In short, the festival’s well worth a visit, whether glass is your thing or not.

For more information, visit www.ifg.org.uk/glass-festival

Red By Night Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 16 May

To celebrate the industrial might of the region in the 1800s, the Black Country Living Museum is here hosting an immersive, living-history event, recreating the distinctive ‘red glow’ that was so often described by visitors to the area.

The event offers a chance to walk around smoky, noisy, Victorian streets and witness a full-scale replica of the world’s first steam engine in action.

Live demonstrations from costumed craftsmen make sparks fly as they use century-old techniques to forge chains, nails and brass. The period houses and shops, meanwhile, depict how Black Country folk lived in the murky conditions, while street theatre is used to illustrate the scale and intensity of the Industrial Revolution.

To book tickets, visit www.bclm.co.uk www.whatsonlive.co.uk 55

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Events PREVIEWS Main Event Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sat 23 May

A landmark ‘happening’ on the UK combat sports calendar, the Main Event includes an International Kickboxing Federation World Title challenge, plus the UK’s top fighters pitting their skills against the best Thailand and Europe have to offer. An evening of explosive, quality entertainment for combat sports enthusiasts. For more information visit: www.themainevent.media

Ludlow Spring Festival Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire, Fri 8 - Sun 10 May

This annual festival ably illustrates why Ludlow is one of the country’s most reputable foodie towns. The three-day event features more than one hundred-and-ninety beers (from more than fifty local brewers) and an array of food stalls. Delectable delights on offer range from artisan flours to charcuterie, award-winning cakes, gourmet sausage rolls and local cheeses.

A hugely popular element of the festival is its talks and demonstrations. This year’s programme features Karl Martin from Old Downton Lodge, a Shropshire hotel that boasts two AA Rosettes and five gold stars.

Rob Swift, whose family have been baking for over one hundred-and-fifty years, also contributes to proceedings, as does TV chef and local cookery school owner Marcus Bean. For younger visitors, the festival offers hands-on cookery classes.

The Marches Transport Festival and a wealth of musical entertainment - from jazz and blues to latin and folk - completes the weekend’s programme of attractions.

Celebrate Queen Victoria’s Birthday at Blists Hill Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Sat 23 May - Sun 31 May

Get your flags out as Blists Hill Victorian Town celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday.

Traditional Victorian occasion-wear, parties, parades and patriotic concerts on the village green all feature - as do the Sundial Theatre Company, performing alongside the Darby Singers and the Bridgnorth Male Choir throughout the weekend.

Other Blists Hill events in May include a Spring Wedding, Blists Hill In Steam, Sound & Light Night, Dementia-Friendly Day and numerous arts & crafts workshops..

Shropshire County Show

Family Fun Weekend

West Mid Show Ground, Shrewsbury, Sat 23 May

Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May

Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the Shropshire County Show is a true celebration of a rural community.

The popular event features lots of livestock and produce from local businesses, as well as an agricultural trade area.

The show has a definite family feel to it, with the Kid Zone offering a wide range of activities.

The edible food area, meanwhile, specialises in Shropshire foods only and is a real treat for budding foodies.

This is surely every toddler’s idea of a great weekend - taking a ride on a steam train and meeting Peppa Pig! The Severn Valley Railway is hosting a weekend of fun for all the family, with different activities at each stop.

Boarding the steam train at Bridgnorth or Kidderminster, families can stop off at various points along the line to enjoy a disco, inflatable and railway-themed play areas, a magic show, face painting fun, a bouncy castle, numerous arts & crafts and, of course, a meeting with Peppa and Daddy Pig.

Aerial Extreme Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent

Marcus Bean

Heritage Weekend Cadbury World, Birmingham, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May

Comprising three guided walks around the village, the Cadbury World Heritage Weekend provides visitors with an opportunity to appreciate the original vision of George and Richard Cadbury - and to learn about the way in which their revolutionary journey changed the lives of the people of Birmingham...

Set in the beautiful grounds of Trentham Estate, Aerial Extreme offers the chance to fuel that inner adrenaline junkie. Varying in height from three to fourteen metres, the course is ideal for families and leads participants through a series of ever more enjoyable challenges. Rest assured an instructor is always on hand in case the nerves get a little too frayed.

A new and optional one hundred-and-eighteen-metre zip wire provides the perfect way to end the course.

Spitfire 70th Birthday The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 9 May

This day of family fun, presented in the form of a VE-style street party, celebrates the Mark XVI Spitfire’s seventieth birthday. Visitors can make their own bunting and find out what life was like on the Home Front in 1945. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 57

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Events PREVIEWS Shrewsbury Bookfest Various locations around Shrewsbury Sat 2 May - Sun 3 May

The Shrewsbury Bookfest’s aim is to provide inspiration and encouragement for Shropshire children by bringing books to life in a series of fun-filled events and storytelling sessions.

Working closely with local primary schools and arts venues, the festival offers free and ticketed events for all age groups across its two days.

Highlights include CBeebies favourite Cerrie Burnell presenting storytime and craft activities, Dr Suess appearing in the Square, and a chance to learn how to construct the best builds from the writers of The Minecraft Construction Handbook.

For more information on events or how to book tickets, visit shrewsburybookfest.co.uk

Museums At Night Various museums across the Midlands, Wed 13 - Sat 16 May

Puppet Workshops Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 23 May

The Fetch Theatre Company here present an interactive workshop using their Bunraku puppets, which are based on characters from the city of Lahore.

The workshops provide visitors with the chance to test their skills as puppeteers.

Indian tea and sweets will be available to enjoy from the Pakistani tea cart.

The event is suitable for children aged seven and over and is part of the Alchemy Festival, more info at: alchemy.bctouring.co.uk

This biannual event sees museums all over the UK throwing open their doors after hours, allowing visitors to explore the country’s rich and diverse culture in a different light (see what we’ve done there!). The evening events also provide the opportunity for real enthusiasts to indulge their particular interest in an atmosphere that’s calm and relaxing - not always possible during normal opening hours.

A total of twenty-one museums across the West Midlands are taking part in the event.

Featured attractions include Murder Mystery nights, wartime music and entertainment, film screenings in spooky surroundings, and light painting on a boat underground.

For more information or to run an event, visit .museumsatnight.org.uk

Museums At Night listings MIXED PROGRAMME Wed 13 - Sat 16 May, The Pen Museum, Birmingham NIGHT WITH THE NETTEFOLDS Thurs 14 May, Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham A STICH IN TIME Fri 15 May, Newcastle

Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastleunder-Lyne BLUE AND WHITE AT NIGHT Fri 15 May, Middleport Pottery, Stoke on Trent CANDLELIT TOURS Fri 15 May, Erasmus Darwin House, Lichfield

Events LISTINGS For full listing information on Events, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk from

Shrewsbury Regatta Pengwern Boat Club, Shrewsbury, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May

This much-loved annual event offers a free day out for the family (weather permitting!) and sees rowing enthusiasts lining the banks of the River Severn to cheer on the crews.

Organised by the Pengwern Boat Club, races begin every two minutes, with Saturday’s event taking place over one thousand metres and Sunday’s over six hundred metres.

The boat club is hosting a Friday night curry and a Saturday night food and music event, as well as providing free camping and parking. For more information or to find out how to take part, visit pengwernbc.co.uk

FRI 1 MAY AN HOUR OF EDWARDIAN MUSIC HALL A nostalgic journey back in time for an hour of music hall, Fri 1 May, Dudley Canal and Limestone Mines LOVE RHINOS WEEK Join in the fundraising to help save rhinos from extinction, until Sun 3 May, West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley FLORALIA FESTIVAL Celebrate Spring with Flora, the Roman

Goddess of Flowers, Fri 1 - Mon 4 May, Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Nr Wolverhampton TREASURE! THE DISCOVERY OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD An interactive touring exhibition which tells the fascinating story of how the Staffordshire Hoard was found and saved for the nation, until Sun 10 May, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery IRONBRIDGE GORGE WALKING FESTIVAL Celebrating its tenth anniversary year, offering ten days of free

ROLLICKING ROMANS Fri 15 May, Museum of Cannock Chase, Cannock OPEN COCKPITS Fri 15 Sat 16 May, Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton GAME OVER Sat 16 May, Coffin Works, Birmingham SPEED AND LIGHT AT NIGHT Sat 16 May,

walking, Fri 1 - Sun 10 May, Ironbridge, Shropshire BISHOPS CASTLE WALKING FESTIVAL A mix of short and medium walks, some more challenging than others, Fri 1 - Mon 25 May, Bishops Castle, Shropshire SCIENCE OF SOUND until Fri 5 Jun, Symphony Hall, Birmingham CAR RALLIES AT COSFORD until Thurs 31 Dec, RAF Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS Go behind the scenes with the specialist curators of the ceramic and natural history collections, Sat 2 May, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD TOUR Explore the mysterious Staffordshire Hoard with expert cura-

Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire PAINTING WITH LIGHT Sat 16 May, Dudley Canal Trust, Dudley QUEER TRACES: REALNESS Sat 16 May, Minerva Works, Birmingham RED BY NIGHT Sat 16 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

tor Deb Klemperer, Sat 2 May, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent BOMBS, BULLETS & BAYONETS A presentation on the weapons of trench warfare, using real, deactivated weapons and ammunition, Sat 2 May, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent SOUNDS OF NOW Create sound bites from the local area with artist Polly Brannan, Sat 2 May, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent NORMAN INVASION A Norman re-enactment takes over the castle with a campsite featuring over two hundred re-enactors, Sat 2 Mon 4 May, Whittington Castle, North Shropshire CREATING REBECCA Kneehigh Theatre

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Events LISTINGS For full listing information on Events, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Company discuss their creative process and the making of Rebecca, Sat 2 May, The REP, Birmingham EVENING SCENIC SPECIALS A scenic evening ride with the added option of traditional fish and chip supper, Sat 2 May, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley CANCER RESEARCH UK PRETTY MUDDY 10K & 5K RUN A muddy obstacle course where women of any ability can ‘climb, jog and walk all over cancer’, Sat 2 May Weston Park, Staffordshire INFLATABLES WEEKEND (WITH RODEO BULL UK) Brand new event - a variety of inflatables ranging from bucking bulls to bouncy castles and bungee runs to slides, Sat 2 & Sun 3 May, Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom, Telford, Shropshire YOUNG ARTISTS Learn new drawing, painting and sculpture skills, Sat 2 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery GALLERY TOUR Find out more about the gallery and its collections, Sat 2 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery CRAFTPLAY SATURDAYS Create, make and play for ages nought to seven, Sat 2 May, Bilston Craft Gallery ROLLING MILL DEMONSTRATION Originally used to amend and resize iron bars, the Rolling Mill is a typical Black Country hand rolling mill from around the 1900s, Sat 2 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley ONESIE WALK Back by popular demand, pack your onesie and walk around the grounds to raise money for charity, Sat 2 May, Dudley Zoological Gardens AMERICAN CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT The AngloBoer War Staffords reenactment group take camp at the house, Sat 2 - Sun 3 May, The Manor House Museum, West Bromwich SHREWSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKFEST A whole weekend of treats and stories, Sat 2 - Sun 3 May, Various locations around Shrewsbury BLISTS HILL IN STEAM Collection of steam machines in their full working splendour, plus visiting miniature engines brought by steam enthusiasts, Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Blists Hill, Ironbridge,

Shropshire DECORATE THE MAYPOLE Help decorate the seventeenth century maypole, Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton GAME ON!: ATTINGHAM'S BIG SPORTS WEEKEND Local sports teams and clubs will be on hand to give you a taster of their favourite sports.

From croquet to volleyball, there's something for all the family, Sat 2 Mon 4 May, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury PIRATE WEEKEND Pirates invade Cadbury World for a weekend of swashbuckling fun, Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Cadbury World, Birmingham NEWCOMEN IN STEAM The only full-sized working replica of the world's first steam engine, seen in action.

Due to the unpredictable nature of the Newcomen, please check running details with the museum prior to travelling, to avoid disappointment, Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley CLUN GREEN MAN FESTIVAL A traditional Springtime festival with music, drama and medieval malarkey, Sat 2 - Mon 4 May, High Street, Craven Arms, South Shropshire SPRING PLANT FAIR A must-attend event for both plantaholics and novices alike, with experts on hand to offer advice and tips on selecting the right types of plants for the time of year, Sun 3 - Mon 4 May, Weston Park, Staffordshire STRATFORD FESTIVAL OF MOTORING 2015 Featuring over three hundred classic cars, Sun 3 & Mon 4 May, Stratford Town Centre GLADIATORS! See ancient Viroconium come back to life as courageous Gladiators show you what entertained an empire, Sun 3 - Mon 4 May, Wroxeter Roman City, Nr Shrewsbury CHILLI FESTIVAL A unique event celebrating the different flavours of all things chilli... Cookery theatre, life music, entertainment and a chilli-eating competition also feature, Sun 3 - Mon 4 May, Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire MAY DAY REVELS Fun and games, with maypole dancing and

other activities, Sun 3 - Mon 4 May, Harvington Hall, Kidderminster BRITISH FALCONRY AND COUNTRY FAIR Sun 3 Mon 4 May, Chetwynd Park, Newport, Shropshire

Week Commencing

MON 4 MAY PIG WASH DAY Join in the May Day fun as the rare breed pigs get scrubbed up and pampered, Mon 4 May, Shugborough Historic Working Estate MAY BANK HOLIDAY FUN Kids’ crafts, quizzes, trails and games, Mon 4 May, Oak House Museum, West Bromwich CELEBRATING VE DAY Join in the commemorations of the seventieth anniversary of VE day, Mon 4 May, Haden Hill House Museum, Cradley Heath MAY BANK HOLIDAY FAMILY CRAFT DAY Learn to make paper flowers to take home, Mon 4 May, Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Wolverhampton DISCOVERY DAY: THE BATTLE OF GALLIPOLI Uniform and weapon handling, and lots of interactive activities, Mon 4 May, The Staffordshire Regiment Museum MAY DAY AT THE MUSEUM Take part in the May Day celebration, with Maypole dancers demonstrating an ageold tradition, in Folkes's Park, Mon 4 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley BIT OF A DO Family fun day organised by the Friends of Bantock House Museum, with Punch & Judy, donkeys, music, stalls and activities, Mon 4 May, Bantock House & Park, Nr Wolverhampton STORYTELLING Fun for the kids with imaginative storytelling sessions, Mon 4 May, Tamworth Castle MEDIEVAL THEMED REENACTMENT Knights, armour, chivalry and military strategy, Mon 4 - Tues 5 May, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Drop-in tile decorating workshop.

Try the tube lining technique to produce your own ceramic masterpiece. Activities vary from day-to-day, tiles cost from £5 each and can be fired and sent to you for a small extra charge to cover p&p, Tues 5 May, Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire NATIONAL DOG SHOW Organised by the Birmingham Dog Show

Society, Thurs 7 - Sun 10 May, Stafford Bingley Hall DORNIER BOMBER, THE INSIDE STORY Free talk on the recovery of the world’s only surviving Dornier from the seabed, Fri 8 May, The Pottery Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent SPITFIRE 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY Enjoy a VE Day street party, discover facts about rationing and the Home Front in 1945, Sat 9 May, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent SILK A presentation on silk from cocoon to couture, Sat 9 May, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent LOCAL HISTORY FILMS Local film clips, including pottery production and mining, Sat 9 May, Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-onTrent EVENING SCENIC SPECIALS A scenic evening ride with the added option of traditional fish and chip supper, Sat 9 May, Severn Valley Railway, Bedley STOKE-ON-TRENT MILITARY TATTOO In Aid of ABF The Soldiers Charity in Staffordshire, an evening of entertainment featuring The Military Wives Choir, Sat 9 May, King's Hall, Stoke-on-Trent BLACKSMITH EXPERIENCE DAY A taster session providing an introduction to the forge, the basic tools, and how to use them, Sat 9 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley GETTING TO GRIPS WITH YOUR DIGITAL SINGLELENS REFLEX CAMERA (DSLR) Join Karl Bungey to learn how to get the best out of your DSLR, Sat 9 May, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Shropshire YOUNG ARTISTS Learn new drawing, painting and sculpture skills, Sat 9 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery SPRING BANQUET A comedic look at the life of a shepherd. Fourcourse menu, and canapés on arrival.

Booking essential, Sat 9 May, Fordhall Organic Farm, Nr Market Drayton, North Shropshire LUDLOW SPRING FESTIVAL Featuring two hundred real ales, sixty passionate local food and drink producers, toe-tapping live music, and over one hundredand-eighty classic cars, Fri 8 - Sun 10 May, Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire SPRING WEDDING Celebrate a traditional Victorian spring wedding with the residents of Blists Hill Victorian Town, Sat 9 - Sun 10

May, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire SOOTY'S FUN HOUSE Direct from CITV, Sooty returns to Cadbury World with a fabulous new show to delight the whole family, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Cadbury World, Birmingham 1940S WEEKEND A themed event featuring music, a wedding shop, American army encampment and wartime military vehicles, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens, Birmingham SHREWSBURY REGATTA Organised by Pengwern Boat Club, great racing, great food and great atmosphere, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Pengwern Boat Club, Shrewsbury FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: PEPPA PIG AND DADDY PIG Steam train rides, family fun attractions and the chance to meet Peppa Pig and Daddy Pig, Sat 9 - Sun 10 May, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley VILLAGE LACEMAKERS Discover the skilled craft of lacemaking, Sun 10 May, Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton BRITISH MINI DAY The largest mini show in the Midlands, Sun 10 May, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley SHEPHERD & WILLIAMS ANTIQUES & COLLECTORS FAIR Find something perfect to complement your home, wardrobe or collection, Sun 10 May, Wolverhampton Racecourse ANNIVERSARY OF HADEN HILL HOUSE Celebrating twenty-five years since the house first opened to the public, Sun 10 May, Haden Hill House Museum, West Bromwich

Week Commencing

MON 11 MAY TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Drop-in tile decorating workshop.

Try the tube lining technique to produce your own ceramic masterpiece. Activities vary from day-to-day. Tiles cost from £5 each and can be fired and sent to you for a small extra charge to cover p&p, Tues 12 May, Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire DRAGONFLY COURSE - ON THE WING IN SPRING This first session will focus on those species of dragonfly and damselfly seen early in the flight season, Tues 12 May, Carding Mill Valley & The Shropshire Hills CRAFTPLAY EXPLORERS Regular stay-and-play groups, to discover, play and create with

your child, Tues 12 May Bilston Craft Gallery LADIES CHARITY LUNCH A lunchtime event to raise funds to refurbish the glasshouse and add new attractions, Wed 13 May, Birmingham Botanical Gardens MINI FEST A charity event with live music, raffles and more, Wed 13 May, Coffin Works, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham CRAFTPLAY LITTLE EXPLORERS Explore your senses in the weekly Little Explorer sessions for young children and babies, Wed 13 May, Bilston Craft Gallery JEREMY DELLER IN CONVERSATION Artist Jeremy Deller in conversation about the Love Is Enough exhibition, Thurs 14 May, Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery ARTIST-LED TOUR: NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS Join artists Reece Kennedy and Lisa Marie Williams for a discussion about their work, Fri 15 May, Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery REAL ALE FESTIVAL The first real ale festival to be held at Highbury Hall, featuring ales from local breweries from around the West Midlands. With live music and ploughman's platters, Fri 15 May, Highbury Hall, Birmingham OPEN COCKPITS EVENING This annual event allows visitors the chance to get up close and personal to the workings of a wide range of the museum’s aircraft, Fri 15 - Sat 16 May, RAF Cosford, Nr Wolverhampton THE BABY SHOW Fri 15 Sun 17 May, NEC, Birmingham HANDICRAFT WEEKEND Featuring demonstrations by local craft groups, including the Wrekin branch of the Embroiderers' Guild, Shrewsbury Lacemakers and, new this year, a wood turner, Fri 15 - Mon 18 May, Sunnycroft, Wellington, Shropshire MUSEUMS AT NIGHT Help design a spectacular image of the Iron Bridge using personalised coloured acrylic tiles. Then see the image illuminated with a special light show, Sat 16 May, Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire DAWN CHORUS WALK Join a walk at first light with wildlife expert and ornithologist John Tucker to find out more about the estate’s feathered inhabitants, Sat 16 May, Weston Park, Staffordshire ROLLING MILL

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Events LISTINGS For full listing information on Events, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk DEMONSTRATION Originally used to amend and resize iron bars, the Rolling Mill is a typical Black Country hand rolling mill from around the 1900s, Sat 16 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley LINO PRINTING WORKSHOPS WITH AMANDA HILLIER Fullday lino printing course - includes all materials and light refreshments.

Suitable for ages 14+, Sat 16 May, Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire RED BY NIGHT For one night only, the museum recreates the industrial might of the region, Sat 16 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley EASY ACCESS TRAIL An opportunity for wheelchair users and their families to join a guided tour of the estate, Sat 16 May, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley SAILING TASTER DAY Join one of the qualified coaches for a sailing taster day, Sat 16 May, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley MUSEUMS AT NIGHT:

LIGHT PAINTING Joining for the first time, Dudley Canal Trust offers the chance for budding photographers to experiment with light and shutter speeds.

Don’t forget your DSLR, Sat 16 May, Dudley Canal and Limestone Mine NEWCOMEN IN STEAM The only full-sized working replica of the world's first steam engine can be seen in action. Due to the unpredictable nature of the Newcomen, please check running details with the museum prior to travelling, to avoid disappointment.

Sat 16 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley THE EIGHTH ANNUAL DUCK RACES Race a duck along the stream, with local charity Stretton Climate Care.

There are prizes for every race, Sat 16 May, Carding Mill Valley & The Shropshire Hills HERITAGE WEEKEND Listen to informative talks about the Cadbury family before taking a

stroll around the historic Bournville Village, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, Cadbury World, Birmingham WAR ON WHEELS Military-themed weekend with vehicle displays and period entertainment, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, Foxfield Railway, Staffs ANTIQUES FAIR Hosted

by Number One Events, Sat 16 - Sun 17 May, Stafford Bingley Hall IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY Make a plant pot out of newspaper and plant a seed to take home, Sat 16 Sun 17 May, Moseley Old Hall, Birmingham BLACKSTAR - LIVING HISTORY Medieval reenactment society covering the historical period from 1240 to 1350, Sun 17 May, Whittington Castle, North Shropshire GROWING IN THE WALLED GARDEN: SALAD DAYS Find out about the range of salad plants grown, and how to combine them to best effect on the plate, Sun 17 May, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury DRAGON BOAT RACING DAY An all-action event where teams battle it out on the Great Pool, Sun 17 May, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley

A PLEASANT SUNDAY AFTERNOON Join the Friends of the Black Country Living Museum in the quaint nineteenth century Providence chapel and celebrate the work of John Blackham, who set out to lighten and brighten worship in the mid1870s. Limited seating, please call to book, Sun 17 May, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

Week Commencing

MON 18 MAY TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Drop-in tile decorating workshop.

Try the tube lining technique to produce your own ceramic masterpiece. Activities vary from day-to-day. Tiles cost from £5 each and can be fired and sent to you for a small extra charge to cover p&p, Tues 19 May, Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire MEET ME @ BANTOCK Regular conversation club for people aged fifty and over, offering a chance to relax and enjoy a chat about the topic of the month, Tues 19 May, Bantock House & Park, Wolverhampton ATTINGHAM RELAYS Grab

your team and race to the finish as Attingham hosts the Shropshire Shuffler's 2015 relays, Thurs 21 May, Attingham Park, Nr Shrewsbury WATERLOO: HOW THE HISTORY BECAME CORRUPTED Lecture by Gareth Glover to uncover the truth about the allied victory, Fri 22 May, Shrewsbury Castle DEMENTIA FRIENDLY DAY Help mark National Dementia Awareness week by visiting Blist Hill for this special day, Fri 22 May, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire THE MAIN EVENT (THAI BOXING) The UK's longest-standing and premier Thai Boxing promotion, featuring the world's best fighters and global stars in front of the biggest crowds.

A must-see event on the combat sports calendar. Fireworks, pyrotechnics, lasers & dancers also feature, Sat 23 May, Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham YOUNG ARTISTS Learn new drawing, painting and sculpture skills, Sat 23 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery EXPRESSIVE THREADS Learn a range of decorative hand-stitch and

machine-stitch techniques. Suitable for ages sixteen-plus, Booking required, Sat 23 May, Bilston Craft Gallery DISCOVER RAG RUGGING Join the craft specialists to learn the art of rag rug, Sat 23 May, Birmingham Back to Backs EVENING SCENIC SPECIALS A scenic evening ride with the added option of traditional fish and chip supper, Sat 23 May, Severn Valley Railway, Nr Bewdley FAULTY TOWERS EVENING Enjoy a three-course meal and be entertained by Basil, Sybil and Manuel, Sat 23 May, National Brewery Centre, Burton-uponTrent BLANCPAIN ENDURANCE SERIES The world's best supported GT3 racing series, Sat 23 - Sun 24 May, Silverstone Circuit CASTLE QUEST Put your problem-solving skills to the test against the castle’s Quest characters, Sat 23 - Tues 26 May, Tamworth Castle TOP FIVE OF THE ‘50 THINGS TO DO’ See how many of the ‘50 things to do before you are 11 and 3/4’ you can tick off, Sat 23 - Wed 27 May, Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton

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Events LISTINGS For full listing information on Events, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY Celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday, Sat 23 - Sun 31 May, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire MAGNETIC MAY WORKSHOPS Discover more about all things magnetic. Sort materials, find your way using a compass, or generate electricity, Sat 23 - Sun 31 May, Enginuity Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire HALF TERM FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Join a host of children's entertainers as they spread chocolatey joy throughout Cadbury World, Sat 23 - Sun 31 May, Cadbury World, Birmingham LET'S GET SPORTY! Outdoor games guaranteed to get the heart racing, with costumed demonstrators on hand to help you have some old-fashioned fun, Sat 23 - Sun 31 May, Black Country Living, Dudley LOVE YOUR SAFARI PARK WEEK A week full of family fun, facts and crafts, as well as the

chance to discover some interesting things you may not know about West Midlands Safari Park, Sat 23 Sun 31 May, West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley MEDIEVAL LIVING HISTORY EVENT Travel back in time to the medieval period and learn about costumes, cooking methods and how the people of the day kept themselves entertained, Sun 24 - Mon 25 May, Harvington Hall, Kidderminster

Week Commencing

MON 25 MAY SPRING FOOD & CRAFT FAYRE Featuring over sixty stalls ranging from local produce to handmade crafts, art & gifts, Mon 25 May, Weston Park, Staffordshire DISCOVERY DAY: THE SOLIDERS OF WATERLOO Commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the battle of Waterloo by meeting soliders

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from both sides, Mon 25 May, The Staffordshire Regiment Museum WHITSUN HOLIDAY FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Head out on a mystery tour around the gardens, Mon 25 May, Dudmaston Estate, Nr Bridgnorth BANK HOLIDAY ANIMAL RACING Fun and frolics as the animals line up for a day of racing, Mon 25 May, Shugborough Historic Working Estate LADIES' DAY A day dedicated to the celebration of the role of women in the glass industry, Mon 25 May, Broadfield House Glass Museum PAPER BAG BUG PROJECTS Make a creepy crawly hand puppet in this drop-in craft session, Tues 26 - Thurs 28 May, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-onTrent HALF-TERM CRAFT ACTIVITY Make a 3D collage inspired by the amazing bottle ovens, Tue 26 May, Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-onTrent ATTINGHAM ADVENTURES: MUD AND MESS Go on a barefoot walk to feel different textures between your toes. Dam a stream and make some wild art in the mud, Tues 26 May, Attingham Park

Dragonboat Festival - Brindleyplace, Birmingham

COLOURFUL GAMES OF THE WORLD Make a colourful game inspired by a map of the world.

Booking required, Tues 26 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery DOODLE BONANZA Three days full of doodles, with competitions, activities and displays, Tues 26 - Thurs 28 May, Broadfield House Glass Museum HALF-TERM FUN DAY Facepainting, balloon modelling and magic shows, with free museum admission, Wed 27 May, Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-onTrent SPORTY WEDNESDAYS Activities for the whole family to try, Wed 27 May, Attingham Park WHITSUN HOLIDAY FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS Crafts and Spring activities. Head out on a mystery tour around the gardens, Wed 27 May, Dudmaston Estate, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire BUILDING A WILDLIFE HOTEL Help the rangers build a wildlife stack using materials found around the park, Wed 27 May, Severn Valley Country Park, Shropshire SCAVENGER HUNT Find natural items in the park, Wed 27 May, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley SUPER ME IN SPACE Make a dancing spacesuit at this special workshop. Booking required, Wed 27 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery PLAYFUL PATCHWORK Make a cool patchwork bag or a textile picture for your wall. Booking required, Wed 27 May Bilston Craft Gallery THE ENCHANTED WOODLAND The Story Players present an interactive drama story session, Wed 27 May, Haden Hill House Museum, Dudley STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW Wed 27 - Thurs 28 May, Staffordshire County Show Ground FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY: MAY MADNESS Make a jester's stick to take home, and follow the trail to find out about celebrations in Tudor times, Thurs 28 May, Blakesley Hall,

Birmingham VALUATION DAYS Fine art, antiques and general items such as ceramics, jewellery, clocks etc will be valued by Fieldings Auctioneers, Thurs 28 May, Bantock House & Park, Wolverhampton CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY EVENT Thurs 28 May, Ford Green Hall, Stokeon-Trent PHILIP WEB: MORRIS’S ARCHITECT William Morris’s lifelong friend talks about his life, work and link with Wolverhampton, Thurs 28 May, Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Wolverhampton LITTLE PEOPLE'S SENSORY PLAY AND STORIES Creative play sessions for babies and toddlers. Booking required, Thurs 28 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery FUNKY FELT WRISTBAND Make and decorate a felt wristband using textiles, paint and other materials. Booking required, Thurs 28 May Bilston Craft Gallery CREATIVE CRAFTS Creative craft workshop for children, inspired by Bantock House and Gardens. Booking required, Thurs 28 May, Bantock House & Park, Wolverhampton BEE AMAZED Lots of bee-themed activities, Thurs 28 - Fri 29 May, Haden Hill House Museum, Dudley INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF GLASS There’s glass galore on offer during this four-day festival, with events, exhibitions and artists, Thurs 28 Sun 31 May, Ruskin Glass Centre, Stourbridge SCAVENGER HUNT Explore the park and see if you can find all the items on the scavenger list, Fri 29 May, Severn Valley Country Park, Shropshire FAMILY FUN DAY Featuring animal displays, a fire engine, storytelling, donkey rides and more, Fri 29 May, Broadfield House Glass Museum, Stourbridge INSECT HOTEL MAKING Make an insect hotel and hunt for the bugs that like to live inside, Sat 30 May, Sunnycroft, Wellington, Shropshire

EVENING SCENIC SPECIALS A scenic evening ride with the added option of traditional fish and chip supper, Sat 30 May, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley GIN TASTING WITH SIPSMITH Hear about the history of gin in London, from its chequered past of Mother's Ruin & Dutch Courage to the cocktail heyday at the Savoy - and how Sipsmith fits into the picture, Sat 30 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL The Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival is one of the best known and most-established annual corporate fundraising events in Birmingham, Sat 30 May, Brindleyplace, Birmingham HEMP BUILDING WORKSHOP Learn about building with hempcrete, Sat 30 May, Fordhall Organic Farm, Market Drayton, North Shropshire YOUNG ARTISTS Learn new drawing, painting and sculpture skills, Sat 30 May, Wolverhampton Art Gallery MAKING YOUR MARK Engraving and hot glass demonstrations, Sat 30 May, Broadfield House Glass Museum, Stourbridge CANAL BOAT GATHERING AND MILL IN STEAM Sat 30 - Sun 31 May, Etruria Industrial Museum, Stoke-on-Trent UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR Revealing what goes on behind the scenes of a stately home, Sun 31 May, Weston Park, Staffs TENNIS IN THE PARK Give tennis a try. Lots of different activities for all the family, Sun 31 May, Attingham Park, Shrewsbury PAPERWEIGHT DAY Demonstrations of paperweight making, Sun 31 May, Broadfield House Glass Museum BEACON’S BIRTHDAY Celebrating one hundred-and-forty years of sight-loss charity Beacon with a free family-fun day, Sun 31 May, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley

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Eating Out Townhouse opens The Walled Garden Oswestry’s trendy Townhouse has recently announced the launch of an outside drinking and dining space. Set to be home to many a summer BBQ and garden party, The Walled Garden is officially launched on Sat 2 May with an event that features live music, free-flowing booze and, of course, the illustrious Kamado Joe BBQ. Also on offer this summer is the new Afternoon Tea menu.

For more information or to book your Garden Party ticket, visit townhouseoswestry.com or call 01691 659499.

Ludlow hotel maintains three AA Rosettes The Ludlow boutique hotel Fishmore Hall has maintained the award of three AA Rosettes. The hotel’s restaurant, Forelles, has a new head chef, Andrew Birch, and has long had a reputation for high-quality fine dining. With the introduction of a six and nine-course tasting menu, bucketloads of award-winning Michelin-star experience and a hard-working team, it appears Fishmore Hall is still the people’s choice when it comes to hotels in Ludlow.

Photo credit: www.leisuremarketingltd.co.uk

Eat Street Shrewsbury Celebrity chef, Marcus Bean - the The man who brought us the Brompton Cookery School - is jumping on the trendy street-food bandwagon and launching a new venture. Eat Street Shrewsbury aims to ‘bring restaurant-quality food to the streets of Shrewsbury, combining some of the best street food vendors in the country’. The first event takes place on Fri 22 May, with street vendors Polly’s Parlour, The Beefy Boys, Dogtown London, Pizza Peddlers, Kus Kus Foods and Barkworths Seafoods all set to take part. Visit the eatstreetshrewsbury facebook page for more information.

Appe-Thai-sing food in Broseley...

REVIEW The King & Thai is a restaurant my family and I have visited on numerous occasions since it opened, each time returning home with a full belly, a fresh taste in our mouths and a smile on our faces.

And this time was no different. Boasting a new front-of-house manager, new waiting staff and a new specials menu that leaves you deliberating for longer than your stomach would normally allow, it remains my number one go-to for Thai food in Shropshire.

To begin, we had the sharing platter - a selection of starters chosen by the chef. The platter included satay chicken, tempura king prawns, vegetable springs rolls, pork balls, prawn toast and three different dipping sauces.

With presentation that was instagram-worthy, the meal was off to an incredible start.

Listening to the seemingly continuous chorus of oohs and aahs coming from other tables as their food came out nicely built the anticipation for our main course: Monkfish, clam and king prawn green curry in coconut milk; and slow-cooked fillet of massaman curry, with coconut milk, nutmeg, peanuts and crushed coriander, with a side of jasmine rice.

The portions were generous, the dishes were fragrant and the tastes were the harmonious combination of hot and sour, sweet and spicy, subtle and strong that you look for in a great Thai meal. It was absolutely delicious.

Even though we were stuffed after the main course, we’ve always been curious about head chef Suree Coates’ desserts, for which she’s renowned. We went with a light option of coconut panacotta with toasted ice cream, honeycomb and homemade marshmallow.

The dessert very much

lived up to its reputation and was a beautiful end to a fantastic meal.

The front-of-house team were delightful from start to finish.

To try and balance my gushing review (at least a little!), I’m trying to find something negative to say - but all I can come up with is that the pavement outside was slightly too ‘characterful’ for my high heels!

So, in a nutshell, The King & Thai remains my favourite Thai restaurant.

Anywhere. Ever.

Jessica Aston Food: nnnnn Service: nnnnn Ambience: n n n n n Overall value n n n n n OVERALL n n n n n The King and Thai The Forester Arms Avenue Road Broseley Shropshire TF12 5DL T: 01952 882004

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Restaurant LISTINGS For full listing information on restaurants, including opening times and type of cuisine, visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Black Country ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1SY 01922 613361 BANKS BISTRO Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, WV1 4EP 01902 238433 BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, 01902 427555 BENGAL FUSION 174 High St, Lye, Stourbridge, DY9 8LN. 01384 891111 BILASH 2 Cheapside, Wolverhampton, WV1 1TU 01902 427762 THE BLUE BRICK Broad Gauge Way, Wolverhampton, WV1 1AA 01902 875301 BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper Green, Wolverhampton, WV6 8QQ 01902 756052 CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253255 Bilston Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 2JN 01902 458024 CASA CASITA Upper Gornal, Dudley, DY3 1UP 01902 676754 CATELLANI’S 6 School St, Wolverhampton, WV1 4LR 01902 428928 CINNAMON COURT Bentley Mill Way, Walsall, WS2 0BP 0121 568 6664 THE COWSHED Clive Farm Clive Rd, Pattingham, WV6 7EN 01902 701888 THE CROOKED HOUSE Coppice Hill, Himley, DY3 4DA 01384 238583 THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, Walsall, WS1 2EU 01922 643215 DON SALVO 25 Darlington Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4HW 01902 712819 DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU 01384 877077 FARADAYS The Waterfront, Brierley Hill, Dudley, DY5 1UR 01384 482 882 FIVE RIVERS Vicarage Place, Walsall, WS1 3NA 01922 646164 FOUR STONES Adam’s Hill, Clint, Stourbridge,

DY9 9PS 01562 883260 FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, Smethwick, B67 5BN 0121 429 7920 FRENCH CONNECTION 3 Coventry St, Stourbridge, DY8 1EP 01384 390940 FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove Rd, Clent, Stourbridge, DY9 9PY 01562 883040 GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 Ablewell St, Walsall, WS12EQ 01922 640363 THE HUNGRY BISTRO 81 Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1EQ 01902 546336 LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6UU 01562 744976 MADE IN THAI Darlington St, Wolverhampton, WV1 4HW 01902 312512 PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6UU 01562 60479 THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst Lane, Tipton, DY4 9AB 0121 557 1402 RED FORT Fold St, Wolverhampton, WV1 4LP 01902 424440 RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 Upper Green, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 8QQ 01902 756052 SAFFRON Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, B69 4RR 0121 552 1752 SIMON’S 520 Chester Rd, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 0PU 0121 580 9293 SPICES Hollywell Rd, Wednesbury, WS10 7PA 0121 502 0720 THE SPRINGHILL Warstones Rd, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 4LB 01902 342530 THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 Gospel End Rd, Dudley, DY3 4AN 01902 676 102 THORNESCROFT Bridgnorth Rd, Wolverhampton, WV6 7EQ 01902 700 253 THE WOODMAN Claverley, Wolverhampton, WV5 7DG 01746 710 553

THE DINNER CLUB

Shropshire AFTAB 25 High St, Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 01952 432055 ALBRIGHT HUSSEY Ellesmere Rd, Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF 01939 290 523 BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a Mardol, Shrewsbury, SY1 1PZ 01743 272586 BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal, TF11 9BA 01952 460128 CASA NARANJO Barracks Passage, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 01743 588165 CASA RUIZ 45 High Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 4DX 01746 218 084 CHEZ MAW Best Western Valley Hotel, Buildwas Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW 01952 432247 THE COTTAGE Tern Hill, Market Drayton, TF9 3PX 01630 638984 CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole, Shrewsbury, SY1 1EN 01743 361440 DA VINCI’S 26 High St, Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 01952 432250 DORRINGTON OLD HALL PERSIAN CUISINE Main Road, Dorrington, Shropshire SY5 7JD 01743 719100 DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ 01743 344679 THE FEATHERS Brockton, Much Wenlock, TF13 6JR 01746 785202 FENNELS 8 Market Place, Shifna,l TF11 9AZ 01952 463020 THE FOX INN 46 High St, Much Wenlock, TF13 6AD 01952 727292 FRANK CAFE BAR 129 Frankwell, Shrewsbury, SY3 8JX 01743 354422 THE GOLDEN CROSS 14 Princess St, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LP 01743 362507 GRANARY BAR & GRILL Weston Park, Westonunder-Lizard, Nr Shifnal, TF11 8LE 01952 852107 THE GLUTTON CLUB 165167 Frankwell, Shrewsbury, SY3 8LG 01743 361672 HADLEY PARK HOUSE Hadley Park, Telford, TF1 6QJ 01952 677269 HAVANA REPUBLIC

(EST 86)

A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY

SINGLE?

For the more discerning unattached person, age 40+ Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad.

NOT A DATING AGENCY

01244 677030 (Day) / 01244 548816 (Eve/W-end)

www.thedinnerclubuk.com 66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk

Old Downton Lodge, Ludlow, South Shropshire

18 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE 01743 281744 THE HAYWARDS at The Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 1UY 01743 353107 HENRY TUDOR HOUSE Barracks Passage, Shrewsbury, SY1 1XA 01743 361666 HILL VALLEY HOTEL Tarporley Road, Whitchurch, SY13 4HA 0844 879 9049 THE INN AT GRINSHILL The High Street, Grinshill, Shrewsbury, SY4 3BL 01939 220410 KING & THAI Avenue Rd, Broseley, Telford, TF12 5DL 01952 882004 THE KNIGHTON HOTEL Broad Street, Knighton, Powys, LD7 1BL 01547 520530 LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QU 01743 249126 LA LANTERNA The Old Vestry, St Julian's Church, Shrewsbury SY1 1UH 01743 233552 LION & PHEASANT 50 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 1XJ 01743 770345 THE LION QUAYS Moreton, Oswestry, SY11 3EN 01691 684300 LOCH FYNE Talbot House, Market Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LG 01743 277140 LUDLOW KITCHEN Bromfield, Ludlow, SY2 2JR 01584 856020 THE MALTHOUSE The Wharfage, Ironbridge, TF8 7NH 01902 433712 MOMO·NO·KI T19 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE 01743 281770 MORGANS 1 Bellstone, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HU 01743 231199 THE MYTTON & MERMAID Atcham, Shrewsbury, SY5 6QG 01743 761220 THE OLD ORLETON INN Holyhead Rd, Wellington, TF1 2HA 01952 255011 THE OLD RECTORY HOTEL & RESTAURANT Lowe Hill Road, Wem, Shropshire, SY4 5UA 01939 233233 THE PEACH TREE 21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE 01743 355055

THE PLUME OF FEATHERS Harley, Shrewsbury, SY5 6LP 01743 727360 PORTER HOUSE 15 St Mary’s St, Shrewsbury, SY1 1EQ 01743 358870 THE POUND AT LEEBOTWOOD Leebotwood, Nr Church Stretton, SY6 6ND 01694 751477 RENAISSANCE, 29a Princess St, Shrewsbury, SY11LW 01743 354289 ROMOLO Victoria Avenue, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HH 01743 233244 SARACENS Shrewsbury Rd, SY4 4AG 01939 210877 SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St, Oswestry, SY11 1AQ 01691 655444 SHALIMAR 23 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE 01743 366658 SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT 01743 242321 THE SILVERTON the Old Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell, Shrewsbury SY3 8JY 01743 248000 TIN TINS Wellington Road, Telford, TF2 8AJ 01952 608688 THE WALLS Welsh Walls, Oswestry, SY11 1AW 01691 670970 ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40 High Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1SF 01743 353232

Staffordshire NO 5 Gaol Mews, Stafford, ST16 3AN 01785 22 9900 95 HIGH GREEN Cannock, WS11 1BH 01543 573905 1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5 Lombard St, Lichfield, WS13 6DP 01543 257986 BELLA ITALIA 20 Greengate St, Stafford, ST16 2HS 01785 211968 CHANDLERS Corn Exchange, Conduit St, Lichfield, WS13 6JU 01543 416688 THE CORNER HOUSE Second Avenue, BurtonOn-Trent, DE14 2WF 01283 542321 CURRY KUTEER 31 Greengate Street, Stafford, ST16 2HY

01785 253279 ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT 27 Broad Eye, Stafford, ST16 2QB 01785 229988 FOUR SEASONS Swinfen Hall, Lichfield, WS14 9RE 01543 481494 THE GREEN ROOM Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR 01543 412121 INDIAN VILLAGE 8 Lombard St, Lichfield, WS13 6DR 01543 253415 INDICA Virage Park, Cannoc, WS11 0HN 08712 070417 LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford St, Stone, ST15 8QW 01785 817 985 THE LODGE 24 Birmingham Road, Shenstone, WS14 0LQ 01543 483334 MALABAR 1-2 Water Street, Stafford, ST16 2AG 01785 227 500/600 MARLOES 13 London Road, Newcastle under Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782 661983 THE MILL 1 Mill St, Stone, ST15 8BA 01785 818456 THE NAVIGATION INN Newport Road, Gnosall, Stafford, ST20 0BN 01785 822327 OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St, Branston, Burton, DE14 3EX 01283 533222 PASCAL AT THE OLD VICARAGE 2 Main Street, Branston, Burton-uponTrent 01283 533222 PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 Mill Street, Stafford, ST16 2AJ 01782 263 737 THE PEAR TREE Swinfen, Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR 01543 481807 PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1 1JD 01782 209444 THE RED ROOM 7 Newcastle Road, Congleton, CW12 4HN 01260 297871 THORNBURY HALL, RASOI Lockwood Rd, Kingsley Holt, Stafford, ST10 2DH 01538 750831 WOLSELEY ARMS Wolseley Bridge, Stafford, ST17 0XS 01889 883179

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Great Theatre at the Grand!

WED 13 - SAT 16 MAY

MON 18 - SAT 23 MAY

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FRI 5 JUNE

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SUN 7 JUNE

Nights oN broadway

the bee gees story ‘Spellbinding fusion of acoustic guitar, rhythm, songs, handclapping and ignitable dance’ T h e G u a rdian

Now, come aNd see their story live oN stage

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